Naomi Judd, half of the iconic duo The Judds, with her daughter Wynonna, passed away unexpectedly Saturday, April 30, at age 76. Though no specific cause of death was given, Wynonna and Naomi’s other daughter Ashley said in a statement to The Associated Press that she died “of the disease of mental illness.” See latest videos, charts and news The Judds, the most successful female duo of all time, were about to be inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame on Sunday (May 1). Between 1983 and 2000, the mother-daughter team rolled up 25 Hot Country Songs appearances, which encompassed 14 No. 1s and 20 top 10s. Starting with “Mama He’s Crazy,” their first No. 1 in August 1984, and “Cry Myself to Sleep” in January 1987, The Judds snapped up eight straight leaders. Their 14 No. 1s rank t...
When Naomi and Wynonna Judd, aka The Judds, first debuted on country radio in 1983 with “Had a Dream (For The Heart),” listeners’ ears perked up. Wynonna’s throaty, bluesy vocals and the mother and daughter’s glorious, intertwined harmonies were unlike anything else on the airwaves. Explore See latest videos, charts and news See latest videos, charts and news That song peaked at No. 17 on Hot Country Songs, and then eight No. 1 songs in a row followed, with the duo logging 14 total No. 1s. Their song choices reflected their embrace of family, tradition and love (and often the heartache it could bring). Naomi Judd died on April 30 at 76. No cause of death was given, though in a statement Wynonna and Naomi’s other daughter, Ashley, said she died of “the disease of mental health.” Her death c...
The Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum will go on with its medallion ceremony as planned Sunday night (May 1) in Nashville following the death on Saturday (April 30) of Naomi Judd, who, along with her daughter Wynonna, was set to be inducted as The Judds. Explore See latest videos, charts and news See latest videos, charts and news Wynonna Judd is expected to attend the ceremony, according to a representative for the Country Music Hall of Fame. Kyle Young, CEO of the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum added in a statement, “We are shocked and saddened to learn of the death of Naomi Judd, who enters the Country Music Hall of Fame tomorrow as a member of mother-daughter duo The Judds…Naomi overcame incredible adversity on her way to a significant place in music history. Her trium...
Naomi Judd, who together with her daughter Wynonna made up the legendary country music duo The Judds, has died at the age of 76. “Today we sisters experienced a tragedy. We lost our beautiful mother to the disease of mental illness,” Wynonna and her sister, the actress Ashley Judd, announced in a statement on Saturday, April 30th. “We are shattered. We are navigating profound grief and know that as we loved her, she was loved by her public. We are in unknown territory.” Naomi’s death came on the eve of The Judds’ induction into the Country Music Hall of Fame on Sunday. Earlier this month, the mother and daughter appeared together at the CMT Music Awards to sing “Love Can Build a Bridge,” which marked their first nationally televised award show performance in more than two decades. This fal...
After two years of pandemic-induced cancellations, country music festival Stagecoach returns this weekend as thousands of music fans descended on Empire Polo Club in Indio, Calif., for night one of the three-day festival on Friday (April 29). Temperatures stayed relatively mild for the area, rising into the 90s, while festival-goers noshed on a variety of foods from different vendors and took in the sounds of a range of artists including Charley Crockett, Ingrid Andress, Breland, Midland, Maren Morris, headliner Thomas Rhett and more. Explore See latest videos, charts and news See latest videos, charts and news Here are some highlights from day one of Stagecoach 2022. 5:05 p.m.: During his Mane Stage set, singer-songwriter Ryan Hurd nodded to the two years that have passed since the l...
One year after a camera caught Morgan Wallen shouting the N-word, the country superstar has been invited to perform at the 2022 Billboard Music Awards. As Billboard reported, the decision was made by MRC (formerly Media Rights Capital), one of the world’s largest entertainment conglomerates which, in addition to producing music award shows, films (Knives Out, Baby Driver), and television series (Ozark, The Great), also owns Billboard as well as The Hollywood Reporter. MRC said it made the decision to invite Wallen after an “extensive internal discussions by a dedicated group of diverse staffers.” In a statement to Billboard, the company wrote, “We oppose discrimination, harassment, or racism of any kind. We believe in treating everyone with dignity and respect. After a...
Our recurring Origins feature series offers exclusive insights into an artist’s latest release. Today, Lola Kirke breaks down her new single, “Lady for Sale.” Having starred in shows like Mozart in the Jungle and HBO Max’s Winning Time, multi-hyphenate Lola Kirke is already an established actress, but the Nashville-based singer is carving out a name for herself in the music world, too, by blending country music with ’80s pop influences. Ahead of tomorrow’s release of her sophomore album, Lady for Sale, via Third Man Records, Consequence is exclusively premiering the title track and its accompanying music video. With a visual treatment inspired by Jane Fonda’s Original Workout and filmed at The Parthenon in Nashville, “Lady for Sale” combines ’80s synths with twangy guitars and country-ting...
Angel Olsen isn’t just dabbling in classic country tropes, she’s embracing her inner Patsy Cline on “Big Time,” the title track from her upcoming album of the same name. “Big Time” is full of golden era country references, from the dignified warble of a pedal steel guitar, to a keyboard that sounds like the kind of tack piano that used to squawk through honky tonk bars. The lyrics are full to the 10-gallon-brim with yearning, but it’s a playful yearn, horny to suite a Saturday night but still chaste enough for Sunday morning. “And I’m living, I’m loving, I’ve loved long before,” Olsen coos. “I’m loving you big time, I’m loving you more.” Advertisement Related Video The song comes with a music video directed by Kimberly Stuckwisch. It shows Olsen performing in a wood-pan...
California is getting another new country music festival. Sacramento’s GoldenSky Music Festival will debut Oct. 15-16 with headlining performances from Tim McGraw and Sam Hunt at Discovery Park. The new event is produced by Danny Wimmer Presents (Welcome to Rockville, Louder Than Life) in partnership with Visit Sacramento and will feature performances from top-tier country acts including Brothers Osborne, Midland, Carly Pearce, Parmalee, Michael Ray, Diamond Rio, Brian Kelley and Lindsay Ell. Explore See latest videos, charts and news See latest videos, charts and news In addition to the musical acts, the weekend will also include a daily beer festival with more than 100 selections of local, regional and national craft beers, seltzers and ciders. The GoldenSky Beer Festival is free with fe...
All products and services featured are independently chosen by editors. However, Billboard may receive a commission on orders placed through its retail links, and the retailer may receive certain auditable data for accounting purposes. Let the good times roll! Stagecoach is back after being canceled the last two years, along with Coachella, due to the pandemic. The three-day country music extravaganza returns to the Empire Polo Field in Indio, Calif. on Friday (April 29). Thomas Rhett, Carrie Underwood and Luke Combs will headline separate nights. Click here for set times. The star-studded performance roster also includes Maren Morris, Midland, Brandi Carlile, Jordan Davis, Breland, Lee Brice, Margo Price, Brothers Osbourne, Colter Wall, Shenandoah, Laci Kaye Booth, The Black Crowes, Tanya...
First Country is a compilation of the best new country songs, videos & albums that dropped this week. Several artists are gearing up for summer album drops, including Luke Combs, Carrie Underwood, Midland and Brett Eldredge, with new music to propel the excitement for those releases. Explore See latest videos, charts and news See latest videos, charts and news Luke Combs, “Tomorrow Me” [embedded content] Luke Combs is tempted to keep an on-again, off-again relationship burning for one more night, but, as he puts it, “Maybe we should let yesterday be/ ‘Cause I gotta live with tomorrow me.” Combs’s gruff voice brings gravitas to this introspective ballad, one he wrote with Ray Fulcher and Country Music Hall of Fame member Dean Dillon. The track is from Combs’s upcoming Growin’ Up album, ...
On May 27, the Grammy Museum will launch a new exhibit that highlights women in country music, featuring artifacts or content related to the careers of 70 female country artists. Titled “The Power of Women in Country Music,” the exhibit highlights artists including Rosanne Cash, Mickey Guyton, Rissi Palmer, Dolly Parton, Carly Pearce, LeAnn Rimes, Taylor Swift, Shania Twain and more. The exhibit also delves into the past and present of female artists in country music, highlighting the stories of Maybelle and Sara Carter, Patsy Montana, Patsy Cline, Wanda Jackson, Emmylou Harris, Reba McEntire, Faith Hill, Yola, Maren Morris, Brandi Carlile and more. Explore See latest videos, charts and news See latest videos, charts and news The exhibit will include Parton’s dress from her 1971 Grand Ole ...