Country
One Year After Using N-Word, Morgan Wallen Will Perform at 2022 Billboard Music Awards
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...
Lola Kirke Shares Origins of New Song “Lady for Sale”: Exclusive
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 Goes “Big Time” Country on New Song: Stream
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...
Tim McGraw & Sam Hunt to Headline Debut GoldenSky Country Music Festival
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...
Stagecoach 2022: Where to Buy Tickets Online & How to Watch From Home
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: New Music From Luke Combs, Midland, Marcus King & More
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, ...
Grammy Museum to Host ‘The Power of Women in Country Music’ Exhibit
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 ...
Maren Morris on Taking Inspiration from Jack White and the Future of The Highwomen
Listen via Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Google Podcasts | Amazon Podcasts | Stitcher | Pocket Casts | Radio Public | RSS Maren Morris sits down with Kyle Meredith to talk about her latest album, Humble Quest, and how it tells the story of her road to success using specifically personal stories in the vein of classic ’60s and ’70s country. Related Video The Grammy-winning artist also discusses finding her way to happier songs after coming out of a depression, taking inspiration from Jack White as a way to kick her writing into gear, and adding a little darkness to her romantic musical moments. Morris also talks about the future of The Highwomen, the supergroup that includes Brandi Carlile, Amanda Shires, and Natalie Hemby. Advertisement E...
Hardy Is the Big Winner at AIMP Nashville Awards
HARDY was the big winner at Tuesday night’s seventh annual AIMP Nashville Awards. Put on by the Nashville chapter of the Association of Independent Music Publishers at the Listening Room Cafe, the event celebrates the accomplishments of Nashville’s independent publishers and writers over the past year. While HARDY, aka Michael Hardy, is making his mark as an artist, he was heralded for his songwriting prowess Tuesday night, taking home the awards for songwriter of the year and for song of the year for “Sand in My Boots,” which he co-wrote with Josh Osborne and Ashley Gorley. HARDY performed the song with Morgan Wallen, who recorded it for his Dangerous: The Double Album project. Kobalt Music won publisher of the year. Explore See latest videos, charts and news See latest videos, charts and...
Garth Brooks Makes Up Rained-Out Nashville Show: ‘Thank You From the Bottom of My Heart’
In July 2021, thousands of music lovers packed Nashville’s Nissan Stadium to see Garth Brooks perform, though the show was ultimately forced to be canceled as severe thunderstorms rolled through Music City. This weekend, Brooks made up for it with two shows at Nissan Stadium, on Friday, April 15 and Saturday, April 16. Explore Explore See latest videos, charts and news See latest videos, charts and news “Thank you from the bottom of my heart for the second chance at a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity,” Brooks told the roaring crowd during his Saturday evening (April 16) set. “We can’t thank you enough for coming back…we came to have some fun and raise some hell!” Brooks, a member of the Grand Ole Opry since 1990, spotlighted the Opry with an opening set that included music from Chase Rice as...
How to Get Tickets to The Judds’ 2022 Tour
Wynonna and Naomi Judd, collectively the Grammy-winning mother-daughter country duo The Judds, are reuniting for their first, and decidedly “final,” tour in over 10 years. In a statement, Naomi shared: “The fans have always been my family of choice. I love them dearly, so I’m chompin’ at the bit to belt out our hits and reconnect with them once again. The cherry-on-top is singing with my beloved, wild, and extremely talented daughter.” Wynonna followed up by saying, “What I’m looking forward to most is celebrating Judd music with the fans. Mom and I have had quite the journey over the last 38 years, and the fans have been with us through it all. This tour is a celebration for them!” Don’t be the only one left asking “Why not me” and get tickets here, and read on for more info including pre...
Thomas Rhett & Katy Perry Get ‘Started’ on Billboard Country Charts
Thomas Rhett‘s sixth full-length, Where We Started, bounds onto Billboard‘s Top Country Albums chart (dated April 16) at No. 2. In its first frame, the set, released April 1, earned 29,000 equivalent album units according to Luminate, formerly MRC Data. Rhett earns his sixth total and consecutive top five entry on the survey. The album, released on Valory/Big Machine Label Group, follows his Country Again (Side A), which entered at its No. 2 Top Country Albums high last May. Rhett banked his second No. 1 in June 2019 with Center Point Road, which launched atop both Top Country Albums and the all-genre Billboard 200, marking his second and latest leader on each list. Life Changes opened atop the tallies in September 2017 (with 123,000 units, including 94,000 sold, his biggest week in both m...
