Country
Lauren Alaina Parts Ways With Longtime Record Label
Singer-songwriter Lauren Alaina has parted ways with her longtime record label home, Billboard has confirmed. Alaina first shared the news on social media, with a lengthy statement thanking UMG Nashville and Mercury Records for being her label home from the beginning of her career, after she came in second place on the 10th season of American Idol in 2011 (fellow country entertainer Scotty McCreery was the winner that season). “I want to thank the staff at Mercury Records and UMG Nashville for everything they have done for me over the last 11 years,” Alaina said. “They have been my label home since the day I walked off the American Idol stage as a really young, wide-eyed, eager 16-year-old kid. Now, at 27 years old I look back and see just how much I have changed and grown in to the woman ...
5 Things to Know About Brothers Osborne, 2022 Grammy Nominees and Performers
“I’m not for everyone.” This mantra, a lyric stripped from their latest release Skeletons, has become a rallying cry for Brothers Osborne’s most recent album cycle. The simple, defiant phrase leads press releases, dons their merch, and titles their current expansive tour. But as their profile continues to grow and they rack up additional award nominations, it’s starting to feel more and more like everyone loves those “not for everyone” brothers. Made up of T.J. Osborne, who takes lead vocal responsibilities, and John Osborne, the group’s lead guitarist, Brothers Osborne’s unflinching attitude has been garnering them unlikely success in the famously rigid Nashville country scene. While they break the country music mold in numerous ways, from their mix of genres to their politics, the band b...
Fans of Eric Church Revolt After He Cancels Concert to Watch UNC Play Duke in Final Four
Not for the first time and not for the last, a 44-year-old man has cancelled his plans in order to watch NCAA tournament basketball. But in this case, the man is country superstar Eric Church, who has caused an uproar among his fans after calling off a massive April 2nd concert in San Antonio, Texas, in order to watch the University of North Carolina Tar Heels play the Duke Blue Devils in the Final Four. “This Saturday, my family and I are going to stand together to cheer on the Tar Heels as the team has made it to the Final Four,” Church wrote in an announcement to his fans, whom he calls the Church Choir. “As a lifelong Carolina basketball fan, I’ve watched Carolina and Duke battle over the years. But to have them matchup in the Final Four for the first time in the history of the NC...
Miranda Lambert Announces Las Vegas Residency: ‘I Think Everyone Will Like What We’ve Dreamed Up’
Miranda Lambert is headed to Vegas! The reigning Academy of Country Music Awards entertainer of the year will headline Miranda Lambert: Velvet Rodeo the Las Vegas Residency beginning Sept. 23. The 24-show residency will be held at Zappos Theater at Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino, and will feature a setlist drawing from Lambert’s seven No. 1 albums on Billboard‘s Top Country Albums chart, as well as her upcoming April 29 release, Palomino. Explore See latest videos, charts and news “When you’ve been touring as long as I have, there’s something really creative about imagining a residency in a city like Las Vegas,” Lambert said via a statement. “I’ve had a lot of fun designing our sets, merchandise and clothing and boot lines – and even my place on Broadway in Nashville, Casa Rosa – so,...
How to Get Tickets to Brad Paisley’s 2022 Tour
Brad Paisley is ready to get some mud on his tires as the “Freedom Was a Highway” singer sets out on a world tour this summer. Get tickets here, and read on for more info including pre-sale dates. What Is Brad Paisley’s Next Tour? Brad Paisley’s 2022 tour will hit North America, Europe, and Australia running from May into early October. The North American leg kicks off on May 27th at Connecticut’s Mohegan Sun Arena and stops in cities like Pittsburgh, Bethel, New York, and Virginia Beach before the first leg’s end at Airway Heights, Washington on June 26th. Advertisement Related Video Paisley next heads to Europe starting in Glasgow on July 15th followed by stops in Dublin, Copenhagen, two shows in Norway and Sweden each, and the tour leg finale in Germany on July 31st. He returns to the U...
Kristin Chenoweth “Ready” to Play Dolly Parton in a Biopic or Broadway Show
Considering her career has spanned over half a century, the world is long overdue for a Dolly Parton biopic. But one of the first steps toward getting the project off the ground is finding its star, and Broadway veteran Kristin Chenoweth had a straightforward response when she found out she was being considered: “I’m ready Dolly.” Parton discussed her plans for a biopic or Broadway show during her recent appearance on Mr. Nashville Talks. As it turns out, the multi-hyphenate has wanted to adapt her life story for a long time, but naturally, the pandemic shifted her plans. “I’ve been talking about doing my Broadway musical and we were really, really way out ahead of that, and then COVID hit and that changed my mind about a whole lot of things,” Parton said. “I do intend someday to be o...
Jeff Carson, Country Singer Known for ‘Not on Your Love,’ Dies at 58
Country singer Jeff Carson, who topped the charts with 1995 single “Not on Your Love,” has died. He was 58. Carson died of a heart attack at Williamson Medical Center in Franklin, Tennessee, publicist Jeremy Westby told The Hollywood Reporter on Saturday (March 26). Born Jeffrey Lee Herndon in Tulsa, Oklahoma, on Dec. 16, 1963, he got his start singing in church. He later moved to Branson, Missouri, where he wrote songs and performed locally, before heading to Nashville. Explore See latest videos, charts and news Carson landed a deal with Curb Records in 1995, with his single “Yeah Buddy” released soon thereafter and giving the performer his first song on the charts. Next up that same year was “Not on Your Love,” which hit No. 1. Subsequent single “The Car” also cracked the top five and ea...
Gwen Stefani Explains Her Missing Wedding Ring on ‘Jimmy Kimmel’: ‘I’m Sorry, Blakey!’
Gwen Stefani was wearing a ring on just about every finger except her ring finger during her Thursday (March 24) appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live! But rest assured, she and Blake Shelton are still very much married. “I was like, ‘OK, I’m gonna put it in the jewelry cleaner so Jimmy sees how sparkly and amazing my ring is,’ and then boop! Hello, empty finger!” she said, explaining how she forgot to wear her wedding ring for the first time that night. “I’m sorry, Blakey! I love my husband, and I love being married to him. It’s just the greatest thing that’s ever happened to me.” Explore See latest videos, charts and news See latest videos, charts and news It was the first time host Kimmel had brought Stefani on as a guest since she got married, meaning the 52-year-old singer-songwriter h...
Hank Williams Jr. Announces Dan Auerbach-Produced Album Rich White Honky Blues
Hank Williams Jr. has announced that his 57th studio album, Rich White Honky Blues, will be produced by The Black Keys’ Dan Auerbach. It drops June 17th via Auerbach’s Easy Eye Sound label. The 72-year old son of country music legend Hank Williams, Sr. also revealed the album’s opening number and first single “.44 Special Blues.” The spry solo track digs into the County Music Hall of Famer’s bluesy roots, with its vintage-style refrain, “Baby where’d you stay last night,” pairing perfectly to his well-worn wail. In a statement, Auerbach makes those same sonic connections, saying: “The first time I ever saw Hank Jr. on TV, I was a kid raised on Robert Johnson and Hank Williams, Sr. records, and those things came through so clearly watching him. So, I tried to assemble the rig...
March Country Rookie of the Month: Carter Faith
Last year, Carter Faith hit three major life milestones: The North Carolina native not only graduated from Nashville’s Belmont University, but she made her debut performance at the Ryman Auditorium and released her six-song EP Let Love Be Love, via Pound It Out Loud Entertainment. Explore See latest videos, charts and news Now, Faith has inked a music publishing deal with Universal Music Publishing Group Nashville, Billboard can exclusively reveal. “After I released the EP, it was really cool to see people in town that I looked up to really respond to it,” Faith tells Billboard. “They were willing to write with me and I would just randomly get set up to write with people at UMPG. [A&R Directors] Roxy King and Zach Lund reached out and loved what I was writing.” Top row (L-R): Zach Lund...
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Won’t Take Dolly Parton’s Name Off Ballot
Dolly Parton remains under consideration for the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame — whether she likes it or not. Three days after the Queen of Nashville tried to pull her name from the list of nominees, writing, “I must respectfully bow out,” the foundation that runs the Hall has released its own statement indicating that since voting is already under way, they won’t be making any changes to the ballot. “All of us in the music community have seen Dolly Parton’s thoughtful note expressing her feeling that she has not earned the right to be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame,” the foundation wrote in the statement (via Variety). “In addition to her incredible talent as an artist, her humility is another reason Dolly is a beloved icon by millions of fans around the world. “From its ince...
Judas Priest and Twisted Sister Members Commend Dolly Parton for Bowing Out of Rock Hall Nod: “A Classy Move”
Dolly Parton’s decision to withdraw herself from nomination into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame has garnered praise from rock and metal artists. Earlier this week, the country music legend bowed out of the Hall nod and said she didn’t feel she had “earned” it, explaining she needed to add to her rock ‘n’ roll cred. She added, “This has, however, inspired me to put out a hopefully great rock ‘n’ roll album at some point in the future, which I have always wanted to do! Judas Priest guitarist Richie Faulkner and Twisted Sister frontman Dee Snider both commended Parton for respectfully withdrawing. Advertisement Related Video “I think it was a classy move, really,” Faulkner told podcast Rock of Nations with Dave Kinchen. “I think she recognizes her brand, and it didn’t necessarily fit into t...
