Country
Kelly Clarkson Gets Her ‘Boogie’ on for This Brooks & Dunn Cover: Watch
Kelly Clarkson invites you to get down, turn around and go to town in her new cover of Brooks & Dunn’s “Boot Scootin’ Boogie.” Reconnecting with her country roots Friday (Feb. 18), the Texas-born artist showed off her twang in the newest installment of “Kellyoke,” The Kelly Clarkson Show‘s hit cover series. Explore See latest videos, charts and news See latest videos, charts and news As usual, The Voice coach was accompanied by her band Y’all, who went the full nine yards with lots of honky-tonk piano and pedal steel guitar, played by an aptly cowboy-hatted musician. “Boot Scootin’ Boogie,” while written by Ronnie Dunn, was originally released by Asleep at the Wheel in 1990. Brooks & Dunn picked it up soon after, and their version spent four weeks atop the Billboard Hot Countr...
Willie Nelson Cancels Indoor Concerts Over COVID-19 Precautions
If you want to catch Willie Nelson on tour this year, you might have to do it outside: The outlaw country legend has canceled a handful of his indoor headlining concerts this spring out of an abundance of caution regarding COVID-19. “We are canceling our indoor headline shows until the COVID situation improves, as the safety of the audience and Willie and his touring personnel are of the utmost importance,” Nelson’s representative said in a statement. “When we are able, we will look to make up shows when possible.” According to his publicist (via Billboard), all of Nelson’s March shows have been canceled except for his Luck Reunion show on March 17th, which he holds each year at his own ranch outside of Austin, Texas. Nelson is thankfully vaccinated, but considering he’s nearing his 89th b...
Miranda Lambert’s MuttNation Foundation Gifts $20K to Animal Shelters
Miranda Lambert is spreading the love this week in honor of Valentine’s Day. The “If I Was a Cowboy” singer’s MuttNation Foundation is helping out 20 pet rescue shelters across the country, in states including California, Maine, Missouri, Tennessee, Texas, Wisconsin and more. The foundation will give a $1,000 grant to each shelter. MuttNation also launched an interactive “Mutt Match” quiz to help match people who want to help pets who have a harder time getting adopted, including larger dogs, special-needs dogs and senior dogs. Explore See latest videos, charts and news Lambert began volunteering at animal shelters when she was a teenager and has five rescue dogs, along with numerous cats, rabbits and horses. “Shelter pets – especially the ones that are hardest to get adopted – and the peo...
Luke Bryan Soars Over Crowd, Sips Margaritas & Delivers Hits at Electrifying Las Vegas Residency Debut
Luke Bryan knows how to make a memorable exit. The country music star closed the sold-out opening night of his new Las Vegas residency by soaring 45 feet in the air on a catwalk at Resorts World Theatre. The stunning final moments of the 100-minute performance on Friday night (Feb. 11) brought Bryan eye-to-eye with the 5,000-person crowd as he ascended the levels of the AEG/Concerts West venue. The singer appeared to be feeling the good vibes — and in a particularly cheeky moment, he allowed an audience member to as well, with a butt grab — before throwing on a sequin-adorned jacket and making an ascent to the top levels of the theater. Explore Explore Luke Bryan See latest videos, charts and news See latest videos, charts and news Heavy on the booty shaking for which he is known, Bryan li...
Backstreet Boys’ Nick Carter Talks Bonding With Jimmie Allen Over Fatherhood While Making ‘Easy’
Musical collaborations have dominated Billboard’s country music charts over the past year. Now, singer-songwriter and Backstreet Boys member Nick Carter is throwing his hat in the ring with “Easy,” his own pop-country collaboration alongside country hitmaker and reigning CMA new artist of the year winner Jimmie Allen. Explore See latest videos, charts and news See latest videos, charts and news “I grew up listening to all kinds of music, including country music,” Carter tells Billboard. “With the direction it’s heading, and how it’s crossing borders and boundaries, Jimmie was one person who I was listening to and I love his music.” Last year, Carter was in Las Vegas working on the track with producer Vic “BillboardKiller” Martin, when Carter mentioned that he was a fan of Allen’s music and...
“Let’s Go Brandon” Chant Breaks Out at Morgan Wallen’s Tour Kick-Off
Morgan Wallen kicked off “The Dangerous Tour” on Wednesday evening, effectively marking the end of his brief cancelation following his use of the N-word on camera. The country singer performed before a sold-out crowd at Madison Square Garden, and by the sound of it, the concert wasn’t too dissimilar to a Trump rally. According to Rolling Stone, chants of “Let’s Go Brandon” (MAGA nation’s sophomoric euphemism for “Fuck Joe Biden”) broke out during the concert. Fox News *of course* has the exclusive footage. Rolling Stone also spoke to attendees of the concerts to inquire whether they were bothered by Wallen’s use of a racial slur. “It doesn’t matter. We love him,” responded one woman named Molly. Another woman named Erica added, “I love this man. I think he deserves the world.” Meanwhile, a...
Dolly Parton’s Dollywood to Cover Tuition, Books for All Its Employees
Dolly Parton‘s Dollywood Parks & Resorts is helping out any of the company’s employees who are intent on continuing their education. The Dollywood Co. has announced that it will cover 100% of tuition, fees and books for any employee who is furthering their education, beginning Feb. 24. Explore See latest videos, charts and news The investment in employee education will be made via Herschend Enterprises, Dollywood’s operating partner. The program will be available to all seasonal, part-time and full-time employees at Dollywood Parks & Resorts. Herschuend’s GROW U. offers more than 100 fully funded diploma, degree and certificate programs with 30 learning partners in areas including business administration and leadership, culinary, finance, technology and marketing. The company will ...
Kenny Chesney’s 2022 Here and Now Tour Gets Bigger With 20 Amphitheater Shows
Kenny Chesney is ramping up his Here and Now 2022 tour even more, adding 20 amphitheater shows to his previous 21 stadium shows set for this year. The tour, which launches April 23 in Tampa, Fla., at the Raymond James Stadium, now includes amphitheater stops in Alabama, Indiana, Maryland, Nevada, New York, Texas and more. His Here and Now 2022 tour will conclude with a long-standing Chesney tradition: two shows at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Mass., this year set for Aug. 26-27. “There is something about amphitheaters that creates an immediacy that is so intimate,” Chesney said via a statement. “The energy is very different from a stadium show, and it almost opens the songs up in completely different ways. It’s pretty cool to feel that difference between the two kinds of venues, but I c...
Want Dolly Parton to Wish Your Love Happy Valentine’s Day by Name? She’s Got Your Musical Message
Whether you have a date this Valentine’s Day or are spending it solo, Dolly Parton is showering her fans with love. American Greetings announced on Friday (Feb. 4) a new SmashUp video ecard, featuring the country icon herself singing her legendary 1973 hit, “I Will Always Love You.” The heartfelt card features a one-minute video montage displaying of all kinds of love from romantic to familial and even the love between a pet and its owner. “Love comes in all sizes, all types and all colors,” Parton’s voice is heard telling the recipient after singing the chorus from her beloved love song. Parton also can personally say your loved one’s name, which you can pick from a drop-down menu one of more than 1,000 names. Explore See latest videos, charts and news “I’m excited to share this Smas...
Tim McGraw Shows Off His Vocal Chops With This Elton John Classic on ‘Colbert’: Watch
Tim McGraw is currently starring on the Taylor Sheridan series 1883, alongside wife and fellow artist Faith Hill, but he’s still a musician at heart. On Feb. 2, during an appearance on The Late Show With Stephen Colbert, McGraw got some help from Jon Batiste & Stay Human on an impromptu cover of the Elton John classic “Tiny Dancer.” Explore See latest videos, charts and news See latest videos, charts and news At the conclusion of Colbert’s interview with McGraw, the late-night host asked the musician-actor if he would sing them into the break. McGraw happily agreed, asking to sing “Tiny Dancer.” McGraw has long covered the John hit in concert, and even teamed with John himself to perform “Tiny Dancer” as the opening performance of the 2003 American Music Awards. McGraw also included a ...
Morgan Wallen, Miranda Lambert & Kane Brown to Headline 2022 Watershed Festival
The Watershed Music and Camping Festival shared its 2022 lineup on Tuesday (Feb. 2), and promises a trio of headlining performances from Morgan Wallen, Miranda Lambert and Kane Brown. Set for July 29 to July 31 at the Gorge Amphitheatre in George, Wash., The Watershed festival — which celebrates its 10th anniversary in 2022 — will welcome several other performers to the festival’s two stages, including Lauren Alaina, Tenille Arts, Callista Clark, Jessie James Decker, current Billboard Country Airplay chart-topper Jordan Davis, Caylee Hammack, LOCASH, Jake Owen, Michael Ray, Chase Rice, Jameson Rodgers, Runaway June, Dylan Scott, Tenille Townes, Hailey Whitters and Dee Jay Silver. Additional performers will be announced soon. Explore See latest videos, charts and news See latest video...
Lady A and Lady A Settle Lawsuits over Shared Name
Blues veteran Lady A and country superstars Lady A (formerly Lady Antebellum) have agreed to settle a lawsuit over their shared name. As The Hollywood Reporter notes, they filed joint requests for dismissal on Monday. Details have not been made public, and it’s unclear if money changed hands or whether both parties will call themselves Lady A going forward. Lady Antebellum drastically shortened their name in 2020 following protests over George Floyd’s murder by a Minneapolis cop. At the time, they wrote of antebellum, “We are regretful and embarrassed to say that we did not take into account the associations that weigh down this word referring to the period of history before The Civil War, which includes slavery. We are deeply sorry for the hurt this has caused.” However, they al...
