Country
Dan + Shay Cancel Two Arena Concerts Due to COVID-19
“We know a lot of y’all have traveled or plan to travel for these shows, and it breaks our hearts to let you down,” the duo’s Dan Smyers and Shay Mooney said. On a positive note, they did tease some other upcoming news — namely, a few holiday surprises set to be revealed beginning Wednesday. The duo previously released two holiday songs last year, including “Take Me Home for Christmas” and “Christmas Isn’t Christmas.” That’s not the duo’s only recent uplifting news. Next year, they will tour stadiums as part of Kenny Chesney’s Here and Now 2022 tour. Dan + Shay will open shows for Chesney, alongside Old Dominion and Carly Pearce. For fans bummed about the two now-canceled Orlando and Atlanta shows, Dan + Shay als...
Dale Ann Bradley Serves a Poignant Reminder With ‘In the End’ Video
“When I listened to this song for the first time, I knew it was a message that was needed, especially with all that has been going on in our country and the world,” Bradley, a founding and former member of bluegrass band Sister Sadie, tells Billboard of the tune written by Jill Gilliam. “It said to me, that what matters is what we leave on this earth for others, and we sometimes don’t remember that we are all leaving this world. What truly matters is the love and kindness we leave behind. It’s the only thing that will make things change after we are gone. We all have differences, but fighting about things that are superficial doesn’t matter, it only leaves hurt behind for generations. The only thing that lasts and nurtures future generations is how we’ve...
Morgan Wallen to Headline 3 Shows at Kentucky Arena As WME Confirms It No Longer Books Him
The dates have been added piecemeal as Wallen continues to deal with the fallout of TMZ posting a video of the country star saying a racial slur in February, including not being allowed to perform or attend Nov. 10’s CMA Awards. Consequences also included his booking agency, WME, dropping the artist. As previously reported by Deadline, some concerts that were booked prior to Wallen’s controversial incident were re-booked through WME’s internal system, though no new shows have been booked through WME. The agency also told Deadline that commissions from Wallen’s concerts were being donated to charity. WME confirmed to Billboard that they are not booking new shows for Wallen. Fans and venues, however, are ready to welcome Wallen back. “Lexington loves country...
First Country: George Strait, Maddie & Tae, Tiera, Shy Carter
Strait’s law enforcement tribute, which he penned alongside his son Bubba Strait and longtime collaborator Dean Dillon, gets a new video that honors first responders. The clip highlights moments of conversation with law enforcement members, firefighters and other personnel, as well as their families, each detailing the risks that come with their careers. Tiera, “Gentleman” Singer-songwriter Tiera became the flagship signing for Nicolle Galyon’s Songs & Daughters publishing division in 2020, and earlier this year, inked a label deal with Big Machine’s The Valory Music Co. She recently wed her longtime love Kamren Kennedy, though she penned this sultry, celebratory ode to their relationship two years ago. Here, Tiera deftly uses her style of country songcraft to detail ...
WME Adds Waylon Jennings’ Estate to Legends Division
“The WME Legends team looks forward to working with the family to holistically manage Waylon’s name, image, likeness, life and IP rights and assets worldwide to grow his legacy with a new generation.” Jennings died in 2002, a year after being inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame. During his 40-year career, he scored approximately 70 top 40 hits on Billboard’s country charts, including such monumental classics as “Rainy Day Woman,” “Luckenbach, Texas,” “Amanda,” “Theme from the Dukes of Hazzard (Good Ol’ Boys)” and countless others. Wanted! The Outlaws, featuring Jennings, Willie Nelson, Tompall Glaser and Colter, and the 1976 release became the first country album to be certified platinum. Jennings and Nelson, who du...
Brandi Carlile Announces 2022 Tour Dates
On the heels of her appearance on Saturday Night Live, Brandi Carlile has announced a series of high-profile headlining concerts in 2022. In support of her latest album, In These Silent Days, Carlile will play shows at the Gorge Amphitheatre in George, WA; the Greek Theatre in Los Angeles; TD Garden in Boston; and Madison Square Garden in New York City. She’ll also play two nights each at Nashville’s Ascend Amphitheatre and Red Rocks in Morrison, CO. Check out the full itinerary below. Over the course of her tour, Carlile will be joined by a rotating cast of opening acts, including Brittany Howard, Lucius, Indigo Girls, and Allison Russell, among others. Advertisement Related Video A ticket pre-sale begins Thursday, October 28th, with a general on-sale taking place the following day. Ticke...
Sonny Osborne, Bluegrass Banjoist Behind ‘Rocky Top,’ Dies at 84
With his brother Bobby, the bluegrass legends were inducted into the Grand Ole Opry, won a CMA Award and helped popularize & modernize the genre. Bluegrass musician and singer Sonny Osborne, whose fast banjo licks turned “Rocky Top” into a hit with The Osborne Brothers, has died. He was 84. Alison Brown, a Grammy-winning banjo player, told The Tennessean that Osborne died on Sunday. His death was first announced on the website Bluegrass Today, where Osborne was a columnist. With his older brother Bobby, who sang and played the mandolin, the bluegrass legends were inducted into the Grand Ole Opry, won a CMA Award and helped popularize and modernize the genre. You Deserve to Make Money Even When you are looking for Dates Online. So we reimagined what a dating should be. It begins with gi...
Garth Brooks Reveals Grand Ole Opry House Concert After Selling Out Two Ryman Shows
“I am stunned at the number of people who showed up for this on sale,” Brooks said. “And as happy as I should be, I feel bad for the people who did not get tickets. We have already talked to the Opry House and we are starting on a plan to take care of as many as we can who did not get tickets.” In July, Brooks’ show at Nashville’s Nissan Stadium was called off shortly after it began, due to inclement weather. Soon after, he canceled the next five stops on his stadium tour due to concerns with the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, before ultimately trading stadium shows for smaller-capacity venues. Brooks will also take the stage at the Grand Ole Opry House on Oct. 30, as part of the Grand Ole Opry’s celebration of its 5,000th Saturday night broa...
Brandi Carlile Shines on ‘SNL’ With Performances of ‘Broken Horses’ & ‘Right on Time’: Watch
“I just feel like he is my people. I couldn’t be more happy to be on there with him,” Carlile said, adding that she’s seen every Ted Lasso episode “at least once.” “It’s a spectacular character and a really special show. I think it really happened at the right time when people needed it — they needed to feel good about something. And my wife is British, so she’s been really homesick with all the travel restrictions and everything she got to do to this tour de London, through Ted Lasso.” Carlile released her seventh studio album, In These Silent Days, on Oct. 1 through Low Country Sound/Elektra Records. Produced by Dave Cobb and Shooter Jennings, the set bowed at No. 1 on Billboard’s Americana/Folk Albums chart, as well as the Top Rock Albums chart, and Tastemake...
Brandi Carlile Makes Saturday Night Live Debut: Watch
Some 18 years into her brilliant career, Brandi Carlile finally got her turn as Saturday Night Live’s musical guest. The six-time Grammy Award winner supported her latest album, In These Silent Days, by performing “Broken Horses” and “Right On Time.” Watch replays of both below. Carlile appeared opposite host SNL alumnus and Ted Lasso star Jason Sudeikis, whose return to Studio 8H was well worth the wait. Together, the Sudeikis-Carlile combo made for a standout episode in SNL’s still-young 47th season. Carlile has yet to announce a proper tour in support of In These Silent Days, but has spent plenty of time on stage as of late. In addition to playing SNL, she recently shared the stage with both Pearl Jam and the surviving members of Soundgarden, and covered Joni Mitchell’s “Woodstock.” Spe...
Travis Tritt Performs National Anthem At to Braves-Dodgers Game Days After Canceling Gigs Over Vax Mandates
Travis Tritt, who recently voiced his refusal to play at venues that enforce vaccine and mask policies, sang the National Anthem prior to Game Six of the National League Championship Series between the Los Angeles Dodgers and Atlanta Braves. Because of Major League Baseball’s on-field vaccine mandate for all non-players, the country singer sang from the stands of Atlanta’s Truist Park, according to MLB reporter Scott Miller. The performance was not televised, but individuals who attended the game tweeted that Tritt was met with a smattering of boos. Tritt himself announced his appearance just 18 hours prior to first pitch. The team itself made no public acknowledgement of his presence other than telling Washington Post that they would follow all COVID protocols as Tritt sang the anthem. Ad...
Scotty McCreery’s ‘Five More Minutes’ Inspires Hallmark Christmas Movie
McCreery wrote “Five More Minutes” alongside Frank Rogers and Monty Criswell, and the song was one of three consecutive No. 1 Country Airplay hits from McCreery’s 2018 album Seasons Change. “It’s [about] my grandaddy. That’s my story, but I think people relate to every part of the song,” McCreery told Billboard of “Five More Minutes” in 2018. In that same interview, McCreery also recalled a key moment when he realized the song stood a good chance of becoming a hit. “We sang [‘Five More’] live at the Grand Ole Opry, and kinda debuted it for the fans in [June] 2016, and I’ve never had a standing ovation at the Opry like that, period. Somebody said the other day, ‘The Opry crowd, they wanna sit. They don’t wanna stand...
