Country
Alan Jackson Puts Songs & Memories Center Stage at Nashville Concert: 5 Standout Moments
And that’s just what he did, from the opening number of “Gone Country” and straight through the night. During the nostalgic “Drive (For Daddy Gene),” men across the arena had raised hands and held up beers in solidarity by the time the entertainer even reached the first chorus, singing, “I was king of the ocean/ When daddy let me drive.” Couples hugged and swayed along for the sweetly romantic “Remember When,” and instantly went into party mode during such classics as “I Don’t Even Know Your Name,” “Country Boy” and “It’s Five O’Clock Somewhere.” As “a singer of simple songs,” Jackson’s voice was as warm and limber as ever, the perfect vehicle for putting across his relatable tales of love, loss and life. Pa...
Eric Church Sets 2 Solo Shows After Bandmates Test Positive for COVID-19
Church launched the aptly named tour Sept. 17 at Lexington, Ky.’s Rupp Arena. The tour is slated to run through May 20, 2022, culminating with a show at New York’s Madison Square Garden. Church’s Gather Again Tour has been a joyous reunion for the artist and his fans alike, marking his return to the road after the pandemic forced the postponement of both Church’s Heart & Soul triple album and his 2020 tour. It also marks the first time Church has used an in-the-round stage for his tour. For a Billboard cover story earlier this year, Church received his COVID-19 vaccination during his Billboard photo shoot. “It became very clear to me that the only way to really get back to normal is through vaccinations,” he told Billboard at the time. “You’ve got to get needles...
Gary LeVox Opens Up About the End of Rascal Flatts: ‘I Wasn’t Happy That Joe Don Quit’
“It kind of came out of nowhere,” LeVox said. “It was like, ‘Let me try to wrap my head around this.’ And then I certainly wasn’t okay with the pandemic, which canceled everything. I hate the way that it ended. I hate that we didn’t get to do this farewell tour. I can’t stand the fact that it just feels there’s no closure with something that we’ve been so blessed with. That will always be in my heart.” As the group’s 2020 tour dates were already on hold due to the pandemic, the group disbanded quietly, with LeVox pursuing a solo career and releasing the recent Christian album One on One. Meanwhile, DeMarcus released a tribute to his late father with “Music Man,” and also runs the CCM label Red Street Record...
Dolly Parton and Businesses Raise $700K For Tennessee Flood Relief
Dolly Parton and her Smoky Mountain businesses have raised $700,000 to help residents impacted by the catastrophic flooding in Middle Tennessee. According to a Wednesday (Oct. 6) news release, Parton chose United Way of Humphreys County to receive and distribute the donation at the suggestion of her friend and fellow country music legend Loretta Lynn. A foreman at Lynn’s ranch was among those who died in the flood. Parton says she was compelled to help out after the support the Smokies received following the 2016 Sevier County wildfires. “After the Sevier County wildfires in 2016, Loretta was one of the first who reached out to offer anything she could,” Parton said in a statement. “It meant so much to me that Loretta — and so many folks — were ready to give in any way they could. This was...
Kacey Musgraves Becomes First Artist to Perform Naked on SNL
This past weekend, Kacey Musgraves served as the musical guest for Saturday Night Live’s Season 47 premiere. For her first performance of the evening, she played “justified” armed with an acoustic guitar and nothing else. It turns out she wasn’t just faking being nude, as many actors do to abide by FCC regulations, but rather she was completely naked and strategically positioned her body to get away with it — making her the first artist to ever do so on SNL. First of all, it’s important to clarify that Musgraves wasn’t ditching her outfit for no reason to promote Star-Crossed. While she was fully clothed for her rendition of “camera roll” on SNL, she opted to strip down for “justified” as a reference to the infamous Forrest Gump scene in which Jenny (played by Robin Wright) takes the stage...
Michelle Tigard Kammerer Named Amazon Music’s Head of Country Music
Kammerer launched her career at Creative Artists Agency, before joining Country Radio Broadcasters as senior director of brand marketing and strategic partnerships. In 2014, she helped re-launch Dot Records under Big Machine Label Group and was named national director of marketing and promotion. In 2017, Kammerer transitioned to the label group’s BMLG Records as senior national director of marketing and promotion, where she worked with artists including Florida Georgia Line, Brett Young and Lady A. She has also served on the board of directors for the Women’s Music Business Association, Society of Leaders in Development, Women Rock for the Cure and on the Country Radio Seminar Agenda Committee. Amazon Music recently shared that its Country Heat brand, which includes the Country...
Jason Aldean Reacts to COVID-19 Vaccine Mandate in California Schools: ‘People Should Be Outraged’
Aldean was reacting to an Oct. 1 announcement from Gov. Gavin Newsom, who said that once the U.S. Federal Drug Administration (FDA) approves the coronavirus vaccine for younger age groups, it would be added to the list of inoculations that are required for students in kindergarten through 12th grade. Right now, the FDA has fully approved Pfizer’s vaccine for those that are 16 and older, while the vaccine is available for ages 12 to 15 under emergency use authorization. Newsom expects that the requirement would apply to grades seven and up starting in July 2022. “We want to end this pandemic,” said the governor, as the COVID-19 death toll in the U.S. surpassed 700,000. “We are all exhausted by it.” Aldean, whose “If I Didn’t Love You”...
Kacey Musgraves Delivers Gorgeous ‘Star-Crossed’ Songs on ‘SNL’ Season Premiere
Later during the Owen Wilson-hosted episode of SNL, Musgraves wore a yellow plaid shirt with blue jeans for the bittersweet “Camera Roll,” one of her new album’s more literal songs about the memories associated with looking back on past photos in your cell phone. “I don’t wanna see ’em/ But I can’t delete ’em/ It just doesn’t feel right yet,” she emotionally sang. Musgraves’ fifth studio effort, star-crossed, dropped on Sept. 10 and launched at No. 1 on Billboard‘s Top Country Albums and Top Album Sales charts. The singer made her SNL debut in 2018 around the release of her highly acclaimed release Golden Hour. Kim Kardashian will host the following weekend of SNL on Oct. 9, accompanied by musical guest Halsey, who performed ...
Kacey Musgraves Channels Her Inner Jenny Gump During SNL Season Premiere: Watch
Kacey Musgraves helped kick off Saturday Night Live’s 47th season with a performance referencing the infamous Forest Gump scene in which Jenny takes the stage in the nude. The Nashville singer-songwriter performed “justified” with only a large acoustic guitar and boots visible to the camera. Many fans were quick to point out the similarities to Robin Wright’s portrayal of Jenny Gump in Robert Zemeckis’ 1994 blockbuster. Musgraves seemingly confirmed the inspiration in a tweet posted following the performance. Musgraves’ SNL appearance came in support of her latest album, Star-Crossed, and also featured a performance the song “camera roll.” Replay both performances below. Advertisement Related Video Staring in January, Musgraves will embark on a US tour in support of Star-Crossed, featuring...
Morgan Wallen Banned from Attending the CMA Awards, Still Nominated for Album of the Year
Well, this is awkward: Disgraced country star Morgan Wallen — who in February was caught on video hollering the N-word in the midst of a “72-hour bender” — has been banned from attending the Country Music Association Awards next month, despite still being nominated for Album of the Year. This news is pretty mind-boggling, considering Wallen was also banned from the Academy of Country Music, revoking his eligibility for any 2021 ACM Awards. Apparently, the CMA’s decision came about in an effort to acknowledge the team behind the album, Dangerous, while still trying to limit Wallen’s association with the awards show (because “separating the art from the artist” has always worked well in the past). “This was something we looked at from so many angles,” CMA CEO Sarah Trahern told the LA T...
Jason Aldean Reacts to Backlash Over Wife’s Anti-Biden Post: ‘I Will Never Apologize for My Beliefs’
When one Instagram user accused Brittany of using the couple’s children as “political props,” Aldean also defended his family. According to The Washington Post, Aldean commented, saying, “Watch ur mouth lady! We will teach our kids what we think is right and what we think is best for their future. If you think what is happening right now is ‘great’ for the future of our kids and grandkids, u are delusional!” When a commenter stated, “If you thought Trump’s path for America was any better, you’re delusional!,” to which Aldean responded, “Definitely better than what we got now! Please tell me one thing that the current administration has done that is positive? Just 1!!!” Previously, Aldean has kept his political beliefs close to the vest so as not to alienate a ...
Billy Strings Is Top Winner at 2021 IBMA Bluegrass Music Awards
Appalachian Road Show, Dale Ann Bradley and Sierra Hull were also two-time winners. Appalachian Road Show took instrumental group of the year and new artist of the year. Bradley took female vocalist of the year for the sixth time and tied for gospel recording of the year. Sierra Hull took mandolin player of the year and was among the featured artists on the winner for collaborative recording of the year: Bobby Osborne‘s “White Line Fever.” Other repeat winners in marquee categories included Sister Sadie, which won vocal group of the year for the third consecutive year; and Danny Paisley and Del McCoury, who tied for male vocalist of the year. This was Paisley’s second straight win in that category (and his third overall). It was McCoury’s fifth win in the category, ...
