Country
Brandi Carlile Announces New Album In These Silent Days, Shares “Right on Time”: Stream
Brandi Carlile has announced a new studio album called In These Silent Days, and shared the lead single, “Right on Time”. Written and recorded by Carlile while in quarantine with her longtime bandmates Tim and Phil Hanseroth, the album found inspiration from her recent memoir, Broken Horses, leading to 10 tracks that arose from “a time of deep and personal reckoning.” As Carlile explained in a statement, “There’s plenty reflection… but mostly it’s a celebration. This album is what drama mixed with joy sounds like. It’s resistance and gratitude, righteous anger and radical forgiveness. It’s the sound of these silent days.” Along with the Hanseroth brothers, the album features a guest appearance from Lucius’ Jess Wolfe and Holly Laessig on the track “You and Me on the Rock.” Advert...
Taylor Swift Withdraws Re-Recorded Fearless from Grammy, CMA Awards Contention
Taylor Swift won’t have to compete with herself at the Grammys or CMA Awards this year, as she’s decided to pull Fearless (Taylor’s Version) from contention. A representative for Republic Records confirmed to Billboard that the re-recording of Swift’s 2008 sophomore record won’t be submitted “in any category at this year’s upcoming Grammy and CMA Awards.” As the statement went on to note, “Fearless has already won four Grammys including album of the year, as well as the CMA Award for album of the year in 2009/2010 and remains the most awarded country album of all time.” It’s certainly fair of Swift not to try and repeat her wins with essentially the same songs. But it also means that she won’t be competing with herself, as the Republic rep added that the singer’s ninth LP, December 2020’s ...
Dolly Parton Recreates Classic Playboy Bunny Look for Husband’s Birthday
Dolly Parton has recreated her iconic Playboy bunny look as a special gift for the 79th birthday of her husband, Carl Dean. About a week after the country legend said last year that she wanted to be on the cover of Playboy for her 75th birthday, the long-running adult magazine published its final issue. While the magazine may no longer be in print, Parton is still every bit a cover girl. “My husband always loved the original cover of Playboy,” Parton said in a video shared to social media, referring to her iconic 1978 magazine cover, “so I was trying to think of something to do to make him happy. He still thinks I’m a hot chick after 57 years — and I’m not going to try to talk him out of that.” Advertisement Related Video Holding up the portrait gift, she continued, “Anyway, what...
R.I.P. Martin Kahan, Music Video Director (KISS, Rush, Mötley Crüe) Dead at 74
Martin Kahan, a prolific music video director, has died at age 74. He passed away this past Sunday (July 18th) in Lakewood, New Jersey, following a battle with cancer. Kahan directed numerous videos for hard rock acts in the 1980s. If you watched MTV during that era, you surely caught Kahan’s work. Some of his best known clips include KISS sans-makeup (“Lick It Up”, “All Hell’s Breakin Loose”), Mötley Crüe (“Too Young to Fall in Love”), Scorpions (“I’m Leaving You”), and Bon Jovi (“In and Out of Love,” “She Don’t Know Me”). Videos for Ian Hunter (the VMA-nomiated “All of the Good Ones Are Taken”), Loverboy (“Queen of the Broken Hearts”), and Michael Bolton (“Fool’s Game”) also garnered rotation on MTV. Advertisement Related Video Kahan got a break early in his career when he shot three vid...
Jason Aldean Places ‘Blame’ Atop Country Airplay Chart, Earning His 23rd No. 1
Aldean, who first topped Country Airplay with “Why” in May 2006, boasts the seventh-most No. 1s since the chart began in January 1990. Kenny Chesney leads with 31, followed by Tim McGraw (29), Blake Shelton (28), Alan Jackson, George Strait (26 each) and Luke Bryan (24). NEW TOP 10s Kane Brown and blackbear’s “Memory” launches at No. 9 on the multi-metric Hot Country Songs chart. The team-up drew 8.5 million streams and sold 7,800 downloads in its first week, ending July 15, following its July 9 release. It enters Country Digital Song Sales at No. 4. “Memory” marks Brown’s ninth Hot Country Songs top 10. Songwriter-producer blackbear (real name Matthew Tyler Musto) makes his first visit, following two top 10s, among seven top 10s, on Billboar...
Guy Clark Documentary ‘Without Getting Killed Or Caught’ Finally Gets Theatrical Release Schedule
Now, as the pandemic recedes, the film, which examines Clark’s unparalleled songwriting, as well as his complicated relationship with his wife, Susanna, and fellow songwriter Townes Van Zandt, will finally play in front of live audiences, starting Friday (July 23) in Austin, with one-week engagements in more than a dozen cities planned throughout the summer and fall. For Saviano, it is gratifying to finally have people see and hear the movie in the way it was intended. “It’s been a long, long, road,” she tells Billboard. “My husband Paul and I started working on this film in 2014 when Guy was still alive. The most exciting thing to me is that I never have to make the film again. I’m thrilled that people are going to get to see Guy larger than life on the big screen and hear his music in hi...
4 Faster Horses Festivalgoers Found Dead During Michigan Country Concert
“This tragic incident is being investigated as a suspected carbon monoxide exposure from a generator located very near the travel trailer,” the sheriff’s office said on Twitter. Separately, state police reported the death of a 30-year-old woman, Melissa Havens of Croswell. The cause and manner was unknown, state police said, although investigators were looking for a suspect. “Detectives want the public to know there is no danger or threats to people attending” the music festival, state police said. The three-day festival is scheduled to conclude Sunday. Its headliners include Luke Combs, Thomas Rhett and Jason Aldean. You Deserve to Make Money Even When you are looking for Dates Online. So we reimagined what a dating should be. It begins with giving you back power. Get to meet Beautiful pe...
Rockabye Baby Announces Dolly Parton Lullaby Album, Shares “Jolene”: Stream
For fans of Dolly Parton who’ve wanted to introduce their infants to her music in lullaby form, Rockabye Baby! has them covered. Today, the company announced Lullaby Renditions of Dolly Parton, an album of the country icon’s biggest hits due out July 30th. Spanning 13 tracks, the album includes covers of some of Parton’s most recognizable songs, including “9 to 5,” “I Will Always Love You,” and “Coat of Many Colors.” As a first preview, Rockabye Baby! has shared a glockenspiel-driven lullaby version of “Jolene.” In the animated music video, an adorable baby bear acts out their dreams of stardom on an abandoned stage, using nothing but a broom and their imagination. Watch it below. Advertisement Related Video At 75 years old, Parton has hardly slowed down. In October 2020, she released...
Olivia Rodrigo, Justin Bieber, Normani, Khalid & More of the Week’s Biggest Winners (July 16)
Take a look at Billboard‘s new weekly roundup and the “awards” it gave to this week’s headlines. Sweetest Music News: Cardi B & Offset throw Kulture a 3rd birthday party fit for a princess Cardi and Offset’s little princess got the royal treatment on Saturday (July 10) for her third birthday, which included a horse-drawn carriage to a greeting party of Disney princesses and a custom Eliantte diamond neck piece for even more razzle dazzle. But to all the haters who wanted to rain on Kulture’s parade, Cardi wasn’t having it. “Listen imma live my childhood dreams thru my kids,” she tweeted in defense of the lavish celebration and gift. See photos of the party here and extravagant gift here, read Cardi...
Dan + Shay Set ‘Good Things’ Album, Share Title Track: Listen
To get the ball rolling at full speed, the pair today shares the title track and its official music video, directed by frequent collaborator Patrick Tracy. With “10,000 Hours,” Good Things already has a place in the history books. The single logged 21 weeks at No. 1 on Billboard’s Hot Country Songs chart, the fifth-longest stretch in the chart’s history, and its performance culminated in a Grammy Award for Best Country Duo/Group Performance, their historic third consecutive win in that category. Dan + Shay will build the buzz when they headline NBC’s Citi Music Series this morning (July 16) on TODAY, with performances locked in at 8:00 am and 9:00 am. Good Things is the followup to 2018’s Dan + Shay which bowed at No. 6 on the Billboard 200 albums chart, and confirmed the artists as ...
Carly Pearce Set to Host 2021 ACM Honors
As previously reported, Hillary Lindsey — known for penning “Jesus, Take the Wheel,” among many other major country hits — will be honored with the songwriter of the year award, whileJay Joyce will receive the award for producer of the year for the fifth time. “We look forward to having industry and fans join us as we recognize the significant accomplishments of our 55th and 56th studio recording awards, industry awards, songwriter of the year and special awards winners with a night of unforgettable performances,” said Damon Whiteside, CEO of the ACM. The 14th annual ACM Honors will be livestreamed for viewers on Circle network’s channels. Alternatively, tickets to the live show are available for purchase on&...
Amy Grant, Toby Keith & More Selected for Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame
This year’s inductees bring the total number of songwriters in the Hall to 218. Though country songwriters predominate, the body includes “writers from all genres of music,” according to a NaSHOF mission statement. The Nashville Hall dates to 1970 – the same year the Songwriters Hall of Fame launched. The announcement was made Tuesday (July 13) by Sarah Cates, chair of the organization’s board of directors, and Mark Ford, its executive director. Four of the five inductees have received Grammy nominations for best country song: Akins in 2018 for co-writing Blake Shelton’s “I Lived It,” Cannon in 2007 for co-writing George Strait’s “Give It Away,” Keith in 2003 for co-writing his own “Beer for My Horses” (a collab with Willie Nelson), and Grant in 2011 for co-writing Vince Gill’s “Threaten M...
