Music

Ben Farrell, a legendary concert promoter who played a major role in the career of Garth Brooks and many other artists, has died. According to a press release, Farrell died "peacefully" at his home on Aug. 10, "surrounded by his family and so much love."Born Ben Kerby Farrell on July 17, 1946, in Jackson, Tenn., Farrell had big dreams from an early age. His father, Kerby Farrell, was a professional baseball player and manager, and the family traveled extensively, during which time Farrell developed his own love of the game....

Lindsey Buckingham is hitting the road again. A year after releasing his self-titled album, the former Fleetwood Mac guitarist is making stops across Europe and the United Kingdom, before another U.S. trek this fall. “As promised, we’re coming back on our US tour,” Buckingham tweeted Friday. The run kicks off Oct. 26 at the Paramount Center for the Arts in Bristol, Tennessee and wraps Nov. 19 at the Bell Auditorium in Augusta, Georgia. Ticket information is available on Buckingham’s website. Ahead of his album’s release last year, Buckingham spoke to Rolling...

Kane Brown will represent country music at this year's MTV Video Music Awards on Sunday, August 28. Not only will he make history as the first male country singer to perform during the show, he is also nominated for an award.Brown's music video for "Grand" is up for Song of the Summer."Grand" is a fairly late entry into the category. The "Lose It" singer released the song on July 22, before dropping a futuristic music video shortly after. The video features several scenes in a warehouse lit by various colored...

Three separate generations of hip-hop will join forces at the 2022 Video Music Awards as LL Cool J, Nicki Minaj, and Jack Harlow come together to revamp the traditional hosting gig for the awards ceremony, scheduled for August 28 at New Jersey’s Prudential Center. The trio will serve as MCs for the night, swapping out the traditional host title in a move MTV has described as “innovative and unique” compared to past shows. Last year, Doja Cat mixed up the hosting format with a fashion-forward take, rotating through five outfits...

Chapel Hart clinched their spot in the America's Got Talent finals with their Tuesday night (Aug. 16) performance of their original song, "The Girls Are Back In Town."The energetic, ultra-country tune finds the ladies singing about going out on the town, and it name drops country stars Tanya Tucker and Gretchen Wilson. Not only did the performance earn them a spot in the finals, but it earned a reaction from Tucker herself.Tucker took to social media Wednesday (Aug. 17) to share her thoughts on tune, in which the trio sings,...

Buzzy Collab "I wanted to try something new," the singer tells Rolling Stone Newcomer Aleesha has been playing with a wide sound palette: The up-and-coming singer might be known for silky R&B experiments, but recently, she’s been doing everything she can get her hands on. She jumped headfirst into lo-fi rock on the track “Amigos” last month, and she showed off her sleek balladry on “MIA.” Now, she’s teamed up with Dominican mainstays Haraca Kiko and El Cherry Scom for the dembow track “Melacomo.” Aleesha, whose based in Barcelona and...

Evan Paul hosts Taste of Country Nights, On Demand, a weekly country music interview podcast that focuses on the music. Follow wherever podcasts are found, like Apple Podcasts and Spotify and leave a rating and review. ​​​​​​​​​​​This show is part of the Townsquare Media On Demand network.I recently had the time of my life chatting with Ben Rector. Ben started out the interview by telling me that his album had collaborations on it — everyone from a children's choir, to Kenny G and Snoop Dogg. I was instantly drawn to his collaboration with Snoop Dogg, of course. If you have ever heard Ben's...

You probably know Melissa Young as Kid Sister, who, in 2007, as a spritely Chicago MC earned a verse with the city’s burgeoning superstar, Kanye West, on her high-energy dance-rap track “Pro Nails.” Today, she continues to make music; she recently appeared on Black Thought and Danger Mouse’s boom-bap collab, Cheat Codes, and has seemed to earn credits as a contributor to esteemed Black-power-soul outfit Sault (“I’m not at liberty to say anything about anything,” she says when I ask her about her involvement with the group.) She’s been studying songwriting,...

On Aug. 18, 1998, Jo Dee Messina landed at No. 1 on the Billboard country singles chart with "I'm Alright."The title track from Messina's second studio album, the Phil Vassar-penned "I'm Alright" features a woman who's down on her luck, but meeting up with an old friend (who perhaps might be an old flame) to catch up. Sparks don't fly — the man is now married, after all — but the rendezvous does help the narrator gain perspective on how her own life is going.Jo Dee Messina I'm AlrightCurbloading..."I've been...

A federal prosecutor made an initial attempt at shedding light on R. Kelly’s “dark side” during opening statements for the disgraced artist’s federal sex crimes and child pornography trial in Chicago on Wednesday, Aug. 17. According to the Chicago Tribune, Assistant U.S. Attorney Jason Julien told jurors that the superstar singer “had another side, a hidden side, a dark side, that he … did not allow the world to see.” Julien also accused Kelly’s co-defendants, Derrel McDavid and Milton Brown of knowing about Kelly’s alleged actions, and helping him keep...

Jimmie Allen is headed to NBC's The Voice. He has been revealed as the Battles Round advisor for Blake Shelton's team during Season 22 of the singing competition show.Shelton announced the news on social media on Wednesday (Aug. 17), writing, "I couldn’t keep it a secret any longer… Welcome to #TeamBlake, @jimmieallen!!!"The photo he shared includes the two artists on set.The partnership was previously teased on The Voice's social media accounts. In a video shared on Tuesday (Aug. 16), Shelton gave clues involving Allen's knack for "rocking some pretty crazy outfits onstage"...

Foo Fighters have scheduled a pair of tribute concerts to late drummer Taylor Hawkins, marking their first live appearances since Hawkins’ death in March. The band announced the shows on Instagram Wednesday. The first will take place Sept. 3 at Wembley Stadium in London, while the second will be held Sept. 27 at the Forum in Los Angeles. Full lineups for the shows will be announced at a later date. Tickets will go on sale June 17 via the Foo Fighters’ website.  The Sept. 3 concert in London will also...

Thirty-seven years ago today (Aug. 17, 1985) was a significant day for the country music supergroup the Highwaymen, made up of Waylon Jennings, Willie Nelson, Kris Kristofferson and Johnny Cash. It was on that date that their debut single, "Highwayman," soared to No. 1 on Billboard's Hot Country Songs chart."Highwayman," written by Jimmy Webb, was previously recorded by both Webb and Glen Campbell, before the quartet -- who named themselves after the hit single -- made it the title track of their freshman album. Each member of the group sang a verse."After I...

Keith Urban knows a thing or two about viral concert moments. Crowd interaction is in his DNA, which — combined with a willingness to take huge risks — makes each of his tours over the last decade a series of breathless "what if" moments for both audience and performer.Fan collaborations, baby gender reveals, proposals — the three-time Entertainer of the Year has been finding organic ways to communicate with his crowd since his time in country trio The Ranch nearly 30 years ago. Back then, it was a matter of survival. "Sometimes you’re playing clubs where they...