Music

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...

Kelly Clarkson knows what it takes to win a competition show — and now, she’s (kinda) hosting her own. On Tuesday, the singer announced she’s taking her talk show’s “Kellyoke” segment — where she covers her favorite songs, both old and new — on the road to welcome others to perform duets of her own songs. Clarkson’s tour bus will make stops in New York City, Los Angeles, Dallas, and Chicago — and also watch auditions submitted on TikTok with the hashtag #KellyokeSearch — to find the best singers to...

Seventeen years ago, on Aug. 16, 2005, Brad Paisley released his fourth studio album, Time Well Wasted. The record was released on Arista Records.Time Well Wasted spawned three No. 1 singles: "When I Get Where I'm Going," featuring Dolly Parton, "The World" and "She's Everything," the latter of which was certified double platinum, for sales of 2 million copies. The album also features the song "Waitin' on a Woman," which was later included on a reissue of Paisley's 2007 record 5th Gear, as well as on his 2008 album Play. Written by Wynn Varble and Don Sampson, the...

Chicago — R. Kelly appeared in court Monday for the first day of his second trial in Chicago in 14 years. It began with jury selection in his federal trial where he faces child pornography and obstruction of justice charges. U.S. District Judge Harry Leinenweber questioned nearly 60 potential jurors over six hours at the Dirksen U.S. Courthouse, with a focus on how much they knew about the disgraced R&B singer. The 55-year-old singer was already convicted on racketeering and sex trafficking charges in New York federal court; he was sentenced...

Garth Brooks is hoping to team up with the city of Nashville to create a new police substation in the bustling Lower Broadway area.Per the Tennessean, the star is eying a space right next to his forthcoming three-story bar and entertainment venue, which is located at 411 Broadway. If approved by Metro Council, that alleyway spot could be transformed into a police substation.Brooks hopes that having a police outpost in the busy downtown Nashville hub will help control traffic and safety, providing resources for Metro police and the Nashville Department of Transportation...

Rage Against the Machine wrapped up the 2022 leg of their Public Service Announcement reunion tour with a five-night stand at New York’s Madison Square Garden that concluded Sunday. At the second-to-last show on Friday night, they broke out “Fistful of Steel” for the first time since 1997. Check out the fan-shot video right here. The song is a deep cut from their 1993 self-titled LP. They played nearly every song from the album at some point on the tour except for “Settle For Nothing,” which they haven’t touched since...

Jessica Harp is showing her support for Michelle Branch -- her band mate in The Wreckers -- during a difficult time. Days after news broke that Branch is splitting from her husband of three years, the Black Keys drummer Patrick Carney, Harp posted a carousel of photos showing a series of happy memories that she and Branch share.The first image shows the two women rocking out on guitar together, big smiles on their faces. Subsequent snapshots show more onstage moments together, as well as more personal moments of the two...