Music

In a sign that the universe has cracked down the middle and is slowly gobbling us all up, the CMT Music Awards, which began in their current incarnation on the cable network Country Music Television in 2002 — and were then known as the Flameworthy Awards — did not air on CMT tonight. Instead, the CMT Awards aired on CBS. Got it? If not, that’s OK. It’s a whole boring thing involving ratings and contracts and lawyers, but basically the CMT Music Awards used to happen in June in Nashville...

Artists at the 2022 CMT Music Awards performed inside, outside, in the rain and upside down during the three-hour CBS broadcast. The show was anything but a typical country music awards show.Keith Urban opened the show, and Kenny Chesney closed it. Both delivered very traditional awards show sets in front of their bands. In between, fans witnessed two doze, one-of-a-kind performances that celebrated traditional country music (Cody Johnson), diversity (Jimmie Allen, with Little Big Town and Monica) and true love (Maren Morris with husband Ryan Hurd). It was a night of surprises...

In the lead-up to his latest EP, Trap Cake Vol. 2, Rauw Alejandro began building a visual world that hinges on escapism. For “Caprichoso,” he set sail and found himself lost at sea. Now, for his latest single, “Museo,” the Puerto Rican star escapes into the framed art of his own museum. The visual centers on Alejandro as the main attraction, placing him under soft pink and orange hues as he becomes art. Around him, statues come to life, moving to the cruising beat. Trap Cake Vol. 2 arrives with...

There’s no need to study “Astronomy” to know Conan Gray is going to deliver everything he’s got on his next project. Rolling Stone can exclusively announce that Gen Z’s favorite sad boi is set to release his sophomore album, Superache, on June 24. “A superache is something that hurts you so much, it lingers with you for years after,” he tells Rolling Stone. “It’s something that can only be healed through years of dramatic mourning, self-sabotage, songwriting, crying to your friends. It’s a super ache.” For the singer — who...

American Idol’s Top 24 contestants made their way to Disney’s Aulani Resort & Spa in Ko Olina, Hawaii, as part of their next stop for the Season 20 singing competition. Twelve of those 24 took the stage on Sunday evening (April 10), singing a song of their choice in hopes of advancing another week.This time, judges Luke Bryan, Katy Perry and Lionel Richie only observed the hopefuls from their seats, leaving the fate of the Top 24 in America's hands. Hoping to continue in the competition is Sage McNeely, who revealed “Jolene” by Dolly Parton...

During a conversation with CBS Mornings' Nate Burleson on Friday (Apr. 8), Jimmie Allen reflected on the obstacles he's faced as a Black artist in the country genre, and how his family influence -- specifically, lessons learned from his mom -- help him grapple with the racism he's faced in the industry.Specifically, Allen remembers a time he encountered racism at a visit to a country radio station."There was this guy that worked at this radio station, he told me straight up he didn't like Black people," the singer says. "But...

Garth Brooks and Trisha Yearwood are doing their part to help Ukraine by joining Stand Up for Ukraine, a digital campaign aimed at raising money for the war-torn country and its refugees. Brooks and Yearwood announced their involvement in the campaign — which is organized through nonprofit Global Citizen — on social media.“We’re proud to say we stand with Ukraine,” the country couple said in a video. “Especially the refugees.”“There’s a global initiative and supplies are already spread thin, and this is where you come in,” says Yearwood. “We need your...

A rocket ship with “El Bloke” written over it was aimed at the stars Friday for the first concert of Sech’s three-night, sold-out stand at San Juan, Puerto Rico’s massive Coliseo, known to locals as El Choli. The venue — known for being the stomping ground for reggaeton, Latin music’s biggest genre — was about to be graced by Panama’s most popular artist, whose ballads and surprise performances would captivate the 18,000 attendees throughout the night. With every seat filled and an emotional and powerful Sech at centerstage, his debut...

Carrie Underwood was so deeply touched by a group of fans' sweet gesture in remembrance of her dog Ace, who died on April 3, that she "immediately started crying." The country superstar turned to social media to express her thanks after some fans banded together to raise money in Ace's name and sent the singer a touching e-card.Underwood shared the news of her loss on Monday (April 4), posting a montage of pictures of Ace over their long years together."He was there for me when I was on my own...

U2, Bruce Springsteen, Kacey Musgraves and Carole King were among the artists that participated in Global Citizen’s Stand Up for Ukraine livestream, which called upon world leaders to raise funds to help refugees in the invasion-torn country. While most artists involved sent messages of support to Ukrainians, U2’s Bono and the Edge instead delivered an acoustic rendition of their hit “Walk On” that featured updated lyrics inspired by fight of the Ukrainian people. (Bono previously penned a poem inspired by Ukraine that was read by Nancy Pelosi.) “The brave people...

On April 9, 1969, Bob Dylan released his ninth studio album, Nashville Skyline. Like his previous studio album, 1967's John Wesley Harding, the effort was produced by Bob Johnston, and leaned toward freewheeling country music.Those only familiar with Dylan's folk- or rock-leaning output might be shocked by his clean-cut vocals -- a sweet tenor with a faint twang -- and the simple, throwback sound of Nashville Skyline. Dewy organ drives the lovelorn, guilt-stricken "I Threw It All Away"; "Country Pie" is a hard-edged, almost Beatles-esque country-rocker driven by zippy piano; "Tell...

With house lights turned all the way down, and a steady fog machine masking the glow of several hundred smartphones, Evan Felker stepped onto the Cain’s Ballroom stage in Tulsa. He did a quick double-take when his eyes caught the 1,800 fans fortunate enough to have made it inside on Friday night, who roared at the collective realization that the six silhouettes on stage really were the Turnpike Troubadours. Whether by design or blind luck, the lights stayed off while the band went through nearly two minutes of tuning and...

Travis Tritt and Marty Stuart have different recollections of how their musical collaboration and friendship began, but Stuart's version has more detail. In 2017, Stuart told Weld for Birmingham:“The first time I heard voice was in a drive-thru in a Burger King in Bessemer, Alabama,” Stuart said. “I had this song called ‘The Whiskey Ain’t Workin,' and I didn’t need it because I had already finished recording my record. Me and my buddy Ronny Scaife wrote it together and we pitched it to Hank Jr. didn’t hear it. He just...

UPDATE: Sources close to Dead and Company initially claimed that 2022 will be the last year the band tours together. However, after guitarist Bob Weir tweeted his surprise about Dead and Company suspending touring, the same sources changed their tune and say discussions continue about the fate of the band. The band itself said in a statement: “Dead & Company has made no official decision as to this being their final tour.” “Whew,” drummer Bill Kreutzmann tweeted to Weir. “I thought you knew something that I didn’t! “#themusicneverstops #wewillsurvive.” ***  Dead...