Music

Wolfgang Van Halen’s Mammoth WVH paid tribute to Taylor Hawkins with an emotional rendition of Foo Fighters’ “My Hero” during the band’s concert Saturday in Boston. Introducing the song, a choked-up Van Halen told the crowd that the drummer, who died Friday at the age of 50, “was a hero to me, and a hero to all of us, and a hero to countless people, so we feel this is necessary.” Mammoth WVH then launched into the Foo Fighters’ 1997 classic, with Van Halen first helping out on drums before...

Beyoncé opened the 2022 Academy Awards from a tennis court in Compton in honor of the birthplace of tennis legends Venus and Serena Williams, whose upbringing is the subject of King Richard. Flanked by a horn section in tart green uniforms, Beyoncé brought strength and elegance to her performance of “Be Alive,” the song she wrote for the film. “It feels so good to be alive (It feels so, so, so, so good)/Got all my sisters by my side (I got all my sisters by my side),” she sang. “Couldn’t wipe...

Reba McEntire performed the Best Original Song nominee “Somehow You Do” at the 2022 Academy Awards. Written by Diane Warren, it’s an inspirational ballad of perseverance that appears in the film Four Good Days, a drama about a daughter trying to get sober with the reluctant help of her mother. “Somehow You Do” marks Warren’s fifth consecutive nomination for Best Original Song and 13th overall — she has yet to win. Dressed in a black Dolce & Gabbana dress, McEntire delivered the song with signature poise while an all-star band...

Fifty-seven years ago today, on March 27, 1965, Roger Miller's "King of the Road" hit No. 1 on the country charts. Produced by Jerry Kennedy, the song appears on 1965's The Return of Roger Miller, and is an ode to the freewheeling road lifestyle.The protagonist of "King of the Road" hints at doing nefarious things to get by (he knows "every lock that ain't locked when no one's around") but also knows all the shortcuts to surviving on a tight budget: "I sing, 'Trailers for sale or rent, rooms to let, 50...

Sam Hunt narrowed the timeline of his baby's arrival in a new interview, sharing that he'll become a first-time father in about two months.He also shares which country artists have given him good advice, and whether he's having a boy or a girl.The "23" singer tells Lon Helton of Country Countdown USA that his estranged wife Hannah is pregnant with a baby girl, and they want to wait until they meet Baby Hunt to name her. He reveals that his daughter is set to arrive in about eight weeks."I blocked out two months...

Happy 54rd birthday, Kenny Chesney! The singer was born on this day, March 26, in 1968.Chesney was born in Knoxville, Tenn., and raised in nearby Luttrell. He played football and baseball in high school and might have become a professional athlete if he hadn't received a guitar for Christmas one year and gotten into music. After graduating from high school, Chesney attended East Tennessee State University; he studied advertising, but aspired to a career in country music.Chesney obtained his college degree, then moved to Nashville and began pounding the pavement,...

The shocking news of Taylor Hawkins’ death is just beginning to reverberate around the world, and little is known beyond what the Foo Fighters released in their public statement. “Our hearts go out to his wife, children and family,” they wrote, “and we ask that their privacy by treated with the utmost respect in this unimaginably difficult time.” When Hawkins died, the Foo Fighters were in Colombia preparing to play at the Estéreo Picnic festival on the same bill as the Strokes, J. Balvin, and the Libertines. Their last gig...

As she contemplated her upcoming performance at the 94th Academy Awards ceremony on Sunday (March 27), Reba McEntire wasn't feeling all that excited, and she didn't know why. Then, just days before the ceremony, she had a realization."I was very emotional yesterday about the Oscars," McEntire told Taste of Country and other outlets on Thursday afternoon (March 24), "Because I said yes to the Oscars in '91, and then the plane crash happened."On March 25, 1991, McEntire took the stage to sing the Best Original Song-nominated "I'm Checkin' Out," from...

Aerosmith are returning from a two-year hiatus when their Deuces Are Wild Las Vegas residency resumes in June for a run of 24 shows, but the entire band won’t be along for the ride: They announced Friday that drummer Joey Kramer won’t be taking part in any of the shows. “ regrettably made the decision to sit out the band’s concerts in 2022 so he can focus his full attention on his family during these uncertain times,” the band said in a statement to USA Today. “He and the band...

Lauren Alaina, you're going to Hollywood!It's not the first time the country artist has heard those words, but this time around she's not headed there as a contestant on American Idol. Alaina will be a guest mentor on Season 20 of the iconic reality singing competition series.The country singer is one of several Idol alumni who will be a part of Hollywood Week in 2022. She's set to mentor the country genre on Monday, March 28. Others returning include Jordin Sparks, David Cook, Ruben Studdard and more."I am FLIPPING OUT to...

Mary J. Blige has released a remix of her single “Good Morning Gorgeous” featuring H.E.R. The inspirational song, off Blige’s recent album of the same name, is a TikTok sensation soundtracking posts that promote self-love, self-empowerment and self-care. Blige released Good Morning Gorgeous, her 14th album, in February via 300 Entertainment and her own Mary Jane Productions. It features collaborations with Anderson .Paak, Dave East, DJ Khaled, Fivio Foreign and Usher. Last month, Blige joined Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, Eminem and Kendrick Lamar for the Super Bowl halftime show. The...

Every week, The Boot highlights recent favorites from country, Americana, folk and everything in between. In every list, you'll find picks from our contributing team that we think you'll love. Keep reading to check out the latest installment of The Boot's Weekly Picks.Sam Outlaw"Lonely Man"Jonah Tolchin"Black Hole"Jonah Tolchin wrote "Black Hole" while regularly waking up before sunrise, a dark, dogged energy that's certainly on display in this bluesy track. Its haunted imagery and themes of alienation and isolation make for an intoxicating teaser for his upcoming "cosmic outlaw blues" album Lava Lamp, due...

Hank Williams Jr. will highlight his affinity for the blues on a new album produced by Dan Auerbach. Rich White Honky Blues, the Country Music Hall of Fame member’s first album since 2016’s It’s About Time, arrives June 17. Auerbach recorded the album live with a backing band that included Kenny Brown, Eric Deaton, and Kinney Kimbrough, capturing a dozen tracks. Among them are Williams’ takes on songs made popular by Robert Johnson, Lightnin’ Hopkins, R.L. Burnside, Muddy Waters, and even his own work. It’s a building block of Williams’...

Luke Combs won't be performing at the 2022 CMT Music Awards, after all. The "Doin' This" singer has been removed from a list of performers that was first announced on Tuesday (March 22).The Video of the Year nominee was slated to tape his performance for the April 11 awards show on Thursday (March 24). However, Combs has reportedly tested positive for COVID-19. Country Now shares a note from a CMT spokesperson which confirms the news.Combs was slated to perform alongside Kane Brown during the show, but Old Dominion will now fill in.The CMT Awards will...