Music

Metal has always served as the perfect vehicle for catharsis, so it’s no surprise that the most notable metal offerings of 2021 — some of which were made while the world reeled in agony during Covid-related shutdowns last year — each provided a unique sort of escape: the determination of Iron Maiden, the chaos of Portal, the brooding of King Woman. Elsewhere, everyone from big-name headliners like Mastodon and Gojira to underground torchbearers like Skepticism and Panopticon took their dark arts to new heights (or depths). Here are the 10...

The most-played country songs of 2021 included some surefire hits and some big surprises, some sentimental ballads and some rowdy party songs, and even two contributions from one superstar artist.Billboard released this year's roundup when it unveiled its year-end charts for 2021, with lists full of the year's best in music of all genres — including the country format.While it's no surprise to see acts like Thomas Rhett, Justin Moore and Luke Combs (twice!) make the Top 10 most-played songs at country radio, there was at least one dark horse:...

Despite Kanye West making a very public plea for reconciliation, Kim Kardashian filed documents on Monday to be declared legally single. In the document obtained by Rolling Stone, if the judge signs off on the paperwork, Kardashian will essentially separate marital status from her slow-moving divorce from the rapper — she announced they were splitting in Feb. 2021 — so that the two would only have to deal with issues of child custody, property, and other possessions. “The parties’ marriage has irremediably broken down. Petitioner no longer desires to be...

Hailey Whitters has had an incredible year, to say the very least. She collaborated with Ernest on their cover of Dolly Parton and Kenny Rogers' iconic duet "Islands in the Stream," and was nominated for a Grammy for co-writing Alicia Keys and Brandi Carlile's “A Beautiful Noise.”She also released Living The Dream, the deluxe edition of her breakout 2020 album The Dream. The record features a star-studded list of collaborators, including Brent Cobb, Jordan Davis, Lori McKenna, Hillary Lindsey, Little Big Town and one of Whitters' longtime musical heroes, Trisha Yearwood.On...

Songwriting and production defined country music and its Americana cousin in 2021. Artists like Mickey Guyton, Carly Pearce, and Joshua Ray Walker weren’t afraid to get personal, writing about their respective experiences with discrimination, divorce, and dads. Sturgill Simpson, meanwhile, came up with a revenge narrative for a concept LP set during the Civil War. And James McMurtry made the case for being America’s best living songwriter with a record of detail-rich character studies. Behind the console, mainstream stars like Dan + Shay and Old Dominion created lush soundscapes. Eric...

Walker Hayes is headed to the set of The Voice on Tuesday (Dec. 14), where he'll perform as a part of the Season 21 live finale.He's the latest in a string of country performers to take the stage during the televised singing competition; Blake Shelton, who's a coach on the show, recently performed his "Come Back as a Country Boy," and Carly Pearce made her debut last week to perform "29." It's not yet clear what Hayes will perform when he hits the stage. He shared news of his performance slot with fans on...

Rolling Loud California paid tribute to Young Dolph — the Memphis rapper who was shot and killed in his hometown on Nov. 17 — with a memorial set Saturday. Young Dolph was slated to perform at Rolling Loud California on Dec. 11 when the lineup was announced this summer, his fourth time at the festival; following his death at the age of 36, organizers instead honored the rapper’s musical legacy with a set that featured his protégé Key Glock, his “Cut It” collaborator O.T. Genasis and a pair of rappers...

Jana Kramer isn't counting out the possibility that she and her ex-husband Mike Caussin might spend the holidays together with their kids at some point in the future -- but "not this year," the actor and singer explains in a new interview with Extra."I considered it, but when I talked to my friends and my therapist...I decided I needed to make new memories," Kramer explains. "And so I wanted it to be just me and the kids. But then who knows in the future? I'm not against it."After all, their breakup is...

Death Cab for Cutie’s Ben Gibbard paid tribute to Michael Nesmith, the Monkees legend who died Friday at the age of 78, with a set of acoustic covers that the singer posted on Instagram. “Mike Nesmith passed today and I feel completely gutted. I also feel so fortunate to have called him a friend,” Gibbard wrote. “I believe the best way to mourn the loss of a musician is to play their music. When we do so we keep the beauty of their spirit alive in our hearts. With that...

Twenty-three years ago today (Dec. 12, 1998), Faith Hill struck chart gold. It was on that date that her single "Let Me Let Go" soared to No. 1.Vince Gill offers guest vocals on "Let Me Let Go," and also appears in its dramatic video. The song was written by Dennis Morgan and Steve Diamond, who admit that they tried for years to get it cut before Hill finally recorded it."We had an idea what the song was about when we were writing it -- clearly about a former relationship," Diamond tells The Boot....

Megan Thee Stallion became Megan Thee Graduate Saturday as the rapper received her bachelor’s degree in health administration at the Texas Southern University commencement ceremony. Wearing her bedazzled graduate hat — “Real Hot Girl Sh*t,” it read — “Megan Pete” was greeted by cheers when she was called onto the stage to receive get degree from TSU president Dr. Lesia Crumpton-Young: Congrats #MeganTheeGraduate! Join Megan & help other students graduate via Thee Megan Fund!https://t.co/lp9XTcX93J#TSUProud #TexasSouthern pic.twitter.com/opvcaHgHIm — Texas Southern University (@TexasSouthern) December 11, 2021 “TSU is proud of @TheeStallion and...

Tim McGraw added 17 live dates to his concert calendar when he announced his official 2022 tour on Friday morning (Dec. 10). The McGraw Tour 2022 will begin in Arkansas on April 29 and focus on venues in the Eastern United States through June 4.The tour includes three dates in Florida, two in North Carolina and two in New York. Russell Dickerson will serve as direct support for McGraw for all dates, and two singers the hitmaker embraced on social media will open the show. Both Alexandra Kay and Brandon Davis shared covers...

Over a month after the Astroworld tragedy, Anheuser-Busch announced Friday that it will no longer distribute Travis Scott’s Cacti line of hard seltzers, ending their partnership with the rapper after less than a year. “After careful evaluation, we have decided to stop all production and brand development of CACTI Agave Spiked Seltzer. We believe brand fans will understand and respect this decision,” the beverage maker said in a statement Friday. While Anheuser-Busch did not specifically cite the Astroworld tragedy as the reason for discontinuing the hard seltzer line, the decision...