Music

Last Friday, Morgan Wallen made an appearance on Good Morning America, talking to host Michael Strahan about what he’s learned since video of the country singer using a racial slur appeared online in February. A week later, Wallen was onstage at Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena, surprising an audience gathered to see headliner Luke Bryan. Jason Aldean and Florida Georgia Line’s Tyler Hubbard also made cameos. “So a really good friend of mine is here backstage,” Aldean said, teeing up Wallen’s entrance. “Do I need another tequila shot to get through this?”...

Twenty years ago today, on July 31, 2001, Blake Shelton's self-titled freshman album was released on Giant Nashville. Blake Shelton includes Shelton's debut single, "Austin," which flew all the way to No. 1."Austin" became a big hit for Shelton, but just as the song was climbing the charts, Giant Nashville closed its doors. Shelton then was left wondering if his career was over before it began."It wasn’t until 2001 that they released "Austin," and two weeks later, they closed," Shelton recalls to CMT. "I had been hearing rumors. From the day I...

Slipknot paid tribute to drummer Joey Jordison Friday, just days after the founding member’s sudden death at the age of 46. The metal act posted an eight-minute video tribute to Jordison on YouTube, featuring footage of the drummer on stage and in interviews, plus candid behind-the-scenes clips and home videos of Jordison sans mask. As Jordison, who penned many of Slipknot’s biggest hits, says in an interview, “Each person who has bought one of our records, because our music is so personal, I have something in common with each one...

Parker McCollum's list of collaborators for his Gold Chain Cowboy album is impressive by any standard, but especially for an artist at the start of his career on a national level.Texas great Randy Rogers co-wrote three of the 10 songs with McCollum, including one with fellow Texan Wade Bowen, on which yet another Texas native, Danielle Bradbery, sings. Hit songwriter Randy Montana ("Better Together," "I Hope You're Happy Now"), frequent Chris Young co-conspirator Corey Crowder and "I Drive Your Truck" singer-turned-in-demand songwriter Rhett Akins are on there, too. Grammy winner...

Billie Eilish has shared a music video for “Happier Than Ever,” the title track from her sophomore album, which she released today July 30th. The song features Eilish contemplating the betrayal of someone close to her and how she’s “happier than ever” without them. While the first half is a quiet, introspective track, with Eilish’s voice accompanied just by ukelele, it explodes into a fuzzed-out rock anthem midway through. The new video opens with Eilish wandering around a glamorous room and singing the song into a telephone. When the song...

Mickey Guyton's "Remember Her Name" is an anthem, from its heartbeat-like melody to its lyrical tribute to the power inside all of us. Released Friday (July 30), the new song is just what you need to remind yourself of your strength and beauty."When did you lose the girl with no fear? / Oh, she never left / Take a good look, she's right in the mirror," Guyton sings in the first verse (and then, again, with an impressive vocal run, in the bridge). A second verse urges listeners to "keep that shine...

Just a few days after British rapper Skepta shared that he’s getting ready to drop a five-song EP called All In, he’s offering the first glimpse at the project with the new single “Nirvana.” The downbeat track sees Skepta sprinkle a little bit of Spanish into his lyrics before handing the mic to J Balvin for a guest verse. Produced by beatmaker Jae5, the track was inspired by Skepta’s time in Latin America. The KLVD-directed video plays out like a noir thriller as Skepta enters an opulent estate as a...

Ashland Craft's first release after she signed to Big Loud Records in early 2020 was "Trainwreck," a lyrical acknowledgement that she just needs to be alone right now. As she sings in the chorus, "Baby, I'm a trainwreck, a trainwreck / I'm comin' off the line / It's a sure bet you'll get your heart broke every time," she sings in the chorus.Randy Montana and Channing Wilson co-wrote "Trainwreck," a song that Craft first heard when she was 22 years old. "All I can remember is my jaw literally hitting the floor,"...

Eladio Carrión has dropped a remix of his track “TATA.” The new version features guest vocals from Bobby Shmurda and Daddy Yankee. The original song’s collaborator, J Balvin, also appears. The four artists star in a music video for the remix, which was directed by Jose Sagaro, Jon J Visuals, and Squid. The dynamic clip was shot on the streets of New York City and Puerto Rico, with each artist appearing separately. “TATA” originally appeared on Carrión’s album Monarca, which arrived in January. Carrión told Rolling Stone earlier this year that...

Dusty Hill, who rose to fame as a bass player and singer in the iconic Texas-based blues-rock band ZZ Top, has died. According to a statement from his bandmates on Wednesday afternoon (July 28), Hill died at his home in Houston, Texas."We are saddened by the news today that our Compadre, Dusty Hill, has passed away in his sleep at home in Houston, TX," ZZ Top's Frank Beard and Billy Gibbons write alongside a picture of the bassist and singer. "We, along with legions of ZZ Top fans around the world,...

Johnny Ventura, the famed merengue pioneer and former mayor of Santo Domingo, died Wednesday at the age of 81 in the Dominican Republic. His son, Jandy Ventura, confirmed to CNN that he passed away after suffering a heart attack. Ventura, whose real name was Juan de Dios Ventura Soriano, was known for his showmanship and for pioneering styles of merengue and salsa. He was born in Santo Domingo and began singing as a teenager. When he was 16, he entered a local talent show contest on television called La Voz de...

In lieu of the annual CMA Fest, fans were able to get a taste of what they’ve been waiting for — live music, that is — at CMA Summer Jam on Tuesday night (July 27). Blake Shelton, in particular, took the opportunity to give fans a memorable surprise at the event: During his set, he brought to the stage his new bride, Gwen Stefani.Together, Shelton and Stefani sang their duet "Happy Anywhere." Footage from the show shows Stefani creeping in from backstage, rocking another white dress — this time, a fun fringe number...