country music

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Toby Keith Joins Country Music Hall of Fame

Voting for inductees concluded days before his death

(Newser) - James Burton, John Anderson, and Toby Keith on Monday became the newest members to join the Country Music Hall of Fame. The Country Music Association announced the 2024 inductees in Nashville, Tennessee, with Burton, a guitarist who was Elvis Presley's band leader, entering in the recording/touring musician category. Meanwhile,...

Beyonce Goes Country, Swiftly Makes History
After Going Country,
Beyonce Keeps Conquering
UPDATED

After Going Country, Beyonce Keeps Conquering

'Texas Hold 'Em' reaches top of the Billboard Hot 100 after doing so on the country charts

(Newser) - First, Beyonce conquered the country charts in historic fashion with her single "Texas Hold 'Em." Now, she's reached No. 1 on the broader Billboard Hot 100 , reports Billboard . Beyonce earlier became the first Black woman atop the Hot Country Songs chart; now she's the first...

Fan Backlash Puts Beyonce on Country Station

New songs crack playlist after complaints

(Newser) - "We do not play Beyonce on KYLC as we are a country music station." That explanation for why the new song "Texas Hold 'Em" wasn't airing on the Oklahoma radio station did not go over well when a fan who had requested the song posted...

First a Surprise Swift Album, Now One for Bey

Beyonce drops 2 new country tracks during Super Bowl, announces release of 'Act II' on March 29

(Newser) - Beyonce was at the Super Bowl on Sunday in Las Vegas, but it was her Verizon commercial airing for viewers at home that generated the most excitement as she teased what turned out to be a surprise new album and the release of two singles. In the clip, which the...

Longtime Rep Pays Tribute to 'Misunderstood' Toby Keith

'He was certainly one of the most courageous men I knew'

(Newser) - Toby Keith was "misunderstood," says Elaine Schock, longtime rep and friend of the country singer, who died Monday night after a long battle with stomach cancer. "He was brilliant, fun to be with, and we would have some robust discussions," Schock tells People . "Plus, he...

Country Fans Will Recognize New Owners of Field & Stream
Country Stars Buy Field & Stream

Country Stars Buy Field & Stream

Eric Church, Morgan Wallen relaunching legacy mag, complete with website, merch, music festival

(Newser) - "Welcome to the all-new Field & Stream: Established in 1871. Revived in 2024." That was the message released last week by the magazine's new owners, names that should be familiar to country music fans: singer-songwriters Eric Church and Morgan Wallen, who are relaunching the outdoors lifestyle publication...

Dolly Parton's Sister Has a NSFW Message for Critics
Dolly Parton's Sister Has a
NSFW Message for Critics
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT

Dolly Parton's Sister Has a NSFW Message for Critics

Stella Parton has some words for folks who didn't like Dolly's outfit at NFL's Thanksgiving Day game

(Newser) - "Dolly Parton wows in Dallas Cowboys Cheerleader uniform" was one complimentary perspective on what the country star wore during her halftime performance at the Thanksgiving Day NFL matchup between the Cowboys and Washington Commanders. As she crooned "Jolene," "9 to 5," and a cover of...

Grand Ole Opry (Not That One) to Uphold Confederate Flag Ban

Scotland's most popular country music club, in Glasgow, was using Confederate flag in ceremony

(Newser) - The Grand Ole Opry has been embroiled in a controversy over the Confederate flag—but it's not the Tennessee venue, and the controversy appears to be over, at least for now. The BBC reports that members of Scotland's most famous country music club, of the same name as...

Tracy Chapman's 'Fast Car' Makes CMA History

She becomes first Black woman to win award as 35-year-old tune snags song of the year

(Newser) - Tracy Chapman just became the first Black woman to win a Country Music Association award—for a song she penned 35 years ago. "Fast Car," which was first released in 1988 but found new popularity this year through a cover by country star Luke Combs , won the first...

Maren Morris: I Needed Break From 'Toxic' World of Country

In 'NYT' podcast, singer expands upon decision to take hiatus from Nashville scene

(Newser) - Maren Morris announced last month she was stepping away from the country scene for a bit, but the singer-songwriter is now emphasizing that it's not necessarily a permanent or complete split. "It's a little bit hyberbolic to be like, 'She's left country music,' because...

'Rich Men' Singer Is Likely Rich Himself After Deal

Oliver Anthony, writer of anthem adopted by conservatives, lands agent after bidding war

(Newser) - Little-known singer Oliver Anthony struck a chord with conservatives with his "Rich Men North of Richmond" song . Now Anthony is almost certainly a rich man himself after signing with a big-time agency following a bidding war, per American Songwriter . Anthony is now represented by United Talent Agency, reports Rolling ...

Maren Morris Taking a Break From Country Music

She says she feels 'very distanced' from the genre now

(Newser) - Maren Morris, who has long been outspoken about LGBTQ+ rights and anti-racism , is taking a "step back" from country music, she says in an interview with the Los Angeles Times . "After the Trump years, people's biases were on full display," says the singer, who just released...

Country Star With No. 1 Song: I Was Jailed for Being 'Lippy'

Zach Bryan apologizes for incident with police officer in Oklahoma on Thursday

(Newser) - Country music star Zach Bryan was arrested by the Oklahoma Highway Patrol and jailed briefly Thursday in northeastern Oklahoma, according to a video posted on his account on the social media site X, formerly Twitter. Bryan said he was driving through Vinita, about 55 miles northeast of Tulsa, when his...

Conservatives Rally to Turn Unknown Artist Into a Star
Unknown Singer's Song
Becomes Conservative Anthem
in case you missed it

Unknown Singer's Song Becomes Conservative Anthem

Oliver Anthony's 'Rich Men North of Richmond' praised on the right in particular

(Newser) - Days after the release of his first professionally recorded song, a relatively unknown country artist and aspiring off-grid farmer from Farmville, Virginia, has suddenly found himself with an audience of millions. It's the kind of success artists like Oliver Anthony only dream of. In the days before the release...

Aldean: Message of 'Cool Song' Has Been 'Overshadowed'

He likens 'Try That in a Small Town' to response to Boston Marathon bombing

(Newser) - Jason Aldean defended his song "Try That in a Small Town" to fans in the suburbs of a big city Saturday night. At a concert in Mansfield, around 40 miles from Boston, the country singer compared the controversial song, with lyrics like, "Around here we take care of...

In Nashville, 'Outlaw' Country Artists Push Back on Tradition

Alternative performers pigeonholed as 'Americana' try to break into the mainstream—but it's not easy

(Newser) - When you hear "Tennessee," it's hard not to think of "Music City"—the nickname for the state capital of Nashville, home to the Grand Ole Opry and the heart of country music. But while that may call forth visions of white dudes in cowboy boots...

Jason Aldean's Song Is Months-Old. The Controversy Is Fresh
Jason Aldean: Accusations
About My Song Are 'Dangerous'
the rundown

Jason Aldean: Accusations About My Song Are 'Dangerous'

CMT pulls music video amid backlash over song critics say encourages violence

(Newser) - Country Music Television pulled a music video from country music superstar Jason Aldean on Monday after critics said it contained racist dog whistles. The lyrics of "Try That in a Small Town," a song released in May, include veiled threats against people who try to seize guns or...

Object Hits Kelsea Ballerini in the Face During Concert
Country Star Hit During Concert

Country Star Hit During Concert

Kelsea Ballerini assures fans she's OK after being struck in the eye by a thrown object

(Newser) - In the middle of "If You Go Down (I'm Goin' Down Too)," Kelsea Ballerini's concert in Idaho on Wednesday was brought to a halt when something thrown at the stage hit the singer in the face. Fan video shows Ballerini moving away from the microphone as...

Ex-Manager Accuses Singer of 'Torrential Sexual Abuse'

Country singer Jimmie Allen dropped by label after former manager files lawsuit

(Newser) - Country singer Jimmie Allen is being sued by a former member of his management team who says she was repeatedly raped during a "torrential cycle" of abuse over 18 months. The former manager, a woman in her early 20s, has filed a civil lawsuit against Allen alleging sexual battery,...

Singer Zach Bryan Goes Hard After Ticketmaster

Country star names ticket behemoth in new album title, slams unfair ticket prices for concerts

(Newser) - The chorus against Ticketmaster's contentious concert pricing practices is growing, numbering among them Zach Bryan and friends. The country music artist dropped a live album, All My Homies Hate Ticketmaster, on Sunday. With it came a statement posted to social media in which he decried "a massive issue...

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