He played an integral role in the success of legends like Alabama, Ronnie Milsap, Dolly Parton, Kenny Chesney and more. Continue reading…
Backstreet Boys’ Nick Carter Announces Solo Tour
Backstreet Boys member Nick Carter has recently opened up to Billboard about his upcoming solo tour, which has been dubbed the Who I Am 2023 Tour. It will mark Carter’s first solo tour in seven years. Carter’s tour will begin on October 4 with a show in Lexington, Kentucky. The brief tour will come to […]
The post Backstreet Boys’ Nick Carter Announces Solo Tour appeared first on American Songwriter.
Ariana Grande & Dalton Gomez Split After 2 Years of Marriage: Reports
Thank u, next? Ariana Grande and Dalton Gomez have separated after two years of marriage, according to multiple reports.
According to TMZ, who was first to report the news, the couple has been separated since January and are planning to legally end their marriage. People also reports that the pair went their separate ways earlier this year.
Billboard has reached out to Grande’s reps for comment.
The singer-actress has been in the U.K. filming the Wicked movies, and was spotted at Wimbledon on Sunday (July 16) in London without her wedding ring. In photos from the tennis championship, her fingers are bare as she sits next Andrew Garfield, Tom Hiddleston and her Wicked co-star Jonathan Bailey.
The singer and the 27-year-old luxury real estate broker wed in a private ceremony in May 2021 after getting engaged in December 2020, about 10 months after they were first spotted together in February that year. Gomez also appeared in the music video for “Stuck With U,” Grande’s lovey-dovey mid-pandemic collaboration with Justin Bieber.
The two kept their relationship mostly private, though Grande would occasionally share snaps of their life together on Instagram, including one Valentine’s Day post showing off their glamorous date night looks. The last time she posted a picture of Gomez was in November 2022.
Prior to their reported split, they attempted to reconcile without success. TMZ, People and Entertainment Tonight also report that Grande and Gomez remain friends, and talk regularly over the phone.
The R.E.M. Beauty founder was previously engaged to Pete Davidson, though she and the comic called it quits in 2018. She’s also been linked to Big Sean and Mac Miller, who passed away in September 2018.
The War + Treaty’s Michael Trotter Reflects on Suicidal Thoughts
Trotter wrote a song called ‘The Nails in You’ to work through his suffering and the guilt he felt surrounding it. Continue reading…
Who’s Performing on the CMA Fest 2023 TV Special and How to Watch
If you missed out on coming to Nashville for CMA Fest 2023, don’t fear! ABC is set to air a television special featuring all the highlights this Wednesday, July 19 at 8/7c. The special will be hosted by Dierks Bentley, Elle King, and Lainey Wilson. Throughout the three-hour concert special, country fans will see can’t-miss collaborations and […]
The post Who’s Performing on the CMA Fest 2023 TV Special and How to Watch appeared first on American Songwriter.
R&B/Hip-Hop Fresh Picks of the Week: J Hus, Maiya the Don, SwaVay & More
New week, new Fresh Picks! From drill love songs by J Hus and Maiya The Don to rap rhythms by Atlanta heads SwaVay and KEY!, we have a wide range of sounds to help you power through another steamy week.
And of course, check out this month’s Fresh Picks (so far) in our Spotify playlist, linked below.
Freshest Find: J Hus feat. Jorja Smith, “Nice Body”
J Hus is the latest addition to the streak of U.K. rappers (following Dave and Central Cee) who have crossing over and dominating the scene as of late. Last Friday (July 14), the Gambian-British rapper released his long-awaited third album, Beautiful and Brutal Yard, with a handful of features including big names like Drake, Burna Boy and Jorja Smith. Hus and the lattermost teamed up for a slowed down heater, “Nice Body,” a track about being with your lover through thick and thin. Hus and Smith duet, finishing each other’s sentences — making for a rather steamy track.
Alex Mali, “DinnerTime”
Brooklyn native Alex Mali knows her self-worth and with “DinnerTime,” the singer is giving fans a taste of her upcoming debut album, Trust the Process (out August 16). With the hard-hitting new single, Mali explores the concept of women comparing themselves to “a snack” or “a meal,” delving into her own perspective and redefining what it means to be sexy. “Finding yourself is a journey and you should allow yourself the grace to find the beauty in every phase, every setback and every triumph,” she shared. “Go through those emotions with confidence in knowing that all will be as it’s meant to be because you have appreciated the evolution and trusted the process. Keep going.”
SwaVay, “UH”
“I don’t need no cosign, p—y, I’ll just get my own bag,” Swavay raps. The Atlanta rapper released the deluxe version of his 2022 album Almetha’s Son on which includes two new singles, “UH” and “DUBLIN” featuring Ben Reilly and NASAAN. SwaVay gravitates towards mid-song beat switches, with “UH” being a prime example. The song laces a thumping bass line and 808 claps with orchestral loops as SwaVay stomps all over the beat with fiery bars.
Maiya the Don feat. Shawny Binladen, “Luv U Better”
Maiya The Don recruits Shawny Binladen for a drill flip of Mary J. Blige and Lil Kim’s 1997 hit, “I Can Love You.” The Brooklyn rapper declared her song, “Luv U Better,” a track to post your man to — as she took to socials to hard launch her boyfriend, Wu-Tang: An American Saga actor Siddiq Saunderson, as part of the song’s promo.
Mack Keane, “Chances”
On “Chances,” Mack Keane is feeling all the feels. The L.A.-based singer learns to let go and take a chance on love with the sultry, conga-driven song that went through 12 iterations before Keane landed on the final product. “It’s a real story and a timestamp of that period of my life, which is always the intention of my music,” he shares in a press release. “The lyrics in the second verse are my favorite because it’s something that I’m still learning to do in my life today: letting go, accepting the things that I can’t control, and staying present and grounded in this reality. I’m really happy to finally get this one out in the world.”
KEY! & Redd Smash, “Crank Dat”
Like its title suggests, KEY! and Redd Smash pay homage to 2000s Atlanta hip-hop with their new single “Crank Dat.” Sporting vintage ATL sports team jerseys and fitteds, the song’s video sees the two and their crew cranking dat, hitting the folks and hitting the woah. “Crank Dat” will appear on KEY!’s upcoming project, Marquis.
Mammoth WVH Announces Fall 2023 North American Headlining Tour
Nita Strauss will support. Continue reading…
Rick Lang to Billy Blue Publishing
Miranda Lambert Pauses a Show to Call Out Fans Taking a Selfie
Lambert saw some fans who looked more focused on taking a picture than they were on the music, and she wasn’t happy about it. Continue reading…
The 20 Best Eddie Van Halen Quotes
Today, Eddie Van Halen is universally understood to be one of the world’s greatest electric guitar players. Born in 1955 in the Netherlands, Van Halen became an American rock star with his titular group, which itself rose to fame in the 1980s. Though, Van Halen didn’t much care for fame and fortune. He just wanted […]
The post The 20 Best Eddie Van Halen Quotes appeared first on American Songwriter.