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Tag: Country music

  • Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade will feature Ariana Madix, T-Pain, ‘Gabby’s Dollhouse’ and pasta

    Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade will feature Ariana Madix, T-Pain, ‘Gabby’s Dollhouse’ and pasta

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    NEW YORK — A eclectic group of stars — including reality TV’s Ariana Madix, Broadway belter Idina Menzel, hip-hop’s T-Pain, members of the WNBA champions New York Liberty and country duo Dan + Shay — will feature in this year’s Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.

    The War and Treaty, Lea Salonga, Kylie Cantrall, The Temptations, Chlöe, Charli D’Amelio, Jimmy Fallon & The Roots, Coco Jones, Walker Hayes, Bishop Briggs, Joey McIntyre, Natti Natasha, Tiler Peck and Roman Mejia and Rachel Platten are also slated to perform. The Associated Press got the list early.

    The holiday tradition will begin at 8:30 a.m. on Nov. 28 in all time zones and will be kicked off by actor Alison Brie, the “Glow” star currently starring in Apple TV’s “Apples Never Fall.”

    This year’s parade will feature 17 giant character balloons, 22 floats, 15 novelty and heritage inflatables, 11 marching bands, 700 clowns and 10 performance groups.

    “The work that we do, the opportunity to impact millions of people and bring a bit of joy for a couple of hours on Thanksgiving morning, is what motivates us every day,” Will Coss, Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade executive producer, said in an interview.

    The parade airs on NBC and streams on Peacock. Savannah Guthrie, Hoda Kotb and Al Roker from “Today” will host and a Spanish language simulcast on Telemundo will be hosted by Carlos Adyan and Andrea Meza.

    There will be six new featured character balloons, including Minnie Mouse, Extraordinary Noorah” with The Elf on the Shelf, “Gabby’s Dollhouse,” “Goku” and “Spider-Man.”

    The “Gabby’s Dollhouse” float will include a 55-foot-tall (17-meter-tall) balloon featuring Gabby and Pandy Paws that will have 10 different shades of pink.

    “As a little girl growing up in New Jersey, the Thanksgiving Day parade was what you always tuned into and the balloons were, of course, the best part,” says Traci Paige Johnson, the co-creator of “Gabby’s Dollhouse” with Jennifer Twomey.

    “That little 7-year-old girl in me is just like, ‘Oh my God!’ — something from your brain that you created that all the world watches floating down New York City is just absolutely incredible.”

    She and Twomey, who also produced “Blue’s Clues,” are the rare creators who get to celebrate having a second balloon in the parade. Johnson advises watchers this time to look for all the hidden cats in Gabby’s sneakers and costume.

    The Macy’s parade has been a traditional holiday season kickoff and spectators line-up a half-dozen deep along the route to cheer the floats, entertainers and marching bands. The parade has lately asked icons to be the last guest before Santa, with last year Cher fitting the bill. This year’s headliner will be revealed later.

    Broadway will be represented by performances from “Death Becomes Her,” “Hell’s Kitchen” and “The Outsiders,” as well as the iconic Radio City Rockettes and “Riverdance” dancers.

    New floats include ones from brands like Disney Cruise Line, Haribo, “Wednesday” from Netflix,” Universal Orlando Resorts and “The Grannies Car” from BBC Studios’ “Bluey.” Nickelodeon and Paramount’s “Dora the Explorer” will have both a float and a balloon.

    One new float will spotlight the Rao’s food brand, featuring a knight and a dragon in battle made with actual pasta elements.

    “It’s one of those opportunities to really combine the whimsy and the artistry of our great artists and artisans at our studio and deliver on that iconic spectacle that’s known and loved of the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade,” said Coss.

    The marching bands will hail from Massachusetts, Indiana, Tennessee, Texas, Arkansas, South Dakota, Georgia, South Carolina, West Virginia and New York.

    Members of the New York Liberty, who earlier this month won their first-ever WNBA Championship, will march alongside their popular mascot, Ellie the Elephant.

    The Macy’s parade team, if you can believe it, are already working on sketches and ideas for the next parade, since each cycle takes 18 months. Coss calls it “the largest variety show on television.”

    ___

    Mark Kennedy is at http://twitter.com/KennedyTwits

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  • Viral ‘Walmart yodeler’ Mason Ramsey brings coming of age tour to Detroit

    Viral ‘Walmart yodeler’ Mason Ramsey brings coming of age tour to Detroit

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    Mason Ramsey, who first captured the world’s attention at just 11 years old when a video of him yodeling “Lovesick Blues” by Hank Williams in an Illinois Walmart went viral, is all grown up.

    Now 17, the rising country star is celebrating the release of his album, I’ll See You In My Dreams. As the youngest major-label country artist signed in nearly two decades, Ramsey is taking big steps, currently traveling the country on his “Falls Into Place” tour.

    While there will sadly be no yodeling — Ramsey previously said he’s “rebranding” his style — the tour does include a local stop at the Loving Touch in Ferndale on Saturday, Oct. 12.

    “Since I did the Walmart thing ‘till now, I’ve had a little bit of experience under my belt,” Ramsey tells Metro Times. “I feel like I’ve come quite a ways since the Walmart days.”

    His transformation from internet sensation to country star has been full of special moments, including a recent surprise appearance on stage with Lana Del Rey. The pop icon, who has become a huge fan, invited Ramsey to join her in singing his song “Blue Over You” at a recent show, sparking another semi-viral video.

    @masonramsey Absolutely loved sharing the stage with you @Lana Del Rey ♬ original sound – Mason Ramsey

    “Performing with Lana and getting to do all that has been a really cool experience for me, and also her singing one of my songs is amazing,” he says. “Before I got to actually sing with her, it started out that I posted a video of one of my songs on TikTok or Instagram, and she ended up commenting. It was like, ‘We need to collab.’ And I was like, ‘Absolutely.’”

    Released on Sept. 20, I’ll See You In My Dreams is Ramsey’s first full-length album after three successful EPs. This more mature, introspective project reflects the growth he’s experienced both as an artist and an individual.

    “It’s definitely a milestone that I’ve been wanting to get for a while,” Ramsey says. “I’ve had a few years of experience in the industry, also writing, becoming a better songwriter, and getting more comfortable with what I want to write about for my songs.”

    Working with a new producer has helped Ramsey define his sound, which he describes as a blend of Americana, country, and soul, with influences like Roy Orbison, Johnny Cash, Ricky Nelson, and Donny Hathaway.

    “My new producer, he’s the guy that helped me find the sound that I wanted to be,” Ramsey says. “I just told him some artists that I listen to and he just kind of got the idea, and started sticking it with some of the lyrics that I kept coming in with… it’s just been a really crazy ride for me and experience for the past year or so.”

    The album explores themes of love, loss, and family. But for Ramsey, it’s not just about the music — his love for meeting fans and visiting new cities plays a big role too. Although he’s performed in Michigan before, he admits he hasn’t had much time to explore the state, but hopes to change that during his upcoming visit.

    “The tour so far has been really fun. I love performing and I feel like the shows have just been really good,” he says. “ I just love meeting people, going to new places, and going to new cities. I feel like just getting the chance to meet [fans] and talk to them on a more closer level than from on stage, it just hits different.”

    As his Falls Into Place tour continues, Ramsey is bringing a blend of high energy and heartfelt passion to every performance.

    “Obviously, most people don’t really know what to expect whenever they go to one of my shows,” Ramsey says. “I’m there to have a good time, and I want the audience to have a good time. I want them to have a night to remember.”

    Looking ahead, Ramsey has big dreams.

    “We’re working on a couple of projects already, but I feel like in a couple years from now, I’d like to be playing stadiums,” he says. “Eventually, I’d love to be doing world tours and going overseas and doing tours over there… I really don’t know what the future has to hold for me. That will depend on the album and where it leads me. Obviously, it’s my coming of age album, and this is a big step and time for me, so I’m super excited for everything that’s happened so far and looking forward to the future.”

    He adds, “I’ve been working toward my dream of being an artist, and everything I’ve accomplished so far has been awesome. I want to inspire people to fulfill their dreams and goals.”

    Ramsey also hopes the real-life experiences that inspired his songs resonate with fans during his performances.

    “I wrote about different moments and times in my life, and at the shows, people can see all that,” he says. “There are parts of my set that are really exciting and others that are kind of sad, but overall, I think the show is going to be really, really good.”

    Tickets to the upcoming Ferndale show are $18 and can be purchased at ticketweb.com. More information is available at thelovingtouchferndale.com.

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    Layla McMurtrie

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  • Celebrity birthdays for the week of Sept. 22-28

    Celebrity birthdays for the week of Sept. 22-28

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    Celebrity birthdays for the week of Sept. 22-28:

    Sept. 22: Singer-dancer Toni Basil is 81. Actor Paul Le Mat (“American Graffiti”) is 79. Singer David Coverdale (Whitesnake, Deep Purple) is 73. Actor Shari Belafonte is 70. Singer Debby Boone is 68. Country singer June Forester of The Forester Sisters is 68. Singer Nick Cave is 67. Actor Lynn Herring (“General Hospital”) is 67. Singer Johnette Napolitano of Concrete Blonde is 67. Opera singer Andrea Bocelli is 66. Musician Joan Jett is 66. Actor Scott Baio is 64. Actor Bonnie Hunt is 63. Actor Catherine Oxenberg (“Dynasty”) is 63. Actor Rob Stone (“Mr. Belvedere”) is 62. Actor Dan Bucatinsky (“24: Legacy”) is 59. Bassist-guitarist Dave Hernandez (The Shins) is 54. Rapper Mystikal is 54. Singer Big Rube of Society of Soul is 53. Actor James Hillier (“The Crown”) is 51. Actor Mireille Enos (“World War Z”) is 49. Actor Daniella Alonso (“Revolution,” ″Friday Night Lights”) is 46. Actor Michael Graziadei (“The Young and the Restless”) is 45. Actor Ashley Eckstein (“That’s So Raven,” “Sofia the First”) is 43. Actor Katie Lowes (“Scandal”) is 42. Bassist Will Farquarson of Bastille is 41. Actor Tatiana Maslany (“She-Hulk: Attorney at Law,” “Orphan Black”) is 39. Actor Ukweli Roach (“Blindspot”) is 38. Actor Tom Felton (“Harry Potter” films) is 37. Actor Teyonah Parris (“Mad Men”) is 37.

    Sept. 23: Singer Julio Iglesias is 81. Actor-singer Paul Petersen (“The Donna Reed Show”) is 79. Actor-Mary Kay Place is 77. Musician Bruce Springsteen is 75. Director George C. Wolfe (film’s “Nights in Rodanthe,” stage’s “Angels in America”) is 70. Drummer Leon Taylor of The Ventures is 69. Actor Rosalind Chao (2020’s “Mulan,” “Star Trek: Deep Space Nine”) is 67. Actor Jason Alexander (“Seinfeld”) is 65. Actor Chi McBride (“Hawaii Five-0,” ″Boston Public”) is 63. Steel guitarist Don Herron of BR549 is 62. Actor LisaRaye (“All of Us,” ″Beauty Shop”) is 58. Singer Ani DiFranco is 54. Singer Sam Bettens of K’s Choice is 52. Rapper-producer-record head Jermaine Dupri is 52. Actor Kip Pardue (“The Rules of Attraction,” “Remember the Titans”) is 48. Actor Anthony Mackie (“Captain America: The Winter Soldier”) is 46. Singer Erik-Michael Estrada of O-Town is 45. Actor Brandon Victor Dixon (“Hamilton”) is 43. Actor David Lim (“S.W.A.T.,” ″Quantico”) is 41. Actor Cush Jumbo (“The Good Fight,” ″The Good Wife”) is 39. Actor Skylar Astin (“Pitch Perfect” films) is 37.

    Sept. 24: Singer Phyllis ″Jiggs” Allbut Sirico of The Angels is 82. Actor Gordon Clapp (“NYPD Blue”) is 76. Actor Harriet Walter (“The Crown”) is 74. Actor Kevin Sorbo (“Hercules: Legendary Journeys”) is 66. Singer Cedric Dent (Take 6) is 62. Actor-writer Nia Vardalos (“My Big Fat Greek Wedding”) is 62. Drummer Shawn Crahan of Slipknot is 55. Drummer Marty Mitchell (Ricochet) is 55. Singer-guitarist Marty Cintron of No Mercy is 53. Guitarist Juan DeVevo of Casting Crowns is 49. Actor Ian Bohen (“Yellowstone,” “Teen Wolf”) is 48. Actor Spencer Treat Clark (“Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.,” “Animal Kingdom”) is 37. Actor Grey Damon (“Station 19”) is 37. Actor Kyle Sullivan (“Malcolm in the Middle”) is 36. Actor Ben Platt is 31.

    Sept. 25: Polka band leader Jimmy Sturr is 83. Actor Josh Taylor (“Days of Our Lives,” “Valerie’s Family”) is 81. Actor Robert Walden (“Lou Grant”) is 81. Actor Michael Douglas is 80. Model Cheryl Tiegs is 77. Actor Mimi Kennedy (“Dharma and Greg”) is 76. Actor Anson Williams (“Happy Days”) is 75. Actor Mark Hamill is 73. Actor Colin Friels is 72. Actor Michael Madsen is 66. Actor Heather Locklear is 63. Actor Aida Turturro (“The Sopranos”) is 62. Actor Tate Donovan (“The O.C.”) is 61. TV personality Keely Shaye Smith (“Unsolved Mysteries”) is 61. Actor Maria Doyle Kennedy (“Orphan Black,” ″The Tudors”) is 60. Actor Jason Flemyng (“The Curious Case of Benjamin Button,” ″The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen”) is 58. Actor-singer Will Smith is 56. Actor Hal Sparks (“Queer as Folk”) is 55. Actor Catherine Zeta-Jones is 55. Actor Bridgette Wilson-Sampras (“The Wedding Planner,” “I Know What You Did Last Summer”) is 51. Actor Clea DuVall (“Heroes”) is 47. Actor Robbie Jones (“One Tree Hill”) is 47. Actor Joel David Moore (“Avatar”) is 47. Actor Chris Owen (“American Pie” films, “October Sky”) is 44. Rapper T.I. is 43. Actor Lee Norris (“One Tree Hill,” “Boy Meets World”) is 43. Actor-rapper Donald Glover (Childish Gambino) (“Atlanta,” ″Community”) is 41. Actor Zach Woods (“Silicon Valley,” ″The Office”) is 40. Actor Jordan Gavaris (“Orphan Black”) is 35. Actor Emmy Clarke (“Monk”) is 33.

    Sept. 26: Country singer David Frizzell is 83. Actor Kent McCord (“Adam 12”) is 82. “The Weakest Link” host Anne Robinson is 80. Singer Bryan Ferry is 79. Actor Mary Beth Hurt is 78. Actor James Keane (“Bulworth,” TV’s “The Paper Chase”) is 72. Singer-guitarist Cesar Rosas of Los Lobos is 70. Country singer Carlene Carter is 69. Actor Linda Hamilton is 68. Singer Cindy Herron of En Vogue is 63. Actor Melissa Sue Anderson (“Little House on the Prairie”) is 62. Singer Tracey Thorn of Everything But the Girl is 62. TV personality Jillian Barberie is 58. Guitarist Jody Davis of Newsboys is 57. Actor Jim Caviezel (“Sound of Freedom,” “The Passion of the Christ”) is 56. Actor Tricia O’Kelley (“The New Adventures of Old Christine”) is 56. Actor Ben Shenkman (“Royal Pains,” “Angels in America”) is 56. Actor Melanie Paxson (“Descendants”) is 52. Singer Shawn Stockman of Boyz II Men is 52. Music producer Dr. Luke is 51. Jazz trumpeter Nicholas Payton is 51. Singer and TV personality Christina Milian is 43. Actor Zoe Perry (“Young Sheldon”) is 41. Singer-songwriter Ant Clemons is 33.

    Sept. 27: Actor Kathleen Nolan is 91. Actor Claude Jarman Jr. (“The Yearling”) is 90. Singer-guitarist Randy Bachman of Bachman-Turner Overdrive is 81. Actor Liz Torres (“Gilmore Girls”) is 77. Actor A Martinez (“LA Law,” ″Santa Barbara”) is 76. Actor Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa (“Pearl Harbor”) is 74. Actor-opera singer Anthony Laciura (“Boardwalk Empire”) is 73. Singer-actor-director Shaun Cassidy is 66. Comedian-podcaster Marc Maron is 61. Singer-guitarist Stephan Jenkins of Third Eye Blind is 60. Actor Patrick Muldoon (“Melrose Place”) is 56. Singer Mark Calderon of Color Me Badd is 54. Actor Gwyneth Paltrow is 52. Actor Indira Varma (“For Life”) is 51. Singer Brad Arnold of 3 Doors Down is 46. Bassist Grant Brandell of Underoath is 43. Actor Anna Camp (“The Mindy Project,” ″True Blood”) is 42. Rapper Lil’ Wayne is 42. Singer Avril Lavigne is 40. Bluegrass musician Sierra Hull is 33. Actor Sam Lerner (“The Goldbergs”) is 32. Actor Ames McNamara (“The Connors”) is 17.

    Sept. 28: Actor Brigitte Bardot is 90. Actor Joel Higgins (“Silver Spoons”) is 81. Actor Jeffrey Jones is 78. Actor Vernee Watson (“Bob Hearts Abishola,” “Fresh Prince of Bel-Air”) is 75. Writer-director-actor John Sayles is 74. Guitarist George Lynch (Dokken) is 70. Actor Steve Hytner (“Seinfeld”) is 65. Actor-comedian Janeane Garofalo is 60. Country singer Matt King is 58. Actor Mira Sorvino is 57. TV personality and singer Moon Zappa is 57. Actor Naomi Watts is 56. Country singer Karen Fairchild of Little Big Town is 55. Country singer Mandy Barnett is 49. Rapper Young Jeezy is 47. Actor Peter Cambor (“NCIS: Los Angeles”) is 46. TV personality Bam Margera (“Jackass”) is 45. Actor Jerrika Hinton (“Grey’s Anatomy”) is 43. Guitarist Luke Mossman of Nathaniel Rateliff and the Night Sweats is 43. Musician St. Vincent is 42. Comedian Phoebe Robinson (“What Men Want”) is 40. Drummer Daniel Platzman (Imagine Dragons) is 38. Actor Hilary Duff is 37. Actor Keir Gilchrist (“United States of Tara”) is 32.

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  • CCMA Awards in Edmonton to see k.d. lang get band back together after 35 years | Globalnews.ca

    CCMA Awards in Edmonton to see k.d. lang get band back together after 35 years | Globalnews.ca

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    By Aaron Sousa

    The Canadian Press

    Posted September 14, 2024 12:46 pm

    Updated September 14, 2024 12:47 pm

    1 min read

    The return of k.d. lang and the Reclines is expected to be a highlight as the Canadian Country Music Association hands out its annual hardware tonight in Edmonton.

    The appearance marks the first time the Alberta songstress has teamed up with the band in 35 years and is tied to her induction into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame.


    Singer and songwriter k.d. lang performs during the Americana Honors and Awards show Wednesday, Sept. 12, 2018, in Nashville, Tenn.

    AP Photo/Mark Zaleski

    Lang and the Reclines are expected to perform “Big Boned Gal” from the last album they recorded together in 1989.

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    Singer MacKenzie Porter of Medicine Hat, Alta., is co-hosting the show with American crooner Thomas Rhett, and they are also set to perform.

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    Porter is up for six awards, including female artist of the year, as well as single and video of the year for “Chasin’ Tornadoes.”

    She’s tied with Jade Eagleson of Bailieboro, Ont., who is also nominated for best single for “Rodeo Queen” and top album for Do It Anyway.

    Tenille Townes is defending her title of best female artist after winning the prize in 2023 for the fifth consecutive year. The “Somebody’s Daughter” singer from Grande Prairie, Alta., was first nominated for the award in 2011, when she was 17.

    Trending Now

    Brett Kissel and Dallas Smith are set to perform and the James Barker Band and Steven Lee Olsen are set to take the stage as presenters.

    The awards show is back in Alberta’s capital for the first time since 2014. It was held in Hamilton last year and in Calgary in 2022.


    Click to play video: 'Thomas Rhett talks new album, family and CCMA excitement'


    Thomas Rhett talks new album, family and CCMA excitement





    &copy 2024 The Canadian Press

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  • Parker McCollum comes to Orlando’s Addition Financial Arena as part of ‘Burn It Down’ tour

    Parker McCollum comes to Orlando’s Addition Financial Arena as part of ‘Burn It Down’ tour

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    click to enlarge

    Courtesy photo

    Parker McCollum is ready to (musically!) burn down the Addition Financial Arena

    Country singer-songwriter Parker McCollum is making a stop at Orlando’s Addition Financial Arena this weekend on his “Burn It Down” tour.

    Known for his blend of country, Americana, blues and rock, McCollum came to fame in 2017, after the release of chart-topping song “Probably Wrong” and crossing over to the pop mainstream with his single “Pretty Heart.”

    McCollum won the ACM Award for New Male Artist of the Year in 2022, and his latest album Never Enough, which blends lyrical vulnerability and a polished country sound, was released in May 2023. McCollum has collaborated with other artists ranging from Koe Wetzel to Diplo.

    7:30 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 21, Addition Financial Arena, $25-65.


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    Kendal Asbury

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  • Music Review: On ‘Cowboys and Dreamers,’ George Strait’s traditional country is still a heart warmer

    Music Review: On ‘Cowboys and Dreamers,’ George Strait’s traditional country is still a heart warmer

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    George Strait’s 31st studio album, the feel-good “Cowboys and Dreamers,” marks five decades of record releases; a titanic career for a Texas troubadour whose greatest ambition seems to have always been the same: Make pretty, plain-spoken songs about life’s true pains and pleasures, and listeners will find their own resonance within them.

    Across 13 songs in 47 minutes — his first collection since 2019’s “Honky Tonk Time Machine” — Strait plays to his traditionalist country style without ever sounding derivative of his former records. That’s the beauty of his particular songwriting: The songs on “Cowboys and Dreamers” could exist at any point in time across his career, not in a lazy atavistic fashion, but utilizing nostalgia as an effective art medium.

    There are standouts for every mood across “Cowboys and Dreamers,” best heard through an old truck’s speakers while driving down an empty back road: The joyful single “Honky Tonk Hall of Fame,” featuring Chris Stapleton, a cover of Waylon Jennings’ “Waymore’s Blues,” and the Jimmy Buffet-informed vacation stomper, “MIA Down in MIA.”

    Privacy is required for the tear-jerking ballads with pedal steel that sounds like crying: Like on “The Little Things,” “People Get Hurt Sometimes,” “The Journey Of Your Life” or, most severely, “Rent,” written by Guy Clark and Keith Gattis, that begins with Strait offering a spoken-word tribute to the late Gattis.

    “The war took my brother/The good Lord took my mother/And the years, well, I don’t know where they all went,” he later sings in its striking chorus. “Until that roll is called up yonder/All I can do is wonder/If I even did enough to make a dent/But I made a few good friends/And I always paid my rent.”

    Over the last two years, Strait has been on tour with Stapleton and Little Big Town. He’s filled stadiums in states maybe not stereotypically associated with country music, but deep appreciators of the stuff, nonetheless. In June, at New Jersey’s MetLife Stadium not far from New York City, Strait turned a space of tens of thousands across many demographics into something resembling the intimacy of those honky tonks he’s always singing about. Strait performed with a big band and a lot of heart, in a Western shirt and stiff, straight-starched jeans. (The closest a person can get to levitation is singing along to “Amarillo by Morning” in a stadium of tens of thousands, anyway.) There, as on “Cowboys and Dreamers,” Strait’s powers were in full force: Familiar sounds in a modern context. If you love Strait, you love him — and that makes it classic.

    ___

    For more AP reviews of recent music releases, visit: https://apnews.com/hub/music-reviews

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  • Charley Crockett’s $10 Cowboy Tour Lights Up 713 Music Hall

    Charley Crockett’s $10 Cowboy Tour Lights Up 713 Music Hall

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    Charley Crockett
    $10 Cowboy Tour
    713 Music Hall
    September 3, 2024

    Have you ever met a stranger and been completely amazed by their entire demeanor? The kids these days would call it “swag” or “vibes,” which is something magical and intangible about the person’s attitude. That’s exactly how I feel about Charley Crockett. His chiseled jawline and piercing green eyes attract your attention, and then BOOM!… His voice and southern twang grabs a hold of your soul and doesn’t let go.

    Crockett began his set at 713 Music Hall with $10 Cowboy, where he sings “people always ask me, if I’m a rodeo star / doubt if I got 8 seconds / but I can sing you a song!” He definitely fits the casting call for a vintage cowboy film: leather jacket, Stetson on his crown, wranglers and boots. He carries his guitar around the stage like dancing partner, flashing his pearly-white smile with the precision of a heart surgeon.

    The singer-songwriter is a native of San Benito, Texas – the same hometown as Freddy Fender of Texas Tornados fame. He later moved to Dallas and also spent time with family in New Orleans, no doubt absorbing every character and experience he encountered into his repertoire of inspiration.

    click to enlarge

    Crockett is a native of San Benito, Texas – the same hometown as Freddy Fender of Texas Tornados fame.

    Photo by Violeta Alvarez

    The amber colored accent lights that flanked him and his band on stage added to the warm feel of the show. This wasn’t a modern country set with pyro, lasers, and songs about your dog dying in your truck down by the river. This was more subdued, classic country music with heavy blues influence. “I used to think I was a folk singer” he told the audience. “But then I realized this ain’t nothing but The Blues!”

    Crockett mostly sings in a low baritone voice, almost like Johnny Cash or Kris Kristofferson. But peppered in between verses and jam sessions with his band The Blue Drifters, he sometimes allows a yelp and a yee-haw ring out, shifting from serious to rowdy in a split second. In that regard, he reminds me more of Waylon Jennings and Hank Williams Jr.

    “Some publication once called me a stylistic man” Crockett told the crowd. “The way I see it, I’m always just myself… and I’m the only person that can do that!” A lady named Juliet, who was enjoying the show next to me, said “He definitely looks like a character from the movie Giant (1956) starring Rock Hudson, James Dean, and Elizabeth Taylor. I quickly added the film to my “must watch” list.

    click to enlarge

    Crockett mostly sings in a low baritone voice, like Johnny Cash or Kris Kristofferson, but his stage presence is that of Waylon Jennings or Hank Williams Jr.

    Photo by Violeta Alvarez

    By the time the set list arrived at “The Man From Waco,” Crockett was in total control. There were couples two-stepping around the venue, friend groups drinking beer and singing along to the tracks, and girlfriends holding their boyfriends tight around the waist. I go to a lot of shows, but outside of Rodeo season, this was the most Houston show I’ve seen in a very long time.

    There were 2 large, old school neon letters on the stage behind the band, and they read “CC.” It was so cool to see them glow behind Crockett throughout the performance, and they added to the western theme of the tour. As the evening came to a close, the crowd chanted “Charley! Charley! Charley!”

    click to enlarge

    Outside of Rodeo season, this Charley Crockett concert was the most Houston show I’ve seen in a very long time.

    Photo by Violeta Alvarez

    Of course Charley and his band returned for an encore, offering Jamestown Ferry before bringing out opening act Vincent Neil Emerson for an awesome cover of Good Hearted Woman by Waylon and Willie.

    “But she never complains of the bad times
    Or the bad things he’s done, Lord /
    She just talks about the good times they’ve had
    And all the good times to come    “

    click to enlarge

    “Next time you see me, I’ll play twice as good!” – Charley Crockett

    Photo by Violeta Alvarez

    click to enlarge

    Crocketts encore included a cover of “Good Hearted Woman” by Waylon and Willie.

    Photo by Violeta Alvarez

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    Marco Torres

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  • Your Weekend Playlist: New Music To Listen To This Friday

    Your Weekend Playlist: New Music To Listen To This Friday

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    And we’re back with another Weekend Playlist! Sometimes I wonder if I’ll ever grow tired of making cute little playlists for everyone to enjoy, but truly it never gets old. Especially when each week there’s new music released by artists everywhere.

    Instead of searching through countless Spotify and Apple Music New Music Friday playlists and checking social media for the hottest new tracks, I collect the best of the best to make it easy on you. Yes, I do all the hard work and you just sit back and enjoy.

    As we soak up the last few weeks of sunshine and Summer Fridays, there’s nothing you need more than new music to get you through. And, as promised, we have a whole playlist’s worth of new music released today, August 16.

    So, if you’re ready for the weekend already like I am…here’s a new playlist filled with new music! As always, let’s get listening.

    Hozier- “Nobody’s Soldier” 

    There isn’t much to say about Hozier’s angelic vocals that hasn’t been said already. He’s lyrically complex, weaving tales and transcendentalism into his music with every new single. Now, he’s here with a trilogy of singles and each is more delicious than the next. My personal favorite, however, is “Nobody’s Soldier.”

    Almost gospel, Hozier builds this dynamic track into a crescendo of vocals, heightening beats, and an orchestral backing that makes this perfect. It’s equal parts stomp-and-holler and indie folk, everything you love about Hozier…but refined, mature, and a little bit rock ‘n’ roll.

    Tiesto, AFROJACK, MC Ambush- “Light It Up” 


    We needed a huge EDM song for the playlist this week, and a few major names in house music stepped up for us. “Light It Up” is high energy from the very start, perfect for your pregames or when you need to get amped up. Seriously, this song is made for the club.

    Tiesto and AFROJACK are two of the biggest DJ’s out there right now, which is why this collaboration is all the more exciting. They know what they’re doing, and it shows with this track.

    Duke Dumont, Clemintine Douglas- “Ain’t Giving Up” 

    High energy and house driven, Duke Dumont has always made bangers. However, by adding Clemintine Douglas’ strong, electrifying vocals makes this track all the better. It’s great for clubs or intense workouts, getting your heart pumping as Douglas reiterates that she isn’t giving up on her lover.

    Duke Dumont is a titan in the electronic dance industry for a reason, and they’ve remained relevant by creating refreshing, yet consistent music. “Ain’t Giving Up” reminds us the summer isn’t truly over, and we can’t get enough of this track already.

    Post Malone, Jelly Roll- “Losers” 

    And so the summer of country music continues with Post Malone’s F-1 Trillion album out today. He’s got collabs with major country hitters on this album like Chris Stapleton, Luke Combs, and more. But specifically, we’re here to talk about “Losers” featuring Jelly Roll.

    A feel good song, “Losers” blends the voices of the two and melds them into one silky song. It’s reminiscent of slow summer days spent with friends and family, and the perfect addition to this playlist.

    Lady Gaga, Bruno Mars- “Die With A Smile” 


    They’re baaaaaack. Lady Gaga and Bruno Mars are household names when it comes to music, we’ve basically grown up listening to them. Any song they have is guaranteed to be a hit, so when they come together…it’s magic. “Die With A Smile” is a sign of the times for the duo…both a culmination of their vocal power and ability to write a hit track no matter what.

    Expect this one to be a radio favorite, as both musicians are giving us all they have. It’s a mellow, yet hard-hitting ballad that brings out the best in both of them. It’s ethereal the way they can work with each other’s voices so well, but that’s what you get when you’ve conquered your respective sides of the industry.

    Elle Darlington- “summer crush” 

    Fun-loving, an easy listen, bubblegum bedroom pop. That’s what Elle Darlington delivers with “summer crush”- it’s a catchy song about a summer fling…and every time I hear an Elle Darlington song, I’m reminded we’re in good hands when it comes to pop music. Darlington is like a breath of fresh air, and “summer crush” is reminiscent of a young Ariana Grande.

    You’ll find yourself easily dancing along to “summer crush”, singing “I don’t wanna be alone” over and over with her. Again, summer isn’t over until we say it is. This song was made for the sunshine and good vibes.

    Foster the People- “Paradise State of Mind” 

    In their first album in three years, Foster the People hasn’t missed a beat (literally.) “Paradise State of Mind” leans heavy on the synthy, indie sound that we know and love, while transporting us throughout a groovy, well-produced track. It’s one of my favorites on the album for a reason.

    The eponymous track is a statement: they’re back and they’re better than ever. It’s a mixture of 70’s sounds with extremely modern twists. A thrilling listen til the very end.

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    Jai Phillips

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  • Orlando electronic outliers Tele + the Ghost of Our Lord go country

    Orlando electronic outliers Tele + the Ghost of Our Lord go country

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    Courtesy photo

    Orlando’s Tele + the Ghost of Our Lord go country

    With a career that’s been a long, winding and deeply psychedelic odyssey of reliably unorthodox music, “expect the unexpected” is the rule when approaching the work of Orlando outsider pioneer Matt Kamm. Even so, when reviewing last year’s Crown of Horns EP, released under his longtime vehicle Tele & the Ghost of Our Lord, I thought that describing that work as “house music”would probably be the most outlandish thing I’d ever have to write about him.

    I should’ve known better.

    In his latest chameleonic twist, one that finds him inching even closer to becoming Orlando’s own Beck, Matt Kamm has now gone country. Anyone familiar with his work will know that this is way weirder than even Beyoncé or Diplo doing it. While Kamm’s shown lots of freaky folk tendencies, the new Tele & the Ghost of Our Lord double single — “Spite the Moon” b/w “Fast Asleep on the Forest Floor” — is a total plunge into country music.

    Over the past several years, Kamm’s been quietly studying country instruments like banjo, mandolin, lap steel and pedal steel. More specifically, he says, “I’ve had an obsession with pedal steel since childhood probably stemming from Santo & Johnny or Dylan’s ‘Lay Lady Lay’ but for whatever reason the instrument always seemed unattainable — both from a technical standpoint and entry-level price point.”

    Earlier this year, Kamm finally landed one. Ever since, he’s gone in on it headfirst to indulge a lifelong fantasy. The results are fascinating.

    To those who know Kamm’s work, this new release will almost certainly be his most
    surprising material to date. After all, probably the strangest thing an eccentric can do is something deeply traditional. These two songs are the most postmodern looks from Kamm ever, without even an ounce of indie abstraction.

    “After my last synthesizer jaunt, I felt like I needed to return to the basics of songwriting — start with a great song on guitar then see where it leads me,” he says. .
    “Spite the Moon” ambles and twangs through a twilight ride in an easy cowboy trot with some of Kamm’s most forthright and wistful crooning yet. “Fall Asleep on the Forest Floor,” on the other hand, is a lovely rural instrumental that’s a perfect campfire lullaby.

    While Kamm showcases his fluency on the full range of roots instruments here, he works them all into evocative and stylistically faithful settings for his budding pedal steel work. (Side note: Pedal steel players have always been in short supply in the local music community, so area Americana players, take note.)

    While the new Tele & the Ghost of Our Lord songs now stream everywhere and sit atop TLU’s Spotify playlist, they’ll also be released as a limited-edition cassette through Orlando’s Godless America Records at Kamm’s performance this weekend at Moxie Booking’s Modern Moog 2 showcase (7 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 18, Will’s Pub, $13-$18.)

    Location Details

    Will's Pub


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    Bao Le-Huu

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  • Luke Combs Shotguns a Beer With Texans Owner Cal McNair in Final Houston Show

    Luke Combs Shotguns a Beer With Texans Owner Cal McNair in Final Houston Show

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    There are two things to always expect in a Luke Combs concert: Him strutting and singing with a Solo cup in hand that is kept filled through the night and that he will make his way to the edge of the stage and shotgun a beer for everyone to see.

    What you don’t expect in a Luke Combs concert is for the owner and starting quarterback of your city’s NFL team to come out, and for said owner to join Luke in shotgunning a beer.

    That is exactly what happened at NRG Stadium in the final show of the Growin’ Up and Gettin’ Old Tour. In the middle of the song “1, 2 Many”, Combs stopped the song as he normally does but surprised fans by bringing out Houston Texans Quarterback C.J. Stroud, the Texans owner, Cal McNair, and other Texans players on stage.

    McNair stepped to the edge of the stage with Luke – who was also wearing a new battle-red Houston Texans fitted-hat – and the two shotgunned a beer together before throwing (or for Cal kicking) the can into the crowd in true Luke Combs fashion.

    The tens of thousands of fans that packed NRG Stadium erupted. “Give it up for your Houston Texans!” Luke yelled. “They’re gonna kick some ass this season!” while the Texans made their way back off stage.
    Before Combs was shotgunning and Solo cup strutting on stage, he was a 24-year-old in Nashville, Tennessee recording his first EP The Way She Rides. He says he didn’t even get on a plane until he was 25.

    “The first place, they sent me was to the great state of Texas.” Combs said. “It blew my mind. You guys have such an incredible culture here, such incredible pride. Texas is just as special as it was then as it is to me now.”

    It’s been a journey for Luke since Nashville. He’s since dropped nine projects, featuring five studio albums and three more EPs. Combs’ debut album in 2017, This One’s for You, exploded him onto the Country Music scene. The LP earned him his first Grammy nomination for Best New Artist and his first No. 1 on the Billboard Country Airplay chart with the track “Hurricane.”

    His sophomore album What you See Ain’t Always What You Get that released in 2019 was the birth of the tradition of shotgunning a beer on stage, with the single Combs made with the country music duo Brooks & Dunn, “1, 2 Many” featured on the LP.

    His fourth album brought fans a country rendition of Tracy Chapman’s classic hit “Fast Car”, which spent five weeks at the top of the Billboard Country Airplay chart.

    Now Combs was the final show of his latest tour, and he made sure to express his gratitude through the night and let those who have helped him get to this point know how much it meant to him, including the fans.

    “This has been the most incredible tour I’ve ever been on. So many memories with my brothers on this stage with me, with the fans. None of this happens without you guys supporting us and spending your hard-earned money.” Combs told the massive NRG crowd.

    “Thank you, from us to you. We’re gonna put on the best show of our lives for you tonight.” He added.

    click to enlarge

    Luke Combs showed love to the fans and the city of Houston throughout the show.

    Photo by Cody Barclay

    Combs left it all out on the stage for the final show of the tour. Playing tracks of old like “Beautiful Crazy” and “She Got the Best of Me” from his debut album, and of course the more recent hits like “Where the Wild Things Are.”

    It wouldn’t be a Luke Combs show in Houston without “Houston, We Got a Problem.” The big screen behind Luke displayed “DON’T MESS WITH TEXAS” and he showed more appreciation for the state. “I wanted to write a love letter to Texas. I wanted to tell Texas, that I love Texas.” He said to the roaring crowd.

    Even when it appeared Luke was done, he wasn’t. The first time he walked off stage and everything went to black, he abruptly came back and performed encores of his most popular tracks before officially wrapping the night up.

    “Texas, I love you!” Luke yelled as he finally walked off stage officially and for what would be the last time on the Growin’ Up and Gettin’ Old Tour.

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    Sean Thomas

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  • Today in History: Aug. 6, the atomic bombing of Hiroshima

    Today in History: Aug. 6, the atomic bombing of Hiroshima

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    Today is Tuesday, Aug. 6, the 219th day of 2024. There are 147 days left in the year.

    Today in history:

    On Aug. 6, 1945, during World War II, the U.S. B-29 Superfortress Enola Gay dropped an atomic bomb on Hiroshima, Japan, resulting in an estimated 140,000 deaths.

    Also on this date:

    In 1806, Emperor Francis II abdicated, marking the end of the Holy Roman Empire after nearly a thousand years.

    In 1825, Upper Peru became the autonomous republic of Bolivia.

    In 1890, at Auburn Prison in Auburn, New York, William Kemmler became the first person to be executed via electric chair.

    In 1926, Gertrude Ederle became the first woman to swim across the English Channel.

    In 1942, Queen Wilhemina of the Netherlands became the first reigning queen to address a joint session of Congress, telling lawmakers that despite Nazi occupation, her people’s motto remained, “No surrender.”

    In 1945, during World War II, the U.S. B-29 Superfortress Enola Gay dropped an atomic bomb code-named “Little Boy” on Hiroshima, Japan, resulting in an estimated 140,000 deaths.

    In 1962, Jamaica gained independence from the United Kingdom after 300 years of British rule.

    In 1965, President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the Voting Rights Act, prohibiting racial discrimination in voting.

    In 1991, the World Wide Web made its public debut as a means of accessing webpages over the Internet.

    In 2011, insurgents shot down a U.S. military helicopter during fighting in eastern Afghanistan, killing 30 Americans, most of them belonging to the same elite Navy commando unit that had slain Osama bin Laden; seven Afghan commandos also died.

    Today’s Birthdays: Children’s performer Ella Jenkins is 100. Actor-director Peter Bonerz is 86. Actor Louise Sorel is 84. Actors Michael Anderson Jr. and Ray Buktenica are 81. Actor Dorian Harewood is 74. Actor Catherine Hicks is 73. Singer Pat MacDonald (Timbuk 3) is 72. Actor Stepfanie Kramer is 68. Actor Faith Prince is 67. R&B singer Randy DeBarge is 66. Actor Leland Orser is 64. Actor Michelle Yeoh is 62. Country singers Patsy and Peggy Lynn are 60. Basketball Hall of Famer David Robinson and actor Jeremy Ratchford are 59. Actor Benito Martinez and country singer Lisa Stewart are 56. Movie writer-director M. Night Shyamalan is 54. Actor Merrin Dungey is 53. Singer Geri Halliwell Horner and actor Jason O’Mara are 52. Actor Vera Farmiga is 51. Actor Ever Carradine is 50. Actors Soleil Moon Frye and Melissa George are 48. Rock singer Travis “Travie” McCoy and actor Leslie Odom Jr. are 43. Actor Romola Garai is 42. U.S. Olympic and WNBA basketball star A’ja Wilson is 28.

    Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.

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    By The Associated Press

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  • Tanner Adell: The Rising Star Who’s Redefining Country Music – POPSUGAR Australia

    Tanner Adell: The Rising Star Who’s Redefining Country Music – POPSUGAR Australia

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    The face of country music is changing, and Tanner Adell is here to lead the charge. Not just to witness it, but to be an integral part of the transformation.

    In the past year, Tanner has taken the country music scene — and the world — by storm. Following the release of her debut album, Buckle Bunny, she has found herself in a whirlwind of music festival appearances and collaborations with some of the industry’s biggest names. From likening herself to “Beyoncé with a lasso” on her title track to then being featured on Cowboy Carter’s “Blackbiird”, Tanner’s rise is nothing short of meteoric.

    The Nashville-based singer-songwriter has cultivated a fan base that extends beyond traditional country music lovers. Her unique fusion of country and pop has garnered interest from all genres, leading to 113 million global streams, close to 3 million monthly listeners on Spotify, and over 10.5 million likes on TikTok. Adell acknowledges that social media has allowed her to connect with fans and build a following of country-curious listeners.

    Her debut single, “Buckle Bunny”, was an instant hit. The pacey beat and raw, sexy lyrics paint a vivid picture of the less traditional side of country music. A “buckle bunny” is essentially a rodeo star groupie, a term that saw a resurgence after its mention in Yellowstone. Adell doesn’t take herself or her music too seriously, describing country music as an inviting place for both loyalists and tourists alike.

    Now, she’s set to perform at the Ridin’ Hearts Festival in Australia. POPSUGAR Australia caught up with her to discuss her journey, inspirations, and what fans can expect from her performance Down Under.

    A Conversation With Tanner Adell

    Can you tell us more about your journey into music and what inspired you to pursue a career in this genre?

    Well, it starts… I don’t really know where it starts. I feel like I’ve always loved singing. I’ve always loved dancing. I played piano at a really young age and started writing songs at a really young age. But I think probably when I was 15, I taught myself how to play guitar. I think that was kind of when I saw a shift in my artistry as far as just being able to write my own songs and not just learning other people’s songs and singing those.

    Your cover of The Beatles’ “Blackbird” is powerful. How did it feel to be part of a song with such powerful themes?

    This was one of my dad’s favourite songs. So when I told him that I was on it, he kind of got emotional and literally after we got off the phone, he started sending me little blurbs that Paul had put out about the meaning behind the song.

    If you don’t really know my story then it might not make sense. But my adoptive parents are both white and I’m biracial and I have four other adopted siblings who are all biracial.

    I started to realise this was a song that meant way more to him than just like being his favourite Beatles song, but he actually understood from way back when what it meant to have two black daughters. I think it was just emotional for all of us. But yeah, my dad really clarified the meaning of it to me and… it’s very special!

    Reflecting on your career so far, what has been the most rewarding moment, and what are your goals moving forward?

    The most rewarding moment has been when I get to meet little boys and little girls that really love my songs. Just the other day at a charity event for Twisters with Charlize Theron’s Africa Outreach Project, the executive producer of Twisters introduced me to her daughter who I guess was a big fan, and she said when I was up on stage, her daughter looked at her and was like “I wanna be like that!”. And then she brought her to come meet me after, her name is Brooklyn.

    So when I hear little girls look up to me and little boys even in their car seats when their mums take videos of them in the backseat and they’re singing all the words to Buckle Bunny and stuff, that is my most rewarding moment; when I get to see the impact I’m making on kids who are going to lead the world one day.

    You’re set to perform at the Riding Hearts Festival in Australia. What are you most looking forward to about this event, and what can fans expect from your performance?

    I’ve only had the opportunity to perform outside of the country a couple of times, and every single time, it’s just new energy. Everybody kind of views country music in a different way based on where they’re from around the world. I’ve heard so much about Australian fans being incredible and so hype. So I think I’m just excited for the energy of Australia because everyone says that that’s the place you wanna go.

    How do you feel about connecting with your Aussie fans? Is there anything special you have planned for your performance Down Under?

    I think I’m definitely going to need to brainstorm some special things that I want to do. But, if we do anything special, it’s going to be in my fashion. I haven’t done my full research on Australia yet, but whatever I wear, it’s going to mean something haha. It’s going to be brought in the fashion.

    Vibe Check: Tell Us About Your Streaming Habits and You Could Win a $2000 Travel Voucher

    Terms and conditions apply — good luck!

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    Kailah Haddad

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  • Today in History: July 29, USS Forrestal accident

    Today in History: July 29, USS Forrestal accident

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    Today is Monday, July 29, the 211th day of 2024. There are 155 days left in the year.

    Today in history:

    On July 29, 1967, an accidental rocket launch on the deck of the supercarrier USS Forrestal in the Gulf of Tonkin resulted in a fire and explosions that killed 134 service members.

    Also on this date:

    In 1836, the newly-completed Arc de Triomphe was inaugurated in Paris.

    In 1858, the United States and Japan signed the Harris Treaty, formalizing diplomatic relations and trading rights between the two countries.

    In 1890, artist Vincent van Gogh, 37, died of an apparently self-inflicted gunshot wound in Auvers-sur-Oise, France.

    In 1914, transcontinental telephone service in the U.S. became operational with the first test conversation between New York and San Francisco.

    In 1921, Adolf Hitler became the leader of the National Socialist German Workers’ (Nazi) Party.

    In 1954, the first volume of JRR Tolkien’s novel “The Lord of the Rings” (“The Fellowship of the Ring”) was published.

    In 1957, the International Atomic Energy Agency was established.

    In 1958, President Dwight D. Eisenhower signed the National Aeronautics and Space Act, creating NASA.

    In 1981, Britain’s Prince Charles married Lady Diana Spencer in a glittering ceremony at St. Paul’s Cathedral in London. (They divorced in 1996.)

    In 1986, a federal jury in New York found that the National Football League had committed an antitrust violation against the rival United States Football League, but the jury ordered the NFL to pay token damages of just three dollars.

    In 1994, abortion opponent Paul Hill shot and killed Dr. John Bayard Britton and Britton’s escort, James H. Barrett, outside the Ladies Center clinic in Pensacola, Florida.

    In 1999, a former day trader, apparently upset over stock losses, opened fire in two Atlanta brokerage offices, killing nine people and wounding 13 before shooting himself; authorities said Mark O. Barton had also killed his wife and two children.

    In 2016, former suburban Chicago police officer Drew Peterson was given an additional 40 years in prison for trying to hire someone to kill the prosecutor who put him behind bars for killing his third wife.

    In 2021, American Sunisa Lee won the gold medal in women’s all-around gymnastics at the Tokyo Games; she was the fifth straight American woman to claim the Olympic title in the event.

    Today’s Birthdays: Former Sen. Nancy Kassebaum-Baker is 92. Former Sen. Elizabeth H. Dole is 88. Artist Jenny Holzer is 74. Documentary filmmaker Ken Burns, style guru Tim Gunn, singer-musician Geddy Lee (Rush) and singer Patti Scialfa (Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band) are 71. Actor Alexandra Paul is 61. Country singer Martina McBride is 58. Actor Wil Wheaton is 52. Singer Wanya Morris (Boyz II Men) and actor Stephen Dorff are 51. Actor Josh Radnor is 50. Hip-hop DJ/music producer Danger Mouse is 47. NFL quarterback Dak Prescott is 31.

    Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.

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    The Associated Press

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  • What to stream this week: ‘Descendants,’ Megan Moroney, ‘Sunny’ and new HARDY album

    What to stream this week: ‘Descendants,’ Megan Moroney, ‘Sunny’ and new HARDY album

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    Country sensation HARDY’s new album and a new “Descendants” movie are some of the new television, films, music and games headed to a device near you.

    Also among the streaming offerings worth your time as selected by The Associated Press’ entertainment journalists: and “Faye,” an authorized but candid portrait of the singular screen legend Faye Dunaway and Megan Moroney’s sophomore album release.

    — Underestimate the popularity of the “Descendants” films at your own peril. Since the 2015 original debuted on the Disney Channel, the subsequent trilogy of movies have proved a huge hit with kids. When the trailer for the upcoming fourth movie, “Descendants: The Rise of Red,” debuted earlier this year, it generated 86 million views within 10 days. This time, the new “Descendants” movie is launching first on Disney+, on Friday, before arriving on the Disney Channel next month. “The Rise of Red” centers on Red (Kylie Cantrall), the rebellious daughter of the Queen of Hearts, and Chloe (Malia Baker), kin to Cinderella.

    — Laurent Bouzereau’s “Faye” (streaming beginning 8 p.m. Saturday on Max) is an authorized but candid portrait of the singular screen legend Faye Dunaway. In it, the 83-year-old Dunaway, frankly discusses her bipolar disorder diagnosis and her history of alcoholism, along with her long string of classic films including “Bonnie and Clyde,” “Chinatown” and “Network.”

    — Not many films come with instructions to wear headphones while watching, but Sam Green’s “32 Sounds” is not your average documentary, either. Green’s movie, which was shortlisted for best documentary by the Academy Awards earlier this year, explores 32 wildly disparate auditory experiences — the heartbeat of a fetus, a whoopee cushion at work, Phil Collins “In the Air Tonight” — to contemplate all the many ways that sound resonates in our lives. The movie, which was first a “live documentary” experience that handed out headphones to its audience members, is streaming on the Criterion Channel.

    — AP Film Writer Jake Coyle

    — Last year, country musician Megan Moroney’s debut album, “Lucky,” was named one of AP’s top albums for 2023, for its sharp writing and congenial delivery — a Gen Z songwriter I previously described as possessing Taylor Swift-level acuity. Her pen continues to be her weapon on “Am I Okay?” a heartbreak-filled rollercoaster ride of a sophomore album, filled with quotable kiss-offs and evolved compositions. It releases Friday.

    — HARDY (real name Michael Wilson Hardy) has been celebrated for his hybrid approach to country music, weaving elements of anthemic rock and even nu-metal into his compositions. ( Kid Rock has left a pretty massive vacancy, it could be pointed out.) On his third studio album, “QUIT!!,” HARDY continues to push the boundaries of his chosen genres. “ROCKSTAR” sounds like something that would’ve found a home on the Van’s Warped Tour, delivered through his signature twang; the line between rock and country has never been thinner.

    — On Friday, R&B talent Tink will release the fifth installment in her popular mixtape series, “Winter’s Diary 5.” If the previously released singles are evidence of what’s to come, the tape will build off what she’s become known for — sultry melodies about every relationship experience imaginable. That means frustration from poor communication and disloyalty, this time atop soft guitar riffs (“Huh”), backsliding and maybe not feeling so bad about it sometimes with smooth harmonies (“Songs About U,” featuring Summer Walker ) and beyond.

    — We’re living in a rich period of music documentaries about Memphis (and no, we’re not only including HBO and MAX’s “Stax: Soulsville U.S.A” in that statement, but it is certainly up there.) On Tuesday, a new documentary will become available via video-on-demand: “The Blue Society,” which gleans new insight into the Memphis Country Blues Festival, held between 1966 and 1970. This film examines the relationship between the fest and ’60s counterculture, Memphis blues, and race — particularly looking at the white organizers who put it on, and the Black musicians who played it. It’s appointment viewing for music and American history fans alike.

    — Also on Tuesday: Paramount+ will release a new, two-part docu-series, “Melissa Etheridge: I’m Not Broken.” It follows the Grammy-award winning Etheridge, as she organizes a special concert at a women’s prison in Kansas, the Topeka Correctional Facility. Five women incarcerated there wrote letters to Etheridge, inspiring her to compose an original song for them, and throw the event. Throughout is also an addiction narrative, which Etheridge can relate to: In 2020, her son Beckett Cypher died at age 21, from causes related to opioid addiction.

    — AP Music Writer Maria Sherman

    — Jenn Tran, who competed for Joey Graziadei’s heart on last season of “The Bachelor,” is ABC’s new “Bachelorette.” Tran, a physician’s assistant student, is the first Asian American to lead the series. Watch her meet her suitors on Monday on ABC. Episodes also stream on Hulu.

    — A new docuseries looks back at Serena Williams’ tennis career, from her own perspective. “In the Arena: Serena Williams” examines her rise to greatness to her retirement announcement in 2022. The eight-episode series debuts Wednesday on ESPN+.

    — Rashida Jones stars in a new mystery for Apple TV+ centering around one of the hottest topics of late, artificial intelligence. In “Sunny,” premiering Wednesday, Jones plays a woman living in Japan whose husband and son go missing after a plane crash. She’s gifted with a domestic robot to keep her company and help her through her grief.

    — Dakota and Elle Fanning are behind a new true crime docuseries for Hulu. “Mastermind: To Think Like A Killer” introduces viewers to Dr. Ann Burgess, a pioneer in the FBI’s Behavioral Science Unit, who changed the way authorities investigate serial killers. Burgess’ story isn’t just fascinating but inspiring as well, as she earned respect in the male-dominated FBI. The three-part series drops Thursday.

    — With the success of “Love Island USA” and “The Traitors,” Peacock has two hit reality competition shows on its roster. Next, hungry bears are the stars of a new non-scripted series for the streamer. “The Hungry Games: Alaska’s Big Bear Challenge” tracks Alaskan brown bears as they seek to eat enough food (approximately three-million calories) to sustain them through their winter slumber. To do so, the hangry bears must battle mother nature and each other. As the title suggests, “The Hungry Games” is presented like a competition show. The games begin Thursday.

    — Not to be outdone, the godfather of natural history programs, Sir David Attenborough, has a new wildlife docuseries dedicated to a variety of mammals. “Planet Earth: Mammals” looks at, you guessed it, mammals big and small adapting to their evolving natural habitat due to human activity and the effects of climate change. The six-part series premieres Saturday on BBC America and AMC+.

    — A new original for MGM+ explores the world of politics and academia against the backdrop of Martha’s Vineyard. “Emperor of Ocean Park ″ is a thriller mystery series based on a novel of the same name and debuts Sunday. Oscar winner Forest Whitaker and Grantham Coleman star.

    — Alicia Rancilio

    — There really aren’t enough games where you get to kick your enemies, so thank goodness for Devolver Digital’s Anger Foot. Sure, it lets you arm yourself with standard weapons like rifles and crossbows, but for up-close brawling nothing beats a shoe to the face. The visuals look like something you might see after too many Red Bulls, the bass-heavy soundtrack will wake up your neighbors, and the shoe collection should satisfy any sneakerhead. South African developer Free Lives is known for raunchy, ultraviolent comedy, and it doesn’t take the foot off the gas pedal here. Kick out the jams Thursday on PC.

    — Lou Kesten

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  • Zach Bryan Takes John Mayer and Bruce Springsteen to the Bars

    Zach Bryan Takes John Mayer and Bruce Springsteen to the Bars

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    Photo: Keith Griner/Getty Images

    Much to celebrate this 4th of July. The 100th birthday of the caesar salad, David and Victoria Beckham’s wedding anniversary. And bars. Zach Bryan released The Great American Bar Scene just in time for BBQ’s across the USA. The album features, um, features from Bruce Springsteen and John Mayer. Springsteen plays with Bryan on “Sandpaper,” and Mayer comes along for “Better Days.” Americana artists Noeline Hofmann and John Moreland also have guest spots on the album. Previous collaborators include Kacey Musgraves — who duetted with Bryan the Hot 100-topping “I Remember Everything” in 2023 — and the Huak Tuah Girl — who joined Bryan on-stage in June. Offstage, Bryan is collabing with Brianna Chickenfry of Barstool Sports fame.

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    Bethy Squires

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  • 3 Iconic Female Country Stars We Need Post Malone To Collab With

    3 Iconic Female Country Stars We Need Post Malone To Collab With

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    Country music is welcoming a new character, and that’s Post Malone. So far Post has released two amazing country-pop songs with iconic country singers like Blake Shelton. He also recently announced a full country album, F-1 Trillion, coming August 16.

    I love y’all so very much and I’m so excited to get out and play new music for you.

    Post Malone said in a press release.

    Post Malone can pretty much ace any genre – R&B, Pop, Rap, and now Country! We are so excited to see where the new album takes us this summer and perhaps hear some other features sprinkled throughout the album. You can pre-save F-1 Trillion here and get tickets to the tour here. Which city are you showing up for?

    Image Source: Live Nation

    As much as we love our country cowboys, we are eager for Post to link up with some of our favorite female country artists.

    Dolly Parton

    What’s country music without Dolly Parton? Dolly has played a significant role in the history of the genre and has been featured in dozens of country projects, including Beyoncé’s latest project, COWBOY CARTER. We’d love for Post and Dolly to link up on a sweet country love ballad. Anytime Post releases a love song, we fall more in love with him and his music. 

    Some of our favorite Dolly songs are ‘9 to 5’ and ‘I Will Always Love You.’ Wouldn’t it be so cool to hear Post cover one of these? We can only hope and pray until the album drops.

    TO LEARN MORE ABOUT DOLLY PARTON:
    FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM | TIKTOK | TWITTER | YOUTUBE

    Shania Twain

    We just know Post and Shania Twain would make a killer country-pop anthem! We can just imagine the visuals right now – sparkly cowboy hats, rhinestone boots, and horses running wild in the desert. Their song would definitely be about partying in the South during the summertime!

    Some of our favorite Shania songs are ‘Giddy Up!’ and ‘That Don’t Impress Me Much.’ Which are your favorites? Which one would you want Post Malone to cover?

    TO LEARN MORE ABOUT SHANIA TWAIN:
    FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM | TWITTER | WEBSITE

    Kacey Musgraves

    Finally, we have to shout out our girl Kacey Musgraves. She’s been on a roll since dropping Deeper Well which we’ve been listening to nonstop. If Post has a Kacey feature on F-1 Trillion we’d be so happy we wouldn’t know what to do with ourselves. We imagine that their collaboration would be soulful and lean more towards a bluegrass style with lyrics about friendship and overcoming life’s toughest struggles. 

    Our favorite songs from Kacey’s discography are ‘Happy&Sad,’ ‘cherry blossom,’ ‘Dinner with Friends.’ 

    TO LEARN MORE ABOUT KACEY MUSGRAVES:
    FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM |  TWITTER | WEBSITE | YOUTUBE

    Now that we’ve dished all our F-1 Trillion collaboration dreams, it’s time to hear yours! Which iconic country artist would you like Post Malone to link up with? Are you excited to see him on the road later this year? Let us know all of your thoughts in the comments below or by finding us on Twitter, Instagram, or Facebook 🐝

    TO LEARN MORE ABOUT POST MALONE:
    DISCORD | FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM | TIKTOK | TWITTER | WEBSITE

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    ableimann

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  • Phoenix musician August Manley brings Waylon Jennings to life

    Phoenix musician August Manley brings Waylon Jennings to life

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    It was all thanks to a couple of television cousins running moonshine through the state of Georgia in an orange ’69 Dodge Charger that local country artist August Manley became interested in Waylon Jennings, the music legend with deep ties to Arizona. Jennings sang the theme song to the aforementioned TV show, “The Dukes of Hazzard,” which begins with those now-famous three guitar chords before leading into the lyrics, “Just a good ol’ boys, never meanin’ no harm…”…

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    Timothy Rawles

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  • Danae Hays: The New Star of Southern Comedy

    Danae Hays: The New Star of Southern Comedy

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    Over the last few years, Danae Hays has become one of TikTok’s biggest comedy stars. With characters that poke fun at her Southern roots, the Alabama native can hardly go anywhere without being recognized. Her wife Mandie often acts as costar, presenting a glimpse of their life together.

    Recently, Hays has been making a push to expand her audience beyond social media. She’s embarking on a 28-city standup tour starting July 19, and she’s beginning to land parts in movies.

    Hays has also been recording music. Embracing the early ’90s country sound her parents loved, she’s released the singles “All It Takes” and “Rode Hard.” Working with real Nashville songwriters, she creating a style that straddles the line between legit country music and satire.

    So how did Danae Hays go from college softball player to rising comedian? Watch her talk to Jordan Edwards about the origins of her career, embracing her Southern roots, and the humane way to prank call a stranger.

    For more Danae Hays, follow her on Instagram and TikTok.

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    Staff

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  • Sunny Sweeney carries the torch of true country into Sanford’s Tuffy’s Music Box

    Sunny Sweeney carries the torch of true country into Sanford’s Tuffy’s Music Box

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    WE LOVE OUR READERS!

    Since 1990, Orlando Weekly has served as the free, independent voice of Orlando, and we want to keep it that way.

    Becoming an Orlando Weekly Supporter for as little as $5 a month allows us to continue offering readers access to our coverage of local news, food, nightlife, events, and culture with no paywalls.

    Join today because you love us, too.

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    Bao Le-Huu

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  • EXCLUSIVE PREMIERE: We Will Love Lauren O’Brien In Every Lifetime!

    EXCLUSIVE PREMIERE: We Will Love Lauren O’Brien In Every Lifetime!

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    Destiny is sometimes a bit funky. Our relationships might not work out, and we might be heartbroken from the unsuccessful tries, but we can’t help but wonder what could have happened if things were different. That’s exactly what Lauren O’Brien portrays with ‘In Another Lifetime.’ Lauren’s new title track represents her debut EP, which also shares its title. We love our country girlies in this hive, so we obviously had to recommend this incredible artist to you.

    We were incredibly fortunate to dive heads into Lauren’s artistry with ‘In Another Lifetime’ by premiering her music video for this song. We’re so grateful for showing you all this video and for sharing Lauren’s great songwriting! Let’s get more into it and her newest country music!

    ‘In Another Lifetime’ really digs into making every star align so that we can keep dreaming of our potential special person. Dreaming about sharing our future with someone we love is our life goal, but sometimes we can’t achieve that. Is it a right person, wrong time occurrence? Shall we turn around, give up, or keep trying to work it out? Lauren is also trying to make peace with this determined destiny through the lyrics of this song. If you were looking for a track that gets what you’re going through and overthinking your what-ifs, you should tune into this one!

    “Maybe this love would’ve worked out fine

    if our stars aligned

    in another lifetime.”

    Lyrics from ‘In Another Lifetime’ by Lauren O’Brien

    The music video for this song is absolutely beautiful, and we think it matches the song perfectly. The beach Lauren went to record this is gorgeous (as well as her dress!), so we believe it truly pairs up with that dreamy feeling that we are still hoping for, although we should move on and let our hearts rest.

    If you liked ‘In Another Lifetime’ as much as we did, don’t forget to tune in to check out Lauren’s EP to enjoy her new amazing country music fully!

    Have we made you a Lauren O’Brien stan? Let us know in the comments below, or tell us over on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram!

    Need more of our premieres to learn about our newest obsessions? We got you!

    TO LEARN MORE ABOUT LAUREN O’BRIEN:
    INSTAGRAM | TIKTOK | YOUTUBE

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    María Solano

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