Paramore singer Hayley Williams confirmed that her “racist country singer” lyric on her new album is about Morgan Wallen.
On The New York Times podcast, Williams discussed her album, “Ego Death at a Bachelorette Party,” which has a lyric that calls out a specific country music star.
Hayley Williams says Morgan Wallen was her reference for racist country bar lyric.(Getty Images)
When asked about who the lyric was about on the podcast, Williams admitted it “could be a couple” of musicians, but she had Wallen in mind when writing the song.
“I’m always talking about Morgan Wallen. I don’t give a s—. Find me at Whole Foods b—-. I don’t care. I just don’t care,” the Paramore frontwoman said.
“I’m always talking about Morgan Wallen. I don’t give a s—. Find me at Whole Foods b—-. I don’t care. I just don’t care.”
— Hayley Williams
She noted on the podcast that she’s “never not ready to scream at the top of my lungs about racial issues.”
“I don’t know why that became the thing that gets me most angry. I think because it’s so intersectional that it overlaps with everything from climate change to LGBTQIA issues,” Williams said.
Wallen has not publicly addressed Williams’s remarks. Fox News Digital reached out to the country star for comment.
Morgan Wallen was seen on camera using the N-word in 2021.(John Shearer)
In February 2021, Wallen was caught on camera using the N-word while speaking with friends in a driveway in Tennessee.
A few months later, Wallen admitted during an interview with Michael Strahan on “Good Morning America” that he had been “partying all weekend” with some “longtime friends” before the slur was used.
“No, I don’t think it just happened. I was around some of my friends and we just, we say dumb stuff together. In our minds, it’s playful. It sounds ignorant, but that’s really where it came from, and it’s wrong.
In April 2021, Wallen took to X and issued a handwritten apology to fans. He revealed he would be taking a break from performing that summer.(John Shearer)
“We were all clearly drunk, and I was asking his girlfriend to take care of him because he was drunk, and he was leaving. I didn’t mean it in any derogatory manner at all,” he said at the time.
Strahan pressed Wallen why he would feel it was an “appropriate” word to ever use, to which the country crooner admitted he was “just ignorant about it.”
In April 2021, Wallen took to X and issued a handwritten apology to fans. He revealed he would be taking a break from performing that summer.
“I have felt a lot of love lately from so many people I haven’t gotten to know yet,” Wallen began, thanking his fans who stood beside him. “I know my corner hasn’t been the most popular one to stand in recently, but many of you did anyway.”
Wallen maintained that he had “made some mistakes” in 2020 and called it a “tough year,” likely pointing to his public intoxication arrest in May and disorderly conduct charges in September 2020.
Morgan Wallen shared a touching message for Erika Kirk following her husband’s assassination at Utah Valley University on Sept. 10.
On Sept. 12, Wallen was performing in Edmonton, Alberta for his “I’m The Problem” tour when he addressed the crowd, honoring Charlie Kirk and his family, and sharing that he’s praying for them.
“I’m not gonna say a whole bunch on this, but this song right here has been hitting me harder in the last couple days, and I just wanted to let Erika Kirk know that me and my family are sending prayers her way,” Wallen is seen saying in a video uploaded on Instagram.
Morgan Wallen honored Charlie Kirk and his widow Erika Kirk.(Getty Images)
The country star began singing, and asked fans to join in, on his hit song, “I’m A Little Crazy.” Fans took to the comment section of the video and noted the passion in Wallen’s voice while singing this song.
“You can feel his anger in the way he sang it. We love you Morgan. We love you Erika. We love you Charlie. We love you America,” one user wrote.
“I just wanted to let Erika Kirk know that me and my family are sending prayers her way.”
— Morgan Wallen
Another added, “you can see and hear his anger.. we love you Morgan”
“Just when I thought I couldn’t love him anymore,” a third person wrote.
Morgan Wallen honored Charlie Kirk at one of his recent shows.(John Shearer)
On Sept. 12, Erika broke her silence on her husband’s death. In a video uploaded to Turning Point USA’s YouTube account, Erika said, “Charlie loved, loved life. He loved his life. He loved America. He loved nature, which helped him always bring him closer to God.”
Erika continued, “But most of all, Charlie loved his children, and he loved me with all of his heart. And I knew that, every day I knew that. He made sure I knew that every day. Every day, he would ask me, ‘How can I serve you better? How can I be a better husband? How can I be a better father?’ Every day, every day. He was such a good man. He still is a good man. He was the perfect father. He was the perfect husband.”
Erika Kirk spoke for the first time since the assassination of her husband, Charlie Kirk, at Turning Point USA on Sept. 12, 2025.(Courtesy: Turning Point USA)
Kirk, who was killed Wednesday during a speaking engagement in Orem, Utah, was a well-known conservative activist. He was 31 when he was assassinated.
Friday morning, President Trump announced during a live appearance on “Fox & Friends” that an arrest had been made in Kirk’s murder.
Charlie Kirk speaks at Utah Valley University on Sept. 10, 2025 in Orem, Utah, prior to the assassination.(Trent Nelson/The Salt Lake Tribune/Getty Images)
Tyler Robinson, 22, was arrested on suspicion of aggravated murder, felony discharge of a firearm causing serious bodily harm, and obstruction of justice charges, according to a court affidavit. A judge ordered that he be held without bail. Formal charges are expected early next week.
Over the years, the reality star dated quite a few hunky guys, including her Laguna Beach co-star Stephen Colletti, singer/actor Nick Lachey, and most recently, NHL hottie Nate Thompson. You sadly won’t find Chris Evans or Justin Bobby‘s names on the list, though! She debunked those rumors earlier this year! LOLz! But don’t worry! There are still plenty of other big-name celebrities in her dating history! There are even some huge shockers! Ch-ch-check out all her past romances below…
Ahh, young love! When Kristin rose to fame as a teenager in 2004 on the MTV show Laguna Beach, she famously was in an on-and-off relationship with her co-star Stephen Colletti! They began dating a year before the series started filming, but once cameras were up? Drama ensued, all thanks to the love triangle with Lauren Conrad! And because she cheated on him a few times, including once with their co-star Talan Torriero. Oof.
After two seasons, Kristin and Stephen broke up for good. Although their love didn’t make it out of high school, they managed to maintain a friendship. They even had a Laguna Beach recap podcast called Back to the Beach with Kristin and Stephen.
Talan Torriero
(c) Dimitri Halkidis/WENN
As mentioned above, Kristin wasn’t only romantically involved with Stephen on Laguna Beach! She also got with Talan! During a November 2022 episode of Back to the Beach, the podcast host admitted she was “hooking up” with her co-star! And Kristin wasn’t the only one! Lauren was, too! Those two were so messy back then! LOLz!
Matt Leinart
(c) Jody Cortes/WENN
Eventually, Kristin took a break from dating her castmates and moved on to Matt Leinart during Season 2 of Laguna Beach. She was a senior in high school, and he played football at the University of Southern California. Their relationship didn’t last long, though! They broke up after six months but remained close afterward! She shared on the Back to the Beach pod:
“I’m actually still good friends with Matt. Matt is the nicest human being on the planet. He’s such a great guy. But yeah, I dated him when I was 18, my second half of my senior year. He was a five-year senior at USC. He was on top of the world that year. I was so excited about it, clearly, like, no chill whatsoever. But it was a big deal for me.”
They didn’t work out, but at least she gain a longtime friend after the relationship!
Brody Jenner
(c) Dimitri Halkidis/WENN
Kristin dated Brody Jenner shortly after her time on Laguna Beach. They met through Talan and were together on and off for almost a year until they broke up in 2006. She told People at the time:
“It’s just hard right now because I am working all the time. We’re still good friends though.”
They later rekindled their romance on The Hills — though Kristin admitted it was all fake! She spilled on Bethenny in 2012:
“I dated Brody when I was 18, right after Laguna Beach, actually, and that’s it. And then on the show, on The Hills, they had us ‘dating’ for a few episodes.”
Hey, producers needed the drama!
Nick Lachey
(c) WENN
Fresh off the breakup with Jessica Simpson in 2006, Nick Lachey rebounded with Kristin — but only for a short amount of time! On her Let’s Be Honest podcast in November 2024, she was around 18 or 19 when they began dating. Unfortunately, Kristin struggled to deal with all the media attention (and comparisons to the ex-wife) that came with being the new girlfriend of the 98 Degrees member! She said:
“This was a wild time in my life, because I was, overnight, on the cover of every tabloid. I had so many paparazzi following my every move, waiting outside of my house. He had just gotten a divorce from Jessica Simpson. So this was, like, the biggest thing in 2006. It was a wild ride.”
Although their romance was short-lived, she doesn’t seem to harbor ill will toward him (unlike toward some of her other exes)! She appeared on his Big Morning Buzz show in 2014, where they laughed over how they both had kids named Camden now. Great minds think alike, huh?
Nick Zano
(c) WENN
Following her fling with Lachey, Kristin began dating another Nick that same year — What I Like About You star Nick Zano! And things were serious between the duo, even though they were only together for a short time! She ended up getting his initials tattooed on her wrist! Kristin may have thought it was a good idea at the time, but once they broke up in December 2007? Not so much! She reportedly got the ink removed. Lesson learned! Don’t get a tattoo tribute to your boyfriend of less than a year!
Miguel Medina
While Kristin was fake dating Brody on The Hills, she was actually involved with someone else on the show — a cameraman named Miguel Medina! During an episode of the reality show Very Cavallari, she revealed they secretly were involved during her time on the MTV series. The crew had no clue about Kristin and Miguel’s romance until the paparazzi got pictures of them at an airport in Canada. She said:
“We dated for a few months and nobody knew. And I was dating Brody on the show and like, meanwhile, Miguel was, like, filming it.”
Awkward! Kristin continued:
“Nobody knew because I’m a professional and we kept it under wraps. But, it was fun.”
The podcaster was annoyed their romance was exposed “a week before we wrapped the show,” but she ultimately has no regrets about anything:
“I dated a cameraman, yeah. Sure did.”
No shame!!
Jay Cutler
(c) C.M. Wiggins/WENN
Kristin was only married once, and it was to Jay Cutler! After her relationship with Medina ended, she began dating the former Chicago Bears quarterback in 2010. They had a whirlwind romance, getting engaged after only eight months together. But according to her 2016 book Balancing in Heels, she broke up with him in July 2011 because “a few things needed to change.”
They didn’t stay away from each other, though. Kristin and Jay reconciled that same year and announced they were expecting their first child, Camden Jack Cutler, in January 2012. They went on to get married in June 2013 and have two more kids: Jaxon Wyatt and Saylor James.
Although Kristin and Jay seemed like a solid couple, we learned they were anything but! She announced they were divorcing after 10 years together in April 2020, citing both “irreconcilable differences” and “inappropriate marital conduct” in the divorce documents. A source claimed to Us Weekly they often would “accuse each other of cheating” during their “antagonistic” marriage. Yikes. And their post-divorce, co-parenting relationship hasn’t gotten any better, either! She really hates raising kids with Jay, calling him a “pathological liar” with “zero f**king consistency.” Damn.
It’s safe to say no one should ever, ever expect these two to get back together! Kristin and Jay are over for good!
Jeff Dye
(c) Brian To/WENN
Her first post-marriage rebound! Kristin sparked romance rumors with comedian Jeff Dye after they were spotted making out in Chicago in October 2020. The two got serious fast, with the two exchanging “I love yous” during an Instagram Live session in January of the following year. A month later, they posted matching love notes on their Instagram Stories for Valentine’s Day. However, their spark fizzled! They broke up in March 2021 after only five months together. A source for Entertainment Tonight said at the time:
“Kristin wasn’t ever looking for anything serious. She enjoyed Jeff’s company and he made her laugh, which she loved, but she never really saw anything long-term happening between them, especially with co-parenting being such a new thing for her right now. She’s focusing on the growth of her business and her kids. A serious relationship was never top of mind, at least for right now.”
In October 2023, Jeff wanted to get back together with Kristin. The 42-year-old actor even met up with her for a coffee date to broach the possibility of a second shot… but he got arrested for driving under the influence after fleeing the scene of a traffic collision right in front of her! So, any chance of a reconciliation went out the window! Granted, Jeff isn’t interested in her anymore! Not after Kristin then publicly blasted his DUI story to the whole world!
TBH, Jeff should’ve know Kristin is brutally honest about everything and anything! This was going to get out! Speaking of honesty…
Craig Conover
(c) Nicky Nelson/WENN
We need to discuss the bombshell Kristin dropped about the Southern Charm star in 2025! You may recall rumors that she was in a love triangle with Craig Conover and Austen Kroll circulated after her divorce from Jay in 2020. Kristin insisted she was only “friends” with the two guys at the time. However, she partially lied! She didn’t have a thing with Austen. They were truly pals! She did date Craig, though!
During an episode of Watch What Happens Live in June, Kristin confirmed she was with the Bravolebrity at the start of his relationship with Paige DeSorbo! He dated both of them at the same time! When Kristin “caught wind” Craig was also involved with the Summer House star, she “politely excused” herself:
“There was a picture of Craig and Paige in New York — I’ll never forget it — and it looked like they were sort of together. That was the first time anyone had seen them. That was the first time I had heard about it. I saw that picture, and I texted him and I said, ‘Hey, let’s just be friends.’”
And Kristin plans to remain just that, pals! Even though they are both single this year, she is not going down that path again!
Chase Rice
(c) MEGA/WENN
In September 2021, Kristin was seen packing on the PDA with country singer Chase Rice during a date at Losers Bar and Grill in Nashville — just days after her Jay stepped out with Jana Kramer. Remember those two together? Wild! But back to Kristin and Chase, an insider told People they were introduced through a mutual pal. They hit it off. The source shared that Kristin and Chase were together for “a little over a month” by the time their romance became public, and they were “having fun.”
Well, the fun ended quickly! By mid-October, Kristin revealed to her Instagram followers that there was “no one serious” in her life, and she was “not dating anyone.” So, that marked the end of the Chase romance!
Morgan Wallen
(c) Judy Eddy/WENN
So remember when Kristin spilled that she had a romance with Morgan Wallen? Back in 2024, she opened up to Bunnie Xo that she and the country music star were f**k buddies in Nashville. The mom of three called him a “good guy” with a “big heart,” though she recognized he is “a player.” However, she didn’t care! She just wanted to have a good time between the sheets! And she did have a really good time with him! LOLz!
Kristin admitted he was “a great f**k buddy” and “good in bed.” Get it, girl! But beyond his bedroom abilities, she also thought Morgan was a “true gentleman” who went all out for the first date. He even took the time to meet her three children! Aww! They went to dinner in a “private room” at a restaurant and kissed in the rain when he took her home. It sounds so romantic!
Unfortunately, Kristin’s f**k buddy didn’t stick around. They didn’t talk for more than a year afterward — and she’s super bummed by how things ended! She explained on Bunnie’s Dumb Blonde podcast:
“He didn’t hurt my feelings. I’ll be honest with you. Morgan was the first guy in my entire f**king life that wasn’t, like, just completely enamored with me, and I was like, ‘What in the f**k is going on?’ It really threw me. … I love having the upper hand and I feel like with him I didn’t have the upper hand.”
LMFAO! At least she had fun!
Mark Estes
(c) Kristin Cavallari/Instagram
The award for Kristin’s hottest boyfriend, hands down, goes to 24-year-old Mark Estes! Sorry Chase and the others! In February 2024, she hard-launched her relationship with the much, much younger TikTok Star, best known for being a member of Montana Boyz, after they were caught on a vacation together in Mexico. They got serious FAST. Mark met her children, and the two even talked about having kids together.
However, their relationship fizzled after seven months. Why? While Kristin did not have a problem with their 13-year-age gap at first, it later became a big issue. She explained on her podcast:
“I broke up with Mark because I just know long term it’s not right. It’s not because of love lost or something bad happened, no one cheated, no one was mean. No one did anything. Those breakups are always the hardest, I think. I just know long term he needs to experience life. He’s young, I mean, he is. I started to feel the age a little bit just with life experience. I look back on when I was 24 and how much life has happened for me between then. Those are crucial years; those are formative years. This is when you find yourself, and he needs to be able to do that.”
Let’s be real. We all saw the breakup coming…
Nate Thompson
(c) Nate Thompson/Instagram
Nate was her last boyfriend… for now! In April 2025, Kristin revealed she started dating the retired professional hockey player late last year on the Let’s Be Honest podcast — but did so AFTER they already broke up! She explained they were “mostly long distance,” though Nate “came and stayed with [her] for New Year’s.” According to Kristin, this was “one of the deeper relationships” she ever had. And although they were not a couple for long, they “told each other f**king everything.” However, something was missing from the relationship! While Nate and Kristin had an emotional connection, they lacked physical chemistry:
“I need in the beginning to want to rip your f**king clothes off. I need compatibility and chemistry. I understand that what I’m searching for is rare. … I’m not gonna settle for anything less than exactly what I want.”
Because of that, their romance fizzled! They broke up, but she only had wonderful things to say about Nate! The same goes for him while he told his side of the story that same month! On his Energy Line podcast, the former athlete recalled they met “through Instagram” after the platform showed they “had a mutual friend.” He “reached out,” and they exchanged numbers. The next thing he knew, they were talking, and he was visiting Nashville to see her “a couple of times.” He continued:
“Obviously, we don’t live in the same city, so that dynamic changed things. I went there a couple times and saw her. I was with her for New Year’s. We told each other a lot of things in a short amount of time, and we were pretty open and honest about a lot of stuff.”
From his perspective, Nate felt they “had a connection in the short time that we talked or hung out” but he “wouldn’t have called her my girlfriend.” So, it sounds like this was more of a fling! In the end, he pointed out they “had a good time,” but “things didn’t work out.” Calling Kristin a “really good person” and “very genuine,” he added:
“She hustles. She does her thing, so I got a lot of respect for her and how she handles herself with everything she has to deal with being in the limelight.”
It’s a shame they didn’t last… But at least they ended amicably!
Bonus: Glen Powell
(c) MEGA/WENN
While they were not officially together, this feels important to include! Kristin’s best friend Justin Anderson revealed on the premiere episode of her new reality show Honestly Cavallari: The Headline Tour in June that she “went on a date with” Glen Powell! The hairstylist said:
“She recently went on a date with—she’s gonna be so mad at me actually – with Glen Powell! And I wanted it to happen so badly! Top Gun, bitch!”
Justin explained he and Kristin “were partying in Greece, and then Glen just came up.” According to her, the Scream Queens alum literally “ran into” her, and the sparks flew! Justin continued:
“And then you guys had a really fun night together.”
Get your heads out of the gutter! Ha! Kristin pointed out she “never f**ked him.” However, Justin revealed they “dry humped.” Oh! What a steamy night!
Honestly, we are also manifesting for a Glen and Kristin relationship! They would be a HOT couple! But if it’s not Mr. Top Gun, then who will she date next? Her celebrity crush, Kevin Costner? Who knows?! One thing we can trust Kristin to do, however, is keep us all on our toes when it comes to her love life!
Reactions, Perezcious readers? Let us know in the comments!
Reported Coachella headliner Fred again.. and non-headliner Kendrick Lamar. Photo: Vulture; Photos: Simone Joyner, Astrida Valigorsky
Coachella just keeps striking out. Bloomberg reported that not one, but two of the festival’s top-choice headliners turned down 2025 appearances. Founder Paul Tollett reportedly approached Kendrick Lamar and Rihanna with offers last spring, and both declined. That would’ve been before Lamar even got the Super Bowl gig; per Bloomberg, he’s planning a stadium tour to follow. Rihanna, meanwhile, just seems to be focused on growing her business. (Sorry, no new-album hope there.) But how about Fred again.. — again? Hits Daily Double reported the U.K. dance producer “is a lock” for one of the headlining slots, just two years after he closed weekend two with Skrillex and Four Tet. Hits, a usually trusted Coachella source, also speculates that a country-pop act like Post Malone or Morgan Wallen could headline. (Hits also suggested Jelly Roll, but he’s already set to play Coachella’s country counterpart, Stagecoach.) On the rap front, Hits pitched Travis Scott after he was first set to headline in 2020. If Lamar’s out of this one, we hear Lil Wayne is available too.
Lamar and Rihanna would’ve helped the festival rebound after multiple pandemic cancellations, a chaotic 2023, and a pretty safe lineup earlier this year (that took weeks to sell out). While Fred again.. may be headliner material after closing Bonnaroo this year, he’s certainly not the A-list talent Coachella seems to be shooting for. Where’s a big rock reunion when you need one? Just not them.
OK, yes, we’ve heard Travis Kelce and Taylor Swiftwere secretly engaged several times before. But never with this much detail…
It’s unclear whether he’s actually popped the question yet or not — more on that in a moment. But a new report has deets that seem to show even if it hasn’t happened quite yet, it’s any day now.
A source close to Trav’s entourage spilled to The US Sun on Wednesday that the Kansas City Chiefs star had been spending some of his time touring the world — mostly following around Tay on The Eras Tour — looking for the perfect engagement ring! And he’s found it! The source said:
“It probably took more than 40 shop visits and 100 Zoom calls and meetings with jewelry experts.”
He apparently has been at this for months, since the end of 2023! He reportedly saw rings in New York, Los Angeles, England, France, and Italy — inneresting since some believe he proposed to Tay during their romantic Lake Como getaway!
Whoa! Sounds like he’s working on this with the same intensity with which he trains for the NFL season! Well, it makes sense… Proposing to Taylor would kind of be the Super Bowl of dating, right? But while it was a mighty effort, it wasn’t exactly hard work — because, as the insider explains, the athlete was “so excited about” the search that it was fun!
It’s clearly important to Trav to get the ring just right. The source says he “wants the best for his lady” to “show how much he loves” her. So he got advice from close friends of his AND of hers on exactly what to pick. And all the extra care was “worth” it! Because he got it just right! The friend says:
“He finally found the ring he is sure she will love.”
Apparently Trav ultimately found the ring at Place Vendôme in Paris. The insider says he picked out the band as well as “the finest diamonds and pieces to build it.” So it sounds like it’ll be a custom piece — we’d expect no less for a unicorn like Tay. The ring, says the insider is worth a whopping $250,000!
Nice! It sounds like instead of one big diamond, it’ll be a more intricate design. Man, we can’t wait to see it!
The insider also noted how the ring was far from the only thing Trav bought as he took the time to learn Tay’s taste. He also spent $59k on clothes for her from German designer Jil Sander! Awww! The insider says:
“He knows her tastes so well now. She will have plenty to choose from when she watches him play in the NFL this fall.”
He’s apparently has been showering her with gifts because he can’t be there with her as he’s back in training — but never stops thinking about her:
“Travis misses Taylor a lot, and he knows that she is getting onto the last few weeks of the Eras tour in Europe.”
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 Trillionhere 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.
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?
Finally, we have to shout out our girl Kacey Musgraves. She’s been on a roll since dropping Deeper Wellwhich 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.’
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 🐝
Each new song is claiming to be the song of the summer. This is not random TikTok singers doing their obligatory self-promo with the tried-and-true hook: “Did I just write the song of the summer?” But don’t blame them. Blame the labels that are vying for a number-one hit. Blame TikTok for making songs viral overnight. Or blame each and every one of us who exclaims “song of the summer!” whenever our favorite songs come on the radio. There’s even a Spotify playlist power ranking all of this years contenders.
Everyone’s seeking the perfect summer soundtrack. I make a new playlist once time April hits (overeager, I know) with all the songs I have on repeat for the season. It ranges from UK Drill to Alt-Pop bangers. If you don’t have Central Cee and Clairo playing back-to-back this summer, what are you even doing?
But yet, come summer one song stands out as the song of the season. It’s the song that’s on everyone’s mind and everyone’s playlist. It’s the song everyone requests at parties, that plays every hour on the hour at the club, and the song we find ourselves humming mindlessly at the pool and on the beach.
Some years, it’s obvious. But this year, we’re spoiled for choice.
Dare I say it: we’re having a Summer 2016 Replay. For Gen Z and younger Millennials, Summer 2016 has taken a mythical quality online. Fall and Winter were when everything started to go wrong — some even say the killing of Harambe that May was the catalyst to all the ceaseless tragedy that’s happened since. If you’d told us then what the world would look like now, I would not have believed you. It was the rise before the fall. It was a summer of possibility, incredulity. And it was a summer of really good music.
Leading up to Summer 2016, we had new albums from Beyonce ( Lemonade), Rihanna (ANTI, her last project), Drake (Views), Justin Bieber (Purpose), and Ariana Grande (Dangerous Woman). Those albums gave us summer hits like “Sorry,” “Work,” “One Dance,” “Controlla,” “Love Yourself,” “Into You,” and so. Much. More. Not to mention, right at the end of summer, Frank Ocean finally dropped “Blonde” and changed music forever. He ushered in the genre-less, experimental sound to mainstream music and is on the inspo board of everyone you love, I promise.
The radio was also blasting singles that still get regular play at clubs. Mike Posner’s “I Took a Pill In Ibiza,” “This is What You Came For” by Calvin Harris, Dua Lipa’s first hit “Hotter than Hell,” “Cheap Thrills” by Sia, and “Panda” by Desiigner. Doesn’t that take you back?
Since then, no other summer has matched the vibes and the soundtrack of Summer 16. Last summer was the summer of cinema — with OppenBarbie taking over the box office and the planet. It was the summer of the girl, too. But summer 2024 is promising to have it all.
The summer festival circuit is in full swing with lineups that people are actually excited about and performances that are making and reigniting stars. Chappell Roan at Coachella blasted her way to success, going from a niche, “gay famous” singer to a mainstream hitmaker. Lana Del Rey is so back in a big way after headlining Coachella with a special appearance from Billie Eilish. Billie released her best album yet, full of summer bangers and ballads alike.
But we can’t talk about Summer 16 without talking about Sabrina Carpenter. “Espresso” has been sitting pretty at the top of the charts since spring. It’s everyone’s hyperfixation song. It’s been played and played and I’m not even close to tired of it. While Sabrina has been writing music for years, her 2023 album emails I can’t send has been a gamechanger for her career. Her mainstream success was slowly climbing with hits like “Nonsense” and “Feather” but nothing can compare to the level of fame she’s seeing in the wake of “Espresso.”
Out of nowhere, the lead single from her upcoming album became the unexpected song of pre-summer. But as we head into the season’s later months, can it keep up its momentum? Only time will tell. We’re spoiled for choice this summer with a bevy of hits from artists of every genre. Of course there are expected summer stars like Dua Lipa, Billie Eilish, and Post Malone, but other more surprising contenders are vying for the Song of the Summer Title.
Here’s what we think of all of summer’s most infectious songs:
Espresso — Sabrina Carpenter
The perfect summer anthem. “Espresso” is a feel-good bop that I can listen to on repeat. I doubt I’ll ever get tired of it — no wonder it won’t exit the Billboard chart. The only thing keeping it from being the definite song of the summer is that it came out in early Spring. But don’t worry, Miss Sabrina has more than one card up her sleeve.
Please, Please, Please — Sabrina Carpenter
After announcing her next album, Sabrina released her latest single, “Please, Please, Please,” alongside the video with her boyfriend, Barry Keoghan. “Don’t embarrass me, motherf*cker,” she croons in the song — talk about relatable. Taking a different tone than “Espresso” but no less infectious, Sabrina’s close-to-Country crooning displays that she’s a versatile star who won’t be banging out versions of the same song forever.
I Had Some Help — Post Malone ft Morgan Wallen
Speaking of Country Music, Post Malone’s country era is going swimmingly for the former-rapper with his new song, “I Had Some Help,” featuring Country star Morgan Wallen. Post Malone is no stranger to songs of the summer with hits like 2017’s “Congratulations,” 2019’s “Circles,” and his Spider-Man: Into the Spiderverse song “Sunflower” in 2019. This summer, he’s switching up genres but still racking up streams. Be prepared to hear this at every barbecue, beach house, or lake house or this summer.
II Most Wanted — Beyonce and Miley Cyrus
When Beyonce released her own Country album, it came with the infectious hit, “TEXAS HOLD EM.” The song’s opening line, “This ain’t Texas,” was on the tip of my tongue for months. Now that the album’s finally out, the surprising hit is her unexpected collaboration with Miley Cyrus, “II Most Wanted.” Miley had the song of the summer last year with “Flowers” and teaming up with Beyonce on this emotional ballad is pure magic.
Nasty — Tinashe
Tinashe has been toiling for years aiming for a hit, and now she finally has one. A true TikTok song, this summer anthem went viral in a hilarious video of TikTok user Nate Di Winer when he posted a video of himself dancing to Hey Choppi’s “Blind.” Tinashe took the video’s success, overlaid her own video and audio over it, and it went crazy-crazy-viral. The rest is history. Now it’s a sneaky, sleeper hit of the summer. And the TikTok sound “I’ve been a nasty girl” is sure to outlive it and head into the golden days of Autumn — at least.
Million Dollar Baby — Tommy Richman
We can’t talk about TikTok songs without mentioning Tommy Richman’s “Million Dollar Baby”. No, not the 2004 brutal boxing film starring Clint Eastwood, Hilary Swank, and Morgan Freeman. It’s a viral hit that instantly became an earworm. Who is Tommy Richman, you might ask? The 24-year-old singer and rapper is brand new to the scene — and what a debut. I wish it really was 2016 so everyone’s Instagram captions could be “Million Dollar Baby.” Simpler times.
Too Sweet — Hozier
TikTok is also responsible for Hozier’s first #1 hit in the US. Hozier’s been bringing his Irish accent-tinged voice to the charts since his massive debut single, “Take Me to Church.” But it took a post-album EP to skyrocket him to #1. After releasing Unreal, Unearth in late 2023, Hozier dropped a 4-song EP this April with some extras that didn’t make the album. And thank goodness he didn’t let these songs languish because “Too Sweet” is the folksy summer anthem we need.
Good Luck Babe! — Chappell Roan
The gays won with this song. Chappell Roan has been belting out her ballads and bops of yearning since her extended album promotion in 2020. Finally, The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess, her debut album came out in late 2023 but it took until her 2024 single “Good Luck Babe!” to get people to tune in. But now that the masses are listening, they cannot stop. This unapologetically queer hit has transcended the gay pop genre and is a chart-topping summer anthem for all of us entering our eras of yearning.
LUNCH — Billie Eilish
Speaking of unapologetically queer, this new Billie Eilish era is unmatched. Billie’s brand-new album, HIT ME HARD AND SOFT, is a masterpiece and already gaining Grammy buzz. Album of the Year? Probably. And she deserves it. She traverses genres and moods with this album, managing to create a sound that’s refreshingly unique and a album that feels cohesive despite its leaps and bounds. “LUNCH” is the sapphic song of my dreams, and “BIRDS OF A FEATHER” is a pop ballad that shows her range and her ability to create pop songs that last forever. [Read our full review of HIT ME HARD AND SOFThere.]
Cinderella — Remi Wolf
Remi will always be on my summer playlist so it’s exciting to hear her getting mainstream play. “Me and the boys in the hotel lobby,” is an infectious hook. And paired with her belting the chorus, it’s a textured song that I want to scream along to in my car with the windows down. [Read out interview with Remi Wolf at Spotify’s Lorem party here.]
Houdini — Dua Lipa
Queen of Vacationing. Queen of Red Carpets. Formerly, Queen of Summer. After 2017’s “New Rules” made her a certified pop girl, and “Levitating” was the post-covid anthem, we all expected Dua to have the Song of the Summer with hits from her latest album, Radical Optimism. Although hits like “Houdini” and “Training Season” have charted moderately well, they didn’t seem to stick. The vibes are good though, earning them a spot on my summer playlist despite everyone falling asleep on the job.
Houdini — Eminem
While Dua’s “Houdini” remains in the middle of the charts, Eminem’s return to music with his song, “Houdini” is climbing up the charts. It debuted at number #2 and is reaching for #1. This is his best showing on the charts in over a decade and bodes well for his upcoming album, The Death of Slim Shady (Coup de Grâce). The song is classic Slim Shady controversy bait. If cancel culture were actually real, Shady would be canceled for this one for sure — there’s a line about Megan Thee Stallion being shot (can rappers leave her alone?) and calling everything “gay.” But it’s catchy so it’s definitely going to stay in the charts for a while.
Not Like Us — Kendrick Lamar
By far, the most buzz-worthy rap hit is Kenrick Lamar’s diss track, “Not Like Us.” One of the final songs in the weeks-long saga that was his beef with Drake, it’s the final nail in the Drizzy coffin. You know you lost a rap war when one of the diss tracks becomes the song of the summer. Ouch!
BAND4BAND — Central Cee, Lil Baby
Wanna know who else is beefing? The US and UK rap scenes. The collaboration from Central Cee and Lil Baby isn’t bringing the two countries together, but tearing them apart. Each side is claiming their country carried the song. The British claim Lil Baby doesn’t sound as tough or “hard” as Cench, while Americans are making TikToks dancing to Cench’s verse in Bridgerton-like garb. I just want everyone to have fun. After Central Cee teamed up with Dave for my personal favorite song of last summer, “Sprinter,” they could never make me hate him.
places to be — Fred Again.. Ft Anderson .Paak and CHIKA
I wanna hear this at the club. I wanna hear this on a rooftop. I wanna hear this while sprinting through a field or rolling down a hill or doing something else to fix my inner child. “places to be” is fun, refreshing, and sounds like the endless possibilities of summer. [Read our review of Fred Again..’s Stanford show here.]
ERNEST is one of the most respected names in today’s booming mainstream country music scene. He has written songs for Florida Georgia Line and Sam Hunt, teamed up with Lainey Wilson and Jelly Roll and opened for Morgan Wallen.
He’s also opening for legendary country duo Brooks & Dunn when the two play Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion on Friday night as part of their Reboot 2024 Tour (David Lee Murphy will join as well). By seemingly any metric, ERNEST (real name Ernest Smith) should be one of the biggest names in country music.
Yet, despite the respect of his country brethren, a prime slot on the recent Stagecoach Festival bill and legions of adoring fans, it seems like ERNEST, for whatever reason, hasn’t quite joined buddies Wallen, HARDY and Jelly Roll atop the modern-day country scene.
This should change, and it should change soon.
Granted, as careers go, Ernest’s (despite being 32) is in its relative infancy. His first proper studio album (Locals Only) dropped less than five years ago, and his first single didn’t chart on country radio until 2022. Yeah, about that…
“Flower Shops,” that aforementioned single, was, by all accounts, a hit. The ballad charted well enough. It’s a done-her-wrong throwback that would have been right at home in George Jones’ catalog. It even featured Wallen, who might be the biggest thing in country music since Garth Brooks became one of the highest-selling artists of the ’90s. It should have been an arrival of sorts for ERNEST. And while it certainly helped put him on the mainstream map, “Flower Shops” didn’t even reach the top 10 of the Billboard Country Airplay charts.
Nowadays, ERNEST is back on the charts, this one a Wallen track with the former as the featured artist. “Cowgirls,” co-written by ERNEST, has everything the modern-day country audience wants. Great hook. Fun vibes. Hip-hop infusion. And while it charted in the top 10, “Cowgirls” (which should have been a No. 1 hit and potential “song of the summer” contender), hasn’t quite reached such heights. This defies explanation, given the appetite and tastes of today’s collective country audience.
ERNEST’s latest, and best, studio album (Nashville, Tennessee) dropped last month and boasts any number of potential hit singles. “I Went to College/I Went to Jail” features Jelly Roll (on fire at the moment) and is a comical-yet-poignant look at the pair’s somewhat contrasting paths to country stardom. “Bars on My Heart” is special, as is “Hangin’ On.” And anything at the moment with Lainey Wilson (“Would If I Could”) is bound to generate some interest.
Or, ERNEST may just say to hell with it and drop his cover of ’90s rock radio staple “Creep” and see what happens. Yes, ERNEST (alongside pal and hitmaker HARDY) covered a country version of Radiohead’s biggest hit for his latest LP, and it is as awesome as that was surprising. If a cover can break Limp Bizkit, it can surely break ERNEST. Not that ERNEST really needs the help. He’s made a plenty nice living, and could no doubt continue doing so, writing for some of the biggest names in the industry. He’s a road warrior who has paid his dues and will always play before loyal crowds on the touring circuit. And you’d be hard-pressed to find a more respected figure in today’s Nashville scene.
So, yeah, ERNEST is doing just fine, all things considered.
But good music deserves to be heard, and few in today’s country canon produce at a higher rate than ERNEST. Those who know, already know. Those who don’t have no idea what they’re missing.
Brooks & Dunn with David Lee Murphy and ERNEST on Friday, May 17 at Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion, 2005 Lake Robbins Drive, The Woodlands. For more information, visit woodlandscenter.org. Tickets $45-199.75, plus fees.
Country music singer Morgan Wallen was arrested after throwing a chair off the roof of a newly six-story bar in downtown Nashville, with the chair landing three feet from police officers. What do you think?
“You’re telling me they’ve been allowed to arrest white men this whole time?”
Diego Gardner, Vibe Supervisor
This Week’s Most Viral News: April 5, 2024
“Great scientists are always persecuted in their own time.”
Ian Salazar, Aspiring Doorman
“We should count ourselves lucky nobody got killed by those police officers.”
All products and services featured are independently chosen by editors. However, StyleCaster may receive a commission on orders placed through its retail links, and the retailer may receive certain auditable data for accounting purposes.
As one of the most popular artists in country music right now, it’s understandable why Morgan Wallen tickets are in such hot demand. But how much are Morgan Wallen tickets to his One Night At A Time World Tour? You may be surprised by how cheap prices are.
Wallen started his One Night At A Time World Tour in April 2023, a month after the release of his third studio album, One Thing At A Time. He announced an extension of his tour in September 2023. “Been one of the best years for me and my music so we’re gonna run it back.. same tour name, staying on this album and many more cities to visit.. I’ve got plans in mind to still single Cowgirls, Man Made A Bar and who knows maybe 98 Braves. Let’s keep this thing going,” Wallen captioned an Instagram post at the time.
The second leg of Wallen’s One Night At A Time World Tour kicks off in Auckland, New Zealand, in March and is set to end in Tacoma, Washington, in October 2024. So how much are Morgan Wallen’s tickets to the One Night At A Time World Tour? Read on for how to score your tickets for cheap.
Events Ticket Center is a StyleCaster sponsor, however, this article was independently written by our editors. Please note that if you purchase something by clicking on a link within this story, we may receive a small commission of the sale.
How much are Morgan Wallen tickets to the One Night At A Time World Tour?
Morgan Wallen tickets to the One Night At A Time World Tour are mostly sold out, however, they’re still available on resale sites like Events Tickets Center, where prices may be cheaper than you think. At the time of writing, many tickets ot Morgan Wallen’s One Night At A Time World Tour are starting at less than $100 for most of his shows. Read on for step-by-step instructions on where to buy Morgan Wallen tickets near you.
Morgan Wallen’s One Night At A Time World Tour dates
March 15 — Auckland, New Zealand @ Spark Arena March 19 — Ipswich, Australia @ CMC Rocks March 21 — Sydney, Australia @ Judos Bank Arena March 24 — Melbourne, Australia. @ Rod Laver Arena April 15 — Milwaukee, Wisconsin @ American Family Field April 20 — Louisville, Kentucky @ KFC Yum! Center April 22 — Oxford, Mississippi @ Vaught-Hemingway Stadium April 27 — Grand Rapids, Michigan @ Van Andel Arena April 28 — Moline, Illinois @ Vibrant Arena April 29 — Lincoln, Nebraska @ Pinnacle Bank Arena May 4 — Jacksonville, Florida @ VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena May 5 — West Palm Beach, Florida @ iThink Financial Amphitheatre May 6 — Tampa, Florida @ MidFlorida Credit Union Amphitheatre May 18 — Hershey, Pennsylvania @ Hersheypark Stadium May 19 — East Rutherford, New Jersey @ MetLife Stadium May 20 — East Rutherford, New Jersey @ MetLife Stadium May 24 — Austin, Texas @ Moody Center May 26 — Houston, Texas @ Minute Maid Park June 1 — Atlanta, Georgia @ Truist Park June 2 — Atlanta, Georgia @ Truist Park June 3 — Panama City Beach, Florida @ Gulf Cost Jam June 8 — Virginia Beach, Virginia @ Veterans United Home Loans Amphitheater at Virginia Beach June 9 — Virginia Beach, Virginia @ Veterans United Home Loans Amphitheater at Virginia Beach June 10 — Myrtle Beach, South Carolina @ Carolina Country Music Fest June 14 — Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania @ PNC Park June 15 — Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania @ PNC Park June 17 — Philadelphia, Pennsylvania @ Citizens Bank Park June 22 — Chicago, Illinois @ Wrigley Field June 23 — Chicago, Illinois @ Wrigley Field June 27 — Grand Rapids, Michigan @ Van Andel Arena June 29 — Detroit, Michican @ Ford Field June 30 — Detroit, Michigan @ Ford Field July 6 — St. Louis, Missouri @ Busch Stadium July 7 — St. Louis, Missouri @ Busch Stadium July 14 — San Diego, California @ Petco Park July 15 — San Diego, California @ Petco Park July 19 — Phoenix, Arizona @ Chase Field July 20 — Phoenix, Arizona @ Chase Field July 22 — Los Angeles, California @ SoFi Stadium Aug. 3 — Detroit Lakes, Minnesota @ WE Fest Aug. 5 — Camrose, Alb. Canada @ Big Valley Jamboree Aug. 11 — Columbus, Ohio @ Ohio Stadium Aug. 12 — Columbus, Ohio @ Ohio Stadium Aug. 16 — Boston, Massachusetts @ Fenway Park Aug. 17 — Boston, Massachusetts @ Fenway Park Aug. 18 — Boston, Masschusetts @ Fenway Park Sept. 2 — Washington, D.C. @ FedEx Field Sept. 8 — Moline, Illinois @ Vibrant Arena Sept. 9 — Lincoln, Nebraska @ Pinnacle Bank Arena Sept. 14 — Toronto, Ontario, Canada @ Budweiser Stage Sept. 15 — Toronto, Ontario, Canada @ Budweiser Stage Sept. 16 — Toronto, Ontario, Canada @ Budweiser Stage Sept. 18 — London, Ontario, Canada @ Budweiser Gardens Sept. 21 — Ottawa, Ontario, Canada @ Canadian Tire Centre Sept. 22 — Quebec City, Quebec, Canada @ Videotron Centre Sept. 23 — Montreal, Quebec, Canada @ Bell Centre Sept. 28 — Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada @ Canada Lie Centre Sept. 29 — Saskatoon, Saskatoon Canada @ SaksTel Centre Sept. 30 — Calgary, Alberta, Canada @ Scotiabank Saddledome Oct. 4 — Vancouver, B.C. Canada @ Rogers Arena Oct. 7 — Tacoma, Washington @ Tacoma Dome
Morgan Wallen’s One Night At A Time World Tour setlist
Over the past year, I’ve noticed a major shift in the trend-scape. Sure, we have major fashion trends like Sofia Richie-Grainge’s Old Money style or the consistent popularity of Y2K fashion. But there’s a more persistent trend that has wiggled its way into our fashion, our music, and even our dating choices.
Yes, America’s gone country. It started with the rise in popularity of country music: folk inspired, stomp-and-holler musicians like Noah Kahan and Zach Bryan skyrocketed to superstardom. Luke Combs’ version of “Fast Car” was #1 on the Billboard charts, Morgan Wallen’s One Thing At A Time album dominated, and then there are artists like Tyler Childers who are quickly becoming go-to radio favorites.
But, lately, the extensive reach of country spreads far beyond music. It’s in our style: cowboy boots are no longer reserved for your yearly trip to a country concert or for the streets of Nashville. They’re now your go-to for your outfits, a staple in your shoe closet.
The Hills’ Kristin Cavallari recently broke the internet for dating one of TikTok’s famous Montana Boyz. Viral for their good looks and country lip syncing videos, the Montana Boyz are your classic truck-loving, boot-wearing country men. And for one of Los Angeles’ original It Girls, this dating choice seemed a bit unnatural.
Cavallari isn’t the only one who has saddled up and gone country…in fact, our resident It Girl, Bella Hadid is leading the pack. Bella’s always loved horseback riding, but these days we notice she’s been spending a lot of time in Fort Worth, Texas.
Who Is Bella Hadid Dating?
Bella Hadid and boyfriend Adan Banuelos
Bella Hadid via Instagram Stories
Yes, she’s dating Adan Banuelos, a famous professional horseback rider who is a bit of a star in the rodeo world himself. The couple were first spotted in October 2023 shopping, wearing coordinating cowboy boots and denim. From there, Bella Hadid has been a walking poster for all things country.
She’s posted subtle Instagram nods to her relationship with Banuelos, which consists of a lot of equestrian posts. It makes sense, as Hadid was hitting professional horseback riding competitions until she was diagnosed with Lyme’s Disease. She’s remained passionate about horseback riding since, often posting about her horses on social media.
And if Bella Hadid is one thing, it’s a trendsetter. She popularized the UGG platform slippers that sell out the second the weather drops below 60 degrees. She convinces us that we, too, can rock low rise jeans.
So now the entire planet is enraptured by country. We’re all buying the cowboy boots, leaning into our all-denim Canadian tuxedo fits, and streaming Nashville’s finest.
Want to go country just like Bella Hadid? Here’s how to do it.
Bella Hadid’s Country Fits
We all want to dress like Bella Hadid. There’s countless Instagram accounts dedicated to the younger Hadid sister’s closet. The moment she’s photographed outside, the whole world’s trying to figure out what she’s wearing and if they can afford it.
And if they can’t afford it, they’ll dupe it. So I’ve rounded up a few Bella Hadid-inspired country outfits that are just southern enough…but also endlessly versatile pieces that won’t end up in your donation bin a year from now.
Full Denim Fit
I like this look because it’s a chill street style version of your classic all-denim outfit. The sweetheart styled top paired with low-rise baggy jeans is precisely what you need for a timeless look.
Honestly, couldn’t come up with something better myself. A solid denim jacket is tough to come by. I always struggle with going too oversized and swimming in my coat, but this one is the epitome of a staple denim jacket.
It ain’t a trip to the rodeo without your cowboy hat. Bella Hadid somehow makes this look effortlessly chic. Go plain with a black cowboy hat like this one Bella wears.
It would have made sense for Hardy to tone down his first-ever set at Rodeo Houston on Saturday night. Family crowd. Country venue. Corporate environment. Some even predicted as much (good job by me).
Hardy doesn’t roll that way. And that’s what makes him one of the hottest, most unique artists in the country scene today.
The opening Saturday is always a big slot, and Hardy more than delivered, blaring through a 14-song, hour-long set that was long on rock and short on subtlety.
He kicked the set off with two rockers – “Sold Out” and “Kill Sh!t Till I Die.” He mostly refrained from profanity, though he certainly encouraged the crowd to pick up the slack on that end. His band sounded more 90s rock than 90s country.
Of course, anyone who considers themselves a true Hardy fan shouldn’t have been surprised. The man has made no secret of his affinity for genres outside the traditional country box – namely, rock and hip-hop – and both were on display in full force on Saturday night via tracks like “Rockstar” and the show-closing “Quit!!”
That said, Hardy at his core remains a true country artist, so he certainly made room for more Rodeo-friendly music. “Wait in the Truck,” with Lainey Wilson piped in on the video board, really drew a response. The poignant “Give Heaven Some Hell” had some folks on the video board crying and singing along simultaneously. And “God’s Country,’ which Hardy wrote and Blake Shelton (who opened this year’s Rodeo) originally performed, really engaged the crowd.
The show probably peaked when Hardy sang “Boots,” “Truck Bed” and “Unapologetically Country as Hell” in succession, if only because those are three of his catchiest and most known, accessible songs. If any songwriter in the game today knows how to craft a hook, it’s Hardy.
By the time Hardy jumped in the back of a Ford pickup truck for the customary ride out, many in the crowd were ready for more. Hardy more than made the most of his first trip to Rodeo Houston. Here’s hoping it’s the first of many.
Hardy made the first Saturday of RodeoHouston one to remember.
Photo by Jennifer Lake
Set List
Sold Out
Kill Sh!t Till I Die
Jack
Boots
Truck Bed
Unapologetically Country as Hell
Rockstar
One Beer
Wait in the Truck
.30-06
Give Heaven Some Hell
Rednecker
God’s Country
Quit!!
There is a batch of “new” Morgan Wallen product in the marketplace — and he would very much like you to not listen to it. The country superstar took to his social media Thursday night to ask fans not to stream eight just-released tracks that he recorded back in his pre-Big Loud days, indicating that he’s not particularly proud of them and is angry the decade-old material is coming out against his wishes.T
To counter that, Taylor Swift-style, he has re-recorded a previously released song from the same batch that the contested tunes came from — “Spin You Around” — to give fans something to listen to while, he hopes, they’re avoiding the decade-old material that just got picked up off the cutting room floor.
“I want you to know this is NOT my new music & I don’t want to see this happen to anyone else,” Wallen wrote on Instagram. “I cringe when I listen to these songs & I’m concerned my fans may mistakenly believe this is a new release by me,” he wrote. “It’s gross, greedy & an example of how the dark side of the music business can suck the soul out of artists.”
After Wallen released his statement, Variety reached the head of the label that is putting out the new material, Panacea Records’ William Ray, who stands by the release of the eight previously unheard tracks coming out Friday morning.
“We love the songs and believe some of his fans will love it too,” says Ray. “We are excited to finally get these songs out to the world.”
Five of the songs had previously been released in 2015 as an EP, “Stand Alone,” which Wallen had been willing to stand behind. Now, Panacea re-released the project as a “10th anniversary” deluxe project with the eight additional tracks that were recorded at the time, more than doubling the length. Wallen calls most of the previously unreleased material “terrible.”
Panacea’s expanded edition of the “Stand Alone” project and Wallen’s re-recording of “Spin You Around” are coming out simultaneously on streaming services, at midnight ET.
Wallen said he learned of the old music coming out while he was duck-hunting, and actually put together a cover for the new “Spin You Around” single while he was out on the hunt.
He also said he plans to begin a new album in February, following up on two of the most commercially successful albums of the modern era.
Wallen’s statement in full:
I’m writing y’all from a duck hunting trip because I want to fill you in on something happening tonight.
Back in 2014, I went to Florida to try my hand at making original music & songwriting for the first time. This led to a recording deal with a local investor & an artist management deal that I deeply regret. Unfortunately, I signed both deals without any legal representation.
We made 13 songs. Some were ok, most were terrible as I was just learning how to write in general & figuring it all out. I was not the only collaborator, so many of these songs were not my idea nor to my standards. We deemed 5 worthy-enough to make the Stand Alone EP which includes a fan-favorite, “Spin You Around.”
Tonight, those colleagues I parted ways with almost 10 years ago plan to release a “10th Anniversary” edition of Stand Alone against my wishes & include 8 unreleased songs, distributing it with the assistance of my former managers. For months I’ve been exploring every avenue possible to acquire the rights to this old music & keep the quality of my catalog consistent with songs I choose to release & believe in.
It’s gross, greedy & an example of how the dark side of the music business can suck the soul out of artists.
I want you to know this is NOT my new music & I don’t want to see this happen to anyone else. I cringe when I listen to these songs & I’m concerned my fans may mistakenly believe this is a new release by me. I begin recording my next project at the end of February. I’m feeling inspired creatively & super excited to make more music I’m proud of.
In response: 1. I re-recorded “Spin You Around (1/24)” this week in Nashville & it comes out TONIGHT. Thank you Joey Moi & Bryan Sutton. I did the artwork myself while in the woods duck hunting. Hope you like it, lol.
2. I am donating $100k from the Morgan Wallen Foundation to the Volunteer Lawyers & Professionals For The Arts (VLPA) program. I hope young aspiring musicians read this story & know they should never have to give up their creative freedoms for an opportunity in this business.
3. Trust me, when new music is ready, you’ll hear it directly from me.
Back in 2021, the country music star Morgan Wallen was targeted by cancel culture after he was caught on camera saying the N-word. Now, Wallen is firing back to say that he is “actually mad” about how he was treated in the wake of this incident.
Morgan Wallen received zero #GRAMMYs nominations this year, as “Last Night” is only nominated in a songwriting category.
“There’s no excuse. I’ve never made an excuse. I never will make an excuse,” Wallen, 30, told Billboard. “I’ve talked to a lot of people, heard stories [about] things that I would have never thought about because I wasn’t the one going through it.”
“And I think, for me, in my heart I was never that guy that people were portraying me to be, so there was a little bit of like, ‘Damn, I’m kind of actually mad about this a little bit because I know I shouldn’t have said this, but I’m really not that guy,’” he added.
“I put myself in just such a s— spot, you know? Like, ‘You really messed up here, guy.’ If I was that guy, then I wouldn’t have cared,” Wallen continued. “I wouldn’t have apologized. I wouldn’t have done any of that if I really was that guy that people were saying about me.”
In early 2021, video was released showing Wallen saying the N-word as he came home drunk from a night out with friends.
“That person is definitely not the same person I am now,” Wallen said of the video.
Wallen checked himself into rehab after this incident and donated $500,000 to Black-affiliated groups, yet the cancel culture mob still went after him. Despite this, Wallen’s sales actually increased, which showed him “just how much that people listen” to him.
“I don’t think I realized that, at least not at that grand of a scale at the time,” he explained. “I [learned] how much my words matter.”
These days, Wallen is more popular than ever in the country music world.
“When I started doing this, I had no intentions or expectations of becoming that guy,” he said of being a champion of the modern world of country music. “Especially when people say to me that they never liked country music before and now it’s [their] favorite.”
“I obviously have brought some of my own flavor into the space and everybody doesn’t necessarily like that, and I don’t care because I love it,” he concluded. “I love being able to incorporate all the types of music that I like. If I had to sing one kind of song for two hours, I’d lose my mind.”
Earlier this year, Wallen was forced to take a six week break from performing after injuring his vocal cords.
“I got some bad news from my doctors at the Vanderbilt Voice Center yesterday,” he said, according to Entertainment Tonight. “After taking 10 days of vocal rest, I performed three shows last weekend in Florida and by the third one I felt terrible.”
“So I went in and got scoped yesterday, and they told me that I reinjured my vocal cords and that I have vocal fold trauma,” he added. “Their advice is that I go on vocal rest for six weeks, so that’s what I’m going to do.”
Fox News reported that while Wallen has since recovered, he is currently on hiatus from his “One Night At A Time” tour, which is set to resume in 2024.
The cancel culture mob tried to ruin Wallen’s life and career, but they failed miserably in this endeavor. While we certainly don’t support him using the N-word, Wallen has also taken responsibility for this and made amends. That’s why we’d like to wish Wallen many years of success and happiness to come!
Now is the time to support and share the sources you trust. The Political Insider ranks #3 on Feedspot’s “100 Best Political Blogs and Websites.”
Every year around December, excitement grows for reasons other than the holiday season. Yes, we all come together to celebrate the release of our Spotify Wrapped– and what a glorious, joyous time it is for many. Plus, it’s a great opportunity to expose which type of person you are: an Apple Music user or a Spotify user.
Spotify Wrapped can teach you a lot about yourself and others. It reveals the top artists, albums, and songs both globally and in the United States, as well as your own individualized playlist filled with your top songs of the year. Mine, unsurprisingly is Noah Kahan (and he occupies four of my five top songs).
It can remind you of songs you swore you only listened to once, and exposes you for the kind of listener you truly are. Somehow, One Direction was my top artist for years beyond their indefinite hiatus…some people never change!
At the Spotify Wrapped 2023 event yesterday, we got the chance to answer all of your questions for this year’s Wrapped! Let’s dive in.
When Can I See My Spotify Wrapped 2023?
In one of the greatest rivalries of all time, Apple Music released their Wrapped dupe called Replay a day earlier than Spotify…but today, November 29, is when your 2023 Spotify Wrapped graces the app.
This year’s theme was “Wrapped, Or It Didn’t Happen.” In a world of AI, Spotify wanted to celebrate what’s real: embracing the real moments you experience through music. They wanted to encapsulate the year we’ve had as listeners, so we can appreciate the different cultures and sounds that have been brought to us.
You’ll see more moving parts during the campaign, with bolder colors, bigger digital productions across the world. But there’s more to your Wrapped than just a special playlist based on your listening data. For the first time, you’ll be able to view it on your computer as well.
One of the newest feature is Me, In 2023, where you’re assigned one of twelve listening personalities to tell you a bit more about yourself. For example, I’m an Alchemist, which means I create more playlists and listen to them more than the average user. This, obviously, is not shocking as I curate a Weekend Playlist for this website.
There’s also SoundTown, which matches you to a city where you’ll likely meet people who have similar music taste to you. The excitement doesn’t stop there, you’ll be able to see which month you listened to your Top 5 Artists the most and use the Blend feature to see how you and your friends match up.
Who Were The Top Artists and Albums In 2023?
Global:
Artists:
Taylor Swift
Bad Bunny
The Weeknd
Drake
Peso Pluma
Songs:
“Flowers” by Miley Cyrus
“Kill Bill” by SZA
“As It Was” by Harry Styles
“Seven” by Jungkook and Latto
“Ella Baila Sola” by Peso Pluma
United States:
Artists:
Taylor Swift
Drake
Morgan Wallen
The Weekend
Bad Bunny
Songs:
“Last Night” by Morgan Wallen
“Kill Bill” by SZA
“Flowers” by Miley Cyrus
“Eslabon Armado” by Peso Pluma
“Boys A Liar Pt. 2” by PinkPantheress and Ice Spice
What Were The Top Albums Of 2023?
Globally:
Un Verano Sin Ti by Bad Bunny (4.5 billion streams)
Ashley Gorley is always the odds-on favorite to win the songwriter of the year award at the ASCAP Country Music Awards. With the wind of a healthy amount of fresh Morgan Wallen tracks at his back, he was again shooed in for the top honor as the winners were announced Monday night in Nashville. His streak is, as of 2023, now at 10 wins, the most any ASCAP country songwriter has ever achieved.
He also picked up the award for country song of the year — only the third time he’s won that particular honor. The win came for the Wallen smash “You Proof.”
In all, Gorley had a hand in writing 10 songs that were named as being among ASCAP’s most performed for the past year. Five of those were Wallen tracks; besides “You Proof,” he picked up additional kudos for “Last Night,” “Everything I Love,” ”One Thing at a Time,” and “Thinkin’ Bout Me.” The other five cuts that contributed to his winning songwriter of the year were “Gold” (recorded by Dierks Bentley), “She Had Me at Heads Carolina” (Cole Swindell), “What He Didn’t Do” (Carly Pearce), “Girl in Mine” (Parmalee) and “You Didn’t” (Brett Young).
Another big winner was hitmaker Jordan Davis, who won artist/songwriter of the year for the first time, an award given to singers who maintain a strong hand in co-writing their own material. Davis had two songs, “Next Thing You Know” and “What My World Spins Around,” among the past year’s most-performed.
Sony Music Publishing got the award as ASCAP Country Music Publisher of the Year, with 21 of the year’s most-played songs being affiliated with Sony, including “Heart Like a Truck” (a hit for Lainey Wilson), “Need a Favor” (recorded by Jelly Roll) and Davis’ “Next Thing You Know.”
Rather than the formal ceremony of days of yore, the winners were celebrated at an event at Nashville’s Twelve Thirty Club.
Country superstar Morgan Wallen might want to take off his “Whiskey Glasses” after reading what one fan is attempting to invoice him for after a last-minute show cancellation.
On Sunday, Wallen was set to perform in his second show at the University of Mississippi’s Vaught Hemingway Stadium in Oxford but canceled just minutes before he was supposed to go on stage following the opening acts who had already performed, citing a lost voice.
Naturally, fans were furious, with many penning lengthy social media posts and stories about how much money and time they had spent trying to make it out in time for the show.
One Facebook post by a woman started making its rounds after she called out the “Thought You Should Know” singer for just how much money she had spent road-tripping it to his show from Arkansas, despite Wallen’s team disclosing that all tickets would be refunded.
“Since you’re offering refunds, here is our itemized bill for you,” she wrote, tagging Wallen’s official Facebook page.
The invoice included a request for a $40 Cracker Barrel meal, a combined $338 for the couple’s outfits for the show, $560 for a hotel, $629 for a local clothing store, and other expenses (including four tickets to the show) which came out to a combined $3,982.
“My husband has gone with me to two concerts. Ever,” she wrote, asking for Wallen to send her the money directly via CashApp. “In the 17 years we’ve been together. Somehow I talked him into this one and this s–t happens.”
Her post made its rounds on Twitter where it was viewed over 3.6 million times. Many called out her extraneous request for being “ridiculous” and “out of touch.”
“Sucks, but it’s like any other live event,” one Twitter user pointed out. “Nobody made you spend SIX HUNDRED DOLLARS on collegiate merch and FOUR HUNDRED PLUS at the concert.”
“I mean, you either have that kind of disposable income, or you don’t allocate your funds that poorly,” another said. “Concerts and events get cancelled often. It’s a gamble knowing you’ll only get your actual ticket expense back.”
Wallen and his team have yet to address to the request.
The country star posted a formal apology to his Instagram story following the incident.
“After last night’s show, I started losing my voice so I spent the day resting up, talking to my doctor, and working through my vocal exercises trying to get better,” he penned to fans. “I really thought I’d be able to take the stage and it kills me to not deliver it before showtime, but my voice is shot and I’m unable to sing.”
He followed up with a second story, saying he is rescheduling a slew of shows over the next week while on vocal rest.
Wallen is currently on the road for his “One Night At A Time” World Tour.
NASHVILLE, Tenn., November 21, 2022 (Newswire.com)
– It’s been a tough year to make ends meet with rising inflation and historically high food costs making it difficult for families to afford Thanksgiving this year. Tennessee and Kentucky residents were both especially hard hit with catastrophic floods that tragically took lives and destroyed thousands of homes. This is why Tennessee-based non-profit Greater Good Music approached supporter and entertainer/songwriter Morgan Wallen and his Foundation to partner for a giveaway this holiday season. Working together, 2,000 families in need received turkeys along with complete meals ahead of Thanksgiving this week.
On Sunday, Nov. 20, 2022, Greater Good Music delivered turkeys to more than 300 Middle Tennessee families waiting in line at Waverly High School, in Waverly, Tennessee, where a historic flood gutted the town last year and residents have been working to rebuild. Volunteers from Joseph’s Storehouse food ministry were on hand to distribute turkeys, stuffing, and fresh fruits and vegetables to families who were impacted by the flood disaster near Nashville.
Additional communities in Tennessee also received food deliveries including Wallen’s hometown of Sneedville in Eastern Tennessee where 450 families received Thanksgiving meal boxes. The distributions at local high schools and food pantries took place this weekend. In addition, 600 families in Pike County, Kentucky, who lost homes in the flood there this summer, received complementary holiday dinners.
Earlier this year, Greater Good Music worked with Wallen and his Foundation to help communities in need on several stops on his 2022 Dangerous Tour. Greater Good Music identified food insecure communities on the tour and organized food distributions donated by Wallen that fed more than 500,000 people in need before show time on tour stops across the United States.
Greater Good Music’s mission is to prevent food insecurity by partnering with music artists to organize mobile food distributions in cities on tour. According to the US Department of Agriculture, more than 34 million people, including 9 million children, in the United States are food insecure and may not have enough food to eat each week. Covid-19, climate change, and global conflicts have exacerbated the problems of food insecurity in America and the world this year.
About Greater Good Music: Greater Good Music brings people and music together to do good. We partner with nationally known music artists on tour to supply healthy food distributions before show time to low-income families and disaster victims, so they do not have to go hungry.Greater Good Music teamed up with musicians and volunteers on tour across the United States to deliver over one million meals to food insecure people in America in 2022. We turn concert day into a day of giving. Find us atwww.GreaterGoodMusic.org, and on Instagram (@GreaterGoodMusicCharity) and Facebook (facebook.com/GreaterGoodMusic). Greater Good Music is operating through a fiscal sponsorship with Players Philanthropy Fund, a Maryland charitable trust with federal tax-exempt status as a public charity under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. Contributions to Greater Good Music are tax-deductible to the fullest extent of the law.
About Morgan Wallen:
The east Tennessee superstar and recent ACM Milestone Award recipient shares, “Awards are awesome, but my true measure of success is my fans, who this year I got to see every single night out on the road and will continue to do so for many years to come.” Thanks to nearly 1 million of his fans, $3 for every ticket sold during his 2022 Dangerous Tour has raised nearly $3 million benefitting the Morgan Wallen Foundation which funds causes close to his heart.
The Top 20 Global Concert Tours ranks artists by average box office gross per city and includes the average ticket price for shows Worldwide. The list is based on data provided to the trade publication Pollstar by concert promoters and venue managers. Week of 10/10/2022 :
