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Shaboozey is trading in his double shot of whiskey for something much sweeter during this year’s Super Bowl. The country superstar is set to appear in Nerds Gummy Clusters’ Big Game advertisement, and the candy shared a teaser of the spot on Tuesday (Jan. 28).
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In the 15-second clip, the Hot 100 chart-topper enjoys a bag of Nerds Gummy Clusters while strumming his guitar. Shortly after taking a bite of the popular candy, a gummy cartoon character appears on his shoulder, transforming his guitar into a Nerds-inspired instrument. The message, “Unleash your senses,” appears on the screen to end the preview.
For Shaboozey, teaming up with Nerds was a no-brainer. “I remember Halloween, getting those little boxes and pouring the candy into my mouth. I love them so much,” he tells Billboard of his nostalgic connection to the treat. “It’s awesome to just to see the process of how it all came together. I make country music, and to be able to have the guitar and my world, and have just everything that I’m into, combined with Nerds Gummy Clusters was just amazing. It’s combining two things that are really good on their own to make something even better.”
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Fittingly, in the spirit of the partnership, Shaboozey was ready to express what he’s a nerd about. “Music. [laughs] I love music,” he says. “I love video games, and just anything that you can get really involved in and find yourself being super immersed in.”
This year’s game down in New Orleans marks the star’s first time attending the Super Bowl, after taking the stage for a Thanksgiving Day NFL halftime show last year and appearing alongside Beyoncé during her Christmas halftime show. “I got the opportunity to play two really huge halftime shows. It was definitely a dream come true,” he recalls. “I grew up watching some so many different athletes, and I’m really excited to be a part of this Big Game. To be in a Super Bowl commercial with a brand I grew up on, it’s going to be hard to beat that.”
The Nerds Super Bowl ad is just the beginning of an exciting year for Shaboozey, who is nominated for five Grammy Awards thanks to his Beyoncé collaboration “SPAGHETTII” and his breakthrough hit, “A Bar Song (Tipsy),” which notched a record-tying 19th week at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 in November. He’s also scheduled to perform at both Coachella and Stagecoach music festivals in the spring.
“It’s a dream. It’s surreal,” he says. “Every day I wake up, I’m just like, ‘Wow, we did that.’ I’m excited to keep making great music, and continue to give the people great things and great products. I’m also excited to keep improving and do better every day.”
Check out Shaboozey in the Nerds Big Game ad teaser below, and catch the full spot during Super Bowl LIX on Feb. 9, where the Kansas City Chiefs and Philadelphia Eagles will face off for the championship.
Given his brand of unflinchingly honest, yet still inspirational, music that that has garnered Antioch, Tennessee native Jelly Roll six Billboard Country Airplay No. 1s and the Billboard 200-topping album Beautifully Broken, he gets messages often from fans who have had life-changing moments through his songs.
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But in a recent appearance on the second episode of John Cena’s new series What Drives You, Jelly Roll not only showed off a few of his vehicles (including a bright red 1976 Cadillac El Dorado), but also told Cena about one fan note that was so impactful that Jelly Roll still keeps it on the dash of his vehicle, four years after receiving it.
As Jelly Roll and Cena walked to another of Jelly Roll’s vehicles, a Ram 1500 Laramie truck, Jelly Roll noted it was the first car that his family bought for him for Father’s Day five years ago. “This was my daily driver, forever. [Jelly Roll’s wife, Bunnie XO] customized every piece on it…jacked it up,” Jelly Roll said. “Dude, she made it my dream truck….it makes me think of my daughter, it makes me think of my wife, it drives me.”
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The truck features Jelly Roll’s logo–a skull wearing a crown–on both the front and the back. “You want to talk about what drives me? There’s a note right here. I want you to check it out if you don’t mind. You can read it right there on my dash.”
Cena read the note aloud, saying, “Your music saved my best friend’s life. Thank you for being unapologetically you and doing what you do.”
The note was signed simply, “A,” and Cena asked Jelly Roll if he knew who “A” was. The singer-songwriter replied, “You know, the cool thing is, I don’t know. They left this note on my window four years ago, and I sobbed in the parking lot reading this note. I got in and stuck it in my dash. Four years later, that thing is still taped on my dash.”
See Jelly Roll’s appearance on John Cena’s What Drives You on Roku. The series also features celebrities including Logan Paul and Travis Barker.
Billy Ray Cyrus has seemingly shared response after his son, Trace Cyrus, took posted an Instagram message last week, expressing concern for his father’s well-being.
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On Sunday (Jan. 26), the “Achy Breaky Heart” singer took to YouTube Shorts to share a snippet of his 2009 “Somebody Said a Prayer” music video, which starred the 35-year-old Metro Station singer, whom he adopted back in 1993 after marrying his ex-wife Tish Cyrus.
“Sunday callin,” Billy Ray wrote in the caption. “Giving thanks for the California Rain . Praying for the brokenhearted and their pain. Praying for my family. For my children … sons and daughters…and their mother. Let this moment be the start of healing ❤️🩹 for us all. ‘The past does not equal the future.’ Amen 🙏🏼”
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Trace’s message to Billy Ray on Jan. 22 — which had him stating, “You’re not healthy, Dad and everyone is noticing it,” and “As I write this with tears in my eyes, I hope you realize this message only comes from a place of love and also fear that the world may lose you far too soon” — came after Billy Ray’s widely criticized performance at Donald Trump’s inauguration Liberty Ball, which was plagued by technical difficulties and eventually had him singing a capella to the crowd.
On Saturday (Jan. 25), Trace published another Instagram letter, claiming Billy Ray had threatened him with legal action following the public plea. “Dad my message was beyond loving,” Trace wrote in the note, referencing the message from a few days prior. “I could have been extremely honest about a lot more but I don’t want to put your business out there like that. But for you to threaten me with legal action for wanting you to get help is a disgrace. Pappy is looking down at you with such disappointment I can assure you. You should be ashamed of yourself. I will always love you but I no longer respect you as a man. Everyone close to you is terrified to tell you how they really feel. I’m not. Get help.”
Billy Ray and ex-wife Tish are parents to Brandi, 37, and Trace, 35, both of whom Billy Ray adopted after he’d married Tish. Together, they also share Miley, 31; Braison, 30, and Noah, 25. He’s also the parent of 32-year-old son Christopher, his child with ex-girlfriend Kristin Luckey
A who’s who of country music artists will help the Grand Ole Opry celebrate its 100th anniversary when the live event concert, Opry 100: A Live Celebration, airs live on NBC (and simulcast on Peacock) on Wednesday, March 19.
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Grand Ole Opry member Blake Shelton will host the three-hour live celebration event, which will air from 8 to 11 p.m. ET. Opry members Ashley McBryde, Shelton, Brad Paisley, Carly Pearce, Carrie Underwood, Clint Black, Dierks Bentley, Garth Brooks, Kelsea Ballerini, Lainey Wilson, Luke Combs, Marty Stuart, Reba McEntire, Trace Adkins, Trisha Yearwood and Vince Gill will all take part. Opry member Randy Travis will make a special appearance, while other Opry favorites set to take part include Amy Grant, Eric Church, Jelly Roll and The War and Treaty. The broadcast will feature performances from Nashville’s Grand Ole Opry House, as well as from the historic Ryman Auditorium, the Opry’s most famous former home.
“Becoming a member of the Opry is a highlight of my life and career, and 15 years later I still get that same feeling of reverence and excitement every time I walk out on that stage. The Grand Ole Opry has been connecting the country music family for 100 years, and I’m so proud to be part of this historic celebration,” Shelton said in a statement.
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“We’re pleased to partner with our Grand Ole Opry members to create a truly unforgettable evening as we kick off the Opry’s 100th year,” Opry Entertainment Group CEO Patrick Moore in a statement. “This special night of programming will connect millions of country music fans to the magic of the Opry, and we hope it inspires them to join us in Nashville as we celebrate this milestone all year long.”
The telecast will be executive produced by Silent House Productions’ Emmy Award winners Baz Halpin, Mark Bracco and Linda Gierahn, along with R.A. Clark and Steve Buchanan. A limited amount of tickets will go on sale starting Jan. 31 at 10 a.m. CT on the Opry’s website, while a pre-sale for Opry subscribers will launch Jan. 30 at 10 a.m. CT.
The Grand Ole Opry launched in 1925, and has had a series of homes over the years, among them the Nashville offices of the National Life and Accident Insurance Company (WSM-AM’s call letters are an acronym for National Life’s slogan, “We Shield Millions”) and Nashville’s War Memorial Auditorium. The Ryman Auditorium was home to the Grand Ole Opry from 1943 to 1974, before the Opry moved into its current location in March 1974. The Opry still returns to the Ryman Auditorium each winter for a special run of Opry at the Ryman shows.
The Grand Ole Opry has become the longest running live broadcast show in the world, featuring weekly performances from established country music artists and regularly featuring and supporting rising artists. Each week, fans gather at the Grand Ole Opry House in Nashville to experience live shows, or take in the music through WSM Radio and online, or watch the Opry Live broadcasts on Saturdays, as well as other Opry content, on Circle Country.
On Jan. 3, the Grand Ole Opry launched its first show of 2025 with the Opry at the Ryman series, with the show featuring current CMA musician of the year Charlie Worsham, “The Gambler” and “Forever and Ever, Amen” songwriter Don Schlitz, singer Connie Smith, harmonica maestro Charlie McCoy, singer Mandy Barnett, singer-songwriter Craig Morgan (“That’s What I Love About Sundays,” “Redneck Yacht Club”) and nine-time International Bluegrass Music Association (IBMA) entertainer of the year winners The Travelin’ McCourys.
Belying its title, Shaboozey’s “A Bar Song (Tipsy)” remains a steadily dominant hit, topping Billboard’s Radio Songs chart for a 26th week – tying The Weeknd’s “Blinding Lights” for the most time spent at No. 1 in the survey’s history.
“A Bar Song (Tipsy)” previously logged a record-tying 19 weeks at No. 1 on the streaming-, airplay- and sales-based Billboard Hot 100, beginning last July.
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The track holds atop Radio Songs with 63.2 million in audience Jan. 17-23, essentially even week-over-week, according to data tracker Luminate. The chart reflects all-format airplay on more than 1,000 monitored radio stations; Pop Airplay chart reporter KDHT (Hits 95.7) Denver has played the song the most to date: more than 4,000 times.
Here’s a rundown of the longest-leading Radio Songs No. 1s, dating to the chart’s December 1990 start:
26 weeks, “A Bar Song (Tipsy),” Shaboozey, beginning Aug. 10, 2024
26, “Blinding Lights,” The Weeknd, April 18, 2020
18, “Flowers,” Miley Cyrus, Feb. 25, 2023
18, “Iris,” Goo Goo Dolls, Aug. 1, 1998
16, “Girls Like You,” Maroon 5 feat. Cardi B, Aug. 4, 2018
16, “We Belong Together,” Mariah Carey, May 28, 2005
16, “Don’t Speak,” No Doubt, Dec. 7, 1996
15, “Easy On Me,” Adele, Dec. 4, 2021
14, “High Hopes,” Panic! at the Disco, Dec. 1, 2018
14, “No One,” Alicia Keys, Nov. 3, 2007
14, “Because You Loved Me,” Celine Dion, April 13, 1996
“A Bar Song (Tipsy),” on American Dogwood/EMPIRE, with country radio promotion by Magnolia Music, dominated the Country Airplay chart for seven weeks beginning last August, the longest No. 1 run for a first entry, and ranks in the top 10 for a record-extending 30th week.
The song also made history as the first to hit the top five (or even top 10) on Country Airplay, Pop Airplay, Adult Pop Airplay (two weeks at No. 1 on each chart) and Rhythmic Airplay (No. 3 peak).
“There were many, many doubters of our ability to work this record at radio,” EMPIRE COO Nima Etminan told Billboard after “A Bar Song (Tipsy)” hit No. 1 on the Hot 100. “The industry loves telling independents that there’s a ceiling to what they can do on their own, and this was no different. We were told it can’t be done, and, as we like to do, we proved them wrong. We’ve assembled a fantastic team that we had full faith in – and they delivered.”
All charts (dated Feb. 1, 2025) will update on Billboard.com Tuesday, Jan. 28. For all chart news, you can follow @billboard and @billboardcharts on both X and Instagram.
Kane Brown and Jelly Roll have partnered for a rock-fueled track that addresses depression and despair. Meanwhile, Lauren Alaina honors the strong women who have raised and supported her. Meanwhile, Kashus Culpepper and Hudson Westbrook both issue new music, while duo Pitney Meyer (Mo Pitney and Johnny Meyer) release a new bluegrass collaboration.
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Check out all of these and more in Billboard‘s roundup of the best songs from country, Americana and/or bluegrass of the week below.
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Kane Brown feat. Jelly Roll, “Haunted”
These two headlining artists team up for an unfiltered, gut-punch of a song aimed at supporting listeners who have (or do) struggle with depression and/or thoughts of self-harm. Jelly Roll’s career has been defined, in part, by his musical mission to give a voice to those who have weathered addictions, mental health issues and a myriad of hardships. Meanwhile, Brown, long known for straddling musical genres, has remained consistent in being open with fans Together, Jelly Roll’s charismatic, dramatic vocal makes for a dynamic pairing with Brown’s grounded, foreboding vocal, as they sing about how wealth doesn’t always equal happiness and contentment, nor is it a shield from persistent, invasive thoughts. The song’s slow groove builds in force with every verse, with a crash of searing guitars mirroring the intensity of the song’s message.
Lauren Alaina, “Those Kind of Women”
In her latest release, Lauren Alaina honors the strong, supportive women in her life — women who throughout her life have given constant support, a shoulder to cry on, someone to celebrate with, and women with wisdom to share. It’s a tender ballad, with Alaina braiding her warm vocal with lyrics laced with imagery of sweet tea, emergency funds tucked away in coffee cans and a childhood surrounded by the music of “Dolly and Dylan.” “Those Kind of Women” was written by Lainey Wilson, Derek George, Lynn Hutton and Monty Criswell. Alaina also had a sweet surprise for fans at the end of the video for “Those Kind of Women,” revealing that she is expecting her first child this summer.
Kashus Culpepper, “Jenni”
Alabama-born singer-songwriter Culpepper doesn’t need much to issue a compelling song — in this case, he uses little more than guitar, harmonica and his soulful, silky-yet-grainy voice to create this open-hearted love song, inspired by seeing an audience member when he was brought onstage to sing with Zach Bryan during a music festival last year. Culpepper wrote “Jenni” with Jordan Dozzi and Jacob Durrett; on this splendid track, Culpepper offers up his organic sound with a brand of hard-earned, raw realness that can’t be feigned.
Hudson Westbrook, “Mine Tomorrow”
Texas-born Westbrook has broken through in recent months with songs including “5 to 9” and “House Again,” and returns with “Mine Tomorrow,” the first new music since the release of his self-titled EP. This tender track finds Westbrook declaring that his future is secure no matter what happens–as long as his lover is by his side. Westbrook wrote “Mine Tomorrow” with Dan Alley and Ryan Beaver, and Westbrook delivers this laid-back love song with a warm, nonchalant country charm.
Pitney Meyer, “Bear Creek Clay”
Singer-songwriters Mo Pitney and Johnny Meyer recently teamed up for the collaborative bluegrass outfit Pitney Meyer, releasing their latest song, “Bear Creek Clay,” a weaving of fiery bluegrass pickin’ with layered harmonies. The song centers on someone intent on making their home in wilderness, “a place where the water springs forth like a fountain.” The track features Meyer on lead vocals and banjo, Pitney on guitar and harmony, as well as instrumental work from Nate Burie (mandolin), Jenee Fleenor (fiddle) and Blake Pitney (bass). Mo Pitney, of course, is known for his solo country music work, but has long taken inspiration from bluegrass. “Bear Creek Clay” is the third release from this duo, which will issue its debut project, Cherokee Pioneer, in April.
Fresh off of his 10th annual Crash My Playa festival in Cancun, Mexico, Luke Bryan is gearing up to bring those same party vibes into the summer, announcing that his upcoming 30-plus city Country Song Came On Tour will launch in May.
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The Live Nation-produced trek will hit cities including Orlando, Fla.; Savannah, Ga., Cincinnati; and Dallas before wrapping Aug. 30 in Buffalo, N.Y.
Two-time CMA entertainer of the year winner Bryan will welcome a slate of ascendant newcomers to open various shows on the tour, with concerts featuring George Birge, Avery Anna, Ashland Craft, Mae Estes, Cole Goodwin, Braxton Keith, Randall King, Vincent Mason, Drake Milligan, Adrien Nunez and Owen Riegling. DJ Rock will appear on all dates.
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Ticket sales for the tour begin Friday, Jan. 31, at 10 a.m. local time on Bryan’s website. The ticket presale for Bryan’s fan club members begins Tuesday, Jan. 28, at 8 a.m. local time through Thursday, Jan. 30, at 5 p.m. local time. Citi/AAdvantage cardmembers will have access to purchase presale tickets starting Tuesday, Jan. 28, at 10 a.m. local time to Thursday, Jan. 30, at 10 p.m. local time through Citi Entertainment.
The tour shares its name with a song from Bryan’s 2024 album Mind of a Country Boy, which debuted at No. 11 on Billboard‘s Top Country Albums chart. His Country Song Came On Tour will launch two weeks following the first west coast dates on his Farm Tour 2025, which will play three shows in California.
See the list of Country Song Came On Tour dates below:
May 29: Bethel, N.Y. (Bethel Woods Center for the Arts)
May 30: Holmdel, N.J. (PNC Bank Arts Center)
May 31: Wantagh, N.Y. (Northwell at Jones Beach Theater)
June 5: Syracuse, N.Y. (Empower Federal Credit Union Amp. At Lakeview)
June 6: Camden, N.J. (Freedom Mortgage Pavilion)
June 7: Raleigh, N.C. (Coastal Credit Union Music Park)
June 12: Savannah, Ga. (Enmarket Arena)
June 13: Orlando, Fla. (Kia Center)
June 19: Rogers, Ark. (Walmart AMP)
June 20: Dallas (Dos Equis Pavilion)
June 21: Lafayette, La. (CAJUNDOME)
June 26: Bonner Springs, Kan. (Country Stampede) *
June 27: North Platte, Neb. (NebraksaLand Days) *
June 28: Grand Junction, Co. (Country Jam) *
July 10: Toronto, ON (Budweiser Stage)
July 11: Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio (Blossom Music Center)
July 12: Hershey, Pa. (Hersheypark Stadium)
July 17: Greenville, S.C. (Bon Secours Wellness Arena)
July 18: Charleston, S.C. (Credit One Stadium)
July 19: Birmingham, Ala. (Coca-Cola Amphitheater)
July 31: St. Louis (Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre)
Aug. 1: Cincinnati (Riverbend Music Center)
Aug. 2: Burgettstown, Pa. (The Pavilion at Star Lake)
Aug. 7: Columbia, M.D. (Merriweather Post Pavilion)
Aug. 8: Mansfield, Mass. (Xfinity Center)
Aug. 9: Hartford, Conn. (Xfinity Theatre)
Aug. 14: Charleston, W.Va. (Charleston Coliseum)
Aug. 16: Virginia Beach, Va. (Veterans United Home Loans Amp. at Virginia Beach)
Aug. 23: Dieppe, NB (YQM Country Fest) *
Aug. 24: Bangor, Maine (Maine Savings Amphitheater)
Aug. 28: Noblesville, Ind. (Ruoff Music Center)
Aug. 30: Buffalo, N.Y. (Darien Lake Amphitheater)
*Festival dates
Surprise!
When Morgan Wallen dropped a new song on Dec. 30, the move came as a double surprise. For starters, the world hadn’t known it was on the way, and “Smile” gave his fans an unexpected bonus to start off 2025. Additionally, the video followed a plot in which Wallen gave fictitious TV producers an unwelcome surprise, performing “Smile” for an in-studio audience when the rundown — and the teleprompter — were queued up for “Love Somebody.”
In the process, Wallen toyed with one of the keys to a successful music career: the art of surprise. It can take all kinds of forms, be it an unpromoted album release, such as Eric Church‘s 2015 project Mr. Misunderstood; an unannounced concert walk-on, as when Willie Nelson appeared onstage during an Oct. 11 performance by Chris Stapleton in Austin; or a simple fashion decision, a la Dolly Parton‘s Dallas Cowboys cheerleader outfit during a Thanksgiving 2023 halftime show.
“We’re in a world where click bait is everything,” independent artist Chris Housman says. “If you’re watching a movie, you want to be shocked, too. I think it applies to music.”
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The word “surprise” is rarely used in connection with a creative target in country music, though surprises often fuel the genre’s songs. The hesitation when Megan Moroney says, “Wait,” in the middle of “Am I Okay?” is a head-turner the first time a listener hears it. The tight, in-your-face harmonies in Dan + Shay‘s “Speechless” carried a level of surprise when that song arrived in 2018. And the odd use of the fishing-related noun “spinner bait” as a verb in Justin Moore‘s current “Time’s Ticking” has a what-did-I-hear value that subtly encourages fans to lean in further to decipher the story.
“I’ve had songs in the past where you look at the title and you think it’s going to be one thing, and then it turns out to be something completely different,” Moore says. “I always like that, when songs surprise you.”
Not everyone does. Radio programmers have operated for decades under the belief that most of their audience is looking for songs they already know they like. When they’re surprised with a new song, they tend to want one that sounds like it already belongs — either the voice is familiar or the general sound of the music fits with what they already know.
“That’s what we’re all chasing, is that fine line of something that’s special and shocking, but also familiar to the fans that we’ve already cultivated,” Carly Pearce says. “How do we make new fans? How do we stretch it within the margins of our artistry? I mean, I think about it all the time: How do I elevate but still keep the base?”
Collaborations often create surprise, allowing both artists to maintain their sound while they develop a joint presence, as Pearce discovered in duet singles with Stapleton, Lee Brice and Ashley McBryde. Cover songs can do that, too — particularly when they’re not obvious. Tigirlily Gold, for example, has caught fans off guard by segueing from “Blonde” into “9 to 5” during concerts, while Drew Baldridge has occasionally slid Dua Lipa‘s most unlikely “Levitating” into his set list.
“People are like, ‘What is happening? This country dude is singing some pop song?’ ” Baldridge says. “That’s really fun. With our set, we try to throw in some songs that people wouldn’t expect some big country boy to do.”
Streaming platforms and social media have built much of their models around the idea of providing subscribers a steady flow of new content — surprises that, thanks to algorithms built to determine users’ tastes, are designed to land favorably.
Streaming has, as the industry knows well, put a major dent in albums’ popularity, and some of that shift is a result of artists uploading a steady flow of new music that feeds fans’ demand for content. Thus, artists now provide surprises to their audience on a regular basis. But in the process, particularly when those songs are advance releases that tease upcoming projects, they take away some of the unknowns that were historically part of the album experience.
“Back in the day, when the Eric Church record would come out, you would go to the store and buy it,” Dylan Marlowe recalls. “You had no idea what was on it, and that was the coolest part to me.”
Thus, those tracks pushed out in advance of an album might bring attention to the project, but releasing too many might actually prove detrimental.
“I think it gives it a shorter shelf life,” Marlowe suggests. “There’s just no surprise. You’ve heard [some of the songs] a million times before you’ve even heard it.”
Heavy repetition is desirable — more performances equal higher royalties — but it also changes the effect of the music. When Little Big Town released “Pontoon” in 2012, the odd sound of the opening instrumental riff — a stinging combination of mandolin and a programmed keyboard — was such a cool surprise that listeners wanted to hear it over and over. But as the song aged, that repetition changed the riff from an edgy, sonic curveball to a comfortable mainstream offering. It’s that constant evolution, from fresh and surprising to familiar and safe, that continues to challenge music makers to find new ways to spark listeners’ imaginations.
“If the surprise is the same surprise over and over again, people are going to get bored,” says songwriter Laura Veltz (“The Bones,” “What If I Never Get Over You”). “You can’t say the same joke over and over again, right? But as a creator, my job is to create a new surprise. Every single time new music is released, the game changes. We have to ebb and flow. That’s the job; that’s the game.”
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Billy Ray Cyrus is allegedly “taking legal action” against son Trace Cyrus, according to social media claims posted by Trace on Saturday (Jan. 25).
Trace, the elder brother of Miley Cyrus and Noah Cyrus, posted an Instagram message concerning the Cyrus family on Jan. 22, expressing worry over his father’s well-being. Trace published an Instagram letter again on Jan. 25, saying Billy Ray had threatened him with legal action following the public plea he’d shared for his dad to “get help.”
Billboard reached out to a representative for Billy Ray Cyrus for comment on Saturday.
“Dad my message was beyond loving,” Trace wrote in Saturday’s note to Billy Ray, referencing the public message to his father from a few days ago. “I could have been extremely honest about a lot more but I don’t want to put your business out there like that. But for you to threaten me with legal action for wanting you to get help is a disgrace. Pappy is looking down at you with such disappointment I can assure you. You should be ashamed of yourself. I will always love you but I no longer respect you as a man. Everyone close to you is terrified to tell you how they really feel. I’m not. Get help.”
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In an Instagram Story also posted on Saturday, Trace added, “For all of you wondering no I still haven’t heard from my dad. He did contact a family member to let me know he’s taking legal action against me for encouraging him to get help. Dad I live 30 miles away from you. You could’ve just come & talked to me like a man.”
At press time, Billy Ray has not publicly responded to Trace’s statements.
Trace’s initial message to Billy Ray on Wednesday — which had him stating, “You’re not healthy, Dad and everyone is noticing it,” and “As I write this with tears in my eyes, I hope you realize this message only comes from a place of love and also fear that the world may lose you far too soon” — came after Billy Ray’s shaky performance at Donald Trump’s inauguration Liberty Ball on Jan. 20, an appearance that was marred by technical difficulties and eventually had him singing “Achy Breaky Heart” a capella to the crowd.
In that note, Trace told his father he was coming from the place of being “over a year and a half clean from alcohol,” and said, “I don’t know what you’re struggling with exactly, but I think I have a pretty good idea, and I’d love to help you if you would open up and receive the help.”
The country star did comment on his Liberty Ball performance, writing on Instagram, “I wouldn’t have missed the honor of playing this event whether my microphone, guitar and monitors worked or not. I was there because President Donald J. Trump invited me. I had a ball at the Liberty Ball last night and I’ve learned through all these years when the producer says “you’re on,” you go entertain the folks even if the equipment goes to hell. I was there for the people and we had a blast. That’s called rock n roll!!!”
On Friday, Billy Ray announced an upcoming album, produced by his younger son, Braison. It’s expected to arrive some time this summer.
“This is art imitating life, imitating art,” Billy Ray said of the record. “It starts and ends with art. Braison is very talented and ‘25 is his year. I’m glad to be a part of it. This record is gonna be special. I’m gearing up for what will be the journey of a lifetime.”
Billy Ray and ex-wife Tish are parents to Brandi, now 37, and Trace, 35, both of whom Billy Ray adopted after he’d married Tish. Together, they also share Miley, 31; Braison, 30, and Noah, 25. He’s also the parent of 32-year-old son Christopher, his child with ex-girlfriend Kristin Luckey.
After Billy Ray and Tish went through their divorce in 2022, Billy Ray had a short marriage with now-ex Firerose (Johanna Hodges); they married in 2023 and settled a divorce by 2024.
“What’s being seen in public now reflects much of what I experienced in private during our relationship,” Firerose claimed in a statement to People, following Billy Ray’s performance at the inauguration event and Trace’s message to him. “It’s very sad to see those same struggles continue for him, but I’m glad the truth is coming to light — for his potential good because healing is only possible when you confront the truth and accept there’s a problem.”
Firerose is speaking out after her ex-husband Billy Ray Cyrus’ widely criticized performance at a pre-inauguration event for Donald Trump left viewers concerned for his wellbeing.
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“What’s being seen in public now reflects much of what I experienced in private during our relationship,” the singer told People of Cyrus. “It’s very sad to see those same struggles continue for him, but I’m glad the truth is coming to light — for his potential good because healing is only possible when you confront the truth and accept there’s a problem. For me, I remain focused on my faith, my music, my healing and using my story to encourage others to find strength and hope.”
Cyrus filed for divorce on May 22, citing “irreconcilable differences” and “inappropriate marital conduct” seven months after the couple married. On June 13, Cyrus requested an emergency motion accusing Firerose of making nearly $100,000 in unauthorized “fraudulent” credit card charges while seeking a temporary restraining order to stop her, though her attorneys said the accusations were “untrue.”
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After Cyrus’ divorce filing, Firerose accused him of domestic abuse, and calling the country star “unpredictable and volatile” due to alleged substance abuse. In a statement shared with Billboard, Cyrus’ lawyers “vehemently” denied the allegations and said that while he was “certainly vocal, frustrated and angry … it is the plaintiff who, in fact, has been abused. Not only verbally and emotionally by the defendant, but PHYSICALLY.”
In August, the duo settled their divorce.
Earlier this month, on Jan. 20, Cyrus’ Liberty Ball appearance was plagued with technical issues, leaving his guitar inaudible and forcing him to haphazard a cappella performance.
Cyrus defended his appearance in a previous statement, saying, “I wouldn’t have missed the honor of playing this event whether my microphone, guitar, and monitors worked or not. That’s called rock and roll!” he told People.
Since then, Billy Ray’s son Trace Cyrus took to Instagram to also comment on the performance, addressing years of strained family dynamics and expressing concern for his father’s well-being. See his statement here.