Country
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When it comes to music, Ed Sheeran knows how to do just about anything, from selling out stadiums around the world to writing an endless string of hit songs for himself and his friends. But when it comes to chugging beers, the “Bad Habits” singer definitely had a steep learning curve when his “Life Goes On” singing partner Luke Combs recently gave him a life lesson in the quintessential American art of suds-based party tricks.
In a beery bromance Instagram video posted on Monday (May 15), Combs taught Sheeran how to shotgun a beer. “Alright, for context, Luke is… what is it, shooting?” Sheeran asks in the clip as the pair stand on a patio at sunset holding cans of Miller Lite. “Shotgunning,” Combs politely corrects his English friend.
With holes punched into their respective cans, Sheeran proudly announces, “Luke is teaching me how to shotgun a beer.” Bryan then provides a basic tutorial, explaining, “You wanna be mindful of where your top is. Cuz once that opens beer is coming out of that if it’s pointing at the ground. So you want this pointing at the sky.” Combs then offers to go first as Sheeran wonders if they should just try it in tandem.
“I think we go together, right,” Sheeran suggests. And then, after a quick countdown, they raise their cans, pop the tops and chug-a-lug, with Combs guzzling his can in just a few seconds. Sheeran — who famously has his own fully stocked pub at home — meanwhile, gamely tries to down the whole beer before tossing it to the ground with a noticeable thud that indicates he may have left some in the tank.
“That’s really impressive,” Sheeran says as Combs and the crew burst out laughing. In another show of transcontinental good cheer, Combs later commented on the clip, writing, “Cheers, mate! (Did I do that right? Haha.)”)
Though it was their first tandem pop and shoot, the stunt was not the pair’s first rodeo. Combs and Sheeran performed Ed’s “Life Goes On” together at the 2023 ACM Awards last week and in 2021 Combs invited Sheeran to join him on stage at the Country 2 Country Festival for a run through Ed’s “Dive.”
Watch the gun show below.
On May 16, 1998, Faith Hill’s “This Kiss” began a three-week reign on Billboard’s Hot Country Songs chart. It became her fifth of nine leaders on the list, among 24 top 10s. The song was penned by Beth Nielsen Chapman, Robin Lerner and Annie Roboff. Hill co-produced it with Byron Gallimore. “This Kiss” was released as […]
Maren Morris is not ready to make nice. The country star took another swipe at her ultra-conservative nemesis, Tucker Carlson, on Saturday night during the 2023 GLAAD Media Awards, where she drew loud cheers from the room packed with LGBTQ rights supporters while accepting the Excellence in Media Award.
“Maybe I felt a little badass taking Tucker Carlson’s calling me a lunatic for standing up to transphobia, turning it into a T-shirt and raising $150,000 for LGBTQ+ charities,” Morris said while accepting the award that recognizes allies who have “made a significant difference in promoting acceptance of LGBTQ people” in their work. “That made me feel a little cool, but I don’t want to gloat. I would never insult the recently unemployed.”
According to The Huffington Post, the swipe at the former Fox News prime time host known for his xenophobic and homophobic rants inspired the crowd to erupt in applause. Carlson was unceremoniously fired, reportedly with little warning, last month in the wake of the conservative network’s $787 million loss in the Dominion Voting lawsuit.
“The crowds at my shows are a sea of diversity, from race, identity to age,” Morris added in her GLAAD acceptance speech. “It is a loving, safe space for my band, crew, venue staff and most notably, my fans. This community stood up for me and made me feel safe when I felt alone and I’ll never be able to repay them, but I hope I get to spend the rest of my life and career settling up.”
Morris’ ding of Carlson was a reference to the host dubbing her a “lunatic” and a “fake country music person” last year when “The Bones” singer was in the midst of a public spat with Jason Aldean’s wife, Brittany Aldean, after the latter posted comments deemed offensive to the transgender community. “I’d really like to thank my parents for not changing my gender when I went through my tomboy phase. I love this girly life,” Brittany Aldean wrote in a makeup video. Morris initially reacted to Carlson’s firing in late April by posting an Instagram Story in which she wrote “Happy Monday, MotherTucker.”
Morris decided to turn Carlson’s haterade into sweet tea last fall by selling t-shirts with Tucker’s “lunatic” insult that raised more than $150K for Trans Life and GLAAD’s Transgender Media Program. Morris wasn’t done after that, either, going on to join the loud chorus of stars denouncing Tennessee’s anti-drag legislation during a performance at March’s Love Rising benefit concert for LGBTQ causes in Nashville.
Check out a portion of Morris’ speech below.
Alexis Gale is celebrating Mother’s Day, despite the allegations made against her estranged husband, Jimmie Allen.
Gale took to her Instagram Stories on Sunday (May 14) to share an ultrasound photo of the former couple’s upcoming third child, revealing the sex of the baby with the caption, “My baby boy [heart emoji].” See her post before it disappears here. Gale and Allen are also parents to two daughters: three-year-old Naomi and one-year-old Zara.
Last month, the former couple revealed that they are expecting their third baby together, but also that they are parting ways. “After much thought and reflection in recent months, Lex & I have made the decision to separate,” the country star wrote, with Gale posting a similar statement to her page. “Our number one priority is and always will be ensuring that our children are healthy, happy and loved, and we remain committed to co-parenting with love and respect for one another. In light of our growing family, we respectfully request privacy during this time.”
Shortly after, a woman on his management team filed a civil lawsuit in Tennessee federal court, in which the anonymous “Jane Doe” accused Allen of sexual assault. The accuser claimed that Allen “manipulated and used his power” over her job as a day-to-day manager in order to “sexually harass and abuse her” over a period of 18 months from 2020 to 2022.
“Plaintiff expressed in words and actions that Jimmie Allen’s conduct was unwelcome, including pushing him away, sitting where he could not reach her, telling him she was uncomfortable and no, and crying uncontrollably,” the woman’s lawyers wrote in the complaint. “However, Allen made clear that plaintiff’s job was dependent on her staying silent about his conduct.”
In a statement to Billboard, Allen admitted to a sexual relationship with his accuser but denied all allegations of assault. “It is deeply troubling and hurtful that someone I counted as one of my closest friends, colleagues and confidants would make allegations that have no truth to them whatsoever,” he said. “I acknowledge that we had a sexual relationship — one that lasted for nearly two years. During that time she never once accused me of any wrongdoing, and she spoke of our relationship and friendship as being something she wanted to continue indefinitely.”
Allen has since been suspended by his label BBR Music Group, management company The Familie and booking agency UTA following the allegations.
A civil lawsuit filed in Tennessee federal court — first reported by Variety and independently obtained by Billboard — on May 11, 2023, accused Jimmie Allen of sexual assault. A Jane Doe, who was a day-to-day manager at Allen’s former management company Wide Open Music, alleged that the country singer had “harassed” and “sexually abused her” over 18 months from 2020 to 2022, and that she was fired after she complained.
“Plaintiff expressed in words and actions that Jimmie Allen’s conduct was unwelcome, including pushing him away, sitting where he could not reach her, telling him she was uncomfortable and no, and crying uncontrollably,” her attorneys stated in the complaint. “However, Allen made clear that plaintiff’s job was dependent on her staying silent about his conduct.”
Allen responded to the allegations in a statement shared with Billboard, admitting to a sexual relationship with his accuser, but denied all allegations of wrongdoing. “I’ve worked incredibly hard to build my career, and I intend to mount a vigorous defense to her claims and take all other legal action necessary to protect my reputation,” he said.
The complaint also names management firm Wide Open Music and founder Ash Bowers as defendants, claiming they did not do enough to protect their employee from Allen’s alleged abusive behavior. The lawsuit alleges that after she revealed she had been “raped and sexually abused” by Allen, Wide Open Music and Bowers fired her in retaliation.
In his own statement sent to Billboard, Bowers strongly denied Jane Doe’s assertion that her position was terminated in retaliation. He said that Wide Open Music learned of Allen’s abuse on Oct. 4, 2022, and “immediately ended our professional relationship” at that point, and that “any assertion she ever raised the existence of a sexual or physical relationship” with the country singer before then “is patently and objectively false.”
Since the allegations against Allen surfaced in the lawsuit, he has been suspended by his label, dropped from a performance slot at CMA Fest and more. See the timeline of the fallout since the lawsuit was filed against him.
May 11: Jane Doe Files Civil Lawsuit Against Allen
Morgan Wallen’s “Last Night” claims a sixth week at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 songs chart.
SZA’s “Kill Bill” holds at No. 2 on the Hot 100, three weeks after it became her first No. 1, and ties for the longest command – 20 weeks – in the history of the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart.
Plus, Toosii’s “Favorite Song” jumps from No. 11 to No. 8 on the Hot 100, becoming his first top 10 on the chart.
The Hot 100 blends all-genre U.S. streaming (official audio and official video), radio airplay and sales data. All charts (dated May 20, 2023) will update on Billboard.com tomorrow (May 16). For all chart news, you can follow @billboard and @billboardcharts on both Twitter and Instagram.
Wallen’s “Last Night,” released on Big Loud/Mercury/Republic Records, drew 60.2 million radio airplay audience impressions (up 8%) and 34.3 million streams (up 6%) and sold 9,000 downloads (down 2%) in the May 5-11 tracking week, according to Luminate.
The song, which first led the Hot 100 in March, becoming his initial leader on the list, rebounds from No. 2 for an eighth week at No. 1 on the Streaming Songs chart; holds at No. 2 on Digital Song Sales, following a week on top; and keeps at its No. 5 best on Radio Songs.
A week after becoming the first song ever to top the Hot 100 and the Country Airplay chart simultaneously, “Last Night” adds a second week atop the latter list. It also pushes 13-12 on Pop Airplay, 15-14 on Adult Pop Airplay and 22-19 on Adult Contemporary.
“Last Night” concurrently leads the Hot Country Songs chart, which uses the same methodology as the Hot 100, for a 14th week.
As previously reported, parent album One Thing at a Time tops the Billboard 200 for a 10th week. As Wallen’s last LP, Dangerous: The Double Album, also reigned for 10 frames, he becomes the first male soloist ever with back-to-back 10-week No. 1s, dating to the chart’s 1956 launch.
SZA’s “Kill Bill” keeps at No. 2 on the Hot 100, three weeks after it became her first No. 1. It rules the multi-metric Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs and Hot R&B Songs charts for a 20th and 21st week, respectively.
On Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs, “Kill Bill” makes history, as it ties Lil Nas X’s “Old Town Road,” featuring Billy Ray Cyrus, for the longest No. 1 run since the chart became an all-encompassing genre survey in 1958.
Most Weeks at No. 1 on Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs:
20, “Kill Bill,” SZA, 2022-23
20, “Old Town Road,” Lil Nas X feat. Billy Ray Cyrus, 2019
18, “Industry Baby,” Lil Nas X & Jack Harlow, 2021-22
18, “One Dance,” Drake feat. WizKid & Kyla, 2016
16, “Blurred Lines,” Robin Thicke feat. T.I. + Pharrell, 2013
15, “Be Without You,” Mary J. Blige, 2006
Miley Cyrus’ “Flowers” repeats at No. 3 on the Hot 100, after eight weeks at No. 1 beginning upon its debut in January. It posts a 13th week atop Radio Songs (91.5 million in audience, up 1%).
“Flowers” ties for the 10th-longest reign since Radio Songs began in December 1990. (It also matches Mariah Carey and Boyz II Men’s “One Sweet Day” for the second-longest domination for a Columbia Records single, after only Adele’s “Easy On Me.”)
Most Weeks at No. 1 on Radio Songs:
26, “Blinding Lights,” The Weeknd, 2020
18, “Iris,” Goo Goo Dolls, 1998
16, “Girls Like You,” Maroon 5 feat. Cardi B, 2018
16, “We Belong Together,” Mariah Carey, 2005
16, “Don’t Speak,” No Doubt, 1996-97
15, “Easy On Me,” Adele, 2021-22
14, “High Hopes,” Panic! At the Disco, 2018-19
14, “No One,” Alicia Keys, 2007-08
14, “Because You Loved Me,” Celine Dion, 1996
13, “Flowers,” Miley Cyrus, 2023
13, “No Scrubs,” TLC, 1999
13, “I Love You Always Forever,” Donna Lewis, 1996
13, “One Sweet Day,” Mariah Carey & Boyz II Men, 1995-96
13, “The Sign,” Ace of Base, 1994
13, “End of the Road,” Boyz II Men, 1992
Eslabon Armado and Peso Pluma’s “Ella Baila Sola” repeats at its No. 4 high on the Hot 100, the best rank ever for a regional Mexican song in the chart’s history. The collaboration notches a sixth week at No. 1 on the multimetric Hot Latin Songs chart.
Rema and Selena Gomez’s “Calm Down” rounds out the Hot 100’s top five, holding at its No. 5 best. It tops the Billboard U.S. Afrobeats Songs chart for a 37th week, extending the longest rule since the ranking began just over a year ago (in partnership with music festival and global brand Afro Nation).
Metro Boomin, The Weeknd and 21 Savage’s “Creepin’ ” is steady at No. 6 on the Hot 100, after hitting No. 3, and Grupo Frontera and Bad Bunny’s “Un x100to” is stationary at No. 7, after reaching No. 5.
“Favorite Song” surges from No. 11 to No. 8 on the Hot 100, where it becomes the first top 10 for Toosii, born Nau’Jour Grainger in Syracuse, N.Y., where he was raised before relocating to Raleigh, N.C., and pursuing a music career. The melodic rap song ascends with 28.5 million in airplay audience (up 11%), 20.7 million streams (up 6%) and 3,000 sold (down 2%). Aiding its counts, a remix featuring Khalid arrived May 5 (the first day of the tracking week). The single also tops the multimetric Hot Rap Songs chart for a second week.
TikTok has been key to the track’s profile, thanks to both its original and sped-up versions. Between the two, the song has soundtracked over 1 million clips on the platform. (Activity on TikTok does not directly contribute to Billboard’s charts.)
Top 10 ‘song’s: “Favorite Song” is the whopping 43rd Hot 100 top 10 with the word “song” in its title. The list began with The Chipmunks’ “The Chipmunk Song” with David Seville (No. 1 for four weeks in 1958-59), and was most recently bolstered by … a fellow Yuletide standard, Nat King Cole’s “The Christmas Song (Merry Christmas to You),” which reached the region for the first time over the latest holiday season (No. 9). Just before that, Post Malone’s “I Like You (A Happier Song)” featuring Doja Cat, hit No. 3 last October.
The Weeknd and Ariana Grande’s “Die for You” dips 8-9 on the Hot 100, following a week at No. 1 in March.
Capping the Hot 100’s top 10, Taylor Swift’s “Anti-Hero” keeps at No. 10. The song became her sole longest-leading No. 1, for eight weeks in November-January. It adds a 27th week in the top 10, likewise extending her longest stay in the tier.
Again, for all chart news, you can follow @billboard and @billboardcharts on both Twitter and Instagram and all charts (dated May 20), including the Hot 100 in its entirety, will refresh on Billboard.com tomorrow (May 16).
Luminate, the independent data provider to the Billboard charts, completes a thorough review of all data submissions used in compiling the weekly chart rankings. Luminate reviews and authenticates data. In partnership with Billboard, data deemed suspicious or unverifiable is removed, using established criteria, before final chart calculations are made and published.
NBC announced the cast for the upcoming fall season of The Voice on Monday morning (May 15), revealing that former judge John Legend will be back in the mix in addition to returning castmate Gwen Stefani. The two will be joined by Niall Horan in his second season, with one-time Voice hold-out country icon Reba […]
This week’s column features a plethora of collaborations. Superb songwriters Lori McKenna and Hillary Lindsey team up to plumb the emotional depths of a relationship, while Jelly Roll and Lainey Wilson’s power ballad details a relationship on its ragged edge. Top-shelf singer-songwriter Rebecca Lynn Howard, newcomer Zach Top and Texas artist Jason Eady also offer new music.
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See latest videos, charts and news
Jelly Roll and Lainey Wilson, “Save Me”
Labelmates Wilson and Jelly Roll (born Jason DeFord) debuted their collaboration on last week’s Academy of Country Music Awards. This smoldering power ballad (written by DeFord and David Ray Stevens) melds and highlights country music’s breadth of current-day influences, from Jelly Roll’s gritty, rock-infused style, to Wilson’s twangy, R&B-flavored country. Lyrically, the song’s subject is mired in self-recrimination and despair, pleading with a lover to leave in order to find their own freedom, engendering a sense of angst and selflessness.
Lori McKenna and Hillary Lindsey, “Killing Me”
McKenna and Lindsey have long penned sterling hits with layered nuances, including Little Big Town’s “Girl Crush.” Their latest previews McKenna’s upcoming Dave Cobb-produced album 1988, out July 21 via CN Records/Thirty Tigers. “Would it kill you to be happy?” they ask, paring for this jangly, folk-rock track, excavating the emotional weariness wrought by carrying the weight of constant attempts to ensure a lover’s emotional equilibrium.
Rebecca Lynn Howard, “I Am My Mother”
Known for her 2002 top 20 Billboard Country Airplay hit “Forgive,” Howard possesses one of country music’s most powerful voices. Here, she pays tribute to the integral, enduring influence of the mother-daughter relationship on this sweet piano and strings-inflected ballad. Howard wrote this tender ballad with Jamie Floyd, Rachel Thibodeau and Carolyn Dawn Johnson. The song’s ability to convey teenage rebellion and a sense of empathy and understanding that comes with time and experience makes this Mother’s Day release a song that will touch hearts long after the holiday.
Zach Top, “The Kinda Woman I Like”
Top recently made his Grand Ole Opry debut and has been on tour with Dwight Yoakam. Both milestones are signifiers of the newcomer’s musical ambitions to carry the torch of beloved ’90s country music legends. His latest, the flirtatious barn-burner “The Kinda Woman I Like,” features Top’s twangy vocals, conveying the influence of artists such as Tracy Lawrence and the fiddle-soaked melodies and rhythms of Alan Jackson. Top joins a growing movement of artists inspired more by throwback country sounds than rock and pop ambitions.
Jason Eady, “Way Down in Mississippi”
Texas-by-way-of-Mississippi artist Eady retraces his musical journey and his deep Southern roots on this bluesy, gospel-infused track. Sparse rhythms, tinkling piano, energetic handclaps and soulful backing vocals that would feel right at home in a fervent church service bolster lyrics that namecheck bluegrassers Bill Monroe and Ralph Stanley. This singular melding of musical synergies, layered with Eady’s husky voice, makes his latest musical iteration feel timeless. “Way Down in Mississippi” is from his upcoming Aug. 11 release, Mississippi, produced by Band of Heathens’ Gordy Quist.
After Sunday night’s (May 14) semi-final that cut the roster of American Idol hopefuls to just three — Colin Stough, Megan Danielle and Iam Tongi — season 21 of the series is gearing up for a major finale. Next Sunday’s (May 21) three-hour finale will air live coast-to-coast on ABC beginning at 8 p.m. ET […]
Jason Isbell jumped on social media Friday afternoon (May 12) to defend Janelle Monáe and the buzzy music video for her new single “Lipstick Lover.” “Wait there are people who DON’T like Janelle’s video?” the country singer tweeted. “Seriously I don’t know wtf you people want if it isn’t that.” In a follow-up tweet, he […]