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Country singer Jameson Rodgers allegedly hurled a “full, unopened beer can” into a concert crowd and hit a fan during a 2022 festival on the Jersey Shore – and an appeals court now says Sony Music must continue to face the resulting lawsuit filed by the injured woman.
Samantha Haws sued Rodgers, Sony and others, claiming the incident at the 2022 Barefoot Country Music Festival in Wildwood, NJ, had left her with “severe and permanent injuries.” She even sued MillerCoors because it was a can of Miller Lite that Rodgers allegedly threw.
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Sony wants to be dismissed from the case, arguing that it cannot be sued in New Jersey because it isn’t based in the state and didn’t operate the festival. But a lower judge denied that request last year – and a New Jersey appeals court upheld that ruling on Wednesday.
In recent years, there’s been a disturbing trend of objects being thrown at concert performers. NBA YoungBoy stopped a show earlier this month after fans threw objects, Luke Combs was hit in the face during a July concert, and Bebe Rexha needed stitches after being hit with a smartphone, leading to criminal charges against the offender.
But there’s also been multiple incidents involving objects thrown by the artists, often resulting in legal action. 50 Cent was sued last year over an incident in which he threw a microphone off-stage in frustration, allegedly hitting a stagehand. Cardi B hurled a mic at a fan who threw a drink at her at a 2023 Las Vegas concert, resulting in another lawsuit.
In her July 2024 case, Haws claims that Rodgers and/or others “threw full, unopened cans of Miller Lite beer from the stage into the crowded audience” at the Barefoot Festival. She says one struck her “violently and without warning in the head and facial area,” leaving her with “severe, painful and permanent bodily injuries.”
Sony, named as a defendant in the case because Rodgers is signed to Columbia Nashville, immediately moved to exit the case. The company argued that it didn’t organize or market the festival or pay for or provide security for it. But a judge said last year that Rodgers had potentially performed at the festival as Sony’s agent, which could legally put the company on the hook for his actions.
In Wednesday’s decision, the New Jersey appeals court rejected Sony’s appeal of that ruling. It said there was “no error” by the lower judge because Haws had established a “business relationship between Sony and Rodgers related to live performances” and the label “would be subject to specific jurisdiction if Rodgers was acting on Sony’s behalf at the time Haws was injured.”
The ruling does not mean Sony is liable to Haws, or that her allegations will ultimately be proven. Instead, it merely sets the stage for more litigation over whether Sony was sufficiently involved to face the lawsuit. Reps for Sony, and both reps and an attorney for Rodgers did not immediately return requests for comment on Thursday.
Trending on Billboard The CMA Awards are less than a month away, and Lainey Wilson is getting ready. After cohosting last year with Luke Bryan and Peyton Manning, the nine-time CMA Awards winner will be the sole host for the 59th annual CMA Awards, slated for Nov. 19 on ABC. In a clip exclusive to […]
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Since Jelly Roll arrived on the country scene over the past three years, he’s always put his wife Bunnie Xo and their relationship front and center at awards shows and on red carpets. But there was a time years ago when the hitmaker was struggling with substance abuse issues and their marriage wasn’t always picture-perfect.
During his appearance this week on the Human School podcast, Jelly Roll got candid with host Miles Adcox about one of his lowest points.
“I don’t talk about this publicly at all, but one of the worst moments of my adulthood was when I had an affair on my wife,” Jelly said. “Because it was the first time that I was like, ‘I really can’t get this right at all. I know I’m in love with this woman.’ It was just such a, just really, really, really blew me back.”
To get where they are now, Jelly said “I did a lot of work to repair that relationship, you know what I mean? The repair has been special. And we’re stronger than we could have ever been. I wish our story would have went in a way that it never had an affair, but – and I’m in no way glad it happened – but man, I’m proud of who we are today.”
Jelly Roll acknowledged that he was running with a much different crowd when he cheated on Bunnie, and among his friends at the time, abusing drugs and being unfaithful to your partner were par for the course.
“I was hanging around a bunch of people that were cheating on their wives,” he said. “When I was doing cocaine, I was hanging around a bunch of people that were doing cocaine. When I was drinking a lot, I was hanging around a lot of people that were drinking a lot.”
Since then, he’s dropped those friends, gotten clean and devoted himself to the marriage. When it comes to the friends he surrounds himself with now, Jelly said: “I wanted to be friends with people I wanted to be like.”
Jelly Roll and Bunnie Xo have been married since 2016 and they renewed their vows in 2023. They share two children from previous relationships and have been very public about their IVF journey, with plans to keep growing their family.
You can watch the full hour-plus Human School interview below, with the affair conversation starting around the 48:30 mark.
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Luke Combs and Opry Entertainment Group (OEG) will bring a new Category 10 entertainment venue to the Flamingo Las Vegas next fall. Inspired by Combs’s chart-topping 2017 hit “Hurricane,” the Category 10 brand’s flagship venue opened in Nashville in late 2024.
The three-story venue will feature Hurricane Hall, a main dining hall that will include three bars, a central stage and dance floor, as well as state-of-the-art video, acoustics and lighting. Hurricane Hall will offer curated artist lineups daily and host the brand’s free line dancing lessons. The second floor will include The Still, inspired by Combs’s songwriting talents, which will offer a more intimate area with a view of the stage, as well as an extensive collection of bourbons hand-selected by Combs. The Still will also have an adjacent outdoor patio space.
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The third level will hold The Eye Rooftop, a covered rooftop space featuring a DJ booth, dance floor and bar with views of the Las Vegas Strip. The venue will also feature the Beautiful Crazy Women’s Lounge, located inside the women’s restroom on the first floor, which will offer a champagne bar, makeup counters, soft seating and Hollywood vanity mirrors.
Combs said in a statement, “I am stoked about having a second Category 10 location in Las Vegas. 2026 was already going to be an awesome year, but this takes it to the next level. I can’t wait for Bootleggers to have their own place to party on The Strip.”
Combs is set to headline more than 20 dates in Europe and North America next year on his My Kinda Saturday Night stadium tour. He was recently named the highest RIAA-certified country artist in history, with more than 168 million units sold.
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“With Luke’s enormous international appeal, securing the right Las Vegas location for Category 10 has been a priority since we first announced the partnership back in 2023,” Colin Reed, executive chairman of OEG parent company Ryman Hospitality Properties, said in a statement. “The United Kingdom ranks as the leading market for international visitors to Las Vegas outside North America. Combined with the UK’s continued embrace of country music and Luke, this is an ideal moment to bring Category 10 to one of the world’s great entertainment playgrounds.”
Reed continued, “We have formed a wonderful relationship with Caesars Entertainment through our Ole Red Las Vegas location, and we look forward to bringing more country music experiences to the market.”
“The addition of Category 10 continues to build on the momentum of a tremendous year transforming Flamingo Las Vegas,” added Dan Walsh, senior vp and general manager of the resort. “With exciting new experiences like the Go Pool, Pinky’s by Vanderpump, Gordon Ramsay Burger and Havana 1957, we’ve brought a whole new level of energy to our iconic resort. Category 10 elevates that energy even further, bringing one of the biggest names in music to the Flamingo and offering live performances with great food and cocktails at the best location on The Strip.”
Trending on Billboard Jason Aldean’s first career retrospective, 30 Number One Hits, debuts at No. 4 on Billboard’s Top Country Albums chart (dated Oct. 25). It also starts at No. 21 on the all-genre Billboard 200 with 22,000 equivalent album units in the United States in the week ending Oct. 16, according to Luminate. The […]
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Country fans are getting an early look at Lainey Wilson‘s role in the upcoming film adaptation of Colleen Hoover’s Reminders of Him courtesy of a trailer released Tuesday (Oct. 21).
The movie — due in theaters March 13 — follows protagonist Kenna Rowan (played by Maika Monroe), who makes a mistake that sends her to prison. After seven years, she returns to her hometown in Wyoming, seeking to reunite with her young daughter Diem. After Diem’s custodial grandparents deny Kenna the opportunity to reconnect with Diem, Kenna forms a connection with a local bar own named Ledger Ward (played by Tyriq Withers).
Wilson, who is one of the leading nominees at November’s CMA Awards, portrays the role of Kenna’s friend and coworker, Amy. In the trailer, Wilson’s character is seen speaking with Kenna.
“What’s your trauma?” Wilson’s character Amy says during a brief scene.
Kenna replies that she just got out of prison and is struggling to find work.
“Sh–, you win,” Wilson replies.
The film is an adaptation of Hoover’s 2022 book Reminders of Him, which sold more than 6 million copies in the United States; Colleen Hoover also wrote the bestselling book It Ends With Us, which was turned into a movie starring Blake Lively last year. The Reminders of Him cast also includes Lauren Graham and Bradley Whitford as Diem’s grandparents Grace and Patrick, while Rudy Pankow portrays Diem’s father Scotty. The supporting cast includes Jennifer Robertson playing Kenna’s landlord Ruth, while Zoe Kosovic portrays Kenna’s daughter.
The role in Reminders of Him will mark Wilson’s feature film debut, though she has previously had a recurring role on the television show Yellowstone.
Wilson just released a new EP, titled Peace, Love & Cowboys (Holiday Edition), on Oct. 17. After co-hosting last year’s CMA Awards with Peyton Manning and Luke Bryan, Wilson will solo host this year’s show for the first time. She is also on her headlining Whirlwind World Tour, which has included sold-out shows at New York’s Madison Square Garden and Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena.
See the trailer for Reminders of Him below:
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Recent Country Music Hall of Fame inductee Kenny Chesney will bring his No Shoes Nation back to Sphere in Las Vegas in 2026, when he brings his high-energy concert experience to the venue for five shows in June. The new shows are slated for June 19, 20, 24, 26 and 27.
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“You can’t truly understand until you start playing music with all the people there, feeling that energy and the way the visuals and the songs just consume people,” Chesney said in a statement. “The more I watched the fans having this experience I’m sure they couldn’t imagine, the more ideas I had – both to reconfigure some of last year’s songs, and a few songs that seemed like they should get this immersive treatment – and wanted to do.“I think there are so many ways for people to play this venue, but I feel pretty sure nobody has had more fun there, brought more joy – or that freewheeling Sandbar experience – than No Shoes Nation,” he continued. “And wherever they sat, we could hear ‘em, too. So, if you didn’t get to see it, c’mon! And if you did, well, come live those songs again – because this isn’t something you get to do every single year!”
In May 2025, Chesney launched a 15-concert run at Sphere, thrilling fans with his signature beach-and-party vibe, which celebrates island living and fun times, in addition to giving fans hit song after hit song. In the process, Chesney became the first country artist to headline the 17,600-seat venue, which is known for its immersive sound and visual spectacle.
Tickets for the upcoming 2026 Sphere shows will go on sale starting Oct. 31 at 10 a.m. PT via Ticketmaster. The shows will feature a refreshed Guitars, Tiki Bars experience, and VIP package holders will have access to a Vibe Room with a surf shop and bar.
See the show announcement below:
Billboard’s Live Music Summit will be held in Los Angeles on Nov. 3. For tickets and more information, visit the event’s website.
Morgan Wallen didn’t disappoint fans on the second night of his I’m the Problem tour stop in Houston on Saturday (June 21).
After kicking off the weekend with a surprise appearance by NFL legend Andre Johnson and Houston businessman Jim “Mattress Mack” McIngvale on Friday at NRG Stadium, the 32-year-old country star had more star power in store for night two.
Continuing what has become a signature grand entrance at his shows, Wallen took the stage accompanied by rap superstar Drake and baseball great Roger Clemens at the home of the Houston Texans. Dressed in a black Kid Rock T-shirt, Wallen walked out flanked by Drake and Clemens as the singer’s “Broadway Girls,” featuring Lil Durk, played in the background.
The moment was captured on video and displayed on the stadium’s jumbotron, showing Clemens handing Wallen a custom baseball jersey while a denim-clad Drake appeared to take a swig from a flask.
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Morgan also shared the walkout moment on Instagram, set to Drake’s 2011 track “Under Ground Kings.” “All summer long,” he captioned the post. Diplo took to the comments, writing, “Man can’t be stopped.”
This isn’t the first time Wallen and Drake have teamed up. In 2023, the Toronto MC featured the “Last Night” singer in the opening scene of his “You Broke My Heart” music video. The track was featured on the “Scary Hours” edition of Drake’s For All the Dogs album.
Wallen’s dramatic walkout moments at NRG Stadium have become a hallmark of his live shows, with past surprise guests including Travis Kelce, Troy Aikman, Peyton Manning and Tom Brady.
The back-to-back concerts in Houston launched Wallen’s 20-date I’m the Problem tour, which runs through Sept. 13 and hits 10 cities across the U.S. His next stop is a two-night run at Camp Randall Stadium in Madison, Wisc., on June 28–29. The tour features an all-star lineup of supporting acts, including Koe Wetzel, Miranda Lambert, Brooks & Dunn, Ella Langley, Gavin Adcock and Thomas Rhett.
The trek supports Wallen’s blockbuster fourth studio album, I’m the Problem, which has held the top spot on the Billboard 200 for four consecutive weeks since its release on May 16.
Check out Wallen’s walkout with Drake and Clemens on Instagram below, and see the tour setlist here.
Morgan Wallen continued his trend of making grand entrances with sports icons during the launch of his I’m the Problem tour in Texas.
Before taking the stage at Houston’s NRG Stadium on Friday (June 20), the 32-year-old country superstar made an electrifying entrance at the home of the NFL’s Houston Texans. This time, he was joined by former Texans legend Andre Johnson.
Wallen and Johnson walked side by side as their moment was broadcast on the venue’s jumbotrons, with Wallen’s 2022 hit “Broadway Girls” featuring Lil Durk blasting through the speakers. In a surprise twist, Houston businessman and philanthropist Jim “Mattress Mack” McIngvale — owner of Gallery Furniture and known for his massive sports bets — also joined the walkout.
The walkout moment, which has become a highlight at Wallen’s shows — with previous guest appearances including Travis Kelce, Troy Aikman, Peyton Manning and Tom Brady — was shared on Wallen’s Instagram. Fellow country star Jelly Roll couldn’t help but react in the comments.
“Just when I think you can’t goat yourself anymore — you bring out Mack in Houston- CRAZZYYYYY. Love you bubba,” Jelly wrote.
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Wallen’s concert at NRG Stadium marks the start of his 20-date I’m the Problem tour, which runs through Sept. 13 and visits 10 cities. The trek features supporting acts Koe Wetzel, Miranda Lambert, Brooks & Dunn, Ella Langley, Gavin Adcock and Thomas Rhett.
“I spend months at this point getting ready to get on tour, just getting in shape,” Wallen recently told Apple Music Country. “I don’t have to be in any kind of crazy shape to record in the studio. With how big my stage is, how much I run around, and how much effort that me and the guys put into it, I don’t think you would know that by just listening to the record.”
The outing supports Wallen’s chart-topping fourth studio album, I’m the Problem, which has held the No. 1 spot on the Billboard 200 for four consecutive weeks since its May 16 release.
Watch Wallen’s walkout with Andre Johnson and “Mattress Mack” on Instagram below. And check out the tour’s setlist here.
When Morgan Wallen’s I’m the Problem tour kicks off Friday (June 20) at Houston’s NRG Stadium, all eyes will be looking to see if he continues his trend of walking out to the stage with local pro athletes. It’s become a highlight of the shows and the walk outs — broadcast on the venue’s jumbotrons […]
