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16 May 2024

2024 ACM Awards: Best Photos From the Red Carpet

These days, it’s not a country music party until Jelly Roll and his wife Bunnie XO show up — so it looks like the 2024 Academy of Country Music Awards have officially achieved party status.

In addition to Jelly and Bunnie, current Hot Country Songs chart-topper Shaboozey — the man behind the viral hit “A Bar Song (Tipsy)” — also hit the ACM Awards red carpet Thursday night (May 16) in Frisco, Texas, outside the Ford Center at The Star, where the awards show is going down, broadcasting on Prime Video.

Reba McEntire was spotted on the carpet too ahead of her gig as host of the show. The 16-time ACM Award winner is returning to host the show a record 17th time on Thursday night. (“What an honor to have been part of the past, present and now the future of the Academy of Country Music,” McEntire said when her latest hosting gig was announced.)

The ACM carpet isn’t red this year, but entertainer of the year nominee Lainey Wilson brought the color with her head-to-toe fire-engine-red suit and cowboy hat combo.

Stick with Billboard all night as we update you on the night’s biggest winners and liveliest performances, and below, you can find all the best photos from the 2024 ACM Awards red carpet.

The ACM Awards are produced by Dick Clark Productions, which is owned by Penske Media Eldridge, a Penske Media Corporation subsidiary and joint venture between PMC and Eldridge. PMC is the parent company of Billboard.

16 May 2024

Kendrick Lamar’s ‘Not Like Us’ Goes to No. 1, Does Cardi B Need Another Hit Record? | Billboard Unfiltered

In the second episode of Billboard Unfiltered, Billboard staffers Damien Scott, Carl Lamarre and Trevor Anderson discuss the chart success of both Kendrick Lamar and Drake’s diss tracks, “Not Like Us,” “Euphoria,” “Like That” and “Family Matters” all reaching the top 10, whether Cardi B needs to produce another hit record to keep her rap legacy afloat and more.

Trevor Anderson:
These records are just swallowing the whole culture.

Damien Scott:
Bro, you’re gonna go to these parties two steppin’ with a drink in your hand, and then you’re gonna hear “wop wop wop.”

Carl Lamarre:
Cardi, we right there for you baby, take your time, baby. Go to Turks and Caicos. Hey, guys. Welcome to a fresh episode of Billboard Unfiltered. We gotta get right into it — the aftermath of the greatest hip-hop battle of all time.

Trevor Anderson:
We’re declaring it the greatest already?

Carl Lamarre:
I mean, I think so.

Damien Scott:
We’ve never seen anything like this before.

Trevor Anderson:
I know. You know, sometimes you gotta like, let you know, let … let it have like a … like a little tailwind or something.

Damien Scott:
This was crazy.

Carl Lamarre:
This was nuts. This was nuts. I mean, obviously, last week, we spoke about just …. we chatted about the craziness of that. This is now. We actually have numbers to back these disses up. We have a new No. 1 on the Hot 100, Mr. Trevor Anderson.

Watch the full video above!

16 May 2024

Billboard Presents Bud Light Backyard With George Birge

George Birge cracked a Bud Light and brought fans closer to his origin story, highlighting the importance of his Texas roots, how he keeps it easy on a day off and more in his installment of the Billboard presents Bud Light Backyard content series.

George Bird:
Growing up in Austin, country music is kind of just in your veins from the first parties you go to, to riding in the truck or the car with your mom and dad and it being on the radio. And I love the way that it made me feel. I love the way that it brought people together. And I knew that that was always something that I wanted to do. And I started playing guitar probably by seventh grade; I started a band by freshman year of high school, and Austin was really special compared to most towns because everybody had a band, and I was hooked from the first show I played I fell in love with country music because it tells stories, it makes people feel something.

There is no feeling quite like stepping on stage. It’s electric. Being able to connect that with that audience that’s come out to sing songs back with you, the camaraderie of being on stage with your band, your friends that have been through it thick and thin with you.

The way that we get ready is we’ll have a beer — typically a Bud Light — will say a quick prayer just being thankful for opportunity. When I think of country music, a good time comes to mind — there’s never been a time where I had country music on and I wasn’t smiling or relaxing or just taking some of the edge off. I love to keep it easy. That’s kind of my lifestyle, whether it’s in the backyard grilling by the fire pit playing guitar when I’m not out playing shows. I like to be out with friends, out with family and and I’d like to be drinking cold Bug Light. Like if that’s not a perfect day I don’t know what is.

16 May 2024

Kendrick Lamar in Top 10, Shaboozey in Top 5 on TikTok Billboard Top 50 Chart | Billboard News

Kendrick Lamar enters the top 10 of the TikTok Billboard Top 50, but is Lay Bankz going to keep her No. 1 spot for a fourth week? Keep watching to learn more!

Tetris Kelly:
We’ve got a new leader and two new faces climbing into the top 10. Tommy Richman makes his way to No. 1 with “Million Dollar Baby” on the Tiktok Billboard Top 50 for the chart posting May 16, with some claiming it’s the song of the summer already.

Daya’s “Hide Away” leaps from 11 up to seven. The 2015 hit reaches new heights thanks to a trend where users learn if they’re a top tooth or bottom tooth speaker, while Kendrick Lamar debuts at No. 9 with “Not Like Us.” Everyone loves lip-synching to the Hot 100 topping diss track.

Every Thursday Billboard will bring you the verified list of the hottest songs on TikTok by monitoring music discovery and engagement on the platform in the United States. To find the TikTok Billboard Top 50 each week, users can simply go to any sound detail page and tap the top right button to access the charts page.

15 May 2024

Feid & Yandel Concert Shut Down, Country Power Players Recap, Cardi B Won’t Be Releasing an Album & More | Billboard News

It’s Wednesday, May 15, and Feid & Yandel got shut down in Miami for throwing an impromptu concert on their yacht. Cardi B says she will not be releasing a new album this year, Megan Thee Stallion is kicking off her tour and Saweetie posted her freestyling in the car. Sam Hunt shares how he created “Locked Up EP” and how his music is changing with his life. If you missed it last night, we got you covered, we give you a recap of Billboard’s Country Power Players. McKenna Grace shares what inspired her to write her song “Gentleman”and more!

Tetris Kelly: 

No music from Cardi, new music from Saweetie and Megan kicks off her tour. Feid Yandel’s yacht party gets shut down. We catch up with Sam Hunt. We take you inside our Country Power Players event. And McKenna Grace tells us how it went down. Happy Hump Day at Billboard News. I wish I was on a boat, but not this one. Feid and Yandel’s impropmtu concert was cut short when the cops shut down the party. According to Yandel’s Manager The plan was to perform their joint album ‘Manifesting 20-05’ in its entirety, but after just three songs local water police patrol asked them to shut it down. Fans flocked to see the duo both on land and by sea which you can see caused quite the scene. Yandel’s manager told Billboard police asked them to please stop the music and they said they had over 50 patrols on hand to try to control the traffic caused by the event. Even though the party may not have been completed, they insist Feid’s team got all the necessary permits with the Coast Guard and everything was in order and in time. And for once the girls aren’t fighting but still have lots of updates. Here’s three things you need to know in female Hip Hop. Even with hits like “WAP” and “Up” and dropping her second Megan collab in 2023, Cardi B hasn’t actually released an album since her debut, ‘Invasion of Privacy’ in 2018. 

Keep watching to learn more!

15 May 2024

Highlights From Billboard’s Country Power Players 2024: Kelsea Ballerini, Lainey Wilson, Shaboozey & More | Billboard News

The best moments from Billboard’s Country Power Players 2024 featuring some of the biggest country stars like Kelsea Ballerini, Lainey Wilson, Shaboozey, The War and Treaty and more!

Tetris Kelly
Lainey Wilson

Lainey Wilson
Women deserve a spot and country music and we got a side of the story too, and it’s a good one

Tetris Kelly
Nate Smith.

Nate Smith
This is a dream come true guys. I am so honored to be your Rookie of the Year.

Tetris Kelly
And more were celebrated and Billboard’s country power players.

Tetris Kelly
Shakers and makers from country music gathered at Gilley’s, Dallas and Texas for a night to remember the event honored both musicians and execs including Rookie of the Year Nate Smith, Groundbreaker recipient, The War and Treaty and Executive of the Years said, Seth England.

Seth England
I want to thank Mercury and Republic for being such a great distro partner, and Billboard magazine for constantly supporting country music, and its artists.

Katie Beale Brown
Lone River founder Katie Beale Brown was also there to share a few words ahead of the presentation for Laniney Wilson, this year’s record breaker, which was presented by Lone River Ranch Water. Tonight,

Katie Beale Brown
We get to honor a woman who knows a little something about celebrating where she comes from. She has inspired millions of people on her whirlwind World Tour.

Kelsea Ballerina
Kelsea Ballerini brought the feels and she introduced Wilson at the podium.

Kelsea Ballerini
Lainey is a country girl, a girl’s girl, a good friend, a good woman.

Lainey Wilson
To me being a record breaker is the ultimate honor. It signifies the blood sweat and tears I have put

Tetris Kelly
The night wasn’t just filled with acceptance speeches, but attendees also got their music fix when Wilson performed an intimate set they sipped on Lone River award winning Ranch Water and Ranch Rita drinks.

Tetris Kelly
For more on Billboard’s Country Power Players even head over to billboard.com

15 May 2024

McKenna Grace Shares the Inspiration For Her “Gentleman” Music Video | How It Went Down | Billboard

In today’s episode of ‘How It Went Down,’ actress and singer McKenna Grace shares what inspired her to write her song “Gentleman,” why she decided to have so many dogs in the music video and more!

McKenna Grace
Hi, I’m McKenna Grace and this is how it went down from my single “Gentleman.” I always have like little reference playlists or vibe playlists for the day whenever I get in the studio it’s kind of the most pop I’ve ever leaned and I it’s not something I’d usually like do but it was really fun to explore and play with. I think it was more just so a feeling. I was like, oh, there’s a “Gentleman.” I know. It’s just I love it. Oh, you know, it was just like being a girl. A boy treated me really nice. And so I wanted to write a bunch of songs about it. And actually, of course, it was so fun and silly and nice to be able to create and make something positive and upbeat. I mean, it was just a fun writing process. I just got in there and gushed for a couple hours and then wrote a nice song about a gentleman. We had our own little gentleman in the studio, there was this dog, his name was Woodstock. It’s our producer’s dog, he was adorable. And my heart, my gentlemen, is that dog, I always do this. It does not matter how long it’s been since I wrote the song or if the vocal sound great. I will always go back in the studio and redo my vocals before the song comes out. I don’t know why. Maybe I get like demo-itis or something. And I’m like, I hate these vocals. Like they sound wrong. I need to do it again. Maybe my voice has changed in a week. And so like whenever we decide that we’re going to put the song out I went back in for another couple hours and recorded some vocals. For the music video. I’m a really big movie watcher. I love movies. Who would have guessed, what? Yeah, I really really love movies. I did that for a music video. Before I recreated scenes from ‘Scott Pilgrim.’ I’m I always feel so weird making music videos about situations that like happened in my life. And I was like, I don’t want to hire like a guy to come and play this guy. Like, that felt to weird to me. So I was like, I don’t wanna have a boy in this music video. But how am I supposed to recreate these romance movies? Because that’s how it feels to me that I want to do something fun and light. So I was just like, oh, you know, I know a gentleman and he’s downstairs in my living room probably rolling around on my rug, my dog, Gizmo. And so I was like, Oh, I could write a music video for me and I spiraled out of control. And I was like, I have to have as many dogs like I just want to have a bunch of dogs in this and recreate scenes from movies and just have a good time. I just wanted it to feel authentic and fun and silly and match with the songs vibe and so I feel like this music video is probably one of the most knee music videos I have out there. So it’s really it’s just movies and puppies. And that’s me.

15 May 2024

Hannah Karp Presents Shaboozey With Billboard Hot Country Songs Chart Plaque for “A Bar Song (Tipsy)” | Country Power Players 2024

Billboard Editorial Director Hannah Karp presents Shaboozey with a Billboard Hot Country Songs No.1 chart plaque to celebrate his record breaking achievement with his song “A Bar Song (Tipsy).”

Hannah Karp:

Good evening, everyone. I’m Hannah Karp. I’m Billboard’s Editorial Director. And I am thrilled to have with us, tonight, an artist who scored his first three Hot 100 Hits this year. The first two “SPAGHETTII” and “SWEET ★ HONEY ★ BUCKIIN’” were collaborations with Beyoncé, who of course made history this year, as the first black woman ever to top Billboard’s Hot Country Songs Chart with her hit “TEXAS HOLD ‘EM.” But a few weeks ago, this fast rising star that we have in the house tonight, made even more history when he replaced Beyoncé atop the Hot Country Songs Chart with his own hit “A Bar Song (Tipsy)” marking the first time that two black artists have topped the 66 year old chart back to back. Give it up. So now, “Tipsy” is in its third week at No. 1 on the Hot Country Songs Chart having hit No. 3 on the Hot 100 and No. 5 on Billboard’s Global 200 Chart. And it’s continuing to climb the Country Airplay and Pop AirPlay Charts. Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome Shaboozey to the stage. Shaboozey, it is our pleasure. It is our pleasure to present you with this plaque to commemorate your historic No. 1 and here’s to many, many more. And we are so excited to hear your new album coming out at the end of the month.

15 May 2024

Shaboozey Accepts Billboard Hot Country Songs Chart Plaque For “A Bar Song (Tipsy)” | Country Power Players 2024

Shaboozey accepts his Billboard Hot Country Songs No.1 chart plaque for his record breaking achievement with his song “A Bar Song (Tipsy).”

Shaboozey:

I was told this was going to be like a dinner. So I didn’t prepare a speech at all. But um, I just want to say I’m like super grateful and super honored to just be here on this stage. You know, I never thought in my like wildest dreams that I would be here getting an award like this, you know there’s so many people here I want to thank. There’s so many people that you know, I think you know, we should all be up here together. So, you know, this is not just for me, this is for everybody that’s really just making change in this space. You know, Mike and Tanya, I see y’all know. I mean, I remember hearing “Hey Driver” for the first time and just crying my eyes out. I see Reyna Robertson here as well. I know there’s a couple other people that may not be here, may be here, Tanner, Willie, everybody, I just you know, super. You guys mean a lot to me and everything you guys have done in this, you know, we’re here together. And my message is has always been my message has been integration and just bringing people together and just sharing stories. You know, it’s never been about anything. Other than that, so, you know, thank you so much. And also thank Beyoncé, too. What am I talking about, the Queen. Thank y’all so much. Love y’all seriously.

15 May 2024

Lainey Wilson Performs ‘Wildflowers and Wild Horses’ & ‘Country’s Cool Again’ | Billboard Country Power Players 2024

Lainey Wilson performs her song “Wildflowers and Wild Horses” and “Country’s Cool Again” at Billboard’s Country Power Players 2024.

Read the lyrics below and stay tuned for more Lainey Wilson news.

Lainey Wilson’s “Wildflowers and Wild Horses” Lyrics

In the middle of the night
I hear a cornfield coyote cry
Up at the moon, no matter what
Sky, I’m layin’ under

In the eye of a hurricane
When I got one foot in the grave
I’ll dig my boots into the dirt
And face the rollin’ thunder

I’m five generations of blazin’ a trail
Through barb-wired valleys and overgrown dells
I’m barefoot and bareback and born tough as nails
Whoa, whoa, whoa

I’m four-fifths of reckless and one-fifth of jack
I push like a daisy through old sidewalk cracks
Yeah, my kinda crazy’s still runnin’ its courses with
Wildflowers and wild horses

It’s in the water, in my veins
That bread of Heaven falls like rain
So I’m taken care of either way
Make somethin’ outta how I’m made
Until I hitch a ride on Glory’s train

I’m five generations of blazin’ a trail
Through barb-wired valleys and overgrown dells
I’m barefoot and bareback and born tough as nails
Whoa, whoa, whoa

I’m four-fifths of reckless and one-fifth of jack
I push like a daisy through old sidewalk cracks
Yeah, my kinda crazy’s still runnin’ its courses with
Wildflowers and wild horses

I’m five generations of blazin’ a trail
Through barb-wired valleys and overgrown dells
I’m barefoot and bareback and born tough as nails
Whoa, whoa, whoa

I’m four-fifths of reckless and one-fifth of jack
I push like a daisy through old sidewalk cracks
Yeah, my kinda crazy’s still runnin’ its courses with
Wildflowers and wild horses

Yeah, my kinda crazy’s still runnin’ its courses with
Wildflowers and wild horses
Wildflowers and wild horses

Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC

Songwriters: Paul Sikes / Lainey Wilson / Trannie Anderson