Music News

09 Jun 2024

Taylor Swift Debuts Something Old, Something New Live in Edinburgh: See Her Play 2009’s ‘Crazier’ & 2024’s ‘The Bolter’

“What a charming Saturday” it was for Taylor Swift fans, just like the singer-songwriter narrates on “The Bolter,” one of the tracks she played live for the first time ever last night (June 8).

The Eras Tour sets Swift up to pull deep from her discography when she wants to, during her ever-changing acoustic section of the concert. Nearing her 100th show on the sprawling trek (Saturday night in Edinburgh, Scotland, was No. 98), the star got particularly unpredictable in her choice of surprise songs when she sat at the piano at the Scottish Gas Murrayfield Stadium.

First, on guitar, Swift debuted one of her newer songs live. She played “The Bolter,” one of the last tracks on the Anthology edition of 2024’s The Tortured Poets Department, her new album that’s so far spent six consecutive weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 chart.

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A song in which she tells a story that comes to the realization “hearts are hers for the breakin’” and that there’s “escape in escaping,” “The Bolter” flawlessly pivoted to 2017’s “Getaway Car,” from Reputation.

Swift performing well thought-out mashups during the surprise song part of the Eras show has become customary on the international leg of The Eras Tour, ever since the singer announced her intention to “be as creative as possible with the acoustic set moving forward,” back in February.

Saturday night in Edinburgh, she followed the mashup of “The Bolter” and “Getaway Car” with another song combo, this one more surprising than the first. On piano, she paired “All of the Girls You Loved Before,” a one-off track she released from the vault of 2019’s Lover, with a song Swift wasn’t even sure her crowd would recognize: “Crazier,” found only on the soundtrack for the 2009 film Hannah Montana: The Movie.

But the stadium had no problem recalling the swooping chorus of “Crazier,” and sang with her: “You lift my feet off the ground/ You spin me around/ You make me crazier, crazier/ Feels like I’m fallin’ and I am lost in your eyes/ You make me crazier, crazier, crazier.”

“Oh my god,” Swift said, laughing at how many people knew the words.

Watch both of Swift’s Saturday night Scotland surprises in the fan-captured clips below, and enjoy Billboard‘s complete list of all the songs we’ve heard in the Eras acoustic set (it gets updated with every tour date).

09 Jun 2024

CMA Fest’s Saturday Night Nissan Stadium Shows: 5 Top Moments

Right next to Nissan Stadium in Nashville — just across the parking lot — is the Davidson County Juvenile Detention Center, where Antioch, Tennessee, native Jelly Roll spent years incarcerated as a teen. His underdog story has brought him from a jail cell to center stage at Nissan Stadium, headlining CMA Fest’s Saturday night show.

The crowd was already cheering before the hometown hero took the stage, and he rewarded their applause by performing “The Lost.” Pausing to take in the triumphant, full-circle moment, Jelly Roll — and many in the audience — were soon in tears. But those tears didn’t last long before turning into a joyous celebration.

“I am from Nashville, Tennessee!” he shouted to the crowd, which roared back with equal enthusiasm. “My father brought me here 23 years ago when the Tennessee Titans first came to town — this is a dream come true… playing to a sold-out Nissan Stadium crowd… and I’m getting to perform the No. 1 on country radio right this moment,” he said, before launching into his current (and fourth) Billboard Country Airplay No. 1, “Halfway to Hell.” The performance was heightened by Keith Urban playing guitar during the performance.

One year ago, he got a taste of headlining at the stadium when he performed on the platform stage at CMA Fest, but on Saturday night, he fully made that dream come true. He dedicated his set to the teens that are currently in the juvenile center.

“I know they can hear us because I was one of them, one time. I was in and out of jail and in and out of drug addiction, and tonight I am headlining CMA Fest at Nissan Stadium,” he said. Launching into “Son of a Sinner,” with lights aglow all around the stadium, he said, “I’m here to tell you you can do whatever you want in life, I don’t give a f— what anybody says,” before praising country music as “the genre that saved my life.”

Jelly Roll’s shows have become part concert, part therapy session, part spiritual revival for those who identify as an outcast, feel misunderstood, are struggling with addiction, or are simply working through any personal struggles — and his CMA Fest set was no exception.

“This is a come one, come all kind of crew,’ he said. He later added, “I am here to represent the lost and the broken,” before performing his new song “I Am Not Ok.”

Prior to making country music, Jelly Roll was primarily known as a rapper, and he passionately and effortlessly sailed through a medley of rap classics, including Eminem’s “Lose Yourself,” Biz Markie’s “Just a Friend” and Outkast’s “Ms. Jackson,” before performing his own collaboration “Wild Ones” (sans Jessie Murph). The crowd’s reaction was so fervent that the singer-songwriter collapsed onto a riser on the stage, laughing in amazement. Later on, wife Bunnie XO made a brief appearance and shared a kiss with Jelly Roll.

From there, he offered up his four-week No. 1 Country Airplay hit “Need a Favor,” with the audience waving hands high in the air. He then followed up with his two-week No. 1 “Save Me,” welcoming labelmate Lainey Wilson back to the festival stage with a hug. Jelly Roll then returned solo to center stage, waving his hat to the crowd and thanking the audience for their part in his triumph story.

08 Jun 2024

Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs’ Honorary Degree From Howard University Rescinded by School’s Trustees

Howard University’s board of trustees voted unanimously on Friday to revoke the honorary degree awarded to Sean “Diddy” Combs in 2014, saying he is “no longer worthy to hold the institution’s highest honor.”

Howard, a private, historically Black research university in Washington, D.C., will also return Combs’ $1 million contribution and terminate a $1 million pledge agreement from the Sean Combs Foundation, the board said in a statement.

“Mr. Combs’ behavior as captured in a recently released video is so fundamentally incompatible with Howard University’s core values and beliefs that he is deemed no longer worthy to hold the institution’s highest honor,” the board said in its statement. “The University is unwavering in its opposition to all acts of interpersonal violence.”

The rebuke is especially significant given Combs’ longtime ties to the university. Combs was a business major at Howard, but left after his second year. In 2014, he received an honorary doctorate in humanities from Howard and delivered the commencement address.

Last month, CNN first aired a 2016 surveillance video showing Combs physically assaulting his former girlfriend, singer Casandra “Cassie” Ventura, in a hallway at the now-closed InterContinental Hotel in the Century City neighborhood of Los Angeles. In the video, dated March 5, 2016, Combs appears to shove Ventura to the ground, kick her twice, drag her down a hallway and throw glass vases at her.

The video of the attack was graphic and disturbing – one of the few times the public has actually seen, and not just read or heard about, an incident of domestic abuse.

Combs released a video posted on Instagram days after the video’s release, saying, “My behavior on that video is inexcusable. I take full responsibility for my actions in that video.”

But no apology can make people un-see that video. “We find the images extremely disturbing and difficult to watch,” the office of L.A. District Attorney George Gascón wrote in a statement on Instagram on May 17. But the D.A. added that “if the conduct depicted occurred in 2016, unfortunately, we would be unable to charge.”

Established in 1867, Howard offers undergraduate, graduate and professional degrees in more than 120 programs. Notable Howard alumni from the arts include actors Chadwick Boseman, Phylicia Rashad, Anthony Anderson, Roxie Roker and Taraji P. Henson; comedian and TV personality Nick Cannon; novelist Toni Morrison; novelist and poet Paul Laurence Dunbar; and writer and journalist Ta-Nehisi Coates.

08 Jun 2024

2024 Governors Ball Festival: See The Best Photos

Promising plenty of photo-worthy stage moments, the 2024 edition of Governors Ball — the annual New York City music festival — kicked off a three-day run on Friday, June 7. Here, you’ll find all the best photos from Gov Ball.

Three big stages in use over three consecutive days in Queens’ Flushing Meadows Corona Park are welcoming hitmaking headliners like Post Malone, Rauw Alejandro, The Killers, 21 Savage, SZA and Peso Pluma. Carly Rae Jepsen, Sabrina Carpenter and Renee Rapp are just a handful of the many other highly anticipated acts on the Gov Ball bill.

On night one, Post Malone (pictured in the gallery of photos below) offered all the hits, and he’s got a lot of them — even if he kept his introduction humble enough: “My name is Austin Richard Post, and I’m here to play some s—ty songs and get a little bit f—ed up while we do it.”

Rauw Alejandro (also pictured in the below photos) delivered a performance charged with boundless energy and dance moves, one that tied in with his roots to the city.

“I’ve always had a special connection to this city,” the Puerto Rican star said. “My dad was born in Brooklyn. It’s a meeting point for many cultures. Many of us left our country in search of opportunities and dreams. And I feel that here you can fulfill all the dreams that you want to do in life. In my case, a dream is being fulfilled by sharing it here with all of you, a dream that I am living today, thanks to all of you who have supported me since day one.”

Some of the best photos from the Governors Ball lineup so far include moments on stage with Flo, Farruko, Alex G, Yung Gravy, Dominic Fike and more.

Take a look at the best photos from 2024’s Governors Ball, as the festival continues in NYC throughout the weekend.

08 Jun 2024

Rauw Alejandro Pays Homage to New York at Gov Ball Headlining Set, Talks ‘New Single, New Era’ in Pre-Show Interview

It’s a new era for Rauw Alejandro. Fresh off the release of his first solo single since August, the disco-tinged “Touching the Sky,” and announcing an upcoming album, the Puerto Rican artist has taken center stage across the international festival circuit.

The announcement of his headlining slot at the upcoming Coca-Cola Music Fest and Baja Beach Fest highlights his escalating prominence, following a top billing at Chicago’s Sueños last month. Yet his ascension feels most pronounced at New York’s Governor’s Ball Music Festival, the genre-spanning festival that ties his roots and personal narrative within the bustling energy of the Big Apple.

On Friday (June 7) at 7:30 p.m., the superstar lit up Gov Ball’s GoPuff stage. Dressed in a striped suit that harked back to the late 1960s, a tribute to West Side Story, Rauw unleashed a performance charged with boundless energy and impeccable dance moves. Over the course of an hour, he rolled out hits like “Al Callao’,” “Panties y Brasieres,” “Party,” “Desesperados,” “Desenfocao,’” and “Todo de Ti,” blending hard-hitting reggaetón with riveting dance-pop anthems.

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His connection to the crowd was palpable: “I’ve always had a special connection to this city. My dad was born in Brooklyn. It’s a meeting point for many cultures,” he said to the audience. “Many of us left our country in search of opportunities and dreams. And I feel that here you can fulfill all the dreams that you want to do in life. In my case, a dream is being fulfilled by sharing it here with all of you, a dream that I am living today, thanks to all of you who have supported me since day one.”

Marco Perretta

Gov Ball, with its iconic New York-inspired elements like a tattooed Statue of Liberty and city memorabilia, saw Rauw honor NYC in his own unique way. A subway train replica served as his stage backdrop, setting the scene for a powerhouse dance performance that pulled from his admiration of Michael Jackson’s “Smooth Criminal” and Chris Brown moves, assuring all of his superstar caliber. In a standout highlight, the performer got off the stage to sing among the tens of thousands of fest-goers.

Moments before his dynamic act, Billboard Español caught up with the Puerto Rican artist to discuss his upcoming album, and the personal stories that shape his public persona and electrifying performances.

It’s exciting to have you here in New York headlining at Gov Ball. How are you feeling about today’s performance?

I’m really excited. It’s my first time. It’s a big deal. In the last few years, there have been a lot of Latinos headlining U.S. festivals. We are here. 

Do you prepare differently to perform a headlining festival set in comparison to your own concerts or while on tour? How does the experience differ to you?

It’s different. In festivals, you share a stage with other artists, so you don’t have two or three hours to do a show. My shows are normally two and a half hours long, arena and stadium shows. But festivals, it’s like we’re united as artists. We’re sharing energy with the public. The festival starts midday until 10 p.m., so it’s like a quick teaser. Festivals are more fun, more energetic. I focus more on what people like. I just want to have a good time. My concert, I just go into my album concept, and then I try to tell a whole story about it, and promote your new album. With festivals, we use it more for promoting singles. It’s the taste before the tour. I remember my first festival, when I didn’t have an album yet six years ago. It was just promoting me as a new artist. Festivals are that opportunity. I’m headlining this festival, and I have a special surprise for the people here. My dad is from Brooklyn; I have a lot of family in New York, so there’s that special connection. And this weekend is the Puerto Rican Day parade. Puerto Rico is here.

Dance is such a significant element of your performances. Can you share some insights into how you develop your choreography? Who are your choreographers? 

I’ve been working with FeFe Burgos. He’s also Puerto Rican. He’s been in New York for a long time. He’s been dancing with many artists. I’ve been with him for around six years. Also, we collaborated with all the choreographers. It’s how you mix this Latin flavor with all these other types of dancing around the world, with hip-hop, jazz and contemporary. I even have a small foundation of ballet. I have always danced my whole life, just for fun.

In my opinion, you are the best dancer, taking the genre’s performances to the next level.

I realized that this is where I want to be, so I started studying a little bit more. I try to get better and better with time, [incorporating] the salsa flavor. There’s been so many artists through past generations that have inspired me. I remember seeing Michael Jackson when I was a boy.

My dad has been a huge fan of Elvis Presley and James Brown. So it’s like you grew up with that style. Since I was young, all [dance] performers caught my attention. I was like, watching them [thinking], “Oh my God, I want to be like them.” I’m hyper. I cannot be on the stage [sitting still]. I need to move. 

You recently released “Touching the Sky,” your first solo single since August (“Hayami Hana”). 

Yes, new single, new era. I tried to divide my projects by eras and characters. It’s just a starting flavor. I got an album that’s almost ready. I try not to repeat albums, soundwise. In all my albums, you will always find reggaetón. Your essence will always be there. It’s different touch, perspective and musical colors. I did “Touching the Sky” a few months ago, and it feels like summer is coming. It’s that vibe. I don’t plan exactly what song is going to be [the first single]. It’s just how you feel at that moment. We’re going with a New York vibe. And I filmed in New York. It was really fun.

You channel an old dapper New York era. What were your influences?

It’s a little bit more like late ’60s and ’70s, West Side Story, Broadway, it’s theatrical. Before I started [making] music, I was doing theater at 16, 17 years. So I like to mix theater with music. On Saturno, I started doing short films for my albums. For this one we’re preparing, you’re going to see the contrast between my albums and what I did in Saturno last year. It’s going to be the opposite.  

I loved freestyle, too. On a different subject, Billboard reported in December that you left Eric Duars and that you have a new management. How has this change influenced your career direction?

I think everything is for the better. I always try to grow as an artist. I’ve been in this game for almost nine years now. I started in the music business by myself, officially in 2015. Then in 2017, I signed with them [Duars]. And now, 2024. It has been long time. You grow up, you learn. What we did together was great. Now it’s just a different vision, a different perspective. But that doesn’t have to be… it’s just business. I have a great team right now. I’m 31 years old, a grown ass man. I feel really happy at this moment of my life. I feel in control of my whole career. I know what I want to do. I have my notes. I learned. It’s just part of growing. 

Many of your oldest fans, including myself, first discovered your music on SoundCloud over five years ago. How do you think starting on such a platform influenced your music career?

SoundCloud was a huge tool for me when I started my career. I really support SoundCloud artists, and YouTube. Back in the day, it was just SoundCloud and YouTube before big platforms. I remember in the Island, everybody was down with SoundCloud, listening to this s— in SoundCloud. It was a small group. Myke Towers, Alvarito Díaz. Even Bad Bunny. All the artists back in the days, like in 2017.

Now you’re headlining so many festivals: a Coca-Cola Festival, you did Sueños [last month], you’re going to be a Baja Beach Fest headliner. That’s a big growth. 

I was seeing the old festival flyers the other day. My name was little, and now we’re headliners!

With fame your personal life becomes public too, such as your breakup with your ex [Rosalía]. How have you faced those experiences in the public eye and how have you found strength or inspiration to grow personally?

I think that’s part of life, growing and learning. We are here, and I’m just focused right now on the present and my future. All these [past] life experiences, I just use it for being a better person.

How was going to the Met Gala?

The Met Gala was fun. It was my first time. I felt like this kid in a new school. I was like, “What’s up? My name is Rauw. Hi, I’m Puerto Rican.” It was fun. We had the after parties and everything. I’ve been around fashion for the last few years. I think music and fashion always [go well] together.

Speaking of fashion, what are you wearing tonight on stage?

I work with my stylist. Shout out to Chloe and Chanel. We worked with them also for a few years. They are amazing. But you are going to see some classic Rauw, like an old salsa generation. It’s going to be really fun.

Marco Perretta

Any new tattoos?

I’m working on it. I haven’t had the time, but I want to tat my legs, my back, everything. The only thing I’m not going to do in my life, because [I promised] my grandma, was my face.

Last words? 

It’s a new Rauw, new era, new music. The album is something amazing. I always like to do my final touches in Puerto Rico. I think it’s just good luck. Puerto Rico has this magic touch that no other place has, in my opinion. The biggest artists in the Latin world, most of them are in the Island. It has something magical. If you guys want to find out, you need to go and have a visit to the Island.

08 Jun 2024

Quavo Celebrates White X Cognac Launch With Carbone NYC Party: ‘I’m a Real Trendsetter’

Quavo has long been sipping on and rapping about “Good Drank” before the thought of making a splash in the spirits industry entered his mind.

That all changed Thursday night (June 6) with the official launch of Huncho’s White X Cognac. Produced in tandem with Sazerac Spirits, Quavo rented out NYC hot-spot restaurant Carbone for about 40 friends and family for an intimate cognac tasting and four-courses of premier Italian dining.

“I just thought I’d stand in front of something and be the face of some good drank,” Quavo tells Billboard. “White X is unapologetic and they ready to bend the rules a little bit, so it’s only right they choose the frontman of the culture to represent that.”

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The Migos rapper continued of the endeavor: “They was looking for someone who matched the same aesthetic as me and I just think it made perfect sense. We’re looking forward to coming into the industry and f—ing s— up.”

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White X wants to inject a vibrant youthful energy and usher in a new era for the crowded cognac lane. With a straw coloring and notes of peach and vanilla mixed with the light grapes, the 80-proof French liquor makes for a much smoother pour than its VSOP competitors. In an homage to the late Takeoff, Rocket Power (White X, Gran Gala and lemon juice) served as the cocktail of the night.

However, this isn’t Quavo’s first foray into the alcohol business. He was tied to another cognac earlier in his career, which ended up falling flat. Now, Huncho’s trying to take those lessons he learned and make sure White X doesn’t suffer a similar fate.

“I learned from my mistakes there,” he adds. “I wanted to do something different. Just the basics of me not knowing how big the brand could be if you actually let these people know what you’re part of.” The 33-year-old points to making more content and being involved in the day-to-day of turning it into a “lifestyle” brand, rather than just posing with the product for fun.

Quavo

Quavo

Simone Hamilton, Sean Bolasingh, Suresh Gordon

White X is currently on sale throughout the United States at clubs, bars and liquor distributors with a suggested retail price of $59.99 per 750ml bottle.

While there wasn’t a TV in sight within the confines of the famed Italian restaurant, basketball fans still found a way to check-in on game one of the NBA Finals between the Dallas Mavericks and Boston Celtics with their phones.

Being a hoops fanatic himself, Quavo’s heart is with the Mavericks because of a connection between superstar Luka Doncic and his late nephew, Takeoff.

“I got Dallas,” the “Hotel Lobby” rhymer says when asked to pick a winner. “Only reason why I like Dallas is because Luka and Takeoff had a crazy relationship. I think he was a fan of the gang so they was rocking.”

There’s no doubt Quavo and Migos were among the most influential artists of the 21st century in helping shape rap’s sound for the 2010s, and keeping the spotlight on Atlanta Culture. “You know, I’m a real trendsetter,” he boasts. “We taking it to the moon. You know we’re gonna have some sparklers on this in somebody’s section all around the world.”

Time will tell if he can bring his trendsetting ways that made him a diamond-certified rapper to cross over into his entrepreneurial ventures like hip-hop has seen with dignitaries such as 50 Cent, Kanye West, Travis Scott and more.

“We gonna have some great years to come — it’s a new beginning,” Huncho promises before raising his glass for a toast. “We represent culture and we’re unapologetic, of course. We gon’ stand on business at all times.”

08 Jun 2024

Taylor Swift Reacts to a Marriage Proposal During ‘Cardigan’ at Edinburgh Eras Show

Wistful Folklore single “Cardigan” was the soundtrack to a couple’s engagement in Edinburgh, Scotland, on Friday (June 7), and Taylor Swift watched it happen. Apparently moved by the emotional moment, Swift commented on the marriage proposal she’d just seen from the stage, in front of a packed stadium.

“You put me on and said I was your favorite,” Swift sang with a smile. She looked out to the Scottish Gas Murrayfield Stadium crowd as she finished the song performed atop the The Eras Tour’s Folklore cabin.

“I love performing this entire show in the sunlight ’cause I’m pretty sure I just saw somebody get engaged over here,” she said to cheers confirming she wasn’t imagining things. “Did it happen?” Swift eagerly asked, and then threw her arms up, giggled and yelled, “YES!”

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“You have no idea,” continued Swift. “I never get to see that, right? ‘Cause it’s dark, usually, at night. But it’s not right now, so congratulations! Wow.”

“I just saw that whole thing!” she marveled. “Man, that’s amazing.”

Picking up her guitar, she added to the couple, “Thanks for doing that at my concert. That’s a big moment. Huge!”

Later in the concert, the extra light in Edinburgh helped the singer make sure her fans stayed safe during her always-anticipated acoustic set, when she performs solo and enjoys some audience interaction at the endstage.

Mid-strum during “Would’ve, Could’ve, Should’ve” from the 3am edition of Midnights — which she combined with pieces of 1989‘s “I Know Places,” as one of her surprise performances at the show — the star stopped singing the bridge.

To the tune of the song, she said, “I need help right in front of me, please, right in front of me. Just gonna keep playing until we notice where it is.”

Pointing her guitar in the direction of a person in need of assistance in the general admission floor area of the venue, she said, “Right there,” and then, “I’m just gonna keep playing ’til somebody helps them … We’re not gonna keep singing. We’re just gonna keep talking about the people that we help in front of me … Just let me know when. I could do this all night,” eventually resuming her song when she was sure the person got the attention they needed.

Swift followed the guitar performance with a mashup of Evermore‘s “‘Tis the Damn Season” and Lover‘s “Daylight” on piano.

Below, watch the newly engaged couple’s romantic moment, seemingly documented by fellow Swifties with cell phones, and a closeup clip of Swift’s reaction from the stage.

Plus, see Swift’s interaction with the crowd during “Would’ve, Could’ve, Should’ve.”

08 Jun 2024

Billboard Presents Bud Light Backyard at CMA Fest Kicks Off With Electrifying Sets From Corey Kent, Dalton Dover and Alana Springsteen

The beer and music were flowing at the first day of Billboard Presents Bud Light Backyard at CMA Fest as fans took a break from the Nashville heat and took in some great performances by some of today’s hottest hitmakers at a jammed Tin Roof on Lower Broadway on Friday (June 7).

Fans enjoyed line dancing lessons on the first floor between performances, then packed the second floor for top-notch sets by Corey Kent, Dalton Dover and Alana Springsteen.  

Kent, an RCA Nashville artist and Oklahoma native, earned the attention of major labels after “Wild as Her” started climbing the charts in 2022, based on streaming. After signing with RCA Nashville, Kent scored his first major hit as the song reached No. 3 on Billboard’s Country Airplay chart. 

UMG Nashville/Mercury Records artist Dover first caught fans’ eyes and ears with his well-chosen covers on TikTok before he started releasing his own songs, such as “You Got a Small Town” and “Baby I Am.” His debut radio single, “Giving Up on That,” was the most-added track at radio upon its release. 

Springsteen, who first picked up the guitar at age 7 and was writing her own songs with top Nashville songwriters by the time she was 10, issued her debut album, Twenty Something, last year on Columbia Records New York/Sony Music Nashville. 

The two-day free event, open to anyone 21+,  is a partnership between Billboard and Bud Light that also includes branded content running on the two brands’ digital channels throughout 2024. The shows continue with LOCASH, George Birge and Dasha, who will perform Saturday (June 8).

08 Jun 2024

Inside Lainey Wilson’s Grand Ole Opry Induction: ‘It Honestly Feels Like the Biggest Night of My Life’

When Lainey Wilson was 9, she and her family made their first trip to the Grand Ole Opry from her small hometown of Baskin, Louisiana, 471 miles away, and she knew that one day she would be on that revered stage. More than 20 years later, she reached the pinnacle for any country artist by being inducted to the Grand Ole Opry. 

Friday night (June 7), she became the latest artist to stand in the famed wood circle as Trisha Yearwood and Garth Brooks did the official induction honors. “Tonight, it honestly feels like the biggest night of my life,” Wilson said.

“We are honored to be here tonight,” Yearwood said, “And I may be a little bit biased, but there can never be enough women inducted into the Grand Ole Opry. You get it. You know what it means to love country music, you love the Opry. When I think about the future of country music, I know with you in it, we’re going to be OK.”

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Grand Ole Opry/Photo by Chris Hollo

“I would say I’m so happy for you, but I’m so happy for the Grand Ole Opry,” added Brooks. “It’s just so rare to find someone at your age that gets it. The awards they give you will fade in time, but the thing that will always stay the same is this family.”

For Wilson, the induction caps a meteoric last several months that has seen her latest album, Bell Bottom Country, capture the ACM and CMA Awards for album of the year and the Grammy Award for best country album, as well as winning entertainer of the year at both the ACM and CMA Awards. She also graced the cover of Billboard‘s Country Power Players issue last month. But Wilson vowed to only work harder. “We’ve had a crazy couple of years with all the awards, but this right here is the highest honor,” she said. “It feels like the stamp of approval. It lights another fire under my butt.”

Wilson then brought her immediate family, as well as her boyfriend, Devlin “Duck” Hodges, to the stage. Surrounded by those who know her best and have supported her through the decades, she added, “As a little girl, I didn’t dream about my wedding day or what song I would play at my wedding, I dreamed about what song I would play in the circle.” After that initial visit to the Opry when she was 9, nine years later she moved to Nashville and nine years after that, she played the Opry for the first time on Valentine’s Day 2020. Four years later she became a member. 

Wilson played throughout the night, first joining Terri Clark (who introduced her when she played the Opry that first time in 2020) for a duet on “Poor, Poor Pitiful Me,” then returning to sing “Refugee,” with Wynonna, the song the pair covered for the upcoming Tom Petty tribute album. She also performed a number of her own tunes, including “Dreamcatcher”; her first No. 1, “Things a Man Oughta Know”; “Heart Like a Truck” and “Watermelon Moonshine.” 

After her official induction, Brooks told Wilson she had to sing at least one more tune, saying, “I’ve never gotten to hear you sing a song as an official member of the Grand Ole Opry.” He offered to hold her newly presented trophy, and Wilson allowed him to only after he promised to give it back. She closed the evening with a spirited version of “Hang Tight Honey” from her new album, Whirlwind, out Aug. 23 on Broken Bow/BMG.

07 Jun 2024

Ohio to Designate June 11 as ‘Mojo Nixon Day’ in Honor of Late Rock Artist

The Ohio House of Representatives will designate June 11 as Mojo Nixon Day through a bi-partisan resolution in a general session on Tuesday (June 11), according to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame website. In addition, the General Assembly of Representatives will deliver a proclamation to Nixon’s family recognizing the longtime southern Ohio resident for his contributions to the culture.

Nixon passed away Feb. 7 on the SiriusXM Outlaw Country Cruise, one day after he performed on the boat, due to a cardiac event.

“Mojo would’ve loved the idea he was one of few things Democrats and Republicans could agree on,” Nixon’s longtime manager, Scott Ambrose Reilly (a.k.a. “Bullethead”) said in a statement. “He believed in the American Dream, the idea that anyone could reinvent themselves to be their best selves…He believed humor and music were the best tools for celebrating greatness with songs like ‘Elvis Is Everywhere’ and ‘UFOs, Big Rigs & BBQ.’”

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On Wednesday (June 12), the day after the resolution, the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland will unveil a display featuring Nixon’s favorite stage attire of daisy dukes, red Hawaiian shirt and pink Loudmouth sports jacket, plus his Dean Martin embossed Guild Starfire guitar and original handwritten lyrics to “Elvis Is Everywhere.” The event, scheduled for 2 p.m. ET, is expected to be attended by his family and friends, some members of the Ohio Legislature, former bandmates and assorted indie rock royalty, according to Bullethead, who also will be in attendance.

“Mojo’s first question always was ‘Will it be fun?’” Bullethead said in a statement. “Being embraced by mainstream politics and the mainstream music business, in the state he called home for so many years, feels like he is creating subversive fun way behind enemy lines. Everyone is laying down arms and taking up the spirit of rock ‘n roll. Dead for four months and he is still figuring out how to bring out the best in everyone.”

Bullethead went on to invoke the lyrics of Nixon’s song, “You Can’t Kill Me”: “My soul raves on forever…you can put me in jail; you can kill me; you can execute me. But you can’t kill rock ’n’ roll man.”