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New music from Tame Impala appears to be on the way, with Kevin Parker giving fans a preview of fresh material during a DJ set in Barcelona.
Parker – who formed the Tame Impala project in Perth, Western Australia in 2007 – gave his dedicated fans a taster of new music while in Spain over the weekend. Having made an unannounced appearance at Primavera Sound on Friday (June 6), Parker performed a surprise DJ set the following night at Barcelona’s Nitsa Club.
It was during this latter set that Parker turned his focus to previously unheard material. “You guys want to hear a new song? “You want to hear a new Tame Impala song?” he asked.
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“You’re going to be the first ones to hear it, you realize? There’s no going back from this point on, you realize?” he added. “Alright, let’s do it; get comfortable.”
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Notably, the resulting tune was somewhat removed from what dedicated fans may have expected from the project, with it maintaining many of the dreamy, psychedelic rock influences that have become synonymous with Parker’s music, though adding club-ready beats into the mix.
As it stands, it’s been five years since the last full-length release from Tame Impala. In February 2020, The Slow Rush became the project’s fourth studio record, peaking at No. 3 on the Billboard 200. This was one position higher than the previous album, 2015’s Currents, which served as a commercial breakthrough for Parker.
In the time since the last record, Parker has been busy with myriad other projects. In 2023, second album Lonerism would receive a tenth anniversary reissue, and would be followed by the release of the track “Journey to the Real World” for the Barbie soundtrack.
Additionally, Tame Impala would also be credited with remixes of songs from Crowded House and Elvis Presley, and would appear as a guest artist on cuts from Diana Ross and Gorillaz.
In 2024, Parker would serve as a producer and guest musician for Dua Lipa‘s Radical Optimism album, and would also serve as a guest artist on two tracks from French outfit Justice‘s Hyperdrama album. One of those collaborations, “Neverender,” would see Parker win his first Grammy for best dance/electronic recording in 2025.
The BRIT Awards will move to Manchester in 2026 and 2027, marking the first time the ceremony has taken place outside of London in its nearly-50 year history.
Co-op Live, the venue operated by Oak View Group, will host the event on Feb. 28, 2026 and be broadcast live on ITV 1 and ITV X; 2027’s date is yet to be confirmed.
The 2025 event was held in March at The O2 Arena in London, the ceremony’s home since 2012. The BRITs has been held at various venues in the capital including Earl’s Court (1996-2011), Alexandra Palace (1993-1995) and The Grosvenor Hotel (1982-1987).
The first event in 1977 was held at the Wembley Conference Centre, and the BRITs became a yearly occurrence from 1982 onwards; the 2021 event was the first major event to take place in the U.K. following the outbreak of the COVID pandemic a year prior.
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2026 marks the first event of the three-year stewardship under Sony Music U.K.; stewardship rotates between the three major labels, with the BRIT Committee overseeing the show’s creative direction. Damian Christian, the managing director and president of promotions at Atlantic Records, a Warner Music subsidiary, served as the chair of the BRIT Committee from 2022-2025.
“Moving to Manchester, the home of some of the most iconic and defining artists of our lifetime, will invigorate the show and build on the BRITs legacy of celebrating and reinvesting in world-class music,” says Jason Isley MBE, chairman and CEO, Sony Music U.K. & Ireland. “Hosting the show in Manchester, with its vibrant cultural history, perfectly captures the spirit and energy of the BRIT Awards. I can’t wait to see the show at the amazing state-of-the art Co-op Live venue.”
Despite a beleaguered opening which saw delays and cancellation of shows in April 2024, the Co-op Live has since established itself as a key player in the U.K. live music scene. In 2024, the venue hosted the MTV EMAs, and 2025’s live slate includes Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band, Olivia Rodrigo, Tyler, The Creator and more. The venue’s 23,500 capacity makes it the largest indoor arena in Europe.
Tim Leiweke, co-founder and CEO of Oak View Group said: “The BRITs are the most important music event in the UK and were always the highlight of the year, not only because of its immense cultural contribution, but because of their commitment to improving the lives of youth through music. It is our honour to partner with our friends at BPI and Sony Music, alongside the great city of Manchester, to host the BRITs at Co-op Live and join in their mission to create opportunities for youth through music.”
The BRIT Awards regularly pulls big name performers, with 2025’s ceremony boasting live performances by Sabrina Carpenter, Lola Young, Teddy Swims and Sam Fender. Charli XCX, meanwhile, collected five awards on the night, including album of the year.
The move follows the relocation of the MOBO Awards in recent years to Coventry (2021) and Sheffield (2024), and the Mercury Prize which is set to be hosted in Newcastle’s Utilita Arena in September 2025.
Mariah Carey‘s “Type Dangerous” tops this week’s new music poll. In a poll published Friday (June 6) on Billboard, music fans chose the superstar singer’s latest single as their favorite new release of the week. The confident, percussion-heavy track pulled in nearly 70% of the vote, outpacing new music from Sabrina Carpenter (“Manchild”), Ed Sheeran […]
Day three of CMA Fest’s nighttime concert series at Nashville’s Nissan Stadium started right on time at 8 p.m. on Saturday (June 7), following a rain delay the night before. This time, there were clear, but slightly cloudy Nashville skies, with no rain in sight as another round of top artists took to the stage. […]
Wayne Lewis, a founding member of the R&B group Atlantic Starr, has died at the age of 68.
The band confirmed his passing in a social media post on Friday (June 7), noting that the musician died on Thursday. No cause of death has been disclosed.
“It’s with great sadness we have to post the passing of Wayne Lewis on June 5, 2025,” Atlantic Starr wrote on Facebook. “Please keep the family in your prayers and respect their privacy #waynelewis #restinpeace #flyhigh Sunrise 4/13/1957 Sunset 6/5/2025 #restinpeaceWayne.”
Lewis served as a vocalist and keyboardist for Atlantic Starr, which he co-founded in 1976 in White Plains, N.Y., alongside his brothers David Lewis (vocals, guitar) and Jonathan Lewis (keyboards, trombone), as well as drummer Porter Carroll Jr., bassist Clifford Archer and percussionist-flutist Joseph Phillips.
Other early members included lead singer Sharon Bryant, trumpeter William Sudderth III and saxophonist Damon Rentie. Bryant and Rentie were later replaced by Barbara Weathers and Koran Daniels, respectively.
Atlantic Starr became a fixture in R&B throughout the late 1970s and 1980s. The group signed with A&M Records (and later to Warner Bros. Records, among other labels), releasing their self-titled debut album in 1978, followed by their sophomore effort, Straight to the Point, the next year.
The band achieved its first top 10 hit on Billboard’s Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart with “Circles” (No. 2) from the 1982 album Brilliance. Their biggest commercial success came in 1987 when “Always,” from 1986’s All in the Name of Love, reached No. 1 on both the Billboard Hot 100 chart and Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs.
Atlantic Starr earned a total of three top 10 hits on the Hot 100 and 11 top 10s on Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs. “My First Love” in 1989 was their only other No. 1 on the latter chart.
In recent years, Atlantic Starr continued to perform with Lewis and current members Jonathan Lewis, Melessa Pierce and Shammah Carter. The group’s most recent album, Metamorphosis, was released in 2017.
Following the announcement of Lewis’ death, fans flooded social media with heartfelt tributes and condolences.
“His band gave my generation so much listening pleasure,” one fan wrote. Another shared, “Nooooo I am devastated seeing this. My condolences to all family and friends.” A third commenter added, “A great songwriter. Atlantic Starr was better once he became leader. He will be missed.”
Morgan Wallen’s I’m the Problem is No. 1 on the Billboard 200 albums chart (dated June 14) for a third consecutive week, following its debut atop the list dated May 31. It earned 246,000 equivalent album units in the United States in the week ending June 5 (down 14%), according to Luminate. It’s the largest third week for an album in over a year, since Taylor Swift’s The Tortured Poets Department earned 282,000 in its third frame (May 18, 2024-dated chart).
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Also in the top 10 of the latest Billboard 200, new albums from SEVENTEEN and Miley Cyrus debut, while Swift’s chart-topping reputation, released in 2017, returns, zooming 78-5. The latter benefits from an outpouring of fan support following the news that Swift had acquired her Big Machine Records catalog, inclusive of reputation.
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The Billboard 200 chart ranks the most popular albums of the week in the U.S. based on multi-metric consumption as measured in equivalent album units, compiled by Luminate. Units comprise album sales, track equivalent albums (TEA) and streaming equivalent albums (SEA). Each unit equals one album sale, or 10 individual tracks sold from an album, or 3,750 ad-supported or 1,250 paid/subscription on-demand official audio and video streams generated by songs from an album. The new June 14, 2025-dated chart will be posted in full on Billboard‘s website on June 10. For all chart news, follow @billboard and @billboardcharts on both X, formerly known as Twitter, and Instagram.
Of I’m the Problem’s 246,000 equivalent album units earned in the week ending June 5, SEA units comprise 229,000 (down 11%, equaling 298.41 million on-demand official streams of the set’s songs — it leads Top Streaming Albums for a third week), album sales comprise 15,500 (down 45% — it falls from No. 1 to No. 3 on Top Album Sales) and TEA units comprise 1,500 (down 17%).
At No. 2 on the Billboard 200, SEVENTEEN scores their seventh top 10-charting album, as SEVENTEEN 5th Album HAPPY BURSTDAY debuts. The set launches with 48,500 equivalent album units earned. Of that sum, album sales comprise 46,000 (it debuts at No. 1 on Top Album Sales), SEA units comprise 2,500 (equaling 3.26 million on-demand official streams of the set’s songs) and TEA units comprise a negligible sum. The set’s album sales were aided by its availability across 14 CD variants, all containing collectible paper ephemera, some randomized.
SZA’s chart-topping SOS falls 2-3 on the Billboard 200 with 46,000 equivalent album units earned (down 3%).
Miley Cyrus achieves her 15th top 10-charting set on the Billboard 200 as Something Beautiful bows at No. 4. It starts with 44,000 equivalent album units earned. Of that sum, album sales comprise 27,000 (it debuts at No. 2 on Top Album Sales), SEA units comprise 17,000 (equaling 22.18 million on-demand official streams of the set’s songs) and TEA units comprise a negligible sum. (Cyrus’ tally of 15 top 10s is inclusive of her albums billed to her Disney Channel character Hannah Montana.)
Something Beautiful’s first-week sales were bolstered by its availability across six vinyl variants (including one signed, sold in Cyrus’ webstore), a standard CD, a signed CD (exclusive to Cyrus’ webstore) and two deluxe CD boxed sets (sold via her webstore, each containing branded merch and a copy of the album).
The album was preceded by the Billboard Hot 100-charting song “End of the World,” which debuted and peaked at No. 52 in April. It also became a top 20 hit on the Pop Airplay, Adult Pop Airplay and Adult Contemporary charts.
Taylor Swift’s chart-topping reputation rallies 78-5 with 42,000 equivalent album units earned (up 221%). It’s the album’s first week in the top 10 since the Aug. 4, 2018-dated chart (when it ranked at No. 9), the set’s highest rank since the Jan. 27, 2018, chart (when it was No. 5) and its best week by units earned since the Jan. 13, 2018, chart, when it tallied 48,000 (at No. 3). The album debuted at No. 1 on the Dec. 2, 2017-dated chart and spent four nonconsecutive weeks atop the list.
Of reputation’s 42,000 units earned in the latest tracking week, SEA units comprise 27,000 (up 125%, equaling 34.75 million on-demand official streams of the set’s songs; it reenters Top Streaming Albums at No. 10), album sales comprise 15,000 (up 1,184%, it reenters Top Album Sales at No. 4) and TEA units comprise less than 500 units. The album rallies up the list following fan support of the project after Swift announced that she had acquired her Big Machine-era catalog, including reputation.
Rounding out the top 10 of the Billboard 200 are five former No. 1s: Wallen’s One Thing at a Time falls 4-6 (40,000; down 3%); Kendrick Lamar’s GNX drops 3-7 (39,000; down 7%); Sabrina Carpenter’s Short n’ Sweet dips 6-8 (37,000; though up 1%); PARTYNEXTDOOR and Drake’s $ome $exy $ongs 4 U descends 7-9 (34,000; down 4%); and Bad Bunny’s Debí Tirar Más Fotos falls 8-10 (33,000; down 7%).
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.
Gray skies and drizzle gave way to sunshine, multicolored flags and celebrations as the nation’s capital held the WorldPride parade Saturday (June 7).
Tens of thousands of people participated in parades and other festivities, in defiance of what activists say is an unprecedented assault on the LGBTQ+ community that challenges the rights for which many have fought over the years.
A rainbow flag the length of three football fields flowed through the streets, carried by 500 members of the Gay Men’s Chorus of Washington, D.C., to kick off the parade. Behind them, people waved Pride flags and flags representing the transgender, asexual and bisexual communities from atop a bus.
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Singer-songwriter and actor Reneé Rapp laughed and blew kisses from the back of a pickup truck draped with a transgender flag while Laverne Cox, a transgender actress and activist known for her role in Netflix’s Orange is the New Black, waved from an open convertible.
“Pride means us looking out for each other no matter what,” she declared to the crowd as the convertible rolled to a stop. “We know how to be there for each other.”
Many LGBTQ+ travelers have expressed concerns or decided to skip WorldPride due to anxieties about safety, border policies and a hostile political climate that they say hearkens back to another time. But that did not keep international travelers and other participants away, with groups visible from Iran, Namibia, Kenya and Russia.Along the parade route, hundreds gathered outside the National City Christian Church as rainbow flags and balloons lined its steps and columns. A child with rainbow face paint blew bubbles at the base of the steps while Whitney Houston’s “I Wanna Dance with Somebody” blared from loudspeakers.
“D.C. is already one of the biggest cities in the country for celebrating Pride,” said Cheo White, 33, from Annapolis, Maryland, “But we are all collectively more united and turning out more because of what’s happening in the White House.”
Many have said the gathering has taken on a new meaning amid the Trump administration’s aggressive policies against protections for transgender Americans and diversity, equity and inclusion programs.
White’s partner, Nick Kerver, 26, who was visiting from Toledo, Ohio, said Pride has “always been a political tool” but has taken on more importance this year amid mounting threats to the LGBTQ+ community, especially transgender and nonbinary Americans.
“It feels more important than ever,” Kerver said while wearing a rainbow hat, sunglasses and a T-shirt. “But we also have to get involved in our local communities too.“
David Begler, a 58-year-old gay man from Philadelphia, expressed disappointment that many international travelers felt unsafe visiting D.C. for WorldPride but said he appreciates its presence in the city during this political climate.
“It’s the perfect time to have WorldPride in D.C.,” Begler said. “We need it right now. I want us to send a message to the White House to focus on uplifting each other instead of dividing.“
Stay DeRoux, 36, usually plans a day trip to D.C. Pride from her home in Fredericksburg, Virginia. But this year, she and her wife, Deenie DeRoux, planned a full weekend. “This is a really big year,” Stay DeRoux said. “There’s been a lot of turmoil. So it’s an amazing thing to be among allies, among people who love because we’ve experienced so much hate on a daily basis.”
For the day, the idea of threats and opposition took a backseat to the celebration. Streets were closed, but filled with floats, and impromptu parties broke out with music and food in streets adjoining the parade route. Cynthia Erivo was set to perform on the Capitol Stag following the parade.
Johnny Cervantes Jr., dressed in a black suit and top hat, headed to a grandstand at a church-themed float to marry his partner of 28 years, Freddie Lutz, owner of Freddie’s Beach Bar and Restaurant in Arlington, Virginia.
Events culminate Sunday with a rally and protest march and a giant street party and concert (headlined by Doechii) covering a multi-block stretch of Pennsylvania Avenue.
“This is WorldPride in the best city in the world,” Mayor Muriel Bowser declared as she walked the parade hand-in-hand with her daughter, Miranda.
Mariah the Scientist is not taking the stage at Governors Ball 2025 today (Saturday, June 7), even though her name had remained on the day’s reworked schedule after the New York City festival experienced a four-and-a-half hour delay in opening.
Billboard learned of the cancellation on the ground at Flushing Meadows Corona Park. No announcement was heard at the event, and the change of plans came with no explanation.
Gov Ball organizers posted a brief update in a temporary Instagram Story close to the updated time Mariah was set to perform (5:45-6:15 p.m. ET), but did not give a reason for her set being called off last minute. The social media message simply stated, “Due to unforeseen circumstances, Mariah the Scientist will no longer be able to perform.”
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The “Burning Blue” singer-songwriter — whose breakthrough hit is her first solo entry on the Billboard Hot 100, where the single currently sits at No. 35 — later acknowledged the cancellation on her Instagram account, writing, “So upset I’m not getting to perform at Gov Ball today. I’m so sorry to everybody who showed up through the traffic and rain. I apologize.” She later added a photo showing a rainy view through a window with the caption “I really wanted to perform.”
Billboard has reached out to representatives for both Mariah and Governors Ball for further comment.
The three-day outdoor festival, which launched Friday, opened doors hours later than expected on day two due to forecasts of rain and thunder in the area. While those in line on Saturday were originally meant to be let in at 12 p.m., doors were delayed until 4:30 p.m.
With the weather delay, early sets by Lexa Gates, Yaya Bey, The Backfires and others were removed completely from Saturday’s schedule, while several later performances were pushed back an hour or more. Olivia Rodrigo‘s headlining set on the main stage was moved to 9:25 p.m.; Feid and Wave to Earth, both set to close other stages, had their set times shifted to 8:30 p.m. and 8:45 p.m.
Hozier, Mt. Joy, Clairo, Raye, Royel Otis, The Japanese House and more are on the bill for Governors Ball 2025’s third day on Sunday (June 8).
As rain poured down outside, within downtown Nashville’s Category 10 multi-level bar it was warm and cozy — and ultimately packed to the rafters — on day two of Billboard Country Live. Billed as On the Rise, Friday’s (June 6) lineup featured seven hot newcomers who, based on their infectious sets, all have promising futures.
Day two followed Thursday’s (June 5) Billboard Country Live Presented by Bud Light, which highlighted six acts, including Mitchell Tenpenny, Reyna Roberts, Alexandra Kay, Drew Baldridge, Max McNown and Ashley Cooke.
CMT host Carissa Culiner emceed both evenings, keeping things lively between sets, with assistance from DJ Grant Fisher.
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Annie Bosko performs during Billboard Country Live On the Rise at Category 10 on June 6, 2025 in Nashville, Tenne.
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Annie Bosko
Bosko, whose new Stone Country Records album arrives in October, was the perfect opener to kick off the afternoon with her warm, welcoming presence and denim shorts and vest.
The California native opened with the spirited “California Cowgirl,” explaining “because I think no matter where you’re from, you’ve got a cowgirl inside,” before launching into her inspirational current single, “God Winks.” “I’ve hit low points in my life when I wanted to give up and I got a sign from God to keep going,” Bosko said, as fans held up their lighted cell phones, waving their arms in the air. She closed her short set with “(Country Girls) Who Runs the World,” an empowering twangy successor to Beyoncé’s “Run the World (Girls)” that saw her accompanying herself on harmonica.
Harper Grace performs at Billboard Country Live On the Rise at Category 10 on June 6, 2025 in Nashville, Tenn.
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Harper Grace
Sporting a T-shirt that read, “Country music makes you live longer,” the Curb Records artist opened with a sassy, thumping version of “Mr. Mystery” and followed up with the fiddle-laden “Take It Like a Truck,” which would fit right in on a Lainey Wilson album. Grace then went old school with a gorgeous version of the classic heartbreaker “Tennessee Waltz,” first made famous by Patti Page in 1950, before closing out with “IDK,” her current duet with Franklin Jonas, who, dressed in a dapper suit, joined her to the audience’s delight. The two roamed the stage as they sang the searching ballad about trying to find a love that has previously eluded them.
Graham Barham performs at Billboard Country Live On the Rise at Category 10 on June 6, 2025 in Nashville, Tenn.
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Graham Barham
Barham, backed with a full band, kicked the energy up with his blend of country, rock and trap beats on songs like the intoxicating “MIA” and the driving “Camo.” The Sony artist showed off his sense of humor as he introduced “Whiskey,” admonishing the audience to “please remember everything you see on screen isn’t necessarily true. With that being said, this is about me getting hammered.” He followed with a faithful version of Brooks & Dunn’s “Red Dirt Road,” before finishing strong with his boisterous hit, “Oil Money,” as accomplices shot fake money into the audience.
Cooper Alan performs at Billboard Country Live On the Rise at Category 10 on June 6, 2025 in Nashville, Tenn.
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Cooper Alan
Alan brought the party with him in a ridiculously high-energy, fun set, which started with the loping “To the Bar,” adding he used to play in the location before it became Combs’ Category 10. His cover of choice was a galloping version of Avicii/Aloe Blacc’s “Wake Me Up,” which he admitted he goofed up, but made up for it by inviting the audience to jump along with him in a unifying moment. He then launched into “the stupidest thing we’ve ever done,” his TikTok viral novelty hit, “Cold 45,” which was inspired by Afroman’s “Because I Got High.”
Alan and the audience caught their collective breaths when he turned serious, slowing it down and strapping on a guitar to play the sweet ballad “Take Forever (Hally’s Song),” which he wrote about his wife, whom he married in September 2023. But he finished by raising the roof again with “Plead the Fifth,” a hilarious ditty sung to the tune of “Auld Lang Syne,” with rapid-fire lyrics, from which he segued, appropriately enough, into John Michael Montgomery’s “Sold (The Grundy County Auction Incident)” and Eminem’s “Without Me.” Alan wasn’t on stage for a long time, but he was definitely there for a good time.
Timmy McKeever performs at Billboard Country Live On the Rise at Category 10 on June 6, 2025 in Nashville, Tenn.
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Timmy McKeever
There was cause for celebration for Big Loud artist Timmy McKeever, who had moved to Nashville exactly a year ago and showed why he’d already made great strides in that time. In a striking acoustic set with just him and his guitar, the 18-year-old deliberately slowed down the pace and showed off his sweet voice and fine writing skills with such tunes as the earnest, romantic “I’ve Known Better,” his first song to go viral on TikTok (“for the first two lines,” he joked) and the vulnerable “Bulletproof” (an original, not a cover of the recent Nate Smith hit). He then delivered a tasty cover of Megan Moroney’s “Tennessee Orange” — dubbed “Tennessee Orange (Breakup Version)” — that had not only a gender flip, but a twist, where he’s a Georgia boy in love with a girl who is now wearing Tennessee orange for her new beau, before going into a softer, less aggressive version of Toby Keith’s “Courtesy of the Red, White & Blue.”
He finished with three originals that showed off his promise as a budding talent, the yearning, infectious “Cravin’ You,” the upcoming single “Hold You to It,” and “Lightning Speed,” a song about losing yourself to the music industry.
Jake Worthington performs at Billboard Country Live On the Rise at Category 10 on June 6, 2025 in Nashville, Tenn.
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Jake Worthington
Armed with just an acoustic guitar, the 2014 The Voice contestant and Big Loud artist conjured up the ghosts of country legends like George Jones and Waylon Jennings with his twangy, authentic traditionalism and big voice.
Even breaking a guitar string early on (which he eventually was able to replace) didn’t slow down Worthington on songs like the irrepressible, upbeat “I’m the One” (the recorded version of which features Marty Stuart) and the aching “Hello S—ty Day,” which would have felt just right performed by Jones.
His 30-minute set was filled with such chestnuts, including the up-tempo, yet downtrodden “It Ain’t the Whiskey” and “Not Like I Used To,” before the Texan played “Ain’t Got You a Hold,” a western swing twirler that would have done George Strait proud. His cover of Merle Haggard’s “Half a Man” fit perfectly in his wheelhouse and was delivered with just the right amount of pathos.
Tayler Holder performs at Billboard Country Live On the Rise at Category 10 on June 6, 2025 in Nashville, Tenn.
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Tayler Holder
From the time he stepped on stage, Holder had the audience eating out of his hand. With more than five million Instagram followers, it felt like all the influencer-turned-country- singer’s fans were crammed into Category 10.
Holder prowled the stage as he launched in the hypnotic “Neon,” immediately hand-slapping with the front row with a bad-boy appeal that connected with the audience.
His set showed off his ease tackling various tempos and styles, including “Time in This Truck,” which conjured up a windows-down, wind-in-your-hair feel, as well as the slowed down breakup song “Someone You Knew,” followed by another breakup song he wrote about a four-year relationship that went south, “California Tennessee.” (Happy ending: There’s a new girlfriend in the picture.)
Holder, who moved to Nashville three years ago, and his band did a blazing mini-set of covers that opened and closed with a few bars of “Sweet Home Alabama” and a raucous “Freebird,” with a sweet version of One Direction’s “What Makes You Beautiful,” Florida Georgia Line’s “Cruise” and Teddy Swims’ “Lose Control” (delivered by Holder’s gruff-voiced guitarist) in between.
Holder than ended his set — and day two of Billboard Country Live — with a new song that has already garnered more than a million stream in a few days, the mid-tempo, propulsive “Ain’t You Leaving,” and “Dyin’ Flame,” which has more than 12 million streams. Holder penned the song with Barham. “We sent it to Morgan [Wallen] and [he] politely sent it right back to me,” Holder said. “I’m glad he did.”
Governors Ball 2025 hit a snag on day two as weather concerns forced organizers to cancel and delay performances.
On Saturday (June 7), the three-day festival — which launched Friday at New York City’s Flushing Meadows Corona Park — announced that headliners and other scheduled sets would be pushed back due to forecasts of rain and thunder in the area.
“Due to predicted weather, doors will be delayed until 4:30pm. Please delay your arrival and plan accordingly. Stay tuned for the updated schedule!” Gov Ball organizers posted Saturday morning on X
The festival was originally set to open at 12 p.m. on Saturday.
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Later in the morning, organizers released an updated schedule confirming the cancellation of early sets by Lexa Gates, Yaya Bey, The Backfires, and others. Several later performances were rescheduled, with most acts pushed back by an hour or more.
Saturday headliner Olivia Rodrigo, initially slated to perform at 8:30 p.m. on the main stage, was moved to 9:25 p.m. Feid and Wave to Earth, both closing out other stages, had their set times shifted to 8:30 p.m. and 8:45 p.m., respectively. Other artists still expected to perform Saturday evening include Marina, Young Miko, Conan Gray and Car Seat Headrest.
Governors Ball 2025 opened Friday with performances from Tyler, The Creator, Benson Boone, Mk.gee, T-Pain, Tyla, Role Model, The Backseat Lovers, JPEGMAFIA, and others. The fest is scheduled to wrap on Sunday (June 8) with sets by Hozier, Mt. Joy, Clairo, Raye, Royel Otis, The Japanese House, Amaarae, Key Glock, Berlioz and Montell Fish, among others.
