Music News
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Keith Urban will be honored at the 60th Academy of Country Music Awards on Thursday (May 8) with the prestigious Triple Crown Award.
The award signifies an achievement that only 11 previous artists have reached by winning new artist of the year and artist of the year in their respective genre or designation and entertainer of the year. Urban qualified by winning top new male vocalist in 2001, male vocalist of the year in 2005 and 2006, and entertainer of the year in 2019. He is the first artist to receive this honor on the ACM Awards telecast since Carrie Underwood in 2010 at the 45th ACM Awards. (The award is generally given at the ACM Honors in August now as it was to Lainey Wilson last year).
Urban will be celebrated by Brothers Osborne, Chris Stapleton and Megan Moroney at the show.
Urban’s 18-year span between top new artist and entertainer of the year is the longest of any recipient and is a testament to his enduring career. He is also the first non-American to win the award: Urban was born in New Zealand and raised in Australia.
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“I came halfway around the world to live in Nashville,” says Urban who moved to Music City permanently in 1992. “It was my dream since I was seven years old. All I ever wanted to do was write songs, try and get them recorded, try and get them on the radio, and now get them on streaming. And hopefully people like them and want to come and see me live. That’s never changed.”
Urban recalls his first win for top new male and how unreal it felt even to be nominated.
“I remember the first time seeing my name in the nominees and it felt like when you go to the theme park and you can get your picture taken and put on the front of a fake Time Magazine as a souvenir. I felt like that,” he says. “It wasn’t real. It had that surreal quality.”
But it was real, and Urban has been on a winning streak ever since, landing 20 No. 1 songs on Billboard’s Country Airplay chart and selling out arenas around the world.
When he won entertainer of the year, he’d been nominated and lost eight times before and was expecting the same result.
“I would just celebrate the nomination, not really thinking I’m going to win and I’m good with that. I was very content and grateful,” he says. “And so [to win]— and in hindsight, now, for it to happen the year before COVID— was particularly a wonderful blessing because it was a big night, an arena full of people celebrating.”
He will soon be joined by people celebrating in full arenas later this month when his first tour in three years, the High and Alive world tour, kicks off May 22 in Orange Beach, Alabama.
He hopes that his Triple Crown victory can encourage other artists from outside the U.S. to come to Nashville and pursue their musical dreams as well.
“In particular, if it inspires some people from other countries who have a dream of coming to America, then that’s a good thing,” he says. “It took a lot of years of living in [Nashville] and becoming part of the community. But it’s absolutely achievable if you’re willing to put in the hard work and the time.”
The ACM Awards, hosted by Reba McEntire, will stream live for a global audience across 240+ countries and territories on Prime Video and the Amazon Music channel on Twitch on May 8, at 8 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. CT / 5 p.m. PT from the Ford Center at The Star in Frisco, Texas.
The ACM Awards are produced by Dick Clark Productions, which is owned by Penske Media Eldridge, a joint venture between Eldridge Industries and Billboard parent company Penske Media.
Benson Boone could be back-flipping his way through your town this fall. The singer announced the dates for his 30-date fall 2025 American Heart arena tour on Monday morning (May 5), with the outing slated to kick off on August 22 at the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul, MN, before hitting Chicago, Columbus, Cleveland, […]
Ivan Cornejo made history the weekend of May 3-4 as the youngest regional Mexican artist to headline the iconic Radio City Music Hall. The 20-year-old singer-songwriter — known for his heartbreaking sierreño ballads — performed two back-to-back sold-out shows at Radio City Music Hall over the weekend as part of his 30-date Mirada Tour Parte 2. A second date was added due to overwhelming demand, further cementing his role as a generational voice for Gen Z Latin fans.
At the start of his hour-and-a-half set Sunday night, Cornejo walked onto the stage wearing a rhinestone-encrusted cardigan, his subtle swagger shining through despite fighting off a cold. Holding a cup of tea for much of the evening, he expressed gratitude to his devoted audience: “Thank you for pulling through with me,” he said to roaring cheers.
The energy in the venue was ecstatic, with fans — mostly teenagers and young adults — filling the historic space to sing every lyric at full volume. Excited fans often chanted “Ivan, Ivan, Ivan!” in between songs, and their fervor was met with Cornejo responding, “New York! New York!”
Throughout his tight, 20-song set, Cornejo delivered fan favorites such as “Está Dañado,” “La Última Vez,” “Dónde Estás” and his newest single “Me Prometí,” which was released just three days prior. Each song showcased his ability to tug at the heartstrings with a signature blend of acoustic melodies, riveting electric guitar solos, and soulful vocals. The show ended on a fiery note with Cornejo’s high-energy rendition of “La Curiosidad,” leaving fans on an emotional high.
Meanwhile, dazzling stage lighting incorporated sunsets, shooting stars and a shimmering starry night, perfectly complementing the moody and emotive tone of his music throughout the night.
While the genre has seen legends such as Vicente Fernández headline Radio City nearly 30 years ago in 1995, such appearances have been rare for regional Mexican artists in the iconic venue. “I feel like it’s a historical and monumental moment,” Anahí Díaz, the booking coordinator at Radio City, tells Billboard Español. “Representation is important. I hope it’s not the first of any.”
As part of his Mirada Tour Parte 2, the artist will continue to bring his unique blend of sad sierreño ballads to audiences across the country before heading to Mexico. Having kicked off the trek at Coachella in April, his tour includes stops at major venues such as the United Center in Chicago, the Moody Center in Austin, Texas, and the SAP Center in San Jose, Calif. The 30-date journey will wrap on June 22 in Sacramento, Calif.
Check out the full setlist below from his Radio City Music Hall performance in New York.
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Fat Joe and Jadakiss have joined forces to launch their Joe & Jada podcast. Produced by Colin Cowherd’s The Volume and Roc Nation, the podcast will tackle all things music, sports and culture.
Starting this week, two episodes will be released weekly on YouTube and all major audio platforms. The pair of New York rap titans wear their hearts on their sleeves and are as authentic as they come in the music world. But their in-depth knowledge and respect span plenty of industries outside of the music game, so it only made sense to bring their brash commentary and expertise to the podcasting world.
“My brother Jadakiss and I will be delivering a podcast experience like none other,” Fat Joe said in a statement. “We’re both passionate and opinionated about music, sports, entertainment and culture, so you can definitely expect to get unfiltered analysis, versatile interviews and untold stories. We’re coming to shake up the podcast game and set a new blueprint.”
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Fans can expect plenty of special guests to join the pair of diehard New York Knicks fans, with athletes, actors and celebrities from all walks of life sitting down for interviews and embracing debate.
“I’m looking forward to teaming up with Joe on this podcast and showing another side of my personality,” Jadakiss added. “We’ve been friends for a long time, so we have the right chemistry and foundation to make this a really special show. Everyone is finally going to get to hear what we debate and discuss all the time behind the scenes.”
Joey Crack and Jada are no strangers to collaborating. They represented the Big Apple on Ja Rule’s “New York” anthem in 2004, which peaked at No. 27 on the Billboard Hot 100.
“Fat Joe and Jadakiss are legends. Joe & Jada is everything we aim to do at The Volume — bring together strong, authentic voices to create conversations that connect with fans,” said Logan Swaim, who serves as chief content officer at The Volume.
The Bronx native has hosted his show Fat Joe Talks on Starz, but Joe & Jada is the first podcast venture for the duo. Look for the first episode to drop later this week and follow the pod’s official Instagram here.
The upcoming 2025 American Music Awards show is partnering with Easy Day Foundation, a nonprofit organization committed to assisting veterans in their transition back to civilian life, the foundation and Dick Clark Productions announced Monday morning (May 5).
According to the announcement, viewers will see “several special in-show moments that celebrate veterans while raising funds for a variety of national and local organizations” during the telecast of the AMAs on May 26. The fan-voted awards show, for which Kendrick Lamar leads this year’s nominations, airs on CBS and streams on Paramount+ at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT; Jennifer Lopez is hosting.
Easy Day’s collaboration with the American Music Awards is a well-timed effort, as May 26 is Memorial Day and May is Military Appreciation Month. There will be two performances to help honor those who’ve served, plus a presentation of a special award “honoring a marquee talent who uses their platform to make meaningful contributions to the Veteran community,” the team reveals. Stories from active-duty service members and veterans are expected to be heard during the event, which will have seating in the audience reserved for veterans to attend this year’s awards show.
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“PMC and Dick Clark Productions are deeply honored to spotlight our nation’s heroes through this meaningful partnership with Easy Day Foundation and the most preeminent organizations supporting our nation’s heroes,” says Gerry Byrne, vice chairman of Penske Media Corporation and a Marine Corps Vietnam combat veteran. “The transition from service to civilian life isn’t easy and these special moments during the AMAs shine a much-needed light on the real challenges Veterans face and the critical support systems required to help them navigate life after service.”
Money raised from in-show fundraising moments will benefit a number of veteran service organizations: Bob Woodruff Foundation, Boot Campaign, Congressional Medal of Honor Society, Fisher House, the Folded Flag Foundation, Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America, Team Rubicon and UNLV’s Military and Veteran Services Center. Additionally, a portion of ticket sales is being allocated to the Easy Day Foundation and its partners.
The Easy Day Foundation, co-founded by Frank Fertitta IV and Landon Gyulay and based in Las Vegas — the city where the AMAs take place this year — assists veterans with critical needs, such as mental health care, job training and placement, and family support services in their return to civilian life.
“Our goal at this year’s American Music Awards is to not only honor the memory of our fallen heroes but to spotlight the ongoing needs of millions of veterans as they reintegrate into civilian life,” Fertitta says. “We’re proud to be part of an iconic award show like the American Music Awards that has the power to raise awareness, inspire compassion and drive real change.”
Gyulay adds, “Partnering with the AMAs gives us a powerful platform to elevate the stories of our veterans and amplify the mission of Easy Day. These brave men and women have given their all for our freedom and our AMAs partnership allows us to turn national attention into national action on their behalf.”
The American Music Awards engages music fans to vote in its awards categories. Nominees (see the full list here) are based on key fan interactions — as reflected on the Billboard charts — including streaming, album and song sales, radio airplay and tour grosses. These measurements are tracked by Billboard and Luminate, and cover the data tracking eligibility period of March 22, 2024 through March 20, 2025. Fan voting for the 2025 AMAs is now open via VoteAMAs.com and the @AMAs Instagram profile.
The American Music Awards are produced by Dick Clark Productions, which is owned by Penske Media Eldridge, a joint venture between Eldridge Industries and Billboard parent company Penske Media.
Adam Lambert killed it last year in his Broadway debut as the Emcee in the revival of Cabaret. Now the singer is taking the stage again in another iconic musical, and this time he’ll share the boards with another powerhouse vocalist also known for having a flashy fashion sense. Grammy nominee Lambert has been tapped […]
Kelly Clarkson believes in love again. After dropping the new single “Where Have You Been” on Friday (May 2), the singer followed up with a high-gloss video for the song in which she rocks a colorful, glittery jumpsuit with billowing arms that looks straight out of the 1970s Cher Las Vegas collection. Explore Explore See […]
Morrissey is planning to get back on stage at Centennial Hall in Tucson, AZ on Monday night (May 5) after postponing a pair of shows on his spring U.S. tour over the weekend due to health issues. “The Morrissey tour will reconvene at Tucson Centennial Hall (Arizona) on Monday 5 May,” the singer wrote on Instagram on Sunday (May 4).
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“Following the [April 30] show at The Fox in Bakersfield, Morrissey contracted a severe sinusitis attack and was treated at Coronado Hospital in San Diego,” the statement continued. “Missed shows at Rancho Mirage [May 3] and San Diego [May 1] are not cancelled and now have new dates. Morrissey, the band and crew, are very appreciative of those who convey understanding at difficult moments during tours.”
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The show at the San Diego Civic Theatre originally scheduled for May 1 has been pushed back until Jan., 6, 2026, while the May 3 show that was scheduled to hit the Agua Caliente Resort in Rancho Mirage, CA is now slated for Oct. 24. Morrissey, 65, released his most recent solo album, I Am Not a Dog on a Chain, in 2020. In November, the singer singer claimed that his as-yet-unreleased album, Bonfire of Teenagers, has been shelved so far because of his various controversial statements. “As you know, nobody will release my music anymore,” Morrissey told a crowd in New Jersey. “As you know because I’m a chief exponent of free speech. In England at least, it’s now criminalized.”
In 2019, Morrissey supported the far-right Britain First political party and while his Bonfire of Teenagers LP was scheduled for release in February 2023, it was pulled from calendars a few months before its street date with the singer claiming its “fate is exclusively in the hands of Capitol Records (Los Angeles.)”
After winding down his U.S. swing with shows in Atlanta and St. Petersburg and Hollywood, FL later this month the former Smiths singer will hit the U.K. and Ireland for his first shows there since 2023, with planned shows in Dublin (May 31), Glasgow (June 4-5) and Manchester (June 7); he will then embark on a summer run of European shows.
Miley Cyrus debuted another new song from her upcoming visual album Something Beautiful (May 30) during a show for an intimate audience at Casa Cipriani in New York on Saturday night (May 3). “Oh I stay when the ecstasy is far away/ And I pray that it’s comin’ ’round again,” Cyrus croons in a video […]
With just two months to go until Black Sabbath perform their final-ever live show, founding bassist Geezer Butler has admitted to some intense anxieties ahead of the gig.
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The band’s final performance will take place as part of the Back to the Beginning concert, which takes place in Birmingham, England on July 5. The event will see the band’s classic line-up – comprising frontman Ozzy Osbourne, guitarist Tony Iommi, bassist Butler and drummer Bill Ward – play live together for the first time in two decades, while the likes of Metallica, Slayer, Anthrax, Alice in Chains, and myriad others also join the bill.
While Osbourne hasn’t performed a full set since Dec. 31, 2018 – two months before his diagnosis of Parkinson’s – he’s previously tempered expectations for the upcoming gig, noting he isn’t “planning on doing a set with Black Sabbath,” but rather “little bits and pieces” with the group. “I am doing what I can, where I feel comfortable,” he explained.
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Speaking to The Guardian ahead of the July event, Butler admitted that while he’s unsure of how the performance will roll out, or how Osbourne’s health may affect the show, the lofty expectations behind such a gig have left him feeling immensely anxious.
“I’m already having palpitations,” he noted. “In fact, I had a nightmare last night. I dreamed everything went wrong on stage and we all turned to dust. It’s important that we leave a great impression, since it’s the final time that people will experience us live. So it has to be great on the night.”
Elsewhere in the interview, Osbourne again pointed out that Black Sabbath aren’t planning on performing a full-length set. “We’re only playing a couple of songs each,” he explained. “I don’t want people thinking, ‘We’re getting ripped off’, because it’s just going to be … what’s the word? … a sample, you’re going to get a few songs each by Ozzy and Sabbath.”
Though Osbourne also noted he has been undergoing extensive training as part of his preparation for the show, the end result will undoubtedly be far different to what fans may have hoped for, but as much as he can handle given his health circumstances.
“I’m used to doing two hours on stage, jumping and running around,” he said. “I don’t think I’ll be doing much jumping or running around this time. I may be sitting down, but the point is I’ll be there, and I’ll do the best I can. So all I can do is turn up.”