Music

18 Jul 2023

A Timeline of Machine Gun Kelly & Megan Fox’s Relationship

Billboard has compiled a timeline for how the stars aligned for the stars’ destined romance.

Machine Gun Kelly Megan Fox

Machine Gun Kelly and Megan Fox are seen leaving a restaurant on Sept. 24, 2020 in Los Angeles.

iamKevinWong.com/MEGA/GC Images


Machine Gun Kelly and Megan Fox’s love felt destined from the moment the Jennifer Body’s actress felt the rockstar rapper’s Pisces moon.

From their movie’s production being postponed due to COVID to Fox’s guest appearance in MGK’s “Bloody Valentine” music video to their Instagram-worthy engagement, the couple’s love life has played out onscreen and shown their fans how they’re meant to be.

In fact, Fox even claims she’s been “manifesting” a guy like the pop-punk rocker since she was a kid. She told Glamour UK  that MGK is “literally my exact physical type that I’ve been manifesting since I was four. I’m also four years older than him. So, I think I made him. My thoughts and intentions grew him into the person that he is, who knows what he would’ve looked like or been like if it wasn’t for me.”

The actress — who shares three young children with former husband of a decade actor Brian Austin Green — even put their love in historical perspective. “I think Pam [Anderson] and Tommy [Lee] were twin flames, I think they were soulmates,” she said of the Baywatch actress and Motley Crue drummer. “Kurt [Cobain] and Courtney [Love] is a darker version of the same thing. So I think when you find people that come together whose souls have known each other, who have travelled here to do this again, there’s something undeniable about that. And again, it can provoke a positive feeling in you, or it could provoke a very negative feeling.”

Billboard compiled a timeline of how the stars aligned for the stars’ destined romance.

18 Jul 2023

Chloe Bailey Looks Vibrant in Cheeky Photos From ‘Baby’s First Carnival’ in St. Lucia

Chloe Bailey has finally made it to her first Carnival. On Tuesday (July 17), the “How Does It Feel” singer shared photos of the larger-than-life costume she donned for Carnival in St. Lucia.

“Baby’s first carnival with @legendscarnival !!! had the best time of my entire life,” the singer wrote on Instagram, captioning a series of pictures of her outfit, which consisted of a blue, pink, purple and orange feathered headpiece to match the feather arm attachments, a colorful thong bikini with matching garter belt and a beaded cover-up that cascaded down the length of her body.

Fans and friends in the comments could not stop gushing over Bailey’s look for the festival. Sister Halle Bailey chimed in, “YOU LOOK SO AMAZING!!!!!!” Flo Milli wrote “eattt” with several heart-eyes emojis, with former Fifth Harmony member Lauren Jauregui adding, “Gorgeousssss.”

In addition to sharing the pictures to her feed, Chloe posted behind-the-scenes photos and video from the getting-ready process, as well as videos of her dancing with other Carnival attendees in the street of St. Lucia to her Instagram Stories. At one point, the 25-year-old stopped for a young girl who wanted to hug her while admiring her outfit.

Later this summer, Chloe will embark on her In Pieces Tour, which is slated to kick off Aug. 20 in Sacramento, Calif. The trek will make stops across North America in Phoenix, Denver, Toronto, Charlotte and more before concluding Sept. 10. Tickets for the tour go on sale Friday.

See photos from Chloe’s Carnival celebrations here.

18 Jul 2023

Before Burna Boy’s London Stadium Show Streams on Apple Music Live, Watch ‘Last Last’ Early

For anyone upset that they missed Burna Boy‘s sold-out London Stadium show from June 3, Apple Music has you covered. The show will exclusively stream on Apple Music Live starting Wednesday, but Billboard has a first look at his “Last Last” performance below.

Fans of the African Giant performer can catch his whole set on Apple Music on Wednesday at noon PT, along with Apple TV+ and Apple Music’s TikTok page and Burna’s TikTok page. His historic London Stadium concert marked the first time an African artist headlined a stadium show in the U.K. Other than “Last Last,” which can be seen below, Burna performs his biggest hits and fan favorites like “Ye,” “Sittin’ on Top of the World” and “Real Life” while bringing out special guests such as Stormzy, J Hus, Dave and Popcaan.

“I had an unforgettable experience performing at London Stadium,” Burna said in a press release. “The energy from the crowd was unmatched, and I’m grateful to all my fans for their unwavering support. Being featured in Apple Music Live is an incredible opportunity to share this historic moment with my fans worldwide. I’m excited for everyone to witness the magic we created that night. Special thanks to Apple Music for capturing and showcasing the performance. Stay tuned for an epic celebration of music and culture.”

This doesn’t mark the “Last Last” singer’s first time dominating Apple Music: Burna is both the most-streamed Nigerian artist of all time on Apple Music worldwide and the most-streamed artist in Nigeria of all time. His 2019 album African Giant broke the record for the biggest African album by first-day and first-week streams worldwide, while his 2022 LP Love, Damini became the No. 1 album on Apple Music in 70 countries and smashed the record for the biggest first-day and first-week for an album by an African artist.

“Burna Boy is a force of nature whose global rise shows no sign of slowing down any time soon,” said Ebro Darden, Apple Music’s global head of hip-hop and R&B, who sat down with Burna in London for an interview that airs Tuesday on Apple Music 1. “We’re thrilled to be able to present such a historic and career spanning performance to Burna’s fans around the world.”

Burna’s London concert will join Ed Sheeran‘s first full performance of his – (Subtract) album as part of Apple Music Live’s second season.

Watch an exclusive clip of Burna Boy performing “Last Last” below.

18 Jul 2023

Lady Gaga Celebrates Chromatica Ball One-Year Anniversary Wearing BLACKPINK T-Shirt

As Little Monsters await Lady Gaga’s upcoming projects, including Joker: Folie à Deux, Mother Monster took to Instagram on Tuesday (July 18) to celebrate the one-year anniversary of the Chromatica Ball — her 2022 world tour in support of Chromatica, her sixth studio album.

“I’m truly celebrating one whole year since we launched The Chromatica Ball,” the “Shallow” singer wrote in an Instagram caption. “I’m so blessed to have family and friends that support me, and fans all over the world who showed up to witness our show LIVE or cheer us on from home.”

Originally conceived as a six-date limited tour, the Chromatica Ball morphed into Gaga’s first all-stadium tour across 20 dates and three continents, including North America, Europe and Asia. The trek grossed $112.5 million.

In the post’s summery photo, Gaga dons a striking red lip, a chainlink necklace and a BLACKPINK T-shirt. The chart-topping K-pop girl group appeared on “Sour Candy,” a promotional single from Chromatica that peaked at No. 33 on the Billboard Hot 100. In 2020, Chromatica debuted atop the Billboard 200 with 274,000 units sold. Two of the set’s singles reached the top five of the Hot 100: “Stupid Love” (No. 5) and the Grammy-winning, Ariana Grande-assisted “Rain on Me” (No. 1).

As the ever-evolving dynamic between fans and artists in live settings continues to dominate headlines, Gaga gushed, “There’s nothing like live performance. Singing, dancing, playing piano, wearing costumes that are high fashion and directing the show is a true joy for me. And there’s nothing quite like being on stage when the audience is finally in the stadium. That’s when the show becomes complete. Not until then.”

Last month, Gaga confirmed a film around the stadium tour, writing that she’s “been working on The Chromatica Ball film edit” and “can say for the first time in many years that [her] love of making art, music, fashion, and supporting community has never been more fulfilling.”

Check out Gaga’s celebratory Instagram post here:

18 Jul 2023

Jason Aldean Responds to Criticism of His Song ‘Try That In a Small Town’ & Its Video

Jason Aldean is responding to online criticism of his song “Try That in a Small Town” and its new video.

Aldean posted a response Tuesday (July 18) on Instagram and Facebook about the song — written by Kelly Lovelace, Neil Thrasher, Tully Kennedy and Kurt Michael Allison — which is a confrontational take challenging those who “carjack an old lady at a red light” or “pull a gun on the owner of a liquor store” or “cuss out a cop” to try that in a small town and “see how far ya make it down the road/ Around here, we take care of our own.” CMT has pulled the video from rotation after running it for three days, Billboard confirmed.

While he did not address the network’s decision to no longer air the visual, Aldean defended his song against his detractors, saying much of what they are saying the video implies is erroneous. “In the past 24 hours I have been accused of releasing a pro-lynching song (a song that has been out since May) and was subject to a comparison that I (direct quote) was not too pleased with the nationwide BLM protests,” he began. “These references are not only meritless, but dangerous. There is not a single lyric in the song that references race or points to it and there isn’t a single video clip that isn’t real news footage- and while I can try and respect others to have their own interpretation of a song with music- this one goes too far.” 

The video, released July 14, has received more than 346,000 views on YouTube since its release, features Aldean performing in front of courthouse with an American flag hanging from the entrance. The performance is interspersed with footage of flag burning, protesters screaming and attacking police in various scenarios, and robbing a convenience store. It’s unclear where the footage was taken from, but at one point a Fox News chyron appears declaring “state of emergency declared in Germany.”

The video has caused a firestorm on social media. Many of the comments toward Aldean have referenced that he was on stage at the Route 91 mass shooting in Las Vegas on Oct. 1, 2017, which he addressed in his social media statement. “As so many pointed out, I was present at Route 91-where so many lost their lives- and our community recently suffered another heartbreaking tragedy,” he wrote. “NO ONE, including me, wants to continue to see senseless headlines or families ripped apart.”  Aldean is referencing the March 27 shooting at Nashville’s Covenant School that killed six people, including three 9-year-olds.

He is slated to headline a benefit concert that will benefit mental health initiatives in the community. 

Aldean’s post is below in full. 

18 Jul 2023

Why Did Taylor Swift’s ‘Speak Now’ Re-Recording Become Her Best-Performing ‘Taylor’s Version’ Yet?

While her Eras Tour continues to boost her catalog to unprecedented heights, while her 2022 blockbuster Midnights still has hits in the Hot 100’s top 20, and while one of her older deep cuts has already been resurrected into a top 10 smash, Taylor Swift now adds to her 2023 dominance with the release of Speak Now (Taylor’s Version), third of her full-album re-recordings.

Explore

Explore

See latest videos, charts and news

See latest videos, charts and news

The set debuts with 716,000 equivalent album units this week (chart dated July 22), over 500,000 of which come in sales — both the highest numbers for any album since her own Midnights bow last November — while debuting all 22 of its tracks on the Billboard Hot 100, led by the No. 5 entrance for new cut “I Can See You (Taylor’s Version).” It’s also the best first-week performance from any of the three Taylor’s Versions released thusfar, easily passing the 605,000 posted by Red (Taylor’s Version) in 2021.

Why did this first week mark her best Taylor’s Version showing yet? And how much bigger could those numbers still grow for future re-recordings? Billboard staffers discuss these questions and more below.

1. The 716,000 units for Speak Now is easily the most for any Taylor’s Version so far, breezing past the 605,000 that Red (TV) debuted with in 2021. What do you think is the biggest reason for the debut-week increase for Speak Now?

Katie Atkinson: With more than a half-million of those units in traditional album sales, I think the biggest reason is collecting. No Swiftie collection will be complete with the (Taylor’s Version) projects, so it’s a must-own record. There are also multiple versions of the physical album you could buy, so if you’re a completist Swiftie, you’ve gotta have ’em all. These re-recordings are basically the equivalent of legacy box sets but delivered during the prime of an artist’s career, which makes them obvious collector’s items.

Hannah Dailey: It may be partly due to the momentum she’s created with the past two Taylor’s Versions, but I think the main reason for Speak Now’s success is definitely the ongoing cultural phenomenon that is the Eras Tour. This is the first re-release to drop since she kicked off the tour, which is built almost completely around the nostalgia factor of her old albums. With pictures and videos from the show populating everyone’s timelines just about every weekend, people are more incentivized than ever to indulge in “Old Taylor” for as long as it’s cool again to do so.

Kyle Denis: As impossible as it may seem, Taylor’s star power has only gotten stronger. Speak Now (Taylor’s Version) is Swift’s first re-recording release since she dropped off Midnights last year — and that album earned her the biggest first-week units total of her career. Couple that with Speak Now (TV) being the first full-length release from Swift since the start of her record-breaking Eras Tour, and you have an already massive fanbase that’s only become even bigger and more galvanized to consume all things Swift. It also helps that Swift’s most dedicated fans often have a particularly strong connection to Speak Now. While the self-penned record didn’t house a litany of zeitgeist-conquering hits like Fearless or 1989, a lot of fan-favorites that weren’t smash hits (“Dear John,” “Enchanted,” “Better Than Revenge,” “Long Live,” etc.) are housed on the album. 

Jason Lipshutz: Taylor Swift’s enormity. Obviously Swift was a superstar back when she released the first two Taylor’s Version albums in 2021, but somehow, she’s grown in stature exponentially even from that point, highlighted by the gargantuan success of Midnights (her biggest debut week ever!), “Anti-Hero” (her longest-leading Hot 100 No. 1 hit ever!), and the Eras tour (her biggest tour ever!). Make no mistake, Speak Now (Taylor’s Version) was always going to enjoy a comfortable No. 1 bow – but the release of its timing, when Swift’s commercial streak has gone from red-hot to scorching, can help explain its final units total.

Andrew Unterberger: It’s just Taylor Swift, rolling along her pop stardom as it absorbs everything in its path and keeps growing bigger and bigger — like Katamari Damacy. Speak Now is a fan-beloved album, but was not really the kind of commercial juggernaut that Fearless or Red were, and the re-recording has no songs nearly as anticipated as Red‘s “All Too Well (10-Minute Version).” It’s simply the biggest because Taylor Swift is at her biggest right now.

2. Speak Now is just one of four Swift albums in the Billboard 200‘s top 10 this week (making her the first living artist since Herb Alpert in 1966 to have four simultaneous top 10 albums), while she also has three top 10 hits on the Billboard Hot 100 this week, each from a different album (making her the first living artist since The Beatles in 1964 to have three simultaneous top 10 hits from different albums). Which of the two accomplishments is more impressive to you?

Katie Atkinson: It’s hard to say, but I’ll give the edge to the Hot 100 stat. We’ve seen a lot of artists dominate the Hot 100 top 10 – as Swift herself did after the release of Midnights when she became the first artist to hold all top 10 spots on the chart – but those weeks include songs almost exclusively from the same album. Having three different songs in the upper region from three different albums is a wild level of domination that only Swift (and The Beatles!) could pull off.

Hannah Dailey: It’s hard to say, as I think the two achievements are pretty reflective of each other. But considering how much pride Swift takes in her ability to weave her songwriting into palatable, full bodies of work, I would say the Billboard 200 feat is most impressive.

Kyle Denis: I think the latter is more impressive. Placing four albums in the top 10 is certainly a feat, but with an event like the Super Bowl, some discounts, and a relatively quiet chart week, it’s certainly achievable for quite a few artists, should they put in that effort. To have singles from three different albums simultaneously place in the top 10, however, is a lot more difficult, I think. Especially when none of the songs appear on albums from other artists. 

Swift and her team were able to time the radio ascent of “Karma” with the explosive rise of “Cruel Summer,” while also securing enough fan attention to care about one of six new “From the Vault” tracks on Speak Now (TV). To toe that line of a having a high volume of output without being so overexposed that people start to shy away from you… that’s not easy at all. It’s incredibly impressive, and a testament to how Swift’s stardom is borderline impenetrable. 

Jason Lipshutz: Swift having a bunch of albums in the upper reaches of the Billboard 200 is impressive but not uncommon. Three songs, from three different albums, simultaneously in the top 10 of the Hot 100, though? That’s the sort of mind-boggling chart feat that Swift, and only Swift, is routinely adding to her resumé. Really, that accomplishment speaks to the astonishing rise of “Cruel Summer” four years after its release: having a single from last year’s Midnights and the newly released Speak Now (Taylor’s Version) in the top 10 makes some sense, but a Lover track organically rising to new heights at the same time simply demonstrates Swift’s current ubiquity, unprecedented in the modern music era. 

Andrew Unterberger: I mean, anytime you can be the first artist since The Beatles to do something… Still, I might find the albums stat slightly more impressive, just because it shows how widespread the Swift bump of recent months has been, without been mostly contained to one or even a couple releases. And look outside of the top 10: She’s got another two in the top 20, and another two in the top 25. That kind of cross-catalog dominance when it comes to her overall legacy… that’s pretty Beatlesque.

3. The current top 10 hit from Speak Now (Taylor’s Version) is “I Can See You,” which debuts at No. 5 on the Hot 100 — helped by prime New Music Friday placement and an internet-friendly music video starring a number of Speak Now-era Taylorverse fixtures. Does it feel like a lasting top 10 hit to you, or will it be more of a one-week wonder?

Katie Atkinson: I *really* like this song and would like it to have more of a moment, but if the shock factor of Swift casting one of her era-specific ex-boyfriends in the music video and the release-week timing couldn’t boost it higher than No. 5, I don’t see it climbing there another way. It seems like Team Swift would be smart to put their full juice behind the resurgent “Cruel Summer” instead, including the release of a long-awaited music video perfectly timed to land the top spot on the chart.

Hannah Dailey: I could see it sticking around a little longer, though I think it’s more likely it’ll be a slightly more successful “I Bet You Think About Me” – the parallel Vault single from Red (Taylor’s Version), which made it to No. 22 before falling off the Hot 100 after two weeks.

Kyle Denis: Definitely a one-week wonder. All eyes are on “Cruel Summer” right now, as the fan-favorite collects the commercial success it’s deserved for four years now. Between “Cruel Summer” and the three Midnights singles currently in rotation on radio, it would probably be overkill to promote a fifth Swift single — and radio is what “I Can See You” will need the most to remain a lasting top 10 hit. Now, should “I Can See You” naturally gain traction outside of its newness and star-studded music video, then that would be a different story.

Jason Lipshutz: I love “I Can See You” as both an ultra-catchy flirtation and redirection of Swift’s sound, pushing her Speak Now songwriting towards a more sexually suggestive and downright funky sound. In a vacuum, the song sounds like a no-brainer new hit from Swift… but it’s going to have to compete for attention with “Karma” and “Cruel Summer,” and while I think the cultural appetite for her music is larger than it’s ever been, I’d have to imagine that those concurrent hits cannibalize each other’s streams and plays to some degree. We’ll see in the weeks ahead just how many hits from different eras Swift can juggle at one time, though!

Andrew Unterberger: Yeah, just too crowded for “I Can See You” right now unfortunately — if it’s going to grow into a long-lasting hit, that’s probably going to have to be because it caught on as a TikTok moment or otherwise made some kind of specific cultural imprint. A top five debut is still pretty impressive for it though, considering the level of competition right now (including her own simultaneous hits).

4. The numbers keep getting bigger with these re-recordings — do you think we’ll eventually see a million-unit first week for one of the Taylor’s Versions?

Katie Atkinson: I wouldn’t put anything past Taylor Swift – and I’m especially not counting out this possibility considering 1989 (Taylor’s Version) is still on the horizon and was commercially and critically beloved upon its original release. Imagine the high-quality 1989 “From the Vault” tracks we’re going to get from that era if “New Romantics” was just a bonus track back in 2014.

Hannah Dailey: I think it’s very possible. My money is on 1989 (Taylor’s Version), especially because that record had such major first-week sales the first time around.

Kyle Denis: I’m expecting 1989 (Taylor’s Version) to get close to a million units first week, especially if she has some surprises in store like a new version of the “Bad Blood” music video or some big-name collaborations on the Vault tracks. We already got “Wildest Dreams (TV)” in 2021, so the 1989 (TV) campaign has been subtly chugging along for months now. There’s also the fact that 1989 is her most-successful album that needs to be re-recorded, so the hype will certainly be there. I expect Reputation (TV) to perform similarly to Red (TV) and Speak Now (TV). The re-recording of her eponymous debut, however, will probably pull in the smallest first-week units total of the Taylor’s Versions series. 

Jason Lipshutz: Maybe – which I don’t think I would have said a week ago, since scoring a million-unit first week is such a tall order! But if Swift’s reign refuses to let up, the timing is right, and the hits-packed 1989 (Taylor’s Version) includes some undeniable fan goodies conjuring the frenzy of “All Too Well (Taylor’s Version),” then anything is possible. The success of these re-recorded albums has already surpassed the loftiest expectations, so I can’t count out something like a seven-figure debut for one of them.

Andrew Unterberger: The fact that it’s even a discussion is pretty crazy — remember how impressive it seemed when Fearless (Taylor’s Version) did nearly 300k in its first week, and most of us assumed that would be the biggest first-week number in the series, with future projects meeting with diminishing returns thanks to fading novelty. Clearly that hasn’t been the case, and when 1989 (Taylor’s Version) debuts, the million-unit mark will be within the realm of possibility — though if I had to put money on it, I’d still probably take the under.

5. Fill in the brackets: “Taylor Swift is currently the biggest pop star I can remember since [artist] in [year].“

Katie Atkinson: Justin Timberlake in 2006, so we’re talking about the release of FutureSex/LoveSounds followed by “Dick in a Box” on Saturday Night Live. But really, there’s no perfect comparison because no other pop superstar has been this strategic of a businessperson and made it part of their public brand. So she’s riding a high like late-2006 JT, but she’s transcended to a whole other plane at this point.

Hannah Dailey: I’m 23. Taylor is the biggest pop star I can remember, period. Even so, I don’t know if she even warrants comparison anymore. It would’ve been easier to finish the sentence ten years ago, but at this point, she’s broken enough of her own records to become her own benchmark. I think she stands alone.

Kyle Denis: Taylor Swift is currently the biggest pop star I can remember since Britney Spears in 1998-2003. 

Jason Lipshutz: Since Adele in 2011, when her album 21 hovered around the top of the Billboard 200 for months on end (eventually collecting a whopping 24 weeks at No. 1) and sending three singles to the top of the Hot 100. Adele was just absolutely dominant that year – and by most metrics, Swift is currently experiencing an even bigger 2023.

Andrew Unterberger: Since Lady Gaga in 2009-2010? Drake’s chart dominance in 2018 was comparable, and Adele’s sales figures in 2011 (and 2015) may never be matched again. But in terms of all-encompassing, any-metric-you-use, tangible-or-intangible, center-of-the-conversation STARDOM? If not Gaga, then you really might need to go back to Britney and Eminem at the beginning of the century.

18 Jul 2023

Zac Brown Offers Health Update for Bandmate John Driskell Hopkins Following ALS Diagnosis

Zac Brown Band frontman and namesake Zac Brown is offering an update on the health of his bandmate John Driskell Hopkins, who was diagnosed with ALS in 2022.

“It’s been tough for Hop and our band, but he is our brother and we’re doing all that we can to support him every day,” Brown told People of the tightknit band, which formed in 2002. “We eat together, laugh together, and always have each other’s back. It’s a really supportive tribe we have and I’m blessed to call them my brothers, and sister!”

Brown says that the band is grateful for the support fans have shown in contributing to Hopkins’ Hop on a Cure fundraising effort. According to als.org, nearly 5,000 people are diagnosed with ALS per year, with an average life expectancy of between two and five years.

“Thanks to our Zamily, we’ve been able to make big strides with supporting Hop’s organization Hop On A Cure in finding and providing the resources and support needed to help find a cure for ALS,” Brown told People.

Hopkins revealed his ALS diagnosis in May 2022. “Over the past several years, I’ve noticed some balance issues and some stiffness in my hands,” Hopkins said during a video statement at the time. “After careful analysis by some of the country’s top neurologists, I’ve been diagnosed with ALS. Because my symptoms have been slow-progressing from the start, we believe they will continue to be slow-progressing going forward. God willing, I plan to be rocking with these amazing people for many years to come.”

The band has been on the road touring for a slate of summer festivals, as well as their own From the Fire headlining tour, which launched June 30. The group also recently contributed to bandmate Caroline Jones’ new song, “Million Little Bandaids,” with Brown trading off lead vocals with Jones.

18 Jul 2023

Dead & Company Raises $2 Million for Charity Through Memorabilia Auctions During Final Tour

Dead & Company is selling its greatest possessions, all for a noble cause. The group — which consists of former Grateful Dead members Bob Weir and Mickey Hart alongside John Mayer, Oteil Burbridge, Jeff Chimenti and Jay Lane — has raised a total of $2 million from memorabilia auctions held during various stops on its Final Tour.

Dead & Co.’s Final Tour officially concluded on July 16 with a sold out show at San Fransisco’s Oracle Park. By the end of the tour run, which included stops in Colorado, Washington, California, New York, Massachusetts, Illinois and more, auctions from the group’s Participation Row — the charity social action village which has traveled with the Dead & Company tour over the past eight years — raised $2 million in new funding from selling memorabilia, bringing its cumulative sum to $4,000,984 in proceeds raised for charities since 2015.

According to HeadCount, a non-profit promoting voting rights where Weir serves a board member, the San Francisco shows “raised over $700,000 to benefit HeadCount, Reverb, and more favorite Dead Family non-profit organizations. This included a remarkable $275,000 for the official tour guitar, $238,000 for the guitar commemorating the final shows in San Francisco, over $150,000 for unique pieces of Mickey Hart’s fine art, and other [miscellaneous] items tallied up the remaining numbers.”

In addition to the Participation Row auctions, Dead & Co. donated two dollars from each ticket sale to HeadCount and ran multiple promotions through their official website to further get DeadHeads involved.

See HeadCount’s post following the conclusion of the auctions below on Instagram.

18 Jul 2023

Post Malone’s ‘Overdrive’ Rules Hot Trending Songs Chart

“Overdrive,” the latest taste of Post Malone’s upcoming album Austin, debuts at No. 1 on Billboard’s July 22-dated Hot Trending Songs chart.

Billboard’s Hot Trending charts, powered by Twitter, track global music-related trends and conversations in real-time across Twitter, viewable over either the last 24 hours or past seven days. A weekly, 20-position version of the chart, covering activity from Friday through Thursday of each week, posts alongside Billboard’s other weekly charts on Billboard.com each Tuesday, with the latest tracking period running July 7-13.

Explore

Explore

See latest videos, charts and news

See latest videos, charts and news

“Overdrive” debuts at No. 1 after being teased on social media prior to its July 14 release, first on July 12.

It’s the third song to be released from Austin, which is out July 28. First came lead single “Chemical,” which debuted at No. 5 on the Top Trending Songs tally dated April 22 and has peaked so far at No. 13 on the multimetric Billboard Hot 100. Then came “Mourning,” which debuted at No. 36 on the Hot 100 in June.

More chart activity for “Overdrive” will be reflected on the Billboard rankings dated July 29.

After “Overdrive” comes “Militerian,” from J Hus’ new album Beautiful and Brutal Yard. The song, which features Naira Marley, was released on July 13 ahead of the LP’s July 14 premiere.

Jung Kook’s “Seven” vaults 10-3 due to more teases of the song before its official release on July 14, while NMIXX’s “Party O’Clock” bows at No. 4 after being uploaded July 11. The chart’s previous No. 1, EXO’s “Cream Soda,” rounds out the top five at No. 5.

Keep visiting Billboard.com for the constantly evolving Hot Trending Songs rankings, and check in each Tuesday for the latest weekly chart.

18 Jul 2023

Toby Keith to Receive Country Icon Award at Inaugural People’s Choice Country Awards

Toby Keith will receive the country icon award at the inaugural People’s Choice Country Awards on Sept. 28.

Keith, famous for such songs as “Should’ve Been a Cowboy,” “How Do You Like Me Now,” “As Good As I Once Was,” and “Beer for My Horse,” will be honored for his 30-year career as a musician, humanitarian and entrepreneur. Fellow Oklahoman Blake Shelton will present the award.

The honor is the latest in a long list of accomplishments for Keith, including being named a BMI icon last year, receiving the National Medal of Arts in 2021, and being inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2021 and the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2015. 

Explore

Explore

See latest videos, charts and news

See latest videos, charts and news

“We’re overjoyed to honor legendary artist Toby Keith with the first-ever country icon award,” said Cassandra Tryon, senior vp, of entertainment live events for NBCUniversal television and streaming in a statement. “As a talented songwriter and powerhouse performer, Keith has touched the hearts of fans across the globe. His illustrious career and passion for philanthropy has cemented his place as an icon in country music history.”  

The recognition comes as Keith is returning to the public arena after successfully battling stomach cancer for the 18 months. He recently announced that he hopes to return to the road this fall. 

The awards show, an expansion of the People’s Choice Awards, will be hosted by Little Big Town and will air and stream at 8 p.m. ET/PT across NBC and Peacock, live from the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville. The telecast will be produced by Den of Thieves with Jesse Ignjatovic, Evan Prager and Barb Bialkowski serving as executive producers.

The show is being touted as an example of collaboration resulting from the new partnership between NBCUniversal and the Opry Entertainment Group, following NBCUniversal’s equity investment OEG parent company Ryman Hospitality Properties last year. RHP sold a minority stake, valued at nearly $300 million, to NBCUniversal and Atairos.

It also gives NBC its own country focused awards show. ABC airs the CMA Awards, while CBS now broadcasts the CMT Awards after the ACM Awards moved to Amazon in 2022.