Music

10 Nov 2022

Elle King & The Black Keys Pay Piano-Smashing Tribute to Jerry Lee Lewis at 2022 CMA Awards

There was a whole lotta shakin’ goin’ on at the 2022 CMA Awards on Wednesday night (Nov. 9), as Elle King and The Black Keys took the stage to pay rollicking tribute to late rock and country pioneer Jerry Lee Lewis.

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They were just the right trio to take on the task, performing Lewis’ signature track “Great Balls of Fire” at Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena. King banged away on the piano keys as The Black Keys brought their blues-rock chops to the stage. With an alternately growling and wailing vocal, Keys leaned into her performance, even emblazoning the back of her black leather pants with Lewis’ nickname “The Killer” that could be seen every time she leaned into the keyboard just like the infamous showman.

Lewis died at age 87 last month.

It was fitting that the rock ‘n’ roll founding father was honored at the country awards show. A 2022 inductee into the Country Music Hall of Fame, Lewis is one of just 16 people to have been inducted into both the Country and Rock & Roll Halls of Fame. He was also the last living member of the very first class of inductees into the Rock Hall, who were honored back in 1986.

Lewis wasn’t the only late legend honored at the show: The CMA Awards kicked off with a tribute to Loretta Lynn, who also died last month, at age 90. Miranda Lambert, Carrie Underwood and Reba McEntire performed the tribute, each performing solo Lynn songs before coming together for her signature tune, “Coal Miner’s Daughter.”

Find the full 2022 CMA Awards winners list here.

10 Nov 2022

8 Best Moments From the 2022 CMAs

The 56th annual Country Music Association (CMA) Awards took place in Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena on Wednesday (Nov. 9) night. Hosted by Luke Bryan and Peyton Manning, the CMAs brought out a bevy of vocal pros, guitar aces and several music legends over the course of three hours.

The show opened with a tribute to country pioneer Loretta Lynn, who died on Oct. 4 at the age of 90, by Miranda Lambert, Reba McEntire and Carrie Underwood. Before the night was through, Alan Jackson was honored with the Willie Nelson lifetime achievement award and given a rollicking musical tribute from Dierks Bentley, Lainey Wilson and others. Jackson himself closed out his own musical tribute, playing his 1991 single “Don’t Rock the Jukebox,” a No. 1 on the Hot Country Songs chart. “I can’t thank everybody that’s been in my life all these years, but I do have to say thanks to my wife Denise,” Jackson said. “We started out as teenagers and she’s hung in there and rode this roller coaster ride with me…. She’s my best friend.”

The night’s big winner was Luke Combs, who won the prestigious CMA for entertainer of the year. A tearful Lainey Wilson was named female vocalist of the year, and Chris Stapleton was honored with the CMA for male vocalist of the year. Check out the full list of winners here. Below, check out some of the standout moments from the 2022 CMAs, from Katy Perry’s performance with Thomas Rhett to HARDY and Wilson’s smoldering duet.

10 Nov 2022

Kelly Clarkson, Kelsea Ballerini & Carly Pearce Bid That Tipsy Boy Goodbye With ‘You’re Drunk, Go Home’ at 2022 CMA Awards

The 2022 CMA Awards are all about the girl power on Wednesday night (Nov. 9), and Kelly Clarkson, Kelsea Ballerini and Carly Pearce brought the heat with their fun “You’re Drunk, Go Home” performance.

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The trio traded verses and impressive vocal ability as they sang onstage in sleek blue outfits, with sparklers blasting behind them. “Hey, walk away, so me and my girls can do our thing/ I ain’t looking for a one-night rodeo/ You’re drunk, go home,” they declare in the sassy chorus.

Back in September, Clarkson had Ballerini as a guest on her daytime talk show, where the “Since U Been Gone” singer admitted that she was fittingly inebriated while recording the song. “I get to the studio here with [music director] Jason [Halbert], and I get in there and I’m like, ‘Look, I didn’t know I was gonna be singing today,’” Clarkson remembered. “I didn’t know! … So I had to sing a song called ‘You’re Drunk, Go Home’ inebriated, trying to sing first soprano parts like, ‘I’m fine!’”

In an interview with Billboard, Ballerini said she thought of her friend of 10 years Pearce immediately for the song and then sent it to Clarkson too, trying to add “someone who can add a different texture, vocally.” “I thought the biggest ask I could make is Kelly Clarkson, and I texted her that morning,” Ballerini shared. “She did her vocals that night.”

Ballerini’s “Half of My Hometown” was nominated for single of the year at the 2022 CMA Awards, though she ultimately lost to Cody Johnson’s “Til You Can’t.” See our full list of CMA Awards winners here.

10 Nov 2022

Katy Perry Grabs Her Cowgirl Hat & Joins Thomas Rhett for ‘Where We Started’ at 2022 CMA Awards

Katy Perry and Thomas Rhett kept their eyes on each other for an emotional performance of their lovelorn duet “Where We Started” at the 2022 CMA Awards on Wednesday night (Nov. 9).

Perry was on Rhett’s playing field at the Nashville awards show, and the pop star played the part, wearing a black cowgirl hat with her strapless denim gown, complete with fringed slit, to trade verses with the country star.

Rhett kicked off the performance on his own, with blue-lit strings of fabric dangling from the Bridgestone Arena rafters behind him. Perry joined him for the second verse, singing, “I’d be playin’ my guitar, singing them covers in an empty room/ You knew one day I would make a livin’ out of singing ’bout you.”

On the red carpet ahead of the show, Perry wore a different all-denim ensemble. Both her looks recalled her 2014 MTV Video Music Awards appearance with rapper Riff Raff, as the two paid tribute to the all-time-greatest Canadian tuxedo moment: when then-couple Britney Spears and Justin Timberlake wore matching jean getups at the 2001 VMAs.

“Where We Started” is the title track from Rhett’s most recent album, released in April. Perry and Rhett released a music video for the song last month.

See our updating list of 2022 CMA Awards winners here.

10 Nov 2022

Watch Katy Perry & Wynonna Judd Meet & Gush Over Each Other at 2022 CMA Awards: ‘I Just Love You’

The 2022 CMA Awards brought all the biggest country stars to Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena on Wednesday night (Nov. 9), and one of the sweetest moments of the night is when pop superstar Katy Perry met country icon Wynonna Judd on the red carpet during a Billboard interview.

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While chatting with Billboard, Perry is seen bubbling with happiness over meeting Judd in person. “I’m just here because I get to meet icons like this for the first time,” the pop star explains, before Judd says, “I can’t believe we’ve never met!”

Perry continues, “It confirms that you are an icon because of your awesome energy and personality. I just love you.”

Judd added to the sweet interaction by replying, “I love you too. I’ve watched you from afar, and I’m here and we’re going to take a picture and everyone is going to be so impressed.”

Perry is teaming up with two-time CMA Award winner Thomas Rhett at the CMA Awards to perform their collaboration “Where We Started” (the title track from Rhett’s 2021 album). “Where We Started” peaked at No. 33 on Billboard‘s Hot Country Songs chart in April. Meanwhile, Rhett’s album spent three weeks on the Billboard 200, where it peaked at No. 12 following its April 1 release.

Judd, meanwhile, appeared as a presenter at the event, honoring Brothers Osborne with the vocal duo of the year award for the fifth year in a row. Onstage, the band’s John Osborne revealed the news that he and his wife Lucie Silvas are expecting twins.

10 Nov 2022

Madonna’s Daughter Lola Leon Releases ‘Go,’ Her Debut EP as Lolahol

Lola Leon released her debut EP titled Go on Wednesday (Nov. 9). Her musical debut consists of five tracks released via Chemical X Records.

Leon, who goes by the musical name Lolahol, made headlines first thing Wednesday with the release of a dark, NSFW music video for single “CUNTRADICTION” (watch below). The music video, which features Leon dancing in the stables of a ranch, is fitting for the edgy song.

According to a press release announcing the EP, the project “spans R&B, alternative pop and classic trip-hop.”

While Go is Leon’s first EP, the singer, fashion model and designer released her first song “Lock & Key” on Aug. 24. The song’s drop coincided with the release of a sensual music video filmed on the beach. The leap into the music industry was a natural one for the 25-year-old daughter of pop icon Madonna. 

Leon’s mom was more than enthusiastic about the development. She took to her Instagram story to post a screenshot of the cover art for “Lock & Key,” = captioning it, “I am so proud of you Lola!” 

10 Nov 2022

Carrie Underwood, Miranda Lambert & Reba McEntire Kick Off 2022 CMAs With Touching Tribute to Loretta Lynn

The 56th annual CMA Awards took over Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena on Wednesday (Nov. 9), and the country music celebration kicked off with a special tribute to the late Loretta Lynn, who died Oct. 4 at age 90.

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The commemoration began with video footage of Lynn at the Ryman Auditorium in 1972, where she accepted her CMA entertainer of the year award, becoming the first woman to take home the Country Music Association’s highest honor.

Carrie Underwood then stepped onstage to honor the Country Music Hall of Fame member with a performance of her 1966 hit “You Ain’t Woman Enough,” before Miranda Lambert sang “Don’t Come Home a Drinkin’.” Reba McEntire then took over by performing Lynn’s 1971 track “You’re Lookin’ at Country,” sweetly switching up the lyrics at one point to sing, “If you’re looking at Loretta, you’re looking at country.”

The superstar trio then came together to wrap up the tribute with a powerful performance of one of Lynn’s most beloved hits, 1971’s “Coal Miner’s Daughter,” as photos of Lynn with a variety of artists, including Dolly Parton, Lambert, Sheryl Crow and Willie Nelson flashed across the screen.

The 2022 CMA Awards will feature a number of other major collaborations, including Elle King joining the Black Keys to perform “Great Balls of Fire” in honor of the late Country Music Hall of Fame member Jerry Lee Lewis. Thomas Rhett will pair with Katy Perry for their collaboration “Where We Started,” while Chris Stapleton will share the stage with Patty Loveless for a rendition of “You’ll Never Leave Harlan Alive.”

See our list of CMA winners here.

10 Nov 2022

Jay-Z Reminds Fans of His Legacy as He Poses With Dozens of Grammys in New Photo

Jay-Z made a mark on the hip-hop scene with his 1996 debut album Reasonable Doubt and has gone on to create a musical legacy worth remembering in the decades since. This week, the 52-year-old MC reminded fans of his longevity in the game with an Instagram pic posted by his longtime engineer Young Guru.

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The Roc Nation founder can be seen posing at the edge of a couch with his extensive Grammy collection, surrounded by bowls of snacks. Jay appears to be drinking from one of the trophies — an ode to the famous pic of him drinking his D’USSÉ cognac out of a Grammy at the 2013 ceremony.

“It’s crazy how one 5 minute convo with HOV can refocus your entire life,” Young Guru captioned the post. “I appreciate you, Big Homie. My anchor is strong. For motivational purpose only. But this is my real life!”

While Jay-Z has earned 24 Grammys over the years, we count 21 visible in the pic — though it’s likely the last trio of trophies could be right behind him in the photo.

The post has garnered more than 31,000 likes so far.

The Jiggaman is tiedwith his frequent collaborator Kanye West for the most Grammys for any hip-hop artist. Jay began racking up Grammys in 1999 when his third project, Vol. 2… Hard Knock Life, won best rap album.

In 2004, he took home best R&B song and best rap/sung collaboration for his “Crazy In Love” duet with wife Beyoncé, and in 2013, he and West won three awards for their Watch the Throne tracks “N—as in Paris” (best rap song, best rap performance) and “No Church in the Wild” (best rap/sung collaboration).

Despite his staggering Grammy success — including 83 nominations overall, more than anyone else in history — Jay-Z hasn’t always had a great relationship with the Recording Academy. In 1999, he boycotted the ceremony after two projects by DMX — It’s Dark and Hell Is Hot and Flesh of My Flesh, Blood of My Blood — were both snubbed in the best rap album category. Jay talked about boycotting the Grammys on LeBron James’ The Shop last year. “I won that year for rap album, so my first Grammy win, I wasn’t there. I boycotted it for him,” he said of the rapper, who died in 2021 at age 50. “There was a competitive thing, but it was big love.”

Jay-Z has made a few jabs at the Grammys over the years, like when he rapped on his track “APESH–” with Beyoncé in 2018, “Tell the Grammys f– that 0-for-8 sh–,” in reference to not winning any awards at the ceremony earlier that year when he went in as the leading nominee with eight nods.

While Jay-Z is the all-time nominations leader, he may lose that status next week, when the 65th annual Grammy nominations are announced. But he probably won’t mind too much: He could lose it to his wife, Beyoncé, who currently has 79 career nominations and is expected to be nominated in numerous categories. (Jay stands to also pick up at least two nominations for his involvement on Beyoncé’s Renaissance album.)

Grammy nominations for the 2023 ceremony are set to be announced on Tuesday. The awards show will be held at Los Angeles’ Crypto.com Arena on Feb. 5.

09 Nov 2022

Here Are All the 2022 CMA Awards Winners (Updating)

The 56th annual Country Music Association (CMA) Awards take over Bridgestone Arena in Nashville on Wednesday (Nov. 9). Hosted by Luke Bryan and Peyton Manning, the 2022 CMA Awards will see Chris Stapleton, Luke Combs, Morgan Wallen, Miranda Lambert and Carrie Underwood compete for the entertainer of the year honor.

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Check out the full list of nominees and winners below, updating throughout the ABC broadcast.

Entertainer of the year

Luke Combs
Miranda Lambert
Chris Stapleton
Carrie Underwood
Morgan Wallen

Single of the year

Award goes to artist(s), producer(s) and mix engineer
“Buy Dirt” – Jordan Davis featuring Luke Bryan; producer: Paul DiGiovanni; mix engineer: Jim Cooley
“half of my hometown” – Kelsea Ballerini (feat. Kenny Chesney); producers: Kelsea Ballerini, Ross Copperman, Jimmy Robbins; mix engineer: Dan Grech-Marguerat
“Never Wanted to Be That Girl” – Carly Pearce and Ashley McBryde; producers: Shane McAnally, Josh Osborne; mix engineer: Ryan Gore
“’Til You Can’t” – Cody Johnson; producer: Trent Willmon; mix engineer: Jack Clarke
“You Should Probably Leave” – Chris Stapleton; producers: Dave Cobb, Chris Stapleton; mix engineer: Vance Powell

Album of the year

Award goes to artist(s), producer(s) and mix engineer(s)
Growin’ Up – Luke Combs; producers: Luke Combs, Chip Matthews, Jonathan Singleton; mix engineers: Jim Cooley, Chip Matthews
Humble Quest – Maren Morris; producer: Greg Kurstin; mix engineer: Serban Ghenea
Palomino – Miranda Lambert; producers: Luke Dick, Miranda Lambert, Jon Randall, Mikey Reaves; mix engineer: Jason Lehning
Sayin’ What I’m Thinkin’ – Lainey Wilson; producer: Jay Joyce; mix engineer: F. Reid Shippen
Time, Tequila & Therapy – Old Dominion; producers: Shane McAnally, Old Dominion; mix engineer: Justin Niebank

Song of the year

Award goes to songwriters
“Buy Dirt” — songwriters: Jacob Davis, Jordan Davis, Josh Jenkins, Matt Jenkins
“Never Wanted to Be That Girl” –songwriters: Shane McAnally, Ashley McBryde, Carly Pearce
“Sand in My Boots” — songwriters: Ashley Gorley, Michael Hardy, Josh Osborne
“Things a Man Oughta Know” — songwriters: Jason Nix, Jonathan Singleton, Lainey Wilson
“You Should Probably Leave” — songwriters: Chris DuBois, Ashley Gorley, Chris Stapleton

Female vocalist of the year

Miranda Lambert
Ashley McBryde
Carly Pearce
Carrie Underwood
Lainey Wilson

Male vocalist of the year

Eric Church
Luke Combs
Cody Johnson
Chris Stapleton
Morgan Wallen

Vocal group of the year

Lady A
Little Big Town
Midland
Old Dominion
Zac Brown Band

Vocal duo of the year

Brooks & Dunn
Brothers Osborne
Dan + Shay
LOCASH
Maddie & Tae

New artist of the year

HARDY
Walker Hayes
Cody Johnson
Parker McCollum
Lainey Wilson

Musical event of the year

Award goes to artist(s) and producer(s)
“Beers on Me” – Dierks Bentley with BRELAND & HARDY; producers: Dierks Bentley, Ross Copperman
“If I Didn’t Love You” – Jason Aldean & Carrie Underwood; producer: Michael Knox
“Longneck Way to Go” – Midland (featuring Jon Pardi); producers: Dann Huff, Shane McAnally, Josh Osborne
“Never Say Never” – Cole Swindell (with Lainey Wilson); producer: Zach Crowell
“Never Wanted to Be That Girl” – Carly Pearce and Ashley McBryde; producers: Shane McAnally, Josh Osborne – WINNER

Music video of the year

Award goes to artist(s) and directors
“I Bet You Think About Me” (Taylor’s Version) (From the Vault) – Taylor Swift (featuring Chris Stapleton); director: Blake Lively
“Longneck Way to Go” – Midland (featuring Jon Pardi); director: Harper Smith
“Never Say Never” – Cole Swindell (with Lainey Wilson); director: Michael Monaco
“Never Wanted to Be That Girl” – Carly Pearce and Ashley McBryde; director: Alexa Campbell
“’Til You Can’t” – Cody Johnson; director: Dustin Haney – WINNER

Musician of the year

Jenee Fleenor, fiddle
Paul Franklin, steel guitar
Brent Mason, guitar
Ilya Toshinskiy, banjo
Derek Wells, guitar

09 Nov 2022

Godsmack Continues No. 1 Streak on Mainstream Rock Airplay Chart With ‘Surrender’

Godsmack scores its 12th No. 1 on Billboard’s Mainstream Rock Airplay chart – and its fifth in a row – as “Surrender” lifts to the top of the Nov. 12-dated survey.

The Sully Erna-fronted band’s streak of five No. 1s dates to “Bulletproof” in 2018. The group followed with “When Legends Rise” (2018), “Under Your Scars” (2019) and “Unforgettable” (2020) prior to its latest leader.

Godsmack breaks out of a three-way tie for the sixth-most No. 1s in the tally’s 41-year history. Shinedown leads all acts with 18.

Most No. 1s, Mainstream Rock Airplay
18, Shinedown
17, Three Days Grace
13, Five Finger Death Punch
13, Van Halen
12, Godsmack
11, Disturbed
11, Foo Fighters
10, Metallica
10, Tom Petty (solo and with the Heartbreakers)
10, Volbeat

Godsmack first appeared on Mainstream Rock Airplay with “Whatever,” which reached No. 7 in 1999. The band achieved its first No. 1 with “Awake” in 2001.

Concurrently, “Surrender” leaps 11-5 on the all-rock-format, audience-based Rock & Alternative Airplay chart with 3.3 million audience impressions, according to Luminate. “Surrender” ties the band’s highest rank on the list, which began in 2009, alongside “Love-Hate-Sex-Pain” in 2010 and “Unforgettable” in 2020.

“Surrender” also pushes 13-11 on the multimetric Hot Hard Rock Songs chart. In addition to its radio airplay, the song earned 484,000 official U.S. streams in the tracking week ending Nov. 3.

Lighting Up the Sky, Godsmack’s eighth studio album, is expected in February 2023. It’s the follow-up to 2018’s When Legends Rise, which debuted at No. 1 on the Top Rock & Alternative Albums chart that May and has earned 650,000 equivalent album units to date.