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Just a few weeks into the latest season of American Idol, Luke Bryan and Lionel Richie have made it clear that they think newest judge, and OG Idol season four winner, Carrie Underwood is a bit of a push-over who just wants to help everyone make it to Hollywood.
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But on Sunday night’s episode, 22-year-old Isaiah Moore of Oneonta, AL had all three judges crying in their pink Poppi cups with a life story that was as emotional as the song he chose to cover. The singer/worship pastor revealed that he arrived at the audition after he and his wife of seven days, Abby Grace, agreed to cancel their honeymoon so Isaiah could shoot his shot on the show.m
“We had a cruise to the Caribbean for our honeymoon,” Isaiah said before his audition on Sunday night (March 16). “But ultimately, my wife, she told me that there was no other option but to cancel it and come here to audition in Nashville.”
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Moore told the panel about his rough upbringing, which included his mother’s struggles with drug use and multiple trips to jail, resulting in him and his brother being raised by their grandparents. With a smile on his face, Moore said his mother – who was at the audition with him, along wit his maw-maw and paw-paw — is now three-years sober, though he choked up when he noted that his younger brother could not make it because of his current struggles.
Isaiah then dedicated a moving cover of Luke Combs’ “Where the While Things Are” to his brother, singing with grit and a heart-heavy weariness as he crooned, “Oh, it’s hearts on fire and crazy dreams/ Oh, the nights ignite like gasoline/ And light up those streets that never sleep when the sky goes dark/ Out where the wild things are.” By the end of the song about a brother lost to the wild things, all three judges had a hitch in their voice.
“You’ve got some power in that voice,” Underwood said, with Bryan adding, “I think there’s a story in that voice. That song kind of showcases a lot of parallels in your life and a lot of people’s lives.” Richie said he felt passion and the pain in the performance. “You’re carrying a lot inside but your blessing is that you can actually deliver it in a vocal,” he said. “It’s touching. I enjoyed your performance. It’s was just… smokin’.”
Underwood praised Moore for his powerful voice and storytelling and his ability to connect with the judges. She asked Isaiah to bring his family in and he got emotional as he introduced his family, with the judges passing him through to Hollywood with no reservations.
American Idol airs every Sunday on ABC at 8 p.m. ET.
Watch Isaih Moore’s American Idol audition below.
J. Cole’s Dreamville Festival returns to North Carolina for its fifth and final iteration April 4-5, and the highly anticipated lineup is finally here.
Dreamville Fest 2025 announced its star-studded lineup on Monday (March 17), with Lil Wayne, 21 Savage and Erykah Badu headlining alongside festival co-founder J. Cole.
The final Dreamville Fest — which launched in 2018 — will be held at Dorothea Dix Park in Raleigh, N.C., on Saturday, April 5, and Sunday, April 6. Tickets are already on sale, with a limited number of two-day general admission passes still available at the Dreamville Fest website.
On Saturday (April 5), Lil Wayne will kick things off alongside Hot Boys (Juvenile, Turk and B.G.) and Big Tymers (Mannie Fresh and Birdman), a notable bookend to last year’s debates over whether Weezy should have headlined the New Orleans-hosted Super Bowl LIX halftime show. 21 Savage, with whom Cole won his first Grammy, will also serve as a Saturday headliner. Other Saturday performers include Ab-Soul, Young Nudy, Chief Keef, Ari Lennox, Lute, Omen, Kai Ca$h & Niko Brim, Bas, Ludacris and PARTYNEXTDOOR, who recently earned his first Billboard 200 chart-topper with the Drake collab $ome $exy $ongs 4 U. Keyshia Cole will play a special set celebrating 20 years of The Way It Is, which houses her timeless classic “Love.”
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Cole and Badu will each close out their respective stages as headliners on Sunday night (April 6). Badu’s performance will come just over a week after she accepts the Icon Award at Billboard Women In Music on March 29. Additional Sunday performers include Grammy winners Tems and Coco Jones, as well as rap stars GloRilla, Wale, BigXthaPlug, JID and Anycia. Earthgang, Cozz and Akia are also set to perform on Sunday night.
“Our team looks forward to welcoming fans from around the world to Dreamville Festival this spring for our fifth-anniversary celebration,” Dreamville co-founder and festival president Adam Roy said in a statement. “The first weekend in April has grown to become one of our team’s favorite times of the year as an annual NC reunion.”
Find the full Dreamville Festival 2025 lineup broken down below.
Saturday, April 5:
Lil Wayne with Hot Boys (Juvenile, Turk, and B.G.) and Big Tymers (Mannie Fresh and Birdman)
21 Savage
PARTYNEXTDOOR
Ludacris
Ari Lennox
Chief Keef
Keyshia Cole (celebrating 20 years of The Way It Is)
Bas
Young Nudy
Ab-Soul
Lute
Omen
Kai Ca$h & Niko Brim
Sunday, April 6:
J. Cole
Erykah Badu
Tems
GloRilla
J.I.D
Wale
Coco Jones
BigXthaPlug
EarthGang
Anycia
Cozz
Akia
See the announcement below:
A$AP Rocky previewed some unreleased music during his headlining Rolling Loud California set on Saturday night (March 15), and one potential Don’t Be Dumb track found him clarify his allegiance in the Drake and Kendrick Lamar feud.
“I ain’t on J. Cole, I ain’t on Drake, I ain’t on Kendrick side/ I choose homicide, they gonna see a different side,” Rocky rapped during his set.
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Throughout 2024, Rocky seemed to be taking shots at Drake while aligning with Future and Metro Boomin on We Still Don’t Trust You‘s “Show of Hands,” and then on J. Cole’s “Ruby Rosary” in September.
Drake directly addressed Rocky during the Kendrick Lamar feud with his three-part “Family Matters” diss track in May. The 6 God previously dated Rihanna, and Rocky reportedly has a history with Drake’s baby mother, Sophie Brussaux.
“Rakim talkin’ s–t again/ Gassed ’cause you hit my BM first, n—a, do the math, who I was hittin’ then/ I ain’t even know you rapped still ’cause they only talkin’ ’bout your ‘fit again/ Probably gotta have a kid again ‘fore you think of droppin’ any s–t again/ Even when you do drop, they gon’ say you should’ve modeled ’cause it’s mid again,” Drizzy rhymed on the track.
It was a show-stealing set for Rocky at Rolling Loud California, as he rappelled from a helicopter to kick off the performance.
The Harlem native dedicated his RL set to those impacted by the Los Angeles wildfires and U.S. immigration laws.
“I see unity. I see so many types of people. I see so many different colors,” he said. “I would like to dedicate this show to anybody that was affected by those fires. To anybody that was affected by the immigration laws. My heart goes out to you.”
Rocky also previewed more unreleased tracks during his set — which Rihanna was in attendance for — but didn’t put a release date on Don’t Be Dumb as the watch for the rapper’s Testing follow-up continues.
It was the 36-year-old’s first festival performance since being found not guilty in February in his felony shooting case against former associate A$AP Relli.
Ariana Grande has finally unveiled the tracklist for her upcoming Eternal Sunshine Deluxe: Brighter Days Ahead, revealing Monday (March 17) that the project will have six more titles. The additions all appear to be brand new songs, aside from one: “Intro (End of the World) Extended,” which will likely be a longer version of the […]
Veteran rockers Collective Soul and Live announced the dates for their co-headlining Summer Unity 2025 U.S. amphitheater tour on Monday (March 17). The 30-date Live Nation-produced outing is slated to kick off on July 8 with a show at the White River Amphitheatre in Auburn, WA and hit outdoor venues in California, Missouri, Michigan, New York, Virginia, Florida, Georgia, Texas, Colorado and North Carolina before winding down on August 29 at the Hollywood Casino at Penn Race Course in Grantville, PA.
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In a dramatic three-minute video announcing the tour Collective Soul singer Ed Roland sets up for an acoustic set at a bar in St. Catharines, Ontario on one side of the screen while Live singer Ed Kowalczyk tunes his guitar on the other side in a New York pub. As the tock clicks, Kowalczyk breaks into his band’s iconic hit “I Alone,” while Roland strums out his group’s signature song, “Shine.”
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The performances are so intense they begin to make beer pints shudder as Kowalczyk zeroes in on a golden leprechaun throwing up the metal hand sign before the little guy explodes and lands both men in a black void. “Either I’ve reached enlightenment or I’m having a stroke,” Roland says to Kowalczyk when he wonders how they ended up in the blank space.
“Are we… dead?” Kowlaczyk asks. “No, you crazy cat. I think we’re in a cool Irish pub,” Roland responds in the video timed with Monday’s St. Patrick’s Day celebration. “You ever feel like we’re the same person, but stretched across two different versions of reality?” Roland asks. “Like we were once one singular Ed, but something, an event, a cosmic schism split us into two?”
They don’t agree on the vagaries of the universe, but the two old friends are totally simpatico about hitting the road again together, and enjoying the weird smell of tour buses and the allure of that sweet, sweet arena show catering.
“+LIVE+ is thrilled to be joining forces with the amazing Collective Soul! The great vibes between our two bands on and offstage is something we have both enjoyed for years, and here we come in 2025! This will be a very special night of music for all of the fans; I know everyone is gonna get rocked and uplifted right along with us…come on out!,” said Kowalczyk in a statement.
Roland added, “It was August 1994, and we, Collective Soul, were on our way to Woodstock. As our van pulled up to the grounds, another one pulled up beside us and out jumped the band +LIVE+. We became immediate friends, exchanging guitar picks with each other as soon as we met. Since that day, the Ed and Ed show has been nothing but pure, genuine friendship, and rock and roll. We’re excited that 31 years later, we still not only enjoy each other’s company, but enjoy playing music. It’s going to be a fun summer sharing it with fans, friends and +LIVE+.”
Joining the bands on the tour — their first together since a 2008 co-headlining run — will be Our Lady Peace and Greylin James Rue. Tickets will be available starting with an artist presale kicking off on Tuesday (March 18) at 10 a.m. local time, followed by additional presales throughout the week ahead of a general onsale starting on Friday (March 21) at 10 a.m. local time here.
Watch the Summer Unity Tour promo video and see the tour dates below.
Summer Unity 2025 tour dates
July 8 – Auburn, WA @ White River Amphitheatre
July 9 – Bend, OR @ Hayden Homes Amphitheater
July 11 – Wheatland, CA @ Toyota Amphitheatre
July 13 – Salt Lake City, UT @ Utah First Credit Union Amphitheatre
July 16 – Kansas City, MO @ Starlight Theatre
July 17 – St. Louis, MO @ Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre
July 20 – Huber Heights, OH @ Rose Music Center*
July 22 – Sterling Heights, MI @ Michigan Lottery Amphitheatre
July 26 – Buffalo, NY @ Darien Lake Amphitheater
July 27 – Bridgeport, CT @ Hartford HealthCare Amphitheater
July 30 – Bangor, ME @ Maine Savings Amphitheater
July 31 – Wantagh, NY @ Northwell at Jones Beach Theater
August 2 – Bethel, NY @ Bethel Woods Center for the Arts
August 3 – Bristow, VA @ Jiffy Lube Live
August 5 – Greensboro, NC @ White Oak Amphitheatre
August 6 – Charleston, SC @ Credit One Stadium
August 8 – Jacksonville, FL @ Daily’s Place
August 9 – Alpharetta, GA @ Ameris Bank Amphitheatre
August 10 – Nashville, TN @ FirstBank Amphitheater
August 13 – Irving, TX @ The Pavilion at Toyota Music Factory
August 15 – Houston, TX @ 713 Music Hall
August 16 – Austin, TX @ Germania Insurance Amphitheater
August 18 – Albuquerque, NM @ Isleta Amphitheater
August 19 – Denver, CO @ Fiddler’s Green Amphitheater*
August 21 – Lincoln, NE @ Pinewood Bowl Theater*
August 22 – Ridgedale, MO @ Thunder Ridge Nature Arena
August 23 – Albertville, AL @ Sand Mountain Amphitheater*
August 26 – Simpsonville, SC @ CCNB Amphitheatre
August 28 – Charlotte, NC @ Skyla Credit Union Amphitheatre
August 29 – Grantville, PA @ Hollywood Casino at Penn Race Course*
*Non-Live Nation Date
Playboi Carti explosively shut down the final night of Rolling Loud on Sunday (March 16), bringing out The Weeknd for a jaw-dropping closing set. Following the blockbuster release of his highly anticipated new album Music on Friday (March 14), Carti delivered a resounding performance at Rolling Loud California that included guest appearances from Kai Cenat, […]
Justin Bieber is ready to “let hate go,” according to a heartfelt message he penned on Instagram Stories Sunday (March 16). Writing in all caps, the pop star began by sharing, “I WAS ALWAYS TOLD WHEN I WAS A KID NOT TO HATE … BUT IT MADE ME FEEL LIKE I WASNT ALLOWED TO HAVE […]
When Dermot Kennedy named his global music festival MISNEACH – meaning “courage” in Gaelic – he did so because he knew, like any first-time endeavor, it could fail. And yet, his mission of celebrating and amplifying Irish music and culture proved stronger than any fear of failure.
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“We’re so proud of our little country and how our artists continue to punch above their weight globally,” he says. “And so on St. Patrick’s Day I wanted to bring together some of Ireland’s best artists and bands to perform for massive crowds in Sydney and Boston, two cities with huge Irish communities.”
On March 16, fans in Sydney, Australia got to see Kennedy’s vision come to life as the first of the “twin festivals” took place. And on March 18 and 19, fans in Boston will get their turn. Kennedy will headline each lineup, alongside talent he curated in partnership with Ireland Music Week including Irish artists and acts such as The Frames, The Swell Season, Matt Corby and Meg Mac. (Kennedy shares that while he was “honored” that Hozier and Snow Patrol responded to his request “in a really positive way,” scheduling didn’t work out this year to book either act.)
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“Because we’re so proud of our rich musical history, we always talk about Irish artists like Sinéad O’Connor, Van Morrison, Thin Lizzy, and the impact they’ve had on music history,” says Kennedy. “And if we want that to continue for generations to come, we need moments like this where we come together and celebrate amazing Irish talent.”
Kennedy’s manager, TaP’s Ed Millett, says the idea for a festival like this started about 3-4 years ago and evolved organically over time. “Around the Sonder campaign [Kennedy’s 2022 second album], we were focused on activations that involved Dermot wanting to interact with fans and reflect back their stories and experiences,” recalls Millett. “We started discussing different ways we could tell his story and also shine a light on Ireland and all the amazing talent coming out of there. St. Patrick’s Day was the perfect opportunity to do this – but how?”Their first step was to discuss the idea with Kennedy’s agents in the U.S. and Australia, along with his promoter in the U.S. “We are always looking for ways for an artist to build out their ideas and identities and the more we talked, the more it turned out there had been an interest in doing this kind of thing for a while,” says Millett. He and Kennedy took two years to refine the concept, deciding along the way to own the festival themselves to ensure its identity would remain as authentic as possible.
“By retaining ownership and controlling the festival end-to-end, this has allowed us to market smartly and direct-to-fan,” says Millett. “Not just [with] tickets, but also issuing fan passes for on-site merchandise discounts, and connecting it with [Kennedy’s] new music coming out at the same time.”
Kennedy’s latest single, “Let Me In,” arrived just before his headlining gigs. He wrote the song in Nashville last summer and says it’s the first of much more new material to come. “2024 was a very productive year for me in terms of making music,” he says. “I’m just so happy with how everything’s feeling and with the sound and the sentiment of all that’s coming.”
Millett is excited about the future, too — and is especially hopeful that MISNEACH will become an “annual fixture” in cities worldwide with a large Irish diaspora. “But,” he says, “the focus right now is getting this year right. Dermot has big ambitions not just to support Irish and diaspora talent, but give back to Ireland and the local community. A festival should do all these things – and we are excited to learn and grow this for years to come.”
Journey fans were bummed when their favorite band had to hot-foot it off the stage on Friday (March 14) just five songs into their set at the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo at NRG Stadium. In fan video of the incident, singer Arnel Pineda was just reaching the second verse of the group’s iconic 1981 […]
Yandel is set to take his sinfónico concept on the road.
The reggaetón hitmaker unveiled a four-date U.S. stint that will launch on May 30 in Miami and make stops in Orlando, New York and Chicago. The trek will be preceded by his special Sinfónico show in San Juan, Puerto Rico, on May 10, where he will be joined by the Orquesta Filarmónica de Puerto Rico, directed by Maestro Angel “Cuco” Peña.
The U.S. Sinfónico Tour, produced by Live Nation, is billed as an “innovative live experience” with a live philharmonic orchestra powering Yandel’s reggaetón hits, including “Encantadora,” “Nunca Me Olvides,” and “Noche de Entierro,” to name a few. The songs are also part of his upcoming Sinfónico En Vivo album, scheduled for release on April 3.
For the U.S. shows — directed by Javier Mendoza, professor of the FIU Symphonic Orchestra — Yandel will perform alongside local symphony orchestras. Music arrangements will be done by Rodner Padilla. The Puerto Rican artist’s band and dancers will join with each orchestra in all cities, traveling with a team of around 40 people.
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The U.S. trek follows Yandel’s concert in Miami in October, where he performed for the first time a few of his hits in a classical format, a different approach to música urbana in general fusing reggaetón and symphony.
Yandel launched his solo career in 2013 after countless hits as part of reggaetón pioneering duo Wisin & Yandel. He’s released a total of 11 solo albums, including his latest, ELYTE, which peaked at No. 15 on Billboard‘s Latin Rhythm Albums chart.
Tickets to Yandel’s U.S. Sinfónico Tour will go on sale Thursday, March 20 at 12 p.m. local time at Yandel.com. Check out the dates below.
May 10: San Juan, Puerto Rico (Coliseo José Miguel Agrelot)*May 30: Miami (Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts)June 1: Orlando, Fla. (Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts)June 7: New York (SummerStage in Central Park)June 8: Chicago (The Auditorium)
*Not a Live Nation date
