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Dave Stewart reflects on ‘The Way It Was Back Then’ with new solo album

August 11, 2026 by WDNY Radio

Eurythmics guitarist Dave Stewart is getting ready to release a brand-new solo album.

The Way It Was Back Then, written, performed and produced entirely by Stewart, is set to drop Sept. 18 as a limited, physical-only release on CD and vinyl.

The 10-song album is described in a press release as “an intimate, unfiltered album about memory, survival, love, loss, loyalty, and betrayal.” The album was the result of a one-take performance, with Stewart improvising the lyrics and melodies in real time.

“I wasn’t aware that I was making an album — in-between the various things happening in my life — some I instigated, and some just happenstance, I started to record myself singing songs at the same time as playing guitar,” Stewart says. “In almost every song, I didn’t write down any lyrics — I just sang the words at the same time as singing the melodies and playing the chords, kind of freeform. The whole album is very spontaneous in its lyrics and music.”

“Some of the songs are very personal and rooted in where I came from,” he adds. “For me, the feeling of this album is bittersweet, cinematic, and human. The Way It Was Back Then is not really about trying to go back … it’s about finally facing what was there.”

The Way It Was Back Then is available for preorder now.

Here is the album’s track list:
“The Way It Was Back Then”
“Your Wishes”
“Cry If You Want To”
“The House Where I Was Born”
“Black Cat”
“Makes Me Happy (And Sad)”
“Oh Jesse”
“All Done”
“Thin Ice”
“What’s A Man Supposed To Do”

Rihanna takes her kids to street named after her in Barbados

August 11, 2026 by WDNY Radio

Rihanna got to share a full-circle moment with her children in her home country of Barbados recently.

The singer posted photos of her and her three kids with A$AP Rocky — RZA, 4, Riot Rose, 3, and Rocki Irish, 11 months — visiting a street named after her in her old neighborhood.

“One minute I feel like that kid from Westbury…the next minute I’m bringing my own kids back to ‘Rihanna Drive,'” she wrote on X. “Trippy how life works! And the Glory STILL and WILL ALWAYS belong to the Almighty Creator!!!”

The street was officially named after Rihanna in 2017 and has since become a tourist attraction. The green and yellow house where Rihanna grew up is located there.

The Visit Barbados website says of the street, “This is the place where an icon was born; a backstreet located on the outskirts of Bridgetown. It’s tucked away from the bustling traffic of the Mighty Gryner Highway and an earshot from the shoreline.”

Earlier this month, Rihanna attended the country’s Crop Over festival, taking part in the Grand Kadooment Day parade.

Ariana Grande strews ‘petal’ tracks all over the ‘Billboard’ Hot 100

August 11, 2026 by WDNY Radio

The Billboard Hot 100 is like the aisle at a wedding this week, because tracks from petal are strewn all over it.

This marks the first time that Ariana Grande has charted all the songs from a single album in the top 40 of the Billboard Hot 100. All 12 tracks make their debuts, from “hate that i made you love me” at #2 all the way down to “nowhere, nobody” at #39.

With these songs, Ariana has now scored 110 entries on the Hot 100 over her career. Only three other female artists have managed to amass that many: Taylor Swift, Nicki Minaj and Beyoncé. Of those 110 songs, 10 of them have hit #1.

As previously reported, the album also debuted at #1 on the Billboard 200, making it Ariana’s seventh to do so.

There’s also a new line of merch for petal on Ariana’s website, including a tee featuring a still from the “petal” video, showing her smiling while covered in blood. Underneath it, it says “live laugh love.”

Ho ho higher: Creed announces 2026 Creedmas concerts

August 11, 2026 by WDNY Radio

Deck the halls with boughs of holly and arms wide open this holiday season.

Creed has announced the band’s 2026 Creedmas concerts, set to take place Dec. 11 and Dec. 12 in Las Vegas and Dec. 14 in Highland, California. Presales begin Wednesday at 10 a.m. PT, and tickets go on sale to the general public on Friday at 10 a.m. PT.

For all ticket info, visit Creed.com.

Creed previously launched a five-show Creedmas tour in December 2025.

Jennifer Nettles and Kristian Bush are Ride or Die: Sugarland hits the road

August 11, 2026 by WDNY Radio

Two years after going on the Take Me Home Tour with Little Big Town, Sugarland’s getting back together to hit the road again.

Jennifer Nettles and Kristian Bush will kick off the 26-city Ride or Die Tour Oct. 1 in St. Augustine, Florida, to celebrate the 20th anniversary of their second album.

“Enjoy the Ride was such a turning point album,” Jennifer reflects. “It literally catapulted us onto the ride of our lives with a carnival of hits and a life on The Road. We couldn’t let its anniversary pass without marking it as something special with our fans, live and on tour!”

The 2006 album featured the hits “Stay,” “Want To,” “Settlin'” and “Everyday America.”

“There is truly nothing more satisfying than the lights going up on the Sugarland stage and feeling our songs rumble out of the speakers,” Kristian adds. “I’m excited just thinking about it and even more thrilled to be celebrating the anniversary of Enjoy The Ride.”

The trek wraps Nov. 21 in Dallas. You can sign up for presales now at SugarlandMusic.com.

Jennifer just starred in the off-Broadway run of Giulia: The Poison Queen of Palermo, which she also wrote, while Kristian’s been busy producing hits for Megan Moroney.

Documentary on Rush’s Neil Peart to have world premiere at the Toronto Film Festival

August 11, 2026 by WDNY Radio

The upcoming documentary about Rush drummer Neil Peart is set to have its world premiere at the 2026 Toronto Film Festival.

Neil Peart: No One’s Disciple, directed by Scot McFayden and Sam Dunn, will have its world premiere screening on Sept. 16 at the Princess of Wales Theatre, followed by an additional screening on Sept. 17 and Sept. 19.

The Toronto Film Festival screenings are happening just a few days ahead of the documentary’s Sept. 23 premiere on Canada’s CBC.

According to the original press release about the film, it will explore “the artistry and enduring influence of Rush’s enigmatic drummer and lyricist through rare archival footage, intimate reflections and extraordinary live performances.”

It will feature appearances by Rush’s Geddy Lee and Alex Lifeson, as well as drummers Stewart Copeland of The Police, Chad Smith of Red Hot Chili Peppers, Danny Carey of Tool and others.

The 2026 Toronto Film Festival runs from Sept. 10-20. More info can be found at TIFF.net.

Peart died in 2020 at age 67.

Lee and Lifeson are currently on Rush’s Fifty Something tour, which is their first since Peart’s death. The band plays Toronto’s Scotiabank Arena on Tuesday. A complete list of dates can be found at Rush.com.

Busyhead season: Noah Kahan sets second annual benefit concert and golf tournament

August 11, 2026 by WDNY Radio

Noah Kahan is getting back on course — the golf course.

He’s scheduled his second annual Folk & Fairways Benefit Concert & Golf Tournament to benefit his Busyhead Project charity, which works to make mental healthcare more accessible for all. The event will take place Sept. 14 and 15 in Stowe, Vermont, so about a month before stick season starts.

The event will feature an acoustic performance by Noah, plus the tournament and “a thoughtfully curated collection of unforgettable experiences,” according to a press release.

A limited number of tickets will be available via a lottery, which you can register for now via Seated.com. Random selection will begin Aug. 17. Friends & Group Lodging + Ticket Packages are also available at folkandfairways.org.

Last year’s event raised over $1 million for The Busyhead Project. Since Noah launched it in 2023, fundraising efforts have brought in nearly $7 million to reduce the stigma surrounding mental health, and expand community-based resources and care.

Taylor Swift to become youngest inductee into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame

August 11, 2026 by WDNY Radio

Just a few months after she was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame, Taylor Swift will receive the same honor from the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame aka NaSHOF.

She’s one of five inductees in the Class of 2026, who will be ushered into the hall this fall. She’s being inducted in the contemporary songwriter/artist category and will be the hall’s youngest inductee ever. She was also the youngest inductee into the Songwriters Hall of Fame. Taylor will be joining previous inductees like Dolly Parton, Shania Twain, Keith Urban, Garth Brooks, Jimmy Buffett, Bob Dylan and Johnny Cash.

When the news was announced during a livestream on Tuesday, Mark Ford, the executive director of the hall, read a statement from Taylor.

“From the time I started writing songs as a child, I fixated on Nashville as the perfect place to be,” Taylor’s statement said. “I wanted to learn with and from the best and get to immerse myself in a community of storytellers, and thankfully Nashville turned out to be exactly what I’d dreamed of.”

Taylor’s statement went on to describe Nashville as “a town that validated and prioritized hard work, determination and imagination. Where the writers show up to work every day even when the mysterious muses and the magic don’t.”

The statement concluded, “To be honored by this city I love so much is a beautiful thing, and I’m very grateful.”

This year’s other inductees are Shawn Camp, who’s written hits for Garth Brooks, Blake Shelton, George Strait and Brooks & Dunn; Lee Thomas Miller, who’s written hits for Brad Paisley, Chris Stapleton, Scotty McCreery and Tim McGraw; Bruce Channel, best known for his own hit “Hey! Baby!”; and Lyle Lovett, who’s being inducted in the veteran songwriter/artist category.

Dave Matthews Band announces fall tour dates

August 11, 2026 by WDNY Radio

Dave Matthews Band has announced a run of fall tour dates.

The outing kicks off Nov. 4 in Madison, Wisconsin, and will conclude with two shows at New York City’s Madison Square Garden taking place Nov. 12 and Nov. 13.

Members of the DMB Warehouse fan association can access a presale now. Tickets go on sale to the general public on Aug. 21 at 10 a.m. local time.

For the full list of dates and all ticket info, visit DaveMatthewsBand.com.

You can also catch Dave Matthews Band on their summer U.S. tour, which concludes over Labor Day weekend with three shows at the Gorge Amphitheatre in George, Washington.

Brandy reimagines ‘A Different World’ theme song for new sequel series

August 11, 2026 by WDNY Radio

Brandy is lending her voice to the iconic theme song for A Different World.

She has put her own spin on the opening credits theme for the Netflix sequel series, which debuts Sept. 24.

“Singing this iconic theme song for A Different World means everything to me,” Brandy tells Tudum. “It was one of those shows that I had to watch every time it came on. I remember the song and how it made me feel.”

The original series premiered in 1987 and followed a group of students navigating life at the fictional HBCU Hillman College. OG cast member Dawnn Lewis co-wrote the theme, which was originally performed by Aretha Franklin.

“It feels amazing to be a part of the legacy,” Brandy says. “I just hope I can do it as much justice as Ms. Franklin.”

The sequel series follows a new generation at Hillman. It stars Maleah Joi Moon as Deborah Wayne, the youngest daughter of Dwayne Wayne (Kadeem Hardison) and Whitley Gilbert (Jasmine Guy).

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