Music

You can find out what it sounds like when Midland covers Chris Stapleton on their latest track, one the ACM male artist of the year co-wrote with his SteelDrivers bandmate Mike Henderson. 

“‘Drinkin’ Dark Whiskey’ is a seminal honky tonk up tempo classic that Stapleton wrote and fine artists like Gary Allan and The SteelDrivers have cut and performed,” lead singer Mark Wystrach says. “We liked the song as it provided us with an opportunity to do a bluegrass arrangement on the chorus that really soars!”

“It’s catchy as hell, up tempo and a lot of fun to play and sing,” he adds.

“Drinkin’ Dark Whiskey” follows “Marlboro Man,” which came out in January. 

Look for Midland to sing both when they play the American Championship Rodeo Weekend May 22 at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas, ahead of their European tour in June.

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Beach Boys fans are getting another taste of the upcoming release The Pet Sounds Sessions Highlights, celebrating the 60th anniversary of the band’s iconic album.

The latest preview is a three-track EP focused on the top-10 hit “Wouldn’t It Be Nice.” It features a trio of mixes, including a vocals-only version of the song. The EP is now available via digital outlets.

This is the second Pet Sounds-related EP that’s been released. A three-track EP focused on the song “Sloop John B” was released in March.

The Pet Sounds Sessions Highlights, dropping May 15, features material from the 1997 four-CD box set The Pet Sounds Sessions. It contains 25 alternate takes, a cappella versions and tracking sessions, all of which are making their vinyl debut.

It will be released as a two-CD set or two-LP set. The LP versions will be released on standard black vinyl and limited-edition splatter/color variants. Also on May 15, the original 90-track The Pet Sounds Sessions will be released to digital services.

Released May 16, 1966, Pet Sounds is often considered one of the best albums of all time. Recorded a year after Brian Wilson quit touring and suffered a breakdown in 1964, the album peaked at #10 on the Billboard Album chart; in 2004 it was chosen by the Library of Congress for inclusion in the National Recording Registry.

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Teyana Taylor is featured in People‘s World’s Most Beautiful Issue, and she uses the moment to pay tribute to one of her biggest musical inspirations: Janet Jackson.

For the shoot, she recreated Janet’s military-inspired cream outfit from the 1993-1995 Janet World Tour.

“Everybody who knows me, knows I don’t play about Janet,” Teyana says. “I’m still, like, her number one fan.”

“Everyone knows I’m obsessed with Janet. I’ve already recreated so many of her iconic looks,” she continues. “So I wanted to do something that’s a little different and unexpected.”

Teyana credits Janet for fueling her desire to be an artist, back when she discovered the DVD for Janet’s 1998-1999 Velvet Rope tour at 9 years old.

“When I saw it, oh my God. I knew what I wanted to do when I got older. I knew that I wanted to be an artist.”

Teyana has come a long way since then and now considers Janet a friend. She even credits Janet with helping her return to music.

“When I first retired from music (in December of 2020) she poured into me and gave me some really good advice,” Teyana says. “She played a big part in why I came back. It’s kind of crazy because now she’s like my homegirl in real life. … But even though we’ve grown a close bond, I’m still a fan. I don’t take it for granted.”

Janet has since responded to the tribute, telling People, “Wow, I just have to say wow, Tey. You did it — you captured it; you captured the energy, the mood. If only I had looked that beautiful.”

“I mean, the outfit — so gorgeous, honey, it’s absolutely stunning,” she adds. “I’m really honored, Tey. Thank you so much. I love it, absolutely love it.”

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Megan Moroney slides into Dolly Parton’s 1974 cover of the Jolene album for PEOPLE‘s new World’s Most Beautiful Issue.

Sporting a blue-striped pajama-esque outfit with white sleeves, Megan steps into the graphics for the classic album and assumes the same position as Dolly in a moment you can only see on the PEOPLE website. 

The “Beautiful” hitmaker can’t remember a time the global superstar wasn’t part of her life.

“I must have learned the songs in the womb,” she told PEOPLE. “I don’t remember an age where I learned these songs; I feel like I was born and I knew them. So I blame my mom for playing a lot of Dolly Parton in the car. I grew up in a household where it was like, ‘In this house, we respect Dolly Parton.’”

Beyond smashes like “I Will Always Love You,” which appears on the Jolene album, Megan’s influenced by Dolly’s fashion.

“I think Dolly has inspired my style because she’s always thought more is more, and I’m right there with you, girl — I love dressing up,” Megan says. “She’s always been super confident, knows exactly who she is; she’s kind and gracious, talented, over-the-top in some ways, but she really embraces it, so that’s always been inspiring to me.”

While Megan often wears hair extensions, she admits it took multiple wigs pinned and braided together to achieve Dolly’s mega-hairstyle from the mid-’70s. 

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A$AP Rocky has been vocal about his love for partner Rihanna, and he’s once again expressing his admiration for her in W Magazine’s new Pop issue.

Reflecting on her impact, Rocky says, “This woman has always been magic. Philosophically, the way she operates is on another level.”

“She is the most charming and genuine person on Earth. Her energy is unmatched—one of a kind. I just adore her,” he continues, noting that they enjoy watching documentaries together.

He is one of many stars featured in the story who speak to Rihanna’s impact and the lasting impression she leaves on those around her.

Elsewhere, Pharrell describes Rihanna as “a force,” while Mary J. Blige credits her with elevating the industry. Mariah Carey says she “had a feeling she was going to be a major star” when they met through Jay-Z when Rihanna was 17.

SZA talked about working with Rihanna on “Consideration,” while Donald Glover reflected on their time filming Guava Island, including her visit to Cuba ahead of production to “just chat and meet my son.”

For Ayra Starr, meeting Rihanna “was one of the most amazing feelings.”

“I was struggling with my self-image and confidence, so that moment meant everything,” she said. “It felt like God had sent her to me.”

The mag feature captures Rihanna with daughter Rocki Irish Mayers, who makes her first cover appearance. “cover girrrrrlz!!! baby Rocki served sumn serious on her first cover!” Rih wrote on Instagram. “came on set and shut her mama dowwwnn!!!!”

The full story, which also includes commentary from Jonah Hill and Sarah Paulson, is available on W Magazine‘s website.

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Cody Johnson is ready to rock ahead of his headlining set Friday at Stagecoach. 

His new Amazon Music Original, “Rabbit Gets the Gun,” features Jay Buchanan, lead singer of Rival Sons.

“Rival Sons has always been my favorite rock band,” Cody says. “I loved the chance to write with Jay, and being in the studio with him was an out-of-this-world experience.”

“He has so much soul and grit, and an unmistakable voice,” Cody continues. “We are so excited about our recording and want to get it out as soon as possible. Maybe I’ll add it to my Stagecoach set list.”

If you want to check out Cody’s set, you can watch via Amazon Music, the exclusive livestream destination for Stagecoach. 

You can access the feed starting at 3 p.m. PT Friday through Sunday via Prime Video, Twitch or the Amazon Music app.

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A new vinyl reissue of the Audioslave album Out of Exile has been announced.

The record will be available on June 12 on standard 180g black vinyl, as well as limited-edition D2C black liquid vinyl inspired by the original album cover artwork.

Out of Exile, originally released in 2005, marked the sophomore album from Audioslave, made up of Soundgarden frontman Chris Cornell and Rage Against the Machine members Tom Morello, Tim Commerford and Brad Wilk. It spawned the singles “Be Yourself,” “Your Time Has Come” and “Doesn’t Remind Me.”

Audioslave put out one more album, 2006’s Revelations, before breaking up in 2007. They reunited for a one-off show in January 2017. Cornell died just months later in May 2017.

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