The sweet song finds Sam observing “real love” and “real life” as he reflects on a relationship when he was 23 years old, a moment frozen in time. Throughout the song, the singer reflects on the former couple’s first trip to New Orleans and a visit to Folly Beach while looking ahead to the future, imagining his past love working at an office job and longing for their past adventures.
Though the singer tells his lover that she’s free to move on in life, the two will always have the memories made together when they were 23.
“No matter where I go/No matter what I do/I’ll never be 23 with anyone but you/You can marry who you want/Go back to Tennessee/But you’ll never be 23/With anyone but me,” Sam professes over a summery guitar melody.
“23” is Sam’s first single since “Breaking Up Was Easy in the 90s” topped the country charts earlier this year. He also released an acoustic version of “23,” recorded at Ocean Way studio in Nashville.
How nervous was Camila Cabello before her first date with Shawn Mendes? So nervous that she had to get drunk and sing a special song to build up her courage.
Camila appeared in the “Carpool Karaoke” segment of The Late Late Show with James Corden Wednesday night with her Cinderella co-stars Idina Menzel and Billy Porter, and revealed that “in preparation for dates” and “for life,” she would sing “Defying Gravity,” Idina’s big number from the Broadway show Wicked.
“I swear, before Shawn and I’s first date, I was so nervous, I took two tequila shots and sang ‘Defying Gravity’ over and over,” Camila admitted. Explaining that while she and Shawn were friends at the time, they weren’t “together,” and there were a lot of “stakes” — including when they’d have their first kiss.
“So he’s about to come over and I’m, like, so nervous I just can’t take it,” Camila continued. “My dad is there and I’m like, ‘Pour me two tequila shots — just do it!’ and I sang ‘Defying Gravity!'”
Of course, James, Billy, Idina and Camila then burst into a rendition of the song, as the audience cheered wildly.
“Oh my God, if Shawn Mendes knew the second he walked in the door that that was happening….” James began.
“…He’d be terrified!” replied Camila.
Things seem to have worked out O.K. for the couple, though: They’ve been together for more than two years.
ABC/Eric McCandless / Disney Channel/Image Group LA
Jason Aldean and Carrie Underwood shine in spite of heartbreak in the video for “If I Didn’t Love You.”
The visual follows Jason as he sits alone in an empty house, the remaining items covered in white sheets to hide the memories of a past love. Meanwhile, his duet partner finds him singing inside the lavish Schermerhorn Symphony Center in Nashville, where the two belt out the song onstage between clips of Jason bringing some music back into the house again, letting out his emotions as he plays the piano.
“Carrie was made for this song, but also for this video,” Jason says in a statement. “I’m glad that she was down to get together to make it. It’s something that turned out a little outside of what I’d normally do, which is always cool.”
“If I Didn’t Love You” is racing up the charts, currently inside the top 10 on the Billboard Country Airplay chart and the top 15 on the all-genre Billboard Hot 100.
Wednesday marked the 15th anniversary of Justin Timberlake‘s landmark sophomore album FutureSex/LoveSounds, which turned him from a rising solo artist into a global superstar. It’s no wonder he took to Instagram to pay special tribute to the multi-platinum project.
“15 years ago today, I released my 2nd album… FutureSex/LoveSounds. This album changed my life,” Justin wrote, posting snippets of the videos for the album’s many hits. “Every album is a different chapter and special to me but, this one??? I don’t even know if I have the words.”
“I’m often asked what my favorite song on the album is but they’re all my babies so I can’t pick,” Justin continued. “But I do know this: album STILL HITS.”
Released September 8, 2006, FutureSex/LoveSounds featured production by Timbaland. Justin also shared a snippet of an interview where the two men talk about their collaboration. Among the album’s hits: “My Love,” “What Goes Around…Comes Around,” “LoveStoned/I Think She Knows” and of course, “SexyBack.”
FutureSex/LoveSounds hit number one and was nominated for Album of the Year at the 2007 Grammys. While it didn’t win in that category, all the singles from the album won Grammys in their respective categories.
Echoing the feelings of many fans who posted that they suddenly felt very old, actress/director Olivia Wilde commented, “I’m sorry 15 YEARS?”
The worldwide 24-hour Global Citizen Live concert. taking place September 25. has announced its lineups for both LA and London.
The show in Los Angeles will take place at the Greek Theatre and feature Adam Lambert, Demi Lovato, OneRepublic, Chloe X Halle, H.E.R., The Lumineers, 5 Seconds of Summer and Ozuna, as well as music legend Stevie Wonder. Tickets are available now at GlobalCitizenLive.la.
In a statement, Wonder said, “It is again my pleasure and honor to join with all of the artists who are using their gift of song to celebrate the Global Citizens’ event by doing our part in working against global warming, starvation and singing for equality around the world…We Are The Village!!!”
The London lineup for the show will feature dance diva Kylie Minogue, disco legends Nile Rodgers & CHIC, Duran Duran, Rag’n’Bone Man and “Beggin'” band Måneskin.
As previously reported, the New York part of the show will include Camila Cabello, Shawn Mendes, Alessia Cara, Jennifer Lopez, Billie Eilish, Coldplay and more. Ed Sheeran, Doja Cat, Black Eyed Peas, Charlie Puth and DJ Snake will perform from Paris, and Lorde, BTS, Usher, Ricky Martin, Green Day and Metallica will round out the broadcast.
ABC News Live will broadcast the full event starting at 12:30 p.m. ET on September 25, with a highlights show scheduled to air on ABC September 26 at 7 p.m. ET. Tickets for Paris, New York City, and Los Angeles can be earned by taking action at GlobalCitizenLive.org.
The goal of Global Citizen Live is to encourage people to call upon world leaders, philanthropists and politicians to prioritize vaccine equality, climate change and famine.
Meghan Trainor is the host of Peacock’s new Top Chef spinoff, Top Chef: Family Style, where talented kid chefs team up with a family member to compete. The show, whose first two episodes hit the streaming service today, features celebrity chef Marcus Samuelsson as the judge, because, as Meghan admits, she knew nothing about food when she took the job.
“The first week, I would try to guess what Marcus would think. I would say, ‘Don’t tell me, don’t tell me! I’m going to try to guess,'” Meghan tells ABC Audio about offering comments on the contestants’ food. “And a lot of times I was right. So then I started trusting myself more and I would [give more] input, and Marcus would be so proud, because I was really learning!”
The Grammy-winner says by doing the show, she was introduced to many foods she’d never tasted before, like mole [MOE-lay] and sea urchin. “I learned about flavors, texture…every bite should be magical!” she explains. “I learned how to appreciate…I had no idea. I was just shovin’ it down!”
Meghan filmed the show when her baby son, Riley, was three months old, and he spent most of the time hanging out with her husband, Daryl Sabara. But Meghan reveals with a laugh, “Any time I had a break, I would tell the guest chefs, like, ‘Do you want to see a baby?’…[So Riley] had a lot of visitors.”
Between this program and her upcoming show Clash of the Cover Bands, some fans might feel that Meghan’s abandoned her music career — but don’t worry.
“I did those shows when I was recovering from the C-section and being a new mom,” she says. “And now I’m finally in my studio mode and I’m writing songs for my fourth album.”
Reigning Entertainer of the Year Eric Church is tied for the most nominations at the upcoming 55th Annual CMA Awards, alongside Chris Stapleton, who’ll compete for the night’s biggest honor as well. Luke Combs, Miranda Lambert and Carrie Underwood round out this year’s contenders for Entertainer.
Female Vocalist nominee Gabby Barrett grabs four nods, while Brothers Osborne, Kane Brown, Luke Combs, Miranda, Ashley McBryde, Maren Morris and Chris Young all nabbed three.
Miranda also maintains her impressive streak as the most-nominated female artist in CMA history, with 58 total. That puts her neck-in-neck with Brad Paisley for the third-most all-time nods overall.
Perhaps the most interesting nomination of 2021 comes with the return of Morgan Wallen, who’s nominated for Album of the Year, for Dangerous: The Double Album, which happens to be music’s best-selling project in any genre this year.
Though Morgan has been widely dropped from country radio and awards shows since being caught using a racial slur earlier this year, the CMA opted not to exclude him, which would’ve taken his collaborators out of the running as well. Producers Dave Cohen, Matt Dragstrem, Jacob Durrett, Charlie Handsome and Joey Moi could therefore take home trophies as well.
The 55th Annual CMA Awards air Wednesday, November 10 at 8 p.m. ET on ABC. So far, the Country Music Association hasn’t revealed who’ll host this year’s show.
The late Otis Redding was born 80 years ago today. The soul legend was just 26-years-old when he was killed in a plane crash on December 10, 1967.
Born in Dawson, Georgia, and raised in Macon, Redding sang gospel at an early age and was inspired by his love of Sam Cooke and Little Richard to become a soul singer.
Redding was signed to Stax Records in 1962. His first single for the famed Memphis, Tennessee, label was the original song “This Heart of Mine” that reached #20 on Billboard‘s R&B singles chart.
Over the next couple of years, Otis scored a series of big R&B hits.
Redding’s first hits on the Billboard Hot 100 came in 1965 with the ballad “I’ve Been Loving You Too Long” and the soul rave-up “Respect,” which peaked at #21 and #35, respectively. The latter tune later became Aretha Franklin‘s signature song after she covered it in 1967.
Otis continued to enjoy crossover success in 1966 and ’67 with hits that included “Try a Little Tenderness.”
Also in 1967, two duets that Redding recorded with Carla Thomas, “Tramp” and “Knock on Wood,” reached the Hot 100’s top 30.
Otis’ dynamic performance at the 1967 Monterey Pop festival would bring him more acclaim and attention.
On December 7, 1967, three days before his death, Redding finished recording “(Sittin’ on) The Dock of the Bay,” a song he’d co-written with his guitarist and frequent collaborator, Steve Cropper.
In March ’68, “The Dock of the Bay” became the first posthumous song to hit #1 on the Hot 100.
Thursday morning, the Country Music Association revealed the nominees for the 55th Annual CMA Awards.
Chris Stapleton and Eric Church lead all nominees, with five nods each, including Entertainer of the Year. Gabby Barrett has the second-highest number of nominations, with four, including Female Vocalist of the Year and New Artist of the Year.
The CMA Awards will air Wednesday, November 10 at 8 p.m. ET on ABC. Here’s a complete rundown of the contenders:
Entertainer of the Year
Eric Church
Luke Combs
Miranda Lambert
Chris Stapleton
Carrie Underwood
Single of the Year
“Famous Friends” — Chris Young with Kane Brown
“The Good Ones” — Gabby Barrett
“Hell of a View” — Eric Church
“One Night Standards” — Ashley McBryde
“Starting Over” — Chris Stapleton
Album of the Year 29 — Carly Pearce Dangerous: The Double Album — Morgan Wallen Heart — Eric Church Skeletons — Brothers Osborne Starting Over — Chris Stapleton
Song of the Year
“Forever After All” — Luke Combs, Drew Parker, Robert Williford
“The Good Ones” — Gabby Barrett, Zach Kale, Emily Landis, Jim McCormick
“Hell of a View” — Casey Beathard, Eric Church, Monty Criswell
“One Night Standards” — Nicolette Hayford, Shane McAnally, Ashley McBryde
“Starting Over” — Mike Henderson, Chris Stapleton
Female Vocalist of the Year
Gabby Barrett
Miranda Lambert
Ashley McBryde
Maren Morris
Carly Pearce
Male Vocalist of the Year
Dierks Bentley
Eric Church
Luke Combs
Thomas Rhett
Chris Stapleton
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
Florida Georgia Line
Maddie & Tae
Musical Event of the Year
“Buy Dirt” — Jordan Davis and Luke Bryan
“Chasing After You” — Ryan Hurd with Maren Morris
“Drunk (And I Don’t Wanna Go Home)” — Elle King & Miranda Lambert
“Famous Friends” — Chris Young with Kane Brown
“half of my hometown” — Kelsea Ballerini (featuring Kenny Chesney)
Music Video of the Year
“Chasing After You” — Ryan Hurd with Maren Morris
“Famous Friends” — Chris Young with Kane Brown
“Gone” — Dierks Bentley
“half of my hometown” — Kelsea Ballerini (featuring Kenny Chesney)
“Younger Me” — Brothers Osborne
New Artist of the Year
Jimmie Allen
Ingrid Andress
Gabby Barrett
Mickey Guyton
HARDY
As the final days of summer approach, Luke Bryan ends the season with his 27th #1, “Waves,” topping the chart for the second week in a row. Once again, it’s a song like “Roller Coaster” and “One Margarita” that’s perfect for warm weather.
“I always love to have a big summer song out there,” Luke reflects, “and ‘Waves’ certainly really checks a lot of those boxes, and talks about the love of summer and being at the beach.”
“But the main thing is vocally, I loved doing something different like that,” he adds. “And production-wise, I just thought it was a new sound for me.”
While Luke may love to stretch his wings, he warns that fans shouldn’t worry: he’s always coming back to his country roots.
“As long as I can kinda teeter back and forth between a song like ‘Waves,'” he explains, “and then have songs that have more country sounds, too…I mean, all these songs kinda, they move back and forth within a framework of what I try to do. And I think potentially my next single may be something pretty, pretty country,” he hints.
“Waves” is Luke’s fifth #1 from his Born Here Live Here Die Here album. So far, he hasn’t revealed whether his next release will be another track from that record.
