Kassi Ashton is now engaged to Travis Myatt, general management of Nashville-based publishing company Twelve6 Entertainment, after five years of dating. The “Dates in Pickup Trucks” singer posted about the magical moment on Instagram, revealing that her now-fiancee popped the question in Key West, FL on the pier where they first met. He organized it so that her family was also part of it, secretly waiting on the beach to congratulate them after she said “yes.”
“He surprised me with this trip, my dream ring, my dream antique ring box, and my dream photographer, @ktcrabbphoto. I asked him how I was to repay him and he said, ‘marry me,'” she describes in the caption alongside a gallery of photos that show Travis down on one knee with a ring in hand under the stars, Kassi falling to her knees in tears. “It’s almost as if you and fate planned this all along. I love you so much @jtmyatt.”
“I was in love with her before she knew my first name… now she’s taking my last name,” Travis wrote in his own post wherein Kassi is showing off the massive diamond on her engagement ring.
Travis Denning, Little Big Town‘s Karen Fairchild, Grammy winning songwriter Lori McKenna and Jon Pardi‘s wife Summer were among the many people who shared congratulatory messages in the comment section.
Ed Sheeran is many things — a father, Grammy-winning singer, actor and even a “super busker” — but there is one thing he apparently isn’t: a smoker. And no, that doesn’t mean cigarettes.
Speaking to Australia’s Nova radio, Ed explained how partying with rapper The Game in 2013 showed him that he would made a very bad pothead.
“I remember I was in the studio once in, like 2013. I was doing some records with The Game and he took me to Compton… And we were in studio and we probably made like 13, 14 songs,” Ed recalled.
A few of the rapper’s friends came to the studio as the session was winding down and, says Ed, “It starts being a bit of a party.”
The “Shivers” singer said he decided to hang — cracking, “When in Rome!” — but reveals that probably wasn’t one of his best decisions. “I took a tiny, tiny, tiny puff on something and I was out,” he laughed. “I had to go home. I don’t really do that at all.”
Ed recently announced he is coming to Australia and New Zealand as part of his upcoming tour to promote his latest album, = (Equals), and said he is crossing his fingers he gets to do it.
“I got the final plans for it the last day of the Divide tour, and they’ve been building for three years,” he explained. “It’s a big financial risk. I hope that there’s not another pandemic, touch wood.”
The Interrupters and Flogging Molly are teaming up for a U.S. co-headlining tour this summer.
The joint outing launches June 7 in Indianapolis, and concludes September 21 in Paso Robles, California.
“We can’t wait to sing together, dance together and celebrate live music with everyone!” The Interrupters say. “See you all very soon!”
Tickets go on sale this Friday, March 18, at 10 a.m. local time. For the full list of dates and all ticket info, visit WeAreTheInterrupters.com or FloggingMolly.com.
The Interrupters’ most recent album is 2018’s Fight the Good Fight, which spawned the group’s breakout single, “She’s Kerosene.” Last summer, they opened for Green Day, Fall Out Boy and Weezer’s U.S. Hella Mega tour.
Flogging Molly, meanwhile, just released a new track called “These Times Have Got Me Drinking” last week, marking their first fresh tune since their last album, Life Is Good, dropped in 2017.
Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for Fenty Beauty by Rihanna
Rihanna is counting down the days until she welcomes her first child with boyfriend A$AP Rocky and, in a new interview, teased how she plans to approach motherhood.
ELLEasked Rih, “which Real Housewives mom are you most looking towards now that you’re going to be a mom?” Rihanna’s answer: Teresa Giudice.
“She will flatten you about those kids. And that resonates with me a lot because I feel like that’s the type of mom I’m going to be. Psycho about it,” said Rih. The singer added she will do more than “flip a table” if her child’s privacy is violated. “You talk about my kids, it’s over,” she promised.
Rihanna is heavily guarding information regarding her unborn child and has not publicly revealed the gender, name or exact due date of her little one.
She also shared the best advice she’s received now that she’s inching closer to her rumored spring due date: “Sleep now because I won’t get much later.” She added, “I need to work on that before it’s a thing of the past.”
Gwen Stefani added another major event to her packed summer schedule — the 2022 Hollywood Bowl. The Grammy winner will kick off this year’s festivities, which also coincide with the event’s 100th anniversary.
Gwenwill have the honor of launching the Hollywood Bowl’s summer lineup, which will double as an opening night spectacular featuring the LA Philharmonic, aka the LA Phil, the Los Angeles Philharmonic Association announced Tuesday. The singer will team with LA Phil to perform a medley of her hits, including “Don’t Speak,” “Used to Love You,” “Hollaback Girl” and more.
Musical director Gustavo Dudamel will also lead the LA Phil in debuting a fanfare orchestral piece that composer John Williams created specifically to honor the Hollywood Bowl’s centennial anniversary.
Gwen will also be joined by Grammy-winning saxophonist Branford Marsalis, as well as the Let It Happen dance group and ballet dancer Roberto Bolle. The night will also feature the UCLA Bruin and USC Trojan marching bands, as well as a fireworks display.
The opening night celebration will be held June 3. Tickets are now on sale at the Hollywood Bowl’s official website.
Kane Brown leads all comers for the 2022 CMT Music Awards, the nominations for which were revealed Wednesday morning. Two-time nominee Carly Pearce helped announce four major categories during the 8 a.m. hour on CBS Mornings, with the remaining nominations following later today.
Kane scored nominations in four categories, including the most coveted award of the night, Video of the Year. Mickey Guyton and Kelsea Ballerini follow close behind, with three nods each.
The 2022 CMT Music Awards also includes a brand-new category, the CMT Digital-First Performance of the Year award, which recognizes performances given as part of the CMT Digital segment. Among those competing for the award in its first year are Carly, Brittney Spencer, Cody Johnson, Jon Pardi, Josh Turner and Lainey Wilson.
Brittney and Cody are two of the artists recognized for the first time at the CMT Awards, joining fellow first-time nominees Breland, Elvie Shane, Caitlyn Smith, Priscilla Block, MacKenzie Porter and Tenille Arts. Outside the country genre, other first-time nominees include H.E.R., and Paul Klein of LANY.
Voting for the 2022 CMT Awards is open now. The show will broadcast live from Nashville on CBS — its first time airing on a major broadcast TV network — on April 11 at 8 p.m. ET. Kane and Kelsea hosted the awards show last year, and Kelsea will return as a co-host in 2022, alongside actor Anthony Mackie.
Here are this year’s CMT Music Awards nominees:
VIDEO OF THE YEAR Brandi Carlile — “Right on Time” Cody Johnson — “‘Til You Can’t” Cole Swindell & Lainey Wilson — “Never Say Never” Jason Aldean & Carrie Underwood — “If I Didn’t Love You” Kacey Musgraves — “justified” Kane Brown — “One Mississippi” Kelsea Ballerini feat. Kenny Chesney — “Half of My Hometown” Luke Combs — “Forever After All” Maren Morris — “Circles Around This Town” Mickey Guyton — “Remember Her Name” Miranda Lambert — “If I Was a Cowboy” Taylor Swift feat. Chris Stapleton — “I Bet You Think About Me (Taylor’s Version) (From the Vault)”
MALE VIDEO OF THE YEAR Cody Johnson — “‘Til You Can’t” Eric Church — “Heart on Fire” Kane Brown — “One Mississippi” Luke Bryan — “Waves” Luke Combs — “Forever After All” Thomas Rhett — “Country Again” Walker Hayes — “Fancy Like”
FEMALE VIDEO OF THE YEAR Brandi Carlile — “Right on Time” Gabby Barrett — “Footprints on the Moon” Kacey Musgraves — “justified” Maren Morris — “Circles Around This Town” Mickey Guyton — “Remember Her Name” Miranda Lambert — “If I Was a Cowboy” Tenille Arts — “Back Then, Right Now”
DUO/GROUP VIDEO OF THE YEAR Brothers Osborne — “I’m Not For Everyone” Dan + Shay — “Steal My Love” Maddie & Tae — “Woman You Got” Old Dominion — “I Was On a Boat That Day” Parmalee — “Take My Name” Zac Brown Band — “Same Boat”
BREAKTHROUGH VIDEO OF THE YEAR Breland — “Cross Country” Caitlyn Smith feat. Old Dominion — “I Can’t” Elvie Shane — “My Boy” Parker McCollum — “To Be Loved By You” Tenille Arts — “Back Then, Right Now”
COLLABORATIVE VIDEO OF THE YEAR Carly Pearce & Ashley McBryde — “Never Wanted to Be That Girl” Dustin Lynch feat. MacKenzie Porter — “Thinking ‘Bout You” Nelly & Florida Georgia Line — “Lil Bit” Jason Aldean & Carrie Underwood — “If I Didn’t Love You” Jimmie Allen & Brad Paisley — “Freedom Was a Highway” Jordan Davis feat. Luke Bryan — “Buy Dirt” Kelsea Ballerini feat. Kenny Chesney — “half of my hometown”
CMT PERFORMANCE VIDEO OF THE YEAR Brothers Osborne — “Muskrat Greene/Dead Man’s Curve Medley (from CMT Campfire Sessions)” George Strait — “Is Anybody Goin’ to San Antone (from CMT GIANTS: Charley Pride)” H.E.R. feat. Chris Stapleton — “Hold On (from 2021 CMT Music Awards)” Kane Brown — “Three Wooden Crosses (from 2021 CMT Artists of the Year)” Kelsea Ballerini feat. Paul Klein of LANY — “I Quit Drinking (from 2021 CMT Music Awards)” Mickey Guyton feat. Gladys Knight & Breland — “Friendship Train (from 2021 CMT Music Awards)” Nelly feat. Kane Brown, Blanco Brown & Breland — “Ride Wit Me (from CMT Crossroads: Nelly & Friends”)
CMT DIGITAL-FIRST PERFORMANCE OF THE YEAR Brittney Spencer — “Sober and Skinny (from CMT Campfire Sessions)” Carly Pearce — “Dear Miss Loretta (from CMT :60 Songs)” Cody Johnson — “Dear Rodeo (from CMT Campfire Sessions)” Jon Pardi — “On the Other Hand / Forever and Ever Amen” (in honor of 2021 CMT Artist of a Lifetime Randy Travis) Josh Turner LIVE (from CMT KickBack) Lainey Wilson — “Things a Man Oughta Know” (from the CMT Studio)
John Oates of Hall & Oates kicks off a brief solo acoustic tour tonight, March 16, in Phoenixville, Pennsylvania.
The trek will feature Oates teaming up with acclaimed Nashville session guitarist Guthrie Trapp, a longtime member of John’s solo group The Good Road Band, for an intimate evening of songs and stories.
Oates tells ABC Audio that the concept for the show “was spawned by [Guthrie and I] sitting in the living room and just playing, and we kind of looked at each other and said, ‘Man, this really sounds good. Wouldn’t it be cool if we could just go out and do this in front of people?’ And we kind of laughed and we said…’Why not? Let’s bring the living room to the stage.””
John says the show will feature songs by artists who influenced him as a young musician, some favorites from his solo career, tunes he co-wrote with artists other than Daryl Hall, and “newer songs that I’ve just written.”
As Oates explains, “I’m using this show as a vehicle to…show people that, hey, there’s a whole other musical life here that…was definitely shelved during the halcyon days of the Hall & Oates craziness.”
That being said, John reveals that he will include a few of his favorite Hall & Oates tunes in his show, performed “in a very acoustic kind of reimagined way.”
Oates tells ABC Audio that he and Trapp have played a few gigs like the ones they’ll be showcasing on the tour, noting that “the response has been phenomenal, and people really seem to love the intimacy and the casual approach that we’re doing.”
The U.S. trek, which visits seven venues in the Northeast, runs through a March 26 date in Newport, Rhode Island. Check out John’s full schedule at JohnOates.com.
Sammy Hagar knows a thing or two about what makes a great cocktail, having launched a number of popular liquor brands over the years, so it seems natural that the Red Rocker would want to share some of his favorite drink recipes with the world.
The Rock & Roll Hall of Famer will be doing just that with a new book titled Sammy Hagar’s Cocktail Hits: 85 Personal Favorites from the Red Rocker, which will be released on March 29.
Hagar co-wrote the book with James Beard Award-winning cookbook author James O. Fraioli. The collection of recipes showcase drinks made with Sammy’s award-winning spirits, including Santo Tequilas and Santo Mezquila, brands that Hagar launched with celebrity chef Guy Fieri, and Beach Bar Rum, a partnership between Sammy and Rick Springfield.
Among the signature cocktails featured in the book are the Coconut Mojito, Maui Mama, Tiki Swizzle, Blanco Gimlet, Coco Loco, Coronarita, Santo Oaxaca, Santo Paloma, Brazilian Kiss, Vojito, Strawberry Surf and Black & Blue Lemonade.
To accompany each recipe, Hagar has penned segments in which he shares some of his fondest memories.
“I wrote this book for [my fans] the Redheads,” says Hagar. “I have been working and studying the art of making and drinking cocktails for decades now and have finally pulled together all of my favorites, my knowledge on how to do it, and what you need to throw the best parties with the best cocktails. I guarantee this is the only cocktail book you will ever need.”
Sammy Hagar’s Cocktail Hits includes a foreword written by Fieri. The book can be pre-ordered now, and is available in hardcover for $29.99 and in a Kindle edition for $19.99. Visit RedRocker.com for more information.
At age 77, Rod Stewart‘s long past the age when most people retire, but he just keeps on going. Still, that’s not stopping him from performing at a three-day virtual event being staged by AARP.
The event, called AARP Celebrates You, runs from March 24 to March 26. It’ll feature musical performances, celebrity chats, a movie screening and informational discussions, and it’s free. So if you couldn’t get tickets to Rod’s upcoming North American tour, now’s your chance to see him in action.
Rod will be performing March 25 from 8 to 9 p.m. ET, and the organizers promise he’ll be singing hits like “Maggie May,” “You’re in My Heart,” and “Have I Told You Lately.”
And if a free performance from Rod’s not enough to make you want to sign up, the event also features a moderated discussion with Tina Fey and Amy Poehler, Dolly Parton and James Patterson discussing their new co-authored book Run Rose Run and a Motown Dance Party with The Commodores, Gloria Gaynor and DJ Jazzy Jeff.
You can register, and find out more about all the stars who’ll be there and the sessions being offered, at aarp.org/celebrates.
It may be a little while until Halloween, but the spooky season is getting a head start this year thanks to the Trinity of Terror tour.
The triple-headlining bill features Black Veil Brides, Motionless in White and Ice Nine Kills. As BVB frontman Andy Biersack tells ABC Audio, he’s long dreamed of launching a tour like this.
“Us and Motionless have toured together before, it was, like, 11 years ago, and both of our careers are in a very different place nowadays,” Biersack says. “So we just thought it would always kind of be, like, the ultimate thing.”
He adds, “And then Ice Nine Kills has just grown exponentially over the years and have just gotten so huge in kind of the world that are bands exist in. And so it just seemed like an obvious thing to be able to try to get us all three together.”
Every night on the tour, the three bands will play a full-length, full-production set, with a rotating order.
“I think the biggest goal is to try to utilize as much video as possible,” Biersack says of the stage setup.
In addition to having easily abbreviated band names, BVB, MiW and INK all share a certain common horror-esque vibe. Still, Biersack says you can expect “three very different shows” on the tour.
“You’ve got Motionless, who is a traditionally very heavy band,” Biersack says. “You’ve got Ice Nine Kills, who’s very theatrical in terms of lyric and tone, and their stage show involves a lot of theatrics. And then we come from a more rock ‘n’ roll, hard rock singalong, big guitar solos, gang vocals kind of world.”
The Trinity of Terror tour launches this Thursday, March 17, in Mesa, Arizona.
