Music

After years of being a country star, Faith Hill is no stranger to being a performer, but the singer says that acting as a different character on the set of 1883 posed a different, exciting kind of challenge.

“Having the opportunity to play a character other than myself was nice,” she tells actor Courteney Cox for Variety’s “Actors on Actors” series. “It was really rewarding.”

An extra perk for Faith was being able to act alongside her country superstar husband, Tim McGraw, who played the character of James Dutton — her on-screen husband — on the show.

“And to be able to do it with Tim was remarkable. And we’ve been married for 24 years. We’ve done everything together,” Faith continues, explaining that though both of them had acted in the past, co-starring was new. “This was the first thing we had never done together.”

Still, even after all these years on stage, Faith says that performing still feels fresh. “I love performing, and it does come naturally to me three songs in,” she admits. “I stand near my band most of the time, and I’m constantly having to be reminded, ‘Oh yeah, the audience is that way!’”

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Kate Bush‘s “Running Up That Hill” is now officially the #1 single in her home country.

The U.K.’s Official Charts Company announced Friday that the 1985 single, which has seen a massive resurgence over the last few weeks thanks to its placement in the newly-premiered fourth season of Netflix’s Stranger Things, has hit the top spot on the Official Singles Chart.

“Running Up That Hill” gives Bush her second #1 U.K. hit, coming a mere 44 years after she first conquered the Official Singles Chart in 1978 with her debut track, “Wuthering Heights.” That sets a new record for longest wait between #1 U.K. singles, breaking the previous mark of 42 years set by “It’s Not Unusual” singer, Tom Jones.

Additionally, “Running Up That Hill” breaks the record for longest journey to #1 — the 37 years between its debut on the Official Singles Chart and its ascension to the top spot best the 36 years Wham!‘s “Last Christmas” took to achieve that feat.

Bush, who turns 64 in July, is also now the oldest female artist to reach #1 in the U.K — beating Cher, who was 52 when “Believe” took #1 — and the fifth oldest overall.

In the U.S., “Running Up That Hill” sits at #4 on the Billboard Hot 100, giving Bush her first top-five single.

Since the “Running Up That Hill”-aissance began following Stranger Things‘ season four premiere in May, the normally press-shy Bush has issued several public statements. Her latest, aptly titled “On Top of That Hill,” celebrates its now #1 status.

“I’m overwhelmed by the scale of affection and support the song is receiving,” Bush writes. “It’s all happening really fast, as if it’s being driven along by a kind of elemental force.”

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After dropping his surprise album Honestly, Nevermind at midnight on Friday, Drake has released the music video for “Falling Back.”

In the nearly 10-minute clip, Drake marries 23 women and gets a wedding day pep talk from – of all people – Khloe Kardashian’s cheater ex Tristan Thompson.

The video also features a brief cameo from Drake’s mom as well as comedian Dan Finnerty playing a wedding singer who performs a rendition of “Best I Ever Had.” At one point, Drake also flashes a “Free YSL” message on the screen, in reference to the incarceration of Young Thug, Gunna and others associated with Young Stoner Life Records after they were arrested on RICO charges.

Towards the end of the video, Drake spotlights each of the brides and includes their names and Instagram handles.

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Jimmie Allen is commemorating Juneteenth tonight with a hosting spot celebrating the holiday, and Black Music Month, with performances from an all-genre array of stars.

Called Sound of Freedom — A Juneteenth Celebration, the special is part of ABC News’ Soul of a Nation series. The event will feature performances from Patti LaBelle, Marvin Sapp and Jon Batiste, plus conversations with Ciara, Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, who will address the importance of ownership in music with ABC News’ Janai Norman.

Another segment will feature correspondent Rachel Scott, putting a spotlight on some of the “all-Black production teams behind major artists and groups.”

The special will air on Friday at 8 p.m. ET on ABC. The following day, it will be available to stream on Hulu. It’s the third year in a row that the network has produced the special, but according to co-executive producer Catherine McKenzie, it is one of the most important specials to date.

“From gospel and country to jazz, rock and today’s pop hits, every genre of American music is influenced by the Black Diaspora and our stories of survival, joy, pain and resilience,” McKenzie says in a press release. “We’re looking forward to taking viewers on this musical journey in one of our most significant specials yet.”

Co-executive producer Quiana Burns adds that it’s “a must-watch for all viewers.”

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Kesha is most definitely a gay icon, but in a new post in honor of Pride Month, the singer says as far as her own sexuality, she isn’t sure where she lands.

“Happy pride! In case I haven’t been straight forward enough (LOL) I just wanted to take a sec to tell everyone that you are not only enough, just as you are, but the world is so fucking lucky to have you,” she wrote on Instagram, along with a picture that shows her in Iceland.

Then she continued, “I’m not gay. I’m not straight. I don’t know what I am. I love people. I love people because we are all our own little consciousness journeys, dancing around the sun. how weird and interesting and fun this life is, right? I refuse to be anything, really, except for open to it all.”

“I know it can be confusing sometimes, but you are so seen and loved,” she concluded. “Love u animals, happy pride see u at stonewall soon!!!!!”

Kesha was referring to her upcoming performance in front of New York City’s historic Stonewall Inn to mark Stonewall Day on June 24. Stonewall Day was established five years ago to commemorate the 1968 Stonewall riots, which are considered to be the beginning of the gay rights movement in the U.S.

In other Kesha news, her 2013 number-one hit with Pitbull, “Timber,” just hit the billion-stream mark on Spotify. A few days ago, she wrote on Instagram, “Thank u to every person who has ever streamed this song! Send me videos of ur best drunk timber moment. eeeekk this is so exciting. thanks animals. congrats @pitbull.”

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In a new interview for the ABC News special Sound of Freedom – A Juneteenth Celebration, airing Friday night, Grammy-winning singer and now record label owner Ciara opens up about owning her recording masters. For her, ownership is about the freedom to create the kind of art she wants to without seeking the approval of others.

“I’ve done this for almost 15 years. I’ve been in this these systems for so long. It’s like I can’t keep doing it this way,” Ciara says of the feelings that led her to own her masters. “I want to be free, like, I want to go and really be able to execute my vision how I envision it, not have to wait for someone to approve a budget. Not having to wait for someone to tell me what direction I should go in.”

Ciara’s journey to ownership started with her 2018 song, “Level Up,” which wouldn’t have been released if it’d been up to her then record label, she says. 

“I had to meet with the new CEO, and I had my game plan. I had this song called ‘Level Up.’ I had the video for this song as well. I had a whole vision for my project, and I sat down, and I talked to him, to the CEO at that time,” she says. “Like you know, once the meeting was over, and I knew he didn’t want to go forward with my project, I was like, this is my chance and I’m going to ask back for my masters…I’m literally going to level up.”

The record label ended up returning them to Ciara for free. Now, she says she’s in control of her legacy.

You can catch more of Ciara’s interview tonight at 8 p.m. ET on ABC.

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Måneskin has premiered a cover of Elvis Presley‘s 1968 “If I Can Dream,” recorded for the upcoming Elvis biopic.

Taking a different direction from what you might expect from the “Beggin'” rockers, Måneskin’s rendition of “If I Can Dream” opts for a slow-burn approach that builds to a crescendo towards the end of the song.

“Feeling so grateful to have had the chance to cover the King for [director Baz Luhrmann‘s] movie and recorded it in Graceland,” Måneskin says.

You can listen to the cover now via digital outlets.

Elvis, which stars Austin Butler in the title role and Tom Hanks as his manager, Colonel Tom Parker, premieres in theaters June 24. Its soundtrack, which will be released that same day, also includes contributions from Jack White, Tame Impala, Gary Clark Jr. and Stevie Nicks.

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Luke Combs’ highly-anticipated new album, Growin’ Up, is coming out next week, but before it does, he’s got one more new song to share with fans off the track list.

“The Kind of Love We Make” is a mid-tempo love song about carving out some time alone with a special someone — and watching the sparks fly as a result. The song’s music video, also out today, puts a literal spin on blazing passion: It follows a young firefighter and paramedic who find passion when they come together to extinguish a house fire.

Luke’s new song will be his next single following a record-setting 13 consecutive number-one hits that include “Doin’ This,” his lead single from Growin’ Up. The singer co-wrote “The Kind of Love We Make” with a group of frequent collaborators — Jamie Davis and Dan and Reid Isbell — and he speculates that the easy songwriting process might be due to a shared life experience between the co-writers.

“It ended up being one of those songs that wrote itself,” he recounts. “Dan, Reid and I are all having kids within a month of each other, so maybe this song had something to do with that.”

Luke and his wife, Nicole, are expecting their first child — a boy — any day now. Nicole has shared that her due date is in June.

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