Music

With 10 number-one hits to his name and another — “Never Say Never,” with Lainey Wilson — quickly ascending to the top of the chart, Cole Swindell knows first-hand that songs can change lives.

But when he was making his new album, Stereotype, the power of music took on a whole new meaning for Cole. He got to know his now-girlfriend, Courtney Little, after he asked her to play the role of his love interest in the music video for his song, “Some Habits.”

“That was kind of like our first date,” the singer tells People, admitting that being in an on-screen relationship with someone he didn’t yet know well in person was “pretty awkward.” Still, they hit it off, and went out after filming wrapped.

“And we’ve been together ever since,” Cole continues. “It’s a pretty, pretty wild story, but you never know. They say songs are powerful. I feel like now, after meeting her, I can finally check all the boxes.”

Stereotype came out earlier this month.

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Metallica guitarist Kirk Hammett has released a new song called “High Plains Drifter,” the first preview off his upcoming debut solo EP, Portals.

The instrumental piece includes contributions from orchestra conductor Edwin Outwater, who previously collaborated with Metallica for their 2019 S&M2 concerts, as well as Queens of the Stone Age drummer Jon Theodore and members of the LA Philharmonic.

“The music for ‘High Plains Drifter’ initially came from a Flamenco piece I had written,” Hammett explains. “It was a two-and-a-half-minute piece, and I really liked it, but it was one of those riffs that would be hard to integrate into Metallica.”

“I knew I wanted to do something with it, even though it came out spontaneously,” he adds. “I had been sitting outside messing around with a Flamenco acoustic guitar I’d just bought, and it flowed out in the moment. I was determined it would have a life. It would have its moment.”

“High Plans Drifter” is available now via digital outlets. It’s one of four instrumental tracks included on Portals, which will be released in full on Record Store Day, April 23.

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Michael Bublé revealed some surprising secrets about himself and his career in a tell-all interview — including a duet with Cher that almost came to be.

Speaking to ET Canada, the “I’ll Never Not Love You” singer, who has several major collaborations under his belt, was asked if he’d ever jump into the studio with Madonna and Cher.

“I’m trying to think what that would be [like],” Michael laughed at the thought of all three of them performing together.  While that may remain a pipe dream for many, he confirmed fans almost got to hear what a collaboration between him and Cher sounded like.

“I was very close to working with Cher just a little while ago,” he spilled of the “Believe” singer. “There was a Christmas thing or something I was doing and it didn’t happen.” 

When discussing other future collaborations, Michael revealed Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings star Simu Liu is at the top of his wish list.  

While that may be surprising for some, it should be noted the Grammy winner is a big Marvel fan and Liu is not only Canadian, he’s hosting the upcoming Juno Awards that Michael’s hosted multiple times.  Also, Liu expressed he would love to sing with Michael one day.

The Grammy winner was open to the idea and then took it a step farther, adding, “I would leave my wife [for him].”

Michael also hailed his “wonderful, lifelong friendship” with OneRepublic‘s Ryan Tedder.  When working in the studio together, the singer noted he not only walked away “with a hit song,” he left “12 pounds” heavier “because he kept bringing Chik-fil-A to the writing sessions… It is ridiculously good.”

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Chester Bennington‘s pre-Linkin Park band Grey Daze has announced a new album called The Phoenix, due out June 17.

Like Grey Daze’s previous album, 2020’s Amends, The Phoenix features newly recorded instrumentals accompanying Bennington’s original vocal takes from when he fronted the band in the ’90s.

“Amends was more emotional and reflective,” says Grey Daze drummer Sean Dowdell. “We felt sad when we were writing it. Now that we’re a couple of years removed, it’s very clear what we were going through. We were at a different stage of grief. We went through the shock and the sadness. Now, we’re back to gratitude.”

“The Phoenix is more of a celebration of our friend, his talent, and the music,” Dowdell continues. “It captures Chester’s angst and energy that people fell in love with. It’s much more aggressive. If you love Chester’s scream, you’ll love this record.”

The first single to be released from The Phoenix is called “Saturation (Strange Love),” and is available now via digital outlets. An accompanying video, featuring archival video of Bennington, is streaming now on YouTube.

The Phoenix also includes guest spots from Jane’s Addiction‘s Dave Navarro, Filter‘s Richard Patrick, and Bennington’s daughters Lily and Lila.

Bennington had announced a reunion with Grey Daze prior to his untimely death in July 2017. The remaining band members decided to continue on with the project with the blessing of Chester’s widow, Talinda Bennington.

Here’s the track list for The Phoenix:

“Saturation (Strange Love)”
“Starting to Fly”
“Be Your Man”
“Holding You” feat. Dave Navarro
“Hole” feat. Lily & Lila Bennington
“Drag”
“Believe Me” feat. Richard Patrick
“Anything, Anything”
“Spin”
“Wake Me”

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Late Foo Fighters drummer Taylor Hawkins posthumously guests on a newly released song from Edgar Winter, frontman of “Free Ride” band The Edgar Winter Group.

Hawkins lends his vocals to a track called “Guess I’ll Go Away,” an energetic rocker that nonetheless takes on a heavy new meaning in light of his unexpected passing last month.

“Guess I’ll Go Away” appears on Winter’s new album Brother Johnny, which itself is a tribute to Edgar’s late brother, blues-rock guitar legend Johnny Winter.

“I’m so happy to have had the opportunity to meet [Hawkins],” Winter previously told ABC Audio. “He had such energy, just pure love of music…And it touched my heart.”

Edgar added, “It’s probably one of [Hawkins’] last performances, and it means the world to me to have him on the song.”

“Guess I’ll Go Away,” along with the rest of Brother Johnny, is out today.

Hawkins died March 25 ahead of a Foo Fighters show in Bogotá, Colombia, planned for that night. He was 50 years old.

A few days after Hawkins’ passing, Foo Fighters canceled their upcoming tour dates.

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“I Hope” you’ll tune in when Gabby Barrett makes her return to American Idol.

The country/pop star came in third on the ABC show in 2018. Since then, she’s scored massive hits with “I Hope” — for which she was joined by Charlie Puth — and “The Good Ones.”  The latter song is about her husband, Cade Foehner, a fellow top 10 Idol finalist who she married in 2019.

Billboard reports that Gabby will return to Idol as a mentor to this season’s top 14 contestants, in an episode airing April 24.

Because this season is American Idol‘s 20th, the show is bringing back past contestants.  Country star Jimmie Allen, who competed on the show alongside future winner Scotty McCreery, mentored the Top 24 in Hawaii last week. On May 2, past contestants and winners, including Scotty, Jordin Sparks, David Cook, Ruben Studdard, Kris Allen and Lauren Alaina, will appear in a reunion special.

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Phoebe Bridgers‘ new song is officially here.

The track, called “Sidelines,” was previously teased in the trailer for the upcoming Hulu limited series Conversations with Friends. You can now listen to it in full via digital outlets.

Conversations with Friends, based on the 2017 novel by Sally Rooney, premieres May 15.

“Sidelines” is Bridgers’ first original song to follow her Grammy-nominated 2020 album, Punisher. Her current tour in support of the record continues Friday with her debut set at Coachella.

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Miley Cyrus‘ parents may be on the road to divorce, but Miley herself seems happy with her new love. E! Online has photos of Miley kissing musician Maxx Morando passionately on a street in West Hollywood on Thursday.

Morando, who’s the drummer for the band Liily, and Miley were first seen together in November at a Gucci fashion show.  He also attended Miley’s New Year’s Eve NBC special in Miami.  Morando is evidently also a cartoonist: In September, Miley called him “one of my favorite emerging artists” in the pages of Vogue.

E! Online reports that the two took a trip to Cabo San Lucas in February.  A source told E! in January, “They are both artistic and creative, so they bond over being musicians.”

Meanwhile, Miley’s mother Tish Cyrus filed divorce paperwork on April 6 to split with her husband of 29 years, Miley’s dad, Billy Ray Cyrus. The two had filed for divorce in 2010 and 2013, but subsequently dropped both cases.

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After giving birth to her second child – a baby boy – in September, Cardi B is finally ready to share him with the world.

The rapper and her husband Offset each shared some adorable pictures of the little guy on Thursday and revealed his name: Wave Set Cephus.

Cardi tweeted it was Offset who came up with the unique name. “When Set suggested Wave, I was sold! THAT HAD TO BE HIS NAME!” she wrote.

Cardi gave birth on September 4, 2021, revealing the news on social media a couple of days later. Cardi and Offset are also parents to three-year-old daughter, Kulture, and Offset has three children from previous relationships.

This week, Cardi returned to social media after deactivating her Instagram and Twitter earlier this month. She has some new music out today — she’s featured on the new Kay Flock track “Shake It,” along with Dougie B and Bory3000.

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