‘Take Me There’ for In-N-Out and golf: Rascal Flatts’ hidden ACM agenda

‘Take Me There’ for In-N-Out and golf: Rascal Flatts’ hidden ACM agenda
‘Take Me There’ for In-N-Out and golf: Rascal Flatts’ hidden ACM agenda
ACM Group of the Year nominees (Academy of Country Music)

Music City relocates to Sin City for the 61st Academy of Country Music Awards this weekend.

While it’s about trophies and performances for some, for Rascal Flatts’ Joe Don Rooney, his mind immediately goes somewhere else — like the drive-thru.

“First off, they have In-N-Out Burger,” he says. “Just recently, I think one opened up somewhere north of Nashville, but I’ve yet to go to it. But In-N-Out Burger is so dang good. And anytime we get out that way out West, we always try to hit that.”

In addition to potentially picking up a Double-Double, Joe Don has dreams on par with lots of other duffers and part-time pros. 

“The golf is just amazing in Vegas,” he adds. “And the ACMs used to have a golf event every year, and we used to take advantage of that for sure, because it was so much fun to play and meet new people, and of course, get to play with some other fellow artists.”

“[We’ve] got a picture somewhere, [of] me and Gary [LeVox] and Kix Brooks and Blake Shelton,” he continues. “And Blake has his blue jeans on, and they’re rolled up to his knees, almost like knickers that you’d wear playing golf. And I thought that was amazing. Like the guy just wears blue jeans everywhere.”

Rascal Flatts go into the 61st ACMs with their 14th nomination for group of the year. 

Tune in to see who wins starting Sunday at 8 p.m. ET  live from MGM Grand Garden Arena on Prime Video.

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Items from The Doors, The Who and more featured in Grammy Museum ‘Tower of Song’ exhibit

Items from The Doors, The Who and more featured in Grammy Museum ‘Tower of Song’ exhibit
Items from The Doors, The Who and more featured in Grammy Museum ‘Tower of Song’ exhibit
: Drummer Keith Moon performs with The Who at the Omni Coliseum on November 24, 1975 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Tom Hill/Getty Images)

The Grammy Museum has teamed with the Songwriters Hall of Fame for a new exhibit highlighting both inductees into the Songwriters Hall of Fame and recordings that have been inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame.

According to the description, Tower of Song: Iconic Songwriters & Recordings, opening May 28, “explores the art and craft of songwriting and recording to deepen visitors’ knowledge and appreciation for the songwriters, artists and albums that have shaped the sound of popular music over the past 50 years.”

Highlights of the exhibit include: The Who drummer Keith Moon’s gold drum kit that he played with the band and in the movie Tommy; a personal notebook belonging to The Doors’ Jim Morrison, along with a microphone used during live shows; and Nirvana frontman Kurt Cobain’s Mosrite Gospel electric guitar, used to write songs for 1991’s Nevermind, which was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 2018.

There are also SHOF inductee Neil Diamond’s handwritten lyrics to “Song Sung Blue” and the gold-rimmed glasses SHOF inductee Prince wore in Purple Rain, along with a lace shirt and blue cuff links worn on the Purple Rain tour.

“The Grammy Museum is where people can engage more deeply with the music of yesterday and today, discovering influences, uncovering context, and connecting with artists and songs in a meaningful way,” said Jasen Emmons, chief curator and vice president of curatorial affairs. “By exploring songwriters and recordings that have shaped music history, the Tower of Song exhibit invites music fans to hear and think about iconic songwriters and recordings in new ways.”

More information on the exhibit and tickets can be found at grammymuseum.org.

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How *NSYNC members became producers of the musical Ariana Grande called ‘the best show ever’

How *NSYNC members became producers of the musical Ariana Grande called ‘the best show ever’
How *NSYNC members became producers of the musical Ariana Grande called ‘the best show ever’
JC Chasez and Joey Fatone pose at the opening night of the new musical ‘Titanique’ on Broadway on April 12, 2026 in New York City. (Bruce Glikas/FilmMagic)

In 2019, Ariana brought four members of *NSYNC onstage to sing with her at Coachella. Now two members of *NSYNC are co-producers of the Tony-nominated Broadway musical that Ariana recently called “the best show ever.”

Joey Fatone and JC Chasez are producers of the musical spoof Titanique, which has received four Tony nods, including best musical. It currently features Ariana’s brother, Frankie J. Grande, who was also in the off Broadway version. 

As for how they got involved, Joey has starred in multiple Broadway shows, from Little Shop of Horrors to Rent to & Juliet. He tells ABC Audio, “I love the arts and I saw Titanique off Broadway. And [the show’s producer] Eva Price is one of the producers of & Juliet. And obviously I was on & Juliet and I said, ‘Hey, does any opportunity come along to be a producer, to be something or anything, I’d love to be part of it.'”

He then brought JC, who’s currently developing his own musical, on board: “I literally said to JC, I’m like, ‘C … dude, you want to do musicals, right? … Get in this so you can see what’s going on on this side of it.'”

“I mean, we know about business, but we don’t really know as far as [the] Broadway side,” Joey says. “It’s been great as far as just learning this side of it … and being proud of something from the outside, not onstage.”

“I’ve always been a theater kid anyway … so for me to be able to give back and to be to able to help productions, I’m all for it.”

Titanique imagines the movie Titanic as told by Céline Dion. Joey says, “It is wacky. It is so much fun.” 

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Blue October’s Justin Furstenfeld feels ‘really appreciative’ for ’Foiled’ ahead of 20th anniversary tour

Blue October’s Justin Furstenfeld feels ‘really appreciative’ for ’Foiled’ ahead of 20th anniversary tour
Blue October’s Justin Furstenfeld feels ‘really appreciative’ for ’Foiled’ ahead of 20th anniversary tour
‘Foiled’ album artwork. (Republic/UMe)

Blue October launches a U.S. tour in October celebrating the 20th anniversary of the band’s 2006 album, Foiled, and they’ve just announced a 2027 leg kicking off in January. 

Foiled spawned Blue October’s signature hits, “Hate Me” and “Into the Ocean.” Frontman Justin Furstenfeld tells ABC Audio that he was surprised those songs became as popular as they did, especially since he felt out of place among the big rock bands at the time.

“I’m more of, like, a Cure guy or a Smiths guy,” Furstenfeld says. “I just remember writing ‘Hate Me,’ and when it took off, I just remember thinking this is crazy that this song’s taking off, and I guess this is what it feels like.”

Furstenfeld feels he “really didn’t really appreciate” the success of Foiled at the time, noting, “there was just so much going on.” He was also in the throes of alcohol and drug addiction, which affected his relationship to those songs and the way he performed them.

“Back then it was like, ‘We’re going through the depression right now, man. It’s so dark,'” Furstenfeld says.

Now 20 years later and over a decade sober, Furstenfeld feels “really appreciative of how far that [Foiled] has let us come.”

“It’s gonna be a lot of fun to be able to perform it with everybody out of that headspace of like, ‘Oh god, we gotta do this!'” Furstenfeld says. “It’s more like, ‘These are the songs.’ They’ve stood the test of time, and we’re really proud to play them.” 

Presales for Blue October’s 2027 dates are ongoing, and tickets go on sale to the general public on Friday at 10 a.m. local time. For the full list of dates and all ticket info, visit BlueOctober.com.

A vinyl reissue of Foiled will be released May 29.

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Aerosmith ‘proud and grateful’ to be part of producer Jack Douglas’ legacy

Aerosmith ‘proud and grateful’ to be part of producer Jack Douglas’ legacy
Aerosmith ‘proud and grateful’ to be part of producer Jack Douglas’ legacy
Jay Messina, Jack Douglas and Steven Tyler listen to playback of tracks for Aerosmith’s “Draw The Line” Lp, while recording at The Cenacle in Armonk NY, May 15, 1977.(Ron Pownall/Getty Images)

Aerosmith has paid tribute to producer Jack Douglas, who produced four of their multi-Platinum albums.

Douglas died Monday at the age of 80. The band took to Instagram Wednesday to remember the producer, noting he “changed our lives.”

“We are mourning the loss of Jack Douglas, the legendary producer whose talent and passion shaped our sound and changed our lives,” the band wrote. “Jack was a brilliant artist and collaborator who inspired us in profound ways and left an indelible mark on the entire music industry.”

“We celebrate his life and epic career and feel so privileged to have known him and to benefit from his remarkable skill and friendship,” they added. “We are heartbroken for his family, but find comfort in knowing how much he loved his life and work. We are so proud and grateful to be part of his legacy.”

Douglas worked as producer and engineer on four Aerosmith albums in the 1970s: 1974’s Get Your Wings, 1975’s Toys in the Attic, 1976’s Rocks and 1977’s Draw the Line. He also produced 1982’s Rock in a Hard Place and 2012’s Music From Another Dimension!, which was the band’s final album. Douglas also helped write songs with the band and produced several of guitarist Joe Perry’s solo albums. 

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The Struts’ Luke Spiller shares new solo single, ‘When I Die Will I Miss Living’

The Struts’ Luke Spiller shares new solo single, ‘When I Die Will I Miss Living’
The Struts’ Luke Spiller shares new solo single, ‘When I Die Will I Miss Living’
The Struts’ Luke Spiller on ‘Good Morning America.’ (ABC/Paula Lobo)

The Struts frontman Luke Spiller has released a new solo single called “When I Die Will I Miss Living.”

The track follows Spiller’s debut solo album, Love Will Probably Kill Me Before Cigarettes And Wine, which was released in 2025.

You can watch the video for “When I Die Will I Miss Living” on YouTube. According to Spiller’s Instagram Story, the song will be featured in Wednesday night’s episode of the NBC series Chicago Med.

The Struts, meanwhile, have been in the studio working on their next record. Their most recent album is 2023’s Pretty Vicious.

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Music Notes: Ice Cube, Don Toliver and Skilla Baby

Music Notes: Ice Cube, Don Toliver and Skilla Baby
Music Notes: Ice Cube, Don Toliver and Skilla Baby

Ice Cube threw out the ceremonial pitch during Tuesday night’s game between the Los Angeles Dodgers and San Francisco Giants. The moment doubled as a reunion with his Friday co-star Mike Epps, who served as catcher for the pitch. The game also featured a giveaway of 40,000 bobbleheads of Ice Cube riding in his signature blue lowrider. An Ice Cube x Dodgers T-shirt featuring the bobblehead design can be purchased on the MLB Shop. 

Don Toliver is keeping his Octane world alive with the release of the official music video for “E85.” Directed by Shadrinsky, the video blends police body-camera footage with clips of Don dangling from a helicopter and being rescued by girlfriend Kali Uchis. The video is available to watch on YouTube.

Skilla Baby has released a new song titled “GYSM,” short for “Get You Some Money.” Described in a press release as a “love song to stacking cash,” the track samples Jesse Powell’s 1996 cut “You.” In the accompanying video, Skilla Baby wakes up to his alarm before taking on a variety of jobs, including janitor and construction worker.

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Music notes: Taylor Swift, Madonna and more

Music notes: Taylor Swift, Madonna and more
Music notes: Taylor Swift, Madonna and more

Taylor Swift is a regular social butterfly these days. After traveling to London for dinner, a show and a birthday party, then to Greece for a wedding, then to New York for a family dinner, she was out again in the Big Apple on Tuesday night. This time, the occasion was the 40th birthday party of her friend Lena Dunham, held at Via Carota in the West Village, as per E!. Also attending were Andrew Rannells and Emily Ratajkowski.

It’s like the ’80s all over again: Both Madonna and Michael Jackson are back on the Billboard Hot 100. Madonna’s there courtesy of her new duet with Sabrina Carpenter, “Bring Your Love,” while four of Michael’s classics are back on the chart thanks to the biopic Michael. According to Billboard, the last time MJ and Madge were on the charts simultaneously was 22 years ago. Madonna was at #83 with her Britney Spears duet “Me Against the Music,” while MJ was at #100 with “One More Chance.”

If you can’t swing a trip to France this fall to see Céline Dion’s Paris residency, maybe you can make it to Canada to see her dress. Starting Friday, the McCord Stewart Museum, located in Céline’s hometown of Montreal, will be exhibiting the dress she wore to sing at the 2024 Summer Olympics. Called Céline in Dior: A Dazzling Moment, the “immersive experience” features an up-close look at the Christian Dior Couture gown, which required more than 1,000 hours of work to complete. 

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Mötley Crüe announces ‘Crücial Crüe’ box set

Mötley Crüe announces ‘Crücial Crüe’ box set
Mötley Crüe announces ‘Crücial Crüe’ box set
Mötley Crüe performs on ‘American Idol.’ (Disney/Eric McCandless)

Mötley Crüe has announced a new box set collecting the band’s first five albums.

The package, dubbed Crücial Crüe, includes 1981’s Too Fast for Love, 1983’s Shout at the Devil, 1985’s Theatre of Pain, 1987’s Girls, Girls, Girls and 1989’s Dr. Feelgood spread across five vinyl LPs or five CDs. It’s due out July 10.

A collection of hand-numbered copies, limited to just 250 pieces, is available exclusively via Mötley Crüe’s Crüeseum site.

You can catch Mötley Crüe live on The Return of the Carnival of Sins tour, kicking off in July.

Copyright © 2026, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

Neil Young’s ‘Mirror Ball’ album with Pearl Jam to be reissued for the first time since 1995

Neil Young’s ‘Mirror Ball’ album with Pearl Jam to be reissued for the first time since 1995
Neil Young’s ‘Mirror Ball’ album with Pearl Jam to be reissued for the first time since 1995
Neil Young and Pearl Jam collaboration ‘Mirror Ball’ (Reprise Records)

Neil Young’s 1995 album, Mirror Ball, a collaboration with Pearl Jam, is set to be reissued for the first time in over 30 years.

Although the album was part of Young’s Official Release Series Volume 6 that came out in October, the album’s now being reissued as a standalone, on CD and vinyl, and is available for preorder now via Pearl Jam’s website. Shipping will begin May 22.

Released June 27, 1995, Mirror Ball is credited to only Young on the album’s sleeve because of legal issues with Young and Pearl Jam’s respective labels. The members of Pearl Jam are credited in the album’s liner notes. The album peaked at #5 on the Billboard 200 Albums chart and went on to be certified Gold by the RIAA.

In December 1995, Pearl Jam released the EP Merkin Ball, featuring two songs that were recorded during the Mirror Ball sessions, “I Got Id” and “Long Road.”

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