Music

After announcing earlier this week that her third album, Blue Water Road, will be released in the winter, Kehlani has dropped the first single, “Altar.”

With a video set in an isolated country villa, Kehlani is joined by another female as she sings of romance.

“If I set a flame and I call your name/I’ll fix you a plate, we can go to dinner/We can share a meal your way/And I’ll play you the songs that you used to play,” the two-time Grammy nominee sings.

“Understanding grief and death has been a journey,” Kehlani commented in an emotional post on Instagram. “I’ve gained a lot of angels in my life but the last year has showed me that even after people have passed on, if I choose to, I can have an even closer relationship.”

“I thank my angels, my guides, all those who walk with me for allowing me to see them, feel them, hear them in full,” she continued. “I honor you in all i do. This is my offering. Enjoy. I love you.”

Blue Water Road will be the follow-up to Kehlani’s second album, It Was Good Until It Wasn’t, which debuted at number two on the Billboard 200 chart in May 2020.

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Blake Shelton is opening another one of his Ole Red venues in Music City, this time at the Nashville International Airport. Blake announced the good news in a video posted on social media.

“Guaranteed, some of you people are going to be missing your flights,” Blake joked.

Blake, who owns all of the Ole Red locations in conjunction with Ryman Hospitality Properties, is eager to bring Ole Red food and drinks to those traveling in and out of Nashville.

“Folks from around the world come to Nashville lookin’ to have a good time and hear some of the best live music around, and now you can make it double with the Nashville airport venue!” says the singer. “I’m excited to give visitors the best fun, food and music like only Ole Red can provide while they wait for their flight.”

Blake will return next week for Season 21 of The Voice. The season will premiere on Monday, September 20 at 8:00 p.m. ET on NBC.

 

 

 

 

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Keith Urban‘s father passed away in 2015, but his influence still permeates almost everything Keith does. It was his father who instilled in him a love of country music, and his father whose approval he still seeks today, even though he has been gone for six years.

“I think that fire has burned in me forever, and probably still does,” Keith tells Billboard. “I think I got my dad’s approval long before I thought I had it…but it’s a strong driving force for me to impress my dad. Still, to this day.”

Urban mentions his father in the opening lines of his current single, “Wild Hearts,” which says, “Saw the man in black / Spotlight in the air / Heard a thousand screams / Saw my daddy stare.”

“When you’re five years old and you see your father mesmerized by something — in a way that I don’t think I had seen that gaze come to me — I’m like, ‘I’m going to do that,'” he says.

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Lil Nas X is about to birth an album, so what better way to celebrate than with a baby shower?

The singer, who’s been sporting a fake baby bump to promote Montero, posted a video from the baby shower ahead of Friday’s album drop.

“Spent hours setting up for my baby shower and no one showed up :(,” he captioned the clip on Instagram.

In the video, a blindfolded and pregnant Lil Nas enters the empty backyard festivities, complete with blue decorations, desserts and gifts from his collaborators on the album including Miley Cyrus, Jack Harlow, Doja Cat, Elton John and Megan Thee Stallion.

Not long after posting the baby shower video, Lil Nas posted a clip of him “having contractions.”

Lil Nas also unveiled a series of billboards across Los Angeles on Thursday. Made to look like personal injury lawyer ads, one reads, “Are you single, lonely and miserable? You may be entitled to financial compensation!” while another says, “Do you hate Lil Nas X? You may be entitled to financial compensation!”

Each ad directs people to WelcomeToMontero.com.

 

 

 

 

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Megan Thee Stallion is now a cosmetics entrepreneur in partnership with Revlon.

After appearing in glamorous fashion at Monday night’s Met Gala in New York City, the “Hot Girl Summer” rapper’s new Big Bad Beauty makeup line is now on sale.

“The collab comes with an exclusive new palette designed by me and some of my favorite @Revlon products to create the boldest eye looks,” the three-time Grammy winner commented on Instagram. “Go get yours and make sure to tag me and @Revlon in any of the looks you all create!”

Megan also posted a video tutorial on how to apply her makeup.

The “WAP” rapper is up for six BET Hip Hop Awards, including Hip Hop Artist of the Year. Megan will perform at several music festivals this fall, including the Governors Ball on September 25 and Rolling Loud on October 30 — both in New York City.

 

 

 

 

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We now know which five artists will be named the 2021 CMT Artists of the Year. Chris Stapleton, Gabby Barrett, Kane Brown, Kelsea Ballerini and Luke Combs will all be honored at a special ceremony that will be held at Nashville’s Schermerhorn Symphony Center on Wednesday, October 13.

“We are honored to recognize these five incredible artists who have entertained and inspired millions through their music this past year,” says CMT executive Margaret Comeaux. “We look forward to returning to the Schermerhorn with a live show as we celebrate the accomplishments of Chris, Kane, Kelsea, Gabby and Luke.”

After last year’s event celebrated the sacrifices of those working on the frontlines of the COVID-19 pandemic, this year’s 90-minute special promises both performances and collaborations, as well congratulatory moments from several other celebrities.

More information, including collaborations, special guests and additional honorees, as well as performers and presenters, will be announced in the near future.

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Fans want Lizzo to star in a remake of The Bodyguard with Chris Evans — and she’s all for it.

After news emerged this week that the 1992 Whitney Houston/Kevin Costner film would be getting a “reimagining,” the internet started throwing out suggestions for the lead roles.

One person tweeted Lizzo and the Captain America star as their picks, while another responded to the news by tweeting side-by-side photos of the two, writing, “Ur welcome.” After seeing the posts, Lizzo used them in a humorous TikTok video that she captioned “What y’all think?” with a smirking emoji.

The comments were overwhelmingly in favor of the casting.

Lizzo and Evans have had a back-and-forth Internet “romance” for months that began when Lizzo admitted she drunkenly slid into the actor’s DMs. In July, Lizzo joked that she was pregnant with Evans’ baby, calling their fake bundle of joy “little America.”

Evans went along with the gag, messaging her, “Hi! Just heard about our little bundle of joy my mother will be so happy lol.”

@lizzo

What y’all think? 😏

♬ original sound – berlinXchiaki

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Alicia Keys is celebrating her 20th anniversary as a recording artist with a YouTube Originals docuseries.

The 15-time Grammy winner released a trailer for Noted: Alicia Keys The Untold Stories, on Wednesday, in which she talks about the joy and the pain of her life as a singer, mother, and wife.

“When I’m making music, I’m exposing all of my secrets, and I’m very uncomfortable being exposed — but I guess not so much anymore,” she says in the opening of the clip. “I am just inspired to be completely uninhibited in all my glory and greatness…We’re not holding back!”

In an emotional segment with her mother, Terria Joseph, Alicia reveals the pain of her father leaving them when she was two years old.

“As a kid, when someone doesn’t show up for you, it hurts,” the 40-year-old entertainer commented. “I didn’t want to be hurt anymore.”

Looking at Joseph, she continued, “You have always been my mother and my father, and I know its hard.”

The trailer features highlights from Keys’ entire life, including concert performances, recording sessions, and a look back at her wedding 11 years ago to husband Swizz Beatz.

“On this journey that I’m on, as an artist, as a mother, as a wife, I’m always fighting not to sacrifice any part of myself for success,” Alicia declares.

All four episodes of Noted: Alicia Keys The Untold Stories will premiere for free September 30 on Keys’ YouTube Channel.

Monday night, the “Girl on Fire” singer hosted an after-party for the Met Gala at Cipriani in New York City. Attendees included Queen Latifah, Michael Jordan, Lil Nas X, Leonardo DiCaprio, Zoe Kravitz, Channing Tatum, Serena and Venus Williams, Regina King, Lupita Nyong’o and Ciara, plus many more.

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Sheryl Crow is receiving a special honor later this month in her home state.

The singer will be presented with the 2021 Missouri Roots Songbook honor on the final night of the Roots N Blues festival in Columbia, Missouri, on September 26. Sheryl is headlining that night of the three-day festival, which takes place in Stephens Lake Park.

The honor celebrates Sheryl’s musical and humanitarian accomplishments. She’ll be the first living recipient of the Missouri Roots Songbook honor and the first woman to receive it. Previous honorees were Chuck Berry in 2018 and ragtime composer John “Blind” Boone in 2019.

Tickets for the Roots N Blues festival are available now.

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