Music

Maynard James Keenan has shared a message in support of Gen. Randy George, who Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced is retiring as the Army Chief of Staff three years into his four-year term.

As for how Keenan is connected to George, the Tool frontman shares in an Instagram post that he attended West Point Prep with him, and they were even on the same cross country team.

Keenan writes that while he “excelled” as a West Point Prep student, he was more interested in pursuing his creative passions than a career in the military.

“So when my heart spoke louder than the outside influencers and I declined my appointment to West Point, most of those around me saw it as a huge mistake,” Keenan recalls. “But a handful were very supportive. They knew me well enough to respect that decision. One of those supportive classmates was my Cross Country teammate, Randy George.”

“I can’t even imagine how disappointed and upset he must feel for having been ‘asked’ to retire early,” Keenan writes of George. “So I’m just here to return that favor of support. We’re here for you, Randy. Might be time for a beer or three. See you soon.”

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When Cody Johnson recorded his current top-10 hit for Leather Deluxe Edition, it was a decision he made quite intentionally, because he connected so much with the message of “The Fall.”

“I was in the mode of cutting an album and saying, ‘This is what I want people to hear,'” he recalls. “I want people to know that the ride is worth the fall.”

“The hardships, yeah, it feels like hell when you’re going through the hardships, but when you look back at them, without those hardships, you wouldn’t have the successes that you have and you wouldn’t appreciate ’em as much,” he adds. 

Cody was on a career high last year when faced his own fall: He suffered a burst eardrum, which forced him to have surgery and cancel the rest of his shows for the year. 

When he returned to the stage in mid-February, however, he was welcomed back with a string of sold-out shows, including his March RodeoHouston date, which now holds the record as the largest concert in the history of Houston’s NRG Stadium. 

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Leon Thomas has been cooking in the studio, but he hasn’t yet reached the point of putting together the follow-up to his Grammy-winning album, Mutt. Speaking to Rolling Stone, he reveals he has about 30 songs written, with a goal to complete between 60 and 100 before starting a new body of work.

“I’ve got a long laundry list of songs I gotta finish,” he says. “Some of them have been easy to finish while I’m on the road, but I’m doing my best to stay creative because I know this is such a momentous time in my life and it needs to be documented not just through visuals, but also through music.”

He notes he’s been working with a few big-name collaborators who approached him after he took home Grammys for best R&B album and best traditional R&B performance at the 2026 show. One of them is Pharrell, whom he was photographed in a Paris studio.

“I was doing my best not to geek out the whole time,” Leon says. “And also it’s important to be a real creative and be like, ‘Hey man, let’s try this idea. Let’s do that.’ You can’t be a ‘yes man’ in the studio with Pharrell. You got to be real, you know? It was nice creating with him, and he’s just like me, man — he’s a fellow alien in the recording studio. He spoke my language.”

Leon is set to tour with Bruno Mars starting April 10.

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The latest episode of Saturday Night Live was definitely jacked.

Jack White was the musical guest, officially joining SNL’s musical guest Five-Timers Club as solo artist, while making his sixth appearance overall; he’d also performed with The White Stripes in 2002. Meanwhile, the similarly named Jack Black hosted the episode, which marked his induction into the Five-Timers Club as a host.

In Black’s opening monologue, the Tenacious D frontman was brought into the Five-Timers Club lounge, which had fallen into a state of disrepair. Black then declared he was going to fix the lounge by “singing the most rocking song,” before launching into the Stripes’ signature hit “Seven Nation Army,” as White joined in on guitar.

“We’ll be White Black!” Black quipped as the monologue ended.

White later returned to stage for the live debut of his two new singles, “G.O.D. and the Broken Ribs” and “Derecho Demonico.” The songs, which dropped Friday, mark White’s first new material since his 2024 album, No Name.

White also appeared in a sketch called “Words to Live By,” in which Black and cast members Andrew Dismukes and James Austin Johnson sang a country song about being told something important and significant, but they can’t remember exactly what they were told. It’s basically like how Tenacious D’s “Tribute” doesn’t sound anything like the greatest song in the world — it’s just a tribute.

White showed up towards the end of the sketch to perform a guitar solo, but in keeping with the theme of the song, he couldn’t remember how it went.

If that wasn’t enough Jack White for you, you can catch him performing Monday on CBS’ The Late Show with Stephen Colbert.

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Highly Suspect has premiered a new single called “Wasted.”

The track features lead vocals by bassist Rich Meyer. It follows the February release of the song “Yellow Roses.”

“We just gonna keep making stuff, on our terms, and adding to our discography every month,” frontman Johnny Stevens writes in an Instagram post. “Or whenever we feel like it. We’re just doing what we want.”

The most recent Highly Suspect album is 2024’s As Above, So Below.

Highly Suspect will launch a U.S. tour in May.

(Video contains uncensored profanity.) 

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Bruce Springsteen has paid tribute to Israeli-born musician Suki Lahav, who passed away at age 74. Lahav was briefly a member of The E Street Band in the mid ’70s, and her violin work is heard in the opening of his Born to Run track “Jungleland.”

“Here on E Street, we’re heartbroken over the passing of Suki Lahav,” Springsteen wrote on social media. “Her angelic voice shone on 4th of July, Asbury Park (Sandy) and her beautiful violin brought great drama to the Jungleland intro. She also blessed our stage with her beauty and grace in our early touring days.”

He added, “She was a wonderful friend, may she rest with the angels.”

In an earlier post, the Bruce Springsteen Center for American Music noted that Lahav “contributed to the early sound of Bruce Springsteen’s breakthrough era.”

“Lahav went on to become a major figure in Israeli music and literature, leaving behind a lasting legacy as both a songwriter and poet,” the post added.

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Josh Ross’ current single, “Hate How You Look,” is climbing the chart, and he’s just dropped a new single called “Give ‘Er Hell.” The Canadian singer says in a statement, “I’ve had moments where things weren’t going my way, and this song came from that place. It’s about digging deep, trusting yourself, and giving it everything no matter what – even if sometimes that fire in you ends up being the reason you lose something good.”

Lee Brice is out with a new song called “When the Kingdom Comes,” which was co-written by his wife, Sara Brice, among others. Lee says in a statement, “I love music and I work hard at having success at it. It’s a part of who I am, it’s in my bones. But this specific song has a much bigger purpose. I feel like all that I have worked for and all that I have hoped for comes down to the message this song hopefully relays – God has always had a plan.” Lee adds, “If only one person is changed or brought closer to Jesus, His message and the Kingdom [by hearing this song], then it will be all I ever wanted it to be.”

Billy Ray Cyrus has announced a new album called The Hill, due June 16. He also dropped the first single, a duet with daughter Noah Cyrus called “On Our Way Along,” co-written and co-produced by Billy Ray’s son Braison Cyrus. The Hill is the “Achy Breaky Heart” singer’s first new collection of studio material in 14 years. According to a press release, it’s a “return to his Nashville songwriting roots.” Billy Ray says of the song, “It’s a celebration of all things music and family. Made from the heart… for the heart.”

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