There’s typically no shortage of joyous moments on the Opry stage, but that was never more true than when Sesame Street‘s Elmo and Abby Cadabby made their debut on Thursday.
Elmo duetted with Lauren Alaina on her chart-topping hit “Road Less Traveled,” while Abby sang the Loretta Lynn classic “You’re Lookin’ at Country,” with the legend’s granddaughter Tayla Lynn. Four decades ago, Loretta was a guest on the iconic children’s program.
For the second half of the show, Elmo and Abby stepped up to the podium as guest announcers, all part of Opry 100, as the country music staple celebrates hitting the century mark.
Lil Yachty performs during the 2025 Lyrical Lemonade Summer Smash at SeatGeek Stadium on June 22, 2025 in Bridgeview, Illinois. (Photo by Barry Brecheisen/Getty Images)
Lil Yachty is at the receiving end of backlash following a reference to George Floyd in an unreleased song. He had previewed the song during a recent appearance on PlaqueBoyMax‘s livestream. On it, he was heard rapping, “Put my knee up on her neck, I went George Floyd.”
Yachty’s song has been met with a slew of comments expressing disappointment for his choice of lyrics. Among those who reacted to the post was Floyd’s friend and former NBA player Stephen Jackson.
“Im just trying not to pay attention to you idiots, it’s just hard bro,” Jackson said on social media. “Lil Yachty, bro. You been wack, my n****. But you think you saying George Floyd’s name, and trying to use his name in a bar, that’s gonna make people like your wack-a** music, my n****? That s*** weak.”
“Y’all the only era that feel like demeaning the dead and saying that s*** is cool,” he continued, before letting Yachty know “the whole third ward and the whole Houston, Texas” is supporting Floyd. “Don’t ever say his name, bro. None of y’all knew G. Nothing about him.”
Jackson later hopped on his Instagram Story to share that he removed his previous post after a conversation with Yachty in which they both exchanged apologies. “He understands the outrage…I said some things because I just don’t get how people can demean dead people…we don’t need to start bringing back integrity in everything we say,” he said, adding he salutes Yachty for taking accountability.
Floyd was killed in May 2020 by police officers in Minneapolis. Derek Chauvin, who knelt on Floyd’s neck for 9 minutes and 29 seconds, was convicted on multiple charges and sentenced to prison. Three other officers were found guilty of related charges and sentenced to prison.
Cover of Bernie Leadon’s ‘Too Late To Be Cool’/Courtesy of Straight Wire Records, Photo Credit: Henry Diltz
Eagles founding member Bernie Leadon is set to release his first solo album in over two decades.
The Rock & Roll Hall of Famer will drop Too Late To Be Cool on Oct. 10, with all songs on the album written by Leadon and produced by Glyn Johns.
“I love this album. We took time to make sure the songs were in good keys for my voice,” Leadon shares. “The three piece band and myself were all sitting in the same room, or where we could see one another well. Many were first, or very early takes. I even sang live on about three songs.”
He adds, “I hope you all enjoy it. Hope you find something that sticks with you, in a good way. I’m so grateful we can all still do this.”
To coincide with the announcement, Leadon has released the album’s second single, “Just a Little,” to digital outlets. It follows the single “Too Many Memories,” for which he recently released a music video filled with archival photos of his life and career.
Too Late To Be Cool, which is available for preorder now, is Leadon’s first solo album since 2004’s Mirror.
While Leadon recently performed at the Country Music Hall of Fame, he’s set to make his first public performance in almost 10 years at the upcoming Americanafest, taking place Sept. 9-13. His last public performance was with the Eagles on 2105’s History of the Eagles tour.
Sabrina Carpenter, ‘Man’s Best Friend’ (Island Records)
Sabrina Carpenter is featured on Taylor Swift‘s new album, The Life of a Showgirl, but it’s possible she also got some inspiration from Taylor when it comes to promoting her new album, Man’s Best Friend.
In the past Taylor would invite superfans to her home and play them her albums in advance; those special events were known as Secret Sessions. As part of the rollout for her new album, Sabrina has now done something similar.
Sabrina wrote on Instagram, “Last night was the first playdate for Man’s Best Friend! I asked 26 of my beautiful LA fans to meet at a private location and then get on a bus to come meet me at the studio where i got to play the whole album for them.”
“they were gracious enough to let me take their phones so they were totally present and respectful and amazing and it was genuinely one of my favorite nights in such a long time!” she continued. “The excitement i get to play this album top to bottom is really like no other record I’ve made x.”
As part of her post, Sabrina included some video of the fans cheering and clapping when, ostensibly, she was through playing either the album or one of the songs.
Fans understood the reference. One wrote, “Secret sessions but make it sabrina.” Another wrote, “close enough welcome back secret sessions!” And yet another commented, “Welcome back secret sessions.”
Man’s Best Friend, featuring the single “Manchild,” is due Aug. 29. Taylor’s album is out Oct. 3.
Neil Young during day four of Glastonbury festival 2025 at Worthy Farm, Pilton on June 28, 2025 in Glastonbury, England. (Photo by Samir Hussein/WireImage)
Neil Young is taking a stand against Meta’s use of artificial intelligence when it comes to children.
A post on Young’s Facebook page announced that he would no longer be using the social media platform, an apparent response to a Reuters article that revealed details of an internal Meta Platforms document that noted Meta’s chatbot functions were allowed to “engage a child in conversations that are romantic or sensual.”
“At Neil Young’s request, we are no longer using Facebook for any Neil Young related activities,” read the post on Young’s Facebook page. “Meta’s use of chatbots with children is unconscionable. Mr. Young does not want a further connection with FACEBOOK.”
Young hasn’t made any other comments about his decision. It does look like Meta plans to change its policy, though, with spokesman Andy Stone telling Reuters the document is being revised. Stone says examples listed in it “were and are erroneous and inconsistent with our policies, and have been removed.”
Young is currently on his Love Earth tour with his band Chrome Hearts. The tour hits Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio, on Friday. A complete list of dates can be found at NeilYoungArchives.com.
Thomas Rhett’s “After All The Bars Are Closed” cover (Big Machine)
Thomas Rhett has the 21st #1 of his career, as “After All the Bars Are Closed” sits atop the Billboard Country Airplay chart. TR co-wrote the song, which is the second single from his About a Woman album.
Most recently, he reached the pinnacle with “Mamaw’s House” with Morgan Wallen in March 2024. His very first #1 was 2013’s “It Goes Like This,” which was the third single from his debut album of the same name.
TR is now tied with Keith Urban for the eighth-most number ones in the history of the Billboard Country Airplay ranking. Kenny Chesney holds the record for most times at the top with 32.
Friday night, Thomas plays Cincinnati, Ohio, before joining Morgan’s I’m the Problem Tour Saturday in Cleveland.
Cardi B has released “Imaginary Playerz,” the second single from her upcoming album, Am I the Drama? Named after Jay-Z‘s “Imaginary Player,” which it samples, the song finds Cardi boasting about her accomplishments and luxurious lifestyle.
“Now I spit that other s***, pretty motherf***** s***/ Cardi B, every song Platinum, I’m not the other b****,” Cardi raps.
She later adds, “Their money my stocks and share money/ Your booking fee is my makeup and hair money.”
The song is coupled with a music video she directed with Patience Foster. In it, Cardi flexes her opulence, wearing a sequined red gown to take a private jet from New York to Mykonos, Greece, where she enjoys lobster, the beach and time on a yacht. She then makes her way to France to get a pedicure with her feet dipped in champagne and have a solo dinner at a nice restaurant.
Cardi will celebrate the release of the song with an hour of her curated programming on Apple Music Radio.
“Imaginary Playerz” is now on streaming services, with the video available on YouTube. Fans can purchase “Imaginary Playerz” limited merch box sets at CardiB.com.
Russell Dickerson’s ‘Famous Back Home’ (Triple Tigers)
A week ahead of the release of his fourth studio album, Russell Dickerson‘s releasing the title track, “Famous Back Home.”
“Growing up in my small Tennessee town, I dreamed, ‘I’m going to make it out of here. I’m going to make it big. Everyone will know my name,’” he explains. “I’ve been truly blessed to live out that dream. But as my journey continued, I realized that winning the world wasn’t the real goal — it’s being famous back home, within the four walls of my own house.”
“This song has become so meaningful to me because it’s a reminder that the truest kind of ‘famous’ comes from the people who’ve known you all along and making those closest to me proud,” he adds.
Famous Back Home‘s current radio single, “Happen to Me,” is now in the top 10, as Russell prepares to host the 18th ACM Honors Aug. 20 in Nashville with Carly Pearce.
Teddy Swims performs on ABC’s ‘American Idol’ (Disney/Eric McCandless)
Teddy Swims is having a full circle moment right now: He’s gotten to sing with the first band he ever really loved.
Acceptance is a punk pop band from Seattle that formed in 1998, broke up in 2006, but then got back together in 2015. It didn’t do much on the charts, but it apparently made a huge impact on young Teddy. Now, he’s singing with them on a remix of their 2005 song “So Contagious.” The song is out now, and will also appear on a 20th anniversary “reimagined” edition of their 2005 album Phantoms, which is coming out next month.
Teddy wrote on Instagram, “Acceptance is the first band I fell so deeply in love with! I remember hearing ‘In Too Far’ on NFL Street 2 and unchecking every song on the playlist so that song would play over and over! I then changed my entire MySpace layout to songs and videos of this band and this album Phantoms.”
“I used to go to my dads and watch their aol acoustic sessions over and over again every day hoping to one day be as amazing as [their singer] Jason Vena!” he continues. “I used to sing this song ‘So Contagious’ to my first girlfriend every night to bed over the phone!”
“This album, this band, this song shaped everything I am!” he concludes. “Thank you so much for having me on this 20th anniversary @acceptanceband. I love you guys so much.”
In the comments, the band wrote, “Absolutely no words, man… We love you and are just so, so honored to bring this one out with you. Thank you for putting your heart into this with us.”
In addition to Teddy, the reimagined album, called Phantoms/Twenty, features guest vocalists on every track, including members of Boys Like Girls, All Time Low and Pentatonix. It’s out Sept. 12.
Cover of 38 Special’s ‘Milestone’/38 Special Records
38 Special is sharing another preview of their upcoming album, Milestone, due out Sept. 19.
The band, best known for songs like “Hold on Loosely” and “Caught up in You,” just dropped the new single, “Slightly Controversial,” featuring a guest appearance by the band Train. It is the second song they’ve released from the album following “All I Haven’t Said.”
“This song is wrapped around a mystery woman who’s been through a few things in her life,” frontman and co-founder Don Barnes shares. “She wants to keep people guessing and talking about her every move and they just can’t seem to figure her out. Her choice to be an enigma is for her own emotional protection.”
Barnes calls the tune a “powerful guitar banger,” noting that Train’s Pat Monahan “absolutely crushed it.”
“Slightly Controversial” is available now via digital outlets.
Milestone is the first new music from 38 Special since their 2004 release, Drivetrain. In addition to Monahan, the album features songs co-written by Bachman-Turner Overdrive’s Randy Bachman and the band’s longtime collaborator Jim Peterik, who also co-produced the record.
38 Special is currently on the road. Their next show is happening Friday in Aberdeen, South Dakota. A complete list of dates can be found at 38special.com.
