2026 Country Music Hall of Fame inductees (Country Music Association)
Tim McGraw will be inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2026, along with singer/songwriter Paul Overstreet and bluegrass legends the Stanley Brothers.
Tim is the 2026 modern era artist, with 60-plus top-10 hits to his credit and nearly 30 number ones.
“Everything good in my life has come from country music,” he says. “From my best memories as a kid, to meeting my wife, to this music community, to the friendships I’ve made along the way. To represent country music at the highest level is the greatest honor anyone could bestow on me.”
“I admit, I’ve imagined this moment many times through my career,” he continues, “worked towards it, thought of how I could be the kind of artist who was worthy of it. But my imagination didn’t do it justice. As I stand here, I’ll be the first to tell you I’m only worthy of it because it’s not mine alone.”
Paul will be inducted in the songwriter category, awarded every third year. He found his first success in 1982 with George Jones’ “Same Ole Me,” and notched his first #1 with the Forester Sisters’ “I Fell in Love Again Last Night.” “On the Other Hand” was the first of four number ones for Randy Travis.
His “When You Say Nothing at All” was a hit for both Keith Whitley and Alison Krauss, and he wrote more recent hits like Blake Shelton’s “Some Beach.” He also scored his own number ones with “I Won’t Take Less Than Your Love” and “Daddy’s Come Around.”
Ralph Stanley and Carter Stanley go in the hall as the 2026 veterans era artist. Starting their career in 1946, they became bluegrass pioneers, known for standards like “I Am a Man of Constant Sorrow,” “Rank Stranger” and “Angel Band.”
Rainbow Kitten Surprise has released a new song called “Sixteen.”
The track follows the band’s 2025 album, bones, which spawned the single “Dang.”
“This track is slightly different from a lot of what bones carries, so we didn’t actually include it on the record but we’re happy that people are going to hear it,” RKS says in a statement.
You can watch a visualizer for “Sixteen” on YouTube.
Rainbow Kitten Surprise is currently on a U.S. tour, which concludes March 25 in Austin, Texas. They’ll launch another leg in July.
Cover of Aerosmith’s self-titled debut album (Capitol Records / UMe)
Aerosmith’s new box set, Aerosmith (Legendary Edition), celebrating their self-titled debut album, is out now. To mark the occasion, the Boston rockers have dropped a new lyric video for their iconic tune “Dream On.”
The trippy video features archival images and footage from the band’s early days.
Aerosmith (Legendary Edition) comes in variety of formats, including a limited-edition five-LP collector’s set. This edition includes the original album remastered on clear vinyl, along with a 2024 Album Mix on translucent red vinyl.
The set features a 1973 live performance at the Boston venue Paul’s Mall on black vinyl, as well as previously unreleased studio tracks, also on black vinyl. Additionally, it includes a UV cloud-effect 12-inch vinyl, featuring both the 2024 remaster and 2024 mix of the band’s iconic single “Dream On.”
It even comes with a hardcover book featuring never-before-seen photos, plus liner notes with new interviews with Aerosmith’s Steven Tyler, Joe Perry, Tom Hamilton, Brad Whitford and Joey Kramer.
Aerosmith (Legendary Edition) is also available digitally, as four-LP and three-CD sets, as well as a single LP (in both black and translucent red vinyl) and a single CD.
Released in January 1973, Aerosmith was not an immediate hit for the band but eventually peaked at #21 in 1976. Aerosmith’s now-signature tune “Dream On” is one of the tracks on the record, though it wasn’t a hit when it came out. It reached the top 10 when it was rereleased in December 1975.
In this handout image provided by the U.S. Navy, the USS Boxer (LHD 4) departs from Naval Air Station North Island January 14, 2004 in San Diego, California. (Tiffini M. Jones/U.S. Navy via Getty Images)
(WASHINGTON) — Three Navy ships carrying 2,200 Marines left San Diego earlier this week for a previously scheduled deployment to the Indo-Pacific, but two U.S. officials tell ABC News their ultimate destination is likely the Middle East.
The 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) is aboard the USS Boxer, the USS Comstock and the USS Portland — along with 2,000 sailors.
If it receives final orders to the Middle East, joining the 31st MEU, it will be an increase of close to 9,000 additional forces to the region.
The 31st MEU is still on its way to the Middle East from Asia after receiving orders from the Pentagon last Friday. Those Marines and ships are likely to arrive in the region sometime next week.
It will take two weeks for the USS Boxer Amphibious Ready Group to get to southeast Asia, then additional time to make its way to the Middle East if it gets final orders to go there.
Included in the MEU: ground forces, a logistical element and aviation units that include fighter jets, MV-22 Ospreys and attack helicopters.
Last week’s deployment of the 31st MEU to the Middle East has sparked speculation as to whether they might be used to seize Kharg Island in the Persian Gulf — crucial to Iran’s oil trade — or carry out raids on the Iranian shoreline around the Strait of Hormuz.
For now, the U.S. Navy Third Fleet says the 11th MEU is conducting routine operations in its area of operations.
“An integral part of U.S. Pacific Fleet, U.S. 3rd Fleet operates naval forces in the Indo-Pacific to conduct routine training that ensures the continued warfighting readiness of Navy and Marine forces operating in the area,” the U.S. Navy Third Fleet said in a statement.
‘Victory Garden’ album artwork. (Fearless Records)
Young the Giant has shared a new song called “Bitter Fruit,” a track off the band’s upcoming album, Victory Garden.
‘Bitter Fruit is a song about the struggle of being calloused by adulthood with a yearning to see the world fresh, through the eyes of a child: To feel alive and present with wonder and awe,” the “Cough Syrup” outfit says in a statement. “When we wrote the line, ‘I wanna laugh and cry just like a child again,’ our engineer’s kids walked into the studio at that exact moment. It felt strangely fated.”
You can watch the “Bitter Fruit” video streaming now on YouTube.
Victory Garden, the follow-up to 2022’s American Bollywood, is due out May 1. It also includes the single “Different Kind of Love.”
The Hu has released two new songs, “The Men” and “Warrior Chant.”
“The Men,” which is accompanied by a video, reflects the “Mongolian philosophy of ‘Man’s Inner Spirit,'” band member Galaa says in a statement.
“Energy of men should always be reinforced with positiveness, strength and generosity, so this song try to encapsulate that ancient wisdom and share to the rest of humanity,” Galaa says.
Galaa adds that “Warrior Chant” “has our signature rhythm that our fans fell in love with and everyone who will listen and know us will say that it is ‘our song.'”
“The Men” and “Warrior Chant” follow The Hu’s January single, “The Real You.” The band’s been working on a new album to follow 2022’s Rumble of Thunder.
The Hu will launch a U.S. tour with Apocalyptica in May before hitting the road with Rob Zombie and Marilyn Manson in August.
Cover of Neil Diamond’s ‘Wild at Heart’ (Capitol/UMe)
Neil Diamond collaborated with noted producer Rick Rubin on the albums 12 Songs and his first # 1 record, Home Before Dark. Now, he’s set to release a third album from those sessions.
Originally recorded during the Home Before Dark sessions with musicians including Benmont Tench and Mike Campbell of Tom Petty’s Heartbreakers, the new album — titled Wild At Heart — is due May 8.
“My work with Rick was a labor of love,” Neil says in a statement. “And I’m so gratified that these songs will finally be set free into the world to complete our trilogy of work.”
According to a press release, Diamond recently revisited those recordings and “spent time fleshing out” nine previously unreleased tracks. He also added an alternate take of the song “Forgotten,” which originally appeared on Home Before Dark.
In addition, digital deluxe editions of 12 Songsand Home Before Darkare now available, featuring bonus tracks that were previously exclusive to physical releases.
Here’s the Wild At Heart track list:
“Wild At Heart” “You Can’t Have It All” “Talking It To Death” “Shine On” “The Secret You” “You Never Know” “You’re Getting To Me” “You Still Look Good To Me” “You’re My Favorite Song” “Forgotten”
: Actor Chuck Norris arrives at Lionsgate Films’ ‘The Expendables 2’ premiere on August 15, 2012 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Jason Merritt/Getty Images)
Chuck Norris, the actor and martial artist known for a string of hit action movies and the series Walker, Texas Ranger, has died, according to his family. He was 86.
“It is with heavy hearts that our family shares the sudden passing of our beloved Chuck Norris yesterday morning,” a family statement said. “While we would like to keep the circumstances private, please know that he was surrounded by his family and was at peace.”
This is a developing story. Check back for updates.
(CHICAGO) — An 18-year-old student at Loyola University in Chicago was shot and killed while walking with her friends near campus, authorities said.
The group was walking near Tobey Prinz Beach Park, less than 1 mile from the university’s Lake Shore campus, when an unknown male walked up to them at about 1:30 a.m. Thursday, Chicago police said.
The male showed a gun and opened fire toward the friends, police said.
The victim was shot in the head and died at the scene, police said, adding that no one else was injured.
Loyola University president Mark Reed identified the slain student as Sheridan Gorman.
“This is a tragic loss, and our hearts go out to Sheridan’s family, loved ones, and all who knew her,” Reed said in a statement.
Reed said the university is offering counseling services and is in touch with law enforcement.
“Based on the information available to us now, there is no ongoing threat to our campus community,” he said.
Gorman was also a “beloved” student at her former high school in Westchester County, New York.
“We are so deeply shattered by this tragic and senseless loss,” Yorktown Central School District Superintendent Ron Hattar said in a statement. “Sheridan was loved by all who knew her, and her impact on students and staff alike was profound. She was a shining light for so many people.”
A cargo plane comes into land with two US Air Force B-1 bombers in the foreground at RAF Fairford on March 11, 2026 in Fairford, England. (Photo by Christopher Furlong/Getty Images)
(NEW YORK) — A drone sighting that temporarily raised alarms at one of the United States Air Force’s largest and most strategic airfields earlier this month was more extensive, and potentially more dangerous, than first reported, according to a confidential internal briefing document reviewed by ABC News.
Barksdale Air Force Base in Louisiana said it was under a shelter-in-place order March 9 after “a report of an unmanned aerial system operating over the installation.”
The sighting raised concerns because Barksdale houses long-range B-52 bombers and plays a critical role in command and control of the Air Force nuclear defense capabilities.
The shelter-in-place order was lifted later that day but the unauthorized drone flights continued for nearly a week.
“Barksdale Air Force Base detected multiple unauthorized drones operating in our airspace during the week of March 9th,” Capt. Hunter Rininger of the 2nd Bomb Wing said in a statement provided to ABC News. The additional drone incursions had not been previously reported.
According to the confidential briefing document dated March 15, the drones came in waves and entered and exited the base in a way that may suggest attempts to “avoid the operator(s) being located.” Lights on the drones suggested the operators “may be testing security responses” at the base.
“Between March 9-15, 2026, BAFB Security Forces observed multiple waves of 12-15 drones operating over sensitive areas of the installation, including the flight line, with aircraft displaying non-commercial signal characteristics, long-range control links and resistance to jamming,” the document said. “After reaching multiple points across the installation, the drones dispersed across sensitive locations on the base.”
According to the document there was no drone activity detected on March 13 and 14 and it’s not clear if there has been activity since.
The flights lasted around four hours each day and the drones used varied routes of ingress and deliberate maneuvering within restricted airspace.
“Certainly, it seemed to be more than just your average drone enthusiast who just pushed it too far,” said ABC News contributor Mick Mulroy, a former deputy assistant secretary of defense. “It looked like this was deliberate and intentional to see just how they would react.”
The briefing includes a determination that the drones were different than what the typical consumer could purchase off the shelf. They appeared to be custom built and required “advanced knowledge” of signal operations.
The analysts said “with high confidence” they expected unauthorized drones to continue to operate in and around Barksdale Air Force Base in the immediate future.
“The drone incursions at BAFB pose a significant threat to public safety and national security since they require the flight line to be shut down while also putting manned aircrafts already inflight in the area at risk,” the document said.
The FAA referred ABC News to the military for comment. The Louisiana State Police, which is also assisting the investigation, declined to comment.
“Flying a drone over a military installation is not only a safety issue, it is a criminal offense under federal law. We are working closely with federal and local law enforcement agencies to investigate these incursions. The security of our installation and the safety of our people are top priorities, and we will continue to vigilantly monitor our airspace,” Capt. Rininger’s statement said.
