Not only is Jackson Dean celebrating his second #1 as “Heaven’s to Betsy” tops the chart, he’s also preparing to turn the page, musically.
On his third record, the loner from “Don’t Come Lookin'” and the tortured soul from “Betsy” are both in the rearview mirror, thanks to how Jackson’s life has changed.
“This record is about my country boy dreams being realized and livin’ ’em,” he reveals. “I’ve got a woman and a dog and a cabin now, and they’ve been my muse of late. And it’s really a love record, honestly.”
“It’s a lot more laid back than On the Back of My Dreams and Greenbroke, so it’s a little bit different,” he adds. “And this record’s for anybody that has ever been in or is still in love and all the goodness and all the other things that it brings as well.”
So far, Jackson’s released the tracks “Be Your Man,” “Make a Liar” and “Over and Over” from his recent sessions.
He expects his “whole new chapter of music” to arrive “hopefully this spring.”
Questlove on the red carpet at the 2025 Rock & Roll of Hame (Disney/Cristian Lopez)
Questlove has “just wrapped” his documentary on Earth, Wind & Fire. While on the red carpet for the 2025 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony Saturday, he talked about what fans can expect from the film.
“It’s a beautiful film about metaphysics. It’s about metaphysics,” he tells ABC Audio of the documentary. “And that’s a message I think we need in 2025, like how to have hope, positivity, a belief in yourself.”
He shares that message was one Earth, Wind & Fire were “successfully” able to get across to fans through their catalog of music.
“This is what Earth, Wind, Fire has done. They’ve successfully tricked their audience into positivity by singing affirmations, by seeking a better tomorrow, so that’s what [the documentary is] about,” Questlove shares.
According to a press release, Quest’s EWF documentary will “examine the band’s legacy, cultural impact, and body of work” and feature archival visual, audio and written material of the band. It’s set to air on HBO in 2026.
“I’m honored to tell the story of Earth, Wind & Fire and the deep meaning behind their message and music,” Questlove said in a statement. “To grow up listening to the music is one thing but to be handed the keys to the kingdom of preserving history is another, I can’t imagine a better platform on which to share this documentary with U.S. audiences than HBO.”
The EWF film is Quest’s latest documentary; he’s previously worked on documentaries about Sly Stone, Saturday Night Live and a Harlem music festival.
Quest also appears to be working on a posthumous D’Angelo album, as teased in a red carpet interview with entertainment reporter Courtney Tezeno. When asked about his thoughts on what D’Angelo’s unreleased music may sound like, he responded, “You’ll see soon. It’s always the sound of yesterday, but for the future. This record is no different.”
Neil Young performs on Day 7 of 2024 New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival at Fair Grounds Race Course on May 04, 2024 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Erika Goldring/Getty Images)
Happy Birthday goes out to Neil Young who turns 80 on Wednesday (Nov. 12).
Young’s musical career took off in the 1960s after moving from Canada to Los Angeles and forming Buffalo Springfield with Stephen Stills, Bruce Palmer, Dewey Martin and Richie Furay.
After the band’s breakup in 1968, Young launched a solo career, releasing his self-titled debut that same year. But it was his sophomore album, 1969’s Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere, his first with backing band Crazy Horse, that became his first top-40 hit, thanks songs like “Cinnamon Girl” and “Down by the River.”
Not long after, Young joined Stills in his band Crosby, Stills & Nash, and in 1970 they released, Déjà Vu, which was a #1 hit. He would go on to join them for two more records.
Young has released 49 solo albums over the course of his career, including 1970’s After the Gold Rush, and 1972’s Harvest. His most recent album, Talkin to the Trees, with his new band Chrome Hearts, came out in June. Iconic Young tracks include his only #1 single “Heart of Gold,” “Old Man,” “The Needle and the Damage Done,” and “Rockin’ in the Free World.”
Never one to shy away from making a political statement, Young has spoken out against corporate sponsorship in music, removed his songs from Spotify over misinformation about the COVID-19 vaccine and has directly called out President Donald Trump, releasing the new song “Big Crime,” which was aimed at the president.
Young’s also spent his career supporting causes he believes in, including launching Farm Aid in 1985 with Willie Nelson and John Mellencamp,to help the plight of the American farmer.
Young’s career has earned him induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame twice, as a solo artist in 1995 and as a member of Buffalo Springfield in 1997.
Emily Watson stars in ‘Dune: Prophecy’ season 1. (Attila Szvacsek/HBO)
Dune: Prophecy season 2 has officially started production, and its brought some new faces along for the ride.
HBO Max has announced that the second season of the drama series set in the same universe as DenisVilleneuve‘s Dune films has starting filming. The streaming service has also announced new cast members TomHollander, Ashley Walters and Indira Varma have joined for the sophomore season.
“Keep the spice flowing,” HBO Max captioned an Instagram video of the cast on set of the new season. “#DuneProphecy Season 2 is in production with new cast members Indira Varma, Ashley Walters, and Tom Hollander.”
The eight-episode second season comes from showrunner Alison Schapker and will film in Hungary, Jordan and Spain.
Season 1 of the series took place 10,000 year before Paul Atreides’ ascension. It followed two “Harkonnen sisters as they combat forces that threaten the future of humankind, and establish the fabled order that will become known as the Bene Gesserit,” according to its official logline.
Emily Watson, Olivia Williams, Travis Fimmel, Jodhi May, Sarah-Sofie Boussnina, Josh Heuston, ChloeLea, Jade Anouka, Faoileann Cunningham, Edward Davis, Aoife Hinds, Chris Mason, ShalomBrune-Franklin, Jessica Barden, Emma Canning, Yerin Ha, Barbara Marten and Tessa Bonham Jones are all returning for season 2.
Jack White at 2025 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony. (Disney/Cristian Lopez)
Jack White is launching a new pedal with Third Man Hardware, the gear offshoot of his Third Man Records label.
Called the Troika Delay, the pedal is described as a “multi-purpose, pro-audio, studio-grade delay device designed to work with microphones, guitars, or any instrument.” It was created in collaboration with the company JHS Pedals.
White, meanwhile, was just inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Saturday as a member of The White Stripes. His ex-bandmate, Meg White, was not in attendance, but Jack was and delivered a speech while wearing a red suit with a black shirt and white tie, a nod to the now-defunct duo’s standard red, white and black color scheme.
“Was nice to be able to wear red again, even if just for a day,” Jack posted on Instagram following the ceremony.
Kelly Ripa in ‘The Golden Girls: 40 Years of Laughter and Friendship – Special Edition of 20/20.’ (ABC)
Thank them for being a friend.
The Golden Girls: 40 Years of Laughter and Friendship – Special Edition of 20/20airs Tuesday at 10 p.m. ET on ABC. It takes a look at the lasting cultural phenomenon of the beloved sitcom all these four decades after its premiere.
Through new interviews with celebrities such as Kelly Ripa, Sheryl Lee Ralph, Mario Lopez, Laverne Cox, George Clooney and more, the special tells the inside story of one of the most-celebrated TV shows in history.
This documentary special will take viewers through the entirety of The Golden Girls‘ history, from its inception, to its pilot episode all the way through the legacy it has left.
It will also discuss how The Golden Girls put women over 50 at the center of its narrative, famously casting BeaArthur, Betty White, Rue McClanahan and Estelle Getty, and how the show tackled taboo and groundbreaking topics.
Series creator Susan Harris, its executive producer, Tony Thomas, and director Terry Hughes are also interviewed in the special. Rarely-seen behind-the-scenes footage of rehearsals for The Golden Girls, outtakes and camaraderie between the cast will also be included.
The Golden Girls: 40 Years of Laughter and Friendship – Special Edition of 20/20 streams Wednesday on Disney+ and Hulu.
KATSEYE has teamed with Riot Games to reimagine their song “M.I.A.” for this year’s VALORANT Game Changers Championship. Taking place Nov. 28-30 in Seoul, South Korea, the event features 10 elite teams of gamers from around the world. Megan of KATSEYE, a gamer herself, says, “That song has always been about confidence and showing up as your best self, and that message aligns so much with what Game Changers stands for. We wanted this version to celebrate every player who’s out there pushing limits and owning their power.”
Katy Perry has gotten some ink to commemorate her Lifetimes tour, as she’s done with all her previous tours. On Instagram, Katy posted photos of herself and her tour crew getting tatted up with butterfly wings on the inside of their wrists. “Can’t believe it’s already time for The Lifetimes Tour tattoos,” Katy wrote, adding that there are only “8 shows left” on her schedule. The tour wraps up in December in Abu Dhabi.
Mariah Carey announced on Nov. 1 that “It’s time,” and like clockwork, her holiday hit has re-entered the Billboard Hot 100 after experiencing a 302% sales increase from the previous week. “All I Want for Christmas Is You” debuts at #31, along with another timeless holiday hit, “Last Christmas” by Wham!, in at #43. Mariah’s song has reached #1 every year since 2019.
Vanessa Carlton is back. The “A Thousand Miles” singer has released a new song, “Animal,” from her upcoming album Veil, due out in early 2026. In a statement, Vanessa says the song is about a woman who “is being hunted and she accepts the reality of what is happening. The acceptance allows her to truly see the animal.”
Musician Benmont Tench performs at A Celebration Of Patti Smith: People Have The Power Rehearsal Show at City Winery on March 25, 2025 in New York City. (Photo by Bobby Bank/Getty Images)
Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers’ Benmont Tench has announced his first tour dates for 2026.
The Rock & Roll Hall of Famer will launch an eight-city tour on Jan. 15 in New Orleans, with stops in Nashville, Atlanta, Austin, Orlando and more, before wrapping Feb. 18 in his hometown of Gainesville, Florida. The trek includes two nights in Santa Rosa Beach, Florida, as part of the 30A Songwriters Festival.
A ticket presale begins Wednesday at 10 a.m. local time, with tickets going on sale to the general public starting Friday at 10 a.m. local time. A complete list of dates can be found at BenmontTench.com.
Tench is touring in support of his most recent solo album, The Melancholy Season, which was released in March. The album was his first solo release since his debut solo album, You Should Be So Lucky, which came out in 2014.
Cleto Escobedo attends as Keep Memory Alive hosts star-studded lineup at annual ‘Power of Love’ gala at MGM Grand Garden Arena on February 22, 2025 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Gabe Ginsberg/Getty Images for Keep Memory Alive)
Jimmy Kimmel‘s bandleader, and childhood friend, Cleto Escobedo III died on Tuesday morning, Kimmel announced on social media.
Escobedo, who led the band Cleto and the Cletones on Kimmel’s show Jimmy Kimmel Live!, was 59.
“Early this morning, we lost a great friend, father, son, musician and man, my longtime bandleader Cleto Escobedo III,” wrote Kimmel in an Instagram post on Tuesday. “To say that we are heartbroken is an understatement. Cleto and I have been inseparable since I was nine years old.”
Kimmel continued, “The fact that we got to work together every day is a dream neither of us could ever have imagined would come true. Cherish your friends and please keep Cleto’s wife, children and parents in your prayers.”
This is a developing story. Please check back for more updates.