A slew of country A-Listers are joining forces to celebrate country music sensation Vince Gill.
CMT has announced an upcoming special to honor the hitmaker’s career, “CMT GIANTS: Vince Gill,” airing Sept. 16 at 9 p.m. ET.
Some of the artists who will appear include Carrie Underwood, Luke Combs, Brad Paisley, Chris Stapleton, Cody Johnson and Ricky Skaggs, who will perform Gill’s hits during the 90-minute special.
Gill, a 22-time Grammy winner, has made — and continues to make — an immeasurable impact in the music industry in both his solo career and his time in bands Pure Prairie League, The Cherry Bombs, The Time Jumpers and the Eagles.
During the upcoming CMT special, other top artists, including Keith Urban, Reba McEntire and Sting, will share their thoughts on his impact and some of their favorite memories of working with him.
Along with special photos and videos from notable performances throughout Gill’s career, the program will also include a new interview with Gill about “his career, his classic songwriting, musical influences and his future plans,” the network said.
Other artists who have been celebrated in the “CMT GIANTS” franchise include Reba, Hank Williams Jr., Alan Jackson, Kenny Rogers and Charley Pride.
Silversun Pickups have premiered a new song called “Alone on a Hill,” which will appear on the band’s upcoming album, Physical Thrills.
The track, which is available now via digital outlets and streaming alongside a video now on YouTube, features bassist Nikki Moninger on lead vocals.
“This song exposes a side I didn’t know I had in me,” Moninger says. “It felt freeing, especially with everything going on in the past couple of years.”
“I’m grateful everyone gave me so much support during the recording process as I am a bit timid when it comes to hearing the sound of my own voice,” she adds. “[Frontman] Bri[anAubert] just kept telling me to channel my inner Kate Bush.”
Physical Thrills, the sixth SSPU album, is due out August 19. It also includes the previously released single “Scared Together.”
Silversun Pickups will hit the road in support of Physical Thrills on a U.S. tour starting September 28 in San Diego.
Jennette McCurdy, former star of iCarly and its short-lived spin-off, Sam & Cat, has stepped away from the cameras. Thanks to a new excerpt of her book I’m Glad My Mom Died that was published in Vanity Fair, it’s clear to see why.
McCurdy gets frank about the pressures she was under as a young star, which led to an eating disorder and alcohol abuse before she was legally old enough to drink.
The star, now a podcast host, also details the way she was treated by her boss on iCarly, a man she only refers to as “The Creator.”
She claims he tried plying her with alcohol at 18, gave her unwanted massages and pitted other young stars against each other in a way to curry favor with them.
What’s more, she alleges she was offered $300,000 in “hush money” when her show ended and she left Nickelodeon — all to keep quiet, McCurdy says, about working with “The Creator,” who eventually was reprimanded about his on-set behavior.
Actor-turned-producer Dan Schneider created both shows, though McCurdy doesn’t specify who “The Creator” is.
After a string of hits, Schneider parted ways with Nickelodeon in 2018 — amicably, at least in public — amid accusations he was abusive on sets. In 2021, he denied any accusations to The New York Times.
As for what she describes as “hush money,” McCurdy quotes a former manager as saying, “‘They’re giving you three hundred thousand dollars and the only thing they want you to do is never talk publicly about your experience at Nickelodeon.’ Specifically related to The Creator,” she writes.
(KALAMAZOO, Mich.) — Federal prosecutors have charged a 25-year-old man for allegedly setting a Michigan Planned Parenthood clinic on fire.
Joshua Brereton allegedly set fire to the Planned Parenthood in Kalamazoo on July 31 around 4 p.m., when the clinic was closed and no patients were inside, according to authorities.
Officials said the suspect breached the fence outside the clinic then used a fuel to ignite bushes surrounding the building before lighting a fireplace starter log that he threw onto the building’s roof.
Investigators found evidence that Brereton purchased torch fuel and a Duraflame starter log from a nearby Walmart, as well as a baseball cap that he apparently wore during the arson attack.
According to investigators, Brereton posted to his personal YouTube channel before the incident, where he spoke about abortion policy in a video and called abortion “genocide.”
In the same video, officials said Brereton told viewers to “step out of your comfort zone” and lend a hand in the fight.
If convicted, Brereton faces up to 20 years in prison and a mandatory minimum sentence of five years. It is currently unclear if Brereton has an attorney.
After the fire last week, Planned Parenthood of Michigan said its alarm systems appeared to have worked properly and it thanked firefighters for their quick response.
“As always, our top priority is the health and safety of our patients and staff, and we are grateful that no one was hurt,” Paula Thornton Greear, president and CEO of Planned Parenthood of Michigan, said in a statement to ABC News. “We remain committed to serving our patients — no matter what.”
According to officials, the fire was extinguished in less than ten minutes and only resulted in minimal damage to the exterior of the clinic. The clinic was able to open at 1 p.m. the next day, according to the clinic’s website.
“Yesterday I saw the destruction at Planned Parenthood in Kalamazoo with my own eyes. This is a heinous and reprehensible act and I am hopeful that law enforcement will bring the person responsible to justice,” Michigan state Sen. Sean McCann tweeted Aug. 1.
The fire was set just one day before a Michigan judge ruled to temporarily block the state’s 1931 abortion ban. The block came just hours after a different judge ruled to allow the state to prosecute based on the law.
“This lack of legal clarity — that took place within the span of a workday — is yet another textbook example of why the Michigan Supreme Court must take up my lawsuit against the 1931 extreme abortion ban as soon as possible,” Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer said in a statement that day.
On Friday, Dolly Parton announced a new roller coaster called Big Bear Mountain, which is coming to her Dollywood theme park next spring. At 3,990 feet, it’ll be the longest coaster in the park.
Big Bear Mountain is based on the legend of a massive black bear who roams the Smokies, leaving signs and clues as to his whereabouts, though no explorer has ever seen him. That just might change with the construction of the new coaster, which invites Dollywood guests on a rollicking ride through the wilderness.
Featuring immersive on-board audio, a first for the park, a top speed of 48 mph and a pass behind a waterfall, Big Bear Mountain will be filled with thrills, twists, turns, steep drops and near encounters with the black bear.
“The Smokies are all about adventure and going exploring,” Dolly says. “I’m excited our guests will be able to head out on their own trip into the Smokies to see if they can find that Big Bear! Whether he’s out there or not, I’m sure they’ll find a lot of memories along the way that they’ll keep forever.”
Big Bear Mountain has an anticipated opening date of spring 2023. Guests can preregister for their 2023 Dollywood passes from August 5 to September 30.
Those who register early will have access to an exclusive Big Bear Mountain ride event when it opens, as well as the guaranteed lowest price on passes.
The Used guests on a new song from blackbear called “Toxic Energy.”
Frontman Bert McCracken lends his vocals to the pop-punk rocker, which is described as a “love letter to that toxic person that you have reached your limit on.”
“It’s when you’re done babysitting and giving your heart away and you need to take time for yourself,” blackbear explains. “This person lifts you up like cocaine but drops you in the dark like a lightning storm, the only way out is inward, enjoy.”
You can listen to “Toxic Energy” now via digital outlets. The track is also set to appear on blackbear’s upcoming album, In Loving Memory, along with the previously released Machine Gun Kelly collaboration, “gfy.”
In Loving Memory is due out August 26.
The Used, meanwhile, is currently on tour with Rise Against.
It’s Friday, so you know what that means: another set of newly released music is out for fans. Check out some of this week’s releases below.
Eminem, Curtain Call 2 — Slim Shady is back with another greatest hits compilation following 2005’s Curtain Call. This project features some of his best singles from 2009’s Relapse onward, as well as an unreleased track featuring 50 Cent,“Is This Love.”
NBA Youngboy, The Last Slimento — After releasing a sample project earlier this year, NBA officially dropped the project in full. It includes features from Kehlani, Rod Wave and Quavo, as well as the newly released single “I Know,” which is accompanied by a video streaming now on YouTube.
Bobby Shmurda, Bodboy — The Brooklyn rapper endured a lengthy prison sentence and some issues with his former record label, but now he’s a free man. Though he’s released a few singles, this is his first project since his debut EP, Shmurda She Wrote. “1st project since 2014 9songs long I’m excited,” he wrote on Instagram.
DJ Khaled, Drake, Lil Baby, “Staying Alive” — The men take on the roles of health care workers at Khaled Khaled Hospital in the new visual. The song interpolates the Bee Gees song of a similar name, “Stayin’ Alive.”
The Weeknd, Summer Walker, “Best Friends” remix — Walker adds her flair to “Best Friends,” released on 2022’s Dawn FM. “she fucking CRUSHED it,” The Weeknd said of Walker’s contributions.
John Legend, Saweetie, “All She Wanna Do” — The unlikely pair teamed up for a song “about a woman that you see out in a club who is just living her best life, embracing the party life and you want to be a part of it! You want to touch this energy that she has,” John said.
(NOTE LANGUAGE) Megan Thee Stallion‘s music supposedly leaked, and she believes her record label is to blame. In a social media rant Thursday, she vented and publicly questioned the early releases.
Meg wrote, “I can’t catch a break my label hate me and my s*** always leak,” she wrote in a now-deleted post on her Instagram Story. “At this point invite the hotties to the studio and shoots.”
While it’s unclear which one of her tracks was leaked, her anger was quite apparent, as she continued her rant on Twitter.
“Why continue to choose peace when everyone else choosing violence???” she wrote. “Lol I got money I PAY FOR ALOT OF MY OWNNNN S******* I’ll start from scratch bc I’m a mf hustler BABYYYY.”
Megan has a management deal with Roc Nation, but she’s signed to 300 Entertainment and 1501 Certified Entertainment. She’s filed several lawsuits against 1501 over owed money and restrictions on her album releases.
Though upset about the leak, Meg says she is talented enough to start from scratch and make more music if need be.
“More s*** my leak idk hotties lol idk but I really RAP so I can make MORE music any time…,” she concluded, noting she was “done with Twitter for the day.”
Megan is currently gearing up for the release of her upcoming album, which she confirmed was completed last week. “So happy abt my album,” she wrote on her Story. “it’s finished. it’s for the hotties. it’s honest. it’s me. it’s real.”
The rapper also deleted her Instagram posts, recently adding a photo that defines “traumazine,” a word the post says is synonymous with “self-realization.”
Breland shows off his slow jam chops with “Told You I Could Drink,” a new collaboration with country trio Lady A.
Attended by the group’s signature vocal harmonies, Breland captures the sting of a breakup in his heartache ballad, with lyrics that recount memories of turning to the bottle, first to toast a new relationship and then to mourn its loss.
“I told you I could drink / Told you I’d be fine / Told you I would move on if you left me behind,” Breland sings in the chorus. “‘Cause you pushed me to the brink / And I ain’t got no time / To sit around and wait for you to make up your mind …”
“Told You I Could Drink” brings out some R&B elements — a relatively new turn for Breland, but one that’s consistent with his commitment to genre-bending country music.
Fans already got to know his rafter-raising vocal runs and sing-a-long country chops on “Beers on Me,” a collaboration with Dierks Bentley and Hardy, which was the up-and-comer’s first #1 at country radio.
He also showed off his gospel leanings on “Praise the Lord,” a duet with Thomas Rhett, and pop stylings with “Cross Country,” released both as a solo version and as a duet with Mickey Guyton. Through it all, Breland is establishing himself as a lyrical master with a fresh spin on country songwriting. He’ll paint a more complete picture of his artistic identity with the release of his full-length debut, Cross Country, due out in early September.
The new Neil Young live album and concert film, Noise & Flowers, which was recorded during his nine-date 2019 European tour with his frequent backing group Promise of the Real, was released Friday.
The album and film are dedicated to Young’s longtime friend and manager Elliot Roberts, who died at age 76 just two weeks before Neil and Promise of the Real launched the trek.
“Playing in [Elliot’s] memory [made it] one of the most special tours ever,” Young writes in the album’s liner notes. “We hit the road and took his great spirit with us into every song … Every note was played for music’s great friend, Elliot.”
Noise & Flowers includes performances from concerts in London, Ireland, Germany, Belgium and the Netherlands. It features renditions of a wide range of songs from Young’s back catalog, including classics such as “Mr. Soul,” “Helpless” and “Rockin’ in the Free World,” plus deeper cuts like “On the Beach,” “I’ve Been Waiting for You,” “Winterlong” and “From Hank to Hendrix.”
Noise & Flowers is available on CD, as a two-LP vinyl set, via digital formats and as a deluxe CD/two-LP/Blu-ray collection featuring the film on the Blu-ray disc. In addition, a standalone Blu-ray can be purchased exclusively at Young’s Greedy Hand Store. The movie was co-directed by Young and his wife, Daryl Hannah, under their Bernard Shakey and dhlovelife pseudonyms.
You can check out a video of the performance of “From Hank to Hendrix” at Young’s official YouTube channel.
Those who purchase Noise & Flowers at the Greedy Hand Store will receive a high-res digital download of the album from Young’s Xstream Store at his Neil Young Archives website.
Here’s Noise & Flowers full track list:
“Mr. Soul”
“Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere”
“Helpless”
“Field of Opportunity”
“Alabama”
“Throw Your Hatred Down”
“Rockin’ in the Free World”
“Comes a Time”
“From Hank to Hendrix”
“On the Beach”
“Are You Ready for the Country”
“I’ve Been Waiting for You”
“Winterlong”
“F***in’ Up”
