Country artist Bryan Martin has put his hand up after he was pulled off stage, intoxicated, and forcibly removed by police.

Martin’s performance at Schaghticoke Fairgrounds on Friday night (Aug. 29) went south, and caused enough concern among fans and event organizers that the Rensselaer County Sheriff’s Office was notified.

According to a statement from local police, Martin “displayed signs of intoxication and erratic behavior, which ultimately required him to be removed from the stage. Deputies and event staff attempted to assist Mr. Martin offstage, but due to his impaired state, he became resistant and had to be forcibly escorted out.”

The moment was captured on camera, and shows Martin lifted and removed from the site by a small team of officers.

Martin later turned to social media to apologize for — and explain — his behavior. “Sorry I let yall down tonight… truth is I’m not ok… been hitting it hard for a while and haven’t took time to be honest with myself about my mental health and it’s nothing new to struggle with my anxiety and depression,” he writes in a post on Instagram.

Martin continued, “I apologize for the bad days … but I’m grateful for the countless good nights we’ve shared this year. It’s been the most consistent streak I’ve seen in years.”

He continued, “I’m not ever proud when I reach for another drink.”

In the hours following the incident, reads the police report, Martin “acknowledged that he is struggling with alcoholism. This admission shifts the perspective from one of conflict to one of compassion.”

The larger issue is “not the resistance we encountered—it is the battle Mr. Martin himself is facing,” reads a message from Sheriff Kyle Bourgault. “Addiction is a disease, and it requires both accountability and empathy.”

The Louisiana native reportedly performed the following night at 290 Maine Street in Norway, ME.

Martin, who is signed to Average Joes Records, has had hits including “We Ride,” which reached No. 3 on Billboard Country Airplay chart last year. The single also gave Martin his first appearance on the Billboard Hot 100, entering at No. 96.

Baylee Lynn’s debut single “Cautiously Optimistic” tops this week’s new music poll.

In a poll published Friday (Aug. 29) on Billboard, music fans voted the 17-year-old singer-songwriter’s first-ever release as their favorite new track of the week.

“Cautiously Optimistic” earned 64% of the vote, beating out fresh releases from artists like Sabrina Carpenter (Man’s Best Friend), Hayley Williams (Ego Death at a Bachelorette Party), Zach Top (Ain’t In It For My Health), and Blood Orange (Essex Honey).

The Tennessee native’s debut, produced by AJ Pruis, is a country-pop anthem inspired by artists like Dolly Parton and Faith Hill that captures the emotional journey of navigating love after heartbreak.

“When we wrote ‘Cautiously Optimistic,’ I envisioned this song being one that most teenage girls can relate to,” Lynn said in a statement. “I know what it’s like to be the girl who’s scared of letting her guard down because she fears being hurt again — but also what it’s like to be the girl who’s so good at ignoring all the red flags. I am beyond thrilled for this song to finally be out in the world!”

The track was co-written by Lynn, Pruis, Kyle Sturrock and Brett Tyler.

Carpenter’s Man’s Best Friend took second place in the poll, pulling in 26% of the vote. The pop star’s seventh studio album, produced by Jack Antonoff, arrives just over a year after her Grammy-winning Short n’ Sweet, which topped the Billboard 200 for four weeks.

Williams’ Ego Death at a Bachelorette Party, a collection of previously released singles with a brand new song titled “Parachute,” came in third with nearly 4% of the vote.

Check out the full results of this week’s poll below and visit Billboard’s Friday Music Guide for more must-hear releases.

Chalino Sánchez, the “King of Corridos,” would have turned 65 on Aug. 30. While his tragic murder in May 1992 ended his life, his musical legacy continues to thrive.

Thanks to technology, some of his timeless recordings are being brought back to life through collaborations with other artists. Fifteen of Sánchez’s tracks, owned by Cintas Acuario — a label based in Long Beach, California — are being reimagined for a new project.

“I bought the songs from him; they’re mine. That’s how we did business,” Pedro Rivera, owner of the label, shared exclusively with Billboard Español. (Rivera is the father of regional Mexican music stars Lupillo Rivera and the late Jenni Rivera.) “We respected each other deeply. Chalino was one of the most loyal men I’ve ever met — he always kept his word.”

The first release from this project is “Rigo Campos,” a song written more than 30 years ago by Mario Quintero, the lead singer of Los Tucanes de Tijuana. Chalino recorded his own version back in the day, but the two never met in person. Now, through the magic of technology, they’re singing together in a music video that premiered on Thursday, Aug. 28.

“It took over three years from the first meeting to today’s release,” Quintero, thrilled by the song’s reception, told Billboard Español. It has already become a trending topic in Mexico. “Unfortunately, I never got the chance to meet Chalino… [But] technology made it possible for Los Tucanes and Chalino to appear together in the video as if he were still here.”

Sánchez rose to fame in the late ’80s and early ’90s with his corridos in the California music scene. His raw, unpolished voice and straightforward style resonated with migrant communities and working-class listeners. Songs like “Nieves de Enero,” “Alma Enamorada” and “Baraja de Oro” became classics.

On May 16, 1992, he was murdered in Culiacán, Sinaloa, after a performance. He was only 31 years old.

Quintero, who as the leader of Los Tucanes heads one of the most respected norteño and corrido groups in the market, spoke to Billboard Español about “Rigo Campos,” the current restrictions on corridos in Mexico, and even a possible World Cup anthem in the works:

Billboard Español: What are the Origins of “Rigo Campos”?

Quintero: The song is based on a well-known event in Tijuana, I think it was around 1991. It was talked about a lot on the news in both Mexico and the U.S. Back then, we were just starting out, and even to this day, I draw inspiration from real-life events. I wrote the song, and it became popular locally. I used to go to record stores to check out new releases and see if anyone had recorded one of my songs. One day, I was surprised to find the song on a cassette by Chalino Sánchez. I remember opening it and seeing that it credited him as the author. My excitement immediately turned to disappointment. Turns out, he had heard it from us, liked it and recorded it with Cintas Acuario. The song was already registered to me, so we cleared everything up.

How did this particular collaboration come about?

Juan Rivera [Pedro Rivera’s son] reached out to invite me to take part in this album they’re producing with Chalino’s songs. I thought it was such an exciting idea, and of course, I was honored to include my song. It took over three years from our first meeting to now releasing “Rigo Campos.” We’re overjoyed with the public’s response. Unfortunately, I never got to meet Chalino. There was this one time he had a press conference in Tijuana, but we were busy working and couldn’t go. I had wanted to thank him for recording my song, but the opportunity never came up. Now, through technology, we were able to bring him back to life in the video, and it’s as if he’s really there with us. It was a huge effort by the teams at Cintas Acuario and Master Q Music to make it happen. The hardest part was bringing Chalino’s essence into the present, but they nailed it.

Why do you think Chalino’s legacy endures so many years after his death?

Chalino had this unique ability to take well-known songs and make them his own with his distinctive style. That’s what made him so successful. Of course, he was also heavily criticized, but people couldn’t ignore his authenticity. He wasn’t trying to imitate anyone — he was born to be an original, and that’s why he’s still such a massive influence in norteño and banda music. Producing this song was such a fulfilling experience. Listening to his voice straight from the original tapes, you realize how powerful it was. He didn’t need backing vocals; he was naturally in tune and simply incredible. Back then, there wasn’t the technology we have now, so hearing him sing was truly special. Recording this duet with him now feels like a dream come true. It didn’t happen before, but it’s happening now — and that’s what matters.

What do you think of the current bands and restrictions of corridos in Mexico?

We love corridos, but we also respect the rules in every place we perform. We understand the situation. The problem isn’t with corridos themselves; there are broader social issues at play. I think the authorities have good intentions, and we always follow any rules or restrictions. For example, at our recent show at the Auditorio Telmex in Guadalajara, we weren’t allowed to perform any corridos. Of course, some fans wanted to hear them, but we respect the law. At the end of the day, the law is the law, and we have to follow it as citizens. Where we’re allowed to perform corridos, we will. Where we’re not, we’ll just play “La Chona” three times, or “El Tucanazo,” or “Me Gusta Vivir de Noche.” We’ve got plenty of songs in our repertoire.

Speaking about “La Chona,” it’s become a major hit and played in many sporting events. Any plans to use it during the World Cup?

As the composer of “La Chona,” it’s such an honor and a privilege to see it still going strong. Every day, we get videos from all over the world of people dancing and singing along to it. When we first recorded it, I didn’t even like the song that much — I preferred others. But it carved out its own place, and now, more than 30 years later, new generations are still loving it. For the World Cup, we’re working on a project that I think fans are going to love. In the meantime, we’re heading to Chile, Colombia, Honduras, Guatemala and Bolivia this year, and next year we’ll be taking our music to Spain. Europe is becoming such an important market for regional Mexican music.

A few days ago you played for over 100,000 people. Why do Los Tucanes still draw big crowds?

I think we’ve earned the love of our fans through our music and the way we are. Los Tucanes are one of those groups that can do it all — romantic songs, corridos, cumbias — we mix norteño music with other genres. I think that’s why we have such a special place in people’s hearts. There are also people who grew up listening to our music but never got to see us live, so they come to our shows now. And it’s so touching to see multiple generations at our concerts — parents, kids, even grandparents. It’s such a blessing.

Love is in the air for French Montana, who got engaged this summer.

On Friday (Aug. 29), the Morocco-born, Bronx-raised rapper, 40, and Dubai royal Sheikha Mahra, 31, announced their engagement in a joint Instagram post.

French Montana proposed during Paris Fashion Week in June, shortly after making his runway debut in the Spring/Summer 2026 show for 3.PARADIS, according to People. TMZ was the first to report the news.

In the Instagram reveal, the couple is seen holding hands as Sheikha Mahra, a Princess of Dubai, shows off her stunning engagement ring — an emerald-cut, 11.53-carat diamond custom-designed by celebrity jeweler Eric The Jeweler of Mavani & Co. The ring is reportedly valued at $1.1 million.

“The elegant and rare design is a perfect symbol of the couple’s unique love story,” reads a press release from French Montana’s PR team, according to People.

The press release adds, “Representatives confirm that while wedding plans are underway, specific dates and arrangements are still being finalized by both families, who are reportedly excited and supportive.”

Rumors of their romance first surfaced nearly a year ago, in October 2024, when Sheikha Mahra shared photos of herself giving the “Unforgettable” rapper a tour of a city in the United Arab Emirates, according to E! News.

The couple went public with their relationship this summer, stepping out hand-in-hand at several Paris Fashion Week events.

Sheikha Mahra is the daughter of Dubai ruler Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum. She was previously married to Sheikh Mana bin Mohammed bin Rashid bin Mana Al Maktoum, with whom she shares a daughter. The couple split in July 2024. Montana also has a 16-year-old son named Kruz.

See Sheikha Mahra’s massive engagement ring photo on Instagram here.