A former management executive claims in a new lawsuit that N.O.R.E. sexually assaulted her during an album promotion event in 1999.

Carmen Bryan, a former finance officer at Def Jam affiliate Rush Management who shares a child with Nas, filed civil claims against N.O.R.E. (born Victor James Santiago Jr.) on Wednesday (Sept. 9). The lawsuit, obtained by Billboard, seeks unspecified financial damages for “severe emotional distress.”

Bryan, who ran in the same circles as N.O.R.E. in the 1990s, alleges the rapper assaulted her at a Manhattan nightclub while he was doing pre-release promotion for his sophomore album Melvin Flynt Da Hustler in May 1999. According to the lawsuit, N.O.R.E. grabbed Bryan while “visibly intoxicated” and “committed an act of non-consensual digital penetration.”

“Ms. Bryan made clear verbal objections and repeatedly pleaded for Santiago to stop,” reads the legal complaint. “Santiago ignored her objections and pleas. Santiago physically overpowered Ms. Bryan.”

Afterward, N.O.R.E. allegedly recognized Bryan crying outside the club and apologized, saying, “Carm, I didn’t know it was you. You’re always doing something different with your hair.” Bryan says he repeated a similar apology a few weeks later at a barbecue that she and Nas hosted for their daughter’s birthday.

Bryan claims she disclosed the assault the day after it occurred to Jay-Z, a “trusted confidant.” She says Jay-Z “reacted strongly and threatened to confront” N.O.R.E., but Bryan asked him not to because she didn’t want to escalate the situation. She ultimately opted not to report the assault.

“She struggled agonizingly between the urgent need to address the violation of her bodily autonomy and the intense, culturally ingrained pressure to avoid bringing legal or public harm to a successful Black male,” read the lawsuit. “In an environment that routinely demanded absolute loyalty to the artist over the safety of women, advocating for her own basic human rights felt akin to a direct betrayal of the culture itself.”

Bryan alleges that she suppressed the trauma of the incident for years. That changed in 2023, when her memories were triggered by R&B singer Cassandra “Cassie” Ventura’s explosive sexual misconduct lawsuit against Sean “Diddy” Combs. Bryan says she could not eat or sleep after the news broke and ultimately decided to pursue legal action of her own.

Now, Bryan is suing N.O.R.E. under New York City’s Gender-Motivated Violence Protection Act, which opened a limited window to bring sexual assault claims that would otherwise be barred by the statute of limitations.

Bryan’s attorneys, Marjorie Mesidor and Heather Palmore, said in a statement shared with Billboard, “For far too long, the music and nightlife industries have normalized sexual violence, treating non-consensual contact and physical domination as an occupational hazard or ‘par for the course’ — as if enduring abuse is somehow what women signed up for when entering these spaces.”

“No woman signs up to be assaulted,” added Mesidor and Palmore. “The assertion that an assault is excusable — or simply did not happen — because a perpetrator failed to recognize his victim strips women of their fundamental humanity. Ms. Bryan is coming forward not only to demand accountability for the lasting trauma and public humiliation inflicted upon her, but to challenge the culture of entitlement that treats women’s bodies as collateral damage.”

Reps for N.O.R.E. did not immediately return a request for comment. A rep for Jay-Z, who is not accused of any wrongdoing, also did not return an inquiry.

All products and services featured are independently chosen by editors. However, Billboard may receive a commission on orders placed through its retail links, and the retailer may receive certain auditable data for accounting purposes.

Kacey Musgraves is officially on the road for her Middle of Nowhere tour this fall, bringing her seventh studio album to cities across the U.S.

The musician kicked off her Middle of Nowhere 2026 tour on Aug. 21 in Chicago at United Center before continuing with stops in Boston, Baltimore, Kansas City, Phoenix and Los Angeles. The U.S. leg will conclude in Seattle at Climate Pledge Arena on Oct. 27. Tickets to Musgraves’ remaining 2026 tour dates are still available online, including through Ticketmaster.

Musgraves scored the highest debut of her career with Middle of Nowhere, which debuted at No. 3 on the Billboard 200 with 100,000 units in its first week. The album surpassed her 2024 release Deeper Well, which opened with 97,000 units. The tour features tracks from Middle of Nowhere, including “Dry Spell,” “Coyote” and “Loneliest Girl,” plus a particularly eye-catching stage prop: a giant disco ball shaped like human testicles that made its debut during the tour’s opening night in Chicago.

The sparkly set piece has since become one of the tour’s most talked-about moments, with Musgraves joking about it during her Sept. 1 show at Madison Square Garden. “My manager didn’t tell me no,” she quipped while performing “Rhinestoned.”

Below, we’ll be showing you where you can buy affordable tickets to Musgraves’ 2026 tour. We’ve also included promo codes to bump pricing down further.

Where to Buy Affordable Tickets to Kacey Musgraves’ Middle of Nowhere 2026 Tour

General admission for Musgraves’ tour went on sale Friday, May 8, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. local time via Ticketmaster. The site has a slew of tickets still available post-general sale, with pricing going for as low as $50.55 at some venues. The ticketing service offers a fan guarantee, which allows for cancellations, refunds or exchanges within 24 hours of booking. However, these options are subject to certain exclusions.

A great third-party option for buying Musgraves tickets is StubHub. With a quick look, we’ve seen tickets going for as low as $73. StubHub often has great deals on ticket sets, marking them down with deals for you and a friend up to 44% off.

For example, a set of tickets available for Musgraves’ Boston show retails for $130, down from $235. The site will mark specific venues with these deals, utilizing a “great value” badge so you won’t miss out on markdowns.

To help you plan your ticket-buying approach, StubHub will notify ticket buyers which venues are selling out fastest. The platform makes buying tickets easy with its “FanProtect Guarantee,” which protects purchases with authentic tickets and refund policies. Plus, if your event is canceled and not rescheduled, you will receive a credit worth 120% of the amount you paid, or the option of a cash refund.

More options for affordable ticketing to Musgraves’ tour can be found on SeatGeek. A quick click through the website reveals tickets for the singer’s tour going for as low as $60. To make ticketing even more affordable on SeatGeek, you can use promo code BILLBOARD10 at checkout to receive $10 off. The ticketing service features a buyer guarantee that ensures easy ticket purchases every time.

Another great option is Vivid Seats. At the time of publication, Musgraves‘ tickets are selling for as low as $59 at venues like the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, NY. The site has some of the lowest pricing we’ve seen on our search thus far, beyond Ticketmaster.

If you’re looking to make ticketing on Vivid Seats even more affordable, you can use our promo code BB30 to snag $30 off your purchase. The ticketing service offers a 100% buyer guarantee that vows your transaction will be secure, that your tickets will be delivered before your event, and that those tickets will be valid and authentic. 

TicketNetwork is yet another option we’ve found that has pretty affordable ticketing to Musgraves’ tour. Pricing starts at $63 at some venues, a steal when compared to pricing via other ticketing sites. When you search for tickets on TicketNetwork, you can use our code BILLBOARD300 to save $300 off orders of $1,000 or more, or code BILLBOARD150 to save $150 off orders of $500 or higher.

Gametime is a third-party site with really great pricing on Musgraves’ tour. As we searched through the site, we found pricing starting in the $60 range for venues in Milwaukee, Brooklyn and Chicago to make shopping for the perfect ticket even easier, Gametime will notify you when certain venues and dates are discounted. You’ll see indicators on your search that will tell you which venues are in high demand, a helpful tool for preplanning your attack plan when purchasing tickets.

When purchasing tickets through Gametime, the ticketing site guarantees that buyers are protected in the event that their concert is unexpectedly canceled. Tickets will arrive on time at the most affordable price. If you do happen to find lower pricing elsewhere, Gametime will hook users up with 110% of the difference.

Kacey Musgraves Middle of Nowhere Tour 2026 Tour Dates

All products and services featured are independently chosen by editors. However, Billboard may receive a commission on orders placed through its retail links, and the retailer may receive certain auditable data for accounting purposes.

It’s hard to believe that Dolly Parton thought of herself as unattractive, telling Radio Times magazine in 2014 that she was “not a natural beauty” and “I look like hell” sans makeup. But these photos certainly contradict her internal monologue.

Following the musician’s death on Aug. 25, fine-art photography gallery Sonic Editions resurfaced rare images from across Parton’s career, from the 1970s when “Jolene” and “I Will Always Love You” had already helped make her a country superstar, to her 2014 Glastonbury performance. Many of the photos offer an intimate look into her life, like Parton joking with passersby on the streets of New York and candid moments during her 1978 Playboy shoot in Los Angeles.

The high-quality prints come in unframed options that begin at $99 for the smallest 4×11-inch size, while framed versions start at $189. Each image is offered in five sizes, with black or white framing available, and the largest framed photo, 37×26-inch, costs $999.

David Gahr photographed Parton in New York in Sept. 1976, during a pivotal period in her career. That year brought the premiere of her variety show Dolly and another major country success with the All I Can Do album, which included tracks “All I Can Do” and “Hey, Lucky Lady.”

Photographed in New York City in Sept. 1976, Dolly Parton was expanding her career beyond country music, and this trip helped introduce her distinctive personality and star power to a broader mainstream audience.

During her Sept. 1976 trip to New York City, Parton was photographed in several candid shots joking with locals on the streets.

This portrait was taken on March 13, 1977, before Parton performed in Battle Creek, Michigan. She was touring heavily that year and traveling with the more rock-oriented Gypsy Fever Band. Around the same time, she released “Light of a Clear Blue Morning” and “Applejack.”

Harry Langdon photographed Parton in Los Angeles for the portrait session associated with her famous October 1978 Playboy appearance. Parton posed in the signature bunny costume for the shoot and later discussed her decision to appear on the cover, saying she had initially worried about how some fans would react.

Parton made her Glastonbury debut on the Pyramid Stage on June 29, 2014, performing during the festival’s third day. Her set became one of the weekend’s defining moments, drawing an enormous crowd and featuring favorites including “Jolene,” “9 to 5,” “Coat of Many Colors” and “I Will Always Love You.”

Since Parton’s death, online searches for merchandise and memorabilia have climbed as fans look for ways to celebrate her life and legacy, and among the most personal tributes are these rare photographs.

Sonic Editions also has an extensive archive of music photography beyond Parton. Fans can find prints celebrating artists including Madonna, Aretha Franklin, Bob Dylan, The Beatles and Nirvana. The company specializes in limited-edition fine-art photography designed to bring pieces of history into your home. Free shipping for orders over $200.

Caroline Bienstock, who previously served as president/CEO of Carlin Music, passed away in New York on Sept. 1 after a protracted illness. She was 68.

Bienstock was a longtime, stalwart indie music publisher, right up to the sale of Carlin Music for about $250 million to Round Hill Music in 2017. For years, the company was headquartered in the Brill Building and, like the famed location, it was home to many songs in the classic American Songbook, including such tunes as “What A Wonderful World” and “Sea of Love.” Carlin was also the music publisher for classic hits by Frank Sinatra, Billie Holiday, Stephen Sondheim, AC/DC and James Brown, among others. The company’s catalog included “Spanish Harlem,” “Happy Together,” “Nashville Cats,” “Viva Las Vegas,” “When the Saints Go Marching In,” “Save the Last Dance for Me,” “Monster Mash,” “Good Lovin” and “Total Eclipse of the Heart.”

In 2016, Billboard reported that Carlin, which had offices in Nashville, London, Paris and New York, had 8,500 songwriters in its royalty system and more than 80,000 titles in its catalog.

Born in 1958, Bienstock was the daughter of two music industry legends. Her mother Mariam was an executive and co-founder of Atlantic Records, and her father, Freddie, bought out the owners of the publishing company he had worked for and renamed it Carlin Music in 1966. The company moniker was derived from the name of his then-8-year-old daughter Caroline. He called it Carlin after he realized he couldn’t call the company Caroline Music because Radio Caroline had the rights to the name, according to a story Billboard published in 1994. After graduating from Yale College and earning a law degree from Boston University, Caroline received an MBA from the Wharton School, according to the 2016 Billboard story. 

Bienstock first practiced law and worked at Goldman Sachs before joining the Carlin in the late 1980s. Her father was initially resistant to the idea of her joining the family business, she told Billboard in 2016. But eventually he relented, and by 1993, she had risen to the position of CFO and COO. By 1998, she was president of the company. Along the way, she told Billboard that Carlin Music’s growth strategy “is to expand into new territories by buying catalogs in them.”

“As the person who is managing these assets for the benefit of the family,” she told Billboard in 2016, “I have to make the best possible decisions that aren’t based on nostalgia or sentiment.”

Like her parents before, Bienstock made a name for herself as an industry leader. Beyond her responsibilities helming Carlin Music, she served at one time or another on the boards of the NMPA (National Music Publishers Association), ASCAP (American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers), AIMP (American Independent Music Publishers) and the Songwriters Hall of Fame. The latter group awarded her the Abe Olman Publisher Award in 2017.

In 2016, Bienstock told Billboard, “I remember attending  an industry event with [my father] where somebody approached and said, ‘Oh, Freddy Bienstock. Are you Caroline Bienstock’s father?’ To him, that was just amazing because, of course, he was the music publishing legend and I was just his daughter.”

Bienstock is survived by her husband Douglas Rodrigues, her children and children-in-law, her grandchildren and her brother Robert Beinstock, who was also an executive at Carlin Music. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to the ALS Association and/or Target ALS, in honor of Caroline’s life and legacy.

Macklemore is facing backlash from a pro-Israel organization after making an onstage plea to “Free Palestine.”

The 43-year-old rapper made the public plea while opening for Ed Sheeran at New Jersey’s MetLife Stadium on Friday (Sept. 4) as part of the British superstar’s Loop Tour.

“A big part of the reason why I wanted to do this tour in the first place is so I could stand up in stadiums like this and say two words that are very near and dear to my heart: Free Palestine,” Macklemore told the crowd. “I said, ‘Free Palestine!’ I want those words to be loud and clear, so that people all the way in Gaza to the occupied West Bank know that we have not forgotten about them.”

During his set, the Grammy-winning rapper also performed his protest song “Hind’s Hall.”

Macklemore said he believes “every single human being that walks this earth deserves” to “know safety and peace before they know the sound of violence, to know the sound of laughter on a playground before planes and bombs, for parents to be able to say bye to their kids in the morning and not have to wonder if this is going to be the last time they kiss their child goodbye.”

The “Thrift Shop” hitmaker concluded his remarks by reflecting on his own fears and his decision to speak out.

“And if I let that fear I felt on the plane yesterday stop me from speaking my heart in order to keep my own comfort and the audience’s comfort, that is the day I no longer continue to be on stage,” he said. “So, I say ‘Free Palestine!’ I say, free America, free Cuba to the Congo to Sudan to Iran, and all the people in America who have to live in fear because of this terrorist organization ICE.”

Macklemore’s politically charged speech drew the attention of the Israeli-American Council (IAC), which represents more than 150,000 Israeli Americans. The organization has since launched a petition calling for the rapper to be removed from Sheeran’s remaining tour dates.

Macklemore is currently scheduled to open eight U.S. stadium shows between mid-September and early November, according to Sheeran’s website.

“This was an Ed Sheeran concert – not a political rally, not a protest, and not an activist event,” the IAC’s petition reads. “The issue is not whether Macklemore has the right to hold political views. The question is where the line should be drawn when an opening act uses a global concert platform to advance a one-sided political agenda. This becomes even more troubling when the message relies on selective imagery, biased messaging, and disputed claims presented to a massive audience as fact, without context or complexity.”

The organization is also calling “on tour leadership to clarify whether Macklemore’s political speech, visual content, and performance of ‘Hind’s Hall’ were approved in advance, and to establish clear boundaries for the use of the tour stage to promote political messaging.”

Macklemore has been vocal in his support for Palestinians amid the Israel-Hamas war. In May 2024, he released “Hind’s Hall” in support of Gaza and pro-Palestinian student protests, criticizing U.S. support for Israel. He said all streaming proceeds from the song would go to United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA).