Two decades after Carrie Underwood stole hearts as a contestant on American Idol, the “Before He Cheats” superstar is returning to the show as a judge on the upcoming 25th season.
She opened up about the new gig for the first time this week on SiriusXM’s Music Row Happy Hour in Las Vegas. “I feel like I’ve been so blessed to obviously be so rooted in country music, but I’ve been able to be a part of many other genres or music as well,” she shared of her musical experiences. “I mean, I’ve got a song with Papa Roach right now. It’s a lot of fun.”
Underwood continued, “I like to think that I am versatile and, hopefully, when I listen to people come and audition, I can have any lens I need to put on in terms of what music I’m thinking.”
Ultimately, as a judge, she hopes to be “honest and constructive, but still kind,” before adding, “I think that’s the whole point, because people are coming in and it’s dreams. You’re part of somebody’s story from that moment on.”
Underwood was the winner of American Idol‘s fourth season in 2005 and has gone on to release nine studio albums, win entertainer of the year at the Academy of Country Music Awards, and take home eight Grammys. In Billboard‘s 50 Best American Idol Alumni of All Time list, Underwood was ranked at No. 2, behind only season one champ Kelly Clarkson.
“Carrie Underwood is the first American Idol alum ever to join the judging panel. Her global superstar status as the most successful Idol winner to date makes her a perfect fit for the show,” said Megan Wolflick, Idol showrunner and executive producer in a statement at the time of announcement in July. “She embodies the true spirit of Idol as she herself is the definition of the Cinderella story. Our future hopefuls will have the chance to receive advice from someone who has walked in their exact footsteps every step of the way. Carrie has always been a strong supporter of Idol, and I’m thrilled for her to be reunited with our Idol Family.”
Perry, who had spent seven seasons as a judge on the show alongside Lionel Richie and Luke Bryan since its move from original home Fox to ABC in 2018, revealed her exit from American Idol earlier this year. “I think this will probably be my last show, my last season for Idol,” she said on Jimmy Kimmel Livein February. “I love Idol so much. It’s connected me with the heart of America, but I feel like I need to go out and feel that pulse to my own beat.”
Troy Ave has been released from New York City’s Rikers Island after being inside since February.
He commemorated the occasion with an Instagram post on Monday (Aug. 26), sharing a picture of himself in front of a Rikers Island sign holding a bag of cash, a red Lamborghini Urus next to him. He captioned the post,”Ya boi home!”
In a video clip shared by DJ Akademiks, the rapper is heard saying, “We out. I wanna go straight to the airport.”
Earlier this year, the Brooklyn rapper turned himself in to begin his prison sentence for his part in the 2016 NYC shooting that left his bodyguard Ronald “Banga” McPhatter dead. Troy, who was set to open up for T.I. that night, got into an altercation with rival Daryl “Taxstone” Campbell in the green room before he got a chance to perform. Campbell — who shot and killed McPhatter, and also shot shot three others — was convicted on the charges of manslaughter in the first degree, two counts of first-degree assault, one count of second-degree assault, and two counts of criminal possession of a weapon in the second degree. He was sentenced to 35 years behind bars.
The day Troy turned himself in, he shared a video message on Instagram. “About to run up in the court, you might not see me for a while but just know the streets is a myth,” he said. “Somebody shot at me. Instead of laying down and dying, I’d have been a hero, a martyr. I take the gun and bust back.”
He added, “There you have it, here go the consequences. We don’t cry over spilt milk. You take the lemons and you make lemonade. Y’all keep supporting and keep running it. And send prayers; prayers count more than anything … I’m up out of here.”
Initially charged with attempted murder and criminal possession of a weapon, Troy and his legal team negotiated a one-year sentence in exchange for his testimony against Campbell.
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“Dirt Cheap” hitmaker Cody Johnson has collaborated with artists like Jelly Roll (they recorded “Whiskey Bent” on Johnson’s album Leather album) and Terri Clark (the two performed “I Just Wanna Be Mad” on Clark’s Take Two album). But he has his sights set on a duet with the reigning CMA and ACM entertainer of the year winner.
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“I’m going duck hunting with her boyfriend Duck [Devlin “Duck” Hodges]. I guess that’s how he got his name, because he’s really into hunting,” he said. “I heard Loretta Lynn’s ‘Louisiana Woman Mississippi Man.’ I called Lainey and said we should record that song together, and she agreed. But we haven’t done it yet.”
It’s safe to say Wilson has been busy of late, having just released her new album, Whirlwind. Johnson, whose song “Dirt Cheap” is in the top 10 on Billboard’s Country Airplay chart, also revealed that another country music A-lister, Luke Combs, had been pitched “Dirt Cheap”– but Johnson got to it first.
Johnson said of Combs, “He didn’t click on it. So here’s to you Luke! He didn’t listen to it until I after released it. He thought the title looked familiar. I talked about it afterwards — had some choice words to say about ‘Dirt Cheap.’ I said, ‘Everything happens for a reason.’”
Recently Johnson headlined a rodeo in Brazil, at Cowboy Festival Barretos. “They called me, and we sold the thing out,” he said. “That’s pretty cool.” The festival has been around since the 1950s and has previously featured headliners including Garth Brooks, Alan Jackson, Shakira, Mariah Carey and Shania Twain.
https://i0.wp.com/neztelinc.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/station.nez_png.png?fit=943%2C511&ssl=1511943Yvetohttps://neztelinc.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/nez_png.pngYveto2024-08-27 19:45:382024-08-27 19:45:38Here’s Which Classic Country Duet Cody Johnson Wants to Sing With Lainey Wilson
Eight years after he first became president of the United States, Donald Trump is once again running for re-election in 2024.
His latest campaign follows one term in the White House that began in 2016 after he defeated Hillary Clinton, plus another four years out of the job thanks to Joe Biden winning the race in 2020. This time around, the 78-year-old businessman-turned-politician faces a new opponent: Vice President Kamala Harris, the Democratic party’s presumptive nominee.
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And while an outpouring of musicians have voiced their support for Harris, so, too, have a number of famous faces endorsed Trump ahead of the big vote in November. With Ohio senator JD Vance by his side as running mate, the twice-impeached ex-POTUS has received backing from artists of all backgrounds, from country stars such as Jason Aldean and Kid Rock to hip-hop hell-raisers like Kanye West and Sexyy Red.
His campaign has only grown more polarizing in light of his felony convictions in May, with a Manhattan jury finding him guilty of 34 charges of falsifying business records to cover up a $130,000 payment he made to adult film star Stormy Daniels. The same cannot be said about the apparent assassination attempt against him at his rally in Pennsylvania, an act of violence that was subsequently condemned by politicians on both sides of the aisle.
As more artists speak out, Billboard will continue to update this list to reflect all of the big names who are riding for Trump in 2024. For now, keep reading to see who in the music world has expressed support for the New York native’s third White House bid — so far, at least — below.
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Big Sean hopped on IG Live to talk about his new album, Better Me Than You, and got emotional sharing some of the details behind the album. Here’s what he had to say.
Big Sean: I do it for the fans, with the power of Jesus Christ and all my angels, for real. You know, so.
Tetris Kelly: Big Sean got emotional on IG Live while giving fans an update on his album.
Big Sean: I’m gonna take my time.
Tetris Kelly: Big Sean’s album, Better Me Than You, drops on Friday, but the road to release hasn’t been easy.
Big Sean: Like I said, I ain’t been sleeping a lot. I’ve kinda just been giving this s–t my all and I’m burnt the f–k out. You know?
Tetris Kelly: During the livestream, Big Sean said he struggled with clearing samples, negativity online and even COVID. But after the release date was pushed, he’s ready to drop his sixth album this week, in large part thanks to his mother.
Big Sean: I appreciate my mom for being that guardian angel always giving me that advice. She really talked me through it for real.
Tetris Kelly: He said he got a call from his mom while he and Jhené were bathing their child and helped hype him up.
Big Sean: I’m excited, and that’s one thing that my mom said. She said, “Get excited.” Like, “Drop your album; it’s fire.”
Tetris Kelly: You can hear more from Sean tonight, when he talks with Billboard’s deputy director of hip-hop/R&B, Carl Lamarre, as part of the Samsung presents series at Samsung 837 in NYC.
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If you’re a fan of Tim Burton’sNightmare Before Christmas, this 13-foot, giant-sized animated LED of Jack Skellington is a must-have, bringing the iconic character to life with its huge build. This fan-favorite decoration is popular every Halloween, so act fast before it’s gone! Whether you’re planning ahead for Halloween festivities or simply looking to add a touch of Tim Burton’s unique characters to your home, you can’t go wrong with this one.
According to Home Depot, this giant-sized Jack Skellington can speak three different phrases and sing. It also comes with an illuminated LED face to achieve a spooky vibe. If that’s not all, its posable arms offer flexibility in displaying the character by letting you position and adjust the limbs in various ways.
This Jack Skellington also includes motion-sensor activation, a feature that triggers response when movement is detected. Plus, it also comes with its own plug-in power adapter.
Disney’s Giant-Sized Animated LED Jack Skellington
Customers enjoy the quick-and-easy process of putting this item together. One Home Depot customer said, “Assembly instructions were clear and thorough, he looks so awesome and the item seems to be made very well and will likely hold up for years to come. I highly recommend this guy!”
Another Home Depot customer said, “Easy to assemble considering its size. Instructions are clear. Good choice of audio clips from the movie.”
For those looking for a 2-in-1 decor piece, this is a great option. Fans can not only bring out Jack Skellington for their Halloween display, but also for Christmas. With this piece, you can bring the movie to life in the comfort of your home.
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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.
There’s a new Dyson Aiwrap on the market, and it’s the brand’s most futuristic hair tool yet. The Dyson Airwrap i.d. is a multi-styler and dryer with one-touch curling and styling capabilities that you can control through the Dyson app.
According to a press release, Dyson Airwrap i.d. uses Bluetooth technology to offer a “more personalized styling experience.” The device has a “personalized curling sequence” that allows you to style your hair with the touch of a button. With help from the Dyson app, Airwrap i.d. “automates the curling process based on user profile data such as hair type, length, and skill level.” It wraps, styles and curls your hair while “maintaining heat and airflow,” per Dyson.
The Airwrap i.d. was released on Monday (Aug. 26) and retails for $599.99. The hair tool is available in two options: Dyson Airwrap i.d. Multi-styler for Curly to Coily Hair T3-4 and Dyson Airwrap i.d. Multi-styler for Straight to Wavy Hair T1-2.
Dyson’s newest Airwrap comes in multiple colors, including Ceramic Patina and Topaz, Vinca Blue and Topaz, and a limited-edition Strawberry Bronze/Blush Pink dropping for the 2024 gifting season.
In other Dyson news, the company debuted a line of hair styling products earlier this month along with new colors of the original Dyson Airwrap. (The Chitosan collection consists of Pre-Styling Hair Cream ($59.99) and Post-Styling Hair Serum ($59.99) designed to fight humidity and frizz to help your hairstyles last longer. The line takes its name from chitosan, “a complex macromolecule derived from oyster mushrooms” and the star ingredient in the product lineup.
Dyson’s Chitosan collection is available at Sephora and Dyson.com.
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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.
Haus Labs by Lady Gaga introduced a liquid eyeliner whose design was inspired by a calligraphy pen, and beauty lovers are already “obsessed” with it. Clear Cut Liquid Eyeliner earned a 4.9-star rating on the Haus Labs website from more than 170 customer reviews raving over the quality of the product, including its deep pigment, easy application and “one-swipe wing precision,” as one shopper wrote.
The $26 liquid eyeliner — which delivers a long-lasting, waterproof, matte finish with no smudging — debuted on Tuesday (Aug. 26) via Haus Labs and Sephora.
Clear Cut Liquid Eyeliner is designed for all eye shapes, suitable for beginners and novices, and it’s only available in one shade: Black Onyx. Inspired by the design of Japanese calligraphy brushes, the eyeliner brush was constructed with more than 300 vegan fibers in different lengths and engineered in Korea.
Gaga teased the eyeliner on Instagram early in the month. “Say hello to Clear Cut Liquid Eyeliner: Haus Labs’ unique take on a highly-usable precision eyeliner. We’re really proud of this one. We’ve spent the last two years developing an ultra-black matte pigment that’s long wearing and won’t transfer or smudge with water or sweat,” Gaga shared with her 57 million followers. “And unlike most liquid liners, it is clean and completely free of carbon black. The brush is amazing. We were inspired by Japanese calligraphy and our design includes over 300 vegan fibers of varying lengths, resulting in effortless tug-free comfort and better control around the eye than anything else you’ll find. Whether you’re into fine lines or bold designs, I think you’ll love it and I can’t wait to see you use it very soon.”
Keeping with its commitment to clean beauty, Clear Cut Liquid Eyeliner features a vegan formula fueled by the brand’s charcoal powder and herbal flower complex and free from carbon black, a known carcinogen, that has been used to pigment eye makeup.
“Our new Clear Cut Liquid Eyeliner is two years in the making, labs across three countries and more than 20 iterations to land the right formulation,” said Gloria Ryu, chief product officer for Haus Labs. “In addition to being HausTech Powered with our custom Charcoal Powder Complex, the eyeliner is also formulated with an herbal flower complex, which boosts longwear performance while protecting the skin, and panthenol, rich in Vitamin B5 and supports skin barrier function for comfort and a smooth application. I am incredibly proud of how we were able to push innovation in this competitive category.”
https://i0.wp.com/neztelinc.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/station.nez_png.png?fit=943%2C511&ssl=1511943Yvetohttps://neztelinc.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/nez_png.pngYveto2024-08-27 19:07:142024-08-27 19:07:14Lady Gaga’s Haus Labs Releases Eyeliner Inspired by a Calligraphy Pen: Here’s Why Beauty Lovers Are ‘Obsessed’ With It
What will be the No. 1 song of the summer of 2024? With one week of tracking remaining, Post Malone’s “I Had Some Help,” featuring Morgan Wallen, maintains its lead for the coronation, per Billboard’s Songs of the Summer chart.
The 20-position Songs of the Summer running tally tracks the most popular titles based on cumulative performance on the weekly streaming-, airplay- and sales-based Billboard Hot 100 chart from Memorial Day through Labor Day (this year encompassing charts dated June 8 through Sept. 7). This year’s warm-weather winner is set to be revealed on Billboard.com and Billboard’s social channels Tuesday, Sept. 3.
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“I Had Some Help” has ruled Songs of the Summer all 13 weeks since the chart returned this season. It has also topped both the Hot 100 and Hot Country Songs surveys. Only one hit has earned season-ending No. 1 status on the Songs of the Summer chart after leading both the Hot 100 and Hot Country Songs – Wallen’s “Last Night” last year.
Shaboozey’s “A Bar Song (Tipsy)” places at No. 2 on Songs of the Summer, with the last week of the chart’s tracking period potentially setting the stage for a photo finish between the song and Post Malone and Wallen’s team-up. “I Had Some Help” has ranked in the Hot 100’s top three, and at No. 1 for four weeks, over the past 13 weeks. “A Bar Song (Tipsy)” has placed in the top four, encompassing its seven weeks at No. 1, in that span.
Kendrick Lamar’s “Not Like Us” follows at No. 3 in the Songs of the Summer top five, with Tommy Richman’s “Million Dollar Baby” at No. 4 and Sabrina Carpenter’s “Espresso” at No. 5.
Carpenter is the only act with two songs in the Songs of the Summer top 10, as her “Please Please Please” ranks at No. 7.
Prior to “Last Night” in 2023, Harry Styles’ “As It Was” was the No. 1 hit on the season-closing 2022 Songs of the Summer chart, after BTS’ “Butter” led for 2021 and DaBaby’s “Rockstar,” featuring Roddy Ricch, wrapped on top in 2020.
https://i0.wp.com/neztelinc.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/station.nez_png.png?fit=943%2C511&ssl=1511943Yvetohttps://neztelinc.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/nez_png.pngYveto2024-08-27 19:03:372024-08-27 19:03:37With One Week to Go, Will ‘I Had Some Help’ Hold Off ‘A Bar Song (Tipsy)’ for No. 1 on Billboard’s Songs of the Summer Chart?
The primary question around Texas country singer Randall King for the last several years has not been if will he break through on a national stage, but when? The answer could well be 2024, as Warner Music Nashville releases a single to country radio. “I Could Be That Rain” has a classic sound that draws from his ‘90s-country influences, and a weather-beaten lyric that rings true to his Amarillo roots.
“I just flat out love storms, man, being from West Texas, how open it is, how flat,” he says. “They say you can watch a dog run off for three days out there. And you can watch the thunderheads just rolling in, and it’s beautiful.”
The emotions in “I Could Be That Rain” aren’t nearly as beautiful, though, as they are twisted. The protagonist finds himself shut out by his ex, with no chance to get close to her again. If only he could take the place of a rain shower, he could manage to touch her once more. Morphing into a downpour might be a little sci-fi for country, but the broken heart behind it grounds the story.
“It’s just so real,” King says. “That’s what country music should be.”
Songwriter Mason Thornley developed the title and concept circa 2021 when he heard Brit-pop artist Labrinth’s 2014 ballad “Jealous” on Spotify. That song goes through a list of people and natural elements that may be sharing space with an ex, leaving the singer frustrated that his love interest is moving on when he cannot.
Thornley focused specifically on the rain in the opening image of “Jealous,” believing that that smaller concept could be built into something much larger. “I always thought that was a whole country song in itself,” he says.
Thornley developed the chorus hook and opening line, “Wish I could be that rain,” and wrote the front half of the chorus, personifying a downpour. As raindrops, he fantasized, he could touch his ex’s skin or sing her a song through the rhythm of raindrops on a tin roof.
He pitched the idea in several writing appointments, but didn’t get any traction. Finally, he got a good reception for his rain song during a writing appointment at the office of his publisher, the aptly named Deluge Music. Artist-writer Brian Fuller, one of Thornley’s frequent writing partners, thought humanizing the rain was a bit of an outlier concept, but he saw that as a positive.
“The wackier or weirder the idea, the more interesting it is to me,” Fuller says. “I like being able to chase hooks like that and just see [what happens]. Sometimes they turn out great. Sometimes they don’t turn out at all. But I really loved it. I mean, it wasn’t anything that I hesitated on at all.”
They finished the back half of the chorus – the first line in that exercise, “Wish I could move some clouds into your sunshine,” might be the song’s best – then moved to the first verse, pitched significantly lower to create some drama in the chorus.
“I like to write those big, overarching choruses a lot of times, if you got a singer in the room who can do it,” Thornley says. “Brian’s got a great voice, and it’s not a problem for him to go up and hit those notes.” Going low in the verse allowed for introspection. For that first stanza, they used a July shower to make the protagonist nostalgic, recalling the romantic moments the couple experienced in the rain. For the second verse, the singer contemplates how, if he had morphed into rain, he could affect her in ways he could not as a human.
“It’s not that I’m going to text her, or I’m going to go try to see where she’s at, if she’s at a bar that we used to hang out at, or she’s with her friends,” Fuller says. “I’m not going to drive by her house and see if she’s home. If there’d be a unique way to do this, if there’d be a way that I could get back to her and make her think about me, I know that the rain would be the way to do it.”
They didn’t cut a demo immediately, but when Thornley was on vacation months later, Fuller discovered that Parker McCollum was considering outside songs for a project. “I Could Be That Rain” seemed like a potential match to Fuller, so he asked Thornley if they could finish the demo. Thornley worked on it during his downtime, and when he got back to Nashville, Fuller put a vocal on it.
“Rain” didn’t land with McCollum, so Fuller recorded his own version with producer Joey Hyde. When Durango artist manager Scott Gunter was shopping for a producer for developing vocalist Jake Jacobson, Hyde sent that recording among several others to demonstrate his skills. Gunter listened steadily to “Rain” for weeks before he realized that the song might work for King. Indeed, King was instantly attracted to it, though he called Fuller to make sure it was cool.
Once he got a thumbs-up, King and co-producer Jared Conrad recorded it at Nashville’s Soundstage in July 2023, intent on balancing his ‘90s proclivities with 2020s touches. “I wanted it to still be the traditional country sound that I have, but with a little bit of that darker, modern edge,” King says. “I have a Gary Allan/Dierks Bentley influence in me, that’s kind of ‘Smoke Rings in the Dark.’ And that’s what we wanted on this record. I wanted to put some ‘Smoke’ on it.”
The band played it three times at a slightly faster tempo with okay results, but on the fourth go-round, King suggested steel guitarist Justin Schipper take a more prominent role, playing the opening signature lick and handling the instrumental solo.
“Production-wise, we did try to take it a little more sad,” Conrad says. “I mean, just adding a steel guitar to it helps that immediately.”
King also wanted to weave the feel of rain on a tin roof into the sound. Tim Galloway hinted at that with a pulsing rhythm on bouzouki, a tinny-sounding Greek stringed instrument, but King heightened the effect by asking drummer Evan Hutchings to play in tandem with Galloway, tapping the metallic side of the snare.
When King sang the final vocals for the album, Into the Neon, he held “Rain” back until the end, fearful that its range might destroy his voice for the rest of the songs. “This is by far the hardest record I’ve ever sang in my life,” he says. But he handled a couple full run-throughs well, then Conrad changed things up to focus on specific parts of the song.
“We just chopped it up into the sections so I could do all the low verses together and then move into the choruses,” Conrad says. “But I’m assuming he had practiced it a lot, because in the studio, it felt super natural.”
Warner Music Nashville released “Rain” to country radio via PlayMPE on July 10, making it his first single the label has worked nationally to primary stations. King is confident in its potential.
“It’s a song that people can relate to,” he says. “People understand when you’re hurting and missing somebody. You’re hoping that they hurt and miss you, too. That’s as straightforward as it could go.”
https://i0.wp.com/neztelinc.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/station.nez_png.png?fit=943%2C511&ssl=1511943Yvetohttps://neztelinc.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/nez_png.pngYveto2024-08-27 18:08:302024-08-27 18:08:30Randall King Storms Country Radio With Heartbreak Single ‘I Could Be That Rain’
