Céline Dion’s Paris 2026 Setlist: Every Song Played at the First Show

Céline Dion returned to the stage on Saturday night (Sept. 12) after six years away, opening her 26-date Paris residency at the Plenitude Arena in Nanterre. The crowd of 30,000 was the first of more than 480,000 total across Dion’s first 16 dates staged this autumn, with every ticket bought within hours of the sale. The access lottery drew more than nine million people.

Dion hadn’t headlined a concert since publicly sharing her diagnosis of stiff-person syndrome. On Saturday she leaned on the songs that made her a phenomenon in France, a good number of them pulled from D’eux, the Jean-Jacques Goldman-written album that remains the best-selling French-language record ever made. The English blockbusters were there, too. The staging stayed spare on purpose: a large set, no pyrotechnics, everything built to keep the focus on her voice.

The show started 47 minutes late and ran to 11:14 p.m. local time, close to two and a half hours. She opened in tears on “On Ne Change Pas,” dropped into a mirror-ball disco stretch partway through, sang the opera aria “La Wally” under falling snow, and pulled a gospel choir around her before the “Pour Que Tu M’aimes Encore” sing-along everyone was waiting for. She debuted “Dansons,” her 2026 Goldman-written comeback single, and took “All by Myself” a cappella.

Michelle Obama, Oprah Winfrey, Aya Nakamura and Thomas Pesquet were among the guests in the room.

The night’s biggest gamble was the turn onto the dance floor. “I Feel Love,” “Sweet Dreams” and a reworked “I’m Alive” showed a looser, more playful Dion than the balladeer many had come expecting.

Thinking about catching the Paris residency? Here’s Dion’s full setlist from opening night.

September 13, 2026/by Yveto

News

Céline Dion Cries Happy Tears in Paris: 9 Best Moments From Opening Night of Her Return to Stage

The house went dark 47 minutes behind schedule, and 30,000 people went quiet. Céline Dion walked out in a black gown, crossed her hands over her face like a prayer, and began to sing the opening notes of “On Ne Change Pas,” accompanied only by pianist Scott Price and four violinists. She had been gone six years.

Saturday night (Sept. 12) was the first of Dion’s 26 Paris nights, a residency that runs into May 2027 at the Plenitude Arena in Nanterre, the largest indoor arena in Europe. More than nine million people had entered the lottery for a shot at purchasing a ticket to see her perform.

Within a few minutes of walking on the stage in Paris, Dion, who hadn’t put on a headlining concert since sharing her stiff-person syndrome diagnosis with the public, broke a promise she’d made to herself: She cried. Moved by the emotion of the moment, she asked the audience if they could hear her heart beating. Among the tens of thousands in attendance were famous guests including Michelle Obama, Oprah Winfrey, Aya Nakamura and Thomas Pesquet.

During the concert, Dion revealed how she’s feeling and delivered ballads, blockbusters, and even a dancefloor section in her set. She also performed her 2026 single, the French-language song “Dansons,” live on stage for the very first time.

Below are the nine best moments from the opening night of Dion’s concert residency in Paris. (Plus, see the full 29-song, two-and-a-half hour setlist from the Sept. 12 show here.)

September 13, 2026/by Yveto

News

BIGBANG Celebrate 20 Years Together With MetLife Stadium Concert: 13 Best Moments

BIGBANG brought its 20th anniversary run, the BIGBANG 2026-2027 World Tour ‘XX : COSMOS,’ to MetLife Stadium for the only East Coast date on the entire trek — and for the trio’s first show in the tri-state area since two nights at Newark’s Prudential Center in October 2015. G-Dragon, Taeyang and Daesung are touring the world together for the first time since 2017, and for the first time as a three-piece, a fact the night never sidestepped but instead absorbed into the celebration.

The set ran through 30 songs across roughly three hours with era-defining K-pop hits (“Fantastic Baby,” “Loser,” “Bang Bang Bang,” “Haru Haru,” “Lies”), solo showcases for each member (who shared their personal affinities for hip-hop, R&B, ballads and even Korea’s traditional trot music), and the live rollout of BIGBANG’s first new single in four years, “BiiiG,” after its official release on Aug. 19 to mark 20 years to the day since the group’s debut.

Behind all of it, YG Entertainment shared that the show came to life via a 23-ton mobile LED structure, a stage by Tony and Olivier Award–winning designer Es Devlin, direction from 2025 Super Bowl Halftime Show creative director Mike Carson, plus a live band led by Wow Jones, whose work spans Usher, Rihanna, Janelle Monáe and Sabrina Carpenter.

From MetLife, ‘XX : COSMOS’ heads across the Atlantic to Paris’ Stade de France and London’s Tottenham Hotspur Stadium for shows on Sept. 19 and 26, respectively, before swinging through Asia and Oceania on the world tour’s 36-show, 19-city run that stretches into February 2027.

From an unhinged “SOBER” performance to the promise to keep going “on and on,” the K-pop legends made their MetLife debut count. Read on for Billboard‘s best moments.

September 13, 2026/by Yveto

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Pink Addresses Backlash Over Comments About Macklemore’s Pro-Palestine Stance: ‘Standing Up for My Own People’

Pink is addressing the backlash over her reaction to Macklemore’s onstage calls to “free Palestine.”

During his opening sets for Ed Sheeran’s Loop Tour at New Jersey’s MetLife Stadium on Sept. 4 and 5, the “Thrift Shop” rapper made pro-Palestine remarks that drew criticism from the pop star.

Shortly after the shows, Pink reshared a post on social media from StopAntisemitism criticizing Macklemore’s remarks and calling for him to be removed from Sheeran’s ongoing stadium tour. On Friday (Sept. 11), the “Just Give Me a Reason” hitmaker took to Instagram to explain why she shared the post and what concerned her about Macklemore’s onstage actions.

“Last Sunday I reposted somebody else’s post about Macklemore’s set at Ed Sheeran’s show,” Pink began her statement. “It said things in words I didn’t write, and I wouldn’t have chosen all of them. Then the comments came, and I did what I do when I’m hurt, which is post snarky memes and act like I’m fine. That’s on me. A repost isn’t a statement, and a meme isn’t a spine. Social media makes all of us cheap and fast, and we all know it.”

She continued, “I was born a Jew. I didn’t pick it, and I’ve never hidden it. And this week a whole lot of people decided what I believe without asking me, without checking a single thing I’ve ever said or done, because a repost and the word ‘Jew’ were apparently enough to fill in the rest.”

Pink clarified that she has never spoken for “Israel, or for any government” and reiterated her belief that “Hamas is a terrorist organization. Palestinians deserve a future that honors their humanity and their aspirations. Protecting innocent life comes first, everywhere, and nobody should ever celebrate the death of a child. Anybody’s child.”

The singer also pointed to her decade-long work as a UNICEF ambassador, saying she has advocated for children impacted by war regardless of where they were born.

“I have grieved every one of them, on both sides of that fence,” she wrote. “I didn’t do it from behind a screen; I went to those children and held them. I’m not going to litigate a complex war in an Instagram caption, and I’m not going to recite anybody’s slogan to earn back a follower.”

In her three-part statement, which continued in the comments, the singer-songwriter recalled a 2014 Macklemore performance in which he wore a costume that was widely criticized as antisemitic. The rapper later apologized, saying, “I respect all cultures and all people.”

“Every Jew I know knew exactly what it was,” Pink wrote on Instagram. “But he apologized, and I let it go, because that’s what we do. We let it go. Then last weekend he stood in front of a stadium full of music-loving families, with violent images from a war on the screens, dedicated a song to the movement of his choice, and then took the mic to tell all of the Jews in the stadium that it wasn’t about them. You don’t get to decide that for us.”

“That’s what prompted my repost,” she continued. “Not ‘Free Palestine,’ and not anyone’s right to say it. I have never asked for another artist to be silenced and I’m not asking now. I don’t need anyone fired, and I don’t need a refund. What I need is to be able to say, as a Jewish mom, that scared me, and it scared people I love, without being told our fear is just propaganda, and without being told I’m somehow cool with genocide because I noticed?”

Pink concluded her statement by reflecting on the 25th anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks and the start of Rosh Hashanah, wishing her fellow Jewish people a “shana tova” for the new year.

Following his onstage comments in New Jersey, Macklemore stood by his “free Palestine” statements. “Wanting all humans to be treated equal should never be controversial,” he wrote on X, along with video of his speech from the Sept. 5 show.

The controversy also drew a response from the Israeli-American Council (IAC), which launched a petition calling for the rapper to be removed from the next eight U.S. stadium shows he’s slated to open for Sheeran through early November.

Read Pink’s full statement on Instagram below.

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September 13, 2026/by Yveto

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Drake Shares ‘Fear of Missing Out’ Teaser: ‘A Not So Short Film’

Drake has shared another teaser for his mysterious new project, Fear of Missing Out.

On Saturday (Sept. 12), the 39-year-old rap superstar took to social media to share a 25-second video captioned, “a not so short film.”

“Scored by the family,” the caption on Instagram continues, noting a Sept. 15 release date.

In the clip, a neon green speedboat glides across the water with a cityscape in the distance, while Drake appears to be behind the wheel.

“What if I told you there were two versions of your life?” a female narrator says. “In one, you avoid risk and withhold love. You feel like you’ve gone missing from yourself. You look for something you can’t find. In the other version of your life, you find it.”

The trailer closes with a black-and-white poster for Fear of Missing Out.

The 6 God first rolled out FOMO in early September, when he announced plans for a YouTube livestream scheduled for Sept. 15 at 9 p.m. ET. Following the initial tease, some fans speculated that the cryptic project could be new music, a video or possibly a tour.

Drake made history in May with the release of ICEMAN, HABIBTI and MAID OF HONOUR, becoming the first artist to simultaneously hold the top three spots on the Billboard 200.

“Janice STFU” became the 14th Billboard Hot 100 No. 1 hit of Drizzy’s career, breaking a tie with Michael Jackson and giving the Toronto MC the most No. 1 hits among male soloists. He also charted a record-high 42 songs on the chart in a single week.

ICEMAN debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200, giving Drake his 15th chart-topping album and moving him past Jay-Z for the most No. 1 albums among rappers. The album has continued its strong run, spending a career-best 13 weeks at No. 1 on the Top Rap Albums chart.

Check out Drake’s latest Fear of Missing Out teaser on Instagram below.

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September 13, 2026/by Yveto

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Jessica Simpson Brings a Little Texas to Her Walmart Fall Collection Amid Music Comeback

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.

Jessica Simpson is having a busy fall. Between returning to music, preparing for a new Netflix documentary and expanding her Walmart fashion line, the singer has plenty keeping her in the spotlight.

Her latest Walmart collection arrived Sept. 10, bringing her signature Cali-boho aesthetic into fall with barn jackets, barrel-leg jeans, maxi dresses, ruffle tops and accessories. Prices start at $10+, making the new collection one of the more accessible ways to tap into Simpson’s recognizable style.

shop jESSICA siMPSON Walmart Fall 2026 Collection

The assortment draws heavily from the mix of bohemian fashion and Western influence that has become synonymous with Simpson. Flowing dresses and ruffled tops bring a romantic touch, while relaxed denim and barn jackets add structure and a nod to her Texas roots.

There’s also a subtle ’70s influence throughout the collection. Rather than leaning into head-to-toe retro dressing, Simpson’s latest Walmart pieces translate the era through wearable details: relaxed denim silhouettes, flowy dresses, feminine ruffles and easy layering pieces.

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That makes the collection particularly useful for the September transition. A maxi dress can still work during warmer days, while a barn jacket gives it a fall update. Barrel-leg jeans can be paired with a lightweight top now and a sweater later, making them the kind of staple that can stay in rotation throughout the season.

BEST FALL JACKET

Jessica Simpson Women’s Barn Jacket

$49.50

Buy Now at walmart

Available in sizes XS to XL.

The barn jacket is one of fall’s standout layers, and Simpson’s $49.50 oversized version makes the trend feel distinctly her own with its Western-leaning aesthetic. It’s an especially good pick for those in-between September days when you need a jacket but aren’t ready for a heavier coat.

BEST BOHO DRESS

Jessica Simpson Women’s Sienna Maxi Dress

$36.60

Buy Now at walmart

One of Walmart’s highly rated dresses is still available in sizes XS to M.

This maxi dress is the kind of throw-on-and-go style that still looks thoughtfully put together. It has a tiered silhouette, flutter sleeves, lace and bow details, plus an elastic waist for a little extra shape.

BEST AFFORDABLE DENIM

Jessica Simpson Women’s and Women’s Plus Daisy Fitted Flare Jeans

$17 ~~$24.50~~ 31% off

Buy Now at walmart

At an especially wallet-friendly price, these jeans come in four denim washes and three lengths, including short, regular and long.

These affordable Jessica Simpson flare jeans are fitted through the hips and thighs before kicking out into a classic flare, with stretch denim for comfort.

BEST ’70S-INSPIRED TOP

Jessica Simpson Women’s Ella Ruffle Top

$28.50

Buy Now at walmart

It’s the same boho-inspired pattern as the previous dress, but in an easy-to-style top. It’s currently available in sizes XS to XL.

For a blouse that feels a little more special than the everyday basic, this Jessica Simpson top delivers with a ruffled peplum silhouette and feminine button details. The V-neck makes it easy to layer or wear on its own.

BEST STATEMENT ACCESSORY

Jessica Simpson Women’s Roxie Shoulder Handbag

Leopard

$26

Buy Now at walmart

Available in leopard, black and olive colorways.

The butterfly dangle is what caught our eye on this $26 Jessica Simpson shoulder bag, which also has an adjustable strap and paisley lining.

BEST DENIM OVERALLS FOR FALL

Jessica Simpson Women’s Overall Barrel Leg

$39.50

Buy Now at walmart

A highly-rated denim overall with a subtle barrel leg design.

For a one-and-done fall outfit, these $39.50 Jessica Simpson overalls make a strong case for the barrel-leg trend with an denim silhouette and adjustable straps.

BEST COZY CARDIGAN

Jessica Simpson Women’s Savana Cardigan

$29.50

Buy Now at walmart

The style comes in sizes XS-XL and has a full button placket, long sleeves, and ribbed finishing throughout.

A floral print gives this cardigan more personality than your average button-front knit. It has a V-neckline, dropped shoulders and ribbed trim, with the classic button-front construction keeping the shape familiar.

BEST MID-RISE JEAN

Jessica Simpson Women’s Cherry Barrel Jean

$34.50

Buy Now at walmart

Sizes range from 2-16, with belt loops, five-pocket styling, a button closure and zip fly.

This pair lands somewhere between a straight leg and a wide leg, thanks to its curved barrel shape. The jeans have a mid-rise waist, ankle-length cut, five pockets and a button-and-zip closure.

BEST PLUS-SIZE MINI DRESS

Jessica Simpson Women’s Plus Calanthe Ruffle Mini Dress

$10.58

Buy Now at walmart

Available in 0X-4X, it has a mini-length hem, long sleeves, and elasticized cuffs.

The Calanthe has the kind of details that make a floral dress stand out. Along with its V-neckline and empire waist, it features long sleeves, elasticized cuffs, ruffle trim and a ruffled hem.

BEST FOR EARLY FALL

Jessica Simpson Women’s Emmory Tiered Maxi Dress

$38.50

Buy Now at walmart

Only available in XS.

Boho-inspired style has long been part of Jessica Simpson’s style, and the Emmory Tiered Dress leans right into it. The flowy tiered skirt, puff sleeves and sweetheart neckline create a romantic silhouette that feels made for the start of fall.

The collection reflects Simpson’s evolution beyond music. She rose to fame as a pop singer in the late 1990s alongside Britney Spears, Christina Aguilera and Mandy Moore, with her 1999 single “I Wanna Love You Forever” peaking at No. 3 on the Billboard Hot 100. She later expanded into television, publishing and fashion, turning the Jessica Simpson name into a lifestyle brand spanning clothing, footwear and accessories. Her Walmart line, which launched in 2024, brings that aesthetic to shoppers at more accessible prices.

Now, music is once again part of the story. After a 15-year hiatus from releasing original music, Simpson returned with Nashville Canyon: Part 1 and Nashville Canyon: Part 2. She is also the subject of a feature-length Netflix documentary exploring her life and career, with Joe Pearlman attached to direct.

For now, her latest Walmart collection gives fans something they can wear. From barrel-leg jeans and barn jackets to flowy dresses and ruffle tops, the fall 2026 lineup stays rooted in the California boho and Texas influences that have long defined her style.

September 12, 2026/by Yveto

News

Lady Gaga Welcomes First Baby With Fiancé Michael Polansky: Reports

A (baby) star is born: Lady Gaga and her fiancé, Michael Polansky, have welcomed their first child, according to multiple reports.

The couple has yet to share the news, but according to photos obtained by Page Six, they were spotted out in Northern California with a baby in tow, with Gaga wearing the newborn in a sling. No additional details, including the baby’s gender or birth date, are known.

This is the first baby for both Gaga (real name: Stefani Germanotta) and Polansky. Billboard has reached out to reps for Gaga for confirmation.

Gaga and Polansky similarly didn’t announce the news that they were engaged to be married, with the singer simply referring to the tech entrepreneur as her fiancé in July 2024. Later that year, she confirmed that Polansky had proposed months earlier, in April 2024, and then shared details of the proposal in an interview with Jimmy Kimmel.

“He proposed to me right after my birthday, so my birthday passed and I was like, ‘Well, I thought he was gonna propose …,’” Gaga said on Jimmy Kimmel Live!, explaining that he popped the question during a rock-climbing trip. “We were just walking back to the room and talking,” she continued. “He actually — it was very Michael — asked me if he could ask me. He wanted to know if it was OK to propose before he proposed. And I was like, ‘Yes, it’s so OK!’”

The couple have been publicly dating since early 2020 when Gaga made their relationship Instagram-official with a post that February. In an interview a few months later, she referred to Polansky as “the love of my life.”

Gaga wrapped her The Mayhem Ball tour back in April and has kept a low profile publicly since.

September 12, 2026/by Yveto

News

Alison Krauss & Union Station, Sister Sadie Among Top 2026 IBMA Awards Nominees: Full List

UPDATE (Sept. 11): Mandolin maestros Sam Bush and Sierra Hull will co-host and perform at the 37th annual IBMA Bluegrass Music Awards, set for Thursday, Oct. 22 at 7:30 p.m. ET at Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Auditorium in Chattanooga Tenn.

The Del McCoury Band, Sister Sadie, Authentic Unlimited, The Grascals and Michael Cleveland & Flamekeeper are also set to perform.

The 2026 class of inductees into the Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame consists of Byron Berline, Nashville Bluegrass Band, Barry Poss and The Lost & Found. Musical tributes for each inductee are planned.

The IBMA Bluegrass Music Awards will be livestreamed; details coming soon.

UPDATE (July 22): One week after announcing the nominations for the 37th annual IBMA Bluegrass Music Awards, the International Bluegrass Music Association announced the nominees for the 2026 IBMA Industry Awards and the 2026 IBMA Momentum Awards.

The IBMA Industry Awards recognize outstanding work in non-performing industry categories and honor the individuals who help advance bluegrass music and support its artists. The ceremony will take place on Thursday, Oct. 22, at the Chattanooga Convention Center in Chattanooga, Tenn.

The IBMA Momentum Awards recognize artists and industry professionals in the early stages of their bluegrass music careers. In addition to honoring emerging talent, the awards also include recognition for a mentor whose guidance has had a significant and positive impact on upcoming artists and industry professionals. The Momentum Awards ceremony will take place on Wednesday, Oct. 21, also at the Chattanooga Convention Center.

These award ceremonies are part of IBMA World of Bluegrass, which runs Oct. 20-24. The week encompasses four events: the IBMA Business Conference, Oct. 20-22 at the Chattanooga Convention Center; the IBMA Bluegrass Ramble, Oct. 20-21 in downtown Chattanooga venues; the 37th Annual IBMA Bluegrass Music Awards, Oct. 22 at the Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Auditorium; and IBMA Bluegrass Live!, Oct. 23-24, a two-day festival of live performances and fan experiences. Tickets are now on sale for all IBMA World of Bluegrass events; visit their website for details.

PREVIOUSLY (July 15): This year’s nominees for the International Bluegrass Music Association Bluegrass Music Awards were announced on Wednesday (July 15), with Alison Krauss & Union Station, Sister Sadie and East Nash Grass among the year’s top nominees.

All three acts are up for entertainer of the year, alongside Billy Strings and The Del McCoury Band.

The 37th annual IBMA Bluegrass Music Awards will be held Oct. 22 at Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Auditorium in Chattanooga, Tenn., and will be presented by Get It Played. The awards are part of the annual World of Bluegrass, including Bluegrass Live! which runs Oct. 23-24 and will be spearheaded by performances from Sierra Ferrell, Leftover Salmon, Larry Sparks and more.

Last year’s top IBMA Bluegrass Music Awards winners included Billy Strings, Jason Carter & Michael Cleveland, Authentic Unlimited and The Travelin’ McCourys.

In addition to this year’s IBMA Bluegrass Music Awards nominees, the 2026 Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame inductees were revealed, including multi-instrumentalist Byron Berline, The Nashville Bluegrass Band, The Lost and Found, and Sugar Hill cofounder Barry Lyle Poss.

The 2026 IBMA Distinguished Achievement Award recipients are Gallagher Guitars, pioneering fiddle player Matt Glaser, The Marshall Family, Gary Reid, and journalist/editor/biographer Derek Halsey.

See the full list of this year’s IBMA Bluegrass Music Awards nominees, followed by 2026 IBMA Industry Award nominees and 2026 IBMA Momentum Awards nominees.

2026 IBMA Music Award Nominees

Entertainer of the year

Billy Strings

Alison Krauss & Union Station

Sister Sadie

East Nash Grass

The Del McCoury Band

Vocal group of the year

Alison Krauss & Union Station

Authentic Unlimited

Sister Sadie

Blue Highway

Red Camel Collective

Instrumental group of the year

Michael Cleveland & Flamekeeper

Billy Strings

The Travelin’ McCourys

East Nash Grass

Appalachian Road Show

Song of the year

“Broken Angels,” The Grascals and Dolly Parton (songwriters: Dolly Parton/Jamie Johnson, Producer: Kent Wells, Label: Billy Blue Records)

“Can’t Outrun the Blues,” Trey Hensley (songwriters: Trey Hensley/Bobby Starnes, Producer: Brent Maher, Label: Pinecastle Records)

“New Cluck Old Hen,” Steve Martin and Alison Brown (Feat. Della Mae) (Arrangement: Steve Martin/Alison Brown, Producers: Alison Brown/Garry West, Label: Compass Records)

“Cost of Living,” Authentic Unlimited (Songwriter: Jerry Cole, Producer: Authentic Unlimited, Label: Edisonic Records)

“Finding Your Way Home,” Red Camel Collective (Songwriters: Heather Berry Mabe/Joseph Scott Patrick, Producer: Red Camel Collective/Stephen Burwell, Label: Pinecastle Records)

Album of the year

Can’t Outrun the Blues, Trey Hensley (Producer: Brent Maher, Label: Pinecastle Records)

All Will Be Well, Sister Sadie (Producer: Deanie Richardson, Label: Mountain Home Music Company)

All God’s Children, East Nash Grass (Producers: Jake Stargel/East Nash Grass, Label: Mountain Fever Records)

Della Jane’s Heart, Appalachian Road Show (Producer: Appalachian Road Show, Label: Billy Blue Records)

Songs That Sing Me, Becky Buller (Producer: Stephen Mougin, Label: Dark Shadow Recording)

Gospel recording of the year

“I Will Someday,” NewFound Road (Songwriters: Ronnie Bowman/Garnet Bowman/Chris Stapleton/Morgane Stapleton, Producer: Tim Shelton, Label: Billy Blue Records)

“Where the Soul Never Dies,” Bobby Osborne & C.J. Lewandowski (Songwriter: William M. Golden, Producer: C.J. Lewandowski, Label: Turnberry Records)

“Some Day,” Blue Highway (Songwriters: Olive Stockton/Tim Stafford, Producer: Blue Highway/Dan Boner, Label: Rounder Records)

“You Don’t Knock,” Darin & Brooke Aldridge with John Cowan (Songwriters: Cedar Walton/Wesley Westbrooks, Producer: Mark Fain/Darin Aldridge, Label: Billy Blue Records)

“Two Old Church Pews,” Danny Paisley (Songwriters: Mark “Brink” Brinkman/Daryl Mosley, Producer: Greg Cole, Label: Pinecastle Records)

Instrumental recording of the year

“Grandfather’s Clock,” Bryan Sutton and Sierra Hull (Songwriter: Henry Clay Work arr. Bryan Sutton/Sierra Hull, Producer: Bryan Sutton, Label: Mountain Home Music Company)

“Big Daddy Rabbit,” Michael Cleveland & Flamekeeper (feat. Nathan Livers) (Songwriter: Nathan Livers, Producer: Michael Cleveland, Label: Yeah, Man Records

“Cacklin’ Hen,” Deanie Richardson and Kimber Ludiker (Songwriter: Traditional, Producer: Deanie Richardson, Label: Mountain Home Music Company)

“Let’s Get Out of Here,” Steve Martin and Alison Brown (Songwriters: Alison Brown/Steve Martin, Producers: Alison Brown/Garry West, Label: Compass Records)

“Tom & Jerry,” Andy Leftwich (Songwriter: Traditional, Producer: Andy Leftwich, Label: Mountain Home Music Company)

New artist of the year

Jaelee Roberts

Mason Via

Carson Peters & Iron Mountain

Vickie Vaughn

Daniel Grindstaff & The Uptown Troubadours

Collaborative recording of the year

“Broken Angels,” The Grascals and Dolly Parton (Songwriters: Dolly Parton/Jamie Johnson, Producer: Kent Wells, Label: Billy Blue Records)

“Gentle on My Mind,” Tony Trischka and Billy Strings (Songwriter: John Hartford, Producer: Tony Trischka/Lawson White, Label: Down the Road Records)

“New Cluck Old Hen,” Steve Martin and Alison Brown (feat. Della Mae) (Songwriters: Arr. Steve Martin/Alison Brown, Producers: Alison Brown/Garry West, Label: Compass Records)

“The Devil Went Down to Deep Gap,” Bryan Sutton with Billy Strings (Songwriters: Tom Crain/Charlie Daniels/Taz DiGregorio/Fred Edwards/Charlie Hayward/James W. Marshall adapted by Bryan Sutton/Billy Strings, Producer: Bryan Sutton, Label: Mountain Home Music Company)

“Just a Holler Over,” Sister Sadie and The Po’ Ramblin’ Boys (Songwriters: Robin Macy/Deanie Richardson, Producer: Sister Sadie/C.J. Lewandowski, Label: Mountain Home Music Company)

Male vocalist of the year

Dan Tyminski

Russell Moore

Greg Blake

Del McCoury

Trey Hensley

Female vocalist of the year

Alison Krauss

Jaelee Roberts

Heather Berry Mabe

Sierra Hull

AJ Lee

Banjo player of the year

Kristin Scott Benson

Gena Britt

Ron Block

Alison Brown

Tony Trischka

Bass player of the year

Mike Bub

Vickie Vaughn

Missy Raines

Barry Bales

Alan Bartram

Fiddle player of the year

Michael Cleveland

Jason Carter

Bronwyn Keith-Hynes

Deanie Richardson

Andy Leftwich

Resophonic guitar player of the year

Justin Moses

Jerry Douglas

Rob Ickes

Andy Hall

Matt Leadbetter

Guitar player of the year

Trey Hensley

Billy Strings

Bryan Sutton

Cody Kilby

Molly Tuttle

Mandolin player of the year

Sierra Hull

Ronnie McCoury

Jesse Brock

Sam Bush

Alan Bibey

Music video of the year

“Broken Angels,” The Grascals and Dolly Parton (Videographer: Natalie Simmons, Producer: Olly Rowland)

“The Devil Went Down to Deep Gap,” Bryan Sutton with Billy Strings (Animator: Pat Bradley, SpringShoe Animation, Producer: Josh Serrato)

“Ralph’s Banjo Special,” Kristin Scott Benson, Gena Britt, & Alison Brown (Videographer: Joseph Spence, Producer: Alison Brown)

“New Cluck Old Hen,” Steve Martin, Alison Brown (feat. Della Mae) (Videographer: Drew Levin, Producer: Alison Rose Gregory/Scott Roberts)

“Let the Circle Be Broken,” Sister Sadie (Videographer: David Rossow, Producer: Joshua Britt/Neilson Hubbard)

2026 IBMA Industry Award Nominees

Writer of the year

Paul Burch

John Curtis Goad

Derek Halsey

Garret K. Woodward

Gary Reid

Songwriter of the year

Mark “Brink” Brinkman

Chris Jones

Rick Lang

Tim Stafford

Photographer of the year

Ashli Linkous

Laci Mack

Scott Simontacchi

Jay Strausser

Madison Thorn

Broadcaster of the year

Orin Friesen, Truckers Radio USA

Barb Heller, NCPR

Matt Hutchinson, Bluegrass Jam Along podcast

Michelle Lee, Michelle Lee On Air

Peter Thompson, KALW and Bluegrass Country Radio

Graphic designer of the year

Audrey Fletcher

Robert Hakalski

Grace van’t Hof

Carla Wehby

Remy Zimmerman

Sound engineer of the year

Scott Barnett

Elliot Beckley

Key Chang

Matt Coles

Cameron Reichert

Event of the year

Annapolis Baygrass Music Festival, Annapolis, Maryland

Bluegrass in La Roche at 20, La Roche-sur-Foron, France

Bluegrass Spartanburg, Spartanburg, S.C.

CBA 50th Anniversary Father’s Day Bluegrass Festival, Grass Valley, Calif.

Marysville Winter Bluegrass Series, Marysville, Ohio

Liner notes of the year

Safe Sensible & Sane – Alison Brown and Steve Martin; Liner notes by: Alison Brown and Steve Martin

Kentucky Troubadour – The Rebel Collection – Don Rigsby; Liner notes by: Daniel Mullins

Keep On Keepin’ On – Bobby Osborne, C.J. Lewandowski & Friends; Liner notes by: Daniel Mullins and C.J. Lewandowski

The Rich-R-Tone/Folk Star Story – Appalachia on Record 1946-1954; Liner notes by: Ted Olson and Matteo Ringressi

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2026 IBMA Momentum Awards Nominees

Band of the year

The Creekers

ShadowGrass

Remedy Tree

The Cody Sisters

Under the Rocks

Industry involvement

Sarah Larsen

Melanie Wilson

Payton Burdette

Helen Ludé

Rebekah Speer

Instrumentalist of the year (2 awards)

Steven Moore

Lilly Anne Svrlinga

G Rockwell

Luciya Sullivan

Jean-Baptiste (JB) Cardineau

Noah Gobel

Nathan Beaumont

Vocalist of the year

Adam Miller

Lydia Hamby

Morgan Brake

Akulina Shamanov

Ellie Hakanson

Mentor of the year

Louisa Branscomb

Becky Buller

Pammy Davis Lassiter

Deanie Richardson

Jim Pankey

September 12, 2026/by Yveto

News

Lil Durk Acquitted of All Charges in Murder-for-Hire Trial Over Quando Rondo Attack

Lil Durk has been acquitted of all charges accusing him of orchestrating a murder-for-hire conspiracy that targeted Quando Rondo and ultimately killed the rival rapper’s cousin.

A jury in Los Angeles federal court deliberated for three days before finding the Chicago drill star (Durk Banks) not guilty on Friday (Sept. 11) of murder-for-hire, stalking and conspiracy counts that could have subjected him to life in prison, Billboard confirmed. Durk’s alleged co-conspirators, David “Browneyez” Lindsey and Deandre “OTF Dede” Wilson, were convicted of stalking and conspiracy but acquitted of murder-for-hire as well. They’ll be sentenced at a later date.

Durk remains in custody, since he still faces an additional racketeering charge that accuses him of operating his OTF label as a violent gang. Judge Michael W. Fitzgerald excluded that new count from the original trial and scolded prosecutors for tacking it on at the last minute. A second trial is currently scheduled for Oct. 5.

Durk’s attorney, Drew Findling, said the defense team is “so elated and proud” while speaking outside the courthouse following the verdict. “22 months ago, Durk and I made an agreement that we would make history with the greatest verdict in this country, and it happened today,” said Findling. “Durk is not guilty of all charges.”

“So now we work to get pull the shackles off,” added Findling. “The shackles must come off, and he must walk free so that he can come home to his beautiful family and to the world that loves him.”

A rep for the prosecution did return a request for comment.

Prosecutors claimed during a two-week trial that Durk ordered his Only the Family (OTF) crew to murder Rondo in retaliation for the 2020 killing of his close friend and collaborator King Von. Rondo was shot at a Los Angeles gas station in 2022 and survived, but his cousin Saviay’a Robinson, also known as Lul Pab, was killed in the crossfire.

The case rested largely on testimony from three alleged participants in the plot who pled guilty and became government cooperators: Kacey “OTF Jam” Hester, Keith “Flacka” Jones, and Kavon “Vonnie” Grant. The trio told jurors that Durk planned for a group of shooters to travel from Chicago to Los Angeles in 2022 and offered cash rewards for the attack, though no payments were ever completed.

The jury also heard some of Durk’s music during the trial, including his top 40 hits “Who Want Smoke??”, “Ahhh Ha” and “Pissed Me Off.” Prosecutors argued that Durk telegraphed the Rondo murder plot in these tracks, such as in the “Ahhh Ha” lyrics, “Don’t respond to s–t with Von/ I’m like, ‘f–k it, you trippin’, go get your gun’/ They droppin’ locations, I’m gettin’ it done/ F–k tweetin’, we slidin’, the feds are comin’.”

Durk has consistently maintained that he had nothing to do with the shooting. His lawyers argued throughout the trial that the cooperating witnesses were lying and that Vonnie, who had access to Durk’s credit cards as his personal assistant, was the real mastermind of the plot.

Defense attorneys said Vonnie and the other cooperators falsely pinned the blame on Durk because the famous rapper was a “big fish” that they could hand over to prosecutors and, in exchange, get shorter prison sentences of their own. They leaned hard into attacking Vonnie’s credibility, playing recordings of jailhouse phone calls where he said the trial would be his “time to shine” and “perform.”

Durk’s team also strongly urged the jury not to give any weight to his lyrics, saying his music is artistic expression tailored towards commercial appeal and does not reflect any literal plans or admissions. The use of rap lyrics in criminal trials is a controversial practice that’s been banned by many states but remains legal in federal prosecutions.

Durk’s trial has captivated the hip-hop world, drawing droves of fans sporting in “Free Durk” t-shirts. Even fellow artists like Ye (formerly Kanye West) and mgk have shown up to court to lend support to Durk.

The Chicago native, who rose to fame in his hometown’s drill scene before signing with Def Jam and later Alamo Records, was at the peak of his career when he was arrested in 2024 while attempting to get on a flight to Dubai. He had just two years prior achieved his first his first solo No. 1 album on the Billboard 200, 7220. His follow-up, Almost Healed, debuted at No. 3 on the chart in 2023.

This story was updated on Sept. 11 at 9:40 p.m. ET to add a statement from Durk’s lawyer.

September 12, 2026/by Yveto

News

In Canada: Inside Danielle Smith’s Plans to Make the Calgary Music Industry ‘Nashville North’

Calgary has its sights set on becoming Canada’s next major music hub.

That’s the ambition Alberta Premier Danielle Smith laid out following a recent trip to Nashville, where she met with Tennessee chamber of commerce and tourism industry leaders to learn more about the growth of Music City. Smith sees Nashville as a model Calgary could follow, arguing that the foundations that helped turn the Tennessee city into a music powerhouse already exist at home.

“There are a number of changes that they made 25 years ago in order to become what they are today,” Smith said in a recent news conference. “I want to find out a little bit about what that is and see if we can develop some excellent partnerships with the music industry so that we can do a transfer of talent and transfer of expertise.”

Calgary’s music industry continues to grow yearly with major events like the Calgary Stampede and Cowboys Music Festival, which draw around 1.4 million and 165,000 fans respectively, and Smith believes that its estimated $2.3 billion value can reach Nashville’s own $28.3 billion impact by taking the right steps.

Calgary is already scaling its musical infrastructure, notably with the addition of Scotia Place, a new arena and home for the Calgary Flames, which is currently being built and set to open in fall 2027, and will also host concerts. The province is also looking to expand on existing infrastructure, with Stampede Park aiming to become a year-round entertainment destination as part of its 20-year plan, which aligns with the premier’s vision for the province.

The Beaches Score Their First Gold-Certified Single in the U.S. With ‘Blame Brett’: ‘Beyond Humbled’

The Beaches have secured their first-ever gold-certified single in the U.S.

The Toronto rock act’s song “Blame Brett” received a gold certification from the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). While the 2023 track officially went gold back in April this year, it wasn’t until over the weekend that the band — comprised of sisters Jordan and Kylie Miller, Leandra Earl and Eliza Enman-McDaniel — shared the news on social media.

On the Rock & Alternative Airplay chart, it reached No. 27, remaining on the ranking for 20 weeks, while it peaked at No. 17 on the Alternative Airplay chart, spending 23 weeks there. On Pop Airplay, “Blame Brett” reached No. 33 with 10 weeks on the chart. Over three years later, the track is reaching another major music industry milestone.

Not to mention, its success brought The Beaches to bigger venues and higher placements on festival lineups.

Vancouver’s Reliant Music Signs Global Distribution Deal With Warner Music Group’s ADA Benelux

Vancouver-based A&R and song management company Reliant Music has embarked on a global partnership with ADA Benelux, the Western Europe distribution and artist services initiative of Warner Music Group.

Known for producing dance music tracks Reliant’s global distribution deal will focus on expanding its international presence in a region where the genre is quite popular.

Founded in 2012, Reliant creates “fire toplines for global DJs and electronic music artists,” per their website. Headquartered on the Canadian west coast, the company has a second office in Toronto, and A&R is led by John Dexter and Adrian Lock across North America. To foster local growth, the company newly opened a creative hub at Vancouver’s Armoury Studios.

Nearly a decade after its launch, Reliant expanded to Europe in 2021, hiring Mischa Daniëls, who leads A&R in Europe. Currently, they have two Europeans offices in Amsterdam and Berlin.

Read more here. — Heather Taylor-Singh

September 12, 2026/by Yveto

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