Sierra Ferrell on Being a Roots Music Queen, Dueting With Zach Bryan, and Why She Got Floral With New ‘Trail of Flowers’ Album

Chris Willman Senior Music Writer and Chief Music Critic Doja Cat has rarely turned in an uninteresting or unprovocative performance, and her headlining set Sunday night at Coachella offered a plethora of looks and concepts designed to prompt dazzlement and debate among the viewing audience. Dinosaur skeletons? Mudbath choreography? Twerking Yetis? Her hour-and-a-half set just about had it all… Well, everything except for her biggest pop hits, like “Say So” and “Kiss Me More.” Familiar older songs were notably MIA from a setlist that included 12 songs from her 2023 “Scarlet” album, with its determined focus on her rapping side, and four more from the deluxe edition, “Scarlet 2: Claude,” that just popped.

Chris Willman Senior Music Writer and Chief Music Critic Lana Del Rey had a couple of heavily favored cameos during her Coachella performance, welcoming recent collaborators Jack Antonoff and Jon Batiste, both of whom will be fronting their own sets later in the weekend — but also one far less easily guessed guest, in the form of Billie Eilish, who turned up for a surprise pair of duets. Taking to a terrace overlooking the massive stage, the duo first joined forces on Eilish’s “Ocean Eyes,” then turned their voices to “Video Games.” Both songs represent the first real breakout hits in these artists’ respective careers.

Chris Willman Senior Music Writer and Chief Music Critic She is still Shelby Lynne. That may sound like it’s saying it’s a little, but it’s really saying a lot, for anyone who holds a special place for the landmark album “I Am Shelby Lynne,” a turn-of-the-millennium masterpiece that put its bearer on the artistic map for good.

Chris Willman Senior Music Writer and Chief Music Critic Paul McCartney was the obvious headliner of the bill Thursday at the Hollywood Bowl. But it was Buffett-mania that was in full sway, as a cast of dozens of singers and celebrity presenters — from Jane Fonda to Snoop Dogg — saluted or parroted a fallen musical hero for the three-and-a-half-hour “Keep The Party Going: A Tribute to Jimmy Buffett.” Most of the night’s entertainers covered Buffett classics or obscurities, although McCartney, the Eagles and Snoop Dogg broke with that to regale the full Bowl house with their own material, while Zac Brown and (sending in a video contribution) Dave Matthews debuted brand new songs saluting Buffett.

Chris Willman Senior Music Writer and Chief Music Critic The title of Laufey‘s new single and music video, “Goddess,” is intended somewhat ironically. The storyline of both has a star feeling she’s let down a lover who only wanted the glamorous version of her he’d seen on stage, not the everyday person.

Chris Willman Senior Music Writer and Chief Music Critic Even on a day when much of America was hoping to see the sun go out, there’s still an ongoing need to hear someone sing “Don’t Let the Sun Go Down on Me.” That, among many other things, is what’s offered in tonight’s PBS broadcast of a tribute special for Elton John and Bernie Taupin, two of the worthiest talents ever to be awarded the Library of Congress’ Gershwin Prize. If you’re a fan — and who isn’t?, as they say — the two-hour show will provide a total eclipse of all your other most pressing entertainment needs.

Chris Willman Senior Music Writer and Chief Music Critic Missy Elliott, whose career has provided the very definition of “leave ’em wanting more,” has long resisted touring, but that’s changing in 2024. Along with some high-profile support acts, the hip-hop icon will embark on a tour of arenas in 24 cities this year — shockingly, the first time she’s toured as a headliner in her entire career, which began with a bang in the 1990s. Supporting her along the way will be a trio of figures that are also instantly recognizable to anyone who knows Elliott’s career: Busta Rhymes, Ciara and Timbaland.

Chris Willman Senior Music Writer and Chief Music Critic Helping cement his status as country music’s newest superstar, Jelly Roll swept all three categories in which he was nominated Sunday night at the CMT Music Awards, including music video of the year for his gospel-flavored “Need a Favor.” Likely having seen it coming, but also knowing Jelly Roll is a tough act to follow, the show’s producers saved his performance of his current country radio single “Halfway to Heaven” until the last five minutes of the telecast, coming right after his climactic win. Other winners in the all-fan-voted results included fellow frontrunner Lainey Wilson for female video of the year for “Watermelon Moonshine” and Dan + Shay for duo/group video for “Save Me the Trouble.” Warren Zeiders picked up breakthrough male video for “Pretty Little Poison,” while Ashley Cooke won equivalent honors for breakthrough female video for “Your Place.

The 2024 CMT Music Awards are just wrapping up on Sunday night (April 7) at the Moody Center in Austin, Tex.

Chris Willman Senior Music Writer and Chief Music Critic Kelsea Ballerini has been the hostess with the mostest, as far as the CMT Music Awards, but it will soon be time to slap an “emeritus” on that. She hosts the awards show, now seen on CBS, tonight for a fourth and last time. Ballerini is revealing she will be relinquishing the role after handling emcee duties since 2021; Kane Brown was her partner in co-hosting previous telecasts, leading up to her solo reign over the ceremony this time.

Chris Willman Senior Music Writer and Chief Music Critic Tonight’s CMT Music Awards show will endeavor to emphasize what’s currently flameworthy, to borrow a word that has long since been retired from the telecast’s original name. Prime performance slots have been given to country music figures who are still on the ascent, from still-fairly-freshly-minted superstars Jelly Roll and Lainey Wilson to up-and-comers who really seem fresh out of the oven, like Megan Moroney and TikTok sensation Dasha (pictured above, in rehearsals).

Chris Willman Senior Music Writer and Chief Music Critic Lucius has signed with Fantasy Records for future album releases, including the first to come down the chute in the deal, an all-new re-recording of the group’s seminal “Wildewoman” album. Set for release May 31, “Wildewoman (The New Recording)” will include 12-13 freshly recorded tracks, including songs with featured appearances by Brandi Carlile, Marcus Mumford and Devon Gilfillian.

Chris Willman Senior Music Writer and Chief Music Critic Toby Keith, whose history with the CMT Music Awards goes back to having co-hosted the earliest incarnation of the show, will get his due in the wake of his recent death, as an all-star salute is planned for Keith on Sunday night’s three-hour CBS telecast. The tribute will feature performances by one of the hottest figures in country music, Lainey Wilson, along with his fellow industry veterans Brooks & Dunn, whose Ronnie Dunn is a fellow Okie.

Chris Willman Senior Music Writer and Chief Music Critic “Melissa Etheridge: I’m Not Broken,” a docuseries focusing on bonds the singer forms with incarcerated women over addiction issues that have affected their lives, will hit Paramount+ later this year, the network announced Thursday. The two-part series will follow Etheridge as she writes a new song inspired by her communication with five women locked up at a prison in her Kansas hometown, the Topeka Correctional Facility.

Bruce Springsteen joined country superstar Zach Bryan on stage at Brooklyn’s Barclays Center last night (March 27) – check out the footage below.The Boss took time out from his own tour, which is currently on the West Coast of the US, to fly over to New York for the appearance.Bryan was sporting a Springsteen shirt for the performance, and the two musicians played a version of Bryan’s as-yet-unreleased song ‘Sandpaper’, as well as his 2019 song ‘Revival’, for which they were joined on stage by Maggie Rogers.@springsteen on stage with Zach Bryan @barclayscenter tonight! Love that Zach is wearing a Springsteen tour shirt as he performs! Video by @AdamZagoria #springsteen #Zachbryan pic.twitter.com/ktgzwRaGLA— Spring-Nuts (@SpringNuts_) March 28, 2024Zach Bryan, Bruce Springsteen and Maggie Rogers on Revival in Brooklyn pic.twitter.com/S27jytJ4r8— Adam Zagoria (@AdamZagoria) March 28, 2024The 2024 leg of Springsteen’s current world tour restarted last week after the Boss had to postpone a hefty chunk of shows in 2023 due to health concerns.The worries arose towards the end of last year, when the singer-songwriter needed to be treated for peptic ulcer disease, and was forced to delay all of his shows after playing in New Jersey on September 3.On March 19, he returned to the stage in Phoenix, Arizona, playing a set incorporating tracks from across his extensive discography, ranging from his first album, ‘Greetings From Asbury Park, N.J.’, through 2022’s ‘Only the Strong Survive’.Later this summer, The Boss is set to return to this side of the pond for his 2024 UK and Ireland tour – find any remaining tickets here.

Michele Amabile Angermiller Just 48 hours after show in San Diego at the Pechanga Arena and less than 24-hours before he is set to perform with the E Street Band at San Francisco’s Chase Center, Bruce Springsteen logged some serious (private) air miles for a surprise performance at country superstar Zach Bryan‘s concert at Brooklyn’s Barclays Center on Wednesday night.@springsteen on stage with Zach Bryan @barclayscenter tonight! Love that Zach is wearing a Springsteen tour shirt as he performs! Video by @AdamZagoria #springsteen #Zachbryan pic.twitter.com/ktgzwRaGLAZach Bryan, Bruce Springsteen and Maggie Rogers on Revival in Brooklyn pic.twitter.com/S27jytJ4r8 Bryan, wearing a Springsteen shirt, welcomed the 74-year-old Rock and Roll Hall of Famer to the stage for a performance of his new, unreleased song, “Sandpaper” as well as Bryan’s song “Revival.” Springsteen traded lyrics with Bryan on the former and took a solo on his famed, battered Fender guitar for “Revival.” Singer-songwriter Maggie Rogers, who is featured on Bryan’s “Dawns,” performed that song with the headliner earlier in the evening and joined him for the encores with Springsteen.Someone revive me….Zach Bryan, @springsteen, @maggierogers in Brooklyn!!! pic.twitter.com/mV2ooDWwrf While the concert presumably wasn’t the only reason Springsteen flew cross-country, his history has shown he’ll pick up a guitar and join a friend onstage whenever he has time. Earlier this month, Bryan broke an attendance record in Springsteen’s home state of New Jersey at the Prudential Center in Newark on March 15.

Zach Bryan is dropping into the Barclays Center for a pair of back-to-back gigs on Wednesday, March 27 and Thursday, March 28 as part of his ‘Quittin’ Time Tour’ with special guests The Middle East and Levi Turner.And if you want to go, there’s never been a better time to scoop up Zach Bryan tickets than the present.When we first reported on last-minute ‘Quittin’ Time’ prices, tickets started at $143 before fees on Vivid Seats for the Barclays Center shows.At the time of publication, seats can now be secured for as low as $118 before fees.For those that want to get closer to the action, floor seats are available for $283 before fees.On the fence?New York Post writer Miska Salemann saw a ‘Quittin Time’ concert live at Newark, NJ’s Prudential Center and said Bryan “(wages) intimacy in a grandiose arena, his stories land deep coupled with unpretentious staging and lack of strict choreography makes his performances feel more like witnessing a virtuoso at an open mic-night at your local dive” in her glowing review.Still need a few more details before smashing that buy button?We’ve got everything you need to know and more about Zach Bryan’s Barclays Center concerts below.All prices listed above are subject to fluctuation.A complete breakdown of all the best prices by section at the Barclays Center can be found here:(Note: The New York Post confirmed all above prices at the publication time. All prices are in US dollars, subject to fluctuation and include additional fees at checkout.)Vivid Seats is a verified secondary market ticketing platform, and prices may be higher or lower than face value, depending on demand.

During a Zach Bryan concert earlier this week, one fan enjoyed the experience of a lifetime when the country music star invited him on stage to sing. The concert at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, Ontario, in Canada on Monday drew tens of thousands of country music fans. "Before the concert, I was hoping to get on stage with him," Lucas Mason, 17, a local of St.

Chris Willman Senior Music Writer and Chief Music Critic There was a lot of intramural celebrity love to go around — both the self-consciously smarmy kind and the real, earnest thing — as Josh Homme produced an all-star benefit concert for his Sweet Stuff Foundation Wednesday at the Belasco in Los Angeles, with a cast of musical and comedic guests ranging from St. Vincent and Beck to Bill Burr and Sarah Silverman.

Chris Willman Senior Music Writer and Chief Music Critic Olivia Rodrigo fans who wanted to own all of her “Guts” bonus tracks until now had to develop an expensive Discogs habit, since copies of the very limited vinyl editions that included them have commanded collectors’ prices, and the songs were not put up for streaming. But those extra tracks will finally be made available in a more widespread way with this Friday’s release of “Guts (Spilled),” a deluxe edition that puts the four previously vinyl-only tracks up for digital consumption — while throwing in a fifth, brand-new bonus track to boot.