Chris Willman Senior Music Writer and Chief Music CriticJust two weeks after the last crop of honorees was formally inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in a medallion ceremony — including the Judds — the next trio of legends to be voted in has been announced, and it includes the name that has most often been cited by Hall-watchers as a snub: the long-overdue Jerry Lee Lewis.Also being ushered in are the late country star Keith Whitley — another figure that many would have like to have seen getting in much sooner — and arguably the most famous still-living executive to have reigned over Music Row, Joe Galante.In stark contrast to the more licentious Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, country’s hall only inducts three or four new members each year, including those who get in via session player or executive categories, which creates a bottleneck that leaves plenty of icons still waiting their turn, making all three of these inductions long-sought and hard-fought by their champions. The inductees were announced in a ceremony at the Hall Tuesday morning by Ronnie Dunn and Kix Brooks, who as Brooks and Dunn are already in the hall themselves.Lewis was voted in as the sole representative of the Veterans Era Artist category, whereas Whitley will be inducted as the lone Modern Era Artist choice for this year. Galante is getting in in the Non-Performer category, awarded every third year in rotation with Recording and/or Touring Musician and Songwriter categories.“It’s a great honor and a pleasure to be here in the Country Music Hall of Fame,” said Lewis, making an entrance at the end of the morning ceremony.
Wilco Re-embraces Country Music, After a Long Estrangement, on Forthcoming ‘Cruel Country’ Album
28.04.2022 - 18:17 / variety.com
Chris Willman Senior Music Writer and Chief Music CriticWith Wilco’s first couple of albums in the mid-1990s, the band got saddled with an “alt-country” tag that was perhaps inevitable, especially coming out of the ruins of Uncle Tupelo, a group that helped form that subgenre as a movement. And for the last quarter-century or so, Jeff Tweedy and company have endeavored to shake it off.
But in what may be either a case of new inspiration or “if you can’t beat it, rejoin it,,” Wilco is finally “going country,” as Tweedy puts it with tongue only partly in cheek, on a new album.Due out May 27, the double album “Cruel Country” has a clear double meaning in its title, referring to a promised running commentary on America and its history that will be accompanied by Wilco apparently embracing country music as a form in a bigger way than it did even in its earliest, rootsy, pre-“Yankee Hotel Foxtrot” days. That same weekend, Wilco will premiere the album live at its Solid Sound Festival in North Adams, MA, playing the collection in its entirety.Thursday’s announcement arrived with the release of a music video for a song from the new set, “Falling Apart (Right Now)” (see below), that gives a strong indication of the direction of the project.“I think there’s been an assumption over the years that Wilco is some sort of country band,” Tweedy wrote in an essay-long piece announcing the project.
“To be specific, early on, coming out of Uncle Tupelo, that really felt like a widely held belief. And, sure, there’s a lot of evidence to support that way of thinking about our band, because there have been elements of country music in everything we’ve ever done.
Morgan Wallen Championed by Billboard Awards With Top Country Award and a Performance Slot for ‘Jesus’ Single
Chris Willman Senior Music Writer and Chief Music CriticThe Billboard Music Awards telecast positioned itself this year as the official awards show of forgiveness for so-called “canceled” stars, with performance slots offered to both Morgan Wallen and Travis Scott. In the case of Wallen, that also extended to a major on-air award, as Wallen was called to the BBMAs’ podium Sunday night to accept a trophy for top country artist.It wasn’t Wallen’s first win at an awards show since his career time-out in early 2021; he won album of the year at the fan-voted Academy of Country Music Awards in March.
The CW’s ‘Roswell, New Mexico’ Canceled After Four Seasons
The CW’s Roswell, New Mexico will not return after four seasons. Season 4 will air as planned beginning June 6.
Katie Price's sister Sophie to wed long-term partner but Carl Woods 'isn't invited'
Katie Price’s sister Sophie is set to walk down the aisle next few months, but according to one source she won’t be inviting Katie’s on-off fiancé Carl Woods. Sophie Price, 31, is set to marry her partner of twelve years, Harry Brooks, with the couple sharing a son named Albert who is almost one. Glamour model Katie’s children are thought to all have special roles in the ceremony as ushers and bridesmaids, as well as Katie herself, but Carl is said not to be invited due to their recent “ups and downs”.
Ashley Judd Pays Tribute To Late Mom Naomi Judd After Country Music Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony
Ashley Judd is paying tribute to her mom, Naomi, in a sweet way.
Beach Boys Join LoCash at Stagecoach for Surprise Collaborative Set… Including the New Single Named After Them
Chris Willman Senior Music Writer and Chief Music CriticThe Beach Boys got around to making their Stagecoach Festival debut Sunday, teaming up with the country duo LoCash on four songs to cap the latter act’s early-evening main stage fest. LoCash had a distinct advantage on any other Stagecoach artists who might ever have been tempted to ask the touring Beach Boys to charter a Palm Springs flight: They actually named their new single “Beach Boys.” Mike Love, Bruce Johnston and three members of their touring band first came out midway into LoCasg’s performance to add their harmonies to the new single — the recorded version of which they also harmonize on.
Tearful Ashley & Wynonna Judd Honor Late Mom Naomi In Emotional Country Music Hall Of Fame Ceremony
The Judd sisters paid an emotional tribute to their late mother Naomi Judd at the Country Music Hall of Fame on Sunday.
ASCAP Screen Music Awards Include Honors for ‘Encanto’ as Best Film Score, ‘White Lotus’ for TV Score
Chris Willman Senior Music Writer and Chief Music CriticThe announcement of winners for the ASCAP Screen Music Awards, being held virtually again for 2022 and announced Monday morning, included revealing the top vote-getters for several Composers’ Choice Awards, including the scores for “Encanto” and “The White Lotus.”Germaine Franco prevailed for film score of the year for “Encanto.” Cristobal Tapia de Veer won two of these peer-voted awards, for television score of the year and television theme as well, for “The White Lotus.
The Judds inducted into Country Music Hall of Fame following Naomi Judd's death
Video: Remembering the late country star Naomi Judd (CBS News)Russia slowly advancing in eastern UkraineFighting intensifies in eastern Ukraine as civilians fleeOpen: This is "Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan," May 1Nature: Bighorn sheep in IdahoRussian Orthodox leader's support of war divides churchOprah Winfrey on racial health disparities in AmericaDesigner Thom Browne's unconventional fashionMiranda Lambert on her new album, "Palomino"MLB player and young fan with cancer inspire each otherPassage: Remembering Naomi JuddMastering the Marvel UniverseNaomi Osaka: A role model on the court, and offOur puzzling addiction for puzzlesThe Switchblade "kamikaze" droneMaury Povich + Connie Chung: A newsworthy love storyNature program helps young refugees acclimate to U. S.
Judds Inducted Into Country Hall of Fame in Tearful Ceremony a Day After Naomi’s Death
Chris Willman Senior Music Writer and Chief Music CriticThe Judds were inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame Sunday evening in Nashville, in an emotional medallion ceremony that went on as scheduled the day after Naomi Judd’s death. The Hall had announced Saturday that the induction would go on in the wake of the tragedy due to the wishes of the family.“I’m sorry that she couldn’t hang on until today,” said a tearful Ashley Judd, according to an Associated Press report.
Elisabeth Moss Breaks Her Long Silence On Scientology!
Elisabeth Moss is making a rare comment about her ties to Scientology!
Miranda Lambert on Her ‘Palomino’ Album, Vegas Residency, ‘Queer Eye’ Song and Finally Getting the ACMs’ Top Prize
Chris Willman Senior Music Writer and Chief Music CriticYou remember the old quote about how “Ginger Rogers did everything Fred Astaire did… backwards and in high heels”? Miranda Lambert has a variation on that. Talking about her first time prevailing at the Academy of Country Music Awards this year in the entertainer of the year category, and what a long-overdue triumph it has been for Carrie Underwood and then her to score in that eternally male-dominated division, the singer says that the two of them “we know what we put into it.
Stagecoach and YouTube Unveil Full Livestream Schedule for Country Festival This Weekend
Chris Willman Senior Music Writer and Chief Music CriticStagecoach has revealed the full lineup and schedule for the livestream that will go out this weekend on the country music festival’s YouTube channel, and it includes a number of artists that weren’t previously announced for the stream, offering couch sitters a nearly comprehensive view of what will be going down live in the California desert.The lineup includes the headliners — Thomas Rhett on Friday, Carrie Underwood on Saturday and Luke Combs on Sunday — as well as other marquee names that were named as part of the lineup earlier this week, like Maren Morris, Brothers Osborne, Margo Price, Cody Johnson, Yola, Lainey Wilson and the Black Crowes.It also now is revealed to have a substantial number of artists that weren’t previously included in the livestream announcement, including Tanya Tucker, Smokey Robinson, Jordan Davis, Lee Brice, Ingrid Andress, the Marcus King Band, Ryan Hurd, Charley Crockett, the Mavericks and Mitchell Tenpenny. Most of the lineup is now included, in fact, save for some of the artists who are appearing in the early part of the afternoon, including Americana artists such as Rhiannon Giddens, Amythyst Kiah, Molly Tuttle and Waylon Payne.Brandi Carlile is off the bill, having disclosed in a social media video late Wednesday night that she has contracted COVID and won’t be making it.
‘Take Me to the River: New Orleans’ Review: Crescent City’s Music Veterans Meet the Funky Next Generation in a Spirited Doc
Chris Willman Senior Music Writer and Chief Music CriticThe last time there were as many trombones in a movie as there are in “Take Me to the River: New Orleans,” Harold Hill was probably leading a parade. The ongoing vitalization of the Crescent City’s music culture really is like something out of a horn salesman’s fever dream, with younger generations readily taking up New Orleans’ traditional second-line culture in a way that can only make the aging elders of other regional music scenes green with envy.
Post Malone Sets June Release Date for ‘Twelve Carat Toothache,’ First Album for Mercury Label
Chris Willman Senior Music Writer and Chief Music CriticPost Malone has posted a release date for his long-promised new album: “Twelve Carat Toothache” will be out June 3, he announced in a social media message that contained little else besides a blurry red image and a link to pre-save the album on streaming services.The album will mark the performer’s first on the Mercury Records label, the revival of which was announced by Republic Records earlier in April. Tyler Arnold, the newly installed president of Mercury, signed and developed Post Malone at Republic, where he had been executive VP of A&R.Twelve Carat Toothache.
Electronic Music Pioneer Klaus Schulze Dies at 74
Chris Willman Senior Music Writer and Chief Music CriticGerman composer and musician Klaus Schulze, a pioneer in the field of electronic music and leading figure in what came to be known as “Kraut-rock,” died Tuesday. He was 74 and the death was described in an announcement from his record label as coming “after a long disease, but all of a sudden.”Schulze was an early member of the groups Tangerine Dream, the Cosmic Joker and Ash Ra Tempel, in the beginnings of a career that grew to include more than 60 albums.Despite his illness, Schulze had new music in the pipeline.
Thanks to Vinyl Release, Tyler, the Creator Returns to No. 1 on Album Chart After Nine Months; Morgan Wallen Has Top-Debuting Song
Chris Willman Senior Music Writer and Chief Music CriticTyler, the Creator is back on top of the Billboard 200 album chart for the first time since premiering at No. 1 back in July of 2021, due to “Call Me If You Get Lost” very belatedly making its bow on vinyl 10 months after the digital release.The tally for “Call Me” in the LP format was 49,500 copies, which Luminate says is the most pieces of vinyl sold in a week for any hip-hop record since rolls began being kept in 1991.
Doja Cat’s ‘Elvis’ Soundtrack Single, ‘Vegas,’ Set for May as RCA Readies Movie’s Companion Album
Chris Willman Senior Music Writer and Chief Music CriticDoja Cat’s single from Baz Luhrmann’s “Elvis” soundtrack, “Vegas,” has been given a release date — May 6 — after the singer-rapper debuted a live version of the tune at the Coachella festival over the last two weekends.The single precedes a full film companion album that has loosely been scheduled for summer by RCA, it was also announced Monday. That label news is not exactly unexpected, since RCA has been Elvis Presley’s label home since the late 1950s.Although “Vegas” is an original song, live snippets reveal the Doja Cat track does incorporate a Presley classic, “Hound Dog.” (Fans may have to wait till May 6 to find out whether “Viva Las Vegas” also appears in the final studio version, as might be expected from the title.) Luhrmann was out at Coachella for its second weekend, supporting three artists associated with “Elvis” as a film or soundtrack — including Yola, who plays Sister Rosetta Tharpe in the movie, and Shonka Dukureh, who portrays Big Mama Thornton, as well as Doja Cat.