During an appearance on Friday Night Takeover with Rob + Holly, Keith Urban reflected on his recent performance at Opry 100, while also discussing his latest album, HIGH, and his forthcoming new TV series with Blake Shelton, The Road. Urban said that it was a unique experience singing one of Crystal Gayle's hits in front of the legendary singer at the Opry’s 100th anniversary celebration. "They asked me to do a song from one of the Opry members, and then one of my own songs," Urban recalled. "For some reason I just thought about Crystal Gayle, and I was like, 'oh, I might do 'Don't It Make My Brown Eyes Blue.' I love that song, and, so I did it and they invited Crystal to be in the audience. It's a little intimidating. It's very strange when the artist is sitting in the audience watching you play their song." Urban also shared his excitement about his upcoming music competition reality show, The Road, which is set to premiere on CBS in fall 2025.

Photo:  Riley Mau

Chris Stapleton and festival co-founder Tyler Childers have been announced as the headliners for the 2025 edition of Healing Appalachia, which bills itself as “the largest recovery-based music festival.” The event is relocating to eastern Kentucky after five years in West Virginia, and is set to take place at “a mountaintop near the Boyd County Fairgrounds” in Ashland on September 19-20. Both Childers and Stapleton are native Kentuckyans, making this somewhat of a hometown show for both country stars. The festival aims to raise addiction and recovery awareness, while highlighting empathy and inspiring life-saving action globally. Attendance at the annual festival has grown significantly since it first started, attracting top artists like Jason Isbell, Margo Price, and last year’s headliner, My Morning Jacket. Funds raised by the festival support various life-saving programs across Appalachia and beyond. Tickets are available for purchase, with general admission at $199 for adults and $25 for children, and VIP passes at an early-bird price of $650. 

Pic: Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/FilmMagic

Brad Paisley has been announced as the headliner for the NFL Draft Concert Series on April 26, which will bring an end to the 2025 NFL Draft held in Green Bay, Wisconsin. Paisley will perform at the Draft Theater near historic Lambeau Field, offering fans a free concert following Round 7 of the draft. “There’s nothing like football to bring people together, and the NFL Draft is where it all begins,” Paisley said in a statement. “As a lifelong fan, I can’t wait to help close out an unforgettable weekend—with a little music and one heck of a party.” The concert series will also feature a drone show on April 25, that will pay homage to the draft's history and the legacy of the Packers legendary football field. Paisley joins past performers at NFL Draft events including Kings of Leon, Marshmello, Ice Cube, and Fall Out Boy, and the country singer is getting set to launch his headlining Truck Still Works World Tour on May 21. 

On Wednesday (April 16), Morgan Wallen announced the track list for his highly-anticipated fourth album, I'm the Problem. The country star revealed that there are a total of 37 songs on his upcoming record, which is due out May 16 via Big Loud / Mercury. The project includes an impressive list of special guest collaborators, including pop singer Tate McRae – Wallen’s first female duet partner – along with fellow country stars Eric Church, HARDY, ERNEST, and Post Malone. Wallen, whose last album, 2023's One Thing at a Time, spent 19-weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 chart, co-wrote 22 songs on the new record, which includes the previous shared singles, “Lies Lies Lies,” “Love Somebody,” (which debuted atop the Billboard Hot 100 in October), “Smile,” the title track (which landed at No. 1 on Hot Country Songs), and “Just in Case.” Wallen’s newest collaboration with Post Malone, “I Ain’t Comin’ Back,” was released on Friday (April 18). Wallen’s I'm the Problem Tour is scheduled to begin on June 20 at Houston’s NRG Stadium, and will conclude in September with four dates in Canada. 

Jackson Dean, known for his high-energy live performances, will be releasing his new single "Be Your Man" on May 9. The country rocker's intense stage presence, highlighted by moments of pushing himself to the point of blacking out, has fueled his successful career following his 2022 chart-topping debut single, "Don't Come Lookin'." With a distinct voice and songs reflecting a restless spirit, Dean stands out in the crowded country music scene. Embracing a truth-telling approach in his music, he has steadily built his fan base and garnered critical acclaim with albums like Greenbroke and On The Back Of My Dreams. Dean is currently on tour in Europe, and will soon return to the US for a series of summer festivals across the country. The rising country star remains focused on maintaining his momentum with the promise of new, more "groovy" music on the horizon while cherishing the addictive thrill he finds in performing live. “I want to make music ‘till I’m dead,” Dean says. 

Chart-topping Nashville country duo LOCASH recently joined Rob + Holly on the Friday Night Takeover to discuss their forthcoming album, Bet The Farm, which is set to be released on Friday (April 18). LOCASH members Chris Lucas and Preston Brust shared insight into their highly-anticiapted new record, which features their current hit single, “Hometown Home,” that spent multiple weeks at No. 1 on Billboard’s Country Airplay chart. The pair shared stories about the famous people they have run into lately, from the President to Richard Marx. The humorous musicians talked about the making of the album, and shared some of the incredible moments that they have experienced on their way to country stardom. Bet The Farm is LOCASH’s first full-length album since 2019, and is coming out on their own record label, Galaxy Label Group, in partnership with BMG. 

Zach Bryan recently took to his Instagram Stories to salute Bon Iver's latest album, SABLE, fABLE, expressing his admiration for the project that was released on April 11 to praise from fans and critics alike. Noteworthy for his consistent support of music he appreciates, the country superstar revealed that he has “Been with the record for a few days.” Bryan went on to gush about his overwhelmingly positive response to the record as well as Bon Iver’s mastermind, Justin Vernon. “I'm so proud to be alive when u are @boniver” he wrote. Bryan and Vernon have collaborated together in the past, with the duo joining forces on the title-track from the country singer’s celebrated 2023 Boys of Faith EP. With Bryan preparing to release a new EP and full-length album at some point in 2025, fans are hoping for another potential collaboration between the two award-winning songwriters sometime in the future. 

CMA

Information from CMA Press Release

During Thomas Rhett’s surprise appearance at Forrest Frank's sold-out show at Nashville's Bridgestone Arena on Sunday night (April 13), the country star ended up leaving the stage in a wheelchair due to a severe injury. As Frank began performing his hit collaboration with the eight-time ACM Award winner, “Nothing Else,” he asked the crowd, “I can’t sing Thomas Rhett’s verse, can I?” While the crowd cheered, a spotlight shone on Rhett sitting in the crowd, who fell as he ran down the steps toward the stage, resulting in a broken ankle. Despite the mishap, Rhett pushed through the pain to deliver an energetic performance of the duo’s hit – which reached No. 4 on Billboard’s Hot Christian Songs chart – with fans unaware of his discomfort as he powered through the song. In a video shared on Instagram, Rhett made light of the incident as his wife, Lauren, pushes him in a wheelchair backstage. “@hiforrest told me to pull up and I left in a wheelchair,” Rhett humorously captioned his post. 

During her acceptance speech while receiving the Hall of Fame award at the Pollstar Awards, Stevie Nicks unexpectedly disclosed that she is working on a new album, a project she is calling, The Ghost Record. Reflecting on the recent California fires, Nicks shared how the isolation during her stay in a hotel while her home was being renovated inspired her to write a series of new songs. “They are not airy, fairy songs that you are wondering who they are about but you don’t really get it,” she said. “They’re real stories of memories of mine of fantastic men,” which includes a song inspired by Prince that brought the project to life. “I thought, ‘You need to go back to work.’ And I did,” Nicks revealed. “And I have seven songs, and they are autobiographical real stories where I’m not pulling any punches for the first time in my life.” This new project will follow Nicks’ last solo album in 2014, 24 Karat Gold: Songs From the Vault.

After The Who publicly announced that they had parted ways with their longtime drummer Zak Starkey last week, Pete Townshend reversed course in an Instagram post on Saturday (April 19), confirming that Starkey is still the drummer in the band. “News Flash! Who back Zak!,” Townshend wrote. “Zak is not being asked to step down from The Who. There have been some communication issues, personal and private on all sides, that needed to be dealt with, and these have been aired happily.” Following a rocky performance at Royal Albert Hall, Townshend stated that Starkey is not being asked to step down but rather work on his drumming style to better fit the band's current sound. “Roger [Daltrey] and I would like Zak to tighten up his latest evolved drumming style to accommodate our non-orchestral line up and he has readily agreed,” wrote the guitar legend. Starkey, the son of the Beatles icon Ringo Star, took to Instagram to share a photo of Townshend embracing him, with the caption, “V grateful to be a part of the who family Thanks Roger and Pete xx.”

Little River Band co-founder and original bassist Roger McLachlan has passed away at the age of 71 after battling pancreatic cancer. McLachlan, born in 1954 in New Zealand, was known for his musical talent and significant early contributions to the band. He initially joined the group after an agent mentioned they were looking for a bass player, and he went on to play a crucial role in their success, including their Top 30 hit song, "It's a Long Way There,” from 1975's Little River Band. "I arrived for auditions and they start playing and singing and I am pinching myself, because I can't believe how good these guys are,” McLachlan told Riveting Riffs magazine about his try-out. “The rest is history. It just kind of clicked straightaway." McLachlan originally left the group following 1976's After Hours, but he rejoined the band in the late ‘90s. McLachlan had a notable career outside of Little River Band, performing and collaborating with a variety of groups while remaining active in music until his passing. He was also part of 2009's induction class at New Zealand's Southland Musicians Club Rock 'n' Roll Hall of Fame. 

On Wednesday (April 16), the Who announced that they have decided to part ways with drummer Zak Starkey after nearly three decades in the band. The decision comes just three weeks after the drummer performed with the Who during two shows at London's Royal Albert Hall. Starkey – son of the Beatles' drummer Ringo Starr – joined the Who in 1996, and appeared on albums like 2006’s Endless Wire and 2019’s Who, while performing live with the group for nearly 30 years. “The band made a collective decision to part ways with Zak after this round of shows at the Royal Albert Hall,” said a representative for the band. “They have nothing but admiration for him and wish him the very best for his future.” Starkey was clearly shocked by the news, releasing a statement saying he was “surprised and saddened” by the announcement, adding, “I’m very proud of my near thirty years with The Who. Filling the shoes of my Godfather, ‘uncle Keith’ has been the biggest honor and I remain their biggest fan. They’ve been like family to me.“

On Monday (April 14), Stevie Nicks unveiled the dates and details of her upcoming solo headlining tour, which will intersect with her guest appearances on Billy Joel’s upcoming tour. The 76-year-old rock legend’s tour includes arena dates at nine cities across North America stretching from August to October, with the run beginning in Boston on August 12 and ending in Oklahoma City on October 15. “More solo shows are on the way in 2025 — I can’t wait to share these nights with you ✨,” Nicks wrote in the caption of her Instagram tour announcement. Artist presale begins on Thursday (April 17), with a general on-sale starting on Friday (April 18). “What I wanted to do my whole life was affect people. I love telling my stories on stage,” Nicks said in a 2024 Rolling Stone interview. “That is what makes me happy, and that’s why I’ll never stop touring. Because if I stop touring, then I’ll stop dancing.”

Photographed by Joelle Grace Taylor

Rolling Stones frontman Mick Jagger and longtime partner Melanie Hamrick are engaged. The news was confirmed by Hamrick during a recent interview with Paris Match, who disclosed that they have actually been engaged for "two or three years." Despite their happiness in their current life, Hamrick is uncertain about a formal marriage. “Maybe one day we’ll marry, maybe not,” said the 37-year-old former ballerina and choreographer at American Ballet Theatre. “We are so happy in our current life that I would be too afraid to change anything.” The couple, who have been together since 2014, share an eight-year-old son named Deveraux Octavian Basil Jagger, frequently featured on Hamrick's Instagram. The 81-year-old Jagger has seven other children from previous relationships with Marsha Hunt, Bianca Jagger, Jerry Hall, and Luciana Morad Gimenez. 

Pete Best, the original drummer of The Beatles who performed with the band in the early 1960s, has announced his retirement from appearances and performances due to what his daughter calls “personal circumstances." News of Best’s retirement was revealed on X on Saturday (April 5) by the drummer's brother, Roag Best, who shared a photo of the musicians together. "Well what an absolutely wonderful ride we’ve had. However, everything comes to pass,” he wrote. Pete shared Roag’s post, and wrote, “I had a blast. Thank you.” Best, who is often referred to as the "fifth Beatle," made his debut with the band in Hamburg, Germany and was later replaced by Ringo Starr. Despite the harsh circumstances of his departure, Best reflects on his time with the band with no regrets. "I think I’m a lucky guy,” he told The Irish Times in 2020. “I’m very proud of what I’ve achieved as a person, of the examples I’ve set to people to get on with your life, to pick yourself up." 

Clem Burke, the renowned drummer for Blondie and influential figure in the New Wave movement, has passed away at the age of 70 after a private battle with cancer. Burke joined Blondie in 1975 and contributed to their iconic early albums such as their self-titled debut, Parallel Lines, and Eat to the Beat. Recognized by Rolling Stone as one of the greatest drummers of all time, the Rock and Roll Hall of Famer’s impeccable backbeat and dynamic style set Blondie apart, infusing disco grooves, reggae, and hip-hop into their hits.

During The Who's recent two-night stand at London’s Royal Albert Hall, frontman Roger Daltrey gave the audience an update about his current health status. “The joys of getting old mean you go deaf. I also now have got the joy of going blind,” the 81-year-old singer said. “Fortunately I still have my voice, because then I’ll have a full Tommy.” The Who’s performances were part of the Teenage Cancer Trust benefit concert series, and the rock legends showcased their new stripped-down band, delivering the live debut of “The Song Is Over” and the revival of “Love Ain’t For Keeping” after 21 years of going unplayed. Even with his vision and hearing issues, Daltry is set to kick off his next solo tour in Brighton, England, on April 20, wrapping up the run on August 8 in Margate, England. The Who, meanwhile, have two shows scheduled in Italy on July 20 and 22. 

Kevin Cronin will be absent from the REO Speedwagon “retrospective” reunion concert in the band’s hometown of Champaign, Illinois on June 14th, citing a scheduling conflict with his current solo tour with Styx. The charity concert will feature founding member Neal Doughty, bassist Bruce Hall, early REO drummer Alan Gratzer, guitarist Steve Scorfina, rhythm guitarist Mike Murphy, and original frontman Terry Luttrell, with proceeds benefiting cancer research. In a Facebook comment, Cronin – who replaced Luttrell as REO’s frontman in 1972 – said: “I am being asked to participate in an event on a date when I can’t possibly be there in-person. I am deeply disturbed and hurt by all of this. After all I have done to help build the legacy of REO Speedwagon, I feel I have earned and deserve to be included in any event honoring that legacy. Instead, I have been knowingly excluded.” This absence comes after reported rifts caused the band to stop touring, with Cronin forced to be billed as a “former lead singer/songwriter” on his upcoming tour with Styx.

Shimon Karmel