News

Everyone can name the highest-grossing film of 1977 -- George Lucas' "Star Wars: Episode IV -- A New Hope" -- as it kicked off a high-profile sci-fi franchise that persists to this day. Other big hits from that year included Steven Spielberg's alien abduction thriller "Close Encounters of the Third Kind" (a movie inspired by Spielberg's real-life fascination with alien life) and John Badham's downbeat disco drama "Saturday Night Fever" (a film that John Travolta trained "Rocky"-style to prepare for). One of the more notable yet less-discussed success stories of 1977, however, was Hal Needham's laidback beer-run action-comedy "Smokey and the Bandit," a film that raked in roughly $127 million at the box office against a $4.3 million budget. That's like a $23 million movie earning $677 million in 2025.

"Smokey and the Bandit" is a playfully rebellious film about a Southern sports car owner, nicknamed Bandit (Burt Reynolds), who is tasked...

Four years after bringing the world the high speed comedy classic Smokey and the Bandit (and three years after their stuntman comedy Hooper and one year after Smokey and the Bandit II), director Hal Needham and star Burt Reynolds teamed up again for another high speed comedy, the goofball ensemble film The Cannonball Run. The film was a big hit, the sixth highest-grossing domestic film of 1981, and it was followed by a pair of less successful sequels, Cannonball Run II (1983) and Speed Zone (1989). Even though the follow-ups aren’t highly regarded, The Cannonball Run is still a well-known title, which is why we’ve been hearing rumblings of a remake for years. Now, industry scooper Jeff Sneider of The InSneider reports that Yellowstone creator Taylor Sheridan is likely to be the one to finally bring The Cannonball Run back to the screen, as his production company, Bosque Ranch, is developing...

Click here to read the full article.

Angelo Badalamenti, the acclaimed David Lynch composer who went from teaching in junior high school in Brooklyn to creating haunting, ethereal music for the filmmaker’s Blue Velvet, Twin Peaks and Mulholland Drive, has died. He was 85.

Badalamenti died Sunday of natural causes surrounded by family at his home in Lincoln Park, New Jersey, his niece Frances Badalamenti told The Hollywood Reporter.

The classically trained composer also collaborated with an eclectic mix of singers in virtually every genre during his long career, from Nina Simone, Nancy Wilson, Shirley Bassey, Patti Austin, David Bowie, Paul McCartney, Marianne Faithfull, Liza Minnelli, Mel Tillis and Roberta Flack to Pet Shop Boys, Anthrax, Dolores O’Riordan, Tim Booth and LL Cool J.

Badalamenti composed the theme music for ABC’s Twin Peaks, NBC’s Profiler and Bravo’s Inside the Actors Studio, and for the 1992 Summer Games in Barcelona,...

Whether it’s coming out of Nashville, New York, L.A., or points in between, there’s no shortage of fresh tunes, especially from artists who have yet to become household names. Rolling Stone Country selects some of the best new music releases from country and Americana artists. (Check out last week’s best songs.)

Joel Crouse, “On My Way (Acoustic)”

Joel Crouse’s 2020 EP Wasteland found the Nashville songwriter and onetime Taylor Swift tourmate in particularly vulnerable form, singing about intimate personal struggles from rehab to financial ruin. For...

Iconic songwriter and Country Music Hall of Fame member Bobby Bare turns 85 on April 7th and will follow that milestone 10 days later with a brand-new album, Great American Saturday Night. The collection of songs, penned by Bare’s late friend, songwriter and author Shel Silverstein, first formed the basis of a concept album recorded in 1978 but never released.

The first song off of the LP, premiering today, is “Livin’ Legend,” the poignant recollections of an aging folk singer who survived the folk boom of the early Sixties, only to find...

In our new series, we look at eight cities where live music has exploded — from legendary hubs like Chicago and New Orleans, to rising hot spots like Tulsa, Oklahoma, and Portland, Maine. The latest falls into the legendary category: Nashville, where the city’s growth has pushed its music scene into exciting, eccentric new directions.

After Margo Price wrapped her three-night stand at the historic Ryman Auditorium in Nashville, she celebrated by making the 20-minute drive northeast to Dee’s Country Cocktail Lounge, a kitschy spot behind an adult bookstore in Madison.

By the time Dolly Parton had entered her teens, the young girl from the Smoky Mountains of East Tennessee had accomplished something that most adults who love to sing country music could only dare dream: she had performed on the Grand Ole Opry.

Parton, who this week celebrates her 50th anniversary as a member of the Opry cast with an all-star salute, was officially inducted as an Opry member in January 1969, by which time she was a nationally recognized TV star alongside Porter Wagoner. But in 1959, the 13-year-old, then unknown outside of Knoxville,...

Roy Clark, the multi-talented musician, Country Music Hall of Fame member and co-host of Hee Haw, died Thursday at home in Tulsa, Oklahoma, of complications from pneumonia. Clark’s publicist confirmed the musician’s death. He was 85.

Clark was often quoted as saying, “I grew old on Hee Haw, but I could’ve grown old without it.” He and his longtime co-star on the show, Buck Owens, delivered corn-fed punchlines, which earned the series plenty of eye-rolling ridicule, but the pair, and their many co-stars through the years, also provided...

At his show at Forest Hills Stadium this summer, Willie Nelson did something unusual: He played his classic “Funny How Time Slips Away” in full. Regulars of his shows might have noticed that he usually plays a short version of the 1961 song as part of a medley alongside “Night Life” and “Crazy,” but because he was playing a shorter set, he decided to drop some other songs and switch things up. “I like to keep it in [my set] if I can,” he told Rolling Stone afterward.

The performance was reminiscent of...

Musician and Touched by an Angel star Della Reese died on Sunday, at the age of 86.

“On behalf of her husband, Franklin Lett, and all her friends and family, I share with you the news that our beloved Della Reese has passed away peacefully at her California home last evening surrounded by love,” actress Roma Downey confirmed in a statement released to Et. “She was an incredible Wife, Mother, Grandmother, friend, and Pastor, as well as an award-winning actress and singer. Through her life and work she touched and inspired the lives of millions of people.”

“She was a mother to me and I had the privilege of working with her side by side for so many years on Touched by an Angel,” the statement continued. “I know heaven has a brand new angel this day. Della Reese will be forever in our hearts. Rest In Peace, sweet angel. We love you.”

News: Country Music Legend...

May Mel Tillis rest in peace. The country music singer-songwriter died at the age of 85 early Sunday morning at Munroe Regional Medical Center in Ocala, Florida. A representative for the Country Music Hall of Fame member cites respiratory failure as the cause of death, following a lengthy battle with intestinal issues. Related: Country Music […]...

Mel Tillis, the affable longtime country star who wrote hits for Kenny Rogers, Ricky Skaggs and many others, and overcame a stutter to sing on dozens of his own singles, has died.

A spokesman for Tillis, Don Murry Grubbs, said Tillis died early Sunday at Munroe Regional Medical Center in Ocala, Florida. He was 85.

Grubbs said Tillis had battled intestinal issues since 2016 and never fully recovered. The suspected cause of death is respiratory failure.

Tillis, the father of country singer Pam Tillis, recorded more than 60 albums and had more than 30 top 10...

May Mel Tillis rest in peace.

The country music singer-songwriter died at the age of 85 early Sunday morning at Munroe Regional Medical Center in Ocala, Florida. A representative for the Country Music Hall of Fame member cites respiratory failure as the cause of death, following a lengthy battle with intestinal issues.

Related: Country Music Legend Don Williams Dead at 78

Kyle Young, CEO of the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum, tells Et that Tillis' death "brings such sadness" and describes him as "one of the funniest and most genuine people."

"Mel Tillis spent a lifetime giving us joy and laughter and music, which is why his death brings such sadness," Young says. "Had he never stepped on a stage, he would still have been one of the funniest and most genuine people on the planet. But his whimsy and warmth were only a part of his appeal."

Young continues, "He wrote some of...

Country singer and songwriter Mel Tillis has died, according to multiple outlets. He was 85.

The country legend had battled intestinal issues since early 2016 and died following a lengthy struggle to regain his health in a Florida hospital, a statement from Tillis’ representatives said.

Tillis’ suspected cause of death is respiratory failure.

The Country Music Hall of Fame inductee, who was beloved for his stutter, wrote hits for Kenny Rogers and had several top 10 country singles including “Good Woman Blues,” ”Coca Cola Cowboy” and “Southern Rain.”

In a statement posted to her own Facebook official page, Tillis’ daughter Pam Tillis — one...

Mel Tillis, Country Music Hall of Famer known for his stammer when he spoke that disappeared when he sang, died Sunday morning of suspected respiratory failure. He was 85. Tillis’ publicist, Don Murry Grubbs, told Tennessean that the “Coca Cola Cowboy” singer never fully recovered from diverticulitis surgery in January 2016 and spent a month in the intensive care unit battling sepsis. “Mel Tillis was a guy who had it all: He could write, he could sing and he could entertain an audience,” said Grand Ole Opry announcer Eddie Stubbs. “There’s a big difference between a concert and a show. Mel Tillis always.

Mel Tillis, the country music legend who wrote and sang dozens of chart-topping hits, is dead. Tillis died Sunday morning of respiratory failure. Tillis recorded more than 60 albums and scored 3 dozens top 10 singles in his decades-long career. He wrote the classic, "Ruby (Don't Take Your Love to Town)," "Detroit City" and "Mental Revenge." Tillis also recorded "Coca Cola Cowboy," featured in the Clint Eastwood flick "Every Which Way but Loose." Tillis was indicuted into the...

Norman, Okla. -- A concert benefiting Oklahoma tornado victims has drawn some of the biggest names in country music, but with proceeds intended for charity it is not attracting scalpers hoping to prey on an unsuspecting public.

Oklahoma natives Toby Keith and Garth Brooks are among the star-studded lineup planned for the Oklahoma Twister Relief Concert at the University of Oklahoma's Gaylord Family-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium on Saturday. Other performers include Trisha Yearwood, Willie Nelson, Sammy Hagar, Ronnie Dunn, Mel Tillis, John Anderson, and Carrie Underwood, who will perform via satellite from the Grand Ole Opry House in Nashville.

While so many big names might normally make the show a boon for ticket scalpers and the secondary ticket market, some concert promoters say that doesn't seem to be the case for Saturday's show.

"What I've heard from the industry ... is that it would be taboo on this particular event," said Brad White,...

Hollywood icon Al Pacino and country singer Mel Tillis have been honoured by U.S. President Barack Obama for their contributions to American culture.

The stars were among the 17 honorees feted at the White House in Washington, D.C. on Monday - Oscar winner Pacino and Tillis joined sculptor Martin Puryear and pianist Andre Watts as the recipients of the 2011 National Medal of Arts, while award-winning poet John Ashbery and pianist/author Charles Rosen were among those presented with the National Humanities Medal.

Obama told the guests of honour, "We are told we are divided as a people, then suddenly the arts have the power to bring us together. You... bring new possibilities to all of us. That's a special trait."...

Washington — President Barack Obama on Monday honored several artists, writers and organizations for their contributions to the nation, and pledged to make the arts and humanities a priority for as long as he is in the White House.

Obama bestowed eight National Medal of Arts and nine National Humanities Medals during a ceremony in the White House East Room. Among this year's recipients were actor Al Pacino, poet Rita Dove and the United Service Organization, which holds performances for American service members stationed around the world.

Before awarding the medals, Obama said the arts have the power to bring together people of different backgrounds and beliefs. And he urged the honorees to help mentor a new generation of artists and scholars, saying their role in the nation's future would be equally as important as the next generation of engineers and scientists.

"The arts and humanities do not just reflect America,...

On June 8, country music legend Marty Stuart’s Late Night Jam, the kick-off event for the Cma Music Festival, will celebrate its 10 year anniversary. Marty started the event as way to welcome fans to country music’s biggest festival, but the jam has also raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for MusiCares, which provides assistance for music people in times of need.

This year’s event will feature performances by Doug Kershaw, Marty Stuart & His Fabulous Superlatives, Dolly Parton, the Quebe Sisters Band, Connie Smith and Mel Tillis. Past performers have included Dierks Bentley, Neko Case, Charlie Daniels, Vince Gill, Jerry Lee Lewis, Old Crow Medicine Show, Keith Urban and Porter Wagoner, among others.

“It’s hard to believe that the Late Night Jam is ten years old,” said Stuart. “I can’t help but think back on the first one. I was nervous; pacing and hoping that we’d have enough people show up.

Kenny Chesney and Carrie Underwood are to headline the fifth Stagecoach country music festival in California next spring. The annual two-day event will return to the Empire Polo Club in Indio on April 30 and May 1.

Featured acts will also include Rascal Flatts, Loretta Lynn, Darius Rucker, Leon Russell, Mel Tillis, Josh Turner, Easton Corbin, Jack Ingram[/link], Steel Magnolia and Chris Young.

Tickets go on sale Friday, November 5 at 10 A.M. Two-day passes for $99 are available for a limited time. Children under 10 will be admitted for free at the event which will again offer a variety of reserved seating, camping and Rv packages which range from $100-$850, depending on the amenities involved. Prices do not include service fees.

More info can be found on the event official website.

Country music icon George Jones will be induced into the Texas Country Music Hall of Fame August 21, 2010 at 7:00 p.m. at the Texas Country Music Hall of Fame Theater. The singer will be inducted alongside Al Dexter and Ray Winkler. The event will feature special guest performer Mel Tillis and the Statesiders along with the Justin Trevino Band featuring Tony Booth, Georgette Jones, Frankie Miller, Darryl McCall, Mona McCall, Amber Digby and Curtis Potter. The legendary Ralph Emery will host the event. Many attempts have been made, but rarely capture in words the immense, singular vocal gifts that have made George Glenn Jones one of the most influential singers in country music history. He is...

London, April 7 – Country singer Keith Urban will receive the top honour at the Academy of Country Music (Acm) Awards.

The Australian crooner will be conferred with the Jim Reeves International Award, reports contactmusic.com.

The other special Acm honours include Stone Pioneer Award for country stars Mel Tillis and the late Marty Robbins. Don Schlitz and the late Cindy Walker will get Poet’s Award.

Hit movie ‘Crazy Heart’ will also be honoured.

Keith Urban is announced as 2010 recipient of Jim Reeves International Award at the 45th Annual Academy of Country Music Awards. The country music crooner is handed with the special honor for his efforts in spreading country music internationally.

77-year-old Mel Tillis and late Marty Robbins are also given special award. They receive Cliffie Stone Pioneer Award for their early contributions to country music. Poet's Award, an honor presented to songwriters, is handed to Don Schlitz and late Cindy Walker.

Another special award is given to Scott Cooper-directed movie "Crazy Heart". The film, starring Jeff Bridges, Maggie Gyllenhaal and Colin Farrell among other, earns Tex Ritter Award because it features country music.

2010 Acm Awards will take place on April 18 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. Kenny Chesney, Carrie Underwood, Lady Antebellum, Jason Aldean, Brooks & Dunn, Tim McGraw, Blake Shelton and Trace Adkins are booked to sing at the gig.