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Aspiring musician Oliver Anthony went viral in 2023 for his musical takedown of the government. “Rich Men North Of Richmond” blasted politicians for ignoring the needs of the working class. It was an instant hit and sparked conversations about fair wages, poverty and government overreach. While the song was political in nature, it didn’t support the Democrats or the Republicans. The singer refused to support either party, further cementing his internet hero status.

While the song was immensely popular, Oliver Anthony refused to sell out and sign with a major label. He was determined to forge his own path in the country music industry. That means that he can release new songs on social media any time he wants and isn’t controlled by a large corporation.

He has a new single coming out this week, but it couldn’t be played on the airwaves. Why not?

Oliver Anthony/Credit:...

Over the course of her decade-plus-long career, Lily Meola has carved out a niche that isn’t really a niche; as heard on this year’s Postcards to Heaven EP, the Hawaiian-born singer-songwriter floats between modern country and willowy pop. But starting with one of her first mentors — Willie Nelson — she’s also had a strong jones for the Nashville sound: She’s duetted with Nelson and Kris Kristofferson and played at Farm Aid. And her new single is a duet with another, even more hirsute outlaw traditionalist, Jamey Johnson.

Oliver Anthony is popular among his fanbase for his anti-establishment beliefs, and recently, he called out modern culture and the worship of “false idols” in a powerful speech at a London conference. So, what did the singer have to say?

Oliver Anthony Went Viral Overnight With Hit Song

For anyone unfamiliar with Oliver Anthony, he went viral and became an overnight sensation when his hit single, “Rich Men North Of Richmond,” dropped. To date, the single has over 193M plays on YouTube, and it put Anthony on the map.

His blue-collar take on the everyman’s struggle is something that deeply resonates, both in his music and the way that he chooses to live his life. He isn’t afraid to put his money where his mouth is and live by what he sings about, and that has garnered him fans all over the world.

Oliver Anthony/YouTube Anthony Rejected...

It’s New Year’s Eve and so many incredible performers will be live in Times Square to perform during Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve with Ryan Seacrest 2025, airing on ABC.

ABC has a full night of programming scheduled and there are going to be tons of your favorite music artists hitting the stage, both with pre-taped and live performances.

While several stars will be live in Times Square, some pre-taped their performances at the Hollywood party and there’s also a live portion happening in Puerto Rico.

Ryan Seacrest returns for the 20th year to host the Times Square portion with Rita Ora joining him in the Big Apple. Dayanara Torres is co-hosting from Puerto Rico and Rob Gronkowski is co-hosting from Las Vegas.

Head inside to check out the lineup of performers…

The show begins at 8pm Et on ABC and will take a break...

Parker McCollum has addressed the allegations made by Oliver Anthony that he uses autotune. Fans were shocked to hear Oliver say this and did not hesitate. However, Parker has now put out his side of the story. Keep reading to find out more about this situation and what Parker said.

Oliver Anthony Accuses Artist Of Using Autotune

Oliver Anthony revealed that he was going to be taking a step back from music and pursuing ministry. Fans were sad to hear that he was not going to be doing music any longer. However, when he revealed this, he made sure to let everyone know that he thinks the country music industry is a joke. When doing that, he accused Parker McCollum of using autotune. He never said his name. However, he said it was someone who went after him at a festival in Myrtle Beach. There was only one festival and...

Oliver Anthony recently tore into Beyonce over her cover of one of Dolly Parton’s classic tunes, and he did not hold back with his critique. So, what did the controversial singer and songwriter have to say about Beyonce’s take?

Oliver Anthony Loved For His Authenticity

Oliver Anthony may be a nightmare for record execs and big-time people in the Nashville music industry, but, he is a voice for the common man. His message resonates with audiences for being authentic and not over-produced like a lot of what is on the radio today.

His hit song “Rich Men North Of Richmond” was a monster hit, catapulting him into instant fame and recognition overnight. However, Anthony is not about the usual traps that people fall into when navigating the Nashville music scene. In fact, he called out the music business recently in epic fashion.

Oliver Anthony/YouTube Anthony Slams Beyonce...

Oliver Anthony is the guitar-slinging, anti-establishment type of artist who resonates with listeners who are tired of feeding the beast in terms of the music business churning out cookie-cutter acts to make a buck. Recently, Anthony tore into the way things are in Nashville, putting the music business on blast. So, what did he have to say?

Oliver Anthony Caught Fire With Hit Single

Oliver Anthony turned out to be one of those overnight success stories that anyone recording music and putting it out there online hopes to be. From relative obscurity, Anthony caught fire with his poignant and powerful single, “Rich Men North Of Richmond.”

This painful ballad perfectly captures the everyday struggle of the hard-working, blue-collar man. It pulls no punches when it comes to Oliver Anthony’s raw delivery or biting lyrical content without any rose-colored glasses on. To date, the song has nearly 180M views on...

It’s painful to even type their names in the same sentence, but “Rich Men North of Richmond” singer Oliver Anthony has some thoughts on the landmark Beyoncé album, Cowboy Carter. Those thoughts are uninspired, baseless, and boring, but we’re going to share them nonetheless.

In a lengthy video titled “What I’ve Learned from the Music Industry So Far…,” the singer shared his perspective on systems in Nashville, concert ticket prices, and Beyoncé’s 2024 country LP. “It represents how degenerative our society has become that a song like a Beyoncé version of ‘Jolene’ can come out and anybody actually listen to it and think it’s not just complete trash,” he said, choosing to ignore the fact that Dolly Parton herself more than gave her blessing for Cowboy Carter. Notably, Parton herself appeared on track 23, “Tyrant.”

Even so, Anthony — who recently said that he was stepping away from...

It took Oliver Anthony less than two weeks to go from total unknown to viral hitmaker with his controversial country screed “Rich Men North of Richmond.” So, naturally, he has some opinions about Beyoncé.

The comments were made in a 15-minute YouTube clip titled “What I’ve Learned in the Music Industry So Far…,” in which Anthony rants while driving by chickens, horses, and goats. “I had a lot to get off my chest,” he writes in the caption. “Hope ya’ll like it!”

Yeah, no. Roughly 10 minutes into the video,...

Oliver Anthony wants to “light a fire that no one can really extinguish in my lifetime or after.” In a new video posted to his YouTube channel, the singer-songwriter, who became an instant star with his controversial screed “Rich Men North of Richmond,” details that he will be walking away from the music industry to focus on traveling ministry work. He clarifies, however, that he will still be making music.

“I’m in the process of getting out of the music industry. It’s a big joke,” says Anthony, who...

Oliver Anthony went viral in the summer of 2023 with his “Rich Men North of Richmond” song. He allegedly turned down million-dollar record deals. Now he says he’s quitting the music industry. Keep reading to find out why.

Viral Flash In The Pan

You couldn’t go anywhere online in the summer of 2023 without hearing the anti-government hit song “Rich Men North of Richmond.” Surprisingly, it wasn’t released by an established country singer. The song went viral after Oliver Anthony released it on YouTube.

The up-and-coming singer refused to get swept up in overnight fame. He said that he turned down offers from Nashville record companies hoping to sign him to a label. He refused million-dollar contracts to forge his own way in the music industry. But now he says the industry is a ‘big joke.” Why?

Oliver Anthony/Credit: YouTube Oliver Anthony Says Music Industry Is A ‘Big...

On Monday, late-night hosts Jimmy Kimmel and Stephen Colbert eviscerated the Donald Trump campaign after an Oaks, Pennsylvania, event billed as a Q&a session with Trump devolved into a mixtape listening session as the former president shouted for his staffer to play some of the favorite tracks that have been blasted to crowds at his 2024 campaign rallies.

At the event, moderated by South Dakota Gov. Kristi L. Noem, Trump took a few questions. One was about addressing the price of groceries, to which the former president again gave an answer that invoked the fictional character Hannibal Lecter, immigrants and “Black jobs.” At another point, the candidate encouraged his supporters to vote on Jan. 5 — two months after election day. The venue was the stuffy Expo Center, and an attendee got overheated and fainted. This is when the music started, first with Schubert’s “Ave Maria,” performed by the legendary Luciano Pavarotti.

Rufus Wainwright was not flattered that former president Donald Trump used his cover of Leonard Cohen’s “Hallelujah” during last night’s strange town hall turned listening party in Pennsylvania. In fact, the singer called the candidate’s music choice “the height of blasphemy.”

“The song ‘Hallelujah’ by Leonard Cohen has become an anthem dedicated to peace, love and acceptance of the truth,” Wainwright said in a statement posted on Instagram. “I’ve been supremely honored over the years to be connected with this ode to tolerance. Witnessing Trump and his supporters commune with this music last night was the height of blasphemy. Of course, I in no way condone this and was mortified, but the good in me hopes that perhaps in inhabiting and really listening to the lyrics of Cohen’s masterpiece, Donald Trump just might experience a hint of remorse over what he’s caused. I’m not holding my breath.

Rufus Wainwright spoke out against Donald Trump playing his cover of Leonard Cohen’s “Hallelujah” at a campaign event last night the “height of blasphemy,” in a statement shared with Rolling Stone.

“The song ‘Hallelujah’ by Leonard Cohen has become an anthem dedicated to peace, love and acceptance of the truth,” Wainwright said. “I’ve been supremely honored over the years to be connected with this ode to tolerance. Witnessing Trump and his supporters commune with this music last night was the height of blasphemy.”

“Hallelujah” was one of several...

What began as a town hall with Donald Trump turned into a bizarre spectacle, as the former president hosted a 30-minute listening party featuring songs from artists who have previously threatened him with legal action.

The town hall in Oaks, Pennsylvania on Monday night was repeatedly interrupted by medical emergencies, reportedly due to warm temperatures inside of the venue. Rather than continue to answer questions, Trump decided to instead play songs from his personal playlist, including Rufus Wainwright’s version of “Hallelujah,” Sinead O’Connor’s version of “Nothing Compares 2 U,” Oliver Anthony’s “Rich Men North of Richmond,” Guns N’ Roses’ “November Rain,” and James Brown’s “It’s A Man’s Man’s Man’s World.”

Also played were “Ave Maria,” “Memory” from the musical Cats, Elvis Presley’s “An American Trilogy,” Andrea Bocelli’s “Time to Say Goodbye,” and the Trump rally staple “Ymca.” As seen in clips posted to social media,...

Nate Smith received a record contract after going viral with his first hit song “Wildfire” in 2020. The singer was an opener on Morgan Wallen’s 2024 tour. Now he is speaking out about the hidden pressure of social media that musicians face.

Nate Smith Opens Up About Pressure Of Social Media On Music Artists

Nate Smith was one of the new crop of artists to find fame through social media. Many people found short-lived fame during the 2020-2021 Covid pandemic when everyone was stuck home with nothing to do but browse social media.

Nate Smith/Credit: YouTube

A clip of the singer performing his song “Wildfire” received over 3 million views in 2020. He has yet to be able to repeat that success. He has a new album coming out next month but is apparently getting pushback from his label to create a viral moment.

Nate Smith took to his Instagram to share...

The Republican National Convention kicked off in Wisconsin on Monday, and while the week will be devoid of notable musicians — most of the artists on the RNC’s official playlist detest Donald Trump — there will be some off-brand entertainment on offer for the lobbyists, loyalists, sycophants, and party functionaries who flocked to Milwaukee for the big show.

DJ duo Milk N Cooks — purveyors of the fourth-most popular “Let’s Go Brandon” remix on YouTube — headlined the “Jamboree at the RNC” on Monday night. On Instagram, ahead of the event, the pair promised,...

It’s been about half a year since Oliver Anthony released his unexpected hit single, “Rich Men North of Richmond”; now, the viral sensation is back with the release of his debut album, Hymnal of a Troubled Man’s Mind.

Featuring 10 “self-penned” songs from the Virginia native, Hymnal of a Troubled Man’s Mind was independently released on Sunday, March 31st. Filling out the tracklist are a number of his previously-released songs — like “I Want to Go Home,” “I’ve Got to Get Sober,” and “Doggonit” — as well as interludes of “spoken-word Gospel.” There will be one brand-new song, titled “Momma’s Been Hurting.”

Get Oliver Anthony Tickets Here

After a string of single releases — which Anthony points out were mostly rough drafts that he recorded on his Android “almost immediately after writing each song” — Hymnal of a Troubled Man’s Mind sees him collaborate with producer Dave Cobb, bringing...

The country music community has begun mourning Toby Keith, who died Monday at 62 following a battle with cancer. His fans and peers remembered the singer and songwriter as the soundtrack to their lives and a trailblazer in his own right in various tributes shared across social media.

“Saddle up the horses, Jesus, ‘cause a true blue Cowboy just made his ride up to heaven!!! Introduce him to all the Okies and sign that boy up for the choir,” Carrie Underwood wrote on Instagram, sharing a carousel of photos with Keith over the years.

Let’s get this out of the way: Taylor Swift dominated the year in music, and it wasn’t even close. Four-year-old songs of hers topped the charts. She sold physical albums at a head-spinning rate. Her Eras Tour was an economic stimulus in every city she played, and reignited conversations around the deeply broken ticketing marketplace as fans scrambled to purchase tickets. Her relationship with Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce created a frenzy around a celebrity simply attending NFL games. And she also released some damn great music.

It was a big night for Taylor Swift and Morgan Wallen at the 2023 Billboard Music Awards as they both took the most trophies.

Swift won in categories like Top Artist, Top Female Artist, Top Hot 100 Songwriter, Top Country Female Artist and Top Selling Song for “Anti-Hero.” Wallen also had a big night taking trophies for Top Male Artist, Top Streaming Songs Artist, Top Country Artist, Top Country Touring Artist and Top Billboard 200 Album, just to name a few.

Zach Bryan was also a big winner with trophies for Top New Artist, Top Rock Artist, Top Rock Album and Top Rock Song.

Other winners of the night included Karol G for Top Latin Female Artist and Top Latin Touring Artist; Peso Pluma in the Top Latin Song category for his collab with Eslabon Armado in “Ella Baila Sola”; Fuerza Regida won for Top Latin Duo/Group and Top Duo-Group.

Check out the complete winners list below.

Taylor Swift and Morgan Wallen were among the top winners at the 2023 Billboard Music Awards on Sunday night.

Swift entered the evening as the finalist (as the BMAs call their nominees) in the most categories — a staggering 20 nods. She took home a total of 10 awards, including the coveted trophy for top artist and for top female artist, as well as top Billboard 200 artist.

In her acceptance speech, Swift thanked her fans, saying “none of this happens without you,” adding: “I feel like the luckiest girl to have you in my corner and caring about the music I make.”

Sza and Wallen tied as the second most-recognized finalists, with 17 entries in 16 categories. Wallen had a breakthrough night, emerging as the most awarded artist of the evening, with 11 trophies, including for top male artist, top Hot 100 artist, top country artist and top Billboard 200 album. Sza took home four awards, among them top...

The 2023 Billboard Music Awards didn’t air on TV this year and the event was streamed online through videos uploaded to the Billboard website.

Pre-taped performances and acceptance speeches, which were filmed all around the world while artists are on tour, made up the awards show this year.

Morgan Wallen was the big winner of the night with 11 wins while Taylor Swift followed closely behind with 10 wins, including the Top Artist prize.

Taylor and Drake are now tied for the most wins ever at the Billboard Music Awards.

“Well this is unreal,” Taylor told fans in her speech. “The fact that you guys have given me 10 Billboard Awards — I’m talking to the fans specifically. None of this happens without you. The Billboards base everything off of what you are listening to and what you’re passionate about, and I’m so honored that this year you made The Eras Tour so magical.

The 2023 Billboard Music Awards went out on Sunday, November 19, with winners announced on the Billboard and BBMAs social channels and on BBMAs.watch. So who won? Scroll down for the complete list in all 69 categories.

These awards are based on fan interactions with music, but they’re not decided by an online vote. Instead, Billboard decides its finalists and winners using the metrics that determine the Billboard charts, including record sales, radio airplay and online streaming performance. Previously held during the spring, these awards have also moved to the fall to line up with the tracking period for Billboard’s year-end charts: November 19, 2022 through October 21, 2023.

Taylor Swift led the nominations with 20 citations including Top Artist. She had multiple albums at the top of the charts, and her “Eras Tour” gave all her past music a major commercial bump as well. But was she able to overcome Morgan Wallen, a 17-time finalist this year across 16 categories?...

In Its Usual High Nashville Style, the World Famous Tootsie’s Orchid Lounge Birthday Bash was rolling. At the renowned honky-tonk on this mid-September night, cover bands and rowdy bachelorette parties ruled. But at around 10 p.m., all eyes were on a stage smack in the middle of the city’s Broadway entertainment district. There, a red-headed and red-bearded guy of six feet six, in a T-shirt and baggy pants, cradled a Gretsch acoustic guitar. He looked more like a member of the stage crew than a Nashville star, but...

Oliver Anthony is coming out of the woods. The viral songwriter who got his start in a field railing against big government and snack cakes bought with tax dollars has announced his first official tour, dubbed the Out of the Woods Tour (no, it’s not a Taylor Swift allusion). The “Rich Men North of Richmond” singer will begin in the U.K. in February before touching down in the U.S. for two nights at Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium.

Other stops include the Florida Strawberry Festival in Plant City,...

The Recording Academy announced the nominees for the 2024 Grammys on Friday, and with 94 categories, it’s a lot to digest. But we’re here to help — read our breakdown of the 17 Grammys facts you should know.

Femme Fatale

Male performers make up more than two-thirds of the winners of album of the year in Grammys history — but it’s ladies night at the 2024 show. Women count for seven of the eight nominees in the top category, including Sza, Olivia Rodrigo, Lana Del Rey, Miley Cyrus, Janelle Monáe, boygenius and Taylor Swift, who can make history as the first performer to win the award four times.

And female acts own seven of the eight slots in the song and record of the year categories, with artists like Billie Eilish, Dua Lipa and Victoria Monét pulling in major nominations. And behind the scenes in those major categories, producers and engineers are nominated like Catherine Marks,...

Dolly Parton knows Kid Rock can be, uh, polarizing but she decided to release “Either Or,” her duet with the Bud Light-blasting personality anyway. In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, the Country Music (and Rock & Roll) Hall of Fame member said she could accept Kid Rock for who he is. The recording will feature on her upcoming Rockstar album.

“Of course I did that before the controversy that he had, but somebody was talking to me the other day, ‘How could you do this [song] with Kid?'” she said.

Jason Aldean said that if he had the chance to do it all over again with “Try That in a Small Town,” he would do pretty much everything the same — except film the video in front of a courthouse where a lynching took place in 1927.

In an interview with CBS Mornings on Wednesday, Aldean once again went to bat for his controversial hit, which was released in April but became a cultural lightning rod after the video dropped in July. The video featured footage of protests (including some from, as Rolling Stone reported,...

Billboard Music Awards finalists (Photo Courtesy of BBMAs)

Taylor Swift tops the list of 2023 Billboard Music Awards nominees, picking up 20 nominations. Swift is the most decorated female artist in history with 29 Billboard Music Awards wins, and will overtake Drake as the overall most decorated from Drake if she wins in five categories.

Taylor Swift’s nominations come in categories including Top Artist, Top Female Artist, Top Billboard 200 Artist, Top Hot 100 Artist, Top Hot 100 Songwriter, Top Hot 100 Producer, and Top Streaming Songs Artist. Swift’s also competing in the Top Radio Songs Artist, Top Song Sales Artist, Top Billboard Global 200 Artist, Top Billboard Global (Excl. U.S.) Artist, Top Country Artist, Top Country Female Artist, Top Billboard 200 Album, Top Country Album, Top Hot 100 Song, Top Streaming Song, Top Radio Song, Top Selling Song, and Top Billboard Global 200 Song categories.

Morgan Wallen and Sza earned 17 nominations, while The Weeknd was close behind...

Taylor Swift leads the list of finalists for the 2023 Billboard Music Awards.

The superstar singer-songwriter is a finalist in 20 categories, with her hit “Anti-Hero” up for five awards.

Morgan Wallen and Sza are each up for 16 awards with 17 entries, the second most of any artist this year, across the BBMAs’ 69 categories.

The Weeknd is up for 13 awards with 16 entries.

Drake, who holds the record for most Bbma wins with 34, is a finalist in 14 categories.

First-time finalist Zach Bryan is up for 13 awards with 14 entries, and Luke Combs scored 10 nods. A number of other artists also landed multiple nominations.

Swift, Wallen, Sza, Drake and Combs are all up for top artist.

Swift is the most decorated female BBMAs artist of all time with 29 wins and could surpass Drake as the winningest Bbma artist of all time if she wins five awards this year. And if she wins top artist, she would...

The 2023 Billboard Music Awards announced their finalists on September 26, and Taylor Swift led the way with citations in 20 categories. She’s already the most decorated female performer of all time with 29 BBMAs, and now she has a chance to become the biggest artist in history, potentially surpassing Drake who currently has 34 victories. Next in line is Morgan Wallen, who’s a finalist in 16 categories with 17 total citations. Sza is also a finalist 17 times across 16 categories. The Weeknd has 16 entries in 13 categories. The aforementioned Drake is up for 14 awards. Newcomer Zach Bryan is cited 14 times across 13 categories. Scroll down for the complete list of nominations below.

The BBMAs were previously held during the spring, but they have moved to the fall, and their eligibility period now aligns with Billboard’s year-end charts, which are determined based on music consumption from November 19, 2022 through October 21, 2023. Other popularity-based awards like the American Music Awards...

“Cruel Summer” has officially taken over the Fall.

More than four years after Taylor Swift’s Lover track was released in August 2019, the song has finally topped Billboard’s Hot 100 chart, the publication announced on Monday, marking yet another victory for Swift that likely would have been unexpected until a few months ago. The song finished last week with 18.6 million streams and over 41,000 sales, the latter figure representing a 1,400 percent increase from the week prior.

“Cruel Summer” marks Swift’s 10th Billboard Number One single and the first song off Lover to top the chart.

2023 has been a massive year for country music. Four country songs have topped the Billboard Hot 100 this year, the second most ever after 1958. One of those songs, Morgan Wallen’s “Last Night,” spent 16 weeks atop the chart, tying for the second most weeks at number-one ever and breaking the record for the longest-running solo number-one in Hot 100 history. Other hits that haven’t reached number-one, like Luke Combs’s “Fast Car,” have still been huge hits this year while being unabashedly country. And number-one albums like Zach Bryan’s self-titled and Wallen’s “One Thing at a Time” have proved that the appeal of country is not just for songs, but for albums as well. Clearly country music is having a moment with the general public, so there’s a lot to consider about how much it’s impacting the industry and how that might be reflected in the upcoming Grammy nominations.

Nearly two weeks after Virginia’s Blue Ridge Rock Festival was abruptly canceled, attendees are still plagued by the ill-fated event in the form of a widespread gastrointestinal illness.

The Virginia Department of Health has opened an investigation into how and why festivalgoers are still dealing with the ailments weeks after the fest was canceled mid-weekend due to severe weather concerns.

According to 10 News, some of those affected by the illness cited “unsanitary conditions” largely related to the portable toilets at the festival. The Virginia Department of Health confirmed that...

Oliver Anthony — whose populist anthem “Rich Men North of Richmond” beat out superstars Taylor Swift, Morgan Wallen, Luke Combs, Olivia Rodrigo, and Gunna for the top spot on Billboard’s Hot 100 last month — has inked a deal with United Talent Agency (UTA).

UTA co-head of Nashville Jeffrey Hasson and music agent Curt Motley said in a statement that they are “honored to represent such an authentic artist, and excited to put together a global strategy to bring Oliver Anthony and his music to the people.”

The agency’s portfolio includes Brittney Spencer,...

United Talent Agency has landed a major new client in Oliver Anthony, the singer-songwriter behind the polarizing breakout country single “Rich Men North of Richmond,” which topped numerous charts after debuting on his YouTube channel in August. The first artist in history to debut at No. 1 on the Billboard charts without previously having a song on the charts, his deal is for exclusive worldwide representation in all areas.

Stated UTA Co-Head of Nashville Jeffrey Hasson and Music Agent Curt Motley on the signing, “We’re honored to represent such an authentic artist, and excited to put together a global strategy to bring Oliver Anthony and his music to the people.”

Described by the BBC as “the hit song that has divided the US,” Anthony’s “Rich Men North of Richmond” has drawn criticism from some in the media, even while helping to bolster his fan base, drawing differing reactions across political lines.

Oliver Anthony set foot in Nashville for the first time this weekend, making his Music City debut not at the Grand Ole Opry or the Ryman Auditorium, but at the annual birthday-party-slash-block-party thrown by Tootsie’s Orchid Lounge. The honky-tonk marked its 63rd anniversary with its usual shut-down-the-street blowout and a lineup featuring Jamey Johnson, Randy Houser, Lee Brice, and X-rated country character Wheeler Walker Jr.

But it was Anthony who brought the most buzz, as well as his Bible. After joining Johnson and Houser onstage for a rendition of Johnson’s “In Color,...

Updated with Cotton Eyed Joe statement: Oliver Anthony is having none of it.

The singer behind the left-field chart-topper “Rich Men North of Richmond” said on social media that he has scrapped a September 27 concert in Tennessee because of the high ticket prices.

“Cotton Eyed Joe has been cancelled,” he wrote this week on Facebook, referring to the Knoxville venue he’d been set to play. “Ultimately, it’s my fault for not being more directly involved with the venues who have reached out.”

Tickets to the show were listed at $99, with a meet-and-greet for fans pegged at $199.

His post followed an earlier one in which he wrote: “I apologize for the price at Cotton Eyed Joe. Have a friend of mine trying to help me book gigs. I told him I don’t want to do anything that’s more than $40 a ticket, ideally no more than $25 a piece.

Zach Bryan’s self-titled fourth album remains the Number One album on Billboard’s Top 200 album chart for a second consecutive week.

With over 141 million streams according to Luminate, which powers the Billboard charts, it was the top streaming album of last week, and the album sold another 3,500 units. The album’s success reflects country music’s streaming surge, which has catapulted the genre to the top of the charts this year. Country superstar Morgan Wallen’s One Thing at a Time, the best-performing album of 2023, came in at Number Two this week.

Oliver Anthony, Papa Roach, and Shinedown unexpectedly linked up for a fully acoustic show — and a joint cover of Lynyrd Skynyrd’s “Simple Man” — after the Blue Ridge Rock Festival was upended by severe weather.

Blue Ridge Rock was supposed to take place this weekend (Thursday, Sept. 7 through Sunday, Sept. 10), but a deluge of rain, lightning, hail, and strong winds led to the cancellation of most of the festival. After the final two days were officially called off, Papa Roach, Shinedown, and Anthony decided to break out the acoustic guitars...

As we reported earlier on Sunday (September 10th), this weekend’s Blue Ridge Rock Festival at the Virginia International Raceway was plagued by severe weather, causing most of the four-day event to be canceled. However, at least one bright moment occurred, when viral sensation Oliver Anthony joined Papa Roach and Shinedown to perform an impromptu acoustic set in the parking lot on Saturday (September 9th) for fans who missed out on seeing their favorite bands.

Blue Ridge Rock Festival was set to be one of the biggest hard rock and metal festivals ever in the United States, with dozens of bands scheduled to play each day. Thursday’s lineup was cut short due to storms, while Friday went on as planned. However, most of Saturday and all of Sunday were outright canceled with organizers citing more severe weather in the forecast, although there are reports that stage hands walked off...

Virginia’s Blue Ridge Rock Festival — featuring headliners like Slipknot, Megadeth, Pantera and more — canceled the majority of its festivities this weekend after severe weather invaded the area.

The issues started Thursday, the sold-out fest’s opening night, when a lightning storm, heavy rain and hail and strong winds swept into the area, forcing the immediate evacuation of the Virginia International Raceway; however, evacuations were slow, Loudwire reported, with many fans getting stuck in the weather while awaiting buses to take them to shelter.

The festival continued Friday as planned...

The massive 2023 Blue Ridge Rock Festival was set to take place over four days from Thursday (September 7th) through Sunday (September 10th) at the Virginia International Raceway, but due to severe weather and unsafe conditions, most of the event was canceled.

A sudden storm hit on Thursday afternoon as Coheed and Cambria had just begun their set, forcing the fest to shut down for the day and preventing the biggest bands and headliners from performing. Fans missed out on sets from Five Finger Death Punch, Staind, Evanescence, Rise Against, and more.

Friday’s bill went on as planned, with Slipknot and Danzig headlining, although Rammstein singer Till Lindemann canceled his set due to illness.

However, things took a turn for the worse early on Saturday, when anticipated weather once again shut down the festival, with organizers determining that Sunday needed to be canceled as well. That meant that bands like Pantera,...

Sugarcoating her opinion isn’t Maren Morris’ style, and neither is biting her tongue. While teasing a new music video on Instagram, the country singer appeared to take aim at Jason Aldean and the small town of gun owners and potential racists he boasts about on the controversial single “Try That in a Small Town.” In the clip, the camera locks in on a billboard introducing the set of the video: “Welcome to Our Perfect Small Town From Sunrise to Sundown.”

In the caption of the post, Morris wrote: “I...

Oliver Anthony has parlayed the viral success of his No. 1 hit, “Rich Men North of Richmond,” into an appearance at Louisville, Kentucky’s Louder Than Life festival later this month. The country singer will play a pair of sets on September 21st and September 22nd at Kroger Big Bourbon Bar, with set times to be revealed on the show days.

Anthony’s addition to the festival’s roster further diversifies this year’s installment from its roots in hard rock and metal, with non-heavy acts like Weezer joining the likes of Foo Fighters, Green Day, Tool, Pantera, and Queens of the Stone Age. Other notable performers include Avenged Sevenfold, Turnstile, Limp Bizkit, Rancid, and many more.

It all goes down at the Highland Festival Grounds at Kentucky Exposition Center from September 21st through 24th. See the full lineup here, and grab your tickets here.

“Rich Men” went viral after being...

The new no. 1 song in America marks a couple of firsts.

Billboard announced this week that Zach Bryan and Kacey Musgraves’ new song “I Remember Everything” has topped the Hot 100.

Read More: Ryan Gosling Gets His First Billboard Hot 100 Hit With ‘Barbie”s ‘I’m Just Ken’

The song, which appears on Bryan’s new self-titled album, dethroned Oliver Anthony’s viral country hit “Rich Men North of Richmond”, which fell to no. 6, to claim the top of the overall pop chart.

It also marks the first time either Bryan or Musgraves have had a no. 1 song on the Hot 100, while Bryan’s album also debuted at no. 1 on the Billboard 200 albums chart.

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The success of the track has largely been due to online streams, with 32 million streams last week.

For the first minute and 45 seconds of his new, self-titled album, Zach Bryan lays out his vision for a life well-lived. There are no pickup trucks, no girls in bikinis or short shorts, no football games, or fishing boats. There is only the vastness of the land, from the Pacific Coast Highway to the Empire State Building, and the simple meaning of our own actions.

“I’ve learned that every waking moment is enough,” he intones in the album-opening poem, “and excess never leads to better things.”

It’s a...

Stephen King has revealed that he was once such a fan of Lou Bega’s “Mambo No. 5 (A Little Bit Of…)” that his wife threatened divorce.

In a new interview with Rolling Stone, the King of Horror was asked about his obsession with the 1999 Latin pop hit, giving King the opportunity to share exactly how obsessed he was with a particular remix of the song. After admitting he was a “big time” fan of the track, King recalled how his wife was on her final straw.

“My wife threatened to divorce me,” he said. “I had the dance mix. I loved those extended play things, and I played both sides of it. And one of them was just total instrumental. And I played that thing until my wife just said, ‘One more time, and I’m going to fucking leave you.'”

Although King didn’t specifically name which “dance mix” of “Mambo No.

Country music is this summer’s streaming powerhouse. That fact was all but cemented on Monday when “I Remember Everything,” Zach Bryan’s duet with Kacey Musgraves, became the fourth consecutive country song over the course of six weeks to hold the Number One slot on Billboard’s Hot 100.

With more than 32 million streams, the most of any song on the charts this week, “I Remember Everything” is the latest success story in country’s digital revolution, an undeniable trend that has sent songs to the top of the chart...