Month: May 2026

Country superstar Carrie Underwood is doubling down on her love for rock music with a high-energy performance alongside Mötley Crüe during the three-hour American Idol finale.

Underwood and Mötley Crüe delivered a two-song set featuring “Home Sweet Home” and “Kickstart My Heart.” The collaboration brought serious rock energy to the stage, with Underwood head-banging throughout the performance. Toward the end, flames erupted behind them, amplifying the intensity of the moment.

Earlier in the season, Underwood leaned further into her rock side with a performance of “Rebel Yell” alongside Billy Idol and guitarist Steve Stevens as part of the show’s Rock & Roll Hall of Fame night. The moment nearly left her speechless.

“What is my life?!?! I got the incredible chance tonight to sing with THE Billy Idol and Steve Stevens as part of our Rock & Roll Hall of Fame night on American Idol. It was an honor for me to get to share the stage with some real legends! Billy was so kind and put up with my nervousness and fangirling…I still can’t believe THAT just happened,” she shared at the time.

While Underwood is known for her powerhouse country vocals and high-energy anthems, she has long embraced her love of rock and metal. She has previously opened up about seeing bands like Green Day, The Offspring, and Slipknot live in concert.

She has also collaborated with several rock icons over the years, including Joan Jett, Papa Roach, and Guns N’ Roses. In fact, she even toured with Guns N’ Roses, opening for them on three dates of their 2023 World Tour.

Underwood also shares a deeper history with Mötley Crüe. In 2007, she reportedly appeared at the Wildhorse Saloon in Nashville (now Luke Combs’ Category 10) where she joined lead singer Vince Neil to perform “Kickstart My Heart.”

Two years later, she recorded a cover of Mötley Crüe’s “Home Sweet Home,” which served as the official American Idol farewell song during the 2009 season. She also returned to the show that same year to perform the track live. The recording was released on iTunes, with Underwood, 19 Recordings, Sony Music Nashville, and iTunes donating a portion of proceeds from the digital single to The Humane Society of the United States.

“I’ve always loved this song, and besides being very fitting for Idol, to me, the title is also very fitting with animal rescue and finding animals their own homes,” she said at the time. “So we felt it was important to tie the release into an amazing animal charity like the Humane Society Of The United States.”

The three-hour American Idol finale also featured performances from seventeen-time GRAMMY winner Alicia Keys, who served as guest mentor for the night, along with Brad Paisley, Blues Traveler and Gin Blossoms, Cameron Whitcomb, Clay Aiken, En Vogue, Jason Mraz, Lee Ann Womack, Nelly, Shinedown, and Tori Kelly.

By the end of the night, American Idol fans officially learned who America chose to win Season 9.

The post Carrie Underwood Goes Full Rock Mode With Mötley Crüe on ‘American Idol’ Finale appeared first on Country Now.

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Rising country singer Tayler Holder is canceling his tour, citing ongoing mental health struggles as the reason behind the difficult decision.

Holder, who first gained fame on TikTok before launching his country music career, took to social media to share the news with fans in an emotional message, admitting that this is one of the “hardest decisions” he has ever had to make.

“I need to cancel my upcoming shows,” he wrote.

Holder went on to detail the battle he has been facing behind the scenes over the past few months.

“Over the past several months, I’ve been in a constant struggle with my mental health in ways that I can no longer ignore. I’ve tried for awhile now to put my head down and just push through this and give everything I have to the music and the people who support me, but truthfully I’ve reached my limit right now and I need to take a step back and focus on getting healthy,” he shared honestly.

The singer admitted that while he is living out the dreams he once hoped for, he’s still struggling internally.

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A post shared by Tayler Holder (@taylerholder)

“I’m doing everything I’ve ever dreamed of and I still feel so lonely, still feel so unfulfilled,” he admitted. “Performing for you guys is the greatest privilege of my life, and this decision was not made lightly. I know many of you made plans, spent money, and were looking forward to these nights together. And I’m deeply sorry for the disappointment this causes.”

With his upcoming tour dates now canceled, Holder says he plans to focus fully on his well-being and healing.

“I’m taking this time to rest, seek support, and reconnect with myself away from the pressure and pace of touring. My hope is that this break will allow me to return stronger, healthier, and able to give you guys the performances you deserve.”

In closing, he thanked fans for their “patience, compassion, and continued support.”

“It means more than you’ll ever know,” he added.

Fans quickly filled the comments section with messages of support, encouragement, and prayers for the singer. Fellow artists also reached out publicly.

Brandon Lake shared, “Man lifting you up in prayer right now! That the spirit of panic would break and God would flood your heart and mind with peace. Recognize (the lie), Replace (with truth), and Repeat…has helped me a ton when I’ve battled mentally. Love you dude and believing for a quick shift,” while Graham Barham wrote, “Take care of YOU brother man.”

Tayler Holder, who recently celebrated his Grand Ole Opry debut, did not specify which performances would be affected by the cancellation. At the time of his announcement, he still had dates listed for his When No One’s Around Tour, as well as an upcoming appearance during CMA Fest.

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A post shared by Tayler Holder (@taylerholder)

Holder recently released a new song, “When No One’s Around,” which appears to detail his struggles with mental health.  

“When no one’s around/ I start to drown/ So throw me a rope/ ‘Cause I only know/ Of one way out/ Is this how it ends/ From losing a fight with myself/ God only knows/ The places I go/ But where is He now/ When no one’s around,” he sings on the chorus. 

Fans should stay tuned to Tayler Holder’s social media accounts and website for updates.

The post Tayler Holder Abruptly Cancels Upcoming Shows, Admits He Feels ‘Lonely’ And ‘Unfulfilled’ appeared first on Country Now.

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