2025 is shaping up to be a milestone year for Trisha Yearwood. Fresh off the release of The Mirror, the first album she fully co-wrote and co-produced, the country music icon is gearing up to deliver yet another project, Christmastime.
Set for release on November 7, 2025, via Virgin Music Group and Gwendolyn Records, the holiday album pairs Yearwood’s powerhouse vocals with arrangements from legendary composer David Campbell and production by Grammy Award winner Don Was. The collection promises a mix of beloved classics, fresh reimaginings, and brand-new originals, all brought to life with Yearwood’s signature vocals.
Trisha Yearwood Christmastime; Photo by Russ Harrington
Standout moments on Christmastime include a sweeping orchestral take on “Christmastime Is Here” from A Charlie Brown Christmas, a soulful new rendition of Elvis Presley’s “Blue Christmas,” and a cinematic reimagining of “Pure Imagination” from Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory. The album also features the heartfelt original “Merry Christmas, Valentine,” co-written and performed with Garth Brooks.
Other highlights include “My Favorite Things,” “You’re a Mean One, Mr. Grinch,” “Simple Gifts,” “It’s Just Another New Year’s Eve,” “Cool Yule,” “Santa Claus is Coming to Town,” “Years,” and “Candy Cane Lane.”
Christmastime is Yearwood’s first holiday album since Christmas Together with Brooks, which debuted at No. 1 on Billboard’s Top Country Albums chart in 2016. Her last solo holiday project, The Sweetest Gift, originally released in 1994 and reissued in 2000, also charted, earned Gold certification, and continues to be a seasonal favorite.
Christmastime with Trisha Yearwood: 12 Days of Christmas Tour
In celebration of the release, Yearwood has announced the Christmastime with Trisha Yearwood: 12 Days of Christmas Tour where she will perform alongside local symphonies across the country. The trek begins December 2, in Nashville and will visit major cities including Newark, Atlanta, Pittsburgh, and Detroit before wrapping December 20, in Louisville, KY.
“Christmas has always been one of my favorite times of year, and these songs mean so much to me,” said Yearwood. “To be able to perform them with a full symphony brings the magic to another level. I can’t wait to share this music and celebrate the season with fans on tour.”
Christmastime Track Listing
1. Christmastime is Here
2. Blue Christmas
3. Cool Yule
4. My Favorite Things
5. You’re a Mean One, Mr. Grinch
6. Years
7. Santa Claus is Coming to Town
8. Merry Christmas, Valentine
9. Candy Cane Lane
10. Pure Imagination
11. It’s Just Another New Year’s Eve 12. Simple Gifts
Life on the road can get a little repetitive, but Riley Green has found his own way to keep things fun while touring. The country star admits he and his crew haul around a trailer filled with workout equipment to stay in shape between shows. But Riley also makes sure to pack a few extras to keep things interesting and break up the monotony.
“We got a trailer with workout equipment in it and try to work out when we’re on the road. And I got a little electric scooter so I can kinda hide from my security guys whenever they’re looking for me and trying to make me do something. And footballs and golf clubs,” he recently revealed. “We try to find something to get into and break up the monotony of just being on the road, you know, and get out and enjoy the weather a little bit.”
Photo Courtesy Riley Green
Green has certainly become accustomed to life on the road, having previously toured alongside friends like Dierks Bentley and Jason Aldean. Now, on his headlining Damn Country Music Tour, the Alabama native is returning to many of those same venues, this time as the main act. It’s not lost on him how far he’s come since his early days of singing at a Mexican restaurant in his hometown.
“Well, the venues are bigger. I can remember touring with Dierks Bentley, and Luke Bryan, and Jason Aldean I guess back to about four years ago, and I’m selling out all of those venues. I was first of three with Jason Aldean. It was me and Morgan Wallen and Jason. Now I’m going and selling out those same amphitheaters and arenas,” Green recently shared with Today’s Country Radio with Kelleigh Bannen on Apple Music Country. “When you’ve been there, you know how big a deal that is, because I know what those artists are and the careers that they’ve had, and I know how I felt about them as a fan.”
With his headlining tour comes the chance to bring along friends and heroes, and Green has made the most of it.
Riley Green with Drake White, Jamey Johnson, and Ella Langley; Photo Courtesy Riley Green’s Duck Blind
“It’s nice to be able to help out your buddies and let them get in front of these crowds as well. I love watching Ella [Langley]’s set every night and seeing how the crowd reacts to her because she’s having such a moment. Then having her on stage with me to play two giant songs that we have together,” he explained to Bannen. “Drake White’s on the road with me, he’s a great friend of mine. I’ve been a fan of Drake forever. Me and Drake grew up 10 minutes from each other in Alabama and I was the biggest Drake White fan there was.”
He continued, “Jamey Johnson is the biggest influence I have in country music and he’s going out on tour with me in November. Those things are awesome. But also, it’s being able to have your heroes out on the road with you. Tracy Lawrence was on the road last year. I never would have thought it in a million years. In a weird way, out of all the venues I’ve gotten to play, and all the milestones, and number ones, and awards, that’s probably something that if I had to brag to somebody about my career, it would be that: ‘Tracy Lawrence went on tour with me once.’”
Riley Green’s Damn Country Music Tour continues this week with three shows in London, United Kingdom.
When it comes to fan loyalty, few country artists can match Jackson Dean. From sold-out shows to nonstop support on social media, his followers are fiercely devoted, showing up in full force for every release and performance. It’s that level of passion that makes Dean confident in one thing: his fans are a force to be reckoned with.
“My fans are rabid,” he admits. “Like if we went up against another group of fans from somebody else, I’m betting mine all day long because they’re crazy. Properly placed chaos.”
Jackson Dean – Make A Liar
Those loyal fans will have plenty to cheer for with his latest release, “Make A Liar,” out now via Big Machine Records. The song finds Dean playfully hiding his true intentions, pretending to downplay what he wants, only to flip the script and dare the other person to “make a liar” out of him and turn those wishes into reality.
Written alongside frequent collaborator Luke Dick and award-winning songwriter Randy Montana, “Make A Liar” is a bass-driven, blush-inducing song that shows off Dean’s knack for crafting music full of charm and personality.
“‘Make A Liar’ is a cheeky turn of phrase, and the song is a little bundle of stumbling, bumbling fun,” shares Dean. “Seeing the fans’ reaction to this one has been a real treat – I hope they love it!”
Earlier this year, Dean dropped the sultry “Be Your Man,” kicking off an exciting new chapter for the platinum-selling singer-songwriter. The track explores fresh territory both sonically and lyrically, building on the momentum of his September 2024 sophomore album, On The Back Of My Dreams.
As his current single, “Heavens To Betsy,” climbs into the top 15, Dean is crisscrossing the country playing fairs and festivals. On September 13, he’ll headline Taylor Sheridan’s inaugural Bosque Ranch Live concert at the ranch in Weatherford, Texas.
This fall, he’ll also hit select dates supporting Lee Brice on the What You Know About That Tour before taking his headlining On The Back Of My Dreams World Tour Down Under to Australia and New Zealand. Later in the year, Dean will join Brad Paisley on the Truck Still Works World Tour as it rolls through Canada in November and December.
Tommy Acker is a Nashville-by-way-of-Texas artist on the rise, and he’s keeping the momentum going with his new single, “10 & 2,” out now via River House Artists. The song is fun, upbeat, and full of heart, using driving metaphors to capture what it’s like to hold on tight in a relationship—just like gripping the wheel at 10 & 2.
The 25-year-old has been busy these past few months, releasing a string of singles and hitting the road with Megan Moroney and Hudson Westbrook. He was first discovered by legendary songwriter Jessi Alexander (known for Miley Cyrus’ “The Climb” and Luke Combs’ “Ain’t No Love in Oklahoma”), who signed him to his first publishing deal and has been a huge mentor, opening doors to writing rooms and opportunities he never would have had on his own. Last year, his debut single, “How To Not,” went viral on TikTok and now sits at over 3.5 million streams. With millions of streams and growing attention from the country world, Acker is ready to step into the spotlight as an artist in his own right.
Tommy Acker ’10 & 2′
We caught up with Tommy to talk about his journey from Tyler, Texas, to Music City, the story behind his new single, and what life on the road has taught him so far.
What made you want to start playing guitar in high school?
In high school, my buddy had a guitar that he was always fascinated with, and he always had the girls all over him when he played. So, I made him teach me a few chords so I could learn it myself!
Did songwriting and performing naturally follow after you learned to play guitar?
Songwriting definitely came naturally after learning. I was tired of playing the same songs, so I tried writing my own. Performing, however, came much later.
How did you first get connected to Jessi Alexander and how has that relationship impacted your musical journey so far?
My connection with Jessi Alexander came rather quick! She found me through social media after I teased my first song. She really took me under her wing and put me in a lot of (writing) rooms that I would never have gotten the chance to be in otherwise. She has been crucial to my growth and new career in music!
When did you officially make the move to Nashville and what has been the biggest challenge of breaking into Music City as an artist from Texas?
I officially moved to Nashville on December 1, 2024. It’s funny because I am from Texas, but I moved to Nashville from Utah. I think a lot of people assume I’m from Utah, and so they never try to push the “Texas” sound or style on me which is nice because I feel it gives me a lot more freedom and less of a box that I can fit in. Don’t worry, I still throw some Texas roots in there!
Last year your debut single “How To Not” went viral and has earned millions of streams. How did it feel to see fans resonating with that song so strongly?
The success from ‘How To Not’ definitely gave me the confidence to push for a career in music, and I truly believe it was a God thing. I have always felt deep down that if I really gave music a shot, I could make it happen in some fashion. So, having the success from the first one really gave me that boost of confidence to keep trying no matter how hard this road gets!
What’s the most unexpected thing that’s happened in your career since releasing your debut single?
The most unexpected thing was opening for Megan Moroney, and how quickly I did. I was in a spot where I wasn’t sure if I was going to keep releasing music right away and really focus on writing and building a really good catalog of songs. I got a random message from Jessi saying she was on a writing retreat with Meg and that she needed a few openers and suggested my name. Sure enough, I got a call to open up for her on her “Am I Okay?” Tour in 2025. From there, it has been off to the races with releases and hitting the road as much as possible. Other artists such as Hudson Westbrook have really taken a chance on me and given me opportunities that I am beyond grateful for!
Take us into the writing room for your latest release, “10 & 2.” The story is so creative, talk about where the idea came from and what it was like seeing the narrative unfold?
My cowriters, Logan Maggio and Mia Mantia, helped write this one! Mia actually had the title ‘10 & 2’. She threw out the idea and Logan and I both loved it off the bat. We knew it could definitely be a fun and very colorful song.
Did you always envision it as an upbeat track, or did it start off differently in the writing room?
I think we all saw it as a more upbeat and playful love song. This song sort of fell out of us because we just wanted fun and unique ways of saying the cliche feeling that we all can relate to.
You’ve been releasing songs steadily. Are these leading up to a bigger project in the near future?
An album is definitely something we are working towards, but right now we are releasing singles and finding what works and what my fans want the most. Feeding the listeners with consistent singles has been building traction and growing steadily! However, I for sure have enough songs to build a pretty extensive record!
You’ve opened for Megan Moroney and Hudson Westbrook—what did you learn from those experiences?
From touring with Megan Moroney and Hudson Westbrook, I’ve learned to be flexible and ready for any sort of obstacles that may come your way. The crowd is as eager to listen just as much as you are to play, so being prepared to put on a show and keep an audience’s attention is imperative. The most important thing is that I LOVE every second of it and want to keep writing, making, and playing music for as long as I live!
What are your touring plans for the remainder of the year?
With success from my song ‘City Girl’ and mentioning a sorority, we’ve lined up a few shows to go to some sororities and play for them. They seem to be loving the buzz about it and we get asked to come play for them all the time!
R&B trailblazers Jodeci’s original trilogy of albums concluded with 1995’s Platinum-certified The Show, The Afterparty, The Hotel. To celebrate the album’s 30th anniversary, the group is pressing it to vinyl again for the first time since its original release. The 2LP black vinyl release is housed in a standard capacity jacket mirroring the original tracklist.
The Show, The Afterparty, The Hotel sent Jodeci’s original run out on a high note. The album reached No. 2 on the Billboard 200 album chart and became the third straight Jodeci album to soar to the top of Billboard’s Top R&B albums chart. In addition to its success on the album charts, it yielded three high-charting tracks on the Hot 100, including “Freek’n You,” “Get On Up,” and the iconic wedding ballad “Love U 4 Life.” The latter song’s music video is officially premiering on Jodeci’s YouTube channel in honor of the new reissue.
Emerging as one of the definitive R&B acts of the new jack swing era, Jodeci brought a hard edge to the genre, forgoing the look favored by many in the genre in favor of a hip-hop-informed presentation involving baseball caps, sports jerseys, and military boots. The then-unconventional styling fueled Jodeci’s reputation as the “bad boys of R&B”—an antithesis to smooth, clean-cut acts like Boyz II Men.
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But it wasn’t just about the clothes. Jodeci pushed the limits of R&B with the often raw and deeply sexual content of their music, never more than on The Show, The Afterparty, The Hotel. The album’s erotic qualities come through in the lyrics but also the music itself, which takes cues from producer Devante Swing’s hero Prince. Also behind the boards was a young Timbaland, who was just beginning to carve out his place as one of the most visionary producers in music history.
“Although Jodeci could skillfully craft floor-fillers, they were in a league of their own when it came to slow jams,” Rashad Grove wrote in a look back at the album. “Songs such as the smooth ‘S-More,’ which was co-written by Missy Elliott, the decadence of ‘Pump It Back,’ and the seductive, West-Coast inspired ‘Can We Flo?’ are essential Jodeci deep cuts that exemplify the essence of 90s R&B.”
In John Carpenter’s seminal horror classic, Halloween, evil was omnipresent. It could be in anyone, as evidenced by Michael Myers, AKA “The Shape,” who went on a rampage in his fictional hometown for seemingly no reason at all. This sense of chaos and terror permeates throughout Toronto-born singer The Weeknd’s debut album Kiss Land – an album that eschews the tried and true hit-making formula he’d later be known for in favor of what he described to Complex as a “terrifying place.” Instead of making hits, he burrowed deeper into himself, highlighting his losses instead of his burgeoning rise to superstardom. With his influences ranging from horror masters like David Cronenberg, Ridley Scott, and (of course) John Carpenter – Kiss Land is Weeknd’s invitation to his haunted house, skeletons, and all.
Before Kiss Land, The Weeknd slowly became the pioneer of a new-age R&B star – one that is heard and not seen. Besides a few shadowy pictures and grainy performance footage, he was basically a phantom. His run of mixtapes – House of Balloons, Thursday, and Echoes of Silence (also known as Trilogy) – was critically acclaimed, and he began to gain traction after lending his talents to Drake’s Take Care. Even with this success, the pressure mounted for his proper debut studio album. His fans were familiar with his talent, but was the world truly ready for this reclusive and moody new superstar?
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The sound of Kiss Land is starkly different, cold, and unfamiliar. Leaning more towards ’80s horror, and the moody pop stylings of the time, Weeknd’s brand of sexual persuasion and proud hedonism are slapped with a gritty filter, making the album somewhat unrecognizable from his trifecta of mixtapes from a year prior. If “The Morning” from House of Balloons evoked the feel of mid-’90s R&B, songs like “The Town” on Kiss Land was an example of horror through emotion like Cronenberg’s The Fly. And it works: The Weeknd laid out the anxieties around his newfound fame bare upon the entirety of his debut. It’s a paranoid journey of a young man having to learn about loss and trust during a whirlwind year of celebrity.
The stark change in sounds is due in part to the fact that the producers that helped create his early projects (Illangelo, Doc McKinney, DROPXLIFE) did not return for Kiss Land. Instead, Weeknd himself, alongside Jason Quenneville and Miami-based producer DannyBoyStyles, handled the album. Thematically, the idea of fame is foreign to him throughout Kiss Land. The title track is a terrifying narrative about the emptiness of his popularity that builds to a denouement about him accepting it all – the sex, drugs, and superficial connections that were at one time terrifying to him. The only detour here is an appearance from Drake, who was nearing the height of his powers with Nothing Was The Same. On “Live For,” an anthem for never forgetting the people you came up with, fans are given one of the only opportunities on the album to breathe through the smoke of Weeknd’s corrupted psyche.
Kiss Land debuted at No. 2 on the Billboard 200, and managed to stave off his eventual turn into a pop music maven on 2015’s Beauty Behind The Madness and 2016’s Starboy while giving his fans one last love letter to his chaotic years. Kiss Land re-established The Weeknd as a force of nature, not unlike “The Shape,” whose artistry peeled back the horror of the artist that he was born to become.
Erykah Badu will soon begin a tour to celebrate the 25th anniversary of Mama’s Gun. The run will kick off with a show at the Hollywood Bowl on October 3 featuring opener Westside Gunn. The anticipated celebration will continue through October and into November and December.
Before the Mama’s Gun anniversary shows, Badu went on tour with the Alchemist, with whom she released “Next to You” in June. Those concerts took place across North America in August.
Mama’s Gun, originally released in 2000, remains one of the most influential albums in modern music. Badu reflected on its place in the cultural landscape in a 2021 interview with The FADER. She said: “Yeah, I hear it. It tickles me. I’m thinking, ‘Oh my god, these are my kids. These are what Mama’s Gun spat out.’ They heard it. They internalized it. It’s a language that I thought only I knew.”
In that same interview, producer Mark Ronson also reflected on the album’s influence. He said: “Mama’s Gun, that is really my favorite album of that whole era, and I know that there’s so many great records that came out of that magic folklore period of Electric Lady and there’s Voodoo and Phrenology and all this stuff. I will stand in front of everybody else, and Mama’s Gun, when I heard it, it just knocked me out in a way that … I think because there were so many other influences in ‘Penitentiary Philosophy’ and the heaviness of it, too, and it did things that not all the records really did.”
Mama’s Gun cemented Badu’s status as the new face of R&B upon its release. After taking several years off to raise her first child, Badu returned to the studio to record her second album, much of which was inspired by love and her relationship with her then-partner, Andre Benjamin. Leaning into a more organic sound with less-elusive lyrics, Badu opted to speak to the state of Black womanhood and the world around her.
GloRilla pushed to dismiss a lawsuit claiming she copied a viral phrase in her lyrics, arguing the phrase “no BBL” isn’t protected under copyright law.
Common sparked dating rumors after being spotted at the US Open with a mystery woman while Jennifer Hudson was absent, igniting speculation about the couple’s relationship status.
