Category: Music

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.

​Country Now

The park is open (again). Continue reading…​The Boot – Country Music News, Music Videos and Songs

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.

View this post on Instagram

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.

View this post on Instagram

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.

​Country Now

Chase Matthew has issued a statement after his bandmate, Carsen Richards, was arrested immediately following his concert at BBQ and Barrels in Owensboro, Kentucky on Saturday, May 9.

According to The Owensboro Times, Richards, 22 of Hendersonville, Tennessee was arrested on felony charges at approximately 9:40 pm local time after performing at the Owensboro Convention Center with Chase Matthew. Richards was reportedly known to be “frequently armed” so police handled the situation carefully to “reduce the likelihood of a violent armed encounter in a crowded environment,” according to Owensboro Police Department spokesman Mark Hammonds.

Hammonds confirmed, “A team of officers took Richards into custody shortly after he exited the stage, before he could reach a tour bus and away from the main crowd. Richards was confirmed not to be armed at the time of his arrest.”

Upon being taken into custody, Richards was reportedly booked into the Daviess County Detention Center. According to records filed with Clark County Distrcit Court, he faces two counts of second-degree sodomy and two counts of incest involving a person under 18 by a person three or more years older. He is said to be held on a $75,000 cash bond and is not allowed to have contact with the alleged victim.

These allegations allegedly come from incidents that took place in December 2020 and December 2022 in Clark County.

The Owensboro Times states that court records claim that Richards sexually abused an autistic child when the child was 12 and 14 and that the victim’s mother reported these incidents to Winchester Police in November 2025.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Chase Matthew (@iamchasematthew)

After the news of Carsen Richards’ arrest broke, Chase Matthew shared an emotional statement on social media admitting that this is one of the most “shocking and heartbreaking things” he has ever been through.

“When I first heard the allegations, I was sick to my stomach. I would never associate myself with a person I think could even be remotely capable of something like this, much less hire them to be on my team,” he wrote. “The reality is, you don’t always know what someone may be doing outside of your workplace, and nothing would have made me believe this was a possibility.”

Matthew confirmed that Richards has been removed from his band and that he is no longer associated with his team in any way.

“And I want to be very clear: I do not support or tolerate behavior of this kind whatsoever. I am truly disturbed and disgusted by the details of these allegations. My heart breaks for anyone affected.”

He shared his hopes that the legal system will take care of the situation properly.

“Like you, I’m learning this information as it comes out publicly. I don’t know anything more than y’all know. This is an ongoing legal matter, and I trust that the legal system will go through the correct procedures to get to the bottom of this.”

The post Chase Matthew Speaks Out After Bandmate Carsen Richards Arrested on Serious Felony Charges appeared first on Country Now.

​Country Now

Chase Matthew says the band member was immediately fired. Continue reading…​Country Music News – Taste of Country

Chase Matthew says the band member was immediately fired. Continue reading…​The Boot – Country Music News, Music Videos and Songs

Riley Green’s character Garrett played a huge role in Sunday night’s (May 10) episode of Marshals. Continue reading…​The Boot – Country Music News, Music Videos and Songs

Eric Church delivered a heartfelt keynote address and special performance during UNC-Chapel Hill’s Spring Commencement ceremony on Saturday.

The devoted Tar Heel fan and North Carolina native took the stage at Kenan Stadium in Chapel Hill, where he used the six strings of his guitar as a powerful metaphor to reflect on faith, family, perseverance, resilience, and community. Throughout the speech, Church shared personal wisdom and encouragement with graduates before ending the memorable moment with a performance of “Carolina.”

Upon taking the stage, Church admitted he spent a great deal of time trying to write the perfect commencement speech, only to scrap several versions along the way. Eventually, he decided to lean into what comes naturally to him, telling a story through music.

In true Eric Church fashion, he built his speech around the six strings of a guitar, using each one to symbolize an important pillar of life.

“Six strings. When all six are in tune, the chords they make can stop a conversation cold. Carry a broken person through the worst night of their life or make a room full of strangers fee for three minutes like they’ve known each other forever. But if even one is off, the whole chord unravels. Not gradually, not politely. The moment you strike it, you know I believe your life runs on this principle and I’m going to break it down for you right now and tell you about your strings,” he began.

@bridget_lashae #unc #uncchapelhill #tarheels #northcarolina #ericchurch ♬ original sound – Bridget LaShae • [Bibby]

As the speech continued, Church used each string as a lesson, offering advice and insight about navigating life’s challenges and staying grounded through every season.

Toward the end of the address, he delivered an especially emotional message to the graduating class.

“Six strings. Six strings of life and willingness to keep them in tune. Six principles, six pillars. When all six are in tune with each other, the chord your life makes is full and resonant and truth. All six will drift, not one or two, all six in their own time, in their own season. Your faith will go quiet when you need it loud. Your family will get complicated in a way only the people who love you most can complicate things. You will go through hard seasons with your spouse. Your ambition will hollow out and your resilience will wear thin. Your community will start to feel like an obligation and your world will try to sand down the edges of exactly who you are. This is not failure. This is not weakness. It’s the inevitable universal experience of living in an imperfect world that doesn’t stop to let us tune up.”

Church then encouraged graduates to trust themselves and the path ahead of them.

“Trust what your heart hears and is telling you about your song. So graduates, now I encourage you to take your six strings, make it something worth hearing and play your song as I leave you with mine.”

He concluded the ceremony appearance with a performance of his beloved song “Carolina.”

UNC-Chapel Hill’s Spring Commencement ceremony celebrated 4,453 undergraduate students, along with 1,608 master’s degree recipients and 981 doctoral graduates.

The post Eric Church Uses His Guitar Strings to Deliver Life Advice During UNC-Chapel Hill Commencement Speech appeared first on Country Now.

​Country Now

Meghan Patrick has just scrapped 11 tour dates as she prepares for the arrival of her first baby. Continue reading…​Country Music News – Taste of Country

Meghan Patrick has just scrapped 11 tour dates as she prepares for the arrival of her first baby. Continue reading…​The Boot – Country Music News, Music Videos and Songs