Category: Music

Hannah Harper leveled up her performance and had her “redemption moment” on Monday evening as she returned to the American Idol stage for Disney Night.

The Season 24 contestant opened up to this week’s guest judge Jennifer Hudson about how her previous performance of Jo Dee Messina’s “Heads Carolina, Tails California” sparked criticism online with users claiming her performance level doesn’t match the talent of her voice. With that feedback in mind, Harper made a strong effort to go out of her comfort zone and add some choreography to her delivery.

“Two weeks ago, I had all this choreography planned for ‘Heads Carolina, Tails California’ and I went out there and I froze like a statue,” Harper admitted. “And then as soon as I got online, everyone’s like, ‘Her voice is okay, but she sucks at performing.’ And I was like, ‘Yes, she does. They’re not wrong.’ This week is my redemption moment.”

Luckily, Hudson was there to help ease Haper’s nerves. The pair of artists practiced a bit of light choreography that helped the singer feel more comfortable with moving around the stage as she sang “Almost There” from Princess and the Frog. Hudson gave her the idea to just imagine that she’s at home dancing around the house with her three boys.

“Bringing me back home is super helpful just because it reminds me that’s my comfort zone. Acting like I’m just singing to my babies and just carrying on and that will change everything for me,” Harper reflected.

She began the performance seated on a stool beside the piano, wearing a stunning pink silk gown with matching gloves and a hairstyle reminiscent of the 1920s era the film is set in. Harper fully stepped into the character behind the song, starting with a softer, more intimate delivery before gradually rising from her seat and moving across the stage.

As the performance built, she connected with the audience more and more, leaning into the moment and letting the energy of the song take over. By the final chorus, she was moving freely across the stage and delivered a final note to remember. Her powerful vocals once again stood out, earning a standing ovation from the judges, her fellow contestants, and the live audience.

Luke Bryan was first to speak from the judging panel, and without hesitation admitted he “loved” the performance, calling it “one of my favorite performances you’ve ever done.”

“It made my heart smile. It made me smile watching you grow into…You kind of started with this Reba McEntire attitude thing and then you grew into your character, and you didn’t overdo anything. You did it perfectly,” he praised.

Lionel Richie also commended her delivery but offered some helpful advice at the same time.  

“I learned this long time ago. What you do is…whatever shoes you’re going to wear on stage, make sure you wear them in rehearsal so that your shoes don’t scare you to death when you start moving. I saw you concentrating on ‘how much can I dare on that step?’ Otherwise, your performance was amazing.”

Next up was Carrie Underwood, who revealed that she related to Harper’s situation as she too was criticized during her Idol days for not being a very strong performer.

“This is another way that you remind me of myself because I got dragged when I was on this show for not moving enough. And honestly, it was just, I had never done anything like this before. And now I can’t not move. I can sing with my entire body,” she explained, giving the singer some hope that she will learn and grow with time.”

“So I feel like you are on your way. Just keep taking those steps. Keep getting more comfortable in the space that you’re in. You were in character. You sounded beautiful. You look gorgeous. You should be very proud,” Underwood added.

Hudson agreed with her fellow judges and congratulated Harper on all the progress she made, even just from their time together backstage to the full-blown performance.  

“Everything they just said and more, you look absolutely beautiful, first of all. And I love how you were natural and true to yourself in this moment. And I know that’s not your cup of tea to be able to perform and sing, but you stood there and you sang this song and you gave us a little bit here and there. You’re on your way,” she told Harper.

Hannah Harper’s performance earned her enough of American’s votes to move forward in the Top 7. She is joined by Daniel Stallworth, Keyla Richardson, Jordan McCullough, Chris Tungseth, Brooks Rosser, and Braden Rumfelt.

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Next week on American Idol the remaining contestants will take part in “Taylor Swift Night,” performing hits from the superstar’s catalog in hopes of securing a spot in the Top 5. Comedian and “Swiftie” Nikki Glaser will also join as a guest judge.

American Idol airs Mondays at 8/7c on ABC and Disney+ and steams the next day on Hulu.

The post Hannah Harper Turns Criticism Into a ‘Redemption Moment’ on ‘American Idol’s’ Disney Night appeared first on Country Now.

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Riley Green’s character Garrett is currently booked for a four-episode arc on ‘Marshals’ — but will there be more? Continue reading…​Country Music News – Taste of Country

Riley Green’s character Garrett is currently booked for a four-episode arc on ‘Marshals’ — but will there be more? Continue reading…​The Boot – Country Music News, Music Videos and Songs

You never know who will show up to join Brandon Lake on his King of Hearts Tour. He’s recently welcomed country superstar Cody Johnson to the stage, while other stops have featured appearances from Gary LeVox of Rascal Flatts and Bailey Zimmerman. So when the tour rolled into the Spectrum Center in Charlotte, North Carolina on Sunday, April 19, fans were left wondering who might show up next, and they got their answer when country hitmaker Jordan Davis took the stage.

Midway through the show, Lake stepped forward and welcomed Davis out in an intimate setup featuring two stools at center stage.

Before the pair launched into Davis’ hit “Buy Dirt,” Lake shared the personal meaning the song holds for him.

“Brittany and I, we moved out of the city and my life just started getting really busy. We put an offer on this house and we had to wait six months till we moved out there. What I didn’t realize is that that land would heal me in ways I didn’t know I needed healing,” he shared. “And me and Brittany played this song every single day and this became our anthem. And so I wanted you to share it with us.”

Together, with acoustic guitars in hand, the two delivered a stripped-down performance of the chart-topping hit.

Lake later shared a video of the moment on social media, writing, “My boy Jordan Davis wrote one of my all-time favorite songs, so of course I had to have him come sing it on the KOH tour.”

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Davis was quick to respond, adding, “Awesome night brother, thank you for having me out…Let’s do it again soon.”

The moment clearly struck a chord with fans in attendance as well.

One concertgoer wrote, “I was at the concert last night and what a powerful message and moment seeing this live. What a beautiful song and meaning behind it,” while another added, “A highlight from the most incredible night!!!! I love you both!!!!”

In addition to sharing the stage with some of country music’s biggest stars on tour, Lake recently released “The Jesus I Know Now” with superstar Lainey Wilson. 

“The love and support around this song has honestly been more than I could’ve expected. I’ve been blown away by the stories how God is using this song to reshape how you view Jesus. While my sin breaks his heart, I’m thankful for a love and grace that always extends and pushes me to want to be a better man. Grace isn’t an excuse to sin, but if it had a limit, I sure would’ve used it all up by now. While we are all loved, we are all the misfit, the thief, the outcast, the sinner that He chose to bring close, sit with, listen, forgive, forgive, forgive, then forgive again,” he recently shared. “Thankful for those of you who have lived with this song and even chosen to share it with your friends and family! To God be the glory and massive thanks to the young queen of country music Lainey Wilson for sharing this one with me.” 

Brandon Lake’s King of Hearts Tour continues on Thursday, April 23 in Greenville, South Carolina.

The post Brandon Lake Brings Out Jordan Davis For Surprise ‘Buy Dirt’ Duet In Charlotte appeared first on Country Now.

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Kacey Musgraves made her long-awaited return to Coachella over the weekend, and she didn’t just stick to her own catalog, she also covered a classic from George Strait’s repertoire.

During her set, the GRAMMY-winning star dove into “All My Ex’s Live in Texas,” reworking a few of the lines to reflect her own story while keeping the familiar chorus intact. Her rendition made it clear that she has more in common with Strait than just their shared home state.

Introducing the moment to the crowd, she earned a roar of cheers as she revealed that she’d put her own twist on the beloved track.

“You guys all know George Strait’s version of this song?” Musgraves told the crowd inside the festival’s Mojave tent. “Well, I rewrote the verses from my perspective, so here we go.”

With her cowboy hat sitting proudly on her head, the songstress prompted a sing along with the original lyrics set to the twangy instrumentals. She sang, “All my exes live in Texas/ And Texas is a place I’d dearly love to be/ But all my exes live in Texas/ And that’s why I hang my hat in Tennessee.”

Once the first verse approached, fans got a bit of insight into her own experience with ex lovers in the Lone Star State.

“Okay, listen / Stephen down in Stephenville / Drank too much patron / Richard down in Richardson / Won’t pick up the phone,” she sang. “Cody in Midlothian / Now, he’s doing time / Sometimes you’ve gotta learn to love it / Or leave it all behind.”

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After name dropping some past love interests tied to different Texas towns, she went on to add an even more playful, slightly unfiltered edge while recounting a handful of messy, memorable run-ins and relationships that didn’t quite work out in the long run.

“I left my shirt in Forth Worth / With some old college fling / That Houston guy had the bluest eyes / But I forgot his name,” she sang. “Some a–hole down in El Paso / He left my heart all broke,” Musgraves sang before earning an audible reaction from fans with the line, “Everything’s bigger down there / So I’m sad that I can’t go.”

Musgraves concluded her rendition of the country classic by noting that while “no one there will marry me,” she knows that Texas is the place where she will be buried some day. Until then, she can confirm she is “alive and well in Tennessee.”

Her performance on Saturday, April 18 marked the first time the “Golden Hour” singer has taken the stage at Coachella in seven years. In addition to Strait’s 1987 hit, the set also featured a few tracks from her upcoming studio album Middle of Nowhere, including “Dry Spell,” “Back on the Wagon,” “Uncertain, TX” and the title track.

The album, set to drop May 1, was written in the wake of a breakup which resulted in a collection of songs rooted in Kacey Musgraves’ reflective storytelling. She blends tradition with a modern, genre-blurring sound and even tapped several notable country music names to appear on collaborations, such as Willie Nelson, Miranda Lambert, Billy Strings, and Gregory Alan Isakov.

Kacey Musgraves’ next performance will take place at the 61st Academy of Country Music Awards (ACMs). The show will air live on Prime Video Sunday, May 17, 2026, at 8 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. CT / 5 p.m. PT.

The post Kacey Musgraves Brings Her Own Perspective to George Strait Cover During Coachella Return appeared first on Country Now.

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Country superstar Riley Green checked off a major career milestone on Saturday night, headlining Nashville’s iconic Bridgestone Arena for the first time as part of his Cowboy As It Gets Tour in front of a sold-out crowd in Music City.

The Alabama native took the stage around 9:20 p.m., starting the night with a signature duck call into the mic that instantly set off a huge reaction from the capacity crowd. 

Green launched into “Different ‘Round Here,” “Damn Good Day To Leave,” and “If It Wasn’t For Trucks” before welcoming the night’s first special guest, longtime friend and fellow Alabama native Jamey Johnson, for a pair of songs: “Where The Corn Don’t Grow” and “In Color.”

It was a full-circle moment for Green, who has long credited Johnson as one of the biggest influences on his career.

From there, Green kept the momentum going with fan favorites like “Georgia Time” and “Rather Be” before slowing things down for “Make It Rain.”

Throughout the night, the platinum-selling star kept production simple, with no over-the-top pyrotechnics, just a massive video screen behind him, keeping the focus on the songs and performance. 

Fans sang along all night and were later surprised with a guest appearance from Carly Pearce for their hit duet, “If I Don’t Leave I’m Gonna Stay.”

After a pair of Toby Keith covers, Green then made his way through the crowd, stopping for high-fives and fist bumps as he walked to the B-stage, where he showcased a stripped-down set featuring three of his solo-written tracks: the emotional “Jesus Saves,” the newly released “My Way,” and the chart-topping “Don’t Mind If I Do,” joined by opener Mackenzie Carpenter.

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He closed out the night with some of his biggest hits to date, including “There Was This Girl,” “Worst Way,” and “I Wish Grandpas Never Died.”

This show marked a defining moment in Riley Green’s career: his biggest headlining tour yet and a clear sign that this is his moment. From playing bars and clubs to now commanding arenas like Bridgestone, his rise has been steady, hard-earned, and Saturday night felt like the payoff.

The night also showed what makes him stand out as a live performer. He doesn’t rely on flashy production or over-the-top staging, just well-written songs, a solid voice, and a crowd that knows every word.

The post Riley Green Delivers Career-Defining Night At Bridgestone Arena In Sold-Out Nashville Show appeared first on Country Now.

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Carter Faith is stepping into a new sonic era as she leans into a bold crossover moment with one of dance music’s biggest DJ’s, Kygo, for their collaborative single, “That’s When You Know.” Alongside its recent release, the multi-talented country artist co-stars with Rudy Pankow in the accompanying music video.

Arriving just in time for festival season, the track bridges the gap between country music storytelling and dance-pop energy as Faith’s signature North Carolina bred vocals intertwines with the Norwegian DJ’s airy, feel-good production style. Although the artists stem from very difficult musical backgrounds, “That’s When You Know” proves that when combined, the two worlds can create something magical.

That same energy is felt throughout the official video directed by Daniella Mason. The video opens with Carter Faith pulling up to a middle-of-nowhere gas station in her 1967 cherry red Pontiac (a nod to her album Cherry Valley, perhaps!). Pankow’s character rushes out to do his job and pump the gas in her classic ride. No words are spoken between the two of them, but a clear tension is felt.

Faith slips the man what is initially believed to be a tip for his hard work, but as he takes a closer look, he realizes it’s an invitation to join her on the road. Pankow pauses for a moment and looks between the gas station and the unknown adventure awaiting him in the car before ultimately deciding to choose to take the leap.

The rest of the video follows the pair as they trade conversation while the wind blows through their hair riding the backroads in a convertible. They seem to lean into the spontaneous, easy kind of connection as they explore the views of Harpeth Shoals Ranch in Ashland City, TN until the sun sets.

Their on-screen romance perfectly reflects the lyrics of the reflective, slow-burning ballad that hits on the uncertainty of love and the emotional risk that comes with it. Using the metaphor of love as a road, it leans into the idea that relationships are unpredictable.

A bit of doubt and hesitation can be heard through Faith’s vocals as she questions whether taking the shot at love is worth the risk. Upon reaching the chorus, it seems she starts to embrace the fact that heartbreak is all part of the experience.

She sings, “Like the stars we’re fading/ One day we’ll be gone/ Take my heart and break it/ I’ll be holding on. And if one chose to leave/ Embrace the hurt, embrace it all/ If a heart is breaking/ That’s when you know it’s love/ That’s when you know it’s love/ That’s when you know it’s love/ That’s when you know it’s love.”

“That’s When You Know” follows the October arrival of Carter Faith’s critically acclaimed debut album, Cherry Valley. The collection of 15 songs chronicles Carter’s journey from North Carolina hometown to Nashville and all the breakups, new loves, milestones and family problems that arose in between. She named the project after a road sign she once came across that stuck with her and became a symbol for her creative space.

Cherry Valley recently earned Faith another milestone in her career when it received a nomination for ACM Album of the Year. While reflecting on this incredible feat, the rising country star revealed gushed about why it means so much to her to be recognized in this way.  

“I moved to Nashville when I was 18 and flash forward to 25, my album is nominated for ALBUM OF THE YEAR at the ACMS. I am the ONLY WOMAN nominated in the category and it is the first debut album to be nominated in 10 years since Chris Stapleton. I don’t really know how that happened but I’m so proud to be a bold woman in country right now,” she wrote in an Instagram post.

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Along with the upcoming ACM Awards taking place May 17 in Las Vegas, Faith has officially wrapped up her first-ever headline tour, The Cherry Valley Tour, and is preparing to join Post Malone on the road on his Big Ass Stadium Tour.

A full list of upcoming dates can be found on Carter Faith’s official website.

The post Carter Faith Stars With Rudy Pankow In New Music Video For Kygo Collab ‘That’s When You Know’ appeared first on Country Now.

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