Category: Music

Hannah Harper landed a spot in American Idol’s Top 9 following a performance of “Landslide” on Idol’s Rock & Roll Hall of Fame-themed episode on Monday.

Mentored by Pat Benatar and Neil Giraldo on American Idol

Harper and her fellow Top 11 contestants performed songs by legendary Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductees and were mentored by Pat Benatar and Neil Giraldo.

For her performance, Harper did what she does best: gently plucked her guitar while delivering a standout vocal performance. She was accompanied by strings and let her vocals shine.

This performance once again drew praise from viewers. 

“This was my favorite performance of any contestant the whole season. I knew Hannah would be amazing on this song but she exceeded all expectations. Just mesmerizing from start to finish. I hung on every word she was singing,” one wrote, while another shared, “Wow, star quality… I can see why America has fallen in love with her!”

Hannah Harper Earns Enough Votes to Advance to Top 9

While many fans praised her performance, others hoped to see her step more out of her comfort zone for this Rock & Roll Hall of Fame episode. Either way, she once again impressed and earned enough votes to advance to the next round.

Carrie Underwood Surprise Gift and Handwritten Note Shared Ahead of Show

Ahead of the show, Harper revealed a thoughtful gift and handwritten note she received from American Idol judge Carrie Underwood.

“Didn’t think my first piece of @tiffanyandco jewelry would come from @carrieunderwood,” she captioned the post. “But truly, the part that got me the most was the handwritten note. That meant more than anything. Just her taking the time to do that… it says everything about who she is. Y’all, she’s as down-to-earth and genuine as they come. Just a good, kind human. I love her dearly.”    

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American Idol Top 9 Revealed Following Live Eliminations

At the end of the episode, it was revealed that Philmon Lee and Rae would be going home. The Top 9 was revealed to be: Keyla Richardson, Lucas Leon, Daniel Stallworth, Braden Rumfelt, Kyndal, Jordan McCullough, Brooks, Hannah Harper, and Chris Tungseth. 

What’s Next: Disney Night Returns with Guest Judge Jennifer Hudson

American Idol will return next week with the highly anticipated Disney Night, and 2004 Idol finalist Jennifer Hudson will return to the show as a guest judge and mentor. 

This will mark Hudson’s first return to American Idol in 10 years and her first time mentoring contestants, helping guide the Top 9 as they perform iconic Disney songs with hopes to earn enough votes to earn a spot in the Top 7. 

“Disney Night” on American Idol airs live Monday, April 20 from 8–10 p.m. ET on ABC and Disney+. Episodes will be available to stream the following day on Disney+ and Hulu.

The post Hannah Harper Earns Spot in Top 9 with Standout ‘Landslide’ Performance on ‘American Idol’ appeared first on Country Now.

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Carrie Underwood brought the house down on American Idol Monday night with an electrifying performance of “Rebel Yell,” joining Billy Idol and guitarist Steve Stevens for a high-energy opening number.

Carrie Underwood Teams Up with Billy Idol and Steve Stevens

The country superstar leaned fully into her rock side, stepping on stage with confidence in a studded leather jacket, leather mini shorts with silver cross accents, and tall boots. With her hair teased high, Underwood delivered a commanding performance as she belted out the iconic track.

“Everybody make some noise for the original Idol, Billy Idol!” she shouted during the performance, as she danced alongside him through the chorus.

Judges Luke Bryan and Lionel Richie were seen standing and cheering throughout the set, while the audience erupted as confetti rained down across the stage.

Underwood’s performance with Billy Idol follows her incredible performance of “How Great Thou Art” on Idol’s “Songs of Faith Night” earlier in the season. 

Following the show, Underwood took to social media to share her disbelief at the opportunity to share the stage with rock legends.

“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!”

Fans Praise Carrie Underwood’s Rock Performance and Vocal Versatility

Fans praised her performance of “Rebel Yell,” noting it showcased her versatility as an artist. 

“This is what makes Carrie such an amazing artist! She loves all genres and sings them all with passion,” one viewer wrote.

 Another shared, “We need Carrie Underwood to release a rock n roll album. She can sing any genre perfect. She’s so amazing.”  

The performance kicked off Idol’s Rock & Roll Hall of Fame-themed episode, where the Top 11 

contestants performed songs from legendary inductees as America voted live to determine the Top 9.

The night also celebrated the announcement of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Class of 2026, which includes Billy Idol, Phil Collins, Iron Maiden, Joy Division/New Order, Oasis, Sade, Luther Vandross, and Wu-Tang Clan.

What’s Next: Disney Night Brings Jennifer Hudson Back as Guest Judge

American Idol will return next week with the highly anticipated Disney Night, and 2004 Idol finalist Jennifer Hudson will return to the show as a guest judge and mentor. 

This will mark Hudson’s first return to American Idol in 10 years and her first time mentoring contestants, helping guide the Top 9 as they perform iconic Disney songs with hopes to earn enough votes to earn a spot in the Top 7. 

“Disney Night” on American Idol airs live Monday, April 20 from 8–10 p.m. ET on ABC and Disney+. Episodes will be available to stream the following day on Disney+ and Hulu.

The post Carrie Underwood Goes Full Rock Star in Show-Stopping ‘Rebel Yell’ Moment with Billy Idol on ‘American Idol’ appeared first on Country Now.

​Country Now

Nominees for the American Music Awards were unveiled early Tuesday morning, with Morgan Wallen and Ella Langley emerging as two of the top contenders.

Wallen earned seven nominations, trailing only Taylor Swift overall, and picked up nods in Artist of the Year, Album of the Year, Song of the Year, Collaboration of the Year, Best Male Country Artist, Best Country Song, and Best Country Album.

Langley follows closely as the most-nominated female country artist with five nominations, including New Artist of the Year, Song of the Year, Song of the Summer, Best Female Country Artist, and Best Country Song.

Other top nominees include Olivia Dean, Sabrina Carpenter, Sombr, Alex Warren, and Lady Gaga, while BigXthaPlug, Megan Moroney, and Shaboozey each earned three nominations. A full list of country nominees is available below.

The American Music Awards stand as the world’s largest fan-voted awards show, honoring today’s biggest artists and their dedicated fanbases.

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The 52nd American Music Awards will return Memorial Day weekend in May 2026 with a must-see live broadcast from Las Vegas. Hosted by Queen Latifah, the show will air live from the MGM Grand Garden Arena (the largest venue in AMA history!) and will kick off summer on Monday, May 25. The ceremony will air on CBS and stream on Paramount+.

American Music Awards winners are decided entirely by fan votes, with the process independently audited to ensure accuracy. Nominees are based on key fan-driven metrics like streaming, sales, radio airplay, and touring performance, as tracked by Billboard and Luminate.

There are two ways to vote: via Instagram by commenting on the “Vote Here” pinned posts with a valid hashtag, or by visiting VoteAMAs.com. 

2026 AMAs: Country Music Nominees Revealed

Best Male Country Artist

Jelly Roll

Luke Combs

Morgan Wallen

Riley Green

Shaboozey

Best Female Country Artist

Ella Langley

Kelsea Ballerini

Lainey Wilson

Megan Moroney

Miranda Lambert

Best Country Duo or Group

Brooks & Dunn

Old Dominion

Rascal Flatts

Treaty Oak Revival

Zac Brown Band

Breakthrough Country Artist 

Sam Barber

Tucker Wetmore

Zach Top

Best Country Song

BigXthaPlug, Bailey Zimmerman – “All the Way”

Ella Langley – “Choosin’ Texas”

Morgan Wallen – “Just in Case”

Russell Dickerson – “Happen to Me”

Shaboozey – “Good News”

Best Country Album

BigXthaPlug – I Hope You’re Happy

Megan Moroney – Cloud 9

Morgan Wallen – I’m The Problem

Sam Barber – Restless Mind

Tucker Wetmore – What Not To

Artist of the Year

Bad Bunny

Bruno Mars

BTS

Harry Styles

Justin Bieber

Kendrick Lamar

Lady Gaga

Morgan Wallen

Sabrina Carpenter

Taylor Swift

New Artist of the Year

Alex Warren

Ella Langley

KATSEYE

Leon Thomas

Olivia Dean

Sombr

Album of the Year

Cardi B – AM I THE DRAMA?

Fuerza Regida – 111xpantia

Justin Bieber – SWAG

Lady Gaga – Mayhem

Morgan Wallen – I’m The Problem

Olivia Dean – The Art of Loving

Playboi Carti – MUSIC

Sabrina Carpenter – Man’s Best Friend

Tate McRae – So Close to What

Taylor Swift – The Life of a Showgirl

Song of the Year

Alex Warren – “Ordinary”

Ella Langley – “Choosin’ Texas”

HUNTR/X: EJAE, Audrey Nuna, Rei Ami – “Golden”

Kehlani – “Folded”

Leon Thomas – “MUTT”

Morgan Wallen – “I’m The Problem”

Olivia Dean – “Man I Need”

Sabrina Carpenter – “Manchild”

sombr – “back to friends”

Taylor Swift – “The Fate of Ophelia”

Collaboration of the Year

BigXthaPlug, Bailey Zimmerman – “All the Way”

David Guetta, Teddy Swims, Tones And I – “Gone Gone Gone”

Morgan Wallen, Tate McRae – “What I Want”

PinkPantheress, Zara Larsson – “Stateside”

Shaboozey, Jelly Roll – “Amen”

Breakout Tour

Benson Boone – “American Heart World Tour”

Kali Uchis – “The Sincerely, Tour”

The Marías – “Submarine Tour”

Megan Moroney – “Am I Okay? Tour”

Sleep Token – “Even in Arcadia Tour”

Song of the Summer 

Alex Warren – “FEVER DREAM”

Bella Kay – “iloveitiloveitiloveit”

BTS – “SWIM”

Ella Langley – “Choosin’ Texas”

Harry Styles – “American Girls”

Noah Kahan – “The Great Divide”

PinkPantheress, Zara Larsson – “Stateside”

sombr – “Homewrecker”

Tame Impala, JENNIE – “Dracula”

Taylor Swift – “Elizabeth Taylor”

The post Morgan Wallen and Ella Langley Among Top Nominees at 2026 American Music Awards appeared first on Country Now.

​Country Now

After teasing “big news,” Zach Top has officially extended his headlining Cold Beer & Country Music Tour through the summer.

The “South Of Sanity” singer will now bring the trek to additional cities, including stops at Orange Beach’s The Wharf Amphitheater, Boise’s ExtraMile Arena, and Pittsburgh’s PPG Paints Arena, among others.

Joining Top on select dates are Marcus King Band, Lukas Nelson, Marty Stuart and His Fabulous Superlatives, Jake Worthington, Cole Goodwin, and Wyatt McCubbin.

“There’s nothing better than summer time, cold beer & country music… so we’re hitting the road again with a brand new tour,” Top wrote on social media following the announcement. 

Tickets for the newly added dates will be available via pre-sale beginning Wednesday, April 15 at 10:00 a.m. local time, followed by the general on-sale on Friday, April 17 at 10:00 a.m. local time. Fans can register for pre-sale access and find more details on Zach Top’s official website. 

The newly added shows arrive ahead of a packed season for the rising star, who is set to perform at Nissan Stadium during CMA Fest in June, as well as join George Strait and Chris Stapleton for select stadium dates. The extension also follows a major career moment at the GRAMMY Awards, where Top took home Best Traditional Country Album for his sophomore project, Ain’t In It For My Health.

Ain’t In It For My Health debuted at No. 1 on Billboard’s Top Current Country Albums chart and No. 11 on the Billboard 200, racking up over 30 million global streams in its first week.

Continuing his momentum, the Washington native also recently earned five nominations at the 61st Academy of Country Music Awards, including Male Artist of the Year, Album of the Year (Ain’t In It For My Health), and Song and Single of the Year for “I Never Lie.”

Zach Top Upcoming Tour Dates

BOLD on-sale Friday, April 17 at 10:00am local time

April 11—Florence, AZ—Country Thunder Arizona 2026
April 24—Lubbock, TX—Jones AT&T Stadium*
April 25—Athens, GA—Sanford Stadium‡
May 4—Nashville, TN—Fender Presents: Tele Town
May 9—St. Pete Beach, FL—Country Thunder Florida 2026
May 22—Norfolk, VA—Patriotic Festival
June 5—Durant, OK—Choctaw Grand Theater≠
June 6—Nashville, TN—CMA Fest
June 7—Lexington, KY—Railbird Festival
June 11—Decatur, AL—Rock the South
June 12—Orange Beach, AL—The Wharf Amphitheater≠
June 18—Bloomington, IL—Tailgate N’ Tallboys
June 19—North Lawrence, OH—The Country Fest
June 20—Columbia, MD—Merriweather Post Pavilion«
June 25—South Greenfield, MO—Baker-Spain Stampede
June 26—Bonner Springs, KS—Country Stampede
June 27—North Platte, NE—NEBRASKAland DAYS
July 9—West Valley City, UT—Utah First Credit Union Amphitheatre≥
July 10—Boise, ID—ExtraMile Arena≥
July 11—Pendleton, OR—Pendleton Whisky Music Fest
July 15—Saskatoon, SK—SaskTel Centre∆
July 16—Edmonton, AB—Rogers Place∆
July 18—Whitefish, MT—Under the Big Sky Festival
July 23—Minot, ND—North Dakota State Fair
July 25—Cheyenne, WY—Cheyenne Frontier Days 2026
August 6—Toronto, ON—Rogers Stadium~
August 7—Ottawa, ON—Canadian Tire Centre«
August 8—Canandaigua, NY—CMAC«
August 13—Wantagh, NY—Northwell at Jones Beach Theater≈
August 14—Boston, MA—Fenway Park~
August 15— Boston, MA—Fenway Park~
August 20—Pittsburgh, PA—PPG Paints Arena∞
August 21—Allentown, PA—PPL Center
August 22—Bangor, ME—Maine Savings Amphitheater∞
August 27—Dieppe, New Brunswick—YQM Countryfest 2026
August 28—Gilford, NH—BankNH Pavilion∞
September 1—Toronto, ON—Rogers Stadium~

*with George Strait
‡with Jason Aldean and Luke Bryan
≠with special guest Cole Goodwin
«with special guest Wyatt McCubbin
≥with special guest Jake Worthington
∆with special guest Lukas Nelson
~with Chris Stapleton
≈with special guest Marty Stuart and His Fabulous Superlatives
∞with special guest Marcus King Band

The post Zach Top Extends Cold Beer & Country Music Tour with New Summer Dates appeared first on Country Now.

​Country Now

Rising star Willow Avalon has announced her new album, Pink Pocket Pistol, set for release June 26 via Atlantic Outpost/Assemble Sound.

New Single “Cardinal Sin” Features Jason Isbell

Alongside the announcement, Avalon debuted a new track, “Cardinal Sin,” featuring six-time Grammy winner Jason Isbell. The collaboration marks a milestone moment for the singer-songwriter, as she has been a longtime fan.

“It’s one of my favorite songs on the record, and it’s one of the favorites that I’ve ever written,” Avalon shared of “Cardinal Sin.” “ Having Jason on it was icing on the cake; I’ve loved him forever. I have four Jason Isbell CDs in my car, another 400 in my house, and I have driven around for the last five years harmonizing with his voice and thinking how insane it would be to sing with him. I’m still so honored that it happened.”

Building on the Success of Southern Belle Raisin’ Hell

Pink Pocket Pistol follows Avalon’s January 2025 debut, Southern Belle Raisin’ Hell, which was praised by fans and critics alike. The upcoming project expands on her signature storytelling style while introducing new sonic elements.

“Pink Pocket Pistol is a mix of the lyricism and sassy storylines I’ve continuously written, with more darkness, mystery, and a ’60s country feel,” Avalon explained. “I went in with an idea in my head, and we walked out a week later with it fully executed. Every single person in the room was on the same page. It felt wonderful hearing the record out of speakers—after really, intensive, hard work—exactly what I heard in my head.”

Rising Career Includes Opry and National TV Appearances

The album will also include her previously released single “Easy On The Eyes” and arrives during a breakout period for Avalon. Since her debut, she has performed on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, CBS Mornings, and the Grand Ole Opry, and is part of the Opry’s 2026 NextStage class.

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Looking ahead, Avalon is set to make her official Stagecoach debut on April 25 in Indio, California, after a surprise appearance during Zach Bryan’s headlining set at the festival last year. She will also appear at several festivals this summer, including Railbird Festival in Kentucky and Headwaters Country Jam in Montana.

Originally from Georgia and now based in Nashville, Avalon began her musical journey at a young age, teaching herself guitar at 12 and using songwriting as a form of self-expression. With Pink Pocket Pistol, she continues to carve out her place as one of country music’s most promising new artists.

The post Willow Avalon Announces New Album ‘Pink Pocket Pistol,’ Drops Jason Isbell Collaboration ‘Cardinal Sin’ appeared first on Country Now.

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Zac Brown, frontman of the GRAMMY-winning Zac Brown Band, had a full-circle moment at Truist Park on Sunday as he appeared during the Cleveland Guardians vs. Atlanta Braves game to celebrate the debut of the band’s Sunday Night Baseball opening.

Zac Brown Joined by Fiancée Kendra Scott at the Ballpark

Brown was joined by his fiancée Kendra Scott and spoke with legendary sportscaster Bob Costas during the game, reflecting on what the moment meant to him as a lifelong baseball fan and devoted supporter of the Atlanta Braves.

A Lifelong Braves Fan

He shared that the experience felt especially meaningful because of his deep-rooted connection to the team, recalling attending Braves games as a child and describing it as “part of growing up” for him. Brown also noted that he once sang the National Anthem at just 14 years old at Fulton County Stadium before the team moved to its current home, adding another layer to his long history with the franchise.

Zac Brown Band’s new show open now joins a legacy of major sports collaborations, alongside iconic openings like Carrie Underwood’s Sunday Night Football theme and Lenny Kravitz’s Sunday Night Basketball theme. 

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“It’s an honor. We love what we do. We’re blessed to have a career that’s lasted and just still pushing the boundaries of what’s possible, but absolutely love our partnership with MLB and love being here and being able to be a part of it… it’s the most American thing there is,” Brown shared. 

Sunday Night Football Opening

For their opening, Zac Brown Band reimagined Karn Evil 9, 1st Impression Part 2 by Emerson, Lake & Palmer and blended in lines of the classic Take Me Out to the Ball Game, creating a high-energy intro set to kick off Sunday Night Baseball each week for the rest of the season.

Looking ahead, this moment marks just the beginning of a big year for Zac Brown Band as they prepare to launch their Love & Fear Tour.

“The musicianship in my band around me is some of the finest in the world. I’m just super proud of them. We’re just coming off of a residency of the Sphere in Las Vegas that we did in December and January. So we have a big story and a big show that we’ve created for that that we’re going to be bringing out on tour this year, bringing it all across America starting in July. So really excited to bring the fans some things that they haven’t really seen yet.”

To see a full list of upcoming dates, click HERE.

The post Zac Brown Visits Truist Park With Fiancée Kendra Scott To Celebrate ‘Sunday Night Baseball’ Opening Debut appeared first on Country Now.

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The only thing more surprising than who’s on this list of country songs that have reached one billion Spotify streams, is who isn’t. Continue reading…​The Boot – Country Music News, Music Videos and Songs

The only thing more surprising than who’s on this list of country songs that have reached one billion Spotify streams, is who isn’t. Continue reading…​Country Music News – Taste of Country

Lauren Alaina is opening up about her frightening birth experience with her daughter, Beni Doll, in a new interview with Bobby Bones on an episode of Father Knows Less.

Complications During Labor With Daughter Beni Doll

The Georgia native, who admitted she is “learning every day” about motherhood, revealed that she experienced a “wild birth” due to complications involving Beni’s umbilical cord. Speaking with Bones, who recently became a father himself, Alaina detailed the intense and emotional moments she faced during labor.

“When I would push, Beni’s heart rate plummeted and they couldn’t figure out why. So her umbilical cord was wrapped around her head twice and up under her shoulder and then between her legs. So when I would push, it was pulling,” the “All My Exes” singer revealed.

“Very Scary” Moments In The Delivery Room

At the time, Alaina said she didn’t fully understand what was happening, but her instincts told her something wasn’t right.

“I knew something was not right,” she revealed. “So I was very scared. It was very scary.”

Alaina welcomed Beni Doll on June 11, well past her due date, which she later learned may have contributed to the complications.

Facing Difficult Decisions With Doctors

“But they basically told me not to push until the doctor got there. I did not push. And then I pushed … And the doctor came in and told me all these things that we were going to have to do to get her out, like forceps. And there’s like this vacuum that they can use and they’re telling me this. And I look up at my husband and I’m just like scared to death,” she recalled.

Because of the baby’s position, a C-section wasn’t considered the best option in that moment, leaving Alaina and her medical team to weigh difficult choices.

“She was so far down in the birth canal that they would have had to push her back up for a C-section. So they said that really wasn’t the greatest choice at that point either. So then we’re like having to pick the best of not great choices,” she said. “ And I’m not kidding, it scared me so much.”

Her doctor ultimately encouraged her to push while assessing the situation and forming a plan.

“He said…’I want you to push as hard as you can and I just kind of want to see the position of her head and then you’re going to relax and then we’ll do it again and we’re going to get her out.’”

“Something Happened To Me”

In that moment, Alaina says something shifted within her, giving her a strength she didn’t know she had.

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“And I looked up at my husband, I will never forget it. Something happened to me and I pushed her out. They did not have to use anything. Oh really? Something happened to me. They scared me so bad. You see those videos of people like lifting cars off of their children? Yeah. I had that experience.”

After the scary birth experience, Lauren Alaina says she has fully embraced motherhood and is focused on being the best mom she can be. The Georgia native shares that becoming a mom is “the best thing that’s ever happened to me.”

Since welcoming her daughter, Beni Doll, Alaina has often given fans a glimpse into her life at home, sharing sweet photos and videos of their growing girl on social media.

The post Lauren Alaina Opens Up About Scary Labor Complications With Daughter Beni Doll In Emotional New Interview appeared first on Country Now.

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The band has got us waiting all day for Sunday night baseball. Continue reading…​The Boot – Country Music News, Music Videos and Songs