Taylor Swift has released an acoustic version of her recent single ‘Anti-Hero’. The original track is the lead single from Swift’s tenth studio album ‘Midnights’, which was released last month.
Swift has released numerous other versions of the song, including several remixes and another version featuring frequent collaborator Jack Antonoff’s band, Bleachers.
Listen to the acoustic version of ‘Anti-Hero’ – here.
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President Biden and First Lady Dr. Jill Biden are hosting their first White House dinner and have tapped Grammy-winning artist Jon Batiste to perform. The Bidens will be hosting French President Emmanuel Macron and his wife, Mrs. Brigitte Macron. A statement issued by the White House read, in part: “President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden will host President Emmanuel Macron and Mrs. Brigitte Macron of France for a State Visit to the United States, which will include a state dinner, on December 1, 2022.”
Batiste announced the performance on his social media accounts, writing: “From Kenner to the White House” (Baptiste is a native of Kenner, Louisiana). Vanessa Valdivia, a spokesperson for first lady Jill Biden, said in a statement: “An artist who transcends generations, Jon Batiste’s music inspires and brings people together. We’re thrilled to have him perform at the White House for the first state dinner of the Biden-Harris administration.”
Baptiste won five Grammys this year after being nominated in categories including R&B, jazz, classical, and roots music. His album, ‘We Are’ won the Grammy for Album of the Year. The 36-year-old Batiste led the band for the Late Show with Stephen Colbert for the last seven years, departing in August to more fully pursue music.
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Dolly Parton has a string of talk show appearances planned for this week. Catch her on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon on Wednesday, The TODAY Show on Thursday morning and The Kelly Clarkson Show on Thursday afternoon. She'll be discussing her upcoming holiday movie, Dolly Parton's Magic Mountain Christmas, which airs Thursday at 8 p.m. ET on NBC.
If you've ever wanted to learn to play the harmonica, you're in luck: Chris Janson just posted a short video tutorial with beginner harmonica tips on his social media.
In a new, behind-the-scenes video, Brett Eldredge explains how his latest album, Songs About You, differs from the albums he's put out in the past.
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It's up to Carly Pearce to set a festive tone for ABC's CMA Country Christmas special this year, but she's feeling confident because she's had practice.
“I feel like last year was so helpful for me to kind of get my bearings of what it even is like to host something that big,” Carly says in an interview with her record label. The singer split hosting duties with Gabby Barrett during the 2021 special.
“Having Gabby Barrett there with me, we kinda were learning together,” Carly continues. “And so I feel really ready to be able to step out on my own and do this.”
With performances from the likes of Maren Morris, Dan + Shay and Carly herself, this year's CMA Country Christmas will likely be a holly, jolly good time. Carly says she’s hoping to showcase a little bit of her personality to viewers who might not know her that well.
“Maybe they know my music but they don't know me as a person,” she adds. “They can get to know me a little bit better.”
The holiday special will air on ABC on December 8 at 9 p.m. ET.
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Kane Brown is repping country music at Super Bowl LVII.
The singer is joining the lineup for the 2023 Bud Light Super Bowl Music Fest, a three-day festival leading up to the big game. He's splitting the bill with headlining act Imagine Dragons on Saturday, February 11, the final day of the festivities before the Super Bowl takes place Sunday, February 12.
The Music Fest is set for February 9-11; Aside from Imagine Dragons, Paramore and Dave Matthews Band are each headlining a day. Anderson .Paak is performing under the stage name DJ Pee.Wee, and the Paramore-helmed night features a yet-to-be-announced “special guest.”
More names are expected to be added to the Fest, which has a reputation for producing surprise guest stars. The Super Bowl itself will take place in Glendale, Arizona, at State Farm Stadium. Rihanna is booked to play the halftime show.
Tickets to the festival go on sale this Friday at 10 a.m. local time.
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It might be chilly and gray in Nashville, but Thomas Rhett, Jason Aldean and Brooks & Dunn are already looking ahead to summer fun.
The three superstar acts have been announced as headliners for the 2023 TidalWave Music Festival, which is set to take place in Atlantic City Beach, New Jersey, next August. The beachside event will feature two stages and 30 country artists, spread across a three-day schedule.
Also on the lineup are Cole Swindell, Jo Dee Messina, Dustin Lynch, Jelly Roll, Priscilla Block and many more. Singer-songwriter Ray Wylie Hubbard will play a special set during the festival.
Now in its second consecutive year, the 2023 TidalWave fest is offering layaway plan passes for $43 down to festivalgoers who buy before January 3. The general on-sale date is December 16, but fans who attended the festival last year will have access to a special pre-sale on December 13.
Visit the festival's website to view a complete lineup and ticket packaging details.
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Country's very own “Mr. Christmas” is back with his annual Glow Tour this holiday season, but that's not all: Brett Eldredge has also got a line of Minted holiday cards and gifts available for fans to shop this year.
The festive new line is about more than just getting into the holiday spirit. It's also Brett's way of giving back: 20% of the proceeds will be donated to the Monroe Carell Jr. Children's Hospital at Vanderbilt in Nashville.
The singer tells People that giving back, especially during the holiday season, has been instilled in him from a young age.
“Growing up, I used to do the food pantry in my hometown and it just kind of stuck with me that there are people that are just trying to get by at this time,” he explains. “And if you can lend a helping hand, it's so, so powerful.”
He adds, “Knowing that if you just help one person, that's a major thing — I want to do that for many years to come.”
Meanwhile, in music news, Brett's Glow Tour kicked off in Nashville with three consecutive sold-out nights at the Ryman Auditorium. You can also catch him bringing holiday cheer to New York City on Wednesday, as he is participating in NBC's Christmas at Rockefeller Center special.
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Jessie James Decker is clapping back at those who criticized her children’s bodies.
The country star, who says she didn’t plan on addressing the matter, changed her mind after it gained traction in the news.
“When I posted the pix of our vacation and included the kids being silly flexing on the beach on our thanksgiving trip I had NO clue it would get the reaction it did,” Jessie, who shares eight-year-old daughter Vivianne and sons Eric Jr., 7, and Forrest, 4, with NFL star Eric Decker, explained in an Instagram caption on Monday.
“Being accused of photoshopping abs on my kids (I can't help but laugh) or . the polar opposite over “overtraining” our kids makes me realize how bizarre our world has gotten regarding the body and what's normal and what's not,” Jessie continued.
The “I Still Love You” singer said she wants her kids to “feel proud of their bodies and hard work,” which she attributed to genetics and muscle gained through athletics.
“Let's not pick and choose what we normalize regarding bodies and be accepting of all people and children,” she added. “If we wanna do “better” then do better. I'm proud of my children and encourage them to live their dreams. So we'll see y'all at the 2032 Olympics, and wearing Bubbys jersey in the stands and dancing at Forrests rock concert.”
The post comes after Jessie shared a photo of her little ones in their swimsuits flexing with their toned abs on display. However, some social media users took the moment to body shame the children with one commenting, “That’s not normal sorry.” Another wrote, “I find this so strange.”
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The world’s largest active volcano, Mauna Loa, has erupted in Hawaii for the first time in nearly four decades. The U.S. Geological Survey (“USGS”) said Mauna Loa erupted at 11:30 p.m. local time Sunday (4:30 a.m. ET Monday). It was the first eruption since 1984. The volcano, whose name means “Long Mountain,” covers half of the island; and prior to its most recent eruption, it erupted 33 times, beginning in 1843, making it among the world’s most active volcanoes. It is one of six volcanoes in the state of Hawaii, according to the agency.
The USGS said the eruption began in Moku‘āweoweo, the summit caldera of Mauna Loa, inside Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, who upgraded the volcano’s alert level from an “advisory” to a “warning.” The USGS said in a news release: “At this time, lava flows are contained within the summit area and are not threatening downslope communities. Winds may carry volcanic gas and possibly fine ash and Pele’s hair downwind.” Residents at risk from Mauna Loa lava flows were advised to “review preparedness and refer to Hawai’i County Civil Defense information for further guidance … Based on past events, the early stages of a Mauna Loa eruption can be very dynamic and the location and advance of lava flows can change rapidly … However, if the eruptive vents migrate outside its walls, lava flows may move rapidly downslope.”
The eruption of Mauna Loa follows weeks of warnings from officials that an eruption was possible given a recent spike in earthquakes at the volcano’s summit and that residents of the Big Island should be prepared to evacuate. The USGS previously said that “heightened unrest” began in mid-September, when earthquakes beneath the summit increased from 10 to 20 per day to 40 to 50 per day. That unrest prompted Hawaii Volcanoes National Park to close the summit backcountry until further notice.
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A former Virginia state law enforcement officer was killed during a shootout with police, after he allegedly “catfished” a teenage girl online before traveling to Riverside, California, and killing her family. County authorities said the suspect, Austin Lee Edward, 28, died in the shootout.
Three victims were discovered on Friday while investigating a house fire. Police also received a report of a girl “who appeared distressed” while getting into a car with a man, Riverside police said. Police said the teen’s family members were found dead in the house from apparent homicides: the teen’s grandparents, 69-year-old Mark Winek; his wife, 65-year-old Sharie Winek; and the teen’s mother, 38-year-old Brooke Winek. The fire appears to have been intentionally set, police said, adding that the causes of death were still pending.
Authorities said they spotted Edwards driving with the teen several hours after the victims were found. Edwards allegedly led deputies on a chase and fired shots at them, losing control of his car and drove off the road. Deputies then fired at Edwards who was declared dead at the scene The teen was rescued and was not injured, according to police.
Detectives said Edwards had worked for the Virginia State Police until recently employed at the Washington County Sheriff’s Office in the state of Virginia. Riverside police said they determined Edwards met the teen online through “‘catfishing,’ where someone pretends to be a different person than they actually are. Police believe that after Edwards developed a relationship with the girl online, he drove to Riverside, parked in a neighbor’s driveway, went to the girl’s home and killed her family. Edwards then allegedly took the teen and drove away.
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