Jelly Roll‘s planning a big Lone Star State party in the days leading up to the 60th ACM Awards — but who exactly is coming?
That’s the big question, as the lineup for the May 6 show at Billy Bob’s Texas at the Fort Worth Stockyards will remain a secret.
Judging by last year’s lineup, however, it’s probably worth taking a chance. In 2024, Lainey Wilson, Shaboozey, Dasha and Noah Kahan all turned out to play.
All proceeds go to benefit ACM Lifting Lives, the charitable arm of the Academy of Country Music. Tickets for Jelly Roll & Friends are on sale now.
The 60th ACM Awards take place Thursday, May 8, in Frisco, Texas, and air live on Prime Video.
Newly crowned ACM new female and male vocalists of the year Ella Langley and Zach Top have scored a coveted performance spot on the upcoming 60th anniversary awards show.
Zach found out about his win during his show last Thursday. On Friday, Ella got the news via a special video from Miranda Lambert at her Rock the Country set in Knoxville.
“Every day of my life, I've just prayed about this and thought about it, and literally everything I've ever done was to be able to do this…” she reacted. “I'm just really grateful to have fans that are listening to the music and see that it is truth and I'm just a real life human being going through life like the rest of everyone else, and to see the things that I go through is something that everyone else goes through.”
Ella’s also this year’s top nominee at the ACMs, having just won the first of her eight nominations.
Reba McEntire hosts the show live from Frisco, Texas, Thursday, May 8, at 8 p.m. ET on Prime Video.
At least nine people were killed and 20 were injured when a man drove into a crowd during a block party celebrating Filipino culture in Vancouver, Canada.
The tragedy unfolded Saturday night after the vehicle entered the street at 8:14 p.m. and struck people attending the Lapu Lapu Day festival, the Vancouver Police Department said on X. A damaged black SUV, believed to be the vehicle involved, was seen stationary in the middle of the roadway after colliding with food trucks set up for the pedestrian-only event, which just moments earlier had been filled with lively celebrations. Vancouver police confirmed that attendees of the annual Lapu-Lapu Day block party apprehended the suspect before handing him over to officers.
In an update posted Sunday, police confirmed the death toll had reached nine. “Our hearts go out to everyone impacted by this heartbreaking event,” the department wrote, adding that they had the suspect in custody: “a 30-year-old suspect, a Vancouver man, was arrested at the scene. At this time, we are confident that this incident was not an act of terrorism.” Interim Police Chief Steve Rai added that an extensive investigation was now underway to uncover the circumstances surrounding the incident.
Vancouver Mayor Ken Sim said in a statement: “I am shocked and deeply saddened by the horrific events at today’s Lapu Lapu Day celebration. Our thoughts are with everyone impacted and with Vancouver’s Filipino community during this extremely difficult time.”
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney shared on X: “I am devastated to hear about the horrific events at the Lapu Lapu festival in Vancouver earlier this evening. I offer my deepest condolences to the loved ones of those killed and injured, to the Filipino Canadian community, and to everyone in Vancouver. We are all mourning with you. We are monitoring the situation closely, and thankful to our first responders for their swift action.”
Carney later addressed the nation on Sunday, calling the tragedy “every family’s worst nightmare” and praised the strength and resilience of Filipino-Canadians, citing a Tagalog word reflecting the Filipino tradition of community and unity, emphasizing the need for solidarity during this sorrowful time: “We will stand together, comfort those who grieve, and support one another.”
British Columbia officially recognized April 27 as Lapu-Lapu Day in 2023 to commemorate the Battle of Mactan, fought in what is now the Philippines in 1521. Lapu-Lapu, an Indigenous leader, is remembered for resisting Spanish colonization and defeating Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan. Today, Lapu-Lapu stands as a symbol of anti-colonial resistance, celebrated both in the Philippines and among Filipino communities worldwide.
Editorial credit: Margarita Young / Shutterstock.com
Palestinian authorities reported that more than 52,000 people have died in Gaza, as Israel intensifies its military operations following the collapse of a ceasefire with Hamas in March.
The Gaza Health Ministry reported Sunday that hospitals across the Gaza Strip received the bodies of 51 Palestinians killed in Israeli air raids over the past day, which brings the total number of Palestinian fatalities in the 18-month-long conflict between Israel and Hamas to 52,243. This includes nearly 700 additional victims whose deaths were recently verified. Search and rescue crews, along with local residents, continue to comb through the wreckage after Israeli forces bombarded areas west of Khan Yunis in southern Gaza on Sunday, April 27.
Israel resumed heavy airstrikes across Gaza after abruptly ending its truce with Hamas (which is recognized as a terrorist organization by both the U.S. and Israel) on March 18. Israeli ground forces have expanded a buffer zone and encircled the southern city of Rafah, now claiming control over roughly half of Gaza’s territory.
In addition to the military campaign, Israel has imposed a near-total blockade on Gaza’s 2 million residents, cutting off supplies of food, medicine, and other essentials for nearly two months. Humanitarian organizations warn that resources are dwindling, leaving thousands of children severely malnourished, with most families merely surviving on limited supplies such as canned vegetables, rice, pasta, and lentils.
Israeli officials have stated that the renewed offensive and tightened blockade are designed to pressure Hamas into releasing hostages taken during the group’s October 7, 2023, assault, which sparked the ongoing war. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has pledged to continue the fight until Hamas is dismantled and all hostages are freed.
Hamas, for its part, has insisted that it will only release the 59 remaining captives — 24 of whom are believed to still be alive — in exchange for a full Israeli withdrawal from Gaza, the release of Palestinian prisoners, and a permanent ceasefire. These demands mirror the terms outlined in a now-defunct ceasefire agreement reached earlier this year.
The Gaza Health Ministry claims that women and children represent a majority of the Palestinian fatalities, though it does not differentiate between civilian and militant casualties. It also reports that around 117,600 people have been wounded during the conflict.
Israel claims its forces have eliminated roughly 20,000 Hamas fighters but has not publicly shared evidence to support this figure. Israeli military officials emphasize that they aim to minimize civilian casualties and accuse Hamas of endangering civilians by operating within densely populated urban areas.
When Tucker Wetmore released “Wind Up Missin’ You” in March 2024, little did he know it would be the song that set his career in motion.
“I didn’t know it would be this crazy,” he reflects. “When we first wrote it, I was like, ‘This feels really good. I got a good feeling about this,’ and so did my buddies that I wrote it with.”
“We were all saying the same thing,” he remembers, “but I didn’t know it’d kinda just be like the starting factor to what [it] is now, you know? It’s nuts, it’s crazy.”
The Washington native is pretty proud he came up with its “waves on a sunset” line, which went on to be the title of his debut EP.
“I actually free-styled that line. So we had the idea, we had the guitar riff,” he says as he hums the lick, before starting to sing. “And they’re like, ‘What does that mean?’ I was like, ‘I don’t know, write it down, it sounds cool.’ So it was kinda just an accident how the whole thing [panned] out.”
But with a romantic song like “Wind Up Missin’ You,” inquiring minds want to know: Is there a particular person who inspired Tucker’s breakthrough?
“Yeah. It is about a person,” he tells ABC Audio, without going into anymore detail. “But it’s a feel-good song, you know, and it relates to a lot of people.”
“It kind of embodies that young love aspect,” he continues. “You know, before you move to college and you split up with your high school sweetheart, or life just gets in the way. And I feel like a lot of people relate to it.”
Tucker’s full-length debut, What Not To, is out now, featuring his first #1 and his new single, “3,2,1.”
Sheryl Crow and LeAnn Rimes will appear on The Voice as “mega mentors,” lending their expertise to help contestants prepare for the high-stakes playoff round beginning April 28 at 8 p.m. on NBC, and streaming the following day on Peacock.
Crow will collaborate with coaches Kelsea Ballerini and Michael Bublé, while Rimes will team up with John Legend and Adam Levine. Rimes brings international coaching experience from her time on the British and Australian versions of The Voice.
Crow and Rimes will work alongside five artists on their team as they enter the playoff phase to fine-tune performances and offer guidance as the artists compete for a spot in the live shows. Ultimately, the coaches will each choose two contestants to advance.
Jelly Roll will return as the host of the “Opry NextStage Live from Texas” show for the third consecutive year, taking place at the Lexus Box Garden at Legacy Hall on May 7 at 2:30 p.m. CT in Plano, Texas — preceding the 6oth Annual ACM Awards on May 8.
“Opry NextStage Live from Texas” will feature performances from members of the Opry NextStage Class of 2025, including Avery Anna, Chayce Beckham, Dasha, Kaitlin Butts, Kashus Culpepper, Tigirlily Gold and Tucker Wetmore.
Since its inception in 2019, Opry NextStage artists have tallied a combined 33 No. 1 hits, accumulating a total of 43 weeks on top the Country Aircheck/Mediabase airplay chart. Previous alumni include Hailey Whitters, Lainey Wilson, Megan Moroney, Nate Smith, Parker McCollum, Riley Green and Tenille Townes, who have all won ACM New Male or Female Artist of the Year after their NextStage inclusion. Wilson is the first Opry NextStage alum to become an Opry member.
Tickets for “Opry NextStage Live from Texas” are available – HERE.
Ed Sheeran is back with music, releasing his new single “Azizam” in addition to a “Pink Heart” music video for the song. “Azizam” is the lead track from Sheeran’s upcoming album, Play.
The video for “Azizam” — the Persian word for “my dear” — shows Sheeran in a soccer stadium, backstage at The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon and walking in the rain with a pink balloon. Sheeran said of the visual “We filmed this across USA…and a bit in Ipswich (referencing the town in England) … It was an amazing atmosphere wherever we went. I wanted to reflect that with the video.” As the video continues, Sheeran is seen dancing in a crowd with a giant pink balloon behind the group.
Sheeran wrote the song with Swedish/Iranian pop producer Ilya Salmanzadeh. Sheeran says: “Even though it’s completely different to anything that I’ve ever done before, ‘Azizam’ feels familiar to me. I wanted to create a party atmosphere in a song and Ilya Salmanzadeh helped bring that to life. He was so inspiring to work with.”
Sheeran also wrote on Instagram : “I’m so overwhelmed with the positive reaction to this song. And so excited for all the other surprises I have for you. Hope this sets the scene of the soundtrack to your summer. More to come.”
Sheeran’s upcoming studio album, Play, marks his first since Autumn Variations was released in 2023. Details remain vague regarding Play, but the record company shared it will feature “producers and writers from across the globe.”
South Korean singer Jennie just released her first solo album, Ruby, and also had dropped the music video for “Like Jennie,” the second track off the album (co-produced by Diplo, and co-written by Jennie and Zico, who she previously worked with in 2024 on ‘Spot!’)
The video for ‘Like Jennie’ shows the BLACKPINK member floating inside a spacecraft, wearing a crimson red space suit. She reaches for a red pill that floats toward her. When she takes it, her eyes change colors and she begins spinning. The clip then shows Jennie in a large group, dancing as the music begins. In the end, the singer appears to turn into a capybara.
Jennie previously dropped her collaboration with Doechii, “ExtraL,” as well as “Love Hangover” featuring Dominic Fike and “Mantra.” Other songs on the 15-track album Ruby include “Start A War,” “With the IE (Way Up),” “Zen,” “F.T.S.,” “Filter,” “Seoul City,” “Starlight” and “Twin.”
Twenty-five time winners Brooks & Dunn will be honored during a special gala the night before the 60th Academy of Country Music Awards.
Eric Church, Cody Johnson, Megan Moroney, Zach Top, Keith Urban and Lainey Wilson will indeed Play Something Country as they perform the duo’s hits, at the event that takes its name from their 2005 hit.
The evening will include cocktails, dinner, a silent auction and a special presentation to Kix Brooks & Ronnie Dunn. While it’s not exactly affordable — it starts at 8 seats for $15,000 — proceeds go to the ACM’s charity, Lifting Lives.
You can find out more about the Wednesday, May 7 event at ACMLiftingLives.org.
