Month: September 2025

Categories
News Daypop

President Trump, Charlie Kirk’s widow Erika speak during his memorial service in Arizona

Makeshift memorial for Charlie Kirk at the Embassy of the United States of America on Pariser Platz in Berlin Berlin^ Germany - September 12^ 2025

A memorial service for conservative activist and Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk was held Sunday at State Farm Stadium in Arizona. Roughly 95,000 people filled the stadium, with an additional overflow attending at a venue outside Phoenix, for the public memorial honoring Kirk. Speakers included President Trump, Vice President JD Vance and Kirk’s widow, Erika Kirk, as well as other prominent conservatives and administration officials.

President Donald Trump addressed the massive crowd with an extended speech, describing Kirk as a “martyr” who gave his life for “American freedom.” One of the evening’s most poignant moments came from Kirk’s widow, Erika, who told the audience she had chosen to forgive the man accused of taking her husband’s life.

Faith and politics were central themes throughout the memorial. Speakers portrayed Kirk not only as a Christian evangelist but also as someone whose death carried the weight of martyrdom. The gathering also featured sharp rebukes of political adversaries, alongside passionate calls for national revival and what organizers described as “spiritual warfare.”

Kirk, who was just 31, was shot and killed on September 10 while speaking at Utah Valley University. Authorities have charged Tyler Robinson, 22, with aggravated murder and several related offenses in connection with the attack.

For further details and takeaways on the memorial for Charlie Kirk, head to news outlets ABC.com, NBC.com, CBS.com, or CNN.com.

Editorial credit: Achim Wagner / Shutterstock.com

Categories
Go Country 105

The Lady A baby boom is complete with the arrival of Charles Kelley’s son

abc-rss-feed-20250922030001

Charles Kelley and his wife, Cassie Kelley, welcomed their second child, son Archer Lancaster Kelley, on Sept. 16. He joins big brother Ward Kelley, who’s 9. The “Can’t Lose You” singer told ABC Audio that because he and Cassie have been parents for almost a decade, they’re prepared for at least one aspect of having a baby in the house again.

“The hardest thing with Ward was, you know, we were so used to sleeping in till, like, 9, even 10 [a.m.],” Charles explained. “But now we’re kind of used to functioning on a little less sleep. So I feel like that’s going to be easier. But we also, you know, [are] not quite as energetic and agile as we were 10 years ago.”

Of course, Charles isn’t the only member of Lady A who has a new little one: Hillary Scott welcomed a new baby in July. While Lady A has a holiday tour coming up in December and Charles has a few solo shows, he says overall he and the group are lucky they’re able to take time off to be with their new additions.

“I just think I’m in such a settled place, you know, and even as a band, you know, we’re able to like prioritize family so much more and be like, ‘Hey, we’re not going to go on the road too much right now,'” says Charles.

“And so the fact that I’ll actually have a couple of months to kind of breathe and just enjoy this baby before we start the Christmas tour is going to be great,” he adds.  

Copyright © 2025, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

Categories
Country Daypop

Keith Urban previews live album with the performance video for ‘Straight Line’

Keith Urban performs at the 2015 New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival. New Orleans^ LA - April 24^ 2015

Keith Urban has released “Straight Line,” the second song from his forthcoming live album via MCA.

The song, originally released in February of 2024, was the first single from his 11th studio album High and serves as the opener on his High and Alive World Tour, which has been in full swing since May. He will launch the final leg of the tour in the United States on September 25th.

The Australian native previously released “Long Hot Summer,” the first live recording from an as-of-yet-unnamed live album. The 2011 release, from his album Get Closer, hit No. 1 in the U.S. and Canada.

See the performance video of ‘Straight Line (Live from the HIGH AND ALIVE WORLD TOUR)’ – HERE.

Editorial credit: Adam McCullough / Shutterstock.com

Categories
Country Daypop

Brad Paisley, Emmylou Harris among the 2025 Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame inductees

Brad Paisley performs in concert at Northwell Health at Jones Beach on August 30^ 2019 in Wantagh^ New York.

Brad Paisley and Emmylou Harris are among the songwriters set to be inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame on October 6th during the 55th Anniversary Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame Gala held at the Music City Center in Nashville.

Also included in the new class are: Steve Bogard and Tony Martin in the contemporary songwriter category; Jim Lauderdale in the contemporary songwriter/artist category; and Don Cook in the veteran songwriter category. These six new songwriters will join the 247 previously inducted members of the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame.

  • Paisley, a three-time Grammy-winning country music superstar with 41 songs on the Billboard Hot 100, is known for writing many of his own hit songs including: “He Didn’t Have To Be,” “Alcohol,” “I’m Gonna Miss Her (The Fishin’ Song),” “Letter To Me,” and “Remind Me” (a duet with Carrie Underwood).
  • Harris is one of the great American folk singer-songwriters. With 13 Grammys to her name, Harris is best known for such hits like “Boulder To Birmingham,” “White Line” and “Heartbreak Hill.” She was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2008.
  • Bogard is known for radio staples like George Strait’s “Carried Away,” Rascal Flatts’ “Prayin’ For Daylight” and Dierks Bentley’s “Every Mile A Memory.”
  • Martin also wrote for Strait (“Baby’s Gotten Good At Goodbye”) as well as Jason Aldean (“A Little More Summertime”) and Keith Urban (“You Look Good In My Shirt”).
  • Lauderdale is known for his own songs, like “I Feel Like Singing Today,” “She’s Looking At Me” and “Mighty Lonesome,” but also wrote for other artists including Mark Chesnutt (“Gonna Get A Life”) and Patty Loveless (“Halfway Down.”).
  • Cook wrote T. Graham Brown’s “I Wish That I Could Hurt That Way Again,” Steve Wariner’s “Small Town Girl” and Brooks & Dunn’s “Only In America.”

The list was announced by Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame board of directors chair Rich Hallworth and executive director Mark Ford during a press conference. Hallworth said in a statement: “Gathering as we do each year — to reveal and welcome the members of our incoming class — is truly one of the highlights of our calendar. To these outstanding songwriters, we say — thank you for sharing your songs and your artistry with us. We are proud to honor you this fall, when you will officially join your legendary peers in the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame.”

Editorial credit: Debby Wong / Shutterstock.com

Categories
Pop Daypop

NBC to air ‘Wicked’ special on Nov. 6 ahead of theatrical release of ‘Wicked: For Good’

LOS ANGELES^ CA. Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande at the premiere for Wicked at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion. November 09^ 2024

NBC announced a two-hour Wicked special, starring Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande, airing on the network Nov. 6. The special will broadcast ahead of the premiere of the Wicked sequel, Wicked: For Good, arriving in theaters Nov. 21.

Erivo, who portrays Elphaba, and Grande, who portrays Glinda, will helm the two-hour event from the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. The two are set to perform fan favorites from the first feature alongside “their co-stars and other surprise guests,” according to an official synopsis.

Wicked was released last November and grossed more than $750 million at the worldwide box office to become the biggest Broadway musical adaptation of all time. Both films take their inspiration from the 1995 book penned by Gregory Maguire and the following Broadway adaptation (2003).

A press release states that the NBC special begins at 8 p.m. EDT, and will stream on Peacock the following day.

Editorial credit: Featureflash Photo Agency / Shutterstock.com

Categories
Pop Daypop

Taylor Swift announces the ‘The Life of a Showgirl’ theatrical release party

Taylor Swift at the 2022 American Music Awards held at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles^ USA on November 20^ 2022.

Taylor Swift announced an official release party exclusively in theaters for her new album, ‘The Life of a Showgirl,’ which arrives on Friday, Oct. 3.

Taylor Swift | The Official Release Party of a Showgirl will arrive in theaters from Oct. 3-Oct. 5, in celebration of her twelfth studio album. In addition, theatergoers will be the first to experience the world premiere of the official music video for the first single off ‘Showgirl’ titled “The Fate of Ophelia.”

A post on Swift’s social media read: “I hereby invite you to a *dazzling* soirée, The Official Release Party of a Showgirl: Oct 3 – Oct 5 only in cinemas! You’ll get to see the exclusive world premiere of the music video for my new single “The Fate of Ophelia”, along with never before seen behind-the-scenes footage of how we made it, cut by cut explanations of what inspired this music, and the brand new lyric videos from my new album The Life of a Showgirl ❤️‍🔥 Looks like it’s time to brush off that Eras Tour outfit or orange cardigan… Tickets are on sale now. Dancing is optional but very much encouraged 💃 Showtimes may vary, so check your local listings. Tickets are limited and available at releasepartyofashowgirl.com”

AMC Theatres – who partnered with Swift for her ‘The Eras Tour’ concert film – is once again teaming up with Swift to distribute the ‘The Official Release Party of a Showgirl’ special event. ‘The Eras Tour’ concert film went on to become the top grossing concert film of all time with $261.6 million globally.

Per a press release from AMC Theatres,”The Official Release Party of a Showgirl” will be playing from Oct. 3 to Oct. 5 throughout all 540 AMC Theatres locations. It will additionally be available at non-AMC locations in North America, including Cinemark and Regal theaters. Screenings will kick off across time zones at 3 p.m. ET/12 p.m. PT on Oct. 3.

Head to releasepartyofashowgirl.com for details.

Editorial credit: Tinseltown / Shutterstock.com

Categories
Go Country 105

Nashville Notes: New music from Frizzell & West + Dasha’s ‘Train’

abc-rss-feed-20250919133000

Shaboozey‘s new track, “Move On,” is out now and is a collaboration with new artist Kevin Powers, the first act signed to his new American Dogwood label.

Dasha‘s dropped the new song “Train” ahead of the arrival of her Anna EP, which comes out Oct. 10. 

“You’re the Reason God Made Oklahoma” hitmakers David Frizzell & Shelly West have reunited for their first new release in 40 years, a cover of Lefty Frizzell‘s “I Love You a Thousand Ways.” It’s from the album David Frizzell Presents Frizzell & Friends: A Tribute to Brother Lefty Frizzell, which comes out Sept. 26.



Copyright © 2025, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

Categories
Go Country 105

Scotty McCreery heads to the beach with Hootie & the Blowfish for ‘Bottle Rockets’ video

abc-rss-feed-20250919130000

Scotty McCreery‘s new video for “Bottle Rockets” featuring Hootie & the Blowfish is out now, after premiering Friday on the Times Square Paramount billboard in New York City. 

The clip was filmed outside Charleston, South Carolina, on the Isle of Palms.

“Hanging out on the beach with Hootie & The Blowfish, one of my favorite bands of all time, and filming the video for Bottle Rockets' was just a perfect day for me,” Scotty says. “Darius [Rucker], Mark [Bryan], Dean [Felber], and Soni [Jim Sonefeld] are not only talented, but just great guys. I've been so excited at all that success that Bottle Rockets' has had so far, and I'm glad we were able to get together and create this video for everyone.”

“Bottle Rockets” is on Scotty’s Scooter & Friends EP, which came out in July.

Copyright © 2025, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

Categories
Go Country 105

Parker McCollum will be keeping the roads hot even in cold weather

abc-rss-feed-20250919120000

Parker McCollum isn’t taking many days off between the end of his 2025 tour and the beginning of his 2026 one.

He’s just unveiled a new 14-date run that kicks off Jan. 23 in El Paso and wraps March 28 in St. Augustine, Florida. Presales start Sept. 23 before tickets become available to the public on Sept. 26. 

Up-and-coming artists Max McNown, Jake Worthington, William Beckmann, Jackson Wendall, Tyler Halverson and Laci Kaye Booth will all be part of the tour.

Parker’s 2025 dates wrap with a special show on New Year’s Eve at Dickies Arena in Fort Worth.

Copyright © 2025, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

Categories
Go Country 105

Hear Dierks Bentley cover Keith Whitley on ‘The Sessions’

abc-rss-feed-20250919105521

Dierks Bentley‘s Broken Branches Tour wrapped at the end of August, and even though he’s not on the road now, there’s a new way to hear him sing live thanks to his new surprise EP, The Sessions.

The four-track live album features a new version of his first hit, 2003’s “What Was I Thinkin'” with Jordan Davis. His Broken Branches tour mates The Band Loula join him on Bill Monroe‘s “Get Down on Your Knees and Pray,” plus a cover of Keith Whitley‘s “I’m No Stranger to the Rain.” “Heartbreak Drinking Tour” finishes out the set.

Dierks’ most recent radio hit, “She Hates Me,” is from his Broken Branches album, which came out in June. 

Copyright © 2025, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.