Kelly Clarkson is the epitome of an “American Woman.” To prove it, the American Idol alum ripped through a cover of The Guess Who‘s 1970 track for Tuesday’s (April 4) episode of The Kelly Clarkson Show for the show-opening Kellyoke segment.
Backed by her band Y’all — who dressed in all black and leather jackets for the rocking occasion — Clarkson hit several soaring high notes with her usual ease.
“American woman/ Stay away from me/ American woman/ Mama, let me be/ Don’t come hangin’ ’round my door/ I don’t wanna see your face no more/ I got more important things to do/ Than spend my time growin’ old with you/ Now woman, stay away/ American woman, listen what I say” Clarkson sang, backed by rollicking guitars and a help of backup vocalist, before launching into the track’s chorus.
“American Woman,” released in 1970 by Canadian band The Guess Who, was covered by Lenny Kravitz for the Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me movie soundtrack in 1998. The track was released as a single for the movie in 1999 and later received placement on the rock star’s reissue of his album 5. Kravitz’s version of “American Woman” peaked at No. 49 and spent a total of 21 weeks on the Billboard Hot 100.
“American Woman” marks the fourth Kravitz song Clarkson has performed for Kellyoke, following “Fly Away,” “It Ain’t Over ‘Til It’s Over” and “Are You Gonna Go My Way.”
Watch Kelly Clarkson perform “American Woman” in the video above.
Many in Nashville’s music community are coming together for a night of music and to stand with The Covenant School, a private Christian school in Nashville where six people, including three children and three staffers, were killed just over a week ago in a school shooting on March 27.
On April 12, Belmont University’s The Fisher Center will host “A Night of Joy Celebrating the Covenant School” to honor the victims and their families as well as the church, staff and first responders, and bring an evening of music, hope and healing. The concert will begin at 7 p.m. CT.
Author/speaker Annie F. Downs will lead the evening, which will also feature performances from Chris Tomlin, Colony House, Dave Barnes, Drew Holcomb, Ellie Holcomb, Old Crow Medicine Show’s Ketch Secor, Lady A, Matt Kearney, Matt Maher, Natalie Hemby, Sixpence None the Richer, Stephanie and Nathan Chapman, The Warren Brothers, Thomas Rhett, Trent Dabbs and Tyler Hubbard. Also on the bill are Brett Taylor, Luke Laird, Sandra McCracken, Dwan Hill, Jasmine Mullen and Sarah Kroger, with more special guests expected.
The six victims fatally shot by the shooter at Covenant School were identified as Evelyn Dieckhaus, Hallie Scruggs and William Kinney, all age 9; Cynthia Peak, age 61; Katherine Koonce, age 60; and Mike Hill, age 61. A 28-year-old suspect was killed during an altercation with police.
Tickets for the event go on sale Wednesday, April 10, at 10 a.m. CT at thefishercenter.com, with all ticket proceeds benefiting The Covenant School.
Previously, artists including Sheryl Crow and Margo Price performed at a vigil for the victims that was held March 29 in downtown Nashville, while Lauren Daigle postponed an album preview party that had been set for March 27 and instead hosted a prayer vigil for the victims of the mass shooting. In addition to the vigils, protests have been held at the Tennessee Capitol building in downtown Nashville, as students and adults pleaded with legislators to enact gun reform in the wake of the shooting.
Diplo‘s country era continues! On Tuesday (April 4), the musician revealed the release date of his forthcoming album, Diplo Presents Thomas Wesley: Chapter 2 – Swamp Savant, along with a story of how the record came to be via Instagram.
“To prepare for this new Thomas Wesley project I went back to my father’s house in Florida. It all started in the swamps I was raised in and I spent six months learnin guitar, gettin in touch with nature, working his boat when the shrimp were running on full moons at the trailer park,” he said.
Related
‘It Can’t Just Be a Vibe Anymore’: Can Major Lazer and Major League Djz Really, Truly Break the…
After calling in favors to rappers, attending Stagecoach for research, and befrending several Nashville-based A&R’s, the DJ confidently added that the new LP is “the greatest single piece of work I’ve ever done, I can promise you that. Thomas Wesley: Chapter 2 – Swamp Savant… out April 28.”
While fans will have to wait until then to hear the project in full, the LP’s first single “Wasted,” featuring Kodak Black and Koe Wetzel, arrived in late January. And according to an official press release, there is “more music imminent.”
Swamp Savant serves as the official follow-up to 2020’s Diplo Presents Thomas Wesley Chapter 1: Snake Oil. The set featured the singles “Heartless” with Morgan Wallen, “Dance With Me” with Thomas Rhett and Young Thug, and “Lonely” with Jonas Brothers. The album peaked at No. 50 on the all-genre Billboard 200 chart.
See Diplo’s album release date announcement below:
Hulaween will once again unite the heady forces of dance music and jam bands with its annual soiree, happening in Live Oak, FL this October 26-29.
Leading the lineup are jam favorites The String Cheese Incident, Trey Anastasio Band, Goose, Dispatch and Les Claypool’s Fearless Flying Frog Brigade. From the dance side, headliners include Channel Tres (who indeed recently told Billboard he’s ready for “that big stage type of energy”), along with John Summit, Elderbrook, BLOND:ISH, Manic Focus, Eprom and a headlining set from Pretty Lights, who on Tuesday (April 4) announced this show as part of his 2023 comeback tour. See the complete lineup, featuring more than 90 acts, below.
2023 marks the 10th anniversary of Hulaween, which is independently operated by Collectiv Events, the same company behind Chicago’s North Coast Music Festival and the Sacred Rose fest, which debuted last year in the Chicago suburb of Bridgeview.
“The festival and concert industry landscape continues to be bought up and homogenized by the majors, so staying the course as true independents and surviving through all of the highs and lows we’ve endured to this milestone 10 year anniversary, is incredible,” says Hulaween co-founder, brand manager and talent buyer Michael Berg.
“We think back fondly of all the people who have been part of the Hula journey with us, and how the team continues to learn and grow to elevate the experience and lineup every year,” Berg continues. “We’ve proudly stayed true to this community and culture we are servicing and hope to keep doing that for at least another 10!”
Dante Bowe and Jonathan McReynolds tied as BMI’s Gospel Songwriter of the Year at the 2023 BMI Trailblazers of Gospel Music Awards, which were held at Flourish in Atlanta on Thursday, March 30. Mike O’Neill, BMI’s president and CEO, and Catherine Brewton, vice president, creative, Atlanta, hosted the event.
Related
BMI to Honor Gospel Music Greats David & Tamela Mann, Dr. Bobby Jones
Bowe and McReynolds each wrote two of the most performed gospel songs of the previous year. Bowe was honored for “Joyful” and “Promises” and McReynolds for “Brighter” and “Grace.”
BMI Gospel Song of the Year went to “Believe for It,” written by CeCe Winans and Mitch Wong (APRA). The song spent 12 weeks at No. 1 on Billboard’s Hot Gospel Songs chart and garnered multiple accolades including two GMA Dove Awards and a Grammy for Best Contemporary Christian Music Performance/Song.
BMI’s Gospel Publisher of the Year went to Be Essential Songs for publishing award-winning songs “Brighter,” “Jireh,” “Promises” and “Something Has to Break.”
Gospel music superstars Tamela & David Mann and Dr. Bobby Jones received Trailblazer of Gospel Music honors.
The musical tributes to The Manns kicked off with Zacardi Cortez and Anaysha Figueroa-Cooper performing “Now Behold the Lamb,” followed by Lisa Knowles-Smith performing “Take Me to the King.” After accepting the honor, Tamela Mann surprised the audience with a performance of her hit “Change Me,” which spent 23 weeks at No. 1 on Hot Gospel Songs.
The tribute performances honoring Jones’ legacy kicked off with The Company singing “What a Friend,” followed by a rendition of “Bring it to Jesus” featuring Beverly Crawford.
During the ceremony, the late, legendary Otis Redding was honored with four BMI Million-Air Awards, a distinction that recognizes songwriters whose works have surpassed one million broadcast performances on radio. The songs were “Sweet Soul Music” (4 million performances), “Hard to Handle” (7 million performances), “Respect” (7 million performances) and BMI’s Song of the Year in 1968, the classic “(Sittin’ on) the Dock of the Bay” (12 million performances). Family members, including Redding’s widow Zelma and their daughter Karla Redding-Andrews, accepted the honors on behalf of her father and the Otis Redding Foundation.
The luncheon began with McReynolds, Chandler Moore and Kirk Franklin performing a medley of three of BMI’s award-winning songs, “Grace,” “Jireh” and “Kingdom.”
Additional performances included a tribute to the late singer-producer-choir director Kevin Lemons, who was known for his work with Donald Lawrence and the Company, and his own group, Kevin Lemons and Higher Calling. Members of Higher Calling hit the stage for a performance of “Perfect Peace” accompanied by Donald Lawrence and The Company.
Other award-winning songs performed throughout the evening included “Just Like God” by Evvie McKinney, “Great” by Kelontae Gavin and “Wonderful is Your Name” by Melvin Crispell.
Rosalía and Rauw Alejandro each add a new top 10 to their Billboard charts career history as “Beso” debuts at No. 4 on the Hot Latin Songs ranking dated April 8. The new achievement is their first as a couple, following five top 10s collaborative entries for Rosalía, and eight for Rauw Alejandro.
Related
Rauw Alejandro & Rosalía Reveal Engagement in Sweet ‘Beso’ Music Video: See…
In total, “Beso” is Rosalía’s seventh top 10, and the 10th for Rauw Alejandro.
“Beso” is from the pair’s joint three-song release, RR, which arrived March 24 through Duars/Columbia/Sony Music Latin. The track, previously teased on Rosalía’s TikTok account on March 16, was accompanied by its music video, in which the couple announced their engagement.
The reggaetón-pop tune traces its high debut on the upper region on Hot Latin Songs — a blend of airplay, digital sales, and streaming activity– largely to 9.1 million official U.S. streams earned during the March 24-30 tracking week, according to Luminate. The sum makes for a No. 38 start on the all-genre Streaming Songs chart and a No. 4 on Latin Streaming Songs.
“Beso” also sold 2,000 downloads during the same period, making it the top-selling Latin song of the week with a No. 1 debut on Latin Digital Song Sales and a No. 36 on Digital Song Sales. On the former, it becomes Rosalía’s sixth No. 1 and Rauw’s fourth.
Radio, the third metric that contributes to Hot Latin Songs, also adds to “Beso’s” high start. The song registered 3 million in audience impressions in its third week. As such, it starts at No. 44 on the all-genre Latin Airplay chart.
Brooklyn rappers Lola Brooke and Billy B each score their first career entry on the Billboard Hot 100 chart (dated April 8), as “Don’t Play With It” debuts at No. 69.
The song, originally released in May 2021 via Team Eighty/Arista Records (and billed as by Lola Brooke featuring Billy B), opens with 17.1 million radio airplay audience impressions (up 19%), 5.7 million U.S. streams (up 124%) and 600 downloads sold (up 194%) March 24-30, according to Luminate.
Spurring the song’s latest gains is its new remix, released March 24, with Latto and Yung Miami (both credited as lead artists on the Hot 100; Billy B is billed as featured).
The track concurrently jumps 22-11 on Hot Rap Songs and 33-21 on Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs.
Radio wise, the song rises 8-5 on Rap Airplay, 10-6 on Mainstream R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay and 13-9 on R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay and holds at its No. 20 high on Rhythmic Airplay. On the all-genre-format Radio Songs chart, the song rises 48-44.
TikTok has been a factor in the song’s growing profile, as a portion of the track has been used in nearly 450,000 videos on the platform. Another version, a mash-up with 50 Cent’s “Candy Shop,” has been used in nearly 600,000 clips. (TikTok does not contribute directly to Billboard‘s charts.)
Brooke and Billy B are both newcomers to Billboard’s charts, as “Play” became both acts’ first entries.
Brooke has been releasing music since 2018, starting with her breakout single “Bipolar.” She also appears on a new remix, released March 17, of Hitkidd, Gloss Up, K Carbon, Slimeroni and Aleza’s “Shabooya,” which ranks at No. 15 on Rap Airplay, No. 17 on Mainstream R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay, No. 19 on R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay and No. 24 on Rhythmic Airplay.
In December, Future brought out Brooke during his New Year’s Eve show at Brooklyn’s Barclays Center, generating a viral clip during her hometown performance and earning a co-sign from Missy Elliott on Twitter. Brooke signed to Arista, in collaboration with Team Eighty Productions, the following week.
“Lola is the rare talent whose presence matches her message,” Arista CEO David Massey said at the time. “Her music is larger than life, but her vision is just as powerful.”
Taylor Swift has a lot of tricks up her sleeve, but fans just figured out one of them. Since the Eras Tour kicked off a few weeks ago, Swifties have been wondering how the pop star travels from backstage to the spotlight without being seen before each show — and now, a fan video has seems to have cracked the case.
Related
The 13 Best Moments From Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour Kickoff
One concertgoer in attendance at the trio of Eras Tour shows in Arlington, Texas, over the weekend captured the “Anti-Hero” singer’s undercover entrance in a Monday (April 3) TikTok that shows Swift apparently hiding in a fake cleaning cart filled with mops as two crew members roll her inconspicuously to her starting spot underneath the stage. At the end of the video, a door on the side of the cart opens and Swift — unmistakable in her sparkly outfit and long blonde hair — appears to stride out.
“Not Taylor Swift popping out of the janitor cart,” the fan captioned the video.
Billboard has reached out to Swift’s rep for comment.
Fans have long suspected that the cart was actually carrying the night’s headliner instead of cleaning supplies, but now, they actually have proof. The fake-out is similar to a tactic believed to be used by Harry Styles for his Love On Tour shows, in which he appears to hide in a large equipment box rolled out right before his performance begins, with him magically appearing from underneath the stage.
The “Lavender Haze” musician just finished up her third weekend of Eras Tour shows, which kicked off in March in Glendale, Ariz., and was followed by sets in Las Vegas and Arlington. She’ll take this weekend off before returning with a trio of shows in Tampa on April 13, 14 and 15 at Raymond James Stadium.
See the video of Taylor Swift popping out of her faux janitor cart below:
After getting to know each other this weekend at the 2023 CMT Music Awards, country music legend Shania Twain said she’s totally down for a possible collaboration with rapper Megan Thee Stallion. The two got acquainted when Meg presented the Equal Play Honor to Twain at the show and Twain told ET Online that it got her thinking about how they might sound together.
Related
Shania Twain Says She Wants to See an ‘All-Inclusive’ Country Industry at CMT…
“I love her… what a sweetheart!,” Twain said of the “Body” MC, who was seated near the country queen in the audience during the broadcast. She added that they got along “very well… I love her as a person.”
There is one question, however, Twain is very glad Megan didn’t ask her. “She is a great talent, I was just glad she didn’t ask me to twerk out there. I would had to have said no,” Twain said. “She was amazing and said so many sweet things and I was really flattered she was there for me.”
The bond was so immediate, Twain added, that she revealed she “was thinking” they might vibe in the studio as well. “I think that that would really work… I love her whole mind,” the singer said.
If it happens, it would mark a hip-hop crossover first for Twain, who has typically leaned into the country/pop vein in the past when it comes to sharing the mic, including songs with Orville Peck (“Legends Never Die”), Alison Krauss & Union Station (“I’m Gonna Get You Good”), Sugar Ray’s Mark McGrath (“Party For Two), her musical hero Anne Murray (“You Needed Me”), and, at this year’s Coachella, Harry Styles for a live run through her “Man! I Feel Like a Woman!”
It would also be a first for San Antonio-bred Megan, who has also mostly stayed in her lane, teaming up with Beyoncé for the “Savage” remix, Key Glock on “Ungrateful,” Juicy J for “Simon Says,” Dua Lipa for “Sweetest Pie” and, of course, Cardi B on their Billboard Hot 100 No. 1 smash “WAP.”
The Springfield-Greene County Park Board will use a digital ID system for admitting people to outdoor pools this summer.
The pool connection includes each customer’s name, address, phone number, picture, and emergency contact.
Starting Saturday, May 27th, all swimmers ages 3 and up will need a free pool connection to enter. You can fill out an application online or on paper, then make an in-person visit to a family center or outdoor pool to have your picture taken and complete the application.
Park Board Director Bob Belote says it’s important to know who is in the pools and how to reach their emergency contact.
