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Ashley Campbell Concert Setlists & Tour Dates

Ashley campbell at the neon, newport, wales.

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Ashley Campbell at Greenbelt 2023

Ashley campbell at the half moon, london, england.

• The Lonely One
• Something Lovely
• Dirty Dishes
• Carl & Ashley's Breakdown
• Lovesick Blues
• Gentle on My Mind
• I Used To Hate The Rain
• It's Hard Not To Smile
• In the Summertime
• Folsom Prison Blues

Ashley Campbell at Wrecking Ball Arts Centre, Kingston upon Hull, England

Ashley campbell at barnoldswick music and arts centre, barnoldswick, england.

• Trouble In Mind
• Careless Weed
• It's Hard Not to Smile
• Do I Ever Cross
• I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry
• Bloody Mary
• If I'm Gonna Live
• Run With You

Ashley Campbell at The Star Inn, Guildford, England

• Eleanor Rigby

Ashley Campbell at Gullivers, Manchester, England

• Long Way Home
• Remembering

Ashley Campbell at Royal Northern College of Music, Manchester, England

Ashley Campbell

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Most played songs

• Remembering ( 12 )
• Gentle on My Mind ( 11 )
• La Bete ( 5 )
• Nothing Day ( 5 )
• The Lonely One ( 5 )

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Glen Campbell

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Artists covered

The Beatles Johnny Cash Elsie Clark John Hartford Roger Miller Dolly Parton Tom Waits Doc Watson Jimmy Webb Hank Williams With His Drifting Cowboys

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32 people have seen Ashley Campbell live.

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Ashley Campbell

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• Upcoming 2024 concerts: none

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Past concerts

The Workman's Cellar

Pizza Express LIVE

The Cluny 2

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Live reviews

Ashley Campbell is awesome. Her set was great as she performed songs from her new album the lonely one. The songs are great and it's clear that she is a very down to earth young lady. She has a passion for performing and is a great banjo player and guitarist. I would highly recommend seeing this wonderful girl who is continuing her dad's legacy. The legendary Glen Campbell.

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Ashley Campbell Tour Dates and Upcoming Concerts

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Past Events

Here are the most recent UK tour dates we had listed for Ashley Campbell. Were you there?

December 2023

• Tue 5 Dec London, PizzaExpress Live (Holborn) David Mindel, Ashley Campbell, Steve Hampton Steve Glen

August 2023

• Wed 30 Aug London, PizzaExpress Live (Holborn) Ashley Campbell
• Tue 18 Jul London, Half Moon Putney Ashley Campbell
• Sun 16 Jul Hull, Wrecking Ball Music and Books Ashley Campbell Trio
• Tue 11 Jul Shoreham-by-Sea, Ropetackle Arts Centre Ashley Campbell
• Fri 16 Jun London, Troubadour Campbell / Jensen Ashley Campbell, Thor Jensen
• Thu 1 Jun ➙ Sat 3 Jun Thetford, Euston Hall Red Rooster Festival 2023 Christone 'Kingfish' Ingram, Fantastic Negrito, His Lordship, Nikki Lane, Take Me to the River All-Stars…

October 2022

• Sun 16 Oct Rothesay, Craigmore Bowling Club Ashley Campbell, Thor Jensen
• Wed 12 Oct Hull, Social Ashley Campbell Thor Jensen
• Wed 5 Oct Guildford, The Star Inn Ashley Campbell Thor Jensen
• Tue 4 Oct Hassocks, Mid Sussex Music Hall Ashley Campbell Thor Jensen
• Sun 2 Oct London, Half Moon Putney Ashley Campbell Thor Jenson
• Thu 2 Jun London, Troubadour Ashley Campbell Thor Jensen
• Wed 1 Jun London, Troubadour Ashley Campbell Thor Jensen
• Tue 17 May Glasgow, Òran Mór Vacancy Records Tour Ashley Campbell, Paul McDonald
• Sun 15 May Manchester, Night People Vacancy Records Tour Ashley Campbell, Paul McDonald
• Thu 12 May London, The Camden Assembly Vacancy Records Tour Ashley Campbell, Paul McDonald
• Sun 25 Apr Online / Streaming Events Ashley Campbell Plays Something Lovely
• Sun 28 Mar Online / Streaming Events Ashley Campbell Plays Something Lovely
• Sun 21 Mar Online / Streaming Events Ashley Campbell Plays Something Lovely
• Sun 7 Mar Online / Streaming Events Ashley Campbell Plays Something Lovely
• Thu 4 Mar Online / Streaming Events Ashley Campbell Plays Merle Haggard

January 2021

• Sun 31 Jan Online / Streaming Events Ashley Campbell Plays Something Lovely

December 2020

• Sat 5 Dec Online / Streaming Events Ashley Campbell Sings Johnny Cash

November 2020

• Sun 29 Nov Online / Streaming Events Ashley Campbell Plays Something Lovely

October 2020

• Sun 25 Oct Online / Streaming Events Ashley Campbell Plays Something Lovely

September 2020

• Sun 20 Sep Online / Streaming Events Ashley Campbell
• Sun 13 Sep Online / Streaming Events Ashley Campbell
• Sun 6 Sep Online / Streaming Events Ashley Campbell

August 2020

• Sun 30 Aug Online / Streaming Events Ashley Campbell Plays The Beatles
• Sun 12 Jul Online / Streaming Events Ashley Campbell
• Sun 31 May Online / Streaming Events Ashley Campbell
• Sat 16 May Online / Streaming Events Ashley Campbell

October 2018

• Mon 22 Oct London, O2 Shepherd's Bush Empire Kassi Ashton, Ashley Campbell, Chris DeStefano, Tenille Townes
• Sat 20 Oct Manchester, RNCM Kassi Ashton, Ashley Campbell, Chris DeStefano, Tenille Townes
• Thu 18 Oct Gateshead, The Glasshouse International Centre for Music Kassi Ashton, Ashley Campbell, Chris DeStefano, Tenille Townes
• Wed 17 Oct Liverpool, St George's Hall Kassi Ashton, Ashley Campbell, Chris DeStefano, Tenille Townes
• Tue 16 Oct Glasgow, Saint Luke's Kassi Ashton, Ashley Campbell, Chris DeStefano, Tenille Townes

September 2018

• Fri 7 Sep ➙ Sun 9 Sep Millport, Festival Site Millport Country Music Festival Jesse Dayton, Ashley Campbell, Robert Vincent, Shane Richie & His Band, The Wandering Hearts…
• Fri 7 Sep ➙ Sun 9 Sep Leicester, Stanford Hall The Long Road Festival The Wandering Hearts, Megan O'Neill, Twinnie, Kevin McGuire, Two Ways Home…
• Fri 22 Jun ➙ Sun 24 Jun Tunbridge Wells, Eridge Deer Park Estate Black Deer Festival 2018 Iron & Wine, Ward Thomas, Eric Bibb, Kiefer Sutherland, John Moreland…
• Sat 17 Mar London, Orange Yard Ashley Campbell, Mo Pitney
• Fri 16 Mar Birmingham, O2 Institute Mo Pitney, Ashley Campbell, Ryan Kinder
• Wed 14 Mar Manchester, The Deaf Institute Ryan Kinder, Mo Pitney, Ashley Campbell
• Tue 13 Mar Liverpool, Arts Club Ashley Campbell, Ryan Kinder, Mo Pitney
• Sat 10 Mar London, The O2 Kacey Musgraves, Sugarland, Kip Moore, Luke Combs, Ashley Campbell

Ashley Campbell

Artist links.

https://www.stageit.com/AshCamBanjo

Ashley Campbell was originally a theater major at Pepperdine University. Music had always been a major part of her life from beginning piano lessons at age 6 and picking up the guitar at 15. But it wasn’t until she was asked to learn the banjo for a role in Pepperdine’s Edinburgh Theater 2 program that music began to take the wheel as both a passion and a career. Shortly after graduation, Ashley spent the next three years touring with her father, Glen Campbell, playing banjo and keyboards. As the tour went on, Ashley began writing and performing music of her own and subsequently moved to Nashville in 2013 where she signed a publishing deal and began her own journey as an artist. Ashley went on to write and release her first single “Remembering” in 2015. A deeply personal reflection about her father’s Alzheimer’s diagnosis, “Remembering” was featured on her father’s documentary, Glen Campbell: I’ll Be Me. The soundtrack for the documentary (also featuring a cover by Ashley of her father’s song “Home Again”) would go on to win two Grammy’s.

The success launched Ashley into a solo career as an independent artist, releasing her first album, The Lonely One, in 2018. Ashley coproduced the record with her brother Cal and released on her own label (Whistle Stop Records). The Lonely One album hit the Top Ten of the UK Country Chart upon release. Since then, Ashley has toured all over the US as well as the UK and Europe including opening for Kris Kristofferson in London, the C2C Festival MainStage in 2018, and playing at Carnegie Hall with songwriting legend Jimmy Webb.

Ashley’s sophomore album, Something Lovely (produced by friend and co-writer of “Remembering” Kai Welch) was released October 9, 2020 with Vacancy Records. The album features eleven new tracks including “If I Wasn’t” which features Vince Gill on vocals and electric guitar. Ashley’s hard-wired musicality, clarity and easy lyrical delivery gives this collection a classic feel but the songwriting and production are right up the the minute. There is depth as well as undoubted style. A mature and confident set from a musician who has earned her place in the spotlight.

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Ready To Write Her Own Story – An Interview with Ashley Campbell

Trigger Random Notes Ashley Campbell , Glen Campbell , John Hartford , Kai Welch , The Band Perry --> 9 Comments

**Editor’s Note: This interview was conducted by Ken Morton Jr. He is a distinguished country music writer, and the Owner/Editor of That Nashville Sound . He will be regularly contributing quality interviews and other content to Saving Country Music.

– – – – – – – – –

It was also on that tour, however, that a filmmaker named James Keach began the work on a powerful new documentary on the Campbell story and legacy called I’ll Be Me . The film also spawned a recently-released soundtrack, made most-notable by the Grammy-winning performances of “I’m Not Gonna Miss You” by Glen and “Gentle on My Mind” by The Band Perry. While those performances are powerhouses, indeed, they share the spotlight with two impeccable songs written and performed by Ashley. The soundtrack’s “Remembering” could just be the most poignant and human song released this year. Written at the conclusion of that fateful tour as the debilitating brain disease took away her father’s memories, the track delivers a heartfelt and heart-wrenching message of that incomprehensible loss with an earnest honesty that can only be earned the most difficult of ways. It’s powerful songwriting at its best and sets a high bar for what comes next for the songwriter.

What comes next is a record deal with Dot Records and the opportunity to cut more “songs that last” in the studio for her first solo album release. Saving Country Music got a chance to catch up with the budding star to talk about being part of her father’s documentary and soundtrack- and how she plans on leaving a profound musical legacy of her own.

– – – – – – – – – –

In some ways, it is probably difficult to separate your musical story from your father’s. Provide some perspective on what it is like making your own way through Nashville with such a big legacy to follow.

You can’t really hide the fact that I’m Glen Campbell’s daughter. I hope that people don’t think that it’s the only thing that I am. I would hope that my music and my musicianship would speak for itself. Hopefully, they can connect with my music separately.

On the other hand, it has helped a lot. It helps a lot because people have a lot of love for my dad so they seem a little more open to hearing my music and hearing what I have to say.

You mentioned musicianship and I know banjo is your instrument of choice. Why the banjo?

I was in college at Pepperdine University and I was a theater major. My junior year, I was in a production where I had to learn to play the banjo. I had a reputation of being able to pick up an instrument and learn it fairly quickly. I had always wanted to learn the banjo but had never gotten around to it. The theater department paid for me to have a couple of lessons and bought me a little banjo. It clicked and I absolutely fell in love with it and have been playing it ever since.

Did you have aspiring music goals prior to that moment?

Not really. I wanted to be in L.A. and do the whole acting thing. But that instrument totally changed my perspective on music. It opened up a different side of me that I had never known.

So it was the instrument that opened that door for you?

It was. It was the instrument and how it sounded. It was how it made me feel while playing it that opened that door.

Was it just out of college that you discovered that music was the career path you wanted to travel down?

It was right after I graduated. I went on tour with my dad to Australia and New Zealand. At first, I was just going down there on vacation and to watch the shows on the tour. But they said, “Hey you play banjo, you should be in the show.” I kind of accidentally fell into it and I fell in love with it. They wanted me to keep touring with them so I did.

Tell me about that and the Goodbye Tour. I’m sure that had to have been a very powerful and emotional time with your dad and family.

It was a very emotional time. We were lucky enough to have James Keach and Trevor Albert film the whole thing and have this amazing documentation to look back on. It was an amazing time and what was most important to me about that time was to spend so much time with my dad and get to know who he was on stage and get to know him better off stage.

Were there differences between those two Glen Campbells?

Not really. He really was who he was both on-stage and off-stage. It really was just him. The off-stage version is just obviously the more intimate side of him.

Spending time with him on-stage was about learning about his showmanship and his excellent musicianship. I learned how to be honest on-stage. Off-stage, it was about learning how to be a good person from him.

All things considering, how is your father doing these days?

He’s healthy, but he’s in the late stages of Alzheimer’s. He’s not aware of what’s going on.

Walk me through your impression of the documentary and the soundtrack as a whole.

The soundtrack turned out really great. I love the song that The Band Perry did with “Gentle on My Mind.” It’s my very favorite John Hartford song. I just feel really honored and really blessed to have two songs on there and that they were originals that I wrote for my dad. That they can be shared with the whole world is pretty special.

“Remembering” might be the most poignant thing I’ve heard in recent memory, especially when you consider all the circumstances in and around its creation. What does it mean to you with it being your first release as a solo singer/songwriter?

I started writing that song a few years ago. I had the first verse idea and the melody. When I moved to Nashville, I got together with one of my favorite songwriters, Kai Welch. I trusted him lyrically and musically enough to entrust him with this story and song. We ended up writing this whole song together in June of 2013. It just really clicked and I’m really happy with it. It means a lot, obviously, with everything it says. What it is about is the relationship between a father and a daughter as it’s changing as everyone gets older. Your parents take care of you when you’re young, but then when they’re older, it’s your turn to take care of them, whatever that means. They might get sick, like my dad did with Alzheimer’s. I ended up being his caretaker along with my mom. It’s just a complete relationship 180.

Did you have any idea when you were writing it that it would be included in with either the film or soundtrack project?

I had no idea. I just wrote it because I needed to write it. At no point, did I ever thing, “Oh boy, I need to push this onto everyone.” (Laughter) I just wrote it to say something I needed to share personally. We were doing some demos shortly after that and we were thinking radio demos, radio demos, radio demos. I asked if I could throw this one down so I could just send it to the guys who were finishing editing the documentary. I had an idea that they might just want to use it for the film. So we laid it down that day and I sent it over and people starting freaking out about it.

It has to be special that this is your first solo song release.

Yes. Definitely. I’m glad that my first song that ever got released means so much to me and hopefully to a lot of other people who love my dad too. That’s a better message than a song about a truck or something. (Laughter)

If you look into your crystal ball, what do you see for your own musical future and what do you want your own mark in music to look and sound like?

I’m hoping to make an album this year. I’m signing with Dot Records very soon and I’m very excited to be making my album with them. I’m hoping that my future in music is to just bring really good songwriting and great musicianship into the mainstream. I would love for it to be more about albums and experiences again and not just about singles.

What do you see your differentiation as an artist in the country landscape? Is it with songs that have some deeper content lyrically and musically?

Very much so. I want to build music that’s built to last. I want people to be able to listen to it years from now and not identify it with a specific time or era.

Either from your dad’s deep catalog of songs or from other influences, what are songs that you feel with influence what your album will be shaped like?

“Gentle on My Mind” is definitely one. It has stood the test of time. It was this banjo folk song and then my dad recorded it and turned it into a pop country hit. Now The Band Perry has recorded it and it’s a major country single again. I think the reason for it is that it’s just about being human. Hopefully, when people hear my music, that’s what it will be about. Just be human.

I have one last question for you and this one is meant open-ended. What is country music to Ashley Campbell?

Country music to Ashley Campbell is the telling of an emotional story. It doesn’t matter if it’s happy or sad or nostalgic. It just has to tell a story and evoke some kind of emotion and be real while doing it.

– – – – – – –

Listen to “Remembering” here below:

Ashley Campbell , Glen Campbell , John Hartford , Kai Welch , The Band Perry

Beautiful song, and nice interview. 🙂

Glen is a very good singer and a good entertainer.

What an interesting person she is.

” I had a reputation of being able to pick up an instrument and learn it fairly quickly.”

Not surprising, given how good a player Glen was”¦

And I appreciated these things she said:

” I just wrote it because I needed to write it. ”

” It was how it made me feel while playing it that opened that door.”

Thanks very much, another great interview, (you have the knack for that) with a very interesting person.

(tune won’t play for me, not in the USA I expect is the reason.)

Wow!! Love this song! I lost my father recently so this really hit a nerve. Just beautiful.

This is a critical typo (assuming she didn’t say this purposely): “I hope that people think that it”™s the only thing that I am.” Might want to amend that

A female banjo player who writes her own beautiful song and cracks a joke about truck songs is signed to an imprint of Big Machine Records. Who said nepotism was a bad thing?

Aways wanted to learn how to play a banjo , love your dad’s music, and I’m very passionate about Alzheimer’s disease,God bless.

I had the great fortune of seeing Glen 3 times in my life . Each one was a reminder of just how GREAT his songs were , just how honored they were in Glen’s capable hands -vocally AND musically- and just how committed he was to entertaining people in an honest way …with REAL talent , great, timeless material and always an emotional connection to us . I am an avid GC fan and have been since first hearing ” Phoenix” from atop a ladder in a cherry orchard in Southern Ontario where I grew up . I followed his albums and was always excited to see that he’d recorded yet another Jimmy Webb song or two with each new collection . In fact when Glen and Jimmy did the Reunion album back in the early 70’s , I was so moved by the writing and performances I sent a fan letter to Glen c/o Capitol records at the time . Within short order I received an 8×10 signed ” “Thanks so much for the kind words ….Glen “. As a budding young player and songwriter myself , Glen’s music was HUGELY inspiring and remains so .

I last saw him perform about 5 years ago here in Vancouver B.C Canada and it was as thrilling as the first time back around 1981. I am not as familiar with Ashley’s music but hope to become so . Glen was and is the REAL deal . Its not something you just see and hear …its something you feel and I’m thankful I’ve been able to feel and be inspired by Glen’s talent and heart for so many years . As we look around at todays up- and- comers , talents like Glen’s are the yardstick I measure them by . God bless him .

Glen I have loved your music for many years In the words of Abba thank you for the music.god bless you glen

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Ashley Campbell

Photo: Christopher Polk/Getty Images

Ashley Campbell To Release Debut Album, 'The Lonely One'

The daughter of the late Glen Campbell is set to release her first LP on May 11 — get a listen to the title track

Born into a musical legacy that has few rivals, Ashely Campbell — daughter of the late GRAMMY-winning country singer/songwriter Glen Campbell — is ready to step into her own light. She will release her debut album, The Lonely One , on May 11. In anticipation, she's debuted the LP's title track on March 2.

<iframe width="620" height="349" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/LodcSzNXQL0" frameborder="0" allow="autoplay; encrypted-media" allowfullscreen></iframe>

The creation of the 13-track album was a family affair. The Lonely One is co-produced by her brother Cal Campbell, while another brother, Shannon Campbell, co-wrote the track "Looks Like Time" in addition to adding vocals and guitar to the LP. For her part, Ashley Campbell showcases her banjo work in addition to her singing chops.

"You can expect some fun songs and also some stories from my personal life and experiences that I've had that I needed to write about," Campbell told Rolling Stone Country while making the album. "And you can expect some banjo."

Campbell is currently on tour in the U.K. through June, with North American tour dates expected to follow.

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Photo: Chase Foster

Tanner Adell's Big Year: The Country Newcomer Talks Stagecoach, "BLACKBIIRD," & Meeting Her Childhood Idols

As Tanner Adell continues making waves in country music, she shares some of the most monumental moments from her career so far — from featuring on Beyoncé's critically acclaimed 'COWBOY CARTER' to making space for Black women at the CMT Music Awards.

With one bold tweet, Tanner Adell 's life changed.

"As one of the only Black girls in the country music scene, I hope Bey decides to sprinkle me with a dash of her magic for a collab," she wrote , minutes after Beyoncé premiered "TEXAS HOLD 'EM" and "16 CARRIAGES" during this year's Super Bowl in February.

At first, Adell was mocked for her pitch. "You're trying too hard, love," one user said. Another chimed in, "Baby, that album is finished with all the songs cleared. I don't know about this one. Maybe, open for the tour," another user remarked.

But she wasn't bothered by the chatter: "Those people said I look desperate, I'm like, 'You must not know me, b—!" Adell reveals to GRAMMY.com with a hearty laugh. 

Confidence is the inner core of the Tanner Adell ethos. And her boldness paid off because shortly after when Beyoncé approached her to feature on COWBOY CARTER .

In Adell's first music release of 2024, she appeared alongside Brittney Spencer, Tiera Kennedy, and Reyna Roberts in Beyoncé's cover of "BLACKBIIRD" by The Beatles . It was a full-circle moment for Adell in more ways than one, as her father used to sing the song to her as a child. Little did she know, decades later, she would popularize the track's backstory — the plight of Black women in the American South — alongside one of her heroes.

But before Adell became one of Beyoncé's songbirds, she was also the Buckle Bunny . On the 11-track mixtape, Adell traced the provocative tales of an acrylic nail-wearing, lasso-wielding heartbreaker. But for every Black girl that listens, it's more than a country project. It's also a reminder that it's okay to be feminine and girly, just like Shania Twain , Carrie Underwood or Taylor Swift .

Among her rodeo of exciting firsts, Adell tacks another on June 8, when she makes her debut at Nashville's Nissan Stadium during CMA Fest. She'll perform on the Platform Stage at the stadium; the next day, she'll play a set at the Good Molecules Reverb Stage outside of Bridgestone Arena.

Below, hear from Adell about her most memorable firsts thus far, from having her debut daytime television performance on "The Jennifer Hudson Show" to bonding with Gayle King behind the scenes at Stagecoach Music Festival.

Seeing Her Breakthrough Single, "Buckle Bunny," Have A Second Life

I released "Buckle Bunny" on the Buckle Bunny EP in July 2023. I actually teased it on social media first. Almost nine months before that, I had gone super viral with it. It was doing incredibly well, so my plans were to release it in January or February of last year. But, I ended up signing a record deal in December of 2022. There were plans for it at that time, but the timeline kept getting pushed back. It turned into a fight to get that song back into my hands, which was what prompted me to go independent. Eventually, I was able to work with my label, shake hands, and mutually part ways.

I started this year as an independent artist with this song that everybody loves. It's become a huge part of my brand, but it's really my life story. People might think it's a dumb song that was easy to write, but I was called a "buckle bunny." As a teenager growing up between Los Angeles and Star Valley, Wyoming, I was into glam country, and "Buckle Bunny" is the pinnacle of that. 

"Buckle Bunny" was my first single that charted. I felt like I finally had broken through that invisible box that Nashville put me in as a country musician. It was me saying, I'm not going to follow any rules. I'm going to be as true to myself as possible.

We, as Black women, have been fighting our whole lives. We've been fighting for space. I'm purposely trying to bring softness into the picture, allowing women who listen to my music to know that it's okay to feel that way. We don't always have to have our walls up.

"Buckle Bunny" is aggressively confident, but I think that's the door to softness. You have to be self-assured to let your walls down. My newest single, "Whiskey Blues," is my next step into that. I have another song on my social media, "Snakeskin," that people want me to release. "Buckle Bunny" is like the girl who protects those softer moments.

In a way, I look at all of this as a relationship between Tanner Adell, the artist, and Tanner, the person. For me, Tanner Adell is the buckle bunny. Then, you have Tanner, who's on the inside, writing all of these songs.

Serving A Bold Fashion Statement On Her First Major Red Carpet

Ask and ye shall receive 🤎 CMT back stage w John Shearer https://t.co/fO6lNtYVr3 pic.twitter.com/NekkeT01oz — Tanner Adell (@tanneradell) April 10, 2024

I wore Bantu knots! I've always loved Bantu knots in all styles, the really small ones and the larger ones. There were ideas about whether I should do a certain number of them that was significant to me in some way.

I work very closely with Bill Wackermann, who was the CEO of Wilhemina Models. He does a lot of styling and has a close relationship with my manager. So, my manager was like, "You would love him!" At the time, I was trying to hone in on what myself is. What's the message I'm trying to convey through my fashion, hair, and beauty? 

Bill sat down with me, and I told him I wanted Natalia Fedner to do my dress, which is that stretchy chain metal dress. Originally, I thought I would do my long blonde hair, but Bill was the one who told me, "This is your first major red carpet as an invited artist. Think about what you want your hair to say." As a Black woman, our hair tells 1,000 stories with whatever it is, and the lightbulb went off in my head.

I knew I wanted my hair to say everything I needed to say without having to say anything at all. I also knew there would be a lot of people who didn't know the significance behind it or just thought it was some extreme hairstyle.

I've looked very deeply into my heritage. It turns out I have a bit of Bantu heritage in my DNA. I thought that was so cool because I do love the knots so much.

The CMT Awards were a big thing at my school, Utah Valley University. Everyone would get together in the dorms and watch the show. It's crazy that a couple years ago, I was watching it, and I'm here now. I feel very respected and loved. People I've looked up to would come up to me, and I was like, "I'm a huge fan." And they're like, "No! I listened to you ."

I got to meet Gayle King, who I absolutely love. I remember watching her from afar while she was doing "CBS Mornings." She saw me from across the room, and I kid you not, in the middle of her interview, she started walking towards me. She was like, "I just want to tell you that you're so beautiful. The Bantu knots are stunning." That was my favorite moment of the night.

I also had the chance to see Tiera Kennedy. She's so sweet. We got matching blackbird tattoos before that. Being on the red carpet for the first time, it was comforting to see a familiar face. It really reinforces that idea that I belong here.

Being A Part Of COWBOY CARTER

So, I'm adopted. I have four siblings. We're all biracial, but our adoptive parents are both white. Obviously, my dad is a white man with five Black children. My parents always wanted me to understand that I am a Black woman, and he was very educational when it came to music. He taught me about the Black female power players and the buzz in the industry. But The Beatles were his favorite. So, when I finally told them the news, my dad immediately got choked up. He told me that "Blackbird" was one of his favorite Beatles songs.

My dad isn't the best with words when it comes to expressing his emotions, especially in front of people. He's a quiet, reserved dude. So, he eventually texts me, sending me screenshots about the meaning behind "Blackbird." The reason why it was his favorite song was because he had Black girls, and he told me, "This is special. This is not a burden to carry, but it might be a bit of weight on your shoulders. Keep your head up high and walk knowing that this is why he wrote this song."

I can remember going to a recital as a kid and being so nervous, but my dad was so confident and excited about my abilities. Was that strategic? Was it quiet strength? Maybe. It feels like this song has been a part of my whole life. So, to be on it, on such a massive album, feels very divine.

The whole process was a surprise. It took a few weeks to set in. But I always knew I would work with [Beyoncé], and I always said it's a matter of "when," not if. 

On the day of the Super Bowl, I saw that black-and-white picture of her, and I thought it looked a lot like a photoshoot that I took the week before. Let me make a tweet, just to put it out there. I don't know — she's magical! She has her way of knowing everything that's going on all the time. 

I think that tweet has almost 10 million views. It was fun to go back to that tweet to see the people who were supporting me. And also getting to say "I told you" to the people who didn't. It kicked off a Renaissance — pun intended.

Performing At Her First Stagecoach Music Festival

thank you so much @Stagecoach and thank you to @LEVIS for making me the first artist EVER to perform at Stage Coach with a custom Levi’s fit 🥹 thankyou for executing my vision so perfectly 🩷 https://t.co/NFs26JkC2j — Tanner Adell (@tanneradell) April 28, 2024

I have bad social anxiety, and I get nervous in front of crowds and people. So, festivals were never something that interested me, but Stagecoach was always one I felt like I could go to. And I was not disappointed.

I had the first slot of the day, which is a s—ty slot for anyone, but you have to pay your dues in country music. It's how you build your cred with these festivals, to show you're a hard worker and will perform like you're at a sold-out show in Madison Square Garden. And I did.

Mentally, I prepared for no one. I told myself it was okay if nobody came, and I'll perform like I always do. I'll figure out where the camera is and perform it for the jumbotron, so if no one comes to the pit, the people watching the livestream will have a great show. 

Well, I didn't have an empty pit! People showed the f— up and out. I heard people in line thought they were going to miss it because the gates opened late. Within the first 10 minutes, the VIP pit was half-filled with people screaming and running in their sweet little cowboy boots and hats. That never happens at Stagecoach or Coachella, but it's a testament to the relationship I built within my listeners. It was eye-opening for me. I don't think I'm ever going to play to a dead crowd again.

Before, Levi's reached out and said I was the first artist they wanted to collaborate with for Stagecoach. So, they custom-made my outfit. I told them I have these ribbons, inspired by my mom, who was a rodeo queen. I also told them if they can't incorporate them, I probably won't do it. But they loved it! And it was special because it came back to my mom. She was a winner, so when I wear the ribbons, I'm also a winner.

My mom has competed in over 1,000 competitions and probably places in half of those. In Wyoming, we had a big wall, covered in those IQHA (International Quarter Horse Association) ribbons. She gave me a strong sense of competition.

Making Her Debut On Daytime TV

I have overcome very serious, debilitating stage fright. I don't get nervous anymore, and performing live is my favorite thing. But I was not prepared for what a television show taping looks like.

We had a soundcheck, and there were a bunch of suits in groups of threes and fours standing everywhere. There were all these cameras and lights. Then, I start realizing I'm about to meet J. Hud, who I made little custom Crocs for. It was a dream come true.

I know a lot about her story. We have very different upbringings, but we're similar in the sense of trying to stand on ground that isn't steady. I see her as someone who is a great example. She's reached so many different avenues. For me to be able to sit down with an EGOT winner is a great honor. 

I kind of like to keep my manifestations as quiet as possible. I don't tell anybody anything, but an EGOT is something I wouldn't mind having, you know?

I look at her as a woman who exceeded greatness. So, it was just amazing — and for my first television debut. I felt like this is right for me.

Why 2024 Is The Year Women In Country Music Will Finally Have Their Moment

Photos (L-R): Jason Kempin/Getty Images for the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum, Jason Kempin/Getty Images for BRELAND & Friends, Jason Kempin/Getty Images for iHeartRadio, Amy E. Price/Getty Images, Jason Kempin/Getty Images, Brynn Osborn/CBS via Getty Images, Jason Davis/Getty Images for SiriusXM, Jason Kempin/Getty Images for BRELAND & Friends

Get Ready For CMA Fest 2024: Listen To A Playlist By Dasha, Ella Langley, Chase Matthew, Avery Anna, & Dalton Dover

As country stars and fans flock to Nashville for CMA Fest, five of the lineup's most exciting acts curated a playlist of the songs they're looking forward to hearing live — from Shaboozey's "A Bar Song (Tipsy)" to Lainey Wilson's "Watermelon Moonshine."

For more than 50 years, the Country Music Association has hosted the genre's biggest annual party in Nashville, Tennessee: CMA Fest . Originally dubbed Fan Fair, what began as a 5,000-person celebration of country music has turned into a four-day festival that draws an estimated 90,000 people each day. And with the genre being at an all-time high , the 2024 iteration of CMA Fest might just be the most thrilling yet.

The 51st annual CMA Fest will take over Nashville from June 6-9, with upwards of 300 country artists performing. As rising stars — and returning CMA Fest performers — Avery Anna, Dalton Dover and Chase Matthew will tell you, the magic of the weekend affair has always come down to the fans.

" I love the connection that the festival provides between artists and fans," Anna says. Dover adds, " Whether it's being reunited with those I've met in the past or getting some time to say hello to all the new faces in the crowd, it's just so special to be able to connect with everyone over our love for country music."

Matthew, who grew up in Nashville, has been part of both sides of CMA Fest. "I've seen CMA Fest grow to become this epic event that every music fan should experience," he says. "It's a great opportunity for fans to see and interact with their favorite country stars, as well as discover new artists they may not have had the opportunity to hear yet."

THE WAIT IS OVER. Buy #CMAfest four-night passes: https://t.co/rBbckYh5A8 Single night tickets on sale at 10AM/CT pic.twitter.com/OqW3YqD0RP — CMA Country Music (@CountryMusic) March 14, 2024

Even Dasha, who will be experiencing her first CMA Fest this year, knows just how important it is to any country music artist or fan: "CMA Fest is such an iconic celebration of country music."

Thanks to the runaway success of her hit "Austin," Dasha will be taking the Platform Stage at Nissan Stadium, which will highlight two budding stars each night amid performances from the genre's biggest names. "When I got that call, I got online to see the number of seats there and my jaw was on the ground," she recalls. "That'll be my biggest show to date, and I can't wait to show the people what we've got."

This year's CMA Fest also marks a first for Ella Langley, who will make her inaugural appearance on the Chevy Riverfront Stage in a "full-circle moment." And in teasing what she'll bring to her set, Langley encapsulated the energy of CMA Fest as a whole: "I hope the fans are ready for a bunch of dancing, a good message and a really good time."

As they prepped for CMA Fest 2024, Ella Langley, Dasha, Chase Matthew, Dalton Dover, and Avery Anna helped curate a playlist of songs they're excited to see — and perform — live. Whether or not you'll be heading to Nashville, jam out to tracks from Kelsea Ballerini , Sam Hunt , Cody Johnson, Zach Top , Megan Moroney , and more.

CMA Fest Turns 50: Lainey Wilson, Brett Young, Reba McEntire & More Share Memories From The Country Staple

Photo: Daniel Prakopcyk

Shaboozey On His New Album, Beyoncé & Why He'll Never Be A "Stereotypical" Artist

After Beyoncé introduced Shaboozey to a global audience via 'COWBOY CARTER,' his genre-shattering third album arrives on the wings of his own international smash, "A Bar Song (Tipsy)" and makes a declaration: 'Where I've Been, Isn't Where I'm Going.'

The last two months have been monumental for Shaboozey. On March 29, Beyoncé fans around the world embraced his two guest collaborations on her COWBOY CARTER album, "SPAGHETTII" and "SWEET HONEY BUCKIIN'" — and they were instantly interested in what else the Nigerian-American singer had to offer. According to his label, EMPIRE, Spotify listens of Shaboozey's music (including his first two albums, 2018's Lady Wrangler and 2022's Cowboys Live Forever, Outlaws Never Die ) rose by 1000 percent after COWBOY CARTER dropped.

Six weeks later, his growing fandom sent his breakthrough single, "A Bar Song (Tipsy)," to No. 1 on Billboard's Hot Country chart — ironically, dethroning Queen Bey's "Texas Hold 'Em" in the process. The song instantly proved to have crossover appeal, also peaking at No. 3 on the all-genre Billboard Hot 100 chart, along with reaching the top spot on pop charts in Australia, Canada, Norway, and Sweden.

With his third album, Where I've Been, Isn't Where I'm Going, the man born Collins Chibueze is eager for audiences new and old to get a deeper look into his ever-evolving artistry, which he's been honing for more than a decade. He leans into country and the soundtrack of the open road on "Highway" and "Vegas," while also tapping into his talent as an MC on "Drink Don't Need No Mix" with Texas rapper BigXthaPlug. He displays a softer side, too, with tracks like "My Fault," an apologetic and pleading country ballad performed with Noah Cyrus , and "Steal Her From Me," which finds Shaboozey smoldering with his own Southern slow jam.

Shaboozey's massive global recognition may be fresh, but he's here to remind listeners that he's not a new artist. In a candid interview with GRAMMY.com, the singer discusses how he's put in a decade of hard work in order to appear to be an overnight success.

You've topped the country charts as well as pop charts around the world. Do you think we are witnessing a more welcoming era in country music right now?

I think it's definitely a lot more welcoming. All these genres of music now, just because of the internet age and the access to information — like, now I can go watch Tubi, which has thousands of Western movies, and then Spotify, I can jump from listening to a Townes Van Zandt album or a Leonard Cohen album, and then I can go play Future , you know what I mean?

And then I can jump from them, and go listen to The Marías, who are friends of mine. I can listen to some indie rock music, and then I can listen to some Fred again.. or something like that. So having all that at your fingertips, I think, it's allowed for some interesting combinations in all genres of music. I think we're the generation of paint splatter! I do think it is very welcoming. As artists we are able to connect. We can have our own micro communities. There's not just one way to connect with people now, there are so many other ways. It's different out there now, it's really different.

You're releasing your second album with EMPIRE — how has the company helped you to develop?

EMPIRE has been super awesome. I was signed to Republic for a while, for a year or two, and I saw some article where it talked about Universal partnering with EMPIRE to handle some distribution stuff. I remember talking to my manager at the time, and being like, "We should go there!"

Major labels can get pretty cluttered. Sometimes they just don't have the bandwidth to develop acts that aren't going to take off in a couple weeks or a month or a quarter. They have these quarterlies they have to meet.

So for an artist like me, who is — a lot of people like to describe me as disruptive. It's weird to describe yourself as that. I'm just being me, and people are like, "That's disruptive." But for someone like me, who's like that, it's very important for me to be innovative and push things, and change the way people consume.

I never came in the game wanting to be stereotypical, or just your usual artist. I came in just trying to be like, Man, I love art. I love being creative and that's what I am. Sometimes that's hard to package to everyone. It's like, what is it? For major labels, sometimes, they love to be like, this is pop, this is country, this is just that.

And so for EMPIRE to bring me into what they had going on, and to stick with me within these three or four years I've been with them, knowing that there has been a lot of ups and downs. There've been a lot of [times] that we thought were going to do something that [we] didn't. Because it's a process with artistry, it doesn't happen overnight. They say it takes 10 years to have an overnight success, and it's true.

Your new album flows so well. Was it written to be taken in as one complete piece?

I'm a lover of a concept album. I love film, I love stories, I love payoffs. I love the hero's journey, they call it.

There is a way to tell a story in a three-act structure. And within those structures you have your rising action, you have your hero's call to action. They lead the world, you have your climax, and then you have, was the hero changed? Did they get the thing they were looking for at the end of it?

I'm a huge fan of film, huge on concepts, world building. I want something to feel immersive, so arrangement is big to me.

But before, I used to be super picky about [ensuring that] everything needs to connect, and I had to learn to let that go and just know that that's a part of me as an artist. As I create, I'm telling these stories naturally, so I stopped being too hard on myself about things needing to connect because that would cripple me at certain points. But now, again, I'm just learning how to let it go, and let it come naturally. It's cool to see that people are still saying with this project that there's still a concept there. And I'm like, oh, there is still a concept there. There is still a story.

My last project [ Cowboys Live Forever, Outlaws Never Die ] was super inspired by western films. Old western films, like, spaghetti westerns, and the whole nature of outlaw, just like period piece western culture. So I was huge on everything needing to feel like it was period. It needed to feel like this 1800s western, and this Black outlaw and his gang.

Obviously, I wanted the [visual] content to reflect that. And then you're realizing…   Wait, every video shoot I'm having to rent western wardrobe and chaps? It's a lot to do all the time, you know? It was a commitment… and I don't wear that everyday, so it wasn't really 100 percent being authentically myself in that moment. It was like, I'm creating a character and this character is separate from me.

That's hard to do all the time. Especially when it's a period piece in the 1800s and you're in 2024. So at some point I was like, hey, I want this project to be more like, I can put something on in my closet and go shoot some content, versus having to find a western town, or a world or environment that fits the 1800s.

Do you think that Beyoncé was inspired by that album?

I definitely think so. I think that's what was cool about her project, and her entry into country. I saw a lot of similarities between the things that inspired us.

What I love about country is, I really love the old stuff that really does play into the old West, the Wild West — and I saw that Beyoncé, she would talk about little things like that, too. Like the outlaws, hangmen and six shooters, and stuff like that. So you can see that she's really inspired by that stuff as well. I was told by her team that she would definitely watch a lot of old Western films through the process of doing her project.

How has the Beyhive treated you since you appeared on COWBOY CARTER ?

I love that community. Seriously, that community, they've been extremely supportive from what I've seen, because Beyoncé's message has been about shining light on people that may have been overlooked. So they definitely carry out the mission of supporting the people that Beyoncé supports. They've been amazing.

I would like to say that early on with "Bar Song," they were definitely pre-saving it, they were sharing it as much as they could on Twitter, and there were a lot of posts that I was making that were getting high viewership. You could tell that there were a lot of impressions before the "Bar Song" came out. So they're great.

Did you ever think you'd be on an album with Willie Nelson and Dolly Parton ?

I hoped for those things when I was creating my album. I wanted to see more hip-hop artists collaborating with people like that. I was always like, man, if I was given a $10 million budget to make a project, I'd get Willie Nelson or Hank Williams Jr. or someone like that to jump on it. I want to see something like that. As someone whose parents grew up in Nigeria, what do you think of the global breakthrough of Nigerian artists like Burna Boy and Wizkid ?

It's amazing to see. Afrobeat is definitely universal now, global like that. I think Wizkid was one of the pioneers of getting that music across the water in such a way. Burna Boy, too — if you check out his aesthetic, it's influenced by a lot of different things. He's not just wearing traditional Nigerian garments, he's wearing designer stuff, and he's got the jewelry pieces and Cartier. It's presented in a way that that style of music wasn't really represented [before] in that sense.

I lived in Nigeria for a year or two, and when I was there, there was no wifi or the internet. Now I go back and my cousins are on Netflix and on Instagram and all these places. So yeah, everything is spreading out. But as far as Afrobeat, I mean, that music is incredible, the production. It's so infectious when you hear it, but it's cool to see people of Nigerian descent, me as well, having our reach everywhere.

Davido , he reached out to me a couple days ago, he's like, "I need you to get on this record." There's a lot of Nigerian artists now that are hitting me up, and are like, "Hey, will you jump on this, will you jump on that?" I'm hearing some of those guys are trying to get into country music. It's cool to kind of have my own Burna Boy moment right now!

The new album sounds like you really worked on developing your voice as an instrument, with more singing than rapping. Is that a fair assumption?

Yeah. Being from Virginia, we didn't have those outlets to kind of hone in on. I didn't have a vocal coach, or a songwriting program, or anything like that. We kind of had to figure it out on our own.

I think that's why you have so many artists that come from Virginia where they're all very eclectic, they all have this kind of rawness to them. Missy Elliott, Timbaland , Pharrell , even Tommy Richman. He's got that song going crazy viral too. You know the song, the "Million Dollar Baby" song. It's a guy singing falsetto [like] Bee Gees over a hip-hop beat. I'm like, where did you learn to structure a song like this?

This album was that project for me. My manager here [told me] it's working, because I'm learning how to arrange music and write songs that have a broader appeal, but I didn't know that at the time. We were just having fun, just learning how to do it with whatever resources we had. It can get kind of funky.

I think my first project was very funky, and then this one was [made after] 10 years of being in it. You start to figure it out a little bit more.

Beyond Country: All The Genres Beyoncé Explores On 'Cowboy Carter'

Photo: Beth Gwinn/Redferns

10 Ways Johnny Cash Revived His Career With 'American Recordings'

On the 30th anniversary of Johnny Cash's 'American Recordings' — the first of a six-part series that continued through 2010 — take a look at how the albums rejuvenated the country icon's career and helped his legacy live on after his passing.

It's fair to say that the 1980s hadn't been particularly kind to country legend Johnny Cash . Once considered the Don of the Nashville scene, the singer/songwriter suddenly found himself dropped by Columbia Records, recording terrible parody songs (remember "The Chicken in Black"?), and addicted to painkillers after a bizarre accident in which he was kicked by an ostrich .

But as the new decade approached, Cash's reputation gradually started to recover. A 1988 tribute album, 'Til Things Are Brighter , alerted a much younger indie generation of his catalog of classics. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1992. And then arguably the biggest band in the world at the time, U2 , invited him to take lead vocals on Zooropa 's post-apocalyptic closer " The Wanderer ." The scene was set for a triumphant comeback, and on 1994's American Recordings , the Man in Black duly obliged.

The Rick Rubin -produced album was far from a one-off. Cash delivered three American follow-ups in his lifetime (1996's Unchained , 2000's Solitary Man , and 2002's The Man Comes Around ). And two posthumous volumes (2006's A Hundred Highways, 2010's Ain't No Grave )  further bridged the gap between his statuses as country outlaw and elder statesman — and helped further his legacy as one of country's all-time greats.

As the first American Recordings installment celebrates its 30th anniversary, here's a look at how the series deservedly rejuvenated the career of an American recording legend.

It United Him With A New Muse 

Best known for his pioneering work with Run-D.M.C. , Beastie Boys , and Public Enemy , Rick Rubin seemed an unusual fit for a sixty-something country singer whose glory days were considered decades behind him. But left spellbound by Cash's performance at a Bob Dylan anniversary gig in 1992, the superproducer offered to make the Nashville legend a superstar once more.

Cash took some persuading, but eventually agreed to join forces on the assurance he'd be in the creative driving seat, and a new unlikely dream team was born. Rubin lent his talents to all six volumes of American Recordings — co-producing the middle two with Cash's son John Carter Cash – and won the first GRAMMY of his career for his efforts. The Def Jam co-founder would also later work his magic with several other '60s heroes including Neil Diamond , Yusuf and Neil Young .

It Saw Cash Lean Into Contemporary Music More Than Ever

Cash had never been averse to tackling contemporary material. He covered Bruce Springsteen 's "Highway Patrolman" in 1983, just a year after it appeared on The Boss' Nebraska . But the American Recordings series saw the Man in Black embrace the sounds du jour like never before, whether the grunge of Soundgarden 's "Rusty Cage," electro-blues of Depeche Mode 's "Personal Jesus," or most famously, industrial rock of Nine Inch Nails ' "Hurt."

On paper, this could have been nothing short of a disaster, the sign of an aging artist desperately latching onto a much younger musical generation in a transparent bid for relevancy. But instead, Cash elevates the Gen X classics into modern hymns, his sonorous voice injecting a sense of gravitas and Rubin's production stripping things back to their bare but compelling essentials. Far from an embarrassing grandad act, this was the sound of a man respectfully making the source material his own.

It Returned Cash To The Charts 

Cash had reached the lower end of the Billboard 200 in the '80s as part of supergroups The Highwaymen and Class of '55. But you had to go all the way back to 1976's One Piece at a Time to find his last entry as a solo artist. The American Recordings series, however, slowly but surely restored the Man in Black to his former chart glories.

Indeed, while its first two volumes charted at numbers 110 and 170 respectively, the third peaked at a slightly more impressive 88 and the fourth at 22, his highest position since 1970's Hello, I ' m Johnny Cash . The posthumous fifth entry, meanwhile, went all the way to No. 1, remarkably the first time ever the country legend had achieved such a feat with a studio effort (live album At San Quentin had previously topped the charts in 1971).

"Hurt" also became Cash's first solo US country hit in 14 years in 2003. And while it only landed at No. 56 on Billboard's Hot Country Songs chart, it remains Cash's most-streamed song to date with over 600 million streams on Spotify alone.

It Included Masterful Collaborators 

As well as handing over the producer reins to Rubin, Cash also surrounded himself with some of the rock world's finest musicians. Tom Petty , Red Hot Chili Peppers ' Flea , and Fleetwood Mac 's Lindsey Buckingham and Mick Fleetwood all lent their considerable talents to Unchained . Sheryl Crow and Will Oldham did the same on Solitary Man , while Nick Cave , Fiona Apple and Don Henley joined him in the studio on The Man Comes Around .

But Cash also kept things more traditional by recruiting fellow country legend Merle Haggard , 'fifth Beatle' Billy Preston , and "Ballad of a Teenage Queen" songwriter Jack Clement , while the presence of wife June Carter Cash and son John made the third American Recordings something of a family affair.

It Went Back To Basics 

While American Recordings was, in many respects, Cash's most forward-thinking album, it wasn't afraid to keep one foot in the past, either. For one, the star recorded most of its first volume in his Tennessee cabin armed with only a guitar, a throwback to his 1950s beginnings with first producer Sam Phillips .

Cash also trawled through his own back catalog for inspiration, re-recording several tracks he believed had unfairly gone under the radar including 1955 single "Mean Eyed Cat," murder ballad "Delia's Gone" from 1962's The Sound of Johnny Cash , and "I'm Leaving Now" from 1985's Rainbow .

It Proved He Was Still A Masterful Songwriter…

Although Cash's unlikely covers grabbed most of the attention, the American Recordings series showed that his stellar songwriting skills remained intact throughout his later years, too. "Meet Me in Heaven," for example, is a beautifully poignant tribute to the older brother who died at just 15, while the folksy "Let the Train Blow the Whistle" added to Cash's arsenal of railroad anthems.

"Drive On," meanwhile, is worthy of gracing any Best Of compilation, a powerful lament to those who came back from the Vietnam War with both emotional and physical scars ("And even now, every time I dream/ I hear the men and the monkeys in the jungle scream").

…And Still A Master Interpreter 

As well as putting new spins on his own songs and various contemporary rock favorites, Cash further displayed both his interpretive and curatorial skills by covering a variety of spirituals, standards and pop hits first released during his commercial heyday.

The likes of early 19th century gospel "Wayfaring Stranger," wartime favorite "We'll Meet Again," and Simon and Garfunkel 's "Bridge Over Troubled Water" may have been firmly in Cash's wheelhouse. But more leftfield choices such as Loudon Wainwright III 's offbeat morality tale "The Man Who Couldn't Cry" proved that even when outside his comfort zone, he could stamp his own identity with aplomb.

It Made Him An Unlikely MTV Star 

Cash was 62 years old when American Recordings hit the shelves — not exactly a prime age for MTV play. Yet thanks to some inspired creative decisions, the career-reviving series spawned two videos that received regular rotation on the network. Firstly, "Delia's Gone" caught attention for two major reasons: it was directed by Anton Corbijn , the man renowned for his long-running creative partnership with Depeche Mode, and it starred Kate Moss, the world's biggest supermodel at the time, as the titular victim.  

Then nine years later, Cash picked up six nominations — winning Best Cinematography — at the MTV Video Music Awards thanks to Mark Romanek 's emotionally devastating treatment for "Hurt." Interspersing clips of the clearly fragile country singer at the rundown Museum of Cash with footage from his earlier days and artistic shots of decaying fruits and flowers, the promo perfectly embodied the transient nature of life. And it had the capacity to reduce even the hardest of hearts to tears.

It Added To His GRAMMY Haul 

Cash won almost as many GRAMMYs with his American Recordings series as he had during the previous 40 years of his career. The Man in Black first added to his trophy collection in 1995 when the first volume won Best Contemporary Folk Album. This was the first time he'd been recognized at the ceremony for his musical talents since the June Carter Cash duet "If I Were A Carpenter" won Best Country Performance for a Duo or Group with Vocal back in 1971  

Three years later, Unchained was crowned Best Country Album. And after picking up a Lifetime Achievement Award in 1999, Cash won 2001's Best Male Country Vocal Performance for "Solitary Man," then again in the same Category for "Give My Love to Rose"in 2003. He posthumously won two more GRAMMYs for Best Short Form Video, in 2004 for "Hurt" and in 2008 for "God's Gonna Cut You Down." In total, the American Recordings series won Cash six more GRAMMYs, bringing his overall count to 13. 

It Was A Powerful Epitaph

In 1997, Cash was told he'd just 18 months to live after being misdiagnosed with neurodegenerative condition Shy-Drager syndrome (later changed to autonomic neuropathy). He ended up outliving this prognosis by a good four years, but during this period, he lost the love of his life and was forced to record his swansong in-between lengthy stints in the hospital.  

Little wonder, therefore, that the American Recordings series is defined by the theme of mortality: see "The Man Comes Around," a biblical ode to the Grim Reaper ("And I looked, and behold a pale horse/ And his name that sat on him was death, and hell followed with him"), Death Row anthem "The Mercy Seat," and funeral favorite "Danny Boy." As with David Bowie 's Blackstar , Cash was able to reflect on his impermanence in his own terms in a sobering, yet compelling manner that continues to resonate decades on. 

8 Artists Bringing Traditional Country Music Back: Zach Top, Randall King, Emily Nenni & More On Why "What's Old Becomes Beloved Again"

• 1 Ashley Campbell To Release Debut Album, 'The Lonely One'
• 2 Tanner Adell's Big Year: The Country Newcomer Talks Stagecoach, "BLACKBIIRD," & Meeting Her Childhood Idols
• 3 Get Ready For CMA Fest 2024: Listen To A Playlist By Dasha, Ella Langley, Chase Matthew, Avery Anna, & Dalton Dover
• 4 Shaboozey On His New Album, Beyoncé & Why He'll Never Be A "Stereotypical" Artist
• 5 10 Ways Johnny Cash Revived His Career With 'American Recordings'

Ashley Campbell Readies Debut Solo Album ‘The Lonely One’

By Stephen L. Betts

Stephen L. Betts

Singer, songwriter and banjo player Ashley Campbell will release her debut album May 11th on her own Whistle Stop Records label. Titled The Lonely One , the LP will feature 13 songs co-written by the musician and daughter of the late Glen Campbell.

Campbell told Rolling Stone Country during the making of the album, which was previously slated to be released on Dot Records. That imprint of Nashville-based Big Machine Label Group was shuttered in early 2017.

Los Angeles . The singer’s other older brother Shannon Campbell contributes vocals and guitar and co-wrote “Looks Like Time” with his sister. See the album’s track listing below.

Campbell ‘s path took a life-changing turn when she was asked to learn banjo for a part in a play. She was soon studying with legendary musician Carl Jackson, who is also her godfather and Glen Campbell’s longtime friend, band member and the producer of his final album, Adios .

Campbell joined her dad’s touring band, which also included her brothers, as they embarked on the iconic entertainer’s Goodbye Tour in 2011. She also appeared in the acclaimed 2015 documentary, Glen Campbell: I’ll Be Me , contributing the original song “Remembering,” a poignant reflection of her father’s lengthy battle with Alzheimer’s disease.

U.S. tour dates will be revealed in the coming weeks.

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The Lonely One track list:

“A New Year” “Cry” “Better Boyfriend” “A Taken Man” “The Lonely One” “Good for You” “Wish I Wanted To” “How Do You Know” “Carl & Ashley’s Breakdown” “What I’m Doin’ Here” “We Can’t Be Friends” “Looks Like Time” “Nothing Day”

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Ashley Campbell

Latest setlist, ashley campbell on july 18, 2023.

The Half Moon, London, United Kingdom

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American Idol’s Noah Thompson and Huntergirl announce copheadlining tour

“I can’t believe a year ago, I was working construction, and now I’m announcing a tour with one of my closest friends, HunterGirl,” says Thompson. “HunterGirl and I met on Idol and became really close. We’ve stayed friends, and now we get to get out there on the road together. One of my favorite things to do is get up on stage and sing. I am literally living in my dream world.”

“This past year has been one of the most incredible years of my life,” says HunterGirl. “It is going to be so much fun being on tour with one of my good friends, Noah Thompson. I am excited to be on the road with my band and have the chance to play new music that will be coming out soon.”

“After being crowned 2022’s American Idol in May, Country music singer Noah Thompson has already launched a successful career” ( Outsider ). Having released his debut song “ One Day Tonight ” during the show, the catchy, romantic track immediately shot to No. 1 on iTunes All Genres and Country charts and is still racking up an incredible number of on-demand streams, averaging nearly 1 million per week. Now, Thompson is taking it all in and finding his footing as he prepares to release new music later this year, as he’s writing songs and working with some of the most sought-after tunesmiths in Nashville, and recording with notable producer Jimmy Robbins (Keith Urban, Kelsea Ballerini, Maren Morris, Mickey Guyton). With the natural break in his vocals adding an emotional depth and authentic ache to the song, Thompson’s career-changing, “fan-favorite countrified Rihanna cover” ( Music Mayhem ) “ Stay ” is out now. Listen HERE .

Praised by Idol judge and Country superstar Luke Bryan as the “ new age Miranda Lambert ” and his “ favorite female Country voice ,” “HunterGirl has wowed the Country music community since she stepped foot onto the American Idol stage” ( Billboard ). The “country singer with a bright future” ( Hollywood Life ) delivered standout performances that Taste of Country called “impressive,” “shining,” “chill-worthy,” and “glowing,” winning the hearts of millions across the country. “Despite missing out on the win, her crooning vocals and intimate original song, ‘ Red Bird ,’ has made her one to watch in the Country scene ( American Songwriter ). Skyrocketing to No. 1 on iTunes All-Genre and Country charts, “the budding Country star” ( Taste of Country ) performed her heartfelt and deeply personal original track “Red Bird” on Live with Kelly & Ryan and has appeared on Good Morning America . Listen now HERE .

TOUR DATES : Oct. 27 / Columbus, OH / Bluestone Oct. 28 / Rosemont, IL / Joe’s Live Oct. 29 / Kansas City, MO / Uptown Theater Nov. 17 / Warrendale, PA / Jergels Nov. 18 / Cincinnati, OH / Lori’s Roadhouse Nov. 19 / Indianapolis, IN / Deluxe Dec. 1 / Lexington, KY / Manchester Music Hall Dec 2 / St Louis, MO / The Hawthorn

Tickets for the Noah Thompson and HunterGirl’s co-headlining tour are on sale now and are available for purchase on each of their sites HERE  and  HERE .

P hoto Credit: David McClister

About Noah Thompson :   A true Cinderella story, Thompson went from being a construction worker in a town with a population of only 2,852 people who never thought a music career could be a reality to winning American Idol and the hearts of millions across the country. “After being crowned 2022’s American Idol in May, Country music singer Noah Thompson has already launched a successful career” ( Outsider ). Having released his debut song “One Day Tonight” during the show, the catchy, romantic track immediately shot to No. 1 on iTunes All Genres and Country charts and is still racking up an incredible number of on-demand streams, averaging nearly 1 million per week. Now, Thompson is taking it all in and finding his footing as he prepares to release new music later this year, as he’s writing songs and working with some of the most sought-after tunesmiths in Nashville, and recording with notable producer Jimmy Robbins (Keith Urban, Kelsea Ballerini, Maren Morris, Mickey Guyton). With the natural break in his vocals adding an emotional depth and authentic ache to the song, Noah Thompson’s career-changing, “fan-favorite countrified Rihanna cover” ( Music Mayhem ) “Stay” is out now. For more information on Noah Thompson, visit: www.noahthompsonmusic.com .

Photo Credit: Easton Schirra

About HunterGirl:   A Tennessee native, singer/songwriter HunterGirl has been performing since she was three years old and writing songs since she was 9. In her early teens, she performed at venues across the United States, competed in singing competitions and won the 2014 Texaco Country Showdown. After graduating high school, she moved to Nashville and immediately started playing gigs at Nashville’s most famous venues including Tootsie’s, Rippy’s, Jason Aldean’s Bar, The Listening Room, and HonkyTonk Central, winning songwriting contests such as “Nash Next” and the prestigious “Nashville Songwriter Association International” in her spare time. Due to having family members who served in the military, HunterGirl holds a deep admiration for our Country’s armed forces and tenaciously works with many veteran organizations, where she uses music therapy to transform veterans’ stories into songs. She’s shared the stage with Country superstars Old Dominion, Florida Georgia Line, Kane Brown, Alan Jackson, Trace Adkins, Charlie Daniels, Sara Evans and more. Most recently, she competed on this year’s American Idol , where the “country singer with a bright future” ( Hollywood Life ) delivered standout performances that Taste of Country called “impressive,” “shining,” “chill-worthy,” and “glowing,” winning the hearts of millions across the country. Praised by Idol judge and Country superstar Luke Bryan as the “ new age Miranda Lambert ” and his “ favorite female Country voice ,” “HunterGirl has wowed the Country music community since she stepped foot onto the American Idol stage” ( Billboard ). “Despite missing out on the win, her crooning vocals and intimate original song, ‘Red Bird,’ has made her one to watch in the Country scene ( American Songwriter ). Skyrocketing to No. 1 on iTunes All-Genre and Country charts, “the budding Country star” ( Taste of Country ) performed her heartfelt and deeply personal original track “Red Bird” on Live with Kelly & Ryan and has appeared on Good Morning America . With distinctively and incomparably genuine vocals, unwavering drive, and a heart of gold, HunterGirl is on the fast track to be Country’s next big female artist.

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Leonid & Friends

Passion. Persistence. Perfection. By Scott Schwebke

With multiple sold-out U.S. tours under its belt and hundreds of thousands of fans around the world, Leonid & Friends continues to astound its global audience with its unique ability in capturing the spirit, musicality, and fire of American supergroup Chicago. And what is even more stunning is that Leonid & Friends, comprised of 11 of the finest musicians in Russia, haven't seen Chicago perform live until recently, yet replicates the band’s complex arrangements amazingly note for note. Chicago has never been in Russia, and none of us have attended their concerts until just recently in the United States," said Leonid Vorobyev, a multi-instrumentalist who is the band’s leader. "We have only recordings and videos (to help us learn Chicago songs)."

Ironically, Vorobyev wasn’t always a fan of horn bands, and as a teenager gravitated to the hard-driving guitar-based sounds of the Beatles, Creedence Clearwater Revival, Deep Purple, and Grand Funk Railroad. "In the early 1970s in the USSR, electric guitars, amplifiers, and drums were rare to find so at school we were playing self-made instruments," Vorobyev explained. "We were allowed to rehearse in the same room with a horns band. Those musicians almost always were drunk and quite often tried to play with us our rock songs. It was a nightmare, and I hated them all!" But that all changed when Vorobyev heard Chicago. He became an instant fan. "I loved so much the brilliant mixture of rock guitars, drums, and jazz horns with bright vocal harmonies," he said. In 2014, Vorobyev decided to indulge his love for the band by gathering a few fellow musicians in a studio to record a video of them playing his favorite Chicago tune, Brand New Love Affair. No charts or scores of the song existed so Vorobyev transcribed the tune by ear. The result was a YouTube video that quickly went viral. Since then Leonid & Friends has recorded videos of other Chicago hits including Make Me Smile , 25 or 6 to 4 , and Saturday In The Park . All total the videos have received more than 50 million views. Also, Leonid & Friends has recorded two albums showcasing its tribute to Chicago. The process of getting each tune just right is a painstaking labor of love. In addition to scoring and arranging, Vorobyev oversees mixing and mastering of each song. However, he credits his highly skilled bandmates for making each tune sing. "All of my musician friends are highly professional," he said. However, Leonid & Friends hasn’t been satisfied with merely connecting with fans through videos and recordings. In early 2019, the band embarked on its first tour outside of Russia that had fans dancing in the aisles at sold-out shows in New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, and Florida. Two other scorching coast-to-coast U.S. tours followed that same year. “The fans were so eager to see us that some traveled from as far as Hawaii and the Philippines not mentioning flying across the U.S .and driving for hours to attend our shows,” Vorobyev said. “I was expecting a warm greeting but I didn't expect such a warm reception and with so much love and gratitude for us.” In Los Angeles, the band met its musical heroes, founding members of Chicago, keyboardist Robert Lamm, and drummer Danny Seraphine as well as Michelle Kath Sinclair, daughter of late, great Chicago guitarist Terry Kath. “We were so thrilled that Robert, Danny, and Michelle took the time to visit with us,” Vorobyev said. “It was an experience that we will cherish and remember forever.” When Leonid & Friends isn’t touring, band members are in the studio in Moscow immersing themselves in Chicago’s storied catalog of hits and deep tracks while preparing for the next tour. In September of 2018, the band recorded its first song from legendary supergroup Earth, Wind, & Fire and also paid tribute to the band Blood, Sweat & Tears as well. Borrowing a line from one of Chicago's biggest hits, "it's only the beginning" of great things from Leonid & Friends.

Scott Schwebke has been a journalist for more than 30 years and a longtime fan of Chicago dating back to its incarnation as CTA. His work has appeared in the Los Angeles Times, the Denver Post, Orange County Register and various publications across the U.S.

Learn more about Leonid and his Friends.

Leonid Vorobyev

Musical director and founder of Leonid & Friends.

Leonid Vorobyev is the leader and founder of the band Leonid & Friends. He is the band’s producer, plays bass and piano, sings lead and backing vocals, transcribes all the musical sources, and he produces, mixes, and masters all audio and video productions. Leonid graduated from East Siberian Institute of Culture as a Choir Conductor. He had been working in various bands as a bass player and a singer when in 1989 he chose studio operations as his main interest and began a career as a record-mix engineer and sound producer. He has been working as a music producer, sound engineer, composer, and musician for about 30 years. Many Russian bands and singers have passed through his hands and ears. At the end of 2014, Leonid decided to give himself a gift to celebrate his retirement by recording a cover version of Chicago’s song Brand New Love Affair. No charts or scores of the song existed so he transcribed the musical source by ear, called upon his friends and recorded the song. What happened when the song was released surprised everyone and was the start of the new project ‘Leonid & Friends’.

Vasilii Akimov

Vocals/Guitar

A graduate of the Irkutsk College of the Arts and Institute of Contemporary Art. Vasily has won several international music competitions. He has been a member of the Russian hard rock band Monomakh, where he won praise from former Black Sabbath frontman Ronnie James Dio.

Sergey Kashirin

Vocals/Guitar (Former Member)

Sergey Kashirin was born in 1982 in Tiraspol, Transnistria, in Eastern Europe. A music enthusiast at an early age, Sergey began singing and playing guitar when he was only 8 years old. Following his musical dreams throughout his school years, he was accepted into the Tiraspol Rubinstein Musical College from which he graduated. After graduation, Sergey moved to Moscow where he quickly found work as a studio session musician playing for many Russian pop and rock stars. This led to live performance requests as well. Sergey is a founder of several musical projects, three of which are Real Bodrit, Rock Band, and Smilin’man, a multi-genre project of depth which allows him to stretch his musical and vocal talents. Many people took notice of his talents and in 2012, he began composing music for the film and television industries. Along the way, Sergey made many friends in the music industry and considered a number of them very close. In 2014, he was approached by one of those friends and asked to participate in recording a cover of a song from the American band Chicago for Leonid Vorobyev. The audio recording and subsequent video of the song Brand New Love Affair were not supposed to be anything more than a birthday gift to his friend but the rest of the world didn’t see it that way. After posting it on YouTube for their friends to view the word began to spread, and what was supposed to be a simple act of kindness for his friend, turned into the band Leonid & Friends recording many more songs which have been viewed in over 150 countries at last count. Sergey, being a founding member, performs regularly in both studio and live performances.

Serge Tiagniryadno

Serge Tiagniryadno was born and lives in Kiev, the capital city of Ukraine where he runs the popular recording studio Crystal Sound of which he founded. Serge is a multi-instrumentalist who plays guitar, bass guitar, clarinet, saxophone, percussion, drums, and keyboards. He’s combined those talents with his smooth vocals as a member of numerous bands throughout the area such as Seven Seas, and Ocheretyaniy Kit. Serge’s love for music started at the age of three with the guitar, and at four years old he began formal lessons on the piano. When he turned nine he added clarinet to the mix. He later went on to study as a television and film director at the Karpenko-Kariy Kiev National University of Theatre, Cinema and Television and he also attended the Kiev Institute of Theatrical Arts. Serge’s introduction to Leonid & Friends came by way of Trent Gardner, the web manager of the band Chicago. He conducted an online contest for Leonid to find a vocal talent comparable to that of Chicago’s Peter Cetera. Serge recorded his first song with Leonid & Friends in the summer of 2015 from his own studio in Kiev but didn’t personally meet the band members until the spring of 2016. Since then he’s been featured in numerous tracks by the band and performs regularly with them on the road.

Igor Javad-Zade

Recognized as one of the best drummers in Russia, Igor has vast experience in live performances and session work. He has collaborated with musicians in Russia and from various foreign countries.

Sergey Kurmaev

Keyboards/Backing Vocals

Sergey Kurmaev was born in the city of Osh, Kyrgyzstan, in 1980, about 2000 miles southeast of Moscow. His musical journey began at the age of 5 when his parents gave him a small accordion. He started by learning well-known melodies and played them for friends and family long before learning to read music. When he was eight years old, he enrolled in the local School of Music to study the accordion. At the young age of fourteen, he earned admission to the College of Music, where he began seriously studying the accordion and piano. Sergey did so well that at 18, he was awarded admission to the Kyrgyzstan National Conservatory of Music in Bishkek to continue studying the piano, his long time dream. After graduating in 2004, he moved to Moscow, where celebrity singers began requesting his talents. Since then, Sergey has worked and performed with many top musical acts and together with his wife, an excellent singer in her own right, have organized concerts. In 2020, Sergey, his wife, their three sons, and Lucky, their dog, received an early Christmas present. They learned that Sergey was selected to play keyboards for Leonid & Friends, replacing their long time player Vlad Senchillo who left earlier in the year. During his first live streaming concert with the band, Roman Vorobyev introduced him to the fans. Sergey said, “When I saw Leonid & Friends on YouTube, I thought myself maybe one day I would play in a band like this. But now I’m here, it’s a magic, thank you my God, and I very glad to be part of Leonid & Friends. Thank you very much, thank you for trust and I want to see our friends in the future.”

Konstantin Kovachev

Lead Guitar

Konstantin Kovachev, guitarist, composer, and arranger, was born in Ulyanovsk, Russia. After his birth, his family moved to Nikolsk, in the Penza region, some 480 miles northeast of Moscow, where he lived until he was 16. At 12 years old, Konstantin began studying music. In 1990, he was accepted to The Alfred Schnittke Moscow State Institute of Music, where he majored in classical guitar and studied the lute, keyboards, and the ancient harp. After graduating in 1995, Konstantin began performing with popular Russian rock bands and notable musicians, including Leonid & Friends’ drummer Igor Javad-Zade. His talents gained notoriety in the music community, and as a result, he is credited on numerous albums as a studio guitarist and arranger. In May 2005, he became the guitarist of Kalinov Most, considered the country’s first folk-rock band. Konstantin joined Leonid & Friends in 2021 as the lead guitarist.

Vlad Senchillo

Keyboards/Backing Vocals (Former Member)

Vlad is a graduate of the Ufa Institute of Arts as a choir conductor. He has also served as laureate of international jazz festivals in Russia. Vlad has worked with Russian and foreign performers, including jazz musicians from the USA who performed in Russia such as Chuck Loeb, Phil Perry, Dave Koz, Eric Marienthal, and Brian Simpson.

Vladimir Popov

Flute/Sax/Vocals (Former Member)

Vladimir is a graduate from the Ulan-Ude Musical College of Tchaikovsky and Novosibirsk State Conservatory of Glinka. He has performed with various bands throughout Russia.

Alexander Michurin

Trombone (Former Member)

Alexander is a graduate of Moscow Music Institute of Gnesin, and Moscow State University of Culture and Arts. He has worked with numerous Russian performers both in the studio and on stage.

Alexey Batychenko

Trumpet (Former Member)

Alexey is a graduate of the Moscow Music Institute of Gnesin and Moscow Institute of Culture. He has worked with many of Russia’s top bands.

Konstantin Gorshkov

Saxophone (Former Member)

Konstantin graduated from the Moscow Music Institute of Gnesin. He has won the Brussels Jazz Contest and has toured in Russia and abroad.

Valery Martynov

Valery Martynov was born in the city of Tolyatti in 1994. Valery’s Father, a guitarist, noticed his son had developed perfect pitch and a strong aptitude for music in general from his childhood. So when Valery first entered music school, he planned to learn to play guitar like his Father, but when he saw the trumpet for the first time, he quickly forgot everything about his guitar plans and decided to study the trumpet instead. Valery eventually heard a recording of Maynard Ferguson, and he realized that the trumpet would be his vocation. He would vow to learn how to play it exactly as the master played in that composition. At 16 years old, Valery became a student at the School of Music. Four years later, he entered the Department of Jazz Music of the Faculty of World Musical Culture at the State Classical Academy, Maimonides, where he studied jazz. Valery studied under Vadim Eilenkrig and Alexander Vishnepolsky. He later became the first trumpet of many Big Bands in Moscow and the first trumpet and accompanist of some of the best jazz orchestras. Later, he became a laureate and a winner of multiple jazz festivals. Valery also teaches the next generation of brass players the skill and accuracy of playing the instrument. He has published teaching aids for his students and enjoys sharing his love for the instrument and music. Trumpet students, both in Russia and abroad, strive to take Valery’s classes and learn the secrets of pitch from him. In addition, Valery’s musical talents and professionalism allowed him to work with numerous Russian pop stars and participate in many individual musical projects in the country. Valery began playing with Leonid & Friends in April of 2022 and is happy to welcome listeners and lovers of this amazing music.

Ksenia Buzina

Born in the Transbaikal region of Siberia, in the city of Chita, Ksenia Buzina is credited as being the first Russian singer understood by over a billion people on earth. That’s because Ksenia sings and speaks Chinese fluently and has her own Chinese album and music videos. She was featured in the Russian TV version of The Voice and has participated in numerous television and festival appearances. Now a resident of Moscow, Ksenia began singing as a child in various school events and competitions. She earned her first paycheck singing at the age of 16 accompanied by her musician Father, performing in local restaurants on the weekends. She graduated with her economics degree from the Baikal State University of Economics and Law where she specialized in “World Economy.” She said, ”I do not see myself as an economist, but I was glad to study at the institute because there I learned Chinese.” Ksenia didn’t stop there. Besides Russian and Chinese she can also speak English and can sing in English, Chinese, Italian, Armenian, Kazakh, Bulgarian and French. She joined Leonid & Friends in September 2016 with the debut of the song Wishing You Were Here and has become an integral part of the band’s vocal landscape both in the studio and live performances.

Danil Buranov

Singer and actor Danil Buranov is a talented performer with many accomplishments. A graduate of RUTI GITIS (the Russian University of Theatre Arts, founded in 1878), Danil has participated in TV shows such as "Main Stage," was a semi-finalist of the show "Voice-6" and an artist of the Hryhoriy Leps Human Rights Center. In addition, he was the winner of "The Highest Test" competition and last year, under the stage name BURANOV, represented Russia at the international competition "New Wave." BURANOV has been performing on the big stage, and his fans remember his notable duets with Russian singer-songwriter Grigory Leps and the noted Latvian singer Intars Busulis. Since 2016, Danil has released singles, shot music videos for his songs, and toured with a unique vocal and dance cover show.

Mikhail Puntov

Mikhail (Michael) Puntov was born in Krasny Sulin, Rostov Region. He began his musical career as the soloist of the group Street Magic. Their work was recognized by the Young Artist Awards, which honors the excellence of young performers in film, television, theatre, and music. They were also given the special award for Outstanding International Variety Group in 2007. Michael represented Russia at the Junior Eurovision 2008, held in Limassol, Cyprus. He became the frontman of the group Geroi in 2011 and made his Leonid & Friends debut in April of 2022.

Andrey Zyl was born in the city of Minsk, Belarus in 1992 and now lives in Moscow. His love for music was evident early in life and he began his formal studies at the age of 11. Right from the beginning, the trumpet grabbed Andrey’s attention and he’s never looked back. He also developed an appreciation for the rhythms of music which led him to play percussion instruments but in his words “Trumpet is more fun!” He is a graduate of the Gnesins Russian Academy of Music. Andrey’s musical talents have led him to work with notables such as international jazz vocalist Kevin Mahogany from Kansas City, the big bands of Igor Butman, Anatoly Kroll, and George Garanian, and numerous Russian pop stars. He’s been called upon to perform in many individual projects as well. A multi-winner of international jazz competitions, Andrey began playing with Leonid & Friends in April of 2017 in both studio and live performances.

Oleg Kudryavtsev

Oleg Kudryavtcev was born in Severodvinsk, located on the White Sea coast of the Arkhangelsk region, Russia, in 1984. His parents, a musician and kindergarten teacher, realized his affection for music early and at 9 years old his father enrolled him in a school of music and proposed that he should consider the saxophone. Although Oleg was interested in every instrument he saw, he agreed with his father and began formal studies. Everyone quickly realized how well Oleg was progressing and the decision was made to further his studies. Oleg transferred to the college of music in Arkhangelsk and then on to the Academy of music in Moscow. He remained in Moscow and began playing in various groups performing in a variety of musical styles. He never gravitated toward a single genre saying, “I have no preference in music styles. I love Pop, Funk, Soul, Jazz, Indie, electronic, anything is fine with me.” Oleg went on to work with many artists and played for years with the popular group Bravo which was established in 1983, a year before he was born. In 2017 he was excited to audition for Leonid & Friends because he’s loved the music of Chicago since childhood. He said, “My father introduced me to their creativity.” Looking back on his first USA tour with Leonid & Friends, Oleg said, “I am very grateful to my parents and teachers for helping me to become a professional musician. I love my profession and the smiles of the audiences at the concerts. It is very important for me in life.”

Maxim Likhachev

Maxim Likhachev was born and raised in Moscow where he continues to live today. His love for music began early as a student where he focused on wind instruments. He learned to play the euphonium and its variants as well as various percussion instruments, but his heart centered on the trombone of which he is known for. His talent led him to play in a children's brass band and ensemble with a choir and choreography. He entered the musical institute majoring in trombone and focusing on classical music in preparation for a spot in a symphony orchestra. While studying his musical plans abruptly changed the day he was invited to play in a rock band. He was hooked and he never looked back. Along the way Maxim was introduced to the sounds of the American band Chicago from the early albums and he developed a love for the band and their style that is with him to this day. After graduating from the Moscow Music Institute of Gnesin, he played with many of Russia’s top bands and felt right at home performing studio session work as well. Since his graduation he has remained in rock music and travelled extensively performing in numerous festivals within Russia as well as many places in Europe. Maxim explains that when he got the call to join Leonid & Friends, he felt his dreams of many years had come true. “To play the music I have loved since my youth with an amazing cast of fellow musicians whom I love, and being led by an incomparable director, Leonid Vorobyev, I don’t know how things can get any better musically for me.“ His personal life is singing from the same song book as well. With his loving wife and 3 children by his side, Maxim is proof of what hard work will do for you. He began playing with Leonid & Friends nearly 3 years ago and has become a gem of the bands brass section. Many friends of the band favor Maxim and his “Magic Trombone”, and they’re sure there is plenty of magic left in his playing.

Dmitry Maximov

Bass (Former Member)

Dimitry is a graduate of the Moscow Music Institute of Gnesin and has worked with many of Russia’s top bands.

Arturo Sandoval

Special Guest Trumpet

Arturo Sandoval was born in Artemisa, a small town in the outskirts of Havana, Cuba, on November 6, 1949, just two years after Dizzy Gillespie became the first musician to bring Latin influences into American Jazz. Sandoval began studying classical trumpet at the age of twelve, but it didn’t take him long to catch the excitement of the jazz world. He has since evolved into one of the world’s most acknowledged guardians of jazz trumpet and flugelhorn, as well as a renowned classical artist, pianist and composer. He is a 10 time Grammy Award Winner, Emmy Award Recipient, 6 Time Billboard Award Winner, the 2015 Hispanic Heritage Award Recipient, the 2016 Honorary Doctorate recipient in Fine Arts from The University of Notre Dame, and the recipient of the United States of America, Presidential Medal of Freedom. "Born into poverty in Cuba and held back by his government, he risked everything to share his gifts with the world. In the decades since, this astonishing trumpeter, pianist and composer has inspired audiences in every corner of the world and awakened a new generation of great performers. He remains one of the best ever to play." –Barack Obama (presenting Arturo Sandoval The Presidential Medal of Freedom.

Arkady Shilkloper

Special Guest French Horn

Arkady Shilkloper is a multi-instrumentalist and composer. He enjoyed a career in the orchestra of the Bolshoi Theatre from 1978 to 1985 and was also a member of the Moscow State Philharmonic Symphony. Shilkloper spent four years with the Vienna Art Orchestra and has over 80 album and film credits to his name. He is considered one of the best jazz performers on French Horn and Alphorn in the world.

Igor Butman

Special Guest Saxophone

Igor Butman, saxophone virtuoso, bandleader, club owner and television host is Russia's number one jazz personality. With a major in Performance and Composition from the Berklee College of Music in Massachusetts, Butman performed with noteables including Dave Brubeck, Chick Corea, Pat Metheny, The Lionel Hampton Orchestra, The Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra, Wynton Marsalis, Natalie Cole, Billy Cobham and Grover Washington Jr., who took Igor "under his wing." In 2009 Igor launched his own label called Butman Music and he has performed at every Olympic Games starting with Athens in 2004.

Vladimir Osinsky

Special Guest Piano

Vladimir Osinsky is a composer, arranger, sound engineer, and keyboardist who has worked with many of Russia's top bands.

Ilya Prokudin

Special Guest Flugelhorn

Ilya Prokudin is a graduate of the Moscow Music Institute of Gnesin. He has worked with many of Russia’s top bands.

Ilya Vymenits

Special Guest Percussion

Ilya Vymenits is a drummer/percussionist who has worked with many of Russia’s top bands.

Daniil Dubrovsky

Special Guest Saxaphone

Daniil is a graduate of the Kurgan Musical College. He has worked with many of Russia’s top bands.

Irina Kozlova

Special Guest Vocals/Live

Irina Kozlova is a graduate of the Maimonid State Classical Academy. She has worked with “Radio and TV Orchestra” and with many Russian pop-stars. Irina is a singer-songwriter in the project with Igor Javad-Zade "Smotri I."

CHICAGOVICH Leonid & Friends debut album.

"i haven’t been this happy about an album in a very long time. leonid vorobyev and his mighty intrepid band of friends have released what is perhaps the best tribute album in the history of rock and roll. superlative perhaps. but i wouldn’t toss about such a platitude lightly. in short, if you’re a fan of chicago; you’re going to believe me when you hear this record." - phil traynor, contemporary jazz musician, composer, and recording artist., chicagovich ii, the music continues with the release of leonid & friends’ chicagovich ii. eleven more of the most requested tracks everyone loves including beginnings, questions 67 & 68, i’m a man, feelin’ stronger every day, free, if you leave me now, street player, you are on my mind, listen, hard to say i’m sorry/get away, and stay the night. the perfect complement to their debut album, chicagovich ii will keep you singing, dancing, and enjoying their tribute to one of the greatest bands in the world, chicagovich iii, chicagovich iii picks up the pace with ten new tracks. this cd showcases a beautiful mix of early and later chicago gems that are sure to delight. you’ll enjoy the song that started it all, introduction, as well as call on me, dialogue (parts 1 & 2), just you ‘n’ me, hanky panky, life saver, happy man, (i’ve been) searchin’ so long, and mongonucleosis. recreating these tunes as only leonid & friends has done make this a must-have addition to your collection., oldies but goldies part 1, it’s finally here the latest installment of from leonid and friends, featuring the timeless music of earth, wind, and fire, blood sweat and tears, steely dan, tower of power, the ides of march, chaka khan, deep purple, the brecker brothers, stevie wonder, and the black russian band. this fourth cd features the songs that you’ve waited and asked for, all meticulously arranged by the master of music, leonid vorobyev and performed by some of the top musicians from russia. this collection of songs will have you singing and dancing in no time.

Leonid & Friends perform their favorites as a tribute to the greatest bands in the world!

All music and video is edited, mixed and mastered by Leonid Vorobyev.  

All music and video is edited, mixed and mastered by Leonid Vorobyev. All songs recorded in the Osinsky Recording Studio, Moscow, Russia. Vladimir Osinsky, Proprietor.

To sample and purchase the music of Leonid & friends please select from the providers below.

Leonid & Friends Shop

Get your official leonid & friends merchandise and help support the band. with our cds, shirts, masks, cups, buttons, and more, you’ll look great, feel great, and have an excellent opportunity to introduce leonid & friends to others. these make great gifts too all items are sold by our usa trusted partner imediatv.net so you can shop with confidence. we thank you for your support..

Belles and Gals

The home of female country music

Ashley Campbell UK Tour News

Vacancy Records artist Ashley Campbell will be performing two headline shows at The Troubadour in London with Thor Jensen , and will also be supporting songwriting legend Jimmy Webb on his tour.

Ashley Campbell and Thor Jensen form a unique meeting of musical genres. With Ashley coming from the world of country and bluegrass and Thor having a diverse background from rock to gypsy jazz, they create a fresh sound as a duo.

Ashley Campbell , daughter of country legend Glen Campbell began her career playing in her father’s band on several world tours and has found success as a solo artist in the country music scene; most notably with her debut single “ Remembering ” which she wrote for her father.

Her original music has taken her all over the world, from China to Japan, to the mainstage at London’s O2 Arena to opening for Kris Kristoferson and the Bellamy Brothers . She has also been spotlighted for her banjo playing with Rascal Flatts in the music video for their hit single “Banjo”.

Thor Jensen , a virtuoso guitarist and songwriter from New York has traveled many diferent roads. From touring the world with Hazmat Modine , playing Americana with Quiet Life opening for the likes of Dr. Dog , Portugal,   The Man and Shovels and Rope , then onto joining the Stephane Wrembel Band , playing the music of Django Reinhardt , performing at Carnegie Hall and all over the world, all the while immersing himself in New York’s jazz scene.

Ashley and Thor met in late 2021 and have been playing music together ever since, having recently recorded several singles. Both being strong instrumentalists in addition to the combination of Thor’s deep baritone and Ashley’s clear as a bell vocals, together they make a one of a kind blend. Keep an eye out for more music from Ashley and Thor !

Talking about being back in the UK, Ashley says “ Some of my all-time favourite music memories are from touring in the UK. The fans are such true music lovers and such a joy to play for. I am beyond thrilled to be returning! I can’t wait to share my new music live and in person and definitely hit a few pubs along the way! Thank you for having me back “.

More information and ticket links here https://www.ashleycampbellmusic.com/

Review written by Lesley Hastings (twitter.com/lesleyhastings)

• ← Interview with Baylen Leonard and Lou Nash on Absolute Radio Country’s 1st Anniversary

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Jelly Roll and Ashley McBryde to Co-Host a ‘CMA Fest’ Special Airing Far Earlier Than Usual

By Chris Willman

Chris Willman

Senior Music Writer and Chief Music Critic

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Country stars Jelly Roll and Ashley McBryde will team up as hosts for ABC’s annual “ CMA Fest ” special, set to be taped at the festival this week and then air on the network June 25. It’s the first time either singer has hosted a prime-time special.

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Others booked for sets at the stadium this week and good candidates to make their way to the special include Lainey Wilson, Keith Urban, Luke Bryan, Thomas Rhett, Cody Johnson, Kelsea Ballerini, Parker McCollum, the War and Treaty and the currently very hot Shaboozey.

Last year’s special was co-hosted by Lainey Wilson, Dierks Bentley and Elle King. Bentley and King also hosted, sans Wilson, in 2022. The festival did not take place due to COVID in the two years prior to that.

“CMA Fest,” now reaching its 21st year as a broadcast network special, will again be set up for prime time by longtime veterans who’ve helmed multiple CMA awards or festival programs in the past, executive producer Robert Deaton and director Alan Carter.

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