Will Groff
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Articles by Will Groff
‘I feel betrayed’: inside Ed Sheeran’s controversial return to the stage
"This is not usually how I would open the show," Ed Sheeran told the crowd at Philadelphia's Lincoln Financial Field on Saturday night, a humble preamble to a three-plus-minute speech addressing the greatest controversy of his career. Shaky-voiced and stealing glances at the monitor at his feet, he looked every bit the chastened superstar.
‘I feel betrayed’: inside Ed Sheeran’s controversial return to the stage
“This is not usually how I would open the show,” Ed Sheerantold the crowd at Philadelphia’s Lincoln Financial Field on Saturday night, a humble preamble to a three-plus-minute speech addressing the greatest controversy of his career. Shaky-voiced and stealing glances at the monitor at his feet, he looked every bit the chastened superstar.
Bars Are Giving Up on Young People and Catering to Gen X Instead
They’re courting a reliable generation of alcohol consumers with nostalgia theme nights and events that end way before midnight Philadelphia’s Trestle Inn hosts Gen X-friendly parties. Ian Cross On a recent Friday night, Philadelphia’s Trestle Inn welcomed a crowd for a Prince-themed dance party.
Bars are giving up on young people and catering to Gen X instead
On a recent Friday night, Philadelphia's Trestle Inn welcomed a crowd for a Prince-themed dance party. Revelers rocking purple eye shadow and “love symbols” slurped down whiskey sours and lit up the dance floor while a go-go dancer gyrated to hits like “Let's Go Crazy” and “1999.” Almost everyone was over 50. Many of them were drinking. And it was only 7:30.
‘It sounds good next to almost anything’: how Choosin’ Texas became the biggest song of the year
This week, Ella Langley beat a chart record held by Whitney Houston and Mariah Carey. The country singer’s Choosin’ Texas has now spent 15 weeks atop the Billboard Hot 100, making it the longest-running US No 1 by a female solo artist for a non-holiday single. The previous record holders, Houston’s I Will Always Love You and Carey’s We Belong Together, were bombastic pop events, the sort of unassailable hits that make sense as Hot 100 chartbusters.
The Women Who Love the Manosphere
Sometimes, when Allie D’Acunto listens to her favorite podcast, “This Past Weekend With Theo Von,” she laughs so hard she gets tears in her eyes. But its freewheeling host can get serious, too. “He’s not afraid to get vulnerable. He speaks very honestly about his life and struggles and issues with addiction,” the 34-year-old Central Floridian said. “He’s just so relatable.” ‘So relatable’ is how Allie D’Acunto described podcaster Theo Von.
The Women Who Love the Manosphere
Sometimes, when Allie D’Acunto listens to her favorite podcast, “This Past Weekend With Theo Von,” she laughs so hard she gets tears in her eyes. But its freewheeling host can get serious, too. “He’s not afraid to get vulnerable. He speaks very honestly about his life and struggles and issues with addiction,” the 34-year-old Central Floridian said.
How American Nightlife Went Honky-Tonk
On a chilly Friday night in early October, a shoulder-to-shoulder crowd thronged around the stage at Lucinda’s in Manhattan’s East Village. It was the bar’s weekly “countryoke” show: A four-piece band played while participants—from the startlingly talented to the tragically off-key—waited up to hours for the chance to belt out songs by Brooks & Dunn, the Chicks and Luke Combs.
Empowered Love Songs
Consult the comments section of any Martina McBride music video and you will find paragraph-length, highly personal expressions of adversity and triumph. These entries are varied, but often take the form of earnest tributes to lost loved ones, painful confessions of romantic loneliness or haunting stories of abuse and neglect.
Empowered Love Songs: Finding Strength Across Martina McBride's Discography
Consult the comments section of any Martina McBride music video and you will find paragraph-length, highly personal expressions of adversity and triumph. These entries are varied, but often take the form of earnest tributes to lost loved ones, painful confessions of romantic loneliness or haunting stories of abuse and neglect.
'Try That in a Small Town' One Year Later: Looking for Truth at a Jason Aldean Concert Original
October 6, 2024 Jason Aldean onstage in May. The singer recently wrapped up his Highway Desperado Tour, which featured a nightly performance of his polarizing hit "Try That in a Small Town." Gary Miller/Getty Images for iHeartRadio It’s Saturday night in Laughlin, Nevada, a resort town about 90 miles south of Las Vegas, and Jason Aldean is about to introduce the song that most everyone has come to hear.
Country music has always been queer...seriously
In certain corners of the queer internet, you can find earnest tributes to the gay cowboys of 90s country music. Clad in Wrangler jeans and Stetson hats, these men smiled on the covers of self-released CDs and sang songs about lost love and casual sex. They played bars, cruises, and the gay rodeo circuit, and they advertised their music in the backs of gay newspapers.
Ranking All 20 of Brooks & Dunn's No. 1 Songs
There's never been a duo quite like Brooks & Dunn. Originally staking out separate careers as solo artists, Kix Brooks and Ronnie Dunn formed a pair at the suggestion of Arista Records founder Tim DuBois in 1990 and became the most successful duo in country music history. Certified six-times platinum, their 1992 debut, Brand New Man, spawned four No. 1 singles and shot the duo to immediate acclaim.
Jo Dee Messina - Ten Year Town Interview
Jo Dee Messina is an under-sung hero of 90s country. Her signature song and debut single, ‘Heads Carolina, Tails California’ is one of the most joyous songs from country radio’s golden age—all sunny guitar riffs, immaculate phrasing and warm Nashville gloss. Now a permanent fixture on throwback country stations and streaming playlists, ‘Heads Carolina’ introduced Messina to the world and kicked off an impressive run at radio.
Country and Americana Stars Shine at LGBTQ Benefit Concert
Stars from country, Americana and beyond gathered at Nashville's Bridgestone Arena Tuesday night for Love Rising , a benefit concert for LGBTQ organizations in Tennessee. The event, a response to hateful rhetoric and a series of anti-LGBTQ laws passed in Tennessee and across the country over the last few months, was a nearly four-hour affair that showcased a stunning abundance of perspectives and musical styles.
‘Love Rising’: Country and Americana Stars Shine at LGBTQ Benefit
Jason Isbell, Maren Morris and Sheryl Crow were among the all-star acts who took the stage at Nashville's Bridgestone Arena on Monday night (March 20). Continue reading…
Nashville Drag Queen Speaks Out Against Anti-LGBTQ Legislation
A couple weeks ago, as I was putting together my story for The Boot on Tennessee’s new public drag ban and its implications for queer country performers, I reached out to Nashville-based drag performer Vivica Steele on Instagram. I wasn’t sure exactly how she’d fit into the story, but I had just watched Vivica and her fellow “country queens” steal the show during Ashley McBryde’s “Lindeville Live” event at the Ryman, and I knew I had to talk to her.
DOLLY YOUR ENTHUSIASM (17)
By: February 20, 2023 One in a series of 25 enthusiastic posts, contributed by 25 HILOBROW friends and regulars, on the topic of favorite Country singles from the Sixties (1964–1973). Series edited by Josh Glenn. BONUS: Check out the DOLLY YOUR ENTHUSIASM playlist on Spotify. * TANYA TUCKER | “DELTA DAWN” | 1972 I first heard “Delta Dawn” when I was in college, at a time when the phrase “real country” held a lot of meaning for me.
How a Tennessee Bill Banning Drag Shows Is Already Impacting Country Music
Every summer, the Knoxville suburb Farragut hosts a series of free outdoor concerts called the Lawn Chair Concert Series. Held in a local park and offering live music, kids' crafts and a handful of food trucks, it's a generally sleepy event.
Adeem the Artist 'White Trash Revelry' Album Review
“I’ve been learning our true history and I hate it,” Adeem the Artist declares early in White Trash Revelry, their stunning sophomore album. They refer here — on the scathing ‘Heritage of Arrogance’ — to the States’ national history, and the racist rot at its center. But across the album’s sprawling 11 tracks, Adeem also takes up personal, familial and romantic histories, intent not so much on changing the past as on learning from it.
Brooke Eden: In Conversation Interview
Sixty-plus years since Patsy Cline first sang ‘Crazy’ - a Willie Nelson original that remains the gold standard for lovelorn balladry - most songs by women being played on country radio tend to have a similar theme: heartbreak over an unfeeling man. For singer-songwriter Brooke Eden, that narrative's more than a little played out.
The Black Opry's Road to Newport Folk Festival
When the Newport Folk Festival approached Black Opry founder Holly G last November about curating a set at the 2022 fest, her initial response was disbelief. At that point, her organization only had one live show — the first-ever Black Opry Revue at the Rockwood Music Hall in New York — under its belt. “It felt like a very big deal, especially because we were new,” she says.
The Running Kind: Reconsidering Tradition Through Merle Haggard | Holler
Midway through the first verse of ‘Hungry Eyes’, one of several masterpieces Merle Haggard penned in the late 1960s, something surprising happens. Folky guitar picking gives way to a sweeping string arrangement, as Haggard's tale of dire poverty takes on a lavish, dreamy feel. For David Cantwell, author of The Running Kind: Listening to Merle Haggard, those strings contain multitudes.
Joni Mitchell Joins Brandi Carlile, Wynonna Judd and More for Surprise Appearance at Newport Folk Festival Original
Brandi Carlile always has a few tricks up her sleeve. On the last night of this year’s Newport Folk Festival, Carlile surprised the audience by bringing out Joni Mitchell for an exceedingly rare live appearance — her first at the festival in over 50 years. Billed as “Brandi Carlile and Friends,” the Sunday evening set opened with Carlile performing songs from her own catalog alongside bandmates Phil and Tim Hanseroth.
Michaela Anne Shifts Her Perspective With ‘Oh to Be That Free’
Michaela Anne Shifts Her Perspective With ‘Oh to Be That Free’ socastcmsRssStartWill GroffsocastcmsRssEnd The intensely personal new record examines what's really important in life — and what's okay to leave behind. Continue reading…
CMA Fest’s ‘Country Proud’ Showcase Draws Homophobic Reactions
CMA Fest’s ‘Country Proud’ Showcase Draws Homophobic Reactions socastcmsRssStartWill GroffsocastcmsRssEnd "I will continue to celebrate Pride in country music because it feels good to be myself after feeling shame for so long." Continue reading…
This Country Artist is Calling Out Homophobic Reactions to CMA Fest-Sponsored LGBTQ+ Event Original
When CMT announced that they would be co-sponsoring an LGBTQ+ artist activation event at CMA Fest — the first of its kind at a major country music festival — rainbow flags and heart emojis abounded across social media. Many of the Facebook comments, however, told a different story.
'I Want To Be A Vase' Is Delightfully Strange & Oddly Touching
In the opening pages of I Want to Be a Vase, the debut picture book from comedian Julio Torres, a plunger makes an announcement: It wants to be a vase. Surprised at first, its fellow household objects quickly respond with revelations of their own. Enter the pot who wants to be a trash can, the trash can who wants to be a throw pillow, and the blow-dryer who’d really rather be a vacuum.
CMA Fest to Feature LGBTQ+ Artist Showcase
CMA Fest to Feature LGBTQ+ Artist Showcase socastcmsRssStartWill GroffsocastcmsRssEnd "Country Proud" is the first LGBTQ+ artist activation at a major country music festival. Continue reading…
CMA Fest to Feature LGBTQ+ Artist Showcase Original
Pride is coming to CMA Fest. On Thursday (June 9) from 6-10pm, an LGBTQ+ artist showcase dubbed "Country Proud" will take place at the Assembly Food Hall in Downtown Nashville, coinciding with the first night of the star-studded country music festival.
'Walking After Midnight': The Story Behind Patsy Cline's Bluesy Game-Changer
When 4 Star Records label head Bill McCall first heard "Walkin' After Midnight," the song that jump-started the career of country legend Patsy Cline, he knew he had a hit on his hands. There was just one problem: Cline didn't want to record it. By 1956, Cline's career was foundering. She had yet to record a single hit song, and her contract with 4 Star was soon set to expire.
10 Best '80s Country Love Songs
The '80s were a strange time for country music. The decade began with the Urban Cowboy craze and ended with the famed Class of '89, with the sound of country radio swinging wildly between pop crossover and neotraditional country in the intervening years. The country love song, a staple of the genre throughout its history, also changed shape throughout the decade, at times embracing pop gloss and at others veering into more rock- and folk-tinged territory.
15 Best '90s Country Love Songs
As country love songs go, the '90s had an embarrassment of riches, and narrowing this list down to 16 entires required more than a few tough judgment calls. How, for instance, does one weigh the merits of something like Tim McGraw and Faith Hill's "It's Your Love," against a song as plainly brilliant as Hill's own "This Kiss"? How does one decide whether "Maybe It Was Memphis" by Pam Tillis or "Cowboy Take Me Away" by The Chicks is the better song? What makes one love song better than another?
PICTURE: T.J. Osborne's Birthday Post for Boyfriend Abi Is Adorable
T.J. Osborne of Grammy-winning duo Brothers Osborne celebrated boyfriend Abi Ventura's birthday with a super cute post on Instagram. "Abi, you coming into this world has completely changed mine forever," Osborne writes in the caption of a photo sharing a tender moment in a pool together. "You see me. I see you. I’ve never felt love like this. I’ve never felt happiness like this. Thank you for loving me for who I am. Happy birthday, mi corazón," he adds.
ALBUM REVIEW: 49 Winchester Finds Firm Footing on ‘Fortune Favors the Bold’
As far as many musicians are concerned, touring is hell. Irregular sleep schedules, unhealthy food, and long stretches away from loved ones tend to take their toll, even on those with the luxury of staying in hotel rooms rather than in the backs of vans and buses. But for 49 Winchester — a country-rock outfit from western Virginia that’s no stranger to relentless touring — the joys of life on the road far outweigh the setbacks.
Ranking All 20 of Brooks & Dunn’s No. 1 Songs
Ranking All 20 of Brooks & Dunn’s No. 1 Songs socastcmsRssStartWill GroffsocastcmsRssEnd There's never been another country duo like Brooks & Dunn! Continue reading…
Miranda Lambert Crushes ‘If I Was a Cowboy’ Performance at 2022 CMT Music Awards
Miranda Lambert delivered a pitch-perfect performance of "If I Was a Cowboy" at the 2022 CMT Music Awards on Monday night (April 11). The segment took place on an outdoor stage on Nashville's Lower Broadway.
Miranda Lambert Crushes ‘If I Was a Cowboy’ Performance at 2022 CMT Music Awards
Miranda Lambert delivered a pitch-perfect performance of "If I Was a Cowboy" at the 2022 CMT Music Awards on Monday night (April 11). The segment took place on an outdoor stage on Nashville's Lower Broadway. Wearing a custom Nudie-esque suit complete with bright green fringe and embroidered desert scenes, Lambert breezed through "If I Was a Cowboy," the lead single from her upcoming album Palomino, due out April 29.
Miranda Lambert Crushes ‘If I Was a Cowboy’ Performance at 2022 CMT Music Awards
Miranda Lambert delivered a pitch-perfect performance of "If I Was a Cowboy" at the 2022 CMT Music Awards on Monday night (April 11). The segment took place on an outdoor stage on Nashville's Lower Broadway. Wearing a custom Nudie-esque suit complete with bright green fringe and embroidered desert scenes, Lambert breezed through "If I Was a Cowboy," the lead single from her upcoming album Palomino, due out April 29.
Miranda Lambert Crushes 'If I Was a Cowboy' at the CMT Awards
Miranda Lambert delivered a pitch-perfect performance of "If I Was a Cowboy" at the 2022 CMT Music Awards on Monday night (April 11). The segment took place on an outdoor stage on Nashville's Lower Broadway. Wearing a custom Nudie-esque suit complete with bright green fringe and embroidered desert scenes, Lambert breezed through "If I Was a Cowboy," the lead single from her upcoming album Palomino, due out April 29.
Gabby Barrett Shines on the 2022 CMT Music Awards Stage With ‘Pick Me Up’
Gabby Barrett brought her powerhouse vocals and undeniable stage presence to the stage of the 2022 CMT Music Awards on Monday night (April 11). She offered a dazzling rendition of her song "Pick Me Up," which originally appeared on the deluxe edition of her Gold-certified album, Goldmine.
Keith Urban Opens the 2022 CMT Music Awards With Fiery ‘Wild Hearts’
The CMT Music Awards got off to a "wild" start on Monday night (April 11). Keith Urban kicked off the evening's festivities with a spirited performance of his song "Wild Hearts," off his as-yet-untitled 12th studio album. "From everywhere, all around the world, this is where they come," Urban said via voiceover a pre-song segment that showed the superstar walking Broadway in Nashville.
Queer Country Rewrites the Narrative of a Complicated Genre
Those three gay men are having enormous success on their own, but queer women musicians like Brandi Carlile, Allison Russell, and Amythyst Kiah are collaborating with one another and with straight women to get their foot in the door in the same way. Collaboration is really how some of these marginalized women musicians are able to have the moments of success that they have, which are often smaller than their male counterparts, unfortunately.
Caitlyn Smith 'High' Album Review
High, the third album from Nashville singer-songwriter Caitlyn Smith, is an exercise in concision. While Smith’s ambitious previous records occasionally overstayed their welcome, this new project offers the artist at her most streamlined. The title track, a co-write with Jennifer Decilveo and Miley Cyrus, is a pristine pop ballad and among the best Smith has recorded.
Paul Cauthen: Country As Fuck
Paul Cauthen doesn’t care if you think he’s country or not. After first gaining attention as part of the roots-rock duo Sons of Fathers, he released his solo debut, My Gospel, in 2016 to a fair bit of acclaim. My Gospel established Cauthen as a throwback act, with comparisons to Roy Orbison and Waylon Jennings abound. Yet its follow up, the tortured Room 41, complicated that reputation - offering an anarchic mix of country, blues, jazz, funk, gospel and hip hop.
Maren Morris - Humble Quest | Holler
Spotify Apple Music Amazon Music YouTube Music Humility is a fraught concept, particularly for women in country music. This is an industry that often demands that its female singers atone for their dalliances in pop by declaring fealty to the genre that built them. “Mississippi Girl,” - the effusive Faith Hill hit from 2005 that followed underwhelming attempts at pop crossover - is a masterclass in this sort of performance.
Interview: Hailey Whitters Looks Back to Move Forward on ‘Raised’
Interview: Hailey Whitters Looks Back to Move Forward on ‘Raised’ socastcmsRssStartWill GroffsocastcmsRssEnd It’s not every country album that opens with a piece of orchestral music — let alone one named for a literary deep-cut — but Whitters is not every country singer. Continue reading…
In Person: Remembering Charley Pride and His Landmark Live Album
In Person: Remembering Charley Pride and His Landmark Live Album socastcmsRssStartWill GroffsocastcmsRssEnd Often overlooked in favor of its more famous counterparts, this 1969 live album is an essential piece of country music history. Continue reading…
Remembering Charley Pride and His Landmark Live Album, 'In Person'
Charley Pride's In Person, the first major live album released by a Black country artist, is an unassuming landmark. With a runtime of just under 34 minutes, Pride’s album is shorter than many of the recordings that are cited as among the greatest of all time, including Johnny Cash’s At Folsom Prison and Buck Owens’ Carnegie Hall Concert. But despite its brevity, the album is an invigorating and essential piece of history, a portrait of a pioneering star on the precipice of unprecedented success.
ALBUM REVIEW: Colin Hay Keeps Optimistic Contemplating ‘Now and the Evermore’
For all new wave outfit Men at Work’s impact, which includes releasing several defining hits of the ’80s, they spent precious little time atop the charts. The band had its last top-ten hit in 1983, a mere two years after they unleashed “Down Under” and became international stars. More quietly, in the decades since the group disbanded, singer and guitarist Colin Hay has built a steady catalog of work that often finds him taking on the role of reluctant truth-teller.
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