Author: Lauren Leadingham

Bonafide soul singer and composer Bill Withers, whose career only lasted about a decade but encompassed several major hits, died from heart complications on Monday. The three-time Grammy winner and Rock and Roll Hall of Famer was 81. “We are devastated by the loss of our beloved, devoted husband and father. A solitary man with a heart driven to connect to the world at large, with his poetry and music, he spoke honestly to people and connected them to each other,” the family said in a statement on Friday. “As private a life as he lived close to intimate family and…

To all of us fans, she’s Dolly Parton. To little people, she’s “the Book Lady.” Today the singer/songwriter started a 10-week online series in which she reads a children’s book at bedtime, selecting books from her Imagination Library. You and your child can watch the “Goodnight with Dolly” readings streamed on YouTube on Thursdays at 7 p.m. EST. As the mother of a toddler, I am ever thankful that I can add Dolly to my presently scant list of family diversions during this challenging time. Dolly’s Imagination Library book gifting project was started in 1995 to serve children in…

“We’ll probably do this for the internet. Unless, you know, something terrible happens and we have to cheer up the world on the TV show.” These are the portentous words of Stephen Colbert preceding a duet with John Prine back in 2016. Their performance of “That’s the Way the World Goes Round,” filmed in the Ed Sullivan Theater, had not been broadcast until this latest at-home episode of The Late Show. Colbert unearths the clip with this statement: “I’d like to take a moment right now to send out a personal message to a friend. Last week, our friend and yours,…

Joe Diffie, the hitmaker behind such timeless 90s country songs as “John Deere Green” and “Prop Me Up Beside the Jukebox (If I Die)” has sadly passed away today, March 29, due to complications from COVID-19. Diffie’s rep shared the news of the diagnosis on Friday, March 27. The Grammy winner and Grand Ole Opry member will be remembered for his great vocal range, and for being an unrivaled interpreter of neo-traditional country music. https://twitter.com/opry/status/1244360215664963590?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Etweet “Don’t spread my ashes out to sea don’t lay me down to rest / You can put my mind at ease if you fill my…

Bill Rieflin, drummer for bands such as R.E.M., King Crimson, and Ministry has died after a battle with cancer. He was 59. While best known as a drummer/hired gun, he was also a multi-instrumentalist versed in guitar, piano, and bass. His drum method was regarded as an industrial mainstay, as he played on tracks for Nine Inch Nails, Revolting Cocks, KMFDM, and Swans, in addition to Ministry. Rieflin had also done work with Peter Murphy, Chris Cornell, Pigface, and many others. He joined R.E.M. in 2003 as a touring member, playing with them regularly — live and in the studio…

The Pretenders have postponed the release of their 11th studio album, Hate for Sale. Due to retail restrictions surrounding the coronavirus outbreak, their LP will now be available on July 17. However, the band did premiere their title track today, March 24 (in case you’re like me and have no concept of time now). Speaking of time warp, it sounds like The Pretenders as I know and love them. Much like the songs on their 1984 album, Learning to Crawl, “Hate for Sale” is yet another Pretenders moment transcending time and space — their punk energy and melodic sensibility live on. And the…

“Who’s gonna play the Opry And the Wabash Cannonball? Who’s gonna give their heart and soul To get to me and you?”  – From George Jones’ “Who’s Gonna Fill Their Shoes” Marty Stuart, Vince Gill, and Brad Paisley performed together on the Grand Ole Opry stage for its 4,916th consecutive Saturday night show. They played not to a live audience, but rather a live broadcast on the digital multicast network Circle and other TV affiliates. The concert was also livestreamed on Circle’s Facebook and YouTube. “We will all get through this because we’re gonna stick together,” said TV/radio personality Bobby…

The Boss has released his 2009 concert, London Calling: Live in Hyde Park, onto streaming platforms in entirety for the first time.

The performers of ‘Til Further Notice, including Jewel, Willie Nelson, Lukas Nelson, Micah Nelson, etc., will play call-in sets from their respective homes. The artists will donate digital tips from fans to charities of their choice. Also confirmed for ‘Til Further Notice are Lucinda Williams, Paul Simon & Edie Brickell, Nathaniel Rateliff, Margo Price & Jeremy Ivey, Randy Houser, Paul Cauthen, David Ramirez, Ida Mae, Tre Burt, Ian Ferguson, Devon Gilfillian, Early James, and Sunny War.

A US appeals court has ruled in Led Zeppelin’s favor after a lengthy copyright dispute over whether the band ripped off the opening riff in “Stairway to Heaven.” The song in question is called “Taurus” by the band Spirit. “Taurus” was written in 1968, three years prior to “Stairway to Heaven.” Zeppelin was accused back in 2014 of plagiarizing the opening part when journalist Michael Skidmore filed suit on behalf of the estate of Randy Wolfe, Spirit’s late guitarist/vocalist. The lawsuit claimed that the notorious intro was too similar to Spirit’s “Taurus.” After a Los Angeles jury cleared Page and Plant in 2016,…