Country Music

Subterms

    More stories

    • 263 Shares

      in entertainment and celebrities

      Beyonce set to bank whopping sum from country record after it becomes Spotify’s most streamed album of 2024 in one day

      by

      BEYONCE is set to bank a whopping £30MILLION from her country album Cowboy Carter after it became Spotify’s most streamed record of the year – in one day.The 27-track offering, which features collabs with country icons Dolly Parton and Willie Nelson, along with heavyweights Miley Cyrus and Post Malone, has been met with rave reviews.Beyonce is set to bank a whopping £30million from her country album Cowboy CarterCredit: InstagramMegan Thee Stallion appeared to have jumped on the Cowboy Carter bandwagon, offering her own cheeky nod in a skimpy Wild West costumeCredit: InstagramAs well as rejuvenating country music, Queen Bey has shrewdly tapped into the $3billion-a-year genre, which has seen a steady growth in fans and artists.In 2020, country music made up 14.7 per cent of the market share for total music sales and streams in the US, a testament to its enduring popularity.A music industry source said: “Beyonce has cleverly tapped into a hugely lucrative area which is often ignored by artists from other genres.“She’s bulldozed the door down and reworked the style and sound perfectly.READ MORE ON BEYONCE“It’s estimated that her eighth album is going to be one of her most commercially successful to date, invigorating not only her existing fans, but those loyal to the country genre as well.“It’s a genius move, which she has pulled off with aplomb and intelligence by really doing her homework and justice to the genre.”Meanwhile, generous Beyonce sent huge bouquets of flowers to black female country artists.Among the recipients was singer Mickey Guyton, who posted a snap of the white blooms to her Instagram with a card that read: “Mickey, Thank you for opening doors for me, queen. Keep shining. Love and respect, Beyonce.”Most read in BizarreBey also gifted blooms to American singer and reality star K Michelle, who admitted the gesture left her “in tears” as she gets ready to release her first country album.Ten days before her record dropped on Friday, Beyonce said on Insta that it was born from an experience where she “did not feel welcome”, which inspired her to do a deep dive into the history of country music.Which artists are featured on Beyoncé’s cover of Blackbird?The 32-times Grammy award winner also said she was “honoured” to be the first black woman to top Billboard’s country chart with Texas Hold ’Em.But she hopes that an artist’s race — in relation to music genres — will one day become “irrelevant”.Elsewhere, rapper Megan Thee Stallion appeared to have jumped on the Cowboy Carter bandwagon, offering her own cheeky nod in a skimpy Wild West costume.The move prompted fans to ask if she was going to feature on a bonus track.I’m here for it…Cowboy Carter became Spotify’s most streamed record of the year – in one dayCredit: APLiz noLIZZO’S sparkling career was rocked last year when three of her former dancers went public with a damaging lawsuit ­accusing her of fat-shaming and sexual harassment.Now the American singer and rapper has shocked fans by saying she has quit the music industry amid her legal battles.Three of singer Lizzo’s former dancers went public with a damaging lawsuit ­accusing her of fat-shaming and sexual harassmentCredit: GettyThe About Damn Time singer announced via Instagram on Friday night that she was weary of being attacked by people.On a bright orange background, she wrote: “I’m getting tired of putting up with being dragged by everyone in my life and on the internet.“All I want is to make music and make people happy and help the world be a little better than how I found it. But I’m starting to feel like the world doesn’t want me in it.”She continued: “I’m constantly up against lies being told about me for clout and views . . . “Being the butt of the joke every single time because of how I look . . . “My character being picked apart by people who don’t know me and disrespecting my name.”She ended with a peace sign emoji, adding: “I didn’t sign up for this s**t — I QUIT.”It comes after criticism over her being hired as the headliner at the the Democratic National Committee’s Radio City Music Hall fundraiser in New York on Thursday.One Los Angeles music executive revealed: “Lizzo has been hitting walls in recent months because of these lawsuits.“She wants to get moving with new music and plans but there are some advising her to keep a low profile and fight the court cases first. “Her efforts to get working with certain people have stalled. “She is adamant the claims are unfounded and denies the claims.Which artists are featured on Beyoncé’s cover of Blackbird?“There has been tension with label bosses. “Understandably from her perspective, she has felt condemned as guilty of these actions without a fair legal process.“Just last year there was talk of working with Adele and Harry Styles, but with all the heat on her that has not come through.“Everyone was shocked that she has made this bold move of saying ‘I am done’.“It shows how frustrated she is at having doors closed in her face.”The star’s famous pals, including Paris Hilton, Queen Latifah and Todrick Hall, have rallied round, offering supportive comments on her post and urging her not to throw in the towel.Civil lawsuitThe famous flute player entered the music industry in 2011 but her career took off when her pop song Good As Hell was released in 2016.Last summer, her song Pink was featured in the hit Barbie film, which starred Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling.Lizzo’s legal issues stem from dancers Arianna Davis, Crystal Williams, and Noelle Rodriguez alleging sexual, religious, and racial harassment, disability discrimination, assault, and false imprisonment.They filed a civil lawsuit against the singer and her production company Big Grrrl Big Touring Inc, in Los Angeles County Superior Court last summer.Lou shoo-in for Cara
      LOUISE Redknapp is on producers’ wish list to take over from Cara Delevingne in West End show Cabaret.
      The model finishes her run at London’s Kit Kat Club in the summer and bosses hope to tempt Louise to take over.
      The singer originally starred opposite Will Young in Cabaret for three months in 2017.
      A show bigwig told me: “Louise would light up the West End, we’d love her to join the production.”
      Speaking at the gala night afterparty on Thursday, Louise – who was joined by her new beau, entrepreneur Drew Michael – added: “I’ve done it before, it’s such a great part to play.
      “I thought Cara was incredible I loved watching her.”
      I completely agree, Cara has arrived . . . 

      News Justin… NSYNC touringJUSTIN TIMBERLAKE is already embarking on a world tour – but I can reveal that he is planning to reunite with old muckers NSYNC for a jaunt on the road too.The Nineties five-piece, now a man band, are set to delight longtime fans by staging some special performances.Justin Timberlake is planning to reunite with NSYNCCredit: GettyJT is already joined by his old bandmates – JC Chasez, Lance Bass, Joey Fatone and Chris Kirkpatrick – on his track Paradise.And they put out Better Place, which featured on the soundtrack for movie Trolls Band Together.A music source tells me: “The lads are raring to go and have unfinished business as far as touring is concerned. “They’ve seen the huge success their contemporaries Backstreet Boys have had travelling the world in recent years, and they are currently carving out time in their diary to do the same.“It’s been a long time coming and the fans will snap up tickets.”I, personally, was never ready to say Bye Bye Bye to NSYNC . . Maya’s in studioMAYA Jama has been secretly helping her boyfriend Stormzy with his next album.I can reveal that the Love Island presenter has been giving him pointers during studio sessions.Maya Jama has been helping Stormzy with his musicCredit: GettyA source said: “Maya is really letting him do his thing but he values her opinion so is letting her guide the ideas.“She loves where he is going musically but is pointing him to producers and artists he should be working with.“Maya has been in most of his recording sessions – both at home and in recording studios in the capital.”It comes after the rapper jetted out to South Africa in January to join Maya, while she hosted the final of Love Island: All Stars.Stormzy’s last album, 2022’s This Is What I Mean, appeared to be dedicated to her. The pair broke up in 2019 before getting back together last summer.On the track Fire + Water, he sang, “You’re a star in all our eyes” and “I’ll never put my hand on you, still the biggest fan of you”.They are fast becoming my favourite couple.CAUGHT LIVE: Liam Gallagher and John Squire, O2 Forum Kentish Town, London★★★★☆“YES, London!” boomed Liam Gallagher as he and The Stone Roses guitarist John Squire hit the stage for their first shows in the capital.Off the back of a No1 debut album, this UK and Ireland tour sold out in seconds.Liam Gallagher and John Squire at the O2 Forum Kentish Town were immenseCredit: GettyThe tight show proved they are worthy of the hype.Liam wrapped his unmistakable rasp around every melody, while Squire delivered six-string bliss.First single Just Another Rainbow provided ’60s-style psychedelia, Mars To Liverpool sparkled, and a bluesy I’m A Wheel left fans chanting their names so loud it was likely heard in Noel Gallagher’s house.A ferocious version of the Rolling Stones’ Jumpin’ Jack Flash closed the night.He may not have patched things up with his sibling, but Liam is making waves with another Mancunian legend.And these two music heroes look made for each other.Plan B’s ‘appy to meet youRAPPER Plan B is looking for his leading lady on celebrity dating app Raya, I can reveal.The She Said hitmaker has uploaded a series of snaps ranging from pouty poses to him smiling goofily.The dad-of-one – real name Ben Drew – who shed a dramatic amount of weight a few years ago with a diet overhaul, said: “You see pictures of me at the Ivor Novello awards, I mean, f***ing hell, I looked ill.“I was so overweight, and to deal with the workload, I was getting through a bottle of JD a night.”Plan B previously revealed that after his 2012 movie, Ill Manors, he felt alienated and withdrew from the spotlight.Now he is chiselled, toned and feeling sociable, get swiping ladies.Allen: I was a lil lonely LILY Allen has opened up about how lonely she felt last summer when starring in the West End amid rumours of a split with actor hubby David Harbour.The singer-turned-actress starred in The Pillowman as protagonist Katurian, a writer in a police state who is interrogated after her short stories bear similarities to several killings.Singer Lily Allen has opened up about how lonely she felt last summer when starring in the West EndCredit: GettyShe said: “The play was incredibly harrowing and I was on stage for three hours and it was soul-destroying in terms of what was happening in the play.“My family weren’t in London, David was in New York, I was alone.“People would come to see the play and I might go out for dinner or whatever, but for the most part I was pretty lonely.“It wasn’t a depressing existence, because I was really enjoying what I was doing creatively but it was hardcore.“I would get off stage, get into the shower, wash all of the blood off me and get dressed up, so I could leave her behind.”This week who would I…SnogR&B singer Myles Smith, who has released his debut EP, You Promised A LifetimeCredit: Instagram/mylessmithukMarryTom Walker has partnered up with crisis support charity Campaign Against Living MiserablyCredit: Alan MacGregor EwingAvoidChocolate Easter egg coma – always pace yourselvesCredit: Getty More

    • 175 Shares

      in entertainment and celebrities

      Beyoncé slams Grammy Awards and reignites Jay Z cheating claims on savage country album

      by

      If “Becky with the Good Hair” thought she had a close shave on Beyonce’s explosive 2016 album Lemonade, she might want to run for cover.The American superstar has used her new country record, Cowboy Carter, to dig her spurs into the mystery woman, who she first took aim at in track Sorry, when she wrote about the rumours of cheating in her marriage to Jay-Z — again.Beyonce has used her new country album Cowboy Carter to dig her spurs into the mystery woman over cheating claimsCredit: beyonce.comWith Dolly’s permission, Beyonce has also reimagined Jolene to great effect, adding – no offence, Dolly – some much needed fire and fury to the lyricsCredit: GettyAs well as her marriage, Beyonce hints at her sizzling sex life with Jay – sorry Becky – in Desert EagleCredit: GettyAnd in a classy touch, Beyonce — who has just had a huge hit with No1 single Texas Hold ’Em — pulled in country music legend Dolly Parton, far right below, to help her do the dirty.Appearing during an interlude on the 27-track record, out today, Dolly references lyrics from her 1973 hit Jolene and says: “You know that hussy with the good hair you sing about? Reminding me of someone I knew back when.“Except she has flaming locks of auburn hair.”With Dolly’s permission, Beyonce has also reimagined Jolene to great effect, adding — no offence, Dolly — some much-needed fire and fury to the lyrics.READ MORE ON BEYONCEWhile Dolly’s version painted her as being pretty wet, Beyonce’s is fierce, with her snarling: “I know I’m a queen, Jolene. I’m still a Creole banjee bitch from Louisiana — don’t try me.”Appearing to reference her 16-year marriage to Jay, Beyonce also changes the lyrics and sings: “The games you’re playing, nothing new, I know you don’t want no heat with me, Jolene.“We been deep in love for twenty years. I raised them man, I raised his kids. And I know my man, better than he knows himself.”Beyonce, below with Jay-Z, also pulled in big-gun collaborators in Miley Cyrus, Willie Nelson and Post Malone for Cowboy Carter, and covered Blackbird by The Beatles to beautiful effect.Most read in BizarreThe record is steeped in country, but smacks of Beyonce at her best, with her searingly honest lyrics cutting through on tracks such as II Hands II Heaven, Alligator Tears, II Most Wanted, which features Miley, and Bodyguard, which nods to Jay once again.On the latter, Beyonce appears to try to shut down the cheating rumours for good, singing: “I’ll defend you in the gossip.Beyonce steals Super Bowl spotlight by abruptly dropping two singles and announcing new album after Halftime Show“You know how people like to start s**t. I don’t like the way she’s looking at you. Somebody better hold me back.“Turning tear for a double and talking, I’m about to lose it, turn around and John Wayne now.”In Spaghetti, Bey also fires out a warning, singing: “They call me the captain, the catwalk assassin.Thе games you’re playing, nothing new, I know you don’t want no heat with me, JoleneBeyonce“Would name on that’s snapping, then here come the yapping.“All of the snitching, and all of this bitching.“Just a fishing expedition, dumb ambition in the kitchen. C**ty, country, petty, petty, petty. “All the same to me, Plain Jane, spaghetti.” As well as her marriage, Beyonce hints at her sizzling sex life with Jay — sorry Becky! — in Desert Eagle and her Post Malone collaboration Levi’s Jeans, and opens up about her relationship with her dad Mathew Knowles in Daughter.The album, like most of Beyonce’s recent records, will, of course, divide opinion.But most importantly, thanks to the unyielding power of her music and influence, Cowboy Carter will see Queen Bey retake the genre for the African American community who made country music what it is today.Tracks such as Ya Ya — which references The Beach Boys’ 1966 hit Good Vibrations — and Sweet Honey Buckin’ speak volumes.Despite holding the record for the most-ever Grammy wins with 32 gongs, Beyonce has never clinched Album of the Year — a fact called out by Jay-Z at last month’s ceremony when he picked up the Global Impact Award.And the point is hammered home by Bey on Sweet Honey Buckin’, with her singing: “A-O-T-Y, I ain’t win, I ain’t stung by them, turn that s**t on the chin.”If that didn’t make it clear enough, Cowboy Carter’s opening song, American Requiem, ought to do the trick.Opening up about her struggle to be heard and recognised, Beyonce sings: “They used to say I spoke, ‘too country’.“Then the rejection came, said I wasn’t, ‘country enough’.“Said I wouldn’t saddle up, but if that ain’t country, tell me, what is?“Tread my bare feet on solid ground for years.READ MORE SUN STORIES“They don’t know how hard I had to fight for this.”Trust me, Beyonce. They do now.TRACK-BY-TRACK…ALL 27 OF ’EM

      Ameriican Requiem – Beyonce claps back at criticism
      Blackbiird – Cover of the Beatles’ 1968 song hits a sweet spot
      16 Carriages – Telling all on the hard work behind her career
      Protector – A nod to her kids, Blue Ivy, Sir Carter and Rumi
      My Rose – Interlude that tells of her love for her family
      Smoke Hour – Willie Nelson’s fake announcement for KNTRY Radio strikes a fun note
      Texas Hold ’Em – Tailor-made for the dancefloor
      Bodyguard – About standing by Jay-Z
      Dolly P – Country legend Dolly Parton’s interlude sees her dissing her own Becky
      Jolene – A feisty reworking warning any woman who comes near Bey’s man
      Daughter – A nod to her fiercer side, saying she’s more like her dad than people think
      Spaghettii – Firing shots again and mocks “Plain Janes”
      Alliigator Tears – Tribute to her relationship with Jay-Z and what they’ve built
      Smoke Hour II – Another fun KNTRY radio announcement
      Just For Fun – Heartbreaking piano ballad about trying to move on from pain
      II Most Wanted ft. Miley Cyrus – Making her devotion to Jay-Z clear, saying she’ll be his shotgun until she dies
      Levii’s Jeans ft. Post Malone – Sexiest song on Cowboy Carter, it might make Jay-Z blush
      Flamenco – Upbeat and stripped back, a must-listen
      The Linda Martell Show – Interlude featuring Linda, the first commercially successful black female artist in country music
      Ya Ya – Listen out for references to the Beach Boys’ Good Vibrations with lyrics steeped in Bey’s family history
      Oh Louisiana – Another interlude but with powerful lyrics
      Desert Eagle – Like Levi’s Jeans, she gets sexy, singing about what makes Texan women the best
      Riiverdance – Baring her soul on love and heartbreak
      II Hands II Heaven – Lyrics reveal how Beyonce believes Jay-Z is her one and only soulmate
      Amen – A powerful song which sees her asking for mercy
      Sweet Honey Buckin’ – Taking aim at the Grammys
      Tyrant – Doing what she does best, with empowerment at its core More

    • 213 Shares

      in entertainment and celebrities

      How Black Crowes’ Chris and Rich Robinson ‘rekindled love affair’ with rock and roll in new album

      by

      OK, so let me explain one of the year’s most attention-grabbing new album titles . . . Happiness Bastards.The “happiness” represents the reconciliation of The Black Crowes’ brothers Chris and Rich Robinson and the “good place” they find themselves in.The Black Crowes’ brothers Chris and Rich Robinson have put out a new album with a pretty attention-grabbing name – Happiness Bastards“But we’re still bastards,” remarks guitarist Rich wryly, acknowledging the siblings’ warring past.“And rock and roll is the great bastard art form,” affirms singer Chris, alluding to their high-octane music incorporating blues, soul and country.The title actually comes from the only published novel by American beat poet Kirby Doyle.Chris explains: “I love beatnik-era literature and I started to read the lesser writers.READ MORE ROCK MUSIC“Everyone knows Allen Ginsberg and Jack Kerouac but this guy Kirby Doyle wrote a good book called Happiness Bastard and I thought, ‘Oh my God, it’s perfect for us’.”The new album is an unflinching testament to the brothers’ desire to “rekindle their love affair” with rock and roll.This time, it was all done in a friendly spirit. “Sometimes Chris had an idea and I would have a different idea so we had to defer to Jay [Joyce, producer] and that was cool,” says Rich.“It wasn’t like the old days when we would fight and scream. Our disagreements have become a lot more gentlemanly.”Most read in Music‘Funny and strange’Happiness Bastards is dominated by breathless, riff-driven, albeit soulful mayhem but it also finds room for a couple of richly atmospheric ballads.“These songs are fully transparent,” says Chris. “This is exactly how we feel — and it comes across.”Music video for She Talks To Angels by the Black CrowesAnd Rich: “We recorded the bulk of it in about two and a half weeks. No time to f*** around!”I’m talking to the Robinsons in separate video calls and I am immediately struck by their contrasting characters.Flamboyant frontman Chris is all big hand gestures and expansive views while Rich is calmer, more considered but equally engaging.Where once they were regarded as chalk and cheese, these days they complement each other perfectly — yin and yang, if you like.Chris agrees and says: “Rich and I ARE very different people but we’re both outsiders and have been since school.“I’m more gregarious and Rich has more social anxieties.“I’m dyslexic and I need communities around me. A band has always been more important to me than doing it all by myself. I like the input, the collaboration.”Los Angeles resident Chris is calling from Telluride, a ski resort town in the foothills of Colorado’s Rocky Mountains.“My wife Camille is an avid skier and it’s her birthday tomorrow,” he reports. “So, before the madness of the tour, she’s having one last little getaway to the mountains.”Rich is at home in Nashville, Tennessee, where the brothers’ 85-year-old mother also lives.There, he loves nothing more than to immerse himself in composing music. “I’m always writing,” he says. “That’s what I do.”To understand the full extent of The Black Crowes’ recent revival, you have to return to 2014 when they completed what Chris calls “the contractual obligation” tour.He likens the band at that time to one of those old stove-top kettles, and says: “We had to take it off the heat.”After being together since they were teenagers (aside from a hiatus between 2002 and 2005), it was time for the brothers to go their separate ways, possibly for ever.Chris says: “From the day that tour was over, I didn’t speak to Rich until 2019.”Dad-of-five Rich recalls how his children began asking questions: “Two of my guys were still really little at the time and they had never met Chris. “But my older guys would always ask, ‘How come you never talk to him?’”And Chris again: “When we eventually did get back together, believe it or not — we’re very funny and strange in our own way — we didn’t talk about our break from each other.”In fact, it was a chance meeting that prompted the band reunion.Chris continues: “My wife and I ran into Rich and his family in the lobby of The Bowery Hotel in New York. “That day, we committed to giving it another go. Our dynamic is brotherly and it is very deep.”Rich says they agreed on a plan where “we do the talking and not let people talk for us ­­— and we’re sticking to it”.‘Massive momentum’“We brought in new people who didn’t have an agenda. “If anyone has an agenda, they’re not going to be around very long. Our radar is attuned to that.”Chris and Rich reunited after having gone their separate ways for yearsThe initial plan for The Black Crowes 2.0 was to play live their searing 1990 debut album Shake Your Money Maker in full, as well as other fan favourites such as Remedy, Jealous Again and Thorn In My Pride.But having played just a handful of warm-up gigs in late 2019, along came the pandemic.Rich says: “We were ramping up, getting massive momentum towards the tour and suddenly we had an indefinite amount of time plopped in our laps.“So I started working on new songs in my home studio. I wound up writing more than 40, always with Chris in mind.“I would send them to him and he would pick what he wanted to work on and send them back.”Though the Shake Your Money Maker tour eventually got going in the summer of 2021, The Black Crowes had enough material to take things to the next level with their first studio album since 2009’s Before The Frost . . . Until The Freeze.Happiness Bastards serves as a raw and refreshing blast at a time when polished pop dominates major label thinking . . . and the airwaves.But Chris says there’s still a genuine thirst for rock and roll and that The Black Crowes aren’t its only saviours.“A few months ago, we saw AC/DC, Guns N’ Roses and Metallica at Power Trip [Indio, California] in front of 100,000 people,” he says.“I also watched Queens Of The Stone Age recently at the LA Forum. They were rocking out, playing beautiful riffs.”Rich picks up the thread: “The problem with a lot of music today is that there’s no humanity in it.“There’s a pursuit of perfection and a use of these tools that sucks all human qualities out of it.“Listen to a Beatles record – they’re all over the f***ing place. Same with Led Zeppelin and the Stones. That’s why their records are exciting. “Some of my favourite moments on my favourite records have f-ups in them. You listen to Zeppelin’s Since I’ve Been Loving You and you hear John Bonham’s squeaky kick-drum. That’s so cool.“You hear about the Stones and the chaos that went into making Exile On Main St in this mouldy French villa and it’s 100 degrees.“It’s amazing and it’s dangerous and can fall off the rails at any time but it’s brilliant and it never does. That’s the human element.”‘Beautiful mistake’We return to The Black Crowes and their undeniably “human” new music.Chris says of the recording process: “We were just really loose and funky.The brothers believe that a lot of older music feels so human because there’s more of a chance for a mistake to be made at any moment“I want my accountant to be perfect, I don’t need my art to be perfect! Unless it’s Leon­ardo da Vinci or William Blake or someone.“We like the beautiful mistake here and there, the irritant in the oyster that creates the pearl.”Though Happiness Bastards began as a long-distance collaboration, Chris explains the special chemistry that comes into play when he’s in the company of his brother.He says: “I live in California, Rich lives in Tennessee. He can send me files and I can start sketching things out but we work best the old way.“That means us being in a room with a couple of guitars, my notebooks strewn on the floor, a harmonica maybe — and we start banging it out.”The final track, the gospel-infused Kindred Friend, is a ballad driven by gorgeous acoustic guitar, piano, harmonica and strings, and is of special significance.Chris says: “On one level, it’s about two people who have reconnected, whether it’s good friends, whether it’s ex-lovers. “But it could be about me and Rich or The Black Crowes and our audience. Of course, I didn’t write it thinking in those terms.”The last song the Robinson brothers worked on before the recording sessions proper was wild album opener Bedside Manners. Rich says: “It was one of those songs that wrote itself — it took five minutes.“Some songs flow like that and I never question it. I just take it and bow down in reverence and respect.”The equally explosive Rats And Clowns is an unabashed Black Crowes tribute to the band that got the teenage Robinsons into rock and roll in the first place, AC/DC.“One of my earliest memories of wanting a guitar was when I saw the cover of If You Want Blood You’ve Got It,” recalls Rich. “I must have been about 11.“You see Angus Young with that [Gibson] SG sticking in his gut and I was like, ‘F***, man!’ It was enough to hook me. The power between him and his brother Malcolm was unbelievable.”In 1991, not long after The Black Crowes hit the big time, they found themselves on the same Monsters Of Rock bill at Castle Donington as their heroes.Rich says: “One of my favourite moments was watching Angus play slide with a lighter during soundcheck. It sounded so good!”All these years later, he is paying his respects. “Rats And Clowns is my humble tribute to the great Angus and Malcolm guitar duo.”Chris adds: “It’s an obvious nod to AC/DC. Rich plays all the guitar on that track.“We had the most fun I think we’ve ever had in the studio on that solo. It’s probably the coolest solo he’s ever played.”Another Happiness Bastards song deserving special mention is the dark ballad Wilted Rose which matches Chris’s rock voice with breakthrough country singer Lainey Wilson’s.Chris says: “Lainey is the loveliest person, very authentic and a real superstar. She told us, ‘I’m from a little town in Louisiana and I loved The Black Crowes growing up’.”‘He’s fearless’As the chats wind up, one question I’ve held back is what each Robinson admires about the other — just to test their rekindled feelings of brotherly love.First, Chris on Rich: “He and I are in a good place. We’re happy to be on tour together, we go for dinner together and we laugh together.“He is a unique guitar player, so different from anybody else. For instance, he didn’t learn the Stairway To Heaven guitar solo!”And Rich on Chris: “His voice is as good as it’s ever sounded, if not better. His control is amazing. And I’ve always loved his lyrics.“In the band, he’s the one who stands up there and he’s the guy. He takes the heat and he’s fearless.”Finally, with The Black Crowes winging their way to the UK for four dates in May, how do the brothers feel about themselves?Rich: “It’s been great — the band’s in good shape and I’m really happy with the record. All of it is stellar.”And Chris: “The last couple of years on tour have been fantastic. For the first time, we really know who we are.“Personally, I’ve never been happier being the song and dance man.“I’ve never had more fun putting on my shiny shoes, getting up there and shaking my ass a little bit.”READ MORE SUN STORIESAlbum rating: 4 and a half stars out of 5
      Out tomorrow More

    • 225 Shares

      in entertainment and celebrities

      From country music to cowboy fashion, why celebs from Beyonce to Miley Cyrus are going mad for Texas

      by

      IT’S a well-known fact that wherever Beyonce goes, the rest of the world is sure to follow.The global superstar has shown she is the queen of reinvention after announcing she is set to release her debut country album, Act II: Cowboy Carter, at the end of this month.Beyonce has landed her sixth number one in the UK with her country single Texas Hold ‘Em, and is set to release a new album at the end of this monthCredit: InstagramThere is a resurgence of Texan style, just as the UK has signed a big trade deal with the Lone Star StateCredit: EPABey, 42, recently became the first black woman to top Billboard’s country music chart in the US after her new tune, Texas Hold ’Em, made its debut at No1.She also scored her sixth chart-topping single in the UK with the track.But it may not have come as a ­surprise to die-hard fans.The singer wore a giant cowboy hat to the Grammys and is, after all, from Houston, Texas, herself.READ MORE ON BEYONCEAnd now the Lone Star State is set to become our saviour after joining Britain in a major post-Brexit trade agreement. UK Business Secretary Kemi Badenoch welcomed Texas ­Governor Greg Abbott in Westminster to sign the Statement of Mutual Cooperation, hailing it a “landmark.”This will be the UK’s eighth deal with an individual US state.The pact will address regulatory barriers to trade between Britain and Texas, helping to boost investment and commerce between the two ­economies and making it easier for companies to do business.Most read in CelebrityIt comes as the UK Government tries to forge state-level deals due to the absence of a wider free trade agreement with America.Beyonce steals Super Bowl spotlight by abruptly dropping two singles and announcing new album after Halftime Show‘Everything’s super-sized’Texas — home of the cowboy — is the eighth largest economy in the world, and has a GDP of £1.9trillion, meaning it is worth more than Canada, Russia and Australia.And the state which brought us 1980s telly smash Dallas is revelling in its current glory.Kylie Jenner seems to become fascinated with Texas recently and has said she’d love to live in HoustonCredit: InstagramGlam model Bella Hadid is now going to rodeos to cheer on new boyfriend Adan BanuelosCredit: InstagramAnd Miley Cyrus has showed off her big and bouncy ‘Texas hair’, which has become the hot new styleCredit: GettyBut Beyonce is not the only celeb hoedowning over it. We have also had Bella Hadid cheering on new boyfriend Adan Banuelos at the rodeo, Kylie Jenner’s Texas obsession and Miley Cyrus’ big and bouncy “Texas hair” — the hot new style.Country music is having a real moment thanks to Beyonce, with many other artists saddling up to ­follow a similar career path.Indie pop star Lana Del Rey, who is releasing a country album called Lasso in September, has declared: “The music business is going country.”And former One Direction star Zayn Malik may be hoping the toe-tapping genre will provide him with a huge comeback hit.He looks set to release a new ­country-inspired solo album in May, working alongside Grammy award-winning, Nashville-based producer Dave Cobb on his new record.Country singer turned pop megastar Taylor Swift, 34, has also helped to drive Western fashion, with fans ­honouring her by wearing cowboy boots to her Eras tour concerts.Famous for its legendary cowboy culture, everything in Texas is super-sized — even the hairdos.Dubbed “The Texan blowout” by one top stylist, the trend has been sported by a string of celebs.Appearing to take inspiration from her godmother and country icon Dolly Parton, Miley, 31, debuted her own bouffant at the Grammys.Beyonce also went XXL with platinum blonde curls at the Super Bowl, with her stylist Neal Farinah calling it “Super Bowl Texan hair”.Explaining why the “big is better” do — which hasn’t been in fashion since the days of Sue Ellen on Dallas — is once again bang on trend, art director at London-based Neville Hair and Beauty, Jason Crozier, said: “The Texan hair blowout serves as a refreshing counter-narrative to the minimalist aesthetic.“It’s a visual feast, a celebration of excess in the best possible way, reminding us of the joy and empowerment that can come from full self-expression.”Fans honour Taylor Swift by wearing cowboy boots at her Eras tour concertsCredit: GettyThe ‘bigger is better’ hairdo sported by Sue Ellen on Dallas is now backCredit: AlamyKim Kardashian shows off her curves in a tiny top paired with a black StetsonCredit: InstagramSupermodel Bella Hadid is another star embracing the cowgirl aesthetic thanks to her blossoming romance with Adan Banuelos, 34, a professional equestrian and trainer. According to his website, he has “amassed over five million dollars in earnings aboard a horse”.Earlier this month, Bella, 27, was snapped in a black Stetson smiling as she supported him at the American Performance Horseman, an annual rodeo in the Texan city of Arlington.Bella, an experienced horseback rider herself, was first spotted getting cosy with the cowboy in October last year when they were seen kissing at the historic Fort Worth Stockyards, which is one of the most popular attractions in Texas.While visiting, she has been ­competing in equestrian competitions, sparking rumours she could be ­considering a career as a cowgirl.Reality TV star Kylie Jenner lives in Los Angeles, California, close to her Kardashian sisters — but she’s been a regular visitor to Texas with her now ex-boyfriend, rapper Travis Scott, 32, who is originally from Houston.The couple, who share kids Stormi, six, and two-year-old Aire, often returned to his hometown, including taking Stormi to the Houston Zoo on a VIP tour when she was three, leading to the venue closing the ­carousel twice.The pair split up in January last year, but it seems Kylie, 26, who has reportedly been dating actor Timothee Chalamet, always held the Lone Star State close to her heart.Asked by Vogue magazine in 2021 where she would like to live if she could choose any other city in the country, she said Houston — suggesting a California exodus could be on the cards.Texas’ population grew by nearly 1.6million between 2020 and 2023, helping to boost its economy. And as State taxes, crime and the general cost of ­living continues to rise in ­California, it has become the new home for many big businesses, turning cities such as Austin and San Antonio into tech powerhouses.Two years ago, Elon Musk opened a Tesla gigafactory the size of 138 football pitches just outside Austin, declaring a year earlier that the capital city is going “to be the biggest boomtown America has seen in 50 years”.‘Privacy draws celebs’Hollywood’s Matthew McConaughey relocated back to his home state of Texas in 2022 after years of living in LA.Born in Uvalde, he now lives in Austin with his wife, Brazilian model and designer Camila Alves, 41, and their three children, Levi, 15, Vida, 14, and Livingston, 11, in a 10,800sq ft Spanish-Mediterranean-style mansion. The 54-year-old Oscar winner said of Austin: “I’ve been just waiting for the secret to get out. I’m excited for the growth. We’re not going back.“We don’t have a landmark like ­Niagara Falls or Disney World or the Eiffel Tower.“They’re all coming for the vibe — we’ve got people.”One of the biggest draws for big-name celebrities seems to be the privacy that Texas offers.Speaking about the move, Camila, 41, said in a recent interview: “We lived in Malibu for many years, having the paparazzi outside our door every day — every single day.“When that becomes your normal, you don’t realise how much that’s ­actually affecting the things you do until you leave and get out of it.”She added: “The kids get to have a private way of growing up. So, from that perspective, it was very important.”Academy Award-winning actress Emma Stone also moved to Austin with her husband, former Saturday Night Live writer and director Dave McCary, in 2022.Their £6million mansion recently went viral on TikTok after aerial views of the 5,000sq ft property appeared online following her recent best actress win at the Oscars for Poor Things.And earlier this year, Emma, 35, put her Spanish-style LA home up for sale, suggesting a permanent move could be on the cards.READ MORE SUN STORIESWhile the UK will never be a match for Texas, if anything comes from this new agreement it should be this . . .That we import a little of its yee-haw and its get up and go.TEN BIG TEXAN FACTS

      TEXAS Independence Day is celebrated annually on March 2 to celebrate independence from Mexico in 1836.
      Texas’s nickname, The Lone Star State, pays tribute to the Lone Star flag, which was adopted after Texas broke away from its southern neighbour.
      The red, white and blue colours of the state flag are legally required to exactly match the colours of the United States flag.
      The state of Texas is larger than any European country.
      It is the live-music capital of the world. The city of Austin has more live-music venues per capita than anywhere else in the US.
      Chili con carne has been the official state dish of Texas since 1977, although there is an ongoing debate about whether it can have beans in it.
      The frozen margarita was invented in Dallas by Mariano Martinez in 1971 after he converted a soft-serve ice-cream machine.
      Texas is home to more than a million horses, accounting for nearly 15 per cent of all horses in the US.
      It is illegal to milk another person’s cow in Texas because it violates the state’s penal code. It is considered theft of personal property – but the fine is no more than £8.
      Texan superstition rules that you should not put your cowboy hat on a bed as it can bring on bad luck, injury or even death. More

    • 163 Shares

      in entertainment and celebrities

      Oscar nominated superstar new favourite to become James Bond following Daniel Craig’s departure

      by

      CILLIAN MURPHY could be the man with the golden gong on Sunday night if he proves bookies right and wins the Best Actor Oscar for Oppenheimer.And now I can exclusively reveal he is joining the running to take over from Daniel Craig as the next James Bond.Cillian Murphy is now in the running to take over from Daniel Craig as the next James BondCredit: The Mega AgencyDaniel left the franchise after his fifth outing as the secret agent in 2021’s No Time To DieCredit: GettyFilm bosses are still on the hunt for a new 007, after Daniel chose to put down his Walther PPK follow­ing his fifth outing as the secret agent in 2021’s No Time To Die.And the Peaky Blinders actor has now caught their attention after his starring turn in Oppenheimer, which has been clearing up during awards season.A source said: “Cillian is the toast of Hollywood right now and this would be the ultimate role. “This is a way to elevate the Bond franchise with an actor who is at the very top of his game.”read more on james bondBond producer Barbara Brocc­oli has been keeping a close eye on Cillian for the past year.However, work on the 26th movie featuring the secret agent created by writer Ian Fleming is not expected to start until later next year at the earliest.Clay Bunker, who starred opposite Cillian in Oppen­heimer, is also backing him as the next Bond — citing his roles as gangster Tommy Shelby in Peaky Blinders and Scarecrow in the Dark Knight trilogy.Clay said: “He would fare beau­tifully. IMost read in Bizarre”t’s funny because Cillian is the nicest human but he has that dark side and there’s a darkness to Bond. “We forget that sometimes Bond is like the character Fleming created — a pretty dark character.James Bond fans are convinced they know who next 007 is after A-list stars drop major hint“He just happens to be on the side that we call good. Cillian has that ability to tap into that.“We’ve seen that in something like Peaky Blinders, even in Batman when he is playing Scarecrow — the myriad of other films he’s done.”But he himself has goodness.“He’s got a focus thing, which is very James Bond as well. “When he’s on a mission, he can do it. “Cillian has tapp­ed into all that. He can do anything.”Another of Cillian’s co-stars in the atomic bomb epic, Christina Hogue, said the ending of the last 007 movie provides the ideal opportunity to introduce a different Bond.She explained: “It leaves the canvas wide open for something entirely new. “And when Daniel Craig did it, he was breaking a mould.”I couldn’t imagine a better Bond. Cillian was so brooding as Tommy Shelby and I think he could more than do 007 justice.OUCH, KRISTENI CAN feel the chafe just by looking at Kristen Stewart’s latest red carpet outfit.The Twilight actress wore this insanely uncomfortable-looking leotard for the premiere of Love Lies Bleeding in Beverly Hills.Kristen Stewart wore this insanely uncomfortable-looking leotard for the premiere of Love Lies Bleeding in Beverly HillsCredit: GettyIt’s not the first time Kristen has hit the headlines for her bold style this year.She appeared on the cover of Rolling Stone magazine this month in a jockstrap and leather waistcoat.It caused quite a stir but Kristen hit back at her critics saying she loved taking her style to the next level.She said “The existence of a female body thrusting any type of sexuality at you that’s not designed for exclusively straight males is something people are not super comfy with and so I’m really happy with it.”All power to Kristen, I say, but I’ll be sticking to my baggy jeans.
      PERRIE EDWARDS has been grafting away for years to perfect her solo music and she may have accidentally given away some vital information about it.
      The Little Mix singer last night hosted drinks for her management team Modest and the company posted a snap of the bar on Instagram.
      Zooming in on the shot, fans noticed their cocktails and mocktails were both called Forget Me Not.
      They are now convinced Perrie’s debut single has that title.

      BEY’S COUNTRY BOOSTCOUNTRY music has never been cooler, with Beyonce on for her third week at No1 with her single Texas Hold ’Em.And tomorrow Country To Country festival kicks off here, with three days of amazing live music from some of the genre’s biggest stars in London, Glasgow and Belfast.Beyonce is on for her third week at No1 with her single Texas Hold ’EmCredit: GettyKane Brown is performing at the Country To Country festival in London, Glasgow and BelfastCredit: GettyBroadcast legend Bob Harris is hosting the three-day eventCredit: PA:Press AssociationI caught up with headliner Kane Brown ahead of his gigs, who told me has something very special on the cards for his fans.Kane, who has collaborated with artists including H.E.R. and Camila Cabello, said: “I usually have a high-energy show but I’ve noticed when I come over here they love deep cuts. “I’ve got a new song called Fiddle In The Band but I’m not sure if my band will have it ready or not. “My last song, I Can Feel It, it will be my first time playing it here.”Broadcast legend Bob Harris is hosting the three-day event in London and told me he couldn’t wait to watch Kane play live.In an exclusive chat, Bob said: “Country music is coming to the forefront now and to somebody like myself, who has been in this lane for such a long time, it’s great to see country is developing and that great black artists are enriching country music. “Kane is one of the most successful.”On the new wave of country music, Bob added: “Beyonce is this moment.“What’s fabulous also about her record is that one of the people on it is one of the most prominent musicians, Rhiannon Giddens.“Rhiannon is a true black roots American artist. She is amazing. “So for Beyonce to call into that record people with true authenticity is in itself huge.”I’ve got my cowboy boots ready to go – and I’ll see you there.
      NEW Voice UK judge Leann Rimes is heading here for a one-off gig before taking a seat on the show’s revolving red chairs.
      And she will be in good company when she takes to the stage at London’s O2 arena on May 8.
      Nina Nesbitt has been confirmed as support for the show, with more special guests to be announced.

      JAX AND JADE’S BANGERHE has released hit after hit over the past few years.But DJ Jax Jones told me he thinks he could be sitting on his biggest banger yet after recording with Jade Thirlwall.DJ Jax Jones told me he thinks he could be sitting on his biggest banger yet after recording with Jade ThrilwallCredit: RexJax and the Little Mix star hit the studio almost two years ago but the song has never seen the light of day. And Jax, whose new single Never Be Lonely, with Zoe Wees, is out now, told me he wants to get Jade’s tune out there. He said: “t’s a good song. If she wants to use it, it’s there.“Miley Cyrus and Pharrell Williams released Doctor, which was recorded years ago, so you never really know what will happen. “But I know I have written some cool music with Jade and we are still cool and we vibe.”HE has made no secret of his passion for psychedelics in the past.Now Jaden Smith appears to have a thing for funny looking fags.Jaden Smith was spotted leaving the Louis Vuitton Paris Fashion Week after- partyCredit: The Mega AgencyJaden was spotted holding a suspicious look fagCredit: The Mega AgencyThe musician son of Hollywood A-listers Will and Jada Pinkett Smith was spotted leaving the Louis Vuitton Paris Fashion Week after- party. Jaden had been out with stars including Sophie Turner at the bash at Maxim’s until 3am.Opening up about trying psychedelics, Jaden said: “My mum was the first one to make that step for the family.”My mum thinks mushrooms are just for cooking . . .ELLA SETS SIGHTS KY HIGHRISING star Kamille helped Kylie Minogue write her last album Tension.And now another British singer wants to get in on the act with the Aussie too.Ella Henderson wants to collaborate with Kylie MinogueCredit: GettyElla Henderson said: “I think this last year especially has been incredible for music, and for women in music. “To be a small part of that feels amazing.“My favourite Kylie song is I Can’t Get You Out Of My Head.“It’s iconic just because of the video. But Padam is the new era of Can’t Get You Out Of My Head.“One of my goals is to get in the studio with Kylie even if it’s to write a record for her.“I love writing with other artists so to do something with Kylie would be wicked.”I think you’ll be joining a long queue, Ella, but it would be great to see it happen.
      ZOE BALL will be taking time out from her Radio 2 breakfast show to care for her mum Julia after revealing she has cancer.
      The presenter said yesterday: “Heartbreakingly our beautiful Mama Julia has been diagnosed with cancer.
      “These are extremely tough times, mum is being incredibly brave.
      “Sending out love to people reading this battling cancer, awaiting diagnosis & also to folk looking after their dear ones who are poorly.”
      She added: “I’m trying to be at work on breakfast as often as I can but occasionally need to be home with my mama.”

      BRITTY WOMAN IT’S good to see Raye still keeping it real after breaking records at The Brit Awards over the weekend.The Escapism singer took off her shoes when she took to the stage at the Hilton hotel on London’s Park Lane for an intimate gig.Raye took off her shoes when she took to the stage at the Hilton hotel on London’s Park Lane for an intimate gigCredit: Dave BenettRaye was a special guest at the Secret Socials night and played a stunning set with some of the standout songs from her album My 21st Century Blues.READ MORE SUN STORIESShe took home an incredible six gongs during the ceremony on Saturday and partied until the early hours with her family to celebrate.It’s been hard earned, Raye, but enjoy the spoils. You deserve it. More

    • 225 Shares

      in entertainment and celebrities

      A-list star looks almost unrecognisable as she shows off range of new hair styles to promote beauty line

      by

      BEYONCÉ puts her “love on crop” — as she looks almost unrecognisable with new hairstyles to promote her beauty range.The superstar singer wore her long locks dyed red, with a short, blunt fringe and chopped like a mullet for the shoot with mag CR Fashion Book.Beyonce looked almost unrecognisable with new hairstyles in a shoot to promote her beauty rangeCredit: LOUISE & MARIA THORNFELDTThe star singer posed for CR FashionCredit: LOUISE & MARIA THORNFELDTAnd the cropping wasn’t just for her hair, with one outfit cut high to give a cheeky flash.The mum-of-four said: “One of my hair nightmares was at the 2001 Grammys.“It was the year Destiny’s Child won our first Grammy. “I took bleach that was made for bleaching eyebrows, and put it in the front of my hair because I was too impatient to wait on the colour.READ MORE ON BEYONCE “It got my hair very platinum but two weeks later the front of my hair broke off really badly.“I’ve done some crazy things with my hair but you can’t live with regrets. “Being safe is boring.“We all have those hair moments that are wildly unattractive at one point in our lives.”Most read in CelebrityLast month The Sun reported how Bey made history by topping the UK singles chart for the first time in almost 14 years with Texas Hold ’Em.The icon is also the first black woman to top the US Billboard country music chart.The song, released on February 11 during the Super Bowl, is expected to feature on her album which will be released on March 29.Beyonce dropped the news minutes after Usher performed at the Halftime Show.The R&B singer was in the crowd with Jay-Z to watch the Kansas City Chiefs and the San Francisco 49ers compete for the title.The star is now rumoured to be planning a residency at The Sphere in Las Vegas.The former Destiny’s Child member looked flash with long blonde hairCredit: LOUISE & MARIA THORNFELDTIn one shoot, Bey had her hair chopped up like a mulletCredit: LOUISE & MARIA THORNFELDTOne outfit was also cut high to give a cheeky flashCredit: ED AKED More

    • 188 Shares

      in entertainment and celebrities

      How Beyonce is vying for Madonna’s Queen of Reinvention crown after making surprise career move

      by

      SHE’S vying for Madonna’s crown as the queen of reinvention, having had chart success in everything from dance and Latin to house and pop.Now, 34 years into her career, Beyonce has done it again with a surprise move into country music and another No1 single.
      Beyonce has made a surprise move into country music and scored another No1 singleCredit: Beyonce.com
      Beyonce, who was born in Houston, Texas, pictured as a babyCredit: Xposure
      Beyonce with husband Jay-Z at this month’s GrammysCredit: Getty
      It was revealed on Friday that the American superstar had scored her sixth chart-topping track in the UK — with Texas Hold ’Em, from her upcoming debut country album.
      It now looks set for another week at the top, early chart figures show.
      Genre-hopping Beyonce, 42, last week became the first black woman to top Billboard’s Country Music chart in the US.
      She has now scored No1 hits on NINE of Billboard’s charts including the Hot 100, Gospel, Latin and R&B.
      read more on beyonce
      On March 29 she will drop her new album, so far titled just Renaissance Act II, which is expected to further cement her all-conquering status in an industry that can be ruthless towards women over 40.
      She sent her fans into meltdown earlier this month when, in an ad break during the Super Bowl, she announced she was releasing new music — before dropping singles Texas Hold ’Em and 16 Carriages as well as the album release date.
      Her news rather overshadowed the US sports showcase’s earlier half-time ­performer, R&B star Usher.
      After Beyonce’s genre pivot she was hit by a backlash from the country scene, with Oklahoma radio station KYKC refusing to play Texas Hold ’Em.
      Most read in Celebrity
      A fan shared a message from the station online and accused them of “racism and discrimination” for snubbing the track.
      But such is the power of Beyonce, they reversed their decision due to overwhelming support for the star and her fresh sound.
      Beyonce and Lady Gaga drop biggest hint yet Telephone sequel is coming 14 years later – as fans spot three ‘clues’ from their Super Bowl reunion
      Country icon Dolly Parton showed her backing on Instagram, posting: “I’m a big fan of Beyonce and very excited she’s done a country album.
      “So, congratulations on your Billboard Hot Country No1 single. Can’t wait to hear the full album!”
      Beyonce’s latest success has also helped to shine a light on other black American women in country music.
      Streams of songs by Tanner Adell have leapt by 188 per cent, while Reyna Roberts has seen a jump of 250 per cent.
      But it is not the first time Beyonce has ruffled feathers on the country scene.
      In 2016, she performed her song Daddy Lessons at the Country Music Awards and it was met with anger from some viewers, who said a non-country artist should not have featured.
      But her father and ex-manager, Mathew Knowles, insists she has been a fan of the style from a young age, after hearing Mathew and her mum Tina playing it.
      And her new music is testament to her resolve to stay at the top of her game, which she has done for three decades with smart business moves and changes to her music.
      An industry insider said: “Beyonce is the secret to Beyonce’s success.
      “She is one of the most driven and hardest-working people in music.
      “She will put ten times more work in than anyone else, to everything she does. She is a perfectionist.
      I respect things that take work, I respect things that are built from the ground upBeyonce
      “With every project, she hand-picks the most talented people in that field to work with, and brings them into her inner circle.
      “It becomes a labour of love for everybody and she is so inspiring that she brings out the best in everyone she meets.”
      In her 2019 Netflix documentary Homecoming, Bey gave an insight into the lengths she goes to as an artist.
      In particular, she opened up about her headline show at Coachella the previous year, which she rehearsed for eight months.
      Beyonce said: “I respect things that take work, I respect things that are built from the ground up.
      “I’m super-specific about every detail.
      “I personally selected each dancer, every light, the material on the steps, the height of the pyramid, shape of the pyramid — every patch was hand-sewn.
      “Every tiny detail had an intention. We all worked to our limit.”
      Beyonce in her Ivy Park fashion ad in 2021 with daughters Rumi and Blue IvyCredit: BackGrid
      Beyonce in her Destiny’s Child days with LaTavia Roberson, Kelly Rowland, and LeToya LuckettCredit: Getty
      Beyonce in the video for new single Texas Hold ’EmCredit: BackGrid
      On what she hopes her work can inspire in her fans, she added: “It shows them they are limitless — it’s possible.
      “If my country ass can do it, they can do it.”
      No one knows her remarkable work ethic better than best friend Kelly Rowland, 43, who was a childhood pal and later a bandmate in Destiny’s Child.
      Speaking in 2022, Kelly said: “I watch the way she works.
      “She works so incredibly intricately.
      “It’s something you’re born with — you either have it or you don’t.
      “It’s a really dope focus and it’s one of the many reasons it makes her so f***ing dope.”
      Recalling their childhood together in Houston, Texas, Kelly said: “When some of us wanted to go to the movies, when we did have our off- time, she was in the studio sitting there by herself writing a record.
      “I’ll never forget, we were at an indoor gym having fun like kids are supposed to and she sat out in the hot-ass car and was writing a track.
      Her work ethic . . . I ain’t as monstrous. I’ve never seen anything like itKelly Rowland
      “I remember going, ‘Where B at?’ They said: ‘Oh, she’s in the car.’
      “And I went and sat in the passenger seat and she just wrote this record.
      “And I was like, ‘We be out here trying to have fun and this girl, she’s on it.
      “‘She lives this. Like she wants this bad.’
      “It is no surprise to me that she is the icon she is.
      “Her work ethic . . . I ain’t as monstrous. I’ve never seen anything like it.”
      As well as Beyonce’s eight No1s on the main US Hot 100 chart, and record 32 Grammys, she has ten on the R&B/ Hip-Hop chart — including Single Ladies (Put A Ring On It) and Drunk In Love with her husband Jay-Z.
      On the Hot R&B chart, she has had three No1s, while her 2020 collaboration Savage with Megan Thee Stallion saw her top the Hot Rap rundown.
      In 2017, her remix of Mi Gente with J Balvin and Willy Williams took her to the top of the Hot Latin chart.
      Then in 2022, Break My Soul, the lead single from her seventh album Renaissance, reached No1 on the Dance/Electronic roster.
      Other hits include her 2014 track Say Yes on the Hot Gospel chart and a 2007 duet with Justin Timberlake, Until The End Of Time, on the Bubbling Under rundown.
      Beyonce also has plenty of projects away from music — not to mention her kids with Jay-Z, daughter Blue Ivy, 12, and six-year-old twins, son Sir and daughter Rumi.
      She has her own production and management firm, Parkwood Entertainment, and makes documentaries and music visuals.
      She also executive-produced the soundtrack to the live-action Lion King film in 2019, and her company has produced Beyonce’s films Black Is King, in 2020, and last year’s Renaissance.
      She has had fashion lines, too, and last week launched her own hair-care brand Cecred.
      But now there is speculation she may hit the road again.
      Her 56-date Renaissance world tour in 2023 was the eighth-highest gross-ing tour ever, making £460million.
      She has yet to confirm a new tour to accompany her country album — part of a trilogy likely involving yet another change of direction.
      READ MORE SUN STORIES
      But she would surely sell out stadiums around the world following rave reviews for her last gigs, despite high ticket prices.
      For this most wondrous chameleon, anything is possible.
      Beyonce with parents Matthew and TinaCredit: Getty
      Beyonce on her Renaissance tour last yearCredit: Getty More

    • 63 Shares

      in entertainment and celebrities

      Who is Reba McEntire dating?

      by

      COUNTRY music legend Reba McEntire knows how to make headlines for her music, and now with her love life.She’s been the queen of country music since the 1970s, so fans are always paying attention to her dating life.
      Singer Reba McEntire was previously married twiceCredit: Getty
      Who is Reba McEntire?
      Reba McEntire is a famous American country singer.
      Born in McAlester, Oklahoma on March 28, 1955, she shot to stardom in the 1970s.
      She’s sold more than 75 million records worldwide and even had her own television show from 2001-2007.
      Who is Reba McEntire dating?
      Reba has been dating her Young Sheldon co-star, Rex Linn, since early 2020.
      Read More on Reba McEntire
      Reba spoke of her and Linn’s romance during an appearance on The Today Show on Thursday, October 14, 2021.
      She said on the program, “Rex and I had known each other since 1991 when we were in The Gambler movie together with Kenny Rogers, and then have known each other, kept in contact.”
      “And then in 2020 when Mama got sick, he called me. We’d gotten to see each other before because we’re both on Young Sheldon.”
      “So starting in March of 2020, we just kept talking and visiting and finally got together in June. We’ve been pretty much inseparable ever since.”
      Most read in Celebrity
      Has Reba McEntire ever been married?
      From 1989 to 2015, Reba was married to her manager, Narvel Blackstock.
      The pair announced their divorce in August 2015, which was finalized in October of the same year.
      Reba’s marriage to Blackstock was her second, following her first one to Charlie Battles.
      She married Battles in 1976 and the couple divorced in 1987.
      Does Reba McEntire have any children?
      Reba has one son, born in February of 1990, from her former marriage to Narvel Blackstock.
      She gained three stepchildren from her and Blackstock’s dissolved union as well.
      Despite the divorce, Reba maintains a close relationship with her three former stepchildren.
      One of her former stepsons, Brandon Blackstock, was married to singer Kelly Clarkson from October 2013 to August 2021. More