In a new interview with Knox News, Dolly Parton revealed that she set some ground rules before collaborating with pop star Sabrina Carpenter on a remix of the song, "Please Please Please." “I told her, ‘Now, I don’t cuss,'” Parton recalled. “‘I don’t make fun of Jesus. I don’t talk bad about God, and I don’t say dirty words on camera, but known to if I get mad enough.'” Parton went on to praise Carpenter, saying of her new collaborator, "She was so sweet" even if she does “talk a little bad now and then.” Parton also shared an update on how she was holding up after the recent loss of her husband, Carl Dean. “I’m doing better than I thought I would,” she said. “I’ve been with him 60 years. So, I’m going to have to relearn some of the things that we’ve done. But I’ll keep him always close. I’m at peace that he’s at peace. But that don’t keep me from missing and loving him.” (Billboard)

Emmy-nominated director Marty Callner, known for his provocative music videos in the Eighties, died on March 17 at the age of 78. His family revealed that Callner died of natural causes at his home in Malibu. His impactful career included directing iconic music videos for artists like Aerosmith (“Love in an Elevator,” “Dude Looks Like a Lady,” and their Alicia Silverstone trilogy), Whitesnake (“Here I Go Again”), Cher (“If I Could Turn Back Time”), Poison (“Every Rose Has Its Thorn”), Stevie Nicks (“Stand Back”), Pat Benatar (“We Belong”), Twisted Sister (“We’re Not Gonna Take It”), and many more. “The more over the top you were, the better it was for MTV, and Marty had that sense of bombast and blowing everything up,” said Twisted Sister’s Dee Snider. Callner's boundary-pushing approach extended to his work with comedians like Billy Crystal and Robin Williams, as well as directing concert films for music legends like Britney Spears, Paul Simon, Garth Brooks, and Fleetwood Mac. Callner received 12 Emmy Award nominations and two Grammy nominations throughout his illustrious career. (Rolling Stone)

Billboard will be honoring Gracie Abrams as Songwriter of the Year at their upcoming Women In Music ceremony on March 29. This continues a creative hot streak for the 25-year-old musician, who was a Best New Artist nominee at the 2024 Grammy Awards, followed by a coveted opening slot on Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour. Her No. 2-charting album, The Secret of Us, included a duet with Swift, “Us,” that was nominated for Best Pop Duo/Group Performance at this year’s Grammys. Abrams’ new single, “That’s So True,” peaked at No. 6 on the Hot 100, becoming her highest-charting hit to date. “It’s such a dream and a pretty wild ride to look back on the year and be able to reflect on all of these moments that I never could have imagined ever happening,” Abrams recalls. Even with that success, the young songwriter only wants to keep learning. “Taylor is a great example of someone I’ve been lucky enough to spend a lot of time around and every single time I’m like, ‘Tell me everything you know, please. Teach me how to be.’” (Billboard)

On Thursday (March 20), Janet Jackson disclosed that she will not be headlining the second night of the Cincinnati Music Festival on July 26 due to “personal matters,” as confirmed in a statement released by promoters. “To all my Cincinnati Music Festival fans…. I’m so sorry that I won’t be able to be with you all in July,” Jackson said in a statement. “Some personal matters have come up and I am unable to attend. I look forward to seeing you all soon!” The festival, which also features artists like Earth, Wind & Fire, Scarface, Lucky Daye, the Sugarhill Gang, Anthony Hamilton, Young MC, and Jazmine Sullivan, has been a summertime staple since it was first hosted in Cincinnati in 1962, evolving from jazz to encompass a wide range of R&B, soul, and hip-hop acts over the years. “Festival organizers are working quickly to fill her spot on the lineup,” the event promoters said in a statement. (Billboard)

A new two-part documentary exploring the musical careers of Nick Carter of Backstreet Boys and the late pop singer Aaron Carter is scheduled to premiere on Paramount+ on April 15. The Carters: Hurts to Love You will be told by the brothers' sister, Angel Carter Conrad, where she will “unpack the complicated family dynamics that led to the untimely deaths of three of the original five Carter kids as well as their father.” The documentary will delve into the complexities of the Carter family’s dynamics, while aiming to offer a message of hope for those facing similar challenges of mental health issues and addiction. The film, directed by Punky Brewster star Soleil Moon Frye, will feature intimate materials like home videos and private text messages, along with interviews from friends such as Melissa Joan Hart and Scout Willis. Despite Nick Carter facing allegations of sexual assault from multiple women, including an upcoming trial for Melissa Schuman, he has denied the claims and has not been charged with any crimes related to these allegations. (Rolling Stone)

On Wednesday (March 19), Ed Sheeran shared a preview of his new track, "Azizam," on Instagram, while also revealing the exciting news that his upcoming album is completed and a new single is on the way. In the video, he is seen dancing and singing along to the unreleased song in the studio with producer Ilya Salmanzadeh, with Sheeran captioning the post, “Album done. Single soon. I’m very excited as you can tell.” "Azizam," which is a Persian term of  endearment, was first performed during a spontaneous street performance in New Orleans on Saturday (March 15). Sheeran followed that up by surprising fans with acoustic performances in Nashville on Sunday and Boston on St. Patrick’s Day, as part of the pop superstar’s series of impromptu appearances across the U.S. throughout the holiday weekend. Sheeran’s forthcoming album will be his eighth studio release, following his successful 2023 LP, Autumn Variations, which reached No. 4 on the Billboard 200. (Rolling Stone)

Former Eminem employee Joseph Strange has been charged with copyright infringement and interstate transportation of stolen goods for allegedly stealing and selling unreleased music from the Detroit rapper that was leaked online in January. Strange, who worked as a sound engineer for Eminem from 2007 to 2021, reportedly sold the music to various individuals, leading to more than 25 leaked songs. The FBI traced payments and seized hard drives containing the illicit music from Strange's residence, leading to the charges. If convicted, Strange faces up to five years in prison for copyright infringement and up to 10 years for interstate transportation of stolen goods. “Eminem and his team are very appreciative of the efforts by the FBI Detroit bureau,” said the rapper’s longtime spokesperson Dennis Dennehy. “The significant damage caused by a trusted employee to Eminem’s artistic legacy and creative integrity cannot be overstated.” (Variety)

In a new interview with Barbra Streisand‘s A&R rep, Jay Landers, he revealed that during the making of Babs’ 1993 Back to Broadway album, a remarkable collaboration with Madonna and Bette Midler was planned. The diva-filled trio were going to take part in an updated rendition of the Annie Get Your Gun classic, “Anything You Can Do I Can Do Better.” Legendary producer David Foster crafted a “brilliant” arrangement that blended the Irving Berlin-penned tune's original style with personalized additions tailored for each artist, like a “Madonna disco beat” and a “Wind Beneath My Wings”-style flourish. “So it touched upon their sounds,” Landers explained. “Really clever.” The three iconic singers were going to playfully one-up each other before bringing the song to a comical conclusion. Although Landers miraculously got all three music superstars to sign on to the project, Madonna's last-minute unavailability prevented the unique collaboration from coming to fruition. (Billboard)

Philadelphia singer-songwriter Shamir has announced the upcoming release of his final solo album, Ten, which is due out this spring via Kill Rock Stars. Shamir also shared the collection’s lead single, "Neverwannago," which was written by the Portland, Oregon, musician Andrew Harmon, and is accompanied by a Matthew Ober–directed music video co-starring musician August Nandé. The ten tracks on the new album are all “songs written by those closest to him, unused demos, and castaways given a new life,” and brings Shamir’s self-described “anti-career” to an appropriate close with his 10th studio album that arrives 10 years after their groundbreaking debut, Ratchet. Shamir says that Ten – which doesn’t have a specific release date as of yet – will bring his musical journey to a fitting close, saying, "I’ve done and said all I wanted to say. I never want to feel like I’m forcing my art." (Rolling Stone)

Filming has commenced in London for Charli XCX's new A24 film, The Moment, with four new actors joining the project including Rish Shah, Isaac Cole Powell, Kate Berlant, and Jamie Demetriou. They join previously-announced cast members Alexander Skarsgård, Rosanna Arquette, and Trew Mullen. The movie is based on Charli's original idea and features the Brat superstar in the lead role, with the film being described as a “mockumentary” that “follows the life of a pop star in the lead-up to her first headline arena tour.” Charli is also listed as a co-producer through her production company Studio365, with her frequent collaborator A. G. Cook providing the score and Aidan Zamiri making his feature-length directorial debut. No release date has been set. Additionally, Charli has other acting projects in the pipeline, including The Gallerist, Erupcja, I Want Your Sex, and 100 Nights Of Hero. (NME)

In Billboard’s current Women In Music feature, it's revealed that Erykah Badu is currently working on a new album, which would be her first since 2010's New Amerykah Part Two (Return of the Ankh). Not much else is known about the unnamed project other than the fact that it is being produced by the Alchemist, and that “the album has been taking up most of her time” and “she can’t wait until she’s done.” Badu released a mixtape in 2015 titled, But You Caint Use My Phone, and appeared on collaborations with Dram, Teyana Taylor, and Jamie xx in recent years, even winning a Grammy for Best Melodic Rap Performance earlier this year for her link up with Rapsody, “3:AM.” Badu still tours consistently, and focuses her attention on her evolving live show instead of her studio output. “I am a performance artist. I am not a recording artist,” Badu admits. “I come from the theater.” (Billboard)

In a new clip from Leaving Neverland 2: Surviving Michael Jackson, Wade Robson and James Safechuck – the two men whose sexual abuse allegations against Jackson were highlighted in the Emmy Award-winning 2019 doc Leaving Neverland – look ahead to their trial against Michael Jackson's companies. The upcoming film, directed by Dan Reed (who also helmed Leaving Neverland), chronicles their legal battle and reflections since the original documentary. Despite facing setbacks, the duo is determined to have their day in court, with the trial set for November 2026. “Part of me is building up this strength and this shield to go through it,” Safechuck says in the clip. “Imagining myself in trial, in the seat, finding the strength, and fighting for little Jimmy. When it comes, I’ll be ready.” The men continue to fight for justice while receiving both support and opposition from Jackson’s fans, as his estate and family continue to deny the allegations. Leaving Neverland 2 premiered on the Real Stories YouTube channel on March 18. (Rolling Stone)

British rock band Queen, jazz legend Herbie Hancock, and soprano/conductor Barbara Hannigan have been named as the recipients of the 2025 Polar Music Prize, which will be presented at the Grand Hôtel in Stockholm on May 27. The three surviving members of Queen – Brian May, Roger Taylor, and John Deacon – said in a joint statement: “We are highly and deeply honoured to be given the Polar Music Prize this year. It’s incredible, thank you so much.” The 84-year-old Hancock said, “The Polar Music Prize is a prestigious honour, and I am both thrilled and humbled to be a recipient,” while the 53-year-old Hannigan shared, “I am deeply moved and humbled to receive this year’s Polar Music Prize. Thank you so much for including me among this incredible and inspiring group of Laureates.” The prestigious award was founded in 1989 by Stig “Stikkan” Anderson, the manager, publisher, and lyricist for Swedish pop heroes, ABBA, and it has previously been awarded to music icons such as Paul McCartney, Bruce Springsteen, and Patti Smith. (Billboard)

John Legend is embarking on a world tour to celebrate the 20th anniversary of his debut album, Get Lifted. The tour will visit over 40 cities across the U.K., Europe, and North America, including stops at high-profile venues such as The O2 in London, Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles, and Barclays Center in New York. The 13-time Grammy winner kicks off his tour on May 27 in Glasgow, and wraps up on December 9 in Oakland. “Join me and my band for an unforgettable performance of the entire Get Lifted album—the album that introduced me to the world, plus a few favorites from my career that *all of you* know and love,” Legend writes.  Alongside the tour announcement, Legend appeared on The Tonight Show on Tuesday and performed his debut single, “Used to Love U,” alongside Black Thought and The Roots. North America pre-sales begin March 26, and general on-sale starts March 28, with additional dates to be announced soon. (Billboard)

J. Cole has announced the lineup for the 2025 Dreamville Festival, which will take place on April 5 and 6 at Raleigh’s Dorothea Dix Park. Joining him at the North Carolina fest are fellow headliners Lil Wayne, Erykah Badu, and Tems, as well as additional performers including 21 Savage, GloRilla, J.i.D, Ludacris, Partynextdoor, and Chief Keef. Wayne’s Saturday night headlining performance will feature the New Orleans rapper hitting the stage with Hot Boys (Juvenile, Turk, and B.G.) and Big Tymers (Mannie Fresh and Birdman) during his set. “Our team looks forward to welcoming fans from around the world to Dreamville Festival this spring for our fifth-anniversary celebration,” said Dreamville President Adam Roy in a press release. The festival will feature performances on two separate stages, with general admission and VIP ticket options ranging from $300 to $2,015. In addition to the music performances, attendees can also expect art installations, local food options, and nonprofit booths, as the festival prepares for its final year of operation. (Rolling Stone)

Ed Sheeran surprised a St. Patrick's Day crowd at a Boston Irish pub with an impromptu acoustic performance alongside the Irish folk band Beoga. Sheeran shared clips of his celebratory set on Instagram, which featured the pop superstar playing hits like "Galway Girl," "Shape of You," and "Nancy Mulligan," while endearing himself further with the Boston audience by wearing a Celtics shirt on stage. “Boston for Paddy’s day with @beogamusic, what a gaff,” Sheeran captioned his post. The British singer’s impromptu Boston show continues his series of surprise performances throughout the US over the holiday weekend, popping up in New Orleans on Saturday (March 15) and performing with local group Soul Rebels Brass Band on a parade through the city’s French Quarter. Sheeran followed that up with a surprise performance at Tootsie’s World Famous Orchid Lounge in Nashville on Sunday, playing a spirited rendition of “Take Me Home, Country Roads” alongside his friend Jackson Capps, before hitting up his first-ever writers round at the legendary Bluebird Cafe, where he was joined by country stars Megan Moroney, Amy Allen, and David Hodges. (Rolling Stone) 

On April 6, CBS will air the one-hour concert special, An Evening With Elton John and Brandi Carlile. The broadcast will feature live performances and stories about the songwriting on the duo’s new collaborative album, Who Believes in Angels? The concert will be recorded at John and Carlile’s upcoming performance at London’s Palladium Theatre on March 26, with the special featuring a mix of new and classic songs from the duo, including an unreleased track by Carlile. In addition to the performances, the program will also include close friends and cohorts paying tribute to the artists’ careers, along with an intimate sit-down conversation between the music stars that will “pull back the curtain on their 20-year friendship, the journey behind their latest collaboration and share intimate footage from their process.” John and Carlile were just nominated for an Oscar for co-writing “Never Too Late” from the documentary Elton John: Never Too Late, alongside longtime collaborator Bernie Taupin and producer Andrew Watt. (Billboard)

On Tuesday (March 18), Olivia Rodrigo, Tyler, the Creator, and Sabrina Carpenter were announced as headliners for Lollapalooza 2025, which will be held in Chicago's Grant Park from July 31 to August 3. Rufus Du Sol, Luke Combs, Twice, A$AP Rocky, and Korn also receive top billing for the annual music festival, where they will be joined by over 170 artists performing across eight stages throughout the four-day event, which is attended by over 400,000 music fans each year. The diverse lineup also features artists like Gracie Abrams, Doechii, Bleachers, Clairo, Finneas, T-Pain, Cage the Elephant, Sierra Ferrell, Wallows, Magdalena Bay, and many more.

Carpenter returns as a headliner only two years after making her Lolla debut, while Rodrigo is making her first appearance at the festival. Combs will become Lolla’s first-ever country act to close the fest, while Twice is the first female K-pop group to headline. Korn returns to Lolla for the first time since 1997, while Tyler makes up for his cancelled headlining set in 2024 by returning in 2025. Early-bird tickets will be available on March 20 at 10 a.m. CT, with general ticket sales beginning an hour later. (Variety) 

In a new interview with the Oklahoma Hall of Fame, Vince Gill says he’s amused by the uproar around Taylor Swift attending Travis Kelce's NFL games. The country star, who previously performed with Swift at the 2013 CMA Awards, admires how she handles herself amidst all the intense scrutiny she is under. "She's awesome. I'm crazy about her," Gill said of Swift. “I did the CMA Awards with her one year. Myself and Alison Krauss and some other folks did an acoustic version of her song, 'Red.' I've always been crazy about her, and I just laugh when everybody gets so uptight when she goes to football games." Gill went on to compare Swift to Dolly Parton, saying, “There's just a handful of people that they have that charisma, that thing. They own a room. Dolly Parton, she owns a room. It's fascinating to watch.” Ultimately, Gill says it comes down to, "It's just a girl that likes a guy, and they're going to a ballgame." (People)

Charli XCX is set to bring her own Party Girl Festival to London’s Victoria Park on June 14 as part of LIDO Festival. The day-long music festival will feature special guests like Magdalena Bay, Kelly Lee Owens, the Dare, the Japanese House, Jodie Harsh, YSEULT, Gesaffelstein, 070 Shake, A.G Cook, Bladee, and more. “I’m throwing a festival in London in Victoria Park on June 14th and all these people are playing so get tickets,” Charli captioned her show announcement on Instagram on Monday (March 17). Tickets for the event are available on the official LIDO Festival website, with additional guests to be announced at a later date. Charli has a series of high-profile performances scheduled for early 2025, including two weekends of headlining performances at Coachella in April, followed by a series of North American arena shows on her ongoing Brat Tour, and a headlining set at Primavera Sound in Barcelona in June. (Rolling Stone)