MORGAN WALLEN

In the week before the Billboard Music Awards, host Sean "Diddy Combs" said he wanted to give "canceled" stars second chances.

Travis Scott and Morgan Wallen made controversial returns on the Billboard Music Awards stage on Sunday, while Mary J.

Dolly Parton served as some star power as co-host of the ACM Awards, which took a big leap as the first streaming-only major award show on Monday night.

Morgan Wallen won album of the year at the Academy of Country Music Awards for “Dangerous: The Double Album,” a year after he was removed from the ACMs ballot after he was caught on camera using a racial slur.

A year ago, country singer Morgan Wallen faced unprecedented consequences for using a racial slur. At the New York kickoff of his new tour, fans showed how little that matters to them.

The singer was banished from radio stations after he used the N-word, but his album was still, by one count, the most popular of 2021, and he has now taken his show back on the road.

Country star Chris Young combined his skills as an artist and producer to lead the nominees for the Academy of Country Music Awards.

The pushback comes after a video surfaced of the American country music singer using a racial slur back in February 2021.

The Grand Ole Opry, country music's most historic and storied stage, is getting heavy criticism for an appearance by troubled country star Morgan Wallen.

Morgan Wallen’s performance at the Opry drew plenty of criticism, including from fellow musician Jason Isbell.

Last February Wallen was recorded yelling the N-word on a night out, though his album rose to be a top-seller that year.

Albums by Wallen and Adele were the top sellers of 2021, according to MRC Data and Billboard's annual tally. Other findings: audio on-demand streaming soared, and sales of vinyl outpaced CDs.

New data from the music industry confirms what a lot of people long suspected — 2021 was a very good year for Morgan Wallen, Adele and vinyl.

People’s Sexiest Man Alive of 2021 Paul Rudd has been inducted into the vaunted Five-Timers Club on “Saturday Night Live,” but the surging omicron variant of the coronavirus meant there was no live audience to see it happen.

Retirees are ruling the roost in this year's Grammy nominations in the record of the year category.

South Korean superstars BTS were crowned artist of the year at the American Music Awards on Sunday, brushing aside challenges from Taylor Swift, Drake and The Weeknd as they took home a total of three awards.

Just days before the CMA Awards, artists, academics and historians gathered in Nashville to address racial representation within the genre.

Chris Stapleton won the most trophies, but Luke Combs won the biggest one at the Country Music Association Awards.

Olivia Rodrigo is having a sweet year as the leading nominee at the American Music Awards in her first year to be eligible.

Harvey Mason jr., CEO of the Recording Academy was interviewed by The Associated Press on efforts to make the Grammys more inclusive.

Sheeran said he is self-isolating and shared how he will fulfill his scheduled appearances.

Country stars Chris Stapleton and Eric Church will go toe-to-toe with each other at this year’s Country Music Association Awards, vying in the same top five categories.

Country legend Loretta Lynn and embattled singer Morgan Wallen are rallying musician friends for two benefit concerts for Tennessee flood relief.

Disgraced country star Morgan Wallen said it was ignorant of him to use a racial slur.

The Billboard Music Awards announced before Sunday's show that banned Morgan Wallen won top country honors despite being banned from the show.

It was a family affair at the Billboard Music Awards: Pink twirled in the air in a powerful performance with her daughter, and Drake was named artist of the decade, accepting the honor alongside his 3-year-old son.

Country singer Morgan Wallen will be eligible for multiple awards at this year's CMA Awards, but not the show's top prize.

Country singer Morgan Wallen surprised a Nashville crowd with his first performance since being embroiled in a racial scandal.

Former tourmates Miranda Lambert and Maren Morris are leading nominees with four each for the 2021 CMT Music Awards, celebrating the best in country music videos.

"7 Summers" singer Morgan Wallen is no longer invited to participate in the Billboard Music Awards due to his "recent conduct" despite having earned six nominations.

The Weeknd was snubbed by the Grammys but he’s the leading nominee at the 2021 Billboard Music Awards, where rappers Pop Smoke and Juice WRLD earned multiple posthumous nominations, including top artist.

Carrie Underwood brought the Academy of Country Music Awards to church.

Morris and Stapleton lead the nominations for this year's Academy of Country Music Awards. The academy announced on Friday that Morris and Stapleton both had six nominations ahead of the April 18 awards show, which will air on CBS from Nashville, Tennessee. (AP Photo)NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Maren Morris and Chris Stapleton are the leading nominees for the Academy of Country Music Awards, but only Stapleton joined the all-male ballot for the top prize of entertainer of the year. The academy announced on Friday that Morris and Stapleton both had six nominations ahead of the April 18 awards show, which will air on CBS from Nashville, Tennessee. AdMiranda Lambert, who is already the most nominated artist in ACM history, stretched her streak with five nominations.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Country star Luke Combs has apologized for appearing with Confederate flags, saying he is now aware of how painful that flag is. Combs addressed the images during a conversation with singer Maren Morris on Wednesday during a panel for radio broadcasters about accountability in country music. He also wanted to encourage more people in the country music industry to have those hard conversations. Morris also spoke about the Confederate flag, saying that as a native Texan, she also didn't fully understand the history and context of the flag outside of just “Southern pride" until she was a teenager. She said that seeing that flag being flown at country music festivals makes her not want to play those festivals and urged country artists to demand those flags be removed.

"I think most people perceive that country music is extremely conservative, and I'm not sure that's true. Gill is one of the most distinguished country artists with 21 Grammy awards, the most of any male country artist. He said he was nervous and hesitant to speak out initially, but it is something that country artists should do more. "He's out there alone on this, I mean as a major artist in country music," Mason said. "Is country music ready for this conversation?"

FILE - Morgan Wallen arrives at the 54th annual Academy of Country Music Awards on April 7, 2019, in Las Vegas. Wallen fans are buying up his latest album after he appeared on a video shouting a racial slur. (Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP, File)NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Country star Morgan Wallen asked fans not to downplay the racist language he was caught saying on camera and said that he accepted the punishments he faced. TMZ posted a video last week of Wallen saying a racial slur and Wallen apologized at the time. It is the first country album to spend four weeks atop the Billboard 200 chart since 2003, when Shania Twain’s album “Up!” spent five weeks at the top.

FILE - Morgan Wallen arrives at the 54th annual Academy of Country Music Awards on April 7, 2019, in Las Vegas. Wallen fans are buying up his latest album after he appeared on a video shouting a racial slur. (Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP, File)NASHVILLLE, Tenn. – Fans of Morgan Wallen are buying up the country star's latest album after a video showed him shouting a racial slur last week. Billboard reports that his latest album sold 25,000 copies during the week ending Feb. 4, an increase of 102%, according to MRC Data. His album was already setting streaming records and is the first country album to spend four weeks atop the Billboard 200 chart since 2003, when Shania Twain's album “Up!"

Country star Morgan Wallen faces industry backlash after he's caught on video using racial slur Country artist Morgan Wallen has apologized after a new video obtained by TMZ shows him using a racial slur. Wallen's record label suspended his recording contract indefinitely, major radio groups have stopped playing his music and the Academy of Country Music says he is no longer eligible for the upcoming awards ceremony. His Nashville peers like Maren Morris and Mickey Guyton are also denouncing his behavior. Vladimir Duthiers reports.

Country star Morgan Wallen has apologized after a video surfaced showed him shouting a racial slur. The video, which was first published by TMZ on Tuesday night, showed him outside a home in Nashville, Tennessee yelling profanities. "I used an unacceptable and inappropriate racial slur that I wish I could take back. A spokesperson for radio giant iHeartMedia told The Tennessean they had removed Wallen's music from rotation. CMT said it was removing Wallen's performances on all its platforms in light of the racial slur.

Wallen has apologized after a video surfaced showed him shouting a racial slur. (AP Photo/Sanford Myers, File)NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Country star Morgan Wallen has been suspended indefinitely from his label and seen his music pulled by radio stations and streaming services Wednesday after video surfaced of him shouting a racial slur. We keep them rich and protected at all costs with no recourse.”Other music stars have faced backlash for using racial slurs or derogatory language. Justin Bieber apologized in 2014 for using a racial slur joke in a video from when he was a teenager. “I feel like it set a trip cord that never existed in country music for racial behavior,” said Dowling.

Here’s a collection curated by The Associated Press’ entertainment journalists of what’s arriving on TV, streaming services and music platforms this week. Shia LaBeouf co-stars as her partner and Ellen Burstyn gets a meaty supporting role as her mother. “Pieces of a Woman” is not for the faint of heart but in the trauma, there is catharsis too. It’s loosely based on Davidson’s own life and childhood loss and the comedian gets a co-writing credit, too. It adds to the anticipation of his sophomore album, “Dangerous: The Double Album,” to be released Friday.

He said music from his fifth studio album “Changes” was wrongly viewed as a pop album, rather than an R&B project. “I set out to make an R&B album,” he wrote on Instagram. It is not being acknowledged as an R&B album, which is very strange to me.”Bieber was nominated in the categories for best pop solo performance, best pop duo/group performance, best pop vocal album and best country duo/group performance. The singer said he loves pop music, but he wants to be respected for his work. “I grew up admiring R&B music and wished to make a project that would embody that sound,” he said.

And it earned him his first Grammy nomination in six years. 3 spot on the pop charts — is up for best rap song and best rap performance. And Anderson .Paak's “Lockdown," about police brutality and racial injustice, is up for best melodic rap performance and best music video. JAY-Z, THE SONGWRITERS, SHINESHappy wife, happy life: Jay-Z has lent his songwriting hand to his wife Beyoncé and he's earned Grammy nominations for it. PAUL McCARTNEY, THE ART DIRECTORPaul McCartney scored his 79th Grammy nominations this year — as an art director.

Others who may earn nominations include Lewis Capaldi, Summer Walker, Morgan Wallen, Doja Cat, BLACKPINK, Ingrid Andress, Snoh Aalegra, Skip Marley, Mickey Guyton and CNCO. Ricch should also earn nominations for his guest appearance on DaBaby’s international hit “Rock Star,” helping him become the show’s overall top nominee. ________FOLKS LOVE FOLKLORETaylor Swift’s last two albums, “Lover” and “reputation,” didn’t earn nominations for album of the year. The seven-member group’s hit “Dynamite” could snag a nomination for best pop duo/group performance, and their latest album could compete for best global music album. 3 on pop charts, should earn a nomination for best country performance and best country song.

In this video image provided by CMT, Carrie Underwood accepts the female of the year award for Drinking Alone during the Country Music Television awards airing on Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2020. (CMT via AP)NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Carrie Underwood already had the most CMT Music Awards of any artist, but she'll need to make more room on her shelf. The superstar picked up two more trophies for video of the year and female video of the year in a remotely shot awards show. "I am so proud to be a part of this legacy of women in country music with you. Singer Granger Smith won for his on-the-nose music video called “Don't Cough On Me!"

NEW YORK – Jack White will be the last-minute replacement musical guest on “Saturday Night Live” after country singer Morgan Wallen was dropped for breaking COVID-19 protocols. Wallen was removed as musical guest on Thursday after TikTok videos showed him partying last weekend without a mask on among a large group of people. Lorne Michaels announced White as a fill-in Friday on the “Today” show. “Saturday Night Live,” which will be hosted this Saturday by comedian Bill Burr, resumed live in-studio shows last weekend with a smaller live audience. Guests were required to take a COVID-19 test and temperature check at arrival, and wear masks inside the building.

LOS ANGELES – Morgan Wallen has been dropped from performing on “Saturday Night Live” after breaking the show’s COVID-19 protocols. The country singer posted a two-plus minute video on social media Wednesday about the show’s decision. He apologized after he was shown on TikTok socializing maskless at a crowded bar and house party this past weekend in Alabama. The 27-year-old Wallen said his actions were “short-sighted” and has affected his long-term goals and dreams. Wallen said he has not tested positive for the coronavirus.

This cover image released by RCA Records shows "Alicia" the latest release by Alicia Keys. The album, out Friday, features several guest stars, including Jill Scott, Miguel, Khalid, Snoh Aalegra, Sampha, Diamond Platnumz and Ed Sheeran, who co-wrote the single Underdog. (RCA Records via AP)

This cover image released by RCA Records shows "Alicia" the latest release by Alicia Keys. The album, out Friday, features several guest stars, including Jill Scott, Miguel, Khalid, Snoh Aalegra, Sampha, Diamond Platnumz and Ed Sheeran, who co-wrote the single Underdog. (RCA Records via AP)Here’s a collection curated by The Associated Press’ entertainment journalists of what’s arriving on TV, streaming services and music platforms this week. It lands on HBO and HBO Max on Saturday at 8 p.m.— AP Film Writer Jake CoyleMUSIC— Piano-playing pop star Alicia Keys is putting out her seventh album on Friday. — Kim Cattrall is at the center of Fox’s “Filthy Rich,” a prime-time soap opera loaded with money and betrayal that debuts 9 p.m. EDT Monday, Sept. 21.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The Academy of Country Music Awards will feature performances by Kane Brown, Luke Bryan, Eric Church, Dan + Shay, Florida Georgia Line, Mickey Guyton and Morgan Wallen, all from the Grand Ole Opry House. Riley Green won new male artist of the year and Tenille Townes won new female artist of the year. The Bluebird Cafe will host performances by Jimmie Allen, Luke Combs, Miranda Lambert featuring songwriters Natalie Hemby and Luke Dick, and Tim McGraw. And Kelsea Ballerini, Gabby Barrett, Maren Morris, Old Dominion, and Thomas Rhett featuring Jon Pardi will put on their shows from the Ryman. Keith Urban will host the show from the Grand Ole Opry House.

This combination photo shows, from left, Carrie Underwood, Eric Church, Luke Combs, Keith Urban and Miranda Lambert, who were nominated for Entertainer of the Year for the 54th Annual CMA Awards on Tuesday, Sept. 1, 2020.

The CMAs announced Tuesday that Lambert earned seven nominations. She's followed by Luke Combs, who continues his streak of success as one of country music’s biggest streaming artists with six nominations, including his first for entertainer of the year. Combs earned his first all-genre No. Carrie Underwood joins Combs and Lambert in the entertainer of the year category, along with Keith Urban and Eric Church. Other top nominees include Maren Morris, who scored five nominations including song and single of the year for her love song, “The Bones."

NEW YORK – Apple Music is launching several new radio shows hosted by A-list musical acts, including Snoop Dogg, Shania Twain and Carrie Underwood. The streaming service announced that it will debut two new radio stations Tuesday: Apple Music Hits, focused on popular songs of the ’80s, ’90s and 2000s, as well as Apple Music Country, dedicated to the country music genre. Both channels will have daily on-air hosts but will also include several shows hosted by well-known musicians. Apple Music Hits will include shows hosted by Snoop Dogg, Twain, Alanis Morissette, Backstreet Boys, Meghan Trainor, Ciara, blink-182’s Mark Hoppus and Huey Lewis. Apple Music also announced Tuesday that its popular Beats 1 radio station — featuring shows hosted by Billie Eilish, Elton John and Lil Wayne — will be renamed to Apple Music 1.

This combination of photos shows country singer Rissi Palmer, from left, Chuck Harmony, left, and Claude Kelly of Louis York and country rapper Breland. Black artists say the country music industry still needs to do the hard work of addressing the systematic racial barriers that have been entrenched in country music for decades. The genre has historically been marketed to white audiences and reinforced white male artist stereotypes. (Chris Charles via AP, left, Jeremy Ryan via AP, center and Paul R. Giunta/Invision/AP)

Black artists say the country music industry still needs to do the hard work of addressing the systematic racial barriers that have been entrenched in country music for decades. I was called colored, like, ‘I didn’t know colored people like country music,’” said Palmer, who had three singles reach the Hot Country Songs Chart. Both the Academy of Country Music and the Country Music Association started diversity task forces more than a year ago when country music was being criticized for a lack of female voices and women were being left out of major categories like entertainer of the year. But just as country artists outwardly reflect a predominantly white image, there are few Black country music executives working behind the scenes. “There’s a dismantling of culture that needs to happen.”Palmer, who is recording a podcast that focuses on the experiences of women of color in country music, said she feels optimistic that the current discussions about race and country music can lead to progress, if real changes are implemented.

The Hot Country Knights have been a staple of Bentleys touring show for years, but during a break in recording and touring, Bentley produced a full album of parody songs called The K Is Silent. (Jim Wright/Capitol Records Nashville via AP)NASHVILLE, Tenn. – With their acid-washed jeans and mullets, the Hot Country Knights aren’t just nostalgic for the ’90s era of country music. The fascination with that decade of country music history and its icons is at an all-time high. AP: Have you seen the “ The Tiger King? I don’t think our lyrics are suggestive at all and anybody that thinks that needs to check their country music history.