Singer/songwriter/actress/philanthropist/entrepreneur Dolly Parton, one of Country and Pop music's biggest and brightest icons, died in Nashville following a brief battle with cancer on Aug. 25. She was 80. The veteran entertainer had been mostly out of the public eye for the past year following a struggle with unspecified health issues that forced the "Jolene" singer-songwriter to curtail public appearances and postpone, then cancel her planned 2025 Las Vegas residency. Dolly's death came 17 months after the passing of her husband of nearly 60 years, Carl Dean, who died on Mar. 3, 2025 at age 82. Her nephew, Bryan Seaver, shared a message on Instagram after her passing. A cultural and commercial force, Dolly landed 49 albums in the top 10 on Billboard's Top Country Albums chart, the most of any female artist. She also scored more No. 1s on the Hot Country Songs chart for a woman artist, with a total of 25. Born on Jan. 19, 1946, to a poor family in Sevier County, Tenn., Dolly started recording at an early age, with her first single, "Puppy Love," appearing when she was only 13. At 18, she moved to Nashville, where she became a professional country songwriter, while also recording a few minor pop singles. In 1966, she married Dean, who kept a famously low profile for the rest of her career. She also maintained a close relationship with her childhood friend Judy Ogle, and the two remained inseparable throughout her life. In 1967, Dolly replaced Norma Jean as Porter Wagoner's co-host and duet partner on his syndicated TV show, and the duo would go on to place 20 duets on the country charts. After her first Hot Country Songs charting hit, "Dumb Blonde," in 1966, she had a number of songs that reached the 40s and 50s, until her breakthrough as a solo artist, a 1970 cover of Jimmie Rodgers' "Mule Skinner Blues," which reached No. 3. Over the next few years, her string of hits -- many of which she wrote, including "Coat of Many Colors" and "My Tennessee Mountain Home" -- established her persona: a passionate sentimentalist, shaped by the rural poverty of her childhood. She went on to release at least one Top Ten Country single every year through 1985. In 1973, she recorded her acclaimed Coat of Many Colors album, and the following year's heartbreaking true-live tale of romantic jealousy, "Jolene," went on to become her most-covered song and crossed over to the pop chart, giving her a taste of broader pop stardom. Also in 1974, she wrote and recorded "I Will Always Love You," a magnificent farewell to Wagoner, whose organization she was leaving. It was first a No. 1 country single for her, and again when she re-recorded it for the soundtrack of the movie comedy The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas in 1982. In 1992, Whitney Houston covered the song, and it went on to become one of the best selling singles in pop music history. Dolly famously turned down a request by Elvis Presley to record the song because his manager Col. Tom Parker insisted on Dolly giving up half of her publishing royalties. "That was one of the hardest things I ever had to do because I loved Elvis," she remembered in 2020. "I Will Always Love You" was also the closing theme of Dolly!, the syndicated variety show she hosted in 1976 and 1977. The series was a springboard for her concerted efforts to expand her audience: she had her first top 10 Billboard Hot 100 in 1978 with "Here You Come Again," and even hit the disco chart with 1978's "Baby I'm Burning." 
Her 1981 theme song from the movie 9 to 5 (in which she also starred) reached No. 1 on the Hot 100, Hot Country Songs and Adult Contemporary chart, a feat she repeated with 1983's Kenny Rogers duet "Islands in the Stream," written for them by The Bee Gees. In total, she topped the Billboard Hot 100 twice and topped the Hot Country Songs chart 25 times. In 1986, she took over the Pigeon Forge, Tenn., theme park Silver Dollar City, and reopened it as Dollywood (with a replica of her childhood home). Trio, her 1987 collaboration with Linda Ronstadt and Emmylou Harris, was a neo-traditionalist setting for the three singers' exquisite harmonies, and a platinum hit. After her appearance in the 1989 film Steel Magnolias, Dolly returned her focus to recording country music, and rarely performed live for most of the '90s. In 1993, she recorded Honky Tonk Angels with fellow Country icons Loretta Lynn and Tammy Wynette, and 1999's Trio II became another gold album of collaborations. In 1994, she published her memoir, Dolly: My Life and Other Unfinished Business. Dolly returned to the road in the 2000s, touring extensively in North America and Europe, and headlining at England's Glastonbury Festival in 2014. The 2015 TV movie Dolly Parton's Coat of Many Colors was based on her autobiographical 1971 rags-to-riches song. The same year, Dollywood's DreamMore Resort expanded her theme park. Her other movie credits include Rhinestone Cowboy with Sylvester Stallone and Steel Magonolias with Julia Roberts. Even into her seventies, Dolly's voice, persona and appearance remained remarkably close to what they'd been in the earliest years of her career, maintained by a penchant for plastic surgery. "It takes a lot of money to look this cheap," she would quip. In 2022, she was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame on her first nomination, and the singer experienced a major resurgence late in her career a year later when Rockstar, largely a collection of rock covers, debuted at No. 3, her pinnacle on the all-genre chart. The album, which featured contributions from Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr, Sting, goddaughter Miley Cyrus, Lizzo, Elton John and others, also debuted at No. 1 on Top Album Sales chart, providing her with her biggest sales week in the modern era. Though primarily lauded as a country artist, she made detours (with albums and/or songs) into such genres as Americana/folk, bluegrass, children's music, Christian, dance/electronic and pop. The Imagination Library, which provides books monthly to children from birth to age 5 and has donated over 150 million books to date, was one of her many philanthropic projects. In the early days of COVID, she also donated $1 million to Vanderbilt University Medical Center, which helped fund the Moderna vaccine. In 2024, Dolly released the album Smoky Mountain DNA: Faith, Family and Fables, which featured the icon performing with members of her extended family, and the project hit No. 1 on Billboard's Bluegrass Albums chart. Countless artists posted tributes to the music and pop culture icon on social media, including Paul McCartney, who posted a thoughtful statement on Instagram, sharing a black-and-white photo of himself meeting Parton and Porter Wagoner at the Grand Ole Opry. "She was such a wonderful woman," the former Beatles member wrote. "She was so bubbly and full of life it is difficult to take in the news that she has passed. Her songwriting, her singing and her philanthropy were unrivaled in the world of country music and it is hard to imagine living in a world without Dolly." 
Elton John wrote on his Story page that he was "shocked and devastated" to hear that Dolly had died, calling her "a giant of an artist -- unique and irreplaceable, with the kindest heart." Beyoncé, who worked with Dolly on Cowboy Carter, thanked her for her "art," "heart," "generosity," "humor" and "entrepreneurship." "I'm honored that I had the privilege to work with you. I will treasure that forever," she posted on her official website. "Thank you for your profound impact on the world." Other accolades came from Sabrina Carpenter, Billy Ray Cyrus, George Strait, Jack White, Cyndi Lauper, Paul Stanley, Sheryl Crow, Brad Paisley and Barbra Streisand, who shared a photo of herself with Dolly on Instagram, writing "So sorry to hear about Dolly -- she was a true force of nature." At Dolly's request, a small, private service will be held for immediate family," according to a press release announcing her death. "Dolly's fans and friends from around the world are encouraged to pay tribute to Dolly on social media by tagging @DollyParton or by leaving a message at www.dollyparton.com. In lieu of flowers the family asks for donations to be made to Dolly Parton's Imagination Library at www.imaginationlibrary.com." - Billboard, 8/25/26.
The sequel to the blockbuster Michael Jackson biopic Michael will address child abuse allegations against the late King of Pop "from his point of view", says his nephew Jafaar Jackson, the titular actor in the film. Michael, which has become the highest-grossing biopic ever made, followed the beginning of Jackson's career in the Jackson 5 up until the "Bad"world tour in the late 1980s. Michael notably didn't include any reference to the child sexual abuse allegations against Jackson, though the story was included in the initial screenplay. However, a clause in a legal settlement was discovered, which forbid the Jackson estate from mentioning one of the accusers, Jordan Chandler, meaning that the production spent $15 million on reshoots. The movie ultimately ended at a different point in Jackson's life, shifting the narrative tension onto his relationship with his father, Joe Jackson, played by Colman Domingo. Earlier in August, it was revealed that the sequel is officially set to start filming later in 2026, and now Jaafar has provided some insight into the potential plot. Speaking to GQ Middle East, Jafaar said it will depict the abuse allegations "from [Michael's] point of view." "I think the second film will give even more insight from his point of view, because at the end of the day, [the allegations] are always from someone else's," he said. "It's someone else's story. It's someone else's idea of what it is, and it's mainly driven by an agenda. And that's really the issue we've been having as a family -- not having Michael's voice being heard. I think that's very, very important, especially in the late years," he added. The article points out the screenplay is still in development and that Jafaar has no real say in its story, but is rather noting what he would like to see. After debuting to the largest-ever opening weekend for a biopic, it was confirmed in July that the movie had taken in $1.001 billion (£750 million) globally, making it the first of its genre to pass the milestone. - New Musical Express, 8/22/26...... 
Legendary British Invasion pop stars The Hollies have announced the end of their touring career after 63 years, bringing one of England's longest-running rock bands to a close. The news was confirmed in a statement on Aug. 20, which explained that guitarist Tony Hicks was stepping away from touring for health reasons. Drummer Bobby Elliott, the other long-running member still with the group, added that he was also retiring in solidarity with his bandmate. "After more than six decades, The Hollies' touring career will come to a close with immense gratitude to the fans who have supported them around the world," the statement read. Naming themselves after legendary '50s Rock & Roll star Buddy Holly, The Hollies were formed in Manchester in 1962 by childhood friends Allan Clarke and Graham Nash and joined by Hicks in 1963, the band made a successful for Parlophone Records at Abbey Road Studios, while Hicks' former bandmate in The Dolphin, Elliott, followed later in the year, with bassist Eric Haydock completing the classic line-up. The band became known for their distinctive three-part harmonies and became one of the defining bands of the British Invasion, with hits including "I'm Alive," "Bus Stop," "He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother," "Stop Stop Stop," "The Air That I Breathe" and "Long Cool Woman (In a Black Dress)," a No. 2 US hit in 1972. Nash left the group in Dec. 1968 and went on to form Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young, with Terry Sylvester replacing him in the band the following year. Clarke retired from the performing with the band in 2000. Hicks and Elliott remained in the band throughout, being joined in the last two decades by singer Peter Howarth, guitarist Steve Lauri, bassist Ray Stiles and keyboardist Ian Parker. Their most recent album was Then, Now, Always in 2009. The Hollies were inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame in 2010, although Hicks and Elliott did not attend the ceremony as The Hollies had a previously booked concert that night. "He's Not Heavy, He's My Brother" became a UK Number One single on re-release in 1988, and The Hollies sold and estimated 60 million+ records worldwide across their career. NME, 8/21/26...... After losing a court battle against the UK paper The Daily Mail in which it was claimed the media outlet published stories after unlawfully obtaining information by hacking into their messages, tapping landlines or acquiring medical records, several high profile celebrities including Elton John and Prince Harry have been ordered to repay a £9.54 million ($13 million) legal bill. On Aug. 21 UK judge Mr. Justice Nicklin detailed the "conduct of the trial" in his ruling and criticized the case put forward by the claimants' legal team. In particular, he noted "the objective breadth and character of the case as advanced, the speculative and inferential foundation on which many serious allegations rested, the maintenance of serious allegations after the evidential position should have been reassessed, the way in which unpleaded or unsupported allegations were put at trial, the failure to withdraw serious allegations when they were no longer being pursued, and the cumulative effect of those matters." An initial payment of £9.54 million will be due by Aug. 28, and Nicklin said that was making an exception order to force the claimants to pay up to £34.5 million ($47 million) in costs incurred by the Associated Newspapers Limited (ANL), the Daily Mail's publisher, because of the way the case had been brought. John and their co-claimants have until Oct. 2 to attempt to launch an appeal. The interim payment will come ahead of future hearings to decide ANL's legal costs in full. - Billboard, 8/21/26...... Friends and family of Earth, Wind & Fire drummer John Paris have given an update on the musician's recovery from what was described as a critical medical emergency earlier in August that resulted in doctors putting the 58-year-old in a medically induced coma. In a post on the Standing for John Paris Facebook page -- maintained by EW&F co-founder bassist Verdine White and several of Paris and his wife Kathy Merrick's friends -- the past week has featured "encouraging moments and new challenges." They recalled that Paris briefly woke up from his coma and then needed to be sedated again, before recently waking up again. "This time, there was encouraging progress," they wrote. "Over the next couple of days, his medical team monitored him closely. Unlike the first time he awakened, John's blood pressure remained stable and his breathing stayed strong, allowing doctors to continue evaluating his condition. While continuing to evaluate John's condition, doctors performed additional testing that gave them a much clearer understanding of what his body needs to continue healing." The post added it's been determined that Paris will need two more unspecified "major surgeries" as part of his recovery, which will require him to remain in the ICU longer than anticipated. EW&F was back on the tour two days after the postponed show, with former member Sonny Emory filling in for Paris, who joined the veteran band founded in 1969 in 2001; the San Francisco show has been rescheduled for Sept. 26. A GoFundMe has been started to help the family with medical expenses and to date it has raised more than $82,000 of its $90,000 goal. - Billboard, 8/21/26...... 
The Beatles' company Apple Corps Ltd have announced a new unique partnership with Universal Music Group (UMG) to handle the licensing and merchandising for the renowned band. Apple Corps, founded in 1968 by The Fab Four to handle their business interests, and UMG announced on Aug. 19 that they had reached a "holistic agreement" that will see the latter "take The Beatles' iconic story to fans across generations and around the world." The deal relates to digital and physical merchandising, licensing, and e-commerce surrounding the legendary band. Apple Corps' headquarters at 3 Savile Row will also be open to the public for the first time in 2027, with a fan experience that promises "seven floors of never-seen-before material from Apple Corps Ltd's extensive archives, rotating exhibitions, a fan store, and the recreation of the original studio where 'Let it Be' was recorded." Tom Greene, CEO of Apple Corps Ltd, said in a press release: "We are delighted to partner with UMG on a new global merchandising deal. There has never been a more exciting time to work on The Beatles as we look ahead to the 3 Saville Row fan experience in 2027, and our biopic movies in 2028. The Beatles message has never been more relevant or needed in the world today, and we look forward to delighting millions of fans with everything we have planned." The announcement comes ahead of director Sam Mendes' four-part Beatles biopic The Beatles -- A Four-Film Cinematic Event, due for simultaneous release in 2028. - NME, 8/20/26...... Def Leppard guitarist Vivian Campbell has revealed that he is once again fighting cancer. In an interview with El Salvadorian station YSKL, the 63-year-old musician discussed his philosophy for keeping a positive, hopeful attitude after revealing in 2013 that he was battle Hodgkin's lymphoma, which he said returned in 2015 and yet again recently. "There's only been one time that I felt it was gonna kill me," Campbell said of his diagnosis. "In the winter of 2023, I got really scared about what was happening and the pace at which it was happening. And I realized at that point that I had to do a donor transplant. It was my only hope to survive I did that in January of '25 . Unfortunately, it didn't stick. So the cancer has returned, and I'm continuing treatments to manage it." Campbell said he plans to try another transplant within the next few years with a different donor to see if that will stick, but in the meantime, he is going to keep performing with the band as well as his side project, the Last in Line, and racing rally cars, a lifelong obsession. "I love cars and I love driving," he said. "And as a child, I thought, 'If I don't play guitar for a living, I'm gonna be a race-car driver.' So I'm very, very, very fortunate and blessed that I get to do both." Campbell, who logged time in Ronnie James Dio's band, Dio, as well as Whitesnake and the British new wave metal band Sweet Savage, joined Def Leppard in 1992 following the death of founding guitarist Steve Clark. Def Leppard are slated to play the Seminole Hard Rock Live in Hollywood, Fla. on Oct. 15, followed by dates in Mexico and Central and South America in October and November. - Billboard, 8/21/26...... 
Footage has been unearthed from Jimi Hendrix's iconic 1969 Woodstock performance, which was filmed by a drama student who snuck onto the stage. Hendrix's now-legendary gig took place at Woodstock in Bethel, N.Y., in Aug. 1969, where the guitar icon took to the stage with his newly formed band Gypsy Sun and Rainbows, a.k.a. Band of Gypsys. The set closed out the festival, and is now set to mark its 57th anniversary. To mark the occasion, a new film called Jimi Hendrix: Live at Woodstock - A Second Look has been released, and it features rarely seen footage from the show. Some of that new material is recently unearthed footage from 22-year-old drama student Albert Goodman, who snuck onto the stage during the set and filmed some of it using two open-reel videotapes. Goodman hid behind a friend carrying a guitar to get access to the stage, and filmed it from behind percussionist Juma Sultan. He was assumed to be a member of the film crew who were hired to capture footage of the whole show, and his footage shows Hendrix standing just 15 feet in front of him. In the newly unearthed footage, Hendrix is seen playing "Purple Haze," "Voodoo Child," "Message To Love," and his improvised interpretation of "The Star-Spangled Banner," as well as rare footage of him playing "Hear My Train a Comin'." The latter song is available for streaming on YouTube. After storing the footage for three decades, Goodman then made it available to the late guitarist's family. It is now available to view in the new Live at Woodstock - A Second Look film, which premiered on YouTube on Aug. 18. - NME, 8/20/26...... Janie Bradford, the songwriter behind "Money (That's What I Want)" which was later covered by The Beatles and The Rolling Stones, died at Cedars-Sinai Hospital in Los Angeles on Aug. 21, following an extended illness. She was 87. Born in Charleston, Mo. in 1939, Ms. Bradford later moved to Detroit, where her neighbor Jackie Wilson introduced her to Motown founder Berry Gordy. Ms. Wilson had already recorded a number of hits written by Gordy, including "Reet Petite" and "Lonely Teardrops." Ms. Bradford began working with Gordy in 1958, before the Motown label had even been officially founded, and as well as working as a secretary, she quickly became involved in the company's creative process. While Gordy was developing "Money (That's What I Want)" at the piano in 1958, Bradford helped to complete the song by contributing an additional verse. The finished composition was recorded by Barrett Strong and became Motown's first hit single. It later reached a wider audience thanks to a cover version by The Beatles on the closing track of their 1963 album With The Beatles, and The Rolling Stones also recording their own version on their first EP in 1964. Ms. Bradford went on to co-write several other hit songs, including "Too Busy Thinking About My Baby" with Strong and Norman Whitfield. The Temptations first recorded the song in 1966, before Marvin Gaye scored a hit with it three years later. She also received writing credits on songs recorded by Mary Wells, Stevie Wonder, The Supremes, Diana Ross and The Marvelettes. After leaving Motown, Bradford founded the Heroes And Legends Awards, which established a scholarship fund in the 1990s. The awards honored figures from the music industry and supported young people pursuing careers in the performing arts. She was also inducted into the Women Songwriters Hall Of Fame earlier this year. Berry Gordy paid tribute to her in a statement, saying: "Janie was there with me from the very beginning, before there was even a Motown. Janie was smart, clever, witty and fun. She was also talented and determined. In those early days, everybody did what was needed to be done, and Janie was no exception. She became Motown's first receptionist, but her talents quickly took her far beyond the desk." She is survived by her husband Wardean Hobbs, her daughter Nicole Hobbs, her son Lance Finney and two grandsons. - NME, 8/22/26...... 
Ray Stevens is set to be honored with a star-studded concert at Nashville's Opry House on Nov. 9. "Don't Look, Ethel! A Salute to the Musical Genius of Ray Stevens" will be hosted by comedian Cledus T. Judd with performances from Ricky Skaggs, Ronnie Milsap, Jamey Johnson, Gretchen Wilson, Mark Chesnutt, The Gatlin Brothers, Lee Greenwood and many more. "I've always been so fond of the Nashville music community, and I'm truly honored that they would want to do this tribute," Stevens said in a statement. "All my life I've wanted to be successful in the music business and have people appreciate what I create. That's impossible without the fans. I'm so grateful for all of them!" In the 1960s, Stevens' slate of novelty hits such as "Gitarzan" and "Harry the Hairy Ape" earned him pop hits, while he also became an in-demand Nashville studio musician and songwriter, including playing trumpet during recording session for Elvis Presley and playing on Waylon Jennings' recording of "Only Daddy That'll Walk the Line." Stevens also wrote and produced Dolly Parton's 1966 song "Busy Signal." By 1970, he had been called upon as a summer replacement for television host Andy Williams, and in preparing for the gig, he wrote the uplifting track "Everything Is Beautiful," which won a Grammy in 1971 for best contemporary vocal performance, male. The 1970s and 1980s saw Stevens continue to earn hits with novelty songs including "Mississippi Squirrel Revival," No. 1 Pop and Country smash "The Streak." The line "Don't Look, Ethel!,"( which is part of the name of this event, comes from this song) and "Shriner's Convention." In 1976, he won another Grammy, this time for a fiddle-dominated arrangement of the standard "Misty." He continued expanding his business ventures, opening the Ray Stevens Theatre in Branson, Mo., in the '90s, and in 2015, he launched the weekly music variety cable show Ray Stevens Nashville. Beyond his membership in the Country Music Hall of Fame, he's also a member of the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame, the Musicians Hall of Fame, the Georgia Hall of Fame and has a star on the Music City Walk of Fame. - Billboard, 8/18/26...... Barbra Streisand has sent a sweet message to her friend Rosie O'Donnell after O'Donnell filled in for the vacationing Jimmy Kimmel for a week on the late night talk show Jimmy Kimmel Live!. Streisand reached out with a short but incredibly sweet message on Instagram to celebrate the return to television of the comedian, who has recently relocated to Ireland. O'Donnell shared a screenshot via Instagram on Aug. 20, giving her audience a peek at the unexpected note. "Be still my heart she is a class act what a way to finish my week on Kimmel!!!" O'Donnell wrote alongside the screenshot, adding the hashtags "#love" and "#barbra." The two have shared a memorable history dating back to the comedian's days hosting The Rosie O'Donnell Show, when Streisand appeared as a guest. O'Donnell has previously spoken about how significant that interview was to her, making the singer's encouragement all the more special now. - Billboard, 8/20/26...... Former Queen bassist Barry Mitchell has died. The news was shared on Facebook by Greg Brooks, the band's official archivist. "Terribly sad news just received that early Queen bass player (circa 1970), Barry Mitchell, has passed away," the post read. "His anecdotes at the convention were fascinating and offered rare insight. He will be greatly missed." Mitchell was the second bassist in the band, joining after the departure of founding member Mike Grose. He stayed in the band between Aug. 1970 and Jan. 1971 -- two years before their breakthrough 1973 self-titled debut album -- and reportedly played the original bass lines on songs "Liar" and "Son And Daughter." He left the line-up as he "wasn't enthusiastic enough about their music", he revealed in a 2018 interview with Rolling Stone, looking back at his time playing live with Freddie Mercury & co. After leaving Queen, Mitchell went on to join the proto-punk band Tiger, who formed in the late '60s. He then made a comeback in the early '90s, playing as part of Jayne Raydio. Friends and fans have taken to social media to pay tribute to Mitchell following news of his death. "Farewell to a genuinely lovely man," wrote friend Mark Cotterill. "A pleasure to call him friend. He had time for everyone at the Queen conventions. He had some great stories to tell re his music career. A man who could make any hat look cool. RIP Barry." Another friend, Gary Taylor, shared on Facebook: "RIP Barry Mitchell, Queen's second bass player, who sadly passed away on August 17. He was a great guy, and a friend, and we had some very interesting chats over the years on the phone and in person." Born in London, Mitchell attended Claremont High School in Harrow in the mid 1960s, and went on to live in Northampton shortly before his death. Details about his death have yet to be publicly disclosed. - NME, 8/21/26...... 
Long-tenured ZZ Top drummer Frank Beard, a key part of one of the longest-lasting consistent band lineups in rock history, passed away at his ranch in Richmond, Tex., on Aug. 17. He was 77. A press release from longtime band publicist Bob Merlis confirmed his passing on Aug. 18, stating that Beard was "in hospice care when he passed away at his ranch in Richmond, TX with family members at his side." Born on June 11, 1949, in Frankton, Tex., Beard had served as stickman for the Texas blues-rock trio since 1969, when he made the jump from the more psychedelic-oriented local group American Blues to ZZ Top. At that point, the latter group consisted of Beard, singer-guitarist Billy Gibbons and bassist Billy Ethridge. After Ethridge quit the band and was replaced by Dusty Hill, the band's power-trio lineup was locked in, and would not change for the next half-century. ZZ Top became national rock stars in the mid-'70s with the release of its breakthrough LP Tres Hombres, with Beard's explosive-but-swinging drumming playing a huge part in the band's sonic identity. While "La Grange," the album's breakout hit single and a future classic-rock radio staple, is perhaps best remembered for frontman Gibbons' limber guitar riffing and haw-haw-haw vocal sleaze, equally crucial was Beard's frisky stick-tapping on the song's intro and clipped gallop on its main groove. The trio found continued success throughout the late '70s and early '80s, hitting the Billboard Hot 100's top 40 with the horny rave-up "Tush" and the spiky Sam + Dave cover "I Thank You." During this time, Beard struggled with substance abuse, with the band going on hiatus in the late '70s as Beard dealt with his issues. He got clean in the early '80s, and shortly after, ZZ Top really went into mid-'80s commercial overdrive, thanks largely to the advent of MTV -- a format not often charitable to the AOR rockers of yesteryear, but one that ZZ Top embraced with particular lan, becoming music video icons as the mystical hairy dudes with the fuzzy guitars, the cool car and the hot chicks. 
(Ironically, Beard was the one member of the group to go clean-shaven; "Frank's beard is on his driver's license," quipped Gibbons.) ZZ Top's 1983 album Eliminator spawned a trio of MTV smashes ("Gimme All Your Lovin," "Sharp Dressed Man" and "Legs") and would ultimately be certified diamond by the RIAA, becoming the group's biggest album. While Beard's drumming on the set was somewhat smoothed out by the group's increasingly processed, new wave-friendlier sound, he still helped provide the singles much-needed muscle and backbone under the shiny guitars and synths. (Beard also got married for the second time shortly before the album's release, with he and wife Debbie Meredith remaining together -- with twin sons Rory and Nico born in 1985 -- until his death.) The group released two albums in the 21st century, 2003's Mescalero and 2012's La Futura, and continued to tour with the same three-man lineup it had held since 1969, the longtime consistency of its lineup an extreme rarity among popular rock bands. In 2004, the group was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, and in 2019, it was the subject of the Netflix documentary That Little Ol' Band From Texas. Sadly, the group was finally forced into lineup changes with the death of Hill in 2021, with longtime guitar tech Elwood Francis replacing him at live performances. Now, with Beard's death, Gibbons remains the lone living member from the group's classic lineup. The press release also stated that Beard's death "necessitates the cancellation of ZZ Top tour dates that had been scheduled for [Aug. 18] in Salt Lake City and [Aug. 19] in Colorado Springs," but that the band "will resume its current The Big One! Tour this weekend with two dates in at Austin City Limits, one of Frank's favorite venues and in a city that had been something of a second home for him." - Billboard, 8/18/26.
Roxy Music has announced on 
Founding Deep Purple guitarist Ritchie Blackmore joined his old bandmates recently at a concert in Wantagh, N.Y. for a rendition of the group's 1972 classic song, "Smoke On The Water," and says the reunion could be the "last time" the bandmates ever see each other. Interviewed about the gig by Guitar Player magazine, Blackmore said: "It was very moving because I went on very quickly and had to play immediately. I couldn't warm up, but I wasn't there to be playing correct notes." "I was there to see old friends I hadn't seen in 40 years and we're all getting older. I think we realised it could be the last time we see each other, maybe," he added. Earlier in the conversation, Blackmore explained: "I woke up one morning thinking, the day before their show [thinking], 'You know it would be good for the fans if I just got up for one song, probably 'Smoke' and just show that were not at each other's throats and don't hate each other'." He then spoke further about the "very emotional" reunion with his fellow classic members Ian Gillan, Ian Paice and Roger Glover, admitting that it was "tricky." "I didn't play anything too technical, as I felt I should stick to the rudiments of being simple," Blackmore continued. "I still lost my place at one point, but it's not why I was there. I was there to heal any wounds - but there weren't any wounds. Everyone was like, we were in the army, all along the Western front and we were all getting together again. Very emotional moment." The concert also saw the first performance Blackmore shared with Deep Purple keyboardist Don Airey in 44 years, following the latter's exit from Rainbow in 1982. Blackmore discussed his past clashes with Gillan that led to his departure from Deep Purple in 1993, too. "We're two alpha guys," he explained. "I'm used to running a band, and I think he's used to running a band. So we clashed in the old days. But all that changed." Deep Purple are currently out on a North American tour in support of their latest album, 
Legendary pop songwriter Jimmy Webb is celebrating turing 80 on Aug. 15 by announcing a new album, 
'70s pop singer/songwriter Stephen Bishop has unveiled a new song he recorded for his 1976 debut album, Careless. The album included the now Yacht Rock classic, the swaying "On & On," which peaked at No. 11 on the hit parade, as well as its breezy predecessor "Save It for a Rainy Day," which reached No. 22. Bishop is releasing a 50th anniversary edition of Careless which can be ordered on 
Dave Marsh, one of the most influential music writers of his generation and a passionate activist for health care, social justice and freedom of expression, died on Aug. 14. He was 72. The cause of his death has not been reported but he had been in declining health in recent years. Born in Pontiac, Mich., in 1950, Marsh grew up immersed in the sounds of Detroit -- Motown, R&B, and rock 'n' roll -- inspiring a lifelong belief in the power of music. He was among the first editors of Creem magazine when it launched in 1969. He also wrote extensively for Rolling Stone and other publications and authored more than two dozen books on artists including Elvis Presley, The Who and Bruce Springsteen. His 1979 biography, Born to Run: The Bruce Springsteen Story, became a New York Times bestseller. In 1993, Marsh shared a Grammy for best album notes for Aretha Franklin's Queen of Soul. He also co-founded the newsletter Rap & Rock Confidential and, in 2004, joined SiriusXM, hosting Kick Out the for 19 years, along with Live from E Street Nation and Live from the Land of Hope and Dreams. He was married to Barbara Carr, longtime co-manager of Springsteen. Following the death of their daughter, Kristen Ann Carr, in 1993 at age 21 of sarcoma, a rare form of cancer, Marsh co-founded and served as a trustee of the The Kristen Ann Carr Fund to advance sarcoma research and support families affected by cancer. "Here on E Street, the irreplaceable loss of Dave Marsh has us heartbroken," Springsteen wrote in a statement shared on 
On Aug. 12 Rod Stewart cancelled the remaining dates on his North American farewell tour after undergoing a routine coronary stent procedure. Stewart, 81, had been scheduled to perform at Ohio's Riverbend Music Center on Aug. 9, but cancelled the show at the last minute, stating in a press release that it was due to an "unforeseen but minor medical procedure." The 1994 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee than went on to cancel his remaining tour dates after the procedure. He was set to perform at Morton Amphitheater in Kansas City, Mo. on Aug. 15), Las Vegas on Aug. 18 for a performance at the Colosseum at Caesars Palace, followed by gigs in Minnesota, Illinois, Colorado, plus a run of shows in Mexico (Sept. 9-13). In a statement issued to Rolling Stone, Stewart's reps said he was "doing well" and that "on the advice of his doctors, he will take the next four weeks to recuperate and regain full fitness before returning to the stage. Unfortunately, this means he will be unable to continue his current tour dates." In his own message posted to 
Rock's most famous combination lead guitarist and astrophysicist has shared his advice on how best to view the solar eclipse in northern Europe on Aug. 12. Brian May, who is qualified astrophysicist after achieving a PHD degree in 2007, gave regular updates about the celestial phenomenon on his 
Iconic U.K. New Wave rocker Elvis Costello has announced he will play a solo acoustic show at Canada's Southern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium on Nov. 21 as a fundraiser for the Owen Hart Foundation. This will be the second time the foundation has hosted Costello, an iconic and influential performer who released his first album, 
Ben Jones, the actor-turned-politician best known for playing Cooter Davenport on the 1979-1985 CBS series 
Lindsey Buckingham says he and Stevie Nicks are "talking all the time now" after a rift between himself and Nicks resulted in his firing from the band in 2019. Interviewed by E! News at Variety's Power of Young Hollywood event in Los Angeles on Aug. 6, Buckingham explained that he and other members of Fleetwood Mac have found that their collaboration on an upcoming FM documentary has been "a very circular healing process for all of us." "Because we had left things in 2019, maybe as far as I was concerned, not in a very good place for all the wrong reasons," he said. "No one was happy about it, and all of that has been healed and worked out." Buckingham's relationship with Nicks especially has been famously fraught over the decades, but according to him, "Stevie and I are talking all the time now." His interview comes nearly two years after Apple announced production on a definitive FM documentary directed by Frank Marshall, featuring rare insights from the surviving band members themselves. A release date has not yet been announced, but the project is expected to arrive in 2027. In 2025, Buckingham and Nicks teamed up to re-release their 1973 album, Buckingham Nicks, which reached No. 3 on the Top Album Sales chart in September. Buckingham also teased to E! that future projects with his old bandmates could be in the cards. "Next year should be a pretty interesting year. I think quite a few things will reveal themselves," he said. Elsewhere, and alleged stalker of Buckingham has been ruled unfit to stand trial. Michelle Dick, 55, is accused of attacking and stalking the musician and violating a restraining order taken out against her in 2024. In court filings, Buckingham claimed that Dick told police that he was her father and accused him of "suffocating her as a child." The woman allegedly confronted the musician last March, throwing an unknown substance in his face. At the time, police said they believed she had been waiting for his arrival. Buckingham was uninjured. She was then arrested in Indiana in April and additionally charged with stalking another victim named in the documents as "Stephanie N," along with vandalising Buckingham's vehicle and making a criminal threat against the musician in March. Dick has pleaded not guilty on all seven charges. Now, Judge Robert S. Harrison has told Dick that she is not "trial-competent" or "able to handle your case," He additionally ruled that it was "medically appropriate to treat the defendant's psychiatric condition with medication," following a report from a court-appointed doctor. Further rulings will be made in a hearing scheduled for Aug. 27. If she qualifies for and successfully completes a mental health diversion program, her charges could be dismissed. - Billboard/NME, 8/7/26...... ZZ Top was forced to cancel their performance at the Hollywood Bowl scheduled for Aug. 5 due to "insurmountable obstacles," according to frontman Billy Gibbons. "Friends, fans and followers of ZZ Top are the best in the business and the band is counting on everyone to bear with us for this brief interruption," he posted on 
A new documentary about the late Rush drummer Neil Peart will debut on Canada's CBC network on Sept. 23. Neil Peart: No One's Disciple will tell Peart's life story, and feature interviews with Rush co-founders Geddy Lee and Alex Lifeson, as well with a crew of legendary drummers talking about his influence. Also for the documentary, Lee and Lifeson filmed rehearsal hall performances of classic Rush songs with some well-known guest drummers, including the Police's Stewart Copeland, the Red Hot Chili Peppers' Chad Smith, and Tool's Danny Carey. Peart, who is widely considered one of the greatest rock drummers of all time, died of cancer in 2020. - Rolling Stone, 8/5/26...... Earth, Wind & Fire called off a co-headlining show with Lionel Richie at San Francisco's Chase Center on Aug. 6 at the last minute due to an illness affecting a member of the band. According to a local TV station, thousands of fans already inside the arena and those still in line were forced to exit the building. In an 
Gary Glitter has appeared in a London court over a historical sex offence charge dating back to 1978. In July 2025 Glitter (real name Paul Gadd) was accused of one count of unlawful sexual intercourse with a girl under the age of 13, and three counts of indecent assault on a girl under 14. Appearing at Westminster Magistrates' Court on Aug. 5, Glitter denied the charges. He appeared via video link from HMP Channings Wood in Devon, where he is currently being held. He was remanded in custody and instructed to appear at the Old Bailey in London on Sept. 2, either in person or via video. He then confirmed his name and date of birth. Throughout the hearing, the court heard how Gadd denied the allegations against him, adding that he did not know the complainant. The prosecutor said the offences took place between 1978 and 1981 when the accuser was eight to 11-years-old. Glitter reportedly lived nearby the girl, where he allegedly groomed her by giving her chocolate and inviting her inside his house. Gadd was one of the UK's biggest musicians throughout the 1970s, but was arrested in 2012 while police were conducting an investigation into Jimmy Savile's abuse claims. He was later arrested over eight sex offence charges involving girls aged between 12 and 14 in 2014. Though he denied the allegations, he was found guilty on several counts and sentenced to 16 years in prison. Though he was freed from jail after serving half his sentence in 2023, he landed back behind bars one month later after allegedly viewing downloaded images of children. - NME, 8/6/26...... Bruce Springsteen has praised health care workers who have helped his wife and E Street Band bandmate Patti Scialfa's battle with cancer in a pre-recorded message played at the 47th annual Pan-Mass Challenge fundraiser on Aug. 4. The Boss had generous, loving words for the many doctors and nurses who have helped Scialfa while sharing that the singer is in remission from multiple myeloma during the gala for the Pan-Mass Challenge bike race supporting cancer research and treatment at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. "We're a little late, but here we are and it's a pleasure to be with you," Springsteen said in an 8-minute prerecorded video, joking about how PMC founder and chairman Billy Starr first invited him to ride in the annual event way back in 1984. As he strummed an acoustic guitar from inside his home studio in New Jersey, Springsteen added, "Since 1980, you have inspired a community that has done something remarkable. You've never stopped believing that ordinary people can make an extraordinary difference. And because of that countless lives have been saved." He then made it personal, revealing to the room that Scialfa -- who he's been married to since 1991 and has three grown children with -- has been getting treatment at Dana-Farber for multiple myeloma, a type of blood cancer in which abnormal plasma cells group out of control. "As you know, Patti's been living with her multiple myeloma for over eight years," Springsteen said in the pre-tape uploaded to 
On Aug. 4 Van Morrison announced 10 more dates on his upcoming fall UK tour. The Celtic crooner had previously shared details of a five-night London residency in May, scheduled to take place at the new British Airways ARC arena in September. It'll follow the release of his latest album, Somebody Tried To Sell Me A Bridge, in January. Now it's confirmed that Morrison will make an additional appearance in the capital when he headlines the New Wimbledon Theatre on Sept. 26. Following the extended 6-date London stint, Morrison is set to perform at the Liverpool Philharmonic Hall on Oct. 8 and 9. He'll then make stops at Swansea Arena, Bristol Beacon, Plymouth Arena and Torquay's Princess Theatre, before closing out the month with a pair of gigs at Brighton Dome. In early November, he'll head to Scotland for shows at the Glasgow Royal Concert Hall and Edinburgh's Usher Hall on Nov. 2 and 3 respectively. This spring, Morrison was given the prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award at the 2026 Jazz FM Awards. He recently performed at the Montreux Jazz Festival, and in summer 2025 opened for Neil Young at BST Hyde Park in London. - NME, 8/4/26..... The family of Michael Jackson has announced that Marlon Jackson is developing a new docuseries exploring the life of Jacksons patriarch Joe Jackson. Per a post made by The Jacksons on 
Iconic Star Trek actor William Shatner has announced he's releasing a heavy metal album in the near future and revealed he is one of the Coachella festival's first bookings. When CNN anchor Elex Michaelson recently asked what he was most excited about these days, the 95-year-old Shatner didn't hesitate: "My heavy metal!" he replied, steering the conversation toward his latest creative venture, his upcoming heavy metal album his newly formed band, The *uckers. While running through the band's upcoming schedule, including their live debut at Riot Fest in Chicago on September 20th, he added that they would also be playing "the one in the desert." Michaelson quickly interjected, "Coachella?" and both Shatner and Gretsch answered in unison, "Coachella," letting slip a festival booking organizers have yet to announce. The group is set to perform material spanning Shatner's musical catalog while previewing songs from its forthcoming debut album, What the F Is Heavy Metal. As unlikely as a William Shatner metal project may sound, the actor has spent decades boldly carving out a parallel music career alongside his acting resume. Beginning with his 1968 spoken-word debut The Transformed Man, Shatner has since released a dozen studio albums, collaborating with artists including Ben Folds, Henry Rollins, Joe Jackson, Brad Paisley, Peter Frampton and Iggy Pop. Along with the heavy metal album, Shatner also recently confirmed the release of a new spoken-word project due out in August. Coachella has not officially announced its 2027 lineup. If Shatner's appearance is indeed locked in, he'll head to Indio in April fresh off his Riot Fest debut. Shatner and Michaelson's delightful conversation can be viewed on 
Roger Waters has shared a "reimagined" version of Pink Floyd's "Comfortably Numb" in hopes it will be seen as "prophetic." The new nine-minute "Comfortably Numb" version transforms the song from 1979's 
Rod Stewart helped raise $1.7M for Stevie Van Zandt's TeachRock Education nonprofit during a fundraiser in Southampton, N.Y., on July 30. The intimate private concert for 200 guests at the home of philanthropists Bob and Lauren Day Roberts raised $1.7 million in support of TeachRock's mission to bring arts education to classrooms across the country. According to a release, one of the highlights of the night was when E Street Band member and Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Van Zandt joined Stewart on stage for performances of Sam Cooke's "Having a Party" and The Faces' "Stay With Me." "Playing alongside the legend that is Stevie Van Zandt for TeachRock -- what a night," Stewart said in a statement about the event. "Music changed my life, and TeachRock is making sure it can change theirs too." "Rod didn't just give us an unforgettable performance this evening, he gave our mission a tremendous boost," Van Zandt said later. "Every dollar raised helps us put free arts education into more classrooms, and that's something worth celebrating." TeachRock's mission includes supplying educators with free, stardards-aligned curriculum that uses the history of popular music to engage students across subjects including history, social studies, language arts and science. The organization currently reaches more than one million students nationwide. - Billboard, 7/31/26...... Elton John marked 36 years of sobriety on July 31 by raising a glass of his sparkling non-alcoholic Elton John Zero Blanc de Blancs champagne. "36 years sober today," a smiling Sir Elton, wearing a patterned shirt and oversized square-framed glasses, captioned a celebratory photo on Instagram. "Raising a 0% glass to life. Grateful for every single day." He later shared the same image via Instagram Stories with his 1983 hit single and ode to perseverance, "I'm Still Standing," playing in the background. John opened up about his struggles with addiction in his 2019 memoir, Me, detailing his dependencies on cocaine and alcohol at the height of his fame. "You block it out until the problem of the thing you're facing becomes such a monumental thing that you explode with rage, and that's the way I handled confrontation," he told NPR in an interview that October. "I hated my addiction. I hated the way I behaved. I hated how I treated people. I hated what I'd become." John and his husband, David Furnish, announced their venture into the lucrative non-alcoholic drinks market in January this year. "What drew us to this product is the fact that it's the first one of its kind and that it's made differently," Furnish shared of the cuvée at the time. "All the non-alcoholic drinks we've all tried and haven't really enjoyed very much are made with alcohol and then de-alcoholised, whereas with this product, the grapes are fermented with good cultures and that creates all of the properties of a beautiful blanc de blancs." Elton's longtime collaborator, Bernie Taupin, recently told Rolling Stone that he thinks John may release a new album in 2026, though nothing is concrete yet. "Well, he's got a record coming out, I think, at the beginning of next year that I contributed to," Taupin said. "But I literally don't know when that is. He did it with [producer]Andrew Watt again. And he wrote it in a completely different way simply because of his eyesight problem." Elton's eye issues began in the summer of 2024, when an infection left him blind in his right eye. The new record will follow his 2025 joint LP with Brandi Carlile, Who Believes in Angels?. - Music-News.com, 7/31/26...... A year after his passing, the life and crazy times of late heavy metal legend Ozzy Osbourne will be the subject of the new Ozzy Osbourne: Prince of Darkness haunted house at Universal Studios theme parks during this year's annual "Halloween Horror Nights" event. "Ozzy Osbourne's shocking image was as haunting as his heavy metal hits. Now you'll enter the Prince of Darkness's kingdom where music and mayhem collide -- and everything's gone off the rails," according to a press release announcing the attraction. "Veer through a decaying world ripped straight from Ozzy's lyrics in this haunted house inspired by one of rock 'n' roll's greatest legends. Let the madness begin!" The new attraction will join the raft of other haunted houses at this year's Halloween Horror Nights, including ones dedicated to other Universal produced projects including Evil Dead Burn, Hellraiser and season five of Stranger Things and Sinners. Speaking to Entertainment Weekly, Osbourne's widow and longtime manager, Sharon Osbourne, said the experience that's part of HHN's 35th anniversary edition will tell the rocker's story from his working class childhood in Birmingham, England to his run as the frontman of Black Sabbath. "His music throughout every room is at the heart of it all," Sharon told the outlet. "Fans will also see scenes inspired by Ozzy's journey, from his early days as a little boy growing up in Birmingham, England, riding the train to and from London, to the iconic imagery and characters from across his career." The promo preview video for Ozzy Osbourne: Prince of Darkness haunted house can be viewed on 
The Beatles' official website announced on July 29 that a Super Deluxe edition of the band's seminal 1965 album Rubber Soul will be released by UMG and Apple Corps Ltd later in 2026 with a bevy of new mixes, never-before-heard home demos and an 88-page book with an introduction by Paul McCartney. Newly mixed by producer Giles Martin and engineer Sam Okell, the definitive version of the album will be released on Oct. 2 via Apple Corps Ltd./Capitol/UMe and be packaged in a 4CD/5LP edition featuring new stereo and Dolby Atmos mixes alongside the original mono mix and the original Capitol U.S. album version. The new stereo mix was sourced directly from the original four-track master tapes and the audio enhanced with the help of cutting-edge "de-mixing" technology developed by the team at director Peter Jackson's WingNut Films Productions Ltd. for Jackson's Get Back documentary. The Super Deluxe editions will feature 24 early session recordings, including 20 previously unreleased takes and three previously unheard John Lennon demos, including early versions of "Day Tripper," "We Can Work It Out" and "Little Girl," a previously unheard John Lennon song outline that has never been released before. There will also be 2CD and 2LP versions with a curated selection of session highlights, demos and the album version of the double A-side lead single, "We Can Work It Out"/"Day Tripper." Originally released on Dec. 3, 1965, the Fab Four's sixth studio album was fronted by the double A-side single and was recorded over four weeks beginning in October of that year. The LP expanded the group's pop sound with the addition of the sitar and harmonium, helping to pave the way for the psychedelic rock revolution of the late 1960s, while expanding the parameters of what was possible on a cohesive pop album. It contains such classics as the frenetic "Drive My Car," the meditative "Norwegian Wood (This Bird Has Flown)," as well as "Nowhere Man," "Michelle," "Girl" and the introspective "In My Life." The long-awaited Rubber Soul revamp comes after similar treatments for Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band (2017), The Beatles (White Album) (2018), Abbey Road (2019), Let It Be (2021), Revolver (2022) and Anthology (2025). A taste of the new release, "Michelle (Take 1)," has been shared on 
Willie Nelson has weighed in on the current controversy of the profusion of AI data centers being proposed across America. Posting an open letter on 
Original Foreigner vocalist Lou Gramm joined his old band for a song during a co-headlining concert by Foreigner and Lynyrd Skynyrd at Toronto's RBC Amphitheatre on July 30. Gramm, now 76 years old with his performing retirement coming this year, showed up to introduce the group, plug his first solo album in 17 years,