Some songs are likely bigger hits than you remember. You might recall “Look Away” by Chicago as a somewhat ubiquitous power ballad from the late ’80s. But did you know that it was the top Billboard hit for the entire year of 1989? What is “Look Away” about? Who wrote it? And how did it […] The post The Meaning and Story Behind “Look Away” by Chicago and the Future Hall of Fame Songwriter Who Wrote It appeared first on American Songwriter ..read more

Dickey Betts helped define the southern rock genre as a founding member of The Allman Brothers Band. While Betts could certainly shred on the guitar, he also wrote many of the band’s most popular songs, including 1973’s “Ramblin’ Man.” Today, that song is arguably the most synonymous with the Jacksonville, Florida outfit. Fittingly, it’s the […] The post Billy Strings Tips His Hat to the Late Dickey Betts With “Ramblin’ Man” Performance appeared first on American Songwriter ..read more

Kellie Pickler was hit hard last year when her husband, Kyle Jacobs, died. Understandably, the American Idol sixth-place finisher stepped out of the public eye to grieve on her own terms. On Monday (April 22), Pickler took the stage at Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium for her first public appearance since February 2023. The “Red High Heels” […] The post ‘American Idol’ Alum Honors Late Husband in First Performance Since His Death appeared first on American Songwriter ..read more

In an era where girl groups flexed their musical muscles on the pop charts with regularity, none could quite keep up with The Supremes. Their list of smash hits runs long, with “You Can’t Hurry Love” ranking with their very best. What is “You Can’t Hurry Love” about? What did the songwriters have in mind? […] The post The Meaning Behind “You Can’t Hurry Love” by The Supremes and How It Started a Run of Chart-Toppers for the Group appeared first on American Songwriter ..read more

The Ramones’ eponymous debut album is largely regarded as one of the most influential punk rock records of all time. But that wasn’t the case when the band first released the album on April 23, 1976.  Although the critical reception of ‘Ramones’ was overwhelmingly positive, the record failed to garner significant commercial success. It would […] The post 5 Little-Known Facts About The Ramones’ Debut, Released On This Day in 1976 appeared first on American Songwriter ..read more

Lost Dog Street Band will release their new album Survived this week. The aptly-titled collection comes after a time when Benjamin Tod and his collaborators were ready to walk away from the project for good. Then, after recording a solo album, Tod found his excitement for the project revived. The newly rekindled excitement was contagious. […] The post Benjamin Tod Reveals Why Lost Dog Street Band Almost Split Before Recording Their New Album ‘Survived’: Exclusive appeared first on American Songwriter ..read more

Remember that ominous countdown on Sturgill Simpson’s website that nobody could figure out? Well, it looks like it was counting down to a very special announcement! Sturgill Simpson will officially be headlining Outside Lands Festival in 2024, along with a ton of co-headliners including Tyler, The Creator, The Killers, The Postal Service, Grace Jones, Kaytranada, […] The post Sturgill Simpson to Headline Outside Lands Fest 2024: How To Get Tickets appeared first on American Songwriter ..read more

VH1’s Behind the Music became a favorite TV show among music fans in the late ‘90s. Each episode allowed viewers to look into the lives of their favorite musicians. The series humanized megastars and showed the struggles behind some of the biggest names across multiple genres. However, it unfortunately came to an end in 2014. […] The post New Episodes of ‘Behind the Music’ Will Feature Trace Adkins, Wolfgang Van Halen, and Bell Biv DeVoe appeared first on American Songwriter ..read more

Earlier this month, country-rapper Colt Ford collapsed following a show at Dierks Bentley’s Whiskey Row in Gilbert, Arizona. The 54-year-old faced grim odds for survival after suffering a heart attack. Friends and colleagues have kept fans updated on Ford’s condition via social media. On Tuesday (April 23), the public heard directly from the “Dirt Road Anthem” […] The post Country Star Reveals He Was Clinically Dead Twice After Suffering Heart Attack Following Performance appeared first on American Songwriter ..read more

Blake Shelton doesn’t miss The Voice. The country star left the reality season competition behind in 2023 after acting as the show’s face for 23 seasons. For many viewers, The Voice just hasn’t been the same since. Shelton recently revealed that he would return to the set under one condition. Unfortunately for diehard fans, it’s […] The post Blake Shelton Doesn’t Miss the Job “At All” but Would Consider a Return to ‘The Voice’ on One Condition appeared first on American Songwriter ..read more