The Music Universe Podcast

BBR Music Group/Wheelhouse Records singer/songwriter Elvie Shane delivers his most daring work yet with his sophomore album Damascus, available now. Full of unflinching honesty rooted in compassionate clarity, Shane takes pieces of each character he’s met on his path, melding them into one beautifully woven work. The road to Damascus isn't a journey one takes lightly, yet the album tells the stories of those often untold, giving each testimony a chance to shine through. Shane co-wrote all songs on the project produced by his frequent collaborator, Oscar Charles.

"Very heavy-hearted for I'd say 60 or 70% of it," Shane tells us about the album's content. "You know, songs like 'Fan on High' and 'Chicken Shit' are a little bit more light-hearted. But man, I just really wanted to, what I've been noticing more than anything in the world the last few years is a lot of struggle. And a lot of struggle with my folks in particular, with blue-collar people. I'm a rural Kentucky boy, you know, come from a lower middle-class family, truck driver, and a factory worker as parents. Those are the people that I love and care about and I feel like they're very interesting people and I want to tell their stories. But within that picture of blue-collar struggle, there are some afflictions as well, be it addiction, political issues, religious issues, or prison reform. I think we tried to touch on all of those a little bit in this record."

Shane discusses a few songs in more detail and what's ahead on this edition of The Music Universe Podcast.

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Next week, Toto launches its third consecutive tour with Journey with 30 appearances throughout the United States and Canada through the spring with an additional 14 headlining performances planned. A tour of Europe follows this summer with additional headlining dates to be announced.

The band is led by guitarist Steve Lukather (Luke) and frontman Joseph Williams, also known as The Dogz of Oz. In the fall of 2019, we began our podcast with Luke featured in our inaugural episode. Now, as we hit the 200 mark, we invited Williams to join us in the hot seat where we chat about the band's new lineup featuring Williams on vocals, Luke on guitar and vocals, Greg Phillinganes returning on keyboards and vocals, Nashville studio musician Shannon Forrest returning on drums, John Pierce on bass, Warren Ham on horns, percussion, vocals, and Steve Maggiora on keyboards and vocals -- and additional topics.

"It's unbelievable how many versions of this band if you count all the musicians that have played from behind. Of the old guard, you know, it's basically just me and Luke, you know," he says. "But Greg Phillinganes is back and he was once a full-blown member back in the early 2000s and we're thrilled to have him back because he's just exceptional in every single way, so that's wonderful. And then Shannon who was with us during the teens for about six years is back, and it's great to have him back. He's probably -- more than anybody -- reminds me of the way [original drummer] Jeff [Porcaro] used to play. And he also has this encyclopedic knowledge of all the Toto material, so rehearsals are like a breeze. So between those guys, I mean, it's really solid, and it sounds amazing. I can't wait for everybody to hear it."

Over the past decade, Toto has had a major renaissance in popularity like few bands at this point in their career. No individual statistic exhibits this more than achieving the milestone of over 3.4 billion streams at Spotify alone. The total plays of the band’s collected works across all platforms is now approaching five billion. Amongst the most listened-to recordings, “Africa” accounts for over one billion streams on Spotify alone. The song was recertified by the RIAA eight times platinum.

Individually and collectively, the band’s family tree can be heard on an astonishing five thousand albums that together amass a sales history of half a billion albums. Amongst these recordings, NARAS applauded the performances with hundreds of Grammy nominations. They are pop culture and are one of the few 70’s bands that have endured the changing trends and styles while continuing to remain relevant.

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For four decades, Mark Miller has been the frontman of multi-platinum and multi-award-winning group Sawyer Brown and a trailblazer in country music. Now, he’s pulling back the curtain on his storied career with his new memoir The Boys And Me: My Life in the Country Music Supergroup Sawyer Brown, due February 6th via Forefront Books.

From the early days of honing their craft in small-town venues to winning the first-ever televised singing competition with Star Search to becoming country music’s most enduring act, Miller offers a backstage pass to the heart and soul of Sawyer Brown with never-before-told stories.

"The book wasn't my idea," Miller tells us. "My brother is our manager and he came up with the idea that [the band] need[s] to do a new album. My daughter's been involved. She is involved in production and has her own TV show. She really signed on and wanted to do the documentary. And then he thought it would be a good idea to do the book. Just as we talked about my personality, I just thought who in the world would want to read a book about me? And so that was my that was my first thing... Robert Nolan was the, I guess, ghostwriter or whatever. That was the first thing I said to Robert. I said, 'This was going to be difficult for me because I don't even know what parts of me are interesting.' So I think the reason for the book was just maybe to complete the 40-year package with the documentary, the album, and the book. The book, of course, covers my life all the way from growing up. The documentary covers basically the beginning of the band. That's where that picks up."

The book's foreword was written by NFL Hall of Famer Kurt Warner.

The Boys And Me stands as a testament to the band’s enduring legacy and its impact on the country music landscape. Accompanied by the band’s new tell-all documentary, Get Me To The Stage On Time, and a Blake Shelton-produced album, Desperado Troubadours, coming March 8th via their longtime label Curb Records, Miller’s memoir continues the celebration of Sawyer Brown’s 40th anniversary.

The first two singles of the new album, “Under This Ole Hat” and “Get Me To The Stage On Time,” are available now.

Marking a new pinnacle in a lifetime of creative achievement, multi-talented entertainer Charles Esten will release his highly anticipated independent debut album, Love Ain’t Pretty, on January 26th.

A diverse and richly textured full-length project more than ten years in the making, Love Ain't Pretty began taking shape when Esten first arrived in Music City to play Deacon Claybourne on ABC/CMT’s Nashville, and now showcases a singer-songwriter with a masterful grasp of the full human condition. Working in tandem with hitmakers like Jon Nite, Eric Paslay, Gary Burr, Leslie Satcher, and more, Esten co-wrote all 14 songs, diving deep into wide-ranging themes of earth-shattering romance, big-picture reflection, and beyond. Vividly detailed and filled with the emotional daring of a celebrated storyteller – both onscreen and onstage – Esten explores life, love, and the passing of time through the lens of a traveled and tested everyman, who has never lost his innate sense of wonder, or his wide-open soul. Meanwhile, he teamed with producer Marshall Altman (Frankie Ballard, Marc Broussard, Matt Nathanson) to sculpt a calm, controlled, and beautifully contoured sound, blending the forward momentum of Country Rock with Rootsy small-town charm, and a warm, soulful vocal.

"[O]ver these years in college, I was singing other people's songs in their voice. I was doing Buddy Holly and his voice on TV's Whose Line [Is It Anyway]. As you know, they would go, 'We want you to sing this song in the style of Neil Diamond or the style of U2.' So you're doing other people's voices for a long time. Part of the journey of any artist is finding out, all right, 'Who am I then?' And Nashville is a beautiful place to get to do that because you're surrounded [by talent]," Esten tells us.

"I had this great producer named Marshall Altman and these incredible players around me who get to follow our lead and make these, bring these songs to life in a way we had imagined, but beyond that because of their great talents. And so, so much of this has been stripping away those impressions and those other folks to find out what it is.

"I want to say, who I am and what I want to say. Now those things have been influenced along the way. There's so much of this music I would think you would agree that Deacon Claiborne could have sung that one. And in a way he did because I played him. And I was fortunate enough to get to write three songs for Deacon on the show Nashville so that overlap is there. But it's very strange to have a debut album at this late point in someone's life. But to me, it's all for the better. It means I have things I've thought about that I want to say, and in a certain way I want to say them, and that all comes together in Love Ain't Pretty."

Esten is a global entertainer. Best known for his roles as Ward Cameron on Netflix’s Outer Banks and Deacon Claybourne in ABC/CMT’s Nashville, the artist-songwriter introduces Love Ain’t Pretty. Surpassing 21 million streams to date, Esten is a 2018 Guinness World Records title holder for the “Most consecutive weeks to release an original digital single by a music act” after delivering 54 original songs once a week for 54 straight weeks. He’s made nearly 170 appearances at Nashville’s iconic Grand Ole Opry and performed multiple headline tours in the US, Germany, Amsterdam, and the UK, further embarking on his US and international headlining Love Ain't Pretty Tour this spring. In addition, Esten serves as the National Honorary Spokesperson for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s annual Light The Night Walk and is a board member and volunteer for Musicians On Call.

He chats with us about the upcoming G3 Reunion Tour with Joe Satriani and Eric Johnson as well as his Satch-Vai Tour with Satriani. He also talks about new music that includes his passion project of orchestral songs and teases a big tour announcement for the fall.

"The last year and a half was the Inviolate Tour. So it was the full show that I do, but now for 24, it's more condensed. I'm out with Joe and Eric Johnson for G3 for a good handful of shows. We kick off in about ten days," Vai tells us. "And then finally, it's so nice, Joe and I are going to do a tour together, just the two of us. And that's something -- we've toured together a lot, but we've never toured as just the two of us. And for the first time, we'll also have some music that we recorded together, working on a couple of tracks there. So that's exciting. And it's really nice because it's kind of the end of a huge touring cycle, and I get to do it with Joe. I mean, we've known each other since we were little kids, you know? I started taking lessons [from Satriani] when I was like 12. We've been joined at the hip ever since, but we've never really done anything like this together. So it's very nice."

The G3 tour kicks off on January 22nd and runs through February 10th, and then The Satch-Vai Tour will be staged from March 22nd in Orlando, FL through May 12th in Santa Rosa, California, featuring an extensive itinerary that will stage 38 appearances. This marks the first time that the long-time friends have toured as a duo-bill. It is also the first time they’ve collaborated on new music, which will be premiered just before the tour heading out.

Conceived in 1995 by the multi-Grammy nominated guitarist, Joe Satriani, the inaugural G3 Tour took place in 1996 bringing together three of the most iconic and virtuosic guitarists of their time: Satriani, Eric Johnson and Steve Vai. Known for their incredible technical prowess, musical innovation and unique styles, the G3 tour was a celebration of guitar mastery and proved extremely popular, captivating audiences worldwide. Though the line-up has continually changed over the last 29 years since its inception, Satriani is celebrating G3 in 2024 by reuniting the original trio: Satriani, Johnson, and Vai. The tour is set to begin on January 23rd in Tucson, AZ staging 13 performances ending with a pair of shows at the Orpheum Theatre in Los Angeles which Vai says will be filmed.

Satch and Vai’s musical careers have been intertwined since their very early days. Satriani served as Vai’s guitar teacher during their teenage years on Long Island, New York. Their connection has continued to evolve over the years, even sharing record labels, starting at Relativity Records in the late 80’s, to both calling Sony/Epic Records home for a significant portion of the 90’s. Together, they have also frequently teamed up with a third guitarist on multiple occasions throughout 29 years, participating in the semi-annual G3 Tours, both in the US and abroad.

We are back from an extended break with an action-packed episode featuring interviews with Riley Green and Garth Brooks. This edition of The Music Universe Podcast originates from Brooks' new Friends in Low Places Bar & Honky-Tonk in the historic area of Nashville's Lower Broadway, recorded ahead of the Thanksgiving holiday and the soft opening of the new multi-level venue.

Before we talked with Brooks, I had a chance to chat with Green in October surrounding the release of his new album, Ain’t My Last Rodeo, released via BMLG Records. The Alabama good ol’ boy shares a close relationship with fans, taking them inside of his country lifestyle and talking about how his grandfather inspired the project.

"The title's after the title track 'My Last Rodeo' that I wrote about my Granddaddy Buford, and something he told me before he passed away back in 2010. I didn't write this song until just recently, so it was one of the last songs to make the album, but I thought the sentiment of it kind of embodied the traditional country music sale that I think we were going for on this record," Green shares. "Also, it's been a while since we put an album out, so it's always nice to remind fans that you're writing constantly and that you got new music and it's great to have new songs to play at shows."

Last week, we attended a press conference ahead of the soft opening at Brooks' new Friends in Low Places Bar & Honky-Tonk. We were on hand as Brooks relaunched The Garth Channel on TuneIn, which has its studio overlooking the stage in the facility. During our three-minute two-on-one chat, Brooks discussed his new The Limited Series box set which features his latest album, Time Traveler, as well as whether additional albums are expected from the country superstar.

"Individual record sales aren't really out there. People do [albums] for like artwork and stuff," Brooks says. "So I don't know when it's gonna [be released individually] -- it'll eventually come out on its own. But right now it's sitting in the box."

He adds, "The whole thing of what albums are now and how music is served, I'm not sure an album is in the future of any artist. So I think right now what you want to do is just watch technology and see how people are digesting music and then we'll figure it out from there."

He also states the highly-anticipated Ireland television special from the five-night-finale of his global Stadium Tour in September 2022 is still in the production stages.

"I'm getting to see the pieces [of the film]. We're working on it a week from Sunday, too, so it's still in the evolution stages. I can tell you this. When you talk about how sweet it was -- top-tier stuff, come back stuff -- I'm going to put this up against anything we've ever shot, including Central Park. When you see it, you're not going to believe it. I can't believe it when I see."

This episode also features an interview with Natalie Cox, who's a new host on The Big 615, Brooks' flagship station with TuneIn and his Sevens Radio Network. Additionally, we talk with Blake Carter, who returns as the voice and Program Director of The Garth Channel.

We round out the episode by taking music fans inside three new exhibitions at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum, profiling Patty Lovess, Eric Church and the Los Angeles country-rock scene of the 1960s and 70s.

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In August, platinum-selling, iconic country/rock band Sister Hazel released "Coconut Trees." The track was written by the band's guitarist Andrew Copeland and the late Kyle Jacobs, and was produced by Ben Jackson. The c’est la vie track is a unique blend of sounds meant to be listened to with "a little sun and rum on ice with an ocean breeze," no distractions.

"The song is actually supposed to be an upbeat, fun number. And it is. Once the band got ahold of it in the studio, it became just kind of this feel-good mantra of escaping all the worldly crap, and going and spending some time with somebody you love and someplace with some white sand and blue water and some coconut trees," Copeland tells The Music Universe. "So it's not like a super deep, super deep song. It's all about just kind of letting loose and having fun. And I think that this is the first time the band has ever used steel drums in a recording. So it's just got a kind of a happy hop to it. So I'm hoping people are digging it."

Originating from Gainesville, Florida, Sister Hazel is comprised of five gifted, seasoned musicians who are well-spring of natural talent. The song "All for You," topped the adult alternative charts during the summer of 1997 and the success propelled their album to platinum status. Since then, the band has become firmly established not only in rock and alternative music but now in country with four back-to-back Billboard Top Country Albums Chart entries. They have most recently co-produced a cleverly themed EP compilation series entitled Elements, which includes a bonus seventh track that continues throughout the series. Living up to their fan-centered reputation, the band was a pioneer in the themed cruise industry by co-founding The Rock Boat -- which will mark its 23rd anniversary in 2024 -- and annually hosts events like the Hazelnut Hang, and Camp Hazelnut that focus on creating unique experiences and interacting with the fans. 

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The group is also the subject of the forthcoming documentary, Hot Potato: The Story of The Wiggles, which launches globally on Prime Video on Tuesday, October 24th in more than 240 countries and territories. The highly anticipated Australian Original documentary celebrates icons in entertainment The Wiggles, their enduring global success, and cultural impact spanning more than 30 years.

Anthony, Lachy, Simon, Tsehay, along with Caterina, John, Lucia, and even Captain Feathersword, have a great time chatting with Matt Bailey about all things Wiggles! The group recently chatted from Canada where they discussed what fans can expect from the shows, their legacy, and the documentary. Follow us for more as the Amazon documentary premieres this fall.

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Black Stone Cherry will release its eighth studio album, Screamin’ At The Sky, on September 29th via Mascot Records. The release will be available on white solid vinyl, a limited edition deluxe vinyl box set, an HMV exclusive limited edition blue vinyl, standard CD and digital formats. The deluxe box set has sold out.

Screamin’ At The Sky features all-new material written collaboratively while on tour, but when it came time to record, BSC tried something they’ve always dreamed of doing: tracking an album at The Plaza Theater in Glasgow, Kentucky - a legendary 1020-seat venue built in 1934 that boasts meticulous acoustics. In June of 2022, the band rented the whole place, and brought in all its recording equipment and trusty engineer, Jordan Westfall. They set up the basement as the control room and the stage as the live drum room. The time between recording sessions and the incredible room ambiance have resulted in a career-high watermark for BSC.

Frontman Chris Robertson joins us while en route to a show in Plano, Texas over the summer. He talks about the inspiration of the album and the decision to record in the theater.

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It's the second offering after signing a solo deal with BMG/BBR Music Group.

Naomi Cooke Johnson’s life is a song worth writing and a story worth telling. Growing up impoverished with no education, Cooke Johnson found her refuge and purpose in music. She’s a real-world example of what’s possible when hope transcends hardship and a real product of the American Dream. This former lead vocalist of Runaway June, who co-wrote many of the trio’s acclaimed hits including the Top 5 smash “Buy My Own Drinks," made her official solo debut in the country music scene with a strong dose of Shania Twain sass releasing “Girls of Summer,” a spirited celebration of carefree fun with a chosen family of friends. With powerhouse vocals and an irresistibly upbeat tempo, “Girls of Summer,” was fans’ first taste of blazing new music from Cooke Johnson who has truly come into her own as a solo artist.

Cooke Johnson joins us to talk about the new song, and how she's transitioned from Runaway June frontwoman to solo artist.

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Brooks is the first to see nine of his albums certified diamond for sales of 10 million each by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). The country star retains the crown as the No. 1 selling solo artist in U.S. history with a total of 157 million overall, according to the RIAA, only second ever to The Beatles's 183 million.

In 2016, Brooks and the G-Men, along with producer Allen Reynolds and engineer Mark Miller, were inducted into the Musicians Hall of Fame in downtown Nashville. The late Joe Chambers founded the Musicians Hall of Fame in 2006, marking the only museum to honor the greatest musicians of all time. Inside, guests will find everyone from Jimi Hendrix and Elvis Presley to Glen Campbell and Hal Blaine as members of The Wrecking Crew, the famous group of Los Angeles studio musicians who recorded hundreds of top 40 hits throughout the 1960s and 70s.

During the 2023 CMA Fest, Leuzinger took The Music Universe on a tour of the facility where he talked about the history behind some of music's greatest songs Following the tour, he gave us an exclusive on-site sit-down interview, taking us further into the depths of his career, his appreciation for Chambers and his surviving widow (now-CEO Linda Chambers), and crediting Brooks with being the "the most loyal artist on the planet."

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Rossell continues his musical journey with his newly signed recording contract with Dreamcatcher Artists. The radio edit of “All I Need To See” is impacting radio now, as his dedicated fan base eagerly awaits his upcoming projects and live performances.

Rossell joins us to discuss his time on AGT, his songwriting career, being discovered by Garth Brooks, and what's ahead with his new label partnership.

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August 18th marks Ricochet's first new album in over a decade with Ricochet Then And Now... The Hits & More. The project celebrates the 90s country band's 30th anniversary of the band's formation in 1993 with newly recorded renditions of six of their classic hits along with eight new songs.

The group is best known for their chart-topping, gold-selling single, "Daddy's Money," Top 10 hits, "What Do I Know," "Love Is Stronger Than Pride," and the Top 20 "He Left A Lot To Be Desired," and are among the re-recorded tracks. We are premiering the new version of "Love Is Stronger Than Pride," which can be seen below.

Wright joins us to discuss the project, the band's role in the 90s country resurgence, and how re-recording their biggest hits can be a double-edged sword.

"When somebody would go in and re-record songs, after you've done a song on the road for several years, you tend to get a little bored with it, you start changing it," frontman Heath Wright tells The Music Universe. "And as an audience, as a fan of country music, that always bugged me, because I want to sing along. I want to sing along the way I remember hearing it on the radio. I told the guys, 'We're gonna go in and we're gonna re-record these songs. We're gonna do them exactly note for note the way they were recorded the first time.' So that's what we did. We went in and re-recorded everything, kind of gave everything a little bit of a facelift."

Despite the change in band members throughout the years, Ricochet still possesses their trademark harmonious vocal sound and is considered one of the hardest-working bands in the business. For nearly two decades, original lead vocalist Heath Wright has maintained the group’s legacy and fan base with a hefty tour schedule. Besides Wright on lead vocals and guitar, current band members are Chris Hempfling on vocals and drums, Rick Toops on vocals and keys, Bruce Bennett on vocals and bass, and Larry Hight on vocals, rhythm/lead guitar, steel, dobro, and saxophone.

Kent Blazy is an American country music songwriter who was inducted into the class of 2020 Nashville Songwriter Hall of Fame during the Golden Anniversary plus one during the special 50th And 51st Gala. The Kentucky native has written several singles with Garth Brooks, and penned tracks recorded by by Gary Morris, Diamond Rio, Patty Loveless, Chris Young, and an upcoming song by Reba. Blazy has a total of seven No. 1 hits to his credit.

Blazy began playing guitar at a young age, citing The Byrds, Rodney Crowell and Joe Ely as influences. He later played for Canadian singer Ian Tyson. Later on, Blazy met former Exile member Mark Gray, who suggested that Blazy move to Nashville, Tennessee. Eventually, he signed to a publishing contract, but the publishing company closed. Despite the loss of contract, Gary Morris sent Blazy's "Headed for a Heartache" into the top 5 on the country charts.

By the late 1980s, Blazy met with a then-unknown Garth Brooks, who gave him the idea for a song entitled "If Tomorrow Never Comes." He and Brooks co-wrote the song, which went on to become Brooks' first No. 1 hit. Brooks continued to record Blazy's material throughout the 1990s, including the singles "Ain't Goin' Down ('Til the Sun Comes Up)," "It's Midnight Cinderella," "She's Gonna Make It," "Somewhere Other Than the Night" and the George Jones duet "Beer Run (B Double E Double Are You In?)." Blazy, along with songwriters Pat Alger, Tony Arata and Kim Williams, recorded an album entitled A Songwriters' Tribute to Garth Brooks, which included their renditions of songs that they had written for Brooks which was released in 2001.

He also co-wrote "That's What I Get for Lovin' You" by Diamond Rio and "Can't Get Enough" by Patty Loveless in the late 1990s and "Gettin' You Home (The Black Dress Song)" by Chris Young in the 2010s, along with a 15-year-old song recently cut by Reba for consideration for her upcoming new album that's expected in 2024.

Blazy returns to The Music Universe Podcast for his third appearance, but first on camera. He chats with us about his new album, From The Beatles to The Bluebird, inspired by a 2022 visit to The Beatles' hometown of Liverpool, England. From first inspirations to endless gigs in bars to writing hit songs in Nashville Tennessee on Music Row, the album is a musical journey from the 60's English invasion winding through decades up till today.

"I got to go to Liverpool last year and you know, I'm a huge Beatle fan. And when you are at the dock, they have a life-size statues of The Beatles. And it's pretty cool because all of them are carrying something that means something to them. So if you go Google that, it's an interesting story how they did that," Blazy tells us. "But it was cold that day. And I was wearing a Bluebird sweatshirt that I had gotten when I was doing a benefit at the Bluebird a couple of weeks before that. And somebody took a picture. And when I saw the picture, I thought, God, that's a great album title -- From the Beatles to the Bluebird -- because part of my career started due to Garth [Brooks] playing 'If Tomorrow Never Comes' at the Bluebird Cafe after he'd been turned down by every record label. And somebody was in the audience to hear somebody else and told Garth, 'Maybe we missed something. Why don't you come back in?' And thanks to the Bluebird, he got a record deal and 'If Tomorrow Never Comes' ended up being his first single that went number one, so pretty cool."

The album is available at digital outlets and features 11 songs penned or co-penned by Blazy. Members of Jon Pardi's band joined him at Sound Emporium in Nashville to record the project in a day and a half.

Full audio and video are streaming below. Be sure to subscribe to The Music Universe Podcast wherever you get your podcasts. Select episodes now streaming on Canyon Star TV and the Roku channel DBTV.

Become a supporter and support this podcast with a small monthly donation to help sustain future episodes.

Full audio and video are streaming below. Be sure to subscribe to The Music Universe Podcast wherever you get your podcasts. Select episodes now streaming on Canyon Star TV and the Roku channel DBTV.

Become a supporter and support this podcast with a small monthly donation to help sustain future episodes.

Facing the challenges brought on by the pandemic head on, Bradbery spent time creating music she loves, infusing her own heartfelt and personal stories into songs like "Never Have I Ever" and "Monster," the most vulnerable song she's released to date.

Penned by Bradbery alongside Lauren LaRue (Sam Hunt, Arizona Zervas, JoJo, Alana Springsteen, Jimmie Allen) and Sam De Jong (Alec Benjamin, Lennon Stella, Gracie Abrams, Marina, Little Mix), the Nathan Chapman and Derek Wells-produced track delivers a haunting chorus that carries the unbearable weight: "You always lie to me, then you lie down with me / You won’t leave and you’re so unhealthy / You’re breakin’ me, messin’ with my head / It feels like a bad dream and I wonder why I can’t sleep / When you’re here ‘cause I know the monster / He ain’t under the bed / ‘Cause he’s in it with me"

Earlier this year, Bradbery embarked on her first-ever headline A Special Place Tour where established herself a force to be reckoned with by selling out all nine stops. Following her recent collaboration with Jordan Davis on “Midnight Crisis,” Bradbery joins him on the road once again for his Damn Good Time Tour this fall.

Bradbery spoke with us earlier in the spring, ahead of her performance at The Basement East on May 18th with special guest CB30 and CMA Fest, to talk about "Monster," her first-ever headlining tour and career.

Full audio and video are streaming below. Be sure to subscribe to The Music Universe Podcast wherever you get your podcasts. Select episodes now streaming on Canyon Star TV and the Roku channel DBTV.

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Full audio and video are streaming below. Be sure to subscribe to The Music Universe Podcast wherever you get your podcasts. Select episodes now streaming on Canyon Star TV and the Roku channel DBTV.

Become a supporter and support this podcast with a small monthly donation to help sustain future episodes.

Full audio and video are streaming below. Be sure to subscribe to The Music Universe Podcast wherever you get your podcasts.

Become a supporter and support this podcast with a small monthly donation to help sustain future episodes.

Mötley Crüe frontman Vince Neil is staying busy with his band and judging the AXS TV competition show Banded. The 90 minutes season finale of the groundbreaking show airs tonight (Sat, July 1st), and redefines the traditional “build-a-band” concept that showcases exceptional up-and-coming artists who can play, write, and sing their own music.

The series features a roster of legendary mentors and guest judges, including Neil, Kip Winger, early 2000's chart-topping country star Steve Azar, Vans Warped Tour mastermind Kevin Lyman, and world-class rock drummer Mark Schulman, among others.

GameTV will be the exclusive Canadian broadcaster of the series which will air every Saturday at 7 pm ET beginning July 8th.

Neil, who is currently in Europe on The World Tour with Mötley Crüe and Def Leppard, chats with us via video from London to discuss Banded, new music and life after The World Tour.

Last week, Mötley Crüe teased a London club show under the pseudonym Dögs of War which took place last night (Fri, June 30th) in a 450-capacity venue in London. The teaser video also included a snippet of a new song called "Dögs of War," which they were expected to premiere at the show, but played their version of the Beastie Boys' "(You Gotta) Fight For Your Right (To Party)." Neil confirms both "Dögs of War" and "Fight" are among multiple new tracks the group has recorded with producer Bob Rock.

The Live Nation-produced The World Tour returns to the United States for eight dates in August with Australian and Japanese dates set for November. The global trek is an extension of last year's The Stadium Tour which was named the biggest North American stadium tour of 2022 with more than 1.3 million tickets sold, and marks the first with new Mötley Crüe guitarist John 5 who's replaced Mick Mars after leaving the band due to his health.

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Earlier this month, CMA Fest marked its 50th anniversary in Nashville with four straight days celebrating record-breaking milestones and more. The golden anniversary of the legendary festival delivered everything country music fans could want as an estimated more than 90,000 fans attended the festivities in Downtown Nashville each day, cementing a new attendance record for the largest and longest-running country music festival in the world.

Unlike other festivals, CMA Fest acts donate their time to perform so ticket proceeds can directly benefit high-quality music education initiatives across the country through the CMA Foundation.

Reporter Matt Bailey was on hand to capture the action and conduct interviews with some country legends, established artists and newer acts. He attended countless events, including the Nissan Stadium Nightly Concerts where Alabama was honored with the CMA Pinnacle Award, and had the rare opportunity to interact with Reba McEntire during her Artist of the Day on the CMA Close Up Stage panel. The latter moment is featured in this episode.

This episode marks our longest one yet, clocking it at just over 100 minutes with guests including Kidd G, Pillbox Patti, Jake Worthington, Ian Munsick, Travis Denning, Chrissy Metz, Callista Clark and more. We have three very special interviews with Rita Wilson, Kimberly Perry and Randy and Mary Travis, who all discuss their music and careers.

Following CMA Fest, Bailey attended a No. 1 party for Tyler Hubbard's "9 Foot 5" and "Dancin' in the Country" which included a surprise appearance by Keith Urban. Matt's question to both artists can be seen in this episode.

We wrap the feature length episode with coverage of Garth Brooks and TuneIn launching The Big 615, a new global country radio station that's hosted by former GAC-TV and SiriusXM personality Storme Warren. The Big 615 is the flagship station of Brooks' Sevens Radio Network, exclusively on TuneIn, and launched June 15th with a new single from the country legend. The stations featured on the network are conceived and directed by Brooks with more on the way.

All CMA Fest coverage can be seen at our website.

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Emerging with a sharp signature style and an unrivaled live presence proven one gig at a time, Platinum-certified rising Texas-based country rock band Pecos & The Rooftops release their major label self-titled debut album today (Fri, June 23rd) via Warner Records. The hard workin’, hard rockin’ sextet’s anxiously awaited full-length features "The Last Thing I Remember" and "5 AM," the latter of which has already reeled in 4.5 million global streams and 291K YouTube views on the lyric video.

Pecos & The Rooftops have been perfecting a signature heavy blend of lowdown country and classic rock since their inception with the band living in a big five-bedroom house in Lubbock, Texas. Formed in 2019 by a tight-knit squad of college friends, the band outfits their soulful Americana with muscular guitar grit yet remains tuneful and melodic. They’ve carved out a singular niche for themselves in the rich songwriting tradition of their home state, as evidenced by their debut Warner Records single "5 AM," released in March. Anchored by the heart-baring songwriting and booming voice of former Marine Pecos Hurley, the band is rounded out by top-tier players and songwriters Brandon Jones on rhythm guitar, Zack Foster on lead guitar, Kalen Davis on bass, Garrett Peltier on drums and Hunter Cassell on guitars and keys.

Hurley chats with us about the project, touring and where the name "Rooftops" originates.

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Country music pioneer Colt Ford has released Must Be The Country, his new 24 track collection featuring collaborations with Tracy Lawrence, Brantley Gilbert, Sam Grow, Tracy Byrd, and more. The project was released on his own Average Joes Entertainment and marks his first full length project in three years.

The album took shape while battling eye cancer and recovering from an intensive surgery to remove the tumor. Following his successful fight against cancer, Ford has been diagnosed with Myasthenia Gravis, an autoimmune disorder that destroys neuromuscular connections and affects the muscles in the face. Despite his recent struggle with personal health, Ford has exhibited his enduring human spirit and continues to tour the nation as well as write and record new projects slated for release later this year.

Ford joins us to chat about the new project, future new music, his diagnosis, and how he's pioneered the country/rap movement.

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3 Doors Down and Finger Eleven are two of the biggest rock bands to have emerged out of the 90s. Both bands are hitting the road this summer on their own respective tours, but we spoke with 3 Doors Down guitarist Chris Henderson and Finger Eleven's Scott Anderson about their careers, including the latter's first-ever collection of hits and vinyl.

Formed in 1996, Grammy Award-nominated multi-Platinum Mississippi rock band 3 Doors Down consistently captivates audiences worldwide. The quintet’s many accolades include selling more than 20 million albums globally, receiving a Grammy nomination, two American Music Awards, and five BMI Pop Awards for songwriting, including ”Songwriter of the Year.” Their debut, The Better Life, became certified seven times RIAA Platinum and was fueled by the success of juggernaut hit ”Kryptonite.” Away From The Sun has been certified five times Platinum. In 2023, to celebrate the anniversary of Away From The Sun, the band will play all the songs from the album and all their hits in Amphitheaters across the US.

One of Canada’s best-selling bands, Juno Award-winning rockers Finger Eleven have built a long-lasting legacy with their genre-defying sound -- spanning cathartic metal and alt-rock balladry to danceable funk, power pop, and beyond -- that continues to keep fans on their toes. The band’s story begins in 1990, when vocalist Scott Anderson, guitarist Rick Jackett, guitarist James Black, bassist Sean Anderson, and drummer Rob Gommerman (later replaced by Rich Beddoe and Steve Molella in 2013) began playing together in high school. In 1995, the Burlington, Ontario five-piece released their debut, Letters from Chutney, under the moniker Rainbow Butt Monkeys, before recording their first LP as Finger Eleven, Tip. The album, which was produced by Arnold Lanni (Our Lady Peace, Simple Plan), caught the attention of Wind-up Records, who signed the band in 1997 and re-released Tip a year later. This summer, Finger Eleven will play festivals across the US.

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Big Time Rush is back with its first new studio record in a decade, Another Life. The project was kick started by the release of "Can't Get Enough" earlier this year followed by "Waves" in May. However, due to frenzied fan excitement and demand, Another Life was released one week earlier than anticipated and is available as of today (Fri, June 2nd).

The group, which shot to fame with their Nickelodeon series of the same name, has an exceptionally busy summer. The band kicks off their 39-city North American Can’t Get Enough Tour with special guests Max and Jax on June 22nd. The trek follows their hugely successful Forever Tour, which ran from 2022 into 2023 and took the band across North and South America and sold over 300,000 tickets with numerous sell outs, including New York’s legendary Madison Square Garden.

Members Kendall Schmidt and Logan Henderson chat with us about the new 10 song project and how they decided to keep the album's making more simplistic than ever before. They also talk about the tour and how their TV show shaped who they are today.

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Last week, Brooks kicked off his Garth Brooks/Plus One two year Las Vegas residency at The Colosseum at Caesars Palace. The show runs through December with 18 dates currently set for 2024 after selling out all 2023 shows last year.

The residency is different from his One Man Wynn show that spanned more than 200 shows between 2009-2013. Ahead of opening night, we chatted with Brooks who talks about how the show evolved into the band performing most of the show.

After attending the first two Garth shows during opening weekend (read our review), we darted off to Los Angeles where we chatted with LeVox about his new solo endeavors. Following a short interview, we caught his first-ever headlining show at The Troubadour in West Hollywood as part of his Get Down Like That Tour (read our review).

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It's New Music Friday and we have some country ladies leading the releases. Erin Kinsey's Bet My Heart EP is available via Records Nashville while Chapel Hart's third full length album, Glory Days, drops independently.

Erin wrote all seven tracks on the EP, co-writing with songwriting heavyweights such as Sarah Buxton, Josh Kerr, Sara Davis and more. Erin is the embodiment of a ten-year overnight success: the Rockwall, TX native started singing, songwriting and playing guitar at the age of 11. She made the move to Nashville in 2018 to pursue music full time and experienced her breakthrough success in 2021 with the independent release of singles “Drunk Too” and “Just Drive."

The rising country artist, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist, now 22, caught the attention of legendary music exec Barry Weiss, signing this year to Records Nashville, the Music City division of Records, his joint venture with Sony Music Entertainment. She has amassed more than 70 million streams across her catalog.

Kinsey, who plays seven instruments, also co-wrote “Pink” with Victoria Shaw and Jodi Marr. The song was recorded by Dolly Parton,
Monica, Jordin Sparks, Rita Wilson and Sara Evans. The collaboration released in 2020 to benefit Susan G. Komen, the world’s leading breast cancer foundation.

Chapel Hart — made up of sisters Danica and Devynn Hart along with first cousin Trea Swindle and hailing from Poplarville, Mississippi — are taking country music by storm. The powerhouse trio’s meteoric rise comes on the heels of appearing on America’s Got Talent and receiving the second ever “Group Golden Buzzer” from all four judges after their performance of their viral hit “You Can Have Him Jolene” which led to a spot in the finals, prompting America and the rest of the world to pay attention to their undeniable talent and drive.

Deemed “America’s Sweethearts” following the show, Chapel Hart has earned praise from country music pillars such as Tanya Tucker, Darius Rucker, the one and only Dolly Parton, and the late Loretta Lynn.

Glory Days features the title track, written by the trio along with Jim Beavers and the newly released "Welcome to Fist City," a song inspired and requested by the late Loretta Lynn.

The group chats with us from their newly acquired tour bus as they embark on their first-ever headlining tour, The Glory Days Tour, which spans 60 shows from coast to coast. The trio was recently named one of Music Row's Next Big Thing, CMT's Listen Up, and the Grand Ole Opry's NextStage Class of 2023.

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Caroline Jones is prepping to release her new EP, Superpower, on Friday, May 19th. It features the focus track, "Normal Person," along with "Lawless" and "Keep It Safe" featuring Alyssa Bonagura. Written and co-produced by Jones in Nashville and features five tracks that showcase a wide range of influences from country to pop to Bluegrass and precedes her forthcoming third studio album, set for release later this fall.

The project is rounded out by the title track and "By Way of Sorry," the latter which features Vince Gill.

Jones is pulling double duty as she joined the Zac Brown Band as a full-time member in 2022, marking her as the first and only female to join the band. This year marks her fifth consecutive summer stadium tour with Zac Brown which runs from June to November. She will also perform more than 25 solo dates as a headliner throughout the US and can be seen at key festivals.

Jones chats with us ahead of the EP release in which we discuss the project and talk about her career.

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Stagecoach 2023 is in the books and The Music Universe was on hand for exclusive coverage. We saw 18 artists during the three day festival in Indio from April 28-30 and chatted with several as well. We published our print interviews with Ian Munsick and Warren Zeiders already.

This episode includes an interview with The Valory Music Co's Mackenzie Carpenter, who was recently named a member of CMT's Next Women of Country Class of 2023. We chat with her about her new EP, forthcoming full length album and more.

We also share some sites around the festival grounds, including the iconic Ferris wheel, the seven story spiral rainbow tower walkway called Spectra, and more.

Following our three day excursion in the desert, we headed to a cooler Los Angeles where we visited Super Nintendo World at Universal Studios Hollywood. The Mario Brothers theme song is the first video game tune to enter the Library of Congress' National Recording Registry. It's one of 25 new additions alongside Mariah Carey, Led Zeppelin and more.

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Cemented as the hottest rock band in Los Angeles, The Scarlet Opera is lighting up stages and screens everywhere with their "unashamedly queer" brand of music and entertainment. In the past month, the group released its major label debut EP, Comedy, via SB Projects/Republic Records, made their late night TV appearance in March, and wrapped their first-ever headlining tour with a hometown stop that sold out in record time.

The group formed in 2016 as Perta, but rebranded themselves as The Scarlet Opera in 2022. The same year, they signed with Republic Records and released their debut single, "The Place To Be."

Frontman Luka Bazulka, keyboardist Colin Kendrick, bassist Daniel Zuker, drummer Justin Siegal, and guitarist Chance Taylor join us via Zoom from their LA-area rehearsal space a week after their tour wrapped. We chat about their newfound success, their history and what's ahead. Our own Matt Bailey has a personal connection to Bazulka as they attended the same art school together in Pennsylvania.

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She also has a collaborative gospel album expected later this year. The album's first single, "Peace Like A River" features Dolly Parton in their first-ever duet together.

Fans can also see Warwick on the road throughout the US and Europe this year.

Warwick chats with us about her career, the documentary, her gospel album and more.

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Tonight (Mar 31st), Joni Mitchell is being awarded the Library of Congress Gershwin Prize for Popular Song during an all-star tribute concert. The lineup will include performances by James Taylor, Brandi Carlile, Annie Lennox, Herbie Hancock, Cyndi Lauper, Marcus Mumford, Graham Nash, Diana Krall, Angelique Kidjo and Ledisi.

Joni Mitchell: The Library of Congress Gershwin Prize for Popular Song premieres tonight (Fri, Mar 31st) at 9 pm ET/PT on PBS, PBS.org and the PBS App as part of the co-produced Emmy Award-winning music series. It will also be broadcast to US Department of Defense locations around the world via the American Forces Network.

Matt Bailey attended the TV taping earlier this month in Washington, DC and had a chance to chat with Taylor, Carlile, Lennox, Nash, Kidjo and others arriving on the red carpet.

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Foreigner is set to launch the start of its Historic Farewell Tour this summer in Atlanta, GA. The spectacular show will thrill audiences with stellar performances of more than 20 combined chart-topping songs before the band retires from the road after more than 45 years.

This spring, the band will once again be taking over the Las Vegas Strip with their exclusive headlining residency show at The Venetian Theatre inside The Venetian Resort Las Vegas. The shows will be held on March 24, 25, 29 and 31 and April 1, 5, 7 and 8.

Foreigner's founder is Songwriters Hall of Fame member Mick Jones who hand selected lead singer Kelly Hansen to help write an inspired new chapter in the history of the classic band in 2005. One of rock’s greatest showmen, Hansen is among the most respected, consummate professionals in rock and roll. With a 40-year career that spans almost every area of music, from the role of lead vocalist to producing and engineering, Hansen has led Foreigner into the digital age while inspiring a whole new generation of fans.

Hansen chats with us about his role as "guardian" of such an iconic catalogue of music, why the band is retiring from the road, Spotify payouts, and more.

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Trailblazing husband-and-wife duo The War And Treaty are releasing their major label debut album, Lover's Game, on March 10th via UMG Nashville. The husband and wife duo of Michael Trotter Jr. and Tanya Trotter dug deep into the lessons their love has laid bare, with more than 100 songs written over the last two years before completing the 10 song project.

The pair are reshaping the country music landscape with their Delta blues, gospel and R&B sounds. They're featured on the upcoming Rolling Stones 60th anniversary country tribute album, Stoned Cold Country, where they join Brothers Osborne for a rousing rendition of "It's Only Rock 'N' Roll (But I Like It)." The duo performed the song when they made their CMA Awards debut last year.

The War And Treaty will join Chris Stapleton on the All-American Road Show Tour. But first, they will bring their show "from a concert to something of a religious experience" to more than 35-cities this spring on their own Lover's Game Tour, kicking off March 19th in Oklahoma City.

Michael and Tanya join us to discuss inspiration behind the album, their newfound success, and some wisdom longtime Grand Ole Opry member Jeannie Seely shared with them during a recent performance.

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After the Orange Carpet wrapped, we went inside and watched the live 90 minute show from the Microsoft Theatre in Downtown Los Angeles and have a recap of the music winners who took home orange blimps.

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Full audio and video are streaming below. Be sure to subscribe to The Music Universe Podcast wherever you get your podcasts.

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Tonight (Mar 31st), Joni Mitchell is being awarded the Library of Congress Gershwin Prize for Popular Song during an all-star tribute concert. The lineup will include performances by James Taylor, Brandi Carlile, Annie Lennox, Herbie Hancock, Cyndi Lauper, Marcus Mumford, Graham Nash, Diana Krall, Angelique Kidjo and Ledisi.

Joni Mitchell: The Library of Congress Gershwin Prize for Popular Song premieres tonight (Fri, Mar 31st) at 9 pm ET/PT on PBS, PBS.org and the PBS App as part of the co-produced Emmy Award-winning music series. It will also be broadcast to US Department of Defense locations around the world via the American Forces Network.

Matt Bailey attended the TV taping earlier this month in Washington, DC and had a chance to chat with Taylor, Carlile, Lennox, Nash, Kidjo and others arriving on the red carpet.

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Frazier joined management company 10th Street Entertainment four years ago and has been continuing to crush it. Frazier’s latest signing is rising country heat seeker Bailey Zimmerman, a 22-year-old singer from Southern Illinois, whom he discovered on TikTok. Frazier reached out to longstanding friend and colleague, Chief Zaruk and ultimately did a co-management and strategic partnership with Zaruk and Simon Tikhman of The Core Entertainment with 10th Street Entertainment. From there, he signed Zimmerman to Warner Music Nashville and Elektra Records. Bailey’s first single, “Fall In Love” went straight to No. 1 at country radio and is certified Gold in the United States and Canada. Bailey’s debut EP Leave The Light On was the biggest streaming country debut of all time.

Frazier spoke to us while en route to a studio in Los Angeles earlier this week. We chat about his career and how he went from managing Saving Abel and Volbeat to discovering Bailey. Other 10th Street Management clients handled by their LA, NY, and London offices include Mötley Crüe, Blondie, Five Finger Death Punch and more.

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Ryan Dusick, the founding drummer of Maroon 5 and Pepperdine University Graduate School of Education and Psychology (GSEP) alumnus, has recently authored a book entitled Harder to Breathe: A Memoir of Making Maroon 5, Losing It All, and Finding Recovery.

Dusick founded the hit band Maroon 5 with singer Adam Levine, guitarist Jesse Carmichael, and bassist Michael Madden in the mid 90s. The band skyrocketed to stardom in the early aughts, going from jam sessions in Dusick’s parents’ garage to playing the biggest arenas in the world. The quick transition to fame took a toll on Dusick’s mental health, and the psychological pressures and physical toll of newfound success influenced his decision to leave the band in 2006.

Dusick joins me to talk about the book that was released last fall. We discuss his struggle with accepting the loss of his band, the importance of maintaining clear mental health, and how everyone -- whether a Maroon 5 fan or not -- can relate to the book.

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Last week, the Senate Judiciary Committee held a hearing to discuss monopolistic practices in the live entertainment industry. In December of last year, Senator Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota promised to hold the hearing at the start of this congress. This, in response to the disaster that was the Taylor Swift Ticketmaster on sale, that saw millions of fans locked out and bots make billions of attempts on Ticketmaster’s servers.

True to her word, Senator Klobuchar assembled the bi-partisan committee to hear testimony from Live Nation president and Chief Financial Officer Joe Berchtold. Also present were CEO of Seat Geek Jack Groetzinger, New York City-based independent artist Clyde Lawrence of the band Lawrence, and independent promoter Jerry Mickelson, whose company Jam Productions runs events in Chicago.

On the policy end, witnesses included James Madison Institute SVP Sal Nuzzo, and Kathleen Bradish, Vice President for Legal Advocacy at the American Antitrust Institute.

The spirited discussion led to a unanimous belief across party lines that Live Nation, as Ms. Bradish said, “certainly acts” as a monopoly, with its vertical integration of concert venue ownership and exclusive agreements with other major venues. Plus, the combination of their promotion and ticketing business virtually makes them a monolith in live entertainment.

We had the privilege to speak with Tennessee Senator Marsha Blackburn, who ripped into Ticketmaster-Live Nation President Joe Berchtold for their failure to prevent bots from gobbling up tickets, with secondary market resellers boldly offering tickets before on-sales. Matt spoke with Senator Blackburn about what the Congress can do about Ticketmaster’s inaction on bot attacks, and what can be done to protect concert-going consumers.

We also spoke with Chicago-based Jam Productions owner and CEO Jerry Mickelson, who was a witness before the Judiciary Committee last week. We spoke with Mickelson about his experience watching as one company grew so large, he says, it fundamentally changed his business model. A one-time arena promoter working with big-name music artists, Jam's focus has pivoted to smaller venues with comedians and other bands. This is in part, Mickelson says, due to Live Nation’s vertical dominance in the field of producing, promoting, and ticketing events.

Josh Katz, founder and CEO of YellowHeart, is our final guest. His company uses blockchain technology and Web3 advancements to offer a unique ticketing experience to fans. And bands that use YellowHeart have access to fans information, which allows for the ticket to be a living item that can contain photos from shows, music, and become a digital souvenir ticket stub. Katz gives us his unfiltered thoughts on the current state of ticketing in live sports and entertainment, and how his company hopes to change the landscape for the better.

The Winery Dogs are back in full force after a lengthy break. The powerhouse trio featuring Richie Kotzen, Mike Portnoy and Billy Sheehan releases its third studio album, III, on February 3rd via the band's Three Dog Music label with distribution by Burnside Distribution/The Orchard. They follow with their long-awaited 202III World Tour.

Following in the footsteps of their first two albums, III was once again self-produced by The Winery Dogs and mixed by longtime band associate Jay Ruston. The album features 10 balls-to-the-wall hard rocking tunes, including the explosive debut single "Xanadu" and its follow up, "Mad World."

III is the follow-up to the band’s critically acclaimed and Billboard-charting album, Hot Streak, which was released October 2, 2015 on Loud & Proud Records via RED, a division of Sony Music Entertainment. After landing in the top five on many of Amazon’s pre-order charts, including No. 1 on the Amazon BestSellers/Hard Rock chart and No. 1 on the Amazon Pre-Orders/Hard Rock Albums charts, it sold 30% more than their 2013 self-titled debut, landing them on various Billboard album charts including No. 2 on Top Current Alternative Albums, No. 5 on Top Current Hard Music and Top Hard Music Albums, No. 6 on Top Current Rock Albums and Album Core/Genre Rock,” No. 15 Top Current Physical Albums, No. 16 Top Current Albums, and No. 30 on the Top 200 Albums chart.

Kotzen makes his third appearance on the podcast as we chat about the album, the band and what fans can expect to see on the road. Dates are currently set for the eastern half of the United States, Brazil and Europe through summer with more on the way.

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We wrap a huge year with coverage from the second week of National Finals Rodeo (NFR) in Las Vegas. This year, we saw concerts by Tracy Lawrence (read our review), Aaron Tippin (read our review), Miranda Lambert (read our review) and Cody Johnson (read our review). We had planned to see Aerosmith, but the remaining four shows were canceled due to frontman Steven Tyler being sick.

While in town, we chatted with Tippin before his show at the Golden Nugget, and attended a VIP event for current Aerosmith drummer John Douglas who has an art exhibit at Animazing Gallery at the Palazzo. We show you his artwork and also chat with Douglas himself and Aerosmith guitarist Brad Whitford, ZZ Top frontman Billy Gibbons, Fleetwood Mac drummer Mick Fleetwood and others.

Our weeklong adventure also included riding the Vegas Loop for the first time, a brief tour of Cowboy Christmas at the Las Vegas Convention Center and an interview with Greeley Hat Works owner Trent Johnson who designed the cowboy hats for the characters on the hit TV show, Yellowstone.

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Last month, The Music Universe had the opportunity to spend the day at Universal Studios Hollywood where we visited the park and attended a taping of The Kelly Clarkson Show. Airing today (Tues, Nov 8th) in 211 markets nationwide, the three-hour taping we saw included an extended interview with NFL legend Terry Bradshaw.

Bradshaw opened up about his battle with cancer, why he kept it quiet and says he's cancer free. He also shared the secrets to his successful second act: as a singer who entertains in both Las Vegas and Branson, Missouri. Later on, Bradshaw and Clarkson made some burgers and shared some of the footballer’s whiskey.

For "Kellyoke," Clarkson selected the sentimental Cody Johnson earworm, "'Til You Can’t." After a prolonged break where we could hear her last-minute rehearsals backstage, the incredibly versatile vocalist tore it up in one take, before promptly leaving the soundstage.

If you’re planning a trip to Hollywood, make sure to catch a taping. The show has been renewed for two more seasons so there are plenty of chances to catch all of the behind-the-scenes action. Head over to 1iota to request free tickets.

Before the taping, we explored the Universal Studios Hollywood, a leading global entertainment destination that includes a full-day, movie-based theme park and Studio Tour and adjacent Universal CityWalk entertainment promenade.

In this episode, we take you inside the park where we hopped on Jurassic World - The Ride, The Secret Life of Pets: Off the Leash!, The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, Revenge of the Mummy - The Ride, and visited Springfield and The Studio Tour. While we couldn't film on the majority of the rides, we include footage from Secret Life of Pets and The Studio Tour that navigates the 415-acre movie studio complex where The Kelly Clarkson Show, The Voice, Ted and others film.

The day was capped with an awesome experience at The Kelly Clarkson Show taping on the lower lot.

Thank you to NBCUniversal and the Kelly Clarkson Show team for having us out.

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In 2020, MVD Entertainment released Street Survivors: The True Story Of The Lynyrd Skynyrd Plane Crash, recreating the story about the ill-fated flight that crashed in the swamps of Gillsburg, MS on October 20, 1977. The film is told through the eyes of Pyle, who not only survived the plane crash that claimed the life of the band's founder and front man Ronnie Van Zant, amongst others, but who also physically pulled the remaining survivors out of the plane wreckage before staggering towards the nearest farmhouse in rural Louisiana to seek help. Pyle narrates the film and also contributes original music to its soundtrack.

The film was scripted and directed by Jared Cohn (Devil's Revenge, Devil's Domain), produced by Brian Perera and co-produced by Tim Yasui for Cleopatra Entertainment. Pyle talks to us about the inspiration behind the film and why it's being reissued two years after its initial release.

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Morgan is also pursuing a solo career, having written all of his own songs and recently signing with Aldean's Night Train Records imprint with BBR Music Group. With three of his own sad songs and two Aldean recorded, he clearly knows how to write about heartbreak. His latest gritty breakup tune, "Good With Goodbye," finds the protagonist turning to his vices to ease the sting but unfortunately finds “nothing goes good with goodbye.”

Morgan represented his home state of North Carolina on NBC’s American Song Contest, making it to the semi-finals.

Morgan talks to us about his journey and how an only-in-Nashville story involving Uber drivers and impressive demos led to John landing a writing session with Aldean's longtime band members Kurt Allison and Tully Kennedy, who then shared their material with Aldean. Morgan, Aldean, Allison and Kennedy frequently write together with the the country superstar co-producing his music.

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The iconic band most recently released their 16th studio record, The Absence of Presence, in July 2020 which debuted at No. 10 on Billboard's Top Current Albums chart and other charts around the world. Last year, Kansas released Point of Know Return Live & Beyond which features 22 songs from 12 shows recorded in 2019 and 2020 on the progressive rockers' Point of Know Return Anniversary Tour.

Ronnie Platt talks to us about his journey from being a huge fan to becoming the Kansas frontman for nearly a decade. He also discusses their most recent studio and live records, as well as what's ahead for the band.