country music

Madonna kicked off the 2026 MTV Video Music Awards, delivering the opening moments of the ceremony. Elsewhere in the show, Kacey Musgraves paid tribute to country legend Dolly Parton. The pairing of a pop icon opening the night and a country tribute drew attention from music fans, with coverage focusing on the performances and star power on display.

Kacey Musgraves paid tribute to Dolly Parton with a performance at the MTV Video Music Awards. The singer delivered a homage to the country music legend during the ceremony, drawing attention from fans and media covering the show.

Kacey Musgraves performed a tribute to Dolly Parton at the MTV Video Music Awards, singing 'I Will Always Love You', the song Parton wrote in 1973 and which later became a defining hit for Whitney Houston. The moment is drawing attention as a highlight of this year's ceremony, with fans praising the country star's nod to one of music's most beloved songwriters.

A new museum in Austria is encouraging locals to reconnect with The Sound of Music, the 1965 film that became a global phenomenon yet long went underappreciated at home. The venue, described by curators as 'a joyful place', celebrates the musical's story and filming locations, hoping Austrians will finally embrace a classic that generations of tourists have loved.

A tribute to Dolly Parton at the MTV VMAs has drawn an emotional response from fans, who have described it as perfect. Reactions shared online describe viewers being moved to tears by the performance, which honoured the country legend's career. The tribute has become one of the most talked-about moments of this year's ceremony.

The US Senate has passed a resolution designating October as National Country Music Month, a move that comes as country music continues to grow in popularity across the United States. The recognition highlights the genre's expanding audience and cultural reach, and honours its roots and contributors, with Tennessee media noting the significance for Nashville's music industry.

A cantor is working to bring back Jewish music lost during the Nazi era, performing and recovering works suppressed in Germany. The effort is being described as reclaiming 'the night where music died', restoring a cultural tradition nearly erased by the Holocaust and returning it to the country where it was silenced.

Kacey Musgraves performed a heart-wrenching tribute to Dolly Parton at the MTV Video Music Awards, in what was framed as a demonstration of her enduring love and admiration for the country legend. The moment drew attention as one of the emotional highlights of the night, with fans and media reacting to the pairing of two of country music's most beloved figures on the VMAs stage.

Johnny Mike Walker has joined the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum's Circle Guard, the organization announced. The Circle Guard recognizes supporters whose contributions help sustain the Nashville institution and its preservation of country music history. The announcement was reported by MusicRow, the Nashville music industry publication, drawing attention from country music fans and industry watchers.

Eddie Vedder joined singer-songwriter Stephen Wilson Jr. on stage in the United States for a rendition of Hunger Strike, the Temple of the Dog classic, according to Rolling Stone. The pairing of the Pearl Jam frontman with the rising country-rock artist has drawn attention from fans of both acts.

Stephen Wilson Jr. performed 'Hunger Strike' alongside Eddie Vedder at a recent show, delivering the Temple of the Dog classic as a duet. Footage of the collaboration has been shared by Rolling Stone, drawing attention from fans of both artists. The pairing of the rising country singer-songwriter with the Pearl Jam frontman on the grunge-era staple is striking chatter across music circles.

New Jersey lawmakers have introduced a bill to bring Dolly Parton's Imagination Library to the state, expanding the free book-gifting program for young children. The program, founded by the country music star, mails a free book each month to enrolled children from birth to age five. Supporters say it would boost early literacy for families across New Jersey.

Brock University in Ontario has announced Canada's first international double degree combining musical theatre and education. The program will allow students to train in performance while qualifying as teachers, with an international component built into the course of study. The university positions the offering as a first of its kind in the country, aiming to draw students interested in both the arts and classroom teaching careers.

Country star Kenny Chesney will perform at American Family Field in Milwaukee next July, joined by Eric Church and Sheryl Crow. The show adds another major concert to the stadium's growing slate of summer events, and fans of all three artists are already taking notice of the lineup announcement.

Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear has opened the state's new Office of Music, an initiative aimed at promoting and supporting Kentucky's music industry and heritage. Announcing the office, Beshear pointed to the state's storied musical legacy, naming artists including Tyler Childers, Chris Stapleton, Loretta Lynn and Bill Monroe as examples of Kentucky's outsized influence on country, bluegrass and roots music.

The Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum in Nashville will open a new exhibition dedicated to Roger Miller in November. The show will honor the life and career of the singer-songwriter behind classics like 'King of the Road,' celebrating his influence on country music. Fans and music historians are expected to follow news of the exhibition's opening and featured artifacts.

A country music songwriters festival is set to come to Buckeye Lake, Ohio, bringing the writers behind popular country hits to the village southeast of Columbus. Local outlet WSYX reported the announcement, which puts the lakeside community on the map as a destination for the genre's behind-the-scenes talent. Details on dates, lineup and venue have not yet been widely shared.

Country singer Riley Green is scheduled to perform in Spokane next spring, according to local outlet KXLY. The announcement gives fans in eastern Washington advance notice to plan for the show, though specific date, venue and ticket details were not included in the initial report.