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Avery Anna And Sam Barber Reunite With Faith Fueled Duet “Fear In God”

Eric Alper
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Avery Anna And Sam Barber Reunite With Faith Fueled Duet “Fear In God”

Avery Anna and Sam Barber are back together with their powerful new duet, “Fear In God,” out now everywhere. The track reunites the two breakout artists following their Platinum-certified hit “Indigo,” and captures the same electric vocal chemistry that turned their first collaboration into a viral and chart-topping moment.

Inspired by scripture and the realities of growing up under pressure, “Fear In God” centers on staying grounded in faith and finding identity through God. Their voices intertwine with conviction and clarity, delivering a message rooted in strength and belief. It is a bold, soul-stirring statement that lands with impact.

Their previous duet “Indigo” reached the Top 10 on Billboard’s Hot Country Songs chart and led to a joint appearance on The Kelly Clarkson Show. With over 1 billion global streams and her sophomore album let go letters named one of Billboard’s “50 Best Albums of 2025,” Avery continues to shape modern country music with purpose and poise.

The new single arrives as Avery gears up for her headlining “Girl Of Constant Sorrow Tour,” launching March 12 in Cincinnati. She recently drew acclaim for her cover of Ozzy Osbourne’s “No More Tears,” praised as a knock-out performance, further highlighting her range and fearless artistry.

Girl Of Constant Sorrow Tour Dates:

3.12 – Cincinnati, OH – Bogart’s
3.13 – St. Louis, MO – Ballpark Village (18+)
3.14 – Tulsa, OK – Cain’s Ballroom
3.19 – Portland, ME – Aura (18+)
3.20 – Uncasville, CT – Mohegan Sun Wolf Den (21+)
3.21 – Sayreville, NJ – Starland Ballroom
3.27 – Rosemont, IL – Joe’s Live
3.28 – Chattanooga, TN – The Signal
4.09 – Little Rock, AR – The Hall
4.10 – Sioux City, IA – Anthem Hard Rock Hotel & Casino (21+)
4.17 – Oxford, MS – The Lyric Oxford (18+)
4.18 – Baton Rouge, LA – Texas Club (18+)

11 Musicians Who Found Fame Later in Life and Changed the Sound of Success

Eric Alper
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11 Musicians Who Found Fame Later in Life and Changed the Sound of Success

Some careers ignite overnight. Others simmer for years before the world finally catches up. These artists did not follow the “overnight success” script – they built their legacies chapter by chapter, proving that talent has no expiration date. Here are 11 musicians who found fame later in life, in alphabetical order.

Billy Vera
Before his own spotlight moment, Billy Vera spent years writing and producing for others. It was not until his 40s that “At This Moment” climbed the charts after a TV placement gave it new life. The song reached #1 on the Billboard Hot 100, turning a seasoned songwriter into a household name.

Bonnie Raitt
Though active since the early 1970s, Bonnie Raitt reached massive commercial heights in her 40s with the album ‘Nick of Time.’ It hit #1 on the Billboard 200 and won multiple Grammy Awards, including Album of the Year. Decades of touring and refining her craft paid off in a major way.

Charles Bradley
Charles Bradley worked as a James Brown impersonator for years before releasing his debut album in his 60s. His raw soul voice finally reached global audiences, earning critical acclaim and international tours. His late bloom became one of music’s most inspiring modern stories.

Chris Stapleton
A respected Nashville songwriter for years, Chris Stapleton stepped into the spotlight in his late 30s. His breakthrough performance at the CMA Awards launched ‘Traveller’ to #1 on the Billboard 200. The album went multi-Platinum and won multiple Grammy Awards.

Debbie Harry
Debbie Harry and Blondie built a following in the New York club scene throughout the 1970s. Mainstream fame arrived when ‘Parallel Lines’ exploded internationally, producing hits like “Heart of Glass.” Harry was in her early 30s when Blondie became a global force.

Leonard Cohen
Leonard Cohen published poetry and novels before releasing his debut album in his 30s. His song “Hallelujah” grew into one of the most covered songs in modern history. Later in life, his world tours sold out arenas, cementing his legacy across generations.

Louis Armstrong
Louis Armstrong had been a working musician for years before becoming an international star in his 30s. His recordings with the Hot Five and Hot Seven redefined jazz performance and improvisation. Armstrong went on to score pop hits like “Hello, Dolly!” decades into his career.

Sharon Jones
Sharon Jones spent years working day jobs before fronting Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings in her 40s. Their retro soul revival earned critical acclaim and global touring success. She became a defining voice of modern soul later in life.

Susan Boyle
Susan Boyle became an international sensation in her late 40s after auditioning on ‘Britain’s Got Talent.’ Her debut album topped charts worldwide and became one of the best-selling albums of the year. Her story remains one of television’s most dramatic musical breakthroughs.

Thelma Houston
Thelma Houston had recorded for years before scoring a #1 hit on the Billboard Hot 100 in her 30s with “Don’t Leave Me This Way.” The song won a Grammy Award and became a disco anthem. Persistence met perfect timing on the dance floor.

Willie Nelson
Willie Nelson wrote hits for other artists before finding his own commercial breakthrough in his 40s. The album ‘Red Headed Stranger’ reached #1 on the Billboard Country chart and crossed into mainstream success. His outlaw country era reshaped Nashville and built a legendary career.

Britney Spears Sells Her Catalog and Joins a Growing Trend

Eric Alper
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Britney Spears Sells Her Catalog and Joins a Growing Trend

Pop history just shifted again. Britney Spears has reportedly sold her music catalog, adding her name to a growing list of superstars turning decades of hits into major business moves. It is not just nostalgia – it is strategy.

A catalog is more than a collection of songs. It is publishing, licensing, streaming revenue, film placements, and future opportunities. In the streaming era, evergreen hits can generate steady income for decades. Investors know it. Artists know it.

For performers who have already shaped culture, selling a catalog can mean financial freedom and long-term security. It can also signal a new chapter, one where legacy is managed differently than in the old record-label days.

The big picture? Songs are assets. The artists who once fought for creative control are now negotiating from positions of power. Britney built an era. Now that era is part of a larger business conversation.

Why Artists Lip-Sync at Concerts and Why It Is Not So Simple

Eric Alper
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Why Artists Lip-Sync at Concerts and Why It Is Not So Simple

The word lip-sync still sparks outrage, but the truth is more complicated than a viral clip suggests. In an era of massive stage productions, perfection is often part of the ticket price. Fans expect fireworks, choreography, visuals, and flawless vocals all at once.

Touring is a marathon. Voices are muscles, and muscles get tired. When artists perform night after night across continents, protecting their vocal cords becomes part of the job. Sometimes that means backing tracks. Sometimes that means layering vocals. Sometimes it means a strategic assist on the highest note.

Then there is choreography. Pop shows are athletic events disguised as concerts. Try sprinting across a stage, hitting every dance cue, and belting a chorus without missing a breath. Technology can help bridge the gap between spectacle and stamina.

For some fans, authenticity means every note live. For others, it means an unforgettable experience. The modern concert often blends both – part raw performance, part theatrical production.

GENE SIMMONS, HIP-HOP, AND THE NEVER-ENDING ROCK HALL DEBATE

Eric Alper
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GENE SIMMONS, HIP-HOP, AND THE NEVER-ENDING ROCK HALL DEBATE

When Gene Simmons talks, the rock world listens – and then argues. His latest take questions whether hip-hop belongs in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, reigniting a debate that has been simmering for years. For Simmons, rock is guitars, amps, and arenas. For others, it is something bigger.

The Hall has long defined rock and roll as a spirit, not just a sound. That spirit has stretched from Chuck Berry to punk to rap. The moment rock stopped evolving would be the moment it stopped mattering. Music has always borrowed, blended, and broken its own rules.

Simmons’ comments also spotlight a generational divide. To many classic rock fans, the Hall is sacred ground for bands that built the stadium era. To younger listeners, influence matters more than instrumentation. Culture moves forward whether we like it or not.

At the end of the day, the argument says less about genre and more about ownership. Who gets to define rock and roll? The artists who built it, or the generations who keep reinventing it?

Yeah, He’s Back: AAA John Wick Game Is Coming to PS5

Eric Alper
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Yeah, He’s Back: AAA John Wick Game Is Coming to PS5

here are video game announcements, and then there are moments where the room shifts. When John Wick shows up at PlayStation’s State of Play, you pay attention. The billion-dollar franchise is officially becoming a full-scale AAA single-player game for PlayStation 5, developed by Saber Interactive in collaboration with Lionsgate. And yes, Keanu Reeves is involved. Voice, likeness, the whole deal.

This isn’t a loose adaptation or a quick spin-off. The untitled game drops players into a new chapter within the John Wick timeline, set before the Impossible Task. It’s an original story, built with input from director Chad Stahelski, and it promises to expand the lore of the High Table with both familiar faces and new characters. That matters. The Wick universe runs on rules, codes, and consequences. Get those wrong, and the whole thing falls apart.

Saber says the focus is authenticity. That means “gun-fu” combat designed from the ground up. Tight, cinematic camerawork. Intense driving. Neo-noir environments loaded with detail. The goal isn’t just to make a shooter with a famous name on the box. It’s to blur the line between movie and game, so when you step into the suit, you feel like you’re in a John Wick scene. Controlled chaos. Precision. No wasted movement.

The franchise has already expanded beyond four films into television with The Continental, and more movies are on the way. But this is different. This is interactive. It hands you the rules of the underworld and says, “Management is here to serve.” No release date yet, but one thing’s clear. The Baba Yaga isn’t done. Not on screen. Not on console.

Nicolas Cage Steps Into the Shadows in Prime Video’s ‘Spider-Noir’ Trailer

Eric Alper
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Nicolas Cage Steps Into the Shadows in Prime Video’s ‘Spider-Noir’ Trailer

There’s something perfect about Nicolas Cage putting on a fedora and stepping into the shadows of 1930s New York as Spider-Man. Not the bright, quippy, Midtown version. Not the friendly neighborhood kid juggling homework. This is Spider-Noir. A burnt-out private investigator named Ben Reilly. A man who’s seen too much, lost too much, and would probably rather light another cigarette than save the city again. And somehow, that makes it even more compelling.

The new series, Spider-Noir, marks Cage’s first leading role in a television drama, and it feels long overdue. He’s always had that old-Hollywood intensity, the kind that fits naturally in hard shadows and narrow alleyways. The teaser leans into that mood. Black trench coat. Rain-slick streets. A voice that sounds like it’s carrying the weight of a hundred bad decisions. The tagline says it all: “With No Power Comes No Responsibility.” It flips the Spider-Man myth on its head and dares you to see what happens when the hero doesn’t want the job anymore.

For longtime Marvel fans, this isn’t entirely new territory. Spider-Man Noir first swung into the panels of Marvel Comics as part of a darker, pulp-inspired reimagining of the character. He later stole scenes in Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, where Cage voiced him with deadpan perfection. Now, we get the full live-action treatment. A Depression-era city. Corruption in high places. Jazz clubs and newsrooms. And a hero who’s more detective than acrobat.

Prime Video is making this even more interesting by offering the show in two formats: “Authentic Black & White” and “True-Hue Full Color.” It’s a smart move. Noir stories live and breathe in contrast, in shadows cutting across faces, in light barely catching the edge of a mask. But giving viewers the option to see it in color respects the original comics while inviting a wider audience in. Either way, the mood is the star.

The series arrives May 27, with all episodes dropping at once. That binge release feels right for a story like this. Noir works best when you stay in the atmosphere, when one smoky scene bleeds into the next. Cage as a reluctant hero. A city that might not deserve saving. And a Spider-Man who’s not swinging toward hope, but trudging back toward responsibility. Sometimes the darkest corners make the most interesting stories.

More Stars Join The Gatlin Brothers’ 70th Anniversary Ryman Celebration

Eric Alper
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More Stars Join The Gatlin Brothers’ 70th Anniversary Ryman Celebration

The Gatlin Brothers’ 70th Anniversary Tribute at Nashville’s historic Ryman Auditorium just raised the roof a little higher. Five more powerhouse performers have joined the lineup for Monday, February 23, adding fresh energy to an already stacked night honoring Larry, Steve, and Rudy Gatlin’s seven decades of making music together.

Mandy Barnett, Rhonda Vincent, Steven Curtis Chapman, Travis Tritt, and Vince Gill are the newest names attached to the celebration. They join an all-star roster that includes The Oak Ridge Boys, Big & Rich, The Frontmen, Lee Greenwood, Lorrie Morgan, Gaither Vocal Band, Dailey & Vincent, Riders in the Sky, and many more, along with a special appearance by Country Music Hall of Fame member Ray Stevens. The lineup reads like a living archive of country and gospel greatness.

The milestone evening will spotlight beloved hits such as “All the Gold in California,” “Houston (Means I’m One Day Closer to You),” and “Broken Lady,” with Sixwire serving as the backing band. Additional appearances by Gary Sinise and Nancy Jones round out the tribute. “Brother Steve, Brother Rudy, and I are grateful to God for the 70 years we have had making music together,” Larry Gatlin shares. “We’re thankful for the friends and performers who are helping us celebrate this milestone, and for the fans who have supported us every step of the way. Keep the faith.”

Blackpink Lights Up Korea’s History With ‘Deadline’ Museum Takeover

Eric Alper
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Blackpink Lights Up Korea’s History With ‘Deadline’ Museum Takeover

Blackpink steps into 2026 with a landmark cultural moment. In celebration of their third mini album ‘Deadline,’ the global group partners with the National Museum of Korea for a large-scale collaboration running from February 26 through March 8. Announced by YG Entertainment, the project connects K-pop history with Korea’s national heritage, with Spotify joining as an official partner.

Throughout the activation, the exterior of the National Museum of Korea will glow pink in tribute to Blackpink. Inside, the members serve as audio docents for eight representative artifacts, guiding visitors through key pieces of Korean cultural history. At the Gwanggaeto the Great Stele along the museum’s main lobby pathway known as The Path of History, a full-album listening session for ‘Deadline’ will unfold in a setting rooted in centuries of legacy.

A special pre-release listening begins one day before the album drops, with access available through Naver Reservations opening at 8 pm on February 19. After ‘Deadline’ arrives at 2 pm on February 27, the listening session opens to all museum visitors during regular hours, with select programming reserved for Spotify Premium users. Blackpink becomes the first K-pop act to stage an official large-scale collaboration with the National Museum of Korea, setting a new benchmark for global pop presence.

‘Deadline’ features five tracks: “Go,” “뛰어 (Jump),” “Me and My,” “Champion,” and “Fxxxboy.” YG previously described the project as capturing “the best, irreversible moments” and presenting “Blackpink at their brightest and most radiant in the moment.” The response is electric. This is a bold fusion of music, history, and cultural pride unfolding on one of Korea’s most iconic stages.

Chris Stapleton And Harlen Wheatley Turn Up The Heat With “Traveller Whiskey Full Proof”

Eric Alper
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0
Chris Stapleton And Harlen Wheatley Turn Up The Heat With “Traveller Whiskey Full Proof”

Chris Stapleton and Buffalo Trace Distillery Master Distiller Harlen Wheatley raise the bar with the launch of “Traveller Whiskey Full Proof.” Bottled at 121 proof, the bold new expression marks the first line extension for the award-winning brand since its January 2024 debut. It builds on the foundation of Blend No. 40, delivering amplified intensity while holding tight to the smooth, easy-sippin’ character that defines Traveller’s style.

For Stapleton and Wheatley, blending whiskey mirrors the creative spark of making music. It starts with instinct, then sharpens through craft and balance. Curious how far Traveller’s original 90 proof could stretch, the pair began experimenting with proof and blend adjustments. The breakthrough came backstage after a show, when Stapleton, his band, and friends sampled two Full Proof contenders. The unanimous choice was 121 proof, a moment that locked in the next chapter of Traveller.

“Prior to collaborating with Harlen Wheatley and Buffalo Trace Distillery on Traveller Whiskey, I generally leaned toward higher-proof and barrel-strength bottles,” Stapleton shares. “Needless to say, when we decided to experiment with a higher-proof expression, I was excited to see where that could land. One night after a show, we had two potential Full Proof contenders backstage with the band and some friends. Everyone agreed 121 was the clear winner. It’s the same easy-to-drink DNA, just turned up a few notches. I think Traveller Whiskey Full Proof is one of those moments where more of a good thing is definitely a good thing.”

Traveller Full Proof delivers rich notes of caramelized sugar, baking spice, toasted oak, vanilla, warm toffee, and dark fruit. The higher proof opens new layers and lengthens the finish, showing how dramatically proof can shape a blended whiskey’s profile. “Across our products, we like to experiment with proof as a way to bring out different flavor characteristics already present in the whiskey,” says Wheatley. “When we started experimenting with proof in Traveller’s blended recipe, flavors and finishes came to the forefront that aren’t as apparent in the 90 proof blend. It’s remarkable how different the blended recipe responds to proof variation compared to our straight bourbons. We think where we’ve landed is a completely unique offering that every whiskey drinker should try.”

Since launch, Traveller has surged as one of the fastest-growing whiskey brands in the world. In 2025, it became the Official Whiskey of Major League Baseball and gained national spotlight through JR Motorsports’ Traveller Whiskey No. 40 Chevrolet, driven by Justin Allgaier, during the 2025 Daytona 500. Quietly teased in late January in a social media video featuring Dale Earnhardt Jr., Stapleton, and Allgaier, the 121-proof release now arrives nationwide. Initially launched as a limited release in February 2026, Traveller Full Proof is available through Sazerac’s distributor network at a suggested retail price of $39.99 for 750ml, plus applicable taxes and fees.

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That Eric Alper

Eric Alper is a 6-time nominee for Publicist of the Year during Canadian Music Week and has overseen the publicity campaigns for over 183 JUNO Award-nominated albums (and 16 in 2025), 45 Grammy-nominated albums, including 47 JUNO Award, 58 Canadian Folk Music Award, 126 Maple Blues Award-winning albums and is also truly honoured to work with some of the biggest and most important artists of our time.

Contact me: eric@thatericalper.com

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