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Slick Rick and Idris Elba Unleash Cinematic Visual Album VICTORY in a Bold Return After 26 Years

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Hip-hop’s most revered master storyteller and cultural pillar, Slick Rick releases the film for VICTORY, premiering now on YouTube. Joining creative forces with acclaimed multi-hyphenate Idris Elba, VICTORY is a visionary visual album released through Elba’s record label, 7Wallace, in collaboration with Mass Appeal.

Celebrating 26 years since The Ruler’s last album Victory is a triumphant new chapter – a sonic and cinematic tour de force that redefines the boundaries of storytelling, legacy and the power of imagination. Executive produced by The Poet (Slick Rick) and The Visionary (Idris Elba), the project features powerful collaborations with Nas and Giggs, along with a special contribution from Estelle.

At the heart of Victory, lies a 30-minute immersive film, directed by Meji Alabi (Black Dog Films)- the creative mind behind Beyonce’s Black Is King, which brings Victory to life through bold imagery and narrative depth. For the aesthetic vision, Slick Rick collaborated with legendary photographer Jonathan Mannion and brand storytellers Equator Studios. The music was mixed by Young Guru, with the album artwork and rollout developed in partnership with British agency PAQ and Rick’s own Team Eye Patch.

Meji Alabi says, “Collaborating with Slick Rick The Ruler on his first album in 26 years was incredible. Being able to create visuals to such a monumental piece and with a storyteller and icon like Slick Rick was an experience I’m going to cherish forever and can’t wait for the world to see what he has in store for them”.

Slick Rick says, “VICTORY is a tale of fiction for the mind. Part myth. Part Magic. Grab your snacks…and a cozy blanket and pretend you’re by a fireplace..Victory is sight, story, and sound dancing as one”.

Four years in the making, VICTORY was written and recorded between Rick’s birth place, London and in France, with its striking visuals filmed across three continents – the U.S., the UK, and Africa. The result is a cross-continental homage to Rick’s roots, enriched by lyrical depth, cinematic brilliance, and genre-defying artistry.

SmithField Pens a Heartfelt Homecoming With New Single “Take Me To Texas”

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Country duo SmithField, hailing from Waxahachie, Texas, releases their most personal single yet, “Take Me To Texas.” With their genre-blending style, signature harmonies, and heartfelt lyrics, SmithField delivers an emotional love letter to the Lone Star State – a place that shaped not only their sound, but their story. From small-town stages to national acclaim, this new single is a full-circle moment that reconnects the duo with their Texas roots in the most powerful way.

Their perfectly blended voices continue to elevate one another, track after track – and “Take Me To Texas” is no exception. With soaring vocal ranges, emotional depth, and unmistakable chemistry, SmithField proves once again why they are carrying the torch for duos in country music, both past and present.

“We’ve tried to write a song about our home state for years but have never felt one was special enough to match how we feel about where we’re from until now. “Take Me To Texas” is a love letter to the roots that made Smithfield. Although it’s filled with all of the nostalgia and heart that we have for Texas, it’s for anyone who is proud of where they’re from.” said Jenn and Trey.

Narada Michael Walden Heats Up Summer With Disco Reimagining of “Hot Fun in the Summertime” Honoring Sly Stone

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Superstar GRAMMY Award-winning musician and producer Narada Michael Walden dedicates his effervescent reimagining of “Hot Fun in the Summertime” to the legendary Sly Stone, who passed away earlier this month.

Custom-made for hot days and sizzling nights, this sweeping new version of the Sly and the Family Stone classic is the first single from Walden’s upcoming album, Still Yours For the Summer, due out in August.

“There’s a slew of originals I wrote for the album, and they’ve all got the summertime spirit,” Walden says. “I knew I wanted to do a remake, and my mind went to Nat King Cole’s ‘Lazy, Crazy Days of Summer,’ but every arrangement I tried sounded dated. Then my wife, Katie, suggested ‘Hot Fun in the Summertime,’ and it immediately made sense to me. Sly Stone has been and will always be a hero of mine. The same goes for his drummer, Greg Errico, who’s a good friend. I said to my wife, ‘I think I know what to do with that.'”

Walden sat down at the piano and started playing the same arrangement that he would soon record in the studio. Whereas the original 1969 hit conjured laid-back summer bliss, Walden’s idea of vacation jubilation is built around a driving disco beat. “It came to me right away,” he says. “I seized on the ‘hot fun’ aspect of the title, and to me that spelled disco. I wanted a song that could party!”

Producing at his own Tarpan Studios, Walden rocked the drums to a programmed rhythm (“always a combination I love”) and laid down a warm and inviting lead vocal; meanwhile, keyboardist Justus Dobrin provided zesty flourishes, and guitarist Jackson Allen peppered the track with breezy chords and a stinging solo. “We actually have three basses – Kirk Crumpler does some brilliant popping, and there’s additional bass by Jim Reitzel and me on synth bass,” Walden notes.

With its shimmering, vibrant strings and the rousing background vocals of Cornel “CC” Carter, Nate’ the Soulsanger, Katie Walden and Kristie Isaacsen, “Hot Fun in the Summertime” (engineered by Jim Reitzel and Josh Nelson) evokes ’70s dance floor nostalgia while simultaneously sounding every bit 2025. It’s the perfect soundtrack for months of sunscreen and sunglasses, beaches and boardwalks. “I can’t wait for people to turn this one up,” Walden enthuses. “Like the title says, it’s hot fun. And it’s all dedicated to the one and only genius of Sly Stone. He’s a musical master like no other!”

Walden plans to issue “a waterfall of singles” ahead of Still Yours For the Summer. Following “Hot Fun in the Summertime” is a complete change of pace – the deep-grooving, power-packed R&B winner “Bougie Cherry Bomb.”

“It’s got a bit of a Bruno Mars vibe,” Walden says, “meaning how Bruno can pay homage to an earlier time of funk, but he’s still right now. I do the same thing – I love mixing the two worlds.”

He blends galaxies with a remake of his 1979 hit, “I Shoulda Loved Ya,” remixed by a frequent collaborator, famed Italian hitmaker Lino Nicolosi. Walden also reveals that the 2025 “I Shoulda Loved Ya” will feature a duet with a young TikTok star, whose identity will be revealed soon. “It’s going to be incredible,” he says. “I can’t wait to get it out into the world.”

Kicking off Still Yours For the Summer with the June release of “Hot Fun in the Summertime” has special resonance for Walden. As he notes, “We put out Aretha Franklin’s ‘Freeway of Love’ in June, and it exploded. Let’s do it again with music for the summer experience. Tops down, beach radios everywhere! Summertime is the celebration of life! And let’s all celebrate Sly Stone, who created music that changed the world!”

$uicideboy$ and Bones Reunite After a Decade on Chilling New Track “Now And At The Hour Of Our Death” Ahead of ‘Thy Kingdom Come’

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Independent rap powerhouses $uicideboy$ and Bones have dropped their highly-anticipated collaboration “Now And At The Hour Of Our Death,” a track fans have been craving for over a decade.

The haunting, emotionally charged single is the second release from $uicideboy$ upcoming fifth studio album Thy Kingdom Come, arriving August 1st. Blending hard-hitting Southern trap with eerie lo-fi melodies, the track is the duo’s first collaboration since 2014’s fan-favorite “Maple $yrup.” A music video is set to release next month.

The song arrives ahead of the Grey Day Tour 2025, a massic 44-date arena and amphitheater run kicking off August 5th in West Palm Beach, FL. Bones will join $uicideboy$ on the road, along with rising star Joeyy and G59 mainstays Night Lovell, Germ, and Chetta. For the second year in a row, the tour will partner with mental health nonprofit PLUS1.

Thy Kingdom Come follows $uicideboy$ 2024 project New World Depression, which debuted at #1 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart and the Independent Albums chart and Top 5 of the Billboard 200. The album gained 60 million streams on Spotify in its first week and debuted #13 on the Global Spotify Chart with four tracks landing on the Billboard Hot 100. Thy Kingdom Come will also mark the first time the group is featuring guest features on an official studio album.

Jenna Paulette and Ashley McBryde Join Forces on Heartfelt Duet “The Prophet (Grandaddy’s Song)”

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When cowgirl and songstress Jenna Paulette released her sophomore album, Horseback, last September, the 13-track project featured one song in particular that held a special place in the Texan’s heart. “The Prophet (Grandaddy’s Song),” written by Ashley McBryde, Matraca Berg and Lori McKenna, was dedicated to Paulette’s grandfather, and encapsulates the reverence felt toward the patriarch who shaped her life.

Today, Paulette is teaming up with McBryde for a special collaboration version of the track, as the pair release a duet of the song. “I grew up in a ranching family on the Texas/Oklahoma line in Thackerville, Oklahoma,” Paulette reflected on her upbringing at her recent Opry appearance, sharing the inspiration behind the song. “I’d be listening to Don Williams, Eddie Arnold and George Strait in my grandad’s ranch truck as we checked cattle, and I just thought to myself, ‘well, if they can sing about what they’re living, maybe I can too.’ That Grandaddy that took me with him to check cows made a huge impact on me.

“This song was sent to me by the A&R from my label, and was written by Ashley McBryde, Matraca Berg and Lori McKenna,” she added. “When it was sent to me, I asked ‘do you think they would mind if I put my grandad into these lyrics?” I thought, I just want to put him all the way in it, and I want my daughter, who is 7 months old, to be able to know my grandaddy because of this song. And they said yes, very graciously. So I put it on my record that came out a month before she was born, and Ashley McBryde actually said yes to putting out a duet version including her own lyrics to this song.”

“The Prophet (Grandaddy’s Song)” was originally released as a solo track on Horseback on Sept. 6, 2024. Upon its release, Paulette remarked that Horseback “is a culmination of perspectives I have of myself-to the things my family instilled in me, the men and women I grew up with and the ones I am blessed to be surrounded by where we live in a small town in West Texas. A window into the way so many of us feel and the things we value.”

Belles Delivers Heartbreak and Honesty in Cinematic New “Broken In Boots” Video

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Country artist Belles debuts her brand-new music video for her single, “Broken In Boots.” The heartbreak anthem is out now on all streaming platforms along with a haunting new video.

The music video for “Broken In Boots” brings the emotional core of the single to life, following Belles in the aftermath of a breakup. Co-written and produced by Johnny Gates, the visual narrative captures her isolation while weaving in poignant flashbacks of a once-vibrant relationship. Set against the backdrop of Nashville’s iconic Broadway, the video echoes the song’s themes of heartbreak and nostalgia. Directed by Sydney Tooley, with Corbin Schmidt as the director of photography, the video offers a raw, cinematic feel, mirroring the vulnerability heard in the track. “Broken In Boots” was recorded at Sound Emporium.

“Filming this music video was an absolute blast,” Belles shares. “Shooting on Broadway made the experience even more special. There truly was no better backdrop for this story. Broadway is always bustling, full of energy and motion, and yet, when you’re going through heartbreak, it can feel like you’re standing still while the world rushes past you. I think the video really brings that contrast to life.”

Hailing from Nebraska, Belles has been making waves in Nashville since 2018, captivating audiences with her heartfelt, witty storytelling. Her songs, co-written with some of the city’s top songwriters, have garnered over 70 million streams and views across all platforms.

Belles has worked alongside renowned writers such as Reid Isbell (“The Kind of Love We Make”/Luke Combs, “Mr. Saturday Night”/Jon Pardi), Jenn Schott (“7500 OBO” and “Two Lanes of Freedom”/Tim McGraw), Heath Warren (“Rock and A Hard Place”/Bailey Zimmerman and “Something You Ain’t Ever Had”/Waterloo Revival), Johnny Gates (“Truck Girl”/Josh Ross, “Loretta Lynn”/Sam Grow, “Mess It Up”/Blake Wood) and Ned Cameron (Grammy-nominated writer and producer who has collaborated with artists including Kid Ink, Machine Gun Kelly, Wiz Khalifa, Sean Kingston and more), contributing to her growing reputation as a songwriter.

Belles’ music has been featured on CMT, Spotify’s Next from Nashville, New Music Friday Country, Fresh Finds Country, and Apple Music’s New In Country, Soundcheck, and What Would Dolly Do? playlists. CMT lauded her talent, stating, “Belles’ crystal-clear vocals and compelling delivery are displayed in ‘Man Outta Me,’ which verifies that she’s a promising new artist with a bright future ahead.” Belles’ journey in music is deeply influenced by her musical family. With her mother being a part of the successful sister pop/harmony group Mulberry Lane, Belles was surrounded by music from a young age. Her early experiences, including touring with her mother’s group and performing in a mother-daughter duo, laid the foundation for her solo career.

Belles has quickly established herself as a powerful voice in country music. Her recent global recording deal with East Music Row Records and publishing agreement with Deluge Music mark a major career milestone. After wrapping her headlining Trust Issues Tour, Belles continues to build her presence, having shared the stage with artists like Miranda Lambert, Old Dominion, and Brett Eldredge, while growing her fan base nationwide.

With a loyal following on social media, boasting 392k followers on TikTok, 131k on Instagram, 166k on YouTube, 166k on Facebook, 70 million cumulative views and streams of her original songs on all platforms, and 1 million direct fan reach, Belles connects with her fans through her music and live interactions. Her mission is clear: to write songs that resonate deeply with her audience, making them feel empowered, confident, and understood.

Ed Sheeran Revs Up “Drive” With Brad Pitt, John Mayer, Dave Grohl & More on ‘F1 The Album’

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Ed Sheeran has shared a music video for his new track “Drive”, which comes from the F1 The Album, the soundtrack to the new film F1 The Movie, which stars Brad Pitt and was directed by Joseph Kosinski (Top Gun: Maverick).

Produced by GRAMMY Award-winner Blake Slatkin (Lil Nas X, Lizzo) and 7x GRAMMY Award-winner John Mayer, “Drive” sees Sheeran backed by an all-star combo that includes Mayer on guitar alongside Foo Fighters’ Dave Grohl on drums, legendary bassist Pino Paladino (Eric Clapton, The Who), and keyboardist Rami Jaffee (Foo Fighters, The Wallflowers), with additional keyboards and drum programming by Slatkin. The dynamic new track is joined by an official music video, directed by filmmaker Chris Villa (Post Malone, Morgan Wallen, A$AP Rocky, Young Thug).

From the label that brought you the award-winning, blockbuster soundtracks Barbie The Album, Twisters: The Album, The Greatest Showman, Suicide Squad and more, F1 THE ALBUM will feature massive new tracks from an unprecedented lineup of superstar artists, including Ed Sheeran, RAYE, Burna Boy, Madison Beer, Peggy Gou and more. See below for the full tracklisting.

Noah Cyrus and Blake Shelton Join Forces on “New Country” as She Gears Up for Album Drop and Tour

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ollowing the announcement of her sophomore studio album I WANT MY LOVED ONES TO GO WITH ME and North American headline tour, GRAMMY nominated artist, songwriter, musician and producer Noah Cyrus has released her latest track “New Country” (Feat. Blake Shelton).

Planting her flag of independence firmly in the ground, and with harmonies from Shelton, whose appearance co-signs Noah as a true country songwriter, Noah Cyrus shares on her latest offering “It’s a song about finding a new place in life, about walking on your own two feet, and realizing that change is the only thing that’s constant,” she says. “The only way out is through.”

I WANT MY LOVED ONES TO GO WITH ME, out on July 11 via RECORDS/Columbia Records, was co-produced by Noah Cyrus alongside long-time, trusted collaborators Mike Crossey and PJ Harding, and features special guests Blake Shelton, Fleet Foxes, Ella Langley and Bill Callahan.

On July 11, Noah Cyrus will be headlining The Ford in Los Angeles for a special album release show, and on September 12 she’ll embark on her North American headline tour. Tickets are available at: www.noahcyrus.com/#tour.

I WANT MY LOVED ONES TO GO WITH ME is out via RECORDS/Columbia Records on July 11

NORTH AMERICAN TOUR DATES:
7/11 – Los Angeles, CA – The Ford
9/12 – Santa Ana, CA – The Observatory
9/13 – San Diego, CA – House of Blues
9/15 – San Francisco, CA – The Regency Ballroom
9/18 – Vancouver, BC – Queen Elizabeth Theatre
9/19 – Seattle, WA – Showbox SoDo
9/20 – Spokane, WA – Knitting Factory
9/21 – Portland, OR – Crystal Ballroom
9/23 – Salt Lake City, UT – The Union Event Center
9/24 – Denver, CO – Fillmore Auditorium
9/26 – Kansas City, MO – Uptown Theater
9/27 – Minneapolis, MN – The Fillmore
9/29 – St. Louis, MO – The Pageant
9/30 – Chicago, IL – Riviera Theatre
10/2 – Detroit, MI – Masonic Cathedral
10/4 – Montreal, QC – MTELUS
10/7 – Boston, MA – House of Blues
10/8 – Brooklyn, NY – Brooklyn Paramount
10/10 – Philadelphia, PA – The Fillmore
10/11 – Silver Spring, MD – The Fillmore Silver Spring
10/13 – Charlotte, NC – The Fillmore
10/15 – Nashville, TN – Ryman Auditorium
10/17 – Atlanta, GA – Tabernacle
10/18 – St. Petersburg, FL – Jannus Live
10/20 – Houston, TX – House of Blues
10/21 – Dallas, TX – House of Blues
10/22 – Austin, TX – Emo’s
10/24 – Phoenix, AZ – The Van Buren

Zach Top Expands ‘Cold Beer & Country Music’ Tour With Arena Stops and New Album ‘Ain’t In It For My Health’ Dropping August 29

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Zach Top will continue his extensive Cold Beer & Country Music headline tour through this fall with newly confirmed stops at Colorado’s Red Rocks Amphitheatre (two nights), Louisville’s KFC Yum! Center, Oklahoma City’s Paycom Center, Charleston’s Credit One Stadium, Vancouver’s Rogers Arena and Charlottesville’s John Paul Jones Arena among many others.

Tickets for the new dates will be available for pre-sale starting Tuesday, June 24 at 10:00am local time with general on-sale following next Friday, June 27 at 10:00am local time.

The fall tour celebrates Top’s highly anticipated new album, Ain’t In It For My Health-out August 29 on Leo33 (pre-order/pre-save here). Ahead of the release, Top recently unveiled lead single, “Good Times & Tan Lines,” which Billboard hails as “one of this summer’s top country anthems,” while Country Central praises, “He possesses a swagger like nobody else in the industry.”

Tour Dates:

June 20-Phoenix, AZ-Talking Stick Resort Amphitheatre*
June 21-Albuquerque, NM-Isleta Amphitheater*
June 22-Telluride, CO-Telluride Bluegrass Festival 2025
June 26-Los Angeles, CA-Intuit Dome*
June 27-Wheatland, CA-Toyota Amphitheatre*
June 28-Mountain View, CA-Shoreline Amphitheatre*
July 3-Calgary, AB-Cowboys Music Festival
July 10-Virginia Beach, VA-Veterans United Home Loans Amphitheater*
July 11-Bristow, VA-Jiffy Lube Live*
July 12-Mansfield, MA-Xfinity Center*
July 13-Clearfield, PA-Clearfield County Fairgrounds
July 18-Cincinnati, OH-Riverbend Music Center*
July 19-Noblesville, IN-Ruoff Music Center*
July 20-Twin Lakes, WI-Country Thunder Wisconsin
July 21-Valparaiso, IN-Porter County Expo Center
July 31-Salt Lake City, UT-Utah First Credit Union Amphitheatre*
August 1-Nampa, ID-Ford Idaho Center Amphitheater*
August 2-Quincy, WA-Watershed Festival
August 7-Camden, NJ-Freedom Mortgage Pavilion*
August 8-Raleigh, NC-Coastal Credit Union Music Park at Walnut Creek*
August 9-Charlotte, NC-PNC Music Pavilion*
August 10-Lewisburg, WV-The State Fair of West Virginia
August 14-Darien Center, NY-Darrien Lake Amphitheater*
August 15-Holmdel, NJ-PNC Bank Arts Center*
August 16-Bethel, NY-Bethel Woods Center for the Arts*
August 21-Savannah, GA-Enmarket Arena*
August 22-Birmingham, AL-Coca-Cola Amphitheater*
August 23-Biloxi, MS-Mississippi Coast Coliseum*
August 28-New York, NY-Madison Square Garden Arena*
August 29-Burgettstown, PA-The Pavilion at Star Lake*
August 30-Clarkston, MI-Pine Knob Music Theatre*
September 26-College Station, TX-Live at the Station
September 27-Lubbock, TX-Cook’s Garage+
September 28-Morrison, CO-Red Rocks Amphitheatre=
September 29-Morrison, CO-Red Rocks Amphitheatre=
October 3-Charlottesville, VA-John Paul Jones Arena=
October 4-Ocean City, MD-Country Calling 2025
October 9-Knoxville, TN- Thompson-Boling Arena at Food City Center+
October 10-Louisville, KY-KFC Yum! Center+
October 11-Evansville, IN-Ford Center+
October 16-Brandon, MS-Brandon Amphitheater+
October 17-Bossier City, LA-Brookshire Grocery Arena+
October 18-Oklahoma City, OK-Paycom Center+
October 24-Charleston, SC-Credit One Stadium+
October 25-Simpsonville, SC-Greenville Country Music Festival
October 30-Missoula, MT-Adams Center=
October 31-Billings, MT-MetraPark – First Interstate Arena at Metrapark=
November 1-Casper, WY-Ford Wyoming Center=
November 7-Bismarck, ND-Bismarck Event Center=
November 8-Rapid City, SD-Summit Arena at The Monument=
November 13-Eugene, OR-Matthew Knight Arena=
November 15-Vancouver, BC-Rogers Arena=
*as part of Dierks Bentley’s Broken Branches Tour
+with special guest Andy Buckner
=with special guest Jake Worthington

Lainey Wilson Takes a Surreal Turn in “Somewhere Over Laredo” Video From Upcoming Deluxe Album ‘Whirlwind’

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Lainey Wilson unveils the official music video for her critically acclaimed new single, “Somewhere Over Laredo,” today, directed by decorated filmmaker TK McKamy (Tim McGraw, Reba, Darius Rucker).

Falling through a rabbit hole of nostalgia, Wilson embarks on a surreal adventure inspired by the timeless magic of The Wizard of Oz. In pursuit of love lost, Wilson takes a trip down the yellow brick road through symbolic memories as a mysterious cowboy lures her deeper into a lucid dream.

Continuing to receive overwhelming attention from fans and critics alike, “Somewhere Over Laredo” was the most added song at country radio at impact, garnered over 1.16 million streams across platforms in its first 24 hours (Wilson’s biggest first day of streaming to date) and earned praise from CBS Mornings, Rolling Stone and Billboard, the latter of which called it “one of her most commanding, dynamic vocal performances to date, crescendo-ing from a soft-focus, tender vocal, before gradually reaching into her upper register for powerful moments that heighten the song’s emotional acuity.”

The song is from the upcoming deluxe version of Wilson’s award-winning album, Whirlwind, set for release August 22 via BBR Music Group/BMG Nashville in celebration of the record’s one-year anniversary (pre-order/pre-save/pre-add here). In addition to Whirlwind’s original 14 songs, the new extended edition will feature five additional tracks: “Somewhere Over Laredo,” “Bell Bottoms Up,” “King Ranch, King George, King James,” “Yesterday, All Day, Every Day” and “Peace, Love, and Cowboys.”

The release adds to yet another triumphant year for the 16x ACM, 9x CMA and Grammy Award-winning artist, who won four awards at the 60th Annual ACM Awards earlier this spring: Entertainer of the Year (her second consecutive win), Female Artist of the Year (her third consecutive win), Album of the Year (Whirlwind) and Artist-Songwriter of the Year. During the awards ceremony, she also debuted new song, “Trailblazer,” with Reba McEntire and Miranda Lambert, which she wrote with Lambert and Brandy Clark.

Additionally, Wilson is amid her nearly sold-out Whirlwind World Tour, which includes stops at New York’s Madison Square Garden, Los Angeles’ Kia Forum, Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena, Austin’s Moody Center and Denver’s Ball Arena among many others. The upcoming dates follow the tour’s first leg-a completely sold-out extensive run across the U.K and Europe earlier this year.