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Miami Herald
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Miami Herald
Rising Country Star Apologizes After Embarrassing Onstage ‘Oopsie'
Ella Langleyhas been on the country music scene for a hot minute, and she's still learning a few things. First, make sure to get everyone's name correct. Langley released her debut single, "Perfect," in 2018. From there, the Alabama native relocated to Nashville to take her country music career to the next level. In a few short years, she signed with Sony Music Nashville, made her debut at the Grand Ole Opry, and released her first studio album, Hungover. So far, her highest charting hit is "You Look Like Love Me," and the sky's the limit on this young talent. However, with her career taking off, she let the excitement get the better of her. During a recent stop on Riley Green'sDamn Country Music Tour, Langley, who opened for Green, shouted out the night's other opening acts. She gave love to Wyatt McCubbin and Hudson Westbrook… …except, it wasn't Westrbook that performed. It was Vincent Mason. "I made an oopsie, and the problem is, the oopsie was so strange, because I have no idea why," said Langley in a TikTok apology. She recapped the night and how she first gave a shout-out to Wyatt McCubbin. "And I then I said 'Hudson Westbrook,' and then everyone was like, 'woo!' but kind of confused. And I was like, 'why are you confused?'" she said. "Because I knew it was Vincent Mason, but, for some reason, I said Hudson Westbrook." "So, public apology. Sorry. Sorry, Vincent. Hudson, shout out to you! And Vincent, sorry," she concluded. Thankfully, there were no hard feelings. Langley's video ends with her and Mason sharing a hug. "I'm not used to having openers perform for me at all. I'm used to being the first one," she explained. And Mason chimed in the comment section. "Literally, who is Vincent Mason?" he jokes. "No idea," added Langley. Even Hudson Westbrook got in on the fun. "I'll take the shout out any day," wrote the 20-year-old country singer. Related: Singer, 27, Reveals How a Heavy Metal Icon Taught Him To Be a 'Rock Star' Copyright 2025 The Arena Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved
The Independent
02-06-2025
- Entertainment
- The Independent
Old Dominion's new album, 'Barbara,' won't lean on band's record-breaking laurels
When Old Dominion's eighth group of the year victory broke the tie for consecutive wins at the Academy of Country Music Awards last month, it changed the record books — but not their perspective. 'They're certainly wonderful honors that we get, but that's not in any way how we really measure our success or think. We can't let that kind of stuff creep in to the creative process because that's when we'll start to get off course,' said Matthew Ramsey, lead vocalist and guitarist. 'We try to protect each other from those outside influences a little bit and just make sure that we're … not chasing after some sort of reaction or award, or chasing after what we think the radio wants to play. We just have to make what we love.' Old Dominion has been celebrated for intertwining different musical styles while within country music. Along with Ramsey, the band includes Brad Tursi (guitar/banjo), Trevor Rosen (guitar/piano), Geoff Sprung (bass) and Whit Sellers (percussion). They have spent the last two years crafting 'Barbara,' out Aug. 22 via Columbia Nashville /Sony Music Nashville. The project follows 2023's ' Memory Lane' album and last year's ' Odies But Goodies ' compilation, which Ramsey says is even more eclectic than past works. 'We just write constantly. And we've had albums where we've kind of gone deeper into the well and picked out older songs,' explained the 47-year-old. 'This one, not so much the case.' The 13-track album is not named after a real woman but is an imagined composite of a person who embodies many of the group's various personality traits. It includes the released singles 'Me Most Nights' and 'Making Good Time,' along with the four-on-the-floor 'Talk Country' and the R&B-infused 'What Doesn't Kill a Memory.' Just as introspection is a fundamental element of country music, it's also the sweet spot on this album. 'Miss You Man' is dedicated to friend and writing collaborator Andrew Dorff, who died in 2016 during a vacation, while 'Goodnight Music City' reflects on the band's career. 'It has all the reverence about Nashville and a little bit of the jaded side to it, too. We've been through it in Nashville, as anyone goes through when they're trying to chase this crazy dream,' said Ramsey, who revealed the song is inspired by the children's book 'Goodnight Moon' by Margaret Wise Brown. 'It's such a meaningful song to us all … we've played it live one time at the Ryman Auditorium, and we were all crying by the end of it.' The band also looks within on 'Man or the Song,' as Ramsey questions, 'If I put my guitar down, would I disappear? / Move back to my hometown, would you still be here?' Ramsey says it's his favorite song. 'That's kind of what it feels like once you get to this level and you're surrounded by all these people that are helping you make your dreams come true,' he said. 'Who's around for the right reasons can certainly creep into the conversation. It can be a lonely profession … I hope you love me for me, and not for this crazy job I have.' Coinciding with the release of 'Barbara,' the band is prepping its 'How Good Is That' world tour which launches in September. Throughout the past decade, Old Dominion has earned a loyal fan base in a genre often criticized as rigid, with frequent debates about equal radio play, what determines pure country music and who should be allowed to participate. But while there's no denying the group is authentically country, the irony is not lost on them that they've been able to cut through the Nashville noise by not sticking to only traditional country sounds. 'Whenever we wrote a song and recorded it, we just wanted to make sure that we were not chasing anything other than the truest form of that song and what was going to deliver that message as clearly as we wanted it to be,' said Ramsey. 'Our fans now, I think, are coming to expect that from us; they're looking for the surprise that we're gonna throw in there, rather than the same old thing. … We don't take that for granted. We know that's a rare thing in the genre.' 'Barbara' will be released Aug. 22. 'Barbara' tracklist 1. 'Making Good Time' 2. 'Water My Flowers' 3. 'Me Most Nights' 4. 'Man or the Song' 5. 'Break Your Mama's Heart' 6. 'Miss You Man' 7. 'Talk Country' 8. 'Late Great Heartbreak' 9. 'Crying in a Beach Bar' 10. 'One of Us' 11. 'What Doesn't Kill a Memory' 12. 'Sip in the Right Direction' 13. 'Goodnight Music City' ___ Follow Associated Press entertainment journalist Gary Gerard Hamilton at @GaryGHamilton on all his social media platforms.
Hindustan Times
02-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Hindustan Times
Old Dominion's new album, 'Barbara,' won't lean on band's record-breaking laurels
NEW YORK — When Old Dominion's eighth group of the year victory broke the tie for consecutive wins at the Academy of Country Music Awards last month, it changed the record books — but not their perspective. 'They're certainly wonderful honors that we get, but that's not in any way how we really measure our success or think. We can't let that kind of stuff creep in to the creative process because that's when we'll start to get off course,' said Matthew Ramsey, lead vocalist and guitarist. 'We try to protect each other from those outside influences a little bit and just make sure that we're … not chasing after some sort of reaction or award, or chasing after what we think the radio wants to play. We just have to make what we love.' Old Dominion has been celebrated for intertwining different musical styles while within country music. Along with Ramsey, the band includes Brad Tursi , Trevor Rosen , Geoff Sprung and Whit Sellers . They have spent the last two years crafting 'Barbara,' out Aug. 22 via Columbia Nashville/Sony Music Nashville. The project follows 2023's 'Memory Lane' album and last year's ' Odies But Goodies ' compilation, which Ramsey says is even more eclectic than past works. 'We just write constantly. And we've had albums where we've kind of gone deeper into the well and picked out older songs,' explained the 47-year-old. 'This one, not so much the case.' The 13-track album is not named after a real woman but is an imagined composite of a person who embodies many of the group's various personality traits. It includes the released singles 'Me Most Nights' and 'Making Good Time,' along with the four-on-the-floor 'Talk Country' and the R&B-infused 'What Doesn't Kill a Memory.' Just as introspection is a fundamental element of country music, it's also the sweet spot on this album. 'Miss You Man' is dedicated to friend and writing collaborator Andrew Dorff, who died in 2016 during a vacation, while 'Goodnight Music City' reflects on the band's career. 'It has all the reverence about Nashville and a little bit of the jaded side to it, too. We've been through it in Nashville, as anyone goes through when they're trying to chase this crazy dream,' said Ramsey, who revealed the song is inspired by the children's book 'Goodnight Moon' by Margaret Wise Brown. 'It's such a meaningful song to us all … we've played it live one time at the Ryman Auditorium, and we were all crying by the end of it.' The band also looks within on 'Man or the Song,' as Ramsey questions, 'If I put my guitar down, would I disappear? / Move back to my hometown, would you still be here?' Ramsey says it's his favorite song. 'That's kind of what it feels like once you get to this level and you're surrounded by all these people that are helping you make your dreams come true,' he said. 'Who's around for the right reasons can certainly creep into the conversation. It can be a lonely profession … I hope you love me for me, and not for this crazy job I have.' Coinciding with the release of 'Barbara,' the band is prepping its 'How Good Is That' world tour which launches in September. Throughout the past decade, Old Dominion has earned a loyal fan base in a genre often criticized as rigid, with frequent debates about equal radio play, what determines pure country music and who should be allowed to participate. But while there's no denying the group is authentically country, the irony is not lost on them that they've been able to cut through the Nashville noise by not sticking to only traditional country sounds. 'Whenever we wrote a song and recorded it, we just wanted to make sure that we were not chasing anything other than the truest form of that song and what was going to deliver that message as clearly as we wanted it to be,' said Ramsey. 'Our fans now, I think, are coming to expect that from us; they're looking for the surprise that we're gonna throw in there, rather than the same old thing. … We don't take that for granted. We know that's a rare thing in the genre.' 'Barbara' will be released Aug. 22. 1. 'Making Good Time' 2. 'Water My Flowers' 3. 'Me Most Nights' 4. 'Man or the Song' 5. 'Break Your Mama's Heart' 6. 'Miss You Man' 7. 'Talk Country' 8. 'Late Great Heartbreak' 9. 'Crying in a Beach Bar' 10. 'One of Us' 11. 'What Doesn't Kill a Memory' 12. 'Sip in the Right Direction' 13. 'Goodnight Music City' Follow Associated Press entertainment journalist Gary Gerard Hamilton at @GaryGHamilton on all his social media platforms.
Associated Press
02-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Associated Press
Old Dominion's new album, 'Barbara,' won't lean on band's record-breaking laurels
NEW YORK (AP) — When Old Dominion's eighth group of the year victory broke the tie for consecutive wins at the Academy of Country Music Awards last month, it changed the record books — but not their perspective. 'They're certainly wonderful honors that we get, but that's not in any way how we really measure our success or think. We can't let that kind of stuff creep in to the creative process because that's when we'll start to get off course,' said Matthew Ramsey, lead vocalist and guitarist. 'We try to protect each other from those outside influences a little bit and just make sure that we're … not chasing after some sort of reaction or award, or chasing after what we think the radio wants to play. We just have to make what we love.' Old Dominion has been celebrated for intertwining different musical styles while within country music. Along with Ramsey, the band includes Brad Tursi (guitar/banjo), Trevor Rosen (guitar/piano), Geoff Sprung (bass) and Whit Sellers (percussion). They have spent the last two years crafting 'Barbara,' out Aug. 22 via Columbia Nashville/Sony Music Nashville. The project follows 2023's 'Memory Lane' album and last year's ' Odies But Goodies ' compilation, which Ramsey says is even more eclectic than past works. 'We just write constantly. And we've had albums where we've kind of gone deeper into the well and picked out older songs,' explained the 47-year-old. 'This one, not so much the case.' The 13-track album is not named after a real woman but is an imagined composite of a person who embodies many of the group's various personality traits. It includes the released singles 'Me Most Nights' and 'Making Good Time,' along with the four-on-the-floor 'Talk Country' and the R&B-infused 'What Doesn't Kill a Memory.' Just as introspection is a fundamental element of country music, it's also the sweet spot on this album. 'Miss You Man' is dedicated to friend and writing collaborator Andrew Dorff, who died in 2016 during a vacation, while 'Goodnight Music City' reflects on the band's career. 'It has all the reverence about Nashville and a little bit of the jaded side to it, too. We've been through it in Nashville, as anyone goes through when they're trying to chase this crazy dream,' said Ramsey, who revealed the song is inspired by the children's book 'Goodnight Moon' by Margaret Wise Brown. 'It's such a meaningful song to us all … we've played it live one time at the Ryman Auditorium, and we were all crying by the end of it.' The band also looks within on 'Man or the Song,' as Ramsey questions, 'If I put my guitar down, would I disappear? / Move back to my hometown, would you still be here?' Ramsey says it's his favorite song. 'That's kind of what it feels like once you get to this level and you're surrounded by all these people that are helping you make your dreams come true,' he said. 'Who's around for the right reasons can certainly creep into the conversation. It can be a lonely profession … I hope you love me for me, and not for this crazy job I have.' Coinciding with the release of 'Barbara,' the band is prepping its 'How Good Is That' world tour which launches in September. Throughout the past decade, Old Dominion has earned a loyal fan base in a genre often criticized as rigid, with frequent debates about equal radio play, what determines pure country music and who should be allowed to participate. But while there's no denying the group is authentically country, the irony is not lost on them that they've been able to cut through the Nashville noise by not sticking to only traditional country sounds. 'Whenever we wrote a song and recorded it, we just wanted to make sure that we were not chasing anything other than the truest form of that song and what was going to deliver that message as clearly as we wanted it to be,' said Ramsey. 'Our fans now, I think, are coming to expect that from us; they're looking for the surprise that we're gonna throw in there, rather than the same old thing. … We don't take that for granted. We know that's a rare thing in the genre.' 'Barbara' will be released Aug. 22. 'Barbara' tracklist 1. 'Making Good Time' 2. 'Water My Flowers' 3. 'Me Most Nights' 4. 'Man or the Song' 5. 'Break Your Mama's Heart' 6. 'Miss You Man' 7. 'Talk Country' 8. 'Late Great Heartbreak' 9. 'Crying in a Beach Bar' 10. 'One of Us' 11. 'What Doesn't Kill a Memory' 12. 'Sip in the Right Direction' 13. 'Goodnight Music City' ___ Follow Associated Press entertainment journalist Gary Gerard Hamilton at @GaryGHamilton on all his social media platforms.
Yahoo
28-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Nashville music exec Lesly Simon has died, aided careers from Garth Brooks to Snoop Dogg
Lesly Somerville Simon, a Nashville music executive with over 20 years of industry experience, died on March 27. She was 52 years old. Simon died peacefully and surrounded by family after battling breast cancer for seven years. A longtime music business professional, Simon was the General Manager of Garth Brooks' Pearl Records and Trisha Yearwood's Gwendolyn Records and spent time as the Vice President of Promotion for Arista Nashville/Sony Music Nashville. As a member of SOURCE, the Country Music Association (CMA), the Academy of Country Music (ACM), Leadership Music Class of 2013, the Board of Directors for Country Radio Broadcasters and one of Billboard's Top 100 Country Power Players, Simon was an integral part of the Nashville music community. She attended the University of Alabama prior to heading to Nashville. In Music City, Simon started her music business career at the RCA Label Group. There, she worked in roles with artist management, promotion and marketing with both pop and country record labels. Simon acted as the tour manager for country artist Mindy McCready on renowned tour runs with Tim McGraw, Alan Jackson and George Strait. In promotion at Capitol Records, Simon also served an integral role in the airplay success of artists including Coldplay, The Beastie Boys, Kylie Minogue, Radiohead, Jane's Addiction and Snoop Dogg. Before she joined Gwendolyn and Pearl Records, Simon worked at Arista Nashville/ Sony Music Nashville. As the Vice President of Promotion, she oversaw radio promotion and marketing for a number of artists, including Carrie Underwood, Brad Paisley and Cam. She helped to garner over 40 No. 1 singles on the Billboard and Mediabase Country charts and also guided the launch of multi-platinum songs and albums from artists including Brooks and Dunn, Alan Jackson, Underwood and more. In 2020, Simon pivoted, leaning into her love of design and real estate. She launched a Florida-based interior design firm, Colgan Simon, with designer Tyler Colgan. At the same time, Simon also started the residential real estate division of Corcoran Reverie, a Florida-based company that specializes in luxury properties. Simon is survived by her husband, Robert, her step-children Max and Miller Simon, her mother Cindy Adams Somerville, her brother Taylor Somerville (Caroline); sisters Cindy Gallion (Thomas) and Amy Landers (William Hansen); mother-in-law Marcia Unger; sister-in-law Carrie Pizitz (Richard) and many other family members and friends. She is predeceased by her father, Thomas Taylor Somerville Jr. A service in honor of Simon's life will take place on Monday, March 31 at Saint Luke's Episcopal Church in Mountain Brook, Alabama at 2:30 p.m. After, there will be visitation in Graham Hall. Memorials may be sent to the American Cancer Society or Joe Lee Griffin Hope Lodge in honor of Lesly Simon. Audrey Gibbs is a music journalist with The Tennessean. You can reach her at agibbs@ This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Nashville music executive Lesly Simon, 52, has died
