Country Billboard Chart News June 4, 2018

Country Billboard Chart News June 4, 2018

RIAA Certifications

Multi-Platinum = 2,000,000 plus units

Platinum = 1-million units

Gold = 500,000 units

Note: For ALBUM certifications the RIAA base their figures on the number of units SHIPPED together with, track sales and on demand audio/ video stream units and NOT based purely on traditional retail sales.

1,500 on-demand audio and/or video song streams = 10 track sales = 1 album sale.

150 on-demand streams = 1 track download

Luke Bryan Leads May RIAA Gold And Platinum Honors

The RIAA GOLD and PLATINUM honors for the full month of MAY 2018 have been unveiled,

CAPITOL NASHVILLE's Luke Bryan leads the honours. Bryan earned RIAA 2X PLATINUM Single honors for "Huntin', Fishin', Lovin' Every Day" and "Drink A Beer;" as well as RIAA GOLD Single honors for "Light It Up," "Move," and "Most People Are Good."

MERCURY NASHVILLE's Chris Stapleton saw his TRAVELLER project earn RIAA 3X PLATINUM Album certification while BMLG RECORDS' Florida Georgia Line received 3X PLATINUM Single certification for their collaboration with BEBE REXHA on "Meant To Be."

MULTI-PLATINUM SINGLES:

Bebe Rexha feat. Florida Georgia Line Meant To Be | released August 11, 2017 Warner Bros Records | certified 3x Multi-Platinum May 31, 2018, 3 Million units      (actual pure sales 1,104,000)

Luke Bryan Huntin', Fishin', Lovin' Every Day | released August 7, 2015 Capitol Records Nashville | certified 2x Multi-Platinum May 31, 2018 2 Million units

Luke Bryan Drink A Beer | released Aug 13, 2013 Capitol Records Nashville | certified 2x Multi-Platinum May 31, 2018 2 Million units 

PLATINUM SINGLES:

Scotty McCreery Five More Minutes | released May 5, 2017 Triple Tigers Records | certified Platinum May 21, 2018 1 Million units    

GOLD SINGLES:

Brett Young Mercy | released February 20, 2018 BMLG Records | certified Gold May 3, 2018, 0.5 Million units (actual pure sales 214,000)

Jason Aldean You Make It Easy | released Jan 26, 2018 Broken Bow | certified Gold May 4, 2018, 0.5 Million units (actual pure sales 455,000)

Dan + Shay Tequila | released January 10, 2018 Warner Bros | certified Gold May 22, 2018 0.5 Million units (actual pure sales 208,000)

Luke Bryan Most People Are Good | released Oct 27, 2017 Capitol Records Nashville | certified Gold May 31, 2018 0.5 Million units (actual pure sales 268,000)

Luke Bryan Light It Up | released Aug 21, 2017 Capitol Records Nashville | certified Gold May 31, 2018, 0.5 Million units

Luke Bryan Move | released July 30, 2015 Capitol Records Nashville | certified Gold May 31, 2018, 0.5 Million units

Brett Eldredge Somethin' I'm Good At | released Feb 24, 2017 | certified Gold May 31, 2018, 0.5 Million units

Brett Eldredge The Long Way | released Aug 21, 2017 | certified Gold May 31, 2018, 0.5 Million units  

MULTI-PLATINUM ALBUMS:

Chris Stapleton TRAVELLER | released May 5, 2015 Mercury Nashville | certified 3x Multi-Platinum May 10, 2018 3 Million units (actual pure sales 2,298,400)        

In Brief: Billboard Country Charts (Chart issue week of June 9, 2018)

Country Album Chart ** No.1 (10 non-consecutive weeks) ** SELF-TITLED (Deluxe) Kane Brown

Hot Country Songs ** No.1 (27 weeks) ** “Meant To Be” Bebe Rexha feat. Florida Georgia Line

Country Airplay *** No.1 (1 week) *** “One Number Away” Luke Combs

Country Digital Songs ** No.1 (21 non-consecutive weeks) ** “Meant To Be” Bebe Rexha feat. Florida Georgia Line

Billboard Top 200 / Country Album Chart News (Chart issue week of June 9, 2018)

The Billboard 200 chart measures multi-metric album consumption, which includes traditional album sales, track equivalent albums (TEA) and streaming equivalent albums (SEA).

Shawn Mendes Scores Third No. 1 Album on Billboard 200 Chart

Shawn Mendes’ new SELF-TITLED, third full-length studio album bowed atop the Billboard Top 200 Album Chart, scoring the pop singer-songwriter his third No.1. The set — which was released on May 25 via Island Records — launches with 182,000 equivalent album units earned in the week ending May 31, according to Nielsen Music. Of that figure, 142,000 were in traditional album sales. Both sums represent new highs for the artist.

Mendes also debuted at No. 1 on the chart with his two earlier full-length studio sets: Illuminate (in 2016) and Handwritten (2015).

Second-Largest Streaming Week of 2018 for a Pop Album: SEA units comprise 34,000 of Mendes’ overall starting unit sum. As each SEA unit represents 1,500 on-demand audio streams, that means Mendes’ album earned 50.3 million streams for its tracks in its opening week.

Billboard Top Country Albums (Chart issue week of June 9, 2018)

Top Country Albums now ranks the most popular country albums of the week, as compiled by Nielsen Music, based on multi-metric consumption (blending traditional album sales, track equivalent albums (TEA), and streaming equivalent albums (SEA)).

10 digital track sales from an album = 1 track equivalent album (TEA) “sale”

1,500 on demand song streams from an album to one streaming equivalent album (SEA) “sale”.

Nielsen Music compiles the sales and streaming data. Billboard continues to publish pure album sales charts (subscription to billboard biz ), exclusively comprising Nielsen’s sales data.

Kane Brown with his SELF-TITLED returned to the top of the chart moving 2-1 (#23 non-mover Billboard 200) selling 4,400 copies (78-week total 399,700) for a 10th non-consecutive week at the summit.

Last weeks No.1 Jason Aldean with REARVIEW TOWN (Macon/Broken Bow Records) slipped 1-2 (13-27 Billboard 200) selling 6,200 copies (7-week total 257,500).

Former No.1 Luke Combs with THIS ONE’S FOR YOU (River House/ Columbia Nashville/Sony Music Nashville) held at No.3 (#46-39 Billboard 200) selling 1,800 copies (52-week total 223,300).

Former No.1 Thomas Rhett with LIFE CHANGES (Valory/Big Machine Label Group) held at No.4 (#48-45 Billboard 200) selling 1,700 (38-week total 272,000)

Chris Stapleton with TRAVELLER (MERCURY/ UMGN) climbed 6-5 (57-52 BB200) selling 3,300 copies (161-week total 2,298,400) as his set From A Room: Volume 1 (Mercury/Universal Music Group Nashville) held at No.14 (#136-126 BB200) selling 2,900 copies (56-week total 797,900) and From A Room: Volume 2 fell 20-22 (176-174 BB200) selling 3,100 copies (26-week total 394,100).

Brett Young with self- titled BRETT YOUNG (BMLG) rose 7-6 (#65-65 Billboard 200) selling 1,300 copies (68-week total 210,600).

Former No.1 Keith Urban with GRAFFITI U (Hit Red/Capitol Nashville/Universal Music Group Nashville) fell 5-7 (#53-70 Billboard 200) selling 5,100 copies (5-week total 178,400)

Former No.1 Luke Bryan with WHAT MAKES YOU COUNTRY (Capitol Nashville | UMGN) held at No.8 (#84-83 Billboard 200) selling 2,800 copies (25-week total 293,100). 

Outside the Top 10

Former No1 from Kacey Musgraves with GOLDEN HOUR (MCA Nashville/Universal Music Group Nashville) fell 11-15 (#110-128 BB200) selling 2,300 copies (9-week total 78,100).

In his fifth week Morgan Wallen with IF I KNOW ME (Big Loud Records) climbed 21-18 (#182-150 Billboard 200).

Former No.1 Blake Shelton with TEXOMA SHORE (Warner Bros./Warner Music Nashville) fell 17-20 (#148-164 BB200) selling 1,400 copies (30-week total 231,400)

FALLING SHORT of Top 50:

On the Country Album Sales list (pure sales; old methodology)

Davisson Brothers Band with 8-track FIGHTER (Dreamlined | BFD Amazon UK) made a debut at No.15 selling 1,600 copies.

Lindsay Ell with the 12-track THE CONTINUUM PROJECT (Stoney Creek/BMG | BBMG Amazon UK) made a debut at No.22 selling 1,100 copies.

Various Artists with NOW That's What I Call A Country Workout 2018 (Columbia/Universal | Ume) made a debut at No.36 selling around 700 copies.

Taylor Phillips with 4-track SIX STRINGS ATTACHED (EP; Taylor Phillips Amazon UK) made a debut at No.39 selling around 600 copies.

Year-To-Date Albums

6,788,000 (Physical sales 4,814,000 (down -16.5%) + Digital sales 1,926,000 (down -31.6%) which is 20.9% down at the same point in 2017 (8,582,000 sales) 

Year-To-Date Digital Tracks

22,274,000 down 27.6% at the same point in 2017 (30,772,000)

Billboard Hot Country Songs (Chart issue week of June 9, 2018)

On Billboard’s Hot Country Songs chart - which blends:

a) All-format airplay, as monitored by BDS

b) Sales, as tracked by Nielsen SoundScan and

c) Streaming, (tracked by Nielsen BDS from such services as Spotify, Muve, Slacker, Rhapsody, Rdio and Xbox Music, among others) according to BDS it results in:

Meanwhile, Bebe Rexha and Florida Georgia Line with “Meant to Be” (Warner Bros./Big Machine Label Group) ruled Hot Country Songs for a 27th week, extending the longest reign for a song by a duo or group in the chart’s 59-year history. The overall runner-up moves a notch closer to the record held by Sam Hunt’s “Body Like a Back Road”: 34 weeks at No. 1 in 2017.

Dierks Bentley banked his 22nd Hot Country Songs top 10 as “Woman, Amen” (Capitol Nashville) scooted 11-8. It bumped 4-3 on Country Airplay (38.6 million, up 8 percent) while gaining by 19 percent to 6,000 downloads sold and 15 percent to 3.2 million U.S. streams.

David Lee Murphy and Kenny Chesney with “Everything’s Gonna Be Alright” (Blue Chair/ Reviver) hopped 12-9 on Hot Country Songs on the strength of its 11 percent hike to 37.8 million impressions as it pushed 5-4 on Country Airplay. It also romps 18-9 on Country Digital Song Sales (10,000 sold, up 27 percent), returning to the top 10 for the first time since the April 21-dated list while increasing by 5 percent to 2.6million U.S. streams.

Chesney achieved his 52nd Hot Country Songs top 10, extending his mark for the most of any act since his first week in the region (June 24, 1995, with “Fall in Love”). Tim McGraw ranks second with 50 top 10s in that span (and 55 overall). (George Strait leads all artists with 86 total top 10s.)

Murphy earned his sixth Hot Country Songs top 10 and first since 2004’s No. 5-peaking “Loco.” He first hit the tier in 1995 with “Party Crowd” (No. 6) and followed that year with his sole No. 1 to date, “Dust on the Bottle”

Hot County Songs

** No.1 (27 weeks) ** Meant To Be” Bebe Rexha feat. Florida Georgia Line

** Digital Gainer ** No.6 “Up Down” Morgan Wallen feat. Florida Georgia Line

** Streaming Gainer ** No.28 “Speechless” Dan + Shay

** Airplay Gainer” No.34 “Sunrise, Sunburn, Sunset” Luke Bryan

** Hot Shot Debut **

Debut No.43 “Love Ain't” Eli Young Band

Debut No.46 “Simple” Florida Georgia Line

Debut No.49 “Burning Man” Dierks Bentley feat. Brothers Osborne

Debut No.50 “Burn Out” Midland

Billboard Country Airplay (Chart issue week of June 9, 2018)

Luke Combs collected his third No. 1 on Billboard’s Country Airplay chart (dated June 9) as “One Number Away” (River House/Columbia Nashville) rose 2-1 in its 24th week, increasing 6% to 45.6 million audience impressions in the week ending June 3, according to Nielsen Music. On the Hot Country Songs chart, “One” held at its No.3 high.

“One” is the third total and consecutive Country Airplay No.1 for the 28-year-old singer-songwriter.

Combs’ debut hit, “Hurricane,” led for two weeks starting on the chart dated May 27, 2017, followed by “When It Rains It Pours,” which also dominated for two frames, beginning Nov. 4.

Says Combs, “When people sing my songs back to me [in concert], I know they are doing the same in their cars, on their boats or at a bonfire as the radio is playing, and that is just the coolest thing to me.”

Combs becomes the first artist to top Country Airplay in his first three appearances since Kelsea Ballerini, who rattled off three career-opening No.1s from 2015-16: “Love Me Like You Mean It,” “Dibs” and “Peter Pan,” all of which led for a week each.

The last solo male to send his first three Country Airplay entries to No. 1 before Combs? Sam Hunt, from 2014-15, with “Leave the Night On,” “Take Your Time” and “House Party.” They are all one-week leaders also.

Combs co-wrote “One” with Sammy Mitchell, Steven Andre Battey and Robert Williford. The song is from Combs’ debut full-length, This One’s for You, which launched at the summit of Top Country Albums on June 24, 2017. A deluxe version, This One’s for You Too, arrived June 1, and includes five new tracks

Florida Georgia Line launched at No.24 on Country Airplay with “Simple.” The track was released June 1 as the first single from the upcoming fourth LP from the duo of Brian Kelley and Tyler Hubbard. (The pair released fellow new track “Colorado” the same day.)

With help from hourly plays at participating iHeartMedia stations starting at 6 a.m. locally on June 1, “Simple” bounded onto Country Airplay with 9.7 million audience impressions in its first three days. The bow marks FGL’s second highest, trailing only the No. 1-peaking “Dirt,” which debuted at No.16 (July 26, 2014). On Hot Country Songs, “Simple” starts at No. 47; its first full week of streaming and sales (ending June 7) will count toward next week’s chart that’s dated June 16.

Country Airplay

*** No.1 (1 week) *** “One Number Away” Luke Combs 45.648 million audience (+2.493 million) / 8,366 radio plays (+441)

** Hot Shot Debut/ Most Increased Audience/ Most Added ** No.24 “Simple” Florida Georgia Line 9.747 million audience gain thanks to 74 fresh radio commitments (ADDS)

Debut No.57 “This Is It” Scotty McCreery

Debut No.59 “Love By The Moon” Tyler Farr

Billboard Country Digital Singles Chart

(Chart issue week of June 9, 2018)

Bebe Rexha and Florida Georgia Line with "Meant to Be" (Warner Bros. | BMLG) held at No.1 (#7-8 Digital Songs; 21,000 sales; 27-week total 1,104,000) leading the chart for a 21st non-consecutive week.

It was seven places behind Post Malone's "Psycho," featuring Ty Dolla $ign which returned to its No.2 Hot 100 peak, from No. 4. The track surged 9-1 for a second week atop the Digital Song Sales chart, up 36 percent to 31,000 sold in the week ending May 31, according to Nielsen Music (helped by a 69-cent sale price in the iTunes Store).

Kane Brown with “Heaven” (Zone 4 | RCA Nashville) held at No.2 (#12-14 Digital Songs; 17,000 sales; 28-week total 493,000).

Kenny Chesney with “Get Along” rose 4-3 (#32-17 Digital Songs; 16,000 sales; 8-week total 136,000).

Jason Aldean with “You Make It Easy” (Macon/Broken Bow | BBMG) slipped #3-4 (#27-24 Digital Songs; 14,000 sales; 18-week total 455,000).

Dan + Shay (Dan Smyers and Shay Mooney) with “Tequila” (Warner Bros. | WAR) climbed 7-5 (#41-27 Digital Songs; 12,000 sales; 19-week total 208,000) as their new single “Speechless” (Warner Bros. | WAR) fell 17-19 (6,000 sales; 2-week total 14,000)

Morgan Wallen feat. Florida Georgia Line with “Up Down” (Big Loud) climbed 12-6 (#40-36 Digital Songs; 12,000 sales; 24-week total 221,000).

Luke Combs with “One Number Away” (River House | Columbia Nashville) rose 8-7 (#45-32 Digital Songs; 11,000 sales; 19-week total 199,000) as former No.1 "Beautiful Crazy held at No.10 (8,000 sales; 4-week total 74,000).

Brett Young with “Mercy” (BMLG) rose 9-8 (#47-42 Digital Songs; 10,000 sales; 12-week total 214,000).

David Lee Murphy and Kenny Chesney with “Everything’s Gonna Be Alright” (Blue Chair/Reviver) rocketed 18-9 (#45 Re-entry; 10,000 sales; 17-week total 173,000).

Outside the Top 10

Eli Young Band with “Love Ain't” (Valory) made a debut at No.14 with 6,000 sales.

Darius Rucker with “For The First Time” (Capitol Nashville) was new at No.23 with 5,000 sales (90,000 total sales).

Dierks Bentley feat. Brothers Osborne with album pre-grat track “Burning Man” (Capitol Nashville) made a debut at No.24 selling 5,000 copies.

Country Aircheck MEDIABASE Chart

June 4, 2018

Luke Combs Is #1 With 'One Number Away'

Congrats to Luke Combs, Steve Hodges, Shane Allen and the Columbia team on earning this week’s No.1 with “One Number Away.” The song is the third chart-topper from THIS ONE’S FOR YOU. Writers are Sammy Mitchell, Steven Andre Battey, Robert Williford and Combs.

This marked Combs' third consecutive #1, following last year's success with "When It Rains It Pours" (Oct 30, 2017) and his debut single, "Hurricane" (NET NEWS May 22, 2017).

“One Number Away” (River House/Columbia) climbed 2-1 logging 9,100 radio spins (+586) and 63.045 million audience impressions (+3,252 million gain) with 24590 Total Points (+1523) from 157 tracking stations (157 ADDS) for the tracking week May 27 to June 2, 2018 and published chart June 4th, 2018.

Florida Georgia Line Is Most-Added With 'Simple'

Kudos to Matthew Hargis and the BMLG Records crew for notching 109 adds for Florida Georgia Line’s “Simple”. The song topped the "Most Added" board this chart week.

BMLG Promo Crew Most Added FGL "Simple"

Mediabase Adds (Selective)

Artist/Title (Label) TW Total Historic Adds

FLORIDA GEORGIA LINE/Simple (BMLGR)       109       109      

LUKE BRYAN/Sunrise, Sunburn, Sunset (Capitol)           30         121      

CLARE DUNN/More (MCA)        26         28        

ABBY ANDERSON/Make Him Wait (Black River)            21         25        

JASON ALDEAN f/M. LAMBERT/Drowns The Whiskey (Broken Bow)      19         140      

KELSEA BALLERINI/I Hate Love Songs (Black River)     13         121      

SAM HUNT/Downtown's Dead (MCA)     11         144      

DUSTIN LYNCH/Good Girl (Broken Bow)           7          58        

JOE NICHOLS/Billy Graham's Bible (Red Bow)   7          31        

MADDIE & TAE/Friends Don't (Mercury) 6          50        

CHRIS STAPLETON/Millionaire (Mercury)          5          98        

JORDAN DAVIS/Take It From Me (MCA)            5          84        

RODNEY ATKINS/Caught Up In The Country (Curb)       5          70        

RUSSELL DICKERSON/Blue Tacoma (Triple Tigers)      5          125      

THOMAS RHETT/Life Changes (Valory) 5          152      

LANCO/Born To Love You (Arista)         4          141      

SCOTTY MCCREERY/This Is It (Triple Tigers)    4          60        

SUGARLAND f/T. SWIFT/Babe (UMGN/Big Machine)      4          141      

CARLY PEARCE/Hide The Wine (Big Machine)  2          149      

JAMES BARKER BAND/Chills (UMGC/New Revolution)  2          62        

KRYSTAL KEITH & LANCE CARPENTER/Anyone Else (Show Dog)       2          19        

STEPHANIE QUAYLE/Selfish (Rebel Engine)     2          25        

TYLER FARR/Love By The Moon (Columbia)      2          26        

ABI/A Day Without (One Country/Nine North)      1          2         

CARLTON ANDERSON/Drop Everything (Arista)            1          2         

DARIUS RUCKER f/J. Aldean/Straight To Hell (Capitol)   1          1         

DAVISSON BROTHERS BAND/Po Boyz (Dreamlined)    1          5         

DYLAN SCHNEIDER/How Does It Sound (Dylan Schneider/Placer Music)           1          2         

FLORIDA GEORGIA LINE/Smile (Republic)        1          1         

KACEY MUSGRAVES/Butterflies (MCA) 1          18

For a detailed report check out Country Aircheck Weekly Issue 604 - June 4, 2018   

For the very latest up to the minute Mediabase Chart (Past 7 Days) go here - www.mediabase.com

Billboard Boxscores (Selective Country concerts)

Rank Artist: #1

Event Venue City/State: Taylor Swift, Charli XCX, Camila Cabello Soldier Field Chicago, Ill.

Dates: June 1-2, 2018 Gross Sales: $14,576,697 Attend: 105,208/ 105,208

Shows/ Sellouts: 2/2 ** SOLD OUT ** Prices: $499.50, $49.50

Promoters: Messina Touring Group

Rank Artist: #22

Event Venue City/State: Kenny Chesney, Old Dominion Ruoff Home Mortgage Music Center Noblesville, Ind.

Dates: May 31, 2018 Gross Sales: $873,447 Attend: 19,660/ 23,065       

Shows/ Sellouts: 1/0 (3,405 unsold tickets) Prices: $133.25, $33.25

Promoters: Messina Touring Group

Rank Artist: #23

Event Venue City/State: Tim McGraw & Faith Hill, Caitlyn Smith Richmond Coliseum Richmond, Va.

Dates: May 31, 2018 Gross Sales: $873,206 Attend: 9,489/ 9,489

Shows/ Sellouts: 1/1 ** SOLD OUT ** Prices: $152, $29.50

Promoters: Messina Touring Group

Rank Artist: #37

Event Venue City/State: Willie Nelson, Sturgill Simpson, Chris Jacobs The Anthem Washington, D.C.

Dates: May 27, 2018 Gross Sales: $310,335 Attend: 2,881/ 2,881

Shows/ Sellouts: 1/1 ** SOLD OUT ** Prices: $175, $95

Promoters: I.M.P.

Rank Artist: #53  

Event Venue City/State: Wynonna & the Big Noise Bridge View Center Ottumwa, Iowa

Dates: May 17, 2018 Gross Sales: $28,694 Attend: 495/ 570

Shows/ Sellouts: 1/0 ** (75 unsold tickets) Prices: $66, $52

Promoters: VenuWorks

Latest Billboard Boxscore Chart

Country Bites News snippets May 28, – June 3, 2018

UK & Irish News, UK Chart News, Album & Single Releases, Canadian News, Country News, Music News, TV news, Press Releases, Gossip, Birthdays.

UK & IRISH News

For a full listing of 2018 UK Tour dates PLEASE check out our Tour Dates Page

On the BBC Radio 2 Playlist for the week commencing Saturday 2 June 2018

A Playlist:

The Shires – Sleepwalk

B Playlist:

Dan + Shay - All To Myself added to the "B" Playlist

(1 June 2018) Ward Thomas will be supporting Paloma Faith at a few shows this summer!! Ticket link

(1 June 2018) Catherine McGrath - Don't Let Me Forget feat. Hunter Hayes

Catherine shared "I’m super excited right now because my track ‘Don’t Let Me Forget’ with Hunter Hayes is out now! We filmed the video out in Nashville which was so much fun, we even got to do some of the filming ourselves... (and managed not to drop and break the camera, yay!)". Loved getting to collaborate on this one and it’s one of my favourite on the album, hope you’ll love it. Pre-order the album here

Watch Catherine McGrath >> Wild (The Biggest Weekend)

UK CHART NEWS

Official UK Top 100 Singles Chart (Week Ending 7 June 2018)

1 June 2018 - 7 June 2018

Calvin Harris is in uncharted territory with One Kiss – his pucker-powered collaboration with Dua Lipa – going where none of his eight previous No.1s has gone, by spending its seventh week at the chart summit on sales of 53,252 copies, including 40,617 from streams.

Official UK Top 100 Albums Chart (Week Ending 7 June 2018)

1 June 2018 - 7 June 2018

No.1 for the 17th time in 21 weeks, and for the second week in a row, the Original Motion Picture Soundtrack to The Greatest Showman racked up its highest consumption figure for eight weeks – 40,064, including 11,789 from streams - but still had to fight hard to assert its supremacy.

Ranked fourth in the first of the week’s sales flashes, it easily overcame the rest but trailed behind Wildness – Snow Patrol’s first album of new material in more than six years – throughout, overtaking it only in the final tabulations.

Snow Patrol’s seventh studio album, Wildness easily topped the paid-for sales rankings but a contribution from sales-equivalent streams of 2,181 left it in second place on overall consumption of 39,118 units.

Kylie Minogue with GOLDEN fell 31-38 (2,300 estimated units) in her 8th week.

The Shires with ACCIDENTALLY ON PURPOSE climbed 41-32 (2,500 estimated units; 6-week total 28,500; chart run 3-14-32-41-41-32). By comparison their last album MY UNIVERSE after 6 frames was at No.45 with a 6-week total of 36,400 Chart Run: 3-7-14-27-36-45

OUT:

Gretchen Peters with DANCING WITH THE BEAST fell off the top 100 after a debut at No.81 the previous week.

Official UK Country Album Top 20 (Week Ending 7 June 2018)

1 June 2018 - 7 June 2018

The Shires with ACCIDENTALLY ON PURPOSE held at #1 (6 weeks; #1 peak)

Gretchen Peters with DANCING WITH THE BEAST held at #2 (2 weeks; #2 peak)

Kacey Musgraves with GOLDEN HOUR held at #3 (9 weeks; #1 peak)

Willie Nelson With LAST MAN STANDING held at #4 (5 weeks; #2 peak)

John Prine with THE TREE OF FORGIVENESS rose 6-5 (7 weeks; #2 peak)

Brothers Osborne with PORT SAINT JOE fell 5-6 (6 weeks; #2 peak)

Neil Young/ Promise Of The Real with PARADOX - OST held at #7 (7 weeks; #4 peak)

The Wandering Hearts with WILD SILENCE rose 11-8 (16 weeks; #1 peak)

Keith Urban with GRAFFITI U held at #9 (5 weeks; #7 peak)

Jennifer Warnes with ANOTHER TIME ANOTHER PLACE made a debut at #10

Outside the Top 10

Mary Chapin Carpenter with SOMETIMES JUST THE SKY fell 8-11 (9 weeks; #2 peak)

Brothers Osborne with PAWN SHOP fell 14-10 (52 weeks; #4 peak)

Official Americana Albums Chart Top 40 (Week Ending 7 June 2018)

1 June 2018 - 7 June 2018

1 6 Ruins First Aid Kit [Tagged Alternative]

2 5 Be More Kind Frank Turner [Tagged Alternative]

3 2 The Prodical Son Ry Cooder [Tagged Rock]

4 NEW Tracyanne & Danny Tracyanne & Danny [Tagged Alternative]

5 1 Part of The Light Ray Lamontage | #28 Official Uk Top 100 Albums

6 7 From The Fires Greta Van Fleet [Tagged Rock]

7 3 Dancing With The Beast Gretchen Peters [Tagged Country]

8 18 Pure Comedy Father John Misty

9 4 Deafman Glance Ryley Walker [Tagged Singer/Songwriter]

10 19 The Lookout Laura Veirs [Tagged Alternative]

Outside The Top 10

14 8 Last Man Standing Willie Nelson [Tagged Country]

17 11 Songbook Frank Turner

COUNTRY ALBUM & SINGLES RELEASES

For a full listing of 2017 Country/Alt/ Americana albums forthcoming and past releases PLEASE check out our Country Music Store Page

(1 June 2018) Luke Combs - This One’s for You Too (Deluxe Edition) (2018 River House Artists LLC)

17 Tracks/Time: 59:16 Amazon UK - UK iTunes - Amazon.com

Debut: June 1: #2 UK iTunes Country Albums (#46 UK iTunes all-genre)

(1 June 2018) Thompson Square - Masterpiece (2018 Thompson Square)

11 Tracks/Time: 39:46 Amazon UK - UK iTunes - Amazon.com - onerpm.lnk.to/Masterpiece

Debut: June 1: #5 UK iTunes Country Albums (#243 UK iTunes all-genre)

The husband-and-wife country duo comprised of Keifer Thompson and Shawna Thompson, Thompson Square, announced their first release post parting with Stoney Creek Records will be a four track EP entitled Masterpiece.

The 11-track project holds new tracks "Millionaires," "Good Day," "Breakers," and more. It marks the couple's first album in more than five years and includes production by Nathan Chapman and Dann Huff, but also a handful of self-produced songs. Pre-order "Masterpiece" here.

(1 June 2018) Michael Ray - Amos (Atlantic Records)

11 Tracks/Time: 35:49 Amazon UK - UK iTunes - Amazon.com

Debut: June 1: #3 UK iTunes Country Albums (#104 UK iTunes all-genre)

Michael Ray burst onto the scene with his self-titled, debut album featuring two RIAA Platinum-certified No. 1 hits, “Kiss You in the Morning” and “Think A Little Less.”

Promising his most personal to date, the album is named after Ray’s grandfather, AMOS, who was a huge influence on him not just musically – also in fueling his love for country music. In fact, Ray first began singing and performing in his grandfather’s band when he was only nine years old. To this day he still plays Amos’ hand-me-down guitar, a 1978 Les Paul, as a reminder of the time they spent together sharing stories, learning songs and making memories.

Amos features 11 tracks including Ray’s current top 20 and climbing single, “Get To You.”

(1 June 2018) Tami Neilson - Sassafrass! (2018 Outside Music) NZ

11 Tracks/ Time: Rock Amazon UK - UK iTunes - Amazon.com - Bandcamp

In Their Words: “‘Stay Outta My Business’ is something I never would’ve written in the past. It is the musical result of me coming into my full confidence as a woman and realising that I don’t need to take the opinions of others on board. It’s very freeing to just shut all that negativity down in four words! I’ve had numerous people approach me, after performing this song live, saying it is their new anthem. I love that this song is empowering and emboldening others to just say no to engaging with all the bullsh*t!” — Tami Neilson

About

With a soulful voice straight from the golden age of country and rockabilly music, Tami Neilson has been described as "A red-hot honky-tonker, somewhere between Patsy Cline and Wanda Jackson with perhaps just a little bit of Peggy Lee sophistication.” (-Nick Bollinger, NZ National Radio)

TOP 10 BEST COUNTRY MUSIC ALBUM OF 2014 - The Guardian, USA

WINNER OF THE APRA SILVER SCROLL 2014

WINNER OF THE NEW ZEALAND MUSIC AWARDSBEST COUNTRY ALBUM 2009, 2010, 2012, 2015

WINNER OF THE NZ COUNTRY MUSIC AWARDS

BEST FEMALE ARTIST 2010, 2011 & 2014

www.tamineilson.com

www.facebook.com/tamineilsonmusic (8,300 Likes)

https://twitter.com/tamineilson

(1 June 2018) Dave Alvin & Jimmie Dale Gilmore - Downey to Lubbock

12 Tracks/Time: 52:45 Alt-Country & Americana Amazon UK - UK iTunes - Amazon.com

Debut: June 1: #11 UK iTunes Country Albums (#460 UK iTunes all-genre)

(1 June 2018) American Aquarium - Things Change (New West Records) |

10 Tracks/Time: 41:52 Alt-Country & Americana Amazon UK - UK iTunes - Amazon.com

Debut: June 1: #12 UK iTunes Country Albums (#461 UK iTunes all-genre)

(1 June 2018) The Mulligan Brothers - Songs for the Living and Otherwise (2018 Southern Routes Records)

11 Tracks Americana UK iTunes

Debut: June 1: #39 UK iTunes Country Albums

(1 June 2018) Natalie Jones - Love 'n' Stuff (EP; 2018 Natalie Jones) UK

Debut: June 1: #40 UK iTunes Country Albums

4 Tracks/Time: 14:39 Amazon UK - UK iTunes - Amazon.com

Genre: Country/Rock/Pop/Blues | Home Town: Swansea

Natalie Jones is a Singer/Songwriter that hails from Swansea in South Wales.

With musical influences such as Stevie Nicks of Fleetwood Mac, Amy Macdonald and Lady Antebellum. Acoustic guitar player Natalie developed her own musical style of merging alternative country music with a dash of rock sensibility.

www.facebook.com/NatalieJonesMusic/  (5,000 Likes)

(1 June 2018) Ryan Robinette - Hello Summer, Vol. 2 - EP | Debut June 1: #21 US iTunes Country Albums

4 Tracks/Time: 11:58 Amazon UK - UK iTunes - Amazon.com

Home Town: Senecaville, Ohio

Ryan Robinette is an Ohio born Country singer/songwriter. Ryan's debut album "Progression" hit Top 10 on iTunes Country Charts and barely missed the Billboard Top 50 Albums. The first single "For Awhile" has now accumulated over 2 million streams and has been featured on Spotify's "New Boots" playlist, Apple Music's "#CoolCountry" and "Young Country" playlists, Pandora's "New Country 2017

www.facebook.com/ryanrobinettemusic/  (23,300 Likes)

(1 June 2018) Micah Cheatham - Living on a Memory (EP;2018 Micah Cheatham)

4 Tracks/Time: 14:27 Amazon UK - UK iTunes - Amazon.com

21-Year Old Singer/Songwriter from Houston, TX.

Debut: June 1: #21 US iTunes Country Albums

www.facebook.com/micahcheathamtx/ (15,400 Likes)

(1 June 2018) Kyle Park - Don't Forget Where You Come From

10 Tracks/Time: 32:29 Amazon UK - UK iTunes - Amazon.com

Debut: June 1: #13 US iTunes Country Albums

(1 June 2018) Sarah Morey - Dust (EP; 2018 Sarah Morey)

5 Tracks/Time: 20:06 Amazon UK - UK iTunes - Amazon.com

A 17-year old singer/songwriter from Tampa, FL.

www.facebook.com/sarahmoreymusic (410 Likes)

Debut: June 1: #103 US iTunes Country Albums

(1 June 2018) Sam Carter - Good Idea (EP; 2018 Sam Carter)

4 Tracks/Time: 14:03 Amazon UK - UK iTunes - Amazon.com

www.facebook.com/samdcartermusic (920 Likes)

Debut: June 1: #124 US iTunes Country Albums

(1 June 2018) The Real Sarahs - Headed for the Hills (Radiant Ridge Productions)

7 Tracks/ Time: 28:30 Folk Amazon UK - UK iTunes

Genre: folk-rock harmony-weavers | Home Town: Mendocino County, CA | Sarah 'Songbird' Larkin, Sarah Ryan, Sarah Rose McMahon Photo

With organic harmonies that enchant and uplift the spirit, The Real Sarahs share their special gift of vocal synergy. This trio of women, who are all named Sarah, enjoy the magic that is created by voices in harmony, acoustic instruments, and the energetic connection between artists and audience. Embracing many genres of music, you are likely to hear threads of folk, jazz, blues, and country running through their songs. Singing from the stories of their own life journeys and experiences, their original music is honest, evocative and heartfelt. Introduced by a mutual friend in 2010, Sarah ‘Songbird’ Larkin and Sarah Ryan have been nearly inseparable, musically, since. As neighbors in a tight knit musical community, it was inevitable that Sarah Rose would find her way to The Real Sarahs. ‘Rosie’ was an accomplished local performer who had admired the work of the duo. Her first solo EP, Lay My Burden Down was released in 2016.

www.facebook.com/TheRealSarahs/ (1,450 Likes)

(1 June 2018) Lucy Angel - Boyz II Men (Single; G-Force Music Group)

Time: 3:42 Amazon UK - UK iTunes - Amazon.com

Lucy Angel are back with a fun new single, and they let Taste of Country readers hear it first in this audio exclusive.

The trio of mother Kate Anderton and her daughters, Lindsay and Emily Anderton, co-wrote the up-tempo pop-country song with their son and brother, Jake Anderton, along with Summer Overstreet. Noah Gordon produced the track, which pairs the trio's signature harmonies with an irresistible hook that will have you singing along by the time the second chorus lands.

Boyz II Men is an upbeat and relevant “Public Service Announcement” to girls about when it's time to call it quits.

We've all "had a friend" who's been in a relationship with a "fixer-upper," and as crazy stupid as you (I mean your friend might be) about a person sometimes you're going to have to face the music and realize that you can't turn "Boyz II Men."

And if you were born before 1995, you're definitely gonna dig all the 90’s references!

(1 June 2018) Karen Jonas - Butter [Explicit] (Karen Jonas Music)

10 Tracks/ Time: 32:59 Amazon UK - UK iTunes - Bandcamp

Fredericksburg, VA-based country/Americana singer-songwriter Karen Jonas is set to independently release her new album, Butter, on June 1, 2018. With four kids at home and a touring schedule of 150+ shows per year, Jonas has a full plate. "Whether I'm finishing up a gig at midnight or getting pounced on by my kids at 6:30 a.m., I usually feel like my life is a circus," she says.

Butter was tracked at Wally Cleaver's Recording Studio in her hometown of Fredericksburg, and Jonas would head over to the studio after putting her kids to bed.

Tim Bray, her guitarist and musical partner for nearly half a decade, joined her for those nighttime recording sessions, as did a number of other musicians who laced Butter's ten songs with pedal steel, B3 organ, upright piano, layers of guitar, and vintage-sounding, seven-piece horn arrangements. - 

As rich as the name suggests, Butter mixes the textured twang of Jonas' folk and country roots with the diverse influences of ragtime, blues, jazz and barroom soul.

"Butter" is a much more jazzy song and features some muted horns. This is the kind of song you expect to be performed by a woman in a cocktail gown as she sings on top of the piano in a smoky club. Not only that, but it will make you wonder how anyone can take something like cooking with butter so sultry. There is also a bit of exotica - especially in the guitar of this song. Don't be surprised if you find yourself listening to this song repeatedly. - "Butter" is a much more jazzy song and features some muted horns. This is the kind of song you expect to be performed by a woman in a cocktail gown as she sings on top of the piano in a smoky club. Not only that, but it will make you wonder how anyone can take something like cooking with butter so sultry. There is also a bit of exotica - especially in the guitar of this song. Don't be surprised if you find yourself listening to this song repeatedly.

www.facebook.com/karenjonasmusic (2,650 Likes)

CANADIAN NEWS

(29 May 2018) Country Music's Sweethearts Runaway Angel To Release New Single 'Hard To Get' To Radio June 4

Hot off the heels of their CMAO nomination for Group or Duo of the Year, country music's favourite trio Runaway Angel are set to release their new single 'Hard to Get' to country radio on June 4. With an exclusive acoustic video to follow, this is just the beginning for the group this summer.

Written by the rising Nashville star RaeLynn and Grammy Award winner Emily Weisband, 'Hard To Get' is the slightly sassy second single released from Runaway Angel's sophomore album Zero (produced by multi-CCMA Award winner Jason Barry and debut at #3 on the iTunes Canadian country charts). The new single follows the trio's 2017 hit 'Witness'.

The group has been performing together for the past five years, having played on some of Canada's most celebrate festival stages such as Boots and Hearts, Lucknow's Music In The Fields, Trackside Music Festival and The Havelock Jamboree. They've also opened for major acts like Dallas Smith, Jason Blaine, Chad Brownlee, Brett Kissel, The Road Hammers, and Emerson Drive. Runaway Angel made their first big splash in 2016 with the release of their debut album No End In Sight, which led to four singles, and earned them a CCMA nomination for the Discovery Award.

Not slowing down anytime soon, Runaway Angel will be playing a handful of festival dates throughout the summer including CountryFest on the Grand, Trackside and Kinstock Music Festival.

(29 May 2018) New Music Kelly Prescott " Leavin Her" 

With her smokey and sultry vocals, singer-songwriter Kelly Prescott just wrapped her first tour across the U.S. with Kyle Cook of Matchbox Twenty. When not on the road, the country artist splits her time between Nashville and her home-base of Toronto. She's most recently been working in the studio with producer Jason Mater on new music expected later this year to follow-up her second solo album, 2017's acclaimed Hillbilly Jewels.

Celebrating a long lineage of a very musically inclined family, the third-generation singer grew up in an award winning studio where she was able to hone her craft of songwriting. Penning such fan favorites as 'Hillbilly Jewels' and 'Battle Road', her new music expands on her talent and unique vocals to reveal tracks like 'Who Gets The Church' and 'Leavin' Her', releasing world wide June 8th.

ADDITIONAL INFO:

* Kelly and her Family, Family Brown, just wrapped their first Grand Ole Opry Show with Terri Clark, May 15th.

* Kelly just wrapped a 31-date tour with Kyle Cook of Match Box 20 |  Kelly will be touring fall of 2018

(1 June 2018) NEW MUSIC: The Ashley Sisters Sweet On You

The Ashley Sisters are Lauren and Marlo Ashley, a southern rock and pop country sister duo from Toronto, Canada. They grew up with a love of country music in their home.

Their musical influences include country music legend Johnny Cash for his wit; Miranda Lambert for her storytelling; and Lynyrd Skynyrd for their edgy rock and roll.

The Ashley Sisters write all their own music. They are currently recording their debut album RECKLESS with their JUNO award-winning producer Greg Kavanagh. Their sponsor "Canadian guitar company Godin Guitars", gives them the right instruments for their fun-loving country pop and southern rock sound with a devil-may-care attitude. Their social media numbers are on the rise with over 8K Facebook followers and more than 65K streams on Spotify.

(1 June 2018) NEW MUSIC: KATE TODD Everything and Nothing

Kate Todd 's Everything and Nothing is an upbeat, warm hearted song about a love so sweet that you want to experience everything together but simply doing nothing & being together is just as fulfilling.  Kate Todd co-produced Everything and Nothing   with CMAO Producer of the Year nominee Peter Linseman at his CCMA nominated Music Mentor Studios. Wonderful performances from John Dymond on bass and Paul "Chappy" Chapman on electric guitars who also both played on every track on the album ~ 'Anywhere With You', distributed by eOne Music

Kate co-wrote Everything and Nothing with Carrie DeMaeyer and Peter Linseman. Kate Todd co-writes with Peter Linseman have achieved some success in the 2018 Canadian Songwriting Competition where 'My Country' made the Finals plus received an honorable mention and in 2017, 'Anywhere With You' made it to the Final Round as well.

Kate had the honour of receiving the 2018 International Women's Achievers Award for her charitable work in support of Women's rights and raising Global Awareness to Violence Against Women and Young Girls. In 2017, she also received a Media, Performance and Design BA Music degree from York University, graduating on the Deans Honour Roll. Kate was presented with a 2016 Josie Award for Versatile Entertainer Of The Year Award at the Schermerhorn Symphony Center in Nashville. She was also Nominated for Female Artist of the Year and Female Songwriter of the Year.

Kate Todd is an eOne Music recording artist and a popular actress, starring in the award winning, hit TV shows 'Radio Free Roscoe', 'My Babysitter's A Vampire', Life With Derek, 'Family Guy', Assassins Creed 5: Unity, etc.

MUSIC NEWS

(2 June 2018) Taylor Swift is shattering tour records on the road after launching her REPUTATION dates last month (May18).

The trek has hauled in $54 million (GBP40.4 million) in just five cities as Taylor topped Billboard’s weekly Hot Tours countdown.

Swift has sold almost 398,000 tickets in the stadiums she has hit so far on her six-month world tour that could potentially top $400 million (GBP300 million), according to experts.

She kicked off the trek with a record-breaking gig in Phoenix, Arizona on 8 May (18), beating a box office gross record set by Metallica in August (17) and an attendance record set by her ex-boyfriend Harry Styles' band One Direction in 2014 - 59,157 fans showed up for the sold-out concert.

Taylor then beat her own gross and attendance marks at Levi’s Stadium in San Francisco, California and topped U2's 2017 record as the highest grossing concert engagement by a single concert headliner at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California, when more than 118,000 fans showed up for her two-night stint at the venue.

New gross records were also set at Seattle, Washington’s CenturyLink Field on 22 May (18) and Sports Authority Field in Denver, Colorado on 25 May (18).

Kenny Chesney is second on this week's Hot Tours chart, while Imagine Dragons, James Taylor, and Five Finger Death Punch and Shindown round out the current top five earners on the road.

Backed by Charli XCX and Camila Cabello, Taylor wraps up the U.S. leg of the tour in Chicago, Illinois on Friday and Saturday (1 & 2 June 2018) before heading to the U.K. for six dates in London, Manchester and Dublin.

PRESS RELEASES

(29 May 2018) The Country Network (TCN) was recently honored among Nashville’s top industry executives and rising artists at the Wildhorse Saloon during The 5th Annual Nashville Universe Awards when they were announced the Music Network of the Year. - 

(31 May 2018) Multi-platinum country music star Sara Evans will receive the 2018 Service to America Leadership Award from the NAB Education Foundation (NABEF). Evans will receive the award at NABEF’s Celebration of Service to America Awards on June 12 at the Andrew W. Mellon Auditorium in Washington, D.C. The Service to America Leadership Award recognizes individuals and organizations responsible for improving the lives of others through extraordinary public service. It is considered NABEF’s highest individual honor.

(2 June 2018) Ricky Skaggs was recently invited to spend some quality time with Country Music Hall of Fame® and Museum staffers at a private luncheon held in the CMA Theatre in Nashville. The event was organized by museum officials to celebrate Skaggs' upcoming induction into the famed institution.

 "It was so kind of the Hall of Fame to have a luncheon in my honor," says Skaggs. "We had such a good time. I started telling them old Bill Monroe stories, one after the other, and they went for over an hour. I'm so honored to be the newest living inductee into this hallowed Hall. It's a dream come true for me."

 Later this year, Skaggs will be formally inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame, alongside the late Dottie West and the late Johnny Gimble. In the meantime, the country and bluegrass legend is keeping the tour trail red hot. He was slated to make a strong presence at CMA Fest in Nashville when appearing on the CMA Close Up Stage, as well as a full band performance at Nissan Stadium.

(2 June 2018) Jersey Girl Kayla Calabrese Enjoys the Little Things with New Single, Good Vibes

New country artist Kayla Calabrese is back and is showing her sweet side with the brand-new single, entitled Good Vibes.

Truly a track for the summer, this infectious tune lives up to its title, reminding listeners to find positivity and enjoyment out of the little blessings in life. The song is officially available on iTunes and all digital retailers today, Friday, June 1, 2018.

"Sometimes life can seem to get in the way of living, especially when we get bogged down in the day to day schedule, "explained Calabrese, "You just have to stop and remember all the little things that make you happy – they add up." Calabrese is gearing up to be a part of CMA Music Festival in Nashville next week with full-band and acoustic performances as well as autograph signings inside Fan Fair X throughout the week.

WATCH

(1 June 2018) The Shires - Sleepwalk (Lyric Video) >> YouTube | Sleepwalk (Acoustic) released June 15, 2018 - Amazon UK

COUNTRY FASHION

Taylor Swift Taylor Swift shows off lithe legs in three outfits on her Reputation Tour |

Live Segment 1: Ready For It/ I Did Something Bad/ Gorgeous/ Style/Love Story/You Belong With Me

Taylor debuted a brand new version of her opening tour outfit on night 2 in Chicago which featured intricate cutout glitter designs on the Jessica Jones custom bodysuit adding Christian Louboutin custom boots

Killer thigh high boots were definitely on my Want list for Taylor’s tour wardrobe so I’m so glad she served some up, courtesy of Christian Louboutin who I can confirm provided all of the shoes for the entire Reputation Tour wardrobe. Worn with: Jessica Jones bodysuit.

Get the look with "Wild Diva Lounge" Carmela Peep Toe Lace-Up Thigh High Boot www.nordstromrack.com

Live Segment 3: “King Of My Heart”

Following her solo performance of “End Game”, Taylor transitioned into “King Of My Heart”, removing her previous outfit’s jacket to expose a matching black and custom gold Jessica Jones bodysuit underneath. It was worn with Christian Louboutin custom boots.

Live Segment 4: “Delicate”/“Shake It Off”

Fun and funny: Taylor donned a custom fringed and sparkly Rainbow coloured Jessica Jones dress. It was worn with Christian Louboutin boots

Live Segment 10: “Call It What You Want” + “This Is Why We Can’t Have Nice Things”/ “We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together”

Rocking a sexier more adult cut Taylor donned a Jessica Jones custom dress. Worn with Christian Louboutin boots.

Graphic & Fashion Credit: Tayswiftstyle.com

COUNTRY GOSSIP

(30 May 2018) Taylor Swift falls out with backing dancer over 'sexist' social media posts

Taylor Swift has reportedly fallen out with her backing dancer Kim 'Toshi' Davidson for allegedly posting sexist memes on social media.

The Shake It Off singer hired Toshi for her 1989 tour back in 2014, but he was noticeably absent from her performance at BBC Music's Biggest Weekend last weekend (26-27May18) after they reportedly had a confrontation about his Instagram posts.

"Taylor is livid and seriously disappointed with Toshi's social media posts," a source told Britain's The Sun newspaper. "She has considered him one her closest friends on the road after recruiting him for her 1989 tour back in 2014. And she even donated thousands to his nephew Ayden, who sadly lost his life, to help with cancer treatment.

"But she feels his posts were absolutely unacceptable, especially in the current climate of the #MeToo movement... She feels she simply cannot endorse this behaviour and to do so would be setting a bad example to her fans."

The dancer reportedly shared a meme on his Instagram Story which mocked the Australia women's soccer team, telling them to go back to the kitchen, and another which featured the words "every girls weakness" above pictures of chloroform, a van, and the woods. The account has since been made private.

Taylor and Toshi were reportedly close friends and their confrontation has led to tensions backstage on her tour. The Bad Blood singer's eagle-eyed fans were quick to notice Toshi wasn't by her side as she performed at the festival in Swansea over the weekend, during a break in her Reputation World Tour.

On Friday, she performed in Denver, Colorado and made one fan's day by meeting her backstage after her mum Andrea spotted paramedics treating a 10-year-old girl named Alexis who had suffered a seizure.

Alexis was taken backstage after the concert to meet Swift, who handed her a treasure trove of tour memorabilia, including the sweater she rehearsed in before the show and the blanket from her dressing room.

"I'm thankful for Taylor's parents for being so concerned for her when they didn't have to (be)," Alexis' mother Karen told Just Jared. "I'm thankful for Taylor wanting to take the time to meet her and give her a hug."

Taylor's representatives did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

(3 June 2018) LeAnn Rimes boosted cleavage with 'cutlets' for Coyote Ugly bar dance scene

LeAnn Rimes stuffed her halter top to boost her bosom for an iconic scene in cult film Coyote Ugly.

The singer made a cameo in the movie about the New York City bar of the same name, dancing on top of the bar alongside stars Piper Perabo, Maria Bello and Bridget Moynahan, while performing the movie's theme song, Can't Fight the Moonlight, and LeAnn, who was in her teens when she shot the movie, has revealed her wardrobe concealed a few booster tricks.

"The 'chicken cutlets' that they had me put in my top," Rimes recalls to ET Online when asked to name the most memorable part of filming.

"I'm 17... (and) literally they (wardrobe bosses) said, 'You're gonna dance on a bar', and they're like, 'Here's your outfit. Here's your chicken cutlets'... I'm like, 'What do I do with these? How do I put these in?' I had no idea. That's what I remember."

She was also disappointed her soundtrack tune, which was written by Diane Warren, was not an instant hit. It took years for it to become a smash in the U.S.

"What's so crazy about the song was it became an international success - it was number one in 11 countries...," she shares. "It did nothing in the States. It came back around almost two years later and then (it) was a top 20 hit in the States... It's weird how the universe works, weird how things come back around. I never expected it. You just never know what's gonna hit. It really is crazy how successful this (song) was."

Coyote Ugly came back around in LeAnne's personal life in December (17), when she recreated her famous movie scene by dancing on a bar in Aspen, Colorado.

(3 June 2018) Taylor Swift salutes gay fans as U.S. leg of tour comes to a close in Chicago

Taylor Swift marked the start of Gay Pride Month at a show in Chicago, Illinois on Saturday night (June 2, 18), by saluting fans who have been honest about their sexuality.

The singer wrapped up the U.S. leg of her Reputation tour with two nights at Soldier Field and took a moment before performing Delicate to pay tribute to gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender fans.

"It’s very brave to be vulnerable about your feelings in any sense, in any situation," she told the audience in Chicago, "but it’s even more brave to be honest about your feelings and who you love and that you know that that might be met with adversity from society.

"So this month and every month I want to send out my love and respect to everybody who has been brave enough to be honest about the way they feel, to live their lives as they are, as they feel they should be, as they identify.

PHOTO

(29 May 2018) This Is How We Roll: Atlantic/WAR's Ashley McBryde on the Jody Jo Pink Heals bike, named for breast cancer survivor KSKS/Fresno's Jody Jo Mize.

BIRTHDAYS

Birthdays in the week ahead

June 4: the late Freddy Fender (June 4, 1937; died Oct 14, 2006 (aged 69)), Kasey Chambers (1976)

June 5: Brett James (1968), Gail Davies (1948), Emma Jade (UK), Susanne Cox (June 5, 1967 The Cox Family; mandolin, vocals),

June 6: Lisa Brokop (1973)

June 7: the late Wynn Stewart (June 7 1934; died July 17, 1985 (aged 51)), Wylie Gustafson (Wylie & Wild West Show) (1961)

June 8: Vernon Oxford (1941), Sturgill Simpson (1978), Brenda Burch

June 9: the late Les Paul (June 9, 1915; died Aug 12, 2009 (aged 94)), Willard Cox (June 9, 1937 The Cox Family; fiddle, vocals), Catherine McGrath (9 June 1997 21st Birthday, N. IRE)