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Lucinda Williams, CeCe Winans, Aimee Mayo & Tony Martin Among 2025 Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame Nominees

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The Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame has revealed the 12 songcrafters who are the nominees for the class of 2025.

In the contemporary songwriters category, this year’s nominees are Steve Bogard, Shawn Camp, Don Henry, Gordon Kennedy, Tony Martin, Aimee Mayo, Jim Rushing and Darrell Scott. The nominees for the contemporary songwriter/artists category are Jim Lauderdale, Gillian Welch & David Rawlings, Lucinda Williams and CeCe Winans.

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The 55th-anniversary Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame Gala will be held Monday, Oct. 6, at Nashville’s Music City Center.

“Well-deserved congratulations to all the nominees in our contemporary categories,” Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame executive director Mark Ford said in a statement. “We look forward in several weeks to announcing those who will be inducted this fall as members of our Class of 2025.”

Each of the nominees earned their first significant songs at least two decades ago. A total of two songwriters and one songwriter/artist will be elected in the contemporary categories by members of the Hall of Fame, along with other professional songwriters and artists who are prominently associated with Nashville, or who have written/co-written at least one original and significant Nashville song. Three additional songwriters will also be named to the Class of 2025, as a separate body of veteran voters will elect a veteran songwriter, veteran songwriter/artist and legacy songwriter (honoring a deceased songwriter), each of whom have earned their first significant songs at least three decades ago (nominees in these categories are not announced).

Bogard is known for writing songs including Marty Robbins’ “Touch Me With Magic,” George Strait’s “Carrying Your Love With Me,” Rascal Flatts’ “Prayin’ For Daylight” and Dierks Bentley’s “Long Trip Alone” and “Every Mile a Memory.”

Camp’s writing catalog includes Brooks & Dunn’s “How Long Gone,” Garth Brooks’s “Two Pina Coladas,” Josh Turner’s “Would You Go With Me” and “Firecracker,” Blake Shelton’s “Nobody But Me,” Strait’s “River of Love,” the Ricky Skaggs and Kentucky Thunder bluegrass hit “Sis Draper,” Billy Strings’s “Don’t Be Calling Me (at 4 AM),” and Willie Nelson’s “A Beautiful Time.”

Henry’s writing credits include “Class Reunion” (recorded by artists including John Conlee, The Oak Ridge Boys and Ray Charles), “Blue Highway” (T.G. Sheppard and Conlee), “All Kinds of Kinds” (Miranda Lambert) and the Grammy/CMA/ACM award winner “Where’ve You Been” (Kathy Mattea).

Kennedy is known as a writer on songs including the Grammy-winning “Change The World” (recorded by Wynonna and then by Eric Clapton). Kennedy also has more than a dozen songs recorded by Garth Brooks, including “You Move Me” and “Love Will Always Win” (with Trisha Yearwood), as well as songs recorded by Ricky Skaggs (“Return to Sender”) and Bonnie Raitt (“I Can’t Help You Now”). Gordon also co-wrote songs with his frequent writing collaborator Peter Frampton on songs for Frampton’s 2007 album Fingerprints. Gordon’s songs were also included in the Disney movie The Fox and the Hound 2.

Martin is known for songs such as the Strait-recorded “Baby’s Gotten Good at Goodbye,” Rascal Flatts’ “Banjo,” Lee Ann Womack’s “I’ll Think of a Reason Later,” Tim McGraw’s “Just to See You Smile,” Sara Evans’s “No Place That Far,” Joe Diffie’s “Third Rock From the Sun,” “Keith Urban’s “You Look Good in My Shirt,” Josh Turner’s “Time Is Love” and Dierks Bentley’s “Settle For a Slow Down.”

Mayo’s catalog of songs includes hits recorded by Tim McGraw (“My Best Friend”), Mark Wills (“Places I’ve Never Been”), and Lonestar (“Amazed,” which won the ACM’s song and single of the year and was nominated for a Grammy). Mayo was named BMI’s 2001 Country Songwriter of the Year. Other songs she’s contributed writing to are the Faith Hill/Tim McGraw classic “Let’s Make Love,” Martina McBride’s “This One’s For The Girls,” and Kenny Chesney’s “Bar at the End of the World” and “Who You’d Be Today.” Mayo is author of the memoir Talking to the Sky.

Rushing is known for contributing writing to songs including Charley Pride’s “Hope You’re Feelin’ Me (Like I’m Feelin’ You),” Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver’s 1993 IBMA song of the year winner “Little Mountain Church House,” Ricky Skaggs’ “Canjun Moon” and “Thanks Again,” Garth Brooks’ “American Honky-Tonk Bar Association,” and the 1993 IBMA song of the year winner “Lonesome Standard Time,” (also a hit for Kathy Mattea).

Scott’s catalog of hits includes songs recorded by Travis Tritt (“It’s a Great Day to Be Alive”), Sara Evans (“Born to Fly”), The Chicks (“Long Time Gone”), Patty Loveless (“You’ll Never Leave Harlan Alive”), Darin & Brooke Aldridge (“Cumberland Plateau”), Blue Highway (“Bleeding For a Little Piece of Mind”) and the Zac Brown Band/Chris Cornell collaboration “Heavy Is The Head.” Scott was named the 2000-2001 NSAI songwriter of the year and the 2002 ASCAP country songwriter of the year.

In the 1990s, Lauderdale saw his songs recorded by artists including Mark Chesnutt (“Gonna Get a Life”), Patty Loveless (“Halfway Down,” as well as Loveless’ George Jones collaboration “You Don’t Seem to Miss Me”), and the Strait-recorded hits “We Really Shouldn’t Be Doing This” and “What Do You Say to That.” In the Americana realm, Lauderdale has released 37 albums and won two Grammy accolades for bluegrass album of the year (for Lost in the Lonesome Pines and The Bluegrass Diaries), as well as earning bluegrass hits including “Mighty Lonesome” and “One Blue Mule.” Lauderdale was honored with the Americana Music Association’s lifetime achievement award in 2016.

Welch and Rawlings have shared a musical and songwriting partnership that goes back at least three decades. Since their debut project in 1996, the two have released songs in a variety of genres, including “Orphan Girl,” “Elvis Presley Blues” and “455 Rocket” (which also became a hit for Mattea), and “Tear My Stillhouse Down” (which became a bluegrass hit for The Nashville Bluegrass Band). Dailey & Vincent recorded a version of “By The Mark,” which was named the 2009 SPBGMA (Society for the Preservation of Bluegrass Music of America) bluegrass song of the year. “When A Cowboy Trades His Spurs For Wings” was recorded by Tim Blake Nelson and Willie Nelson for the film The Ballad of Buster Scruggs and was nominated for an Oscar for best original song. Welch and Rawlings received the AMA’s lifetime achievement award for songwriters in 2015.

Williams earned her breakthrough hit with “Changed the Locks” in 1988, which reached No. 16 on Billboard’s Mainstream Rock chart and became a hit for Tom Petty nearly a decade later. Williams’ “Passionate Kisses” also became a top 5 Country Airplay hit for Mary Chapin Carpenter in 1993, and earned Williams a Grammy for best country song. She also earned Americana Music Honors and Awards nominations for songs including “Are You Alright?” and “East Side of Town.” She earned the 2011 Americana Music Honors & Awards lifetime achievement award for songwriting and earned a BMI troubadour award in 2022. Williams was inducted into the Austin City Limits Hall of Fame in 2021.

Winans started out as part of the luminous gospel music group the Winans Family, before joining musical forces with her brother BeBe Winans to form a duo. Their song “Addictive Love,” co-written by CeCe, earned a GMA Dove Award for contemporary Gospel song of the year in 1992. In 1995, Winans launched her solo career. Her song “Hallelujah Praise” won a 2004 GMA Dove Award for contemporary Gospel song of the year, while in 2009 she was nominated for a Dove Award for “Waging War.” In 2021, her song “Believe For It” won a Grammy for best contemporary Christian performance/song and the 2022 GMA Dove Award for song of the year. Winans has also written songs including “Let Them Fall In Love,” “Pray,” “Say A Prayer,” “Slippin’,” and “Well Alright.” Winans was inducted into the 2015 Gospel Music Hall of Fame in 2015, and has stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and Music City Walk of Fame.

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Boosie Badazz Takes Plea Deal in Federal Gun Case: ‘Tired of Fighting’

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New Orleans rapper Boosie Badazz has accepted a plea deal in his federal gun possession case, telling fans via social media that he’s “tired of fighting.”

Boosie (Torence Hatch) announced the plea agreement on Monday (Aug. 4), more than two years after he was first charged with illegal gun ownership in San Diego. The case was briefly dismissed in 2024, but federal prosecutors later refiled the charges.

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“JUST ACCEPTED A PLEA FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT ON MY GUN CASE,” Boosie posted on X. “I THOUGHT THIS CASE WAS OVER N I WAS GOING TO GET ON WITH MY LIFE BUT ‘GOD DONT MAKE MISTAKES’ N IM TIRED OF FIGHTING!!”

“TALKED TO MY FAMILY N THIS IS THE RIGHT DECISION,” continued Boosie, adding the “100” emoji. “TO ALL MY FANS ACROSS THE WORLD SAY A PRAYER FOR YA BOY N GO GET THE NEW ALBUM.”

The rapper ended his X post with the prayer emoji and the hashtag “#wordsofarealone,” referring to his 13-song album Words of a Real One that dropped on Friday (Aug. 1).

A Monday entry on Boosie’s court docket confirmed that a plea agreement has, in fact, been reached in the case, with a hearing scheduled for Aug. 26. Terms of the deal, including what exactly Boosie will plead guilty to, have not yet been made public.

Boosie was first charged in June 2023 with being a felon in possession of a firearm. Authorities spotted the rapper with a handgun tucked into his waistband in an Instagram video — a crime, prosecutors alleged, because Boosie was previously convicted on drug charges back in 2011.

A federal judge dismissed the case in July 2024 due to evolving Second Amendment precedent around whether nonviolent felons can be charged with this type of gun possession. But prosecutors refiled the case with some changes later that same month, and it was proceeding apace before the plea agreement was reached.

Boosie is currently out on a $100,000 bond.

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Metro Boomin Blames Social Media for Music Not Being Regional Anymore: ‘Let’s Get Back to Actual Culture’

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Metro Boomin is trying to bring the feeling back.

The St. Louis producer, who made his name in Atlanta, dropped his mixtape A Futuristic Summa where he bridged the gap between the Atlanta rap scene of the early to mid-2000s and the new generation. The tape features stellar appearances from more veteran acts like Young Dro and Waka Flaka Flame, while also showcasing newcomers like BunnaB.

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Metro took to X and essentially released the project’s mission statement in a series of tweets. He started things off by posting a video of a digital billboard and said he put together the tape “for us not them.”

He then went on to post things like: “A lot of y’all get no bi—es and it shows.”

“If yo homeboy never had to hold you up in the teen party while u was getting twerked on then you might wanna sit this one out.”

“If you never went out and competed with ya boys on who would get the most numbers then you might wanna sit this one out.”

“If you never had to write a number down period then you might wanna sit this one out.”

“If you started listening to rap music in 2017 then you might wanna sit this one out.”

“If you never intentionally wore your clothes with the tags still on then you might wanna sit this one out.”

He then ended his series of tweets by saying rap music needs to embrace and lean into regionality more often. “Its time for music to get back regional,” he tweeted. “Social media got everybody tryna do the same thing. Let’s get back to actual culture and regional identity.”

He later added, “This is Avengers: Endgame level for the city. An Atlanta love letter,” when a fan commended him for thinking of putting the roster of artists involved together.

Metro Boomin Presents: A Futuristic Summa features guest appearances by J Money, Travis Porter, Young Dro, Gucci Mane, Roscoe Dash, Quavo, Breskii, YK NIECE, Skooly, Shad Da God, Meany, Imcfli, BunnaB, Jose Guapo, Rocko, 2 Chainz, Yung Booke, Lil Baby, 21 Savage, Future and Yung L.A., and is hosted by DJ Spinz.

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BOYNEXTDOOR: From Seoul Encore Concerts to Their Lollapalooza Debut

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What do we expect from a K-pop concert? For six-member boy band BOYNEXTDOOR (SUNGHO, RIWOO, JAEHYUN, TAESAN, LEEHAN and WOONHAK), their first tour “KNOCK ON Vol.1” was a coming-of-age story told onstage.

Kicking off at Incheon’s Inspire Arena on Dec. 14–15, 2024, the tour swept through six cities in Japan, then Singapore, Manila, Taipei, Jakarta, Hong Kong and returning to Tokyo, finally wrapping up with a three-night encore at KSPO DOME in Seoul on July 25–27, 2025.

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Despite debuting only in May 2023, BOYNEXTDOOR has quickly built a global fanbase, especially among teens and 20-somethings in Korea. Their first tour featured 21 tracks, pulling from four EPs, a soundtrack appearance, and the fan-dedicated song “400 Years.” Though the initial shows drew praise for solid vocals and performance etiquette, some fans expressed reservations about the overall production.

As leader JAEHYUN shared during the second night of their Incheon concert, “Since it was our first concert, we tried to stay close to the original versions to clearly express the group’s identity.” And while the intent was understandable, performing without any concert-specific arrangements — relying solely on the original choreography and the abilities of members just two years into their debut — felt like a tall order for a venue the size of Inspire Arena, which holds up to 15,000 people. Adding to the challenge was the timing: December is one of the busiest months in K-pop, filled with domestic and international awards shows and year-end specials. BOYNEXTDOOR had already proven themselves on those kinds of high-profile stages, and the group’s consistent pride in their live vocals had only heightened expectations.

Still, the fact that fans could share in such a significant moment — the group’s very first solo concert — was meaningful in itself. When ONEDOORs lit up the venue with light sticks and phone flashlights and sang in unison, “So let’s go see the stars,” the stage glowed like a falling starlight, and the members, overcome with emotion, stood teary-eyed, visibly moved. It was the kind of symbolic moment destined to replay itself throughout their career. After the final show ended, the members went live together, sharing their heartfelt reflections and gratitude with fans.

BOYNEXTDOOR

BOYNEXTDOOR

Courtesy Photo

Between the Korea launch and the encore finale, the group’s momentum only grew stronger. On Jan. 6, they released digital single “I LOVE YOU Today,” a breezy band-pop track that became a chart-topper in Korea. Then came “I Feel Good,” the title track of their fourth EP <No Genre> (May 13), which swept music shows, earning their first “quadruple crown.”

BOYNEXTDOOR

BOYNEXTDOOR

Courtesy Photo

Instead of sticking to the usual encore formula — a few new songs, a reshuffled VCR, minor tweaks — “KNOCK ON Vol.1 Final” blew the door open from the first second. The show opened with “Nice Guy,” which originally closed their main set. Notably, this version was identical to the one they performed at the 2024 Mnet Asian Music Awards, complete with synchronized dance breaks and the signature chant: “Who’s there? BOYNEXTDOOR!”

“As WOONHAK said on the first night, ‘There was some regret at first. We waited for this encore show to show everything we’ve got.’” True to his words, the show looked nothing like the Incheon leg — not in setlist, stage design, or wardrobe. Utilizing the KSPO DOME’s relatively low ceiling and wide viewing angles, the backdrop LEDs were fully reconfigured to match each song’s tone. Groovy, retro-tinged openers like “Nice Guy,” “Serenade” and the ‘60s-inspired soul pop track “123-78” were paired with romantic white ensembles and soft-toned visuals, while brighter, bouncier tracks like “Back for More” and “One and Only” leaned into a street-style aesthetic with urban-inspired graphics and costumes. The transitions between sections also stood out for their creative flow: during “Fadeaway,” a dance crew filled the stage as the members exited, sustaining energy without a pause. Elsewhere, the group incorporated sound elements from past album trailers to bridge segments seamlessly. One of the most striking examples came just before “But Sometimes,” the title track of their debut EP (‘WHY..’). RIWOO choreographed a new dance break using the EP’s teaser sound, and all six members joined in — a perfectly-timed detonation of energy before launching into the original track.

Just like their encore concert in Tokyo where the group split into two units — JAEHYUN, LEEHAN, and WOONHAK covered Creepy Nuts’ viral hit “Bling-Bang-Bang-Born,” while SUNGHO, RIWOO, and TAESAN performed Mrs. GREEN APPLE’s “Ao to Natsu (Blue and Summer)” — the Seoul shows also featured special unit stages. This time, they brought to life cover clips that had gone viral on YouTube earlier in March. SUNGHO, RIWOO, and JAEHYUN delivered a charismatic performance of Primary’s “See Through,” while TAESAN, LEEHAN, and WOONHAK earned cheers with their emotive rendition of DAY6’s “Congratulations.”

But above all, it was the introduction of a live band that elevated the encore experience to an entirely new sonic level. Starting from the transition between “Step by Step” and “Amnesia,” the band’s presence became impossible to ignore — amplifying the energy, rhythm, and impact of BOYNEXTDOOR’s music. It felt natural to lead into “I Feel Good,” a track with distinctly rock-oriented textures, but what followed next offered a surprise: a hard cut into “Parental Advisory,” one of the group’s most intense hip-hop tracks. The contrast between genres — yet seamless flow — created a sense of sonic exhilaration that rippled through the crowd.

A particularly moving stretch came with the progression from the tender ballad “Crying” into “Dear. My Darling,” which began with SUNGHO’s solo guitar intro. The emotional buildup peaked with “Pebble,” originally led by a simple guitar riff, but now expanded through the band’s full-bodied arrangement. Even after the members had exited the stage, the musicians continued to play — with the electric guitar and keys holding the atmosphere for nearly a full minute. These same band members would later accompany BOYNEXTDOOR to the Lollapalooza stage.

The official set came to a close with “Earth, Winds & Fire,” the title track from their second EP (‘HOW?’). Poignantly, it was also the very first song that opened their debut concert — completing the arc with perfect symmetry. During the encore segment, most of the members left the main stage and roamed through the arena aisles, connecting directly with fans in both lower and upper sections. All three nights were packed with extended sets, reaching the “encore of encores” each time. The magic of “So let’s go see the stars” returned in full. On the final night, when “Earth, Winds & Fire” made a surprise reappearance during the second encore, WOONHAK shouted, “Put your phones away — let’s really go wild!” And astonishingly, most of the crowd obliged, jumping and dancing with their hands in the air. The final setlist of “KNOCK ON Vol.1 Final” totaled an impressive 27 songs.

BOYNEXTDOOR

BOYNEXTDOOR

Courtesy Photo

“We are six people who love music, and we’re grateful to sing here tonight for ONEDOOR. Thank you. This has been BOYNEXTDOOR.” With JAEHYUN’s closing words, the curtain fell — but the echoes of the music, the raw emotions, and the candid reflections each member had shared lingered in the air.

So back to the original question: What should we expect from a K-pop concert? In a system where most idols begin their training and careers as teenagers, fans often become the closest witnesses to someone’s growth — watching from the very beginning as these artists find their voice, their confidence, and their place in the world. When you’ve shared in someone’s most vulnerable, formative years, there’s little choice but to keep cheering them on. What began seven months ago as a question — a possibility — has since turned into something certain. And the encore concert made it clear just how much collective effort this team poured into delivering that certainty. BOYNEXTDOOR proved their growth, their sincerity, and their purpose. In a concert — the most intimate and immediate moment in an artist’s journey — they succeeded in showing everything fans had come to see, with nothing left behind.

BOYNEXTDOOR

BOYNEXTDOOR

Courtesy Photo

On Saturday, local time, BOYNEXTDOOR took the stage at the Lollapalooza Aftershow — just ahead of their main set — and once again showed how effortlessly they enjoy performing. On Sunday, they presented a full hourlong set on the Lollapalooza Chicago stage. It marked the first time the group delivered a fully realized concert experience in North America. What new fragments of youth will these six boys next door gather in this unfamiliar land, in the middle of summer? One thing is certain: Those glittering pieces won’t belong to BOYNEXTDOOR alone — they’ll linger in the memories of every person who was there to see it.

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