Entertainment
Elmo Makes His Grand Ole Opry Debut, With Some Help From Lauren Alaina: ‘You Like Elmo’s Bolo Tie?’
The Grand Ole Opry welcomed Sesame Street‘s Elmo and Abby Cadabby to help celebrate the Grand Ole Opry’s 100th anniversary, with the beloved characters making their Opry performance debuts.
Elmo, clad in a blue cowboy shirt and hat, joined Grand Ole Opry member Lauren Alaina to sing her hit “Road Less Traveled.” Alaina — marking her first Opry appearance after the birth of her daughter Beni Doll Arnold in June — welcomed Elmo to the stage.
“All the way from Sesame Street, y’all make some noise for my friend Elmo!” Alaina said excitedly, as the character popped up from behind the Opry podium. Alaina complimented Elmo’s cowboy costume (“You like Elmo’s bolo tie?,” the red Muppet asked), before they sang together.
Meanwhile, Abby Cadabby performed with Tayla Lynn — granddaughter of late Country Music Hall of Famer and Opry member Loretta Lynn. Together, Abby Cadabby and Lynn sang one of Loretta’s signature songs, “You’re Lookin’ at Country.” Loretta Lynn herself once appeared on Sesame Street in 1984, performing “Count on Me” with The Count.
In the second half of the show, Elmo and Abby joined a steady list of performers, actors, journalists and sports figures who have served as guest announcers on the Opry.
That’s not the only Sesame Street connection country music has had recently: Singer/songwriter and 11-time Grammy winner Chris Stapleton recently made an appearance on an episode of Sesame Street, joining Elmo, Abby Cadabby and other Sesame Street characters to sing the song “You’ve Got a Friend in Music.”
Numerous country artists have made appearances on Sesame Street over the decades since the beloved children’s educational program debuted in 1969, including Garth Brooks, Tim McGraw, Johnny Cash and Faith Hill.
See footage of Alaina introducing Elmo on the stage of the Grand Ole Opry below:
Entertainment
Pastor Mike Jr.’s Clean Sweep at 2025 Stellar Gospel Music Awards: 9 Nominations, 9 Awards
Pastor Mike Jr. thoroughly dominated the 2025 Stellar Gospel Music Awards, which was taped live at the Schermerhorn Symphony Center in Nashville on Saturday, Aug. 16. He won in all nine categories in which he was nominated. Pastor Mike Jr. won artist of the year for the fourth time, which allows him to pull ahead of Kirk Franklin and Marvin Sapp as the top winner in the history of the category. Franklin and Sapp have each won three times.
These nine awards ups Pastor Mike Jr.’s total of Stellar Awards to 28. Pastor Mike Jr., 41, is a contemporary gospel singer, public speaker, and pastor from Birmingham, Alabama. The artist, born Michael McClure Jr., is the founder of Rock City Church, which has four churches in Ohio, Kentucky, and Indiana.
There are just 30 categories at the Stellar Gospel Music Awards, so Pastor Mike Jr. won nearly one-third of the awards presented on the night. He won five awards, including album of the year, for his EP I Got Away, which reached No. 5 on Billboard’s Top Gospel Albums chart in May 2024. He won four awards, including song of the year, for “Amen,” which reached No. 4 on Hot Gospel Songs in January 2025.
Cece Winans was runner-up, with three awards. The Group Fire, Ricky Dillard and Dorinda Clark-Cole each won two.
Jason Nelson, who had tied with Pastor Mike Jr. for the most nominations (nine) won just one award, contemporary album of the year for You Belong: Live in Durham. Nelson had the misfortune of going up against Pastor Mike Jr. in six categories.
ADIA took the award for new artist of the year. Don Jackson, founder of the Stellar Awards and chairman of Central City Productions, Inc., received the James Cleveland Lifetime Achievement Award.
The Stellar Awards also announced winners for the Gospel Radio of the Year Awards in six categories.
This year marked the show’s first time in Nashville since 2021, following stints in Atlanta (2022) and Las Vegas (2023-24). This year’s Stellar Awards capped STELLAR PLUS week, which ran from Aug. 14-16.
The 40th Stellar Gospel Music Awards show was executive produced by Jackson with Jennifer J. Jackson serving as producer and executive in charge of production; Michael A. Johnson as producer and director, Erin Johnson as talent producer, and Daniel Moore as music director.
Here’s the full list of nominations for the 2025 Stellar Gospel Music Awards, with winners marked.
Artist of the Year
CeCe Winans; More Than This; Pure Springs Gospel/Fair Trade Services
Jason Nelson; You Belong: Live in Durham; Jaelyn Song / Tyscot Records
Kenny Lewis & One Voice; The Healing Project; PureSound Muzik Group
WINNER: Pastor Mike Jr.; I Got Away EP; Rock City Media Group
Tamela Mann; Live Breathe Fight; TillyMann
Song of the Year
WINNER: “Amen,” Michael McClure Jr., Adia Andrews, Terrell Anthony Pettus, Andrea Crouch, & David “DLo” Outing; Pastor Mike Jr.; Rock City Media Group
“Clap My Way,” Fred Jerkins III, Alvin Garrett, & Micah Lee; Micah Lee; Darkchild Gospel/ MicahLeeMusic
“I Prayed for You (said a prayer),” Major Johnson Finley, Brunes Charles, & Jeshua Williams; MAJOR.; NowThatsMAJOR / MNRK
“That’s My King,” Taylor Agan, Kellie Gamble, Lloyd Nicks, & Jess Russ; CeCe Winans; Pure Springs Gospel/Fair Trade Services
“Yahweh” ft. Melvin Crispell III; Danni Baylor, Jason Nelson, Jerome Baylor, & Johnnie Huntley Steele III; Jason Nelson; Jaelyn Song / Tyscot Records
Male Artist of the Year
Chandler Moore; Chandler Moore: Live in Los Angeles; TRIBL
Deitrick Haddon; One Night in California; DH Visions
Doc McKenzie; Run On; Blockbuster Records/Milbert McKenzie Music Group
Jason Nelson; You Belong: Live in Durham; Jaelyn Song / Tyscot Records
WINNER: Pastor Mike Jr.; I Got Away EP; Rock City Media Group
Albertina Walker Female Artist of the Year
ADIA; On the Way; Rock City Media Group
WINNER: CeCe Winans; More Than This; Pure Springs Gospel/Fair Trade Services
Dorinda Clark-Cole; Determined; Malaco Records
Karen Clark-Sheard; Still Karen; Motown Gospel
Lisa Page Brooks; The Grateful Chant; FlowNeeNee Music
Duo/Chorus Group of the Year
Deitrick Haddon ft. Damita & Tasha Page-Lockhart; Hold On 2 Your Faith; ManHaddon Ministries / Tyscot Records
FK&M (Fred Hammond, Keith Staten and Marcus Cole); Time Capsule – The Trilogy; 3Brothers/Dare Records
Ted & Sheri; You’ve Been So Faithful (Groove); Ted & Sheri LLC / Black Smoke Music Worldwide
WINNER: The Group Fire; About Last Night; Jet Records North/East
New Artist of the Year
WINNER: ADIA; On the Way; Rock City Media Group
Bobbi Lane; Unmatched Grace; Blockbuster Records/ Taylor Music Group
Josh Bracy and Power Anointed; Favor; Josh Bracy Muzic
Micah Lee; Clap My Way; Darkchild Gospel/ MicahLeeMusic
Montrae Tisdale and The Friends Chorale; The Faith Journey; Tisdale Nation Entertainment
Album of the Year
WINNER: I Got Away EP; Pastor Mike Jr.; Rock City Media Group
Live Breathe Fight; Tamela Mann; TillyMann
More Than This; CeCe Winans; Pure Springs Gospel/Fair Trade Services
The Healing Project; Kenny Lewis & One Voice; PureSound Muzik Group
You Belong: Live in Durham; Jason Nelson; Jaelyn Song / Tyscot Records
Choir of the Year
Bishop S.Y. Younger; Bishop S.Y. Younger Presents Worship in Brazil; Ramp Records (exclusively distributed by Haus Records)
Chicago Mass Choir; Greater Is Coming; New Haven Records
WINNER: Ricky Dillard; When I Think; Motown Gospel
The Mississippi Mass Choir; We Still Believe; Malaco Records
Producer of the Year
Dana Sorey; Jason Nelson; You Belong: Live in Durham; Jaelyn Song / Tyscot Records
Fred Hammond, Keith Staten, Marcus Cole, Paul Wright III and Ray Hammond; FK&M (Fred Hammond, Keith Staten and Marcus Cole); Time Capsule – The Trilogy; 3Brothers/Dare Records
J. Drew Sheard; Karen Clark-Sheard; Still Karen; Motown Gospel
WINNER: Michael McClure Jr., & David “DLo” Outing II; Pastor Mike Jr.; I Got Away EP; Rock City Media Group
Stan Jones, Jerry Mannery, Jerry Smith, & David R. Curry Jr.; The Mississippi Mass Choir; We Still Believe; Malaco Records
Contemporary Duo/Chorus Group of the Year
Deitrick Haddon ft. Damita & Tasha Page-Lockhart; Hold On 2 Your Faith; ManHaddon Ministries / Tyscot Records
Red Hands; The Three (EP); Black Suit Music / Anderson Music Group / TAMLA Records
Ted & Sheri; You’ve Been So Faithful (Groove); Ted & Sheri LLC / Black Smoke Music Worldwide
WINNER: The Group Fire; About Last Night; Jet Records North/East
Traditional Duo/Chorus Group of the Year
WINNER: Brandon Camphor & One Way; Hymn Medley; Tomii Entertainment
Men Of Prayze; Live: in the Red; EvoWorld Entertainment, Inc
The Flint Cavaliers; The Fellowship (Psalms 133:1); The Flint Music Group
Tim Woodson & The Heirs of Harmony; Try Me; Blackberry/Marxan Records
Contemporary Male Artist of the Year
Jason Nelson; You Belong: Live in Durham; Jaelyn Song / Tyscot Records
Micah Lee; Clap My Way; Darkchild Gospel/ MicahLeeMusic
WINNER: Pastor Mike Jr.; I Got Away EP; Rock City Media Group
Vincent Bohanan; VBSOV Summer Jam; Independent
Traditional Male Artist of the Year
Bishop Calvin Norton; Hold Me Beyond Rear View EP; Blockbuster Records
Brent Jones; Live Your Best Life; JDI Entertainment
WINNER: Earnest Pugh; Worthy Is the Lamb; Blacksmoke Music Worldwide
Kenny Lewis; The Healing Project; PureSound Muzik Group
Contemporary Female Artist of the Year
ADIA; On the Way; Rock City Media Group
Bobbi Lane; Unmatched Grace; Blockbuster Records/ Taylor Music Group
WINNER: CeCe Winans; More Than This; Pure Springs Gospel/Fair Trade Services
DOE; Heart of a Human; RCA Inspiration / Provident Entertainment
Keyla Richardson; Home; Uncle G Records
Traditional Female Artist of the Year
Dorinda Clark-Cole; Determined; Malaco Records
Lasha Knox; Right There; Blacksmoke Music Worldwide
WINNER: Lisa Page Brooks; The Grateful Chant; FlowNeeNee Music
Terri McConnell; He’ll Get Me Through This; Royal T Records
Contemporary Album of the Year
Chandler Moore: Live in Los Angeles; Chandler Moore; TRIBL
Live Breathe Fight; Tamela Mann; TillyMann
Still Karen; Karen Clark-Sheard; Motown Gospel
WINNER: You Belong: Live in Durham; Jason Nelson; Jaelyn Song / Tyscot Records
Traditional Album of the Year
WINNER: Determined; Dorinda Clark-Cole; Malaco Records
Live in Detroit, Pt 1; The Victorius Army ATL Feat. Vincent Bohanan; Independent
The Healing Project; Kenny Lewis & One Voice; PureSound Muzik Group
We Still Believe; The Mississippi Mass Choir; Malaco Records
Urban Single or Performance of the Year
WINNER: Amen; Pastor Mike Jr.; Rock City Media Group
Clap My Way; Micah Lee; Darkchild Gospel/ MicahLeeMusic
I Prayed for You (said a prayer); MAJOR.; NowThatsMAJOR / MNRK
Without You ft. Zacardi Cortez; Jevon Dewand and The Trap Starz; Black Smoke Records
Music Video of the Year
WINNER: “Amen,” Pastor Mike Jr., Tony “Mr.YNOT” Minifield, Drae Rudolph & Kevin “Krispy” Key/Moon Men; Rock City Media Group
“Deserve to Win,” David Mann; TillyMann
“For My Good,” Jekalyn Carr; Waynorth Music
“Never Be the Same,” Deitrick Haddon & Terrance Church; DH Visions
Traditional Choir of the Year
Chicago Mass Choir; Greater Is Coming; New Haven Records
Christopher L. Ervin & Abraham’s Descendants; Recover; CervinMusiq
WINNER: Ricky Dillard; When I Think; Motown Gospel
The Mississippi Mass Choir; We Still Believe; Malaco Records
Contemporary Choir of the Year
Alphaeus Anderson Presents The USC Upstate Gospel Choir; Already Done; Music2ChangeU
Charles Butler & Trinity; Live in Washington DC; Red Alliance Media
Johnny Sanders Featuring Faith on Full; Christmas Everyday; Third Century Development Corp/Johnny Sanders Presents, LLC
WINNER: Vincent Bohanan & SOV; VBSOV Summer Jam; Independent
Traditional Artist of the Year
Bishop Calvin Norton; Hold Me Beyond Rear View EP; Blockbuster Records
WINNER: Dorinda Clark-Cole; Determined; Malaco Records
Earnest Pugh; Worthy Is the Lamb; Blacksmoke Music Worldwide
The Mississippi Mass Choir; We Still Believe; Malaco Records
Special Event Album of the Year
WINNER: Bishop S.Y. Younger Presents Worship in Brazil; Bishop S.Y. Younger; Ramp Records (exclusively distributed by Haus Records)
Joyful, Joyful: A Christmas Album; CeCe Winans; Pure Springs Gospel/Fair Trade Services
Red & Green; Jonathan McReynolds; Life Room Label, Motown Gospel
The Gift Deluxe Edition; The Group Fire; Jet Records North/East
We Still Believe; The Mississippi Mass Choir; Malaco Records
Rap/Hip Hop Gospel Album of the Year
WINNER: Canton Jones and CAJO Records Presents the Free Life Experience; The Free Life Experience; CAJO Records
Let Go Let God: The EP; 1K Phew; Reach Records
Meet Me in Miami; Otis Kemp; Revive 5.0 Entertainment
Without You: There Would Be No Me; Jevon Dewand and The Trap Starz; Black Smoke Records
Youth Project of the Year
AMG Kidz x Boston Arts Academy; The Kidz at North Station; Anderson Music Group / TAMLA Records
WINNER: Brent Jones presents The Fire; Brent Jones presents The Fire; JDI Entertainment
Janessa Smith; Sounds of Joy; Inspired Recording
Nina Symmone & Noah Alexander; God’s Way; The Big Moment / Anderson Music Group
Quartet of the Year
Blest By Four; Only Believe The EP; EvoWorld Entertainment, Inc
WINNER: Men Of Prayze; Live: in the Red; EvoWorld Entertainment, Inc
The Flint Cavaliers; The Fellowship (Psalms 133:1); The Flint Music Group
Tim Woodson & The Heirs of Harmony; Try Me; Blackberry/Marxan Records
Recorded Music Packaging of the Year
Covered Vol. 1; Brianna Dowd & Melvin Crispell III; RCA Inspiration, Provident Label Group LLC
Meet Me in Miami; Blair Monique; Revive 5.0 Entertainment
Red & Green; Jonathan McReynolds & Trent Nicholson; Life Room Label, Motown Gospel
WINNER: Still Karen; Justin Foster; Motown Gospel
Praise and Worship Album of the Year
Chandler Moore: Live in Los Angeles; Chandler Moore; TRIBL
WINNER: More Than This; CeCe Winans; Pure Springs Gospel/Fair Trade Services
One; Jordan G. Welch; JordiG Music
You Belong: Live in Durham; Jason Nelson; Jaelyn Song / Tyscot Records
Praise and Worship Song of the Year
“Light in a Dark Place,” Bobbi Lane; Blockbuster Records/ Taylor Music Group
WINNER: “Overflow” ft. Todd Dulaney; Transformation Worship; Represent Records, Re: Think Music
“That’s My King,” CeCe Winans; Pure Springs Gospel/Fair Trade Services
“Yahweh” ft. Melvin Crispell III; Jason Nelson; Jaelyn Song / Tyscot Records
Rap/Hip Hop Song of the Year
WINNER: “Amen,” Pastor Mike Jr.; Rock City Media Group
“Blessings,” Otis Kemp; Revive 5.0 Entertainment
“Fa REAL… Fa Real,” Jevon Dewand and The Trap Starz; Black Smoke Records
“Yeah Yeah Yeah Yeah” ft. Lisa Page Brooks; Dante’ Pride; iAmDantePrideMuzik
James Cleveland Lifetime Achievment Award
WINNER: Don Jackson
Gospel Radio of the Year Nominees
Top Market of the Year
WINNER: WBBP 1480 AM, Memphis
WBGX 1570 kHz, Chicago
WFTB FM 104.1, Nashville
WGRB 1390AM, Chicago
WPZS 100.9, Charlotte, N.C.
Medium Market of the Year
WAGR 102.5 FM, Lexington, Miss.
WEUP Worship 94.5, Huntsville, Ala.
WJNI 106.3FM, Charleston, S.C.
WINNER: WXHL 89.1 FM, Wilmington, Del.
Small Market of the Year
WBZF-FM 98.5, Florence-Myrtle Beach, S.C.
WHLH 95.5, Jackson, Miss.
WKTT 97.5 FM, Salisbury, Md.
WINNER: WTSK – Praise 93.3/ 790 AM, Tuscaloosa, Ala.
Internet Station of the Year
Black Gospel Radio, https://BlackGospelRadio.net
WINNER: GODRadio1.com, https://godradio1.com
Hands Up Radio WHUR, https://handsupradio.org/
Power of Worship Radio, https://powerofworship.net
Syndicated Gospel Radio Show of the Year
“Early Morning Praise Party with Sherry Mackey,” Sherry Mackey
WINNER: “Get Up! Mornings with Erica Campbell,” Erica Campbell with Griff & Cheryl Jackson
“The Big Redd Radio Show,” Big Redd
“The Tracy Morgan Show,” Tracy Morgan
Gospel Announcer of the Year
Destiny Diggs; WXHL – Reach Gospel Radio/ “Say So Radio Show with Destiny”
WINNER: Melissa Wade; WNNL, The Light 103.9/ “Melissa Wade in the Midday”
Micha “ML6” Logan; WEUP, 103.1 FM/ “The Midday Shift”
Sherry Mackey; WHAL, 95.7 Hallelujah FM/ “Early Morning Praise Party with Sherry Mackey”
On Friday night (Aug. 15), Wembley Stadium was bathed in pink light. If you’re one of the, conservatively, gazillion people who’ve watched Netflix’s KPop Demon Hunters since its release, this could read like a bad omen. But this wasn’t the signaling of demons from the underworld getting their grips on unsuspecting K-pop stans, this was BLACKPINK making their long-awaited return to London with the Deadline World Tour, two years since their sold-out BST Hyde Park headline show in 2023.
The Deadline World Tour, which wraps its Europe and U.S. leg with its stops at Wembley, came as something of a shock when it was announced in May. Back in 2023, BLACKPINK’s label, YG Entertainment, announced that each of the members — JENNIE, LISA, JISOO and ROSÉ — had ended their contract for individual work, but would still work together as BLACKPINK for group activities. Usually, that’s an unspoken agreement that life as a unit will wind down, and since then, the members have been going full throttle in their solo careers, each releasing albums and hitting iconic milestones (Rosé’s smash hit “APT,” featuring Bruno Mars, was the longest-running No. 1 on the Billboard Global 200 in 2024, clocking up 12 weeks at the summit.)
A tour, then, seemed way off, especially since the group hadn’t released any music together since 2022’s Born Pink (they did eventually drop a digital single with the Euro banger-inspired, Diplo-produced “Jump” at the start of the U.S. leg of the tour). Still, we’re living in a post-Eras Tour world now, where a pop tour doesn’t have to necessarily coincide with an album release if you’ve got the back catalogue and ravenous stan appetite to fill a 70,000 capacity venue twice over. You’d be hard-pressed to find a BLACKPINK fan who doesn’t want to hear hits like “Kill This Love,” “BOOMBAYAH” and “DDU-DU DDU-DU,” even if they’ve been hearing them every tour since 2019.
But with the inclusion of “Jump” and specific stages dedicated to each member’s latest solo work, there was just enough newness to the show to keep it fresh and exciting. Here are the best moments from BLACKPINK’s Deadline World Tour Wembley Stadium shows.
Morgan Wallen brought out another surprise guest for the walk-out moment at the opening night of his I’m the Problem tour stop in Cleveland.
The 32-year-old country star made a dramatic entrance during the first of two sold-out shows at Huntington Bank Stadium on Friday (Aug. 15), flanked by Kid Rock, 54, who wore a statement-making fur coat with the word “Cowboy” emblazoned across the back.
The moment was captured in a clip shared on Wallen’s Instagram, soundtracked fittingly by Rock’s 1999 anthem “Cowboy.” In the video, the two artists greet each other backstage as Rock shows off his signature style — a wide-brimmed hat, black sunglasses, white tank top and blue jeans — before heading toward the stage together. The clip ends with Wallen embracing Rock and greeting the roaring Cleveland crowd.
“Cowboy, baby,” Wallen captioned the post.
Wallen’s walk-out moments have become a signature feature of his live shows, often featuring surprise celebrity guests like Drake, Travis Kelce, Troy Aikman, David Spade, Peyton Manning and Tom Brady.
Earlier this year, Rock spoke about his connection to Wallen during an episode of Bill Maher’s Club Random podcast. When asked about the song “Still Somethin’,” from his 2022 album Bad Reputation, Rock revealed that Wallen had co-written the track alongside Mitchell Tenpenny, Andy Albert and Jordan Schmidt.
“This is before Morgan Wallen blew up. I remember somehow I got a demo of it, I can’t remember what, and I just couldn’t get over the voice on it,” Rock said. “I was like, ‘Who the f—k is singing this demo?’ It was Morgan Wallen.”
Since then, the two artists have struck up a friendship. During Wallen’s Houston show in June, he was spotted wearing a Kid Rock T-shirt while walking out alongside Drake and baseball legend Roger Clemens.
Wallen’s latest album, I’m the Problem, has been on a hot streak, recently scoring its 10th nonconsecutive week at No. 1 on the Billboard 200.
Watch Wallen’s walk-out with Kid Rock on Instagram here.
NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for August 17, 2025
Pastor Mike Jr.’s Clean Sweep at 2025 Stellar Gospel Music Awards: 9 Nominations, 9 Awards
State Department Abruptly Halts Visa Releases for Gazans After Loomer Exposes Shocking Footage of Refugees Shipped Into America
New Kid and Family Movies in 2025: Calendar of Release Dates (Updating)
The best sexting apps in 2025
Every potential TikTok buyer we know about
-
Entertainment5 months agoNew Kid and Family Movies in 2025: Calendar of Release Dates (Updating)
-
Tech5 months ago
The best sexting apps in 2025
-
Tech6 months agoEvery potential TikTok buyer we know about
-
Tech6 months ago
iOS 18.4 developer beta released — heres what you can expect
-
Politics6 months agoDOGE-ing toward the best Department of Defense ever
-
Tech6 months agoAre You an RSSMasher?
-
Politics6 months agoToxic RINO Susan Collins Is a “NO” on Kash Patel, Trashes Him Ahead of Confirmation Vote
-
Politics6 months agoAfter Targeting Chuck Schumer, Acting DC US Attorney Ed Martin Expands ‘Operation Whirlwind’ to Investigate Democrat Rep. Robert Garcia for Calling for “Actual Weapons” Against Elon Musk