Pam Tillis: Last News

The influence of Loretta Lynn, Dolly Parton, Patsy Cline and Barbara Mandrell gets a fresh examination with a new program, Iconic Women of Country Music, that will debut June 1 on PBS stations, Billboard has learned.The production uses original interviews, archival footage and classic songs to explore how a small parade of females fought gender bias across several decades to create some of the genre’s most significant recordings, including Tammy Wynette’s “Stand by Your Man,” Kitty Wells’ “It Wasn’t God Who Made Honky Tonk Angels” and Jeannie C.

Jem Aswad Senior Music Editor Sony Music has dissolved the long-running Arista Nashville imprint, a rep for the company confirms to Variety. The news was first reported in Country Aircheck‘s newsletter. Most of the artists will be absorbed into Sony Music Nashville, with Nate Smith is going to RCA Nashville and Old Dominion and Megan Moroney moving over to Columbia Nashville. Brooks & Dunn is the most famous artist on the label, having been one of its cornerstone acts since 1991, but the duo is not a going concern on the recording front. Apart from a retrospective/duets project three years ago, they have not issued an album of new material since 2007.

Blake Shelton said he wasn’t going to get emotional about his last season of “The Voice” — but he surprised even himself by getting “shook up” over the last night of Blind Auditions.

Blake Shelton said he wasn't going to get emotional about his last season of — but he surprised even himself by getting «shook up» over the last night of Blind Auditions.Tuesday's episode of the NBC singing competition was the final night of the Blinds, which meant it was time for Blake to press his button one last time and select Team Blake's final performer.And it was a serendipitous selection, as 19-year-old Grace West took the stage with a perfect rendition of Pam Tillis' «Maybe It Was Memphis» that had both Blake and his doppelganger for the night, Niall Horan, turning their chairs for the impressive performance.Grace's decision seemed to be an easy one from the beginning, with even Blake's best frenemy, Kelly Clarkson, throwing down a super-rare endorsement of The Cowboy.«He’s the guy that really does help artists out,» she admitted. «That is my gift to Blake Shelton!»And it did pay off, as Grace became the last-ever singer to join Team Blake, which made the country star more emotional than he expected.«I gotta tell you, I’m sitting here talking about Grace right now, but my heart swells up, thinking about my journey on this show,” Blake told the cameras backstage after the selection.

Blake Shelton is leaving The Voice after Season 23 and as the Blind Auditions round of the competition comes to a conclusion, the country star took his chair for one final spin.

Niall Horan and Blake Shelton’s budding bromance was back in full force on Tuesday’s episode of !Tuesday marked the last night of this season's Blind Auditions, which also means that it’s Blake’s last Blinds as he prepares to depart the NBC singing competition after 23 seasons. So, to celebrate, Niall showed that imitation is the sincerest form of flattery — and dressed just like Blake.Gray shirt, black jacket, a pair of jeans that definitely came out of Blake’s closet and, of course, cowboy boots — Niall went the whole nine! Fellow coaches Kelly Clarkson and Chance the Rapper could only double over in laughter as Blake praised his «son's» new look.Niall even copied Blake when it came to the next singer up, as they both pressed their buttons for 19-year-old Grace West, who wowed the coaches with her cover of Pam Tillis' «Maybe It Was Memphis.»«We did this as a gag,» Niall sheepishly admitted to the young singer of his getup.«I think you look really cool!» Blake praised.

Mark Goddard (“Lost In Space”) is 86. Actor Chris Sarandon is 80. Comedian Gallagher is 76.