By Mariel Turner
8:05am PDT, Apr 12, 2019
Dan + Shay, Keith Urban, Kacey Musgraves win big at 2019 ACM Awards
Dan + Shay were among the major winners of the night at the Academy of Country Music Awards in Las Vegas on April 7. They took home three prizes including duo, single and song of the year (for "Tequila"). Keith Urban walked away with the coveted entertainer of the year award, while Kacey Musgraves won the female artist of the year trophy, putting an end to Miranda Lambert's nine-year winning streak. Kacey was also among the night's big red carpet winners in a dazzling, dreamy rainbow suit by Christian Cowan.
RELATED: Best and worst dressed stars at the 2019 ACM Awards
Family, fans and celebs gather for Nipsey Hussle memorial service at Staples Center
Friends, family, fans and several A-list celebrities remembered slain rapper Nipsey Hussle at a memorial service at the Staples Center in Los Angeles on April 11. Beyonce, JAY-Z, Lena Waithe and more attended the celebration of the music star's life, while girlfriend Lauren London and friend Snoop Dogg gave touching speeches in honor of Nipsey (real name: Ermias Asghedom), who was fatally shot on March 31 at 33.
RELATED: Stars we lost in 2019
Lil Nas X's "Old Town Road" hits No. 1 after Billboard country chart controversy
Lil Nas X's breakout song, "Old Town Road," reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart on April 9 after Billboard faced backlash for removing the track from its country chart. The rankings company claimed the song, which Billy Ray Cyrus recently remixed, did not "embrace enough elements of today's country music to chart in its current version."
RELATED: What country music stars looked like early in their careers
Engineer must pay Prince estate $4 million over EP, court says
On April 8, a Minnesota federal court ordered a sound engineer to pay $3.96 million to Prince's estate after he tried to release an unauthorized EP of the singer's music. George Ian Boxill, who worked with Prince between 2006 and 2008, attempted to release the "Deliverance" EP in April 2017 to commemorate the late musician's death.
Netflix drops new trailer for Beyonce's "Homecoming" documentary
The Beyhive was buzzing on April 8 after Netflix released the first trailer for Beyonce's Coachella documentary, "Homecoming." The film, which debuts on April 17, will give a behind-the-scenes look at Bey's history-making 2018 Coachella performance and include "candid footage and interviews detailing the preparation and powerful intent behind her vision," the streaming service announced in a statement.
Earl Thomas Conley dies at 77
Country singer Earl Thomas Conley died on April 10 at 77. Fellow singer Blake Shelton announced the news on Facebook, writing, "My heart is absolutely destroyed today. I'm sad to report that Earl Thomas Conley passed away very early this morning. Earl was my all time favorite singer, hero and my friend." Earl's brother confirmed that the musician had a condition similar to dementia and was in hospice care before his passing.
Taylor Swift donates $113K to fight anti-LGBTQ legislation in Tennessee
Pop superstar Taylor Swift donated $113,000 to an LGBTQ advocacy group in Tennessee, it was revealed on April 8, to help fight anti-gay legislation in the state where she lives. The Tennessee Equality Project announced on Facebook that it had received the donation, along with a handwritten letter from Taylor. "I'm writing you to say that I'm so inspired by the work you do, specifically in organizing the recent petition of Tennessee faith leaders standing up against the 'slate of hate' in our state legislature," Taylor wrote in a letter that was posted to Facebook by Equality Project leader Chris Sanders.
"Game of Thrones"-inspired soundtrack to be released in April
The Weeknd, Maren Morris, SZA, Ty Dolla Sign, the Lumineers, Travis Scott and more have all banded together to record a "Game of Thrones"-inspired soundtrack, Columbia Records announced on April 9. The LP, which will feature fire- and ice-inspired vinyl editions, will be released on April 26.
