who sings long journey home

Billy Strings Picks and Sings With His Father on New Album ‘Me/And/Dad’

By Jon Freeman

Jon Freeman

Billy Strings will go back to where it all began with his new album Me/And/Dad , a collaborative project between the young bluegrass star and his father, Terry Barber. The new project featuring country and bluegrass classics will be released Nov. 18 and includes two songs that were released today: “Long Journey Home” and “Life to Go.”

The traditional tune “Long Journey Home” shows off Strings’ lightning-fast picking as well as the harmonizing between him and Barber, who also plays guitar on the track. “Life to Go” is an acoustic take on the George Jones tune, with Barber singing the lead. Other musicians on the album, which was produced by Gary Paczosa, include Mike Bub , Ron McCoury, Rob McCoury, Michael Cleveland, Jerry Douglas, Jason Carter, and Strings’ mother, Debra Barber.

Though not Strings’ biological father, the performer credits Barber with raising him and getting him interested in music.

Kristi Noem Describes Executing Puppy She 'Hated' in New Book

Billie eilish would like to reintroduce herself, kanye west announces 'yeezy porn' amid reports of adult film company, eric church's 2024 stagecoach performance was a helluva thing to witness.

Elsewhere on Me/And/Dad , Strings and Barber take on Doc Watson’s “Way Downtown,” Hank Thompson’s “Little Blossom,” and “Stone Walls and Steel Bars,” which was recorded by the Stanley Brothers. The project follows Strings’ 2021 album Renewal and 2022 appearance at Bonnaroo, Lollapalooza, and ACL Fest. Last week, he was named Entertainer of the Year at the 2022 Bluegrass Awards , his second consecutive win in the category.

Me/And/Dad track list:

• “Long Journey Home” (traditional)
• “Life to Go” (written by George Jones)
• “Way Downtown” (written by Doc Watson)
• “Little Blossom” (written by Hank Thompson)
• “Peartree” (written by Doc Watson, Gaither Carlton) “Stone Walls and Steel Bars” (written by Ray Pennington, Roy Eugene Marcum)
• “Little White Church” (written by Eugene Wellman)
• “Dig a Little Deeper (In the Well)” (written by Jody Emerson, Roger Bowling)
• “Wandering Boy” (written by A.P. Carter)
• “John Deere Tractor” (written by Lawrence Hammond)
• “Frosty Morn” (traditional)
• “I Haven’t Seen Mary in Years” (written by Damon Black)
• “Little Cabin Home on the Hill (written by Lester Flatt, Bill Monroe)
• “Heard My Mother Weeping” (written by Carl Story, Lowell Blanchard)

See Charley Crockett Showcase His '$10 Cowboy' on 'Saturday Sessions'

• 'good country music'
• By Daniel Kreps

Sean Combs Seeks to Dismiss 'Revenge Porn' Claims in Sexual Assault Lawsuit

• crimes and court

How St. Vincent Unlocked Her Realest Album Yet

• By Brian Hiatt

Eric Church's 2024 Stagecoach Performance Was a Helluva Thing to Witness

• Desert Drama
• By Joseph Hudak

Jelly Roll Shines During Stagecoach Performance

• Stagecoach 2024
• By Tomás Mier

Most Popular

Anne hathaway says 'gross' chemistry test in the 2000s required her to make out with 10 guys: that's the 'worst way to do it' and 'now we know better', louvre considers moving mona lisa to underground chamber to end 'public disappointment', 'the lord of the rings' trilogy returning to theaters, remastered and extended, saweetie exposes dm from quavo following latest chris brown diss that shades her, you might also like, iatse contract talks shift to toughest issues: wages, ai and residuals, victoria justice shimmers in sequins at latin american music awards in dazzling cutout dress, the best yoga mats for any practice, according to instructors, luca guadagnino says no movie should have ‘90 takes’ per scene: ‘why do you have to torture people’, vince mcmahon lists final tko shares for sale.

Rolling Stone is a part of Penske Media Corporation. © 2024 Rolling Stone, LLC. All rights reserved.

Verify it's you

Please log in.

Watch Bluegrass Virtuoso Billy Strings’ “Long Journey Home” Music Video

"Not doing this record scared me," says the award-winning guitarist as he prepares for new father & son LP release, ‘Me/and/Dad’

Grammy-winning bluegrass luminary Billy Strings has announced his new album, Me/and/Dad , will be released on November 18 via Rounder Records.

Featuring new versions of fourteen bluegrass and country classics, Me/and/Dad represents the first album Strings has recorded with his father, Terry Barber.

A lifelong wish come true, the much-lauded guitarist says, “As long as I can remember, I’ve been wanting to make a record with my Dad; he’s the one who taught me how to play.”

Speaking of his urgency to get the project underway Strings recalled, “I’ve been burning up and down the highways the last 12 years, and as time slips away, you start thinking, ‘I need to make time.’

“It’s been a bucket list thing for me, something I’ve been afraid I wouldn’t find the time to do. And that scared me; not doing this record scared me.”

Tracked at Sound Emporium Studios in Nashville and self-produced with Gary Paczosa, Me/and/Dad captures the familiar comfort of the father and son duo’s performances as they trade vocal and guitar leads with natural ease.

Tracklist is as follows:

Get The Pick Newsletter

All the latest guitar news, interviews, lessons, reviews, deals and more, direct to your inbox!

• "Long Journey Home" (bluegrass traditional)
• "Life To Go" (written by George Jones)
• "Way Downtown" (written by Doc Watson)
• "Little Blossom" (written by Hank Thompson) 
• "Peartree" (written by Arthel Lane “Doc” Watson, Gaither Carlton) 
• "Stone Walls and Steel Bars" (written by Ray Pennington, Roy Eugene Marcum) 
• "Little White Church" (written by Eugene Wellman) 
• "Dig A Little Deeper (In The Well)" (written by Jody Emerson, Roger Bowling) 
• "Wandering Boy" (written by A.P. Carter) 
• "John Deere Tractor" (written by Lawrence Hammond) 
• "Frosty Morn" (bluegrass traditional) 
• "I Haven’t Seen Mary In Years" (written by Damon Black) 
• "Little Cabin Home On The Hill" (written by Lester Flatt, Bill Monroe) 
• "Heard My Mother Weeping" (written by Carl Story, Lowell Blanchard)

In addition to special appearances by Jerry Douglas , Jason Carter and Strings’ mother, Debra Barber, the album features an all-star band comprising bassist Mike Bub, mandolinist Ron McCoury, banjo player Rob McCoury and fiddler Michael Cleveland.

Me/and/Dad appears following the release of the award-winning 2021 LP Renewal . This 16-song album showcases Strings as a unique performer pushing acoustic guitar music into new areas.

One of the Top 50 Most Played Albums at Americana Radio last year, Renewal made several of the year’s ‘best of’ lists while drawing praise from The New York Times who declared Strings, “a premier bluegrass mind for this post-everything era.”

Pre-order Me/and/Dad by Billy Strings here .

Rod Brakes is a music journalist with an expertise in guitars. Having spent many years at the coalface as a guitar dealer and tech, Rod's more recent work as a writer covering artists, industry pros and gear includes contributions for leading publications and websites such as  Guitarist ,  Total Guitar , Guitar World ,  Guitar Player  and  MusicRadar   in addition to specialist music books, blogs and social media. He is also a lifelong musician.

“I bought my ’59 sunburst Les Paul from my first wife’s brother... he’d gotten sick – he called me and said, ‘I’m probably not gonna make it. Will you buy my Les Paul?’ Now it gets to live on and still make music”: Vince Gill on his beloved 'Burst

“When I heard Lindley play that, I went, ‘That’s the most incredible thing I’ve ever heard in my entire life’”: All-star tribute show in honor of David Lindley, one of the greatest sidemen of all time, announced

“We all grew up with their music, looking at the album covers, and learning these classic guitar riffs and parts”: Jackson Browne, John Mellencamp, Mavis Staples honored by Bruce Springsteen at second annual American Music Honors show

Most Popular

• 2 “If we were recording at Olympic Studios, we would often hear Led Zeppelin. I’d see Jimmy Page sitting there, overdubbing in darkness”: Peter Frampton reveals the stories behind five of his classic tracks
• 3 Three guitars that exemplify the PRS SE line in 2024 – reasonably priced, impeccably put-together, and versatile in terms of both tone and playability: PRS SE CE24, SE Custom 24 Quilt and SE Swamp Ash Special review
• 4 “I bought my ’59 sunburst Les Paul from my first wife’s brother... he’d gotten sick – he called me and said, ‘I’m probably not gonna make it. Will you buy my Les Paul?’ Now it gets to live on and still make music”: Vince Gill on his beloved 'Burst
• 5 “Noel’s process is purely guitar. He’s so in love with the chords, and he was cycling through and through... He wouldn’t stop until he was satisfied”: How Noel Gallagher and Beck helped bring the Black Keys' latest funky full-length, Ohio Players, to life

Header Main

• Indigenous Voices
• Black Voices
• Artist of the Month
• The Resonator
• One to Watch
• Good Country
• Ed's Picks
• BGS Presents
• Contests and Giveaways

WATCH: Billy Strings With Terry Barber, “Long Journey Home” (From ‘ME/AND/DAD’)

Artists: Billy Strings & Terry Barber Song: “Long Journey Home” Album: ME/AND/DAD Release Date: November 18, 2022 Label: Rounder Records

In Their Words: “As long as I can remember, I’ve wanted to make a record with my dad. He’s the one who taught me how to play. I’ve been burning up and down the highways the last 12 years, and as time slips away, you start thinking, ‘I need to make time.’ It’s been a bucket list thing for me, something I’ve been afraid I wouldn’t find the time to do. And that scared me; not doing this record scared me.” — Billy Strings

Editor’s Note: The product of a longtime dream, ME/AND/DAD features new versions of fourteen bluegrass and country classics that the two have been playing together since Strings was a young child. Produced by Strings and Gary Paczosa and recorded at Sound Emporium Studio in Nashville, the record features an all-star band including bassist Mike Bub, mandolinist Ron McCoury, banjo player Rob McCoury and fiddler Michael Cleveland as well as guest appearances by Jerry Douglas, Jason Carter and Strings’ mother, Debra Barber, who sings on “I Heard My Mother Weeping.”

Photo Credit: Joshua Black Wilkins

Suggested Reads

Sitewide Footer Banner

Want in on the newest musical releases, in depth artist features, can’t miss shows, and more sign up now to receive bgs to your inbox., we respect your privacy., privacy overview.

Long Journey Home

• Way Downtown
• Little Blossom
• Stone Walls and Steel Bars
• Little White Church
• Dig A Little Deeper (In The Well)
• Wandering Boy
• John Deere Tractor
• Frosty Morn
• I Haven’t Seen Mary In Years
• Little Cabin Home On The Hill
• Heard My Mother Weeping

Bluegrass Traditional

BILLY STRINGS: GUITAR, VOCALS TERRY BARBER: GUITAR, VOCALS

"Long Journey Home" lyrics

• Elvis Costello Lyrics

Popular Song Lyrics

Billboard Hot 100

Upcoming Lyrics

Recently Added

Top Lyrics of 2011

Top Lyrics of 2010

Top Lyrics of 2009

More »

Popular Artists

Artists A-Z

Popular Albums

Upcoming Albums

Hip Hop/Rap

All Genres »

Daily Roundup

Album Reviews

Song Reviews

Sign In Register

Submit Lyrics

• Song Lyrics
• Artists - E
• Elvis Costello Lyrics
• The Wide World Over: A 40 Year Celebration Album
• Long Journey Home (Anthem) (from Long Journey Home) Lyrics

Elvis Costello - Long Journey Home (Anthem) (from Long Journey Home) Lyrics

Artist: Elvis Costello

Album: The Wide World Over: A 40 Year Celebration

If on every ocean the ship is a throne And for each mast cut down another sapling is grown Then I could believe that I'm bound to find A better life than I left behind But as you ascend the ladder Look out below where you tread For the colors bled as they overflowed Red, white and blue Green, white and gold So I had to leave from my country of birth As for each child grown tall Another lies in the earth And for every rail we laid in the loam There's a thousand miles of the long journey home But as you ascend the ladder Look out below where you tread For the colors bled as they overflowed Red, white and blue Green, white and gold

Add Comment

The wide world over: a 40 year celebration tracklist.

Get the embed code

Elvis Costello Lyrics provided by SongLyrics.com

Note: When you embed the widget in your site, it will match your site's styles (CSS). This is just a preview!

Preview the embedded widget

In the Know

Popular elvis costello lyrics.

Cannot annotate a non-flat selection. Make sure your selection starts and ends within the same node.

An annotation cannot contain another annotation.

Long Journey Home

   Lost all my money but a two dollar bill    Two dollar bill boys, two dollar bill    Lost all my money but a two dollar bill    I’m on my long journey home

Cloudy in the West and it looks like rain Looks like rain, boys, looks like rain Cloudy in the West and it looks like rain I’m on my long journey home

It’s dark and a raining and I want to go home Want to go home, boys, want to go home Its dark and a raining and I want to go home I’m on my long journey home

Homesick and lonesome and I’m feeling kind of blue Feeling kind of blue, boys, feeling kind of blue Homesick and lonesome and I’m feeling kind of blue I’m on my long journey home

There’s black smoke a rising and it surely is a train Surely is a train boys, surely is a train There’s black smoke a rising and it surely is a train I’m on my long journey home

Long Journey Home [RCA]

Original tv soundtrack.

STREAM OR BUY:

Release Date

Recording location, allmusic review, user reviews, track listing, similar albums.

New album out now

The Long Journey Home

Release Date: September 16, 2016 Produced by: Vaneese Thomas and Wayne Warnecke Label: Segue Records

“This lass is going to keep the family name shining in the business as she charts her way to the future—even if it’s via a welcome return to the past.  This music is timeless, it isn’t about fashion.” Chris Spector, Midwest Record

“ True to her pedigree, Vaneese Thomas digs deep into Southern-fried r&b and soul/blues, dosed with just the right amounts of style and swagger.” Roots Music Report

“Possibly her best music to date, Thomas has emerged from the shadow of a career as a background vocalist with artists such as Aretha Franklin, Sting and Stevie Wonder, to shining center stage. Thomas, an award-winning singer, has a winding musical journey with forays into R&B, jazz and gospel.” TheUrbanMusicScene.com

Vaneese is in the GRAMMY first ballot categories with the following songs:

American Roots Performance: “The Chain” American Roots Song: “I’ve Got A Man in TN” Best Contemporary Blues Album:  The Long Journey Home

The Long Journey Home charted at #7 on the Living Blues Radio Chart in September of 2016 and has received international airplay including in Canada, Belgium, Australia, France, Italy, England, Macedonia and The Netherlands.

Reviews for The Long Journey Home

Listening to  The Long Journey Home  feels like a night-long dance party as each song tests the boundaries of southern American roots genres. Vaneese Thomas celebrates her family and musical heritage in this latest album, following her most recent release  Blues for My Father  (2014). Raised in a talented and renowned musical family, Vaneese is the youngest daughter of Rufus Thomas and sister of Carla Thomas. R&B, soul, funk, and blues styles come naturally to Vaneese, and her ability to wield and experiment with these song varieties is evident in  The Long Journey Home .

Vaneese demands complete attention in her performance using powerful vocals with a full band including harmonica, electric guitar, and a brass section. She kicks off the album with “Sweet Talk Me,” a rockin’ rhythm and blues song with a catchy refrain and a chorus of back-up singers beckoning listeners to the dance floor. The album follows into “Lonely No More,” a song keeping with the Delta blues tradition about reclaiming self-confidence. The catchiest song of the album, “Sat’day Night on the River,” starts up with full energy and a swinging saxophone solo by Cliff Lyons. Perhaps one of the most surprising songs on this album, because of its unique blend of genres, is “Country Funk.” Demonstrating exactly what its title implies, Vaneese sings “I just can’t get enough of that country funk” while the percussion and brass section support elements of funk music, and dobro, banjo, and fiddle intertwine creating an intriguing mix of music traditions. The genres highlighted on this album convey Vaneese’s appreciation for the musically diverse reputation of Memphis.

Vaneese wrote songs on  The Long Journey Home   about her concerns on past and current social justice issues. Civil rights, imbalances of political power, and the need for love and kindness are common themes in songs such as “Mean World,” “Rockin’ Away the Blues,” and “The More Things Change,” during which she reflects on Sam Cooke’s timeless hit “A Change is Gonna Come”:

“Well, I’m still here waiting.

Hardly a damn thing has been done.

Well ain’t it funny? I said, it’s a shame

That the more things change, the more they stay the same”

Vaneese attempts to offer something for everyone on this album, whether they are songs about love and inspiration as in “Mystified” and “Prince of Fools” or songs with heavier blues and gospel roots like “I Got a Man in TN” or “Revelation.” The album closes with a cover of “The Chain,” originally written by Fleetwood Mac. It is a distinctive concluding track relative to the rest of the album for its minimalist acoustic instrumental section. Nevertheless, Vaneese sings out with her heart’s full power, which she sustains throughout the album.

Jennie Williams Black Grooves, September 2016

Vanesse Thomas, legendary R&B, jazz and soul blues musician today announced the upcoming release of her seventh studio album, The Long Journey Home on Segue Records. Following the critically- acclaimed success of Blues for my Father, a daughter’s ode to the late Rufus Thomas, Vaneese is returning to her blues roots in a thoughtful, passionate body of work that pays homage to her world-renowned musical influences.

Possibly her best music to date, Thomas has emerged from the shadow of a career as a background vocalist with artists such as Aretha Franklin, Sting and Stevie Wonder, to shining center stage. Thomas, an award-winning singer, has a winding musical journey with forays into R&B, jazz and gospel.

“It was a thrill to sing these songs live with a band in-studio just like my father, Rufus Thomas, did at Stax and Sun Records,” said Thomas who wrote 11 out of the 12 songs on The Long Journey Home. A collection of blues stylings that does her native Memphis proud, Thomas and the veteran musicians on the album bring deep understanding to its tracks. Thomas’ rendition of the pop/blues hit “The Chain” by Fleetwood Mac is the record’s jewel; she sings this song with a pathos that takes your breath away.

theurbanmusicscene.com

True to her pedigree, Vaneese Thomas digs deep into Southern-fried r&b and soul/blues, dosed with just the right amounts of style and swagger. Daughter and sister, respectively, of Stax Records legends Rufus and Carla Thomas, Ms. T  proves herself a formidable talent in her own right, matching a classic vocal delivery with lyrically sharp, true-to-the-genre original songs. Standouts include “Sweet Talk Me”, “Mystified” and “Prince Of Fools”.  The sole cover, a haunting take on Fleetwood Mac’s “The Chain” sounds tailor-made and should draw attention as well. Studio backup and production is first-rate

Roots Music Report Review

VANEESE THOMAS/ The Long Journey Home:  When you have a dad named Rufus and his label Stax coursing through your veins, it’s a sure bet you can deliver a deep soul Southern gem.  Of course, not to respect Thomas’ own chops is a crime.  More down home than her debut, Thomas takes off the gloves and isn’t afraid to get down and dirty in the potato hole to dig out all the sound that can be.  This lass is going to keep the family name shining in the business as she charts her way to the future—even if it’s via a welcome return to the past.  This music is timeless, it isn’t about fashion.

Chris Spector Midwest Record

• Upcoming Film Scores
• Upcoming Soundtrack Albums
• Music Team Credits
• Follow us on Twitter

Film Music Reporter

Recent posts.

• Weekly Film Music Roundup (April 26, 2024)
• ‘Backstairs at the White House’ World Premiere Soundtrack Release Announced
• ‘Humane’ Soundtrack Album Released
• ‘The Idea of You’ Soundtrack Album Details
• ‘A Man in Full’ Soundrack Album Released
• ‘Descendants: The Rise of Red’ Soundtrack Album Announced
• El Michels Affair’s Songs from Moritz Mohr’s ‘Boy Kills World’ Released
• ‘Shardlake’ Soundtrack Album Released
• Florist’s Original Song ‘Riding Around in the Dark’ from A24’s ‘I Saw the TV Glow’ Released
• Soundtrack Album for Paramount+’s ‘Knuckles’ to Be Released

Recent Comments

• trados on Academy Announces Updates Rules in Original Score Category
• basco on Academy Announces Updates Rules in Original Score Category
• liamdude5 on Academy Announces Updates Rules in Original Score Category
• PK on ‘The Garfield Movie’ Soundtrack Album Details
• liamdude5 on Keith Urban’s & Snoop Dogg’s Original Song ‘Let It Roll’ from ‘The Garfield Movie’ Released
• Composer Interviews
• Film Music Albums
• Film Music Events
• Film Music News
• Film Scoring Assignments
• Television Music Albums
• TV Music Albums
• TV Scoring Assignments

Brett Young’s Original Song ‘Long Way Home’ from ‘Father Stu’ Released

Name (required)

Mail (will not be published) (required)

XHTML: You can use these tags: <a href="" title=""> <abbr title=""> <acronym title=""> <b> <blockquote cite=""> <cite> <code> <del datetime=""> <em> <i> <q cite=""> <s> <strike> <strong>

• Search Please fill out this field.
• Manage Your Subscription
• Give a Gift Subscription
• Newsletters
• Sweepstakes
• Entertainment

Jon Bon Jovi Says Bruce Springsteen Is Like a 'Big Brother': We're on a 'Whole Different Level of Friendship' (Exclusive)

Bruce Springsteen appears in the new docuseries 'Thank You, Goodnight: The Bon Jovi Story,' streaming on Hulu on April 26

Kevin Mazur/Getty

Few artists have more hometown pride than New Jersey natives Jon Bon Jovi and Bruce Springsteen — so it should be no surprise that two of the Garden State’s favorite sons have forged a fruitful friendship.

Bon Jovi, 62, opens up to PEOPLE about his bond with The Boss, 74, explaining that while he considered Springsteen “a hero growing up,” he now knows him as a friend.

“Our connection is deep, on a whole different level of friendship, because how many guys can talk like we can talk, in close quarters, about life and love and loss?” he says, joking that Springsteen is “the Ghost of Christmas Future” due to their age gap and similar life paths. “Our relationship is deep, and he’s a dear friend of mine, and he really is like a big brother.”

The “Livin’ on a Prayer” rocker grew up in Sayreville, about 18 miles from Springsteen’s hometown of Freehold. On one fateful night in the late 1970s, when he was still in high school, Bon Jovi performed a Springsteen cover at a local venue — only for Springsteen himself to show up and join him.

“It was so inspirational because those records by the [Asbury] Jukes, and by Bruce, were written and sung by guys in our backyard,” he says. “They weren’t the centerfolds of Circus magazine that made the dream just out of reach. These guys were capable of making the impossible seem possible.”

Debra L Rothenberg/FilmMagic

The early duet is a moment Bon Jovi reflects upon in the new docuseries Thank You, Goodnight: The Bon Jovi Story (streaming Friday, April 26 on Hulu). In the series, he says he was singing a cover of “The Promised Land” when The Boss appeared.

“I looked up, and there’s Bruce onstage with me. That was the guy,” he says in the docuseries. “And he jumps up and sings his song with me…. So you go to high school the next day. Needless to say, you look at the teacher and you look at the kids, and you go, ‘I got a story to tell!’ and it’s a lot better than history class.”

Springsteen also appears in Thank You, Goodnight , and offers his initial impression of the young rocker.

Jake Chessum

“I like to play. I think that was [what I heard], ‘There’s some young kid running around here from New Jersey, he’s making some kind of noise,’” he says. “That was the first thing I knew about Jon. He’s a hardworking guy, put everything he had into his music… We’ve become much closer, probably as we’ve gotten older here, you know, recently, as being the only two guys in the same game here.”

Later in the series, Bon Jovi — who will release the new album Forever on June 7 — reveals that he and Springsteen take long drives together, with no phones and no radio to distract them, sometimes “for 100 miles.”

“It means the world to me, someone who’s a step down the road, on the journey,” says Bon Jovi. “One time, a few years back, when we were comparing where we were in our lives as it pertained to life, journey, career, he brought up that word of mortality, and that never crossed my mind at that time. And I was like, ‘Oh yeah, mortality, that’s still on the horizon.’ So I have a different perspective now.”

For more on Jon Bon Jovi, pick up the new issue of PEOPLE, on newsstands everywhere now.

Related Articles

'American Idol' recap: Gene Simmons helps Top 14 contestants hit their stride; 2 go home

Under Gene Simmons ' mentorship, the brightest stars on "American Idol" Season 22 broke away from the pack by taking chances and showing a new side of themselves during Rock & Roll Hall of Fame week.

The Top 14 contestants heard the call to bring it, and there's no doubt that everyone who's still in the game is wildly talented.

But a few of the "Idol" hopefuls, including Triston Harper and Julia Gagnon , went the extra mile. They wisely showed viewers – and judges  Katy Perry ,  Luke Bryan  and  Lionel Richie – their dedication to growing during this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity by going out of their comfort zone with their physical appearances.

Triston ditched his trusty hat and guitar to show off his best Elvis Presley moves while Julia went full-glam for Whitney Houston .

Simmons, a Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee, was an integral part of Sunday's episode as the celebrity mentor injected a dose of confidence in each contestant as he met with them. The KISS bassist/vocalist's feedback also carried weight as he personally knew almost every Hall of Fame artist the singers covered, and gave great advice on the intention and meaning behind the songs.

Regardless of how good these 14 contestants were, two singers had to leave at the end of the night. Here's what led to their elimination in Episode 12.

What happened last week? First platinum ticket singer sent home during Top 14 reveal

Emmy Russell seemed unsure of herself covering Bonnie Raitt

The granddaughter of the late Country Music Hall of Famer Loretta Lynn  has thus far wowed viewers with the emotion she's infused in every performance. But on Sunday she seemed to step back from her journey to gaining confidence on stage.

As she capped off a decent, but far from standout, performance of Bonnie Raitt's "I Can't Make You Love Me" (a song we heard earlier this season, during the since-eliminated Elleigh Marie's audition), Emmy broke off at the end with a nervous-seeming laugh, as if she was unsure how that went.

The judges reassured the 25-year-old singer/songwriter she didn't need to dance across every corner of the stage and hit the highest notes for a good performance.

"You're not competing for any of them," Perry told her. "You're competing against yourself, and tonight you won."

Katy Perry changes her mind on Jack Blocker: 'You're the coolest'

Jack Blocker made what Simmons called a "brave" choice by singing Bob Dylan's "Don’t Think Twice, It's All Right." But there was nothing to worry about here; with his unique twang and piercingly strong voice, the 25-year-old graphic designer made a lasting impression.

He also showed it's possible to have swagger without even getting up from a stool. As he strummed the guitar on the catwalk, Jack seemed to want to connect more with his audience Sunday night than he cared about being perceived by the judges.

Jack pulled off Dylan effortlessly in this standout performance. To quote Richie: "You made a Bob Dylan song your song."

Perry admitted she's come a long way from when she was unconvinced by Jack's audition with the now-signature shapes his mouth makes. "You're just so cool. I think I was wrong; you’re the coolest," she said.

Triston Harper tries on a new look sans hat and guitar − and it pays off

He's no Elvis yet, but Triston is well on his way with his killer wink-and-smile look and boot scootin' moves.

The 15-year-old high school student showed how serious he is about his growth as a performer on "Idol," vowing "to break loose from the stage a bit" by leaving the signature guitar and cowboy hat at home. As great as he is with those accessories, Triston was still a joy to watch as the charismatic teen shook his hips and interacted with the crowd while performing Elvis Presley's "Heartbreak Hotel."

When he was done, Perry looked like she hardly knew what to do with herself.

"I thought you were a good Christian boy!" she exclaimed. "You scared me, and you scared your mother."

Mandisa dies: Police investigating after 'American Idol' alum was found dead in her home

Jordan Anthony made a safe choice – but 'I Wanna Dance with Somebody' was one of his best performances

At this point, what-can't-she-do vocal powerhouse Julia Gagnon and gives-Hayley-Williams-a-run-for-her-money Jayna Elise had already done the Whitney Houston thing with "Run to You" and "I Have Nothing," respectively. So Jordan Anthony's announcement that he'd be taking a stab at one of Houston's most popular songs was concerning.

There are hundreds of Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductees, and the "Idol" contestants were not showing much creativity with their song choices.

But fortunately for all, the 19-year-old from Perth, Australia, managed to make "I Wanna Dance with Somebody (Who Loves Me)" his own. It really did seem like he wanted to dance with somebod- ay as he interacted with the audience and showed off his infectious smile.

Even without any mind-blowing vocal moments that perhaps some of his competitors would've brought to the song, Jordan put on an enjoyable performance.

"You sounded like a super-pro. I think that was the best performance you've ever given us," Perry told him. "You've grown so much."

Who was eliminated from 'American Idol'?

Unfortunately, Jordan's arguably best performance and Nya's unbelievable vocals in her take on Aretha Franklin didn't garner enough of America's votes to make it into the Top 12.

Who's in the 'American Idol' 2024 Top 12?

• Roman Collins
• Mia Matthews
• Triston Harper
• Julia Gagnon
• Jack Blocker
• Jayna Elise
• Mckenna Breinholt
• Kaibrienne "KB" Richins
• Emmy Russell
• Will Moseley
• Sam "Kayko" Kelly-Cohen

Hot Springs hosts weekend of ballads, storytelling with Jane Gentry's great-granddaughter

HOT SPRINGS - As thru-hikers make their Appalachian Trail trek through Hot Springs, many of them may choose to stop for a rest at Sunnybank Inn in Hot Springs, and some may not know about the extensive history of the building prior to their visit.

The weekend of May 3-5, Madison County residents will hear from Daron Douglas, the great-granddaughter of famous Madison County ballad singer, Jane Hicks Gentry, as Douglas will be hosting a weekend of traditional songs, history and folklore at the inn, which has been owned by Elmer Hall since 1978.

The Sunnybank Inn event, Voices of Yore, is a retreat that includes four workshop sessions and meals, plus two nights accommodations.

On May 4, Douglas will put on a free event at Chestnut Hall in which she will perform a number of her great-grandmother's ballads, and a question and answer session will follow.

The weekend festivities will close with a church service at nearby Dorland Memorial Presbyterian Church.

Douglas, who lives in New Orleans, plays fiddle and dulcimer and sings ballads passed down by her family.

Across from the Dorland Memorial Baptist Church sits the Dorland Institute, a Presbyterian mission school where Jane Hicks Gentry, who was born in Watauga County, and her husband Newt Gentry enrolled their nine children.

While living at the home that is now Sunnybank, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, Gentry taught the piano to many family members, including her daughter — Douglas' grandmother — Lillie Maude Gentry Long, and a host of Madison County residents as well.

Lillie Maude Gentry Long went on to teach a number of Madison County residents, as well.

Jane Hicks Gentry was featured prominently in Cecil Sharp's 1916 book, "English Folk Songs of the Southern Appalachia." Sharp's journey to the mountains of North Carolina served as an inspiration for the 2000 drama film "Songcatcher."

"This set off the whole interest in Appalachian culture," Hall said. "The rest of the country thought everybody down here was a drunken hillbilly hick. But it wasn't at all. There were real centers of high culture, and Jane Gentry was one of those people.

"Sharp discovered the Southern ballad tradition that's still alive here. In England, they'd forgotten the melodies, but they didn't know what they sounded like. So, when he came here, he went nuts, because he was a musicologist."

Ultimately, Sharp collected more than 70 songs from Gentry in his two volumes of Southern Appalachian songs, more than from any other artist.

As for Sunnybank Inn, the historic Hot Springs home where Jane Hicks Gentry lived for many years, Hall first visited the home in 1976 when he stayed at the home while hiking the Appalachian Trail.

Hall, a self-proclaimed "historian by nature" was living in Madison County and searching for a home when he saw Gentry's granddaughter was selling the home. He ended up buying it in 1978.

Hall said he is excited about Douglas's return to Hot Springs.

"It's fun to hear stories about what was where, when, and that sort of thing," said Hall of Douglas's presentations. "It's always fun to visit with Daron, and she's a great musician and storyteller."

The home was built in 1840, and Hall still celebrates the musical history of the Italianate Victorian home. When The News-Record & Sentinel paid Hall a visit April 18, he said Sunnybank, which he refers to as a "hiker hostel," held a jam session featuring a number of hikers the night before, as the music room boasts a number of stringed instruments, as well as the same piano Gentry played in the 1910s when Sharp visited her.

Douglas spent many summers in the home while she was growing up.

Douglas visits Hot Springs at least once a year for family reunions, but the workshop and presentation weekend will mark her first since 2016.

"I'm totally excited because I sing the ballads lots of places, and I play for English country dancing and contra dancing, and whenever I play a festival, we'd always have a ballad swap, and no matter where I would go people would say, 'That song just reminds me of my grandmother,' she said.

"So I think the place is important, but the time, it takes people to another time. So, to have the place added in, it's going to explode. It's amazing to have them in that house where those ballads were sung to me, and before me, and before my mom. It's amazing."

Some of the songs she will be performing might mark the first time the songs have been played in Madison County in more than 100 years, according to Douglas.

"One of the songs is the most beautiful song about lovesickness, and it ends with, 'My drink shall be of trouble's tears.' If that kind of poetry doesn't settle your heart, that gives me chills. That's poetry," she said.

"We're always looking for new ways to say things. This is finding old ways to say things."

For more information and reservations to the retreat, call 828-622-7206.

Johnny Casey has served more than three years as the Madison County communities reporter for The Citizen Times and The News-Record & Sentinel. He was recognized with a first-place award in beat news reporting in 2023 by the North Carolina Press Association.

From Turks & Caicos to South Jersey to ... NFL? That's the plan for Yvandy Rigby

Yvandy Rigby wouldn’t want to be anywhere else.

As he anxiously waits to hear if his name gets called at the NFL Draft this weekend, the hulking 6-foot-2, 230-pound linebacker plans to just “chill with (his) family.”

Amazing when one considers that the kid from a tropical island didn’t even know what a football was, nor did he know the people he now calls family, when he reached the United States a decade ago.

Rigby is projected to be a late-round pick in this weekend’s NFL Draft and, if that doesn’t develop, he would likely be signed as an undrafted free agent by a team.

“It’s been a great journey,” said Rigby, a native of Turks and Caicos, an island group about 230 miles north of the Dominican Republic and 1,300 miles from South Jersey.

“If it’s going to happen, it will happen. This is what I’ve worked for.”

He would become the second player drafted from Turks and Caicos, joining Faion Hicks, who was selected by the Denver Broncos in the 2022 NFL Draft.

Rigby hopes to celebrate with the Stetsers — who took Rigby into their family when he was a junior at Egg Harbor Township High School. Kevin Stetser is a special education teacher and former head football coach at EHT.

“When I came to live with them, that’s when I began to flourish like a flower,” Rigby said. “They sacrificed so much for me. Coach was the father figure in my life and (with his wife Laura), they definitely took on the mom and dad role when I needed it the most.”

Long way from home

Rigby calls his homeland a “beautiful island,” a paradise for tourists and fishermen.

What it doesn’t have, according to Rigby, is a lot of opportunities.

“I had a lot of ambition and it just wasn’t going to happen there,” he said.

His mother, Almonthe, wanted the best for son, a chance to succeed in life. That was going to be a challenge on the British Overseas Territory.

So, at the age of 14, Rigby entered the United States and lived with a family friend. He attended Atlantic City High School as a freshman.

That’s where he was introduced to football.

“Never even grabbed a football in my life, but it was love at first sight,” said Rigby, who was recruited by one of the football players to give the sport a try because of his size.

Love didn’t translate into success right away. It was more like heartache.

“I was terrible,” he said with soft laugh. “They put me on defense, I was playing safety. The running back broke through the hole. I had no idea what I was doing. He juked me and I fell down on the ground. Everybody on the whole field was laughing at me.

“I never wanted to feel that way again. I knew I had to get better.”

So Rigby kept practicing, but he also turned to YouTube.

“I just watched as many videos as I could,” Rigby said. “I became a student of the game. I watched Peyton Manning on how to throw spirals. I watched Jerry Rice on how he worked out. I watched all the greats and how they worked to get better. I needed to sharpen my tools and get better.”

No Friday Night Lights

When he arrived stateside, Rigby joined the Seventh-Day Adventist Church, his guardian’s faith.

The church observes Saturday as the Sabbath, which begins at sunset on Friday.

That meant no Friday Night football for Rigby.

While he was practicing hard throughout the week, not being able to compete in a game with his teammates really tested his faith.

“I just felt like there was this big cloud over my head that I couldn’t shake off,” Rigby said. “I was a true believer in Christ. I was also passionate about the game.

“I went all out at practice. I wanted the guys next to me to get better. It made me feel good as a teammate. But it also took a toll on me not being able to go out there and showcase my talents. I got angry during that time. I was questioning things like why I had this skill, but couldn’t showcase it (in games).”

Before his junior season at EHT, Rigby and Stetser arranged a meeting with the church’s pastor and Rigby’s guardian to talk about playing football on Friday nights.

After getting the OK from his mother, Rigby said the pastor also gave his blessing for him to play. However, his guardian still balked at the idea.

“I thought that meeting was going to go nice and smooth,” Rigby said. “The pastor said I was a young, Black man who came to this country and is trying to better his life. But my guardian got so angry, and said, ‘If he plays in that game on Friday night, I’m going to kick him out of the house.’”

“That’s when I started to get really paranoid. I was worried. I was 16 years old.”

The day of the season opener against Millville, Rigby was thrilled to wear his varsity jersey to school, but was “also losing my mind” about what would happen later that night when he got home.

But he drew some comfort, remembering that Stetser said he would have his back whatever decision he made.

Rigby took the field that night. When he arrived home, all of his clothes were in a black trash bag.

Before moving in with the Stetser family, Rigby remembers meeting Laura for the first time.

When Rigby was a sophomore, Kevin Stetser noticed he kept looking at the sun as he competed in the javelin throw at the Woodbury Relays. The athlete was getting really antsy, the coach realized.

“He tells me he has to be home before that sun goes down and I’m like, 'You couldn’t have told me that earlier?'” Kevin said. “There I am, asking my wife to drive a kid who she’s never met in her life back home.”

The usually quiet Rigby was a “chatterbox” on the one-hour ride, opening up to Laura like she was a best friend.

“We talked the whole ride home,” Rigby said. “She was just so accepting. We talked about a lot of things, but I just remember telling her Coach was wrong, I’m not a linebacker, I should be a safety.”

For eight months after playing in that fateful Friday night game, Rigby bounced around, staying with the Stetsers, offensive coordinator Jim DeBendictis Jr.’s family, and his guardian. On Mother’s Day weekend in 2017, Rigby moved in full-time with the Stetsers.

While he was the newest member of the Stetser household, Rigby was still for responsible for chores, even one he had never experienced before: shoveling snow.

“I’d never seen snow in my life,” Rigby said.

He was even pressed into some babysitting duties, watching the Stetsers’ son Jack and daughter Madeleine, who were 7 and 8 at the time.

Higher learning

Rigby’s dream of playing in the NFL will likely be as a linebacker, something he and his high school football coach still laugh about now.

“As frustrating as it is, I tell him every day that he was right, I’m a linebacker," Rigby said.

Kevin Stetser knew where Rigby’s strength was on the football field, but he also had a good feeling of what type of kid he was bringing home to join his family.

“He attached himself to this crazy train of our family and what a ride it’s been,” Stetser said. “We consider him our son. He has a heart of gold. And we’re extremely proud of what he has become.

“He’s worked for everything that he’s earned. When he first moved in with us, he learned one of our neighbors was a reading specialist. He met with her every single night to help improve his reading level. He wanted to be a better student.”

After graduating from Egg Harbor Township, Rigby played one season at Milford Academy (N.Y.) before landing in North Philadelphia at Temple University.

Rigby was a three-year letter winner with 207 tackles in 35 career games for the Cherry and White and earned a single-digit uniform number, a huge deal in Temple tradition that is awarded to those who lead on and off the field. He was only the second TU player to ever wear No. 0.

Rigby graduated last spring with a bachelor’s degree in Adult Organization Development.

“Getting that degree was the highlight of my career,” Rigby said. “It means a lot because I wasn’t the most studious student in school when I got to the United States. Football came natural for me. School was more challenging than football for me, a lot more challenging.

“I wanted to make my mom proud. She gambled and risked a lot in me (in letting me come to the United States). She would never ask me about football, she always asked me about getting my degree and how that was going.”

Rigby’s mom and two sisters, Johnika and Ashley, have moved to the United States and remain a big part in Yvandy’s life. His two older brothers, John and John Paul, remain in Turks and Caicos.

“My mom has come to some of my games, but she always watches with her hands over eyes. She’s afraid of me getting hurt,” Yvandy said.

If Rigby gets the opportunity to play on Sundays in the fall, he would become the first player from Egg Harbor Township to make the NFL.

A path that began with so much uncertainty has turned into an unbelievable journey.

Tom McGurk is a regional sports reporter for the Courier-Post, The Daily Journal and Burlington County Times, covering South Jersey sports for over 30 years. If you have a sports story that needs to be told, contact him at (856) 486-2420 or email  [email protected] . Follow him on Twitter at @McGurkSports. Help support local journalism with a digital subscription.

Find anything you save across the site in your account

Sophia Bush Responds to ‘Home-Wrecker’ Label Amid New Relationship With Ashlyn Harris

Sophia Bush is fighting back against those who accusing her of being a “home-wrecker” in her relationship with former US soccer player Ashlyn Harris, calling the internet rumors “blatant lies.”

In case you missed it, news broke in October 2023 that Bush and Harris were seeing each other, shortly after it was reported that Harris and fellow soccer star Ali Krieger were getting divorced. Although the news of the split was reported in October, Harris, who shares two young kids with Krieger, had filed for divorce in mid-September. For her part, Bush had split with her husband a few months prior.

After the news of their relationship became public, many online began to accuse Bush and Harris of getting together while they were still with their respective spouse. However, in her raw and emotional April 2024 Glamour cover story, Sophia Bush is putting the rumors to rest, once and for all.

Namely, she says, there was no wrongdoing on either side. In fact, she writes, she and Harris met in a makeshift support group for friends going through a divorce. But just as quickly as the couple started to explore their future together the internet rumors began—and they usually do—and it “quickly turned ugly,” she writes.

“What felt like seconds after I started to see what was in front of me, the online rumor mill began to spit in the ugliest ways,” Bush writes. “There were blatant lies. Violent threats. There were the accusations of being a home-wrecker. The ones who said I’d left my ex because I suddenly realized I wanted to be with women—my partners have known what I’m into for as long as I have (so that’s not it, y’all, sorry!).”

Bush's April 2024 Glamour cover. Read her powerful essay here .

On the contrary, says Bush, both she and Harris worked hard to have “painful conversations” in order to be “graceful” with everyone's feelings. For Bush, the rumors felt unfair.

“The idea that I left my marriage based on some hysterical rendezvous—that, to be crystal-clear, never happened—rather than having taken over a year to do the most soul crushing work of my life? Rather than realizing I had to be the most vulnerable I’ve ever been, on a public stage, despite being terrified to my core? It feels brutal,” she writes.

She wants people to realize, she says, that sharing every detail of her personal life online isn't something she chose to do—and it's not fair game to speculate about it.

“Just because I didn’t want to process my realizations in real time on social media and spell them out for the world doesn’t mean the journey wasn’t long and thoughtful and exhaustive,” she says.

All people need to know? That she is in a happy relationship with Harris, where they can both be themselves.

“I am so lucky to be here, now. I have real joy. It took me 41 years to get here,” she says.

By Sophia Bush

Photography by Lauren Dukoff

By Sophia Bush and Grant Hughes