travel music love singers

• All Products
• Best Seller
• Short Sleeve
• Long Sleeve
• Kids Clothing
• instagram Instagram

Music Travel love (MTL) is a Canadian brother duo comprised of Bob and Clint Moffatt. Professionally performing from the early age of 4 with over 5,000 live performances, Clint and Bob certainly fall within the category of seasoned entertainers.

Along with their brothers, Scott and Dave, then called The Moffatts were signed to Polydor Records in Nashville and became the youngest band to ever sign a major label record deal. Over the course of their career, they sold in excess of seven million records, (likely another seven million on the Asian black market) recorded seven albums, have Gold and Platinum records in 32 countries, performed at one of the first ever paid concerts in China, performed the first ever outdoor stadium concert in Vietnam and, to this day, hold album sales records for an international act in Indonesia, Philippines, Malaysia, Thailand and Singapore!

In 2006, Clint and Bob moved back to Nashville where they re-established their careers as songwriters. They released 2 incredible EPs over this time frame. In 2015, they released an independent single Goodbye Baby on The Highway Sirius XM that charted in the top 20. In October of 2016, MTL released their single Amen for Women, which in a matter of weeks eclipsed well over 2 million views on YouTube. Their other EP, Happy ‘N High, was written, sung by, and produced by Bob and Clint in their own studio. In addition to writing for their own projects, they also write for other artists and projects. They have had three songs on Canadian artist Jimmy Rankin’s albums. Additionally, they’ve had four of their songs performed on the ABC prime time show, Nashville.

In 2018, MTL released a series of traveling studio videos which they titled Music Travel Love. Combining music, travel and their love for their families, Bob and Clint packed up their studio in a few small backpacks, headed across the world in search of the most beautiful destinations they could reach and filmed videos of both covers and their own originals. These videos are then shared across all of their rapidly growing social media platforms and YouTube – as well, every song is available on all streaming services.

To date - January 2021, their videos have grossed close to 900 million views on Facebook, Instagram, TIK TOK, and YouTube with over 7 million combined followers.

While Music Travel Love is a project they plan to grow throughout the years and continue to share with their fans all over the world, they are now expanding into new projects like: Music Travel Relax, Music Studio Love, and probably their personal favorites Music Travel Kids, and Music Java Love!

• Country Music
• Entertainment

What ‘Music Travel Love’ Has Been Up To Lately? Here’s an Exclusive Interview!

Canadian brother duo Bob and Clint Moffat, better known as Music Travel Love, are mostly recognized for their mission to travel the globe, chase waterfalls and hike to some of the world’s most scenic backdrops to shoot their incredible performances. So, it’s no longer a surprise how their YouTube videos resonated with many fans.

They currently have over two million subscribers who follow along to hear the band’s covers of songs by well-known artists, such as Johnny Cash, The Judds, Randy Travis, Dan + Shay, and many more.

We recently had the chance to talk to the pair about what it’s like working as a sibling, the challenges they had to face while filming outdoors, their next destinations, advice to aspiring artists out there, and so much more. Continue reading to learn about the duo!

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Music Travel Love (@musictravellove) on Jul 28, 2020 at 5:01pm PDT

Can you tell us a little bit about Music Travel Love? How did you get its start? What made you both come together and start pursuing a professional music career as a duo?

After years of auditioning for music labels, and never feeling that they quite got us, or for that matter we quite got them, we came to the conclusion that we may as well pursue what we loved and quit wasting our time trying to be what record label executives wanted. So after a short discussion we came to the conclusion that we loved making music, we totally enjoyed traveling, and we wanted to spend time with our families, thus the name Music Travel love. How did we get together – same egg – we are identical twins from a set of triplets, and we have an older brother, haha. We actually started as a duo in Thailand under SonyBMG Music back in 2005. 

You started working together since your childhood as The Moffats in 1998. What is it like working as siblings? 

We loved playing with our brothers; there’s a special tightness with brotherly harmonies – but hey, we are brothers, so we do have our differences, but those are short-lived. 

How did you both come up with the idea of taking your music on the road to such scenic spots? 

Actually, we were talking with a friend that worked for an RV manufacturer, and he was suggesting maybe we could travel around in his RV and perform at campgrounds. Well, that idea never came to fruition, but the idea of traveling to remote locations and recording our videos may have spawned from that; in any case, it seems to be working, and we are grateful for that.

How do you choose where to film? What has been your favorite location to record in so far, and why?

Quite often, we have tied in our video shoots with live performances. However, prior to COVID-19, we were asked by a number of countries Departments of Tourism like India, New Caledonia, Madagascar, Sri Lanka, and Vietnam to come film in their countries. Now they are on hold, but they still want us to come. As for a favorite location, that would be tough because they are all such cool experiences.  

What is the biggest challenge you face whenever you’re recording outside?  

WIND!!!!!!!

Who are some of your musical influences? How do you choose the songs you will cover?

Bryan Adams, The Beatles, we really love music, so we pretty much listen to it all. At first, we picked songs we liked and thought would be cool to cover, but as time marched on we decided we are actually doing this for the fans, so we look for songs that fit our vocals, that we feel we can make the original artist proud (John Fogerty liked our cover), and that the songs were pretty big hits so lots of people can identify them! 

Any particular song you’ve been itching to cover in the future?

There are a few, but you’ll have to wait and see – that said, we do want to pay our respect to Bryan Adams, Elvis, and The Beatles somewhere down the road. 

You collaborated with Summer Overstreet for your cover of Randy Travis’ “Forever and Ever, Amen,” are there any more artists you want to collaborate with?

We have written a lot of songs with Summer, who, by the way, is Paul Overstreet’s daughter, who just happened to write our biggest cover, “When You Say Nothing At All,” and “Forever and Ever, Amen.” As for collaborations in the future, maybe but nothing planned for our signature videos, but we will be doing a few Instagram Live, with artists from other countries, like Thailand and Brazil. 

Are you working on any original music? When can fans expect to hear it?

We are, and as soon as we get the first video shot, we will release track #1 sometime in the next couple of months.

Where are your next destinations?

Thanks to COVID likely somewhere in the Eastern US. 

You’ve been successful as a duo, what is your advice for young and aspiring artists?

David Foster once told us, “Guys there is no easy road, you’ve got to do this on your own, and when it happens you will be able to truly appreciate all of the hard work and effort it took to get there.” 

Hopefully, young aspiring artists will understand that it’s a job – we put in 8 to 10 hours a day, on writing, recording, and Social Media, with maybe one day off a week, at home and on the road. As Alan Jackson once said, “Success is just 5 short years away.”  

Make sure to check out Music Travel Love’s spine chilling cover of “When You Say Nothing at All” in the video below.

Music Travel Love

Lauren Daigle Says She Relates to Her Hit Gospel Song “You Say”

Let don williams serenade you with “till the rivers all run dry”, keith urban and john mayer rocks the stage with this beatles classic, 2020 acm awards update, allie colleen: 10 surprising facts about garth brooks’ daughter.

Find Out Why Ram Ranch Lyrics Are Making Everyone Intrigued

Don williams’ version of “i hope this day is good”, here’s how “the gambler” by kenny rogers became his signature hit, latest stories, hangout music festival 2024: what you need to know, freshgrass festival bentonville 2024: what you need to know, sleeping in the woods festival 2024: what you need to know, highways festival 2024: what you need to know, bear shadow festival 2024: what you need to know, rodney crowell teams up with harlan howard to create highway 101 hit song “somewhere tonight” .

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as essential are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies, but opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience.

Our Cookies

• Music Travel Love Interview: Q&A with Clint and Bob Moffatt

Music Travel Love Interview: Q&A with Clint and Bob Moffatt

Can you tell us a little bit about how Music Travel Love got its start and how you both came up with the idea to take your music on the road to such scenic spots?

What has been your favorite location to record in so far and why.

You record a combination of covers and original songs. How do you choose the songs you cover?

What is the biggest challenge you face when recording outside.

What A-T equipment do you bring on the road and what about these products keeps them in your recording arsenal?

• AE6100 : They are a really durable mic, and they sound great.
• ATH-M50 : These headphones are the best out there. They block out a ton of sound and the tone is really balanced. They just sound great. 
• ATW-T1001  

  View this post on Instagram   A post shared by Music Travel Love (@musictravellove) on Aug 27, 2019 at 5:13pm PDT

Music Travel Love Verified

Similar artists on tour, bandsintown merch.

Latest Post

Concerts and tour dates

Fan reviews.

About Music Travel Love

• WOW Presents Plus
• Prime Video

Music Travel Love – Brotherly Love at it’s Finest

Meet Music Travel Love, the travelling brother’s band featuring Bob and Clint Moffatt.

Growing up in the 90’s, you would have remembered Music Travel Love’s Clint and Bob Moffatt as part of the Canadian group of brothers, The Moffatts. They shared a stage with their eldest brother Scott and their fraternal triplet Dave since the ages of 3 and 4. 

The beginning of the boy’s journey all started with their recording of “Grandpa” as a gift for their grandfathers. So it was a pleasant surprise for all longstanding supporters to see one of Music Travel Love’s recent videos being the song that began it all. 

 They’ve sold over 6 million records, have received Gold and Platinum records in 32 countries, released 7 albums, and most of all won the hearts of all teen girls. As songwriters and musicians, they wrote all of their own songs, sang all of their own hits and played all of their own instruments. Many things have changed, but what has always remained the same is Clint and Bob’s passion for music, travelling, and love. 

Clint – Bob asked me, or I asked Bob, ‘What’s the most important thing in your life right now? Is what we are doing right now fulfilling?’ When it came down to it the most important things were music, family, and travelling. You know and so, we love going around the world. It’s a huge part of our life, it’s something we have been doing from a very young age and putting ourselves in different cultures and meeting people from all around the world. So Bob came up with the name, he said, ‘man, is it something as simple as music travel love. I mean, is that too simple?’ and we were like, you know what, it’s exactly what we want to say.

Since then, we found an audience that kind of comes into it from all those different parts. As we grow, we want to show people more of other things. The love aspect is something that, it’s about the love of music, and it’s also a family aspect. It’s also, one of the things that Music Travel Love is starting to provide for us, the opportunity to give back. Which has always been at the forefront for us. We’ve always wanted to do something and it’s always been us trying to figure out what that looks like. You know, what are the things that is really important for us to get behind. And so we are starting to put a lot of those things into our world, and we’re going to start making that a big part of what Music Travel Love is about. So, it’s a really exciting thing, we are really proud of it, and we are really excited that its got legs and people love it.

Clint and Bob Moffatt have and continue to make their mark in the music world. They play their own instruments, write their own original songs, and they write for other artists and projects as well. You can hear two of their songs on the hit show “Nashville” and you can find their songs on other artists’ albums.

Their tracks are released with the titles “Covering the World” Their title is relevant to the fact that their music videos are being filmed all across the globe, and the songs they choose to record are both covers and their own originals.

Clint – We never had that opportunity in our lives to sing other people’s songs. We always wrote our own songs. And so, covering songs that have stood the test of time, and that people have decided that they loved for years, you know, many years past its release date, has kind of taught us more about writing songs and more about singing songs I think than any other point in our lives. So this whole process has been amazing.

Katherine – So, what inspires the choices of locations you’ve filmed at?

Bob- We’re getting to a place right now where we’re actually able to start selecting some crazy cool places, and there are some people from all around the world that are reaching out. Places like India, and uh, what’s the, (Clint and Bob in unison-”South Africa”) like we were getting some people that are inviting us over to these places to showcase the views of their beautiful countries. But initially it was just a matter of us, you know, we’re located in the states. So our first initial trip we said well, it’s quite expensive to travel and to put these  videos together, and we did it out of our own pocket.

When you go out west, sort of that loop, that Colorado, California, Arizona, Utah loop. You can do a loop where you got these amazing backdrops within a one or two day drive. We were able to do that loop and get a bunch of content and I think we came out with 6 videos. That was the reason for doing that first loop, and then we went to Canada and we did the same thing throughout Alberta and B.C. There’s many other amazing places and we’d love to be able to get to Europe and the east coast in Canada.

Clint – When Bob and I find a location and get there, and we hold our guitars and we’re there kind of looking at the location, the song always comes to us, of what song we feel matches the scene. They can look different at different times of the day as well. You know, in the morning it looks different then it does in the day. They can project the feeling out of us, and whatever that feeling is, sometimes we’ll say, you know what, we’ve actually done a couple songs in a location, and then wasted the song. We were like (Clint and Bob in unison – “this isn’t working”). For us, that’s the important thing too, to get into the feeling of what that is. And so far we’ve been really lucky that we feel like it’s the right thing. It’s a very nice expression, you know.

Clint and Bob Moffatt have been making a mark in the music world. When you watch their captivating YouTube videos you will find that they have a very peaceful, easy going aesthetic. Their elusive, acoustic sound mixed with their exotic scenery from all over the world draws in their very diverse fanbase. Their fans’ diversity range from all races, genders, and ages. You will find many loyal fans that have stuck with them since their arrival on the scene from 1988. I have been a loyal supporter of theirs since 1998. So, I can definitely back this up. Their fans have stayed true through all of The Moffatts’ transitions. From their country days, to pop, to rock, and now circling right back to their country roots.

Katherine- I know that you have such a huge following, a lot of people appreciate your music .

Clint – Our fan base, I think, might be one of the most loyal fan bases I’ve ever seen. I mean, like even for The Moffatts, the older Moffatts. They stuck with us through many fashion changes, through many different hairstyles, and many different music directions. It kind of blows me away, that even when The Moffatts aren’t active or making music, there is just a real, strong fan base there that supports us. Our fans supports us in our lives, supports us in every time, in any endeavour that we choose to do. Now, I think that’s pretty rare. You know, I don’t think there’s a lot of artists that’s been given that type of loyalty from their fans.

Katherine- You’re going from younger generations all the way to elderly generations, so you’re covering every type of fan base. Congratulations for that, because that’s amazing. It’s not easy for an artist to reach all platforms of people .

Although Clint and Bob are great influences to many of their fans, they too are greatly influenced by artists. Especially Canadian artists and artists from the past. Artists such as Bryan Adams, Shania Twain, Garth Brooks, George Strait, Coldplay, The Beatles, Ed Sheeran, Shawn Mendes, and The Weeknd to name a few. Country music has always been a huge part of their lives. A lot of their songs have a country influence undertone to it. This greatly impacts the duo’s acoustic sound on the covers they record.

Katherine- Who has had the most influence shaping you into who you are today?

Both- “Our family”

Bob- I think our dad. Probably, you know, we love our mom to death. She is an amazing human. But our dad in terms of anything professionally and sort of maybe spiritually. I think he has had a tremendous impact on me and on Clint as well. He’s been just a total coach. He was our hockey coach when we were four. He never really stopped coaching us. Even though there were probably years that we didn’t want to listen to him, or we didn’t listen to him. Some of that coaching seeped in there and has had tremendous impact.

Both- “Our brothers too.”

Music Travel Love has been putting out very relevant and uplifting music during this pandemic. They have been very interactive and reciprocate the love with their fan base. The brothers have been hosting lives from their home studio, welcoming and delivering love to their fans, as well as hosting fun giveaways and contests. They have one going on right now. You could win a signed acoustic guitar by them.

Details are on their Instagram post:

View this post on Instagram ‼️SIGNED GUITAR GIVEAWAY‼️ Hey guys, we are giving away this beautiful signed acoustic guitar by @journeyinstruments. It’s a collapsible high end acoustic guitar that you can travel with. Here’s what you need to do to win it. Go to our newest video “Grandpa” on YouTube channel “Music Travel Love” link in bio! 1) Like the video ? 2) Comment on the video ? 3) Subscribe to our channel ✅ In 30 days we will comment back to the winner! Stay tuned! A post shared by Music Travel Love (@musictravellove) on May 30, 2020 at 5:01pm PDT

This pandemic has given Clint and Bob the opportunity to spend some quality time with their family, work on more music, and get things ready to go for their fans. 

Clint- “You know, to think about songs, think about songs we want to do. Arrange them, and all that stuff takes a lot of time. So, when you start going full tilt, it’s hard to kind of, have some time to get the best out of yourself. So this time, I think for us, it’s given us a chance to slow down a little bit and focus on some other things. I’ve got two little boys so it’s been amazing to see them grow up and spend some really amazing quality time with them.” 

Recently, Music Travel Love had posted a blackout post on their Instagram page in support of Black Lives Matter. I thanked them for their support in standing in solidarity with the movement.

Katherine- To wrap up, If you don’t mind, I would love to know if there is a message of hope for all of your fans during these difficult times?

Bob- Yes, there is. Making awareness on this is incredibly important. There’s so much that goes on in this world that is ugly. Through our travels, we’ve been blessed to go to many many places. You know, over 70 some odd countries. And see the world and communicate and talk and shake hands with so many different people and so many different races. It’s an integral part of  what we do in our lives. We have met so many amazing people in this world. I also witnessed some ugly in this world and for us, it’s really important to shine a light on the things that matter. Blackout Tuesday was an important thing for us to shine a light on. We’re shining a light on the things that are making this world, holding this world back from being a better world.

At the end of the day, it really comes down to each one of us individually, to be the best human we could be, and it doesn’t follow anybody else. I think that’s just an integral part of if you want to look at life that way, and we do. Everyday we get up we have another opportunity to be the best person we can be today. In our view, the best person we can be is a person who is accepting of everyone and treats everyone with respect. When we take that upon ourselves to understand that we have that responsibility, that opportunity to be that person, it’s an empowering situation. 

That’s the greatest gift in life, we’re all given that opportunity, every single one of us on this planet are given the opportunity to be the best person we can be. That’s our choice, our decision, and our opportunity to be that. So, I think that’s a really empowering thing. For Clint and I, that’s a message that we want to put out there, and for us, posting that was just an opportunity for us to be the best person we could be for that day, and continue to be that person. So, for us, that’s what it’s about, it’s about respect.

Be sure to keep up with Music Travel Love on social media

Want to stay up to date with our latest yeahflix reviews subscribe to our newsletter here we’ll only send you our must-watch picks.

Katherine Graham

You might also like.

More from Beats

JULIE AND THE PHANTOMS: The Feel Good Show you Didn’t Know you Needed

When Netflix launched the first season of a new Original musical series Julie and the Phantoms, based on the Brazilian …

Heat Waves – Glass Animals – How to Make a Meaningful Music Video from 6 Feet Apart

Glass Animals, the UK-based band has done it again. Every album the band releases is filled with velvety melodies, tribal …

AIRPORTS – “U Feel it 2” : Dualism in Love

AIRPORTS is unveiling “U FEEL IT 2”, written with the intention to be interpreted as either a love song about …

Editor Picks

Jason t. gaffney’s out of body gets picked up by fearless.

5 Powerful Series to Watch on Netflix

Powerful Dark Comedy MILES FROM NOWHERE Comes to Fearless

Fearless Names Toronto as Host City for First-Ever In-Person LGBTQ Pride Event!

Spotify is currently not available in your country.

Follow us online to find out when we launch., spotify gives you instant access to millions of songs – from old favorites to the latest hits. just hit play to stream anything you like..

Listen everywhere

Spotify works on your computer, mobile, tablet and TV.

Unlimited, ad-free music

No ads. No interruptions. Just music.

Download music & listen offline

Keep playing, even when you don't have a connection.

Premium sounds better

Get ready for incredible sound quality.

Doja Cat drops deluxe album, Scarlet 2 Claude

World’s first-ever ‘miss ai’ beauty pageant launched with a whopping cash prize, gypsy rose blanchard reportedly divorces husband ryan anderson due to ‘food hoarding’, the gazette bassist reita passes away at age 42, chinese runner’s half marathon victory under scrutiny amid allegations of unfair competition.

• POP! Culture
• Entertainment
• Special Feature
• INQUIRER.net

POP! is INQUIRER.net’s premier pop culture channel, delivering the latest news in the realm of pop culture, internet culture, social issues, and everything fun, weird, and wired. It is also home to POP! Sessions and POP! Hangout, OG online entertainment programs in the Philippines (streaming since 2015).

As the go-to destination for all things ‘in the now’, POP! features and curates the best relevant content for its young audience. It is also a strong advocate of fairness and truth in storytelling.

POP! is operated by INQUIRER.net’s award-winning native advertising team, BrandRoom.

Email us at [email protected]

MRP Building, Mola Corner Pasong Tirad Streets, Brgy La Paz, Makati City

‘Harmonies and Memories’: Inside Music Travel Love’s Asia Tour 2024 with friends

• 15 April, 2024
• No Comments

Canadian brother duo Music Travel Love (MTL), consisting of Bob and Clint Moffatt, brought their signature blend of musical prowess and brotherly charm to the SM Skydome Manila on April 12, 2024. The event, part of their Asia Tour 2024 with Friends, showcased not only their own hits but also featured a lineup of talented guest artists, making it a night to remember for fans of all ages.

Kicking off the evening with the classic ‘Every Breath You Take’ by The Police, MTL set the stage for a journey through iconic songs that have shaped generations. From Ed Sheeran’s ‘Perfect’ to John Denver’s ‘Take Me Home, Country Roads’ and Rod Stewart’s ‘Have You Ever Seen The Rain,’ the duo captivated the audience with their soulful renditions and infectious energy.

One of the highlights of the night was when MTL brought their ‘Friends’ on stage for collaborative performances. Anthony joined them for a heartfelt rendition of Bee Gees’ ‘How Deep is Your Love,’ showcasing the seamless harmony between the artists.

The spotlight then turned to Francis Greg, who delivered a dynamic performance of Backstreet Boys’ ‘I Want It That Way’ before enchanting the crowd with Bruno Mars’ ‘It Will Rain.’ Each guest artist brought a unique flavor to the stage, enhancing the concert’s diversity and appeal.

Bugoy Drilon’s appearance elicited thunderous cheers as they sang George Benson’s ‘Nothing’s Gonna Change My Love for You,’ followed by his own hit ‘Paano Na Kaya’ and Matisyahu’s ‘One Day.’ The camaraderie between MTL and their guest performers created an atmosphere of celebration and shared musical passion.

Not to be outdone, Dave Moffatt, the brothers’ own sibling, joined them for Bon Jovi’s ‘It’s My Life’ and Richard Marx’s ‘Right Here Waiting,’ showcasing the familial bond and musical synergy that define MTL’s performances.

The night culminated in a memorable rendition of ‘Stand By Me’ by Ben E. King, infused with humor and a twist as they seamlessly transitioned into ‘Banyo Queen’ by Andrew E., leaving the audience laughing and dancing in equal measure.

Music Travel Love’s Asia Tour 2024 with Friends was not just a concert but a testament to the power of music to unite, inspire, and create lasting memories. As the lights dimmed and the applause echoed, it was clear that MTL had once again left their mark on the hearts of their fans in Manila.

About Author

Inquirer.net brandroom.

Award-winning in-house native advertising and creative agency of INQUIRER.net

Park Min Young invites Filipino fans to her first fanmeeting in Manila

AI technology turns recollected memories into photographs

Related stories, hemophilia community celebrates success over world hemophilia day 2024, jesse mccartney’s new ep ‘all’s well’ out now, sasha alex sloan shares new single + video for ‘glad you did’, peggy gou announces debut album ‘i hear you’.

Subscribe to our daily newsletter

By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy .

Popping on POP!

Social media users defend diwata from unreasonable critics and those who ‘milk’ his business for online content, ‘isn’t it normal’: bea borres faces backlash for ‘out of touch’ remarks about inheritance, app store now carries game emulators after apple revises app policies, megan fox responds to ‘love is blind’ comparison: ‘no one deserves to get bullied’.

Song Artist Genre

Artist: Music Travel Love

Similar artists.

Music Travel Love songs list in order

Order songs by popularity on Spotify, year, duration or alphabetically. Click table headers to change sort direction.

Name your playlist

Try our Playlist Names Generator .

Music Analysis

These average metrics are based on Music Travel Love's tracks

Music Travel Love

STREAM OR BUY:

Discography

Mandisa, ‘American Idol’ star and Grammy-winning Christian music singer, dies at 47

• Show more sharing options
• Copy Link URL Copied!

Mandisa, the Christian music singer who competed on “American Idol” and then pursued a Grammy-winning career, has died. She was 47.

A representative confirmed to The Times on Friday that the California-born artist “was found in her home [in Tennessee] deceased.”

“At this time, we do not know the cause of death or any further details,” the representative said in a statement. “We ask for your prayers for her family and close-knit circle of friends during this incredibly difficult time.

K-Love, a Christian radio station, first reported the news of Mandisa’s death Friday morning. David Pierce, the station’s chief media officer, praised Mandisa for her devotion to Jesus and God.

Dickey Betts, guitarist and founding member of the Allman Brothers Band, dies 80

Dickey Betts, a founding member and guitarist for the Allman Brothers Band, died Thursday of cancer and COPD, his family announced. The musician was 80.

April 18, 2024

“Her kindness was epic, her smile electric, her voice massive, but it was no match for the size of her heart,” Pierce said in a statement . “Mandisa struggled, and she was vulnerable enough to share that with us, which helped us talk about our own struggles. Mandisa’s struggles are over. She is with the God she sang about now. While we are saddened, Mandisa is home. We’re praying for Mandisa’s family and friends and ask you to join us.”

The singer, born Mandisa Lynn Hundley on Oct. 2, 1976, is a five-time Grammy-nominee who earned her first prize in 2014 for her album “Overcomer.” The 22-track album also earned Mandisa a gospel/contemporary Christian music performance nomination at the 56th Grammy Awards. Her Grammys haul also included two pop/contemporary gospel album nominations and a contemporary Christian music album nod.

Years before earning her first Grammy nomination, and eventually her sole Grammy win, Mandisa showcased her talents on Season 5 of “American Idol.”

“Mandisa ... just ‘Mandisa‘” was how the singer introduced herself in 2006 to judges Randy Jackson, Paula Abdul and Simon Cowell, before belting the opening notes of Alicia Keys’ “Fallin.’”

Entertainment & Arts

Eleanor Coppola, matriarch of the Coppola filmmaking family, dies at 87

Eleanor Coppola, who documented the making of some of husband Francis Ford Coppola’s iconic films and raised a family of filmmakers, has died at 87.

April 12, 2024

“Terrific, everything I hoped you would be you were that, Mandisa,” Cowell said, “and I like the fact that you want to be known as one person.”

Without hesitation, the trio of original “Idol” judges sent Mandisa along to Hollywood, the next step on a weeks-long journey that would end with her cracking the Top 10 finalists. She was eliminated after her performance of Shania Twain’s “Any Man of Mine,” which landed her in the bottom three.

“I want to thank my fans so much, your support has meant the world to me and the prayers that have been lifted up for me I know will continue to have full force for me,” she said upon her elimination. “I thank you, and I bless you in the name of Jesus.”

After her time on “American Idol,” Mandisa released her first album, “True Beauty,” in 2007. The debut album earned Mandisa her first Grammy nomination. Also known for albums “Freedom” and “What If We Were Real,” Mandisa worked with a variety of Christian artists throughout her career, including TobyMac, Kirk Franklin and Jon Reddick, according to K-Love.

Mandisa released her final album, “Out of the Dark,” in 2017, featuring songs “Unfinished” and “Bleed the Same.” The 18-track project shares its title with her 2022 memoir, which chronicles her rise to fame and the challenges that tested her faith. That came years after she released her first memoir, “Idoleyes,” in 2008.

“Even in our darkest and lowest moments, God is in the trenches with us. He’s always at work on our behalf, loving on us and carrying us up out of the dark,” Mandisa wrote in an Instagram post celebrating her 2022 memoir. “He NEVER fails. I’m forever thankful that He keeps hope alive.”

More to Read

Steve Lawrence, half of the Emmy- and Grammy-winning music duo Steve & Eydie, dies at 88

March 7, 2024

Loretta Lynn’s granddaughter Emmy Russell touts her own music chops on ‘American Idol’

Feb. 26, 2024

Taylor Swift makes history (again) with Grammy for album of the year; Celine Dion presents award in emotional moment

Feb. 4, 2024

The biggest entertainment stories

Get our big stories about Hollywood, film, television, music, arts, culture and more right in your inbox as soon as they publish.

You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.

Alexandra Del Rosario is an entertainment reporter on the Los Angeles Times Fast Break Desk. Before The Times, she was a television reporter at Deadline Hollywood, where she first served as an associate editor. She has written about a wide range of topics including TV ratings, casting and development, video games and AAPI representation. Del Rosario is a UCLA graduate and also worked at the Hollywood Reporter and TheWrap.

More From the Los Angeles Times

The best songs from Taylor Swift’s ‘Tortured Poets Department’ double album

April 19, 2024

The 5 tracks you need to hear from Taylor Swift’s surprise ‘Tortured Poets’ companion

NBA YoungBoy orchestrated ‘large scale prescription fraud’ scheme, Utah police say

A field guide to the references on Taylor Swift’s ‘The Tortured Poets Department’

• Election 2024
• Entertainment
• Newsletters
• Photography
• Personal Finance
• AP Investigations
• AP Buyline Personal Finance
• AP Buyline Shopping
• Press Releases
• Israel-Hamas War
• Russia-Ukraine War
• Global elections
• Asia Pacific
• Latin America
• Middle East
• Election Results
• Delegate Tracker
• AP & Elections
• Auto Racing
• 2024 Paris Olympic Games
• Movie reviews
• Book reviews
• Personal finance
• Financial Markets
• Business Highlights
• Financial wellness
• Artificial Intelligence
• Social Media

Beyoncé is bringing her fans of color to country music. Will they be welcomed in?

Recording artist and “Color Me Country” radio host Rissi Palmer, as well as Black Opry co-director Tanner Davenport, says the pop culture moment Beyoncé has created with her latest album, “Cowboy Carter,” might not move the needle in Nashville when it comes to diversity. (April 14)

FILE - Beyoncé performs at the Wolstein Center, Nov. 4, 2016, in Cleveland, Ohio. With the release of “Act II: Cowboy Carter,’' Beyoncé has reignited discussions about the genre’s origins and its diversity. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik, File)

• Copy Link copied

FILE - Reyna Roberts arrives at the CMT Music Awards, April 11, 2022, at the Municipal Auditorium in Nashville, Tenn. With the release of “Act II: Cowboy Carter,’' Beyoncé has reignited discussions about the genre’s origins and its diversity. (AP Photo/John Amis, File)

FILE - Rissi Palmer arrives at the CMT Music Awards, April 11, 2022, at the Municipal Auditorium in Nashville, Tenn. With the release of “Act II: Cowboy Carter,’' Beyoncé has reignited discussions about the genre’s origins and its diversity. (AP Photo/John Amis, File)

FILE - Lainey Wilson poses in the press room with the award for best country album for “Bell Bottom Country” during the 66th annual Grammy Awards on Sunday, Feb. 4, 2024, in Los Angeles. With the release of “Act II: Cowboy Carter,’' Beyoncé has reignited discussions about the genre’s origins and its diversity. (Photo by Richard Shotwell/Invision/AP, File)

FILE - Wynonna Judd performs at the Paramount Arts Center in Ashland, Ky., Friday, Jan. 16, 2015. With the release of “Act II: Cowboy Carter,’' Beyoncé has reignited discussions about the genre’s origins and its diversity. (Kevin Goldy/The Daily Independent via AP)

NEW YORK (AP) — Dusty, worn boots. Horses lapping up water. Sweat dripping from the foreheads of every shade of Black skin as country classics blare through giant speakers. These moments are frequently recreated during Tayhlor Coleman’s family gathering s at their central Texas ranch. For her, Beyoncé's country album, “Act II: Cowboy Carter,” was the granting of an unlikely wish.

“There is something to be said about the biggest artist in the world coming home to the genre that... we all kind of love but never really felt welcome into — it’s really hard to put that to words,” said the 35-year-old native of Houston’s Third Ward, the same area Beyoncé lived in as a child. Loving artists like Miranda Lambert and Shania Twain, Coleman hoped this moment would come. “I was praying then that one day she would make a country album…Beyoncé is more country than a lot of people making country music today.”

Beyoncé's latest project is not only No. 1 on the Billboard 200 for the second consecutive week, but she became the first Black woman to top Billboard’s country album chart.

“There’s nothing that that girl can’t do….that’s inspiring to me,” said country superstar Lainey Wilson , who took home the country album Grammy in February. “I’m excited to see the fans that didn’t know they liked country music find out that maybe they like it a little bit.”

Beyoncé's steamrolling into country music – and her motivation behind it — has reignited discussions about the genre’s origins and its diversity. But with increased interest from Beyoncé’s fans at a fever pitch, is Nashville prepared and willing to welcome them in? And will these new listeners of color and others curious about the hoopla stay or will their interest in the genre wane?

“I will be honest with you: I think that it’s a Beyoncé thing. I don’t know that it’s a country music happening because that would mean the industry would have to do something…I think it’s one of those cultural moments for Black people, specifically Black women,” said country artist Rissi Palmer, host of the Apple Music radio show Color Me Country which has created a centralized community where fans of color can enjoy the genre.

“It’s really funny to me to see a lot of country radio programmers trying to take credit for what just happened with Beyoncé. That wasn’t country radio…that was her power, her money and…the acknowledgment of her brand. The fandom did that,” Palmer said.

Tanner Davenport, co-director of Black Opry — and proud BeyHive member — worries the massive achievements of “Cowboy Carter” could have unintended consequences, such as country music executives not feeling an urgency to platform existing and future Black artists. Black Opry was founded by Holly G in April 2021, as she examined her relationship with the genre during the social justice movement sparked by the murder of George Floyd. The organization aims to amplify Black voices in country, Americana, blues and folk music.

“Once ‘Act II’ has ran its course and gone away, there are going to be programmers... looking back at this moment and saying, ’We’ve already done this. We’ve given a Black woman a No. 1,” said Davenport. “If they can really start to dial into the audience a bit more, I think they can start to see progress within this and capitalize on this moment because I think there’s a huge undermining of the Black dollar and how far it can go.”

NOT AN ANOMALY

Reyna Roberts’ parents filled their house with music. Roberts, a rising country artist featured on “Cowboy Carter” with vocal credits on “Blackbiird” and “Tyrant,” said some questioned her musical aspirations.

“People are always so surprised. But I’m like my parents played country, they played trap, they played rock, they played classical, they played blues...Anything that I’m creating is all truly authentic,” said Roberts, who hit a career breakthrough in 2020 after shout-outs from superstar Carrie Underwood and Mickey Guyton, who in 2021 became the first Black woman to co-host the Academy of Country Music Awards. ( Charley Pride, who died in 2020 , was the first Black co-host of the CMA Awards in 1975.)

Roberts is part of a new generation of artists, like Shaboozey, Tanner Adell and Willie Jones, who are fusing country with other genres like hip-hop.

While Wilson, one of the biggest artists in the genre, hopes some Queen Bey fans will explore country, a significant percentage of Black listeners already exists. A 2021 Country Music Association self-commissioned study, “Country Music’s Multicultural Opportunity,” examining potential audience expansion opportunities, revealed that 26% of Black respondents said they listen weekly.

“I don’t think they have gotten to the point where they feel as safe to be at country shows… the broad listenership in country music is going to be reflected in the streaming world,” said Davenport. He says the Black Opry is strategizing ways to capitalize on Beyoncé's momentum so curious fans can find spaces “where they can exist and not feel threatened.”

FEELING UNWELCOME

Safety and feeling comfortable in a country music environment is often on the minds of Black country musicgoers . Davenport was in the audience during Beyoncé’s 2016 CMA performance with The Chicks which sparked a much-documented racist online backlash, and is widely believed to be the genesis for “Cowboy Carter” with the superstar expressing in an Instagram post, “I did not feel welcomed.”

From AP’s archives: Beyoncé spoke with The Associated Press in a 2003 interview about her faith. The superstar made history this week by becoming the first Black woman to top the Billboard country albums chart.

During the performance, Davenport says a woman near him yelled, “’They need to get that Black b---- off stage,” adding, “I started to realize, OK, this is truly a space in which I don’t feel comfortable in, and I don’t feel safe in.”

That same CMA multicultural study found that 20% of concert attendees of color experienced racial profiling or harassment. The polling also included non-country music listeners, and up to 31% of that segment noted that they don’t listen because they “wouldn’t be safe/comfortable at live events.”

Monica Wisdom understands.

In the early ‘90s, the St. Louis native attended a concert by one of her favorite artists, Reba McEntire. Wisdom, 55, says McEntire’s performance was on fire, but the atmosphere and crowd were ice cold.

“They were very unwelcoming...You saw the eye rolls and you heard the comments and the whispers, like, ’What are you doing here?’” recalled Wisdom, the founder of Black Women Amplified, a women’s empowerment group. “I said if this is what country music is, I don’t want any parts of it. So, I stopped listening to it.”

And Wisdom hasn’t attended a country music concert since.

While popular artists like Wilson, the legendary Dolly Parton, Maren Morris , Jason Isbell and more have publicly voiced the need for inclusion, their allyship can sometimes be overshadowed. In 2021, Morgan Wallen, then already a huge star, was caught on camera using the N-word as his “Dangerous: The Double Album” record sat at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 for three consecutive weeks. Although there were repercussions, many fans rallied around him boosting his popularity. Jason Aldean’s “Try That in a Small Town” also experienced a surge last year as the music video swirled in controversy.

“That’s the problem that the industry has in trying to retain and foster a real Black country audience,” said Palmer, whose first meetings with major labels in the early 2000s were sight-unseen due to her team’s concerns that her race might present an obstacle. In 2007, Palmer became the first Black woman in 20 years to reach Billboard’s Hot Country Songs chart with “Country Girl.” She remembers performing at shows with Confederate flags in the crowd but singing anyway as a form of resistance. Concerns from music labels included her hairstyle and even the ethnicity of her love interests in music videos.

Palmer says the perception of racism is a “hard connotation to overcome, and you have to do a lot of work. You have to do a lot of answering for that and possibly asking for forgiveness...I don’t know that the industry is prepared to do that.”

“I do think that there is this sense that country music is white music,” said Coleman, who didn’t always express her love for country music as a teen. “It was not cool to be country...for the longest time, especially growing up, I was trying to fit in with everybody else. ” It’s a sentiment many Black fans have echoed, including Palmer.

The genre might not seem relatable to fans of color because they don’t see themselves. In the CMA multicultural study, respondents noted feeling that country music isn’t interested in attracting them and not seeing enough Black, Latino or Asian artists.

“It’s hard to be in a space if you don’t see a representation of yourself,” said the 26-year-old Roberts, whose song “Louisiana” was inspired by Beyoncé’s “Daddy Lessons.” “My mindset was even though I don’t see representation, I will make sure that there’s representation.”

In a frequently cited 2021 study published by Jada Watson , a University of Ottawa musicologist, data revealed artists of color received just 1.5% of country radio airplay between 2002-2020. During that period, with nearly 15,000 songs played within the format, only three of the 13 Black artists were women. No songs by Black women reached the top 20 on country radio charts.

“There’s so much unloving in the world of Black people, especially Black women, that you have to find the spots where you’re loved,” said Wisdom, who grew up loving Parton and Kenny Rogers and watching McEntire’s “Reba” TV sitcom. “I didn’t find that in country music.”

THE BEYONCÉ BOOST

Fans and experts seem to agree that Beyoncé has created an education on Black country trailblazers like Linda Martell and Rhiannon Giddens , and is providing an immeasurable amount of attention toward existing artists.

“It’s really great for them…The rising tide lifts all boats,” said iconic singer Wynonna Judd, who mentors several established and rising Black female singers. “What I think of professionally is how this has to be a blessing to so many women in the business that are… wanting to be heard.”

Before “Cowboy Carter” officially announced featured musicians, searches, streams and social media impressions rose exponentially for many current Black country artists such as Roberts, Guyton, Adell, Tiera Kennedy, Brittney Spencer, Shaboozey and others due to media stories and curiosity. Since the album has dropped, the numbers have risen even more .

“The fact that Beyoncé has been able to create this conversation for more people to be included in this space and talked about, it’s been really cool,” said Shaboozey , who’s featured on “Spaghettii” and “Sweet Honey Buckin.’” “To see her just kind of coming in here has been honestly beneficial to me and plenty of other artists.”

But Davenport, who noted the Black Opry will honor pioneering songwriter Alice Randall for the organization’s anniversary this month, says while country is more diverse, progress has been too incremental, and Nashville hasn’t made good on promises made following the social justice uprising.

“I don’t think things are going to change overnight... at this point now, it feels like a repeat of what happened in 2021 after George Floyd was murdered,” said Davenport, referring to the current backlash against diversity and inclusion efforts. “There’s been no progress. I mean, you can see it on the charts. You can see it on the (festival) lineups.” While fans say country music has a lot to fix, they realize they have to do their part.

“Fans, though, have to take a responsibility and support the artists,” said Wisdom, whose love for country music was rekindled after watching the Peabody-award winning series “High on the Hog: How African American Cuisine Transformed America,” which featured a Black cowboys episode. “We have to go to these shows, we have to buy their music.”

DISAPPEARING ACT / RECLAMATION

The scope of Beyoncé’s country music impact might not be realized for years, but there’s an optimism that the curiosity about Black country artists will continue.

“I hope that when Beyoncé moves on to ‘Act III’ that some of the people are going to stay... There are women that we stand on the shoulders of, and I want to make sure that we acknowledge all of them,” said Palmer, whose Color Me Country Artist Grant fund provides micro grants to artists of color pursuing careers in country, Americana and roots music. “I’m glad everyone is excited about Beyoncé. I’m glad that she’s having the milestones that she’s having — all of that. Also, just remember there were people that were here before.”

Despite Beyoncé never explicitly saying so, many fans believe “Cowboy Carter” — as well as her previous album, the dance-themed “Renaissance” — are meant to reclaim genres whose foundations are rooted in Black culture. But with the passage of time, along with systemic inequalities, is reclamation even possible?

“Hope springs eternal, right? I mean, that’s what my entire career at this point is focused on, making sure that the whole story is told,” said Palmer. “This is a big moment of visibility for Black artists in country music that have been here — the past, the present and the future. But I think Nashville has got a lot of self-introspection and a lot of self-examination to do.” ___ Associated Press journalist Leslie Ambriz in Los Angeles contributed reporting.

Follow Associated Press journalist Gary Gerard Hamilton at @GaryGHamilton on all his social media platforms.

• International edition
• Australia edition
• Europe edition

Taylor Swift: The Tortured Poets Department review – a whole lotta love gone bad

(Republic) On her 11th album, the American singer-songwriter picks apart her romantic travails in typically unsparing fashion, while her ability to turn sorrow into songwriting gold remains unparalleled

I n a time of so many upended certainties, Taylor Swift’s 11th album arrives as a tale very much foretold. It’s no genre bolt from the blue like Beyoncé’s recent country album; it delivers not just what Tayloristas have been speculating about furiously for months, but more: a surprise second album , The Tortured Poets Department: the Anthology , dropped at 2am the night after the first album’s release. When the LP’s title was announced in February, and the track listing in March, the question was never if, but merely how hard, Swift’s most recent exes – specifically, British actor Joe Alwyn, but also Matt Healy from the 1975 – were going to be hung out to dry. As “William Bowery”, Alwyn had songwriter credits on three Swift albums – Folklore (2020) , Evermore (2020) and Midnights (2022) – and it’s pretty safe to assume he is receiving a great many of the demerits here as Swift gnashes, accuses, mourns, self-flagellates, likens her time with him to a prison (Fresh Out the Slammer) and longs to be taken away in a spaceship (Down Bad) and calls for an exorcist (the sombre bonus piano ballad, how did it end?).

Speculating is, of course, all part of the package; a Swiftie-an safe space, you might call it. Her first song widely understood to be about Alwyn was London Boy (on Lover , 2019). One track here is called, pointedly, So Long, London; it doesn’t take an ultra stan to read it as Swift’s Brexit. It only gets messier from there on in. Healy is likely the subject of the Smallest Man Alive, probably the album’s sickest burn, and perhaps handful of other caustic putdowns.

According to some, the album’s title reportedly comes from a WhatsApp group Alwyn was part of with fellow actors Paul Mescal and Andrew Scott – a reference, apparently, to characters Alwyn and Mescal have played in Sally Rooney adaptations (Scott had a role in Rooney director Lenny Abrahamson’s film Normal People Confessions ). The album’s release date, 19 April, also marks the start of the American Revolution, when the US split from the UK.

Swift is obviously wise enough to pillory herself throughout as well – the billionaire lyric writer is, after all, the actual tortured poet in this relationship – and to dismantle literary expectations. “You’re not Dylan Thomas, I’m not Patti Smith, this ain’t the Chelsea hotel,” she tells an unspecified man who has left a typewriter at her apartment on the title track. The physical album comes bookended by two poems – or, perhaps, lyrics without music. One is by Stevie Nicks, the patron saint of confessional sirens, and one is a self-justifying text by Swift that ends “ all’s fair in love and poetry ” – with poetry pointedly standing in for war. “It’s the worst men that I write best,” she zings, by way of scant consolation. It’s worth noting that Swift is now in a new relationship, with American football player Travis Kelce , a pairing that may be the meat of So High School from The Anthology , a track that is almost indie rock.

Not everything here is a roman à clef . A few songs that may read like allegorical short stories – But Daddy I Love Him is a tremendous, Springsteen-like mini-epic set in a stultifying small town – still contain autobiographical signals. “I don’t cater to all these vipers dressed in empaths’ clothing,” Swift seethes. She is responding perhaps, to fans’ parasocial concerns about her choice of squire – the kind that surrounded her tryst with Healy.

After a pair of lockdown albums – Folklore , Evermore – made with producer Aaron Dessner in which Swift’s music became more low-key and semi-fictional, and the more electronic-hued Midnights , made with Jack Antonoff, which also retained a pensive mien, Tortured Poets Department finds Swift back on brand in various ways: nailing love to the wall and watching the ooze trickle and dry, often doing so in a more emphatic, rather than a gauzy manner. Swift isn’t quite shouting at the end of songs as she did some years ago, but her definiteness, her strong outlines, are back. Antonoff is the major collaborator; Dessner’s credits on songs such as So Long, London come as a surprise. The sentiments “fuck it” and “fuck ’em” recur.

On Reputation (2017), Swift revelled in loose-cannon mode. Perhaps the most outstanding track here is the loudest of all. Florida!!! – which deserves its three exclamation marks, rendered aurally as huge drums – finds Florence Welch of Florence + the Machine duetting with Swift in a high-stakes tune about going awol in the party state, escaping their mistakes – or perhaps throwing exes into a swamp.

Not everything here is quite as lively. The Anthology songs are sadder and quieter. At 17 tracks, not counting bonuses, this department feels a mite overstaffed; at twice the length, that goes double. As with many artists, it’s often tricky to date songs exactly. Some of this heartbreak seems to cast back further than the six years of Swift’s tenure with Alwyn, describing more youthful situations. The piano-led Loml (“love of my life”) appears to be about the one that got away (he’s “the loss of my life”).

after newsletter promotion

By the end, some might hanker for a song about something other than romantic discontent. Even Swift knows we have been here before. “I know I’m just repeating myself,” she croons on My Boy Only Breaks His Favorite Toys, a rueful allegory about a doll, toyed with and broken. Squint, and it’s a standout song that got away from the Barbie soundtrack. Only a handful of songs break from heartbreak. A tune from The Anthology styled “thanK you aIMee” spells out “Kim”, but Swift’s words technically frame a teenage tormentor, rather than more recent hostilities with the (then) Kardashian-Wests. Cassandra, another bonus outing, deals with the difference between truth and public assumptions.

Ultimately, this may be Swift’s most Swiftian album: the unhappiness profound, the details generous, the lessons absorbed. We reward Taylor Swift – one of the giants of popular song – handsomely to conduct postmortems on her affairs and extract value: vengeance and wisdom, dopamine hits and succour. The Alchemy is a song about, yes, an old love, but Swift makes gold out of processing her romantic travails. She is sitting on a glittering pile of it here.

• Taylor Swift
• Kitty Empire's artist of the week
• Pop and rock
• album reviews

Most viewed

• Anniston/Gadsden

Taylor Swift ‘isn’t an important artist,’ says legendary ‘90s rocker

• Updated: Apr. 19, 2024, 1:30 p.m. |
• Published: Apr. 19, 2024, 1:26 p.m.

Courtney Love (AP Photo/Christophe Ena) and Taylor Swift (Photo by Evan Agostini/Invision/AP, File). AP

• Matt Wake | [email protected]

In the social media era, pop artists with massive fanbases have become almost beyond criticism -- both from click-chasing media outlets and from other artists wary of stans.

Even takes that aren’t particularly harsh can generate headlines, hyperbole and, sometimes online, harassment. Case in point: All the knickers in a twist about Courtney Love’s recent interview with the London Evening Standard .

Love -- a ‘90s icon for her band Hole’s grunge hits, her acting in films like “The People vs. Larry Flynt” and her marriage to Nirvana ’s Kurt Cobain -- is promoting her new BBC Radio series.

The eight-part “ Courtney Love’s Women ” finds Love sharing music that’s soundtracked her life and reflecting on women whose music has shaped her. Subjects include Love’s fondness for ABBA and L7, her pre-fame stint as a stripper in Japan, and how she might be related to actor Marlon Brando.

Much like Rolling Stones guitarist Keith Richards, in interviews or otherwise Love isn’t a ring-kisser or a politician. Over the decades, Love, who moved to London about five years ago, has had spats with the likes of Cobain’s mom, Axl Rose, Madonna, Dave Grohl and Trent Reznor, among others.

In the new London Evening Standard piece, as the conversation turns to women dominating popular music in recent years, Love’s quoted as saying, “It’s great that there are so many successful women in the music industry, but lots of them are becoming a cliché. Now, every successful woman is cloned.” She adds, “If you play something on Spotify, you get bombarded with a lot of stuff that’s exactly the same.”

It’s true. Algorithms play a huge role in shaping our consumption of entertainment today. That said, the music business has long cloned successful acts, regardless of gender. The countless knock offs of The Beatles, Stones, Led Zeppelin and Nirvana, for starters.

But it’s Love’s comments about Taylor Swift that are getting media attention . In the Standard article, Love is quoted as saying, “Taylor is not important. She might be a safe space for girls, and she’s probably the Madonna of now, but she’s not interesting as an artist.”

It’s a fair take. Just because Swift is massive and a hero to millions of girls and women doesn’t mean she’s a timeless artist whose appeal will echo across generations and demographics, like say Stevie Nicks or Bob Dylan .

Love’s new radio series’ eighth episode is titled “From The Blues to Lana Del Rey ” and highlights, per the BBC description, “some of the most influential female artists from across her life.”

In The Standard article, Love is quoted as saying, “I haven’t liked Lana since she covered a John Denver song, and I think she should really take seven years off. Up until ‘Take Me Home Country Roads’ I thought she was great. When I was recording my new album, I had to stop listening to her as she was influencing me too much.”

Mixed messaging, sure. As for the aforementioned Madonna, whose 1995 MTV Video Music Awards interview a wild-eyed Love infamously crashed, Love says now, “I don’t like her, and she doesn’t like me. I loved [1985 film] ‘Desperately Seeking Susan,’ but for the city of New York as much as her.”

In The Standard article, the subject of Beyonce also comes up. Love is quoted as saying, “I mean, I like the idea of Beyoncé doing a country record because it’s about Black women going into spaces where previously only white women have been allowed, not that I like it much. As a concept, I love it. I just don’t like her music.”

Rolling Stone’s aggregation of Love’s interview -- headline: “Courtney Love Vs. Taylor, Madonna, and More: An (Incomplete) Beef Timeline” – claims Love “spoke negatively about Beyoncé's music.”

USA Today’s headline: “Courtney Love slams Taylor Swift, Beyonce, Lana Del Rey in interview.”

Meanwhile, People’s writes, “Courtney Love Says Taylor Swift Is ‘Not Interesting as an Artist,’ Criticizes Beyoncé, Madonna and More.”

Buzzfeed, also on the case, published, “Courtney Love Takes Aim At Taylor Swift, Beyoncé, And Lana Del Rey.”

But not liking someone’s music isn’t speaking negatively about it – it’s just not speaking positively about it . Turning that into “slams,” “criticizes” or “takes aim at” is at best a distorted account.

Most reports are completely missing the real news from The Standard’s article on Love. She’s finished her long-gestating memoir, and her next solo album is nearly completely. As The Standard’s Dylan Jones writes, “Both of these projects will reconfirm that Love isn’t just a bold-faced name, she’s an artist.”

MORE ON MUSIC:

How an Alabama guitarist is helping Lynyrd Skynyrd rock and roll on

A rare classic-rock tour where the band’s new songs are a big draw too

Joe Bonamassa talks new supergroup album, why Eric Clapton still rules

This hall of fame musician is the Forrest Gump of classic rock

How an Alabama singer helped a Mötley Crüe legend make his solo debut

5 essential Slash tracks besides Guns N’ Roses and Velvet Revolver

If you purchase a product or register for an account through a link on our site, we may receive compensation. By using this site, you consent to our User Agreement and agree that your clicks, interactions, and personal information may be collected, recorded, and/or stored by us and social media and other third-party partners in accordance with our Privacy Policy.

Courtney Love slams female music artists: 'Taylor Swift is not important'

Courtney Love has no love for famous stars from Taylor Swift to Beyoncé .

In a new interview with British outlet The Standard , Love took shots at a series of the world's most famous female musical artists.

"Now, every successful woman is cloned, so there is just too much music. They're all the same. If you play something on Spotify, you get bombarded with a lot of stuff that's exactly the same," Love said in the interview published Saturday.

She added that Swift is "is not important" and noted that she "might be a safe space for girls, and she's probably the Madonna of now, but she's not interesting as an artist."

'It was rude': Courtney Love says Olivia Rodrigo's prom queen promo copied 'Live Through This' album

Love also took a swing at Lana Del Rey , who headlined Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival the day after the interview was published.

"I haven't liked Lana since she covered a John Denver song, and I think she should really take seven years off. Up until 'Take Me Home Country Roads' I thought she was great. When I was recording my new album, I had to stop listening to her as she was influencing me too much," Love continued.

The actress and widow of Kurt Cobain also isn't jumping on the bandwagon for Beyoncé's new album "Cowboy Carter," which explored the relationship that race plays in the country music establishment.

"I like the idea of Beyoncé doing a country record because it's about Black women going into spaces where previously only white women have been allowed, not that I like it much. As a concept, I love it. I just don't like her music."

Love also clapped back at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and its co-founder Jann Wenner , who was removed from the organization's board of directors after controversial comments he made about female and Black musicians.

"‘Five old white guys, right, who have apparently never heard of Kate Bush. I mean, really? Jann Wenner should be put out to pasture. The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame is a joke. You know, some guy takes a girl out and tries to kiss her and she doesn't feel like it, and he gets his whole career ruined. But Jann Wenner is allowed to say that Black people and women weren't intellectual enough to be included in his book of rock 'n' roll masters? Eat me," Love said.