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American Songwriter News

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American Songwriter is an American bimonthly magazine covering songwriting. Established in 1984, it features interviews, songwriting tips, news, reviews and lyric contest. The magazine is based in Nashville, Tennessee.

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Barbra Streisand is paying tribute to her late manager. The singer took to Instagram to remember Marty Erlichman after he died at 97. “Although Marty lived a long and full life, nothing can prepare you for the reality of losing someone so dear,” Streisand wrote alongside a black-and-white photo of herself with him. “I truly thought he would live forever.” “In my eyes, he was simply indestructible—always by my side, through everything. And we never even had a contract,” she continued. “Marty can never be replaced, and I will be forever grateful for his friendship, loyalty, and unwavering support.” According to People, who received a press release about Erlichman’s death, the late manager died on Oct. 31 of “age-related causes.” In that press release, Streisand revealed that, just weeks ago, Erlichman was “trying to convince me to go on tour, and told me he’d be there every step of the way.” “I know it’s extremely rare for show business relationships to endure for as long as mine di

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59 min

2026 marked a special year for The Chicks. It was the 20th anniversary of the group’s hit album Take the Long Way. The album not only debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200, but it also brought them a handful of Grammy Awards. Those awards included Album of the Year, Record of the Year, and Song of the Year. A special moment in the history of The Chicks, the band hoped to hit the road with a 20th anniversary tour. But sadly, their recent stop at Hollywood’s Dolby Theater was postponed just hours before The Chicks were scheduled to perform. Postponing a concert was the last thing any band or singer wanted to do. Knowing how hard fans work to purchase a ticket, pay for parking, and plan an entire night, most singers battled through sickness and worse to perform. But the trio announced on Monday that they needed to postpone the show until Wednesday, November 4. Releasing a statement, The Chicks wrote, “The Chicks’ performance tonight Monday, November 2 at Dolby Theatre has been resche

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2 hr

Halloween is officially over, and with Thanksgiving right around the corner, some already skipped the turkey and jumped right to Christmas. And for any music lover out there, they know that the holidays bring one of the most iconic songs, “All I Want for Christmas Is You.” The Mariah Carey classic helped her gain the title of Queen of Christmas. But while the song sat at the top of the Billboard Hot 100 record books, it was dethroned by Ella Langley’s “Choosin’ Texas.” And even with Christmas quickly approaching, Langley decided to extend that lead once again. Looking at the latest numbers, Langley’s “Choosin’ Texas” was more than the hit of the year. It was becoming the hit of her career. On Monday, the Billboard Hot 100 revealed that “Choosin’ Texas” remained in the No. 1 spot. That brought the total number of weeks at No. 1 to a record-setting 26. The latest milestone came after the song scored more than 57 million airplays, 3,000 units sold, and 19 million streams. Released in

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3 hr

Born in 1938, Tony Butala never forgot spending his early years on a farm with his grandparents. It was at that same time that he started to find a passion for music. And at the age of 8, he was already making his voice heard on KDKA Radio in Pittsburgh. But his stardom took him far beyond a single station as he helped form The Lettermen. The decades that followed brought Butala and The Lettermen a mountain of success and hit albums. It also included a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. But sadly, Butala’s career came to an end as the singer passed away at 87. From the late 1950s to 2019, Butala performed for fans all over the world. And while his legacy continued through those he entertained, mentored, and inspired, The Lettermen considered it a great loss. Sharing a post on Facebook, the group wrote, “It is with profound sadness that we announce the recent passing of Tony Butala, founding member of the international recording artists ‘The Lettermen,’ and recipient of a Star on the

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4 hr

John Mellencamp is opening up about a health struggle. During an appearance on the Nepo, Baby! podcast, the rocker revealed he’s been dealing with hearing issues. “I’ll probably be totally deaf by the time the tour’s over,” Mellencamp said. “I wear earplugs and stuff, but I do not ever, will I ever get hearing aids.” As for why he’s opposed to hearing aids, Mellencamp said that’s all due to his grandmother. “She said, ‘John, don’t ever get hearing aids because once you get them, you can’t live without them,’” he recalled. “She said, ‘If you think chasing around a pair of glasses is a drag, wait till you start chasing around a pair of glasses and some hearing aids.’” Since he’s resisting hearing aids, Mellencamp’s day-to-day life has been impacted by his audial issues. “I don’t like going out [to eat] ‘cause I can’t hear,” he said. “Right now, my ears are ringing like crazy and I have pulsatile tinnitus, which is I hear my heartbeat.”

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4 hr

While not the first trio in country music, Taylor Red was a unique group as it consisted of three identical red-haired triplets. Forming in the mid-2000s, the band was formerly known as Red Roots before changing its name to Taylor Red. Throughout the years that followed, Taylor Red released albums like The Middle of Nowhere and Triplicity. They even got the chance to open for acts like Charlie Daniels, Josh Turner, and Amy Grant. Sadly, Taylor Red’s recent announcement had nothing to do with future plans, as they announced that Nicole Taylor, “their fearless leader,” had sadly passed away. Sharing a video on YouTube, sisters Nika and Natalie Taylor sat together as they announced that Nicole had passed away following a battle with breast cancer. While admitting she was first diagnosed with breast cancer in 2022, it still came as a shock that she passed away. “We are still processing everything. This honestly feels really hard to talk about, but we’re going to do our best in sharing so

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5 hr

For over five decades, Ian Gillan has left his mark in the music industry. While most know him as the lead singer of Deep Purple, the singer also had a short stint with Black Sabbath. He even portrayed the leading role in Jesus Christ Superstar. But throughout all the years under the spotlight, his legacy with Deep Purple included selling over 100 million albums and being inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Although continuing to perform, Deep Purple was forced to postpone several concerts after Gillan suffered a medical emergency. Even with 2026 coming to a close, Deep Purple pushed to end the year on a high note with a series of concerts. Scheduling shows in Germany, France, the Netherlands, and the U.K., Gillan wrote in a statement, “Dear friends, Thank you for all the good wishes and support over the last few days…it means the world. I had a medical problem whilst in Leipzig which required urgent attention at the hospital. I was hoping that I would get the all-clear to

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6 hr

What could Riley Green want to accomplish in country music? Looking at his career so far, he has opened for stars like Luke Bryan, Jason Aldean, and Luke Combs. If that wasn’t enough, he has helmed several tours of his own. Need more? How about the long list of accolades that included winning Single, Song, and Music Video of the Year at the 2025 CMA Awards. And for those still not convinced, he has become the current heartthrob of country music. But according to Green, there was still one milestone he dreamed about achieving. When Green collaborated with Ella Langley on “You Look Like You Love Me,” neither could imagine the mountain of success that would follow. For Langley, it was just the start as she followed it with other hits like “Choosin’ Texas.” But for a brief moment, their duet dominated the genre, streaming platforms, and airwaves. Yet, when speaking with People for its Sexiest Man Alive issue, Green wasn’t looking at the past. Like countless singers before him, Green ho

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6 hr