Music news summaries
Essential facts and source links for recent music stories.
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Billy Ray Cyrus shares Dolly Parton’s 1992 letter after more than 30 years
Billy Ray Cyrus shared a handwritten 1992 letter from Dolly Parton on Sept. 25, about a month after her death and more than three decades after receiving it. Parton praised his early success, predicted more was ahead and offered help before his debut album’s release. -
After neck surgery, Larry Mullen Jr. resumed drumming but is unsure about full U2 shows
U2 drummer Larry Mullen Jr. is unsure he can play a full show after neck surgery. Doctors advised him to retire as drumming aggravated a congenital neck condition; he resumed playing three or four months later and said, “If I can play for an hour, that’s enough.” -
Taylor Swift’s ‘Patient Zero’ grew on one listener amid new-song debate
Taylor Swift’s “Patient Zero” grew on this writer by about the sixth listen, supporting an essay’s case for letting her four new songs breathe before judging them. Listeners can enjoy or skip a track without first deciding what its lyrics mean, the writer argues. -
Taylor Swift and Dakota Johnson embraced onstage; ‘Off Campus’ stars reunited at VMAs
Taylor Swift received the VMAs’ inaugural Artist Director Award and unveiled the “Patient Zero” video, with Dakota Johnson presenting the trophy. “Off Campus” stars Ella Bright and Belmont Cameli reunited amid rumors about their friendship. -
Morgan Wallen’s “Last Thing You Need” opens No. 4 in sales, No. 50 in country
Morgan Wallen’s “Last Thing You Need,” one of six singles for Grand Theft Auto VI: The Album, debuts at No. 4 on Billboard’s Digital Song Sales chart; Luminate reports 2,400 purchases. It opens at No. 50, the last spot, on Hot Country Songs. -
Nirvana earns VMA honor as ‘Smells Like Teen Spirit’ reaches global chart highs
Nirvana’s “Smells Like Teen Spirit” reached new peaks on Billboard’s Global 200 (No. 72) and Global Excl. U.S. (No. 84) as the band received the Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award at the MTV Video Music Awards on Sept. 27. -
Seven awards capped Madonna’s first live VMAs performance since 2003
Madonna made her first live MTV Video Music Awards appearance since 2003 on Sept. 27, performing with Sabrina Carpenter and Charli xcx before winning seven awards—the most of any artist at the ceremony, including Artist of the Year. -
Sombr’s 2026 VMAs tribute featured George Michael’s actual Faith Tour jacket
Sombr wore George Michael’s actual leather jacket from the Faith Tour and a 1989 Diet Coke commercial while performing a tribute at the Sept. 27, 2026, VMAs in Los Angeles. Teddy Swims, RAYE, Adam Lambert, MEEK, MNEK and Saint Harison also took part. -
Taylor Swift’s ‘Patient Zero’ video casts her as Dakota Johnson’s ghostly guide
Taylor Swift premiered “Patient Zero” at the Sept. 27, 2026, VMAs, with Dakota Johnson and Colin Farrell starring in her self-directed video. Swift plays Farrell’s former wife, whose ghost tries to keep Johnson’s character from suffering the same fate. -
Ariana Grande’s ‘Petal’ jumps from No. 25 to No. 1 on Billboard’s Vinyl Albums chart
Ariana Grande’s Petal jumped from No. 25 to No. 1 on Billboard’s Vinyl Albums chart. It rose to No. 2 on Top Album Sales, behind Stray Kids’ This & That, but fell to No. 7 on the Billboard 200 and No. 18 on Top Streaming Albums. -
Rod Stewart sets 21 European dates for his final rock tour in 2027
Rod Stewart says his 21-date European tour in 2027 will be his last rock tour, though he is not retiring. U.S. dates in Georgia, Florida and Colorado are also planned; he canceled his remaining 2026 shows after a routine coronary stent procedure. -
ALPHA DRIVE ONE sets Oct. 2 U.S. release for exclusive EP editions
ALPHA DRIVE ONE will release U.S.-exclusive physical editions of its second EP, UNBREAKABLE : 少年BEAST, online and at select retailers Oct. 2. The August release sold over a million copies in its first week, and the group aims to reach more U.S. listeners. -
Taylor Swift sets MTV VMA record with three wins, including video of the year
Taylor Swift became the most-awarded artist in MTV VMA history with three wins Sunday, including video of the year for “The Fate of Ophelia.” She had been tied with Beyoncé at 30 VMAs and also received the inaugural Artist Director Honors. -
Jay B says his solo U.S. tour now feels “smooth,” not “better”
Jay B says his solo U.S. tour feels “smooth,” not “better,” after a difficult previous run involving a local promoter. The GOT7 leader says touring now lets him enjoy each city and focus on what feels genuinely good rather than chasing bigger or better things. -
Taylor Swift sets a VMAs record with 33 awards after three wins
Taylor Swift's three wins at Sunday's VMAs lifted her tally to 33 Moon Person awards, breaking a tie with Beyoncé, who entered with 30. The honors were Video of the Year for “The Fate of Ophelia,” Best Direction for “Opalite” and the inaugural Artist Director Honors. -
Sienna Spiro wins MTV VMA’s Best New Artist award after debut performance
English singer-songwriter Sienna Spiro won the MTV VMA for Best New Artist on Sunday after her first performance at the ceremony. Her single “Great Expectation” recently became her first UK No. 1, and her debut album, Visitor, was released in July. -
Sombr, Teddy Swims and RAYE join George Michael tribute at 2026 VMAs
Sombr, Teddy Swims, RAYE, Adam Lambert, MEEK, MNEK and Saint Harison paid tribute to George Michael at the 2026 MTV VMAs on Sept. 27 with renditions of “Faith” and “Careless Whisper.” A live album from his 1988 Faith Tour is due in November, with a concert film set for December. -
Taylor Swift debuts ‘Patient Zero’ video with Dakota Johnson and Colin Farrell at VMAs
Taylor Swift premiered the “Patient Zero” music video at the 2026 MTV Video Music Awards on Sunday. Dakota Johnson and Colin Farrell star in the psychological thriller-inspired clip. The song is one of four tracks on the Sept. 25 encore edition of Swift’s 2025 album. -
Swift unveils ‘Patient Zero’ video at VMAs, with Johnson and Farrell in key roles
Taylor Swift premiered the “Patient Zero” video at the 2026 MTV VMAs on Sept. 27. Colin Farrell plays Swift’s former partner, now with Dakota Johnson; Swift appears as a ghost warning Johnson to run, while a clipping suggests Swift’s character died mysteriously. -
Taylor Swift brings gothic ‘Patient Zero’ video to the VMAs
Taylor Swift premiered her self-directed “Patient Zero” ghost-story video at the Sept. 27 VMAs, starring Dakota Johnson and Colin Ferrell as a troubled couple. Swift appears as the man’s ex, whose gravestone hints she is a dead heiress. The single came out Friday. -
Nicole Scherzinger says boiling water spilled on her before Düsseldorf set
On Sept. 27, Nicole Scherzinger posted a photo of burns and blisters on her leg, saying boiling water spilled on her an hour before her Sept. 26 set in Düsseldorf, Germany. She wrote, “the show must go on,” and thanked Düsseldorf. -
Taylor Swift becomes first recipient of Artist Director Honors at 2026 VMAs
Taylor Swift received the 2026 MTV VMAs’ inaugural Artist Director Honors on Sept. 27 in Los Angeles. She thanked fans, saying they make directing music videos rewarding, and said she had written and directed 18 of roughly 60 videos she had worked on. -
Taylor Swift becomes VMAs’ most-awarded artist and debuts ‘Patient Zero’
Taylor Swift debuted the “Patient Zero” music video at the 2026 VMAs in Los Angeles after receiving the inaugural Artist Director Honors award. Her 31st VMA broke her tie with Beyoncé, making her the most-decorated artist in the show’s history.
