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Jackie Venson ACL

Jackie Venson

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7 Texas Artists Who Turned Heads At Austin City Limits Festival

From hip-hop to western swing, punk rock to pop, get the scoop on which Lone Star State artists are in for a proud homecoming

GRAMMYs/Oct 7, 2018 - 11:36 pm

The Austin City Limits Festival brings together a wide variety of artists across many genres, styles and backgrounds for three days of Texas-sized fun every year. But for some performers, the stages of ACL are on home turf, making the heat and energy that come from the crowd that much sweeter. Let's take a look at seven artists who had a home-field advantage this weeked.

Jackie Venson

Austin-based singer/songwriter Jackie Venson blew her hometown away by performing songs from her album, Live at Strange Brew. Jackie played monstrous guitar solos between riffing on her band members’ names. She gave many shout-outs to Austin and Texas, but her biggest "Thank you" was to festival organizers C3 for not “forgetting about the locals.” Jackie had vowed to, “Never attend ACL unless I was playing... but I put a five-year limit on it,” she said. She kept her promise and delivered a scorching set for the audience with her first performance at the festival.

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Brockhampton

Brockhampton took the stage to showcase their No. 1 album Iridescence. Lighting up the stage with enough band members to start two basketball teams, backups and all, it was clear their chemistry as a group has not wavered at all. Hailing from San Marcos, Texas, the band has deep roots in the state. Besides growing up in Texas, band member Merlyn Woods even went to school at The University of Texas at Austin before leaving school to dedicate himself to the boy band.

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Sailor Poon

Known for their eclectic style, Sailor Poon graced the ACL stage with their brand of hilarious punk rock. And nothing could be more Austin than an anime-inspired local punk band with comedic tendencies. If titles like "Daddy Issues," "The D***," and "Fap and Nap" don't tickle your fancy, then we may need to revoke your Austin citizenship.

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Asleep At The Wheel

GRAMMY winners Asleep at the Wheel have been bringing roots country to ACL in style since the very beginning of the festival. Their unique take on traditional music could be heard across Zilker Park as they kicked off things at noon on Friday. Hot off a new album, New Routes, this band is anything but asleep at the wheel. Bandleader Ray Benson commented on playing ACL every year since the festival's inception, saying, “Obviously it's changed a bit but it's still one of the greatest music festivals in the world."

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Khalid

GRAMMY nominee Khalid gave shout-outs to his city of El Paso throughout his set. His backdrop was often graced with a cartoonish green road sign that spelled it's name out. The border town has always been happy to call Khalid one of its own, and he responds in kind. Like the star he's become, Khalid makes his location known.

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Molly Burch

Molly Burch released her sophomore album, First Flower, on day one of the festival and performed many of its already irresistible songs on the second morning on ACL's Barton Springs stage. Although not originally from Texas, Molly launched her start in Austin, saying the city has been “A really supportive, comforting place to start out.”  With Burch’s lovely ballads and indy pop, in many ways, the Barton Springs stage was the perfect place to cool off from the higher-energy performers.

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Travis Scott

Dallas and Houston may have long-lasting beef, but GRAMMY nominee Travis Scott has come to neutral ground here in Austin. The land of hippies, cowboys, and weirdos is excited to be graced by one of the kings of trap rap. With Astroworld earning him another No. 1 album, Scott headlines the American Express stage both Sundays.

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Asleep At The Wheel Talk 'New Routes,' Willie Nelson & More At ACL

Travis Scott 2024 GRAMMYs performance
Travis Scott performs on stage during the 66th Annual Grammy Awards

Photos: VALERIE MACON/AFP via Getty Images

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2024 GRAMMYs: Travis Scott Turns Music's Biggest Night Into A Heated Utopia

Travis Scott performed three songs from his hit album 'Utopia' at the 2024 GRAMMYs. In a speaker-ladden apocalyptic landscape, the Houston rapper performed "MY EYES," "I KNOW ?" and "FE!N" with Playboi Carti.

GRAMMYs/Feb 5, 2024 - 04:12 am

Travis Scott turned Crypto.com Arena into his personal road to Utopia, bringing the 2024 GRAMMYs, where he performed three songs from his latest No. 1 album.

Scott set the tone with a backdrop reminiscent of something out of a musical apocalypse. From sitting atop a stack of speakers in a smoky, strobing haze, the Houston-repping rapper kicked off with "MY EYES" before climbing down and transitioning into the brooding "I KNOW ?" The performance heated up — figuratively and literally, with bursts of flames — when he moved onto "FE!N," bringing out Playboi Carti while throwing chair shots WWE-style. 

"MY EYES" and "I KNOW ?" are two of Scott’s three solo tracks on Utopia, which is packed with collaborators across its 19 tracks. In addition to "FE!N" guest Playboi Carti, the album boasts appearances from some of music’s biggest names (as well as several current GRAMMY nominees), including Beyoncé, Drake, the Weeknd, Bad Bunny, and Future. Its production credits include input from Kanye West, Producer Of The Year nominee Metro Boomin, Daft Punk’s Guy-Manuel de Homem-Christo, and others. 

The heavy name recognition was well worth Utopia’s wait time, five years after Scott’s 2018 LP Astroworld. Upon its release — which arrived with a 76-minute-long visual companion, CIRCUS MAXIMUS — the album debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 chart and peaked atop Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums. Utopia also earned Scott his first No. 1 UK Album and his eleventh overall GRAMMY nomination, grabbing a 2024 nod for Best Rap Album.

2024 GRAMMYs: See The Full Nominees And Winners List

(L-R) Burna Boy, Luke Combs and Travis Scott will perform at the 2024 GRAMMYs, airing live Sunday, Feb. 4, at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT on the CBS Television Network and streaming live and on demand on Paramount+
(L-R) Burna Boy, Luke Combs and Travis Scott will perform at the 2024 GRAMMYs, airing live Sunday, Feb. 4, at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT on the CBS Television Network and streaming live and on demand on Paramount+

Source Photos (L-R): APMWORLD; Jeremy Cowart; ©Massimiliano Lorenzin, courtesy of Billboard Italy

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2024 GRAMMYs Performers: Burna Boy, Luke Combs And Travis Scott Announced

Burna Boy, Luke Combs and Travis Scott have been added to the performer lineup for the 2024 GRAMMYs. They join previously announced performers Billie Eilish, Dua Lipa and Olivia Rodrigo. The 2024 GRAMMYs air live Sunday, Feb. 4, on CBS and Paramount+.

GRAMMYs/Jan 22, 2024 - 02:23 am

Burna Boy, Luke Combs and Travis Scott have been added to the performer lineup for the 2024 GRAMMYs. Unveiled earlier today on CBS, these newly announced performing artists join previously announced 2024 GRAMMYs performers Billie Eilish, Dua Lipa and Olivia Rodrigo. Additional performers will be announced in the coming days and weeks. See the full list of performers and host at the 2024 GRAMMYs to date. 

The 2024 GRAMMYs, officially known as the 66th GRAMMY Awards, will broadcast live from Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles on Sunday, Feb. 4, at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT on the CBS Television Network and will be available to stream live and on demand on Paramount+.^ Prior to the Telecast, the GRAMMY Awards Premiere Ceremony will broadcast live from the Peacock Theater at 12:30 p.m. PT/3:30 p.m. ET and will be streamed live on live.GRAMMY.com. On GRAMMY Sunday, fans can access exclusive behind-the-scenes GRAMMY Awards content, including performances, acceptance speeches, interviews from the GRAMMY Live red-carpet special, and more via the Recording Academy's digital experience on live.GRAMMY.com

Two-time GRAMMY-nominated comedian, actor, author, podcast host, and former "The Daily Show" host Trevor Noah returns to host the 2024 GRAMMYs, marking his fourth consecutive year as host of Music's Biggest Night; Noah is currently nominated at the 2024 GRAMMYs in the Best Comedy Album Category for this 2022 Netflix comedy special, I Wish You Would.

Learn more about Burna Boy, Luke Combs and Travis Scott and their current GRAMMY nominations below.

Learn More: How To Watch The 2024 GRAMMYs Live: GRAMMY Nominations Announcement, Air Date, Red Carpet, Streaming Channel & More

2024 GRAMMYs: Explore More & Meet The Nominees

GRAMMY Award winner Burna Boy is nominated for four GRAMMY Awards this year including Best Global Music Album (I Told Them...), the inaugural Best African Music Performance ("City Boys"), Best Global Music Performance ("Alone"), and Best Melodic Rap Performance ("Sittin' On Top Of The World").

Learn More: Here Are The Nominees For Best African Music Performance At The 2024 GRAMMYs

Past and current GRAMMY Award nominee Luke Combs is up for one this year for Best Country Solo Performance for his cover of Tracy Chapman's iconic, GRAMMY-winning song "Fast Car."

Read More: 6 Artists Influenced By Tracy Chapman: Luke Combs, Brandi Carlile, Tori Amos & More

Past and current GRAMMY Award nominee Travis Scott is nominated this year for Best Rap Album (Utopia).

Read More: 5 Takeaways From Travis Scott's New Album UTOPIA

The 66th GRAMMY Awards are produced by Fulwell 73 Productions for the Recording Academy for the fourth consecutive year. Ben Winston, Raj Kapoor and Jesse Collins are executive producers. 

^Paramount+ with SHOWTIME subscribers will have access to stream live via the live feed of their local CBS affiliate on the service, as well as on demand in the United States. Paramount+ Essential subscribers will not have the option to stream live but will have access to on-demand the day after the special airs in the U.S. only.

2024 GRAMMYs Ticket Giveaway: Enter For A Chance To Attend The 66th GRAMMY Awards In Los Angeles

Tracy Chapman performing
Tracy Chapman

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6 Artists Influenced By Tracy Chapman: Luke Combs, Brandi Carlile, Tori Amos & More

Three decades after Tracy Chapman’s eponymous first LP hit the shelves, take a look at the artists who owe a debt of gratitude to the 13-time GRAMMY-nominee.

GRAMMYs/Jan 8, 2024 - 02:58 pm

Editor’s note: This story was updated on Monday, Jan. 8, to include mention of Luke Combs and his 2024 GRAMMY nomination.

Renowned for her stripped-back folky sound, social conscience and storytelling abilities, Tracy Chapman has never really fitted into the pop landscape. The singer/songwriter emerged in the late 1980s, a period when big-voiced power balladeers and exuberant teen princesses were all the rage. And throughout the following two decades, the Cleveland native continued to assemble an impressive body of work that remained utterly impervious to fleeting chart trends. 

Chapman's determination to carve out her own distinct path has undeniably reaped its rewards. Her self-titled debut album topped the Billboard 200 in 1988, sold 20 million copies and received six GRAMMY nominations; she won three (Best Contemporary Folk Album, Best Female Pop Vocal Performance and the coveted Best New Artist). A mid-'90s career resurgence, meanwhile, helped to boost her awards tally, with biggest hit "Give Me A Reason" picking up Best Rock Song. 

And whether standing in for Stevie Wonder at Nelson Mandela's 70th Birthday Tribute Concert or performing "Talkin’ Bout a Revolution" on the eve of the 2020 presidential election, Chapman has used her earthy voice to soundtrack several key historical moments.   And the very traditional kind of artist even unwittingly became a viral sensation thanks to a powerful rendition of Ben E. King classic "Stand By Me" in aid of David Letterman's late-night retirement.  

Although Chapman hasn't released a studio album since 2008's Our Bright Future, her music has remained an ever-present. From Sam Smith and Justin Bieber, to Passenger and Luke Combs, it's probably quicker to list which contemporary acts haven't covered her defining single "Fast Car" in recent years; dance producer Jonas Blue even took it back into the Hot 100 In 2015. Kelly ClarksonBlack Pumas and Jamila Woods have all paid tribute by tackling different songs from Chapman's remarkably consistent oeuvre, too.

Of course, Chapman's modern-day cachet extends beyond the odd song. Here's a look at five artists who have credited the star as a formative influence on their entire careers.

Luke Combs

By now, an ocean of ink has been spilled about Luke Combs making Tracy Chapman’s "Fast Car" a hit once more — from its racial, sexual, class, gender, and genre dynamics, to whether whitewashing was at play. But with all due respect to the talking heads, the truth is arguably much simpler: when it comes to great singer/songwriters, game recognizes game.

"There was this one song that really stuck out to me. It was called 'Fast Car,'" Combs said onstage last year. “That song meant a lot to me since then — for my whole life. I always think about my dad when it comes on and us spending time together.” It’s awfully telling, too, that Combs didn’t flip the gender of the song — a token of respect. He, too, is a "checkout girl."

Decades after its creation, Combs' take on "Fast Car" made a U-turn to the top of the Billboard country charts; at the 2024 GRAMMYs, his version is nominated for Best Country Solo Performance.

"It has stayed with me since I have played it in my live show now for six-plus years and everyone — I mean everyone — across all these stadiums relates to this song and sings along," Combs later told Billboard. That’s the gift of a supernatural songwriter." Yes, “Fast Car" is deeply, incontrovertibly human, and earthbound. But Combs reminded us that it’s charged with magic, too. — Morgan Enos

Khalid 

Just like Chapman, Khalid racked up a glut of GRAMMY nominations with his debut album, American Teen. And while promoting the record on BBC Radio One's Live Lounge in 2018, the chart-topper doffed his cap to one of its major influences with an acoustic reworking of "Fast Car." An obvious choice, perhaps, but speaking to Forbes later that same year, Khalid insisted that he was far from just a fair-weather fan. 

"For me, Tracy Chapman was just someone who inspires me in terms of songwriting," the "Talk" hitmaker revealed. "When I think about songwriting just how she can make you feel like you're in that moment." Chapman was also the first name that came to mind when Khalid was asked about his biggest musical inspiration in our One Take series.  

Lisa Marie Presley 

The late Lisa Marie Presley took her time following in her father's footsteps, releasing her debut album, To Whom It May Concern, at the relatively late age of 35. But it was the music of singer/songwriters such as Linda Ronstadt, Shelby Lynne and, in particular, Tracy Chapman (rather than the rock and roll of Elvis) that informed her sound.  

In a 2012 chat to promote third LP Storm and Grace, Presley told Rolling Stone India, "I've never met Tracy, but she's always been a huge influence on me; I don't even know if she knows that. From her first album until everything, she's been such an influence on me as a singer-songwriter." 

Presley also referenced Chapman in an interview with the Huffington Post about her musical inspirations, adding, "I love women who sing, and they mean what they're saying, and they reach in and grab you. It moves you. You can feel the singer, and it's for real." And while appearing on BBC Radio 2’s Tracks of My Years in 2013, the star selected "Smoke and Ashes" from Chapman's 1995 LP New Beginning as one of her all-time favorites.  

Valerie June 

"The missing link between Memphis Minnie and Tracy Chapman" is how singer/songwriter Valerie June was once described. No doubt that Chapman, whose sound combines folk-pop with everything from soul and bluegrass to traditional Appalachian music, would have been on board with such comparisons.   

June became a die-hard Chapman fan while growing up in Jackson, Tennessee, as she explained to the Washington Post in 2014: "I wanted to perform from probably the age of four or five, but I never believed I could. I saw Tracy Chapman and Whitney Houston and wanted to be like them. But I thought, 'Yeah, no way. They didn't come from a little old place like this.'" 

Of course, June did manage to carve a niche for herself in the wider world. She even picked up a Best American Roots Song nod at the 2022 GRAMMYs for "Call Me A Fool," a collaboration with Stax legend Carla Thomas. And one of her proudest career moments was following in Chapman's footsteps by appearing on "Austin City Limits."  

Brandi Carlile 

Brandi Carlile has achieved several GRAMMY milestones throughout her glittering career. The Americana favorite was the most-nominated artist at the 2019 ceremony in which she took home three gongs. Then in 2022, she became the first-ever female songwriter to pick up two Song Of The Year nods simultaneously. And the music of Tracy Chapman helped set Carlile on her 24-time nominated path. 

Carlile has frequently acknowledged the influence that the "Fast Car" hitmaker has had on her career. While hosting "Somewhere Over the Radio," a SiriusXM show designed to celebrate "queer excellence," the star played one of her most cherished Chapman songs. And during her 2023 A Special Solo Performance tour, she brought out wife Catherine to perform a duet of New Beginning cut "The Promise." 

Carlile is such a fan that while responding to a fan on Twitter in the pandemic-hit 2020, she argued that one of the few ways the year could redeem itself was if Chapman dropped a new album.  

Tori Amos 

Eight-time GRAMMY nominee Tori Amos and Tracy Chapman began their careers in tandem: David Kershenbaum executive produced the eponymous first albums from both the former's short-lived synth-pop outfit Y Kant Tori Read and the latter singer-songwriter around the same time. And the flame-haired pianist was one of the first to recognize that her counterpart was something special. 

In a Pitchfork interview about her musical tastes, Amos revealed that Tracy Chapman essentially changed her entire outlook. "It woke me up and took me back to my 5-year-old self, who was creating from a pure place of intention of music being magic, as a place where we could walk into and feel many different things." 

Amos subsequently ditched the crop top, leather pants and copious amounts of hairspray and, like Chapman, followed her artistic instincts. When asked by Glamour magazine in 2012 which female artists its younger readers should explore, the "Cornflake Girl" hitmaker didn't hesitate in mentioning her fellow 1988 debutant.  

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Kendrick Lamar GRAMMY Rewind Hero
Kendrick Lamar

Photo: Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic

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GRAMMY Rewind: Kendrick Lamar Honors Hip-Hop's Greats While Accepting Best Rap Album GRAMMY For 'To Pimp a Butterfly' In 2016

Upon winning the GRAMMY for Best Rap Album for 'To Pimp a Butterfly,' Kendrick Lamar thanked those that helped him get to the stage, and the artists that blazed the trail for him.

GRAMMYs/Oct 13, 2023 - 06:01 pm

Updated Friday Oct. 13, 2023 to include info about Kendrick Lamar's most recent GRAMMY wins, as of the 2023 GRAMMYs.

A GRAMMY veteran these days, Kendrick Lamar has won 17 GRAMMYs and has received 47 GRAMMY nominations overall. A sizable chunk of his trophies came from the 58th annual GRAMMY Awards in 2016, when he walked away with five — including his first-ever win in the Best Rap Album category.

This installment of GRAMMY Rewind turns back the clock to 2016, revisiting Lamar's acceptance speech upon winning Best Rap Album for To Pimp A Butterfly. Though Lamar was alone on stage, he made it clear that he wouldn't be at the top of his game without the help of a broad support system. 

"First off, all glory to God, that's for sure," he said, kicking off a speech that went on to thank his parents, who he described as his "those who gave me the responsibility of knowing, of accepting the good with the bad."

Looking for more GRAMMYs news? The 2024 GRAMMY nominations are here!

He also extended his love and gratitude to his fiancée, Whitney Alford, and shouted out his Top Dawg Entertainment labelmates. Lamar specifically praised Top Dawg's CEO, Anthony Tiffith, for finding and developing raw talent that might not otherwise get the chance to pursue their musical dreams.

"We'd never forget that: Taking these kids out of the projects, out of Compton, and putting them right here on this stage, to be the best that they can be," Lamar — a Compton native himself — continued, leading into an impassioned conclusion spotlighting some of the cornerstone rap albums that came before To Pimp a Butterfly.

"Hip-hop. Ice Cube. This is for hip-hop," he said. "This is for Snoop Dogg, Doggystyle. This is for Illmatic, this is for Nas. We will live forever. Believe that."

To Pimp a Butterfly singles "Alright" and "These Walls" earned Lamar three more GRAMMYs that night, the former winning Best Rap Performance and Best Rap Song and the latter taking Best Rap/Sung Collaboration (the song features Bilal, Anna Wise and Thundercat). He also won Best Music Video for the remix of Taylor Swift's "Bad Blood." 

Lamar has since won Best Rap Album two more times, taking home the golden gramophone in 2018 for his blockbuster LP DAMN., and in 2023 for his bold fifth album, Mr. Morale & the Big Steppers.

Watch Lamar's full acceptance speech above, and check back at GRAMMY.com every Friday for more GRAMMY Rewind episodes. 

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