If you watched CMA Country Christmas a couple of weeks ago, you got all the warm fuzzies from Reba, Brett Eldredge, Martina McBride, Dan + Shay, Brad Paisley, Old Dominion, and even the legendary (but not all that country) Tony Bennett.

What?! YOU MISSED IT??? Oh noooooo.  Now you’ll NEVER get in the Christmas spirit in time.

Just kidding. They’re airing it again this weekend, so set your DVR now. Right now. It will air Saturday night (12/22) at 8pm eastern on ABC.

And just to give you a little bit of the spirit now, here’s Brett Eldredge getting Holly AND Jolly.

It was a couple days before Christmas, and at his desk, was a recovering Aidan who felt very grotesque. He had suffered a case of something so vile. “I’m much better now,” he said with a crooked smile. However, Aidan was stuck thinking of an article to write. “There is nothing happening in metal!” and he was kind of right. Before he lost hope on what to do next, he got hit up by his homie Drew, in strange written text.

“Hey man I got some family coming and I wanted to make a Christmas playlist, but throw in some weird metal Christmas songs. Do you know any?”

Aidan sat there, and thought in a very deep pause… “YO, I should recommend songs to headbang with Santa Clause!”

5) August Burns Red - Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer

To start this list right, you need something familiar and fast paced, and nothing is better than August Burns Red’s cover of the Christmas classic. If this track does not get you in the right “bright eyed” state you wish for, don’t worry, because August Burns Red has 2 Christmas albums! I am not joking. I guess this metalcore band from Lancaster, Pennsylvania just knows how to get into the spirit of things… or they lost a bet? Regardless, this short and sweet cover should be in everyone’s Christmas playlist this year.

4) AC/DC - Mistress for Christmas

If the last song did not do it for you, then this one should make you feel warm and fuzzy. AC/DC brought this little number out on 1990’s Razors Edge, confusing many folks that went through the album. Its very existence is still very strange to me, but I can’t help listening to it every winter season. Maybe it’s the Christmas bells in the background that accommodates the well synchronized guitar riff. Or it could be the fact this sounds like the X-rated Christmas classic that was never released due to its scandalous nature. All I know is that AC/DC delivered a banging Christmas track that can get everyone’s head banging.

3) King Diamond - No Presents for Christmas

Got some rotten little kids in the family, well King Diamond has an anthem for you to play! After Mercyful Fate had disbanded, King Diamond decided that the first single he would release would be… a Christmas song? Screw it, I’m not going to complain. This song completely shreds and has become a huge staple in King Diamond winter tours.  The only way to compliment this song even more, is if you played this song while stuffing stockings with coal.

2) Trans-Siberian Orchestra - Wizards in Winter

If you were slightly familiar with metal Christmas music, it is probably because of this band right here. A group like none other, Trans-Siberian Orchestra brings the very heart  and wonder of Christmas classics out in a new light. The live shows are like nothing I have ever seen before and musical talent is on par with the greats of past. If you enjoy this track of theirs, then please dive into the whole album “The Lost Christmas Eve” and experience new takes of the songs you grew up with as a child again.

1) Ronnie James Dio -  God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen

Let us put a perfect bow on this list and end with the one and only Dio! Accompanied by Tony Iommi, Rudy Sarzo, Simon Wright, and Simon Wright, this all-star group crush this classic! No other song can flawlessly end a night of cheer like this one. So grab the hot coco, sit by the fire with the family, and blast some Dio.

There we have it, ending on a good note. Aidan had finished the article, and was happy with what he wrote.

But then he saw the time and it was way past 5! “Oh snap gotta go… OH AND HAPPY HOLIDAYS FROM SLACKER & LIVEXLIVE!”

Maybe you’re tired of hearing me harp on this, but it keeps happening, so I have to keep reminding you. Your favorite country artist (or any celebrity, for that matter) has a blue check next to their name on their social media accounts. If there’s no blue check, it’s not the artist, it’s a scammer trying to take something from you.

Did you see this article out of Rock Hill, SC? A woman there told police that her sister spent two years sending cashier’s checks and gift cards to someone pretending to be Dierks Bentley on Twitter. They exchanged text messages over that two years, and she sent this fraud more than $160,000. That is not a typo.

Last year I had a conversation about this with Granger Smith, who has been really active in going after these fakes, including that time he actually pretended to be a country music fan on Twitter, baited the fakes, and then jumped into a conversation with one. And he said there’s something kind of obvious we have to start thinking about.

And you might remember earlier this summer when Blake Shelton and a bunch of others created this public service announcement reminding you that it’s bullshit.

Don’t think you’re alone in getting these, either. Just this week, I was followed by this fake:

First of all, artists do not have private social media accounts with which to contact you. Second of all, what is “officee?” Is it supposed to be Carrie’s private office?  Is it some new shorthand for “official?” Or is it maybe someone who doesn’t have a grasp of the English language but does have a grasp on the amount of fans who will do anything for their favorite artist, Carrie Underwood?

What you need to do when these accounts follow you, even before they make an attempt to contact you, is to report them and block them. AND NEVER EVER EVER EVER EVER SEND THEM MONEY. Even if DIerks Bentley wasn’t making piles of money bigger than your house by touring and putting on music festivals and selling overpriced t-shirts at his shows, even if he somehow found himself unable to make the mortgage this month, you know who he’s gonna ask for help? NOT YOU. And not on social media.

Y’all. Let’s be smart about this. I don’t want your grandma to lose her life savings to some Nigerian prince who figured out who to use the internet to make a living, mmmkay? Cool.

It’s hard to believe but arguably the greatest producer of a few generations, Teddy Riley has never been honored in his hometown of Harlem, NY. That glaring oversight was rectified on Sunday afternoon as Riley and some of his most famous and successful collaborators, Keith Sweat, Doug E. Fresh, Kool Moe Dee and Guy member Damion Hall were presented with keys to the city, official proclamations and even made honorary chieftains at a ceremony under the Apollo Theater’s world famous marquee. Sunday night the triumphant contingent headlined non-stop action filled concert that celebrated the New Jack Swing.

“Tonight is gonna be amazing, but I’m in disbelief I am at the Apollo,” Riley said as he took the stage at the first of two shows on Sunday.

The Big Apple born music man served as maestro for the show, staying on stage singing, dancing, hosting, and playing the keyboard for just about the concert’s entirety.

All the stars performed records mostly produced for them by Riley.

Teddy started, backed by dancers and singing his signature theme, “Teddy’s Jam.” He then went into Michael Jackson’s “Remember the Time,” singing chorus in auto tune.

Riley then made way for the man his nicknamed “The General.”

While all of the acts wore Black Sunday evening, Moe Dee came out clad in cocaine white from head to toe except his trademarked shades.

Moe Dee hit the audience with a three piece of classics from the 80s, “Do You Know What Time It Is,” “Go See The Doctor” “How You Like Me Now,” and of course his biggest record “Wild Wild West.” The matter of course talked about living in Harlem right by the Apollo.

MC Lyte followed with a brief set of “Paper Thing” and “Ruff Neck.” She talked about going down to Virginia Beach, VA to meet Riley and work on the records.

The vibe went from BK to Uptown Mount Vernon and The Bronx. Al B. Sure had a short stint where he sang a piece of Joedeci’s “Forever My Lady” (a song he originally wrote) to the recently passed Kim Porter.

DJ’s D-Nice and Eddie F quarterbacked a tribute to one of Riley’s closest friends, Heavy D, highlight by a dance tribute to “Now That We Found Love” ft. Aaron Hall.

“We’re not afraid of anything,” Teddy, returning to stage, would say minutes later. “We don’t fear anybody but God.”

SWV amped the energy in the building up a few notches. “I’m So Into You,” “Weak” and “Right Here” were all winners by the trio.

The reigns of the show returned to TR as he brought out both of his group in separate sets. First was Blackstreet, whose lineup has changed several times throughout the last two decades, but Riley always seems to find pristine vocalist to keep the group’s integrity. And while Blackstreet now features two NewJacks in place of original members Levi Little and Chauncey Black, harmonious heavyweight Dave Hollister is back in the fold and serves as the group anchor and big gun.

“Don’t Leave Me” and “Joy” were sang with a passion and urgency as if the quartet’s lives were in the line to get cheers. The crowd applauded and stood in awe at some points of how flawless and powerful the team’s vocals were. “Joy,” a song originally where ChaunceyBlack would shine, was a tag team effort on Sunday with the group showing precise chemistry. The tempo went up, for their closer “No Diggity” and Blackstreet’s voices remained immaculate as the Apollo began to dance.

As one group exited, Guy’s set started just about immediately after as Damion and Aaron Hall joined Riley on stage. They kept the party going with “Groove Me.” Teddy and The Hall’s then focused on the ballads. The crowd sang along with ardor for “Bye Bye Love,” “Piece of my Love” and “Let’s Chill.” These weren’t just R&B chart toppers back in their 80s and early 90s heydays. There were anthems that started in New York made by New York artists. Hearing Aaron Hall’s voice on those records on Sunday transported you back to that time.

“I gotta get a break,” one lady said after Guy’s finale of “I Like.” The record had everyone out of their seats and dancing. “That was fantastic.”

Riley however wasn’t prepared to stop. The onslaught of hits continued.

“The party ain’t over. The party ain’t over,” the legendary producer insisted.

“Doug E. Fresh came out for “The Show” and brought Lil Vicious for “Freaks.”

Keith Sweat was last in the parade of stars, paying homage to Johnny Kemp as he started with “Just Got Paid.” The record is Kemp’s biggest hit but few people remember Sweat wrote the song and Riley produced it.

“Somebody turn my s--t up,” Sweat said about his mic. There were problems throughout the show with the mics, but it didn’t impede the concert.

Sweat walked in the audience down the soles and serenaded the ladies on “Nobody.” And after “Make It Last Forever,” the singer jokingly addressed the elephant in the room.

“I heard the s--t y’all used to talk about me back in the day,” he laughed. “How I like to beg and s--t. Where all my single ladies at? Where all my ladies that wanna be single at?”

During another break to fix the mics, Sweat assured the audience he is always the real thing.

“Ain’t no lip syncing going on,” Sweat said with is raspy tone. He then looked down to a woman in the front row.

You like this s--t baby? I sound just like my record.”

The New Jack Swing show ended like a family BBQ with most of the acts returning to the stage together as Sweat sang Cameo’s “Candy.” As Aaron Hall came out, Sweat grabbed his hand, walked Hall to the front and both sang the lyrics made famous by Larry Blackmon.

“It's like candy./You sure are sweet
You're so dandy./You're taking my appetite, but it's all right./It's like candy./You look real nice, wrapped up tight./You're so dandy
You're giving me a heart attack
It's the kind I like.”

Right after the show, the crowd was whisked outside because Riley and company had a second concert scheduled just minutes after the first one ended. Obviously that show started a little behind schedule.

Ariana Grande’s got a lot to be happy about this time of year – a least, career-wise. The Grammy-nominated album Sweetener was her 3rd #1 album, she’s already moving on to even more hit music, teasing an upcoming album called Thank U, Next, and Billboard just named her the Woman of The Year.

But as Ari admits in the speech above, "I find it interesting that this has been one of the best years of my career and the worst of my life. A lot of people would look at someone in my position right now as an artist that could be at her peak and think, 'She’s really got her shit together, she's really on it. She’s got it all.' And I do, but as far as my personal life goes, I really have no idea what the fuck I’m doing.”

She laughed off her comment, but quickly followed up with a message of hope for her fans: "It's been a very conflicting one, and I just want to say if you're someone out there who has no idea what this next chapter is going to bring, you’re not alone in that.”

As I mentioned above, Ariana managed to pull down two Grammy nominations for 2019 – Best Pop Solo Performance for "God Is A Woman", and Best Pop Vocal Album for Sweetener. Get details on all the nominees on Slacker’s Grammy Awards 2019 station!

Y’all. There is a serious problem happening right now, and you have the power to fix it. I’m talking about women making country music that ISN’T BEING HEARD. At least, not on that radio you have in your car – unless that radio gets Slacker on it, in which case, you’re good.

Billboard just published this article that says for the first time in 28 years, there is not a single female voice in the top 20 on this week’s Billboard Country Airplay chart, which compiles data on what terrestrial radio stations are playing around the country. Carrie Underwood is the only one who comes close at 22 with “Love Wins.”

Now, for my entire radio career, there’s been this “rule” that women, who are the target audience for most country radio stations, don’t like to hear other women. I CALL BS. Because, you see, I am a woman, and many of my friends are women, and many of the Slacker Radio listeners I hear from on a regular basis are women, and the overwhelming majority of women I know and have talked to want to hear music that reflects their own life experiences. You know who’s making that music? You guessed it: women.

In the Women Want to Hear Women podcast, Carrie Underwood calls BS, too.

In addition to programming female artists with great music on all of our mainstream country stations at Slacker Radio, you probably know we also launched WCE Country (which stands for Woman Crush Everyday) to give these talented women a bigger spotlight, more exposure, and to tell their stories. It’s curated and hosted by the women of Nashville, who very much want to hear other women on the radio.

The thing is, once we put the music out there, it’s up to YOU to help it succeed. And it’s pretty easy. Open your Slacker app or pull it up at slacker.com. I’ll wait. Ok, play a song – any song will do, but for the purposes of this experiment, try to make it a song by your favorite female country artist. You see that little heart in the bottom right? Every time you tap that heart on a song you love, you send us a signal that you want more. You help that song get played more, and be heard by more people. And the more people who tap that heart button, the more likely it is the song will make it into Slacker’s Weekly Country Countdown, where even more people will hear it and heart it.

So what I need you to do is pay attention, and when you hear a great song by a female artist (or any artist, really, but it’s the women who need your help right now), tap the heart button. That’s it. You have the power as a Slacker listener to make a huge impact on a female country singer’s career, and the more of us who are listening and hearting (is that a word?) songs, the bigger impact we’ll make. Whether you’re listening to the newest of the new on Nashville Now, the familiar stuff Country Hits, or all the girls on WCE Country, I’m asking you to use your powers for good. Like a super hero. Cape not included (but if you’re wearing one, I’m totally gonna need a picture of that.)

We'll fly you to LA to see the festival, and hook you up with VIP tickets, hotel accommodations, and more.

Tell your friends and sign up here for a chance to win.

As the weekend festivities surrounding the Global Citizen Festival in Johannesburg, South Africa got into full swing on Saturday night, Dave Chappelle kept the party going until the wee hours. The legendary comedian stayed on the mic and kept the crowd at club Car Fax captivated for hours, but it wasn’t for one of his must-see stand-up shows. The entertainment icon hosted the “Dave Chappelle Pop Up Jam Session,” and celebrities such as Jay-Z, Oprah Winfrey and Tyler Perry popped in and out of the experience.  Ed Sherman briefly sang, but the party was mostly about Dave and his crew, Frederick Yonnet and the Band With No Name.

“South Africa, you guys are outstanding host,” Chappelle said around 3am. “Shout out to me, muthaf***n Dave Chappelle. I’m not just a comedian, I’m a muthaf***n movement.”

Not only did the band play a litany of classics, such as Tupac and Dr. Dre’s “California Love” and Slick Rick’s “Mona Lisa,” Chappelle himself sang and rapped some of the tunes. And while he he may never give Johnny Gill a run for his money, this was not Chappelle’s stab at being a serious vocalist. This was more like what you and your friends do at party when your favorite jam comes on: loud, proud and possibly just a bit off-key.

“Strumming my pain with his fingers,” Dave sang, inspiring the crowd to join in. “Singing my life with his words./ Killing me softly with his song./Killing me softly with his song./Telling my whole life with his words./ Killing me softly with his song.”

Later Dave and the band brought in some Otis Redding with “Try A Little Tenderness.”

“You know she's waiting,” Dave and the audience sang. “Just anticipating./
For things that she'll never, never, never, never possess, yeah yeah./But while she's there waiting, without them./ Try a little tenderness.”

When the famous baseline from Dennis Edwards’ “Don’t Look Any Further” came on, Chappelle started spitting Rakim’s lyrics from “Paid in Full” which samples the beat.

“Thinkin of a master plan,” Dave rapped, “cause ain't nuthin but sweat inside my hand./So I dig into my pocket, all my money is spent./So I dig deeper but still comin up with lint./So I start my mission- leave my residence./Thinkin how could I get some dead presidents.”

One of the spectators yelled up to stage and asked Dave where the afterparty was. The famed funny man replied “I’m going to bed, n***a.” He later told the gathering that the it was “Special for African Americans to be in South Africa” before heading to the bar.

The Global Citizen Festival took place yesterday at the FNB Stadium in Johannesburg with extra joy as a celebration of Nelson Mandela’s 100th birthday. Jay-Z and Beyonce headlined, with Usher, Pharrell Williams, Chris Martin and Wiz Kid also on the star studded bill. Stay tuned for LiveXLive.com for more coverage of this beautiful event.

Sunday night we finally got to see the 2018 Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show, which was taped nearly a month ago – with performances from Halsey, The Chainsmokers with Kelsea Ballerina, Rita Ora, and The Struts. But Halsey apparently has mixed feelings about her participation, following controversial remarks from VS’s chief marketing officer.

In an issue of Vogue, published November 8th – the same day the show was recorded - Ed Razek refuted the idea that the show should hire curvy or trans models for the televised fashion show, saying “Shouldn’t you have transsexuals in the show? No. No, I don’t think we should. Well, why not? Because the show is a fantasy.”

Halsey took exception with his comments and posted a message to her Instagram feed last night reading: “I have adored the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show since I was young. Performing this year alongside other amazing artists, and hardworking models/friends was supposed to be the best night of my year. However, after I filmed the performance, some comments were made regarding the show that I simply cannot ignore. As a member of the LGBTQ+ community, I have no tolerance for a lack of inclusivity. Especially not one motivated by stereotype.”

She tells fans that she has made a contribution to GLSEN, an organization that addresses LGBTQ issues in K-12 education, and continued: “If you are a trans person reading this, and these comments have made you feel alienated or invalidated please know that you have allies. We stand in solidarity, and complete and total acceptance is the only ‘fantasy’ that I support.”

Razek has since apologized, saying his comments “came across as insensitive”, and posting his own November 9th message reading: “I apologize. To be clear, we absolutely would cast a transgender model for the show. We’ve had transgender models come to castings… And like many others, they didn’t make it…But it was never about gender. I admire and respect their journey to embrace who they really are.”

But Halsey, and many other critics, don’t seem to feel that apology is enough.

If you’d like to learn more about GLSEN, or make a contribution, please follow the link above! And find out more about Halsey on Slacker’s Halsey: DNA Station!