Many people, even the <a href="https://njmonthly.com/articles/news/remembering-ronald-reagans-1984-visit-to-nj-and-his-born-in-the-usa-blunder/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">President of the United States</a>, misread Bruce Springsteen’s most iconic tune.
“Born in the U.S.A.” wasn’t a rah-rah anthem but a Vietnam War smackdown.
No one is misreading The Boss’ political leanings today. Springsteen’s European tour finds the rocker trashing President Donald Trump like a Stephen Colbert monologue.
There’s only one problem. Springsteen squandered his moral authority over the past decade, and it’s not coming back. He’s far from alone in hard-rock circles.
<div id="attachment_927311" style="width: 682px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-927311" class="size-large wp-image-927311" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/05/GettyImages-2215117217-672x576.jpg" alt="MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - MAY 14: Bruce Springsteen performs during the first night of his 'The Land of Hopes and Dreams' tour at Co-op Live on May 14, 2025 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Shirlaine Forrest/Getty Images)" width="672" height="576" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/05/GettyImages-2215117217-672x576.jpg 672w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/05/GettyImages-2215117217-300x257.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/05/GettyImages-2215117217-768x659.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/05/GettyImages-2215117217.jpg 1024w" sizes="(max-width: 672px) 100vw, 672px" />Shirlaine Forrest/Getty Images</div>
Springsteen made waves with his recent <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/nobody-cares-bruce-springsteen-mocked-for-tirade-against-trump?author=Amanda+Harding&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=undefined&amp;row=0&amp;rowType=Vertical+List&amp;title=%E2%80%98Nobody+Cares%E2%80%99%3A+Bruce+Springsteen+Mocked+For+Tirade+Against+Trump">on-stage Trump tirade</a>, a May 14 rant that swiftly went viral. So much for Norms – bashing America overseas is typically frowned upon.
<blockquote>In my home, the America I love, the America I’ve written about, that has been a beacon of hope and liberty for 250 years, is currently in the hands of a corrupt, incompetent and treasonous administration. Tonight, we ask all who believe in democracy and the best of our American experiment to rise with us, raise your voices against authoritarianism and let freedom ring!</blockquote>
The comments came during the media maelstrom regarding Trump’s predecessor, the 80-something president whose cognitive decline made him woefully unfit for the gig.
Yet Springsteen didn’t say a word, at least publicly, about President Joe Biden’s mental state. The Boss supported Biden’s 2020 presidential run and similarly backed Vice President Kamala Harris last year. The rock icon kept mum about what every fair-thinking American saw over the last four years.
Gaffe after gaffe. Video after video. The sad proof was there before our collective eyes.
Nor did he condemn Harris for hiding Biden’s mental fog. She worked side-by-side with Biden and sang from the “Sharp as a Tack” hymnal, yet Springsteen never pressed her on the matter in song or on a concert stage.
<div id="attachment_927325" style="width: 859px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-927325" class="size-large wp-image-927325" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/05/GettyImages-2181620062-849x576.jpg" alt="PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - OCTOBER 28: Singer Bruce Springsteen performs before former U.S. President Barack Obama speaks during a campaign rally in support of Democratic presidential nominee, U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris at Temple University October 28 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Voters in the United States will cast their ballots on November 5, 2024. (Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images)" width="849" height="576" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/05/GettyImages-2181620062-849x576.jpg 849w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/05/GettyImages-2181620062-300x204.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/05/GettyImages-2181620062-768x521.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/05/GettyImages-2181620062.jpg 1024w" sizes="(max-width: 849px) 100vw, 849px" />Win McNamee/Getty Images</div>
His silence wasn’t isolated to that terrible issue. Springsteen stayed mum during the Twitter Files scandal, Team Biden’s attempts to curb pandemic critics and Cancel Culture’s impact on the First Amendment.
He didn’t speak up for author Jeanine Cummins, aggressively canceled for writing a book (“American Dirt”) from a different culture than her own. The Boss didn’t rage against sensitivity readers or the scolds who censored books by literary giants like Roald Dahl and Agatha Christie.
You’d think an artist of his caliber would have had their backs, even if they worked in different media. Not Springsteen.
A true blue-collar troubadour wouldn’t let partisanship get in the way of the truth. Heck, the old Springsteen might have penned an ode to <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/laken-rileys-alleged-illegal-immigrant-killer-was-flown-to-georgia-on-taxpayer-dime">Laken Riley</a>, the young woman killed by an illegal immigrant in 2024.
This version? Not a chance.
The New Jersey legend refused to stand up to longtime fans alarmed at his sky-high ticket prices. He put his blue collar bona fides on a shelf and said <a href="https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-features/bruce-springsteen-covers-lp-fan-outrage-ticket-prices-1234632658/">he was worth the price of admission.</a>
Some Everyman.
Recently, two well-known rockers rode to Springsteen’s defense. Pearl Jam’s Eddie Vedder has backed The Boss on stage, covering the singer’s “My City of Ruins” and blasting Trump from his <a href="https://www.newsweek.com/eddie-vedder-trump-bruce-springsteen-2074454">concert soap box</a>.
<blockquote>Part of free speech is open discussion, part of democracy is healthy public discourse. The name calling is so beneath us. Bruce has always been a true American with his values of freedom and liberty and his justice has always remained intact…This freedom to speak will still exist in another year or two when we come back to this microphone.</blockquote>
Like Springsteen, Vedder stood down during the relentless attacks on free speech over the past decade. He said nothing about Cancel Culture, of fellow artists forced to grovel for forgiveness for past jokes and comments.
Nothing.
<div id="attachment_927327" style="width: 874px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-927327" class="size-large wp-image-927327" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/05/GettyImages-2213288519-864x576.jpg" alt="NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA - MAY 03: Eddie Vedder of Pearl Jam performs during 2025 New Orleans Jazz &amp; Heritage Festival at Fair Grounds Race Course on May 03, 2025 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Erika Goldring/Getty Images)" width="864" height="576" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/05/GettyImages-2213288519-864x576.jpg 864w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/05/GettyImages-2213288519-300x200.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/05/GettyImages-2213288519-768x512.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/05/GettyImages-2213288519.jpg 1024w" sizes="(max-width: 864px) 100vw, 864px" />Erika Goldring/Getty Images</div>
That goes double for Tom Morello. The Rage Against the Machine singer joined his fellow, far-Left rockers in <a href="https://thehill.com/blogs/in-the-know/5320025-rage-against-the-machine-tom-morello-trump-bruce-springsteen/">blasting Trump and backing The Boss</a>.
<blockquote>Bruce is going after Trump because Bruce, his whole life, he’s been about truth, justice, democracy, equality … And Trump is mad at him because Bruce draws a bigger audience. F— that guy!</blockquote>
And let’s not forget their collective silence on one of the biggest news stories of the past decade. Neither Springsteen, Vedder or Morello publicly spoke out against the Oct. 7 atrocities, the ongoing hostage crisis or the 2023 Nova Music Festival massacre.
The latter should have been a moment for musicians from all genres to sing in one voice against an attack that hit so close to home. U2’s Bono <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/music/2023/oct/10/u2-changes-lyrics-song-pride-israeli-music-festival-supernova">briefly spoke out</a> against the Nova massacre, as did <a href="https://nypost.com/2023/10/09/attack-on-israel-exposes-cowardice-of-social-media-celebs/">Madonna</a>.
The aforementioned rockers stayed silent.
And where are the pleas for Hamas to release the hostages held captive for more than a year? How hard is it to share that message?
John Ondrasik of Five for Fighting fame has just done that, almost nonstop, since Oct. 7. He’s put politics aside to pen songs tied to the Ukraine War, the Hamas barbarism and more.
His chilling anthem “OK (We Are Not OK),” a reaction to the Oct. 7 atrocities, is a must listen.
We may disagree on the power of celebrity messaging, but Ondrasik’s moral authority remains strong. What a shame Springsteen and friends can’t say the same.
* * *
Christian Toto is an award-winning journalist, movie critic and editor of <a href="https://www.hollywoodintoto.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">HollywoodInToto.com</a>. He previously served as associate editor with Breitbart News’ Big Hollywood. Follow him at <a href="https://www.hollywoodintoto.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">HollywoodInToto.com</a>.
The views expressed in this piece are those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of The Daily Wire.

Bruce Springsteen And The E Street Band Perform At The Co-op Live

The Boss Has A Lot To Say About The USA

Bruce Springsteen

Celebrities

Democrats

Donald Trump

Entertainment

Leftists

Music

Beyoncé rode a vintage car through the air &#8212; but does that hold a candle to getting busted by the cops while playing a Columbia, Missouri, house party?
In an era where over-the-top concerts and sky-high ticket prices dominate headlines, The All-American Rejects are taking a different approach. The pop-punk band, which rose to fame in the early 2000s, is reconnecting with fans on their House Party Tour, which brings the band to intimate, fan-suggested venues. 
Frontman Tyson Ritter explained the motivation behind this unconventional approach.
&#8220;I recently read something about people financing festival tickets, the complete inaccessibility of the concert experience in 2025, and how it&#8217;s juxtaposed against these wild and weird economic times,&#8221; he told <a href="https://www.vulture.com/article/all-american-rejects-interview-house-party-tour.html#:~:text=%2C%E2%80%9D%20he%20says.-,%E2%80%9CI%20recently%20read%20something%20about%20people%20financing%20festival%20tickets%2C%20the,our%20shows%20can%20still%20work.%E2%80%9D">Vulture</a> in a recent interview.
This realization led to the band investing their own money to bring live music directly to fans.
&#8220;We took $50,000 out of our own pockets, booked a bus,” Ritter explained. “For me, it was that we could find an opening and an opportunity as four guys from Oklahoma who didn’t come from much.&#8221;
&#8220;I was raised in a trailer house, my first concert was sitting on my porch listening to a band that was playing at an outdoor pavilion,” Ritter added, noting that the backyard tour is also a form of protest against the music industry status quo.
“It was like, this is the reason people are showing up. It’s the have-nots and have-littles in the middle-of-nowhere America who keep the lights on for our country. They’re often drive-through states for many of these big tours. Who’s playing Ames, Iowa? Who’s playing Green Bay, Wisconsin? Unless it’s a big arena with the big old sponsor,” he told the outlet.
<a href="https://get.dailywire.com/subscribe/plus/?utm_medium=website&amp;utm_source=editorial&amp;utm_campaign=memorial&amp;utm_content=editorialmemorialday&amp;_gl=1*1qdq03s*_gcl_au*MTYyNDg0MTE0OS4xNzQxODk4NTMz*_ga*MTEzOTk1NjkxNi4xNzI2MzI1MDQz*_ga_CZKR9ZYKJP*czE3NDgzNzg2NDgkbzEwMDMkZzEkdDE3NDgzODEwMTckajU4JGwwJGgw" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Get 40% Off New DailyWire+ Annual Memberships</a>
“You’re seeing it now where these giant artists — I’m not going to say her name — aren’t really selling out their shows anymore, and they pay for these arenas to make it look like they did,” Ritter added. “The first 25% of the arena gets sold from people buying $300 tickets, and they don’t even know that the local promoter is getting hundreds of free tickets to fill the rest of the venue.”
The House Party Tour has taken off in a large part because younger concertgoers never got to experience intimate concerts. And since Gen Z is all about nostalgia, they were eager to latch onto something they’d heard about, but had never got to try firsthand.
“We did a show in LA that was the kind that you have to do when promoting new music. It left a sour taste in our mouths and in this giant gorilla of an industry we’re clawing our way back into, we decided to put on a show the next day,” Ritter told <a href="https://www.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/music/2025/05/21/all-american-rejects-singer-tyson-ritter-pop-up-shows-interview/83777418007/">USA Today</a>, adding that the band first played at the home of a University of Southern California student with just five hours notice.
He added, “We start playing and there were [40 ounce bottles of beer] hoisted in the air and people crowd surfing. I looked into some of their eyes and I saw a rite of passage moment was happening. That they’re going, ‘I saw pictures of my parents doing this, but I never got to.’”
Ritter said the band recaptured a feeling from long ago. “We felt cool,” he told Vulture.
“So after that night, we all put our heads together to see what would be possible. My wife’s getting ready to bring our second child into the world, and she’s due in a week and a half. I told my manager, ‘What if we do as many as we can in this week-and-a-half space? Let’s do it the same way we did when we started out. Let’s reach out to college radio stations and local businesses. Let’s ask for a $5 donation at the door.’ It was that simple.”
Since then, the Rejects have performed in a variety of unconventional venues, including a Minneapolis bowling alley and fans&#8217; backyards in “flyover states” like Iowa and Missouri. These pop-up shows emphasize spontaneity and a return to the communal spirit of live music.
Despite not making money hand over fist like other artists charging hundreds or even thousands of dollars per ticket, the band has been prioritizing connection with fans over profit. And they’re finding new fans in addition to the millennials who remember viral hits from the early aughts like “Swing Swing,” “Move Along,” and “Gives You Hell.”
In the case of getting <a href="https://people.com/all-american-rejects-backyard-gig-shut-down-by-cops-11741776">busted by the police</a> while performing at the University of Missouri, the patrol sergeant admitted to listening to The All-American Rejects in college and allowed the band to play “one more song” before the party had to disperse.
Their choice? The viral 2008 jam “Gives You Hell.&#8221; Obviously.
The House Party Tour coincides with the release of &#8220;Sandbox,&#8221; the band&#8217;s first new song in almost 14 years. They will be opening for the Jonas Brothers on an actual stage beginning on August 10, but for now, they’re gaining fans and publicity by proving they don’t think they’re too good for a classic middle America roller rink.
And instead of being embarrassed or feeling like it’s beneath them, the band is proud of the route they’ve chosen. “This is going to be a feather we fly in our cap, and we’re going to Yankee Doodle as far as we can go,” Ritter said. “I felt like I was watching an echo of a yesterday that got me into doing this.”

The All-American Rejects Perform Free Show After High Wind Warning Cancels Day One Of The 2022 When We Were Young Festival

This Pop-Rock Band Ditched Pyrotechnics For Middle America Porch Parties

Music Industry

rock music

U.S.

Editor&#8217;s note: A previous version of this article included social media posts that falsely claimed that the Penske Media Corp had contributed more than a million dollars to political organizations associated with Donald Trump. Those donations came from the Penske Corp, which is a different entity. The story has been updated. 
&#8212;
Some Taylor Swift fans have theories about why she didn&#8217;t attend the American Music Awards (AMAs) on Monday despite being nominated for six awards.
One anonymous <a href="https://x.com/repgirlypop/status/1927194423063884012?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1927194423063884012%7Ctwgr%5E07e6f1f2ea34d03e62a6bfb9bc43b867e301bf77%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&amp;ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fnews.dailywire.com%2Fwp-admin%2Fpost.php%3Fpost%3D926219action%3Dedit">X post speculated</a> that the pop star might have skipped due to politics, suggesting that it could be because Billboard Magazine, which is affiliated with the award show, was owned by conservatives. But the post, which has amassed hundreds of thousands of views on X, appears to confuse Jay Penske and his Penske Media Corp with Penske Corp, a company owned by his father, the billionaire former race car driver Roger Penske. 
The younger Penske does not appear to have made any donations to Trump, or any affiliated political groups. His media group, Penske Media Corp, owns several prominent entertainment news outlets, including The Hollywood Reporter and Rolling Stone.
Jay Penske maintains a politically neutral public persona. His father, Roger Penske, formally endorsed President Trump in 2020 and was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2019 . Penske Corp, according to a review of <a href="https://www.opensecrets.org/orgs/penske-corp/summary?id=D000036594">campaign finance records</a>, has made several donations to Trump and other Republicans. 
Trump is on the mind of Swift&#8217;s fans due to his recent barb, in which he renewed criticism of the singer he once said he hates.
“Has anyone noticed that, since I said ‘I HATE TAYLOR SWIFT,’ she’s no longer ‘HOT?’” the president shared with his followers on May 16.
<a href="https://get.dailywire.com/subscribe/plus/?utm_medium=website&amp;utm_source=editorial&amp;utm_campaign=memorial&amp;utm_content=editorialmemorialday">Get 40% Off New DailyWire+ Annual Memberships</a>
While some fans believe Swift skipped the ceremony due to Trump drama, another theory says the singer did not attend because of the ongoing legal drama between her friend, Blake Lively, and Justin Baldoni.
Swift was subpoenaed in one of the lawsuits, but the court order was later withdrawn. An unnamed source told <a href="https://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-14754785/Taylor-Swift-AVOIDED-AMAs-keeps-low-profile-boyfriend-Travis-Kelce.html">The Daily Mail</a> that the legal issues were the real reason Swift skipped the AMAs.
&#8220;She avoided the AMAs because she didn&#8217;t want to deal with 1000s of questions about the Blake Lively saga,&#8221; a source told the outlet.
&#8220;It is all anyone wants to talk about, and Taylor is really tired of it,&#8221; the source added.
Other <a href="https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/articles/real-reason-taylor-swift-skipped-143737766.html">fans have speculated</a> that Swift&#8217;s absence had to do with rumors that an engagement to NFL star Travis Kelce is on the horizon.
Swift currently holds the record for most AMA wins in history with 40. Winners of the AMAs are determined by fans voting on social media and through an online platform.
With Swift&#8217;s absence, performers at the AMAs included Benson Boone, Gloria Estefan, Janet Jackson, Jennifer Lopez, Reneé Rapp, Blake Shelton, Gwen Stefani, Rod Stewart, Alex Warren, and Lainey Wilson. Lopez’s performance raised some eyebrows as she proceeded to kiss both a male and a female dancer on stage, as The Daily Wire previously <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/desperate-viewers-react-to-jennifer-lopez-making-out-with-dancers-at-amas?author=Amanda+Harding&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=undefined&amp;row=0&amp;rowType=Vertical+List&amp;title=%E2%80%98Desperate%E2%80%99%3A+Viewers+React+To+Jennifer+Lopez+Making+Out+With+Dancers+At+AMAs">reported</a>.

Taylor Swift

Fans Speculate Why Taylor Swift Skipped AMAs

Fans Speculate Why Taylor Swift Skipped AMAs, Blame Trump And Conservatives

Conservatives

Recording artist Billy Joel has canceled all his upcoming shows and shared a health update with fans.
The 76-year-old singer shared a lengthy statement on social media, which included news of his medical diagnosis of normal pressure hydrocephalus (NPH).
Per the <a href="https://www.alz.org/alzheimers-dementia/what-is-dementia/types-of-dementia/normal-pressure-hydrocephalus#:~:text=Normal%20pressure%20hydrocephalus%20is%20a,spinal%20tap%20is%20often%20normal.">Alzheimer’s Association</a>, this condition occurs when cerebrospinal fluid builds up inside the skull and presses on the brain. This can “disrupt and damage nearby brain tissue, leading to difficulty walking, problems with thinking and reasoning, and loss of bladder control.”
The condition has been exacerbated by his recent tour schedule, and has led to issues with Joel’s hearing, vision, and balance.
The statement on Instagram said the “Piano Man” singer has been &#8220;advised to refrain from performing during this recovery period.&#8221;
It also said Joel is &#8220;thankful for the excellent care he is receiving and is fully committed to prioritizing his health. He is grateful for the support from fans during this time and looks forward to the day when he can once again take the stage.&#8221;
&#8220;I’m sincerely sorry to disappoint our audience, and thank you for understanding,&#8221; Joel said in a statement.
<blockquote class="instagram-media" style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/DKAHmiERETO/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14">
<div style="padding: 16px;">
&nbsp;
<div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;">
<div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div>
<div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;">
<div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div>
<div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div>
</div>
</div>
<div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div>
<div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div>
<div style="padding-top: 8px;">
<div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div>
</div>
<div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"></div>
<div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;">
<div>
<div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"></div>
<div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"></div>
<div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"></div>
</div>
<div style="margin-left: 8px;">
<div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"></div>
<div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg);"></div>
</div>
<div style="margin-left: auto;">
<div style="width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"></div>
<div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"></div>
<div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"></div>
</div>
</div>
<div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;">
<div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"></div>
<div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"></div>
</div>
&nbsp;
<p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/DKAHmiERETO/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by Billy Joel (@billyjoel)</a>
</div>
</blockquote>
<script async src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script>
This news comes after Joel took a fall onstage at the Mohegan Sun resort in Montville, Connecticut, in February and subsequently postponed the rest of his tour. Now those rescheduled dates are being canceled indefinitely.
<a href="https://get.dailywire.com/subscribe/plus/?utm_medium=website&amp;utm_source=editorial&amp;utm_campaign=memorial&amp;utm_content=editorialmemorialday" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Memorial Day Sale – Get 40% Off New DailyWire+ Annual Memberships</a>
At the time, Joel said only that the concert tour changes were due to a “medical condition.”
Joel is an iconic American singer-songwriter and pianist known for hits like “Piano Man,” “Uptown Girl,” “Tell Her About It,” “The Longest Time,” and “New York State of Mind.” With over 160 million records sold, he&#8217;s one of the best-selling artists of all time, with a career that’s been going strong since the 1970s.

Billy Joel

Billy Joel Cancels All Upcoming Concerts Following Health Diagnosis, Fall Onstage

singer

President Trump continued trolling recording artist Bruce Springsteen this week as part of an ongoing feud.
The post shared Wednesday morning from his verified X account showed a video clip of Trump swinging his golf club spliced with footage of Springsteen stumbling up a flight of stairs during a concert in 2023.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
<a href="https://t.co/ZuagVWL4KS">pic.twitter.com/ZuagVWL4KS</a>
&mdash; Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) <a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1925201677914603580?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 21, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
This move comes after several days of back and forth. While the two have never been fans of each other, Springsteen started the most recent fight when he opened his “Land of Hopes and Dreams” tour in the U.K. by delivering a lengthy diatribe against the president.
“In my home, the America I love, the America I’ve written about, that has been a beacon of hope and liberty for 250 years, is currently in the hands of a corrupt, incompetent and treasonous administration. Tonight, we ask all who believe in democracy and the best of our American experiment to rise with us, raise your voices against authoritarianism and let freedom ring!” Springsteen said, as The Daily Wire previously <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/nobody-cares-bruce-springsteen-mocked-for-tirade-against-trump">reported</a>.
The longtime Democrat supporter made multiple political statements during his two-and-a-half-hour-long set, including complaining about the deportation of illegal aliens and “rolling back historic civil rights legislation that has led to a more just and plural society.”
President Trump <a href="https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/114517896576879203">hit back</a> against the aging musician, calling him a “dried out prune of a rocker” and saying that Springsteen “ought to KEEP HIS MOUTH SHUT until he gets back into the Country, that’s just ‘standard fare’. Then we’ll all see how it goes for him!”
On Monday, Trump called for a “major investigation&#8221; into Springsteen and other musicians for “illegal campaign contribution[s]” allegedly made during Kamala Harris&#8217; bid for office. 
“Candidates aren’t allowed to pay for ENDORSEMENTS, which is what Kamala did, under the guise of paying for entertainment,” he wrote in part. “In addition, this was a very expensive and desperate effort to artificially build up her sparse crowds. IT’S NOT LEGAL! For these unpatriotic ‘entertainers,’ this was just a CORRUPT &amp; UNLAWFUL way to capitalize on a broken system.”
Many fans were critical of Springsteen using the stage as a platform to spew political opinions, pointing out how the singer chose to make the rants on foreign soil. 
Besides being an outspoken Democrat supporter, Springsteen is a friend of former President Barack Obama and campaigned for both of his presidential campaigns. The singer headlined rallies for both Joe Biden and Harris during the last election cycle.

Springsteen and Trump

Who’s The Boss? Trump Trolls Bruce Springsteen, Again

Who's The Boss? Trump Trolls Bruce Springsteen, Again

Wokeness is out and entertainment is in at The Kennedy Center. 
The Center’s lineup for the <a href="https://www.kennedy-center.org/">new season was just announced</a> as new staffers at the venue continue to make headlines for fighting back against progressive propaganda that’s been on the docket for years.
Now The Kennedy Center will feature a full lineup of music, drama, and dance that’s inspiring for all ages.
For younger fans, there are two world premiere productions as part of the season, including “The Sea Beyond the Ocean” and the Center’s first Theater for the Very Young commission, “Fishing for Stars,” an immersive non-verbal work for ages 2–6. 
There’s also a new play, “Young Dragon,” and a nostalgic throwback millennials are sure to recognize. The brand-new musical adventure “Fraggle Rock: Back to the Rock LIVE” presented by the Jim Henson Company debuts in 2026.
“This season brings students of all ages on inspiring journeys,” Jordan LaSalle, Vice President of Education, said of the new shows. “Featuring some of the most exciting companies from across the nation and world, each performance encourages the young and young-at-heart to unleash their imaginations. We are thrilled to continue our decades-long commitment to commissioning new works, including our first for our youngest of audiences and their families.”
In the realm of dance, the Center will showcase ballet and dance offerings from world-class companies and artists. As America nears its 250th anniversary, the 2025-26 season features programming that reflects the deep history of the nation plus fresh, modern interpretations. This includes some new shows plus returning favorites such as “The Nutcracker” from The Cincinnati Ballet.
The theater season also has new and award winning shows, per the press release.
“There is truly a great theater season of excitement and joy coming to the Kennedy Center,” said Senior Vice President of Artistic Programming and Executive Producer of Theater, Jeffrey Finn. “I couldn’t be more proud to feature a season filled with Best Musicals from Broadway, including three Tony®–winning original Best Musicals: ‘The Outsiders,’ ‘Moulin Rouge! The Musical,’ and ‘Spamalot.’”
Trump made headlines earlier this year when he promised to reform the Kennedy Center, which began when he replaced its board and was elected chairman. Trump also tapped Special Envoy Richard Grenell to serve as the Center’s president.
“At my direction, we are going to make the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., GREAT AGAIN,” Trump wrote in February. “Just last year, the Kennedy Center featured Drag Shows specifically targeting our youth — THIS WILL STOP.”
The changes the new board made led to full-scale meltdowns on the Left, including protests expressed through interpretive dancing.
According to a previous report published on The Daily Wire, the Kennedy Center is $40 million in debt and will be making major cuts to staff.
&#8220;The former leadership built a broken budget with an operating deficit of 100 million dollars and a bottom-line deficit of 26 million dollars,&#8221; CFO Donna Arduin said. &#8220;The former leadership led Board members to believe there was a balanced budget when there was $26 Million in false funds. Fiscal Year 25 budget was previously passed with $26M of fictitious funds. We have now truly balanced the budget.”
Besides their financial goals, the Center’s new leadership is focused on offering high-quality entertainment that’s free from radical progressive messaging.

The Kennedy Center

New Kennedy Center Lineup Includes Family-Friendly Content, Zero Drag Shows For Kids

Culture

Dance

Theater

Washington D.C.

Singer and leftist Bruce Springsteen opened his &#8220;Land of Hopes and Dreams&#8221; tour with his E Street Band by delivering a lengthy diatribe on foreign soil against President Donald Trump, which led to mockery and criticism on social media.
The 75-year-old recording artist took to the stage on Wednesday in Manchester, England, to make his complaints. 
“In my home, the America I love, the America I’ve written about, that has been a beacon of hope and liberty for 250 years, is currently in the hands of a corrupt, incompetent and treasonous administration. Tonight, we ask all who believe in democracy and the best of our American experiment to rise with us, raise your voices against authoritarianism and let freedom ring!” Springsteen <a href="https://www.vulture.com/article/bruce-springsteen-trump-treasonous-concert.html">said</a>, per Vulture.
The longtime Democrat supporter made multiple political statements during his two-and-a-half-hour-long set, per <a href="https://www.newsweek.com/bruce-springsteen-trump-treasonous-concert-2072574">Newsweek</a>.
Before playing the song, My City of Ruins, he said, &#8220;There&#8217;s some very weird, strange, and dangerous s*** going on out there right now.&#8221;
&#8220;In America, they are persecuting people for using their right to free speech and voicing their dissent. This is happening now. In America, the richest men are taking satisfaction in abandoning the world&#8217;s poorest children to sickness and death.&#8221;
On the topic of the Trump administration targeting illegal aliens for deportation, Springsteen said, &#8220;They are removing residents off American streets and without due process of law, are deporting them to foreign detention centers and prisons.&#8221;
&#8220;In my country they&#8217;re taking sadistic pleasure in the pain they inflict on loyal American workers. They&#8217;re rolling back historic civil rights legislation that has led to a more just and plural society,” the singer said at another point. “They are abandoning our great allies and siding with dictators against those struggling for their freedom. They are defunding American universities that won&#8217;t bow down to their ideological demands.&#8221;
While some social media users agreed with Springsteen’s message, a large number of commenters were critical of the statements he was making.
“Nobody cares what Bruce Springsteen has to say,” one X user <a href="https://x.com/IanJaeger29/status/1922809978991124748">replied</a>. 
“Bruce Springsteen has completely lost his mind,” another commenter <a href="https://x.com/Bubblebathgirl/status/1922988892732391472">observed</a>. “He goes full MSNBC instead of just playing the music people were there to hear. Entertainers are such narcissists.”
“Fans don&#8217;t want to hear this bullsh**&#8230;.They want to hear music. They should have booed him off the stage,” a third person <a href="https://x.com/RealHickory/status/1922966007754162319">said</a>. 
Another commenter <a href="https://x.com/Alsboringtweets/status/1922937826166870386">wrote</a>, “Bruce Springsteen waited until his European tour to badmouth Trump. Was he afraid of the response he would have gotten if he tried it here?? I will answer this for you, Yes. Coward move.”
Besides being an outspoken Democrat supporter, Springsteen is a friend of former President Barack Obama and campaigned for both of his presidential campaigns. The singer also headlined rallies for both Joe Biden and Kamala Harris&#8217; last election cycle.

‘Nobody Cares’: Bruce Springsteen Mocked For Tirade Against Trump

'Nobody Cares': Bruce Springsteen Mocked For Tirade Against Trump During His Concert

concert

Manchester

Politics

Pop singer Lady Gaga set the record for biggest attendance for a female performer during a free performance in Rio de Janeiro over the weekend.
The 39-year-old singer attracted a crowd estimated to be 2.5 million people strong for her Saturday night show at Copacabana Beach. The concert was sponsored by the local government in an effort to help stimulate the local economy.
During her performance, Gaga told the crowd, “Your spirit may be heard around the world tonight. Two and a half million people,” per <a href="https://variety.com/2025/music/news/lady-gaga-free-concert-rio-copacabana-beach-draws-record-breaking-2-5-million-people-1236386386/">Variety</a>. “Tonight, we’re making history,” she added. “Thank you for making history with me… The people of Brazil are the reason why I can shine.”
The outlet noted that the “Bad Romance” singer last performed in Rio 12 years ago. Fans stood in line for hours hoping to get a good spot.
During Saturday’s show, Gaga, whose real name is Stefani Germanotta, performed older songs like “Poker Face,” “Bloody Mary,” and “Alejandro” along with songs from her newly released album, “Mayhem.”
The record for most concert attendees for a single female performer was previously held by Madonna, who played for a crowd of 1.6 million at the same location in May 2024, also during a free concert.
While free concert attendance is only based on estimates and is therefore impossible to determine for sure, it’s believed that the <a href="https://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/world-records/73085-largest-free-rock-concert-attendance">most attended concerts</a> overall were those of French composer Jean-Michel Jarre in Moscow 1997 and Rod Stewart&#8217;s concert in Copacabana in 1994, which are both believed to have attracted audiences of about 3.5 million people.
Lady Gaga’s latest show is also making headlines due to two suspected terror attacks, which were never carried out. Per <a href="https://edition.cnn.com/2025/05/04/americas/brazil-lady-gaga-bomb-plot-rio-intl-latam">CNN</a>, two people were arrested for attempting to “recruit” people to deploy explosives and Molotov cocktails on the crowd. Per the Civil Police of Rio de Janeiro, these individuals were targeting LGBT revelers and wanted to “[gain] notoriety on social media.”
Another person planning to perform a “satanist ritual by killing a child or a baby” during the show was arrested and charged with terrorism offenses, the outlet noted.
In a post on Instagram, Lady Gaga thanked fans, saying, “nothing could prepare me for the feeling I had during last night’s show – the absolute pride and joy I felt singing for the people of Brazil.”
The singer wrote that “the sight of the crowd during my opening songs took my breath away. Your heart shines so bright, your culture is so vibrant and special, I hope you know how grateful I am to have shared this historical moment with you.”

Lady Gaga

Lady Gaga Breaks Crowd Size Record With Massive Brazil Show

Brazil

Rio de Janeiro

World

Few artists loathe the music industry quite like Tom MacDonald.
The rebel rapper takes glee in taunting labels on his social media platforms. He recently posted a troll video in front of Sony Music headquarters, name-checking industry pariahs like R. Kelly and P. Diddy with a broad grin on his face.
And despite repeatedly crashing the Billboard music charts he’s refused to go corporate for a bigger promotional wallop.
MacDonald is solo to the core, with an assist from his girlfriend/video director Nova Rockafeller. No managers. No publicists. Just the music and his sizable social media flock.
The mind behind “Fake Woke,” “Snowflakes” and “American Flags” still felt influenced by mainstream superstars, from their branding efforts to songs that purport to dig deeper into their personal lives.
<div id="attachment_891745" style="width: 1034px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-891745" class="size-large wp-image-891745" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/03/MixCollage-14-Mar-2025-10-16-AM-4499-1024x576.jpg" alt="Screenshot: YouTube/Tom MacDonald &quot;Facts&quot; feat. Ben Shapiro" width="1024" height="576" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/03/MixCollage-14-Mar-2025-10-16-AM-4499-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/03/MixCollage-14-Mar-2025-10-16-AM-4499-300x169.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/03/MixCollage-14-Mar-2025-10-16-AM-4499-768x432.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/03/MixCollage-14-Mar-2025-10-16-AM-4499-1536x865.jpg 1536w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/03/MixCollage-14-Mar-2025-10-16-AM-4499-2048x1153.jpg 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" />Screenshot: YouTube/Tom MacDonald &#8220;Facts&#8221; feat. Ben Shapiro</div>
“As an independent artist, we’re all watching what the biggest artists in the world are doing and what they sound like,” he says. “Even if you’re somebody like me who detests the major label system, you’re taking information in. You’re being indoctrinated … they must know what’s best.”
It took a while to shake free from that thinking, something he accomplished on his latest album.
“Proud to Be a Problem” finds the Canadian native opening up about his life in ways he never did before.
“I’ve never really been good with processing my emotions and explaining the way I’m feeling to other people… it’s the reason why I make music,” the California-based musician says.
<div id="attachment_915575" style="width: 1034px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-915575" class="size-large wp-image-915575" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/05/MixCollage-03-May-2025-11-58-AM-574-1024x576.jpg" alt="Screenshot: YouTube.com/Tom MacDonald." width="1024" height="576" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/05/MixCollage-03-May-2025-11-58-AM-574-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/05/MixCollage-03-May-2025-11-58-AM-574-300x169.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/05/MixCollage-03-May-2025-11-58-AM-574-768x432.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/05/MixCollage-03-May-2025-11-58-AM-574-1536x865.jpg 1536w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/05/MixCollage-03-May-2025-11-58-AM-574-2048x1153.jpg 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" />Screenshot: YouTube.com/Tom MacDonald.</div>
Time and maturity have let him tap into something vital and deeply personal, witness tracks like “Hell &amp; Back.”
<blockquote>I&#8217;ve been called a loser since first day of 2nd grade 
I&#8217;ve been an alcoholic with one foot inside the grave 
And I&#8217;ve been brave enough to say that I&#8217;m afraid I&#8217;m not okay 
And I don&#8217;t know if I&#8217;ll survive another day</blockquote>
Other tracks, like “Man in the Sky,” merge MacDonald’s protest-singer DNA with heartfelt pleas for empathy. He’s an imperfect vessel in an imperfect world.
The musician’s flaws, like his signature tattoos, are visible to all. <a href="https://www.billboard.com/music/chart-beat/goodbye-joe-god-bless-the-usa-top-digital-song-sales-chart-after-election-1235825769/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">So are his successes</a>.
His post-election song “Goodbye Joe” gave him his <a href="https://www.billboard.com/music/chart-beat/goodbye-joe-god-bless-the-usa-top-digital-song-sales-chart-after-election-1235825769/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">fourth number-one ranking</a> on Billboard’s Digital Song Sales chart, following “Fake Woke,” “Ghost” and “You Missed.”
His YouTube channel boasts 5 million subscribers and most videos eclipse the million-view mark in days, not weeks.
MacDonald, whose recent pairings include songs with Roseanne Barr (“Daddy’s Home”) and The Daily Wire’s Ben Shapiro (“Facts”), sounds a little different on the new album. He isn’t giving up on rap, but the newer material offers a rootsy feel, brimming with acoustic guitars.
<div id="attachment_915573" style="width: 1034px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-915573" class="size-large wp-image-915573" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/05/MixCollage-03-May-2025-11-57-AM-7387-1024x576.jpg" alt="Screenshot: YouTube.com/Tom MacDonald." width="1024" height="576" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/05/MixCollage-03-May-2025-11-57-AM-7387-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/05/MixCollage-03-May-2025-11-57-AM-7387-300x169.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/05/MixCollage-03-May-2025-11-57-AM-7387-768x432.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/05/MixCollage-03-May-2025-11-57-AM-7387-1536x865.jpg 1536w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/05/MixCollage-03-May-2025-11-57-AM-7387-2048x1153.jpg 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" />Screenshot: YouTube.com/Tom MacDonald.</div>
That singing style hearkens back to his earliest days as a musician. He remembers riding in the car with his father as a boy when he came up with a jingle for Ford.
“[My Dad] was bewildered … where did that come from?” MacDonald recalls. 
He started writing music more often, but he felt he didn’t have the classic rock voice, a la Robert Plant or Joe Cocker, to execute the material. “I had to do something else. I was writing poetry, a primitive form of rap. That’s how the rap thing started,” he says.
“Problem” found him more confident in his singing, allowing him to expand his sound in the process.
“I know where my boundaries are and what I’m capable of singing on a song &#8230; if I don’t do it right now I won’t have a good enough excuse to give it a good shot [later],” he says.
Fans can pick up “Proud to Be a Problem” at MacDonald’s official web site, <a href="https://hangovergangofficial.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">HangoverGangOfficial.com</a>. That’s part of his indie approach, lashing out at a streaming landscape that pays little to participating artists.
“I have such a big chip on my shoulder for the music industry,” he says, recalling a brush with a major label earlier in his career that ended in rejection. “I’ve done enough for these streaming platforms.”
“A big part of the reason I put the singles on streaming is we keep going to no. 1 on Billboard [charts] … it’s a giant f***ing middle finger to the music industry,” he says.
<div id="attachment_915581" style="width: 334px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-915581" class="wp-image-915581 size-large" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/05/MixCollage-03-May-2025-12-10-PM-5842-324x576.jpg" alt="Screenshot: Instagram/@TomMacDonaldOfficial" width="324" height="576" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/05/MixCollage-03-May-2025-12-10-PM-5842-324x576.jpg 324w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/05/MixCollage-03-May-2025-12-10-PM-5842-169x300.jpg 169w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/05/MixCollage-03-May-2025-12-10-PM-5842-768x1365.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/05/MixCollage-03-May-2025-12-10-PM-5842-864x1536.jpg 864w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/05/MixCollage-03-May-2025-12-10-PM-5842-1152x2048.jpg 1152w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/05/MixCollage-03-May-2025-12-10-PM-5842.jpg 1440w" sizes="(max-width: 324px) 100vw, 324px" />Screenshot: Instagram/@TomMacDonaldOfficial</div>
That solo spirit extends beyond the music on “Problem.” He designed the merchandise around the released, mailed signed LP copies of it to fans personally and oversaw every part of the production.
“It hasn’t been touched by Hollywood. That’s the way I want it,” he says.
He shared his feelings about sending out signed copies of “Proud to Be a Problem” to fans on his <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/DJIdKXgPXX0/?img_index=1">Instagram account</a>:
<blockquote>I gotta tell y’all &#8211; people didn’t care about me for most of my life. I was one of the forgotten people whose voice was drown out by the noise of the world. Every single day I’m shocked that you guys care about me enough to want my album and my signature. I’m shocked…but I’m thrilled. I felt like a “nobody” for so long that every day I wake up expecting to be forgotten again. Every day that y’all remember me, you prove me wrong. And you absolutely make my day. No one should ever feel like a nobody. But it happens.</blockquote>
That personal connection reflects being a music fan growing up in Canada. He fondly remembers lining up at the local record store and waiting for the newest albums to go on sale.
“When you got that album .. you felt like you might be one of the only people in the world who had it,” he says. “You could hold on to it, a physical product … That’s the way I want my music to be experienced.”
Record labels still reach out to MacDonald about potential deals, and he sometimes will listen to the conversation. Then, he’ll share his reactions on Instagram.
“I’ve been trolling these people for years and years,” he says. “I’d rather roll around on broken glass [than sign onto a label].”
<div id="attachment_915577" style="width: 1034px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-915577" class="size-large wp-image-915577" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/05/MixCollage-03-May-2025-11-58-AM-5929-1024x576.jpg" alt="Screenshot: YouTube.com/Tom MacDonald." width="1024" height="576" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/05/MixCollage-03-May-2025-11-58-AM-5929-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/05/MixCollage-03-May-2025-11-58-AM-5929-300x169.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/05/MixCollage-03-May-2025-11-58-AM-5929-768x432.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/05/MixCollage-03-May-2025-11-58-AM-5929-1536x865.jpg 1536w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/05/MixCollage-03-May-2025-11-58-AM-5929-2048x1153.jpg 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" />Screenshot: YouTube.com/Tom MacDonald.</div>
MacDonald leveraged new media and a collective mistrust of the mainstream to power his music career. Somewhere a fledgling singer/songwriter might want to follow in his shoes, avoiding corporate overlords to make music on their terms.
MacDonald has some clichéd but honest advice for the next generation of indie musicians.
“Just be yourself … there’s always gonna be a better producer, a better rapper, a better singer. You’re the only person on earth who can do you better than anybody else,” he says. “The entire world is fake and bulls*** and disingenuous. The best way to cut through all that noise is to be honest and scream your truth at the top of your lungs … people gravitate towards the truth and what’s real.”
* * *
Christian Toto is an award-winning journalist, movie critic and editor of <a href="https://www.hollywoodintoto.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">HollywoodInToto.com</a>. He previously served as associate editor with Breitbart News’ Big Hollywood. Follow him at <a href="https://www.hollywoodintoto.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">HollywoodInToto.com</a>.
The views expressed in this piece are those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of The Daily Wire.

Millions Of Views And Fiercely Independent. Inside The Mind Of Tom MacDonald.

Rapper

Tom MacDonald

A musical show about Dolly Parton will be coming to The Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C.
The venue has been making headlines in recent weeks due to the shakeup there following the re-election of President Trump. While some artists are refusing to perform in protest of Trump’s leadership, other major names like Parton are signing on, which is part of the plan to usher in the “Golden Age of the Arts.”
The <a href="https://www.kennedy-center.org/nso/home/2024-2025/nsop-dolly-parton/">concert</a>, which premiered in Nashville last year, is called &#8220;Dolly Parton’s Threads: My Songs in Symphony.&#8221;
&#8220;The threads of my life are woven together through my songs. That’s why the project, Threads: My Songs In Symphony, is so special to me,&#8221; Parton said in the Kennedy Center&#8217;s announcement of the show. &#8220;It’s about sharing my music and my musical journey with audiences in a new way.&#8221;
The National Symphony Orchestra will be performing classic hits such as &#8220;Jolene,&#8221; &#8220;Coat of Many Colors,&#8221; and &#8220;I Will Always Love You.&#8221;
&#8220;Bringing Dolly Parton’s music to life through the power of a full symphony orchestra has long been a dream of mine,&#8221; National Symphony Orchestra Principal Pops Conductor Steven Reineke said, per <a href="https://www.foxnews.com/politics/scoop-dolly-parton-symphony-concert-heads-dcs-kennedy-center-event-no-one-want-miss">Fox News</a>. &#8220;Dolly is one of the great storytellers of American music, and I am excited to bring her expansive catalog to the Kennedy Center. Through these unique symphonic charts, her music will be showcased like never before and will surely be an evening no one will want to miss!&#8221;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
Did you hear the National Symphony Orchestra is performing Dolly Parton’s 𝘛𝘩𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘥𝘴 at The Kennedy Center?! It’s a one-of-a-kind multimedia concert experience. Sing along to her greatest hits with live guest vocalists and stunning new orchestrations celebrating her… <a href="https://t.co/rSppzdz2gH">pic.twitter.com/rSppzdz2gH</a>
&mdash; The Kennedy Center (@kencen) <a href="https://twitter.com/kencen/status/1916890028229231017?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 28, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
This new show is coming to The Kennedy Center on June 26 and 27, with member tickets now <a href="https://www.kennedy-center.org/nso/home/2024-2025/nsop-dolly-parton/">available</a>. The venue is also promoting $75 membership, which includes early access to all upcoming shows. General access tickets to the show will be available beginning May 1.
The Kennedy Center has been in the news ever since President Trump took office and promised major reforms, including firing the entire board, as The Daily Wire previously <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/trump-dumps-kennedy-center-board-puts-immediate-end-to-drag-shows-for-kids">reported</a>.
“At my direction, we are going to make the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., GREAT AGAIN,” Trump wrote on social media in February. “Just last year, the Kennedy Center featured Drag Shows specifically targeting our youth — THIS WILL STOP.”
The changes the new board made led to full-scale meltdowns on the Left, including protests expressed through interpretive dancing. But their protests haven’t made much of a difference. The Kennedy Center just broke its all-time attendance record for a public event it hosted on March 29, welcoming 11,000 attendees, of whom 76% were there for the first time.

Dolly Parton

Dolly Parton Show Heads To Kennedy Center As They Usher In ‘Golden Age Of The Arts’

Dolly Parton Show Heads To Kennedy Center As They Usher In 'Golden Age Of The Arts'

Kennedy Center

Drummer Zak Starkey, who is the son of The Beatles drummer Ringo Starr, just publicly commented on his removal from the band The Who earlier this year after playing with them for almost three decades.
While rumors have circulated that Starkey was let go due to disagreements among the band members, Starkey said the issue was actually a “medical emergency.”
“I’m very proud of my near 30 years with The Who,” the 59-year-old musician told <a href="https://people.com/zak-starkey-ringo-starr-son-breaks-silence-exiting-the-who-exclusive-11716449?">People</a>, before referencing Keith Moon, the legendary drummer with The Who from 1964 until his death in 1978.  “Filling the shoes of my Godfather, ‘uncle Keith’ has been the biggest honor and I remain their biggest fan. They’ve been like family to me.”
“In January, I suffered a serious medical emergency with blood clots in my right bass drum calf,” Starkey continued. “This is now completely healed and does not affect my drumming or running.”
Starkey also seemed to reference an incident that occurred during a show at Royal Albert Hall last month, when Metro reported that singer Robert Daltrey was struggling to hear over the sound of the drums.
Starkey said, &#8220;After playing those songs with the band for so many decades, I’m surprised and saddened anyone would have an issue with my performance that night, but what can you do?&#8221;
“I plan to take some much needed time off with my family, and focus on the release of ‘Domino Bones’ by Mantra Of The Cosmos with Noel Gallagher in May and finishing my autobiography written solely by me,” added Starkey. “29 years at any job is a good old run, and I wish them the best,” he concluded.
A rep for The Who confirmed Starkey’s departure last month, describing it as a “mutual decision.” 
“The band made a collective decision to part ways with Zak after this round of shows at the Royal Albert Hall,&#8221; the rep <a href="https://www.the-independent.com/arts-entertainment/music/news/the-who-zak-starkey-fired-reason-roger-daltrey-oasis-lineup-b2734169.html">told</a> The Independent. “They have nothing but admiration for him and wish him the very best for his future.”
The Who formed in London in 1964. The band rose to fame with their popular live performances, which made them icons of the British Invasion alongside The Beatles and The Rolling Stones. They’re known for hits like “My Generation” and the rock opera “Tommy.”

Zak Starkey

‘The Who’ Drummer Breaks Silence After Being Kicked Out Of Band

'The Who' Drummer Breaks Silence After Being Kicked Out Of Band 

United Kingdom

Composer Cristóbal Tapia de Veer, the man behind the theme song for the first three seasons of &#8220;The White Lotus,&#8221; says he quit ahead of season four amid drama with the show’s creator and director, Mike White.
The 51-year-old composer did a tell-all <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2025/04/02/style/white-lotus-composer-season-4-leaving.html">interview</a> with The New York Times ahead of the season three’s highly anticipated finale, which airs on Sunday. It was just announced that the popular HBO comedy-drama has been renewed for another season.
Tapia de Veer told the outlet that he had &#8220;hysterical&#8221; discussions with producers about the theme music, which changes for each season to match the new location. The composer compared the drama to &#8220;a rock ’n’ roll band story&#8221; where &#8220;the guitar player doesn’t understand the singer at all.&#8221;
He said that he &#8220;announced to the team a few months ago” that he was “not coming back,&#8221; and that he purposely &#8220;didn&#8217;t tell Mike for various reasons&#8221; and &#8220;wanted to tell him just at the end for the shock.”
Tapia de Veer also described some disputes over the music he’s been having with White over the years.
&#8220;I thought we could do some kind of &#8216;Hawaiian Hitchcock,&#8217; and [White] really grabbed on that and he started laughing,&#8221; the composer said of season one’s music. &#8220;I was on the phone with her [Heather Persons, one of the show’s producers] all the time, and she was trying to convince Mike about this theme, because he didn’t want the theme.&#8221;
Tapia de Veer said his original idea for season three’s music was altered. There has been a lot of discussion and feedback on social media about how the theme music was much different than the first two seasons, which he also blamed on White.
&#8220;I had TMZ calling me, even people from England and from France, because they wanted some kind of statement about the theme,&#8221; he told NYT. &#8220;People are furious about the change of the theme, and I thought that was interesting.&#8221;
That made Tapia de Veer want to share the &#8220;uncut ending&#8221; of the song publicly.
&#8220;I texted the producer and I told him that it would be great to, at some point, give them the longer version with the ooh-loo-loo-loos, because people will explode if they realize that it was going there anyway. He thought it was a good idea. But then Mike cut that — he wasn’t happy about that,&#8221; he said.
&#8220;I mean, at that point, [Mike and I] already had our last fight forever, I think. So he was just saying no to anything. So I just uploaded that to my YouTube,&#8221; Tapia de Veer said.
The composer said he’s &#8220;pretty proud&#8221; that he &#8220;never gave up&#8221; fighting for the music he envisioned.
&#8220;Maybe I was being unprofessional, and for sure Mike feels that I was always unprofessional to him because I didn’t give him what he wanted. But what I gave him did this, you know — did those Emmys, people going crazy,&#8221; the musician said. Tapia de Veer added, &#8220;it was worth all the tension and almost forcing the music into the show.&#8221;
When asked how White reacted to him leaving, Tapia de Veer said, &#8220;He says a lot of things, but I can’t really talk about that.&#8221;
He continued, &#8220;There was a French movie, &#8216;La Cage Aux Folles.&#8217; You know how there’s Albin, which is like the star, and there’s Renato, who is the producer who is always taking care that Albin doesn’t lose his mind about something, because Albin is the diva and Renato is the guy who is trying to make everything work. To me, the show felt very much like that.&#8221;
A representative for HBO told Entertainment Weekly in a <a href="https://ew.com/white-lotus-composer-leaving-show-mike-white-feud-11708331">statement</a> via email, &#8220;We’ve got nothing to add at this time (but can confirm only that Cristobal isn’t returning to the show).&#8221;
Tapia de Veer won three Emmys for his work on the show&#8217;s music, including one for Outstanding Original Main Title Theme Music and two for Original Dramatic Score.

The White Lotus Mike White

‘The White Lotus’ Theme Song Composer Details Drama With Creator Mike White, Says He Quit The Show

'The White Lotus' Theme Song Composer Details Drama With Creator Mike White, Says He Quit The Show

Menu