Stephen Colbert Welcomes Paul McCartney During ‘Late Show’ Finale, Del McCoury Day in Maryland
Americana Honors & Awards Shares Nominees, Relix Staff Picks
Relix Daily
May 22, 2026
May 22, 2026
NEWS
Paul McCartney, Elvis Costello, Jon Batiste, Louis Cole and Stephen Colbert Perform “Hello Goodbye” on the Final Late Show
The Late Show with Stephen Colbert aired its final episode last night, and the guest-packed event served as a fond farewell to the long-running late-night program. Colbert has earned widespread attention since CBS canceled The Late Show in an unsubtle appeal to Donald Trump, and in his last week of shows, he’s shared that spotlight with a litany of high-profile special guests and impactful musical performances, including David Byrne’s gleeful “Burning Down the House” on Tuesday and Bruce Springsteen’s solemn “Streets of Minneapolis” on Thursday. For the grand finale, Colbert welcomed Paul McCartney, among many others.
WATCH
Yesterday, the 16th iteration of DelFest picked up at the Allegany County Fairgrounds in Cumberland, Md. The first of the four-day gathering, which honors the bluegrass tradition as well as the founder’s musical focus and timeless appeal, was marked by a special moment when the state’s governor, Wes Moore, took the stage and declared May 21, 2026, Del McCoury Day.
Sturgill Simpson's reinvention as Johnny Blue Skies brought one of country music's sharpest contrarians fully into rock territory, and Mutiny After Midnight doubles down on that pivot with a full band behind him. The Dark Clouds aren't window dressing; the name signals something deliberate, a collective identity for an artist who has always written best when he's burning something down.
NEWS
The Americana Music Association has unveiled the nominees for its 25th annual Americana Honors & Awards ceremony. In a celebration of the many diverse styles branching from American folk music, the now 27-year-old trade organization selected a cast of exceptional talents perpetuating the tradition with innovative approaches. Five candidates are named for each of the five awards, with Brandi Carlile, I’m With Her, S.G. Goodman, Margo Price, Mon Rovîa and Ken Pomeroy leading the pack with two nominations.
From Dan Healy's personal Europe '72 tour itinerary to Robbie Taylor's road-worn production trunks, from Bill "Kidd" Candelario's Egypt backstage pass to Ram Rod's trove of unused credentials spanning a decade of touring, the lots gathered here trace the Grateful Dead's story through the objects that kept it moving.
LISTEN
Relix Staff Picks: Ed O’Brien, Bill Orcutt & Mabe Fratti, Bleachers, Marisa Anderson, Thomas Dollbaum and More
Every Friday, Relix surveys the wealth of new music released over the past seven days and selects standouts for the Relix Staff Picks playlist. Read on for the highlights from this week’s batch, presented by Qobuz: experience the difference with high-quality music streaming and human-curated selections from the platform that puts artists first.
NEWS
George Clinton has filed a lawsuit against Universal Music Group alleging more than $1.1 million in withheld royalties. Clinton filed his suit on May 15 in a federal court in Michigan, Billboard reported. The funk icon claims UMG has unjustly ceased all royalty payments for years, originally due to the estate of late Parliament-Funkadelic keyboardist Bernie Worrell’s suit against Clinton for a share of the band’s recording catalog, filed in 2022 and dismissed last year. While Clinton’s deal permits UMG to halt royalties when “reasonably necessary,” and the label was named as a codefendant in the Worrell case, the new filing asserts that UMG is still failing to pay.
RECAP
On Thursday evening, the Black Crowes’ Southern Hospitality Tour arrived at the Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tenn. During the pre-weekend concert in Music City, the Southern-bred rock troupe delivered a high-powered single set performance, which was distinguished by the arrival of former member and local, Audley Freed. The group’s former touring guitarist sat in during the final song of the main frame, “Remedy,” a track that originated off the 1992 released LP, The Southern Harmony and Musical Companion.
WATCH
Ahead of the String Cheese Incident’s impending Just Keep Spinning Tour, the band is offering fans a behind-the-scenes look at their creative space by way of Into The Incidents, a four-part docuseries that launched Thursday, May 21, on nugs. Watch a preview of the first episode below.
REVIEW
Flea has been working toward his debut solo record his entire life. Before he learned to play bass and joined the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Flea’s first musical fixation was the trumpet. He learned to love jazz from his stepfather, a musician who hosted jams at their home. Now 63, Flea has embraced his roots with Honora, a record in that style named after his great-grandmother that features modern jazz and experimental luminaries (along with a couple of Flea’s famous friends, including two Chili Peppers bandmates).
