Music News
Charlie Wilson, Babyface, K-Ci Hailey & El Debarge Join Forces For The Uncle Charlie’s R&B Cookout Tour
R&B icon Charlie Wilson is bringing the ultimate soul-infused celebration to fans this summer with his Uncle Charlie’s R&B Cookout Tour, produced by Live Nation Urban and P Music Group featuring an all-star lineup of legendary acts including Babyface, K-Ci Hailey and El DeBarge. The nationwide tour kicks off on August 27th at the prestigious Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles and will travel across major cities, delivering an unforgettable night of timeless hits, powerhouse vocals, and feel-good vibes.
With decades of chart-topping success between them, Wilson, Babyface, Hailey and DeBarge will take fans on a journey through some of R&B’s most cherished classics. Charlie Wilson’s catalog includes anthems from his time as the co-founder and lead singer of The Gap Band, such as Outstanding, Yearning for Your Love, and Burn Rubber, along with solo hits like There Goes My Baby, I’m Blessed, and Charlie, Last Name Wilson. Together, this lineup promises a night filled with timeless music.
Babyface’s expansive catalog of love songs, including Whip Appeal and Every Time I Close My Eyes, is matched only by the chart-topping hits he’s written and produced for other artists—among them Whitney Houston’s Exhale (Shoop Shoop), Boyz II Men’s End of the Road and I’ll Make Love to You, Tevin Campbell’s Can We Talk, and Bobby Brown’s Don’t Be Cruel and Roni.
K-Ci’s signature voice and timeless discography will help set the tone for an unforgettable night. From Jodeci classics like Come and Talk to Me and Forever My Lady to K-Ci & JoJo’s chart-topping ballads All My Life and Crazy, along with his soulful take on Bobby Womack’s If You Think You’re Lonely Now, his set promises both nostalgia and raw emotion.
Rounding out the cookout line up is the incomparable El DeBarge, whose silky falsetto defined an era and helped shape the sound of modern R&B. As the lead vocalist of DeBarge, he delivered timeless hits like Rhythm of the Night and I Like It, songs that blended soul, pop, and funk in a way that resonated across generations.
Uncle Charlie’s R&B Cookout Tour promises to deliver a must-see cultural experience that celebrates legacy, love, and the timeless spirit of Black music. More than just a concert, this tour brings the feeling of a family reunion to the stage, where generations come together, classics get a second wind, and soul meets celebration. With a lineup of legendary voices and chart-topping anthems, the tour is set to be a vibrant reminder of the power R&B holds in shaping culture, healing hearts, and bringing people together. From the cookout vibes to the sing-along moments, every stop on this tour is designed to feel like home.
“This tour is unlike anything I’ve done before. As someone who truly loves R&B, getting to share the stage with my friends Babyface, K-Ci, and El is something I’m really looking forward to,” says Charlie Wilson. “I’ve been performing for so long that my audience isn’t just made up of fans, it really has become a family. Over the years, I’ve come to recognize so many faces, and we’ve grown together through the music. The R&B cookout is gonna be one big family reunion for us and our fans.”
Michael Paran, CEO of P Music Group, shares, “The idea for Uncle Charlie’s R&B Cookout Tour came naturally because of the bond Charlie has built with his fans and the relationships I’ve developed with Babyface, K-Ci, and El. I’ve seen firsthand how their music brings people together like family, laughing, dancing, and reminiscing on early memories. This tour is about more than just great performances. It’s about capturing that feeling—the joy, the energy, and the nostalgia you feel when you’re surrounded by genuine love. Instead of building the perfect cookout playlist, I wanted to bring it to life with some of the greatest songs we’ve shared memories to and grown up on.”
Uncle Charlie’s R&B Cookout Tour isn’t just a concert, it’s a family reunion set to the soundtrack of R&B’s most timeless hits. Charlie Wilson, Babyface, K-Ci Hailey, and El DeBarge will bring the heart and soul of a classic cookout to every city, creating an atmosphere where fans are more than just an audience, they’re family. With electrifying performances, nostalgic anthems, and feel-good vibes, this tour is a celebration of community, connection, and the music that has defined generations. Get ready to sing, dance, and reminisce, because at this cookout, everyone is invited.
Produced by Live Nation Urban and P Music Group, Uncle Charlie’s R&B Cookout Tour will visit 20+ cities, including stops in Los Angeles, New York, Atlanta, Chicago, Detroit, and Houston. Fans can expect a high-energy, soul-stirring experience that brings the heart of R&B to life on stage.
In select cities, fans can elevate their night with an exclusive all-you-can-eat VIP cookout experience. This one-of-a-kind pre-show event brings the backyard to the venue with a curated menu of classic cookout favorites, specialty cocktails, and laid-back vibes inspired by the culture that raised us. From the food to the music to the fellowship, it’s the perfect way to kick off an unforgettable evening of R&B legends. Availability is limited and only offered in select markets.
Tickets will be available for pre-sale starting today at 12 PM local time through Thursday, April 17 at 10 PM local time with code: cookout. The public on sale will begin Friday, April 18 at 10 AM local time. All tickets can be purchased at unclecharliescookout.com.
UNCLE CHARLIE’S R&B COOKOUT TOUR – 2025 DATES
Wed 8/27 – Hollywood, CA – Hollywood Bowl*
Fri 8/29 – Concord, CA – Toyota Pavilion*
Fri 9/5 – Detroit, MI – Little Caesars Arena
Sat 9/6 – Chicago, IL – Huntington Bank Pavilion at Northerly Island
Sun 9/7 – St. Louis, MO – Hollywood Casino Amphitheater
Thu 9/11 – Newark, NJ – Prudential Center
Fri 9/12 – New York, NY – Jones Beach Amphitheater
Sat 9/13 – Boston, MA – Leader Bank Pavilion
Sun 9/14 – Philadelphia, PA – TD Pavilion at The Mann
Fri 9/19 – Raleigh, NC – Coast Union Music Park
Sat 9/20 – Baltimore, MD – CFG Arena
Sun 9/21 – Virginia Beach, VA – United Home Amphitheater
Fri 9/26 – Houston, TX – The Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion presented by Huntsman
Sat 9/27 – Oklahoma City, OK – Zoo Amphitheater
Sun 9/28 – Dallas, TX – Toyota Music Pavilion
Fri 10/3 – New Orleans, LA – Smoothie King Arena**
Sat 10/4 – Atlanta, GA – Chastain Park*
Sun 10/5 – Charlotte, NC – PNC Music Pavilion
Fri 10/10 – Birmingham, AL – Coca-Cola Amphitheater
Sat 10/11 – Brandon, MS – Brandon Amphitheater*
Sun 10/12 – Memphis, TN – FedEx Forum
(*No El DeBarge)| (**No Babyface)
Music News
Kehlani Announces the Kehlani World Tour: North America
Today, 2x GRAMMY® Award winning R&B powerhouse Kehlani announced THE KEHLANI WORLD TOUR: North America. The 33-date tour, presented by Live Nation, is set to take over stages across North America.
THE KEHLANI WORLD TOUR kicks off in North America on August 6th in Minneapolis, MN at The Armory hitting major cities including Los Angeles, New York, Boston, San Francisco, Dallas, Atlanta, and more, before wrapping up on October 3rd in San Francisco, CA at Shoreline Amphitheatre. Special guests Durand Bernarr, Isaia Huron, TheARTI$t, and WASEEL will join as support on select North America dates.
Kehlani continues her standout 2026 as her self-titled album, Kehlani, released last month, debuted at No. 4 on the Billboard 200 with 69,000 equivalent album units earned – securing the biggest debut for an R&B album by a woman this year.
The project marks Kehlani’s fourth top 10 entry on the Billboard 200 and her third to land within the top 5. Across the charts, the album launches at #1 on the R&B Albums, #2 on Top Albums, #2 on Vinyl Albums, #5 on the Top Streaming Albums chart, and #5 on the Indie Stores Chart.
The album is powered by the massive success of “Folded,” which also earned Kehlani two GRAMMY® Awards this year for Best R&B Performance and Best R&B Song. “Folded” is also notably the longest-running #1 song in Billboard Mainstream R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay chart history, topping the respectable chart for over 17 weeks and counting. The track continues to resonate globally, now cemented as one of her most impactful records with its 2x Platinum certification.
Kehlani marks her first full-length release since her 2024 mixtape, While We Wait 2, ushering in a new era for the artist. With continued chart dominance and cultural impact, Kehlani solidifies her position as one of the defining voices in modern R&B.
TICKETS: Tickets will be available starting with an artist presale beginning on Wednesday, May 27, at 10 am local time. Additional presales will run throughout the week ahead of the general on sale beginning on Friday, May 29 at 10 am local time at kehlaniworldtour.com.
Kehlani has partnered with PLUS1 so that $1 per ticket will be contributed towards The Kehlani Fund by Live Nation. No portion of the purchase price is tax‑deductible. https://www.plus1.org/
KEHLANI WORLD TOUR DATES:
Thu Aug 6 – Minneapolis, MN – The Armory
Fri Aug 7 – Milwaukee, WI – Landmark Credit Union Live *
Sun Aug 9 – Chicago, IL – Huntington Bank Pavilion at Northerly Island
Mon Aug 10 – Indianapolis, IN – Everwise Amphitheater at White River State Park
Thu Aug 13 – Detroit, MI – Michigan Lottery Amphitheatre at Freedom Hill
Fri Aug 14 – Cuyahoga Falls, OH – Blossom Music Center
Sun Aug 16 – Toronto, ON – RBC Amphitheatre
Mon Aug 17 – Darien Center, NY – Darien Lake Amphitheater
Wed Aug 19 – Boston, MA – MGM Music Hall at Fenway
Fri Aug 21 – New York, NY – Barclays Center
Sun Aug 23 – Uncasville, CT – Mohegan Sun Arena
Wed Aug 26 – Camden, NJ – Freedom Mortgage Pavilion
Thu Aug 27 – Columbia, MD – Merriweather Post Pavilion
Sat Aug 29 – Richmond, VA – Allianz Amphitheater at Riverfront
Mon Aug 31 – Raleigh, NC – Coastal Credit Union Music Park at Walnut Creek
Tue Sep 1 – Charlotte, NC – Trullant Amphitheater
Thu Sep 3 – Atlanta, GA – Lakewood Amphitheatre
Fri Sep 4 – Birmingham, AL – Coca-Cola Amphitheater
Tue Sep 8 – Nashville, TN – Nashville Municipal Auditorium
Thu Sep 10 – Miami, FL – iThink Financial Amphitheatre
Fri Sep 11 – Tampa, FL – MIDFLORIDA Credit Union Amphitheatre
Sun Sep 13 – Houston, TX – Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion
Tue Sep 15 – Austin, TX – Germania Insurance Amphitheater
Wed Sep 16 – Dallas, TX – Dos Equis Pavilion
Fri Sep 18 – Oklahoma City, OK – Zoo Amphitheatre
Sun Sep 20 – Albuquerque, NM – First Financial Credit Union Amphitheater
Mon Sep 21 – Phoenix, AZ – Talking Stick Resort Amphitheatre
Wed Sep 23 – San Diego, CA – Viejas Arena
Thu Sep 24 – Inglewood, CA – Intuit Dome
Sat Sep 26 – Portland, OR – Theater of the Clouds
Sun Sep 27 – Seattle, WA – Climate Pledge Arena
Tue Sep 29 – Vancouver, BC – Doug Mitchell Thunderbird Sports Centre
Sat Oct 3 – San Francisco, CA – Shoreline Amphitheatre
*Without Durand Bernarr
Music News
The Chicks Announce Taking the Long Way 20th Anniversary Tour
Thirteen-time Grammy® Award winners The Chicks have announced their return to the road with the Taking the Long Way 20th Anniversary Tour in celebration of their record-breaking studio album Taking the Long Way. Kicking off at the Fox Theatre in Detroit on September 30, The Chicks will bring their powerhouse vocals and electrifying stage presence to intimate theatres across the U.S., honoring the enduring impact of the album that defined a generation, and celebrating the deep connection with their fans. The tour will make stops at major cities such as Chicago, New York City, Nashville, San Antonio, Austin, Seattle, and San Francisco, before wrapping with two nights in Hollywood, CA at Dolby Theatre on November 1 and 2.
Tickets will be available starting with an artist presale beginning on Wednesday, June 3 at 10 am local time. The general on sale begins on Thursday, June 4 at 10 am local time on Thechicks.com/tour.
To participate in The Chicks Artist Presale on Wednesday, June 3 at 10 am local time you must sign up at https://signup.livenation.com/thechicks by Sunday, May 31 at 11:59pm PT. No codes are needed – access is tied to your account, and anyone who signs up can join the sale.
The ‘Taking the Long Way Tour’ will serve as a triumphant victory lap to commemorate two decades of the critically acclaimed album that topped the Billboard 200 chart and earned The Chicks five Grammy® Awards, including Album of the Year, Record of the Year, and Song of the Year. Long regarded as the Chicks’ defiant masterpiece, Taking the Long Way, originally released in 2006, solidified the band’s legacy as courageous disruptors. Widely regarded as one of the most influential albums of its era, the project showcased The Chicks at their most fearless and vulnerable, and lead single “Not Ready to Make Nice” remains an anthem of artistic freedom and personal autonomy 20 years later. It is the album we needed then, and the album we need even more so now. Throughout this run, the iconic trio will perform the groundbreaking album in its entirety for the first time, before closing each night with fan-favorite hits spanning their award-winning catalog.
The Chicks—Natalie Maines, Martie Maguire, and Emily Strayer— continue to connect with audiences across generations with their tight harmonies, masterful musicianship, and powerful live performances. After a nearly 14-year hiatus, The Chicks released their fifth studio album Gaslighter in July 2020 via Columbia Records. The 12-track record was co-produced by award-winning singer-songwriter and producer Jack Antonoff and has been hailed as some of the band’s most uninhibited, modern, progressive, and original work to date, reaffirming their place as one of the most influential groups in music.
THE CHICKS – TAKING THE LONG WAY 20TH ANNIVERSARY TOUR DATES:
Wednesday, September 30, 2026 Detroit, MI Fox Theatre
Saturday, October 3, 2026 Chicago, IL The Auditorium
Sunday, October 4, 2026 Chicago, IL The Auditorium
Tuesday, October 6, 2026 Washington, DC The Anthem
Monday, October 12, 2026 New York, NY Beacon Theatre
Tuesday, October 13, 2026 New York, NY Beacon Theatre
Thursday, October 15, 2026 Nashville, TN The Truth
Saturday, October 17, 2026 San Antonio, TX Majestic Theatre
Sunday, October 18, 2026 San Antonio, TX Majestic Theatre
Tuesday, October 20, 2026 Austin, TX Bass Concert Hall
Sunday, October 25, 2026 Seattle, WA Benaroya Hall
Monday, October 26,2026 Seattle, WA Benaroya Hall
Thursday, October 29, 2026 San Francisco, CA The Masonic
Friday, October 30, 2026 San Francisco, CA The Masonic
Sunday, November 1, 2026 Hollywood, CA Dolby Theatre
Monday, November 2, 2026 Hollywood, CA Dolby Theatre