Hallowed Sound: How Black artists influenced music
The National Museum of African American Music recently opened its doors in Nashville, and the Hallowed Sound project hopes to shed light on the contributions of Black voices.
USA TODAY
- The New Edition Way Tour is coming to Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena on March 20, 2026.
- The concert will feature iconic R&B groups New Edition and Boyz II Men, along with singer Toni Braxton.
- This tour marks the first time New Edition and Boyz II Men will share a stage together.
- The show will be performed on a 360-degree stage, featuring hits from the groups and their solo acts.
Over four decades of R&B history are coming to Nashville as the New Edition Way Tour makes its stop, uniting legends New Edition, Boyz II Men and Toni Braxton for a one-night celebration of timeless hits.
The New Edition Way Tour 2026 will make a highly anticipated stop at Music City’s Bridgestone Arena at 8 p.m. March 20. The concert will feature New Edition, Boyz II Men, Toni Braxton performing on a 360-degree stage, with additional hits from breakout acts Bobby Brown, Bell Biv DeVoe (BBD) and more.
The 30-city tour kicked off Jan. 28, 2026 in Oakland, and it has drawn crowds of all ages.
New Edition formed in 1978 and became the blueprint for both modern R&B and boy bands. With silky vocals, tight harmonies, and polished choreography, they influenced acts like *NSYNC, Backstreet Boys and more. The group originally included Bivins, Brown, Ralph Tresvant, Ronnie DeVoe, Ricky Bell, and later Johnny Gill during Brown’s solo period.
Earning countless awards and selling tens of millions of records worldwide, their careers also launched the solo successes of Brown, Tresvant, Gill, and the trio BBD, laying the groundwork for all R&B groups that followed and directly inspiring Boyz II Men.
“It’s something I feel proud of to know that back in the 90s, when the seed was planted, it would blossom to something so beautiful in 2026,” New Edition vocalist Michael Bivins told The Tennessean.
Boyz II Men formed in 1985 with members Nathan Morris, Wanya Morris, Shawn Stockman, and Michael McCary. Bivins discovered the group and helped them rise to prominence in the early ’90s with a combination of soulful ballads and smooth harmonies, selling over 60 million records worldwide and earning multiple awards including four Grammys. Their artistry and enduring influence helped shape the path for R&B artists to come.
Though this current tour is not the first time these groups have performed on in recent years, the shows do mark the first time both iconic bands will share the stage together.
“Those are my brothers,” Tresvant said. “We never got a chance to work with them like this, and probably in any capacity,” he added, “but all things God’s timing.”
Seven-time Grammy winner Toni Braxton, who has sold over 70 million records worldwide and is one of R&B’s most iconic female artists, will join them on the Bridgestone stage.
Both New Edition members say that Music City holds special significance for them.
“Nashville been with us since the Municipal Auditorium,” Bivins said. He added that it was important to come to Nashville, where the show will combine R&B, hip hop, and pop, “because of what it means. It’s almost like the south of music crossroads.”
Tresvant echoed these sentiment, noting that Nashville is one of his favorite cities to visit. Beyond their own connections to Nashville, these artists continue to influence music and pop culture across the industry.
In 2017, New Edition’s biographical miniseries “The New Edition Story” aired on BET, drawing a cumulative audience of nearly 29 million viewers across its premiere week. The group continues to embody success and creativity for aspiring Black artists, from the 90s until today, pioneering independent ownership models.
“Our impact has triggered some of the biggest institutions and given them their biggest moments,” Bivins said. Most recently the group was nominated for the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, underscoring their lasting impact and enduring legacy.
And, through all the accolades, the power of brotherhood has been the core of it all.
“We just all been growing up together. And I think that’s what makes it special. And all six of us, God willing, are still living. And nothing means more to me,” Bivins said.
Fans can expect a night of top R&B hits from the 90s and beyond and guests of all ages inthe audience, reflecting thier generational reach.
“We like to keep everybody on their feet,” said Tresvant. “It’s one of those shows where you should use the bathroom early … and do whatever it is to get into your party mood early. Because once it starts, you’re not gonna be able to take your eyes off the stage.”
The next stop, after Nashville, will be March 21 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. A full list of shows and tickets can be found on Ticketmaster.
Follow Caché McClay, the USA TODAY Network’s Music reporter, on Instagram, TikTok and X as @cachemcclay
‘ The preceding article may include information circulated by third parties ’
‘ Some details of this article were extracted from the following source www.tennessean.com ’
