Donna Jean Godchaux-MacKay, the Alabama-born singer who brought Muscle Shoals soul to the Grateful Dead’s psychedelic swirl, has died at 78 after a battle with cancer. Before joining the band in the early 1970s, she sang on classics like “When a Man Loves a Woman” and Elvis Presley’s “Suspicious Minds.” Once skeptical of the Dead’s loose sound, she changed her mind after seeing them live and soon joined the group with her husband, pianist Keith Godchaux.

Her gospel-tinged harmonies helped shape defining moments like “Eyes of the World” and “Playing in the Band.” After leaving the band in 1979, she kept performing and was later inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame as part of the Dead. From Muscle Shoals to Bonnaroo, Godchaux-MacKay carried a lifelong belief in the magic of music, leaving behind a legacy that still shimmers between the notes. 🎶

As a government shutdown threatened to halt the nation’s SNAP food assistance program, Taylor Swift fans turned their passion into purpose. The fan collective Swifties for Hope launched a campaign urging donations of $13 to Feeding America, helping food banks nationwide brace for the crisis. Their tagline, “We protect the family,” nods to Swift’s lyric from “Father Figure” and her long-standing support of community causes.

The effort mirrors Swift’s own history of generosity, from quietly donating to local food banks during the Eras Tour to recent contributions to a child’s cancer fund and wildlife conservation. Once again, the fandom proved its power extends far beyond streaming numbers, showing that for Swifties, loving Taylor also means showing up for each other. Donation link here. 🫶

🗳️ Cast your vote, and yes—we know you’ve got opinions. Let’s hear ’em.

We’ve just launched fresh gear in the Fandiem Shop, tailored for fans who go the extra mile. Every merch purchase gives you bonus entry credits toward any “Donate-to-Win” campaigns of your choice. So when you wear it, you’re not just showing fandom you’re earning your shot at that epic behind-the-scenes experience.

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The Grammy-winning country star extends her successful Dreamsicle Tour with 12 new dates kicking off April 15 in Nashville, Indiana, and wrapping May 3 in Dallas. The run hits Greenville, Tampa, Miami, Orlando, Fort Myers, Austin, and Houston, with doubles at Ponte Vedra Concert Hall. Morris is partnering with No Kid Hungry, donating $1 from each ticket to combat childhood hunger, plus an additional $10,000 from the Lunatics Fund. The Lunatics Presale begins Nov. 5 at 10 a.m. local, general on-sale Nov. 7 at 10 a.m. local.

Get tickets here

AC/DC – 'Power Up Tour' 2026 Stadium Run Expansion

The Rock & Roll Hall of Famers expand their Power Up Tour with 21 stadium dates across North and South America. The run kicks off Feb. 24 in São Paulo and hits Mexico City, Charlotte, Denver, Las Vegas, San Francisco, Vancouver, Atlanta, Toronto, and wraps Sept. 29 at Philadelphia's Lincoln Financial Field. The band is supporting their latest album, which hit No. 1 in 21 countries. Tickets on sale Nov. 7 at 10 a.m. local (12 p.m. for Denver, Las Vegas, and Philadelphia).

Get tickets here

Sting – '3.0' Tour 2026 Extension

The 17-time Grammy winner extends his stripped-down "3.0" tour with guitarist Dominic Miller and drummer Chris Maas for 12 new North American dates. The spring run kicks off May 9 at Choctaw Grand Theater in Durant, Oklahoma, and includes stops in Irving, Austin, Houston, Atlanta, Savannah, Charlotte, Raleigh, and three nights at Wolf Trap before wrapping May 25 in Richmond, Virginia. Fan Club presale begins Nov. 4, general on-sale Nov. 7 at 10 a.m. local.

Get tickets here

Morgan Wallen – 'Still the Problem' Stadium Tour

The country superstar launches a massive 21-show stadium run following his second-biggest album of 2025. The tour kicks off April 10-11 with back-to-back nights at Minneapolis' U.S. Bank Stadium and hits Las Vegas, Indianapolis, Gainesville, Denver, Pittsburgh, Chicago, Baltimore, Ann Arbor, and wraps July 31-Aug. 1 in Philadelphia. Thomas Rhett, Hardy, Ella Langley, and Brooks & Dunn rotate as headlining support, with opening acts varying nightly. Presale begins Nov. 5 at 11 a.m. PT, general on-sale Nov. 7 at 10 a.m. local.

Get tickets here

The pop-punk veterans celebrate the 20th anniversary of their self-titled debut and 17th anniversary of 'Love Drunk' by playing both albums in their entirety. The spring 2026 tour features support from iDKHOW and Arrows In Action. Following their recent appearance at When We Were Young Festival, the band hits cities across North America. Artist presale begins Nov. 5 at 10 a.m. local, general on-sale Nov. 7 at 10 a.m. local.

Get tickets here

O.A.R. – 'Three Decades Tour' 30th Anniversary Celebration

The multi-platinum rock band celebrates 30 years with a massive North American amphitheater and arena tour produced by Live Nation. The run kicks off June 19 at Gerald R. Ford Amphitheater in Vail and includes stops at Red Rocks, Merriweather Post Pavilion, The Greek Theatre, and wraps with four Florida dates in November. Special guests include Gavin DeGraw, Phantom Planet, Lisa Loeb, and KT Tunstall rotating throughout the tour. Artist presale begins Nov. 4 at 10 a.m. local, general on-sale Nov. 7 at 10 a.m. local.

Get tickets here

Charley Crockett – 2026 Winter Tour

The prolific Texas singer-songwriter launches a U.S. and Canada winter tour following two 2025 album releases, Dollar A Day and Lonesome Drifter. The run kicks off Feb. 20 at Seattle's 5th Avenue Theatre and includes extensive Canadian stops in Vancouver, Edmonton, Saskatoon, Winnipeg, Windsor, Toronto, Ottawa, Montreal, and Niagara Falls. U.S. dates feature Boston's Roadrunner, Augusta's Bell Auditorium, and Bethlehem's Wind Creek Event Center before wrapping March 11 in Tampa. Presale begins today (Oct. 29), general on-sale Oct. 31 at 10 a.m. local.

Get tickets here

Jessie J – Rescheduled 'No Secrets Tour' 2026

The British pop star reschedules her North American tour after undergoing breast cancer treatment and surgery. The 10-date run kicks off Jan. 21 in Atlanta and includes a lone Canadian stop at Toronto's Danforth Music Hall on Jan. 25. The tour continues through Washington D.C., Philadelphia, New York, Chicago, Minneapolis, Denver, Las Vegas, and wraps Feb. 6 in Los Angeles. Previous ticket holders will be emailed with access to rescheduled dates. Presale begins Oct. 29, general on-sale Oct. 31 at 10 a.m. local.

Get tickets here

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Rage Against the Machine's Tom Morello has a degree in Social Studies from Harvard, where he practiced guitar four hours a day while studying political theory. Before forming one of the most politically charged rock bands ever, he worked as a scheduling secretary for Senator Alan Cranston in Los Angeles, but quickly realized politics wasn't for him. The experience extinguished any remaining interest in a political career, leading him to form one of the most politically charged rock bands ever just a few years later. Read more here.

That’s a wrap for this week! Until next time, catch you in the pit—or next week’s email. 🎵🔥

Signing off,

The Fandiem Team