This Week In Entertainment News 26 June 2026
Your weekly roundup of music and entertainment news from Australia and around the world, plus new releases and tour updates.
Channel Nine has dumped longtime presenter Karl Stefanovic amid the fallout from him interviewing British far-right activist Tommy Robinson on his independent podcast. Karl launched his podcast The Karl Stefanovic Show earlier this year and has interviewed a number of controversial figures. The Tommy Robinson video was removed just hours after it was uploaded and Nine worked swiftly to distance the network from Karl Stefanovic. After more than two decades with the network, Stefanovic said he was now truly free and independent to pursue his podcast series.
The world’s largest music retailer Thomann has become the first company to sue Fender over the recent wave of cease-and-desist order issued by the guitar manufacturer. “After careful consideration, we have decided to take legal action,” a statement on the Thomann blog reads. “We have done so because we are convinced that the questions raised here go far beyond a mere legal dispute and affect the future of diversity, innovation and competition in our industry.” Thomann’s own in-house brand Harley Benton was issued a cease-and-desist order from Fender over the use of its S-shape Stratocaster design. The company says it is also acting on behalf of the custom shop brands and smaller workshops that have been targeted in the legal blitz.
Australian singer Daryl Braithwaite, best known for ‘The Horses’ has announced he is retiring from live performance after a 58-year career. “For some time now, it has been increasingly physically challenging for me to sing comfortably and as a result it has taken the joy out of performing, which has always been so important to me,” the 77 year-old said on social media. Daryl Baithwaite has been a mainstay of Australian music for nearly 60 years, first as a member of the band Sherbert and then as a solo artist. He was inducted into the ARIA Hall of Fame in 2017.
Meanwhile, there are health concerns for veteran entertainer Rod Stewart after he needed to use an oxygen tank during a performance in Utah. The 81-year old singer stopped the show after nearly fainting and required oxygen before sitting down to continue, declaring, “the show must go on.” The city’s high altitude is said to have affected the star’s breathing, but it also follows several cancellations due to Stewart’s health issues.
Pop dynamo Olivia Rodrigo is launching her own live music event, Daisy Chain Festival with an all-female line-up. The inaugural line-up features only female artists or female-fronted bands, including Chappell Roan, Bikini Kill, Doechii, Mitski, the Breeders, Garbage, Katseye, Santigold, and Rachel Chinouriri. The day will also include rising acts Not for Radio, Die Spitz, Quiet Light, and Eli, and special guests Stevie Nicks, Karen O, and Sarah McLachlan. Net ticket will be donated to female advocacy and support organisations.
Heavy metal legends Iron Maiden were forced to play a shorter set in Paris due to a power outage. Fans waited an hour for the power to be restored, but due to the city’s noise curfew the band had to drop fan favourites ‘Aces High’, ‘Wasted Years’, and ‘Fear of the Dark’ from the encore.
Poggioli Bros. Primo Produce – a family owned and operated Australian farming business.
As the countdown to Larry Fleet’s upcoming return to Australia gets louder, a special addition has been made to the Tennessee-born performer’s upcoming run of East Coast shows. Joining Fleet at his headline shows is one of Australia’s most important voices and musical storytellers, Troy Cassar-Daley. Long regarded as one of the country’s most respected performers, Cassar-Daley continues to be a guiding light for new generations of Australian country music artists and fans who discover his music.
Continuing to blaze a trail through 2026, Brisbane songwriter and performer Laura Frank has announced ‘Life In The Front Seat’, her debut studio album set for release later this year on October 7th. To celebrate, she shares another slice of heartfelt alt-country music with new single, ‘How Do We’. Following on from previous releases ‘Get What We Deserve’ and ‘God Knows, I Know’, this new release further explores Laura’s sharp blend of emotional lyricism and inviting music.
Essex punks The Meffs today drop their new single ‘Where Did It All Go Wrong?’, the third glimpse of their second album ‘Business’, coming 11 September via FLG. The band comment: “Punk-edged alt-rock with a message. We’re born aware of our mortality but ignore we’re destroying the world we call home — a cry for change where history keeps repeating. There’s no music on a dead planet.”
Establishing themselves as one of Melbourne’s exciting new rock forces, Day Dreamers take another empowered stride into 2026, announcing a brand new, self-titled, EP project. The Day Dreamers collection of sounds captures a period of growth for the group: a maturation in sound, but an elevation in energy and chemistry. Music that hits hard, music that represents a rebirth of the band, Day Dreamers proves an exciting release from the group and as a taste of what is to come, they’ve shared a brand new single, titled ‘Wreckage’.
