Blake Shelton has enjoyed the kind of career many artists can only dream of having. He’s won numerous accolades, including CMA Entertainer of the Year, he’s charted 29 No.1 hits at country radio, and sold over 13 million albums. The Oklahoma native also became a household name thanks to his 23-season run on NBC’s The Voice. 

Although Blake Shelton is a seasoned artist, he occasionally finds himself in unfamiliar territory as he navigates the wave of new talent in the country music scene. In a recent interview with Audacy’s Katie Neal, Shelton confessed that he often feels out of the loop when looking at the charts, as he doesn’t recognize many of the artists listed. 

“There’s so much incredible talent,” he admitted. “I don’t even know. I look at a chart now and I swear, I’m not kidding when I say I know about maybe 40% of the artists that are on a chart any given day. I’m just like, ‘Google, I’m like, who the hell is that? My God, who is that?’ And it is just crazy to try to keep up with it.”

Shelton has once again found himself in the mix of all these new artists thanks to the success of his latest single, “Texas.” The superstar said that he can feel the momentum for the song building each night he plays on stage and finds himself more grateful than ever to have a song climb the charts this far into his career. 

“I’ve been performing some of these songs, as I sing them, it’s like, ‘oh my God, that one is 18 years old. Oh, that one’s 23 years old. Oh, this one’s 24 years old’ I was thinking that stuff in my mind as I’m singing,” he explained. “And then we come to Texas in the show and it’s like, ‘my God, how lucky am I to still be 25 years into…to still having a song on the radio at any capacity, much less moving the way this one has, this one’s really is taken on a life of its own, and it’s just exciting.” 

The success of “Texas” follows Shelton’s chart-topping duet with Post Malone, and even after everything he’s achieved, he still somewhat doubts his radio career. 

“Right when you think, I guess that was it. Then something like this happens and you’re still in there with these kids coming up trying to keep my head above water,” he said. 

“Texas” marks an important new chapter of Shelton’s career as it’s his very first single with his brand new label, BBR Music Group/BMG Nashville. He joined the label after partying ways with Warner Music Nashville last year, and it sounds like a new album is coming soon. 

“We finally turned the album over to the label…people were asking me, when are you going to have an album? I said, whenever the label says time’s up, I’m gonna keep working on it.” 

Blake Shelton is in the midst of his Friends & Heroes Tour with special guests Craig Morgan, Deana Carter, and Trace Adkins plus very special guest Emily Ann Roberts.    

The post Blake Shelton On The Explosion of New Country Artists: ‘I Know About Maybe 40% Of The Artists That Are On A Chart’ appeared first on Country Now.

Luke Bryan has had a lot of success in his career, but like any other artist, he’s experienced moments of doubt along the way that led to him making decisions he now regrets. In a candid interview with Bobby Bones, Bryan opens up about one of those decisions, which found him passing on the chance to cut a song that’s since become a major hit for Morgan Wallen.

While reflecting on the different chapters of his musical journey, Bones posed the question, “are you now at times picking songs that you wouldn’t have cut five years ago because of what the song’s about?” The first thought that came to Bryan’s mind was the time he turned away a song penned by HARDY, Josh Osborne and Ashley Gorley called “Sand In My Boots.”

After Bryan passed on it, Morgan Wallen picked up the tune for his record-breaking project of 2021, Dangerous: The Double Album. His recording earned him his fifth No. 1 hit on the Billboard Country Airplay chart and was certified 2X Platinum.

Bryan cited that the reason he chose to pass on the song wasn’t because he didn’t think it was worth of claiming a spot in his catalog, but rather he was making a conscious effort to stay away from any songs that mentioned a truck at the time. “Sand In My Boots” is a heartbreak anthem that clearly mentions a Chevrolet Silverado in the chorus, meaning it was exactly the kind of song Bryan was trying to avoid because he felt he had exhausted his catalog of truck songs. He also recalled the negativity he began receiving online and being dubbed a “one trick pony.”

“I mean there was one point in my career I had sang about trucks enough to where, I mean I passed stupidly on the Morgan’s ‘Sand In My boots’ because it had Chevrolet in it,” he admitted. “I just went through two years of my life where I was like, man, I sing about trucks a lot. I sing about tailgates, and I think I got in my head a little bit.”

Rising To Fame With Spring Break Anthems

This decision is one he’s since come to regret, but this moment of reflection also brought up a deeper issue Bryan has struggled with, and that’s feeling overlooked within the industry despite his success among country music fans.

The Georgia native has always been known for making music that gets people to their feet and will keep them dancing and singing all night long. However, he got a bit of a later start in his career due to tragically losing his brother to a car accident in 1996. He ended up staying home a few extra years and then made the move to Nashville at the age of 25. Once he finally got his footing in Music City, Bryan saw a rapid rise to fame when he leaned into his summertime party anthems across albums such as Tailgates & Tanlines, Spring Break…Here To Party, Crash My Party and Spring Break…Checkin’ Out.

“I was 34, 35, 36, 37, making Spring Break albums appealing to 20-year-olds…It didn’t get weird. It just felt like, you know, it’s time to move on from maybe the spring break me trying to sing college songs. But it was fun for me, and it was awesome, and it totally told the world that that’s my personality.”

Finding Success In Authenticity

Despite any moments of doubt he may have had, Bryan has always remained his unapologetic self through his music. So releasing song that captured his fun, easy going personality allowed him to create a space for himself in country music that authentically resonates with his fans and has them coming back to his live shows time and time again.

“I think people generally think my personality is let’s have some fun. And if I’m known for that, if I don’t get a male vocalist of the year and Grammys or whatever, because I may be known as the guy that has had fun through his career and put out a lot of fun songs, I’m cool with that.”

He admits that while his vocals may not be up to par with greats like Chris Stapleton or Ronnie Dunn of Brooks & Dunn, he feels that his talent has been downplayed as a result of the playful, unserious nature of his personality.

“Listen, I think vocally, I may have been overlooked for that. I think there’s stuff out there that I’ve done vocally that certainly, it’s not Chris Stapleton vocals and Ronnie Dunn vocals and the guys that are really, really known as vocalists, but I think I might’ve gotten overlooked in that a little bit, which is fine,” he admitted. “Every time somebody introduces me as ‘Country Music superstar, Luke Bryan,’ it still freaks me out. I’m still like, how in the hell did I pull that title off?”

He continued, “When you look at somebody that goes from climbing, digging, digging, digging, one hit, two hit, three, four, then next thing you know they blow up to be a superstar, there’s something about ’em that made that happen. And with me, I think it was my personality and my willingness on stage to just go for whatever, to dance and cut up…I think that was different enough to set me apart.”

Snubbed At Major Country Award Shows

The American Idol judge is not afraid to admit that there have been plenty of moments in his career when he felt disappointed in the fact that some of his major fan-favorites like “Country Girl (Shake it For Me)” and “Most People Are Good” didn’t land him a win at any major country award shows. However, in the current chapter of his career, he’s found peace in knowing that he might not have the most awards under his belt, but he makes music that is true to him and that never fails to make people happy.

“I think the most important song I ever, obviously ever did was ‘Country Girl (Shake It For Me).” I think when I look at the most, maybe when I look at ‘Drink A Beer’ or ‘Most People Are Good,’ those were my opportunities,” he explained. “It’s songs that I thought would be up for Song of the Year, and I never got a Song of the Year, which that’s when I was like, man, I really thought those would at least get nominated for something. And they never did. And then I was like, well, at this point in my career, I just need to be free with what I do.”

Looking ahead to the next year or two, Luke Bryan is hoping to lean back into that side of his artistry by dropping another “big old fun summer anthem” that goes on to become the “song of the summer.”

“I got to go write it or I got to go find it and I hope I can find it. And I hope that it can be kind of coined ‘Song of the Summer’ and people can be like, ‘oh, that’s Luke with one of his party songs.’ But either way, I mean, it’s so fun where I’m at in my career, I can just build my set list with my songs to create the vibe that I want to create. And just the fact that I can do that is a dream come true.”

This summer, Bryan will embark on his brand-new 30+ city tour dubbed the “Country Song Came On Tour.” His next run kicks off May 29 and is scheduled to make stops in major markets all over the U.S. and Canada with a star-studded list of up-and-coming artists as special guests.

Before heading back on the road, fans can watch him guide aspiring artists on American Idol every Sunday night on ABC.

The post Luke Bryan Opens Up About Missing Out On Morgan Wallen Hit And Feeling ‘Overlooked’ appeared first on Country Now.

Kelsea Ballerini’s fans are buzzing with concern after her March 28 Las Vegas concert was unexpectedly canceled without any explanation.

The five-time GRAMMY nominee was originally scheduled to bring her 2025 headlining tour, Kelsea Ballerini LIVE, to T-Mobile Arena in Sin City on March 28. However, over the past 24 hours, several TikTok users have made videos on the platform sharing their confusion after receiving an email from the venue informing them of the show’s cancelation.

One disappointed fan made a video directed at Ballerini, revealing that she is “going through the five stages of grief” after seeing the disheartening news come across her inbox.

“This video is for Kelsea Ballerini and Kelsea Ballerini only. Girl, please say sike right now. please say sike. I’m supposed to se you in Vegas in two weeks. I don’t know if you know this, but you just dropped some bangers, first of all,” the user shared. “I have been daydreaming about this concert for I don’t know how long. I don’t know why its canceled…please reschedule it. I am stressed it was the only thing I was looking forward to this year.”

@lexilcook @Kelsea Ballerini ily and I hope I can see you soon 🥺💔 #kelseaballerini #kelseaballeriniconcert #lasvegas #concerts #patterns ♬ original sound – Lexi 🤎

This user isn’t alone in her frustration. Many fans shared her upset, especially those who had already booked nonrefundable flights and hotel stays for the event. Additionally, seeing as she just unveiled the deluxe edition of her PATTERNS album, her Sin City listeners were eager to celebrate the new tracks during her live show.

“No cuz I literally just got the same email and I’m freaking out,” a user shared.

“I’m so upset about this 😭😭,” said another.

“I knew it was too good to be true 😭 @Kelsea Ballerini please tell me this is all a biggggggg misunderstanding and Vegas will still be happening.”

Adding to the confusion, the March 28 show no longer appears on Kelsea Ballerini’s official website nor the T-Mobile Arena calendar. However, tickets are still available for purchase on Ticketmaster, further fueling the speculation about the reason for the sudden cancelation.

Some fans are hoping the the concert might be moved to a different venue instead of being completely canceled or rescheduled to a later date.

@alyssanaumann I knew it was too good to be true 😭 @Kelsea Ballerini please tell me this is all a biggggggg misunderstanding and Vegas will still be happening #kelseaballerini #kelseavegas #kelseaballeriniconcert ♬ original sound – Ally Naumann

Kelsea Ballerini Has Yet To Share A Statement

So far, Ballerini has remained silent on the matter, leaving fans anxiously waiting an answer.

“Her silence is deafening…and ghosting the Las Vegas ticket holders is odd,” a user wrote.

Another noted, “we just want answers 😭 I’ve spent so much money preparing for this.”

Other Rescheduled Dates

Ballerini was forced to cut one show short and reschedule two others last month after falling ill. While she tried her best to make it through every show in an attempt to not disappoint her fans, she ultimately realized she needed to take the time off to rest and recover.

Once the new plans were made, she took to social media to give fans the update and promised to come back bigger and better.

“So we are rescheduling tonight, Buffalo, tomorrow, Pittsburgh and the next day, Toronto, to the end of the tour, April 11th, 12th and 13th,” Ballerini shared. “I will make them the best shows I’ve ever played in my whole life.”

@kelseaballerini

flu got the better of me. i’m so so sorry my friends, i tried my best. rescheduled dates are posted. 😞

♬ original sound – Kelsea Ballerini

The “Patterns” singer has had a major start to the year as KELSEA BALLERINI LIVE ON TOUR 2025 marks her very first arena tour. Whether going through a breakup, celebrating a new love or simply honoring their friendship, this show has become a place for fans to come together and find solace in her vulnerable tunes.

Ballerini is next scheduled to take the stage at the Climate Pledge Arena in Seattle, WA on March 13.

The post Kelsea Ballerini’s Las Vegas Show Canceled Without Explanation, Fans Seek Answers appeared first on Country Now.

Lone Star Jam, known for being the biggest Texas Country & Red Dirt Festival in Central Texas, will not offer it’s usual memorial day weekend event in 2025. The festival announced the news across their social medias stating that due to a series of new challenges that have arose this year, they have decided to take a temporary “pause.”

The heartfelt statement was dedicated to the “incredible Lone Star Jam family” who have shown unwavering support for the two-day event since its inaugural year in 2008. Year after year, thousands of music lovers continue to take part in the tradition of uniting to enjoy performances by some of Texas’ best country artists.

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The post indicated that despite all their efforts, and 17 “amazing years,” their best option at the moment is to take a break for the year and hopefully, come back even better in 2026.  

“We have made the difficult decision to pause Lone Star Jam in 2025. Rising production costs, logistical challenges, and the changing landscape of live music events have made it increasingly difficult to produce the festival at the level you deserve. We worked tirelessly this year to curate a lineup that we were proud of and we didn’t think the options were good enough for our fans. Because you deserve the best, we felt pausing in 2025 was the right decision.”

Keep An Eye Out For More Updates

The festival may be on pause, but organizers teased the potential of other opportunities for fans to come together and celebrate their love for the Texas country music scene throughout the year.

“This is not goodbye. While Lone Star Jam is on pause this year, we still plan to offer our fans unique opportunities to enjoy more live Texas Country music. Stay tuned for more details as we work on keeping the spirit of LSJ alive this year.”

Fans Express Their Disappointment

The message concluded with a final note of gratitude for everyone who helped keep the festival alive and thriving for the past 17 years.

“Lone Star Jam has always been about bringing people together to celebrate Texas Country music, and we are immensely grateful for the artists, fans, and partners who have made it so special. The journey from that first festival at Waterloo Park in 2008 to where we stand today has been nothing short of amazing, and we are proud of everything we’ve built together. Thank you for the years of support. Long live Texas Country music.”

Fans took to the comment section to express their disappointment, while also offering understanding for their decision and hope for the future of the event.

“I was at the first one! This makes me sad.”

“Gonna miss this!!! Always the best time!!!!”

“Most fun festival ever nooooooo”

“I’m so sad”

“You’ll be back bigger and better baby!!”

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While the 2025 Lone Star Jam lineup was never announced, last year’s event was a memorable one as it was headlined by Lee Brice, Eli Young Band, Robert Earl Keen, and Casey Donahew. Over the years, the festival has welcomed a stellar lineup of acts, including Randy Rogers Band, Josh Abbott Band, Wade Bowen, Shane Smith, and many more.

The post Lone Star Jam Announces Hiatus for 2025 After 17 Years appeared first on Country Now.

Team Kelsea’s Tatum Scott and Angie Rey went head-to-head on The Voice Battles on Monday evening, facing off with a performance of the Maren Morris hit, “GIRL.” 

Both contestants gave it their all, shining in their solo moments while effortlessly blending their voices and finding perfect harmony during the vocal runs together. Despite being relatively new to performing, both artists also displayed impressive stage presence. 

They certainly made their coach, Kelsea Ballerini, proud as she was seen standing up, singing along, and cheering them on throughout the entire performance. 

At the end of the performance, Ballerini was faced with a tough decision, only allowing one contestant to advance on her team. 

“I know them! I know them,” Ballerini proudly shouted from her seat. 

“That was great. That was so much fun. Angie, I can’t believe that you were a one chair turn. Tatum, you were a two chair turn. You guys are the beauty of this show. You’re going to see people and you’re going to watch them grow and blossom and look, here we have it. You two come out and just nail it,” Michael Bublé complimented. “I’m really proud for her [Kelsea Ballerini] because I know that it meant a lot to her to watch you both come out here and rock it like that. I have no idea who she’s going to choose.” 

John Legend added, “You both looked electric and magnetic, just that energy you both belonged up here, Tatutm. Your voice is a little more gentle and really beautiful. I think the song played a little bit more to Angie’s strengths as far as the power in your voice. But it was very close.”  

Adam Levine echoed Legend and Bublé, telling the pair, “Angie, there’s an explosive quality. You have so much power and electricity in your voice and even the way you performed you, so it was really fun to watch. Tatum, you didn’t try to chase that. You just did you, and you stayed very composed, which is what I liked about you. So I think it’s just going to be a matter of preference. So congratulations.” 

When it was time to decide which contestant to keep, Ballerini admitted, “my heart’s already breaking.”

“Tatum, the thing that I love the most about your voice is your ability to go soft and be vulnerable. It almost feels like you just got done crying and you can hear it, but you have that oomph too,” she told her.

Ballerini shared that Angie was the “biggest surprise” on her team so far. “

“I was blown away and I’m just so impressed with the growth that I’ve gotten to see,” she stated. 

Ultimately, Ballerini decided it was Angie who won the battle. 

“These decisions are wildly difficult because it’s my first time being a coach. I just care about doing the best service to these artists that I can,” the “Baggage” singer explained. “Angie’s voice, I hear obviously a little country in there. I hear a lot of pop, r&b and soul. That combination to me is so exciting because as an artist, I love blending things and I know that I can help her with that. I feel like she’s full of surprises. She’s like my dark horse.”  

Lucky for Tatum, she was stolen by John Legend and will now compete as part of Team Legend in the competition.

The post Kelsea Ballerini Makes Tough Choice After Tatum Scott and Angie Rey Face Off On ‘The Voice’ appeared first on Country Now.

Kelsea Ballerini has recruited GRAMMY, ACM, CMA, AMA, and Emmy Award-winning group, Little Big Town as her Season 27 battle round advisors on The Voice. 

The first-time Voice coach opened up about her decision to have LBT’s Karen Fairchild, Phillip Sweet, Kimberly Schlapman, and Jimi Westbrook join her on the show and admitted it was a no-brainer. 

“They are one of the most important groups in music period,” she told Extra. “They have 25 years as a band of consistent storytelling that matters, and challenging conversation that matters, and just being a pillar in the genre that I love so much.”

She selected the group as her battle round advisors because they’ve been friends and longtime mentors to her.

“The other side of it is they’re my friends,” she explained. “I bought tickets to see them growing up, but also, they’re my friends and they’ve mentored me.”

With the band watching on, Ballerini also added, “You guys have dabbled and created in every avenue, and I feel like having that kind of knowledge for everyone on the team has been amazing. Whether it was performance or working on harmonies, there’s literally no one better to work on that with. I mean, they offered everything.”

Fairchild couldn’t help but to praise her friend and co-writer. “She’s an incredible coach… She’s a force out there. She knows what she’s doing, so she didn’t really need us.”

Kelsea quickly interjected, “Not true!”

Little Big Town joins fellow battle advisors Cynthia Erivo, who is advising Team Bublé, Kate Hudson, who is offering advice to Team Adam, and Coco Jones, who is working with Team Legend. 

While the lineup of advisors is quite impressive, Schlapman insists that Balleirni’s team absolutely “slays” and might even take home the win at the end of the season. 

“Team Kelsea is looking like it’s going to win… Every single person on her team has risen to the occasion, and they are ready to battle and one of them is going to take it all the way home,” she shared. 

Even though this is her first season as a coach on The Voice, Ballerini is also feeling confident as she said she feels as if she is “flying under the radar a bit.” 

“They’re like, ‘Oh, she’s new, she’s still learning the ropes,’ so they’re not going to think of me as a threat until the very end, when they realize the whole time I’ve been chilling with some amazing artists. So that’s my game plan,” she revealed. 

Fans can tune in to NBC’s The Voice on each Monday at 8/7c. 

The post Kelsea Ballerini Taps Little Big Town As Battle Round Advisors On ‘The Voice’ appeared first on Country Now.

Abi Bowen, a 25-year-old Tennessee native, faced her fears and delivered an unforgettable performance that left the American Idol judges wanting to see more of her talent in Hollywood.

Before stepping into the audition room, Bowen opened up about her apprehension to put herself out there on such a huge platform. She explained that although she considers it to be “the craziest thing I’ve ever done in my life,” she was doing it for both herself and her late mother who always encouraged her musical abilities.

In an attempt to hide from her fears, Bowen brought a pair of dark sunglasses into the audition room and told the judges she would be facing away from them for her performance.  

“Makes me feel like they can’t see me,” she said of the shades. “If you can’t face your fears, ride ‘em. I’m literally just here winging it and just seeing how it goes and hope for the best.”

Carrie Underwood was the first to comment on Bowen’s nervousness as she asked, “Do you perform many places?” The contestant replied, “No. I don’t do anything.”

With her sunglasses acting as an accessory to her Canadian tuxedo and cowboy hat with two strands of her brown curly hair hanging out, Bowen turned to face the back of the room, closed her eyes and beautifully showcased her rendition of Bonnie Raitt’s “I Can’t Make You Love Me.”

Midway through the performance, Luke Bryan silently signaled for his fellow judges to sneak over and stand in front of Bowen without her noticing. As soon as the song was over, Bowen opened her eyes and jumped in surprise to see Lionel Richie, Carrie Underwood and Luke Bryan standing before her.

“You know this is a TV show and people are going to see you,” Underwood kindly pointed out.

Bryan jokingly jumped in to comment on her unique appearance as he said, “When you dress like that, people are going to notice you.” 

“That scared me. That was so shaky,” she admitted while taking off the shades once again and watching the judges return to their seats.

Richie was quick to let Bowen know that she’s “got something in there.” As he continued giving his critique, Underwood interrupted to invite Bowen’s son, Stetson, to join her in the audition room. The little boy, who Bryan pointed out had more confidence than his mom, happily stood by her side and listeners to the judges give their feedback.

Underwood made sure that Bowen understood what she was signing up for, noting that if she were to move forward, she would have to leave the sunglasses behind and gain some confidence on stage.

“If we send you on, one of two things will happen. You’re either going to figure it out and you’re going to be like, who is this girl? Or you’re going to drown in Hollywood.” 

Luke Bryan then explained that Bowen reminded him of Emmy Russell, granddaughter of Loretta Lynn who made her mark on the show last season.

“She started just like you,” Bryan pointed out.

“I felt her shaking and everything. Literally, I was watching. I was like, that would be me,” Bowen admitted.

Even amid her timidness, Bowen still presented a confidence in herself that was hidden below her fear of singing. The judges saw this potential and made the unanimous decision to send her home with a golden ticket to the next round of the competition.

“Seriously, you’ve got the goods,” said Richie. “If you can just get it out. Every time you get ready to go to that thing that’s going to scare you, you go, ‘no, no, no, no, no.’ Sometimes someone can see your potential before you can see your potential. We might have to be your confidence until you realize you’ve got some confidence.”

The contestant had a bright smile on her face and a knowing look as Underwood gave her final comment, “You have a lot of work to do.” With her golden ticket in hand, Abi Bown left the audition room to celebrate with her husband and little boy.

“I couldn’t sit here and explain this audition to you if I tried because it was so chaotic. Thank you to my family for supporting me through all this and pushing me when I didn’t push myself. I’ll see you guys in Hollywood, but I’m leaving my sunglasses at home.”

Abi Bown’s unforgettable audition aired during the 700th episode of American Idol, which also served as the season premiere of the eighth season of Idol on ABC, and the 23rd season overall.

The post WATCH: Abi Bowen Faces Her Fears and Wins Over ‘American Idol’ Judges appeared first on Country Now.

Ashley McBryde is celebrating a huge personal milestone. Over the weekend, the GRAMMY award winner revealed that she has officially been sober for 1,000 days.

McBryde previously opened up about her journey to sobriety with PEOPLE and revealed that she quit drinking alcohol in June of 2022. She kept things tight lipped about her decision for about a year, and then on November 28, 2024, the Grand Ole Opry member celebrated being 900 days sober in a vulnerable Instagram post.

At the time, McBryde explained she had come to the conclusion that she had two options: “continue and die or stop and learn to live.” Reflecting on the pain she had caused herself and others, she knew it was time to take action, and it turned out to be the “best decision” she’s ever made. Her commitment to sobriety has clearly had a profound impact on her life, and while it hasn’t been an easy journey, every step has been worth it to reach this incredible 1,000-day milestone.

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A post shared by Ashley McBryde (@ashleymcbryde)

McBryde’s latest post featured a photo of her holding up a poster that read “1000 Days Sober” in bold black letters. The caption went on to list all the great things that have happened over the last 1,000 days as a result of her sobriety.

“1,000 days, 1,000 moons. 
1,000 hangovers skipped. 
1,000 drunk “I’m sorry’s” I didn’t have to say. 
1,000 times in a row I made the choice to not pick it up or not miss it when the smell crossed my nose. 
1,000 times I have shown that the power of the love of a song and the love of the road are stronger than the pull to ever go back to who I was. 
1,000 “I love you’s” I say to my reflection.  I see the woman I am now and the woman I am on my way to being and I have love and compassion for the woman I was and I care for her daily. “

Getting to this point has given McBryde a newfound appreciation and pride for anyone else who might be on a similar path and struggling to reach their goals. She made sure to encourage others to be proud of themselves and to keep moving forward no matter how many steps backwards they may take along the way.

“Wherever you are in your journey, day 1, day 0…. Day 400 or day zero again for the 10th time. It is worth it. Every day is a milestone. Every version of you was necessary to be who you are now. So love them,” she added in conclusion.

Congratulatory Messages Poured In

The comment section of the post was filled with supportive messages from both fans and fellow country stars, commending her on the incredible achievement.

Lady A’s Charles Kelley, who has also been open about his own sobriety, stated, “Boom. Huge milestone. I’ll see u there at some point 👏”

Terri Clark added, “This is everything. 🙌🙌♥️”

“Incredible. So proud of you. Love you,” said Lauren Alaina while Martina McBride cheered, “Yes!!!!! 👏👏👏.”

Ashley McBryde has a few dates left serving as a special guest for Cody Johnson’s 2025 Leather Deluxe Tour. In addition to these performances, she will also make a variety of festival appearances at Stagecoach, Country Thunder Arizona, Country Thunder Florida, Country Thunder Wisconsin, and more.

The post Ashley McBryde Celebrates Major Milestone: 1,000 Days Sober appeared first on Country Now.

When Lauren Alaina first discovered she was pregnant, she and her husband Cam Arnold were completely shocked, as having a baby wasn’t in their immediate plans. Her first doctors visit not only confirmed her pregnancy, but for a brief moment had her thinking she was having twins.

While discussing her journey with motherhood thus far during an appearance on the Amazon Music Podcast, Country Heat Weekly, Alaina recalled getting a blood test that indicated she was in fact very pregnant. What she didn’t expect to hear was that her human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) levels indicated that she could even be carrying twins.

“I think I carry the gene for twins and so I take this test and where I thought that I would be at that point, because I was only three days late, would have been like a certain number and I was almost double that number when I got the test back,” she explained. “I’m talking to the doctor and I’m like, ‘am I having twins?’”

For about four weeks, Alaina was going about her life thinking there was a strong possibility that she was growing not one, but two babies. However, the abundance of scans and ultrasounds she has done since has confirmed that there is in fact only one child on the way.

“There’s only one, allegedly. I’m just trusting other people at this point,” she joked. “I’ve had lots of scans and they say there’s only one, but there was a moment where I thought I was having twins and I’m like I swear if there are two babies in there…”

Regardless of the possibility of having twins, Alaina and her husband were definitely surprised to find out that they were pregnant, but she now sees it as a blessing sent to them by her father, who passed away last year.

“I truly, truly believe is how I got pregnant. I think my dad got up to heaven and was like, ‘We’re gonna send her a little baby.’”

Seeing Those Two Pink Lines

The songstress went on to share the story of finding out she was pregnancy, and revealed it was actually her husband who was the first out of the two of them to know. She decided to take an at-home test after realizing she was two days late in her cycle, something that was very out of the norm for her.

“The first day I missed, I was like, that’s weird. But my dad had just passed away. So we kinda thought, well maybe it’s stress cause stress can definitely throw a woman off. And then the third day came, and I was like, I started stressing about it. I was like, this is so weird. And it’s not something I ever even have to think about. It’s like, there it is,” Alaina said.

She was encouraged to take a test simply to ease her mind, but after three tests, she realized her body was in fact trying to tell her something.

“I told him, I’m gonna take this, but I knew, y’all, I knew. I had the strangest feeling. I was just like, I think I’m pregnant. And it wasn’t like I could feel it. I didn’t feel any different, but there was just something in me that was like, buckle up, sister. So I took the test, but I didn’t look at it cause, you know, they have to sit there for a minute or whatever. So I sent my husband in there to look at it, cause I was so nervous. And we were not trying. Like, this was a giant surprise,” she emphasized.

After a few moments without a hearing a word from her husband, Alaina yelled from the other room to ask, “Cameron, what does the test say?”

“I waited. I was like, maybe he had to use the bathroom or something. Which would be a really unfortunate time to decide to use the bathroom,” she joked. “And he goes, ‘ah, I’m using the bathroom. Give me just one second.’ And I said, ‘well, did you look at the test?’ And he goes, ‘uh, yeah, I think you need to come look at it. I don’t think I know how to read it.’ I said, ‘there’s a key.’”

She continued, “It wasn’t a faint two lines. It was very clear, dark pink lines. I mean, there was no missing it. He was just stunned into silence. And I go, ‘there’s a key. It’s got one line or two.’ And he goes, ‘um, come look at it.’ So I walked in there and he goes, ‘we’re pregnant.’”

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Trying To Line Up Touring With Her Due Date

The next thing on Alaina’s mind, besides the fact that this was completely unexpected, was that she had just secured a slot on Rascal Flatts’ 25^th Anniversary Life Is A Highway Tour.

“I’m like trying to do the math, and I don’t even know what the math really is. You know, I’m like, it’s nine months. Well, come to find out, it is ten months. I don’t know why everybody says nine months. It is ten months. But anyway, and I’m like, oh no, and I’ve just taken this tour, and how am I going to tell the label, and what am I going to tell management, and how did we do this? And I’m literally scared to death. That was my immediate like, ‘what is this gonna look like for me? How did we do this?’ I’m like looking at my husband like ‘what have you done?’ Not really,” she said with a laugh. “I’m kidding. But we wanted to be parents. So at least it wasn’t like that much of a shock. We want children. We want multiple children. We’ve talked about it.”

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Any fears she had before have since subsided while on the road with the iconic trio. Each weekend, Lauren Alaina has been proudly showing off her bump on stage and is planning to continue performing until the tour wraps in April.

Her little girl is scheduled to arrive on May 29^th, meaning she will not be touring throughout the summer, nor will she make an appearance at Nashville’s annual CMA Fest this year.

“We Have A Lot Of Things Coming Up”

Lauren Alaina is however still working on her next album, which she teased will find her leaning heavily into her country roots. She has already shared a look into the new project with the song “Those Kind of Women,” which she used to announce her pregnancy, and is expected to drop another song called “House Hold” at the end of march.

“We’re still recording, and we have new songs,” she shared. “This year, basically, the plan is to release a ton of music. We don’t have a target date specifically for the full-length album, but we have a lot of things coming up in the meantime leading up to that.”

The post Lauren Alaina Reveals She Initially Thought She Was Having Twins appeared first on Country Now.

Bailey Zimmerman is on cloud nine after playing the biggest show of his career at The Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo on Saturday (March 8). 

The chart-topping country star reflected on the magical night by sharing his iconic entrance into NRG Stadium and photos from his next-level performance on social media. It was a milestone moment, and Zimmerman couldn’t help but share the excitement with his fans.

Reflecting on the night, Zimmerman shared, “I played the BIGGEST show of my life last night @rodeohouston.” 

He admitted to being “insanely nervous as anybody would be” before stepping onto the stage in front of nearly 70,000 people, but the show went on and Zimmerman couldn’t be happier. 

“69,124 people showed up to scream my songs with me and I wish I could say thank you to every single one of y’all… it was truly a dream come true and I’ll remember it for the rest of my life,” he wrote alongside a crying face emoji. 

For his epic entrance, Zimmerman rolled in on the bed of a massive, jacked-up pickup truck, shouting, “Houston, make some noise!” 

@bailey.zimmerman NOW THATS AN ENTRANCE BABY🤠 #musictok #countrymusic #trucktok ♬ original sound – Bailey Zimmerman

As the truck neared the stage, the singer/songwriter jumped up and down, pumping his hands in the air, which got the crowd even more excited for his performance. Dressed in a cowboy hat, a cut-off shirt with “YEEHAW” on the back, and cowprint pants, he made his way to the stage in style.

“My entrance to the Houston Rodeo felt like a movie,” he captioned a video of the unforgettable moment.

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A post shared by ▫Bailey Zimmerman▫ (@bailey.zimmerman)

In closing, Zimmerman wrote, “I LOVE YOU @rodeohouston. Can’t wait to come back🤟” and went on to encourage fans to “CHASE YOUR FREAKIN DREAMS.”

Bailey Zimmerman’s performance at The Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo comes just ahead of his 2025 headlining tour – the New To Country Tour – where he’s set to headline some of the biggest venues of his career so far. Multiple stops sold out within minutes of the on-sale, leaving the “Holy Smokes” singer almost at a loss for words.

Reflecting on the sold-out shows, Zimmerman recently told us, “It gives you a lot of confidence…It was a really good feeling.”

2025 is slated to be another massive year for the rising superstar, who also teased that new music is on the way. 

Fans can visit his official website for a full list of upcoming tour dates, which includes stops at Country Thunder Arizona, Sand In My Boots Festival, and more.

The post Bailey Zimmerman Reflects On Houston Rodeo Debut In Front Of 69,000+ Fans: ‘I’ll Remember It For The Rest Of My Life’ appeared first on Country Now.

Tim McGraw recently took a trip back to 2023 when he unveiled a brand-new collaborative version of the fan-favorite “Paper Umbrellas,” which originally appeared on his 16th studio album, Standing Room Only. The fresh version of the song offers the same clever heartbreak narrative with the addition of Parker McCollum’s baritone vocals.

The musical icon announced the new release featuring McCollum on Friday (March 7) through a social media post that read, “Had to have my friend Parker McCollum join me on this one!” The re-recorded track was paired with an accompanying lyric video that matches the vibrancy of the tropical imagery on display throughout story.

“Paper Umbrellas” was written by Monty Criswell and Drake Milligan and is produced by Byron Gallimore, McGraw, and Eric Masse. McGraw lends his signature vocals to the first verse, illustrating the moment he stumbles into a “little tiki bar” in an attempt to stay dry from a storm outside and ends up being the voice of reason for a stranger in need.

He spots a lonesome woman sitting at the bar sipping on a tropical drink garnished with a tiny pink and yellow paper umbrella. She is clearly distraught over something, as she’s seen with tears in her eyes while “flipping through old pictures on her phone.” So, McGraw’s character takes a seat beside her and tries to unravel the source of her pain, while suggesting she trades the sugary drink for something stronger, like a tequila straight.

McGraw sings, “I duct in that little tiki bar thinking I’d ride out the storm/ She was spinning pink and yellow paper umbrellas/ And holding up her hand to have one more/ I stood and watched her sip and crying / Flipping through old pictures on her phone/ I said, “Hey, is this seat taken? / I’d sure hate for you to have to drink alone”/ She cracked a smile said, “Sit here if you want”/ I said, “I don’t mean to pry but girl, you’re doing this all wrong.”

McCollum can be heard softly, at first, as he effortlessly blends his sound into McGraw’s vocals on the chorus. Then the Texas native’s twangy voice comes out in full force as he leads the second verse, and takes on the role of the stranger-turned-friend for the heartbroken woman.

“It’s gonna take a lot of Pina Coladas/ If you’re gonna drink him off your mind/ I’ll sit here a little longer and get us something stronger/ Something that’ll work in half the time/ ‘Cause when love don’t shine like you thought it would/ Ain’t nothing quite like good tequila straight/ To chase the clouds away/ Yeah, girl, I’m here to tell ya paper umbrellas/ Look good on top but they won’t stop the rain.”

“Paper Umbrellas” is the result of truly impressive songwriting as it offers a unique twist on a classic country drinking song. While listening to the lyrics, it becomes clear that the paper umbrellas he speaks of is about more than just a cute decoration, it also symbolizes the delicate nature of relationships. Tim McGraw and Parker McCollum coming together takes the song to a whole new level while keeping their focus on the depth of the personal and yet relatable story.

This is the first time the pair of artists have collaborated, however the Gold Chain Cowboy is undeniably a longtime fan of McGraw and has covered several of his songs in the past.

“Been a fan of this guy for a long time. Honored to have “Paper Umbrellas” out with @thetimmcgraw today,” he wrote on Instagram.

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The release of this tune follows closely behind the announcement from the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association, stating that McGraw would be among the lineup of country stars headlining Nashville’s first-ever rodeo. Jelly Roll and Reba McEntire are also set to perform throughout the inaugural three-day festival taking place May 29-31 at Bridgestone Arena in downtown Nashville.

Meanwhile, Parker McCollum is in the midst of his What Kinda Man Tour, which will pick back up again in Portsmouth, VA on April 24.

The post LISTEN: Tim McGraw Recruits Parker McCollum For New Rendition Of ‘Paper Umbrellas’ appeared first on Country Now.

Baylee Littrell, son of Backstreet Boys’ member Brian Littrell, proves that music runs in his blood with his impressive American Idol audition. 

The 21-year-old college student, who hails from Georgia, caught the attention of Idol Judge Carrie Underwood instantly. 

“There’s something about you that looks familiar,” Underwood told him.

He revealed, “My dad is Brian Littrell from Backstreet Boys.” 

While a smile, Luke Bryan quipped, “You must forgive me, I didn’t have your dad’s posters in my room” as a photo of a young Carrie Underwood flashed on the screen in a bedroom adorned with Backstreet Boys posters. 

Viewers learned more about Baylee in his video package, which featured interview clips as well as clips with his mom and dad. 

“I get my voice from dad. And, hopefully, I can do him justice today,” Baylee admitted. “I guess you could say music runs in our family. Dance moves are the one thing genetically that did not pass down. Following in my dad’s footsteps is scary because, to me, his career is one of the most extraordinary in music history. No one can ever compare.” 

He went on to recall the moment that he got his first taste of stardom.  

“I remember being 8 or 9 years old and [the Backstreet Boys] sold out this huge arena. And I got to open up for them. I had my two little songs. And I came offstage and when the guys went on, the screams and the lights went down. I was just mesmerized,” he shared. “I thought, ‘Oh, my gosh. What is this?’”

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For his audition, Baylee delivered an emotional performance of “Waiting On Myself To Die.” 

“This song is about me personally wanting to give up and not giving up yet,” he explained. 

From the moment Baylee sang his first note, the judges seemed stunned by his talent.At the end of his performance, he earned a round of applause.  

“You’re really good,” Underwood complimented. “I love the song and that’s a risk, too, when people come in singing their own song. That was great! You went there emotionally. I think you could go very, very far in this competition.”

Baylee’s parents stepped into the room, expressing their immense pride in their son before Brian joined him for a performance of the chorus of his original song, as the judges looked on.

Following another round of applause, Underwood told him, “This was not a part of the audition. But for your superstar singer dad to come in here, I feel for anybody else, it would make you look bad. But it didn’t. You were right there with him. You didn’t shy away. You were like, “This is my moment.’”

Lionel Richie then chimed in, telling Brian and Baylee, ““I’m very happy for you and very proud of your son. He’s got his own lane and I think he can go a long way.”

Before the judges decided his fate in the competition, Luke Bryan added, “I’m a dad of boys. And all you want your boys to do is blaze their own trail. And when they want to do the steps and the work, I’m there to help. But it’s up to them to want to go do it. You’ve obviously taken the time to hone your skills and your craft.” 

It was then revealed that Baylee Littrell would in fact be earning a golden ticket and that he was on his way to Hollywood. 

“I really didn’t know how it was going to go today, the contestant admitted. “I was terrified. But being able to sing my original and get through and the judges loved it, that meant the world.”

This audition aired during the milestone 700th episode of American Idol, which served as the season premiere of the eighth season of Idol on ABC, and the 23rd season overall.

The post Carrie Underwood Sees Big Potential In ‘American Idol’ Contestant Baylee Littrell: ‘You Could Go Very, Very Far’ appeared first on Country Now.

Wynonna Judd is returning to the stage in 2025, and these shows are poised to be a can’t-miss experience for fans. The country music icon will embark on her first-ever greatest hits tour, bringing over four decades of chart-topping hits to the stage like never before.

Wynonna Judd: The Greatest Hits Tour will launch on June 13 in LaGrange, GA and continue with stops across the U.S. and Canada before wrapping up on September 5 in Albuquerque, NM.

Along the way, fans will join the Kentucky native in paying tribute to her legendary musical journey with timeless hits spanning her days as one-half of the legendary duo The Judds, along with her powerhouse solo career. From Judds chart-topping classics like “Mama He’s Crazy,” and “Grandpa (Tell Me ‘Bout The Good Old Days),” to solo anthems including “No One Else On Earth,” “Tell Me Why,” and so many more, Wynonna is poised to deliver the nostalgia fans crave with her signature sound and soulful energy on full display.

While reflecting on the upcoming run, Wynonna shared gratitude for her ability to still live out her dreams each day alongside a group of fans who have been by her side through every up and down she’s faced throughout her life. She also teased that in addition to all the career hits, she’s gearing up to unveil new music as well.

“I continue to marvel at the fact that I still get to do what I love, after all these years. I feel incredibly blessed to have experienced so many chapters of my career, which is constantly evolving,” Wynonna shares. “I’ve been pouring my heart into new music, and I cannot wait to share it with you! And right now, it’s time to celebrate my musical journey, and honor the songs that shaped who I am.”

Fan Club presale tickets for Wynonna Judd: The Greatest Hits Tour will be available on March 11^th and general on-sale is available starting March 14^th at Wynonna.com.

Wynonna Judd: The Greatest Hits Tour Dates:

 * On sale now
^ On sale date varies per market

The post Wynonna Judd To Embark On First-Ever Greatest Hits Tour appeared first on Country Now.

Breanna Nix, a stay at home mom from Denton, Texas, won over the hearts of millions with her American Idol audition, and earned a golden ticket to Hollywood along the way.  

The 25-year-old took quite the risk, auditioning with Carrie Underwood’s breakout hit, “Jesus, Take the Wheel,” in front of Underwood herself, and it’s clear she left a lasting impression with the country superstar. 

Nix’s audition began with her entering the room with her husband and “sidekick,” her young son, Emerson, by her side. Emerson took a seat on Underwood’s lap to allow his mom time in the spotlight while his dad accompanied her on piano.   

“I’m 25 years old. I’m just a stay-at-home mom,” Nix told the judges. 

Underwood quickly chimed in, telling her, “Never say, ‘I’m just a stay-at-home mom.’ You have the most important job and I’m sure he loves it.” 

In her video package that documents her in her hometown, the Idol contestant shared more about her story and how having Emerson changed her life.  

“Emerson was a blessing I didn’t know I needed,” she said. “I was overweight my whole life, always the bigger girl. Right after I had my son, I was 315 pounds. I remember being in the delivery room and looking down at him knowing that if I was going to be the best mom I could, this lifestyle was not going to work. I decided to lose weight, and it led me to a journey of self-love.” 

She explained that she decided to audition for her son. 

“I am doing this [audition] because I want Emerson to know that anything is possible. He is watching his mama go after her dreams. I hope one day he’ll do the same,” she sweetly shared. 

Her performance of “Jesus, Take the Wheel” left the judges’ panel awe-struck and brought Underwood to full-on tears. 

At one point, little Emerson climbed onto Luke Bryan’s lap, creating a heartwarming moment. 

It was revealed that Nix would be receiving a golden ticket to Hollywood. 

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Following her audition, Nix reflected on the incredible moment on Instagram, writing, “This is a dream come true for this mama! I can’t believe my baby, me, and family are on our way!” 

Breanna Nix’s audition aired during the milestone 700th episode of American Idol, which served as the season premiere of the eighth season of Idol on ABC, and the 23rd season overall.

The post Stay-at-Home Mom Breanna Nix Takes a Risk on ‘American Idol’—and Moves Carrie Underwood to Tears appeared first on Country Now.

HARDY and Caleigh have finally welcomed their first child, a beautiful baby girl. Rosie Ryan Hardy arrived on Friday, March 7 weighing in at 9 lbs 2 oz.

The couple announced the news with a joint Instagram post featuring a carousel of sweet photos captured during their hospital stay. The first image finds Rosie wrapped in a big pink bow and a soft smile on her face. The couple appear to be overjoyed to be holding their first baby in the photos that follow.

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A post shared by CALEIGH HARDY🍋🍋🍋 (@caleighhardy)

Keeping Fans Updated Throughout The Pregnancy

Leading up to the birth, Caleigh had been keeping fans updated on every step of her pregnancy journey, especially towards the end when she was over a week past her due date. The couple celebrated what was supposed to be their baby’s due date with a night out on Broadway in Nashville and with each day that passed, Caleigh revealed more and more wives’ tales she was trying to induce her labor.

On day seven of being overdue, she took to Instagram to assure her followers that she was not trying to pull any tricks and that all her updates were coming in real time.

“I thought I would give you guys an official baby update because you guys are cracking me up. I can see you in the comments being like, ‘this picture is definitely from a couple days ago and she’s posting it today trying to throw us off.’ No, I’m not. I am so humongously pregnant. I am so pregnant,” she said while looking in the mirror and admiring her large baby bump.

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A post shared by CALEIGH HARDY🍋🍋🍋 (@caleighhardy)

She also made sure to mention that her and baby were still healthy and were cleared to go up to two weeks past the due date before having to induce. While she did end up scheduling an induction, Caleigh was hopeful that the process would be done naturally.

Tried Everything To Induce Labor

When it comes to trying to induce the labor on her own, the first-time mom emphasized that she “tried it all.” Every suggestion she received, “no matter how crazy or normal,” she still gave it a strong attempt, but had no success.

In terms of food, she tried spicy food, pineapples, dates, “a lot” of red raspberry tea and even spaghetti as advised by an old lady she encountered in an elevator. She also did curb walking, Chinese reflexology foot massage, pedicures, “seggsy time,” harvesting colostrum, staying active, a membrane sweep and bouncing on her pregnancy ball.

Caleigh’s recent Instagram story revealed that one of her final attempts was to visit a Modern Acupuncture business.

“If this doesn’t do it, I literally don’t know what will,” she wrote.

After all of these methods, it’s unclear what exactly made it happen, but all the matters is that the couple can finally hold their little one in their arms.

They announced the pregnancy publicly on Tuesday, October 15, with post on Caleigh’s Instagram that featured an adorable photoshoot in a scenic farm setting. She is seen cradling her belly while wearing a floor-length off the shoulder dress as HARDY poses alongside her in a casual ensemble of blue jeans and a long sleeve. Several of the photos also include the couple holding up a sonogram.

The caption read, “You have been our favorite little secret to keep 🍼 🙏🏻 Baby Hardy coming February 2025 🤍.”

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The Couple’s Love Story

The country star and the University of Mississippi alum’s love story began back in April of 2018 when he took the modern approach and slid into her DMs. While getting to know each other, they eventually found common ground within their roots and got to meet for the first time when HARDY was playing a show near her school. Sparks instantly began to fly between the two of them, and Caleigh knew he was the one for her. 

“Once we met each other, there really was no one else,” she previously told People. “We never entertained anyone else. It was just so easy.”

“I loved her after the third time that we ever hung out,” HARDY added. “It was the realest thing I had ever experienced. I actually told her I loved her at Stagecoach, out in the crowd.”

The lovebirds officially tied the knot on Saturday (Oct. 29) at Diamond Creek Farms in Nashville, Tennessee. After saying “I do” in front of 350 of their friends and family, the newlyweds enjoyed a romantic honeymoon in Thailand. 

HARDY has taken the past few months off the road to enjoy time at home with his wife, making sure to be there for her every step of the way through this pregnancy. He will return to the stage with festival dates in April and then embark on his massive JIM BOB World Tour.

Produced by Live Nation, the tour is set to launch May 22 with a show at North Island Credit Union Amphitheatre in Chula Vista, CA. He will visit iconic venues along the way before wrapping up in September. HARDY is also set to deliver his first-ever headline shows in Europe this June.

The post HARDY And Wife Caleigh Welcome First Child appeared first on Country Now.

Brad Paisley has covered just about every corner in country music throughout his career. From rowdy honky tonk anthems to the most heartfelt ballads, he always gives his all to every story he’s telling and makes raw honesty a priority. With his latest release, “Raining Inside,” he taps even deeper into this vulnerability to uncover a story centered around a heaviness that has been weighing him down mentally, especially in recent years.

The reality is, you never really know what someone is dealing with or what kind of thoughts are swirling in their heads. Unfortunately, Paisley has seen the effect of these struggles take over, leading to the passing of several of members of his community over the years, as well as a many others in the world. As he reflected on these losses, he was reminded of the fact that pain isn’t always visible on the outside. Determined to bring awareness to this fact and make others feel less alone, he channeled the loneliness of mental health struggles into his new song featuring the rock band Dawes.

The Evolution Of The Song’s Relatable Message

“I had the idea and I kind of thought of it as this song, it’s sort of like blues for no reason…and I think it could probably mean a lot of things to a lot of people in various situations,” he told Country Now. “There’s a sadness that you see and that you don’t see, I think, a lot of the time in people in your life…Before Ellen (DeGeneres) went off the air, I guest hosted one of those last shows, and Twitch was another example of somebody that was really fun to work with. And it was shortly after that that I was shocked by the same thing. You never know what somebody’s going through and what’s in that head.”

He went on to explain that while these examples are the worst possible outcome of someone struggling with mental health, there is another level, one that feels more like a “dull sadness” lingering inside someone.

“I don’t know what it is that causes that these days. It could be anything. And one of my favorite lines of the song is, ‘I don’t even need a reason.’ So I kind of thought, what’s it like to write a song where, usually it’s ‘since my baby left me’ or ‘lost my job’ and what’s it like if ‘I have friends that I can’t talk to and a doctor I don’t trust’ and all that, what’s the song, where it’s that?”

Joining Forces With Dawes

Sitting down with Lee Thomas Miller and Dawes’ lead singer, Taylor Goldsmith, Paisley got to work bringing this idea to life in a way that goes beyond his traditional country sound by incorporating the warm, vintage-inspired sound of the band Dawes. The song was originally recorded with just Paisley’s vocals, however inspiration to work together was further motivated when the country singer joined Dawes in performing Randy Newman’s “I Love L.A.” at the GRAMMYs.

“Being such good friends with Taylor, I just said, ‘what happens if you guys and me become a band. If my thing becomes part of yours and vice versa?’ And so that’s what it is. It’s them as the band and me fronting that. And then Taylor takes the second verse, and I think that collaboration, it’s always really fun these days to see artists do that and become something new by combining forces.”

Paisley leads the first part of the tune, sharing a vulnerable perspective of someone who can’t escape the darkness in their head.

“I’ve got friends that I can’t talk to/ And a doctor I don’t trust/ I got a ’68 Camaro/ And just like me, it has the rust/ There’s no difference in the darkness/ Even when I close my eyes/ I don’t need to hear the forecast,” he sings.

Taylor’s powerful vocals shine throughout the second verse, continuing on the pain-stricken narrative before coming together with Paisley on the chorus that takes listeners inside the individual’s mind to truly understand what they are going through.

They deliver, “It’s raining inside/ It’s really coming down/ It’s raining inside/ There ain’t a sky in the clouds/ Nowhere I can run/ Nowhere I can hide/ It’s raining inside.”

Along with their seamless vocal blend, both artists take turns showcasing their epic guitar skills with a series of unforgettable riffs tearing through the track, but most noticeably in the third verse.

“That’s another thing that I said when we did it, is there’s such a great vibe to Dawes that feels like you’re listening…At all times, to me, they have one foot in the ‘70s of California music. No matter what they’re doing there, there’s a prevailing Jackson Browne, Eagles thing with them and I love it,” he shared. “So in our case it was like, let’s do this in a way that feels like the way they arranged songs back then and the way the Eagles would trade guitar licks and you got Joe Walsh, Don Felder or Bernie Leadon or any of those guys playing. And that’s kind of how we did this…the whole song just becomes this cacophony of guitar riffs and dueling, and it feels a bit like a storm to me,” Paisley described.

Brad Paisley has already shared the stage with Dawes and showcased “Raining Inside” live on a number of occasions. He hopes that there will be many more opportunities to give this song the spotlight it deserves in the future.

Giving Fans Another Look Into His Next Album

This song comes as the West Virginia native’s current single, “Truck Still Works” continues to heat up at country radio. Written by Brad, Chris Dubois, Will Bundy, Hunter Phelps and Rodney Clawson and produced by Brad and Luke Wooten, the already fan-favorite track acts as a sequel to one of his biggest hits of 2005, “Mud On the Tires.”

Both tracks give fans are building onto what will eventually become Paisley’s next studio album. “Raining Inside” is an especially great example of the types of stories fans can expect to see across this next collection as he pulls from real-life stories of being an artist, a father, a husband and a friend.

“I’ve written a few new things lately that are really cool and I think one thing that’s on my mind as everything’s just kind of crazy in the world is how small can I make the lens? Because it’s like there’s enough to write about on a very personal level. ‘Raining Inside’ is a really good example of that where it is a large theme that anyone can apply to, but it’s as small of a target as you can make, which is essentially what’s going on inside your head. And so when I think about the little community I live in and the friends I’ve got and the things that are important to me and these kids that are teenagers that are growing up in front of my eyes, there’s a lot to write about there.”

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His goal is to create music that resonates deeply with listeners, making them feel like it was meant just for them. It wouldn’t be surprising if he continues to incorporate nods to his early catalog, much like he does in “Truck Still Works.”

The post Brad Paisley Talks Teaming Up With Dawes On ‘Raining Inside’ and Tackling Mental Health Through Music [Exclusive] appeared first on Country Now.

American Idol judges Luke Bryan, Lionel Richie, and Carrie Underwood stopped by The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, where Bryan and Richie couldn’t resist playfully calling out Underwood for her struggle to say “no” to contestants during the audition phase of the competition.

Richie was the first to start the conversation, admitting, “I will now rat on her. What was the hardest moment for this beautiful lady?” 

As Bryan laughed, he said, “The first contestant? ‘Yes. Go through.’ Second contestant. ‘Yes. Go through.’ Third contestant…Ohhh. And Luke and I would laugh and were like, we go, ‘Well, she’s got to say no.’ She said, ‘Well, she’s so cute. She’s so adorable.’ The answer is no!” 

Defending herself, Underwood admitted, “I care a lot. And it’s people’s hopes and dreams…We have to evaluate. Is there more in there? Do I think there is more in there?” 

Without hesitation, Bryan quipped, “There was not any more in that one particular. It was firm. It was no.” 

Richie then added, “Plus we have 180 people behind her waiting to hear yes or no.” 

This is a full-circle moment for Carrie Underwood, who won season 4 of Idol in 2005. During her Tonight Show appearance, Underwood recalled her audition after Fallon showed her a photo from the moment she won over the judges. 

“I was a baby,” she shared. “I was 21 years old in this photo and a lot happened in the show. It was crazy. A small town girl. And I had to get on a plane by myself and fly out to LA and it was nuts.”

Leading up to the show, Underwood is revisiting her Idol journey in a new series dubbed, “Idol To Icon.” The series debuted earlier this week. Click below to watch the first episode.  

Fans can catch Carrie Underwood’s return to American Idol as a judge alongside Luke Bryan and Lionel Richie this Sunday, March 9, when the season premiere airs on ABC. The eighth season on ABC—and the 23rd season of the franchise—begins with a two-hour premiere from 8:00-10:01 p.m. EDT/PDT, with episodes available to stream on Hulu the following day.

The post Luke Bryan and Lionel Richie Playfully Call Out Carrie Underwood’s Struggle to Say ‘No’ on ‘American Idol’ appeared first on Country Now.

For the first time, Ingrid Andress is opening up about her viral national anthem performance that ultimately led to rehab, as well as the redemption performance that marked the beginning of her new chapter.

The songstress has made her return to the spotlight this week following her rendition of the “The Star-Spangled Banner” at the 2024 Home Run Derby, which many dubbed the “worst ever.” At the time, Andress admitted to being intoxicated when she stepped on the field and woke up the next morning realizing she had a problem and needed to get help by checking herself into a rehab facility in Colorado.  

Although this was a difficult year for Andress, she admits she’s “fine” talking about everything she went through because she sees it as a “needed experience.”

Turning To Alcohol To Numb The Pain

The songstress recently sat down with Nick Viall on The Viall Files podcast and got the chance to discuss all the events that led up to her falling into this dark place and how she was able to overcome her addiction.

“So at that point, that day, I knew that I was drinking, but I was really loving the numbing feeling that I was having. And so I just didn’t stop. And so it wasn’t until I woke up the next day where I was like, okay, this is so unlike me. This is not okay. I need help. Because I actually walked out and did not care. I was just like, I don’t care. I don’t care how this goes. I’m just, I was so f**ked up,” she admitted.

Andress went on to explain that after the memorable performance, she thought there may have been a few “hiccups,” but ultimately believed she had “nailed it.”

“My best friend called me after I got off the field, and I remember briefly talking to her. She’s like, ‘so how do you think that went?’ And I was like, ‘I feel like it wasn’t my best,’ but that’s how gone I was.”

She then revealed that the drinking had started to become far more frequent than usual in order to numb the pain of ending a serious relationship, parting ways with her first-ever manger and feeling more alone than ever before. The next day, Andress knew she had hit a breaking point with a problem that she was unable to fix herself.

“I didn’t let myself process those emotions of grief. And I think, at that time, everyone says, ‘oh, just keep moving, keep moving, keep busy.’ And because I didn’t process all that, I didn’t realize how much it was starting to creep in other ways,” she shared. “It happened really quickly. It was within three months I was drinking way more than I ever had ever and just loved that numbing feeling because that’s why we abuse any substance…That’s when I realized, I was like, I don’t actually know how to get out of this.”

Checking Into Rehab

Andress was already on the plane to rehab when she made her apology to the world.

“I’m not gonna bulls**t y’all, I was drunk last night. I’m checking myself into a facility today to get the help I need. That was not me last night. I apologize to MLB, all the fans, and this country I love so much for that rendition. I’ll let y’all know how rehab is I hear it’s super fun,” she wrote on Instagram back in July.

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Her Stance On Social Media Moving Forward

Looking back on that statement, Andress says that was the “most vulnerable” she’s ever been online. The acknowledgment of her drinking problem ended up drumming up even more hate and negativity towards the singer/songwriter, which impacted her immensely. She has since set new boundaries for herself and has come to the realization that she care’s more about what people think about her music and her songwriting than anything else.

“I mean, they can judge how I look, what I wear, all these things that I mean are kind of pointless. But to me, what I care about is the things that I really care about, which is music and songwriting.”

Learning to drown out some of the negative voices and her fear of other’s opinion has allowed her to feel more comfortable to be even more transparent in her online presence moving forward.

Receiving Support From The Country Music Community

The other positive note that came out of this experience was the outpouring of love and support Andress received from her fellow female country singers.

“I actually felt so loved and seen going into rehab…Elle King was like, ‘this is just all part of it, girl,’ and she’s obviously been there before too. And Kelsea Ballerini was like, ‘welcome to the worst parts of this job,’ and it was mostly women. Karen Fairchild from Little Big Town, and that really meant a lot to me because I feel like women in country music have had to stick together based on very obvious things, a very male dominated genre, but for them to be like, ‘Hey, we’ve all been there,’ it was very meaningful.”

Making Her Comeback

While she originally thought that she would never perform the National Anthem again on that level, Andress eventually realized it was something she needed for herself to be able to fully close this chapter of her life and start fresh with new music. So, this past weekend she got a second chance to prove her talent with a national anthem performance at the Colorado Avalanche game. This time, waking up the next day looked much different. She recalled feeling as if a massive weight had finally been lifted off her shoulders.

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Ingrid Andress has since surprised fans with the release of her new song, “Footprints.” The track, which marks her first release since 2022’s Good Person, was written a few years ago by Andress and Michael Pollack as a letter to all four of her siblings.

“I was the first one to leave home…and I felt like I had left them behind in a way, and I didn’t want them to feel like I was abandoning them, but just to show them, ‘Hey, you can learn from my mistakes.’ But I also wrote it from on top of a mountain of things were going well in my career. I was getting nominated for things and I was like, oh, see, look, you can do this too if I can do it.”

However, upon listening to it again following her exit from rehab, Andress discovered a whole new meaning. She now sings it as a story of resilience and hopes to remind listeners that whatever struggles they may encounter, they can come out better on the other side.

“I listened to it again after getting out of rehab, and it hit different because I felt like I was listening to it walking up the mountain this time, as opposed to being up there already. And it meant more to me because I wanted them to see one, your older sister is crazy, but resilient. And even after all this, you can still do this. And if you ever want, just know that the path that I’m going on is to show that you can also pursue your dreams and do things. And so to me, I wanted ‘Footprints’ to be the first song because it hit different from where I’m at in life now.”

“No one should take my advice, and no one should be following my example after I release a song like ‘Footprints,’ but I’m just like, it feels like a comeback, but it’s also just feels like a return to something that’s always been there, because I think people make mistakes. And so to then come out and be like, ‘I’m different. I’m new, I’m whatever,’ It’s like, no, I’m still me. I’m still the messy, crazy introspective me, but I feel more present in who I am,” she continued.

Andress even returned to the site of her rehab which doubles as her home state of Colorado, to film the “Footprints” music video.

“My siblings & I grew up learning how to ski and board at the Loveland Ski Area in CO, so this was the only place I wanted to shoot the video for ‘Footprints,’” she explained on X (formerly Twitter).

On Saturday, March 8, Ingrid Andress will perform her new release for the very first time at the Grand Ole Opry. This will mark her first performance back on the iconic stage in several years.

“I’m excited because it feels very familiar, but also very accepting,” she said on the podcast interview. “The country community. They’re fiercely loyal, and so I feel like it’s kind of a nice welcome back into society because country music bands really want to relate to you and they really want to hear your stories, and I feel like that’s what I love about it so much. And I think the Opry has captured that for longer than I’ve been alive and has done that for so many people. So I’m excited.”

The post Ingrid Andress Gets Candid On Her Addiction, Rehab & Starting A Fresh Chapter appeared first on Country Now.

One of Nashville’s hottest rising duos, Ryan and Rory, are revving up the fun with their brand-new dance-worthy anthem titled “Truck Stop.” From start to finish, this tune is a wild ride for listeners. The pair of singer/songwriters amp up the energy with a road-trip worthy beat and a clever story packed with romance-laced lyrics that will make fans blush.

Ryan Keith co-wrote this fresh tune along with Emily Reid and Kevin Bard, who are also responsible for penning other songs in their catalog including their debut “Pour Decisions” as well as their latest release, “Heaven’s Got A Country Station.”

“Kevin’s kind of like a really good friend of mine, really good…he’s just kind always the right person to have his hands in everything for us,” Ryan told Country Now. “We were actually writing a different song that day, I think, and we just took a left turn in the session to a different idea and ended up with this very innuendo-based type of song I’ve never heard done like this in country.”

The duo takes country music’s love for pickup trucks to a whole new level with this song. What starts as a tribute to a brand-new set of wheels quickly turns into a story full of not-so-subtle steamy nods about what happens in the truck.

They sing, “Make a little truck stop/ Hotter than the blacktop/ Baby hit the brakes and drop the tailgate down/ Gonna be a long night burnin’ up them taillights/ That’s the kinda stuff that I’m talkin’ about/ What’s a 4×4 even matter anymore/ When the whole town’s a parking lot/ Let’s make a little truck stop/ Truck stop.”

The song’s high energy, addictive toe-tapping beat is sure to wins fans over with just one listen. The pair of country artists expressed true excitement for “Truck Stop” being their first, and certainly not the last, release of 2025.

“It’s got the tempo, and there’s very few country songs out there often that come along that are swung, and it’s just a swung song, which is, it just always feels really, really great,” Ryan added while Rory nodded in approval. “It’s just one of those songs that, so it’s short and sweet. You kind of want to hear it again, and we’re so pumped to do something that feels totally different than what is currently out.”

Ryan And Rory Show Off Their Acting Skills In The Music Video

The pair has also dropped a brand-new music video that finds them showing off their acting skills and giving fans a further look into the people they are behind the music.

“It’s definitely going to be one that, it’s not going to be your typical kind of video visualizer type thing. We’ve got some pretty cool twists and goofiness to it, so I think it’s going to show a lot of our personality.” 

The video perfectly captures the playful, steamy vibe of the song as Ryan and Rory team up with actresses/models Mariah Strongin and Bryanna “B” Ferringer to bring the story to life. Viewers first see Ryan and Strongin as cops who catch Rory and Ferringer fooling around in the back of the pickup truck and leave them with a ticket. Then, the two officers decide to mimic their actions, leading to a hilarious twist as they find themselves in the same predicament.

Feeling Inspired To Write Music That Resonates With Fans

Ryan and Rory first introduced themselves to fans as a duo last year with their self-titled debut EP. This was followed by an incredibly moving song in December called “Heaven’s Got A Country Station.” The song finds the singers speaking to loved ones who have passed, and expressing their hope that they are enjoying their days listening to country music, and thinking of those who have yet to join them above the clouds.

After being written in just two hours, this tune became something that would resonate with country fans everywhere. Both Ryan and Rory admit that seeing their listeners have such strong reactions to the music they’ve released so far has been one of the most rewarding parts of their journey together.

“I mean, that’s really the coolest part. Yeah, writing the song is fun. It’s a crazy job to know that the song didn’t exist before you wrote it, but then to go out and watch it kind of cement it’s way into people’s lives, and have its own meaning, it means something to us the day we write it, but then once it’s out there, the way it applies to people and how they receive it is the most fun, rewarding, interesting part to go, ‘oh, this is why this song means something to me.’ And you go, ‘well, now I know a story I didn’t know before,” Ryan shares.

Rory expressed that same warm feeling as he said, “It’s cool when fans come up to us after a show or even in our dms are like, ‘Hey, I just heard this song and I relate it to it in this way. Thank you for putting this out,’ kind of thing. It’s just always amazing to read stuff.”

Opening For Stand-Out Acts In 2025

In addition to planning to release new music, Ryan and Rory will continue to have those important interactions with their audience as they embark on a run of opening dates with Brett Young and Tyler Braden throughout the year. While preparing for these shows, the duo noted that their sets are likely to include a few surprises covers as well as “loads” of new music. In their opinion, these shows will be “really, really worth seeing.”

“Rory is so gifted at being a band leader and getting the set up and making the songs feel like the songs you’ve heard on wherever, Spotify, SiriusXM, wherever. But also making ’em have a way more fun, energetic life live,” Ryan praised his music partner. “I’m always surprised. I literally get to go in and listen to something and its brand new to me.”

Rory chimed in to add, “Yeah, if you’re going to go out and play these songs live, give these people a show. Don’t play it exactly how they’ve heard it on the record a hundred times or more. Give ’em a new version, give ’em another reason to buy the ticket.”

For a full list of Ryan and Rory’s upcoming dates, click HERE.

The post Ryan and Rory Heat Things Up With ‘Truck Stop’ appeared first on Country Now.

Megan Moroney brought her emo cowgirl sound to NPR’s Tiny Desk Concert series, delivering a four-song set of fan-favorites in the intimate setting.  

Recorded live at NPR Music headquarters, Moroney’s Tiny Desk Concert includes performances of the platinum-certified “I’m Not Pretty, the beloved “No Caller ID,” her breakout No.1 hit “Tennessee Orange,” and her latest chart-climbing smash, “Am I Okay?.”

Sporting a sparking royal blue mini dres adorned with rhinestones, Moroney also took time to share a few stories about the songs throughout her performance.  

“So the next song we’ve got for y’all was the first song I released off my sophomore album. It’s called ‘No Caller ID’ and it’s a song about an ex that wouldn’t quit calling because I wouldn’t quit answering, which is wonderful,” she said with a bit of an eye roll. “I don’t know if you have an ex like mine, but surely you get no caller ID calls from the people that want to extend your car’s warranty so my hope today is that you would leave here and always think of me when you get a no caller ID call.” 

This performance put her knack for storytelling at the forefront, allowing fans to connect even deeper with the raw emotions behind her lyrics. It also offered a taste of her signature sass and vulnerability, proving once again why she’s one country music’s most exciting new stars.

This NPR performance debuted just after Moroney returned to the stage at the Extra Innings Festival in Tempe, Arizona and weeks before she’s set to embark on her AM I OKAY? Tour. This massive North American headline tour kicks off on March 20 in Montreal, featuring stops at legendary venues like New York City’s Radio City Music Hall (March 26 and 27), Red Rocks Amphitheatre in Colorado, and the Greek Theatre in Los Angeles. 

Following the first week of shows, Moroney will travel to Los Angeles on March 29 to accept the Rulebreaker Award and perform at the 2025 Billboard Women in Music event—adding to her growing list of accolades, including her recent New Artist of the Year win at the 2024 CMA Awards.

The post Watch Megan Moroney Bring Her ‘Emo Cowgirl’ Sound to NPR’s Tiny Desk Concert appeared first on Country Now.