BREAKING: Former ‘American Idol’ Contestant, Garbage Man Doug Kiker, Dead at 32
Doug Kiker, a garbage man from Alabama, who delivered an unforgettable audition for Season 18 of American Idol has died.
The aspiring artist’s death was announced in a Facebook post shared by his sister on Thursday, March 13. Her heartfelt message read, “It is with a heavy heart that we have to announce the passing of my brother Douglas Kiker he was sooo loved and will be missed by so many!”
She continued, “Your singing with the Angel’s now Bubba Please pray for our family as we go threw this very difficult time.”
Another member of Kiker’s family, Donna Kiker Carrillos-Ramirez, also shared the tragic news online. “Today I got the call that no one wants to get,” she wrote. “We lost an amazing person today. He had the biggest smile and knew how to make you laugh.”
She added, “Douglas Kiker you will forever be missed. Fly high. Say hey to grandma.”
His cause of death has not been revealed.
Doug Kiker’s Journey On American Idol
Kiker shared his musical talent with the world in 2020 when he performed a powerful cover of “Bless the Broken Road” by Rascal Flatts that won over Idol judges Luke Bryan, Katy Perry and Lionel Richie. His journey in the competition unfortunately came to an end on the first day of Hollywood week, but he didn’t let that stop him from pursuing his dreams outside of the show.
After returning home to Alabama, the singer got a fresh start with a new set of teeth and a newfound level of confidence.
“I got new teeth, guys,” Kiker beamed in a video shared by American Idol at the time. “The sky’s the limit, man! Y’all got me feeling that way.”
As he showed off his new pearly whites, Kiker declared: “I finally believe in myself enough to actually sing in front of people.”
The home check in we needed from #DougKiker #AmericanIdol 💕 pic.twitter.com/9KjbKSqv3p
— American Idol (@AmericanIdol) April 13, 2020
He remained active on social media for a few years, sharing acoustic covers of songs like Brett Young’s “In Case You Didn’t Know” and “Tennessee Whiskey,” originally recorded by George Jones and later by Chris Stapleton.
In 2021, the Alabama native was arrested in his homestate after he was allegedly involved in a domestic violence incident. Police told TMZ that Kiker was booked and given a $1,000 bond. Specific details surrounding the incident were unclear at this time, however the outlet reported that an adult female made the call to 911 and he was arrested shortly after.
His final Instagram post came in 2022 when he revealed he was working on a new song.
“I’m working on a new song guys it’s been awhile.”
Douglas Kiker is survived by his two young daughters, whom he often shared photos of on his Instagram.
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Blake Shelton Reveals He’s Been Hard At Work On A New Album: ‘I’m Really Proud of It’
Blake Shelton fans have been patiently waiting for new music, and it looks like the wait is almost over.
Over the past few years, the country star hasn’t released many songs on his own, but he has been featured on several collaborations with artists such as Post Malone and his wife, Gwen Stefani. Then in November he made his grand return with his latest single, “Texas,” which also marked his first release with his brand-new label, BBR Music Group/BMG Nashville, following his departure from Warner Music Nashville last year.
In a new interview with Audacy’s Katie Neal, Shelton acknowledged that it’s time he gives his listeners not just another new song, but an entire album. He explained that the gap between his releases was due to the fact that he’s been working behind the scenes writing music and trying to hone in on his sound for this new chapter.
“It’s been a while since I’ve released any music of my own. I’ve had some collaborations and stuff out, but it’s been a minute and I didn’t really know exactly what I wanted to do, what I wanted it to sound like,” Shelton shared.
Since it’s been nearly four years since putting out his last body of work, the Oklahoma native admitted that some songs off this forthcoming album were cut a few years ago and have been waiting for the right time to shine. Much like his previous collections, fans can expect these songs to be “a little big all over the map” as Shelton is a big advocate for the idea that best song wins, whether he’s a writer or not.
“The albums just like most of my albums, it’s a little bit all over the map because I love great songs and that’s always been my focus since I was a kid, since I was 21 years old going in the studio.”
He continued, “I don’t care who writes the songs, I don’t care where they come from. I just want to make the best record I can humanly make, whether I am a writer on it or somebody I don’t know, or somebody that I hate wrote it. If it’s a great song, I don’t care. I want to make the best record that I can possibly make. And so that’s always my goal. Now people may hear my record and go, ‘that’s the best record you can make?’ he said earning a laugh from Katie. “But for me, it’s what I feel like is my best foot forward.”
There’s no doubt that Shelton is feeling confident about this next project in particular because it has been so long since his last record. In that time, he’s been collecting and recording tracks and is finally ready to share what he’s been working on with the world.
“There’s a bunch that won’t even be on the album that no one will probably ever hear and that’s probably a good thing. But I feel like we’re putting the best stuff we have on this record and I’m really proud of it.”
This week, Blake Shelton has especially been keeping his listeners on their toes with a series of cryptic posts on social media. On Tuesday, March 12, he shared a blank orange square with no context. Some fans wondered if he was sharing his pride for the Tennessee Volunteers, as it appears to closely match the team’s color while others wondered if there was a collaboration in the works as they pointed out that it’s nearly identical to the cover of Frank Ocean’s 2012 hit album, Channel Orange.
He followed up with two more posts, both featuring the same orange background, except this time, they had words. One simply read “FRUO” and the second revealed that the letters stood for “For Recreational Use Only.” It’s safe to say that fans are officially stumped.
“Blake WHAT,” wrote one user.
Another asked, “what does this mean?!? 🧡”
We will have to keep an eye on the “No Body” singer’s social media platforms to find out what these mysterious posts are insinuating.
While awaiting the answer as well as new music, fans can catch Blake Shelton on the road for his Friends & Heroes Tour. special guests Craig Morgan, Deana Carter, and Trace Adkins plus very special guest Emily Ann Roberts.
The post Blake Shelton Reveals He’s Been Hard At Work On A New Album: ‘I’m Really Proud of It’ appeared first on Country Now.
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Brooks & Dunn Forced To Reschedule Lubbock Show Amid Texas Tech Campus Closure
Brooks & Dunn will no longer be performing at the United Supermarkets Arena in Lubbock, Texas tonight (March 13). An announcement from the venue revealed that the best-selling duo of all time has been forced to reschedule the opening show of their 2025 Neon Moon Tour to a new date of Thursday, March 20.
The statement shared across social media cited that the reason for the sudden change came as a result of the events that took place on the Texas Tech University campus on Wednesday, March 12.
Brooks & Dunn’s performance at United Supermarkets Arena originally scheduled for tonight, March 13, has been rescheduled to Thursday, March 20, due to the events on the Texas Tech University campus in Lubbock on Wednesday, March 12.
— Texas Tech University (@TexasTech) March 13, 2025
All previously purchased tickets will be…
According to PEOPLE, there was an explosion at a manhole that caused a series of fires and widespread power outages across the Texas Tech campus. The school issued a mass evacuation, canceled classes and announced the closure of the Lubbock campus.
“TechAlert! There is a power outage on the Texas Tech University campus in Lubbock affecting multiple areas,” the university wrote at 7:30 p.m. local time on Wednesday. “Additionally, we are evacuating the Engineering Key due to a gas odor. Please follow evacuation instructions if you are in the area, and stay tuned for updates.”
Campus Remains Closed For Two Days
The Lubbock Fire Rescue responded to the incident in a press release stating, “Engine 4 arrived first on scene and found multiple manhole covers with active fire and smoke issuing from them…Engine 4 quickly requested additional units to help to mitigate the rapidly escalating scene, and a second alarm was called by Battalion 1 for manpower.”
While power has restored to some parts of the university, students and staff are being asked to avoid returning to the campus to collect their belongings until further notice. Luckily, the fire department confirmed that no injuries were reported. The campus will remain closed on Thursday, March 13, and Friday, March 14.
The statement regarding Brooks & Dunn’s show confirmed that any previously purchased tickets will be honored for the new date. Additional tickets are also available here.
Anyone who will no longer be able to attend the March 20 date will be issued a refund at point of purchase.
All remaining dates on the first leg of the Neon Moon Tour are currently scheduled to take place as planned, with more cities to be announced soon. Throughout this Live Nation-produced run, the duo will take their one-of-a-kind show to stages across the U.S., performing their extensive catalog hits and celebrating their 30-year plus career
Country rocker David Lee Murphy has also been tapped to accompany Brooks & Dunn on the upcoming tour.
Brooks & Dunn 2025 Neon Moon Tour Dates:
3/20 – Lubbock, TX – United Supermarkets Arena
3/14 – Austin, TX – Moody Center
3/15 – Corpus Christi, TX – American Bank Center
3/27 – Raleigh, NC – PNC Arena
3/28 – Charlotte, NC – Spectrum Center
3/29 – Charlottesville, VA – John Paul Jones Arena
4/3 – Indianapolis, IN – Gainbridge Fieldhouse
4/4 – Peoria, IL – Peoria Civic Center Arena
4/5 – Rosemont, IL – Allstate Arena
4/24 – Des Moines, IA – Wells Fargo Arena
4/25 – St. Louis, MO – Enterprise Center
4/26 – Louisville, KY – KFC Yum! Center
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Jelly Roll Breaks Down His New Role As First-Ever ‘Artist In Residence’ On ‘American Idol’
Jelly Roll opens up about how he landed the role as the first-ever Artist in Residence on American Idol and teases all the “fire” talent viewers can expect to see throughout the season.
While sitting next to fellow singer/songwriter ERNEST for an interview with Bussin’ With The Boys, Jelly Roll was given the opportunity to “shamelessly promote” his new gig. Fans saw the Tennessee native on Season 22 of Idol when he appeared as a guest mentor and performer during the show’s visit to Disney’s Aulani Resort in Hawai’i. He also previously performed his hit song “Save Me” with Lainey Wilson and teamed up with Season 21 contestant Oliver Steele for a rendition of “Need a Favor.”
Jelly Roll revealed that because of his past work with the contestants as well as his longtime support of the show as a fan, the network invited him to return in a more permanent fashion. This time, he will work closely with the contestants all season long, offering them advice and guidance as they navigate the journey.
“It is unbelievable…I got this gig the coolest way you can get it too. I hope they’re not mad at me for telling the true story, but they invited me. They do mentors every year in Hawaii and two different artists mentor a different group, and you mentor 12 kids. I had been a fan of the show, so I was always tuned in, sung at a couple of the finales and I was there for the Iam Tongi season, and so that’s how I got the mentorship job was just being a fan. And I did so good they called and was like, ‘I know this sounds crazy, but we want to create a position where you do that the whole season,’” he explained.
The eighth season of Idol on ABC, and the 23rd season overall, kicked off with a round of must-see auditions on Sunday, March 2. Viewers may have noticed that Jelly Roll did not make an appearance and that’s because his duties will begin at the start of Hollywood week, when the golden holders make their way to California and put their talents to the test on a real stage. He will continue to mentor the hopeful singer/songwriters until only one is left standing at the finale.
“I know the first three or four episodes I’m not in because they whittled it down to the top 48 or 50 and then I come in at the top 50 and start mentoring through the whole season. So I’m going to mentor from 50 to whoever wins this thing.”
With a few days of shooting already under his belt, Jelly Roll can confidently say that the season could be one of the toughest competitions yet as each singer is bringing something unique to the table.
“I’m already biased because I’m so involved in this season already,” he admitted. “There is so much fire on this season, dude, there is so much fire. There is so many just heart wrenching stories, there’s so many fun stories and happy stories, so many great voices. Never seen a wider range of talent on American Idol. I’ve watched every season for the last, since I’ve been home, and watched ‘em from Ruben Studdard Forward,” Jelly Roll added, referencing the second artist to ever win American Idol back in 2003.
One of his favorite parts of the experience thus far has been seeing the group of singers who have no background in performing whatsoever, break out of their shells and discover their true talents.
“Most of them live, more often than not, hours away from a metropolis, had to drive to that metropolis for their audition. They’re like closet singers, more often than not. They’re just great voices and this is such a culture shock for them, like the idea that ‘I tried out for American Idol, I was bold enough to do it, then I got picked and sent to Hollywood’ is crazy. So you’re catching a lot of people who are just, I always use the term green as a pool table twice as square, you know what I mean? They don’t know what’s going on.”
He concluded by saying that watching the show has always been a “secret pleasure” of his so to now get to be a part of the journey is “huge.”
The “Liar” singer’s arrival on American Idol marks a year of big changes for the show. Along with the addition of his new role, Carrie Underwood also joined as the first new judge in seven years. She is currently serving as Katy Perry’s replacement alongside Lionel Richie and Luke Bryan.
American Idol Season 23 will continue to air every Sunday on ABC and streaming the next day on Hulu.
Overall, this year is shaping up to be huge for the GRAMMY nominee. Aside from taking on this major opportunity, he also revealed he’s working on a project that he considers to be “the biggest thing of my career.” He’s currently mapping out all the details for his next project using handwritten notes that seem to have taken over every corner of his house.
“If you go to my house right now, it’s like a mad scientist. It’s like handwritten notes all over my downstairs wall. I mean downstairs, my studio desk, my coffee table, my smoke room desk. It’s just, I look like a possessed man. I was taking a shower last night in the middle of the shower. I called my wife in and I was like, ‘text this to my computer right now.’ I was thinking about it in the shower. I’m obsessing about it that much, so I still hand write tons of stuff. I’m still old school even in that regard.”
In 2024, he headlined his biggest tour yet and while he had initially planned to take some time off the road in 2025, Post Malone came along and changed that. It has since been announced that Jelly Roll will join the “I Had Some Help” singer on The BIG ASS Stadium Tour on top of headlining an extensive run of shows throughout Canada this spring and several major festivals this summer.
The post Jelly Roll Breaks Down His New Role As First-Ever ‘Artist In Residence’ On ‘American Idol’ appeared first on Country Now.
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Luke Bryan Talks Clint Black’s Influence and His Goal To Stay in the Game Like George Strait
Before Luke Bryan became a country music superstar with 31 No.1 hits, he was just a country-loving boy from Georgia, spending hours in his bedroom playing ‘80s and ‘90s country music on repeat.
According to Bryan, the song that truly made him fall in love with country music was Clint Black’s 1989 chart-topper, “Killin’ Time.”
During a recent interview with Bobby Bones on The BobbyCast, Bryan recalled the countless hours he spent listening to Clint Black on repeat.
“When ‘Killin’ Time’ came out, and then just that album… I went and bought that album. I had a CD player and these huge speakers and I’d just sit there and listen to it every day. Every day I would dedicate [to listening to] that album and just sitting there and listen to it and thumbing through Bassmaster magazines or whatever,” Bryan shared. “But that was a big one for me.”
The now five-time Entertainer of the Year admitted to being “so into” Top 40 country at the time and also recalled listening to Conway Twitty, Alabama, Ronnie Milsap, and more and how they shaped him as an artist.
While in college, Bryan listened to artists like Tim McGraw and Kenny Chesney—both of whom he would later tour with, bringing his musical journey full circle.
When I think about college, and I think about what really shaped me, it was Tim McGraw, ‘Where The Green Grass Grows’ and it was Kenny Chesney ‘Back Where I Come From,’ and that’s what we were jamming and that’s what I was covering in my cover band.
Another country star who impacted Bryan was George Strait.
“I mean the George Strait song that really probably hit me the most was ‘Run,’” he said. “[He] drops ‘Run,’ and then he drops ‘Give It Away’ And those are giant.”
Luke Bryan said that at 48, his goal is to create a song that can compete with the new wave of artists—just like George Strait did at 52 with ‘Give It Away,’ which dominated country radio at the time.
“Like if I’m 48 and if I can figure out a song that at the end of the year through all the new artists coming out… George dropped two at 52 years old that still slayed the country music market. I mean when he put out ‘Give It Away,’ he owned the radio with that song and he talked in that song,” Bryan pointed out. “So that’s my job to try to attempt to do at the age of 48, in my opinion, if I’m going to stay in the game.”
Luke Bryan continues to “stay in the game” thanks to hits like his latest single, “Country Song Came On.” Written by Ryan Beaver, Dan Alley, and Neil Medley, Bryan said he immediately connected with the track because it reminded him of his early days playing music.
“’Country song came on’ is like a honky tonk gem for me,” he previously explained. “When I heard it, I was like, you know, it brings me back to the days when I was playing a lot of honky tonks early in my career.”
While he’s no longer playing honky tonks, Bryan continues to sell out massive tours. His upcoming summer trek, the Country Song Came On Tour, launches on May 29 and runs through August 30.
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Megan Moroney Clears The Air On Dating Rumors And Her Current Relationship Status
Megan Moroney’s love life has been a hot topic of conversation since the start of her career. While she’s opened up about it a few times in the past, she recently cleared the air on her current dating status and even set the record straight on the latest set of rumors involving her and Riley Green.
Back in December, fans put Moroney and Green under a microscope as they speculated that the artists were vacationing together in St. Barts. Eager to know more, the online detectives used Google’s AI reverse image search tool on the country stars’ social media respective posts from their hotel rooms as well as their views from the water
“I didn’t even know that was a thing,” Moroney said of the clever detective work.
@rachelovercashh I could not be more in awe of this woman. RILEY GREEN?? She's perfect #fyp #megmoroney #rileygreen #CapCut ♬ Am I Okay? – Megan Moroney
Of course, the obvious assumption that came out of this research was that the pair had to dropping subtle hints about their secret relationship. However, in a recent episode of the newly launched podcast, In The Blind, Green shut down those rumors, saying he’s “pretty damn” single at the moment.
Moroney has chimed in to officially confirm that fans weren’t wrong about them being in the same vacation destination.
“He was individually on his vacation with his friends,” the singer explained in a new interview with Rolling Stone. “St. Barts is a popular place!”
While she acknowledged they did hang out during their vacation, she emphasized it was purely a coincidence that they ended up in the same place at the same time.
“It’s one of those things where if you know someone on a small island, you’re like, ‘Oh s–t, you’re here too.’ So it was fun,” she added.
The “Am I Okay?” singer then made it clear that sometimes a good time is just that, and nothing more.
“Just because we’re hanging out doesn’t mean we’re romantically dating. You know what I mean?”
Luckily, Moroney doesn’t seem to be too phased by her fans’ commitment to digging around her personal life. In fact, she seems to find their efforts pretty amusing.
“I don’t blame them for doing some FBI research,” she joked.
Not only is the singer not romantically involved with Riley Green, but much like him she is enjoying being single at the moment and has been for the past year. The last relationship fans saw Moroney in was with a “regular finance dude” and lasted nearly a year. Since that ended, she has found herself content being without a partner, especially with how busy she’s been with her career lately.
One of the best perks of being a songwriter is having the outlet to express emotions and untangle trauma from past relationships that didn’t work out in song. Megan Moroney has built a career being vulnerable about aspects of her love life in her music and fans have come to love her for the relatable storytelling that comes out of that.
Plus, she’s not afraid to admit that she has “bad taste” when it comes to men and she teased this could be the theme of a new song that may or may not end up on her next project.
“I could not imagine going through the past year if I was upset and crying over a dude. I feel like I’ve always had bad taste in men. I had a really sweet boyfriend in fifth grade, and I broke up with him because I wanted to date the eighth-grade bad boy who had failed a bunch of times,” she shared. “I don’t know if this song will make my next album, but an opening line is ‘I know how to pick them. Copy, paste.’”
Moroney is getting ready to sing her heart out on her massive AM I OKAY? Tour. This North American headline trek kicks off on March 20 in Montreal and continues with 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.
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Cole Swindell And Wife Courtney Reveal Gender Of First Child: ‘We Can’t Wait To Meet You’
Cole Swindell and his wife, Courtney, have dropped another piece of big news regarding their just-announced pregnancy. On the morning of Wednesday, March 12, the first-time parents-to-be unveiled the gender of their first baby using a heartwarming video posted to Instagram.
Filmed during the photoshoot for their March 3 announcement, the video starts in black and white as the couple holds up a baby onesie. As soon as they pin the tiny outfit onto the clothing line, it turns to color, revealing the exciting news that they are expecting a baby girl.
Swindell closes out the video by placing their sonogram photo above the onesie and flashing a big smile alongside his beautiful wife. The country star also set the video to the new, stripped-down rendition of his latest single, “Forever To Me (Our Version).”
The couple captioned the post, “We can’t wait to meet you 🫶🏼”
This news comes just a few days after sharing the news of their pregnancy with the world. Once again, the lovebirds made the official announcement on social media using a carousel of heartfelt moments, starting with a black and white photo of them embracing with a clothing line of baby onesies strung in front of them
In the following slides, they continue to document this next chapter their life with images of their sonogram and a young family member proudly sporting a “Big Cousin” embroidered sweater. Plus, Swindell proudly showed off his new role as a dad using a baseball cap that read “Dad,” a pair of tennis shoes with a positive pregnancy test inside, and another look at the sonogram.
Their caption revealed that “Baby Swindell” will be coming sometime in 2025.
The “She Had Me At Heads Carolina” singer tied the knot with his other half nearly nine months ago with a small, intimate ceremony in Sonoma, California on June, 12, 2024. At the time, they proudly shared this life update with the world in an Instagram post that also debuted Courtney’s Instagram handle featuring her new last name – Courtneylswindell.
“The Swindells 6.12.24 🤍” they wrote alongside a carousel of scenic snapshots from their big day that were captured by Madison Emily Hare Photo.
We don’t know for sure when the couple started dating, but it’s likely the couple has been together for several years. Courtney, a former NBA dancer and the 2017 Miss Teen North Carolina who now acts as co-owner of The Little Sisters Boutique, previously appeared in Swindell’s music video for his song “Some Habits,” which dropped in the fall of 2021.
Their love continued to grow stronger and stronger each year until finally, Swindell got down on one knee and proposed on May 8, 2023.
His caption at the time read, “Still couldn’t tell ya everything I said down on one knee… All I know is she said “YES”! 💍
“We’re so excited,” he added.
Little also shared a heartfelt note that read, “Woke up as future Mrs. Swindell 💍 I’ve never been so happy. I can’t believe we are ENGAGED!!!!! 🥹”
As he awaits the arrival of his first baby girl, Cole Swindell will head overseas in March to serve as support for Cody Johnson’s Leather Deluxe Tour. These shows will mark his first time performing in Australia and New Zealand.
The post Cole Swindell And Wife Courtney Reveal Gender Of First Child: ‘We Can’t Wait To Meet You’ appeared first on Country Now.
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Brad Paisley Talks Mentoring The Next Generation Of Country Stars On 2025 Truck Still Works Tour
Brad Paisley is preparing to embark on his 2025 headlining run, the Truck Still Works World Tour, and he’s bringing an incredible lineup of supporting acts with him.
Joining Paisley on the trek will be special guest Walker Hayes along with three rising female acts – Avery Anna, Mae Estes and Alexandra Kay – who will take turns opening the show. While he may not have a close bond with these rising stars yet, he hopes that with this tour, he can lean into his role as a mentor and pay forward the guidance he received from established acts during his early days.
“I’m thrilled to be able to do that,” Paisley shared of inviting the up-and-coming artists to perform for his audience. “To me, it’s like there’s a real emerging crop of super talented people that have bridged this…there was an awkward phase I think in music where everybody was a TikTok star for a second and we are a little bit past that now, where it’s like people have learned there’s some real artists. I feel like these are an example of that.”
Remembers Alan Jackson Acting As A Mentor On The Road
Thinking back to the start of his career, Paisley remembers Alan Jackson being one of the first country stars to take him under his wing and show him the ropes.
“I remember that first tour, it was Alan Jackson for me in the beginning,” he told Country Now. “I was new, and I only did a few songs, and it was way early in the set. And it’s a challenge, first of all, because half the people aren’t in their seat yet, but it’s part of the process. And we always try to make sure everybody…I want them to say, ‘no one ever treated us that well again.’”
The West Virginia native even teased plans to invite each of his openers on stage during their runs and perform his 2004 hit duet with Alison Krauss, “Whiskey Lullaby.”
“Some cities, all of ’em, the litmus test is always, ‘Hey, would you sing ‘Whiskey Lullaby’? And so usually they do. So you’ll get to hear three different variations of that at some point. But I think they’re all really talented and it’s going to be fun,” he added.
Plans To Throw A Few Deep Cuts Into The Upcoming Setlist
Paisley kicks off the tour on May 21, 2025 at the Mountain America Center in Idaho Falls, Idaho. With his vast collection of songs, the hitmaker has understandably a lot to choose from for his setlist and many of his longtime fans will be happy to know that there will likely be a few deep cuts thrown into the mix on this next trek.
“I think it’s whatever fits the mood. It’s a summer tour. A lot of it is outside. There are certain things that are just perfect for that. I might dust off a couple album cuts that Need to be replayed,” he teased. “There’s songs that I haven’t done in a long time that I think it’d be fun to do.”
The first leg of the trek includes 16 shows and will run through August. Along the way, Paisley will make his debut at the legendary Red Rocks Amphitheater in Morrison, Colorado, as well as the Greek Theatre in Los Angeles, California.
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Brad Paisley Talks Mentoring The Next Generation Of Country Stars On 2025 Truck Still Works Tour [Exclusive]
Brad Paisley is preparing to embark on his 2025 headlining run, the Truck Still Works World Tour, and he’s bringing an incredible lineup of supporting acts with him.
Joining Paisley on the trek will be special guest Walker Hayes along with three rising female acts – Avery Anna, Mae Estes and Alexandra Kay – who will take turns opening the show. While he may not have a close bond with these rising stars yet, he hopes that with this tour, he can lean into his role as a mentor and pay forward the guidance he received from established acts during his early days.
“I’m thrilled to be able to do that,” Paisley shared of inviting the up-and-coming artists to perform for his audience. “To me, it’s like there’s a real emerging crop of super talented people that have bridged this…there was an awkward phase I think in music where everybody was a TikTok star for a second and we are a little bit past that now, where it’s like people have learned there’s some real artists. I feel like these are an example of that.”
Remembers Alan Jackson Acting As A Mentor On The Road
Thinking back to the start of his career, Paisley remembers Alan Jackson being one of the first country stars to take him under his wing and show him the ropes.
“I remember that first tour, it was Alan Jackson for me in the beginning,” he told Country Now. “I was new, and I only did a few songs, and it was way early in the set. And it’s a challenge, first of all, because half the people aren’t in their seat yet, but it’s part of the process. And we always try to make sure everybody…I want them to say, ‘no one ever treated us that well again.’”
The West Virginia native even teased plans to invite each of his openers on stage during their runs and perform his 2004 hit duet with Alison Krauss, “Whiskey Lullaby.”
“Some cities, all of ’em, the litmus test is always, ‘Hey, would you sing ‘Whiskey Lullaby’? And so usually they do. So you’ll get to hear three different variations of that at some point. But I think they’re all really talented and it’s going to be fun,” he added.
Plans To Throw A Few Deep Cuts Into The Upcoming Setlist
Paisley kicks off the tour on May 21, 2025 at the Mountain America Center in Idaho Falls, Idaho. With his vast collection of songs, the hitmaker has understandably a lot to choose from for his setlist and many of his longtime fans will be happy to know that there will likely be a few deep cuts thrown into the mix on this next trek.
“I think it’s whatever fits the mood. It’s a summer tour. A lot of it is outside. There are certain things that are just perfect for that. I might dust off a couple album cuts that Need to be replayed,” he teased. “There’s songs that I haven’t done in a long time that I think it’d be fun to do.”
The first leg of the trek includes 16 shows and will run through August. Along the way, Paisley will make his debut at the legendary Red Rocks Amphitheater in Morrison, Colorado, as well as the Greek Theatre in Los Angeles, California.
The post Brad Paisley Talks Mentoring The Next Generation Of Country Stars On 2025 Truck Still Works Tour [Exclusive] appeared first on Country Now.
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Russell Dickerson Makes Waves With Ultimate Party Anthem, ‘Happen To Me’
Russell Dickerson has earned his highest streaming debut this week thanks to his latest single, “Happen To Me.” The party anthem of the summer gained tremendous traction online, earning over 25 million views across social media, and continued to rise in popularity with its release. Thanks to all the fans streaming this song, it was sent straight to country radio with 66 total station adds on March 10.
The multi-Platinum artist was the No. 2 most added at country radio this week and racked up the largest number of streams in Triple Tigers Records’ label history. Taking to social media to thank his fans for showing the tune so much love, he said “I didn’t think this was gonna happen…thank you guys for the love.”
“Country Radio’s response to this single has been nothing short of amazing”, says VP/Promotion, Raffaella Braun added. “66 stations in just over a week since release exceeded even our own lofty goals. This truly is the Song of the Summer!”
Written by Dickerson, Chase McGill, Jessie Jo Dillon and Chris LaCorte, “Happen To Me” illustrates a care-free night out between a couple of strangers who are looking for nothing but to cure heartache with some no-strings-attached fun.
Blending elements of his signature pop country sound with an infections beat and sing-along worthy lyrics, Dickerson created the perfect anthem for anyone looking to let their stresses go and just enjoy living life in the moment.
“And now she’s singin’/ Girls Just Wanna Have Fun/ at the top of her lungs/ Don’t even know she’s ’bout to wreck someone/ And, boy’s, I’m in trouble now, ain’t even tryna get out/ So, come on, baby, take me down, down, down, yeah/ Don’t know what happened tonight/ don’t know what happened last week/ Don’t know what happened to her, but she’s ’bout to happеn to me,” he sings on the electric chorus.
Fans all over social media have been singing along to the chorus that pays tribute to Cyndi Lauper’s iconic “Girls Just Want To Have Fun.” Dickerson raised the excitment even further when he started a viral dance trend, encouraging users to blast the tune and dance like nobody’s watching. He’s recruited family members and fellow artists like Maddie & Tae to join him in demonstrating their best dance moves using the track.
“When I say girls just wanna have fun, I mean @maddieandtae just wanna have fun!!,” Dickerson wrote in a recent video featuring the female country duo.
In speaking with Country Now, Dickerson noted how many fans have pointed out that “Happen To Me” easily acts as the follow-up to 2017’s girls night out anthem, “MGNO.”
“It’s got a little ‘Girls Just Want to Have Fun’ in there and the fans, all the comments are like, ‘oh my gosh, this is ‘MGNO’’ from my first album. ‘MGNO’ part two.”
The fresh new tune follows Russell Dickerson run of fan-favorites including his fifth No. 1 hit, “God Gave Me A Girl,” “Good Day to Have a Great Day,” and his latest single, “Bones.”
Fans can catch Dickerson on the road with his RUSSELLMANIA TOUR 2025. The first leg, dubbed Round 1, kicks off March 14 in Nashville, TN and runs through April with stops in Illinois, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Colorado and more.
Round 2 of the trek will continue into the summer, bringing the hitmaker to amphitheaters across the summer, with direct support from Jake Scott and Niko Moon on select dates.
The post Russell Dickerson Makes Waves With Ultimate Party Anthem, ‘Happen To Me’ appeared first on Country Now.
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Kane Brown Shares What’s In Store For His High Road Tour
Kane Brown kicks off his next headlining run, The High Road Tour, this weekend in San Diego, CA. With each new tour, the country star continues to raise the bar, delivering an epic production alongside the hit-filled set list. This year is poised to be one of his most extravagant runs yet, featuring new music and a one-of-a-kind production setup that promises to be an unforgettable experience for fans.
With rehearsals well underway, Brown teased what to expect from this tour and why its gearing up to be bigger and better than any of his past run of shows.
“So this tour, we’ve built something that’s only been for me, so no artist will have it on stage, which is really cool,” he told Katie Neal in Audacy’s Sound Space studio. “Our last tour I was really focused on, I didn’t want anybody to leave and go get a beer or take a bathroom break, so I was just like energy, energy, energy, energy.”
New Music And Intimate Moments
He goes on to say that his latest album, which inspired the name of the tour, has inspired him to bring in more new songs off the project than he’s ever done before in his live shows. The concerts will still feature plenty of high energy moments, but Brown revealed there will also be more intimate portions of the night when he sits down and opens up about the stories behind some of his most vulnerable tunes.
“We’re going to go through a roller coaster stage of hype songs, and then we’re going to do this really cool thing where we do a campfire and I talk about the songs and I get really personal and close, which is what I used to do at the very beginning of when I started out. We’re going to try and bring that back and bring some tears to the show.”
Could Another Album Be Dropping In 2025?
In addition to preparing for his tour, the multi-platinum artist also teased that he’s ready to put even more new music. It’s only been a little over a month since Brown unveiled his latest project, but with all the down time he’s had at home waiting to return to the road, he says he’s “hungry” to get going again with a new album.
“We’re trying to put another one out this year. I don’t know what’s going to happen, but we trying,” he revealed.
The High Road is an 18-track project that features a slew of star-studded collaborations with Brad Paisley, Jelly Roll, Marshmello, Khalid, and his wife Katelyn. Plus, Brown recently debuted a special version of the track, “Says I Can,” with added vocals by each of his four soon-to-be tourmates – Mitchell Tenpenny, Scotty McCreery, Ashley Cooke and DASHA.
Brown’s post announcing the new song read, “called up some tour friends to join me for this song 🍻 “Says I Can (The High Road Tour Version)” out now. we’ll see you out on the road soon.”
The High Road Tour begins on March 13, 2025, in San Diego, CA and will find Kane Brown visiting 23 cities, including Portland, Montreal, Nashville, and more before wrapping in Gilford, NH on May 25. This fall, he will bring the trek across Europe and the UK.
The post Kane Brown Shares What’s In Store For His High Road Tour appeared first on Country Now.
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Gavin Adcock Reveals His Rowdy Pre-Show Routine, Drops Details On New Music
Gavin Adcock reveals the rowdy pre-show ritual that gets him and his band pumped up for the stage each night.
During his recent appearance on the God’s Country Podcast, Adcock shared that after changing over the stage in preparation for his set, he and his crew gather backstage for a unique routine that start off easy with a prayer and slowly escalates in on the rowdiness scale.
“We come in there, we pray, and then my tour manager starts playing ‘Thunderstruck,’” he explained. “The whole band passes around four beers in a circle… just waterfalling ‘em around.”
To top it all off, all but one member of his band takes turns slapping each other on the chest—a tradition Adcock admits is “pretty nuts.”
This spring, the “Past Actions” singer will bring his lively energy to stages across the U.S. as part of his Need To Know Tour. The trek launches May 2 in Brandon, MS and runs through October, with plenty of fresh talent joining him as support along the way, including Braxton Keith, Conner Smith, Bayker Blankenship, The Castellows and Lanie Gardner.
He hinted that fans can expect to hear a lot of new music out on the road in the coming months. The rising country star also shared plans to continue dropping songs at a “pretty rapid” pace all year long, starting with his first three releases of 2025, “Loose Strings,” “Need To” and “Unlucky Strikes.”
The next set of songs to be unveiled will be vastly different from each other, thus showcasing Adcock’s wide range as a singer/songwriter. The first is a more gritty, vulnerable track he’s been teasing on social media titled “Never Call Again.”
“It’s just about that person you’d forget about if everything in the world just didn’t remind you of ’em,” he shared.
Sharing a preview of the heartbreak tune to Instagram, Adcock can be heard singing his heart out with pain lurking in the wings as he depicts how hard it is to move on when he can’t seem to avoid the memories of his past.
“If I’d just quit hiding in the whiskey/ If other women didn’t have your name/ If I could rearrange a couple cold memories/ And turn them ‘em all into something that I hate/ Your blue eyes didn’t burn like/ West Texas desert wind/ If you’d just quit crossing my mind/ Then maybe I might just never call again,” he sings.
The Georgia native will follow that up by staying true to his brand with a “rowdy party song” dubbed “On One.”
“As soon as you think I’m going to let out something that’s clean for you, we’re going to let out something that’s just a little rowdy for summertime for everybody,” he joked.
In addition to his own headlining run, Gavin Adcock is slated to hit the road with Morgan Wallen on select dates.
The post Gavin Adcock Reveals His Rowdy Pre-Show Routine, Drops Details On New Music appeared first on Country Now.
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Blake Shelton On The Explosion of New Country Artists: ‘I Know About Maybe 40% Of The Artists That Are On A Chart’
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.
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Luke Bryan Opens Up About Missing Out On Morgan Wallen Hit And Feeling ‘Overlooked’
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.
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Kelsea Ballerini’s Las Vegas Show Canceled Without Explanation, Fans Seek Answers
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.
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Lone Star Jam Announces Hiatus for 2025 After 17 Years
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.
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!!”
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.
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Kelsea Ballerini Makes Tough Choice After Tatum Scott and Angie Rey Face Off On ‘The Voice’
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.
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Kelsea Ballerini Taps Little Big Town As Battle Round Advisors On ‘The Voice’
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.
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WATCH: Abi Bowen Faces Her Fears and Wins Over ‘American Idol’ Judges
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.
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Ashley McBryde Celebrates Major Milestone: 1,000 Days Sober
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.
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.
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