“Today was the day he has sung about for decades.” Continue reading…
The Boot – Country Music News, Music Videos and Songs
Month: July 2025
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The car was moving at speeds as low as 8 MPH on four flat tires. Continue reading…
The Boot – Country Music News, Music Videos and Songs
The two enjoyed a lovely dinner together. Continue reading…
The Boot – Country Music News, Music Videos and Songs
The country star’s team reportedly cut the call, making it clear that some topics are off-limits.
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The Boot – Country Music News, Music Videos and Songs
It’s something he didn’t take up until later in life. Continue reading…
The Boot – Country Music News, Music Videos and Songs
Top says getting his first No. 1 hit changed the way he approaches covering classic country music. Continue reading…
The Boot – Country Music News, Music Videos and Songs
Comedian Danae Hays has publicly introduced her new girlfriend, Jenn Cooke, who happens to have country roots as the sister of chart-topping country singer Ashley Cooke.
Hays and Cooke took their relationship to social media last week when they appeared on each other’s accounts while enjoying a staycation in Nashville.
Speculation about their relationship immediately began within the comments section as fans shared their excitement over seeing them together.
“Is this the new girlfriend? Or just a friend? You both are DOLLS,” one user wrote.
Another shared, “So glad to see you happy again! She’s so beautiful! Y’all are beautiful together!”
Later, Hays seemingly confirmed the speculation by sharing a gallery of photos of her and Cooke with the caption, “Summer has been good to me so far.”
Jenn Cooke was quick to reply, writing, “best summer with you babe.”
Others commented on the “hard launch” and shared excitement for them both finding happiness.
In recent posts, Cooke has officially called Hays her “girlfriend” and even shared a video to introduce herself to the wave of new followers.
Ashley Cooke commented on her sister’s latest post, praising, “this era .. you’re glowing.”
Danae Hays’ new relationship comes after her previous marriage to Mandie Kaii, which ended late last summer after three years. News of their split quickly went viral on TikTok, leaving many fans surprised. Since then, Hays has been candid about her journey through heartbreak and healing, which is something her followers have deeply appreciated. Now, they’re cheering her on as she steps into this new chapter.
In recent years, Hays has become a cherished part of the Nashville community, participating in various charity events, including supporting Folds of Honor alongside country stars like Riley Green, Jordan Davis, RaeLynn, HARDY, and others.
This spring, she achieved a lifelong dream by making her Grand Ole Opry debut with a comedy set on March 4. It was a goal she had been manifesting for years, and through dedication and hard work, it became a reality.
Nearly two years earlier, before she had even attempted stand-up, she wrote down her dream of performing on the Opry stage. It felt like a long shot at the time, but her belief and persistence helped bring it to life.
“One of the things that I wrote down was I wanted to have a Grand Ole Opry debut for comedy. And I was like, this is a big lofty goal for somebody that’s never done standup before. And then shortly after I started, I started doing stand-up, and then we went on tour,” she recalled while chatting with Country Now backstage before her big debut. “And so it just feels very surreal. It feels very euphoric. It just feels like something that I’ve idolized in my head for so long is now minutes away.”
Hays recently completed her very first comedy tour and has more dates scheduled through late November.
The post Danae Hays Hard Launches New Relationship With Jenn Cooke, Sister of Ashley Cooke appeared first on Country Now.
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Morgan Wallen’s I’m the Problem Tour brought the star power to Camp Randall Stadium in Madison, Wisconsin over the weekend as part of his I’m The Problem Tour. During both shows of the two-night run that launched on Saturday, June 28, Wallen surprised the crowd by welcoming his opener, Ella Langley, to the stage.
The pair of artists teamed up to perform the fan-favorite duet “What I Want” off Wallen’s latest 37-track album. The song was originally recorded alongside pop star Tate McRae, but since she wasn’t present for the show, Langley stepped up to deliver her part. Langley greeted fans earlier in the night while serving as an opener on select dates of the trek, but she also got the chance to shine with this performance in the midst of Wallen’s set.
As heard in the videos of the delivery that have flooded social media, Langley filled in seamlessly as her Alabama bred vocals intertwined with Wallen’s. The pair of artists won over the massive audience of fans while depicting the moody story of two emotionally damaged people who are both upfront about their baggage. Instead of shying away from heartbreak, the lyrics lean into the mutual understanding their desire to just live in the moment.
Langley’s first appearance on stage was a pleasant surprise, but her performance on night two is what really got fans talking. She and Wallen teamed up once again to sing the same track, but during the Sunday night show, the moment was intensified by the pouring rain that broke out.
The female powerhouse surprises didn’t stop there because Miranda Lambert also made an appearance during Wallen’s set on both of the Wisconsin tour dates. These superstars united to sing his hit, “Cowgirls.”
Lambert certainly dressed for the part as she channeled her inner cowgirl with her ensembles that featured cowboy boots, a cowboy hat, a denim skirt and a graphic tee. The Texas native offered her award-winning vocals to the harmonies of the hard-hitting tune that was originally recorded with fellow country act, ERNEST.
It’s safe to say that with the help of Ella Langley and Miranda Lambert, the East Tennessee native left his mark Camp Randall Stadium. These stops turned out to be historic for the venue, as Wallen hosted the biggest concerts ever held in the state with over 100,000 attendees across two nights. Plus, Wallen was the first artist to headline two consecutive nights at a Wisconsin stadium.
This marked Miranda Lambert’s first weekend serving as a special guest on Morgan Wallen’s I’m the Problem Tour. She is scheduled to appear several more times throughout the trek, including July 11 at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, FL and July 18 at the State Farm Stadium in Glendale, AZ. Her run with Wallen will come to an end on September 12 in Edmonton, AB.
Ella Langley will also continue to put her talent on display in front of Morgan Wallen’s fans throughout the summer. Her next appearance will once again take place alongside Lambert at the State Farm Stadium in Glendale, AZ on July 28. She will deliver her final performance on the last night of the tour, which is set to take place on September 13 in Canada.
Morgan Wallen is already making this trek one to remember. He kicked things off earlier this month in Houston, TX with a pair of star-studded guests joining him on his beloved walk-out tradition.
He appeared alongside former Houston Texans Hall of Fame wide receiver Andre Johnson and Houston salesman Mattress Mack on night one as the fan-favorite “Broadway Girls” song blared through the speakers before transitioning into I’m The Problem’s seventh track, “Interlude.” On the second night, rapper Drake and former Houston Astros pitcher Roger Clemens joined for the walkout. For his time in Wisconsin, the country act delivered a solo walkout on Saturday and welcomed former NFL quarterback, Brett Favre on Sunday.
The tour continues this weekend with another round of back-to-back shows in Miami Gardens, FL.
The post Ella Langley Steps In for Tate McRae on ‘What I Want’ During Morgan Wallen’s Wisconsin Shows appeared first on Country Now.
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After nearly a decade of friendship, Jelly Roll and Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson finally had their first in-person meeting, and the moment was as heartfelt as it gets.
On Tuesday, July 1, Johnson took to social media to share a glimpse into the interaction that took place on set of American Idol while Jelly Roll was serving as the show’s first “Artist in residence” mentor. Luckily, the whole thing was caught on camera, allowing fans to see just how close of a bond these two have formed over the years.
The clip begins with Jelly Roll stepping out of his trailer, smiling ear to ear as he walks straight into a tight embrace with Johnson. “I’ve been waiting a decade for this hug,” he says.
From the jump, the two exchanged pure joy and a mutual admiration for each other’s strength, which is something that’s been building over the course of almost 10 years.
Johnson revealed that in that time, they have been “texting, showing love, support, whatever you need…it was very special.”
Johnson’s Sentimental Gift To Jelly Roll
He also took a moment to praise Jelly Roll on his incredible 200+ pound weight loss journey and then presented him with a deeply meaningful gift. Knowing that they both have a deep-rooted history in Music City, Johnson decided to give the country star an old postcard from the Alamo Plaza Motel in Nashville. This was where he stayed when he first moved to town at 15 years and used to be located in the area Jelly Roll grew up in, but has since been torn down.
Johnson explained that the postcard was given to him as a Christmas present form former pro wrestling manager, “downtown Bruno,” who was a prominent figure in his life back in the day. He then decided to regift the nostalgic piece of paper to Jelly Roll knowing that it would be meaningful to him.
“I knew you were here. I said, I gotta give it to my boy, Jelly.”
A brotherly hug almost 10 years in the making 🫱🏾🫲🏼🤎🤍 @JellyRoll615
Several years ago (roughly 2017) I was going through a very hard thing at the time, I was struggling. My mental wellness turned into my mental hellness. Many of you know the drill, you put on “the face”, show up… pic.twitter.com/eylhhKlWd1
— Dwayne Johnson (@TheRock) July 1, 2025
“This is old, old school,” Jelly Roll shared as memories of the place he grew up in flooded back to him. “I was just talking about this. When you first get in the business, in our business, you dream of all the plaques to cover the rafters, you know? So you start filling your walls with plaques. And then Kid Rock writes you a note and you cherish it more than anything…the next thing you know all the plaques came down. And it’s this,” he said holding up the old postcard. “This is the relationship.”
Celebrating The Power Of Music
Alongside the video, Dwayne Johnson penned a heartfelt message in the caption, that found him reflecting on how Jelly Roll’s music, particularly the song “Only,” helped him during one of the darkest moments in his life.
“Several years ago (roughly 2017) I was going through a very hard thing at the time, I was struggling. My mental wellness turned into my mental hellness. Many of you know the drill, you put on “the face”, show up to work, smile and get through it. Perhaps not the healthiest thing to do, but it’s what I was used to doing at the time. Then a song came on through my headphones one morning on a random shuffle playlist. “Only” from Jelly Roll.”
He goes on to say that the lyrics “rocked me. hard core.” This is where their friendship truly began. Johnson reveals he was so moved by the story that he reached out to the artist and said, “you don’t know me and I don’t know you, but this song of yours is helping me through some stuff I’m dealing with. I just called to say thank you brother. Our bond was born.”
The gift of the postcard may be “insignificant to the world,” as The Rock pointed out, however given their history, he knew it would be something Jelly Roll would greatly appreciate.
This isn’t the first time Johnson has expressed his love for the “Liar” singer. He previously opened up about discovering his music while appearing on “The Kelly Clarkson Show.” Jelly Roll later saw the clip of Johnson singing his praises and responded a few weeks later.
To this day, the Tennessee native claims Johnson’s message of support was a turning point in his career.
“You don’t know what that meant to me,” he said in the recent video. “I’m at a point in my career then where you’re wondering will it even work… then I’m seeing you post about this and I call them God Waves. It’s like anytime you’re a little sideways and God gives you one of those, it’s like nah I’m straight. I’m straighter than I thought I was. We’re coasting.”
Jelly Roll then shared another unforgettable memory of when he won his first award anad revealed Johnson beat his own mother to congratulating him. “He beat my mother into my inbox…it took my mom a whole nother hour. DJ was in there immediately,” he said with a laugh.
The video ends with another tight hug between the two stars, showcasing the strength of their years-long bond.
Johnson concluded his message by saying, “Every once in a while we all get sliced up by life, but it’s amazing to see what kind of blessings and people that God and the universe will put in our lives to help us heal through our pain…Love you brother and cheers to all our plaques coming down.”
The post Jelly Roll And Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson Finally Meet In Emotional First Encounter appeared first on Country Now.
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Willie Nelson has been forced to cancel a stop on the 2025 Outlaw Music Festival after an intense storm damaged touring equipment and instruments.
The country icon, 92, was set to headline the festival alongside Bob Dylan, Sheryl Crow, and more during a special 10th anniversary show. The star-studded lineup was originally scheduled to take the stage at the Lucky Star Amphitheater in El Reno, Oklahoma on July 1.
KFOR, Oklahoma’s local news channel, reported that the heavy thunderstorms swept through the southern region late Monday afternoon, causing flooding, heavy rain and low visibility and damages to homes in the surrounding area.
According to a statement released by festival organizers, “An extreme weather event on the evening of June 29th in Ridgedale, MO at Thunder Ridge Nature Arena produced heavy rains and high winds forcing the crowd to evacuate.”
As a result of the bad weather, “equipment and artists’ instruments were damaged and waterlogged, making their condition difficult to assess in time to accurately and safely use for tomorrow’s show.” The decision was made to cancel tonight’s show in order to allow time to recover and replace what was needed for the remainder of the tour.
“Blackbird Presents, Lucky Star Amphitheater, and DCF Concerts are disappointed to have to cancel the engagement and sincerely apologize for any inconvenience this cancellation may cause,” the statement added.
Full refunds will be issued to ticketholders at their point of purchase. Fans should allow 7-10 business days for the refund to appear on their statement.
Nelson’s Legendary Guitar “Trigger” Has Been Marked Safe
Willie Nelson reposted the message to his own social media accounts. While many fans expressed their disappointment over the cancelation, their man concerned were about Trigger, Nelson’s legendary guitar.
One user asked, “Is trigger ok???”
Another wrote, “The real question: is Trigger okay?” followed by a request saying, “Trigger, if you read this, please let us know you’re OK.”
Thankfully, the “Blue Eyes Crying In The Rain” singer’s team confirmed Trigger was marked safe and was not among the instruments damaged in the storm.
The Outlaw Music Festival is known for being the largest touring music festival in North America. It aims to unite music legends and passionate fans for a one-of-a-kind experience filled with live performances, great food and drinks, and unique shopping.
Upcoming Tour Dates
Willie Nelson along with Bob Dylan, The Avett Brothers, The Mavericks, Asleep at The Wheel, Tami Neilson are expected to resume the show for Willie’s 4th of July Picnic taking place at the Germania Insurance Amphitheater in Austin, Texas, on July 4.
Nelson has a slew of 2025 tour dates scheduled through September. The Outlaw Fest will also hit towns across Wisconsin, Indiana, Maryland, New Jersey, Connecticut, New York and more.
The post Severe Storm Forces Willie Nelson to Cancel 2025 Outlaw Festival Date in Oklahoma appeared first on Country Now.
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