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The Boot – Country Music News, Music Videos and Songs
Day: August 28, 2025
After spending the first part of the year touring while pregnant with her first child, Beni Doll, Lauren Alaina is now preparing to hit the road again with Rascal Flatts. This time, though, her daughter will be tagging along when the band resumes their Life Is A Highway Tour in January 2026.
In a recent “get ready with me” style video, the country star joked that this was the first time she did her hair and put on a full face of makeup in “forever,” admitting motherhood has been occupying all her time. She shared that this new chapter has been “quite a journey” and has come with a lot of lessons, but she is finally starting to find her “groove” with all the big life adjustments.
“Only took us two months and we’re still working on it, honestly,” she shared with fans.
The Excitement And Stress Behind Returning To The Road
Alaina revealed that there is some uncertainty and fear about being on the road with a child for the first time, but her passion for her career and her drive to get back in front of fans is what’s keeping her excited for what’s ahead.
“I mean, I love what I do, so I’m excited, but I’m scared too. And being away from her for 90 minutes sounds like the most impossible thing I’ve ever heard of,” she said of Beni Doll.
Luckily, Alaina won’t be doing it alone. She shared that she will have some backup on the road as her daughter’s grandmothers plan to join the tour to help out while she is busy on stage.
“I did the whole tour pregnant last time and now I’ll have a newborn. They’re going to get to see what came out of the bump. Nicest guys ever,” she said of the iconic country music group. “So I’m excited that we’re going back out with them, but I’ll be able to see my feet this time.”
Lauren And Her Husband Are Moving
On top of preparing for tour life with a newborn, Alaina revealed that she and her husband are also in the middle of moving.
“We’re moving, which is the other most stressful thing in the world that you can do,” she admitted. “But it’s fine because my husband and I love each other and we get along great. I’m kidding. We do, but stressful, but elected stress. So we can’t really complain too much.”
Heading To Country Radio
Lauren Alaina has somehow found the time to drop several new songs amid all the chaos of her personal life. This year’s releases include “Those Kind Of Women,” which she used to help announce her pregnancy, the fiery “Household,” and two that were inspired by both her late father and her new little girl – “Heaven Sent” and “Little Things.”
The Georgia native also returned to country radio with “All My Exes” featuring Chase Matthew.
“I’m so excited. I haven’t had a radio single in so long. Literally, growing up all I ever wanted was to be on their radio. So I’m excited that we’re going back out to the radio and hopefully you guys will hear it on your local stations. Call and request it. Very, very pumped,” she shared.
The lighthearted update video ended with Alaina crediting all the moms out there who regularly find the time to do their makeup while simultaneously raising a child.
“All you moms out there fixing your hair and doing your makeup, I was not giving you enough credit. Even right now…I know she’s taking a nap and she’s fine. And I’m like, I need to be in there with my baby.”
On that note, she let down her hair and joked that she will have to make a part two with even more updates as she tackles the next part of her getting ready process.
Fans can catch Lauren Alaina taking the stage through the end of August as well as a few dates in September. She is currently set to take the rest of the year off from performing before kicking things back into high gear for the Rascal Flatts tour in January.
The post Lauren Alaina Reveals Plans To Bring Her Daughter, Beni Doll, On Tour appeared first on Country Now.
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Jelly Roll was filled with gratitude as he celebrated a new milestone in his massive weight-loss journey. This month, the superstar is serving as a special guest on the European leg of Post Malone’s The Big Ass Stadium World Tour and while enjoying some down time Berlin, Germany, Jelly Roll got to ride an electric scooter for the first time in nearly a decade.
He captured the fun-filled moment on video, sharing it across social media and noting that sharing that something as simple as riding a scooter now feels like a huge accomplishment.
“This is big news in my world. I haven’t been skinny enough to ride a scooter like this in like eight years, no, 12, 10 years. Anyways, first time riding a scooter, straight to the streets of Berlin, baby,” he shared proudly.
The next few clips showed the award-winning country act dressed in his all-black shorts and sweatshirt combo, as he attempted to nail down the proper technique for riding the scooter.
“Fat guy on a little scooter,” he proclaimed while zooming down the streets of Berlin.
He was clearly having so much fun that he could even be heard multitasking as he sang while navigating the nighttime traffic.
“EUROPEAN ROLL BABYYYYY,” he wrote in the caption.
Jelly Roll also thanked Post Malone for giving him the opportunity to take the stage in Europe for the first time. This leg of the tour includes several headlining shows in cities such as Berlin, Frankfurt, Cologne, and Amsterdam. This tour marks a significant moment in his career, as his past felony convictions previously prevented him from obtaining a passport and touring internationally.
Jelly Roll Keeps The Milestones Coming
There’s no denying that seeing Jelly Roll both live on stage and on social media, there has been a very notable change in his appearance over the past few years. His latest weight loss update took place during a visit to the Tennessee Titans, where he gave a motivational speech to the NFL team before their pre-season games and in doing so, revealed he has officially lost 200 pounds.
But the “Liar” singer isn’t stopping there. He joked that he made a deal with Titans coach, Brian Callahan, solidifying that if he lost another 50 pounds, he would get a contract to join the team.
From day one of his health journey that began in December of 2022, the Antioch native has been open about his progress and setbacks. And the more weight he losses, the more goals he sets for himself as a form of motivation to keep going.
“I started at 540 pounds and I was 357 pounds this morning,” Jelly Roll said during an appearance on PPG Paints Arena show, “Pat McAfee’s Big Night Aht,” back in April. “I’m gonna lose another 100 pounds and go skydiving with my wife in Sweden, baby!”
Overcoming His Battle With Food
To help him stay on track, he has been staying active and working with a nutritionist to come up with meals that are both healthy and delicious. This made a huge impact on his journey, as he’s previously shared that food was one of the biggest challenges he faced when it came to his battle to lose weight.
“If you’re really battling obesity, you got to start at the dinner table, man. The walking’s great, all the other stuff’s great, but you got to fight that addiction at the dinner table,” he told Fox News Digital.
His consistency has led to great success. Along the way, he admits that the relationship he’s had with food for the last 39 years has also seen a drastic change.
“I’ve never had a healthy relationship with food, so that was the hard part. But once you get into that discipline and commitment, it’s like an avalanche. Once that little snowball started rolling, it was on its way,” he explained to People Magazine last year.
Sharing this entire experience publicly has allowed Jelly Roll to connect with his fans on a whole new level.
“I want to be honest about my struggles with it with people. I wore it for so long,” he admitted during an appearance on his wife, Bunnie Xo’s Dumb Blonde Podcast.
“I think that people that become as big as I became, when they lose the weight, they’re kind of ashamed. They’re so ashamed that they go and hide and lose the weight, and then they come back out, and they don’t really know how to interact with the world, looking different or feeling different, you know? And they kind of got to find their whole new way.”
He later told his wife that one of his other current goals is to “be on the cover of ‘Men’s Health’ by March of 2026.”
Touring Europe Before Heading To Australia And New Zealand
Jelly Roll continues to show that dedication, consistency, and a positive mindset can transform not just the body, but the entire outlook on life. As he sets his sights on new goals, both personal and professional, fans can watch him embrace this new chapter throughout the remainder of his European tour dates.
Then in October, he will head over to Australia and New Zealand for dates with Shaboozey.
A full list of Jelly Roll’s upcoming performances can be found on his official website.
The post Jelly Roll Celebrates New Milestone In Incredible 200-Pound Weight Loss appeared first on Country Now.
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As Lainey Wilson navigated her career, going from a budding singer/songwriter living in a camper trailer to becoming an ACM and CMA Entertainer of the Year, she was fortunate to have the guidance of other leading ladies, including Miranda Lambert, Reba McEntire, and Wynonna Judd, who helped her navigate the highs and lows of the music industry. Those early lessons and support were invaluable for Wilson, who is also a GRAMMY award winner and a Grand Ole Opry member.
Now at the top of her game, Wilson is paying it forward, taking rising star Ella Langley under her wing. The Louisiana native believes strongly in sharing her wisdom and experience, just as others did for her, helping the next generation of country artists find their way in the music industry.
“I mean, Miranda was that person for me, and I know that she is also that person for Ella too. But I just think about the wisdom that people have passed on to me. I mean, folks like Miranda and Reba and Wynonna, and all the ladies,” she explained during a conversation with Country Nights Live with Bev Rainey.
Wilson pointed out that a lot of them have experienced similar situations and gone through the same things, just in different decades.
@withbevrainey Country queens lift each other up. 👑 Lainey’s got Ella’s back! #CountryNightsLive #LaineyWilson #BevRainey #EllaLangley #WomenInCountry @Lainey Wilson @Ella Langley ♬ original sound – Country Nights Live
“You’ve got to pass on that wisdom. You can’t keep it off for yourself,” she insisted. “It’s like these people have been more than willing to just pour loads of wisdom into me. And I love Ella and she is like a sister, and I just see her and I think she’s one of the most talented people in this business, and so it’s important for me to check in on her and just be there for her if she needs me.”
Ella Langley is currently on an extended break from the road after announcing plans to cancel all of her August concerts.
Earlier this year, Langley revealed that she opened up to Lambert and Wilson about feeling a sense of imposter syndrome around the time her career was skyrocketing at the ACM Awards.
“I was actually just talking to Lainey and Miranda about this. I was like, ‘My imposter syndrome. What do you mean? How can I be in the same category as you two?’” Langley revealed. “That doesn’t make sense to me.”
Wilson and Lambert were there to offer her advice, just as other female artists did for them.
Meanwhile, Lainey Wilson recently launched her Whirlwind World Tour and released her Whirlwind (Deluxe) project. The extended Whirlwind record includes the project’s 14 original songs, the new extended edition features five additional tracks: “Bell Bottoms Up,” “King Ranch, King George, King James,” “Yesterday, All Day, Every Day,” “Peace, Love, and Cowboys” and the chart-climbing “Somewhere Over Laredo.”
The post Lainey Wilson Opens Up About Supporting Ella Langley: ‘You’ve Got to Pass on That Wisdom’ appeared first on Country Now.
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Drew Baldridge experienced the impact of his music firsthand when he got to spend time with Lizzie, a young St. Jude patient who was diagnosed with a brain tumor at just 18 months old.
In a new video package for St. Jude, Baldridge sat down with Lizzie and her family and performed his song “Tough People.” Since the story penned by Baldridge with Adam Sanders, Jordan Walker and Luke Combs was inspired by those who persevere through difficult times, the young girl was able to resonate with the moving lyrics in wake of her immense challenges.
The country act, who has visited the hospital multiple times over the years and has been a longtime supporter, described the encounter as “incredibly humbling.” He explained to Country Now how he immediately felt Lizzie’s strength and the immense love that her parents surround her with.
“It honestly put everything into perspective for me. I just felt honored to be able to share that time with them,” he admitted.
Seeing Lizzie and her family have such a strong reaction to “Tough People” made the Patoka, IL native very emotional.
“‘Tough People’ is already such a personal song for me, but watching Lizzie light up and connect to it in her own way made it even more powerful. It reminded me why I do what I do—music has this ability to heal and inspire that’s bigger than all of us.”
The song was originally born from a time when Baldridge needed to remind himself to never give up, no matter how hard life can get. While seeing fans resonate with his powerful words each night on stage is the “greatest reward,” according to Baldridge, getting to share it in an acoustic and intimate fashion with Lizzie was a moment he will never forget.
“Hearing that a song I wrote or recorded gave someone comfort or strength. It’s the kind of thing that makes all the long nights and hard work worth it. I don’t take that for granted for a second.”
Just like many people feel when they hear the song, Drew Baldridge walked away from his time with the young patient feeling inspired by her strength and her family’s “resilience.”
“It reminded me not to take things for granted and to keep pushing forward, no matter the obstacles,” he explained. “I think she gave me just as much, if not more, than I gave her that day.”
Located in Memphis, Tennessee, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital is recognized as a leading center for pediatric cancer research. The hospital focuses on discovering cures for children facing cancer and other serious diseases through innovative research and treatments. Lizzie is just one of the thousands of patients St. Jude cares for each year from across the United States and around the world.
“St. Jude gives hope to families in some of their hardest moments, and if I can play even a small part in lifting someone’s spirits, I want to do that. I’ve been given this platform through music, and I think it’s important to use it for something that matters beyond the stage,” Baldridge continued.
Lizzie has faced immense challenges throughout her health journey, but thanks to new treatments at St. Jude, she is now “getting stronger every day.”
Baldridge has continued his streak of recording songs that touch hearts everywhere with his newest release, “Deserve Her.” He explained that the minute this song came to life with his co-writers Harper Grace and Kyle Schlienger, he knew it was going to be an important message for both boys and girls to hear.
“It talks about knowing a woman’s worth and that you can’t just ‘want her’, but you gotta ‘Deserve Her.’ The second verse might be one of my favorite verses I’ve ever written. The words are so powerful and I hope millions of people get to hear this message.”
With even more music on the way, Drew Baldridge says he is excited to release music quicker than he ever has before. Additionally, he’s gearing up to live out his dreams of playing overseas with upcoming dates in Australia as part of Jelly Roll’s Down Under 2025 Tour, followed by hisfirst-ever headline tour in the UK/EU.
“Right now, I’m focused on putting together the best show I can and making sure the setlist tells my story and gives fans a night they won’t forget. And I am excited to explore a lot of new cities myself!”
The post Drew Baldridge Describes The ‘Humbling’ Experience Of Performing ‘Tough People’ For Young St. Jude Patient appeared first on Country Now.
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Even though it’s been less than a year since Cody Johnson released his Leather Deluxe project, he’s already thinking ahead. The Texas native revealed he’s hard at work on his next project and is ready to show fans a new, “spicier,” side to him.
With his previous work, fans have seen Johnson tackle themes of love, relationships, life in Texas, and so much more. And while he doesn’t want to stray too far from the kind of music that both he and fans yearn for, he’s also been feeding off the pressure to take his next project to the next level, leaving him inspired to push boundaries with slightly steamier tracks.
“I don’t want to go off the beaten path,” he told media, according to Everything Nash. “But I do want to do something just a little bit spicier. You’ve got to follow up. You hit a home run. Next time you come up to the plate, people are kind of expecting a homerun. And I feel that pressure. It’s a good pressure. That kind of pressure is a privilege to know that I’m in a position where I can really go hit it out of the park again.”
He confirmed that he is “definitely” working on recording new music. In fact, Johnson revealed that his creative wheels were starting to turn even before Leather Deluxe had been released to the world yet. Diving straight into his next project gives the country star plenty of time to figure out his next direction without feeling rushed by a strict deadline.
“I like to stay ahead of things. I cannot stand when things are chaotic and rushed,” he admitted. “I hate putting a date on something and then having to do it up to the date. I like organization and structure at work. Sometimes you can’t have that. It’s live music, it’s a music business. You gotta roll with the punches, and sometimes stuff happens like.”
It’s clear that Cody Johnson is taking his time to make sure that every decision, from artwork down to the theme, is being carefully considered before sharing too much information with his fans.
“I would say I’ve got a little bit of work for the rest of the year to get done with this record. I don’t want to talk a whole lot about it, because I’m still kind of playing with artwork and photography and the theme of this thing. I don’t want to ever do the same thing twice.”
He added, “I would say next year be expecting something.”
This news followed the recent celebration for Cody Johnson and Carrie Underwood’s No. 1 hit, “I’m Gonna Love You,” which appears on Leather Deluxe. The 13 additional tracks that make up this collection also includes his hit, “The Fall” as well as “How Do You Sleep At Night,” “C’mon Cowgirl,” “Take It Like A Man,” and more.
A full list of upcoming shows, including dates with Bailey Zimmerman and Jelly Roll across the U.S., Australia, the UK, Netherlands and Germany can be found on his official website.
The post Cody Johnson Confirms New Project In The Works, Teases ‘Spicier’ Music Ahead appeared first on Country Now.
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Formed in Tulsa, Oklahoma by siblings Charlie, Ronnie and Robert Wilson, The Gap Band emerged in the ’70s as one of scores of multi-membered, brass-heavy funk ensembles operating within the enormous musical shadows of Earth Wind & Fire and Parliament-Funkadelic. But by the turn of the decade, the group had well grown into its own identity – streamlining down to the Wilsons as a trio with a leaner sound to match. Produced by longtime collaborator Lonnie Simmons, the Gap Band’s biggest early ’80s hits were typically fueled by a post-disco funk stomp abundant with the catchiest synth licks outside of Prince and his Minneapolis minions, set against minor key melodies that conjured a distinct urgency.
Listen to The Gap Band IV now.
Crucial to that emotional resonance was lead singer Charlie Wilson. Possessed with a vocal elasticity across registers and a touch of Tulsa twang, he could command simple hooks and church-honed melisma alike as beautifully captured on Gap Band IV. The group’s sixth album overall – but more significantly as indicated by the title, its fourth since rebooting with Simmons – it presents the Gap Band at its creative and commercial peak. The first of two love-scorned uptempo classics, “Early in the Morning” commences with gurgling synth bass and thunderous claps revving up the track like some Funkenstein creature coming to life. Truly monstrous, however, is Charlie’s performance at the song’s climax, repeating “Early in the morning / In the middle of the day, baby / Late at night, baby / Everything will be alright,” unlocking layers of pathos with each invocation. IV’s other heartbreak party anthem, “You Dropped a Bomb On Me,” is even more memorable, merging haunted house Farfisa, plummeting bomb whistles, and impeccably timed tympani rolls into one of the great singles of the era.
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Where Gap Band IV exhibits additional breadth is in its non-dance numbers, fusing and blurring sensibilities true to the Wilsons’ Southwestern soul roots. (Gap is in fact an acronym for Greenwood, Archer, and Pine Streets in the historically African-American business district of Tulsa.) The lovely “Lonely Like Me” could be a country/pop tune sans steel guitar, or a lost Stevie Wonder song – or more likely, a stylistic cousin to Stevie’s own Charlie and Ronnie Wilson-assisted countrified 1980 hit “I Ain’t Gonna Stand For It.” The beautifully somber “Season’s No Reason to Change,” a long-beloved album cut with R&B listeners, boasts enough encoded C&W appeal to claim Tim McGraw as a fan.
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And if the trio’s previous quiet storm gem “Yearning For Your Love” set the precedent for how well their skills translated to mid-tempo material, “Outstanding” outdoes all expectations. Based around an irresistible syncopated piano phrase and delivered vocally by Charlie with all the charisma of his composite gifts, it’s the rare tune that can convey romance, nostalgia, innocence, and allure alternately or all at once depending on the context or one’s mood. It also features one of the greatest deployments of negative space in modern music history: the three-beat pause that separates the line “Girl you knock me out” and the echoey handclap that answers it. To which one can only conclude that one sublime Gap deserves another.
Listen to The Gap Band IV now.
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