Lauren Alaina is reflecting on the emotional and frightening birth of her daughter, Beni Doll Arnold, and the special meaning behind her arrival. Continue reading…
Country Music News – Taste of Country
![<a href="https://tasteofcountry.com/lauren-alaina-scary-birth-daughter-beni/" target="_blank">Lauren Alaina Shares ‘Scary’ Birth Story of Baby Girl [WATCH]</a>](https://townsquare.media/site/204/files/2025/08/attachment-promo-63.jpg?format=natural)
Month: August 2025
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The Boot – Country Music News, Music Videos and Songs
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The Boot – Country Music News, Music Videos and Songs
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The Boot – Country Music News, Music Videos and Songs
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The Boot – Country Music News, Music Videos and Songs
The newest trailer for ‘The Road’ reveals exactly what the winning artist will take home — and it’s a prize worth fighting for. Continue reading…
The Boot – Country Music News, Music Videos and Songs
Lauren Alaina is reflecting on the emotional and frightening birth of her daughter, Beni Doll Arnold, and the special meaning behind her arrival. Continue reading…
The Boot – Country Music News, Music Videos and Songs
For the ninth biennial Stand Up To Cancer® event (SU2C) some of the biggest names in country music and beyond have come together for a very special televised fundraiser. This star-studded event celebrates the power of music and community while raising vital funds for cancer research.
Fans who tune in can look forward to an unforgettable evening filled with incredible performances and memorable moments from their favorite artists who came together with a shared mission to fight cancer and bring hope to millions around the world.
Here’s everything you need to know before the upcoming broadcast.
When And How To Tune In
The one-hour, commercial-free special will be broadcast simultaneously on more than 30 media platforms across the U.S. on Friday, August 15, at 8 p.m. ET and PT / 7 p.m. CT. All four major U.S. broadcast networks are joining the effort by donating their prime-time slots to support the cause.
Additionally, the telecast will be available on-demand across various digital and streaming platforms, offering viewers flexible access to this must-see, one-night-only event.
For the first time ever, the broadcast will take place at Nashville’s newest venue, The Pinnacle. This premier venue is located in the heart of Music City.
Who’s Performing
The telecast will be hosted by Grammy® Award-winning artist Sheryl Crow along with SU2C co-founder Katie Couric who will be offering remarks throughout the evening.
Crow will also joins a stellar performance lineup that features country artists such as Marcus King, Brothers Osborne, Jon Pardi, Jelly Roll, Dan + Shay, gospel singer, CeCe Winans who will be joined by Nashville Community Gospel Choir. Other popular acts like Jonas Brothers, Noah Cyrus and Gavin DeGraw will also join in the musical celebration that aims to support the SU2C’s mission and while honoring Nashville’s long legacy of storytelling and community.
Additional stars lending their talent to the cause with pre-recorded appearances include Kevin Bacon, Jamie Foxx, Tim McGraw, Zoe Saldaña, Reese Witherspoon, and Keith Urban.
Why Is This Evening So Important
This event is crucial as it highlights the latest breakthrough efforts made possible by Stand Up To Cancer-funded researchers, proving that ongoing support directly fuels advances in early detection and innovative treatments.
Viewers will hear firsthand from leading SU2C-funded researchers more about these recent advances and the never-ending fight against this disease. From breakthroughs in early detection to innovative treatments, the stories of survivors showcase the real impact of SU2C-funded research and the hope it provides to patients and their families.
Leading up to the broadcast, the #Up2Us to #StandUpToCancer campaign launched for its fifth year. This month-long fundraiser will run through Sunday, August 31 with creators across Twitch, TikTok, Facebook, and YouTube joining the effort to support cancer research. The campaign features a variety of livestream content, from gaming to other engaging genres, where popular streamers like Tess Bohne, Neebs Gaming, Trisha Hershberger, and others will host fundraising streams to raise awareness and support SU2C’s mission.
Additionally, SMOSH and Marissa Hill are among the YouTube creators attending the SU2C telecast.
The post Everything You Need To Know About Stand Up To Cancer’s Ninth Televised Fundraising Special appeared first on Country Now.
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Growing up, Tim McGraw never imagined the kind of opportunities that would be waiting for him outside of his small hometown in Louisiana. But when he discovered that his real dad was Tug McGraw, a Major League Baseball pitcher and World Series champion, this revelation didn’t just change how he saw his family, it changed how he saw himself.
While he and his father may have had a rocky start, McGraw says the truth gave him something incredibly powerful: hope.
“People ask me, ‘How could you have a relationship with your father? You were growing up in nothing. He was a millionaire baseball player. He knew you were there, and he didn’t do anything,’” the country icon told Esquire. “But when I found out Tug McGraw was my dad, it gave me something in my little town in Louisiana, something that I would have never reached for. How could I ever be angry?”
Tim McGraw didn’t meet Tug until he was 11 years old. For most of his upbringing, he was under the impression that his stepfather, Horace Smith, was his biological dad. The stumbled upon this life-changing discovery completely by accident. He had just moved in with his grandparents following his mother’s divorce to his stepdad and he was searching through a closet when he found his birth certificate.
“It said my dad’s full name and it said his occupation was professional baseball player. And it was pretty much a shock. … I thought there had been some sort of mistake,” he explained in an interview with NPR.
Before McGraw had any idea of who his real father was, he was a true fan of Tug’s MLB career.
“Oddly enough, I had three baseball cards on my wall. I can’t remember the first one, one was César Cedeño and the third one was Tug, [who] I had up on my wall because he was one of my favorite players, believe it or not.”
Naturally, McGraw felt the instant desire to meet his biological father. So his mom contacted Tug’s lawyer, borrowed a car that could make the trip, and drove them to Houston, where a few tickets were waiting for them at the box office for the game.
The “Paper Umbrellas” singer’s first attempt at connecting with his father was hopeful but complicated. He recalls tossing a ball with Tug during batting practice and sharing a brief lunch. But the moment was quickly overcome with uncertainty as he recalls Tug telling him, “We can be friends, but I don’t know if I’m your dad or not.”
Tim McGraw still didn’t give up hope for their relationship. He returned to Houston the following year, this time wearing a jersey with Tug’s name and number. Standing in the Astrodome bullpen, calling out to his dad, he recalled being ignored by his father throughout the entire game. That painful moment marked the last time he saw Tug until he was 18 years old.
The pair eventually grew a stronger bond, and McGraw can honestly say that he never had any resentment towards his father for his early absence. Because at the end of the day, he still remembers that hope that he could achieve dreams far beyond his small town.
Since his father’s passing from brain cancer, Tim McGraw has found meaningful ways to honor his legacy. He launched the Tug McGraw Foundation, a nonprofit dedicated to supporting individuals affected by “brain-related military trauma and glioblastoma through education, resources, and wellness programs.” Then in 2008, McGraw paid tribute in a deeply personal moment. He attended the World Series to scatter his father’s ashes on the pitcher’s mound and threw out the first pitch in Game 3.
Now, he’s preparing to honor Tug’s legacy once again by headlining the first-ever all-day concert event at the historic Field of Dreams in Dyersville, Iowa, on August 30.
The post Tim McGraw Says Discovering The Truth Of His Biological Dad Gave Him Hope appeared first on Country Now.
Country Now
It’s been just over two months since Lauren Alaina and her husband Cam Arnold welcomed their baby girl, Beni Doll Arnold. For the first time, Alaina is reflecting on that unforgettable day—June 11, 2025—and opening up about the challenges she faced during childbirth.
In an exclusive interview with Entertainment Tonight‘s Cassie DiLaura, the country star revealed that her first experience with birth was filled with fear and uncertainty.
“I haven’t even shared this actually, but the cord, her umbilical cord was wrapped around her neck and up under her shoulder and then between her legs. So every time I pushed her heart rate plummeted,” Alaina explained.
Things quickly escalated to an emergency situation as the doctors realized they needed to get Beni Doll out of that situation as quickly as possible. Understandably, Lauren Alaina recalls feeling all the stress of not knowing whether or not her daughter was going to pull through.
“I was very concerned about her. I mean, everyone was, they brought half of the NICU in there. It was a very scary time and I wasn’t sure if she was okay.”
Beni Doll arrived safe and healthy, weighing in at 7 lbs 13oz. and measuring 19 inches long. The Georgia native says she felt an instant bond the moment she held her daughter, while her husband stood by her side, overwhelmed with his own emotions.
“When they handed her to me, oh man, it makes me want to cry thinking about it. It was the best moment of my life” she said. “Genuinely, nothing will ever top that. I looked over at my husband and he was hysterically sobbing and he’s not a crier. Not a crier, and it was a beautiful moment.”
Since that unforgettable day, the new parents have dedicated their days to adjusting to their third family member. Alaina says it’s been “going great” and have been a lot of lessons learned in the process.
“First time mom, learning all the things, but she’s so sweet. I’m just obsessed with her. I literally stare at her all the time. That’s all I do is look at her and feed her and hold her and love on her,” she gushed.
Alaina stressed that she’s always wanted to be a mom, but she didn’t expect that chapter to start so soon after tying the knot with her husband in February 2024.
“She was a surprise. We were not trying yet. It was a big surprise. So I got ready pretty quick because she was coming and she’s the best thing that’s ever happened to me. It’s so crazy. People say, you don’t know a love like love your children. And I always heard that and it is so true. I can’t even explain it.”
When Cassie DiLaura asked the “All My Exes” singer how she’s doing mentally on this journey, Alaina answered honestly, noting that while she feels “great,” it has also been an emotional whirlwind. She went from losing her dad J.J. Suddeth suddenly on July 23, 2024 to learning that she would be bringing her first child into the world. And now, she’s gearing up to head back on the road. Between all the major life changes, Alaina has surely had her fair share of emotional ups and downs.
“It’s been an emotional journey for me, for sure. Mentally, I think I’m doing okay. I mean, I am just trying to figure her out and do what’s best for her and we’ve had some obstacles to overcome with breastfeeding and latching issues. I’m doing great. It’s just been such an adjustment,” she said. “I mean, it flipped my whole world upside down in the most beautiful way, but it’s like everything, every thought that I have, she’s first in every thought that I have, so everything comes second to her. It’s so crazy how immediately they put that baby on my chest and my whole world changed.”
While the couple isn’t ready to start talking about expanding their family again just yet, Alaina shared that they do hope to eventually have three or four kids in total. But in reality, she says they will be happy with whatever number of kids they end up with.
“I’m 30, so we got to figure that out. We’re going to enjoy her for now. And if we end up with two or just her, whatever our story is, we’ll be perfect.”
Lauren Alaina is next set to take the stage on August 28 in Evans, GA, followed by a handful of stops throughout October.
It was also just announced that starting in January of 2026, the “Little Things” singer will return to the road with Rascal Flatts for their extended LIFE IS A HIGHWAY TOUR.
The post Lauren Alaina Opens Up About Scary Birth Details: ‘I Wasn’t Sure If She Was Okay’ appeared first on Country Now.
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