Is ‘The Life of a Showgirl’ the country music comeback Swifties have been waiting for? Continue reading…
The Boot – Country Music News, Music Videos and Songs
Month: August 2025
If you’ve listened to Bailey Zimmerman’s sophomore album Different Night Same Rodeo, you may have noticed that there is an unidentified voice on track number 13, “These Nights.” Mackenzie Carpenter has since stepped forward to declare herself the “mystery girl” featured on the background vocals of the song.
Carpenter began dropping some not-so-subtle hints when she shared a video to her own official TikTok page lip-syncing to Zimmerman’s tune. The suspicious look on her face was an easy clue, but it was the text on the screen that really sold it. She wrote, “y’all who is this mysterious girl on the Bailey Zimmerman song?”
Zimmerman then jumped into the comment section to praise her talent, stating that she “ATE ON THIS SONG🔥”
@mackcarpmusic @Bailey Zimmerman ♬ These Nights – Bailey Zimmerman
The singer/songwriter then confirmed that she is the voice during an interview with E Dose Daily backstage of the Boots and Hearts festival in Burl’s Creek, ON.
“Have you listened to Bailey Zimmerman’s new record?” Carpenter asked the interviewer before proudly stating, “I’m the mystery girl. I’m the mystery girl.”
@edosedaily Holy Smokes! 👀 @Mackenzie Carpenter is the mystery girl on @Bailey Zimmerman’s new album. 👀Have you caught which song she’s on yet? 🎶🤠 @Katie Colley @Boots and Hearts #baileyzimmerman #mackenziecarpenter #newmusic #countrymusic #differentnightsamerodeo #bootslife ♬ original sound – RandomSongs
Penned by Mary Kutter, Brad Wagner, Nora Collins and Randall Fowler, “These Nights” offers a powerful message of healing and strength as the character breaks free from the restraints of a painful breakup. Zimmerman takes listeners on the emotional journey of moving on from a past relationship.
While the narrator admits that something as simple as hearing a specific song will bring back memories of his former love connection, he can now confidently say that he’s no longer holding on what could have been. The chorus reveals a newfound strength as he is longer afraid of being haunted by thoughts of their ex.
As Bailey Zimmerman’s signature gritty vocals depict the story, Carpenter’s tender voice subtly weaves underneath, allowing both of them to bring the narrative to life.
“I really shined in the second verse,” Carpenter added as she pointed out the portion of the song where her vocals stand out the most.
She went on to gush over not just this song, but the project as a whole, and shared her appreciation to be included in Zimmerman’s latest piece of work.
“There’s so many amazing songs in that record. It was kind of a little last-minute thing I jumped in and I’m so glad I did. I think that song turned out amazing.”
Different Night Same Rodeo dropped Friday, August 8 via Atlantic Records/Warner Music Nashville and follows Bailey Zimmerman’s debut album Religiously. The Album.
Earlier this year, Mackenzie Carpenter released a must-hear project of her own with her debut album, Hey Country Queen, which droppedon March 7. This project featured 13 tracks, each of which Carpenter is a co-writer on. The project features everything from confident girl anthems like “Cowgirl Like Me,” to moments of reflection on “Jesus, I’m Jealous,” acoustic ballads like “The Other Side” and the sass-filled “Dozen Red Flags.”
Mackenzie Carpenter will finish out her summer with various festival performances before joining Jordan Davis on the road this September and October in support of his upcoming fall trek, the Ain’t Enough Road Tour.
The post Mackenzie Carpenter Revealed As ‘Mystery Girl’ On New Bailey Zimmerman Album appeared first on Country Now.
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Shania Twain has always been deeply involved in her styling and stage design. Early in her career, she admits she had to be creative when it came to finding looks that stayed within her limited budget. At the time, the songstress didn’t think much of the simple wardrobe pieces she was putting together, but now, she knows that she was actually building what would later become a signature style that continues to inspire country fans to this day. And she did it all without the help of big budgets and fancy designers.
“I just didn’t have the budget for the styling, so I just did it myself,” she previously shared in an interview with CBS News.
Twain then revealed she styled herself for two music videos of some of her most iconic songs using items from common stores like Target or straight from her closet.
“The wardrobe for ‘Any Man of Mine’ and ‘Whose Bed Have Your Boots Been Under’—I just went to Target. And then the denim on denim, which has become quite a fun thing for fans to wear, that was just out of my closet,” Twain explained.
Recreate Shania Twain’s Iconic Looks
Even though both music videos debuted in the mid-90s, these looks have stood the test of time. In fact, fans can easily recreate similar ensembles today using pieces from Target’s current clothing collection.
To channel Shania Twain’s style from these iconic music videos, we’ve compiled a few key pieces that will help recreate her look using today’s modern fashion.
Starting off with “Any Man of Mine,” the Canadian singer/songwriter spends the majority of the clips dancing around a farm and singing along to the confident, upbeat anthem while wearing in a casual denim set equipped with blue jeans, a cropped denim vest, a white tank top and a brown belt.
The current selection of women’s clothing features similar products including the Sleeveless Cropped Denim Trucker Vest and the Slim Fit Scoopneck Tank Top, both from the brand Wild Fable, Levi’s® Women’s Wedgie Jeans, and to cap it all off, the brown Laser Cut Belt from the brand A New Day.
When it comes to the video for 1995’s “Whose Bed Have Your Boots Been Under,” the country music star got a bit more dressed up as walks into a smoky country-style restaurant full of men donning a sultry red halter dress with a deep v-neck. She takes on the role of a seemingly invisible figure who moves through the establishment interacting with the men who cannot see her. The whole time, she’s leaning into the song’s message of a woman confronting a cheating partner.
Fans can channel their inner detective and test their man’s faithfulness while rocking a similar dress from Target – the Allegra K Spaghetti Straps Sleeveless Ruched Twist Front Pencil Dress or opt for a shorter version with the INSPIRE CHIC Halter Party Deep V Neck Backless Layer dress.
Both “Any Man Of Mine” and “Whose Bed Have Your Boots Been Under” appear on Shania Twain’s second album, The Woman in Me. More than two decades later, her ability to turn simple, accessible pieces into unforgettable looks proves that authentic style doesn’t always have to break the budget. It’s safe to say that Twain’s legacy will continue to inspire fans and artists for many more decades to come.
The post Shania Twain Styled Her Iconic ’90s Music Videos With Target Finds and Closet Staples appeared first on Country Now.
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Dolly Parton celebrated the premiere of Dolly: A True Original Musical in Nashville on Friday (Aug. 8) with a star-studded red carpet event and a surprise appearance on stage following the show’s finale.
The musical tells the story of Parton’s life, from a young girl in the Smoky Mountains of East Tennessee to becoming one of the world’s biggest stars. The show features some of Parton’s biggest hits, like “I Will Always Love You,” “Jolene,” “Coat of Many Colors,” and “9 to 5, “ as well as new songs she wrote specifically for the musical.
Ahead of the premiere at the Fisher Center for the Performing Arts on the campus of Belmont University, Parton spoke with Country Now about her decision to bring her life story to the stage.
“I just thought it was a good story to tell and I wanted to tell it while I was still living, and I could get it out there the way that I wanted it done. And so I thought it was a good story,” she explained. “And since I write songs, I thought, well, I could write a lot of music for a show rather than just having it done as a movie, which we may still do that later, but I thought it would make a good Broadway show.”
Dolly: A True Original Musical features a terrific cast, including Katie Rose Clarke as ‘Dolly Parton,’ Carrie St. Louis as ‘Dolly,’ and young Quinn Titcomb as ‘Little Dolly.’
Clarke tells us she grew up listening to Dolly Parton and says that landing this role was “an honor of a lifetime.”
When it came to preparing to portray an icon like Parton, she says it felt as though her whole life had been leading up to this role.
“It was sort of just a lifelong preparation and my best friend growing up is from the Smoky Mountains, so I even kind of knew that region and the dialect. And so it was sort of like everything in my life had prepared me for this unknowingly,” she shared. “I mean, I think God just used everything in my life leading up to now to sort of be able to equip me to do this.”
St. Louis deemed this moment a “dream come true” and revealed she has spent “lots and lots of hours” preparing to step into Parton’s shoes.
“I’ve been in guitar lessons, yodeling lessons, vocal coachings, accent coachings. I just knew that if I got this opportunity, I wanted to do everything and anything to make it the best because she deserves the best and I just want to do her justice and have even just a pinky toe of her charisma and talent,” she said. “So a lot of hours of preparation, but also listening to Dolly Parton all day and trying to be more like Dolly Parton. You can’t lose.”
Directed by Tony Award winner Bartlett Sher, and choreography by Emmy Award winner Mandy Moore, the musical also features John Zdorjeski as ‘Porter Wagoner,’ GRAMMY and Outer Critics Circle Award nominee John Behlmann as ‘Carl Dean,’ Jacob Fishel as ‘Sandy Gallin,’ Tabitha Lawing as ‘Little Judy Ogle,’ Tony Award nominee Beth Malone as ‘Judy Ogle,’ and Danny Wolohan as ‘Uncle Bill.
The musical is produced by Parton, Danny Nozell, ATG Productions, and Gavin Kalin Productions, and is expected to make its Broadway debut in 2026.
Fans can catch Dolly: A True Original Musical in Nashville through August 31, 2025.
The post Dolly Parton on Turning Her Life Into a Musical: ‘It Was a Good Story to Tell’ appeared first on Country Now.
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Ashley McBryde is experiencing vocal issues and has been forced to cancel her concert appearances this week.
She took to social media to share the news with fans on Monday afternoon.
“My voice has been struggling over the past few weeks, and as much as it pains me, I won’t be able to play my shows this week,” she wrote. “My doctors have made it crystal clear: my voice needs complete rest to heal.”
She concluded her post by thanking fans for showing her grace, writing, “There’s nothing I want more than to be back giving you 100%. Thank you for understanding. I’ll see you soon.”
The GRAMMY winner has been battling vocal issues since last week. During this time, she revealed she was on vocal rest and encouraged fans to communicate with her using American Sign Language.
In a recent social media video, McBryde held up signs with written messages to share her update. Adding a fun twist, someone off-camera humorously voiced her words as she held up each sign.
“Hi guys. So…I hurt my throat. So no talking if I want to be able to sing to you. This would be a good time to practice some ASL,” she wrote. “Say things like Hi! Nice to meet you! Good to see you! That way we don’t have to cancel meet and greets. Let’s try together.”
She proceeded to communicate using ASL and captioned the clip: “Trybe, doc says I’m working on busted up vocal cords. The last thing I wanna do is cancel any meet greets or Heaven forbid SHOWS. So let’s try this for this week!”
According to her website, Ashley McBryde’s next scheduled shows are set for the weekend of August 22 and August 23 in Tampa, Florida and Orange Beach, Alabama.
McBryde recently shared plans to open Redemption Bar inside Eric Church’s Chief’s on Broadway in Nashville. It will serve as a welcoming space for those who are sober, serving up N-A drinks, including creative mocktails.
“As someone who is three years sober, the typical response to ‘do you have anything Non-Alcoholic?’ is either ‘why did you come to a bar if you aren’t gonna drink?’ or ‘you can have soda water and a lime I guess.’ Some of my favorite places to socialize became wildly unaccommodating when the only thing that changed was what was in my cup,” she shared with Rolling Stone. “It was vital that I create a space where not drinking is the forethought – normalized. You can get alcohol drinks in Redemption too, because everyone is welcome.”
The concept will open up this fall.
The post Ashley McBryde Cancels Shows Amid Vocal Issues: ‘My Voice Needs Complete Rest to Heal’ appeared first on Country Now.
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The famous Crystal Palace in Bakersfield, CA, opened by the late legendary singer, songwriter and guitarist, Buck Owens, will soon close its doors after nearly three decades.
The Owens family took to social media to share the disheartening news with fans and in doing so expressed their pride in the venue’s special legacy.
“We are extremely proud of the legacy of the Crystal Palace…For over 28 years we brought the best of local and national entertainment to Bakerfield, served great food, and hosted thousands of special occasions for thousands of special people and families. Although Buck left us in 2006, we continued to maintain the excellence that he expected, striving to carry out his dream.”
According to the family, a “challenging business climate,” paired with their desire to step back from management, led to the difficult decision. They shared their hope that a new owner will take over so that the beloved venue can live on. Until its final day, the establishment plans to honor as many existing commitments as possible.
“Now, a challenging business climate plus the wishes of the Owens family members to step back from the responsibilities of management require finally shutting the doors. It is our hope that new owners will step forward to utilize this beautiful venue. Meanwhile we will do our best to fulfill scheduled commitments we’ve made in the coming months.”
The statement closed with gratitude for the Bakersfield community as well as Buck’s fans all over the world for their years of support.
“We know Buck would want us to thank the people of Bakersfield and fans from around the world for all of the support over the past years. We will miss you all.”
News of the closure sparked an outpouring of emotion from fans, many of whom shared cherished memories of the venue and expressed their hope that it will continue to be preserved under new ownership. Some urged the city to step in and keep the Crystal Palace alive, suggesting it should be declared as a landmark.
“The city needs to purchase this and keep it going . This is a landmark and Buck made Bakersfield what it is today.”
“Always had fun there and always looked forward to going there. Thank you Buck and Family”
“So disappointed. I was there for the Dive bar concert featuring Garth Brooks in 2019. It was my 1st time flying from Alabama to Bakersfield and had a wonderful time there. I remembered the staff was so friendly and made us felt so welcomed.”
“Bummer! My parents took me there a few times to see Buck perform in the 90’s. I always hoped to play there someday.”
“This is sad:-( I’ve seen many concerts with friends there and always enjoyed it. I actually got to meet Blake Shelton there when right after Austin came out. Good memories”
Crystal Palace opened in October of October 1996 and quickly became an esteemed country music venue in the West Coast. With this establishment, which served as a nightclub, restaurant and museum, Owen’s dreams of booking well established acts and rising stars came true.
Owens himself even played there many times. Alongside his band, the Buckaroos, the popular act would take the stage Friday and Saturday nights in a more laid-back fashion that resembled his early in his career when he took requests from the audience simply enjoyed the act of performing.
The “My Heart Skips a Beat” singer made his mark on the venue until his very last day. It was only fitting that Crystal Palace would be the last place he ever performed in his career.
On Friday, March 24, 2006, despite feeling unwell, a couple of excited fans gave him the energy to deliver his typical 90-minute set. He returned home to his ranch that evening and died in his sleep in the early morning of March 25.
His family and Foundation have continued to honor Buck Owens’ legacy by managing the Crystal Palace in a way that reflects how they believe he would have wanted. The influence of his image and career has never faded, thanks to their efforts.
When asked several years before his passing how he hoped to be remembered, Buck humbly said, “I think I’m gonna be remembered the same way that people remember me today. There’s gonna be those that liked me and those that didn’t like me. I’d like just to be remembered as a guy that came along and did his music, did his best and showed up on time, clean and ready to do the job, wrote a few songs, and had a hell of a time.”
The exact timing of the closure has yet to be shared, but a few upcoming events are still on scheduled on the official website, including Buck Owens’ weekend birthday celebration on August 8 and 9.
The post End Of An Era: Buck Owens’ Crystal Palace In Bakersfield, California Announces Closure appeared first on Country Now.
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Boosie Badazz isn’t letting a looming federal court date stop him from hitting the stage or throwing his annual pool bash, and he’s reassuring fans, it’s business as usual—for now.
The Baton Rouge rapper made it clear this week that all of his scheduled performances — including his signature summer party — are still happening, despite his upcoming surrender tied to a federal plea deal.
“My DM full,” he began. “A lot of people in my DM tripping about my shows in September because I go for my plea August 26th. But that ain’t how it go in fed court. Once you take a plea, your sentencing ain’t till two, three months after it. So I’m gonna be at every show, of course.”
Boosie also confirmed that his annual pool party is still on deck.
“Pool party still going on,” he said. “It’s still gonna be crazy. Link in the bio for the tickets. But, all my fans across the world, it’s just a plea that I’m doing on August 26. That’s it, baby.”
He added once more, “I’ll be at all my shows.”
The legal trouble stems from a June 2023 incident in San Diego, where federal agents discovered firearms in Boosie’s vehicle.
Because of a 2011 felony drug conviction, he was charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm — a federal offense.
Though California state charges were dismissed earlier this year following legal debates over Second Amendment rights, federal prosecutors refiled the case with adjustments.
Boosie Reveals He Took Plea Deal After Speaking To Family
That led to Boosie’s decision to accept a plea deal, which he announced earlier this month on social media.
“JUST ACCEPTED A PLEA FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT ON MY GUN CASE. I THOUGHT THIS CASE WAS OVER AND I WAS GOING TO GET ON WITH MY LIFE BUT ‘GOD DON’T MAKE MISTAKES’ AND I’M TIRED OF FIGHTING!!” he wrote. “TALKED TO MY FAMILY AND THIS IS THE RIGHT DECISION. TO ALL MY FANS ACROSS THE WORLD SAY A PRAYER…”
The specific terms of the plea agreement, including sentencing guidelines or what charges he admitted to, have not been made public.
A court hearing is scheduled for August 26.
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John Leguizamo flamed Dean Cain online after the former Superman actor said he’s training to be an ICE agent and proudly announced it like it was some kind of flex.
The Ice Age actor hopped on Instagram with a video and let loose on Cain, dragging his whole plan through the mud.
“What kind of loser volunteers to be an ICE officer?” Leguizamo said. “What a m####. Dean Cain, your pronouns are has/been.”
Cain, who hasn’t been on a major screen in years but is still riding that Lois & Clark nostalgia, didn’t come back swinging.
Instead, he kept it weirdly chill and dropped a post on X saying, “He’s a good actor – I like his stuff,” in response to an article from The Hollywood Reporter that covered Leguizamo’s comments.
Cain told Fox News Digital he’s getting into ICE work for the same reasons he got into law enforcement ten years ago—he says it’s about protecting people.
He added, “Our ICE agents, who are amazing men and women, are incredible. And they’re black, and they are brown and green and yellow and Japanese and whatever. They’re a cross-section of Americans.”
Then he doubled down on his stance, saying ICE is “doing the job of deporting people who are here illegally.”
Cain first blew up in the 90s as Clark Kent on Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman, but lately he’s been more about politics than prime time.
Leguizamo, meanwhile, has been vocal about his views on immigration and representation for years, and clearly he’s not vibing with Cain’s latest career move.
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Iggy Azalea has revealed that she did indeed rake in a jaw-dropping amount from her OnlyFans hustle, while fighting through a private medical scare that messed up her legs.
The Aussie rapper told ABC News she made “a life-changing number” on the platform, even though the $48 million figure floating around isn’t quite accurate.
“I’m no fool. I’ve been paid before I even made the profile. I was the top for that year. I barely, honestly… I didn’t have to do much,” she said. “It’s not $48 million. That’s not the exact number, but it’s a life-changing number. It’s a little lower. It was great for me because I was able to take all that money and use it to seed out ideas I had about businesses that I wanted to build.”
She first hopped on OnlyFans in January 2023 as part of her “Hotter Than Hell” project.
It was a mix of visuals, collabs, merch and the kind of spicy content that Instagram doesn’t allow.
At $25 a month, she quickly became one of the highest-paid creators on the platform. The money was great, but behind the scenes, Iggy was fighting through something way heavier.
She said she suffered nerve damage in her legs, which turned into a nasty infection that wouldn’t heal. And while she was dealing with IV treatments through a PICC line, she was still pushing content to keep her OnlyFans booming.
“I just ended up getting what’s called a chronically non-healing wound because I had a PICC line in my arm. We would take the PICC line out and then take hot bikini pictures for a day or two,” she said. “I turned lemons into lemonade with that. I really did.”
While some might’ve expected straight adult content, Iggy said the page was more about freedom and creative control.
She used the platform to bypass the usual online restrictions and connect in her own way. For about a year, she kept the page hot, promoting it with sultry Polaroids and bikini shots.
Eventually, she walked away from OnlyFans, saying she wanted to build something more community-driven and shifted her audience over to Telegram.
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Finesse2Tymes is getting blasted by his own mom over money, clout and what she says is straight-up disrespect while she’s out here scrambling to stay off the streets.
Finesse2Tymes’ mother, Pluria Alexander, hopped online and let her son have it, claiming he dropped millions on weed, groupies and jewelry while she’s packing up her stuff and facing eviction.
In a no-filter rant, she called him out for turning his back on her and warned that karma’s coming for his bank account.
“You spend four million m###########’ dollars on n##### and b######. Weed. Flyin’ m############ back and forth,” Alexander said. “That’s what you spend your money on. Jewelry. You ain’t spend it on family. You done spend it on family. And when a m########### dead, guess what? They gotta do something for it. It ain’t genuine. Keep your money.”
She dragged him for being disrespectful after she called him a narcissist, saying he ran to post pictures instead of checking on her.
“I pushed you out this ass, n####. You don’t disrespect me,” she declared in the heated exchange, later doubling down with, “You disrespectful, boy. You disrespectful as a m###########. And you need your ass whooped.”
She accused the rapper of deliberately posting an image online after she called him out, describing it as a calculated move meant to humiliate her. The verbal assault continued with a vow to cut ties: “I swear to God, you ain’t never gotta do a m###########’ thing for me again.”
She says this is the third time she’s been left homeless by her own son. She also said the stress has triggered anxiety and what she calls “narcissistic abuse” from Finesse.
Before things blew up, she lived in Memphis. But after moving to Texas, her life went downhill. She’s also caught up in a money laundering case that she says came from being scammed by Nigerian fraudsters.
That situation made it tough to get approved for a new place, and she’s reportedly been denied by three different apartments.
She’s asking for help to cover deposits, transportation and housing so she can stay near family while handling her legal mess and mental health.
As for Finesse2Tymes, his mother said she was done with her own son.
“I don’t want your dirty money. Cause you ain’t gonna have it long. God gonna make sure of that,” Alexander said.
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