Darius Rucker’s kids are eyeing music careers, but the country star’s got some reservations, and he’s not shy about sharing them. Continue reading…
The Boot – Country Music News, Music Videos and Songs
Day: October 29, 2025
Actually, the neck surgeries are just the start. Continue reading…
The Boot – Country Music News, Music Videos and Songs
His genuine kindness shines through. Continue reading…
The Boot – Country Music News, Music Videos and Songs
Lainey Wilson continues to show why she’s such a beloved role model, this time through her heartwarming reaction to a young fan’s emotional moment at one of her Whirlwind World Tour shows.
In a video originally shared by the girl’s mom, Tamara, the young fan can be seen watching the stage in anticipation. As the lights flash and Wilson’s voice fills the arena, her face lights up and she begins to scream with joy. Overwhelmed with emotion, tears quickly stream down her face as she takes in the moment of seeing her idol live for the first time.
Tamara captioned the clip, “When you’re just so excited to see @LaineyWilson for the first time!”
The touching video soon reached Wilson’s fiancé, Devlin “Duck” Hodges, who sent it to the country star. Wilson later stitched the video on TikTok, sharing her genuine reaction to the sweet moment, proving once again that her connection with fans runs deep.
“Duck just sent me this video and said I’ve gotta watch it,” Wilson says in her reaction video, smiling softly as the watches the sweet moment unfold.
@tamarabethhatcher When you’re just so excited to see @Lainey Wilson for the first time! #wwdd #laineywilson #cowgirls ♬ original sound – Tamara Beth Hatcher
The side-by-side video shows the Louisiana native’s real-time reaction to the video and it’s incredibly sweet.
“That scream, girl,” Wilson says and later adds, “Stop….you’re gonna make me cry.”
Before the video comes to a close, Wilson tells the girl, “Love you, sister!”
Tamara, the young girl’s mom, was quick to respond to the video stitch.
@laineywilson #duet with @Tamara Beth Hatcher #wwdd ♬ original sound – Tamara Beth Hatcher
“I cannot wait to show her this! She is going to melt. Thank you so much for being such a good influence to these girls,” she wrote.
This isn’t the first time Lainey Wilson has left a lasting impression on a young fan. Earlier this month, 4-year-old Amelia wowed the crowd at the Tiny Tot Pageant near her hometown with a heartfelt performance of Wilson’s latest hit, “Somewhere Over Laredo.”
The performance caught Wilson’s attention, and just days later, she invited Amelia and her family backstage at one of her concerts.
The meeting was every bit as sweet as you’d imagine. Wilson got down on Amelia’s level and sang the song with her, creating an unforgettable duet. The adorable moment was shared on social media, melting hearts everywhere.
The CMA Awards host has previously opened up about being a role model for young girls, telling People, “that pressure is going to hold me accountable.”
“But I know I have a lot of little people watching me, and watching what I wear, watching what I say,” Wilson added. “It’s important for me to make sure that I can lay my head down at night, and be proud of what I did or said.”
Lainey Wilson’s massive headlining tour is still underway and is set to wrap up in Orlando, FL on November 8. Her final show of the year will take place in Las Vegas on December 7.
The post Lainey Wilson Melts Hearts With Reaction to Young Fan’s Tearful Concert Moment appeared first on Country Now.
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Country Next: Ben Gallaher
With a strong love for ’90s country and a guitar always in his hand, Ben Gallaher has built a reputation as a triple-threat singer, songwriter, and guitarist. Now, known for creating melodic riffs and standout solos, Gallaher’s skills shine on his sophomore album, Time.
Starting out on the road as a teenager from small-town Pennsylvania, he’s shared stages with legends like Blake Shelton, Lynyrd Skynyrd, and Hank Williams Jr., eventually making his way to Nashville. Along the way, he carved out his own space in modern country-rock built on his unique playing style.
The QHMG/Stone Country Records artist’s love for the instrument can be heard all throughout his new record, which finds him playing every lead guitar part alongside support from some of Nashville’s top session musicians on rhythm guitar. He also serves as a co-writer on five of its 13 songs, allowing him to take a deep dive into his southern storytelling and powerful anthems alongside producers Neil and Patrick Thrasher.
Gallaher’s album features standout tracks like “Bullet,” a cover of Brian Adams’ “Cuts Like a Knife,” and “Stomp.” More notably, the lead track, “I’ll Take You,” is set to impact country radio in early 2026. Originally a slow ballad, Gallaher joined forces with his producers to rework this love song into an energetic, guitar-driven track that’s perfect for radio.
Continue reading to get the inside scoop on the evolution of Ben Gallaher’s career, his new album, and more on this installment of Country Next.
You are considered to be a triple threat as a singer, songwriter and guitarist. So how did your journey with music begin?
I started playing guitar when I was six. It was a total God thing. Nobody in my family played it all. And I grew up on ‘90s country and strictly, I mean, that’s what my folks had playing in the house. And so that’s when I got the bug. But they got me a guitar and at first before six kind of a plastic fake guitar. I would strum along to the radio and they saw something, my folks did, and ended up getting me a kid’s guitar, but a real one. And I took to it. It sounds crazy, but that was that. From then on, it was like I felt like this was what I was supposed to do. I had a couple lessons early on, but then just did my own thing. And being really a student of ‘90s country, I mean Nashville, that’s the place. So since I was a kid, I’ve been doing this and wanting to do it. So that’s a huge blessing too, because I knew that there was never a plan B. This is just what I feel like I’m called to do.
Did singing and songwriting naturally follow?
Yeah, that was early too. I mean, songwriting wasn’t until high school, but singing would be not long after I was starting to strum. I mean, I probably wasn’t singing in key at that young. And then I moved to Nashville at 19 and I didn’t know anybody. I think when an artist writer, when they first move to town, a lot of guys and girls, they try to form their writing circle and the people that they like to co-write with and really dive into that world. And as much as I love co-writing, I was so fixated on being on the road and trying to learn how to work a crowd and build a fan base. So I would rent a van with the band that I had formed before I could buy a van at the time, and we would play any place that would have us play for free. I was so fixated on just getting out there and trying to learn that world, which I hadn’t done before Nashville. I had played in Pennsylvania, just solo acoustic stuff, but I hadn’t been on the road and learning how to do it.
Having opened for some amazing artists and earned a solid reputation with your skills, how does it feel to look back on everything you’ve accomplished on your journey?
I mean, it’s just like to be able to open up for a band like Skynyrd that I did end up growing up on once I got a little older in high school, I got into that Southern rock stuff. But I remember staying side stage after one of the several shows with Skynyrd and I’m watching them play “Sweet Home Alabama” and thinking, man, how many times do you think these guys have played that song? They were probably so sick of it by now, but they made it seem to the crowd like it was the first time because the crowd just paid a lot of money to be there and hotels and babysitters and travel and food and merch and ticket price and I’m thinking like, man, these guys are giving them a show even after all those years of doing it. And I’m like, wow, that’s pretty, I mean, that’s a professional right there, a professional group. But yeah, no, getting a chance to open up for cats like that is awesome because you get exposed to a lot of fans of music, country rock that might not know who you are. So that’s huge.
What does your new album, Time, represent for you at this point in your career right now?
Yeah, Time is the album I’ve always wanted to make, and I feel like every guitar solo, every guitar riff, every song I’ve written, every live show, all in my whole career led me to this album right here. And that’s why I named it Time just because I feel like everything went into making a record that I finally always wanted to make.
Can you share a bit more about the title track and why it was chose it to sum up the entire project?
I love the song “Time,” but naming the album was much bigger than just the song…I feel like everything I’ve done has led me to this album and it covers some time. Like “Stomp” and “Cuts Like A Knife” are two songs that they were out previously, but they were really big points in my career and they never lived on a bigger project. So I felt like I wanted to have those two a part of the full album. But each song kind of also does take me to different points of my life or my career. And I felt like they all go together in a cohesive way, but also stand out to where they don’t all sound the same.
“I’ll Take You” is a standout track. Talk about the process of reworking it from a slow ballad to a more uptempo tune alongside your producer Neil Thrasher.
It’s crazy because that doesn’t always work with every song. I mean, if you’re taking a ballad and making it a pretty fast tempo, a lot of these songs were either started or were born from that guitar, the intro guitar riff, which is very important to what I do as an artist. But I started playing the main intro riff of “I’ll Take You” and it felt like “I’ll Take You” was always supposed to be a tempo. And it wasn’t until then and we sped it up to where it didn’t feel like it was forced or try to make something that it’s not. And it felt like it really needed to live in that land and it married perfectly with that intro riff. And sometimes it just comes together like that, but not all times. But for that one, and that one’s one of my favorites on the whole album, it describes really where I’m at personally as well.
You played a Fender Telecaster on every song except for “Cuts Like A Knife.” So what made you want to include this cover and recreate that iconic Brian Adams sound yourself?
It was actually my producers Neil Thrasher and Patrick Thrasher, originally, it was their idea. They said, ‘Hey, Brian Adams’ ‘Cuts Like A Knife.’’ And I’m like, ‘of course I do one of the best.’ And they just were hearing this thing where they’re like, ‘man, I feel like you could crush that and really do a cool version of it.’ And I’m like, ‘in the original key? Brian gets up there.’ And we did. It was the original key, and I didn’t know, recording that song really explored for me, it explored that higher register in my voice that I haven’t really been to before. And I’ve always said it’s sign of a great producer or producers is when they take something in an artist that the artist didn’t know that they had in ’em and put it to tape. And that’s what we did, and they pushed me and in the best way musically. And that song, we didn’t deviate far from the original on purpose. I mean, it’s really a nod and a tribute to a timeless era of music, eighties rock and roll.
“Cuts Like A Knife” was played with a Fender Stratocaster because you can’t replicate that iconic solo and sounds that Keith Scott, Brian Adams’ guitar player, played. You can’t do it any other way than with a Strat. So I was like, ‘man, I don’t want to do a cover.’ Song’s tricky, like sure, you can make it your own a little bit, but an iconic song like that it’s, for me, I personally think I’m like, ‘man, I can’t take this thing into right or left field completely different. I want to honor what the track is.’
Alongside your guitar playing, you also had quite a few guitar legends that played along with you for the project. What was it like working with them?
I mean, amazing. Those guys are, and I’ve worked with them for almost 10 years, all those guitar players, so they get me and I get them. But just being around those guys in the studio just makes you a better player just by being there because what they play is so inspiring. And then that affects what I end up going in to play later for all the solos, all the intros and solos in the league guitar. I did all that stuff after the band tracked it. So I’m inspired by what they’re playing and then I take that inspiration and then do my own thing to weave in, if that makes sense.
Touching on your life as a husband and a father, do you feel like entering in those chapters has changed your perspective on songwriting in any way?
Yeah. I mean, I think it’s changed everything in a good way. River, our son, just turned a year and I mean, it’s been the most amazing thing, but definitely has shifted in terms of it’s not about me anymore. When you have a kid, it’s not about me anymore. But this dream has become a part of the whole family too, because that’s what I do. And so there’s an extra drive that I have even more than I always did now because I have a son.
Even though River is so young, have you noticed him catch that music bug yet?
Oh, I have guitars all over the place here, and he goes from room to room, he goes right to it and he hits the strings and he looks back and he smiles and I’m like, oh man. But I mean, I’m always playing around the house and stuff, so he’s used to it now, but he goes to that guitar every day.
Fans can keep up with Ben Gallaher on Instagram.
The post Country Next: Ben Gallaher appeared first on Country Now.
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During a tour stop in Highland, California over the weekend, Tim McGraw spoke honestly to fans about his recent health battle, admitting his struggles almost caused him to retire from his music career.
According to the New York Post, the country star explained to the crowd at the Yaamava’ Theater that over the past two years, he has undergone four major back surgeries and a double knee replacement. While McGraw has previously touched on these procedures, fans weren’t aware of just how deeply they affected him, both physically and mentally.
At one point, he confessed that he was starting to lose all hope for his future as he stated, “After going through all of that for a couple of years and getting depressed over it and all of those things — stuff not going right…And this spring, before I had my final back surgery, things were getting really bad, so I was seriously contemplating and figuring out how to walk away. I didn’t want to, but I didn’t think it was going to get better.”
McGraw then paused to acknowledge the medical professional who guided him through recovery that was present for the show that night.
“The doctor who did my double knee replacement is here tonight,” McGraw said, prompting the audience to cheer for Dr. Chen.
He also pointed out that his wife, Faith Hill, has also been enduring “quite a bit of surgeries” herself recently.
“She’s had five neck surgeries, and she’s had a couple of hand surgeries. Her hand surgeon, Dr. Rose, is here tonight,” McGraw said, also asking him to stand up for applause.
Getting the chance to highlight the doctors that have been so influential in both his and his wife’s journey back to health was one reason that he got vulnerable with fans. The other reason was to share that there is a light at the end of the tunnel.
The “Paper Umbrellas” singer worked hard to regain movement and strength through physical therapy. While he did have to cancel a few appearances as a result, he still found the motivation to keep going and that journey has inspired the idea for his new song called “King Rodeo.” He recorded and released a live version from his performance at the first Music City Rodeo earlier this year.
“It’s gotten better,” McGraw shared of his health. “So, during that process, I had this idea for this song that sort of dealt with facing age and facing all that stuff that comes along with it.”
The powerful tune finds him reflecting on the emotional highs and lows of life in the spotlight, as well as the personal challenges that he has experienced lately.
“Hey, King Rodeo, You’re lookin’ lonely, Like you’ve lost you’re one and only, Adoring crowds are not around you, Whispers and shadows, they surround you,” he sings.
Now that his health has improved, McGraw appears ready to keep performing for the foreseeable future. He is next set to hit the stage on Nov. 1 in Atlantic City, New Jersey.
It was also announced that Tim McGraw will be filling in for Dolly Parton, who made the decision to reschedule a run of shows originally set to take place in Las Vegas this December. McGraw will now take the stage at Caesars Palace, starting on December 4.
The post Tim McGraw Opens Up About Nearly Quitting Music Amid ‘Really Bad’ Health Struggles appeared first on Country Now.
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Chase Matthew recently brought Keith Urban to tears with a heartfelt gift. A new video captures the moment Matthew presented the Australia singer/songwriter with a custom-designed Gibson guitar created as both a thank you for having him on tour this year and a celebration of his birthday.
“Thank you so much for having us this year. Dude, we’ve learned so much from watching you and your team and they’ve been so awesome and taking us to Australia with you. These are places we never thought we would ever be in our entire lives,” Matthew expressed to Urban.
The lights in the room dimmed, allowing Urban, Matthew and the members of their crew to watch the special video message from the artist, explaining the sentiment behind the artwork by Māori cultural artist Sam Mangakahia.
“My name is Sam Mangakahia. I thought I’d give a bit of background on the artist behind this gift that your friends put together for you that I’m very excited to share more about. Again, Sam from the North Shore of Oahu. I actually grew up in Brisbane, Australia, and I’ve been out here for 10 years. It’s incredible. I’m a cultural artist and I tell stories through design that empower people to live true to their values. And this piece, I’ve titled ‘The Rise of Phoenix.’”
The phoenix holds deep meaning for Urban, who has a tribal-style phoenix tattoo symbolizing strength and rebirth. It also pays tribute to his admiration for mythology.
He’s previously told Women’s Wear Daily, “The symbolism of the phoenix being something that succumbs to the challenges and burns in the fire, but then is resurrected from the ashes and rises up even stronger than before…The ‘what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger’ story of the phoenix … I can relate very strongly to that, going through hard times and coming out the other end of it much stronger for the experience.”
Knowing this, Mangakahia went on to explain that his intricate design represents multiple aspects of Urban’s journey, including his family, his music, and his roots, all woven together into a single story. Tears streamed silently down Urban’s face as he took in the message before him.
“It covers a lot of different things and it touches on your family, things that are important to you, your music, polarity in design, culture where you grew up, it’s all kind of wrapped up in this…design that have annotated that you can read through carefully when you have time.”
This particular Māori-inspired design marks the 30th guitar the artist has created in his series. Just before Urban’s came custom pieces for Jelly Roll and Post Malone. It’s more than just another addition to the lineup, as Mangakahia explained this one was meant to celebrate everything Urban has built over the years, from the music that’s “inspired thousands of people” to the way he’s chased his dreams without fear.
Mangakahia continued, “I can’t wait to see this guitar out in the wild. If that means on stage or in the studio, whatever it may be. I just hope that you can use this and love this thing…I’m excited for you to have this in your hands. And big shout out to the crew. It’s on a Gibson. I hope you love it. Aloha, Sam.”
When the guitar was officially presented to the “Straight Line” singer, he immediately held it up and expressed the utmost awe while taking in the unique design.
“Oh my gosh. It’s breathtaking. It truly is,” he told Matthew. “I’ve never seen anything like this. It is just exquisite.”
The pair of artists came together for a tight hug, showcasing the true connection they have formed through this time on the road together. In that moment, Keith Urban took the opportunity to commend his opener on all the energy and heart he and his band have brought to the stage night after night.
“I thank you to all of you guys for just bringing the right spirit. That’s all it is. We’re not rocket scientists. We’re just trying to bring some joy, some hopes and levity and some light to people. And I’ve watched you and the band come out night after night and it hasn’t mattered where it is. I saw you do it at Megan Moroney. I saw you do it in Boston, Brisbane. It didn’t matter where it was, I saw you guys come out with a purpose,” Urban explained. “That’s what everybody responded to. It’s been an honor to have you guys out on the road with us. Really grateful that you want to do it. So thank you, all of you. Thank you.”
Matthew added, “Thank you, man.”
After making stops across the U.S. and Australia, Keith Urban’s High and Alive World Tour officially concluded with a final show in Nashville, TN on October 17.
The post WATCH: Keith Urban Gets Emotional as Chase Matthew Surprises Him with Custom Guitar with Special Meaning appeared first on Country Now.
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American Idol has just announced that the new season will kick off in January!
All three of the returning judges – Lionel Richie, Carrie Underwood and Luke Bryan – appeared in the big reveal via the singing competition’s official Instagram. The academic themed post opened with a paper tacked to a bulletin board promoting that classes for “Idol University” will be begin on January 26, 2026.
Each of the judges made their way to the flyer and tore off the information on the pull-away tabs which included the show’s premiere date.
The caption read, “That’s a tear we couldn’t wait to make 👀 A new season of #AmericanIdol premieres Monday, January 26 on ABC and Stream on Hulu!”
This will mark the singing competition show’s ninth season on ABC and Hulu and 24th overall. According to Deadline, there will be at least one major twist coming to the Idol in 2026. The outlet reports that Richie, Underwood, Bryan and the show’s longtime host, Ryan Seacrest will be making their way to Nashville with the lucky contestants who earn a golden ticket.
Instead of planting their roots in California as usual, they will instead head to the home of country music to introduce Hollywood Week: Music City Takeover. It’s unclear what exactly this week will entail, but it is expected to be an exciting shift for viewers as well as contestants.
Back in August, Idol used a similar scholastic theme to announce that the same judging panel would be reclaiming their roles in the next season.
“Class is back in session,” Bryan said in the video.
“This year, we’re majoring in music as we help launch your dreams,” Underwood continued as she packed up school lunches in her kitchen.
With his thermos of coffee in hand, Richie then introduced himself as the “professor of positivity.” Meanwhile, Bryan fittingly labeled himself “professor of fun…serious, but fun.”
Now, the judges are eager to kickstart the upcoming semester of “Idol University” with a whole new class of talented contestants.
This will mark Carrie Underwood’s second time serving as a judge on American Idol after joining the crew last year. She joined Bryan and Richie in their search for America’s next singing sensation.
The 2025 “Idol Across America” live virtual nationwide search wrapped up with a nationwide open call on Sept. 24. Next up, those who made it through to the next round will get to showcase their skills in front of the judges and America.
During its eight seasons on ABC, American Idol was named a top unscripted series. The most recent season finale ranked No. 1 on the night, No. 1 for the week in primetime, and earned the best Total Viewer audience in two years.
The new season is set to air Monday, January 26 at 8 p.m. on ABC and Stream on Hulu.
The post BREAKING: ‘American Idol’ Returns In January With A Major Twist: Hollywood Week Moves To Music City appeared first on Country Now.
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Kim Kardashian opened up about a personal health scare and a series of emotional hurdles during a preview of The Kardashians season seven, revealing she had been diagnosed with a brain aneurysm amid a whirlwind of stress.
The 45-year-old reality mogul and entrepreneur was seen in the teaser being wheeled into an MRI scanner, where she later explained she had a “little aneurysm.”
During an appearance on Good Morning America on Tuesday, Kardashian gave an update on her condition and the extensive testing that followed.
“You’ll see in the next episode, I did go and get a Prenuvo scan,” she said. “And I had to end up going and getting tons of other brain scans at Cedars (-Sinai) with all the team.”
Though she didn’t offer full details, Kardashian assured viewers that the situation was under control.
“Everything works out,” she said, before encouraging people to stay proactive about their health. “It’s just a good measure to go; make sure that you always check everything,” she added. “And health is wealth, and you just have to be careful with everything that you do.”
The diagnosis, which she shared with her family on camera, was reportedly linked to stress.
At the time, Kardashian was juggling multiple high-pressure situations, including studying for the bar exam, managing her businesses, traveling to Paris for legal proceedings related to her 2016 robbery and finalizing her divorce from Kanye West.
“I’m happy it’s over,” she said of the divorce in the trailer. “My ex will be in my life no matter what. We have four kids together.”
Kardashian and West were married for eight years before their divorce was finalized in 2022. They share four children: North, 12; Saint, 9; Chicago, 7; and Psalm, 6.
Season seven of The Kardashians airs Thursdays on Hulu and Disney+.
AllHipHop
Miguel launched a tidal wave of anticipation with the announcement of his 41-stop Caos world tour, set to ignite stages across North America and Europe in 2026 in support of his latest album.
The Grammy-winning singer will kick things off on February 10 at Atlanta’s Coca-Cola Roxy, with stops in major cities including New York, Philadelphia, Chicago, Seattle and Los Angeles through March.
“CAOS ON TOUR and I’m bringing my brother @jeandawsn on the road with me,” Miguel posted on Instagram, sharing the full slate of dates with his 4.8 million followers.
Jean Dawson will serve as the opening act for all U.S. dates, while Channel Tres will join the lineup for the Los Angeles show at the Kia Forum on March 13.
Presale access for Verizon customers begins Tuesday (October 28) at 10 A.M. local time, with additional presales rolling out on Wednesday (October 29).
General ticket sales open Thursday (October 30) at 10 A.M. local time. VIP Nation will offer premium packages that include backstage tours, early soundcheck entry, Q&A sessions with Miguel and access to an exclusive lounge.
The tour will expand overseas in April, hitting venues in the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Belgium, the Netherlands, Czech Republic, Switzerland, Italy and Spain.
Noteworthy stops include London’s O2 Academy Brixton, Paris’ L’Olympia and Barcelona’s Razzmatazz.
The tour follows the October 23 release of Caos, Miguel’s first major project in several years. The album marks a new creative chapter for the artist, blending his signature sound with experimental edges. The tour reflects that evolution, with a lineup and production tailored to match his vision.
AllHipHop