Blake Shelton and Gwen Stefani have sparked chatter by spending more time apart — but it may not mean what people think. Here’s what’s really going on. Continue reading…
The Boot – Country Music News, Music Videos and Songs
Month: November 2025
Kip Moore recently sat down with Stephan Hogan to discuss the state of country radio in 2025, and he didn’t hold back. The country singer and songwriter reflected on how much he’s seen the industry change over the years and how that shift is now impacting the current generation of both artists and listeners.
“It’s a hell of a concept when a radio guy loves music because there’s not a lot of those left,” he admitted during an interview on The Stephan Hogan Podcast.
Thinking back to his early career, Moore recalls his first years doing a radio tour and meeting program directors and DJs who genuinely had a love for music and had a say in what was being played over their airwaves. Unfortunately, he recognizes how much more “corporate” the world of radio has become since then.
“To their defense, a lot of these program directors want to play music like ‘Solitary Tracks,” he said referring to his latest album. “They want to play these songs, but their hands are tied because everything’s coming from these corporate guys that own all the stations from the top down. And it’s the same exact playlist in Dallas as it is in Kentucky. And it’s like those are completely different people. That’s why this isn’t working.”
Moore went on to compare today’s radio environment to the golden age, when stations were run by people who loved music and had the creative freedom to showcase new artists at their own discretion.
“When we’re talking about the times of your Springsteen, your Petty, you’re Dylan, your George Strait, even though radio was still a business, they still had freedom…most of those guys that were running those stations, they did love music. So it was still a business, but they actually love music. And I think that’s a big part of what’s happened is that they love to around and listen to music and DJs had some freedom…their hands are so tied now. And I know that I taught a lot of these people and everybody’s kind playing defense instead of offense,” he explained.
Plus, he noted that with the addition of technology and the overwhelming amount of consumption, Moore finds that so many rising artists are trying to replicate the biggest artists of today. In some cases, this is paying off, but he doesn’t believe these kinds of acts will stand the test of time.
While having a first-hand look at the changing scene of the industry, Kip Moore has made a great effort to remain his most authentic self through it all. So instead of trying to keep up with the constant flow of content on social media or record songs that are just written with the intention of making airtime on the radio, he’s simply making the music that feels right to him.
This is evident in the Multi-PLATINUM singer/songwriter’s latest release, “The Crown.” Written by Moore with Luke Preston, Andrew DeRoberts and co-produced by Moore and DeRoberts, the hard-hitting, country-rocker tune turns up the intensity as Moore wrestles with temptation, rebellion, and the chase for something bigger. He encourages the listener to fight for their own version of success and “burn it all down, set it on fire” in pursuit of life’s metaphorical throne.
“‘The Crown’ is about having a lot of pent up of frustration – within your own fears and failures – along with your look at society,” Moore explained in a recent statement. “It’s choosing to finally say ‘f*** it’ and telling that fear to take a hike. And then there’s a fore bearing at the end of the chorus, that if you let it rip too much there are consequences.”
The new song follows the release of his sixth studio album SOLITARY TRACKS through Virgin Music Group. The Georgia native hinted that his next project is already finished, but will not be unveiled until next year or later. Fans can look forward to what Moore deems to be “the best” collection of songs that he feels he’s capable of creating at this point in his career.
“This is the first time where I’ve ever made a record where I feel whole when it’s done. I’ve never felt whole ever making a record. I’ve always felt like I missed some spots. I’ve always been hard on myself, but I’ve always felt like I could have done this better. I could have sonically done this better. That song was not as strong as I thought it was. I’ve never made a record that felt so stacked in every element and I didn’t miss it. I didn’t go in the room and miss it in the recording process. I didn’t miss it in the writing process. It was as good as I had at that particular time in my life.”
Kip Moore will continue his SOLITARY TRACKS WORLD TOUR with his next stop in Columbia, MO on November 6, and remaining dates through December 20.
The tour to date has seen Moore play sold-out shows across Sweden, Norway, Switzerland, Germany and the U.K. Additionally, he has tapped a stacked lineup of supports act to join him across the run including McCoy Moore, Leon Macjen and Caylee Hammack.
The post Kip Moore Gets Candid About Today’s Country Radio: ‘This Isn’t Working’ appeared first on Country Now.
Country Now
The Country Music Association has officially unveiled the first wave of performers set to light up the stage of “The 59th Annual CMA Awards.”
According to today’s announcement from CMA and ABC, this year’s lineup will feature a mix of the genre’s biggest chart-toppers, first-time nominees and the next generation of boundary-pushing talent. As a result, the show promises a packed night full of powerhouse performances and unforgettable moments.
Leading the charge is reigning CMA Female Vocalist of the Year, six-time nominee and the evening’s host, Lainey Wilson. As she returns to host for her second consecutive year, the songstress is poised to bring her signature charm to the stage with a must-see performance of a song that has yet to be revealed. Luke Combs, a three-time nominee this year, is also set to take the stage with a crowd-pleasing performance of his latest single “Back in the Saddle.”
The night will also showcase some of the hottest rising stars, including Ella Langley, Megan Moroney, Tucker Wetmore, Zach Top, Shaboozey and Stephen Wilson Jr., alongside the genre-bending act, BigXthaPlug, who is paving his own path in the genre with his recent string of star-studded collaborations.
Speaking of must-hear collaborations, BigXthaPlug is preparing to join Combs in delivering their song “Pray Hard,” while Shaboozey and Stephen Wilson Jr. team up for a rendition of their ballad “Took A Walk” from the recently released film “The Long Walk,” an adaption of Stephen King’s 1979 novel.
Five-time nominee, Zach Top will deliver a rousing performance of his song “Guitar” while New Artist of the Year nominee Tucker Wetmore showcases his viral hit “Wind Up Missin’ You.” In addition to his collaborative performance, Stephen Wilson Jr., will also deliver a stirring rendition of Ben E. King’s “Stand By Me.”
With six nods this year, reigning CMA Musical Event of the Year winner Ella Langley will perform her recently released song “Choosin’ Texas,” while fellow six-time nominee and the reigning CMA New Artist of the Year Megan Moroney will bring her powerful songwriting to the CMA stage with her fan-favorite single “6 Months Later.”
Even more performers and presenters for “The 59th Annual CMA Awards” will be announced soon.
Hosted by Wilson, Country Music’s Biggest Night™ will air live from Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena on Wednesday, Nov. 19 (8:00-11:00 PM/ET) on ABC and is available next day on Hulu.
Tickets for “The 59th Annual CMA Awards” are on-sale now at CMAawards.com/tickets.
The post Megan Moroney, Shaboozey, Ella Langley, Zach Top & More To Perform at 2025 CMA Awards appeared first on Country Now.
Country Now
![<a href="https://countrynow.com/lauren-alaina-reveals-how-husband-cam-arnold-helped-all-my-exes-with-chase-matthew-become-a-hit-exclusive/" target="_blank">Lauren Alaina Reveals How Husband Cam Arnold Helped ‘All My Exes’ With Chase Matthew Become a Hit [Exclusive]</a>](https://countrynow.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/Lauren-Alaina-with-her-Daughter-Beni-Doll-and-Dogs-Nola-and-Opry-1-1024x683.jpg)
Lauren Alaina is giving fans the full backstory behind her viral collab with Chase Matthew, “All My Exes.” What started as a half-finished idea from friends in a writers’ room quickly turned into one of the most talked-about songs of her career.
During the latest Country Now Pupdate, Alaina shared the story behind the song as she sat with her pups, Nola and Opry, by her side.
She co-wrote the track with Ben Johnson, Whitney Phillips, and Jimmy Gutch, and explained that the song was actually written a few years ago, long before she was happily married and a mom to her daughter Beni Doll.
“The whole session was different than any other song I’ve ever written,” she revealed.
Her co-writers had already begun the song, and Johnson reached out to see if she’d be interested in jumping in to help finish it.
“It’s so interesting and so amazing that he did that because the topic of the song is not something that I’m typically writing anymore. I’m married and well back then, I don’t know if I was quite married yet, but I definitely think I was engaged and it was just really fun to write about a different phase of my life,” she shared.
“This song is definitely not about being engaged and getting married, but I’m so glad he did because it challenged me almost to write about a different topic and I wrote it about the people before my husband and it feels like a different lifetime.”
The first person to really champion the track was her husband, Cam Arnold, who immediately believed it needed to be released. In fact, fans have him to thank for the song landing in the hands of Alaina’s duet partner, Chase Matthew. After meeting Matthew on tour with Jason Aldean, Arnold made sure he heard it.
“Cameron played this song for Chase and was like, ‘I need you to do this song with my wife. I’ve been trying to get her to release this song,’” Alaina revealed.
Alaina later played the song for Matthew herself, completely unaware that he had already heard it.
“So then I played it for Chase and he acted like he’d never heard it before,” she said. “They did a whole thing. But anyway, we ended up recording it and my husband was right, it blew up for us and it’s streaming like crazy. We just sent it to Country Radio, which I’m so excited about and I’ve been playing shows and people are singing it and it’s just so exciting.”
The songstress says she has “high hopes” for the tune.
“I got a baby to feed. Let’s make it at number one,” she laughed.
“All My Exes” debuted with the biggest first-week streaming numbers of Lauren Alaina’s career and was the No.1 most-added song at country radio upon release.
The song’s success is now shaping the direction of her upcoming album. While the track will definitely be included, Alaina acknowledged that it has its own sonic lane.
“I thought [the album] was finished, but we had this moment with ‘All My Exes’ and like I said, it was kind of a departure sonically. So I’ve actually written more songs to marry that one basically so that it’s not just a lone soldier on the project. So I’m doing a few more songs that kind of fit with that vibe and then it’ll be done.”
As fans anticipate the arrival of Lauren Alaina’s yet-to-be-announced album, they can catch her on the road with Rascal Flatts in early 2026.
For more with Lauren on the Country Now Pupdate, click HERE.
The post Lauren Alaina Reveals How Husband Cam Arnold Helped ‘All My Exes’ With Chase Matthew Become a Hit [Exclusive] appeared first on Country Now.
Country Now
You could say Jamey Johnson and Riley Green were cut from the same cloth.
Both Alabama natives, they even attended the same college (Jacksonville State), share a love for golfing, and have a knack for humor. Over time, they’ve formed a close friendship.
“There’s a natural connection with us there,” Johnson recently shared. “I was immediately impressed with his writing and singing.”
Johnson went on to share his appreciation for Green’s quick wit.
“One of my favorite things about Riley is his sense of humor, and he can take as much as he dishes out, so that’s why we are always hurling comments at each other,” Johnson says. “Recently, when one of the videos caught some traction, I felt bad about it. You don’t hear him giving me crap. You just hear me messing with him and it’s not a good look, so I had to call and apologize for that!”
The two have shared the stage and events on multiple occasions, from Losers Bar and Grill in Nashville to the Windy City Smokeout, Green’s Buford Bonds Foundation Golf Tournament, and the Regions Celebrity Golf Tournament. They’ve even collaborated on stage to perform songs like Johnson’s classics like “In Color” and “High Cost of Living.”
Now, the pair has teamed up for their first official duet, “Smoke,” a breakup song with plenty of attitude. The title takes on a few different meanings as the story unfolds, from the dust her tires kick up as she pulls away, to the cigarette haze they use to dull the pain. No matter how it shows up, one thing’s clear: instead of dealing with the heartbreak, they’re choosing to disappear behind the smoke.
Co-written by Johnson, Green and Erik Dylan, “Smoke” was crafted inside two iconic spaces: The Cash Cabin and Big Gassed Studios. The track was produced by Kyle Lehning and Jim “Moose” Brown, with T.W. Cargile on recording and mixing. Johnson has worked with Lehning before on a Randy Travis tribute project, but “Smoke” is the first time they’ve partnered together from the ground up on one of his own songs.
According to Johnson, the concept for the song came from Green.
“He called me and we booked some time to get together with Erik Dylan. We sat down and scribbled it out over the course of about an hour,” Johnson recalled. “It has an interesting sound to it, with one part going down while the other part is going up. I like the whole concept of this guy not being too upset about whatever she is mad at. That smoke probably has a lot to do with it.”
“Writing this song with Jamey was a lot of fun,” Green added. “After spending time on the road together earlier this year, it just felt natural to get in the studio and make some country music together.”
“Smoke” arrives just in time, with Johnson set to join Green’s Damn Country Music Tour for nine dates throughout the month of November.
The post Jamey Johnson Opens Up About His Friendship With Riley Green: ‘A Natural Connection’ appeared first on Country Now.
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Wavy Navy Pooh’s family finally received justice nearly three years after the Miami rapper was gunned down in a calculated ambush outside Zoo Miami.
Authorities announced Thursday that three men now face murder charges in connection with the January 2022 execution-style killing that claimed the life of the 27-year-old artist.
Jakari Darryl Hardaway, 22, along with Jeremiah Bernard Longsworth and Raymond Araluce, both 24, were arrested on charges including second-degree murder, attempted murder and conspiracy.
The Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office revealed that the trio orchestrated a premeditated attack that transformed a family celebration into tragedy.
He was stopped at a red light when occupants of a gray Lexus opened fire, unleashing a barrage of bullets while his two young children, ages 5 and 1, and their mother sat inside the vehicle.
Miraculously, the family members escaped physical harm. Dashcam footage from a nearby vehicle captured the horrific moment when over 80 bullet casings littered the intersection.
A Miami Police sergeant who witnessed the attack attempted to pursue the fleeing Lexus, but the suspects escaped. Investigators pieced together a chilling timeline showing the suspects had stalked their target.
Court documents reveal that Hardaway rented the Lexus from a private owner and collected Longsworth and Araluce on the day of the murder. The vehicle arrived at Zoo Miami’s parking lot, where the trio waited for Wavy Navy Pooh to leave before following him to a nearby Walmart and ultimately to the fatal intersection.
The abandoned Lexus was later discovered in Sunrise, but digital evidence proved crucial in solving the case.
Cellphone records showed Hardaway texted multiple people “Navy wet” immediately after the shooting, according to arrest reports. Even more damning, he allegedly bragged about the murder in a Telegram chat.
When questioned by detectives, Hardaway claimed memory loss regarding the Lexus rental and denied knowing his co-defendants or the victim. However, both Longsworth and Araluce admitted their connection to Hardaway, contradicting his denials.
Longsworth was booked into jail on Thursday morning, while Araluce and Hardaway were already incarcerated on unrelated charges.
Wavy Navy Pooh was signed to Quality Control Music and gained recognition for his track “M.I.A.M.I. (Murder Is A Major Issue).” The irony of his song title became tragically prophetic when he became another victim of the violence he rapped about.
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Demoree Hadley is asking a federal judge to reopen key parts of her explosive lawsuit against her mother, who happens to be Roc Nation CEO Desiree Perez, saying the court’s earlier decision shut her out before she had the chance to prove her claims.
In a motion filed November 5 in the Southern District of Florida, Hadley said the court made “certain errors” when it dismissed several of her claims in October. Her attorney, Hilton Napoleon II, urged the court to reconsider, arguing that Hadley had never been given a fair chance to correct small technical mistakes that could have changed the outcome.
The filing accuses Perez of filing a “fraudulent petition for involuntary services” in March 2024, knowing that Hadley “did not ingest drugs or alcohol.”
The petition, Hadley says, triggered a series of false arrests and detentions at Memorial Hospital and LifeSkills South Florida, all under the guise of psychiatric evaluation.
In her new motion, Hadley says those state proceedings were dismissed in her favor, but the federal court never allowed her to include that fact before throwing out her malicious-prosecution claim.
“The court should have dismissed the claim without prejudice,” Napoleon wrote, “as Demoree can easily provide the dates upon which the Baker Act and Marchman Act proceedings terminated in her favor.”
According to the motion, Perez withdrew her petition on April 5, 2024, just days before a scheduled hearing and the Florida Seventeenth Judicial Circuit formally closed the case in August.
Hadley says this proves the so-called intervention ended entirely in her favor, a key legal requirement for malicious-prosecution claims.
Hadley also challenged the judge’s decision to permanently dismiss her false-imprisonment and negligence claims against the South Broward Hospital District and LifeSkills South Florida.
The motion argues that Florida law does not permit courts to dismiss these types of claims “with prejudice” when a plaintiff hasn’t yet met the medical malpractice pre-suit notice requirements.
But the most personal part of Hadley’s motion focuses on her mother’s alleged role in the events that tore their relationship apart.
The lawsuit accuses Perez, who leads Jay-Z’s powerhouse Roc Nation and was pardoned by former President Donald Trump in 2021, of using her industry status and resources to destroy her daughter’s reputation and credibility.
Hadley says Perez’s actions were not only cruel but calculated. She claims Perez weaponized the legal system and her professional network to silence her and portray her as mentally unwell.
The new filing urges the court to recognize that her claims weren’t just legal arguments; they were rooted in family trauma, manipulation, and abuse of power.
The motion asks U.S. District Judge Beth Bloom to reopen State Law False Imprisonment against South Broward Hospital District, Negligence against South Broward Hospital District and State Law False Imprisonment against LifeSkills South Florida.
Hadley also wants the Malicious Prosecution count against Desiree Perez reopened.
Hadley first filed the lawsuit in May, naming Perez, Roc Nation, psychiatrist Dr. Bober, and several healthcare institutions and county officials.
The case has become one of the most controversial civil battles involving a prominent music executive in recent years.
If granted, the reconsideration could put Perez and Roc Nation back in the legal crosshairs, reigniting a profoundly personal and public fight between a daughter and her mother at the highest levels of the entertainment industry.
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6ix9ine is pleading for mercy from a New York federal judge after admitting he violated his probation by possessing cocaine, MDMA, and getting into another fight.
Attorney Lance Lazzaro urged Judge Paul Engelmayer to sentence the rapper to six months of home detention instead of three months in prison.
Lazzaro argued that jail time would be “much more severe, difficult, and even dangerous” for his client due to his notoriety and history as a high-profile government cooperator.
The rapper’s plea comes after he confessed to three violations of supervised release tied to his 2019 racketeering conviction: possession of cocaine and MDMA, and a misdemeanor assault during a confrontation at a Florida mall.
His attorney stressed the drugs were found in small amounts—just 0.0122 grams of cocaine and five MDMA pills—and that “the complainant was the initial aggressor” during the altercation, which resulted in no serious injuries.
The letter also emphasized that 6ix9ine’s time behind bars is harsher than for most inmates because he must be kept in protective isolation.
“Due to Mr. Hernandez’ classification, he always serves his jail time segregated and fully isolated from other inmates. As a result, Mr. Hernandez is given extremely limited social interaction with other inmates and very little time outside to get fresh air and exercise,” Lazzaro wrote.
6ix9ine’s recent troubles mark yet another setback in his attempt to avoid federal custody.
In July, prosecutors said he admitted to keeping cocaine and MDMA at his Miami home, and also failed multiple drug tests, including for methamphetamine.
6ix9ine was caught traveling to Las Vegas without court approval and was involved in a physical altercation at a mall, further breaking his release terms.
Prosecutors previously dropped two additional charges involving firearms and fentanyl for lack of evidence, but his guilty plea on the remaining counts still placed him in violation of his supervised release.
This isn’t his first strike. In late 2024, he spent 45 days in jail for failed drug tests and travel violations before being placed under home confinement. Judge Engelmayer warned at the time that further missteps could lead to a five-year prison term and lifetime supervision.
The federal sentencing guidelines recommend three to nine months in prison for each violation, but the final decision rests with Judge Engelmayer, who will decide whether the embattled rapper will serve time or remain under house arrest.
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D30 found himself in handcuffs on Wednesday after Miami authorities dismantled what they’re calling an elaborate criminal enterprise that mixed violent gang activity with sophisticated financial fraud schemes.
The Hip-Hop artist was among 11 individuals arrested during a multi-agency operation targeting the ABK gang in Southwest Miami-Dade. What started as an investigation into violent crimes quickly evolved into something much more complex when officers discovered a fully operational fake bank fraud call center inside a rental property.
Authorities had been monitoring the residence near Southwest 162nd Street and 100th Court for several days in late October. During their surveillance, investigators “observed numerous associates of a violent gang known as ABK arrive… in high end vehicles ranging over $100,000,” according to police reports.
The Wednesday raid, conducted jointly by Miami Police, Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office, and FBI agents, uncovered a treasure trove of criminal evidence. Officers seized multiple firearms, including an assault rifle, substantial amounts of cash, stolen credit cards, and the centerpiece of the operation – a sophisticated call center complete with fake background sounds playing through television speakers to create the illusion of a legitimate business environment.
The fraudulent call center served as the group’s primary method for extracting sensitive financial information from unsuspecting victims over the phone. The elaborate setup demonstrated a level of organization that caught even seasoned investigators off guard.
Inside the residence, authorities discovered a poster featuring D30’s face superimposed on a dollar bill with the phrase “In 30 We Trust,” a clear reference to the rapper’s stage name and apparent status within the organization.
Each arrested individual faces multiple charges, with organized scheme to defraud being among the most serious. The financial fraud allegations carry significant penalties and demonstrate the scope of the alleged criminal enterprise.
Most defendants will face an additional hurdle before potential release: they must prove that any money used for bond wasn’t obtained through illegal means. This requirement reflects the court’s concern about the source of the group’s apparent wealth, evidenced by their collection of luxury vehicles worth over $100,000 each.
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Snoop Dogg pulled the plug on his highly anticipated New Year’s Eve special with NBC, shelving the Miami-based broadcast to prioritize his hosting duties at the 2026 Olympics.
The West Coast Hip-Hop legend was set to headline a two-hour celebration on December 31, promising “a night packed with unforgettable music, iconic performances and surprise artist collaborations.”
But the network has officially scrapped the event, shifting its focus to the upcoming Winter Olympics in Italy.
“Sometimes the calendar gets in the way of the celebration, which is why my NBC family and I decided this winter was time for us all to focus on the Olympics,” Snoop said in a statement to Deadline. “But don’t worry, we’ll party together bigger and better later in 2026. Ya dig.”
NBCUniversal previously confirmed in September that Snoop Dogg—who became a breakout personality during the Paris Summer Olympics—will return for the 2026 Winter Games.
His role as a correspondent brought a laid-back, humorous twist to the network’s coverage, earning praise from viewers and media outlets alike, including NBC News.
Aside from his Olympic duties, Snoop is also back for a second round as a coach on NBC’s The Voice, continuing his presence on the network despite the canceled New Year’s Eve plans.
NBC has yet to announce what will take over the vacated time slot on December 31. In the meantime, viewers can still turn to ABC’s long-running Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve With Ryan Seacrest or CBS’s New Year’s Eve Live: Nashville’s Big Bash.
Snoop Dogg’s next confirmed NBC appearance is tied to the 2026 Winter Olympics in Italy.
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