Here’s how drivers will pay tribute to Greg Biffle during the Daytona 500. Continue reading…Country Music News – Taste of Country
Day: February 11, 2026
There are three things Sebastian Berhalter does in order to perform at his best. Getting a good night’s sleep, of course. Reading – he’s currently digging his way through ‘The Light We Give.’ And thirdly, being diligent in his routine. This part Berthalter maps out carefully. The Vancouver Whitecaps and U.S. men’s national team midfielder keeps a data diary of his training and stays on top of his recovery. At home he uses a hyperbaric chamber, Normatec boots and a red light mat to make sure his body is right where he wants it to be. “I’m not saying those things make a difference, but for me, if there’s anything I can be doing to keep my mind and my body feeling as good as it possibly can, then I’m going to do it,” Berhalter told me ahead of the Whitecap’s preseason training. “Even just spending time with friends, going for walks and just being myself.” Berhalter, 24, is among the pool of MLS players hoping to make the 2026 World Cup roster. USA coach Mauricio Pochettino can only take 26 players to the tournament, which begins June 11. Somewhere around 17-20 of those guys play overseas, including the likes of forward Christian Pulisic and midfielders Weston McKennie and Tyler Adams. That doesn’t leave many spots for MLS-based players. But Berhalter, along with his MLS comrades, is doing everything possible to stay sharp and ready to get called up. The next international window in March – which also happens to be the last camp before Pochettino makes his final World Cup roster decisions – is crucial. It will include matches against European powers Belgium (March 28) and Portugal (March 31) in Atlanta. And for all intents and purposes, if you’re going to make the final World Cup roster, it’s best you get called up in March. Pochettino said as much in a January conference call with reporters. “The idea is that the World Cup will start in March,” Pochettino said. The manager also delivered a message to his players in November after the squad’s last training camp when he said they “need to do everything to be in the best form to be selected for March.” Easier said for European players, who are in the thick of their respective club seasons. But as it pertains to MLS hopefuls like Berhalter, it’s a little more challenging being that most of them have been in the offseason since early November and preseason recently started. The MLS season begins Feb. 21, meaning they will only have a handful of matches under their belts before the March window. So what can guys do to stay in Pochettino’s World Cup plans? The USA’s staff doesn’t give players specific direction or instruction, though they’re always around as a resource. “They trust us and know we got to the national team for a reason,” Berhalter told me. “There’s nothing regimented. People have different ways of doing things. Some people like more recovery, some people do less, and they feel just as good. Everyone has their own things and different things they like.” Making the World Cup? ‘North Star Goal’ Berhalter took a week and a half off after starting for the Whitecaps in their MLS Cup final loss to Inter Miami on Dec. 6. He focused on eating clean and not pushing his body much physically aside from yoga just to stay active. After his self-allotted downtime, he was back to individual training sessions and getting touches on the ball. He ramped up the intensity over the next few weeks, writing down a list of what he wanted to accomplish each day in a notebook. He created a plan that included gym sessions, meetings, and meditation, and every time he’d complete something on the schedule, he’d check off the box he drew beside it. “It’s a system I’ve been using for awhile now and I feel like it’s something that keeps me accountable because I want to go back to the box and I want to check them off,” Berhalter said. “It’s satisfying to see at the end of the week that they’re all checked off. It’s about prioritizing things that I want to improve on or off the field and that keeps me organized.” Columbus Crew wing back Max Arfsten, who last played a competitive match in the USA’s 5-1 win over Uruguay on Nov. 18, spent part of his offseason in his hometown of Fresno, Calif. In the mornings, he’d train with a group of friends who also happened to be local professional players – mostly from the United Soccer League. They’d do technical work and play small-sided games. Then in the afternoons, Arfsten would go to the gym and lift before more conditioning. He’d also use the time as an opportunity to work on parts of his game that he can’t always get to during the season. For example, he’d take 30-40 shots in a row on goal or work on defending, crossing or building out of high-pressure situations that will help him as a left back in Pochettino’s system. “Having that North Star goal of trying to make the World Cup, there’s no time to just sit around, you know?” the 24-year-old Arfsten told me about his summer ambitions. “If you take too much time off, then it just takes longer to get back into it and I don’t think anybody wants to be in that situation.” Tim Ream, who will be 38 at this summer’s World Cup, agrees. When his season with Charlotte FC ended in early November, he took the necessary amount of time to rest and recover, and quickly jumped back into his program. “I’m one of those [guys] that I struggle with too much time off,” Ream told reporters during the USA’s November camp. “I’ll take 10 days off, completely shut the body down, and then get back on the bike and get back to running and get back to doing the things that I know work for me in the offseason. “As you get older, you actually need — or should be taking — less time off. I’ve found for me personally that’s really the approach. I’ll treat this preseason and this offseason the same way I treat every single one that I have in my career and come back ready to go in January knowing that 2026 is a huge, huge year, and that I have goals that I want to reach. It’s what you do when no one’s looking that allows you to reach those goals. And that’s what I’ll be doing.” ‘We’ll Have That Mental Freshness’ There are still a few weeks before the MLS season begins and soon after that, Pochettino will call in his March roster. Because of the layoff, are MLS players at a disadvantage in making the squad because they haven’t been playing regular matches like their European counterparts? Pochettino says no. “They’re going to [have] a very good level of energy,” the manager said in January. “Maybe [there’s a] lack of games, but I think you compensate with energy because they came from a period of rest and recovery and now they are charging their batteries to be full, to start competing in the end of or the middle of February. “And that is very good because I think in March they are going to be with all the power and it’s going to be good for them to show their quality. And of course for us, it’s good because they are going to be with all the energy and motivation to be part of the roster.” MLS players shrug their shoulders at the notion that the different schedules might play a part in who’s most deserving of a roster spot. There’s nothing they can do about it. “It just is what it is,” Berhalter said. “I think guys in MLS are just going to get right back at it.” “We can’t control the schedule,” added Arfsten. “One way to look at it is like, we’ll be more fresh. The European players by that time will be toward the end of the season. So they’re going to be more fit and in shape and in form, but I mean, after a long season you’re mentally drained so I think maybe we’ll have that mental freshness.” World Cup Watch: Could This Teenage Defender Make USA’s Squad? Thinking about that, though, is not productive for these MLS players. They’ve spent months trying not to get overwhelmed by how massive a year 2026 could be for them. Many are striving to play in their first World Cup. “I’m confident that everything I’ve done to get here is for a reason, and it’s worth it. It makes sense,” Berhalter said. “Anytime I step into the team – regardless if I am or not – I bet I’m the most prepared, the most hardworking, and it gives me a little edge, like, ‘I should be here. I deserve to be here. And now why not go ball out and do my thing?’ “If I get to the World Cup, that’s amazing. But if not, it doesn’t mean I’m not a good soccer player. I feel like you need to have perspective that even if it doesn’t happen, I’m going to be OK. I’ll be all right, and I’m gonna keep working. I don’t like to look at it as this is something hanging over my head like, ‘S—, I need to make the team.’ I take it day by day, and it would be the biggest honor of my life if I’m there.”Latest Sports News from FOX Sports
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The View has an empty chair for the best reason.
Back in October, we reported that Alyssa Farah Griffin was pregnant.
This joyous news followed years of attempting to conceive.
Now, she and her husband have welcomed their first child. And yes, producers have lined up guest co-hosts while she and her baby bond.
Congratulations!
On Tuesday, February 10, The View co-host Alyssa and her husband, Justin, welcomed their first child.
She gave birth to a son, Justin Patrick Griffin, Jr.
This should come as no real surprise to The View fans.
That very day, Alyssa was absent. And it fell to Whoopi Goldberg to explain to the audience why she was not present.
Alyssa, the EGOT winner explained, had gone into labor.
On Wednesday, February 11, Whoopi once again shared a joyful update.
“The first thing we want to do is start by congratulating Alyssa and her husband Justin on the birth of their baby boy,” she announced.
Whoopi even cited the statistics: “He weighted in at 7 lbs. and 19-and-a-half inches.”
(Is it just us, or did new parents only recently start giving length measurements in addition to weight? When did this become part of the infodump?)
Alyssa even re-shared a clip of Whoopi making the announcement to her Instagram page. Cute!
We all knew that this happy news was coming
Of course, Alyssa going into labor and welcoming her first child is no surprise.
Back in October of 2025, the The View co-host announced her pregnancy.
She and her husband had spent two years trying to conceive.
They went through five rounds of IVF as part of their effort.
Along the way, Alyssa learned that her undiagnosed endometriosis was a contributing factor to her struggles to conceive.
We hope that we do not have to explain that Alyssa will not be returning to work immediately.
Even sitting upright in a chair for a few hours can be a lot when you have just given birth.
(Childbirth is amazing, but it is not glamorous — it involves injuries that take time to heal)
In addition to recovering from childbirth, Alyssa will also be taking this time to bond with her baby.
For these reasons, she’ll be out as a The View co-host for the next few months.
Bring in the rotating guest co-hosts of varying quality
Alyssa’s absence won’t mean that The View is down a panelist.
Instead, we’ll reportedly be seeing rotating guest co-hosts.
Some of them will be welcome faces, like former co-host Abby Huntsman, Whitney Cummings, and Sheryl Underwood.
Others will be more controversial figures, like Trump toady Savannah Chrisley and former The View primary antagonist Elisabeth Hasselbeck.
Fortunately, there’s no reason to believe that this is ABC quietly soft-auditioning a replacement for Alyssa. She’s on maternity leave, and we all look forward to her return.
Alyssa Farah Griffin Welcomes First Child!!! was originally published on The Hollywood Gossip.
The Hollywood Gossip
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We have tragic news to report from the world of television today:
James Van Der Beek — the beloved actor best known for his work on Dawson’s Creek — has passed away.
He was just 48 years old.
Van Der Beek had been battling stage 3 colorectal cancer, a fight that he spoke of often in moving social media posts.
News of James’ death comes courtesy of a post from his wife and the mother of his six children, Kimberly Van Der Beek.
“Our beloved James David Van Der Beek passed peacefully this morning,” Kimberly wrote.
“He met his final days with courage, faith, and grace. There is much to share regarding his wishes, love for humanity and the sacredness of time,” she continued.
“Those days will come. For now we ask for peaceful privacy as we grieve our loving husband, father, son, brother, and friend.”
One of the most iconic TV stars of the 1990s and early 2000s, Van Der Beek racked up dozens of film and television credits over the course of his career.
But he’s best remembered for his role as Dawson Leery in the beloved coming-of-age drama Dawson’s Creek, which ran for six seasons on the WB.
Early in the show’s run, Van Der Beek made the difficult leap from TV to film stardom with his role in the teen comedy Varsity Blues.
He went on to star in multiple other TV series, including CSI: Cyber and Don’t Trust the B—- in Apartment 23.
James shared news of his cancer diagnosis in November of 2024.
“I have colorectal cancer. I’ve been privately dealing with this diagnosis and have been taking steps to resolve it, with the support of my incredible family,” he told People at the time, adding:
“There’s reason for optimism, and I’m feeling good.”
Throughout his health battle, Van Der Beek was widely praised for his honesty and candor.
“I was away for treatment, so I could no longer be a husband who was helpful to my wife,” he said in an Instagram video posted in March of last year. “I could no longer be a father who could pick up his kids and put them to bed and be there for them. I could not be a provider because I wasn’t working.”
“I was faced with the question, ‘If I am just a too-skinny, weak guy, alone in an apartment with cancer, what am I?’
“I am worthy of God’s love simply because I exist. And if I’m worthy of God’s love, shouldn’t I also be worthy of my own?” he added.
James is survived by his wife, Kimberly, daughters Olivia, Annabel, Emilia, and Gwendolyn, and sons Joshua and Jeremiah.
Our thoughts are with his loved ones during this incredibly difficult time.
James Van Der Beek Cause of Death: ‘Dawson’s Creek’ Star Was 48 was originally published on The Hollywood Gossip.
The Hollywood Gossip
Daytona International Speedway was alive again on Wednesday as the NASCAR Cup Series officially opened the Daytona 500 with the first practice. 2022 race winner Austin Cindric led the 45-car field with a session-best lap of 48.025 seconds (187.402 mph) in his No. 2 Team Penske Ford. Ross Chastain and Corey LaJoie followed closely behind. Check out the full results below. 2026 Daytona 500 Practice Results What is the Daytona 500 Schedule? Wednesday, February 11 Thursday, February 12 Friday, February 13 Saturday, February 14 Sunday, February 15Latest Sports News from FOX Sports
Tracy Lawrence reveals he is still battling with the mental and physical effects of a traumatic event that he experienced more than three decades ago. Now, he’s telling his story in hopes of encouraging others to seek help rather than let mental health struggles go unaddressed.
In May of 1991, the country star was early into his career and working on his debut album, Sticks and Stones, which would go on to be released later that year. One night in the spring season he was walking his girlfriend back to her hotel in Nashville when they were mugged by multiple attackers carrying weapons. Lawrence ended up getting shot four times and survived, but had to endure major surgery to remove the bullets.
Looking back, he tells Fox News Digital that he felt angry at the time, almost as if those responsible were trying to “take my opportunity away from me.” Instead of seeking help to try and work through the trauma he faced, the country singer “suppressed it and shoved it down” for many years.
This way of handling things would end up causing him a lot of issues in both his personal relationships and in his career years down the road. Knowing this now, Lawrence hopes to use his story to warn people about the consequences that can come from neglecting your mental health.
“I’m a big believer in taking care of your mental health these days, and I didn’t do that at the time. That was a very traumatic experience for me.”
He continued, “I try to make it a point when people bring that up, and I talk about it now to make people aware that one of the most important things you can do when you go through something like that is to talk to somebody about it. Don’t suppress it. Purge that thing out and get it out and deal with it and confront it, because if you don’t, eventually it’s going to come out in a way that you can’t control.”
After the incident, the “Paint Me A Birmingham” singer spent several days hospitalized at Vanderbilt Medical Center. Surgeons removed a bullet from his knee but left another lodged in his hip. During this time, Lawrence admits he feared his leg might have to be amputated.
He has since undergone a total knee replacement and still struggles with residual issues around his ankle, which will likely lead him to get surgery by the end of this year.
“Once I got past the realization that I wasn’t going to die, the next thing that I worried about was, was I going to lose my leg… I didn’t know how severe the bullet impact was on my leg because I got shot right through the joint in my left knee,” Lawrence recalls.
The year this tragedy struck him, Tracy Lawrence was already making a name for himself in the music industry. He admits his relationship with faith has had its ups and downs over the years, but his beliefs and his love for music is what has kept him moving forward. He now considers himself “blessed” to have found something he’s so passionate about at a young age and is able to love today, more than 45 years later.
“I think I’ve started this dream when I was about 12 years old. And I just turned 58 and still love it and am as passionate about it now as much as I was when I was a kid. I think that’s a pretty rare thing.”
“I’m still a struggling Christian, and it’s something that I counsel with my pastor on a regular basis about. But I know that God’s always there. He’s had his hand on me since I was a little child and I’ve been blessed to have a lot of prayer warriors,” Lawrence continues. “My mother and ladies from the church where I grew up, and even people in my life today that are praying for me constantly. I feel very blessed to have them in my life. It’s definitely had an impact on my relationship with God.”
Both Lawrence and fans are eager to catch him out on the road this year, bringing his catalog of hits to stages throughout the No Alibis Tour. He feels it is a “good time” to return to touring as a way to connect with both fans from the early days of his career who he hasn’t seen in about 25 years.
The trek launches in March and is scheduled to continue with shows through August, including his hometown performance at Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium.
The post Tracy Lawrence Reflects On Being Shot Four Times In 1991 And The Lasting Effects He Still Faces Today appeared first on Country Now.
Country Now
We focused on hits released between 2000 to 2026 and tried to keep it one song per artist. Continue reading…The Boot – Country Music News, Music Videos and Songs
We focused on hits released between 2000 to 2026 and tried to keep it one song per artist. Continue reading…Country Music News – Taste of Country
Alexandra Kay has taken some well-deserved time off to rest and recharge, but now she’s back and jumping into work mode at full force.
Since the rising country star admits that truly unplugging isn’t always easy for her, she’s stayed busy behind the scenes, only catching a few moments here and there to completely disconnect.
“I love being go, go, go all the time. Honestly, we’re on flights a lot. And so I take the times when we’re on flights to read a book and that’s just kind of like my disconnect time,” she told Nicole of Philly’s country station, 92.5 XTU.
She has also been pouring her energy and creativity into building out her third studio album, revealing, “I’ve already written a bunch of songs for it.”
Coming up soon, Kay plans to head out on a writers retreat in Pensacola, FL with about five songwriters who will hopefully help her flush out the rest of the tracks needed to make her next album feel complete.
“We’re just going to write for a few days and hopefully finish the record and be able to come back with some more great songs,” she said with excitement.
This forthcoming collection will follow the release of Alexandra Kay’s sophomore album, Second Wind, and her independent debut All I’ve Ever Known, which hit #1 on iTunes (All Genre & Country) and landed in the Top 10 on multiple Billboard charts.
Across both projects, the Waterloo, IL native tapped into her real-life experiences with heartbreak, divorce, finding love again and reclaiming her happiness to create songs that highlight her most authentic self. She offers themes of strength and grace through songs that carry the kind of emotional depth that fans expect from her.
When Nicole asked about her typical writing process, Kay explained that she generally finds the lyrics first and then puts the story to a melody.
“I think that that’s because I grew up not playing any instruments and just grew up as a writer, like of just diary entries that turned to poems. And then heard melodies and just wrote that,” she shared. “And then I learned how to play an instrument after that. So I could just write it without anything.”
In between writing for her next album, Alexandra Kay has a stacked tour lineup. Beginning in March, she will head down under to serve as an opener on Old Dominion’s How Good Is That World Tour, with stops across Australia and New Zealand. She will also support select dates for Cody Johnson and share the stage with Jo Dee Messina in Council Bluffs/Omaha at Harrah’s Council Bluffs Casino on May 9.
A complete list of upcoming dates can be found on Alexandra Kay’s official website.
The post Alexandra Kay Reveals She Has Already Been Writing ‘A Bunch’ Of Songs For Third Album appeared first on Country Now.
Country Now
While there are tons of ways to elevate a BLT, from fresh tomatoes to crispy bacon, one stop on Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives truly changed the game.
Mashed – Fast Food, Celebrity Chefs, Grocery, Reviews