Bunnie Xo is getting candid about her marriage to the country superstar, reflecting on how their relationship began and why it looks different today. Continue reading…The Boot – Country Music News, Music Videos and Songs
Day: February 16, 2026
From the hills of Hazard, Kentucky, 19-year-old Landon Hughes is bringing his love for bluegrass and his pride for his Appalachian upbringing to American Idol. During his audition, which aired on Monday night, the aspiring singer held nothing back as he performed his rendition of “Little Maggie” by The Stanley Brothers, leaving the judges wanting more.
Hughes explained that he is currently a soccer player at Lake Erie College in Painesville, Ohio. When Idol judge Luke Bryan asked if he enjoys playing the sport, he said “yes,” but explained that his real passion has evolved into connecting with the kind of music that reminds him of home.
“I’ll be God’s honest… I love it. I didn’t think going up there would be as much of a life changing experience as it is, but it kind of made me re-fall in love with music,” Hughes shared. “As Appalachians, we had a very unique experience in life, but I used to hate home while I was growing up. After coal crashed, a lot of stuff was taken away, and I was the first generation to really experience the Hazard with not a lot.”
That longing for his roots started the minute he moved out of Kentucky. Looking for a way to honor his roots, he started to dive into classic bluegrass albums and found that he was instantly transported back to the mountains all the way from Ohio.
“Whether I’m in Cleveland or Nashville, it really transports me back home,” he stated proudly. “Listening to bluegrass really made me realize I took Appalachia for advantage for many years and I live there and now I’ve changed. I’m here 100% to represent Appalachia. When I play the music, that’s the sound of home. When they see me, that’s the look of home. And I walk with it every day. I carry dirt from home on my boots. I carry home with me, and I carried it here to American Idol because I’m proud of it.”
After noting how much this audition means to him, he did exactly what he set out to do: “I’m going out here to pick it, pick it fast, sing it loud. Hopefully it has an impact on ‘em.”
Hughes plucked his guitar strings with precision, letting his free-spirited, mountainous energy fill the room. His rich bluegrass tones were drawn out in every note, showcasing his unmistakable Appalachian flair and making the performance feel both authentic and joyful.
Among the panel of judges, Carrie Underwood was first to share her thoughts. She started by saying how “happy” the performance made her feel, but then expressed some hesitation about his ability to perform in other genres.
“I have one for real question. So in this competition we do Rock Hall of Fame, we do Disney Night, we throw things at you. We want you to be you. Can you be you in other genres?” she asked.
With confidence, he responded, “I think I can do about every genre I love music all across the board. Not just bluegrass because of where I’m from, but I love every bit of music.”
Lionel Richie told him, “I like your vibe” and commended him on the unique “character” quality of his vocals.
“You’re going to have to take us on that journey where we don’t get too comfortable knowing what you’re going to do. You’re going to have to kind of guide us through it,” he added.
Luke Bryan wasn’t completely on board at first, admitting he was “a little skeptical.”
“There was some stuff you did at the end where you had a little vibrato in there and it was really nice, so I think you’re still exploring a lot with your voice.”
In the end, the judges felt that he deserved the chance to prove himself in the competition, and awarded him a unanimous “yes,” putting him through to Hollywood Week.
Hughes was incredibly grateful for the opportunity. Although he knows his audition wasn’t “perfect,” he stated the audition gave him the confidence he needed to find himself.
“Thank you. This means the world to me. For so long I was afraid of kind of exploring who I was and where I was from. I can finally be who I am and be proud of it…This has my heart. It’s everything and I’m very proud to take this ticket back home.”
Landon Hughes got to showcase his talent during the final round of auditions tonight. Next Monday, February 23, Hollywood Week officially begins in Nashville, TN and the judges will be forced to make the “biggest cut in Idol history.” By the end of the night, the top 30 will be unveiled.
New episodes of American Idol Season 24 air Monday nights at 8/7c on ABC and streams the next day on Hulu.
The post Luke Bryan Admits Skepticism, Then 19-Year-Old Landon Hughes Wins Over ‘Idol’ Judges With Bluegrass-Fueled Audition appeared first on Country Now.
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By: Corinne Smith, Alaska Beacon
Officials with the Alaska Department of Corrections told lawmakers a “large fight” with a hefty price tag broke out at the state’s maximum security prison in January, amid downsizing and cost-cutting efforts.
The fight at Spring Creek Correctional Center involved 50 inmates, some of whom sustained minor injuries, officials said.
“Quick napkin math, we believe it to be just under $200,000 that that cost us,” Jen Winkelman, the commissioner for the corrections department, told lawmakers. “Anecdotally, the pressures of moving the individuals around and being at capacity in our max unit — I believe that, (and) we all believe that that plays a part in it,” she said.
She said the altercation increased agency spending on medical and transportation costs to transfer those involved.
The disclosure came in a budget update to members of the House Finance subcommittee for DOC on Feb 10, as lawmakers are reviewing the department’s additional $24 million spent last year, and request for just over a $500 million budget for next year.
Spring Creek is the state’s only maximum-security prison for men, located just outside Seward on the Kenai Peninsula, and housed approximately 375 inmates last year.
Last year, the legislature directed DOC to close one of three housing units at the prison, which contained 247 beds, as a cost-cutting measure. It was intended “to direct personnel to other areas of the facility, reduce overtime and find efficiencies,” according to a presentation by DOC officials.
The housing unit was closed July 14, and the inmates relocated to other housing in Spring Creek and to other prisons across the state, April Wilkerson, deputy commissioner told lawmakers. She said Spring Creek is now over capacity, with a waitlist of inmates to transfer into the maximum-security prison.
“Ultimately we are not achieving the savings that was identified in the department’s budget,” Wilkerson said.
According to the department, a fight broke out between two groups of inmates on Jan. 24. It involved 50 people, according to department spokesperson Betsy Holley. “Staff responded quickly. 5 inmates had non-threatening injuries and were treated. No staff were injured,” she said in an email after the hearing.
Holley said the fight lasted approximately 10 minutes, and staff responded effectively. “Those inmates involved are currently undergoing the discipline process,” she said, according to DOC policies, which may include suspension from activities or solitary confinement.
Holley said there were no further details on the cost estimate.
On Thursday, Winkelman said in a short interview between hearings at the Capitol that DOC officials reported the incident to lawmakers to illustrate how incidents can occur beyond the department’s control.
“These things happen, and they have a cost incurred, and we can’t plan for it,” Winkelman said. “It happened at eight o’clock in the morning. But they happen often — little things happen often, that have big price tags. So that’s the point that we’re trying to make.”
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Jennifer Lopez is reportedly mad at Bad Bunny.
But not because she’s a racist who thinks this Puerto Rican native is somehow a bad influence on America.
Instead, a source claims Lopez was hoping to make an appearance last Sunday night during the Super Bowl halftime show that has launched a million think pieces and created a manufactured and ridiculous uproar.
The mini concert included cameos by Ricky Martin and Lady Gaga — but not Lopez, who also hails from Puerto Rico.
”She’s been trying to make a comeback,” a Hollywood insider allegedly told News Nation.
“Nothing is working. Her movie [“Kiss of the Spider Woman”] bombed. Her shows in Vegas over the New Year did okay — but it was the New Year — and her singing is being mocked online. She’s performing every song live in Vegas and there are some people who are better off lip synching if you know what I mean.”
We know what this person means, yes.
He or she means Jennifer Lopez doesn’t exactly have Adele’s vocal range.
On the day of this year’s Super Bowl, the artist posted multiple photos of her and Bad Bunny from six years ago, writing along with the upload:
“Sending you love, positivity and the biggest hug in the world! We are all behind you tonight. I know you are going to kill it! I am here with you the way you were there with me.”
Doesn’t sound like someone who is overly bitter, does it?
Still, it does seem true that Lopez is almost better known these days for her failed marriages than for her very successful career.
“She could use the association right now,” this same source claimed of Lopez and Bad Bunny. He’s hot — she’s not.”
The source adds that Lopez’s recent gym selfie (which featured a great deal of cleavage) came across as a “desperate” attempt for “attention.”
Lopez, of course, actually performed alongside Shakira at halftime of the Super Bowl in 2020.
According to an unscientific poll of every male on the planet, it was the best halftime act of all-time.
Jennifer Lopez: I Was Snubbed by Bad Bunny! was originally published on The Hollywood Gossip.
The Hollywood Gossip