Adkins is currently on the road for his 30th Anniversary Tour, and it might be his last headlining run. Continue reading…Country Music News – Taste of Country
Month: February 2026
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Being “a bit picky” in the past before reconsidering and marrying a guy is an unusual claim.
Is Jana Duggar calling her past self fickle?
Or is she saying that she lowered her standards enough to wed Stephen WIssmann?
It almost sounds like she’s saying both. Take a look:
‘I was a bit picky back in the day’
On Monday, February 16, Jana shared a V-Day photo with her husband. But the snap dates back to well before their wedding.
“Throwback to Valentine’s Day five years ago,” she wrote in the Instagram caption.
“Such a sweet memory!” Jana gushed, adding a heart-eyes emoji.
“Stephen and I dated a bit that year,” she recalled, “and he even helped out with remodeling my family’s playroom.”
Jana concluded by writing that it was “Such a special time to look back on!”
Naturally, Jana’s post received a flurry of comments.
In the Duggar world, dating is a foreign concept — as are breakups and reconciliations. (But then, so is marrying in your thirties)
“Do you ever wish you would have stayed together then?” asked one commenter.
“Looking back now… Yes!” Jana replied.
Her response continued: “I totally wish we would’ve gotten married years earlier! But was a bit picky back in the day.”
‘I was rather picky on what I was looking for in a husband back then’
“Her dad made them break up so that she could take care of her brother’s children, so sad,” accused a different commenter.
“Wow! The things people come up with,” Jana replied, laughing it off with an emoji.
“That is so not true,” she clarified.
Jana reiterated her earlier comment: “Actually, I was rather picky on what I was looking for in a husband back then.”
Just for the record, there is no shortage of awful things about Jim-Bob Duggar. He’s an awful person. We don’t need to speculate about possible bad things that he may have done.
In 2011, Jana and Stephen met for the first time — sort of. Their families had met and they even got snowed in together (in Arkansas!), but they didn’t connect during this time.
However, from around 2020 through 2022, Jana and Stephen dated. We have to note that, in 2022, Jeremiah Duggar married Hannah Wissmann.
In early 2024, Jana and Stephen reconnected. This is apparently where she got over her alleged “pickiness.”
The two got engaged in secret in June of that year. In August, as we reported (in advance — the clues were all there), they secretly married.
Within less than a year, she was pregnant. In December 2025, they welcomed their first child, Archie Gerald.
Is she really insulting her husband?
Normally, if you say that you were formerly “picky” but later reconsidered, you’re saying that you lowered your standards.
However, it seems unlikely that Jana is intending to insult her husband. Especially given the toxic and sexist culture in which she was raised.
Instead, it seems more probable that Jana’s intention is to disparage herself.
She’s saying that she was previously “picky” and that she got over herself, essentially, to marry Stephen.
You know, Jinger recently discussed the harm that purity culture does to courtship — even from the perspective of a conservative Christian. She and Jeremy listed how unrealistic expectations (from people with no actual relationship experience) can get in the way.
It’s possible that Jana is alluding to a similar concept. Either way, presumably she and Stephen are happy these days.
Jana Duggar: I Was Too ‘Picky’ to Marry Stephen Wissmann the First Time! was originally published on The Hollywood Gossip.
The Hollywood Gossip
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The Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum is set to open its latest annual exhibition, American Currents: State of the Music, offering a look at standout moments and innovative developments in country music that took place across 2025.
Each year, American Currents highlights the evolution of country music over the past 12 months, showcasing artist achievements and standout events. The exhibit features chart-topping albums and singles, top-grossing tours, and interactive touchscreens that spotlight key moments from awards shows.
The museum’s curators and editorial staff are tasked with choosing the stories, instruments, iconic outfits from performances and more that best represent the genre’s ongoing growth from the various moments and putting it all on display inside the museum’s ACM Gallery.
“It’s central to our mission at the museum to report on country music — not just its storied past but also what’s happening right now,” said Kyle Young, CEO of the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum. “We present stories of collaboration, perseverance and innovation from emerging artists and established luminaries — and the instruments, stage wear and personal items that bring those stories to life. American Currents is a testament to the constant vitality of the music.”
Included in American Currents is a carefully curated selection of artists, musicians, and songwriters who had a hand in shaping the country music scene in 2025.
Those being represented with objects this year include the Biscuits & Banjos festival, Jason Carter and Michael Cleveland, Tyler Childers, Charley Crockett, Sierra Ferrell, Country Music Hall of Fame member Vince Gill, Ashley Gorley, Charlie Handsome, Sierra Hull, I’m With Her, Alison Krauss and Union Station, Ella Langley, MJ Lenderman, Megan Moroney, Ringo Starr, Billy Strings, Zach Top, Morgan Wallen, Waxahatchee, Wednesday, Jesse Welles, Lainey Wilson and Stephen Wilson Jr.
With this esteemed selection of artists officially announced today, Top took to his Instagram stories to express how much it means to be a part of such an esteemed exhibit.
“Honored to be included in the new installment of “American Currents: State of the Music” at the Country Music Hall of Fame,” he wrote.
Additionally, the exhibit will display video highlights that capture standout performances, events and collaborations, such as Julien Baker and TORRES, BigXthaPlug (Xavier Landum) and Bailey Zimmerman, Alison Brown and Steve Martin, and Brandon Lake and Jelly Roll, along with clips spotlighting Kaitlin Butts, Luke Combs, Farm Aid, the Grand Ole Opry, Riley Green, Cody Johnson, among some of the others who are mentioned above.
Visitors can also experience the “Unbroken Circle” section, which features the musical connections between artists and those who have inspired them or share their vision within the evolving music scene. Parings include Ken Pomeroy and John Denver, Carter Faith and Country Music Hall of Fame member Tammy Wynette and Muscadine Bloodline and Turnpike Troubadours.
Running from Wednesday, March 18 through January 2027, viewers will have the chance to explore the latest installment of the exhibit, which is included with museum admission. To coincide with the grand opening, the museum will host special programming, including a Songwriter Session with Carter Faith on March 21 and a Musician Spotlight with Sierra Hull on March 22. For more details on these events and the American Currents exhibit, visit the museum’s website.
The post Riley Green, Ella Langley, Zach Top & More Featured in New Country Music Hall of Fame Exhibit appeared first on Country Now.
Country Now
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On Monday, horrifying video of a shooting at a high school hockey game went viral on social media.
Now, new details about the incident — which left three dead, including the shooter — have emerged.
The suspect who allegedly opened fire at Dennis M. Lynch Arena in Pawtucket has now been identified as Robert M. Dorgan.
Authorities say two victims were killed, and the suspect died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
Three other victims were wounded and rushed to a nearby hospital. They are expected to make full recoveries.
The alleged shooter has now been identified as Robert Dorgan, a truck driver whose most recent address was in Jacksonville, Florida.
Little is known about the perpetrator, but police believe the shooting was a targeted attack that stemmed from a family dispute.
The New York Post is reporting that Dorgan “shot his wife, three kids, and a family friend,” but police have yet to confirm the identity of the victims.
It’s important to note that we do not know the suspect’s motives at this time.
But Fox News and other outlets are reporting that Dorgan — who sometimes went by the name Roberta Esposito — was recently involved in a messy divorce and met with disapproval from his family over his decision to identify as transgender.
In her first divorce filing from 2021, Dorgan’s wife cited her reasons as “gender reassignment surgery, narcissistic and personality disorder traits” before later amending the grounds to “irreconcilable differences.”
The year prior, Dorgan contacted North Providence police and claimed that his father-in-law had tried to force him out of his home due to his decision to undergo gender reassignment surgery.
The Post is reporting that Dorgan expressed his frustration with anti-trans rhetoric on X (formerly Twitter) one day before the shooting.
In response to a tweet in which actor Kevin Sorbo referred to US Rep. Sarah McBride as a man, Dorgan wrote:
“Keep bashing us. But do not wonder why we go BERSERK.”
Pawtucket Police Chief Tina Goncalves said in a statement that the shooting “looked like it was a family dispute.”
“My father was the shooter,” a woman leaving the facility remarked, according to the Post.
She went on to claim that he was plagued by “mental health issues.”
“He shot my family, and he’s dead now,” she said, adding that he was “very sick.”
We will further updates on this developing story as new information becomes available.
Robert Dorgan Identified as Rhode Island Hockey Rink Shooter, Allegedly Clashed With … was originally published on The Hollywood Gossip.
The Hollywood Gossip
NOTN- The University of Alaska is asking state lawmakers for millions in additional funding next year, saying the money is needed to stabilize operations, cover rising costs and address campus safety and student mental health needs.
University officials outlined their fiscal year 2027 budget request Monday to the Alaska House Finance Subcommittee.
The university’s highest priority for FY27 is a $15.2 million increase in unrestricted general funds for employee compensation.
University officials said the request would fund a 3% raise for union and nonunion employees under negotiated agreements, that’s about 1,100 faculty members, 640 adjunct faculty and roughly 420 graduate employees covered under union contracts. Another approximately 2,700 nonunion staff would also receive a 3% increase
“President Pitney has always tried to ensure that we have a very disciplined negotiation, and we want to respect the legislative process. we’re presenting numbers that are viable in the grand scheme of things, knowing the budget pressures that exist within the state.” Said University Liaison Chad Hutchison.
Officials said 53% of the university’s operating budget goes toward employee compensation, with much of the remainder paying for contracted services like food and custodial work.
The compensation request also includes funding to address rising health care costs. The university estimates $4.8 million in increased costs for health coverage, while the governor’s proposed budget includes $3 million so far.
Beyond pay raises, the university is seeking money for public safety across campuses. At the Anchorage campus, officials said the university police department is significantly understaffed.
“To put this in context, last year, we had about 500 police reports that resulted in cases that required a lot of police officer time.” Said Ryan Buchholdt, the Vice Chancellor for University of Alaska Anchorage, “When we look at Department of Justice statistics we should be in the realm of about 30 police officers minimum, if we start thinking about leaves and training and injuries we should probably be closer to the 44 realm. We have 15 police officers.”
The university is also requesting $900,000 for student mental health services.
“This committee will remember that the students had brought that to many of your members when they visited the capital, it is my expectation based on conversations we’ve been having with the students that they’ll probably bring those requests again, mental health services are a very high need when it comes to our students across all three campuses.” Said Hutchison.
The university reports about 20,500 students statewide, describing itself as a primary workforce provider for Alaska’s economy.
Bunnie’s new book presents a full timeline of her life, answers burning questions and delivers some truly extraordinary stories. Continue reading…The Boot – Country Music News, Music Videos and Songs
Bunnie’s new book presents a full timeline of her life, answers burning questions and delivers some truly extraordinary stories. Continue reading…Country Music News – Taste of Country
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