The only thing more surprising than who’s on this list of country songs that have reached one billion Spotify streams, is who isn’t. Continue reading…Country Music News – Taste of Country
Day: April 13, 2026
Reading Time: 3 minutes
Savannah Guthrie and Hoda Kotb are finally sharing a screen again.
This is their first time as co-hosts since Hoda left the show.
It’s been well over a year.
And it is their first time appearing together on The Today Show in any capacity since their tearful interview.
Reunited!
On Monday, April 13, Savannah and Hoda had their Today reunion.
This was their first time co-hosting in over a year.
“Hi, everybody, good morning and welcome to ‘Today.’ Nice to have you with us on a Monday morning,” Savannah told the audience.
She turned to Hoda, placing a hand on her arm.
Savannah then gushed: “I’m so glad to have you here, Hoda!”
“I’m so happy sitting next to you in this chair again,” Hoda expressed.
Savannah agreed: “Yeah, it’s good. It’s just like the old times!”
This is a temporary reunion. Craig Melvin, who became a Today co-host after Hoda left the series, is only temporarily out.
Savannah explained that Hoda is filling in while her usual co-host enjoys a “well-deserved vacation with his family this week.”
Craig has been doing so much in recent months. He recently spent weeks with Hoda by his side as she sat in for Savannah, who was understandably taking time off amidst the search for her mother, Nancy.
‘It’s just like the old times!’
This is the first time that Hoda and Savannah have shared the desk as co-hosts since January 10, 2025.
Prior to that, they had been co-hosts starting in 2018.
Though Hoda left the show to pursue other projects, she has returned to help while Savannah deals with her family crisis.
We can’t really say that the mystery and grief of Nancy being a missing person is “over.”
But, sometimes, returning to work — taking your mind off of the pain for minutes at a time — is the best thing for someone who’s in a crisis.
On April 6, Savannah returned to her chair.
She quipped that it was “good to be home.”
It was back in March, during a heart-wrenching interview that Hoda conducted, that she shared her plans to return to the Today desk.
If Savannah and her family had gotten to have a sense of closure, then figuring out the “right” time to come back would have been easier.
But there has been no answer. No one seems to know where Nancy’s remains might be found. And Savannah knows that she cannot simply wait for answers that may never come.
What happened to Nancy?
This is an unfortunate time to be kidnapped or the victim of certain other crimes, as the federal agencies normally involved in resolving these situations are under serious mismanagement at the moment.
That said, we do not know if competent FBI leadership would have made a difference in this case.
Nancy Guthrie was kidnapped over a weekend. This may mean that the unknown suspect works a 9-to-5 weekday job, and that no one noticed their absence.
Given Nancy’s age and health, many believe that she may have died very soon after her abduction, either due to an injury or from lack of her medication.
But we don’t actually know. Her killer is out there, probably living a daily routine and not telling a soul. Maybe we’ll have answers one day. We hope that it will bring a sense of peace to Savannah and her family.
Savannah Guthrie & Hoda Kotb Reunite on ‘The Today Show’ was originally published on The Hollywood Gossip.
The Hollywood Gossip
Lauren Alaina is opening up about her frightening birth experience with her daughter, Beni Doll, in a new interview with Bobby Bones on an episode of Father Knows Less.
Complications During Labor With Daughter Beni Doll
The Georgia native, who admitted she is “learning every day” about motherhood, revealed that she experienced a “wild birth” due to complications involving Beni’s umbilical cord. Speaking with Bones, who recently became a father himself, Alaina detailed the intense and emotional moments she faced during labor.
“When I would push, Beni’s heart rate plummeted and they couldn’t figure out why. So her umbilical cord was wrapped around her head twice and up under her shoulder and then between her legs. So when I would push, it was pulling,” the “All My Exes” singer revealed.
“Very Scary” Moments In The Delivery Room
At the time, Alaina said she didn’t fully understand what was happening, but her instincts told her something wasn’t right.
“I knew something was not right,” she revealed. “So I was very scared. It was very scary.”
Alaina welcomed Beni Doll on June 11, well past her due date, which she later learned may have contributed to the complications.
Facing Difficult Decisions With Doctors
“But they basically told me not to push until the doctor got there. I did not push. And then I pushed … And the doctor came in and told me all these things that we were going to have to do to get her out, like forceps. And there’s like this vacuum that they can use and they’re telling me this. And I look up at my husband and I’m just like scared to death,” she recalled.
Because of the baby’s position, a C-section wasn’t considered the best option in that moment, leaving Alaina and her medical team to weigh difficult choices.
“She was so far down in the birth canal that they would have had to push her back up for a C-section. So they said that really wasn’t the greatest choice at that point either. So then we’re like having to pick the best of not great choices,” she said. “ And I’m not kidding, it scared me so much.”
Her doctor ultimately encouraged her to push while assessing the situation and forming a plan.
“He said…’I want you to push as hard as you can and I just kind of want to see the position of her head and then you’re going to relax and then we’ll do it again and we’re going to get her out.’”
“Something Happened To Me”
In that moment, Alaina says something shifted within her, giving her a strength she didn’t know she had.
“And I looked up at my husband, I will never forget it. Something happened to me and I pushed her out. They did not have to use anything. Oh really? Something happened to me. They scared me so bad. You see those videos of people like lifting cars off of their children? Yeah. I had that experience.”
After the scary birth experience, Lauren Alaina says she has fully embraced motherhood and is focused on being the best mom she can be. The Georgia native shares that becoming a mom is “the best thing that’s ever happened to me.”
Since welcoming her daughter, Beni Doll, Alaina has often given fans a glimpse into her life at home, sharing sweet photos and videos of their growing girl on social media.
The post Lauren Alaina Opens Up About Scary Labor Complications With Daughter Beni Doll In Emotional New Interview appeared first on Country Now.
Country Now
![<a href="https://theboot.com/ixp/204/p/zac-brown-band-sunday-night-baseball-nbc/" target="_blank">Zac Brown Band’s Opening Theme for Sunday Night Baseball [WATCH]</a>](https://townsquare.media/site/204/files/2026/04/attachment-editorial-11-2.png?format=natural)
The band has got us waiting all day for Sunday night baseball. Continue reading…The Boot – Country Music News, Music Videos and Songs
The USDA supplies an average of what a household (in various economic standings) should be spending on food. This is what it suggests for 2026.
Food Republic – Restaurants, Reviews, Recipes, Cooking Tips
Reading Time: 3 minutes
Another alum of My 600-lb Life has passed away.
Dolly Martinez was only 30.
She was even younger when she appeared on Season 10 of the TLC reality series.
What happened? Here’s what her family has shared. …
It was her own sibling who broke the tragic news
Her sister, Lindsey, shared the sad news on a Saturday, April 11 Facebook post.
“It is with a heavy heart that I share the passing of my beautiful sister, Dolly,” her mournful post began.
“Dolly had the brightest personality,” Lindsey praised.
She elaborated: “She could light up any room with her laughter, her kindness, and her loving spirit.”
Lindsey affirmed: “She had a way of making everyone feel special, and her warmth will stay with us forever.”
“While our hearts are broken here,” Lindsey continued, “I find comfort in knowing she is now reunited with our dad in heaven.”
She added: “I can only imagine the joy of that reunion.”
Lindsey wrote: “Rest peacefully, Dolly. You will always be loved, always be missed, and never forgotten.”
She concluded her tribute to her dearly departed sister by asking loved ones to contact her or her wife and not others, as some people require peace and quiet as they mourn.
(We have, for obvious reasons, not chosen to republish private phone numbers here.)
What was her cause of death?
We do not yet know what Dolly’s official cause of death was.
She was only 30 years old.
When Dolly appeared on Season 10 of TLC’s controversial series, My 600-lb Life, she weighed 593 pounds.
Different people carry weight in different ways. In her case, being this size meant that she relied upon supplemental oxygen.
She also required assistance with daily tasks.
While on the show, Dolly discussed how food provided her with emotional support that she was unable to derive elsewhere.
This began in early childhood. Her father’s addiction led to her parents’ divorce, and as she spent more time on her own, she sought comfort from food.
Most people can relate to the joy that food brings. Balancing that with making safe and healthy choices for ourselves is a balance to which many relate.
According to her mother’s statements on My 600-lb Life, Dolly experienced stigma as a child, which led to her turning to food. This became an ingrained behavior and a self-perpetuating cycle.
Over the course of Season 10, Dolly lost about 40 pounds, but never received approval for the weight loss surgery that she sought.
Some are quick to blame the TLC series, but …
My 600-lb Life is a controversial series.
(The best that one can honestly say about it is that it’s better than The Biggest Loser, which many cite as a true reality TV atrocity.)
Some of the alums have sued. Some surviving family members have also sued.
Taking a group of vulnerable people who are in need of help and turning their struggles into entertainment is always going to be off-putting to many. Especially because many believe that the rapid weight loss that people undergo puts added strain on their health.
For now, though, we have no idea whether Dolly’s death was related to her previous weight or to any degree of weight loss. Our hearts go out to her loved ones at this time.
Dolly Martinez Cause of Death: ‘My 600-lb Life’ Star Dies at 30 was originally published on The Hollywood Gossip.
The Hollywood Gossip
Fans are finally getting their real first glimpse of Riley Green stepping into the world of Marshals ahead of the highly anticipated April 19 episode, where viewers will be introduced to his character, Garrett.
Meet Garrett: A Former Navy SEAL With A Past
In an exclusive sneak peek shared by USA Today, Garrett is revealed as a former Navy SEAL who reunites with his former teammates Kayce and Cal in the middle of an intense manhunt for what’s described as a “vicious enemy.” The clip opens with Garrett pulling up in a bus before reconnecting with Kayce, played by Luke Grimes.
A Tense Reunion With Kayce And Cal
Their reunion is anything but casual. Kayce questions Garrett’s sudden return, asking him, “After all this time, you just figured you’d show up?”
“Felt like seeing how my old teammate was doing,” Garrett responds.
Kayce makes it clear he’s still very much in the thick of things in his new role: “I’m a Marshal now. Still in the fight.”
Cal also questions Garrett’s reappearance. “Man shows up because life is good? I know a damaged man when I see one,” he says, hinting at the struggles Garrett may be facing.
A Troubled Past Comes To Light
The preview confirms Cals fears. Garrett is seen surrounded by bottles, appearing weighed down by memories of his time in the military.
“Music’s my only escape. It helps me forget about the past,” Garrett admits as flashbacks from what appears to be a SEAL operation appear on the screen.
A Hidden Tease? Fans Spot Unreleased Song ‘My Way’
Fans may also hear a familiar song playing in the background: Riley Green’s “My Way,” which he previously teased on social media last spring. There’s also a quick shot of a scene showing Garrett playing a guitar around the campfire. Could this be a teaser that he may finally be releasing the song after all this time? Fans will have to stay tuned to find out.
This marks Riley Green’s acting debut, which he confirmed to Country Now in December, revealing at the time that he had a TV appearance in the works. He shared that he felt right at home on set, though the experience came with its challenges, as he balanced filming with his demanding tour schedule.
“It was a little tough because of the travel, because I was still playing shows every weekend and flying out and flying back and flying out. So that was the tough part about it. But as far as actually on set acting and kind of being there and getting into that head space, I felt like it came sort of natural to me,” he shared.
Green will appear in the Marshals episode “Blowback” on Sunday, April 19 (8:00-9:00 PM, ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network, and streaming on Paramount+ (live and on-demand for Paramount+ Premium plan subscribers, or on-demand for Paramount+ Essential subscribers the day after the episode airs)*.
The post Riley Green’s Troubled Character Garrett Takes Center Stage In Intense ‘Marshals’ Sneak Peek appeared first on Country Now.
Country Now
By: Corinne Smith, Alaska Beacon
Gov. Mike Dunleavy signed off on a supplemental budget bill that authorizes nearly $450 million in additional state spending this year.
The budget bill covers additional costs incurred by the state this fiscal year ending in June, including funds for disaster relief, education, corrections and transportation.
The bill was approved by the Alaska State Legislature two weeks ago. Dunleavy signed the budget on Apr. 2, and transmitted it back to the Legislature on Thursday.
“I appreciate the Legislature’s support of these proposals,” Dunleavy said in a letter announcing his signature on the bill. “The supplemental budget I have signed into law today enables the State to meet current fiscal year responsibilities and represents prudent and fiscally responsible investments in emergency and fire response, public safety and statewide transportation needs.”
The budget includes $75 million for disaster relief to address the response to the Western Alaska storms last fall, and nearly $100 million for fire suppression, particularly in Interior Alaska. It includes $20 million for the Alaska Department of Corrections overtime expenses, as well as $70 million in time-sensitive funding for transportation — sought by the construction industry to unlock a federal match of $630 million for state construction projects.
It also includes $130 million for the Alaska Higher Education Fund which provides grants and scholarships for students, as well as $34.4 million for Medicaid and $12.8 million for other public assistance programs through the Alaska Department of Health.
The governor’s office submitted an additional $11.6 million request, but it was submitted too late to include in the budget bill, and will be rolled into the proposal for next year’s budget.
Additionally, the state is waiting on an appeal decision after failing a federal disparity test for education funding, and could potentially be liable for $72 million in K-12 funding for next year, according to officials with the Legislative Finance Division.
Oil revenues still uncertain
In the Legislature, the bill was delayed this year amid ongoing debate in the House of Representatives on whether to pay for the larger than usual budget bill out of state savings — an act that requires the approval of three-quarters of legislators.
Members of the House Republican minority caucus objected to spending from a state savings account, the Constitutional Budget Reserve. After the Alaska Department of Revenue projected the state would see an additional $500 million in oil revenue due to a surge in oil prices driven by the Iran war, they argued the state would not need to pull from savings to pay its bills.
Members of the multipartisan House majority caucus objected to the uncertainty of revenue forecasts and future oil prices, and argued for a draw from state savings to fund the budget bill immediately.
If oil-driven state revenues from now until the end of the fiscal year are not sufficient to cover the $450 million supplemental budget, then lawmakers agreed to draw from state savings. That means oil prices must average approximately $82 per barrel of oil through June for state revenue to cover spending, according to officials with the Legislative Finance Division.
House Speaker Rep. Bryce Edgmon, I-Dillingham, was among legislators who supported the draw from savings several weeks ago, instead of banking on uncertain future oil revenues. On Friday, he said it seems revenues will cover the budget bill.
“As appears now, oil prices are continuing to move in an upward trajectory, which means that the bill at the very end could be fully funded,” Edgmon said. “But there’s still a fair amount of time in front of us for oil prices to, you know, continue to be volatile.”
Edgmon said barring a dive in oil prices, he doesn’t expect another vote on drawing from the state savings this session.
“That’s pending a dramatic drop in oil prices, of course, which doesn’t seem to be on the horizon.”
Reading Time: 2 minutes
Donald Trump has been on a rampage lately.
No one is safe from the president’s wrath these days, as he unleashes his fury on everyone from Tucker Carlson to Pope Leo XIV.
Yes, even the pope is catching strays at the moment, with Trump blasting the Chicago native as “weak” and “terrible” on foreign policy.
“Pope Leo is WEAK on Crime, and terrible for Foreign Policy,” Trump wrote, adding:
“He talks about “fear” of the Trump Administration, but doesn’t mention the FEAR that the Catholic Church, and all other Christian Organizations, had during COVID when they were arresting priests, ministers, and everybody else, for holding Church Services, even when going outside, and being ten and even twenty feet apart. I like his brother Louis much better than I like him, because Louis is all MAGA.
“He gets it, and Leo doesn’t!”
The post came during a very strange 24-hour period, during which Trump also posted a photo of himself as Jesus Christ.
“I don’t want a Pope who criticizes the President of the United States because I’m doing exactly what I was elected, IN A LANDSLIDE, to do, setting Record Low Numbers in Crime, and creating the Greatest Stock Market in History,” Trump ranted on, adding:
“Leo should be thankful because, as everyone knows, he was a shocking surprise. He wasn’t on any list to be Pope, and was only put there by the Church because he was an American, and they thought that would be the best way to deal with President Donald J. Trump.
“If I wasn’t in the White House, Leo wouldn’t be in the Vatican.”
For obvious reasons, many social media users — including supporters of Trump’s — were shocked by Sunday’s posts.
And Pope Leo was quick to respond to the White House’s provocation.
“To put my message on the same plane as what the president has attempted to do here, I think is not understanding what the message of the Gospel is,” Leo told The Associated Press aboard the papal plane over the weekend.
“And I’m sorry to hear that but I will continue on what I believe is the mission of the church in the world today.”
Trump has yet to respond to the Pope’s rebuttal or to the backlash against his bizarre Jesus photo.
We will have further updates on this developing story as new information becomes available.
Donald Trump Potrays Self as Jesus Christ, Blasts ‘Weak’ Pope Leo In Shocking … was originally published on The Hollywood Gossip.
The Hollywood Gossip
A subadult fur seal is hauled out on St. Paul Island in 2007. About two-thirds of the world’s northern fur seal population uses the Pribilofs for breeding. (Photo by Carla Stanley/U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service)
A conservation group sued federal fisheries managers over catch limits in the pollock trawl fishery, arguing that their regulations do not adequately protect northern fur seals in the Bering Sea.
The lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court of Alaska on Wednesday, centers on the fur seal population on St. Paul Island, home to nursing females that rely on pollock to feed their pups.
The Center for Biological Diversity, an Arizona-based conservation group, alleges that NOAA Fisheries violated federal conservation laws by not including stronger protections for fur seals in its annual harvest limits for pollock by trawlers.
The group cites data that northern fur seals have declined by 70% on St. Paul Island since the 1970s.
“The federal government is legally required to make sure industrial fishing doesn’t devastate this vulnerable population of seals, but it’s failed to act for decades,” said Cooper Freeman, Alaska director at the Center for Biological Diversity, through a prepared statement.
NOAA Fisheries, also called the National Marine Fisheries Service, is responsible for ensuring fish stocks are sustainable and conserving marine life. The agency wrote in March that there is “not sufficient information” to determine if the pollock trawl fishery is disrupting fur seal populations on St. Paul Island in violation of federal law.
Similar long-running legal battles have been fought over trawl fishing and its impacts on Steller sea lion populations in Western Alaska.
Trawl fishing for pollock in the Bering Sea is divisive in Alaska. Supporters point to billions of dollars in economic activity and thousands of jobs created by the fishery. Opponents argue that trawling for pollock is leading to environmental damage and salmon bycatch.
The fur seal challenge has been assigned to Judge H. Russell Holland, a senior U.S. District court judge.