McDonald’s proved it wasn’t afraid to think outside the box when the chain launched a limited release that showcased McNuggets in a whole new light.
Mashed – Fast Food, Celebrity Chefs, Grocery, Reviews
Month: May 2026
Believe it or not, breadcrumbs can be used for more than breading your chicken and fish. From meatballs to cookies, these are the best ways to use them.
Food Republic – Restaurants, Reviews, Recipes, Cooking Tips
She was also in a series of very famous commercials. Continue reading…Country Music News – Taste of Country
Nothing hits quite like a juicy all-beef patty when you are hunting for a quick lunch. Slap some fromage on top and you have a winning meal.
Mashed – Fast Food, Celebrity Chefs, Grocery, Reviews
Wether you buy a seedless or a seeded version of a watermelon, you’ll notice that the flesh often comes peppered with tiny white seeds. Why? And are they safe?
Food Republic – Restaurants, Reviews, Recipes, Cooking Tips
Beer has a foothold in American drinking culture, but does that mean that a U.S. brand outsells the rest? Quantity-wise, this brew is a national sales leader.
Mashed – Fast Food, Celebrity Chefs, Grocery, Reviews
![<a href="https://countrynow.com/shania-twain-calls-hosting-the-acm-awards-a-bucket-list-moment-exclusive/" target="_blank">Shania Twain Calls Hosting The ACM Awards A ‘Bucket List’ Moment [Exclusive]</a>](https://countrynow.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/Photo-Courtesy-Shania-Twain-1024x681.png)
As the top-selling female country-pop artist of all time, Shania Twain doesn’t have too many things left on her bucket list. She’s toured the world, sold more than 100 million albums, blazed trails for other women in country music, hosted her own Las Vegas residency, written a book, and more. But when she got the call to host the 61st Annual Academy of Country Music Awards, she admits it was a “bucket list call” and something she immediately knew she would say yes to.
“It’s a very big deal for me. I’m really honored. I’m especially excited because it’s in Las Vegas. So I feel like I’m hosting the world audience from my stage hometown, my live hometown, Las Vegas. So it’s really great,” Twain told Country Now during an exclusive interview backstage at ACM Awards rehearsals on Friday.
For Twain, the idea of hosting in front of a global audience is especially exciting, as is the chance to meet the new artists creating their own paths in country music.
“I’m excited about bringing all of the worlds together, meaning the global audience, all of the artists together. It is a joy to see all of the new artists coming out to be able to get the chance to meet them and encourage them. I feel my role here is to support all of the nominees, the upcoming artists, and to bring the stage and the audience together.”
The five-time GRAMMY winner is no stranger to the stage. Twain has been performing since she was just 8 years old, but she says stepping into the role of host offers a completely different kind of experience compared to being the artist in the spotlight.
“Hosting is, I wouldn’t say it’s more fun, but there’s less in the role of hosting, you are more there to support. And trust me, when you are the performer, you need the support. So I would say that that’s the biggest difference,” she explained. “When I’m on stage, I need my support system around me. I’m so focused, I’m focused. I need my space. I need everything to be right. I’m preparing really for my moment, whereas to host, I’m really helping everybody else prepare for their big moments. So it takes the pressure off in a lot of ways, which is why the performers and the nominees need support. I want them to know that I’m here and I’m cheering you on.”
Throughout the star-studded event, Twain will welcome performers including Avery Anna, Blake Shelton, Carter Faith, Cody Johnson, Dan + Shay, Ella Langley, Jordan Davis, Kacey Musgraves, Kane Brown, Lainey Wilson, Lee Ann Womack, Little Big Town, Miranda Lambert, Parker McCollum, Riley Green, The Red Clay Strays, Thomas Rhett, Tucker Wetmore, and Zach Top to the stage.
Joining her as presenters throughout the show will be Andrew Whitworth, Ashley McBryde, Carl Edwards, Corey LaJoie, Keith Urban, Lauren Alaina, Michael Bublé, Ryan Fitzpatrick, Shaboozey, The War And Treaty, and TJ Osborne.
The 61st Academy of Country Music Awards will take place on Sunday, May 17, 2026, at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. The show will stream live exclusively on Prime Video beginning at 8 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. CT / 5 p.m. PT for viewers in more than 240 countries and territories.
Twain’s ACM Awards hosting debut comes ahead of the release of her forthcoming studio album, Little Miss Twain, arriving July 24. The project finds the entertainment icon returning to her roots with what she describes as her most personal project yet, blending country, pop, rock, soul, and bluegrass while reflecting on the experiences that shaped her career.
The post Shania Twain Calls Hosting The ACM Awards A ‘Bucket List’ Moment [Exclusive] appeared first on Country Now.
Country Now
Content warning: This story discusses suicide.
Martin Short is reflecting on two great losses in his life.
Months after the Innerspace actor’s eldest child Katherine Short died by suicide at the…
E! Online (US) – Top Stories
As Bill Cassidy fights for his political life, he’s refusing to acknowledge the political gravity surrounding him.
Five years after he cast a vote to convict President Donald Trump in his impeachment trial over Trump’s election denialism and the Jan. 6 Capitol riot, Cassidy is facing a challenge from Trump-backed Rep. Julia Letlow (R-La.) and GOP State Treasurer John Fleming in a crucial Louisiana primary today that marks the next stop on Trump’s revenge tour.
In an interview with POLITICO on Saturday, Cassidy sounded disconnected from the reality he faces, frequently referring only to Letlow as “my opponent” while ignoring Fleming, and complaining about the state’s shift to a closed party primary back in 2024.
If Trump’s push to oust Cassidy succeeds, it could unleash another rogue in the Senate with a vendetta against Trump and nothing left to lose.
But Cassidy claims he’s not thinking about that. Asked whether he would be a thorn in Trump’s side in his remaining months in office should he go down and join other YOLO Republicans, Cassidy sounded defiant.
“I’m going to win today,” Cassidy said. “I may go into a runoff. But I’m always going to vote for the good of my country and my people.”
If no candidate clears 50 percent in today’s vote, the top two candidates will advance to a June 27 runoff. Recent polls show a tight three-way campaign. Most polling puts Cassidy in third place, behind Letlow and Fleming, another MAGA candidate.
Cassidy spoke with POLITICO by phone before he made his Election Day rounds after attending a wedding Friday evening. He talked of his plans to improve affordability and criticized Letlow for not voting for the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.
“I don’t quite know why, but it takes courage, and so you got to know what’s right, and then you got to have the courage to do what’s right, and that’s what I have,” Cassidy said. “I’ve proven it. That’s what this race is about.”
But in the final hours before results roll in, the senator who drew Trump’s ire over his impeachment vote was the one crying foul over voting issues.
Cassidy echoed his concerns about Louisiana’s move to a closed primary system, telling Playbook he had just gotten off the phone with a “No Party” voter who tried to cast a ballot for him but said he could not. Cassidy said he’s communicating with Louisiana Secretary of State Nancy Landy, who he said is investigating. “We can’t comment on Senator Cassidy’s claim without specific details but, as with any claims of voter irregularities, we take them seriously, and would investigate any complaints made to our office,” a spokesperson for the secretary of state’s office said in a statement.
“Today, I’m trying to make sure that people are able to exercise their right to vote … in a system which, in effect, has been designed to prevent people from being able to cast their vote for me,” Cassidy said.
He brushed off MAHA’s role in the primary. “People in our state want someone who has delivered,” he said. “If you’re talking about ‘Making America Healthy Again,’ my gosh, I’ve worked to make my state healthy again. And so if people are concerned about our state being healthier, then I’m your candidate.”
And he expressed no regrets over his impeachment decision.
“That is not something I think about.” Cassidy said. “If my opponent is focused on that, she’s thinking about five years ago. I’m thinking about five years from now. If she wants to be wedded to the past, be wedded in the past, but by golly, you’re not working for the future. I’m working for the future, that’s where I’m focused.”
Despite Cassidy’s resoluteness, GOP sources in Louisiana see an increasingly bleak outlook for Cassidy — no matter where he finishes at the end of the day.
“There is almost a 0.0 percent chance that Bill Cassidy is coming back to the Senate,” said an unaligned GOP strategist with experience running races in Louisiana and granted anonymity to assess the state of play.
“He’s run a lot of ads,” the person said, “and the problem with his ads is he’s in them.”
Like this content? Consider signing up for POLITICO’s Playbook newsletter.
Politics
Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce’s latest date night was a fairytale.
The Grammy winner and Kansas City Chiefs tight end held hands as they stepped out for a romantic date night at Or’esh restaurant…
E! Online (US) – Top Stories