Eric brought out his guitar to impart some wisdom on the class of 2026. Continue reading…The Boot – Country Music News, Music Videos and Songs
Month: May 2026
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Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry wants to be a kingmaker. But his efforts to elevate Rep. Julia Letlow’s Senate campaign is irritating other Republicans in the state.
The first-term GOP governor has become a central figure in President Donald Trump’s revenge tour, working to boost Letlow to take down Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-La.), who is viewed by MAGA supporters as insufficiently loyal to the president. Landry has publicly endorsed her and dispatched his chief of staff to advise her campaign. Behind the scenes, he’s been urging major donors to financially support Letlow, according to six people familiar with his pressure campaign.
But his aggressive efforts are annoying Louisiana Republicans, who see him as overstepping to prop up a candidate who is struggling to dominate as the front-runner, given her relatively low name ID and the rise of another MAGA candidate: State Treasurer John Fleming.
Nearly a dozen GOP lawmakers, strategists and party leaders said in interviews that they’ve long been frustrated by his efforts to strong-arm the party over his legislative priorities and see the Senate race as the latest salvo.
“We’re in some crazy territory where there are yes men all around the governor, and they don’t do anything he doesn’t want them to do, and they do everything he wants them to do,” said Kelby Daigle, St. Martin GOP parish chair, who supports Cassidy.
One prominent Louisiana businessperson, granted anonymity to speak freely, said Landry had asked dozens of executives on a conference call earlier this year to donate to Letlow. The person, a Cassidy supporter, promptly hung up.
“Governor Landry has gone all-in on Letlow and is pot committed at this point,” said a Louisiana Republican strategist, granted anonymity to speak freely. “It’s a gamble that could pay off big or drain his political capital.”
The May 16 primary is likely headed to a run-off, and any combination of candidates may qualify. Polling shows Letlow with a slight lead over Fleming, with Cassidy in third.
Getting Letlow to the finish line would be a huge boost for Landry in the eyes of the White House, which has set its sights on ousting Cassidy, who angered the MAGA base with his 2021 impeachment vote against the president. Still, the governor may not be the most compelling messenger himself: He’s facing sinking approval ratings in Louisiana, dropping to 43 percent in March, down from 58 percent the prior year. And his reputation as a highly transactional governor is exhausting other Republican leaders.
“All this is him thinking that he can rig certain outcomes as a toady for the President,” said another GOP operative, who is unaffiliated with any of the Senate campaigns. The problem for Landry, the Republican said, is “people in Louisiana are fiercely independent. They don’t want to be told what to do.”
Landry and the White House did not respond to requests for comment.
“This narrative is absurd,” said Katherine Thordahl, Letlow campaign spokesperson. “Governor Landry is a friend and an ally, but he does not run Congresswoman Julia Letlow’s campaign. This is yet another desperate attempt by Rep. Letlow’s opponents to muddy the waters because they are losing this race.”
Letlow was first elected to the House to fill the seat of her former husband, who died from Covid in 2020, days before being sworn in. She’s the first Republican woman to serve in Congress in Louisiana. And she has earned the backing of both Trump and the Make America Healthy Again movement, whose PAC has pledged $1 million in support, despite Cassidy’s attempts to paint her as inadequately conservative for previously supporting diversity initiatives in higher education.
Her strongest supporter is Landry, a close ally of the White House who has moved further onto the national stage since becoming governor in 2024. Trump named him special envoy to Greenland last year, and he was one of the first Republican governors to welcome federal agents into their states when the U.S. Border Patrol was dispatched to New Orleans.
But in Louisiana, Republicans say Landry has created a culture of fear, with frequent comparisons to Huey Long, the former governor and populist political boss. Few are willing to speak out against him. “Often people in his own party get punished more than the Democrats,” said state Rep. Aimee Freeman, a Democrat.
Landry is known to bulldoze Republicans in the state legislature to get his priorities through — and readily punish detractors by wielding his line-item veto. Last year, he killed 16 spending projects in districts held by GOP lawmakers who voted against his top legislative priority.
In another display of power, he chose to delay the state’s House races from May 16 to mid-July following the Supreme Court’s rejection of Louisiana’s congressional map, sending the election system into chaos.
“This is unchecked power,” said Daigle, the GOP parish chair, of Landry’s decision to suspend House elections, which occurred after more than 42,000 ballots were cast. “We are in what I would say is some dangerous territory here, constitutionally speaking.”
Landry’s GOP detractors in the state say the Senate race is just another example of Landry sharply wielding his bully pulpit, from his push to get big donors to back Letlow to blasting Cassidy at any opportunity.
Landry was behind the decision in 2024 to change the state’s electoral system, which used to combine all candidates into a single primary that any voter could participate in. The state now uses closed partisan primaries, which was seen as laying the groundwork for defeating Cassidy, given his unpopularity with the base. Cassidy must now win over those voters, who turn out in droves in primaries, without being able to rely on votes from Democrats and others who have padded his numbers in the past.
Cassidy’s campaign did not respond to a request for comment.
Letlow could use the boost: Her war chest amounts to less than a quarter of Cassidy’s cash on hand. But her opponents have seized on Landry’s involvement. Cassidy filed an FEC complaint accusing Landry’s top political fundraiser of campaign finance violations while approaching donors on behalf of Letlow. And Fleming has accused Landry of being behind millions in negative advertisements going after his record on immigration and opposition to carbon sequestration, an issue that he has campaigned heavily on. Landry and Courtney Guastella, his top fundraiser, have not addressed the allegations publicly and didn’t respond to requests for comment.
Thordahl, the Letlow spokesperson, said that Landry “asked Courtney to help his friend Julia Letlow because he knows she will stand with President Trump and fight for Louisiana. Courtney does not work for and is not an agent of the Letlow campaign.”
Fleming, in an interview, said that voters “are just not buying” the attacks against him, citing his standing in the race. He and Landry have clashed over his Senate run, and Fleming has accused the governor of blocking his attempts to reach out to the White House to speak with Trump about his campaign.
Fleming has also accused the Letlow campaign of dangling a job with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to get him out of the race. The Letlow campaign has denied that allegation.
“So it just goes to show you really how desperate they are to try to get her elected,” he said.
And Landry maintains some defenders in the Louisiana GOP. State Sen. Alan Seabaugh said he doesn’t begrudge Landry for wielding his influence over the party to affect the outcome of the Senate race — or to veto bills as he pleases.
“He’s the governor. That is his authority,” he said. “Why Letlow? He desperately doesn’t want Bill Cassidy to get reelected.”
Kelsey Brugger contributed reporting.
Politics
Students arrive for the first day of school at Harborview Elementary School in Juneau on Aug. 15, 2025 (Photo by Corinne Smith/Alaska Beacon)
The Alaska Legislature passed a resolution urging the Trump administration to waive a steep visa fee to allow the continued recruitment and hiring of international teachers.
Alaska school districts have increasingly relied on international hiring to fill an ongoing teacher shortage across the state, particularly in rural and remote districts. Last fall, the Trump administration issued an executive order increasing the H-1B visa fee from $5,000 per applicant to $100,000 per applicant — putting such visas out of reach for Alaska districts.
The Alaska Senate unanimously passed House Joint Resolution 39 on Tuesday, previously passed by the House, sending it on to Gov. Mike Dunleavy for consideration.
The H-1B visa program provides non-immigrant visas for highly skilled workers, including in education, health care and technology. In Alaska, districts have relied on international educators, particularly for teaching math, science and special education, according to the resolution. The visa is valid for up to six years.
Currently, roughly 570 international teachers are working in Alaska via the visa program. And there are over 1,000 teacher and staff openings in Alaska posted on a job board run by the Alaska Educator Retention and Recruitment Center, a division of the Alaska Council of School Administrators.
Alaska school officials say the new fee is an insurmountable financial burden for districts, as they are in the process of recruiting and hiring teachers for next year.
Sen. Löki Tobin, D-Anchorage, carried the resolution in the Senate and said the roughly 2,000% increase in the fee has restricted the flow of critical education professionals coming into the state. “Unfortunately this means that many of these education professions will go unfilled, we just don’t have the resources to cover that $100,000,” Tobin said on Wednesday.
“HJR 39 simply asks our federal government to waive this fee,” Tobin said.
The Legislature’s support and the joint resolution reinforces proposed federal legislation backed by U.S. Republican Sens. Lisa Murkowski and Dan Sullivan. It was introduced in the U.S. Senate by Murkowski in March but has not advanced since then.
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Last month, Dan + Shay returned to social media to announce the release of their powerful track, “Say So.” But it turns out that they have even more new music in store because the duo just revealed their sixth studio album, Young, will be arriving August 21.
They dropped the news this morning on the TODAY show, sharing that the project will find both halves of the duo, Dan Smyers and Shay Mooney, reflecting on family, faith, and the journey of chasing their dreams during one of the most creative chapters of their 13-year career.
Co-produced by Smyers alongside longtime collaborator Scott Hendricks, the project explores the everyday highs and lows that come with life and is being dubbed their “most personal album yet.” Following “Say So,” fans will get another peak into the album with the title track, “Young,” dropping Friday, May 15.
“This is by far our most personal album yet, and gives a real-time snapshot of exactly where we are in our lives,” the duo shared on Instagram.
They ended the post with a heartfelt message of gratitude for all the fans who have stuck by them even though the moments where they had to step away in order to focus on their personal lives so that they could come back together stronger than ever.
“From the bottom of our hearts, thank you so much for your patience and support while we made YOUNG. We’ve never been more proud of a batch of songs, and hope they mean as much to you as they do to us.”
Dan + Shay also teased that fans should “stay tuned for more exciting announcements in the next few days.”
A limited quality of signed vinyls and CDs are currently available for fans to pre-order.
This album will follow the 3x GRAMMY® Award-Winning global act’s critically acclaimed fifth studio album, Bigger Houses, which spawned the GRAMMY-nominated hit single “Bigger Houses.”
Meanwhile, the duo continues to gain momentum with “Say So,” which recently earned a spot in the Top 30 and is still climbing at country radio. Its powerful message surrounding mental health kickstarted the next chapter of their career in a big way. Together, their voices deliver a reminder that it’s okay to not be okay and offer an invitation to reach out for help when times get dark.
“If your light burns out and you’re in the dark/ If you can’t pick up the pieces/ If the world you trusted falls apart/ If your heart’s run out of reasons/ I’ll be there every time you call/ Pick you up every time you fall/ If you’re going through hell, you’re not alone/ If you need somebody, say so,” they sing.
Dan + Shay are headed to Las Vegas this weekend to perform at the 61st ACM Awards, where they are also nominated once again for Duo of the Year.
The post Dan + Shay Announce Sixth Studio Album, ‘Young’ appeared first on Country Now.
Country Now
Alaska Attorney General Stephen Cox, with Goov. Mike Dunleavy, speaks at a Feb. 12, 2026, news conference in Anchorage about drug enforcement. (Photo by Yereth Rosen/Alaska Beacon)
In a historic vote, Alaska lawmakers rejected Stephen Cox as the state’s new attorney general by a 29-31 vote that saw Cox become just the second cabinet appointment in state history to fail confirmation.
Thirty-one votes were needed for confirmation as the 40-person state House and 20-person state Senate met jointly Thursday to vote on 75 nominations for state boards, commissions and the governor’s cabinet.
Speaking in the Capitol on Thursday, opponents said they viewed Cox as a Republican ideologue who favored party-supported policies at the expense of Alaskans. In particular, opponents pointed to Cox’s support for a lawsuit that could end birthright citizenship and his failure to support the state’s absentee voting program.
The Legislature’s rejection is likely to have limited long-term effects. Immediately after the vote, Dunleavy announced he had named Cox as “Counsel to the Governor,” a position he will take immediately.
“Stephen Cox has a strong understanding of Alaska law and the challenges facing our state,” Dunleavy said in a written statement. “His experience, professionalism, and commitment to public service make him a valuable asset as Counsel to the Governor. I look forward to working with Stephen as we continue advancing policies that strengthen Alaska’s economy, uphold the rule of law, and serve the people of our state.”
Rep. Andrew Gray, D-Anchorage and chair of the House Judiciary Committee, opposed Cox as attorney general but supports the new role.
“I think it makes perfect sense,” Gray said. “I think that’s actually a perfect fit. I think Stephen Cox would make an excellent attorney to the governor because they have a lot of alignment and similar priorities.”
The new position was created specifically for Cox within the Office of the Governor.
“The governor has those choices,” said Sen. Matt Claman, D-Anchorage and chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee. “That’s within his power.”
Dunleavy also named Deputy Attorney General Cori Mills as the acting head of the Department of Law.
Dunleavy may designate a permanent replacement who can serve until he is replaced by a new governor in December.
State law prohibits the governor from reappointing Cox as attorney general.
The governor’s other cabinet appointees, including officials in charge of natural resources, the environment and the treasury, received wide support and were confirmed by near-unanimous votes.
Legislators have not rejected a cabinet appointment since 2009, when the Legislature failed to confirm then-Gov. Sarah Palin’s choice of Wayne Anthony Ross to become attorney general.
Speaking Thursday, Rep. Andrew Gray, D-Anchorage, criticized Cox’s decision to hire an out-of-state attorney with no experience in Alaska as the state’s first Solicitor General.
Following that hire, Cox led the Department of Law in joining Alaska in more than 100 friend-of-the-court briefs on national cases. In some of those cases, Gray said, the briefs were contrary to Alaska law and Alaskans’ interests.
“I believe that Stephen Cox would make probably a good attorney general in a state, just not in our state. He is not the right choice for Alaska,” said Rep. Andrew Gray, D-Anchorage and chair of the House Judiciary Committee.
Sen. Lӧki Tobin, D-Anchorage, was particularly critical of Cox’s signature on a letter supporting President Donald Trump’s attempt to eliminate birthright citizenship in the United States.
“That stance threatens my rights. It threatens your rights,” she said, speaking to Senate President Gary Stevens, R-Kodiak. “It threatens every Alaskan’s rights.”
Rep. Kevin McCabe, R-Big Lake, appeared to offer a rebuttal to that argument, noting that in general, “attorneys are mercenaries.”
“Somebody’s their boss, whether you’re paying them or whether the governor or the executive hires them. So I suspect that a lot of what we are talking about here is not some rogue attorney general off on his own. I think that he’s had directions that have been provided to him. He’s doing a certain number of things that his boss is telling him to do,” he said.
Sen. Forrest Dunbar, D-Anchorage, responded to that argument. He said the case against birthright citizenship isn’t just wrong on a moral basis, it’s wrong on a factual basis, and it was unethical for the state to back it.
“We should not have signed on to it, and a qualified attorney should not have signed on to it. I don’t know if the governor pressured the Attorney General to sign on to it, or if he did it voluntarily. It actually doesn’t matter to an ethical attorney,” Dunbar said. “An attorney being asked to make those spurious arguments and sign on to an amicus brief that would repeal birthright citizenship should have resigned rather than go forward with that argument.”
Legislators rejected only two other appointments.
Hannah Mielke was turned down for a public seat on the Alaska State Medical Board.
Mielke is an 18-year-old who graduated from high school last year and currently works as an office assistant for Dunleavy.
Opponents said she was unqualified to supervise the state’s doctors and medical professionals. Supporters noted she would be the only female member of the board and significantly younger than other members.
“Frankly, I think a fresh perspective would be good,” said Rep. Mike Prax, R-North Pole. “It really doesn’t matter if you’re 20 or 69, soon to be 70.”
Rep. Sarah Vance, R-Homer, said a large number of young women are skeptical of the medical industry, and Mielke’s perspective could be useful.
Mielke’s nomination failed 13-47.
Lawmakers also turned down Crystal Herring for a seat on the State Board of Professional Counselors. Tobin, speaking in opposition, said her appointment may not follow state law, which requires the appointment go to someone involved in mental health treatment. Herring just provides transportation, she said.
Other objections were raised over the conduct of a COVID-19 pandemic emergency clinic she ran under a contract with the city of Anchorage while donating financially to then-Mayor Dave Bronson.
Her nomination was rejected 28-32.
They had their first dance as man and wife to a country song. Continue reading…The Boot – Country Music News, Music Videos and Songs
They had their first dance as man and wife to a country song. Continue reading…Country Music News – Taste of Country
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Baby Sprouse is officially on the way.
Yes, Dylan Sprouse and wife Barbara Palvin are expecting their first child together!
The longtime couple is preparing to become parents, with TMZ reporting that the baby is due sometime around August or September.
The couple appeared to quietly confirm the happy news while attending the 2026 Cannes Film Festival, where Palvin debuted what appeared to be a baby bump on the red carpet.
The model wore a light blue gown and posed alongside Sprouse, who looked every bit the proud husband during the outing.
For fans who have followed their relationship, the update likely comes as no surprise.
Sprouse and Palvin first started dating in 2018 after initially connecting the year before. Their romance steadily grew away from the usual celebrity circus, with the pair establishing themselves as one of Hollywood’s more low-key couples.
They got engaged in 2022 before tying the knot in Palvin’s native Hungary in 2023.
The baby news also arrives just weeks after a frightening incident at the couple’s Los Angeles home.
Back in April, a trespasser allegedly entered the property they share, prompting a police response after Palvin reportedly called authorities.
Multiple outlets reported that Sprouse confronted the alleged intruder before officers arrived. Thankfully, neither Sprouse nor Palvin was harmed.
Rather than letting the scary ordeal overwhelm them, the couple later revealed they were coping with humor.
“It’s dealing with the trauma with jokes and fun,” Palvin said while discussing the incident.
Sprouse echoed that approach, adding: “We’re laughing about things the moment they happen. You got to have levity in life.”
Now, thankfully, the headlines surrounding the pair are considerably happier.
For our readers of a certain age, it might feel like just yesterday that Dylan was starring on The Suite Life of Zack & Cody. Now he’s about to enter a very different kind of sweet life: parenthood.
Dylan and Barbara have always been pretty low-profile (by celebrity couple standards), so it comes as no surprise that their announcement consisted of nothing more than a bump debut during a stylish Cannes appearance.
Congratulations to the growing family!
Barbara Palvin & Dylan Sprouse Expecting First Child (And Yes, We Feel Old) was originally published on The Hollywood Gossip.
The Hollywood Gossip
Vincent Mason continues to rack up the milestones one day at a time. This week, he notched yet another major moment in his career when he made his late-night TV debut on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon.
The rising country act took to the stage to perform his breakout hit, “Damned If I Do,” off his debut album, There I Go. After being introduced by Fallon, Mason emerged in a smokey setting with just his silhouette illuminated by the array of bright lights. He eventually made his way to the mic, guitar in hand, and delivered the heartbreak-fueled track.
Co-written by the Georgia native alongside Jacob Hackworth and Lauren Hungate, “Damned If I Do” finds Mason stripping things back emotionally, leaning into a more vulnerable side as he unpacks the aftermath of heartbreak. His smooth, commanding vocals capture the inner conflict of trying to move forward while still being pulled back into memories he can’t quite let go of
“Damn right I’m a damn mess/ In the same damn spot as the night you left/ Hall of fame heartbreaker/ Damned if you ain’t the best/ Ripped the damn thing right out my chest/ Don’t know how I’m supposed to cut you loose/ Don’t know how I’m gonna let you go/ Damned if I do, damned if I don’t/ Get over you, so I guess I won’t,” Mason sings, laying it all out on the raw and unfiltered chorus.
The powerful performance ended in a roar of applause and some serious hype from Jimmy Fallon.
Prior to stepping in front of the audience, Vincent Mason was surprised with a plaque commemorating the recent RIAA Gold certification of “Damned If I Do.” This celebratory moment took place backstage surrounded by members of his family and team. On Top of earning the certification, the track also made its debut on the Billboard Hot 100 chart this week.
As the track continues to heat up, fans have also gotten their hands on Mason’s latest single, “Don’t Ask Me,” a mid-tempo track that once again dives into the emotions that come from a heavy breakup. He paints a picture of a man navigating the pain by replaying what he could’ve done differently and wondering if anything might’ve changed the outcome.
Vincent Mason’s emotional storytelling emerges on a completely different level throughout his live performances. He is currently gearing up to close out his headlining There I Go Tour this weekend, with his final shows taking place on May 14 in New York, NY and in Boston, MA on May 15.
Alongside his own headline dates, Mason is also touring with Morgan Wallen, Parker McCollum, and Thomas Rhett throughout the year.
The post Vincent Mason Makes Late-Night TV Debut With a Performance of ‘Damned If I Do’ on ‘The Tonight Show’ appeared first on Country Now.
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