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Month: May 2026
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![<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.
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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.”
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If you want to focus on your protein-maxxing, you can just head on down to Trader Joe’s. The chain has a plethora of high-protein meals, snacks, and drinks.
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There is a strong and almost undoubted sentiment that France is not only a major contender for the FIFA 2026 World Cup title, but Les Bleus quite simply are the ones to beat. In the last two tournaments, France ended as champion (2018) and runner-up (2022) and as Didier Deschamps looks to end his remarkable managerial reign (one of only three managers to win the World Cup as player and manager) this summer, his recently announced 26-man squad is more than prepared to win the third title in its history. But he is not getting carried away. “I have ambition, and I want the players to have it too,” said Deschamps in a press conference after making the announcement. “But I don’t want us to lose our humility. I’m not going to hide and say we’re not among the teams with the potential to become world champions…but there are eight, maybe 10 teams that can say that. It’s not by shouting: ‘We’re the best, we’re the strongest.'” Here are my takeaways on France’s World Cup squad: 1. Don’t Be Surprised By Those Snubs Deschamp’s level-headedness has made him a successful head coach at the international level and despite my appreciation for his humility, no matter how he paints it, he knows his squad is terrifyingly deep. So much so that some very talented and well-known names failed to make the cut. Will it come back to haunt Deschamps or are the omissions a result of a truly, devastatingly dangerous squad that needed balance, experience and clinical ability in order to go all the way? Time will surely tell. France has such a talented player pool that the nation could have filled out two top-tier World Cup squads. Heads were definitely turned when Eduardo Camavinga and Randal Kolo Muani, two players from the 2022 squad, were left off this time. But there is nothing controversial about Deschamps’ decision to omit both of these players, regardless of their past with the national team. Camavinga was the only outfield player who didn’t start either of the team’s friendlies against Brazil and Croatia in March. His season with Real Madrid has been plagued with injuries and inconsistent performances, and you just can’t afford to have that kind of campaign and expect to make the French squad. Even more so can be said of Kolo Muani, who has only five goals to his name with Tottenham Hotspur (on loan from PSG) and only one in the Premier League, which was back in February. With the embarrassment of riches on the attacking line (even without the injured Liverpool youngster Hugo Ekitiké), Kolo Muani, if being honest with himself, probably saw this coming. They both did. 2. A Chance For Kylian Mbappé To Reset Despite the individual accomplishments with Real Madrid (leading La Liga’s goal standings once again), Kylian Mbappé has had a tumultuous second season with Los Blancos, who once again relinquished the league title to Barcelona and failed to deliver a Champions League trophy, a piece of silverware not yet won by the French captain. What’s worse, the fans are turning against him. On Thursday night, after returning from injury and coming on as a substitute in a 2-0 win against Real Oviedo, he was jeered by his own supporters. The reported friction with manager Álvaro Arbeloa (and Xabi Alonso before him) doesn’t help so this World Cup probably comes at a great time for Mbappé. It’s an opportunity to press the reset button and reclaim the status as the best attacker in the game. He will need to have a strong mindset to help France win a third World Cup title and his second. Who knows, maybe when he returns to Madrid (if?) he will have Jose Mourinho to welcome him as new coach! Whether that’s a positive or negative, I’ll leave that up to you, esteemed reader. But in terms of France, especially with so many youngsters, Deschamps will need his leader to be at the top of his game—mentally and physically. 3. N’Golo Kanté Gives Balance On A Glitzy Squad France has historically been renowned for two respected exports in the world: exquisite red wine from the Bordeaux region and N’Golo Kanté. Both get better with age. We can all marvel at the likes of Mbappé, Ballon d’Or winner Ousmane Dembélé and many other attackers, but France’s success mainly depends on the defensive spine of the team – from the excellent resilient mind of Arsenal’s William Saliba to Bayern Munich’s Dayot Upamecano, the backline will be key. But I want to acknowledge the always-reliable genius of N’Golo Kanté, who once again will be France’s most important player. Even at 35, he will be key due to his ability to read the game, offer stability and make tactical decisions during vital moments of action. Without him, France would be weaker. France is at its best when it is strong off the ball, protecting Mike Maignan’s goal and allowing the attacking line to flourish in the final third. Deschamps, a former defensive midfielder (and one of the best ever in this position) knows this too well. And I really wouldn’t worry about Kanté because just like the playwright David Mamet once wrote, “old age and treachery will always outdo youth and exuberance.” 4. Will Talent Compensate For Experience? One particular factor to remember is that there are a lot of World Cup first-timers in this squad. In total, there are 13 players who have never experienced the biggest sporting event on the global stage. The goalkeepers, for example, all three of them — Mike Maignan (AC Milan), Robin Risser (Lens) and Brice Samba (Rennes) — are new to the competition. From Chelsea’s Malo Gusto to Michael Olise (Bayern Munich) and Rayan Cherki (Manchester City), there’s obvious talent but no experience. France will most likely have the aforementioned Olise and PSG’s Désiré Doué in the starting lineup — barring any injuries — but the one I am focusing on is Maignan. He is clearly an experienced stopper with so much pedigree, but this is a big opportunity for him. We all know how important Hugo Lloris was to France throughout his career, so it’s key for the goalkeeper to live up to the moment. Maignan, who didn’t make the 2022 squad due to injury, will now take full advantage. 2026 FIFA World Cup: How To Watch The World Cup will run from June 11–July 19, 2026. Spread across three countries, the tournament will culminate with the final on July 19 at New York New Jersey Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. All 104 tournament matches will air live across FOX (70) and FS1 (34) with every match streaming live and on-demand within both the FOX One and the FOX Sports app. A record 40 matches, more than one-third of the tournament, will air in prime time across FOX (21) and FS1 (19). The opening match on June 11 between Mexico and South Africa (3 p.m. ET) will stream for free on Tubi, as well as the USA’s opening match against Paraguay on June 12 (9 p.m. ET).Latest Sports News from FOX Sports
Sen. Robert Yundt, R-Wasilla, is seen Thursday, May 14, 2026, during a joint session of the Alaska Legislature. (James Brooks photo/Alaska Beacon)
Alaska’s smallest towns and villages would be allowed to shrink their city councils under a bill that neared final passage Friday in the Alaska Legislature.
Senate Bill 143 decreases the minimum city council size to three members for second-class cities with 1,000 or fewer residents.
It also allows local governments to lengthen or shorten the terms of school board members. Currently, state law requires school board members to serve three-year terms.
Another section, added by a floor amendment from Rep. Julie Coulombe, R-Anchorage, mandates the state Department of Education and Early Development provide budget and ethics training to all new school board members statewide.
The state House approved SB 143 in a unanimous 40-0 vote on Friday, an act that sends the bill back to the Senate, which approved a prior version by a similarly unanimous 20-0 vote in April.
The Senate is expected to approve the House’s changes to the bill and send it to Gov. Mike Dunleavy for final enactment or veto.
Sen. Robert Yundt, R-Wasilla, wrote the original version of SB 143 after several years on the Matanuska-Susitna Borough Assembly.
That local government shifted its elections to November several years ago and lengthened the terms of its mayor and assembly members from three years to four so local elections would correspond with state and federal ones.
Because state law requires three-year school board terms, he couldn’t do the same with school board elections, and as a result, off-year elections now see much lower turnout, he said Friday.
If school board elections take place at the same time as other votes, he said the election results will be more representative of the will of the community.
At the request of the Alaska Municipal League, legislators amended SB 143 earlier this year to allow three-person city councils in small second-class cities that have had trouble filling their rosters.
Current state law requires five-member or seven-member councils. SB 143 would allow them to choose three, five or seven members.
“Think about all the communities in Alaska that are 200, 300, 400 people — do they really need to have five or seven city council members?” Yundt asked.
When the bill reached the House floor, Coulombe suggested amending it to require mandatory training for school board members. That suggestion followed several significant budget errors in Juneau, Ketchikan and other school districts.
Coulombe’s amendment passed unanimously, 40-0. Another amendment, which would have given the state’s education commissioner authority over local school district budgets, failed to be adopted.