Cody Johnson’s ACM Entertainer of the Year award win was a longtime coming. Continue reading…The Boot – Country Music News, Music Videos and Songs
Month: May 2026
Cody Johnson’s ACM Entertainer of the Year award win was a longtime coming. Continue reading…Country Music News – Taste of Country
The Alaska State Capitol in Juneau is seen on Apr. 24, 2026. (Photo by Claire Stremple/Alaska Beacon)
Less than two years after Alaskans approved a ballot measure creating a mandatory sick leave law, the Alaska House of Representatives has voted to partially repeal it.
By a 22-18 vote on Saturday, the House approved an amendment that would cancel the law’s application for seasonal workers and for workers employed by a business with nine or fewer employees. The cancellation would take effect immediately, if the bill is signed into law.
Seasonal workers are defined as those who work at a specific job for less than six months per year.
All of the House’s Republican members voted for the amendment, including Reps. Chuck Kopp, R-Anchorage, and Louise Stutes, R-Kodiak, who are members of the House’s predominantly Democratic majority caucus. Speaker of the House Bryce Edgmon, I-Dillingham, also voted for the amendment.
All of the House’s Democratic members and its remaining independents opposed the amendment.
The amendment was to House Bill 193, which would create a mandatory paid leave program for new parents, starting in 2030. That bill advanced from the House on a 36-4 vote and was scheduled for a hearing in the Senate Finance Committee on Monday afternoon.
The four opposition votes all came from Republican lawmakers in the House’s minority caucus.
It was not immediately clear whether the bill had the necessary support to pass the Senate before the end of the legislative session on Wednesday night.
The amendment, introduced by Rep. Julie Coulombe, R-Anchorage, was largely identical to House Bill 161, a rollback measure that failed to advance in the Capitol this year despite significant lobbying efforts from business groups.
The state’s fishing industry, tourism industry, construction industry, the state chamber of commerce and several local chambers of commerce all have advocated HB 161.
Speaking ahead of the vote, several Republican lawmakers said they were heeding that call and voting yes on the amendment to HB 193.
“It’s actually been my number one priority since I got back here this year,” said Rep. Will Stapp, R-Fairbanks, speaking about the rollback.
Much of the desire for the rollback, Stapp explained, is because during its first year, seasonal employees saved their sick leave until the end of their term, then used it right before their departure, leaving employers short-staffed.
“That is creating a workforce crisis at the end of the season that is going to progressively get worse and worse and worse for our fishing industry, for our tourist industry, for our construction industry,” he said.
Speaking on the floor ahead of the vote, Coulombe said she had hoped to cancel sick leave for all workers at businesses with fewer than 50 employees, but she received a legal memo indicating that doing so would be illegal because Alaska’s constitution prohibits the Legislature from repealing a ballot measure within its first two years, and such a large exemption would have covered roughly half of the state’s workers.
Rep. Sarah Vance, R-Homer, said the sick leave law is “gutting the small businesses in my community.”
“We need to be listening to our business community right now, that so many of them (came to us) and said, ‘We need help,’” she said.
Rep. Zack Fields, D-Anchorage, was among the lawmakers who urged the House to reject the amendment.
“I think it’s very problematic to substantially gut a ballot initiative less than two years after it was passed by voters,” he said.
Exempting seasonal workers means exempting multinational tourism and fishing businesses that operate in Alaska, he noted.
“Do we really need to exempt all the employees of massive multinational businesses like Holland America Princess?” he asked.
During the COVID-19 pandemic emergency, fish processing plants and cruise ships were hotspots of infection and disease. Outside the COVID-19 pandemic, tourism occasionally brings waves of influenza and norovirus to coastal communities.
“When we have a tourism dependent economy, it is not in our interest to push sick people to come to work when they’re serving food, when they’re doing hospitality,” Fields said.
In 2024, Rep. Genevieve Mina, D-Anchorage, was one of the key organizers behind the sick leave ballot measure. Like her Democratic colleagues, she opposed the sick leave rollback but ultimately voted for the underlying bill even though it contained the rollback.
“The bill is a great bill, and you can just see the strong bipartisan support,” she said. “This whole building is an area of trying to figure out compromises and figuring out the ways where we can do good things that are supportive for families and can really address these issues about migration that our state has been facing. It’s not over for the bill or for paid sick (leave), so we’ll just see what happens on the Senate side.”
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As we previously reported, actors Jason Biggs and Jenny Mollen have called it quits after 18 years of marriage.
When a couple goes their separate ways after such a long relationship, there are bound to be questions about what caused the split.
In the case of Jason and Jenny, it seems that there was no abuse or infidelity.
And one insider claims that the culprit was none other than Jason’s recent weight loss.
Yes, Jason recently dropped more than 40 pounds, and a source says Biggs’ new figure led to changes in his marriage.
“Jason definitely has changed since his weight loss transformation. He lost a lot of weight and it definitely helped boost his ego,” the insider tells the Daily Mail.
“I don’t think he was wanting to lose that much weight but it happened and he’s proud of the results like anyone who lost 40 pounds or more would be.”
Biggs maintains that he lost the weight due to concern over “cholesterol issues.”
But we’re sure he appreciated the bonus of a chiseled new physique.
The source says the change in Jason’s BMI was not the only shakeup that may have led to trouble in his marriage.
“He had his first big directorial debut [‘Untitled Home Invasion Romance’] last year, and that was a really stressful time for him,” the source explained, adding:
“Trying to remain in the spotlight and continue to put out projects that are just as entertaining as what he was known for previously can be a difficult task.”
Jenny is an accomplished actress and author in her own right, with a pair of bestselling novels to her credit.
And many celebs have discussed the difficulties that can arise from having two creative people in the same marriage.
But this source maintains that it was Biggs’ weight loss that ultimately served as the nail in this relationship’s coffin.
Maybe he experienced a sort of post-weight-loss crisis and decided that he wanted to play the field with his new body. Or perhaps the lifestyle changes that helped Jason lose the weight didn’t align with Jenny’s way of living.
Whatever the case, with the popularity of Ozempic and other GLP-1 drugs, America might be on the verge of a massive divorce boom!
Jason Biggs-Jenny Mollen Marriage Ended Due to His Weight Loss: Report was originally published on The Hollywood Gossip.
The Hollywood Gossip
Even if you love the tasty grease that bacon leaves behind, you might not always have a good use for all that liquid fat. In that case, toss it responsibly.
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Every server has dealt with some tough customers from time to time. To avoid being one of them, nix these behaviors the next time you go out to eat.
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Ella Langley has a lot to celebrate after the 2026 ACM Awards, which took place Sunday, May 17 live from Las Vegas. The country music star walked away from the coveted night a winner in each of the categories she was nominated in, earning her a whopping seven trophies.
Before the show even began, the Academy of Country Music announced that Langley had claimed the Artist-Songwriter of the Year trophy, marking her first of many wins to come from the weekend. The Alabama native then strutter her way down the red carpet and into the event wearing a stunning white silk Andrew kwon gown with a corset top and an elegant train. In that moment, she had no idea just how unforgettable the night ahead would become.
Langley first accepted Song of the Year for “Choosin’ Texas,” earning a trophy as both an artist an songwriter. The song also went on to earn her a win Single of the Year award, as an artist and producer. She collected the wins with her collaborators, Miranda Lambert, Joybeth Taylor and Luke Dick by her side.
“If you’ve ever met me, you know that I am not at a loss for words very often. And all I got to say is thank you God for putting me in a room with these three people right here. Thank you to the fans. I don’t know why you latched onto this song, but thank you for doing it,” Langley shared. “Thank you for loving this song. Thank you for making it your own. Thank you for making it do things that I never would have imagined to even dream for and I’ve been dreaming about this job for a long time.”
Lambert added, “I’m just so thankful that Ella trusted me with her art and Ben is amazing. He’s an amazing producer and all the songwriters, musicians, everybody that played on this song and the whole record Dandelion was such a blessing to get to do that. Thank y’all for loving a country song. We love you so much for it.”
The “Be Her” singer made history in multiple ways last night. For starters, Langley’s wins for Single and Song of the year made her only the third female artist to ever win for two consecutive years in the Single Of The Year category, joining Miranda Lambert & Faith Hill. Langley first won in this category in 2025 for “You Look Like You Love Me” feat. Riley Green.
Additionally, she is only the fourth female artist to win on multiple occasions in the Single Of The Year category, joining Lambert, Hill & Carrie Underwood.
Aside from “Choosin’ Texas” earning its well-deserved recognition, Langley also shared another winning moment with Riley Green for their collaboration on the title track to his latest album, “Don’t Mind If I Do,” which earned Music Event of the Year.
The win marks the pair as just the second set of collaborators to claim the award in consecutive years, following their 2025 victory for “You Look Like You Love Me.” The only other artists to accomplish the feat are Faith Hill and Tim McGraw, who earned back-to-back wins in 1998 and 1999.
The night really started to heat up when Ella Langley claimed her final win of the night, earning the title of Female Artist of the Year. Fellow nominee Lainey Wilson was the first to steal a hug from the songstress before she made her way to the stage to deliver yet another acceptance speech. But this win appeared to hit Langley extra hard as she took a few moments to fight back her tears before speaking.
“I’m trying to get to say something, but I can’t,” she admitted as the emotions welled up in her voice. “Today I was having a strange day. I don’t know what it is about awards, but I have strange days in the mornings here. And I walked right into Lainey’s room and I just got emotional and she hugged me and wrapped me up and started praying for me. And then all of a sudden here comes Miranda Lambert in her little pink hat. And I would not be standing up here without the encouragement of so many women.”
Langley continued to express her gratitude for the female acts who have supported her along the way, particularly calling out Lambert, Wilson and Kelsea Ballerini, along with her family for “believing in me” and for “showing up and being weird as always. It keeps me humble.”
“Thank you Jesus for letting me do this for a while. Thank you to the ACM’s…Thank you to the women. I would not be standing up here without that, so thank you,” she concluded.
By the end of the night, Ella Langley had won every single category that she was nominated in. She took home seven trophies, setting the record for most wins won in a night at the ACM Awards by a single artist. The record was formerly held by Chris Stapleton, Faith Hill, and Garth Brooks, who won 6 ACM Awards in a single night in 2016, 1999, and 1991, respectively.
Along with the milestone wins, fans saw Langley take the stage to perform a stripped-down rendition of her current viral hit, “Be Her,” which appears on her recently released Dandelion album.
2026 ACM Awards Performance Lineup
The 61st Academy of Country Music Awards also featured performances by Avery Anna, Carter Faith, Dan + Shay, Cody Johnson, Jordan Davis, Blake Shelton, Kacey Musgraves, Kane Brown, Lainey Wilson, Little Big Town, Miranda Lambert, Riley Green, The Red Clay Strays, Thomas Rhett, Tucker Wetmore, and Zach Top.
Other highlights include collaborations between Thomas Rhett and Jordan Davis, Parker McCollum and Lee Ann Womack and a special closing performance of Kenny Rogers’ “The Gambler” by Blake Shelton as a tribute to the late Nashville songwriter, Don Schlitz, who passed away on April 16, 2026.
Ashley McBryde, Keith Urban, Lauren Alaina, Michael Bublé, Shaboozey, The War And Treaty, and TJ Osborne were among the night’s many presenters.
Shania Twain hosted the nearly 2.5-hour event, which streamed live to a global audience in over 240 countries and territories exclusively on Prime Video. The show returned to Las Vegas and aired from the MGM Grand Garden Arena.
A complete list of winners can be found HERE.
The post Ella Langley Sweeps 2026 ACM Awards with Seven Trophies appeared first on Country Now.
Country Now
“We have been toying around and flirting with the idea of playing a handful of shows next year, and that gets us both excited,” Hubbard reveals. Continue reading…The Boot – Country Music News, Music Videos and Songs
“We have been toying around and flirting with the idea of playing a handful of shows next year, and that gets us both excited,” Hubbard reveals. Continue reading…Country Music News – Taste of Country
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Khloé Kardashian is no expert on missing persons cases, criminal investigations, or general sleuthing.
She will also tell you herself that she doesn’t “know enough” about the tragic case of Nancy Guthrie.
Unfortunately, none of this stopped Khloé from weighing in — and spreading conspiracy theories about a very real family.
Commenters are furious. And they’re right to be.
‘I mean, is that not heartbreaking?’
On the May 13 episode of her Khloé in Wonder Land podcast, the eponymous host spoke with Ashley Flowers — host of the Crime Junkie podcast.
The two delved into multiple topics. About six and a half minutes in, they brought up the tragic case of Nancy Guthrie.
“Nancy Guthrie,” Khloé lamented. “I mean, is that not heartbreaking?”
It is. Nancy has been missing for over 100 days, and many believe that she passed away shortly after her kidnapping.
“I’m just like … this is 2026,” Khloé highlighted, her tone full of disbelief. “There is nothing? … It’s mind-blowing.”
This is when Ashley admitted that she is “very conspiratorial.”
As we know, Khloé is a sucker for conspiracy theories, and she told her guest: “Me too.”
To her credit, she did admit that she doesn’t pretend to be an expert on the facts.
“I don’t know if I know enough about this case,” Khloé confessed.
To her discredit, Khloé continued: “But, like, all the things I was reading about the brother-in-law and that kind of stuff, I’m like, oof.”
‘They’re not telling us’
With that remark, Khloé made the rest of us “like, oof” right along with her — but for different reasons.
“The ransom notes going to all the media outlets first?” she commented. “How weird was that?”
Khloé commented: “It’s so much.”
Like many, she also struggles with how little evidence investigators appear to have uncovered.
“And I just, I can’t understand that, in 2026, there’s not … I don’t believe that there’s not one piece of information … They’re not telling us,” Khloé suggested.
While it is almost always true that investigators withhold certain details of a criminal investigation, including evidence, from the public, this is … normal? It is also good.
The unknown perpetrators of a crime are also part of the general public. The more that they know about the investigation, the more equipped they might be to avoid suspicion or evade detection.
However, the larger issue with Khloé running her mouth like this is that she and Ashley Flowers are not, despite appearances, just two gals sitting and chatting. This is a podcast. She is a major influencer.
Spreading — however indirectly — conspiracy theories about a family that is actively suffering is unconscionable. Savannah Guthrie has already condemned the chatter about her family, noting that it makes their suffering worse.
This is irresponsible of Khloé. But, coming from the woman who admitted to being at fault for Kim Kardashian’s moon landing nonsense, it is sadly no surprise.
She could employ more critical thinking. Or, at the very least, she could be responsible enough to not spread malicious garbage — even by implication — to make things worse, not better.
Khloé Kardashian Gets Conspiratorial About Nancy Guthrie Case, Even After Admitting That … was originally published on The Hollywood Gossip.
The Hollywood Gossip