Country Music Hall of Famer Ricky Skaggs returns with his first new release in over a decade with the powerful “Say A Prayer.”
Out now via Skaggs Family Records and distributed by Virgin Music Group, the song was written by Gordon Kennedy and Ben Cooper in response to the struggles impacting communities worldwide. The track explores themes of faith, reflection, and coming together.
Ahead of the song’s release, Skaggs spoke with Country Now backstage at CMA Fest, where he joined Carly Pearce and Molly Tuttle for a special performance of “From Now On” on the Nissan Stadium stage. Moments before taking the stage, the 15-time GRAMMY winner shared the story behind the song, revealing that he originally recorded it more than 15 years ago with plans to include it on his 2010 album Mosaic.
Ricky Skaggs – Say A Prayer
“It’s a song I recorded right at the end of a gospel CD that I did called Mosaic…we recorded it but just didn’t feel like it was to go on that CD. And so we’ve held onto it for all these years,” Skaggs revealed.
The eight-time CMA Award winner explained that he felt now was the perfect time to release the song given the current state of the world.
“But right now with the way the world is, the way everything’s going on in our world, in our life, I felt like it was the right time for a message like ‘Say A Prayer’ because it talks about war. It talks about greed and it talks about all these things,” he shared. “I see the self-made reach for the top, always an uphill climb. I see the humble down on their knees and a God who listens every time we say a prayer.”
In a statement, Skaggs further explained the meaning behind the song, saying, “The song addresses a world carrying a lot of grief right now, serving as a universal call for everyone to stop and lean into faith.”
“Say A Prayer” blends country, bluegrass, and rock influences, featuring a unique mix of instrumentation including sitar, fiddle, mandolin, and banjo. The track also includes background vocals from Skaggs’ daughter, Molly.
“It’s just a great song and performance,” he added.
The release comes during a busy stretch for Skaggs, who continues to bring his music to stages across the country. In addition to his own headlining dates, Skaggs and Kentucky Thunder are currently performing alongside Dierks Bentley during select stops on the Off The Map Tour. He’ll also return to Nashville’s iconic Ryman Auditorium on July 21 for the closing night of the Bluegrass Nights at the Ryman series.
Zach Top has carved out a traditional groove for himself in modern country music. Continue reading…The Boot – Country Music News, Music Videos and Songs
After several years and a whole lot of bad blood, Meghan Markle will return to the UK when Prince Harry returns to his home country next month.
Added to the significance of the occasion is the fact that the couple will be joined by their children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet.
But if you were hoping for an adorable photo of Harry and Meghan’s kids enjoying the company of their royal cousins, we’re afraid you’re gonna be disappointed.
Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex greet members of the public at the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia on April 17, 2026 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)
According to a new report from Page Six, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet are unlikely to spend time with Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis during the family’s upcoming trip, despite it being the children’s first visit to Britain since 2022.
While King Charles is reportedly eager to reconnect with his youngest son and finally spend time with Archie and Lilibet, the ongoing rift between Prince Harry and Prince William continues to cast a long shadow over the royal family.
Royal commentator Amanda Matta tells Page Six that although a reunion between the cousins would be “lovely,” there are simply too many obstacles standing in the way.
“There are all sorts of logistical reasons why it wouldn’t happen,” she explained, noting that William and Princess Kate maintain a busy schedule with both royal duties and family life.
Royal editor Emily Nash echoed those sentiments, saying that while it would be wonderful for the children to know one another, the fractured relationship between their parents remains the biggest hurdle.
“The cousins should absolutely know each other,” Nash said. “But before that can happen, Harry and William need to repair their own relationship.”
Despite the continued tension between the brothers, King Charles appears determined to move the reconciliation process forward.
Reports indicate the monarch has invited Harry, Meghan and their children to stay at a royal residence during the visit and has even offered to help coordinate security arrangements.
If the trip goes forward as planned, it will be the first time Archie and Lilibet have been in the UK in four years and could give Charles a rare opportunity to spend time with his grandchildren.
Of course, repairing the relationship between the Duke of Sussex and the Prince of Wales remains easier said than done.
The brothers’ estrangement has persisted for years following Harry and Meghan’s decision to step back from royal duties, their explosive interview with Oprah Winfrey, and Harry’s revealing memoir, Spare.
So while Meghan’s return to the UK is certainly a momentous occasion, the strife that drove her from the country in the first place is clearly far from settled.
Two young hotties who’ve caused quite a stir in different sectors of culture are Benson Boone and Alix Earle.
Worlds collided this week, with jaw-dropping results.
We can see the two fall in love in a fantastical whirlwind, kissing and marrying and more, in a new music video.
Even steamier is the behind-the-scenes footage of their less serious choreography. The chemistry is reportedly off the charts.
Benson Boone performs onstage during the 2025 American Music Awards on May 26, 2025. (Photo Credit: Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
‘The Time of My Life’
Thursday, June 25, was Benson Boone’s birthday.
(He turned 24. Yes, we regret to inform you that he, like millions of other actual adults, was born in 2002.)
To mark the occasion, he released the “The Time of My Life” music video, which showcases him and Alix Earle as the stars of a dramatic love story.
The fantasy romance takes the two sword fighting, dragonslaying, and marrying before exchanging a kiss.
To be clear, this is a music video — this is an acting role for Alix. Though, in cases like Sam Asghari or Chrishell Stause, sometimes getting cast is just the first step towards a long-term relationship.
Whatever you may think of Boone — or Earle, for that matter — it’s an adventurous video that you don’t see so much anymore.
The fantasy vibes are great. Specifically, parts of it have a sword & sorcery energy, a fun sub genre that is increasingly scarce in a world where businessbrained prudes run most entertainment companies.
The two spent a week filming.
TMZ‘s sources reported that they had incredible chemistry during the music video.
We know that people make soaking jokes, but Boone is actually no longer Mormon. That’s not to say that anything is happening between them, though he has denied that they are dating.
In addition to the romantic music video, the two shared a little behind-the-scenes dancing to Britney Spears’ “Slave 4 U.”
Truth be told, this has led some to accuse Boone of queerbaiting. After all, doing the choreography to Britney’s greatest hits was an unwitting right of passage for millions of gay Millennials — sometimes, before they knew that they were gay.
However, we have to emphasize that queerbaiting is a specific term with a specific meaning. A singer adopting specific looks or doing specific dances might prompt some to assume his sexuality, but that’s not what that means.
Queerbaiting very specifically refers to a piece of media winking and nudging at viewers that a couple will get together, while knowing full well that — due to censorship or the showrunner’s preference — they will not.
Others have accused Boone of being a closeted man who is straightbaiting with Earle.
Though Will & Grace was arguably a genuine case of straightbaiting (the show was pitched as a will-they-or-won’t-they, even though obviously they would not), that’s not really a thing either.
Boone has repeatedly avoided comparisons to music legends, insisting that he’s just being himself.
We should probably let him. He’s barely 24. Remember 2012? He was 10.
Sometimes we have to speak these dark truths in order to keep things in perspective.
Two of Japanese singer-songwriter Hikaru Utada‘s seminal English-language records, 2004’s Exodus and 2006’s This Is the One, are receiving their first-ever remaster. Both LPs will be released in a new, limited-edition format via Island Def Jam this week; they’re available on both streaming and, in Japan, as a 2CD set with bonus tracks, and on vinyl. It’s also the first time either of the records have been pressed to wax.
Although Exodus was Utada’s fifth studio album, and came out the same year as their first greatest hits compilation, it represented their formal introduction to American audiences, an audience she would continue to endear for years to come. The genre-spanning LP wove together electronic, dance, R&B, and avant-garde sonics; Timbaland contributed production to two tracks and handled remix duties on a third, while Jon Theodore, at the time the drummer for The Mars Volta, lent his talents to “Kremlin Dusk.” A remix of the single “Devil Inside” became a club smash, rising from dance floors around the country to the top spot on Billboard’s Dance Club Songs, becoming Utada’s highest U.S. chart placement at the time.
Five years later, This Is the One arrived as a full-blown A-list pop album. It brought together producers Stargate, who has worked with the likes of Rihanna and Beyoncé, and Tricky Stewart, known for his successful collaborations with Britney Spears and Mariah Carey. The LP peaked at No. 69 on the Billboard 200, placing Utada among a small number of Japanese artists ever to reach the chart’s Top 100. Its lead single “Come Back to Me” reached No. 5 on the Dance Club Songs chart, while “Merry Christmas Mr. Lawrence – FYI,” nodded to Utada’s Japanese-American pop crossover lineage by building on the celebrated Ryuichi Sakamoto composition of the same name.
After decades in the spotlight, Utada continues to regularly release music. In March, she collaborated with British star Charlie Puth on the song “Home,” and their most recent album, Bad Mode, arrived in 2022. In 2024, they also embarked on the Science Fiction tour, which celebrated the 25th anniversary of the release of their debut LP with multiple shows across Asia.
Today, Cole Goodwin is rolling out his Howdy EP, a project rooted in classic country influences and inspired by the traditional sounds of the ‘80s and ‘90s. Filled with authentic storytelling and timeless vocals, the EP reflects Goodwin’s commitment to keeping the heart of country music alive.
Born and raised in Pooler, Georgia, Goodwin has never wavered from the era that shaped his musical taste, often drawing inspiration from artists like Waylon Jennings, Merle Haggard, Hank Jr. and Ronnie Milsap. Those influences run deep throughout the EP, which includes tracks “Howdy,” “Girl That’s How,” “Where She’s Coming From” and “Keep On Rainin’.”
“I mean, if you think about it, it worked so good and it still works 30, 40 years later and everybody still loves it. And I think that there’s something to be said about that,” Goodwin said of his effort to tap into the nostalgic country sound. “So anytime I can dive into that and try to tap into get as close as I can get to something that feels like that or makes somebody else feel like that, how it makes me feel when I hear those great old songs, that’s what I want to do.”
Cole Goodwin; Photo Provided
The title track, “Howdy” has already been making waves across live audiences and as of this week, it also made a strong impact at country radio, earning 56 first-week adds.
“Yeah, that’s pretty mind-blowing to me and I’m super excited about it,” he told Country Now, reflecting on the support behind the single.
Goodwin serves as a co-writer on two of the four tracks on the new project. Whether he had a hand in bringing them to life or was lucky enough to cut them as his own, he said the collection of songs came together naturally. He admits while each song brings something different to the table, both sonically and lyrically, they all relate to his life in some way.
“Obviously they’re all country, but I think most importantly, they’re all me and songs that I connect to and that I think is super great and special. And so yeah, they’re sonically maybe all a little bit different, but they’re all authentic and all genuine and me. I’m super proud of it and super excited for everybody to hear all of them and to play them on the road,” he shared honestly.
Cole Goodwin; Howdy EP
Fans have already become familiar with the charming and humorous story behind “Howdy,” as Goodwin describes a simple moment in a bar between two strangers that turns into a fun, feel-good lesson about what could come from taking a shot and seeing where the night goes. The track was penned by four of his good friends, Justin dukes, Davis Loose, Carson Peters and Ethan Phillips.
“They were gracious enough to let me cut it. One of them sent it to me or played it for me about a year and a half ago, I guess. And I was like, ‘wow man, send me that please and don’t send that to anybody else.’ And yeah, I just kept listening to it and I thought it was such a great song…I tell them, ‘it’s like, y’all wrote this for me’ because language wise, attitude wise, it’s just all stuff that I would say. And it’s very much, I think, my personality. And yeah, I just really, really connected with it and thought that it was an incredible song and I wanted to sing it.”
He leans even further into the idea of falling in love on “Girl That’s How,” where a country guy wants to show the woman he cares about what life with him is really like by taking her around his small hometown, meeting his family and enjoying the simple things in life that matter most to him. It shows a softer, more romantic side of Goodwin and serves as a reminder that old-school chivalry might not be dead after all.
Second to last on the EP is the unreleased track “Keep On Rainin’,” which flips the idea of the familiar “Rain, Rain, Go Away” saying on its head. What sounds like it could be a sad song instead turns into an upbeat, high-energy “barn burner,” as Goodwin puts it, that finds him asking for the rain to stick around instead of wishing it would go away.
“Honestly, until after the fact, I didn’t even really realize that I’d done that in the room that day and maybe that’s why it felt familiar, but in the room, I wasn’t really thinking, let’s do the ‘Rain, Rain Go Away’ thing until after. And I was like, wait a minute, we actually did do that,” he said, thinking back to the writing session with Jessi Alexander and Jonathan Singleton.
Then the collection takes a sharp turn to showcase a more somber side of heartbreak as it comes to close with the emotional ballad, “Where She’s Coming From,” which digs into the painful realization that a relationship has run its course and the flame has burned all the way out.
‘Howdy’ Complete Track List:
1. Howdy
Written by: Justin Dukes, Davis Loose, Carson Peters, Ethan Phillips
2. Girl That’s How
Written by: Kevin Denney, Tom Botkin, Mike Rogers
3. Keep On Rainin’
Written by: Cole Goodwin, Jessi Alexander, Jonathan Singleton
4. Where She’s Coming From
Written by: Cole Goodwin, Wyatt McCubbin, Erik Dylan
Cole Goodwin’s Howdy EP dropped June 26 via Big Machine Records. The collection arrives amid a busy touring year for the rising star. He is fresh off a run supporting Vincent Mason and has plenty of festival appearances still ahead, along with nationwide support dates with Carly Pearce, Dierks Bentley, Jordan Davis, and Braxton Keith on select shows.
Photo Courtesy of Cole Goodwin
With all the major acts that Goodwin has had the chance to open for so far, he says getting to experience different tours and fan bases has been a major highlight of the journey.
“It’s just been really awesome and interesting to take notes from everybody and these people that young artists like myself look up to, to just rub elbows with them and pick their brain and take notes on how they treat it this many years into it or however many years into it they are…Never thought that I would get to play some of the stages that we’ve done and some of the venues and with some of the artists that we’ve played with. And I get to call some of them friends now, which is really crazy. So yeah, it’s one of those things you just kind of have fun and soak it in.”
Goodwin promises that his EP is just the start of all the new music he has in the works. He promised there is “a ton” coming that he is “super, super excited about.”
