Some of Jason Aldean’s road crew were pretty vocal about their opposition to his song ‘Try That in a Small Town.’ Those people aren’t on his payroll anymore. Continue reading…The Boot – Country Music News, Music Videos and Songs
Month: July 2026
Like most cities designed to take your money, Los Angeles has their fair share of tourist traps. Here are some dining spots to skip in the city of angels.
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Luke Bryan is looking back on an unexpected career decision that led him to spend nearly a decade as a judge on American Idol. After officially wrapping his ninth season on the hit singing competition earlier this year, he spoke to Cigar Aficionado about his journey on the show and revealed that he was initially hesitant to take on the role.
He explains when the opportunity first arose for him to take a seat on the judging panel, his career was already keeping his schedule so booked that he wasn’t sure he would be able to handle adding something new to his plate. The Georgia native was seeing so much success in his career that stepping into a completely new world felt like a risk.
“At the time, I was doing stadium shows…I was as busy as a human being could be. So, I was a little reluctant to add another layer of commitment and concentration. When you’re selling out football stadiums and your albums are doing everything you’ve dreamed of, throwing a distraction in the mix was something that was a little bit challenging,” Bryan admitted.
The hitmaker put his fears aside and took the leap, joining Katy Perry and Lionel Richie on the American Idol Judging panel. His joined the show in in 2018 during the show’s 16th season, which also marked its first season airing on the ABC network.
He now is confident in the fact that saying “yes” was the right decision to make. The opportunity has introduced him to a new community of fans and experiences that have given him even more knowledge on the industry that he can now pass on to the next generation.
“…at the end of the day, I kind of made the decision to do it. And nine years later, still at the desk and I look back and it’s been an amazing experience for me. The lessons and things that I’ve learned are just countless,” Bryan added.
Luke Bryan’s future on American Idol has yet to be determined, but it has been announced that the iconic series will be returning for its milestone 25th season. While the show will not premiere on ABC until 2027, auditions for the next American Idol begin Tuesday, Aug. 25, with the return of “Idol Across America,” the live virtual nationwide search for the next superstar.
Taking place across all 50 states plus Washington, D.C., the auditions will allow a brand-new crop of talented singers to showcase their talents face-to-face with an “American Idol” producer, from anywhere in America, across any official audition date. From there, producers will decide who will continue to the next round with the judge auditions.
The show reports that contenders will also be allowed to audition during open-call dates, and auditions will be open worldwide to all those eligible.
“Idol Across America” auditions will be held as follows (subject to change):
- VIP Day (Aug. 25): Only the first 250 singers who register will secure a spot for their chance to become the next Idol! Once all spots are claimed, registration for this date closes.
- Florida, Michigan, Virginia, West Virginia (Aug. 26)
- Connecticut, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania (Aug. 27)
- The South Open Call (Aug. 31)
- Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, Missouri, Wisconsin (Sept. 1)
- Alaska, California, Hawaii, Nevada, Washington (Sept. 2)
- Kansas, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Texas (Sept. 8)
- Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Wyoming (Sept. 9)
- Nationwide Open Call (Sept. 11)
- East Coast Open Call (Sept. 14)
- Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina (Sept. 16)
- Indiana, Kentucky, Tennessee, Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont (Sept. 18)
- West and Midwest Open Call (Sept. 21)
- Alabama, Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi (Sept. 23)
- Delaware; Maryland; Ohio; Washington, D.C.; Rhode Island; Massachusetts (Sept. 25)
- Nationwide Open Call (Sept. 28)
Those looking for more information on how to sign up for “Idol Across America” should visit americanidol.com/auditions.
The judges for the upcoming season have not been announced, however, if Luke Bryan and Lionel Richie were to reclaim their role, they would enter their 10th year while the newest judge to join the team, Carrie Underwood, would begin her third season on the show.
The post Luke Bryan Reveals the Reason He Almost Passed on Becoming a Judge on ‘American Idol’ appeared first on Country Now.
Country Now
Trace Adkins feels as though he’s already accomplished more in the past three decades of his career than he ever imagined he would, but he has no plans to slow down anytime soon. The hitmaker recently revealed that he’s still feeling stronger than ever behind the microphone, and that is enough motivation to continue playing shows and making new music.
“As long as I can still sing those songs in the same key that I recorded them in and I can still hit the licks and hit the notes and do all the things that I need to do. I guess I’ll just keep doing it,” he told Theo Von in a new episode of his This Past Weekend Podcast.
Adkins thought back to his football days, noting how he didn’t walk away from the game until he reached a point where he couldn’t play at the level that satisfied him. The same thing goes for music. When the day comes that he can no longer deliver the sound that fans keep coming back for, he will happily hang his hat up.
“I don’t want to be one of those guys. I’ve seen those guys. I’ve been to those shows where they’re still out doing it. And it’s like, ‘Dude, just quit. Just please stop. We don’t want to remember you like this.’ I don’t want anybody to say that about me ever.”
At the current stage of Adkins’ career, he believes that years of experience and giving up smoking have only sharpened his talent, allowing him to continue singing his catalog of hits while feeling more confident in his voice than ever before.
“I think I’m better at it now than I ever have been…I quit smoking and range got better. The bottom’s gotten better over the years. I mean, I can go deeper than I ever could, and that’s just going to get better,” he explained. “With age, your voice just gets lower and lower. But I haven’t lost anything on the top either. I can still hit everything on the top end that I always could. So hell, why not? Just keep doing it.”
This has given him the motivation to make a new country album. Adkins admits that after releasing his last full-length project in 2021, The Way I Wanna Go, he wasn’t sure if he would make another record, but upon reaching his 30th anniversary in country music this year, he realized that there’s no reason not to get back in the studio.
“It had 25 songs on it because we did that during COVID when we didn’t have anything else to do. So we just stayed in the studio all the time and ended up with 25 songs. I thought, ‘Okay, that’s it. I don’t have to do another record.’ And then when 30 years came along and my voice is still the way it is, I thought, ‘I guess I will do another record.’ And I’ve always been like that.’”
It’s unclear exactly when we will get this record or how it will sound, but it’s safe to say that Trace Adkins will approach it the same way he has with all his past projects and make the music on his own terms.
These days, he says he has no interest in trying to compete with his fellow artists or fight for another No. 1 at country radio. After everything he’s accomplished over the past 30 years, he’s content with his career and is just enjoying the chance to keep doing what he loves.
“I’m not in there crossing swords with the young guys anymore. I don’t need to do that…I’ve had a great career. Don’t get me wrong. I’m totally content. I mean, I’m very happy. I’ve had a great run. It was a great ride, but things pass you by. People move on to different things, and I’m cool with that.”
Adkins continued, “I’ve been able to do what I wanted to do. I recorded what I wanted to record, sang what I wanted to sing, said what I wanted to say. I’ve had an opportunity to do some acting stuff and had a lot of fun doing that. So yeah, man, it’s great.”
Rather than worrying about what’s next, he finds himself appreciating just how far the journey has taken him.
“I did way more than I ever thought I would do. I mean, this whole thing was like, I would never have allowed myself to dream that big. I think I’m a realist in that respect. I wouldn’t have allowed myself to dream that I would have this kind of career and get to do this for as long as I’ve done it. No way. So everything’s gravy now.”
The post Trace Adkins Says He’ll Keep Making Music ‘As Long As I Can Still Sing Those Songs’ appeared first on Country Now.
Country Now
Just two years after dropping out of college to pursue country music full time, Hudson Westbrook is already headlining sold-out venues and leaving his mark everywhere he goes. His recent stop at Joe’s Live in Rosemont, IL, proved just how just how quickly he’s built a loyal following, as fans filled the room and turned nearly every song into a massive singalong.
Fans came from all over to pack out the venue, with one attendee even telling Westbrook that they had been lined up outside since 9 a.m. to secure their spot for the highly anticipated performance.
As he stepped onstage, the emerging act took a moment to introduce himself and reflect on the journey that brought him there.
“Well, my name’s Hudson Westbrook. I’m from Stephenville, Texas. I went to college at Texas Tech University, dropped out, decided to make country music about two years ago. It’s my favorite thing in the world to come here and watch y’all sing songs back to me. So thank y’all for showing up.”
From the opening notes of “LMWYL,” Westbrook had the crowd completely locked in. He powered through a setlist that showcased both his ability to weave vulnerability into his storytelling and the high-energy Texas influence that fuels his live performances.
While it was impressive that every song had fans singing along, there were a few highlights that really took the energy up a notch, with some of his biggest reactions coming during fan favorites like “Weatherman,” “Dressed Down,” “Dopamine,” “Take It Slow,” “Sober,” “Painted You Pretty” and more.
The 60-minute show also offered fans a preview of what’s ahead, with Westbrook performing several of his latest releases including his collaboration with Gavin Adcock, “Cheap Thrills,” “Hits Me,” “Slow Hand” off Adcock’s Country Never Dies album, and “Backwards,” which he indicated is the beginning of his next chapter.
He then revealed that these new songs are all leading into his upcoming album, teasing it’s set to arrive “sooner than later.” The night also featured special moments throughout the set, including Westbrook’s rendition of Taylor Swift’s “You Belong With Me,” a song that has become a staple in his live performances and one that always prompts a strong reaction from the crowd.
The energy was high from the moment Westbrook stepped on to the stage, and he made sure to express his gratitude for everyone who spent their weeknight with him. That appreciation came full circle later in the night when he performed “5 to 9,” one of the final songs of his set and a fitting reminder to embrace life beyond working hours. As he sings, “I make my livin’ from 9 to 5, but we’re only livin’ from 5 to 9.”
He then closed things out with “House Again,” first opening up about the personal story behind the song, sharing how it was inspired by his parents’ divorce and the feeling of starting over in a place that felt less like a home and more like just a house. The vulnerable moment gave fans an even deeper connection to the song and served as a powerful end to the night.
“Y’all scream it at the top of y’all’s lungs if y’all know it and I’ll scream it back with y’all. Thank you so much god bless y’all, be safe and goodnight,” said Westbrook before the final singalong of the night broke out.
With a crowd that showed up hours early and stayed until the very last note, Hudson Westbrook’s Rosemont performance was another testament to the momentum behind his career. As he continues carving out his place in country music, nights like this highlight the special connection he’s already created with fans everywhere.
The post Hudson Westbrook Delivers a Night to Remember for Sold-Out Rosemont Crowd appeared first on Country Now.
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In a scathing new BBC documentary, four women accuse Jared Leto of sexually assaulting them while they were still in their teens.
Now, Leto is pushing back against allegations detailed in a new BBC documentary, with the actor and musician firmly denying claims of criminal sexual conduct.
The Oscar winner released a statement after the film Jared Leto: Hollywood’s Dark Secret featured accusations from multiple women, including four who alleged misconduct occurred when they were teenagers.
Leto denied the allegations, saying he has never sexually assaulted anyone and calling the claims “absolutely and categorically false.”
“I have never sexually assaulted anyone in my entire life,” Leto said in his response (via USA Today).
The BBC documentary includes interviews with women who accuse Leto of inappropriate and criminal behavior spanning several years.
The film features accounts from 10 women, with four women making allegations of criminal sexual conduct.
Leto has denied the allegations and maintained that the claims made against him are untrue. Leto has disputed similar accusations that have surfaced in the past.
The documentary examines numerous accusations involving Leto, who has built a decades-long career as both an actor and musician.
The film includes interviews with individuals who describe alleged encounters with him, as well as accounts from people connected to his music career.
The allegations are disputed by Leto, and no criminal charges have been announced in connection with the claims reported in the documentary.
The controversy comes as Leto remains one of Hollywood’s most recognizable performers. He won an Academy Award for his role in the 2013 Dallas Buyers Club and has also served as the lead singer of Thirty Seconds to Mars since 1998.
It’s unclear at this time if the accusations against Leto will result in any civil or criminal actions.
We will have further updates on this developing story as new information becomes available.
Jared Leto Accused of Sexually Assaulting 4 Teens; Actor Denies Allegations was originally published on The Hollywood Gossip.
The Hollywood Gossip
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In the United States, a family annihilation killing takes place approximately every 5 days.
A Michigan mother and her six children were killed in a septuple murder-suicide that ultimately claimed the lives of the family’s pets.
Prior to the killing, Amanda “Mandy” Karolkiewicz appears to have left a series of reddit posts discussing her husband — and even contemplating divorce.
Do these posts provide a clue as to the monster’s motive for allegedly murdering his wife and children?
Mandy, her six kids, and their pets all died alongside their alleged killer
According to Investigators, Kristopher Karolkiewicz shot and killed his wife, Mandy, and the couple’s six children.
The children ranged in ages from 5 to 15.
In the aftermath of the six homicides, Kristopher allegedly set fire to the family’s Grand Haven Township home and took his own life.
Authorities report that the family’s pets also died in the ensuing inferno.
The Ottawa County Sheriff’s Office characterized the investigation as one of the deadliest family homicide cases in the history of the county.
A reddit account, by the username of Mandyk1179, appears to match Amanda Karolkiewicz’s life, timeline, marital history, employment, and more.
Despite no activity in recent months, Mandy appeared to have made dozens of posts spanning about two years.
Many use reddit to anonymously discuss their life and weigh difficult decisions.
This includes crowdsourcing advice on major relationship issues from hundreds or even thousands of strangers.
In Mandy’s case, she was a mom attempting to raise six children while simultaneously pursuing a teaching career. But there was more to it — including insights into Kristopher.
‘I love my kids more than I hate my husband right now’
According to her posts, Kristopher allegedly had an affair of some sort.
She considered leaving him — but was also afraid of what this would do to her kids.
“I love my kids more than I hate my husband right now,” the account attributed to Mandy wrote at one point.
Ultimately, she vowed to try to keep her family together. She wanted to create a healthier home for everyone.
Police have not released a motive for the killing during what is still a very new investigation. However, the reddit account may hold clues.
A reddit post discussing delving into Mandy’s clues and Kristopher’s possible motives observed that he was, allegedly, a man who lied about his work history and education, and tended to get fired from jobs.
Not all family annihilators have dark secrets or are abusive to their families, though some are.
Family annihilators as a whole tend to be men who believe that their family is an extension of themselves.
Some family annihilators see their families as status symbols. Other slaughter the family to “punish” them for being people instead of acting out whatever fantasy existed in his head.
Some kill the entire family purely to punish the mother, even if she is the first victim. And then there are those who believe that they’re protecting their family from something “worse” by killing them here an now.
What caused Kristopher Karolkiewicz to allegedly murder his wife and kids?
Perhaps Kristopher’s latest firing was the inciting incident. On social media, that is the prevailing theory — and it certainly fits the profile.
But we don’t know — and it’s possible that we never will. It has been more than 5 days.
Statistically, the massacre of the Karolkiewicz family was not even the most recent familicide in the US. It is possible that the latest victims have not even been found yet. This is part of our reality.
If there’s anything to take from this horrific tragedy, it’s that staying for your children might not be doing them any favors.
(But then, some killers use divorce as an excuse to commit the same heinous crime.)
Michigan Mother Amanda ‘Mandy’ Karolkiewicz May Have Left Clues on Reddit … was originally published on The Hollywood Gossip.
The Hollywood Gossip
Willie Nelson has penned an open letter denouncing AI data centers being built near his beloved hometown and across the country, while Tanya Tucker is also speaking out through a video message.
On Tuesday, Nelson, 93, took to social media to share the open letter titled “To whom it may concern and to everyone else as well,” in which he voiced his concerns about data centers and their impact on rural communities.
“I grew up in Abbott, and I still have a home there with farmed land where I can still see stars at night. And now our community, like many others, needs to fight against data centers invading our land. The last thing we need is a loud, water thieving, light polluting, data center anywhere near our town (or any others for that matter),” he wrote.
Nelson continued to emphasize the importance of farmers and the role they play in sustaining communities across the country.
“The strength of rural America has never come from big industrial footprints. It comes from generations of people, open spaces, local businesses, and a connection to the land. All of America deserves thoughtful stewardship that doesn’t steal farmland (where our essential shared-food is grown) and small family farmers’ livelihoods, and not data centers that only destroy the environment around them. Whoever controls food and water, controls the masses. Let’s not allow our own demise or give up control over necessary resources in the U.S. and especially in Abbott.”
Nelson isn’t the only Texas native speaking out. Tanya Tucker is also using her platform to stand against the construction of data centers and related infrastructure projects in the Lone Star State.
In her message, Tucker shared, “Hi, I’m Tanya Tucker and I’m a proud Texan. I want Texas to be strong and have a reliable power grid, but I’m concerned about these 765 kilovolts of transmission lines coming through all the ranches in Texas and destroying our property. It hurts. It’s going to hurt our health, our wildlife, our water table, our water resources. It’s going to scar our land forever. So I’m asking you to join me in asking Governor Abbott to just pause, just take another minute to find out what this is really going to do to our land. And if you don’t know about it, you need to learn about it because it’s starting in Texas, but it’s going to go everywhere. So let it stop in Texas too.”
Tucker urged fans, “Respectfully comment, or call 512-463-2000 to let the governor know he needs to pause the Central Texas 765-kV lines.”
Nelson and Tucker’s messages come as Texas is expected to see at least 248 new data center projects, according to a recent analysis from The Texas Tribune.
The country music icons’ statements echo many Americans’ growing concerns about the environmental and infrastructure impacts associated with data centers.
The post Willie Nelson and Tanya Tucker Speak Out Against Data Centers Impacting Texas Land and Rural Communities appeared first on Country Now.
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Here’s the thing: San Diego Padres closer Mason Miller would improve and be a fit for 29 teams. If he’s available for the right price — which figures to be a commanding one, as the star reliever is under contract through 2029 — at the MLB trade deadline, it’s more about who needs the premier reliever more and who can justify giving up a haul to do so with respect to how close they are to World Series contention. Those teams are out there, though. Granted, just one of them will end up with Miller. And with that, here are the three best trade fits for Miller. The Cubs are in the thick of things – Chicago has possession of the No. 1 National League wild-card seed at 61-46 – but they have holes on their pitching staff, and acquiring Miller would emphatically fill one of those voids. Chicago’s bullpen is tied for 22nd in opponent batting average (.247), tied for 14th in WHIP (1.31) and 14th outright in ERA (3.97). Moreover, they’ve collectively blown 17 saves, Jacob Webb leads their staff with just five saves and the Cubs have had 12 different pitchers record a save. Plug Miller in the closer role for the Cubs, and the likes of Webb, Daniel Palencia and Trent Thornton, who are all having successful 2026 campaigns, serve as the bridge to the ninth inning. Miller has been sensational for the Padres this season. The right-handed reliever is 27 for 27 in save situations, while owning an 0.81 ERA, an 0.81 WHIP, a 515 ERA+ and totaling 83 strikeouts and 2.6 wins above replacement over 44 ⅔ innings pitched. What could halt a Miller pursuit by the Cubs, though, is them potentially feeling it’s more prudent and needed to acquire a top-of-the-rotation arm before trading a considerable package for a reliever; Chicago’s starting rotation has been a roller-coaster this season. The White Sox are five wins away from matching their 2025 win total (60), as they stand atop the American League Central at 55-51. Do they make a move to fortify the late innings with the aim of complementing an emerging starting rotation (Davis Martin and Sean Burke continue to progress, with Anthony Kay emerging this season)? Now, Chicago’s bullpen has held its own, as it’s currently eighth in MLB in opponent batting average (.231), 11th in ERA (3.94) and tied for 17th in WHIP (1.32). At the same time, the White Sox have been operating on a by-committee approach in the ninth inning. Moreover, they’ve blown 20 saves, which is tied for third-most in the sport. Acquiring Miller would give the White Sox their undisputed closer, taking the burden off younger/less experienced relievers like Bryan Hudson and Grant Taylor to shut the door. Plus, veteran Seranthony Domínguez, who owns a 4.21 ERA and is 12 of 17 in save situations for Chicago, previously found more success in a setup role with the Philadelphia Phillies, Baltimore Orioles and Toronto Blue Jays. Miller, who leans on his slider and four-seamer, ranks in the 100th percentile of MLB in whiff rate (47.8%) and average fastball velocity (101.4 mph), the 98th percentile in opponent average exit velocity (84.9 mph) and the 97th percentile in chase rate (37.6%), according to Statcast. He has also recorded four-plus outs in six appearances. All that said, one could argue the White Sox should firmly establish themselves as a contender, rather than just an emerging force, before making a trade of this magnitude for their bullpen. For the first time in a decade, the Pittsburgh Pirates — who are one game out of the third NL wild-card seed at 55-53 — are definitively moving in the right direction and have merit to make a move to tie up a loose end. That move could be trading for Miller. For starters, the Pirates have struggled when they go to the bullpen. To date, their relief unit is 24th in ERA (4.41), tied for 23rd in WHIP (1.40) and 17th outright in opponent batting average (.241). Left-hander Gregory Soto has held his own as the team’s primary closer, but he has also blown five saves, and Pittsburgh has collectively blown 19 saves, which is tied for sixth-most in the sport. Where the logic in the Pirates trading for Miller differs from the White Sox — who are in a similar situation with being in playoff contention after a prolonged stretch of not being in that mix — is that Pittsburgh plays in a deeper and more challenging division; the NL Central has three teams with a winning record this season, whereas the AL Central has underwhelmed and sent just one team to the AL Championship Series since 2017. Elsewhere, second baseman Brandon Lowe and first baseman/right fielder Ryan O’Hearn have been impactful veteran complements, while rookie Konnor Griffin (prior to going on the injured list with a finger injury) and fellow former top-10 pick Nick Gonzales have made strides, while outfielder Bryan Reynolds is having a bounce-back season en route to Pittsburgh being second in runs scored (563) and first in hits (980). Sure, the Pirates’ starting rotation has slumped some, but Paul Skenes is the defending NL Cy Young Award winner, Mitch Keller is a proven commodity and Braxton Ashcraft, Bubba Chandler and Jared Jones are still getting their feet beneath them; this is a starting staff with high-end upside. Pittsburgh could base a trade package for Miller around outfielder Jhostynxon Garcia, 2025 first-rounder Seth Hernandez and right-hander Carmen Mlodzinski, among other assets. You have to give to get. One could argue it’s not worth trading a trio of top-10 prospects or a similar trade package in value for a pitcher, regardless of how elite they may be, who only pitches a fraction of the innings of a starting pitcher, especially when compared to an All-Star-caliber one, based sheerly on usage. That being said, if you’re going to make such a move for a closer, Miller is on the shortlist of relievers you would do it for — and he could be what pushes the Pirates into the playoffs for the first time since 2015.Latest Sports News from FOX Sports
Given how extensive the menu is, you might naturally wonder if McDonald’s has ever served any other types of seafood beyond its Filet-O-Fish.
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