Far from being just fast food and processed snacks, American cuisine features rich culinary traditions that reflect a variety of backgrounds.

Food Republic – Restaurants, Reviews, Recipes, Cooking Tips
Far from being just fast food and processed snacks, American cuisine features rich culinary traditions that reflect a variety of backgrounds.

Food Republic – Restaurants, Reviews, Recipes, Cooking Tips
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California governor Gavin Newsom is currently the unofficial front-runner to be the Democratic nominee for the presidency.
But like most politicians — or most grownups, for that matter — he’s got a few skeletons in his closet.
In a memoir published earlier this year, Newsom admitted to sleeping with a staffer while he was mayor of San Francisco (before he met his current wife).

In the book, Newsom opened up about sleeping with Ruby Rippey, who was then married to his friend (and staffer) Alex Tourk.
Now, Rippey has opened up about her relationship with Newsom in a new interview with Vanity Fair, admitting, among other things, that she wet the bed during their first tryst, and that Kamala Harris encouraged her to keep quiet about the affair.
Rippey says the flirtations with her then-boss began during a night out shortly after she gave birth.
“Hey — you look really good,” she recalls Newsom saying. “You’ve lost all your pregnancy weight.”
She adds that she was in the throes of addictive addiction at the time (Newsom has been open about his own past battles with substance abuse) and that the situation escalated shortly thereafter when both parties were drinking at a co-worker’s wedding.
“We meet and we drink. There is sex, but it isn’t the point. The point is proximity—to power, to being chosen, to feeling newly visible—no longer muted by pregnancy, by new motherhood, by the strain of white-knuckling long stretches of sobriety. It isn’t love. It isn’t romance. It’s intoxication,” she writes.
Rippey eventually checked into rehab, and one of her counselors advised to keep the affair a secret (even from her husband) during her early sobriety.
She claims that then-district attorney Kamala Harris echoed that advice.
“Soon after, Kamala Harris calls. I know her from the [former mayor Willie] Brown administration; she is now the district attorney. I tell her people are urging me to speak publicly. A publisher has offered an advance for a memoir. I am broke and unemployable,” Rippey writes, adding:
“She listens, then says simply: ‘I wouldn’t say anything right now, Ruby. Just pause. More time will give you better perspective.’
“It turns out to be the best advice I receive. I am newly sober and still inside the wreckage—unable to make sense of anything, let alone speak clearly about it. So I stay silent.”
These days, Rippey and Newsom are both happily remarried and no longer pinned down by addiction.
But even though most of the events described in Rippey’s article took place more than 20 years ago, Newsom would probably prefer that that chapter of his life remain in the distant past.
Gavin Newsom’s Former Mistress Says Kamala Harris Encouraged Her to Cover Up Affair was originally published on The Hollywood Gossip.
The Hollywood Gossip
Italy’s coffee culture goes back centuries, and in many shops, you can still snag an espresso for as low as €1. Why is this beloved drink so cheap?

Mashed – Fast Food, Celebrity Chefs, Grocery, Reviews
Trace Adkins says his mom mostly just writes letter to citizens with untidy lawns, but now and again, she gets to handle sentencing for minor crimes. Continue reading…Country Music News – Taste of Country
Trace Adkins says his mom mostly just writes letter to citizens with untidy lawns, but now and again, she gets to handle sentencing for minor crimes. Continue reading…The Boot – Country Music News, Music Videos and Songs
Fast food used to be cheap, but with rising costs that’s no longer the case. However, McDonald’s recently unveiled its Under $3 Menu for more budget items.

Mashed – Fast Food, Celebrity Chefs, Grocery, Reviews
A young country music fan named Harper was already beaming with excitement after being gifted tickets to see her favorite artist, Alexandra Kay, live in concert. But that special day was made even more unforgettable when Kay surprised her with a meet-and-greet.
Harper, 9, is one of Kay’s biggest fans, so when her mom, Kate, surprised her with tickets to see the singer for her very first concert, the joy she felt was palpable. The sweet reveal was captured on video and shared to TikTok, showing Harper opening a box filled with pink country concert essentials, including a fringe vest, a cowboy hat, and a pair of boots.
The moment she saw the gifts, Harper stated, “I want to go to a concert now.”

Luckily, she found out that was the plan all along. When her mom asked if she could guess who they were going to see the next day, Harper didn’t hesitate before naming Alexandra Kay. Kate explained to Country Now that her little girl has been a fan of the songstress for a few years now, ever since her Aunty Sydney introduced her to Kay.
“We’ve loved her and her music ever since! Harper’s favorite song is ‘Cupid’s a Cowgirl’ but when I say she knows every word to every song… I mean it.”
She goes on to say that they have made two different attempts to see Kay live in concert already, but they both fell through for various reasons. So when she saw the singer was coming to Kidd Brewer Stadium at Appalachian State University in Boone, NC, on July 25, she knew they had to make it happen. Looking back now, she feels that it was definitely worth the wait.
Harper’s heartfelt video quickly found its way to Kay, who matched the young girl’s excitement while reacting to the clip. As she watched, the singer indicated that she was going to find Harper at the show. She fulfilled that promise after stepping off stage for her opening set at Jon Pardi’s HONKYTONK HOLLYWOOD TOUR stop.
“Right before the show I got on TikTok. I saw this video of this girl getting surprised with a cowboy hats and cowboy boots. She said she was coming to see the show….I was like we got to find this little girl,” Kay explained in the video from her perspective.
The mother and daughter were sitting in their seats at the concert when they saw that Alexandra Kay had dueted their video.
“Initially I saw she just liked and saved our video which made us so excited, but when we saw the duet come through we couldn’t believe it! Just the fact Alexandra Kay saw Harper’s video made her so happy and excited!”

Kay began communicating with Kate through TikTok in order to pull off the ultimate surprise for Harper.
“Harper had no idea and that moment we will remember for a lifetime,” she admitted.
The “Cupid’s A Cowgirl” singer quietly slipped into the audience with just minutes before Pardi took the stage. Spotting Harper’s bright pink cowboy hat in the crowd, Kay made her way over and finally got to meet her fan.
The emotional moment was captured on video as Harper ran straight into Kay’s arms for a heartfelt hug.
Kay spent time chatting with her young fan, signed her pink cowboy hat, gifted her an autographed set list, posed for photos, and created memories that neither of them will ever forget. Kate says that seeing her daughter’s big smiled and excited reaction meant “everything.”
“This was a dream come true for her. She tells everyone Alexandra Kay is her favorite singer. Her favorite color is also pink! I can’t think of a better role model and the time Alexandra took to do this for Harper validated why we love her so much!”
The post Alexandra Kay Makes 9-Year-Old Fan’s First Concert An Unforgettable Experience With Surprise Meet-And-Greet appeared first on Country Now.
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Netflix recently dropped Season 2 of ‘Ransom Canyon,’ but the show’s loyal fans are already wondering what’s next for the series. Continue reading…Country Music News – Taste of Country
Netflix recently dropped Season 2 of ‘Ransom Canyon,’ but the show’s loyal fans are already wondering what’s next for the series. Continue reading…The Boot – Country Music News, Music Videos and Songs
The Academy of Country Music is bringing together some of country music’s biggest names for a night dedicated to honoring the artists, songwriters and industry members who have all impacted the genre in their own way.
Taking place Wednesday, August 19, at The Pinnacle in Nashville, this year’s 19th ACM® Honors™ will feature a star-studded lineup of performers who will take the stage to honor this year’s celebrated recipients. The ceremony will be co-hosted by four-time ACM Award winner Carly Pearce and three-time ACM Award winner Parker McCollum.

This year’s performers include Avery Anna, Big Kenny, Carly Pearce, Carter Faith, Dierks Bentley, Dylan Scott, Gabriella Rose, Gavin Adcock, Kaitlin Butts, Mark Collie, Margo Price, Megan Moroney, Parker McCollum and Trisha Yearwood, with Brenda Lee also set to appear as a special guest.
Zach John King will be on hand to present the ACM Studio Recording and Industry Awards portion of the evening, while the ceremony also recognizes previously announced honorees including Bill Anderson, Brett James, C2C: Country to Country, The Carter Family, Eric Church, Kacey Musgraves, Paramount+’s hit television series Landman, Leslie Fram, Mike Curb and Scott Zolke.
Also being recognized during the ceremony will be previously announced honorees Ella Langley, who received ACM Artist-Songwriter of the Year, Jessie Jo Dillon, who earned ACM Songwriter of the Year, along with the ACM Studio Recording Award and Industry Award recipients.
Today’s announcement notes that the highly anticipated night in Music City will include a special tribute to Country Music legend Dolly Parton, who will be honored with the ACM Poet’s Award. Parton will not be attending the event in person, however she will accept the honor through a special video message.
Parton was chosen to receive this prestigious honor as a result of her decades-long impact on the genre. The “9 to 5” singer has a longstanding history with organization as she has racked up 13 ACM Awards and served as host of the ACM Awards three times. Now the ACM Poet’s Award honors the songwriting legacy that has made her one of country music’s most beloved storytellers.
Her work as a songwriter has led her to earn multiple nominations in the ACM Song of the Year category, including for “You’re the Only One,” “9 to 5” and “When I Get Where I’m Going.” Through timeless songs like “Jolene,” “Coat of Many Colors” and “I Will Always Love You,” Parton has transformed personal experiences into relatable stories that will forever live on in the country music genre.
Often recognized as the “Country Music Industry’s favorite night,” ACM Honors continues to shine a spotlight on the individuals whose creativity and dedication keep country music moving forward. This year’s ceremony is presented by TennPop, Seltzer of the South, a Tennessee-born, ready-to-drink spirit-based seltzer made with Tennessee vodka, local honey and sparkling water.
“TennPop is about celebrating Tennessee and the people who make it what it is. Country Music has always been part of that story,” said Lauren Lindsey, Founder & CEO of TennPop. “To stand alongside the Academy of Country Music as the Presenting Partner of ACM Honors, celebrating the artists, songwriters, and industry leaders whose work brings people together every day, is a milestone we’re incredibly proud to be part of.”

Fans hoping to join in on the celebrations can now purchase tickets to the 19th ACM Honors through AXS. Plus, ACM Lifting Lives® is giving supporters the chance to make the night even more memorable through an exclusive VIP experience benefiting the charity. The package includes two premium side-stage balcony seats, complimentary drinks, access to a backstage red carpet photo opportunity, a private meet-and-greet, and limited-edition commemorative merchandise.
More information can be found HERE.
The post Carly Pearce, Megan Moroney, Parker McCollum & More To Perform At 19th ACM Honors appeared first on Country Now.
Country Now