The country power couple lend their voices to “Big Bottom,” a cheeky surprise duet for ‘Spinal Tap II’. Yes, it’s as ridiculous as it sounds. Continue reading…
The Boot – Country Music News, Music Videos and Songs
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Both the U.S. and Florida flags will be flown at half-staff at the state capitol and in Pinellas County. Continue reading…
The Boot – Country Music News, Music Videos and Songs
![<a href="https://countrynow.com/ashland-craft-is-turning-her-love-for-thrifting-into-a-one-of-a-kind-concert-experience-exclusive/" target="_blank">Ashland Craft Is Turning Her Love For Thrifting Into A One-Of-A-Kind Concert Experience [Exclusive]</a>](https://countrynow.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Ashland-Craft-Photo-by-Easton-Jay-1024x683.jpg)
Ashland Craft just launched her first-ever headlining tour and she’s taking this run as an opportunity to not only share her music, but also her passion for thrifting.
In order to do this, the rising star has added a special element to her Dive Bar Beauty Queen Tour – a rack of secondhand clothing, handpicked by Craft herself, that she will be selling near the merch table of every show. She explained to Country Now that the idea came from years of sifting through Goodwill stores and various vintage shops around the world to find décor for her home and to elevate her wardrobe with unique finds.
“I really love finding stuff that you can’t just go and buy off a rack. And then it’s also the exciting part of somebody asking you where you got it and you get to tell ’em where you got it and they can go on their own little hunt. So it’s just fun all the way around, and I really enjoy doing it, and I hope people will enjoy having us bring that experience to them,” she explained.
Where Craft’s Love For Thrifting Began
Craft’s passion for thrifting began at a young age when she was living in her small town in South Carolina and didn’t have many options for places buy her clothing from. So at first, thrifting was necessary in order to find new things to add to her closet, but it continued to be something she enjoys doing in her adult life. Craft explained that there’s something about the mystery and magic of secondhand shopping that keeps her hooked.
“I honestly hate shopping in general. I’m not a shopper, but for some reason with thrifting, I enjoy it so much,” she shared. “I think it’s because when you find things, you kind of picture the story behind it, who maybe had it before you, why they gave it up in the first place, but thankful they did. It’s just kind of an adventure. It’s kind of cheesy, but it just became a fun pastime with my friends.”
Best Shopping Approach For Good Finds
The “Kick Rocks Cowboy” singer says she tries to make as many stops at thrift stores as she can while on the road, and she has started to share her progress with fans along the way. Giving a glimpse into her best methods and tips as a pro thrifter, Ashland Craft revealed that the best approach for her is to go in not looking for anything in particular and to stay open-minded while rummaging through the racks.
“I rarely ever go in with very specific finds in mind. I think it’s more about, and just visiting different places, visiting random places that are kind of in the middle of nowhere that you wouldn’t expect is where you’re going to find the coolest, most unique stuff. So I think it’s just like don’t limit yourself to your chain and stores like that. It’s definitely worth visiting the mom and pop stores taking some time to dig, but not too much time either.”
Craft’s eye for second-hand shopping is more than just a hobby. It’s now become a big part of her lifestyle. She calls her home “an entire thrift store itself” and lit up when discussing some of her favorite finds, which includes a beaded top that she customized and can be seen wearing in her tour promo photo and two unique chairs she scored for just $15 each at separate stores.
Bringing Thrifting To The Tour
Eventually, Craft started collecting more things than she knew what to do with, hence the idea to bring her finds to the Dive Bar Beauty Queen Tour was born. At each stop on tour, fans will find a section at the “Yard Sale” merch table that will be stocked with pieces Ashland has thrifted herself. Items will be affordably priced and ready to mix and match with what fans are already wearing.
“I was like, I wonder if we bring this to the tour…So it’s just been such a fun pastime for me at this age pretty much to decorate my house and add to my wardrobe in a way that’s also secondhand and not just buying something new and throwing it away and not wearing it again.
This will be the first time Craft has ever sold some of her thrifting finds to fans on the road. She says she hopes it will further elevate the experience for those who attend her shows throughout the year.
“I’ve always loved yard sales, thrift stores, knicknacky things, and I’ve also just really been passionate about fashion. I love throwing clothes together, finding pieces that you can wear with a bunch of different outfits. So I think that was always there for me to maybe open a boutique down the road or secondhand boutique of something of that nature. And I felt like this was just a good first start to be able to bring the clothes that I found that I love, that I hope other people would love, and maybe at a show they can throw it on with the outfit they already have on and elevate it.”
“And then hopefully when people ask ’em where they got it, they’ll be like, I got it at the Ashland Craft Show. So fingers crossed, it just adds another layer of fun and something new to the whole experience,” she added.
First-Ever Headlining Tour
The Dive Bar Beauty Queen Tour was named after Ashland Craft’s sophomore album which dropped in May. The project spawned fan-favorites like “Yard Sale,” “Morning Person,” “Momma Don’t Pray Like She Used To” and her current single climbing the charts at radio, “Lie A Little.”
This current run also marks her first-ever headlining trek. Following her opening dates on Luke Bryan’s Country Song Came On tour, Craft launched her own tour on July 25 in Owensboro, KY, She will make he way around the U.S. with stops in Iowa, Wisconsin, Tennessee, Virginia, Oklahoma and more. She also recently announced additional dates, which will extend the tour through November.
When preparing for this stint of shows, Craft stated that her goal was to make sure people who show up get to hear the songs they’ve been loving since the beginning as well as her newest releases. Along with just figuurieng out the set list, she’s also poured her heart into making it a full experience by amping up the merch table and including moody lighting and props in her performances.
“We’ve just been rehearsing a lot of older songs, some songs off the old record as well, along with some of my first releases ever. And then also trying to work in some songs that I featured on that people have been requesting, but I haven’t necessarily been able to perform without somebody else there. So just really trying to cover all of those songs is first priority for me,” she noted.
A full list of Ashland Craft’s 2025 tour dates can be found HERE.
The post Ashland Craft Is Turning Her Love For Thrifting Into A One-Of-A-Kind Concert Experience [Exclusive] appeared first on Country Now.
Country Now
Riley Green is taking his love for ‘90s country music to a new level as the host of the new weekly radio series, The ‘90s Country Show, on Apple Music Country.
The first episode premiered this week, and Green was joined by Apple Music Radio host Kelleigh Bannen, who spoke to him about his love for this decade of country music and how it shaped him as an artist.
“I’ve always loved the ’90s era of country music. It’s very nostalgic for me growing up, and it’s the songs that my dad and mom played in the truck and all the songs that I heard on the radio growing up,” Green, 36, explained. “And really what I think inspired me to want to be in country music was those songs and those stories.”
He recalled covering ’90s country hits during his early years and shared a moment that made him realize some of his younger fans weren’t familiar with the genre’s iconic artists.
“I’ll never forget the moment I realized I was getting old. I played John Anderson, ‘Seminole Wind’…And it was just like they didn’t know it. The kids didn’t know it.”
With his new show, Green hopes to change that.
“So this show is an opportunity for me to educate these kids on what ’90s country was really like,” he declared.
The Alabama native’s love for ’90s country played a major role in shaping him as an artist. When Bannen asked which artists defined that era for him, he didn’t hesitate to name a few of his friends and longtime favorites.
“Well, when I think about defining artists, I think about people that have managed to stay around. You know what I mean? George Strait’s got to be one of them, he’s been around forever and he’s still George Strait,” he pointed out. “I loved Tracy Lawrence growing up. I got to take Tracy Lawrence on tour with me last year, which was awesome. And to see guys that have been doing it for that long and they’re still that fired up about it tells you that they’re just not only great people and have great work ethics, but they love playing country music. Tim McGraw is one of those that I probably was a little more into.”
Catch the premiere episode on demand anytime with an Apple Music subscription HERE. Don’t miss new episodes of The ’90s Country Show every Wednesday at 3 PM PT / 5 PM CT on Apple Music Country.
Riley Green is currently on his Damn Country Music Tour. See a complete list of upcoming dates on his official website.
The post Riley Green Wants to Teach a New Generation What ’90s Country Is Really About appeared first on Country Now.
Country Now
2025 is shaping up to be a memorable year for HARDY. The country rocker and his wife, Caleigh, welcomed their daughter in March, made his first-ever appearance at the Grand Ole Opry in April, embarked on his biggest headlining tour yet in May, and on September 26, he’s set to release his brand new album, COUNTRY! COUNTRY!, via Big Loud.
This new project follows HARDY’s 2023 rock album, Quit!!. After stepping away from country music for a bit, he’s returning to his roots, feeling recharged, inspired, and ready to dive back in. COUNTRY! COUNTRY! Is an expansion on his EP, COUNTRY!, which arrived earlier this year. That project includes “Favorite Country Song,” HARDY’s latest single at country radio.
In celebration of the album announcement, he’s releasing a new song, “Bottomland,” on Friday.
While further details surrounding HARDY’s COUNTRY! COUNTRY! album remain under wraps, including the track list, he previously teased that he had a “big ol album coming out later this year,” leading fans to believe the track listing would be quite substantial.
While enjoying a mid-summer break from his JIM BOB World Tour, HARDY spent some time out West with Caleigh and their baby girl, Rosie. Caliehg shared snapshots from their trip on Instagram, including a few sweet photos of HARDY in full-dad made with his little girl in hand.
In a recent interview with People, the Mississippi native opened up about little Rosie, revealing that she is smiling “all the time.”
“It’s incredible,” he told the publication of their happy baby.
He admitted that bringing a baby on the road has changed his wild ways a bit, bringing a new dynamic to road life.
“It’s different now, especially with the baby being here,” he admitted.. “I don’t know what’s in store, but I know that I’m not going to be partying like I used to…I mean, we’ve always had a very safe, fun vibe out here.”
HARDY will return to the stage on August 7 at WE Fest before making his way to the Voices of America Festival and Boots & Hearts Festival in mid-August.
The Jim Bob World Tour will resume on August 14. This trek features Koe Wetzel, Stephen Wilson Jr. and Sikarus on select dates and will culminate with HARDY’s first-ever headlining show at Madison Square Garden in New York City.
The post HARDY Returning to Country Roots With COUNTRY! COUNTRY! Following Rock Detour and New Dad Life appeared first on Country Now.
Country Now
Zac Brown, the 46-year-old frontman of Zac Brown Band is opening up about the made major lifestyle changes he’s made in recent years, including quitting alcohol entirely. Once surrounded by beers on the road, Brown has officially traded cases of beer for healthy snacks in an effort to be more disciplined than ever before to meet his goals.
He’s shed over 65 pounds so far and credits much of his transformation to cutting out alcohol, sugar, seed oils, and processed foods.
“I had a great drinking career, and I’m retired from it now,” Brown said in his interview with GQ.
The elimination of alcohol in his regular routine was almost immediate. Brown admits that after growing up and working in an environment where drinking was a part of everything from parties, meetings, dinner, and performing in bars for a decade, he decided enough was enough.
“I went cold turkey,” he shared.
Finding The Strength To Change His Lifestyle
The decision to stop wasn’t about him hitting rock bottom, it was about choosing a life that made him feel better and happier when he woke up every day.
“Nobody could have told me that I needed to stop drinking before I knew that it was time to do it. But there were times when I had hangovers and I’d look at myself in the mirror and go, ‘One day, I’m not going to do this anymore.’ You kind of feel like [alcohol] is this feel-good friend that’s always around, that’s whatever, but nobody’s life gets better because they quit drinking. And I can testify to that a hundred percent.”
The shift didn’t happen overnight, and Zac Brown admits the road hasn’t been perfect. But he’s come to learn that those cheat moments don’t compare to the positive results he sees when he sticks to the plan.
“I have nights that I’m like, I’ll just go eat a snack late-night, if I feel like it’s been a stressful week. But when I do the things I need to do, I never feel better,” he shared.
Once he committed, Brown says his cravings for the bad stuff started to fade after about a month and suddenly the results started to pour in.
“Seeing the results that come from it, and my psychology around it, it made it easy to sacrifice what I wanted in order to get where I want,” Brown added. “I was at a point in my life where I was ready to engineer my choices around my end result. Nothing tastes better than feeling really good, being able to do things, and having a clear mindset.”
Coming Up With A Plan
To help him achieve his goals, the country singer hired a incredible trainer named Luke Richardson, who served as an NFL strength and conditioning coach. He claims that Luke’s approach has been much more maintainable than programs he’s tried in the past.
“His approach is a lot more taking care of your soft tissue, using foam rollers, using vibrating balls, using a TRX band, a lot of isometrics, a lot of laying on the floor and kind of rolling around. It’s not that it’s fun, but you definitely notice a range of motion thing,” he revealed.
On top of the exercises, Brown follows a “pretty simple” diet plan. It consists of three meals a day, four hours a part, and fasting for 14 hours after his last meal.
“As far as what you’re eating: it’s a lot of paleo, vegetables, good, clean proteins, whole foods, things that aren’t just processed in a bag or in a box. I’m gluten-free, dairy-free, sugar-free, alcohol-free,” Brown explained.
Zac Brown Gives His Best Advice
Now living a cleaner, more intentional life, the Grammy winner emphasizes the importance of thinking about long-term goals instead of chasing instant gratification. This is a message that he’s also passing down to his kids who have started to pick up their own healthy habits. He told the outlet that he’s currently weighing in at a little under 200lbs and has no intention of slowing down anytime soon.
“If you believe that there’s growth and that there’s love around you and that everything is a positive force pushing you, that becomes your reality too,” he stated. “I really try to keep my mindfulness intact. I have a lot more to give to my family, to my craft, to my band, my crew, all of it.”
Zac Brown has embarked on this journey just a few months before him and his bandmates are set to take the stage in Las Vegas for their very own residency at the Sphere.
The six-show run is set to kick off on December 5, the same day the band’s new album Love & Fear is scheduled to arrive. Their shows will continue on December 6, 12, 13, January 9 and 10.
The post Zac Brown Reveals He Quit Drinking ‘Cold Turkey’ And Has Never Felt Better appeared first on Country Now.
Country Now
Reba McEntire and her boyfriend Rex Linn are taking part in the viral “Better Be Nice” trend on social media to announce exciting news: the second season of their hit sitcom, Happy’s Place.
In the clip, Reba introduces rex and allows him to deliver the news.
“This is my boyfriend,” she says. “He’s gonna tell you about the second season of Happy’s Place. You better listen and be nice.”
Rex steps into focus and says, “Hello everybody. This is Rex Linn. I play Emmett on Happy’s Place. Coming this fall, our second season… We’re so happy about it. Our reviews are good. Ratings are great. People are watching. It’s going to be so much fun.”
Then, he teases the plot of the second season, hinting that their characters, Bobbie and Emmett, might find a romantic connection in the new season.
“And there’s rumors that maybe Emmett and Bobbie get together. I mean, we don’t know that for a fact, but it would be great for Bobbie,” he jokes. “I mean, if she was with Emmett. I mean, that’s how I look at it.”
All jokes aside, Rex told fans to “stay tuned” for the upcoming season.
“Late this fall, we’re coming back. Season two, baby, of Happy’s Place and do not miss it or I’ll come after you with my spatula,” he said.
Earlier this week, NBC confirmed the return of Happy’s Place, starring Reba and Rex alongside Belissa Escobedo, Melissa Peterman, Pablo Castelblanco, and Tokala Black Elk. The fan-favorite show will return on November 7.
The show follows Bobbie (Reba), who inherits her father’s tavern, Happy’s Place, and is shocked to learn she has a new business partner, Isabella (Escobedo), her twentysomething half-sister she never knew existed.
Reba serves as executive producer alongside writer Kevin Abbott, Michael Hanel, Mindy Schultheis, Matt Berry and Pamela Fryman.
She also delivers the theme song for Happy’s Place, which she co-wrote with with Doug Sisemore and her longtime friend Carole King.
“I hope my fans will love this song as much as they did the theme song for the ‘Reba’ show,” she shared upon the unveiling of the song.
Fans will have the opportunity to catch Reba on TV earlier in the season with the return of The Voice on September 22.
The country music icon returns to the all-star coaching panel with Michael Bublé, Niall Horan and Snoop Dogg.
The post Reba McEntire and Boyfriend Rex Linn Use Viral ‘Better Be Nice’ Trend to Reveal Exciting News appeared first on Country Now.
Country Now
Sean Kingston is done with his lawyer and his lawyer might be even more done with him.
Robert A. Rosenblatt, who was representing Kingston in his federal fraud case, is trying to distance himself from the singer after their attorney-client relationship crashed and burned.
The drama’s been bubbling for months, but now Rosenblatt is officially begging the judge to let him walk away from the case, claiming things between him and Kingston are so bad they’re basically on opposite teams.
This all hit the fan after Kingston fired off a blunt email back in May telling Rosenblatt to zip it.
“I am writing to formally request that you cease speaking to the media or any other third parties regarding my case, as the information being shared is incorrect and potentially damaging. I also want to remind you of the importance of maintaining attorney client privilege…Furthermore, do not speak on my behalf to the prosecutor, judge or anyone else from this point forward,” Kingston said.
Rosenblatt first tried to ditch the case back in May 2025, but the court blocked him. Now he’s back with receipts saying the relationship is toast. Kingston doesn’t trust him and has accused him of leaking information to a local journalist.
Rosenblatt swears he didn’t, but the damage was done.
“It is apparent from [Kingston’s] emails and texts that he does not want the undersigned to ‘talk judges or prosecutors’ on his behalf,” Rosenblatt wrote. “He did not oppose the withdrawal of counsel in the state case. Further, it is clear that irreconcilable differences have terminated the attorney-client relationship to the extent that it has become adversarial.”
Rosenblatt says Kingston’s got another lawyer, Zeljka Bozanic, who will handle things from here, including sentencing. The feds don’t care if Rosenblatt dips either, so he’s asking the court again to let him off the hook.
Kingston has already been convicted on multiple fraud charges along with his mom, Janice Turner. The feds say they ran a million-dollar scam using fake wire receipts to score luxury cars, jewelry and even a massive LED TV.
Turner’s already been sentenced to five years in prison. Kingston’s hearing is set for August 28 and he’s looking at up to 100 years, though prosecutors only want around six and a half.
AllHipHop
Cardi B scored a big legal W in LA this week after a judge tossed out a bunch of stuff that could’ve made her look bad in court.
She’s prepping for trial next month over claims she roughed up a security guard named Emani Ellis outside a Beverly Hills medical office back in 2018—while she was pregnant and trying to keep it quiet.
According to Rolling Stone, the judge gave her team the green light to split the trial into two parts and shut down any talk about her money unless she’s found liable first.
The court also blocked anything about her past—including fights, police run-ins, gang rumors, strip club history or anything the media’s said about her.
The judge also shut down testimony from a retired cop and a psychologist that Ellis’ team wanted to bring in.
Ellis filed the lawsuit in 2020, claiming Cardi B smacked her around, spat on her, dropped racial slurs and got her fired. She even said Cardi’s nails cut her face so bad she needed plastic surgery.
But Cardi’s lawyer, Peter Anderson, says there’s an eyewitness who saw Ellis go after Cardi instead. He also pointed out that Ellis told them she only takes aspirin now and then, yet she magically saw a new doctor last week who prescribed her antidepressants.
He called it “gamesmanship” and “preposterous.”
Cardi’s expected to show up and testify, but her schedule’s tight. She’s got three kids and a new album, Am I the Drama?, dropping September 19.
Her lawyers might ask for a delay if the trial doesn’t kick off on time.
AllHipHop
Justin Timberlake closed out his two-year Forget Tomorrow Tour with a personal revelation and a message of resilience, telling fans Thursday (July 31) that he’s been quietly battling Lyme disease while performing across the globe.
“Among other things, I’ve been battling some health issues, and was diagnosed with Lyme disease — which I don’t say so you feel bad for me –– but to shed some light on what I’ve been up against behind the scenes,” Timberlake wrote in a lengthy Instagram post reflecting on the tour’s end.
The Everything I Thought It Was singer said he initially kept the diagnosis private but chose to speak out now to help others understand the toll it has taken on him physically and mentally.
“If you’ve experienced this disease or know someone who has — then you’re aware: living with this can be relentlessly debilitating, both mentally and physically,” he wrote. “When I first got the diagnosis I was shocked for sure. But, at least I could understand why I would be onstage and in a massive amount of nerve pain or, just feeling crazy fatigue or sickness.”
Despite the symptoms, Timberlake said he made a conscious decision to keep performing.
“I was faced with a personal decision. Stop touring? Or, keep going and figure it out. I decided the joy that performing brings me far outweighs the fleeting stress my body was feeling. I’m so glad I kept going.”
The 43-year-old artist said pushing through the illness helped him prove his “mental tenacity” and gave him “so many special moments” with his audience.
“I was reluctant to talk about this because I was always raised to keep something like this to yourself,” he wrote. “But I am trying to be more transparent about my struggles so that they aren’t misinterpreted.”
Timberlake also expressed a desire to support others living with Lyme disease, adding, “Sharing all of this with the hope that we can all find a way to be more connected. I’d like to do my part to help others experiencing this disease too.”
He ended the post by thanking his crew, band and concertgoers, calling them “the stuff of LEGEND.”
“There really is no way to put into words the feeling of being on a stage and getting to share the experience of live music with all of you,” he wrote. “It’s a vibration of frequency that is unmatched. Sacred to me. I honestly don’t know what my future is onstage but I’ll always cherish this run! And all of them before!”
Timberlake also gave a heartfelt shoutout to his wife, Jessica Biel, and their two sons, Silas and Phin.
“My heart is filled with gratitude! Love each other. Be good to each other. Don’t take it for granted. To Jess, Silas, and Phin… nothing is more powerful than your unconditional love. You are my heart and my home. I’m on my way.”
Timberlake’s message comes after some concertgoers criticized his recent performances, calling them low-energy. Despite that, the tour grossed $73.2 million across 41 shows as of late May, according to Billboard, placing him among the top 10 touring acts of the year.
The tour launched in April 2024, one month after the release of his latest album. Timberlake joins a list of celebrities, including Shania Twain, Avril Lavigne and Justin Bieber, who have also gone public with Lyme disease diagnoses.
AllHipHop