Whiskey or wine connoisseurs may wax poetic about aging techniques and growing regions, but do these qualities matter for rum? We asked an expert to find out.
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Shelby Springall, the current Miss Iron County 2026, is gaining attention online after delivering a standout talent performance at the Miss Utah 2026 pageant that paid tribute to the Queen of Country Music, Dolly Parton, in a very unique way.
Springall has quickly racked up the rave reviews from viewers after sharing a video of her speed painting skills, a talent that allowed her to combine artistry and country music into one unforgettable moment. Taking the stage in a hot pink rhinestone-covered jumpsuit, complete with silver fringe details and a pair of matching rhinestone cowboy boots, she fully embraced the glamorous spirit of Parton in her performance.
In a pre-recorded introduction, Springall explained that she would be creating a portrait by speed painting as a sped-up rendition of Parton’s iconic hit “9 to 5” played throughout the venue. As the music filled the room, she painted and danced along with the song, all while maintaining her focus and making sure not to crack under the pressure of the competition.
It was initially hard to determine what image she was bringing to life with what appeared to be just a series of black squiggly lines and a hot pink signature spray painted at the top to finish it off. The contestant really surprised the crowd with her talent when the song came to a close and she flipped the painting over to reveal a clear silhouette of Dolly Parton with her signature perfectly copied at the bottom.
The crowd cheered loudly, celebrating her skills as she took a bow and made her way off the stage.
@shelby__dawn MISS UTAH 2026 TALENT!! ✨💕Oh how i LOVE being a speed painter. There’s nothing like watching a blank canvas turn into something meaningful in just 90 SECONDS. I couldn’t go without honoring my fellow sparkly blonde gal, @Dolly Parton . 💎✨ #missamerica #missutah #speedpaint #dollyparton ♬ original sound – shelby.dawn
Springall reflected on the moment, writing, “Oh how I LOVE being a speed painter. There’s nothing like watching a blank canvas turn into something meaningful in just 90 SECONDS. I couldn’t go without honoring my fellow sparkly blonde gal, Dolly Parton.”
When an online user asked how she discovered she had this talent, Springall explained that she is a self-taught artist, but has taken inspiration and even learned a few tips from another TikTok user, @mypie.
“I saw her do her Michael speed painting, and just knew it was something that I had to learn!! So I reached out for some tips while i was learning and then proceeded to teach myself how!!”
She also noted that Dolly Parton was the perfect figure for her to honor during the talent showcase as she knew she wanted to paint someone who embodied “kindness, generosity, and a little bit of sparkle.”
“As one sparkly blonde to another, this piece meant so much to me, and getting to bring it to life on the Miss Utah stage is a moment I’ll never forget,” she added.
Shelby Springall was crowned Miss Iron County 2025 on August 11, 2025, during the Iron County Fair. She went on to hold the title for the 2026 season before competing in the Miss Utah competition, which was held from June 18 through June 20.
The post Miss Iron County Shelby Springall Honors Dolly Parton With Show-Stopping Speed Painting Performance At Miss Utah 2026 appeared first on Country Now.
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Ella Langley used her time on stage at Calgary’s Cowboy Music Festival over the weekend to share an honest message with fans, encouraging them to find their way back to happier days by staying true to themselves and leaning on their faith as a guide.
The Alabama native has started a new tradition in her live shows, in which she shares a moving and inspiring speech about how to find more fulfillment in everyday life before performing her latest country radio single, “Loving Life Again.” This moment in her set during the recent stop in Alberta, Canada, proved just how powerful the message of the song has become since it arrived on her Dandelion album.
She began by sharing the importance of not comparing yourself to the people around you and instead focus on embracing who you are. At the same time, Langley acknowledged how easy it is to feel behind or not good enough with everyone’s lives being on full display through social media.
“Nobody knows better than you. Nobody can tell you what you should or shouldn’t be doing. You live your life the way that you think you should be living your life. I think that’s a hard thing to do. I think with social media and how you get to see in everyone’s life and you feel behind or you feel not good enough or not pretty enough or not cool enough or you can’t sing this way or you can’t dance this way. Who gives a s**t?” she asked. “This is who I am and that’s what you get. And the one person that I do care about what thinks of me is the man upstairs and that’s it.”
From there, the “Be Her” singer shifted the focus to speaking about the role faith plays in keeping her grounded. She explains that her relationship with “the man upstairs” has been a constant reminder that she is loved through every high and low that life brings her and that she has come to accept that God’s opinion is the only one that truly matters to her.
“I know that he loves me no matter where I’m at. No matter if I’m feeling down, no matter if I’m having the best day of my life, no matter if I’m having the worst day of my life, no matter if I’ve sinned 700 times that day, no matter if I’ve lived the best day, he’s going to love me the same no matter what I do. And that is what I’m grateful for tonight,” she continued.
@withlove_misskiki This one’s for everyone 🫶🏽 #ellalangley #calgarystampede #bigsisteradvice ♬ Loving Life Again – Ella Langley
Langley wrapped up her empowering statement by reiterating to the fans in the audience that night that even if they are having a difficult day or feeling lost she wants them to know: “you are loved, you are worth it, you are worthy and you can do it. Grateful for the day that you are given. Just start there. You’ll be back to loving life again, Calgary.”
Her message served as the perfect introduction to the tune she penned alongside Devin Dawson and Ernest K Smith. Throughout the comforting, uplifting track, Langley finding genuine happiness in spending more time at home, especially when life starts to feel overwhelming.
The song was born from a season where she needed to take a step back from touring to reconnect with her Alabama roots, spend time with loved ones and dig into her faith. Once she came out on the other side, she found she had become a better version of herself.
She sings, “Just like that, I’m back to loving life again/ Dreaming dreams ’bout back home riding on the wind/ When I close my eyes, I find some peace in the back of my mind/ In between them pines where I’m jumping on that quarter horse, and then/ Just like that, I’m back to loving life again.”
Ella Langley’s stop in Calgary took place amid her headlining trek, The Dandelion Tour, set to continue through October. Along the way, fans can also catch her as a supporting act on select dates of Morgan Wallen’s Still The Problem Tour.
The post Ella Langley Shares Powerful Message About Faith, Self-Worth And Finding Your Way Back To Happiness appeared first on Country Now.
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14 Mistakes You’re Making With Pork Chops
You might have childhood memories of sawing through a dry pork chop, but truth be told, it’s probably because it wasn’t cooked or seasoned properly.
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Both Spain and France are powerhouses. Both teams are star-studded. And both teams are absolutely thrilling to watch with rich histories playing each other. With so much talent on each roster, you could build a truly exceptional starting lineup – so we did. Below is our combined best XI for Spain vs. France ahead of their World Cup semifinal match on Tuesday. Formation: 4-2-3-1 Goalkeeper Both goalkeepers have had strong tournaments. Maignan has only conceded two goals, while Simón had not conceded until Belgium scored in the quarterfinals. Simón has been excellent for Spain, but Maignan gets the slight nod as the better all-around goalkeeper. Verdict: Mike Maignan, France Right Back Pedro Porro has come onto the scene in his first major international tournament for Spain, providing real value in attack from the right-back position, including a goal against Austria. But Koundé gives you more stability as a polished defender and converted center back, while still having the capability to join the attack and provide value going forward. Verdict: Jules Koundé Right Center Back Both Pau Cubarsí and Dayot Upamecano are great center backs, and this is a very tight battle between the two. Upamecano has the athletic advantage, while Cubarsí provides more ability to play with the ball at his feet. Upamecano can be an accident waiting to happen at times, but in this tournament, he has hardly put a foot wrong. At his best, he is easily one of the best defenders in the world. Verdict: Dayot Upamecano Left Center Back The Premier League-winning Saliba wins this battle over Aymeric Laporte, who is having a strong tournament and has been a veteran leader alongside the young Cubarsí at the back. Despite Spain’s excellent defensive record, Saliba and Upamecano complete the clean sweep over the Spanish center backs. Verdict: William Saliba Left Back It has been a remarkable comeback story for Lucas Digne, starting at this World Cup after his last World Cup for France came in 2014. He has returned and has not been bad, but if there is a weakness in this France team, it is at left back. Cucurella continues to show in this tournament why he is one of the best left backs in the world, and he is now a Real Madrid player after completing his move from Chelsea. Verdict: Marc Cucurella Right Central Midfielder This is another tight battle, with both players widely recognized as world-class players at their position and important to their national teams. But the slight nod goes to Ballon d’Or winner Rodri, who is showing signs of his pre-ACL-injured self at this World Cup. He has been Spain’s composer throughout the tournament, just as he was for Spain at Euro 2024. Verdict: Rodri Left Central Midfielder On paper, this might seem like no conversation, but Rabiot has not laid a foot wrong in this tournament. He has done all the dirty work for France in midfield with his work rate, cleaning up scraps and allowing Michael Olise to roam around and pick up different pockets without having to worry as much about the defensive side. But Pedri is an incredible player on a technical level and gets the nod. Verdict: Pedri Right Winger Both are young star players who will be stars for many years to come. Doué has been important for this France team, splitting time with Bradley Barcola and making an impact off the bench, including winning the penalty that won France the game against Paraguay in the round of 16. But Lamine Yamal is already one of the best players in the world, even at 18 years old. Verdict: Lamine Yamal Central Attacking Midfielder Michael Olise is having as dominant of a tournament as you can possibly have without scoring a goal up to this point. Olise has completely bossed games from the No. 10 position, creating countless opportunities for the front three ahead of him. He already has five assists, which is only one away from tying Pelé’s all-time record at a single World Cup. Every time Olise gets on the ball, magic happens for this France team. Dani Olmo is a pivotal part of this Spanish side, with his intricate line-breaking passing and ability to make late runs into the box and cause havoc. But Olise can make a real case for the Golden Ball at this World Cup. Verdict: Michael Olise Left Winger Despite Yamal playing on the left-hand side, where Dembélé traditionally plays, Dembélé still finds a way into this team. The Ballon d’Or winner was a pivotal piece in a PSG side that won back-to-back Champions League titles, and he is now having his best international tournament ever. He has scored five goals, which in many past international tournaments would put a player firmly in the Golden Boot race. But this tournament has been an anomaly, with three players scoring at least seven goals. Álex Baena has been solid for Spain, but Dembélé is playing at a different level. Verdict: Ousmane Dembélé Striker Mikel Oyarzabal is an underrated piece of this Spanish side. He is not a typical No. 9, but more of a forward who floats around and picks up different pockets. When he does get a crack at goal, he is a very efficient finisher, and he has four goals at this World Cup. But Kylian Mbappé has eight goals and is widely recognized as one of the best players in the world. His total World Cup goal tally has now reached 20, despite being only 27 years old. Verdict: Kylian Mbappé Final Combined XI For France And Spain GK: Mike MaignanRB: Jules KoundéCB: Dayot UpamecanoCB: William SalibaLB: Marc CucurellaCM: RodriCM: PedriRW: Lamine YamalCAM: Michael OliseLW: Ousmane DembéléST: Kylian MbappéLatest Sports News from FOX Sports
For Jamey Johnson, becoming a member of the Grand Ole Opry wasn’t just another career milestone, it was a lifelong dream that, at one point in his career, felt so out of reach he considered walking away from the legendary stage altogether.
During a recent conversation with Tracy Lawrence on the TL’s Road House podcast, Johnson reflected on finally being invited to become an Opry member after more than two decades of performing there, admitting there was a time when the lack of an invitation became “a burr in my saddle.”
“To say the least, it’s a humble honor to get to be a member of the Opry. It has the job of representing country music past, present and future all at the same time. And unfortunately for a lot of us years ago, they weren’t interested in bringing in too many new members. For the longest time, that really got to be a burr in my saddle and I was getting to the point where I didn’t want to play it anymore because I wanted it so bad,” Johnson admitted to Lawrence. “I wanted to be a member ever since I moved to town. And I kind of always knew that I was called to be a member.”
The Alabama native went on to explain that he believes artists who genuinely care about preserving country music and its legacy are exactly the kind of people who should become members of the Grand Ole Opry.
“Who else should be a member of the Grand Ole Opry, but somebody that cares whether it lives on or doesn’t live on? And so the ones of us who do care should be filling up that membership.”
Johnson also praised the Grand Ole Opry’s current leadership, saying he believes the organization has taken steps to recognize artists who may have been overlooked during a time when fewer membership invitations were extended.
“I think that’s what they’ve been doing over the past several years. Dan Rogers has been really looking around the… And I’m not talking about just current artists. They know they left a bunch of you guys out back in the ’90s and he wasn’t in charge of it back then and can’t do nothing about it now except try and reach out. But that part is a little weird for me. We just celebrated my fourth year as a member, but I’ve been playing the Opry for over 21 years. And so there has to be some other way of representing your official anniversary and that sort of thing.”
When Lawrence revealed that he made his Grand Ole Opry debut in 1991, Johnson pointed out how strange it would feel for someone with such a long history on the Opry stage to only now begin celebrating their first official year as a member.
Lawrence revealed that his Opry debut took place in 1991, to which Johnson responded, “so we’re talking a long, long time.”
He continued, “And if you were to become a member now, you’d be 2027 celebrating your first year. And there’s just something a little off about that. But I think this current team at the Opry, they’re working real hard to correct some of those overlookings and things like that.”
Johnson then turned to Lawrence with a heartfelt wish for the future.
“And I would just tell you, just as your brother, man, I hope you come play the Opry and I hope they make you a member. And I hope you get to walk out there and have Tracy Lawrence night at the Opry.”
Lawrence appreciated the encouragement, but admitted he isn’t getting his hopes up.
Lawrence admitted, “I’d love to see that, but I ain’t holding my breath…Everything you’re speaking is all the truth, man.”
For more of Tracy Lawrence and Jamey Johnson’s conversation, watch the video below.
The post Jamey Johnson Reflects On Grand Ole Opry Membership, Says Tracy Lawrence And Other Overlooked Artists Deserve Recognition appeared first on Country Now.
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Charley Crockett took a stand against Satanism in his statements about why he axed Twin Temple from his tour. But that doesn’t seem to be the half of what’s bothering him right now. Continue reading…The Boot – Country Music News, Music Videos and Songs
Charley Crockett took a stand against Satanism in his statements about why he axed Twin Temple from his tour. But that doesn’t seem to be the half of what’s bothering him right now. Continue reading…Country Music News – Taste of Country