Spam has an interesting shape and consistency, which leaves many wondering if it’s actually considered meat. Let us break it all down for you.
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Country superstar Riley Green checked off a major career milestone on Saturday night, headlining Nashville’s iconic Bridgestone Arena for the first time as part of his Cowboy As It Gets Tour in front of a sold-out crowd in Music City.
The Alabama native took the stage around 9:20 p.m., starting the night with a signature duck call into the mic that instantly set off a huge reaction from the capacity crowd.
Green launched into “Different ‘Round Here,” “Damn Good Day To Leave,” and “If It Wasn’t For Trucks” before welcoming the night’s first special guest, longtime friend and fellow Alabama native Jamey Johnson, for a pair of songs: “Where The Corn Don’t Grow” and “In Color.”
It was a full-circle moment for Green, who has long credited Johnson as one of the biggest influences on his career.
From there, Green kept the momentum going with fan favorites like “Georgia Time” and “Rather Be” before slowing things down for “Make It Rain.”
Throughout the night, the platinum-selling star kept production simple, with no over-the-top pyrotechnics, just a massive video screen behind him, keeping the focus on the songs and performance.
Fans sang along all night and were later surprised with a guest appearance from Carly Pearce for their hit duet, “If I Don’t Leave I’m Gonna Stay.”
After a pair of Toby Keith covers, Green then made his way through the crowd, stopping for high-fives and fist bumps as he walked to the B-stage, where he showcased a stripped-down set featuring three of his solo-written tracks: the emotional “Jesus Saves,” the newly released “My Way,” and the chart-topping “Don’t Mind If I Do,” joined by opener Mackenzie Carpenter.
He closed out the night with some of his biggest hits to date, including “There Was This Girl,” “Worst Way,” and “I Wish Grandpas Never Died.”
This show marked a defining moment in Riley Green’s career: his biggest headlining tour yet and a clear sign that this is his moment. From playing bars and clubs to now commanding arenas like Bridgestone, his rise has been steady, hard-earned, and Saturday night felt like the payoff.
The night also showed what makes him stand out as a live performer. He doesn’t rely on flashy production or over-the-top staging, just well-written songs, a solid voice, and a crowd that knows every word.
The post Riley Green Delivers Career-Defining Night At Bridgestone Arena In Sold-Out Nashville Show appeared first on Country Now.
Country Now
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Though they’re years removed from the royal work that has haunted Prince Harry since birth, the Sussexes continue to, well, put in the work.
Meghan Markle appeared as an honored guest at a retreat, posing with VIPs for photos.
She was in and out in two hours, though it was a weekend event.
The reports on how much she was paid for her brief appearance has people reeling.
On Friday, April 17, the Duchess of Sussex attended a “Girl’s Weekend’ retreat.
The Her Best Life podcast hosted the event at the InterContinental Sydney Coogee Beach resort.
The event kicked off late that afternoon, at 5 PM.
Meghan was there. So was her husband, Prince Harry, albeit in a plus one capacity.
The duchess was presented as the “highlight” of the weekend, according to reports.
According to The Daily Mail, the Sussex pair then departed at 7 PM.
After their two-hour appearance at the engagement, Meghan and Harry reportedly packed into their vehicle — with their bodyguards, of course — and headed to the next item on the itinerary.
That was a rugby game in Sydney. Two teams called the NSW Waratahs and the Moana Pasifika went head to head while the couple watched from the VIP section.
Though it sounds like a busy way to spend a Friday evening, the Sussexes are accustomed to making numerous public appearances without rest. It’s how Harry grew up.
So why was Meghan’s plan controversial? Well, it’s about the duration … and the payout.
According to The Daily Mail, Meghan “will reportedly net up to £130,000” for effectively stopping by to say hi.
(That comes out to $175,000 USD. Yes, that’s an embarrassing conversion rate; hopefully in a few years we can start working towards having a stable economy again.)
Each guest reportedly paid $2,699 for a standard ticket, and a whopping $3,199 for the VIP experience.
Now, the tickets covered the hotel, the dinner, therapy, meditation, yoga, something called “sound healing,” and more.
But meeting Meghan in person was presented as a highlight — and an expensive one.
The VIP guests even got to pose for photos with Meghan.
They could not, however, snap the pics themselves.
There was a strict no-phones policy for the duchess’ visit.
In fact, the Her Best Life podcast team reportedly refunded journalist Ariana Pezeshki for her ticket — on the grounds of her job.
She seemingly wasn’t going there as a journalist. But apparently her work precluded her from the getaway.
The truth is that it’s very normal for public figures to receive absurd amounts of money for specific types of private appearances.
Senators do it. Celebrities do it. Sometimes, even political grifters do it. Is it surprising that Meghan shows up for something like this — or that enough people will pay top dollar for a quick meet-and-greet?
Wherever Meghan and Harry go, people treat them with excitement. Australia is no exception.
Last week, certain folks on social media were fuming over how warmly the folks Down Under received the Sussexes.
We’re reasonably certain that Meghan and Harry stayed at the event for exactly as long as they were asked to. If any actual guests are unhappy with the departure, we haven’t seen them saying so.
It seems more likely that Meghan’s haters just hate to see her get paid. Or, more likely, that they hate to see how popular she is everywhere outside of the UK.
Meghan Markle Pockets 6 Figures for Appearance, Leaves After 2 Hours was originally published on The Hollywood Gossip.
The Hollywood Gossip
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FBI Director Kash Patel has filed a $250 million lawsuit against The Atlantic and a journalist who works for the magazine.
Patel alleges that a recent article written by Sarah Fitzpatrick made false and defamatory allegations about his alcohol intake and job performance.
For their part, both Fitzpatrick and her employer are standing by the claims made in the article.
The article, which is now tiled “The FBI Director Is MIA” originally ran under a headline that explicitly referenced Patel’s drinking habits.
“Kash Patel has alarmed colleagues with episodes of excessive drinking and unexplained absences,” reads a subheading on the article.
“Several officials told me that Patel’s drinking has been a recurring source of concern across the government. They said that he is known to drink to the point of obvious intoxication, in many cases at the private club Ned’s in Washington, D.C., while in the presence of White House and other administration staff,” Fitzpatrick wrote at one point in the piece.
“He is also known to drink to excess at the Poodle Room, in Las Vegas, where he frequently spends parts of his weekends,” she continued, adding:
“Early in his tenure, meetings and briefings had to be rescheduled for later in the day as a result of his alcohol-fueled nights, six current and former officials and others familiar with Patel’s schedule told me.”
The article comes amid widespread criticism and speculation that Patel will be the next high-profile figure to be fired by the Trump administration.
In an effort to be even-handed, Fitzpatrick also cited several sources who defended Patel’s job performance.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt is quoted as saying, “Crime across the country has plummeted to the lowest level in more than 100 years and many high profile criminals have been put behind bars. Director Patel remains a critical player on the Administration’s law and order team.”
Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche said, “Patel has accomplished more in 14 months than the previous administration did in four years. Anonymously sourced hit pieces do not constitute journalism.”
“We stand by our reporting on Kash Patel, and we will vigorously defend The Atlantic and our journalists against this meritless lawsuit,” The Atlantic said in a statement issued today.
“I spoke to 2 dozen people familiar with Patel’s conduct for this story, many of whom described it as a national security vulnerability,” Fitzpatrick tweeted over the weekend, adding:
“In response to 19 detailed questions, Patel said: “Print it, all false. I’ll see you in court – bring your checkbook.”
No one is sure where the $250 million amount in Patel’s lawsuit came from.
But one thing is for certain: the discovery phase of this trial might well prove fascinating.
We will have further updates on this developing story as new information becomes available.
Kash Patel Suing The Atlantic For $250 Million For Reporting He Has a Drinking Problem was originally published on The Hollywood Gossip.
The Hollywood Gossip
An FBI Evidence Response Team collects and documents evidence at an alleged illicit massage parlor. (Image Courtesy of the FBI Anchorage Field Office)
Multiple law enforcement agencies arrested seven people in Anchorage and the Matanuska-Susitna Valley last week on charges of sex trafficking after a yearlong investigation found that multiple massage parlors were fronts for criminal enterprises.
“Human trafficking criminal enterprises operate in plain sight while victims are exploited for labor, services and commercial sex acts through force, fraud or coercion,” Matthew Schlegel, special agent in charge of the FBI Anchorage Field Office, said during a press conference Thursday.
Anchorage Police Department, Alaska State Troopers, the FBI Anchorage Field Office are part of a task force that investigates sex and human trafficking. Homeland Security Investigations, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Army Criminal Investigation Division, the U.S. Coast Guard, Wasilla Police Department and the Anchorage Airport Police Department assisted in the investigation.
Officers searched Jasmine Spa, Zen Massage, Stream Health Spa of Wasilla, Phoenix Health Spa, Owl Health Spa, Renew Day Spa, Red House Massage of Anchorage and two Anchorage residences in connection with the investigation.
Law enforcement arrested Lee Merrill Van Ness, 72, of Anchorage, Terry Allen Volkman, 53, of Anchorage, Hui Zhang, 44, Hong Zhen Li, 51, of New York, Guoguo Zhang, 54, of Wasilla, Tuan Huynh, 34, of Anchorage, and Xiaotian Xiong, 40, of New York, on felony charges of sex trafficking.
Alaska State Troopers Colonel Maurice Hughes said during a press conference Thursday that they targeted these illegitimate operations because they were exploiting individual and vulnerable adults.
Hughes said that the victims were offered support and connected with resources.
“These individuals were not the focus of the investigation. They were the reason for the investigation,” he said.
Law enforcement identified massage parlors that advertised commercial sexual services online during the investigation. The investigation entailed undercover officers visiting various massage parlors and posing as customers looking for sex in exchange for money, a criminal complaint stated. Law enforcement allege that the seven people arrested harbored victims of human and sex trafficking and forced them to pose as masseuses.
The massage parlors may be linked to international organized crime organized out of Flushing, New York, and Monterey Park, California, according to charging documents. Law enforcement may file additional charges as the investigation continues.
Anchorage Police Chief Sean Case attributed the length of the investigation to the complex nature of the allegations.
Alaska Bureau of Investigation Commander Tony Wegrzyn said that investigators have “a mountain of evidence to go through.”
According to Wegrzyn, all victims were from outside of Alaska.
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Carter Faith is stepping into a new sonic era as she leans into a bold crossover moment with one of dance music’s biggest DJ’s, Kygo, for their collaborative single, “That’s When You Know.” Alongside its recent release, the multi-talented country artist co-stars with Rudy Pankow in the accompanying music video.
Arriving just in time for festival season, the track bridges the gap between country music storytelling and dance-pop energy as Faith’s signature North Carolina bred vocals intertwines with the Norwegian DJ’s airy, feel-good production style. Although the artists stem from very difficult musical backgrounds, “That’s When You Know” proves that when combined, the two worlds can create something magical.
That same energy is felt throughout the official video directed by Daniella Mason. The video opens with Carter Faith pulling up to a middle-of-nowhere gas station in her 1967 cherry red Pontiac (a nod to her album Cherry Valley, perhaps!). Pankow’s character rushes out to do his job and pump the gas in her classic ride. No words are spoken between the two of them, but a clear tension is felt.
Faith slips the man what is initially believed to be a tip for his hard work, but as he takes a closer look, he realizes it’s an invitation to join her on the road. Pankow pauses for a moment and looks between the gas station and the unknown adventure awaiting him in the car before ultimately deciding to choose to take the leap.
The rest of the video follows the pair as they trade conversation while the wind blows through their hair riding the backroads in a convertible. They seem to lean into the spontaneous, easy kind of connection as they explore the views of Harpeth Shoals Ranch in Ashland City, TN until the sun sets.
Their on-screen romance perfectly reflects the lyrics of the reflective, slow-burning ballad that hits on the uncertainty of love and the emotional risk that comes with it. Using the metaphor of love as a road, it leans into the idea that relationships are unpredictable.
A bit of doubt and hesitation can be heard through Faith’s vocals as she questions whether taking the shot at love is worth the risk. Upon reaching the chorus, it seems she starts to embrace the fact that heartbreak is all part of the experience.
She sings, “Like the stars we’re fading/ One day we’ll be gone/ Take my heart and break it/ I’ll be holding on. And if one chose to leave/ Embrace the hurt, embrace it all/ If a heart is breaking/ That’s when you know it’s love/ That’s when you know it’s love/ That’s when you know it’s love/ That’s when you know it’s love.”
“That’s When You Know” follows the October arrival of Carter Faith’s critically acclaimed debut album, Cherry Valley. The collection of 15 songs chronicles Carter’s journey from North Carolina hometown to Nashville and all the breakups, new loves, milestones and family problems that arose in between. She named the project after a road sign she once came across that stuck with her and became a symbol for her creative space.
Cherry Valley recently earned Faith another milestone in her career when it received a nomination for ACM Album of the Year. While reflecting on this incredible feat, the rising country star revealed gushed about why it means so much to her to be recognized in this way.
“I moved to Nashville when I was 18 and flash forward to 25, my album is nominated for ALBUM OF THE YEAR at the ACMS. I am the ONLY WOMAN nominated in the category and it is the first debut album to be nominated in 10 years since Chris Stapleton. I don’t really know how that happened but I’m so proud to be a bold woman in country right now,” she wrote in an Instagram post.
Along with the upcoming ACM Awards taking place May 17 in Las Vegas, Faith has officially wrapped up her first-ever headline tour, The Cherry Valley Tour, and is preparing to join Post Malone on the road on his Big Ass Stadium Tour.
A full list of upcoming dates can be found on Carter Faith’s official website.
The post Carter Faith Stars With Rudy Pankow In New Music Video For Kygo Collab ‘That’s When You Know’ appeared first on Country Now.
Country Now
Miranda Lambert has signed a new deal after two years with Republic Records. Continue reading…Country Music News – Taste of Country
Miranda Lambert has signed a new deal after two years with Republic Records. Continue reading…The Boot – Country Music News, Music Videos and Songs
This Japanese-American chain’s biggest location is five times larger than its standard footprint, with other restaurants, a waterfall, and even a pond included.
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By year’s end, odds are we’ll be crowning Shohei Ohtani and Aaron Judge as the MVPs yet again. To this point, though, neither player has been his team’s best hitter. Ohtani is flashing his two-way prowess with a dominant 0.50 ERA and a respectable .915 OPS, but another Dodgers teammate leads MLB in hits and batting average and is well ahead of him in every slash-line category. Judge, meanwhile, is pacing the Yankees with nine home runs, but another Bronx Bomber has the highest OPS in MLB. So, who is every team’s early MVP? We’ll take a look as part of this week’s power rankings: We might have a new poster boy for three true outcomes: Munetaka Murakami is tied for the third-most homers in MLB and also has the fourth-highest walk rate and 11th highest strikeout rate. Hunter Goodman looks poised for another 30-plus homer season, but the bigger story is what Antonio Senzatela is doing in a new long relief role on the mound. The veteran righty allowed his first run of the season Sunday, but he also picked up the win and now sports a 0.63 ERA in six appearances (14.1 innings) while throwing harder than ever before. Perhaps lost among the shocking disasters around the league, the Royals have now lost seven straight games and have scored the fewest runs in MLB. Michael Wacha (1.00 ERA) and Seth Lugo (1.48) are doing their part on the mound to try to give their team a chance, though. Woof. The losing streak is up to 11. Since 2020, 11 other teams have lost 11 straight games at some point in a season; none of them made the playoffs. The Mets can’t seem to score runs with Juan Soto sidelined, but at least they have a chance to win every time Nolan McLean pitches. He has the lowest WHIP of any qualified National League pitcher and, as expected, looks like an early Rookie of the Year contender. If I told you Yordan Alvarez was leading MLB in home runs and fWAR, you’d probably assume the Astros were doing quite well. And you would assume incorrectly. They have two wins in their last 14 games — both against the Rockies, who also swept them during that stretch — and their pitchers have a 6.11 ERA. Yikes. The pitching is, as expected, a problem. The offense, however, offers plenty of intrigue. CJ Abrams, who has nearly doubled both his walk rate and barrel rate in the early going, ranks fourth among all qualified hitters in OPS. As a team, the Nationals are tied for second in runs scored with the Dodgers and Astros, just one run behind the Braves. With Logan Webb, Adrian Houser and Tyler Mahle all sporting ERAs over 5.00, the early work from Landen Roupp (2.38) has been needed in the Giants’ scuffling rotation. Roupp hasn’t allowed a home run, or even a barreled ball, through four starts. The Blue Jays rank in the bottom 10 in MLB in runs per game, which certainly wasn’t expected after they ranked fourth in the category last season. It could be a lot worse if it weren’t for Kevin Gausman and Dylan Cease, who get co-early-season-MVP honors here. The Blue Jays are 5-4 in games in which they’ve started, and they’ve held the depleted Toronto rotation afloat. Among MLB pitchers who’ve thrown at least 20 innings, Cease is third in strikeout rate while Gausman is third in strikeout-to-walk percentage. As bad as it has been overall in Boston, Willson Contreras is giving the Red Sox everything they’ve needed at first base. As a team, Boston first basemen last year ranked 27th in fWAR and 26th in wRC+. With Contreras this year, they rank in the top five in both categories at the position. MLB’s shortstop leader in fWAR? Nope, not Bobby Witt Jr., Gunnar Henderson or Elly De La Cruz. It’s Miami’s Otto Lopez, who’s hitting .338, the best mark of any player at his position. They have the worst run differential (-38) in all of MLB. No, not a typo. Yes, hard to believe. They’ve now lost five straight games and nine of 11, and they scored three runs total while getting swept by the Braves over the weekend. At least they have Cristopher Sánchez, who started three of the team’s eight wins and hasn’t allowed more than two earned runs in any of his five starts. I would like to use this section to rave about Mike Trout, who leads all qualified AL center fielders in OPS as he turns back the clock to start the year… but this spot might need to be reserved for the Angels’ early Cy Young contender. José Soriano is 5-0 with a ridiculous 0.28 ERA. The Twins’ trade for 25-year-old right-hander Taj Bradley at last year’s deadline is looking like a huge win, especially with Pablo López out for the year. Bradley is 3-0 with a 1.63 ERA through five starts; Griffin Jax, the player Bradley was traded for, has a 7.04 ERA in Tampa Bay. On a team with so much offensive firepower, Shea Langeliers can sometimes get lost in the shuffle. But he has been the A’s best hitter this year, and he leads all catchers with six homers, including a 467-foot blast that is the longest by any player in MLB this year. (Marvel at it here.) Jeremiah Jackson is slashing .303/.319/.561 with five homers despite walking just once with a chase rate over 40%. It may not be sustainable, but considering the injuries around the Baltimore infield, his production to this point has been vital. The other contender for the early-season honor is Taylor Ward, who hasn’t provided the power many expected (he hit his first home run of the year Sunday) but leads MLB in doubles and has a career-high .388 on-base percentage. The Rangers have to be feeling good about their one-for-one swap of Brandon Nimmo for Marcus Semien. Nimmo has been the Rangers’ best hitter (.311/.386/.522), while Semien has played at a replacement level so far in Queens. Bryan Woo has looked the part of an ace with a 2.25 ERA through five starts, but the bigger story in the Mariners’ rotation is Emerson Hancock. With the help of his sweeper, it seems to all be coming together for the 26-year-old, who’s 2-1 with a 2.28 ERA and tied for the second-lowest WHIP (0.76) among all qualified MLB starters. The Rays rank 10th in OPS, thanks in large part to Yandy Díaz. He has the second-highest wRC+ of any qualified DH in MLB behind only Yordan Alvarez and is tied for the second-most hits of any player in baseball behind only Andy Pages. The early-season MVP award in Detroit can be split between arguably the best pitcher (Tarik Skubal) and rookie (Kevin McGonigle) in MLB. But it’s also worth giving some attention to Dillon Dingler, who has been tearing the cover off the baseball and leads all qualified catchers in OPS. They’ve been arguably the most surprising team in baseball this year, and the breakout appears to be here for 23-year-old Jordan Walker. He ranks first among position players in bWAR and is tied for third in MLB in home runs and fifth in OPS. After a slow start, the Cubs are starting to kick into gear. Only two teams — the Braves and Dodgers — have a better run differential than them. That may not be a surprise, but Nico Hoerner being the Cubs’ best hitter certainly is; he’s tied for the MLB lead with 21 RBI, and he already has three home runs after hitting just seven each of the past two seasons. Sal Stewart leads all National League rookies in hits, homers, RBI and slugging. In a rookie class loaded with talent, Stewart and Mets pitcher Nolan McLean currently look like the best in the NL. The answer is always Jose Ramírez, who’s back to doing his thing after a slow start, but Parker Messick needs a mention. He’s 3-0 with a 1.05 ERA, and he had to earn those numbers. His four starts — all of which ended in Guardians wins — came against the Dodgers, Cubs, Braves and Orioles. He’s emerging as a sneaky AL Rookie of the Year contender. Brandon Lowe leads all MLB second basemen with seven home runs and a .600 slugging percentage and leads his new team with a .975 OPS. There was some fear that Corbin Carroll might not look the same after returning from a broken hamate bone in the spring; instead, he has been even better than usual, slashing .300/.390/.600. Carroll ranks eighth in MLB in OPS and leads the league in triples. While Jacob Misiorowski continues to rack up strikeouts — he leads MLB in the category — the most valuable player on the team is WBC standout Brice Turang. With four homers and the sixth-highest OPS in MLB, Turang is demonstrating he’s a lot more than a Platinum Glove defender. The best hitter in baseball so far this year is a Yankee, but it’s not the one you might think. Ben Rice leads all qualified hitters in on-base percentage (.476), slugging (.800), OPS (1.276) and wRC+ (246). Meanwhile, on the mound, Cam Schlittler leads all AL starters in K/BB% and fWAR. It takes a lot for a closer to be singled out on this list, but Mason Miller is deserving — 11 appearances, two hits, no runs, 27 strikeouts, two walks. Just absurd stuff. He’s 8-for-8 in save chances and, at this overpowering pace, could end up getting Cy Young consideration. Matt Olson leads the Braves in on-base percentage, slugging and OPS and has more doubles (10 total) than any first baseman in MLB. Shohei Ohtani has a 0.50 ERA and a 51-game on-base streak that is the third-longest in franchise history, but he’s not the team leader in WAR. That honor belongs to Andy Pages, who leads MLB in hits and batting average and ranks third in OPS.Latest Sports News from FOX Sports
