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Category: Music
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Do Vince Gill and Amy Grant bring the music home with them, or do they leave all that at work? Grant tells all. Continue reading…Country Music News – Taste of Country
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Hannah Harper was officially crowned the winner of American Idol Season 9 (Season 24 overall) on Monday night, marking a milestone moment as she became the first female country artist to win the show since Carrie Underwood in 2004.
Moments after her crowning moment, she spoke with Entertainment Tonight about making history, following in Underwood’s footsteps, and winning the show, which she admitted was a “challenge.” .
Harper is the first female country artist since Carrie Underwood to win the show, and she didn’t learn that news until the night she won.
“That blows my mind,” she admitted.
After she won American Idol, Harper had the chance to speak with Underwood for “five seconds” and in that moment, she revealed what she told her:
“She was more so like, ‘I know life with babies and let me know if you need anything. I’ll give you all the tips and tricks.” I was like, girl, I need all of it. Give me all the help.’
Of the entire process, Harper admitted her time on the show and ultimately winning has been “overwhelming” but in the best way.
“I wept. It’s all overwhelming. I don’t think it’s hit yet,” she said.
Feeling a sense of “gratitude,” Harper went on to share that this journey didn’t take just her, it was everyone who supported her along the way.
“I mean, I didn’t get here myself. It was all the voters, all the people out there who believed in me. It was insane. It’s all overwhelming, but I’m so appreciative and I just can’t believe that … I mean, God opened the door and I just kept running and we’re still here and it’s nuts.”
Admitting she has “some big shoes to fill,” Harper said, “I’ve got to get to work.”
As for her plans after the show, the Missouri native plans to take some time off to catch her breath, and then it will be time to get busy.
“Rest for sure. I’m going to take about two weeks to rest and then record and write some more music because everybody’s letting me know that I have a voice to be heard and I have a lot to say. So I’m excited about that.”
Harper also teased plans to hit the road and told fans tour dates are “coming soon.”
The post Hannah Harper Reveals What Carrie Underwood Told Her After Historic ‘American Idol’ Win appeared first on Country Now.
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Flash Shelton is hoping A&E’s new series ‘Squatters’ changes how Americans think about a growing issue affecting homeowners nationwide. Continue reading…The Boot – Country Music News, Music Videos and Songs
Shania Twain is set to host the 2026 ACM Awards, and as she prepares to take the stage inside the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, the country music icon is opening up about the opportunity to host the show for the very first time, returning to Las Vegas, and the powerhouse female artists leading the charge this year.
For Twain, hosting the ACM Awards was an easy decision and a chance to reconnect with longtime friends in the industry while also discovering some of country music’s rising stars.
“This is fun to me. So hosting the ACMs is a chance to go celebrate all of the other artists, meet the new artists, the up and coming artists, celebrate a lot of the artists that have been rocking it the last several years that I have not been around much to say congratulations and way to go and all that kind of stuff,” she recently explained. “So for me, it is a chance to reconnect with my favorite genre, which is my root music country and do my best job representing my genre.”
This year marks the show’s highly anticipated return to Las Vegas, a city Twain knows well after previously headlining multiple residencies there. She believes the ACM Awards belong in Vegas because of the city’s global entertainment reach.
“Las Vegas is probably the most international performance city in the world. So at the heart of entertainment globally is Las Vegas. So the presence of the ACMs in Vegas is essential. So we have to keep honing that in because people come from all over the world to Vegas for various things. I mean, all kinds of things. Sports, for gambling, for fun, for partying, for work, for conferences and for music, music and entertainment is at the top of the list for everybody. So we have to make sure we’re always in Las Vegas as country music.”
With Twain serving as host and female artists like Megan Moroney, Miranda Lambert, Ella Langley, and Lainey Wilson leading the nominee list, Twain says she’s thrilled to see women in country music getting the spotlight they deserve.
“I think that the women in country music have always been giving great music, great songs, great performances, but I think the awareness of them being underappreciated is what is happening right now. So it’s the awareness to wake up and say, ‘Hey, if we don’t make room for this female talent, we are missing out. We are losing out. The fans are losing out.’ So this is just a moment for the women in country to step up, which they are doing clearly and shine. Show their talents, share their talents, and celebrate the fact that they are being highlighted.”
The 61st Annual ACM Awards will feature performances by female stars like Lambert, Langley, and Wilson as well as Carter Faith, Kacey Musgrave, and the newly crowned ACM New Female Artist of the Year, Avery Anna.
As a country music fan herself, Twain can’t wait to see them take the stage.
“I’m loving so much of the new music that’s coming out,” she admits.
Additional ACM Awards performers include Blake Shelton, Dan + Shay, Jordan Davis, Kane Brown, The Red Clay Strays, Thomas Rhett, Zach Top, Cody Johnson, Riley Green, and Little Big Town. Fans can watch the 61st ACM Awards streaming live exclusively for a global audience across 240+ countries and territories on Prime Video on Sunday, May 17, 2026, at 8 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. CT / 5 p.m. PT from the world-renowned MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada.
The post Shania Twain On Hosting the ACM Awards and Why Women in Country Are Finally Getting Their Moment appeared first on Country Now.
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The “When No One’s Around” singer announced he is canceling upcoming tour dates after opening up about his ongoing mental health struggles in an emotional message to fans. Continue reading…Country Music News – Taste of Country
The “When No One’s Around” singer announced he is canceling upcoming tour dates after opening up about his ongoing mental health struggles in an emotional message to fans. Continue reading…The Boot – Country Music News, Music Videos and Songs
Each year, fans are faced with endless festival options and often end up traveling far and wide for a chance to catch some of the most epic lineups in country music. This weekend, that search led thousands of music lovers straight to Clearwater, FL, where Country Thunder Florida made its debut at a brand-new waterfront location, delivering the perfect summer weekend filled with live music, sunshine, and nonstop energy.
From May 8-10, Coachman Park transformed into a hub for country music fans ready for a full weekend in the Sunshine State with a stacked lineup of acts including headliners Gavin Adcock, Zach Top and Kane Brown.
Throughout the 19-acre park, festivalgoers found plenty to do beyond the stage, with a wide variety of food trucks, interactive brand activations, and pop-up experiences offering everything from games and giveaways to exclusive merch, various retail vendors and more.
Attendees could also head to the songwriter showcase at the Shoreline Stage to hear the creatives behind the hits share the stories behind their music, adding even more excitement to the weekend.
Some ticketholders arrived early to check out everything the festival had to offer and secure spots as close to the barricade as possible, while others opted to come later in the day to avoid the sun and sit back to enjoy the music. Luckily, with the stunning Gulf Coast views and a sound system that reached every corner of the venue, there wasn’t a bad seat in the house.
Day one set the bar high for the weekend. Deltona was first to take the stage and officially introduced themselves to the crowd, followed by another Country Thunder first-timer, Elizabeth Nichols who showcased her growing catalog of music and bubbly personality. Then it was Randy Houser’s turn to take the stage with a set packed full of fan favorites as well as his newest release, “Back In The Bottle.”
Gavin Adcock closed the night with a rowdy, high-energy performance that perfectly capped off an already electric opening day. He showcased his dance moves during a cover of Elvis Presley’s “Blue Suede Shoes,” let his “wild, crazy” persona run free and had fans screaming along to his set list until the very last note. The night closed out with his radio hit “Never Call Again.”
“Thank y’all for showing up. I can’t say thank y’all enough,” he told the crowd before giving a shoutout to each of the other acts who took the stage before him.
The massive crowd made their way out of the park eager to see what day two had in store. Saturday found Solon Holt and Cole Goodwin warming up the early attendees before Gretchen Wilson amped up the energy with classics like “Here for The Party” as well as her newest drop “Redneck Sh*t”. She also gave up a few moments in her set to spotlight rising artist, Jessie G.
Max McNown then poured his heart out as he previewed his next album, catered to the fans who like the more hard-hitting tracks and even snuck in a few classic country covers in honor of the night’s headliner, Zach Top.
Just as the sun had set, it was time to welcome Top to the stage. The Washington native brought his signature traditional country sound to Florida, keeping the crowd singing along all night long while sweating it out in starched blue jeans and a long-sleeve shirt despite the heat. After spending some time away from the road, Top made it clear he was more than ready to be back on stage and it’s safe to say he exceeded fans expectations of the evening.
“It’s good to see you all thank you for coming out and making us feel welcome…it’s hot you Florida folks are gonna get me talked into changing my wardrobe or something,” he joked. “We’re so glad to be here thank you so much…we’re gonna have a ball tonight.”
The final day of the three-day festival started off with Jay Webb followed by Dasha who connected with the crowd in a way unlike any other artist did throughout the weekend. The rising star worked every inch of the runway, getting face-to-face with fans and even jumped into the crowd during her breakout hit “Austin,” turning the event into one massive singalong/dance party.
Shaboozey was up next, bringing a completely different kind of energy to the stage while also delivering one of the weekend’s most emotional sets. He opened up about his life journey, shared a heartfelt prayer for moms in honor of Mother’s Day, and let his vulnerability shine through his powerful catalog. He kept the crowd dancing with “A Bar Song (Tipsy)” and staying true to his word, stuck around after his set to meet fans and sign all the autographs he could.
“The coolest part about playing 75-mintue sets is you get to play some of your favorite songs and some people’s favorite songs out there and some people hear songs they’ve never heard before,” Shaboozey noted.
Even though it was clear no one wanted the weekend to end, it eventually had to come to a close. Luckily, Country Thunder Florida went out on the highest note possible, thanks to Kane Brown’s show-stopping finale. His 90-minute set featured pyrotechnics, an epic light show, and a special appearance from his wife, Katelyn Brown, for their duet “Thank God.” Brown also treated fans to an unreleased song, “I Need A Beer,” in between hit hit-filled set list of songs like “What Ifs,” “Famous Friends,” “Miles On It,” and more.
It was the perfect ending to a packed weekend and the kind of finale that made heading back to reality on Monday feel nearly impossible.
With unforgettable performances, waterfront views, and fans who showed up ready for every moment, Country Thunder Florida’s debut weekend in Clearwater delivered on every level and set the tone for what’s sure to become a new tradition for music lovers.
In 2019, Country Thunder, the largest Country music festival brand in North America introduced Country Thunder Florida. Since then it has grown into a fan-favorite event with a reputation as the perfect way to usher in the summer months.
Country Thunder festivals will continue throughout the season, with the next stop set for Alberta from June 26–28, followed by Saskatchewan from July 9–12. The final event of the year will return to the U.S. with Country Thunder Wisconsin, taking place July 16–19.
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