A Zach Bryan fan caught him shouting vulgarities at him on camera. What came next is stunning, but not surprising. Continue reading…The Boot – Country Music News, Music Videos and Songs
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A Zach Bryan fan caught him shouting vulgarities at him on camera. What came next is stunning, but not surprising. Continue reading…Country Music News – Taste of Country
Koe Wetzel is tapping into the chaos, growth, and newfound perspective behind his rise from Texas bar stages to global headlining success on his upcoming album, The Night Champion.
The country rocker officially announced that his sixth studio album will arrive June 12 via Columbia Records. Keep reading to find out even more details about the project.
As for what fans can expect in his new era, he set the tone of the gritty atmosphere and intensity with a dark, cinematic introduction video that ends with a haunting statement, “When the sun goes down, that’s when the real ones rise.”
Since his early days playing rough Texas bars and roadhouses, Wetzel has built his career on relentless touring, loud nights, and a no-rules approach to music that has taken him far beyond where he started. At the time, he never imagined his songs would resonate with audiences outside the Texas scene, but more than a decade later, he has emerged as a powerful force in the music industry.
The singer/songwriter reached new heights with his Gold-certified 9 Lives album, which spawned a five-week No. 1 and produced 2025’s most played country radio song with “High Road.” The Night Champion serves as a follow-up to that chapter as it captures the aftermath of that wild run while sharing a clearer reflection of all the lessons he’s learned along the way.
“It’s a continuation of 9 Lives, from that record to now,” Wetzel explains. “Really, it’s everything that’s happened – because you don’t go from kids playing for beer to headlining Red Rocks, arenas all over the country, partying and trying to make sense of it all and not shift. My head space is clearer now. I can look back, see how it fits together. It doesn’t make sense, exactly, but it all happened. That search for what it all means keeps bringing me back.”
For Wetzel, the new record is as much about survival as it is the success he’s experienced, knowing the hard work and scarifies that it took to come out on the other side.
“It’s crazy I’m not in jail or dead as hard as I went these last 15 years,” he said honestly. “Right now, I’m the best version of myself I’ve ever been. I survived the night side of me. I’m coming out of it a champion. That’s the essence of the record.”
So far, fans have gotten a look into the album through early releases like “Time Goes On” and “Surrounded.” They will get yet another taste when yet another track titled “Hurts Like You” arrives on Friday, May 8. He notes that across the 11 tracks, listeners will come to understand where he is at right now.
There is “an edgy roughness to all the songs that doesn’t give a f**k, but there’s a tenderness to it, too,” Wetzel explains. “Whatever happens, I’m man enough to deal, but the focus and headspace have shifted; I’ve grown up and become okay with looking back.”
That growth both personally and creativity has become a driving force on this record. He made a strong effort to write music that is authentic, knowing that “When you force it, people feel it.” With this project, longtime fans and new listeners alike are set to come together and understand this version of Koe Wetzel.
“You’ve gotta go in and get the music behind the feeling,” Wetzel continues. “I know what I want to say now, where the songs should go, and I want them to come from a space, not an appointment.”
In support of the album, Wetzel will bring his new music to fans across U.S., Canda and Australia on The Night Champion World Tour. The trek will include over 50 headlining shows, with Shane Smith & The Saints, Ole 60, Wyatt Flores, Corey Kent, Wade Bowen, Bayker Blankenship, Kolby Cooper and Logan Jahnke serving as support on select dates.
The post Everything We Know About Koe Wetzel’s Upcoming Album, ‘The Night Champion’ appeared first on Country Now.
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Kacey Musgraves and Miranda Lambert united on stage at Gruene Hall in New Braunfels, Texas, to perform their buzzed-about duet “Horses and Divorces” together for the first time ever.
On the final night of a three-night run at Gruene Hall in celebration of her new album, Middle of Nowhere, Musgraves surprised the crowd when she welcomed Lambert to the stage.
“Us East Texas gotta stick together, alright,” she said before welcoming her fellow Texan to the stage.
In a moment captured by fans on social media, the audience could be heard shouting loudly, cheering them on.
Lambert greeted Musgraves with a hug and admitted “tonight we bury the hatchet,” referring to their previous feud.
As the crowd continued to cheer, the superstars joined together to perform “Horses and Divorces.”
Musgraves and Lambert’s friend and co-writer, Shane McAnally, was also there to witness the moment. He documented it on social media, writing, “this definitely felt like a fever dream. The best fever dream I ever had. Love you Miranda Lambert/ Kacey Musgraves.”
He also shared an adorable selfie with the artists, captioning it, “Hell just froze over,” referencing a line in the song.
In a recent interview with Variety, Musgraves opened up about patching things up with Lambert after confirming what fans had long speculated—that she and Lambert had a “grass-fed, grade A” beef.
Their tension traces back to an early career moment for Musgraves involving the song “Mama’s Broken Heart.” At the time, she had hoped it would be her breakout track, but ultimately stepped aside and allowed Miranda Lambert to record it instead. As we all know, it went on to become a major hit.
While the experience later helped establish Musgraves as a respected songwriter in Nashville, she was left frustrated by watching a song she connected with become a defining moment in someone else’s career.
Years later, Musgraves said she was scrolling on Instagram when she came across a post of Lambert riding one of her horses. In that moment, she realized: “Well, I guess we have two things in common: horses and divorces.”
Musgraves said the idea instantly sparked a song concept.
“Then I took it a step further: ‘What if I write it with her? What if it’s a duet? F**k it, I’m gonna reach out.’ I hadn’t spoken to her in years and was like, ‘Hey, I have this idea. If anybody would get it, it would be you. We’ve had our s**t over the years, but this would be really funny.’ And she was like, ‘I’m down,’” Musgraves recalled.
They went on to write the song with McAnally, and it became one of the final tracks to make the cut for Middle of Nowhere.
“I mean, it’s real and that’s why I love this song, because it’s not coming from some contrived place in a writing room,” she told the publication. “We’ve come together after years of really, honestly, not being friends.”
The post Kacey Musgraves and Miranda Lambert Surprise Fans at Gruene Hall: ‘Tonight We Bury the Hatchet’ appeared first on Country Now.
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Zach Bryan is making headlines once again after a fan encounter went viral, with his response drawing even more attention online. Since the incident, Bryan has deactivated his X account, while fellow artist Gavin Adcock has also entered the conversation.
TikTok user @loganw_24 shared a video on Tuesday night capturing an interaction with Bryan that didn’t go as expected. In the clip, the singer is seen driving by as the fan asks for a photo, and Bryan responds by yelling a vulgar remark out the window.
The fan documented the moment and later opened up about the disappointing experience in the caption.
“Been a Zach Bryan fan for abt 4 years now and I’m like his number 1 fan. When my friends think of Zach Bryan they think of me. This happened this past weekend at Starkville Mississippi about 1pm. I gotten there really early to be at the gates and saw him as I was walking up,” he wrote.
While he made it clear he wasn’t taking the comment to heart, the fan admitted the interaction left a lasting impression.
“I don’t take it to heart for what he said, but still calling a fan a c*mshot after asking for a photo is kinda crazy. Like I said it don’t bother me that much but if he had said it to anyone else they would be more depressed. I love the guys music a lot but it’s hard to support someone with this intention and personality towards others. I’m not trying to get him canceled or anything it’s just a showing of his true self. Love his music but don’t love the act. I hope everyone who sees this can get what I’m trying to say. Thank you.”
@loganw_24 Been a Zach Bryan fan for abt 4 years now and I’m like his number 1 fan. When my friends think of Zach Bryan they think of me. This happend this past weekend at Starkville Mississippi about 1pm. I gotten there really early to be at the gates and saw him as I was walking up. I don’t take it to heart for what he said, but still calling a fan a c*mshot after asking for a photo is kinda crazy. Like I said it don’t bother me that much but if he had said it to anyone else they would be more depressed. I love the guys music a lot but it’s hard to support someone with this intention and personality towards others. I’m not trying to get him canceled or anything it’s just a showing of his true self. Love his music but don’t love the act. I hope everyone who sees this can get what I’m trying to say. Thank you. #jesuslovesyou #daveportnoy #zachbryan #barstool @Dave Portnoy @Barstool Sports #fyp ♬ awww so cute – Cherri ⁉️
After the video began gaining traction online, Bryan took to X to respond. He shared a clip from Tim Robinson’s I Think You Should Leave alongside the original video, writing, “you guys are so soft & weird,” suggesting his vulgar comment was actually a reference to the show.
He later doubled down, adding, “A world you can’t yell ‘I Think You Should Leave’ references out the window in is a world I don’t want to be in.”
His comments can no longer be seen as his X account has been deactivated.
Fellow artist Gavin Adcock also jumped into the conversation on TikTok, commenting, “W for the home team” on the original post. Bryan and Adcock have had a longstanding feud, making his appearance in the comments unsurprising.
Others chimed in the comments with their opinion on the situation.
One user wrote, “Honestly, I watched this several times, and I don’t even think he heard you. He was ready to say that before you even spoke, and since his wife is also laughing, I’d say he was trying to be funny. Unfortunately though, I can also see why you would be disappointed.”
Another shared, “I just don’t understand how anyone likes this dude anymore.”
Several did point out that it is a Tim Robinson quote, but for some, that doesn’t matter.
“It doesn’t matter if he’s quoting something. No matter the context, that is a rude and obnoxious thing to do to a fan,” another user pointed out.
This isn’t the first time Zach Bryan has made headlines for an interaction with a fan. He previously called out a 14 year old girl who was upset that he didn’t stop to say hello or take a photo with her, telling her to “GOMD,” which stands for “get off my d***.”
The post Zach Bryan Deactivates X Account After Viral Fan Encounter Sparks Backlash appeared first on Country Now.
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Las Vegas is about to go country for the 61st Annual ACM Awards!
The highly anticipated show returns to Sin City on Sunday, May 17, and the days leading up to it are packed with can’t-miss events for fans.
If you’re heading to Vegas for the big night, here’s everything happening around town.
Whiskey Jam Welcome Party
Kicking things off on Thursday, May 14, is the Whiskey Jam Welcome Party at Ole Red Las Vegas. Running from 8–11 p.m., the FREE event is open to fans and will feature performances by Avery Anna, The Band Perry, Jenna Paulette, and Caroline Jones, with more artists to be announced.
ACM Lifting Lives Country on the Green: Riley Green & Friends
On Friday, May 15, fans can head to Topgolf Las Vegas for ACM Lifting Lives Country on the Green: Riley Green & Friends. The event benefits ACM Lifting Lives, the philanthropic arm of the Academy of Country Music, which works to improve lives through the power of music. The lineup includes Avery Anna, Lauren Alaina, Rodney Atkins, Randy Houser, and headliner Riley Green. Tickets are available now.
ACM Next Wave: Country’s Beach Bash
Saturday, May 16 brings even more star power with ACM Next Wave: Country’s Beach Bash at Mandalay Bay Beach. Headlined by 2025 ACM Triple Crown Award recipient and 14-time ACM Award winner Keith Urban, the show will also feature Flatland Cavalry, Ashley Cooke, Dasha, Braxton Keith, and Tucker Wetmore. Fans can also catch Opry NextStage Live with members of the Class of 2026, including Willow Avalon, Graham Barham, Tyler Braden, Alexandra Kay, Vincent Mason, Emily Ann Roberts, and Hudson Westbrook. Tickets are available now.
61st Annual ACM Awards
The weekend wraps with the main event: the 61st Annual ACM Awards, hosted by Shania Twain. This year’s show will feature performances from Blake Shelton, Carter Faith, Dan + Shay, Ella Langley, Jordan Davis, Kane Brown, The Red Clay Strays, Thomas Rhett, Zach Top, Cody Johnson, Lainey Wilson, Riley Green, Kacey Musgraves, Little Big Town, and Miranda Lambert. Early winners Avery Anna (New Female Artist of the Year) and Tucker Wetmore (New Male Artist of the Year) are also set to perform.
The ACM Awards will stream live exclusively on Prime Video to a global audience across 240+ countries and territories on Sunday, May 17 at 8 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. CT / 5 p.m. PT from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.
Blake Shelton Live in Las Vegas
And if that’s not enough country music for one weekend, Blake Shelton will also be in town with his “Live in Las Vegas” residency at The Colosseum at Caesars Palace, with shows scheduled for May 13, 15, and 16, perfectly timed with ACM Awards week. Tickets are available HERE.
If you can’t make it to Las Vegas, stay tuned to Country Now for updates. We’ll be sharing videos from events all week across our social media channels.
The post Las Vegas Goes Country: Your Complete Guide To 2026 ACM Awards Week Events appeared first on Country Now.
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Ted Turner, the media mogul who launched CNN and helped reshape television news, has died at the age of 87. Continue reading…The Boot – Country Music News, Music Videos and Songs
She had already become a household name by the time she graduated college in 2006. Continue reading…The Boot – Country Music News, Music Videos and Songs
She had already become a household name by the time she graduated college in 2006. Continue reading…Country Music News – Taste of Country