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When Dolly Parton Appeared on ‘Reba’
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“Being president’s a tough job,” Cyrus reflects. “I pray for our country, I pray for our president and I pray for our world.” Continue reading…Country Music News – Taste of Country
The announcement of Country Splash, the first-ever multi-day country music festival on the beach in Cabo San Lucas, made waves with its star-studded lineup and luxury destination offerings.
With anticipation continuing to build, excitement is reaching a new level for Country Splash as hotel and villa packages, along with festival Splash Passes, are officially on sale now. As fans begin locking in their plans, many are starting to wonder exactly what’s in store for the upcoming experience.
We caught up with co-founder Robert Fried, who offered insight into the vision behind the festival and what attendees can look forward to over Labor Day weekend in Cabo.
From Global Travel to Music Festival Vision
Before launching Country Splash, Fried built his career in the travel space, running an international company that brings more than 100,000 students to the U.S. each year. He later expanded into the domestic college market, creating spring and fall break trips to destinations like Cabo, Punta Cana, and Miami, where he began incorporating live music and large-scale DJ performances into the experience.
For Country Splash, he’s teamed up with partners involved in producing large-scale music festivals across the U.S. and Mexico, combining their expertise to deliver a one-of-a-kind music and travel experience.
The Moment Country Splash Was Born
Fried’s love for country music began at the first-ever Stagecoach Festival in 2007, where he was immediately drawn to the people attending.
“We went to the RV campgrounds and everyone was so nice and welcoming, throwing you a beer, come hang out, that the people attracted me to it. And then going in and seeing the festival, I then fell in love with country music.”
It was in that moment that Fried began envisioning what would eventually become Country Splash.
“We were in an inflatable pool that you filled up with the water tanks on the RV campground, listening to country music playlists and saying, ‘What could be better than country music and water with friends and a drink in your hand?’ And so it kind of really started there,” he explained.
Fried says the vision is to attract both longtime country fans and newcomers, creating an experience where people can connect with the music while also embracing the destination and elevated guest experience.
After more than a decade in the making, Country Splash will finally come to life September 4-6, led by headliners Riley Green, Jon Pardi, Tucker Wetmore, and Diplo, with additional performances from Cameron Whitcomb, Dasha, LOCASH, Zach John King, Blake Whiten, Lauren Watkins, Jacob Hackworth, Vavo, Dee Jay Silver, and ADHD. More artists are expected to be announced.
Why Cabo? A World-Class Destination
So why Cabo? Fried says it’s simple.
“Cabo itself is just such a top tier beach destination. I grew up going to Hawaii with my family every summer, and now I love going to Cabo. [I’m] not diminishing Hawaii in any way, because Hawaii is amazing and I still go back, but Cabo is an easier flight. And the level of service in Cabo is quite frankly unparalleled. It’s equal to any place I’ve ever been anywhere in the world. The people are amazing. The level of service and hospitality is amazing. And over the last 10 years, really, the destination has been developed so much that you have Michelin star restaurants, you’ve got every top tier hotel brand. The training and concierge level service of the people and the staff down there makes it a destination that people want to travel to, and it’s only growing…So what could be better than a world-class destination like Cabo with a high level of service that I was looking for mixed with country music on the beach?”
Filling a Gap in West Coast Country Festivals
Fried says Country Splash is designed to fill a major gap in the market, offering a beachside country music experience on the West Coast where few, if any, similar festivals exist. He also noted that events like Tortuga, Luke Bryan’s Crash My Playa, and Alan Jackson’s 5 O’Clock Somewhere Fest have primarily catered to fans on the East Coast.
“But if you look at it from Texas west, there really aren’t many, if any, destinations to be able to do country music on a beach…Cabo really is the premium destination for beachfront service in Mexico. And so given that we were already doing events down in Cabo, it seemed like the right destination.”
A True VIP Experience
Country Splash promises a high-end experience where every fan is treated like a VIP, and for some, that begins the moment they board a flight to Cabo. The festival is offering a limited number of exclusive one-way flights departing from San Diego, Orange County, Los Angeles, Phoenix, and Dallas. For those traveling separately, the VIP experience begins as soon as they land.
“I think part of the excitement starts when you get to the airport. You leave your house and you’re excited, you get to the airport. And if you’re meeting other people from the very beginning, that excitement just elevates…And then for people who don’t purchase those exclusive flights, from the second you land in Cabo and walk out the doors at the airport, you’re going to have our greeters and our social ambassadors meet you, giving you drinks, getting you on your transportation, and really starting that experience off on the right foot.”
Social Ambassadors and Elevated Guest Service
Upon arrival, attendees will be greeted by the festival’s Social Ambassadors, who will help bring the experience to life all weekend long. Fried shared that his background in travel inspired this next-level guest experience.
“In travel, you’d call them tour guides, but for us, we call them social ambassadors,” he said.
These Social Ambassadors will essentially deliver a high-end concierge service, and according to Fried, they won’t just be stationed at a help desk.
“You will have people greeting you that are amping up the experience and making sure that you have fun, people that when you’re looking for someone to take a picture for you and your group that they’re there, someone that you can ask questions to about anything, and they’re not going to be at a desk. They’re going to be amongst you. They’re going to be walking around, you’re going to know their names.”
A Fully Curated Festival Experience
Throughout the festival, attendees will experience elevated touches like cold towels upon arrival and popsicles or ice cream at pool parties, creating a fully curated music vacation from start to finish.
“One of our slogans is no fields, no fences, no distance stages. And we really want to make sure that everyone who comes feels like they’re up close and personal in an intimate environment where they’re not watching their favorite performer from a screen half a mile away. They’re watching it up close and personal and they’re really getting the full experience of their favorite country artists.”
A Blend of Country and EDM
The lineup blends country superstars, rising talent, and YeeDM acts (a fusion of country and electronic dance music) and that balance was intentional. Fried designed the festival to offer more than just traditional performances, with programming that spans the entire day, including morning artist-led wellness sessions, daytime pool parties, sunset acoustic sets, and main stage shows on the beach each night.
“I think there’s a new age of country music fan that’s coming into the genre. And that’s one thing that I think the lineup and the pool party and the YeeDM DJs address. We wanted to, of course, make sure that we’re catering to the traditional country fan. And you got that with our main stage lineup and performers,” he said. “But also there’s a whole generation that was raised on EDM and loving dance music…And that’s someone that we absolutely want to speak to and attract to this event.”
More Than a Festival
Beyond the music, Fried says the vacation element is a huge draw, from elevated dining experiences to golf excursions, deep sea fishing, yacht rentals, and more, all contributing to what he describes as a “full vacation experience.”
“It’s a beachfront destination. Going down to the beach and relaxing on the sand is something that I think is undervalued in just having a destination that you can enjoy yourself at, relax, and also have a fun party experience,” he shared, adding, “I think all of it is equal parts, country music, destination, and the guest experience.”
How To Book Packages
Guests now have the opportunity to book hotel and villa packages, along with a limited number of individual Splash Passes.
Fried acknowledged that while the festival leans into a “luxury” experience, the goal is to deliver real value. He explained that once fans see everything included, from hotel stays and transportation to concierge service and a premium open bar, they’ll realize the overall cost is comparable, if not more affordable, than piecing together a similar trip on their own.
“I somewhat struggled with how we used the word luxury because luxury typically implies high priced,” he said. “And I think that once people understand all that is included with the packages, they’re actually going to say, ‘Wow, this is an amazing price.’ And so that’s part of the challenge for us is making sure we educate and communicate our guests as to everything that’s included in these packages from the hotel stay, the concierge service, social ambassadors, round trip transportation.”
He continued, “Other places may include well alcohol for an all inclusive, we’re going to have a premium open bar. And so to make sure, again, to elevate those higher end touch points so that you’re coming to a high end destination, you’re experiencing high end elevated world-class country music. And so the alcohol and the food experiences are also at that top tier as well. And so I think that people will be surprised when they break it down at the affordability of the packages, even though the sticker price might look high, when you start adding things up and you say, ‘Wait a second, all I have to do is buy the flight and pretty much everything else is included? I would’ve ended up spending way more than that if I went to another festival.’”
The Long-Term Vision
At the end of the day, Fried’s main goal is to deliver a top-notch guest experience that combines country music and the beach, and keeps fans coming back year after year.
“If you got country music, you got a drink in your hand, you’re with your friends and you got water, anything else on top of that is an amazing experience,” he said.
“We want to make sure that everyone wants to come back to Cabo every Labor Day weekend and have this amazing experience.”
Learn More
For additional details on Country Splash and to book now, click HERE.
The post What to Expect at Country Splash: A Conversation with Co-Founder Robert Fried appeared first on Country Now.
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Country music has its themes of drinking and carousing sometimes, but the genre is also rooted deeply in the Christian faith. Continue reading…The Boot – Country Music News, Music Videos and Songs
Country music has its themes of drinking and carousing sometimes, but the genre is also rooted deeply in the Christian faith. Continue reading…Country Music News – Taste of Country
Jamey Johnson is gearing up to launch his 2026 Traveling Truebadour Tour.
The run begins May 8 at Anderson Music Hall in Hiawassee, Georgia, and is scheduled to continue through Oct. 11 at Turning Stone Resort Casino in Verona, New York. Stops along the way include Charlotte, North Carolina; Fort Worth, Texas; and Petros, Tennessee, among others.
Known for changing his setlist nightly, Johnson is expected to perform songs from his latest album, Midnight Gasoline, along with new material and past releases, including fan favorites like “In Color” and “High Cost of Living.”
Johnson, a Grand Ole Opry member since 2022, has built a reputation for his traditional country sound and songwriting over the past two decades. This year also marks the 20th anniversary of his major label debut, The Dollar.
Tickets go on sale Friday, April 17 at 10 a.m. local time via his official website.
Traveling Truebadour Tour Dates
May
Fri, May 8 | Hiawassee, GA | Anderson Music Hall
Fri, May 22 | Quapaw, OK | Downstream Casino Resort – Indoor Pavilion
Sat, May 23 | Richmond, MO | Branded Outdoor Theater
June
Wed, June 3 | Wheeling, WV | The Capitol Theatre*
Thurs, June 4 | Farmington, PA | Timber Rock Amphitheatre*
Fri, June 5 | Charlotte, NC | The TD Amp Ballantyne
Sat, June 6 | Paris, TN | Tennessee River Jam ^
Thurs, June 11 | Chesterfield, MO | The Chesterfield Amphitheater*
Fri, June 12 | Sheffield, IL | Psycho Silo Saloon*
July
Thurs, July 9 | Fort Loramie, OH | Country Concert At Hickory Hill Lakes•
Fri, July 10 | Bethlehem, PA | Wind Creek Event Center
Sat, July 11 | Danville, VA | The Pantheon at Caesars Virginia*
Sat, July 25 | Bowler, WI | North Star Mohican Casino*
Fri, July 31 | Lake Charles, LA | Golden Nugget Lake Charles*
August
Sat, August 1 | Bossier City, LA | Paradise Theater at Margaritaville Resort Casino*
Sat, August 8 | Detroit Lakes, MN | WE Fest•
Sun, August 9 | Vale, SD | Full Throttle Saloon^
Thurs, August 13 | Shipshewana, IN | Blue Gate Performing Arts Center*
Sat, August 15 | French Lick, IN | French Lick Resort
September
Fri, September 4 | Fort Worth, TX | Billy Bob’s Texas*
Sat, September 5 | Grant, OK | Choctaw Casino Stage 271*
Fri, September 11 | New Haven, KY | The Amp at Log Still*
Sat, September 12 | Petros, TN | Brushy Mountain State Penitentiary
Sat, September 19 | Effingham, IL | Effingham Performance Center*
Sun, September 20 | Marion, IL | Marion Cultural and Civic Center*
October
Fri, October 2 | Gautier, MS | The Sound Amphitheater *
Sat, October 3 | Pine Bluff, AR | Saracen Event Center at Saracen Casino Resort %
Thurs, October 8 | Bristol, VA | Hard Rock Live Bristol*
Fri, October 9 | Charles Town, WV | The Event Center at Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races*
Sat, October 10 | Atlantic City, NJ | Tropicana Atlantic City – Tropicana Showroom*
Sun, October 11 | Verona, NY | Turning Stone Resort Casino – Event Center*
* On Sale Friday, April 17 at 10 a.m. local time
• Festival
^ Free Event
% On Sale Date TBD
The post Jamey Johnson Sets 2026 Traveling Truebadour Tour appeared first on Country Now.
Country Now
Luke Combs is a man of many talents: a chart-topping singer, gifted songwriter, and a hands-on father of three. And as it turns out, he’s also pretty unbeatable at a game of rock, paper, scissors.
During his concert at Iowa State University’s Jack Trice Stadium on Saturday, Combs was in the middle of performing his hit “Where The Wild Things Are” when he spotted a fan in the crowd and decided to have a little fun. In a moment that quickly had the audience laughing, he played four rounds of rock, paper, scissors with the concertgoer from the stage, all while staying completely in the groove of the performance.
The fan later shared the interaction on TikTok, captioning the clip, “POV you get to play rock, paper, scissors with the GOAT of country.” The video shows the fan standing at the barricade while Combs remains on stage, effortlessly going back and forth between the game and the song. After four rounds, it appeared Combs walked away with the win, with the fan joking, “I’ll get my rematch eventually.”
Fans who were in attendance quickly chimed in in the comments, thrilled to see the moment from another angle.
@jaden_houser024 i’ll get my rematch eventually 😂@Luke Combs @Luke Combs HQ #fyp #foryou #foryoupage #mykindasaturdaynight #lukecombsconcert ♬ Be By You – Luke Combs
“OMG I was praying I’d get to see this POV”
“I was wondering if I would see this video at some point! Hilarious!”
“I saw this! I knew I was right when I said I’m pretty sure he’s playing rock paper scissors lol. how cool!!!”
“We watched it on the screen! Fun seeing it from your POV!”
Others were especially impressed by Combs’ ability to multitask, noting that he didn’t miss a beat while playing the game.
“The way he was playing rock paper scissors and still hit that note. Insane!”
@jaden_houser024 i can’t figure out how to reply to a comment with a video😭 but here’s the original vid! #foryou #fyp #foryoupage #mykindasaturdaynight #lukecombsconcert ♬ original sound – Jaden🔱
The unforgettable moment took place amid Combs’ massive My Kinda Saturday Night Tour, which has him playing stadiums across the country. The trek also includes a historic international run, with multiple nights at Wembley Stadium, making him the first country artist to sell out multiple shows at the iconic venue, as well as stops at Scottish Gas Murrayfield and Slane Castle.
The tour continues this weekend with a stop at Notre Dame Stadium.
The run follows the release of his latest album, The Way I Am, which debuted at No. 1 on Billboard’s Top Country Albums chart and No. 2 on the all-genre Billboard 200, earning 100,700 equivalent units in its first week.
Combs has also earned three nominations for the upcoming 61st ACM Awards, including Entertainer of the Year, Male Artist of the Year, and Artist-Songwriter of the Year. The show will stream live from the MGM Grand Garden Arena on May 17, 2026, exclusively on Prime Video, with additional viewing options available via the Amazon Music channel on Twitch and the Amazon Music app.
The post Luke Combs Plays Rock, Paper, Scissors With Fan Mid-Song (And Still Nails Every Note!) appeared first on Country Now.
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Reba McEntire’s family is growing! Her son, Shelby Blackstock, is expecting his first child with his wife, Marissa.
A Magical Disney Announcement
The couple shared the exciting news with fans on social media, posting a Disney-themed photo gallery that captured the special moment at Walt Disney World. The soon-to-be parents could be seen celebrating throughout the park. Alongside the photos, they revealed they are expecting a baby boy, who is set to arrive in October.
Their announcement included several sweet details, including an “Oh Boy” cake and a customized Mickey Mouse ear hat that read “Baby Blackstock October 2026.” The gallery also featured heartwarming shots of the couple posing in front of Cinderella Castle, proudly showing off ultrasound photos and sharing a kiss as they celebrated the next chapter of their lives together.
“Oh, BOY! We’re beyond excited to FINALLY announce our little man is coming in October,” they captioned the post. “See ya real soon, pal! Mommy + Daddy love you!”
Their post was flooded with congratulatory messages, including comments from McEntire’s Happy’s Place co-star and longtime friend, Melissa Peterman, and rising star Emily Ann Roberts.
A Full-Circle Moment
This moment served as a full-circle milestone for the couple, who tied the knot at Walt Disney World on February 22, 2022. Their wedding was truly a fairy tale, taking place in front of Cinderella Castle after the park had closed for the day, making this latest visit and announcement all the more special.
A Journey To Parenthood
Shelby Blackstock and his wife, Marissa, have been open about their journey to parenthood, sharing that they were undergoing in vitro fertilization (IVF) and allowing fans to follow along through social media.
On January 21, Marissa revealed that she had just completed a second round of IVF, expressing heartfelt gratitude for the outpouring of encouragement they received along the way.
“The love, messages, prayers, and support from friends and this community have been overwhelming in the best way. I wish I could thank every single person personally. Just know we feel it, and we’re so grateful. Infertility is hard, but we don’t feel alone,” she wrote.
The couple’s baby boy will mark a particularly special milestone for Reba McEntire, as this will be her first biological grandchild. She is already a proud grandmother to her step-grandchildren, River Rose and Remington Alexander, the children of her late stepson, Brandon Blackstock, and his ex-wife, Kelly Clarkson.
The post Reba McEntire’s Family Is Growing As Son Shelby Blackstock Announces First Baby appeared first on Country Now.
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Watch a sneak preview of Riley Green’s introduction as Garrett on this Sunday’s episode of Marshals. Continue reading…The Boot – Country Music News, Music Videos and Songs
Watch a sneak preview of Riley Green’s introduction as Garrett on this Sunday’s episode of Marshals. Continue reading…Country Music News – Taste of Country