Tanner Usrey says he’s focused on learning from his arrest on serious drug charges last month. He also addressed one of the charges brought against him, which was in a Penalty Group specifically referring to fentanyl or fentanyl-derived substances. Continue reading…The Boot – Country Music News, Music Videos and Songs
Tanner Usrey says he’s focused on learning from his arrest on serious drug charges last month. He also addressed one of the charges brought against him, which was in a Penalty Group specifically referring to fentanyl or fentanyl-derived substances. Continue reading…Country Music News – Taste of Country
18-year-old Lucas Leon wasn’t even alive in 1997 when Tim McGraw and Faith Hill released “It’s Your Love,” but he delivered a performance that made it feel like he lived every word during American Idol’s 90s Judges Song Contest episode on Monday.
For the round, the judges each picked a song for Leon to choose from, including “It’s Your Love” by Tim McGraw and Faith Hill, “Should’ve Been a Cowboy” by Toby Keith, and “Ain’t That Lonely Yet” by Dwight Yoakam. While he originally planned to sing “Should’ve Been a Cowboy,” he ultimately decided to go with “It’s Your Love.”
Taking the stage with his guitar in hand, the Gallatin, Tennessee native showcased a raspier side of his voice while fully leaning into the emotional lyrics. The crowd could be seen nodding along, while fellow contestants, including Hannah Harper, sang from their seats.
Leon correctly guessed that Lionel Richie had selected the song for him, with Richie saying, “Your voice with that song, resonated to the point of believability. I love what you did.”
Carrie Underwood also admitted Leon “surprised” her with his choice, adding that she had a “hard time” deciding which song to pick for him. She shared, “It felt believable, it felt genuine, I liked your voice on it.”
Luke Bryan was equally impressed, saying, “I’m so glad you picked that. The last two times we’ve seen you perform, you really grew into a more artistic mindset. You’re working the room and it’s really working for you.”
Leon’s performance even caught the attention of “It’s Your Love” songwriter Stephony Smith, who praised him on Instagram and encouraged Tim McGraw to check it out.
“@lionelrichie thanks for choosing my song for @lucasleonofficial to sing! It means the world to me. @thetimmcgraw check out this young gun killing his version of your version of “It’s Your Love” on @americanidol wow,” she wrote.
Lucas Leon has been a standout from the start. He began the competition at just 17 years old and impressed with each performance, including covers of “Georgia On My Mind” by Ray Charles, “The House That Built Me” by Miranda Lambert, and “Just To See You Smile” by Tim McGraw.
American Idol returns next Monday, April 13, as the Top 11 take on iconic hits from Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductees while America votes live to determine the Top 9. The 2026 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductees will also be revealed during the episode.
The post Lucas Leon Brings Tim McGraw & Faith Hill Classic to Life on ‘American Idol’ With Standout 90s Night Performance appeared first on Country Now.
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Country Music Hall of Famer Ray Stevens, 87, suffered a fall in Nashville on Sunday, March 29 that resulted in a broken neck. According to a statement from his team, the two-time GRAMMY winner was briefly hospitalized and is now at home recovering.
Doctors have instructed Stevens to wear a neck brace for the next four weeks. Despite the injury, he remains mobile and in good spirits as he heals.
This health setback comes after Stevens suffered a mild heart attack in early July 2025. At the time, he was hospitalized after experiencing chest pain and later underwent a minimally invasive heart catheterization procedure at a Nashville hospital. He subsequently had a second procedure a few weeks later, during which doctors placed two stents to treat additional blockages. After spending several days in a Nashville rehabilitation facility, he returned home to continue his recovery.
Stevens and his team are welcoming thoughts and prayers during his recovery.
Cards and well wishes can be sent to:
Ray Stevens
5724 River Rd
Nashville, TN 37209
Stevens is scheduled to release a new album, Favorites Old & New, via Curb Records this Friday, April 10. The album will be released as planned.
The 13-track collection mixes timeless classics with brand-new material, highlighting Stevens’ signature charm, humor, and versatility. Favorites Old & New brings together a thoughtful blend of beloved standards and fresh cuts from a range of songwriters, delivering a project that feels both nostalgic and new.
“I had a lot of fun creating this album, ‘Favorites Old & New,’” Stevens shares. “It really does contain a few of my favorite old songs as well as favorite new ones penned by some talented writers. I just hope Ray Stevens fans enjoy it as much as Ray Stevens!”
On Favorites Old & New, Stevens brings new life to timeless classics like “The Look of Love,” “It Had To Be You,” and “Come Rain or Come Shine,” all delivered with his signature humor, charm, and musical style. The project also features new songs such as “I Guess You’ve Never Been in Love With the Moon,” “Moving Out is Easier Than Moving On,” and “Time Machine,” blending modern songwriting with the nostalgic feel fans have always loved from him.
1. Savannah
2. Something
3. Parakeet Motel
4. First Time Ever I Saw Your Face
5. Roger
6. Just For A Thrill
7. Time Machine
8. Come Rain or Come Shine
9. Old Carousels
10. The Look of Love
11. Moving Out Is Easier Than Moving On
12. It Had to Be You
13. I Guess You’ve Never Been in Love With The Moon
The post Country Music Hall Of Famer Ray Stevens Suffers Broken Neck In Fall appeared first on Country Now.
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Twenty three people have won ‘American Idol.’ How many do you remember? Continue reading…Country Music News – Taste of Country
Twenty three people have won ‘American Idol.’ How many do you remember? Continue reading…The Boot – Country Music News, Music Videos and Songs
Thomas Rhett and his wife Lauren recently welcomed their fifth child, and first son. Choosing his name wasn’t easy. In fact, Rhett admits they were still deciding on a middle name when they arrived at the hospital. Eventually, their baby boy’s full name, Brave Elijah, came to them in an unexpected spark of inspiration and quickly became deeply meaningful for the couple.
Back in January 2025, the couple had planned to pack up their family and move to Uganda for a year, and they were also considering adopting another child. However, over Father’s Day weekend that year, they received a positive pregnancy test, and suddenly all of their plans changed. Rhett recently co-hosted a weekend of Country Countdown U.S.A. with Lon Helton, where he reflected on the unexpected news and shared the story behind the name Brave Elijah.
He explains they had been procrastinating on choosing what to call their first baby boy. Then the idea for Brave came to Rhett while enjoying a glass of wine.
“The name of the wine was Mount Brave. So I asked Lauren about the name Brave for a boy. We loved what that word meant for a boy or girl,” he revealed.
Once they agreed on the first name, the next big decision was the middle name. Again, Rhett happened to find himself come across a name that struck a chord with him and felt just right as it held a deep connection to something the couple values highly in their life: faith.
“We were in the hospital, they gave us the birth certificate, and we still didn’t have a middle name. I was reading Elijah’s story in the Bible, and he led an incredible life. So we settled on Brave Elijah,” Rhett told Helton.
Brave is the couple’s fifth child, joining their four daughters: Willa Gray (10), Ada James (8), Lennon Love (6), and Lillie Carolina (4). The “After All The Bars Are Closed” singer says they were trying to get pregnant one more time, but he never imagined that after four girls in their home, he would finally get a son. This time, the couple chose not to find out the baby’s gender until birth, and when their child was born in February, he was truly surprised.
“It’s surreal. I thought after our 4th girl, it wasn’t in the cards for me to have a boy,” he admitted. “When we were in the hospital, I thought it was gonna be another girl. Having that surprise was one of the coolest moments in my life. He’s a big baby, he was ten pounds, my wife is a super-hero.”
Rhett also stated that being a family of seven has “been a blast” and jokingly added that they are lucky to have so many “built in big sister babysitters.”
When Helton asked if they are officially done having children now, Rhett responded that five kids has always been Lauren’s “magic number” so they don’t currently don’t have plans to add any more to the bunch.
“I don’t think we’re gonna have any more kids. But it was the coolest thing in the world not to know if it was a boy or girl. I have never been more surprised. It was the hardest thing I’ve ever done, but so worth it.”
For now, Thomas Rhett has been finding a balance of soaking up the newborn snuggles at home and spending time at the studio to work on his next record. He shared his hopes to put out a song or two sometime between April and May and then release an entire album by the end of the year.
“I’ve been writing for a year and a half for this project. I feel the word on this next project is timeless. I’m thinking on making a short record, only ten songs, and let’s go with that,” he shared.
Plus, he’s set to embark on THE SOUNDTRACK TO LIFE TOUR, kicking off July 9 in Nashville, TN.
The post Thomas Rhett Explains the Meaning Behind Son Brave Elijah’s Name appeared first on Country Now.
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Merle is such a big deal in Johnson’s family, his two daughters each have their own special Merle Haggard song. Continue reading…Country Music News – Taste of Country
Merle is such a big deal in Johnson’s family, his two daughters each have their own special Merle Haggard song. Continue reading…The Boot – Country Music News, Music Videos and Songs
Darius Rucker’s Riverfront Revival Music Festival will return for its fifth year October 9-10 at Riverfront Park in North Charleston, South Carolina.
Founded by the Charleston native and three-time GRAMMY Award winner, the two-day event will once again bring a mix of established acts and rising talent to the waterfront.
This year’s lineup stays rooted in country while incorporating hip-hop and various styles, reflecting the festival’s evolving sound.
Rucker will be joined by Gavin Adcock, Old Dominion, BigXthaPlug, Nelly, Charles Wesley Godwin, Chase Matthew, Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue, Daniel Donato’s Cosmic Country, Austin Williams, Atlus, Dani Rucker, Gullah Collective, Karley Scott Collins, Saluda Shoals, Mel Washington, Whiskey Run, and AC Scar.
“Riverfront Revival has always been about bringing great music and great people together in a place that means everything to me,” Rucker said. “Getting to build this in Charleston year after year has been incredible, and this lineup shows how much it’s grown while still staying true to what the festival is all about.”
Presales are now open, with general tickets going on sale Wednesday, April 8, at 10 a.m. local time via RiverfrontRevival.com. Two-day passes will be available in General Admission, GA Plus, and VIP tiers, with single-day passes also offered.
A portion of ticket proceeds will benefit the Carolyn G. Rucker Nursing Scholarship at the Medical University of South Carolina and Rock ‘N Roll Rescue, which supports music education locally.
In addition to Darius Rucker’s Riverfront Revival Music Festival, fans can also catch the superstar on his Songs of Summer Tour 2026, kicking off June 4 in Toledo, Ohio.
The trek will make stops across the U.S., including Atlantic City, Cincinnati, and Boston, and will feature a rotating lineup of special guests such as George Birge, Lauren Alaina, Robert Randolph, Old Crow Medicine Show, Evan Honer, and Austin Williams.
The post Darius Rucker Brings Riverfront Revival Back for 5th Year With Genre-Spanning 2026 Lineup appeared first on Country Now.
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