Kid Rock’s headlining the Turning Point USA Halftime Show — and if his longtime rule still stands, one everyday item won’t be allowed anywhere near him.
Continue reading…Country Music News – Taste of Country
Category: Music
Brantley Gilbert is speaking out about his upcoming performance on Turning Point USA’s The All-American Halftime Show and explaining his decision to take part in the event.
On Friday afternoon, the country/rocker took to social media to issue a lengthy statement detailing why he chose to join the lineup, which also includes Kid Rock, Lee Brice, and Gabby Barrett.
“For those asking ‘who is Brantley Gilbert?’ and ‘why is he playing this event?’,” he began. “I’m a songwriter who grew up, and still lives in Jackson County, GA, whose goal in the music business was to sell out the local theater a few miles from my house and somehow make my living writing songs.”
He went on to share his previous struggles with addiction and said that he hopes his platform will inspire others.
“I’m a recovering addict with the history of all the bad choices that come with it. I’m not proud of those choices, but I am proud of the choice I’ve made to live in another direction. I share my story through my music, in hopes that it may help and inspire others in their darkest hour,” he wrote.
“I’m a Christian, and I love our country, despite its flaws. I’ve dedicated part of my life to the men and women who fight for it, and the families of those who gave their life for it. Above all, I’m a proud husband and father of three.”
After offering insight into his life and personal beliefs, Gilbert pointed out that it has been over two decades since the NFL had a country artist at the Super Bowl halftime show and shared his reasoning for wanting to perform.
“We’re celebrating 250 years as a country, and it’s been more than 20 years since a country artist has been asked to play the Super Bowl halftime show. I respect that some people may see this differently, but I’m not playing this show to be divisive. I was offered this opportunity and imagined my kids watching their daddy perform at halftime during the biggest game in American Football. Everything I do, I do for them,” he urged.
In closing, the Georgia native wrote, “The way I treat people isn’t conditional based on what our differences may be. I believe ‘united we stand, divided we fall,’ and my prayer for our country is that we stand united.”
Finally, he thanked his team and fans as he added “ Looking forward to hitting the stage this Sunday and giving folks a hell of a show.”
The All-American Halftime Show is described by Turning Point USA as a “one-of-a-kind streaming event celebrating American faith, family, and freedom.”
Gilbert’s message comes after Kid Rock made an appearance on Fox & Friends to discuss the show, which serves as an alternative to the Super Bowl LX halftime show.
“I think I speak for Turning Point and all the artists involved, that none of us are approaching this with any hate in our hearts at all,” Kid Rock said during an appearance on Fox & Friends on Friday.
“It’s just a love for our base and love for music, our country,” he later added.
Turning Point USA’s The All-American Halftime Show will stream at around 8 p.m. ET on February 8, 2026, across multiple platforms, including TPUSA’s YouTube, X, and Rumble channels.
In addition to social media, the special edition of The National News Desk will air on Sinclair Broadcast’s OTT channel “CHARGE!” available on Samsung Plus, YouTube TV, Hulu, Sling, and more, as well as on Daily Wire+, TBN, Real America’s Voice, NTD, and OANN.
The post Brantley Gilbert Speaks Out About His Decision To Perform At Turning Point USA’s ‘All-American Halftime Show’ appeared first on Country Now.
Country Now
“I respect that some people may see this differently, but I’m not playing this show to be divisive.” Continue reading…The Boot – Country Music News, Music Videos and Songs
“I respect that some people may see this differently, but I’m not playing this show to be divisive.” Continue reading…Country Music News – Taste of Country
Both men are part of the Madden Bowl entertainment lineup slated for Feb. 6 at the Chase Center in San Francisco Continue reading…The Boot – Country Music News, Music Videos and Songs
Both men are part of the Madden Bowl entertainment lineup slated for Feb. 6 at the Chase Center in San Francisco Continue reading…Country Music News – Taste of Country
Back in 2001, Blake Shelton was still new to the Nashville scene and navigating the release of his first single, “Austin.” But it wasn’t just his music turning heads as his mullet was also stealing the spotlight. Now, the country star is opening up about his iconic hairstyle and the moments that led him to cut it for good.
The mullet was a part of Shelton’s look throughout the “better part” of his teenage years and into his early twenties. When his music career started to take off, people also started to form their opinions on his long curly locks that flowed down the back of his head while the front remained shorter.
Just before his time, country icons like Tracy Lawrence, Alan Jackson and Billy Ray Cyrus had also rocked the mullet and a few years ago it saw a resurgence, largely thanks to newer acts like Morgan Wallen. Unfortunately for Shelton, the year that “Austin” dropped, that kind of hairstyle had pretty much fallen out of style.
“Mullets are cool again now, I guess, but back then when I had ’em, they weren’t cool anymore. It was like that phase had already ran out and then no one told me…It was just like me and Neal McCoy left at that point that had ‘em,” Shelton jokingly told award-winning radio host and media personality Bobby Bones during an episode of Bobby Bones Presents: The BobbyCast, now streaming on Netflix.
While the Oklahoma native was focused on getting his music out in the world and earning some airtime on country radio, he started to catch some heavy grief around Nashville, especially from one morning radio show host named Carl P. Mayfield.
“He would go on his morning show and just, I mean, just, whether I was a part of the show or I’d be in my truck driving, and he would play my song and go, ‘oh, there’s the worst new mullet in country music,’” Shelton recalled.
That criticism didn’t sit well with Shelton and motivated him to want to do something about it. Except he wasn’t about to let anyone dictate how he wore his hair so he decided to make a small adjustment, but nothing drastic enough to erase the mullet entirely.
“I was stubborn enough that I thought, okay, I’m not going to let ’em tell me to cut my mullet, but I will grow out the rest of my hair and just have all long hair,” he recalled. “So that way they didn’t win. I didn’t cut my mullet. I grew the rest of it out to go with it.”
Blake Shelton officially said goodbye to his long locks in 2006, marking the end of an era that had defined his early career. Since then, he has rocked the short hairstyle and only brought his signature mullet back one time in 2022 for the filming of his retro “No Body” music video.
These days, the “God’s Country” singer still hits the stage with his modern short hair, but he hasn’t lost the charismatic stage presence or hitmaking ability that made him stand out back when he rocked the mullet.
In addition to his mullet, Shelton’s conversation with Bones saw him reflecting on his early days in Nashville and the people who helped him along the way, revealing his top five favorite songs, discussing his current Las Vegas residency, and more.
His time at The Colosseum at Caesars Palace officially launched on January 15 and is set to continue through the month on January 18, 21, 23, 24, 28, 30 and 31. Additionally, he will return for eight more shows running May 6-24, 2026.
Blake Shelton is one of several country acts who have recently appeared in interviews on “Bobby Bones Presents: The BobbyCast,” which marks one of more than 15 of iHeartMedia’s top original podcasts to join Netflix. Previous interviews include Kenny Chesney and Bailey Zimmerman.
Viewers can find new episodes dropping every Tuesday and Thursday on the streaming service, with audio versions also available on iHeartRadio and all major podcast platforms.
The post Blake Shelton Opens Up About His Signature Mullet Era, And The Criticism That Brought It To An End appeared first on Country Now.
Country Now
Today, Megan Moroney surprised fans with the ultimate gift, dropping the title track from her third studio album, Cloud 9. The new song arrives just days ahead of the album’s February 20 release, serving as the perfect way to kick off the highly anticipated release month.
With “Cloud 9,” the Georgia native shifts gears, moving away from stories filled with heartbreak and emotional turmoil and instead turns her attention to the brighter, more intoxicating side of love. That shift is felt immediately as the dreamy hook that’s been teasing fans for weeks finally blossoms into a full narrative that sets the tone for the entire project.
Written by Moroney alongside Luke Laird, Jessie Jo Dillon, and Ernest Keith Smith, the song captures the euphoric, head-over-heels feeling that comes with being completely swept up in another person. The love she sings about is a “walking on sunshine,” “stars in my eyes” kind of bliss that makes any frustration or annoyance in life seem irrelevant.
“Waitress asked me, “Is Pepsi fine?”/ I wanted a Coke but said “It’s more than alright”/ And the rush-hour traffic, no it can’t get to me/ The TV’s talking, some more bad news/ And the neighbors upstairs always party ’til two/ But who cares, oh well/ I woke up next to you,” she sings in the opening verse.
The lyrics continue to offer a vivid portrayal of a high where nothing matters except the person beside you. However, the Sony Music Nashville/Columbia Records singer/songwriter admits that as perfect as it feels, she knows that if this love ever went sideways, the fall back to reality would be a long one.
As the song goes on, listeners will find that the verses stay soft and delicate before the chorus delivers a more layered instrumentation and mid-tempo beat that mirrors her joy and that unstoppable high. Above it all, Moroney’s signature raspy vocals remain front and center while letting the song float effortlessly on cloud nine.
“I’m walking on sunshine, holding your hand/ You’re putting stars in my eyes like no one else can/ You get me high high high/ You give me that look, I’m floating on air/ No nothing else matters with your hands in my hair/ I never want to leave where we are now/ It’s a long, long way way down/ Down to cloud nine.”
“Cloud 9” marks the fourth track to be released from Megan Moroney’s 16-song project. She has also previewed the project through songs like “Wish I Didn’t,” the GOLD-certified Country radio No. 1 smash “6 Months Later” and Billboard Hot 100-charting Country radio hit “Beautiful Things.”
Alongside today’s drop, the country star also announced that a Songwriter’s Edition of Cloud 9’s vinyl will be available, featuring a tracklist sequenced in chronological order according to when each song was written. This special edition is available for pre-order now.
Just last week, Moroney was in Los Angeles for Billboard and the National Music Publishers Association’s annual Songwriter Awards, where she was honored as Country Artist-Songwriter of the Year. Now, she is preparing to celebrate the release of Cloud 9 on February 20 and embark on her headline tour of the same name the following day.
The massive international headline tour will take Megan Moroney to some of the biggest arenas across North America, Europe, and the UK. A full list of stops can be found on her official website.
The post Megan Moroney Unveils Blissful ‘Cloud 9’ Title Track appeared first on Country Now.
Country Now
The tour will begin in May and run through June 20. Continue reading…The Boot – Country Music News, Music Videos and Songs
The tour will begin in May and run through June 20. Continue reading…Country Music News – Taste of Country