Garth Brooks called her Ms. Nancy and for years she helped make him the biggest country star on the planet. Continue reading…Country Music News – Taste of Country
Category: Music
Garth Brooks called her Ms. Nancy and for years she helped make him the biggest country star on the planet. Continue reading…The Boot – Country Music News, Music Videos and Songs
Rob Schneider’s 15-year marriage to Patricia Azarcoya Schneider is ending in divorce. The comedian is also father to country-rock singer Elle King. Continue reading…The Boot – Country Music News, Music Videos and Songs
‘It’s unspeakable, and it’s a sign of a country that’s falling apart,’ Rosanne Cash said of the recent surge of ICE arrests and killings. Continue reading…Country Music News – Taste of Country
‘It’s unspeakable, and it’s a sign of a country that’s falling apart,’ Rosanne Cash said of the recent surge of ICE arrests and killings. Continue reading…The Boot – Country Music News, Music Videos and Songs
Earlier this month, Brett Young posted a steamy video of him singing a cover of Morgan Wallen’s “Just In Case.” And while fans made it known that they were big fans of the video, Young now admits that the vision he had for the video didn’t quite resonate as he hoped.
In the center of the clip, Young rocks messy, wet hair and sprays his chest with the shower head while singing the fan-favorite track. Around him, his band members appear in their own squares, performing their instruments from home and coming together to create a creative video.
Speaking with Cody Alan on SiriusXM’s The Highway, the country star explained that the whole reason behind recording this track was to promote his 2026 2.0 Tour and give fans a sneak peek into the songs featured on the set list. He says he originally tried to mimic an iconic scene from the classic film, Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, however the country star now sees that “not one person” got the reference.
“It was a little bit of a miss…You know the famous scene where he’s doing the, “I could be the walrus”? My hair was too short for the mohawk to stay up there. But at the time, the guys had already all filmed their kind of silly videos out on Christmas break and stuff. And I had already filmed it, realized it didn’t really land,” he admitted. “But it was all we had, and I wanted that to be out before the tour because it was going to be in the set. And I just went, ‘It’s still silly.’”
Even if it didn’t land perfectly, Young succeeded in having a bit of lighthearted fun with the promotional moment.
“I was just trying to be silly. We missed a little bit, but at least the song’s out in the world now.”
And it’s safe to say that fans were not mad about the fact that it turned out steamier than originally intended.
Users commented things like “Mercy on my eyes….😍😍” and “Wasn’t expecting this but definitely here for it 😉”
Others wondered how he was able to film from inside the shower. Young says he saw some comments theorizing that his wife Taylor got to be the videographer, but it turns out he didn’t have any help at all.
“There were a lot of comments about, somebody would say something about, like, ‘I wonder what his wife thinks about this.’ And then somebody would comment under it, ‘Who do you think was filming it?’ It was definitely just a phone,” he revealed. “Just on the shower door. And I just, I just kept starting the song over and filmed it like four times straight through and then sent it to my video guy, who, you know, tried to make it not look as amateur as it probably was.”
The moment offered a glimpse into the playful energy and must-see performances that Young is bringing on the 2.0 Tour. When he finally revealed the entire tour setlist, fans saw that amongst his catalog of hits and career favorites was another cover – Justin Bieber’s “Yukon,” which Young has also been teasing on socials ahead of the run.
Named after his latest album, the trek launched at The Ryman in Nashville on January 22 and continues through Saturday, February 28, where he will wrap in Bensalem, PA.
The post Brett Young Explains the Vision Behind His Steamy Morgan Wallen Shower Cover appeared first on Country Now.
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Stephen Wilson Jr. is pulling back the curtain on the story behind his emotional single, “Gary.” For the Indiana-born singer-songwriter, the idea behind this powerful story struck him unexpectedly after he caught a glimpse of a roadside memorial. About 30 minutes later, the lyrics came to life and now tell a story about the kind of person many listeners recognize, even if they’ve never known specifically know someone named Gary.
Listeners were first introduced to “Gary” when the song was released last November. Wilson Jr. ’s grungy and emotive vocals depict a character who shares his name with the title of the song. He describes “Gary” as being blue-collar worker with quiet routines and deeply ingrained traditions. Through specific details, Gary slowly starts to take shape as someone who often exists in the background and because of that people don’t always notice him until they stop and look closer.
“There ain’t a lot of boys named Gary these days/ Born with a cigarette glued to their face/ Fix about anything a hammer can handle/ Saving all their money ’cause a Gary don’t gamble/ Ain’t a lot of girls going by Debbie anymore/ But they got the same nicotine pouring out their pores/ Time leaves town, but the minute hand stays/ Ain’t a lot of boys named Gary these days,” he sings.
In a recent interview with Cody Alan on SiriusXM’s The Highway, the Nashville-based artist shared when exactly this realization struck him. He was driving home when he noticed a memorial on the side of the road that read “In memory of Gary” and featured an image of a young boy. Wilson Jr. started to imagine what this boy must have been like before he died and then thought about how Gary is no longer a common name in today’s world.
“I would guess that maybe he was killed, you know, he died on that highway and perhaps a car accident, if I was just to deduce things. And it broke my heart, just the whole memorial, and like, there was trees growing around it and the first thing I said was, ‘Dang there ain’t a lot of boys named Gary these days,’” Wilson Jr. recalled. “I got my phone out and I literally wrote the song…I just drove around for like 30 minutes around my neighborhood after that because I was just on my way home.”
A few hours later, Wilson Jr. paired the lyrics with a haunting melody rooted in sadness and tragedy. Drawing from his background as a former scientist, he goes on to explain that he often leans on science when songwriting and in this case, that corner of his mind led him to think of “Gary” as an “endangered species.”
“I was like, let’s think about Gary as like a subspecies of human and Gary’s endangered. So, okay, what is that story? Where does that story go?”
From there, “Gary” evolved into being a “subliminal subconscious kind of figure,” as Wilson Jr. described.
“I think, in our culture, so to speak. I grew up in a blue-collar society, so Gary was, you know, kind of everywhere as a big part of our town, like the I guess the metaphorical Gary that is. And then, you know, I found that like, you know, there is something about the name Gary. Like most Garys have these like really similar attributes that come with them. It’s usually like very good at fixing things, usually to themselves, don’t have a lot to say, but when they do say something, it is usually very intentional.”
What begins as a portrait of this dependable figure ultimately turns heavier, as the song comes to a close with him describing the moment the rarity of a “Gary” officially comes to an end with his death.
“I had a weird suspicion with the light out on the front porch/ Heart medication poured down where the drain pours/ He holds his left arm while his parakeet prays/ Has anybody seen much of Gary these days?/ Has anybody seen much of Gary these days?,” Wilson Jr. sings in the final verse.
Stephen Wilson Jr. will honor the song’s deep meaning as he embarks on the Gary The Torch Tour this spring. The trek opens March 6 in Columbus, Ohio and includes stops in Toronto, Boston, Brooklyn, Philadelphia, Chicago and many more. Tickets are on sale now.
The post Stephen Wilson Jr. Opens Up About the Roadside Tragedy That Inspired ‘Gary’ appeared first on Country Now.
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Luke Bryan is bringing one of his most meaningful and most anticipated traditions back in 2026. The country superstar has confirmed plans for his 17th annual Farm Tour, continuing his longtime mission of honoring America’s farmers by taking live music straight to local farms and giving back to the communities.
For the second year in a row, he will kick things off with a run of spring shows in California before expanding to traditional farm stops in the fall. The three-show run out West will take place this spring on May 14, 15, and 16, 2026. Special guests for these dates are set to be announced at a later date.
Bryan admits the decision to return was an easy one after seeing firsthand the impact the shows had on the farming communities last year.
“We had such a great response to the shows out West last year that we decided to come back. It was so impactful to learn from the farmers about what affects their operations and families, and our hope is to shine a little spotlight on them for all they do for America,” he shared.
More details regarding dates and locations for Bryan’s traditional Farm Tour will be revealed this spring.
Tickets for Farm Tour will go sale February 5 at 8AM PT at LukeBryan.com.
Nut House fan club members and users of Luke’s fan app will have access to tickets starting February 2 at 8 a.m. PT through LukeBryan.com/all-access-pass.
Farm Tour 2026 West Coast Dates:
May 14 Shafter, California Sillect Farms
May 15 Clovis, California Owens Mountain Parkway/ 168 Triangle
May 16 Elk Grove, California coming soon *
* location and on sale date coming soon
Farm Tour 2026 will once again be supported by longtime partners Bayer and Fendt. Giving back has always been at the core of this unique trek as it brings awareness to a cause the five-time Entertainer of the Year holds close to his heart as a son of a peanut farmer.
Since launching the tour in 2009, Bryan has taken his music directly to farms across the country while creating real impact in rural communities. Through the Farm Tour scholarship program, he has awarded 90 college scholarships to students from farming families attending local colleges and universities near the tour stops.
Additionally, in partnership with Bayer’s “Take Care, Now” campaign and the #HerestotheFarmer initiative, more than 10 million meals have been provided. Through these efforts, Bryan has helped raise awareness for the farming communities and the importance of agriculture, support farming families and expand access to nutritious food, vitamins, and minerals nationwide.
Farm Tour won’t be the only way for fans to catch Luke Bryan live throughout the year. He also just announced his Word On The Street Tour, which begins with back-to-back shows on May 29 and 30, 2026, in Gilford, New Hampshire. He will be joined on the run by openers Drew Baldridge, Karley Scott Collins, Lanie Gardner, Randall King, Zach John King, Shane Profitt, Raelynn, Lauren Watkins, and Jake Worthington.
Beyond these shows, his 2026 calendar is filling up with several other major appearances and festival dates including the Extra Innings Festival on February 27, the Houston Rodeo on March 9, and a show at Sanford Stadium (Dooley Field) at the University of Georgia on April 25 with Jason Aldean.
He and the “How Far Does A Goodbye Go” singer previously made history at the venue in 2013 during Aldean’s Night Train Tour, which at the time marked Sanford Stadium’s only concert event. The upcoming show will also feature support from Zach Top, Lauren Alaina, DJ Rock, and Dee Jay Silver as part of the “Live Between the Hedges” concert series presented by Pruitt Health.
Luke Bryan will also appear on ABC every Monday night for a new episode of American Idol alongside his fellow judges, Lionel Richie, and Carrie Underwood. The new season premiered on Monday and will continue through the spring.
The post Luke Bryan Confirms West Coast Dates for 2026 Farm Tour appeared first on Country Now.
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Kid Rock, born Robert Ritchie, testified before the U.S. Senate Commerce Committee on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday, January 28. Speaking as a successful artist who is well-versed in the entertainment industry, he addressed the skyrocketing cost of concert tickets and advocated for legislative reforms aimed at benefiting both fans and artists.
The country rocker began by sharing his background in music and the business side of the industry and explained why the years of experience gives him a unique perspective on the issues at hand. He emphasized that his long career touring and connecting with fans has shown him firsthand the challenges and frustrations that both artists and concertgoers face on a regular basis.
“I’m proud to say I’ve been packing arenas, amphitheaters and stadiums with the greatest fans on earth for over 25 years. I’m also a capitalist. I’m here today because I love God. I love this country. I love live music and sports, and I believe music fans and artists have been getting screwed for far too long by the ticketing system,” he admitted.
Kid Rock also pointed out that he is able to speak freely on the problems at hand because unlike many in the industry, he operates independently. This allowed him to sit before Congress and offer a passionate statement, critiquing the current ticketing system that is negatively impacting the “hardworking Americans” who share a love for live music.
“To put it plainly, I ain’t scared. I ain’t scared to speak out on these issues like many artists, managers, and agents are for fear of biting the hand that feeds them. I’m here because hardworking Americans who love live music deserve better and because artists deserve control over their own work.”
@consequence Kid Rock testified before Congress on Wednesday about the skyrocketing cost of concert tickets and potential legislative reforms. #kidrock ♬ original sound – consequence
The Michigan native then reminded congress that these problems with ticketing aren’t new. He noted that 30 years ago, members of Pearl Jam raised similar concerns about the industry. He pointed to the 2009 merger of Live Nation and Ticketmaster, which was promised to benefit artists and fans, but in his view, “failed miserably.”
“The CEO of Live Nation called the merger an experiment and promised it would increase competition and power artists and lower costs. He also said, and I quote, ‘A system that empowers artists benefits everyone.’ The CEO of Ticketmaster at the time also testified in 2009 and said, ‘We believe the combination of our two companies will benefit artists, fans, theaters, sports teams, museums, and all the other facilities, performers, and spectators who use our services.’
“The economic foundation that supported artists in the past is crumbling. Piracy is threatening their livelihood. Secondary ticketing is driving up prices for the fans with absolutely no benefit to the artist,” he added.
These system failures, from what Kid Rock has witnessed, has caused independent venues to suffer, artists to lose leverage in their own careers, and fans having to pay more than ever to see their favorite artists live on stage. He emphasized that artists should have a say in how their tickets are sold as well as who sells them, something that hasn’t happened under the current partnership between Ticketmaster and Live Nation.
He then posted the question, “What other business in America doesn’t control or at least have a say in their own inventory?”
Without real choice and competition, tickets are ending up in the hands of scalpers and brokers, leading fans pay the inflated prices. Kid Rock feels that a lot of the scamming could have been avoided by using technology and “proof of humanity tools.”
“It hasn’t happened yet because there’s just too much money in the secondary ticket market. Ticketing companies didn’t fail to stop this. Seems they chose not to.”
There are currently solutions being put in place to address these problems overseas that have proved to be successful. He explained that some European countries have capped resale ticket prices and that strategy that appears to be working in favor of fans and artists. This idea is something that the “All Summer Long” singer says he has been advocating for in the states as well, suggesting that there should be a 10% price cap placed on resale tickets.
Ticketmaster and Live Nation have supported this plan, however he remains confused as to why these companies haven’t acted upon this potential solution yet.
“I don’t think Ticketmaster needs a law passed to do this. If that’s true, then it only proves these companies have been reactive, not proactive,” Kid Rock continues. “I would implore Congress, this is important to subpoena the contracts and deals between artists, promoters, buildings, ticketing companies, agencies, and vendors, because as I understand it, you will find mountains of fraud and abuse.”
In his final remarks, the artist outlined a clear set of solutions for fixing the ticketing system, which includes giving artists control of who sells their tickets, putting a cap on resale ticket prices to protect fans and enforcing laws like the Bots Act that aims to stop brokers and bad actors.
“All in pricing is great, but it doesn’t fix the system. Outlawing speculative ticketing is obvious,” he shared. “The problem is that ticketing lobbyists push these reforms as cover while fighting to keep tickets in an open market and lets them exploit fans under the guise of capitalism. Do not be fooled by these tactics. Congress and many others have been fooled since the mid 1990s, fooled again in 2009 and so on. This wasn’t an experiment. It was a monopoly dressed up as innovation.”
Kid Rock closed his well-prepared statement with a quote from one of his favorite rock bands, The Who, stating “’It as my sincere hope. We won’t get fooled again.’ Thank you. Rock on.”
The post Kid Rock Blasts Ticketing Industry in Fiery Congressional Testimony, Demands Protections for Fans and Artists appeared first on Country Now.
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Kid Rock’s Congressional testimony about unfair ticketing practices was personal and persuasive. Continue reading…The Boot – Country Music News, Music Videos and Songs