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Chase Rice Announces Touring Hiatus: ‘I’m Exhausted’

Chase Rice is taking a much-needed step back from touring.

In a raw and honest update shared with fans, Rice revealed that after 13 years on the road, he plans to take a break to give himself time to live life more fully. He reassured fans that this decision is not a farewell, but simply a pause, promising that it’s not a “goodbye.”

“Alright everybody, I wasn’t sure whether I was gonna talk about this or not but here we are. I’ve been touring for 13 years and I’ve lived a dream far greater than I could’ve ever expected. This isn’t a goodbye thing or anything like that to be clear upfront, although it may feel like that, but I’m exhausted,” he wrote.

Chase Rice; Photo by Ben Christensen
Chase Rice; Photo by Ben Christensen

The North Carolina native admitted he hasn’t felt like himself on stage in quite some time and believes stepping away will give him the chance to recharge, enjoy life fully, and return refreshed, ready to write more songs about real-life experiences and eventually make his way back to the road when the time feels right.

“I haven’t been able to be myself on stage in quite a while and really enjoy music and why I got into it in the first place. I love songs, I love living them, hearing stories from other people, and figuring out how to put that life into music. After 13 years it’s finally beat me up to the point where I need to step away for a while. I need to go live life so that I have more real experiences to write down,” he explained. “I won’t be touring this year and it wasn’t even really a decision, it was something I know that I just have to do for myself. A lot of artists do this all the time, but it’s new for me so it’s kind of a big deal in my life.” 

In closing, Rice shared a message to everyone who has supported him along the way, including his band, crew, fans, and more. 

“To my band and crew, I love y’all. You’ve seen me at my worst yet you still love me back like I’ve lived my best. I hope we can all get together in the coming years and get back to enjoying life on the road again. To any fans that have followed me along this journey, I love y’all too, you have truly made a dream of mine come true,” he wrote. “I’ve got a handful of shows this year, but it will not look like anything like what I’ve done the last 13 years of my life. I hope this year brings new experiences for me to put into songs that will make y’all happy. Until then, thanks for the ride.” 

Chase Rice has built a 15-year career as a singer and songwriter, most notably co-writing the Diamond-certified hit “Cruise,” recorded by Florida Georgia Line. He’s also celebrated two No. 1s at country radio with “Drinkin’ Beer. Talkin’ God. Amen.” and “Eyes On You,” and has shared the stage with icons like Garth Brooks, Kenny Chesney, and more.

The post Chase Rice Announces Touring Hiatus: ‘I’m Exhausted’ appeared first on Country Now.

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Country Songwriter Jim McBride Dies at 78, Leaving a Legacy of Hits Including Alan Jackson’s ‘Chattahoochee’

Jim McBride, a beloved hitmaker among the country music community, has died. On the morning of Thursday, January 8, the Alabama Music Hall of Fame shared the news, citing that McBride passed at the age of 78.

His love for music developed during his upbringing in Huntsville, Alabama, in the 1950s. Country music was particularly popular in his household and his family even enjoyed spending time together by listening to the Grand Ole Opry every Saturday night.

Jim McBride; Photo Provided
Jim McBride; Photo Provided

That passion and appreciation for the genre led McBride to become a songwriter whose resume includes numerous chart-topping hits throughout the 1980s and 90s. Some of his most notable writes includes songs made famous by Alan Jackson, including “Chattahoochee” and “Chasing That Neon Rainbow.”

According to American Songwriter, the inspiration for “Chattahoochee” came from the Chattahoochee River that lies near Alan Jackson’s hometown of Newnan, Georgia. McBride got the ball rolling by writing the opening lines and melody, which then sparked the rest of the creative process. From there, Jackson stepped in to continue the story, shaping the song into what it is today.

That early spark turned into a massive success. “Chattahoochee” went on to reach No. 1 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart and earned Jackson both Single of the Year and Song of the Year at the CMA Awards.

Following his death, Alan Jackson took to social media to remember his fellow songwriter with a heartfelt message that credits McBride for helping him reach new heights in his career.

He wrote, “Jim was a good man and a great and genuine songwriter. He understood country music and touched many with his songs. Jim and I wrote some of my favorite songs together and I don’t know if my career would have ended up quite the same without his help, inspiration, and encouragement in my early years. Thank you Jim, rest in peace. – AJ.”

Alan Jackson wasn’t the only notable name in country music that worked alongside McBride. Other artists who have recorded his songs include Johnny Cash, Kris Kristofferson, Willie Nelson, George Jones, Reba McEntire, Jerry Lee Lewis, Charley Pride, Travis Tritt, Toby Keith, Dwight Yokam, The Oak Ridge Boys, Keith Whitley, Crystal Gayle, Gene Watson, Trace Atkins, Alabama and more.

McBride’s work as a songwriter has earned widespread recognition across the industry. He received multiple accolades including five Song of the Year Grammy nominations on top of the CMA Song of the Year award for “Chattahoochee.”

Additionally, honors were earned from ASCAP, BMI, NSAI, NARAS, CMA, AMA, ACM and Billboard Magazine. Plus, he was inducted into the Alabama Music Hall of Fame in 2017, became a member of the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame and served a former president of Nashville Songwriters Association International.

Jim McBride’s influence on country music is undeniable, and although he has passed on, his legacy will continue to live on through his songs.

The post Country Songwriter Jim McBride Dies at 78, Leaving a Legacy of Hits Including Alan Jackson’s ‘Chattahoochee’ appeared first on Country Now.

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Chris Stapleton Adds 20 Dates to All-American Road Show, Bringing Lainey Wilson, Zach Top & More Along the Way

Chris Stapleton has extended his All-American Road Show, adding 20 new dates to the tour.

The newly announced run will bring Stapleton to several major stadiums, including Nashville’s Nissan Stadium, Atlanta’s Mercedes-Benz Stadium, and Detroit’s Ford Field, with very special guest Lainey Wilson. The trek will also stop at Toronto’s Rogers Stadium and Boston’s Fenway Park, where Zach Top will join as a very special guest, among many other cities.

Additional dates will feature support from Allen Stone, Ashley McBryde, Carter Faith, Grace Potter, Maggie Rose, Mike Campbell & The Dirty Knobs, Molly Tuttle, Nikki Lane, and The Teskey Brothers.

Chris Stapleton; Photo by Andy Barron
Chris Stapleton; Photo by Andy Barron

Tickets for the newly announced shows will go on sale to the general public beginning Friday, January 16 at 10:00 a.m. local time.

Members of Stapleton’s fan club will receive first access through an exclusive pre-sale running from Tuesday, January 13 at 10:00 a.m. local time through Thursday, January 15 at 10:00 p.m. local time.

Citi cardmembers can also take advantage of an early pre-sale, as Citi serves as the official card of the All-American Road Show. This pre-sale will be available from Tuesday, January 13 at 10:00 a.m. through Thursday, January 15 at 10:00 p.m. local time via the Citi Entertainment program. Full details can be found at citientertainment.com.

Chris Stapleton 2026 Tour
Chris Stapleton 2026 Tour

In addition, Verizon customers will have access to a special pre-sale for select stadium dates. Available simply for being a Verizon customer, this pre-sale runs from Tuesday, January 13 at 10:00 a.m. through Thursday, January 15 at 10:00 p.m. local time. Fans can visit myAccess in the MyVerizon app for more information.

The 11x Grammy, 19x CMA and 21x ACM Award-winner will potentially add to his long list of accolades at the upcoming 68th Annual Grammy Awards where is is nominated for four awards, including Best Country Song (“A Song To Sing” with Miranda Lambert), Best Country Solo Performance (“Bad As I Used To Be”) and two nods in the Best Country Duo/Group Performance category (“A Song To Sing” with Lambert and “Honky Tonk Hall of Fame” with George Strait. 

CHRIS STAPLETON 2026 TOUR DATES

BOLD on-sale next Friday, January 16 at 10:00am local time

January 10—Hollywood, FL—Hard Rock Live (SOLD OUT)

January 11—Hollywood, FL—Hard Rock Live (SOLD OUT)

February 4—Las Vegas, NV—Dolby Live at Park MGM (SOLD OUT)

February 5—Las Vegas, NV—Dolby Live at Park MGM (SOLD OUT)

February 7—San Francisco, CA—Bill Graham Civic Auditorium (SOLD OUT)

February 20—Thackerville, OK—WinStar Lukas Oil Live (SOLD OUT)

February 21—Thackerville, OK—WinStar Lukas Oil Live (SOLD OUT)

February 27—Uncasville, CT—Mohegan Sun Casino (SOLD OUT)

February 28—Uncasville, CT—Mohegan Sun Casino (SOLD OUT)

April 19—Georgetown, TX—Two Step Inn

May 23—Nashville, TN—Nissan Stadium*

May 29—Panama City, FL—Gulf Coast Jam

June 11—Jacksonville, FL—Vystar Veterans Memorial Arena

June 13—Tampa, FL—Raymond James Stadium*

June 17—Burgettstown, PA—The Pavilion at Star Lake

June 20—Charlotte, NC—Bank of America Stadium*

June 24—Hershey, PA—Hersheypark Stadium#

June 26—North Charleston, SC—North Charleston Coliseum#

July 8—Mountain View, CA—Shoreline Amphitheatre

July 10—Chula Vista, CA—North Island Credit Union Amphitheatre

July 14—Paso Robles, CA—California Mid-State Fair‡

July 17—Portland, OR—Providence Park#

July 19—Whitefish, MT—Under The Big Sky Festival

July 22—Vancouver, BC—Rogers Arena%

July 24—George, WA—The Gorge#

July 29—Shakopee, MN—Mystic Lake Amphitheater

August 1—Cincinnati, OH—Paycor Stadium*

August 6—Toronto, ON—Rogers Stadium+

August 8—Detroit, MI—Ford Field*

August 14—Boston, MA—Fenway Park+

August 18—Virginia Beach, VA—Veterans United Home Loans Amphitheater at Virginia Beach~

August 21—Atlanta, GA—Mercedes-Benz Stadium^

August 26—Wantagh, NY—Northwell at Jones Beach Theater**

August 28—Philadelphia, PA—Freedom Mortgage Pavilion**

October 2—Bristow, VA—Jiffy Lube Live††

October 7—Lincoln, NE—Pinnacle Bank Arena‡‡

October 9—Kansas City, MO—Morton Amphitheater‡‡

*with special guests Lainey Wilson and Allen Stone

†with special guest Allen Stone

‡with special guest Molly Tuttle

#with special guest Grace Potter
+with special guests Zach Top and Allen Stone

%with special guest The Teskey Brothers
~with special guest Maggie Rose
^with special guests Lainey Wilson and Ashley McBryde
**with special guest Carter Faith
††with special guest Mike Campbell & The Dirty Knobs
‡‡with special guest Nikki Lane

The post Chris Stapleton Adds 20 Dates to All-American Road Show, Bringing Lainey Wilson, Zach Top & More Along the Way appeared first on Country Now.

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