Category: Music

At 79, Dolly Parton is opening up about aging and sharing words of wisdom in a way that only she can.

In a new interview with People, released in celebration of her new book Star of the Show: My Life on Stage, the country music icon reflected on her decades-long career and revealed her simple secret to aging gracefully.

“You know, I have just been going so fast my whole life,” Parton told the publication. “And I just start thinking, ‘How in the world did I even have a life? How did I even get it done?’ I really realized when I was putting this book together just how much I had sacrificed in my life. I never had children, so at least I didn’t have a guilty feeling. I’m thankful that I got to see my dreams come true.”

Despite turning 80 next year, the “9 to 5” legend says she’s far from slowing down.

“People say, ‘Well, you’re going to be 80 years old.’ Well, so what? Look at all I’ve done in 80 years. I feel like I’m just getting started,” she marveled. “I know that sounds stupid, but unless my health gives way, which right now I seem to be doing fine . . . I think there’s a lot to be said about age. If you allow yourself to get old, you will. I say, ‘I ain’t got time to get old!’ I ain’t got time to dwell on that. That’s not what I’m thinking about.”

Instead, she’s focused on her career and her charitable efforts — and at the heart of it all, her goal is to do what she’s always done: stay true to herself.

“I don’t try to tell other people how to do it, how to be, but I know who I am,” Parton explained. “I’m a star to everybody but me. I’m just a working girl. I always just say that I’m a workhorse that looks like a show horse.” 

She continued, “I’m not trying to outdo anybody except me. I just want to be my best self at all times and try to improve every day. It wasn’t about just being rich; it was about being successful at what I love to do. Dreams nor wishes come true without a lot of hard work.”

Dolly Parton stands as one of the most celebrated and influential female singer-songwriters of all time. Over the course of her legendary career, she has earned 11 Grammy Awards and 55 nominations, including the prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award. A true icon across genres, Parton was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1999 and the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2022.

Beyond music, she’s a bestselling author with titles such as Songteller, Run, Rose, Run (co-written with James Patterson), Behind the Seams, and Good Lookin’ Cookin’. Through her beloved Imagination Library, Parton has donated more than 270 million books to children worldwide, a testament to her lifelong commitment to giving back.

The post At 79, Dolly Parton Says Age Is Just a Number: ‘I’m Just Getting Started’ appeared first on Country Now.

​Country Now

The lineup for the 59th Annual CMA Awards just got even bigger with the addition of Kelsea Ballerini, Brandi Carlile, Kenny Chesney, Riley Green, Miranda Lambert, Patty Loveless, Old Dominion, The Red Clay Strays, and Chris Stapleton.

Ballerini will make the television debut of her brand-new song, “I Sit In Parks,” while Carlile is set to deliver a “can’t-miss” performance.

Fresh off his Country Music Hall of Fame induction, Kenny Chesney will take the stage for a special moment honoring his milestone achievement.

Four-time nominee Riley Green will perform his fan-favorite track, “Worst Way,” and Patty Loveless will return to the spotlight for a rare, “show-stopping” appearance.

Old Dominion, the seven-time reigning CMA Vocal Group of the Year, will keep the energy high with a medley of their biggest hits, including “Break Up With Him,” “Memory Lane,” “One Man Band,” “Hotel Key,” and “Snapback.” Fellow nominees The Red Clay Strays will bring their signature Southern rock energy to “People Hatin’,” and Chris Stapleton will perform “Bad As I Used To Be” from F1: The Movie.

Additionally, CMA Female Vocalist of the Year nominee Miranda Lambert will join Stapleton for a performance of their duet “A Song To Sing.”

The newly announced performers join BigXThaPlug, Luke Combs, Ella Langley, Megan Moroney, Shaboozey, Zach Top, Tucker Wetmore, Lainey Wilson and Stephen Wilson Jr.    

Fans can expect CMA Awards presenters to be announced in the coming days. 

The 59th Annual CMA Awards, dubbed “Country Music’s Biggest Night” will be hosted by Lainey Wilson, who will take the reins as a solo host after co-hosting with Luke Bryan and Peyton Manning last year. 

“I grew up watching the CMA Awards like it was the Super Bowl, so to be hosting for a second year is a true honor,” Wilson previously shared. “I’m humbled that CMA has trusted me with this role, and I can’t wait to love on this genre that has given me so much.”

“Country Music’s Biggest Night” broadcasts live from Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Wednesday Nov. 19 (8:00-11:00 PM/ET) on ABC and is available next day on Hulu. 

The post Riley Green, Patty Loveless, Kenny Chesney, & Miranda Lambert Among Newly-Added CMA Awards Performers appeared first on Country Now.

​Country Now

Riley Green is celebrating a major milestone in his career with four CMA Award nominations this year. The country superstar, along with fellow Alabama native Ella Langley, is up for Single, Song, and Music Video of the Year for their hit collaboration “You Look Like You Love Me.” The pair is also nominated for Musical Event of the Year for “Don’t Mind If I Do.”

For Green, who has watched the CMA Awards for years as a fan, just being among the nominees is a huge honor.

“It’s never something that you really expect,” Green admits. “I always think about things as just a fan of country music because it’s not too long ago that I was, you know. And you see the names that are mentioned in winnin’ these awards and being nominated, and then to get kind of thrown in with that is always a big deal. And I’m excited to have it lifted up there with all these other great songs and collaborations.” 

With multiple nods this year, Green is clearly making his mark on country music, and fans will also want to tune in to the show as he was just announced among the latest round of performers for the show. 

According to the Country Music Association and ABC, Green will take the stage during “Country Music’s Biggest Night” to perform his chart-topping, self-written hit, “Worst Way.” 

In addition to Green, fans can look forward to performances by Kelsea Ballerini, Brandi Carlile, Kenny Chesney, Miranda Lambert, Patty Loveless, Old Dominion, The Red Clay Strays,Chris Stapleton. BigXThaPlug, Luke Combs, Ella Langley, Megan Moroney, Shaboozey, Zach Top, Tucker Wetmore, Lainey Wilson and Stephen Wilson Jr.   

Hosted by Lainey Wilson, “Country Music’s Biggest Night” broadcasts live from Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Wednesday Nov. 19 (8:00-11:00 PM/ET) on ABC and is available next day on Hulu. 

Following his big night at the CMA Awards, Green will return to the road for his final shows of the year, with dates planned in Lincoln, Nebraska, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, Little Rock, Arkansas, and more before closing out the year with back to back nights in Las Vegas. 

Afterward, Green will take some well-deserved downtime before heading to Mexico in January for Luke Bryan’s Crash My Playa and kicking off his 2026 headlining Cowboy As It Gets Tour.

He’ll start the year with a series of shows in Australia before returning stateside for what promises to be his biggest headlining tour yet. The run will feature Justin Moore as direct support, with special guests Drake White, Mackenzie Carpenter, Zach John King, Hannah McFarland, and Adam Hood joining on select dates.

Produced by Live Nation, the tour will bring Green to arenas and major cities across the U.S., including stops in Nashville, Alpharetta, Cleveland, Saratoga Springs, Salt Lake City, Hartford, and more.

Click HERE for a full list of dates and more info. 

The post Riley Green Still Can’t Believe He’s a CMA Nominee: ‘It’s Never Something You Really Expect’ appeared first on Country Now.

​Country Now

Jelly Roll recently wrapped a run of shows across Australia and New Zealand as part of his Down Under trek. While the trip gave him the chance to explore new places and connect with a fresh wave of fans, he admits it took both a mental and physical toll on him.

Sitting down on the No Filter podcast with Kate Langbroek, the country superstar admitted at the end of the trip he was feeling very ready to go home. Being that far away from his family and his place of comfort left him riddled with anxiety.  

“I’m doing the worst mentally I’ve done in a long time,” he said honestly.

A big part of what made this stretch so difficult for Jelly Roll was the loneliness. He explained that since they weren’t traveling by tour bus, he spent much more time alone in hotel rooms than he’s used to. The isolation hit hard, especially for someone who admits that even in a room full of people, he can often feel completely alone.

“I don’t like spending a lot of time in my hotel room by myself,” he shared. “I’m in my head. I’m not having fun — I want to go home.”

He continued, “It’s always a me thing. I’ve done a lot of work on the inner [and] I think now it’s being comfortable in who I’m becoming and where I’m at in my life.”

The loneliness wasn’t the only challenge Jelly Roll faced while down under. The Antioch, TN native also opened up about feeling physically unwell during the trip, largely due to the long flight. As someone who already struggles with stomach issues, he explained that the air pressure on planes left him feeling bloated and uncomfortable, which is something that weighed heavily on his mind throughout the entire duration of the journey.

“You spend the whole day thinking you’re fixing to s–t yourself, and really you’re just waiting for your body to relax enough to fart,” he said with a laugh. “I naturally have an uneasy stomach…when my stomach’s not right, nothing’s right. My mind’s not right, I’m not thinking clear, all I’m thinking about is why does my stomach feel this way?”

He claims that doing a lot of breathing exercises and talking himself into a calmer place has helped him in the past, but when that didn’t work, he knew that the best thing he needed was simply to go home.

“Everybody wants to go home when they’re sick,” he pointed out.

Despite how he was feeling, Jelly Roll still managed to perform several high-energy shows and sing along with his Australian and New Zealand fans. There was, however a night at the very end of the run when the singer/songwriter was forced to cancel a show in Auckland, New Zealand at the very last minute. He wrote fans a disheartening note, letting them know that he was feeling too under the weather to perform that night.

“Dear Auckland, I’ve done everything I can. I just can’t shake it,” he wrote via Instagram. “It breaks my heart — I’ve probably missed three shows in the last decade. I pride myself on showing up no matter what. Just couldn’t do it this time. Please forgive me.”

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Having to cancel a show is never easy for Jelly Roll, who has made it very clear how much his fans mean to him. As someone who has been very open about his daily struggles with depression and anxiety, he admits the stage is generally somewhere that makes him at ease, even if only for a few hours.

“It’s therapy for me,” Jelly Roll said of his performances. “I leave feeling the way I hope they leave. I always leave a little lighter a little more tired and a little more hopeful every show.” The “Liar” singer has officially returned home to Tennessee from the run overseas and is next slated to perform at the Corona Capital festival in Mexico City on November 15.

The post Jelly Roll Opens Up About Mental And Physical Struggles During Down Under Tour appeared first on Country Now.

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Since moving to Nashville, Preston Cooper has been able to meet a wide range of songwriters and influential figures in the music business who have helped him navigate the Nashville music scene. He credits a lot of these opportunities to hit songwriters The Warren Brothers whom he met before making the transition to Music City.

One of the biggest highlights Cooper has experienced since moving to town was when he got the chance to write with country legend Vince Gill. The rising star recalls watching the “When I Call Your Name” singer work his magic on guitar and vocals and trying to learn as much as he could from the experienced artist.

“Yeah, writing with Vince Gill, you know, pullin’ up to his house and he comes out, and he’s like, ‘Are you Preston?’ ‘Yes I am.’ And inviting me in, such a nice guy. Very nice.  And I just kinda let him take the lead on the writing process because it’s just so cool watching him do his thing and put his guitar playing and voice on a song,” Cooper admitted.

In addition to getting to pen a song together, the Ohio native says Gill also offered him some advice that has stuck with him.

“And he just told me, ‘If you’re gonna do it, just have fun doing it. Always have fun doing what you’re doing.’ And that’s something I’m definitely gonna remember from that, for sure.”

Vince Gill is certainly an artist who has the experience and resume to prove he’s a good friend and mentor to have in the industry. The Oklahoma native has released 20 albums, sold more than 30 million records, charted 45 singles, earned a plethora of various awards and the list goes on.

Next week, he will once again live up to his title as one of Country Music’s most celebrated artists when he receives the 2025 CMA Willie Nelson Lifetime Achievement Award at the upcoming award show.

The Country Music Association revealed that he will be celebrated for this honor during “Country Music Biggest Night” with a special tribute performance. 

Between this interaction with Vince Gill and all the other milestones that Preston Cooper has crossed off in recent months, it’s safe to say he has had a momentous year.

Another highlight came on October 24 when he made his Grand Ole Opry debut after receiving the coveted invite from Riley Green during a performance at Red Rocks Amphitheatre. Cooper was serving as direct support on Green’s Damn Country Music Tour at the time.

“Hearing from Riley Green that I’d be playing the Opry – while standing on stage in front of a sold-out crowd at Red Rocks – was absolutely mind-blowing,” Cooper reflects. “I still can’t believe it actually happened. Playing the Grand Ole Opry has been a dream of mine for as long as I can remember. Words can’t express how thankful I am for this opportunity.”

This night was followed by the release of his debut album, Toledo Talkin’.” The collection of stories hones in on authenticity and powerful storytelling, told directly from Cooper’s standout vocals, making it clear why the album has earned such widespread critical acclaim among his fans.

With his debut album still gaining attention, his single “Weak” having its moment on Country radio, and even more excitement on the horizon, Preston Cooper is solidifying his place as one of Country music’s most promising new voices.

The post Rising Star Preston Cooper Shares the Advice Vince Gill Gave Him That He’ll Never Forget appeared first on Country Now.

​Country Now

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