Categories
Music

Walker Hayes Pens Heartfelt Message Celebrating Daughter Lela’s New Milestone In Cosmetology Journey

Walker Hayes is celebrating a special milestone for his oldest daughter, Lela, as she progresses in her cosmetology career.

Back in July, Hayes and his family came together to celebrate Lela’s graduation from cosmetology school. In a new video, he shared a heartfelt message praising her dedication and hard work, while also revealing her latest achievement of completing all the required hours to take the state exam and move one step closer to officially earning her license.

In his moving statement the country star began, “People are amazing. Lela just loved hair and make up so she signed up for school. Did the thing. And now she’s ready to take her tests.”

He added that watching her dedication and perseverance has been one of his proudest moments as a father, highlighting how rewarding it is to see her passion turn into real achievement.

“She let me do the flashcards etc. so I know she’s ready,” he beamed. “Just really cool to watch my daughter work at something. Try, fail, try again, fail again, and ultimately finish a course in a field that she absolutely loves.”

Walker Hayes also took a moment to express his appreciation for the people who guided Lela along the way.

Walker Hayes, with Wife, Laney and Daughter, Lela; Photo Courtesy Walker Hayes
Walker Hayes, with Wife, Laney and Daughter, Lela

“So, so, so grateful for the teachers and students where she attended. As a parent I don’t trust most people pouring into my children. That’s probably because I know how much I love my kids and how much I fail as a father. It’s like…I can give them my baggage but I don’t want anyone else to😂😂 Lela was taken care of by her teachers and her friends. Just really grateful this morning for the whole experience. For her. For life. For Jesus and free haircuts.”

He ended the message by sharing a few more words of encouragement for Lela, and expressing how confident he is in the impact she’ll have on others

“Lela, you’re a badass and every human that sits in your chair will leave better than you found them,” Hayes concluded.

The video that was paired with the kind statement showed Hayes asking his daughter how it felt to be done with her cosmetology hours, to which she responded with a happy dance and a cheerful, “Pretty good.”

They explained that she needed 1,500 hours to complete the program and that journey took about two years while balancing time on tour with her dad. When asked if it had all been worth it, Lela confidently declared, “Definitely.”

Hayes once again praised her for being a “hard worker” and said, “I’m proud of you, Lela,” while her mom also chimed in to express her pride. Lela is now set to take her state licensing exam, which she revealed should take place “hopefully” within the next two weeks.

Walker Hayes; Photo by Emma Delevante
Walker Hayes; Photo by Emma Delevante

The Alabama native has always made it a point to be a proud and present father to his six children whom he shared with his wife, Laney. That love and dedication to his role as a dad has also spilled into his music, inspiring several heartfelt tracks on his new album, 17 Problems.

To support the album, he’ll be hitting the road on the Walker Hayes: Unplugged Tour. The 18-date trek promises fans a stripped-down, acoustic experience, giving them an intimate look at Hayes himself and the stories behind his songs. He will kick off the run on October 17 in Duluth, MN.

The post Walker Hayes Pens Heartfelt Message Celebrating Daughter Lela’s New Milestone In Cosmetology Journey appeared first on Country Now.

​Country Now

Categories
Music

Jason Aldean Hints at Multiple Collaborations on Upcoming Album

Jason Aldean’s next album is shaping up to be a surprise-filled collection that his listeners, old and new, aren’t going to want to skip. The country star recently revealed that fans can expect multiple collaborations on the project. While he didn’t drop any names, Aldean confirmed to Audacy that at least three guest features are already locked in.

“We got some cool guest appearances. I don’t wanna give anything away yet because we haven’t really kind of let the cat out of the bag on that. But, I can tell you there’s three for sure,” he shared.

Jason Aldean; Photo by Matt Paskert
Jason Aldean; Photo by Matt Paskert

The Georgia native went on to note that he will be joined by some fellow singer/songwriters who he holds in high regard. “I love working with other artists and just people that I admire and look up to, and, we’re able to do that on this album got a couple of surprises, man.”

“It’s gonna be a great record and really proud of this thing,” he added.

Jason Aldean; Photo by Jeff Johnson
Jason Aldean; Photo by Jeff Johnson

Earlier this year, Aldean had also dropped the hint to Taste of Country that there were going to be some duets interlaced among “a lot of songs.” At the time, he explained that he still hasn’t solidified the right vocalist for a few of the duets.

“It’s been a cool project,” Aldean previously told the outlet. “A lot of songs. Couple duets in there too, so it’s gonna be pretty cool … There’s a couple of songs in the works that I know are going to be duets. Then there’s one, maybe two that we still kind of haven’t found our partner for that yet.”

The first taste of the new music dropped this month with Aldean’s brand-new single, “How Far Does A Goodbye Go,” the nostalgic track that follows the story of a man grappling with heartbreak while simultaneously facing uncertainty as he wonders if his partner has just stepped out temporarily or walked away for good.

Along with teasing the new music in his chat with Audacy, Aldean also reflected on the way his fanbase has been evolving, which is something he’s taken note of while out on the road with his Full Throttle Tour this year.

“The fact that 20 years later we’re playing and we’re looking out and you’re seeing 16, 17, 18, 19, 20 year old kids coming out to the show still into what we’re doing. They love the new stuff and kind of love the old stuff.”

“It’s just kind of crazy to see what our fan base has become. We had our fans that kind of grew with us over the years, and you kind of got this wave of new fans that are discovering it for the first time, or maybe just were kids growing up and we kind of hit the scene, now they’re old enough to come out to the shows and things like that. So they’re showing up and it’s been a really cool year for us,” he added.

Aldean recently added nine new U.S. stops to his current headline tour, extending it into 2026 with support from Nate Smith, Lanie Gardner, and Dee Jay Silver. Produced by Live Nation, the new run kicks off January 15 at Simmons Bank Arena in North Little Rock, AR. 

Along the run, he will also return to Australia for the first time since 2016 and launch his first-ever headlining shows in New Zealand.

The post Jason Aldean Hints at Multiple Collaborations on Upcoming Album appeared first on Country Now.

​Country Now

Categories
Music

JUST IN: Cody Johnson Cancels Two Ohio Shows

Cody Johnson has announced the cancelation of two shows this weekend after revealing he has fallen sick and lost his voice as a result.

A new post to Instagram includes a statement addressed to all the fans who were looking forward to attending his back-to-back weekend of concerts at the Nationwide Arena in Columbus, OH. The performances were originally set to take place on Friday, Sept. 19 with special guests Clint Black and Drew Baldridge and Saturday, Sept. 20 with special guests Ian Munsick and Walker Montgomery.

Johnson shared the unfortunate news that following last weekend’s shows in Nebraska, a mild cold started to creep in and has now escalated into a worse illness that includes the loss of his singing voice, a severe cough and a burning chest and throat.

The message read, “TO ALL THE FANS ATTENDING MY SHOWS THIS WEEKEND IN COLUMBUS, OHIO: I arrived home Monday after my shows in Nebraska feeling fine. Tuesday, I felt like I was coming down with a mild cold. I took every precaution that I could; IV’s, meds, even sweated in the sauna… Unfortunately today I woke up without a singing voice; severe cough, burning chest and throat.”

He apologized for all the fans who purchased tickets and were excited to see him take the stage this weekend. While he took every precaution and tried various methods to overcome the sickness, it wasn’t enough to pull him through.

“I’m so sorry for the disappointment and inconvenience. I love all of you, and I’m very appreciative of your understanding and loyalty. I hate letting you guys down, but the last thing I want is for y’all to spend your money and time on a show that I don’t think is ‘me at my best’.”

The Texas artist went on to ask for understanding as he chose to reschedule the dates instead of trying to deliver a show that he knows would be less than his best. While the new dates have not yet been secured, he explained they will take place sometime within 2026.

“My team is working on rescheduling these shows in 2026!! I hope to see you then.”

Cody Johnson is set to return to the stage on October 18 with a stop in Pittsburgh, PA. A full list of upcoming shows, including dates with Bailey Zimmerman and Jelly Roll across the U.S., Australia, the UK, Netherlands and Germany can be found on his official website.

The post JUST IN: Cody Johnson Cancels Two Ohio Shows appeared first on Country Now.

​Country Now

Categories
Music

BREAKING: Grammy-Winning Songwriter Brett James Dies in Tragic Plane Crash at 57

Grammy-winning songwriter and Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame member Brett James has died in a tragic plane crash, according to multiple sources.

According to WLOS, a small plane went down in Macon County near Franklin, North Carolina, around 3 p.m. EST on Thursday, September 18. Authorities confirmed that none of the three passengers on board survived. The FAA reports that the aircraft was registered to Brett Cornelius of Brentwood, Tennessee.

Records show that the plane had departed from John C. Tune Airport in Nashville before the crash.

Brett James; Photo by Andrew Wendowski
Brett James; Photo by Andrew Wendowski

Brett James was born on June 5, 1968, in Columbia, Missouri. He initially intended to pursue a medical degree, but midway through medical school, he left college to follow his passion for music. He was signed to Arista Nashville’s imprint Career Records as a solo artist and released his solo album in 1995.

He found great success as a songwriter and is credited for writing hundreds of songs, including major cuts by Carrie Underwood (“Jesus, Take The Wheel”, “Cowboy Casanova”), “Kenny Chesney (“When The Sun Goes Down”, “Out Last Night,” “Keg In the Closet”), Dierks Bentley (“I Hold On”), Jason Aldean (“The Truth”), and Rascal Flatts (“Summer Nights”). 

He was inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2020. That night, Carrie Underwood, Gordie Sampson and Hillary Lindsey took the stage to honor him with a touching performance of “Jesus Take the Wheel” which earned the 2006 GRAMMY for Best Country Song and 2005 ACM Single of the Year trophy.

He called his induction “truly the greatest honor of my life.”  

As news of his tragic passing spread, artists and friends began sharing heartfelt condolences on social media, with Sara Evans among the first to post.

“I am absolutely devastated at the loss of one of the best writers I’ve ever written with and recorded several of his songs. Brett James. I’m praying for his loved ones. What a tragic and sad day. He will be so missed.”

Chris Blair, owner of Nashville’s The Listening Room Cafe, shared the heartbreaking news, admitting “Nashville won’t be same without you in it, Brett James.”

Fellow songwriter Jessi Alexander shared, “So many fun nights on stage we shared and memories we made traveling around making music together. He lived large and always made me feel special. Music Row will never be the same.”

Brett James was a beloved member of the Nashville music community, and his passing is a tremendous loss. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family, friends, and all who loved him.

The post BREAKING: Grammy-Winning Songwriter Brett James Dies in Tragic Plane Crash at 57 appeared first on Country Now.

​Country Now

Categories
Music

Mega Home Decor Retail Chain Shutting Down Locations Nationwide

At Home is trimming its footprint, closing 30 stores across the country as it battles debt and shifting shopping habits. Let’s unpack what this means for shoppers. Continue reading…

​Country Music News – Taste of Country

Categories
Music

Lady A’s Charles Kelley, Wife Cassie Welcome Their Second Child

The couple are overjoyed with their new addition. Continue reading…

​Country Music News – Taste of Country

Categories
Music

Old Dominion Scrap Tour Dates After Whit Sellers’ Back Injury

Two of the concerts have been rescheduled for December while the third was just canceled. Continue reading…

​Country Music News – Taste of Country

Categories
Music

Reba McEntire + Miranda Lambert Are WAY Different in One Key Way

‘What person lets that come out of their mouth?’ McEntire recalls thinking after one memorable conversation with Lambert. Continue reading…

​Country Music News – Taste of Country

Categories
Music

‘Jimmy Kimmel Live!’ Suspended After Charlie Kirk Comments

ABC and affiliate partner Nexstar have suspended the show indefinitely. Continue reading…

​Country Music News – Taste of Country

Categories
Music

‘Sweet Magnolias’ Wraps Filming for Season 5

Sweet Magnolias fans just got one step closer to seeing Season 5 coming their way. Continue reading…

​Country Music News – Taste of Country