This protein-packed snack – or recipe ingredient – doesn’t have to be laborious. Make it easy on yourself and try this method for painless peeling.
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Alan Jackson and his wife, Denise, are celebrating a new addition to their growing family.
The country music icon took to social media to announce the arrival of their fifth grandchild, sharing a sweet first photo of their newest grandson, Samuel Hudson Carrington, who will go by Hudson. The baby is the first child for Jackson’s youngest daughter, Dani Grace Carrington, and her husband, Sam.
Alongside the heartwarming snapshot, Jackson shared his excitement over the family’s newest blessing.
“Denise and I are overjoyed to announce the birth of our fifth grandchild, Samuel Hudson Carrington (Hudson), born July 9 to Dani and her husband Sam,” Jackson wrote.
Hudson joins Jackson and Denise’s growing family of grandchildren. Their daughter, Alexandra “Ali” Bradshaw, and her husband, Sam Bradshaw, are parents to son Jackson Alvie, who was born in 2022, and daughter Parker Anne, who arrived earlier in 2026. Their eldest daughter, Mattie Jackson Smith, and her husband, Connor Smith, share two children as well: son Wesley Alan Smith, born in 2024, and daughter Charlotte Ann “Charlie” Smith, who was welcomed in 2026.
The family news comes just days after Alan Jackson closed out his legendary touring career with his final concert in Nashville, where more than 80,000 fans gathered across Music City to celebrate the country icon during an unforgettable evening.
Fans who weren’t able to attend, or those hoping to relive the historic night, will soon have the chance to experience it again. Jackson is set to release the performance as a live album, Last Call: One More for the Road – The Finale (Live from Nashville), later this year. Pre-orders are available now, and according to his official website, the album is expected to ship on December 31, 2026.
All three of Jackson’s daughters, Mattie, Ali, and Dani, were there to witness the milestone moment. Following the show, Mattie took to social media to reflect on her father’s iconic career.
“There’s no telling what number show this was for me in 36 years. But it’s one I’ll never ever forget. We’ve always been so proud of @officialalanjackson, of course. But it’s easy to lose sight of just how remarkable his life and career has been when it’s always been the ‘normal’ backdrop to your life,” she wrote.
Later, she added, “Saturday was anything but normal. His music has transcended generations. His words have both healed and celebrated real people’s lives in their broken and beautiful moments. He’s always sung the truth which is why fans always come back.”
The show was also filmed for an NBC special, which will air later this year.
The post Alan Jackson’s Family Just Got Bigger: Country Icon Welcomes Fifth Grandchild appeared first on Country Now.
Country Now
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On the Fourth of July, Bunnie Xo was caught locking lips with Dylan Wolf.
She’s 46 and has scarcely started the divorce process. Also, it was her ex’s bar.
Meanwhile, the reality TV personality is 24.
Plenty of people have opinions. But what does Jelly Roll think?
He has ‘no issue at all’ with it
Footage of Bunnie Xo’s makeout with Dylan Wolf made headlines after Fourth of July weekend.
A major point that people made when reacting was the location.
Bunnie and Dylan locked lips at Goodnight Nashville.
Jason Bradley DeFord, whom most know as Jelly Roll, owns the bar.
Was Bunnie trying to send a message to DeFord or others? Does he feel some kind of way about the PDA?
According to Bunnie, DeFord “gets it” and actually had “no issue at all” with the steamy kissing session.
“I also have a floor there,” she explained on her Dumb Blonde podcast on Friday, July 10.
“I also feel very safe there. I also feel protected there. That’s our home,” she raved.
“If I’m gonna land at any bar, I’m gonna do it at Goodnight Nashville,” Bunnie added.
Notably, it really sounds almost like a promo for her ex’s bar. Which makes a lot of sense in terms of why he wouldn’t mind. All of this is good publicity.
‘I had fun,’ but …
As for the makeout session, Bunnie explained that she had been on the roof to watch the fireworks.
She explained that she is “living my life out loud and not trying to hide anything” post-split.
Bunnie did acknowledge that she as “learned I cannot do anything out in public like that.”
Not without getting photographed, that is.
Though Bunnie plans to “move forward with a lot more integrity and class,” she shared: “I had fun.”
“I am healing out loud. So what I had fun under the fireworks?” Bunnie reasoned.
She expressed: “I hope I get kissed under 10 more fireworks.” We hope so, too!
Bunnie did clarify that she and Wolf are not dating. And not only because she was already old enough to drink when he was conceived.
“I do not want to be with anybody. There is an icebox where my heart is supposed to be. That s–t is chained up,” she characterized relatably.
Bunnie then affirmed: “Your girl is just out here having fun, living my best life.” Good for her!
What Does Jelly Roll Think of Bunnie Xo Kissing 24-Year-Old Dylan Wolf at His Bar? was originally published on The Hollywood Gossip.
The Hollywood Gossip
Coco Jones has released her new single “Body So Tea” through High Standardz and Def Jam Recordings. Produced by Stargate, Jasper and Hiddie, the track centers on beauty, confidence and self-acceptance. The release places Jones back in a solo spotlight after a year that has included new music, touring and acting projects.
“Body So Tea” arrives after Jones released the deluxe edition of her debut album, Why Not More? (MORE!). The expanded set included “Other Side of Love,” a collaboration with Alicia Keys. The original version of Why Not More? earned Jones her eighth career Grammy nomination and posted a Top 10 debut on the Billboard 200. The album also opened at No. 1 on the New R&B Artist Debut chart and No. 1 in Current R&B Album Sales. Its release marked Jones’ first full-length project after a series of singles and an EP.
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Jones released Why Not More? in 2025, with “Taste” later reaching No. 1 at R&B radio. She followed the album with a sold-out tour across the United States and Europe. Her current run continues a recording career that accelerated after she signed with High Standardz and Def Jam in 2022 and released the EP What I Didn’t Tell You. That project included “ICU,” which was certified platinum and reached No. 1 on Billboard’s R&B Airplay chart.
In 2024, “ICU” won the Grammy Award for Best R&B Performance after Jones received five nominations, including Best New Artist. She returned to the Grammys in 2025 with nominations for Best R&B Performance and Best R&B Song, then received a Best R&B Album nomination at the 2026 ceremony for Why Not More?. Raised in Nashville, Jones began recording at age 9 before building parallel careers in music and television. Outside music, Jones returned as Hilary Banks for the fourth and final season of Peacock’s Bel-Air in 2026. She also appears in Malcolm D. Lee’s thriller Strung on Peacock and stars in the upcoming romantic comedy That’s Her, which she executive produced.
Listen to Coco Jones’ Body So Tea here.
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The prolonged public absence of Mitch McConnell has spawned increasingly credible conspiracy theories that he has died.
Some believe that he may be being kept “alive” via machine to wait out the August 3 deadline for a special election.
His constituents deserve answers. So do the rest of the American people.
But this video of him being loaded into an ambulance and rushed to the hospital is not exactly reassuring.
He did not enter the ambulance under his own power
CNN has obtained a video from one of McConnell’s neighbors.
The footage, which dates to Sunday, June 14, shows emergency responders removing the former Senate Majority Leader from his home on a stretcher.
As the video continues, they work with all due haste to place him on the back of the ambulance.
Though McConnell is covered by a blanket and his face does not appear on camera, one bare foot does poke out from beneath the covers.
Two ambulances, a fire truck, and Capitol Police all filled the street, causing the commotion that prompted the neighbor to investigate — and film.
To be clear, the neighbor was not able to confirm with first responders whether or not it was McConnell on the stretcher.
The individual did ask, but received no response.
(It would not be great if Capitol Police identified patients.)
However, the neighbor spoke with an eyewitness who had confirmed seeing McConnell’s face.
Notably, McConnell’s office would go on to issue a statement confirming that he had been admitted to the hospital that morning — without sharing further details of import.
What is this really about?
In the weeks that have followed (more than three, at this point), the claim that McConnell is alive and well has come under a lot of scrutiny.
The 84-year-old politician has not spoken to the public.
Several Republican lawmakers have claimed to have spoken to him, often for extended conversations. However, no credible individuals have confirmed that he is even alive, let alone conscious.
Some believe that he may be brain-dead but on life support. If he remains “alive” (on paper, at least) until August 3, Kentucky can avoid a special election.
Even Kentucky’s governor is asking for real answers.
Critics have accused those responsible for this of elder abuse.
Certainly, it would be cruel to keep someone barely alive simply to avoid a political procedure.
Others have argued that, given his political history, having his barely-not-a-corpse body used as a political prop in order to circumvent the democratic process is exactly what McConnell would have wanted.
Ultimately, however, this isn’t about McConnell. It’s about his constituents in Kentucky. It’s also about the American people, who are missing a Senator.
If McConnell is dead, he leaves a legacy of brutal political strategies that undercut democracy and paved the way for Donald Trump to seize power, however much the two may dislike each other. If he is alive … surely he could just call in to a news network and say hi, right?
Mitch McConnell Hauled Onto Ambulance in Chilling Video Prior to Prolonged … was originally published on The Hollywood Gossip.
The Hollywood Gossip
David Snead, director of the Secure Hosting Alliance and a long-time Internet policy leader, shares his perspective on the complexities that emerge when technological solutions like age verification are implemented in the digital infrastructure space. Dave’s reflection highlights how the push for more secure, regulated environments can unintentionally create barriers for vulnerable or less tech-savvy […]WordPress Planet
There was a steak dinner, available from the 1990s until the 2010s, that Cracker Barrel servers and customers recall with nostalgia (and hunger).
Food Republic – Restaurants, Reviews, Recipes, Cooking Tips
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Reality stars are used to offering up public confessions about embarrassing parts of their private lives.
But Real Housewives of Orange County star Jennifer Pedranti probably never imagined that she would be offering up such a shocking revelation about her own son.
Pedranti spoke out this week amid reports that linked one of her sons to a Southern California brush fire.
The Bravo vet confirmed Thursday that one of her children was involved in the incident, though she stressed that the family is taking the situation very seriously.
“I would like to clear up the rumblings of my son having involvement in the Ladera Ranch fire,” Jennifer wrote on her Instagram Stories.
“He and others were involved.”
Jennifer, who shares five children with ex-husband William Pedranti, did not reveal which of her four sons was involved.
“My ex husband and myself take this very serious,” she continued.
“This behavior is unacceptable and we are deeply sorry to our community. This is a tough learning moment for our son and our family.”
Jennifer also praised first responders for preventing the situation from becoming much worse.
“We were so thankful there was no property damage and nobody was hurt. The fire and police were absolutely amazing and gave these boys a lesson they will never forget.”
According to Jennifer, her son was not arrested but will still face consequences at home.
“He will be taking a fire safety course to make sure a mistake like this never happens again,” she explained. “There are consequences within our family and we will make sure our son learns from this accident.”
The brush fire broke out Tuesday afternoon in Ladera Ranch, California, eventually burning roughly seven acres.
Firefighters mounted an aggressive response from both the ground and the air, successfully containing the blaze before it could spread to nearby homes.
Officials reported no injuries and no property damage. Authorities also confirmed that no arrests were made, though the cause of the fire remains under investigation.
Jennifer, who joined The Real Housewives of Orange County as a full-time cast member in Season 17, has largely kept her family life out of the spotlight.
But with Season 20 now underway, the reality star chose to address the incident head-on, acknowledging her son’s involvement while making it clear her family intends to treat the matter as a serious lesson rather than simply moving on.
Southern California was ravaged by wildfires in 2025, and millions of residents who lost their homes are still struggling to rebuild their lives.
So while the actions of Jennifer’s son might be shockingly ignorant, hopefully her fellow SoCal residents can find solace in the fact that she’s taking the situation very seriously.
We will have further updates on this developing story as new information becomes available.
Jennifer Pedranti, RHOC Star, Admits Son Started California Wildfire was originally published on The Hollywood Gossip.
The Hollywood Gossip
The Alaska State Capitol is seen on Thursday, July 9, 2026. (James Brooks photo/Alaska Beacon)
Alaska Gov. Mike Dunleavy on Thursday vetoed a bill that would have reimposed limits on the amount of money that individual people can donate to political candidates.
The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals overturned Alaska’s prior limits in 2021, and the Dunleavy administration declined to appeal the decision. Alaska has been without limits on political contributions since then.
At the time of the court decision, Dunleavy said he was opposed to campaign finance limits, and in a veto message Thursday, he expressly stated that he opposed capping the amount of money that someone can give a political candidate.
Counterintuitively, some proponents of limits on campaign cash said they were pleased with the governor’s veto of House Bill 16.
A ballot measure identical to the vetoed bill is slated for statewide vote in the Aug. 18 primary election. Ballots for that election have already been printed and are being sent this week to military voters overseas.
Under the Alaska Constitution, if lawmakers enact a substantially similar law to a ballot measure scheduled for a vote, the ballot measure vote is canceled.
“If the bill had passed, any votes for or against the measure would not have been counted,” said Stephen Kirch, a spokesman for the Alaska Division of Elections.
Now, the measure will go forward and those votes will be counted.
In addition, the governor’s veto fixes a problem with the start date of HB 16. As written, the bill would have taken effect after the 2026 election.
But under the Alaska Constitution, a bill automatically takes effect 90 days after enactment unless a supermajority of lawmakers vote for something different.
When HB 16 passed the House, opponents of the bill voted against the so-called “effective date” clause. As a result, had the bill become law, it would have taken effect in the middle of this fall’s elections, instead of after them.
The Alaska Public Offices Commission, which would have been in charge of implementing the new limits, held an emergency closed-door conference with its attorneys last month to discuss the problem.
“What was concerning was the dilemma that I think APOC and most importantly candidates would have been facing … in trying to implement it somewhere between the primary and the general elections,” said former Alaska Attorney General Bruce Botelho, a supporter of both HB 16 and the identical ballot measure.
Rep. Calvin Schrage, I-Anchorage, sponsored both the ballot measure and HB 16. By text message, he said he was disappointed by the governor’s veto.
“Fortunately, the ultimate power in Alaska doesn’t rest in the governor’s office; it rests with the people. This issue will be on the ballot this August, and I look forward to Alaskans expressing their will at the polls,” he said.
Supporters of the campaign finance ballot measure are confident it will pass muster at the polls. In 2006, 73% of participating voters approved a prior measure; the limits that measure imposed were the ones canceled by the 9th Circuit in 2021.
The Alaska Legislature attempted and failed to pass new limits in 2022 and 2024 before passing HB 16 on the last day of the 2026 regular session.
If voters approve the new-limit ballot measure in August, individuals would be limited to giving $2,000 per donor per candidate in each two-year election cycle.
For the governor’s race, where a lieutenant governor candidate and governor candidate run together on a single ticket, the limit would be $4,000. The limit for donations from one person to a political party or group would be $5,000.
If a group wants to donate to a candidate, the limit is $4,000 per candidate, or $8,000 for the governor’s race.
Those limits would be adjusted for inflation every 10 years.
In his veto message, Dunleavy said he believes the limits would give an advantage to wealthy candidates who can fund their own campaigns.
“It restricts ordinary political participation while leaving personal wealth as a preferred path to political influence. This bill, if it became law, would radically tilt in the favor of the wealthy when it comes to elected office,” the governor said of HB 16.
“Free speech and participation in elections should not depend on personal wealth. Alaska should not make it harder for citizens to support candidates while preserving a built-in advantage for those who can self-fund.”
By text, Schrage said limits are important for protecting the integrity of candidates and elected officials while fighting corruption.
“All Alaskans deserve a government that answers to them, not to well-funded special interests,” he said.
Steve Wariner sang one of the most recognizable TV theme songs of the 80s — and the producers had no idea who he really was. Continue reading…The Boot – Country Music News, Music Videos and Songs