This collaboration really is full circle for Shania. Continue reading…The Boot – Country Music News, Music Videos and Songs
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15 Dishes No One Wants At Your BBQ
The menu is an important element of any successful barbecue. If you’re in charge of hosting, make sure to avoid these dishes no one wants to eat at a bbq.
Mashed – Fast Food, Celebrity Chefs, Grocery, Reviews
The wonderful thing about cheese and fruit is that you can find something delicious at almost any price point, and your pairings can be approachable or niche.
Food Republic – Restaurants, Reviews, Recipes, Cooking Tips
Here are some amazing ways to add red wine to the classic lunch dish that’ll have you smiling with each bite. You’ll never want grilled cheese without it again.
Mashed – Fast Food, Celebrity Chefs, Grocery, Reviews
LOS ANGELES STADIUM — All it took was one unlucky loss in the USA’s dead-rubber final group-stage game of the 2026 FIFA World Cup for Mauricio Pochettino to reveal the immense pressure he knows he’s under. Hired to be the men’s national team’s savior when the U.S. Soccer Federation backed up the Brinks truck — with the help of some deep-pocketed angel investors — to lure one of the world’s most highly regarded coaches to what European and South American elitists have always derided as a relative backwater, we’re about to find out if Pochettino is worth his hefty price tag. The U.S. will face Bosnia and Herzegovina on Wednesday with a spot in the Round of 16 on the line. The Americans are the favorites, and their fans are expecting — demanding — a win. For all the good vibes and good publicity that the former Paris Saint-Germain manager engendered by opening the tournament with convincing wins over Paraguay and Australia, that won’t matter if he drops this next one. Those are the stakes. And for Pochettino, it’s not a great position to be in. This U.S. team should beat the Bosnians. But it won’t be easy. Anything can happen in one match. An own goal. An early red card. And if they lose, the reasons won’t matter. After a hot start, at the first World Cup on home soil in 32 years, losing that one game would instantly render the entire Pochettino experiment a missed opportunity. Sitting behind the mahogany desk in his office at the Ritz-Carlton hotel in nearby Orange County two nights before a reserve-heavy U.S. lineup lost 3-2 to Türkiye on Thursday, Pochettino was as charming as could be. For 30 minutes, the charismatic 54-year-old laughed and joked with a small group of reporters. He insisted that he’d slept like a baby the night before the Stars and Stripes’ World Cup opening 4-1 win over the Paraguayans, utterly convinced as he was that his beloved players would perform. Toward the end of the roundtable session, I asked him if he’d be as relaxed when the knockout stage arrived. “It needs to be the same,” he told me, which is not the same as saying that it will be. “We need to prepare [for] the game, not thinking about ‘if we don’t win.’” Unpleasant as the thought is, this match against Bosnia and Herzegovina has “trap game” written all over it. In Pochettino’s 29 outings since taking over the U.S. program in October 2024, he’s faced European foes six times — including Thursday — and lost every single one. The cold reality is that the outcome of this next game is probably close to a coin flip, and the World Cup co-hosts have a lot more to lose than to gain. The U.S. has reached the round of 16 at the last three World Cups it has participated in. After Thursday’s loss, a visibly upset Pochettino struck an inexplicably defensive tone. “No one congratulated us [for] finish[ing] first in a very difficult group,” he chastised the media members in the room, as if that’s a normal thing, as if the coverage of his team at this World Cup hasn’t been almost universally positive — including the game that had just ended. Granted, this was a hugely inexperienced lineup (just three of Pochettino’s starters had ever started a World Cup game before, with two making their tournament debut) that had played well despite the defeat. But a far weaker U.S. team survived a far tougher group in 2014, one that featured African power Ghana, a Portugal side led by an in-his-prime Cristiano Ronaldo and eventual champion Germany. Four years earlier, Bob Bradley’s squad topped a quartet containing England. Gregg Berhalter got to the round of 16 in 2022 with the youngest starting lineup in Qatar. And of course, Bruce Arena posted the USA’s lone World Cup knockout win in 2002, almost a quarter-century ago. So far, Pochettino has accomplished nothing close with his U.S. team. Not yet. That doesn’t mean that he can’t. He’s probably got a deeper roster than any of his predecessors. But now, because of the expanded format, he needs to win another game just to equal what his American-born predecessors managed time and again. And none of those men had the huge advantage that comes with home fans supporting them. The only one that did was Bora Milutinović, who took the U.S. to the round of 16 way back in 1994, losing 1-0 to Brazil — another eventual titlist — with a squad that only had seven players under contract with professional clubs. No wonder Pochettino is on edge. For a coach who has admitted that he’d like to return to the English Premier League, getting eliminated in the round of 32 on the biggest stage possible, by an inferior opponent, could do lasting, potentially irreparable harm to his global reputation. Surely he knows that, too. To be clear, this current U.S. team is absolutely capable of outperforming any that came before it. A quarterfinal trip is realistic. I’ve said consistently that, if they play as well as they can and get a little luck along the way, a semifinal berth is possible. “In 2002, when I was involved in the World Cup [as a defender for Argentina], South Korea was in the semifinal,” Pochettino, riding the high of being 2-0 at the time, said last week. “Morocco was in the [semis] also in Qatar [in 2022],” he added. “Why not us?” Well, getting anywhere close starts with a victory next week. The U.S. can do it, no question. The country fell in love with this team over the last two weeks for good reason. They play hard. They score goals. They’re good guys who care. They know that this summer represents a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for the sport in this country, and they’ll do everything possible to seize it. No World Cup game is a forgone conclusion, but I firmly believe that the U.S. will beat Bosnia and Herzegovina on July 1 in Santa Clara. I’m sure of it. For Pochettino’s sake, they’d better.Latest Sports News from FOX Sports
Country Music Hall of Famer Ricky Skaggs returns with his first new release in over a decade with the powerful “Say A Prayer.”
Out now via Skaggs Family Records and distributed by Virgin Music Group, the song was written by Gordon Kennedy and Ben Cooper in response to the struggles impacting communities worldwide. The track explores themes of faith, reflection, and coming together.
Ahead of the song’s release, Skaggs spoke with Country Now backstage at CMA Fest, where he joined Carly Pearce and Molly Tuttle for a special performance of “From Now On” on the Nissan Stadium stage. Moments before taking the stage, the 15-time GRAMMY winner shared the story behind the song, revealing that he originally recorded it more than 15 years ago with plans to include it on his 2010 album Mosaic.
“It’s a song I recorded right at the end of a gospel CD that I did called Mosaic…we recorded it but just didn’t feel like it was to go on that CD. And so we’ve held onto it for all these years,” Skaggs revealed.
The eight-time CMA Award winner explained that he felt now was the perfect time to release the song given the current state of the world.
“But right now with the way the world is, the way everything’s going on in our world, in our life, I felt like it was the right time for a message like ‘Say A Prayer’ because it talks about war. It talks about greed and it talks about all these things,” he shared. “I see the self-made reach for the top, always an uphill climb. I see the humble down on their knees and a God who listens every time we say a prayer.”
In a statement, Skaggs further explained the meaning behind the song, saying, “The song addresses a world carrying a lot of grief right now, serving as a universal call for everyone to stop and lean into faith.”
“Say A Prayer” blends country, bluegrass, and rock influences, featuring a unique mix of instrumentation including sitar, fiddle, mandolin, and banjo. The track also includes background vocals from Skaggs’ daughter, Molly.
“It’s just a great song and performance,” he added.
The release comes during a busy stretch for Skaggs, who continues to bring his music to stages across the country. In addition to his own headlining dates, Skaggs and Kentucky Thunder are currently performing alongside Dierks Bentley during select stops on the Off The Map Tour. He’ll also return to Nashville’s iconic Ryman Auditorium on July 21 for the closing night of the Bluegrass Nights at the Ryman series.
The post Ricky Skaggs Shares the Story Behind ‘Say A Prayer,’ His First New Release in Over a Decade appeared first on Country Now.
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Zach Top has carved out a traditional groove for himself in modern country music. Continue reading…Country Music News – Taste of Country
Zach Top has carved out a traditional groove for himself in modern country music. Continue reading…The Boot – Country Music News, Music Videos and Songs
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After several years and a whole lot of bad blood, Meghan Markle will return to the UK when Prince Harry returns to his home country next month.
Added to the significance of the occasion is the fact that the couple will be joined by their children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet.
But if you were hoping for an adorable photo of Harry and Meghan’s kids enjoying the company of their royal cousins, we’re afraid you’re gonna be disappointed.
According to a new report from Page Six, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet are unlikely to spend time with Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis during the family’s upcoming trip, despite it being the children’s first visit to Britain since 2022.
While King Charles is reportedly eager to reconnect with his youngest son and finally spend time with Archie and Lilibet, the ongoing rift between Prince Harry and Prince William continues to cast a long shadow over the royal family.
Royal commentator Amanda Matta tells Page Six that although a reunion between the cousins would be “lovely,” there are simply too many obstacles standing in the way.
“There are all sorts of logistical reasons why it wouldn’t happen,” she explained, noting that William and Princess Kate maintain a busy schedule with both royal duties and family life.
Royal editor Emily Nash echoed those sentiments, saying that while it would be wonderful for the children to know one another, the fractured relationship between their parents remains the biggest hurdle.
“The cousins should absolutely know each other,” Nash said. “But before that can happen, Harry and William need to repair their own relationship.”
Despite the continued tension between the brothers, King Charles appears determined to move the reconciliation process forward.
Reports indicate the monarch has invited Harry, Meghan and their children to stay at a royal residence during the visit and has even offered to help coordinate security arrangements.
If the trip goes forward as planned, it will be the first time Archie and Lilibet have been in the UK in four years and could give Charles a rare opportunity to spend time with his grandchildren.
Of course, repairing the relationship between the Duke of Sussex and the Prince of Wales remains easier said than done.
The brothers’ estrangement has persisted for years following Harry and Meghan’s decision to step back from royal duties, their explosive interview with Oprah Winfrey, and Harry’s revealing memoir, Spare.
While there have been signs that Harry and Charles are attempting to mend fences, royal observers say William has shown little interest in following suit.
So while Meghan’s return to the UK is certainly a momentous occasion, the strife that drove her from the country in the first place is clearly far from settled.
Prince Harry, Meghan Markle’s Kids Will NOT Reunite With Cousins During Upcoming UK … was originally published on The Hollywood Gossip.
The Hollywood Gossip
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Two young hotties who’ve caused quite a stir in different sectors of culture are Benson Boone and Alix Earle.
Worlds collided this week, with jaw-dropping results.
We can see the two fall in love in a fantastical whirlwind, kissing and marrying and more, in a new music video.
Even steamier is the behind-the-scenes footage of their less serious choreography. The chemistry is reportedly off the charts.
‘The Time of My Life’
Thursday, June 25, was Benson Boone’s birthday.
(He turned 24. Yes, we regret to inform you that he, like millions of other actual adults, was born in 2002.)
To mark the occasion, he released the “The Time of My Life” music video, which showcases him and Alix Earle as the stars of a dramatic love story.
The fantasy romance takes the two sword fighting, dragonslaying, and marrying before exchanging a kiss.
To be clear, this is a music video — this is an acting role for Alix. Though, in cases like Sam Asghari or Chrishell Stause, sometimes getting cast is just the first step towards a long-term relationship.
Whatever you may think of Boone — or Earle, for that matter — it’s an adventurous video that you don’t see so much anymore.
The fantasy vibes are great. Specifically, parts of it have a sword & sorcery energy, a fun sub genre that is increasingly scarce in a world where businessbrained prudes run most entertainment companies.
The two spent a week filming.
TMZ‘s sources reported that they had incredible chemistry during the music video.
We know that people make soaking jokes, but Boone is actually no longer Mormon. That’s not to say that anything is happening between them, though he has denied that they are dating.
Benson Boone dancing to Britney Spears’s “I’m a Slave 4 U” pic.twitter.com/tsI4bvhs8X
— culture (@notgwendalupe) June 26, 2026
‘Slave 4 U’ choreography
In addition to the romantic music video, the two shared a little behind-the-scenes dancing to Britney Spears’ “Slave 4 U.”
Truth be told, this has led some to accuse Boone of queerbaiting. After all, doing the choreography to Britney’s greatest hits was an unwitting right of passage for millions of gay Millennials — sometimes, before they knew that they were gay.
However, we have to emphasize that queerbaiting is a specific term with a specific meaning. A singer adopting specific looks or doing specific dances might prompt some to assume his sexuality, but that’s not what that means.
Queerbaiting very specifically refers to a piece of media winking and nudging at viewers that a couple will get together, while knowing full well that — due to censorship or the showrunner’s preference — they will not.
Others have accused Boone of being a closeted man who is straightbaiting with Earle.
Though Will & Grace was arguably a genuine case of straightbaiting (the show was pitched as a will-they-or-won’t-they, even though obviously they would not), that’s not really a thing either.
Boone has repeatedly avoided comparisons to music legends, insisting that he’s just being himself.
We should probably let him. He’s barely 24. Remember 2012? He was 10.
Sometimes we have to speak these dark truths in order to keep things in perspective.
Benson Boone & Alix Earle Kiss, Marry in New Music Video, Share Steamy Backstage … was originally published on The Hollywood Gossip.
The Hollywood Gossip