The new episodes are arriving before the end of the year! Continue reading…Country Music News – Taste of Country
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Truly Hard Seltzer has plenty of fruity flavor offerings, but which one is … truly … the best? We tried several and ranked them for your refreshment.
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Hayden Panettiere would have turned 37 years old on Friday (Aug. 21). Continue reading…The Boot – Country Music News, Music Videos and Songs
Hayden Panettiere would have turned 37 years old on Friday (Aug. 21). Continue reading…Country Music News – Taste of Country
When it comes to drinking whisky, tastes vary. That said, some bottles are just more drinkable than others as-is, without any fanfare.
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While most folks know about light and dark soy sauce, Taiwanese thick soy sauce stands out as a lesser-known variety with its own distinct appeal.
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Consider this your sign to see Garth Brooks live. If you haven’t experienced one of his shows yet, you’re missing out on the kind of larger-than-life magic that the country music icon can bring to the stage.
On opening night of his Blame It All on My Roots tour, which took place at the Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis on Thursday, Aug. 20, Brooks reminded everyone exactly why he’s been a force in country music for nearly four decades and why his timeless catalog has kept generations of fans coming back. It’s safe to say this was a show unlike any other.
For starters, there was no opening act. Instead, Brooks let the anticipation build while fans piled into the arena setting. A handful of video montages played across the screens, warming up the crowd and taking fans through moments from his career, followed by a pre-recorded video message filmed just for his Indianapolis audience.
“Band, crew’s been working their butts off two years. Saw drawings of this thing start happening two years ago. Can’t thank you enough for how you showed up on sale day. And I think the wish here is the same wish that I’m wishing for the band and crew and myself. I just hope you have the best time in your life,” he stated.
The lights went dark and a countdown appeared on “The Halo,” a 360-degree video system with inward-and outward-facing screens that was just one part of the cutting-edge technology woven throughout the show. As the clock struck zero, Brooks rose onto the stage to a screaming arena packed with fans who have been there since the beginning of his career, as well as a younger generation of country fans who may have been discovering his music for the first time.
Brooks made it clear that his goal with this run was to take everything fans loved about his legendary arena shows and rebuild it for 2026. He incorporated retro staging that transported the sold-out crowd back in time and at the center of that experience was the return of the iconic Drum Pod. This piece of stage technology Brooks debuted during his 1996-98 World Tour and now, after nearly 30 years later, it has come back in full force. The tour also serves as the foundation for Killer Live, a groundbreaking new approach to live recording that continues Brooks’ tradition of capturing history in real time.
The nostalgia runs even deeper in Indianapolis, in particular. While his current tour launched at Gainbridge Fieldhouse, his 1996-98 World Tour stop in the same city took place at Market Square Arena, the downtown venue that was demolished in 2001. The venue may have changed, but all these years later, Brooks is still fulfilling his mission of making every seat feel like the best seat in the house.
“Some traditions never will die, good Lord willing. From the band, the crew, and especially myself, thanks for letting us come back to the great state of Indiana to play our music,” she said.
The nearly two-hour show kicked off with slew of 90s releases including “The Old Stuff,” “Rodeo,” “Two of a Kind, Workin’ On A Full House,” “The Beaches of Cheyenne,” “Two Pina Coladas,” and “Papa Loved Mama.”
Garth Brooks quickly realized that the audience “came here to sing,” as he scanned the packed arena in awe of the energy, heart and excitement that filled the room.
“Let me tell you, this business, if they show up, you’re lucky. If they come back, you are blessed. Thank you so, so much.”
Right from the jump, it became clear to Brooks that this was going to be a night to remember not just for fans, but for him too. There wasn’t a single song that didn’t get the entire venue on their feet and singing along. Performing songs like “The River” appeared to visibly move the Oklahoma native as he witnessed the impact his music continues to have on fans.
“You set the pace for the whole tour I cannot thank you enough,” he stated proudly to his Indiana crowd. “It’s crazy. This is just absolutely crazy people. You know how this business works. You come into a town, especially opening night on a tour and it’s starting like this. It’s crazy. And everybody’s going to have their opinions on socials, critics, everything…I’ve already given you your review. Whoever comes here tomorrow night or the next night or the rest of this tour better pack their fu**ing lunch to beat this one.”
The night continued with fan favorites like “Unanswered Prayers” and “That Summer,” along with iconic hits including “Callin’ Baton Rouge” and “The Thunder Rolls.” During the latter, the stage transformed into a full-blown thunderstorm, with cracks of thunder rattling through the speakers as the screens filled with dark, stormy skies and images of pouring rain.
One of the most memorable parts of the entire show was Brooks’ attention to his fans. With the 360-degree stage setup, he was able to move around the arena, making fans even in the highest seats feel like they were getting an up-close view. Throughout the night, he noticed couples holding each other during the love songs, parents who had brought their children to experience the show with them and read as many fan signs as he could. But one sign in particular caught his attention early in the night.
The sign came from a fan who had seen Brooks perform at Southern Junction Nightclub & Steakhouse in Royse City, Texas, in the early 1990s. She asked him to sing “Bury the Hatchet,” a song that doesn’t always make it into the setlist. This trip back to his early career prompted Brooks to follow that up with a performance of his very first single, “Much Too Young (To Feel This Damn Old),” and once again seemed genuinely taken aback by how many people in the arena still knew every word.
Just when fans thought the production couldn’t get any better, Brooks took things to another level during “Ain’t Goin’ Down (‘Til the Sun Comes Up).” The Drum Pod sitting in the center of the stage rose into the air while platforms on either side of the stage also elevated and rotated. Brooks’ bandmates continued performing without missing a beat as the entire setup rose toward the arena ceiling, turning the song into one of the night’s most impressive visual moments.
The night also featured a handful of covers, including a spirited rendition of The Isley Brothers’ “Shout,” led by his background singer, Bob Bailey, and later, a fan-requested Keith Whitley cover of “Ten Feet Away.” But of course, Brooks saved some of his most anticipated songs for the end of the main set.
He closed out the scheduled portion of the setlist with “Friends in Low Places,” sending confetti flying through the arena as thousands of fans sang along to one of his most recognizable hits. And if you haven’t heard thousands of people sing that song with Garth Brooks in an arena, you haven’t truly experienced it. Then came “The Dance,” which quieted as the icon delivered his beloved ballads, with fans once again hanging onto every word.
After briefly stepping offstage, Brooks returned without his bandmates for what has become a popular portion of his live shows, which he refers to as “housekeeping.” For the next few songs, Brooks turned his attention to the crowd, scanning the arena for fan signs and taking requests on the spot. It’s a tradition that allows him to let fans hear songs that often don’t make the regular setlist.
In Indianapolis, that meant a series of unexpected gems, including 1993’s “The Red Strokes,” 1995’s “She’s Every Woman” and 1997’s “Belleau Wood.” Each of these songs, delivered by just Brooks and his guitar, served as a reminder that underneath all the new technology and flashy production elements, the heart of a Garth Brooks show has always been the connection between him and his audience.
The show came to a close with “Standing Outside the Fire,” bringing Brooks’ band back to the stage to help him deliver one final, high-energy performance. With around a dozen musicians and bandmates by his side, a mix of newer faces and longtime members who have been with Brooks for decades, Brooks took a final bow with the band. He waved goodbye to the Indianapolis crowd, removed his signature black cowboy hat and offered a heartfelt nod before walking offstage.
There’s no denying that Garth Brooks has built a catalog that has become part of the soundtrack to countless lives. On Thursday night, that was clear in every corner of Gainbridge Fieldhouse.
As the crowd made its way toward the exits, one fan made a comment that summed up the night perfectly: “That was the best concert of my life.”
And after watching an entire arena sing back nearly 40 years of songs, it was hard to argue.
The Blame it All On My Roots Tour will continue with three more nights in Indianapolis, IN, followed by Denver, CO from September 4–6, Rosemont, IL from September 10–13 and Washington, D.C. from September 18–19.
The post Garth Brooks Kicks Off ‘Blame It All on My Roots’ Tour With a Sold-Out, Show-Stopping Night In Indianapolis appeared first on Country Now.
Country Now
There’s no denying the immense popularity of air fryers, but these convenient appliances aren’t flawless. At times, they can even be dangerous.
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Coco Jones is back with a new, romantic single “Love Me Through.” The new track, the Grammy-award winner’s first release since her August wedding, explores the realities of romance. “No cameras on / This is real life, right now / Good, bad, and ugly / But he still gon’ love me,” Jones sings.
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“Love Me Through” is Jones’ latest release in a recent string of singles, following “Body So Tea” and “Luvagirl.” In a vlog, Jones detailed the process of working on “Body So Tea,” featuring both her personal reflections and a conversation with her collaborators. When asked by HighStandardz CEO “J Dot” Jones about the track’s message of self-love, Coco shared: “I felt like the hook was kind of surface-level, and I felt like I needed to counter that… y’all know I’m way more deep than that.”
Jones previewed the new song before its release with a video of her singing to her husband, NBA player Donovan Mitchell. “I still get nervous playing new songs for him,” she shared in the caption. The couple’s August 1st wedding was recently featured in Vogue, with a story detailing the planning process and featuring photographs from the big day. “The icing on the entire cake is I’m married to my best friend!” Jones told the magazine. “That feeling is priceless.”
Last year, Jones released her debut album Why Not More? via Def Jam and HighStandardz. The record earned Coco her eighth Grammy nomination, and charted on both the Billboard 200 and Top R&B/Hip-Hops albums charts. A deluxe edition of the album, Why Not More? (More!), featured a collaboration with Alicia Keys.
Outside of music, Jones continues her acting endeavors, appearing in Malcolm D. Lee’s physiological thriller Strung, out now on Peacock, and starring in the upcoming romantic comedy That’s Her.
Listen to Coco Jones’ “Love Me Through” here.
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Everyone knew that Brian Hickerson was bad news.
As we process the tragic death of Hayden Panettiere, we’re learning more about her life. Including her secret reconciliation with her abusive boyfriend.
Her neighbors feared Hickerson so much that he HOA put up warning signs urging anyone to call 911 if they saw him on the property.
Neither that nor the no-contact order were enough to keep this terrible man out of her life.
If they saw him, they were supposed to call the police
TMZ reports that there were warning posters featuring Hickerson’s face around the West Hollywood condo where Hayden Panettiere previously lived.
The signs instructed residents to bar him from the building and to contact police if anyone saw him on the property.
This came after a series of complaints and years of disturbances involving Hickerson.
Panettiere purchased the condo when she moved from New York.
Hickerson, who was arrested and even pleaded no contest to punching Panettiere in the face, had a no contact order against him. Even so, he apparently lived there for the past two years.
TMZ spoke to Mia Terrazas, who lived just one door down from Panettiere’s condominium home.
According to her, the HOA posted public warnings about Hickerson in August of 2025.
Terrazas reported feeling frightened of Hickerson and believed that he was dangerous.
(His criminal history and his text messages show that her fears were warranted.)
She also shared that the HOA took down the warnings after only about a week — for some reason no longer believing that Hickerson was dangerous.
What happened?
The narrative about the HOA and the warning sign about Brian Hickerson seems to suggest a sad, familiar story.
Hypothetically, an HOA would put up a sign like that if a person were either a threat to the property as a whole (such as an arsonist) or to one of the property’s residents (such as a girlfriend whom he saw as a target for physical violence).
In the case of Hickerson, his criminal record does not show a propensity for arson. The same cannot be said about domestic violence.
One might assume that he and Panettiere split and he either made threats or took violent action as a result.
Unfortunately, tragically, the HOA might have only taken down the posters if Panettiere had tragically reconciled with him. This is unconfirmed, but it is what many are assuming.
Abusers tend to be very manipulative. The physical violence that they inflict upon their partners is only one of the tools that they use in order to gain a sense of control.
Hickerson was not the first man accused of using Panettiere as a punching bag. He was, however, the last.
The public dislike of him — borne only of an understanding of who he is and what sort of person he has chosen to be — was such that Panettiere was advised to conceal their reconciliation while selling her memoir.
Had Panettiere’s life been free of awful men, there is a chance that she could have lived.
However, there were signs of an alleged overdose. Some speculate that Panettiere relapsed into multiple bad habits — with Hickerson being one of them, and not the cause of the other.
Brian Hickerson Was Banned by Hayden Panettiere’s HOA, Returned to Her Life Anyway was originally published on The Hollywood Gossip.
The Hollywood Gossip