To directly quote his website bio: "Kris Kristofferson’s life is unprecedented, and won’t be replicated."  Born Kristoffer Kristofferson in the border town of Brownsville, Texas on June 22, 1936, Kristofferson was an Oxford scholar, a defensive back, a bartender, a Golden Gloves boxer, a gandy dancer, a forest-fighter, a road crew member, and an Army Ranger who flew helicopters. He was a peacenik, a revolutionary, an actor, a superstar, a Casanova, and a family man. He was almost a teacher at West Point, though he gave that up to become a Nashville songwriting bum.

A family spokesperson said in a statement that Kristofferson died peacefully at his home in Maui, Hawaii, surrounded by family.  He had reportedly been suffering from memory loss since he was in his 70's, but a cause of death was not listed.

Click for an amazing timeline: https://kriskristofferson.com/history/

Photo credit: Morten Jensen

A Funko Pop! of Reba McEntire is on its way. The legend partnered with Funko to release a limited-edition Pop! Vinyl of Reba’s likeness that is currently available for pre-order. The limited release will pay homage to her memorable appearance at the 1993 CMA Awards in "the red dress". According to McEntire, she "got more press off that dress than if she’d won an award that night". Don't preorder for the holidays though, the Funko Pop! isn't estimated to ship out before May of 2025. 

Check out the 1993 red dress (and big hair) performance:

photo credit: Funko.com

Eric Church recently paid homage to Country Music Hall of Famer Alan Jackson as  “The Chief” during the 17th annual ACM Honors. The event was held in August at Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium and aired last night. During the event, Jackson — who has earned 26 Billboard Country Airplay No. 1 hits and is a co-writer or sole writer on most of those — was celebrated with the ACM Poet’s Award for his songwriting. Church sang an amazing original rendition of Jackson's breakthrough hit, "Chasin That Neon Rainbow". Watch the performance and Jackson's acceptance speech below.

photo credit: Townsquare Media

Morgan Wallen concluded his two-show run at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, TN this weekend, making history in the process.  The two-night run set Knoxville's largest weekend on record, totalling over 156,000 fans.  That breaks the record set back in 1984 when The Jackson 5 played three shows for over 148,000 people.  Wallen had a number of surprise guests onstage, including Peyton Manning, Darius Rucker, Hardy, Ernest, and Miranda Lambert.  Lambert was the first of two surprise guests Sunday evening.  They performed “Thought You Should Know,” together which Lambert co-wrote.

@wonderwomanheartsyou #morganwallen #mirandalambert #fyp #TN#knoxvilletennessee #fun #goodvibes #????#home ? original sound - Mrs.Kay

photo credit: John Shearer

When Kenny Chesney wrapped up his “Sun Goes Down” tour at Gilette Stadium late last month, he talked about how much being able to end the year there in Massachusetts meant to him and he backed it up with his wallet. Chesney quietly donated more than $1 million to organizations across the state, including $100,000 each to the Foxborough police and fire departments.  The Animal Rescue League of Boston was among the groups to receive a donation.  He also gave back to the Worcester Animal Rescue League, the Boston Medical Center, and Music & Youth.  Chesney's spokesperson confirmed he made the donations, but the star did not want to talk about them. Chesney had a monster, three-night run at Gilette Stadium to close out his tour. He was estimated to have performed in front of close to 200,000 at the shows.  

photo credit: Craig ONeal

Jelly Roll is ecstatic over the news that he'll be performing on the premiere of Saturday Night Live's 50th season—an accomplishment that he said he was "going to cry for a few hours and call every family member I have" when it was first announced—but some fans are feeling a sense of betrayal.  The opportunity is forcing the singer to tweak his schedule.  Jelly Roll was set to perform at the UBS arena on Long Island on Saturday, Sept. 28, but he pushed the concert date to the following Monday in order to perform on the NBC series, leaving some fans incredibly frustrated over the change in plans. 

 

 

 

 

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photo credit: promo.bbrmusicgroup.com/

Trisha Yearwood celebrates a milestone birthday today, so we thought we would celebrate a few milestones from her career.  Trisha Yearwood has sold over 15 million records, earning her (3) Grammy awards, (3) ACM Awards, and (3) CMAs. Her cooking series on the Food Network,"Trisha's Country Kitchen" won a Daytime Emmy Award and propelled the success of (4) cookbooks, which appeared on the New York Times Best Seller list. We've been fans of the girl from Monticello, Georgia since her breakthrough single back in 1991.  Enjoy a little nostalgia with "She's in Love With the Boy" and more of our favorite Trisha Yearwood videos:

photo credit: UKinUSA from Washington, D.C., USA

Lainey Wilson revealed this week that she was spit on while singing "Heart Like a Truck" onstage last year.  We've seen the flying water bottles and boots lately, but this was abhorent. Wilson said she "thought about gettin' down there and findin' whoever it was", but she didn't.  She questioned, "Why in the world would you buy a ticket and then go spit on somebody?" The singer was asked if she had a "quit" story and revealed the moment that might have made others walk away.  Look for Wilson to defend her Entertainer of the Year title at the CMA's this November. 

Here's Lainey's recent Tiny Desk concert: 

photo credit: Broken Bow Records

Brett Eldredge really is Mr. Christmas! Eldredge returns this month with his 3rd studio Christmas album,  "Merry Christmas (Welcome to the Family)". Featuring (8) original holiday songs, the new album drops September 27th with the vinyl edition (which includes an exclusive board game printed on the inner gatefold with pop-up game pieces for up to 8 players) following in October. "Merry Christmas (Welcome to the Family)" is Eldredge's 8th studio album and the first release on his own label, Warm and Cozy Records. Check out "Sweet December" with Kelly Clarkson if you need a cool down on this warm summer day.

photo credit: JCurrington

Joe Don Rooney is celebrating a major milestone. He's officially three years sober.  Rooney -- the former lead guitarist of Rascal Flatts -- reflected on his sobriety journey over the weekend on X.  He thanked fans for their birthday wishes saying it wasn't just his birthday, but the day also marked his three-year sobriety date.

In September 2021, Rooney was charged with driving under the influence near Nashville. Police arrested the guitarist after he crashed his car into a tree. Rooney later pleaded guilty to the DUI charges. He was sentenced to one year in jail but served two days after his remaining sentence was suspended. Rooney also lost his driver's license.

Thank y’all for the birthday wishes. I’m humbled and blown away at all the X posts I’ve seen for my birthday today.
It’s been a heckuva journey for me the past 3 years. Not only is today my born date - but today is also my 3 year sobriety date.
I’m grateful and my heart is so…

— JDR (@JoeDonRooney) September 13, 2024

photo credit: Joe Bielawa 

Jon Bon Jovi was in the middle of a Nashville video shoot Tuesday night when he noticed a woman standing on the ledge of a bridge. The 62-year-old was filming a music video on Nashville's Seigenthaler Pedestrian Bridge which, according to the Tennessean, remained open to the public during the shoot. Overhead footage shows Bon Jovi and another woman from his team walking toward the woman and eventually bringing her to the safe side of the railing and walking her off of the bridge to safety.

If you or someone you know is thinking about suicide or seeking emotional support, please call or text 988. 

Photo Credit: Lunchbox LP

Darius Rucker is sentenced to 1 year probation on drug charges.  He appeared in a Williamson County Tennessee courtroom yesterday where he pled no contest to a charge of simple possession.  A blunt, psychedelic pills, and a THC pen were found in Rucker's possession during a traffic stop in February.  Other charges of simple possession and one count of violating the state's vehicle registration law were dismissed.  The singer waived his right a trial and took a sentence of one year of probation.

On Feb. 19, a Franklin Police Department officer pulled Rucker over for expired tags. Police said they smelled the odor of marijuana coming from the singer’s truck.  When asked, Rucker said he had “smoked weed in the vehicle,” but not that night. A search of the truck found 14 unstamped, grayish and purple pills and a THC pen, which read “88.5% THC,” according to the affidavit. Police said they also found a blunt on Rucker's person. Rucker told police his girlfriend gave him the items and he did not know what they were.

Photo credit: Williamson County Sheriff's Office

During the final night of Jordan Davis’ Damn Good Time World Tour, the singer was the victim of a prank from tourmates Mitchell Tenpenny and Ashley Cooke. During Davis’ performance of “Next Thing You Know,” Tenpenny and Cooke snuck out on stage in giant, inflatable baby costumes. At first Jordan was completely unaware as the two danced behind him while singing along to the song into their inflatable baby bottles.

@theashleycooke

last night of US tour prank ????????

? original sound - Ashley Cooke

Photo credit: Toglenn

Morgan Wallen is the leading nominee for the 58th annual CMA Awards, with seven nods. His appearance on Post Malone's “I Had Some Help,” was nominated in four categories. Wallen’s seven nominations from the Country Music Association are followed by five each for Cody Johnson and Chris Stapleton. Post Malone’s four nominations landed him in a tie with reigning entertainer of the year Lainey Wilson.

The CMA Awards will air November 20 at 8 p.m on ABC, with streaming availability on Hulu the following day. 

Here's the full list of nominees:

ENTERTAINER OF THE YEAR
• Luke Combs
• Jelly Roll
• Chris Stapleton
• Morgan Wallen
• Lainey Wilson

SINGLE OF THE YEAR
Award goes to Artist(s), Producer(s) and Mix Engineer(s)
• “A Bar Song (Tipsy)” – Shaboozey
Producers: Sean Cook, Nevin Sastry
Mix Engineer: Raul Lopez
• “Dirt Cheap” – Cody Johnson
Producer: Trent Willmon
Mix Engineer: Jack Clarke
• “I Had Some Help” – Post Malone (Feat. Morgan Wallen)
Producers: Louis Bell, Charlie Handsome, Hoskins
Mix Engineer: Ryan Gore
• “Watermelon Moonshine” – Lainey Wilson
Producer: Jay Joyce
Mix Engineers: Jason Hall, Jay Joyce
• “White Horse” – Chris Stapleton
Producers: Dave Cobb, Chris Stapleton, Morgane Stapleton
Mix Engineer: Vance Powell

ALBUM OF THE YEAR
Award goes to Artist, Producer(s) and Mix Engineer(s)
• “Deeper Well” – Kacey Musgraves
Producers: Ian Fitchuk, Kacey Musgraves, Daniel Tashian
Mix Engineers: Shawn Everett, Konrad Snyder
• “Fathers & Sons” – Luke Combs
Producers: Luke Combs, Chip Matthews, Jonathan Singleton
Mix Engineer: Chip Matthews
• “Higher” – Chris Stapleton
Producers: Dave Cobb, Chris Stapleton, Morgane Stapleton
Mix Engineer: Vance Powell
• “Leather” – Cody Johnson
Producer: Trent Willmon
Mix Engineer: Jack Clarke
• “Whitsitt Chapel” – Jelly Roll
Producers: Andrew Baylis, Brock Berryhill, Zach Crowell, Jesse Frasure, David Garcia, Kevin “Thrasher” Gruft, Austin Nivarel, David Ray Stevens
Mix Engineers: Jeff Braun, Jim Cooley

SONG OF THE YEAR
Award goes to Songwriter(s)
• “Burn It Down”
Songwriters: Hillary Lindsey, Parker McCollum, Lori McKenna, Liz Rose
• “Dirt Cheap”
Songwriter: Josh Phillips
• “I Had Some Help”
Songwriters: Louis Bell, Ashley Gorley, Charlie Handsome, Hoskins, Austin Post, Ernest Keith Smith, Morgan Wallen, Chandler Paul Walters
• “The Painter”
Songwriters: Benjy Davis, Kat Higgins, Ryan Larkins
• “White Horse”
Songwriters: Chris Stapleton, Dan Wilson

NEW ARTIST OF THE YEAR
• Megan Moroney
• Shaboozey
• Nate Smith
• Mitchell Tenpenny
• Zach Top
• Bailey Zimmerman

FEMALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR
• Kelsea Ballerini
• Ashley McBryde
• Megan Moroney
• Kacey Musgraves
• Lainey Wilson

MALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR
• Luke Combs
• Jelly Roll
• Cody Johnson
• Chris Stapleton
• Morgan Wallen

VOCAL GROUP OF THE YEAR
• Lady A
• Little Big Town
• Old Dominion
• The Red Clay Strays
• Zac Brown Band

VOCAL DUO OF THE YEAR
• Brooks & Dunn
• Brothers Osborne
• Dan + Shay
• Maddie & Tae
• The War and Treaty

MUSICAL EVENT OF THE YEAR
Award goes to Artists and Producer(s)
• “Cowboys Cry Too” – Kelsea Ballerini (with Noah Kahan)
Producers: Kelsea Ballerini, Alysa Vanderheym
• “I Had Some Help” – Post Malone (Feat. Morgan Wallen)
Producers: Louis Bell, Charlie Handsome, Hoskins
• “I Remember Everything” – Zach Bryan (ft. Kacey Musgraves)
Producer: Zach Bryan
• “Man Made a Bar” – Morgan Wallen (feat. Eric Church)
Producer: Joey Moi
• “You Look Like You Love Me” – Ella Langley (feat. Riley Green)
Producer: Will Bundy

MUSICIAN OF THE YEAR
• Tom Bukovac – Guitar
• Jenee Fleenor – Fiddle
• Paul Franklin – Steel Guitar
• Rob McNelley – Guitar
• Charlie Worsham – Guitar

MUSIC VIDEO OF THE YEAR
Award goes to Artist(s) and Director(s)
• “Dirt Cheap” – Cody Johnson
Director: Dustin Haney
• “I Had Some Help” – Post Malone (Feat. Morgan Wallen)
Director: Chris Villa
• “I’m Not Pretty” – Megan Moroney
Directors: Jeff Johnson, Megan Moroney
• “The Painter” – Cody Johnson
Director: Dustin Haney
• “Wildflowers and Wild Horses” – Lainey Wilson
Director: Patrick Tracy

Photo Credit: Cameron Baird

Kane Brown has been chosen to receive the Country Champion Award at the 2024 People’s Choice Country Awards. The show, hosted by Shania Twain, will air LIVE Thursday, September 26 on NBC and Peacock from the Grand Ole Opry House in Nashville. Brown is being recognized for his community service and outstanding contributions to country music. Miranda Lambert is this year’s other honorary award recipient. She will receive the Country Icon Award, which went to Toby Keith last year. Winners are chosen entirely by fans at the People’s Choice Country Awards. (Voting is now closed). 

Photo credit: California National Guard, Senior Airman Crystal Housman  

After nearly a quarter century at Warner Records, Blake Shelton and the label have amicably parted ways. At 17, Shelton left Oklahoma to pursue a career in Nashville. Eight years later, he was signed to Giant Records which closed it's doors after releasing Shelton's breakthrough single "Austin". That label then transferred him to Warner, his home for 23 years.  

Shelton’s first album with Warner’s Nashville division was “The Dreamer,” which came out in early 2003. His last full album for the label, “Body Language,” came out more than three years ago. No word on a possible new label for Shelton or what's next other than a residency booked at Caesars Palace next February. 

photo credit: DoD News

Friends and family gathered yesterday to celebrate the grand opening of Riley Green's Duck Blind. It's located in Music City's Midtown District in the old Winners Bar & Grill.  Unlike most Nashville musician-owned bars, the Duck Blind doesn't appear to boast anything specifically-related to Green or his music. Green's is rather simple. The outside was given a facelift to appear more like a hunter's duck blind. The inside is a casual sports bar, far from Lower Broadway, with plenty of seating and massive television screens on the walls. Green used the grand opening event to announce the release of his third studio album. "Don't Mind If I Do" will drop October 18th on his birthday.

photo credit: Sgt. Jordan Arnold/Public Domain