Tag Archives: country music

Loudwire reports: The country music star Brantley Gilbert showed his disdain for the beer Bud Light during a concert in Alabama on Saturday (April 15). The country singer did so during a cover of a Queen song, apparently unaware of the irony. Gilbert — the star himself doesn’t drink — made the onstage statement against Bud Light, violently throwing a …

Nashville’s ABC affiliate reports: Jerry Lee Lewis, the last surviving member of the Million-Dollar Quartet at Sun Studio, has passed away at the age of 87, his publicist confirmed Friday. For decades, Jerry Lee Lewis was known to fans simply as The Killer for his songs and the way he rattled the ivory. His music would take him from his …

The Associated Press reports: Loretta Lynn, the Kentucky coal miner’s daughter whose frank songs about life and love as a woman in Appalachia pulled her out of poverty and made her a pillar of country music, has died. She was 90. In a statement provided to The Associated Press, Lynn’s family said she died Tuesday at her home in Hurricane …

The Tennessean reports: This year, CMA Fest joins a growing list of major country music events to ban attendees from displaying Confederate imagery. The four-day Nashville festival – considered one of the largest country music gatherings in the world – lists “Confederate flag imagery of any kind” under prohibited items for the 2022 event. “This year’s CMA Fest is our …

People Magazine reports: Ashley Judd is sharing more about her mother Naomi Judd’s cause of death. The actress told Diane Sawyer in an emotional interview that aired Thursday on Good Morning America that Naomi “used a weapon” when she died by suicide on April 30. “Because we don’t want it to be part of the gossip economy I will share …

Nashville’s ABC News affiliate reports: Naomi Judd, Grammy-winning member of The Judds, has died after taking her own life. She was 76. The daughters announced her death on Saturday in a statement provided to The Associated Press. “Today we sisters experienced a tragedy. We lost our beautiful mother to the disease of mental illness,” the statement said. “We are shattered. …

Billboard Magazine reports: Country singer Travis Tritt is ready to take a hard stance against COVID-19 vaccine and testing mandates at concerts, and announced Monday (Oct. 18) he’s even going so far as to cancel four shows making those requirements. Tritt says the negative comments he received after performing shows with COVID-19 safety protocols on the Brooks & Dunn Reboot …

Variety reports: A measure in Tennessee to honor Brothers Osborne singer TJ Osborne [photo], who recently came out as gay, has been blocked by Republicans in the state’s House of Representatives, after it had unanimously passed the Senate. Rep. Jeremy Faison, chair of the House Republican Caucus, is the lawmaker responsible for blocking — and some say effectively killing — …

Nashville’s NBC News affiliate reports: Dolly Parton is grateful for the Tennessee legislature’s consideration of a bill to install a statue of her on the Capitol grounds but doesn’t think this is an appropriate time to do so. Dolly Parton went on to Twitter to express her gratitude and her opinion on the bill, indicating that she had asked the …

Rolling Stone reports: Charley Pride, the pioneering black country singer known for such hits as “Kiss an Angel Good Mornin’” and “Is Anybody Goin’ to San Antone,” has died from complications related to Covid-19, according to his publicist. He was 86. Born in Sledge, Mississippi, Pride picked cotton and served in the Army before becoming country music’s first black superstar. …

Changing America reports: Following the news of the Supreme Court decision, country singer John Rich responded to a tweet from journalist Adam Gold saying he still felt “very confident” that come January 20 Trump will remain in the Oval Office. He was feeling so confident he offered to put $10,000 on it that would go to charitable organizations. Unfortunately for …

The Tennessean reports: Charlie Daniels, a member of the Country Music Hall of Fame best known for “The Devil Went Down to Georgia,” died Monday morning after suffering a hemorrhagic stroke. He was 83. Daniels’ death was confirmed by his publicist, Don Murry Grubbs. He is survived by his wife, Hazel, and son Charlie Daniels Jr. By the time the …

Variety reports: Vocalist Kenny Rogers, who dominated the pop and country charts in the 1970s and 1980s with a string of sleekly tailored hits and won three Grammys, has died. He was 81. Rogers “passed away peacefully at home from natural causes under the care of hospice and surrounded by his family,” a representative for the singer said in a …

The Hill reports: Garth Brooks wore a Barry Sanders jersey to a recent concert in Detroit, leading to some of his online followers mistakenly believing the country music icon was showing support for Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.). Barry Sanders is a former NFL running back for the Detroit Lions who is now in the NFL Hall of Fame. Brooks, 58, …

“I was running a little bit late that day. And I got to my co-writer’s house—and he lives on a hill. So I parked my jeep up on the hill, not realizing that it was on E. All of the sudden, my jeep started shaking and then died. And it just felt that Satan was doing everything he could that …

Faithwire reports: Right before she hit “rock bottom” Billboard-topping country singer Jo Dee Messina said that Jesus visited her on her front porch. In 2017, Messina was diagnosed with cancer. She found herself uncertain of her future as medical bills mounted, and her career crumbled in front of her. The artist, who has six No. 1 country singles, not only …

Variety reports: Jake Owen, who recently had his seventh No. 1 single at country radio, is at the top of the charts with a lot of gay country fans now that he’s expressed his solidarity with the LGBT community — a move that doesn’t come without at least some controversy among the genre’s fan base. His cheeky way of coming …

Variety reports: Roy Clark, the legendary guitarist and singer, Country Music Hall of Fame and Grand Ole Opry member, Grammy, ACM and CMA award winner and co-host of the “Hee Haw” television series, died today at the age of 85 due to complications from pneumonia at home in Tulsa, Okla. His 24-year stint on the at times deliberately corny “Hee …

Via press release from Tony Perkins: Through all of the cultural ups and downs, country music has always been a place conservatives felt welcome. While so many other celebrities started picking up activist causes and shaming fans who held Christian beliefs, American could always count on Nashville to stay true to their values (or at least tolerate them). Not anymore. …

Variety reports: Former Arkansas governor Mike Huckabee, who, less than 24 hours after taking a post on the board of the Country Music Association Foundation, stepped down from his position amid furor in Nashville over his hardline politics and anti-LGBTQ stance, has published the letter tendering his resignation to the CMA Foundation. In it, the conservative radio host lambastes “irrational …