News

PBS is bringing A Capitol Fourth to audiences across America for another year!

The 45th anniversary celebration is taking place on Friday (July 4) on the West Lawn of the U.S. Capitol.

Fresh Prince of Bel-Air actor Alfonso Ribeiro, who is also the host of Dancing With the Stars, is returning as the host.

PBS will air the special live from 8:00pm to 9:30pm Et and you can also watch a live stream on YouTube or PBS.org. Watch below!

There are so many performers set to take the stage during the event.

Keep reading to find out more…

Performers Lineup

Alfonso Ribeiro

The Beach Boys

The Temptations

Lauren Daigle

Josh Turner

Trombone Shorty

Yolanda Adams

Locash

Abi Carter

Jack Everly

The National Symphony Orchestra

The Choral Arts Society of Washington

Patrick Lundy & The Ministers of Music

The United States Army Band “Pershing’s Own”

The U.S. Army Herald Trumpets...

Country music star Scotty McCreery will launch a new monthly series on SiriusXM’s Prime Country (Ch. 58) on Saturday, July 5.

Prime Country with Scotty McCreery

Premiere episodeListen on the App

Listen on the App

“Prime Country with Scotty McCreery” gives Scotty the freedom to play his favorite songs from the 1980s and 1990s with an emphasis on the artist and songs that helped shape his love of country music along with sharing his perspective as a current recording and touring artist and member of the Grand Ole Opry. New episodes will premiere on Prime Country the first Saturday of every month at 3pm Et and will be available on demand on the SiriusXM app and web player. Check out the full broadcast schedule for the first episode below.

Plus, Scotty will discuss his new show and other projects during separate interviews with SiriusXM hosts Cody Alan on The Highway (Ch.

An American Idolwinner announced that they'll welcome another baby to their family, who's due to be born in fall 2025. American Idol season 23 wrapped up on May 18 and welcomed back long-time host Ryan Seacrest, along with judges Lionel Richie and Luke Bryan. Season 4 winner Carrie Underwood also joined the judging panel, replacing Katy Perry after seven seasons. Jamal Roberts won American Idol season 23, while John Foster placed second, and Breanna Nix placed third during the star-studded finale.

An American Idol winner announced that they'll welcome another baby to their family, who's due to be born in fall 2025.

In an Instagram post, American Idol season 10 winner Scotty McCreery's wife, Gabi McCreery, announced the wonderful news that the couple is expecting another baby, who's due to be born in fall 2025. She posted pictures from a photo shoot of her, Scotty, and their son, Merrick Avery, who was born on October 24, 2022, and is called by his middle name.

This Monday, NBC’s Today offers a blend of country music, Hollywood interviews, fitness tips, and a peek into the future of Red Lobster. Yes, you read that correctly. Country music star Josh Turner is set to perform live as part of the Citi Concert Series. Expect a healthy dose of his signature baritone and hits […]

Today: Josh Turner, Aldis Hodge, Sharon Horgan...

Joe Biden is among those across politics and Hollywood reacting to the deadly shooting at Donald Trump’s rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, on Saturday.

The former president’s campaign said Trump was “fine” after being rushed off the stage when gunfire erupted. The shooting is being investigated as an attempted assassination on Trump, law enforcement officials told the Associated Press. A local prosecutor said the suspected gunman, who the FBI later identified as Thomas Matthew Crooks, and at least one attendee are dead.

Hours following the shooting, Trump wrote on his Truth Social media site that a bullet “pierced the upper part of my right ear.” He added, “I knew immediately that something was wrong in that I heard a whizzing sound, shots, and immediately felt the bullet ripping through the skin. Much bleeding took place, so I realized then what was happening.”

“I want to thank The United States Secret Service,...

Country Music Hall of Fame member Randy Travis has released his first new song in over a decade, “Where That Came From.” The announcement, delivered via the “Forever and Ever, Amen” vocalist’s social media, has spurred considerable excitement and curiosity from country fans and marks one of the most impossible comebacks in music history: Travis has been mostly unable to sing or speak since suffering a near-fatal stroke in 2013.

The questions about how Travis recorded the new song are myriad, and his team kept the information close to the vest until Friday,...

Toby Keith, a country music superstar and Songwriters Hall of Famer, died Monday after a three-year battle with stomach cancer. He was 62.

His family announced his death in a post on Instagram: “Toby Keith passed peacefully last night on February 5th, surrounded by his family. He fought his fight with grace and courage. Please respect the privacy of his family at this time.”

Born Toby Keith Covel on July 8, 1961, in Clinton, Ok, Keith amassed three dozen Top 10 hits on Billboard’s Hot Country Songs chart from 1993-2011, 20 of which hit No. 1. Eleven of his singles went platinum and 10 more went gold. He was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2015.

Some of the biggest names in country music and others paid tribute to Keith today. See a sampling below.

He became interested in music via his grandmother’s supper club in Fort Smith, Ak, where she would lay on bands for the clients.

Mikel’s Full Length Debut Album Purgatory, Set For Release February 3, Also Includes His Recent Top 50 Billboard Track “I Hope It Hurts”

Los Angeles, Jan. 13, 2023 /PRNewswire/ — Capping a prolific run of more than 10 popular streaming singles since 2017, Johnnie Mikel gears up for the February 3 drop of his highly anticipated full length debut Purgatory with his latest track “Fallen Angel,” an infectious, fiery and funked out power ballad co-written with Lauren Christy, best known for her trailblazing work with the seven-time Grammy winning songwriting and production team The Matrix.

“I came to Lauren with the title and concept, and we wrote the song fairly quickly,” says Mikel, who released his debut single “Come With Me” in 2017. “It’s kind of a ‘good girl gone bad’ story about someone that’s not the best for you. We wanted to make the song very funky and sexy, so the production matches that. I love the swampy,...

Fans of 1000-Lb Sisters are looking forward to seeing Amy Slaton Halterman back on the small screen, with many wondering what she has been up to since season 3 ended. The mother of two has been great at keeping fans up to date on her social media. While fans weren't sure she would return for another season of 1000-Lb Sisters, Amy is ready for her TLC return.

On the last season of 1000-Lb Sisters, Amy held her own with her growing family and crabby sister, Tammy Slaton. Amy was a proud mother to her son, Gage Halterman, who she doted on. Fans could tell that the TLC star was trying her best to help her extended family while raising a child. 1000-Lb Sisters season 3 showed Amy having some tough conversations with Tammy since she was worried about her health. Amy successfully qualified for her gastric bypass surgery during 1000-Lb Sisters season...

UPtv is your place for a festive night of songs and celebrations with a Grammy nominated country artist this holiday season. Multi-platinum selling country star Josh Turner is coming to UPtv with his King Size Manger Christmas special, premiering on Friday, November 18 at 7/6c, and TV Insider has your exclusive first look at the trailer. The special is part of the network’s Most Uplifting Christmas Ever. As you can see in the video above, Turner will be performing his unique interpretation of iconic holiday classics and originals from his first-ever Christmas album, King Size Manger, on a night promised to be festive and full of songs and celebration. He’ll discuss special holiday traditions with hosts Lorianne Crook and Charlie Chase. And he’ll be joined by special guests Pat McLaughlin, Rhonda Vincent, and the Turner family. Watch the video above for a look at all that, including clips from his performances.

Scotty McCreery, winner of American Idol season 10, and his wife Gabi have welcomed their first baby. The country singer stood out right from his Idol audition due to his lower register on Josh Turner's "Your Man." He competed against other finalists like Lauren Alaina, Haley Reinhart, James Durbin, Casey Abrams and Pia Toscano, and ended up winning the whole competition after coming in first over runner-up and fellow country artist Lauren. Since winning American Idol in 2011, Scotty has seen success on the country music charts and is now working on his family and his career all at the same time.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Scotty McCreery (@scottymccreery)

Scotty and his wife Gabi released a joint Instagram post announcing the arrival of their baby, a boy named Merrick Avery McCreery. The baby was born on October 24 at 4:34 a.m. According to Billboard, Derrick is named after Gabi’s father.

I’ll always hate the sound of fireworks. That’s what it sounded like to me — and so many others — when a gunman opened fire on us at the Route 91 Harvest festival. Needless to say, the two hardest days of the year for me are Oct. 1 and July 4.

Related Five Years Since the Route 91 Massacre No One Knows a Damn Thing Gunman Wearing 'Nazi Symbols' Kills At Least 13 in Russian School Shooting Did a Las Vegas Politician Hide a Violent Side Before Allegedly Murdering a Journalist?

I was covering Route 91 for Rolling Stone,...

Jason Aldean and Carrie Underwood were the biggest winners of the night at the CMT Awards on Monday, taking home Video of the Year as well as Collaborative Video of the Year for their song “If I Didn’t Love You.”

Hosted by Kane Brown, Kelsea Ballerini and Anthony Mackie, the CMT Awards honor the best in country music as expressed through music videos.

Other winners included Miranda Lambert (Female Video of the Year), Cody Johnson (Male Video of the Year), Maddie & Tae (Group Duo Video of the Year) and more.

Read on for the full list of winners and nominees.

Video Of The Year

Brandi Carlile – “Right On Time”Cody Johnson – “‘Til You Can’t” (final nominee)

Cole Swindell & Lainey Wilson – “Never Say Never”

Winner: Jason Aldean & Carrie Underwood – “If I Didn’t Love You” (final nominee)

Kacey Musgraves – “justified”

Kane Brown – “One Mississippi” (final nominee)

Kelsea Ballerini feat.

The 2022 CMT Music Awards were handed out on Monday night, April 11, at 8:00pm Eastern on CBS. These awards honor the best in country music videos, but unlike the Academy of Country Music and Country Music Association Awards, which are voted on by industry peers, these awards are decided by fans. So who were the big winners? Scroll down for the complete list.

Kane Brown co-hosted the event with Kelsea Ballerini and Anthony Mackie, and he also led with four nominations including Video of the Year for “One Mississippi.” That category started with 12 nominees when they were initially announced. Fan votes then narrowed that down to the top six, and the day of the show we learned the final three: Brown’s “One Mississippi,” Jason Aldean and Carrie Underwood‘s “If I Didn’t Love You,” and Cody Johnson‘s “Til You Can’t.”

Johnson and breakthrough artist Breland followed with three nominations apiece.

Nominations for the 2022 CMT Awards were announced on Wednesday, and singer Kane Brown leads all artsits with four total nods. The annual fan-voted event will take place Monday, April 11 and air live for the first time on CBS.

Brown’s multiple nominations include his single “One Mississippi,” which is up for Video of the Year as well as Male Video of the Year. Additionally, Brown snagged a CMT Performance of the Year nod for his take on Randy Travis’ “Three Wooden Crosses” at the 2021 CMT Artists of the Year Show.

“American Idol” auditions continued with the second episode of Season 20 on Sunday, March 6. Nine talented artists earned golden tickets to Hollywood, with Kenedi Anderson securing the second coveted Platinum Ticket (Huntergirl received the first in Episode 1). But was Kenedi the best of the night? And did these aspiring stars choose the right songs? Below I rank each hopeful from the least impressive (but with room to grow) to a Season 20 frontrunner. I also throw in a song suggestion or artist I’d love to hear them cover.

But first, I want to give props to that Nashville tour Luke Bryan gave host Ryan Seacrest and his fellow judges Katy Perry and Lionel Richie. What a fun moment! And even more kudos for the cheese song by Luke and Katy. Sounds like a hit to me! Both were big episode highlights outside of actual auditions. But enough about the judges, let...

First Responders Children’s Foundation, the national non-profit organization that provides financial relief to the families of first responders who have been injured or killed in the line of duty, awarded a Public Service Hero Award to first responders from across America at A Celebration of First Responder Heroes, its 20th Anniversary Awards Gala and Concert, that was held at City Winery in New York on Wednesday, October 27th in tribute to National First Responders Day.

All honorees performed selfless acts of bravery every day in their commitment to public service and community safety. Among the honored first responders were:

Nurse: Amy O’Sullivan of Brooklyn, NY. Amy is an emergency room nurse who treated the very first Covid-19 patient in Brooklyn at the Wyckoff Heights Medical Center. She then became ill and was intubated, but in a matter of weeks, she was back at work taking care of other people afflicted with the deadly virus.

For $1,000, Carrie Underwood will wish you a happy birthday. The country music superstar is one of a number of country singers appearing on the video service Cameo for the month of June, part of a charitable partnership with the Academy of Country Music’s philanthropic organization, ACM Lifting Lives.

Among the more than 25 country stars participating, Underwood commands top dollar at a cool grand. Trace Adkins is behind her at $400, followed by singer and This Is Us actress Chrissy Metz at $350. Josh Turner will speak to you in his baritone...

In October 2016, Randy Travis was among the three new inductees selected to enter the Country Music Hall of Fame, having led a neo-traditional renaissance after his commercial breakthrough in the Eighties. During his portion of the event, he did something entirely unexpected and performed a verse of “Amazing Grace” — in spite of the fact that his voice had largely been silenced after suffering a stroke three years earlier.

Through a combination of rehab, perseverance, and the unflagging support of his wife Mary, the “Forever and Ever, Amen” singer continues to make odds-defying progress.

In December 2017, Willie Jones was in a recording studio in Los Angeles, freestyling about his family. Jones had just spent his holidays at home in his native Shreveport, Louisiana, and at a family reunion in Tulsa and had been touched by the occasions — by how much his cousins from childhood had grown up, how close he’d felt to relatives he hadn’t seen in years.

Jones and his producer Sean Cook had been toying around with a beat when the singer decided to go into the vocal booth and...

I don’t know much about country star Josh Turner. But I do know Scotty McCreery, who turned Turner’s “Your Man” into his reality-competition signature tune. When I hear, “Baby, lock the doors and turn the lights down low, put some music on that’s soft and slow,” I think of Scotty’s surprisingly deep and velvety vocals. The Season 10 winner performed that song for his audition and also during Hollywood week.

When Scotty had his hometown visit to Garner, North Carolina and performed before a sizable audience at the local fairgrounds, his idol Turner showed up as he was singing “Your Man” and the crowd went crazy. Then a high-schooler, Scotty declared that “it might just be the best day of my life.”

But now that “American Idol” is on ABC instead of Fox, it seems like any old auditioner can be the one commanding that those doors get locked.

There are two places where country hitmaker Josh Turner no doubt feels most at home. One is in the realm of gospel music and the other is the Grand Ole Opry. Turner has been an official Opry member since October 2007 and recently returned to Nashville’s historic Ryman Auditorium, the site of the wintertime Opry at the Ryman performances, to deliver a gospel classic with significant ties to the long-running radio show.

Joined onstage by Sonya Isaacs, a member of one of contemporary gospel music’s most distinguished family acts,...

Josh Turner pauses as he enters the backstage hallway of Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium, taking time to say hello and chat with Grand Ole Opry crew members as he makes the short journey to his dressing room for the evening.

In just a few hours, Turner will make an appearance on the Opry, which relocates to the Ryman — its full-time home from 1943 to 1974 — during the winter months. It’s a building that has witnessed substantial country music history, and Turner became a part of that history when he gave his...

Josh Turner, whose 2003 debut single “Long Black Train” was a nod to his gospel-music roots, will release a full-length album showcasing songs of faith next month. Due out October 26th, the South Carolina native’s I Serve a Savior will include hand-picked hymns, new original material and live versions of Turner’s inspirational tunes.”

Also of special note is a live version of “The River (of Happiness),” a song written by Turner’s wife Jennifer and their eldest son, 11-year-old Hampton. The track also features vocal assistance from all four of the Turners’ young sons.

He's here to win — by losing! Caleb Lee Hutchinson had another flawless performance on Sunday's night episode of American Idol, and viewers still can't get over his impressive weight loss along with his stellar voice. The 19-year-old revealed he has dropped 70 pounds since auditioning for the reality singing competition and the results are paying off. His secret: drinking more water and walking. He also credited his growing popularity on Instagram for the inspiration to drop the pounds. "I’ve lost 70 pounds since I started this show — one night I was just like, 'Wouldn’t it be cool if I drank water and walked every night?'... and here I am," he told the judges earlier this season. And fans are loving his slimmed down transformation. "Caleb will make it far just because he is a country singer. Also oh wow at him losing 70 pounds in the course of this competition,...

Montgomery Gentry’s Troy Gentry was killed in a helicopter crash on Friday afternoon.

“It is with great sadness that we confirm that Troy Gentry, half of the popular country duo, Montgomery Gentry, was tragically killed in a helicopter crash which took place at approximately 1:00 p.m. today in Medford, New Jersey,” the band said in a statement on their Facebook page.

The 50-year-old country star was scheduled to perform with bandmate Eddie Montgomery at the Flying W Airport and Resort in Medford on Friday evening, and the concert was canceled immediately.

“Details of the crash are unknown,” the post continues.

Country music legend Merle Haggard, best known for hits such as "Okie from Muskogee" and "Mama Tried," passed away earlier today, on his birthday, at the age of 79. The musician's manager confirmed the singer and actor's death to the Associated Press . Merle Haggard's health had been failing in recent months, as he battled double pneumonia. He was forced to cancel a number of concerts over the past few months due to his health. The musician's son, Ben Haggard, released a statement on his Facebook page earlier today, revealing that his father had actually predicted he would die on his birthday.

"A week ago dad told us he was gonna pass on his birthday, and he wasn't wrong. A hour ago he took his last breath surrounded by family and friends. He loved everything about life and he loved that everyone of you gave him a chance with his music.

Rory Feek and daughter Indiana are celebrating their first Easter without Joey Feek, and the country singer says the 2-year-old hasn't quite noticed - which isn't necessarily a bad thing. In a new blog post, Rory opens up about raising Indiana in the days since his wife died from cancer on March 4. "Indy has not asked for her mama," he wrote. "Not one single time since Joey's been gone. It's almost as if she hasn't noticed that she's not here. And that is so sad… and oh, so wonderful - all at the same time." Feek, 49, says that this is...

Rory Feek and daughter Indiana are celebrating their first Easter without Joey Feek, and the country singer says the 2-year-old hasn't quite noticed - which isn't necessarily a bad thing. In a new blog post, Rory opens up about raising Indiana in the days since his wife died from cancer on March 4. "Indy has not asked for her mama," he wrote. "Not one single time since Joey's been gone. It's almost as if she hasn't noticed that she's not here. And that is so sad… and oh, so wonderful - all at the same time." Feek, 49, says that this is...

Country music star and Oklahoma's Good Samaritan Blake Shelton this weekend underlined the versatility of tractors, after he and his dog reportedly used one to rescue four men who got stuck in a mudslide there. Friends Bryar Blanton, Lenyell Blanton, Adrian Poplin, and Josh Turner were reportedly hanging out near Washita River in Ardmore on Friday, when their truck slid into and got stuck in a mud hole. Bryar shared his account of what happened next with Et Online: Me and Adrian started walking down the road [looking for help] and [that's when] Blake and his dog, Betty, stopped and picked us up in his truck. ... He told [Adrian and I] to hop in. ... Then, we went back to the river [where my friends were stuck] and he tried to get them out with his truck. He couldn't do it, so he said he would be back in...

Yep, yep, yep, it’s called The Voice, and the voice should be the focus of our attention.

And yet, with 24 singers competing for only 12 slots in the Season 9 finals, shouldn’t a little salty hip action count for a few bonus points in a very close horse race (provided that said moving and grooving doesn’t throw a contestant off pitch)?

RelatedThe Voice Live Playoffs (Night 1) Recap: Playoffs, Playa!

That was my thought tonight as Mark Hood, Zach Seabaugh and Nadjah Nicole attempted to do more than bake whole honeyed hams (musically speaking) while standing frozen at the mic stand.

Remember when American Idol‘s Clark Beckham told mentor Scott Borchetta that if his polarizing arrangement of Josh Turner’s “Your Man” lost him the competition, he didn’t want to win?

VideosReality Check: Does Adam Levine Need a Voice Vacation? Plus: Six Critical Tweaks for Idol‘s Final Season!

Turns out, he was so committed to that stance, he actually repeated it (at a producer’s request) when his initial (completely spontaneous) declaration got ruined by a blown lightbulb.

And that was just one of the many juicy behind-the-scenes tidbits the Season 14 runner-up shared when TVLine chatted with him...

Quick! You have one song to sum up the very soul of who you are as a human being! To quote Dennis Hopper in Speed: “What do you do? What do you do?”

If you’re a member of American Idol‘s Season 14 Top 4 (or is it 5?), you stake everything you are on… Rascal Flatts’ “What Hurts the Most” (say what now?!). A Justin Bieber track (oh hell naw!). Or the “baby lock them doors” jam that defined Scotty McCreery’s Season 10 run (#IDontUnderstandTheQuestionAndIWontRespondToIt).

VideosAmerican Idol‘s Quentin Alexander on His Most Inventive Performances, Wildest Outfits and Favorite...

Updated With Full List Of Scripts, Writers, And Reps: Catherine The Great, about the rise and life of the famous (sometimes notorious) 18th-Century Russian monarch, was the top vote-getter among 70 scripts chosen for the 2014 Black List of the year’s best un-produced scripts. The screenplay, by Los Angeles writer and producer Kristina Lauren Anderson, was announced as part of an hour-plus process on Twitter and YouTube this morning.

Each of the 70 screenplays on this 10th annual list was chosen by a group of 250 development executives, agents and other Hollywood insiders as among the year’s best un-produced scripts in a process overseen by Franklin Leonard of http://www.blcklst.com. Anderson’s screenplay received 51 votes.

Other notables in the list include writer/actor/director Kenneth Lonergan with Manchester-By-The-Sea, which is being produced by Matt Damon and Chris Moore. Randall Green had two scripts make the list, The Swimsuit Issue and Cartoon Girl.

With all the body-clinging dresses and slim-fitting tuxes, ever watch an awards show on TV and wonder, "What do these people eat?" Well, we do, too! So we asked the stars on the Cma Awards red carpet to share what they nibbled on in preparation for the big show. Here's what they told us: Lady A's Hillary Scott: "I had guacamole and cucumbers, but I've had so much coffee … I think that's what's getting me through." Lady A's Dave Haywood: "I went to Star Bagel in Sylvan Park and had a Starz Classic." [It's a sandwich on toasted sourdough with melted mozzarella, ham, salami, garlic butter, black olives, lettuce, tomatoes, onions and mustard]. Lady A's Charles Kelley: "Beef jerky and whiskey.

In celebration of country music’s top songwriters, the industry’s biggest stars stepped out for the 2013 Broadcast Music, Inc. Country Awards in Nashville on Tuesday (November 5).

Luke Bryan showed off his dapper smile, while Miranda Lambert showed off her slim figure and struck a pose with the night’s guest of honor Dean Dillon.

Other attendees included newcomer Kacey Musgraves and powerhouse trio The Band Perry. In addition, aspiring country singer/actress Lucy Hale made an appearance and is expected to be at tonight’s (November 6) Cma Awards.

There were quite a few winners last night, including Hunter Hayes taking home Song of the Year for “Wanted.”

Check out the full list of winners below!

Song Of The Year

“Wanted”

Hunter Hayes

Troy Verges

Happy Little Man Publishing

Songs From the Engine Room

Songs of Universal, Inc.

Songwriter Of The Year

Rodney Clawson

“Did It for the Girl”

“Drink...

The Robertsons have released ‘Ragin’ Cajun Redneck Christmas,’ the first song off of their new Christmas album, ‘Duck the Halls: A Robertson Family Christmas,’ which is set to debut Oct. 29. Listen here and let us know what you think!

The Duck Dynasty crew has become quite a significant presence in pop culture over the past couple of years. The four brothers have made an impact on television, receiving outstanding ratings and selling millions of DVDs, and in the publishing world, with five best-selling books. Now, they’re trying their hand at music, with their first album, Duck the Halls: A Robertson Family Christmas. Read on for all the details!

‘Duck Dynasty’s’ Holiday Album ‘Duck The Halls’ — Listen To The First Song Take Our Poll

We got a first listen to ”Ragin’ Cajun Redneck Christmas” thanks to Parade.com, and it’s a fun, quirky, country-based tune that will totally...

Randy Travis' friends are rallying for the country singer to get better ... and TMZ has learned several celebrities have called Rt to send their well wishes ... including Chuck Norris!!! Randy's publicist tells us several stars have reached out since Randy was admitted to the hospital with heart issues this weekend ... including Josh Turner, The Oak Ridge Boys, Joe Nichols, Lyle Lovett, Kenny Rogers, Ray Price, Lee Greenwood and Chuck Norris. Unfortunately, Randy suffered a...

Country's finest are showing off a little skin - and a lot of charm. "I hate looking at pictures of myself!" Tim McGraw insists. But one glimpse at the 46-year-old singer's ripped abs, which are featured in the new Hot Guys issue of People Country, and we'll respectfully disagree. Equally compelling eye candy? Fellow country stars Jake Owen, 31, and Kip Moore, 33, who also go shirtless in the new issue. But, as Owen explains, that buff beauty is more than skin deep. "Having a little girl and being married, it's not just about me anymore," says Owen, whose daughter Olive Pearl was born last November.

Kimberly Schlapman is having some weekend. As one-quarter of the award winning country music group Little Big Town, she - along with them - is up for four Academy of Country Music Awards. But between vying for prizes and touring, Schlapman is also enjoying the second season of her cooking show, Kimberly's Simply Southern.On her next episode (Saturday, April 13, at 1 p.m. Et), Schlapman is joined in the kitchen by fellow country singer Josh Turner, and the two bond over mushrooms and their kids. "We found out the day before shooting that he doesn't like mushrooms," she says. "But...

For the past thirteen years, Kimberly Schlapman has been on the road with her Grammy-winning country group Little Big Town. But before she was singing "Pontoon" at sold out shows, Schlapman was at home learning her mother's secret recipes. "I always watched my mama," she explains. "She was always cooking for people - when anyone had something to celebrate or grieve, she was at their door with supper or some kind of homemade goodie." Taking cues mama's specialties of biscuits and homemade pies, Schlapman's style of southern comfort food is seen in her own cakes, casseroles and fried chicken. The...

George Jones. final concert is set for Friday, November 22, 2013 at Nashville.s Bridgestone Arena. Confirmed are Garth Brooks, Kid Rock, Shelby Lynne, The Oak Ridge Boys and Sam Moore - the latest acts announced for the event. The celebrity packed lineup also includes Dierks Bentley, Charlie Daniels, Jamey Johnson, Montgomery Gentry, Lorrie Morgan, Kenny Rogers, Randy Travis, Tanya Tucker, Josh Turner and Gene Watson. More stars are expected to be announced as performers gear up to pay tribute to one of the world.s most accomplished recording artists. .Being joined by so many incredible singers while doing what I love will be truly heartwarming,. says George Jones. .It.s shaping up to be more than I expected or could...

Anyone else psyched for Nashville tonight? It's allegedly the pride of the 2012 pilot season thanks to the presence of indefatigable thespian Connie Britton. To honor this new show's potential, let's celebrate country right: Here's our list of the 10 hottest dudes of country. Some are veterans and some are newcomers, but all wear cowboy hats like glistening Opry superstars.

10. Dean Brody

He's still up-and-coming in the country world but Canadian artist Dean Brody (hey, if Olivia Newton-John can release country records and hail from Australia, Canada should be no less tolerable) is as muscle-y and moody as the best pluckers. I am personally Ok with nicknaming him "Supernova Scotia."

9. Luke Bryan

The adorable Luke Bryan is pretty baby-faced for a 36-year-old denim aficionado, and along with his recent Cmt Music Award for Male Video of the Year, he should celebrate having the most charming grin in the country game.

8. Keith Urban...

For weeks now, The X Factor has been improving on not only its own mistakes from last season, but also the bad habits that American Idol has developed over the years. That didn't change this week, as the first night of Boot Camp was short and sweet - and nobody got hurt.

Well... the 60 or so contestants who were eliminated were certainly hurt, but because The X Factor decided to just show us some of the highlights, some of the train wrecks, and then get to the first round of cuts, the viewers at home were left unscathed by the boring middle rounds that these singing shows have forced on us year after year.

Boot Camp started with around 120 contestants. We are already down to half that amount, and it will end with just 24 hopeful acts. Let's take a look at who impressed us, and who had us looking away with The Good,...

Bring on the dancing dogs! America’s Got X Factor finished its Season 2 auditions Thursday night, and I, for one, can’t wait to see how the Pekingese and the Poodle fare when they get to Boot Camp.

Okay, okay, I’m being a cranky beast from Hades, but Thursday night’s X Factor installment felt more like NBC’s summer variety special than a search for a legitimate musical superstar. There was the 13-year-old kid who passed out backstage from “dehydration” — a dark part of my brain imagined him whispering “Mom, did you slip my that Rohypnol like I asked you to?...

Wednesday night’s X Factor ended with the image of a 13-year-old boy collapsed in a heap in his mother’s lap, a flurry of producers and medics trying to figure out if he’d live or if he’d eventually die of embarrassment at the hands of Simon Cowell.

I’m not sure if the incident was a clever indictment of the lengths today’s youth will go to for a chance at fame, or just a happy (medical) accident that the show’s producers cynically used to fill out yet another two-hour audition episode. Maybe it was both.

Apparently The X Factor wasted all of its talent on Wednesday night - because during Thursday's hour of auditions, we saw only two quality performers. In fact, we only saw four serious performances total.

Somebody from Greensboro might make it all the way to the end and win this thing, so it's still important to take stock of what went down in Gate City. As we do, let's take a look at The Good, The Bad, and The Judges...

The Good

Kalvin McManigle: Yes, I know this was an absolute joke of an audition, but it was one the few disasters that actually got me to smile. Old Man River forgetting the name of his song, and then mumbling his way through it, was quite humorous.

Julia Bullock: One of the two decently talented performers from this entire episode, Julia was most interesting because she was ditching her bandmates, which included her ex-boyfriend.

Tonight's episode of 'The X Factor' turned embarrassing when Krysten was unable to handle rejection! The second week of X Factor auditions continued with its second night on Sept. 20, with the judging panel all back at the table in Greensboro, N.C. after Simon Cowell's absence from the table in Kansas City. What an interesting night it was! Promising Beginnings First up in Greensboro was 17-year-old Willie Jones from Louisiana who stepped out looking like he was an extra in a Fresh Prince of Bel-Air episode, according to Demi Lovato. To say that his vocal ability was a shock is an understatement. Willie wowed the audience a shocking country bass vocal, singing "Your Man" by Josh Turner. The juxtaposition of his look and his sound was exciting and her earned four yes votes from the judges! Up next was Kelvin McMangle, who doesn't deserve much written about him.

As just about any reality-show contestant will tell you, God maintains an encyclopedic knowledge of/a keen rooting interest in the outcome of everything from Big Brother to RuPaul’s Drag Race to The X Factor.

Thursday night’s installment of the last-named of those shows put an exclamation point on this fact, as lightning, heavy winds, and torrential downpours contributed to a power outage that put the kibosh on a brutal batch of auditions from Greensboro, Nc. (All together now: “Thaaaaank God!”)

Sometimes, though, you don’t need divine intervention — especially not when you’ve got a mom...

The union has 49 other states, but Massachusetts will make a particularly strong showing this Fourth of July.

The reason? The hosts of two of TV's biggest celebrations of America's birthday hail from there: Haverhill native Tom Bergeron ("Dancing With the Stars," "America's Funniest Home Videos") will make his "A Capitol Fourth" debut Wednesday, July 4, on PBS (check local listings); and later that night, Lowell-born, Andover-raised Emmy winner Michael Chiklis ("The Shield") will preside over CBS' "Boston Pops Fireworks Spectacular" for the second consecutive year.

Bergeron will have impressive talents to introduce on the West Lawn of the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C. They'll include Oscar-winning film composer John Williams, conducting the National Symphony Orchestra (to be led for most of the evening by Jack Everly) in his "Olympic Fanfare." Celebrating the upcoming Games in London, that segment also will feature eight-time medalist Apolo Anton Ohno, who knows Bergeron...