Music City Minute

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It’s a big day in country music! In this edition of Music City Minute, we’re celebrating the legendary Dolly Parton, talking about Lady A’s highly-anticipated return to the stage, taking a look at Lainey Wilson’s hilarious “day off” routine and covering the latest development in the murder case involving Billy Strings’ half-brother.   Music City Minute is powered by Ramos Law.

Lainey Wilson is returning to host the 60th Annual CMA Awards, marking her third straight year at the helm of Country Music's Biggest Night. The show airs live November 18 from Nashville's Bridgestone Arena on ABC, Disney+ and streams the next day on Hulu. The 2026 nominations are led by Ella Langley with nine nods, followed by Miranda Lambert with seven and Kacey Musgraves with five. Oh yeah, there is also that teeny-tiny 98.5 KYGO nomination for Major Market Radio Station of the Year too. With the CMAs celebrating 60 years and coming just months after Dolly Parton's passing, many fans are expecting a...

Y’all, grab some nappies and a bottle, because a new little country cutie just made her debut! On September 1, Mitchell Tenpenny and Meghan Patrick welcomed their first child together, a 5 lbs. 12 oz. baby girl named Ember James Tempany. Mitchell and Meghan are already calling her their “sweet Emmy girl,” and honestly, that is just about as adorable as it gets. Fans first found out Meghan was pregnant back in March, when the couple said they had been blessed with “the greatest gift of all.” As her due date got closer, Meghan stepped away from touring for the rest of the year s...

After the Opry shared a video of the 24-year-old singer performing her viral hit "Boston" backstage for St. Jude patients, some commenters took aim at Lefty's success, pointing to her family's wealth and the ongoing comparisons between "Boston" and Noah Kahan's "Stick Season." Ballerini jumped into the comments to defend the newcomer, reminding fans that the Grand Ole Opry has always been about celebrating all kinds of country music and the artists who connect with audiences through it. She also stressed that the video showed Lefty taking time to sing for St. Jude kids, calling the moment something worth celebrating...

Here is a made-in-Wyoming music moment: Sheridan native and country star Ian Munsick has teamed up with Cheyenne native and recent University of Wyoming graduate Jacob Walker for a special down-home collaboration. When Munsick’s team asked UW’s Western Thunder Marching Band to perform his song “Love Is Blind,” Walker answered the call to create the arrangement. Boy howdy, it was a perfect fit. Walker spent four years with Western Thunder, earned degrees in music education and music performance this spring, and started arranging marching-band music while he was a UW student. The two Wyoming musicians finally met after the band...

Country music star Chayce Beckham and his wife, Ashley Britt, had no idea how quickly life would change less than a year into their marriage. Their family recently grew by ten after Ashley rescued a dog wandering near their home about four months ago. A veterinary exam revealed that the dog, Sundae, was pregnant, and within days she delivered nine puppies — turning the Beckhams’ once-quiet house into a chaotic canine corral. Inevitably, the fast-growing pups now need loving homes. Although Chayce says they are “so frickin’ cute,” he and Ashley cannot realistically keep all nine while also hoping to grow their own...

Do you remember Ole Hank Jr. singing about country folks who raise their young’uns to live off the land, say grace and ma’am? Well, I’d say Riley Green is most certainly one of those polite, country boys (who can survive), described in the song. In fact, I believe that home training helps Green maintain refinement around questionable company. No doubt the CMA winner offered up praise for those frilly knickers missing his face. Now, in a perfect world, the "Worst Way" singer would prefer to play shows with zero aerial artifacts and zero fights. However, weirdly, both of tho...

Imagine you’re aboard a plane, minutes from landing. You buckle up, return your tray table and gather your belongings. Then the captain’s voice crackles over the intercom, “Welcome to Dolly Parton International Airport.”

That could soon be a reality. A Change.org petition launched in January 2025 to rename Nashville International Airport after the country music icon has surged past 170,000 signatures. Naturally, the campaign gained new momentum following Parton’s tragic passing on August 25. Tennessee Governor Bill Lee and airport leaders now support creating a lasting tribute in her honor, and Parton’s team says it is touched b...

Over the last six years or so, Carly Pearce has been on a journey of self discovery, which has taught her how to thrive mentally, physically and emotionally. Not only that, the songstress has developed a keen ability to recognize red flags and the confidence to stand her ground – especially when it comes to her kids...I mean dogs, Johnny and June. While discussing the inspiration behind her new album, "Honest Woman," one particular song, "He Don’t Like My Dogs," and its accompanying antidote really stood out above the rest. “I was in a relationship where someone was not nice t...

"When I'm done, I can rest in peace knowing I've done my best. I hope that when my time comes, I'll leave something behind that others can use to lift themselves up."   For many fans in Colorado, Dolly Parton has always felt like family. Her heartfelt storytelling in beloved songs like “Jolene,” “Coat of Many Colors”  and “I Will Always Love You” have been the soundtrack to road trips through the Rockies, family gatherings, and countless moments shared around the radio. Colorado audiences have welcomed her throughout the years, from her appearances at the Denver Coliseum and Ebbets Field in 1974, Ebbets Field a...

Boy howdy, someone call the fire brigade, because Miranda Lambert set the stage on fire at Sturgis. I heard tell that the Triple Crown  ACM winner’s performance charmed the fringe off the leather-clad audience at the 86th annual motorcycle rally in South Dakota. Fans rocked-out to a full throttle set, which included gut-punch bangers such as "Kerosene," "White Liar," and "Gunpowder & Lead." Now, the Texas tornado must have been aware of the rally’s unwritten rule: go big or go home, because all night, the savvy songstress had pair of bedazzled aces stuffed up her sleeve. In an unforgettable momen...

Just when we thought it was safe to send a bunch of rednecks with gitfiddles to play internationally, sadly unforeseen circumstances end up sending the entire band off the rails. No, not in the Keith Moon, Ozzy Osbourne or Bailey Zimmerman kind of way. Rather, Colt Ford and his crew were involved in a nasty accident while traveling to a music festival in Germany. Ford shared a picture of their wrecked bus, as well as a few details about the incident. According to the "Dirt Road Anthem" singer, at some point their rig left the road and smashed into a...

Well, butter my backside and call me a biscuit, a sweet Georgia peach is turning the country music scene on its head. After eleven years of hustling in Music City, Miss Hannah Dasher has worked her way up from amuse-bouche to the main entrée. Now, how would one describe the 40-year-old Dasher? Let me put it to you this way: If the queen of country music had kinfolk from The Goober State, Dasher would be Her Majesty’s, step-auntie’s half cousin, on her Mama's side, thrice removed. With hair as high as the heavens, the icon-in-training is a regul...

Well, dunk my donuts, here we go again. A few days ago, Billy Strings was playing a packed house at the Fisher Event Center in Indiana, and all seemed to be going well. That is, until a mystery projectile hit Strings in the head. In record time, hundreds of fan videos documenting the incident (as well as the "Leadfoot" singer’s not-safe-for-work meltdown) popped up online. “I was just getting ready to say how much I’m happy to be here and I love you guys and all this s***, then you throw something and it hits me right in the f...

Well hot dang, after over a decade in the music business, Post Malone (and I’m sure his daughter) are celebrating his latest career milestone. The rapper/rocker/popstar/country crooner rambled into the big city for a special performance on the world's most famous stoop. Yessum, Ole Posty made his Sesame Street debut in an episode called "Storm on Sesame Street." I know what you are thinking, just the idea of the "Sunflower" singer appearing on the iconic children's show sounds like it would go over like a lead balloon. However, Malone, face tattoos and all, was a surprisingly na...

Well fan my britches, Zac Brown just pulled off the biggest surprise since the Oprah Winfrey show. In case that mental tab just will not refresh, perhaps this will help jog your memory, “Oh my goodness, you get a car! Everybody gets a car!” In that now infamous episode, Ms. Oprah gave away 276 brand new cars. In total, the gift added up to nearly $8 million. So how in the heck did Zac Brown top that epic giveaway? With free tickets of course! “And tonight, we’re gonna do something that even Jimmy would say is crazy, I’m buying every single per...

Every little thing Russell Dickerson has worked for has finally landed him a spot in music history;, and honestly, it is about time. The singer-songwriter turned a good day into a great day when he became the first country music artist to appear in a KIDZ BOP music video. Since 2001, the family friendly pop franchise has put out 74 total albums, with the latest collection featuring Dickerson’s hit song, "Happen to Me." The adorable, high energy music video begins with the "Yours" singer, pondering the mysteries of life, “I’ve always wondered what it would be like to be a KIDZ B...

This has certainly been an unusual week for country music tours. It started with Megan Moroney’s mid-show cancellation, followed by Parker McCollum rescheduling two weekend shows, and now one artist has scrapped an entire leg of his tour. In an emotional post addressed to fans, Bailey Zimmerman confirmed his 10-date European roadshow would no longer happen. The 26-year-old goes on to explain his heartbreaking decision to take some time off and focus on important matters at home. “Everything is okay, it’s just my family needs my attention and that’s what I’ve gotta do,” said the singer. The country...

Shut the front door! A second, Denver-area country concert is making headlines! On the heel of Megan Moroney’s canceled Ball Arena concert, Parker McCollum also found himself overcome with emotion during his own live set. While playing to a massive crowd at Red Rocks, July 29, the "Gold Chain Cowboy" stopped down the music and declared he is fixin’ to be a dad of two in a matter of hours. Detailing the wonderful news, McCollum expressed his joy over stepping off stage in Morrison and going straight home to support Hallie Ray through her upcoming delivery, July 30. Needless-to-say, the country star...

Country stars with tattoos are common sight in Nashville. In fact, artists without ink are pretty much unicorns. As you may know, many folks typically choose body art to honor a person, moment or achievement, which has inspired a popular growing trend among artists: matching tattoos. For instance, Luke Bryan and Jason Aldean have mirroring Buck Commander motifs, while Jelly Roll and Brandon Lake share twin King of Hearts designs. Needless to say, this group is constantly growing and will soon include Kane Brown and Lauren Alaina! As it turns out, Brown and Alaina had promised to get matching diamond...

Over the years, I have had the opportunity to attend countless live shows and – as you can imagine – witnessed a fair share of onstage mishaps. I am talking everything from artists falling, smashing their instruments, breaking up fights, full on frontman meltdowns and, in a few cases, sick stars fighting for their lives. That said, personal illness causing a concert to end early or be canceled is, in my experience, surprisingly uncommon. Yet, sadly, Megan Moroney had one of those ultra-rare moments during her Denver show, July 28. After struggling through a couple of songs, the 28-year-old fought back tears as she...

Now that AI is becoming more streamlined and widely available, many industries have embraced it for its quick results and cost-saving features. So, how is it affecting the arts industry? Honestly, my favorite example involves Randy Travis who, with the help of AI, not only gained his voice back – it also gave the country legend the opportunity to release his first new music in 10 years. But wait, there’s more! According to Niko Moon, songwriters have found a creative way to use AI saying, “I’ve been hearing that, here in town with songs that are being pitched artists, one of the g...

Imagine you are global superstar playing to a stadium packed with screaming fans in the pouring rain, when suddenly on song two, your outfit comes unzipped. This oddly specific scenario sounds a lot like an anxiety dream. You know, the ones where only your missing red Swingline stapler will fix the broken office printer or you are leading a presentation only to realize too late that you are naked as a jaybird. Yet, the opening scenario was not a dream for Ella Langley, it was closer to waking nightmare. While performing in Baltimore, Maryland, Langley had just started her energetic...

Ask any professional artist and they will tell you the music business changes people. Let us look at Riley Green for example. He has built a heck of a music career that has earned him seven No. 1 hit songs and enough industry awards to fill the cab of an International Harvester. While the 37-year-old’s star power increased, at the same time, it was becoming more and more apparent that Riley Green had become a real piece of work. Seriously, you cannot tell me over the last seven years or so you have not noticed Green’s evolution from Alabama farm...

After months on the road, Morgan Wallen is in the final stretch of is Still the Problem tour. Although the 33-year-old still has four shows on his calendar, Gavin Adcock wrapped up his long spell as support act on July 18. To show his appreciation for the incredible opportunity, Adcock wanted to present Wallen with an equally unforgettable end-of-tour gift. Then came the "Deep End" singer’s reveal video, which went from fun to nightmare fuel shockingly fast. Adcock described his initial dilemma of what to get someone who can afford anything themselves. His answer was “something that they would never get”...

Up-and-coming artist Waylon Wyatt has been chomping at the bit to share exciting career milestones with fans. With his debut album fixing to drop and the first couple of shows of his world tour under his belt, the 19-year-old was feeling every bit of ten feet tall and bulletproof. While he seemed mentally prepared for his big adventure, his body was fighting for its life, literally. In a newly uploaded video, the "Leave It Alone" singer revealed he had found himself in the emergency room with sepsis. Yet, despite the grim news, the country riser then chose to follow up...

It has been four years since Florida Georgia Line rocked the country music world with their breakup. At the time, from an outsider's perspective, it seemed like Tyler Hubbard and Brian Kelly were living in high-on-the-hog from their catalogue of hits. Yet, not everything that glitters is gold. As it turns out, the once inseparable friends and bandmates found themselves at crossroads, ultimately leading them on solo journeys. Thankfully, FGL's story does not end there. After reuniting for a surprise performance in March and again weeks later at CMA Fest, the prospect of a fully-fledged reunion feels closer than ever...

Nearly every artist on Music Row at one point or another has described their experience in the industry as being a part of a big family. In fact, artists mentoring and supporting each other is one of the unique foundations of country culture. Yet, at the same time, Kane Brown admits that camaraderie does not necessarily translate into genuine friendship. While reflecting on his personal and professional life, the 32-year-old confessed he feels like an outsider who, despite all of his connections in Nashville, does not have a tight knit group of professional friends. Although Brown does enjoy frequently...

After a lifetime of challenges and achievements, country legend Reba McEntire is gearing up for the most important role of her life. Earlier this year, Reba's son and daughter-in-law, Shelby and Marissa, confirmed they are expecting! Unsurprisingly, Granny Reba is already crushing her new role. In fact, she was a driving force in planning an unforgettable baby shower. The theme of the shower was so creative – Baby Archer's First World Tour! Not only did baby Archer's name appear in marquee lights, but the "Fancy" singer also commissioned a custom silver record mounted in a frame and a plaque reading "Archie Bl...

Question: how many fermented beverages and awful dance moves would earn a person free Luke Bryan tickets for life? Drawing from experience, typically one-and-a-half to two beverages will at least get someone on the dance floor. Unfortunately, after four to five drinks, overconfidence tricks us in to believing everyone needs to see our Mick Jagger moves. Needless to say, anything past that ends up being tragic and messy. Despite that sound logic, a concertgoer named Colin chose to throw caution to the wind at a recent Luke Bryan Show. This man allegedly consumed over two dozen beverages, remained lucid and...

Garth Brooks is heading back to where it all started. Fresh off a history-making sold out show at London's Hyde Park that drew over 70,000 fans, Brooks announced the Blame It All On My Roots Tour, a full-scale return to arenas featuring the comeback of his iconic Drum Pod. If that name doesn't ring a bell, it will for anyone who saw Garth in the '90s. The Drum Pod was a massive enclosure that surrounded his drummer during his 1996 world tour, and it became one of the most recognizable stage setups in concert history. That tour produced "Double Live," which...

Rhett Akins had no idea Jon Pardi was waiting backstage. Then came the words every country artist dreams of hearing. Sunday night at the Grand Ole Opry House, during a special Opry Celebrates '90s Country show, Rhett Akins finished his set and thought the night was done. It wasn't. Jon Pardi walked out from backstage, and the room changed. Pardi praised Akins as a mentor and friend before saying quote, "You've always been family to me, but I'm here to invite you to be part of a different family. Rhett Akins, I am here to invite you to become...

Jordan Davis just played a show in Canada. Getting back into the U.S. was the hard part. Jordan Davis has a new touring story, and it's a good one. After headlining a show at Caesars Windsor in Ontario last Friday, the "Buy Dirt" singer's tour bus was stopped at the Canadian border by U.S. Customs and Border Patrol. Officers pulled Davis off the bus, brought him inside and got serious fast. "I need you to be real serious with me, man," one officer told him. "Are you in some trouble in Indiana?" Davis told them he'd never even...

The U.S. Men's National Team doesn't just play country music after games. They play it before them too. We've talked about how John Denver's "Take Me Home, Country Roads" has become the unofficial anthem of the 2026 World Cup. But it turns out country music's role with Team USA goes way deeper than a postgame singalong. The U.S. head coach revealed this week that the night before every match, his coaching staff gets together and plays country music. The manager said he's become a genuine fan of the genre and even name-dropped three artists the staff has been spinning...

Alan Jackson took the stage one last time Saturday night, and Nashville gave him a send off worthy of a legend. Saturday night at Nissan Stadium, 55,000 fans gathered to watch Alan Jackson close the book on a 35-year touring career. The show was called Last Call: One More for the Road, The Finale, and it lived up to every word. The evening started with a little drama nobody planned for – lightning rolled through Nashville forcing a full stadium evacuation right before showtime. But the weather cleared, and when Jackson finally walked out at 9:25, he did what he's always done. He ke...

Country music's most sacred stage might have a new owner. This is a big one. According to a report from Bloomberg, Ryman Hospitality Properties is exploring the sale of its 70 percent stake in Opry Entertainment Group, the company that owns the Grand Ole Opry House and the Ryman Auditorium. They've hired Morgan Stanley to find a buyer, and this comes during the Opry's 100th anniversary year. The sale wouldn't just include those two iconic venues. Opry Entertainment Group also owns WSM Radio, the station that launched the Opry back in 1925, as well as Blake Shelton's Ole Red locations, Luke Combs...

Kane Brown had a rough Tuesday. The 32-year-old country star was out golfing in Nashville when his own buddy hit a shot that caught him right in the head. The result? 23 stitches and a concussion. Brown shared photos of the gnarly injury on Instagram, showing blood on his ear and a row of stitches, with the caption, "Just a scratch." He followed that with another post saying, "They said it will prob get worse in the next 48 hours, but I'm alive and that's all that matters. Holy crap." His wife Katelyn added some context of her own, saying the ball...

Taylor Swift just showed up in Nashville and sang "Love Story" with Lainey Wilson, and the internet is losing its mind. Last night in Nashville, Lainey Wilson was closing out her set at Travis Kelce's annual Tight Ends & Friends charity concert when she told the crowd, "I don't think y'all are ready for what's about to happen." Out walked Taylor Swift. The two proceeded to duet on Swift's 2008 classic "Love Story" as the crowd erupted. Before the song, Wilson shared that years ago she came to Nashville for CMA Fest and watched a 16-year-old Swift perform at the Riverfront Stage...

2026 has been the year country and Southern rock became the soundtrack of American sports on the global stage, and we need to talk about it. First, let's rewind to February, when Team USA used Lynyrd Skynyrd's "Free Bird" as their goal song at the Winter Olympics in Milan. Every time the U.S. scored, that iconic guitar riff echoed through the arena, and it became one of the defining sounds of the Games. By the time it was over, both the men's and women's hockey teams had won gold, with the men capturing their first Olympic hockey gold since the...