Updates

A new lawsuit claims a friend to Kenny Rogers had the right to film the singer’s final tour, but no right to distribute the footage. If Rogers’ estate wins, it’ll cost that friend hundreds of thousands of dollars or more. TMZ found court documents that outline the lawsuit. Kelly Junkermann allegedly had Rogers’ permission to film

Country queen Dolly Parton, the unstoppable duo Dan + Shay and effortless crooner Brett Eldredge are among the country artists scheduled to appear during this year’s Christmas in Rockefeller Center special on NBC. To air Wednesday, Dec. 2 from 8-10PM ET, the seasonal program will also include appearances from Kelly Clarkson, Gwen Stefani, Meghan Trainor, Goo Goo Dolls, Pentatonix, Jimmy

Blake Shelton won the 2020 American Music Award for Favorite Album — Country, and he gave the love right back to the fans. Fully Loaded: God’s Country took the trophy on Sunday night (Nov. 22), topping albums by Luke Combs and Morgan Wallen. Both Shelton and fiancee Gwen Stefani let fans know they appreciate the

Adam Doleac is no stranger to writing heart-melting love songs — the music video for his single “Famous” even featured a real-life couple from The Bachelor — but it’s a different kind of romance that takes center stage in his latest submission to country radio, “Whiskey’s Fine.” This time around, a couple that have called it quits

Jameson Rodgers‘ newest single, “Cold Beer Calling My Name,” is a slice of laidback, tried-and-true country music gold. From its titular drink to the imagery of a girl riding shotgun and a night full of fun ahead, the song stirs up all the makings of a hit at country radio. Of course, it doesn’t hurt

Lee Brice literally let go of his fifth studio album, and the end result finds him pivoting once again. Fans will meet a less-shielded version of the “One of Them Girls” singer on Hey World. The 14 songs shrink the outsized legend of Brice to something more manageable and approachable. It’s a funny thing, this

The Eagles scored their first-ever No. 1 hit with “Best of My Love” in 1975, but the career victory didn’t come without considerable strife. Singer-guitarist Glenn Frey and singer and drummer Don Henley both helped co-write the song, but they each had reasons for disliking the single that gave them their biggest success to date.

Jimmie Rodgers deserves credit for innovating the role of a touring, band-leading solo star. Yet it’s Roy Acuff who turned top billing into a glamorous lifestyle chased in the coming years by Ernest Tubb and others. Along the way, Acuff’s captivating vocal delivery and electrifying stage presence made him the heart and soul of one

Kenny Rogers once wanted his pal Lionel Richie at his Independence Day barbecue so bad that he helicoptered the singer and his parents into his farm outside of Athens, Ga. Richie regaled viewers with the extraordinary tale earlier in November on ABC News as part of the network’s spate of “Country Strong” programming leading up to the 2020

Dillon Carmichael’s new song “Hot Beer” is a country-rock burn. The tongue-in-cheek, get-lost kind of breakup song would be an absolute live anthem if we did those kinds of things in 2020. With production help from Jon Pardi, Carmichael turns in yet another centered country song that proves why he’s such an exciting newcomer on

Happy Grand Ole Opry anniversary to Trace Adkins! It was on this date 24 years ago (Nov. 23, 1996) that the singer made his Opry debut, performing “Every Light in the House,” from his freshman album, Dreamin’ Out Loud. Adkins’ Grand Ole Opry debut was a memorable event for the Louisiana native for another reason as well:

Ever wondered how nominees and winners get selected at the Grammy Awards? Lucky for our readers, The Boot has some intel on how the voting process, both to determine the year’s nominees and to crown each year’s winners, works. We consulted the Recording Academy’s official Grammy Awards voting rules to explain how nominees and winners for the

Orville Peck‘s “Fancy” cover captures the drama of the country classic. On Monday (Nov. 23), the masked singer-songwriter is sharing a special live version of the song, and he’s letting The Boot’s readers see it early; press play above to watch. Peck’s newly released “Fancy” performance comes from his 2020 Rodeo livestream, which took place at the

Jon Pardi and his fiancee Summer Duncan had to change their original wedding plans due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but social distancing and virus-related shutdowns couldn’t stop their big day completely. The couple married on Saturday (Nov. 21) in Murfreesboro, Tenn., People reports. Pardi and Duncan tied the knot at Murfreesboro’s Saddle Wood Farms. The singer, his

Dan + Shay turn a white Christmas blue in their plaintive new song, “Christmas Isn’t Christmas.” The sentimental tune finds Dan Smyers and Shay Mooney’s harmonies glowing over a cinematic melody. Mooney takes the lead as they convey the lonely feeling of not being able to spend the holiday with the ones you love, the festive occasion becoming

In recent months, Sean Watkins has felt like every day is trash day. His work schedule as a musician stalled due to the novel coronavirus quarantine, the weeks have simultaneously dragged on and flown by, he explains, giving him deja vu every time his scheduled, once-per-week garbage pickup day rolls around. “I would go to take

Chances are good that 39 years ago today (Nov. 21, 1981), Hank Williams Jr. didn’t do much settling down. It was on that date that his single “All My Rowdy Friends (Have Settled Down)” soared to the top of the charts. “All My Rowdy Friends (Have Settled Down)” was the first single released from Williams Jr.’s The

This Thanksgiving, we’re thankful that so many country stars are just the kind of people we’d love to invite to share dinner with us. Lively conversation, mindful reflection and a few helpings of good ol’ gossip would add up to one perfect holiday. And we’ve gathered just the right group to provide all that —

Good people, great food, sweet memories and taking the time to reflect on everything we’ve been given is what this time of the year is all about. Whether you’re gathered up with the whole family or celebrating “friendsgiving” style, here’s a soundtrack for your Thanksgiving holiday from some of country music’s biggest names, then and now.

The Friday after the 2020 presidential election, Kelsey Waldon was feeling “very, very inspired.” The race had not yet been called for Democrats Joe Biden and Kamala Harris, and both her home state of Kentucky and her adopted home state of Tennessee had remained red — but signs of change were there, if you looked.