Country
Sam Hunt’s Pregnant Wife Hannah Lee Fowler Files for Divorce, Citing Adultery: Report
Sam Hunt‘s pregnant wife, Hannah Lee Fowler, has reportedly filed for divorce after five years of marriage. Fowler alleges that the country music star, 37, is “guilty of inappropriate marital conduct” and “guilty of adultery,” according to court documents obtained by TMZ. Prior to the report, it was not publicly known that Hunt and Fowler, who married in April 2017, were expecting a child together. The legal docs, filed in Tennessee, reportedly reveal that Fowler is pregnant and due in May. Explore Explore Sam Hunt See latest videos, charts and news See latest videos, charts and news Billboard has reached out to Hunt’s representatives for comment. Fowler is asking for alimony, child support and primary custody of their forthcoming child, according to TMZ. “The husband is guilty of such cru...
How Taylor Swift Inspired Priscilla Block to Quit Her Job and Pursue Music
An unexpected run-in with Taylor Swift made a huge impact on Priscilla Block‘s life. The rising country singer behind “My Bar” was just about ready to leave Nashville when she had a chance meeting with Swift — while she was actually wearing a Taylor Swift T-shirt. “I’m about a year into town and just crumbling, day by day, and I call my sister one day and I was like, ‘Hey, I have no clue what I’m doing out here.’ It was just the whole ‘If you come home, you didn’t fail. It’s OK,’” Block, whose debut album Welcome to the Block Party just arrived, recalled on an episode of The Kelly Clarkson Show last week. Explore See latest videos, charts and news See latest videos, charts and news She continued, “And that day, Taylor Swift was driving by. I was leaving work, and I was wear...
Chris Stapleton Adds to 2022 “All American Road Show” Tour
Chris Stapleton has extended his long-running North American headlining tour, “All-American Road Show,” with dozens of new dates through 2022. While the trek kicks off on March 17th at the Houston Rodeo, the 25 added shows include stops throughout June, July, August, and October in cities like Los Angeles, San Diego, Cleveland, Detroit, Tampa and New Orleans. Stapleton’s “All-American Road Show” will also feature a long list of special guests throughout its run, including appearances by Willie Nelson, Yola, Margo Price, Sheryl Crow, Elle King, The Highwomen, Mavis Staples, George Strait, and more. Tickets for the latest round of shows go on sale next Friday, Feb. 25th, at 10 a.m. local time, with various pre-sales for the country star’s fan club in the days before. Book your seat here...
Kelly Clarkson Gets Her ‘Boogie’ on for This Brooks & Dunn Cover: Watch
Kelly Clarkson invites you to get down, turn around and go to town in her new cover of Brooks & Dunn’s “Boot Scootin’ Boogie.” Reconnecting with her country roots Friday (Feb. 18), the Texas-born artist showed off her twang in the newest installment of “Kellyoke,” The Kelly Clarkson Show‘s hit cover series. Explore See latest videos, charts and news See latest videos, charts and news As usual, The Voice coach was accompanied by her band Y’all, who went the full nine yards with lots of honky-tonk piano and pedal steel guitar, played by an aptly cowboy-hatted musician. “Boot Scootin’ Boogie,” while written by Ronnie Dunn, was originally released by Asleep at the Wheel in 1990. Brooks & Dunn picked it up soon after, and their version spent four weeks atop the Billboard Hot Countr...
Willie Nelson Cancels Indoor Concerts Over COVID-19 Precautions
If you want to catch Willie Nelson on tour this year, you might have to do it outside: The outlaw country legend has canceled a handful of his indoor headlining concerts this spring out of an abundance of caution regarding COVID-19. “We are canceling our indoor headline shows until the COVID situation improves, as the safety of the audience and Willie and his touring personnel are of the utmost importance,” Nelson’s representative said in a statement. “When we are able, we will look to make up shows when possible.” According to his publicist (via Billboard), all of Nelson’s March shows have been canceled except for his Luck Reunion show on March 17th, which he holds each year at his own ranch outside of Austin, Texas. Nelson is thankfully vaccinated, but considering he’s nearing his 89th b...
Miranda Lambert’s MuttNation Foundation Gifts $20K to Animal Shelters
Miranda Lambert is spreading the love this week in honor of Valentine’s Day. The “If I Was a Cowboy” singer’s MuttNation Foundation is helping out 20 pet rescue shelters across the country, in states including California, Maine, Missouri, Tennessee, Texas, Wisconsin and more. The foundation will give a $1,000 grant to each shelter. MuttNation also launched an interactive “Mutt Match” quiz to help match people who want to help pets who have a harder time getting adopted, including larger dogs, special-needs dogs and senior dogs. Explore See latest videos, charts and news Lambert began volunteering at animal shelters when she was a teenager and has five rescue dogs, along with numerous cats, rabbits and horses. “Shelter pets – especially the ones that are hardest to get adopted – and the peo...
Luke Bryan Soars Over Crowd, Sips Margaritas & Delivers Hits at Electrifying Las Vegas Residency Debut
Luke Bryan knows how to make a memorable exit. The country music star closed the sold-out opening night of his new Las Vegas residency by soaring 45 feet in the air on a catwalk at Resorts World Theatre. The stunning final moments of the 100-minute performance on Friday night (Feb. 11) brought Bryan eye-to-eye with the 5,000-person crowd as he ascended the levels of the AEG/Concerts West venue. The singer appeared to be feeling the good vibes — and in a particularly cheeky moment, he allowed an audience member to as well, with a butt grab — before throwing on a sequin-adorned jacket and making an ascent to the top levels of the theater. Explore Explore Luke Bryan See latest videos, charts and news See latest videos, charts and news Heavy on the booty shaking for which he is known, Bryan li...
Backstreet Boys’ Nick Carter Talks Bonding With Jimmie Allen Over Fatherhood While Making ‘Easy’
Musical collaborations have dominated Billboard’s country music charts over the past year. Now, singer-songwriter and Backstreet Boys member Nick Carter is throwing his hat in the ring with “Easy,” his own pop-country collaboration alongside country hitmaker and reigning CMA new artist of the year winner Jimmie Allen. Explore See latest videos, charts and news See latest videos, charts and news “I grew up listening to all kinds of music, including country music,” Carter tells Billboard. “With the direction it’s heading, and how it’s crossing borders and boundaries, Jimmie was one person who I was listening to and I love his music.” Last year, Carter was in Las Vegas working on the track with producer Vic “BillboardKiller” Martin, when Carter mentioned that he was a fan of Allen’s music and...
“Let’s Go Brandon” Chant Breaks Out at Morgan Wallen’s Tour Kick-Off
Morgan Wallen kicked off “The Dangerous Tour” on Wednesday evening, effectively marking the end of his brief cancelation following his use of the N-word on camera. The country singer performed before a sold-out crowd at Madison Square Garden, and by the sound of it, the concert wasn’t too dissimilar to a Trump rally. According to Rolling Stone, chants of “Let’s Go Brandon” (MAGA nation’s sophomoric euphemism for “Fuck Joe Biden”) broke out during the concert. Fox News *of course* has the exclusive footage. Rolling Stone also spoke to attendees of the concerts to inquire whether they were bothered by Wallen’s use of a racial slur. “It doesn’t matter. We love him,” responded one woman named Molly. Another woman named Erica added, “I love this man. I think he deserves the world.” Meanwhile, a...
Dolly Parton’s Dollywood to Cover Tuition, Books for All Its Employees
Dolly Parton‘s Dollywood Parks & Resorts is helping out any of the company’s employees who are intent on continuing their education. The Dollywood Co. has announced that it will cover 100% of tuition, fees and books for any employee who is furthering their education, beginning Feb. 24. Explore See latest videos, charts and news The investment in employee education will be made via Herschend Enterprises, Dollywood’s operating partner. The program will be available to all seasonal, part-time and full-time employees at Dollywood Parks & Resorts. Herschuend’s GROW U. offers more than 100 fully funded diploma, degree and certificate programs with 30 learning partners in areas including business administration and leadership, culinary, finance, technology and marketing. The company will ...
Kenny Chesney’s 2022 Here and Now Tour Gets Bigger With 20 Amphitheater Shows
Kenny Chesney is ramping up his Here and Now 2022 tour even more, adding 20 amphitheater shows to his previous 21 stadium shows set for this year. The tour, which launches April 23 in Tampa, Fla., at the Raymond James Stadium, now includes amphitheater stops in Alabama, Indiana, Maryland, Nevada, New York, Texas and more. His Here and Now 2022 tour will conclude with a long-standing Chesney tradition: two shows at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Mass., this year set for Aug. 26-27. “There is something about amphitheaters that creates an immediacy that is so intimate,” Chesney said via a statement. “The energy is very different from a stadium show, and it almost opens the songs up in completely different ways. It’s pretty cool to feel that difference between the two kinds of venues, but I c...
Want Dolly Parton to Wish Your Love Happy Valentine’s Day by Name? She’s Got Your Musical Message
Whether you have a date this Valentine’s Day or are spending it solo, Dolly Parton is showering her fans with love. American Greetings announced on Friday (Feb. 4) a new SmashUp video ecard, featuring the country icon herself singing her legendary 1973 hit, “I Will Always Love You.” The heartfelt card features a one-minute video montage displaying of all kinds of love from romantic to familial and even the love between a pet and its owner. “Love comes in all sizes, all types and all colors,” Parton’s voice is heard telling the recipient after singing the chorus from her beloved love song. Parton also can personally say your loved one’s name, which you can pick from a drop-down menu one of more than 1,000 names. Explore See latest videos, charts and news “I’m excited to share this Smas...
