Daily Wire podcast host Isabel Brown on Tuesday put together a tribute episode to honor slain conservative activist Charlie Kirk on what would have been his 32nd birthday. Brown invited big-name country music artists and smaller indie acts to discuss faith, music, and Kirk’s impact on the world.
Legendary country star John Rich also stopped by “The Isabel Brown Show” to pay tribute to Kirk and discuss what it means to stand up for faith and principles in the entertainment industry.
“As an American, you always have this decision to make at some point, especially in today&#8217;s culture, and that is, ‘Am I willing to say what I really think and stand for what I really stand for, knowing I&#8217;m going to take a horrible bloody nose in my career or possibly worse?’” he told Brown, adding that he “wrestled with that for many years.”
“My American dream was to play country music, be on the radio, play the Grand Ole Opry, write hit songs, all of that,” Rich went on. “And so knowing that the industry was so liberal, if I came out swinging as a Christian conservative patriot, I’m probably going to be short-lived from that point forward … And sure enough, that was the case. I’m not on the radio anymore. I don’t get invited to their big fancy parties. But on the other hand, I can say whatever I want to.”
“I can speak the truth,” the singer said. “And, you know, Charlie represented that. I mean, you see a guy who knew that walking into those situations was going to be uncomfortable at the least and potentially dangerous, which now we know it was actually deadly to walk into those situations. But he represents what it means to be a real Christian.”
“Real Christians don&#8217;t just speak the truth when it&#8217;s comfortable,” Rich added. “Matter of fact, quite the opposite.”
The singer also mentioned Kirk’s legacy, with more young people following his example and getting married and having children. 
“It&#8217;s literally the greatest feeling a person can ever have, as you know and as I know,” Rich said of marriage and parenthood. “And I think that that has been downplayed, ridiculed, demonized, even to go out and get married and have kids. I mean, we&#8217;ve seen it in the media.”
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He added, “‘No, you don’t need to do that. You need to be a Kardashian. You need to be a pro athlete. You need to be this, be that.’ What about just being a regular, good dad or a regular, good mom? And they’ve never really talked about the benefits you get back to yourself when you become a good dad or a good mom. There’s nothing in the world that compares.”
Rich said the Christian revival that was set in motion following Kirk’s assassination has been inspiring.  “I do think with Charlie’s death, the mask of shallowness has been pulled back off of our culture … It’s giving people a line of sight into the real deep things of life that really matter.”
The country star also offered advice to anyone seeking to live a better life. 
“Put things into motion that will outlive you,” he said. “That way down the road when you&#8217;re no longer here, whether you die at 31 or 110, somebody somewhere gets to hear or see you do or say something that impacts them long after you&#8217;re gone.”
He went on, “It&#8217;s okay to go be successful, but your focus should be significance in your music, in your art, in what you say, in your speech. In shows like this, say things that will outlast you. That would be my advice.”
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Singer Matthew West agreed with all points and also discussed the challenges of being the father of teenagers. He said he’d “been a fan of Charlie’s for a long time” and was always “inspired by his bold stance, but also the way that he exercised his right to free speech in such a respectful way.”
“I have teenage daughters, you know, who need young influencers like Charlie showing them the way and speaking into their lives like Charlie,” West said. He added that in the aftermath of Kirk’s assassination, he felt a “stirring,” which was noticeable when he performed his song “Unashamed” several days later at a stadium in Pennsylvania. 
“I definitely have felt just a stirring taking place and a spiritual awakening, as well as just a cultural awakening of going, ‘What kind of voice am I gonna have in the world? And am I willing to use it even if it comes at a cost?’”
West emphasized the impact Kirk was able to make despite being young. “There’s a verse in the Bible that says, ‘Do not let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers,’” he said, referencing a passage that’s been used in reference to Kirk many times since his death.
The singer said the hatred against Kirk is also very revealing as it’s proof of “the legitimate spiritual warfare that we as Christians do believe is constantly raging on around us at all times.” 
West said his takeaway is to be even bolder in his faith despite the backlash he may experience. “There&#8217;s a line in one of my songs called ‘Unashamed’ and it&#8217;s made me think about Charlie,” he told Brown. “And every time I find myself singing it on stage since Charlie&#8217;s death, I think about him and I think about like, I just, I almost sing it kind of angry. And the line says, ‘I don&#8217;t answer to the crowd/ I answer to a King/ So the louder they shout/ The louder I sing.’” 
West also performed a song he wrote as a tribute to Kirk, which came to him on the night of the assassination. 
“September 10th, after we found out that Charlie had gone home to be with the Lord, I gathered my wife and my two daughters together and we talked about it and we prayed … later that night, I heard a song coming from my daughter’s bedroom and she was just up there, my 19 year old daughter with her guitar and she was singing &#8230; this old hymn  from my childhood.”
He added, “And I went to bed that night and … a Bible verse woke me up early that morning. I don’t want to romanticize it, but literally that’s what happened.”
The singer-songwriter said the idea of God being close, even in the face of a tragedy, inspired the song “Be Close,” which he performed on the tribute episode.
Brown’s tribute episode, “A Life Worth Singing For,” also included insight and reflection from Cole Swindell, Abe Parker, and Anne Wilson.

Isabel Brown and John Rich

John Rich Reflects On Charlie Kirk’s Legacy: ‘Say Things That Will Outlast You’

John Rich Reflects on Charlie Kirk’s Legacy: 'Say Things That Will Outlast You'

Celebrities

Charlie Kirk

Country Music

Country singer

Country Singers

Entertainment

Isabel Brown

John Rich

Politics

The Daily Wire

Daily Wire podcast host Isabel Brown released a special tribute episode in honor of Charlie Kirk’s birthday on October 14, which included interviews with some of the best voices in country music, including recording artist Cole Swindell.
The 42-year-old Grammy Award nominee says he’s never been the same since learning about the tragic loss of conservative activist Charlie Kirk. The “She Had Me at Heads Carolina” singer opened up to Brown about how the news inspired a soul-searching look at his own life and ultimately led him to write the emotional song, “Make Heaven Crowded.”
“I was getting ready to go on the road,” Swindell said, recalling the moment he found out Kirk had been assassinated. “Me and [my wife] Courtney and our brand new baby girl, we were just laying around and talking and we had the news on and all of a sudden she got a text from a friend that told us the news. We’re like, no way, no way. And so we flipped on the news and we&#8217;re following it and it&#8217;s just the feelings … I don&#8217;t know that you can actually put what you were feeling into words other than just couldn&#8217;t believe it. It was just a shock and sad, scared, mad, just a lot of it.”
“We just celebrated our first wedding anniversary as a husband. Just had our first kid as a father. I think it hit everybody a little different,” Swindell added.
For many, Charlie Kirk’s death marked a cultural moment &#8212; but Swindell said for him, it served as a spiritual reckoning.
“I hate that something like this had to happen,” he told Brown. “I feel like bad things happen and it brings us all together and then we slowly drift back apart, and this is just something that I think a lot of us drew the line. This is it. I mean, a guy just got assassinated for believing how I believe, except for he was a little more bold about it. And I think that’s what got me.”
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Swindell described feeling convicted about how he was living his own life, including how much he talked about his beliefs.
“It made me look in the mirror. Somebody that&#8217;s living like I should be living and spreading the word as a Christian, what I should be doing with the platform that I have,” he said. “I just think a lot of us are fed up with feeling like we can&#8217;t say how we believe. I mean, there’s no harm in that. And like I said, I&#8217;m a loving person, I&#8217;m not judgmental. I kind of stay out of the way and do my own thing and try to be good to people, and that&#8217;s just not good enough anymore. I have to influence other people to be good to people.”
Swindell said he never met Charlie Kirk personally, but said he’s been learning more about him every day.
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“Even this song … I happened to run across a clip of Erika [Kirk] the first time she spoke after, and that really is what hit me the hardest. I’d heard ‘make heaven crowded,’ I’d seen the phrase, but it never hit me like when I watched her say that. ‘Charlie, you alongside Jesus, doing what you always wanted to do, ‘make heaven crowded.’”
For Swindell, those words turned into a tribute. “You keep seeing the word &#8216;revival,'&#8221; he said. “And I believe it. I’ve never seen anything like it in my life. If there’s ever a chance for us to stand up and to keep this going, we cannot lose this feeling right now. It just feels like everybody knows that we’ve gotta do something. And Charlie is a huge part of that.”
Swindell reflected on Kirk’s well-known passion for strong families, something that has taken on new meaning for him since becoming a husband and father. “I have chills, because that is something I see him talk about: get married, have kids,” he said. “And I don&#8217;t know that until you do that, you really understand. Now I understand why he was saying that. Even just the getting married part for me, that took me a little longer. But once I&#8217;ve done it, it&#8217;s like, man, I wish I would have found this sooner.”
He went on, “Then you have kids, and we just had our first little daughter two months ago, and just, my gosh. I mean, now you wanna go tell people you have to do that. There&#8217;s nothing else like it. No matter what you do for a living, what you&#8217;ve accomplished, it does not, I mean, looking into her eyes, knowing that nothing else matters. Why would you not want to share that with people? Why would you not want people to feel that?”
That conviction became the heart of his new song, a spontaneous release that wasn’t planned, but felt led by God.
“I just put out an album in June,” Swindell went on. “I had no plans of putting music out, but obviously nobody had any plans of this happening. Just to write a song that was something that was on my heart.”
He continued, “I’ve literally been praying and praying about just personally, do I still need to do this? Can I, should I hang it up, be a dad? And like I said, the song, the reaction, I think it was the Lord telling me, look, your career is not over, you&#8217;re just not going any further without me. My wife told me that, and I believe it.”
Swindell described how the song’s impact has gone far beyond what he expected. “To play it live and to see the reaction now, to see the American flags, the freedom shirts start showing up in the crowd, it’s just, it’s real. And man, like I said, this song is, if it helps one person, if it changes one person’s heart, then it’s done its job, I feel like.”
For Swindell, the song isn’t about career milestones or chart performance. It’s a mission statement. “This literally is to honor Charlie and to spread Jesus everywhere we can,” he said. “That’s why I do believe I have a platform, and just people that do … just use it for good.”
He hopes others will take that challenge seriously.
“Anytime I’ve ever taken a chance and written something I was scared to maybe put out there, you find out there’s so many other people that feel just like you. And until you take that step and put that out there, you may never know,” he said. “There’s so many people out there hurting that need it, and they may look up to you. And the fact that, you know, if you can ever let them know, like, hey, I’ve been through stuff, too. That’s all we’re trying to do. We’re trying to connect through music.”
“I think that’s what I’m called to do from here on out,” Swindell added.
Brown&#8217;s tribute episode on what would have been Kirk&#8217;s 32nd birthday, titled &#8220;A Life Worth Singing For,&#8221; also included insight and reflection from country star John Rich, Matthew West, Abe Parker, and Anne Wilson.

Isabel Brown and Cole Swindell

Singer Cole Swindell Tells Isabel Brown How Charlie Kirk’s Death Changed His Life

Faith

General

U.S.

Country music icon Dolly Parton addressed rumors that have been circulating this week about her being very ill and possibly close to death.
The 79-year-old recording artist posted a video to social media that included the cheeky caption, “I ain’t dead yet!”
“Today is October the 8th, and obviously, I’m here doing some commercials for the Grand Ole Opry,” Parton said while perched on a stool in front of a green screen. “Before I got started, I wanted to say &#8230; I know lately everybody thinks that I am sicker than I am. Do I look sick to you? I’m working hard here!”
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I ain’t dead yet! <a href="https://t.co/Mp553laadI">pic.twitter.com/Mp553laadI</a>
— Dolly Parton (@DollyParton) <a href="https://twitter.com/DollyParton/status/1975970769407705160?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 8, 2025</a></blockquote>
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She continued, saying she wanted to “put everybody’s mind at ease” and addressed all the fans who had expressed concern that Parton was sick.
The “Jolene” singer said she appreciated everyone’s prayers. “I want you to know that I’m OK,” Parton went on, saying that she had neglected her health after the death of her husband, Carl Dean, in March of this year.
Parton explained that her doctor advised her to take care of some health concerns that were “nothing major,” which caused her to cancel some appearances and added fuel to the speculation that she was sicker than she let on.
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“I’m not ready to die yet,” Parton concluded. “I don’t think God is through with me, and I ain’t done working. So I love you for caring, and keep praying for me.” 
Rumors of Parton not doing well began when she postponed her highly anticipated Vegas residency. Those rumors reached a fever pitch earlier this week when the singer’s sister, Freida, posted on social media about needing prayers for Parton’s health.
&#8220;Last night, I was up all night praying for my sister, Dolly. Many of you know she hasn’t been feeling her best lately. I truly believe in the power of prayer, and I have been lead [sic] to ask all of the world that loves her to be prayer warriors and pray with me,” Freida posted to Facebook. 
“She’s strong, she’s loved, and with all the prayers being lifted for her, I know in my heart she’s going to be just fine. Godspeed, my sissy Dolly. We all love you!&#8221;
Several hours later, Freida clarified her comments after panicked fans feared the &#8220;9 to 5&#8221; hitmaker was on her deathbed.
&#8220;I want to clear something up. I didn’t mean to scare anyone or make it sound so serious when asking for prayers for Dolly,&#8221; Freida wrote in a follow-up. &#8220;She’s been a little under the weather, and I simply asked for prayers because I believe so strongly in the power of prayer. It was nothing more than a little sister asking for prayers for her big sister. Thank you all for lifting her up. Your love truly makes a difference.&#8221;

Dolly Parton

Dolly Parton Addresses Serious Illness Rumors: ‘I Ain’t Dead Yet!’

Dolly Parton Addresses Serious Illness Rumors: 'I Ain't Dead Yet!'

Country star Zach Bryan is facing some serious backlash online following the release of his anti-ICE song, “Bad News.”
The lyrics specifically target Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers with lyrics that say, “ICE is gonna come, bust down your door / Try to build a house no one builds no more / But I&#8217;ve got a telephone / Kids are all scared and all alone.”
“I&#8217;ve got some bad news / The fading of the red, white and blue,” the song goes on.
The song’s messaging has inspired country fans to come out in force to blast Bryan for his anti-ICE stance.
“Who&#8217;s ready for the Zach Bryan-Dixie Chicks tour? Prob a huge Bud Light sponsorship for this one,” country star John Rich joked on X, mocking both the Chicks’ infamous 2003 feud with President George W. Bush and Bud Light’s controversial tie-up with trans activist Dylan Mulvaney.
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Who&#8217;s ready for the Zach Bryan-Dixie Chicks tour? Prob a huge Bud Light sponsorship for this one.<a href="https://t.co/6XrEVTsRV0">https://t.co/6XrEVTsRV0</a>
— John Rich🇺🇸 (@johnrich) <a href="https://twitter.com/johnrich/status/1975211160648732779?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 6, 2025</a></blockquote>
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“Nashville is full of guys like this,” Rich wrote in a follow-up.
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“&#8217;Cocky motherf****** ain’t they. And ICE is gonna come, bust down your door. The fading of the red, white, and blue.&#8217; He just drew over 112,000 fans to what became the largest concert in U.S. history last week. Now, that will never happen again. When will they learn?” conservative podcast host Benny Johnson <a href="https://x.com/bennyjohnson/status/1975290487926935876">wrote</a>. 
“We were just invaded by over 10 million illegal aliens and who does Zach Bryan cheer for? The illegals,” another commenter wrote. “I smell a boycott brewing.”
“Dear Zach Bryan, F*** you. Sincerely, American Patriots,” another popular comment <a href="https://x.com/Notwokenow/status/1975258380299116710">said</a>. “ICE agents risk their lives daily. Violent leftists throw bricks at them, attack them, spit at them, even shoot at them. And this is the song he released. Career over.”
The song release comes after a recent episode of “Law &amp; Order: SVU” portrayed ICE agents as villains who target innocent immigrants to deport for no apparent reason.
Rapper Bad Bunny, who was just tapped to play the halftime show at the Super Bowl in February, has avoided touring in the United States due to a perceived threat that ICE could pose to his fans.
“…There was the issue of — like, f***ing ICE could be outside (my concert). And it’s something that we were talking about and very concerned about,” he said.
Meanwhile, ICE has been hard at work enforcing the federal immigration laws and has been villainized for its trouble. 
Attacks on ICE agents and their families have skyrocketed nearly 1,000% in just eight months — and many are pointing the finger at Democrats and the media for painting them as villains.

Zach Bryan

Country Singer Zach Bryan Torched After Dropping Anti-ICE Song

Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)

Music

Social Media

Country singer Jason Aldean released an acoustic cover of Luke Bryan’s song “Drink a Beer” as a tribute to slain conservative activist Charlie Kirk. 
The black and white video shared to Instagram is captioned “For Charlie.” It shows Aldean sitting on a kitchen counter, guitar in hand, while his wife Brittany stands beside him. Brittany also sings with her husband in the clip.  
“Drink a Beer” was written by Jim Beavers and Chris Stapleton and became a number-one hit for Bryan, as fans connected with the deeply emotional message. 
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“Funny how the good ones go/Too soon, but the good Lord knows/The reasons why I guess,” the lyrics say in part. 
“Sometimes the greater plan/Is kinda hard to understand/Right now it don&#8217;t make sense. I can&#8217;t make it all make sense/So I&#8217;m gonna sit right here/On the edge of this pier/Watch the sunset disappear/And drink a beer.” 
Social media followers expressed their love for Aldean’s cover of the song, calling it “beautiful” and “touching.”
Earlier in the week, Brittany had posted on social media that she was moved by Kirk’s memorial service and was going to try to “live like Charlie,” as The Daily Wire previously <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/jason-aldeans-wife-brittany-vows-to-live-like-charlie-after-attending-memorial-service">reported</a>.
“This man’s legacy that he has left, the impact that he has had on so many people … like, I knew he had impacted a ton of people, but this was just, this feels different.”
She said that Kirk’s legacy was “so big” and that he “had a different purpose in life.” 
“There was just a different plan that was greater for him that God knew,” Brittany added. “They keep saying, ‘Live like Charlie.’ So I’m going to. I’m going to really try to do that.”
Kirk was assassinated on September 10 during a speaking event at Utah Valley University. His memorial service, 11 days later, was attended by 100,000 people along with nearly the entire Trump administration, and was streamed by 100 million viewers worldwide.

Jason Aldean Brittany Aldean

WATCH: Jason Aldean Shares Moving Acoustic Tribute To Charlie Kirk

Jason Aldean

singer

Country singer Morgan Wallen will not be submitting his top-selling album, “I’m the Problem,” for Grammy Awards consideration, despite its massive popularity with fans.
The album is currently in the top position on the Billboard 200 chart for the 11th non-consecutive week, per <a href="https://www.billboard.com/music/awards/morgan-wallen-im-the-problem-not-submitted-2026-grammys-1236047754/">Billboard</a>, but that didn’t sway the recording artist to submit any of the 37 songs on the album for consideration. 
“I’m the Problem” included massive hits such as “Lies, Lies, Lies,” “What I Want” featuring Tate McRae, “Love Somebody,” and the title track, “I’m the Problem.”
As of Thursday morning, Wallen has not issued a statement on why he’s not submitting the album or any of the songs. There’s speculation that it’s because the country star felt snubbed by the Grammys before as he was never nominated until being acknowledged for the hit single “I Had Some Help,” which he made with Post Malone, in 2025.
The duo got nominated for Best Country Duo/Group Performance and Best Country Song thanks to that song. Ultimately, &#8220;II MOST WANTED&#8221; by Beyoncé featuring Miley Cyrus won best duo and “The Architect” by Kacey Musgraves took home best song.
This all comes after Wallen was ostracized from the music community in 2021 after video footage of him using a racial slur went viral. The country singer apologized at the time, but the Academy of Country Music Awards and the Country Music Association Awards disqualified Wallen from eligibility for awards that year. The ban has since been lifted.
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Since then, Wallen took home Entertainer of the Year in 2024 at the CMAs and won three ACM awards.
While most artists do submit for the Grammys, in the past, some big names have opted not to, usually after feeling like they’d been snubbed. Both The Weeknd and Drake have opted to not submit albums to the Grammys for this reason, as the outlet noted.
Wallen is fine with going against the mainstream. He <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/morgan-wallen-causes-stir-for-abruptly-exiting-snl-stage-get-me-to-gods-country">made headlines</a> in March after appearing on “Saturday Night Live” and abruptly exiting the stage before all the other cast members. The singer later posted a photo of a private plane to social media and included the caption, “Get me to God’s country.”
He followed that up by selling merchandise bearing the same message.
The 68th Grammy Awards are scheduled to air on CBS on February 1, 2026.

Morgan Wallen

Morgan Wallen’s Popular ‘I’m The Problem’ Album Won’t Be Submitted For Grammys

Grammy Awards

Country star Zach Bryan, who is an outspoken Philadelphia Eagles fan, recently vowed never to return to Kansas City for a performance. 
“Where are all the three peat people from last year:/,” the singer <a href="https://x.com/zachlanebryan/status/1953888844342087704">wrote</a> in an X post shared on August 8. 
The 29-year-old recording artist was referring to the results of the Super Bowl earlier this year when the Eagles shut down the Chiefs as they tried to make NFL history by winning three consecutive championship games. 
“Go f*** yourself. You keep talking that sh** and yet tour here. Don’t come back,” one popular reply said.
This led to one person in the comments hitting back about the Chiefs’ record, saying that the singer has “singled out” the “same fanbase that sells out his shows.” 
Bryan chimed in, saying even though he’d been there before, he’d never come back to Chiefs territory.
“Please understand I will never play in Kansas City,” the musician wrote alongside a repost of the user’s comment.
“I’ll be about to finish my show and then get a taunting call if I play at that stadium,” Bryan added.
The same commenter asked him to “take us off your live album too,” which likely referred to one of the times he played there in the past. The song in question is most likely “Fifth of May &#8211; Live from Kansas City.” Bryan said he would do it.
“Done brother,” he <a href="https://x.com/zachlanebryan/status/1953918106536903059">wrote</a>.
Bryan wasn’t content to leave the online feud there. Instead, he posted several more statements, writing, “I missed it here guys let’s piss some people off.” 
“Bro all u have to do to piss off a chiefs fan is play a fair game of football,” the “Something in the Orange” singer added in a follow-up.
“Guys it’s okay to talk trash to each other about football [y’all] are weird as hell,” Bryan <a href="https://x.com/zachlanebryan/status/1953933950097010857">wrote</a> later.
While some Chiefs fans were annoyed by Bryan’s comments, other followers jumped to his defense.
“Amen,” one person wrote in reply to the singer advocating for trash talk amongst football fans.
“It’s football … sensitive world now man,” echoed another.

After Squabble With Chiefs Fans, Country Star Says He’ll ‘Never Play In Kansas City Again’

After Squabble With Chiefs Fans, Country Star Says He'll 'Never Play In Kansas City Again'

Kansas City

Kansas City Chiefs

Philadelphia Eagles

Super Bowl

David Cone is used to wearing a lot of hats. He’s a former college quarterback, co-host of The Daily Wire’s sports show &#8220;Crain &amp; Company,&#8221; a husband, a father of three, and now, a bona fide Nashville recording artist. His debut full-length country album, “<a href="https://open.spotify.com/album/77094mIuv7HsylNEWuUN4J?si=k2M5RmLqTpCoHmE05lGNXA&amp;nd=1&amp;dlsi=3f358e17e1284f0d">Richest Man in Town</a>,” dropped with a promise Cone sums up in one word: sincerity.
“Even some of the songs that are fun and a little bit tongue in cheek, even those, I was as genuine as I possibly could be,” Cone said. “I wrote every single song on this album all by myself, and it’s the combination of many years of work here.”
Some songs date back to his days in Atlanta before COVID, while others, including the title track, were written just a few months ago.
 “With [‘Richest Man in Town’], I really just wanted to get to a distinction between being rich and having a lot of money. Those are not synonymous to me,” Cone explained. That theme of wealth measured in life and not dollars is at the core of the project. 
“We were able to get all of them recorded, and it felt really good for Kent Wells, Dolly Parton’s producer, to say, ‘Yes, I want to get in the studio and record with you.’ In an industry where you mostly hear ‘No, no, no,’ it feels really good to hear ‘yes,’” he added.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
My new album, ‘Richest Man in Town’, is now available everywhere. <a href="https://t.co/BLXaPjy6ot">pic.twitter.com/BLXaPjy6ot</a>
— David Cone (@davidadamcone) <a href="https://twitter.com/davidadamcone/status/1953810642529403219?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 8, 2025</a></blockquote>
For Cone, authenticity isn’t a marketing gimmick. It’s the backbone of his music, his podcast, and his life. 
“Kent Wells said, ‘What are you trying to do here? Are you trying to have an alternate persona and just put a cowboy hat on and get on the stage?’ And I said, ‘No, I’m just David Cone.’ The David Cone who writes songs and sings them is the David Cone who goes and hosts a sports show, is the David Cone you see at the grocery store.”
That everyday reality shapes his music. The title track came to him while driving home from The Daily Wire. “I had this idea for a song, ‘Richest Man in Town’… a way to get into the theme of living a rich life, but the protagonist of the song not having a lot of money.” 
He wrote it over a weekend while his parents were visiting. “Even as hectic as it is… I look around and I just think, yeah, if you don’t count the money, I’m the richest man in town.”
While Richest Man in Town leans into heart and family, Cone also added some other flavors to the album. There’s “Brothers,” a nostalgic track about growing up with siblings. There’s “The Ballad of Billy Spades at Devil’s Creek,” a poker anthem he’d always wanted to write. And for a little bit of fun, there’s the Mitch Hedberg-inspired “I Used to Drink,” a song Cone calls “one of my favorite tunes on the whole record.”
Cone also mentions two pro-America tracks that previously landed on Donald Trump’s campaign playlist, including “Just What America Needs” and “American Made.” He said including them was deliberate, as a way to convey “just what America needs.”
Cone explains how some of his earlier music sounded more like Jack Johnson than Johnny Cash, but over time, his style has evolved and is now more than just one thing. 
“Being here in Nashville… I’ve gotten back to a little bit more of a traditional country vibe,” he said. The album also features music legends like Charlie McCoy, who played harmonica on “Richest Man in Town” and “Brothers.” 
Whether listeners love his voice or not, Cone says they’ll hear quality. “Some of the best musicians in the world played on the record… I hope they can appreciate the music.”
Asked what success for this album looks like, Cone didn’t hesitate. 
“Oh no, it’s already successful,” he said. “My kids run up to me and say, ‘We want Dadda songs.’ The album’s already a success because they’re gonna have this for the rest of their lives.” 
Still, he admits the financial side matters if he wants to keep making records. “I would love a castle on an island with a plane… but that’s not what is gonna be the ultimate determination for success.”
In other words, he’s not chasing chart toppers to prove something. That’s because David Cone knows he’s already the richest man in town.

David Cone

David Cone Drops New Country Album: ‘If You Don’t Count The Money, I’m The Richest Man In Town’

Crain and Company

Country singer Conner Smith was allegedly involved in a car accident in which he struck and killed a woman who was walking, according to a <a href="https://www.nashville.gov/departments/police/news/pedestrian-fatally-struck-sunday-3rd-avenue-north">release</a> from the Nashville Police Department.
Per local police, Dorothy Dobbins, 77, was walking in a crosswalk around 7:30 p.m. on Sunday night when she was struck by a Chevy Silverado pickup truck. She later died after being taken to Vanderbilt University Medical Center.
“The preliminary contributing factor for this crash appears to be Smith failing to yield the right of way to the pedestrian,” the police report said. “He showed no signs of impairment.” As of Monday, no charges were filed against the recording artist.
“On June 8th, Mr. Smith was involved in a car accident that tragically claimed a life. His heart goes out to Ms. Dobbins’ family during this incredibly difficult time. Mr. Smith continues to cooperate fully with the ongoing investigation,” Smith’s attorney said in a <a href="https://www.tennessean.com/story/entertainment/music/2025/06/09/country-singer-conner-smith-involved-in-fatal-pedestrian-incident-police-say/84123320007/">statement</a> to The Tennessean.
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The fatal incident occurred on the last day of the annual CMA Fest in Nashville, a popular four-day country music event.
Smith is a rising country music singer and songwriter from Nashville known for blending traditional country storytelling with a modern sound. He gained attention with his breakout single &#8220;I Hate Alabama,&#8221; and has since built a loyal fanbase with hits like &#8220;Take It Slow&#8221; and &#8220;Creek Will Rise.&#8221; In April, he released the single “Country in the Clouds” with Dylan Marlowe. Smith is also featured on the “Twisters” soundtrack.
Signed to Big Machine Label Group, Smith has been recognized as one of country music’s promising new voices.
The country singer married surfer Leah Thompson in April 2024.

Conner Smith

Country Singer Strikes, Kills 77-Year-Old Woman In Crosswalk: Police

Car Crash

Nashville

Country music star Alan Jackson announced his retirement from touring over the weekend, saying he’ll put on one final show in Nashville next summer.
The 66-year-old recording artist revealed the news during a concert in Milwaukee on Saturday, as shown by a fan video uploaded to X. 
“Y’all may have heard that I’m kinda winding down. In fact, this is my last roadshow of my career,” Jackson said as the crowd cheered. “I appreciate it. Y’all gonna make me tear up out here.&#8221;
“It’s been a long, sweet ride; it started 40 years ago this September. My wife and I drove to Nashville with an old U-Haul trailer and chased this dream. It’s been a crazy ride. I lived the American Dream, for sure. So blessed. Thank you all so much for all your support of my music and attending my shows,” he continued. 
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Alan Jackson addressed the sellout Milwaukee crowd. He said this is his last road show. He said he plans on one last show in Nashville next summer to close things out. <a href="https://t.co/sDj8LVxZAz">pic.twitter.com/sDj8LVxZAz</a>
&mdash; Steven Radmer (@Steven_R) <a href="https://twitter.com/Steven_R/status/1923927051817374072?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 18, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
The country music legend’s announcement comes just four years after he revealed that he had been diagnosed with Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease, which affects his nerves.
&#8220;I&#8217;ve been reluctant to talk about this publicly and to my fans, but it&#8217;s been a while, and it&#8217;s starting to affect my performance onstage a little bit where I don&#8217;t feel comfortable,&#8221; Jackson said in 2021, per <a href="https://people.com/alan-jackson-plays-last-concert-before-retiring-from-touring-11737312">People</a>.
&#8220;I just wanted the fans and the public to know if they&#8217;ve come to see me in the last few years or if they come to see me in the future if I play anymore, what&#8217;s going on. I don&#8217;t want them to think I&#8217;m drunk onstage because I&#8217;m having problems with mobility and balance,&#8221; he went on, explaining that while the condition is not “fatal,” it would eventually affect his physical ability. 
&#8220;This is not a condition that I would be complaining about typically, but it is going to affect me performance-wise onstage, and I don&#8217;t know how much I&#8217;ll continue to tour,&#8221; Jackson said at the time.
The “Remember When” singer embarked on his “Last Call: One More for the Road” tour in June 2022, playing the last scheduled show on Saturday.
Jackson is known for blending traditional honky-tonk with mainstream country, creating a signature sound. With more than 60 million albums sold, 35 number-one hits, and numerous awards, including Grammys and CMA honors, he&#8217;s one of country music’s most enduring and respected artists.

Alan Jackson

Country Star Alan Jackson Announces Retirement, Plans To Perform In One Last Show

Country Star Alan Jackson Announces Retirement, Final Show In Nashville

Country singer Morgan Wallen addressed the viral moment when he broke precedent and abruptly exited the stage of “Saturday Night Live” while the cast was still saying their goodbyes.
The 31-year-old celeb discussed the incident during an appearance on the podcast “Sundae Conversations with Caleb Pressley.”
“Could you fix a TV, if it was on SNL?” Pressley asked Wallen during a conversation about his handyman skills.
“I could change it for sure,” Wallen said with a chuckle.
“Seriously, SNL, did they make you mad?” the host asked.
Wallen replied, “No, no. I was just ready to go home. I’d been there all week.”
Pressley mentioned the country singer’s subsequent Instagram post of a private plane sitting on a runway which said, “Get to me to God’s country,” which Wallen recalled with a smile and a “yeah.”
The singer lives in Nashville, while “SNL” is taped in New York City.
<iframe loading="lazy" title="MORGAN WALLEN 3: Sundae Conversation with Caleb Pressley" width="500" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/XyAvuB-l-Hk?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe>
The “Last Night” singer quickly decided to capitalize on the virality of the moment, selling merchandise, including a t-shirt and a hat, repeating that caption. This likely refers to the Instagram story and could also reference a song title in his upcoming album, “I’m the Problem,” which comes out May 16.
Wallen whispered something in “Anora” actress Mikey Madison’s ear before departing the stage, but did not appear to say goodbye to anyone else, as The Daily Wire previously <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/morgan-wallen-sells-get-me-to-gods-country-merch-after-viral-snl-exit?author=Amanda+Harding&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=undefined&amp;row=0&amp;rowType=Vertical+List&amp;title=Morgan+Wallen+Sells+%E2%80%98Get+Me+To+God%E2%80%99s+Country%E2%80%99+Merch+After+Viral+%E2%80%98SNL%E2%80%99+Exit">reported</a>.
“SNL” star Keenan Thompson addressed the moment during an interview with Entertainment Weekly.
“I don’t know what goes through people’s minds when they decide to do stuff like that. I don’t know if he understood the assignment or not, or if he was really feeling a certain kind of way,” Thompson told the outlet.
“It’s definitely a spike in the norm,” the longtime cast member added. “We’re so used to everybody just turning around and high-fiving us, everybody’s saying, ‘Good job, good job, good job.’ So when there’s a departure from that, it’s like, hmm, I wonder what that’s about?”
While Thompson admitted that other guests, including Prince, had been “standoffish,” he thought Wallen’s actions were a little more egregious. Later, the comedian also complained about Wallen’s Instagram post.
“The ‘God’s country’ of it all is strange because it’s like, what are you trying to say? You trying to say that we are not in God’s country? We’re not all in God’s country? We’re not all under God’s umbrella? That’s not necessarily my favorite,” Thompson added.

Morgan Wallen Breaks Silence On Viral ‘SNL’ Departure: ‘Just Ready To Go Home’

Morgan Wallen Breaks Silence On Viral 'SNL' Departure: 'Just Ready To Go Home'

Saturday Night Live

Country star Morgan Wallen is taking advantage of his viral moment exiting the “Saturday Night Live” stage by selling themed merchandise based on the social media post he shared afterward.
The 31-year-old recording artist made <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/morgan-wallen-causes-stir-for-abruptly-exiting-snl-stage-get-me-to-gods-country">headlines</a> last weekend with his abrupt exit at the show&#8217;s end after performing two songs, which was a break in tradition. Usually, guests stick around as the credits roll, making Wallen’s quick exit from the stage look like a statement.
Not long after, he shared a photo on an Instagram story of what appeared to be a private plane sitting on a runway with a caption that said, “Get me to God’s country.” SNL is broadcast out of New York City. Wallen lives in Nashville.
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Thank you, Mikey Madison and <a href="https://twitter.com/MorganWallen?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@MorganWallen</a>! Goodnight! <a href="https://t.co/FDlInhhHqb">pic.twitter.com/FDlInhhHqb</a>
&mdash; Saturday Night Live &#8211; SNL (@nbcsnl) <a href="https://twitter.com/nbcsnl/status/1906220126245880009?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 30, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Now, the “Last Night” singer is capitalizing on the virality of the moment, selling <a href="https://shop.morganwallen.com/">merchandise</a>, including a t-shirt and a hat, repeating that caption. This likely refers to the Instagram story and could also reference a song title in his upcoming album, “I’m the Problem,” which comes out May 16.
Wallen whispered something in “Anora” actress Mikey Madison’s ear before departing the stage but did not appear to say goodbye to anyone else. “SNL” star Keenan Thompson addressed the moment during an <a href="https://ew.com/kenan-thompson-reacts-morgan-wallen-walking-off-snl-stage-exclusive-11706140">interview</a> with Entertainment Weekly. 
&#8220;I don&#8217;t know what goes through people&#8217;s minds when they decide to do stuff like that. I don&#8217;t know if he understood the assignment or not, or if he was really feeling a certain kind of way,” Thompson told the outlet. 
&#8220;It&#8217;s definitely a spike in the norm,&#8221; the longtime cast member <a href="https://ew.com/kenan-thompson-reacts-morgan-wallen-walking-off-snl-stage-exclusive-11706140">added</a>. &#8220;We&#8217;re so used to everybody just turning around and high-fiving us, everybody&#8217;s saying, &#8216;Good job, good job, good job.&#8217; So when there&#8217;s a departure from that, it&#8217;s like, hmm, I wonder what that&#8217;s about?&#8221;
While Thompson admitted that other guests, including Prince, had been “standoffish,” he thought Wallen’s actions were a little more egregious. Later, the comedian also complained about Wallen’s Instagram post. 
&#8220;The &#8216;God&#8217;s country&#8217; of it all is strange because it&#8217;s like, what are you trying to say? You trying to say that we are not in God&#8217;s country? We&#8217;re not all in God&#8217;s country? We&#8217;re not all under God&#8217;s umbrella? That&#8217;s not necessarily my favorite,&#8221; Thompson added.
Wallen has yet to publicly comment on the situation.

Morgan Wallen Sells ‘Get Me To God’s Country’ Merch After Viral ‘SNL’ Exit

Morgan Wallen Sells 'Get Me To God's Country' Merch After Viral 'SNL' Exit

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