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

Charlie Kirk

Country Music

Entertainment

Jason Aldean

Music

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

Country singer

Grammy Awards

U.S.

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.

Zach Bryan

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.
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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

Celebrities

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

Country singer Luke Combs recently discussed a mental health condition he’s had since childhood.
The 35-year-old recording artist did an interview with “60 Minutes Australia” and talked about his experience with purely &#8220;obsessional obsessive-compulsive disorder,&#8221; which has the nickname “pure O.” Unlike typical OCD, pure O occurs when the compulsions a person experiences are mostly internal, whereas OCD usually involves physical rituals or repetitive behaviors. 
“It’s thoughts, essentially, that you don’t want to have,” Combs said during the interview, per <a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/pop-culture/pop-culture-news/country-star-luke-combs-opens-living-wicked-ocd-condition-known-pure-o-rcna195646">NBC News</a>. “And then they cause you stress, and then you’re stressed out, and then the stress causes you to have more of the thoughts, and then you don’t understand why you’re having them, and you’re trying to get rid of them, but trying to get rid of them makes you have more of them.”
The singer said these thoughts are “wicked” as they can sometimes turn violent.
“I just have to accept that they’re happening and then just go, ‘Whatever, dude. It’s happening. It’s whatever,’” he said. “It’s weird, sucks, hate it, drives me crazy, but … the less that you worry about why you’re having the thoughts, eventually they go away.”
Combs says he’s lucky to have figured out a way through these moments while acknowledging how difficult it can be. 
“When it hits, man, it can be all-consuming,” the singer said. “If you have a flare-up of it &#8230; you could think about it 45 seconds of every minute for weeks.”
The Grammy Award nominee said he’s seeking to spread awareness about the condition and help others.
“I definitely want to spend some time at some point in my life doing some outreach to kids that deal with this,” he told “60 Minutes Australia.”
“Because it held me back so many times in my life, where you’re trying to accomplish something, you’re doing really great and then you have a flare-up and it just ruins your whole life for six months &#8230; and then you’re back to where you started.”
“The message is if there’s someone out there that’s struggling with it, it’s possible to continue to live your life, and be really successful, and have a great family, and achieve your dreams, while also dealing with things that you don’t want to be dealing with,” Combs said.

Luke Combs

Country Singer Luke Combs Discusses ‘All-Consuming’ Mental Condition He’s Had Since Childhood

Country Singer Luke Combs Discusses 'All-Consuming' Mental Condition He's Had Since Childhood

Mental Health

Country legend Dolly Parton broke her silence on Thursday following the heartbreaking news on March 3 of the death of her husband of nearly 60 years, Carl Dean. He was 82.
&#8220;This is a love note to family, friends, and fans,” a post on <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/DG3dkhBulhS/">Instagram</a> from the 79-year-old country singer and actress began.
“Thank you for all the messages, cards, and flowers that you&#8217;ve sent to pay your respects for the loss of my beloved husband Carl,&#8221; she added. &#8220;I can&#8217;t reach out personally to each of you but just know it has meant the world to me.&#8221;
&#8220;He is in God&#8217;s arms now and I am okay with that. I will always love you,&#8221; Parton continued, a likely reference to one of her biggest hits from 1973 titled, &#8220;I Will Always Love You.&#8221;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Dolly Parton breaks her silence after husband Carl Dean’s death: ‘I will always love you’ <a href="https://t.co/UfM8BuDBTi">https://t.co/UfM8BuDBTi</a> <a href="https://t.co/LBXiYxtQia">pic.twitter.com/LBXiYxtQia</a>
— New York Post (@nypost) <a href="https://twitter.com/nypost/status/1897713003685929251?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 6, 2025</a></blockquote>
The post comes days after a statement was <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/DGwdXPoPvoj/">posted</a> on her social media account that Dean had passed away in Nashville and will be laid to rest in a private ceremony.
“Carl and I spent many wonderful years together. Words can’t do justice to the love we shared for over 60 years,” the country singer shared in a statement. “Thank you for your prayers and sympathy.”
A cause of death has not been announced.
The Tennessee businessman and Parton met the day she moved to Nashville; she was 18, and he was 21. It was outside the Wishy Washy Laundromat, the <a href="https://apnews.com/article/dolly-parton-husband-carl-dean-dies-2b17ba0e44bcb864a3800bc17afdedeb?taid=67c648700119c30001f804d4&amp;utm_campaign=TrueAnthem&amp;utm_medium=AP&amp;utm_source=Twitter">Associated Press</a> reported.
“I was surprised and delighted that while he talked to me, he looked at my face (a rare thing for me),” Parton described of their meeting. “He seemed to be genuinely interested in finding out who I was and what I was about.”
Two years later, the two tied the knot at a small wedding in Ringgold, Georgia, on Memorial Day, May 30, 1966.
While Parton’s career took off, Dean remained mostly out of the spotlight, supporting her behind the scenes, even being the inspiration to one of her biggest hits ever, “Jolene,” per <a href="https://www.npr.org/2008/10/09/95520570/dolly-partons-jolene-still-haunts-singers">NPR</a>.
“She got this terrible crush on my husband,” Parton said of a bank teller who seemed interested in Dean. “And he just loved going to the bank because she paid him so much attention.”
“It was kinda like a running joke between us — when I was saying, ‘Hell, you’re spending a lot of time at the bank. I don’t believe we’ve got that kind of money,’” she added. “So it’s really an innocent song all around, but sounds like a dreadful one.”
Related: <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/dolly-parton-shares-secret-to-her-56-year-marriage-it-was-meant-to-be" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Dolly Parton Shares Secret To Her 56-Year Marriage: ‘It Was Meant To Be’</a>

The 53rd Annual CMA Awards – Arrivals

‘I Will Always Love You’: Dolly Parton Speaks Out Following Death Of Husband

Death

Dolly Parton

Hollywood

Marriage

Country singer Ingrid Andress is reflecting on her viral rendition of the National Anthem at the 2024 Home Run Derby last summer, saying she doesn’t deserve all the hate even though she messed up the song.
“I am sorry you had to witness that horrific rendition of our nation’s anthem,” she <a href="https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-features/ingrid-andress-talks-national-anthem-comeback-rehab-1235288752/">told</a> Rolling Stone in a new interview, representing the first time she’s gone into detail about the incident. “Whoever that was is not an accurate representation of who I am at all,” Andress continued. “You got to see me in my worst moment, so now, everything from here will be great.”
The singer did apologize after the clip went viral and told fans she would be <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/country-music-singer-ingrid-andress-checks-herself-into-rehab-after-disastrous-national-anthem-rendition">checking into rehab</a>. Now she’s saying despite her mistake, the haters took it too far.
“I felt like America’s punching bag. I became a way to unite America. It was like, ‘At least we can all agree that this girl botched the anthem,’” Andress said. “I’ll be the punching bag for sure, but I didn’t commit a crime. It felt very extreme for what the situation was.”
The singer recalled drinking alcohol prior to the performance, which she said was not out of character for her. Then she felt a “numbness” take over and claims she “blacked out” while she was singing.
“If you don’t start on the note that it gives you, you’re screwed,” she said of missing the prompt of her in-ear monitor. “It was my voice fighting with the tuner, which is a losing battle.”
Andress also addressed her statement about going to rehab at the time. The country star said she spent one month in treatment. “I needed to let people know that it’s not just this one incident that I messed up. ‘I need to get better. I’m at such a low place, I’m not gonna lie about it,’” she told the outlet. 
“I feel like I’ve gotten to know myself again, which is probably the biggest gift of all of it,” Andress said of her current situation. “I learned to not ever let your past dictate what you can do in the future. Sometimes it takes a little public humiliation to turn your life around.”
The four-time Grammy nominee got a shot to redeem herself when she was selected to sing the National Anthem at a hockey game between the Minnesota Wild and Colorado Avalanche on February 28.

Ingrid Andress

Country Singer Who Botched National Anthem Says She ‘Felt Like America’s Punching Bag’

Country Singer Who Botched National Anthem Says She 'Felt Like America's Punching Bag'

Country Singers

National Anthem

County music legend Dolly Parton shared the heartbreaking news on Monday that her husband of nearly 60 years, Carl Dean, had died. He was 82.
In a message posted on the 79-year-old singer’s <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/DGwdXPoPvoj/">Instagram</a> account, Parton said that Dean passed away in Nashville and will be laid to rest in a private ceremony.
“Carl and I spent many wonderful years together. Words can’t do justice to the love we shared for over 60 years,” the country singer shared in a statement.  “Thank you for your prayers and sympathy.”
At the time of this publication, the cause of death has not been announced.
The Tennessee businessman and Parton met the day she moved to Nashville; she was 18, and he was 21. It was outside the Wishy Washy Laundromat, the <a href="https://apnews.com/article/dolly-parton-husband-carl-dean-dies-2b17ba0e44bcb864a3800bc17afdedeb?taid=67c648700119c30001f804d4&amp;utm_campaign=TrueAnthem&amp;utm_medium=AP&amp;utm_source=Twitter">Associated Press</a> reported.
“I was surprised and delighted that while he talked to me, he looked at my face (a rare thing for me),” Parton described of their meeting. “He seemed to be genuinely interested in finding out who I was and what I was about.”
Two years later, the two tied the knot at a small wedding in Ringgold, Georgia, on Memorial Day, May 30, 1966.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Some sad news…
Carl Dean, Dolly Parton’s husband of 58 years, has died.
He was 82.
“Carl and I spent many wonderful years together. Words can&#8217;t do justice to the love we shared for over 60 years. Thank you for your prayers and sympathy.&#8221; <a href="https://t.co/8D4kpXswbK">pic.twitter.com/8D4kpXswbK</a>
— Yashar Ali 🐘 (@yashar) <a href="https://twitter.com/yashar/status/1896720415973572624?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 4, 2025</a></blockquote>
While Parton’s career took off, Dean remained mostly out of the spotlight, supporting her behind the scenes, even being the inspiration to one of her biggest hits ever, “Jolene,” per <a href="https://www.npr.org/2008/10/09/95520570/dolly-partons-jolene-still-haunts-singers">NPR</a>.
“She got this terrible crush on my husband,” Parton said of a bank teller who seemed interested in Dean. “And he just loved going to the bank because she paid him so much attention.”
“It was kinda like a running joke between us — when I was saying, ‘Hell, you’re spending a lot of time at the bank. I don’t believe we’ve got that kind of money,’” she added. “So it’s really an innocent song all around, but sounds like a dreadful one.”
During a recent interview with Parton about the couple’s marriage, she opened up about their relationship and said it was just “meant to be.”
“I like it when people say, ‘How did it last so long?’ I say, ‘I stay going,&#8217;” Parton explained during an interview with <a href="https://etcanada.com/news/952554/dolly-parton-says-warped-sense-of-humour-is-key-to-56-year-marriage-with-carl-dean/">ET Canada</a>.
“You know, there’s a lot to be said about that. So, we’re not in each other’s face all the time. He’s not in the business, so we have different interests, but yet we have the things we love to do together,” she added. “So it was meant to be, I think. He was the one I was supposed to have and vice versa.”
After Parton was nominated for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, she said Dean inspired her to make a rock album, something she accomplished in 2023, the <a href="https://apnews.com/article/dolly-parton-new-album-rockstar-15f6efbfe89e9370eee4bf71e0ea26de">AP</a> noted.
&#8220;I did it because I’m in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame,” Parton <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2023/11/06/entertainment/dolly-parton-husband-carl-dean/index.html">said</a>. It was Dean, she said, who “really made me make that final decision to think, ‘You know what? I’ve got this great opportunity to do this, and I’m just gonna do it.’&#8221;
Related: <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/dolly-parton-achieves-career-milestone-with-new-album-at-77" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Dolly Parton Achieves Career Milestone With New Album At 77</a>

Dolly Parton Shares Heartbreaking News About Husband Of Nearly 60 Years

Tennessee

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