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.
<a href="https://get.dailywire.com/gift/?utm_medium=website&amp;utm_source=wisepops&amp;utm_campaign=dad&amp;utm_content=fathersdaygiftpopups" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Gift Dad an All Access Membership. Use code DAD40 at checkout to save 40%!</a>
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

Country Music

Entertainment

Nashville

U.S.

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. 
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
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

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.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
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

Country singer

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

A musical about late-country legend Loretta Lynn’s life is currently in the works with Tony-Award winner Sutton Foster picked to take on the lead role.
The show, currently titled &#8220;Coal Miner’s Daughter,&#8221; will be the stage adaptation inspired by the hit 1980 movie and her autobiography, by the same name, which deal with the late star’s rise from her humble roots in rural Kentucky to becoming a country music superstar, according to The <a href="https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/lifestyle/arts/loretta-lynn-musical-sutton-foster-1236140255/">Hollywood Reporter</a>.
It will include songs from Loretta’s career like “I’m a Honky Tonk Girl” and “Coal Miner’s Daughter,&#8221; and “share stories from Loretta’s life beyond the film’s ending,” per a release about the project.
Lynn’s family shared their excitement on <a href="https://x.com/LorettaLynn/status/1892256197778055390">X</a> about the musical and wrote, “We are over the moon about this broadway show portraying mom’s life. Mom was so excited about this project and Sutton playing her on stage. Sharing mom’s story and music in this special way is so very exciting. We can’t wait!”
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
We are over the moon about this broadway show portraying mom’s life. Mom was so excited about this project and Sutton playing her on stage. Sharing mom’s story and music in this special way is so very exciting. We can’t wait! <a href="https://t.co/4p6p5Gvvxl">https://t.co/4p6p5Gvvxl</a>?
— Loretta Lynn (@LorettaLynn) <a href="https://twitter.com/LorettaLynn/status/1892256197778055390?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 19, 2025</a></blockquote>
A statement from Loretta’s family to the outlet also read, “We are so grateful to see that our mother’s life story and music will continue to touch the hearts of audiences and remain an important statement of the American dream.”
“As one of the last creative projects our mom was so passionate about, we are thankful that she had the opportunity to experience the initial stages of Sutton’s sincere portrayal of Loretta,” it added. “Mom absolutely fell in love with her and thought she was just the right person to play her onstage. The family is moved by this incredible team’s commitment to her legacy.”
The stage show will have even more Broadway power than just Foster with Tony-Award winner Sam Gold picked to direct and Tony-Award winner Jeanine Tesori for feature music production, the outlet noted.
Lynn passed away peacefully in her sleep in October 2022, as previously reported. She was 90 years old.
The family later released a statement about the <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/country-music-legend-loretta-lynn-has-died">late-singer’s death</a> that read, “Our precious mom, Loretta Lynn, passed away peacefully this morning, October 4th, in her sleep at home at her beloved ranch in Hurricane Mills.”
Lynn was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1988 after becoming a breakout star in the country music industry. She’s probably best known for her 1970 hit inspired by her Kentucky roots, “Coal Miner’s Daughter.”
Related: <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/loretta-lynns-daughters-speak-out-for-first-time-since-legends-death-share-details-about-singers-final-project" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Loretta Lynn’s Daughters Speak Out For First Time Since Legend’s Death, Share Details About Singer’s Final Project</a>

Loretta Lynn 10-25-2

Musical About Late Country Legend Loretta Lynn’s Life In The Works

Broadway

Loretta Lynn

Country star <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/jelly-roll" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Jelly Roll</a> talked about reaching a major milestone recently amid his weight loss journey after dropping more than 100 pounds.
Speaking to <a href="https://www.eonline.com/news/1413212/jelly-roll-shares-update-on-health-and-fitness-journey-after-120-pound-weight-loss">E! News</a> at a pre-Super Bowl party, the 40-year-old country singer &#8212; born Jason Bradley DeFord &#8212; reflected on the progress he’s made after sharing in November that he lost 120 pounds after previously revealing he weighed 500 just a few years ago.
&#8220;I hiked a mountain the other day. Camelback,&#8221; DeFord said, referring to a mountain in Arizona &#8220;There is no way that would have been possible beforehand, so it’s great to see that progress, and we still are going.&#8221;
&#8220;It isn&#8217;t always the case where I feel focused or positive,&#8221; he added of his personal weight loss journey. &#8220;The things that motivate me and keep me going are the people I have met along the way. &#8230; The people that come up to me and bravely share their sobriety date, or a story of something that they&#8217;ve dealt with, or someone they’ve lost.&#8221;
&#8220;Seeing the resilience of the human spirit, there is no greater motivation than to keep going,” the singer continued.
In 2018, the country star <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BmbiI3_HG-S/?hl=en">said</a> he weighed more than 500 pounds at his heaviest and was told by a doctor that he should “go to a meat processor or truck stop” to learn his actual weight. The singer called it “one of the most embarrassing days of my life.” He went on to describe a cycle of weight loss and gain over the following years.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Country music star Jelly Roll has lost over 100 pounds and says he recently climbed Camelback Mountain in Arizona. <a href="https://t.co/syzhFlhTX4">pic.twitter.com/syzhFlhTX4</a>
— Fox News (@FoxNews) <a href="https://twitter.com/FoxNews/status/1889098625600344134?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 10, 2025</a></blockquote>
During his appearance in November on “<a href="https://x.com/PatMcAfeeShow/status/1854598502107541522">The Pat McAfee Show</a>,” the “Wild Ones” singer talked about his health journey and revealed that he was &#8220;down about 120&#8221; pounds while on tour, thanks to a great nutritionist and being active.
Months earlier, DeFord talked about getting ready to participate in his first ever 5k run and said that getting ready for it had helped him lose a significant amount of weight, as previously <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/country-star-jelly-roll-said-he-lost-around-70-pounds-training-for-5k-i-feel-really-good">reported</a>.
“I’m probably down 70-something pounds,” Jelly Roll told <a href="https://people.com/jelly-roll-lost-70-something-pounds-5k-training-exclusive-8631050">People</a>. “I’ve been really kicking a**, man. I’m doing two to three miles a day, four to six days a week. I’m doing 20 to 30 minutes in the sauna, six minutes in a cold plunge every day. I’m eating healthy right now.”
“I feel really good,” he added. “I was thinking, I plan on losing another 100, 100-and-something [pounds]. If I feel this good down this weight, man, I can only imagine what I’m going to feel like by the time I go on tour.”
The “Son of a Sinner” hitmaker turned his life around after racking up some 40 stints behind bars for various drug-related charges, starting as young as 14, <a href="https://people.com/jelly-roll-found-peace-after-changing-relationship-with-alcohol-cocaine-exclusive-8414853">People</a> noted.
Amanda Harding contributed to this piece.
Related: <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/country-star-jelly-roll-hits-back-at-people-upset-he-met-with-trump" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Country Star Jelly Roll Hits Back At People Upset He Met With Trump</a>

Jelly Roll

‘Resilience Of The Human Spirit’: Country Star Talks Reaching Milestone After Dropping Over 100 Pounds

weight Loss

<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/toby-keith">Toby Keith’s</a> daughter, Krystal Keith, shared a touching tribute to her dad with a series of family photos one year after the country singer died from stomach cancer on February 5, 2024. He was 62.
In a post on Wednesday on <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/DFsuK5qxyXb/?igsh=NjZiM2M3MzIxNA%3D%3D">Instagram</a>, Krystal wrote about the kind of father the late country singer was to her and her siblings and the incredible grandfather he was to her kids.
“It feels like yesterday we said goodbye and yet it somehow has also been the longest year without him,” Keith wrote. “I can’t help but find gratitude in all the time we had because we did all of life as a family unit.”
“It’s hard to find a candid picture where he doesn’t have one of our babies in his arms,” she added. “He was their favorite, and they were his. Our littles miss their buddy big time but we all know we will see him again someday.”
“Until then, he will watch over us and walk beside us,” Keith continued. “Every sunset (and he LOOOOVED his sunsets) is a reminder that he wants us to live our best life and do good in the world. So that’s exactly is what we will do.”
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Her brother, Stelen Keith Covel, also shared a <a href="https://www.instagram.com/stelenkcovel/reel/DFtDUG0B0gz/">sweet post</a> on the anniversary of his father’s death.
“A whole year without my hero,” his son wrote. “Here’s to one day having more of these nights. Love you dad.”
Last year, the “Red Solo Cup” hitmaker was inducted into the Country Hall of Fame, as previously <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/fans-react-to-toby-keiths-upcoming-induction-into-country-music-hall-of-fame-hes-in-heaven-singing-his-heart-out">reported</a>. He died the day before he would’ve learned about his inclusion in the hall.
Shortly after Keith’s death, the late singer <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/toby-keith-breaks-record-on-music-chart-following-his-death">broke a record</a> and made history after beating out music giants like Kenny Rogers and Taylor Swift to dominate 90 percent of the top 10 songs on the Country Digital Song Sales chart at one time.
After his death, the “Should’ve Been A Cowboy” hitmaker’s catalog of music filled the country charts. He is now the first artist ever to claim nine spaces in the top 10 songs on the Billboard chart, <a href="https://www.billboard.com/music/chart-beat/toby-keith-makes-history-country-digital-song-sales-chart-1235606479/">Billboard</a> reported.
Following <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/cancers-a-rollercoaster-toby-keith-said-faith-got-him-through-health-battle-in-intv-before-his-death">Keith’</a>s diagnosis in 2021, he talked about his incredible country singing career.
“Just seeing how enormous the career I amassed over 30 years when they show the video,” he told <a href="https://people.com/toby-keith-reflected-on-30-year-career-in-final-people-interview-exclusive-8559418">People magazine</a> at the time. “You know where you were when you wrote all those songs, you hear those numbers and you’re just like, you looked up one day and all of a sudden 30 years went by.”
Related: <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/toby-keith-breaks-record-on-music-chart-following-his-death" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Toby Keith Breaks Record On Music Chart Following His Death</a>

Toby Keith Krystal Keith

Toby Keith’s Daughter Shares Touching Tribute To Dad With Family Photos Year After Singer’s Death

Toby Keith

Despite <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/beyonce">Beyoncé</a>’s fans being overjoyed about her winning her first ever <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/grammy-awards">Grammy Award</a> for Album of the Year, plenty of other award show winners were confused. They failed to recognize how the 43-year-old pop singer nabbed the night’s biggest prize for “Cowboy Carter,” a <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/country-music">country album</a>, especially against such stiff competition.
Country artist John Rich weighed in with his thoughts on awards shows and how they picked winners. The former Big &amp; Rich member said the whole thing is rigged and has nothing to do with actual talent.
“Folks are asking me ‘how do music award shows work?’” Rich posted on X.
He continued, “Labels/publishers all have blocks of votes. They make deals with each other &#8216;you vote for mine, we&#8217;ll vote for yours&#8217; type thing. It has ZERO to do with who made the best music, thus, Beyonce with &#8216;Country album of the year.&#8217; Nice, right? The same thing is true with the CMA&#8217;s, ACM&#8217;s, Billboard, etc&#8230;all work exactly the same. Last night, the Grammy&#8217;s outed themselves in a big way.”
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
Folks are asking me &quot;how do music award shows work?&quot; Labels/publishers all have blocks of votes. They make deals with each other &quot;you vote for mine, we&#39;ll vote for yours&quot; type thing. It has ZERO to do with who made the best music, thus, Beyonce with &quot;Country album of the year.&quot;…
&mdash; John Rich🇺🇸 (@johnrich) <a href="https://twitter.com/johnrich/status/1886402683055014144?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 3, 2025</a></blockquote>
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The replies were full of people saying they weren’t even slightly surprised.
“The Grammys just proved what we already knew—it&#8217;s all about backroom deals, not real talent. Meanwhile, actual country artists are out here making real music and getting ignored. Absolute joke,” one person <a href="https://x.com/basterecords/status/1886413467269107987">wrote</a>.
“Yes, sadly, it&#8217;s not about the music anymore. Also performance spots are paid. That&#8217;s why it&#8217;s the same people performing over and over again. Like a vanity show of the richest,” another comment <a href="https://x.com/CariCole/status/1886414842963062790">said</a>. “&#8230;For lifelong musicians, who really care about the music—it is soul-crushing. Unbearable to watch.”
Conservative commentator Megyn Kelly also weighed in on Beyoncé’s big win in a clip that was then <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@megynkellyshow/video/7467316522902506783?lang=en">posted</a> to TikTok.
“Beyoncé, she’s won 33 Grammys, including for Best Country album last night. Frank Sinatra got 11 Grammys. The Beatles won 7. Judy Garland, 2. Beyoncé: 33. The most overrated artist of all time.”
“We’re not buying it,” Kelly added after reading Rich’s tweet out loud. “We know what happened and how she got this award.”
Other nominees for the highly coveted Album of the Year Award included Andre 3000, Sabrina Carpenter, Charli xcx, Jacob Collier, Billie Eilish, Chappell Roan, and Taylor Swift.
Beyoncé is the most nominated person in Grammys history, with 99 total nominations.

John Rich and Beyonce

John Rich Explains How Beyoncé Nabbed Album Of The Year, Says It’s ‘ZERO’ To Do With ‘Best Music’

John Rich Explains How Beyoncé Nabbed Album Of The Year, Says It's 'ZERO' To Do With 'Best Music'

Beyonce

Grammy Awards

John Rich

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