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

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 pushing back after facing fierce criticism for his new anti-ICE song, “Bad News.”
The 29-year-old recording artist was criticized for the timing and message of the lyrics, as incidents of violence against Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers have been increasing. In a new Instagram Story, he insisted that people are missing the “full context” of the song.
“I love this country,” Bryan wrote in a lengthy defense of the viral track.
“My friends are all degenerates, but they’re all I got/ the generational story of dropping the plot/ I heard the cops came, Cocky motherf****s, ain’t they?” the song lyrics say. 
“And ICE is gonna come bust down your door/try to build a house no one builds no more/but I got a telephone/ Kids are all scared and all alone/The bar stopped bumping, the rock stopped rolling /the middle fingers rising, and it won’t stop showing/ Got some bad news /The fading of the red, white, and blue.”
Bryan tried to explain himself on social media.
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“This shows you how divisive a narrative can be when shoved down our throats through social media,” the country singer wrote. “This song is about how much I love this country and everyone in it more than anything. When you hear the rest of the song, you will understand the full context that hits on both sides of the aisle. Everyone using this now as a weapon is only proving how devastatingly divided we all are. We need to find our way back.”
“I served this country, I love this country and the song itself is about all of us coming out of this divided space. I wasn’t speaking as a politician or some greater-than-thou a***hole, just a 29-year-old man who is just as confused as everyone else,” the post went on. 
“To see how much sh** it stirred up makes me not only embarrassed but kind of scared. Left wing or right wing we’re all one bird and American. To be clear I’m on neither of these radical sides. To all those disappointed in me on either side of whatever you believe in just know I’m trying my best too and we all say things that are misconstrued sometimes.”
He added that he’s been “scrutinized” over the last few months more than ever. He reiterated that he is “SO proud to have served in a country where we can all speak freely and converse amongst each other without getting doxxed or accosted on the internet or worse.”
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem weighed in on Bryan’s new song, saying it made her feel “disappointed and disheartened.”
“I hope he understands how completely disrespectful that song is, not just to law enforcement but to this country,” Noem <a href="https://x.com/bennyjohnson/status/1975691861525471439">told</a> conservative podcast host Benny Johnson on Tuesday. “To every single individual that has stood up and fought for our freedoms. He just compromised it all by putting out a product such as that, that attacks individuals who are just trying to make our streets safe.”
“Zach, I didn&#8217;t listen to your music. I&#8217;m happy about that today,” she added. “Today, that makes me very happy that I never once gave you a single penny to enrich your lifestyle. I am going to go out and probably download some Jason Aldean, John Rich, Kid Rock, and Jon Pardi songs.”

Zach Bryan

Zach Bryan Pushes Back After Anti-ICE Song Sparks Backlash, Says He’s Not ‘Radical’

Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)

Kristi Noem

U.S.

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

Music

Texas-based country singer Pat Green said his stepbrother and other family members were among the victims of the deadly flooding that occurred over the Fourth of July holiday.
“Over the weekend, during the devastating flooding that hit Central Texas, my family — like so many others — suffered a heartbreaking and deeply personal loss,” the recording artist shared on his Instagram account. “We are grieving alongside countless Texans whose lives have been upended by this tragedy.”
The post continued, “Right now, we kindly ask for privacy and space as we mourn, support each other, and begin to process what comes next for our family. Thank you for your love, prayers, and compassion,” he concluded.
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Green’s younger stepbrother, John Burgess, 39, is one of the confirmed victims, per local outlet <a href="https://www.kwtx.com/2025/07/05/china-spring-native-family-among-those-missing-amid-deadly-flooding-texas-hill-country/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">KWTX</a>. According to KHOU, his wife, Julia Anderson Burgess, 39, also died. Their two sons, James and Jack, were still missing as of Monday. The deceased couple lived in Liberty, Texas, but were camping at the Blue Oak RV Park in Kerr County with their boys when the flooding occurred. Their 8-year-old daughter was reportedly at a camp that was not affected by the flooding and is safe.
According to a <a href="https://nypost.com/2025/07/07/us-news/texas-dad-refused-to-let-go-of-his-babies-during-flood-and-all-were-swept-away-witness-says/">report</a> from the New York Post, a bystander at the RV park pleaded with Burgess to hand over his children to safety, but he would not let them go.
“My husband was in the water trying to ask them, ‘Please throw me your baby!’ The man was holding tight to his babies, and he just got swept away,” Lorena Guillen, owner of the Blue Oak RV Park, said. 
As of Wednesday, at least 173 people are still missing, including 161 unaccounted for from Kerr County, the hardest-hit area. The death toll from the flooding across the state reached 119 on Wednesday, including dozens of children. Five young girls and one counselor remain missing from Camp Mystic, the Christian girls’ camp that took the brunt of the flooding when the Guadalupe River in Central Texas rose more than 30 feet in under an hour in some spots.
Green has been in the music industry since 1995, recording seven total studio albums. His single, &#8220;Wave on Wave,&#8221; from his gold-certified album of the same name, reached number 3 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart in 2003. It was featured during campaign rallies for George W. Bush during his 2004 re-election campaign.

Pat Green

Country Singer Mourns Family Lost In Texas Floods

Death

Floods

Natural Disaster

Texas

Country singer Morgan Wallen caused some drama during an appearance on “Saturday Night Live” over the weekend, which included him abruptly exiting the stage and later sharing with fans that he was happy to be heading back to “God’s country.”
The 31-year-old resident of Nashville performed two songs during Saturday night’s episode and stuck around until the gathering of cast members at the end, which usually involves hugs and waves to the audience. However, Wallen didn’t stick around for small talk, opting to walk off the stage and past a camera that captured his abrupt movements. 
“SNL” fans were quick to comment on Wallen&#8217;s untraditional exit, which is not the way guests and cast members usually wrap up their appearances.
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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>
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Later, Wallen got even more attention when he posted a photo to Instagram Stories of what appeared to be a private jet ready to depart from the New York area. “Get me to God’s country,” the caption said, per <a href="https://variety.com/2025/music/news/morgan-wallen-snl-walk-off-gods-country-social-post-1236352063/">Variety</a>.
Fans were divided over the drama, arguing over whether it was an accidental faux pas or if Wallen was making a point by exiting the left-leaning show in what many considered a rude manner.
“Wow, Morgan Wallen just walking off the stage during the @nbcsnl credits? In decades of watching SNL, I don’t think I’ve ever seen that. For so many of us, that is sacred ground,” one reaction <a href="https://x.com/jefflocker/status/1906212761589383228">said</a>.
“Morgan Wallen with a little more of the catty-ass petty loser sh** he so proudly displayed running offstage down the center aisle &amp; right past the camera at SNL curtain call,” another reply <a href="https://x.com/AmayaLancelot/status/1906246917174235178">said</a>. “This &amp; the tone-deaf private jet flaunt couldn’t be more lame &amp; undercutting coming from a country star.”
“All this hate to Morgan Wallen because he walked off stage before the end credits as if he hasn’t been getting bashed literally all week by all you insane liberals. He [doesn&#8217;t] owe you anything and you all are low life haters who can’t let go of the past. Like grow tf up,” one commenter <a href="https://x.com/c0ltxn79/status/1906235694286012480">wrote</a>. 
Another <a href="https://x.com/jackunheard/status/1906472485496774981">agreed</a>, “This is so based. SNL is officially irrelevant.”
“SNL” writer Josh Patten joked about the whole debacle, posting a photo to his social media of a Krispy Kreme truck with the back doors open. He included the same caption Wallen used, writing, “Get me to God’s country,” per <a href="https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/snl-writer-morgan-wallen-post-1236176118/">The Hollywood Reporter</a>.
When one media outlet suggested that meant Patten was “not a Morgan Wallen fan,” the writer responded with an eye roll emoji and a screenshot of one of his playlists from 2023, which included some of Wallen’s music.
Wallen was a guest on “SNL” to promote his upcoming album, “I’m the Problem,” which comes out May 16.

Morgan Wallen Causes Stir For Abruptly Exiting ‘SNL’ Stage: ‘Get Me To God’s Country’

Morgan Wallen Causes Stir For Abruptly Exiting 'SNL' Stage Post-Performance

Saturday Night Live

Television

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

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

Nashville

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/jason-aldean">Jason Aldean</a> says he feels “a little vindicated” in his support of President Donald Trump over the last four, six years after being part of Trump’s second inauguration.
Speaking to “<a href="https://www.foxnews.com/media/jason-aldean-reflects-inauguration-sees-celebs-attitudes-toward-trump-shifting">Fox and Friends</a>,” the 47-year-old country singer said “it just kind of feels electric” to be part of the inauguration festivities and said that “everybody’s just excited for this new chapter of where we’re headed.&#8221; 
&#8220;Every time I think I&#8217;ve done it all — like I&#8217;ve done a lot of different things and I&#8217;ve seen a lot of things — this was a whole different ballgame for me,&#8221; Aldean said. &#8220;So, just a huge honor to be here and to be a part of that night and all the people that were there to support President Trump.&#8221;
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The “Dirt Road Anthem” star also talked about the challenges he&#8217;s faced over the last few years for being a vocal supporter of Trump and said he does “feel a little vindicated” now.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
MIC DROP: Country superstar <a href="https://twitter.com/Jason_Aldean?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Jason_Aldean</a> reflects on &#8220;taking a lot of heat&#8221; over the last four years for his support of President Trump, and what it meant to perform at the Liberty Inauguration Ball to cap a historic day for the 47th president. <a href="https://t.co/yexBcjXIvh">pic.twitter.com/yexBcjXIvh</a>
— Fox News (@FoxNews) <a href="https://twitter.com/FoxNews/status/1881763789294510461?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 21, 2025</a></blockquote>
“You know, my wife [Brittany Aldean] and I talk about this all the time,&#8221; Aldean said. &#8220;It&#8217;s like for the last, you know, six years, four years especially, it&#8217;s just been &#8230; you know, taking a lot of heat for stepping out and kind of telling people how we feel about the state of the country and that regime that had been in office.”
“And, you know, and so it&#8217;s been a little odd at times,” he added. &#8220;But it&#8217;s cool to look here this week and see all the celebrities and people that are showing up that didn&#8217;t really speak out before. So — but it, you know, it&#8217;s a good thing. You know, I think it just means that hopefully it&#8217;s getting everything back on track and people we’re all getting on the same page.&#8221;
<a href="https://store.dailywire.com/"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone wp-image-862665 size-large" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/01/INAUG_MERCHBANNER-6-2-1024x391.png" alt="" width="1024" height="391" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/01/INAUG_MERCHBANNER-6-2-1024x391.png 1024w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/01/INAUG_MERCHBANNER-6-2-300x115.png 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/01/INAUG_MERCHBANNER-6-2-768x293.png 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/01/INAUG_MERCHBANNER-6-2-1536x587.png 1536w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/01/INAUG_MERCHBANNER-6-2-2048x782.png 2048w" sizes=" (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></a>
&#8220;I think for the last few years, as much as a lot of the media has tried to make it seem like everything&#8217;s been so great, it hasn’t,&#8221; Aldean continued. &#8220;A lot of us knew that for a long time. And I think a lot of other people are starting to see it now. To have President Trump back in office, I just think it gives everybody a sense of relief and for a lot of people … to feel like we&#8217;re headed in the right direction.&#8221;
Aldean was one of the many singers who performed at the various inauguration events marking Trump becoming the 47th President of the United States. 
On Monday when Trump was sworn in to office, <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/carrie-underwood">Carrie Underwood</a> called on politicians, dignitaries, and guests to join her in singing “America the Beautiful” a cappella when the instrumental music failed to play, as previously <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/carrie-underwood-performs-america-the-beautiful-a-cappella-when-music-fails-at-trump-inauguration">reported</a>.
Related: <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/here-are-all-the-celebrities-reportedly-planning-to-attend-trumps-second-inauguration" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Here Are All The Celebrities Reportedly Planning To Attend Trump’s Second Inauguration</a>

2014 CMT Music Awards – Red Carpet

Jason Aldean Says He Feels ‘Vindicated’ In His Support For Trump Over The Last Few Years

Carrie Underwood

Donald Trump

Jason Aldean

<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/country-music" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Country singer</a> Brad Paisley’s wife, actress Kimberly Williams-Paisley, opened up about the insane throat surgery she underwent in August after being unable to speak for nearly two years.
Speaking to <a href="https://people.com/kimberly-williams-paisley-was-awake-in-3-hour-surgery-to-restore-voice-exclusive-8763349">People magazine</a>, Kimberly talked about visiting Nashville’s <a href="https://www.vanderbilthealth.com/program/voice-center">Vanderbilt Voice Center</a> in January 2023 where she was diagnosed with muscle tension dysphonia. It came after she suddenly lost the ability to speak in November 2022, being unable to make more noise with her voice than a whisper.
Doctors at the time said her vocal cords were so tight they were barely visible and later discovered that her two vocal cords weren’t touching anymore, a condition known as partial paralysis.
&#8220;So much of our personalities are expressed in our voice and for me, so much of my career. And when that&#8217;s not there, I thought, &#8216;Who am I?&#8217; I felt invisible,&#8221; Williams-Paisley said. &#8220;I&#8217;m someone who tries to find the silver lining no matter what, but there are days when I really grieved.&#8221;
The “Father of the Bride” star said after &#8220;looking in every corner and trying everything&#8221; to get her voice back, she decided nearly two years later to undergo a procedure called medialization laryngoplasty. It requires surgery to move the weak left vocal cord closer to the right one, the outlet noted.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Kimberly Williams-Paisley is opening up about a &#8220;terrifying&#8221; medical ordeal in which her voice inexplicably disappeared: &#8220;There were days when I grieved and sobbed.&#8221;<a href="https://t.co/FAyUAlXnil">https://t.co/FAyUAlXnil</a>
— Good Morning America (@GMA) <a href="https://twitter.com/GMA/status/1869395689324900576?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 18, 2024</a></blockquote>
“We wanted to tune the cord the best we could,” Dr. Gaelyn Garrett said. “We had her awake so we could hear how the voice changes as we manipulated the position of the vocal cord. We’re trying to get the natural voice back.”
The surgery required Williams-Paisley to stay awake the entire three-hours, something the actress called “bizarre.”
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“They put up a plastic sheet so I couldn’t see anything except my throat on a screen they set up,” Kimberly said. “It looked like another mouth, like a big hole!&#8221;
She said going into the procedure with her eyes open was “beautifully symbolic. I feel like I’ve been waking up to myself. I had to be fully present to cross this finish line, and I was really ready for it.&#8221;
The outlet then detailed how the medical procedure went. For the procedure, “the team took an implant made of silicone rubber and put it next to her left vocal cord to hold it in place, then asked her to speak. They removed it, adjusted the size by hand-carving it, replaced it and had her try again. When her voice was back to its natural tone, they knew it fit perfectly.&#8221; The implant is permanent and should last a lifetime.
“I couldn’t believe it was true,” Kimberly said. &#8220;It felt great.&#8221;
After two years of being unable to hear her own voice, the surgery had allowed her to once again speak out loud.
While the surgery left her a significant scar on her throat, she joked, &#8220;Fortunately for me, I have wrinkles!&#8221; But she said she&#8217;s &#8220;not self-conscious about it. I’m proud. It’s part of my story.”
Related: <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/brad-paisley-and-wife-kimberly-williams-open-free-toy-store-for-kids-ahead-of-holidays" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Brad Paisley And Wife Kimberly Williams Open Free Toy Store For Kids Ahead Of Holidays</a>

Brad Paisley, Kimberly Williams

Country Star’s Wife Opens Up About Insane Throat Surgery After Being Unable To Speak For Two Years

Brad Paisley

Health

Country star Jelly Roll hit back at people upset that he recently decided to meet with President-elect Donald Trump, explaining that he was taught to respect the president regardless of politics.
During an appearance on his wife <a href="https://people.com/who-is-bunnie-xo-jelly-roll-wife-7568842">Bunnie Xo</a>&#8216;s podcast <a href="https://open.spotify.com/episode/6G9XAlzTz3fd20vRhbTvup">Dumb Blonde</a>, the 40-year-old singer — born Jason DeFord — said that when he met with Trump at the UFC 309 event at Madison Square Garden in New York it was an opportunity he wouldn’t pass up, no matter who was the president.
&#8220;Dude, there’s not a chance in hell that I’m not going to meet the president-elect,” Jelly Roll said.  “I don’t care.”
&#8220;If I got a call to meet [President] Joe Biden, I would have stopped at any point and [met] him,&#8221; he added. &#8220;That’s the active president. I don’t care about what he thinks or I think about policies.&#8221;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Jelly Roll defends Donald Trump encounter at UFC event, stresses importance of respecting the president <a href="https://t.co/K27kOroqjw">https://t.co/K27kOroqjw</a> <a href="https://t.co/dqF4INq6fa">pic.twitter.com/dqF4INq6fa</a>
— New York Post (@nypost) <a href="https://twitter.com/nypost/status/1869862758751109162?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 19, 2024</a></blockquote>
&#8220;I don’t hide behind the &#8216;I’m not political&#8217; stuff. I’m not political! People who actually know me know I’m also one of the old-school dudes,&#8221; DeFord continued. &#8220;I like to talk about things I’m passionate about. With that, I like to know about it. I don’t know enough about politics to act like I know anything that’s going on or what anybody’s standing for policy-wise.&#8221;
The “Halfway to Hell” singer made it clear he wasn’t raised in a home that made voting important, but said that they did teach him to respect the person in the highest office of the land, <a href="https://people.com/jelly-roll-responds-criticism-after-meeting-donald-trump-8763592?utm_campaign=people&amp;utm_content=likeshop&amp;utm_medium=social&amp;utm_source=instagram">People magazine</a> noted.
“They did push respecting the president though,&#8221; the country singer said, pointing out that it’s &#8220;the hardest job in the world.&#8221;
During the UFC event, pictures surfaced online showing Jelly Roll and Trump shaking hands, smiling and apparently having a brief conversation.
<a href="https://get.dailywire.com/gift-guide/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://get.dailywire.com/gift-guide/&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1734716737651000&amp;usg=AOvVaw0eCG2Jf1Q1d_cRBnpyOnui">CHECK OUT THE DAILY WIRE HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE</a>
Earlier this year, DeFord made headlines when he spoke out on Capitol Hill about the dangers of fentanyl — and he later talked about how it scares him for “this next generation,” especially his own children, as previously <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/scares-me-for-this-next-generation-country-star-jelly-roll-on-why-hes-speaking-out-about-dangers-of-fetanyl">reported</a>.
Jelly Roll said our country has “seen crack,” cocaine, and opioids, but added, “we’ve never seen something that is so deadly in such small amounts that’s being mixed in so many different things,” <a href="https://people.com/jelly-roll-scared-fentanyl-will-affect-his-kids-exclusive-8563931?utm_campaign=people&amp;utm_content=likeshop&amp;utm_medium=social&amp;utm_source=instagram">People magazine</a> noted.
“My daughter will never experience the safety of experimenting with drugs,” the father of two told the outlet. “I know that sounds crazy to say, but when I was a kid, my mother would be like, ‘You’re going to try everything once. Just be safe.’ It’s not safe for any kid to be doing anything.”
“How many more people does [fentanyl] have to kill a day before we start to care, if the number right now is close to 200,” he added. “I just think it’s time to speak about it. It scares me for my daughter. It scares me for my son. It scares me for this next generation. We’ve never seen nothing like fentanyl.”
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.
Related: <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/its-just-bad-art-jelly-roll-talks-tattoo-regret-says-he-got-staph-infections" target="_blank" rel="noopener">‘It’s Just Bad Art’: Jelly Roll Talks Tattoo Regret, Says He Got Staph Infections</a>

Jelly Roll

Country Star Jelly Roll Hits Back At People Upset He Met With Trump

Joe Biden

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