Hillbilly Live!

The Country Music Association (CMA) has really caused a lot drama this week.

Mark Chesnutt has come out to publicly defended fellow 1990s country singer Sammy Kershaw after he made it publicly known that he was in fact denied red carpet access at the 2026 CMA Awards. I mean a lot of people have actually come out in his defense.

Not only did they deny his request to walk the red carpet with his wife, they said that he can purchase tickets for $800 a piece to attend the show. Sammy basically said “WTF” in responding to them.

Mark had a lot to say in defending Sammy on his socials as he said…

“So Sammy Kershaw won’t be allowed to walk the red carpet at the the big CMA Awards. Well that’s about right. The CMA doesn’t care about us old 90s guys any more.

It’s a shame they don’t respect the stars that dominated the charts in the past thirty years or before that but they sure roll out the welcome mat for pop stars and Hollywood movie stars and even hip hop artists. Anything but country music gets the performance spots on the show. Rock n Roll honors its history and respects its legends while country music industry executives seem to ignore its rich history and its legends.

Thank God there’s still a lot of people that love traditional country music. They keep coming to our shows and showing their love and respect for the music we’ve made for nearly forty years now and we’ll keep working for them and not for those who don’t matter to US!”

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It’s move now CMAs. It’s your move now.

We have city #11 on the list for this man’s arena tour.

Garth Brooks announced the tenth city on his “Blame It All On My Roots Arena Tour”, which is Minneapolis, MN. Garth will be at the Target Center on Friday, December 11th and 12th, 2026. Tickets will on-sale Friday November 13th at 10AM CT. And he’s still pricing every ticket at $154.50.

The “Blame It All On My Roots Arena Tour” 2026 are as follows…

• Indianapolis, IN: (Gainbridge Fieldhouse): August 20, 21, 22, and 23, 2026
• Denver, CO: (Ball Arena): September 4, 5, and 6, 2026
• Rosemont/Chicago, IL: (Allstate Arena): September 10, 11, and 12, 2026
• Washington, D.C. : September 18 and 19, 2026
• Orlando, FL: September 25 and 26, 2026
• Salt Lake City, Utah: October 9 and 10, 2026
• Tulsa, OK: October 23, 24 and 25, 2026
• Kansas City, MO: November 6 and 7 (matinee and evening show), 2026
• Seattle, WA: November 13, 14, and 15, 2026
• Hamilton, ON: December 3, 4, 5 and 6, 2026
• Minneapolis, MN: December 11 and 12, 2026

For everything Garth, please visit garthbrooks.com.

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So, Country Music Association have in fact pissed of a lot of people this week.

They actually denied Sammy Kershaw’s request to walk the red carpet with his wife and said if he wants to attend, that he can purchase tickets for $800 a piece to attend the show. He posted the news about his disappointment on his social.

“Well, I just found out some disappointing news and it really hurts me. I have to share my disappointment with the CMA as they have denied my request to walk the red carpet for a few minutes at this year’s CMA Awards, and I have to say I’m pretty sad about it.

My wife, Mendy, and I don’t get to attend these events very often, due to touring and schedule conflicts. After adjusting my touring schedule, booking our flights and hotels, she was really looking forward to us sharing a special evening together celebrating country music. Then, to find out I was denied the red carpet two weeks before the show, after being strung along for several months and expecting we would be attending, WTF?”

Sammy said more, but seriously WTF CMAs? The help make country amazing in 90s…and 90s were some of the best years for country music.

Now Robert’s Western World is putting the invite for Sammy and his wife to hang out at world famous honky tonk in Nashville for a red carpet gala at Robert’s. They want to basically have a Sammy Kershaw night on November 18, 2026…while CMA Awards are hosting their show just a blocks away at Bridgestone Arena.

That’s pretty damn sweet of RWW to offer too. It’s where real country lives on Broadway in Nashville by the way.

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You’ve heard of the Elf on the Shelf…well, that’s not important this year…because now there’s Dolly on the Holly!

Dolly Parton’s niece Danielle shared photos of the new collectible doll. She said, “this plush collectible doll is ready to take her place on your mantel, your shelf or wherever the holly hangs.

She turns up somewhere new each morning, joins the party and makes a little holiday magic!”

Dolly on the Holly comes with a removable red dress, a Santa hat, red heels, and a microphone and guitar. The inside of the box says, “I’m dreaming of a Smoky Mountain Christmas.”

You can buy your own Dolly at your local Walmart for $24.97.  There are also costume and scenic expansion packs available. So, it’s Walmart for Dolly and Christmas. Amen.

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The 60th annual CMA Awards will go down Wednesday the 18th, on ABC and Disney+, with host Lainey Wilson.

There will be performances from Ella Langley, Cody Johnson, Miranda Lambert, Tim McGraw, Kacey Musgraves, and Zach Top. There will also be a tribute to Dolly Parton. Presenters haven’t been announced yet.

Now I want to see a lot of these performances and the Dolly tribute…but to tell country artists like Sammy Kershaw they can’t walk the red carpet and how they have to buy tickets to attend is bs to me. It makes not want watch the awards show ever again. It’s just shitty knowing that’s how the Country Music Association treats country music artists who helped build the association in the first place.

Presenters haven’t been announced yet…and might want to Sammy to present and give that man a free ticket.

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Tami Neilson responded to Willie Nelson and Waylon Jennings’ song, “Mammas Don’t Let Your Babies Grow Up to Be Cowboys”, in her new duet with Willie called “Too Many Mamas”.

Willie and Waylon recorded their #1 twanger “Mammas Don’t Let Your Babies Grow Up to Be Cowboys” in 1978, which was originally written and recorded by the late great Ed Bruce, along with his wife Patsy Bruce. The song was featured on his 1976 self-titled album, Chris LeDoux also covered it for his 1976 album, “Songbook of the American West”…and Cody Johnson brought it back to life at ACM Awards in 2023 when he performed the hell out of it.

Tami sings in the song, “now what’s a girl to do when there ain’t no more cowboys from here to the city, ’cause too many mamas listened to Willie.”

Willie responded saying, “I’ll tell the good Lord it just couldn’t be helped. He made girls too pretty, I got a bit greedy, can’t blame me for trying to keep them to myself.”

Zach Bryan told Matthew McConaughey in an interview that he gives a percentage of every song he releases to his Commanding Officer from his time in the Navy. He’s the same guy who helped him record his first album in 2019.

In the two-hour conversation with Matthew McConaughey, ZB went into depth about his sobriety, Morgan Wallen, his forthcoming book and a lot of other aspects of his life and career.

When a video of Zach’s song “Condemned” went mega viral in 2019 while he was in the middle of his time as an active-duty Navy member…and he has his Commanding Officer and friend, Leo Alba, to thank in getting him to here in his career.

Zach has a long family history in the armed services as well, both of his parents, as well as his great-grandfathers, grandfather and a few uncles, also served in the Navy. He was honorably discharged from his service in the Navy in 2021…and it’s safe to say he definitely made the right call in pursuing a music career.

Zach is a real for remembering who helped get to where he is now. He said, “he’s the reason I have any music at all . . . Because that’s how much that meant to me. Him believing in me enough to do that for me.”

Tim McGraw just added five new dates to his Las Vegas residency. The new Country Music Hall of Famer will return to the Colosseum at Caesars Palace in May.

Tim actually began his residency at the Colosseum with four shows in December of 2025. So, I think they like him in Vegas. Which is way they added more dates.

Per Setlist.fm, he plays about 20 songs during each concert. He often begins with a six-song acoustic set that includes “Just To See You Smile” and “Don’t Take the Girl.” Then he brings his band out for 14 songs, mostly hits.

A four song encore often ends each show. “Truck Yeah” is a closer.

Beyond these five residency dates, Tim has only five shows on his 2027 touring calendar as of now. Those include festivals in Canada, New Jersey and Wisconsin.

Then on November 18, 2026, he’ll perform at the CMA Awards in Nashville. I mean if anyone watches it…considering how they’re treating Sammy Kershaw right now.

The 2027 Live In Las Vegas Residency dates are…May 21st, 22nd, 27th, 28th and the 29th. Tickets for the five new shows go on sale on November 9, 2026 at 10AM PT.

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We have the tenth city on the list for this man’s arena tour and he just added a new opening night for this stop…and a fourth show.

Garth Brooks announced the tenth city on his “Blame It All On My Roots Arena Tour”, which is Hamilton, ON. Garth will be at the TD Colliseum on Friday, December 3rd, 4th, 5th and the 6th. Tickets on-sale now for all four shows. And he’s still pricing every ticket at $154.50.

The “Blame It All On My Roots Arena Tour” 2026 are as follows…

• Indianapolis, IN: (Gainbridge Fieldhouse): August 20, 21, 22, and 23, 2026
• Denver, CO: (Ball Arena): September 4, 5, and 6, 2026
• Rosemont/Chicago, IL: (Allstate Arena): September 10, 11, and 12, 2026
• Washington, D.C. : September 18 and 19, 2026
• Orlando, FL: September 25 and 26, 2026
• Salt Lake City, Utah: October 9 and 10, 2026
• Tulsa, OK: October 23, 24 and 25, 2026
• Kansas City, MO: November 6 and 7 (matinee and evening show), 2026
• Seattle, WA: November 13, 14, and 15, 2026
• Hamilton, ON: December 3, 4, 5 and 6, 2026

For everything Garth, please visit garthbrooks.com.

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Sometimes when you get out of jail…you just need to sing a little Keith Whitley with Kid Rock by your side.

Documentarian Adam Bhala Lough shared never-before-seen footage of Morgan Wallen with Kid Rock on the day after his infamous arrest in 2020. In it, Morgan sings Keith Whitley’s“Kentucky Bluebird” while Kid smokes a cigar.

Keith would’ve been proud of this moment. And now I mis him and the new music he could’ve given us if he hadn’t had passed away so young. His music is pure country gold.

I mean Keith Whitley’s music was and still is better than Morgan’s, Kid’s and 90% of the country music coming out of Nashville. Let’s be real. I’m also a real traditional country music fan here. So, I get a little mouthy about my taste in country music sometimes.