Hillbilly Live!

Many Americans just enjoyed a long holiday weekend. And even if you had to work, you probably saw (or heard) fireworks…smelled (or tasted) a cookout…or felt pangs of patriotism. Unless that was just sweat from the heat.

But apparently, about half the country wasn’t sure what was going on. As in we have a lot of ignorant and stupid people living in the greatest on earth.

A new national survey found that 46% of Americans don’t know what America’s 250th anniversary was commemorating. They may have known that it was the Fourth of July, but nothing beyond that.

53% correctly responded that it celebrated the adoption of the Declaration of Independence.  And this year was the 250th anniversary, since it happened back in 1776. That’s for those of you who are bad at history and math.

Here are a few other interesting stats from the poll…

86% are “grateful” to be Americans. 79% are “proud” to be Americans.

74% believe the American Dream is available to them personally. And 61% believe America is a land of opportunity.

70% believe America’s founding principles remain relevant today…but nearly 60% say the country has moved away from the founding principles, and 56% say they worry the U.S. could stop being a free country within the next 50 years.

77% say that for a country to remain free, “most people need to try to be good, honest, and responsible.”

People say the biggest threats are…corruption, concentrations and abuse of power, ignoring founding principles, the rich having too much power, and moral decline. Limited access to the McRib did not make the Top 10 by the way. Which is a little unfortunate.

Most Americans agree that the U.S. is among the world’s greatest countries…but only a third say it stands above all others.

And Americans’ Top Five “most-valued freedoms” are: The freedom of speech (49%), the right to vote and choose our leaders (36%), equal protection under the law (32%), freedom of religion (32%), and the right to due process (31%).

(Cato Institute)

Cody Johnson shared a patriotic message from a somewhat unlikely source, Matthew McConaughey. 

Cody said, “I was gonna make a video speaking about how I feel about America’s birthday, but I came across this first.

I couldn’t have said it any better. Remember that we are the ministry of our future patriots, folks! God Bless America!”

Matthew has always had way of putting things together that make sense. And his 4th of July monologue was another great example of that. He said…

”That’s the celebration. Not that we’ve arrived anywhere, but to the fact we’re still on our way. Take inventory, with the one in the mirror and together. Here’s to more dancing in the home of the brave.  

Happy 250th, America. Just keep living.”

This is how America’s birthday should always go.

Big Dog Toby Keith’s “Courtesy of the Red, White and Blue (The Angry American)” was the #1 most-streamed song on Spotify in the U.S. on America’s 250th birthday. This man would’ve been happy to know this too.

Toby participated in nearly 20 USO tours throughout his career, performing for over a quarter of a million service members in 17 different countries as they fought overseas. He loved playing them and of course one of the most popular songs on those tours was “Courtesy of the Red, White and Blue (The Angry American).”

The song was a patriotic rallying cry in the wake of the tragic 9/11 terrorist attacks that went on to become one of Toby’s signature songs…and a staple of 4th of July playlists.

The thing is…we were never supposed to hear it though.

Toby originally wrote the song to only perform for troops on his USO tours and he never intended to actually record the song. Then after growing frustration with the media coverage in the wake of the terrorist attacks…and when he performed the song for the troops, they obviously went nuts.

The then-Commandant of the Marine Corps James L. Jones told Toby that he didn’t have a choice, calling it “the most amazing battle song I’ve ever heard in my life.”

And he proceeded to tell Toby that “it’s your job as an entertainer to lift the morale of the troops. If you want to serve, that is what you can do.”

I mean with a statement like that from your military, Toby did his part. He took “The Angry American” into the studio, and released it as the lead single from his album, “Unleashed”, in 2002. The song went to the top of the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart, and has since been certified 4x platinum.

The song was followed by Bruce Springsteen’s “Born in the U.S.A.” at #2 and “Choosin’ Texas” by Ella Langley in third of Spotify this past weekend too. As a proud American…this news fills my heart.

Top 10 on US Spotify on 4th of July:

#1 Courtesy Of The Red, White And Blue (The Angry American)
#2 Born in the U.S.A.
#3 Choosin' Texas
#4 Sweet Home Alabama
#5 Party In The U.S.A.
#6 Chicken Fried
#7 American Pie
#8 God Bless The U.S.A.
#9 Fortunate Son
#10 American Kids

— chart data (@chartdata) July 5, 2026

So, we’re getting some new music from Zach Bryan y’all.

Now ZB has been pretty quiet on social media lately…and mainly because his social media accounts are inactive. Which is probably a good thing considering how he can get a little unhinged on there.

Zach posted a teaser video on YouTube of an unreleased song titled “Lodi When”

“If you could write a book on,
The man that you once were,
Would you write about drinking,
Or would you write about her,
If you could just go back to the places you once been,
Would you run back to her arms,
Or back to Lodi when,

He made a big mess of all the songs he wrote,
He’d sing to you come daylight, but die before he woke,
If you could write a book on the man that you once were,
Would you write about drinking,
Or would you write about her,
If you could just go back to the places you once been,
Would you go back to her arms, back to Lodi when”

And in the comments section, he revealed that he has a new EP on the way with an incredibly interesting, for lack of a better word, name called “Young Manhood and Other Donatable Organs”. That album will obviously feature “Lodi When” in addition to a number of other songs yet-to-be-revealed as of now.

“A snippet of ‘Lodi When’ off the new EP, ‘Young Manhood and Other Donatable Organs’.”

I hate this news.

Jon Pardi and his wife, Summer Pardi, announced their divorce on July 3, 2026, after five years of marriage. Of course they are committed to co-parenting their two young daughters, Presley and Sienna Grace.

Jon released a statement on his socials about it saying, “our daughters will always remain our highest priority and we are committed to moving forward with love and respect as co-parents.”

View this post on Instagram

Divorce is never easy…but it unfortunately happens far too often. And we wish them all the best in their new chapter.

In celebration of America’s 250th birthday this Saturday (7/4/26), “Taste of Country” put together a list of patriotic moments in country music history. 

For love of the red, white, and blue, here are the highlights:

1. Alan Jackson debuted “Where Were You (When the World Stopped Turning)”at the 2001 CMA Awards, two months after 9/11.

2. Toby Keith played for the troops in Iraq in 2008, but had to join soldiers in a concrete bunker after a round of mortar fire interrupted his performance. Of course, he went back onstage after.

3. Lee Brice got a truck back for a fallen soldier’s family.

4. Johnny Cash recited “Ragged Old Flag” in front of Congress in 1977.

5. Loretta Lynn became the first solo female country performer to sing at the White House in 1971 after she was invited by President Nixon. In 2013, President Obama awarded her the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

6. Dolly Parton wrote “Color Me America” after the 9/11 attacks.

7. Brantley Gilbert was given a fan’s Purple Heart in 2015.

8. Chris Stapleton’s performance of the National Anthem at the Super Bowl in 2023.

9. Craig Morgan re-enlisted and was sworn into the U.S. Army Reserve live onstage at the Opry in 2023.

10. Kellie Pickler performed for troops in Afghanistan on Christmas Day in 2013.

America only turns 250 years old once. So, why not go all in? 

To make sure you have the perfect playlist to celebrate, here’s a list of patriotic country songs for you…

1. “Mr. Red White and Blue”,  Coffey Anderson and Drew Jacobs

2. “God Bless the U.S.A.”,  Lee Greenwood

3. “Ragged Old Flag”,  Johnny Cash

4. “Only in America”,  Brooks and Dunn

5. “Red, White & Bluegrass”,  Dolly Parton

6. “American Saturday Night”,  Brad Paisley

7. “Different ‘Round Here”,  Riley Green

8. “Country Roads, Take Me Home”,  John Denver

9. “Courtesy of the Red, White, and Blue”,  Toby Keith

10. “All-American Girl”,  Carrie Underwood

This is a pretty accurate statement of athletes.

Zach Top loves that Seattle Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh uses “Bad Luck” as a walk-up song. He said, “athletes are still like superheroes to me. It’s wild that guys like that know my music or give a [sh*t] about it. 

That’s one of the most fun things.”

It’s America’s 250th birthday this year and I know there will be drunks popping things.

When it comes to fireworks, the best plan is to leave the explosives to the professionals. But since some people can’t celebrate the Fourth of July without blowing stuff up, here are a few things to keep in mind to make sure you have a safe holiday weekend…

1. Don’t let your kids handle fireworks, and obviously don’t do anything illegal. Keep in mind that young kids can hurt themselves even with things like sparklers.

2. Keep a big bucket of water or a garden hose handy in case there’s an issue. And if a firework doesn’t go off, never try to pick it up or re-light it.

3. Light fireworks one at a time, and then move away quickly. Also…don’t hold them in your hand, unless the instructions specifically say to do so. Basically…light them and walk away.

4. Never use fireworks under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

5. Don’t get cocky.  According to the latest data, “only” 15 people were killed by fireworks in 2025, but around 13,000 people were injured.  35% of those injuries were to the hands or fingers…22% were injuries to the head, face, or ears…and 38% of injuries involved burns. 

(CPSC)

Whiskey and America are really good friends. As in they’re basically family and whiskey could be considered our country’s greatest crop.

Eric Church’s “Whiskey JYPSI” released a limited-edition bottle for America’s 250th birthday. It’s called Legacy Batch 003: “The Declaration” and it’s a modern reimagining of the spirits distilled by George Washington.

It blends three whiskeys, including one that has a top note from apple brandy barrels that were sourced directly from George Washington’s distillery at Mount Vernon. I mean that’s as American as it gets y’all.

Eric said, “to mark the 250th anniversary, we wanted to make something that is more than a commemorative bottle, it’s a testament to the grit, restlessness and innovation that built this country.”