This is what they mean when they say “you have to be prepared.”
Billy Strings was performing in Indiana on Thursday (8/6/26) night when he was hit in the head by an object. Someone in the crowd threw what’s believed to be a lighter, and Billy was not having it.
He didn’t storm off, but he did say, “why the f*ck would you throw something at me? Is your dick really that small?”
So, at Friday night’s show, he came out onstage wearing a hockey helmet. The helmet belonged to Indiana’s minor league hockey team, the Indy Fuel.
During an episode of the “Try That In A Small Town Podcast”, Jason Aldean said that some of the people working in his touring crew were pretty vocal about their negative feelings over his song “Try That In a Small Town.”
And those people aren’t on his payroll anymore. Now nobody in the podcast explicitly said that those employees were fired, but it’s pretty heavily implied.
Podcast hosts Kurt Allison, Kelley Lovelace, Neil Thrasher and Tully Kennedy, who all co-wrote “Try That In a Small Town,”and some of them are also in the singer’s touring band…also shared their memories of what it was like touring with co-workers of differing opinions during a politically divisive moment. And guest Jake LaGrone, who’s Jason’s longtime tour manager, weighed in, too.
Jason said, “they no longer work for us”, during a guest appearance on the podcast episode on Monday July 27, 2026. He continued saying…
“Here’s my issue: When you’re riding around on a tour bus that I’m paying for, and I’m feeding you three meals a day, every day, and a paycheck to, you know, pay your rent or whatever it is, and you’re out there on those buses, in our catering and you’re bad mouthing me and our crew like, yeah, you got to go.”
I mean there’s nothing an employer can really do but let those people go before they become an even bigger cancer in the workplace. I would let my employees go too if they bad mouthing me. Well done team Jason.
It’s obvious that 2026 is this woman’s year and we’re all just living in it.
Rascal Flatts singer Gary LeVox is sick and tired of hearing Ella Langley’s massive his,“Choosin’ Texas” everywhere because it’s so good that it gets stuck in his head. I’m still hooked on the way she says “Abilene”.
He said, “I love it but I [hate it]. I might have to put Ella in a chokehold because if I hear that freaking song [one more time]…It’s just that melody…I just automatically, 1,000%, the rest of the day hum it all freaking day long.”
Kenny Chesney is releasing his 21st album on September 25th called“Silver Sands Marina”. It’ll also include a new duet with Megan Moroney that she actually helped make happen.
The song is called “It Just Got Weird”, and Kenny was holding onto it for about five years. When Megan heard that Kenny was finally going to use it, she gave him a call and, she “damn near insisted” on being on it.
Kenny said, “I knew she would attack the song the way I wanted it…sometimes when Megan sings, she sounds like she’s been up all night in a great way…her voice is perfect for the emotion and the angst of that song,
Because there is, like I said, a moment where you just know that it’s over. No matter how old you are, you know?”
The song is about a turning point in a relationship and realizing it’s over.
TheBoot.com put together a list of the most likable country stars. Of course you’re wondering how they evaluated a singer’s likability. That’s fair.
First, he or she needs to make themselves available. That means fans and media need to have opportunities to get to know them. Put a check mark beside every name that follows. Public acts of generosity also certainly matter but anecdotal evidence goes a long way as well.
Here they are:
1. Dolly Parton
2. Luke Combs
3. Lauren Alaina
4. Russell Dickerson
5. Kelsea Ballerini
6. Walker Hayes
7. Lainey Wilson
8. Dan + Shay
10. Dierks Bentley
11. Jelly Roll
12. Vince Gill (they don’t call him sweet pea for nothing)
If you’re going to have this man on your stage, you need to have him do more than just play guitar and sing back up.
Guns N’ Rosessurprised fans in Toronto Wednesday night and brought out Chris Stapleton for a performance of “Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door”. Chris played guitar alongside Slash and joined Axl Rose on vocals too.
Chris happened to be in town because he performed at the same stadium the previous night. He really could’ve done more, but it was still pretty bad ass to let Chris join them.
As a native Texan and a Shiner Bock lover, this is simply beautiful to me.
Ella Langley is collaborating with Shiner Beer to release a limited-edition brew called “Dandelion Honey Kölsch”,which is dueon August 13, 2026. This a duet made for real beer drinkers, because Shiner never misses. They make delicious beer y’all.
The beer is named after Ella’s sophomore studio album, “Dandelion”. It’s a light Kölsch-style beer brewed with honey and dandelion flavors.
And the partnership began after Shiner Bock beer was featured in her music video for “Choosin’ Texas”, where Ella famously popped a bottle cap off using the heel of her boot. She chose Texas…which led to a real Texas beer choosin’ her.
We have another country song that has joined the Spotify Billions Club y’all!
Luke Combs’ cover of Tracy Chapman’s“Fast Car” has officially surpassed one billion streams on Spotify. It’s the 18th country song to join the Billions Club.
“Fast Car” is Luke’s third song to hit this milestone too. He is now the second country artist to have three or more songs in the club by the way. Morgan Wallen has four. So, it’s Morgan and Luke’s world. And we’re just listening to what they’re putting out. Literally.
You can feel free to see every country song in the Billions Club here.
Tim McGraw continued his “Pawn Shop Guitar Tour” with a stop in Virginia Beach, Virginia, on Thursday August 6, 2026 with the opening support of 49 Winchester.
He’s actually giving away some freshly purchased pawn shop guitars on this tour. And when Tim tried to give away this pink electric guitar this little girl in the audience at Veterans United Home Loans Amphitheater it wasn’t the answer Tim was looking for.
Tim asked the girl a very simple question when he was giving the guitar to her and her response was priceless. He asked, “if I give you this guitar, you have to promise to me that you’ll learn to play it? Deal?” She shook her head to say “no” without hesitation. Mainly because she probably didn’t realize what was actually happening.
It was a cute interaction…but that wasn’t the answer Tim was looking for. Of course after some laughs and signing the guitar she was gifted that pawn shop guitars.
Today is International Beer Day (8/7/26)! To celebrate, here are seven myths about beer you might still believe…
1. Drinking a lot of beer gives you a beer belly.
Beer on its own doesn’t cause a belly. It’s a combination of too many calories in general and a sedentary lifestyle that really does. So, beer is technically good for your body.
2. Dark beers are stronger than light beers.
Light beers are lighter in color and body, but that doesn’t mean dark beers have more alcohol. For example, Guinness contains 4.2% ABV…while Budweiser is stronger at 5%.
3. Beer should always be served ice cold.
Ice cold temperatures can actually ruin the flavor of a good beer.
4. Draft beer gives you a hangover.
Drinking an excessive amount of alcohol, no matter the type, will cause a hangover.
5. Beer before liquor…never been sicker…
It really depends on how much alcohol you’re drinking, not the order. From a scientific perspective, alcohol is alcohol…different drinks might cause you to have worse hangovers compared to other drinks because of certain other molecules in the liquid…but the order doesn’t matter. Just don’t overdo it.
6. IPAs are always bitter. (as in nasty to me)
IPAs are a WIDE tent, with a lot of varieties and flavor profiles: West Coast IPA, East Coast (New England / Hazy) IPA, Juicy IPA, American IPA, Belgian IPA, Black IPA, White IPA, Sour IPA, Session IPA, Mountain Style IPA, and so on.
West Coast IPAs are bitter, but Juicy IPAs have tropical fruit notes, Milkshake IPAs are thick and sweet, and Sour IPAs are funky and, well, sour.
7. Beer is unhealthy.
Okay, it is not healthy for you. But there are studies that say it can have benefits…in moderation, of course.
