Two country contestants were eliminated on American Idol this week. Here's who's left for Season 22 of the ABC reality show. What started as a diverse group of newcomers, stage veterans and styles has been whittled down to three finalists. On Sunday (May 12), Emmy Russell and Triston Harper were sent home. That's a blow to country music fans hoping for another winner. Will Mosley remains, and one has to wonder if having three country finalists in the Top 5 split the vote, reducing the chances of either Harper — the youngest Top 12 finalist — or Russell —...…Two country contestants were eliminated on American Idol this week. Here's who's left for Season 22 of the ABC reality show. What started as a diverse group of newcomers, stage veterans and styles has been whittled down to three finalists. On Sunday (May 12), Emmy Russell and Triston Harper were sent home. That's a blow to country music fans hoping for another winner. Will Mosley remains, and one has to wonder if having three country finalists in the Top 5 split the vote, reducing the chances of either Harper — the youngest Top 12 finalist — or Russell —...WW…

It's official: Reba McEntire is returning to scripted television. The country singer and star of Reba has teamed with a few old friends and one modern boyfriend for a show called Happy's Place on NBC. The new sitcom puts McEntire in a setting fans have not yet seen her conquer. Here is everything we know about Happy's Place, including the plot, cast, list of main characters and premiere date: Happy's Place finds McEntire playing Bobbie, a woman who inherits a restaurant from her father. Soon she discovers a half-sister (Escobedo) she never knew she had. The two become unlikely...…It's official: Reba McEntire is returning to scripted television. The country singer and star of Reba has teamed with a few old friends and one modern boyfriend for a show called Happy's Place on NBC. The new sitcom puts McEntire in a setting fans have not yet seen her conquer. Here is everything we know about Happy's Place, including the plot, cast, list of main characters and premiere date: Happy's Place finds McEntire playing Bobbie, a woman who inherits a restaurant from her father. Soon she discovers a half-sister (Escobedo) she never knew she had. The two become unlikely...WW…

Florida Georgia Line's bar was among the first to rise. Now it's first to fall. FGL House is permanently closed. The 3rd Ave. spot closed last weekend after nearly seven years in business. Fans weren't given any warning, and still active social media pages make no mention of a change. A "permanently closed" banner at Google is just about all there is to indicate FGL House is no longer doing business. The venue's old website re-directs to the TC Restaurant Group website, which no longer offers FGL House in its inventory. The Nashville Business Journal confirmed the closure....…Florida Georgia Line's bar was among the first to rise. Now it's first to fall. FGL House is permanently closed. The 3rd Ave. spot closed last weekend after nearly seven years in business. Fans weren't given any warning, and still active social media pages make no mention of a change. A "permanently closed" banner at Google is just about all there is to indicate FGL House is no longer doing business. The venue's old website re-directs to the TC Restaurant Group website, which no longer offers FGL House in its inventory. The Nashville Business Journal confirmed the closure....WW…

Randy Travis just released a totally new song and country fans aren't sure how to feel about it. The response to "Where That Came From" gets to the heart of an issue living on the fringes of the genre to this point. Lawmakers, music executives and artists are worried about the affects of artificial intelligence in music. Travis and his production team gave AI a bear hug. Scotty Emerick and John Scott Sherrill wrote "Where That Came From," a mid-tempo heartbreaker that can be only described as timeless. Their ability to paint a vivid scene with just a few words — nine total in each...…Randy Travis just released a totally new song and country fans aren't sure how to feel about it. The response to "Where That Came From" gets to the heart of an issue living on the fringes of the genre to this point. Lawmakers, music executives and artists are worried about the affects of artificial intelligence in music. Travis and his production team gave AI a bear hug. Scotty Emerick and John Scott Sherrill wrote "Where That Came From," a mid-tempo heartbreaker that can be only described as timeless. Their ability to paint a vivid scene with just a few words — nine total in each...WW…

Terry Wyatt, Getty ImagesScotty McCreery just revealed his first 2024 tour dates. The "Cab in a Solo" singer announced 16 new concerts with Anne Wilson as direct support.The Cab in a Solo Tour will begin on Jan. 26 in Tory, Ohio, and extend into March when it wraps in Schenectady, N.Y. Newcomers Greylan James and Noah Hicks will play select dates on a tour that's focused mostly on the midwest and east coast.Related: Country Music Tours Scheduled for 2023 + 2024: Full ListThis new tour means the hitmaker and former American Idol winner will take a relatively short break from...…Terry Wyatt, Getty ImagesScotty McCreery just revealed his first 2024 tour dates. The "Cab in a Solo" singer announced 16 new concerts with Anne Wilson as direct support.The Cab in a Solo Tour will begin on Jan. 26 in Tory, Ohio, and extend into March when it wraps in Schenectady, N.Y. Newcomers Greylan James and Noah Hicks will play select dates on a tour that's focused mostly on the midwest and east coast.Related: Country Music Tours Scheduled for 2023 + 2024: Full ListThis new tour means the hitmaker and former American Idol winner will take a relatively short break from...WW…

Getty ImagesMore than a dozen new country songs, albums and EPs dropped this week. Here's a list of the most remarkable projects, with appropriate links and embeds.Carly Pearce continues to leak new songs from her next album, as Jason Aldean added another from the upcoming Highway Desperado album (Nov. 3) to his YouTube channel.Dylan Scott and Gabby Barrett are two more artists who dropped previously-unheard songs. Scroll down to find them.As for albums? Darius Rucker leads with his new Carolyn's Boy album, but Colbie Caillat, Reba McEntire and Old Dominion all shared significant new...…Getty ImagesMore than a dozen new country songs, albums and EPs dropped this week. Here's a list of the most remarkable projects, with appropriate links and embeds.Carly Pearce continues to leak new songs from her next album, as Jason Aldean added another from the upcoming Highway Desperado album (Nov. 3) to his YouTube channel.Dylan Scott and Gabby Barrett are two more artists who dropped previously-unheard songs. Scroll down to find them.As for albums? Darius Rucker leads with his new Carolyn's Boy album, but Colbie Caillat, Reba McEntire and Old Dominion all shared significant new...WW…

Getty ImagesCountry fans nationwide have lived Thomas Rhett and Morgan Wallen's "Mamaw's House" lyrics.The two hitmakers reflect on growing up in the South with a strong grandmother to learn from. Details like the age of her car and smell of cigarette smoke indoors make us all feel young again, while the chorus sends a lesson forward to the next generation.Credit Chase McGill and Matt Dragstrem for helping Wallen and Rhett write the lyrics to "Mamaw's House," Rhett's new song from his 20 No. 1 Hits compilation album. Songs about grandparents — while almost always effective — are not...…Getty ImagesCountry fans nationwide have lived Thomas Rhett and Morgan Wallen's "Mamaw's House" lyrics.The two hitmakers reflect on growing up in the South with a strong grandmother to learn from. Details like the age of her car and smell of cigarette smoke indoors make us all feel young again, while the chorus sends a lesson forward to the next generation.Credit Chase McGill and Matt Dragstrem for helping Wallen and Rhett write the lyrics to "Mamaw's House," Rhett's new song from his 20 No. 1 Hits compilation album. Songs about grandparents — while almost always effective — are not...WW…

News of John Denver's tragic death cast a large shadow over the investigation that followed. You might recall he died in a plane crash in October 1997, but what caused that crash is foggy.Several simple mistakes were made that afternoon: It's a rare case of witness accounts lining up with what was known about Denver and his plane ahead of time. This week's episode of Secret History of Country Music explores the former Entertainer of the Year winner's death and how it affected his legacy.Does John Denver deserve to be in either the Rock & Roll or the Country Music Hall of Fame?...…News of John Denver's tragic death cast a large shadow over the investigation that followed. You might recall he died in a plane crash in October 1997, but what caused that crash is foggy.Several simple mistakes were made that afternoon: It's a rare case of witness accounts lining up with what was known about Denver and his plane ahead of time. This week's episode of Secret History of Country Music explores the former Entertainer of the Year winner's death and how it affected his legacy.Does John Denver deserve to be in either the Rock & Roll or the Country Music Hall of Fame?...WW…

Toby Keith's "Don't Let the Old Man In" lyrics proved to be perfect for Clint Eastwood.The actor's 2018 movie The Mule used the song and it hit hard, but maybe not as hard as it hit when Keith took to the stage to sing the song on Thursday night (Sept. 28).With teary eyes and a noticeable shake, Keith worked through a ballad he says he chose because it inspires those who've been touched by his cancer journey.Related: Toby Keith Brought Us All to Tears At the 2023 People's Choice Country AwardsThe legend's cancer journey provided a backdrop for the performance. He...…Toby Keith's "Don't Let the Old Man In" lyrics proved to be perfect for Clint Eastwood.The actor's 2018 movie The Mule used the song and it hit hard, but maybe not as hard as it hit when Keith took to the stage to sing the song on Thursday night (Sept. 28).With teary eyes and a noticeable shake, Keith worked through a ballad he says he chose because it inspires those who've been touched by his cancer journey.Related: Toby Keith Brought Us All to Tears At the 2023 People's Choice Country AwardsThe legend's cancer journey provided a backdrop for the performance. He...WW…

Jason Kempin, Getty ImagesLuke Combs proves he isn't against risk-taking with his new radio single, "Where the Wild Things Are." The mid-tempo outlaw story from Gettin' Old is unlike anything he's every offered programmers.It's unlike much else that he's considered for his own discography. Thus far, we've acknowledged Combs to be a world-class singer, entertainer and lyricist, but his storytelling catalog is thin. "Even Though I'm Leaving" — a No. 1 hit in 2019 — is the best example of Combs taking someone else's narrative and co-signing. Sure, Combs co-wrote that song, but he wasn't...…Jason Kempin, Getty ImagesLuke Combs proves he isn't against risk-taking with his new radio single, "Where the Wild Things Are." The mid-tempo outlaw story from Gettin' Old is unlike anything he's every offered programmers.It's unlike much else that he's considered for his own discography. Thus far, we've acknowledged Combs to be a world-class singer, entertainer and lyricist, but his storytelling catalog is thin. "Even Though I'm Leaving" — a No. 1 hit in 2019 — is the best example of Combs taking someone else's narrative and co-signing. Sure, Combs co-wrote that song, but he wasn't...WW…