‘People’ cover girl Kelsea Ballerini explores ‘tough choices’ that led to ‘being happy and steady’

Casey Durkin/NBC Making it to the cover of People magazine is a big deal, so it’s no wonder Kelsea Ballerini is excited about it.  “you’re telling me i can walk into my neighborhood kroger and see this?! wilddddddd. thank you for letting me be your cover girl @people,” she shared on Instagram, along with some photos …

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Rascal Flatts is ready to make history as reunion tour wraps

Jason Kempin/Getty Images for Big Machine Label Group If Rascal Flatts takes home the Academy of Country Music award for group of the year, they’ll make history as the winningest act in the category.  Gary LeVox, Jay DeMarcus and Joe Don Rooney marked the milestone during their recent Life Is a Highway tour stop in Ft. …

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Thomas Rhett’s bucket list breakthrough at the ballpark

Disney/Larry McCormack With spring underway, there are plenty of us singing “Take Me Out to the Ball Game” — perhaps none more than Thomas Rhett, who’ll make his dream come true when he plays Boston’s Fenway Park. It’s something he’s wanted to do for some time.  “I kinda feel like at some point in your …

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Nashville notes: Vince Gill’s extra night + Ashley Monroe’s ‘Blade’ performance

Luke Combs is set to play the Newport Folk Festival on Saturday, July 26.  Ashley Monroe will mark the 10th anniversary of her Grammy-nominated album, The Blade, with a special show July 25 at The Basement East in Nashville. Tickets go on sale Friday, April 4.  Vince Gill has added a fifth night to his …

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More ‘Good’ from ‘This Town’: Dylan Scott grabs #1

Curb Dylan Scott is all gratitude as he claims the sixth #1 of his career with “This Town’s Been Too Good to Us.”  “This No. 1 is special to me!” the Bastrop, Louisiana, native says. “A song about where I grew up and the people I grew up with. To be able to have two …

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Fore! Peyton Manning + Jim Nance skewer Jordan Davis’ golf game in tour video

Disney/Scott Kirkland How dismal is Jordan Davis‘ golf game? Well, just listen to what Peyton Manning says in a video announcing Jordan’s new tour: “He’s not just playing bad golf, he’s reinventing the concept of failure.”  You can check out the comedic clip that also stars sportscasting legend Jim Nantz and Jordan’s tour mates Mitchell …

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How Nate Smith can set your ‘World on Fire’ for free

Disney/Randy Holmes Nate Smith‘s gearing up to do two free shows sponsored by Busch.  The private gigs are set to take place in Cleveland, Ohio, on May 22 and Omaha, Nebraska, on Sept. 17. You can register online to win two tickets to the Cleveland show through May 4, with the Omaha window opening July …

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Riley Green’s got hits & the plaques to prove it

Disney/Randy Holmes Riley Green‘s probably needing some wall space in the “Worst Way,” after picking up his latest Gold and Platinum certifications.  His current top-20 hit, “Worst Way,” recently hit the Platinum milestone. The title track of his latest album, “Don’t Mind If I Do” (featuring Ella Langley), went Gold. Riley wrote both tunes by …

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No ‘Problem’ here? Morgan Wallen’s ‘SNL’ exit inspires talk

NBCUniversal Morgan Wallen returned to Saturday Night Live March 29, though his performances may not have generated quite as much buzz as his exit.  The CMA entertainer of the year did two songs from his upcoming album — first the title track, “I’m the Problem,” and then the new single “Just in Case.”  He then returned …

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You can blame his mama for the ‘Springsteen-ness’ of Jackson Dean

Big Machine If Jackson Dean‘s sound seems a little bit different than your typical country artist, he says there’s a reason for that.  “My family has a big musical palate, so we can go from, like, Aretha Franklin to Xavier Rudd and John Butler Trio and all that,” he explains. “Of course, classic country, David Allan …

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