- Today in 1955, Elvis Presley’s performance at Jacksonville, Florida, whipped the audience into such a frenzy that it resulted in a riot. In fact, things were so out of control, most of his clothing was torn off by fans.
- Today in 1957, Elvis Presley’s “All Shook Up” hit #1 on the Billboard Country chart.
- Today in 1972, 13-year-old Tanya Tucker made her debut on the country charts with the single, “Delta Dawn.”
- Today in 1986, the “Greatest Hits Volume 2” album by Hank Williams Jr. was certified gold.
- Today in 1990, Pam Tillis guest starred on the TV series, “L.A. Law.”
- Today in 1997, Lee Ann Womack’s self-titled debut album was released.
- Today in 2000, Kenny Rogers’ “Buy Me A Rose” sprouted at #1 on the Billboard country chart with vocal assistance from Alison Krauss and Billy Dean.
- Today in 2003, Joe Nichols scored his first gold album, for his debut, “Man With A Memory.”
- Today in 2005, Jason Aldean performed “Hicktown” and “Why” as he made his first appearance on the Grand Ole Opry.
- Today in 2011, Tim McGraw was sued for breach of contract by Curb Records, which claimed that he recorded his “Emotional Traffic” album too soon after the previous release. Tim had also filed a countersuit, saying Curb had kept him in an ongoing state of “involuntary servitude” by forcing him to wait so long to record new albums. His filing claimed that was a way to stretch out his contract indefinitely. McGraw’s suit also alleged that Curb’s decision to release a total of seven greatest hits albums was a ploy to extend his contract against his will.
- Today in 2015, Pake McEntire undergoes back surgery and subsequently suffered a stroke. We’re happy to report that he has since recovered.
- Today in 2015, the Aaron Lewis single, “Country Boy,” featuring George Jones and Charlie Daniels, was certified platinum by the RIAA.
- Today in 2016, Jennifer Nettles’ album “Playing With Fire” was released.
- Today in 2017, Brad Paisley’s “Love And War” debuted at #1 on the Billboard country albums chart.
- Today in 2017, Lucinda Williams and Lionel Richie received honorary degrees from the Berklee College of Music in Boston. On the same day, Chely Wright received an honorary doctorate from the College of Arts and Science at the University of Missouri in Kansas City.
- Today in 2017, Dan + Shay’s Dan Smyers married Abby Law in Nashville.
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The recovery of superyacht off Sicily is suspended after a diver dies
Posted on by Sam Parsons
ROME (AP) — The recovery of a superyacht that sank last year off the Sicilian coast was temporarily halted Saturday following the death of a specialist diver while working underwater, the company overseeing the operation said.
U.K. tech magnate Mike Lynch, his daughter and five others died in August after a powerful storm slammed the Bayesian. The luxury vessel has since been 49 meters (160 feet) underwater.
British-based TMC Marine said in an emailed statement that the suspension of work “is necessary for the investigations to be completed and to allow all salvage and associated teams to mourn the tragic loss of a highly respected salvage diver” on Friday.
The Palermo Port Authority, which is overseeing the investigation, declined to comment on the cause of death when contacted by The Associated Press.
Marcus Cave, head of naval architecture and a TMC Marine director, said the salvage team was providing “full cooperation to the authorities in their investigations.”
The local prosecutor’s office has sealed off the area where the 39-year-old Dutch diver died, local media reported.
Marine salvage experts began work in early May to refloat the ship off the Sicilian port of Porticello, bringing in one of the most powerful maritime cranes in Europe.
The plan was to cut the yacht’s 75-meter (246-foot) aluminum mast — the second tallest in the world — to allow the hull to be brought to the surface more easily. It was thought initially the salvage operation would take 20 to 25 days.
The 56-meter (183-foot)-long, 473-ton yacht sank during what appears to have been a sudden downburst, or localized powerful wind from a thunderstorm that spreads rapidly after hitting the surface. Prosecutors are investigating the captain and two crew members for possible responsibility in the sinking.
In addition to Lynch and his 18-year-old daughter Hannah, Morgan Stanley International Chairman Jonathan Bloomer and his wife, Judy, attorney Chris Morvillo and his wife, Neda, and the ship’s cook, Recaldo Thomas, died.
Investigators are focusing on how a sailing vessel deemed “unsinkable” by its manufacturer, Italian shipyard Perini Navi, sank while a nearby sailboat remained largely unscathed.
Iowa Senate removes private colleges from D.E.I. ban
Posted on by Sam Parsons
By O. Kay Henderson (Radio Iowa)
Republicans in the Iowa Senate have approved a House bill that bars D.E.I. initiatives at all levels of Iowa government, but senators scaled back some parts of the legislation.
The State of Iowa provides Iowa Tuition Grants to low income students at Iowa private colleges. The House bill would have prohibited students from getting a grant if their school had diversity, equity or inclusion programs. Without debate, the Senate voted to strip that part out of the bill.
The legislation prohibits D.E.I. offices, staff and programs at the state’s community colleges, in state agencies and in city and county governments. However, the senate also tweaked how the bill defines diversity, equity and inclusion.
“The original definition could cause some confusion around some of our functions around the state,” Republican Senator Ken Rozenboom of Pella said, “such as St. Patrick’s Day parades or Tulip Time activities.” Tulip Time, in Pella, is a celebration of the city’s Dutch heritage.
The bill, because of those changes, goes back to the House for review. Rozenboom, wrapping up Senate debate of the bill, called D.E.I. a divisive ideology.
“I would suggest that the opposite of D.E.I. — Diversity, Equity and Inclusion — is M.E.I.,” Rozenboom said. “Merit, Excellence and Intelligence.”
Democrats in the Senate voted against the bill. Senator Sarah Trone Garriott, a Democrat from West Des Moines, said D.E.I. initiatives attract new people to Iowa. “This legislation actually criminalizes those efforts to build our workforce,” Trone Garriott said. “It’s going to hurt our state.”
Last year, Governor Reynolds signed a law that banned D.E.I. offices and programs at the three state universities. Last month, the Trump Administration required every K-12 school to certify all D.E.I. programs had ended.
2025 Beach Ottumwa Summer Season Begins May 24
Posted on by Sam Parsons
OTTUMWA — The 2025 Beach Ottumwa summer season kicks off May 24. The Beach Ottumwa will be open daily from noon to 8:00 p.m. Hours are subject to change due to weather, attendance, or scheduled special events. New 2025 admission rates are $7.00 per person for the whole park and $5.00 per person for the indoor portion. Season summer passes can be purchased for $90. Contact The Beach Ottumwa at 641-682-7873 for more information.
Oskaloosa Man Arrested for OWI Following Friday Night Accident that Injured New Sharon Teenager
Posted on by Sam Parsons
PELLA – A two-vehicle accident in Pella on Friday night that injured a teenager from New Sharon resulted in the arrest of an Oskaloosa man.
According to traffic records, 18-year-old Jaxy Olson of New Sharon was traveling southbound on a motorcycle on Oskaloosa Street in Pella on Friday night when her motorcycle was struck from behind by a Honda Accord driven by 35-year-old Clinton Nicholas Chipman of Oskaloosa. Olson was transported to Mercy Hospital in Des Moines via medical helicopter for treatment of injuries she sustained in the accident.
Authorities say Chipman was listed as an inmate at the Marion County Jail. Following the accident, he was charged with felony operating while intoxicated – 3rd offense. Court records show that Chipman has had guilty pleas to the same charge in 2017 and 2019.
MORGAN WALLEN FINALLY SPEAKS OUT ON “SNL” EXIT
Posted on by Bob Ballard
We’ve heard from “SNL” cast members, his reps, but we hadn’t heard from the man himself. Morgan Wallen‘s swift departure from the stage (and from New York) following his “SNL” performance in March raised eyebrows and had everyone talking. But he himself never explained what happened…until now. On Caleb Pressley’s “Sundae Conversation,” Wallen gave the definitive reason for bolting the stage as the credits rolled after his musical guest stint on “SNL.” When Pressley asked, “Seriously, ‘SNL,”…did they make you mad?” Morgan had a response. “No. I was just ready to go home. I’d been there all week.” The “interview” is very much tongue-in-cheek, so whether this is the real reason or not remains unclear…but it’s the only one Morgan’s given us.
This day in Country Music History
Posted on by Bob Ballard
- Today in 1951, Hank Williams’ “Cold, Cold Heart” reached #1.
- Today in 1995, Ty Herndon scored his first #1 hit, “What Mattered Most.”
- Today in 1998 Tracy Byrd released his album, “I’m From the Country.”
- Today in 2000, Curb Records confirmed Nashville’s worst-kept secret as truth. After months of speculation, it was announced that super couple Faith Hill and Tim McGraw would indeed perform together in what would become known as the “Soul 2 Soul” tour.
- Today in 2001, brought the world premiere of Dwight Yoakam’s directorial debut, “South of Heaven, West of Hell,” at the Olympia Theatre in Cannes, France. Dwight also co-wrote the western, which co-stars longtime his love Bridget Fonda, Vince Vaughn, Billy Bob Thornton, Peter Fonda, and Paul “Pee-Wee Herman” Reubens.
- Today in 2001, Tim McGraw received an honorary doctorate degree from the University of Louisiana-Monroe, where he was once a student, but had dropped out to move to Nashville.
- Today in 2006, Jennifer Nettles made her TV acting debut on NBC’s “Las Vegas.” During the episode, Sugarland performed “Something More,” “Just Might Make Me Believe” and “Down In Mississippi (Up To No Good),” its lyrics changed to “down in Las Vegas.”
- Today in 2007, Rascal Flatts’ “Stand” sat pretty at Billboard’s #1 position.
- Today in 2008, The Zac Brown Band’s single, “Chicken Fried,” was released.
- Today in 2012, Alison Krauss and The Eagles received honorary doctorates from the Berklee College of Music in Boston. Krauss performs “Down To The River To Pray” during the event.
- Today in 2014, Pizza Hut introduced the chain’s new Blake Shelton signature product, Blake’s Smokehouse BBQ Pizza.
- Today in 2017, Thomas Rhett and his wife, Lauren, announced on social media that they’d adopted a Ugandan girl, Willa Gray Akins.
- Today in 2018, Sugarland’s Jennifer Nettles delivered the commencement speech at Agnes Scott College in Decatur, Georgia.
- Today in 2018, Rosanne Cash received an honorary doctorate during a Berklee College of Music commencement in Boston. Also picking up degrees were guitarist Nile Rodgers and jazz musician Esperanza Spalding.
- Today in 2019, Chris Stapleton and his wife, Morgane, welcomed their fifth child, a boy.
- Today in 2019, Allison Moorer married Texas singer/songwriter Hayes Carll.
- Today in 2020, Thomas Rhett’s album, “Center Point Road,” was certified gold by the RIAA
- Today in 2020, the Highwomen’s debut single, “Crowded Table,” hit the airwaves.
- Today in 2021, a Mississippi Country Music Trail marker was installed in Starkville to commemorate Johnny Cash’s 1965 arrest and overnight stay in the Starkville jail.
ACM Awards Recap
Posted on by Bob Ballard
The stars came out for the 60th Academy of Country Music awards, hosted for a record 18th time by Reba McEntire. Several big names, like Luke Combs and Morgan Wallen, were MIA, however. For Morgan’s part, he apparently thought the opportunity to play golf with Tom Brady was not to be missed. But for three hours, the rest of Nashville came to Frisco, Texas in celebration of the very best in country music over the last year. As far as who the big winners were, Ella Langley took home 5 ACM awards, while Lainey Wilson won 4. Here’s a rundown of everything that happened during the broadcast.
The show kicked off with a 12-minute tribute to ACM “Song of the Year” winners of years past, with a medley that included:
Reba singing “Okie From Muskogee,” Clint Black singing “Rhinestone Cowboy,” Wynonna performing the Judds‘ “Why Not Me,” LeeAnn Rimes singing her own “Blue” (backed by a small string section), Little Big Town sang “Girl Crush,” and Dan + Shay performed their own “Tequila” The show that followed was filled with big names and lots of hardware.
- Lionel Richie presented for song of the year. WINNER: Cody Johnson for “Dirt Cheap”
- Eric Church performed “Hands Of Time”
- Miranda Lambert sang “Run”
- Ella Langley joined Miranda on Miranda’s “Kerosene”
- Riley Green introduces Zach Top, who sings “Use Me”
- Oak Ridge Boys present for Group of the Year. WINNER: Old Dominion
- Blake Shelton performed “Texas”
- Lainey Wilson performed “Whirlwind”
- Clint Black presented Male Artist of the Year. WINNER: Chris Stapleton
- Reba sings “Me & Bobbi McGee” in tribute to Kris Kristofferson
- Kristian Bush presents for Duo of the Year. WINNER: Brooks & Dunn
- Kelsea Ballerini performed “Baggage”
- Chris Stapleton performed “It Takes A Woman”
- Single of the Year presented by Reba. Winner: “You Look Like You Love Me,” Ella Langley & Riley Green
- Alan Jackson performs “Remember When,” after which he is presented with the brand-new Alan Jackson Lifetime Achievement Award
- Martina McBride, Gretchen Wilson, Sara Evans, Crystal Gayle and Wynnona present the award for “Female Artist of the Year.” WINNER: Lainey Wilson
- Ernest introduces Jelly Roll and Shaboozey. Jelly performs “Heart of Stone,” Shaboozey joins him as they sing “Amen”
- Keith Urban is the latest winner of the “ACM Triple Crown” award. To honor him, Megan Moroney performed “Stupid Boy,” Chris Stapleton sang “Blue Ain’t Your Color,” the Osborne Brothers sang “Where The Blacktop Ends,” joined by Keith himself, who came up from the crowd with guitar in hand
- Little Big Town presents the award for “Album of the Year.” WINNER: Lainey Wilson for “Whirlwind”
- Cody Johnson performed “The Fall,” then is joined by Brooks & Dunn for “Red Dirt Road”
- Lee Ann Womack and Parker McCollum present the award for “Music Event of the Year” WINNER: Riley Green and Ella Langley, “You Look Like You Love Me”
- Reba, Lainey Wilson and Miranda Lambert debut the new song “Trailblazer” (the song came out last night; check out the official audio to the right)
- Blake Shelton presents the award for “Entertainer of the Year.” WINNER: Lainey Wilson
- Rascal Flatts and the Backstreet Boys perform “What Hurts The Most,” Flatts sings “I Dare You,” the Backstreet Boys perform “Larger Than Life,” both bands reunite for “Life Is A Highway.”
The high point of the night, though, had to be Alan Jackson’s performance of “Remember When,” which had many audience members in tears. If you weren’t tearing up for that, his emotional acceptance speech, which you can see to the right, would have done the job.
See the complete list of winners below:
MAIN ACM AWARD NOMINEES:
ENTERTAINER OF THE YEAR
- Kelsea Ballerini
- Luke Combs
- Cody Johnson
- Jelly Roll
- Chris Stapleton
- Morgan Wallen
- Lainey Wilson – WINNER
FEMALE ARTIST OF THE YEAR
- Kelsea Ballerini
- Ella Langley
- Megan Moroney
- Kacey Musgraves
- Lainey Wilson – WINNER
MALE ARTIST OF THE YEAR
- Luke Combs
- Cody Johnson
- Jelly Roll
- Chris Stapleton – WINNER
- Morgan Wallen
DUO OF THE YEAR
- Brooks & Dunn – WINNER
- Brothers Osborne
- Dan + Shay
- Muscadine Bloodline
- The War And Treaty
GROUP OF THE YEAR
- Flatland Cavalry
- Little Big Town
- Old Dominion – WINNER
- Rascal Flatts
- The Red Clay Strays
NEW FEMALE ARTIST OF THE YEAR
- Kassi Ashton
- Ashley Cooke
- Dasha
- Ella Langley – WINNER
- Jessie Murph
NEW MALE ARTIST OF THE YEAR
- Gavin Adcock
- Shaboozey
- Zach Top – WINNER
- Tucker Wetmore
- Bailey Zimmerman
NEW DUO OR GROUP OF THE YEAR
- Restless Road
- The Red Clay Strays – WINNER
- Treaty Oak Revival
ALBUM OF THE YEAR [Awarded to Artist(s)/Producer(s)/Record Company–Label(s)]
- “Am I Okay? (I’ll Be Fine) – Megan Moroney; Producer: Kristian Bush; Record Company-Label: Columbia Records / Sony Music Nashville
- “Beautifully Broken” – Jelly Roll; Producers: BazeXX, Brock Berryhill, Zach Crowell, Devin Dawson, Charlie Handsome, Ben Johnson, mgk, The Monsters & Strangerz, Austin Nivarel, SlimXX, Ryan Tedder, Isaiah Tejada, Alysa Vanderheym; Record Company-Label: BBR Music Group / BMG Nashville / Republic Records
- “Cold Beer & Country Music – Zach Top; Producer: Carson Chamberlain; Record Company-Label: Leo33
- “F-1 Trillion” – Post Malone; Producers: Louis Bell, Charlie Handsome, Hoskins; Record Company-Label: Mercury Records / Republic Records
- “Whirlwind” – Lainey Wilson – WINNER; Producer: Jay Joyce; Record Company-Label: BBR Music Group / BMG Nashville
SINGLE OF THE YEAR [Awarded to Artist(s)/Producer(s)/Record Company–Label(s)]
- “A Bar Song (Tipsy)” – Shaboozey; Producers: Sean Cook, Nevin Sastry
- Record Company-Label: American Dogwood / EMPIRE
- “Dirt Cheap” – Cody Johnson; Producer: Trent Willmon; Record Company-Label: CoJo Music LLC / Warner Music Nashville
- “I Had Some Help” – Post Malone, Morgan Wallen; Producers: Louis Bell, Charlie Handsome, Hoskins; Record Company-Label: Mercury Records / Republic Records
- “White Horse” – Chris Stapleton; Producers: Dave Cobb, Chris Stapleton, Morgane Stapleton; Record Company-Label: Mercury Nashville
- “You Look Like You Love Me” – Ella Langley, Riley Green – WINNER; Producer: Will Bundy; Record Company-Label: SAWGOD / Columbia Records
SONG OF THE YEAR [Awarded to Songwriter(s)/Publisher(s)/Artist(s)]
- “4x4xU” – Lainey Wilson; Songwriters: Jon Decious, Aaron Raitiere, Lainey Wilson
- Publishers: Louisiana Lady; One Tooth Productions; Reservoir 416; Songs of One Riot Music; Sony/ATV Accent
- “The Architect” – Kacey Musgraves; Songwriters: Shane McAnally, Kacey Musgraves, Josh Osborne; Publishers: Songs for Indy and Owl; Sony/ATV Cross Keys Publishing
- “Dirt Cheap” – Cody Johnson – WINNER; Songwriter: Josh Phillips; Publishers: Warner-Tamerlane Publishing; Write or Die Music; Write the Lightning Publishing
- “I Had Some Help” – Post Malone, Morgan Wallen; Songwriters: Louis Bell, Ashley Gorley, Hoskins, Austin Post, Ernest Keith Smith, Morgan Wallen, Chandler Paul Walters, Ryan Vojtesak; Publishers: Bell Ear Publishing; Master of my Domain Music; Poppy’s Picks; Sony/ATV Cross Keys; Publishing; Universal Music Corporation
- “You Look Like You Love Me” – Ella Langley, Riley Green; Songwriters: Riley Green, Ella Langley, Aaron Raitiere; Publishers: Back 40 Publishing International; Langley Publishing; One Tooth Productions; Sony/ATV Tree; Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp
MUSIC EVENT OF THE YEAR [Awarded to Artist(s)/Producer(s)/Record Company–Label(s)]
- “Cowboys Cry Too” – Kelsea Ballerini, Noah Kahan; Producers: Kelsea Ballerini, Noah Kahan, Alysa Vanderheym; Record Company-Label: Black River Entertainment
- “I Had Some Help” – Post Malone, Morgan Wallen; Producers: Louis Bell, Charlie Handsome, Hoskins; Record Company-Label: Mercury Records / Republic Records
- “I’m Gonna Love You” – Cody Johnson, Carrie Underwood; Producer: Trent Willmon; Record Company-Label: CoJo Music LLC / Warner Music Nashville
- “We Don’t Fight Anymore” – Carly Pearce, Chris Stapleton; Producers: Shane McAnally, Josh Osborne, Carly Pearce; Record Company-Label: Big Machine Records
- “You Look Like You Love Me” – Ella Langley, Riley Green – WINNER; Producer: Will Bundy Record Company-Label: SAWGOD / Columbia Records
VISUAL MEDIA OF THE YEAR [Awarded to Producer(s)/Director(s)/Artist(s)]
- “4x4xU” – Lainey Wilson; Producer: Jennifer Ansell; Director: Dano Cerny
- “Dirt Cheap” – Cody Johnson; Producer: Dustin Haney; Director: Dustin Haney
- “I’m Gonna Love You” – Cody Johnson, Carrie Underwood; Producers: Christen Pinkston, Wesley Stebbins-Perry; Director: Dustin Haney
- “Think I’m In Love With You” – Chris Stapleton; Producers: Wes Edwards, Angie Lorenz, Jamie Stratakis; Director: Running Bear (Stephen Kinigopoulos, Alexa Stone)
- “You Look Like You Love Me” – Ella Langley, Riley Green – WINNER; Producer: Whale Tale Music, Alex Pescosta; Directors: Ella Langley, John Park, Wales Toney
ARTIST-SONGWRITER OF THE YEAR
- Luke Combs
- ERNEST
- HARDY
- Morgan Wallen
- Lainey Wilson – WINNER
SONGWRITER OF THE YEAR
- Jessi Alexander
- Jessie Jo Dillon – WINNER
- Ashley Gorley
- Chase McGill
- Josh Osborne
This day in Country Music History
Posted on by Bob Ballard
- Today in 1975, John Denver’s single, “Thank God I’m A Country Boy,” topped the country charts.
- Today in 1989, Keith Whitley was found dead of alcohol poisoning in his Nashville home. Sadly, his career had just hit an all-time high. He was survived by his wife, Lorrie Morgan.
- Today in 1989, Dwight Yoakam scored his first platinum certification for the album, “Guitars, Cadillacs, Etc.”
- Today in 1989, after dropping out of Northeast Louisiana University, Tim McGraw moves to Nashville. On his first day in town, he heard “Indian Outlaw,” which was destined to become his first hit. He also met songwriter Craig Wiseman, who ultimately wrote several future hits for Tim.
- Today in 1992, Brooks & Dunn’s “Neon Moon” hit #1 on the Billboard country singles chart.
- Today in 1994, Billy Ray Cyrus’ wife, Leticia (aka Tish), gave birth to the couple’s second child – Braison Chance – in Nashville.
- Today in 1997, the “Academy Of Country Music-101 Greatest Country Hits” album was certified platinum.
- Today in 2000, Steve Wariner’s album, “Faith in You,” was released. The project featured “Katie Wants a Fast One,” Steve’s duet with Garth The Judds’ album, “Judds Reunion: Live” and Craig Morgan’s “Something To Write Home About” also hit stores.
- Today in 2001, after nine long years, Toby Keith hollered a resounding, “How do you like me now!?,” as he accepted his very first Academy of Country Music award in the Album of the Year category. He also won in the Top Male Category. Other winners included Dixie Chicks as Entertainers of the Year, Faith Hill as Top Female Vocalist with Lee Ann Womack and Sons of the Desert winning in the Vocal Event, Single and Song of the Year categories. Brooks & Dunn snagged Top Duo honors while Rascal Flatts scored their first ACM in the Top New Vocal Duo or Group category. Other special moments included Glen Campbell presenting Kenny Rogers with the Career Achievement Award and a stunned Barbara Mandrell accepting the Pioneer Award. Prior to the invitation to join her sister, Louise, on stage — Barbara had no idea that she was going to receive the honor.
- Today in 2002, Vince Gill and his wife, Amy Grant, had about 300-thousand reasons to be happy. The happy couple raised $300,000 with the help of their famous friends at the 10th annual Vinny Pro-Celebrity Golf event, The event, which took place at the Legends Club of Tennessee, wrapped up that week and has raised nearly $3-million since 1993 for Tennessee Junior Golf and youth programs across Tennessee.
- Today in 2005, barefoot Kenny Chesney married actress Renee Zellweger in the Virgin Islands. Zellweger filed for an annulment four months later claiming “fraud.” While the gossip columns went nuts, Chesney later explained that the term was simply a legal technicality.
- Today in 2010, Blake Shelton proposed to Miranda Lambert in the woods near her home in Tishomingo, Oklahoma. They married in 2011…and surprised the world when they announced they were divorced in 2015.
- Today in 2012, Lyle Lovett and Sheryl Crow performed “I’ll Never Fall In Love Again” for President Barack Obama at the White House as Burt Bacharach and Hal David were honored with the Gershwin Prize for Popular Song. The same night, Lee Ann Womack offered up “I Hope You Dance” for numerous politicians and their spouses at the Washington Hilton in an event honoring first lady Michelle Obama.
- Today in 2013, Carrie Underwood’s “Before He Cheats” was certified quadruple-platinum by the RIAA. On the same day, Josh Turner’s single, “Why Don’t We Just Dance,” went platinum and Miranda Lambert’s “Famous In A Small Town” went gold.
- Today in 2014, Hunter Hayes played 10 concerts in 10 cities in a 24-hour period, beginning with a “Good Morning, America” performance in New York City, which included his performance of “Invisible.”
- Today in 2015, Little Big Town’s “Girl Crush” kicked off a 13-week run at the top of the “Billboard” country singles chart.
- Today in 2016, Josh Turner’s “Hometown Girl” hit the airwaves.
- Today in 2016, Keith Urban threw out the ceremonial first pitch and announced the starting lineups in Los Angeles at Dodger Stadium. The New York Mets defeated the Dodgers, 4-2.
- Today in 2016, The Library of Congress announce the establishment of the Marty Stuart Collection, which was made up of hundreds of hours of audio-visual material amassed by Stuart. Included is footage from the Grand Ole Opry, “The Johnny Cash Show” and “The Marty Stuart Show,” plus home movies of Lester Flatt’s band.
- Today in 2017, Josh Abbott had a first date in Texas with Taylor Parnell…who became his wife 14-months later.
- Today in 2017, “Women’s Wear Daily” reported that the Federal Trade Commission had written letters to a number of celebrities – including Luke Bryan and Lucy Hale – warning them that they need to indicate a financial relationship when they advertise products online.
- Today in 2017, Sturgill Simpson snagged three nominations to lead the list of finalists in the Americana Honors & Awards – Artist of the Year; Song of the Year, for “All Around You”; and Album, for “A Sailor’s Guide To Earth.”
- Today in 2017, Maren Morris performed “I Could Use A Love Song” as a musical guest on NBC’s “The Voice,” featuring celebrity coaches Blake Shelton and Gwen Stefani.
- Today in 2018, Florida Georgia Line held a benefit for Hurricane Irma victims at the San Carlos Theater in Key West. They shared the stage with Morgan Wallen and RaeLynn.
- Today in 2018, Chris Stapleton made a surprise appearance during Justin Timberlake’s concert at Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena. The pair duet on “Tennessee Whiskey.”
Pope Leo XIV celebrates first Mass as pope, says his election is a cross and a blessing
Posted on by Sam Parsons
VATICAN CITY (AP) — Pope Leo XIV, history’s first North American pope, said Friday that his election was both a cross and a blessing as he celebrated his first Mass in Sistine Chapel.
Leo spoke off-the-cuff in English to the cardinals who elected him to lead the Catholic Church and follow in Pope Francis’ social justice-minded footsteps. He acknowledged the great responsibility they had placed on him before delivering a brief but dense homily on the need to joyfully spread Christianity in a world that often mocks it.
“You have called me to carry that cross and to be blessed with that mission, and I know I can rely on each and every one of you to walk with me as we continue as a church, as a community, as friends of Jesus, as believers, to announce the good news to announce the Gospel,” he said.
It was in the same frescoed chapel that Leo, the Chicago-born Augustinian missionary Robert Prevost, was elected Thursday afternoon as the 267th pope, overcoming the traditional prohibition against a pope from the United States.
A Mass that may suggest his priorities
Two women delivered the Scripture readings at the start of the Mass, perhaps an indication of Leo’s intention to follow Francis’ priority to expand women’s role in the church. As a cardinal, Leo put into practice one of Francis’ most revolutionary reforms by having three women serve on the board that vets bishop nominations.
Speaking in near-perfect Italian, Leo lamented that the Christian faith in many parts of the world is “considered absurd,” mocked or opposed when there were temptations such as money, success and power. He complained that in many places Jesus is misunderstood, “reduced to a kind of charismatic leader or superman.”
“This is true not only among non-believers but also among many baptized Christians, who thus end up living, at this level, in a state of practical atheism,” he said. “Yet, precisely for this reason, they are the places where our missionary outreach is desperately needed. A lack of faith is often tragically accompanied by the loss of meaning in life, the neglect of mercy, appalling violations of human dignity, the crisis of the family and so many other wounds that afflict our society.”
The cardinals applauded as the Mass concluded. Leo was seen wearing simple black shoes, not the red loafers of the papacy preferred by some traditionalist popes.
Francis had his eye on the new pope
Francis, the first Latin American pope, clearly had his eye on Prevost and in many ways saw him as his heir apparent. He sent Prevost, who had spent years as a missionary in Peru, to take over a complicated diocese there in 2014. Francis then brought Prevost to the Vatican in 2023 to head of the Vatican’s powerful Dicastery for Bishops, which vets bishop nominations around the world and is one of the most important jobs in church governance.
Since arriving in Rome, Prevost had kept a low public profile but was well-known to the men who count, and respected by those who worked with him. Significantly, he presided over one of the most revolutionary reforms Francis made, when he added three women to the voting bloc that decides which bishop nominations to forward to the pope.
In a 2023 interview with Vatican News, the then-cardinal said the women had enriched the process and reaffirmed the need for the laity to have a greater role in the church.
“Even the bishops of Peru called him the saint, the Saint of the North, and he had time for everyone,” said the Rev. Alexander Lam, an Augustinian friar from Peru who knows the new pope.
An Augustinian pope
The last pope to take the name Leo was Leo XIII, an Italian who led the church from 1878 to 1903. That Leo softened the church’s confrontational stance toward modernity, especially science and politics, and laid the foundation for modern Catholic social thought. His most famous encyclical, Rerum Novarum of 1891, addressed workers’ rights and capitalism at the beginning of the industrial revolution and was highlighted by the Vatican in explaining the new pope’s choice of name.
That Leo also had close ties to the Augustinian order: He rebuilt an ancient Augustinian church and convent near his hometown of Carpineto, outside Rome, which is still in use by the new pope’s order today.
Vatican watchers said Prevost’s decision to name himself Leo was particularly significant given the previous Leo’s legacy of social justice and reform, suggesting continuity with some of Francis’ chief concerns. Specifically, Leo cited one of Francis’ key priorities of making the Catholic Church more attentive to lay people and inclusive, a process known as synodality.
“He is continuing a lot of Francis’ ministry,’’ said Natalia Imperatori-Lee, the chair of religious studies at Manhattan University in the Bronx. She added that his election could send a message to the U.S. church, which has been badly divided between conservatives and progressives, with much of the right-wing opposition to Francis coming from there.
“I think it is going to be exciting to see a different kind of American Catholicism in Rome,’’ Imperatori-Lee said.
Leo said in a 2023 interview with Vatican News that the polarization in the church was a wound that needed to be healed.
“Divisions and polemics in the church do not help anything. We bishops especially must accelerate this movement towards unity, towards communion in the church,” he said.
Leo’s brother, John Prevost, was so shocked that his brother had been elected pope that he missed several phone calls from Leo during an interview Thursday with The Associated Press. He called the pope back and Leo told him he wasn’t interested in being part of the interview.
John Prevost described his brother, a fan of Wordle, as being very concerned for the poor and those who don’t have a voice. He said he expects him to be a “second Pope Francis.”
“He’s not going to be real far left and he’s not going to be real far right,” he added. “Kind of right down the middle.”
Looking ahead
In his first hours as pope, Leo went back to his old apartment in the Sant’Uffizio Palace to see colleagues, according to selfies posted to social media. Vatican Media also showed him in the moments after his election praying in the Pauline Chapel before emerging on the loggia.
On Sunday, he is to deliver his first noon blessing from the loggia of St. Peter’s and attend an audience with the media on Monday in the Vatican auditorium, Vatican spokesman Matteo Bruni said.
Beyond that, he has a possible first foreign trip at the end of May: Francis had been invited to travel to Turkey to commemorate the 1,700th anniversary of the First Council of Nicaea, a landmark event in Christian history and an important moment in Catholic-Orthodox relations.
The new pope was formerly the prior general, or leader, of the Order of St. Augustine, which was formed in the 13th century as a community of “mendicant” friars — dedicated to poverty, service and evangelization. Vatican News said Leo is the first Augustinian pope.
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