His Las Vegas residency lasted two years and encompassed 48 shows, but all good things must come to an end, and for Luke Bryan, his Saturday show at The Theatre at Resorts World put the wraps on a very successful run in Vegas. “Somehow, somehow I have survived Las Vegas,” he told the crowd, adding “I have not died yet, but if you add up all the mornings that I wanted to die it equals three total deaths. Tomorrow morning, Shady Grove Rehab for me. I’m gonna wear pajamas for 45 days!”

Luke is on record as being a big fan of the Vegas lifestyle and casinos, and that love was reflected by a special on-stage visit as the evening drew to a close. Luke and his band mounted a moving catwalk that elevated them 45 feet in the air, bringing them face-to-face with the audience in the mezzanine and balcony areas at the rear of the venue. Luke closed out the show with “Country Girl (Shake It for Me)” and, not surprisingly, “I Don’t Want This Night to End.” While the final song may not have been a surprise, what was waiting for Luke when he descended back to the stage was.

 A group of people came on stage to say goodbye to the superstar, causing him to laugh and begin bowing. “These are my dealers, these are my craps dealers,” he said before hugging each one and taking a photo with them. “Cheers to two years.”

Source: People

“Should’ve Been a Cowboy” is one of Toby Keith’s most enduring songs. So it might surprise you to learn how quickly it came together.

Toby wrote it during a pheasant hunting trip to Dodge City, Kansas, which he says was, quote, “staged for the old ‘Gunsmoke’ series” at the time.

One day after the hunt, he and his friends went to a bar. One of the guys, still in his hunting clothes, asked a girl at another table to dance, and she turned him down.

He says, quote, “On the way back to the table, we were laughing, and one of the guys hollered, ‘John, you should’ve been a cowboy.'”

That night, Toby shut himself in his motel bathroom, sat on the edge of the tub, and wrote “Should’ve Been a Cowboy” in 20 minutes.

The legendary Oak Ridge Boys were calling it a career after more than half a century of making music. The band announced their farewell tour which was to extend through 2025. Unfortunately, yesterday we learned that one of the its longest-lasting members would not be making the trip, and was retiring immediately.

Joe Bonsall, tenor singer for the band since 1973, announced on his socials yesterday that he was forced to retire early. “Many of you know I have been battling a slow onset (over four years now) of a neuromuscular disorder. I am now at a point where walking is impossible, so I have basically retired from the road. It has just gotten too difficult. It has been a great 50 years, and I am thankful to all the Oak Ridge Boys, band, crew, and staff for the constant love and support shown to me through it all. I will never forget, and for those of you who have been constantly holding me up in prayer, I thank you and ask for you to keep on praying. There is a young man named Ben James singing for me out there, and he needs your love and encouragement … his sound is different than mine, but he brings a ton of talent to the table! The Oak Ridge Boys will finish the Farewell Tour without me, but rest assured, I am good with all of it! God’s Got It!!!”

As Bonsall mentioned, a singer named Ben James will be filling in as the Oak Ridge Boys wind down their amazing career. Who is Ben James? He was introduced to the band during a 2022 show in West Virginia and had the opportunity to sing Bonsall’s part. He has appeared intermittently in Bonsall’s stead as health issues arose over the last two years. While the farewell tour is still being fleshed out, you can see dates that have already been scheduled here.

Source: TasteOfCountry

Less than two months ago it was country legend Lee Greenwood announcing his retirement. Yesterday another country icon said he was hanging it up.

John Michael Montgomery, who was one of the leading male country voices throughout the 90’s and into the new millenium, announced on Facebook yesterday that he was calling it a career. “It’s been a wonderful run for me from the beginning over 30 years ago in 1992 when my first song Life’s A Dance was released to radio I think either as a 45 vinyl or on a cassette tape, CDs had not quite taken over the market yet and the internet was still in its infancy. I’ve been fortunate and blessed to be able to do what I love for so many years so please join me on my journey as I say goodbye to the road life. And thanks so much for your support for the last 3 decades, it’s meant so much me.”

He also announced that a farewell tour would run through 2024 and 2025. As of now he only has a handful of dates scheduled, but expect that to change with the news that he’s riding off into the sunset.

Source: WhiskeyRiff