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Stella Lefty Has At Least One Legendary Country Star In Her Corner

Posted on by Bob Ballard

Stella Lefty has been catching a lot of flack lately, with the Internet (and others) noticing that her songs seem to draw from other people’s music. She’s sill holding her head high, however. Her “Boston” hit #1 on the country charts (and is a sizeable pop hit as well), she’s announced her first headlining tour, and now she’s got a bona fide country legend in her corner. Stella recently teased a song seemingly called “Raised by the Radio” that included a shoutout to Randy Travis and some other country legends, and Travis took note. Under her video, Travis posted a comment that seemed to be both a ‘thank you’ and a bit of encouragement for the new artist to stand tall in the face of the haters. “Thank you for the nod, Stella! I’ve always thought you could stand toe to toe with the very best in Nashville! Keep believing…face to the sunshine and shadows fall behind you!” It never hurts to have a legend rooting for you.

@stellaleftymusic❤️❤️

♬ original sound – Stella Lefty

Dolly Parton To Get VMA Tribute Featuring Kacey Musgraves

Posted on by Bob Ballard

While country music fans may consider bypassing the VMAs, there’s at least one reason they may want to tune in this year. The 2026 MTV Video Music Awards will take place at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles, and one of the evening’s highlights is expected to be a tribute to Dolly Parton, featuring Kacey Musgraves. Other than announcing it would happen, no other details have been released about the performance. The VMAs air this Sunday on CBS, MTV, and Paramount+ starting at 7:30pm ET.

 

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Neal McCoy Invited To Be A Member Of The Grand Ole Opry

Posted on by Bob Ballard

Some might say this was a long time coming. Neal McCoy, who first hit in the early 90s and scored nine Top Ten country hits (and two #1s), has finally been invited to join the Grand Ole Opry. On Tuesday evening, Neal was at the Opry to perform as part of the “Opry 100 Honors Charley Pride” celebration, when Pam Tillis surprised him with the invitation to officially join the Opry. “So on behalf of Rozene (Pride, Charley Pride’s widow), Charley Pride, all of us here at the Grand Ole Opry, Neal, what do you say?” Tillis asked him. McCoy, who was totally taken by surprise by the invitation, responded “Oh my gosh. What a great night. What a great night to be invited.” We’re assuming that means he accepted. McCoy will officially join the Opry family later this year on a date to be announced.

 

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This day in Country Music History

Posted on by Bob Ballard
  • Today in 1962, Loretta Lynn joined the Grand Ole Opry.
  • Today in 1965, the Statler Brothers made their chart debut with “Flowers On The Wall”. In 2000, Eric Heatherly brought the classic back to life when he released his version of the song.
  • Today in 1992, Collin Raye’s single, “In This Life,” hit the top of the charts.
  • Today in 1993, the “Something Up My Sleeve” album by Suzy Bogguss was released.
  • Today in 1998, it was revealed that Johnny Cash had suffered a recurrence of pneumonia less than a year after nearly dying from the ailment. He would receive similar treatments repeatedly thereafter, and rebounded every time, before eventually dying of diabetes-related causes.
  • Today in 1998, Tim McGraw was #1 on “Radio & Records’” Country Top 50 chart with his single, “Where the Green Grass Grows.”
  • Today in 2000, Brooks & Dunn announced preliminary plans for their inaugural “Neon Circus & Wild West Show” tour. The shows, which also included Toby Keith, Montgomery Gentry and Keith Urban, went on to become one of the hottest tickets of the year.
  • Today in 2000, Aaron Tippin’s “People Like Us” album was certified gold.
  • Today in 2001, the album, “Never Love You Enough,” by Chely Wright arrived in stores. Other projects released on this day include Chad Brock’s “III,” SHeDAISY’s remix album, “The Whole SHeBANG: All Mixed Up,” and Willie Nelson’s “The Great Divide.”
  • Today in 2002, Diamond Rio’s Brian Prout and his songwriter wife, Stephanie Bentley, welcomed their first child, daughter Lily Arlina Kay Prout.
  • Today in 2002, Dwight Yoakam’s Bakersfield Biscuits went on sale nationwide.
  • Today in 2004, Lonestar drummer Keech Rainwater married CMT Canada employee Elissa Landsdell in Toronto.
  • Today in 2005, Jake Owens signed with RCA Records.
  • Today in 2012, Taylor Swift’s single, “Begin Again,” hit the airwaves.
  • Today in 2016, Lonestar, Mark Chesnutt, Jamie O’Neal and John Schneider performed at a flood-relief concert at Repentance Park in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. The bill also features Tracy Byrd, John Conlee, Chad Brock and Mickey Gilley.
  • Today in 2016, Grand Ole Opry member Jean Shepard died in Nashville. A 2011 inductee in the Country Music Hall of Fame, she used a honky-tonk sound to become a pioneer among female country acts, best known for the singles “Slippin’ Away,” “Second Fiddle (To An Old Guitar)” and a Ferlin Husky duet, “A Dear John Letter.”
  • Today in 2017, Dolly Parton collected gold singles from the RIAA for “I Will Always Love You” and “Jolene,” plus a platinum award for “9 To 5.”
  • Today in 2017, Blake Shelton returned as a coach for the season premiere of NBC’s “The Voice,” joined by Adam Levine, Jennifer Hudson and Miley Cyrus. The contestants include Nashvillian Mitchell Lee, who covers the Hootie + The Blowfish song “Hold My Hand.”

MEET THE H & S FEED & COUNTRY STORE PET OF THE WEEK: SMOKEY

Posted on by Bob Ballard

This week’s H & S Feed & Country Store Pet of the Week is “Smokey”, an 11 month old Boxer mix with lots of energy and full of fun! Smokey loves to play and is quick to make new friends. Smokey also loves to play with other dogs and is curious about cats, but we’re not yet sure how well he would do around them.

Smokey is fully vaccinated, vetted, neutered, microchipped and ready to go!

And since Smokey is the H & S Feed & Country Store Pet of the Week and his adoption fee is only $50 this week!

If you’d like to set up an appointment to meet Smokey or any of the pets at Stephen Memorial Animal Shelter, visit https://www.stephenmemorial.org/ and fill out an adoption application.

Check out our visit about Smokey with Izzy from Stephen Memorial Animal Shelter here:

Nationwide Launch Date For Dolly Parton’s “Cup Of Ambition Coffee” Set

Posted on by Bob Ballard

Dolly Parton‘s “Cup of Ambition Coffee,” announced and launched earlier this year at her “Dolly’s Tennessean Travel Stop” in Cornersville, Tennessee, is getting a nationwide rollout. The official Instagram account for the coffee brand has revealed that it will be available across the country next Tuesday, September 29. No specific stores have been announced, so look for it wherever you buy your coffee.

 

This day in Country Music History

Posted on by Bob Ballard
  • Today in 1962, Hall of Famers Flatt and Scruggs recorded “The Ballad of Jed Clampett.” It went on to become the theme song of the TV series, “The Beverly Hillbillies.”
  • Today in 1977, just one month after his apparent death, 2,500 fans of the King gathered in Cincinnati, Ohio, for the first Elvis Presley Convention where original copies of some early Presley singles sold for $300.
  • Today in 1973, Loretta Lynn’s classic single, “Coal Miner’s Daughter,” was released.
  • Today in 1989, Clint Black’s debut album, “Killin’ Time,” was certified gold.
  • Today in 1989, the Judds’ only Christmas album, “Christmas Time with the Judds,” went gold.
  • Today in 1991, Mark Chesnutt’s first album, “Too Cold at Home,” went gold.
  • Today in 1996, Clint Black released his “Greatest Hits” and John Michael Montgomery released “What I Do the Best.”
  • Today in 1997, Garth Brooks was named Entertainer of the Year at the 31st annual CMA Awards. It was his first CMA win since 1993. Other winners that night included Trisha Yearwood, George Strait, Deana Carter (Single of the Year) and LeAnn Rimes (Horizon Award).
  • Today in 1998, Elvis Presley was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame.
  • Today in 1999, the “Complete Woman In Me” video by Shania Twain was certified platinum.
  • Today in 1999, Lee Ann Womack’s self-titled debut album was certified platinum, while her second project, “Some Things I Know,” was certified gold.
  • Today in 1999, the “Lonely Grill” album by Lonestar was certified platinum.
  • Today in 2002, the album, “Kindred Spirits: A Tribute to the Songs of Johnny Cash,” arrived in stores. The star-studded list of artists featured on the CD includes Rosanne Cash, Mary Chapin Carpenter, Sheryl Crow, Bob Dylan, Vince Gill, Emmylou Harris, Little Richard, Charlie Robison, Bruce Springsteen, Travis Tritt, Hank Williams, Jr. and Marty Stuart, who spearheaded the effort.
  • Today in 2002, Travis Tritt’s “Strong Enough” album arrived in stores. Other CDs released include Joe Diffie’s “Super Hits,” Elvis Presley’s “Elvis: 30 #1 Hits,” Doug Stone’s “The Long Way” and Tanya Tucker’s “Tanya.”
  • Today in 2002, Tennessee’s Governor Don Sundquist appointed Dolly Parton as the Official Ambassador for the Tennessee Film and Music Industries.
  • Today in 2002, Clint Black and Dixie Chick Martie Maguire were among the famous folks on hand at a California State Senate hearing on artists’ rights and the accounting practices of record labels.
  • Today in 2004, Loretta Lynn was a double-winner at the Americana Music Awards.
  • Today in 2005, Sara Evans completed her run to #1 on the Billboard charts with “A Real Fine Place To Start”.
  • Today in 2009, Miranda Lambert performed her entire “Revolution” album at Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium for an audience that included Taylor Swift.
  • Today in 2014, Jason Aldean got engaged to Brittany Kerr at the San Diego Zoo.
  • Today in 2016, Kelsea Ballerini’s “Peter Pan” began a two-week stay at #1 on the Billboard country singles chart.
  • Today in 2016, Cam married Adam Weaver in Joshua Tree, California.
  • Today in 2017, Meghan Linsey kneeled at the end of her national anthem performance at Nashville’s Nissan Stadium in a show of unity with protesters following president Donald Trump’s verbal attack on NFL players.
  • Today in 2017, “Variety revealed that Luke Bryan had agreed to serve as a judge on ABC-TV’s revival of the music competition “American Idol.”
  • Today in 2017, Chris Stapleton played at a Concert for Charlottesville, a Virginia response to a racial confrontation over Confederate statues that drew national attention the previous month. Also appearing at Scott Stadium were Justin Timberlake, The Dave Matthews Band, Pharrell Williams and Cage The Elephant.
  • Today in 2018, Taylor Swift received three nominations as finalists are announced by E! for the People’s Choice Awards. Keith Urban was a double nominee, up for Male Artist for 2018 and a contender for Country Artist with Blake Shelton, Luke Bryan, Thomas Rhett and Carrie Underwood.
  • Today in 2018, Charlie Robison announced his retirement from performing on social media, citing a surgical procedure that made him unable to sing.
  • Today in 2018, Thomas Rhett’s single, “Marry Me,” was certified double-platinum by the RIAA.

This day in Country Music History

Posted on by Bob Ballard
  • Today in 1972, the single, “Baby Don’t Get Hooked On Me,” by Mac Davis was at #1 on the pop singles chart.
  • Today in 1974, the Mac Davis album, “Stop & Smell The Roses,” was certified gold.
  • Today in 1988, the album, “All Time Greatest Hits Of Roy Orbison – Vol. II,” was released.
  • Today in 1992, the “No Fences” album by Garth Brooks was certified for multi-platinum sales of 9-million.
  • Today in 1993, Garth Brooks opened the first of his three sold-out concerts at Texas Stadium near Dallas.
  • Today in 1994, Joe Diffie topped the charts with “Third Rock From The Sun.” Incidentally, the TV series, “3rd Rock From the Sun,” premiered on NBC two years later on the same date.
  • Today in 1997, Shania Twain’s “Love Gets Me Every Time” single was released.
  • Today in 1998, Garth Brooks’ album, “Ropin’ The Wind,” was certified for multi-platinum sales of 14-million.
  • Today in 1998, nearly 36-million viewers tuned in for the 32nd annual CMA Awards live on CBS television. The Dixie Chicks and Steve Wariner were the only multiple award-winners at the 1998 CMA Awards in Nashville…taking home two awards each. Garth Brooks was named Entertainer of the Year for the second straight year, and fourth time overall.
  • Today in 2000, Tim McGraw was on the cover of “TV Guide.”
  • Today in 2002, the taped appearance of Reba McEntire and “American Idol” winner Kelly Clarkson, who has said Reba is her favorite country performer and overall idol, aired on FOX-TV. The duo performed Reba’s 1993 hit, “Does He Love You.”
  • Today in 2002, Reba McEntire and Charlie Daniels were among the 25 inaugural inductees into the Cheyenne Frontier Days Hall of Fame.
  • Today in 2003, Alan Jackson has reclaimed the #1 spot on both the “Radio & Records’” Country Top 50 chart as well as “Billboard’s” Hot Country Singles chart with “It’s Five O’Clock Somewhere,” his duet with Jimmy Buffett. He was also at #1 for a fifth week on “Billboard’s” Top Country Albums chart. And while all this sounds cool, consider that having a #1 song for eight collective weeks also made a little history for Alan and Jimmy. For starters, the song notched the most weeks at #1 for any country track that year. This was also the first time since 1962 that a country duet has logged eight weeks in the top slot – and only the second time since 1964 that any country single has achieved the feat.
  • Today in 2006, Vince Gill and Allison Krauss taped an episode of “CMT Cross Country” at The Factory in Franklin, Tennessee.
  • Today in 2012, Carrie Underwood was surprised during her show at Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena by Brad Paisley. The two performed “Remind Me” together.
  • Today in 2016, Florida Georgia Line’s single, “H.O.L.Y.,” went gold, platinum and double-platinum, while the RIAA certified “Anything Goes” platinum.
  • Today in 2017, “Are You Ready For The Country” author Neil Young is inducted into the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame at Massey Hall in Toronto.
  • Today in 2019, Joe Nichols performed in the United Kingdom for the first time with a show in Bristol.

Luke Bryan Forced To Scrap Two Of Four Dates On 2026 Fall Farm Tour

Posted on by Bob Ballard

For the second time, Luke Bryan was forced to cancel a scheduled show for his Fall Farm Tour due to inclement weather. On Luke’s website over the weekend, a post warned fans not to come out. “Sunday’s Luke Bryan Farm Tour show at John Schaendorf Dairy in Allegan, MI (September 20) will not take place as scheduled due to conditions of the field from extensive rainfall. We’re so sorry. This call was made for everyone’s safety on the grounds.” Thursday’s kickoff in Pennsylvania was also affected, meaning just two of the four shows on the fall “Farm Tour” were played: Friday’s show in Millersport, Ohio and Satruday’s show in Brookston, Indiana.

Carrie Underwood Being Mentored By Axl Rose For Rock Project

Posted on by Bob Ballard

Carrie Underwood has long professed her love for rock music, occasionally performing or recording with rock royalty such as Aerosmith, Papa Roach, the Rolling Stones and others. But is she considering a more significant pivot in that direction? “TMZ” reports that Guns N’ Roses singer Axl Rose has taken the country singer under her wing and it “mentoring” her in the ways of rock n’ roll. She’s taken the stage with G’n’R in the past, so the two have a relationship. Could a Dolly Parton-like rock album be on the way?

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