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Dolly Parton’s Producer Reassures Fans: “Seems Perfectly Fine”

Posted on by Bob Ballard

More proof that Dolly Parton is not only still alive, but that she’s doing well. Talking to “Parade” magazine, Dolly’s long-time producer Kent Wells gave a health update on the country legend that should let millions of Dolly fans breathe easier. “She was over here at my studio last week,” Wells revealed. “And she seems great. She’s singing great, she looks fantastic and seems perfectly fine.” Some additional good news tucked away in there: she’s singing, and she’s in a studio…so…could Dolly eventually make a comeback that includes new music? Wells was the producer on Dolly’s recently released reimagining of “Light of a Clear Blue Morning,” so that could be the singing he’s referring to…but either way, it’s a very hopeful update

This day in Country Music History

Posted on by Bob Ballard
  • Today in 1958, twenty-year-old Merle Haggard was convicted of second-degree burglary, after a botched break-in attempt at a Bakersfield, California nightclub. He served two years and nine months in prison at San Quentin, and he really did “turn 21 in prison,” as he sang in his hit “Mama Tried.” He was paroled in 1960, and eventually pardoned by then-California governor, Ronald Reagan, in 1972.
  • Today in 1972, Kris Kristofferson got five nominations at the Grammys for three songs: “Help Me Make It Through The Night,” “For the Good Times,” and “Me and Bobby McGee.”
  • Today in 1981, at the American Music Awards, Kenny Rogers won four awards including Favorite Country Single for “Coward of the Country,” and Country Album for “The Gambler.” The Eagles, The Statler Brothers, and Barbara Mandrell also won awards.
  • Today in 1985, in his first Warner Brothers recording session, Randy Travis recorded “Prairie Rose,” and “On The Other Hand.”
  • Today in 1988, Kathy Mattea’s “Goin’ Gone” became a #1 country single.
  • Today in 1994, at the Super Bowl’s “Rockin’ Country” halftime show, Clint Black, Travis Tritt, and Tanya Tucker were featured. The Judds sang “Love Can Build a Bridge.” The Dallas Cowboys beat the Buffalo Bills 30-13.
  • Today in 2000, Faith Hill sang the national anthem at Super Bowl XXXIV, with Travis Tritt performing in the pre-game show. Faith was especially excited about her participation because the big game featured the St. Louis Rams facing off against the Tennessee Titans. Unfortunately, her performance wasn’t enough to send the Titans home with a ring – the Rams took the prize and defeated Titans 23-to-16.
  • Today in 2001, Faith Hill was among the top picks in the seventh annual Hanes Hosiery Sexy Legs Survey. The survey revealed that for most people, sexy legs are the one physical feature that turns up the heat! Singer/actress Jennifer Lopez may have taken the top prize – but when people were asked whose legs they’d most like theirs to resemble – guess who trounced the competition (including Jennifer)? Yup – none other than Mrs. McGraw!
  • Today in 2001, LeAnn Rimes’ album, “I Need You,” arrived in stores. Around the time of the release, LeAnn took the highly unusual step of publicly distancing herself from the project. In fact, she denounced the existence of the album, saying it was an unauthorized move by the record company. LeAnn and her record company later kissed and made up.
  • Today in 2001, “Stuff” magazine released its list of the “2001 Sexiest Women.” Making the list this time around were Shania Twain and LeAnn Rimes.
  • Today in 2002, the success of Alan Jackson’s “Drive” album was kicking into high gear internationally. Following the previous chart-topping success in the U.S., the project debuted on the Canadian album charts in the #1 spot! If that’s not enough, he also kept Canadian rockers Nickelback in the #2 slot. SoundScan Canada also noted that this wasn’t a close victory for Alan — his sales of 12,900 put him well ahead of the group whose album, “Silver Side Up,” sold 9,100 copies.
  • Today in 2002, Freddy Fender was released from a San Antonio, Texas hospital after having a kidney transplant the week before. Fender had been having problems related to diabetes and hepatitis C.
  • Today in 2003, the “Live” album by Alison Krauss + Union Station was certified gold.
  • Today in 2004, Keith Urban’s “You’ll Think of Me” video premiered on CMT.
  • Today in 2011, Dierks Bentley started recording at the Echo Mountain Studios in Asheville, North Carolina for several days, during which time he recorded “Am I The Only One.” The sessions were captured on video, and posted online with no sound.
  • Today in 2013, Blake Shelton’s “Red River Blue” album went platinum.

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

Posted on by Bob Ballard

This week’s H & S Feed & Country Store Pet of the Week is “Ringo”, a sweet male 3 year old Pitbull mix. Ringo weighs about 60-70 lbs, walks well on a leash, knows basic commands, and would make a great dog for any family! Ringo is fully vetted, vaccinated, neutered, and ready to go!

And since Ringo is the H&S Feed & Country Store Pet of the Week, his adoption fee is only $100 this week!

If you’d like to set up an appointment to meet Ringo 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 Ringo with Izzy from Stephen Memorial Animal Shelter here:

Tracy Lawrence Announces “No Alibis Tour”

Posted on by Bob Ballard

Tracy Lawrence is taking his huge 90s and 2000s catalog of hits on the road with him in 2026. The country legend announced his “No Alibis Tour” yesterday, saying in a statement, “This year felt like the right time to lean back into headlining more shows and really celebrate these songs with the folks who’ve been there from the beginning and love real country music. The ‘No Alibis Tour’ is about showing up and sharing a night that reminds us why we fell in love with country music in the first place. I can’t wait to sing all the hits together!” For now, the trek consists of 31 shows (with more expected to be added); it kicks off March 12 in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida, with stops in Myrtle Beach, Roanoke and the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville before coming to a stop for one last show in Long Beach, California August 29. Depending on the date, openers will include Frank Ray, Chandler Walters, Palmer Anthony, Belle Frantz and Kenny Whitmire. Tickets go on sale tomorrow at 10am local time. See the first ten dates of the tour below; visit Tracy’s website for more dates and ticket information.

Tracy Lawrence’s 2026 “No Alibis Tour”

Mar 12 – Ponte Vedra Beach, FL – Ponte Vedra Concert Hall
Mar 14 – Gonzales, LA – Bulls, Bands and Barrels
Mar 26 – Riverside, IA – Riverside Casino & Golf Resort
Mar 27 – Clear Lake, IA – Surf Ballroom
Mar 28 – Du Quoin, IL – Cord McCoy DuQuoin Rodeo
Apr 10 – Lake Charles, LA – Golden Nugget Lake Charles – Grand Event Center
Apr 16 – El Paso, TX – The Plaza Theatre Performing Arts Center – Kendall Kidd Performance Hall
Apr 17 – Canyon, TX – The Backyard at the Lumberyard
Apr 18 – Georgetown, TX – Two Step Inn Festival
Apr 23 – Duluth, MN – Duluth Entertainment Convention Center Symphony Hall

This day in Country Music History

Posted on by Bob Ballard
  • Today in 1959, the song, “Heartaches By The Number,” was recorded by Ray Price.
  • Today in 1969, the first episode of “The Glen Campbell Goodtime Hour” on CBS featured Bobbie Gentry, John Hartford, The Smothers Brothers, and Pat Paulsen as guests.
  • Today in 1973, Donna Fargo’s album “The Happiest Girl In The Whole U.S.A.” became a gold album – the only one in her career.
  • Today in 1988, “Always and Forever” by Randy Travis became a platinum album.
  • Today in 1996, at the American Music Awards, Garth Brooks refused to accept the Award for the American Music Awards’ Favorite Artist of the Year, saying he “cannot agree with this” and that it should have been awarded to Hootie + The Blowfish. Brooks accepted two other awards, The Eagles got three, and Reba McEntire, Alabama, and Shania Twain, each got one.
  • Today in 1999, The Dixie Chicks’ collected a quadruple-platinum album for “Wide Open Spaces.”
  • Today in 2004, Gretchen Wilson signed her record deal.
  • Today in 2008, an installment of “CMT Crossroads” was shot with Sara Evans and Maroon 5. Their collaborations included: “A Real Fine Place To Start” and “I Could Not Ask For More.”
  • Today in 2013, Stevie Nicks and Lady Antebellum did an installment of “CMT Crossroads,” with collaborations included “Rhiannon,” “Landslide,” “Love Don’t Live Here,” and “Need You Now.”
  • Today in 2014, Tim McGraw and Miranda Lambert each got seven nominations for the Academy of Country Music Awards. Keith Urban got six.

This day in Country Music History

Posted on by Bob Ballard
  • Today in 1956, Elvis Presley appeared for the first time on TV, singing “Shake, Rattle and Roll” on The Dorsey Brothers’ “Stage Show.”
  • Today in 1964, Buck Owns recorded “Together Again” and “My Heart Skips A Beat.”
  • Today in 1985, “We Are The World” was recorded with 45 artists including Willie Nelson, Kenny Rogers, Michael Jackson, Lionel Richie, Bruce Springsteen, Bob Dylan, Kim Carnes, Ray Charles, Bill Joel, and Waylon Jennings.
  • Today in 1985, at the American Music Awards, Anne Murray and Willie Nelson each won two awards. Barbara Mandrell, Kenny Rogers, Dolly Parton, and the Oak Ridge Boys also won awards, and Loretta Lynn won a special Award of Merit.
  • Today in 1989, “Deeper Than The Holler,” by Randy Travis reached the top of the Billboard country chart.
  • Today in 1995, “Gone Country” by Alan Jackson was on top of the Billboard country chart.
  • Today in 1996, during the Super Bowl, Hank Williams’ “Your Cheatin’ Heart” appeared in a Pepsi commercial, and Joe Diffie’s “Pickup Man” appeared in a Ford southeastern regional spot. In the game, the Dallas Cowboys won against the Pittsburgh Steelers.
  • Today in 2003, Keith Urban’s “Somebody Like You” was released as part of the the soundtrack to “How To Lose A Guy In 10 Days.”
  • Today in 2009, John Rich’s “Shuttin’ Detroit Down” was released on radio.
  • Today in 2012, Eric Church scored his first #1 single in “Billboard” with “Drink In My Hand.”
  • Today in 2014, Trace Adkins left the Florida rehab facility where he was undergoing treatment to spend time with his ailing father.
  • Today in 2015, Rocker Jack White brought out opening act Loretta Lynn to duet on her album cut, “Whispering Sea,” during a concert at Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena. The show also featured a surprise appearance by one of White’s side projects, former CMA awards nominees The Raconteurs.
  • Today in 2015, Flaming Saddles, a country-themed gay bar, opened on Santa Monica Boulevard in West Hollywood, California. Special guest for the event was Billy Gilman, spurring the city to proclaim Billy Gilman Day.
  • Today in 2016, Merle Haggard canceled two concerts as he continues his recovery from a December bout with pneumonia.
  • Today in 2018, KFC introduced a new commercial to back its smoky mountain BBQ flavor, with Reba McEntire as Colonel Sanders.
  • Today in 2018, Tim McGraw’s single, “Thought About You,” hit the airwaves.
  • Today in 2018, Chris Stapleton won three trophies during the 60th GRAMMY awards at New York’s Madison Square Garden: Best Country Solo Performance, “Either Way”; Best Country Album, for “From A Room: Volume 1” and Best Country Song for “Broken Halos.”
  • Today in 2019, Luke Combs scored a gold certification from the RIAA for his single, “Must’ve Never Met You.”

Zac Brown Announces 2026 “Love And Fear Tour”

Posted on by Bob Ballard

Now that the Zac Brown Band has wrapped up its Sphere residency, the band has already announced its next step: the 2026 “Love And Fear Tour,” consisting of 27 dates and kicking off July 17 in Grand Rapids, Michigan. The trek will stop in Boston, Philadelphia and more before coming to a stop in Rosemont, Illinois for the last show on November 21. Pre-sales start tomorrow ahead of the general on-sale this Friday at 10AM local time. See the first ten dates of the tour below; visit the band’s website for more dates and ticket information.

Zac Brown Band 2026 Love & Fear Tour Dates:

  • July 17 – Grand Rapids, MI – Van Andel Arena
  • July 18 – Cleveland, OH – Rocket Arena
  • July 31 – Albany, NY – MVP Arena
  • Aug 2 – Boston, MA – Fenway Park
  • Aug 13 – Pittsburgh, PA – PPG Paints Arena
  • Aug 14 – Columbus, OH – Nationwide Arena
  • Aug 15 – Columbia, MD – Merriweather Post Pavilion
  • Aug 27 – Forest Hills, NY – Forest Hills Stadium
  • Aug 28 – Forest Hills, NY – Forest Hills Stadium
  • Aug 29 – Philadelphia, PA – TD Pavilion at Highmark Mann

This day in Country Music History

Posted on by Bob Ballard
  • Today in 1956, Elvis’ first single, “Heartbreak Hotel” was released.
  • Today in 1979, Johnny Horton recorded “The Battle of New Orleans.”
  • Today in 1973, Tom Hall reached #1 on the Billboard country singles chart with “(Old Dogs-Children And) Watermelon Wine.”
  • Today in 1992, at the American Music Awards, Garth Brooks won three trophies and Wynonna sang “She Is His Only Need.”
  • Today in 1998, The Dixie Chicks’ first major label album, “Wide Open Spaces,” was released.
  • Today in 2004, Two songs performed in “Cold Mountain” by Alison Kraus won Oscar nominations: “You Will Be My Ain True Love,” by Sting, and “The Scarlet Tide,” by Bone Burnett and Elvis Costello.
  • Today in 2007, “Watching You” by Rodney Atkins was at the top of the Billboard country singles chart.
  • Today in 2014, the video “This is How We Roll” was shot by Florida Georgia Line and Luke Bryan.
  • Today in 2017, PBS aired “Brad Paisley – Landmarks Live In Concert: A Great Performances Special.” Filmed at West Virginia University, it included renditions of “Mud On The Tires,” “Then,” “Southern Comfort Zone,” “Take Me Home, Country Roads” and “I’m Still A Guy,” the latter featuring guest Chris Young.
  • Today in 2017, Scotty McCreery had a surprise visitor, Randy Travis, when he performed at Billy Bob’s Texas in Fort Worth. McCreery sang “Forever And Ever, Amen” during the show, as tribute.
  • Today in 2017, Merle Haggard, Buck Owens, Bonnie Owens, Billy Mize and Red Simpson were the inaugural inductees in the Bakersfield Music Hall of Fame.
  • Today in 2018, Chris Stapleton was the musical guest on NBC’s “Saturday Night Live,” surprising viewers by bringing along unannounced guest Sturgill Simpson for performances of “Midnight Train To Memphis” and “Hard Livin’.”
  • Today in 2020, Kane Brown received quintuple-platinum singles from the RIAA for “Heaven” and for “What Ifs,” his duet with Lauren Alaina.
  • Today in 2020, Luke Combs’ single, “Does To Me,” which features Eric Church, hit the airwaves.
  • Today in 2021, Kris Kristofferson’s retirement was noted in passing as part of an official press release announcing Morris Higham Management would oversee his estate.
  • Today in 2021, Tyler Farr and his wife, Hannah, welcomed their daughter, Hollis Caroline, in Tennessee.

Luke Bryan Announces “Word On The Street Tour

Posted on by Bob Ballard

OK, word on the street is, Luke Bryan is heading back out on tour (see what we did there?). Friday, Luke announced his “Word On The Street Tour,” set to kick off with two nights in Gilford, New Hampshire May 29 and 30, with stops in Myrtle Beach, Buffalo, Nashville and more before coming to a stop for a final show in Mountain View, California on August 14. Depending on the date, show openers will include Drew Baldridge, Karley Scott Collins, Lanie Gardner, Randall King, Zach John King, Shane Profitt, Raelynn, Lauren Watkins, Jake Worthington and DJ Rock. Pre-sales for the trek start tomorrow, ahead of the general sale this Friday at 10AM local time. For complete info and tickets, visit Luke’s website. See the first ten dates of the tour below. 

  • May 29 – Gilford, NH – BankNH Pavilion
  • May 30 – Gilford, NH – BankNH Pavilion
  • June 5 – Myrtle Beach, SC – Carolina Country Music Fest+
  • June 11 – Fort Worth, TX – Dickies Arena
  • June 12 – Lubbock, TX – United Supermarkets Arena
  • June 13 – Albuquerque, NM – Isleta Amphitheater
  • June 18 – Wichita, KS – INTRUST Bank Arena
  • June 19 – Des Moines, IA – Casey’s Center
  • June 20 – Winsted, MN – Winstock Country Music Festival
  • June 25 – Allentown, PA – PPL Center

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