THURSDAY, OCTOBER17, 2024

Four more big festivals just announced their lineups.  Here they are:

1.  Lainey Wilson is headlining Summerfest in June of next year in Milwaukee.  It’s billed as having 600 artists over nine nights.

2.  Bailey Zimmerman, Cole Swindell, and Sam Hunt will headline Country Jam USA.  July 17th to the 19th in Eau Claire, Wisconsin.

3.  The Windy City Smokeout July 10th to the 13th Chicago’s United Center.  Kane Brown, Old Dominion, Jon Pardi, and Bailey Zimmerman will all be there.

4.  Cattle Country 2025 Parker McCollum, Clint Black, and Chase Rice.  Plus, more headliners will be added soon.  The festival takes place April, in Gonzales, Texas.

Henry Winkler is a huge Jelly Roll fan. He wrote Jelly Roll a note telling him he was great.  Jelly got the note, but didn’t believe it was real at first.  It took his publicist to convince him. So instead of Jelly writing back, he sent him a video.  Henry showed the video to Kelly Ripa, who then played it on her show. Also Henry calls Jelly, “Mr. Roll”. Jelly said in the video, “Hey, Mr. Winkler.  I have been hoping to see you, ’cause I got a note and they said it was from you [and] I didn’t believe it.  I will send you a picture [of the letter] when I get home.  I hope you don’t mind, I framed it. “Thank you.  I’m absolutely honored.  I can’t wait to see you and hopefully give you a hug, man.  I’m a big hugger.  I’ll squeeze you.”

Zach Bryan is looking for a way out of country music. He recently sat down for an interview with his idol, Bruce Springsteen, where they took turns asking each other questions about their careers.Towards the end Zach said to Bruce:  “I’m not insulting your genre, but when I listen to your music.  If you put different production to this, it’s a Country song.  All of ’em.  And that’s why I don’t want to be a Country musician.” Bruce then says, “That’s fascinating.”  To which Zach repeats, “I don’t want to be a Country musician.  Everyone calls me it.  I want to be a songwriter.  You are a quintessential songwriter . . . No one calls Bruce Springsteen a Rock musician.” So, it seems like Zach doesn’t want to be boxed in, or labeled as anything. He’s already pretty distant from the Country music world.  He doesn’t do the award shows, and mostly keeps to himself.

Kane Brown and Katelyn had a little boy named Krewe in June.  But they almost went a different way with the name. He wanted to name him “Kasper” with a “K”.  They both thought it was pretty cool. But when they told Katelyn’s family, they LAUGHED at it.  So they went with Krewe instead.  So there’s – Kane, Katelyn, Krewe, 2-year-old daughter, Kodi.  And Kingsley, turns 5 this month.

Riley Green and Post Malone popped up at Loser’s Bar & Grill in downtown Nashville recently.  They weren’t there to perform or to sign anything.  They were just there to hang out . . . and sling drinks. One fan said that Post made screwdrivers for her and her friends, and Riley grabbed her phone and took a group selfie.

Serena Williams had a benign cyst the size of a small grapefruit removed from her neck.

Sophia Bush is joining “Grey’s Anatomy” as a recurring character.

Felicity Jones is 41. 

Eminem is 52.  Born Marshall Mathers the Third.

Chris Kirkpatrick from ‘N Sync is 53.

Alan Jackson is 66.

Bill Hudson is 75.  The Hudson Brothers.  Kate Hudson is his daughter with Goldie Hawn.  Bill let Goldie get away in 1982 so he could marry Cindy Williams from “Laverne & Shirley”.

George Wendt is 76.  Norm on “Cheers”.  Jason Sudeikis is his nephew.

Michael McKean is 77.  Lenny Kosnowski on “Laverne & Shirley” . . .

Blogs

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 22, 2024

Henry Winkler refused to let his daughter do reality TV.  Once, when a producer came to their house, he told him, quote, “I can suggest some really good restaurants, [but] my daughter is not doing your show.” One of the funniest things to come from the show was George Strait’s reaction to the performances. Someone…

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 2024

Post Malone just announced his Big [Butt] Stadium Tour featuring Jelly Roll, with special guest Sierra Ferrell. It’s Post’s first-ever stadium tour. The Big [Butt] Stadium Tour’s General tickets go on sale Tuesday.  But if you want early access, you might still have time to sign up for the artist presale.  And then you can…