What was so comforting to me is that all of these stars are friends and love, love, love their jobs.  They are just as sweet as they appear on screen.  That's why we love those movies, right, they make us feel good and have such sweet storylines about values.

So, just to spotlight a few....I found Lacey Chabert to be such a humble, kind person.  Andrew Walker is one of my favorites and he was so sincere, just a nice, engaging guy.  Ashley Williams is as cute as can be and so bubbly.  Sharon Lawrence was so enthralled with country music history and gracious.  And Nikki DeLoach had me in tears telling the story of how she and her dad used to listen to the Grand Ole Opry together.  It was something special for the two of them.  He has passed, so it was really emotional for her to make a movie in the Grand Ole Opry House.

Speaking of that movie, we will get to see some of our favorite country music stars in A Grand Ole Opry Christmas movie which will air on Hallmark on Saturday, November 29th.  And Brad Paisley wrote and recorded the music for this one.

But grab a blanket and curl up this weekend for several new Christmas movies.  The new season is already running.

Here are some photos from our day of fun in almost 90 degree weather in Nashville getting into the Christmas spirit!!!!

This year's Country Music Hall of Fame class started with the induction of June Carter Cash.  She faced a lot of criticism as a singer, so she had fun with it and brought comedy and dancing, for which she was trained, into the show.  The actress, singer, songwriter and entertainer was a collaborator as well with her husband Johnny Cash.  But the highlight was when her dear friend Emmylou Harris joked about how competitive and strategic June was when playing Scrabble.  The audience got a kick out of that.  Her children John Carter Cash and Carlene Carter just reiterated how she was full of love and how much they loved her, accepting in her honor.

When it was Tony Brown's turn to be honored, there was some cool footage of Tony playing piano with Elvis...wow!  Then the crowd went wild when Lyle Lovett and George Strait performed tributes to Tony Brown who produced their music.  Vince Gill did the official medallion presentation and told great stories of Tony's loyalty and vision when everyone else thought Vince was a loser.  And then the funny story of Vince giving Tony a bath when he was hospitalized was the roast of the night.

Kenny Chesney was so humble and I loved that he thanked all of the folks behind the scenes who helped him over the years. Plus, he was so appreciative to his family who was there.  Kenny got lots of laughs when he mentioned his aunt was there and that they share a birthday.  Kenny pointed out his grandmother and his mother were delivering babies in the hospital on the same day....and that was real messed up East Tennessee stuff!  

To be there and hear their stories and see the love between all of the stars and folks in this industry is such a joy.  And the new member plaques are in place in the rotunda if you tour the museum.  

I am including some personal photos, but you can also watch the main "Medallion Ceremony" on the home page of the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum, this is the link: https://www.countrymusichalloffame.org/hall-of-fame/induction-ceremony?vgo_ee=N4B3iomtu9ZTOs4u6W7zD43t374Z65a1X5b3XNPe8wV6kNZhLHEH%3AuSyMNjS%2Fto9brYXiGqbT5ESHqeeaLSn2

Congratulations to all!!!

It is an alternative to carving.  For a more sophisticated look, the current trend is  hollowing out that pumpkin to top it with succulents.  Another idea is to wrap the pumpkin in a paper napkin with an elegant design and top it with modge podge. 

I have attached some photos.  Have fun with the suggested ideas....and dress up those pumpkins.  Happy fall!

These evenings are filled with laughter, tears and a completely new connection to the music.  You are guaranteed to hear these hits differently on the radio with that background and true understanding.  Plus, these fabulous songwriters always like to try out a new song on the crowd or some fun-loving sing alongs that most likely never are heard on radio.  It is a truly unique experience.

The round I caught was hosted by my husband, Bobby Marquez, who shared the song he wrote that Cody Johnson recently recorded.  Karen Staley performed her many hits she wrote for Faith Hill and one she wrote for George Strait that ended up with Tracy Byrd, "Keeper of the Stars."  Plus, John Schneider was also in the round, who many of us connect with tv shows, "Smallville" and "Dukes of Hazzard."  John is an extraordinary singer.  The high notes he hit and the entertaining stories from living with Johnny Cash and encounters with more famous stars, had the crowd in the palm of his hand.  And rising star, Addie Pratt who is working with Lady A band members has some emotionally-driven, incredible songs.

What was so special as well about these kind of showcases is that they are so unique  that Bobby had fans make travel plans to visit from Wales.  There was a group from Scotland, Japan, Mississippi, Texas...from all over.  And the crowd always makes quick, new friendships in this setting.  Music really does bring people together.

I highly recommend taking-in a songwriters' round if you ever have the opportunity.  It will give you a new appreciation for the country music we love!

Lainey Wilson is taking fans on a room-by-room tour of her "sanctuary," otherwise known as her home.  The place could give Elvis Presley's Graceland a run for stylistic expression through prints and glitz.  Lainey calls the decor "western, hippie and eclectic."  From leopard print carpet on the stairs to wild horse printed wall paper and velvet curtains to artificial cacti, each item in the house has a story, which Lainey shares on the tour, along with some name-dropping of her most recent dinner guests.  

It is a fun video and you can watch the tour at this link: 

Water Makes Rainbows Happen

You know that light travels from the sun to the earth. But did you know that when light hits a rain droplet in the sky, it creates a rainbow? With enough rain droplets, you can see a rainbow lighting up the sky. This is why rainbows often form after a storm.

A Rainbow Has No End

Since rainbows are technically an arch of light, they don't have an end — which could explain why we've never found that pot of gold. If you view a rainbow from an airplane in the sky, it looks like a circle of light. From land, you only see half of the rainbow's arch.

You Can't Touch a Rainbow

Since a rainbow is light, you can't touch it. It's kind of like how you can't touch the blue in the sky. It looks pretty, but you can't hold it in your hand.

Earth Is the Only Planet With Rainbows

What do you need to make a rainbow? Light and water, right? Since no other planets are known to have liquid water, Earth is the only planet in our solar system with rainbows. Lucky us!

Hawaii Has the Most Rainbows

If you want to see a rainbow, go to Hawaii. Hawaii is known to have the most and best rainbows on earth. This is due to the sunlight and water that are both plentiful on Hawaii's incredible islands.

A Double Rainbow Is Light Reflected Twice

Double rainbow over rolling landscape
Alessandro Blasi/ 500px Prime via Getty Images
There's an old YouTube video with a guy crying about a double rainbow and asking what it means, so we're happy to answer the question. It means that light is reflected twice! Double rainbows are more common than you might think. Light has to reflect twice to create a double rainbow. So, when the sun is low in the sky, you'll see more double rainbows.

There Are Lunar Rainbows

The sun creates lots of rainbows, but occasionally, the moon does, too. It's called a moonbow. A moonbow occurs when the light of the moon is reflected off of rain. To have a moonbow, you need a dark night coupled with a bright moon, so they are pretty rare.

A Rainbow Is Always Unique

A rainbow is the reflection and refraction of light. Your eyes perceive light. So, what a rainbow looks like is different for everyone. The rainbow you see and the one your friend sees are different because your eyes see them differently.

You Can Make Your Own Rainbow

Rainbows need water droplets and sun. So, you can create a rainbow in your backyard on a sunny day. Stand with the sun behind you and spray the hose in front of you. Watch for the rainbow. It's an easy science experiment to do on a summer day.

Isaac Newton Used a Prism to Prove Rainbows Had Seven Colors

Isaac Newton loved experiments. During an experiment with prisms, he discovered that a rainbow had several colors in it (red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, and violet). Since these are the only colors the human eye can see, they are the colors that make up the rainbow.

The Pot of Gold at the End of the Rainbow Comes From Irish Mytholog

Christians Believe Rainbows Are a Sign of God's Promise

The rainbow is such a unique feature of Earth; it has made its way into biblical facts. In the Bible, the rainbow is a promise between God and man. The rainbow is the promise that God will not use water to destroy all life again.

It's a Symbol of Hope in Art

Rainbows have been featured in paintings for centuries. Oftentimes, artists use a rainbow as a symbol of hope.

I first met Jeannie Seely in 1999 when I moved to Nashville.  She welcomed me to my new radio job and would go on to work with me several times over the 18 years I was an announcer on the Ernest Tubb Midnite Jamboree and guest with me on several tv shows.  But Jeannie also welcomed me into her home, as she did so many others, even sharing her beloved view of the Cumberland River from her deck with fans worldwide on her social pages.

Jeannie and I shared passions for gardening and animals.  And I adored her sense of humor.  She was so smart and quick-witted.  She told me so many stories of the country music history she lived.  But one stands out today that I know she was really proud to share.  Jeannie Seely told me when she joined the Grand Ole Opry in 1967, the ladies of country music would be introduced on stage and maybe asked one question, then they'd sing their song.  But Jeannie felt she could host a segment, telling jokes, asking questions.....and sure enough she became the first woman to do so.    The lady knew how to entertain a crowd, no doubt.  She was sassy and brave in her mini skirts, breaking ground and raising the bar as a grand lady.  

Jeannie Seely performed almost 54-hundred times on that Grand Ole Opry stage, as the star with the most Opry appearances.  She was a Grammy Award winner.....a hit songwriter, writing songs for Faron Young, Merle Haggard and Ernest Tubb to mention a few.....a radio host.....an actress....a community leader......and most importantly a FRIEND.  

Long live her legacy and her example of kindness.   Jeannie Seely will be dearly missed.

LeAnn Rimes 2025 Greatest Hits Christmas Tour Dates:

• December 4 – Morristown, NJ – Mayo Performing Arts Center
• December 6 – Glenside, PA – Keswick Theatre
• December 7 – Stony Brook, NY – Staller Center for the Arts
• December 12 – Nashville, TN – Ryman Auditorium
• December 13 – Jasper, IN – Jasper Arts Center
• December 20 – Laughlin, NV – The Edge Pavilion
• December 21 – Scottsdale, AZ – Talking Stick Resort
• December 22 – Tucson, AZ – Fox Tucson Theatre

Warner had a long career in front of the cameras (and the microphone); after "The Cosby Show" ended, he starred in "Malcolm & Eddie" from 1996-2000, voiced "The Producer"' on "the Magic School Bus," and appeared in numerous other television and film roles. Most recently he was in "The Resident" and "9-1-1" and "Alert: Missing Persons Unit." Warner also hosted the "Not All Hood" podcast, with the newest episode -dropping just four days ago. 

Tributes came in fast for the late actor. Bill Cosby said in a statement "This reminds me of the call I got when I was taping 'The Cosby Show' and I got a call saying that my son, Ennis, had been murdered...It’s just devastating." Jamie Foxx wrote that he is "speechless on this one," but added, "Rest in power, my brother." Vivica A. Fox also said in an Instagram story that she was "stunned and saddened," and Jennifer Hudson said she was "devastated" and "truly heartbroken." He is survived by a wife and daughter. Malcolm-Jamal Warner was 54.

Source: TMZ

 

 

 

 

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Scratch “Inspire Eric Church to write a song” off the bucket list.

“I read this article today, it’s a site I really like… so, I wrote this song today.” pic.twitter.com/uu05w4T5WN

— Whiskey Riff (@WhiskeyRiff) July 17, 2025

 

 

 

 

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There are ways to fight it, though. Sixty-nine-percent think a vacation together can reset the family’s relationships. EasyJet commissioned the poll to launch “Airplane Mode,” a card game designed by parenting expert Tanith Carey and TV host Katie Piper to spark conversation on trips; tips include asking open questions and starting holidays with shared activities so memories, not memes, take center stage. 

Source: Talking Points

 

 

 

 

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The one and only @DollyParton 🤍 We talked about God, glam, growing up, and how she’s stayed true to herself through it all. Watch now on @X pic.twitter.com/dYMogWnKuJ

— Khloé (@khloekardashian) July 9, 2025

 

 

 

 

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• Posh Peanut, a family clothing company, has created a “family happiness index” that analyzes statistics in family-related costs and more.
• They looked at data on infant and child care costs, household size, marriage and divorce rates, annual median family income, and the overall health and wellbeing of kids in the state, known as the ‘happy child index.”
• Based on all of that, they name Utah as the state with the happiest families.
• It tops the list thanks to low divorce rates, low child care costs and a high score for the happy child index.
• Massachusetts, third overall, has the highest index for children’s health and wellbeing.
• Hawaii, fifth overall, has the lowest divorce rate in the study and families there tend to be bigger than in other states.

The Top 10 States with the Happiest Families

1. Utah
2. New Hampshire
3. Massachusetts
4. Illinois
5. Hawaii
6. Pennsylvania
7. Wisconsin
8. Kansas
9. Louisiana
10. Iowa

Source: Parents

The food delivery service churned through a year’s worth of ice cream orders on their site to find the top flavors and the most ice cream-obsessed states.

• The favorite flavor in the country is Ben & Jerry’s Half Baked. It’s the most ordered on DoorDash in 17 states, including Florida, California and New York.
• Ben & Jerry’s Cookies ‘N Cream is the most ordered in seven states, including Texas, Georgia and Illinois.
• And the brand’s Strawberry Cheesecake ice cream wins in three states - Arizona, Indiana and Nevada.
• In Alabama, Mississippi, Hawaii and Tennessee, they prefer the simplicity of classic vanilla.
• In fact, vanilla ice cream has been enjoying a comeback, as DoorDash orders for it jumped more than 1,000% year-over-year.
• Gluten-free ice cream is getting more popular, with orders for gluten-free versions of flavors like Pineapple Coconut, Dulce De Leche and Mint Chip up over 1,000% each.
• The state that orders the most ice cream on DoorDash is Delaware, followed by Rhode Island and Maryland.

The Most Ordered Ice Cream on DoorDash

• Ben & Jerry’s Half Baked
• Ben & Jerry’s Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough
• Ben & Jerry’s Strawberry Cheesecake
• Ben & Jerry’s The Tonight Dough
• Ben & Jerry’s Chocolate Fudge Brownie
• Ben & Jerry’s Milk & Cookies
• Ben & Jerry’s Cherry Garcia
• Haagen-Dazs Strawberry
• Ben & Jerry’s Phish Food
• Haagen-Dazs Caramel Cone

Source: DoorDash

• "A Little Less Talk and a Lot More Action” – Ashley McBryde
• “Who’s Your Daddy?” – Megan Moroney
• “Who’s That Man” – Parker McCollum
• “Should’ve Been A Cowboy” – Riley Green
• “As Good As I Once Was” – Tucker Wetmore
• “Wish I Didn’t Know Now” – Ella Langley

“Overheating during the night also disrupts sleep, in the form of more frequent awakenings, night sweats and/or reduced sleep quality,” explains Dr. Michael Gradisar, head of sleep science at the sleep app Sleep Cycle in Australia. He adds that for folks already dealing with insomnia, high nighttime temperatures make it even more likely they’ll wake up and struggle to drift off again.

But that doesn’t mean you have to wait until winter to get a solid night’s sleep again. These are the sleep expert’s tips for boosting sleep quality despite the summer heat.

• Adjust your environment - Keeping your bedroom cool, dark, and quiet can help. Use the AC and fans to keep the cool air moving and prevent night sweats.
• Cool down with water - Beyond staying hydrated by drinking it, Gradisar also suggests taking a cool shower or bath before bed. An evening swim works, too, as immersing yourself in cool water will help lower your body’s core temperature, setting you up for better sleep.
• Consider your bedding - The material of your blankets makes a difference, and the sleep doctor recommends using natural “heat-wicking” bedding to keep you cooler. He warns that cooling blankets may not be the way to go as the “scientific evidence of their effectiveness is small.” And if you share a bed with a partner, you may want to try the Scandinavian sleep method, where each person uses their own blanket, which helps you avoid sharing each other’s body heat.
• Limit your alcohol - Drinking even moderate amounts of alcohol before bed makes it more likely you’ll wake up during the night, according to Gradisar. Research shows alcohol can decrease the body’s ability to regulate temperature, which only works against you when you’re already battling the heat.

Source: Fox News

More than a thousand responses have come in and these are some of the best:

• "That bats are blind. They hunt by echolocation, but they can actually see quite well."
• "That we only use 10% or 30% of our brain capacity. This is nonsense. We use 100%."
• "That you swallow eight spiders a year in your sleep. And that it takes seven years for gum to be digested."
• "I was told my entire life that cracking your knuckles is bad for you and causes arthritis. This is not true."
• "Sorry, but you can't see the Great Wall of China from orbit."
• "That the tongue has different taste zones, they taught us in school, ffs."
• "People say your hair grows back thicker if you shave. Absolute twaddle."
• "The idea that local honey can treat or cure seasonal allergies. Not true, never been true."
• "That blood is blue inside your body until it touches air. Your blood is still red in your body, just darker."
• "Turning the inside car light will get you pulled over by the cops."
• "Dog year = seven human years. Not true! Sincerely, someone who works in veterinary."
• "You lose most of your body heat from the top of your head."
• "Sweating like a pig. Pigs do not have sweat glands, which is why they wallow in the mud to keep cool. Horses, on the other hand, sweat profusely."
• "That you can catch a cold from being outside in cold weather. A cold is a viral infection. You’re more likely to catch one inside from being in close proximity to people."
• "Everyone believes that the captain of a ship can perform weddings. It was even referenced in an episode of ‘The Office’ once, but it's not true."
• And lastly, "Sugar makes kids hyper."

Source: BuzzFeed⠀

"CMA Fest Presented By SoFi" list of performances (in alphabetical order):

• Trace Adkins – “Honky Tonk Badonkadonk”
• Jason Aldean – “Whiskey Drink”
• Jason Aldean and Travis Tritt – “It’s A Great Day To Be Alive”
• Kelsea Ballerini – “Baggage”
• Dierks Bentley – “She Hates Me”
• Dierks Bentley and Zach Top – “Free and Easy (Down the Road I Go)” and “Mountain Music” Medley
• Brooks & Dunn and Lainey Wilson – “Play Something Country”
• Brooks & Dunn and Marcus King – “Rock My World (Little Country Girl)”
• Luke Bryan – “Country Song Came On”
• Jordan Davis – “Bar None”
• Riley Green – “Worst Way”
• Cody Johnson – “The Fall”
• Cody Johnson and Carín León – “She Hurts Like Tequila”
• Brandon Lake and Jelly Roll – “Hard Fought Hallelujah”
• Ella Langley – “weren’t for the wind”
• Ashley McBryde – “Rattlesnake Preacher”
• Parker McCollum – “What Kinda Man”
• Scotty McCreery – “Five More Minutes”
• Megan Moroney – “Am I Okay?”
• Rascal Flatts – “Life Is A Highway”
• Rascal Flatts and Carly Pearce – “My Wish”
• The Red Clay Strays – “No One Else Like Me”
• Darius Rucker – “Wagon Wheel”
• Dylan Scott – “Country Till I Die”
• Shaboozey and Jelly Roll – “Amen”
• Blake Shelton – “Stay Country or Die Tryin’”
• Blake Shelton and Trace Adkins – “Hillbilly Bone”
• Zach Top – “I Never Lie”
• Keith Urban – “Straight Line”
• Bailey Zimmerman and BigXthaPlug – “All The Way”

Check out the performances by Jason Aldean with Travis Tritt, Dierks Bentley with Zach Top, Bailey Zimmerman with BigXThaPlug and Brooks & Dunn with Lainey Wilson below

• In other Luke Combs news, he was on hand for the impromptu Taylor Swift show in Nashville over the weekend...and on any other night he would have been mobbed leaving a venue. Following Taylor out of the building, Luke went, believe it or not, almost unnoticed. There's a video of him leaving in which he finally responds to a couple of fans calling his name, seemingly surprised. 

Listen to a teaser of the new song HERE

 

 

 

 

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The Wells Fargo Agri-Food Institute crunched the numbers on the costs for hosting the classic holiday gathering to see what we can expect to pay.

• Their team looked at how much the food and drinks for a barbecue for 10 people would be.
• Their menu includes staples like barbecue chicken breasts, beef sliders, hot dogs, fresh fruit, a veggie platter, potato salad, corn bread, cake, apple pie, ice cream, beer, wine, soda and sparkling waters.
• According to their research, you can expect to pay around $130 for enough of all that for 10 people.
• That’s only 2.2% more than the cost of the same gathering last Fourth of July.
• Prices on beef and eggs have seen the biggest increase this year, with ground beef up 7.4% over last year.
• Eggs are often a part of the menu, whether they’re deviled, in potato salad, or used for baking. Egg prices are seeing a little relief from highs earlier this year, but they’re still 40% higher than last year.
• But plenty of cookout essentials are still affordable, with prices only slightly more than last year’s, including chicken breasts (only up 1%), potatoes (up 1%), cauliflower and broccoli (both up 1.2%), baby carrots (up 1.9%), and BBQ sauce (up 2.3%).
• And some costs are actually lower than last summer, including for hamburger and hot dog buns (down about 1.5%), watermelon and strawberries (down 0.6%).
• Beer and wine prices have only gone up by less than 2%, sodas are 2% more, and sparkling waters are up 4.7% from last year.
• And for dessert, apple pie costs only slightly more than last year (up 1.5%) and the ice cream to go on top has gone up less than 1%.

Source: USA Today

Most importantly? The time you take that midday rest matters. “Nap o’clock,” or the ideal time for the afternoon snooze, starts at 1:42 p.m., according to a new survey. And it finds that the “perfect” nap should last 51 minutes, so the wake up time is 2:33 p.m.

The survey of 2-thousand U.S. adults reveals more details about what makes the perfect nap:

• If people sleep 35 minutes longer than those 51 minutes - taking a nap that lasts an hour and 26 minutes or longer - that’s the “danger zone” where the sleep does more harm than good.
• And if it lasts an hour and 44 minutes longer than that “perfect” length of 51 minutes, it’s not even considered a nap anymore, it’s officially a full sleep session.
• For the ideal nap environment, 44% prefer some kind of noise, like having the TV (47%) or a white noise machine (7%) on in the background.
• Location matters, too, as 53% like napping in their bed, while 38% nap better on their couch.
• More than half (55%) of all nappers say they immediately feel a boost of productivity when they wake up.
• Nappers are more likely to say they have a “thriving” social life (48%) than non-nappers (34%).
• They’re also more likely to say the same about their love lives (50% compared to 39%).
• And since respondents only feel well-rested for half of an average week, maybe more of us should try napping.

Source: Talker