A fitting choice for the final day of the mission. NASA’s Artemis II crew is headed back to earth after 10 days in space, and this morning the crew aboard the Orion spacecraft was greeted by a fitting song from the Zac Brown Band to start their final day. Launched on April 1, the Artemis II mission performed the first crewed lunar flyby in 50 years, taking the four astronauts further away from earth than any human has ever gone before. The Artemis program was officially established in 2017 with the goal of returning humans to the moon for the first time since Apollo 17 in 1972. The program plans to establish a permanent base on the moon with the hopes of ultimately leading to human exploration of Mars. The first flight, Artemis I, took place in 2022 and was an uncrewed mission to orbit the moon. Artemis II, meanwhile, launched from Kennedy Space Center in Florida, this time with 4 crew members who will spent 10 days in space aboard the Orion spacecraft to complete a flyby of the moon. The whole thing has been pretty incredible to follow: Basically, NASA knew where the moon was going to be, so they launched the spacecraft so that it would be positioned on the dark side of the moon as it passed by, with Orion coming within about 4,000 miles of the moon at its closest point. And that may sound like they were still pretty far away from the moon (because they were), but at that point the crew was about 250,000 miles from Earth. Hello, Moon. It’s great to be back. Here’s a taste of what the Artemis II astronauts photographed during their flight around the Moon. Check out more photos from the mission: https://t.co/rzM1P0QbOl pic.twitter.com/6jWINHkDLh — NASA (@NASA) April 7, 2026 Can you imagine how those astronauts felt flying through space at 25,000 mph, hundreds of thousands of miles away from earth? Well this morning, NASA summed up the mission with their morning wake up song when they chose Zac Brown Band’s “Free” as the final song of the mission. And after waking up the crew, Zac himself shared a special message with the astronauts: “Good morning Reed, Victor, Christina, and Jeremy. Zac from Zac Brown Band here, checking in from the USA. We hope that piece of our song, ‘Free,’ helps start your day with the right kind of lift. We just want to say how proud we are of you. It takes courage, grit, and freedom to chase the unknown. It’s the purest kind of American spirit. Millions back home are looking up and feeling more inspired because of you. Keep flying strong. Keep flying safe. We can’t wait to welcome you home. Come see us on the road.” Responding to the wake up call, the astronauts thanked Zac – and NASA – for the message: “What a great way to start the day, Houston. Courage and grit: That will stick with me, and it should stick with all of you all day long.” I mean, just think of how free you would feel breaking through the atmosphere and flying around the earth. Seems like the perfect song choice for the final day. Released in nearly 16 years ago today, on April 12, 2010, “Free” is the fifth and final single from Zac Brown Band’s major label debut album The Foundation. It reached #1 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart, and was nominated for a Grammy award for Best Country Song as well as Best Country Performance by a Duo or Group. It’s the second country song to be played aboard Orion this week, with Charley Crockett’s “Lonesome Drifter” being used as the wake up song yesterday, on day 9 of the mission.The post Zac Brown Sends Message To Artemis II Crew As They’re Woken Up By “Free” On Final Day Of Lunar Flyby Mission first appeared on Whiskey Riff.

Adam Sanders spent part of the money he got for winning 'The Road' on the right person. Continue reading…

The late, great Toby Keith will now have his very own day in his home state of Oklahoma. It’s still hard to accept that the country music world – and the world at large – lost Toby Keith back in February of 2024. The “American Soldier” singer passed away at the age of 62 after a long battle with stomach cancer. Now, we’ve already passed the two year anniversary of his passing – which seems almost unfathomable. Tributes to the Big Dog Daddy have basically gone on ever since he passed on. The University of Oklahoma implemented a Toby Keith sing along at every one of their home football games, and more recently, the U.S. Army chorus used Toby Keith’s “American Soldier” as the song to pay tribute to those who made the ultimate sacrifice during the Army’s 250th birthday celebration. I’ve got a feeling Keith’s legacy will always be carried on thanks to heart-warming tributes like those. Though we no longer have the country icon here with us on Earth, there’s no doubt that his spirit and his music will live on forever. That’s been incredibly evident as country music stars have honored him since his passing by adding TK covers into their set lists, as well as all of the important work that the Toby Keith foundation has been able to do to help families that are fighting cancer. Because of his accomplishments both within and outside the music industry, the state of Oklahoma decided to proclaim the late artist’s birthday, July 8, as Toby Keith Day in the Sooner State. Governor Kevin Stitt made that announcement during Oklahoma Music and Film Day at the state capitol: “Born on July 8th, 1961 in Clinton, Oklahoma. He was raised in Moore and was later a resident in Norman, rising from humble beginnings to become one of the most successful, influential, and recognizable country music artists in American history… He remained deeply connected to his Oklahoma roots and proudly reflected the character, resilience, independence, and patriotism of our state through his music and through his steadfast support of the men and women of the United States Armed Forces, including numerous USO tours… I now proclaim July 8, 2026 as Toby Keith Day.” View this post on Instagram A copy of the proclamation was given to Krystal Keith, the daughter of Toby Keith. She also performed the national anthem to open up the day’s festivities. It’s great to see that the state of Oklahoma is recognizing the Big Dog Daddy and providing a day that will forever honor the country music star. I just wish Toby Keith was still around to be a part of the celebration. That being said, I’m sure his family is grateful for this posthumous proclamation. Toby Keith left behind a legacy as a singer, songwriter, performer, businessman, and entrepreneur. He truly built an empire that will stand the test of time, and now, there will forever be a day in his home state of Oklahoma that recognizes everything he did to make the state – and the world – a better place.The post Oklahoma Declares July 8 As “Toby Keith Day” To Honor The Late, Great Country Music Icon first appeared on Whiskey Riff.

Maybe we’re not the only ones sending astronauts into space… On the day before Artemis II returns from its mission to fly around the moon, Kacey Musgraves is sharing her own out-of-this-world experience on a recent flight. In an explanation posted to her Instagram story, the “Follow Your Arrow” singer says she was flying from Fort Worth to Nashville with her manager, Bobby, when she noticed a strange site outside of the plane window: “We just watched these orbs, there were three of them. … I was about to lay down and take a nap and I saw these lights that caught my eye that just didn’t look normal. And I watched them for a minute and they were definitely trailing each other.” Kacey estimated that the UFOs were 50,000 feet high, and says they weren’t moving normally: “These orbs were not moving like any craft that we can control. They were intermittently coming and going, forming triangle patterns. They were kind of an orangish color. Sometimes they would get extremely bright and change color, change size.” She says she first noticed the unexplained orbs around Little Rock, but then they ended up following her flight all the way to Nashville. And when she asked the pilots about them, turns out they saw them too – and it wasn’t the first time: “Both pilots were laughing, kind of. And they were like, “Yeah, we have, we’ve seen these every single night and all the other pilots are seeing them too.’ And nobody knows what they are. And one of the pilots said, He said, ‘Yeah, I was in New York last night and I saw them.’ And the other pilot said, ‘Yeah, and I was in Dallas and I saw them also.'” In the video, which Kacey admits isn’t great quality because it was filmed on her iPhone in the dark, the lights can be seen appearing to go up and down in some sort of formation, while also increasing in brightness and disappearing altogether at various times. Country music artist Kacey Musgraves filmed three orb UFOs that followed her plane from Arkansas to Tennessee “They were 50k feet up, we watched them for 45 minutes. These orbs were vehemently coming and going, forming triangle patterns. They were following the plane. We… pic.twitter.com/80H4jGmbc7 — Red Panda Koala (@RedPandaKoala) April 10, 2026 And in yet another twist, Kacey posts a follow-up after returning to Texas – and apparently she saw the same type of orbs on her flight back home. But it doesn’t seem to be bothering her, as much as it is intriguing: “Sh– is weird, but I’m here for it. I am open to it. I’m here for it. … This is only one of many, many, many very strange, unexplainable things that I have seen. It’s been happening for years. No, yeah, no idea what it is.” Ironically, Kacey’s unexplained sighting over the Volunteer State comes just days after Tennessee Congressman Tim Burchett called on the government to release its files on UFOs: “I’ve been briefed by just about every alphabet agency there is, and I’ll just tell you this, if they would release the things that I’ve seen, you would stay up at — you’d be up at night worrying about or — thinking about this stuff. … I was briefed last week on an issue — or excuse me, two weeks ago — and it would’ve set the earth on — this country would’ve come unglued, I think, if they would’ve heard all that I’d heard.” Crazy stuff.The post Kacey Musgraves Shares Video Of Three UFOs Following Her Plane On Flight To Nashville first appeared on Whiskey Riff.

That’s rock and roll. Today, Whiskey Myers and The Black Crowes teamed up for an incredible cover of The Rolling Stones “Star Star” (which many fans know by the original title Star******), that was written by frontman Mick Jagger and guitarist Keith Richards. It was very controversial because of the explicit language, and content of the lyrics, which is why it was banned by the BBC after it was released in 1973 on Goats Head Soup. I mean, they’re just rock stars detailing the rock star life in a very honest (albeit graphic) way, and it was the ’70s… This cover comes just a little over a month ahead of the Whiskey Myers and The Black Crowes co-headlining tour, which will start in May and is aptly titled Southern Hospitality. Texas-based band Whiskey Myers released their first album in three years called Whomp Whack Thunder last year, and it’s full of that signature southern rock sound they’ve honed and perfected over the last almost 20 years at this point. I have no doubt these shows will be absolutely incredible considering the absolutely stacked bill, which also includes openers Southall, and I can’t get enough of this cover… it just oozes rock and roll. They recorded this song with Jay Joyce (Lainey Wilson, Eric Church, Halestorm, Carrie Underwood, Brothers Osborne and Miranda Lambert) at his Neon Cross Studios: “We had a blast getting together recently at Neon Cross Studios with Jay Joyce to cut this cult Rolling Stones classic.” It’s just bad***, and I have to imagine fans will get to hear this one live at the shows, too. Check it out: “Star Star” Check it out live from Texas in 1978… Keith Richards’ guitar solo here is epic: The Southern Hospitality Tour will begin on May 17th in Austin, Texas, before wrapping up the lengthy, 40 show run in Mountain View, California, on August 20th. Southern Hospitality Tour North American Dates May 17 –  Austin, TX – Moody Center^ May 19 – Rogers, AR – Walmart AMP^ May 21 – Nashville, TN – Bridgestone Arena^ May 23 – Alpharetta, GA – Ameris Bank Amphitheater^ May 24 – Birmingham, AL – Coca-Cola Amp^ May 26 – Brandon, MS – Brandon Amphitheater^ May 27 – Orange Beach, AL – The Wharf Amphitheater^ May 30 – Hollywood, FL – Hard Rock Live^ May 31 – Tampa, FL – MIDFLORIDA Credit Union Amphitheatre^ June 2 – St. Augustine, FL – St. Augustine Amphitheatre*~ June 4 – Augusta, GA – Bell Auditorium*~ June 6 – Charlotte, NC – Truliant Amphitheater^ June 7 – Raleigh, NC – Coastal Credit Union Music Park^ June 9 – Cincinnati, OH – Riverbend Music Center^ June 10 – Cuyahoga Falls, OH – Blossom Music Center^ June 12 – Camden, NJ – Freedom Mortgage Pavilion^ June 13 – New York, NY – Forest Hills Stadium^ June 16 – Columbia, MD – Merriweather Post Pavilion^ June 17 – Bridgeport, CT – Hartford HealthCare Amphitheatre^ June 19 – Mansfield, MA – Xfinity Center^ June 20 – Newark, NJ – Prudential Center^~ July 17 – Indianapolis, IN – Ruoff Music Center^ July 18 – Detroit, MI – Pine Knob Music Theater^ July 21 – Toronto, ON – RBC Amphitheatre^ July 22 – Grand Rapids, MI – Acrisure Amphitheater^ July 24 – Tinley Park, IL – Credit Union 1 Amphitheatre^ July 25 – St. Louis, MO – Hollywood Casino Amphitheater^ July 28 – Shakopee, MN – Mystic Lake Amphitheater^ July 30 – Kansas City, MO – MORTON Amphitheater^ August 1 – Colorado Springs, CO – Ford Amphitheater^~ August 2 – Denver, CO – Fiddler’s Green Amphitheatre^~ August 4 – Lincoln, NE – Pinewood Bowl Amphitheater*~ August 8 – Houston, TX – Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion^ August 9 – Dallas, TX – Dos Equis Pavilion* August 12 – Nampa, ID – Ford Idaho Center Amphitheater^ August 13 – Salt Lake City, UT – Utah First Credit Union Amphitheatre^ August 15 – Phoenix, AZ – Mortgage Matchup Center^ August 17– Hollywood, CA – Hollywood Bowl- August 19 – Wheatland, CA – Toyota Amphitheatre^ August 20 – Mountain View, CA – Shoreline Amphitheatre^ ^ With The Black Crowes, Whiskey Myers & Southall * With The Black Crowes & Southall only – Co-headlining show with The Black Crowes, Tedeschi Trucks & Whiskey Myers ~ Not a Live Nation DateThe post Whiskey Myers & The Black Crowes Team Up For Rockin’ Cover Of The Rolling Stones Classic, “Star Star” first appeared on Whiskey Riff.