Kelsea and Chase welcomed the new year with a kiss and a clean slate. After months apart, they’re moving forward together. Continue reading…

Turns out the wedding bells were, in fact, ringing for Zach Bryan and his girlfriend, Samantha Leonard. Social media sleuths have been trying to figure out an official relationship status for the country star and his significant other for months. Until today, all we knew for sure was that Leonard and Bryan were dating, and had been since just after the “Pink Skies” singer had a public and messy breakup with Barstool Sports personality Brianna Chickenfry. The big talking point has always been how much Samantha Leonard looks like Brianna Chickenfry, and to be honest, it’s almost impossible to not see it. But as time has passed, and Bryan and Leonard have been together for multiple months (their relationship went public around August of 2025), fans have done their best investigative work in an attempt to find out if the two are dating, or if they’ve already become engaged… or even a step further, married. Zach Bryan actually fueled those marriage rumors himself when he posted a video of he, Leonard and some friends paragliding in Europe. Fans quickly spotted a gold band on the singer’s ring finger, and interestingly enough, Bryan deleted the video shortly after it was posted. He then replaced the video with another, only this time, a bald eagle emoji was covering up his left hand. That was the first clue that Bryan and Leonard were headed for marriage. The next clue was a picture of Samantha that was, once again, posted by Zach Bryan (he wasn’t doing a very good job of keeping it all a secret). The Instagram story photo had many followers thinking that she might have gotten an engagement or marriage-worthy upgrade. The photo showed Samantha Leonard sitting shotgun in a car that Zach Bryan was driving, with Leonard holding a cat named Stump. If you’ve followed along with the Zach Bryan drama in the recent year or so, you know that Bryan and Brianna Chickenfry found the cat together (in a tree stump, hence the name). So that’s an added layer to the whole thing. But what fans really took notice of was the big ol’ ring that was partially covered up – either accidentally or intentionally – on Samantha’s finger. It’s tough to tell if it’s the same one that Leonard has been seen wearing in the past, but regardless, it’s a massive rock. Here’s another look at it: And now, we can pretty much confirm that was indeed a engagement ring… at the very least. TMZ has reported that Zach Bryan and Samantha Leonard were married in San Sebastian, Spain. And it must have happened either today or yesterday, considering this photo that Zach Bryan posted some 21 hours ago that presumably captured a moment with him and his groomsmen. The lyrics to the Black Eyed Peas’ “I’ve Got A Feeling” served as the caption for the photo: View this post on Instagram A video that was posted later showed Bryan and Leonard running out of the building they were married in, with Bryan carrying his now wife for a bit before setting her down so that they could both hop into a convertible and speed away with a “Just Married” banner hanging off the back. Check it out: Zach Bryan is a married man! The country singer wed his girlfriend Samantha Leonard San Sebastian, Spain. pic.twitter.com/289f2KFLYV — TMZ (@TMZ) December 31, 2025 What a way for Zach Bryan and Samantha Leonard Bryan to cap off 2025 and head into 2026, eh?The post Zach Bryan Got Married To His Girlfriend, Samantha Leonard, In San Sebastian, Spain first appeared on Whiskey Riff.

The country singer quietly tied the knot with girlfriend Samantha Leonard in Spain — a wedding that proves he’s doing things his own way. Continue reading…

Looking back at an underrated gem. Happy New Year’s Eve, y’all. With the rush of Christmas over and the new year on the horizon, the day admittedly comes with quite a bit of baggage. While you can absolutely reflect on all the accomplishments you’ve made throughout the year, for many (myself included), New Year’s Eve serves as a day to take a look back on some of your short-comings. Of course, this is usually done in the form of New Year’s resolutions, but it can also come in the form of some good ‘ol reminiscing. Taking a look around country music as a whole, it feels like there’s a severe lack of truly great New Year’s songs. While other major holidays such as Christmas, Easter, Thanksgiving and both the 4th of July and Memorial Day all have a plethora of iconic songs that capture nearly every feeling associated with the holiday, from Willie Nelson’s “Pretty Paper” on Christmas to Toby Keith’s “American Solider” on Memorial Day, New Year’s typically gets lost in the shuffle. Of course, you have a few floating around there, ranging from the likes of Charlie Robinson’s “New Year’s Day” to Sugarland’s “Maybe Baby (New Year’s Day).” However, there’s truly only one definitive New Year’s song, in my opinion. And that song is none other than Turnpike Troubadour’s “Ringing in the Year.” At this point, it’s hardly a secret that the Turnpike Troubadours are not only one of the best country bands of our generation but arguably of all time. With six albums’ worth of what can only be described as brilliance over the past 15 years, the Oklahoma band has proven time and time again why they’re one of the best in the business. And while it’s hard to truly point to the best song in their discography due to the laundry list of all-timers such as “Diamonds & Gasoline,” “7 & 7,” “The Birdhunters,” “Heaven Passing Through” and countless more, “Ringing in the Year” has always been a serious contender for Turnpike’s best of the best. Appearing on their 2015 self-titled album, “Ringing in the Year” was written independently by frontman and songwriting-extraordinaire, Evan Felker and ultimately tells the story of Felker sitting back on New Year’s Eve reminiscing about a lost love. Setting the song up brilliantly in the first verse by referencing a letter sent by his ex, he keeps the eventual aftermath of the relationship extremely vague. This leads to the incredibly melodic chorus that gives an insight into just how much Felker has been missing her throughout the majority of the year. Well won’t you miss your whiskey in the wintertime, my dearThe way that I’ve been missing you this fallAnd cheap champagne don’t dull the pain of ringing in the yearWondering if you think of me at all It’s the final two lines, in particular, that make the song such a heartbreaking depiction of the aftermath of a breakup. On its surface, New Year’s Eve should be a time to put the past in the past, have a few too many and ultimately celebrate the turning of a new page. However, Felker, in typical fashion, contrasts this inherently joyful holiday with an incredibly desperate, borderline pathetic line hoping for him to cross her mind just once. “Ringing in the Year” does have a bit of levity and resolve, however. In the final verse, Felker essentially comes to terms with the breakup, telling his former lover to “let all acquaintances be forgot” before referencing roman candles cutting across a January sky. Though it’s up for interpretation, I view the roman candles as a symbol for him letting the relationship finally go as they blaze and eventually die in the vast sky. With a little more resolve I might be somewhere else with youBut I make no resolution of the kindSo I guess it’s just God blessing you did all that you could doLet all acquaintance be forgot and never brought to mindTo roman candles cut across a January sky Ultimately, “Ringing in the Year” is nothing short of a stunner from Turnpike. Between Felker’s vocals and always brilliant lyricism, Kyle Nix’s masterful fiddle work and its existence as a rare New Year’s song, the track is nothing short of a must-listen this New Year’s Eve. I’m sure everyone has had a breakup that has haunted them well into the next year, and “Ringing in the Year” captures this feeling of longing perfectly. “Ringing in the Year” Wild America Tour 2026 Dates January 30 – Fort Worth, Texas – Billy Bob’s Texas January 31 – Fort Worth, Texas – Billy Bob’s Texas February 5 – Philadelphia, Pennsylvania – The Met Philadelphia * February 6 – Uncasville, Connecticut- Mohegan Sun Arena * February 7 – Boston, Massachusetts – MGM Music Hall at Fenway * March 27 – West Valley City, Utah – Maverick Center #^ March 28 – Boise, Idaho – ExtraMile Arena #^ June 5 – New York, New York – The Rooftop at Pier 17 @ June 6 – Asbury Park, New Jersey – The Stone Pony Summer Stage @ * with Robert Earl Keen # with Charles Wesley Godwin ^ with Buffalo Traffic Jam @ with LuceroThe post Turnpike Troubadours’ “Ringing In The Year” Is The Perfect Song To Reminisce To This New Year’s Eve first appeared on Whiskey Riff.

Non-country fans will see this special wheelchair as a simple expression of faith, but real Randy Travis fans will get the deeper meaning. Continue reading…