An olive branch, but it make it bags of M&Ms… I like his strategy. Last weekend, Kyle Busch’s family was at Charlotte Motor Speedway for the Coca-Cola 600, which was their first public appearance since the NASCAR legend suddenly passed away last Thursday at the age of 41 from complications from sepsis. He was a legendary driver, one of the best to ever do it, and it’s still hard to believe it’s real. Kyle’s wife, Samantha, and his children put on a very brave face at the 600, along with the rest of Kyle’s family, and I truly cannot imagine what they’re going through. It’s simply devastating. While tons of stories have been pouring in from friends and fellow drivers, and of course, one of his longtime rivals, who eventually became his friend, is Dale Earnhardt Jr. NASCAR fans know that Kyle Busch and Dale Earnhardt Jr. were rivals back in the day when they were both still full-time Cup Series drivers, and their animosity really stemmed from the infamous 2008 race at Richmond. They were battling for the lead during the last laps, and Busch spun Dale Jr. out during his first year at Hendrick Motorsports. He was literally on track to end a two-year winless streak, so obviously, he was really upset about it, and later that year during the fall race at Richmond, Jr. returned the favor and spun Busch out. Busch has made comments about him over the years, and in terms of fan perception back then, they definitely contrasted each other and remained rivals for many years. Eventually, after Jr. retired, they seemed to reconcile and even become friendly, and Jr. had Busch on his podcast a while back and they hashed it out. Jr. shared a beautiful tribute to Kyle the day he passed, and this week on Dale’s Bless Your ‘Hardt podcast with his wife Amy, they recalled a great story abut Kyle that Dale says was the “very beginning” of them “starting to be friendly.” Amy says it was during Daytona 500 week (though she couldn’t remember exactly what year, but it was when Kyle was running the M&Ms car), and Dale was NOT in a good mood. They didn’t expect many visitors because of that, but when they heard a knock on their bus door, they certainly weren’t expecting Kyle Busch. Amy could see it was him from the window, and given his history with her husband, she told Dale he needed to answer it. To their surprise, he came bearing gifts, bags and bags of M&Ms, and he was there to wish them a “Happy Valentine’s Day,” which Amy says she heard him say very loudly to Dale when he opened the door: “It was Daytona 500 week, and I don’t know what year this was. He was running the M&Ms car. We’re in the bus, and so we don’t have a lot of knocks on the door… he’s in a s***** a** mood. We get a knock on the door, and there’s a little window above the door, and so he’s sitting on the couch and I’m messing around, and so I look out. I’m like, it’s Kyle Busch, uh oh. And so I’m like, ‘Dale it’s Kyle Busch.’ And he goes, ‘No s***?’ I’m like, ‘Yeah, it’s Kyle. I’m not answering it. You better get over here.’ He comes up off the couch and peaks out the door, and he just kind of props it open a little bit, and is like, ‘Hey man, what’s up?’ And I could hear him audibly say very loudly, ‘Happy Valentine’s Day!’ And he’s got bags of the M&Ms to share. And both of us were kind of like, really? You brought candy? There’s pink, there’s red, there’s all kinds of flavors here. He gave him like four or five bags of candy. He was smiling, he was happy. It was like a version of Kyle I had never seen before, either.” Dale joked that he asked Kyle if they were “safe to eat” given their checkered past (pun very much intended) up to that point: “I joked with him when he handed them to me, I said, ‘Are these safe to eat?'” Amy says it was “really nice” to see Kyle that way, as opposed to her husband’s fierce rival on the track, and she says from that point on, they both looked at him very differently: “It was really nice to see Kyle in that moment. And then from then on, I feel like both of us kind of looked at him in a different way.” Dale acknowledged: “It was the very beginning of us sort of starting to be friendly.” And like many of us, Amy says she will always think of him when she sees a bag of M&Ms: “I feel like I’ll always think of him too now when I see a bag of M&Ms.” For many years, Kyle and M&Ms were synonymous, and I always thought he had one of the best sponsors of anyone in NASCAR. Like Jr. said in his aforementioned tribute post, it was Kyle who first reached out to mend the fences with him, so to speak, and while he was very happy to do so, he gave credit to Kyle to being the first one to reach out, and it sounds like it all started with some M&Ms, which is a great way to do it in my humble opinion. It’s a great story that gives a peak into a side of Kyle I think many fans never got to see, at least not on the track: View this post on Instagram The full podcast is available below. The post “A Version Of Kyle I Had Never Seen Before” — Amy Earnhardt Recalls Kyle Busch Showing Up To Dale Jr.’s Bus With Bags Of M&Ms For Valentine’s Day first appeared on Whiskey Riff.

Night one of the Music City Rodeo set the bar quite high. Fans poured into Bridgestone Arena from Broadway to watch some of the best in the world compete in the first day of the three day event put on by the Professional Rodeo Cowboy Association (PRCA). It’s the largest rodeo east of the Mississippi and the largest in the entire Southeastern Circuit. Oh, and it’s also important to note that the 2026 Music City Rodeo has been designated as an official Cinch Playoff Series Rodeo. What does that mean? Well, that designation brings in the top rodeo stars like Rocker Steiner, Stetson Wright, Hailey Kinzel, and over 30 other World Champions. And saddle bronc rider Kade Bruno got off to a great start last night with his first ride of the rodeo: View this post on Instagram That’s one heck of a ride right there. After a full night packed with roping, riding and mutton busting (probably my personal favorite event of the night), the dirt that was laid down turned into a pit, and country music icon Miranda Lambert took the stage. Rodeo fans stuck around to take in the performance from the 3-time Grammy award winner, and the “Bluebird” singer had plenty of wildcards up her sleeve. Lambert treated the Music City Rodeo crowd to a rendition of “Choosin’ Texas,” brought Little Big Town out to share the stage for a couple of songs (when in Nashville, eh?), and even hit everyone with her newest track that mixes country and disco. Something about hearing “Crisco” at the rodeo just felt right: View this post on Instagram Throughout the night, it was abundantly clear how much of a match rodeo and country music are. When we sat down with rodeo stars Kade Bruno and Rocker Steiner earlier this year, they both said that Music City Rodeo acts as the perfect crossroads. As Rocker Steiner described, the sport and the genre have shared the same thread throughout the years: “You’ve got to think, for the last however many decades, country music has been written about rodeoing. Look at ‘July in Cheyenne’ by Aaron Watson, ‘I Can Still Make Cheyenne’ and ‘Amarillo By Morning’ by George Strait. A lot of country songs are written around rodeo. Really, we live the same lifestyle. We really kind of have the same attitudes… if you love country music, rodeo really is a part of you.” And Kade Bruno had much of the same to say. The saddle bronc rider stated that there’s a lot of overlap when it comes to the fanbases of the rodeo and country music. In his mind, and in the mind of many other rodeo stars, if you like one, there’s a great chance you like the other: “We go hand in hand. 90% of our fans are also country music fans, and vice versa. If you are a rodeo fan through and through, you are probably listening to country music.” @whiskeyriff @Rocker Steiner @kadebrunoooo @musiccityrodeo #whiskeyriff #whiskeyriffraff ♬ original sound – Whiskey Riff And there’s still two nights to go of the Music City Rodeo. Charley Crockett (May 29) and Jon Pardi (May 30) will both put on headlining shows in the next couple of days, and the world’s best rodeo stars will also be in action. Simply put… the cowboys have taken over Broadway and Bridgestone Arena. You can hear Rocker and Kade talk more about the event in our full interview below. Check it out on YouTube or make sure to download the podcast on Apple Podcasts by searching “Whiskey Riff Raff” or by clicking here. We’re also available on Spotify and wherever else you can listen to podcasts. Audio Video The post Miranda Lambert Brought Country & Disco Together At Night One Of Nashville’s Music City Rodeo first appeared on Whiskey Riff.

She was maybe even worse off financially than ever. Continue reading…

Is there anybody left? The Great American State Fair is turning into a Great American Disaster after yet another artist has backed out of performing, the fifth (and possibly sixth?) artist to announce that they wouldn’t be participating after the lineup was announced earlier this week. The fair is part of the celebrations being planned by Freedom 250, which is a non-partisan organization responsible for putting together all the festivities to celebrate America’s 250th birthday. Freedom 250 was launched by President Donald Trump to spearhead his specific vision for the 250th anniversary events, so as with anything Trump is involved in, many are questioning whether or not the entity itself is truly “non-partisan,” which has led several artists to drop out of performing at the Great American State Fair. The event is an exposition bringing together all 50 states for a World’s Fair-style celebration featuring live entertainment, exhibits, patriotic tributes, innovation showcases, cultural programming, and other attractions from around the country, which will be hosted in Washington, D.C. from June 25 through July 10 on the National Mall. And earlier this week Freedom 250 announced the first round of headliners who would be performing at the celebration, including Martina McBride, C+C Music Factory, The Commodores, Vanilla Ice, Young MC, Morris Day and The Time, Flo Rida, Bret Michaels, and Milli Vanilli. Now, was it a great lineup to begin with? Not at all. The most recent top 10 hit from any of the artists was “My House” from Flo Rida back in 2015, so they didn’t exactly get any of today’s hottest acts. But immediately after the lineup was announced, the artists began pulling out, starting with Morris Day and The Time and Young MC. Then yesterday The Commodores announced they also wouldn’t be performing, and Milli Vanilli released a statement saying that none of their original members would be playing the event (although one of them died in 1998, and the group that’s best known for their lip-syncing scandal was actually made up of several singers who recorded the vocals while the two frontmen eventually released an album under their own names). So who will be performing as “Milli Vanilli?” Who knows. And last night, following online backlash Martina McBride released a statement last night announcing that she too was backing out of the event: “I would like to talk to you and clear the air. I will not be performing at the Great American State Fair on June 25th. I was presented with an opportunity to perform at a nonpartisan event but that turned out to be misleading. I asked lots of questions and was assured this was a nonpartisan event that was meant to celebrate ALL 50 states and also bring people together in a way that only music can. I saw it as just a bigger version of so many state fairs I have performed at over the years, celebrating community and what makes each state special. Sounds fun, right? Wholesome even. Yesterday, things started changing and what we were told is, in fact, not what is happening. I’ve spent my entire career singing songs about real people with real issues. I’ve been blessed with the opportunity to be a voice for those who have felt like they didn’t have one. It greatly upsets me that any fan who has been moved by my music may now feel like I’m abandoning the meaning behind those songs. I assure you, that is not the case. I appreciate every single fan who has reached out. I hope to get back to the DC area very soon.” Not great. Just when it seemed the bleeding had stopped though, Bret Michaels announced today that he too would not be performing at the Great American State Fair. Like the others, the Poison frontman claims that he was misled about the event and cited threats to himself and his band as a result of his involvement: “When this opportunity was originally presented to my team, it was described as a celebration of our country through music and a chance to honor our veterans, active military, first responders, teachers and hardworking Americans from all walks of life. As the son of a veteran, and coming from a family that has proudly served, that is something I have always been honored to support. As many of you know, I’ve spent my entire career bringing people together through music, positivity and good vibes. My shows have never been about politics. They’re about giving people a place to come together, have a great time and forget about life’s stresses for a few hours. Unfortunately, what was presented to us as a celebration of our country has evolved into something much more divisive than what I agreed to be a part of. Concerns have also been raised regarding the safety of my fans, band, crew, family and myself, including threats that are completely unfounded and unforgivable. Because of that, I have made the difficult decision to step away from this performance.” View this post on Instagram At this point the only performers left are Vanilla Ice, C+C Music Factory, Flo Rida, and whoever may or may not be performing as Milli Vanilli. Seems like the committee needs to go back to the drawing board to try to salvage this thing.The post Poison Frontman Bret Michaels Becomes The Latest Artist To Back Out Of Performing At The Great American State Fair first appeared on Whiskey Riff.

We all know the reputation that country music has for penning songs about beer and trucks and all of the other country music buzzwords that were so commonplace during the height of the bro-country era. And, well… I guess in 2026 too thanks to Luke Bryan’s latest single “Fish Hunt Golf Drink.” Drinking songs are often written off as cheap and cliche in country music… and many times they are exactly that. I can’t speak for all songs that mention or revolve around beer or whiskey. We both know that there’s plenty that were churned out just so they could get some summertime radio play. However, not all beer-related songs are as shallow as you think. To prove it, I did a deep dive into six songs out there that mention beer – or even have beer in the title. As you’ll see, beer isn’t just used as a cheat code to trick country fans into liking the song. In fact, the presence of beer can actually stir some emotions, make you think a little bit, or set the scene for something much deeper than just a good time. Let’s get to it, shall we? 1. “Beer for My Horses” by Toby Keith & Willie Nelson First up is the iconic Toby Keith and Willie Nelson duet “Beer for My Horses.” The song was released on Keith’s 2002 Unleashed project, and it ended up being one of Keith’s countless number one hits. It went to the top of the Hot Country Songs chart in 2003, and has always remained a fan favorite (it even inspired a movie that Keith starred in). Just the title of the song might lead some to believe that the track is a cliche country song about cowboys giving their trusty steeds a cold one. But the message of the song was actually an anthem against crime that was, and still is, plaguing our country. It was a call to put some swift justice back in the legal system. Of course, here we are in 2026 an crime in cities seem worse than ever before. But the Big Dog Daddy and the Red-Headed Stranger perfectly delivered that message, and it finds it’s place on this list because… well, you can’t judge the book by its cover on this one. 2. “Beer Never Broke My Heart” by Luke Combs “How could this one be deep?” I hear you asking. To this day, this song from Combs’ second album, What You See Is What You Get, is one of his biggest hits, and on its surface, the most east to understand. It’s one of those country songs that just about everyone knows, and yes, it does seem like it’s a song romanticizing beer drinking. It’s a love letter to ice cold beer… so where’s the depth? If you peel back the layers a little bit, it’s a song that explores the idea that there’s not much in life you can count on. Combs sings about politicians lying to him, being fired from jobs, and romantic partners going separate ways. In a way, the country star is exploring how life is constantly changing, and humans often crave things that stay the same… like ice cold beers. 3. “Ringling, Ringling” by Jimmy Buffett Is Jimmy Buffett country? That depends on who you ask. All I’m worried about with this track from the late, great Jimmy Buffett’s Living and Dying in 3/4 Time album is the theming of nostalgia and urban decay. “Ringling, Ringling” is written about Ringling, Montana, and Buffett penned the song when he stopped into the settlement and noticed that it wasn’t what it once was. The lyrics sing of the town’s former glory, and somehow, Buffett manages to evoke emotion talking about a pile of beer cans: “And across from the bar there’s a pile of beer cansBeen there twenty-seven yearsImagine all the heart aches and tearsIn twenty-seven years of beer” Why does that make my heart hurt so much? I guess seeing a place (or just imagining it through song) in a condition that’s worse than it used to be is a hard pill to swallow, and a reminder that nothing lasts forever. 4. “Beer With Jesus” by Thomas Rhett Some might write this one off as pandering, but this song from early on in Thomas Rhett’s career (his debut album actually) isn’t that at all. When it was released in 2012, it actually caused an uproar in the Christian community. People were angered by the idea of Jesus drinking beer, since Christian teachings often led followers to believe that alcohol is something to avoid. Might I just take a moment to remind that group that Jesus once turned water into wine? When you look at the lyrics, it’s really just Rhett gathering together all of the questions that he’d have if he could ever sit down across from Jesus and have a drink. More than anything, the “having the beer with Jesus” part of the song is just signifying the time that it would take to share a beer… and the questions posed in the song get very deep. 5. “Drink A Beer” by Luke Bryan There’s no doubt that a large population saw “Beer” and “Luke Bryan” together and wrote this one off. “Drink A Beer,” which actually had Chris Stapleton as one of it’s co-writers, is probably one of the most heartbreaking songs on this list. It’s got the title of a party song, but in all honesty, it’s a tearjerker. The track tells the story of a person who tries to get through devastating news by slowing down time, and having a drink. It  hit close to home for Luke Bryan because he has lost two siblings in sudden tragedies. His older brother, Chris, passed away in a car accident in 1995. His sister, Kelly, died tragically in 2007 from what Luke Bryan explained as sudden death syndrome. His 2013 CMA Awards performance was a special one. Dedicated to all 3 of his late family members, the powerful performance also introduced many to a certain backup singer for the first time… a man named Chris Stapleton, who also co-wrote the song. Of course, a few years later, Chris would release his own solo album, and then have his breakout moment on the CMA Awards alongside Justin Timberlake. 6. “Beer In Mexico” by Kenny Chesney Finally, we’ve got “Beer in Mexico” by Kenny Chesney. Here’s another one where you’d just assume that the nucleus of the track is partying down in Cancun. Just recently, the country music star said that a lot of people mistake this one as a party song, when in reality, he was pouring out his soul in the midst of a mid-life crisis of sorts. Chesney explained on The Rich Eisen Show that, at 36-years-old, he was playing Sammy Hagar’s birthday party in Cabo when he suddenly felt out of place. Why? Because as he looked around in the bar, everyone else there had families, and kids. He was 36-years-old at the time, and suddenly felt a little left behind in life as he stood up on stage in Cabo playing for the rock and roll legend: “I think what I was thinking about in the bar, I was looking at all my friends and people that were working with me and they all had families, all had kids. Here I was, 36-years-old, I didn’t have that stuff. But I was building what I was building. And so I went, ‘Wow, maybe I don’t have to figure it all out right now. It’s okay enough to be playing Sammy Hagar’s birthday party.’ I don’t have to figure out all of that stuff out at the moment. I went back to the house that night and wrote ‘Beer in Mexico.’ I thank Sammy Hagar for that. That was a true, autobiographical song.” And a song that definitely isn’t the beer drinking song that you think it is. And I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention Mitchel Ferguson’s “Drink A Beer.” Is it deep? No. Does it fit in with the other songs in this list? No. Does it sort of undermine the entire point of this blog? Sure does…. but when you know the full story behind the song, and how it just started out as a comedy bit making fun of terrible pop country songs, and somehow morphed into an absolute BANGER, it does kind of fit, right? I also just love to listen to it… enjoy: The post Not Your Average Bro-Country: 6 Country Songs About Beer That Are Deeper Than You Might Think first appeared on Whiskey Riff.