In a world that’s so divisive, and “pick-one-or-the-other-side” natured, how can the Red Clay Strays be two things at once? That’s the question that popped into my head time and time again last night during their second, sold-out night at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville. The band from Mobile, Alabama consisting of Drew Nix (electric guitar, vocals, harmonica), Zach Rishel (electric guitar), Andrew Bishop (bass), John Hall (drums), Sevans Henderson (keys), and frontman Brandon Coleman are currently out on their Grateful Tour, and they’re both a Christian band (they prefer calling themselves a “band full of Christians”) and a southern rock band. They can change back and forth from song to song, and that’s partly what makes them such a unique act. Coleman talked about the full circle moment that was them playing on the biggest venue on Broadway. Their first gig in Nashville was at the Acme Feed & Seed down the road. The group then slowly but surely upgraded in terms of Nashville venues, sharing their music at places like The Basement East and the Ryman over the years… and eventually making their way back to Broadway with a two-night-stand at Bridgestone. Their anthemic and passionate music filled the arena with ease. Fans arrived early and stayed late (the Red Clay Strays added some songs to the setlist as a thank you to the energy permeating throughout the crowd) to see the band that’s been on the rise for quite some time. There were just as many beers raised in the air as there were hands of worship. And it’s no secret that the Red Clay Strays have a catalogue full of faith-based songs. They’re incredibly open about why they inject Christianity into their tracks, and during the show, Coleman gave his spill explaining the reasoning behind God showing up in their music, and why they push through the challenges of touring: “We know not everyone believed in God, and that’s okay. We’re not trying to be anybody’s preacher, we’re not judging anybody and we don’t really care what you believe. Because we are far from perfect ourselves. That is a fact. We’re just making music about our life, and God’s a big part of our life, so He’s in our music. Traveling and playing music and being on tour takes it out of ya. It’s very demanding physically and mentally. I’ve said before, if we were doing this for clout or attention or fame, I don’t think it’d be worth it. It’s too demanding and too hard. What really makes it worth it for us though, and keeps us wanting to go out on tour and be on the road, is seeing how our music affects people in a positive way and helps people.” And that right there is how I believe the Red Clay Strays are able to play worship music without preaching – their why. The group hailing from Mobile, Alabama sees how powerful their music and its messaging is, and they’ve managed to create an atmosphere with their shows that’s both inclusive and religious. That’s almost unheard of in the modern day. But they do it in a manner that’s uplifting and all-accepting. They’re telling people about Jesus – and exhibiting their Christian beliefs on stage – without telling people what to do or what to think. Packaging faith like that isn’t as common as it should be. Something tells me the Red Clay Strays realize that, and whether intentionally or unintentionally (seems intentional to me though), they’re crafting a judgement-free and Christian-like environment that’s leading people to be more open with their faith too. I was actually moved when I witnessed someone in my section a couple of rows in front of me first raise one hand in worship during the band’s performance of “Revival.” Of all the songs by the band, it might be one of the most forward messages, in terms of calling others and encouraging them to give their life to Jesus. When the Red Clay Strays got to the chorus, that same man in the crowd raised his second hand in praise as well … and why wouldn’t he? The band had transformed Bridgestone Arena into a church. Just like the group on stage, the fan with both his hands raised was unapologetically and faithfully himself. And people noticed. Christians are called to lead others to God. How followers choose to do that is up to them. The Red Clay Strays are opting to cultivate places and moments in time where different people from different backgrounds with different beliefs can find common ground, and they are trusting in the scripture of Matthew 18:20: “For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.” Not everyone at their shows believe… but I can confidently and wholeheartedly assure you at least two or three are gathered at their shows to praise God, just as the Red Clay Strays do themselves. Any other band would have a challenging time singing about Jesus and not alienating part of the audience, but Red Clay has found the perfect balance. And as Coleman said during the concert, after all that the band has been through, The Red Clay Strays simply trust that God is going to show up: “Have some faith in God and it’s gonna be okay. He’s gonna show up for you.” The post How The Red Clay Strays Cultivate A Faith-Filled, Judgement-Free Arena Experience first appeared on Whiskey Riff.

Bunnie has been dreaming about owning horses for a while now. Continue reading…

They were a heck of an on-screen team. Dolly Parton sadly passed away on on August 25, 2026 at 80-years-old in Nashville Tennessee. Dolly had been dealing with undisclosed health issues for the last year or so, and she previously shared that she was having issues with severe kidney stones. Aside from that, she understandably didn’t share more, though it has since been revealed that she suffered a “brief battle with cancer.” She was not only a once-on-generation artist, but she was also an actress, starring in films like 9 to 5 in 1980, The Best Little W********** in Texas in 1982, Rhinestone in 1984, and my personal favorite, Steel Magnolias in 1989, in addition to several others. She acted alongside many legends, from Burt Reynolds to Sylvester Stallone, who played Nick Martinelli, a tone-deaf New York City cab driver who Dolly makes a bet over saying she could turn him into a country music star. The movie is a musical romantic comedy, and was directed by Bob Clark. It was of course based on the 1975 hit song “Rhinestone Cowboy,” and even though the movie didn’t do well at the box office, the movie did spawn two top 10 country hits for Dolly in “Tennessee Homesick Blues,” which peaked at #1 on both the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart, and “God Won’t Get You,” which peaked at #10 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart. Stallone famously passed on movies like Beverly Hills Cop and Romancing the Stone to do Rhinestone with Dolly, though he saw the movie going in a different direction, wanting it to be a more gritty, “down and dirty” film, though director Bob Clark made it a much more silly, campy comedy that was a far cry from the Rocky Balboa character he became iconic for. While Stallone has said he regrets how the movie shifted his career at the time and the direction it took, he has never wavered on how much he loved working with Dolly and how it was some of the most fun he ever had on a set, and the two remained close friends. And during a recent interview with Entertainment Tonight, they host played him an old interview from around the time the movie was released, where he talked about their instant bond and how much they loved being around each other: “When I met Dolly, we instantly enjoyed one another’s personalities, company, outlook, and I think philosophies, if I can be so bold. There is a very relaxed sense of well-being between us.” She replies with a beaming smile: “And I like him. I like him too.” It’s just precious… While watching it, Stallone looked on and smiled, saying: “This is my favorite!” After watching the clip, Stallone reflected on the whole process, explaining that it sometimes feels like a dream: “You can’t even find this film anywhere, which is amazing, I’m going, did it really happen? Or was it a dream?” When asked if his agents had “whiplash” when he signed on to do Rhinestone, he said they absolutely did and told him it was a “career killer.” But he wasn’t going to pass up the opportunity to work with a beyond incredible talent like Dolly, so he went for it: “Oh, they went nuts. They said, ‘Jesus, what a career killer.’ I go, ‘So be it.’ You’re never gonna have this chance again, it’s more than working with an actress. It’s working with a philosophy and a talent that is beyond, really, you cant categorize her.” He reminisced on her laugh, saying she “never stopped” laughing, and while on set, she knew the name of every crew member and spoke to them often. He once again confirms the character we all came to know Dolly to have, and he also told a great story about Dolly taking him back to her hometown in the Smoky Mountains of East Tennessee: “I remember that she never stopped, literally, laughing. She also would go around and knew the name of every crew member. When took me to her hometown, I go like, to meet Uncle Lugnut or whatever his name was, and she would laugh about that and go, ‘We ain’t got no lugnuts in our family.’ I mean, she came… when I say humble beginnings, wow.” She was a one-of-a-kind in every way, and I love hearing stories like this from other icons who worked with Dolly in her prime, and every single time they have confirmed what an incredible musician, entertainer, and most importantly, person, she was: This movie never got the respect it deserved… it was ahead of its time, so lighthearted and funny, and even though Stallone said in the ET interview that you can’t find it anywhere, I do think it’s streaming on a few platforms if you’ve never seen it before: “God Won’t Get You” “Goin’ Back to Heaven” The post “She Knew The Name Of Every Crew Member” — Sylvester Stallone Reflects On Acting Alongside Dolly Parton first appeared on Whiskey Riff.

Danielle Parton knew her aunt was sick, but she didn’t know what Dolly was facing. Then Danielle shared news about her own health, and Dolly’s reaction raised questions. Continue reading…

Dolly was an incredible aunt until the very end. On August 25, 2026, Dolly Parton sadly passed away at 80-years-old in Nashville Tennessee. Dolly had been dealing with undisclosed health issues for the last year or so, and she previously shared that she was having issues with severe kidney stones. Dolly’s reps confirmed she sadly died following a “brief battle with cancer,” though the specific kind was not revealed. This week, her Estate announced that her niece, Danielle Parton, is its official Brand Ambassador. Danielle is the daughter of Dolly’s older brother, Bobby, and she is a a commercial airline pilot, military veteran and entrepreneur as well. She spent 20 years in the military and now runs Shine Girl, her moonshine distillery in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee. The Estate shared a statement saying that Danielle: “Embodies the quick wit, strong work ethic and independent spirit that have made her aunt, Dolly Parton, an enduring cultural icon… With her natural charm, entrepreneurial drive and unmistakable Parton personality, Danielle is a fitting ambassador to help celebrate Dolly’s legacy and connect with fans around the world. Danielle and Dolly shared a special family bond rooted in the qualities that have long defined the Parton family.” Dolly delivered a speech at Danielle’s military retirement in 2025, and the two of them were very close, and it’s easy to see they were related… Danielle looks a LOT like her famous aunt: View this post on Instagram And during an interview with Extra this week, Danielle says she’s gotten that many times throughout her life: “Oh, I’ve heard it before, yeah.” She explained that she’s still “a little overwhelmed” with the outpouring of love and support in the wake of Dolly’s death, but it has been incredible for the family to witness just how beloved she was by so many all over the world: “I’m still a little overwhelmed. I’ve always known that Dolly was a huge star, but it’s fascinating to me to see the outpouring of love since she’s passed.” Of the video Dolly filmed for her niece’s military retirement in her final months of life, Danielle said that Dolly always made her nieces feel like they were “the best” and the “prettiest” girls int he world, a testament to her true and “As we were putting that together, I was shocked that we had that introduction. She always acted like we were the prettiest, the best.” Here’s part of that video: View this post on Instagram Sadly, Danielle also revealed that she is dealing with her own cancer battle right now, and while she didn’t get too specific, she says they caught it early and she’s at “stage zero” so it sounds like she’s going to be just fine, thankfully. She also said that Dolly took it “really heavy” when Danielle told her, and Danielle started to figure out that Dolly might dealing with her own cancer battle. She says it was around August 6th when they had that conversation, and Danielle told her it wasn’t “that deep,” and o “I am going through a little bit of a cancer battle myself right now. I’m okay, stage zero, caught it early, getting it done. But she took it really heavy, and that’s how I figured out. I didn’t know, like anybody else, what she was dealing with. I knew she was sick. And that was around August 6th when I talked to her, and I figured out that she was dealing with cancer most likely, at that point. She was just devastated that I was going through it, and I remember telling her, look, you gotta get it together, it ain’t that deep. I just wanted you to know because you knew I was having a biopsy.’ And if she’d remembered, she would have got all over me, she would have called and really chewed me a good one. She worried more about everybody else, before she would ever let you know that anything was wrong with her.” Several of Dolly’s extended family members, like her cousins and those kinds of relatives, revealed they didn’t know that Dolly was dealing with cancer, and even people like her nieces didn’t know what she was dealing with, either. It sounds like only a small group of very close relatives knew how sick she was, or that she was even sick at all, and that’s how Dolly wanted it. Like Danielle mentioned, Dolly was always worried about others more than herself, and I think she would be very proud of Danielle and how she’s going to continue on their family legacy and all of the great work she started. You can watch the full interview here: The post “She Took It Really Heavy” — Danielle Parton Reveals How Her Own Cancer Battle Uncovered Dolly’s Secret Health Struggle first appeared on Whiskey Riff.