The country music icon says one simple habit has helped keep her marriage to Frédéric Thiébaud strong for the past 15 years, even though they handle conflict very differently. Continue reading…

Billy Ray Cyrus says his music once again reflects "realism, truth and honesty" as he premieres the official music video for "It's Alright" with Steve Ray Ladson. Continue reading…

A little part of every heart of every rodeo fan died there in the rain and the mud in July in Cheyenne. Today marks 37 years since the tragic death of rodeo legend Lane Frost, the 26-year old world champion bull rider who lost his life while competing at Cheyenne Frontier Days on July 30, 1989. Frost, whose father Clyde competed on the rodeo circuit as a saddle bronc and bareback rider himself, got his start in the rodeo early in life and was winning awards by the age of 10. After moving to Oklahoma, he won the National High School Bull Riding Championship in 1981, and by joined the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association in 1982 after graduating from high school. By 1984, Frost qualified for his first National Finals Rodeo, and just three years later he became the PRCA World Champion bull rider at the NFR. In 1988, the cowboy’s legend grew even more when he became the first rider to successfully ride Red Rock, a 13-year old bull that was undefeated in 309 attempts to ride him. During what was dubbed the “Challenge of the Champions,” Frost managed to last the full 8 seconds and become the first rider to ever conquer Red Rock, scoring an 8-second ride on 4 of their 7 matchups. But what was seen as one of the most legendary rodeo careers of all time was brought to a sudden and tragic end the next year while Frost was competing in Cheyenne Frontier Days, the world’s oldest and largest outdoor rodeo. After a successful ride on a bull named Takin’ Care Of Business, Frost dismounted and landed on his knees in the mud. The bull then turned and knocked him down before hitting him in the back with his horn. The hit broke his ribs and punctured an artery. Frost was able to stand up and signal for help before falling back to the ground, but it’s assumed (because no autopsy was done) that the broken ribs punctured his heart and lungs. Frost was posthumously inducted into the Pro Rodeo Hall of Fame, and in 1989 his friend and fellow bull rider Tuff Hedeman paid tribute to Frost at Frontier Days when he rode his bull for an extra 8 seconds in memory of Lane, en route to his second NFR world championship that year. To this day, there’s a statute outside of Frontier Park honoring the legendary bull rider: View this post on Instagram The life and death of the fallen cowboy was the subject of the 1994 movie 8 Seconds a few years later. But apparently, Frost’s mother wasn’t happy that the movie left out an important part of his life: His faith. Back in 2012, Texas country legend Aaron Watson included a tribute to Lane Frost on his album Real Good Time with his song “July In Cheyenne (Song For Lane’s Momma).” And he revealed that it was inspired not only by Lane’s faith, but also by his own personal loss. In October 2011, Watson and his wife lost their newborn daughter, Julia. And as Watson admitted during an interview with the Wyoming Tribune Eagle, he didn’t really have any interest in getting back on stage: “After that, the last thing I wanted to do was get on stage and play to people having a good time. I hung my guitar up for a long time. I was having trouble functioning and taking care of my three kids and the family I still had here. I asked God to give me a sign to continue writing and signing.” Well around that time, Watson came across the movie 8 Seconds and the story of Lane Frost, and related to the heartbreak of Lane’s mother losing a child. He then came across a quote from Frost’s mother, Elsie, that stuck with him: “This was before I had any relationship with her, and it said, ‘Lane was a world champion bull rider, but that was not his greatest achievement in his life. His greatest achievement came a year before he died, when he asked Jesus to become his savior.’ I was touched by the boldness and simple truth of that.” Watson decided to write a song for her, but he had no intention of actually recording “July In Cheyenne” until he saw the reception that it received when he played it live. He ended up including it on his album, which reached #9 on the country charts, the highest charting album at the time for the Texas country star who was just breaking out into the mainstream. The song has since become synonymous with tributes to Frost, and Watson has said it’s an emotional one to perform, though he insists it’s not a sad song but one of hope: “The end of the song says, ‘If you’re washed in the blood, someday you’ll see him again/And it won’t be in the rain and the mud in July in Cheyenne.’ It’s a gospel song. It’s one that applies to my family as well.” Amen.  The post “It’s A Gospel Song” – The Heartwarming Reason Aaron Watson Wrote ‘July in Cheyenne’ for Lane Frost’s Mother first appeared on Whiskey Riff.

Country music legend Tracy Lawrence felt like he had no choice but to “pull the plug” on pursuing a side career in California. There’s been a mass exodus from the “Golden State” over the years. Whether it be wildfires, do-nothing politics, or rising prices, Californians are ditching the west coast for places like Austin, Texas, and Nashville, Tennessee, (just to name a few landing spots). Ask any of them why and they’ll tell you that California isn’t what it used to be. Even Hollywood isn’t the place to be to make movies and TV shows anymore… just ask Taylor Sheridan. Lawrence recently sat down on the Like A Farmer Podcast, and he too has pretty much given up on California. The “Time Marches On” singer revealed that he had been working with some acting coaches and was exploring an acting career, but he eventually gave up on all of it because of the current state of California: “I had a couple of different acting coaches that I was working with over the last several years, but I mean, it’s just weird going out to California these days, man. It’s kind of… it’s disheartening. I just kind of pulled the plug on all that stuff.” The ’90s country star admitted that the state boasts a lot of natural beauty, and said despite what many might say, it’s full of wonderful people. But it just became too much to handle – financially and otherwise – for the side pursuits in his life. When it comes to touring in California, Lawrence does his best to make it work. However, he goes into it knowing that that traveling with a load of buses can quickly eat up the potential profit of the trip: “I’ve got about a three week run out there in August and September. Man, we’re looking at $10 a gallon just for gas. You know, take a fleet of buses out there and your trucks and stuff and go out there and try to promote shows. They tax you to death. The economy out there is awful. You know, the price of fuel and just getting in and out of the states, tremendous. It’s basically as difficult and as unprofitable as going into Canada right now.” Clearly Canada and California aren’t two of Tracy Lawrence’s favorite places… at least when it comes to finances, and trying to manage a fleet of tour buses. You can hear the country star talk more about it in the Like A Farmer interview below: And speaking of a fleet of buses… Not too long ago, we got a chance to catch up with Tracy Lawrence on his very own tour bus backstage at Barefoot Country Music Fest. The country star talked to us about traveling, playing beach festivals, staying connected in country music after decades in the industry, why he loves doing his very own podcast, his country music Mount Rushmore (which is conveniently tattooed on his arm) and much, much more. Make sure to check it out before you go! The post Tracy Lawrence Gives Honest Take On Why He Gave Up On California: “It’s Disheartening” first appeared on Whiskey Riff.