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Before she was putting out incredible albums and selling out her own headlining shows, Ashley McBryde worked for the queen herself, Dolly Parton. While she didn’t work for her for very long, and this was a good 20 years ago, there were a few memorable moments that Ashley recalled during a recent interview with BBC Radio 2, saying she actually saved Dolly’s house from some destruction when a microwave caught on fire. She didn’t reveal exactly what might have caused the fire, but when the microwave went up in flames, Ashley jumped into action. She says she grabbed it with a bear hug and ran it out the door, because Dolly’s house was going through a remodel at the time and Ashley knew the smoke would only make that much more work for everyone. I mean, there’s probably no one else I would consider doing that for than Dolly, so I get it and it sounds like Ashley saved them a lot of time and money on everything they were in the process of with the re-wallpapering and all: “I did. For a short time. There was a microwave, and it was on fire. And that’s okay. I unplugged it from the wall, grabbed it with a bear hug and ran it out the door so that it wouldn’t… the thing was, they were remodeling the home. And so where we were staying was just one little portion of the home with two rooms, and a deep freeze, and a microwave and a bed. And they were re-wallpapering, so for that smoke to be billowing out of the microwave, it would have ruined everything in that room. So just bear hugged it and took it outside.” Dolly wasn’t upset about it at all, either… in fact, she gave the microwave to Ashley and told her how to get the smokey smell out of it. But Ashley says it just made everything else she put in their taste like smoke and vinegar, so I don’t think she kept it very long. But she remembered one other thing Dolly gave her from their short time working together, which was a tube of ChapStick Ashley says she kept for two decades and only used “on special occasions”: “She gave me the microwave, told me how to get the stink out of it. She said, ‘Just heat up a bowl of vinegar in there.’ And it still smelled like burnt things and vinegar after that. and she also have me a tube of ChapStick that I had for, I don’t know, probably 20 years after that. I would only use it on special occasions. I got to use my Dolly Parton ChapStick.” I wouldn’t have blamed her if she just framed it and hung it up in her house once she was done with it, too… View this post on Instagram Ashley just released her phenomenal new album Wild, and you can check out some of the standouts below. “Arkansas Mud” “Hand Me Downs” “Bottle Tells Me So” Ashley McBryde Tour Dates June 11 – Jackson, MS – Thalia Mara Hall June 12 – Biloxi, MS – IP Casino Resort and Spa June 19 – Rockton, IL – Settler’s Park June 25 – Belfast, UK – Custom House Square Belfast June 27 – London, UK – Hyde Park July 3 – Calgary, AB – Calgary Stampede July 9 – Deerfield, MA – Tree House Brewing Company July 10 – Bar Harbor, ME – 1932 Criterion Theatre July 11 – Cavendish, PE – Cavendish Beach Music Festival July 17 – Colorado Springs, CO – Phil Long Music Hall July 18 – Gypsum, CO – Lundgren Amphitheater July 24 – Larchwood, IA – Grand Falls Casino Resort Event Center July 30 – West Fargo, ND – The Lights Amphitheater July 31 – Plymouth, MN – Hilde Performance CenterThe post The Wild, True Story of How Ashley McBryde Saved Dolly Parton’s House Renovation From a Fire first appeared on Whiskey Riff.

Paul Cauthen has a secret, creative fix in his back pocket if he ever needs it. Big Velvet recently joined the Whiskey Riff Raff podcast and had plenty to share about his latest album, Book of Paul. The country singer also discussed how he got the nickname “Big Velvet,” and told us that he’s a big fan of artists like Jake Worthington, Stephen Wilson Jr., Kacey Musgraves, and Marcus King, among other country artists. Cauthen made sure to also shout out his fans for being there for him during his cancer journey. He happily shared that he’s still kicking cancer’s a**, and gave some further details about what his recovery process is looking like. And Big Velvet recently became a father and welcomed “Lil’ Velvet” into the world, so he touched on that, as well as his plan to give his son specific records throughout his life. As you might imagine, music is a big part of Paul Cauthen’s daily life. Whether he’s making it, listening to it, or curating a record collection for his son to discover over the years, he’s always intertwined with music in some form or fashion. When it comes to his own writing, Cauthen says there’s one way that he stays creative: “It’s really always honing your craft. Always being at a piano or trying to play a guitar every day. Guy Clark said it best, ‘Everything is a song, it just depends on what you pay attention to.’ If you don’t work your craft… if you are a body builder and you stop bench pressing, how many reps do you think you are going to do of 225 in the competition?” The “Ain’t No Crime” singer compared writing to keeping muscles toned, and how it’ll only be in better form the more and more it’s trained. If Paul Cauthen is ever struggling to write, or just lacking in creativity, he’s discovered one surefire way to break through it: Listening to music he can’t understand: “I listen to like Bali music or Bollywood. Or I listen to Indian music, or Selda Bağcan. Some of these different types of eastern African music. I listen to stuff where I can’t understand the language, and then I get fed different vibes. I’d tell anybody to go do that. If you are an artist or you are just a listener, totally go on the other side of the world and point a finger and ask, ‘Who is making music here?’ Then bam, you’ll find something and it’ll just be, ‘Woah, I’ve never heard that before.'” @whiskeyriff @Paul Cauthen #whiskeyriff #whiskeyriffraff ♬ original sound – Whiskey Riff Paul Cauthen swears by it… so there must be something to it. If you haven’t had a chance to check out Book of Paul, make sure to go do so. And you can hear more from Big Velvet by checking out the interview on YouTube or making 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. Cheers, y’all. Audio Video The post Paul Cauthen On Why He Thinks Artists Should Listen To Music In Other Languages: “Get Fed Different Vibes” first appeared on Whiskey Riff.

Still trying to find that perfect balance. It’s safe to say that the past year and a half has been nothing short of a whirlwind for Parker McCollum. Beyond the fact that he dropped his self-titled, fifth studio album last June to commercial and critical success, the Texas native also scored huge career milestones, performing at President Donald Trump’s inaugural ball in January and co-hosting Better Together Texas and raising over $8.5 million for flood relief with Miranda Lambert in August. The end of 2025 saw Parker and his wife, Hallie Ray, announce that they were welcoming their second child, who will join them in the summer of 2026. Of course, the couple welcomed their first child, Major Yancey Tyler McCollum, into the world back in August 2024. “McCollum party of 4 next Christmas!!!! Another BOY joining us summer 2026!!! Merry Christmas, everyone! Thank you, Jesus! HBD!!” View this post on Instagram Welcoming a child into the world is hard for a touring musician, given the taxing schedules and constant appearances demanded by this job. Given that many touring artists are used to hectic schedules and maintaining relationships while away, it’s been a big adjustment for McCollum over the years. With the addition of their second child coming incredibly soon, it’s been something that’s been on his mind lately. Fresh off winning his first-ever Album of the Year win at the ACM Awards for his aforementioned self-titled record, the “Pretty Heart” singer was asked by Us Weekly how the balance has been for him lately. Bluntly, he’d admit that it’s been tough. Mainly pointing to the fact that he’s trying to split his time and attention between his family and crew, he’d explain that he always feels like he has one foot in and out each door. “I feel bad when I have them on the road with me a lot of times, ’cause I feel like I’m one foot in family and one foot in work with my guys. And me and my band have been together forever. Some of these guys have been playing with me since we were 19/20 years old, so we’re very tight. And a lot of my crew guys are the same way — just came up in the bars playing for zero people for years in Texas. A lot of those guys have been with me for all those years. So we’re very close, and we’re very in it when we’re on the road.” McCollum would then go on to express how much he loves to have Hallie Ray and Major out on the road with him, calling seeing them when he walks off the stage the “greatest.” However, he’d be honest and admit that he’s still trying to find the perfect balance for both himself and his family, noting how he wants to be “all in” on whatever he’s doing. “I love to have them out. I love when I walk off stage and her and my wife and Major are on my bus. It’s like the greatest, but it’s hard to be… I like to be all in with whatever I’m doing, so I think I’m still trying to figure that out as time goes on — just how to be a dad and a frontman on the road.” Like anything in life, it’s all about balance. Recently, we’ve seen Luke Combs reveal that his strategy as of late has been staying at home with his kids nearly every day during the week and performing one show during his My Kinda Saturday Night Tour during the weekend, and I’m sure Parker will find his balance soon as well. @usweekly Parker McCollum is still figuring out how to be a dad while navigating being a frontman on the road. #ACMAwards ♬ original sound – Us Weekly Parker McCollum Tour Dates June 4 – Milwaukee, Wisconsin – BMO Pavilion x/ June 5 – Sterling Heights, Michigan – Michigan Lottery Amphitheater x/ June 6 – Grand Rapids, Michigan – Acrisure Amphitheater x/ June 18 – San Diego, California – Viejas Arena ~$ June 19 – Los Angeles, California- Greek Theatre ~$ June 20 – Sacramento, California – Golden 1 Center ~$ June 25 – Nampa, Idaho – Ford Idaho Center Amphitheater ~$ June 26 – Bend, Oregon – Hayden Homes Amphitheater ~$ June 27 – Kent, Washington – Accesso Showare Center ~$ July 16 – Brandon, Mississippi – Brandon Amphitheater ~> July 17 – Orange Beach, Alabama – The Wharf Amphitheater ~> July 18 – Alpharetta, Georgia – Ameris Bank Amphitheater ~> July 24 – Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio – Blossom Music Center z/ July 25 – Fairborn, Ohio – Wright State University – Nutter Center z/ July 29 – Morrison, Colorado – Red Rocks Amphitheater +0 July 31 – Kansas City, Missouri – Morton Amphitheater +0 August 1 – Omaha, Nebraska – Chi Health Center Omaha +0 August 6 – Bridgeport, Connecticut – Hartford Healthcare Amphitheater z/ August 8 – Burgettstown, Pennsylvania – The Pavilion at Star Lake z/ August 21 – Simpsonville, South Carolina – CCNB Amphitheater at Heritage Park x% August 22 – Huntsville, Alabama – The Orion Amphitheater x% September 3 – Bangor, Maine – Maine Savings Amphitheater x@ September 4 – Gilford, New Hampshire – Bank of New Hampshire Pavilion x@ September 5 – Saratoga Springs, New York – Saratoga Performing Arts Center x@ September 17 – Jonesboro, Arkansas – First National Bank Arena x! September 18 – Rogers, Arkansas – Walmart Amp x! September 19 – Evansville, IN  – Ford Center x! September 24 – Stephenville, Texas – EECU Center x> September 25 – Oklahoma City, Oklahoma – Paycom Center x> September 26 – Beaumont, Texas – Doggett Ford Park x> x Max McNown ° Jake Worthington = William Beckmann > Jackson Wendell # Tyler Halverson ? Mike Ryan + Laci Kaye Booth 0 Josh Abbott Band / Kassi Ashton % Annie Bosko @ Owen Reigling ! Logan Ryan Band $ Aubrie Sellers + Gary Allan z Gabby Barrett ~ Vincent Mason The post Parker McCollum Says He’s Still Trying To Find The Perfect Balance Between Family & Touring: “I Like To Be All-In With Whatever I’m Doing” first appeared on Whiskey Riff.

The Chicks singer is back in political controversy territory after posting a fiery anti-Trump message that included a brutal censored insult and references to January 6. Continue reading…