Hannah Dasher told us how she really felt about Beyoncé’s Cowboy Carter. The talented and bubbly country artist stopped by the Whiskey Riff Raff podcast to talk about how her presence on TikTok, her cooking show that has helped fans discover her music, the struggles of being a fully independent artist, what it’s like to be a woman in the industry and much more. A portion of that “much more” ended up being her thoughts on Beyoncé entering into the country music genre. The pop star’s dip into the country world has stirred up a lot of conversation, and country artists themselves are divided on the matter. Some artists say that they loved it, while others are quick to call Cowboy Carter disingenuous. As you know, Beyoncé released her “country album” Cowboy Carter (that she clarified “wasn’t a country album”) back in March of 2024. It was certainly a cultural moment, and one could argue that it was successful out of the gate. But after its initial release, it really lacked the staying power on the Billboard charts that you would expect from someone as big as Beyoncé. Then, after it failed to be nominated at many of last year’s country music award shows, it seemed like the “country era” of Queen Bey was all but over with. However, Beyoncé then scored plenty of Grammy nominations for the project (or course), totaling 11 different nominations including “Best Country Album” and “Album of the Year.” The 43-year-old artist ended up taking home both of those awards and one other, bringing Beyoncé’s total Grammy Awards won up to 35 – the most of any artist in history. That’s certainly an accomplishment, but it’s not enough to change Hannah Dasher’s mind about it. In Dasher’s opinion, the independent country music artist that has fought to earn her place in Nashville thinks that Beyoncé mailed it in with her attempt at a country music record, and wishes that the pop star would have done things differently: “As far as the Beyoncé thing, I think she’s a queen. I think she’s incredibly gifted. Obviously, (Cowboy Carter) wasn’t a country record. If she really wanted to fool us into believing that she wanted to pay homage to our genre, then she would have done something like Ray Charles did in 1963 with ‘Modern Sounds in Country Music.’ I would have loved to see her record an old Tammy Wynette song to really do it justice. And to include more songwriters, not just black artists and black songwriters, can I be honest? I think there were a couple of us pales skins on there.” And Dasher isn’t alone in feeling that way. Many had no issue with Beyoncé coming into country music and dropping an album… as long as her project was actually country music. I don’t think anyone would listen to Cowboy Carter and suggest that it fits underneath the country umbrella. It’s just dressed up like it’s supposed to. That’s the main problem that Hannah Dasher had with Beyoncé’s controversial entrant into the country music world: “It was obviously an agenda and a mission, not to take away from Tiera and artists like that, and I’m grateful from the huge moments they’ve gotten from that, but obviously it wasn’t genuine and I wish she would have paid homage and actually put out a country record because I would have bought that. I would have bought 10 copies of that. It would have done even better. She just took advantage of an algorithm. That’s not art. That’s just a quick grab to make some money and I don’t think that deserves any kind of award.” @whiskeyriff “I wish she would have paid homage and put out an actual country record.” @HANNAH DASHER // // The latest Whiskey Riff Raff episode is live now on Spotify, Apple, and YouTube. #whiskeyriff #whiskeyriffraff #hannahdasher #beyonce ♬ original sound – Whiskey Riff If you want to hear more from Hannah Dasher, make sure to download the podcast on Apple Podcasts by searching “Whiskey Riff Raff” or click here. We’re also available on Spotify and wherever else you can listen to podcasts. Cheers, y’all. Audio Video The post Hannah Dasher Would’ve “Bought 10 Copies” Of ‘Cowboy Carter’ If Beyoncé Had Actually Gone Country: “It Wasn’t Genuine” first appeared on Whiskey Riff.

Paul Cauthen is standing by his shots toward Charley Crockett. Over the last few weeks, the “Piss On Bro” country movement has taken over social media and headlines. The whole conversation started after Charley Crockett penned a lengthy Instagram post criticizing the current state of country music, defending Beyoncé, calling out Morgan Wallen, and more. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Charley Crockett (@charleycrockett) Although Crockett did not name any artist by name, it was rather obvious who he was taking aim at, and as a result, the “$10 Cowboy” singer sparked an online battle with Gavin Adcock. Crockett and Adcock had a lot of back and forth with Crockett even sending the “Four Leaf Clover” singer flowers and a copy of his latest record as an olive branch, but the feud continued. Because of the attention their back-and-forths were gaining, other artists began to chime in. Benjamin Tod was one of the first to speak out, noting that he appreciates healthy conversation about differing opinions but disagreed with the personal attacks that Adcock was throwing at Crockett. After Tod shared his opinions, another artist took to Instagram to share his thoughts on Charley Crockett. In a lengthy Instagram story rant, Paul Cauthen did not hold back, sharing his honest thoughts about the “Just Like Honey” singer. Cauthen claimed that Crockett presented himself as a whole different person when they met years ago, calling his persona “bullsh*t.” “Charley boy, Charley boy, oh man. This fairytale’s getting outta hand. I know that you’re a student of country music and a student of all these fairytales that you have put out to the public, that’s really, I mean, just straight-up bullsh*t. I mean, I met you in uptown. You were DJing, and it was a whole different vibe going on then. And then from, I don’t know that point to let’s say 2020 or whatever, I guess you busked and lived in New Orleans, in San Benito, and you went over to your uncle or granddad, Davy Crockett’s house, and it’s just all bullsh*t, bud.  I mean, come on bro. Just play music and stop lying. I’m usually not the commotion stirrer, but I like to end bullsh*t. I really love to end it, and I want everybody to know that everything that’s been said about the past and you know, all this s***, it’s bullsh*t. And it’s just lies now. He kicks around, sings beats the sh*t out of his guitar.” Pushing back on Crockett’s long-time claim of being related to Davy Crockett, he’d then go on to call Crockett a pathological liar:  ”Stop being a pathological liar and thinking that you’re something that you’re not. You’re just a singer that’s ripping off the past, that’s bringing it in like it’s your blood and your sh*t. Well, you’re not related to Davy Crockett and you’re not f***ing Bob Wills. So just go play.” After noting that he once gave Crockett one of his grandfather’s songbooks, Cauthen would then push back on his incessant need to talk about genre’s history, essentially imploring him to shut up and sing:  ”I gave you one of my granddad’s songbooks on my back porch in East Texas where I grew up in the house that I grew up in. And this is getting to a point where you’ve gotta just play music and shut up about all the past and all what you’d think about genres and everything. It’s bullsh*t. And everything that you’ve said about your past is made up. It’s a lie, but that’s okay. You know, people lie, but it’s just bullsh*t, buddy. And you know it. And I’m not gonna let up because I’ve worked too hard in this business to watch somebody lie to the fans.” After saying that the “Jamestown Ferry” being related to Davy Crockett is as believable as him being the son of Dallas Cowboys legend, Emmitt Smith, Cauthen then launched into a parody of “$10 Cowboy,” calling Crockett a liar once again: “I’m a lyin’ cowboyFor a penny, I pineOh my gosh, I drink my moonshine, ride my saddle to work in AustinAnd I get in my El Dorado CadillacAnd look-y there, take a picture of me with the old rigs in the backOh the train tracks, oh cigarsOh I’ve been from here to f***ing MarsI was born in this county, left this county, then I went to this countyThen I met Davy Crockett and he’s my daddyYou’re bullsh*t” Cauthen immediately apologized for “being mean” before calling “$10 Cowboy” a good song- praising him for being a great singer and performer, Cauthen closed the five-minute rant with one last plea to quit lying about his past: “Charley, I love your music. I think you’re a great singer and performer. Wish you the best, but lying just doesn’t sit well with me. So just come out there and get on another podcast. Do your little Ted Talk and tell people, ‘Hey, you know, I’ve embellished the truth a little bit just so that I could get another leg up in the business.’ It sounds way better that I came from disparity and hoboing and train robing and shoot ’em up cowboy cap gun shit, but it’s just fairy tales.” While it does not appear that Crockett has publicly addressed Cauthen for his Instagram rant, in a recent post, he does apologize to anyone he’s offended for recently speaking out while discussing his latest album release, Dollar A Day. While he apologizes for offending people, he does not apologize for voicing his opinion and does not plan to stop sharing his feelings. “… There’s a lot of people coming on here giving their opinion of me who clearly ain’t been around too long. That’s ok, it’s your right. I’m in the wrong business if I have a problem with being judged. I’ve always said that it’s the American people who allow me to do this. Everything I know I learned in front of an audience. I apologize if I’ve offended anyone. Truly. I’m sorry. But I don’t regret speaking my mind. For whatever reason I bring out strong feelings in folks. It’s been like that since I was a kid. But the opposite of love isn’t hate. It’s indifference. What I see as I spend my life traveling around this beautiful country are hard working people of all different backgrounds just trying to make it stick on a ‘Dollar A Day’…” View this post on Instagram A post shared by Charley Crockett (@charleycrockett) Just as Crockett is not apologizing for voicing his opinions, Paul Cauthen, too, isn’t apologizing for sharing his thoughts on the “Trouble & Misery” singer. A week after his Instagram story rant, Big Velvet took to Instagram after a show in Montana to not only thank his fans but also stand by his statements made toward Crockett. In the post, Cauthen implies that the downfall is coming for artists who are fabricating their stories and backgrounds. Cauthen shares that he’s as authentic as it gets and keeps his outlaw doings behind the closet door, and lets his music speak for itself. His story is 100% his and nobody else’s, which seems like a reference to his previous statements about Crockett. While he did not name Crockett in this post, it’s rather apparent that this is aimed at him. “Didn’t fabricate an entire story to be me. Didn’t screw over the people I’ve worked with. Never stole money from my ex. Or take her story and run with it. Never claimed to be an outlaw or a cowboy. Maybe I’ve done some outlaw sh*t. Those things are kept quiet! I’ve sure as hell been bucked off a bull, and I don’t want to ever do that again. Big boy fall hard! Thank you Montana for being real! These glam shop cowboys and self-proclaimed outlaws just keep gasoline on the fires of authentic humans. You know who the hell you are! Keep it up! The downfall is coming. Truth will prevail.” I wonder what Big Velvet means when he says the downfall is coming… stay tuned. Regardless, I don’t think Charley Crockett is going to be out of the conversation for a hot minute. But as his post shares, he does not mind that folks are talking about him, he’s still going to do him. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Paul Cauthen (@paulcauthen) The post Paul Cauthen Doubles Down On “Pathological Liar” Claims Against Charley Crockett: “The Downfall Is Coming, Truth Will Prevail” first appeared on Whiskey Riff.

Reasonable Democrats know that President Trump is on the right side of the crime epidemic issue, which is evidenced by Obama strategist David Axelrod telling Governor Pritzker and Mayor Johnson on CNN . . .

The sweet and savory pairing may seem controversial, but it’s a traditional way to enjoy apple pie in New England and the Midwest.

Another year, another list ranking dog breeds. Earlier in 2025, Care.com put out their latest, specifically ranking which dog breeds are considered the "most loyal." In their post, pet expert Lindsay Pevny notes that, "Veterinarians and dog behavioral experts recognize several distinct brands of loyalty in dogs. While some are devoted to their favorite person, others are loyal to their entire human family. Each breed’s penchant for friendship sets them up for a lifetime of a unique relationship with their favorite humans."Their list: Retriever (both Golden and Lab)German ShepherdBorder CollieGreat PyreneesChihuahuaVizsla Staffordshire Bull TerrierThey also share the importance of intentional breeding. Pevny quotes Camp Bow Wow's animal health and behavior expert Erin Askeland, who says, “Breeding history and the intention of the breed can shape their loyalty characteristics. Breeds bred for companionship or working closely with humans tend to exhibit higher levels of loyalty—for example, dogs who are bred to be trained as service dogs." A dog lies in a pile of leaves. Photo by Dzmitry Dudov on Unsplash But far from everyone agrees with the list, and some don't think such a subjective list can be ranked in the first place. On Reddit, someone asks, "What is objectively the most loyal dog breed?" One person simply responds, "Dogs." And another claims, "My mongrel," of course referring to their mixed breed pup. A few others mention their breed of choice, but there is no real consensus.When the question is opened up in broader terms on the subreddit r/puppy101 to ask, "What are the three best dog breeds in your opinion and why?" many more commenters jump in. Some argue, obviously, that it's subjective based on what the pet guardian is looking for. Someone jokingly writes, "The 'my dog' breed unequivocally takes top spot. Universally adored." Another states, "Dachshund, dachshund and dachshund. Why? I am a masochist, apparently." But again—there is no consensus. A dachshund rides a skateboard. Giphy In fact, other lists claiming to have consulted experts and animal behaviorists listed entirely different "most loyal" breeds for 2025. In their own list, The Spruce Pets throws Dobermans and Cocker Spaniels in the top ten, though Labrador Retrievers also hold the top spot.If one changes the term from loyal to "Velcro dog," it's true that some breeds are a bit clingier than others. Though again, it's based on the individual canine. A dog expert from Pets Radar explains that "Velcro" dogs were most likely bred to work alongside humans. Many pooches such as the Golden Retriever, the Lab, the Vizsla, the German Shepherd and the Chihuahua also make their list—though they add the Maltese, the French Bulldog and the Italian Greyhound.On their YouTube page, The Pet Collective lists their top 13 "most loyal dog breeds" and at number one? Lo-and-behold, it's the Beagle! They claim, "Those who want a loyal and curious sidekick should get a Beagle." They then show a Beagle begging for treats and adorably honking a car while throwing their head back like Snoopy. - YouTube www.youtube.com It's pretty safe to say there is no objective "best" breed of dog. We love what we love and there are no wrong answers. As for loyalty, seems like that Redditor got it right—the true answer is simply "dogs."

There have been many studies in the past that show people face a lot of bias when they turn in a job application. A 2021 study found that job applicants who had "Black-sounding" names were nine percent less likely to get a call back than those whose names sounded "white." People who review resumes are also looking for subtle clues of social class.A 2016 Yale study found that men who appear to be upper-class in job applications fare much better than women of the same class when applying to elite positions. However, lower-class women perform better than lower-class men in the same process. Unfortunately, sex, race, and class bias are significant issues when it comes to hiring, but another prejudice has nothing to do with inherent characteristics: the way your name sounds can make a big difference when you send in a job application. Do people judge job applications based on your name?A recent study carried out by The Conversation found that people attribute personality characteristics to people based on whether their name sounds "smooth" or "spiky." The researchers designed a job ad looking for a candidate high in one of six personality factors: honesty/humility, emotionality, extroversion, agreeableness, conscientiousness (how organized or hard-working someone is), and openness to experience. People lined up for job interviews.via Canva/PhotosThe researchers sent in applications with people who had smooth-sounding names with sonorant consonants (l, m, n), and the others were spiky with voiceless stops (p, t, k). Some examples of smooth names (sonorant consonants) include: Joanna, June, Norah, Allen, Linus, and Moses.Some examples of spiky names (voiceless stops) include: Rita, Erica, Tia, Kurt, and Victor.The researchers found that individuals with smooth-sounding names were perceived as more agreeable and emotional, whereas those with spikier names were seen as more extroverted. So, if people are hiring for a job where they were looking for agreeable characteristics, those with smooth-sounding names had a better chance of getting the gig.Interestingly, according to researchers, the way a name sounds has nothing to do with someone’s personality. In real life, Lou and Erica may be just as agreeable as one another. But when hiring managers are just looking at names, Lou gets the gig. What is sound symbolism?The idea that the sound of a word can make it feel aligned with particular qualities is known as sound symbolism. It’s why we often say that so-and-so looks like an Emma or a Charles. A popular study on the phenomenon known as the Bouba / Kiki effect found that when given the two names Kiki (spiky) and Bouba (smooth), they are much more likely to call the figure on the left Kiki and the one on the right Bouba. Although researchers don’t know the exact reason why we map certain sounds to specific shapes, they believe it may reflect how we move our mouths to make those sounds. The Bouba / Kiki effect. via Wikimedia Commons“The rounded shape may most commonly be named ‘Bouba’ because the mouth makes a more rounded shape to produce that sound, while a more taut, angular mouth shape is needed to make the sounds in ‘Kiki.’ Alternatively, the distinction may be between coronal or dorsal consonants like /k/ and labial consonants like /b/,” researchers at Mind Modeling wrote.The study may reveal that there’s one more thing many of us have to worry about when applying for a job. But it’s also a reminder that we all have some sort of bias, and next time we see a name without knowing the person, we may be judging them based on criteria that doesn't reflect who they are. Much like it’s wrong to judge a book by its cover, judging someone by their name may mean you miss out on someone truly wonderful.

The '90s are often depicted as a golden age. A time of less violence, more money, better music, equal rights, unprecedented technological progress, and Beanie Babies instead of Labubus. A time of peace throughout the land. However, take a quick romp through actual history and we see that when we take the rose-colored glasses off, the '90s weren’t without its less-that-stellar moments. Furthermore, there was a lot more nuance to it than teens wearing a bunch of flannel and listening to grunge music. Across several Reddit threads, people who actually lived through the '90s have shared some prime examples of how we get the '90s wrong and elements we have completely forgotten about, from recalling society’s very unhealthy obsession with thinness, to police brutality, to the questionable hunter green/maroon craze (remember that?). Take a scroll down memory lane with our 15 favorites: 1."The early 90s and late 90s were two very different times culturally. I can't stand it when I see a picture of the spice girls with a 'So 90s!' caption."“There’s a HUGE difference between the early 90’s and late 90’s. After 1996 it was more millennial, Pokémon, Britney Spears vs the early 90’s which was more grunge and smooth RnB."2. "Not all Gen Xers were disinterested slackers in the 90s.""I graduated from university in 1991. I spent the 1990s trying to get a decent job, pay rent and generally just getting my shit together. Most other people my age seemed to be doing pretty much the same thing, unless they had rich parents."3. "Nobody seems to talk about all the maroon and hunter-green wallpaper strips that were added to the top of the walls in houses. Maroon and hunter-green everywhere. From cars to vacuums and beyond.""My comforter set for my freshman dorm (Fall 1994) was maroon on one side, hunter green on the other. I realized it was dark and depressing so I got a girlie daisy print bedspread for the rest of college." See on Instagram 4. "Money was tight then, too. People were happy with fewer luxuries, because we could get by. And the very idea of giving a child a device worth hundreds of dollars was ludicrous! I still feel this way."5. "A lot of people talk about the 90s like it was a utopian decade. Sure, a lot of stuff was awesome. But there was also the AIDS epidemic, the crack epidemic, the heroin epidemic, lots of police brutality, the sharp uptick in domestic terrorism, etc. plus the casual sexism, racism, & homophobia. The hope for the future that started in late 1989 with the fall of the Berlin Wall and the heating up of our economy in the mid-90s only lasted until 2000. It was a very brief window, in retrospect."6. "Female celebrities were shrinking to child sizes and getting praised for it. 'Thinspo' was a thing. ALL my friends group from high school and college, including myself, had eating disorders — Marlboro Light and Diet Coke for every meal. Our idea of sports was extreme cardio only. We were SO unhealthy. Thank God we were young enough to bounce back to normal without major issues."7. "That Nirvana ruled the 90s, and killed off all other forms of hard rock. They hit hard for about two and a half years, and then we were stuck with Tonic and the goddamn Spin Doctors.""A lot of people mention grunge and gangsta rap, but country was very hot too. Country line dancing became a big thing, Branson, Missouri became a big tourist destination with its theaters, and artists like Garth Brooks and Shania Twain made tons of money.""I don't think the Riot Grrrl movement gets enough recognition and acknowledgment as an extremely significant 90s cultural event." - YouTube www.youtube.com 8. "I think one idea that's misrepresented is that we were already online, all the time.""I mean, I was STOKED when I got into the dorm with LAN connections in 1993, but I was an outlier. Lots of kids at my college barely understood using computers, much less anything internet-related beyond maybe an AOL/AIM. Obviously this was an evolution of ten very fast moving years."9. "That mom Jeans were cool. No one under 35 wore them."10. "Not everyone wore Doc Martens back in the 1990s. Many people wore military boots as a fashion statement that were often mistaken for Doc Martens, while others wore sneakers every day, even in venues where they should have been wearing more formal shoes." - YouTube www.youtube.com 11. "Cellphones were considered tacky and unnecessary unless you were a doctor."12 ."Not everyone got around on rollerblades."13. "Property was cheaper, not cheap as in affordable to all."14. "If your family lived in a rural area and wasn't rich enough to immediately buy a computer, you could be lonely in a way that people can't even comprehend now. I spent the last two years of high school doing nothing, watching TV and playing 16-bit RPGs repeatedly because I couldn't get anywhere or do anything." 15. "Drunk driving didn't have the stigma it does today. It took a long campaign waged by MADD (Mothers Against Drunk Driving) to shift public perception on how dangerous drunk driving is."

Making everything look easy. The post ‘What’s Love Got To Do With It’: The inspiring but bizarre story of Tina Turner’s comeback to number one first appeared on Far Out Magazine.