Kenny Rogers was a major part of pop culture history… in a way you’d probably never expect. The late, great Kenny was good friends with both Lionel Richie and Michael Jackson back in the day, so he was a natural choice to represent country music when it came to the recording of the 1985 hit, “We Are The World.” Of course, the song features vocals from over 45 of music’s biggest names, including the aforementioned writers Lionel and Michael Jackson, as well as Cyndi Lauper, Bob Dylan, Smokey Robinson, Bruce Springsteen Diana Ross and Dionne Warwick, just to name a few. It also includes country music’s own Willie Nelson, Waylon Jennings (who didn’t make it until the end of the recording) and Rogers, who said it was “very humbling very quickly” to walk into that studio and see so many legendary musicians in one room. But aside from being an incredible musical artist, Rogers had a passion for photography, and he released several books with original photos in the 80’s, including one called Your Friends and Mine: A Collection of 80 Photographs, which Michael Jackson was featured in. And it was around that time that Rogers took the first-ever photos of Jackson in his signature fedora. He wore it as a child and teenager when he was in the Jackson 5, and here and there during other performances, but he notably wore it in “Billie Jean” music video in 1983, and it became iconic when he debuted the moonwalk during a performance of the song at the Motown 25th anniversary special. Of course, Jackson’s skin and face changed a lot following this performance, and he had multiple facial surgeries that change his look drastically, and so the fedora became a signature part of his look not only for it to be an accessory onstage, but to cover up some things he didn’t want everyone to see all the time. Rogers recalled being the first one to shoot photos of Michael with the hat on when it became standard wear for him, because Jackson wanted to see if the shadows would completely cover his face and how it would look on film. In an interview with Dan Rather many years ago, Rogers also remembered his special time with Michael when he came to have his photograph taken with his chimpanzee, Bubbles, and he stayed much longer than 15 minutes at Rogers’ studio: “You know, I did a photography book called ‘Your Friends And Mine.’ And I had a building in LA, and a studio in it. Once I got Elizabeth Taylor and Michael Jackson, people were calling me to be in it. And the reason I think I got so many people like George Burns, and Lucille Ball, and Gregory Beckett and all of these guys is that I promised everybody they’d be in and out in 15 minutes. Because I was shooting in 8 x 10 format, so you have to have a separate piece of film for every shot. I said, ‘I’ll shoot two colors and two black and whites, and if you don’t like what I get, we just won’t put it in the book.’ Well Michael… I said, ‘You’ll be in and out in 15 minutes.’ He stayed eight hours. He came over and he brought Bubbles, his chimpanzee with him, and we sat and talked. And I think when you get, it’s like Elvis, when you get to that status, you don’t have a lot of people you can just talk to. He couldn’t go anywhere. He couldn’t be a person. And we talked about… I shot the first pictures of him with the hat. Because I think he was gonna have some surgery done, and he wanted to see if the shadows would cover it. And they’re beautiful pictures, some no one’s ever seen before.” What a story… to have been a fly on the wall during that eight hour conversation, too. It’s incredible to just imagine what they would’ve talked about, and I love that they were such good friends and had such a strong connection. Plus, for Rogers to have been entrusted with taking the first fedora photos is just so cool… Michael didn’t need some fancy professional photographer, he trusted Kenny, and the rest, as they say, is pop culture history. I mean, Michael Jackson and his fedora, which he wore often while doing his iconic moonwalk, is one of the most recognizable and famous images of all-time, and it’s so interesting to know what kind of a role Kenny Rogers played in bringing that all together. Legendary, to say the very least… what I would give to see the unpublished photographs that helped shape the imagine of Jackson as a global solo artist and the all-time great in pop music. You can watch the full interview here: The post Kenny Rogers Took The First Photos Of Michael Jackson Wearing His Signature Fedora: “Beautiful Pictures… Some No One’s Ever Seen Before” first appeared on Whiskey Riff.

One of the biggest artists in country music – ever. Luke Combs has had a seemingly meteoric rise over the past few years. The first time I saw him was in January 2017 at Iron City in Birmingham, a venue that holds just over 1,000 people. Muscadine Bloodline was opening for him, and it was just a couple of months after his debut single “Hurricane” had been released. That was obviously one of the last shows of that size that Luke was able to play, because it seems like it was no time at all before he was headlining arenas, and now stadiums. Since “Hurricane” topped the charts in 2017, Luke has scored an insane 19 #1 hits, four Platinum albums, and two wins for Entertainer of the Year at the CMA Awards. Just an insane run that he’s on right now. Well Luke was recently awarded with some more hardware from the RIAA, picking up 34 new certifications that push him into the second best-selling country artist of ALL time, behind only Garth Brooks, and one of the top 15 best-selling artists of all time in ANY genre. Among the RIAA milestones, Luke picked up a Diamond certification for “She Got The Best Of Me,” making him the only country artist in history to have four Diamond-certified singles. (A Diamond certification signals 10 million units, with a unit being either one digital download or 150 streams). He also picked up new Platinum certifications for his 2023 album Gettin’ Old, which is now 2x Platinum, as well as his 2017 debut album This One’s For You, which is now 7x Platinum. The new certifications put Luke at 155.5 million units, with Garth Brooks being in 9th all time, just ahead of Luke at 162.5 million. The best-selling artist of all time is currently Drake with 298.5 million units, while Taylor Swift is in 6th with 194.5 million units and country newcomer Post Malone is 11th all-time with 157 million units. There’s no doubt in my mind that Luke will pass Garth at some point relatively soon to become the best-selling country artist of all time. The only question is just how far up the chart he can get, and whether he’ll eventually end his career as the best-selling artist of ANY genre. Right now, I don’t see what – or who – is going to stop him. NEW RIAA CERTIFICATIONS SINGLES: “Beautiful Crazy” – 14x Platinum “When It Rains It Pours” – 12x Platinum “Hurricane” – 11x Platinum “Forever After All” – 8x Platinum “Beer Never Broke My Heart” – 8x Platinum “Fast Car” – 7x Platinum “The Kind of Love We Make” – 6x Platinum “One Number Away” – 6x Platinum “Better Together” – 5x Platinum “Even Though I’m Leaving” – 4x Platinum “Where The Wild Things Are” – 4x Platinum “Going, Going, Gone” – 3x Platinum “Love You Anyway” – 3x Platinum “Must’ve Never Met You” – 3x Platinum “Does To Me” – 3x Platinum “Lovin’ On You” – 3x Platinum “1, 2 Many” – 2x Platinum “Cold As You” – 2x Platinum “Growin’ Up & Gettin’ Old” – Platinum “Nothing Like You” – Platinum “5 Leaf Clover” – Platinum “Beer Can” – Platinum “I Got Away With You” – Platinum “Tomorrow Me” – Platinum “What You See Is What You Get” – Platinum “Remember Him That Way” – Gold “The Man He Sees In Me” – Gold “Outrunnin’ Your Memory” – Gold “Every Little Bit Helps” – gold “New Every Day” – Gold “The Other Guy” – gold ALBUMS: Gettin’ Old – 2x Platinum This One’s For You – 7x PlatinumThe post Luke Combs Just Became The Second Best-Selling Country Artist In History – Behind Only Garth Brooks first appeared on Whiskey Riff.

Conner Smith appears to be stepping away from country music for the time being following his involvement in a fatal accident that took place in Nashville earlier this month. Smith, who is signed to Big Machine Records, is most prominently known as an artist who rose in the country music ranks thanks to TikTok. His song “I Hate Alabama” went viral a couple of years ago, and fans might also recognize his hit song “Creek Will Rise,” or his Tennessee anthem “Orange and White.” He also released his debut album Smoky Mountains in January 2024, and he’s since made plenty of appearances at various country music festivals. Days prior to his performance at CMA Fest in Music City earlier this month, Smith had played at the Carolina Country Music Fest. Following that, he returned home to Nashville and performed on the Chevy Riverfront Stage the Saturday afternoon of CMA Fest weekend. Then, just over 24 hours after he stepped off the festival stage in downtown Nashville, he was involved in a tragic accident that took the life of a 77-year-old woman. Initial reports from TMZ suggested that country music singer Conner Smith was behind the wheel of a truck that struck and killed an elderly woman in Nashville on Sunday, June 8. According to law enforcement, Smith was heading north on 3rd Avenue in his Chevy Silverado as 77-year-old Dorothy Dobbins was attempting to cross the street. Nashville authorities have reported that Dobbins – who was a local resident of Nashville – was in a marked crosswalk when she was tragically hit around 7:30 PM. First responders rushed to the scene following the incident, and the 77-year-old Nashvillian was transported to the nearby Vanderbilt Medical Center. She unfortunately succumbed to her injuries and was officially pronounced dead at the hospital. Early reports suggest that Dorothy Dobbins had the right of way in the crosswalk, and that Smith failed to yield to her. The police say that Conner Smith did not show any signs of impairment immediately after the crash, nor was he using his cell phone as he was driving. As of right now, a search of Davidson County court records show that no criminal charges have been filed, but authorities report that the investigation into the crash is still ongoing. Conner Smith’s attorney confirmed that the country singer was involved in the incident in a statement released to TMZ: “On June 8th, Mr. Smith was involved in a car accident that tragically claimed a life. His heart goes out to Ms. Dobbins’ family during this incredibly difficult time. Mr. Smith continues to cooperate fully with the ongoing investigation.” The set that Conner Smith played at CMA Fest is the last time that the young country music artist appeared on stage. And now, news is breaking that the 24-year-old is canceling future appearances. One of the shows he had lined up was the Firestone Country Club concert in Akron, Ohio on June 20. He was set to be the headliner for the military appreciation event in Akron, Ohio, and has since been replaced by Frankie Ballard. The Nashville talent agency William Morris Endeavor (WME) said this in a statement that was provided to the tournament in regards to their “A Night In Nashville” concert that honors first responders and veterans: “As Conner Smith takes time to privately process recent events, he will unfortunately not be performing in Akron on June 20. We appreciate your understanding and continued support during this difficult time.” Conner Smith will also be stepping down from his role in the Buckeye Country Superfest that’s taking place on June 21 in Columbus, Ohio. A recent post from the festival stated that Vincent Mason would be stepping in for Conner Smith, who was originally scheduled to play in the 3 p.m. slot at the Ohio Stadium: Pack up the pickup and get ready to Roll See y'all back in The Shoe in just 5 days! Conner Smith will unfortunately not be performing this weekend. Vincent Mason will be joining us at The Shoe in his place. Very limited tickets remain – get yours while you can! pic.twitter.com/HKCRkopHv5 — Buckeye Country Superfest (@buckeye_fest) June 16, 2025 Our thoughts and prayers are with the family and friends of the 77-year-old Dorothy Dobbins, who tragically passed away as a result of the accident. Just a terrible situation… and undoubtedly the right move for Conner Smith to be taking a leave of absence away from country music during this time.The post Conner Smith Steps Down From Multiple Concert Appearances Following His Involvement In Fatal Car Accident first appeared on Whiskey Riff.

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The latest casting drop for The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping has us groaning louder than a District 12 coal miner. Lionsgate announced on June 16, 2025, that Glenn Close and Billy Porter are joining the prequel, slated for November 20, 2026. But after the snooze-fest that was The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, we’re calling this what it is: a blatant attempt to squeeze more cash out of a franchise that’s been running on empty since its overhyped, tween-fueled heyday. Billy Porter screams for attention on the red carpet dressed in drag The cast is stacked, but we’re not here to clap like the Capitol masses. Glenn Close, of Fatal Attraction fame, will play Drusilla Sickle, a cold-hearted District 12 escort for the 50th Hunger Games, aka the Second Quarter Quell. Billy Porter, Pose star and loud-and-proud LGBT activist, is her estranged husband, Magno Stift, a checked-out stylist for the tributes. They join Joseph Zada as young Haymitch Abernathy, Whitney Peak as his love interest Lenore Dove Baird, Ralph Fiennes as a scheming young President Snow, Jesse Plemons as Plutarch Heavensbee, Elle Fanning as Effie Trinket, Kieran Culkin as Caesar Flickerman, plus Mckenna Grace, Kelvin Harrison Jr., and Lili Taylor. It’s a mostly hefty roster by today’s standards. Let’s be real: Songbirds and Snakes was a flop that proved the Hunger Games well is dry. As we said in our Worth It or Woke review, it was a bloated, pointless slog that tossed in Hunter Schafer’s narratively bland Tigris to score progressive points while delivering a story as flat as Peeta’s burnt bread. The Hunger Games always had a shaky premise—a dystopian death match that never fully made sense—but it coasted on a wave of tween girls swooning over Hollywood’s girl-power marketing. That box office haul? Less about quality, more about a fanbase high on Katniss. Mentally-ill man, Hunter Schafer, dressed as a woman in The Hunger Games: BSS The plot for Sunrise on the Reaping, based on Suzanne Collins’ March 2025 novel, sounds like more of the same. It’s set during the 50th Hunger Games, where young Haymitch fights in a beefed-up Quarter Quell. Spoiler: We know he wins, so the stakes are already DOA. Close’s Drusilla and Porter’s Magno might stir up some Capitol drama, but it’s hard to care when the franchise feels like it’s recycling old tricks for a quick buck. With production kicking off in July 2025 and Francis Lawrence back in the director’s chair, the rushed schedule screams profit-chasing, not passion. The original Hunger Games was a mildly fun ride for what it was, but its glory days were propped up by a hype machine, not a bulletproof story. Songbirds and Snakes showed the franchise is out of gas, and tossing in Close and Porter feels like a desperate bid to dress up a tired concept. Sunrise on the Reaping might rake in some cash, but we’re betting it’s another soulless sequel banking on nostalgia and pandering. What’s your take? Is this cast a legit draw, or just more Hollywood checkbox-ticking? Sound off in the comments, and stick with Worth It or Woke for straight-up takes on what’s worth your time—and what’s just woke garbage.The post Glenn Close and Billy Porter Join The Hunger Games, But Is Anyone Excited? first appeared on Worth it or Woke.

Sometimes we just need a good hug and a good cry. That's most certainly what happened when a woman who goes by the name Lady Ak (@Ladya2thek) on TikTok was able to hug her beloved friend and landscaper, after he was detained and incarcerated by ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement).Rewinding a few days prior, she posted a video of all the wonderful work her landscaper, Fernando, had done in her garden. Under the chyron: "Our landscaper is not a criminal, but ICE took him away anyway," she gives a tour of the beautiful rose bushes, oranges, pears, marigolds, sunflowers, and more. She then asks, "Why am I showing y'all a video of my garden? I'm showing y'all because this morning, the man who planted all of this, built that garden bed, and has cultivated food and beauty for my family for the last few years, got deported this morning." @ladya2thek He was more like family.... She explains how her family met Fernando and how her husband reached out to him when they bought their first house. Her voice quivers as she continues. "When we moved in, our garden looked like this." She pans the camera from an empty cement square to a flower bed full of blooming flowers and fruit, "And Fernando did this."In tears, she relays, "Now he's gone. He's headed to Mexico. His children live here. His wife is here. And the way I know that he's been deported today is because my husband is a police officer. And they locked him up in the jail my husband works in. And my husband couldn't even talk to him or tell him everything was gonna be okay."Her empathy extends to her husband, as well. "I feel bad for my husband because I know this is really hard on him too. He's a really great guy, and a great officer. He's kind, he's compassionate, he's courteous." Red strawberries in a garden. Photo by Oliver Hale on Unsplash Half a million likes and thousands of comments flooded her page. One TikToker writes, "Thank you to you and your husband for caring so much. We need more people with compassion like you. Thank you so much."But it's the follow-up video that truly exemplifies the good in humans. Simply captioned, "We got Fernando back," we see the original poster hugging Fernando in a sweetly protective embrace. She writes, "Thank you to everyone who helped us get him back. We still have an uphill battle ahead, but we won't do it alone. Fernando is our family, and family fights for one another. Fernando is no criminal. He's a father, husband, and entrepreneur." @ladya2thek Thank you to everyone who helped us get him back. We still have an uphill battle ahead but we won't do it alone. Fernando is our family and family fights for one another. Fernando is no criminal. He's a father, husband and entrepreneur. The first of tens of thousands of comments is: "That's my Dad!" And after quite a few messages back and forth, it would appear to be so. The OP writes, "We got your all, Liz."Another family member vulnerably shares, "From the moment my father was detained, you and your family have shown us tremendous support and stuck by our side. We are extremely grateful to have Fernando back and fight this uphill battle. Thank you for all the support, we are grateful to have you guys in our corner."The comment section continues to glow with love and support, not only for Fernando and his team, but for the woman and her law enforcement husband too. The idea that these bridges across all walks of life are being built, simply by looking out for one another, is a hopeful one. The two people in this embrace aren't bound by a political matter, but a human one.

Trans men and trans women have the unique experience of living life as more than one gender—and all the societal expectations and/or baggage that comes along with that. Their unique perspectives provide them with extremely valuable insights and opportunities for deep understanding—which, hopefully, provides those who are listening with newfound compassion for the struggle each sex endures. Recently, a trans man opened up about the “culture shock” of navigating male loneliness, and shared how, if they had been forced to grow up with the often insidious messaging boys and men receive, it would have really damaged their psyche.In a Reddit post, the man first got candid about the “social isolation” that comes from constantly being perceived as a "potential predator.”It hurts byu/InfinitePeeGlitch inCuratedTumblrWhile he noted that “all strangers, no matter their gender, keep their guard up around me,” women in particular came across as “incredibly aloof, cold, and mirthless." He did add the disclaimer that, as someone who used to have to protect themselves in the same way, they understood where the “armor” was coming from (“women aren’t just being needlessly guard[ed]”). But, for those who had never experienced life as a woman, he could easily see how this type of behavior could be viewed as “a conspiracy" against the other sex.“Even now, with all that I know about navigating the world as a woman, I’m failing to convince my monkey-brain that this armor isn’t social rejection.” Then there’s the lack of "inherent camaraderie,” which is something the OP got to experience as a woman, but now, is hard won. “The fact that I don’t ambiently experience mutual kinship in basic exchanges anymore is an insanely lonely feeling,” he wrote, "I'm mourning the loss of a privilege I didn’t even know I had.” He added that the only way it’s acceptable for men to share platonic intimacy with one another is in the “very specific environment” often portrayed by the media, in activities that involve “being teamed up against an opposing force.” Otherwise, that type of emotional connection makes men seem “soft” and triggers “garden variety homophobia.” From CBS' 'Seal Team' media4.giphy.com This led the OP to this tragic conclusion: “The human species looks so much colder standing from this side.” “It’s now blatantly clear to me that most cis men probably experience chronic emotional malnutrition. They're deprived of social connection just enough for it to seriously f**k with their psyches, but not enough for them to realize that it’s happening,” he wrote, adding that it certainly would have done a number on him mentally to have grown up that way. This post resonated with so many well-meaning men who have dealt with some form of this loneliness and stigma their entire lives.“It’s so weird, like, I remember really specifically the moment going from kid to teenager where I was seen as like… cute, or harmless, or whatever to a possible threat. And it genuinely, like, really, really, really fucks you up in a way that I don’t ever hear talked about. Which is nuts to me because it’s honestly one of the worst things that’s happened to me! And a guy tried to kill me once!”“I'm a guy who's been on the other end of that situation. Once, girl of maybe 10-12 or so [was] alone in a big store and looking scared about being alone. I consider myself a generally good person and my instinct obviously is to go to her and try and help. I genuinely paused after a step, thinking how does a strange guy twice her age approaching in this situation make anything better? It kinda sucks that I have that thought.”“Growing up I was a big crier…Members of my family and essentially every adult in my life tried to do literally everything they could to break me of that. I remember being punished and forced to do "masculine" things in middle school like wind sprints and burpees if I did…I was rewarded for being angry instead of crying… if I got upset and swore I wasn't punished at first because it was viewed as better than the alternative…It really messed me up and honestly it didn't help that I've had complicated thoughts about my own gender since I was really young.” “I hate seeing people bristle up when I'm being genuinely friendly and helpful. On the one hand, I know that folks are shaped by their experiences and a lot of folks have had a bad time with guys who look and sound like me. On the other hand, I can't really help what I look like or where I grew up! One good thing is that this has caused me to think a lot more about my own biases.” "It sucks to realize that just being naturally energetic, jolly, friendly, and boisterous intimidates smaller/more timid people when you're a guy.”Photo credit: Canva“When you’ve lived under a system your whole life, learned and followed its rules of survival, and you don’t see any chance of it changing in your lifetime, it switches on a kind of coping mechanism convincing you that it’s somehow right.”“I'm a large, loud, physically imposing man [think Hagrid with a slight cowboy vibe]... which means that I have learned to very intentionally ‘turn down’ my presence in social spaces so that people aren't freaked out. It sucks to realize that just being naturally energetic, jolly, friendly, and boisterous intimidates smaller/more timid people when you're a guy.”“As someone who’s had to coach a newly transitioned guy that everyone just kinda doesn’t like you anymore for no discernible reason and that’s just how it is, yeah it must be a real shock to see stuff from the other side…Made me think about how different the female side of the world I live in must be. Maybe it’s a lot more open in some ways. Not like I’ll ever know though, got no choice but to play the cards I’ve been dealt.”Still, there were a few that also offered some words of encouragement, by sharing how they were able to break through stigma, form their own friend groups, and develop emotional awareness in spite of it all. “Practicing emotional reflection allowed me to have a more fulfilling relationship where I could immediately recognize and address how things made me feel bad before things got worse - not just with my SO, but with friends, too. Thankfully, I think society's getting a lot better at recognizing mental health struggles, including the importance of men being able to recognize the value of addressing their emotional needs.”“Genuinely, texting your boys ‘I love you’ makes an enormous difference. Carve out a space of care if the world will not.” Two men huggingPhoto credit: Canva“I experience a lot of what is described here. That said, this whole thread is making me feel even more thankful for the friend group I had. Large, all-male group of mostly cishet men. I'm usually the only one who will say ‘I love you’ first, but they'll all hug me, tell me how much they admire me and appreciate being my friend, talk about their feelings and ask and care about mine. This is not to brag, but to tell men that you can have this, and you can be this.”If only we could all walk in another's shoes, empathy would be easier to come by. We'd have a visceral understanding that the world is tough for everyone, and arguably, unnecessarily so. But stories like these can be powerful reminders all the same.