Lainey Wilson, the singer, entertainer, songwriter, storyteller and actress is hoping to return to Taylor Sheridan’s Yellowstone universe. The Louisiana native has many accolades on her resume, and while the “Hang Tight Honey” singer is known for getting fans dancing to her music while she’s running around on stage, she’s recently dipped into another side of storytelling and is venturing into the world of acting. Wilson got her feet wet in the acting space when Yellowstone creator Taylor Sheridan called on her to appear in Season 4 of the hit western series. Wilson portrayed country singer Abby in Yellowstone, but before she joined the cast, she was a fan like everyone else who appreciated everything Sheridan had done for cowboys, cowgirls, and Western culture. She told Vanity Fair in 2024: “It’s crazy to see how the Taylor Sheridan world has really contributed to everything happening. It really did something for country music, and it did something for the Western culture in general. Growing up that way, and even putting my cowboy hat on now and putting my jeans on and being around horses or rodeo or whatever it is, I feel at home. People are so sick of things that make them feel anything other than at home. People are craving that authenticity. I think they’re just over the bullsh*t.” And speaking of authenticity, on the Grammy red carpet last night, Wilson authentically put it out there that she’s hoping Taylor Sheridan considers her for all the spinoff shows he’s working on. From Marshals and The Madison, to Landman and Beth & Rip’s spinoff Dutton Ranch, there is a lot of potential appearances in the Taylor Sheridan universe, both with Yellowstone spinoffs and non-Yellowstone spinoffs. While chatting with Entertainment Tonight correspondent Kevin Frazier on the red carpet, Frazier brought up Wilson’s budding acting career. To which the Louisiana native admits that she never thought she’d be acting: “The truth is, you know, I never in a million years thought I was going to be doing acting. I’ve always just loved telling a story, and no matter what, my music is number one. But if all these other opportunities are showing up, I’d sure hate to close the door on them.”  Frazier then asks whether there has been any discussion of Wilson returning to a Taylor Sheridan set after Abby was so well received on Yellowstone. Wilson shared that she’s open to it and hopes Sheridan will cast her in another series, but has no secrets about what might be stirring in his head for her future. “You know what? I told Taylor Sheridan, I was like, ‘Holler at me.’ I mean, who knows? We’ll see. Fingers crossed… I don’t got any secrets. I’ll call Taylor after tonight, and I’ll get some, though. So, next time I see ya…”  While I’d love to see Wilson return to a Taylor Sheridan set, fans missing her presence on their screen at least know that she’s staying busy with other acting ventures. Wilson is set to appear in Colleen Hoover’s Reminders of Him. This role marks Wilson’s feature-film debut, in which she plays Amy, a supportive local bar owner/manager and a friend to the main character. Wilson shared with Frazier that this role has been fun for her because there’s been no music involved in the character or in creating the soundtrack, so she’s really enjoying leaning into this specific role. “This is the first role I got to play where I was not playing a musician. Which felt good, you know, I kind of wanted to step outside of that box and try it, and we did it. I can’t wait to do it again.” Wilson elaborated that it felt good to have an acting-only role and the chance to really live up to the actress title on her resume. I know I’m excited to see how Wilson embraces Amy in Reminders of Him. The film is set to release on March 13, 2026, so we are in the final stretch of waiting to see Wilson on the big screen. Check out the entire interview here: The post “Holler At Me” – Lainey Wilson Hopes Taylor Sheridan Will Cast Her In A ‘Yellowstone’ Spinoff first appeared on Whiskey Riff.

Incoming call. You never know who might decide to make a surprise appearance on stage these days, no matter what city you’re in. I know here at Whiskey Riff, we always say you never know who will appear at a dive bar or a small venue to support a friend in Nashville, but let’s face it… that statement rings true in plenty of other cities where music industry folks live… New York, Austin, Atlanta in the rap game, and of course, Los Angeles. And in Los Angeles, California, that statement definitely rings true during Grammy Week. Last night, the Grammy Awards were held at Crypto.com Arena, with Zach Top, Tyler Childers, Chris Stapleton, and Jelly Roll all taking home Grammys in various country music categories. But in the days leading up to the Grammys, country sensation Dwight Yoakam held an event that showcased some of the brightest country music talent while also supporting a good cause. Dwight Yoakam & Friends: Rockin’ for the Kids, supporting Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, and included appearances from Charley Crockett, Lukas Nelson, Marcus King, Shooter Jennings and Grace Potter. The reason for this concert was deeply personal to Yoakam. A few years ago, at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, when their son was still an infant, the new parents found themselves in the hospital with Dr. Mark Krieger, SVP and Surgeon-in-Chief at CHLA, for what turned out to be nothing of further concern. That said, his time there with his son and wife, Emily Joyce, opened his eyes to the struggles millions of families across the country face as their children battle health issues. “When you walk the halls of a children’s hospital, it changes you. It puts all of life in a very graphic perspective. As Emily and I were there with our own child, we saw so many families facing battles no one hopes to ever have to endure. And while we were fortunate to not face those challenges, that experience never left us. Rockin’ for the Kids is our way of saying thank you to Dr. Krieger and the entire staff at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, on behalf of every family who puts their trust in them every single day.” It was clear that those whom Yoakam called upon to perform with him at the benefit knew the personal connection and were happy to appear to support such a wonderful cause. The event at The Roxy Theatre featured some legendary performances and a surprise FaceTime call from an old friend who was unable to attend. While Yoakam was on stage performing “What Do You Know About Love,” Yoakam’s wife, Emily Joyce, was trying to get his attention that a very important person was on the phone waiting for him. Yoakam stopped the tune and took the phone when he saw that none other than the Landman star, Billy Bob Thornton, was on FaceTime. “Hey, man. What are you doing? You’re supposed to be here, but where are you? New Jersey, bro. Are you in your hotel room or are you outside? Mr. Thornton, who presented tonight with Mick G and me, is stuck in New Jersey in the ice storm. He’s in a hotel in his coat. Well, yeah, man, we kicked off over here. I don’t know if you can see the room… Yeah, you can see the room.” The YouTube user who shared the footage had a clear view of the phone screen, showing a bundled-up Billy Bob Thornton ringing the “Fast As You” singer from an icy New Jersey. According to the onstage conversation, Thornton was scheduled to attend Yoakam’s event, but snow in New Jersey was delaying the wrap date for a movie he’s currently filming. That, combined with flight cancellations, led to his absence from the event. After Billy Bob complains about the cold in New Jersey, he takes a moment to thank everyone who attended the event for supporting such a great cause. “Anyway, I just wanted to say that for the Children’s Hospital of L.A., this is a great thing that you are doing. I’m so happy that you all are doing… Thank you all for showing up for this cause, because that’s what we’re here for. We are here to help the future generation.” Yoakam then breaks the news to the crowd that, if Thornton were in the room, he had planned to bring him onstage to cover Dr. Hook & the Medicine Show’s “Sylvia’s Mother.” Talk about heartbreak…that would have been an epic performance. Those in the audience got a special treat witnessing this FaceTime. Check it out: The post Dwight Yoakam Stops Show Mid-Song To Answer Call From Landman Star Billy Bob Thornton: “You’re Supposed To Be Here” first appeared on Whiskey Riff.

Couldn’t agree more. Last night, the 68th Grammy Awards went about as you’d expect from a broad perspective. Once again, Trevor Noah returned to host the event at the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, and similar to last year, the same faces brought home a majority of the all-genre awards. In particular, Kendrick Lamar continued his domination at the Grammys, bringing home the most awards of the night with five en route to becoming the most-awarded rapper in the history of the show. Similarly, Super Bowl halftime show headliner, Bad Bunny, took home an additional four Grammys, including the highly coveted Album of the Year, becoming the first Latin artist to take home the award. Unsurprisingly, the country categories were by far the most interesting and diverse selections of the night. Along with the standard categories for the genre, Best Country Song, Best Country Solo Performance and Best Country Duo/Group Performance, this year, the Recording Academy split the album nominations into two distinct sections: Best Traditional Country Album and Best Contemporary Country Album. If you recall, this was announced back in June 2025 by the Academy in an attempt to better represent the genre, which is not only more popular than ever before but also the most diverse it’s ever been, with subgenres such as alternative country rising to new heights over the years. Harvey Mason Jr., the Recording Academy CEO, noted that many prominent members of the alternative country community had been pushing for the creation of the category for years. “The community of people that are making country music in all different subgenres came to us with a proposal and said we would like to have more variety in how our music is honored. They said, we think we need more space for our music to be celebrated and honored.” He’d also note that the rise of traditional country, spearheaded by the likes of Zach Top, Charley Crockett, Tyler Childers, Sierra Ferrell and many more, also played a large part in the category’s creation. “Country music has evolved in a major way over the past decade, with traditional country experiencing a massive resurgence, growing in popularity and volume. Traditional country has a timeless, distinct sound that’s inspired generations of musicians throughout the years. It’s an important part of the country music story and deserves to be celebrated and recognized with intention. This action by our members now opens the door for us to celebrate more artists and a wider range of music. By adding this new category and renaming the Country Album Category, we’re creating more space for all the diverse artists who are shaping the future of country music.”  In November, Charley Crockett’s Dollar A Day, Margo Price’s Hard Headed Woman, Zach Top’s Ain’t In It For My Health, Lukas Nelson’s American Romance and his father, Willie Nelson’s, Oh What A Beautiful World headlined as nominees for the brand-new category. Despite some stiff competition, Zach Top would ultimately take home the award last night, marking his first-ever Grammy win. Before winning the award last night, however, Top was asked by Rolling Stone how he felt about the new category on the red carpet. Given the fact that the interviewer called the split a “division” of the category, Top would push back on that notion. Calling it exciting, the “I Never Lie” singer would note how it gives artists such as himself, Childers, Crockett and a plethora of other stellar artists like the Turnpike Troubadors a chance to be recognized and nominated. “I wouldn’t call it a division as much… Country is such a wide umbrella right now. It’s just fun; it’s exciting. There’s so many things that fall into that genre, so having a couple different ways to classify stuff, I think is cool. And, I mean, it gives me a chance to get in on something. I don’t know if I would call myself an outsider necessarily. But, you know, it’s a little different than what most of the mainstream is doing. And other guys like Charley Crockett and Tyler Childers, same sort of thing where they don’t fit right in down the middle as far as the contemporary category goes. So I think it’s cool for guys like us. [I’m] excited to see how folks enjoy the little change-up. It’ll be cool.” It’s safe to say that he’s spot on in his assessment. Undoubtedly, the Best Country Album category over the past few years has devolved into essentially becoming the “Best Pop Country Album” award for the most part, with phenomenal artists such as Sierra Ferrell, Crockett, Jason Isbell and more winding up in either the Americana or Folk categories. Couple that with the fact that country is such a wide umbrella nowadays, with acts like The Red Clay Strays and Whiskey Myers dominating the southern rock scene, Zach Bryan and Sam Barber bringing the country-folk scene to new heights and the likes of Morgan Wallen and Jelly Roll experiencing success with their pop/country-rap fusion, the genre is as wide as ever these days. It was an excellent decision by the Recording Academy that was a long time coming, and so far, it’s been nothing short of a success for artists like Top and company. Watch here: @rollingstone Traditional Country Album nominee #ZachTop talks about the new split in the #country album category at the #GRAMMYs #RedCarpet #grammys2026 ♬ original sound – Rolling Stone 68th Grammy Award Country Winners Best Traditional Country Album – Ain’t In It For My Health – Zach Top Best Contemporary Country Album – Beautifully Broken – Jelly Roll Best Country Song – “Bitin’ List” – Tyler Childers Best Country Solo Performance – “Bas As I Used to Be” – Chris Stapleton Best Country Duo/Group Performance – “Amen” – Shaboozey & Jelly RollThe post “Country Is Such A Wide Umbrella”: Zach Top Praises New ‘Best Traditional Country Album’ Category At The Grammys first appeared on Whiskey Riff.

Jelly Roll had quite the weekend thanks to the 2026 Grammys, and while he was taking part in the festivities of the weekend, he pitched the idea of a country music Super Bowl halftime show. One could say that the rapper-turned-country-artist cleaned up at the Grammy Awards. After being nominated over the past couple of years and not winning a single time, the 2026 Grammys brought three Grammy awards to Jelly Roll: one for Best Country Duo/Group Performance with his song “Amen” alongside Shaboozey, one for Best Contemporary Country Album for Beautifully Broken, and one for Best Contemporary Christian Music Performance/Song for “Hard Fought Hallelujah” with Brandon Lake. The “Need A Favor” singer made headlines for his wins, his emotional speech where he praised the Lord and proclaimed that “Jesus is for everybody,” and for deciding to not comment on ICE while he was speaking to the media after his win. And before the actual night of the Grammys, Jelly Roll had something to say about a potential country music-themed Super Bowl halftime show at the Clive Davis Pre Grammy Gala. Entertainment Weekly asked the country music singer about the chances of the country music genre taking over the “Big Game,” and Jelly Roll was excited to give his take on it: “I’ve been waiting for someone to ask me a Super Bowl halftime question. The Super Bowl could possibly come to Nashville in the next three to five years. We’re getting a new stadium. And I have a dream that they do a country music themed halftime show. Maybe perhaps they’ll let me do a 20 or 30 second thing in it.” Besides trying to get himself 20 or 30 seconds during the show, Jelly Roll had a plethora of other country music stars in mind. He imagines a performance where country music’s present meets country music’s past in one big celebration of the genre: “I’d love to see Tim McGraw. I’d love to see Garth Brooks. I’d love to see Reba McEntire. I’d love to see Dolly Parton. I would love to see the country legends and some of the new dogs like Morgan Wallen and HARDY. I’d love to see some of the new guard come in. That’s my dream… Kenny Chesney, and maybe they’d let me come out and do a verse or something. Megan Moroney, Ella Langley, Lainey Wilson, of course. All of our friends. I’d love to see a country music halftime show that kind of involves the whole community.” @entertainment_weekly #JellyRoll is ready to be on the #SuperBowl halftime planning committee! He shares all the country music stars he’d love to see do the show in the next few years. #clivedavispregrammyparty #countrymusic #grammys ♬ original sound – Entertainment Weekly Sounds like a great plan to me… especially considering how long it has been since country music got to take center stage at the “Big Game.” It’s been a long time since a country music artist was the headliner for the Super Bowl halftime show… over 20 years to be more specific. Shania Twain was the halftime show in 2003, and before that, it was the iconic 1994 show that featured the likes of Clint Black, Tanya Tucker, Travis Tritt, and The Judds at the Georgia Dome. Jelly Roll seems to be pitching a modern version of that 1994 show… and I’m sure country music fans can get behind that especially with how popular country music has become in the past few years. And in that new Nissan Stadium? I could dig it. 2027 and 2028 are already locked up in LA and Atlanta, but how about 2030 in Nashville featuring some country music… make it happen NFL.The post Jelly Roll Calls For A Country Music Super Bowl Halftime Show In Nashville Featuring Tim McGraw, Reba, Morgan Wallen & More first appeared on Whiskey Riff.

The holiday celebrating this famous Irish figure is a lot older than St. Patrick's Day.

House Speaker Mike Johnson is "confident" that the partial government shutdown will conclude by Tuesday, despite procedural snarls and Democratic leadership declining to guarantee critical votes. The government entered a partial shutdown at 12:01 a.m. Saturday after Senate Democrats decided at the last minute to rebuff a bipartisan funding deal that had been in the works, demanding reforms to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). "Let's say I'm confident that we'll do it at least by Tuesday," Johnson (R-La.) told NBC's "Meet the Press" on Sunday.