Growing concerns about 91-year-old Willie Nelson’s health have made the headlines. The iconic singer/songwriter, who still performs, has been forced to cancel several dates on his Outlaw Music Festival Tour. The string of cancellations for Georgia, Charlotte, Raleigh and most recently, Virginia Beach on June 26th 2024, due to an unspecified illness, have left Nelson’s dedicated fans worried about his well-being.
There was an official statement of sorts, but it was brief and lacked details. It has only fueled speculation even though it stated, ‘We expect Willie to return to the tour shortly.’ The reassurance did little to ease concern. Thankfully, the statement was quickly updated on June 28th with good news in a social media post provided by his team. It announced Nelson had been cleared by his doctors to resume the Outlaw Tour. He is ‘back on the road again’, the post announced, and would ‘resume performing on the Outlaw Tour next week’.
It meant missing another two performances; June 29th in Wantagh, New York and June 30th in Holmdel, New Jersey, but his Mansfield, Massachusetts date, July 2nd looked set to happen.
Fan Reactions and Concerns
Naturally fans were relieved and excited, but they continued to have grave concerns. At 91, it could be too soon for the veteran music legend to resume arduous touring. It was this mixed bag of emotions that was reflected in comments made by fans on social media. One summed up their collective ongoing concern when he wrote, ‘Please let him know that his health is more important than a show’. Fans would understand if he needed ‘time away’.
This isn’t the first time Nelson’s health has been a cause for concern, although the star has remained impressively active despite his advancing years. He has faced several health challenges, including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). It’s a condition that inflames the lungs, making it difficult to breathe. It is quite common in the elderly and has links with long-term smoking.
Nelson admits he abused his lungs ‘quite a bit’ when he was younger and that he ‘has to be careful’ now that it’s a ‘little more difficult’ to breathe.
Willie Nelson’s Wife, Annie, Said ‘… I Wasn’t Sure He Was Going To Make It’
Unfortunately, both Nelson’s age and compromised lung capacity put him at greater risk during the pandemic. He ended up battling COVID-19. His wife, Annie, revealed just how serious it was, saying, ‘there were a couple of times I wasn’t sure he was going to make it’.
The fact that Nelson is ready to return to performing so fast speaks for his strength, resilience and unwavering professionalism, although it was only Nelson’s performances that were canceled. In true ‘the show must go on’ style, the Outlaw Tour carried on regardless. It included performances from several other greats, including Bob Dylan and the ‘I Can’t Let It Go’ duo, Alison Krauss and Robert Plant of supergroup Led Zeppelin, himself a sprightly 75-year-old.
Taking his place among these performing legends was Nelson’s son Lukas, standing in for his father with his own set. To the delight of fans, the Promise of the Real lead known for his work with another great, Neil Young, performed some of his father’s best-loved classics.
Paris Hilton is in the news again. This time, though, it’s for a very good reason. The celebrity socialite was at Capitol Hill to offer an account of her time spent at Provo Canyon School in Utah. As she described her harrowing ordeal as a 16-year-old placed in America’s youth residential treatment facilities, the stunningly beautiful and now highly successful entrepreneur re-captured the hearts of the nation.
Paris Hilton’s Traumatic Experience
Although best known for her glamorous lifestyle and her stint as a big-league reality TV star, Hilton’s teen years were very different. At the time, residential rehabilitation must have seemed like a godsend to those worried about this obviously troubled teen. As it was, she described being pulled from her bed and taken to Provo Canyon. It should have changed her life for the better, instead it was a brutal two-year ordeal that left her with severe post-traumatic stress.
Although the Provo Canyon School programs promised troubled young people healing and support, Hilton’s account suggests this was far from the truth. She was there to describe her own first-hand experiences directly to Capitol Hill. It was an emotional testimony.
Ms. Hilton recounted how medication was given by force, and left in solitary confinement. She talked about the sexual abuse by staff members and how she hadn’t been allowed to speak, go where she pleased or even look out of the window. Her frank and open testimony stunned the congressional audience. Here was a woman, who as a young teen in crisis had been violently restrained, dragged around, stripped naked and confined.
A Mother’s Perspective
The moment not only shed light on Hilton’s struggles, it also shed light on the troubles of all the other adults who, as vulnerable teenagers in need of help, had been subjected to similar treatment at Provo Canyon.
43-year-old Paris has two children with husband Carter Reum; Phoenix, who is one, and 7 months old, London. She described how motherhood had deepened her perspective. The stories she heard broke her heart, she told the tear-eyed audience, her voice trembling with emotion.
Hilton was giving her testimony as a parent, advocating for young people, those in the care system who fall between the cracks and those left vulnerable to abuse and neglect by the lack of parental oversight.
Paris Hilton Is Determined To Make A Difference
She is determined to make a difference, declaring she will not stop until America’s youth is safe. Her words not only shook the audience, but they rallied support for changes in the troubled teen industry.
Hilton first talked about her Provo experiences on ‘This is Paris’ in 2020. Her accounts have been verified by former students, including renowned tattoo artist Kat Von D. She described her time at Provo Canyon School as the most traumatic six months of her life.
Hilton’s testimony reignited calls for reform and better oversight of youth treatment centers, as she has renewed her commitment to changing the lives of vulnerable children across America.
Country star Lauren Alaina has announced that she’ll be taking time away from her live shows after sharing some tragic news. The singer revealed on social media that her father, JJ Suddeth, has recently passed away from as yet unknown causes. Lauren has since canceled three upcoming concerts to give herself time to grieve.
She shared her heartbreaking news with fans on Instagram earlier this week, writing, “We lost my daddy last night, and I really don’t have the words yet.” She shared that she wouldn’t be able to play her scheduled performances in Savannah, Virginia Beach, and Charlotte.
On two of these dates, Lauren was due to open for Jason Aldean, as well as performing her own set at the Carowinds Summer Music Festival. Instead, she would go home to be with her family in their hour of need. She finished her post by thanking her loyal fans for their prayers and understanding.
Media outlets subsequently reached out to Lauren’s reps but received no further comment.
Lauren Had a Rocky Relationship with Her Dad
The former American Idol contestant was reported to share a close relationship with her dad, who was known to have attended a lot of her performances. Just last month, Lauren shared touching pictures of the pair together in a sweet Father’s Day tribute on Instagram.
Alongside the photos, Lauren wrote in the caption that JJ had a heart the size of Texas. The picture she posted showed JJ looking emotional at his daughter’s wedding.
Tragically, JJ passed just a few months after Lauren married her new husband Cam Arnold. JJ was clearly delighted on his daughter’s big day, as were the rest of the 450-strong guestlist. Lauren stated afterward that all her siblings stood up at the altar with her, as did her husband’s.
Although her wedding day painted the picture of one big happy family, Lauren and her dad have had a rocky relationship at times. People Magazine reported that JJ struggled with alcoholism throughout his life. This had a huge effect on his whole family.
A few years ago, his daughter celebrated JJ’s 5th year sober with a heartfelt message online. She took to Instagram to tell everyone how “inspiring” it had been to witness her dad’s bravery and willpower over the previous few years.
She opened up about JJ hitting “rock bottom.” It proved to be the turning point for him to build his way back up.
Lauren stated that her dad was the best example of what it meant to better yourself every day. She called herself the luckiest girl in the world to have him in her life.
Lauren Previously Lost Her Stepdad
JJ’s incredible journey must have made it even harder for Lauren to begin to process her loss. But it’s not the first time the singer has experienced a tragedy like this.
In 2018, the same year Lauren celebrated JJ’s 5th year of sobriety, she mourned the loss of her stepdad Sam Ramker. Sam, who was married to Lauren’s mom Kristy, passed away following a battle with cancer.
Lauren had revealed Sam was fighting the disease a few months earlier. She shared a picture of her and Sam with her mom after Lauren won the New Female Vocalist of the Year trophy at the ACMA Awards.
Lauren wrote that she chose the picture because of how happy her triumph that night had made Sam. What made it even more significant was that the picture was taken the same week the family found out about Sam’s diagnosis.
Lauren revealed in her post that her stepdad had Stage 4 cancer. She directed fans who wanted to help to a GoFundMe page that had raised almost $10,000. A short time later, Lauren took part in the City of Hope Celebrity Softball Game to aid cancer research, telling the media that she was dedicating the day to Sam.
After Sam passed, Lauren revealed that his last few hours were some of the most amazing moments she had ever witnessed. Though weak, he opened his eyes at one point and told his family that he could see Heaven. Lauren wrote in a lengthy tribute, “I want this story to be an example of how real God is.”
She went on to talk about her stepdad, describing him as strong, “the most compassionate person in the world,” and “a great dad.” She also said that she wanted everyone to be a little more like Sam.
Lauren Has Been Surrounded by Support
After he passed, Lauren canceled two shows to be with her family. Now, tragically, she has had to do the same after losing JJ.
After she shared her most recent loss with the public, many of her fellow country music stars reached out to share their condolences. Trisha Yearwood wrote in Lauren’s comments, “I love you. So very sorry.”
TJ Osborne praised her for making the decision to take time to grieve. Taking time away from the spotlight to process her situation definitely seems like the best thing for Lauren right now.
There have also been plenty of other ups and downs between her two major losses. A year after her stepfather lost his life, Lauren announced that she had ended her engagement with former fiance Alex Hopkins.
In January 2019, the ex-couple announced on social media that their six-year-long relationship had come to an end. In a shared post on Instagram, they thanked Lauren’s fans who supported them through “all of our ups and downs.”
They wrote that while they still had love for each other, they had grown into very different people. While they stressed that breaking up had not been an easy decision, Lauren and Alex said they were both now in a place where they could look forward to starting new chapters in their separate lives.
Lauren and Alex Are Focusing on Themselves
In a separate statement, Lauren requested that her fans treat Alex with respect. She explained that she didn’t regret a single second she had spent with him. She wished him the best, hoping her fans would do the same.
Alex, meanwhile, shared that the couple had fought hard to stay together. There must have been plenty of tough times in their relationship, especially after Lauren lost her stepdad.
Alex said that although they both badly wanted to make things work, they realized they just weren’t a part of each other’s perfect plan for their lives. He also said that that was ok, suggesting that the pair weren’t leaving things on a bad note.
The couple had been together since high school. This would be the first time they both had the chance to focus solely on themselves as adults.
They had gotten engaged six months earlier in the summer of 2018. Just a few weeks prior, Lauren had said that she wasn’t sure if an engagement was in her future.
Even after they agreed to get married, Lauren and Alex never got as far as setting a date for their wedding due to their busy schedules. While Lauren has continued to lead a super busy life as she pursues her music career, now more than ever seems like the time to take a break.
Christina Hall, HGTV star of Christina on the Coast, is also a proud mother of three. She recently talked about family life in an exclusive interview. Rather than her career, the focus was on life as a working mother and raising a teen. The 41-year-old chatted about parenting’s joys and tribulations and the special relationship she has with her daughter, Taylor.
Taylor’s Interests
Taylor is thirteen years old now. Her father is Hall’s Flip or Flop co-host and first husband, Tarek El Moussa. According to Hall, Taylor seems to be growing up faster since turning 12. She admits that life with a teenager can have its moments, but she also talked about how close their mother/daughter relationship is. She loves spending time with her daughter, as she told PEOPLE that she loves chatting with her and being her mum.
In the interview, Hall described how now Taylor is entering her teenage years, the pair are closer than they have ever been – so close that she can’t help but notice Taylor’s interests are changing. When she was younger, she had been keen to take the same career path as her mother and work in real estate investment or interior design.
These days, Taylor is more into enjoying the summer, being with friends and spending time at the beach. As Hall explained, the real estate idea could be something they come back to when Taylor is older, that’s if she’s still interested.
Christina And Joshua Hall’s Relationship
Hall has been married to husband number three, Joshua Hall, since 2022. He’s also in real estate, although he was a police officer before retiring on medical grounds. Josh tends not to share very much on social media, but he seems to have settled into life as a celebrity husband and his wife’s fans and followers have taken him to their hearts.
As well as Taylor, Josh has taken on Christina’s two other children as his own, Taylor’s brother Brayden and her 4-year-old half-brother Hudson. Hudson is from Hall’s second marriage to Brit TV presenter, Ant Anstead.
Taylor may have moved on to the usual teen interests, but Brayden, who is only 8, is also very interested in real estate. He reads the listings each night before bed, but he also loves spending time with his mom, especially when she takes him to work with her at HGTV. He’s even joined in with the filming.
What’s Next For Christina Hall?
Hall has learned how to balance life as a reality star with the demands of motherhood, and she has worked on developing nurturing relationships with all her children. There are no plans for baby number 4; Hall has made that very clear. Instead, she plans to concentrate on the family she already has. However, she’s more than pleased to share her parenting wisdom with others.
With a new season of ‘Christina on the Coast’ coming up soon, Hall’s loyal fans can look forward to seeing a little more of her. But be in no doubt, as rewarding and hectic as her professional life is, Christina Hall puts her family first as a loving wife and mother.
Marcus King and his wife, Briley, have been dodging a breakup rumor for months. Earlier in the summer, this story turned another page with new speculation that Marcus and Briley are back together. It’s all because of a neck tattoo.
A Marcus & Briley thread popped up on the Celeb Wives of Nashville subreddit under the “unverified tea” flair. The OP didn’t know what the heck was going on.
They uploaded a photo carousel from Briley’s Insta of her in a bikini, sitting in Marcus’s lap on a boat. Briley added a sassy caption that the pictures were of her and her “spray tan artist.”
The OP asked, “I don’t know if this is new.” They did think that the crazy tattoo on Marcus’s neck — that looks like Briley’s head — was new.
They wrote, “I saw the post where people speculated they were having problems. Guess not.”
Briley Was Accused of Using Marcus
It should be great news, but this thread took a turn. Users began throwing shade at the alleged “mess” that Marcus and Briley have become, together and separately.
One commenter called them a “hot, steamy, dumpstery” mess. They added, “I’m down to watch the train wreck.” Although, they showed some mercy suggesting that Marcus and Briley “both sober up and also get their [sh*t] together.”
Another user admitted they “love” Marcus and “saw him last summer.” However, they alleged that Marcus’s career “isn’t stable enough for a messy personal life.”
There was also a discussion of how Marcus brings Briley out on stage to sing duets. One user wrote that Marcus “put her at the center of his skyrocketing career.” They accused Briley of “trying to make it like a Tim and Faith thing” when she was never an “established artist.”
Another user remembered thinking Briley freaked out “on socials” when Marcus allegedly “got cozy with a fan.” Someone else alleged that Marcus “relapsed too, and she freaked out about” that. There are a lot of allegations to unpack here, especially when Marcus and Briley look so happy, and he apparently has a tattoo of her on his neck.
The Couple Are Allegedly Back Together
Another Celeb Wives thread appeared in June under the “Nashville Influencers” flair. The OP alleged that Briley has “reunited” with Marcus on tour and is “having a great time” as she returns to his “stage” and is “back riding Marcus’s coattails.”
The OP didn’t mention anything about Marcus relapsing, so hopefully, that’s not the real truth. Still, they agreed with other users who thought that Briley had removed Marcus “from her bio,” shared “cryptic stories” about his alleged cheating, and unpinned “their wedding pictures.”
Nobody is dissing anybody else’s right to freedom of speech. The Celeb Wives subreddit is shamelessly honest about being “a place to discuss or snark about celebrities, country singers,” and Nashville influencers like Briley. It’s also a great place to compare allegations and gossip that mainstream media won’t touch!
But it gets a little tiring when users continually bash Marcus for his “odd looks” and what a “weird couple” Briley and Marcus make. Some users aren’t down with this, and one commenter bravely took a stand.
They wrote that other people’s nasty comments made them “sad” and added that Marcus “has had a rough life and has turned his troubles into one helluva talent.” They also mentioned how Marcus has been “very open about battling depression.” The real truth is that Marcus battles tremendous insecurities, and those cruel comments don’t help.
Briley Was Allegedly Jealous of a Fan
However, this user wasn’t as tactful about Marcus and Briley’s marriage. Shockingly, they told everyone else to “hate on” Marcus’s marriage “all you want,” minus all the “body-shaming comments.”
That opened up a different side to this story. Another user agreed that “Marcus is super talented” and he was “a child prodigy on the guitar.” This user added that the Marcus and Briley marriage “drama is crazy,” but “his music is the real deal.”
Does Briley get any support on this subreddit? Before you make up your mind, think again because the answer might shock you.
One user shockingly admitted, “I don’t get the hate for either of them.” This person thinks Briley has struggled “with her own insecurities, and when a nice guy came along, she fell for him.” They also think Briley enjoys Marcus’s “talent,” but “that doesn’t mean she’s a gold digger.”
In May 2024, a Briley and Marcus thread on the Celeb Wives subreddit ran with a shocking photo of Marcus and a fan looking extremely cozy on the outdoor patio at some anonymous bar. Briley posted a smoking gun on Instagram with the suspicious caption: “Well aren’t you two cute!” That’s where all the breakup rumors originated.
One user admitted to being “another one perplexed” by Marcus and Briley as a couple, claiming that “their timeline [was] pretty fast” when they got engaged after “7 months” and married in under two years. This user said they were going “out on a limb” and guessing that Marcus “wasn’t very popular with the ladies” before he started opening for Chris Stapleton. Now that Marcus is experiencing more fame, the user imagines “he doesn’t quite want to turn down the sudden line of attractive women.”
Briley Stayed with Marcus at His Lowest Point
So, what changed for Marcus and Briley that allegedly brought them back together in June? Spin published a cover story with Marcus in May 2024. For the first time, he might have genuinely set the record straight about his dark past and how it began to change for him when he met Briley.
As Spin wrote, Marcus was at “his lowest point” when he “called up a woman he had just met and left a rambling message” at five in the morning. Before Marcus revealed her name, he told Spin that the woman “had a corporate job at the time” and “obviously, she didn’t answer the phone.”
Many fans and followers know that Briley worked for the Bank of America before she met Marcus, but a shocking, lesser-known fact about Marcus is how “incredibly broken” and “fragile” he was then. Marcus confessed he was drinking when he left that voicemail for Briley. Although he told Spin, “I was one day clean off other nefarious substances.”
Spin wrote that Marcus’ behavior “seemed like a giant red flag,” but Briley didn’t run “in the other direction.” Marcus revealed in the interview why he thought Briley reached out to him without fear.
He said that Briley “recognized” his “need for some guidance and some light” in his life. Shockingly, Marcus noted that Briley “kept that voicemail on her phone” as a reminder of how low Marcus had gone and “how high he had climbed since.” If you need proof, you can hear it for yourself on one of Marcus’ songs.
The Couple Haven’t Given up on Each Other
Spin explained how Briley approached Marcus during a recording session for his “harrowing, hopeful new album, Mood Swings.” Briley had an unbelievable suggestion.
She thought that Marcus should “sample the voicemail” on the song “Cadillac.” Shockingly, Marcus agreed.
Marcus praised Briley in this interview, claiming she has “this innate ability to say things she thinks are important.” He also had her sing backup on “Cadillac” because he has a “higher voice,” and she has a “really deep, rich texture” to her voice that “blended so well.”
Spin wrote that Marcus’s voicemail was “slurred and garbled” from drinking, yet he sounded “excited about this new person in his life.” That’s what shone “a little light” into an “otherwise overwhelmingly dark song.”
In the middle of July, Marcus posted a photo carousel to Instagram that currently has almost 20,000 likes. The images include Briley backstage, looking fierce in her cowboy hat and then singing on stage in front of a packed-looking stadium.
There’s also a collage of Marcus playing onstage beside an image of Briley and Marcus kissing. Another shot shows Briley in a white button-up shirt, wearing sunglasses and another cowboy hat resting high on her head as she playfully sticks her tongue out and listens to something through earbuds.
Marcus wrote a heartfelt tribute to his wife, starting with, “I love this woman SO much.” He went on to say that Briley “challenges” him to be the “best man” he can be. She’s the “toughest woman” he knows.
Marcus claimed, “When she believes in something, she never gives up on it.” It seems like this couple isn’t giving up on their love story either.
There’s something twisted about Luke Bryan that can’t be denied anymore. In 2023, he canceled shows and complained about “voice problems.” Many fans who saw Luke in concert last year thought he sounded terrible.
On July 8, 2024, an “unverified tea” thread on the Celeb Wives of Nashville subreddit ran with this story. The OP mentioned Luke’s “voice on tour this year.” Some users expressed concern, while others threw shade at Luke’s annoying habit, which could indicate a more disturbing problem.
The OP wondered if Luke’s “production team” had added “autotune” or “effects on his voice, more than in the past…?” They claimed to have seen YouTube videos of Luke last year when his voice sounded “shot.” It quickly turned into a conspiracy theory.
One user set the record straight on the “huge difference” between Luke’s shows in “summer 2022 vs. summer 2023.” They “walked away” from Luke’s concert last year “really disappointed.”
They wrote, “The show was just not great,” and Luke “didn’t sound the same.” Making matters worse, Luke “barely chatted with the crowd,” and he acted “off” and “really tired or medicated.”
This wasn’t the first comment about Luke acting strange. Us Weekly reported in August 2023 when Luke was forced to cancel his “3rd show in 3 days.” Shockingly, the headline claimed that Luke could “hardly even talk” due to a serious-sounding “illness.”
Us Weekly confirmed that Luke had shared the disappointing news with fans on social media. He wrote, “For the past couple of weeks, I’ve been battling a head cold.” But was Luke hiding the real truth last year?
Luke Struggles to Balance His Life and Career
On June 12, 2023, Entertainment Tonight reported that Luke was planning a “getaway” with his wife, Caroline, “after a busy year.” That might sound romantic, but Luke also revealed some shocking secrets in his interview with ET’s Rachel Smith.
Luke sat down with Rachel at his branded bar in Nashville called Luke’s 32 Bridge. ET reported that Luke had hosted a party for his fan club at the bar.
Luke confessed that he wasn’t “balancing” his life and career too well in 2023. He told Caroline it had been a “rough year.”
That’s when he promised her that they would “get through it” and “find a boat and go to the Caribbean or something.” But is that really what Luke needed to get better?
His fans on the subreddit jumped on Luke with serious allegations that he’s started to drink too much on the road. One user claimed they saw Luke in 2023, and “he told the entire crowd that he’d been drinking all day.”
Another user didn’t just agree with this. They alleged that this was Luke’s “thing” a couple of years ago when he allegedly told a crowd he’d been drinking “Screwball all night.” They added that “bragging about drinking and being hungover… doesn’t make you cool.”
Another user commented, “I wouldn’t be surprised.” They sadly alleged that “it’s pretty evident” that Luke has struggled with his drinking “for a while now.” This user agreed with the OP’s conspiracy theory about autotune, calling it “more reliable than risking it with more weak/bad performances.”
Fans Think Luke Might Be Singing to a Track on Stage
Even when they’re throwing shade at Luke, users on the subreddit admitted they still “absolutely love him and his family.” It sounded like tough love when someone wrote that Luke had “blown up like a tick in the last years,” suggesting that drinking may be causing Luke to gain weight and look puffy.
Another user jumped on this and wrote, “OMG, I thought the same thing.” They explained that they’d recently seen Luke in a concert in Michigan and dissed him for acting “cringy” when he “still does the ‘shake it for me’ in his tight pants.”
All shade-throwing aside, one user on the subreddit provided some inside knowledge on autotune. They claimed “it’s possible” that “effects” get added to Luke’s performance in a “live setting.”
This source also thinks that Luke might be “singing to a track” when he’s on stage, or “he may be truly singing, but his sound guys are enhancing the sound with pre-recorded vocals.” However, Luke might have also “put in some work and strengthened his voice.” The source admitted that “it’s hard to tell” unless someone listens to Luke’s in-ear monitor “or direct feeds from the soundboard.”
Luke’s Druken Performances Have Been Glorified
Whether or not Luke does perform with “effects” or autotune, the more twisted side of this story continues to be his drinking habits. Shockingly, some country websites have glorified Luke’s drunken antics on stage, including Whiskey Riff, who wrote this past June about “the drunkest performance” of Luke’s career.
Whiskey Riff explained that Luke had appeared on “NELK’s Full Send podcast.” On it, Luke got to talking about “his wildest moments as a country singer.” It sounded like Luke was bragging again.
Luke recalled a performance he gave to around 200 people in Iowa earlier in his career. The concert happened on the “first day” of college football season. Luke said, “I was on the bus, and we just got trashed.”
He admitted that when he got “on stage… it was awful.” Luke added that he “never got it together,” although he got through “the whole show. By the end of the show,” he had “kinda sobered” up.
That might sound like Luke’s most “drunken” performance, but wait for it because years later, it got worse.
Luke Regularly Performs Drunk
Shockingly, Luke confessed that his absolute worst “drunken performance” happened at a “charity event’ held at his house. He revealed that he “drank a whole bottle of Casamigos on stage.” While the 500-600 people there didn’t mind, Luke realized later that he enraged the “neighbors” all around him who were sitting on their back porches “like a mile away.”
Luke might have been exaggerating, but he said on the podcast that he swore “like a zillion times on the mic, and a million people heard it throughout the county.” When he woke up the following day, Luke didn’t just have a screaming hangover.
His guilty conscience thought of all those neighbors hearing him drop the f-bomb repeatedly. Luke thought, “God, I gotta make some phone calls” to apologize.
After a couple of the “drunken” performances that he’s admitting to, you might think Luke would see this as the perfect opportunity to change his lifestyle. Wait until you hear what else he confessed on the podcast. According to Whiskey Riff, Luke claimed he “likes to drink a cup of grapefruit juice and vodka” before every show, “but that’s all.”
Fans Are Very Concerned About Luke’s Safety
This past May, iHeart Country reported that Luke had spoken out about “falls” he’d taken on stage, which turned into viral videos. Luke appeared on Jimmy Kimmel Live and wanted to “clear the air” about a rumor about him.
Luke’s onstage falls and the rumor were connected to allegations that he drinks too much before performing. He wanted to nip that one in the bud.
Jimmy sounded like a true-blue Luke fan when he admitted during their interview, “I’m a little worried about you.” That’s when Luke ripped into the rumor.
Luke told Jimmy that fans were throwing shade at his tumbles onstage. He claimed that “nine out of 10 comments… point to me being drunk.”
Seriously, Luke? What did you expect?
According to Luke, he’s 6’2” and “trying to do Michael Jackson moves in too big of a frame.” He claimed he was wearing cowboy boots onstage and slipped on water that had spilled out of a bottle in at least one instance. You need to hear what else Luke added to this excuse.
He told Jimmy, “You just can’t drink a bottle of vodka and go do a two-hour show.” No, Luke? What about that bottle of Casamigos during that crazy charity concert at your house?
Hopefully, the real truth will come out about Luke, and he’ll stop falling, swearing, or showing up at concerts sounding awful. For Luke, the main thing is to have a “fun career” and a life full of “laughter and happiness and joy and everybody getting along and coming to [his] shows.” That’s the Luke we know and love!
It’s still hard to believe that Toby Keith passed away almost six months ago at the age of 62. Toby’s last wishes have now been exposed, and the real truth about what he left behind is bittersweet and emotional for Toby’s family.
On July 9th, In Touch published an exclusive report about Toby’s will. Did you know that Toby was a self-made man who reportedly left a $400 million fortune?
Toby’s real last name was Covel. In Touch confirmed that they obtained copies of legal documents showing how Toby’s widow, Tricia Covel, filed to become the “administrator of his estate” through the court system in Oklahoma, where Toby lived and passed away.
In Touch wrote that Toby first revealed his devastating diagnosis of stomach cancer to the public in June 2022. He’d been battling the disease since the fall of 2021, and he bravely reported that he’d undergone “6 months” of “chemo, radiation, and surgery.” Toby claimed, “So far, so good,” but added that he needed “time to breathe, recover, and relax.”
According to the In Touch exclusive, Toby’s “last will and testament” was “executed on December 15, 2022.” Tricia is one of the heirs of Toby’s vast estate. He also left “real and personal property” to his three adult children.
Taste of Country reported on July 10th that Forbes, the wealth magazine, once nicknamed Toby “country music’s $500 million man.” Whatever the final figure was, Taste of Country agreed that Toby had been a “stunningly wealthy man.”
Toby Wasn’t Comfortable Talking About His Wealth
Shortly after his passing in February, Taste of Country published the real truth about Toby’s net worth. The outlet also mentioned that Toby once told The Oklahoman why he wasn’t “comfortable” talking about his “wealth.”
Toby used to joke that he played “golf with [his] shirttail out,” which showed that he still felt like a blue-collar man at heart. He did admit that he owned a golf course, but only because it was “very, very close” to his house. He jokingly complained, “I don’t want to drive 45 minutes to the north side of Oklahoma City to play golf every day.”
Many fans think that Toby made everything off his 20 number-one hits. However, Taste of Country spilled the tea on what really built Toby’s “financial empire.”
Toby earned money from “record sales, airplay, and concert tours,” but that was “only the tip of the iceberg.” He used his “musical success” to grow his wealth through intelligent business decisions like “endorsement deals,” his restaurant chain called Toby Keith’s I Love This Bar & Grill, “a clothing line, a Mezcal brand,” and an acting career.
Taste of Country also reported that Toby “had his own record label, Show Dog Universal.” He even owned a share of Big Machine Records.
Did you know about Toby’s connection to Taylor Swift? Taylor signed with Big Machine in 2005 and remained with the label until 2018. Because Toby owned a stake in Big Machine Records, “he earned a portion of the profits” that Taylor has made in her record-breaking, billion-dollar career.
Toby’s Charity Continues to Raise Money
Since Toby’s passing, The Oklahoman has reported many bittersweet stories about his family. On June 11th, they published an emotional article about Toby’s charity for kids with cancer.
Toby held a two-day golf tournament, banquet, auction, and concert every year to raise funds, and this year, his family helped to set a fundraising record for the OK Kids Korral. It’s uplifting and heartbreaking to read that Toby once called his charity his “greatest accomplishment.” The Oklahoman reported that Toby’s family and “more than 800” of his friends and foundation supporters honored his memory in 2024, and they raised more than $3.1 million.
Toby’s daughter, Krystal, spoke about his legacy with her sister, Shelley, and brother, Stelen, by her side. Krystal said, in part, that it was the “mission… honor… and duty” of Toby’s children to “make sure this event continues and it grows every single year.”
She told the people in attendance, “I hope that you guys can help us do that. I hope that we can count on you to continue to support us. I know that we can.”
Independence Day Was Hardy for the Covel Family
Krystal also did a “one-on-one” interview with The Oklahoman on June 9th and made some emotional confessions. The Oklahoman reported that Toby’s family expected “Father’s Day to be tough” in 2024, but Krystal admitted that July 4th would be “even harder for the family that Toby left behind.”
Krystal revealed that Toby had often been “on the road” doing concerts every Father’s Day. But on the Fourth of July, she said that the whole family “always spent time with him.”
Independence Day was “a really big holiday” for Toby. Krystal said the family loved spending time at their “lake house” or “golf club.” She admitted they “literally would fill the bed of his truck with fireworks” to set off after dark.
Toby’s Widow Fears for the Family’s Safety
On July 11th, In Touch published another exclusive report, claiming that Tricia is scared that Toby’s family will receive “threats” from the public if his “secret businesses” are exposed. In Touch added that Tricia and her children “pleaded that information about the late country singer’s assets not be revealed to the public” because it could lead to “harassment and threats to their safety.” Tricia was so serious about her fears that she “asked an Oklahoma judge to seal records related to her late husband’s estate.”
In Touch revealed that Tricia and “all the beneficiaries” of Toby’s estate “agreed to a partial distribution” of his assets. This might sound unbelievable, but Tricia allegedly told that judge in Oklahoma that Toby and his whole family had been “under constant threats for their safety and security” for years before he passed away.
She revealed in a court motion that Toby made sure their home address “was private.” He even established “an alias” for everyone in the family. But that wasn’t all.
Tricia confessed that Toby hired “a personal security company.” He kept “security for himself” and “his family members at all times of the day and night, week, and year.”
Now that Toby is gone, Tricia is making a valid point that “broadcasting” his “private affairs” will “increase the threat” and could bring “unnecessary harassment upon the family.” She claimed that it was “an invasion of privacy” and should “outweigh the public’s interest” in knowing the intimate details of Toby’s will.
Toby’s Rep Felt He Was Misunderstood
It’s twisted to learn how much Toby feared for himself and his family and how far he went to protect them. That doesn’t jive with the rough-and-tumble image he always presented on stage and screen. After he passed away, Toby’s rep claimed that he was always “painted in a certain way,” and it was an “incorrect” portrayal of who Toby was.
On February 7th, In Touch reported that Elaine Schock released a statement. Elaine was Toby’s rep, and she sweetly revealed that she “loved” him and always felt he’d been “misunderstood.”
Elaine said Toby was “kind” and was “so much more” than what some people thought he was. She called Toby “one of the most courageous men I knew.”
Toby famously feuded with Natalie Maines of The Chicks over his controversial song, “Courtesy of the Red, White and Blue.” Natalie once told the Los Angeles Daily News that Toby made “country music sound ignorant.” She said, “You’ve got to have some tact.”
The real truth was that Toby knew the song was “extreme.” He admitted everything in an interview with Time.
Toby revealed that he wrote the song to show support for America’s “fighting men and women” after the 9/11 terrorist attacks. He admitted that once people told him he should “release it,” he “knew there was going to be trouble.”
Years later, Fox Nation interviewed Toby. He explained the song and its meaning a bit further. Toby said that he “knew” the song would be “polarizing” and also a “lightning rod.”
After he “prayed on it,” he released the song as a “battle cry” for the brave people fighting for freedom to “go win and get back home safely.” That’s who he really was.
Photo credits: Taylor Swift Updates/Instagram and Taylor Swift/Instagram
Travis Kelce is talking about the time he joined his girlfriend, Taylor Swift, on stage. In case anyone missed it, he joined Taylor on stage during the London stop of her Eras Tour.
Kelce, more familiar with the role of a Kansas City Chiefs tight end than a performer, was honest about being out of his comfort zone. He looks back on it with good humor, but in a recent ‘New Heights’ podcast, Kelce described being a bag of nerves at the time.
Travis Kelce’s Dream Come True
The 34-year-old admitted that taking to the stage wasn’t really his thing, but he had a good time with Taylor and really enjoyed the experience of hamming it up.
Although sharing the stage with a pop icon who happens to be your girlfriend could be a dream come true for some, Kelce’s recall of his inner dialogue suggests he was too concerned about fumbling his lines and ‘dropping the baby’ to take it all in. Dressed in his customary suit and top hat for the cameo appearance, all super athlete Kelce could focus on was carrying Swift across the stage to a red-sheeted bed without making a fool of himself.
By all accounts, Kelce was quite enamored with the idea of joining Swift on stage. After all he’d seen the show so many times, and being in it was a natural progression. He even came up with the original germ of the idea – to ride one of his bikes onto the stage during the 1989 era of the performance. That didn’t come to pass, but Swift liked the idea of him joining in so much, she created the perfect part for him in the skit.
Kelce has been to several of Swift’s sell-out shows since the couple started dating last summer and she’s been his number one fan at his football games. The couple’s open support and affection for each other have been a source of fascination for their fans.
Kelce is obviously proud of his girl. He talks about her down to earth love of life and her desire to remain part of the normal world despite her superstardom. He praised the fact she wanted no special treatment and used the front door like anyone else the first time she went to watch one of his games.
Travis Kelce And Taylor Swift’s Love Story
It was Swift’s personality that attracted Kelce, and he’s happy to talk about it, describing how genuine Swift is and the grace with which she handles her fame and how that drew him to her. He likes that she has remained grounded despite the adoration and scrutiny that comes with being a world-famous star.
It has been almost a year since the pair got together, and they look set to remain one of the world’s most talked about couples. For the fans, it is the obvious affection and mutual respect they have for each other that keeps them enthralled. It’s a modern-day love story straddling two dynamic worlds, sport and entertainment.
At 91 years young, Willie Nelson is a country music legend who loves performing for fans — even when he’s not in the best of health.
Fans were concerned recently because Willie was forced to cancel some tour dates due to serious health issues. But nothing stopped Willie over the Independence Day weekend. He made it on stage to celebrate one of the most significant holidays in America.
Country Living reported on how Willie’s fans breathed “a sigh of relief” when he performed with his son, Lukas, “after [a] brief illness.” Willie wasn’t feeling very well last month, and on June 21st, his team released a statement on Instagram that worried fans.
Willie’s team announced on social media that his doctors had ordered him “to rest for the next four days.” They also claimed that Willie was “expected to make a quick recovery.” Willie’s team updated fans again one week later.
On June 28th, Willie’s team reported that he had “been cleared by his doctors to go on the road again,” a play on words from one of Willie’s most beloved hit songs, “On the Road Again.” That may have been what Willie’s doctors told his team, but the real truth is Willie “missed dates through July 2,” according to the article in Country Living.
Then, on Independence Day 2024, Willie shocked his fans in the best way possible. As Country Living noted, Willie “made his return to the stage” on July 4th. The location was super special because it was Willie’s annual “4th of July Picnic in Camden, New Jersey.”
Willie Is Back
Willie has definitely kept up with modern technology. A video was posted on his “official Instagram account” showing Willie coming out on stage with Lukas on Independence Day. Willie’s post had the humorous caption, “He’s bbaaacccckkkkk.”
Willie’s delighted fans filled his social media with supportive comments. Some of them even had inside knowledge from the 4th of July show.
One fan confessed, “It sure as hell takes a lot these days,” but seeing Willie headlining his picnic in New Jersey “did it.” They wrote, “I got tears in my eyes watching Willie walk on stage alongside Lukas. Beautiful to see.”
Other fans revealed that it did their “hearts good” to see Willie, a “true American legend!” Someone added, “We must protect Willie at all costs!” On July 1st, Southern Living reported that Willie’s “next scheduled tour stop” was supposed to be July 2nd in Mansfield, Massachusetts, but he missed that show.
Willie Has Dealt With Health Issues for Decades
It’s shocking to learn that Willie has dealt with many scary medical emergencies in his life. Hello Magazine reported on Willie’s health scares, going back to 1981.
Willie was vacationing in Hawaii in the 1980s when he experienced trouble in paradise. He ended up in Maui Memorial Hospital with a collapsed lung.
Willie’s “scheduled concerts were canceled.” Hello reported that Willie “temporarily stopped smoking cigarettes” after his serious lung injury. Shockingly, Willie had previously smoked “between two and three” packs of cigarettes “per day” before he stopped smoking for good.
In 2012, Willie was performing a fundraising concert “near Denver” when he suffered a terrifying shortness of breath. It turned out that Willie had emphysema. It was hard for him to get enough oxygen in his body due to “high altitude” levels in Colorado.
May 2022 was another frightening time for Willie health-wise because he contracted COVID-19. Hello reported that he was “seriously affected” by it.
Willie went through many COVID treatments, including Paxlovid, steroids, and “monoclonal antibodies” to try and heal him. The good news is that it worked, and Willie returned on tour in September 2022.
Willie Has No Plans to Retire
Southern Living also reported in April 2023 that Willie had “no plans” to retire “for good” as he was gearing up to celebrate his 90th birthday. Willie’s birthday is April 29th, and his 90th birthday was a celebrity-studded, two-day party concert at the world-famous Hollywood Bowl. The concert featured performances by Chris Stapleton, Neil Young, Sheryl Crow, Miranda Lambert, The Chicks, Kacey Musgraves, and special guest Snoop Dog!
Willie also did an interview with AARP last year, and he made some pretty revealing confessions. AARP described him as “an activist, author, and actor,” but Willie is a music superstar first and foremost.
He released his debut single in 1957. AARP reported that Willie has recorded and released a stunning 150 albums, although Willie admitted he couldn’t “name them all.”
AARP asked Willie why he decided to work on his 90th birthday instead of spending the day relaxing at his home base, a ranch in Spicewood, Texas. Willie’s answer will amaze you.
He revealed, “Working is really good for me, no matter what kind of show it is.” Willie looked forward to “two days” at the Hollywood Bowl with many of his “good friends… saying hello and singing with me.” Willie called that “a lot of fun.”
When asked how he felt about “turning 90,” Willie said he’d talked about it with his friend, the late Norman Lear, after Norman turned 100.
Willie asked Norman, “Am I right?” Because Willie told other people that age is “just a number.” Norman agreed, “Yeah, it’s just a number.”
Willie Believes that Singing Is Good for His Voice
But AARP told Willie that aging does take “a toll on vocal cords.” They wanted to know how Willie keeps his “voice in shape?”
Willie said singing was “good” for his voice and didn’t “do anything to harm it much anymore.” Willie added, “If you don’t use it, you lose it.”
AARP also wanted Willie to spill the tea on his martial arts training. As it turns out, Willie’s fascination with “Bruce Lee, judo, and jujitsu” began when he was a kid growing up in “Abbott, Texas.”
Willie claimed that kids like him didn’t have much growing up “except comic books.” He was always “fighting one thing or another” when there was nothing else to do.
Shockingly, Willie alleged he would “go out on Sundays and fight bumblebees and come home with my eyes swollen shut.” Willie said he always loved telling everyone “how much fun” that was!
Willie is also famous for supporting the use of cannabis, THC, and CBD products. He told AARP that he believes “there’s a positive use for it.” Since Willie began having serious breathing problems, he confessed to AARP that “any kind of smoke, I don’t think, is good for your lungs.”
Although Willie did confess that he still does a “couple” of “edibles,” which is a form of cannabis that has been legalized in many US states, he thinks these products have “a positive effect” on him. He even described himself as a “redheaded [kid] with a high temper” who gets calmed down “a little bit” when he uses edibles.
Willie’s Heart Always Returns to Texas
Willie is legendary for his songs, braids, and “battered Martin N-20 acoustic guitar,” which he has played since 1969 and famously nicknamed “Trigger.”
AARP asked Willie about the guitar. They wanted him to answer a shocking question. Was Willie thinking about leaving the guitar “to a museum” after he passed away, or did he want to “be buried” with Trigger?
Willie said, “Trigger has a life and a personality all his own,” and “whenever” he passes away, he was going to let “somebody else decide what Trigger does.” The most important thing to Willie was for Trigger to go “somewhere where he’s appreciated.”
AARP is an association for “retired people.” So, they asked Willie if he’s ever “considered retiring from the road?”
Willie’s answer makes you realize how much he loves performing and why he wanted to be on stage at his July 4th picnic. He joked that he retires “after every tour,” but he always realizes that he’s “ready to go back [out] again.” Willie confessed that he likes traveling around on his bus and has “everything” he’ll ever need “on the bus.”
Willie even admitted that he never has “to go into a hotel room anywhere.” He added, “It’s not that bad.” But when AARP asked Willie to describe “a good day off,” his heart returned to Texas.
Willie revealed that he lives “right outside of Austin, on top of a hill.” A good day off is spent with his horses riding around “great scenery” and driving around his ranch in an “old truck.”
Willie told AARP, “There are other great places in the world, but Texas is my place.”
Photo Credits: David Woolley/Instagram and Gwen Brown/Instagram
A possible feud might be going on behind the scenes of Sister Wives. Gwendlyn Brown was a no-show at her mom, Christine Brown’s, wedding.
There are many theories out there as to why she didn’t come. But what is the real reason Gwen skipped Christine’s wedding?
From the outside, it seems like Christine Brown and her daughter Gwen have a good relationship. But could there be a secret feud going on behind the scenes that we have no idea about? This is the question a lot of people have been asking themselves ever since Gwen didn’t come to Christine’s wedding late last year.
Christine married her new husband, David Woolley, in October 2023. She told People Magazine that the wedding was everything she never thought she would have.
She was really happy with the whole day, and she didn’t mention her daughter’s absence from the wedding in her interview. Then again, it makes sense that she wouldn’t talk about it if there WAS something going on.
She was obviously really happy about the wedding and wanted to focus on the positives. So she wouldn’t bring up a feud that she might have with her daughter at that time.
It’s not like Christine really enjoys publicly hashing out her disagreements with her own kids. She would definitely want to protect Gwen, even if they weren’t on the best terms at that moment.
Gwen Is not on Good Terms with Her Brother
But there’s still the fact that Gwen didn’t come to Christine’s wedding. The thing is, this was obviously a super important day for Christine.
She finally got to marry the man that she was in love with. She got to have a beautiful white wedding that was all about her and David. This is something she said she has always wanted but didn’t get to have with Kody.
She even said in the interview that one thing that was really important to her was that all of her family and kids were there with her. This is just another reason why it’s so shocking that Gwen just didn’t show up.
It’s even more interesting to look at why she might have chosen to stay home. Some people said that the reason might be Gwen’s disagreements with her brother Paedon.
We all know that Gwen and Paedon have not been on good terms in years. That’s honestly a pretty big understatement.
We don’t know a lot of details about the whole situation. But over the years, it’s been clear from the show that there’s some sort of big problem between Gwen and Paedon, to the point where the two of them couldn’t actually stay alone together. Even Christine was careful about not leaving the two of them alone when they were younger.
A lot of people think that this might be because Paedon had a history of hurting Gwen physically. Now, the only thing we know for sure is that he slapped her one time. He admitted to this in a TikTok Live at one point.
But many people think that the reality is much more severe than that. One reason is that Paedon also said in the Live that Gwen is scared of him physically hurting her.
Gwen and Paedon Can’t Be Alone Together
It also seems like even Christine thought Gwen might not be safe with Paedon. She didn’t want to leave her home alone with him, and we even saw this on the show.
This, of course, doesn’t really give us any details about what exactly the situation is. But it’s clear that whatever was going on was pretty severe.
We know that there’s not really been any resolution since then because whenever Gwen talks about Paedon, she pretty much has only bad things to say. She said on her Patreon once that he’s the only person in her family that she wishes wasn’t alive.
He’s also the only family member, besides herself, who she didn’t invite to her own wedding. This might also have to do with the fact that Paedon has said some very disrespectful things about the LGBTQ+ community in the past. He’s very openly not supportive of queer people, which would most likely become a problem at Gwen’s wedding since she was marrying a woman.
Gwen and her wife, Beatriz Queiroz, got married in July 2023, only months before Christine’s wedding. The thing is, Christine was at Gwen’s wedding. This just makes it look even worse that Gwen didn’t come to Christine’s wedding.
People on Reddit mostly agreed that just because Gwen has a feud with Paedon, that’s not reason enough to just not come to her mom’s wedding. Even if she was scared of him, it’s not like she would have to be alone with him.
Kody May Have Paid Gwen to Improve Their Relationship
Paedon is actually not the only theory about why Gwen didn’t show up to her mom’s big day. There’s also the fact that Christine is obviously estranged from Gwen’s dad, Kody Brown.
That’s her ex-husband, and there’s a lot of bad blood between them. But, it’s not clear where Gwen stands in this whole thing.
In the past, she’s had some things to say about Kody. It has always seemed like she’s more on Christine’s side of things and against Kody.
But people on Reddit pointed out that more recently, she’s not really been saying anything negative about him. This was a change that happened sometime in the months before Christine’s wedding.
Another thing that someone pointed out was that Gwen said at one point that Kody sent her a lot of money for Christmas. She didn’t specifically say how much money, but she was very clearly talking about it being a pretty big amount.
So some people were theorizing that maybe this has something to do with Gwen not showing up at the wedding. Obviously, this is all just theories and speculation.
But people were saying that maybe Gwen made an agreement with Kody that she would stop speaking badly about him in exchange for the money. And maybe that whole thing also somehow led to her not coming to Christine’s wedding.
But honestly, that just seems extremely far-fetched. Kody would really be asking a lot from Gwen if he wanted her not to go to her mom’s wedding.
Gwen Just Didn’t Have time for the Wedding
Even if Kody did ask her not to go, I can’t imagine Gwen would actually agree to that, not if she had no other reason to not show up to her own mom’s wedding. But it actually seems like maybe Gwen did have another reason not to come because she actually addressed the whole thing on her Patreon.
She explained the reason why she didn’t show up to Christine’s wedding, and the reason she gave is actually very simple. She said that she just didn’t have the time because there was a lot going on in her life at that point.
For one, she explained that she and Beatriz had just moved into a new house, and there were a lot of things to sort out. Plus, she was apparently also really busy with her Organic Chemistry degree at the time. With those two things, she just didn’t have the time to make it to Christine’s wedding.
A lot of people on Reddit were criticizing her, saying that being busy is no excuse for not being there on her mom’s big day. But some people pointed out that for one, it probably wouldn’t just mean making time on the day. Gwen would have to first travel to Utah, probably at least the day before, and then she would also have to stay over after the wedding before traveling all the way back.
It might be that she just didn’t have the three days that she would have needed for the wedding. At the end of the day, it doesn’t have to be that much of a big deal that Gwen wasn’t at Christine’s wedding. Sure, Christine would have probably wanted her there, but she could also understand it if Gwen just didn’t have the time.
That’s exactly what Gwen said on her Patreon as well. She said that Christine understood why she couldn’t come and had no problem with it.
So at the end of the day, it seems like there’s really no drama going on between Gwen and Christine, at least according to what Gwen said about it.
