At the 2024 ACM Awards, Reba McEntire lit up the stage with her signature charm as she enthusiastically introduced one of the night’s most talked-about moments—Gwen Stefani and Blake Shelton’s duet. She boldly declared, “They were made for each other!” The country icon couldn’t help but hide her excitement at how stunning Gwen Stefani and Blake Shelton looked together.
As the couple stepped into the spotlight, all eyes were on them, and it was clear they were just as in sync offstage as they were on it.
Gwen Stefani and Blake Shelton took center stage at the 2024 ACM Awards with a heartfelt performance of “Purple Irises,” leaving the audience mesmerized. Stefani dazzled in a glittery purple bodysuit adorned with a large iris and Shelton complemented her with a gray suit jacket and jeans. The stage design featured purple irises and a stained-glass backdrop, enhancing the visual appeal of their performance.
Blake’s signature country sound laid the foundation, while Gwen’s soaring vocals added a touch of magic. Their chemistry was undeniable, with every glance and harmony reflecting their deep bond.
The performance felt intimate yet grand, as the couple poured emotion into every note. Fans in the audience and watching from home were swept up in the moment, with many highlighting their undeniable chemistry and labeling it the “best performance of the night.” From the first chord to the final note, Gwen and Blake proved once again that their music—and love—are a perfect duet.
Country Queen Reba McEntire made her debut at the Grand Ole Opry on Sept. 17, 1977. At just 22 years old, Reba fulfilled her lifelong dream of performing on the iconic stage she held since her first visit to the Opry when she was was only seven.
McEntire performed a moving cover of Roger Miller’s “Invitation to the Blues” which was featured on her self-titled debut album.
Her family traveled hundreds of miles from Oklahoma to the iconic Nashville stage to witness her performance, not yet knowing just how big of a star she would end up becoming. However, her family may have just gotten a clue to how big of a star Reba was transforming into when none other than Dolly Parton showed up.
McEntire became an official member of the Grand Ole Opry nine years later in 1986 in a special televised event in honor of the Opry 60th anniversary and performs at the famed stage any chance her strenuous schedule allows.
McEntire was set to perform a second song of Patsy Cline’s “Sweet Dreams” but was unable to due to Parton’s surprise performance and finally lived out her dream of performing the iconic song at the 1987 CMA Awards ten years later.
Watch Reba’s pitch perfect a cappella rendition of Patsy Cline’s “Sweet Dreams” in the video below!
Country music legend Kris Kristofferson recently passed away at age 88. His family and friends announced the devastating news in a statement:
“It is with a heavy heart that we share the news our husband/father/grandfather, Kris Kristofferson, passed away peacefully on Saturday, September 28, at home. We’re all so blessed for our time with him. Thank you for loving him all these many years, and when you see a rainbow, know he’s smiling down at us all.”
Country fans would most likely know Kristofferson from his chart-topping hits: “For the Good Times,” “Sunday Morning Coming Down,” and “Help Me Make It Through the Night.” He also impressively won a Grammy for his songwriting ability and was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2004.
It is hard not to admire Kristofferson’s contribution to the creative world. In addition to his country music contributions, he acted in over 100 television shows and movies, most notably his role in A Star Is Born, where he co-starred with Barbra Streisand.
Dolly Parton and Kristofferson have shared a long-lasting friendship and collaborative relationship. Just last week, days before his passing, Parton posted a throwback video of her and Kristofferson performing “Ping Pong.” She captioned it, “There’s nothing like making music with friends!”
The duo did not stop there; they have collaborated on two separate songs over the years. They created “From Here To The Moon” and “Put It Off Until Tomorrow.”
Watch Parton and Kristofferson singing together in 1984 below.
When Parton heard about her dear friend’s passing, she took to Instagram with a touching yet simple message. She said:
“What a great loss
What a great writer
What a great actor
What a great friend
I will always love you, Dolly”
Their friendship and their shared impact on country music will not soon be forgotten.
Dolly Parton Fans React To Kris Kristofferson News
Dolly’s Instagram followers commented on her post, sharing their grief and love for Kristofferson.
“My mother and I would put his records on and sing our hearts out together.”
“Soo true!! He will never be forgotten”
“What a great voice, singing and speaking.”
“Truly one of the most gifted songwriters ever.”
“Fly high Kris, we your fans will miss you and will always love you!”
“So sorry for your loss Dolly and all who loved him”
“I am so sorry for your loss Miss Dolly. He was a brilliant and beautiful man, and he will be missed.”
Our deepest condolences to Kristofferson’s family and friends during this time.
In memory, watch the duo sing “From Here To The Moon” below.
Twenty years ago, Carrie Underwood took the Grand Ole Opry stage for the first time. Just 22 years old, she was fresh off her American Idol season 4 victory, when she became the first-ever country singer to win it all on the singing reality competition show. Three years later, another dream came true when Randy Travis surprised her on the Opry stage with an invitation to join the cast of the show. No doubt, Carrie Underwood is one of the Opry’s most celebrated winners, so it made sense to see the “Jesus, Take The Wheel” singer behind the mic at NBC’s Opry 100: A Live Celebration.
Carrie Underwood Sets Social Media Ablaze With ‘Opry 100’ Performance
Back in 1925, a founder of National Life and Accident Insurance Company convinced the company to launch its own radio station: WSM, named for their slogan “We Shield Millions.” Building a small studio in downtown Nashville, WSM went live for the first time on Oct. 5, 1925.
A month after WSM’s first show, National Life hired prominent announcer George D. Hay, known for his National Barn Dance program at WLS in Chicago. Hay launched the WSM Barn Dance with Uncle Jimmy Thompson, a 77-year-old fiddle player, on Nov. 28, 1925. Thus, the Grand Ole Opry was born.
On Wednesday (March 19) Carrie Underwood joined a roster of country music A-listers, including Reba McEntire and Brad Paisley, for NBC’s Opry 100: A Live Celebration. In a callback to her own 2008 induction, the Idol champion performed two of Randy Travis’ songs: “Three Wooden Crosses” and “Forever and Ever, Amen.”
In one of the night’s most tender moments, Underwood walked over to Travis himself in the audience and handed him the mic for the final “Amen.”
“Randy Travis, everybody!” she exclaimed.
Travis has limited his public appearances since a near-fatal stroke in 2013 left him diagnosed with aphasia, which severely affects his ability to communicate. Fortunately, the smile glowing from his face as he soaked in the applause required no words.
Carrie Steps into Her Confidence
Performing onstage during NBC’s Opry 100: A Live Celebration, Carrie Underwood practically radiated confidence. However, this was certainly not always the case for the 16-time ACM Award winner.
“I just wish I was smoother. I never know what to say,” Underwood previously told country writer Nancy Brooks. “I’m the worst person in social situations. I am always nervous, and I’m such a quiet watcher. I love to go places and just sit and watch other people.”
Dolly Parton is speaking out following the death of her husband, Carl Dean.
“This is a love note to family, friends, and fans. Thank you for all the messages, cards, and flowers that you’ve sent to pay your respects for the loss of my beloved husband Carl,” Parton, 79, wrote via Instagram on Thursday.
“I can’t reach out personally to each of you but just know it has meant the world to me. He is in God’s arms now and I am okay with that,” she continued. “I will always love you.”
The “9 to 5” singer announced Dean’s death in a statement via Instagram at the time.
“Carl Dean, husband of Dolly Parton, passed away March 3rd in Nashville at the age of 82. He will be laid to rest in a private ceremony with immediate family attending. He was survived by his siblings Sandra and Donnie,” the post read.
Dolly Parton and her husband Carl Thomas Dean.dollyparton/Instagram
Adding her own words, Parton shared, “Carl and I spent many wonderful years together. Words can’t do justice to the love we shared for over 60 years. Thank you for your prayers and sympathy. The family has asked for privacy during this difficult time.”
Parton’s sister, Stella Parton, also opened up about her brother-in-law’s death. The 75-year-old penned on X, “On behalf of my sister Dolly, our family and Carl’s family we appreciate your prayers at this time.”
Dean and Parton were together for 58 years before his death on March 3 in Nashville.
In 1982, the icon told People, “Carl is the one man in my life. I would love to grow old with him. If he should die first, I may never marry again. My love is that deep.”
Talking about keeping their love out of the public eye, Parton told People in 2019, “He’s always supporting me as long as I don’t try to drag him in on it. He’s always been my biggest fan behind the scenes, but he’s at home.”
In May, she told E! News that it was “important to have someone there in your corner.”
“And you know they’ll love you for just who you are,” she gushed. “There’s a great comfort in knowing that someone loves you exactly for who you are — because he fell in love with me before I became a star.”
Dolly Parton.Katherine Bomboy/NBC via Getty Images
“To him, I’m his star,” Parton said, adding that the balance has “worked for us because we both do different things and it’s exciting when we are together.”
For 100 years, the Grand Ole Opry has featured some of the world’s greatest country music artists.
To celebrate this iconic century, the Grand Ole Opry has decided to host a star-studded celebration.
Some of the artists featured this year include Ashley McBryde, Post Malone, Reba McEntire, Randy Travis, Eric Church, Trace Adkins, Amy Grant, and many more.
Carrie Underwood Becoming A Grand Ole Opry Member
Among the artists performing is Carrie Underwood, who has been an Opry member since she was surprised by Randy Travis and invited to join on March 15, 2008.
This was three years after her American Idol win in 2005. During her performance, Randy Travis walked up behind her to surprise both her and the audience. At the time, he was at the height of his stardom, and the audience immediately stood in recognition of his presence.
Carrie Underwood was taken aback by their reaction and turned around to see Randy Travis, her expression reflecting shock.
He informed her that he had been chosen to officially welcome her into the Grand Ole Opry.
In response, she jokingly said, “Let me think about it,” before agreeing. As the moment sank in, tears welled in her eyes, and she began to cry.
Randy Travis embraced her and shared the official date when she would become a Grand Ole Opry member.
After the event, Carrie Underwood humorously noted that everyone had kept the surprise tightly under wraps.
Relive the special moment below.
Carrie Underwood Honored Randy Travis
In a beautiful full-circle moment, Carrie Underwood stepped on stage at the Opry 100 celebration wearing a stunning black dress, the same color she wore 17 years ago when Randy Travis surprised her by informing her that she would be an official member.
This time, the roles were reversed as Carrie Underwood honored Randy Travis with a heartfelt tribute.
Underwood began her performance with a short speech, expressing how she has looked up to Travis since she was a child.
“When I was a kid, my sister had a cassette tape of Randy Travis’s music. From the first time I heard him sing his traditional country voice and those songs, I was hooked, and I knew my sister was not getting that tape back. The first time I met him many years later, I cried—embarrassing! But it was so emotional for me to meet this man whose voice I’ve been singing to and along with my whole life. I could never have imagined that I’d be recording songs with him or that Randy would become my dear friend, or that he would surprise me on stage and invite me to join the Grand Ole Opry back in 2008. It means so much to me to be here tonight to celebrate the Opry and the amazing Randy Travis by singing two of my favorite songs of his.”
She then performed two of his greatest hits, starting with “Three Wooden Crosses.” During this performance, the camera captured the audience, revealing that many, including Randy Travis’s wife, Mary Davis, were brought to tears by the emotional moment.
Afterward, she sang one of Randy Travis’s biggest hits, “Forever and Ever, Amen.”
Near the end of the song, she walked out into the audience, allowing Randy Travis to sing the final “Amen.” This is a remarkable achievement, considering he suffered a stroke many years ago.
When she concluded her tribute performance, the entire audience gave her and the iconic singer a standing ovation.
Reba McEntire experienced an unthinkable tragedy when eight members of her band lost their lives in a plane crash on March 16, 1991.
The group had just wrapped up an event in Southern California to promote Reba’s album Rumor Has It. As their twin-engine Hawker Siddeley jet departed San Diego, the wing clipped an outcropping of rock on the side of Otay Mountain, causing it to crash into the terrain and explode on impact.
Reba reportedly stayed behind by the recommendation of her then-husband Narvel Blackstock, who encouraged her to rest as she was recovering from bronchitis. She had planned to meet her band in Fort Wayne, Indiana, the following day. Narvel would later have the grueling task of calling the family members of the deceased to tell them the news.
Fiddler Chris Austin, band leader Kirk Cappello, keyboardist Joey Cigainero, backup singer Paula Kaye Evans, bassist Terry Jackson, drummer Anthony Saputo, guitarist Michael Thomas, tour manager Jim Hammon, and the two pilots operating the plane were all lost in the crash.
Days after the incident, Reba told People Magazine:
“By far this is my darkest hour, the most awful thing that ever happened in my life. When you have eight people that you absolutely love and their lives are just wiped out – it’s devastating.”
Newspaper article from 1991 following the plane crash that claimed the lives of Reba McEntire’s bandmates (via newspapers.com)
Reba Pays Tribute To Her Late Band Members
Not a year goes by when the “Fancy” singer does not honor the memory of her friends and bandmates. Six months after the tragedy, she released an album titled For My Broken Heart, dedicated to her lost comrades. The album was one of the most successful of her career – selling four million copies.
Album cover for “For My Broken Heart” by Reba McEntire (via Discogs)
In 2015, Reba visited the site of the crash and reflected:
This year, on the 34th anniversary of the crash, she shared a simple and heartfelt message on her social media pages. It read:
“Always in our minds, thoughts, and prayers no matter how many years have passed. Love and miss you all.”
Watch the video for Reba McEntire’s emotional song “For My Broken Heart” below.
For an entire week in September 2017, Miley Cyrus appeared on every episode of The Tonight Show starring Jimmy Fallon to promote her brand new album, Younger Now.
She participated in games, musical performances, and interviews in each episode. On the Wednesday, October 4th episode, Cyrus and Fallon sang a duet that will have you doing a double take.
Paying tribute to Cyrus’ godmother, Dolly Parton, and her frequent duet partner Kenny Rogers, the duo sang “Islands in the Stream” dressed like the country legends.
Fallon first walked out on stage in a tuxedo, gray wig, and fake gray beard, looking eerily similar to The Gambler himself. Not long after Fallon’s entrance, Cyrus walked out, looking bustier than usual, wearing a gorgeous black dress with a sky-high blonde wig.
Not only did Cyrus and Fallon fit the part musically and with their outfits, but the set was also quite similar to one that Parton and Rogers performed back in the 1970s
Dolly and Kenny released “Islands In The Stream” in 1983. It was written by the Bee Gees—Barry, Robin, and Maurice Gibb—and produced by Barry Gibb. The song was originally intended as an R&B song for Marvin Gaye, but it transformed into a country-pop masterpiece under the vocals of Kenny and Dolly. The track became a monumental hit, topping both the Billboard Hot 100 and the Country charts, and solidified the pair’s legendary status in the music world.
Rogers saw their performance, and absolutely approved of it, saying, “Jimmy Fallon and Miley Cyrus make a great duet…perhaps we’ll let them go on the road in place of us! I thoroughly enjoyed it.”
Did you enjoy their duet as much as we did? Let us know in the comments. Watch it below.
Country singer Dolly Parton is speaking out about how she’s doing following her husband’s death.
Country sweetheart Dolly Parton, 79, has been dealing with the sad passing of her husband, Carl Dean, who died on Monday, March 3. He was 82 years old.
Now, Parton has made her first public appearance since Dean’s death.
According to news station WSPA, Parton was at a preview for Dollywood season passholders on Friday, March 14, before the opening for the park’s 40th season in Tennessee. She started the event by giving fans her heartfelt thanks for their cards, flowers and well-wishes while she’s been getting since the loss of Dean.
“Of course I will always love him, and I’ll miss him, but I wanted you to know that I will always love you,” she said to the crowd, as a reference to her hit song, “I Will Always Love You.”
Parton also talked business and updated attendees about the updates and changes that have been made to the theme park. Dollywood dates back to the early 1960s.
Parton announced the death of her husband on Monday, March 3, on Instagram.
“Carl Dean, husband of Dolly Parton, passed away March 3rd in Nashville at the age of 82. He will be laid to rest in a private ceremony with immediate family attending. He is survived by his siblings Sandra and Donnie,” the post stated.
“Carl and I spent many wonderful years together,” the statement continued. “Words can’t do justice to the love we shared for over 60 years. Thank you for your prayers and sympathy. The family asks for privacy during this difficult time.”
Parton and Dean were married for nearly 60 years. The two met in Nashville in 1964 and wed two years later.
IT looks like The Voice star Sir Tom Jones might need some extra factor as he lounges in the sunshine.
The singing legend, 78, showed off his bronzed body after taking off his shirt for a quick tanning session at the Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc in the South of France.
Tanning Voice star Tom Jones might need some extra factor if he spends too long in the French sunCredit: BackGrid
But he swapped basking in the sunlight for limelight last night as he performed at an Aids research charity gala in Cannes.
Mariah Carey, 49, and Dua Lipa, 23, were also due on stage at the star-studded bash — but Sir Tom didn’t pale in comparison.
Sir Tom out in sun ahead of charity concertCredit: BackGrid
Sir Tom catching a few rays ahead of his appearance on stage at the Aids research charity gala in CannesCredit: Splash News
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