Texas and Mississippi to lift COVID-19 mask mandates and business restrictions

Governors of Texas and Mississippi announced Tuesday that they will lift their state’s mask mandates, as well as lift the restrictions on businesses and facility capacity back to 100%. Texas Gov. Greg Abbott said the mandates are no longer needed due to advancements of vaccines and therapeutics to protect against COVID-19. The new executive order …

At least 13 killed in Southern California crash involving semi-truck and SUV

At least 13 people were killed and a dozen others were taken to hospitals after a semi-truck slammed into a SUV carrying 25 people just north of the U.S.-Mexico border. The highway patrol said the crash occurred at State Route 115 and Norrish Road, at about 6:15 a.m. PT in Imperial County, about 15 miles …

Luke Bryan earns his 26th No.1 single with ‘Down To One’

Luke Bryan has earned his 26th No.1 on the country charts with his single “Down To One.”  The song tops both the Billboard Country Airplay and Mediabase charts and is the fourth consecutive No. 1 from Bryan’s latest album, Born Here Live Here Die Here. The song follows the chart-topping success of “One Margarita,” “What She …

Country Music Association cancels 2021 CMA Fest; announces new dates to return in 2022

For the second year in a row, the Country Music Association has canceled CMA Fest, its annual June four-day event, due to the ongoing pandemic. CMA CEO Sarah Trahern said in a statement issued Tuesday, March 2:  “After thoughtful deliberation, we are saddened to share that CMA Fest will not take place in 2021. We …

“Degrassi: The Next Generation” star Jahmil French dies at age 29

Actor Jahmil French, known for his role on Degrassi: The Next Generation, died Monday of undisclosed causes. He was 29. French played Dave Turner on the Canadian teen drama from 2009 to 2013. A rep for the Canadian actor confirmed the news in a statement: “It is with a heavy heart that I confirm the …

Alec Baldwin and wife Hilaria share name and first photo after surprise announcement of new baby girl

Alec and Hilaria Baldwin took to Instagram to share the name and first photo of their new baby girl, the couple’s sixth child. Along with a photo of their latest addition, Hilaria posted the caption: “We are so in love with our daughter, Lucia. Just like your brothers and sisters, you are a dream come …

Biden administration to allow migrant families separated at border to reunite in the U.S.

Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas said Monday that the Biden administration plans to allow migrant families separated under the Trump administration to reunite in the United States. Speaking during a news conference, Mayorkas called the separation of children from their parents at the Mexican border “the most powerful and heartbreaking example of the cruelty …

Senate panel approves nomination of Merrick Garland as U.S. attorney general

On Monday, the Senate judiciary committee approved President Biden’s nomination of appellate court judge Merrick Garland to be the United States’ attorney general. The committee voted 15-7 early Monday afternoon to advance Garland’s candidacy. The nomination now advances to the full Senate for final confirmation. Most likely the Senate will hold a floor vote later this week, and …

Scotty McCreery releases new video for “You Time”

Scotty McCreery has dropped the music video to accompany his latest song “You Time.” “‘You Time’ is a fun, romantic, upbeat song,” McCreery tells CMT. “The video captures all of that, moving back and forth between my performance and the scenes with the couple who are starting their life together. There are some moments [in …

Miranda Lambert and Elle King release video for their new song “Drunk (And I Don’t Wanna Go Home)”

Miranda Lambert and Elle King have dropped the music video for their new collaboration, “Drunk (And I Don’t Wanna Go Home).” In the video, the ladies travel back in time to 1986 for a scene on King’s wedding day, where she and Lambert kick off the special day with a cigarette and beer. The video …