Month: September 2025

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Go Country 105

Dolly Parton postpones Las Vegas residency, citing ‘health challenges’

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Dolly Parton announced Sunday that she is postponing her upcoming Las Vegas residency due to health concerns.

The country icon shared the news in a statement on Instagram.

“I want the fans and public to hear directly from me that, unfortunately, I will need to postpone my upcoming Las Vegas concerts,” the statement read.

“As many of you know, I have been dealing with some health challenges, and my doctors tell me that I must have a few procedures. As I joked with them, it must be time for my 100,000-mile check-up, although it’s not the usual trip to see my plastic surgeon! In all seriousness, given this, I am not going to be able to rehearse and put together the show that I want you to see, and the show that you deserve to see.”

“You pay good money to see me perform, and I want to be at my best for you,” the statement continued.

Parton shared that while she can continue working on projects from her Nashville home, she needs “a little time to get show ready, as they say.”

In the statement, Parton also reassured fans she has no plans to retire.

“And don’t worry about me quittin’ the business because God hasn’t said anything about stopping yet,” the statement added. “But, I believe He is telling me to slow down right now so I can be ready for more big adventures with all of you. I love you and thank you for understanding.”

The postponement delays what would have been Parton’s first extended Las Vegas run in 32 years.

Announced in June, the residency titled, Dolly: Live in Las Vegas, was scheduled to coincide with the National Finals Rodeo, with six concerts set for Dec. 4-13.

According to a press release, the “hit-driven concert event” was planned to feature seven decades of classics and fan favorites, including “9 to 5,” “Jolene,” “I Will Always Love You,” and “Coat of Many Colors.”

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Go Country 105

Nashville notes: Jamie O’Neal’s Gypsum + Cole Swindell’s ‘Heaven’

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Gypsum, the new album from “There Is No Arizona” and “When I Think About Angels” hitmaker Jamie O’Neal, will arrive Jan. 23. You can check out the first preview, “Ole Heartache,” now. 

The album REAGAN: Songs Inspired by the Film is out now, featuring contributions from Travis Tritt, Alabama, Ricky Skaggs, Marty Stuart, Tanya Tucker and Lee Greenwood. Dennis Quaid plays the actor-turned-president in the 2024 movie. 

Cole Swindell‘s new track, “Make Heaven Crowded,” is out now, his first new music since releasing his album Spanish Moss in June.


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Go Country 105

‘COUNTRY! COUNTRY!’: HARDY’s ‘love letter’ is here

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On the heels of 2024’s rock album Quit!!, HARDY‘s back with new music for the fans who first embraced him.

“I've never been more fired up about a record than I am about COUNTRY! COUNTRY!” he says. “This album is like a love letter to the genre that's given me everything. I think there's something for everyone in here and I can't wait to share it with the world. I hope everyone enjoys listening to this one as much as I enjoyed making it.”

You can check out the new acoustic video for the title track, “Country Country,” on YouTube now. 

On Wednesday, HARDY wrapped his Jim Bob World Tour with his first headlining show at New York City’s Madison Square Garden. 

He’ll play the Country vs. Cancer benefit for the American Cancer Society on Dec. 2, supported by his new charitable endeavor, The HARDY Fund. Miranda Lambert, Dierks Bentley and more will join him for the show at The Pinnacle at Nashville Yards.

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Go Country 105

See the 18th ACM Honors Saturday on ‘CMT Hot 20’

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You can relive the 18th ACM Honors when it airs as a special three-hour edition of CMT Hot 20 on Saturday, Sept. 27.

Carly Pearce and Russell Dickerson hosted the show, which took place Aug. 20 at The Pinnacle in Nashville.

They team up to recreate Johnny & June Carter Cash‘s “Jackson,” while Little Big Town‘s Karen Fairchild and newcomer Carter Faith recreate Morgan Wallen‘s “Lies, Lies, Lies.”  

Jamey Johnson interprets Randy Travis‘ “Three Wooden Crosses,” while Tucker Wetmore delivers his contribution to the Twisters soundtrack, “Already Had It.”

The tributes continue, as HARDY takes on Eric Church‘s “Homeboy” and Ashley McBryde sings a medley of Luke Combs hits. Luke Bryan closes the show with his version of Cody Johnson‘s “‘Til You Can’t.”

CMT Hot 20: ACM Honors Edition premieres Saturday at 9 a.m. ET.

Copyright © 2025, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

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Go Country 105

Hudson Westbrook + Marshmello meet on ‘Better Man Than Me’

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Two very different worlds collide, as Texas traditionalist Hudson Westbrook collaborates with artist/producer Marshmello on the new track “Better Man Than Me.”

“Marshmello has such a specific vibe,” Hudson says. “It's been fun to collaborate with him because this song is so different from anything else I've ever done.”

“I'll always be true to my Texas roots, so I brought that with me on this track,” he adds. “It's been stuck in my head for months, happy for y'all to have it.”

Hudson and Marshmello also shot a “21st century western” music video for “Better Man Than Me,” complete with cowboys and cops.

Marshmello previously topped the country chart with “Miles on It” with Kane Brown and more recently released “Holy Water” with Jelly Roll. 

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Go Country 105

Dustin Lynch brings country electronica ‘Home to You’

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Dustin Lynch continues to explore the fusion of country and dance with his new track, “Home to You.”

It’s a collab with “twin-brother folktronica duo” MC4D, made up of siblings Matt Drake and Chris Drake.

“I'm fired up to finally drop Home To You' with MC4D,” Dustin says. “We've been testing it out in the club sets day and night, and it's been electric. Jumping into this new lane has awakened a whole new part of my soul.”

“Getting to create and collaborate in new ways this far into my career has been some of the most fun and fulfilling music-making I've ever done,” he adds.

The new song follows July’s Club Set Remixes EP, which reimagines some of Dustin’s biggest hits, like “Small Town Boy,” “Seein’ Red” and “Stars Like Confetti.”

“He's pioneering such a unique lane when it comes to his country-EDM project,” MC4D says in a news release, “and we're so grateful for the energy and excitement that he's brought to this song. Home To You' feels like the perfect mix of Dustin's hit country sound and our melodic EDM project, and stylistically we feel it really stands apart in the developing country crossover landscape.”

Next up, Dustin launches the Two for the Road Tour with Scotty McCreery Nov. 6 in Saginaw, Michigan.

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Go Country 105

Chayce Beckham’s Vegas wedding vision has come true

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Chayce Beckham is now a married man. 

The 2021 American Idol winner made the announcement on his socials, sharing a video of him driving down the Las Vegas strip with his bride, Ashley Britt. 

“Mr. & Mrs. Beckham,” the caption states.

Chayce is behind the wheel of a classic convertible in the black-and-white clip, holding hands with Ashley as the sights of Sin City pass by. He’s wearing a dark suit, while the bride’s white veil and bouquet are both visible. The video’s set to Stevie Wonder‘s 1970 hit “Signed, Sealed, Delivered (I’m Yours).”

The California native proposed to his longtime girlfriend last October during a concert in Anaheim. Shortly afterward, he told ABC Audio the two envisioned a small wedding in Vegas – presided over by an Elvis Presley impersonator – with a “big celebration” to follow later. 

The newlyweds don’t have a ton of time for a honeymoon, it seems. Chayce kicks off his Canadian tour with Warren Zeiders Oct. 1 in London, Ontario. 

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News Daypop

Amazon to pay $2.5 Billion to settle FTC case over Prime enrollment practices

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Amazon has agreed to pay $2.5 billion to settle a Federal Trade Commission lawsuit accusing the company of misleading customers into enrolling in Prime and making the cancellation process overly burdensome.

Under the settlement, announced Thursday, the company will pay $1 billion in civil penalties — the largest fine ever imposed by the FTC — and $1.5 billion in refunds to consumers. Those eligible for compensation include people who were signed up for Prime through the company’s “Single Page Checkout” between June 23, 2019, and June 23, 2025, without realizing it or who faced obstacles when trying to cancel. Amazon did not admit wrongdoing as part of the agreement and has not publicly responded to the settlement beyond court filings.

The settlement closes out a lawsuit brought in federal court in Seattle over two years ago by former FTC Chair Lina Khan under the Biden administration, who targeted Amazon’s use of “dark patterns,” accusing the tech giant of tricking users into enrolling in Prime subscriptions that renewed automatically. The lawsuit alleged that the retailer had spent more than a decade violating consumer protection laws. Among the violations cited was a breach of the Restore Online Shoppers’ Confidence Act, a 2010 law intended to ensure online shoppers are fully informed before being charged.

Prime, which costs $139 annually or $14.99 per month, is a central part of Amazon’s business model. Subscribers receive benefits such as free two-day shipping, access to Prime Video, and discounts at Whole Foods. The service has grown to more than 200 million members worldwide. In its most recent earnings report in July, Amazon said its subscription services, which include Prime along with music and e-book offerings, generated over $12 billion in revenue — a 12% increase from the previous year.

Amazon has defended its subscription practices, saying customers are clearly informed of Prime’s terms before being charged and that cancellation is straightforward via phone, online, or live chat. In a recent court filing, the company said, “Occasional frustrations and errors are unavoidable — especially for a program as widely used as Amazon Prime.”

The FTC, however, argued that Amazon intentionally made it difficult for customers to complete a purchase without also enrolling in Prime. In many cases, the agency said, customers were shown a button to finalize an order without being told it would also trigger a Prime subscription.  The FTC added that cancelling was equally problematic, with documents revealing that Amazon rejected or delayed design changes that would have simplified the process.

FTC Chair Andrew Ferguson called Thursday’s settlement a “record-breaking, monumental win for the millions of Americans who are tired of deceptive subscriptions that feel impossible to cancel.” The FTC is continuing, however, to pursue a broader antitrust case against Amazon.

Amazon spokesperson Mark Blafkin said in a statement that the company and its executives “have always followed the law” and that the settlement “allows us to move forward and focus on innovating for customers.” The e-commerce giant did not admit guilt, and the settlement did not require additional changes to its sign-up and cancellation process.

In her own statement, Khan called the $2.5 billion fine  a “drop in the bucket” for Amazon and “a big relief for the executives who knowingly harmed their customers.” She accused the FTC of “rescuing Amazon from likely being found liable for having violated the law.”

Editorial credit: MAXSHOT.PL / Shutterstock.com

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News Daypop

White House directs agencies to prepare for layoffs as shutdown deadline approaches

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The White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has instructed federal agencies to draw up plans for potential layoffs in case Congress fails to pass a spending bill by Tuesday, raising the stakes in the latest government funding standoff.

The memo from the Office of Management and Budget, first reported by Politico , points to job losses for certain federal employees if the government shuts down next week.  It advises agencies to prepare “reduction-in-force” notices — the official term for federal layoffs — for employees working in programs or projects that lose funding on October 1 or lack alternative financing. It also specifies that workers tied to initiatives not aligned with the president’s priorities should receive such notices. Traditionally, government shutdowns have resulted in temporary furloughs for non-essential staff, while employees in critical roles are asked to work without pay until funding resumes. Permanent layoffs are far less common.

According to the memo, these layoffs would come on top of furlough orders, which require federal employees to stay home without pay during a shutdown. The memo states: “programs that did not benefit from an infusion of mandatory appropriations will bear the brunt of a shutdown, and we must continue our planning efforts in the event Democrats decide to shut down the government.”

An OMB official clarified that several essential programs and services would not be affected, including Social Security, Medicare, veterans’ benefits, military operations, law enforcement, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Customs and Border Protection, and air traffic control. These areas are funded by law and would not be subject to layoffs.

The memo closed with: “we remain hopeful that Democrats in Congress will not trigger a shutdown and the steps outlined above will not be necessary. The President supports enactment of a clean CR to ensure no discretionary spending lapse after September 30, 2025, and OMB hopes the Democrats will agree.”

Bobby Kogan, who previously worked at OMB under the Biden administration, condemned the move as reckless and said the mass firings would be “an action of enormous self-harm inflicted on the nation, needlessly ridding the country of talent and expertise. It’s also extortive. ‘Give us what we want in a funding fight, or we’ll hurt the country’”

Democrats on Capitol Hill also pushed back, with Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer of New York calling the memo “an attempt at intimidation.” Schumer wrote: “Donald Trump has been firing federal workers since day one — not to govern, but to scare. This is nothing new and has nothing to do with funding the government,” predicting that any laid-off workers will be hired back.

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, also a New York Democrat, echoed that sentiment on X, writing: “We will not be intimidated by your threat to engage in mass firings. Get lost.”‘

The government’s fiscal year ends on September 30, leaving just days for lawmakers to reach an agreement before a shutdown begins Wednesday. A short-term spending bill passed by House Republicans has stalled in the Senate, where it fell short of the 60 votes required to advance. With 53 Senate seats, Republicans will need support from at least seven Democrats to break the impasse. Democrats, however, are pressing for concessions, including reversing recent Medicaid cuts and extending health insurance tax credits, before they agree to a deal.

Editorial credit: Tada Images / Shutterstock.com

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Go Country 105

‘Hard Fought Hallelujah’ made Brandon Lake + Jelly Roll ‘bros’

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Brandon Lake‘s already found success in Christian music, but he now has his first country hit and a CMA nomination thanks to his collaboration with Jelly Roll. 

“I wrote the song ‘Hard Fought Hallelujah’ with some friends of mine last year, and then I released it,” Brandon explains. “And just thinking about the lyrics of this song, I knew it would resonate with Jelly Roll. I thought it might be a long shot, but we reached out, having no idea that Jelly Roll had already heard the song on TikTok.”

Luckily, timing was on Brandon’s side, since Jelly had recently scaled back his screen time. 

“A week [later] he threw his phone away, switched to a flip phone,” Brandon says. “And so he was like, ‘I love this song.’ My team reaches out and was like ‘Hey, would you jump on this song?’ having no idea what’s going on. He was like automatically … ‘100% yes, I love this song.’ And we just hit it off and became bros.”

You’ll find “Hard Fought Hallelujah” on Brandon’s King of Hearts album, which also features Gabby Barrett on the track “As for Me & My Home.”

Thanks to their collaboration, Brandon and Jelly will also vie for musical event of the year at November’s CMA Awards. 

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