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Country Music Stars Who Became Legit Movie and TV Stars

Country music has always been about storytelling, so it makes sense that some of its biggest stars eventually took those stories straight to the screen. From sitcom icons to Oscar-winning films and prestige TV, these artists didn’t just cameo – they built real acting careers. Here are 10 of the biggest country music stars who found serious success on the silver screen.

Billy Ray Cyrus

Before memes and multiverses, Billy Ray Cyrus became a TV staple thanks to Hannah Montana. He later leaned into cult TV chaos with roles in 90210, Sharknado 2, and Still the King, proving longevity matters.

Dolly Parton

Few entertainers transcend mediums like Dolly Parton. Her performances in 9 to 5, Steel Magnolias, and The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas turned her into a bona fide movie star while cementing her pop culture immortality.

Faith Hill

Faith Hill’s move into acting was quiet but impactful. From The Stepford Wives to Yellowstone and 1883, she brought natural authority and emotional weight to high-profile productions.

Kris Kristofferson

A songwriter first, a screen legend second. Kristofferson starred in A Star Is Born, Planet of the Apes, and the Blade franchise, building one of the most respected acting resumes in country music history.

Reba McEntire

Reba McEntire dominated television with Reba, one of the most successful sitcoms of the 2000s. She continues to thrive on screen, most recently leading the NBC comedy Happy’s Place.

Tim McGraw

Tim McGraw steadily built a serious acting career with roles in Friday Night Lights, The Blind Side, Four Christmases, and 1883, often bringing quiet intensity and emotional depth.

Jennifer Nettles

Jennifer Nettles has emerged as one of the strongest actor-musicians of her generation. Her performances in The Righteous Gemstones and The Bondsman show real range beyond music.

Taylor Swift

While acting isn’t her primary lane, Taylor Swift made memorable appearances in Valentine’s Day and New Girl. Her presence on screen reflects the same cultural gravity she brings to music.

Willie Nelson

With more than 140 acting credits, Willie Nelson is a Hollywood institution. From The Dukes of Hazzard to Monk, his screen career rivals his legendary music output.

Dwight Yoakam

Dwight Yoakam quietly became one of the most reliable actor-musicians, appearing in Wedding Crashers, Four Christmases, and critically praised dramatic roles that showcase his understated skill.

What Time Is the Super Bowl? Kickoff Time, TV Channels, Halftime Show, and Full Schedule Explained

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Whether you’re here for the game, the halftime show, the commercials, or the snacks that somehow disappear before kickoff, Super Bowl Sunday is a full-day event. From pregame hype to the final whistle, here’s your everything-you-need-to-know guide to what time the Super Bowl starts, how to watch it, and what’s happening before, during, and after the biggest night in sports.

Super Bowl LX: Time, Date, and Teams

  • Event: Super Bowl LX
  • Date: Sunday, February 8, 2026
  • Teams: Seattle Seahawks vs. New England Patriots
  • Venue: Levi’s Stadium, Santa Clara, California
  • Kickoff Time: 6:30 p.m. Eastern Time (3:30 p.m. Pacific Time) Most national listings use Eastern time.

This is the 60th NFL championship game, capping off the 2025 NFL season.

Pre-Game Coverage and Festivities

Super Bowl Sunday isn’t just the game — there’s hours of programming beforehand:

🏈 Early TV Coverage

  • Major broadcaster NBC and streaming platform Peacock begin showing Super Bowl build-up coverage at around 12:00 p.m. ET / 9:00 a.m. PT on game day.
  • Pregame shows include analysis, player interviews, features, and countdown segments.

🎤 Opening Ceremony & Performances

Before kickoff:

  • Green Day performs a special opening ceremony, celebrating generations of MVPs — aired live on TV.
  • Charlie Puth sings the National Anthem.
  • Brandi Carlile performs America the Beautiful.
  • Coco Jones performs Lift Every Voice and Sing.
    Pregame musical content typically airs in the hour leading up to kickoff.

These performances serve as both entertainment and the official start of the Super Bowl broadcast day.

How to Watch the Super Bowl (Broadcast + Streaming)

TV Coverage (Free Over-the-Air)

  • NBC (main broadcast in the U.S.)
  • Telemundo and Universo (Spanish-language broadcasts)

Online Streaming

  • Peacock — NBC’s official streaming home for the game.
  • Other services that may carry the game live (with subscription): YouTube TV, NFL+, DirecTV, Hulu + Live TV and more.

Radio and Apps

  • National radio coverage like Westwood One broadcasts the game live for audio listeners.

Halftime Show

  • The Apple Music Super Bowl LX Halftime Show is headlined by Bad Bunny — the first solo Latino artist to do so.
  • This performance usually begins around midway through the game (roughly around 7:30–8:30 p.m. ET, depending on the pace of play).

Bad Bunny’s appearance will be one of the most watched musical events of the year.

Special Super Bowl-Sunday Events

🐾 Puppy Bowl XXII

  • Earlier in the day, at 2:00 p.m. ET / 11:00 a.m. PT, the Puppy Bowl XXII airs on Animal Planet, TBS, truTV, Discovery Channel and streaming services. It’s a playful prelude to the main event for animal lovers.

🏟 Super Bowl Week Activities

Leading up to Sunday (Feb 3–7):

  • Super Bowl Experience fan festival
  • Opening Night events
  • Tastings, appearances, interactive exhibits and more in Santa Clara and the Bay Area.

Quick Reference — Super Bowl 2026 Timeline (ET)

TimeEvent
12:00 p.m.TV / Streaming pregame coverage begins on NBC/Peacock
~3:00 p.m.Opening Ceremony (music and tributes) begins
6:30 p.m.Super Bowl LX Kickoff
~7:30–8:30 p.m.Halftime Show (Bad Bunny)

Super Bowl LX on Sunday, Feb. 8, 2026 kicks off at 6:30 p.m. ET / 3:30 p.m. PT and features the Seattle Seahawks vs. the New England Patriots at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara. Pre-game coverage starts early on NBC and Peacock, musical performances precede kickoff, and globally millions tune in for the halftime show and championship game.

Kilby Block Party Unveils Lorde, The Xx, Turnstile For 2026 Edition

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S&S Presents shares the lineup for Kilby Block Party 2026, taking place Friday, May 15th through Sunday, May 17th at the Utah State Fairpark in Salt Lake City. The seventh annual edition features performances from 70 artists, with Lorde, The xx, Turnstile, and Hayley Williams among the headliners. Despite showcasing world renowned performers, legendary fan favorites, and rising artists, Kilby Block Party remains one of the most affordable music festivals in the country.

The festival’s dedication to fan experience and lineup quality shines through every spring. Last year’s edition earned praise as “the ultimate indie musicscape of your dreams” from Paper Magazine, “an indie fan’s dream fest” from The Needle Drop, and “the best festival experience I’ve ever had” from Paste Magazine. 3-Day Passes start at $249 with payment plans beginning at just $49 down, and all ticket prices are listed as the all-in price with no added fees or taxes at checkout.

Kilby Block Party 2026 expands upon improvements brought to the event last year: a larger footprint at the Utah State Fairpark, including the utilization of the Days of ’47 Arena for one of the festival’s smaller stages, changed positioning of stages to reduce audio bleed, more space for music fans to relax or dance throughout the site, and more free water stations. “A festival rarely gets it so right,” said Salt Lake Magazine, while The Salt Lake Tribune noted that “fans both new and old experienced an updated, more freeing version of the festival.”

The festival introduces Kilby Club VIP, formerly known as VIP+, with dedicated center stage viewing areas and access to the backstage Kilby Club VIP lounge among other perks. Tickets and travel packages are available at KilbyBlockParty.com.

Hinterland Music Festival Reveals Lorde, Mumford & Sons, Kali Uchis For 2026

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Hinterland Music Festival unveils its all-star lineup for the 11th annual edition, taking place over four days from Thursday, July 30 to Sunday, August 2 in St. Charles, Iowa, just 30 minutes south of Des Moines. The festival has built a reputation for bringing top-tier talent alongside artists on the verge of breaking out to the heart of the Midwest in the Iowa countryside. The 2026 lineup showcases KATSEYE, Lorde, Mumford & Sons, Kali Uchis, Jessie Murph, Santigold, MUNA, and many more across the four-day celebration.

Ticket options include 4-Day General Admission, General Admission+, VIP, and VIP+ along with camping options for tent, car, and RV as well as parking and shuttle choices. Payment plans start at $25, and camping is sold on a per-tent or campsite basis rather than per person. The festival features its “90 Degree Guarantee,” allowing ticket holders to request a refund of their festival admission ticket for any day predicted to reach 90° or higher.

The policy works as follows: if on Monday, July 27 at 10 am CT, the weather.gov forecast for July 30, July 31, August 1, or August 2 shows an actual temperature of 90° or higher for the 50240 zip code, ticket purchasers can request a return of their festival admission ticket for that day. Return requests are only available for the day or days the forecast reaches 90° or higher. 4-Day ticket holders can request a return for specific days at a rate of one-quarter of the total 4-Day ticket price.

To qualify for a return, ticket holders must complete the 90° Guarantee Ticket Return Request Form at hinterlandiowa.com/tickets by 11:00 p.m. CT on Monday, July 27. Returns process within as little as 10 days. The policy applies only to festival admission tickets purchased directly via AXS.com, excluding camping, parking, or shuttle tickets. Hinterland’s commitment to climate awareness remains strong: “The 10 hottest years on record have all occurred in the past decade. At Hinterland, we are committed to raising awareness about climate change and its impact on our daily lives. We will continue to strive for sustainable choices, both this year and in the years ahead. Together, we can make a difference.”

HINTERLAND 2026 LINEUP:

THURSDAY, JULY 30 KATSEYE, beabadoobee, Ashnikko, AUDREY NUNA, Jane Remover, Frost Children, Porch Light

FRIDAY, JULY 31 Lorde, MUNA, Snow Strippers, Paris Paloma, SOFIA ISELLA, Saint Avangeline

SATURDAY, AUGUST 1 Mumford & Sons, Jessie Murph, The Format, Santigold, CMAT, Waylon Wyatt, Amble, Julia Wolf

SUNDAY, AUGUST 2 Kali Uchis, Young Miko, Geese, Wet Leg, Suki Waterhouse, Audrey Hobert, Samia, Haute & Freddy

Juliana Hatfield Explores Trauma And Resilience On New Single “Fall Apart”

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Juliana Hatfield picks up the pieces on her third single “Fall Apart.” The track premiered earlier this week on WBUR, Boston’s NPR station, showcasing another glimpse into the new album ‘Lightning Might Strike’. While much of the record captures a period of change, “Fall Apart” specifically revisits old traumas with Hatfield’s signature blend of serious subject matter and infectious melodies.

“Trauma is a big word,” she explains to WBUR. “It means a lot of different things to different people, depending on how you look at it. And it’s a bit of a trendy word. But it’s a real phenomenon.” Hatfield takes a difficult situation, using a guitar tossed into the deep end of a pool as a metaphor for being discarded, and delivers it through uplifting melodies. WBUR notes this duality of dark and light runs as a common thread throughout her career, writing, “While the subject may be serious, Hatfield’s penchant for writing catchy and upbeat pop songs remains strong some 21 albums into her career.”

Despite the dark subject matter, Hatfield views the song with optimism. “I do make a point to say I fall apart now and then. It’s not that I have fallen apart and you can never put me back together,” she said. “I’m just talking about things that are real. Yes, I fall apart sometimes, but I get back on the horse. This is life.” The honesty in her approach creates a relatable portrait of resilience that resonates beyond the personal.

Black Rebel Motorcycle Club Celebrates 20 Years Of ‘Howl’ With Deluxe Box Set

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Black Rebel Motorcycle Club releases a 20th anniversary deluxe box set of their seminal album ‘Howl’ on January 30 via [PIAS]. The Bay Area and LA rock band originally dropped their third studio album in 2005, delivering an unexpected shift from previous releases. The electric guitar-driven reverb and white noise that characterized their sound gave way to folk, blues, and gospel inspired songs that revealed a different side of the band.

SPIN wrote at the time, “Bruce Springsteen stripped down his songs to reflect his pessimistic journey through the badlands; BRMC’s scaled-back sound is reflective of a group that’s come out on the other side of that trip and doesn’t want to hide behind feedback any longer.” The evolution marked a turning point in the band’s artistic journey, showcasing their versatility and willingness to explore new sonic territory.

The deluxe box set includes a 3LP white vinyl collection containing the original ‘Howl’ studio album, ‘Howl Sessions’, and five previously unheard demos plus alternate mixes of songs from the record. A photobook features over a hundred previously unseen photos from the era, including images from the original photoshoot and handwritten lyrics for each studio album track. The set also contains a poster with photos from the period.

Fans can choose from multiple formats including the deluxe box set, a 2LP version of the original studio album with a BRMC etching on side four, or the CD edition. Pre-orders are available now for the January 30 release, offering collectors and longtime fans a comprehensive look at one of the band’s most pivotal albums.

Lamb Of God Launch Heaviest Tour Of 2026 With Kublai Khan TX And Fit For An Autopsy

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Lamb of God return to the road this March for what promises to be the heaviest tour of 2026, with the North American trek featuring support from Kublai Khan TX, Fit For An Autopsy and Sanguisugabogg.

“We are beyond thrilled to announce the loudest, proudest, floor shakin’ est, earth quakin’ est, ear splittin’ est, mosh pittin’ est, undiluted, undisputed heaviest tour of the whole damn year,” Mark Morton declares. “Is this the largest collection of riffs ever assembled under one roof? It would seem so. Lamb of God, Kublai Khan TX, Fit For An Autopsy, and Sanguisugabogg. Do not miss this shit.”

The tour news follows the recent release of “Sepsis”, the band’s first new original song since 2022’s ‘Omens’, and now the No. 1 song on the U.S. metal radio charts. Produced by longtime collaborator Josh Wilbur, the track celebrates the Richmond underground and the bands Lamb of God performed alongside during their early years. The band also shared a live video for “Sepsis”, capturing the electrifying live debut of the song at Aftershock Festival. The tour kicks off March 17th in National Harbor, Maryland at The Theater MGM National Harbor before heading to Montreal, Toronto, Detroit, Minneapolis, Chicago, Denver, Salt Lake City, Portland, Seattle and Vancouver. The trek continues through San Francisco, Inglewood, Phoenix, Albuquerque, Austin, Irving, Houston, Nashville, Atlanta, Raleigh, Reading, Virginia Beach, Buffalo, Brooklyn, Uncasville and wraps April 26th in Boston.

Lamb of God 2026 North American Tour Dates:

Mar 17 – National Harbor, MD @ The Theater MGM National Harbor

Mar 19 – Montreal, QC @ Bell Centre

Mar 20 – Toronto, ON @ GCT Theatre

Mar 22 – Detroit, MI @ Fox Theatre

Mar 24 – Minneapolis, MN @ Armory

Mar 25 – Chicago, IL @ Byline Bank Aragon Ballroom

Mar 27 – Denver, CO @ Fillmore Auditorium

Mar 28 – Salt Lake City, UT @ The Union Event Center

Mar 30 – Portland, OR @ Theater of the Clouds

Mar 31 – Seattle, WA @ WAMU Theater

Apr 1 – Vancouver, BC @ PNE Forum

Apr 3 – San Francisco, CA @ The Masonic

Apr 4 – Inglewood, CA @ YouTube Theater

Apr 5 – Phoenix, AZ @ Arizona Financial Theatre

Apr 7 – Albuquerque, NM @ Revel Entertainment Center

Apr 10 – Austin, TX @ Moody Amphitheater

Apr 11 – Irving, TX @ The Pavilion at Toyota Music Factory

Apr 12 – Houston, TX @ 713 Music Hall

Apr 14 – Nashville, TN @ War Memorial Auditorium

Apr 15 – Atlanta, GA @ Coca-Cola Roxy Theatre

Apr 16 – Raleigh, NC @ Red Hat Amphitheater

Apr 18 – Reading, PA @ Santander Arena

Apr 19 – Virginia Beach, VA @ The Dome

Apr 21 – Buffalo, NY @ Buffalo RiverWorks

Apr 23 – Brooklyn, NY @ Brooklyn Paramount

Apr 25 – Uncasville, CT @ Mohegan Sun Arena

Apr 26 – Boston, MA MGM @ Music Hall at Fenway

The Royal Mint Honours Freddie Mercury With Collectible Coin Celebrating Rock Icon’s Legacy

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The Royal Mint unveils a UK coin celebrating rock icon Freddie Mercury, an extraordinary tribute to the showman whose voice and stage presence defined generations. The collectible coin captures Mercury mid-performance at the height of his powers, showcasing the flamboyant frontman in full flow with his signature inscribed alongside his portrait. The design’s intricate details tell the story of Mercury’s extraordinary talent through carefully crafted elements. His legendary four octave vocal range is represented by a musical stave that runs around the edge of the coin, spanning from bass to treble notes. The studded armband edge design draws inspiration from his iconic Live Aid performance outfit, a fitting tribute to what many consider the greatest rock performance of all time.

This celebration commemorates the 40th anniversary of Queen’s show-stealing performance at Live Aid in July 1985 and the 40th anniversary of Freddie’s first solo studio album, ‘Mr. Bad Guy’, released the same year. A selection of the coins will feature colour, bringing Freddie’s iconic yellow jacket to life on the coin design and capturing the vibrant energy that made him such a magnetic stage presence. In a special moment that brought the coin’s creation full circle, Freddie Mercury’s sister, Kashmira Bulsara, visited The Royal Mint to strike the very first coin herself. “Striking the first coin at The Royal Mint was such an emotional and proud moment for me,” Bulsara shares. “Freddie would have been absolutely delighted to see himself honoured in this way and to know that his family was part of bringing this tribute to life.”

The Royal Mint will gift a special gold proof version of the coin to the Mercury Phoenix Trust, the AIDS charity founded in Mercury’s memory. The charity will auction this unique piece in the coming months, continuing Mercury’s mission to support those affected by HIV and AIDS. Mercury is the latest music artist to form part of The Royal Mint’s ongoing Music Legends coin series, celebrating the greatest singers and songwriters in British history. Mercury follows David Bowie, George Michael, Shirley Bassey and Paul McCartney in being honored on their very own UK coin. The Music Legends coin series has delivered nearly half a million coins to enthusiasts in 108 countries globally.

Carlos Santana Adds 10 More Dates To His 2026 Oneness Tour

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Carlos Santana brings additional dates to the 2026 Oneness Tour, delivering high-energy performances of songs spanning a 50-year career. The setlist includes fan favorites from ‘Abraxas’ to Woodstock to ‘Supernatural’ and beyond, showcasing the passion-filled music that made Santana a global phenomenon. The tour launches March 28th in Thackerville, Oklahoma at Lucas Oil Live at WinStar before visiting San Antonio, New Orleans, Pensacola, Durham, Cherokee, St. Augustine, Estero, Clearwater, and Hollywood, Florida.

Santana returns to his long-running Las Vegas residency in 2026. “An Intimate Evening with Santana: Greatest Hits Live: Presented by SiriusXM” at House of Blues inside Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino comes back in January, February, and May for its 14th year at the venue. The residency continues a tradition of bringing Santana’s legendary performances to the Las Vegas strip.

For more than five decades, Carlos Santana has delivered artistry with a level of passion and soul equal to the legendary sonic charge of his guitar. The sound remains one of the world’s most instantly recognizable musical signatures. From Santana’s earliest days as a groundbreaking Afro-Latin-blues-rock fusion outfit in San Francisco, Carlos has been the visionary force behind music that transcends genres and generational, cultural, and geographical boundaries.

The recently released ‘Carlos Santana: Love, Devotion, and Surrender’ explores his spiritual journey, creative evolution, and enduring impact on global music. The definitive new book offers fans an intimate look at the icon’s life, philosophy, and legacy, documenting the path that shaped one of music’s most influential figures.

Santana 2026 Oneness US Tour Dates:

Mar 28 – Thackerville, OK @ Lucas Oil Live at WinStar

Mar 29 – San Antonio, TX @ Majestic Theatre

Mar 31 – New Orleans, LA @ Saenger Theatre

Apr 1 – Pensacola, FL @ Pensacola Bay Center

Apr 3 – Durham, NC @ DPAC

Apr 4 – Cherokee, NC @ Harrah’s Cherokee Casino Resort Event Center

Apr 7 – St. Augustine, FL @ The St. Augustine Amphitheatre

Apr 8 – Estero, FL @ Hertz Arena

Apr 10 – Clearwater, FL @ Ruth Eckerd Hall

Apr 11 – Hollywood, FL @ Hard Rock Live at Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino

Josh Groban Announces First World Tour In A Decade With 21 Cities

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Josh Groban brings his 2026 Gems World Tour across 21 cities, marking his first global trek in a decade. The tour launches in Honolulu before visiting Taipei, Singapore, Jakarta, Manila, Tokyo, Auckland, Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide, Perth, Bahrain, Dubai, Dublin, London, Paris, Berlin, Frankfurt, and Düsseldorf, concluding in Amsterdam. Each show presents a career-spanning production featuring signature hits from ‘Gems’ with the powerful vocals and intimate storytelling that define Groban’s concerts. Exact routing and dates arrive later, with general on-sale varying by city.

“It is with the greatest excitement that I get to take these songs I’ve loved so much around the world, to places I haven’t visited in far too long and to places I’ve always wanted to visit,” Groban says. “I’m honored to see the world through music. I can’t wait to see everyone soon!” The announcement follows the recent release of ‘Hidden Gems’ via Reprise Records, a collection gathering beloved and rare tracks that many fans have never heard on streaming platforms until now.

Groban shared “The Constant” in October as the first offering from the project. The collaboration with acclaimed songwriting duo Pasek and Paul and producer Dan Romer brings something fresh while honoring cherished songs from his catalog. ‘Hidden Gems’ includes fan-favorite deep cuts like “Signs,” co-written with Toby Gad and Bernie Herms, and “Everything You Needed,” a stirring ballad given to Groban by Sia. Other highlights feature “Smile,” his take on the Charlie Chaplin classic, and “Konosaki No Michi,” the closing theme from a major 2012 Japanese drama where Groban sang in Japanese, a language he studied in high school.

The album showcases “With You” and “My Heart Was Home Again,” recorded for a limited-edition Hallmark Valentine’s Day CD, plus “Remember” from the film Troy and a Spanish-language duet version of “Broken Vow” with Arturo Sandoval. “Empty Sky” closes the collection, a raw late-night studio recording with Steve Jordan, Isaiah Sharkey, and Pino Palladino featuring Groban live on upright piano performing an early Elton John song. This heartfelt gift to fans curates special songs now available worldwide.

Earlier this year, Groban released ‘Gems’ and its Deluxe Edition, spanning over two decades of definitive ballads that trace his impact on popular culture. The 18-track collection includes the triple platinum “You Raise Me Up,” Billboard Adult Contemporary No. 1 “To Where You Are,” the Beauty and the Beast soundtrack standout “Evermore,” and show-stopping renditions of “Over The Rainbow,” “Pure Imagination,” and Simon & Garfunkel’s “Bridge Over Troubled Water.” The Deluxe Edition added 23 songs including duets “Run” with Sarah McLachlan, “99 Years” with Jennifer Nettles, and “We Will Meet Once Again” with Andrea Bocelli.