Author: Kelly Whitewood

More than sixty years after it first aired, The Rifleman is still a beloved part of TV history. Chuck Connors played rancher Lucas McCain and Johnny Crawford played his son Mark. The show was known for its strong portrayal of the relationship between a father and son. Their relationship added warmth and emotional depth to the Western genre, giving the show a solid foundation with themes of respect, morality, and strength. The Rifleman was more than just action and frontier justice; it was about values like honesty, loyalty, and bravery. Every episode taught a lesson, and the McCains’ close relationship…

A Shifting Map: Why Democrats May Struggle Beyond 2030 Washington, D.C. — For much of modern history, Democrats have relied on a familiar formula to reach the White House: build commanding leads in California, New York, and Illinois, then supplement those with Midwest battlegrounds. That strategy reliably opened a path to 270 electoral votes. But that map is beginning to shift under their feet. Analysts warn that by 2032, population changes and redistricting could narrow Democrats’ options, while Republicans stand to gain from migration trends and reapportionment following the 2030 Census. Migration That Changes More Than Streets Americans are leaving…

Lavender Threads Prom is supposed to be glitter, music, and borrowed magic. For me, it was lavender—my mom’s lavender satin dress. Tiny embroidered flowers stitched along the straps, a fabric that shimmered in certain light. When I was a little girl, I promised I’d wear it one day. She promised she’d keep it safe. Cancer stole her before I turned twelve, but the dress remained—soft proof that love can outlast breath. A House Divided When Dad remarried, Stephanie moved in with her marble tables and opinions sharp as glass. She didn’t understand keepsakes, only appearances. The day she saw me…

I was sixteen the night my father finally heard the truth—every sharp word, every sneer, every time my stepmother tried to scrape my mother’s memory off the walls. By then, I’d learned to carry grief the way you carry a secret: close to the skin, where it can’t be snatched. When I was ten, my mom, Nora, pressed a small velvet box into my palm. Inside was a silver locket etched with a tiny forget-me-not. She fastened it at the nape of my neck with trembling fingers and whispered, “When you touch this, you’ll find me.” On one side, a…

ABC’s late-night lineup just took a jolt—one that’s rippling through TV, politics, and free-speech circles. On Wednesday, Nexstar Media Group said its ABC-affiliated stations will preempt “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” “for the foreseeable future,” beginning that night, after Kimmel’s on-air remarks about the killing of conservative activist Charlie Kirk. The move effectively removes Kimmel in a swath of U.S. markets where Nexstar controls the late-night ABC feed, even as ABC’s network schedule technically still lists the show. In broadcast terms, a preemption isn’t a cancellation; it’s a local affiliate choosing not to air a scheduled network program and substituting something else.…

Riley Green Tips His Hat to the Classics With a Hank Williams Cover Riley Green has long been celebrated for bringing a traditional edge to modern country music — and his latest social media post proves just how deeply his roots run. The Alabama native recently shared a stripped-down cover of Hank Williams’ classic “(I Heard That) Lonesome Whistle,” giving fans a raw, heartfelt glimpse of the music that inspires him. Honoring a Country Legend Originally recorded in 1951, “(I Heard That) Lonesome Whistle” was co-written by Hank Williams and Jimmie Davis. The track became Williams’ 14th consecutive Top 10…

Riley Green Announces 2026 Cowboy As It Gets Tour Riley Green has never claimed to be a cowboy — and that honesty may be what makes his music resonate the most. This morning, the Alabama native announced his 2026 Cowboy As It Gets Tour, a headlining run that kicks off April 16 in Southaven, Mississippi, and will stretch through August 22 in Grand Forks, North Dakota. Produced by Live Nation, the trek will bring Green to both arenas and outdoor amphitheaters across the U.S., with support from Justin Moore and special guests including Drake White, Mackenzie Carpenter, Zach John King,…

Jelly Roll Celebrates Going “From Rock Bottom to Holy Ground” After Meeting Pope Leo From a prison cell to St. Peter’s Square, Jelly Roll is living proof that redemption stories can rewrite themselves in ways no one could predict. The country superstar — once a troubled teen arrested over 40 times on drug-related charges — is now celebrating one of the most extraordinary moments of his career: meeting Pope Leo during a historic concert at the Vatican. “From Rock Bottom to Holy Ground” Jelly Roll shared the emotional moment with fans on Instagram, posting a photo of himself beaming while…

When my mother-in-law moved in “for a few weeks” while her kitchen was torn up, I told myself it would be fine. I even made up the guest room with fresh sheets and put flowers on the nightstand. By day three, the flowers looked like I felt—drooping under the weight of something I couldn’t name. The something turned out to be neon. It started with a hot-pink sticky on the stove: Cook fresh meals for your husband EACH TIME! Another was taped to the mop: Clean EVERY DAY so your husband doesn’t breathe dust! When I came down with a…

We’d been quietly tucking money away for each of our kids since they were little. Not a fortune—just steady, boring deposits into accounts marked “future.” In our heads, that meant tuition, books, a shot at choices. Maddie, our oldest, is 22 now. She got pregnant at 16, left school, and carved a different path. She and her fiancé, Jason, have two little ones we adore. We’ve helped often—diapers, rent, groceries, the half-broken stroller I replaced without a word. Love, in our house, means you don’t keep score. Kate is 17 and just got into her dream college. The night the…