Zach Top Returns Home to Sing the National Anthem at the NFC Championship Zach Top came full circle on Sunday night. The Grammy-nominated country singer returned to his home state of Washington to perform “The Star-Spangled Banner” ahead of the NFC Championship game at Seattle’s Lumen Field, where the Seattle Seahawks faced the Los Angeles Rams with a Super Bowl LX berth on the line. For Top, a native of Sunnyside, Washington, the moment carried special weight. Raised on a 20,000-acre ranch, the “I Never Lie” singer has never hidden his pride in where he comes from—and singing the national…
Author: Kelly Whitewood
If it feels like America is standing on the edge of a revival right now, it’s probably because we are. While overall church attendance has remained relatively steady, something remarkable is happening beneath the surface. Millennials and Gen Z are returning to church in growing numbers, outpacing older generations for the first time in decades. Last year marked a 21-year high in Bible sales in the United States. Even country music—long intertwined with faith—is leaning more openly into spiritual themes. Cody Johnson teamed up with Brandon Lake on “When A Cowboy Prays.” Jelly Roll and Brandon Lake struck gold with…
Rick Springfield Has Blunt Advice for Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban After Divorce Rick Springfield is never one to sugarcoat things. Just two weeks after Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban finalized their divorce, the 76-year-old Jessie’s Girl singer was asked for his thoughts — and his advice — while speaking with TMZ at LAX earlier this week. His response was short, direct, and unmistakably Springfield. “Get laid,” he said. When pressed on how he felt about the high-profile split itself, Springfield shrugged off the question, replying, “I don’t know. You got me there.” Kidman, 58, filed for divorce from Urban,…
Jo Dee Messina Mourns the Loss of Her Father, Vincent Messina, at 95 Vincent Messina, the father of country music star Jo Dee Messina, has passed away at the age of 95. Jo Dee shared the news on Saturday, January 24, through a heartfelt post on social media. Alongside the announcement, the “Heads Carolina, Tails California” singer shared a deeply moving video of her father singing “Daddy’s Little Girl” by Al Martino — a moment that now carries even more meaning. In the minute-long clip, Vincent can be seen visibly emotional, choking back tears as he sings the tender lyrics…
William Clark Green Is One of a Kind — And He’s Only Getting Better Few artists in Texas music have carved out a lane as distinct — or as durable — as William Clark Green. A native of Eastland, Texas, Green has spent nearly two decades building a fiercely loyal following and earning deep respect from peers through sheer songwriting muscle and an unflinching creative vision. Primarily a solo artist — but also a key member of the Texas supergroup The Panhandlers — Green’s catalog proves again and again just how powerful honest, well-crafted songs can be. Since the release…
“God Bless Country & Christian Music,” Brandon Lake Says After Hosting Songwriting Retreat with 25 Country Artists “As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.” — Proverbs 27:17 From its earliest days, country music has always drawn from the same spiritual well as Christian music. Old hymns, gospel themes, and faith-based storytelling have long shaped the genre’s heart. And while those traditions remain timeless, Psalm 96 reminds us to “sing to the Lord a new song.” That call for something new may be exactly what’s unfolding now. On Wednesday, January 21, chart-topping Christian artist Brandon Lake revealed that he…
Sir Tom Jones to Air Special BBC Radio 2 Performance This Weekend Legendary Welsh singer Sir Tom Jones is set to treat fans to a special performance for BBC Radio 2, airing this weekend as part of the broadcaster’s Live at Home festival. The iconic vocalist, who celebrated his 80th birthday in June, recorded the intimate set two weeks ago in a walled garden in Hertfordshire. Due to pandemic restrictions, the performance took place without a live audience, with only Radio 2 presenters Trevor Nelson and Jo Whiley, along with a small production crew, in attendance. Despite the unusual setting,…
Now That Is How You Sing the “Star-Spangled Banner” Before a single snap was taken at the NFC Championship between the Los Angeles Rams and the Seattle Seahawks, the home crowd at Lumen Field had already witnessed something special. Seattle didn’t just bring in any artist to sing the national anthem. They called on a rising country star who actually hails from Washington state—and who just happens to sound like he walked straight out of a 1990s country record. Zach Top under theses arches! 🙌 Don’t miss his national anthem ahead of the NFC Championship. pic.twitter.com/93PzNBcsdF— Lumen Field (@LumenField) January…
When the Right Voice Finds the Right Song, Everything Changes Some songs are powerful on their own. Others wait for the right voice to unlock them. That’s exactly what happened on the latest episode of Star Search, when Louisiana native Bear Bailey stepped onstage and delivered a soul-shaking rendition of “Hard Fought Hallelujah.” The song—originally recorded by Jelly Roll alongside Brandon Lake—was already heavy with meaning. A raw declaration of faith earned through struggle, not comfort. But Bailey didn’t just sing it. He testified through it. A Room That Felt Something Real From the first line, the atmosphere shifted. Bailey…
Ashley McBryde Is Entering Her Next Era — And Her Redemption Residency Is Already Legendary It’s a great moment to be an Ashley McBryde fan. At the end of December, the One Night Standards singer shared an emotional Instagram video that caught fans’ attention immediately. Sitting in her car after listening to rough mixes of her upcoming album, McBryde admitted she was overwhelmed—despite having written and lived with these songs from the very beginning. Even unfinished, the music hit her like it was brand new. She described staring at the dashboard in disbelief, saying it felt like she was hearing…