The DIRT 9/26

SCOTTY MCCREERY: OFF THE MARKET

Scotty McCreery is officially off the market. 

He proposed to his longtime girlfriend, Gabi Dugal today near Grandfather Mountain in North Carolina. The two were taking a walk on a trail when Scotty got down on one knee and popped the question.

He says, “I’ve been planning this moment for so long that it feels surreal for it to have finally happened. Gabi is the perfect girl and my true love, and I cannot wait to begin building our life together as husband and wife.”

The happy couple plan to get hitched next year.

THOMAS RHETT: A DIFFERENT CHRISTMAS

The holiday season at Thomas Rhett's house will be a whole lot different than in years past.

He tells People, “Last Christmas it was literally me and my wife and two dogs, and this Christmas is going to be my wife, two dogs, and two kids."

Being a new dad hasn't slowed Thomas down too much -- he has a full tour schedule until the middle of November. But his wife Lauren has popped in at a few shows with Willa and Ada, including his date last weekend at Los Angeles's famed Greek Theater.

EDDIE MONTGOMERY: BREAKS SILENCE

Eddie Montgomery of Montgomery Gentry has broken his silence regarding the death of his friend and singing partner, Troy Gentry.

In an open letter to radio stations, Eddie expressed his appreciation for all the support he's gotten since the helicopter accident that took Troy's life. It reads: 

"I want to thank everyone for their support and prayers. Our world was turned upside down in an instant and nothing could have prepared us for this. Over the past few months, T-Roy and I have been working on what I think is the best record of our career. In the last few weeks, we had been talking about what our first single would be. Then on September 8th, none of that mattered. 'Better Me' is a song we all loved and Troy sings his ass off on it. It speaks volumes about his life and who he had become and everyone he touched and how much he loved his family. I am so proud of this song and also to call him my friend, my family, my brother for 30 years."

"Better Me" closed out Troy's memorial service at the Grand Ole Opry.

D.A. Of The Day - 9/26

BEER + BEER = SHENANIGANS:

A Connecticut man went out last Saturday night and already had a pretty good idea how his night would end up based on the T-shirt he was wearing. 

38-year-old Nathan Corey was behind the wheel when a police officer saw him drive up on the sidewalk and violate some other traffic laws. He was pulled over, and the cop noticed he was wearing a shirt that contained the equation: "Beer + Beer = Shenanigans." It came as no surprise to the officer that Corey had been drinking, and after he failed a field sobriety test, he was arrested for drunk driving.

But that wasn't all. A search of his vehicle turned up marijuana, drug paraphernalia and a machete, which resulted in more charges. He was freed on $10,000 bail and will have to appear in court next week.

THE MAN WITH THE GOLDEN...BOOTY:

A Sri Lankan man was arrested at the airport for trying to board a plane with a butt-load of gold -- literally.

The 45-year-old was trying to board a flight to India when customs officials noticed he was walking a little funny. A metal detector at security beeped like crazy and confirmed that he was hiding something. A deeper search dug out more than 900 grams of gold shoved inside his rectum. Security guards found yellow gold biscuits and other gold jewelry valued at approximately $29,000, all carefully packaged and inserted into his rear end.

He's facing smuggling charges.

HOTLIST - 9/26

CHIP AND JOANNA: SEASON 5 WILL BE THE LAST:

"Fixer Upper" is coming to an end. Chip and Joanna Gaines have announced that the upcoming fifth season of their HGTV show will be the final for the couple. 



They went on to say that the family is healthy, the marriage is stronger than ever and they will continue to renovate homes, but they feel that they need to focus more of their attention on their family and other business ventures. The final season will air in November and will be followed by their spin-off called "Behind The Design".

T-SWIZZLE: STALKER GOING TO PSYCH WARD:

A creepy stalker of Taylor Swift is not going to prison -- yet.

Yesterday, a Manhattan Supreme Court judge committed Mohammed Jaffar to a psychiatric facility. He’ll be treated there until he’s well enough to stand trial on burglary and stalking charges. (New York Daily News)

Doctors determined he’s mentally unfit for trial. In the summer, Jaffar made the shocking claim that he “worked for Katy Parry. I helped her get started.”

In the spring, New York City police arrested Jaffar outside Taylor’s Tribeca apartment. He’d repeatedly visited her place, incessantly ringing the doorbell for an hour straight. Surveillance cameras caught him creeping on her roof. Somehow, he worked his way inside her secure building. On Valentine’s Day, he rode the elevator to her penthouse floor!

TOM WOPAT: HIT WITH NEW CHARGES:

Tom Wopat is dealing with new assault charges.

The Dukes of Hazzard star was arrested last month for allegedly putting his finger in a woman's butt crack. Now, police have hit the actor with a new charge of felony indecent assault, this time for poking a 16-year-old girl in her stomach.

According to the docs, he told the teen, "I'm a creepy old man, you're really talented and really cute."

Both alleged victims co-starred with Tom on a production of 42nd Street.

SCOTT DISICK: GOES PUBLIC WITH SOFIA:

Scott Disick and Sofia Richie have gone public with their relationship.

On Saturday night, the 30-something dad canoodled with the teen model at a Miami restaurant.

An Instagram video shows Kourtney Kardashian's ex locking lips with Lionel Richie's youngest daughter.

They were also served a dessert with “Congratulations Scott and Sofia!” written on the plate.

Earlier this year, Richie shot down rumors she was dating the father of three.

The Dirt - 9/25

MEGAN LINSEY: ISSUES STATEMENT AFTER ANTHEM CONTROVERSY

Former Steel Magnolia singer Meghan Linsey sparked a controversy when she chose to kneel after singing the national anthem at yesterday's (Sunday) Titans game against the Seattle Seahawks.

Many took to social media to voice their anger while others supported Meghan in the symbolic gesture.

Today she issued the following statement:

I want to say, I love my country and I have so much respect for those who died for our right to stand, kneel or be absent during the anthem yesterday. The heart of our country is our Constitution, and we are all walking, talking, breathing symbols of that Constitution.

Yesterday upon finishing the anthem, I kneeled in solidarity with the players and for those who experience racism and police brutality on a daily basis. I love the American flag, but a symbol is nothing without the people it represents, so yesterday, I kneeled for those who are mistreated, beaten down and disregarded.

It was never a choice for me as to whether or not I would show support for many of my fans and friends who have a heightened level of anxiety and fear because of the hateful, polarizing rhetoric from the President perpetuating a dangerous climate.

I can never be anything but me, the way God made me, and what I do is not just my art, it’s my calling. I will never normalize hate, whether that angers people or not. I knew there would be some backlash from people who don't understand, but there has also been such an overwhelming amount of support from those who applauded and knelt with me, and I’m so grateful for that.

I pray that change is sparked and that our great country can find unity despite our differences.
Love and Light-
Meghan

REBA: DESIGNING WOMAN:

Reba McEntire is expanding her empire. She's inked a deal with Justin Boots to design her own line. 

The collection is inspired by her life and features casual boots, booties, and classic western boots. She says, "This collection is for all those strong, spirited women and cowgirls at heart who have followed my journey throughout the years."

The line should be in stores soon.

BLAKE SHELTON: NEW ALBUM

Blake Shelton will release his 11th studio album, Texoma Shores, on November 3rd.

He made the announcement via social media. His timing couldn't be better -- the new season of The Voice starts on Monday.

You can pre-order the album now.

D.A. Of The Day - 9/25

COPS SNATCH DRUG DEALER:

An Arkansas woman is facing charges of drug possession and forgery after police found three syringes and drugs hidden inside her private lady parts.

Cops say they stopped Tracy McCoy for reckless driving and had her take a field sobriety test. She insisted that she hadn't been drinking and only took some prescription medicine, but officers brought her back to the station to provide a urine sample and that's when they realized something wasn't right. McCoy was unable to urinate and officers figured out why. It turns out she had stashed three syringes and a folded-up $20 bill inside her vagina. Wrapped inside the bill was a white pill that turned out to be a prescription pain pill.

She was immediately arrested, but before being thrown into the slammer, she made sure to do something to ensure that her next family gathering will be very awkward. She forged her sister’s signature on the arrest paperwork.

LONGHORN SNAKEHOUSE:

A Virginia woman visited a Longhorn Steakhouse but somehow got the long poisonous fang of a copperhead snake.

Rachel Myrick says she was walking through the restaurant to her table when she felt a sharp pain in her left foot. At first, she thought she'd been stung by a bee and kept walking, but the pain intensified, and when she reached down to feel her foot, she felt something moving. That's when she noticed an eight-inch copperhead snake and freaked out.

She screamed, "I got bit, I got bit" and then her boyfriend and her son ran over and stepped on the snake until it was dead. EMTs took her to the hospital, where she spent the next 11 days receiving anti-venom injections. But even though she's home now, she says she still deals with a lot of pain, and doctors have warned her that it may take several months for her to recover.

BANK ROBBER LOSES GAME OF CHICKEN:

A Florida man got himself into a bucket of trouble by pulling off a big bank heist -- and then walking right next door to buy himself lunch at Kentucky Fried Chicken.

Samuel Jevon Reaves entered the Wells Fargo branch and told a teller he needed money, but when the teller asked if he had a debit card, he responded, “This is a robbery. Give me all your money in the bank.” She handed over about $10,000, which he scooped up and calmly walked out -- crossing the parking lot with another bank employee following close behind.

The 32-year-old went into the KFC, ordered a meal, and took it to a table, where he bummed a cigarette from another patron -- before police arrived to cuff him and charge him with the robbery

HOTLIST - 9/25

ANTHONY WEINER: Sentenced to 21 Months

Anthony Weiner is headed to jail.

The disgraced former congressman -- and estranged husband of Hillary Clinton aide Huma Abedin -- has been sentenced to 21 months in prison for sexting with a 15-year-old girl. He pleaded guilty in May in hopes of avoiding jail time. He has to report by November 6th.

Texts and E-mails related to this case triggered then-FBI Director James Comey's reopening of the Clinton E-mail case in October.

NASCAR: STANDS WITH TRUMP:

As NFL players across the league took a knee or remained in the locker room for the national anthem yesterday, NASCAR drivers and team members stood.

Not one person took a knee at yesterday's NASCAR Cup series race in New Hampshire and several owners made it perfectly clear that they wouldn't want anyone on their teams joining the protest. Driving legend and team owner Richard Petty said he would fire any employee who didn't stand for the anthem. He said, "Anybody that don’t stand up for that ought to be out of the country. Period, If they don’t appreciate where they’re at … what got them where they’re at? The United States."

Another former driver-turned team owner Richard Childress also had a harsh response when asked what he would do if one of his employees took a knee. He answered, "Get you a ride on a Greyhound bus when the national anthem is over. I told them anyone who works for me should respect the country we live in. So many people have gave their lives for it. This is America.” (ESPN)

Dale Earnhardt Jr. tweeted his feelings about protesting the anthem, saying "All Americans R granted rights 2 peaceful protests Those who make peaceful revolution impossible will make violent revolution inevitable -JFK"

JENNIFER LOPEZ: DONATES A MILLION:

Jennifer Lopez will donate $1 million to hurricane relief efforts for Puerto Rico and the Caribbean.

She made the announcement Sunday during a surprise appearance alongside New York Governor Andrew Cuomo, who launched a donation drive to aid the islands.

At the press conference, J.Lo, who is co-chairing the effort, said, “Today Puerto Rico needs our help. My cousins and I and all of our family still haven’t been able to hear from all of our family over there and we are concerned for them and for everybody on the island."

Lopez added that she and boyfriend Alex Rodriguez, "who are both New Yorkers, are utilizing all our resources and relationships in entertainment, sports and business to garner support for Puerto Rican and Caribbean relief efforts."

The Dirt

CARRIE UNDERWOOD: SUED

Carrie Underwood and her co-writers are being sued for copyright infringement by two Canadian songwriters who say she ripped off their song "Something in the Water."

Songwriters Ron McNeill and Georgia Lyons say they pitched a song with the same name to Carrie's producer in 2014 but never heard back. They claim the hook, the lyrics and the melody are identical to their song.

A statement from Carrie's camp says, "We want all of Carrie’s fans, and everyone, to know that 'Something in the Water' was written by Brett James, Chris DeStefano and Carrie Underwood. This is a deeply personal song regarding Carrie’s faith, and she is saddened that anyone would attempt to challenge that for financial gain. Neither Carrie nor any of her co-writers ever received or heard the plaintiffs’ song. We fully expect that Carrie, Brett and Chris will be vindicated in the courts."
Last year, Carrie and Brad Paisley faced a similar lawsuit for "Remind Me" and won.

WILLIE NELSON: ALBUM WITH HIS SONS:

Willie Nelson will release Willie Nelson and the Boys on October 20th. 

The album features his sons Lukas and Micah, and is mined from Willie's Stash -- an archive of performances and studio recordings. The collection features country standards, many which were written by Hank Williams. (Rolling Stone)

Track Listing:

1. "Move It on Over" (Hank Williams)
2. "Mind Your Own Business" (Hank Williams)
3. "Healing Hands of Time" (Willie Nelson)
4. "Can I Sleep in Your Arms" (Hank Cochran)
5. "Send Me the Pillow You Dream On" (Hank Locklin)
6. "I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry" (Hank Williams)
7. "I'm Movin' On" (Hank Snow)
8. "Your Cheatin' Heart" (Hank Williams)
9. "My Tears Fall" (Alyssa Miller)
10. "Cold, Cold Heart" (Hank Williams)
11. "Mansion on the Hill" (Hank Williams and Fred Rose)
12. "Why Don't You Love Me" (Hank Williams)

JOHN CARTER CASH: THE LITTLEST CASH IS BORN

John Carter Cash, the son of Johnny and June, and his wife Ana Cristina are the proud parents of a new baby girl. 

Grace June Cash was born on September 11th. The couple made the announcement on social media.

Grace now carries on the Cash legacy with her brothers Jack and Joseph and sister Annabelle

 

JASON ALDEAN: NEW BOOK ABOUT HIS LIFE:

Jason Aldean has published his first book, Family, Friends and Fans. 

The book, written with Tom Carter, is a collection of stories about the people who've influenced his life -- including his mom and dad, his producer, his band members, his booking agent, his friends and his wife Brittany.

The book is available at JasonAldean.com

 

D.A. Of The Day

THE MAD POOPER STRIKES AGAIN:

A Colorado Springs family has had enough of one jogger who keeps dropping a deuce on their lawn.

Cathy Budde says a woman has been jogging past her house for weeks and stopping to poop on her property. She says the "mad pooper" has been doing it about once a week and leaves behind paper towels she uses to wipe. The family has even posted signs on the fence asking her not to bust a dookie on their lawn, but she's ignored them and continues to leave behind a mess anyway. She does this even though there is a park nearby that has bathrooms.

Budde says police have been notified and they're keeping a lookout for the discourteous defecator. If they catch her, she could be charged with indecent exposure and public defecation.

MAYBE TIME FOR AN EYE EXAM??

Animal control officers responding to a British woman's panicked call about an enormous snake in her house were surprised by what they found.

Officers rushed to the home where the terrified owner locked herself upstairs and refused to come down. They did a search expecting to find a large snake and when they lifted a box they found the menacing serpent -- only it wasn't a snake. It was actually a two-inch caterpillar. An Elephant Hawk Moth caterpillar, to be precise.

The officer assured the woman that it was only a caterpillar and it would be taken out of the house and put back outside, but she was still traumatized by what she thought was a snake, so the officer told her it would be taken to another location.

E.R. PHONE HOME

A Florida man really put the "urgency" into emergency when he dialed 911 to request an ambulance -- because he was sick of the wait at the E.R. he'd walked into.

Vanderick Williams was pacing around the emergency room of a Tallahassee hospital when a staffer told a cop assigned to the area that he was being disruptive. Williams agreed to sit down and shut up, but after another 30 minutes, he called 911 to request help. Of course, he raised suspicion by giving the dispatcher the address of the E.R.

After a second call, the dispatcher sent a second officer to arrest the 35-year-old, who insisted he'd called the emergency number just once, and simply "needed a ride."

The HOTLIST

RYAN PHILLIPPE: COPS DON'T BUY ABUSE CLAIM

Actor Ryan Phillippe has denied his ex-girlfriend's claims of abuse and it appears investigators aren't buying her story either.

21-year-old model Elsie Hewitt accused Phillippe of kicking and punching her after an argument on July 4th and filed a $1 million civil lawsuit against him. TMZ reports that investigators paid Phillippe a visit and he was surprised to learn that Hewitt had filed a police report. They say he was cooperative and appeared to have nothing to hide. He didn't even ask to have a lawyer present while being questioned. Police added that if Hewitt's story checked out, she would have had marks or bruises on her body and did not. Meanwhile, Phillippe has hired a lawyer and plans to sue her for defamation.

KEVIN HART: STRIPPER CALLS PRESS CONFERENCE

The woman at the center of the Kevin Hart sex scandal scheduled a press conference for this morning.

High-powered lawyer Lisa Bloom represents Montia Sabbag, who reportedly gets kinky with the comic in the homemade video worth millions. Montia has been described as a stripper. Her attorney calls her an “actress and model.”

Lisa Bloom told People magazine, (quote) “Sabbag was briefly involved with Kevin Hart a month ago. Since that time, she has been the subject of false, vicious attacks on her character. She will speak out about the true facts of this situation, and will announce our next legal move.”

The FBI would also like to know the “true facts.” They believe Montia Sabbag is linked to a crime syndicate that attempted to extort 10 million dollars from Kevin Hart.

TMZ obtained surveillance camera images from August 19 of Kevin flirting with Montia in the Marquee Nightclub.

JAKE LAMOTTA: RAGING BULL BOXER DEAD

Jake LaMotta, the legendary boxer who was depicted by Robert De Niro in the 1980 film Raging Bull, has died at the age of 95 (or 96; sources vary).

According to TMZ, the former middleweight champion died from pneumonia at a nursing home. He had been on a feeding tube for several weeks, but his condition deteriorated and his family decided to cease the effort.

LaMotta's boxing career began in 1941 and included six storied bouts (five of which he lost) against Sugar Ray Robinson. His 1970 memoir, Raging Bull: My Story, became the source for Martin Scorsese's film. De Niro won an Oscar for Best Actor for his portrayal of the dogged competitor.

LaMotta's wife Denise told TMZ, "I just want people to know, he was a great, sweet, sensitive, strong, compelling man with a great sense of humor, with eyes that danced."

HALLE BERRY: INSTAGRAM OFFICIAL WITH NEW FELLA

Congratulations to Halle Berry. The 51-year-old actress made it “Instagram official” with her latest boy-toy.

Halle posted an adorable photo with music producer Alex Da Kid, who embraces her from behind. She captioned it “My balance.” He tweeted the same image yesterday.

Alex Da Kid was in he recording studio with Imagine Dragons when they made their hits “Radioactive” and “Thunder.” He’s also worked with Rihanna, Eminem and X Ambassadors.

On Monday night, the pair connected in his hometown of London for the world premiere of The Kingsman: The Golden Circle. It arrives this weekend. Halle’s character has a cutesy name: Ginger Ale.

The DIRT - Thursday

Kenny Chesney: Gears Up To Help Irma Victims:

Kenny Chesney is stunned by the devastation Hurricane Irma has caused in his beloved Caribbean islands.

He's setting plans in motion to do something to help and he's counting on his fans to step up. Kenny writes on social media, "I know the No Shoes Nation is mighty. They’ve dug in before and made a difference. I have a feeling once we have our plans in the place, they’ll be there again."

Kenny spends a lot of time in the Caribbean when he's not in Nashville or on the road.

  


Garth: Ticket Sales For Houston Rodeo Postponed:

Ticket sales for Garth Brooks's opening and closing shows at Rodeo Houston next year have been postponed while the city recovers from the effects of Hurricane Harvey.

Rodeo CEO Joel Crowley says, “While we are all excited for the 2018 Garth Brooks performances, our main focus at this time is to support our fans and our community during the rebuilding process.”

The rodeo is scheduled for February 27th through March 18th.

BONUS VIDEO: THOMAS RHETT ON WITH FALLON:

Last night, Thomas Rhett stopped by The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon to promote his album 

"Life Changes" which drops tomorrow. 

Check out his performance of his new single, "Unforgettable"

Jo Dee Messina: Diagnosed With Cancer

Jo Dee Messina has been diagnosed with an undisclosed type of cancer. The announcement was made yesterday by her team on Facebook. 

Her last tour date will be October 7th. All other shows for 2017 will be postponed while she begins treatment this fall.

Jo Dee's team will provide updates on her treatment and conditions through social media.

D.A. Of The Day - Thursday

Cuttin' It In The Buff:

An elderly British man was fined nearly $5,000 for forgetting an important childhood lesson.

Back in February, 72-year-old Robert Fergus, joined by his 69-year-old wife Ruth, got drunk and ran naked, with scissors, through the lobby of a luxury hotel in Perth, Scotland. He trashed a display case and threatened other guests with the scissors before using them to cut phone lines in the lobby. His equally blotto spouse threatened to shoot a hotel staffer who intervened.

At their sentencing this week, their attorney said the couple had "consumed much more alcohol than was sensible" after skipping dinner earlier in the evening. They agreed to pay fines and never return to the hotel in question.

Giraffic Jam:

A police department in Oregon was forced to tweet an important announcement to concerned residents to calm their nerves about an escaped animal on the loose. 

Word spread on social media that a baby giraffe had escaped from an enclosure outside of Portland and was on the loose. The rumor started with a post on Craigslist that read, "Our landscapers damaged the fence and our giraffe calf, 'Raffi' escaped. At this age, they are easily mistaken for a deer or even a llama, as nobody expects to see a giraffe in Beaverton." It added that the animal was probably hanging around by the vineyards because it likes to eat grapes.

Despite how ridiculous a story about an escaped pet giraffe sounds, people believed it and were worried about the giraffe's safety until the Beaverton Police Department tweeted, "Despite social media reports, we are not searching for a baby giraffe. They are cute and we would search for one if they were missing." Police added that if someone really did own a pet giraffe, they would be in a lot of trouble.

Some Fin's Terribly Wrong:

Environmental conservation officers raided a house in New York state on a tip that residents might have been harboring illegal wildlife -- and were stunned to find an above-ground pool in the basement filled with sharks.

Authorities found a 15-foot backyard pool in the house with 10 sharks in it, seven which were alive. They included sandbar sharks, leopard sharks, and a hammerhead shark. Authorities and aquarium staff captured the sharks, tagged them and transferred them to large tanks inside a box truck, which transported them to an aquarium.

No charges have been filed yet. The Department of Environmental Conservation says the case is under investigation.

HOTLIST - THURSDAY

HURRICANE IRMA: Last Flight Out Of Puerto Rico

The last commercial plane out of Puerto Rico became a social media sensation.

Delta Flight 302 risked flying into Hurricane Irma to reach Puerto Rico. That plane was basically empty except for crew, which managed a quick turn-around on the ground and jetted 173 passengers off the island to New York’s JFK International.

An aviation geek named Jason Rabinowitz tracked the flight’s path and tweeted regular updates of Delta’s location in relation to Hurricane Irma.

An airline spokesperson said (quote) “We took a hard look at the weather data. The track of the storm and worked with the flight crew and dispatcher to agree it was safe to operate the flight.”

Satellite images show Hurricane Irma kissing the Puerto Rico coastline as the plane arrived. Daredevil pilots threaded a needle through a sliver of calmer skies. Delta reports, despite a turbulent ride, all the passengers arrived unharmed to JFK.

The Bachelor: Arie Is The Man!

The Bachelor has announced its new main man for season 22.

Arie Luyendyk Jr., a race car driver who was a runner-up on season 8 of The Bachelorette, will be the next Bachelor. The news was revealed earlier today on Good Morning America. The 35-year-old says he had been considered to be the Bachelor in previous seasons but it never worked out until now. The Bachelor's 22nd season will premiere in January.

Aladdin: Disney Catching Heat For Adding White Actor

Disney is being criticized for adding a white character to its live-adaptation of Aladdin. 

Billy Magnussen, a white actor, will play a prince in the remake, a character not in the 1992 animated version, and many social media users aren't happy about it. Some are even calling it whitewashing, even though the rest of the cast, led by Will Smith, are people of color.

Magnussen’s character will be Aladdin’s rival to winning over Princess Jasmine’s heart. Another new character has also been added to the movie, Jasmine’s friend and handmaiden Mara, who will be played by Nasim Pedrad.

The film, directed by Guy Ritchie, does not have a release date yet.

The DIRT

Little Big Town: Walk of Fame Stars...

Little Big Town will get a star on the Music City Walk of Fame on September 14th. 

They'll be honored as a part of the Ryman Auditorium's 125th anniversary celebration. So will Tom Ryman, the riverboat captain who built the venue (which was originally a church), and Lula C. Naff, who was the auditorium's theater manager for more than 40 years.

Little Big Town is the first act to do a residency at the fabled venue.

The induction ceremony is free and will be open to the public.

Chris Young: Raised more than $300,000 for Houston

Chris Young was the first country artist to step up with a resource to help victims of Hurricane Harvey.

Chris owns a house where the storm first hit and has family and friends who live in the area. He doesn't know what kind of damage his house has sustained, but he's way more worried about the people in danger. Fortunately, all of his friends and family are safe.

He set up a GoFundMe campaign that has already raised over $300,000.

Miranda Lambert: Boots On The Ground in Texas

Miranda Lambert and her MuttNation Foundation have boots on the ground in Texas, and are loading up pups and bringing them to safe shelters across the country. 

She writes on Twitter, "Thanks to some amazing transportation volunteers, we sent over 70 pups to a shelter in [Oklahoma] today. Rigs now rolling into Houston for another load."

Funds are still needed to shelter and feed the rescued animals. You can donate to MuttNation Foundation on its website.

GARTH BROOKS: HEADLINING STAGECOACH?

Garth Brooks might headline next year's Stagecoach Festival. 

Sources tell Billboard that Garth will be the top draw to the festival at the Empire Polo Grounds in Indio, California. If true, it will be one of three performances he has on the books for 2018. The other two are opening-night and a closing-night shows at the 2018 Rodeo Houston in February.

Stagecoach takes place April 27th through April 29th. The full lineup is expected to be announced next month.