Billy Strings. Photo: Alysse Gafkjen

Billy Strings has announced he’ll extend his headline tour through summer.

The new dates include stops at Milwaukee’s Fiserv Forum, Minneapolis’ Target Center, Fargo’s Scheels Arena, Bozeman’s Brick Breeden Fieldhouse, Missoula’s Adams Center and two nights at Vancouver’s Commodore Ballroom, marking Strings’ first-ever Canadian shows.

Before the summer shows, Strings will travel this spring to St. Augustine’s St. Augustine Amphitheatre (three nights, all sold-out), Savannah’s Enmarket Arena (two nights), Tampa’s Yuengling Center, St. Louis’ Chaifetz Arena (two nights), Lexington’s Rupp Arena (two nights) and Grand Rapids’ Van Andel Arena (two nights), among others. He will also join Willie Nelson’s “Outlaw Music Festival Tour” in May.

Strings has been off to a fast start for 2025, including winning Best Bluegrass Album at the Grammy Awards earlier this year for his album, Live Vol. 1. The album gives fans a sample of what they will see at his shows and features Strings performing some of his most beloved songs, including “Dust in a Baggie,” “Away From The Mire,” and “Turmoil & Tinfoil,” recorded at various venues including Paris’ La Cigale, Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium, Austin’s Moody Center, Atlanta’s State Farm Arena and more.

Tickets for the new dates are on sale now.

Billy Strings Summer Tour Dates:
Aug. 8—Milwaukee, WI—Fiserv Forum
Aug. 9—Minneapolis, MN—Target Center
Aug. 12—Fargo, ND—SCHEELS Arena
Aug. 15—Bozeman, MT—Brick Breeden Fieldhouse
Aug. 16—Missoula, MT—Adams Center
Aug. 19—Vancouver, BC—Commodore Ballroom
Aug. 20—Vancouver, BC—Commodore Ballroom

Laci Kaye Booth makes Opry debut. Photo: Grand Ole Opry

Laci Kaye Booth made her Grand Ole Opry debut on Saturday night (March 29) something she’s aspired to do since she was just a little girl.

Pictured (L-R): Braeden Rountree (WME), Michelle Attardi (Big Machine Publishing), Laci Kaye Booth, Kaitlin Madewell (Red Light Management), Ashtyn Zink (Red Light Management) and Jordan Pettit (Grand Ole Opry). Photo: Natalie Sakstrup

Stepping into the famed circle for the first time dressed in vintage Bob Mackie, the Geffen Records artist shared her new single, “Daddy’s Mugshot,” and gave a nod to Patsy Cline with the classic “Crazy.” “Daddy’s Mugshot” is Booth’s first new song since the release of her 2024 debut album, The Loneliest Girl In The World and the Acoustic Sessions.

“Tonight I felt the full weight of a little girl’s dream comin’ true,” says Booth. “It lit a fire in me all over again — the same one that carried me to Nashville in the first place. I’ll never forget the love in that room, and I’m so thankful for every soul who showed up to share it with me.”

Booth will be touring this summer, supporting Megan Moroney on several dates, playing some festivals and rejoining Parker McCollum for select shows on his summer tour.

Lee Thomas Miller. Photo: Courtesy of NSAI

NSAI’s Tin Pan South wrapped its 2025 event last week, marking the 33rd edition of the festival.

Thursday (March 27) featured performances from Eric Paslay, Seth Ennis, Jonathan Sherwood, JT Harding, Josh Jenkins, Matt Jenkins, Ben Williams, Chrissy Metz, Trent Willmon, Scotty Hasting, Laci Kaye Booth, Ashley Gorley, Ben Johnson, Hunter Phelps, Taylor Phillips, Rob Ragosta, Benjy Davis, Kelly Archer, Lee Thomas Miller, Kayley Green, Brett James, Lydia Vaughn and many more.

Charles Esten. Photo: Courtesy of NSAI

Troy Cartwright, Trent Tomlinson, Austin Nivarel, Charles Esten, Haven Madison, Andy Albert, Emily Falvey, KK Johnson, Ernest, Chandler Walters, Emily Shackelton, Christian Hayes, Tenille Townes and more all took the stages on Friday (March 28).

To close out the festival on Saturday (March 29), attendees were treated to performances from Struggle Jennings, Deanna Bryant, Alison Nichols, Adam Wright, Michael Farren, Bryce Leatherwood, Adam Craig, Jordan Walker, Melissa Etheridge, Shelly Fairchild, Ashley McBryde, Kat Higgins, HunterGirl, Patrick Murphy, Trisha Yearwood and Grace Tyler, among others.

Eric Paslay. Photo: Courtesy of NSAI

Gordie Sampson & Sarah Buxton. Photo: Courtesy of NSAI

Kelly Archer & Wendell Mobley. Photo: Courtesy of NSAI

Ben Johnson, Taylor Phillips, Ashley Gorley & Hunter Phelps. Photo: Courtesy of NSAI

Maddox Batson performs at the Grand Ole Opry. Photo: Chris Hollo/Grand Ole Opry

Rising country teen Maddox Batson made his Grand Ole Opry debut last Wednesday (March 26), checking off a box on his career wish list.

Maddox Batson chats with Charlie Mattos after his Grand Ole Opry debut. Photo: Chris Hollo/Grand Ole Opry

Batson performed two songs from his recently released EP First Dance during the appearance, “I Don’t Like You Anymore” and “It Was You.”

“Performing here at the Opry tonight means more to me than anything. I want to give a shout out to all my family here tonight,” shared Batson. “I can’t stop smiling. You’re making dreams come true for me! Walking out on this stage, the circle, is something I’ve wanted to do my entire life. I know I haven’t lived a long time, but…,” he shared smiling, drawing laughter from the audience. “Growing up in the country music space, growing up knowing the prestige of the Grand Ole Opry and actually coming out here to play it means the world to me. It’s the coolest thing ever.”

The EP followed the success of breakout single “I Don’t Like You Anymore,” which has amassed over one million streams on Spotify and 3.2 million views on YouTube. It also builds on the popularity of the track “X’s,” which has accumulated over six million Spotify streams and 11 million YouTube views.

“I’ve never been more proud of a body of music,” said Batson about First Dance from the Opry stage. “A year ago, I released my first song ‘Tears in the River.’ And then a year and six days later, I got to release my debut EP. I’m so proud of it and glad the fans are liking it so far.”