Alan Jackson shares ‘Racing the Dark,’ co-written with daughter Mattie
Alan Jackson and his daughter, Mattie Jackson Selecman, have released their collaborative song titled “Racing the Dark,” which coincides with the release of Selecman’s book 'Lemons on Friday'. Selecman recently lost her husband Ben after only 11 months of marriage. Both song and book detail Selecman’s painful heartbreak while also honoring the life that Ben and Mattie shared.
Jackson said in a statement: “I’m really surprised how well she was able to handle all that. I know I couldn’t have done what she’s done. One day she came to me with this piece of paper and said, ‘I wrote this song… the lyrics,’ and asked me to put it to music. So, I wrote the melody for it, and it turned out to be a very sweet song. It’s a beautiful song. And it’s well-written, lyrically. She told a little more of her story in it… so I’m anxious for my fans to get to hear this.”
To purchase Lemons on Friday, head here. Take a listen to "Racing the Dark" at the link here.
Editorial credit: Danny E Hooks / Shutterstock.com
Kelsea Ballerini reveals her struggle with an eating disorder as a teenager
Kelsea Ballerini is opening up about her struggles in her teenage years in her new poetry book, Feel Your Way Through, The 28-year-old country singer revealed that she had struggled with an eating disorder when she was a teenager, saying, "My parents had just gotten divorced, and I think for me, it was a source of control." The singer revealed that up until the age of 18 she had battled bulimia, took several diet pills, and worked out excessively until she sought help after passing out numerous times, noting, "It's a journey, and it's never-ending."
While Ballerini says she is in a better mindset now, she revealed that she still struggles with body image issues at times, saying, "There are still days when I revert back to being that 12-year-old, and I have to catch myself, and hold myself accountable to the work I've done. I've re-calibrated what it means to me to just look in the mirror and just be like, 'Man, I'm healthy. I'm strong. I have good breath support to do my job well.' Those are things that matter to me now, rather than: 'I look skinny in a dress.'"
The country singer hopes to shed light on the issue and help those who have struggled with it in the past: It took me some time to feel bold enough and confident enough to share my true self. When you're able to talk about things, you either are going to feel shame about it and you're going to keep it hidden, or you're going to air it out and be vulnerable and connect with people and take the sting away from it and heal together. And I think that's just the better option for me at this point in my life. So that's why I air out a couple of my dark secrets in this book."
Editorial credit: Debby Wong / Shutterstock.com
How to be the BEST Thanksgiving Dinner Guest
Some Thanksgiving dinners are casual and others formal, either way there are some faux pas that you can avoid at your gathering.
Here are some of the worst things you can do as a guest at the holidays.
Show up too early
Show up starving
Have last-minute dietary requests
Demand oven space
Critique the cooking
Overstay your welcome
. . . and drink too much.
What’s NEW in 417 Land? Where’s The Meat?
Who’s got the Meat? Schuchman Meat Company! Schuchman
has now opened the doors on our THIRD LOCATION! 🥂🍾 At the corner of Kearney & Glenstone next to BigShots Golf Springfield MO
Schuchman’s Meat company is open 10 am until 7 pm.
Their slogan is “It’s your destination for prime steaks and fine food with stellar customer service in the 417!
Thanksgiving Fun Run & Free Pancake Breakfast
Start burning calories and get moving Thanksgiving morning with a fun run/walk and pancake breakfast. Meet at Fleet Feet Springfield at 7 am for a 3 mile run run/walk! Bring your family and your pets! Free pancake breakfast will be waiting for you when you return to the store – $5.00 per person to participate! They will also be collecting canned goods to be donated. The store will be open for a warm place to eat breakfast after the race, bathrooms, ect. Please register at Register: https://www.fitvil.com/…/6262-thanksgivingfunrun…/
Things NOT to Eat or Drink Before Flying
If you plan to fly for the holidays, you may want to rethink what you eat and drink. As tempting as it is to toss a bag of chips or pretzels into your carry-on, salty foods are the worst. Dry air in the cabin makes it easy to become get dehydrated on planes, therefore a meal or snack that’s high in sodium can make it worse. Soda and other carbonated beverages may seem refreshing but can expand inside your GI tract making the feeling even more unpleasant. Another one that you might want to pass on is alcohol. It effects the body differently in the air than on the ground, you might get tipsy faster. Both coffee and alcohol have diuretic effect on the body and can lead to more trips to the bathroom. The best things for your flight are water, fruit, and lean protein.
Turn Up the Thanksgiving Music!
You know when your ready for Christmas music and it might not be the same time as your friends and family. If you like to get down to some Jingle Bells while you’re serving up some pumpkin pie, then you’re playing the perfect song for the holiday. Jingle Bells was originally written as a Thanksgiving song – NOT a Christmas song.
Originally named ‘The One Horse Open Sleigh’, James Lord Pierpont composed the song in 1850 for his Thanksgiving Sunday school class.
According to History.com, the jingling bells refer to the New England sleigh races that were popular in the 1800s.
Florida’s 2022 Tortuga Music Festival to feature Luke Combs, Thomas Rhett and more
Luke Combs, Thomas Rhett and Morgan Wallen will headline the 2022 Tortuga Music Festival in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
The annual music event will take place on April 8-10, 2022 and will mark the fest's return to its typical April schedule after it was canceled in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Among the other stars slated to perform at the three-day installment include Breland, Priscilla Block, Brothers Osborne, Jordan Davis, Travis Denning, Walker Hayes, Randy Houser and more.
Launched in 2013, the Tortuga Music Festival was set up to provide attendees with ocean-side performances and awareness for marine conservation. Tickets to the 2022 Tortuga Music Festival go on sale on Friday at 10 AM ET. Click here for more information - tortugamusicfestival.com
Editorial credit: Debby Wong / Shutterstock.com
Thomas Rhett and wife Lauren Akins welcome their fourth daughter, Lillie Carolina
Singer Thomas Rhett and his wife, Lauren Akins, have welcomed their fourth daughter, Lillie Carolina.
The 31-year-old Rhett shared the news Wednesday on Instagram alongside a photo of himself with Akins and their baby girl at the hospital, along with the caption: "Lillie Carolina Akins born November 15th. 7.5 pounds of pure joy. @laur_akins you are my hero. Watching a child being born is legit a miracle. 4 under 6 here we go!" Akins posted on her own account: "Our little miss Lillie Carolina Akins was born on November 15th and our family couldn't be more over the moon about our littlest joy."
Rhett and Akins married in October 2012 and have three other daughters together: Willa Gray, 6, Ada James, 4, and Lennon Love, 21 months.
Editorial credit: Kathy Hutchins / Shutterstock.com
14th Annual Ozark Craft Festival
Proceeds from booth rentals will benefit local children’s causes.
Saturday 9am to 3pm
The O.C. at 1530 W. Jackson St
Get your Christmas shopping done!