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Portland Public Schools officials are rethinking a district ban on rap music on buses after allegations of racism. The district had banished hip-hop from its buses, deeming the genre "inappropriate." Teri Brady, senior director of transportation at Portland Public Schools, sent a directive to bus drivers in March forbidding "religious, rap music, or talk show programs." The memo included a list of acceptable stations, broken down into three genres: pop, country and jazz. Parent Colleen Ryan-Onken obtained a copy and it circulated in August among outraged parents, prompting the district to walk back the directive in statements released Wednesday.

Hillary Rodham Clinton, who once insulted country star Tammy Wynette in defending her husband against adultery charges, has released a photo of her dressed as Dolly Parton in a birthday fundraiser for her hubby, who turns 70. "We make a really big deal of birthdays in my family - back when we were in the White House, Bill loved to surprise me with theme parties. There was the year he dressed up as James Madison (tights and all), and I'll never forget the time we did a Dolly Parton party - you have to see it to believe it,"...

BATON ROUGE, LA. – Crossover pop icon Taylor Swift has donated $1 million to help Louisiana flooding victims, who have been suffering from Hurricane Katrina-like flooding in the state’s capital of Baton Rouge and neighboring parishes. “We began The 1989 World Tour in Louisiana, and the wonderful fans there made us feel completely at home,” Swift told CNN in a statement. “The fact that so many people in Louisiana have been forced out of their own homes this week is heartbreaking. I encourage those who can to help out and send your love and prayers their way during this devastating...

Country Music Hall of Famer Ronnie Milsap was taken to a south Georgia hospital before a concert Friday night. The 73-year-old singer was supposed to perform a concert, but there was some type of medical emergency before he went on stage. Milsap left the venue in an ambulance headed to a local hospital. There is no word on Milsap’s condition. Some of Milsap’s biggest hits include Smoky Mountain Rain, There’s No Gettin’ Over Me and What a Difference You’ve Made in My Life. Stay with Channel 4 and WSMV.com for updates on this story.

Three men have been arrested for allegedly attacking and beating NASCAR veteran Mike Wallace and his daughter after a North Carolina concert. ... Kenny Wallace posted images of the alleged incident to social media. One photo shows his brother badly beaten and another shows the victim’s daughter on a stretcher. “My brother Mike laid on the ground ‘knocked out’ and it was NOT even a fight and 3 men kept kicking my ‘knocked out’ brother in the face,” Kenny Wallace posted, in part, on his official Facebook page (Warning: Graphic images). “Think about it? .. My brother was knocked out...

Hope you enjoy. ”Jolene”

The Dixie Chicks kicked off their DCX MMXVI World Tour Friday in Cincinnati by performing in front of a massive backdrop showing Republican presumptive presidential nominee Donald Trump with devil horns on his head and a satanic mustache and goatee. Last night’s politically-charged performance wasn’t the first time the Texas-based country music band used their celebrity status to take shots at a major Republican party leader. During a performance in London in 2003, Dixie Chicks lead singer Natalie Maines told the crowd that she was “ashamed the president of the United States is from Texas.” Maines’ attack on President George...

The Dixie Chicks are at it again. Thirteen years after a public comment against then-president George. W. Bush lead to a backlash from country fans and nearly destroyed their career, the superstar trio are again getting political. Their target this time? Presumptive Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump.

Music fans know the importance of Friday. "It was the 3rd of June, another sleepy, dusty Delta day." That is the opening line of one of music's most discussed, examined and appreciated songs — "Ode to Billie Joe," written and performed by Bobbie Gentry, who was born in Mississippi's Chickasaw County. When her parents divorced and her mother left for California, Gentry moved in with her grandparents in Leflore County, near Greenwood. "Ode to Billie Joe" was selected by Rolling Stone magazine as one of the top 500 songs of all time. It went to No. 1 on the...

An old song, but Toby Keith does a good job honoring the American Soldier, (This means Marines, Sailors, Airmen and Coast Guardsmen too!)

NASHVILLE —ABC said it's canceling the country music drama series "Nashville" after four seasons. The network's decision Thursday drew an immediate lament from the city of Nashville's mayor, Megan Barry.

A North Dakota woman said Monday she was kicked out of a Garth Brooks concert before the show started for using the men’s bathroom. Samantha Bergh told Valley News Live that her husband took her to go see the country music superstar as a Mother’s Day gift. The concert in Fargo was attended by thousands of fans wanting to see Brooks. “Right before Garth Brooks was to start we went to the bathroom. The women’s line was a good 100 people long,” Bergh told Valley News Live. “It was insanely long and there was no wait for the men’s so...

Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan (R) has received more than $7,000 worth of gifts since he took office in January 2015, mostly modest trinkets and items from well-wishers after the governor made his cancer diagnosis public. The gifts range from a $1 Livestrong bracelet to a $500 membership at Baltimore’s posh members-only Center Club, according to a filing with the State Ethics Commission. Hogan even reported two rosaries blessed at the Vatican, given to him and his wife by Pope Francis in Washington. The disclosure also shows the outpouring of support for the governor after he announced in June that he...

Merle Haggard has died after a series of recent health struggles. The legendary singer passed away on April 6, 2016, which was also his 79th birthday. Haggard canceled tour dates in December of 2015 after he checked into a hospital and learned he had double pneumonia.

(CNSNews.com) -- The Country Music Association (CMA) announced today that the legendary Charlie Daniels will be inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame later this year, along with fellow inductees Fred Foster and Randy Travis. Charlie Daniels, who started his professional music career in 1954, is being inducted into the Veteran's Era category, according to the CMA. The event will take place at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum in the CMA Theater in Nashville, Tenn. During the Medallion Ceremony, "friends and colleagues pay tribute to each inductee through words and song," said the CMA. Also, "bronze...

A gay Central Michigan University professor has pleaded guilty for falsely claiming that a random guy at a Toby Keith concert called her a “cross-dressing fag,” punched her in the face and spat on her. Advertisement The professor, Mari Poindexter, had alleged that the man approached her at the Aug. 19 concert at the Soaring Eagle Casino and Resort in Mount Pleasant, Mich., reports The Morning Sun, a local newspaper. Advertisement The man began hurling a rich tapestry of obscene slurs at Poindexter, she told police. Advertisement Later that night, the professor said, the same man ambushed her in the...

Damn Screen is getting all BLURRY! Husband Rory says wife said last goodbyes, body shutting down

Sonny James, a country hall of fame singer who recorded smooth romantic ballads such as "Young Love" and turned pop songs into country hits, died Feb. 22 in Nashville. He was 87. Family friend Gary Robble, who was the lead singer of Mr. James' backing band, announced the death but did not cite a cause. Mr. James, who also was a songwriter, guitarist and fiddler, was promoted as the "Southern Gentleman" because of his gentle demeanor. Raised in Alabama, he started his music career with his family's band and, before he reached high school age, he already had performed on...

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