Country music
People look on as workers erect a stage during setup for the NFL draft Tuesday, April 26, 2022, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/John Locher)
Fountains, scubas, slot machines, Ferris wheel and NFL draft

By Barry Wilner Apr. 26, 2022 08:19 PM EDT

Kenny Chesney performs "Beer In Mexico" at the CMT Music Awards on Monday, April 11, 2022, at the Municipal Auditorium in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)
Super Bowl visit inspires singer Chesney as tour begins

By Barry Wilner Apr. 22, 2022 03:31 AM EDT

FILE - Trace Adkins arrives at the 55th annual CMA Awards on Wednesday, Nov. 10, 2021, at the Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tenn. Adkins will perform the National Anthem at Sunday’s Daytona 500. (AP Photo/Ed Rode, File)
Trace Adkins to sing national anthem at sold-out Daytona 500

Feb. 15, 2022 11:59 AM EST

Eminem kneels down during the halftime performance at the NFL Super Bowl 56 football game between the Los Angeles Rams and the Cincinnati Bengals Sunday, Feb. 13, 2022, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)
Super Bowl: Eminem takes a knee, 50 Cent hangs upside down

By Andrew Dalton Feb. 13, 2022 08:28 PM EST

This combination of photos shows, from left, Lil Baby, Justin Bieber, Drake, Miley Cyrus and Blake Shelton, who are among the performers playing shows ahead of the Super Bowl between Los Angeles Rams and Cincinnati Bengals. (AP Photo)
Miley Cyrus, Green Day span decades in pre-Super Bowl show

By Andrew Dalton Feb. 13, 2022 04:36 AM EST

FILE - Former NBA basketball player Shaquille O' Neal DJ's at Shaq's Fun House in Miami on Feb. 1, 2020. O’Neal will return to the city where he helped the Los Angeles Lakers win three straight championships. This time, O’Neal – who frequently deejays – will host “Shaq’s Fun House,” featuring performances by Lil Wayne, Zedd and Diplo. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky, File)
Shaq, Usher and Mayer shows all highlight Super Bowl week

By Jonathan Landrum Jr. Feb. 08, 2022 04:37 PM EST

FILE - Darius Rucker poses for a photo before taking the stage for a pregame tailgate party before Super Bowl 54, Sunday, Feb. 2, 2020, in Miami. While singer/songwriter Darius Rucker notes that pretty much all athletes “want to be singers and all singers want to be sports guys,” the biggest similarity is how they all need to mesh with teammates. Or bandmates. (AP Photo/John Carucci)
Darius Rucker knows teamwork critical in football and music

By Barry Wilner Nov. 15, 2021 02:33 AM EST

FILE - Singer Darius Rucker takes part in a concert before the NASCAR Daytona 500 auto race Sunday, Feb. 16, 2020, at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Fla. While singer/songwriter Darius Rucker notes that pretty much all athletes “want to be singers and all singers want to be sports guys,” the biggest similarity is how they all need to mesh with teammates. Or bandmates. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara, File)
NASCAR Cup Series at Daytona

Nov. 15, 2021 12:33 AM EST

Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Derek Carr (4) warms up before an NFL football game against the Kansas City Chiefs, Sunday, Nov. 14, 2021, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
Kansas City Chiefs at Las Vegas Raiders 11/14/2021

Nov. 14, 2021 07:57 PM EST

FILE - In this Friday, June 6, 2014 file photo, Travis Tritt performs during the CMA Fest at LP Field in Nashville, Tenn. Tritt, who canceled shows at venues that required a COVID-19 vaccine or mask-wearing, was set to sing the national anthem before Game 6 of the NL Championship Series on Saturday night, Oct. 23, 2021. The Braves' 41,000-seat stadium, Truist Park, has allowed full capacity most of the season with no requirements for vaccinations, negative tests or mask-wearing from fans. (Photo by Wade Payne/Invision/AP, File)
2014 CMA Music Festival

Oct. 23, 2021 08:21 PM EDT

Atlanta Braves' Jorge Soler, right, rejoins the team for batting practice while preparing to play the Los Angeles Dodgers in Game 5 of baseball's NL Championship Series, Thursday, Oct. 21, 2021, in Los Angeles. Soler rejoined the team Thursday after being out due to a positive COVID-19 test. (Curtis Compton/Atlanta Journal-Constitution via AP)
After slamming COVID-19 rules, Tritt sings anthem at NLCS

By Paul Newberry Oct. 23, 2021 02:25 PM EDT

Singer Sheryl Crow watches as players warm up before an NFL football game between the Tennessee Titans and the Buffalo Bills Monday, Oct. 18, 2021, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Wade Payne)
Buffalo Bills at Tennessee Titans 10/18/2021

Oct. 18, 2021 08:09 PM EDT

FILE - In this Dec. 13, 2018, file photo, former Kansas City Chiefs player Tony Gonzalez poses with fans in the stands after he was inducted to the Chiefs Hall fo Fame, at halftime of the team's NFL football game against the Los Angeles Chargers in Kansas City, Mo. After 17 seasons in the NFL and several years as a broadcaster, Gonzalez stepped away from the studio this season to pursue acting. (AP Photo/Ed Zurga, File)
Darius Rucker to sing national anthem at Bills-Dolphins

By The Associated Press Sep. 17, 2021 11:17 AM EDT

FILE - In this April 7, 2019, file photo, Scotty McCreery arrives at the 54th annual Academy of Country Music Awards at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. A decade ago, McCreery won “American Idol.” At age 17. So the country music star and huge NFL fan knows all about the pressure players face. Maybe even more so: Remember, as well as he might have performed on stage, fans across the country were casting votes for who would win the competition. Not exactly something in McCreery's control. (Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP, File)
Country star Scotty McCreery knows pressure NFL players face

By Barry Wilner Sep. 14, 2021 02:35 AM EDT

This photo provided by Allister Ann shows Chase Rice waitings backstage before opening for Garth Brooks at Ford Field in Detroit, on Feb. 22, 2020. Like many young football players growing up in North Carolina, Chase Rice had his sights set on the NFL. Then the linebacker who tore up the ACC in 2006 tore up his left ankle in the season opener as a junior. Though he returned in 2007, Rice already knew pro football player was not going to be on his resume.(Allister Ann via AP)
Chasing Dreams: From UNC linebacker to country music star

By Barry Wilner Apr. 19, 2021 02:29 AM EDT

Raymond James Stadium rises in the distance ahead of Super Bowl 55 Saturday, Feb. 6, 2021, in Tampa, Fla. The venue is hosting Sunday's Super Bowl football game between the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the Kansas City Chiefs. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
Kansas City Chiefs at Tampa Bay Buccaneers 2/7/2021

Feb. 06, 2021 03:06 PM EST

Singer Jazmine Sullivan poses for a portrait in Rydal, Pa., on Tuesday, Jan. 26, 2021 to promote her EP "Heaux Tales." (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)
Jazmine Sullivan talks Super Bowl gig and Whitney Houston

By Mesfin Fekadu Feb. 03, 2021 11:11 AM EST

FILE - Dolly Parton performs in concert on May 27, 2014, in Knoxville, Tenn. The Grammy-winning legend's 1980's hit "9 to 5" has been flipped by Squarespace, the company that helps users build and host their own websites, for a Super Bowl commercial debuting Tuesday, Feb. 2, 2021. Oscar winner Damien Chazelle of "La La Land" fame directed the spot. (Photo by Wade Payne/Invision/AP, File)
Dolly Parton on Super Bowl commercial and COVID-19 vaccine

By Mesfin Fekadu Feb. 02, 2021 02:06 PM EST

Washington Football Team quarterback Alex Smith warms up before an NFL football game against the Dallas Cowboys in Arlington, Texas, Thursday, Nov. 26, 2020. (AP Photo/Roger Steinman)
Washington Football Team at Dallas Cowboys 11/26/2020

Nov. 26, 2020 04:08 PM EST

New York Giants' Logan Ryan (23) celebrates with teammates after the Giants forced a turnover on downs during the second half of an NFL football game against the Philadelphia Eagles, Thursday, Oct. 22, 2020, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Chris Szagola)
Meet QBs-turned-DJs Peyton and Eli Manning

By The Associated Press Nov. 06, 2020 12:53 PM EST