Domino’s unveiled its first major rebrand since 2012 on October 8, featuring a vibrant new logo with brighter reds and blues, a custom font called Domino’s Sans, alongside a catchy new jingle sung by chart-topping country superstar Shaboozey. The rebrand also includes simplified, colorful pizza box designs with upscale black and gold accents for specialty pizzas, as well as an updated trademark spelling “Dommmino’s” with an extra “mmm.” Domino’s executive VP Kate Trumbull emphasized the refresh aims to keep the nearly 65-year-old brand modern and relevant during a period of strong growth for the company, which saw a 5% sales increase through early 2025 and $9.1 billion in revenue across more than 21,500 global stores. “Most companies rebrand themselves when they’re struggling, but after years of category-defying growth, this refresh is about continuing to push to be the best version of ourselves,” Trumbull wrote in a press release. (People)

After her painful divorce, country singer Alexandra Kay has embraced a new, stronger version of herself, which she explores in her upcoming sophomore album, Second Wind, which is set for release on October 24 via BBR Music Group/BMG Nashville. Reflecting on the difficult experience of ending an 11-year marriage, Kay shares how finding love again with her guitarist boyfriend, Rocko Beall, has brought her healing, renewed trust, and creative openness. With most songs co-written during this period of personal growth, the album captures her journey from heartbreak and anger to self-worth and happiness, resonating deeply with her devoted fans. Following a series of high-profile shows opening for Brad Paisley over the summer, Kay is currently on tour with Chase McDaniel, debuting these new songs to her supportive fans, which includes over  8.7 million social media followers, a number that is only going to grow after her new album is released. (People)

John Carter Cash, the 55-year-old Grammy-winning artist and son of Johnny Cash and June Carter, says he found his true voice at 53 with his latest album, Pineapple John, which was released on Friday (October 10) via Avondale Records. Cash calls the project a “melting pot” reflecting his personal experiences and diverse musical influences including calypso, reggae, and rock. The 15-track album is inspired by his time in Jamaica, his family's musical legacy, and a lifelong connection to the ocean, with Cash admitting, “There's just as much Carter Family in me as there is AC/DC.” Cash also credits his legendary father with planting the musical seeds that take root in Pineapple John. "There were the songs that I loved, and also to me, they were the songs that he sang in the bar when he got up and played,” Cash shares, while adding, “Those [were] songs of his life. So it's greatly connected with my memory." (People)

Reba McEntire has officially responded to recent fake AI images showing her holding Dolly Parton’s hand in a hospital bed, and another image featuring herself clutching a sonogram. McEntire humorously dismissed the rumors in an Instagram video where she joins with Parton in blasting the AI photos, "You're out there dying, I'm out here having a baby." The 70-year-old singer captioned her post, “Too young to die, too old for babies 🤣 I love you, @DollyParton! See you soon ❤️,” with Parton showing her support in the comments by adding a “❤️.” The AI image of Parton on her death bed prompted concern after the 79-year-old country icon’s sister requested prayers for her health. Parton previously condemned the fake photos in her own social media video where she joked, "Did you see that AI picture of Reba and me? Oh lordy, I mean, they had Reba at my death bed and we both looked like we need to be buried.” (People)

Lady A’s Hillary Scott is joyfully embracing motherhood again after welcoming her fourth child, daughter Selah Jean, on July 25, describing this pregnancy as her easiest yet. Alongside husband Chris Tyrrell, she is adjusting to life with a newborn, while her older daughters – 12-year-old Eisele Kaye and 7-year-old twins Emory JoAnn and Betsy Mack – are delighted by their new sister. Scott feels deeply grateful for her growing family, especially as fellow Lady A members Charles Kelley and Dave Haywood also expand their families. As the group prepares for their tour in December in support of On This Winter’s Night (Volume 2), their first full length Christmas album in over a decade, Scott says: “The holiday season just becomes more and more magical with each year, so we will definitely be bringing that magic that [the kids] inspire us with into every show.” (People)

On Thursday (October 9), Luke Combs announced the dates and details of his 2026 My Kinda Saturday Night Tour. The 16-date stadium tour will span North America and Europe while stopping in eight different countries along the way, kicking off on March 21 at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, and concluding on August 1 at London’s Wembley Stadium. The shows will feature rotating support from Dierks Bentley, The Script, The Teskey Brothers, Thomas Rhett, Ty Myers, Jake Worthington, Thelma & James, and The Castellows at select dates. “There’s nothing like a headline show on a full tour with all of my fans. It’s hard to beat!,” Combs says. “I can’t wait for March 2026 for the ‘My Kinda Saturday Night Tour.’ We’re going to 8 different countries, bringing along a ton of great support, and by then will have a lot of new music to play.” Ticket pre-sales begin October 15, with general on-sales on October 17, and early access for his fan club, The Bootleggers, starting October 14. (Billboard) 

During Wednesday’s (October 8) grand opening of his Nashville bar, Posty’s, Post Malone surprised fans by performing a series of country classics and being joined by some high-profile special guests. Post performed a special duet of “Nosedive” with Lainey Wilson featured on his chart-topping album, F-1 Trillion, after opening his surprise set with covers of Vince Gill, Hank Williams Jr., Brad Paisley, Toby Keith, and Zach Top. Later in the night, Malone was joined by Brooks & Dunn for performances of “Neon Moon” and “Brand New Man,” as well as Dierks Bentley, who teamed up with Post for “What Was I Thinkin’.” The event unveiled Posty’s full three-floor venue, featuring a restaurant, karaoke, live music stage, rooftop bar, and gift shop. After his set, Malone generously covered the tabs of everyone in the bar, treating his fans to free food and drinks until 2 a.m. (Rolling Stone)

Russell Dickerson is riding a surge of success with his hit single, "Happen to Me," which spent two weeks at No. 1 and has fueled his sold-out Russellmania Tour. The 38-year-old country star chose an unconventional tour name last year, and even though his manager thought he was a little crazy, Dickerson was seeking something fresh that reflected his energetic live shows and growing fanbase. His fourth album, Famous Back Home, released in August, showcases his strongest writing and vocals yet, blending country swagger with emotional depth. Amid this career peak, Dickerson and his wife are renovating their Nashville home, planning a nursery while hinting at expanding their family of four. As his career continues to grow, Dickerson explains that, "When I close my eyes and dream of success, it’s the live concert setting. It’s not on a stage receiving an award or a Grammy. It’s singing these songs and the crowd is louder than I am.” (People)

Variety has named Sabrina Carpenter as their 2025 Hitmaker of the Year, and will honor her at the ninth annual Hitmakers celebration on December 6 in Los Angeles. Carpenter’s recognition comes amid the success of her seventh studio album, Man’s Best Friend, which debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 and amassed over 180 million U.S. streams in its first week, continuing the momentum from her 2024 Grammy-winning album, Short & Sweet. She is set to headline Coachella next April, and has a highly-anticipated North American tour kicking off in October. Carpenter joins an elite group of past Hitmakers like Charli XCX, SZA, Kendrick Lamar, Billie Eilish, and Harry Styles. Carpenter also made her Grand Ole Opry debut on Tuesday (October 7), describing the experience as “a magical night.” Carpenter was introduced by Sheryl Crow, with Sabrina gushing, “i am the biggest fan ever so that made my whole night alone if nothing else!” Celebrating the iconic venue’s 100th anniversary, Carpenter thanked fans and the band, while sharing backstage moments and expressing gratitude for the warm welcome she received. The Opry captured the event on TikTok, writing, “We were thrilled to welcome her into the circle!” (Variety)

Alan Jackson is set to conclude his legendary touring career with one last blockbuster concert, Last Call: One More for the Road – The Finale, on June 27 at Nashville’s Nissan Stadium. Joining him will be a star-studded lineup featuring Luke Bryan, Eric Church, Luke Combs, Riley Green, Cody Johnson, Miranda Lambert, Jon Pardi, Carrie Underwood, Keith Urban, and Lee Ann Womack, with additional artists to be announced. “We just felt like we had to end it all where it all started, and that’s in Nashville, Tennessee – Music City – where country music lives,” the 66-year-old Jackson said of the event, while adding, “I gotta do the last one there.” The Last Call Tour, which started in 2022, marks the end of Jackson’s 40-year career on the road, during which the three-time CMA Entertainer of the Year earned 26 Country Airplay No. 1 hits, leading to him being inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2017. Pre-sale starts on October 15, followed by general on-sale on October 17, with $1 from each ticket sold benefiting the CMT Research Foundation, reflecting Jackson’s diagnosis with Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease in 2021. (Billboard)

Darius Rucker announced his engagement to singer and influencer Emily Deahl on Wednesday (October 8), sharing a heartfelt Instagram post that includes a black-and-white photo of the Hootie & the Blowfish singer down on one knee proposing. “Thank you for showing me a level of happiness I have never known,” the 59-year-old Rucker wrote in the caption. “The day I met you I knew I didn’t want to go another one without you. Now I don’t have to.” The couple went public with their relationship last month, with Deahl, 33, explaining on social media why she had previously kept their relationship private. “I never intended on keeping this part of my life from you guys for so long,” she wrote in her Instagram Story that reshared the engagement post. “But somewhere along the way of loving him I discovered how sacred love is to me. And all I wanted to do was protect it." Rucker was previously married to Beth Leonard from 2000 to 2020. (People)

Zach Bryan has addressed the controversy surrounding his new song, “Bad News.” The track sparked polarized reactions earlier this week after he shared a snippet of the track on Instagram that featured lyrics criticizing ICE and the state of America, with both the White House and Homeland Security condemning it. Bryan clarified in an Instagram statement that the song’s meaning has been “misconstrued” and that the complete version provides “full context that hits on both sides of the aisle.” Bryan went on to add: “This shows you how divisive a narrative can be when shoved down our throats through social media. This song is about how much I love this country and everyone in it more than anything. Everyone using this now as a weapon is only proving how devastatingly divided we all are. We need to find our way back.” Bryan concluded his statement by asserting he’s neither left nor right, just a 29-year-old trying to make sense of these confusing times. (Consequence of Sound)

On Wednesday (October 8), Dolly Parton shared a video on Instagram where she addressed rumors about her recent health issues. The 79-year-old country star reassured fans that she is doing “OK” despite some ongoing health problems that caused her to postpone her upcoming Las Vegas residency. “I know lately, everybody thinks that I am sicker than I am,” Parton said in the clip, while adding, “Do I look sick to you?! I’m workin’ hard here.” Concert about Parton’s health problems intensified after her sister Freida took to social media to ask fans to pray for Dolly, before clarifying that the singer was just “under the weather.” Parton said that she “wanted to put everybody’s mind at ease” by sharing the health update directly with her fans, while adding, ”I wanted you to know that I’m not dying. There’s just a lot of rumors flyin’ around and I figured if you heard it from me, you’d know that I was OK.” (Billboard)

During an interview with Today on Monday (October 6), Dumb Blonde podcast host Bunnie XO, stepmother to husband Jelly Roll’s two children, Noah Buddy (9) and Bailee Ann (17), candidly described the challenges of parenting teens. She admits that raising a child between 13 and 17 is “not for the weak.” “I tell everybody this: 13 is when the dark goes over their eyes, and you’re just like, ‘Hello? Where are you?,’” Bunnie says, while adding, “13 to 17, that is like a nightmare and then, I swear to God, right at 17 and a half, they become your best friend. Bailee is my best friend. I love her to death.” Despite the struggles, Bunnie has openly discussed her “gentle parenting” approach, while frequently updating fans on social media about her efforts to expand her family through IVF, embracing both the ups and downs of her journey to get pregnant with her Grammy-nominated husband. (People)

On Tuesday (October 7), Cody Johnson announced that he has to cancel all of his remaining 2025 shows due to a ruptured eardrum that requires immediate surgery, which will prevent him from singing for several weeks. “It is with a very heavy heart I have to share the remainder of this year’s concert performances will not be able to happen,” Johnson wrote. “While battling a severe upper respiratory and sinus infection, I burst my ear drum. The severity of the rupture means I must undergo immediate surgery. The healing process will take many weeks, and it is not possible for me to sing during this time. I pray for full healing so I can get well and return to doing what I love.” The cancelled dates were scheduled in Pennsylvania, Alabama, Louisiana, Arizona, and Nevada, with ticket holders expected to receive refund information soon. (Holler)

Morgan Wallen has made history by becoming the first solo artist to achieve two 20-week runs at No. 1 on the Hot Country Songs charts, as his current hit collaboration, “What I Want” featuring Tate McRae, joins 2023’s “Last Night” in this elite group. “What I Want” marks only the 10th song in the chart’s 67-year history to reach this milestone, and is featured on Wallen’s recent album, I’m the Problem, which has dominated the Top Country Albums chart for 20 consecutive weeks. “What I Want” has also been promoted to pop radio, and reached a peak of No. 5 on Adult Pop Airplay and No. 6 on Pop Airplay charts. I’m the Problem has generated four No. 1s on the Country Airplay chart, and its latest single, “I Got Better,” could soon make it five, as the song rose to No. 3 on the latest tally. (Billboard)

Megan Moroney and Ed Sheeran got together for a surprise pop-up show at Brooklyn’s KidSuper on Monday night (October 6), where the duo traded songs in an intimate performance that thrilled fans and sparked calls for a future collaboration from the two music superstars. Sheeran shared a clip from the event on Instagram, while captioning the post: “Played a secret show with @megmoroney tonight at @kidsuper in Brooklyn. The rule was deep cuts, song for song, until the end where we played some of our hits. I loved it so much, thank you Megan for your time and being up for the idea. I’m such a fan, you rock x.” Moroney replied in the comments, “Loved every minute of tonight!!! Thank you for putting this together 🙌❤️.” This follows Sheeran’s surprise solo performance at the same venue days earlier, while speculation builds around Moroney making a major announcement on Thursday (October 9) which she has recently been teasing on social media. (Holler)

Abramorama has acquired North American theatrical rights to You Got Gold – A Celebration of John Prine, a documentary capturing a tribute concert to the late country music legend held at Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium. The show featured performances by Brandi Carlile, Kacey Musgraves, Tyler Childers, Lucinda Williams, Steve Earle, Bonnie Raitt, Dwight Yoakam, Jason Isbell, and many other artists. Produced by RadicalMedia and Oh Boy Pictures, the film includes exclusive performances and interviews, and will screen in Nashville on October 9 – after a sold-out premiere at the Nashville Film Festival last month – followed by another all-star concert at the Ryman on October 10.  A week-long run in New York begins on November 28, with additional screenings planned across North America. “When John passed, we couldn’t mourn together in the way we and his community needed to,” said his widow, Fiona Whelan Prine. “This film documents that long-awaited moment when we finally came together at the Ryman—John’s favorite stage—to honor him with his songs, music, stories and love.” (Variety)

On Monday (October 6), CBS announced that Lainey Wilson, Jason Aldean, and Bailey Zimmerman will be the headliners for the network’s annual holiday special, New Year’s Eve Live: Nashville’s Big Bash. The event will air from 8 p.m. Dec. 31 to 1:30 a.m. Jan. 1 across Eastern and Pacific time zones, while also streaming live on Paramount+ Premium. The festivities will take place at a public stage set up at Nashville’s Bicentennial Capitol Mall State Park, with the event also set to feature gospel artist CeCe Winans with the Fisk Jubilee Singers, with more performers to be revealed. Executive produced by CMA Awards veterans Robert Deaton and Mary Hilliard Harrington, the show will be a celebration of Nashville’s music scene, while also continuing Wilson’s big year, which includes a solo hosting gig at the CMA Awards in November, where the country star is tied with Megan Moroney and Ella Langley for the most nominations with six. (Variety)

On his Instagram page over the weekend, Zach Bryan teased a raw and provocative new song titled, “the fading of the red white and blue.” The track features anti-ICE lyrics and themes critical of the current state of affairs in America, with provocative lyrics like “I’ve got some bad news/ The fading of the red, white, and blue,“ and “ICE is gonna come bust down your door,” alongside bleak imagery of frightened children and arrogant police officers. While there is no word on a full release, Bryan shared an audio snippet with the caption reflecting on the decline of American ideals. The country superstar has had a fluctuating history of engaging with politics, both in his music and through his social media, while this song seems to confront the current news headlines directly. On September 27, Bryan broke the record for the largest ticketed single-concert event with over 112,000 attendees at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor. (Consequence of Sound)