It wasn’t in the plans for CHRIS HARRISON to NOT host this season of “The Bachelorette” . . . so KATIE THURSTON was basically walking into undiscovered territory. But it was probably BETTER for her to have former Bachelorettes Kaitlyn Bristowe and Tayshia Adams hosting, because they really helped her through a tough time. Katie was close to quitting at one point, but she says, “If it wasn’t for the amazing women who have been Bachelorettes before helping me navigate that, I probably would have. And so, I’m so thankful for all of them.” She added, “You see [me], like, crying of relief and happiness and excitement to have them there to help me.”
Blue Origin and Amazon founder Jeff Bezos is headed to space next month for an 11-minute flight. The New Shepard suborbital spacecraft is expected to launch on the 52nd anniversary of the moon landing – July 20. The space craft is fully autonomous and does not require a pilot. Bezo’s brother Mark, will sit next to him with another seat being auctioned off to support Blue Origin’s foundation, Club for the Future.
GABBY BARRETT announced yesterday that she won’t be performing at the CMTs. “I’m really sad to share that because of personal circumstances I won’t be able to perform with Lady A and Carly Pearce at the ‘CMT Music Awards’. I’ll be rooting for you guys and all of the incredibly talented nominees and performers.” Hopefully it’s nothing serious. She did add that she’ll be “seeing y’all on the road this summer.”
LUKE BRYAN’s Farm Tour is back. He’ll stop in six different states this year. It kicks off September 9th in Marshall, Wisconsin – and wraps September 18th in Fowlerville, Michigan. Proceeds will benefit the communities he visits. He says, “After the challenges we’ve faced in the last year [it’s] so apparent to me why our farmers are truly the backbone of our country. They never stopped providing for all of us. Ever. It’s time to thank our farmers, once again.”
You just never know when Miranda Lambert will show up to her newly-opened Nashville bar and restaurant, Casa Rosa–or when Jon Pardi might show up, for that matter! Lambert popped in at the restaurant Sunday evening with husband Brendan McLoughlin, and found that Jon Pardi was there, too. From the venue’s balcony, Texas natives and longtime pals Lambert and Pardi turned in some fun two-stepping to George Strait’s classic “Check Yes or No,” as a crowd watched from below. McLoughlin and Lambert also danced to The Temptations’ classic “My Girl.” This wasn’t the first time Miranda held court at Casa Rosa–on May 25, she welcomed a crowd of famous friends to help celebrate the restaurant’s opening, including Darius Rucker, Ingrid Andress, Ashley McBryde, and Lambert’s Pistol Annies bandmates Angaleena Presley and Ashley Monroe.
Do you have a sneaking suspicion that OLD DOMINION’s “Happy Endings” album was inspired by a happy ending? You’re right. MATTHEW RAMSEY says they were talking about happy endings one day . . . and then joked about using it as the title of their second album. So they did.
GARY LEVOX performed his new song “The Distance” on Saturday’s Grand Ole Opry. It’s from his faith-based album “One on One”, which came out last month.
Maria Menounos is 43. Best known as a correspondent on “Access Hollywood”
Kanye West is 44.
Gabrielle Giffords is 51. Arizona congresswoman who survived a gunshot wound to the head.
Julianna Margulies is 55.
