The landscape of country music is alive with anticipation as major festival lineups are revealed, personal milestones are celebrated, and established artists embark on new ventures. The highly-anticipated Stagecoach Festival has unveiled its 2026 headliners, promising an unforgettable weekend for music enthusiasts.
Stagecoach Festival 2026: A Star-Studded Lineup
The iconic Stagecoach Festival is set to return to the Empire Polo Club in Indio, California, from April 24 to 26, 2026, with a diverse and exciting roster of talent. Leading the charge as headliners for this major music event are country superstars Cody Johnson and Lainey Wilson, alongside genre-bending artist Post Malone. This marks a significant moment as none of these artists have previously headlined the festival, though all have graced its stages in prior years.
Joining the headliners will be a robust lineup of artists spanning various facets of country and beyond. Festival-goers can expect performances from Bailey Zimmerman, Red Clay Strays, Riley Green, Brooks & Dunn, Little Big Town, and Wynonna Judd, among many others. The festival also broadens its musical scope by including performances from rock bands Journey, Bush, and Third Eye Blind, as well as hip-hop and pop-soul influences from artists like Ludacris, Pitbull, and Teddy Swims. This expansive booking strategy reflects Stagecoach’s ongoing effort to blend traditional country sounds with a wider array of popular music genres.
Bobby Bones and Caitlin Estell Welcome First Child
In heartwarming personal news, radio and television personality Bobby Bones and his wife, Caitlin Estell, have announced they are expecting their first child. The couple shared the joyous update on Instagram on September 24, posting photos of Estell’s baby bump with a simple caption of a baby emoji and a red heart. Bobby, 45, and Caitlin, 33, tied the knot in July 2021 at their Nashville-area home. This news places them among several other figures in the country music community who have recently announced pregnancies or welcomed new arrivals.
HARDY’s “Dog Years” and Miranda Lambert’s Influence
Country artist HARDY is sharing the story behind his deeply personal song “Dog Years,” revealing that Miranda Lambert played a crucial role in its eventual release. Written over a decade ago, the song stems from the pain HARDY experienced upon the loss of his childhood dog, Nugget. While he had kept the song private for years, largely because it earned him his first publishing deal, it was Lambert who encouraged him to record it. Despite her own deep love for dogs and a foundation dedicated to animal welfare, Lambert confessed she would be too emotional to perform it herself. HARDY’s performance of “Dog Years” alongside Lambert at a benefit concert for her MuttNation Foundation brought the audience to tears, highlighting the song’s emotional resonance. The track is featured on his latest album, ‘Country! Country!’.
Kenny Chesney Expands “Heart Life Music” Book Tour
Due to overwhelming fan demand, country music icon Kenny Chesney has expanded his “Heart Life Music” book tour. The tour, supporting his recently released book of the same name, has added five new stops. These include Philadelphia, Bergen (New Jersey), Beverly Hills (California), and two Florida locations: Key West and Tampa. Previously announced dates in Boston and Johnson City, Tennessee, sold out rapidly, underscoring the strong fan interest in Chesney’s first book. The book, which delves into his life and career, officially launched on November 4.
Chayce Beckham Marries Ashley Britt in Las Vegas
Rounding out the notable music news, “American Idol” season 19 winner Chayce Beckham has married his fiancée, Ashley Britt. The couple exchanged vows in an intimate ceremony in Las Vegas, complete with an Elvis Presley impersonator officiating the proceedings, fulfilling a long-held wish of the couple. They announced their nuptials via a social media post featuring a video of them cruising down the Las Vegas Strip in a convertible, set to Stevie Wonder’s “Signed, Sealed, Delivered (I’m Yours)”. Beckham had previously proposed to Britt on stage during a concert in Anaheim, California.
These diverse announcements paint a vibrant picture of the country music world, marked by major festival celebrations, personal joys, and the continued evolution of beloved artists.
