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Country star Russell Dickerson says small-town upbringing meant ‘rodeos and tractor pulls,’ not the movies
Russell Dickerson is reflecting on his small-town roots.
The country music star, who grew up in Tennessee and is best known for hit songs like "Yours" and "Blue Tacoma," has spent the past decade building a successful country music career that has taken him from rural fairgrounds to some of the biggest stages in the genre, including an upcoming performance at the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo.
While speaking with Fox News Digital, Dickerson said that entertainment in his household growing up revolved around small-town traditions.
"Absolutely… we didn't go to the movies that much really. We went to rodeos, we went to tractor pulls and that was my redneck entertainment growing up."
WATCH: COUNTRY STAR RUSSELL DICKERSON SAYS SMALL-TOWN UPBRINGING MEANT ‘RODEOS AND TRACTOR PULLS,’ NOT THE MOVIES
That upbringing is now coming back around in a very real way for the country singer as he prepares to take the stage at one of the most iconic rodeos in the country.
"So to bring it full circle at RodeoHouston, I get to perform my music there is unbelievable."
For Dickerson, the milestone carries added meaning beyond his own career, as it’s a moment he wants to share with his family.
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"Yes, I mean, surely we'll bring my oldest son, Remington. Surely he'll be there, 'cuz this is the biggest show of my entire life. And he's gotta see that. I think he'll flip out."
On Wednesday, Jan. 7, Dickerson helped bring a taste of RodeoHouston culture to New York City, taking part in a pop-up performance in Times Square as part of the event’s national promotion. The appearance gave fans a preview of the Western traditions that shaped his upbringing ahead of his upcoming HoustonRodeo performance.
"I’ve never seen this many cowboy hats and boots stomping around Times Square. It’s a beautiful sight, and country music is universal like that."
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The Times Square New York City appearance was just one part of a bigger moment for Dickerson, as the RodeoHouston invitation marked a major milestone in his career.
WATCH: RUSSELL DICKERSON SAYS COUNTRY MUSIC TOOK OVER TIMES SQUARE AHEAD OF RODEOHOUSTON MOMENT
Dickerson said the opportunity was especially meaningful as an artist.
"I remember when I got the call. I was just in the gym, you know, and my manager — they were like, there was all three of them on the phone. And I was like, ‘This is weird.’ And they're like, ‘Hey, we just wanted to all tell you at the same time that you got invited to play the RodeoHouston.’ And I just, like, ‘Oh, I mean, absolute bucket list.’ So it's already been said, but an absolute honor to be one of those artists that's in that lineup this year."
The moment comes as Dickerson is riding one of the biggest years of his career. His song "Happen to Me," released in March 2025, took off and helped introduce his music to an even wider audience.
Dickerson said the response caught him by surprise, calling it "absolutely out of nowhere," and thanked fans for embracing the song and showing up along the way.
He is set to perform at RodeoHouston on March 5, 2026, joining a star-studded lineup that includes Chris Stapleton, Kelly Clarkson, Luke Bryan, Lainey Wilson, Tim McGraw, Lizzo and Cody Johnson, among others.
Best and worst states to retire in 2026 based on affordability and quality of life
A growing number of Americans are entering retirement age, reshaping trends of where and how people spend their golden years.
The population of Americans age 65 and older reached about 61.2 million in 2024, according to U.S. Census Bureau data.
Those entering retirement are also living longer than previous generations. Someone turning 65 today can expect to live nearly two more decades, based on data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
WHY MOST PEOPLE FALL OFF A ‘HEALTH CLIFF’ AT 75 — AND 5 WAYS TO AVOID THE DROP
Living and health care costs are increasingly shaping decisions about where older Americans can afford to retire.
In response to those trends, new analysis by U.S.-based senior care company CareScout examined affordability, quality of life and health care access to identify the best and worst states for retirees in 2026.
The analysis ranked Wyoming as the best state in which to retire, citing its lack of personal income tax and strong health indicators among older adults.
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"Tradeoffs include the weather and relative scarcity of doctors," CareScout stated.
Other top-ranked states included New Hampshire, Vermont, Montana and South Dakota, which scored well across measures of affordability, tax policy and quality of life.
New Hampshire benefited from having no personal income tax and one of the highest average Social Security incomes in the country, the analysis said.
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New Jersey was named the worst state to retire in due to the high cost of living and one of the nation’s steepest personal income tax rates.
The analysis found that despite offering the highest average Social Security income in the country, New Jersey struggled with poor health outcomes among older adults.
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Massachusetts, New York, Alabama and Mississippi also ranked near the bottom.
Massachusetts and New York were penalized largely due to high living costs and tax burdens, while Alabama and Mississippi faced challenges tied to aging health outcomes and limited access to recreational and cultural resources for older residents.
Fox News Digital reached out to CareScout for further comment.
Rose McGowan says 'Charmed' execs would scrutinize her weight between seasons
Rose McGowan said Hollywood executives openly obsessed over her fluctuating weight during her stint on "Charmed" in the early 2000s.
During an appearance on the "We Need To Talk" podcast, the 52-year-old actress — who joined the cast in 2001 — recalled how show executives would often mull over her weight gain or loss.
"They would circle around me to check my weight when I came back from season to season," she said, referencing show producers. "I think it was just really inspecting their product."
"There was no chill with it. It was completely fine to be that way," she added. "Now they have to kind of pay lip service to being different."
McGowan replaced original cast member, Shannen Doherty, in the fourth season. The series originally starred Doherty, Alyssa Milano and Holly Marie Combs, and ran from 1998 to 2006.
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Doherty claimed "drama" on set sparked her early departure from the series in 2001, which ran for eight seasons until its final episode aired in 2006.
"There was too much drama on the set and not enough passion for the work. You know, I'm 30 years old, and I don't have time for drama in my life anymore," Doherty, who died in 2024, told Entertainment Tonight at the time of her departure.
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Following Doherty's exit from the show, Milano told Entertainment Weekly, "I think it's hard when you put two very different people together. I'm very laid-back and passive. I have my Buddha. I come in here and meditate. [Shannen's] got a lot of energy, she's very headstrong, she wants to get the job done."
McGowan is not the first actress to open up about the harsh criticism she received.
In 2021, Kate Winslet recalled 'straight-up cruel' criticism of her weight.
"In my 20s, people would talk about my weight a lot. And I would be called to comment on my physical self," she told The Guardian at the time. "Well, then I got this label of being ballsy and outspoken. No, I was just defending myself."
"It was almost laughable how shocking, how critical, how straight-up cruel tabloid journalists were to me," Winslet said. "I was still figuring out who the hell I bloody well was! They would comment on my size, they’d estimate what I weighed, they’d print the supposed diet I was on. It was critical and horrible and so upsetting to read."
"It damaged my confidence," she added. "I didn’t want to go to Hollywood because I remember thinking, ‘God, if this is what they’re saying to me in England, then what will happen when I get there?’" she reminisced. "Also, it tampers with your evolving impression of what’s beautiful, you know? I did feel very on my own. For the simple reason that nothing can really prepare you for... that."
Trump ultimatum to Cuba: 'Make a deal, before it is too late' or face consequences
President Donald Trump signaled a hardline stance toward Cuba on Sunday, vowing to halt all oil and financial support and urging the island nation to "make a deal" before it is "too late."
"THERE WILL BE NO MORE OIL OR MONEY GOING TO CUBA - ZERO! I strongly suggest they make a deal, BEFORE IT IS TOO LATE," Trump wrote in a Truth Social post.
‘WE BUILT VENEZUELA’S OIL INDUSTRY:’ TRUMP VOWS US ENERGY RETURN AFTER MADURO CAPTURE
Venezuela has long been Cuba’s largest oil supplier, though Trump has successfully secured oil shipments to the U.S. on the heels of former Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro's capture by U.S. forces.
"Cuba lived, for many years, on large amounts of OIL and MONEY from Venezuela," Trump added.
The warning comes as the Trump administration intensifies its efforts to isolate regional allies of Venezuela following Maduro’s capture.
Venezuela’s massive oil reserves, the largest in the world, have historically underpinned its influence across the region, particularly through subsidized shipments to allies like Cuba.
VENEZUELA STILL OWES US ENERGY COMPANIES BILLIONS AS TRUMP CALLS FOR NEW INVESTMENT
That leverage is now at the center of Trump’s push to reshape regional energy flows following the collapse of Venezuela’s former government.
On Friday, Trump hosted a lineup of U.S. and international oil executives representing key sectors of Venezuela’s energy supply chain, including producers, refiners and traders.
Trump pledged to bring U.S. companies back to the forefront of Venezuelan oil production and exports, according to people familiar with the discussions.
Ex-SNL star Bowen Yang, podcast co-host walk back comments criticizing Jasmine Crockett's Senate campaign
Former "Saturday Night Live" star Bowen Yang and his fellow podcast host Matt Rogers walked back critical comments they made earlier this week about Rep. Jasmine Crockett, D-Texas, after the pair faced backlash online for questioning her Senate run.
"I hear the response, and I am taking every bit of it to heart, I promise," Rogers wrote in an Instagram post. "Transparency and candor matter to me, especially on the podcast. I’m a very progressive person who cares deeply about winning these elections, but my phrasing was not right. I will be more thoughtful! I really do promise."
"I have great respect and admiration for Rep. Crockett, and I regret that my words suggested otherwise. I just want us to win, and I will be better at finding ways to help," he added.
Yang shared Rogers' Instagram story on Saturday, writing, "should not have cursorily weighed in on this. Understanding the platform and will use it more responsibly."
Rogers and Yang appeared to criticize Crockett during their "Las Culturistas" podcast on Wednesday. Rogers first called out California Gov. Gavin Newsom, labeling him and other politicians as self-focused before including Crockett in that category. He told listeners they shouldn't "waste" money donating to her Texas Senate campaign.
"Anytime a politician is making it too obviously about themselves, I'm already done," Rogers said. "And don't waste your money sending to Jasmine Crockett. Do not do it."
Yang then said, "I must agree."
"Don't do it. Don't. You're going to waste your money. Take it from someone who sent Sara Gideon a ton of money in Maine. Just don't do it. Don't waste your money. Don't do it," Rogers added.
CROCKETT FIRES BACK AT JD VANCE'S 'STREET GIRL' COMMENTS, SAYS IT'S A RACIST TROPE
Crockett announced in December that she would run in the Texas Senate Democratic primary against state Rep. James Talarico, D-Texas.
Rogers later clarified he meant nothing personal against Crockett but argued she was too "well-defined" politically to win a statewide or national race.
"She's not going to win a Senate seat in Texas, you guys," Rogers said. "Like, if Beto O’Rourke couldn't do it, Jasmine Crockett is not going to do it."
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Other Democrats have voiced concerns about Crockett’s ability to win statewide in Texas.
"She might win a primary, but she ain't winning a general in Texas," one senior House Democrat told Axios.
"It's concerning for [swing] districts ... I think it's a bad decision," another Democrat told the outlet.
Fox News' Lindsay Kornick contributed to this report.
DAVID MARCUS: Impeding federal law enforcement is not protest, it's just crime
There seems to be a bit of confusion in our society of late about what "civil disobedience" is and what it isn’t. Last week, this very confusion got 37-year-old Renee Good killed.
Political protest in the form of civil disobedience has a long and very proud tradition, from Mahatma Gandhi non-violently defying the British in India, to our own Martin Luther King, Jr. penning his eloquence from a Birmingham jail cell.
There is a stoic dignity to this practice, which in and of itself grants the words of its practitioners a gravity and profound humility.
What we are seeing across the country as organized gangs of wine moms use Antifa tactics to harass and impede Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents is not civil disobedience. It isn't even protest. It's just crime.
The word "civil" in civil disobedience refers to the fact that the protester is allowing themselves to be arrested in order to emphasize just how important their cause is to them. It is also generally done in a context that threatens minimal harm to police and bystanders.
Today, across the country, but especially in bastions of democratic socialism like Minneapolis, Portland and Seattle, we see something entirely different: bands of people following, harassing, doxxing and sometimes engaging in direct assault against ICE agents.
What these ICE Watch groups across the country, of which Good was reportedly a trained member, do is entirely different. They are trying to impede federal agents from carrying out democratically enacted laws, not sending a message, and importantly, they are trying to evade capture.
Sorry, that is crime, not protest.
Further, we need to ask ourselves, quite seriously, if groups of people training and then executing missions that put law enforcement and the public in harm's way may, in fact, be criminal conspiracies.
If one’s job is to be a neighborhood lookout for a street drug dealing operation, that is a crime. It's not entirely clear why doing the same thing to protect illegal immigrants, including many of whom are vicious criminals, isn’t a similar activity.
ANTI-ICE AGITATORS THREATEN AGENTS IN CHAOTIC MINNESOTA PROTESTS: ‘YOU'RE GOING TO F---ING DIE'
According to a recent poll, only 24% of Americans believe that it is acceptable to go beyond peaceful protest in response to ICE enforcement. But among White women 18-44, that number leaps to an astounding 61%.
Maybe they are listening to too many true crime podcasts, but we have to ask ourselves, how on Earth did this become acceptable behavior in our society?
The short answer is that for most of this century, our law enforcement agencies and courts have just let it happen, they have decided that some criminal activity is just fine so long as your cause is just.
ICE OFFICER WHO SHOT MINNESOTA WOMAN WAS DRAGGED BY CAR OF ILLEGAL ALIEN SEX OFFENDER MONTHS EARLIER
This often begins with infractions of the law that border on silly, such as throwing a Subway sandwich at a cop, but then the sandwich becomes a snowball, then a lock, and the next thing you know people are striking federal agents with SUVs.
The video of Good and her partner heckling and, let's be honest, goading ICE officers with an obnoxious smugness that makes most people’s skin crawl, is just one of many.
We see these self-important White women doing it in video after video after video, taunting cops, insulting journalists, or even bystanders, often with a weird and disturbing glee.
DEM NARRATIVE CHALLENGED AFTER DHS EXPOSES IDENTITY OF 'MARRIED COUPLE' IN CBP-RELATED SHOOTING
Let’s be clear, this is happening because we let it happen. Where I live in West Virginia, if I saw a state trooper had pulled over a friend of mine and decided to start throwing things at the cop, I would rightfully be arrested. So why are the rules different when opposing ICE?
The responsible thing for every Democrat in politics and in the media to do today, right now, is to tell their audiences that it is never okay to assault a cop, it is never okay to impede a federal investigation, and they need to knock it off.
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Instead, Friday saw Rep. Ilhan Omar, D-Minn., riling up a Minnesota crowd from the back of a pickup truck saying, "You all have insisted that this resistance is not one that can be intimidated." If she was referring to using automobiles to thwart federal agents, as she seemed to be, that is simply a call for insurrection.
CHAD WOLF, COOPER SMITH: MAYOR FREY, ICE IS NOT 'SOWING CHAOS.' YOU ARE. PLEASE RESIGN
In fact, there is good reason to believe that anyone who would say that should not be in Congress.
Sadly, Democrats will not do the responsible thing, even though it would protect their own supporters such as Good, who should still be alive today.
No, there is only one answer here; enforcing the law.
And here is my warning: If we do not enforce the law, if we simply allow these cosplaying would-be revolutionaries to do whatever they want, including hitting cops with cars, Renee Good will not be the last to needlessly die.
This madness needs to end, and it needs to end right now.
Bears lose key defensive player for rest of playoffs after brutal injury
The Chicago Bears locked in defensively and only allowed six points in the second half against the Green Bay Packers in their playoff comeback win on Saturday night, but they ended up taking a huge blow.
Bears linebacker T.J. Edwards suffered a gruesome leg injury in the second quarter of their 31-27 win. Edwards’ leg was put into an air cast and he was carted off the field. But Bears head coach Ben Johnson revealed the grim news about Edwards’ status for the remainder of the postseason.
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Johnson said it looked like Edwards "had a fibula fracture which we’ll take him out for the rest of the season here."
Edwards got his left foot caught up with the leg of Packers wide receiver Christian Watson and bent awkwardly.
SUPER BOWL 2026 ODDS: SEAHAWKS FAVORED, RAMS SECOND; BEARS MOVE UP
The 29-year-old only played 10 games for the Bears this season due to injuries. He had 67 tackles, a half-sack and five pass breakups. He also had one interception, which he returned for a touchdown. It was his third season with Chicago.
He joined the Bears in 2023 after spending his first four years of his NFL career with the Philadelphia Eagles. He joined the Eagles as an undrafted free agent out of Wisconsin.
Edwards signed a two-year contract extension with the Bears in April. He’s been a starter on the Bears’ defense since joining them.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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Wild brawl erupts during youth hockey showcase at minor league game
One of the wildest fights of the hockey season may have occurred during the intermission of an American Hockey League game between the Hershey Bears and the Cleveland Monsters.
The Bears’ "Mites on Ice" segment features youth hockey players competing against each other during intermission. However, competitive play turned into an all-out brawl involving players from the Central Penn Panthers Youth Ice Hockey Club.
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The club said Sunday it was investigating the events that occurred leading up to the brawl.
"We have been made aware of an incident that occurred last night during the ‘Mites on Ice’ event between periods of the Hershey Bears game," the organization said. "The safety, well-being, and positive experience of all participants—especially our young players—are of the utmost importance.
NHL'S SEATTLE KRAKEN RECEIVE MIXED REACTIONS TO PRIDE-THEMED LOGO AND JERSEYS
"We are currently conducting an internal review to fully understand the circumstances surrounding the incident. This review will include gathering information from all relevant parties and assessing the situation thoroughly and responsibly."
The club said it didn’t want to draw conclusions until the investigation was complete.
"At this time, we believe it is important to allow this process to take place before drawing conclusions. We appreciate the patience and understanding of our families, partners, and community as we work through this matter."
It’s not the first time this season the Bears have had a "Mites on Ice" fight.
Another brawl took place on Dec. 20 between youth hockey players. It didn’t appear anyone was injured.
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Retired general urges Trump to give Iran 'one more warning' as US reportedly weighs intervention
Retired Gen. Jack Keane called on the Trump administration to confront Iran’s leadership head-on, urging a final warning before taking action against officials he says are responsible for violently cracking down on protesters.
"The president has told them, ‘If you kill them, I’m coming for you,’" Keane said during an appearance on "Life, Liberty & Levin" on Saturday.
"They’ve already killed more than 40 people, and they’ve jailed many more. And in jail, they will execute them."
As nationwide anti-regime demonstrations across Iran hit the two-week mark, Keane argued that President Donald Trump should now follow through by issuing one last warning before targeting those responsible for maintaining an iron grip on the population.
IRAN FLIPS ‘KILL SWITCH’ TO HIDE ALLEGED CRIMES AS DEATH TOLL RISES AMID PROTESTS
"I think the president could give one more warning and then take down some of the leaders responsible for conducting violence against the Iranian population," Keane said.
"I believe that we have the leverage here to actually curtail this behavior."
This comes as multiple Israeli sources told Reuters that the Trump administration is weighing possible U.S. military intervention.
IRAN PROTESTS PROMPT NEW TRUMP WARNING OVER DEADLY GOVERNMENT CRACKDOWNS
Fox News Digital previously reached out to the State Department and White House for comment.
Trump voiced support for the protesters in a Truth Social post on Saturday, writing, "Iran is looking at FREEDOM, perhaps like never before. The USA stands ready to help!!!"
The president also said at a Friday news conference that the U.S. would respond forcefully if the regime resorts to mass violence.
IRAN REGIME SAID TO UNLEASH HEZBOLLAH AND IRAQI MILITIAS AS UPRISING SPREADS
"We’ll be hitting them very hard where it hurts. And that doesn’t mean boots on the ground, but it means hitting them very, very hard where it hurts," he said.
Keane noted Trump's outspokenness on behalf of the Iranian people, calling him the first president to voice explicit support for protesters.
"This president has done that, and I think he will likely have to follow through on it," he added.
During a Sunday appearance on "Fox & Friends Weekend," retired Navy Vice Adm. Robert Harward called Iranian regime change "inevitable."
"This president does what he says. He's made that very clear in Venezuela and other places, so it's going to happen," he said.
"We stand behind the people of Iran. And don't forget what Iran was in the '70s: a prosperous nation that enjoyed all the values and support of the West, so I believe this is four or five decades in the coming — It will happen."
Fox News' Michael Sinkewicz contributed to this report.
Trump responds to post suggesting Rubio as president of Cuba: 'Sounds good to me'
President Donald Trump reacted to a social media post joking about Secretary of State Marco Rubio becoming the president of Cuba, replying, "Sounds good to me."
Trump posted the response Sunday on his Truth Social account after a user wrote, "Marco Rubio will be president of Cuba."
Rubio’s broad portfolio in the Trump administration has fueled online jokes portraying him in charge of an ever-expanding list of roles.
MADURO’S ARREST IS GOOD NEWS FOR ALL AMERICANS AND LEAVES DEMOCRATS LOOKING FOOLISH
Officially, he serves as secretary of state, national security advisor and acting archivist of the United States.
He also previously served as acting administrator of the U.S. Agency for International Development, before the agency’s remaining functions were discontinued or absorbed into the State Department as part of a reorganization finalized in July.
RUBIO SPEARHEADS MASSIVE STATE DEPT REORGANIZATION SET TO ELIMINATE, MERGE MORE THAN 300 OFFICES
Social media users on X have turned a photo of Rubio from a White House meeting into a viral "realizing" meme, joking that his growing responsibilities make him the administration’s go-to official for a widening range of positions.
Users have posted AI-generated photos of Rubio that depict him in a range of imagined roles, from the shah of Iran and the president of Venezuela to the manager of Manchester United.
Rubio has leaned into the humor himself, writing on X last week that he wouldn't be a candidate for the vacant head coach or general manager positions with the Miami Dolphins.
"While you never know what the future may bring right now my focus must remain on global events and also the precious archives of the United States of America," he wrote.