Country stars react

Kelsea Ballerini, more country music stars criticize 'selfish' Chase Rice for Tennessee concert

Country music star Chase Rice sparked controversy after he returned to the stage on June 27 to perform in front of a huge group of fans — most of whom were not social distancing or wearing masks despite rising cases of COVID-19

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After he posted a video on his Instagram Story showing hundreds of people singing along to his recent hit "Eyes On You," captioning it "We back" and adding a smiley face sunglasses emoji, fans, peers and other bold-faced Nashville names including Kelsea Ballerini, Bobby Bones, Maren Morris and Mickey Guyton publicly criticized Chase and the venue, the Brushy Mountain State Penitentiary in Petros, Tennessee, which is a former prison-turned-event center.

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"Imagine being selfish enough to put thousands of people's health at risk, not to mention the potential ripple effect, and play a NORMAL country concert right now," Kelsea tweeted in response to a fan's re-post of Chase's video, referencing how other country stars have been holding drive-in concerts to mitigate coronavirus spread. "@ChaseRiceMusic, We all want (and need) to tour. We just care about our fans and their families enough to wait."

Singer-songwriter Mickey tweeted her thoughts too, writing, "This is happening in Tennessee where cases are spiking y'all. Jesus help us." She added, "I'm asthmatic…. I'm high risk and seeing this just broke me. Shame on him. People don't have jobs. People can't buy food. People are dying…. yet here he is acting like it isn't even happening. I'm sick to my stomach."

Maren chimed in, tweeting simply "no masks" alongside head-exploding and frowning-face emojis.

Radio DJ Bobby also took to Twitter, retweeting Chase's video along with the message, "Aside from the obvious …. probably also heavy liability here. Just talked to two different attorneys about this," with three cringey-face emojis.

Bobby further hit back at commenters who tried to compare Chase's concert with recent protests. "The difference is a protest isn't a singularly organized profit event . And you can't sue someone for individually taking part in a protest. That was a joke tweet right ? You aren't really that dense?" Bobby responded to one fan. He explained to another that the concert attendees will likely be "going home to folks that stayed home and pass it that way. It's not about them getting sick. It's about who they are going to GET sick," he tweeted.

TMZ initially reported that 4,000 people showed up for the concert, but a rep for Chase told Wonderwall.com that the number of attendees was far lower. "While the venue that normally holds 10,000 was capped at 4,000 capacity, there were [less than] 1,000 fans actually in attendance," the rep said.

The event center, via an Instagram post, had encouraged fans to spread out as to maintain social distancing. It also said it was selling bandanas that could be used as face coverings. However, judging by social media videos, those messages were lost among fans as they gathered near the stage.

Will and Kate's lease terms revealed

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Prince William and Kate Middleton's Forest Lodge rental agreement has been revealed.

It was initially believed that the estate was going to be the Waleses' "forever home," but The Crown Estate announced that the couple doesn't own the property.

"Their Royal Highnesses The Prince and Princess of Wales hold a 20-year non-assignable lease with The Crown Estate for Forest Lodge, commencing 5 July 2025," a Public Accounts Committee (PAC) of the House of Commons briefing said. "Previously a 'grace and favor' residence, it was returned to The Crown Estate by HM Queen Elizabeth II in the early 1990s and has since been let on the open market," it continues."

"Following an approach from HRH The Prince of Wales and discussions with the Royal Household, the Commissioners were asked to consider entering into a lease of the Property to TRH The Prince and Princess of Wales for use as their primary private residence," the briefing continued.

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The Crown Estate commissioned independent valuations to ensure the contract was held at a fair standard.

"Negotiations were conducted on an arm's length basis, to ensure appropriate market terms were agreed. Two independent valuers (Hamptons and Savills) were appointed by The Crown Estate to provide valuations of the Property and to review the final Heads of Terms," it said.

Before the document was published, insiders claimed that William and Kate plan to stay at Forest Lodge once they ascend to the throne.

"The new house marks a new era for the family," a source told Us Weekly. "The decision to move into this new home is a significant one that signals independence, though it is not entirely surprising."

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The source later hinted at William and Kate relocating to Forest Lodge to maintain a sense of normalcy for their three kids, Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis.

"They have witnessed how the role of monarch can consume one's entire being," the source noted. "While they take their responsibilities very seriously, they are not afraid to say no when necessary."

"To outsiders, it may seem like a big move for the royals to not live in Buckingham Palace, but to insiders, it is not surprising," they continued. "King Charles has not lived there for a long time either and prefers to spend time outside of London."

Harry drops major Netflix bombshell

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Prince Harry revealed he enjoys Netflix's The Crown, which is based on the royal family.

"There's people laughing at that — yes, I have actually watched The Crown," Harry told Stephen Colbert on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert.

Colbert asked Harry if he's seen "recent stuff or the older stuff."

"The older stuff and the more recent stuff," Harry replied.

Colbert later asked if the Duke of Sussex "fact-checks" the series.

"Yes, I do actually," Harry admitted. "Which, by the way, is another reason why it's so important that history has it right."

Aside from chatting about The Crown, Harry threw jabs at Donald Trump during his appearance.

"Well, you Americans are obsessed with Christmas movies, and you're clearly obsessed with royalty, so why not?" Harry asked Colbert.

"Hold on, I wouldn't say we're obsessed with royalty," Colbert replied.

"Really? I heard you elected a king," Harry replied, referring to Trump.

Royal experts criticized the duke, as the president recently visited the U.K. to meet with King Charles III and Prince William.

"Harry's jab at President Trump on Colbert wasn't clever – it was reckless," podcaster Kinsey Schofield told Fox News Digital. "Honestly, how does he think he can hold on to a royal title while taking public swipes at the head of a foreign government?"

"It's also a slap in the face," Schofield continued. "Buckingham Palace put significant effort into a major state visit for President Trump to support diplomatic relations. And, frankly, it's a slap to President Trump as well, considering he agreed to ease up on Harry's immigration situation out of personal respect for King Charles."

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In the past, Trump threatened to deport Harry.

"Harry did himself no favors," British royals expert Hilary Fordwich said. "And to hear that decidedly left-leaning New York City audience boo him – he went from cheers and a standing ovation at first, to that. A few minutes' summary, if you ask me, of his entire trajectory."

"His ghastly, self-defeating swipe at both President Trump and his own royal family signaled yet again his terrible judgment," Fordwich added. "While he still trades on his title, he attacks the monarchy and chronically misreads public mood on both sides of the Atlantic. Instead of healing the wounds he caused, he scratches them open – all while claiming to want to heal."

Meghan 'should be nowhere near a kitchen'

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A culinary expert slammed Meghan Markle's cooking skills.

"Meghan Markle should be nowhere near a kitchen," celebrity chef Jameson Stocks, who cooked for King Charles III, told Daily Express.

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Stocks was shocked when Meghan microwaved chocolate in an episode of With Love, Meghan.

"It's certainly not a cardinal sin, just unconventional. Much like many of her cooking habits — whether it's leaning over the stove to stir pots on the back burners or the recent turkey blunder she posted on social media, there's a constant flow of questionable methods," Stocks continued, referring to the Duchess of Sussex recently being dubbed "Salmonella Sussex" for seemingly mishandling a turkey.

"It seems those around her are aware of the correct methods, but she deliberately chooses to do things differently," he continued. "In my opinion, she shouldn't have a platform to showcase this."

Meghan's culinary show often focuses on easy shortcuts for creating gourmet dishes at home, but some of her tips might need some tweaking.

"Microwaving chocolate can be a bit tricky," Stocks shared. "You have to place it in, set the power to low, heat it for 20 to 30 seconds, take it out, stir, and then repeat the process."

"The risk is that the chocolate can burn very quickly. For this reason, I always recommend using a bain-marie; it's a foolproof technique," he added.

Due to food safety concerns, Stocks doesn't think Meghan should be seen as a leading voice in the food space.

"Meghan Markle should be nowhere near a kitchen! Especially when presenting such absurdity to the audience. It's more a spoof than a lifestyle show," he said. "For those who frequently melt chocolate, small tempering machines are an affordable and user-friendly option. However, I always recommend the bain-marie method for its simplicity and ease."

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The Co-CEO of Netflix Ted Sarandos has stated many times that Her Royal Highness Meghan the Duchess of Sussex has tremendous power and is an asset yet people who are not CEO's and follow everything she does continue to call her irrevelant. 🤦🏽‍♀️

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Despite the criticism, Netflix's CEO, Ted Sarandos, defended the streaming giant's partnership with Meghan.

"I think Meghan is underestimated in terms of her influence on culture," Sarandos told Variety. "When we dropped the trailer for the Harry & Meghan doc series [in 2022], everything on-screen was dissected in the press for days. The shoes she was wearing sold out all over the world. The Hermès blanket that was on the chair behind her sold out everywhere in the world."

"People are fascinated with Meghan Markle," he continued. "She and Harry are overly dismissed."

Harry wins extra points with Meghan's mom

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Prince Harry praised Doria Ragland's cooking in an episode of Meghan Markle's With Love, Meghan.

During her holiday special, Meghan, who made a very special dish with Top Chef star Tom Colicchio, was joined by her husband for a short time.

"It's a once-a-year thing that she does, so we're going to make some gumbo," Meghan told Colicchio.

"You must have known I was coming. Gumbo is one of my favorites — especially her mom's. But before the fish goes in," Harry admitted.

"I can feel it puncturing through the top of my head," the duke noted while eating.

After tasting the stew, Harry doubled down on his stance.

"I'm not so sure it's as good as your mom's, but it's certainly close," Harry told Meghan.

"What?! Oh my gosh. Well, my mom will love you for that. You know what? What a good thing to say for your mother-in-law," the Duchess of Sussex replied.

 The Sussexes later noted that Harry "adores" Ragland, whom he finds to be "refreshing," as he "loves being mothered."

Fans quickly weighed in on the cooking segment on X.

"If you are upset or angry over a 56-minute Holiday special that does nothing but spread cheer, share recipes and provide gorgeous decor inspo set to a beautifully festive soundtrack, I fear you need to find joy in your life," one user wrote. "Because why are you so angry over Meghan cooking gumbo?"

"Mama Doria is making her son-in-law, Prince Harry, a separate special gumbo just for him because he can't tolerate spice and seafood," another penned.

"It was Prince Harry teasing Princess Meghan about her gumbo not being as good as his mother-in-law's for me lmao the way they both made the same exact face when he said it too?! Soulmatism is off the charts with those two," a third said. "Wow!"

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One social media user urged the couple to take on another Netflix project together.

"Petition for Meghan and Harry to have their own cooking show," they said. "The chemistry is off the charts."

Meghan's brother makes public plea as their father 'fights for his life'

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Meghan Markle's half-brother, Thomas Markle Jr., is begging the duchess to reconcile with her estranged father, Thomas Markle, after his major health crisis.

"My only wish is that Meghan shows my father some compassion. He is literally fighting for his life," Thomas Jr. told Daily Mail. "I took dad to a hospital close to our home, and they did various scans, and the doctors said his life was in imminent danger."

"They raced us by ambulance, with the sirens going, to a much bigger hospital in the centre of the city," he added. "My dad has undergone emergency surgery."

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Thomas Jr. revealed his father had his leg amputated after being in intensive care.

"My dad is being very brave. His foot turned blue and then black. It happened very quickly. I took him to a local hospital, and they did some scans and an ultrasound and said the leg had to be amputated," Thomas Jr. said.

"There was no option. I was told the leg had to be removed, and it was a case of life or death," he added. "One of his doctors said the next two or three days are critical. His left leg has been removed below the knee. They were worried about infection setting in – sepsis or gangrene. The flesh was black and dying."

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Meghan details her reaction to finding out her father was working with the U.K. tabloids, on @cbsthismorning. #news #meghanmarkle #royal #oprah

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Meghan cut ties with her dad after it was reported that he staged paparazzi photos leading up to the Suits star's wedding. In her explosive interview with Oprah Winfrey, the Duchess of Sussex discussed the scandal.

"There was such an obsession about anything in my world, including tracking down my parents. And I did everything I could to protect both of them in that media frenzy," Meghan said. "But for over a year, the U.K. tabloids were trying to find my dad, offering people so much money to try to find his address."

"Once they did, I remember being told there was a huge headline like, 'We found him' or 'We've got him,'" the duchess continued. "You're talking about someone's father. And from that point, the tabloids, they moved into the apartment next door and across from him. Descended on this small town, which is giving him gifts. The whole thing brings us to where we are today."

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Meghan admitted that her father's actions were deeply hurtful.

"If we were going to use the word betrayal, it's because when I asked him, when we were told by the comms team, this is a story that was going to be coming out, which, by the way, the tabloids had apparently known for a month or so and decided to hold until the Sunday before our wedding because they wanted to create drama, which is also a really key point in all this," she said.

The one royal Sarah Ferguson will never publicly criticize

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Sarah Ferguson refuses to speak ill of Queen Elizabeth II.

Ferguson is rumored to be working on an explosive tell-all, but she's unlikely to complain about her late mother-in-law.

Ferguson, who often speaks highly of Elizabeth, was so close to the late monarch that she inherited Her Majesty's beloved corgis. In an appearance on the "Tea with Twiggy" podcast, Ferguson praised their relationship.

"I think to myself that honestly, my mother-in-law has been more of a mother to me than my mother," the mom of two said before Elizabeth's passing. "I absolutely think there is no greater mentor because from a little girl to now, the consistency of Her Majesty has been a great honour and makes me want to cry."

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"Because I went through so much pain losing mom, I lost my way, and I became deeply, deeply insecure. I kept asking everybody for advice," she continued. "And I never trusted my own judgment of myself. I have got my lovely ex-husband Andrew – he always believes in me and always did believe in me. But my greatest mentor – and I know this sounds so weird to say it – and the person who believes in me is the Queen and has never faltered."

In the past, Ferguson seemed to try to draw negative attention to Elizabeth. In her 1996 interview with Oprah Winfrey, the former royal opened up about her struggles to adjust to the lifestyle.

"You didn't marry the fairy tale, you married a man," Ferguson said on The Oprah Winfrey Show. "You fell in love and married a man, and then you have to come to terms with the fairy tale. Now it's not a fairy tale, it's real life."

Winfrey asked the ex-duchess why she didn't just "play the game" to stay in the royal fold. "You could do that, and if that's what suits you, then that's what suits you," Ferguson replied.

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While Ferguson tried not to cause controversy for Elizabeth, she didn't shy away from chatting about Princess Diana and King Charles III's divorce.

"But Diana and I are like rivers, we want to learn more, we want to go around the corner, we are hungry for more," the author shared.

Andrew suffers yet another blow

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Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor suffered another loss, as Maidenhead — a town in England — residents push to change the name of a street named after him.

According to the Daily Express, a"large number" of locals want to change the name of Prince Andrew Road after his scandal.

"It's not a name that you want attributed to where you're living," Aman Gandhi, who lives on Prince Andrew Road, told the BBC. "From my perspective, the sooner [the renaming] comes, the better."

"You've got to change all your deeds. Everything has to be changed," another resident shared. "And I guess I just feel it's a lot of hassle to do that."

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Amid the street drama, the ex-duke is trying to find a new address after being kicked out of Royal Lodge.

An insider told The Daily Beast that Andrew wants a "substantial six or seven bedroom house on the Sandringham Estate, complete with staff including a cook, gardener, housekeeper, driver and police security."

"Andrew has done exactly what has been asked of him, and he just wants to be left alone. He is giving up the lease on one of England's finest houses and expects to be treated fairly," the source added.

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A former courtier added that things with Mountbatten-Windsor are "always going to be about money."

"Andrew is essentially being bought out of the lease, so he will haggle over every last detail of the deal," the source shared.

King Charles III stripped away his brother's royal privileges and titles after Virginia Giuffre's assault allegations against Mountbatten-Windsor resurfaced. As more details about Mountbatten-Windsor's alleged misconduct and friendship with Jeffrey Epstein emerge, he is pushed further into hiding.

"His Majesty has today initiated a formal process to remove the style, titles and honors of Prince Andrew. Prince Andrew will now be known as Andrew Mountbatten Windsor," Buckingham Palace said in a statement. "His lease on Royal Lodge has, to date, provided him with legal protection to continue in residence. Formal notice has now been served to surrender the lease, and he will move to alternative private accommodation. These censures are deemed necessary, notwithstanding the fact that he continues to deny the allegations against him."

"Their Majesties wish to make clear that their thoughts and utmost sympathies have been, and will remain with, the victims and survivors of any and all forms of abuse," the statement continued.

Harry gets booed

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Prince Harry was heckled after the Duke of Sussex joked about Donald Trump on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert.

"You Americans are obsessed with Christmas movies, and you're clearly obsessed with royalty, so why not?" Harry told Stephen Colbert.

After the comedian tried to brush off the comment, Harry threw a jab at the president.

"Really? I hear you elected a king," the Duke of Sussex said as the crowd jokingly booed.

During the television appearance, Harry and Colbert made a spoof holiday trailer.

"So what's a prince got to do to get into a Hallmark movie these days? I've got skills. I can ride a horse, I can fly a helicopter, I can ride a horse in a helicopter!" Harry said.

"This is show business, it's about who you know. I mean, do you have a personal connection to any famous TV actresses?" Colbert asked, referring to Meghan Markle.

"I might know one," the prince said. "I'll do anything, I'll record a self-tape, I'll fly myself to an audition, settle a baseless lawsuit with the White House, all the things you people in TV do."

"I didn't do that," Colbert replied, referring to the Trump and CBS' $36 million settlement over 60 Minutes' Kamala Harris interview.

"Maybe that's why you were canceled," the prince quickly fired back.

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Trump has been a vocal critic of Harry and Colbert, and there were concerns that the politician would deport the ex-royal. However, Trump confirmed he would "leave him alone."

"I don't want to do that. I'll leave him alone. He's got enough problems with his wife. She's terrible," Trump told the New York Post when asked if he'd take away the prince's visa.

Trump also celebrated once Colbert lost his show.

"I absolutely love that Colbert got fired. His talent was even less than his ratings," Trump wrote on Truth Social. "I hear Jimmy Kimmel is next. Has even less talent than Colbert!"

Camilla takes unexpected stance on Russia-Ukraine conflict

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Queen Camilla surprisingly spoke out about the Russia-Ukraine conflict during an official engagement.

Camilla paid tribute to British soldiers, who fought in the Crimean War in the 1850s.

"Only recently, we marked the 80th anniversaries of both victory in Europe and victory over Japan," Camilla said during a reception at the Guildhall. "During these moments of commemoration, I was fortunate to speak privately with so many of our surviving veterans who voiced a clear and unanimous plea, the path to peace must be pursued with the same vigour and determination that our Forces prepare for combat."

"It is only fitting, then, to rewind the clock 170 years, when The Rifles' antecedents stood alongside our European allies in modern-day Ukraine," she added.

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Camilla, who is the Colonel-in-Chief of the Rifles, has a lifelong connection to the Armed Forces through her father, Major Bruce Shand, who served in World War II.

"Let us hope, as our antecedents did then, that our resolve to stand up to tyranny in this same region can again find a resolution to another devastating and brutal war," Camilla said.

Camilla isn't the only member of the royal family to speak on Ukraine-Russia relations, as Prince Harry visited the region for the Invictus Games. Harry, who served in the British military, traveled to Kyiv to pay his respects to fallen and injured soldiers.

"Seeing people with prosthetics and life-changing injuries is going to be the norm in Ukraine for the coming decades," Harry told The Guardian. "Nobody should feel embarrassed or ashamed about their disabilities. It's about flipping from sympathy to admiration and respect."

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After retiring from the military, Harry founded the Invictus Games, which uses sports to help injured soldiers and veterans in their recovery journey. While visiting a memorial, Harry became emotional as he paid his respects.

"I wanted to find a spot to lay the wreath in peace, away from everyone. My God, it's like a maze in there. I didn't appreciate how far back it went," Harry told the outlet. "Honestly, it is one of the saddest things I have ever seen. But also one of the most beautiful."