Ricky Skaggs Says 'I Felt Like I Needed to Come Back' to Bluegrass, the 'Music of My Youth,' After Country Albums (Exclusive)

Ricky Skaggs reflected on his genre-crossing career and pivotal shift from bluegrass to country in the 1980s

NEED TO KNOW

• He returned to bluegrass in the mid-1990s after Bill Monroe’s death, reigniting interest in the traditional genre

• Skaggs praised young artists like Wyatt Ellis and Billy Strings for bringing bluegrass back into the spotlight

Ricky Skaggsknows a thing or two about musical versatility.

For decades, Skaggs' career has been marked by his prolific, seamless shifts between genres. As a result, his critically lauded works have shaped both bluegrass and country music along the way. However, when the Grammy-winning artist, 71, looks back on the totality of his career, he's quick to admit that it’s difficult to pinpoint a single defining moment.

“I can't really put my thumb on exactly a certain time,” Skaggs told PEOPLE exclusively at the Musicians Hall of Fame 2026 induction event in Nashville.

Nonetheless, two pivotal shifts that Skaggs consciously acknowledges came when he stepped away from full-time bluegrass early in his career, and then ultimately returned to it in full force years later.

After he departed as a member of the iconicEmmylou Harris’ band while she took time off to start a family in the late 1970s, Skaggs saw an opportunity for himself as a solo artist. “I thought, 'Man, what a better time for me to go ahead and try to do a record,' ” he recalled of that moment.

The culmination of that idea was a country project rooted in tradition, inspired by the sounds of the ’60s and ’70s and layered with the bluegrass influences he took in during his youth. In turn, Skaggs effectively drew a bridge between two iconic staple genres of American roots music.

What came next in his career was for the history books. After crossing over, Skaggs achieved roughly a dozen No. 1 country singles during his mainstream country career. The son of Cordell, Ky., was launched into the country music stratosphere with his major-label debut,Waitin' for the Sun to Shine(1981), which then led to Skaggs dominating the genre's charts throughout the rest of the 1980s.

But by the mid-1990s, the genre was evolving in ways that didn’t quite fit Skaggs' artistic vision.

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"Country was really changing, you know," he explained to PEOPLE. "Going in, you know, 12 buses per artist ... the big stadium country ... and I just didn’t really want to try to keep up with that.”

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It was, ultimately, a major loss in the bluegrass world that ended up pulling Skaggs back into the Appalachian-soaked genre. Following the 1996 death of Bill Monroe, who is widely considered the father of bluegrass, the picker felt a profound calling to return to his roots and, in a way, pick up the torch from Monroe.

“I felt like I needed to come back — come back to my roots,” Skaggs said of bluegrass, which he described as "the music of my youth."

“When I came back, it really shot a shockwave into acoustic musicians," he recalled. As the story goes, fans and fellow musicians quickly noticed his fervent commitment to “real bluegrass again with a real bluegrass band,” reinforcing his pedigree and influencing a new generation. Skaggs knows that a conscious look-back was "one of the turning points" for his "legacy."

More than half a century after emerging onto the scene and recontextualizing the notion of a crossover artist, Skaggs sees the influences that informed him reflected in a rising crop of young artists who are helping bring bluegrass back into the spotlight.

Among those exciting him most is 16-year-old prodigyWyatt Ellis, whom he praises as “a great mandolin player,” as well asSierra Hull, who recently earned four 2026 Grammy nominations. “I wish I could play mandolin like her,” Skaggs added with a laugh. He also pointed toBilly Stringsas another standout artist making bluegrass part of the wider popular music conversation again.

“It’s just really great to see so many young artists,” Skaggs said, noting how they are embracing the same songs and traditions that shaped him and "really trying to perpetuate them as well.”

Read the original article onPeople

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May 03, 2026

Ricky Skaggs Says 'I Felt Like I Needed to Come Back' to Bluegrass, the 'Music of My Youth,' After Country Albums (Exclusive)

Ricky Skaggs reflected on his genre-crossing career and pivotal shift from bluegrass to country in the 1980s NEED TO KNOW ...

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'SNL' cold open skewers 'incompetent' Kash Patel, Aziz Ansari stars

Surprise!Aziz Ansariis live from New York asFBI Director Kash Patel.

"Saturday Night Live" returned after a brief hiatus on May 2 and, in its cold open, featured the "Parks and Recreation" alum debuting an impression of Patel. The sketch took place at a press conference, whereColin Jost's Pete Hegsethintroduced Patel as someone who wanted to "say hello before he's almost certainly fired."

After taking the podium, Ansari's Patel addressed the security incident at last week's White House Correspondents' Association dinner, where a suspect,Cole Tomas Allen, attempting to assassinatePresident Donald Trump.Prosecutors say that Allentried to storm the dinner − whereVice President JD Vanceand others from the administration were also in attendance − with multiple guns and knives, intending to kill high-ranking officials.

"Now, after the attempted assassination ofPresident Trump− another one! − we conducted an investigation that could not have been more thorough," Ansari as Patel said. "We dotted every 'T' and bulged every eye. And for those of you saying I'm doing a bad job running the FBI, well, what if I told you this agency is only six weeks away from pinpointing the exact location of Osama Bin Laden?"

Ansari's Patel went on to declare he is a "trailblazer" as the "first Indian person to suck at their job," proving that "we can be just as incapable and incompetent as the whites." As he took questions, he insisted he is not worried about being fired. "Even the Correspondents' dinner shooter said kill everyone but Mr. Patel. You get a shoutout like that in a psycho's manifesto, you must be doing something right."

The rest of the cold open centered on Jost as Hegseth giving an update on the war with Iran. After entering with a comically large drink, he told reporters, "This war has been a movie − specifically, 'The NeverEnding Story.'" The sketch briefly acknowledged the recent drama surroundingJimmy Kimmel, who Trump has demanded be fired from his late-night ABC show for jokingly calling first ladyMelania Trumpan "expectant widow."

"I wear my religion on my sleeve − literally, I have a tattoo on my forearm of Jesus choking out Jimmy Kimmel," Jost as Hegseth said.

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'SNL' cold open:Melania Trump's 'big, random' Epstein speech spoofed

Ashley Padilla also made a brief appearance as White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt. "I'm about to go on maternity leave," she noted. "That's when you tell President Trump about your maternity, and he says, 'Leave.' "

Olivia Rodrigohosted the May 2 episode of "SNL," on which she also served as the musical guest. This was Rodrigo's "SNL" hosting debut, though she has performed as musical guest twice before.

Olivia Rodrigo has officially kickstarted her newest era.

The "Good 4 U" singer, who is no stranger to turning a red carpet into her own runway, recently unveiled her highly anticipated third album. Titled "You Seem Pretty Sad For a Girl So in Love," the album will officially be releasing on June 12, 2026, and marks a new (pinker!) chapter for Rodrigo following the success of her first two albums "Sour" and "Guts."

From her iconic performances to her standout red carpet looks, here's a look at Olivia Rodrigo's career through the years starting with her recent appearance at the Chloe fall/winter 2026-2027 show in Paris.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Rodrigo attends the Vanity Fair Oscar Party at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art in Los Angeles on March 15, 2026.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Feist and Rodrigo perform onstage during the 2025 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony at Peacock Theater on Nov. 8, 2025, in Los Angeles.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Rodrigo performs during the American Express Platinum Card x Olivia Rodrigo Concert at Park Avenue Armory on Oct. 23, 2025, in New York City. The singer-songwriter followed her 102-show, arena-filling Guts world tour with the intimate "secret" concert.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" />

Olivia Rodrigo's new era begins! See her career, from breakout artist to Grammy winner

Olivia Rodrigohas officially kickstarted her newest era.The"Good 4 U" singer, who is no stranger to turning a red carpet into her own runway, recently unveiled herhighly anticipated third album. Titled "You Seem Pretty Sad For a Girl So in Love," the album will officially be releasing on June 12, 2026, and marks a new (pinker!) chapter for Rodrigo following the success of her first two albums"Sour"and"Guts."From her iconic performances to her standout red carpet looks, here's a look at Olivia Rodrigo's career through the years starting with her recent appearance at the Chloe fall/winter 2026-2027 show in Paris.

Who's hosting 'SNL' next?

"SNL" is in the home stretch of its 51st season, withonly two episodes leftbefore the summer hiatus.

'SNL' reveals schedule:Who's hosting, performing for rest of the season?

Matt Damonwill next take the stage on May 9, joined by musical guestNoah Kahan. May 16 will be the show's season finale, andWill Ferrellis set to host with musical guestPaul McCartney.

"SNL" will then be off for the summer; the new season typically returns in late September or early October. The show also usually undergoes some changes to its cast between seasons, but so far, no departures have been announced.

Contributing: Aysha Bagchi

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:'SNL' cold open features Aziz Ansari spoofing FBI's Kash Patel

byAdministrator

in

May 03, 2026

'SNL' cold open skewers 'incompetent' Kash Patel, Aziz Ansari stars

Surprise!Aziz Ansariis live from New York asFBI Director Kash Patel. "Saturday Night Live" returned after a brief hiatu...

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Kylie Jenner Says She Looked Like the 'Craziest Version' of Herself After Doing Shrooms at a Party: 'I Couldn't Stop Crying'

Kylie Jenner shared a past experience of taking psychedelic mushrooms at a party, which left her crying and laughing uncontrollably

NEED TO KNOW

• Jenner denied being high during her appearance on Kid Cudi's podcast despite speculation from her friends

• She gave her fans a behind-the-scenes look at her Coachella experience through social media posts

Kylie Jennerwasn't afraid to let loose atCoachella.

TheKylie Cosmeticsfounder, 28, appeared on the latest episode of her friendsStassie KaranikolaouandVictoria Villarroel's podcast,Better Half with Stas & Vic, which included segments from the music festival.

During one segment, Jenner sat with Karanikolaou, 28, and Villarroel, 34, as well asCarter Gregory, to dish all about what they were up to.

"Someone asked me today, 'Do you want to take shrooms tonight?' And I'm like, 'I just don't know if I want to be shrooming in public,' she said. "I'll get really emotional and start crying. Why do I want to cry tonight?"

After Karanikolaou said they could "do a little bite of chocolate," Jenner shared that she once took psychedelic mushrooms before attending an event for Karanikolaou.

"It was like a party, and I took shrooms, and I came, and I couldn't stop crying," recalled Jenner.

"I was laughing, crying because someone came to ask me a question, and I thought it was really funny, and I couldn't stop laughing," she said. "I cried off all my makeup. I went to the bathroom and I looked like the most craziest version of myself."

After Villarroel asked if that "really" happened, Jenner said, "Yes, I had to go home."

The topic of weed came back up again after Jenner mentioned she was onKid Cudi's podcastBig Bro.

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"You were high for that podcast?" asked Villarroel.

"I wasn't high for that podcast," responded Jenner.

After Villarroel said that her eyes looked glossy during that podcast appearance, Jenner looked at the camera and said, "You heard it here first. I was not high for the podcast."

TheKhyfounder chronicled her Coachella experience on her social media pages.

When she arrived for Week 1 of the festival, she posted herself getting out of a van while wearing ablinged-out green tank top featuring an NSFW photoof a tattedJustin Bieberin sunglasses and holding up his middle fingers.

Bieber, who is married to Jenner's friendHailey Bieber, wasone of the festival's headlinersand sang music from each of his eras.

Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE's free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

Jenner also gave her fans a closer look at all her outfits,including a vintage Chanel top, and atthe house where she and her friends were staying.

Read the original article onPeople

byAdministrator

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May 02, 2026

Kylie Jenner Says She Looked Like the 'Craziest Version' of Herself After Doing Shrooms at a Party: 'I Couldn't Stop Crying'

Kylie Jenner shared a past experience of taking psychedelic mushrooms at a party, which left her crying and laughing uncontrollably ...

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How Ana Navarro is working around getting bleeped on 'The View'

NEW YORK –Ana Navarrois ready to tape her new podcast anytime, anywhere.

TheCNNcontributor andABC "The View"cohost, 54, launched"Bleep! with Ana Navarro"earlier this year. While on Easter break in Costa Rica on April 9,First Lady Melania Trumpissued a statement at the White House in which she deniedhaving any involvementwith convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

Navarro, armed with mobile recording equipment, hopped into action. And while the timing of the Trump's press conference befuddled some, Navarro believes that there was clearly a plan in place.

"She obviously didn't write that stuff herself, right?" she tells USA TODAY. "It was full of legalese. So yes, I think she got advice. I think she got help. But because of that, I've now done a couple of breaking news episodes of the podcast from a portable thing I have."

Navarro, anoutspoken criticof the Trump administration, teamed up with iHeartMedia and Hyphenate Media Group for her new podcast. Hyphenate was launched by actressEva Longoriaand media executive Cris Abrego. Longoria also serves as an executive producer of Navarro's podcast.

"There are not that many Latino voices breaking down news," Navarro says about why she continues to lean in to these news cycles. "One of the things that most touches me is anytime I'm in the supermarket or I'm at the airport and some young Latina comes up to me and tells me how much it means for them to have somebody like me speaking up on behalf of our community.

"It's like a privilege and a duty."

'The View' inspired Ana Navarro's new podcast

The title of Navarro's podcast is a playful jab at her other her day job.

"The problem is that I get bleeped at'The View,'"she explains. "Sometimes I try to say things in Spanish. So now (ABC is) to the point where if I say 'queso,' they will bleep me out because they don't know what I'm saying and they're nervous."

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She will not be censored on her own show.

Navarro's goal with the podcast is to both interview interesting subjects and break down news items without the typical restrictions of cable or broadcast TV, where a cohost or panelist may only get a fraction of a 7 minute segment to speak.

But she still enjoys her work on TV, despite the occasionally "bleep" and her commute between New York and Miami. Navarro believes authenticity is the key to any successful show and is one of the reason why "The View" has lasted on ABC for almost 29 years.

"It's women from different backgrounds, different generations, different races, ethnicities, different takes on life, giving their opinions," she explains. Cohosts on the view range from age 36 (former White House strategic communications directorAlyssa Farah Griffin) to 83 (actress-comedianJoy Behar).

Navarro also credits the team behind the cameras, whom she calls "an entire family." She says some have worked there since the show's launch with Barbara Walters in 1997. "They run like a fine tuned Swiss watch and they keep the shows going."

Bad Bunny and Lady Gaga perform a salsa-inspired "Die with a Smile" during his Super Bowl halftime show Feb. 8 in Santa Clara, California.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Puerto Rican singer and actor Ricky Martin performed in front of monobloc chairs like the one on Bad Bunny's “DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS" album cover, Martin sang a from “LO QUE LE PASÓ A HAWAii,” a song that compares Hawaii and Puerto Rico’s colonization.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Bad Bunny brought the iconic pink “Casita” to the Super Bowl halftime stage and invited some famous friends including Karol G, Cardi B and Jessica Alba.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Bad Bunny brought the iconic pink “Casita” to the Super Bowl halftime stage and invited some famous friends including Young Miko and Pedro Pascal.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Bad Bunny and Lady Gaga perform a salsa-inspired "Die with a Smile" during his Super Bowl halftime show Feb. 8 in Santa Clara, California.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Bad Bunny and Lady Gaga perform a salsa-inspired "Die with a Smile" during his Super Bowl halftime show Feb. 8 in Santa Clara, California.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Bad Bunny and Lady Gaga perform a salsa-inspired "Die with a Smile" during his Super Bowl halftime show Feb. 8 in Santa Clara, California.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" />

Bad Bunny's vibrant halftime show was unforgettable. See it up close

Bad Bunny and Lady Gaga perform a salsa-inspired "Die with a Smile" during his Super Bowl halftime show Feb. 8 in Santa Clara, California.

Ana Navarro still wants to talk about 'The Bad Bunny Bowl'

It has been more than two months since the Seattle Seahawks defeated the New England Patriots inSuper Bowl LX. Navarro couldn't tell you who played or what the final score was (29-13). But she can't stop replayingBad Bunny's halftime performance. She says that his halftime show,Karol G's Coachella setand other forms of entertainment are a part of her "concerted effort of doing things that take me away from doomscrolling about the things that are going on in the United States."

"I actually thought the halftime show itself was not tremendously political," she opines. "It was cultural and there were so many different threads and aspects of Latino culture that were woven in. I love the way that he brought Ricky Martin as an ode to those that came before him and that opened doors for him.

"There were some people so hung up here in the United States because he was singing in Spanish, because he's Bad Bunny, because he's Puerto Rican, which is part of America, but whatever," Navarro continues. "And then I see him filling up stadiums all over the world. And you see kids singing his songs and dancing to his music in villages in Africa. And you realize music is supposed to unite us, not divide us."

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:Ana Navarro found a fix for getting bleeped on 'The View'

byAdministrator

in

May 02, 2026

How Ana Navarro is working around getting bleeped on 'The View'

NEW YORK –Ana Navarrois ready to tape her new podcast anytime, anywhere. TheCNNcontributor andABC "The View"cohost, 54, ...

Read More