Five at Five: Mike Fisher Becomes an American Citizen + Kelsea Ballerini and Brooks & Dunn Join The Voice

Give us a minute, and we’ll give you five things to know in country music. It’s your new favorite fix for all the latest news headlines in one place. Here’s what you need to know for Friday (March 22):

  • Mike Fisher Granted American Citizenship

    It’s official. Carrie Underwood’s husband, Mike Fisher, is an American citizen. The 38-year-old retired hockey player and father of two made his citizenship announcement via an Instagram story on Thursday (March 21) with the caption, “Big day I’m officially American.” Fisher played for the Nashville Predators from 2011 through his first retirement in 2017. He came back out of retirement in 2018 to help the Predators make another Stanley Cup run, and then announced a second retirement in May last year after the team was eliminated in the playoffs.

  • Ballerini will advise talent on Kelly Clarkson’s team, and Brooks & Dunn’s Kix Brooks and Ronnie Dunn will advise singers on Blake Shelton’s team on The Voice. This is Ballerini’s second time on the show after being last year’s fifth coach for the show’s comeback stage. The Voice’s battle rounds begin Monday (March 25).

  • Rising Texas Artist Dies While Filming Music Video

    Thoughts and prayers go out to the family and friends of rising Texas-based artist Justin Carter, who died in an accidental shooting while filming a music video on Saturday (March 16). Carter was on the set and using the gun as a prop when it went off. “Justin had a potential to … in our eyes, and a lot of people’s eyes to be the next Garth Brooks,” Triple Threat Management’s Mark Atherton tells Houston’s KTRK-TV. A GoFundMe fundraiser has been set up to support Carter’s family.

  • Jennings will join legendary Guns N’ Roses bassist Duff McKagan on a North American tour in support of McKagan’s forthcoming solo album Tenderness (out May 31). Jennings, who produced the album, and his band will serve as both direct support and McKagan’s backing musicians on the tour, which kicks off on May 30 in Philadelphia, Pa. Tickets for all shows are available via McKagan’s website.

  • It’s Friday (March 22). And you know what that means: new music for the weekend! New songs released today include Anderson’s “Good Lord,” Ashton’s “Pretty Shiny Things,” McEntire’s “Freedom” and Owen’s “That’s On Me.”

Lauren Tingle is a Tennessean and storyteller who eats music for breakfast, lunch and dinner. When she’s not writing or rocking out, she enjoys yoga and getting lost in the great outdoors.