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You’ve probably heard Gene Autry’s song “Everyone’s a Child at Christmas,” but when was the last time you took his words to heart? Nowadays, the holidays are so full of menu planning and decorating that it’s easy to lose sight of the “happy holiday jollity” that Autry sang about. Don’t get wrapped up in all of the stress the holidays can bring. Instead, try to embrace the child-like wonder that made Christmas your favorite time of year growing up....

Around these parts, college football is king, but in Jackson, Mississippi, another contender competes for the public’s attention when fall rolls around each year. The Sonic Boom of the South, Jackson State University’s marching band, is an award-winning program with a longstanding legacy of excellence. Last fall, the near-300-student marching band and Prancing J-Sette dance line celebrated 50 years under the name Sonic Boom with a rousing homecoming performance that brought back dozens of school alumni to take the field once again....

Vince Gill may have canceled a few shows last month after wife Amy Grant’s bicycle accident, but the music is continuing now for the country icon. And it’s continuing in a big way. CMT announced Friday that they will celebrate the “Don’t Let Our Love Start Slippin’ Away” singer with a brand-new 90 minute special, CMT Giants: Vince Gill, set to air September 19, exclusively on CMT. Many of Gill’s friends and collaborators in the music industry will join in on the fun with performances honoring the man of the hour including, Brad Paisley, Carrie Underwood, Chris Stapleton, Cody Johnson, Luke Combs, Maren Morris, and Ricky Skaggs....

One peek into Carmeon Hamilton’s Memphis home, and it’s clear that an interior designer lives here. From the sculptural lighting in the office to the hand-painted dining room wall, every immaculate detail has been thoughtfully chosen—and not just for appearances. “For me, it’s a matter of wellness,” says Carmeon. “I want my home to always be a place that feels and looks good because I feel better in spaces that look better....

We can tell you until the cows come home about the hottest trends sweeping across the South right now, but sometimes, it’s best to take home decor back to the basics. Frills like non-functional accessories with the sole purpose of sitting pretty will always be close to our hearts, but it’s those functional pieces that make our homes lovely and livable. These are items you’ve likely had in your arsenal for years—decades even—despite the fact that they very likely wouldn’t win any design awards, but we can’t help but love them so....

Smocking: the great Southern signifier. Chances are if you see a young toddler or baby in smocking, the parents are Southern. Whether at a place of worship, a birthday party, or even a football Saturday, smocking is something Southern parents hold dear, just like jon-jons, bubbles, and Peter Pan collars. Like needlepoint, an embroidery craft that hit a meteoric rise during the pandemic, smocking seems to be more prevalent than ever....

Invented in 1938 by restauranteur Ruth Wakefield of the Toll House restaurant in Whitman, Massachusetts, the chocolate chip cookie was created strictly as an accompaniment to ice cream. It would soon rival apple pie as the favorite dessert for Americans. Chocolate chip cookies are a matter of personal preference, and whether you need a crispy or soft cookie, it cannot be argued that a combo of both is what cookie perfection is all about....

A Georgia woman and her brother had an unforgettable encounter while running errands earlier this month. Latonya Lark and Kevin Grant were driving northbound on Harry S. Truman Parkway in Savannah when Lark noticed something strange flying towards them. “I thought it was a brick, and I told [my brother], ‘my God, there’s a brick!’” Lark, who was driving, recalled to WSAV. In a blink, there was a loud boom and Grant was covered in shattered glass....

Synchronous fireflies won’t be the only things lighting up the Tennessee skies this summer. This week, Anakeesta announced a brand-new, nighttime immersive experience described as a “stellar journey of discovery.” The first of its kind in the United States, the Lumina Night Walk will take guests on a journey to discover the wonder of the stars through projections, lighting, and music. “Anakeesta’s continued investment with the Lumina Night Walk will give Gatlinburg visitors an exciting and innovative entertainment option in the evening,” Gatlinburg Mayor Mike Werner said in a statement....

You’ve picked out the perfect fresh-cut Christmas tree—one that’s vibrant green, fragrant, and filled with beefy branches to hang all your precious heirloom ornaments. Besides watering the tree, the next big task you’ll have on your plate is decorating it. Tinsel, ribbons, and garland will spruce up any ornamented evergreen, but draping and weaving lights throughout the branches will truly help your tree sparkle. But how do you hang lights that create a sparkly Christmas tree without turning the task into a daylong project?...

We’re all looking for ways to stay grounded and feel connected to ourselves, our loved ones, and our passions amidst the coronavirus outbreak, but come day’s end, that “quarantini” sure does tempt. Instead of reaching for the bottle or opening up the snack jar, try some of these excellent ideas to treat yourself instead. When the beautiful day arrives that we’re free to return to a more normal routine, you may find some of these fun pastimes stick....

If you’re itching to go antiques shopping, you’re in luck. There’s no better time of year to find antiques than spring, and no better place to start your search than the South. Deep-rooted in American history, where the nation’s first settlers called home and grand estates are often passed from generation to generation, Virginia is fertile ground for fine antiques and densely populated with locally owned storefronts brimming with age-old treasures....

Country star Eric Church will stop at seemingly nothing to watch the Battle of the Blues this weekend. CMT reports that the North Carolina native and diehard UNC basketball fan canceled his Saturday show at the AT&T Center in San Antonio, Texas, so he can watch the Tar Heels take on Duke in the NCAA Men’s Final Four with his family. In a statement provided by Ticketmaster to ticket holders, the notoriously straight-shooting Church explained that he is a lifelong Carolina basketball fan and has watched the rivalry between Duke and UNC play out for years....

When it comes to feeding winter birds, flowers are not usually the first thing that comes to mind. However, ornamental flowers and grasses produce seed heads that remain long after plants have gone dormant, providing a valuable source of food through the fall and winter months. Garden plants also provide a greater diversity of foods for birds to choose from, which in turn attracts a wider variety of bird species to the garden....

We all know people are supposed to send thank-you notes. But sometimes, you send a gift to newlyweds, ship a baby present to your cousin, or mail a little housewarming happy to a friend, and you never receive any sort of acknowledgement. You don’t want to be the thank-you note police or embarrass the recipient (chances are, their mamas taught them to send thank-you notes too), but you do want to make sure the gift arrived....

What are Turkey Ribs? Contrary to the name, turkey ribs are actually a shoulder cut of turkey meat. This delicious cut is typically considered a scrap piece and tossed out with the unwanted bits of the turkey carcass. What a shame, though, because the turkey shoulder has the most similar texture and flavor to a pork rib. These white meat bone-in morsels have the same lip-smacking flavor and bone-gnawing satisfaction of a pork rib with a lower fat content....

Spatchcocking sounds like a lawn game played with tiny paddles, but it’s actually a brilliant cooking technique. Also called butterflying, spatchcocking is a fast and simple way to roast a chicken (or any kind of poultry). All you have to do is remove the bird’s backbone, then press the chicken flat with your hands. Seriously, it’s easier than you think. We promise! You can use a sharp chef’s knife to remove the backbone, but kitchen shears make this job even easier....

Jimmie Allen joins us on Biscuits & Jam to talk about growing up in Delaware, his love of fishing, and his family’s Christmas traditions at Disney World. Plus, how he has been influenced by the strength of his mother and grandmother. Get to Know Jimmie Allen Jimmie Allen was born and raised in Delaware, where his family introduced him to both country music and church music at an early age. He moved to Nashville in 2007, but struggled before his big break —at one point, living in his car....

Country star Lee Brice talks with host Sid Evans on Biscuits & Jam about his grandfather’s oil tank gas grills, shifting from football to music while in college, and the stories behind his hits “I Drive Your Truck” and “Hey World.” Get to Know Lee Brice Lee Brice was born and raised in Sumter, South Carolina, and had equal passions for sports and songwriting while attending Clemson University. When an injury officially sidelined his football career, he set his sights on Nashville in 2001 and slowly made a name for himself in Music City....

Holiday snacking, oh, how we love thee. This year, in light of the coronavirus pandemic, we may not be gathered around at the office Halloween candy bowl or a neighborhood cookie swap, but we will, in fact be cooking, baking, and decorating. There will be pumpkin pie, and sugar cookies, and spicy pecans galore. There will be gingerbread houses, and cheese balls, and cracker toffee. There may even be Magnolia Market’s Fall Cookie Kit....