Welcome to The Boot's News Roundup, a morning rundown of the news country music fans need to know. Read on to learn more about the latest goings-on in the country, Americana, bluegrass and folk genres.

Kacey Musgraves will make her first-ever appearance on Saturday Night Live in mid-May! The artist announced the big news on her Instagram account, posting a photo of the lineup bulletin board, which features her as the musical guest alongside host Amy Schumer. Musgraves will make her SNL debut on May 12.

Randy Scruggs dead
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Beloved Nashville session musician, producer, songwriter and studio owner Randy Scruggs has died. According to MusicRow, Scruggs passed away on Tuesday (April 17), after a short battle with an illness. Throughout his career, Scruggs produced and performed on albums cut by Waylon Jennings, Levon Helm, Dolly Parton, Bobby Bare and Ricky Skaggs, and co-wrote hits such as Deana Carter's "We Danced Anyway." He was the son of iconic bluegrass musician Earl Scruggs, and made his debut on Flatt & Scruggs' TV show at the tender age of nine. Scruggs is survived by his wife and daughter, and the family is asking that memorial contributions be made to MusiCares or the TJ Martell Foundation.

Runaway June interview 2017
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When the 2018 CMA Music Festival hits Nashville in June, fans will be able to take in free shows at Music City's Ascend Amphitheater. Chase Rice will headline the June 7 performance, with Lindsay Ell, Craig Campbell, Granger Smith, Runaway June and more artists. Lee Brice will appear on June 8, sharing the stage with Maddie & Tae, Tyler Farr, Drake White and Clare Dunn. On June 9, Cole Swindell will headline, supported by Tegan Marie, Cale Dodds, Morgan Evans and Michael Ray. Each concert starts at 7PM, and while admission is free, fans can purchase a "Nash Pass" that allows early admission to all three shows (read: will get you closer to the stage!) for $60.

Brad Paisley's Comedy Rodeo preview
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Also in CMA Fest Week news, Brad Paisley and Charles Esten have been announced as headliners for the second-annual '80s Dance Party to End Alz. The event, set for June 3 at Nashville's Wildhorse Saloon, will also feature performances from Chris Young and Lindsay Ell, along with more artists expected to be announced in the coming weeks. Paisley's wife, Kimberly Williams-Paisley, will emcee the event alongside Blair Garner; tickets go on sale on April 20 at 11AM CT.

Toby Keith Wichita Lineman
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Fans will be able to park and listen to tunes at the first-ever Tailgate Fest, set to make its debut in Los Angeles, Calif., this fall. The festival, from Haunted Hayride founder Melissa Carbone, will be headlined by Toby Keith; fans will be able to pull their trucks, grills and games of cornhole right up to the stage so that the music doesn't interrupt the partying. More acts will be added to the festival's lineup in the coming weeks, but tickets for the event are on sale now at LATailgateFest.com.

Krystal Keith baby girl
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Singer-songwriter Krystal Keith will release Boulder, a five-song EP that's the follow-up to her debut album, Whiskey & Lace, on July 13. According to a press release, the EP comes after a two-year hiatus, and was produced by Bobby Pinson. "On the first album, I really wanted to show I wouldn't be boxed into one sound," Keith says in a statement. "Boulder is more reflective of where I want to go right now."

Rory Feek Music Health Alliance concerts 2017
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Rory Feek has announced that his second book, titled Once Upon a Farm: Lessons on Growing Love, Life and Hope on a New Frontier, will be released this summer. According to a press release, the book is an exploration of Feek's life on his farm and as a father after the loss of his wife Joey in 2016. “This isn’t a how-to book," Feek says in a statement. "It’s more of a how we, or more accurately, how He, God, planted us on a few acres of land and grew something bigger than Joey or I could have ever imagined." The book is set for release on June 19.

Lucinda Williams Berklee honorary doctorate
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The Drive-By Truckers, Lucinda Williams and Margo Price will headline the fourth annual Outlaw Country Cruise. According to Rolling Stone, the floating festival will also feature performances from Bobby Bare, Nikki Lane, Shooter Jennings and the Old 97s, among other artists, when it sails from Tampa, Fla., to the Bahamas in January 2019. Tickets for the Outlaw Country Cruise are currently available for pre-sale.

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