October Pack the Backpack Winner: Megan Schutt from Grinnell-Newburg

Welcome to The List,

Kelly Clarkson’s friends are reportedly worried she’s doing way too much. Surprise to everyone, she’s apparently signed on for another season of The Voice. An insider says between her talk show, Vegas residency, multiple homes in New York, Montana, and L.A., plus raising kids, Kelly is running on fumes. She’s financially fine, but she keeps saying yes because the iron is hot. At some point you have to rest, but good luck convincing Kelly Clarkson to slow down.

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Brantley Gilbert says New Year’s Eve just reminds him he’s getting older, and he has plans especially with his birthday coming up in January. But this year, he’s excited. He’s heading to Iowa to ring in the New Year deer hunting with Lee and Tiffany LaKosky. No parties, no champagne, just the woods and a rifle. Honestly, that sounds way more peaceful than Times Square.

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Zach Top admits he misses the slow, predictable rhythm of farm life. He says things used to move slower, and now he wakes up in a different town every day. Fame is great, but there’s something about knowing exactly where you’ll sleep at night. Turns out success still comes with homesickness.

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And here we go again. Jennifer Lopez is allegedly still not over Ben Affleck. An insider says she jokes about the divorce publicly and pretends she’s moved on, but behind the scenes she’s still finding ways to stay connected. According to the source, she’s nowhere near letting him go. At this point, Ben is less an ex and more a recurring series.

You can catch The List this afternoon at 4:20 with Jonathan Knight. Only on Iowa’s BEST Country KIX 101.1

Welcome to The List,

Nicole Kidman is reportedly hitting the reset button on her love life. Insiders say she’s done with high-profile relationships and now wants something quieter, calmer, and way less tabloid-friendly. Along with that, she’s allegedly planning a full image refresh new look, possible cosmetic tweaks, the whole “new chapter” energy.

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Adam Sanders was crowned the very first winner of The Road during the finale at the legendary Ryman Auditorium. And right after the big win, Keith Urban leaned in and whispered something Sanders says he’ll never forget: “You played this thing like a F’n fiddle.” Sanders beat out Cassidy Daniels and Channing Wilson and walked away with prize money, a record deal, a Stagecoach main-stage slot, and a Keith Urban quote that belongs in a frame.

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Kate Gosselin is officially walking again just 82 days after a serious leg injury. She shared the update on TikTok, saying she’s easing back in stages 25 percent, then 50, then 100. She says it’s a huge step toward recovery and she’s excited. Which is great, because raising eight kids feels like a full-contact sport.

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And finally… Tyler Farr admitted to one of the most country stories ever told. He says he once went skinny dipping and peed in Jason Aldean’s pool. Yes. That happened. Farr shared it like a proud memory, though Jason’s pool filter probably needed therapy afterward. Country music friendships are built different… and apparently so are their pools.

You can catch The List, weekday afternoons at 4:20 with Jonathan Knight. Only on Iowa’s BEST Country KIX 101.1