Their Cuties! A Complete Guide to Country Music Stars’ Sweetest

[]

Country cuties! In addition to crooning successful country tracks, many of the genre’s beloved artists spend their time raising their faithful four-legged companions.

Taylor Swift, whose “I Bet You Think About Me” garnered a coveted Video of the Year nomination at the April 2022 CMT Awards, is the proud cat mom to three felines: Meredith Grey, Olivia Benson and Benjamin Button. (The three cats are named after her favorite TV and movie actors: Ellen Pompeo’s character in Grey’s Anatomy, Mariska Hargitay‘s role in Law & Order: SVU and the title character in Brad Pitt’s The Curious Case of Benjamin Button.)

“[The] most influential factor in my life is cats. I have cats. I’m obsessed with them,” the “All Too Well” songstress gushed during an April 2019 interview with Time. “They’re just a real joy to live with. And I love my cats so much that when a role came up in a movie called Cats, I just thought, like, ‘I’ve got to do this. Like, this is my calling in life to do this for the ladies.’”

While Swift’s cats make frequent appearances on her social media, they each have their own distinctive personalities.

“[Meredith’s] just a very private little cat. She likes her business kept to herself,” the Pennsylvania native said in an April 2021 Instagram video. “She doesn’t like a camera shoved in her face, and who could blame her?”

Blake Shelton, for his part, frequently incorporates dog imagery into his country songs in honor of his connection with his pooch, Betty.

{ let bidders = [‘a9’, ‘ix’, ‘iris’]; // create a requestManager to keep track of bidder state to determine when to send ad server // request and what amazonSlots to request from the ad server var requestManager = { adserverRequestSent: false, }; //loop through bidder array and add the bidders to the request manager: bidders.forEach( function( bidder ) { requestManager[bidder] = false; } ); // return true if all bidders have returned function allBiddersBack() { var allBiddersBack = bidders // get the booleans from the object .map( function( bidder ) { return requestManager[bidder]; } ) // get rid of false values – indicates that the bidder has responded .filter( Boolean ) // if length is equal to bidders, all bidders are back .length === bidders.length; return allBiddersBack; } // handler for header bidder responses function headerBidderBack( bidder ) { // return early if request to adserver is already sent if ( requestManager.adserverRequestSent === true ) { return; } // flip bidder back flag if ( bidder === ‘a9’ ) { requestManager.a9 = true; console.log(‘second promise a9 ready’); } else if ( bidder === ‘ix’ ) { requestManager.ix = true; console.log(‘second promise ix ready’); } else if ( bidder === ‘iris’ ) { requestManager.iris = true; console.log(‘second promise iris ready’); } // if all bidders are back, send the request to the ad server if ( allBiddersBack() ) { resolve( url ); } } if ( typeof apstag == ‘object’ && apstag ) { apstag.fetchBids({ slots: [{ slotID: window.prerollTag[vHash], mediaType: ‘video’ }] }, function( bids ) { console.log( “AMI jwp amazon bid callback”, new Date().getTime(), bids ); window.jwpBids[vHash].amazon = true; if ( bids.length > 0 ) { //If we have received any bids back try { console.log(“AMI jwp amazon bid request ad”, bids[0].encodedQsParams); url = url + ‘&scp=’ + bids[0].encodedQsParams; } catch ( e ) { console.log(e); } } else { console.log(“AMI jwp amazon no bids”); } headerBidderBack(‘a9’); }); } else { headerBidderBack(‘a9’); } headertag.cmd.push( function() { headertag.retrieveVideoDemand( [{‘htSlotName’: ‘preroll’}], function( demand ) { console.log( “AMI jwp IX callback”, demand ); if ( ‘undefined’ !== typeof demand.preroll && demand.preroll.length ){ window.jwpBids[vHash].ixBids = demand.preroll[0].targeting.price; console.log( ‘AMI jwp IX Bids’, new Date().getTime(), demand.preroll[0].targeting ); var vastURL = new URL( url ); var vastParams = new URLSearchParams( vastURL.search ); if ( vastParams.has( ‘cust_params’ ) ) { var custParams = new URLSearchParams( vastParams.get( ‘cust_params’ ) ); } else { var custParams = new URLSearchParams(); } var keys = Object.keys( demand.preroll[0].targeting.price ); for ( var key of keys ) { custParams.set( key, demand.preroll[0].targeting.price[key][0]); } vastParams.set( ‘cust_params’, custParams.toString() ); vastURL.search = vastParams.toString(); url = vastURL.toString(); } headerBidderBack(‘ix’); } ); } ); // Get main item context data window.irisContext.getContext(jwplayer(el).getPlaylistItem().mediaid).then(function(data) { // Encode the context data console.log( ‘AMI jwp IrisTV Bids’, new Date().getTime(), data.context ); // Replace the server url with the context data (this is for simple ad requests), // If you have the serverUrl dynamically configured, then you will need to append the context data // under cust_params, so this is just for testing purpose if ( data.context && Object.keys( data.context ).length ) { var vastURL = new URL( url ); var vastParams = new URLSearchParams( vastURL.search ); if ( vastParams.has( ‘cust_params’ ) ) { var custParams = new URLSearchParams( vastParams.get( ‘cust_params’ ) ); } else { var custParams = new URLSearchParams(); } custParams.set( ‘iris_context’, data.context.join(‘,’)); vastParams.set( ‘cust_params’, decodeURIComponent( custParams.toString() ) ); vastURL.search = vastParams.toString(); url = vastURL.toString(); } headerBidderBack(‘iris’); }); setTimeout(function(){ resolve( url ); }, 10000); }); } var player_jwplayer_sfnz6Jhg_zhNYySv2_div = jwplayer(el).setup(videoParams).on(“ready”, function(){ var el = decodeURIComponent( “jwplayer_sfnz6Jhg_zhNYySv2_div” ); var playerInstance = jwplayer(el); ns_.StreamingAnalytics.JWPlayer( playerInstance, { publisherId: “6036076”, labelmapping: “ns_st_pu=”AMI”, c3=”Us Weekly”, ns_st_ge=”” + decodeURIComponent( “%2Anull” ) + “”, ns_st_ia=”” + decodeURIComponent( “%2Anull” ) + “”, ns_st_ce=”” + decodeURIComponent( “1” ) + “”, ns_st_ddt=”” + decodeURIComponent( “%2Anull” ) + “”, ns_st_tdt=”” + decodeURIComponent( “%2Anull” ) + “””, }); }).on(‘adsManager’, (e) => { var vHash = ‘ami’ + decodeURIComponent( ‘sfnz6Jhg’ ); const { adsManager, videoElement } = e; const iasConfig = { anId: ‘928572’, campId: `${jwplayer().getWidth()}x${jwplayer().getHeight()}`, // This is dynamic based on player dimensions, but can be hard coded chanId: window.prerollTag[vHash], placementId: ‘Open Auction’, pubOrder: ‘Video’, pubId: ‘Direct’ }; if (googleImaVansAdapter) { googleImaVansAdapter.init(window.google, adsManager, videoElement, iasConfig); } }).on( ‘time’, function( e ) { var id = this.id; var pct = Math.round( e.position ); if ( ! window.amiPlayersData ) { window.amiPlayersData = {}; } if ( ! window.amiPlayersData[id] ) { window.amiPlayersData[id] = { m3: false, m10: false }; } if ( window.amiPlayersData[id][‘m3’] === false && pct >= 3 ) { window.amiPlayersData[id][‘m3’] = true; console.log( ‘3sec played: ‘, id ); window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; dataLayer.push( {event: ‘JWPlayEvent’, jwTime: ‘3s played’} ); } if ( window.amiPlayersData[id][‘m10’] === false && pct >= 10 ) { window.amiPlayersData[id][‘m10’] = true; console.log( ’10sec played: ‘, id ); window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; dataLayer.push( {event: ‘JWPlayEvent’, jwTime: ’10s played’} ); } }).on( ‘complete’, function( e ) { if ( window.amiPlayersData && window.amiPlayersData[ this.id ] ) { window.amiPlayersData[ this.id ][‘m3’] = false; window.amiPlayersData[ this.id ][‘m10’] = false; console.log( ‘clear played: ‘, this.id ); } }).once(“play”, function(){ var el = decodeURIComponent( “jwplayer_sfnz6Jhg_zhNYySv2_div” ); var playerInstance = jwplayer(el); loadIrisPlugin(playerInstance, playerInstance.getConfig().plugins[“https://ovp.iris.tv/plugins/jwplayer/v2/iris-jwplayer8.adaptive.min.js”]) }).on(‘play’, (e) => { var el = decodeURIComponent( “jwplayer_sfnz6Jhg_zhNYySv2_div” ); var vHash = “ami” + decodeURIComponent( “sfnz6Jhg” ); var jwInfo = jwplayer(el).getPlaylistItem(jwplayer(el).getPlaylistIndex()); // skip if the video was paused and trying to resume if (jwplayer(el).getState() !== ‘idle’ && jwplayer(el).getState() !== ‘complete’) { return; } window.permutive.track(“VideoPlay”, { play_id: el, //this will stay constant for all of the events emitted during the same video play video: { duration: Math.round(jwInfo.duration), // in seconds name: jwInfo.title, video_id: decodeURIComponent( “sfnz6Jhg” ), description: jwInfo.description, published_at: new Date(jwInfo.pubdate).toISOString() }, enriched_data:{ tvchannel: decodeURIComponent( “Us%20Weekly” ), //tv channel name language:”English”, //language of the content type: “video”, keywords: jwInfo.tags.split(“,”), //keywords for the page } }); console.log(“Permutive video play”); }).on(‘complete’, (e) => { var el = decodeURIComponent( “jwplayer_sfnz6Jhg_zhNYySv2_div” ); var vHash = “ami” + decodeURIComponent( “sfnz6Jhg” ); var jwInfo = jwplayer(el).getPlaylistItem(jwplayer(el).getPlaylistIndex()); // skip if the video was paused and trying to resume if (jwplayer(el).getState() !== ‘idle’ && jwplayer(el).getState() !== ‘complete’) { return; } window.permutive.track(“VideoComplete”, { play_id: el, //this will stay constant for all of the events emitted during the same video play video: { duration: Math.round(jwInfo.duration), // in seconds name: jwInfo.title, video_id: decodeURIComponent( “sfnz6Jhg” ), description: jwInfo.description, published_at: new Date(jwInfo.pubdate).toISOString() }, enriched_data:{ tvchannel: decodeURIComponent( “Us%20Weekly” ), //tv channel name language: “English”, //language of the content type: “video”, keywords: jwInfo.tags.split(“,”), //keywords for the page } }); console.log(“Permutive video event:”, e); window.lock_25 = false; window.lock_50 = false; window.lock_75 = false; window.lock_100 = false; }).on(‘time’, (e) => { var el = decodeURIComponent( “jwplayer_sfnz6Jhg_zhNYySv2_div” ); var vHash = “ami” + decodeURIComponent( “sfnz6Jhg” ); var jwInfo = jwplayer(el).getPlaylistItem(jwplayer(el).getPlaylistIndex()); var progress = (e.currentTime/e.duration).toFixed(2); if ( (0.25 === progress && false === window.lock_25) || (0.5 === progress && false === window.lock_50) || (0.75 === progress && false === window.lock_75) || (100 === progress && false === window.lock_100) ) { window.permutive.track(“VideoProgress”, { play_id: el, //this will stay constant for all of the events emitted during the same video play progress: Number(progress), video: { duration: Math.round(jwInfo.duration), // in seconds name: jwInfo.title, video_id: decodeURIComponent( “sfnz6Jhg” ), description: jwInfo.description, published_at: new Date(jwInfo.pubdate).toISOString() }, enriched_data:{ tvchannel: decodeURIComponent( “Us%20Weekly” ), //tv channel name language: “English”, //language of the content type: “video”, keywords: jwInfo.tags.split(“,”), //keywords for the page } }); if ( 0.25 === progress ) { window.lock_25 = true; } if ( 0.5 === progress ) { window.lock_50 = true; } if ( 0.75 === progress ) { window.lock_75 = true; } if ( 1 === progress ) { window.lock_100 = true; } console.log(“Permutive video play progress ” + progress); } }).on(‘mute’, (e) => { var el = decodeURIComponent( “jwplayer_sfnz6Jhg_zhNYySv2_div” ); var vHash = “ami” + decodeURIComponent( “sfnz6Jhg” ); var jwInfo = jwplayer(el).getPlaylistItem(jwplayer(el).getPlaylistIndex()); window.permutive.track(“VideoEvent”, { play_id: el, //this will stay constant for all of the events emitted during the same video play event: (e.mute) ? “sound off” : “sound on”, video: { duration: Math.round(jwInfo.duration), // in seconds name: jwInfo.title, video_id: decodeURIComponent( “sfnz6Jhg” ), description: jwInfo.description, published_at: new Date(jwInfo.pubdate).toISOString() } }); console.log(“Permutive video event:”, e); }).on(‘fullscreen’, (e) => { var el = decodeURIComponent( “jwplayer_sfnz6Jhg_zhNYySv2_div” ); var vHash = “ami” + decodeURIComponent( “sfnz6Jhg” ); var jwInfo = jwplayer(el).getPlaylistItem(jwplayer(el).getPlaylistIndex()); window.permutive.track(“VideoEvent”, { play_id: el, //this will stay constant for all of the events emitted during the same video play event: (e.fullscreen) ? “fullscreen on” : “fullscreen off”, video: { duration: Math.round(jwInfo.duration), // in seconds name: jwInfo.title, video_id: decodeURIComponent( “sfnz6Jhg” ), description: jwInfo.description, published_at: new Date(jwInfo.pubdate).toISOString() } }); console.log(“Permutive video event:”, e); }).on(‘ready’, (e) => { var el = decodeURIComponent( “jwplayer_sfnz6Jhg_zhNYySv2_div” ); var vHash = “ami” + decodeURIComponent( “sfnz6Jhg” ); var jwInfo = jwplayer(el).getPlaylistItem(jwplayer(el).getPlaylistIndex()); console.log(jwInfo); window.lock_25 = false; window.lock_50 = false; window.lock_75 = false; window.lock_100 = false; window.permutive.track(“VideoLoad”, { play_id: el, //this will stay constant for all of the events emitted during the same video play video: { duration: Math.round(jwInfo.duration), // in seconds name: jwInfo.title, video_id: decodeURIComponent( “sfnz6Jhg” ), description: jwInfo.description, published_at: new Date(jwInfo.pubdate).toISOString() }, enriched_data:{ tvchannel: decodeURIComponent( “Us%20Weekly” ), //tv channel name language: “English”, //language of the content type: “video”, keywords: jwInfo.tags.split(“,”), //keywords for the page } }); console.log(“Permutive video load event”); }).on(‘adPlay’, (e) => { var el = decodeURIComponent( “jwplayer_sfnz6Jhg_zhNYySv2_div” ); var vHash = “ami” + decodeURIComponent( “sfnz6Jhg” ); window.adInfo = e; var jwInfo = jwplayer(el).getPlaylistItem(jwplayer(el).getPlaylistIndex()); window.adlock_25 = false; window.adlock_50 = false; window.adlock_75 = false; window.adlock_100 = false; window.permutive.track(“VideoAdPlay”, { play_id: el, //this will stay constant for all of the events emitted during the same video play ad: { duration: Math.round(window.adInfo.duration), creative_name: window.adInfo.adtitle, ad_id: window.adInfo.adId, title: window.adInfo.adtitle, video_type: “instream” //outstream }, video: { duration: Math.round(jwInfo.duration), // in seconds name: jwInfo.title, video_id: decodeURIComponent( “sfnz6Jhg” ), description: jwInfo.description, published_at: new Date(jwInfo.pubdate).toISOString() }, enriched_data:{ tvchannel: decodeURIComponent( “Us%20Weekly” ), //tv channel name language: “English”, //language of the content type: “video”, keywords: jwInfo.tags.split(“,”), //keywords for the page } }); console.log(“Permutive video ad play”); }).on(‘adClick’, (e) => { var el = decodeURIComponent( “jwplayer_sfnz6Jhg_zhNYySv2_div” ); var vHash = “ami” + decodeURIComponent( “sfnz6Jhg” ); var jwInfo = jwplayer(el).getPlaylistItem(jwplayer(el).getPlaylistIndex()); window.permutive.track(“VideoAdClick”, { play_id: el, //this will stay constant for all of the events emitted during the same video play ad: { duration: Math.round(window.adInfo.duration), creative_name: window.adInfo.adtitle, ad_id: window.adInfo.adId, title: window.adInfo.adtitle, video_type: “instream” //outstream }, video: { duration: Math.round(jwInfo.duration), // in seconds name: jwInfo.title, video_id: decodeURIComponent( “sfnz6Jhg” ), description: jwInfo.description, published_at: new Date(jwInfo.pubdate).toISOString() }, enriched_data:{ tvchannel: decodeURIComponent( “Us%20Weekly” ), //tv channel name language: “English”, //language of the content type: “video”, keywords: jwInfo.tags.split(“,”), //keywords for the page } }); console.log(“Permutive video ad click”); }).on(‘adTime’, (e) => { var el = decodeURIComponent( “jwplayer_sfnz6Jhg_zhNYySv2_div” ); var vHash = “ami” + decodeURIComponent( “sfnz6Jhg” ); var jwInfo = jwplayer(el).getPlaylistItem(jwplayer(el).getPlaylistIndex()); var progress = (e.position/e.duration).toFixed(2); if ( (0.25 >= progress && false === window.adlock_25) || (0.5 >= progress && false === window.adlock_50) || (0.75 >= progress && false === window.adlock_75) || (0.95 >= progress && false === window.adlock_100) ) { window.permutive.track(“VideoAdProgress”, { play_id: el, //this will stay constant for all of the events emitted during the same video play progress: Number(progress), ad: { duration: Math.round(window.adInfo.duration), creative_name: window.adInfo.adtitle, ad_id: window.adInfo.adId, title: window.adInfo.adtitle, video_type: “instream” //outstream }, video: { duration: Math.round(jwInfo.duration), // in seconds name: jwInfo.title, video_id: decodeURIComponent( “sfnz6Jhg” ), description: jwInfo.description, published_at: new Date(jwInfo.pubdate).toISOString() }, enriched_data:{ tvchannel: decodeURIComponent( “Us%20Weekly” ), //tv channel name language: “English”, //language of the content type: “video”, keywords: jwInfo.tags.split(“,”), //keywords for the page } }); if ( 0.25 >= progress ) { window.adlock_25 = true; } if ( 0.5 >= progress ) { window.adlock_50 = true; } if ( 0.75 >= progress ) { window.adlock_75 = true; } if ( 0.95 >= progress ) { window.adlock_100 = true; } console.log(“Permutive video ad progress ” + progress); } }).setPlaylistItemCallback(function(item, index) { return waitForAmazon // Wait until Amazon is loaded. .then(() => performAsyncBidding( player_jwplayer_sfnz6Jhg_zhNYySv2_div, item, index ), () => { console.log(“AMI JWP bidding FAILER”); }) // External bidding. .then(tag => { // Update the playlist item. console.log(“AMI jwp new headerbid”, tag); return Object.assign({}, item, { adschedule: [{ tag, offset: “pre” }] }); }).catch(function(e){ console.log(“AMI jwp bidding failed”, e); return item; }); // If bidding fails, use unmodified playlist item. });; clearInterval(checkJWReady); } }, 500); })(); ]]>

“Betty’s pretty damn excited about her favorite song comin out tomorrow… can’t ya tell?!!” the Voice judge — who married Gwen Stefani in July 2021 — captioned a September 2017 Instagram post.

Betty is not Shelton’s only furry companion. He also is the doting pet parent to a cat named Dave and even grew up with three pet raccoons.

“We had to drag him into the house at night,” his mother, Dorothy Shelton, told Men’s Journal in July 2013. “He loved all animals: grasshoppers, locusts, lizards, snakes, worms. One time I had a fly swatter and I killed a fly, and he cried.”

Kelsea Ballerini, who married fellow country crooner Morgan Evans in December 2017, frequently dotes on her pup, Dibs.

“It took like two years for Dibs to be like, ‘Well, guess [Morgan is] sticking around?’ But now they’re the best of friends,” the “Peter Pan” singer explained during a November 2019 interview on Hank FM radio. “If Morgan’s on the ground, Dibs will sit on his lap, like, he claims Morgan more than he claims me now. … I wanted them to get along but I still wanted to be his favorite, but I’m not anymore!”

Scroll below to meet the pets of country music’s biggest stars:

Credit: Shutterstock (2)

A Complete Guide to Country Music Stars’ Cutest Pets: Blake Shelton, Taylor Swift and More

Country cuties! In addition to crooning successful country tracks, many of the genre’s beloved artists spend their time raising their faithful four-legged companions.

Taylor Swift, whose “I Bet You Think About Me” garnered a coveted Video of the Year nomination at the April 2022 CMT Awards, is the proud cat mom to three felines: Meredith Grey, Olivia Benson and Benjamin Button. (The three cats are named after her favorite TV and movie actors: Ellen Pompeo’s character in Grey’s Anatomy, Mariska Hargitay‘s role in Law & Order: SVU and the title character in Brad Pitt’s The Curious Case of Benjamin Button.)

“[The] most influential factor in my life is cats. I have cats. I’m obsessed with them,” the “All Too Well” songstress gushed during an April 2019 interview with Time. “They’re just a real joy to live with. And I love my cats so much that when a role came up in a movie called Cats, I just thought, like, ‘I’ve got to do this. Like, this is my calling in life to do this for the ladies.’”

While Swift’s cats make frequent appearances on her social media, they each have their own distinctive personalities.

“[Meredith’s] just a very private little cat. She likes her business kept to herself,” the Pennsylvania native said in an April 2021 Instagram video. “She doesn’t like a camera shoved in her face, and who could blame her?”

Blake Shelton, for his part, frequently incorporates dog imagery into his country songs in honor of his connection with his pooch, Betty.

[jwplayer sfnz6Jhg-zhNYySv2]

“Betty’s pretty damn excited about her favorite song comin out tomorrow… can’t ya tell?!!” the Voice judge — who married Gwen Stefani in July 2021 — captioned a September 2017 Instagram post.

Betty is not Shelton’s only furry companion. He also is the doting pet parent to a cat named Dave and even grew up with three pet raccoons.

“We had to drag him into the house at night,” his mother, Dorothy Shelton, told Men’s Journal in July 2013. “He loved all animals: grasshoppers, locusts, lizards, snakes, worms. One time I had a fly swatter and I killed a fly, and he cried.”

Kelsea Ballerini, who married fellow country crooner Morgan Evans in December 2017, frequently dotes on her pup, Dibs.

“It took like two years for Dibs to be like, ‘Well, guess [Morgan is] sticking around?’ But now they’re the best of friends,” the “Peter Pan” singer explained during a November 2019 interview on Hank FM radio. “If Morgan’s on the ground, Dibs will sit on his lap, like, he claims Morgan more than he claims me now. … I wanted them to get along but I still wanted to be his favorite, but I’m not anymore!”

Scroll below to meet the pets of country music’s biggest stars:

[podcast_block]

Credit: Shutterstock (2)

A Complete Guide to Country Music Stars’ Cutest Pets: Blake Shelton, Taylor Swift and More

Country cuties! In addition to crooning successful country tracks, many of the genre’s beloved artists spend their time raising their faithful four-legged companions.

Taylor Swift, whose “I Bet You Think About Me” garnered a coveted Video of the Year nomination at the April 2022 CMT Awards, is the proud cat mom to three felines: Meredith Grey, Olivia Benson and Benjamin Button. (The three cats are named after her favorite TV and movie actors: Ellen Pompeo’s character in Grey’s Anatomy, Mariska Hargitay‘s role in Law & Order: SVU and the title character in Brad Pitt’s The Curious Case of Benjamin Button.)

“[The] most influential factor in my life is cats. I have cats. I’m obsessed with them,” the “All Too Well” songstress gushed during an April 2019 interview with Time. “They’re just a real joy to live with. And I love my cats so much that when a role came up in a movie called Cats, I just thought, like, ‘I’ve got to do this. Like, this is my calling in life to do this for the ladies.’”

While Swift’s cats make frequent appearances on her social media, they each have their own distinctive personalities.

“[Meredith’s] just a very private little cat. She likes her business kept to herself,” the Pennsylvania native said in an April 2021 Instagram video. “She doesn’t like a camera shoved in her face, and who could blame her?”

Blake Shelton, for his part, frequently incorporates dog imagery into his country songs in honor of his connection with his pooch, Betty.

[jwplayer sfnz6Jhg-zhNYySv2]

“Betty’s pretty damn excited about her favorite song comin out tomorrow… can’t ya tell?!!” the Voice judge — who married Gwen Stefani in July 2021 — captioned a September 2017 Instagram post.

Betty is not Shelton’s only furry companion. He also is the doting pet parent to a cat named Dave and even grew up with three pet raccoons.

“We had to drag him into the house at night,” his mother, Dorothy Shelton, told Men’s Journal in July 2013. “He loved all animals: grasshoppers, locusts, lizards, snakes, worms. One time I had a fly swatter and I killed a fly, and he cried.”

Kelsea Ballerini, who married fellow country crooner Morgan Evans in December 2017, frequently dotes on her pup, Dibs.

“It took like two years for Dibs to be like, ‘Well, guess [Morgan is] sticking around?’ But now they’re the best of friends,” the “Peter Pan” singer explained during a November 2019 interview on Hank FM radio. “If Morgan’s on the ground, Dibs will sit on his lap, like, he claims Morgan more than he claims me now. … I wanted them to get along but I still wanted to be his favorite, but I’m not anymore!”

Scroll below to meet the pets of country music’s biggest stars:

[podcast_block]

Credit: Courtesy of Kelsea Ballerini/Instagram

Kelsea Ballerini

The Tennessee native adopted mixed-breed dog Dibs in 2015.

Credit: Courtesy of Lauren Akins/Instagram

Thomas Rhett

The “Unforgettable” crooner, wife Lauren Akins and their daughters share dogs Kona and Cash.

Credit: Courtesy of Taylor Swift/Instagram

Taylor Swift

Swift, who’s been dating Joe Alwyn since October 2016, named her three cats after famous TV and movie characters.

Credit: Courtesy of Jason Aldean/Instagram; AFF-USA/Shutterstock (Inset)

Jason Aldean

Aldean rescued dog Saint with his wife, Brittany Aldean, in July 2019.

Credit: Courtesy of Katelyn Jae Brown/Instagram

Kane Brown

The “Heaven” musician, who shares daughters Kingsley and Kodi with wife Katelyn Jae, has three dogs: two German Shepherds and a bulldog named Rambo.

Credit: Courtesy of Maren Morris/Instagram

Maren Morris

“I rescued this girl from underneath a porch 5 years ago before the Keith [Urban] tour and she’s still the coolest, most stand-offish chick I’ve ever met. Oh and there’s my dog, June. ,” Morris, who has been married to Ryan Hurd since 2018, wrote via Instagram in May 2021.

Credit: Courtesy of Miranda Lambert/Instagram

Miranda Lambert

Lambert — who married Brendan McLoughlin in 2019 — has seven rescue dogs: JD, Bellamy, Cher, Delta Dawn, Thelma, Louise and Roe. (Lambert is also the stepmom to McLoughlin’s son, Landon.)

Credit: Courtesy of Nicole Kidman/Instagram

Keith Urban

Urban, wife Nicole Kidman and their daughters proudly share their dog, Julian.

Credit: Courtesy of Luke Bryan/Instagram

Luke Bryan

Bryan runs an Instagram account for his chocolate lab, Choc, and English cocker spaniel, Boss, both of whom he shares with his wife Caroline Boyer and kids.

Credit: Courtesy of Carly Pearce/Instagram

Carly Pearce

Pearce’s pups, June and Johnny, are named after a pair of country icons.

Credit: Courtesy of Hayley Hubbard/Instagram

Tyler Hubbard

The Florida Georgia Line crooner shares golden retriever Harley with his wife Hayley Hubbard.

Credit: Courtesy of Jimmie Allen/Instagram

Jimmie Allen

The Grammy nominee gifted daughter Naomi a puppy for Christmas in December 2021. The pup is, fittingly, named Grammy.

Credit: Courtesy of Blake Shelton/Instagram; AFF-USA/Shutterstock (Inset)

Blake Shelton

Shelton frequently dotes on Betty via social media.

Credit: Courtesy of Lauren Lane/Instagram

Chris Lane

The “Big Big Plans” artist shares dogs Cooper and Chloe with wife Lauren Lane.

Credit: Courtesy of Hunter Hayes/Instagram

Hunter Hayes

“The internet — ‘Tell me your pet is clingy without actually telling me your pet is clingy….’ Me — ‘Meet Ella…,’ the Louisiana native wrote of his pooch via Instagram in March 2021.

Credit: Courtesy of Luke Bryan/Instagram

Luke Bryan

The American Idol judge runs an Instagram account for his two dogs, Choc and Boss.

Credit: Courtesy of Walker Hayes/Instagram

Walker Hayes

The “Fancy Like” crooner shares two dogs with wife Laney Beville Hayes.

In order to view the gallery, please allow Manage Cookies

Read The Full Article Here