Blake Shelton's tabloid battle continues, Merle Haggard postpones more show dates, and Cole Swindell gets a big surprise backstage at the Grand Ole Opry. Here's your Nashville Minute for Thursday, March 31st.  

Blake Shelton
Jason Davis, Getty Images
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The battle continues between Blake Shelton and In Touch Weekly's parent company, Bauer Media. Now the company is accusing Blake of giving false testimony in a sworn declaration in his lawsuit against them. According to The Hollywood Reporter, Blake says he didn't stay at or visit a hotel in Cancun as the tabloid's article had claimed. Bauer says they have photographic evidence that he was there. Shelton is looking for $2 million dollars.

Country legend Merle Haggard has canceled all of his April tour stops as he continues to recover from a recurring bout of double pneumonia. He was scheduled to perform with Willie Nelson throughout the month of April but had to cancel to focus on getting better.

Cole Swindell's latest single "You Should Be Here" is such an impactful, meaningful, and very personal song to him having dedicated it to his late father. Cole was notified as he was getting ready to perform at the Grand Ole Opry that his song had reached number one!

"Finding out that you have the No. 1 song in the country while backstage at the Grand Ole Opry is the coolest feeling in the world. This song is so special to me, and hearing fans’ stories and the way country radio has embraced it is amazing. I’m a lucky guy, and I know my dad is smiling down right now."

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