The agency said the astronauts were 61,326 miles from Earth when the music played and were moving into final re-entry and splashdown preparations. The moment added a music spotlight to one of NASA’s biggest missions in decades. Artemis II launched on April 1 and became the first crewed flight toward the moon since 1972. During the mission, the crew completed a lunar flyby and helped test Orion in deep space before the spacecraft’s planned return to the Pacific Ocean off the coast of San Diego.

The opening show made clear that the new era will lean heavily on recent songs. Wallen performed I Got Better, 20 Cigarettes, Love Somebody, Dark Til Daylight and Just in Case alongside well-known tracks including Chasin’ You, Heartless, Ain’t That Some and You Proof. A B-stage stretch slowed the pace with Cover Me Up, I’m a Little Crazy, and Wasted on You before the show returned to the main stage.

Guest moments also shaped the night, with Gavin Adcock and Vincent Mason joining for Up Down and Thomas Rhett appearing on Cowgirls. Wallen closed the encore with Sand in My Boots, Last Night, and Whiskey Glasses.

The album arrives as a deliberate next step. Dandelion was developed with Miranda Lambert and Ben West in executive producer roles, and its tracklist reflects a mix of personal writing, strong country detail, and a clear sense of place. The record opens and closes with Froggy Went A Courtin’, giving the project a framed, cohesive feel from start to finish.

Across the album, Langley moves through heartbreak, love, reflection, and self-assurance without overcomplicating the message. Guest appearances, including Lambert and ERNEST, add range without pulling focus from the core of the record. The result is a project that feels grounded, direct, and confident, with Langley continuing to build a style that blends modern momentum with a traditional country backbone.

At a Thursday briefing, associate administrator Amit Kshatriya said NASA also feels good about the parachutes and recovery system ahead of Friday’s splashdown.

He added the four astronauts will be putting their lives behind that confidence. Asked about the stressful 13 minutes of re-entry to splashdown, flight director Jeff Radigan replied it’s 13 minutes that have to go right.

The four astronauts are scheduled to splash down at 5:07 p.m. Pacific Friday off the coast of San Diego.

Charles Prunty, 68, was last seen in Oildale on April 10, 2021, after leaving his home at the Highland Knolls Mobile Estates.

Prunty’s remains were found inside his truck north of Vandenberg Space Force Base in May 2022.

If you have any information in this case,  you are asked to contact the Airforce Office of Special Investigations at 805-606-5135 or Kern Secret Witness at 661-322-4040.

Sheriff Mike Boudreaux says the alleged shooter was killed Thursday evening when a Kern County SWAT team in an armored vehicle ran over him.

Michael Morales was suspected of gunning down a sheriff’s office detective who was part of a team serving an eviction notice Thursday morning in Porterville.

Detective Randy Hoppert was taken to a hospital where he later died.

His wife is four months pregnant.

That earlier meeting left a lasting impression. As the contestant stepped onto the stage, the connection became clear, turning a routine audition into something more personal. The moment reflected how early encouragement can shape long-term goals, especially in music.

The singer shared that the experience stayed with him, while the contestant explained how that meeting helped spark a deeper interest in performing. What followed was less about surprise and more about continuity, showing how a brief encounter can carry forward over time.

Moments like this highlight the human side of televised competitions, where personal history can intersect with opportunity in a very public setting.

Sergio Estrada, 20, pleaded no contest last month to charges of child stealing and meeting a minor for lewd purposes after Kern County Sheriff’s deputies located him and the 14-year-old girl in the 2400 block of Kentucky Street in June 2025.

The girl had been missing for two days. Her mother told deputies the two met online two years earlier.

A competency hearing is set for May 13, 2026.

Victor Farias pleaded not guilty last week to charges including murder, child cruelty, and domestic violence, following the brutal stabbing death of Yolanda Rojo, 30, at the Shadow Ridge Apartments in the 7000 block of College Avenue in March.

Farias was apprehended in Tehachapi the day after the incident.

Bakersfield police describe the incident as a brutal case of domestic violence.

The next court date is May 14, 2026.

Two suspects used a victim’s credit cards after the person lost her handbag March 8, 2026, at a gas station in the 3200 block of Ming Avenue near Valley Plaza Mall.

Officers are looking for a man with a mustache and long hair, and a woman with bleached hair, wearing a gray hoodie.

Anyone with information is asked to call detective R. Fujihara at (661) 326-3544 or the Bakersfield Police Department at (661) 327-7111.