Craig Morgan (Photo: Charles Norfleet)Country star Craig Morgan has never been one to shy away from a physical challenge—after all, he’s the star of his own outdoor-sports reality TV show, currently going into its fourth season. However, the newest challenge he’s taken on is enough to make even the hardiest sportsperson…well, shiver a bit.

Morgan is planning travel to Sweden in April to embark on the sixth annual Fjällräven Polar—which is a 200-mile dog sled excursion above the Arctic Circle hosted by Swedish outdoors brand Fjällräven. The expedition takes five days, and Morgan will be one of 20 people from 10 countries participating.

Morgan will learn to care for and manage a team of Huskies, as well as practice survival skills in sub-zero temperatures.

Mindy McCready is, finally, presumably, at peace. The long-troubled country singer’s family held her funeral Tuesday in her hometown of Fort Myers, Fla., a little more than a week after she took her own life via gunshot.

The service, which took place at the Crossroads Baptist Church, was open to the public. According to People, around 400 attended to pay their respects.

McCready’s casket was driven to the church in a white hearse; her casket was decorated with white roses. The singer’s music was played during the service—including the hit “Ten Thousand Angels"—while her portrait was displayed on the altar and various photos from her life flashed on two large video screens flanking the sanctuary.

McCready's mother at the funeral (Splash News)Mourners were greeted on entry by McCready’s mother, Gayle Inge. Video clips on Florida’s News-Press showed guests filing in and speaking to Inge. McCready’s three brothers, as well as several of her cousins, served as pallbearers.

Kellie Pickler (Photo: Jason Kempin)Looks as if this season of Dancing With The Stars is going to be considerably countrified! It has been confirmed that that Kellie Picker and Wynonna Judd are officially part of the cast.

The new season's lineup was announced Tuesday morning on Good Morning America. Pickler will be paired with Derek Hough; Wynonna will partner with Tony Dovolani. Pickler's selection was extra remarkable as she’ll be the first American Idol alum to join the cast of this reality program. (Pickler was, of course, a contender in Season 5 of AI.)

In addition to the country gals, comedians Andy Dick and D. L. Hughley, boxer Victor Ortiz, Real Housewives star Lisa Vanderpump, actress Zendaya Coleman, actor Ingo Rademacher, Olympic gymnast Aly Raisman, ice skating legend Dorothy Hamill, and Baltimore Ravens' wide receiver Jacoby Jones have signed on for the new season.

(Photo: Frederick Breedon IV)Mindy McCready’s tumultuous saga will finally be laid to a peaceful rest—as well as be celebrated with love by her friends and family.

The late country star’s family has planned a private funeral Tuesday at Crossroads Church in Fort Myers, Fla.; while her friends and peers in the music community are organizing a special memorial in Nashville, tentatively scheduled for March 6 at Music City’s Cathedral of the Incarnation.

McCready’s family has not finalized burial plans for the star, who was pronounced dead Sunday from what has been determined a suicide.

The singer was found on the front porch of her Arkansas home with a gunshot wound to the head; mirroring the death of her boyfriend David Wilson, who suffered the same fate last month. She leaves behind two sons: Zander, 6, and Zayne, 10 months.

Related:

Who was David Wilson? A look at his life

More celeb news

McCready (Photo: Angela Weiss)We’ve already heard from one of the late Mindy McCready’s ex-boyfriends that her suicide did not come as shocking news. Now, yet another ex is on the record as saying he isn’t surprised by the country singer’s tragic death.

Lois & Clark actor Dean Cain, who was briefly engaged to McCready in 1997 (the pair broke it off in 1998) told People this week that he was “saddened” to hear of McCready’s passing, but that he’d known from the start that she was a very troubled person.

"I can't paint too pretty a picture,” Cain admitted of their relationship. “She would start arguments, start drama. Things weren't allowed to be good."

Cain says that McCready’s well-documented history of substance abuse didn’t contribute to their breakup. However, “Red flags were everywhere…I saw all the bad signs and told her to get out.”

"Everything she did was a manipulation of sorts. She would just get combative."

(Photo: Rick Diamond)He’s traveled the world, sold millions of albums, and had countless experiences that the average person has never even dreamed of. However, there’s one thing country legend Tim McGraw hasn’t done: “I’ve never been this close to an aircraft carrier before,” he enthuses. “It’s a great, great day for me!”

Indeed. When McGraw made plans for the release of his eagerly anticipated new album, Two Lanes Of Freedom—his first for a new record company, after a prolonged and frustrating fight for emancipation from his original label—he knew that this was going to have to be an extraordinary launch. So, he chose an extraordinary event to match: Flying by helicopter onto the flight deck of San Diego’s landmark aircraft carrier USS Midway, where he played an intimate set for fans, veterans, and military. What a way to celebrate release day!

Being around all the planes and helicopters docked in the harbor made McGraw feel like “a kid in a candy store,” but he was able to get down to business. In this exclusive interview, he discusses his new album, approach to music these days, playing live shows in Vegas with wife Faith Hill--and how although he’s been at this job for a couple of decades now, he still feels he’s barely begun his career.

Mindy McCready (Photo: Frederick Breedon IV)Preliminary autopsy results are in for the tragic demise of country singer Mindy McCready—and, as expected by most, her death has been confirmed a suicide.

According to county police, the Arkansas state crime lab’s investigation shows that McCready died as a result of suicide from a single gunshot wound to the head.

McCready had four possible suicide attempts over the past 7 years that preceded her final, deathly one. One was conducted while she was pregnant with her first son, Zander, in 2005. Her last suspected attempt was in 2010.

Cleburne County Sheriff Marty Moss told E! News that McCready did not leave a suicide note, and that her death is still an "ongoing investigation."

McCready was found on the front porch of her home in Heber Springs, Ark, on Sunday—the exact same location authorities found her late boyfriend, music producer David Wilson, last month. She also apparently shot Wilson’s pet dog before turning the gun on herself.

Wilson also suffered a gunshot to the head; his cause of death has not been officially confirmed yet, but is currently being investigated as a suicide.

Taylor Swift (Photo: Kevin Winter)The latest news from the world of Taylor Swift? Unfortunately, it’s not a hot new boyfriend or gorgeously attired magazine cover. The superstar is currently making headlines for what seems to be a nasty lawsuit over a canceled live date last year.

The long and the short of it: Swift was invited to headline Ottawa’s Capital Hoedown music festival last August, and was paid a reported $2.5 million for the booking. Due to various problems, the organizers of the event were forced to cancel the event, and ticketholders were issued refunds.

Now, the ticket company is going after Swift in a recently filed lawsuit, saying that she walked away free and clear with the money—without ever having to lift a finger—while they were stuck refunding $1.8 million in ticket sales.

Swift’s camp told TMZ that she never contracted with the ticket company and has not seen the lawsuit yet. Still, this entire story sounds ugly.

The question remains—is Swift really liable in this position? Los Angeles entertainment attorney Michael Ackerman (who is not involved in the case) explains that, from what he can discern of the suit, it may not be that simple.