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Nashville Notes: Drake Milligan's 'Christmas Cookies' + Ryan Larkins' surprise Gospel Takes

Post author By abookbinder
Post date December 20, 2024
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Drake Milligan‘s saddled-up, holiday style. The America’s Got Talent alum covered George Strait‘s “Christmas Cookies” and Elvis Presley‘s “Blue Christmas” as part of his Living Room Sessions series, and you can watch the performance videos now on YouTube.

Ryan Larkins has surprised-dropped a new album, The Gospel Takes. Spanning 10 tracks, the project features Ryan’s acoustic covers of gospel classics including “Victory in Jesus,” “I’ll Fly Away” and “Old Rugged Cross.”

Carly Pearce hosted a girls’ night on Thursday for her friends, and on the invite-list were fellow country singers Kelsea Ballerini, Tigirlily Gold and Ashley Cooke. “Last night was one of my favorite nights ever. I hosted so many of my favorite gals in this business who need to be reminded that we are freaking DOING IT and that girls can support girls!!!!” Carly captioned her Instagram carousel featuring photos from their get-together. “So proud of everything these bada** babes have accomplished this year and I can't wait to see what they all do in 2025.”

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Remember when Randy Travis narrated Annabelle's Wish? Parker McCollum does

Post author By abookbinder
Post date December 20, 2024
No Comments on Remember when Randy Travis narrated Annabelle's Wish? Parker McCollum does

Parker’s McCollum‘s got three favorite movies, and one of them’s a 1997 animated film featuring Randy Travis.

“Favorite Christmas movie – this is gonna sound kind of goofy, but one of them is definitely Annabelle's Wish, because Randy Travis narrates it,” Parker shares in a recent interview. “I used to watch that when I was really little with my mom.”

The “Handle on You” singer also enjoys universally beloved classics.

“I mean, Christmas Vacation is a phenomenal movie. And I always really liked The Santa Clause series with Tim Allen,” says Parker. “I always thought those were really good, even the newer ones.”

Coming up, Parker will cap 2024 and ring in 2025 with a performance on the star-studded New Year's Eve Live: Nashville's Big Bash. You can tune in beginning 8 p.m. ET on CBS and Paramount+.

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Nat King Cole has Jordan Davis' favorite Christmas song

Post author By abookbinder
Post date December 20, 2024
No Comments on Nat King Cole has Jordan Davis' favorite Christmas song

Picking a favorite holiday song can be tough for some. Simply put, the options are endless.

But when asked in an interview to pick one, Jordan Davis swiftly picked a jazz music icon’s tune.

“My favorite Christmas song is Nat King Cole‘s ‘Buon Natale.’ I don't know the record it's on it, [but] we would just play that song over and over and over,” Jordan shares. “That’s by far my favorite, but anything from Nat King Cole. I mean Nat King Cole is Christmas to me.”

Jordan’s also a big fan of the good ol’ yuletide tunes, so much so that he’s picked up a festive habit from his mother.

“I remember growing up, my mom would start on Thanksgiving. We would start listening to Christmas music and anytime you walk into the house, if mom was home, there was Christmas music playing,” Jordan recalls. “It was just background music, and it's something I've carried over.”

“There’s Christmas music that is played all the time,” he says. “If we're home, there's Christmas music on.”

Meanwhile, on the non-holiday music front, Jordan’s currently in the top 10 and climbing up the country charts with his latest single, “I Ain’t Sayin’.”

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Joy to the World: CMA Country Christmas reairing Sunday

Post author By abookbinder
Post date December 20, 2024
No Comments on Joy to the World: CMA Country Christmas reairing Sunday

You’ll get to relive the magic of CMA Country Christmas when it reairs Sunday.

The Country Music Association has announced that its annual holiday special will return to ABC with an encore broadcast at 10 p.m. ET.

Trisha Yearwood and Amy Grant will be your hosts, and they’ll take the stage to perform alongside Cody Johnson, Ashley McBryde, Jon Pardi, Gospel music icon CeCe Winans and more.

Here’s a list of songs that’ll be performed:
Trisha Yearwood and Amy Grant – “Sing Your Praise to the Lord” and “Santa Claus is Coming to Town”
Amy Grant – “Tennessee Christmas”
Trisha Yearwood – a Christmas medley
Cody Johnson – “White Christmas” and “I’ll Be Home for Christmas”
Jon Pardi – “400 Horsepower Sleigh”
Ashley McBryde and Brittney Spencer – “Man With the Bag”
For KING + COUNTRY with Carin León – “O Come, O Come Emmanuel”
CeCe Winans – “Joy to the World”

If you’re not able to watch CMA Country Christmas‘ encore presentation, fret not. The show’s available to stream now on Hulu and Disney+.

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Catch Trisha Yearwood on CBS' 'National Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony'

Post author By abookbinder
Post date December 20, 2024
No Comments on Catch Trisha Yearwood on CBS' 'National Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony'

Trisha Yearwood will perform “My Favorite Things” on Friday’s 102nd National Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony.

Other acts tapped for the star-studded holiday special include James Taylor, The War And Treaty and Trombone Shorty.

Trisha’s been busy this year with other holiday shows. She recently co-hosted and performed on ABC’s CMA Country Christmas and was featured alongside Keith Urban, Pat Benatar, Neil Geraldo and more on PBS’ documentary Rockin’ Around, which chronicles Brenda Lee‘s life, music and storied career.

National Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony airs Friday at 8 p.m. ET on CBS.

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Brett Eldredge's Glow Tour is going digital and you're invited

Post author By abookbinder
Post date December 20, 2024
No Comments on Brett Eldredge's Glow Tour is going digital and you're invited

Missed Brett Eldredge‘s Christmas tour this year? Fret not, he’s got you covered.

Brett will livestream the final show of his GLOW: Welcome to the Family Tour from Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena on Friday.

“Don’t miss out on the magic of The Glow Tour! Join me virtually from Bridgestone Arena on Friday, December 20 for an unforgettable night!” Brett shares on social platform X.

Mr. Christmas also hopped on Instagram Thursday to reflect on his festive run on the road.

“I am not gonna lie, playing this many shows in the small window of time of the holidays can be extremely intense mentally for me, at times I find myself pacing back stage wondering how can I go up there and do it again night after night,” Brett says of his 12-date trek.

“Then I put on my tux, pin up the cuff links, throw on the bow tie, drink a hot tea and dance with the band backstage.I feel the spirit of everyone out here on the road giving everything they've got whether they are tired, anxious, feeling down, sick etc.,” he shares.

“It's a wild ride but when that curtain opens and the horns punch and drums hit, our spirit comes alive.I see your faces light up and my heart races as I step up to the microphone.we ARE alive!” Brett adds. “What a miracle, what a gift, THIS is why we do this!”

Tickets to Brett’s Glow Tour livestream are available now at veeps.com.

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UnitedHealthcare CEO murder suspect Luigi Mangione waives extradition, facing federal charges in New York

Post author By Staff
Post date December 20, 2024
No Comments on UnitedHealthcare CEO murder suspect Luigi Mangione waives extradition, facing federal charges in New York

Luigi Mangione is charged in the deadly shooting of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson. Toronto^ Canada - December 13 2024

Luigi Mangione, the suspect indicted in the murder of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, waived his right to an extradition hearing during an appearance in court in Blair County, Pennsylvania and was transported via plane and helicopter to New York on Thursday afternoon to face federal charges. Mangione, 26, had appeared Thursday morning in Blair County, Pennsylvania, for a preliminary hearing, where he waived extradition and was subsequently taken into the custody of the NYPD.

Mangione was arrested on Dec. 9 in Pennsylvania after nearly a week on the run, he faces charges including allegedly possessing an untraceable ghost gun. Mangione had a 9 mm handgun with a 3D-printed receiver, a homemade silencer, two ammunition magazines and live cartridges when apprehended, prosecutors said.

Mangione has been charged in a four-count federal criminal complaint with stalking, murder through the use of a firearm and a firearms offense involving a silencer. He is accused of gunning down Thompson outside a Hilton hotel on Dec. 4 as the UnitedHealthcare CEO headed to an investors conference.

In New York, Mangione is also charged with two counts of second-degree murder, one of which is charged as killing as an act of terrorism; two counts of criminal possession of a weapon in the second degree; four counts of criminal possession of a weapon in the third degree; one count of criminal possession of a weapon in the fourth degree; and one count of criminal possession of a forged instrument in the second degree.

The federal charges could make Mangione eligible for the death penalty. He faces a maximum sentence of life in prison without parole if convicted of the state charges. Mangione will be remanded into custody at MDC Brooklyn, the same federal lockup where Sean “Diddy” Combs is currently jailed.

Mangione’s New York lawyer, Karen Friedman Agnifilo, said in a statement: “The federal government’s reported decision to pile on top of an already overcharged first-degree murder and state terror case is highly unusual and raises serious constitutional and statutory double jeopardy concerns. We are ready to fight these charges in whatever court they are brought.”

Editorial credit: bella1105 / Shutterstock.com

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Former chief advisor to NYC Mayor Eric Adams charged with bribery, money laundering

Post author By Staff
Post date December 20, 2024
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NYC Mayor Eric Adams speaks during a briefing with police brass at One Police Plaza on April 3^ 2024 in New York City.

A former top aide to New York City Mayor Eric Adams has been indicted on bribery and money-laundering charges, along with her son.

Prosecutors on Thursday accused Ingrid Lewis-Martin, aformer chief adviser to Adams, of using her City Hall influence to help a hotel chain with construction plans. Lewis-Martin, who resigned her position on Sunday, was seen entering the lower Manhattan office of Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg early Thursday morning.

Lewis-Martin, was indicted along with her son Glenn Martin II and two real estate investors, Raizada Vaid and Mayank Dwivedi. All the defendants were charged with Conspiracy in the Fourth Degree. Vaid and Dwivedi are charged with Bribery in the First Degree, while Lewis-Martin and Martin III are charged with Bribe Receiving in the First Degree and Money Laundering in the Third Degree.

According to a statement by Bragg, Lewis-Martin “engaged in a long-running bribery, money laundering and conspiracy scheme by using her position and authority… and to illegally influence Department of Buildings and other city decisions in exchange for more than $100,000 in cash and benefits for herself and her son, Glenn Martin II.”

Bragg told reporters: “The indictment unsealed today can be summarized in three words — quid pro quo. Today’s indictment alleges and portrays a clear picture: ‘You do this for me and I will do that for you.’ It was not what is in the best interest of the city of New York and those who live here.”

Lewis-Martin, 63, has been one of the mayor’s closest confidants throughout his political career, serving in senior roles under Adams over the past nearly two decades. Adams himself was indicted by a federal grand jury three months ago on bribery, campaign finance and conspiracy charges, in which the mayor was accused of allegedly received lavish gift and illegal campaign contributions from foreign nationals, including from Turkish interests to help that government bypass New York City safety guidelines to open a new consulate building.

Editorial credit: Ron Adar / Shutterstock.com

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“Maybe This Christmas” Michael Buble will talk Carly Pearce into a holiday album

Post author By abookbinder
Post date December 20, 2024
No Comments on “Maybe This Christmas” Michael Buble will talk Carly Pearce into a holiday album

First Carly Pearce and Michael Bublé debuted their new holiday tune, “Maybe This Christmas,” on The Voice. Then the Canadian icon wasted no time getting the country star to bring him to the Grand Ole Opry.

And it was all at Michael’s insistence, Carly reveals.

“He loves classic country music. He’s a fan. I feel like a lot of people just come in because they’re very just like, ‘Oh, country’s easy. We can do country. Put a banjo on it and it’s fine,'” Carly asserts as Michael laughs.

“And I take great offense to that,” she continues. “I take great offense to people that don’t understand the importance of our town. This is not one of those people. This is a global icon who absolutely understands what this genre is, what these songs mean. And I think that says so much about who he is as an artist and why he’s one of the greats.”

Michael feels just as strongly about Carly’s musical gifts, urging the 2021 CMA Female Vocalist of the Year to get busy and make a full Christmas album.

“People are just clamoring for this,” Michael tells ABC Audio. “Like I’ve been with [her] for two days here, and this is like the 11th person that’s asked about a Carly Pearce Christmas album. I believe you need to get your stuff together.”

“I need to do one,” Carly acquiesces. “At least an EP, right?” ?

That’s high praise, considering Michael’s sold more than 6 million copies of his Christmas album.

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Trace Adkins shares the holiday video for ‘Naughty List’

Post author By Staff
Post date December 20, 2024
No Comments on Trace Adkins shares the holiday video for ‘Naughty List’

Trace Adkins performs at America Salutes You and Wall Street Rocks Presents Guitar Legends For Heroes at Terminal 5 on November 29^ 2017 in New York City.

Trace Adkins has shared the lighthearted holiday video for “Naughty List,” directed by Mike Stryker and co-produced by Greg Baker, Jason Fridenstine, and Andrew Rozario. The comical video features cameos from the legendary acts Vision in Red, Victoria Pratt, and their adorable furry family member, Gary.

“Naughty List” — co-written by Adkins with Monty Criswell and Derek George and produced by Mickey Jack Cones and Derek George — — puts Adkins’ sense of humor in the spotlight.

See the video for ‘Naughty List’ – HERE.

Editorial credit: Debby Wong / Shutterstock.com