Month: July 2020

Sony Music/RCA RecordsKane Brown’s newest single is a fun, bouncy collaboration with two musical friends. Pop and R&B star Khalid and rapper Swae Lee offer their voices to the tune “Be Like That,” which is all about shrugging off the ups and downs of a tumultuous, but ultimately addictive, love story.

“I might be better on my own / I hate you blowing up my phone / I wish I never met your a** / Sometimes it be like that,” Kane sings in the chorus, before admitting that despite all the drama, he still can’t let go.

“I’m not myself the nights you’re gone / There ain’t no way I’m moving on / I’m not afraid to need you bad / Sometimes it be like that,” he continues.

All three artists had a hand in penning the tune, the melody of which is just as intoxicating as the relationship in the song.

“It’s about all the different feelings you can have in a relationship,” Kane explains of his new tune. “And trying not to overthink it. When it gets tough, you want to be on your own, but then you miss the person a second later. I think it’s something everyone goes through.”

“Be Like That” follows Kane’s latest release, the poignant and powerful “Worldwide Beautiful.”

By Carena Liptak
Copyright © 2020, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

Comstock/ThinkstockThe powerhouse lead vocalist of country trio Rascal Flatts is celebrating his 50th birthday today. This Columbus, Ohio native has also been teasing a potential solo career lately. Can you name him? ANSWER: Gary LeVox.

By Carena Liptak
Copyright © 2020, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

Big Machine Label GroupIt’s been five years since Tim McGraw fans got a new album from the country superstar, but that’s all about to change. This week, he officially announced that his next 16th studio project, Here on Earth, will arrive on August 21.

To celebrate the news, he shared the dazzling title track with fans, along with a music video that underscores his album’s focus on the things that bring people from all walks of life together, instead of on the differences that drive them apart. 

The song takes a birds-eye view on different kinds of people, from young couples welcoming their first child to alcoholics getting sober. No matter the situation, over the course of their journeys, they all find a new reason to be “here on earth.”

Previously, Tim described the album’s track list as being full of “vignettes of life.” Another of those vignettes is “I Called Mama,” which is Here on Earth’s lead single and the 13th of 16 tracks on the album.

The singer shared the complete list of song titles, too, and it looks like many of Here on Earth’s tunes are entirely brand-new and unheard by fans. When it’s released in August, Tim hints that he’s planning a one-of-a-kind livestream experience to celebrate his album.

Here’s the full track list of Here on Earth:

“L.A.”
“Chevy Spaceship”
“Here on Earth”
“Damn Sure Do”
“Hallelujahville”
“Good Taste in Women”
“Hard to Stay Mad At”
“Sheryl Crow”
“Not from California”
“Hold You Tonight”
“7500 OBO”
“If I Was a Cowboy”
“I Called Mama”
“Gravy”
“War of Art”
“Doggone”

By Carena Liptak
Copyright © 2020, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

BBR Music Group When Jimmie Allen released “This Is Us” with Noah Cyrus — daughter of Billy Ray, sister of Miley — back in February, little did we know that it was only the tip of one very star-studded iceberg. 

“It was written by Noah, a few other writers, and my buddy Tyler Hubbard from FGL,” Jimmie tells ABC Audio. “I love the song, and just sound-wise, it just fits right in with what I do anyway, like a mix between, like country and pop and rock and with some R-and-B inflections.” 

Jimmie’s connection with Noah came through the music business, but it was just one of many more to come.

“That one happened because my manager actually does business with her record label head,” Jimmie explains. “They sent the song down and asked if I wanted to be a part of it.”

It turns out “This Is Us” is the lead single from Jimmie’s seven-track EP of celebrity collaborations, titled Bettie James, in honor of his beloved grandmother, Bettie Snead, and his dad, James Allen. 

It includes non-country stars like rapper Nelly, actress Rita Wilson, and worship leader Tauren Wells, alongside country icons Tim McGraw, Brad Paisley, and The Oak Ridge Boys.

Even so, there are a couple tracks that are extra special.

“Has there ever been two Black country artists doing a duet?” Jimmie asks. “Has that ever been done?”  

It’s a feat Jimmie accomplishes by teaming up with Mickey Guyton on “Drunk and I Miss You,” and snagging both Darius Rucker and Charley Pride for “Why Things Happen.”

Bettie James is available to stream or download now, on the heels of Jimmie’s first two singles, “Best Shot” and “Make Me Want To,” which both topped the country chart.  

By Stephen Hubbard
Copyright © 2020, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

Burke/Triolo Productions/ThinkstockAXS TV has announced a special programming block of interviews and performances to honor Charlie Daniels, which is set to air this Sunday beginning at 11AM ET. The country legend died on July 6 at the age of 83. 

Ahead of his next album, Blue Eyes, the Harlot, the Queer, the Pusher & Me, Waylon Payne has shared a small handful of new tracks. One of them, “All the Trouble,” was co-penned by Lee Ann Womack, who also cut it for her 2017 album, The Lonely, the Lonesome & the Gone.

By Carena Liptak
Copyright © 2020, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.