Month: July 2020

ABC/Image Group LARussell Dickerson is putting his downtime to good use during the COVID-19 pandemic: He’s hard at work on album number three.

This week, the singer has been taking to social media to give fans a little taste of the new music he’s got cooking. He posted three videos sharing snippets of as-yet-unheard songs, and also offered a couple of clues to what their titles might be.

“Whatever you want I’m / All yours, all night / Sunset to sunrise,” Russell sings in one of the clips. Coupled with a caption that reads “AYAN,” it seems like “All Yours All Night” might be the track’s title.

Another clip, captioned “CTJ,” had fans baffled as to what the song’s name might be.

“I’m the little devil on her shoulder / And she brings it in a little closer / I take her outside of the lines / Oh, but she’s my voice of reason…” he sings in the unreleased new tune.

Though Russell hasn’t unveiled many details about his next project, it seems like an official announcement might not be too far in the future. The singer has already dropped two singles off the project: “Love You Like I Used To” and “Home Sweet.”

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

AYAN #RD2 pic.twitter.com/luO3agGEUW

— Russell Dickerson (@russelled) July 30, 2020

#CTJ #RD2 pic.twitter.com/0f793MP5uf

— Russell Dickerson (@russelled) July 30, 2020

Wheelhouse RecordsCountry trio Runaway June wasn’t expecting to find much creativity during the COVID-19 pandemic. Not only did bandmate Jennifer Wayne personally battle the virus, but longtime member Hannah Mulholland decided to exit the group.

But what began as a frightening, uncertain time ultimately became a clean slate.

“We’ve been together quite a bit in a really beautiful, authentic creative space, which has been really awesome because this time of year we’re normally touring and it’s a pretty rigorous schedule,” Naomi Cooke explains to Rolling Stone.

After Hannah’s departure, the two remaining band mates knew that replacing her would be difficult. Ultimately, they tapped fiddle player Natalie Stovall, in part because she was already a seasoned touring artist.

“It is not for everybody. After two week of [being on the road], if it’s not what you think it is, you can just implode,” Naomi points out. “So the list was really short and we thought of Natalie.”

Though Runaway June had already decided on “Head Over Heels” as a follow-up single to their top-ten hit, “Buy My Own Drinks,” they switched gears amid the pandemic. They recorded a new version of the tender ballad “We Were Rich,” featuring Natalie’s fiddle and vocals, and sent it to radio.

“It goes back to the simpler times of your parents doing everything they can to make you comfortable and happy,” explains Jennifer. “And I feel like right now, this message is so important for people. It’s like the perfect time to put out a song like this. And then it just felt so perfect with Natalie coming in — it’s like a fresh start.”

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

Circle NetworkLuke Bryan and Darius Rucker were just revealed as the lineup for an upcoming Grand Ole Opry broadcast. The two superstars will step into the circle together on August 15, marking the stage’s 4,937th consecutive broadcast.

Both artists will have fresh music to share during their performance. Luke’s next album, Born Here Live Here Die Here, is scheduled to drop on August 7, just over a week before he takes the Opry stage. That project includes his newest number-one single, “One Margarita.”

For his part, Darius also has new music up his sleeve: On August 7, he’ll share a summery new single called “Beers and Sunshine.” Before taking the Opry stage, he’s also got plans to helm a virtual version of his annual “Darius & Friends” concert benefiting St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. That event takes place this Thursday night at 7PM CT, with pay-per-view tickets available now.

Amid the continuing COVID-19 pandemic, the Grand Ole Opry has been continuing its weekly broadcasts without a live audience. Instead, you can tune in to the show through the Opry’s own Circle Network, as well as the venue’s flagship radio station, 650 WSM AM, and online.

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

Warner Music NashvilleKenny Chesney is getting ready to do something he’s never done before.

Next month, the country superstar will release his latest album, Here and Now, on vinyl. Pressed onto clear, sea-glass green vinyl, the record will be available via his official online store, as well as through an exclusive partnership with Walmart. The new packaging for the record, which first dropped in May, becomes available on August 21.

Kenny says he was inspired to release the record to vinyl in part because of the COVID-19 quarantine, a time when more fans than ever are listening to music in their homes.

“With so many of us staying home, having the time to really dive into the music and listen — and based on the passion for this project — it seemed like now is the time to do vinyl,” he explains, adding that his own recent experience with LPs further convinced him to explore a different listening format.

“I had a friend give me a stack of albums from the ‘70s and ‘80s a few years ago, and there really is something different about settling in and listening. It’s warmer. It has a bit more presence, sonically,” Kenny goes on to say. “It’s a whole other way to listen, and right now, that feels like a good thing.”

The first single and title track off of Here and Now recently became the superstar’s 31st number-one hit at country radio. Late last month, he served up a new track to radio with the uplifting “Happy Does.”

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

Comstock/Thinkstock37 years ago this week, George Jones was at the top spot on the country charts with his ninth and final number-one hit. Merle Haggard wrote the song, and also recorded his own version of it. Can you name that tune? ANSWER: “I Always Get Lucky with You.”

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

ABC AudioOn Wednesday, Garth Brooks revealed he’s officially taken home an Entertainer of the Year trophy for the very last time. 

Reiterating he’s not retiring or slowing down — and still hopes to be competitive in other categories —  the superstar admitted he’s been thinking along these lines ever since winning a record seventh title in November. 

Initially, it looked like the Country Music Association might be on the road to giving him an emeritus honor at CMA Fest. But after the annual celebration had to be cancelled because of COVID-19, CMA ultimately decided they could not “pull [Garth] out of [the running for] an award.”

So, “with all the gratefulness, [all] the love in the world,” he did it himself.

“There was one tweet in there that really stuck in my head,” he explained, “that said, ‘Hey, man, this guy, why doesn’t he step down and just have the Entertainer for the next generation?’ [I] one-hundred-percent agreed…”

“The last thing I want to do is seem ungrateful to the CMAs and everybody that has voted for us…” Garth added. “My number is seven… And we feel very lucky with seven.”

“It’s time for somebody else to hold that award, [to] know what that Entertainer feels like. Because they’re all out there busting their butts,” he said of his contemporaries.

After a year when touring was mostly sidelined by the global pandemic, Garth points out it should be an interesting race.

“This is probably the perfect year for it,” he reflected, “because I don’t know how they’re gonna judge Entertainer this year… I feel very grateful. And for twenty-five years, you get to be the Entertainer of the Year. So that’s been pretty sweet.”

Garth first won in 1991, nearly thirty years ago. 

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

Burke/Triolo Productions/ThinkstockBrett Eldredge is partnering with Chase Bank and the Chicago Theatre for the first-ever Chase Virtual Soundcheck, in celebration of the singer’s new album, Sunday Drive. Brett will perform songs off the album during the event, which will stream Thursday night at 8:00 p.m. ET via Brett’s social channels.

Midland debuted the music video for the Live from the Palomino version of “Drinkin’ Problem” this week. They premiered the new clip on YouTube Chat.

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