Month: August 2020

Rick Diamond/Getty Images for Country Music Hall of Fame and MuseumTim McGraw and Faith Hill had a special family album release party in honor of Tim’s new album, Here on Earth. 

Monday evening, Faith revealed on Instagram that she and the couple’s three daughters Maggie, Audrey and Gracie threw Tim an intimate surprise album release party at their Nashville home.

Adorning the house with twinkle lights and star decorations, Faith shares that they listened to the double vinyl records of Here on Earth “blaring” from the speakers.  The couple passionately slow-danced to one of the new songs featured on the album, called “Damn Sure Do,” with their daughters cheering them on as Tim dips his wife.

“The girls and I surprised Tim with our first ever family album release party…We have never listened to one of our new albums with just the girls. Ever,” Faith captioned the video, calling the night “An unforgettable evening for what in my humble opinion is one of the greatest albums Tim has ever recorded.” 

“We are so proud of this man!!!!!! He has created a masterpiece,” Faith declared.

Here on Earth is set for release this Friday, August 21. 

By Cillea Houghton 
Copyright © 2020, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

ABC/Image Group LAThere’s now a mural in Nashville dedicated to Dolly Parton and her support for Black Lives Matter. 

Last week, local artist Kim Radford completed a massive painting of the music icon on a wall of the East Nashville music venue The 5 Spot that shows Dolly surrounded by colorful flowers and her signature symbol, the butterfly.

A day before the mural was completed, Kim came across Dolly’s interview with Billboard in which she voiced her support for Black Lives Matter, stating, “I understand people having to make themselves known and felt and seen. And of course Black lives matter. Do we think our little white a**es are the only ones that matter? No!”

Inspired by Dolly’s support for the movement, Kim incorporated the quote into the piece, on which she was already working, painting “Of course Black Lives Matter” in white lettering above a red butterfly while the remainder of the quote appears on the other end of the mural, hanging over a scene of purple flowers and floating butterflies.  

“It’s like it pokes a hole in all of the frenzy,” Radford told the Nashville paper The Tennessean. “There’s a lot of political friction in the air, and she kind of just decompresses it, once again, like Dolly can do. The timing’s just dreamy.”

By Cillea Houghton 
Copyright © 2020, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

ABC/Image Group LAIn her new book, Live in Love: Growing Together Through Life’s Changes, Lauren Akins offers an all-encompassing look at her life with husband Thomas Rhett, including the struggles they’ve overcome in their eight-year marriage. 

One of those struggles came after the birth of daughter Ada James in August 2017, three months after adopting two-year-old daughter Willa Gray from Uganda. Lauren reveals that she experienced postpartum depression following Ada’s birth and felt distant from Thomas. 

“It’s so hard to explain, but I started feeling like I just missed him. I felt estranged from my husband. Even when he was in the same room with us” Lauren explains in the book, according to E!. 

The couple got a true wake-up call when Thomas and Lauren each received a delivery.  His was a pair of Gucci shoes and a tuxedo, while her package contained Lysol wipes.  She said it further made her feel as if family was something her husband “did on the side,” with his career his top priority.  Lauren at one point even stated, “I think I hate you.”

The two eventually worked through their struggles via marriage counseling, where they learned to communicate effectively with one another.  And when Lauren returned home one day to find Thomas already there and having done the dishes, she knew they had reached a turning point.  

“It wasn’t just about doing dishes. It was about wanting to share my life with an equal partner — the man I loved — and not allowing some old-fashioned stereotypical view of how marriage is supposed to work get in the way of making our marriage actually work,” Lauren concludes.  “For both of us.”

Lauren continues on her virtual Live in Love book tour through the end of August.

By Cillea Houghton 
Copyright © 2020, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

Kevin Winter/Getty ImagesThe Chicks are part of former President Barack Obama‘s esteemed summer playlist. 

Obama selected “Gaslighter,” the title track to the Grammy-winning country trio’s latest album, as one of his favorite songs of the summer.

The Chicks are among a long list of artists on Obama’s yearly playlist, alongside revered Americana artist Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit‘s “Be Afraid” and Sheryl Crow‘s classic hit, “All I Wanna Do.” 

Other artists included on the playlist are John Legend, Rihanna, Otis Redding, Billie Holiday, Bob Dylan, Beyoncé and more. 

“Over the past few months, I’ve spent a lot of time listening to music with my family. I wanted to share some of my favorites from the summer,” the 44th president writes. “As always, it’s a mix of genres that travels through various eras. I think there’s something in here for everybody –– hope you enjoy it.” 

The Chicks are performing during the Democratic National Convention livestream on Thursday that begins at 9 p.m. ET.

By Cillea Houghton
Copyright © 2020, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images for The Recording AcademyGarth Brooks continues to collect diamonds. 

The legendary star learned the news earlier this week that his 1993 album, In Pieces, has been Diamond certified by the RIAA, signifying sales of more than 10 million copies. 

The addition brings Garth’s total of diamond-certified albums up to nine, the most of any artist in history, surpassing The Beatles, Adele and Elton John, among others. 

Garth’s other albums with sales of at least 10 million include his 1989 self-titled debut, No Fences, Ropin’ the Wind, The Hits, and Sevens, which collectively are home to some of his biggest hits, including “If Tomorrow Never Comes,” “The Thunder Rolls” and “The Dance.” 

“The crazy thing that I try to digest in my head is Garth Brooks, No Fences, Ropin’ [the Wind], The Chase, In Pieces and The Hits — the first six albums of our career — you guys have taken diamond. That’s crazy,” Garth reflected during Inside Studio G on Monday. 

The hitmaker also revealed that 1992’s The Chase is his favorite among his diamond-certified work. 

“It was just so loving, so forgiving, so patient, so all those beautiful things,” he remarks of the album that features the unity anthem “We Shall Be Free.” “That was the album that really, really was my baby,” Garth says.

By Cillea Houghton
Copyright © 2020, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

Sony Music NashvilleLuke Combs is delivering more new music to his fans. 

The superstar singer is set to release a deluxe edition of his sophomore album What You See Is What You Get this fall. 

On the album, with the revised title What You See Ain’t Always What You Get, Luke will offer five new songs in addition to the 18 tracks featured on the original album.  Those include his three consecutive number one hits “Beer Never Broke My Heart,” “Even Though I’m Leaving” and “Does to Me” featuring Eric Church, plus the current single “Lovin’ On You.”  

Luke’s COVID-19 pandemic-themed number “Six Feet Apart” was officially released in May and added to the digital version of What You See is What You Get. 

Following its 2019 release, Luke’s second studio album debuted at number one on the Billboard Top Country Albums chart and all-genre Billboard 200. He made history in July when he became the first artist to have his first two studio albums spend 25 weeks or more at number one on the Top Country Albums chart. 

What You See Ain’t Always What You Get will be released on October 23. 

By Cillea Houghton
Copyright © 2020, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

Comstock/ThinkstockOn this day in 1977, the singer known as the King of Rock and Roll was laid to rest at his famed home of Graceland in Memphis, Tennessee, two days after his death. Chet Atkins and Sammy Davis Jr. were among the guests at the service. Can you name the iconic performer? ANSWER: Elvis Presley.  

By Cillea Houghton
Copyright © 2020, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.