Month: August 2020

ABC/Image Group LASince she established her Heroes Fund charity in 2017, Maren Morris has been allocating a portion of the proceeds of her “Meet and Greet” packages to support of music education and fine arts programs in public schools.

Now, the Heroes Fund, in partnership with the Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee, has donated $70,000 to Nashville Metro Schools and the East Nashville Magnet High School Band Program.

According to a tweet from local music education initiative Music Makes Us, the grant will be used to buy instruments and supplies, as well as tuxedos and gowns for students who are part of the program.

Both Maren and the school showed their excitement about the grant on social media following the announcement. However, Maren’s husband, fellow artist Ryan Hurd, had one tiny, joking gripe about her fund’s donation.

“My wife donated all of her meet and greet money instead of buying me a jetski, and I have to say…I am very proud of her,” he tweeted, along with the hashtag “#stillnojetski.”

Even though the COVID-19 pandemic forced Maren to postpone her planned tour this summer, she’s still been keeping busy. She and Ryan are adjusting to life as parents to their new baby boy Hayes and in July, Maren hinted that she was also beginning to get back into songwriting and working on new music.

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

My wife donated all of her meet and greet money instead of buying me a jet ski and I have to say…I am very proud of her. #stillnojetski https://t.co/tLaGepAkNl

— Ryan Hurd (@RyanHurd) August 6, 2020

Capitol Records NashvilleDarius Rucker returns to country radio this week with “Beers and Sunshine,” a summery antidote to stress and anxiety during a tumultuous year.

“‘Cause everybody’s down in a world gone crazy / Don’t know how to fix it, but I think maybe / Turn on the good times, turn off the TV,” Darius sings in the song’s chorus. “Yeah, the only B.S. I need is beers and sunshine.”

When he first started teasing the song last month, Darius explained that he hopes “Beers and Sunshine” will serve as a much-needed breath of fresh air.

“It’s certainly been a hard year so far, with a lot of heaviness around us constantly,” the singer noted during an early July appearance on NBC’s Today. “Like it says in the song, I don’t know how we fix any of those big, real issues that we’re facing, but while we work through this time, I think it’s important that we find the silver lining where we can really enjoy the little moments and the simple joys of time spent together with friends and family.”

“Beers and Sunshine” headed to country radio Thursday.

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

ABC/Gavin BondAmid growing nationwide protests against racism and police brutality, country music has had to confront and question some of its own Southern symbols in recent months.

Lady A opted to drop “Antebellum” from their name, The Chicks scrapped “Dixie,” and Mississippi native Faith Hill called for the removal of the Confederate emblem from her home state’s flag — a measure that state’s governor signed into law June 30.

Luke Bryan says that the conversation has been a sobering educational experience, especially when he hears from fans who feel unwelcome at his concerts because of the color of their skin.

“I have sat up at night after hearing from African American audience members who say they’ve felt uncomfortable at my shows through the years,” the singer admits during an interview with the Los Angeles Times.

As a high-profile performer, Luke acknowledges that he always chooses his words carefully before speaking out about issues he believes in.

“I’m always gonna walk a smart line, but I’m not scared,” he reflects, citing his 2018 hit “Most People Are Good.” That song contains the line “I believe you love who you love / It ain’t nothing you should ever be ashamed of,” which stood out to many as a statement of support for the LGBTQ community.

“I had a lot of people ask me, ‘Well, does that mean you want to plant a flag and support the gay and lesbian community?’ I’m like, ‘I’m not saying I’m gonna go fly that flag…but I’m not saying I’m not, either.’”

Although Luke errs on the side of remaining diplomatic, he’s glad to see that conversations surrounding race and equality are taking place in country music.

“It’s a delicate conversation, and do I think we may take a little longer in country to have it? Probably,” he adds. “But it’s the conversation we’re having more and more.”

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

ABC/Image Group LAFor over six decades, Dolly Parton has shared the story of her life through her songs. Now, the country superstar has announced the release of a new audiobook, called Dolly Parton, Storyteller: My Life in Lyrics.

In her own words, Dolly will share some of the stories that inspired beloved hits like “Jolene,” “I Will Always Love You” and nearly 100 more country classics. Along the way, the singer also offers memories of her extraordinary career and life, beginning with her childhood growing up in a one-bedroom log cabin with 11 siblings.

“Across my life, I’ve written thousands of songs. This fall, for the first time ever, we’re spotlighting 100 of my favorites in my new audiobook,” Dolly notes. “…Not only will you be able to revisit my life in lyrics, but I’ll tell you never-before-heard stories behind the songs.”

Dolly Parton, Songwriter: My Life in Lyrics will be released on RBMedia, produced by flagship publishing brand Recording Books. The audiobook will be available on November 17 as both a CD and in digital audiobook form, and it’s available for preorder now ahead of the release date.

An illustrated book of the same name is also being released as a companion to the project.

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

Comstock/ThinkstockOn this day in 1990, “Friends in Low Places” was released as the lead single from this megastar’s famed No Fences album. It spent fours week at number one on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart and was named Single of the Year at both the 1990 CMA Awards and ACM Awards. Can you name the artist? ANSWER: Garth Brooks. 

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

Broken BowThis week, LOCASH is all gratitude, as “One Big Country Song” ascends to the top of the country chart, becoming their second career number one.

“We’re blessed to do this, you know what I mean?” Chris Lucas asks. “And it’s good to be around people that kinda understand that, too. There’s a lot of people that are like, ‘Look what we do for a living!’ You know what I mean?”

“Sometimes you have to stop and enjoy the journey you’re on,” Preston Brust reflects, “because sometimes the rewards and what you think is the end, you know, peak is not exactly what you thought it would feel like or be like or wanted anyway. And sometimes it’s the journey.”

It’s has been quite a journey for the duo, who put out their first single in 2010 and didn’t make it to number one until 2016 with “I Know Somebody.” 

“I can say for sure that it’s been a long, tough journey for us,” Preston tells ABC Audio. “I wouldn’t really change anything, maybe make it move a little bit faster.”

“But so many experiences and lessons in life we learned, we could have never learned in college or at a structured job someplace,” he adds.

For Chris, it all comes down to the effect the music has on the fans.

“It could be one fan saying, ‘I just want you to know this song right here, man, me and my wife, you know, went through a hard time,'” he offers as an example. “‘You know, this was going on. This saved us. This saved my life.'”  

“One Big Country Song” is also LOCASH’s first number one in Canada. It’s from their 2019 album, Brothers. 

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

Burke/Triolo Priductions/ThinkstockRuston Kelly has released the video for his song “Pressure.” It’s featured on his upcoming album Shape & Destroy, out on August 28.

Singer-songwriter Morgan Myles has released an acoustic version of the title track of her debut album, Therapy, that was released earlier this year. The song is inspired by her parents’ more than 40-year marriage.

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