Month: September 2020

John Shearer/ACMA2020/Getty Images for ACMFor Thomas Rhett, co-winning Entertainer of the Year at the 2020 ACM Awards offers a sense of validation.

The “Life Changes” singer tied with Carrie Underwood as the winner of the top prize during the ceremony last week, marking his first win in the category and her third. 

Reflecting on the career accomplishment, Thomas calls it a bucket list moment. 

“It truly has been a dream of mine since day one. There’s countless times where my manager, Virginia, has asked me, ‘What are your goals for the next five years?  What are your goals for the next ten years?’  And winning Entertainer of the Year was definitely #1 on the list,” he explains.

“Getting to hear an idol of mine, Keith Urban, mention my name along with Carrie Underwood, it made me feel like I’m not the new guy anymore, if that makes any sense,” he continues. 

The father of three goes on to say that he’s been a fan of Carrie’s since he was a teenager and that winning an “iconic” award alongside her feels like a rite of passage.

He also credits his band and crew for their efforts that contributed to the win.

“I think this was a big pat on the back for just the amount of hours we’ve put into rehearsing and improvising and making our show as best as it could possibly be,” he expresses. “And this is such a dream, I don’t know how to put it into words.”  

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

John Shearer/Getty Images for Country Music Hall Of Fame & MuseumTim McGraw shared a sweet social media post for his wife Faith Hill in honor of her birthday. 

The “I Like It, I Love It” hit maker took to Instagram on Monday to celebrate his wife’s 53rd birthday, sharing a throwback publicity photo of a young Hill with her hair blowing in the wind, wearing a creme-colored sweater and velvet tan shorts while casting a sultry look at the camera.

He accompanied the photo with a heartfelt caption raving about his wife, comparing her to such natural wonders as flowers and the sun.

“The best person I’ve ever known. She lights up every room she walks in…..She’s every rose I see…..The sun as it breaks the morning…And will be my sun as I break into the night,” he poetically writes. “I love her, I love her, I love her. I love you baby.” 

The country couple wed in 1996 and will be celebrating their 24th anniversary next month. They share three daughters: 18-year-old Audrey, 22-year-old Maggie and 23-year-old Gracie. 

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

Warner Music NashvilleCountry crooner Brett Eldredge knows that a song by Billie Eilish is far from the first thing fans expect him to cover, but he’s a big fan of the pop phenomenon’s catalogue. That’s why he was inspired to deliver his own live take on “When the Party’s Over,” which is out today.

Brett had dropped “When the Party’s Over” into his set during his most recent European tour. The released version was recorded during his show in Glasgow, Scotland, which was actually the first time he and his band performed it.

“I heard this song a year or two ago and I just love how unique of an artist she is and the complex nature of the songs she writes,” Brett gushes. “I love how emotional and intense they are and could tell she had to grow up fast and really puts her life out there in her music.”

As someone who took a break from technology and shut out the outside world while he made his most recent album Sunday Drive, Brett knows first-hand how difficult it can be for songwriters to figure out what they want to say. That’s another reason why he’s so impressed by 18-year-old Billie.

“I think it’s a powerful thing to be that young and to have found your voice, and it speaks to people of all ages,” he points out.

“For whatever reason, when people hear my cover of this song, I think they’d say to themselves, ‘I didn’t see that coming at all,’” but that’s exactly what I wanted because when I heard it I thought, ‘Man, I could do something special with this,’” Brett adds.

“I’m so grateful for the song that she’s written and grateful to be able to sing it.”

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

BMLG RecordsJennifer Nettles lends her soaring harmonies to “Do What You Can,” a song written and previously released by Bon Jovi in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“When you can’t do what you do, you do what you can / This ain’t my prayer, it’s just a thought I’m wanting to send,” the two artists sing in the uplifting chorus.

“‘Round here we bend but don’t break/Down here we all understand/When you can’t do what you do, you do what you can.”

The music video for the new song is even more suited to the times, with scenes of an eerily empty New York City. Jennifer and Jon Bon Jovi wear masks as they wander the streets, surveying the impact COVID-19 has had as well as the resilience of essential workers who keep the gears of the city turning.

“Dedicated to the everyday heroes fighting to rise above this pandemic,” a note at the end of the clip explains.

Jennifer and Bon Jovi first announced their new collaboration earlier this week on social media, explaining that they were excited to try and recapture some of the magic dust from their duet 15 years ago: the Grammy-winning “Who Says You Can’t Go Home.”

The original version of “Do What You Can” will appear on Bon Jovi’s new album 2020, which is due October 2.

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