Month: January 2021

Warner Music Nashville/Atlantic RecordsDevin Dawson wrote his new song, “He Loved Her,” as a tribute to his grandfather, Jerry Durrett. To make the music video for the song, Devin went straight to the source: He cast his grandparents as the stars of the clip.

Throughout the video, we see Jerry living the kind of simple life the song describes. He relaxes in an easy chair, petting his two chihuahuas, works on home improvement projects, and of course, he spends time with his wife.

On social media, Devin explains that the video was filmed in his hometown of Orangevale, California during a Thanksgiving trip home. Prior to that visit, it had been a year since he’d been able to see his grandparents, as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

When he released it back in November, Devin explained that “He Loved Her” was one of the most special songs he’d ever written.

“It’s inspired by my grandfather, Jerry. My rock,” he reflected. “It’s different from other songs I’ve written because it’s simple and to the point, which is sometimes hard for me to accomplish as a writer. I’m proud of the words, the music, and the tribute it pays to one of the most important people I’ll ever know.”

“He Loved Her” is on the track list of Devin’s upcoming The Pink Slip EP, which is scheduled for release on January 15. Other previously-shared songs off the six-track project include “I Got a Truck” and “Range Rover.”

By Carena Liptak
Copyright © 2021, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

Courtesy of No Shoes ReefsKenny Chesney’s love of the ocean is longstanding and well-documented, and now, the singer’s helping launch a new initiative to give back to the oceanic ecosystem off Delray Beach, in Palm Beach County, Florida.

The singer’s No Shoes Reefs — in partnership with Coastal Conservation Association Florida and other organizations dedicated to protecting the ocean — will begin development on a 32-acre underwater reef park constructed of 13 10,000-pound artificial “reef balls.”

Kenny says he hopes that the new endeavor will help boost local economy, tourism and a thriving marine ecosystem with various species of fish, invertebrates and more.

“Love the water, give back to the water,” the singer comments. “Many people don’t realize both how fragile and resilient the ocean’s ecosystems are, and I think it’s the small projects that raise awareness on local levels that help people understand the ocean is a living thing.” 

Kenny has continued to embrace his No Shoes Nation mindset of gratitude and love of the natural world throughout 2020, and released his chart-topping Here and Now album in May of last year.

By Carena Liptak
Copyright © 2021, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

ABCTwo particularly digital-savvy country superstars — Morgan Wallen and Luke Combs — are partially responsible for a 19 percent increase in the genre’s on-demand listening in 2020 over the previous year, according to data from Rolling Stone.

Luke came in 17th place in an all-genre ranking of top streaming artists — and he’s the only country star to land inside the Top 20, with 2.7 billion total streams for the year. That’s a 40 percent increase over his streams in 2019, and it’s largely due to the runaway success of his sophomore effort, What You See is What You Get.

Luke has made a name for himself as an innovative performer in the digital and social media space: He often leaks snippets of unreleased songs or demos to engage his fans in helping decide which songs deserve spots on his albums.

Morgan’s found success in that vein too. His single “7 Summers” started out as a viral TikTok hit, and it wasn’t until he saw the fan reaction to the song that he decided to officially release it.

The rising star, whose sophomore album, the double-disc Dangerous, comes out on Friday, raked in 1.9 billion streams in 2020. While that number is significantly less than Luke’s 2.7 billion, Morgan has seen a greater jump from the previous year: His 2020 streaming numbers show a whopping 177 percent increase over the 677 million he pulled in in 2019.

Other country stars who helped country’s jump in on-demand streaming include Gabby Barrett, Parker McCollum, Hardy, Maddie & Tae and Koe Wetzel.

By Carena Liptak
Copyright © 2021, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

ABC/Stewart CookAmerican Idol will return to ABC for its 19th season next month, and it just might be the show’s most emotional season to date.

The show will be extra special this time around, in part because it marks Idol’s return to full-scale — but COVID-safe — production after being affected by the pandemic in 2020. Then, of course, there’s the simply fact that fans and artists alike have been deeply missing live music during quarantine.

The show’s judges, Lionel Richie, Katy Perry and Luke Bryan, certainly aren’t immune to the magic of a powerful voice, either. In fact, according to a promo clip shared in advance of the premiere, Luke even gets misty-eyed watching one contestant audition.

“This is the first time just someone singing made me cry,” the country star says during the emotional moment.

2020 has been a wild ride for the “One Margarita” superstar, whose current single, “Down to One,” is currently inside of country radio’s Top 20. He’ll return to his role as judge on Idol when the show resumes on February 14 on ABC.

This Valentine's Day, #AmericanIdol is back with a new inspiring season. ???? #RockinEve pic.twitter.com/bIi5sdymiB

— American Idol (@AmericanIdol) January 1, 2021

By Carena Liptak
Copyright © 2021, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

ABC/Image Group LALike every other aspect of the music industry, country stars’ merch offerings have been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

For Kacey Musgraves, that meant getting creative, swapping out tour t-shirts for things like bath bombs, socks and tie-dye kits, which fans can enjoy from the comfort of their homes during quarantine. In conversation with The New York Times, the singer pointed out that the change in routine posed an opportunity to test out some new merch items. 

“I think this year has shown everyone how far a little self-care can go,” Kacey comments. “…Our homes have all had to become our sanctuaries. A little thing like a scent or a bath bomb or pausing for five minutes, or learning how not to beat yourself up for not being as productive as you wish you could have been.”

One of the singer’s most popular pandemic-era items is her “Slow Burn” candle, a collaboration with Boy Smells, which is named after a fan-favorite track off her Golden Hour album.

Plus, Kacey adds that she gets just as much out of developing new merch ideas as her fans do from enjoying the finished project.“If anything, I love creating the merch for myself, just to keep a creative wheel spinning and to bring some joy to people who have enjoyed the songs,” she muses.

As far as musical pursuits go, Kacey recently had a guest spot in Australian singer-songwriter Troye Sivan’s “Easy” remix.

By Carena Liptak
Copyright © 2021, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

Capitol RecordsAs a beloved member of the former global superstar group the Bee Gees, you’d think Barry Gibb wouldn’t have a reason to be intimidated by anyone in the music industry.  But in an interview with Billboard, he admits that working with some of his country collaborators on Greenfields: The Gibb Brothers Songbook, Vol. 1 was “terrifying.”

Gibb said he was particularly awestruck during his recording session with Keith Urban — in part because of the superstar company the singer brought with him.

“He’s fantastic. I mean, he gave us a great gift because he brought [his wife] Nicole [Kidman] with him, and that was such a thrill,” Barry recounts. “I’m freaking out, you know. It’s not really about anyone being impressed by me or intimidated by me — it’s the other way around.”

Then there was his team-up with his old friend Dolly Parton, for “Words.” The two legends first joined forces four decades ago for a version of “Islands in the Stream,” and Barry says she was “as incredible as she always is” this time around.

“She’s such a humble person,” he points out. “I just don’t understand how people of that stature remain calm and humble and ready to have a laugh, you know?”

Greenfields is due out in full on Friday. In addition to Dolly and Keith, the project features appearances from Miranda Lambert, Little Big Town and many more country stars.

By Cillea Houghton
Copyright © 2021, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

Comstock/ThinkstockOn this day in 1979, this Country Music Hall of Fame member topped the country charts with his signature hit, “Tulsa Time.” Can you guess who it is? ANSWER: Don Williams.

By Cillea Houghton
Copyright © 2021, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

ABC/Image Group LAAfter Blake Shelton took a beating on social media over the timing of his new song “Minimum Wage,” his buddy and fellow Okie Ronnie Dunn has come to his defense.

Some people thought releasing a song about how love “can make a man feel rich on minimum wage” with millions unemployed and struggling during the COVID-19 pandemic was ill-timed.

Ronnie, in a Tuesday Twitter post, called the controversy “yet another one of those misguided social issue (cultural scams) that are concocted to further divide this country.”

“I’m putting my money on the common sense of the common man to call b******* on the forces at work to keep this country divide,” he continued.

The 67-year-old Brooks & Dunn singer went on to explain, “I slept on a mattress on the floor in a musician friend’s spare bedroom and played BEER JOINTS / DIVE BARS for years before I ever made a $100. Most country singers pay dues and go through things to become successful that no sane human being would.”

“Read the lyrics to Blake’s song,” he added. “Hell, I wish I’d written it.”

Shelton debuted the song during NBC’s countdown to 2021 alongside Carson Daly, introducing it as a love song about fiancee Gwen Stefani.

“Minimum Wage” has not been fully released.

My two cents… #RonnieDunn #BlakeShelton #MinimumWage #HardWorkinMan #CostOfLivin #WorkingManBlues @blakeshelton pic.twitter.com/nOFVlYP9pI

— RONNIE DUNN (@RonnieDunn) January 4, 2021

By Megan Duley
Copyright © 2021, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.