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The Weekends: Brett Young announces fall tour

Brett Young is looking forward to The Weekends with a headlining tour this fall. 

The California native will trek across North America on a three-month tour that kicks off with a two-night stay at the famous Billy Bob’s Texas in Fort Worth on September 11 and 12. He’ll visit amphitheaters and resorts in 33 cities along the way including Las Vegas, San Diego, Atlantic City and more.

Brett will also perform four shows in Canada in October, with stops in Edmonton, Calgary and Abbotsford. The tour concludes on December 3 at The Criterion in Oklahoma City. 

Maddie & Tae and Filmore will join the singer on the road as opening acts, with Ryan Hurd and Brett’s band member Matt Ferranti performing on select dates. 

News of the tour comes days before Brett releases his third studio album, Weekends Look a Little Different These Days, on June 4. The album has already generated a #1 hit with “Lady,” as follow-up single “Not Yet” climbs the charts. 

“Announcing a headlining tour and preparing to release new music both in the same week truly feels like a dream and something I won't ever take for granted. It's emotional thinking about reuniting not only with my band and crew after so much time apart, but with the FANS!” Brett says in a statement. “I can't wait to make up for lost time and finally get to perform these new ones we've been working on.” 

Tour tickets go on sale Friday at 10 a.m. local time.

Copyright © 2021, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

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Go Country 105

Country star trivia

“If You See Him,” be sure to wish the lead singer of Brooks & Dunn a happy birthday today. The Texas native, who has put out multiple solo albums in addition to his work in one of country music's most beloved duos, turns 68 today. Can you name him? ANSWER: Ronnie Dunn.

Copyright © 2021, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

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Go Country 105

Keith Urban to resume Las Vegas residency in September

Keith Urban is returning to Las Vegas. 

The “Blue Ain’t Your Color” singer has set five new dates for his residency Keith Urban Live — Las Vegas at The Colosseum at Caesars Palace. The show, which highlights some of Urban’s biggest hits, will take place on September 17, 18, 22, 24 and 25. Tickets go on sale to the general public on June 7 at 1 p.m. ET. 

Keith launched the residency in January 2020 and was originally scheduled for several dates throughout the year that were ultimately cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. 

The superstar singer recently released his new single, “Out the Cage,” featuring Breland and Nile Rodgers, off Keith’s latest album, The Speed of Now Part 1.

Copyright © 2021, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

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News Daypop

Search for missing Iowa boy intensifies with the help of hundreds of community members

Several hundred volunteers joined law enforcement officials in searching for a missing Iowa boy.  11-year-old Xavior Harrelson was last seen around 11 a.m. Thursday on his bike near his home on the north end of Montezuma. About 375 volunteers joined 125 law enforcement officers and first responders in the search.

Mitch Mortvedt with the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation said areas around the family’s home were being searched Sunday. Harrelson was wearing a red shirt and blue pajama pants with black high-top shoes when he disappeared, authorities said. Police and family of the boy said it is out of the ordinary for him to be gone from home overnight with no contact.

Anyone with information or tips is urged to call the Poweshiek County Sheriff’s Office at 641-623-5679.

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News Daypop

President Biden speaks at the 153rd National Memorial Day observance at Arlington National Cemetery

President Joe Biden laid a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery on Monday to mark Memorial Day, mentioning the many  “precious” lives buried there.  Biden said: “We must never forget each of these markers — both known and unknown here at Arlington and far beyond — represent a precious life. A son, a daughter, a mother, father, brothers sisters, a friend a neighbor.”

Biden’s address came on the six-year anniversary of his son Beau’s death. “For those who mourn a loved one today, Jill and I have some idea how you’re feeling,” Biden said.  Beau Biden died of brain cancer at the age of 46 in 2015, and was a judge advocate general who served two tours in Iraq with the Delaware Army National Guard where he achieved the rank of major. He travelled to the war zone over 25 times.

Biden was accompanied at Arlington National Cemetery by first lady Jill Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris, second gentleman Douglas Emhoff, Austin and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Mark A. Milley. The ceremony took place at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at the cemetery, where 400,000 of the nation’s fallen service members and veterans are buried.

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Go Country 105

“My Boy” hitmaker Elvie Shane's about to have a girl

If you have a great memory, you might recall Elvie Shane from season 15 of American Idol back in 2016. But if you’re listening to country radio these days, you no doubt know him from his breakthrough top-25 hit, “My Boy.” 

As you might expect, the emotional song about parenting is autobiographical.

“I met my wife in Bowling Green, Kentucky,” Elvie explains. “We dated for about a year, [and] I married her. She had a five-year-old little boy at the time. He’s almost 15 now, but I became a stepfather.”

Though he still makes his home in the Bluegrass State, Elvie eventually started traveling to Nashville for co-writes. And that’s when “My Boy” was born.

“I started talking about a Facebook post that a friend of mine’s stepmom had sent me the night before,” Elvie explains. “It said, ‘I don’t have a stepson. I have a son that was born before I met him.’ And that really resonated with me, and I started talking about my son.”

“And Nick Columbia looked at me and said, ‘Well man, tell me about your son,'” he continues. “And I said, ‘Dude, he’s my boy.’ And he said, ‘Stop right there. Let’s just write that.'”

Now, as “My Boy” becomes Elvie’s first major hit, he and his wife Mandi happen to be expecting a girl.

“We were blessed after trying for a short time with a positive pregnancy test that my wife taped to my dog’s collar and sent her running up the stairs to surprise me with it,” he tells ABC Audio. “It was the most redneck pregnancy reveal I’ve ever seen in my life!”

You’ll find “My Boy” on Elvie’s debut EP, County Roads.

Copyright © 2021, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

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Country Daypop

Country Icon BJ Thomas dead at age 78

Country icon B.J. Thomas has died. The 78-year-old passed away at his home in Arlington, Texas on Saturday, May 29 after battling lung cancer.  The Oklahoma native previously announced he’d been diagnosed with Stage Four lung cancer on March 23, saying: “I just wanted to take this unique opportunity to share my gratitude to Gloria, my wonderful wife and my rock for over 53 years, my family, friends, and fans,” Thomas said. “I’m so blessed to have had the opportunity to record and perform beautiful songs in pop, country, and gospel music, and to share those wonderful songs and memories around the world with millions of you. I ask all of you for your prayers during this time and that my music can live on with you.”

Thomas scored hits in the late ’60s and the 1970s including “Hooked on a Feeling,” “Raindrops Keep Fallin’ on My Head,” “I Just Can’t Help Believing,” “(Hey Won’t You Play) Another Somebody Done Somebody Wrong Song” and more. Thomas also took home a Grammy for Best Gospel Performance, Contemporary or Inspirational for his recording of “The Lord’s Prayer” in 1981. He won Best Inspirational Performance again in 1982 for his rendition of “Amazing Grace.”

Thomas is survived by his wife, their three daughters and four grandchildren. Funeral arrangements are pending and will remain private.

http://www.cmt.com/news/1834367/bj-thomas-country-icon-dead-at-78/

Editorial credit: mark reinstein / Shutterstock.com

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Country Daypop

Alan Jackson performs “Where Were You (When the World Stopped Turning)” at National Memorial Day concert

Joe Mantegna and Gary Sinise served as co-hosts for the 32nd annual National Memorial Day Concert on PBS which honors our men and women in uniform, their families and all those who gave their lives for our country. This year the 90 minute concert included performances from Alan Jackson, Mickey Guyton, Vince Gill, Gladys Knight, The Four Tops, Sara Bareilles, and Denyce Graves with the National Symphony Orchestra.

Alan Jackson wrote the iconic song “Where Were You (When the World Stopped Turning)” just weeks after the tragic events of September 11th 2001, and played it for the very first time at the CMA Awards, on November 7th of that year.  This year during the 2021 National Memorial Day Concert, actor and former firemen Steve Buscemi narrated a segment that reflected on the lives lost on 9/11, and then Alan took to the stage to perform “Where Were You (When the World Stopped Turning) (which can be viewed here).

You can watch the entire National Memorial Day Concert on Facebook watch – here.

Editorial credit: Tony Norkus / Shutterstock.com

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Pop Daypop

Taylor Swift breaks record for one-week vinyl album sales with ‘Evermore’

Taylor Swift has scored the biggest one-week vinyl album sales in the US with ‘Evermore’. The album, originally released in December 2020, just arrived on vinyl on May 28th. Swift breaks the record previously held by Jack White’s “Lazaretto” back in June 2014.

‘Evermore’ was first released digitally, then issued on CD, cassette and vinyl.  “Evermore” was Swift’s second surprise release of 2020 following ‘Folklore’.

In 2021, Swift released the first of her re-recorded albums, sharing ‘Fearless (Taylor’s Version)’ which topped the Billboard 200 upon its release.

Editorial credit: Tinseltown / Shutterstock.com

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Pop Daypop

Olivia Rodrigo continues to dominate the charts as Dixie D’Amelio reaches a milestone on Triller

Olivia Rodrigo topped the charts in Australia this week, as Dixie D’Amelio tied Megan Thee Stallion for the most No. 1’s on Billboard’s Top Triller U.S chart.

Rodrigo’s “Sour” debuted at number one on the National Albums chart, with “Good For You” hitting the top of the singles charts. “Good for You” has now become Rodrigo’s second No. 1 single following “Driver’s License.”

Meanwhile D’Amelio has officially tied Megan Thee Stallion for the most number one’s on Billboard’s Top Triller US tally with her latest track “F Boy.” F boy is Dixie’s third single to top Triller, after her other songs “Be Happy” and “Naughty List” with Liam Payne.

Editorial credit: Kathy Hutchins / Shutterstock.com