Month: July 2021

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Go Country 105

Carly Pearce's “Next Girl” goes gold ahead of her Grand Ole Opry induction

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Carly Pearce's career accolades keep stacking up. Her current single, “Next Girl,” has officially earned RIAA Gold certification, signifying sales of over 500,000 units.

The song is climbing the charts, edging inside country radio's top 20 as of the first week of July. Carly celebrated her newest accomplishment with a brand-new commemorative plaque, posing for a photo with Big Machine Label Group President Scott Borchetta and GM Clay Hunnicutt.

“I don't know how to keep saying thank you enough for everything that is happening in my world, that I dreamt of since I was a little girl listening to country music with my grandparents!” the singer commented. “I'm so grateful for all of the fans coming along the journey with me and can't wait to see you out on the road.”

Meanwhile, Carly’s also shared a live version of “Next Girl,” shining a light on her upbeat breakup anthem's more introspective side.

Carly's headed out on tour with Lady A at the end of this month, and she'll get a chance to see fans at another upcoming big moment, too: On August 3, the singer will officially be inducted into the Grand Ole Opry. Dolly Parton surprised Carly with an invite to join the Opry last month.

Copyright © 2021, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

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Go Country 105

Zac Brown Band share a two-pack of singles, both co-written with Luke Combs

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Zac Brown Band dig into two very different classic country tropes in their new double single release, simultaneously dropping “Out in the Middle” and “Old Love Song.”

“Out in the Middle” is an upbeat ode to the rural life, while “Old Love Song” name-checks timeless love ballads by the likes of Al Green, Keith Whitley and Randy Travis in an attempt to sum up an all-time great romance.

“This is all the songs you fell in love to. It was like a puzzle trying to put together all the song titles we really love,” frontman Zac Brown explains of writing “Old Love Song.” “I grew up listening to oldies — songs a lot older than I was. And this song has that feel to it.”

True to ZBB's genre-bending ways, “Old Love Song” mixes in tracks from all musical styles, and “Out in the Middle” taps into the band's well-documented Southern rock flair.

“It's a tip of the hat to the people who live out in the middle of nowhere and they're happy being there. People that live in the city often make fun of country people until they come out and experience it for themselves,” Zac points out. “Then they really get into it. There's a reason that you stay out there.”

Still, the band's two newest songs fit more seamlessly into the mainstream country genre than much of their recent output, especially in comparison to ZBB albums like The Owl and Zac's solo effort, The Controversy.

That could be thanks in part to their co-writers. Zac wrote “Out in the Middle” and “Old Love Song” with country stalwart Luke Combs, as well as Ben Simonetti and Jonathan Singleton, both of whom also had a hand in penning ZBB's current single, “Same Boat.”

 

Copyright © 2021, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

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Go Country 105

Country star trivia

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Eleven years ago this weekend, this country superstar and her former Nashville Predators hockey pro husband were hearing “Church Bells” on their wedding day. Do you know who they are? ANSWER: Carrie Underwood and Mike Fisher.

Copyright © 2021, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

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News Daypop

Amid drought, Gov. Newsom asks Californians to voluntarily cut water usage 15%

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California Gov. Gavin Newsom is asked residents to voluntarily cut water usage by 15% amid record temperatures and a drought in the state.  On Thursday, Newsom added nine more counties to the state’s drought emergency declaration, which now covers 50 of California’s 58 counties, adding that the water conservation request was not mandatory.

The governor suggested Californians cut water usage by taking shorter showers, only running appliances such as the dishwasher and washing machine when they are full, limiting outdoor water use and using recycled water for outdoor projects. He added that reducing water usage by 15% would save 850,000 acre-feet of water, enough to supply over 1.7 million households for one year. Newsom’s office said: “The hots are getting hotter and the dries are getting drier — that is the reality of climate change. During the last drought, we made water conservation a way of life and we can do it again.”

Editorial credit: Jose Ivan Cazares / Shutterstock.com

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News Daypop

President Biden promises an end to military mission in Afghanistan by Aug. 31

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President Biden promised on Thursday that he won’t “send another generation of Americans to war in Afghanistan,” saying the United States’ military mission will end by Aug. 31. The update comes just a couple days after the Pentagon said the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan is about 90% complete.

Biden spoke in the East Room of the White House, taking questions from reporters and defending his administration’s decision to fully withdraw.  Said Biden: “We did not go to Afghanistan to nation build. How many more, how many more thousands of America’s daughters and sons are you willing to risk? How long would you have them stay? It’s up to the Afghans to make decisions about the future of their country.”

Biden’s remarks come amid renewed peace talks between the Taliban and the Afghan government in Iran. The Taliban have taken control of more territory in Afghanistan recently and stepped up attacks against government forces. Some fear that the Taliban could again seize control of the country from the current government in as little as six months, a situation that existed before U.S. forces arrived in 2001. However, Pentagon spokesman John Kirby said that while the United States aims for a “negotiated peaceful, political settlement,” it has the ability to support the Afghan military without a formal presence there.

Editorial credit: BiksuTong / Shutterstock.com

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Go Country 105

Nashville notes

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American Idol champ Laine Hardy will make his Grand Ole Opry debut on August 28. Tickets are available now.

Travis Tritt has joined the lineup for the 2021 Volunteer Jam: A Musical Salute to Charlie Daniels. The event will take place August 18 at 7 p.m. at Nashville's Bridgestone Arena; previously announced performers include Alabama, Randy Travis, Trace Adkins and many more.

The Bellamy Brothers join forces with actor and musician Dennis Quaid for a new rendition of Billy Swan's mid-'70s crossover hit, “I Can Help.” The song is out now. 

Up-and-coming country rocker Kalie Shorr has announced her new EP, I Got Here by Accident, due out August 13. In advance of the project, she dropped her new song “Love Child.” The EP's track list also includes the previously released “Amy.”

Copyright © 2021, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

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Country Daypop

Documentary film “Dear Rodeo: The Cody Johnson Story” to debut this August

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The autobiographical documentary of country music superstar Cody Johnson “Dear Rodeo: The Cody Johnson Story” will hit theatres on August 10th. The film recounts Johnson’s real-life journey from rodeo arenas to some of the biggest musical stages in America. Johnson opens up in the film about how his years on the rodeo circuit prepared him for his life as a country star, and the similarities between the two careers.

The documentary features guest appearances by Reba McEntire, Navy Seal Chris Kyle’s widow Taya (Kyle), Houston Ranch’s James Barton, along with Johnson’s wife Brandi (Johnson), his producer Trent Willmon, and his pastor Randy Weaver.

Tickets for Dear Rodeo: The Cody Johnson Story go on sale beginning July 14 at codyjohnsonfilm.com

Cody Johnson’s ‘Dear Rodeo: The Cody Johnson Story’ Documentary Coming To Theaters This Summer

Editorial credit: Kathy Hutchins / Shutterstock.com

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Country Daypop

Martina McBride announces double LP “Greatest Hits” vinyl collection

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Martina McBride has announced that she will be releasing a special double LP collection entitled “Greatest Hits: The RCA Years” on vinyl and exclusively launching with Walmart on August 20th. Fans can also purchase a special edition Sea Blue version of the LP.  The new 2 disc collection will include some of her biggest hits including “Independence Day,” “Concrete Angel,” “This One’s For The Girls,” “A Broken Wing,” and more.

Said Martina: “When I signed my record deal with RCA in 1991, vinyl was out and CD’s were in. Even though I’ve always been happy to have my name on any form of recorded music, I’ve always hoped to see my music on vinyl. I’m SO THRILLED to share this double vinyl album of hits that I recorded during my time with RCA. This is a very special project to me and I’m excited that everyone will be able to add it to their vinyl collection.” 

To pre-order “Greatest Hits: The RCA Years” click – here.

Martina McBride announces double vinyl ‘Greatest Hits’ compilation

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Pop Daypop

Ariana Grande and Ty Dolla $ign team up for live performance video of ‘Safety Net’

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Ariana Grande is back with the second performance of her exclusive live series with Vevo, a new video for “Safety Net,” her collaboration with Ty Dolla $ign. The video released for Safety Net is a live performance, in which Ariana performs on a grass-covered stage under a futuristic-looking lighting fixture.

Safety Net is off Ariana’s hugely successful album Positions.  You can watch the video – here.

Editorial credit: Kathy Hutchins / Shutterstock.com

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Pop Daypop

Dua Lipa to make her acting debut in the spy film ‘Argylle’

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Dua Lipa is set to make her acting debut in “Argylle,” a thriller about the “world’s greatest spy,” according to The Hollywood Reporter. “Kingsmen” director Matthew Vaughn and an all-star cast are signed on for the project, which will be filmed in Europe in August. Dua Lipa will also provide the original music for the title track and the soundtrack.

Argyll will also star Henry Cavill, Sam Rockwell, Bryce Dallas Howard, Bryan Cranston, Catherine O’Hara, John Cena and Samuel L. Jackson, and is based on the soon to be released spy novel Argyll from author Ellie Conway The film follows Argylle, who is embroiled in a world-wide adventure. “Argylle” will be the first of at least three films in the franchise and is set in America, London and several locations around the world.

Editorial credit: Tinseltown / Shutterstock.com