Month: August 2021

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Go Country 105

“Redneck Be Like”: Thomas Rhett has a dang good time on his barn-burning new release

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Few country stars can write a tender love song or a reflective ode to family life quite like Thomas Rhett. But even the sweetest balladeer likes to crank things up with a party song now and again, and that's exactly what the singer does with his newest song, “Redneck Be Like.” 

From eating fresh-caught catfish and skinny-dipping in a farm pond to blowing past small-town stop signs in a lifted truck, Thomas namechecks all the high points of living life out in the middle of nowhere.

“This song is all about summertime and getting a chance to unwind and let loose,” he explains. “We wrote it about the towns where I grew up in Georgia and Tennessee, and honestly every town we live in for the night when we go on tour. We can't wait to see y'all on the road and turn this one up.”

A lyric video for “Redneck Be Like” shows a montage of scenes from Thomas' live show, and for good reason: The country star is anxiously anticipating the return of his The Center Point Road Tour, which re-launches next week. 

Copyright © 2021, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

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Go Country 105

Country star trivia

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On this date in 1990, Garth Brooks released the first single from his No Fences album. It would go on to arguably become his signature song, spending four weeks at the top of the country charts and winning Single of the Year at both the ACM and CMA Awards. Can you name the song? ANSWER: “Friends in Low Places.”

Copyright © 2021, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

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News Daypop

President Biden signs executive order for half of all new vehicles to be electric by 2030

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President Joe Biden signed an executive order on Thursday setting a goal for half of all new vehicles made in the United States to be electric in some form by 2030. Biden signed the executive order after delivering a speech on the South Lawn of the White House, where staffers had parked several electric vehicles. After the signing, Biden took an electric Jeep Wrangler for a ride around the White House.

The executive order sets a target of 50% for electrifying vehicles and emphasizes the importance of “made in America.”  Biden said the new policy was key to strengthening the U.S. economy because electrification is the future of car manufacturing. The signing also follows through on Biden’s campaign promise “to reverse the previous administration’s short-sighted rollback of vehicle emissions and fuel-efficiency standards.”

Along with the 50% target for electrifying vehicles, the signed order also sets standards for car companies to gradually decrease emissions over the next five years. The effort is in line with goals set out in the Paris Agreement on climate change, which the United States rejoined this year under the Biden administration.  The White House said in a statement: “The executive order also kicks off development of long-term fuel efficiency and emissions standards to save consumers money, cut pollution, boost public health, advance environmental justice and tackle the climate crisis. The global market is shifting to electric vehicles and tapping their potential to save families money, lower pollution and make the air we breathe cleaner.”

Editorial credit: Paris Malone / Shutterstock.com

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News Daypop

U.S. working to give third COVID-19 booster shots to at-risk Americans

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U.S. infectious disease expert Dr. Anthony Fauci said Thursday that the United States is working to give additional COVID-19 booster shots to Americans with compromised immune systems as quickly as possible, as cases of the novel coronavirus continue to rise. The United States will join Germany, France and Israel in giving booster shots. U.S. regulators need to fully authorize the COVID-19 vaccines or amend their emergency use authorizations before officials can recommend additional shots, but the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is working to make third doses available sooner under certain circumstances.

Fauci said rising cases resulting from the spread of the contagious Delta variant in the United States can be turned around with additional vaccinations. The seven U.S. states – Florida, Texas, Missouri, Arkansas, Louisiana, Alabama and Mississippi – with the lowest COVID-19 vaccination rates account for half of the country’s new cases and hospitalizations in the last week, the White House said on Thursday. Of those, Florida and Texas account for about a third of new coronavirus cases and an even higher share of hospitalizations in the country.

COVID cases are up about 43% over the previous week and daily deaths are up more than 39%, according to U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky. The United States hit a six-month high for new COVID cases with over 100,000 infections reported on Wednesday alone.

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Go Country 105

Travel down the 'Dirt Road' of triumph and tragedy with Luke Bryan in new docuseries

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You can now watch all five episodes of Luke Bryan‘s new docuseries, My Dirt Road Diary, via Amazon’s free streaming service, IMDb TV. 

When approached with the idea, the five-time Entertainer of the Year candidly admits his initial attitude about the project was basically “bah humbug.” But it wasn’t long before he changed his mind.

“Once I started seeing it being put together,” he explains, “and once we started going back and finding older videos from my childhood and stuff like that, it really started being emotional and special.”  

“And then once we started seeing all of the footage that [Executive Producer and Director] Michael Monaco had gotten while being on tour with me,” he continues, “and even that emotion of the backstage area when I won my first Entertainer of the Year was just worth its weight in gold. So as this thing came together, I got more and more emotionally invested.”

Luke’s also motivated by the deeper message of the series, which follows how he dealt with the loss of his brother, sister, and brother-in-law simultaneously as his country music dreams became reality.

“I’m excited for the potential to help people heal through tragedy and be inspired through tragedy in the ups and downs in life,” Luke reflects. “So many people deal with that and are going through that constantly.”

“So I hope that they can watch this and really understand that there is a light on the other side,” he adds.

You can also stream or download Luke’s new track, “Songs You’ve Never Heard,” inspired by his late brother, whom Luke remembers as the consummate music lover. 

Copyright © 2021, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

Categories
Country Daypop

Miranda Lambert Releases Video For “Tequila Does (Telemitry Remix)”

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Miranda Lambert has just released the video for the remix of her track “Tequila Does.” The new track is courtesy of Lambert and Nashville-based producer and DJ Telemitry.

The original version of “Tequila Does,” written by Lambert along with Jon Randall and Jack Ingram, appears on Lambert’s 2019 Wildcard album.  A stripped down, acoustic rendition appears on her 2021 The Marfa Tapes project.

The video for the remixed version of “Tequila Does” finds Lambert enjoying a pool party with friends, her husband Brendan McLoughlin, and Lambert’s trusty 1952 airstream, Wanda the Wanderer.  DJ Telemitry also makes an appearance in the video, as the DJ of the party.

Take a look at the video for “Tequila Does (Telemitry Remix)” – here.

Editorial credit: Kathy Hutchins / Shutterstock.com

Categories
Country Daypop

Carly Pearce joins the Grand Ole Opry; announces new album ’29: Written In Stone’

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Carly Pearce’s third studio album, 29: Written In Stone — an extension of her EP ’29’ — will be released on Sept. 17 via Big Machine Records. The expanded 15-song collection will include the extended play’s original seven tracks, plus eight new cuts, including “Dear Miss Loretta,” which now features country singer Patty Loveless. Pearce’s album is available for preorder now by clicking here.

Carly also officially joined the Grand Ole Opry during a special induction event at the iconic Nashville country music venue. Pearce said onstage: “Singles will come and go, awards will come and go. The arenas will be full, and then maybe they won’t be. But this is something that nobody can ever take away from you.” She also performed her song “I Hope You’re Happy Now” and was joined by Trisha Yearwood onstage as the duo performed Yearwood’s song “How Do I Live.”

Carly Pearce Drops New Patty Loveless Duet ‘Dear Miss Loretta,’ Expands ’29’ EP

Editorial credit: Featureflash Photo Agency / Shutterstock.com

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Pop Daypop

Take a look at Billie Eilish’s Vevo Live Performance of ‘Male Fantasy’

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Billie Eilish is sharing her new Vevo Live performance of “Male Fantasy” in support of her latest LP ‘Happier Than Ever.’ Eilish performs in an intimate bedroom setting, while her brother/hitmaker Finneas accompanies her on acoustic guitar from a different corner of the room.

“Male Fantasy” arrives after Eilish’s “Your Power” Vevo Live performance, and on the heels of the release of her sophomore album ‘Happier Than Ever,’ which dropped last Friday. Watch Eilish’s Vevo Live performance of “Male Fantasy” – here.

Editorial credit: Christian Bertrand / Shutterstock.com

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Pop Daypop

Rihanna reaches billionaire status, named richest female musician by Forbes

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According to a new profile on the singer and entrepreneur by Forbes, 33-year-old Rihanna has officially become a billionaire and is worth $1.7 billion. Forbes reported on Wednesday that Rihanna’s fortune comes primarily from her Fenty Beauty makeup line, which she has a 50% stake in. Rihanna’s other earnings come from her Savage x Fenty lingerie line, Fenty Skin line and her earnings as a singer and actress. Rihanna is now considered the wealthiest female musician in the world and is the second richest female entertainer in the world, behind Oprah Winfrey.

Rihanna landed a deal with French luxury group LVMH in April 2016 to launch Fenty Beauty, with a makeup line released in 2017. LVMH also partners with Rihanna on Fenty Skin. She launched her Fenty x Puma clothing line in 2016 and announced her clothing partnernship with LVMH in May 2019. Rihanna is the first woman to create an original brand at LVMH and is the first woman of color to head an LVMH maison.

On the music front, Rihanna hasn’t released an album since 2016’s ‘Anti’. She teased new music in February 2020, last appearing on PartyNextDoor’s “Believe It” in March 2020.

Forbes Officially Crowns Rihanna a Billionaire

Editorial credit: Andrea Raffin / Shutterstock.com

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Go Country 105

Two “Famous Friends” go Gold together: Chris Young and Kane Brown celebrate their newest milestone

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After spending back-to-back weeks at the top of the country chart, Chris Young and Kane Brown's hit duet, “Famous Friends,” has reached yet another milestone. The song is now RIAA-certified Gold, and the pair received a plaque to mark the accomplishment earlier this week. 

“I'm really, really proud of this song and had no idea that it was going to end up blowing up like it did,” Chris said at the time. “And I couldn't be happier honestly that I get to have a hit on the radio with someone who's been a friend of mine for a long time.”

That friendship is one that blossomed out of musical admiration: As an aspiring singer, Kane looked up to Chris. 

“It's a full-circle moment for me. You inspired me to get into music and we actually got to take this one to No. 1,” Kane reflected. 

“Famous Friends” is also the title track of Chris' new album, which is due out on Friday. The song also lends its name to his upcoming tour.

On the same night that he was celebrating his current single's Gold status, Chris was surprised with even more hardware to add to his collection. He was presented with a triple-Platinum plaque for his 2015 hit, “I'm Comin' Over,” a Platinum plaque for 2018 single, “Hangin' On,” and Gold certification for his 2017 album, Losing Sleep. 

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