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Go Country 105

Blake Shelton joins 'The Voice' judges for mashup of soulful classics

The Voice season 21 premiere got off to a star-studded start Monday night as Blake Shelton and his fellow judges Ariana Grande, John Legend and Kelly Clarkson came in with a bang with a soul-filled medley. 

The four stars took the stage together to open the show with a mashup of classics by Aretha Franklin and Sam & Dave

Blake and John kicked it off, dueting on “Hold On, I’m Coming” by Sam & Dave. Then, Kelly and Ariana strutted onto the stage and blended their powerhouse voices on Aretha’s legendary “Respect.” Soon after, they were joined by the guys for a four-way finish. 

Blake walked away from the Blind Auditions with two contestants: Peedy Chavis, who performed an Elvis Presley song, and Wendy Moten, who’s sung backup for Faith Hill and Tim McGraw, Martina McBride and more. 

The Voice airs on Monday and Tuesday nights on NBC at 8 p.m. ET. 

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Go Country 105

Tim McGraw honors wife Faith Hill's birthday with “Breathe” video

Tim McGraw is celebrating wife Faith Hill‘s birthday with a throwback clip of one of her famous music videos. 

In honor of his wife’s 54th birthday, the singer shared a compilation video on Instagram of Faith’s sultry “Breathe” video, followed by a clip from an interview of Tim with Diane Sawyer, who asked him, “when you see that video every time it goes by, what do you think?” 

“It’s my wife,” Tim laughs in reply. “It’s like, I want to call my college buddies and say ‘hey, I’m married to her.'” 

“Hey baby, I still feel the exact same way even more so. Happy birthday,” Tim says in a present-day video, adding that she “finally” caught up with him in terms of age: the couple are both 54. “I wouldn’t change anything for the world and I love you.”   

Tim and Faith are set to star in 1883, a prequel to the Paramount+ hit series Yellowstone, alongside Academy Award nominated actor Sam Elliott. It premieres on Paramount+ on December 19. 

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Go Country 105

Jimmie Allen does the tango during his ?'Dancing with the Stars' ?debut

Jimmie Allen made his debut on Dancing with the Stars Monday night with an elegant tango. 

Jimmie and his dance partner, Emma Slater, blended two worlds, tangoing to Timbaland and Keri Hilson‘s chart-toping 2007 hit, “The Way I Are.” The country star was decked out in a black leather outfit, spinning Emma around the ballroom with a disco ball hanging overhead and a swanky red convertible in the background. 

“Wow, Jimmie, let me say this dance does not suit your personality. You're a cool sort of guy, relaxed. I'm sure that there's a lot more talent in there than we saw on that dance floor,” remarked judge Len Goodman. “You're going to be loose, you're going to go a long way. You've got great potential.”

“It's JEMMA YALL!!!! My partner @theemmaslater is amazing. That was super fun!! Let's do this!! Let's vote,” Jimmie wrote on Instagram after the show.  

The pair received a score of 22 out of 40. Dancing with the Stars returns Monday night at 8 p.m. ET on ABC.

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Go Country 105

Kacey Musgraves' 'star-crossed' debuts at #3 on the 'Billboard' 200

Kacey Musgraves‘ new album star-crossed has debuted inside the top 10 on the Billboard 200

With 77,000 equivalent album units earned since its September 10 release, Kacey’s latest effort bows at #3 on the all-genre chart, coming in behind Drake and Kanye West.

star-crossed‘s sales make up 47,000 of those units, marking it the best-selling album of the week and Kacey’s second-largest sales week ever, behind 2015’s Pageant Material. 

?On the streaming front, the Texas native had the second-largest debut streaming week for a country album by a woman this year, with more than 38 million streams. It trails Taylor Swift‘s Fearless (Taylor's Version), released in April. 

star-crossed is Kacey’s fourth album to appear inside the Billboard 200 top five, following her 2013 debut, Same Trailer Different Park, her sophomore album Pageant Material, and the Grammy-winning Golden Hour. 

star-crossed‘s current single, “justified,” is inside the top 30 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart.

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News Daypop

Pfizer says its COVID-19 vaccine in lower dosage is safe and effective in kids ages 5 to 11

Pfizer said Monday its COVID-19 vaccine is effective for children ages 5 to 11, and that it will seek U.S. authorization for this age group soon. The vaccine made by Pfizer and its German partner BioNTech already is available for anyone 12 and older. For elementary school-aged kids, Pfizer tested a much lower dose, equal to a third of the amount that’s in each shot given now.  However after their second dose, children ages 5 to 11 developed coronavirus-fighting antibody levels just as strong as teenagers and young adults said Dr. Bill Gruber, a Pfizer senior vice president. The children’s dosage also proved safe, with similar or fewer temporary side effects — such as sore arms, fever or lethargy — that teens experience, he said.  Dr. Gruber said the companies aim to apply to the Food and Drug Administration by the end of the month for emergency use in this age group, followed shortly afterward with applications to European and British regulators.

While kids are at lower risk of severe illness or death than older people, more than 5 million children in the U.S. have tested positive for COVID-19 since the pandemic began and at least 460 have died, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics. Cases in children have risen dramatically as the Delta variant swept through the country.

Editorial credit: cortex-film / Shutterstock.com

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Go Country 105

Blake Shelton warns his 'Voice' competitor Ariana Grande: “The bigger the star, the harder they fall”

As Blake Shelton kicks off the latest season of The Voice, the veteran judge is happy to have some new blood joining the panel, as pop superstar Ariana Grande takes over one of the big red chairs, alongside Kelly Clarkson and John Legend.

“To be honest, I was really excited when I heard that Ariana was coming to join the coaching group here on The Voice for season 21,” Blake says. “I’m always excited to work with somebody new, and she’s incredibly talented and obviously a huge star.”

Of course, that’s about where Blake’s compliments end, since he can’t resist a little good-natured trash talk about his competitors.

“It’s always more exciting for me — the bigger the star, the harder they fall,” he jests. “And it’s always way more exciting to me to beat somebody of her level of popularity than it is just to beat, you know, some loser like Kelly or John, you know.”

You can check out the second night of the new season of The Voice tonight at 8 p.m. ET on NBC. 

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News Daypop

U.S. to allow vaccinated foreign travelers back into the country with proof of negative COVID-19 test

The White House announced Monday that the U.S. will begin allowing foreign travelers into the country in November if they provide proof of vaccination and a negative COVID-19 test. The new policy will replace various restrictions that have been in effect since last year, which barred U.S. entry for foreign travelers if they’d spent any of the previous 14 days in Britain, the European Union, China, India, Iran, Ireland, Brazil and South Africa.

Under the new policy, foreign travelers will be required to show proof of vaccination before they board a U.S.-bound flight and a negative coronavirus test no older than three days. Vaccinated U.S. residents traveling abroad will also need to show a negative test to return — and unvaccinated Americans will have to test one day before their flight, and must test again once they return.

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Go Country 105

Nashville notes

Keith Urban will be honored with the CRB Artist Career Achievement Award at the Country Radio Hall of Fame Induction Dinner and Awards Ceremony in Nashville on October 13. 

Tenille Townes‘ debut single, “Somebody’s Daughter,” has been certified gold by the RIAA, signifying sales of more than 500,000 copies in the U.S. 

Ray Stevens is releasing a new album, Ain’t Nothin’ Funny Anymore, on October 8.

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Country Daypop

Lainey Wilson’s “Things A Man Oughta Know” reaches #1 on country radio

Lainey Wilson has earned her first career country radio #1 with her single “Things A Man Oughta Know”  Up one place from last week, “Things” takes over the top spot from Thomas Rhett’s “Country Again” on the Mediabase country radio singles chart.  Wilson shared the news on Twitter, writing: “Things A Man Oughta Know is number one, y’all. 🧡 the love I feel from radio, Nashville, my family, and country music listeners is unreal. Can’t thank y’all enough. Now let’s go get another one.”

Scotty McCreery’s “You Time” rises two spots to #2 this week, and Jameson Rodgers & Luke Combs’ “Cold Beer Calling My Name” ascends two places to #3. Lee Brice’s “Memory I Don’t Mess With” climbs two places to #4, and Luke Bryan’s “Waves” drops two places to #5.

Editorial credit: Debby Wong / Shutterstock.com

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Country Daypop

Morgan Wallen announces four concert dates, including ‘Country Thunder At Bristol Motor Speedway’

Morgan Wallen has announced four concert dates this fall, sharing the news via his fan club text list on Monday, Sept 20th.

The first show is scheduled for October 23rd at the Auburn Rodeo in Auburn, Alabama with Parker McCollum, Jon Langston and Trey Lewis.  Wallen is also set to headline ‘Country Thunder At Bristol Motor Speedway’ in Bristol, Tennessee on Saturday, October 30, 2021. Wallen announced that news via a video on Country Thunder’s social media last week, saying in the clip: “What’s going guys, It’s Morgan Wallen, I’m so excited to hit the stage in my home state of Tennessee. I’m taking over Country Thunder Bristol at Bristol Motor Speedway on October 30. I’ll be bringing some of my boys with me and it’s going to be one hell of a homecoming. I can’t wait to see y’all there.” ‘Morgan Wallen’s Country Thunder Takeover’ will also feature special guests Granger Smith (feat. Earl Dibbles Dr.), Larry Fleet, Jon Langston and ERNEST. Tickets go on sale Tuesday, September 21 at 8 am CT at countrythunder.com.

Wallen’s other show dates include November 6th at Coosa Valley Fairgrounds in Rome, Georgia with Hardy and Ernest, and the final date is November 12th at The Grounds in Mobile, Alabama with Hardy, Ernest and Ashland Craft. Tickets are on sale now via Wallen’s website.  General public ticket sales will begin at 10:30 am CT on Tuesday, Sept. 21.

BREAKING: Morgan Wallen Announces Fall Headlining Tour Dates

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