On this day in 1948, this football star and hopeful country music singer was born. He was a big success in the NFL, playing in four Super Bowls with the Pittsburgh Steelers, but only had one minor hit in country music, singing a cover of the Hank Williams song, “I’m So Lonesome I Could Cry.” Who is he? ANSWER: Terry Bradshaw.
Copyright © 2021, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.
New York City and New Jersey was slammed with heavy rain overnight and into Thursday morning, causing historic, mass flooding due to the remnants of hurricane Ida earlier. The storm hit the Northeast as a post-tropical cyclone on Wednesday after making landfall in Louisiana as a Category 4 hurricane on Sunday. The historic rain halted subway service and destroyed homes in New Jersey. At least eight deaths were reported from the flooding, seven in New York City and one in Passaic, N.J.
New York Gov. Kathy Hochul, New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy, New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio and Passaic, NJ Mayor Hector Lora all issued states of emergency as the National Weather Service issued flash flood warnings for New York and southern New England. “We’re enduring an historic weather event tonight with record breaking rain across the city, brutal flooding and dangerous conditions on our roads,” de Blasio said via Twitter. “Please stay off the streets tonight and let our first responders and emergency services get their work done.” He urged New Yorkers not to drive and stay off subway trains, and videos showed subways and streets flooded.
Early Thursday, the city’s official emergency notification system issued a travel ban until 5 a.m., stating “all non-emergency vehicles must be off NYC streets and highways.” The Metropolitan Transportation Authority told residents that they “strongly recommended” the public avoid traveling.
With Labor Day weekend coming up, tonight’s CMA Summer Jam is country’s unofficial farewell party for the warmest season — and Darius Rucker is bringing the beer.
“I wrote a song with some buddies last year that was a kind of a summery song that did pretty good for us,” he says regarding his latest #1. “So I’m gonna… have fun and try to bring some ‘Beers and Sunshine’ to everybody…”
“It’s just a song about getting back to normal and getting back to the things you love and remembering that there’s still great things around that are just real simple,” he adds.
Luke Combs has an entirely different take on sharing some drinks with the crowd.
“It’s obviously gonna be a high-energy set…” he reveals. “I’m bringing my buddy Jimmie Allen out, which is gonna be really exciting. He’ll get to sing for everybody. I’m a huge fan of his…”
“I’m looking forward to the energy,” Luke continues. “Drink some beers, drink some drinks, you know, throw some drinks on some people, probably. It’ll be fun.”
CMA Summer Jam features a who’s-who of the biggest stars in country music, and Entertainer of the Year Eric Church speaks for them all when he says they couldn’t wait to return to the stage.
“I’ve tried to get like five-year-old birthday party gigs,” he jokes, “and anybody that would hire a guy in sunglasses to play.”
“But I’ll play anywhere,” he adds. “I think the band will play anywhere. And I think it hearkens back to, at least for us, it’s about the love of music… We can’t wait to get back out there.”
Check out all the fun as country takes over ABC prime time tonight with CMA Summer Jam, which starts at 8 p.m. ET.
Copyright © 2021, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.
Authorities announced Wednesday evening that a suspect was taken into custody following a shooting at Mount Tabor High School in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, left one student dead. No other details were immediately released. The victim, identified by authorities as William Chavis Raynard Miller Jr., was rushed to a hospital where he later died of a gunshot wound.
Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office reported a shooting “on school property” just after noon local time. Mount Tabor and surrounding schools were placed on lockdown as Winston-Salem police and first responders secured the area and began reunification efforts. A search ensued before the suspect, who is believed to be a fellow high school student, was taken into custody Wednesday evening. Authorities said during the press briefing that no other students were physically hurt, but one student suffered a seizure as the incident unfolded.
Billy Ray Cyrus and Dennis Quaid are part of an upcoming benefit to help those in need after the devastating floods that occurred just outside of Nashville last month. Waverly Strong will take place on Tuesday, September 7 at City Winery. All of the proceeds will go to the United Way of Humphreys County.
Brooks & Dunn will kick off their Reboot Tour this week, on Thursday, September 2. Travis Tritt and Elvie Shane will serve as the duo’s openers. Tickets are still available.
Lee Ann Womack just released a cover of Woodie Guthrie’s “Dusty Old Dust.” The song is from the upcoming tribute album, out on September 10.
Copyright © 2021, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.
Luke Bryan has earned his 25th No.1 on Billboard’s Country Airplay chart with “Waves,” the fifth single from his Born Here Live Here Die Here album.
Waves was preceded at No. 1 by Bryan’s singles “Knockin’ Boots” for two weeks in September 2019; “What She Wants Tonight” (April 2020), “One Margarita” (July 2020), and “Down To One” in March 2021. This is the second time that an album by Bryan has contained at least five No. 1 country singles. In 2015, his Crash My Party became the first-ever country album to contain six No. 1 hits.
Bryan’s 12th edition of his Farm Tour is set to kick-off on September 9 in Madison, WI, where he’ll be joined by special guests Dylan Scott, Peach Pickers, Whitney Duncan, and DJ Rock.
Editorial credit: Debby Wong / Shutterstock.com
Ryan Hurd has announced his debut full-length album, titled “Pelago” will be released on October 15. Pelago, named after Hurd’s upbringing on the shores of Lake Michigan, was produced with the singer-songwriter’s childhood friend and creative partner, Aaron Eshuis. The album comes just as his current single “Chasing After You” (featuring wife and fellow country star Maren Morris) rises into Top 10 on Billboard’s Hot Country songs chart.
Hurd wrote on Instagram: “My debut album is here October 15! Thank you to each and every one of you for being here for this journey. Cannot wait to celebrate in person. In the meantime, enjoy my new song JUNE, JULY, AUGUST out now! Love and blessings: RH 
Hurd also just dropped the song “June, July, August;” and Pelago will feature 2018’s “To a T,” which was included on Hurd’s Platonic EP.
Pre-save “Pelago” at the link – here.
Editorial credit: Debby Wong / Shutterstock.com
Elton John announced on social media that he’s releasing his new, star-studded album, ‘The Lockdown Sessions,’ on October 22.
The album is a collection of collaborations recorded remotely during the 2020 lockdown, and will feature 16 songs with artists including Dua Lipa, Charlie Puth, Lil Nas X, Miley Cyrus, Nicki Minaj, Eddie Vedder, Stevie Nicks, Brandi Carlile, Stevie Wonder and many more.
Sir Elton said in a press release: “The last thing I expected to do during lockdown was make an album. But, as the pandemic went on, one‐off projects kept cropping up. Some of the recording sessions had to be done remotely, via Zoom, which I’d obviously never done before. Some of the sessions were recorded under very stringent safety regulations: working with another artist, but separated by glass screens. But all the tracks I worked on were really interesting and diverse, stuff that was completely different to anything I’m known for, stuff that took me out of my comfort zone into completely new territory. And I realized there was something weirdly familiar about working like this. At the start of my career, in the late ‘60s, I worked as a session musician. Working with different artists during lockdown reminded me of that. I’d come full circle: I was a session musician again. And it was still a blast.”
To pre-order the “The Lockdown Sessions”, head here.
Editorial credit: Tony Norkus / Shutterstock.com
Lil Nas X revealed the official tracklist for his upcoming debut studio album ‘Montero,’ set to drop on September 17th. “Montero” features 15 songs in total, including the hit singles ‘Montero (Call Me By Your Name)’ and ‘Industry Baby’ with Jack Harlow. Guest appearances include Doja Cat, Megan Thee Stallion, Elton John and Miley Cyrus.
The tracklist arrives just one day after the artist revealed the cover art for ‘Montero,’ and coincides with his being honored as the Trevor Project’s Suicide Prevention Advocate of the Year. In a press release, the organization cited Lil Nas X’s openness about “struggling with his sexuality and suicidal ideation, his continued advocacy around mental health issues, and his unapologetic celebration of his queer identity.” The provocative album cover was created by artist Charlotte Rutherford; see the artwork for Montero on Twitter – here.
To pre-save “Montero” click – here.
Editorial credit: Kathy Hutchins / Shutterstock.com
Jimmie Allen is joining Elton John on a song, “Beauty in the Bones,” on John’s upcoming The Lockdown Sessions, out on October 22. The 16-track project includes collaborations from artists of all genres, including Brandi Carlile, Stevie Wonder, Eddie Vedder, Charlie Puth and more.
Allen is thrilled to join his musical hero on the new record. “I have been a [Elton John] fan for as long as I can remember. One of my ultimate dreams was to work with him.. IT HAPPENED!” Allen wrote on Instagram.
All of the songs were recorded during the pandemic.
“Some of the sessions were recorded under very stringent safety regulations: working with another artist, but separated by glass screens,” John said in a statement. “But all the tracks I worked on were really interesting and diverse, stuff that was completely different to anything I'm known for, stuff that took me out of my comfort zone into completely new territory.
Although he had never written via Zoom before, John did say it was reminiscent of his early years as a studio musician.
“At the start of my career, in the late 60s, I worked as a session musician,” he explained. “Working with different artists during lockdown reminded me of that. I'd come full circle: I was a session musician again. And it was still a blast.”
Copyright © 2021, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.