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Go Country 105

Nashville notes

Mitchell Tenpenny and his fiancé, Meghan Patrick, have debuted the video for their holiday song “I Hope It Snows.” It’s featured on Mitchell’s Christmas album, Naughty List. 

Four of Cody Johnson‘s songs have received certifications from the RIAA. “Dance Her Home,” “Me and My Kind” and “Wild as You” have achieved gold status, while “Diamond in My Pocket” has gone platinum. 

Sugarland‘s Jennifer Nettles kicks off her Broadway Under the Mistletoe Tour tonight with a two-night stay in Nashville. She continues on to Atlanta and New York before wrapping the tour in Washington, D.C. on December 16. 

Nineties country stars Clay Walker and Tracy Lawrence are teaming up for a special tour next year. The two will perform nine shows, beginning with a March 3 concert in Charlotte, North Carolina, and concluding on March 19 in Owensboro, Kentucky. Tickets go on sale Friday.

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Go Country 105

“Can't wait for y'all to see it”: Thomas Rhett teases “Slow Down Summer” video

Thomas Rhett is ready to “Slow Down Summer” with a teaser for the upcoming music video for his hit tune. 

Though the song begs to “slow down summer,” a photo from the video posted on his Twitter feed shows the singer caught in a winter wonderland. The pic captures Thomas poised at a piano in the middle of a snow-covered forest, looking up at the sky as snowflakes pour down. 

“I loved creating this video and can’t wait for y’all to see it,” he writes in the caption that accompanies the photo. 

“Slow Down Summer” is the lead single off Thomas’ upcoming album, Where We Started. It’s quickly racing up the charts, currently inside the top 30 on the Billboard Country Airplay tally. 

The video premieres on YouTube this Friday, December 3, at 11 a.m. ET.

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Go Country 105

“One of my favorite tour moments ever”: Kelsea Ballerini reflects on “I Quit Drinking” performance with LANY singer

Though Kelsea Ballerini has been off the road for a month following an opening stint on the Jonas Brothers tour, she’s taken a walk down memory lane by posting an unforgettable performance from one of those shows on her Twitter feed that features her duetting with the lead singer of the pop group LANY

Kelsea spent much of 2021 opening for the Jonas Brothers on The Remember This Tour. One of the stops was at Boston’s historic Fenway Park where LANY’s Paul Klein joined the country star for a surprise performance of their hit “I Quit Drinking.” 

Kelsea is now reliving this moment, posting a clip that shows her strutting around the stage in a sparkling blue jumpsuit trading vocals with the LANY frontman as graphics of storm clouds and falling rain are shown on a video screen in the background. The two end the performance with a sweet hug.

“Missing tour so i thought it was a good time to share this gem of a memory with you,” Kelsea reflects in the caption. “Hands down one of my favorite tour moments ever ever.”

One fan comments about the video, “This song… this performance… so beautiful!” while another agrees, writing, “Love this it’s so beautiful!” 

Kelsea and Paul co-wrote “I Quit Drinking” with Nicolle Galyon. It reached the top 30 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart and is inside the top 20 on the all-genre Billboard Adult Top 40 chart.

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Go Country 105

Chris Stapleton & Old Dominion donate items to ASCAP Foundation auction

Chris Stapleton and Old Dominion are stepping up to give back to an organization that supports creators. 

The two acts have donated items to The ASCAP Foundation’s silent auction to provide access to music education and talent programs for creators. 

Chris has donated a signed bottle of E.H. Taylor Jr. whiskey, his favorite brand of bourbon. It’s a fitting item, considering his hit cover of “Tennessee Whiskey” turned him from a behind-the-scenes songwriter into a superstar. 

Meanwhile, Old Dominion has put a signed copy of their latest album, Time, Tequila and Therapy, up for auction, along with an autographed hat and lyrics. Time, Tequila and Therapy features their current hit, “I Was on a Boat That Day.” 

Billie Eilish and John Mellencamp are among the other stars who have donated items to the cause. The auction takes place virtually now until December 15.

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Go Country 105

“Hide the Wine”: Carly Pearce shares favorite part of the holiday season

There are many ways to celebrate the holidays, but there’s a specific activity Carly Pearce enjoys most.

“My favorite part about the holiday season is obviously getting to be with friends and family. But also that I can drink as much wine as I want to,” she quips to Access.

Carly’s answer should come as no surprise, as her single “Hide the Wine,” reached the top 20 on the Billboard Country Airplay chart in 2017.

The hit singer already has a jump-start on the holiday spirit, as she and Gabby Barrett co-hosted and performed on the CMA Country Christmas special that aired on ABC last night. Lady A also performed their original song, “Christmas Through Your Eyes,” with Dave Haywood, sharing the punny way he enjoys the holiday season.

“I think my favorite part about the holidays is the food. It takes the cake,” he jokes. “Get it?”

“That’s so bad,” band mate Charles Kelley responds with a smile, while Hillary Scott chuckles.

Carrie Underwood, Jimmie Allen and Brett Eldredge were among the other artists who performed on CMA Country Christmas.

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Go Country 105

“It's all happening!” Carrie Underwood tours 'Reflection' residency theatre in Las Vegas

Carrie Underwood has gotten a look at her new musical home in Las Vegas, and she’s offering fans a backstage tour. 

In a video posted on Instagram, the superstar offers an inside look as she tours The Theatre at Resorts World Las Vegas where her show, Reflection: The Las Vegas Residency, will set up shop for the next several months. The clip shows Carrie clapping from her seat in the audience and looking in awe around the venue. 

Fans also get to see her wardrobe, with teaser shots of some of her costumes, including several sparkling gold numbers and a red dress with colorful bead work.

We also see the Grammy winner rehearsing in studio with her backup dancers, the video ending with a shot of a baseball bat hitting the front of a truck, likely in reference to her hit “Before He Cheats,” and smoke filling the frame.

“Finally got to see the theater at @resortsworldlv for the first time this past week, and all the team's hard work in action! It's all happening!” the hit singer writes. 

Carrie has also been sharing rehearsal footage on her socials, where she can be seen playing guitar and belting out powerhouse notes.  

The show opens on December 1, with dates continuing throughout the month. Reflection resumes in March and April 2022.

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News Daypop

Jack Dorsey stepping down as Twitter CEO; chief technology officer Parag Agrawal to take over, effective immediately

Jack Dorsey, CEO and co-founder of social media platform Twitter, said on Monday that he is stepping down as CEO. The 45-year-old Dorsey will remain on Twitter’s board of directors until next May, according to an email to staff that Dorsey tweeted. Twitter’s chief technology officer, Parag Agrawal, will replace Dorsey as CEO effective immediately, the company said. Agrawal began his Twitter career as an engineer, then worked his way to the C-suite, becoming CTO in 2017. As the technology chief, Agrawal has played a role in “every critical decision that helped turn this company around,” Dorsey said. Bret Taylor, a member of Twitter’s board since 2016, was also named chairman.

Dorsey said the decision to step down “was my decision and I own it,” adding in the staff email, “I decided it’s finally time for me to leave. I’m really sad…yet really happy.” Dorsey added in a press release: “I believe the company is ready to move on from its founders. My trust in Parag as Twitter’s CEO is deep. His work over the past 10 years has been transformational.”

Dorsey’s departure ends his second tenure as CEO at Twitter. He served as chief executive between 2006 and 2008, and began his second stint leading the company in 2015. Twitter, co-founded in 2006 by Dorsey, Evan Williams and Christopher “Biz” Stone, was initially a way for people to send updates to a small group using text messages. The first tweet sent by Dorsey on March 21, 2006, read “just setting up my twttr.”

Twitter has more than 5,500 employees and a market cap of about $39 billion. In the past decade, Twitter has been one of the top used social media platforms around the world, behind Facebook, Instagram and TikTok. Shares of Twitter surged Monday after Dorsey’s departure was announced. Twitter’s stock jumped more than 10% in early trading, but reversed itself by midday.

Editorial credit: Frederic Legrand – COMEO / Shutterstock.com

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News Daypop

President Joe Biden speaks about the new Omicron variant of COVID-19, saying it is “cause for concern, not a cause for panic”

President Joe Biden said on Monday the new Omicron variant of COVID-19 is a “cause for concern, not a cause for panic.”  While health experts work to learn more about the quickly spreading strain, Biden said researchers believe that current vaccines should be adequate against the variant.

Biden also continued to advocate COVID-19 vaccinations, saying in his address: “We have the best vaccine in the world, the best medicines, best scientists, and we’re learning more every single day, and we’ll fight this variant with scientific and knowledgeable actions and speed, not chaos and confusion.”   He added that the variant’s arrival confirms the importance to getting the vaccine and booster shots, saying: “I know you’re tired of hearing me say this. The best protection against this new variant or any of the variants out there, the ones we’ve been dealing with already, is getting fully vaccinated and getting a booster shot. [The vaccine is] free and they are available at 80,000 locations coast to coast. Do not wait. Go get your booster if it’s time for you to do so.”

Biden noted that if medical experts and researchers discover that a new booster is needed against the Omicron variant, the United States will be the first to act. The President said: “In the event, hopefully unlikely, that updated vaccinations or boosters are needed to respond to this new variant, we will accelerate their development and deployment with every available tool. We do not yet believe that additional measures will be needed.”

Editorial credit: BiksuTong / Shutterstock.com

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Go Country 105

Zac Brown is in a “great headspace” after months of touring

After a challenging year, Zac Brown Band is moving into a more positive headspace.

Frontman Zac Brown reveals that he ended up borrowing money last year to help support his touring family after they had to cancel The Owl Tour in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. “Everybody had my back for a lot of years before this, so I had to step up and figure out how to borrow enough to help everybody survive, but we did it and we’re working our way out of the hole right now,” Zac explains. 

As his financial situation is improving, so is his mental state. Part of that positive mentality stems from returning to the road, with the Grammy Award winning band crossing the country on The Comeback Tour throughout the year. 

Zac says he is moving forward and focusing on creativity, noting that while time off the road at home with his family was beneficial, he is excited to turn his attention back to his passion for music. The group is currently celebrating their new #1 single, “Same Boat,” featured on their latest album, The Comeback, ?which debuted inside the top five on the ?Billboard ?Top Country Albums chart in October. 

“I haven’t been in this great of a headspace where I have all my creativity and good things. Home is peaceful and great and just ready to work. It’s not really work when you love what you do,” he describes. “But we got a good break and we got a lot of perspective and we’re back and excited.” 

ZBB will perform on New Year’s Eve Live: Nashville’s Big Bash, ?airing on CBS on December 31 at 8 p.m. ET.

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Country Daypop

Turnpike Troubadours confirm on social media they are back together

After more than two years, Turnpike Troubadours are back together. After first dropping hints that their hiatus was coming to a close last week by posting a “Coming Soon” graphic on the band’s website. and wiping their Instagram clean, on Monday morning the band posted a photo of all six members reunited and together once again, snapped by renown music photographer David McClister.

The band includes drummer Gabriel Pearson, guitarist Ryan Engleman, steel guitar and accordion player Hank Early, fiddle player Kyle Nix, bassist RC Edwards, and frontman/singer/songwriter Evan Felker, whose battles with alcohol were the primary reason for dissolving of the band in 2019 after numerous cancelled shows. Felker has since gotten sober and has a young daughter after reuniting with his wife, Staci.