Categories
Go Country 105

“Never Say Never”: Lainey Wilson knew “immediately” that her duet with Cole Swindell was “special”

The moment she heard “Never Say Never,” Lainey Wilson knew she had to be part of the song with Cole Swindell

The Louisiana native was on vacation in Mexico when Cole sent her a demo of the track that is now the #1 song in country music, and she had a gut instinct that it was one she needed to be a part of, comparing it to the feeling she had about her breakthrough hit.

“When I listen to the first verse and chorus, I knew immediately that the song was special. It gave me those same feelings that I had when I wrote ‘Things a Man Oughta Know’ or when we were in the studio recording it, even though it’s a completely different kind of song,” she explains. 

Though she’s no stranger to the top of the charts, Lainey admits that selecting a follow-up single is challenging, but she’s grateful to Cole for being a mentor to her and helping to elevate her career. 

“A lot of people say it’s hard going to radio with your first one, but it’s even harder going to radio with your second one. I felt like this was a really good opportunity for me to get my name out there again, and especially with somebody who has had a lot of radio success,” she shares. “Seeing him put me under his wing and stuff I think that also lets his fans know that he supports me and maybe they should support me, and it’s been this awesome thing.” 

“Never” is Lainey’s second #1 hit and Cole’s 11th. It’s featured on his new album, Stereotype.

Copyright © 2022, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

Categories
Country Daypop

Jake Owen announces his 2022 “Up There Down Here” tour

Jake Owen has announced his 34-date North American “Up There Down Here Tour,” set to launch this May.  Said Owen: “Looking forward to getting back out there, bringing smiles and happiness and some new tunes. The world needs more of that.” 

The tour kicks-off on May 5 in Troy, Ohio and will include stops at festivals such as Faster Horses, Watershed, and Country Stampede, along with shows at Billy Bob’s Texas in Fort Worth, Weidner Field in Colorado Springs, Rockin’ Derby Eve in Louisville at Old Forester’s Paristown Hall, and more.  For ticket info, head here.

Owen dropped new music last month with his single, “Up There Down Here.”  He also teased on social media this past weekend that he will be releasing new music this Friday, August 29th with the track “1×1.”

Editorial credit: Debby Wong / Shutterstock.com

Categories
Country Daypop

Maddie & Tae announce rescheduled 2022 CMT Next Women of Country tour dates

Maddie & Tae have announced the rescheduled dates of their 2022 CMT Next Women of Country Tour Presents: All Song No Static Tour.   The tour will now kick off on September 15th in Oklahoma City, before wrapping up on October 15th in Grand Rapids.  Tickets can be purchased at the link – here.

Joining the duo will be CMT Next Women of Country colleagues Abbey Cone and Sacha, who will appear at various stops along the tour. Cone will replacing Callista Clark, who was on the initial set of dates.

Maddie & Tae were originally scheduled to launch the tour back in January; however, were forced to postpone due to Taylor (Tae) Kerr’s pregnancy. Kerr’s baby, Leighton Grace, was born prematurely and spent 53 days in the NICU before being sent home last month.

Editorial credit: Jaguar PS / Shutterstock.com

Categories
Pop Daypop

Britney Spears says she is taking a ‘social media hiatus’ amid pregnancy

Britney Spears has shared in an Instagram post that she will be on a break from social media for “a little while.”  The 40-year-old singer wrote“I’m going on a social media hiatus for a little while!!!  I send my love and God bless you all.”

The social media hiatus for Spears follows her recent announcement that she expecting her third child, her first with her fiancé, Sam Asghari. Spears shares two sons, Sean Preston, 16, and Jayden James, 15, with her ex-husband Kevin Federline.

Said Spears earlier this month:  “I am having a baby. I obviously won’t be going out as much due to the paps getting their money shot of me like they unfortunately already have.”

Spears and Asghari got engaged in September 2021 amid Spears’ conservatorship battle. In November, a Los Angeles judge officially ended Spears’ 13-year conservatorship.

Editorial credit: Kathy Hutchins / Shutterstock.com

Categories
Pop Daypop

Sean “Diddy” Combs to host the 2022 Billboard Music Awards

Sean “Diddy” Combs will host and executive produce the 2022 Billboard Music Awards.  Combs said in a statement:  “This will be unlike any awards show — I’m bringing the love and setting the frequency at an all-time high. The Billboard Music Awards truly represent the artists and where music is today, so I’m excited to curate the biggest live performances and surprises. The world has to tune in to see.”

Combs will host the May 15 event that will air live coast-to-coast from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas at 8 p.m. ET on NBC; it will also stream on Peacock.  As previously announced, the 2022 BBMAs will honor Mary J. Blige with the Icon Award, with Blige slated to perform on the broadcast along with Burna Boy, Latto, Megan Thee Stallion, Rauw Alejandro, the Red Hot Chili Peppers. More performances are set to be announced soon.

The Weeknd leads the 2022 BBMA nominations with 17, including top artist, top male artist and top Hot 100 artist. His collaboration with Ariana Grande, “Save Your Tears (Remix),” is up for six awards. Doja Cat is the leading female finalist with 14 nominations, including top artist, top female artist and top Hot 100 artist. Justin Bieber, Ye (formerly Kanye West) and Olivia Rodrigo each have 13 nods.

Editorial credit: Everett Collection / Shutterstock.com

Categories
Go Country 105

Nashville notes

Carly Pearce, Walker Hayes and more are performing at the third annual Hometown to Hometown event tomorrow night in Nashville, which benefits the Save the Music Foundation and SongFarm. 

Chris Janson will perform “Keys to the Country” during the third hour of the Today show on Thursday. It airs at 9 a.m. ET on NBC. 

Abbey Cone has released her debut album, HATE ME. She’ll open for Maddie & Tae on the CMT Next Women of Country Tour, beginning in September. 

Copyright © 2022, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

Categories
Go Country 105

Luke Combs, Maren Morris and other Stagecoach performances to be streamed live this weekend

Fans who won’t be in attendance Stagecoach Festival this weekend can still catch the action via livestream. 

For the first time, YouTube will be live-streaming the third week of the country music festival in Indio, CA with performances by Carrie Underwood, Luke Combs, Thomas Rhett, Maren Morris, and more.

For three days, rising country stars who are also performing at Stagecoach will host the broadcast ahead of the headlining performances, as well as interview their fellow artists on the bill.

Breland kicks off the festivities on Friday, hyping up the crowd before Thomas, Midland and Brandi Carlile take the stage. Meanwhile, Reyna Roberts serves as host on Saturday before Carrie, Brothers Osborne and more perform, with Hailey Whitters closing out the weekend with hosting duties on Sunday as Luke, Cody Johnson, Lainey Wilson, and others hit the stage.

The broadcasts stream live on YouTube April 29 – May 1 at 6:30 p.m. ET.    

Copyright © 2022, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

Categories
Go Country 105

Garth Brooks adds opening night show at Gillette Stadium

Garth Brooks is adding an opening night show to his upcoming Stadium Tour stop at Gillette Stadium.  

Garth will perform a second show in Foxborough, MA on May 20, one night prior to his previously announced concert on May 21. This marks the superstar’s first appearance at the stadium that serves as the home of the New England Patriots. The show will be in-the-round seating and tickets are priced at $94.95, all inclusive. 

The “Friends in Low Places” singer has included opening night shows at recent stops in Nashville, Cincinnati and more. “I don’t care if 500 people just show up, the thing is, if you want a great seat, you’re guaranteed one,” he describes in a video before the Nashville show. 

Tickets for the May 20 show go on sale Thursday at 10 a.m. ET. 

Copyright © 2022, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

Categories
Go Country 105

Maddie & Tae “couldn't be more excited” for new CMT Next Women of Country tour dates

Maddie & Tae have locked in new dates for the CMT Next Women of Country Presents: All Song No Static Tour. 

Originally scheduled to launch in January, the duo had to postpone the headlining tour after Taylor Kerrwas placed on immediate bed rest while pregnant with daughter Leighton. The new run of shows begins on September 15 in Taylor’s home state of Oklahoma, followed by a stop at the House of Blues in Dallas in Maddie Marlow‘s native Texas. 

Throughout September and October, the hitmaking pair will perform at theaters in cities including New York, Atlanta, Houston, West Hollywood and more. Joining them on the tour are two Next Women of Country inductees, Abbey Cone and Sacha

“We have been waiting so long to say this.. we're going on tour!” Maddie & Tae write in a celebratory post. “We couldn't be more excited to see all of your faces again! The amazing @abbeycone and @sachaofficialmusic are joining us and we hope you do, too!” 

Maddie & Tae took home the award for Group/Duo Video of the Year at the CMT Awards for their song, “Woman You Got.”  Visit their website for a full list of tour dates.

Copyright © 2022, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

Categories
Go Country 105

“My 30s rule”: Carly Pearce rings in 32nd birthday

Carly Pearce is feelin’ 32!

On Sunday, the singer celebrated her 32nd birthday on the road, all smiles as she posed outside of her tour bus with festive pink balloons displaying the numbers 3 and 2. “My 30s rule so far. Hi, 32!” Carly wrote alongside the photo

Among her peers wishing her a happy birthday in the comments were Chris Lane and Runaway June‘s Natalie Stovall, along with Pretty Little Liars star Lucy Hale, for whom Carly used to be a backup singer. “Happy birthday queen,” Lucy praised. 

Since entering her 30s, Carly has released her critically acclaimed album, 29, followed by the equally well-received 29: Written in Stone. She was also named Female Vocalist of the Year at both the CMA Awards and ACM Awards in 2021 and 2022, respectively. Her current single with Ashley McBryde, “Never Wanted to Be That Girl,” is moving its way toward the #1 spot on the country charts.  

Carly will spend the summer opening for Kenny Chesney on his stadium-sized Here and Now Tour.

Copyright © 2022, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.