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Go Country 105

From the “roots” to the stage: Zac Brown Band gear up for a summer of shows on the Out in the Middle Tour

After two years of pandemic-related touring breaks, plus the stops and starts of getting back on the road, Zac Brown Band is looking ahead to better days: Their summer 2022 calendar is jam-packed with Out in the Middle Tour stops.

That means ZBB are getting the chance to showcase the songs off of The Comeback, their late 2021 album, in a live setting, frontman Zac Brown tells ABC Audio.

“We're excited to show people what we do as a band, and excited to take this music and, you know, go out and play these songs,” he says, adding that now that fans have gotten a chance to get to know the album, performing it live will take the songs to the next level,” he says.

“[We're] excited to go and play and get that love from the people,” Zack continues. “Have them singing these new words back to us.”

After all, The Comeback is a particularly special project for ZBB. The group went back to their early influences for it, and the album’s cover art symbolizes that shift: It's a picture of Zac chest-deep in the water of a river near where he grew up.  “I've been swimming in that river since I was 10 years old,” he says.

Getting back in the same water he grew up with reminds Zac of the groundedness he felt when the band made their first major-label studio album, The Foundation.

“Being able to, you know, take it back to my roots there…and have dirt on my face — the same way we did The Foundation,” he reflects. “I feel a lot of the same way I did when we made the Foundation album.

The Out in the Middle Tour rolls on throughout the summer, wrapping in mid-November.

Copyright © 2022, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

Categories
Country Daypop

Walker Hayes wins Billboard Music Award for Top Country Song; Eric Church wins for Top Country Tour

Walker Hayes is celebrating his first-ever Billboard Music Awards with the Top Country Song award for his viral hit, “Fancy Like.” The song was nominated alongside Chris Stapleton’s “You Should Probably Leave,” Jason Aldean & Carrie Underwood’s “If I Didn’t Love You,” Jordan Davis and Luke Bryan’s, “Buy Dirt,” and Luke Combs’ “Forever After All.”

Hayes shared on Twitter upon hearing the news: “Just won Top Country Song at the @BBMAs.” He also reacted to the news in a video message posted to the official Billboard Music Awards account: “What up Billboard Awards?! Thank you for honoring ‘Fancy Like’ as the Top Country Song,” he said in the clip. “Holy cow, we never win anything…Just wanted to say thanks for honoring us. It’s a huge deal. It’s been a great year.”

Eric Church won the Billboard Music Award for ‘Top Country Tour” with his Gather Again Tour.  Other nominees in the Top Country Tour category were Luke Bryan’s Proud to Be Right Here tour; and Chris Stapleton’s All-American Road Show Tour, which had 41 stops during the eligibility period.

Editorial credit: Kathy Hutchins / Shutterstock.com

Categories
Country Daypop

Dierks Bentley and Elle King team up for ‘Worth a Shot’

It’s been six years since Elle King and Dierks Bentley teamed up for their Grammy-nominated No. 1 hit “Different for Girls,” and now the duo are back together for their new collaboration, “Worth A Shot.”

Says King: “Dierks took a chance and brought me into the country world. I couldn’t make my own country record, which is my favorite album I’ve ever made, without including the person who gave me a seat at the table. To be honest, Dierks and I just have fun no matter what we do, especially singing and performing great songs. This song is all about trying to get back to the beginning of something, and so it’s only right that we go back to where it all started for me.”

“Worth A Shot” is the follow up King’s smash-hit single with Miranda Lambert “Drunk (And I Don’t Wanna Go Home)”, which was certified Platinum and reached No. 1 on both Billboard’s Country Airplay and Mediabase/Country Aircheck Charts. The No. 1 marked the first woman-woman collaboration to reach the top spot on Billboard’s Country Airplay chart since Reba McEntire and Linda Davis’ “Does He Love Me” in 1993.

After wrapping up her headlining Drunk And I Don’t Wanna Go Home Tour, King is now on the road with Chris Stapleton as part of his All American Roadshow Tour.

Check out the lyric video for “Worth A Shot” – here.

LISTEN: Elle King Teams Up With Dierks Bentley For New Duet “Worth A Shot”

Editorial credit: Debby Wong / Shutterstock.com

Categories
Pop Daypop

Charlie Puth shares his music video for “That’s Hilarious”

Charlie Puth is sharing the music video for his song “That’s Hilarious.”

The video starts with Charlie draped over a table, reflecting on his past relationship; as it progresses, Charlie begins experiencing other strong emotions. Prior to the clip’s release, Charlie shared on TikTok that he was “really drunk” when shooting a portion of the music video because “I didn’t want to get upset about what the song was about” and said he fought back tears when filming the music video.

Recently on Instagram, Charlie said that the song brings him back to “a time that was really, really, really challenging in my life,” adding, “I never told people what happened to me and the pain that I went through going through the worst breakup of my life in 2019.  ‘That’s Hilarious’ is the hardest song that I’ve ever had to put together.”

“That’s Hilarious” appears on the forthcoming album, Charlie, due out later this year.  Take a look at the video – here.

Editorial credit: A.PAES / Shutterstock.com

Categories
Go Country 105

'Billboard' Music Awards complete winners list

The Billboard Music Awards winners were revealed in ceremonies Sunday night at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, and broadcast live on NBC. Sean “Diddy” Combs served as the host of this year’s ceremony.

Here’s the complete list of winners:

Top Artist
Drake

Top Female Artist
Olivia Rodrigo

Top Male Artist
Drake

Top Duo/Group
BTS

Top New Artist
Olivia Rodrigo

Top Billboard 200 Artist
Taylor Swift

Top Billboard 200 Album
Olivia Rodrigo, SOUR

Top Hot 100 Artist
Olivia Rodrigo

Top Hot 100 Song
The Kid LAROI & Justin Bieber, “STAY”

Top Streaming Songs Artist
Olivia Rodrigo

Top Radio Songs Artist
Olivia Rodrigo

Top Billboard Global 200 Artist
Olivia Rodrigo

Top Billboard Global (Excl. U.S.) Artist
Ed Sheeran

Top Tour
The Rolling Stones (No Filter Tour)

Top R&B Artist
Doja Cat

Top R&B Male Artist
The Weeknd

Top R&B Female Artist
Doja Cat

Top R&B Tour
Bruno Mars (Bruno Mars at Park MGM)

Top Rap Artist
Drake

Top Rap Male Artist
Drake

Top Rap Female Artist
Megan Thee Stallion

Top Rap Tour
Omarion & Bow Wow (The Millennium Tour 2021)

Top R&B Tour
Bruno Mars (Bruno Mars at Park MGM)

Top Rap Tour
Omarion & Bow Wow (The Millennium Tour 2021)

Top Country Artist
Taylor Swift

Top Country Male Artist
Morgan Wallen

Top Country Female Artist
Taylor Swift

Top Country Duo/Group
Dan + Shay

Top Country Tour
Eric Church (Gather Again Tour)

Top Rock Artist
Glass Animals

Top Rock Tour
The Rolling Stones (No Filter Tour)

Top Latin Artist
Bad Bunny

Top Latin Male Artist
Bad Bunny

Top Latin Female Artist
Kali Uchis

Top Latin Duo/Group
Eslabon Armado

Top Latin Tour
Los Bukis (Una Historia Cantada Tour)

Top Dance/Electronic Artist
Lady Gaga

Top Christian Artist
Ye

Top Gospel Artist
CeCe Winans

Top Billboard 200 Album
Olivia Rodrigo, SOUR

Top Soundtrack
Encanto

Top R&B Album
Doja Cat, Planet Her

Top Rap Album
Drake, Certified Lover Boy

Top Country Album
Taylor Swift, Red (Taylor’s Version)

Top Rock Album
twenty one pilots, Scaled And Icy

Top Latin Album
KAROL G, KG0516

Top Dance/Electronic Album
ILLENIUM, Fallen Embers

Top Christian Album
Ye, Donda

Top Gospel Album
Ye, Donda

Top Song Sales Artist
BTS

Top Streaming Song
The Kid LAROI & Justin Bieber, “STAY”

Top Selling Song
BTS, “Butter”

Top Radio Song
Dua Lipa, “Levitating”

Top Collaboration
The Kid LAROI & Justin Bieber, “STAY”

Top Billboard Global 200 Song
The Kid LAROI & Justin Bieber, “STAY”

Top Billboard Global (Excl. U.S.) Song
The Kid LAROI & Justin Bieber, “STAY”

Top Viral Song
Doja Cat ft. SZA, “Kiss Me More”

Top R&B Song
Silk Sonic (Bruno Mars, Anderson .Paak), “Leave The Door Open”

Top Rap Song
Lil Nas X ft. Jack Harlow, “INDUSTRY BABY”

Top Country Song
Walker Hayes, “Fancy Like”

Top Rock Song
Måneskin, “Beggin'”

Top Latin Song
Kali Uchis, “telepatía”

Top Dance/Electronic Song
Elton John & Dua Lipa, “Cold Heart – PNAU Remix”

Top Christian Song
Ye, “Hurricane”

Top Gospel Song
Ye, “Hurricane”

Copyright © 2022, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

Categories
Go Country 105

'Billboard' Music Awards: Morgan Wallen takes home Top Male Country Artist

Morgan Wallen officially secured his comeback at the Billboard Music Awards, taking home Top Male Country Artist on Sunday night.

The singer kept his acceptance speech positive. “I’d like to say thank God that my fans. I got the best damn fans,” said Morgan. “Thank you to my mama for being my date tonight. I wouldn’t be here without you.”

Ahead of him getting up on stage, he shared a meaningful hug with his mother, ?Lesli.  The matriarch fiercely defended her son when he was first embroiled in controversy last year when video surfaced of him shouting a racial slur.  Not referencing the controversy outright, Wallen thanked Billboard for “inviting me here.”  

Prior to accepting his award, Morgan took to the stage for a subdued, seven-minute bloc to perform “Me on Whiskey” and “Wasted on You.” 

Host ?Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs? said he was “uncanceling” Morgan ahead of the Sunday ceremony, declaring, “Morgan [used the N-word] while talking to his boy… People make mistakes. Now we’re moving on with love and respect for everybody that was hurt or affected. It’s time to forgive.”

Copyright © 2022, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

Categories
Go Country 105

'Billboard' Music Awards: Dan + Shay, Miranda Lambert and Elle King rock the stage

Dan + Shay subbed in for Red Hot Chili Peppers on Sunday night’s Billboard Music Awards, performing their soulful anthem, “You.”

The duo wrote bright red suits as they led the audience in singing along to their love song, with Shay Mooney causing quite the stir when he belted out the high note and held it for several seconds.  

The performance followed the two snagging their second Best Country Duo/Group win.

Also rocking the stage were Miranda Lambert and Elle King, who brought the audience to their feet when performing their rowdy hit “Drunk (And I Don’t Wanna Go Home).”  The two donned matching suits as pyrotechnics puffed clouds of fire in the background.

Host Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs had a lot to say about the track, telling the crowd before introducing the duo, “I love the song so much because it describes the last 25 years of my life.”  He also called the singers “two history-making women,” explaining “they are the first female duo to have a number-one record on the Billboard country airplay charts in the last 30 years.”

Miranda and Elle were nominated for Top Rock Song, but lost to “Beggin” singers Måneskin.

Copyright © 2022, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

Categories
Go Country 105

'Billboard' Music Awards: Morgan Wallen performs “Wasted On You” and “Me on Whiskey”

After host Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs announced at the Billboard Music Awards that he was “uncanceling” Morgan Wallen, the country singer took to the stage for a seven-minute bloc to perform two songs.

Wallen was subdued and didn’t address the audience before performing “Me on Whiskey” and “Wasted on You,” while seated and backed by his band.  He concluded his set with a simple “Thank you” before the show cut to commercial.

Sunday marked a comeback for Wallen, who was up for four awards after he was embroiled in controversy after he was filmed shouting a racial epithet a month after Dangerous: The Double Album dropped last year. The fallout was immediate, with country radio dropping Morgan’s songs and major awards shows, including the ACM and CMA Awards, disinviting him from attending.  He was also temporarily suspended from his record label, Big Loud Records, and dropped by his former talent agency, WME.

Despite spending much of 2021 on the sidelines, Morgan dominated the Billboard 200 last year with his record-breaking Dangerous album.

Heading into Sunday’s show, Diddy called for forgiveness for Wallen. “The mood of the show is about love and forgiveness,” he said. “As a musical family, none of us are saints; none of us are without things that happen to them in life.”

He said of the “Cover Me Up” singer, “Morgan [used the N-word] while talking to his boy… People make mistakes. Now we’re moving on with love and respect for everybody that was hurt or affected. It's time to forgive.”

Copyright © 2022, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

Categories
Go Country 105

'Billboard' Music Awards: Dan + Shay wins Best Country Duo/Group

?Dan + Shay? won Top Country Duo/Group on Sunday night’s Billboard Music Awards, held at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.

Dan Smyers and Shay Mooney both made sure to shout out their significant others while accepting the award.  This marks the second time they’ve won it, following their first time in 2019.

“My heart is pounding right now,” Shay told the screaming crowd. “This is a crazy moment for us!”  The singer was at a loss for words and admitted, “That’s all I got” before throwing it to Mooney, telling him, “Dan, you go ahead and talk now.”

Dan called the award “truly such an honor” when accepting Best Country Duo/Group and also shouted out another major milestone in his life: “My wife and I just celebrated our fifth wedding anniversary.”  He said to his wife, Abby Law, “I know you’re watching back home. I love you so much.”

Shouting out his managers, road crew, band and fans, Smyers declared, “We love you. We couldn’t do this without you… You guys make it happen for us.”

Dan + Shay were vying with Florida Georgia Line and Zac Brown Band for Top Country Duo/Group.

Copyright © 2022, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

Categories
Go Country 105

'Billboard' Music Awards 2022: Taylor Swift, Eric Church among early country winners

Taylor Swift and Eric Church were among the early winners of Sunday night’s Billboard Music Awards, held at MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.

Thanks to her re-recorded Fearless and Red albums, Taylor was nominated for six categories this year: Top Female Country Artist, Top Country Artist, Top Country Album, Top Female Artist, Top Billboard 200 Artist and Top Artist.  She won four of the six, losing Top Artist to R&B star Drake.  

Red (Taylor’s Version) was named this year’s Top Country Album — it should be of note ?Fearless (Taylor’s Version) ?was also nominated — and she bested her “I Bet You Think About Me” collaborator Chris Stapleton, as well as Morgan WallenWalker Hayes and Luke Combs for Top Country Artist.  She also beat Miranda Lambert and Carrie Underwood for Best Female Country Artist, and country star Morgan Wallen for top Billboard 200 Artist.

As for Eric Church, he won Top Country Tour, which pitted him against Luke Bryan‘s Proud to Be Right Here Tour and Stapleton’s All-American Road Show Tour.

Copyright © 2022, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.