Month: June 2022

Jon Pardi just dropped the music video for his song “Fill Er Up.” That track comes off Mr. Saturday Night, the singer's fourth album, which will be out in September.

Ryan Hurd's new video for “Pass it On” is out now. The song, off his Pelago album, features backing vocals from his country star wife, Maren Morris, who also co-stars in the music video.

In case you missed it, hot country newcomer Jelly Roll made his national television debut on ABC's Jimmy Kimmel Live! this week. He performed “Son of a Sinner,” his new single, which is currently inside country radio's Top 30 and climbing.

Willie Nelson has a new book coming out about his relationship with his longtime drummer and good friend Paul English, who died in 2020 at age 87. Called Me & Paul: Untold Tales of a Fabled Friendship, the book will be out on September 20.

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After posting several teases for her next album, Kelsea Ballerini has an exciting update to share: She's finished with her next musical chapter. The singer shared a handful of beachy, West coast snapshots of herself on social media this week along with some reflections.

“Drove the PCH and listened to the final mixes of my album today,” she wrote. “And now I am going to eat copious amounts of sushi and drown in gratitude for this new little chapter we get to share together so soon.”

Kelsea offered the first taste of her album with “Heartfirst,” her latest single, which is currently climbing up the Billboard Country Airplay chart.

So far, the beach and the water seem to be themes for Kelsea's new music. Previous teases have often featured beachscapes as well as shots of Kelsea dipping her feet in a pool and soaking in a hot tub.

For now, fans can catch Kelsea's appearance on ABC's Jimmy Kimmel Live! — she's performing “Heartfirst” on the show on Thursday, June 30.

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Luke Bryan is working hard on his next musical chapter, and he's making headway. The singer says he's “got probably half of the project done.”

In an interview with SiriusXM, Luke provides an album update but cautions fans not to expect the full project too soon. “We're working hard in the studio, and then go in and cut some more songs,” he elaborates. “We've got several songs right now that we feel like can be singles.”

In the meantime, he's gearing up for the release of a new song called “Country On,” which will be out on Friday. For now, Luke hopes that will tide over eager fans as he continues to add to his album's track list.

“Hopefully as Country On' is rising up the charts, [I] will spend a couple more months writing a lot of music,” he says.

Coming just in time for the 4th of July, “Country On” promises a huge dose of tempo and fun, creating what Luke hopes will be a perfect summer anthem.

“When you're having a bad day, you know you can drink a beer and country on,” he continues. “I love what the song says. I love that it uplifts the hardworking American people out there. It brings a lot of unity, this song brings a lot of unity in. It's got feel-good vibes all around it.”

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Like the rest of the world, it seems that Maren Morris is watching the new season of Stranger Things.

The country star recently co-starred in fellow artist Ryan Hurd's “Pass It On” music video, which just so happened to have some aesthetic overlap with season four of the beloved Netflix show. It was filmed at a roller rink with throwback vibes that might remind fans of the Stranger Things episode where main character Eleven and her boyfriend Mike and pal Will go roller skating.

So, Maren took some scenes from the “Pass it On” music video and set it to Kate Bush's “Running Up That Hill (A Deal With God),” a 1985 hit that's currently experiencing a major resurgence thanks to its prominent feature in the new Stranger Things season.

“Had to…” Maren wrote on Twitter alongside her Stranger Things/”Pass it On” mashup.

When Ryan's video premiered on Wednesday, Maren also shared some snapshots from filming day.

“Slushie girl at your service,” she wrote. “Thanks for having me in your video [Ryan Hurd.] Glad we didn't break any bones before we go on tour.”

Maren and Ryan are no strangers to musical collaboration. Not only did they first meet as Nashville songwriters, but they scored a hit in 2021 with their duet, “Chasing After You.”

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Jake Owen is the newest addition to the bill for the upcoming PBS 4th of July special, A Capitol Fourth.

“I can't wait to celebrate the Fourth in D.C. this year,” the singer says. “It's exciting to be a part of a great American tradition, and to sing a couple songs while I'm at it. See you Monday night!”

The country star will perform two of his number-one country hits: “American Country Love Song” and “Down to the Honky Tonk.” The former is a nostalgic and quintessentially American feel-good hit from 2016, while the latter is a more recent release, coming off his 2019 album, Greetings From…Jake.

Airing live from Washington, D.C., the 42nd iteration of A Capitol Fourth will feature an all-genre lineup, including the National Symphony Orchestra, who will accompany Jake during his performance.

Mickey Guyton is hosting the show. Other performers taking the stage include Cynthia Erivo, Gloria Gaynor and Andy Grammer.

A Capitol Fourth will air on PBS on Monday, July 4 at 8 p.m. ET.

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It's Cole Swindell's birthday today, and he's celebrating with a new 90s-inspired single.

“She Had Me at Heads Carolina” is a fun and flirty dance-a-long track following a guy who walks into karaoke night at a bar and is immediately transfixed by the girl singing a 90s country classic into the mic.

The song's lyrics and melody heavily reference “Heads Carolina, Tails California,” Jo Dee Messina's country hit from 1996, and Cole says the throwback makes the song feel familiar, even to fans who haven't heard his new single before.

“We've played it live a few times, and obviously, people think they know it when it gets to that chorus,” he explains. “I mean, they're screaming this song, because it's such a big hit from the 90s, but when it gets to that line about south Georgia, it kind of throws them off.”

That part of the chorus — where Cole sings “Heads Carolina, tails California / Maybe she'd fall for a boy from south Georgia” — is where his version's lyrics depart from the original. Still, the melody continues to hearken back to Jo Dee's song, and Cole says he'd like to incorporate the 90s hitmaker into more aspects of the new song.

“I hope somebody I get to sing it — whether I do something, I want her to be involved, because we wouldn't have the song without the writers and without her making it what it is,” he says.

“She Had Me at Heads Carolina” comes off Cole's newest album, Stereotype.

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