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Go Country 105

Nashville notes: Luke Bryan, Mickey Guyton & more

Mickey Guyton performed “The Star-Spangled Banner” and her original songs “All American” and “I Still Pray” on CBS’ A Capitol Fourth MondayJake Owen also performed his hits “Down to the Honkytonk” and “American Country Love Song.” 

Members of Luke Bryan‘s fan club now have priority access to his Raised Up Right Tour, which includes exclusive access to pit tickets, the merch booth and more. 

Kylie Morgan has released her debut single, “If He Wanted to He Would.” It’ll hit radio airwaves on July 25. 

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Go Country 105

“Happy trails y'all!”: Miranda Lambert & friends embark on journey out west

Miranda Lambert is embarking on a glamping trip across the country. 

After completing her co-headlining tour with Little Big Town on the Bandwagon Tour, the singer is using some of her downtime this summer to venture across the U.S. with her husband, Brendan McLoughlin, and best friend Gwen Sebastian and her husband, drummer Louis Newman, on a nearly three-week excursion. 

Miranda and Brendan are in their Airstream, known as “The Sheriff,” while Gwen and Louis are traveling in their camper, called “Toodle Lou.” Their trek began in Colorado, with the singer sharing a photo of her and Gwen sitting in front of a mountainside lake with beers in hand. The trip also includes hiking and mountain biking. 

“Time off touring means it's time to hit the dusty trail! There is no better way to spend summer than glamping with your best pals,” Miranda says in an Instagram post. “We're out on a 20 day run of adventures out west. We kicked it off in beautiful Colorado. Stay tuned for more tales from the road. Happy trails y'all!” 

Miranda and Brendan previously ventured out in a cross-country road trip in their Airstream in 2020, covering four states in six days. 

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Go Country 105

'Growin' Up': Luke Combs debuts at #2 on Billboard 200

Luke Combs is making an impression on the charts with his new album, Growin’ Up. 

The singer’s third studio album has debuted at #2 on the Billboard 200 following its June 24 release, marking the highest debut for a country album so far this year. It also serves as the highest debut of the week. The 12-track project sold 74,000 equivalent album units in its first week. 

Growin’ Up is the North Carolina native’s fourth consecutive album to reach the top five on the all-genre chart. His wildly successful sophomore album, What You See Is What You Get, debuted at #1 on the Billboard 200 in 2019, while both his debut album, This One’s For You, and EP The Prequel both hit #4 in 2018 and 2019, respectively. 

On the country charts, the current single off Growin’ Up, The Kind of Love We Make,” is climbing up the top 20. Luke recently acquired his 14th #1 hit with the previously released “Doin’ This,” which served as the lead single off his new album.   

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Go Country 105

“So magical”: Kenny Chesney breaks own record in Kansas City

Kenny Chesney has surpassed his own personal best. 

Over the 4th of July weekend, the country superstar, who is on his Here and Now Tour, made his grand return to Kansas’ Arrowhead Stadium and performed for a crowd of 57,852 people — surpassing his previous record at the stadium by about 300 people during his 2018 Trip Around the Sun Tour.

“Thank you, Kansas City. So much of what has happened to us on the road started here. And it still feels the same,” Kenny expressed in an Instagram post that included a gallery of photos of him entertaining the massive crowd and holding up a Kansas City Chiefs helmet. “So connected because you care about this music and the experience of it all. Arrowhead, last night was so magical and I thank you.” 

Kenny also set a record in May when 57,111 people showed up at the Nissan Stadium in Nashville, marking the highest attendance record for a single-day concert at the venue. 

The “Everyone She Knows” hitmaker continues on the Here and Now Tour through the end of the summer when it wraps with a two-night stay at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, MA on August 26 and 27. 

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Go Country 105

“How did I get so lucky?”: Carrie Underwood performs with Guns N' Roses in London

Dreams do come true, and Carrie Underwood is living proof, as she performed with Guns N’ Roses for the second time. 

While over in London, the country superstar made a surprise appearance during the legendary rock band’s performance at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. She rocked out to “Sweet Child ‘O Mine” and “Paradise City,” trading vocals with frontman Axl Rose, while Slash slayed on guitar.   

In April, Axl Rose joined Carrie on stage during her headlining set at Stagecoach Festival to perform the classic hits; Carrie later referred to it as “the greatest night of my life.” She reiterated that sentiment in a series of Instagram posts from her night in London with one of her favorite bands.

“Together again.but this time in London and with a few more friends! Thanks, @gunsnroses and your crew for welcoming me into your world like family,” she praised alongside a photo of her and Axl Rose on stage. “I am but a fan who somehow managed to find her way on stage to have a moment of magic with her heroes! How did I get so lucky?” 

She shared another snap of her and the entire Guns N’ Roses band standing with their arms wrapped around each other while taking a final bow. 

“Never in a million years did I think I would get to spend not one but TWO nights of my life on stage with @gunsnroses ! Thanks, again, to the band and crew and, of course, to the fantastic crowd!” Carrie captions the picture of her beaming alongside her idols, noting that the crowd’s energy was electric. “Until next time.” 

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News Daypop

Suspected gunman is in custody after mass shooting at 4th of July parade in Highland Park, Illinois kills 6, injures over 20 more

A suspect is in custody in connection with the mass shooting at an Independence Day parade in Illinois on Monday that killed 6 people, and injured over 20 more.  The shooting took place just after 10 a.m. along a holiday parade route in suburban Highland Park, about 30 miles north of Chicago. Authorities said that in addition to the six deaths, 26 people were taken to NorthShore University Health System with injuries, ranging from 8 years old to 85 years old.

Police Chief Louis Jogmen told reporters that 22-year-old Robert Crimo III, identified as a “person of interest” in connection the mass shooting, was arrested without incident in Lake Forest, Ill. after a brief pursuit by car, Highland Park, Ill.  Crimo was into custody by Highland Park officers, and no charges had been filed against Crimo as of press time. Authorities offered no immediate motives for the shootings. Lake County Major Crime Task Force Sgt. Christopher Covelli told reporters that investigators recovered the rifle used in the shooting from the scene. He said it appeared the gunman was “shooting from a roof.”

Gov. J.B. Pritzker said in a statement: “There are no words for the kind of monster who lives in wait and fires into a crowd of families with children celebrating a holiday with their community. There are no words for the kind of evil that robs our neighbors of their hopes, their dreams, their futures. Prayers alone will not put a stop to the terror of rampant gun violence in our country. We must — and we will — end this plague of gun violence.”

President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden also spoke out, saying they were “shocked by the senseless gun violence that has yet again brought grief to an American community on this Independence Day.”

Editorial credit: Leonard Zhukovsky / Shutterstock.com

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Go Country 105

“It's a song about triumph”: Lainey Wilson shares message behind new single, “Heart Like a Truck”

Lainey Wilson tells a story of resilience in her new single, “Heart Like a Truck,” with lyrics that reflect on the tough times that help shape a person into who they're supposed to be.

“Heart Like a Truck' is a song about finding freedom and strength, and not being scared of the scars and the dents and the bumps along the way,” she says. “At the end of the day, that's what builds character.”

Lainey knows firsthand how hard times help build strength. When she first moved to Nashville, she spent three years living in a camper and struggling to make ends meet as she chased her dream. Of course, those lean times paid off: Lainey is now a bona fide country star, with two #1 country singles to her name.

But she tells a different side of that story in the music video for her song. Instead of being centered around a country music hopeful in Nashville, the clip takes Lainey to a ranch, where she plays the role of a young woman struggling to find her way as a horse handler.

“It's telling a story about a ranch girl who's got a lot to prove to herself and everybody else,” the singer details. “And in the end, she does it. It's a song about triumph. It's a video about triumph.”

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News Daypop

WNBA star Brittney Griner pens handwritten letter to President Biden from Russian prison, writing “I’m terrified I might be here forever”

WNBA star Brittney Griner sent a letter to the White House on Monday asking for President Joe Biden’s assistance in securing her release from Russia, where she has been detained for nearly five months. Griner has been held in a Russian prison since February, after she was arrested for allegedly carrying hashish oil in her luggage through a Russian airport. Griner’s trial began last Friday, and is scheduled to continue on July 7. If convicted, Griner faces up to 10 years in prison.

A portion of the letter was released by Griner’s representatives, saying in part: “as I sit here in a Russian prison, alone with my thoughts and without the protection of my wife, family, friends, Olympic jersey, or any accomplishments, I’m terrified I might be here forever.  I voted for the first time in 2020 and I voted for you. I believe in you. I still have so much good to do with my freedom that you can help restore. I miss my wife! I miss my family! I miss my teammates! It kills me to know they are suffering so much right now. I am grateful for whatever you can do at this moment to get me home.”

The U.S. State Department reclassified Griner as being “wrongfully detained” in May, and transferred her case to the office of the U.S. Special Presidential Envoy for Hostage Affairs. This change allows the U.S. government to negotiate for her release instead of waiting for her trial to conclude.

Editorial credit: Phil Stafford / Shutterstock.com

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Country Daypop

Carrie Underwood joins Guns N’ Roses for two surprise concert appearances in the UK

Carrie Underwood joined Guns N’ Roses onstage for two songs during each of their July 1st and 2nd shows at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in the United Kingdom, joining the band during their songs “Sweet Child O’ Mine” and “Paradise City.” Underwood was in London last week to promote her new album, Denim & Rhinestones. 

In April, Underwood welcomed Guns N’ Roses frontman Axl Rose as a special guest during her headline performance at the Stagecoach Festival. After her UK appearance with the band, Underwood took to Instagram to share photos from the first UK show:  “Together again…but this time in London and with a few more friends! ❤ Thanks, @gunsnroses and your crew for welcoming me into your world like family. And thanks to all the fans who gave these legends the royal welcome that they deserve. I am but a fan who somehow managed to find her way on stage to have a moment of magic with her heroes! How did I get so lucky?”

After the second show, she again took to social media to share her excitement: “Never in a million years did I think I would get to spend not one but TWO nights of my life on stage with @gunsnroses ! Thanks, again, to the band and crew and, of course, to the fantastic crowd! The energy was !!! Until next time… #GunsNRoses #AxlRose #Slash #duffmckagan #london”

Editorial credit: Debby Wong / Shutterstock.com

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Country Daypop

Randy Houser announces sixth studio album ‘Note to Self’

Randy Houser announced his sixth studio album Note To Self, will be available November 11th.  All songs on the 10 track album feature co-writes by Houser, including the title track.

Produced by Houser and Blake Chancey, Randy shares about the project: “Blake and I worked on this record a long time, and I’m really looking forward to sharing the rest of it with the folks who’ve already shown how excited they are for new music. This album came together at a time when I was reflecting on who I am and what’s important to me, envisioning the kind of future I’d like to see for myself and my family.”

“Note To Self” is Houser’s first taste of new music since 2019’s Magnolia.  Houser also released a video for the single, filmed in downtown Nashville and shot in one take by a drone. The video follows Houser performing solo from Tootsie’s Orchid Lounge, across the alley and to the historic stage of Ryman Auditorium where he joins his full band.  You can check out the video – here.

Randy Houser Announces Sixth Career Studio Album, ‘Note To Self’

Editorial credit: Debby Wong / Shutterstock.com