Month: December 2022

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Go Country 105

George Strait has plans for new album, is giving “serious thought” to a documentary, too

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He may be the King of Country, but George Strait isn't content to rest on his laurels. The living legend told Cowboys & Indians that he's got his eye on making new music.

“I like making records and plan on doing another one soon,” George details. “I'm narrowing down my song choices now.”

He goes on to say that he's a “melody guy,” so fans should expect any new music that comes to him to have a strong, catchy sonic delivery. “A great melody can sell a song the best,” the singer explains.

“A great lyric with a lousy melody maybe not so much, but a great lyric along with a great melody is obviously what you're looking to create,” George continues. “There's no specific message or mood that I'll be shooting for. I just want to put together a bunch of good songs that stand out individually.”

George is such a legendary performer that he appears on top of the charts both as an artist and as a lyrical subject. This year, Scotty McCreery had a big hit with his ode to the King, “Damn Strait.”

When he thinks about furthering his musical legacy, George says he's not opposed to the idea of being the subject of a biopic.

“I have given serious thought to a documentary,” he says. “Although I tend to procrastinate these days, so right now a thought is all it is.”

 

Copyright © 2022, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

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Go Country 105

Jimmie Allen shares a festive, from-home performance of “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas”

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Jimmie Allen is sharing a festive performance to help fans get into the holiday spirit.

The singer posted video of his rendition of “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” on social media this week, adding some soulful vocal flair to this beloved holiday classic. Jimmie also hinted that fans just might have a studio version of his cover in their stocking this year, too.

“Should I release this?” the singer wondered in the caption of his post.

Jimmie has yet to put out a full Christmas album, but in 2020, he lent his voice to “What Does Christmas Mean?” alongside Louis York and The Shindellas. The following year, the three acts performed their holiday song on ABC's CMA Country Christmas.

In non-Christmas news, Jimmie recently celebrated his latest number-one hit with “Down Home,” a deeply personal song he wrote about his late father.

Copyright © 2022, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

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Go Country 105

Dolly Parton says fans can expect “bizarre costumes” + more during 'Miley's New Year's Eve Party'

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Dolly Parton is the co-host for Miley Cyrus' second annual New Year's Eve special, and as fans might expect, she's bringing her own special flair to the experience.

Music will be a big part of the show, of course, but Dolly tells ET Online that she and her pop superstar goddaughter will also bring lots of their signature wit and personality to their hosting roles.

“We're going to be doing some skits,” Dolly says. “I know that anything can happen live with the two of us.”

She goes on to say that the TV event will feature a little bit of everything, as Dolly and Miley count down to midnight on New Year's Eve.

“I'm sure we'll be wearing some bizarre costumes and we'll be singing some serious songs, some fun songs [and] we'll be bringing in the new year in fun fashion, I'm sure,” the country legend adds.

The lineup for Miley's New Year's Eve Party was unveiled this week, and it looks like Dolly's the sole representative from the country genre this year. Rappers Latto and Rae Sremmurd are performing, as are pop stars Sia and Fletcher, the latter of whom does have a country connection, as she collaborated with Kelsea Ballerini this year.

The show is airing live from Miami, a location that Dolly jokingly says was a selling point for her.

“When she first asked me about doing the New Year's show I thought it might be from New York and I wasn't gonna do it cause I didn't wanna get that cold, you know,” the singer explains. “She said, No, that's why I don't do it in New York. That's why I'm going to Miami.'”

Miley's New Year's Eve Party airs December 31 on NBC.

Copyright © 2022, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

Categories
News Daypop

Bear fatally shot at Jacksonville Florida zoo after escaping and attacking zookeeper

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Staff at the Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens fatally shot an American black bear after the animal escaped its exhibit and “engaged with a zookeeper behind the scenes.”  The bear’s name was Johnny, and he was 5 years old.

Officials said in a Facebook post that the zoo’s lethal weapons team responded to an emergency radio call about the incident, which occurred at around 5:10 p.m. on Wednesday.  Zoo officials said: “Our highest priority is always the safety of human lives, therefore, the bear was shot and killed.” The zookeeper was attacked and taken to the hospital by Jacksonville Fire Rescue. Their injuries were not considered life-threatening.

Zoo officials said that an ongoing investigation will be conducted over the coming days and weeks, adding that  they do not take the incident lightly:  “It is profoundly painful when we have a loss of an animal, especially under circumstances such as this.”

Editorial credit: vblinov / Shutterstock.com

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News Daypop

Former D.C. police officers found guilty in death of 20-year-old during police pursuit

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Two former Metropolitan Police officers were found guilty on all charges brought against them in connection with the death of Karon Hylton-Brown, who was involved in a fatal car crash during a police chase more than two years ago. Former officers Terence Sutton, 38, and Andrew Zabavsky, 54, had been suspended from the police department due to suspicious circumstances surrounding Hylton-Brown’s death that sparked public unrest and led to a criminal trial.

Hylton-Brown, a 20-year-old Black man, was pursued by D.C. police while driving a moped on a sidewalk in the city’s Brightwood Park neighborhood on Oct. 23, 2020. Authorities have said the attempted traffic stop was prompted by Hylton-Brown’s lack of a helmet, although Sutton and Zabavsky were also found guilty of conspiring to hide the true circumstances of the chase and traffic collision that caused the young man’s death. Sutton continued to chase Hylton-Brown for more than 10 blocks through neighborhood streets and into an alley, when Hylton-Brown was struck by an oncoming vehicle as soon as he exited the alley, suffering severe head trauma that led to his death two days later, on Oct. 25, 2020

The U.S. Department of Justice announced in a news release that the jury returned guilty verdicts for both men, convicting Sutton of second-degree murder, conspiracy to obstruct justice and obstruction of justice, and Zabavsky of the latter two charges:  “The jury found that Sutton caused Mr. Hylton-Brown’s death by driving a police vehicle in conscious disregard for an extreme risk of death or serious bodily injury to Mr. Hylton-Brown. The jury further found that Sutton and Zabavsky conspired and combined to hide from MPD officials the circumstances of the traffic crash leading to Mr. Hylton-Brown’s death.”

The second-degree murder charge against Sutton carries a statutory maximum sentence of 40 years in prison, while the conspiracy and obstruction of justice charges each carry respective statutory maximums of five and 20 years. A federal district court judge will determine sentences for both former officers.

Editorial credit: Nicole Glass Photography / Shutterstock.com

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Go Country 105

The Charleston staple that makes it Christmas for Darius Rucker

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As lots of us get ready to enjoy the holiday staples, there’s one food that officially makes it Christmas for Charleston native Darius Rucker. 

“We have it during the year, too,” he says. “But at Christmas, we always have okra soup … It’s my favorite thing and it was just something that the family, you know, we always loved it, and you can make a whole bunch of it and everybody can eat. So okra soup was always our big thing.”

But the South Carolinian likely won’t be at home this holiday to enjoy what he calls his favorite meal.

“I think we’re going to Miami this year,” Darius reveals. “The Dolphins are playing the Packers, and my son’s a Packers fan and they’re playing on Christmas Day. So I think we’re actually gonna go down to Florida and spend Christmas down there.”

Look for Darius’ new album, Carolyn’s Boy – named for his beloved mother – to be released in the new year.

Copyright © 2022, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

Categories
Country Daypop

Shania Twain set to release the single “Giddy Up!” from upcoming LP

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Shania Twain announced that she will release the new song “Giddy Up!” on Jan. 5, 2023, ahead of her new album, ‘Queen of Me’.  Twain will release Queen of Me on Feb. 3, marking her first album of new music in over five years. The 57-year-old country music singer wrote on Instagram: “I am here with some news that will put a spring in your step, a bounce in your heart… some up in your giddy! My new song ‘Giddy Up!’ is coming out January 5th!! I’m super excited for you all to hear this one, it’s all about letting loose and doing the things that make you giddy!”  

Queen of Me features a Side A and Side B and includes the songs “Giddy Up,” “Brand New,” “Waking Up Dreaming,” “Best Friend,” “Pretty Liar,” “Inhale/Exhale Air,” “Last Day of Summer,” “Queen of Me,” “Got It Good,” “Number One,” “Not Just a Girl” and “The Hardest Stone.”

Twain will also launch her 2023 Queen Of Me World Tour in support of her new album. The North American portion of the tour begins April 28 in Spokane, Wash. Twain will then perform several dates in the United Kingdom before launching a recently announced second leg to her Queen Of Me World Tour that was added due to “overwhelming demand,” which is extended to run through mid November, with some extra U.S. dates as well as a run in her native Canada. Hailey Whitters, Breland, Lindsay Ell, Kelsea Ballerini, Mickey Guyton, Priscilla Block and Robyn Ottolini will serve as support on select dates.

Editorial credit: DFree / Shutterstock.com

Categories
Country Daypop

Ashley McBryde shares acoustic cover of “Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas”

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Ashley McBryde posted a clip on TikTok to help spread the Christmas spirit.

Wearing no makeup and sporting her festive holiday pajamas, McBryde grabbed her guitar to perform “Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas” from a hotel room. “Here’s a Christmas ditty from a hotel room, in pajamas. When I should’ve been in bed,” she said in the caption.

McBryde noted these aren’t the original lyrics of the traditional carol, sharing the song’s earlier version a couple of days later.  Once again in pajama, she captioned a new TikTok: “Here are those original lyrics to ‘Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas’. They’re so sad.”  

https://www.cmt.com/news/0oyk38/listen-ashley-mcbryde-shares-acoustic-christmas-ditty-from-hotel-room

Editorial credit: Kathy Hutchins / Shutterstock.com

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Pop Daypop

Justin Bieber close to signing $200 Million deal to sell his music catalog

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Justin Bieber is close to signing a deal to sell his music rights to Blackstone-backed Hipgnosis Songs Capital for around $200 million.  The deal, which has been rumored for weeks, is not yet done. However, it includes Bieber’s shares of his publishing and recorded-music catalog, which sources tell Variety will continue to be administered and owned (respectively) by Universal even if the deal closes. Bieber’s catalog contains shares of his multiple hits over the past 15-years.

Bieber postponed the remaining dates in his “Justice” tour dates until an unspecified time next year.  The tour was originally scheduled to launch in 2020, but has been postponed and delayed several times — initially the reasons for the delays was due to the pandemic, but most recently the issues followed Bieber’s bout with Ramsay Hunt syndrome, a rare virus that in his case caused facial paralysis. It finally launched in March and covered most of North America, but he postponed the remaining dates early in June after announcing his difficulties with the disease.

Companies such as Hipgnosis have embraced newer catalogs; the Bieber deal would be the largest music-rights acquisition for Hipgnosis to date. Earlier this year, the company acquired the song-catalog rights of Justin Timberlake in a deal reported to be worth just over $100 million.

Editorial credit: DFree / Shutterstock.com

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Pop Daypop

Taylor Swift makes global music history with her LP ‘Midnights’

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Taylor Swift has made global music history just eight weeks after the release of her 10th album Midnights. Swift is now the only artist to have five albums with more than one million units sold during release week. Midnights has sold six million units total, including three million in the U.S. alone, within eight weeks of its release.

Midnights became the fastest-selling album of Swift’s career, helping her break records in streaming, physical and vinyl album sales worldwide. The album sold a record 1.6 million units within its debut week and is also the first release to sell more than one million physical albums since 2015. To date, Swift has sold 22.4 million albums and has had 36.6 billion combined streams of her music. Midnights had more than one billion streams within its first week of release.

Midnights features collaborations with Lana Del Rey and Zoë Kravitz, and includes Swift’s No. 1 single “Anti-Hero.” Swift described Midnights as “the stories of 13 sleepless nights scattered throughout [her] life”. She will also embark on her The Eras Tour in 2023, featuring supporting artists including Paramore, HAIM, GAYLE, Phoebe Bridgers, girl in red, MUNA, OWENN, beabadoobee, and Gracie Abrams.

Taylor Swift makes global music history again in 2022

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