Month: January 2023

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Go Country 105

Party in Texas! Luke Bryan saddles up for Houston Rodeo

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Luke Bryan‘s ready to saddle up for one of country music’s biggest events of the entire year. He’ll play the finals of the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo Sunday, March 19, at NRG Stadium. 

As usual, the lineup is three weeks of the biggest names in music, with a particular emphasis on country. Parker McCollum kicks things off February 28, with Brooks & Dunn, Walker Hayes, Zac Brown Band, Jason Aldean, Jon Pardi, Ashley McBryde, Kenny Chesney, Chris Stapleton, Cody Johnson and Brad Paisley all taking the stage in subsequent days. 

Superstars from the pop world, like New Kids on the Block, the Chainsmokers and Machine Gun Kelly, are also on the bill. 

Tickets go on sale Thursday, January 12. Visit RodeoHouston.com for all the details. 

Copyright © 2023, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

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News Daypop

McCarthy loses 11th vote; House adjourns with no speaker elected

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The U.S. House of Representatives adjourned for a third straight day on Thursday without electing a House speaker, after Republican Rep. Kevin McCarthy lost his 11th consecutive vote for the position. The House voted 219-213 along party lines to reconvene noon Friday. McCarthy and Rep. Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., were again nominated for speaker on Thursday, with the Democrat consistently netting all 212 Democrat votes while McCarthy went from 201 votes to 200 throughout the day.

McCarthy, who was the House minority leader during the 117th Congress, has sought to earn the House gavel previously held by Democrat Rep. Nancy Pelosi of California, but has failed to garner the 218 votes necessary to do so. The deadlock marks the first time in 100 years that House lawmakers have failed to elect a speaker on the first ballot; the GOP will again try to end the political stalemate that began Tuesday and which has prevented the 118th Congress from conducting any business, including the swearing in of new members.

The deadlock leaves much of the government at a standstill. None of the newly elected congressional leaders can be sworn in until someone ascends to the role of speaker, and returning lawmakers have not had their security clearances renewed, so they cannot receive private briefings from the military and intelligence agencies. Without a speaker, the House also can’t carry out oversight of the federal government or other entities or call witnesses before committees.

The speaker is next in line after the U.S. vice president to lead the nation in the event of a circumstance that would prevent the commander-in-chief from carrying out their duties.

Editorial credit: RozenskiP / Shutterstock.com

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News Daypop

Police name father a suspect in killing of family of 8 in Utah

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Police have named the father of the family of eight shot and killed inside a rural Utah home on Wednesday as a suspect in the case. Police identified the deceased as 42-year-old Michael Haight, his wife Tausha Haight, 40, their five children and 78-year-old Gail Earl, Tausha’s mother. Michael Haight is suspected of killing his family and himself. Police said in a statement that all of the deceased sustained gunshot wounds.

Deputies arrived at the residence in Enoch City to conduct a welfare check and discovered three adults were also found dead.  The children were all students in the Iron County School District. They were 17, 12, 4 and two 7-year-olds. Three were female and the 4-year-old and one of the 7-year-olds were male. According to city manager Rob Dotson, the community is in shock over the tragedy, saying the family of eight attended church and schools in the area and that they were very active citizens. The father of the family was an insurance agent, Dotson said, adding that no one ever noticed any issues or dysfunction in the family.

Utah Gov. Spencer Cox expressed his condolences on Twitter: “Our hearts go out to all those affected by this senseless violence. Please keep the community of Enoch in your prayers.” Lt. Gov. Deidre Henderson also said on Twitter that she was “praying for the community of Enoch tonight.”

The Iron County School District sent a letter to parents on Wednesday expressing sadness and offering grief counselors to help students: “We are saddened by the loss to our school community and will make every effort to help you and your child as needed.”

Editorial credit: SevenMaps / Shutterstock.com

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Go Country 105

With a second album on the way, 'Gold Chain Cowboy' Parker McCollum has a “Handle” on being humble

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Parker McCollum‘s “Handle on You” is now in the top fifteen, and shortly before November’s CMA Awards, he revealed he’s also got a handle on his sophomore album. 

“I’ll sing vocals on the last three or four songs Friday and Saturday, and it’ll be done,” he told ABC Audio, “so it’ll be out sometime next year.”

When pressed for details about his follow-up to 2021’s Gold Chain Cowboy, Parker was ever the polite Texan.

“Oh, I don’t know, some mediocre songwriting with some decent melodies and some slow, sad songs,” he added, “so hopefully they’ll dig it.”

Even though the Academy of Country Music gave Parker its New Male Artist of the Year trophy in 2022, and CMT proclaimed “To Be Loved by You” its Breakthrough Video of the Year, he still feels like he’s new to the game.

“I certainly don’t think I’ve done enough to act any differently yet,” Parker says of his humble attitude, “and still kinda feel like I’m earning my stripes and paying my dues. And I certainly don’t want to oversell anything and then come up short. So hopefully they love it.”  

Both of Parker’s previous singles, “Pretty Heart,” and “To Be Loved by You,” have made it all the way to #1.

So far, there’s no word on exactly when his second album will arrive, though he did put out the new track, “Stoned,” in December. 

Copyright © 2023, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

Categories
Country Daypop

Luke Combs announces new album to debut Spring 2023

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Luke Combs took to social media to share the first details about his forthcoming fourth album, less than a year after releasing his third studio album, Growin’ Up.  Combs writes in his post: “New album. 18 songs. March 24,” but hasn’t provided any more information about the title, tracklist or cover art for the project.

Combs’ last album Growin’ Up came out in June 2022, and before that, he was releasing a full-length project every 2-3 years. The country superstar has also typically released deluxe versions of his albums; Growin’ Up is the first major-label record from Combs not to be extended with a deluxe version.

Editorial credit: Kathy Hutchins / Shutterstock.com

Categories
Country Daypop

Shania Twain shares the video for her new single ‘Giddy Up!’

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Shania Twain is back with new music, releasing her latest single and dance video on Thursday for the song “Giddy Up!”  The video for “Giddy Up!” shows people starting dance parties in a restaurant, a grocery store and other locations. Twain plays an auto mechanic who can’t stop her workers from dancing.  You can take a look at the video – here.

The 57-year-old country music singer said that the tagline “Giddy Up!” is a tribute to her famed “Let’s Go Girls!” catchphrase from her 1999 hit “Man! I Feel Like a Woman!”  Shania said in a statement: “‘Let’s go girls!’ is such a wonderfully uplifting sentiment now, but it’s just something I said during the recording in the studio and I guess that’s the same for ‘Giddy Up! These lines come to me when I’m thinking about how to put a little ‘pep in my step.’ I want people to feel good when they hear the new album. I want to set a celebratory tone and ‘Giddy Up!’ is a way to call to the audience and say ‘Let’s get ready for some fun!’”

“Giddy Up!” appears on Twain’s forthcoming sixth studio album, Queen of Me, which also features the single “Waking Up Dreaming” and 10 other songs. Queen of Me drops on Feb. 3, and Twain will launch a tour in support of the album beginning April 28 in Spokane, Wash.

Editorial credit: Leonard Zhukovsky / Shutterstock.com

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Pop Daypop

Nirvana, Supremes, Ma Rainey among Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award honorees

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The Recording Academy has announced the recipients for its 2023 Grammy Lifetime Achievement Awards, saying in a press release on Thursday that Bobby McFerrin, Nirvana, Ma Rainey, Nile Rodgers, Slick Rick “The Ruler,” The Supremes, and Ann Wilson and Nancy Wilson of Heart will receive awards this year.

Recording Academy CEO Harvey Mason Jr. said: “The Academy is proud to celebrate this diverse slate of influential music people spanning numerous genres and crafts as our 2023 Special Merit Awards honorees. Each creator on this list has made an impact on our industry — from technical to creative achievements — representing the breadth of music’s diverse community. We’re excited to celebrate this group of legends next month that continues to inspire and shape the music world.”

The artists will be honored at the Recording Academy’s Special Merit Awards Ceremony ahead of the Grammy Awards. The ceremony will be held Feb. 4 at Wilshire Ebell Theatre in Los Angeles, with the Grammys to take place Feb. 5 at Crypto.com Arena.

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Pop Daypop

Sam Smith to launch 27-Date North American ‘Gloria’ tour in July

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Sam Smith has announced a 27-date North American tour in support of their impending studio album, Gloria, set to drop on Jan. 27. Smith wrote on Instagram: “This is going to be so special, it’s been too long sailors!! Can’t wait to see all your gorgeous faces and celebrate the era of GLORIA together.”

Gloria will feature collaborations with Kim Petras, Reyez, Koffee, and Ed Sheeran. Smith wrote in a statement about the album: “Gloria got me through some dark times and was a beacon for me in my life. I hope it can be that for you. Thank you for waiting so long.”

The tour will kick off on July 25 at FTX Arena in Miami, Florida, making stops in Orlando, Nashville, New York, Toronto, Chicago, and Denver before wrapping-up on Sept. 14 at Palacio de Los Deportes in Mexico City. Singer Jessie Reyez will serve as support on tour joining Smith on all but one tour date. General on sale for the tour begins on Friday, Jan. 13 at 9 a.m. local time.

The Gloria Tour marks Smith’s first since 2019 in support of their sophomore effort, The Thrill of it All. Since then, they have released their third record, Love Goes, and scored the No. 1 single “Unholy” alongside Kim Petras.

Editorial credit: Chris Allan / Shutterstock.com

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Go Country 105

What are Jimmie Allen and Callista Clark up to?

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Lately, Jimmie Allen and Callista Clark have been teasing “you think they're ready for this?” on their socials. The posts include a photo of the two of them, back to back, with Jimmie looking off into the distance and Callista looking toward the camera. 

Of course, Jimmie’s currently at #1 on the country charts with “down home,” and it’s not clear what his next single will be. Though his chart-topper is the lead single from his Tulip Drive album, he’s also released the non-album track “Lose You” and floated a song called “Smalltown Anthem” on his socials. 

Callista, on the other hand, is the musical prodigy who scored a top 20 hit with her debut, “It’s ‘Cause I Am,” and released her full-length debut, Real to Me: The Way I Feel, in October.

While it sure seems like the two are gearing up for a collaboration, we’ll have to wait until Friday, January 13, to find out for sure, as their posts indicate. 

Copyright © 2023, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

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Go Country 105

Carly Pearce, Chris Young and more help Opry head home to the Ryman

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Country music gets just a little bit more intimate during the month of January, as the Grand Ole Opry moves back to its former home at the historic Ryman Auditorium in downtown Nashville. 

Country Music Hall of Famers Connie Smith and Vince Gill kick off opening weekend on Friday, January 6, with Carly Pearce, Chris Young, Lauren Alaina and many more on the schedule throughout the month.

If you want to experience the famed acoustics and authenticity of the Mother Church of Country Music, you’ll need to hurry. Come February 3, the Opry will be back at its permanent home on the north side of Music City with Jackson Dean.

You can find a complete schedule and ticket information at Opry.com.

The Opry moved to its new home at the Grand Ole Opry House in 1974, as the historic Ryman had fallen into disrepair. Loretta Lynn, Dolly Parton and Emmylou Harris helped bring attention to the much-loved former church, leading to its renovation and eventual renown as one of the most-coveted concert venues in the world. 

Copyright © 2023, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.