Month: January 2023

Jackson Dean‘s getting “Fearless” with his new single.

The new release from Greenbroke is the follow-up to his debut single, “Don’t Come Lookin’,” which went on to become his first #1. 

“I believe in ghosts/ Most people don’t/ I swear it on my Grandpa’s grave,” Jackson sings in the opening lines of “Fearless,” continuing in the rebellious, mystical style he established with “Don’t Come Lookin’.” This time, he makes room for a little romance, adding, “I got thick skin/ I’ll dive in/ I’m fearless/ Except when it comes to you” in the chorus. 

2023’s a big year for Jackson. He joins Blake Shelton and Carly Pearce on the Back to the Honky Tonk Tour, before performing in the New Faces Show at Country Radio Seminar in March – a feat seen as one of the biggest predictors of long-term success in the genre. 

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Dolly Parton‘s teaming up with a who’s who of pop icons from the ’80s for a new song from the upcoming film 80 for Brady. The new movie features her 9 to 5 co-stars – and longtime friends – Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin, along with her Steel Magnolias compadre Sally Field and the iconic Rita Moreno.

“Gonna Be You” was written by legendary songwriter Diane Warren.

“I wanted to write a song that celebrated these women’s deep friendship,” Diane says in a statement. “Since 80 was in the title I got a crazy idea, why not get some of the most iconic singers from the 80s, who are still amazing and always will be, to all sing it?!!!!”

“Everyone I approached said yes and was just as excited as me!!” Warren adds. “I’m honored to have Dolly Parton, Belinda Carlisle, Cyndi Lauper, Gloria Estefan and Debbie Harry on this song!! Gonna Be You' is that song you want to sing along to with all your good friends!!!”

Of course, it’s worth pointing out that Dolly is a pop icon herself. In addition to her numerous country hits, she also topped the pop charts in the ’80s with the title track from 9 to 5 and “Islands in the Stream” with Kenny Rogers.

80 for Brady is based on the true story of four best friends who traveled to the Super Bowl in 2017 to see then-New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady play. Brady appears in the film, which arrives in theaters February 3.

We won’t have to wait quite as long to hear “Gonna Be You,” which arrives January 20.

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There’s a new album on the way from CMA Entertainer of the Year Luke Combs.

“New album. 18 songs. March 24,” Luke shared on social media Wednesday night. 

“It's 18 new, unreleased songs for those wondering,” he then clarified in the comments, before going on to repost clips of the tracks “Tattoo on a Sunburn” and “Growin’ Up and Gettin’ Old,” which he’d shared earlier in December.

So far, that’s all we know about the record, though it comes in record time for a Luke Combs project. His most recent album, Growin’ Up, came out in June of last year, and it’s typically been at least two years between releases for the North Carolina native. 

Growin’ Up vies for Best Country Album at next month’s Grammys. 

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Jelly Roll‘s already had a #1 rock hit with “Dead Man Walking,” and now he’s poised to top the country chart for the first time with “Son of a Sinner.”

Were it not for a delayed order of smoked meat and a chance meetup with “Flower Shops” hitmaker Ernest, however, his Music City breakthrough might never have happened.

“I was in the studio one night, and we had already finished the album,” Jelly Roll tells ABC Audio. “And Ernest had texted me. It was like a Sunday night. He said, ‘Hey, man, I’m waiting on my ribs to get cooked next door at this barbecue pit. Are you still over there at the studio?’ I said, ‘Yeah.’ He said, ‘I’m gonna come over and we’re gonna have a drink or smoke one or something.'”

“And he came in and we were just hanging out, man. We didn’t plan on writing a song. It wasn’t on the books. And he picked up a guitar,” Jelly Roll recalls, before humming the melody. “Man, we wrote that song in probably an hour.”

And if “Son of a Sinner” does make it to #1? Well, the Nashville native predicts it’ll be epic.

“If it’s my first #1, it’s gonna be bad for the city,” he laughs. “We’re gonna turn the lights down like they did that night in Georgia, baby! It’s gonna be a big ‘un up here. It’ll be the biggest #1 party they’ve ever had.” 

Look for Jelly Roll’s new album to arrive sometime this year, featuring the recently released tracks “Need a Favor” and “She.” 

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