Almost two weeks ago a cargo train derailed in East Palestine, Ohio. The train was carrying toxic materials which have contaminated not only the air and soil but also the water nearby. Commentators have even compared the situation to the 1986 nuclear disaster of Chernobyl.
Editorial credit: Rosamar / Shutterstock.com
“This album has been a long time coming. This collection of music is very special to me, I have been chomping at the bit to get this to my fans. These are songs that I love and believe in with all that I am.
My fans fell in love with me when there was steel and fiddle on my records. I truly hate that I got away from that for a bit trying to chase something that wasn’t real, but I humbly admit, I am a work in progress.”, Craig wrote.
Published by: whiskeyriff.com / Aaron Ryan
Photo credit: Shutterstock.com/ Randy Miramontez
“Paisley was surprised with an invitation to join the Grand Ole Opry on Dec. 16, 2000, by Bill Anderson, Jeannie Seely and Little Jimmy Dickens. At the time of his invitation into the prestigious institution, the singer, who was only 28 years old, had released his debut album, Who Needs Pictures, and performed on the revered stage 36 times.”,Gayle Thompson wrote on theboot.com.
Published by: theboot.com / Gayle Thompson
Photo credit: Shutterstock.com/
Going into his new album, Bluebird Days, Jordan Davis had a very definitive vision for what he wanted it to be.
“The main thing, I wanted it to be the most honest record or collection of songs that I’ve ever put out,” he reveals. “You get songs like ‘Short Fuse,’ ‘Bluebird Days,’ ‘Money Isn’t Real,’ you know, those kinda heavier songs.”
He also wanted to touch on the past, the present and what life will look like in the future.
Davis explains how that plays out on the album: “You know, the past being songs like ‘What I Wouldn’t Do,’ ‘Sunday Saints,’ ‘You’ve Got My Number,’ to kinda present songs. I would throw ‘Money Isn’t Real’ in there, ‘What My World Spins Around,’ ‘Buy Dirt,’ ‘Next Thing You Know.'”
“And then the future songs,” he continues, “like ‘Part of It,’ ‘Fishing Spot,’ which is kind of about my grandpa and how I spend time with him now. So those were kinda the tentpoles of what I wanted it to be.”
Of course, a couple of those tentpoles, namely “Buy Dirt” and “What My Worlds Spins Around,” have already gone to #1. “Next Thing You Know” is Jordan’s new single.
Though he first topped the chart with 2017’s “Singles You Up,” Bluebird Days is only Jordan’s second full-length album, following 2018’s Home State and a couple of EPs.
Copyright © 2023, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.
American Idol celebrated its 20th season last year, and Sunday night it kicks off its third decade. The OG of reality singing competitions is still finding promising contestants, which is somewhat surprising for host Ryan Seacrest, who’s been there since the beginning.
“Honestly, behind closed doors, sometimes we look at each other and say, ‘Did we find everybody? Are there really enough contestants out there that can exceed expectations?’ The answer is yes,” Ryan tells ABC Audio.
“They actually get better and better because they start performing earlier … and they can get feedback on their performances and they become a little more understanding of what it takes to be a star by the time they get to us,” he notes.
“I think that’s what keeps me going, is going around the country and seeing the next class of talent,” he adds.
There are spoilers online if you want information about this season’s contestants, including several rejects from The Voice, but Ryan will only say that there’s “a lot of great country this year” and “a lot of the younger contestants are very good.”
“I mean, 16, 17 years old – very, very good,” he adds.
More than 20 years in, Ryan points out that even non-winners – from Jennifer Hudson to Adam Lambert to Gabby Barrett – are still able to win on the charts. For example, season 14’s Jax had a huge pop hit with “Victoria’s Secret” last year.
“It’s so great to see contestants who may not have won still achieve success in the business,” Ryan notes. “It just goes to show you [that] … the platform of American Idol can make things happen. We’ve seen that over the years. You don’t have to be the winner.”
American Idol airs Sunday, February 19, at 8 p.m. ET on ABC.
Copyright © 2023, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.
After being sued by Vogue’s parent company Condé Nast last November 2022. Drake and 21 Savage have came to agreement to settle with Vogue’s parent company Condé Nast over a fake magazine cover that was used to promote their collaborative album “Her Loss”.
Vogue filed a lawsuit against the rappers back in November, alleging they misled fans into thinking Vogue would be releasing a special edition of the magazine after Drake and 21 Savage announced it on social media. Condé Nast claims neither Vogue nor editor-in-chief Anna Wintour “endorsed” the album “in any way” despite receiving a shoutout from Drake.
Editorial credit: DFree / Shutterstock.com
Rihanna responded back after being criticized for calling her baby “fine” on Instagram. On Wednesday, February 15th, Rihanna shared pictures from her British Vogue cover shoot featuring her baby boy. The photos show Rihanna laying in bed with her 9-month-old son. She captioned the post “my son so fine! Idc idc idc!”
Fans in the comment section questioned Rihanna’s use of the word “fine” to describe her baby, accusing her of sexualizing the child. Some fans called it “weird,” “crazy,” “strange” and “not it,”. When asked “who calls a baby fine,” Rihanna responded, “His mother!”
Editorial credit: lev radin / Shutterstock.com
You can check out Nate Smith performing his #1, “Whiskey on You,” as he makes his late-night debut on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon. It’s now available on YouTube.
Brett Young kicks off his 5 Tour, 3, 2, 1 trek March 20 in Columbus, Ohio. Morgan Evans and Ashley Cooke are set to open.
Chris Young‘s new lyric video for “Looking for You” is out now.
Copyright © 2023, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.
Parker McCollum's sophomore album for MCA Nashville is set to arrive May 12.
Titled Never Enough, it features the new track “I Ain't Goin Nowhere,” which comes out Friday. It also includes the previously released “Stoned,” as well as his current top 10 hit, “Handle on You.” Just like his previous album, Gold Chain Cowboy, which came out in July 2021, Never Enough was produced by singer/songwriter Jon Randall.
The artwork features two identical black-and-white photos of Parker holding his guitar, wearing jeans and a Western shirt, with the entire cover tinted blue.
Copyright © 2023, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.
Lainey Wilson‘s partnering with Tractor Supply to help find the stars of tomorrow.
Ashley McBryde, Jimmie Allen, Dustin Lynch and Kat & Alex are also part of the company’s just-launched Emerging Artists Program.
If you’re an aspiring singer who’d like to give it a shot, you just need to submit an original song by March 15. Five finalists will be announced in May, and they’ll get the chance to come to Nashville, be paired up with an artist and professionally record their winning songs.
“It really hits home that I get to help an aspiring artist through this program,” Lainey says. “I'm so excited to guide my mentee through this complex music industry as best I can, and I hope we get to build a relationship that lasts a long time.”
“I always say I only take advice from people around me who are where I want to be,” the reigning CMA Female Vocalist of the Year continues. “So I'm hopeful I can be that person for somebody else through Tractor Supply's program.”
The winners will also get to meet with industry execs, open a show for Lainey and appear with her on a 30-minute Circle special recorded on the Grand Ole Opry stage. They’ll also get the opportunity to play at Blake Shelton‘s Ole Red.
You can find all the details at TractorSupplyEmergingArtists.com.
Copyright © 2023, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.