Month: February 2023

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Go Country 105

Luke Combs picks a “5 Leaf Clover” for St. Patty's Day

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One of Luke Combs‘ most-anticipated songs ever is finally set to arrive.

“Know y'all are ready for ‘5 Leaf Clover,'” he posted on his socials, “so going ahead and releasing it… on March 17!”

“March 17 is St. Patrick's Day for those who didn't catch that,” he added in the comments. 

“I make it home every evening to an angel god sent from above,” Luke sings in the accompanying clip. “I’ve got an eight point on camera from last year that this season looks like a ten. I got a barn with a fridge full of cold beer, and on the weekend it’s full of good friends.

“I know I’m a lucky man, but I ain’t sure why I am,” the chorus continues. “‘Cause it ain’t like anyone deserves the world in the palm of their hand. I’ve hit my knees thankful as can be, but the one thing I can’t get over, Is how’d a guy like me who’da been fine with three wind up with a five-leaf clover?”

“5 Leaf Clover” will arrive one week before the release of Luke’s fourth album, Gettin’ Old, on March 24.

Copyright © 2023, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

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Go Country 105

Jason Aldean's busy working on album #11

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Jason Aldean‘s back in the studio working on the follow-up to his Macon, Georgia double album.

“Today was the first day of recording the new album,” he shared on Monday. “Always a blast when we start making new music together.”

“Love all these guys who have played on pretty much everything with me since the beginning,” he continued. “Album #11 Let's f***in GET IT!!!!!!!”

The “That’s What Tequila Does” hitmaker also included a series of photos from the session, showing him in the vocal booth, sitting at the sound board and listening to playback. 

This summer, Jason heads out on the Highway Desperado Tour, with Mitchell Tenpenny opening.

Copyright © 2023, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

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Go Country 105

Ashley McBryde invites us into her “Kitchen” for taste of new album

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Ashley McBryde‘s leaving a light on for us this Friday.

The recent Grammy winner confirmed on her socials she’s dropping a new track this week.

“You know me, as soon as we put out new music… first thing I want to do is put out more new music,” Ashley shared on Instagram. “I can, I am, I will. Love youuuu. ‘Light On In The Kitchen’ is out Friday!”

Earlier, she teased the tune in a post that includes a recording of a phone conversation with her mother, as well as a short snippet of the song.

“I'm noticing now how big a difference such seemingly small comforts have made in my life,” Ashley reflected. “Things as simple as ‘Sure, Honey’ from a voice I need to hear it from, or just walking into the kitchen for a drink in the middle of the night. How comforting that warm glow has always been… Leave a light on y'all. Big hugs.”

The new music is likely the first taste of Ashley’s forthcoming third album. Her most recent record, Never Will, came out in April of 2020, followed by last September’s collaborative Ashley McBryde Presents: Lindeville project.

Copyright © 2023, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

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Go Country 105

Garth Brooks' duets record is coming, including Trisha Yearwood and a whole lot more

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When Garth Brooks and Trisha Yearwood announced last week that a new duets album was coming, it left many hoping it would be the long-awaited, full-length collaboration between the two. This week on Inside Studio G, Garth revealed that’s not the case. 

“You know, the duets record that's coming is not just of the queen,” he said, using his frequent nickname for his wife. “The queen's in there, of course, 'cause you can't do it without her.”

Garth didn’t offer up any additional details about who his partners may be, only adding, “It's been fun so far. It's going to be a blast to finish, though.”

He went on to say the album should arrive “late in this year.” 

Copyright © 2023, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

Categories
News Daypop

Police arrest suspect in killing of Bishop David O’Connell in Los Angeles

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A suspect is in custody in connection to the shooting death of 69-year-old Bishop David O’Connell of the Los Angeles Archdiocese.  During a press conference on Monday, Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna announced the arrest of 65-year-old Carlos Medina, who was arrested at his home in Torrance early on Monday morning. Bishop O’Connell was found dead in his home in the Hacienda Heights community in Los Angeles County, Calif., shortly before 1 p.m. on Saturday; he had served the Los Angeles Archdiocese since 1979.

Sheriff Luna identified Medina as the husband of a housekeeper who worked for O’Connell, and said the department received a tip that Medina made comments about O’Connell owing him money. Video surveillance showed a dark-colored SUV matching one driven by the housekeeper pull into O’Connell’s driveway and staying for a few minutes before leaving on Saturday. After deputies arrived at O’Connell’s home responding to a medical emergency, they discovered the bishop dead from a gunshot wound to the upper torso. The shooting is being investigated as a homicide.

O’Connell was an immigrant born in County Cork, Ireland, and studied at the All Hallows College in Dublin before moving to Los Angeles in 1979. Archbishop José H. Gomez said in a statement: “I am very sad this afternoon to report that our beloved Auxiliary Bishop David O’Connell has passed away unexpectedly. It is a shock, and I have no words to express my sadness.” Gomez said O’Connell was a “peacemaker” who was particularly passionate about helping the poor and immigrants.

Chairperson of the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors, Janice Hahn, recalled O’Connell as a longtime friend.  Hahn tweeted: “I was very sad to learn of the passing of Bishop O’Connell. He was a longtime friend. I was fortunate to work with him during my time on the city council and again as supervisor. I join with Archbishop Gomez and the people of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles in mourning his loss.” 

Editiorial credit: Idealphotographer / Shutterstock.com

Categories
News Daypop

President Biden departs Kyiv after surprise visit with Ukrainian President Zelensky

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President Biden departed Kyiv on Monday after spending several hours with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. White House officials said the trip was meticulously planned over the last several months, with Biden giving the final sign off on it on Friday from the Oval Office; it was Biden’s first visit to the country since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine started nearly one year ago. Biden and Zelensky discussed future support for Ukraine during the war, walking around the central portion of the capital with Biden pledging additional support. Zelensky posted a photo of him and Biden shaking hands in Kyiv on Telegram, saying: “Joseph Biden, welcome to Kyiv! Your visit is an extremely important sign of support for all Ukrainians.” 

On Monday, the Department of Defense authorized more support for Ukraine, with the U.S. pledging to send additional ammunition for the Lockheed Martin HIMARS, a long-range rocket launcher, as well as howitzers. Additionally, the Biden Administration approved a supply of Javelin missiles, anti-armor rockets, artillery rounds, mortar rounds, night vision devices, air surveillance radar systems and morel, valued at an estimated $460 million.  U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Monday also authorized an additional $10 million to support ongoing emergency assistance to support the war-torn country’s energy infrastructure.

Biden’s surprise trip was only confirmed early on Monday in a White House statement: “When [Russian President Vladimir] Putin launched his invasion nearly one year ago, he thought Ukraine was weak and the West was divided. He thought he could outlast us. But he was dead wrong.” White House Communications Director Kate Bedingfield said via teleconference that the trip sends the message of Biden’s commitment to the Ukrainian people: “He wanted to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with President Zelensky and remind the world, as we approach the one-year anniversary of the invasion, that Kyiv still stands and the United States will not be deterred from standing with Ukraine.” 

Biden’s trip marks the first time in modern U.S. history that a president entered a war zone with no active U.S. military presence. Ukrainian authorities shut down much of central Kyiv to facilitate the visit.  The surprise visit ended late Monday with Biden traveling from Kyiv to Poland’s Rzeszw-Jasionka Airport, where he arrived at 10:04 p.m., local time, and boarded Air Force One for the roughly 50-minute flight to Warsaw, to begin his two-day visit in Poland.

Editorial credit: Salma Bashir Motiwala / Shutterstock.com

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Go Country 105

The return of Jason Aldean the writer? “We'll see,” he says

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If you scan the liner notes of Jason Aldean‘s 30-track Macon, Georgia double album, you’ll have a hard time finding his name among the writing credits.

The superstar’s not afraid to admit that songwriting is simply not his favorite thing to do. But with band members who regularly crank out his hits, Jason suspects that may be changing.

“They’ve been kinda poking at me for the last couple years to start writing more again,” he reveals, “because I moved to town as a songwriter. I started writing at Warner Chappell [Music].”

“You know, I always loved the artist part, not necessarily the writing part,” he continues. “I like to write when I want to, but not ’cause I had to every day.”

Band members Tully Kennedy and Kurt Allison wrote both of his most recent number ones, “Trouble with a Heartbreak” and “If I Didn’t Love You,” as well as his current hit, “That’s What Tequila Does.” 

That certainly seems to be piquing the boss’s interest.

“You know, if those guys start something they think is cool, they may send me part of it and see if I’m interested,” Jason explains. “And if I am, then I’ll jump in and help ’em finish it. So that’s kinda what we’re doing now.”

“So maybe. We’ll see on the next record,” he says.

Back in November, Jason told ABC Audio he expected to be back in the studio around the first of the year. 

Copyright © 2023, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

Categories
Country Daypop

Take a listen to Olivia Newton-John’s final recording, a ‘Jolene’ duet with Dolly Parton

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In her final recording and music video before her passing, Olivia Newton-John teamed up for a duet with Dolly Parton on her classic hit song, “Jolene.”  Newton-John passed away in August 2022 at age 73.

The collaboration came about a year before Newton-John’s death, and is part of a duet project Newton-John created including big-name artists such as Parton, Mariah Carey, Michael McDonald, John Travolta, Barry Gibb, Vanessa Amorossi, and Jon Secada. Newton-John will posthumously release Just the Two of Us, which features 17 tracks, on May 5.

Parton calls Newton-John “one of my favorites of all time” and in the video for the duet, Parton introduces the collab by saying: “Hey, this is Dolly, in case you didn’t recognize me. I am so excited to be working with Olivia Newton-John, one of my favorites of all time. We’ve always stayed close through the years. I am just so proud to be a part of this duet project that she’s doing. We’re singing one of my all-time favorites that I’ve written called ‘Jolene,’ and she says it’s one of her favorites, so why not just do a duet on our favorite?” Added Newton-John: “I’m excited. I’ve always wanted to sing with Dolly.”

Check out Parton and Newton-John’s version of “Jolene” – here.

Editorial credit: Kobby Dagan / Shutterstock.com

Categories
Pop Daypop

Take a listen to Olivia Newton-John’s final recording, a ‘Jolene’ duet with Dolly Parton

shutterstock_18778735481277

In her final recording and music video before her passing, Olivia Newton-John teamed up for a duet with Dolly Parton on her classic hit song, “Jolene.”  Newton-John passed away in August 2022 at age 73.

The collaboration came about a year before Newton-John’s death, and is part of a duet project Newton-John created including big-name artists such as Parton, Mariah Carey, Michael McDonald, John Travolta, Barry Gibb, Vanessa Amorossi, and Jon Secada. Newton-John will posthumously release Just the Two of Us, which features 17 tracks, on May 5.

Parton calls Newton-John “one of my favorites of all time” and in the video for the duet, Parton introduces the collab by saying: “Hey, this is Dolly, in case you didn’t recognize me. I am so excited to be working with Olivia Newton-John, one of my favorites of all time. We’ve always stayed close through the years. I am just so proud to be a part of this duet project that she’s doing. We’re singing one of my all-time favorites that I’ve written called ‘Jolene,’ and she says it’s one of her favorites, so why not just do a duet on our favorite?” Added Newton-John: “I’m excited. I’ve always wanted to sing with Dolly.”

Check out Parton and Newton-John’s version of “Jolene” – here.

Editorial credit: Kobby Dagan / Shutterstock.com

Categories
Country Daypop

Keith Urban releases video for ‘Brown Eyes Baby’

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Keith Urban is sharing the official music video for his latest single “Brown Eyes Baby,” which was released late last year. The video for “Brown Eyes Baby” was directed by Carter Smith, who also collaborated on Urban hits including “Never Coming Down” and “Blue Ain’t Your Color.”

Urban launches a new Las Vegas residency at Zappos Theater at Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino next month, currently scheduled to include 16 dates beginning on Friday, March 3rd.

Check out the video for ‘Brown Eyes Baby’ – here.

Editorial credit: Debby Wong / Shutterstock.com