Month: March 2023

Parker McCollum appeared on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon on March 30 to perform “Handle On You.” The single is currently number four and rising on the country charts. Watch Parker’s performance on YouTube and check out photos from his visit on Instagram. 

Big Loud Records newcomer Griffen Palmer has announced his debut album with the release of its powerful title track, “Unlearn.” “I’ve been dreaming of putting out my own album for as long as I can remember,” Griffen shares. “It was important to me that we hold on releasing my first album until we had the songs just right, and I’m equal parts amazed and proud of how it has all turned out.” Unlearn drops April 28.

Caylee Hammack has dropped her new song, “History of Repeating.” The pensive track was penned by Caylee with Ashley McBryde and Nicolette Hayford (Pillbox Patti). “This song is a very honest admission of some bad decisions that I think anyone can relate to making . those decisions sometimes we repeat, even though we know it's not what is best for us. The humanness of our habits and hearts and a swig of Jack Daniel's for flavor,” Caylee reflects.

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Charlie Puth has tapped hit country duo Dan + Shay for his new song, “That’s Not How This Works.”

Penned by Charlie, Jordan Reynolds and Dan Smyers of Dan + Shay, the searing heartbreak tune centers around a protagonist who struggles to heal from a breakup because of an ex who’s still leading him on.

“Really proud of this song we created with our friend + musical genius @charlieputh,” Dan + Shay write on Instagram. 

“I wrote That's Not How This Works on zoom with @danandshay in April of 2020. I went through many changes musically in my life, but always kept this song in my back pocket because I knew how special it was,” Charlie recalls on Instagram. 

“It was after all the song that propelled me into the next phase of my life. It was the song that healed me,” he adds. “With all of these feelings that I hadn't come face to face with before, I finally mustered up the courage to put a melody against them. When you listen to this song, I hope you feel what I felt when I wrote it- a sense of relief.”

“That’s Not How This Works” is the first new music from Dan + Shay since their 2021 album, Good Things. The record includes their current single, “You,” which is number 11 and rising on the country charts.

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Class, style, fashion, Southern charm and malice are humorously highlighted in Kelsea Ballerini‘s new music video for “IF YOU GO DOWN (I’M GOIN’ DOWN TOO).”

Directed by Patrick Tracy, the cinematic visualizer features Kelsea as a happy-go-lucky woman who enjoys quality time with her tale-telling girlfriends in the neighborhood. What the public doesn’t know, however, is that this always-chirpy lady is also a serial killer who’s responsible for the increasing number of missing persons. 

“I wanted something that had a real look and feel to it. But it needed to be fun … and funny,” Kelsea says of her vision for the retro video. “I wanted something that made people laugh and clink their glasses, because when I wrote this, I wanted ‘If You Go Down’ to be a song that was a reason to turn up the dial.”

“Obviously, it's not true,” she notes, referencing the fictional murders in the video, “but it's fun to sing a line like, ‘Hypothetically, if you ever kill your husband, Hand on the Bible, I'd be lying through my teeth…’ Nobody would ever do that, but it's the kind of joke you can take in a song that's funny.”

“IF YOU GO DOWN (I’M GOIN’ DOWN TOO)” is featured on Kelsea’s latest full-length studio album, SUBJECT TO CHANGE.

On Sunday, April 2, Kelsea will co-host the 2023 CMT Music Awards with Kane Brown. The show airs live on CBS at 8 p.m. ET, with livestreaming and on-demand streaming options available via Paramount+, as well.

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Darius Rucker has dropped a new single, “Fires Don't Start Themselves.”

Composed by Dan Isbell, Ben Hayslip and Jacob Rice, the song features a nostalgic ’90s country-inspired production with infectious guitar lines. 

“So, let’s drink what’s left of this bottle of wine/ Move a little closer ’til the sparks start flyin’/ Turn the lights down low and pull the Conway off of the shelf/ Then we’ll dance through the kitchen and straight down the hall/ Let my old blue jeans and your sundress fall/ Girl, we’re holding the lighter/ And fires don’t start themselves,” Darius sings in the seductive chorus.

“When I first heard ‘Fires Don't Start Themselves,’ the hook immediately got me,” Darius recalls. “The beginning of the chorus, ‘Let's drink what's left of this’ is classic ’90s country. I love it!”

“Fires Don't Start Themselves” will be on Darius’ forthcoming album, Carolyn's Boy.

On Sunday, April 2, Darius will appear on the 2023 CMT Music Awards to perform a duet of “She Talks to Angels” with The Black Crowes.

“I've been a fan of The Black Crowes for decades, and I'm grateful that we've also become good friends over the years. The first time I heard ‘She Talks to Angels,’ I remember being so moved by the lyrics that I went around Columbia, South Carolina, asking every single bar to play it,” Darius shares.

“I went home that night and put on Bonnie Raitt's Home Plate, and decided I was going to try to write ‘She Talks to Angels’ for her. ‘Let Her Cry’ was what poured out of me,” he continues. “These guys have been so impactful on my career and I can't wait to share the CMT stage with them.”

On the tour front, Darius will kick off his Starting Fires Tour on June 15.

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Megan Moroney‘s hit “Tennessee Orange” is up for two awards at the 2023 CMT Music Awards: Breakthrough Female Video of the Year and CMT Digital-First Performance of the Year.

This is a big deal to Megan, a Savannah, Georgia, native who once thought she’d be an accountant.

“I’m nominated for two, which is crazy,” Megan tells ABC Audio. “And so the first thing I did was call my mom and I was like, ‘Mom, I got nominated for a CMT Award like Breakthrough Video of the Year.’ And my mom goes, ‘The real CMT Awards?’ I’m like, ‘No, the fake ones.’ But yeah, the first thing I did was call my mom. I was just freaking out because, I don’t know, I grew up watching the CMTs, but I like thought I was going to be an accountant, so it’s crazy that here I am.”

“Tennessee Orange” is the lead single from Megan’s upcoming debut album, Lucky, which is slated to arrive on May 5.

The 2023 CMT Music Awards will air live on CBS April 2 at 8 p.m. ET. Livestreaming and on-demand streaming options will be available via Paramount+, as well.

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Justin Moore has enlisted Riley Green for his new song, “Everybody Get Along.”

The uptempo track finds Justin and Riley offering quips about their polar opposite likes and dislikes in the verses, before highlighting the value of unity in the chorus. 

“I like this and I like that/ But when it comes down to it, we got each other’s backs/ In a world where all we do is fight and fuss and disagree/ Why can’t everybody get along like you and me?” they sing in the ebullient chorus.

“My new song ‘Everybody Get Along’ with @rileyduckman is about two guys that are very similar, but playfully disagree on everything,” Justin writes on Instagram. “Kind of like we all do these days, but somehow they make it work and they're best buddies [handshake emoji] Let us know what y'all think [clinking beer mugs emoji].”

“Everybody Get Along” will be featured on Justin’s forthcoming album, Stray Dog. The eight-track project also includes his current single “You, Me, And Whiskey” with Priscilla Block.

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More stars have been announced as performers and presenters at the upcoming 2023 CMT Music Awards. 

Acclaimed musician and artist Gary Clark Jr. will join the show to perform a special tribute to the late Texas Blues icon Stevie Ray Vaughan. 

A slew of stars across the music, sports and entertainment worlds have also been tapped to be presenters. This includes Carly Pearce, Carrie Underwood, Charles Esten, Dixie D'Amelio, Dustin Lynch, HARDY, Ian Bohen + Jen Landon (from Yellowstone), Jon Pardi, LeAnn Rimes, Madison Bailey (from Outer Banks), Max Thieriot (from Fire Country), Megan Thee Stallion, Noah Schnapp (from Stranger Things), Parker McCollum, Peter Frampton, Shania Twain, Steve Howey (from True Lies) and Travis Kelce.

Previously announced performers for the show include Alanis Morissette + Ingrid Andress, Lainey Wilson, Madeline Edwards and Morgan Wade, Blake Shelton, Carly, Carrie, Cody Johnson, Gwen Stefani, Gary, Jelly Roll, Kane Brown + Katelyn Brown, Keith Urban, Kelsea Ballerini, The Black Crowes, Darius Rucker, Tyler Hubbard, Wynonna Judd and Ashley McBryde.

Additionally, there will be an All-Star Tribute to Lynyrd Skynyrd performed by Billy Gibbons, Chuck Leavell, Cody, Paul Rodgers, Slash & Warren Haynes, with LeAnn & Wynonna joining in place of The Honkettes.

Up-and-comers Avery Anna, Chapel Hart, Jackson Dean, Lily Rose, Megan Moroney and Nate Smith will also get to shine as performers on the Ram Trucks Side Stage.

The 2023 CMT Music Awards, co-hosted by Kelsea and Kane, will air live on CBS April 2 at 8 p.m. ET. Livestreaming and on-demand streaming options will also be available via Paramount+.

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