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Go Country 105

Nashville notes: Randy surprises Josh + Anne Wilson's “Seventh of June”

Randy Travis surprised Josh Turner at the Grand Ole Opry with a plaque commemorating Josh’s new RIAA certifications. Your Man is now an RIAA-certified three-times Platinum album, while the title track is a four-times Platinum single. Check out the photo on Facebook. 

New UMG Nashville signee and chart-topping country-Christian artist Anne Wilson has dropped a deeply personal new song, “Seventh of June.” The powerful number was penned by Anne, Jeff Pardo and Matthew West, and chronicles Anne’s profound grief and faith as she navigates the death anniversary of her older brother, Jacob.

Brothers Osborne have shared a special live performance video of their song “Rollercoaster (Forever And A Day).” The clip was filmed at Nashville’s historic Ryman Auditorium. Preview it on Twitter and watch the full video on Facebook.

Copyright © 2023, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

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Go Country 105

Shop Carly's Closet at CMA Fest + online

Ever wanted to own something from Carly Pearce‘s personal wardrobe collection? Well, here’s your chance.

Carly’s Closet returns to this year’s CMA Fest on Thursday, June 8, from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. at Noelle Nashville. The pop-up shop will allow fans to purchase items that Carly’s owned and been decked out in.

“So excited to be bringing Carly's Closet back for the 2nd year in a row at #CMAFest!” the “What He Didn’t Do” hitmaker shared on Instagram. “It has been so fun looking at all of my wardrobe and finding some good pieces for y'all to choose from. Per Johnny & June's request, we are excited to announce the ASPCA as Carly's Closet's charitable partner. See y'all there!”

If you’re not in Nashville for CMA Fest, fret not. Exclusive online-only items will also be available to fans on TalkShopLive.

Copyright © 2023, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

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Go Country 105

Sam Hunt “fell in love” with Nashville on his first CMA Fest visit as a fan

There’s a special, undeniable charm about Nashville. Just ask Sam Hunt, whose life was changed after his first visit to CMA Fest as a fan.

“You know, I was here several years ago for the first time for CMA Fest as a fan. I came out to the show, did the full experience, and it really was one of the big reasons I decided to move to Nashville,” Sam recalls.

“It kind of made the idea of being a songwriter more tangible and realistic, and also I fell in love with the city, Nashville, so I knew it’d be a place I’d be happy living, and also because of the music,” the “23” hitmaker adds. “That week here really inspired my move here, and it was a significant part of my life.”

Sam’s slated to perform at the Spotify House at Ole Red on Thursday, June 8. So if you’re going to be in Music City for CMA Fest, don’t miss it.

For the full CMA Fest schedule and lineup, visit cmafest.com.

Copyright © 2023, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

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Go Country 105

Keith Urban likens CMA Fest to a “summer camp”

Keith Urban has attended and performed at CMA Fest since its old “Fan Fair” days.

And despite being a veteran performer now, Keith still relishes the fun and camaraderie of the annual festival’s events.

“I love it! It’s like summer camp. I mean, it is!” shares Keith. “It’s a chance to obviously see a lot of people I don't normally see. I don’t know. It's just palpable.”

“Since Fan Fair, it’s just been that sort of week-plus of energy; the town just explodes, and what it is we love about this genre and the community aspect of it,” he adds. “I always love it.”

The 2023 CMA Fest takes place in Nashville June 8 to June 11. If you’re going to be there, be sure to catch Keith’s performance at Nissan Stadium on Friday, June 9.

For the full CMA Fest schedule and lineup, visit cmafest.com.

Copyright © 2023, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

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Go Country 105

Thomas Rhett celebrates '20 NUMBER ONES' with new vinyl

Vinyl collectors, here’s another great country LP to add to your collection.

Thomas Rhett is celebrating 10 years of hits with a new vinyl that’s aptly titled 20 NUMBER ONES.

Due out September 29, the two-disc record will include Thomas’ hits from his decadelong career, including “It Goes Like This,” “Die A Happy Man,” “Marry You,” “Sixteen,” “What’s Your Country Song” and current single “Angels (Don't Always Have Wings)” as a bonus track.

“To have 20 No. Ones is beyond wild – honestly more than I ever could have imagined,” Thomas reflects. “I’m grateful to have hit this milestone, but mostly it's just exciting to look back at this journey so far and see how these songs represent the different chapters of my life – and hopefully the Home Team feels the same way.”

He adds, “I want to say thank you to everyone for letting me be a part of the special moments in life – it’s hard to put into words what these past 10 years mean to me. Can't wait for another great 10!”

Signed copies of 20 NUMBER ONES are available for preorder now.

Here’s the 20 NUMBER ONES track list:

SIDE A
“It Goes Like This”
“Get Me Some Of That”
“Make Me Wanna”
“Crash And Burn”
“Die A Happy Man”

SIDE B
“T-Shirt”
“Star Of The Show”
“Craving You” (featuring Maren Morris)
“Unforgettable”
“Marry Me”

SIDE C
“Life Changes”
“Sixteen”
“Look What God Gave Her”
“Remember You Young”
“Beer Can't Fix” (featuring Jon Pardi)
“Be A Light” (featuring Reba McEntireHillary ScottChris TomlinKeith Urban)

SIDE D
“What's Your Country Song”
“Country Again”
“Slow Down Summer”
“Half Of Me” (featuring Riley Green)
Bonus Track – “Angels (Don't Always Have Wings)”

Copyright © 2023, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

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Go Country 105

Bailey Zimmerman shares footage of his album release week

Bailey Zimmerman recently released his highly anticipated debut record, Religiously. The Album. Now, he’s offering fans a glimpse of all that happened during album release week. 

“I can't thank y'all enough for continuing to show ‘Religiously. The Album.’ so much love and support [heart emoji] being able to release music to y'all is such a blessing [folded hands emoji] so I wanted to show you what it was like during the week it was released,” Bailey shared on Instagram.

The footage features Bailey performing at the 2023 ACM Awards and onstage at various shows, as well as meeting fans and rehearsing backstage.

Religiously. The Album. has earned the biggest streaming country debut of all time, along with the biggest streaming debut of the year across all genres. The title track serves as Bailey’s latest single and is currently number 25 on the country charts.

Bailey’s album release week video is available on YouTube.

Copyright © 2023, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

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Go Country 105

Michael Ray reveals new EP cover, title track dropping Friday

Michael Ray has unveiled the cover art of his upcoming EP, Dive Bars & Broken Hearts.

Set to arrive on June 23, the six-song project is Michael’s first set of new music following 2021’s Higher Education EP.

Dive Bars & Broken Hearts is me getting to the sound I've always heard in my head, something that's played on a jukebox or a bandstand in a bar somewhere just outside of town,” shares Michael.

Additionally, fans will get another taste of the EP with its title track and accompanying music video dropping Friday, June 9. 

While you wait, preview Dive Bars & Broken Hearts with “Get Her Back” and “Workin’ On It,” and presave the EP now.

Copyright © 2023, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

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News Daypop

Chris Christie launches campaign for Republican presidential nomination

Former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie entered the Republican primary race, launching his second presidential campaign. Christie took aim at former President Donald Trump as he announced his candidacy Tuesday night at a town hall at the New Hampshire Institute of Politics in Manchester. Said Christie: “The person I am talking about who is obsessed with the mirror, who never admits a mistake, who never admits a fault and will always find someone else — and something else — to blame for whatever goes wrong but finds every reason to take credit for anything that goes right is Donald Trump.”

In 2016, Christie ran against Trump for the GOP nomination but dropped out after he finished sixth in the New Hampshire primary. Trump and Christie became allies, with Christie heading up Trump’s presidential transition team until shortly after the election. However after Trump refused to concede his loss in 2020, Christie became a vocal GOP critic.

Christie was the U.S. attorney for New Jersey from 2002 to 2008 under President George W. Bush, and then served two terms as New Jersey governor from 2010-2018, but came under scrutiny after a political scandal in 2013 involving lane closures at the George Washington Bridge dubbed “Bridgegate” – allegedly retaliation against a Democratic mayor who refused to endorse Christie’s re-election. Christie allies were sentenced to short prison terms in 2017 after a jury determined that they had shut down two of the three lanes leading to the bridge, resulting in a monumental traffic jam in Fort Lee, New Jersey.

Editorial credit: L.E.MORMILE / Shutterstock.com

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Go Country 105

Morgan Wallen 'cleared to talk and sing' after weeks-long vocal rest

Morgan Wallen is back!

The country star, who had been on a weeks-long vocal rest, announced Tuesday that he was given the green light to “talk and sing” again. 

Sharing a picture of himself on a boat, Wallen wrote, “The doc cleared me to talk and sing. we back.”

The news comes after the 29-year-old was put on vocal rest after injuring his vocal cords in early May, which resulted in six weeks of shows being rescheduled. 

“I got some bad news from my doctors at the Vanderbilt Voice Center yesterday,” he said in a May 9 Instagram post. “After taking 10 days of vocal rest, I performed three shows last weekend in Florida and by the third one I felt terrible. So I went in and got scoped yesterday, and they told me that I reinjured my vocal cords and that I have vocal fold trauma.”

“Their advice is that I go on vocal rest for six weeks, so that’s what I’m going to do,” the “Last Night” singer continued. 

Copyright © 2023, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

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News Daypop

Federal judge blocks Florida ban on care for transgender minors

On Tuesday, a federal judge in Florida temporarily blocked portions of a new law in the state that bans transgender minors from receiving puberty blockers, ruling that the state has no rational basis for denying patients treatment. Transgender medical treatment for minors has been available in the United States for more than a decade and is endorsed by major medical associations; however, it has been subject to restrictions or outright bans in many states recently. The lawsuit challenged the law Gov. Ron DeSantis signed shortly before he announced a run for president.

Federal Judge Robert Hinkle issued a preliminary injunction to allow three transgender children to continue receiving treatment, with his ruling narrowly focused on the three children whose parents brought the suit. Attention on the new law has focused on language involving minors, and Hinkle’s ruling focuses on the use of GnRH agonists, known as puberty blockers, and cross-sex hormones. The lawsuit doesn’t address other language that makes it difficult to near impossible for adults to receive or continue gender-affirming care.

Said Judge Hinkle: “The elephant in the room should be noted at the outset. Gender identity is real. The record makes this clear.”  He added that those who mistakenly believe gender identity is a choice also “tend to disapprove all things transgender and so oppose medical care that supports a person’s transgender existence,” adding, “there are ris,ks attendant to not using these treatments, including the risk — in some instances, the near certainty — of anxiety and depression and even suicidal ideation. The challenged statute ignores the benefits that many patients realize from these treatments and the substantial risk posed by foregoing the treatments.”  Hinkle said three children in the lawsuit will “suffer irreparable harm” if they cannot begin puberty blockers and that “the treatment will affect the patients themselves, nobody else, and will cause the defendants no harm.”

Editorial credit: Ben Gingell / Shutterstock.com