Month: July 2023

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Go Country 105

Jason Aldean addresses Connecticut concert cancellation, cites dehydration and heat exhaustion

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After abruptly canceling his concert in Hartford, Connecticut, on Saturday, July 15, Jason Aldean is addressing what really happened.

While a rep cited heat stroke as the reason, the singer’s clarifying that he doesn’t think it’s “quite that serious.”

“Just want to let you know, thanks to everybody that’s called in checking. I’m doing fine. Just one of those things man,” Jason told fans in a recent Facebook video. “It was hot. I was playing golf all day yesterday and then got to the show and just, I think it was a combination of dehydration and just heat exhaustion.”

“Hearing a lot of stuff going around, heat stroke and all those stuff. I don’t think it’s quite that serious, but it was pretty intense last night at the show,” he continues. “Anybody that was at the show knows how hot it was and I don’t know. I knew it was coming. I was trying to get through as much of the show as I could and eventually, it was just like, I knew it wasn’t going to happen and I was trying to just get offstage and figure out what was going on.”

After receiving a couple of IVs, Jason took the stage again in Saratoga Springs on Sunday, July 16.

Jason’s Highway Desperado Tour continues with upcoming stops in Cuyahoga Falls and Cincinnati, Ohio. For the full schedule, visit Jason’s website.

Copyright © 2023, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

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News Daypop

Suspect in 4 killings in Georgia is shot and killed after manhunt

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Law enforcement officers shot and killed a man wanted in the weekend killings of four people near Atlanta. Officials say that a sheriff’s deputy and a police officer were also injured as they attempted to take the suspect into custody. Police haven’t disclosed a motive.

Henry County Sheriff’s spokesperson Syntonnia Moore said suspect Andre Longmore, 40, was fatally shot during a widespread manhunt, which began shortly after the shootings. Georgia authorities had been on the hunt for Longmore, who was accused of gunning down three men and a woman in a subdivision on Saturday morning before fleeing the Dogwood Lakes subdivision in Hampton, about 40 miles south of Atlanta. Longmore was wanted on four counts of murder in the deaths.

Moore said law enforcement shot and killed Longmore on Sunday in a nearby area of Clayton County. Moore added that a Henry County sheriff’s deputy and a Clayton County police officer were injured during the attempt to arrest Longmore. Moore said she had no update on the condition of either officer.

The names of the victims killed have not been released, pending notification of their relatives. All of the victims were adults, authorities said.

Editorial credit: Gary L Hider / Shutterstock.com

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News Daypop

Missing Alabama woman who reported toddler walking on the highway is found safe

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Police confirm that a woman who went missing in Hoover, Alabama on Wednesday after reporting to police she saw a child walking on the highway returned home late Saturday and was transported to a hospital for evaluation.

The Hoover Police Department said on Friday that Carlethia “Carlee” Russell, 25, made a 911 call to report a toddler walking alongside of Interstate 459 at around 9:30 p.m. on Wednesday. Russell reportedly stopped her vehicle to help the toddler along and then called a family member. When police arrived, she was gone, but her car and belongings were left behind. Responding officers also were unable to find a child in the area and have not received any calls about someone missing a small child; meanwhile, Russell remained missing until Saturday.

Hoover Police Captain Keith Czeskleba said it received a phone call about Russell returning home at about 10:45 p.m. Police traveled to her location, and then paramedics, who transported her to a local hospital. Captain Czeskleba said that more information was not “available for release at this time,” and declined to go into details on who informed them about Russell’s return and why there was a need for an evaluation. He said that the investigation into the case is ongoing.

Editorial credit: Bennian / Shutterstock.com

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Go Country 105

'Speak Now (Taylor's Version)' debuts at number one, sets multiple records

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To the surprise of no one, Taylor Swift‘s third album in her re-recording project, Speak Now (Taylor’s Version), has debuted on top of the Billboard chart with huge numbers.

The album scored the biggest week of the three re-recorded albums Taylor’s released so far, selling 716,000 units. Red (Taylor’s Version) debuted with 605,000 units, while Fearless (Taylor’s Version) sold 291,000 units in its first week.  Speak Now is also the biggest debut and the biggest sales week of any album released in 2023.

Speak Now (Taylor’s Version) is Taylor’s 12th number-one album, breaking her tie with Barbra Streisand for the female artist with the most chart-toppers. She and Drake now both have 12,  and only two other acts have more: The Beatles, with 19, and Jay-Z, with 14.

Taylor also sets a new record for albums in the top 10 at the same time. She now has four: Speak Now, followed by Midnights, Lover and folklore. She’s the first living act to have four albums in the top 10 simultaneously since trumpet player Herb Alpert did it in 1966.

The only other artist ever to have done it is Prince, who had five albums in the top 10 after he died in 2016.

Plus, Taylor’s now the only act ever to have scored a number one album in each of the past five calendar years, from 2019-2023. 2019 brought us Lover, while 2020 brought us folklore and evermore. In 2021, she had Fearless and Red, both Taylor’s Versions, and in 2022, it was Midnights.

Of Taylor’s entire recorded output, she’s now had nine albums to have sold at least 500,000 copies in a single week. She’s the only artist ever to achieve this since those records started being kept in 1991.

Copyright © 2023, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

Categories
Country Daypop

Garth Brooks to headline inaugural Sugar Bowl Country Kickoff in New Orleans

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Garth Brooks will be headlining the inaugural Sugar Bowl Country Kickoff on Sept. 2 at the Caesars Superdome in New Orleans, to help celebrate the start of the 2023 college football season. The event, which is expected to be an annual Labor Day weekend celebration, will include performances from Louisiana’s own Lainey Wilson and the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band.

Says Brooks: “Being asked to be part of the first ever Sugar Bowl Country Kickoff is an honor  The fun will be in getting to perform with Legends Nitty Gritty and future legend Miss Wilson in front of arguably the greatest country music fans on the planet. Any trip to Louisiana is a guaranteed good time so PLEASE count me in!! Wilson also took to Instagram to share the news, writing: “Well hot dang y’all…I’m joining the one and only @garthbrooks, in my home state of Louisiana. We’re coming home to Louisiana!”

Proceeds from the event will go toward assisting the Allstate Sugar Bowl’s numerous community programs, including the New Orleans Teacher Collective. Funds will also go toward the aid of existing scholarship programs and youth events the Bowl supports annually. Sugar Bowl President Richard Briede shared in a release: “The Sugar Bowl Committee is always looking at ways to bring first-rate entertainment that will drive tourism in Louisiana  While efforts have traditionally focused on sporting events, Russell Doussan and the Doussan Music Group have provided us the opportunity to add great music, another hallmark of the state, to the Sugar Bowl repertoire as we start a new football season. The Sugar Bowl is particularly pleased that proceeds from the event will help support the work our organization is doing in the community.”

Louisiana Lieutenant Governor Billy Nungesser wrote: “We are excited to have not just Garth Brooks in the Superdome, but also our very own Louisiana Music Ambassador and Louisiana native Lainey Wilson. She rocked the world with us on our float in the Rose Parade and we know she will get the crowd rocking to welcome Garth to the stage in New Orleans. This lineup has all the makings of a great Louisiana Saturday night.”

Editorial credit: Kathy Hutchins / Shutterstock.com

Categories
Country Daypop

Hailey Whitters to drop six-song EP ‘I’m In Love’

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Hailey Whitters has announced a new six-song EP titled “I’m In Love”, set to be released on July 28. To pre-save the EP “I’m In Love” – here.

Whitters shared in a press release: “My last two LPs were concept records – The Dream being about my Nashville experience, and Raised was a love letter to the heartland I’m from. Both of these records are foundational to who I am. Along the way I’ve lived a lot of life and learned a lot about myself, and I’m excited to get more personal and straight from the heart with this next chapter. If you’ve made it this far, you know where I’m coming from. Now I’m ready to share where I’ve been and who I am.”

Whitters has also shared the EP’s title track, and says of the song: “I knew the minute I heard this song I had to record it. I didn’t write it [Nicolle Galyon, Lee Miller, & Cameron Bedell did], but I wish I had. I love – pun intended – the quirky language and spirit. Every time I sing it I’m smiling like a big ol sap because it just makes me so happy and puts me in a good mood.”

Take a listen to “I’m In Love” via YouTube – here.
To stream the single “I’m In Love” head here.

Hailey Whitters Announces New EP ‘I’m In Love,’ Drops Title Track

Editorial credit: iChzigo / Shutterstock.com

Categories
Pop Daypop

Janet Jackson, Megan Thee Stallion and Kendrick Lamar headlining ONE MusicFest 2023

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ONE MusicFest announced the lineup for the 2023 two-day event, set to take place in Atlanta’s Piedmont Park on Oct 28-29th.   The Fest tweeted: “This is not a drill! 🚨 #OMF2023 featuring Kendrick Lamar, Janet Jackson, Megan Thee Stallion, Brent Faiyaz, 50 Years of Hip Hop and an once in a lifetime lineup are coming on Oct 28+29th 🔥 secure your tickets NOW before they’re GONE at 👉🏾 onemusicfest.com 👈🏾”

Janet Jackson, Kendrick Lamar, Megan Thee Stallion, and Brent Faiyaz will headline the 2023 festival, with additional performances from the likes of Coco Jones, El DeBarge, Durand Bernarr, Bryson Tiller, Jozzy, Jadakiss, and “surprise special guests” taking the stage. ONE MusicFest will also celebrate Hip-Hop’s 50th anniversary with a specially curated stage featuring rap legends such as Nelly, KRS-One, Big Daddy Kane, Trina, Too $hort, and Lady Of Rage.

ONE MusicFest Founder, James “J” Carter, shared in a statement: “We are beyond excited about the 14th annual ONE Musicfest. To have the opportunity to host Kendrick Lamar, Janet Jackson, Megan Thee Stallion, Brent Faiyaz, and other iconic artists in the middle of Piedmont Park is a dream come true, especially on the 50th Anniversary of Hip Hop. It doesn’t get any better than this. It will be a premium experience for the artists, the attendees, and our partners. We look forward to our new home in Piedmont Park and delivering an elevated experience to our many fans.”

Tickets for the festival are currently on-sale. General admission begins at $169, with 2-day platinum packages starting at $995. Head to www.onemusicfest.frontgatetickets.com for more information.

Editorial credit: lev radin / Shutterstock.com

Categories
Pop Daypop

Jung Kook of BTS releases solo track ‘Seven’ ft. Latto

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BTS’s Jung Kook has released the track “Seven” featuring Latto, marking his official solo debut. The highly-anticipated single was written and produced by Grammy-winning producers and songwriters Andrew Watt and Cirkut, with CEO of Hybe America, Scooter Braun, also taking part in the production of the single.

The official music video for “Seven”, directed by Bradley Bell and Pablo Jones-Soler, features Korean actress Han So-hee, in addition to the K-pop superstar and Latto. Jung Kook shared: “I deliberated on how more people could enjoy ‘Seven.’ This is my first time working on the [UK garage] genre, and the production process was very fresh and new. I also learned a lot from recording ‘Seven.’”

Jung Kook made his official American TV debut on Friday, performing “Seven” on Good Morning America’s 2023 Summer Concert Series in New York.

Take a look at the video for “Seven” – here.
To stream “Seven”, head here.

Editorial credit: Silvia Elizabeth Pangaro / Shutterstock.com

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Go Country 105

Nashville notes: Ryan Griffin's 'Phases' + LANCO's “Lasso”

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Ryan Griffin has dropped his new EP, Phases. “I hope you connect with this project, no matter what phase of love you are in. Here's to never giving up on finding something REAL!” Ryan shares. The five-track set includes his latest single, “Heart to Break.”

LANCO has released a new jaunty shuffler, “Lasso.” It’s accompanied by a feel-good music video with all four members showing off their best dance moves.

Mitchell Tenpenny‘s set to drop a new song, “Bigger Mistakes,” on Friday, July 28. The track’s available for presave now.

Copyright © 2023, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

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Go Country 105

Lainey Wilson celebrates “Watermelon Moonshine” with new Stanley tumbler

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Lainey Wilson has teamed up with food and drinkware brand Stanley to launch the limited edition Stanley Quencher H2.0 FlowStateT Tumbler.

The 40-ounce tumbler arrives in a “juicy, pink watermelon hue paired with fresh green details” to celebrate Lainey’s dreamy new single, “Watermelon Moonshine.”

While the tumbler’s currently sold out, fans can register their interest at stanley1913.com to be notified as soon as it’s available.

Copyright © 2023, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.