Month: August 2023

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Go Country 105

Nashville notes: Dolly joins Pinterest + Luke Bryan's Boldly Grown Peanuts

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Dolly Parton has joined Pinterest. Check out her Pinterest page for an exclusive look at the design process of the back cover of her upcoming book, Behind the Seams: My Life in Rhinestones.

Fendt & Luke Bryan‘s Boldy Grown Peanuts are on sale now at store.lukebryan.com. They’re priced at $5 per can and available in three flavors, while supplies last. Fendt will donate $50,000 to the National FFA Organization when supplies sell out.

Country up-and-comer Bryan Martin made his Grand Ole Opry debut on Tuesday, August 29. He performed two songs: “Goin For Broke” and “We Ride.” Of his debut, Bryan reflects, “Man.. I thought I could only dream about stepping in that circle. I’m just so thankful for everybody that came out to support me and I couldn’t be more honored to step in the same circle as everybody who came before me.”

Copyright © 2023, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

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Go Country 105

Spend Christmas with Darryl Worley, Deana Carter, Lorrie Morgan + more in Nashville

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Going to be in Nashville for the festive season? Then be sure to stop by Gaylord Opryland for the Darryl Worley & Friends: Home For The Holidays dinner show.

The event, which is part of Gaylord Opryland’s 40th annual A Country Christmas, will run from November 23 to December 25 and be headlined by Darryl. Special guests Deana Carter, Lorrie Morgan, Billy Dean, The Isaacs, Andy Griggs and Billy Gilman will perform on select dates.

“Christmas has always been a special time for my family,” shares Darryl. “Growing up, we never had a lot of excessive things, but my parents made sure Christmas was not just about the presents but about the experience and meaning of the season. I am so grateful to Gaylord Opryland for giving me a chance to share that Christmas spirit with all the people who visit Nashville during the holidays!”

“Headlining a brand-new dinner show as part of the resort's 40th annual A Country Christmas is an honor beyond words,” adds the “Have You Forgotten?” hitmaker. “Please come visit Gaylord Opryland for the holidays to see me, along with some very talented friends, as we share the music, memories, love, and joy of the holiday season!”

For more information and to grab tickets, visit Gaylord Opryland’s website.

Copyright © 2023, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

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Go Country 105

Tyler Hubbard's “most physical” job taught him important life lessons

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With Labor Day weekend right around the corner, country star Tyler Hubbard is reflecting on the life lessons he picked up from “one of the worst jobs” he had early on.

“I don't know if it was the worst job, definitely the most physical, [but it] was probably pouring concrete,” says Tyler. “I did that for a year with a friend that had a concrete business, and we poured a lot of concrete that year, and I just remember really early mornings and really late nights.”

“If the sun was up, we were working, and that was pretty influential in creating the work ethic that I have,” he recalls. “It was either that or my dad had a tree service that I grew up working with him doing that, as well, which was again very manual labor, very long days and taught me a lot about working hard.” 

“Those were special times and as hard as it was, I'm thankful for those years,” shares Tyler. “I love working hard, and I'm grateful for the struggle that got me where I'm at.”

Coming up, Tyler will open for Old Dominion on select dates of their No Bad Vibes Tour. For Tyler’s full tour schedule, visit his website.

Copyright © 2023, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

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Go Country 105

Jordan Davis is ready for a “Damn Good Time” on his headlining tour

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As Jordan Davis readies to kick off his Damn Good Time Tour, he’s hitting pause to reflect on his journey toward being a headliner and the surreality of it.

“This fall [headlining] tour is something that we've been, I mean, we've been planning it for a long time,” says Jordan. “It truly feels like two years ago we were in a van, pulling into 500-person bars and crossing our fingers that it was gonna look full enough to post a photo on social media.”

“I still remember those days, to where now, we're sold out in the majority of the venues and starting to kind of make the jump into arenas,” he shares. “It's something I just didn't really, I don't know. As a guy who moved to town to write songs, I never really saw that in my future.”

Jordan’s Damn Good Time Tour begins Thursday, August 31, in Atlanta and will hit Nashville, Kansas City, St. Louis, New York City, Boston, Bakersfield and other cities. The trek will conclude in Las Vegas on October 21. 

A rotating list of artists, which includes Gabby Barrett, Dylan Marlowe, Kameron Marlowe, Jameson Rodgers and Conner Smith, will serve as opening acts.

For a full list of dates and tickets, visit jordandavisofficial.com.

Copyright © 2023, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

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Go Country 105

Old Dominion + NEEDTOBREATHE join for “Wasting Time”

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Old Dominion has joined rock group NEEDTOBREATHE on their new song, “Wasting Time.”

The jubilant track is Old Dominion’s first collaboration with NEEDTOBREATHE.

“‘Wasting Time’ has all the elements that made me fall in love with NEEDTOBREATHE years and years ago,” says Old Dominion’s Matthew Ramsey. “They were always inspiring to me as a band, and getting to work with them on this song has shown me they are equally as inspiring as humans. Good people making good music. What a dream!”

“We wanted to have a fun rock song that would be exciting for the band to play live,” adds NEEDTOBREATHE. “We also love the energy our friends in Old Dominion bring to their shows and thought teaming up together on this one would take the song over the top. It ended up being one of our favorite tracks on the record and will be a staple in our live show for a long time.”

“Wasting Time” is off NEEDTOBREATHE’s upcoming album, CAVES, arriving September 15. Carly Pearce will be featured on their new song “Fall On Me.”

Old Dominion’s 18-track record, Memory Lane, will drop October 6, and can be preordered and presaved now.

Copyright © 2023, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

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News Daypop

Federal judge finds Rudy Giuliani liable for defaming Georgia election workers

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On Wednesday, a federal judge awarded a default judgment to two Georgia election workers as part of their civil defamation suit against former Trump attorney Rudy Giuliani.  U.S. Judge Beryl Howell found Giuliani liable for his defamatory remarks, leveling harsh sanctions against him (including the default judgment), and ordering a trial to determine the complete scope of damages.

The election workers, mother-daughter Ruby Freeman and Wandrea “Shaye” Moss, sued the former New York City mayor for defamation over erroneous remarks he made accusing the pair of fraudulently manipulating ballots on Election Day 2020 in Georgia. Freeman and Moss became the subjects of a Trump-backed conspiracy theory that was later found to be “false and unsubstantiated,” according to an investigation by the Georgia Elections Board. In an appearance before a committee of the Georgia state legislature, Giuliani told lawmakers that a video circulating online showed “Ruby Freeman and Shaye Freeman Moss … quite obviously surreptitiously passing around USB ports, as if they’re vials of heroin or cocaine.”

U.S. Judge Beryl Howell said in a 57-page opinion in the case: “The bottom line is that Giuliani has refused to comply with his discovery obligations and thwarted plaintiffs Ruby Freeman and Wandrea’ ArShaye Moss’ procedural rights to obtain any meaningful discovery in this case … Rather than simply play by the rules designed to promote a discovery process necessary to reach a fair decision on the merits of plaintiffs’ claims, Giuliani has bemoaned plaintiffs’ efforts to secure his compliance as ‘punishment by process’ … Donning a cloak of victimization may play well on a public stage to certain audiences, but in a court of law, this performance has served only to subvert the normal process of discovery in a straightforward defamation case.”

In a statement, Freeman and Moss lauded the ruling: “Rudy Giuliani helped unleash a wave of hatred and threats we never could have imagined. It cost us our sense of security and our freedom to go about our lives. Nothing can restore all we lost, but today’s ruling is yet another neutral finding that has confirmed what we have known all along: that there was never any truth to any of the accusations about us and that we did nothing wrong. We were smeared for purely political reasons, and the people responsible can and should be held accountable.”

Judge Howell wrote that a trial to determine the full scope of damages will take place later this year or early next, adding that “the jury will be instructed that they must, when determining an appropriate sum of punitive damages, infer that Giuliani is intentionally trying to hide relevant discovery about his financial assets for the purpose of artificially deflating his net worth.”

Editorial credit: paparazzza / Shutterstock.com

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News Daypop

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell appears to have another medical episode during public event

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Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell appeared to freeze again during an exchange with reporters on Wednesday during an event in his home state of Kentucky.

Video footage showed McConnell, 81, trailing off and remaining silent after he was asked if he would seek re-election in 2026. While the Republican leader acknowledged the question, he froze and began to stare ahead; after roughly 10 seconds, an aide stepped in and asked whether he heard the question. McConnell replied, “yes,” but continued to look off into the distance, prompting the aide to say, “we’re going to need a minute.” The aide then asked for assistance from what appeared to be a member of McConnell’s security detail. The senator appeared to regain his composure after roughly 30 seconds of silence, clearing his throat and stating, “OK.” McConnell answered two more questions from reporters, though his aide relayed the topics to him. He then left the gathering.

A spokesperson for McConnell said he felt “momentarily lightheaded and paused” during the press conference, adding that while he said he feels fine, “as a prudential measure, the leader will be consulting a physician prior to his next event.” President Biden told reporters after delivering remarks on the federal response to Hurricane Idalia and the wildfires on Maui that McConnell is a “good friend,” and said he is going to try to get in contact with him.

The incident marked the second time McConnell appeared to have a medical episode at a public event. The first instance of McConnell freezing occurred during a press conference in the U.S. Capitol on July 26, when he stopped speaking mid-sentence while delivering opening comments and appeared unable to continue with his remarks for roughly 15 seconds. An aide to McConnell later said he “felt lightheaded and stepped away for a moment.”

The freezing incidents come after McConnell tripped at a dinner event in the Waldorf Astoria Hotel in Washington in March, suffering a concussion. He was hospitalized for several days and received additional treatment at an inpatient rehabilitation facility. McConnell returned to the Senate more than a month after the fall.

McConnell has served as the top Senate Republican since 2007, and he became the longest-serving Senate leader in history when the new Congress began in January. The lawmaker is among the oldest politicians in office and is the 13th longest-serving senator in history with 38 years in office.

Editorial credit: Christopher Halloran / Shutterstock.com

Categories
Country Daypop

Riley Green announces new album ‘Ain’t My Last Rodeo’

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Riley Green announced that his new album, ‘Ain’t My Last Rodeo,’ will be released October 13th.

The music and lyrics from the 12-track project are heavily influenced by the rural, small town and slower way of living that Green experiences when he’s off the road. The title Ain’t My Last Rodeo takes its name from a track on the LP, “My Last Rodeo,” which Green wrote following one of the final conversations he had with his late Grandaddy in the hospital.  Said Green: “I was fortunate enough to grow up within about three miles of my grandparents, so they were a huge part of my growing up and who I am—and this album is a lot of who I am. This is really the first time I was able to really take my time, write and record songs that really felt like a cohesive album—I’m really proud of it and want to thank the fans for all of their encouragement—I hope y’all enjoy it.”

The tracklist includes a song with Jelly Roll, and also features several familiar tunes including a cover of Tim McGraw’s “Damn Country Music,” which will be available this Friday, September 1st. Ain’t My Last Rodeo also includes Green’s current single, “Different ‘Round Here” featuring Luke Combs,

Editorial credit: Debby Wong / Shutterstock.com

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Country Daypop

Alana Springsteen to launch first headlining tour

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Alana Springsteen will launch her first headlining tour dubbed the ‘Twenty Something Tour’, in support of her three-part debut album, TWENTY SOMETHING.

The trek kicks off on October 25 in Nashville, making stops in Dallas, Knoxville, Chicago, New York, Philadelphi and Boston before wrapping in Pittsburgh on December 10.

Shares Springsteen: “The most fulfilling part of releasing this music is the connection I feel with people of all ages and backgrounds all over the world when they reach out because they feel less alone after hearing these songs. Being able to see them face-to-face on my own headline tour is everything I’ve ever dreamt of. Each of these shows are going to be special in their own way. I can’t wait to give them everything I have.”

Ticktes for the ‘Twenty Something Tour’ are on sale now; head here for more information.

Alana Springsteen announces The Twenty Something Tour

Editorial credit: Kathy Hutchins / Shutterstock.com

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Pop Daypop

Adele says sciatica attack caused her to collapse backstage at Las Vegas residency

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Adele revealed that she recently collapsed backstage during her Las Vegas residency due to an ongoing health issue that caused a flare-up of her spinal condition. The 35-year-old singer told fans during one of her recent concerts (part of her “Weekends with Adele” residency at The Colosseum at Caesars Palace) that she fell and was unable to move because of a sciatica attack. Sciatia is a condition is caused by pain radiating from the sciatic nerve, causing extreme discomfort and pain in the legs and lower back. Adele told the audience that a member of her production team found her, unable to move: “They picked my whole body up off the floor. I am going to sit down and rest my sciatica.”

Adele first revealed her condition in 2021, saying she’s been dealing with it since the age of 15. “I slipped my first disc when I was 15 from sneezing. I was in bed, and I sneezed, and my fifth one flew out. In January, I slipped my sixth one, my L6. And then where I had a C‑section, my core was useless … I’ve been in pain with my back for like, half of my life, really. It flares up, normally due to stress or from a stupid bit of posture. But where I got my tummy strong, down at the bottom, which I never had before, my back don’t play up as much. It means I can do more. I can run around with my kid a little bit more.”

Adele also shared with fans how the chronic pain she lives with has impacted her ability to move on stage. During a New Year’s Eve 2022 show, Adele had difficulty walking across the stage after throwing shooting merchandise out of a T-shirt cannon into the crowd: “I have to waddle these days as I have really bad sciatica.”

Adele’s Vegas residency was extended this year with additional dates through November 4, 2023, after her initial successful run from November 2022-March 2023.

Editorial credit: Fred Duval / Shutterstock.com