Month: June 2024

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News Daypop

Vice President Kamala Harris to represent U.S. at upcoming Ukraine peace summit in Switzerland

Kamala Harris addressing the media from a presidential podium in the East Room of the White House. Washington D.C.^ USA - October 24 2022

Vice President Kamala Harris will represent the United States at the Summit on Peace in Ukraine, taking place in Switzerland on June 15th. Biden’s national security adviser, Jake Sullivan, will join Harris as part of the U.S. delegation. Switzerland’s Federal Department of Foreign Affairs said on X it was “pleased with the participation of” Harris for the upcoming summit.

According to the White House, Harris is expected to highlight the U.S. commitment to “supporting Ukraine’s effort to secure a just and lasting peace,” at the international peace summit at Burgenstock Resort in Lucerne, Switzerland, which the White House says is “based on Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity and the principles of the U.N. Charter.” Harris’ communications director, Kirsten Allen said in a statement: “The Vice President will also reaffirm support for the people of Ukraine as they defend themselves against ongoing Russian aggression.”

The summit will immediately follow the 50th G7 summit that is set to take place in Borgo Egnazia in Italy’s southern Puglia region between June 13 and 15. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky had previously urged President Joe Biden to personally visit Switzerland on behalf on the U.S., saying last month:”I believe that the peace summit needs President Biden, and other leaders need President Biden because they will look at the U.S.’s reaction.”

National Security Communications Adviser John Kirby defended Biden’s reason not to attend the June 15 summit; asked Monday if the president was sending the wrong message globally by forgoing the peace summit to attend a California fundraiser, Kirby said “there hasn’t been any single leader around the world who has supported Ukraine more and more stridently than Joe Biden.” He said Harris will be attending the summit “because of our desire to be represented around that table” and her presence will help demonstrate that “Ukraine has no stronger backer than the United States.” Kirby added that “No matter who represents the United States at this summit, it can’t be said that the United States has in any way walked away from supporting Ukraine.”

Editorial credit: Tennessee Witney / Shutterstock.com

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Go Country 105

Ashley Cooke on making country music history with her debut album

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If you thought Ashley Cooke‘s debut album, shot in the dark, was long, you might be surprised to know it was initially slated to offer more than 24 tracks.

“We had recorded and planned to release even more songs than that, but I was kind of like, ‘All right, I feel like this is a lot.’ More than 24 songs feels like almost too much of a project,” Ashley tells ABC Audio. “And so I was like, ‘All right, I think we should just whittle it down to what songs are absolutely necessary, what I really want to have on the project.'”

“My label, Big Loud, they’re known for long albums, like [with] Morgan Wallen and all of that, and so I feel like they’re not shy to put out a lot of music and a lot of content,” she says.

Turns out 24 tracks is what it took for the newcomer to make country music history.

“I’m really happy that my team believes in it, and they all love the songs, too. I think it’s, it was the longest debut album of a country artist to date, I believe is the statistic, which wasn’t the plan,” shares Ashley. “We didn’t plan that because of that stat. It just, like, happened. And then we were like, ‘Oh, this is, [we] didn’t know this.'” 

Ashley’s currently #5 and ascending the country charts with “your place.”

To catch her on Jordan Davis‘ ongoing Damn Good Time World Tour, visit ashleycooke.com.

 

Copyright © 2024, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

Categories
Country Daypop

Tracy Lawrence shares video for new single ‘Pretty Dang Good’

Tracy Lawrence performs at the CountryFlo Music and Camping Festival on November 4^ 2016 in Lake Wales^ Florida.

Country music icon Tracy Lawrence has released his new single ‘Pretty Dang Good,’ the follow-up to his recent track “Gulf of Mexico.”  The song is the third track off Lawrence’s six-track forthcoming EP, Out Here In It, set to drop on June 7th.

‘Pretty Dang Good,’ written by Wyatt McCubbin, Bobby Pinson, and Carson Chamberlain, serves as the opening track on Out Here In It, which also features cuts from some of Nashville’s hottest songwriters including Rodney Clawson, Devin Dawson, Jacob Durrett, Wyatt McCubbin, Lee Thomas Miller, Ernest Keith Smith, and more.

Lawrence has also been out on the road with Riley Green on his Ain’t My Last Rodeo tour.   Check out the video for ‘Pretty Dang Good’ – here.

Editorial credit: Debby Wong / Shutterstock.com

Categories
Country Daypop

Randy Travis bringing ‘More Life Tour’ to Ryman Auditorium

Randy Travis at the 45th Academy of Country Music Awards Arrivals^ MGM Grand Garden Arena^ Las Vegas^ NV. 04-18-10

Randy Travis will appear in concert at Nashville’s historic Ryman Auditorium on June 5, 2024, unofficially kicking-off CMA Fest.

Travis is bringing his “More Life Tour” to the venue alongside his original touring band and special guest vocalist James Dupré.  Due to Travis’ 2013 stroke that left him with aphasia, he will not perform himself; however, similar to his AI-assisted performance on his new song “Where That Came From,” his friend and longtime touring partner Dupré will assume the microphone and perform alongside the original Randy Travis Band to play all 16 of Travis’ hit songs, including “On The Other Hand,” “Forever and Ever, Amen,” and “Three Wooden Crosses.”  Randy and his wife Mary will be present on stage throughout the entire show.

Travis’ new single, “Where That Came From,” was released on May 3rd in collaboration with longtime producer Kyle Lehning, marking his first song in over a decade.

Editorial credit: s_bukley / Shutterstock.com

Categories
Pop Daypop

Normani shares ‘Dopamine’ album trailer, drops the single ‘Candy Paint’

Normani at the 2019 Billboard Women In Music held at the Hollywood Palladium in Hollywood^ USA on December 12^ 2019.

Normani is teasing her anticipated solo debut album Dopamine with a new trailer. The clip finds the R&B singer in silver body paint, poised on a metallic rocket ship, ready to take off, with the 27-year-old sharing: “Hello, Hotline 159 .. Yes, here to satisfy your deepest, darkest, wildest desires. No rules, no restrictions, straight Dopamine.”  The visual also includes footage from spaceship launches, scenes from Normani’s album photoshoot, and more. Dopamine is set to drop on June 16; take a look at the album trailer – here.

Shortly after the album trailer dropped, Normani officially released the single “Candy Paint” to coincide with her 28th birthday, sharing on social media: “candy paint is out everywhere 🖤🍬 wanted to start my birthday off right and know that you guys have been asking. you already know the visuals are brewing but until then here y’all goooo. love you to the moon.”.

“Candy Paint” is the second song release of Dopamine; she previously dropped the single “1:59” featuring Gunna back in April.  Normani also shared with ELLE Magazine the meaning behind the album title: “Dopamine represents the highs and the lows I’ve endured. It’s been such an emotional roller coaster. I worked relentlessly with my creative director, [Kwasi Fordjour]. We did our research .. I really wanted to have a title that felt like it definitely encompassed everything that I feel I’ve been through in my journey to get to the point that I’m in right now. [The cover] feels energetic. It feels like a hit, and I feel like people have been waiting—[it’s been] one of the most highly anticipated projects.”

Stream ‘Candy Paint’ – here.

Editorial credit: Tinseltown / Shutterstock.com

Categories
Pop Daypop

Cyndi Lauper announces North American farewell tour

Cyndi Lauper performing live at the Amway Center of Orlando Florida. Orlando^ Florida/USA 7-26-2018

Ahead of the release of her Paramount+ documentary Let the Canary Sing, it was announced that music icon Cyndi Lauper, 70, is retiring from the road and will embark on her final ‘farewell’ North American tour the fall.  Live Nation wrote on X : “It’s official! Cyndi Lauper’s Girls Just Wanna Have Fun Farewell Tour is coming, and we couldn’t be more excited. Get ready to sing along to all your favorites and make some amazing memories. Tickets go on sale this Friday.”  Lauper did not personally release a statement regarding the farewell tour, but may speak on the topic later this week as she promotes the new documentary about her career.

The 23-date tour kicks off this fall in Montreal on Oct. 18 and includes a date in her hometown of New York City at Madison Square Garden on Oct. 30, Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena Nov. 1, L.A.’s Intuit Dome Nov. 23, the Acrisure Arena in Palm Desert Nov. 24, and San Francisco’s Chase Center Nov. 26 before wrapping on Dec. 5 at Chicago’s United Center. Special guests will accompany Lauper throughout the tour, to be announced at a later date.

“Let the Canary Sing,” directed by Alison Ellwood, will begin showing on Paramount+ in the U.S. and Canada on Tuesday, June 5. That same day, Lauper will participate in a handprint ceremony at the TCL Chinese Theatre in Hollywood before attending a private local premiere of the film at the theater complex, to be followed by a Q&A.

Tickets for Lauper’s farewell tour go on sale with an artist presale Tuesday, followed by other presales before the general on-sale begins Friday at 10 a.m. local time at Live Nation.

Editorial credit: J.A. Dunbar / Shutterstock.com

Categories
Go Country 105

Nashville notes: Kameron Marlowe's tour + Megan Moroney's “No Caller ID”

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Kameron Marlowe has announced his Keepin’ The Lights On World Tour 2024. The 22-date trek kicks off July 31 in Fort Collins, Colorado, and will hit Nashville, New York, Dallas, Charlotte and more. “Going out on my first world tour is something that’s really hard to wrap my head around but I’m stoked. I’m excited for fans to hear this new record live and be back in cities I haven’t been to in a while and a few new ones along the way!” says Kameron. Tickets go on sale Friday at 10 a.m. local time at kameronmarlowe.com.

The Frontmen, comprised of Lonestar‘s Richie McDonald, Little Texas‘ Tim Rushlow and Restless Heart‘s Larry Stewart, have sent their debut single, “Beatles and Eagles,” to country radio. “We’re super excited to let y’all know that our first country radio single has been released! If you wanna hear it, call your local radio stations!” the group shares on social platform X.

Megan Moroney is making her The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon debut on Tuesday. She’ll perform “No Caller ID” from her sophomore album, Am I Okay?, arriving July 12. You can catch Megan’s appearance at 11:35 p.m. ET on NBC.


Copyright © 2024, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

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Go Country 105

Could we be getting new Old Dominion music soon?

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New Old Dominion music is on the horizon.

The band recently took to social media platform X to tease a new, as-yet-untitled track.

Their first post featured frontman Matthew Ramsey in the studio with a hand on the digital mixer. The follow-up post was a nine-second instrumental snippet of a midtempo tune.

You can check out the teasers on Old Dominion’s X now.

If you’re going to be in Nashville for CMA Fest, you can catch them live at the CMA Close Up Stage on Thursday and at Nissan Stadium on Sunday. For more information, visit cmafest.com.

Copyright © 2024, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

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Go Country 105

Catch Jordan Davis + NEEDTOBREATHE on 'CMT Crossroads'

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Jordan Davis and rock group NEEDTOBREATHE teamed up in April for a taping of CMT Crossroads, and now we have an official air date.

Their episode will premiere June 13 at 8 p.m. ET on CMT and be available to watch the next day on CMT VOD, with subsequent encores on CMT MUSIC and MTV LIVE.

CMT Crossroads: NEEDTOBREATHE & Jordan Davis will feature joint performances from the singers as they offer duet renditions of their hit songs.

Fans can expect collaborations on Jordan’s #1 hits “Buy Dirt” and “Tucson Too Late,” as well as NEEDTOBREATHE’s “Banks.”

Their special was taped in front of a live audience at the University of Texas at Austin during CMT Music Awards Week in April.

While you wait for CMT Crossroads: NEEDTOBREATHE & Jordan Davis to air, you can preview their performance of “Buy Dirt” now on YouTube.

Copyright © 2024, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

Categories
Go Country 105

Michael Ray drops new song + plots Drink With Our Friends Tour

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Michael Ray is heading out on his headlining Drink With Our Friends Tour.

The trek kicks off June 14 in Pauls Valley, Oklahoma, and will hit Albuquerque, Nashville, Denver and more before wrapping in Binghamton, New York, on October 26.

Michael’s tour is named after his new song, “Drink With Our Friends,” an uptempo ode to hard workers and their well-deserved weekend breaks.

“‘Drink with Our Friends’ is for all y’all hard-working people who put in the overtime all week so you can cut loose with your friends on the weekend,” says Michael. “I can't wait to take it on the road and feel the energy of the crowds singing it back to us.”

For Michael’s full tour schedule, visit michaelraymusic.com.

If you’re going to be in Nashville for CMA Fest, you can meet Michael at Warner Music Nashville’s Fan Fair X booth inside Music City Center. More information can be found at cmafest.com.

Copyright © 2024, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.