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Go Country 105

'Born to sing': Meet one of Luke Bryan's favorites from the new season of 'Idol'

The official American Idol premiere isn’t until Sunday, March 9, on ABC, but you don’t have to wait until then for a little taste.

Luke Bryan takes center stage in a new preview on socials, featuring a 23-year-old contestant named Filo, who was born in Egypt. After pointing out his favorite part of the show is the “contestants and their stories,” Luke goes on to proclaim that Filo was “born to sing.”

Of course, this season Luke and Lionel Richie are joined at the judges table by one of the most successful American Idol winners of all time, Carrie Underwood.

You can catch a special preview after the live telecast of the Oscars Sunday, March 2, on ABC, ahead of the show’s premiere March 9.

Copyright © 2025, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

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Go Country 105

Kelsea Ballerini's got 'Dreams' in Hollywood and secrets about Dallas

Kelsea Ballerini‘s getting ready to power down the first part of her arena tour, but she’s got a little something up her sleeve before she takes a breather.

“HOLLYWOOD, FLORIDA. i got to kick my shoes off and sing fleetwood with @ashemusic and it's one of my favorite tour moments so far,” she shared on her socials after her Feb. 23 date at Hard Rock Live. If you catch her Stories in time, you can check out a clip of Kelsea duetting Fleetwood Mac‘s “Dreams” with singer/songwriter Ashe.

“tomorrow is the last show of the first leg in Dallas.ready for a surprise?” Kelsea continued, referencing her Wednesday show at Dickies Arena.

Once Kelsea’s secret is revealed, she’ll be off the road until March 13 in Seattle. Until then, you can catch her on The Voice and hear her hit “Cowboys Cry Too” on country radio.

Copyright © 2025, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

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Go Country 105

Love 'CMT Crossroads'? How to binge your favorite episodes

If there’s an episode of CMT Crossroads you particularly loved or always wanted to see, the chances are good you can check it out on Paramount+ now.

The streamer’s just added episodes of the iconic music show, plus memorable episodes of MTV Unplugged and VH1 Storytellers, many available for the first time in more than 20 years.

While MTV Unplugged and VH1 Storytellers focus more on pop and rock acts, you’ll still run across gems like Darius Rucker‘s 1996 appearance with Hootie & the Blowfish, as well as Johnny Cash and Willie Nelson from 1997 and The Chicks from 2006.

Here’s the complete list of CMT Crossroads pairings you can watch now:

Black Pumas & Mickey Guyton (2022)
Boyz II Men & Brett Young (2019)
Brooks & Dunn and Friends (2019) – ft. Luke Combs, Brett Young, Midland, Cody Johnson, Jon Pardi & Brandon Lancaster
Cheap Trick & Jennifer Nettles (2016)
Gavin DeGraw & Chris Young (2019)
Halsey & Kelsea Ballerini (2020)
John Legend & Lee Ann Womack (2014)
John Mellencamp & Darius Rucker (2017)
Kid Rock & Hank Williams, Jr. (2002)
LeAnn Rimes & Friends (2021) – ft. Carly Pearce, Ashley McBryde, Mickey Guyton & Brandy Clark (2021)
Lindsey Buckingham & Little Big Town (2006)
Lynyrd Skynyrd & Brantley Gilbert (2015)
Lynyrd Skynyrd & Montgomery Gentry (2004)
Melissa Etheridge & Dolly Parton (2003)
Nathaniel Rateliff & Margo Price (2021)
Nelly & Friends (2021) – ft. Kane Brown, Florida Georgia Line, Blanco Brown & Breland
Nick Jonas & Thomas Rhett (2016)
OneRepublic & Dierks Bentley (2014)
Randy Travis & The Avett Brothers (2012)
Sheryl Crow & Friends (2019) – ft. Chris Stapleton, Joe Walsh, Bonnie Raitt, Emmylou Harris, Lucius & more
Sheryl Crow & Willie Nelson (2002)
Stevie Nicks & Lady A (2013)
Sting & Vince Gill (2011)
The Doobie Brothers & Luke Bryan (2011)
Willie Nelson & Friends (2013) – ft. Neil Young, Jack White, Sheryl Crow, Leon Russell, Ashley Monroe, Norah Jones & Jamey Johnson

Copyright © 2025, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

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Go Country 105

Why Koe Wetzel has big plans for the last day of February

If you’re a fan of Koe Wetzel – and especially his song “February 28, 2016” – you probably know this Friday is the unofficial Koe Wetzel Day. 

To celebrate, the breakout star from Texas is throwing a block party at his Riot Room bar and releasing a new album recorded on the road in 2024. 

Here’s the complete track listing for Live from the Damn Near Normal Tour, which includes his chart-topping hit “High Road,” plus a dozen other performances: 

“Twister” — Live from Dickies Arena, Fort Worth, TX 
“9 Lives (Black Cat)” — Live from Dickies Arena, Fort Worth, TX  
“April Showers” — Live from Dickies Arena, Fort Worth, TX  
“Sundy or Mundy” — Live from Colonial Life Arena, Columbia, SC  
“Austin” — Live from Moody Center, Austin, TX  
“Good Times” — Live from Moody Center, Austin, TX 
“Love” — Live from Colonial Life Arena, Columbia, SC 
“Sweet Dreams” — Live from Colonial Life Arena, Columbia, SC  
“Casamigos” — Live from Colonial Life Arena, Columbia, SC
“February 28, 2016” — Live from Dickies Arena, Fort Worth, TX
“Drunk Driving” — Live from Colonial Life Arena, Columbia, SC  
“Damn Near Normal” — Live from Dickies Arena, Fort Worth, TX  
“High Road” — Live from Dickies Arena, Fort Worth, TX 

Copyright © 2025, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

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Go Country 105

How to see Keith Urban and Blake Shelton on 'The Road'

Keith Urban is hitting The Road with Blake Shelton.

The Australian superstar will headline the new CBS show, produced by Blake and Yellowstone creator Taylor Sheridan. Of course, Blake and Keith are veterans of music reality shows, Blake with The Voice and Keith with American Idol

In the new competition, talent will be given the opportunity to open for big names, with the audience helping decide who continues on to the next city. 

“I spent a lot of my underage life playing in some seedy pubs, sometimes just for the bartender,” Keith reflects. “So I love the idea of throwing artists into a real-world environment to find out if they are artists.”

“Paying your dues sucks, but there are things in this business that can't be taught, like how to put together a set list, whether to extend or cut a song during your performance or how to work the crowd,” he continues. “For me, touring has always been my first love. It's where the rubber meets the road.”

Expect to hear Keith sing his own hits on the show, like his current single, “Straight Line,” when it premieres in the fall. 

Here’s where The Road will be shooting, with free tickets available online
3/2 — Fort Worth, Texas, Tannahill's Tavern & Music Hall 
3/5 — Dallas, Texas, The Factory in Deep Ellum 
3/9 — Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, Oklahoma Ranch 
3/12 — Tulsa, Oklahoma, Cain’s Ballroom
3/24 — Memphis, Tennessee, Minglewood Hall
3/28 — Nashville, Tennessee, Marathon Music Works
4/2 — Nashville, Tennessee, Ryman Auditorium

Copyright © 2025, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

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News Daypop

Apple announces $500 billion investment in the United States

Apple announced on Monday that it will spend $500 billion over the next four years expanding facilities in the United States, including plans to build a new manufacturing factory, double its advanced manufacturing fund, and hire 20,000 people.

The tech giant said it will expand teams and facilities in Texas along with Michigan, California, Arizona, Nevada, Iowa, Oregon, North Carolina and Washington state. The announcement comes about a week after Cook met with President Donald Trump, who recently signed an executive order adding a 10% tariff on goods made by China on top of the 25% tariffs already in place (most of Apple’s products, including the popular iPhones, are manufactured in China).

Apple CEO Tim Cook said in a statement: “We are bullish on the future of American innovation, and we’re proud to build on our long-standing U.S. investments with this $500 billion commitment to our country’s future. From doubling our Advanced Manufacturing Fund, to building advanced technology in Texas, we’re thrilled to expand our support for American manufacturing. And we’ll keep working with people and companies across this country to help write an extraordinary new chapter in the history of American innovation.”

Per AP News, Apple said it will also work to produce more content for Apple TV+ media streaming service in 20 states and make new hires in research and development along with spending.  Additionally, Cook noted the construction of a new factory in Houston (slated to open in 2026) that will produce servers to power Apple Intelligence, its suite of AI features.  Apple also confirmed Monday that an Arizona-based Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. facility, which began development under the Biden administration, had started producing chips for it there.

Editorial credit: John Gress Media Inc / Shutterstock.com

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News Daypop

French President Emmanuel Macron and Pres. Trump meet at White House

President Donald Trump met with French President Emmanuel Macron on Monday today to discuss topics including the war in Ukraine and trade issues. Earlier on Monday, Trump and Macron participated in a virtual meeting with fellow Group of Seven leaders to discuss the war.

Pres. Trump said: “France is America’s oldest ally, our cherished partnership has been a force for freedom, prosperity and peace from the very beginning. We’re now working on some very interesting developments, one in particular, as you know, the war between Russia and Ukraine.”  Trump said he was hopeful that Russia’s war in Ukraine was nearing an ‘endgame’ – on the third anniversary of the invasion. Trump said he believed Russian President Vladimir Putin would accept European peacekeepers in Ukraine to keep the peace, and ‘had hope’ that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy would soon come to the U.S. to sign a deal to give the U.S. access to Ukraine’s critical minerals (in order to repay some of the $180 billion in American aid that’s been sent to Kyiv since the start of the war).

Macron said at a joint press conference with Trump following their meeting said their talks were productive, acknowledging that European nations must do more to bolster defense on the continent while also warning against capitulating to Russia: ″This peace must not mean a surrender of Ukraine. It must not mean a ceasefire without guarantees. This peace must allow for Ukrainian sovereignty.”  Trump said he believed Putin would accept European peacekeepers in Ukraine as part of a potential deal to end Russia’s war there. “Yeah, he will accept it. I have asked him that question. Look, if we do this deal, he’s not looking for more war.”

Trump called Macron a “very special man” during the bilateral meeting, noting that they talked about various trade deals between the U.S. and France earlier in the day.  The President is also set to meet with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer at the White House later this week.

Editorial credit: Alexandros Michailidis / Shutterstock.com

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Go Country 105

Hear Parker McCollum's 'big accident' that just missed his last album

Parker McCollum’s latest hit, “What Kinda Man,” pretty well just fell out of the air — but it’s taking a little longer for it to make it onto vinyl.

“The song was a big accident, really,” the Texas native tells ABC Audio. “I was sitting in my house by myself and just kind of word vomited that verse and chorus out one day. I mean just one take.”

“Luckily my phone was recording,” he continues, “and so I was able to remember what I had said, but I just kind of freestyled it out. And then exactly what I sang out that first time is what the song is.”

Still, Parker did call in some first-class songwriters to help him flesh it out.

Jeremy [Spillman] and Natalie [Hemby] were at my house one day and I said, ‘Man, I would love to finish this song. I don’t really know what to do with it.’ And we finished it,” he recalls.

“I actually wrote it for the last record and didn’t cut it,” he goes on to reveal. “And then I went in to cut this record, and I mean, it was like three weeks later it was on the radio.”  

While you won’t find “What Kinda Man” on 2023’s Never Enough, watch for it on Parker’s next album, which should arrive sometime this year.

Copyright © 2025, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

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Country Daypop

Randy Travis drops the track ‘Horses In Heaven’

Randy Travis released his second new single in less than a year, “Horses in Heaven.”  Much like his single “Where That Came From” of last year, it will feature an AI-generated reproduction of Travis’s legendary voice, allowing fans to hear him sing once again despite the stroke that took his ability to perform over a decade ago.

The country legend shared via social media: “When I began my recovery almost 12 years ago many things changed, but one thing stayed the same – my desire to share new music and create new memories. I’m grateful to have the opportunity to continue doing that thanks to family, friends, fans, and God’s grace. After my last release I told you there would be more where that came from, and I’m excited to jump back in the saddle and release a brand-new recording, ‘Horses In Heaven.’ I still remember the first time I stepped into those stirrups as a little boy, and my horses have been family to me ever since.  This song is a special one, and I can’t wait for all of you to hear it. ”

Fans can catch Travis on the road alongside guest vocalist James Dupre – who performs his songs by his side – on the More Life Tour, a musical celebration of Travis with his original band and all of the hits. For tickets, head to Randy’s website.

Stream Horses in HeavenHERE.

Editorial credit: s_bukley / Shutterstock.com

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Country Daypop

Kip Moore shares video for ‘Around You’ ahead of upcoming album

Kip Moore has shared his new song “Around You,” the latest sneak-peek from his upcoming album, Solitary Tracks.  

Moore has also announced Canada dates for his Solitary Tracks World Tour, which will be followed by US tour dates this summer with Billy Currington. The run will kick off in June in Florida and take them through Los Angeles, San Diego, Virginia, Texas, North Carolina, and more. Moore will take his Solitary Tracks World Tour across Europe and the UK this spring as well.

Check out the video for ‘Around You’ – HERE.
Pre-order the album Solitary TracksHERE.

Editorial credit: Trina Stewart / Shutterstock.com