Author: abookbinder

While many have jumped on the podcast train and admitted to bingeing their favorite shows for hours, Thomas Rhett hasn’t. In fact, the country star and father of four says it’s foreign territory and he doesn’t listen to any. 

“I think I'm the last person in the world that has hopped on the podcast train,” Thomas says.

“I'm also never alone in the car. I'm always, like, got two kids in the back seat, and if I were to turn on, like, a Joe Rogan podcast, I think they'd be like, ‘What are we listening to?'” he says. “So, maybe one day when all four of my kids are in school I'll become a podcaster type of person, but I am not as of late.”

Thomas is currently climbing up the country charts with his latest single, “Angels Don't Always Have Wings.” This summer he will hit the road for his Home Team Tour 23, with Cole Swindell and Nate Smith as opening acts. The 40-city trek kicks off on May 4 in Des Moines, Iowa, before concluding in Nashville on September 29.

For tickets, visit Thomas’ website.

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MCA Nashville/Interscope’s Kassi Ashton made her Grand Ole Opry debut March 15. The rising artist performed her new single “Drive You Out of My Mind” and a cover of Sammi Smith‘s “Help Me Make It Through the Night.”

Walker Hayes has shared on Instagram that he’s dropping two new songs March 17: “If Father Time Had a Daughter” and “6 String American Dream.” Of the latter track, Walker says, “6 String American Dream is as honest as they come. These past 2 years have been outstanding to me. All of my dreams comin true.. but in a very sobering way It didn't fix anythin that matters. That's what this song revolves around.”

Little Big Town has announced the openers for their upcoming Friends of Mine tour. They include Caitlyn Smith, Carter Faith, Jonathan Hutcherson and Patty Griffin. For the full list of acts and tour dates, check out Little Big Town’s Instagram post.

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Shania Twain has released three new songs as part of the Spotify Singles series, and they include an acoustic rendition of her song “Queen of Me,” as well as covers of Harry Styles‘ “Falling” and Howlin' Wolf‘s “Spoonful.”

Unlike its jaunty, synth-pop studio version, the reimagined “Queen of Me” features a sparse production and is primarily led by an acoustic guitar which, in turn, shines the spotlight on Shania’s signature vocals.

“The Spotify studio is crazy, like I just want to move in there,” Shania says of the Los Angeles-based studio where she recorded her songs. “It's state of the art, but it's so friendly! It's a very soothing place. So I'll just be going back there to goof around and record more stuff. I told them I need a locker here, I'm moving in!”

Of her decision to record Harry’s heartbreak ballad, the country-pop star shares, “I just fell in love with ‘Falling.’ I love Harry Styles anyway and his version of the song really moved me and I wanted to try it on. It came out more emotional than I thought it would and I was very pleased – I can kind of hear my pain in it. It was also a tip to Harry Styles as well because he has often done my songs in his shows.”

This is Shania’s latest music release following her sixth full studio record, Queen of Me, which dropped last month.

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Get ready for new Cole Swindell music. The country star has shared on Instagram that a brand new song, “Broken,” is dropping March 17.

While not much is revealed about the track, Cole teased a clip of the chorus, which goes, “‘Cause your heart wasn’t made to be broken/ Wasn’t meant to be in pieces/ It was made to be loved on by someone who’d never leave it/ Wasn’t made to be left out in the middle of the pouring rain/ I know you been there but girl this ain’t yesterday/ And I’m going to show ya/ That baby your heart wasn’t made to be broken/ Wasn’t made to be broken.”

“Broken” will be the latest preview of Cole’s forthcoming deluxe album, Stereotype Broken. Arriving on April 28, the 17-song record will include his current single, “Drinkaby,” as well as his latest hit, “She Had Me At Heads Carolina.”

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Miranda Lambert has departed from Sony Music Nashville, the record label she’s been with for two decades.

“Since I was 19-years-old, Sony has been my home in Nashville. Over the last 20 years Together we have released albums that allowed me to share my story with the world, and we've reached heights I'd never even dreamed were possible,” Miranda wrote in her surprise announcement on Instagram.

“I'm so thankful for our time together and everything they made possible for me,” the singer continued, “yet I wouldn't be true to myself if I wasn't constantly looking for the next challenge and a new way to stretch my creativity. With that in mind, I've decided to say goodbye to my Sony family. I can't wait to see what the next adventure holds.”

A collage of the cover art from each of Miranda’s nine albums with Sony was included in this post. Her last album with Sony was 2022’s Palomino.

This news arrives on the 18th anniversary of her debut album, Kerosene.

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Multi-genre superstar Jelly Roll has announced his new album, Whitsitt Chapel. Arriving on June 2 via BMG/Stoney Creek Records, the 13-song record marks Jelly’s debut full-length country album.

“This album is about growth and gratitude happening in my life. I wanted to create a project that felt hopeful,” shares Jelly, who named the project after his hometown church. “I believe the worst feeling a person can have is feeling hopeless or worthless. This is therapeutic music. Real music for real people with real problems.”

Whitsitt Chapel will include Jelly’s No. 1 hit “Son of a Sinner” as well as his current single, “Need a Favor.” Autographed copies and merch bundles of Whitsitt Chapel are available on Jelly’s online store now. 

On the touring front, the Antioch native will kick off his 44-date Backroad Baptism tour this July.

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Carly Pearce delivered a stunning and cinematic music video for her single “What He Didn’t Do.” The visualizer captured her performing the song on a beach, before gradually walking toward and submerging herself underwater in a white wedding dress. 

That had some fans wondering – was that really Carly swimming underwater, or was it a stunt double?

“It was me. The whole video is me. I underestimated how difficult it would be to swim underwater with a large wedding dress on,” Carly told the press. “It was really, really crazy to feel the weight of that, but I feel like it almost helped me to get it into the character some. It scared me because, at times, you know, you think, oh, I know how to swim. But when you feel that kind of weight really pulling you down it's quite scary.”

“But that was one of the harder things I think I've done, physically, and honestly, the mental game of that was pretty hard,” she said.

In an interview with ABC Audio, Carly added of the “gross” dress, “You know, what’s funny is I actually ripped one of the shoulders while I was underwater, and we kept it just because it looked like it fit just the hardship that we were trying to show. So it was dirty. It was gross. It was, like, black. But that’s how it should be.”

Carly’s “What He Didn’t Do” is currently in the top five and climbing on the country charts. The soaring ballad is featured on her latest album, 29: Written in Stone.

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Up-and-comer Chase Matthew made his Grand Ole Opry debut Wednesday, March 14. One of Warner Music Nashville’s newest artists, Chase performed his songs “Born for This” and “County Line.”

Country music’s Little Big Town, Lady A and LeAnn Rimes join the lineup of artists honoring the Beach Boys in the upcoming CBS television special, A Grammy Salute To The Beach Boys. The two-hour tribute will also feature performances from John Legend, Brandi Carlile, Norah Jones and others. The special airs on April 9 at 8 p.m. ET.

Terri Clark will be inducted into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame this May. “What can I say? Such an honor to be representing country music as one of the next inductees into the #CanadianMusicHallOfFame. I know my Mom is smiling today. Thanks to everyone who has been there supporting me along the way. And I ain't finished yet!” Terri shared on Instagram.

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What do you get when you put two singing Texans in a room backstage? An impromptu performance, of course.

Just before taking the Ryman Auditorium stage for Universal Music Group Nashville’s industry showcase, label mates and Texas natives Parker McCollum and Catie Offerman decided to sing a duet of “Don't Do It in Texas,” a song Catie released last year.

“Just don’t do it in Texas/ Don’t do me that wrong/ Don’t wanna end up an ex in/ Some old George Strait song/ Yeah, just remember/ Everything’s bigger/ And I couldn’t handle a hurt that size/ So, don’t do it in Texas/ If you’re saying goodbye,” Parker sang in lead, while Catie harmonized and played the acoustic guitar.

This moment was captured on video and uploaded on both singers’ Instagram pages. In less than 24 hours, the post has garnered over 28,000 likes, with fans raving about their joint rendition in the comments.

Parker’s current single, “Handle on You,” is number 6 and rising on the country charts, while Catie is slated to hit country radio with a single this year.

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Fast-rising newcomer Jackson Dean knew that he wanted a full-length album released before he went on tour. That’s why he made that known to his now-label home Big Machine Records prior to signing a recording contract with them.

“It was a really big part of signing a record deal. I was like, ‘I do not want to just throw out single after single after single. I wanna make records,'” Jackson tells the press. “I need things to play on the road because I don't wanna go out and play covers. I know a lot of people go out and play covers, and it was just somethin' I didn't want to do.”

“I wanted to play my songs and I'm really fortunate to have a label that understands that and is very supportive of that and gets it,” he adds. “But to go all across this country and see people singing the words back to, like, ‘Trailer Park’ and ‘Fearless’ and ‘Superstitions’ and ‘Don't Take Much’ and ‘Greenbroke’ even. I've seen people singing the words to Greenbroke.' It's just, like, they're listening to it, which is awesome to see someone that appreciates the art and the vision that I created.”

Jackson’s debut album, Greenbroke, dropped in March 2022, and includes his No. 1 single “Don’t Come Lookin'” and current single “Fearless (The Echo),” which is climbing up the country charts.

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