Category: Go Country 105

Cole Swindell taps Lainey Wilson for a fiery new duet, “Never Say Never,” which chronicles the kind of love story that keeps you coming back for more. Cole wrote the song in 2018 alongside mainstay Nashville songwriters Jessi Alexander and Chase McGill.

“I am so excited to release Never Say Never,'” Cole explains. “…I have been a fan of Lainey Wilson's for a while now and what she brings to this song is everything it needed. So glad it's finally out!”

Lainey's just as excited as Cole is to share the song with fans, especially on the heels of her first-ever number-one song, “Things a Man Oughta Know.”

“It makes the journey that much more special that I get to share it with a friend this time around — I'm looking forward to playing it for y'all and I'm sure Cole is too!” Lainey adds.

Cole's on a winning streak at country radio, too. Prior to releasing “Never Say Never,” he had two back-to-back chart-toppers with 2018's “Love You Too Late” and 2020's “Single Saturday Night.”

Copyright © 2021, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

Chris Young has been announced as the headlining act for the inaugural T-Mobile SEC Championship Concert, a show that'll take place the day before next month's SEC Championship Game.

“Anyone who knows me, knows I pretty much live and breathe football,” Chris says. “I am beyond pumped to team up with T-Mobile and the SEC to headline the concert before the SEC Championship Game! Let's GO!!”

Joining him on the bill will be Mitchell Tenpenny and newcomer Kameron Marlowe. The event will take place at Atlanta's Georgia International Plaza, which is just outside Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Fans unable to attend in person can still catch the fun, as the show will broadcast on the singer’s YouTube and Facebook channels.

The fun begins on December 3 at 5:30 p.m. EST, with Chris set to take the stage at 7 p.m. It'll be free and open to the public.

Chris is still riding the high of his latest chart-topper, “Famous Friends,” which is a duet with Kane Brown. That hit single is also the title track of Chris' newest album.

Copyright © 2021, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

The 2022 ACM Awards will take place on March 7, 2022, according to a new announcement from the Academy of Country Music. The show will return to its longtime home of Las Vegas, after two years of broadcasting from Nashville due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Next year will mark a major first, when the ACMs become the first major awards show to exclusively livestream. It'll air on Prime Video, and ticketing information will soon be available for fans hoping to attend the show in person.

The show will air from Las Vegas' Allegiant Stadium, a new venue home for the ACMs.

“We are thrilled to return to Las Vegas to celebrate country music's Party of the Year in this incredible brand-new stadium and on the Prime Video streaming service for the first time ever,” says ACM CEO Damon Whiteside. “We can't thank the city of Las Vegas and Allegiant Stadium enough for welcoming us for the 57th Academy of Country Music Awards — a party so big only a stadium can hold it!”

As always, the 2022 ACMs will celebrate the best in country music with a packed evening of awards and performances.

Copyright © 2021, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

Garth Brooks is headed to Dublin, Ireland for a pair of Croke Park stadium shows next September.

The singer shared the news on Instagram this week, and it's exciting for a couple of reasons. Not only do the new dates mean he's resuming his Stadium Tour, which he cancelled earlier this year due to rising pandemic concerns, but his stops in Ireland are also several years in the making.

Back in 2014, Garth sold out five shows at Croke Park as part of his comeback World Tour, but he never made it to the stage. The Dublin City Council refused licenses for two of the five concerts, and according to the Irish Times, Garth insisted that he would play all five shows or none.

Now, the singer is slated to make his triumphant return to the venue, which has a capacity of more than 80,000. The shows will take place on September 9 and 10, 2022, and tickets go on sale on Thanksgiving Day, November 25.

 

 

 

 

View this post on Instagram

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A post shared by Garth Brooks (@garthbrooks)

Copyright © 2021, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

Scotty McCreery knew his song, “Five More Minutes,” was special right from the moment he wrote it. “I tweeted that day, like, This is my favorite song I've ever written,'” the singer remembers.

But now, he's got more momentum behind the song than ever. Not only was it a chart-topping, career-changing hit, but as of this holiday season, it's the inspiration behind a Hallmark film of the same name.

Starring Nikki DeLoach and David Hayden-Jones, the film follows a woman who unearths her grandfather's journal — and with it, an untold love story that fulfills her Christmas wish in ways she never expected.

“As a songwriter, that's what you want, is your song to have a positive impact on people,” Scotty reflects. “So now people can watch a movie, and hopefully feel good once it's all finished up.”

However, we won't see Scotty's face on the screen when the movie airs. “I wish,” he laments. “…They do all their filming in Canada, and with COVID and borders and stuff, it was a little funky this year. But hopefully next time.”

In fact, the singer says he'd love to someday tackle an acting project. “I've acted, like, once in my life. It was a high school musical, and it was Bye Bye Birdie,” Scotty reveals, explaining that he was inspired to try out for the role after hearing that the character of Conrad Birdie was based on two of his heroes.

“Once I heard it was like Elvis [Presley] and Conway Twitty in person, I was like, I will try out for that role!'” he adds with a laugh. “Luckily, I got it, and I had so much fun doing it. So I have not acted in 11 years, I think?…So I'd be all about it. I'd be down.”

Five More Minutes airs on the Hallmark Movies & Mysteries channel on November 20.

Copyright © 2021, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

Thomas Rhett‘s now officially a father of four, after his newest daughter arrived on Monday.

“Lillie Carolina Akins, born November 15th. 7.5 pounds of pure joy,” he announced late Wednesday night on his socials.

“[Lauren Akins] you are my hero,” he added, along with a photo of mom and dad with the little one.

“Watching a child being born is legit a miracle,” he continued. “4 under 6 here we go!”

TR and Lauren started their family by adopting now 6-year-old Willa Gray from a Ugandan orphanage in 2017. Ada James was born in August of that same year, followed by the arrival of Lennon Love in February of 2020. 

 

 

 

 

View this post on Instagram

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A post shared by ThomasRhettAkins (@thomasrhettakins)

Copyright © 2021, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

This December, Laine Hardy has plans for a six-stop tour with a charitable twist. The shows are a partnership with Carolinas-based restaurant chain the Wild Wing Cafe and nonprofit Little Kids Rock. The shows will support music education in schools and include school visits and donations of musical instruments.

Country-flavored Southern rock outfit the Marshall Tucker Band have announced a 50th anniversary tour that'll launch in January 2022. For dates and ticketing details, visit the group's website.

Rising trio Restless Road, who are signed to Kane Brown's 1021 Entertainment, have announced their first headlining run. Called the Bar Friends Tour, it'll kick off in April 2022 and run through the end of May.

Copyright © 2021, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

Baseball has always been a big part of Brett Young's life. As a teen, he even thought he'd pursue the sport professionally, and he was drafted to play on the Minnesota Twins after high school. But he chose to go to Ole Miss instead, where he played baseball for a year before getting sidelined by an elbow injury.

And while the singer's very happy in his country music career, he's found a way to incorporate his passion for baseball into his life, too. On Wednesday, he joined Music City Baseball's Music Advisory Board, People reports. That means that Brett will have a hand in lobbying for a Major League team to officially make its home in Nashville.

“I would absolutely love bringing a team to Nashville that I could get behind and support and be a part of,” he explains. “I think it would be great for the city, and selfishly, it would be amazing for me to have a team here in town.”

Even though he's not a professional ball player anymore, Brett says he learned a valuable skill set during his time on the field.

“As an adult, I realize that the most important thing that ever happened to me as a result of baseball was the work ethic that I learned,” he reflects. “It's something that carried over to my music career and has served me very well, and I'll always be grateful to baseball for that.”

In his new position on Music City Baseball's Music Advisory Board, Brett's in superstar company: Darius Rucker, Justin Timberlake and Luke Combs are also board members.

Copyright © 2021, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

Brad Paisley will head across the pond next summer for a seven-date European run that kicks off in Glasgow, Scotland.

The overseas trip will also take him to cities in the Netherlands, Norway, Germany and more. “Kiss Somebody” hit-maker Morgan Evans, who recently released his new EP The Country and the Coast Side A, will join Brad as an opening act.

A couple months after the tour, Brad will share the stage with Morgan once again — and Kane Brown, too — during a stop in Australia as part of CMC Rocks Fest. That performance will take place in September.

Brad also serves as duet partner on Jimmie Allen's latest country radio single, “Freedom Was a Highway.” Over the summer, he also shared a new song called “City of Music.”

 

 

 

 

View this post on Instagram

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A post shared by Brad Paisley (@bradpaisley)

Copyright © 2021, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

Elvie Shane's star continues to rise, as the “My Boy” hitmaker has shared plans to hit the road next year. His first-ever headlining trek, the My Kinda Trouble Tour, will launch February 17 in Chattanooga, Tennessee.

Extending through late April, the run will take Elvie to cities like Chicago, Nashville and Birmingham, and includes two dates in his home state of Kentucky. Police officer turned burgeoning Texas country star Frank Ray will accompany him as opening support.

“I've never been more ready to break the chains!” the singer says. “Getting to go out on the road for my first headlining tour is something we've been plotting for a while, and feels just like the kinda trouble I could get into. I can't wait to get out there and play this record live.”

The record in question is Elvie's full-length major-label debut, Backslider, which came out late in October. It includes his first-ever country radio chart-topper, “My Boy,” a heart-tugging ode to his stepson that went viral over the summer. Not only did the song land Elvie his first number-one hit, but it also earned him some RIAA hardware, as the song was recently certified Gold.

Tickets for the My Kinda Trouble Tour go on sale this Friday at 10 a.m. local time. For dates and details, visit Elvie's website.

Copyright © 2021, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.