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For Sam Hunt, life’s been better than ever since the arrival of his daughter, Lucy, last May.

Now that she’s starting to say his name, the “Water Under the Bridge” hitmaker can hardly contain his excitement.

“It melts my heart every time,” he smiles. “She’s started saying [‘Da-Da’]. She loosely associates ‘Da-Da’ with me, but I’ll take it, because it usually is things that she wants. She’ll say ‘Da-Da’ when she wants something.”

“But she’s starting to really hone in,” he continues, “because I try to encourage, you know, when she says ‘Da-Da’ to light up and give her a reaction so she knows that’s gonna be me.”

Sam reveals Lucy’s also starting to say “Mama,” adding that he and wife Hannah have “just been in heaven the past few months” since the birth of their daughter. 

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Maren Morris‘ new video for “I Can’t Love You Anymore” is a recap of last year’s Humble Quest Tour. You can check it out on YouTube.

Kassi Ashton‘s new single is “Drive You Out of My Mind,” which she’ll likely perform during her Grand Ole Opry debut on March 15. 

Tyler Farr and Jelly Roll have teamed up for the new track, “Country as S***.”

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Dolly Parton and Dionne Warwick have released their much-anticipated collaboration, the gospel track “Peace Like A River,” which Dolly wrote.

When asked what it was like to meet Dolly for the first time, Dionne tells Billboard, “Well, it was more laughter than anything else. We had a wonderful, wonderful meeting. It was as if we'd known each other for years.”

The pair's first meeting was actually when they came together in Nashville to film the song's video. “Dolly is very, very grounded – which I was thrilled about – but she's also very business, which I happen to be about as well,” Dionne adds. “So, it felt like two peas in a pod. It wasn't like we were working at all. It was more like two friends meeting for lunch.”

As for the tune, Warwick says, “It's so beautifully written.” She added, “[These are] beautiful words to sing and I'm truly honored that she asked me to record it.”

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Luke Combs is sharing a special note about who his new song, “Joe,” is dedicated to.

In an Instagram post Friday, he explains why the song off his upcoming album, Gettin’ Old, is something he’s wanted to share with fans for years.

“There have been some folks in my family that have struggled with alcoholism and addiction through the years,” Luke writes. “I’ve got buddies who live a sober lifestyle, and I’m sure y’all know someone who has struggled with these type of things, or maybe you, yourself do.”

“This song is really important to me for that reason,” he adds.

Luke went on to speak about the common theme of drinking in country music, saying he realizes those who are sober or currently battling addiction might be affected by it.

“Our genre has so many songs about drinking and partying, hell, I’m probably one of the worst culprits of it,” he admits. “There’s nothing wrong with that I don’t think, but sometimes I wonder what someone in the crowd who doesn’t drink, or struggles with addiction is thinking or feeling when there’s thousands of people around them screaming ‘Beer Never Broke My Heart’ or ‘1, 2 Many.'”

Combs says “Joe” is for those people.

“I’ve always wanted a song for those people to have for themselves,” he continues, adding, “to have a song they can sing at the top of their lungs and feel like they’re not forgotten.”

“So if you’re reading this and this song speaks to you, I hope you love it,” he ends the post. “This one’s for you.”

If you or someone you care about is struggling with addiction, confidential and free help is available at: FindTreatment.gov, the SAMHSA National Helpline at 800-662-4357, or for immediate help in a crisis situation, call or text the national crisis lifeline at 988.

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Ashley McBryde‘s new single is “Light On In The Kitchen,” and it’s a song that has deep, personal meaning for her.

“When I tell someone there's a Light On In The Kitchen' for them, to me it means you're thinking of them, even if they're not coming home that night,” she explains. “While writing this, we were all able to look back and remember the women in our lives who comforted us, gave us advice and made sure we knew we had a place to go.”

Of course, the Arkansas native couldn’t wait to share “Light On In The Kitchen” with those very people.

“I sent it to the important women in my life, and they reminded me that they still leave the kitchen light on for me, just like when I was growing up,” Ashley says. “Knowing someone, somewhere is thinking of you in that way can get you through a lot.”

You can check out a photo of Ashley with those women, including her mom, which she recently shared on Instagram. 

“Light On In The Kitchen” is presumably the lead single from Ashley’s forthcoming third studio album for Warner Nashville.

She’s set to appear on The Jennifer Hudson Show Wednesday, March 1.

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Kip Moore‘s getting romantic – sort of – on his fifth studio album, DAMN LOVE.

“I've always had a nomadic spirit, at the core of me that's what I am, and it's a beautiful life I lead – I don't take that for granted,” Kip explains. “But I still crave that companionship down deep in my DNA, and that's where Damn Love' comes from.”

“There's a reason love and relationships have been written about so much – and why they continue to get written about,” he adds. “Because at the core of us, that's what we desire the most.”

Kip produced the album with The Cadillac Three‘s Jaren Johnston and co-wrote every song, save for the album’s title track, which is out now. The 13-track collection also includes a duet with Ashley McBryde.

Here’s the complete track listing for Kip Moore’s DAMN LOVE, which comes out April 28:

“Damn Love”
“Kinda Bar”
“Neon Blue”
“The Guitar Slinger”
“Heart on Fire”
“Another Night in Knoxville”
“Silver and Gold”
“Peace & Love”
“Sometimes She Stays”
“Some Things”
“One Heartbeat” (featuring Ashley McBryde)
“Mr. Simple”
“Micky’s Bar”

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