Winners named
Carrie Underwood Is A Double Winner At The CMT Music Awards
CARRIE UNDERWOOD topped the winners at last night’s (10/21) “CMT Music Awards,” held in NASHVILLE. The Country star won the night’s top prize, “Video of the Year,” as well as the “Female Video of the ...
Former KKGO/Los Angeles Morning Host Graham Bunn Set To Debut New Podcast On Spotify In Partnership With Scooter Braun’s Ithaca Holdings
SPOTIFY and artist manager SCOOTER BRAUN’s ITHACA HOLDINGS, LLC launched a podcast development deal TODAY (10/21). Their partnership will kick off with the launch of twice-weekly new ...
The stars have aligned this October for Breast Cancer Awareness month with a brand-new, multi-genre single, "PINK," featuring female powerhouses Dolly Parton, Monica, Jordin Sparks, Sara Evans and Rita Wilson. The song, written by Victoria Shaw, Erin Kinsey and Jodi Marr, serves as a beautiful glimmer of hope to individuals battling breast cancer and the families fighting alongside them. "You gotta believe without seeing / You gotta keep going, keep breathing / When you face a day that feels like you're gonna break / Lean on the ones that love you / The guardian angels above you / And think about when pink / is just another color," are the words to the powerful chorus. With one in eight women being diagnosed with breast cancer at some point in their lifetime, and breast cancer killing more than 42,000 women and men in the U.S. alone each year, the song is sure to resonate with many who continue to fight the fight themselves, or are helping someone else through it. While the single is sure to inspire, it is also giving back financially, with proceeds from the project benefiting the Susan G. Komen foundation. “This is such a beautiful song of hope,” said Parton. “I’m honored to join with these powerful women to help support Susan G. Komen’s life-saving work.” Added Evans, “There is something magical that happens when women band together to have a positive impact on the world for our sisters and our daughters.” We're excited to see the magic spread, and will support this song until pink is just another color!
In a time where the world's been bombarded with having to adapt to "new normals" almost every day, a shiny new Christmas album from Dolly Parton, "A Holly Dolly Christmas," filled with holiday classics and duets, is just what we need to feel some sense of normalcy and comfort, and to kickstart us into the holiday spirit. Late night talk show host Jimmy Fallon adds that extra flair of humor and wit as he joins Parton in this rendition of a Christmas classic, originally written by Mariah Carey, Walter Afanasieff and Walter N. Afanasieff. The pair adds touches of their own personalities and flavor as they exchange dialogue throughout the song. In the beginning, they talk of being "mushy and romantic," and how much Fallon loves Parton, before Parton humorously says to Fallon, "I've always wanted to sing a duet with you, so you can go first ... right after me." Queen Dolly! While the two are an unexpected pair for a duet, Fallon's surprisingly smooth vocals and Parton's instantly-recognizable voice sound great together and elevate the song to a whole new level. It's impossible not to sing along when you hear this song, so grab yourself a cup of hot cocoa, a warm and fuzzy blanket, and turn it up!
Lee Brice is on a massive roll. On the heels of three consecutive #1 singles comes a song so hooky and evocative it seems certain to extend that run to four in a row. Starting with a series of nostalgic recollections culled from a lost romance — a sundress on the front steps, a blanket down in the backyard and, in a later verse, Springsteen on the speakers — Brice leads into the sing-along chorus, wringing every last drop of emotion out of the lyrics. “That’s a memory I don’t mess with / The girl I was the best with / The one I was obsessed with / Girl, you just don’t get it / I’d fall right back with one slip / Always leaves me helpless / Don’t hate me I can’t help it / Gotta leave us where we left it / You’re a memory I don’t mess with.” Those images are all things he doesn’t allow himself to think about because they still “kill me now.” In the bridge, we learn he’s just bumped into that lover he’s not quite over as he sings, “It’s good running into you like this / But girl, I’m as close as I can get” to those memories. Brice says of the song, “It’s about exactly what it says. It’s one of those memories, it’s one of those things that you can’t let yourself get too close to because it just pulls you in too deep. The memory’s always there. The pictures are always there in your head. But that’s the one you’ve just gotta let alone, and let just be a memory.” Written by Brice, Brian Davis and Billy Montana, the song is another tantalizing glimpse into Brice’s upcoming album, “Hey World,” due out on November 20th.
Superstar Luke Bryan is at it again and ready to climb the charts with his latest single, "Down To One." Digging into his emotional side, Bryan makes it easy for listeners to catch the theme of the song, mentioning the number one no less than 21 times as he croons about finding the "one." The chorus sings, "We were down to 1 AM / Listening to one more song / Thinking I want more than just one night out here with you alone." Are you catching his drift? The chorus concludes, "Down to one hand in mine / Down to one beautiful smile / I was done with the girl I want / Straight falling in love / Right there that night / Down to one." The song, written by Dallas Davidson, Justin Ebach and Kyle Fishman, embodies all aspects of a Country love gone right, and is sure to have fans everywhere swooning. Not straying far from his strong Country vocals that have won over the hearts of many over the years, this song is sure to see success as Bryan delivers exactly what fans want to hear. "Down to one is a real kind of typical song from me that you’d expect through the years,” said Bryan in a video posted to his 
Have you ever had a week gone wrong that miraculously turned around for you? The character in Rayne Johnson's latest single finds himself in that exact predicament as he's "at a bar with a band and an empty seat" and tries to "drink that whole week off of me." His woes suddenly disappear when a woman walks in, changing his week's downhill trajectory. The chorus goes, "‘Cause that night, didn't feel right / ‘Til I saw her pretty face / We were dancing, it was crazy / I felt like a new man baby / That night was looking bad ‘til I saw her / But it got good, good, real dang good." The song, written by Joe Jordan, is a fun, feel-good tune that even features an exciting electric guitar solo. "We can all agree that times are a bit wild right now," Johnson wrote about the song in an Instagram post. "It’s times like now when I turn to music that I love to help pick me up! I’m hoping that my new single, 'Real Dang Good,' can be one of those songs for you like it has [been] for me!" The song is definitely relatable, especially to anyone who's ever found that person that can turn their day around, or feels like "the band sounded better when she sang along." It's young and exciting, and would sound great on airwaves everywhere because, well ... it's real dang good. 
Justin Moore helps listeners escape to simpler times with his new single, "We Didn't Have Much." Reminiscing over the days of "Tonka trucks and G.I. Joes," along with "Sunday chicken and a NASCAR race," he states, "Sure'd be nice to get back to that place." In fact, "back to that place" is right where he takes us, accompanied by a mid-tempo beat and his signature Country vocals serving up a real breath of fresh air. Written by Jeremy Stover, Randy Montana and Paul DiGiovanni, the tune is sure to resonate with many, and serves as a reminder to all that happiness is in the little things. The chorus sings, "There was dirt on daddy's clothes / From putting that bacon on mama's stove / Dog barking in the yard at a truck we don't know / All we had was us / And that little bitty house and a lotta love / We had it all when we didn't have much." Moore has shared that the inspiration for choosing the song came from the challenges this year has presented, which prompted his family to find joy in the little things. "2020 has led my family and I to lead a more simple life than what we are accustomed to," said Moore. "This song speaks to the beauty in that simplicity."
Traditional Country music is making a comeback in Michael Ray's latest single, "Whiskey And Rain." Written by Jesse Frasure and Josh Thompson, the mid-tempo song is relatable to anyone who's ever turned to alcohol after heartbreak. "Yeah, whiskey and rain coming down, coming down," Ray sings in the chorus, as he paints a picture of the narrator pouring himself some alcohol as it simultaneously, and symbolically, pours outside. "Splash of bourbon in a glass / Yeah, pouring something on the pain, let it drown, let it drown / Try to wash away the past," he continues with twang-tinged vocals and a fiddle in the background. "Since my blue sky, sunshine, whole life hopped on that midnight train / Till the bottle runs out or the clouds roll away / It's just whiskey and rain." The song is the first taste of new music since Ray's 2018 album, "Amos," and seems to reflect a new direction sonically. "It was a Country song that made me pick up a guitar and move to Nashville 10 years ago," captioned Ray on an Instagram post announcing the new song. "With this new music we're making, I tried to remind myself that I'm just as much of a fan of traditional Country music today as I ever was ... and we're bringing it back ya'll! ! I hope you hear the influences I grew up on when you listen to this song."
In his latest single, Cody Johnson has managed to write one of the most romantic love songs to date without ever dropping the words "she," "her," "baby," "girl" or "wife." That's because the subject of "Dear Rodeo" isn't about a person, but rather, what Johnson would probably describe as his other love: the rodeo. Johnson opens his love letter in the first verse with "Dear Rodeo / I'd be lyin' if I tried to tell you I don't think about you / After all the miles and the wild nights that we've been through / Lord knows we had a few." He's joined in the next verse by Country legend Reba McEntire, before they passionately sing in the chorus, "Between the almost had 'ems and broken bones / The dream of a buckle I'll never put on / I'm jaded / Woah, I hate it." If you've ever had a dream that you came close to reaching, but could never quite attain, this song will hit you where it hurts. They offer hope in the second half of the chorus, singing, "But somehow the highs outweigh the lows / And I'd do it all again even though we both know / I'd still have to let you go." Written by Johnson (who was inspired by his real-life struggle of having to quit a rodeo career) alongside Dan Couch, the four-minute song has a way of transcending the listener back in time to their own dream they've had to let go of -- be it a dream job or even a dream partner. When the news of the duet was revealed on Instagram, Johnson captioned his post, "I think everyone has their own #DearRodeo story. I found out Reba had her own 'Dear Rodeo' story and it impacted her enough to want to do a duet. She adds a certain level of authenticity to this song that makes it so special. The story behind 'Dear Rodeo' is more about life than the rodeo." Amen to that! This song has everything Country music is built upon, including two powerhouse vocalists, entrancing instrumentals and one hell of a story to carry it home. While the rodeo might be a dream Johnson's put to rest, this loving tribute to his former career just might take his music further than he could have ever imagined. 
Hiawassee, GA native Kaleb Garrett is giving us a taste of his own Country style with his single, "Sunshine Girl." Don't let the title fool you, this isn't another windows-down summer love song, but rather a reality check many may relate to as Summer romances try to survive the Fall. The deeply emotional lyrics showcase Garrett's creativity and natual vulnerability as he sings, "So just like the sun, don't look too closely / As bright as she shines you just can't get too near / Not even she knows where she's going / I just know it isn't here," before pleading for his lady's change of heart: "Well that girl's my sunshine but she'll never be mine / Sunshine girl, won't you change your mind?" After growing up around music his whole life and falling in love with Bluegrass at the age of 14, Garrett has always used music to express himself, and this song is no exception. "Creativity and expression through music always came most natural to me, sometimes even more than speaking," said Garrett. "I feel like I can tell someone about myself and how I’m feeling so much more easily through musical inflections.” His love for music propelled him to earn a classical guitar music degree, which soon led him to gigs opening for artists including Diamond Rio, Travis Tritt and Three Dog Night. “When I discovered music as a kid, it was cathartic," he added. "I set my goal early on that I wanted to be a great songwriter. Now I have experienced some incredibly humbling moments and feel way out of my league sometimes, but I love networking and learning all I can. I want to travel, tour the world, and share music with people because that’s what it’s all about.”
When reminiscing about the past, most people remember things like their first kiss, first love, first drink or first car. In her latest single, Meghan Patrick has a perfect way of describing each of her own special "firsts," while adding a signature Country flair to it. The song starts with a funky beat that carries all the way through, and puts Patrick's strong vocals at the forefront. "My first drink was a warm Busch Light / And my first scar is from an old dirt bike / My first love grew up on a farm / My first buck is tattooed on my arm," she fiercely sings in the chorus. The lyrics are inspired by Patrick's real-life memories, including that aforementioned buck. She recently posted a throwback picture of it, and revealed that it is indeed tattooed on her arm. The chorus continues with, "Yeah, I got it right, right outta the gate / Five inch straight-pipe '98 / Rolling coal Chevrolet, lifted up / 'Cause my first car was a pickup truck." Boom! The song was written by Patrick, Adam Craig and Joey Hyde, and sprinkles in nods to Country classics like "John Deere and George Strait," "water tower towns" and "Joe Diffie playing on the radio" throughout. It's a feel-good song with a memorable melody and lyrics that will make you experience all the nostalgia. With the holiday season slowly creeping up, let's give everyone who will be gifted their first car, and anyone else who remembers their first vehicle with nostalgia, a new anthem to sing along to with this song on Country radio. 
If the rat-a-tat drums in the opening bars of Ashley McBryde’s new single don’t grab your attention, the first few lines will. “I’ve got this feeling / And I’ve got this shovel / Between me and you and it / You’re in a little trouble,” she sings, setting up an absolute banger of a story song to follow. Not since “Goodbye Earl,” has a Country revenge song been this deliciously fun. It’s her daddy’s side piece who’s the target of her wrath here, and McBryde scornfully tells her, “Jezebel, you’re bound for hell / But evidently, the devil was busy so I moved you up in line.” Written by McBryde and Jeremy Spillman, the song sparkles with clever wordplay like, “Honor thy father / Honor thy mother / But the Bible doesn’t say a damn thing about your daddy’s lover.” McBryde recently told NPR that the song “was so much fun to write because Jeremy wasn’t afraid to get weird with me. I told him I wanted to write something dark, and we created this story that surrounds the most delightful trollop of a human being and gets down underneath the fingernails of the uncomfortable truth about family dynamics.” Sure, she’s threatening harm to Martha here, but as the song amusingly justifies via a rather skewed interpretation of jurisprudence, “It ain’t murder if I bury you alive.” Divine!
After quickly building a following on TikTok with the humorous “Thick Thighs,” soon followed by “Just About Over You,” Priscilla Block recently landed a deal with a major label, Universal Music Group (UMG) Nashville, that understands the key is to move quickly with viral stars. They’ll go for adds on the latter song on October 5th, less than two weeks after announcing her signing. Written by Block, Emily Kroll and Sarah Jones, the song was recorded with the financing of the singer’s fans, who became familiar with it on her social media pages. The recording hit the top of the iTunes all genre song chart just 12 hours after its release. It’s a relatable song anyone who’s ever reignited the heartache of a breakup after accidentally running into an ex will perfectly empathize with. She’s dressed up, feeling confident, and out at a bar when he suddenly appears. As she asks in the chorus, “Why'd you have to come back in right then / Right when I was just getting good and gone? / Guess I was in the wrong place at the wrong time / You must've heard I was moving on / Then right out of the blue a quarter past two, I'm all about you / When I was just about, just about over you.” As she mournfully tells the guy in the first verse, “The least you could've done was give me the bar tonight.” Amen! “It’s my real life,” Block told UMG’s 
The Academy of Country Music's New Male Artist of the Year, Riley Green, gets creative in his latest single, personifying trucks and romanticizing their role in our lives. He explores the significant part these vehicles play in the Country lifestyle, with lines like "Why would any teenage boy cut grass? / Sweat all summer, save his cash" and "Where the hell would a small town girl climb up? / If it wasn't for trucks." The chorus goes, "Where would I have raised all that hell? / And talked to God all by myself / How would I have got to Tennessee? / Without a bucket seat," and then subtly references Green's 2019 hit, "I Wish Grandpas Never Died," with the lyrics "Where was I supposed to cry that July day granddaddy died? / Or haul that deer, drink that beer / Fell in and out of love / If it wasn't for trucks." Whether you own a truck or not, the song is highly relatable to any special vehicle in your life, be it your first car that would barely start, the vehicle that totes your family on vacation or that sports car you put blood, sweat and tears into purchasing -- you'll feel a nostalgic connection when you listen along. Written by Green, Randy Montana and Erik Dylan, the song showcases Green's classic Southern vocals and musical style. Green's been known to make his stance on keeping traditional Country music alive loud and clear in the past, and this song proves that he doesn't plan on straying from that viewpoint anytime soon. And what better place to listen to a song about trucks than in your own truck with the windows down and this song blasting on Country radio? Let's make it happen! 
Scotty McCreery is headed your way with a new single, and it's definitely one you'll want to spend some "You Time" with. Impacting October 12th, the song is the first taste of McCreery's upcoming album, and expresses his desire for some "You Time" with his wife of two years, Gabi. "I am so excited to have new music out,” said McCreery. “I wrote this with Frank [Rogers] and Aaron [Eshuis] at a time when I was on the road more than I’d ever been before, and I’d get home just in time to see Gabi heading out to start her shift as a nurse. I was craving some ‘You Time’ with her, and that inspired this song. Of course, now, during the pandemic, we’re having a lot of ‘You Time,’ which I love.” While times have definitely changed since McCreery's initial inspiration for the song, it still resonates as an upbeat reminder to cherish the extra time we're getting with loved ones amidst the pandemic. The chorus goes, "I need a little you time, you time / Red wine sippin' in moonlight / Your touch, your skin / Your lips kissin' on me all night / I ain't tryin' to monopolize / Your 24/7, 365 / But sometimes I need / Just a little bit of me and / You time." McCreery debuted the single during his recent show at Nashville's Ryman Auditorium (9/4), in front of a livestream audience as well as a limited, in-person audience of 125 people. While things may be creeping back to normal after six months of downtime, this song on your airwaves will remind every listener of the importance in spending time with loved ones.
Don't let the title of Keith Urban's latest single fool you. What may seem like a typical Country drinking song explores a much deeper motif by the end. The song begins with a hooky guitar riff and Urban setting the scene by describing his bloodshot eyes, and not remembering "much about last night." He sings about wanting space and going out with friends before the regret starts to sink in. The chorus, featuring a beautiful, harmonic melody between Urban and featured guest P!nk, goes, "I spend all my money drinking on my own, yeah / In this bar, just sat here staring at my phone / And I keep second guessing, where did I go wrong? / I know I'm proud / But I've had one too many / Come take me home." P!nk's instantly recognizable voice takes over in the second verse, as she sings, "Now I’m the one that’s crying / I didn’t wanna call cause I didn’t wanna fight / I swear that I was trying / But everybody falls when their head’s a little high." We've all been there, P!nk! The mid-tempo track touches on the feelings that come with giving in and finally waiving the white flag in a relationship ... or in this case, finally calling for that ride home. Written by Peter Wallevik, Daniel Davidsen, Mich Hansen, James Norton and Cleo Tighe, the song's catchy melodies will have you singing back the words before its three minutes and 23 seconds are even up. We may not know how the story exactly ends for the couple in this song, but we do know one thing: an add for this single at Country radio would be a vote for a fresh, young and relatable sound.
For a song about the current global pandemic, “Do What You Can” strikes a surprisingly joyful tone in the chorus. The verses lay out the grim current conditions, describing makeshift hospitals, closed borders, lost paychecks, social distancing and “boarded up” schools. The radio edit shaves one verse and a full minute from the song’s album version, which also includes lines about the cancellation of graduations and proms, and having to wave at older loved ones from outside a window. Yet the song finds an optimistic center with lyrics such as, “Until we find the vaccination / There's no substitute for love.” Jon Bon Jovi and Jennifer Nettles trade off lines in the verses, then combine their voices in the upbeat chorus, singing, “Round here we bend but don’t break / Down here, we all understand / When you can't do what you do / You do what you can.” The song was written in the pandemic’s early days by Jon, who says, “I hope that what this song is is a song of inclusion.” Says Nettles, “We are all challenged, and have continually been challenged over the past six months, with COVID and just the way that it has changed the world, really damaged the world and damaged our country in so many ways. When I saw [Jon’s] video and … heard the song I thought, ‘Oh my God, yes, thank you so much for something that is encouraging and uplifting to try to really help point us in the right direction to be our best selves … When we can’t do what we normally do, you need to do what we can for each other. I loved the message of this song.” The pairing of Bon Jovi and Nettles was a hit once before, when they teamed in 2005 for their chart-topping, Grammy-winning Country smash, “Who Says You Can’t Go Home.” Here’s hoping this timely song will find that same success.
Tabasco & Sweet Tea
