Country News snippets December 4 – December 10, 2023

UK News, UK Chart News, Billboard Country Charts, Album & Single Releases, US News, Music News, Press Releases, TV, Interviews, Videos, Birthdays

BREAKING NEWS

Country News – December 6, 2023 with Shannon McCombs

Sam Hunt tells the story about his song, “Outskirts.” Plus… Larry Gatlin tells the story of how he wrote Larry, Steve, and Rudy… The Gatlin Brothers’ new Christmas song! 

UK NEWS

On the BBC Radio 2 Playlist 9 December 2023

B List:

Taylor Swift - Is It Over Now? (Taylor's Version) (From The Vault) [B-B]

C List:

Foy Vance feat. Ed Sheeran, Elton John & Keith Urban - Guiding Light (Anniversary Edition) [C-C-C]

Sheryl Crow - Alarm Clock [C-C]

HOTDISC TOP 40 (Sunday 10th December 2023 chart)

The Hotdisc monthly promotional album is digitally distributed to a massive list of DJs, journalists, promoters, agents and other key people in the business. Every act on Hotdisc receives feedback on how their track is performing in the Hotdisc Top 40, which is compiled by the DJs themselves (songs are scored 1 – 10; with or without comment or airplay).

This week Denny Strickland with “Merry Christmas (Real World)” moved 2-1 to top the Hotdisc Top 40.

TW LW WOC Title Artist

1 2 2 Merry Christmas (Real World) Denny Strickland ** No.1 (1 week) ** ⬆

2 1 6 Teach Me, Pa (Live) Raymond Froggatt (UK) ⬇

3 3 6 Puttin' Up Hay Alex Miller

4 4 2 Closing Your Eyes (Falling Apart) HMB Players

5 5 2 Silent Night Frank Jennings

6 11 2 My Favourite Things Lorrie Morgan ⬆

7 16 2 1 Kiss Me This Christmas American Blonde ⬆

12 9 6 I'm Sorry Nicola Harris (UK) ⬇ 

UK CHART NEWS

UK Albums

In the works, on and off, since 1995, I/O was finally released last Friday (December 1) and duly debuts atop the chart this week for Peter Gabriel, on consumption of 15,645 units (11,178 CDs, 2,310 vinyl albums, 1,420 digital downloads, 737 sales-equivalent streams).

Comprising a dozen Gabriel originals, the album is his 10th solo studio set since leaving Genesis in 1975, and his first since New Blood debuted and peaked at No.22 (9,429 sales) in 2011.

His 17th Top 75 entry, and ninth Top 10 album, I/O is his third No.1, following Peter Gabriel 3 (1980) and So (1986). Home to the hits Sledgehammer, Don’t Give Up (feat. Kate Bush), Big Time and Red Rain, the latter album is Gabriel’s only UK million-seller, and also provided his most recent album chart appearance, re-entering the chart in 2012 following the release of an expanded edition to mark its 25th birthday.

At 73, Gabriel joins an ever-growing coterie of male soloists to have a No.1 album of new material in their seventies and beyond. Tom Jones was the oldest, at 80, followed by Bob Dylan (79), Paul McCartney (78), Paul Simon (74), Barry Gibb (74), Gabriel, Rod Stewart (72) and Bruce Springsteen (71). All have done so in the past decade. The only woman to have a No.1 album of new material even after the age of 60 is Barbra Streisand, who was 74 when she did it.

UK Singles

Groundhog Day: Repeating a configuration first achieved 153 weeks ago (1 January 2021) and repeated 51 weeks ago (16 December 2022) and 49 weeks ago (30 December 2022), Last Christmas by Wham! is No.1 and All I Want For Christmas Is You by Mariah Carey is No.2.

1984 evergreen Last Christmas’s 5-1 jump earned its fourth week atop the chart courtesy of an 86.71% increase in consumption week-on-week to 53,473 units, while All I Want For Christmas Is You’s 6-2 surge is fuelled by an 81.23% increase to 49,230 units. It is the 12th week in total that All I Want For Christmas Is You has spent at No.2 – a record. It also holds the record for most weeks in the Top 10 (41) and Top 40 (91).

Official UK Top 100 Albums Chart (Week Ending 14 December 2023)

8 December 2023 - 14 December 2023

TW LW WOC Artist Title ( Peak )

1 NE 1 Peter Gabriel ~ i/o

2 NE 1 Ateez ~ The World Ep.Fin: Will

3 4 109 Michael Bublé ~ Christmas

4 2 6 Taylor Swift ~ 1989 (Taylor's Version)

5 3 7 The Rolling Stones ~ Hackney Diamonds

6 1 2 Take That ~ This Life

7 6 176 Taylor Swift ~ Folklore

8 91 4 Cher ~ Christmas

9 15 595 Eminem ~ Curtain Call: The Hits

10 5 13 Olivia Rodrigo ~ Guts

37 29 22 Taylor Swift ~ Speak Now (Taylor's Version)

42 41 95 Taylor Swift ~ Red (Taylor's Version)

76 NE 1 Kate Rusby ~ Light Years

91 85 33 Taylor Swift ~ Fearless (Taylor's Version)

Official UK Top 100 Singles Chart (Week Ending 14 December 2023)

8 December 2023 - 14 December 2023

TW LW WOC Artist Title ( Peak )

1 5 118 Wham! ~ Last Christmas ***

2 6 128 Mariah Carey ~ All I Want For Christmas Is You ***

3 1 4 Jack Harlow ~ Lovin On Me

4 18 128 The Pogues ft Kirsty MacColl ~ Fairytale Of New York ***

5 2 10 Noah Kahan ~ Stick Season

6 14 70 Brenda Lee ~ Rockin' Around The Christmas Tree ***

7 17 12 Ed Sheeran and Elton John ~ Merry Christmas

8 16 57 Michael Bublé ~ It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas ***

9 20 31 Bobby Helms ~ Jingle Bell Rock ***

10 25 94 Shakin' Stevens ~ Merry Christmas Everyone ***

47 33 15 Zach Bryan ft Kacey Musgraves ~ I Remember Everything (Peak: 19, 15 weeks - 07/09/2023 to 08/12/2023)

Official UK Country Album Top 20 Chart (Week Ending 14 December 2023)

8 December 2023 - 14 December 2023

Taylor Swift with FEARLESS (Taylor’s Version) moved 2-1 (139 weeks; #1 peak)

Chris Stapleton with HIGHER slipped 1-2 (4 weeks; #1 peak)

Luke Combs with GETTING’ OLD held at No.3 (37 weeks; #1 peak)

Far From Saints with Far From Saints held at No.4 (25 weeks; #1 peak)

Zach Bryan with ZACH BRYAN held at No.5 (11 weeks; #3 peak)

Lisa McHugh with WATCH ME fell 9-11 (6 weeks; #3 peak)

COUNTRY ALBUM RELEASES (Major)

(8 Dec 2023) Nathan Carter - Music Man (Sharpe Music) UK 11 songs, 36:08 | Debut #1 UK iTunes Country Album Chart (#13 UK iTunes all-genres)

(8 Dec 2023) Uncle Lucius - Like It's The Last One Left (Boo Clap/ Thirty Tigers) 10 songs, 36:22

BILLBOARD/ MEDIABASE Charts

In Brief: Billboard Country Charts (Chart issue week of December 16, 2023) Starts Sun Dec 10, Ends Sat Dec 16, 2023

Billboard Country Charts (Chart issue week of December 16, 2023)

Country Album Chart ** No.1 (31 non-consecutive weeks) ** ONE THING AT A TIME Morgan Wallen

Hot Country Songs ** No.1 (11 weeks) ** “I Remember Everything” Zach Bryan featuring Kacey Musgraves

Country Airplay ** No.1 (2 weeks) ** “Save Me” Jelly Roll With Lainey Wilson

Country Digital Songs ** No.1 ** “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree” Brenda Lee

ATEEZ’s THE WORLD EP.FIN: WILL bowed at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 albums chart (dated Dec. 16), marking the first chart-topper for the Korean pop group. The set earned 152,000 equivalent album units in the U.S. in the week ending Dec. 7, according to Luminate, nearly entirely from traditional album sales. Its album sales were bolstered by its availability across more than 30 collectible editions.

Of THE WORLD EP.FIN: WILL’s 152,000 equivalent album units earned in the week ending Dec. 7, album sales comprised 146,000 (with 99% of that sum driven by physical album sales and 1% via digital album downloads), SEA units comprise 5,500 (equaling 7.59 million on-demand official streams of the set’s 12 tracks) and TEA units comprise 500 units.

Brenda Lee spent a second week at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 songs chart with her holiday standard “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree.” A week earlier, the song led the list for the first time – 65 years after its release – and became Lee’s third Hot 100 No. 1, and her first since 1960.

Lee – who celebrates a birthday today (Dec. 11), as she turns 79 years young – reminisced to Billboard on Dec. 4 about recording the carol, when she was 13, after learning of its ascent to No. 1 at last from Universal Music Group Nashville chair/CEO Cindy Mabe. “The producer cut the air way down in the studio,” Lee recalled. “He had a big Christmas tree and everyone was there – the Anita Kerr Singers and the ‘A-team’ [of Nashville studio musicians], as we called them. It was like a little touch of magic kind of sprinkled in, and it turned out to be magic. It really did.”

For its 65th anniversary this year, Lee’s “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree” received its first official video, featuring cameos from country stars Tanya Tucker and Trisha Yearwood, Nov. 3. Plus, Lee performed it on NBC’s Christmas at the Opry, which aired Dec. 7. She has also joined TikTok, where she’s been sharing posts about the song and her career. 

Jelly Roll’s “Save Me” (Bailee& Buddy/Broken Bow/BMG/Stoney Creek), with Lainey Wilson, spent a second week at No.1 on Billboard’s Country Airplay chart (dated Dec.16), with 32.6million audience impressions D ec . 1-7, according to Luminate.

The song is the 18th to reach No. 1 during 2023. That’s after 29 leaders in 2022, 32 in 2021 and 38 in 2020 — the latter count being over twice as many as this year.

Since Country Airplay launched in January 1990, 934 songs have led the list, for an annual average of 27.5 No.1s.Even if there’s a new No.1 on each of the final two charts this year (dated Dec.23 and 30), 2023 will sport the fewest since 2005, when 19 songs reigned.

Notably, Morgan Wallen’s “Last Night” amassed eight weeks at the peak beginning in May — and is Billboard’s top Country Airplay song of the year.

Plus, in 2023 (and for the first time in 13 years), six consecutive chart-toppers scored multiweek reigns. The run started in February with Wallen’s “Thought You Should Know,” which led for three weeks, and continued with Luke Combs’ “Going, Going, Gone” (two), Bailey Zimmerman’s “Rock and a Hard Place” (six), Wallen’s “Last Night” (eight), Combs’ “Fast Car” (five) and Jelly Roll’s “Need a Favor” (four).

Country Airplay

** No.1 (2 weeks) ** “Save Me” Jelly Roll With Lainey Wilson 32.571 million audience (-2.007 million gain) / 7771 radio plays (-706)

** Most Increased Audience ** No.4 “But I Got A Beer In My Hand” Luke Bryan

Hot County Songs

** No.1 (11 weeks) ** “I Remember Everything” Zach Bryan Featuring Kacey Musgraves

** Streaming Gainer ** No.2 “Last Night” Morgan Wallen

**  Sales Gainer ** No.6 “Save Me” - Jelly Roll With Lainey Wilson

** Airplay Gainer” ** No.19 “But I Got A Beer In My Hand” Luke Bryan

** Hot Shot Debut ** No.22 “Wondering Why” The Red Clay Strays

Debut No.49 “This Town's Been Too Good To Us” Dylan Scott

Country Aircheck MEDIABASE Chart

Congratulations to Jelly Roll (Jason DeFord), Shelley Hargis, Scotty O’Brien, Adrian Michaels and the Stoney Creek promotion team on holding “Save Me” with Lainey Wilson for a second week at No. 1. Jelly Roll follows Carrie Underwood, Darius Rucker and Florida Georgia Line as just the fourth artist to launch with three consecutive No. 1s, of which two are multi-week. Songwriters are David Ray and DeFord.

“Save Me” (Curb) held at No.1 logging 8,023 radio spins (-1581), 37.263 million audience impressions (-5.029 million) with 28942 Total Points from 155 tracking stations (155 ADDS) for the published chart dated December 11, 2023.

 Lady A’s “Love You Back” Is The Most Added

Kudos to Ryan Dokke and the BMLGR crew on leading the final CA/MB Add Board of 2023 with 82 adds for Lady A’s “Love You Back.” It is their 16th Add Board leader and first in more than two years. 

GIFT Idea

NEWS

(6 Dec 2023) Watch Works: Pandora's country artists to watch for 2024 are Cooper Alan, Josh Ross, Dylan Marlowe, The Castellows, Sophia Scott, Harper O'Neill, Carter Faith, Jade Eagleson, Lauren Watkins and Greylan James. Alan is also the only country artist included on Pandora's all-genre artists to watch list. Dir./Country Programming Johnny Chiang tells Country Aircheck the 10 artists "will be considered for automatic programming and marketing support on Pandora throughout all of 2024 as they release music."

While Pandora looked ahead, YouTube shared its all-genre year-end list of topics and songs that defined 2023, including Morgan Wallen's "Last Night" at No. 5; full list here. 

 

(6 Dec 2023) ICYMI: Brad Paisley led the MLB Draft Lottery in Nashville Tuesday night (Dec 5). Watch him reveal the No.1 overall pick, the Cleveland Guardians, here. 

ICYMI: Brad Paisley performed "The Medicine Will" on NBC's Today (Dec 4) and "Son Of The Mountains" on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, where he also talked about hanging out with Post Malone.

(6 Dec 2023) Old Dominion have been added to the lineup for New Year's Eve Live: Nashville's Big Bash.

After her annual shopping spree at Tractor Supply Company, Miranda Lambert and her bandmates visited Hearts Alive Village and Nevada SPCA in Las Vegas to share a truckload of pet toys, beds and supplies with the shelters.

New members Colbie Caillat, Hannah Ellis, Ian Munsick, Matt Stell and more help the ACM reach more than 5,000 professional members, its highest membership count since numbers were tracked.

(6 Dec 2023) Hall-elujah: The Keith Urban and Vince Gill-hosted their 8th  All for the Hall benefit concert raises a record-setting $900,000 for Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum education programs. Pictured (front, l-r) are performers Ernest, The War and Treaty's Michael Trotter Jr. and Tanya Trotter, Brenda Lee, Patty Loveless, Mickey Guyton and Hardy; (back, l-r) the CMHoF's Kyle Young, Old Dominion's Matthew Ramsey, Geoff Sprung, Trevor Rosen and Brad Tursi, Brooks & Dunn's Kix Brooks and Ronnie Dunn, Gill, Urban, performers Kelsea Ballerini and Riley Green and the CMHoF Board's Mary Ann McCready.

Throughout the show, the Keith and Vince performed songs of their own, then provided back-up vocals and master guitar work for an exciting list of other country artists like Trisha Yearwood, Patty Loveless, Brooks & Dunn, HARDY, Kelsea Ballerini, Old Dominion, Riley Green, Mickey Guyton, and more. Read more + pics at  www.forbes.com

(7 Dec 2023) Hard Hat Zone: Dolly Parton's The Dollywood Company has purchased an 11-story, 233,314 sq. ft. downtown Nashville building at 211 Commerce St. for $75 million, with plans to convert it into a hotel. "Since the pandemic, commercial real estate is becoming an opportunity. I strongly believe in the future of Nashville and feel this is a great investment," Parton told the Nashville Business Journal. The Dollywood Company already operates two hotel resorts near its namesake theme park in East Tennessee.

(7 Dec 2023) Performances from Wednesday night's (6 Dec) CMT Campfire Sessions: Christmas Edition included Brittney Spencer's "White Christmas," Caitlyn Smith's "Snow Day," Priscilla Block's "Mistletoe" and Tenille Townes' "The Christmas Song."

(7 Dec 2023) Performances from Thursday night's (Dec 7) Christmas At The Opry on NBC included:

Wynonna Judd's "Mary, Did You Know", "O Holy Night" and "Beautiful Star of Bethlehem"

Brenda Lee's "Rockin' Around The Christmas Tree"

Kelly Clarkson's "Underneath The Tree" and "Santa Claus is Coming To Town" with Judd

Chris Janson's "Run Run Rudolph" and "Holiday Road"

Lauren Alaina's "Jingle Bell Rock" and "Santa Baby"

Trace Adkins' "The Christmas Song" and "White Christmas"

Breland's "This Christmas"

Adam Doleac's "Please Come Home For Christmas"

Mitchell Tenpenny's "Let It Snow" and "I Hope It Snows" with Meghan Patrick

Chrissy Metz's "Silver Bells"

Video Playlist:

(7 Dec 2023) Throughout the first half of Season 24 of The Voice, contestant Tom Nitti wowed coaches and audiences alike with performances that ran the gamut between soul, rock and country. As a contestant on Reba McEntire's team, he proved early on that he had significant traditional country chops, winning his Battle Rounds performance with a rendition of Cody Johnson's "'Til You Can't." Later on, McEntire used her Super-Save on him after he lost the Knockouts. But in late November, things took a turn: Nitti dropped out of the competition, citing "personal reasons" (contentious divorce proceedings) for his departure. Read More: 'The Voice': Team Reba Contestant Reveals Why He Left the Show 

AMERICANA NEWS

(8 Dec 2023) Bluegrass/ FOLK outfit The Dead South, provides a haunting western composition with "A Little Devil" from the band's newest album Chains & Stakes (out Feb. 9, 2024). Listen here

Based around the dark and slightly sinister vocal stylings of guitarist Nate Hilts, the band combines a heavy metal attitude with a bluegrass ensemble, resulting in a unique sound that shows influences from both camps. He is joined by Scott Pringle on mandolin, Colton Crawford on banjo, and Danny Kenyon on cello.

“If time heals everything…” The Dead South introduced their fourth studio album, on November 3, 2023, with song “Tiny Wooden Box,” a song that gets right into it with a big hypothetical. The first single and video showed the four-piece in top form in a rolling, roiling “State Trooper” style finger-picked nail-biter. ICYMI Watch “Tiny Wooden Box” here.

Back on Oct 27th they started a UK Tour at The Roundhouse, London ending at Plymouth Pavilions on Nov 10. New Shows have been added to their USA 2024 Tour.

(8 Dec 2023) On the heels of their new album announcement, Sarah Shook & the Disarmers share the first twangy folk single, "Backslider," from the group's upcoming record Revelations (out March 29, 2024). Listen here

(8 Dec 2023) S/J takes on a self-reflective journey of love as he duets with Liv Wallace on the guitar ballad "Never Win" Listen here (at americana-uk.com). It’s the fourth single (* tagged Folk) from Seth Jude Richard, who records as S/J. A south Louisiana boy who now lives in Florida. Growing up in a French rich culture, his grandfather introduced him to Cajun French music and acoustic music at a very young age. After Covid, Seth decided to embark on a solo journey to release his upcoming debut album, “Black Magnolias”. With a hectic touring schedule and raising two boys, he sees no end in sight.

AWARDS

ICYMI: Kane Brown was surprised with news of the diamond certification of "Heaven" by Luke Combs, Hillary Scott, Tyler Hubbard and Darius Rucker. 

TOUR / LIVE EVENTS

(7 Dec 2023) Festive All: Dean Dillon, Brian Kelley, Jon Pardi, Kip Moore, Jenee Fleenor, The War and Treaty, Ernest, Randy Houser and Drake Milligan are among the artists performing during the Legends of Music Row Country Music Festival in Key West April 4-6; tickets here.

TV

(7 Dec 2023) Ashley McBryde performed "The Devil I Know" on NBC's The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon (Dec 7).

BABY NEWS

(7 Dec 2023) Sony Music Nashville artist Adam Doleac and wife MacKinnon Doleac, are expecting their first child in March. The couple wed in December 2022. Doleac said, "I'm trying to play it cool right now, but I have never been more excited about anything in my life."

PRESS RELEASES

ICYMI: Nashville, TN (Dec 1, 2023) – American Idol winner Chayce Beckham - who j made his Grand Ole Opry debut (Oct 18, 2023) and wrapped Luke Bryan’s Country On and Farm Tours - released “This Ol’ Rodeo” via 19 Recordings/BBR Music Group/Wheelhouse Records, ahead of his show at NFR’s “Rodeo World 2023” on December 10 at Resorts World Las Vegas.

With his signature bluesy rasp at the forefront, a cowboy finds the one ready to take on his rugged ways in this new track anchored by a Cash-era, locomotion beat. Listen now HERE. 

“‘This Ol’ Rodeo’ is a song I’m excited to have out,” shared Chayce. “It’s inspired by a close friend of mine. This one’s for all the cowboys and cowgirls out there, literally and figuratively. This song is about taking on something that might be a little bit wilder than you, trying to hang on, and loving it through the wins and losses whether it loves you back or not.”

Nashville, TN – (5 Dec, 2023) – Corb Lund will return with El Viejo on February 23, 2024 via New West Records and Friday (Dec 1st) released 'Out On a Win'. The 11-track set was produced by Lund and recorded entirely in his living room in Lethbridge, AB with his band The Hurtin’ Albertans.  El Viejo is Lund’s first album of original material since 2020’s critically acclaimed Agricultural Tragic, which was named an album of the year by the readers of No Depression. Gathering around his living room, Lund & Co. tapped into his most cherished musical influences of acoustic tone and lyrical aptitude — Marty Robbins, Kris Kristofferson, Bobbie Gentry, Jerry Reed. There is a common theme — possibly even a character thread — of the gambler, the outlaw who roams from place-to-place with no direction home.

“It’s a lot of minor keys and gambling songs, is what it is,” Lund says in a matter-of-fact tone. “It was just a few of us in my house. No studio. No outside producer. No adults in the room. No stress.” He continues, “There’s not a single electric instrument on the whole thing, just acoustic sounds and singing. In terms of having a vision, this is a record I’ve had in my sights for a while and it came out exactly how I’d hoped. We cut all the songs live in the same room with lots of bleed. A bunch of the songs we captured in one take, first time through.” 

Lund also previously shared the must-see video for the album’s closing track 'Old Familiar Drunken Feeling'. Filmed partially on a cannabis farm, the video depicts an all too accurate account of Lund being way too high on an edible before a show many years ago.

Prior to Lund launching his Canadian tour in support of El Viejo on March 5 in Vancouver (with New West labelmates 49 Winchester in tow), he will appear at National Finals Rodeo in Las Vegas for two headline solo performances on December 9 and 14, as well as a show supporting Ryan Bingham at The Virgin Theatre on December 7. Lund has announced European tour dates supporting the Dead South as well (19 Jun. 2024 - London, UK - The Lower Third).

(8 Dec 2023) Award Winning Country Singer-Songwriter Brenda Cay released "Remind Me of Me".  Download and Stream. 

A rumbling drum line intrigues as we are invited into the heartfelt lyricism of singer songwriter and country artist Brenda Cay’s newest release, “Remind Me of Me.” Reminiscent of the beloved sounds of a classic country genre, the tune wastes no time bearing its heart to its listeners as the band joins in and Brenda shares questions that have been a constant reminder of life’s unchosen circumstances.

Brenda’s passion for music has caused her to push the envelope more than once. 2023 was a banner year in the music industry for Brenda. She is a prime example of “never give up" and because of this, she has earned accolades from American Songwriter, Academy of Country Music & won a songwriting contest which allowed Brenda to co-write “Reason to Cry” with award-winning Songwriter Trey Bruce. Accomplishments:​ Over 7 million streams across DSPs, 14 licensing deals,  Features on: Apple Hot Tracks (Country) & ACM (Academy of Country Music) New Music Friday playlist.

(8 Dec 2023) Michael Nau just released his fifth full-length record, ACCOMPANY (tagged Singer/Songwriter), on December 8th. Since the mid 2000’s, he’s crafted a catalog of thoughtful, reflective songs as the frontman of indie-rock mainstays Cotton Jones, Page France, and Michael Nau & The Mighty Thread.

All 11 tracks come together to paint a beautiful picture. The lyrics invoke the listener’s imagination throughout. They’re introspective, but vague and open-ended. The indie rock backdrop shows signs of psych-soul influence with dry and punchy drums, lush synth lines, and tastefully verb-soaked vocal production. Sweeping string arrangements and French horn runs add cinematic motion to the waltz-y “Shiftshaping” (track 4). Slide guitar and a shuffling snare drum add some get-up-and-go to “Painting a Wall” (track 2). Nau’s vocal delivery falls somewhere between crooning to a crowd, telling stories to a loved one, and musing to himself. “Classy Americana with a restless pulse and a passionate heart.” - Terry Staunton, UNCUT

Test drive on Spotify or Bandcamp | Connect: Instagram | Facebook

 

(8 Dec 2023) Lucas Hoge’s original holiday tune “Hey Christmas” (first released on Nov 2, 2018) will be featured in the new movie A Cowboy Christmas Romance starring actress and country artist Jana Kramer. In addition to Kramer, A Cowboy Christmas Romance stars Adam Senn, Mary-Margaret Humes, Cassie Randolph, Curt Mega, Bruce Thomas, Lisa Lee, and Max Ehrich. The new film premiered on Lifetime Saturday, December 9, 2023 at 8 p.m. Eastern/7 p.m. Central. The fun holiday gem was also included on his 2021 Lucas Hoge 12.25 album.

(8 Dec 2023) 19 Recordings/BMG artist Colin Stough bares a wounded soul in the stripped-down “Sleep Tonight (Acoustic),” sharing a new rendition alongside a performance video.

Written by Stough with Sean Thomas Rogers and Brian Congdon, the original version was part of his six-track debut EP, PROMISELAND – a crunchy power-confession full of worry over the fragility of life, which helped introduce the new-school Country rocker with a high-voltage vocal.

“I actually started this one as a poem, so a more raw version felt true to where this song came from. I was really hurting after hearing about another death in my life and I just started writing,” shares Stough. “Once I took that poem into the writing room, we got our guitars and started writing, so it really did begin as a guitar-vocal. Stripping back the production lets these lyrics be the focus and makes it hit even harder since this writing is so personal to me.

(8 Dec 2023) Nashville, TN (December 8, 2023) – “Country Music’s Next Rising Star” (Billboard) Dylan Schneider performed his heart-wrenching and autobiographical “Daddy Drinks Whiskey” (first released Nov 3, 2023) for the first-time ever in the Grand Ole Opry’s sacred circle, delivering an emotionally charged debut to a packed-out audience. Due to crowd reaction, the BBR Music Group/Wheelhouse Records artist now releases the raw, solo acoustic and emotively stirring version of that performance. Produced by Zach Abend and written by Schneider with his childhood best friend Gabe Foust and Nate Kenyon, listen to “Daddy Drinks Whiskey (Live From The Opry)” HERE. 

“Writing ‘Daddy Drinks Whiskey’ was something that was extremely difficult, but also cathartic,” says Schneider. “I knew I needed to write this song for everyone out there who has gone through a similar experience that I have. The Grand Ole Opry is a special place for so many reasons, so performing this song there for the first time, it just felt right. I was blown away by the reaction after and knew I had to release this live acoustic version from that night.”

INTERVIEWS

(6 Dec 2023) Morgan Wallen Opens Up In First Major Interview In Two Years About His Historic 2023 And ‘How Much My Words Matter’: The 30-year-old Wallen reflects on his turbulent journey to becoming one of country music's biggest commercial successes on the charts and on the road. Read more Billboard.com

REVIEWS

(4 Dec 2024) Morgan Wallen, The O2, London live review 5 STARS EF COUNTRY by Laura Cooney

…Overall Morgan Wallen showed why he’s become such a huge star in such a relatively short space of time. He’s got a real sense of showmanship about him that brings his songs to life when they’re performed live, along with great energy on stage and an undeniable connection with the audience, and I also enjoyed that he wasn’t afraid to show off different sides of his sound and influences. If I had one small – and it is very, very small – criticism, it would be that the use of the stage effects, particularly towards the end of the show, feels a little bit much for me and slightly diminishes their effectiveness. But as debut performances go, this was an absolute triumph for Wallen (and a far cry from The Garage where he was originally supposed to perform back in 2020!). Ironically, it’s also likely to be his smallest show here – if you can consider 20,000 people small – but given the speed at which he sold it out, I think he’ll definitely come back soon. And in that case, make sure you snap up tickets whilst you can when he does!

WATCH

ICYMI: Just in time for the holidays, Kimberly Dawn invites her fans to have a seat by the fireplace to embrace the 12-track 'Wishin' For Christmas' (Listen) a stunning mix of original and classic Christmas songs. Kimberly's voice is sweet and warm, drawing listeners in with her heartfelt lyrics about the magic of Christmas and wishing for the perfect holiday with loved ones. This spirited album released on November 2nd and featured a tune titled “Ho Ho Holdin’ You” which Kimberly has just released a music video for: 

 

(Dec 6, 2023) NASHVILLE, Tenn. - Viral sensation Ashley Ryan recalls the joy of Christmas past - and the loneliness of Christmas present, post-love - with her holiday tune “It’s Christmas Do You Miss Us” and the accompanying video, now available to view. The visual, which premiered (12/5) with Entertainment Focus and puts an ironically light-hearted spin on an otherwise heavy topic, aptly depicts the heartbreak of a holiday sans significant other, bouncing between scenes of last year’s loving relationship, and this year’s solitude. The video was directed and shot by Julian SM, TLT Agency.

Watch “It’s Christmas Do You Miss Us” HERE.

  

"'It’s Christmas, Do You Miss Us' is a song about a girl reminiscing on her prior love during the holiday season,” Ryan told Entertainment Focus. “This time around, she is on her own and is flooded by his memory, wondering if he’s thinking about her as well. The song and video can be enjoyed by anyone - whether they're currently in a relationship, or single!"

BIRTHDAYS

Birthdays in the week ahead

December 11: Brenda Lee (1944)

December 12: Daniel O'Donnell (1961), Hank Williams III (1972), LaCosta Tucker

December 13: Randy Owens (Alabama) (1949), John Anderson (1954), Taylor Swift (1989)

December 14: the late Charlie Rich (Dec 14, 1934; died July 25, 1995), Matt Rollings (1964), Maisy Stella (Nashville TV actress),

December 16: Frankie Ballard (1982)

December 17: Sharon White (Whites) (1953),