Lainey Wilson is entering Bell Bottom Country. 

The hit singer has announced that her sophomore album, Bell Bottom Country, will be released October 28. Described as a blend of country, ’70s rock, soul and funk, the album features current single “Heart Like a Truck” and newly released track “Watermelon Moonshine.”

She also penned a tribute to her father, Brian, with “Those Boots (Deddy’s Song).” The singer has shared on social media that her father has recently been experiencing some health issues. 

“I’ve lived quite a bit of life the past few years, and I have a lot more to say. Sure, I love a good pair of bell bottoms, but Bell Bottom Country to me has always been about the flare and what makes someone unique — I have really embraced mine, and I hope y’all can hear that across this project,” Lainey says in a statement. 

Bell Bottom Country follows her 2021 debut album, Sayin’ What I’m Thinkin,’ that included her first #1 hit, “Things a Man Oughta Know.” 

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Keith Urban and Richard Marx have a natural songwriting chemistry, so much so that Richard has included him on his upcoming album, Songwriter. 

The superstars’ relationship spans decades, beginning with the country singer’s 2005 single, “Better Life,” which reached the top of the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart. Additionally, “Everybody” became a top five hit in 2008, followed by one of Keith’s signature hits, “Long Hot Summer.” 

Keith says that when he and Richard met in the early 2000s, they quickly realized they had a seamless repertoire in the studio. 

“We clicked. Our pop sensibilities, I think melodic, hooky sensibilities blended really well,” Keith describes. “He was able to bring what he does and what I do, and we found a way to bring those worlds together into those songs.” 

Their relationship continues on Richard’s new album, Songwriter, which finds him collaborating with artists across genres. He and Keith co-wrote a track called “One Day Longer” under the country category, which Keith says is a long time coming. 

“It’s a song we had written many years ago. He just texted me last week and said he had included the song on a project he was doing, so that’s the first I’d heard about it,” Keith recalls. 

In addition to his work with Keith, Richard also found success in the country genre as a co-writer on Kenny Rogers‘ hits “Crazy” and “What About Me.” Another country act featured on Songwriter is Darius Rucker, who co-wrote “Breaking My Heart” with the songwriting legend. 

Songwriter is out on September 30. 

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Elle King has shared a behind-the-scenes video with Dierks Bentley on the set of the video for their new collaboration, “Worth a Shot.” 

Brett Eldredge‘s episode of CMT Campfire Sessions airs Friday at 10 p.m. ET. CMT has shared a sneak preview of his performance of “Songs About You.”

Ingrid Andress has partnered with newcomer Avery Anna for a stripped-down performance of the title track of Ingrid’s new album, “Good Person.” 

Mickey Guyton is performing as part of Global Citizen Festival on September 24 in New York City’s Central Park. 

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Maren Morris is praising the women she works with on tour. 

The hitmaker is currently on her headlining Humble Quest Tour, and she’s brought a team of women with her to help run the show. Maren reveals that half of her crew is female and notes that while she’s steering the ship, she couldn’t do it without her support system, including frequent co-writer Natalie Hemby and guitarist Annie Clements. 

“I just have to take a moment and say that I love the women on this tour. I am very proud to be able to say that half my crew out here are women. It is rare you see it 50/50 in the touring industry, but it happens intentionally and over time,” the singer says alongside a gallery of photos highlighting the women on her team. “Everyone can hang, feel safe, and hopefully have some drinks once the trailer is locked. I might be the boss, but this sh** doesn’t go without the incredibly hardworking girls and guys out here.” 

Touring isn’t the only area where Maren is surrounded by a team of women. She’s also one-fourth of the all-female supergroup, The Highwomen, with Brandi Carlile, Amanda Shires and Natalie. 

The Humble Quest Tour continues through early December. 

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Cole Swindell‘s video for “She Had Me at Heads Carolina” is filled with personal touches. 

As confirmed in the teaser, “Heads Carolina, Tails California” singer Jo Dee Messina makes an appearance in the video as the bartender serving up drinks at the karaoke bar that Cole and his friends visit in downtown Nashville. 

Additionally, one of the original writers of “Heads Carolina,” Tim Nichols, makes a cameo sitting next to Cole at the bar. 

The karaoke concept was Cole’s idea, as was Jo Dee playing the bartender, noting that “one of the coolest parts” about the video was having Tim next to him at the bar while the country legend is making cocktails.  

“I told her, ‘You’re going to make this whole video,'” Cole shares on Instagram Live about pitching the idea to Jo Dee, admitting that he was “nervous” to meet her for the first time on set. “I’m so glad that she was able to make it up for that. It was cool.”

The Georgia native also hints that he and his team are in the process of finding another way for the two to collaborate and encourages his fans to be “patient.” “I promise it’s going to be worth it when we figure out what we want to do,” he says.   

Cole’s girlfriend, Courtney Little, also makes a cameo in the video. 

“She Had Me at Heads Carolina” is currently racing up the top 10 on the country charts, becoming the fastest rising hit of Cole’s career so far. 

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Scotty McCreery is riding high on the success of his recent singles. 

This week, Scotty was presented with plaques commemorating his three consecutive singles that have sat at #1 on country radio: “In Between,” “You Time” and current multiweek #1, “Damn Strait.” He also received plaques for Gold certification by the RIAA for each track. 

The chart-topping success brought back childhood memories of longing to be a country star, Scotty said in a sentimental Instagram post. 

“Wish I could tell 10 year old Scotty practicing guitar on the end of his bed… One day he’d get to celebrate 3 #1 singles in the morning and then play the Grand Ole @Opry that night,” the singer writes alongside a gallery of photos, including the plaque ceremony, him with his pregnant wife, Gabi, outside the Opry marquee and in his dressing room backstage. 

“In Between” was the final single released off the American Idol winner’s 2018 album, Seasons Change. Both “You Time” and “Damn Strait” are featured on his latest album, Same Truck. 

Scotty and Gabi are expecting their first child this fall. 

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Kane Brown is making VMA history. 

The “Grand” singer will make his MTV Video Music Awards debut on the Toyota Stage with the first live TV performance of his new single, “Grand.” He’s also the first male country act to perform on the VMAs. Past country artists who’ve performed at the all-genre show include Kacey Musgraves and Taylor Swift. 

“Grand” is the third single off his upcoming album, Different Man, set to drop September 9.

Last year, Kane was the sole country artist nominated at the show, scoring a nod for Video For Good for “Worldwide Beautiful.” This year, Kacey represents country music with two nominations for Best Longform Video for “star-crossed” and Best Art Director for “simple times.” 

The VMAs air on MTV on August 28 at 8 p.m. ET. 

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Keith Urban has nothing but fond memories of the late Olivia Newton-John.

The country singer met the Grease star at a songwriters’ retreat in the late ’90s and reveals he was a bit of a “fanboy.” 

“It was surreal to get to meet her. She couldn’t have been more down to earth, kind, friendly, warm, funny, everything I thought she would be,” Keith describes. “She was exactly that.” 

The two kept in touch and continued to write together over the years, including a song called “Sunburned Country” that Keith is a featured vocalist on. But music isn’t the only way they connected. In fact, the actress was present the night Keith met his wife, Nicole Kidman, at an event called Good Day LA in 2005 where he, Nicole and Mel Gibson were being honored as Australians who’d found success in America. When asked which fellow famous Australian he’d like to introduce him, Olivia’s name was the first that came to mind. 

“I had just written with Olivia, so I asked Olivia if she would do it for me. She was the person who introduced me that fateful night when I met my wife, so she also plays that very special role in our past, as well,” he recalls. “Olivia is one of those people that for so many Australians particularly has always been part of the fabric of life. She was there in the ’70s and has been there for all of my life. It feels like she’s been there.” 

Olivia passed away on August 8 at the age of 73 from cancer.  

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