Brett Eldredge loves everything about Christmas, including the music. The Illinois native just announced his new album, Mr. Christmas, due out on October 22. The record will feature both holiday classics and original songs, including the title track.

“Mr. Christmas is something that I’ve been planning out for quite a while,” Brett says. “This album is so much fun and full of joy and magic. From the album cover, you can find the magic of Mr. Christmas standing in the window front, looking out just like the old stores on the Rockefeller Plaza in New York City and people passing by in the window.”

Brett, who previously released the Christmas album Glow in 2016, wanted to return to the holiday feeling with Mr. Christmas.

“We captured that nostalgic, classic feel that Christmas brings and mixed it with the soulful side of my music influences,” Brett says. “It’s got a lot of heart and magic — it’s a special one for people to hear.”

Brett will headline his own Glow Live Christmas Tour, kicking off on November 13. You can pre-order Mr. Christmas now from all of the usual outlets.

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Loretta Lynn was the force behind the star-studded Hometown Rising concert, held at the Grand Ole Opry on September 14, to raise money for those impacted by the devastating floods that struck Middle Tennessee in August.

Proceeds from the show, which drew country music superstars like Garth Brooks, Trisha Yearwood, Luke Combs, Luke Bryan, Keith Urban and more, went directly to the United Way of Humphreys County, with the concert netting nearly one million dollars for the worthwhile cause.

“I’ve heard from so many friends that the show Monday night that my friends put together for our community not only raised money, but it also raised spirits after a long few weeks of loss and heartbreak,” Loretta says. “I loved the performances and the stories.

“While we shared some heartbreaking images and footage from our hometown, what I saw in those moments was the resilience people have shown amid so much loss,” she continues. “We’ll all be okay as long as we continue to help one another.”

Donations can still be made by texting TNFLOODRELIEF to 44321.

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The Zac Brown Band just dropped a new song, “Fun Having Fun,” from their upcoming The Comeback album, out on October 15. The song was written by lead singer Zac Brown, along with Kenny Habul, Kurt Thomas and Ben Simonetti, and inspired by reminiscing about their own respective carefree childhoods.

“‘Fun Having Fun’ is about all the dumb stuff you do when you’re a kid. One of my co-writers on the track is actually my buddy Kurt, who I went to high school with in Dahlonega,” Zac says of his Georgia upbringing. “He and I made a demo tape when we were kids called KZ, for Kurt & Zac, and he was the first guy I ever sat down with and thought, ‘We’re gonna be big.’”

Zac is now the proud parent of five children, which is why he felt so drawn to “Fun Having Fun.”

“It was fun to circle back to that time in my life and remember some of the things that we did together, especially with the perspective of now being a parent,” Zac adds.

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On this day in 1977, a then-rising star made her first appearance on the Grand Ole Opry, although it definitely didn’t go as planned. The guard didn’t see her name on the list of performers and refused to allow her entrance until she was able to call her booking agent from a pay phone. And, her performance was cut down from two songs to one to make room for a surprise guest, Dolly Parton. She became a member in 1986. ANSWER: Reba McEntire

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It’s a big day for Carly Pearce! The Grand Ole Opry member has released her autobiographical 29: Written in Stone album, and also announced her own headlining The 29 Tour. 

29: Written in Stone is the follow-up to Carly’s telling 29 EP, adding eight new songs to the original project.

“Once I started writing, I thought I’d gotten it all out of my system,” Carly said of the new record. “But the songs just kept on coming, and I realized to truly understand how you come out the other side, not just a quick snapshot, this full project needed to happen. Now people can see how you thrive and shine even in the lowest moments.”

Carly will kick off her headlining tour on November 4 in Des Moines, Iowa. Andrew Jannakos will serve as her opening act. Dates and her new album are available at CarlyPearce.com.

 

 

 

 

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More than ten years after winning the tenth season of American Idol, Scotty McCreery arrives with his fifth studio album, driving the Same Truck he won on the popular singing competition. 

The 27-year-old wrote ten of the record’s twelve tracks, including his top five hit, “You Time.” In fact, he believed he was almost done with the follow-up to 2018’s Seasons Change — and then 2020 happened.

“You know, I thought I had this album pretty much ready to go a couple of years ago,” Scotty reveals. “But then after COVID hit, suddenly [I] had a lot of extra time on my hands. So I started writing new songs and before I knew it, we’d come up with almost a whole new album.”

For Scotty, Same Truck has both a literal and a much deeper meaning.

“Can you believe I’m actually driving the same truck I won 10 years ago as part of my American Idol title?” he asks. “The truck’s name is Loretta after one of my favorites, Loretta Lynn.”

Amid divisive times, Scotty believes we’re more alike than different, i.e. we’re all in the same boat — or “Same Truck,” if you’re from North Carolina. 

“[It] was one of those songs that got started by a conversation talking about how I drive the same truck…” he tells ABC Audio. “But it morphed into something a lot more important than that, just talking about how, ‘Hey, guys, we’re all on the same team here. Let’s build each other up instead of tear each other down.'”

“And it’s just a message I think we all need to hear right now,” he adds.  

Same Truck is new today, and features Scotty’s nod to King George, “Damn Strait,” which he’s set to sing Tuesday on NBC’s Today show. 

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Alan Jackson and his daughter, Mattie Selecman, wrote a song together, “Racing the Dark.” The song is available as a download as part of Mattie’s upcoming book, Lemons on Friday, which details her journey of grief following the loss of her husband, Ben Selecman, after 11 months of marriage.

Miranda Lambert, Natalie Hemby and Luke Dick won Song of the Year at the Nashville Songwriters Association International’s (NSAI) annual Nashville Songwriter Awards, for “Bluebird.” Luke Combs won Songwriter-Artist of the Year. See the entire list of winners here.

Hailey Whitters released the official video for “How Far Can It Go,” featuring Trisha Yearwood. The song is from Hailey’s deluxe album, Living the Dream. Watch the video at Whitters’ official YouTube channel.

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Blake Shelton is opening another one of his Ole Red venues in Music City, this time at the Nashville International Airport. Blake announced the good news in a video posted on social media.

“Guaranteed, some of you people are going to be missing your flights,” Blake joked.

Blake, who owns all of the Ole Red locations in conjunction with Ryman Hospitality Properties, is eager to bring Ole Red food and drinks to those traveling in and out of Nashville.

“Folks from around the world come to Nashville lookin’ to have a good time and hear some of the best live music around, and now you can make it double with the Nashville airport venue!” says the singer. “I’m excited to give visitors the best fun, food and music like only Ole Red can provide while they wait for their flight.”

Blake will return next week for Season 21 of The Voice. The season will premiere on Monday, September 20 at 8:00 p.m. ET on NBC.

 

 

 

 

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Keith Urban‘s father passed away in 2015, but his influence still permeates almost everything Keith does. It was his father who instilled in him a love of country music, and his father whose approval he still seeks today, even though he has been gone for six years.

“I think that fire has burned in me forever, and probably still does,” Keith tells Billboard. “I think I got my dad’s approval long before I thought I had it…but it’s a strong driving force for me to impress my dad. Still, to this day.”

Urban mentions his father in the opening lines of his current single, “Wild Hearts,” which says, “Saw the man in black / Spotlight in the air / Heard a thousand screams / Saw my daddy stare.”

“When you’re five years old and you see your father mesmerized by something — in a way that I don’t think I had seen that gaze come to me — I’m like, ‘I’m going to do that,'” he says.

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We now know which five artists will be named the 2021 CMT Artists of the Year. Chris Stapleton, Gabby Barrett, Kane Brown, Kelsea Ballerini and Luke Combs will all be honored at a special ceremony that will be held at Nashville’s Schermerhorn Symphony Center on Wednesday, October 13.

“We are honored to recognize these five incredible artists who have entertained and inspired millions through their music this past year,” says CMT executive Margaret Comeaux. “We look forward to returning to the Schermerhorn with a live show as we celebrate the accomplishments of Chris, Kane, Kelsea, Gabby and Luke.”

After last year’s event celebrated the sacrifices of those working on the frontlines of the COVID-19 pandemic, this year’s 90-minute special promises both performances and collaborations, as well congratulatory moments from several other celebrities.

More information, including collaborations, special guests and additional honorees, as well as performers and presenters, will be announced in the near future.

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