Country
Makin’ Tracks: Luke Bryan Cheers the ‘Country On’ With an Optimistic Message
“Hey, hey, U.S.A./ We ain’t seen our better days.” In a divisive era with many Americans skeptical about the future of the democracy, Luke Bryan’s new single, “Country On,” is a timely elixir, a four-minute reminder of the nation’s proud middle class, its work ethic and the sense of community that comes from simply doing what they do. “When I’m onstage, and when I’m singing ‘Most People Are Good,’ I feel that most people are still that, and I feel like most Americans really support the American dream,” Bryan says. “There’s a lot of forces out there really trying to interrupt that, but the day that we wake up and feel like the United States can’t have better days, I think the whole spirit of the country is lost.” Explore Explore See latest videos, charts and news See latest videos, charts a...
Luke Bryan, Peyton Manning to Co-Host 2022 CMA Awards
Two-time CMA Awards entertainer of the year winner Luke Bryan and NFL star Peyton Manning will host the 56th annual CMA Awards on Nov. 9 on ABC from Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena. This will mark Bryan’s second year hosting the show, after first hosting the CMA Awards in 2021; it will be former Colts/Broncos superstar Manning’s first time serving as CMA Awards host. Explore Explore See latest videos, charts and news See latest videos, charts and news Manning, who has made four Super Bowl appearances and won two Super Bowls during his 18-season career, is no stranger to the CMA Awards. In 2016, Manning was part of a comedic skit with then-hosts Brad Paisley and Carrie Underwood, and also presented the CMA’s pinnacle award to Kenny Chesney. “Being a part of such a historical night that honors...
Gary Allan Leaving Longtime Label Home UMG Nashville
Gary Allan is exiting his longtime label home, UMG Nashville. The “Watching Airplanes” hitmaker revealed the news on social media Friday (July 29), saying, “For the last 25 years plus, UMG Nashville has been my record label home. I’m very thankful to the staff members at [UMGN imprints] Decca, MCA and EMI for the belief and support they have had in me, but it is now time for a new adventure. I am excited for what the future holds and look forward to sharing more news soon.” Over the past 25 years, Allan has earned 11 top 10 Billboard Country Airplay hits, including four chart leaders. Allan earned his first No. 1 Country Airplay hit with “Man to Man” in March 2003, followed that same year by the two-week chart leader “Tough Little Boys.” He also notched No. 1s including “Nothing on But The...
Jake Owen Opens Up About Being Sober: ‘I’m Just Trying to Be the Best Version of Myself’
Jake Owen has been sober for just over 10 months now, and he opened up about his journey via a social media post on Friday (July 29). The country star posted an image that simply read “Sober 316 Days,” accompanied by the caption: “317 days ago I embarrassed myself after drinking too much alcohol one night. It wasn’t the first time either. The next day I told myself, ‘never again.’ I am better than that, and the people I love the most deserve better. My family, my little girls, and my friends.” He also opened up about why he made the decision to share about his struggle with alcohol. Explore Explore See latest videos, charts and news See latest videos, charts and news “Just wanted to share my journey in case anyone woke up this morning and wants to make a change. None of us are perfect…I’m ...
Brad Paisley, Lady A Sell Music Rights to HarbourView
In another move reflecting its diversified genre approach to music acquisitions, HarbourView Equity Partners has entered the Nashville scene in a big way with new investments in Brad Paisley and Lady A‘s catalogs. Paisley, who has won three Grammy awards and has generated activity totaling 17.4 million album consumption units in the U.S., has sold his music royalty income stream to his master recording catalog to HarbourView. Beyond his successful music career, Paisley remains in the spotlight most recently thanks to his involvement in Nationwide Insurance advertising campaigns and due to his partnership with Boot Barn for the Moonshine Spirit clothing line. His last studio album was Love and War in 2017, which reached No. 13 on the Billboard 200 chart and peaked at No. 1 on Top Country Al...
Lauren Alaina Signs With Big Loud Records and Reveals Morgan Wallen’s Sweet Response
When Lauren Alaina decided it was time to find a new label, she knew exactly where she wanted to start the next chapter of her career — after all, she’d already landed one of her three No. 1 chart toppers with their help. Alaina, who announced her departure from Mercury/Universal Music Group Nashville via social media in April, has signed with Big Loud Records. “I got a label that matches my personality: big, loud and country,” Alaina tells Billboard, with a laugh. “So I think that that’s what my music will be: big, loud and country.” When asked what was on her checklist when shopping for her new label, she simply answers, “Big Loud.” She met with a few different record companies, but Big Loud was her “dream label,” she says, especially as she got to know their inner workings after collabo...
Carrie Underwood Covers Ozzy Osbourne’s “Mama, I’m Coming Home”: Stream
Carrie Underwood has shared her rendition of Ozzy Osbourne’s classic power ballad “Mama, I’m Coming Home.” Take a listen below. The country star’s take on Ozbourne and Lemmy Kilmister’s 1991 No More Tears collaboration comes courtesy of Apple Music’s new initiative Apple Music Sessions, which features artists pairing their own songs with their favorite covers all in an intimate, live setting — this time, Apple Music’s Nashville studio. “It’s one of my all-time favorite songs,” the American Idol winner said of “Mama, I’m Coming Home.” “I’ve always thought it felt a lot like a country song, and I’ve wanted to cover it for a long time.” In the session, she also ran through “Ghost Story,” the lead single off her brand-new album Denim & Rhinestones, as well as her 2012 hit “Blown Away....
Carrie Underwood Covers Ozzy Osbourne’s “Mama, I’m Coming Home”: Stream
Carrie Underwood has shared her rendition of Ozzy Osbourne’s classic power ballad “Mama, I’m Coming Home.” Take a listen below. The country star’s take on Ozbourne and Lemmy Kilmister’s 1991 No More Tears collaboration comes courtesy of Apple Music’s new initiative Apple Music Sessions, which features artists pairing their own songs with their favorite covers all in an intimate, live setting — this time, Apple Music’s Nashville studio. “It’s one of my all-time favorite songs,” the American Idol winner said of “Mama, I’m Coming Home.” “I’ve always thought it felt a lot like a country song, and I’ve wanted to cover it for a long time.” In the session, she also ran through “Ghost Story,” the lead single off her brand-new album Denim & Rhinestones, as well as her 2012 hit “Blown Away....
Taylor Swift’s Red (Taylor’s Version) Is Eligible for Grammy Nomination
Taylor Swift’s Red (Taylor’s Version) broke streaming records and gifted us with the instant classic “All Too Well (10-Minute Version),” but for all of its updates, it wasn’t clear if the re-recorded album would be eligible for a Grammy. However, Billboard confirms that it does meet the Recording Academy’s nomination requirements. According to the Academy’s “rules and guidelines” handbook, “Updated, revised or expanded versions of previously submitted albums will not be eligible” for Grammy Awards. However, the organization told Billboard that Red (Taylor’s Version) will be eligible for consideration “as it is a new recording.” This means that if Swift’s re-recorded LP is nominated for, say, Album of the Year (as the original was back in 2012), it would be her fift...
Taylor Swift’s Red (Taylor’s Version) Is Eligible for Grammy Nomination
Taylor Swift’s Red (Taylor’s Version) broke streaming records and gifted us with the instant classic “All Too Well (10-Minute Version),” but for all of its updates, it wasn’t clear if the re-recorded album would be eligible for a Grammy. However, Billboard confirms that it does meet the Recording Academy’s nomination requirements. According to the Academy’s “rules and guidelines” handbook, “Updated, revised or expanded versions of previously submitted albums will not be eligible” for Grammy Awards. However, the organization told Billboard that Red (Taylor’s Version) will be eligible for consideration “as it is a new recording.” This means that if Swift’s re-recorded LP is nominated for, say, Album of the Year (as the original was back in 2012), it would be her fift...
First Country: Zach Bryan, Zac Brown Band, Cody Johnson, LeAnn Rimes & More
First Country is a compilation of the best new country songs, videos & albums that dropped this week. Zach Bryan, “Summertime Blues“ [embedded content] Just months after topping the Billboard Country Albums chart with his whopping 34-track album American Heartbreak in May, this prolific, country and Americana-synthesizing artist returns with the nine-track EP Summertime Blues. The slow-burning, demo-like title track makes great use of Bryan’s craggy, weathered voice and the song finds the singer-songwriter staring into a summer sunset, musing that he has no one to share it with as the summer months stretch long before him. This year, Bryan has had successful sets at Stagecoach Country Music Festival and at its newly-minted, more Americana-leaning cousin, Palomino Festival. Meanwhile, h...
How to Get Tickets to Reba McEntire’s 2022 Tour
Reba McEntire is headed out on tour this fall for the live “Reba: Live In Concert” experience and tickets are sure to fly with 17 dates spread across the United States. In a statement announcing the tour, McEntire shared her excitement, saying: “I can’t wait to see everyone out on the road again this fall. We had so much fun in the spring and I’m ready to get back out there with my buddy Terri Clark!” Get tickets here, and read on for more details including pre-sale dates. What Is Reba McEntire’s Next Tour? “Reba: Live in Concert” takes the beloved country star and actor on a whole new set of cities following her spring 2022 trek that fulfilled her rescheduled 2020 tour. The new circuit kicks off in Lafayette, Louisiana on October 13th, then hits Fort Worth, Texas and Oklahoma City before ...
