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Chase Rice partners with Jack Daniel’s for three-part livestream series

• No Comments • Country Music News

BBR Music Group/Jack Daniel’sAs the pandemic wears on, Chase Rice has come up with a creative way to help support his longtime band and crew.

The “Lonely if You Are” singer announced this week that he’s teaming up with Jack Daniel’s for a three-part virtual concert called “Live From Twin Eagles Creek Farm.” The event takes its name from Chase’s Nashville-area property, where he’ll film the series.

Each of the three shows will feature a slightly different vibe and musical arrangement, from stripped-down and acoustic to a full-band performance. The three events will air on November 29, December 6 and December 13.

Tickets are $10 apiece, or $20 for a pass to all three shows. One hundred percent of the proceeds will benefit Chase’s trusty band and crew, who haven’t been able to work since the COVID-19 shutdowns took effect.

“I’ve been blessed to have the same band and crew by my side for several years now,” the singer explains. “…It’s important for me to continue to support my road family — just like they’ve always supported me.”

The singer also hints that fans who tune into his livestream might just be able to get a first taste of something new.

“I couldn’t think of a better way to [support my band and crew] than to put on some shows live from home and to maybe even share some new music while we’re at it!” Chase says.

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HLjg0Bw-Ado&w=640&h=360]

By Carena Liptak
Copyright © 2020, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

Thomas Rhett reaches back for childhood memories in “What’s Your Country Song” video

• No Comments • Country Music News

Courtesy of The Valory Music Co.In his new single, “What’s Your Country Song,” Thomas Rhett evokes cherished memories of growing up in a small town. Now, the singer’s giving his heartstrings-tugging “small town anthem” a visual treatment to match.

The clip is all about family and growing up in the countryside, complete with images of corn fields, picnics, high school football games and more.

“The lyrics of this song stir up so many vivid memories for me; I think everyone has that one song that takes them back to a specific moment in time,” Thomas points out. “I wanted the music video to visually capture that same thing and instantly transport anyone watching back to that familiar feeling or place in their mind.”

“What’s Your Country Song,” which came out earlier this month, is the first preview into the singer’s as-yet unannounced fifth studio album.

Thomas says he wrote the song while on the road last year in Dallas, alongside a number of his frequent collaborators — including his dad, in-demand songwriter and ‘90s star Rhett Akins.

The new music video comes out on the heels of a big week for Thomas. Not only was the singer nominated at this year’s CMA Awards, but he and his wife, Lauren Akins, announced on Wednesday that they’re hosting this year’s CMA Country Christmas special.

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eBzduwzZH-w&w=640&h=360]

By Carena Liptak
Copyright © 2020, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

Kiss my Plexiglas: How are producers safely shooting smooches during the pandemic

• No Comments • Entertainment News

iStock/doble-d(LOS ANGELES) — A kiss can’t be just a kiss during the COVID-19 pandemic — such is the reality movie and TV producers are facing in shooting smooching scenes. 

No soap opera would be complete without steamy scenes, but having to abide by coronavirus protocols to keep their cast safe led CBS’ The Bold and the Beautiful to think out of the box — literally, in some cases.

In some cases: the show has turned to what producers told Inside Edition were “mannequins” — but one shown standing in for a patient in a hospital bed looked more like a realistic-looking silicone-skinned sex doll. 

B&B‘s producers have also hired living stunt smoochers: the real-life spouses of the show’s stars. Recently, Denise Richards’ husband Aaron acted as a designated kisser for one scene with her. And when the script called for Lawrence Saint-Victor to kiss his co-star Kiara Barnes, his wife Shay acted as his “intimacy double.” She donned a wig and was shot from the back of her head to sell the illusion.

“The kiss was easy,” Saint-Victor joked to the entertainment news program. “Everything before the kiss was difficult.”

Meanwhile, Lifetime has come up with a transparent solution to the kissing question: Plexiglas. 

For a key kiss between stars Ali Stroker and Daniel di Tomasso in the upcoming holiday film Christmas Ever After, Lifetime producers showed The Wrap that a piece of the plastic was wedged between the couple while they snogged, insisting it won’t be visible to audiences when the movie debuts December 6.

By Stephen Iervolino
Copyright © 2020, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

Ellen Pompeo says shocking 'Grey's Anatomy' premiere surprise was a "no brainer"

• No Comments • Entertainment News

ABC/Mike Rosenthal(LOS ANGELES) — (NOTE: SPOILERS FOR “GREY’S ANATOMY” SEASON PREMIERE) Grey’s Anatomy fans got more than they could have ever expected in the season 17 premiere: a MerDer reunion.

At the end of the two-part premiere — a crossover event with spin-off Station 19 — producer and star Ellen Pompeo’s Meredith Grey came face-to-face with her late husband, Derek Shepherd, played by Patrick Dempsey, on a picturesque beach. Too scene took place after Meredith was found on the ground in the Grey Sloan parking lot.

The jaw-dropping, top secret moment, according to Pompeo, was a “no-brainer” because he was “one of the most important people in Meredith’s life.”

“What could we give our audience that would make every single audience member just so incredibly happy?” she told ABC’s Good Morning America on Friday. “And that, clearly, was bringing Patrick Dempsey back on the show.”

Pompeo said she reached out to Dempsey, whose character died at the end of season 11, to discuss the return of his beloved “McDreamy” character. He agreed, she said, when they realized they had “the opportunity to bring a smile to people’s faces during 2020.”

As an homage to all the health care heroes fighting on the front lines against COVID-19, this season of Grey’s Anatomy has been dedicated to them.

One scene from the season 17 premiere even showed Pompeo’s character emotionally breaking down.

“My job is to portray the human side of these doctors,” she explained. “Can you imagine going to work every day and having to walk straight into a contaminated COVID ward? I mean, most people wouldn’t do it.”

Filming this season meant Pompeo and her co-stars have had to undergo various protocols to keep everyone safe, like testing and keeping their distance. 

“We [normally] …play music, we dance, we play jokes on each other,” she recalled of the pre-COVID days. “And all of that is kind of gone now.”

By Carson Blackwelder and Dominick Proto
Copyright © 2020, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

Lee Brice digs into his gospel roots for a holiday rendition of “Go Tell It on the Mountain

• No Comments • Country Music News

Curb RecordsAs the holiday season nears, Lee Brice has offered up his version of a cherished Christmas classic.

That’s “Go Tell it on the Mountain,” in a rendition inspired by the gospel music Lee grew up singing in church. Along with his soaring rendition of the song, Lee shared a video giving fans a peek into the recording process.

“I have been wanting to do my own version of one of my favorite Christmas songs!” Lee gushes. “So excited to have been able to do it over this time at home. Hope folks love it as much as I do.”

The festive new tune comes out just a week before the release of Lee’s new studio album, Hey World, which will arrive on November 20. The same day, you can tune in to watch a 75-minute-long, livestream release party for the album, during which the singer will perform new songs and a few old favorites.

It’s been an exciting week for Lee, who claimed his first-ever trophy at Wednesday night’s 2020 CMA Awards in the category of Musical Event of the Year. The new accolade comes courtesy of “I Hope You’re Happy Now,” a duet with Carly Pearce that she released as a single in late 2019. The song will also appear on the track list of Hey World.

Lee was supposed to perform the song with Carly at the 2020 CMAs, but had to sit the awards show out after testing positive for COVID-19. Despite the disappointment, he kept his spirits up by poking fun at his own predicament on Instagram.

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ifWf86hMrsA&w=640&h=360]

By Carena Liptak
Copyright © 2020, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.