August 28, 2020 • No Comments • Country Music News

Big Loud RecordsYou can’t always judge a book by his cover — but you can certainly judge a country boy by his set of wheels. That’s the premise behind Hardy’s new song, “Truck,” an ode to all the things you can glean about someone by just looking at their vehicle.

The singer wrote the song with Hunter Phelps and Ben Johnson, and he says that from the start, they wanted to write a classic country ode to trucks, but with an extra twist.

“We wanted to do it differently than it’s been done before and write the song about the character of the truck, things that you can know just by looking,” Hardy explains.

“In the wintertime, if you live in a rural area and you’re riding around roads, you’re eventually going to see a buck in the back of somebody’s truck, and you know that guy’s a deer hunter and he is jacked that he just got a buck — you automatically know a little bit about that guy,” he goes on to say.

“Truck” comes off of Hardy’s forthcoming debut album, A Rock, which is due out this September.

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

August 28, 2020 • No Comments • Country Music News

Courtesy of Tanya TuckerEarlier this summer, Tanya Tucker shared the sad news that she would be postponing her headlining CMT Next Women of Country: Bring My Flowers Now Tour as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

However, she promised fans that she would “throw one heck of a party,” once it was safe to do so, and in 2021, Tanya’s prepared to make good on that promise. The singer just announced next year’s extensive slate of dates, some of which feature Brandi Carlile.

Despite a few venue changes, date swaps and additions, Tanya will plan to hit nearly all of the original planned stops. The tour kicks off next July and will run through November. Visit her website to check specific dates and details.

In addition to Tanya’s headlining performance, the CMT Next Women of Country tour originally featured a talented roster of opening support including Brandy Clark, Hailey Whitters, Aubrie Sellers, Erin Enderlin and more. It’s unclear if those artists will join Tanya on the road in 2021, and which shows will include which artists.

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

August 28, 2020 • No Comments • Country Music News

Jeremy Cowart/Shauna Dodds & Sarah Dodds/Backstage Design StudioGranger Smith boils life down to its essentials on “Country Things,” the just-released title track of a new double album he’s got in the works. The first half of that project, Country Things Vol. 1, will be out on September 25.

In the eight-song first chapter, Granger offers a look into his family life today. It’s been a difficult time period for Granger and his wife, Amber: Just a little over a year ago, they lost their 2-year-old son, River, in a tragic accidental drowning.

Since then, Granger, Amber and their two other children have had to navigate the grieving process and re-learn their family dynamic. Of course, Granger says, music has been a huge part of that experience, and the songs on this album will focus on the ways in which this difficult time has shed new light on the importance of gratitude.

“This collection focuses on the things that money and politics and status can’t buy,” he explains. “The things that you can center on and I want to live my life for. The things you want to raise your kids with and find joy in. The country things.”

On a lighter note, Country Things Vol. 1 will also feature a guest appearance from Granger’s colorful, oddball alter-ego, Earl Dribbles Jr.

In addition to the title track, Granger is previewing his album with another new track, “Hate You Like I Love You.” The project also features the previously-shared “That’s Why I Love Dirt Roads.”

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