January 14, 2021 • No Comments • Country Music News

Eric Ryan Anderson

In Jordan Davis‘ current top-25 hit, the Louisiana native considers the “Almost Maybes” that paved the way to finding true love. 

So exactly how many “Almost Maybes” did the “Singles You Up” hitmaker have?

“I go to, like, three serious ones,” Jordan tells ABC Audio.  “Three ones that were, like, legit, you know, like, when it ended, it was kind of tough.”

“I was like, ‘Man, that wasn’t any fun,’ you know?” he adds. “But yeah, I would say three, like, serious girlfriends before I met Kristen.”

Jordan and Kristen tied the knot in 2017, after he and his brother Jacob both graduated with degrees in environmental science from LSU. 

With two good-looking aspiring musicians in the Davis household, Jordan admits there was rarely a shortage of female attention.

“Yeah, me and Jacob, we definitely had our fair share of girlfriends, both in high school, and in school in Baton Rouge,” Jordan laughs. “But yeah, we had to go through some breakups and heartbreaks, but we found the right ones for us.”

“And now we’ve got four little Davis girls between the two of us now,” he smiles.  

Jordan’s daughter, Eloise, celebrated her first birthday this past November. His brother Jacob also co-wrote his second of three number ones so far, “Take It from Me.”

By Stephen Hubbard
Copyright © 2021, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

January 13, 2021 • No Comments • Country Music News

Tristan CusickMitchell Tenpenny traverses the Arizona terrain in the video for “Bucket List.” 

The free-spirited clip sees the Nashville native overlooking the Grand Canyon, riding horses and four-wheeling in the desert. He then coasts along scenic Lake Powell and sings off all the goals he’s committing to including loving more, dreaming deeper and finding peace during his time on earth, with stunning Monument Valley off in the distance. 

“Bucket List” is inspired by Mitchell’s late father’s advice about living life to the fullest.

“That’s what my dad always taught me and my brother growing up, that life is short, so you just always have to go for it,” the singer tells People. “I have noticed that when someone gives you that courage to go for it, that’s when you have the best chance of success.” 

By Cillea Houghton
Copyright © 2021, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

January 13, 2021 • No Comments • Country Music News

ABCCarrie Underwood is making a generous donation to a young fan who stepped up to help a local children’s hospital during the COVID-19 pandemic. 

When Hayley Orlinsky, a seven-year-old from Chicago, heard that the children’s hospital where she was hospitalized as an infant was running out of PPE at the start of the pandemic last March, she felt compelled to help by making friendship bracelets to sell and raise money for the hospital.

Her initial goal was $200, but she has since raised more than $27,000 in 10 months, her mother Lori calling her efforts “the ultimate act of kindness.” 

Carrie agrees, and surprised the mother-daughter duo via Zoom while appearing on The Drew Barrymore Show this week.

“You’re a perfect example, it doesn’t matter how old you are or where you are, whatever it is that you’re into, you took your love of making bracelets and you used it to make the world a better place,” the superstar gushed, applauding her young fan who was moved to tears. 

After host Drew Barrymore revealed she was donating $5,000 to Hayley’s effort, Carrie announced that she and Bodyarmor, the sports drink company she’s recently partnered with, are making a matching donation, bringing the total to $10,000. 

“That’s going to help the hospital and going to help with vaccinations. We are so thankful,” Lori replied. 

By Cillea Houghton
Copyright © 2021, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

January 13, 2021 • No Comments • Country Music News

J. Kempin/FilmMagicGarth Brooks, Brad Paisley and members of Runaway June and Old Dominion are all part of the Circle Network’s programming this month. 

The country music-themed network will air the IMBA Bluegrass Awards to celebrate 75 years of the genre that features guest appearances by Garth, Vince Gill, Emmylou Harris and more, airing on January 18 at 8 p.m. ET. 

Brad will sit down for an episode of the new series Opry Rewind that finds him looking back on memorable performances and moments on the Grand Ole Opry stage. Montgomery Gentry and Jana Kramer are among the other artists appearing on the show, which runs through February 11. 

My Opry Debut will also return, focusing on an array of artists ranging from actors Dennis Quaid and Chrissy Metz to country newcomers Niko Moon and Madison Kozack, while Runaway June’s Natalie Stovall resumes hosting duties while exploring the South on Southern Weekend. 

Other programming includes Phil Vassar‘s Songs from the Cellar series, where he chats with the likes of Old Dominion‘s Matt Ramsey, Lonestar and Tracy Lawrence, all from from his wine cellar.

By Cillea Houghton
Copyright © 2021, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

January 13, 2021 • No Comments • Country Music News

Arista RecordsMaren Morris and JP Saxe‘s love is infinite in their new song, “Line by Line.”  

The collaboration between the country star and Canadian pop singer serves as a smooth, modern love song wherein the two trade smoky harmonies. Maren flexes her pop vocals more than ever before as she and JP try to find the right words to describe the people they love.

The singers admit that the bond they share with their partners is so grand it can’t be compressed into a love song that’s four chords and three minutes. “So I just take you line by line/I’ll be writing about you for the rest of my life,” they sing.

The video finds the pair meeting in various natural landscapes, ranging from a botanical-filled room to sitting in a jeep watching a meteor shower, with Maren catching a star in her hand that opens up to the galaxy. 

“With JP & I both in relationships with other songwriters, you can imagine how no emotional stone is ever left unturned with our partners. That is gloriously frustrating & inspiring,” Maren explains of the song’s inspiration in an Instagram post, with a nod to her husband and fellow songwriter, Ryan Hurd. “To our muses: We’ll be writing about you for the rest of our lives.” 

“Line by Line” arrives as Maren is working on a new album. It follows her multi-week, cross-genre number one, “The Bones.” She also had a massive pop hit on her hands with Zedd and Grey with the 2018 smash, “The Middle.”

By Cillea Houghton
Copyright © 2021, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.