January 12, 2021 • No Comments • Country Music News

John Shearer Florida Georgia Line‘s Tyler Hubbard is letting fans know once and for all that he and Brian Kelley are not going their separate ways.

Speaking to Entertainment Tonight about the group’s rumored breakup, Hubbard, explained why the duo is currently pursuing solo projects.

“We’ve stayed in really good communication about it and we both feel a lot of freedom, a lot of creative juices flowing, a lot of inspiration, and so it’s fun,” the 33-year-old Grammy nominee maintained. “We’ve always been a package deal.”

Hubbard, who recently teamed with Tim McGraw for the song “Undivided” that comes out on Wednesday, said he and Kelley are having a lot of fun experimenting with their individuality. 

“We’ve always done every single thing together,” Hubbard furthered. “So it really does feel good to say, ‘BK, go make your solo project and go have fun with it, and I’ll go write songs and see what collaborations happen and we’ll just just have our own voice and make our own mark for a little while.'”

The “Cruise” singer added that Florida Georgia Line is still a priority, as the two have a new album — Life Rolls On — coming out in February.  On top of that, he and Kelley are planning to resume their Chillaxification 2020 Tour with Kenny Chesney, which was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The tour is slated to resume in Tampa, Florida on May 1 of this year.

“We’re still gonna be doing a lot together and playing for the fans and singing the hits, but it’s been fun to venture out and have a little bit of individuality as we go,” assured Hubbard.

As previously reported, Kelley is working on a solo album that he plans to release this summer.

By Megan Duley
Copyright © 2021, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

January 12, 2021 • No Comments • Country Music News

ABCAs Carly Pearce‘s star power rises, she hopes to follow in the footsteps of two icons that came before her. 

After recently serving as host at the Grand Ole Opry, Carly says she’d like to continue with such ventures, looking to Dolly Parton and Reba McEntire, both of whom are multi CMA and ACM Awards hosts, for inspiration.

“I look at the two ladies to me that are just really showing me what I want to do, as far as being someone in the industry, is Dolly and Reba, and they do it best,” says Carly. 

Carly adds hat hosting the Opry was the ideal way to get her feet wet when it comes to hosting, and hopes to engage in similar opportunities in the future. 

“I would love to start to kinda tap into that,” she declares. “I didn’t throw up, pass out or die on stage at the Opry, so I feel like that was a good starter for me.”

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

January 11, 2021 • No Comments • Country Music News

ABCMaren Morris has new music on the way. 

“The Bones” hitmaker announced on Monday that she’s dropping a new song Wednesday called “Line by Line.” The new track is a collaboration with Canadian singer JP Saxe, who rose to fame in 2019 with the Grammy-nominated song “If the World Was Ending,” featuring Julia Michaels.

Maren made the announcement by sharing the cover art for the song, which shows the singers poised amid a backdrop of botanicals, with JP calling Maren “exceptionally incredible” in his Twitter post.  

“Line by Line” follows the release of Maren’s protest song “Better Than We Found It.” She’s also working on a new album, the follow-up to 2019’s Girl.

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

January 11, 2021 • No Comments • Country Music News

ABCCarrie Underwood is expanding her fitness empire.

Carrie has inked a new deal with Bodyarmor sports drinks as the company’s latest endorser. “Hydration is one of the most important things in all that I do. That’s why I’m partnering with @DrinkBODYARMOR LYTE!” Carrie reveals on social media.

Additionally, the powerhouse singer stars in a new advertisement for the drink line alongside Houston Rockets player James Harden. After finishing a round of pull-ups, Carrie takes a swig of Bodyarmor Peach Mango as James asks, “calling it a day, Carrie?” “Oh no, there’s more,” she answers, leading into a series of shots of her on the elliptical, cleaning up her children’s toys around the house and signing copies of her book, Find Your Path.

“More hustle, more grind,” Carrie says, stepping up to the mic with her hair blowing in the wind. The ad concludes with Carrie back in the gym doing sit-ups. “And I should wrap by midnight,” she says, prompting James to reply, “Impressive.”

The ad will make its TV debut tonight during The Bachelor, airing on ABC at 8 p.m. ET. 

According to the official Bodyarmor website, Carrie’s favorite flavors are Strawberry Lemonade and Tropical Coconut.

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

January 11, 2021 • No Comments • Country Music News

ABCLuke Combs is opening up about his history with anxiety. In an interview with Dan Rather, he reveals that he experienced anxiety from middle school through the end of college.

Luke says he has Purely Obsessional OCD, what he calls “a unique form of [obsessive compulsive disorder].” While he largely has it under control, Luke admits he still has moments “here and there.” 

“It’s something that I’ve learned about and it’s something that I’ve been able to get ahold of, so it’s been great to felt free from those things for a long time now,” he says.

The singer states that Purely Obsessional OCD occurs in the form of obsessive thinking about specific issues.  For him, those issues include his health, such as constantly worrying that he’s going to have a stroke or heart attack.   

“It becomes this very obsessive thing that you literally can never have an answer to, and so that’s kind of the awful part of it that you…have to teach yourself to becoming comfortable with the fact that you’ll never get an answer, and that it is a super uncertain thing,” he explains of the bouts of anxiety that “comes in waves.”

“That’s particularly what I have struggled with. Sometimes that’s tough, but it’s something that you learn about yourself and arming yourself with the knowledge of exactly what’s going on is the most important thing I’ve found,” he adds.   

Luke is one of the 40 million Americans who live with an anxiety disorder, according to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America. 

Luke’s full interview on The Big Interview with Dan Rather airs on January 13 at 8 p.m. ET on AXS TV.

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