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Cheers! Thomas Rhett announces new tequila brand

• No Comments • Country Music News

ABCThomas Rhett is venturing into the world of libations. 

Thomas is teaming up with his cousin, Jeff Worn, to create a new brand of tequila, Dos Primos, which translates to “two cousins” in Spanish. 

The blanco tequila is harvested from Blue Agave sourced from Jalisco, Mexico and Los Altos, California, with the flavor described as a blend of herbal, floral and citrus, according to publicity materials.

Thomas and Jeff aren’t the only familial bond embedded in the product. Dos Primos is distilled at Destiladora González Lux near Arandas, Mexico by third generation master distiller Rodolfo González, a skill handed down to him from his father and grandfather. 

“Our decision to create a new tequila brand grew out of just loving being with family. Jeff and I wanted to create a tequila that was expertly crafted and could be enjoyed year-round — regardless of the season or activity — with the people we care about most,” Thomas explains, adding in a tweet that the project is three years in the making. “Dos Primos is all about who we are and what’s important to us,” he adds. 

Dos Primos is currently available at retailers in 35 states and will be nationwide soon.

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

Lee Brice, Cole Swindell & more to perform at Diamond Resorts Tournament of Champions

• No Comments • Country Music News

Ryan SmithLee Brice, Cole Swindell and Toby Keith are among the performers at the upcoming Diamond Resorts Tournament of Champions. 

Taking place January 21-24 at the Four Seasons Resort in Orlando, Florida, six country acts are lending their voices to the event that sees professional female golfers playing with other athletes and celebrities. 

Lee and a newly appointed Diamond Celebrity ambassador Travis Tritt will kick off the tournament with a performance on January 19, followed by Cole, Randy Houser and former professional golfer turned country singer Colt Ford, who will light up the stage on January 21. 

Toby will close out the tournament with a performance on January 23,  where he’ll be joined by Colt.

In light of the COVID-19 pandemic, the private live shows will adhere to local health guidelines. The artists will perform in an open-air tent at Diamond’s Mystic Dunes Resort & Golf Club for limited capacity, socially distanced audiences. Other safety measures include a mandatory mask policy and temperature checks.    

The Diamond Resorts Tournament of Champions marks the launch of the LGPA Tour season.

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

Jennifer Wayne and Austin Moody tie the knot

• No Comments • Country Music News

Ford FairchildRunaway June‘s Jennifer Wayne and Austin Moody are married. 

Almost two weeks after getting engaged at Ocean Way Studios in Nashville, the couple tied the knot in an intimate ceremony in Santa Rosa Beach in Florida on Saturday, People confirms. 

In light of the COVID-19 pandemic, the couple kept the guest list small, inviting fewer than 20 close family and friends, requesting that guests get tested before attending the ceremony, and choosing to having it outside to allow for social distancing. 

The couple opted for a cowboy- and cowgirl-themed wedding, with guests dressed in hats and boots on the beach. Jennifer walked down the aisle in a custom Minor dress and wore her grandmother’s engagement ring, given to her by her grandfather, the late movie icon John Wayne. After the ceremony, they sailed away on a boat. 

The couple will host a celebration with their friends in Nashville when it’s safe to do so, and plan to honeymoon in Aspen, Colorado. “We are both so excited to start a life and family together,” Jennifer says.

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

Kelsea Ballerini finds a "hole in the bottle" — and it's leaking hits

• No Comments • Country Music News

ABC Kelsea Ballerini‘s latest top-ten hit, “hole in the bottle,” is a bit of a self-fulfilling prophecy, since it came to life as a happy accident during a night of drinking. 

At the time, Kelsea believed she’d finished crafting songs for her third album, kelsea.

“We were in Florida writing,” Kelsea recalls, “and we went out to dinner to celebrate having a wonderful, productive trip, writing so many songs. [We] had a bunch of wine at dinner, and got back to the house. And [songwriter] Jesse Frasure was playing us some more tracks that he was excited about. And it was Ashley Gorley, Steph Jones, myself, Hillary Lindsey and Jesse.”

“We have a glass of wine,” Kelsea continues, “and we have the doors open, and the beach air is coming in, and we’re just high on life. And he’s playing this track. And Hillary just goes, ‘There’s a hole in the bottle,’ like joking.”

Pretty quickly, they realized they might be onto something.

“We all just start adding lines, just completely joking, having wine, enjoying life, joking about writing the song,” Kelsea continues. “And then at the end of it, we kind of looked at each other and we’re like, ‘Wait, is this really hooky?'”

“And the next morning, we all woke up and again had our coffee, and we’re listening to it,” she remembers. “We’re just like, ‘Wait, even though this is like kind of funny, it’s kind of really, really hooky. Maybe we should rewrite a couple of bits and tighten it up.’ And we did.”

“And it’s one of my favorites on the album. I can’t wait to do this on tour,” says Kelsea.

You can also check out a new version of “hole in the bottle” that adds vocals from Kelsea’s hero, Shania Twain.

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

Canaan Smith “slept outside in my hammock” to make his outdoorsy new “Cabin in the Woods” video

• No Comments • Country Music News

Kurt OzanIf you’ve been following Canaan Smith’s career in recent months, it’ll come as no surprise that the music video for his new song, “Cabin in the Woods,” is another venture into the great outdoors.

The video was shot in rural McEwen, Tennessee, and Canaan says, “The whole filming process was a blast. I feel most at home when I’m out in the middle of nowhere, just enjoying nature — and that’s exactly what we did.”

In fact, he reveals to CMT, which exclusively premiered the clip, that he kept the outdoorsy vibes going even when the cameras weren’t rolling.

“The whole experience felt like I was out doing what I would normally do, and the video was just part of it,” he explains. “I actually slept outside in my hammock that night so I could wake up early and have breakfast by the fire.”

For the first time, Canaan also took on a directorial role alongside Kurt Ozan.

“Since this was my first time co-directing, it was that much more exciting for me. I hope fans enjoy watching it as much as we enjoyed making it,” he says.

Canaan also co-produced the track alongside Florida Georgia Line’s Tyler Hubbard and Brian Kelley.

 

 

By Carena Liptak
Copyright © 2021, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.