April 1, 2021 • No Comments • Country Music News

Legay RecordingsLoretta Lynn’s Still Woman Enough debuts in the number-nine spot on Billboard’s Top Country Albums chart, according to the ranking dated April 3.

That marks the 88-year-old country legend’s 42nd top-10 entry on the chart. That feat’s been bested only by Willie Nelson, who has 53 top-10 albums under his belt, and Dolly Parton, who has 46. Still Woman Enough is Loretta’s 46th solo studio album overall.

“I just can’t ever say how much I love my fans. They’ve been there with me all the way,” the singer wrote on her Facebook page. “Kicking off a seventh decade in country music with a Billboard Top Ten album sure has a way of making a girl happy. Love y’all.”

The 13-track Still Woman Enough offers new recordings of some of Loretta’s best-loved hits, including a few duet renditions with some of today’s most prominent women in country music. Margo Price and Tanya Tucker each feature on a song, while both Reba McEntire and Carrie Underwood lend their voices to the title track.

Still Woman Enough arrived on March 19.

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

April 1, 2021 • No Comments • Country Music News

Carmen Mandato/Getty ImagesThis week, Blake Shelton launched a four-flavor selection of Smithworks Hard Seltzer Lemonade, with Classic Lemon, Ripe Strawberry, Crisp Lime and Southern Peach Tea.

That move may seem like a left turn for the star, who has long named vodka as his drink of choice, but he says he’s developed a taste for the fizzy stuff as it’s risen in popularity over the last year.

“I started tasting [different hard seltzers] and getting into it, and we finally decided we should do this,” Blake tells USA Today. “This is something people are doing out on the lake, they’re having this kind of a summertime drink, and that’s what I’m all about.”

The singer knows some members of his country-leaning target demographic might be hesitant to trade in their beer for a seltzer, but he’s hoping to country up his new beverage with a sweet, Southern, lemonade twist. 

“I want Smithworks to be associated with country lifestyle and country living,” he adds. “I know I’m not going to be able to steer the hard seltzer world to the country lifestyle, but maybe we can steer the Smithworks version of it that way.”

Great minds think alike, apparently: Blake’s fellow country superstar Luke Bryan also released his own line of Two Lane hard seltzers last month.

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

April 1, 2021 • No Comments • Country Music News

Jason Kempin/Getty ImagesLast month, Kip Moore celebrated the release of his Wild World Deluxe project with a show at Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium. The event had limited in-person attendance, and fans could also purchase virtual tickets to the livestream.

Now, the singer’s offering up one of his favorite memories from that night: Kip shared the performance video from the show for his “Janie Blue,” one of the songs on the album’s track list. That song was extra special, because at the show, he performed as a duet with guest performer Ashley McBryde.

“I’ve loved everything about Ashley from the first time we met years ago,” Kip explained when he put out the video. “We’ve always talked about doing something together and I had a blast finally getting to share the stage with her.”

The special moment was filmed on February 12, the same day Wild World Deluxe came out.

Since the album’s release and live show, Kip has hinted that he’s working on his next venture, though he’s not spilling many details on what that might be.

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

April 1, 2021 • No Comments • Country Music News

ABCDarius Rucker, Ashley McBryde and Eric Church will appear in a new PSA spot encouraging country fans to learn more about the COVID-19 vaccine, Billboard reports.

The PSA is a partnership between the Ad Council and ACM Lifting Lives, which is the Academy of Country Music’s philanthropic branch. The clip will debut during the 2021 ACM Awards, which takes place next month, and run throughout the summer.

The country music-focused clip will emphasize the ways in which the COVID-19 vaccine can further the return of live music. Eric has been especially vocal about his confidence in the shot, even posing for his dose of the vaccine on the cover of the latest Billboard issue.

“I view it as a God-sent miracle,” he says of the vaccine. “It became very clear to me that the only way to really get back to normal is through vaccinations. You’ve got to get needles in arms.”

Darius, Eric and Ashley aren’t the first three country stars to contribute to an Ad Council PSA regarding the COVID-19 vaccine. Willie Nelson recently lent a new recording of his “I’ll Be Seeing You” to soundtrack a sports-focused spot organized by the Ad Council and COVID Collaborative.

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

April 1, 2021 • No Comments • Country Music News

Legacy RecordingsThe four-part reissue of Johnny Cash’s Forever Words album concludes on Friday, with the release of the fourth and final digital installment of a project that’s been slowly rolling out since last October.

Forever Words originally came out in 2018, as a collaborative album that featured the legendary singer’s poetry and lyrics set to music for the first time. Acts like Kris Kristofferson, Kacey Musgraves and Elvis Costello signed on to record the songs.

The 16 original tracks are included on the new, expanded version, but Forever Words more than doubles that with its 2020-2021 release, adding 18 new songs to the deluxe version.  The final five of those new tracks will be revealed on Friday, and performing them are a few of the biggest names from today’s mainstream country.

Brad Paisley joins forces with Brooks & Dunn’s Ronnie Dunn for “Outta Site Tonite,” while Runaway June lends their signature three-part harmonies to “My Song.” Self-described “dirt emo” Americana star Ruston Kelly offers “Dark and Bloody Ground,” Aaron Lewis lends his gritty vocals to “The Third Degree” and Bill Miller, one of the pinnacle acts of the Native American singer-songwriter community, contributes “Tecemseh.”

Much of the new material was recorded at The Cash Cabin Studio in Hendersonville, Tennessee. John Carter Cash, the only child of Johnny and June Carter, produced the album.

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