March 31, 2021 • No Comments • Country Music News

Ben ChristensenBrian Kelley, one half of superstar duo Florida Georgia Line, is carving out his own lane for his upcoming solo musical endeavors.

In partnership with Warner Music Nashville, the singer has formed a new label, Nashville South Records. Billboard reports that the label will be a home to Brian’s solo music, including a full album that he expects to release later this year.

“This is just the beginning of a whole new adventure,” says Brian. “My vision for what’s next is a vibe and state of mind — get ready to ride the wave with ya Beach Cowboy, y’all!”

Though Brian’s soon-to-come work as a solo artist might have a brand-new flavor, it doesn’t mean he’s stepping away from his work with his band mate Tyler Hubbard. Under the FGL moniker, they dropped their fifth studio album, Life Rolls On, last month.

But the duo has also let fans know that they plan to pursue some musical avenues separately this year, outside of the band. Tyler has been collaborating with some other artists, including Tim McGraw and, most recently, breakout TikTok star Lathan Warlick.

Earlier this week, Brian posted a social media teaser for his upcoming solo material, once again highlighting his new, beach-tinged brand of country music.

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

March 31, 2021 • No Comments • Country Music News

ABC/Brian Bowen SmithLuke Bryan hooked a little more than he was bargaining for on a recent fishing trip.

On Tuesday, the country star revealed that he accidentally hooked his own thumb with a fishing hook. In a graphic clip shared to Instagram, which he captioned, “Dammit,” he shows off the injury and viewers can see the shark hook poking through his thumb, as well as a blood stain on his hand. 

“Well, this is gonna leave a mark,” Luke can be heard saying in the background. “Pretty sure that’s in my bone.”

The “Huntin’, Fishin’ and Lovin’ Every Day,” singer wasn’t down for the count for long though. He shared an update to his Instagram Stories of himself in a vehicle with his guitar tech, Russ — presumably on the way to seek medical attention. 

“My guitar tech, I invited Russ on a fishing trip and leave it to me, I ruined the fishing trip,” he shared. “But we’ll be back on the water in about 25 minutes.” 

The next slide showed Luke laying down in a building holding a woman’s hand as he joked that he was probably “violating HIPPA somehow.” Then, two hours after that, he posted a video of him back on the water.

“Got the hook out,” he said while giving a thumbs up. “We’re back.”

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

March 31, 2021 • No Comments • Country Music News

Riker BrothersThis week, Brett Young continues his impressive streak of back-to-back number ones with his seventh single, “Lady.”

What’s even sweeter is that the song — inspired by his wife Taylor and his one-year-old daughter Presley — has made a big impression on the youngest member of the family. 

“She loves, loves, loves, loves music,” Brett explains. “And it’s very clear to us that she recognizes my voice specifically, because she loves all music, but when one of my songs comes on, she stops dead.”

Brett discovered that seems to be particularly true of “Lady” one day when he played the music video for the toddler.

“The reason I put it on is because she was fussy and it wasn’t her nap time yet, so we couldn’t put her down,” he recalls. “So I just tried it, and she just went silent and just stared at the screen the whole time.”

Now, Brett’s entertaining the possibility Presley may be musical, just like her dad.

“We have this little this pink piano in her room, and she pulls herself up and she plays the piano,” he says. “Obviously, it’s nothing you want to listen to, but I think we’re excited to get a piano in the house and get her lessons once she’s old enough.”

“And I’ll never force anything on her,” he vows. “But it seems like something she’s gravitating towards naturally. So we’re excited about that.”

Brett and Taylor recently revealed Presley will soon be a big sister, as they’re expecting another little girl sometime this summer. 

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

March 30, 2021 • No Comments • Country Music News

ABCMaren Morris is in her happy place as she preps her upcoming album. 

The cross-genre star turned to TikTok on Tuesday to reveal that she’s halfway through making her third studio album in what appears to be a beach setting.

Maren shared a video of a gray ocean set against a mountain backdrop, with whale tails visible in the distance rising from the water, alongside clips of herself giving the peace sign to the camera while in the recording booth and venturing on a sunset ride with husband Ryan Hurd. 

“Album 3 has been fun. Probably the happiest thing I’ve ever made,” she says, captioning the video, “the only upside to not touring: I make more songs.” 

Maren’s forthcoming project follows the success of 2019’s GIRL, which spawned a pair of #1 hits with the title track and Grammy nominated “The Bones.” The latter spent multiple weeks at the top of the Billboard Country Airplay chart and crossed over to Billboard Adult Contemporary and Adult Top 40 charts.

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

March 30, 2021 • No Comments • Country Music News

ABCLuke Combs is on a writing streak, sharing a brand-new song, “We Still Drink Beer.” 

On Monday, Luke turned to Twitter to share that he and friends Dan and Reid Isbell were in the middle of a songwriting session when he came across a tweet from a fan named Billy McKee, who tagged him and Miller Lite in a photo from his wedding last weekend that shows his groomsmen chugging cans of the beer while he wears the box over his head. 

“If you guys don’t reply back to this photo I don’t know even know what to say!!” Billy challenged. “Hell yeah! My kinda folk. Congrats and drink another one for me,” Luke replied.

But he took it one step further, writing a brand-new song called “We Still Drink Beer” inspired by the photo.  

“I know I got a lot of beer songs, but here’s another one,” Luke said about the rugged acoustic number, which boasts imaginative lyrics that send them to the moon with a cooler full of cold ones, singing, “one small sip for man, cold cans for all mankind.” 

“We still drink beer/We still get loud/We still turn ’em up/Catch us a buzz while the sun goes down,” they chant. 

This is the second new track Luke has debuted in the past week on social media, following “See Me Now.”

One small sip for man, cold cans for all mankind. "We Still Drink Beer." @MillerLite @bmckee41 pic.twitter.com/Y1XGwe3P41

— Luke Combs 🎤 (@lukecombs) March 29, 2021

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