December 14, 2020 • No Comments • Country Music News

Riker BrothersIt’s sure to be a special Christmas at Brett Young‘s house this year, as his daughter Presley experiences lots of holiday traditions for the first time. 

Even though she was here last year, the proud father says she was really too little to enjoy it.

“We tried to make it a bigger thing than it was possible to be,” Brett reflects. “She was… two months exactly…”

“I’ve already gotten to the age now where I still love Christmas, but it’s not even about presents anymore,” he continues. “I think most people reach that age in their late teens, early twenties. So I’ve been in that stage for a long time. But to have her there, it’s like we’re buying her presents that she doesn’t know she’s getting.”

“So it’s interesting,” Brett laughs. “We tried to force it on her and she was like, ‘Yeah, whatever, just feed me.'”

One yuletide treat Presley will likely enjoy in the years to come is an eventual holiday album by her dad. 

“This would have been the perfect year to record a Christmas record because we were all home,” Brett admits. “But I just realized that too late, and I missed my window…”

“I love Christmas music. I’ve been talking a lot about doing it — more than just one song, whether it’s an EP or a full-length. And what we could do to make it a little bit different,” he explains, “because I don’t want to write Christmas songs. I would love to do the classics, but in a different vibe or style.”

“It’ll happen at some point, maybe next year,” he adds. “As soon as it works, it’s happening.”

Brett did find time to record his version of “Silver Bells” for 2020, which joins his rendition of “O Holy Night” from 2017.

By Stephen Hubbard
Copyright © 2020, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

December 12, 2020 • No Comments • Country Music News

ABCJust weeks after receiving a CMA Lifetime Achievement Award, country music legend Charley Pride has died in Dallas, TX at the age of 86. The cause of death was complications from COVID-19.

Pride was presented with the Lifetime Achievement Award at the CMAs last month by Jimmie Allen, who’d included the groundbreaking star on a song on his recent EP, Bettie James.  That appearance also included a performance of his signature hit “Kiss An Angel Good Morning,” which he sang with Jimmie.

The son of a sharecropper, Pride was born in Sledge, Mississippi and rose to become country music’s first Black superstar and the first Black member of the Country Music Hall of Fame.  A former pro ball player, he played for several Negro League teams, as well as with the Class C farm team of the New York Yankees and other minor league teams.  After failing tryouts with the California Angels and the New York Mets, he moved to Montana and worked as an iron smelter, while continuing to play local ball.

At the same time, he began singing solo and with local bands.  He also recorded demo tapes, one of which led Chet Atkins to sign him to RCA.  His third single, “Just Between You and Me,” was a hit and earned him a Grammy nod, as well as major bookings.  However, many fans who heard his music didn’t realize that Pride was Black.

At his first big concert, in 1966, he famously walked onstage and the 10,000 fans fell silent.  Pride said later on, “I told the audience: ‘Friends, I realize it’s a little unique, me coming out here with a permanent suntan to sing country and western to you. But that’s the way it is.^‘”

Between 1967 and 1987, Pride scored 52 Top 10 country hits, won three Grammys and a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award, and became RCA Records’ top-selling country artist.  The CMA named him its Entertainer of the Year in 1971.

In his memoir, he wrote, “We’re not color blind yet, but we’ve advanced a few paces along the path and I like to think I’ve contributed something to that process.”

Pride’s hits included “Is Anybody Goin’ to San Antone,” “You’re My Jamaica,” “You’re So Good When You’re Bad,” “She’s Just an Old Love Turned Memory,” “All I Have to Offer You (Is Me),” “Someone Loves You Honey,” “Mountain of Love,” and many, many more.

By Andrea Dresdale
Copyright © 2020, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

December 11, 2020 • No Comments • Country Music News

ABCEric Church released a new song this week, and it’s a touching tribute to the people in life who mean the most. Called “Doing Life with Me,” the song is a gentle, guitar-focused ballad that’s all about expressing gratitude.

“Am I living giving thanks / For the ships I never sank? / Every big, every little / And the everyday things / The notes and the words in the songs I sing / To the ones doing life with me,” Eric reflects in the song’s chorus.

His latest release comes on the heels of a big career milestone for the singer, who was named Entertainer of the Year at last month’s CMA Awards show. In a virtual press room during that show, he promised lots of new music ahead.

Eric’s been hard at work for quite a while on his next studio project, and fans have already seen some of the fruits of that labor. Over the course of 2020, he’s shared songs like “Stick That in Your Country Song,” “Bad Mother Trucker,” “Jenny,” “Crazyland” and more.

Eric’s latest single, “Hell of a View,” is nearing the top 30 at country radio.

December 11, 2020 • No Comments • Country Music News

Ford FairchildRunaway June is a featured artist in the Armed Forces Entertainment’s first-ever virtual show. Taking its name from the trio’s new holiday EP, the event is dubbed When I Think About Christmas with Runaway June.

The holidays will likely look a little different to most people this year, and for the men and women in uniform who are currently deployed overseas the differences will be even greater. Due to COVID-19 protocols, they’ll be unable to return to the U.S. to spend Christmas with their families.

Also due to the pandemic, artists aren’t able to travel overseas to perform. So the band mates of Runaway June took the stage virtually, with their show being made available to every service member, no matter where they’re stationed.

Runaway June brought their trademark vocal harmonies and bluegrass-tinged country stylings to the stage, mixing in Christmas hits with their own fan-favorite original releases like “Buy My Own Drinks” and “Lipstick.” The full show is available to watch on the Armed Forces Entertainment’s YouTube channel.

The trio isn’t done spreading holiday cheer yet. On December 16, they’ll team up with Cracker Barrel for the virtual “Cracker Barrel Sounds of the Season” show, along with their former tour mates Maddie & Tae and Carrie Underwood.

December 11, 2020 • No Comments • Country Music News

Blackbird Presents / Caroline Records A dazzling list of country stars take the stage in tribute to Merle Haggard in Sing Me Back Home: The Music of Merle Haggard, a new concert film celebrating the singer’s legacy.

Kenny Chesney, Miranda Lambert, Loretta Lynn, Kacey Musgraves and Hank Williams Jr. are just a few of the stars who appear in the special to perform some of their favorite selections from Merle’s discography.

Toby Keith and Willie Nelson join forces on stage for “Ramblin’ Fever,” while Dierks Bentley performs “If We Make it Through December” and Keith Richards appears for a powerful rendition of “Sing Me Back Home.” The event also includes an ensemble performance of “Okie from Muskogee” to honor Merle’s lasting mark on country music.

The film was taped at a special concert event that took place in Nashville on April 6, 2017. The night marked the one-year anniversary of Merle’s death.

Sing Me Back Home is out in both audio and video formats, including a CD/DVD combo that’s available for purchase now.