December 2, 2020 • No Comments • Country Music News

Warner Music NashvilleDan + Shay are set to deliver a pair of festive TV performances. 

The American Music Award-winning duo will perform their new holiday songs “Take Me Home for Christmas” and “Christmas Isn’t Christmas” on the Today show December 8 during the 8 a.m. and 10 a.m. ET hours. 

Fans can also get in the holiday spirit when the duo performs tonight on Christmas in Rockefeller Center, airing at 8 p.m. ET on NBC. 

Dan + Shay’s current single, “I Should Probably Go to Bed,” is currently in the top 10 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart. They’re also nominated for Best Country Duo/Group Performance at the 2021 Grammy Awards for their smash hit “10,000 Hours,” featuring Justin Bieber.

By Cillea Houghton 
Copyright © 2020, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

December 2, 2020 • No Comments • Country Music News

Katie Kauss/CMAThomas Rhett is sharing some of the humorous behind-the-scenes fails from the set of CMA Country Christmas. 

Thomas and his wife Lauren Akins co-hosted the special that aired on ABC Monday night, and seeing as it was the couple’s first time hosting together, they were bound to face a few blunders. 

The blooper reel opens as the two enter the makeshift house set, Thomas placing the two festive boxes he’s carrying on top of the pile Lauren’s carrying that ultimately topple out of her hands. From flubbed lines to a bug in Lauren’s hair, the couple handled the mishaps as gracefully as possible.

“@laur_akins and I had a time filming #CMAchristmas,” Thomas captions the video alongside a crying laughing emoji, much to their friends’ enjoyment. 

“Not sure how many times I’ve liked this already,” comments Russell Dickerson with several laughing emojis.  Hardy chimes in with “Hahahaha this is awesome,” while family friend and Tyler Hubbard‘s wife Hayley replies “The best,” with a heart emoji.

In addition to hosting duties, Thomas performed his original tune “Christmas in the Country” during the broadcast.

By Cillea Houghton 
Copyright © 2020, ABC Audio. All rights reserved. 

December 2, 2020 • No Comments • Country Music News

ABCMorgan Wallen is setting chart records. 

This week, the Tennessee native becomes the first artist to have two songs debut in the top 10 at the same time on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart, with “Somebody’s Problem” and “Still Goin’ Down” sitting at numbers three and eight, respectively.

With “Somebody’s Problem,” Morgan comes in behind his own record as the third highest debut on the chart this year, following his recent hit “7 Summers” and Luke Combs‘ “Forever After All,” which both debuted at number one. 

Morgan and Luke also serve as the only two artists this year to have three songs on the Hot Country Songs chart top 10 simultaneously, as Morgan’s hometown ode “More Than My Hometown” currently sits at #2.

“Somebody’s Problem” and “Still Goin’ Down” are featured on Morgan’s upcoming double album, Dangerous, dropping on January 8.

By Cillea Houghton 
Copyright © 2020, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

December 2, 2020 • No Comments • Country Music News

Ian Gavan/Getty ImagesCountry stars are banding together this holiday season to give back to Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital. 

Dolly Parton, Blake Shelton, Lady A and Jon Pardi are among the many artists participating in the Jingle Challenge to send messages of hope and positivity to the patients, families and staff at the Nashville-based hospital that treats children who have cancer and other diseases. 

Dolly kicked off the challenge Wednesday by posting a photo of herself in a glamorous gown posing next to Santa and his sleigh in the Hannah Dennison Butterfly Garden at the hospital. The garden is named after Dolly’s niece, who was a patient at the hospital when she was battling cancer as a child.  

Fans are encouraged to create and share their own customized photo with Dolly by downloading the virtual postcard from her holiday card line, along with an uplifting message, with the goal of sending 10,000 notes to the hospital.

“Knowing that kids at Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt will get to see how many people across the world are thinking of them this holiday season makes my heart happy,” Dolly says.

Other participating artists include Rascal Flatts, Runaway June, Travis Denning, Sara Evans, Lauren Alaina, Abby Anderson and Jillian Jacqueline.

By Cillea Houghton 
Copyright © 2020, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

December 2, 2020 • No Comments • Country Music News

UMG NashvilleCarrie Underwood, Maddie & Tae and Runaway June are starring in Cracker Barrel’s Sounds of the Season holiday special. 

The country superstar is reuniting with the opening acts on her 2019 Cry Pretty Tour 360 for the festive event, which sees them performing tracks off their individual Christmas projects released this year. 

Carrie will present offerings from My Gift, while Runaway June and Maddie & Tae will perform songs from their EPs When I Think About Christmas and We Need Christmas, respectively. 

Viewers can also look forward to collaborative performances between the three acts. 

In a preview for the special, the singers are seen gathered around a cozy fire sitting in Cracker Barrel’s famous rocking chairs and playing classic games found at the restaurant, including checkers and the peg game.

They also exchange gifts among one another, with Runaway June’s Natalie Stovall opening a box of Cracker Barrel’s corn muffin mix. 

“There’s so much good about Christmas. It is a time when people come together. I love the family, I love the friends, I love the food,” Carrie professes in the clip. 

Cracker Barrel Sounds of the Season airs on Cracker Barrel’s YouTube and Facebook pages on December 16 at 8 p.m. ET.

By Cillea Houghton 
Copyright © 2020, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.