November 24, 2020 • No Comments • Country Music News

Jeff JohnsonThough Thanksgiving will look different around Chris Young‘s table this year, he will continue his tradition of helming the most important part of the meal: the turkey.  

“I actually do the turkey every year, so that’s like my thing. This sounds like I’m cussing at you, but I spatchcock it,” he shares.  That’s a method of preparing the turkey that involves butterflying the bird, making it easier to season.

“Basically what you do is you remove the spine and then you basically flatten the turkey out so it cooks faster and it doesn’t dry out. I do like a custom brine anywhere from 24 to 48 hours beforehand and then do all that,” the singer explains.

“It’s just kind of not being afraid to do it and having done it before, it’s just repetition. It’s all it is.” 

Like many people across the country, Chris and his family are adapting their Thanksgiving plans this year in light of the COVID-19 pandemic, the country star planning to gather with only a couple immediate family members. 

“[We] won’t be doing like extended family, not getting like the whole aunts and uncles and cousins and stuff together this year, but I’ll probably get together with my parents,” he reports. 

Chris’ fans have new music to be thankful for this season: He just released a new song featuring Kane Brown, “Famous Friends,” that’s featured on his upcoming Raised on Country album. 

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

November 23, 2020 • No Comments • Country Music News

John ShearerWhen Tyler Hubbard of Florida Georgia Line contracted COVID-19 earlier this month, he spent nearly two weeks quarantining on his tour bus parked in his driveway.

It was difficult being so close, yet so far from his wife Hayley and their two-month-old son, Atlas, one-year-old son Lucca and daughter Olivia, who turns three next month.  But the singer found the silver lining by using his time in isolation to write several new songs, including the Olivia-inspired “Thank God for Girls.” 

“I’m good. Honestly, I feel really fortunate. I was able to have 13 days of alone time on the bus, which was bittersweet. I missed my family like crazy but I didn’t feel terrible so I got to make the most of it,” Tyler explains of the experience. “I wrote a bunch of songs and made the most of the time, and it kind of flew by, but I feel great.” 

In addition to overcoming COVID-19, Tyler is also nursing his foot back to health after tearing his Achilles tendon in a dirt bike accident this summer. But in spite of the challenges, the singer is looking ahead to a brighter 2021, which includes the release of FGL’s new album, with current single “Long Live” climbing up the charts.

“I’m feeling really grateful and really blessed and excited and I feel like we’re at the end of a crazy season and the beginning of an awesome one, for sure,” he states. “It may be another crazy one but I believe it’s gonna be awesome.”   

Tyler reunited with his family early last week after testing negative for the virus.

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

November 23, 2020 • No Comments • Country Music News

ABCChris Stapleton is back on top. 

The country superstar has debuted at #1 on the Billboard Top Country Albums chart with his latest project, Starting Over, and reached #3 on the all-genre Billboard 200, with sales of more than 102,733 units since its November 13 release.  

The album also bows at the top of the Billboard Americana/Folk Albums and Digital Albums charts. Starting Over’s title track is currently in the top 10 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart. 

This marks Chris’ fourth consecutive album to claim the number one spot on the Top Country Albums chart following Traveller, From A Room: Volume 1 and From A Room: Volume 2. 

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

November 23, 2020 • No Comments • Country Music News

Emma McIntyre/AMA2020/Getty Images for dcpDan + Shay made their holiday music debut earlier this month with “Take Me Home for Christmas,” closely followed by “Christmas Isn’t Christmas.” The tracks fulfilled fans’ longtime requests for holiday tunes, but also beg the question: Do Dan + Shay have a Christmas album in the works?   

“I don’t know, maybe,” Dan Smyers said with a smile backstage at the 2020 American Music Awards. “We’ve always wanted to do a Christmas album. Our fans ask for it every year and we continually let them down,” he added, jokingly.  

Dan notes that the twosome is typically busy with touring this time of year, which has stood in the way of making a Christmas record in the past. But with the COVID-19 pandemic keeping them mostly off the road this year, the duo were ready to get into the holiday spirit early with the original songs. 

“We’ve been home and we’ve had nothing but time on our hands and we got in the spirit a little bit early,” Dan said. “I think we all needed to get in that spirit, have a little bit of joy and positivity in our lives. They kind of fell out of the sky and we’re very grateful for it, but the response on it’s been amazing so far.” 

Though fans shouldn’t expect a Dan + Shay Christmas album album this holiday season, don’t give up hope.  “No Christmas album recorded yet, but hopefully there will be one at some point,” Dan declared.  

The duo cleaned up nicely at the AMAs, taking home every award they were nominated for, including Collaboration of the Year and Favorite Song — Country for their hit with Justin Bieber, “10,000 Hours,” in addition to Favorite Duo — Country.

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

November 23, 2020 • No Comments • Country Music News

Valerie Macon/Getty ImagesA documentary about Dolly Parton‘s Imagination Library is premiering next month. 

The Library That Dolly Built dives deep into how the global icon created the beloved nonprofit that delivers free books to children across the country each month. The film follows her journey from launching the program in her hometown of Sevierville, Tennessee to gifting books to 1.7 million children in all 50 states.  

Directed by Nick Geidner and narrated by actress and mathematics educator Danica McKellar, the doc features interviews with Dolly, along with book recipients, authors and others impacted by the library.

The Dollywood Foundation and Abramorama have partnered to present the film with a one-night-only livestream premiere on Facebook, followed by a discussion and live acoustic performance by the legendary singer-songwriter. 

“I am so excited that we can finally tell the whole story of the Imagination Library. It is certainly not just about me. Our story is the story of children, of families and communities who all share the dream to inspire kids to love to read and to love to learn,” Dolly explains.

“My hope is this documentary will encourage more towns, more states and even more countries to jump onboard. One thing is for sure, I think this is the best investment I have ever made!” she adds.  

The Library That Dolly Built streams on the Imagination Library Facebook page on December 9 at 7 p.m. ET. It will be widely available on digital platforms in early 2021.

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