November 16, 2020 • No Comments • Country Music News

Rick Diamond/Getty ImagesGarth Brooks and Trisha Yearwood are returning to the small screen for a Christmas special. 

Trisha announced on Instagram today that the beloved couple will star in the CBS special Garth & Trisha Live! A Holiday Concert Event next month.

The one-hour event invites fans to celebrate the holidays with the superstar singers, Trisha beckoning fans to submit their song requests, prompting many to reply in the comments section recommending such classics as “Oh Holy Night,” “Mary, Did You Know?,” “I’ll Be Home for Christmas,” “Baby, It’s Cold Outside” and more. 

Nashville’s Tennessean newspaper reports that the holiday show, “for viewers looking for the comfort and shared joy of music during the holidays,” according to a statement, will follow the model of Garth and Trisha’s CBS special that aired in April in which they performed live acoustic songs from their home studio based on fans’ requests. 

Garth & Trisha Live! airs on CBS on December 20 at 8:30 p.m. ET.

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

November 16, 2020 • No Comments • Country Music News

Triple Tigers RecordsWith a second week at number one, Russell Dickerson is now walking a path forged by Luke Combs.

Russell’s current single “Love You Like I Used To” sits in the top spot on the Billboard Country Airplay chart for the second week in a row. The song is his fourth consecutive number-one hit. 

Following a trio of previous chart-toppers — “Yours,” “Blue Tacoma” and “Every Little Thing” — Russell is now the second artist since Luke to launch his career with four consecutive number-ones on the Country Airplay chart.

The Tennessee native is also the second solo artist, and fourth in history, to have four or more singles reach the top of the Airplay chart in its 30-year history. 

“There is no better way to kick off a sophomore album than with a 2 week number one,” Russell shares. “Every song on this record is one of my favorite songs I’ve ever written and the fact that the fans feel that with ‘Love You Like I Used To’ means the world! Thank you country radio!!!!”

“Love You Like I Used To” is the lead single from Russell’s sophomore album Southern Symphony, which will be released on December 4.

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

November 16, 2020 • No Comments • Country Music News

BMLG RecordsLady A is heading back into the Ocean.

To celebrate the one-year anniversary of their chart-topping album, Lady A will release a deluxe edition featuring six new songs, including “Heroes,” a collaboration with Thomas Rhett. 

The project also features the unreleased song “Underwater,” along with live versions of the number-one hit “What If I Never Get Over You,” recorded at famed Nashville club 3rd and Lindsley, and “Let it Be Love.” 

Fans will also get a double dose of “Champagne Night,” the trio’s current single that they selected during an appearance on Songland this year.  The album boasts both the original version and a Tiki Bar rendition. 

“It’s crazy to think this album is only turning a year old because it has already been part of so many moments for us as a band,” says Hillary Scott of Ocean. “We wanted to share our appreciation with our fans with a couple of never released tracks we thought they might like and put a spin on some others that have been fun to play around with during quarantine.”

Ocean Deluxe Edition will be released on November 20.

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

November 16, 2020 • No Comments • Country Music News

RCA NashvilleChris Young raises a glass to his hometown in his upcoming single, “Famous Friends,” featuring Kane Brown.

Dropping on Friday, the two hitmakers trade vocals on the single that finds them celebrating their small Southern towns, with reference to three counties of significance: Rutherford County in Chris’ hometown of Murfreesboro, Tennessee; Kane’s native Hamilton County, on the Tennessee and Georgia border; and Davidson County, where they both currently reside in Nashville.

Kane teased the track in May, offering fans a one-minute clip on Twitter where the singers can be heard chanting,  “I’ve got some famous friends you’ve probably never heard of/But back in Rutherford County our crowd is second to none/You might not know ‘em here in this big city we’re in /But when I go back home I’ve got some famous friends.” 

“This song is a piece of me, and it means a lot because it’s honest and it’s real-life. Plus, Kane and I are good friends and being able to have that history together, it adds a whole other level to the track,” Chris explains.  “‘Famous Friends’ is one of my favorite songs — it’s personal and it’s a lot of fun, so I’m glad it’s getting out there for people to hear it.”

“Famous Friends” is the third single off Chris’ forthcoming album, Raised on Country. It follows the 2019 singles “Drowning” and the top-five hit title track.

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

November 16, 2020 • No Comments • Country Music News

CMAThomas Rhett, Dan + Shay and Lady A are among those decking the halls this year as performers on 2020 CMA Country Christmas. 

The lineup for the CMA annual holiday show covers the country spectrum, with Kelsea Ballerini, Gabby Barrett, Florida Georgia Line, Tim McGraw and Little Big Town also slated to perform, along with a special performance by Darius Rucker and acclaimed violinist Lindsey Stirling. 

Thomas and his wife Lauren Akins will host the show, which was filmed for the first time without a live audience in September.  

CMA Country Christmas Executive Producer Robert Deaton says that the 2020 soiree is modeled after the classic Christmas specials from the 1960s and 70s, like that of Judy Garland and Frank Sinatra, “where the viewer was invited into the homes of the host to celebrate the holiday like a best friend coming to visit.  That was what we wanted to create for this year’s show.” 

The 11th annual show will air on Nov. 30 at 9 p.m. ET on ABC.

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