October 27, 2020 • No Comments • Country Music News

Capitol RecordsCanadian music legend Anne Murray, who notched simultaneous pop and country chart success during the ‘70s and ‘80s, is compiling The Ultimate Christmas Collection, a 22-track album that pulls from all of her past holiday projects.

Featured on the project is her fellow superstar and Canadian Michael Bublé, who joins Anne for a rendition of “Baby, It’s Cold Outside.” That song was also featured in Anne’s 2008 project, Anne Murray’s Christmas Album.

For his part, Michael says he’s star-struck to be included in a project released by such a legend.

“Anne Murray is the Canadian Queen of Music,” he says in a statement. “Not only is she one of my favorite singers and entertainers, but she’s also one of my favorite human beings of all time.”

Anne found success on the country charts with hits like her 1972 version of Kenny Loggins’ “Danny’s Song,” as well as “He Thinks I Still Care,” “A Little Good News,” “Time Don’t Run Out on Me” and more.

Michael is no stranger to rubbing elbows with country greats: He’s also a featured guest on Dolly Parton’s new holiday album, A Holly Dolly Christmas.

The Ultimate Christmas Collection comes out November 20.

By Carena Liptak
Copyright © 2020, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

October 27, 2020 • No Comments • Country Music News

Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for The Recording AcademyBlake Shelton and Gwen Stefani are getting hitched.

The country star and his pop legend girlfriend made their engagement Instagram official on Tuesday, with Gwen showing off the ring in a sweet snapshot.

“Yes please!” she simply wrote, alongside a picture of herself planting a smooch on her new fiancé.

Blake also shared his good news with fans, posting the same picture on Twitter. “Hey @gwenstefani, thanks for saving my 2020…And the rest of my life. I love you,” he wrote alongside the image. “I heard a yes!”

Blake and Gwen have been a couple for about five years, after meeting on the set of The Voice, where they’re both coaches. Their relationship began in the wake of Blake’s very public divorce from another country superstar, Miranda Lambert.

Since announcing their relationship, Blake and Gwen have released a handful of high-powered duets, including a Christmas song for a holiday album of Gwen’s as well as two hit country singles, “Nobody but You” and “Happy Anywhere.”

Their relationship has also sparked plenty of marriage rumors in the past, with Blake telling ET Online last year that he “loves” hearing rumors about wedding bells for the couple. However, they’ve stopped short of confirming any plans to get married — that is, until now.

Hey @gwenstefani thanks for saving my 2020… And the rest of my life.. I love you. I heard a YES! pic.twitter.com/mAgbbUtSlx

— Blake Shelton (@blakeshelton) October 27, 2020

https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js

By Carena Liptak
Copyright © 2020, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

October 27, 2020 • No Comments • Country Music News

Blythe ThomasMiranda Lambert’s love of animals is well-documented and long-standing, so it should come as no surprise that while she was getting glammed up for her “Settling Down” video, her equine co-star got the same treatment.

In a new collection of behind the scenes photos from the video shoot in People, Miranda shows the process of staging one of the video’s most memorable scenes, in which she’s galloping through an open field on the back of her horse, Gibson.

Turns out, Gibson got as much of the star treatment as Miranda did before the cameras started rolling. The singer shared a snap of her hair stylist, Johnny Lavoy, braiding Gibson’s mane to get the horse ready for his close-up.

“The other loves of my life are my horses, which was an element I wanted to fully capture in this video,” Miranda explained.

As for her human co-star? That would be the singer’s husband, Brendan McLoughlin, who makes his music video debut in the home-inspired “Settling Down” clip.

Miranda goes on to say how fitting it is that this was the video where Brendan made his debut, and not just because “Settling Down” is a love song.

“[It] was his favorite song on the Wildcard record, so it was great we were able to shoot this video together and give fans a glimpse into our life on the farm,” the singer says.

By Carena Liptak
Copyright © 2020, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

October 27, 2020 • No Comments • Country Music News

Matthew BerinatoNot everyone gets to the number-one spot on a country chart, but “Some Girls,” by rising star Jameson Rodgers, rang that bell this week.

“When I moved to Nashville in 2010, I had a dream,” he offers. “I’m living my dream right now thanks to country radio, amazing fans and the best team any artist could ask for.”

It’s a record-breaking victory in a couple of ways for the singer. While the country charts have seen a handful of new faces this year, with Gabby Barrett and Ingrid Andress both hitting the top spot with their debut singles, Jameson is the first solo male artist to reach that summit with his first radio entry.

“Some Girls” also had a 49-week climb to the top of the chart, setting a new record for longest climb up the Billboard Country Airplay chart for a debut single.  But Jameson’s in good company with that distinction: Jimmie Allen’s second chart entry, “Make Me Want To,” took 58 weeks to finally top Country Airplay back in March — a record at the time for the chart’s entire 30-year history.

However, Travis Denning swiftly outdid Jimmie’s record-setting climb in June when his second single, “After a Few,” crawled to the top over a whopping 65 weeks.

As it tops Billboard’s Country Airplay chart, “Some Girls” also ascends to number-one on Mediabase/Country Aircheck. The single also recently received RIAA Gold certification.

By Carena Liptak
Copyright © 2020, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

October 27, 2020 • No Comments • Country Music News

ABC/Image Group LAEarlier this year, Charlie Puth gave Gabby Barrett a leg up in conquering the pop world when he singer, songwriter and producer reached out to the rising country star via Instagram and asked to remix her hit debut single, “I Hope.”

The rest is history: The new version of “I Hope” shot to the top of Billboard’s Adult Pop Songs, Pop Songs and Adult Contemporary charts, and now the song is taking down yet another big chart milestone. Billboard reports that Charlie and Gabby’s “I Hope” has climbed to the top of its Radio Songs chart, becoming the most-heard song on U.S. radio overall.

In the same breath, the remix reaches a new high spot on Billboard’s Hot 100, jumping from number eight to number six.

Earlier this month, Gabby admitted that her crossover success has her pinching herself, as she never dreamed she’d be charting alongside some of pop music’s biggest names.

“It’s mind-blowing being put up next to names like Harry Styles and The Weeknd and people that are just huge,” she said. “So I don’t even think people listen to my music that are up there! Not even Charlie…but I guess he does!”

When it comes to the 2020 CMA Awards next month, Gabby’s hit song is giving her even more to “Hope” for: It is nominated for Single of the Year, and also helped the rising star score a nod in the New Artist of the Year category.

By Carena Liptak
Copyright © 2020, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.