October 26, 2020 • No Comments • Country Music News

ABC/Image Group LAOver the weekend, Maren Morris appeared at the massive “I Will Vote” concert for Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden, who faces President Donald Trump in the upcoming general election.

Maren voiced her support of Biden with an impassioned speech that, she explained ahead of the event, was especially meaningful to her because it wasn’t a musical performance.

“Y’all, I have never been asked to speak at anything, only perform,” she wrote on Twitter before taking the virtual stage. “This Sunday, I am speaking to my country.”

The “Girl” star laid out her reasons for voting for Biden in the 2020 election. Maren says she grew up being taught to treat people with respect — no matter their race, political affiliation or gender identity — but the importance of those beliefs hit home in a new way after she became a mom to her son, Hayes, in March.

“It wasn’t about just me anymore. It was about him, and all of our children’s futures in this country,” she said. “What will they make of this moment 20 years from now?”

That’s the sentiment that inspired Maren to write “Better Than We Found It,” a new song that she released at the beginning of October.

“Now, I live in the world of country music, which has always been about telling the truth. And just like I believe that country music is for everyone, so is this country,” she continued, adding that she hopes the song sheds light on the importance of this election, especially for groups such as immigrants, the LGBTQ+ community and Black Americans.

“And it’s about those of us who have a civic responsibility to do everything we can to make our country better by saying, ‘We are better than this.’ It isn’t a punishment. It’s a plea,” Maren said.

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

America. 🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/Xq2Lt0W8FB

— MAREN MORRIS (@MarenMorris) October 26, 2020

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

October 26, 2020 • No Comments • Country Music News

Suzanne Cordeiro/Corbis via Getty ImagesCountry music has lost one of the greats, Jerry Jeff Walker. The singer/songwriter, who is best known for writing the classic tune “Mr. Bojangles,” passed away at the age of 78.

Walker died Friday after a long battle with throat cancer, according to family spokesman John T. Davis.  

Walker came into prominence in the 1960s after founding the psychedelic-folk-rock band Circus Maximus, where their 1967 single “Wind” achieved moderate success across progressive heritage stations.  

Later, Walker embarked on a solo career and broke out in 1968 with his song “Mr. Bojangles,” which was inspired by a New Orleans street performer.  The tune became a #9 hit on the Billboard Hot 100 for The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band in 1970, and also has since been covered by a variety of other well-known artists, including Dolly Parton, Bob Dylan, Neil Diamond, Sammy Davis Jr. and more.

Walker also recorded a notable cover of Guy Clark‘s “L.A. Freeway” in 1972 and later partnered with the Los Gonzo Band a year later to record ¡Viva Terlingua! — an album that is considered a classic among country-rock music.

After securing his place in the Texas outlaw country scene, Walker satisfied himself by creating the record label Tried & True Music alongside his wife, Susan.  He also released over 30 albums that spanned his music career.  

Walker was first diagnosed with throat cancer in 2017.  His last release came a year later, 2018’s LP It’s About Time.

Walker is survived by his wife Susan and their two children — a son and a daughter — Django and Jessie Jane.

By Megan Stone
Copyright © 2020, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

October 26, 2020 • No Comments • Country Music News

LOWFIELD Even with multiple number ones, as well as CMA and ACM Awards to her credit, Sara Evans is still checking goals off her bucket list. The latest? A collaboration with Dolly Parton. 

Both Sara and Dolly are featured on “Pink,” alongside Rita Wilson, Monica, and Jordan Sparks. Co-written and produced by Victoria Shaw — who wrote “The River” for Garth Brooks — the cross-genre effort aims to raise awareness and money for breast cancer through the Susan G. Komen organization.

“I was so honored to be asked to sing a part on it,” Sara tells ABC Audio. “So I went in the studio and Victoria Shaw was in there with her producer/engineer, and they just kind of directed me on what lines they wanted me to sing on. And when I heard the finished product, I was just absolutely blown away.”

“And also, it’s amazing to be on a song with Dolly Parton, which I’ve never done before…” Sara adds. “It’s a beautiful song.

Sara’s most recent encounter with the legend came almost exactly a year ago.

“My major Dolly moment was this past CMA Awards, when I was a part of the opening with all the females,” she recalls. “And we’re in the green room the day before for rehearsal, and I look over and Dolly Parton is singing ‘Born to Fly’ with me.”

“It was one of those moments where I was like, ‘I really wish my mom was here,'” Sara continues. “And I was texting her the whole time and sending her pictures of Dolly. And she just couldn’t believe it.”  

Earlier this year, Sara released both her autobiography, Born to Fly, and her covers album, Copy That. Next month, she stars in A Nashville Christmas Carol on Hallmark.

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

October 23, 2020 • No Comments • Country Music News

Warner Music NashvilleGabby Barrett is sharing her very first Christmas release this week, dropping her take on the timeless classic “The First Noel.”

It’s an especially powerful musical message for the rising star, whose faith is an important part of her artistic identity and her life.

“Christmas is one of my absolute favorite days of the year,” Gabby explains, “and my faith is the cornerstone of my life, so being able to share both with ‘The First Noel’ is a gift. I feel so blessed to do what I do every day, and I hope that this song adds something special to your holidays.”

The singer’s holiday release follows her massive, breakthrough debut album, Goldmine, which came out earlier this year. That project features the smash single “I Hope,” which was the first single Gabby sent to country radio and subsequently became her first chart-topping hit.

But that’s not all that the star has to celebrate this holiday season: She claimed her first awards show victory at the 2020 CMT Music Awards this week, winning the Breakthrough Video of the Year trophy for “I Hope”’s music video.

It’s an exciting time in Gabby’s personal life, too, as she and her husband, fellow American Idol alum Cade Foehner, are currently expecting their first child. Gabby will give birth to a baby girl in early 2021.

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

October 23, 2020 • No Comments • Country Music News

Courtesy of Glass Onyon PRWhen country superstar trio Rascal Flatts announced earlier this year that they planned to call it quits after their 20th anniversary celebration, they hinted that all three band mates were looking toward pursuing their own projects.

Now, bassist Jay DeMarcus is offering more details about what’s in store. Jay is a member of a new supergroup called The Rise Above, a cross-genre outfit that also includes Journey’s Deen Castronovo and Chicago’s Jason Sheff. Chris Rodriguez and Tom Yankton round out the quintet.

The star-studded band will make their debut next week with a show at Nashville’s Marathon Music Works. Proceeds from the performance will benefit the ACM Lifting Lives COVID-19 Response Fund. Tickets are available now.

A glimpse into the planned set list reveals that though the band may be new, the hits will be familiar. The Rise Above will perform Rascal Flatts classics such as “These Days,” “Bless the Broken Road,” “What Hurts the Most” and “Life is a Highway.”

Additionally, fans will be able to sing along to plenty of their favorite Journey and Chicago songs, including “Don’t Stop Believin’,” “Any Way You Want It,” “Stay the Night” and “Will You Still Love Me.”

The Rise Above’s mission is to bring back the glitz and glamor of ‘80s rock to life, and they’ve been in the studio cooking up an album for release next year.

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