March 23, 2021 • No Comments • Country Music News

Jason Kempin/Getty ImageBrett Young is ringing in his 40th birthday somewhere tropical. 

The chart-topping singer gave fans a sneak peek of his birthday festivities via Instagram Stories. It appears Brett and his wife Taylor are on a beach getaway, one photo showing the couple in a hotel room decorated in silver and blue balloons that read “Happy Birthday” and “40.”

They also commemorated the milestone birthday with a cake decorated in white and dark blue frosting that says “Happy 40th Birthday BY,” with candles on top, followed by a shot of Taylor holding her baby bump while sitting under the sun on the beach side pool patio. 

“Working on only a few hours of sleep but we made it! Let the birthday trip and celebrations begin! Love you babe!” Taylor writes, her husband captioning the photo, “Best.Wife.Ever.”

The couple is expecting their second child in the summer, joining their one-year-old daughter, Presley.

By Cillea Houghton
Copyright © 2021, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

March 23, 2021 • No Comments • Country Music News

Courtesy of Netflix Each non-pandemic year, MusiCares, the charitable arm of the Recording Academy, stages a star-studded benefit gala that pays tribute to a top musical artist named Person of the Year.  These are invite-only events that the public never sees, and they’ve very rarely been released after the fact.  But Netflix is about to change all that with Dolly Parton: A MusiCares Tribute.

In 2019, MusiCares named Dolly Parton its Person of the Year with the traditional gala, which featured stars from many different genres all singing Dolly’s famous songs including Kacey Musgraves, Chris Stapleton, Willie Nelson, Garth Brooks and Trisha Yearwood, and many more.

Hosted by Little Big Town, the show sees Kacey and Katy Perry teaming up on “Here You Come Again,” Garth and Trisha singing “Old Flames Can’t Hold a Candle to You” and Mavis Staples, Leon Bridges and Jon Batiste performing “Not Enough.” 

Additionally, Chris lends his voice to “9 to 5,” while Dolly’s goddaughter, Miley Cyrus, joins forces with Shawn Mendes and Mark Ronson on Dolly’s classic duet with Kenny Rogers, “Islands in the Stream,” and Yolanda Adams offers a powerful rendition of “I Will Always Love You.” Dolly herself takes the stage with Linda Perry to deliver “Coat of Many Colors.” 

“I am so happy that Netflix is going to be showing the MusiCares tribute to me. MusiCares has done so much for the people in this industry and continues to be a beacon of light for those in need,” Dolly says in a statement. “It was such a joy and a humbling experience to be able to sit and watch all of the great artists singing songs that I had written or had been a part of.” 

Dolly Parton: A MusiCares Tribute premieres on Netflix on April 7.

By Cillea Houghton
Copyright © 2021, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

March 23, 2021 • No Comments • Country Music News

ABCWhile Luke Combs appreciates each of his songs, there’s one in particular that holds special meaning. 

During an appearance on Lindsay Czarniak‘s podcast The Artist and the Athlete, Luke shared the story behind one of his many hits, “Beautiful Crazy,” which was inspired by his now-wife, Nicole.

Luke wrote the song after the two had been seeing each other for a few months and played it for her one night at her downtown Nashville apartment while she had company over, knowing it would make a strong first impression on her friend.  

“I’m not much of a ladies man, but I was pretty proud of this one. It was a total baller move,” he describes of his wife hearing the romantic ballad for the first time, adding that she “loved” it. 

“There’s no way that any other song will top that as far as sentimental value for me,” Luke declares.

“Beautiful Crazy” spent multiple weeks at #1 and was named Song of the Year at the 2019 CMA Awards. It also became the couple’s first dance song at their wedding in 2020.

By Cillea Houghton
Copyright © 2021, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

March 23, 2021 • No Comments • Country Music News

ABCWith “What’s Your Country Song?” Thomas Rhett continues his reign of having the most consecutive #1 country hits of any other artist on country radio. 

Thomas achieved the feat by simultaneously topping both the Billboard Country Airplay and Hot Country Songs chart this week with his latest track, which becomes his 11th consecutive #1 song. 

“What’s Your Country Song?” is Thomas’ 17th #1 hit overall and the lead single off his forthcoming double album, Country Again: Side A, out on April 30. 

“I can hardly wrap my mind around seventeen. What an unreal way to kick off this new chapter of music,” Thomas says. “I’m so grateful to the fans and radio for reacting to this one right away after I played a little of it on Instagram basically a year ago — it’s crazy to see it all come full circle. I cannot wait to share the rest with y’all!” 

The new album follows 2019’s Center Point Road, which debuted at #1 on the Billboard 200.

By Cillea Houghton
Copyright © 2021, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

March 23, 2021 • No Comments • Country Music News

ABCKelly Clarkson has tapped Kelsea Ballerini to fill in for her during the Battle Rounds on The Voice. 

During Monday night’s episode of the show, it was revealed that Kelly was absent due to illness and had called up the country singer to temporarily take over her seat.

In a preview for the episode, Kelsea clearly makes herself comfortable in the rotating chair, teasing Blake Shelton that he looks like her dad and stealing one of the contestants over to Kelly’s team. “That was my first steal and it felt good,” she says proudly. 

“When @kellyclarkson calls and asks you to keep her seat warm, you put all those years of being her super fan to work. thank you @johnlegend @nickjonas and ole pops @blakeshelton for making me feel like part of the @NBCTheVoice family,” Kelsea wrote on Twitter. 

“Team Kelly is in great hands with you @KelseaBallerini,” Kelly replied, with a heart emoji. 

Additionally, Dan + Shay are set to serve as advisors for Blake’s team during the Battle Rounds that begin next week. The Voice airs on Monday night at 8 p.m. ET on NBC. 

By Cillea Houghton
Copyright © 2021, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.