September 9, 2020 • No Comments • Country Music News

Warner Music Nashville/SpotifyIngrid Andress tries her hand at 2020 pop hit “Don’t Start Now,” by Dua Lipa, in a new cover for Spotify Singles. She pairs that song with a new rendition of “Lady Like,” the title track of Ingrid’s recently-released debut album.

While the cover might seem like an out-of-left-field choice for a country artist, Ingrid has a long musical history with a few different genres. Before finding success as a singer, she was a songwriter who helped pen hits for artists like Charlie XCX.

Additionally, Ingrid’s not the first member of the country contingent to cover “Don’t Start Now.” Keith Urban also covered Dua Lipa’s song for a live video earlier this summer.

It’s been a big year for Ingrid, who notched her first number-one radio hit with “More Hearts Than Mine,” the leading single from Lady Like. In addition to releasing the project as her debut album this year, she’s also planning to drop Lady Like on vinyl on October 16.

Ingrid is also nominated at the 2020 CMA Awards in the categories of New Artist of the Year and Song of the Year (for “More Hearts Than Mine”).

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

September 9, 2020 • No Comments • Country Music News

ABC/Image Group LAThomas Rhett officially notched his 16th career number-one hit, as “Be a Light” ascended to the top spot on the Mediabase/Country Airplay chart this week.

He’s sharing the new milestone with the song’s lengthy and impressive list of collaborators, which include Reba McEntire, Keith Urban, Lady A’s Hillary Scott and Christian star Chris Tomlin. 

And while Thomas was thrilled to celebrate the song’s success, he also pointed out that he originally released it in order to focus on positivity during a dark, tumultuous time. “Be a Light” came out this spring, when the COVID-19 outbreak had just thrown the U.S. into a period of intense uncertainty.

“I’m completely blown away by the support of ‘Be a Light’ from the fans, country radio and the entire industry,” the singer explains. “When we decided to release this song in March, it was the best way I knew how to share what was on my heart.”

Watching how much “Be a Light” means to fans has given him hope. “I’m feeling so hopeful and encouraged to see so many of you inspired to take action because of it in your own communities. Thank y’all for coming together like this!” he says.

Up next, Thomas is on deck to perform at the 2020 ACM Awards, which will take place on September 16.

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

September 9, 2020 • No Comments • Country Music News

Courtesy of the Academy of Country MusicThe Academy of Country Music has revealed more presenters and performers for the upcoming 2020 ACM Awards.

Blake Shelton and Gwen Stefani will take the stage together during the show, performing their new duet single, “Happy Anywhere.” Carrie Underwood will help celebrate the Grand Ole Opry’s 95th anniversary, performing a medley of songs from female Opry members including Patsy Cline, Loretta Lynn, Barbara Mandrell, Martina McBride, Reba McEntire and Dolly Parton.

Trisha Yearwood will perform as part of the show’s In Memoriam segment, delivering “I’ll Carry You Home” off her 2019 Every Girl album, in tribute to those in country music we lost this year.

Also joining the lineup as presenters are Darius Rucker, Lauren Alaina, Runaway June, Clint Black with his wife Lisa Hartman Black, and radio DJ Bobby Bones.

The 2020 ACMs were originally scheduled to take place in Las Vegas back in April but due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the show was pushed to its current September date. For the first time, the ACMs will take place in Nashville, broadcasting from three iconic Music City venues: The Grand Ole Opry, the Bluebird Cafe and the Ryman Auditorium.

The 2020 ACMs will air live on CBS on September 16 at 8PM ET.

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

September 9, 2020 • No Comments • Country Music News

ABC/Image Group LASuperstar duo Dan + Shay are showing off a new side of their current single, “I Should Probably Go to Bed,” with a live, stripped-down version of the song.

The pair recorded this version of “I Should Probably Go to Bed” at Ocean Way Studio in Nashville, and the venue’s high ceilings, stunning acoustics and church-like stained glass windows provide the perfect backdrop for the new take. Alongside the release itself, Dan + Shay dropped a video of them recording the song at Ocean Way.

The simplicity of the song’s new version stands in stark contrast to its initial music video, a dizzying clip that finds the duo struggling to stay stable in the winding, circuitous halls of a mansion that starts to defy gravity.

Though Dan + Shay have had to pause their 2020 touring plans amid the COVID-19 pandemic, they’re already counting down the days until they can get back out on the road again: Last month, they announced new dates for The (Arena) Tour in 2021.  In the meantime, they’ve also been announced as performers for the upcoming 2020 ACM Awards, which will take place on September 16.

“I Should Probably Go to Bed” follows “10,000 Hours,” the country duo’s 2019 hit with pop superstar Justin Bieber. If they’re following a traditional album release format, “I Should Probably Go to Bed” is likely the second single from the next Dan + Shay album.

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

September 9, 2020 • No Comments • Country Music News

ABC/Image Group LA; Ron Galella/Ron Galella Collection via Getty ImagesThe legend behind classics like “Ode to Billie Joe” and “Fancy” is so famously reclusive, the BBC even produced a documentary called Whatever Happened to Bobbie Gentry? several years ago.

In fact, she takes her privacy so seriously, even Reba McEntire’s never encountered her, despite taking her tale of a woman “born just plain white trash” to new levels of fame. 

“I’ve never met her, I’ve never talked to her,” Reba reveals. “I’ve talked to so many people who have gotten to work with her and know her and do stay in communication with her.”

She continues: “I would say, ‘Hey, would you tell her that I’d really like to meet her sometime or talk to her or email or text or smoke signals or anything? I don’t care. I’d just really like to communicate with her.'”

Still, Reba’s requests have gone unanswered.

“I’d love to know, where did she get the idea of ‘Fancy’ and what was the thinking behind it?” Reba explains. “When she released it, then I fell in love with ‘Ode to Billie Joe’ and the albums, her duet album with Glen Campbell. I’m just a huge fan.”

“I think she’s a genius,” Reba adds. “Great songwriter, beautiful woman, great singer…  She’s a mystery woman.”

While she admires Gentry’s ability to step out of the spotlight, it’s not something Reba could ever do. 

“I’m a people person and I like to do what I do,” she reflects. “Dolly and I talked about it several times. I said, ‘Dolly, are you gonna retire?'”

“She said, ‘And do what? I’ve got the best job in the world. What would I do?'” Reba recalls. “… I’m with her a hundred percent.”

The 30th Anniversary Edition of Reba’s Rumor Has It album — featuring three different versions of “Fancy” — comes out Friday. 

By Andrea Dresdale
Copyright © 2020, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.