September 4, 2020 • No Comments • Country Music News

Big Loud RecordsNewcomer Hardy has already made a name for himself in country music, penning hits like Blake Shelton’s “God’s Country” and Morgan Wallen’s “Up Down.” Now, he’s issuing his first major statement as an an artist with his debut album, A Rock.

“I am overwhelmed with excitement to share the next chapter of myself as an artist with my fans,” the singer says. “I truly believe there is a song for everyone on this record and I can’t wait to see what it does for me and my career. I’m so thankful to be able to make music for a living and I’m giving you guys my heart and soul with this record.”

Previously-shared tracks off A Rock range from the romantic “Boyfriend” and the powerful, gut-punching “Give Heaven Some Hell,” to “One Beer,” a collaboration with Lauren Alaina and Devin Dawson, which is currently a top-15 hit for Hardy.

The new project follows Hardy’s Hixtape Vol. 1 a creative duets project that saw the singer teaming up with a huge range of his friends and country peers. “One Beer” was on the track list of that album, too.

To celebrate the release of A Rock, Hardy is on deck to make his debut on the Late Show with Stephen Colbert. He’ll perform his brand-new song,  “Ain’t a Bad Day.”

September 4, 2020 • No Comments • Country Music News

Big Machine RecordsCarly Pearce made her official return today with “Next Girl,” an up-tempo power anthem that walks another woman through how to avoid the same love trap that once got the best of her.

“I bet you probably met him at a bar / Let him walk you to your car / I bet her said he never falls this hard / Yeah, I remember that part,” Carly sings. “He knows how to say all the right things / Knows how to get you out of that dress / Knows how to make you think you’re the best thing / But I know what happens next, girl…”

The song was written in the midst of a whirlwind of change for Carly: Not only was she stuck at home after having to scrap her touring schedule amid the pandemic, but earlier this summer, she filed for divorce from Michael Ray, her husband of eight months.

It was also the first time since the outset of her major-label career that Carly dove into a new musical chapter without her longtime producer, busbee, who died unexpectedly of brain cancer last year.

But Carly found strength in the kind of country music she loved growing up, especially classic empowerment anthems by women. Fortified by the likes of Loretta Lynn, The Chicks and Patty Loveless, she and her co-writer sat down to write a power anthem that would make the female legends of country proud.

“We live in a world where there are so many smooth-talking guys who’re so quick to sweep you off your feet — and they always have a story about the girl before,” Carly explains. “So when we were asking ourselves, ‘What would Patty Loveless do?’ We figured not only would she warn the girl, she’d turn over all the cards…”

September 4, 2020 • No Comments • Country Music News

Warner Music NashvilleNo doubt Kenny Chesney is something of a guru to the multitude of fans that are a part of his No Shoes Nation. And with his latest hit, he’s taking it one step further, putting forward a philosophy that can likely benefit us all.

“‘Happy Does’ is a song that truly, when I heard it, it reminded me of, I don’t know, just trying to live your best life, you know,” the superstar tells ABC Audio.

“Because so many people we know — I’m not that active on social media,” he continues. “I don’t get lost in it and stay in it all day. But some people will live their life looking at other people’s lives on social media. And I think sometimes they do it so much that they forget to live their own.”

In fact, “Happy Does” has a lot in common with Kenny’s most recent number one, the title track of his Here and Now album.

“I think that’s the message of this song,” Kenny reflects, “is just try to stay present and to try to live and to try to be happy within your own life and to stay curious and to stay hungry.”

“And that’s what made me want to record a song like ‘Happy Does,'” he adds.  

Late last month, Kenny’s chart-topping Here and Now became his first album ever to be available on vinyl.

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

September 3, 2020 • No Comments • Country Music News

ABC/Image Group LAAfter several weeks of teasing new music on social media, Carly Pearce is finally ready to let fans in on her next musical chapter. She’s dropping a new single, “Next Girl,” on Friday.

Carly tells American Songwriter that her new song taps into the energy of ‘80s and ‘90s country, which was centered around a powerful female perspective.

“That was the thing about Patty Loveless and so many of these women: They were so strong, and so real,” the singer adds. “They stuck up for themselves, earned their own money, fell in love, got hurt, but they were always their own women.”

That generation of female country stars knew how to write kiss-off anthem about love gone bad, too. Carly’s channeling that sentiment in the lyrics of her new song, where she warns another woman to stay away from a womanizer who seems too good to be true.

Earlier this summer, Carly filed for divorce from Michael Ray, her husband of just eight months. Between that major life change and time spent off the road in quarantine, it’s been a fruitful creative period for the CMA-nominated singer, who says she wasn’t expecting to start writing again so soon after her album’s release in February.

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

September 3, 2020 • No Comments • Country Music News

ABC/Image Group LAMaren Morris continues to set records both in the country genre and on out-of-genre charts. The singer’s hit “The Bones” has reached the top spot on Billboard’s Adult Contemporary chart after a 40-week climb.

According to Billboard, “The Bones” now holds the record for taking the longest of any single by a woman to top this particular chart. Prior to Maren’s hit, the previous record was held by Enya’s 2001 song “Only Time,” with a 33-week climb.

It’s the second time that Maren’s been at the top of the Billboard Adult Contemporary chart, following her 2018 hit “The Middle,” a collaboration with Zedd and Grey.

“The Bones” was also a country chart-topper for Maren earlier this year; she previously scored number-one hits on country charts with “I Could Use a Love Song” and “Girl.”

Maren’s newest accolade comes toward the end of a big week for her. The singer earned five nominations for the upcoming 2020 CMA Awards, including in the category of Female Vocalist of the Year.

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