August 24, 2020 • No Comments • Country Music News

ABC/Image Group LAThomas Rhett heads to “Mamaw’s House” in a new song co-written with Morgan Wallen. 

Over the past several months, Thomas has made a habit of sharing unreleased songs via acoustic performances on Instagram.  Over the weekend, he debuted another new song that he recently co-wrote with his “good buddy” Morgan, called “Mamaw’s House,” which takes listeners down a Southern country lane back to childhood days of visiting his grandmother.

The song elicits memories of those summertime days that included fried chicken, front porch swings and hard work at the home where “cussing and complaining” where not allowed.

“If every nightstand had a Bible/Every front porch had a swing/If every backyard had a garden/Every front door had a screen/Yeah maybe this crazy world would straighten up/And slow on down/If every town had a mamaw’s house,” Thomas croons in the chorus.  

“Yep. That’s a winner,” Jake Owen champions in the comment section, with Michael Ray also offering his seal of approval with a simple “100” sticker. 

Other fresh tracks Thomas has debuted on the platform include “Things Dads Do” and “What’s Your Country Song.”

By Cillea Houghton
Copyright © 2020, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

August 24, 2020 • No Comments • Country Music News

ABC/Image Group LAMaren Morris and Ryan Hurd welcomed their first child, a son named Hayes Andrew, near the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic in March. 

Though Maren’s been candid about her postpartum depression and the struggles of having a baby during one of the most difficult times in recent memory, all-in-all, she’s loving being a mother.

“I feel like we lucked out with Hayes, because he’s so relaxed and so chill,” she reveals. “And maybe that has something to do with us, but honestly they do sort of form their own personalities even at two or three-months-old.”

Seeing the emotion on Hayes’ face makes it worth it all for Maren.

“Because they’re such potatoes in the beginning and they just sleep all day,” she reflects, “I think when he was like three-and-a-half months, four months, when he started giving genuine smiles, that’s definitely when you feel like, ‘Okay, this kid knows who I am, he knows that he’s finding joy in something already.’”

“And it’s always something random that makes him laugh,” she adds, “but I think that’s been the heart-melter is when that kid smiles.”

Maren says that’s one way you can definitely see he’s his father’s son.

“Everyone has said since he was born that he looks like me,” she explains, “but when he smiles, he’s got my husband’s like crooked smile. And that definitely melts my heart, ’cause it’s Ryan.”

Hayes has also gotten some pretty impressive baby gifts from his mom and dad’s friends, Little Big Town, Miranda Lambert, and Carrie Underwood, just to name a few. 

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

August 21, 2020 • No Comments • Country Music News

ABC/Image Group LAAfter the birth of her son, Maren Morris struggled with postpartum depression. Now, she’s opening up about that experience as part of Little Spoon’s “Is This Normal?” campaign.

“Postpartum depression is REAL, and I had it,” Maren shared on Twitter. “I am so proud to be involved in [Little Spoon]’s ‘Is This Normal?’ campaign that normalizes the questions we all have as new parents. For every video question I answer, they’re donating $100 to my charity of choice.”

For the singer, that’s The Black Women’s Health Imperative, which is the first nonprofit organized by Black women in support of the health and wellness of Black women and girls.

Maren and her husband, fellow artist Ryan Hurd, welcomed baby Hayes back in March. The singer has previously been open about her experience of delivering her son via emergency C-section in the midst of a pandemic.

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

Postpartum depression is REAL, and I had it. I am so proud to be involved with @littlespoon ‘s “Is This Normal” campaign that normalizes the questions we all have as new parents. For every video question I answer, they’re donating $100 to my charity of choice: @blkwomenshealth ✨

— MAREN MORRIS (@MarenMorris) August 20, 2020

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August 21, 2020 • No Comments • Country Music News

Paso Fino RecordsIt may not pay to be a nice guy, but at least you can count on your friends.

Brad Paisley, Maddie & Tae and Charles Esten are just a few of the stars who make appearances in the music video for Eric Paslay’s “Nice Guy,” a song that wonders if it’s possible to get ahead while still being a good person.

Meanwhile, Eric’s friends sing along to the words, act out the song’s story or even lovingly troll him throughout the video. It all starts with a shot of Brad composing an aggressive tweet to launch at Eric.

“I’m gonna need you to change your name. It’s too similar to mine, and you’re a dork,” Brad writes.

As the song continues, more famous faces pop up, all acting out the various ways in which the stars are renouncing their various “nice guy” ways. All the cameos are compiled via home footage, as the COVID-19 pandemic prevented Eric from gathering his friends in person to shoot the video.

“I appreciate the time each of them spent filming something on their own and sending to us to include,” the singer adds. “It took a lot of extra time [and] planning, but it was so much fun to see what everyone came up with creatively!”

“Nice Guy” is the title track of Eric’s new album.

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

August 21, 2020 • No Comments • Country Music News

Mercury NashvilleLauren Alaina recruits Jon Pardi to join her on “Getting Over Him,” the just-released title track off her new EP.

Fun-loving and full of swagger, the tune is all about how a fling can ease post-breakup pain. While Lauren’s part of the song mourns the loss of a relationship and an unfaithful partner, Jon chimes in to offer her a good time and distract her from her heartbreak.

“We were dive bar kissing / Heartbreak fixing / No strings Saturday night,” the two singers harmonize in the chorus. “Hot like a match / It burned out fast / Forever wasn’t in our eyes…”

Lauren and Jon effortlessly trade lines throughout the song, and for good reason: It’s not their first time collaborating. Lauren signed on as a guest artist for Jon’s “Don’t Blame it on Whiskey,” off his Heartache Medication album.

While she’s no stranger to duet projects, Lauren admits that she’s a little surprised her EP includes a song about moving on with a quick fling.

“I’ve done duets with other people for their projects, but I have never done any for my own,” she explains “…[Jon’s] energy is so amazing. I can’t believe I have a rebound song — but I do.”

Getting Over Him is due out on September 4.

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