August 14, 2020 • No Comments • Country Music News

Robin HarperThe Chicks will represent the country contingent at the 2020 Democratic National Convention, as part of a star-studded lineup that will air over the four-day event later this month.

Other scheduled acts set to appear include Billie Eilish, Common, Jennifer Hudson, John Legend, Leon Bridges and many more. They’ll deliver a wide range of performances, from classic songs to original material.

This year’s convention will also feature a rendition of the national anthem from a very special ensemble: A 57-member youth choir representing all walks of life and the nation’s 57 states and territories.  The choir members will perform the patriotic standard from remote locations spanning the country.

Ever since they were ousted from country radio for speaking out against the U.S. invasion of Iraq in 2003, the Chicks have been famous — and sometimes infamous — for their political activism. Their most recent album, Gaslighter, doesn’t shy away from the group’s convictions. It includes the song “March March,” the lyrics and accompanying video for which share a powerful statement about social justice and the importance of standing up for your beliefs.

DNC performances will air across four nights from August 17-20 from 9 p.m.-11p.m. ET. In addition to the musical guests, the broadcast will feature appearances from national leaders, advocates and celebrities. More details will be announced in the coming days.

You can watch the official livestream on the DNC website, where you’ll also find a full schedule and more resources.

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

August 14, 2020 • No Comments • Country Music News

Alex HarbaughShania Twain’s set to celebrate the 25th anniversary of her breakthrough album, The Woman in Me, by putting out the Diamond Edition of the record that put her on the map on October 2. The pop/country icon made the announcement Friday morning during her appearance on Good Morning America’s Summer Concert Series on ABC.  

The Woman in Me showcases Shania standards like her first crossover hit, “Any Man of Mine,” plus smashes like “You Win My Love,” “No One Needs to Know,” and “(If You’re Not in It for Love) I’m Outta Here!”. Shania’s second record spent 29 weeks at the top of the country chart, and went on to become country’s best-selling album of 1995.

The Woman in Me: Diamond Edition features a newly remastered version of the album, plus sixteen previously unreleased tracks, remixes, and five live performances captured in December of last year during Shania’s latest Las Vegas residency. It also includes a commemorative 48-page booklet.

It’ll come in multiple CD and vinyl formats, which you can pre-order now.

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

August 14, 2020 • No Comments • Country Music News

Matthew BerinatoAs Kane Brown‘s Mixtape Vol. 1 arrives today, it’s more than just the precursor to his full-length third album. 

With non-country guests like Swae Lee, Khalid, and John Legend, it’s his most diverse collection yet, and very likely the most accurate representation of his musical DNA. 

“When I was starting to get into the music business,” Kane recalls, “I always would tell my friends, I was like, ‘I want to be an artist that can do everything.'”

“I think rap would be the only thing that I would hold out [on doing]…” he adds. “I love music in general. Country music always has my heart. I’ll never leave country music. But it’s cool to be able to, you know, do all these things.”

In fact, Kane’s happy to take what some might consider a criticism and proudly own it. 

“When everybody’s like ‘Oh, this is pop-country,’ yeah, I’m a pop-country artist,” he declares. “And this EP’s kind of just showing everybody that.”

“It’s like, I have a song with Swae Lee and Khalid. My album’s gonna have a song with [R&B singer/songwriter] H.E.R. on it,” he teases. “There’s probably gonna be some other artists — like features — on there.”

But the Chattanooga, Tennessee native is equally proud of the countriest track on the new set.

“I like having ‘BFE’ on there,” he explains, “because it’s kind of like, ‘This is what I grew up on, the nineties sound of country music.’ But that’s why I called it the Mixtape is because it’s like all of my sounds into one.”

The set also features his current top ten hit, “Cool Again.”

It’s his first collection of new music since 2018’s chart-topping Experiment.

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

August 13, 2020 • No Comments • Country Music News

Warner Music Nashville/Academy of Country MusicIt’s been four decades since Willie Nelson released his classic “On the Road Again,” but during the COVID-19 pandemic, when touring artists are stuck at home, its lyrics feel more timely than ever.

That’s why Morgan Wallen, Gabby Barrett, Jordan Davis, Lindsay Ell and many more teamed up to channel their off-the-road blues into a collaborative new version of the tune. All of this year’s ACM New Artist nominees participate in the track, also including Caylee Hammack, Riley Green, Russell Dickerson, Cody Johnson, Tenille Townes and Ingrid Andress. Willie himself chimes in for a verse, too.

“That’s our cry right now,” Russell tells People of the song’s yearning to hit the open highway. “That’s our anthem. I can’t wait to be on the road with all my friends.”

In the meantime, the song will help put some money towards a good cause. Proceeds from “On the Road Again (ACM Lifting Lives Edition)” will benefit the ACM Lifting Lives COVID-19 Response Fund, supporting individuals in the country music community affected by the pandemic.

As New Artist nominees, all the song’s participants are up for trophies at the 2020 ACM Awards. They were originally planning to find out who the winners were back in April, when the ceremony was first scheduled to take place.

Due to the pandemic, though, the ACM Awards ceremony was pushed to fall. It’s currently scheduled to take place on September 16 in Nashville.

August 13, 2020 • No Comments • Country Music News

Phylicia J. L. Munn Mickey Guyton has been building momentum over the course of 2020 with songs like “Black Like Me,” “Heaven Down Here” and “What Are You Gonna Tell Her?” Now, the singer is ready to share all the details of her next project.

Mickey will release a six-song EP called Bridges on September 11, featuring the three songs she’s already shared, along with three more as-yet-unheard originals.

In a statement, the singer explains that the songs on the EP are the result of a productive, if sometimes painful, creative growth spurt she underwent over the past couple of years.

“Two years ago, this project didn’t even feel like it was a possibility,” Mickey explains. “This EP proves that in your darkest moments, you can have your biggest breakthroughs.”

Mickey’s new music was also inspired by her reflections during the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as the new chapter of the Civil Rights movement that emerged in 2020, with people turning out across the country to protest against racism and police brutality.

“I think back to all of the obstacles in my life and career, including writing and recording most of this EP in quarantine during a time of social unrest, and how it has all led to the birth of this beautiful project,” Mickey recalls. “I hope these songs provide others with the same happiness and strength they have provided me in these uncertain times.”

Here’s the full track list of Bridges:

“Heaven Down Here”
“Bridges”
“What Are You Gonna Tell Her?”
“Rosé”
“Salt”
“Black Like Me”