August 11, 2020 • No Comments • Country Music News

ABLE x Lauren AkinsLauren Akins is stepping into the world of fashion.

The author and philanthropist has partnered with fashion brand ABLE to create a new line of handbags called ABLE x Lauren Akins. 

The limited edition collection features two bags, a shoulder tote and the cross body. Lauren describes the tote, which features two outside pockets and interior zipper pocket along with a removable zip pouch, as “the ultimate mom bag, without looking like a mom bag.”  

The Crossbody includes an adjustable strap top zip with a fold-over flap and is adorned with a leopard print tassel.  

ABLE is an ethical fashion brand based in Nashville that both trains and educates women to enable them to earn wages as a way out of poverty. 

A portion of the proceeds from Lauren’s collection will go toward Love One and its mission to supply medical care and vital resources to children in Uganda, the country from which Lauren and her husband, Thomas Rhett, adopted their four-year-old daughter, Willa Gray. 

“I love knowing that they’re creating jobs for women around the world. Something I’ve seen first-hand from my work and travels to Uganda is the power of job creation in vulnerable communities, helping to free people from the cycle of poverty,” Lauren explains. “That’s why this partnership is so special to me, because it’s another incredible way I can live a life of purpose each and every day.”

The ABLE x Lauren Akins collection is available to pre-order now.

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

August 11, 2020 • No Comments • Country Music News

ABC/Image Group LAMorgan Wallen surprised fans with the news that he became a dad last month, and the singer says the new role has “changed” him.

Morgan and his ex, KT Smith, welcomed son Indigo Wilder on July 11. In an interview with Entertainment Tonight, Morgan admits he’s a bit of a “wildcard,” but now has clarity, knowing that his actions have a ripple effect on his son. 

“It’s definitely changed the way I look at things,” he asserts. “I realize every decision I make now don’t just affect me, but it affects him too, so I’m trying to be a little bit more responsible.” 

The singer expands on this point, stating that he looks to his own father as a role model for how to treat both Indie and KT. 

“I had a really good example of a dad growing up. I really just want to be like my daddy. There was always a lot of sacrifices made for me and for my sister to make sure we were all happy,” Morgan explains. “He always gave me a good example of how to treat my mom.”

 He also makes it a point to visit Indie as much as possible.  

“I go see him as much as I can,” the singer adds. “He’s good, he’s healthy.” 

The “Up Down” hit maker is currently working on his upcoming sophomore album, sharing in the interview that his new material is more “mature” and “personal.”

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

August 11, 2020 • No Comments • Country Music News

BBR Music GroupLindsay Ell will ring in the arrival of her new album, heart theory, with a 24-hour livestream event this week.

Beginning on Thursday at 12 p.m. ET, Lindsay will host an all-day virtual event featuring performances, special guests and other surprises leading up to heart theory‘s release on Friday. 

Additionally, Lindsay is set to perform lead single “wAnt me back” on the Today show August 17 from the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville. 

heart theory follows the seven stages of grief and features songs co-written by Kane Brown, Tyler Hubbard of Florida Georgia Line and Brandy Clark, the latter of whom helped Lindsay write “make you,” inspired by the singer’s experience of sexual assault when she was 13.

“If theory is the science of music, heart theory is the science of a heart,” Lindsay says in a statement. “I hope this road map can be a comfort if you need it, reassurance when you need to remember to believe in yourself or maybe just a glimpse into a memory that’s made you who you are.” 

heart theory is Lindsay’s sophomore album, following her 2017 debut, The Project.

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

August 11, 2020 • No Comments • Country Music News

ABC/Image Group LADan + Shay have announced new dates for The (Arena) Tour in 2021. 

The 31-date tour is slated to kick off on September 9 in Greensboro, North Carolina at the Bon Secours Wellness Arena. It’ll then travel across the country through early December, making stops in cities including New Orleans, Chicago, Atlanta and Dan Smyers‘ hometown of Philadelphia, at the Wells Fargo Center.

Dan + Shay will also play New York’s coveted Madison Square Garden on September 16. The tour wraps in Boston at the TD Garden on December 7.

The duo kicked off The (Arena) Tour this year with a two-night stay at Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena in early March. They were supposed to play the Wells Fargo Center in Philly on March 12, but the show was cancelled due to the spread of COVID-19.  They originally pushed the dates back to July 2020, but Dan announced in a Twitter video in June that the tour would instead move to 2021. 

Dan + Shay recently released their new song, “I Should Probably Go to Bed.” 

For the full list of new tour dates, visit the duo’s website.

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

August 11, 2020 • No Comments • Country Music News

Jason Kempin/Getty ImagesLast week in an interview with Extra TV, Kane Brown revealed that he recently got lost on his 30-acre property in Tennessee. He’s since provided more insight into the matter, sharing that what he thought would be a 30-minute excursion turned into seven hours. 

According to People, the singer and his wife, Katelyn, made their own trail on the property, and on their first day at their new home, Kane and their friends decided to venture out and explore the wooded area.

Along the way, the group’s 4-wheelers ran out of gas and they lost the trail, then got caught in the rain as teh temperate dropped to 40 degrees and became lost in the woods after dark.

“We used GPS to try and get back but it kept taking us to all these cliffs that you can’t drive a 4-wheeler down and I wasn’t about to leave them,” he explains. 

So Kane called his friend, musician Ryan Upchurch, who lives in area, to come find them. He was able to locate the group but they still weren’t able to find their way back out.  That’s when they turned to their last resort of calling the police to rescue them. 

Fortunately, everyone’s safe and sound now.

“That’s the story, but I love getting lost in my back yard even better,” says Kane.

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