August 5, 2020 • No Comments • Country Music News

ABC/Stewart CookLaine Hardy is heading to NASCAR this weekend.

The American Idol season 17 winner will deliver a virtual performance of the national anthem ahead of the annual NASCAR Cup Series Consumers Energy 400 at Michigan International Speedway. The race begins at 4:30 p.m. ET on Sunday and will broadcast on NBCSN. 

“I can’t believe I’m getting to sing the national anthem before a NASCAR race,” Laine says in a statement. “Although I can’t be there in person during this time, I’m definitely looking forward to future races and watching the Consumers Energy 400 at Michigan International Speedway.  It’s going to be a great race!”

Fellow country star Darius Rucker performed the national anthem before the NASCAR Cup Series race at Darlington Raceway in May. 

Laine announced in June that he tested positive for COVID-19 with mild symptoms, but he has since recovered.

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

August 5, 2020 • No Comments • Country Music News

Jason Kempin/Getty ImagesKane Brown has released a philanthropic version of his song “Homesick,” featuring three of our nation’s veterans.

Titled “Homesick (Veterans Version),” the remix of Kane’s chart-topping song showcases the voices of JW Cortes, a former Marine Combat fighter who is now an actor and philanthropist; Sal Gonzalez, who joined the Marine Corps in the wake of 9/11; and Generald Wilson, a Navy veteran turned gospel singer.  

The new rendition is part of Kane’s partnership with the Crown Royal Purple Bag Project that provides care packages for veterans. In light of the COVID-19 pandemic, the mission of the Purple Bag Project has also been extended to helping front-line workers.

For every stream of “Homesick (Veterans Version),” Crown Royal will donate one bag to Packages from Home that will then be delivered to healthcare workers and members of the military in accordance with Crown Royal’s goal of donating 1 million bags by the end of 2020.

Additionally, the Purple Bag Project will donate $1 for every stream of the song, with a cap of $100,000, to Minority Veterans of America.  

The original video for “Homesick” also pays homage to veterans by showing footage of Kane’s performance of the song for members of the California National Guard. 

“Homesick” became Kane’s fifth consecutive number-one song on the Billboard Country Airplay chart in March.

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

August 5, 2020 • No Comments • Country Music News

Warner Music NashvilleDan + Shay had barely set The (Arena) Tour in motion in March before the COVID-19 pandemic brought it to a halt.

While Dan Smyers and Shay Mooney desperately wanted to be on the road, they had plenty to occupy them at home. Shay’s second son, Ames, was born in February, and Dan and wife Abby had just bought a new home.

“We moved into that house literally the week our tour started,” Dan recalls, “so it was just absolute madness. And that week was crazy in Nashville. There was a tornado…”

“So a lot was going on…” he reflects. “Had this tour continued, we may[‘ve] still be[en] scrambling to get the house ready and [to] figure stuff out.”

Of course, Dan and Abby’s new digs are also home to their beloved rescue pups.

“I feel like every decision we make in our personal lives is motivated by the comfort of our dogs,” Dan tells ABC Audio. “And we moved to a place with a little bit bigger yard, just so they could run around.”

“And I guess if you have a yard that tires out the dogs a little bit more, that really helps us, too. A tired dog is a good dog,” he laughs. “So, yeah, we got them a little bit bigger space and it’s been nice.”

Especially now that their new single, “I Should Probably Go to Bed,” has come out, Dan + Shay are more anxious than ever to get back to work.

“There’s been silver linings to it all,” Dan says. “Unfortunately, we’re missing the road, missing the fans. And we had a good thing going there.”

“But, you know, we’re fingers crossed hoping that it’ll pick back up just like it was in 2021,” he adds. 

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

August 4, 2020 • No Comments • Country Music News

ABC/Image Group LACarrie Underwood and husband Mike Fisher enjoyed a couples’ retreat this weekend with a fly fishing trip. 

The former Nashville Predators hockey player shared a photo on Instagram of the happy couple out on the water with their catches of the day. A split-shot photo shows Carrie proudly displaying a fish much larger fish than Mike’s — and apparently, it’s not the first time the powerhouse singer has outdone her husband. 

“This past weekend we were able to get away for some good quality time! One thing we love to do together is fly fish but the thing I don’t like about it is she catches bigger fish,” Fisher writes alongside the photos. 

Additionally, Carrie dropped the news today that her husband will be joining her fitness app, Fit52, as a new trainer and will have his own path, called Mike’s Path. The singer says that Mike has been doing workouts with her since she conceived the idea for the app, which launched in March. 

“I was super excited and surprised at how much he loved doing the app with me, so here we go,” Carrie says excitedly in a video posted for her 8.3 million Twitter followers.

Carrie created Fit52 with her personal trainer, Eve Overland.  The app offers a series of Carrie’s workouts and supports users on their individual wellness journeys.

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

August 4, 2020 • No Comments • Country Music News

ABC/Mark LevineTim McGraw is becoming more in touch with his emotions as time marches on. 

“At 53, I probably don’t self-examine as much as I should, but I think I’m learning that I’m getting more and more emotional...about everything,” he confesses in an interview with his label, Big Machine record Group. “And maybe I’ve been heading that direction for a while but maybe this time has really sped that process up.” 

Though Tim has admittedly been sentimental over his latest single “I Called Mama,” he also finds himself getting emotional over ordinary life moments. 

“I mean, I can cry at commercials now,” he adds. “It’s ridiculous.” 

Tim is set to release his first solo album in five years, Here on Earth, on August 21. He was scheduled to be on a tour of the same name this year, but the plans were cancelled due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. 

“I Called Mama” is currently in the top 15 on the Billboard Country Airplay chart.

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