August 3, 2020 • No Comments • Country Music News

ABC/Image Group LACountry singer Luke Combs didn’t let COVID-19 or impending Tropical Storm Isaias dash his wedding plans with longtime love Nicole Hocking.  The two tied the knot in a romantic beachside ceremony in Florida over the weekend.

The 30-year-old shared several images of his big day on Sunday, which not only showed off the lovely sunset ceremony but also Hocking’s gorgeous wedding gown and bouquet.

“Yesterday was the best day of my life,” wrote Combs. ” I got to marry my best friend. I love you  @nicohocking, here’s to forever.”

Hocking also announced her nuptials on Sunday, who wrote a little more about their ultra private ceremony and how the two plan to make up for having to rein in the guest list. 

“Yesterday was the most special day!! I’m so happy to spend the rest of my life with you!,” She gushed to Combs in the caption. “Although we wish would could have had every single one of our family & friends there, we can’t wait to celebrate with everyone next year!”

Of course, the country industry flooded the newlyweds with an abundance of well wishes, among them Tanya Tucker, Kane Brown, Dan Smyers, Carly Pearce and Baker Mayfield.  

Also sending their enthusiastic congratulations to the wedded couple were This Is Us star Chrissy Metz, Good Charlotte frontman Joel Madden and celebrity chef and Nailed It! judge Jean-Paul Bourgeois. 

Combs and his wife, who started dating in 2016, expressed to their followers that they intend to share more about their big day sometime “soon.”

By Megan Duley
Copyright © 2020, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

August 3, 2020 • No Comments • Country Music News

Eric Ryan AndersonWhen Brothers Osborne wrote “Hatin’ Somebody” for their upcoming third album, TJ and John had no idea how relevant it would turn out to be.

“We wrote [it] with Casey Beathard,” TJ explains, “and it’s kind of interesting how it has turned out to be timely. But ultimately, the song really just talks about, in the chorus, ‘Hatin’ somebody’s never got nobody nowhere/It’s a bad seed to sow, it’s a dead end road when you go there.’ Honestly, that just kind of always applies.”

“It was an idea that Casey brought to us,” TJ recalls, “and we instantly were like, ‘Man, I just love what that says.'”

“And everyone’s been guilty of doing some hatin’. I have,” he confesses. “And it’s a song that, it’s fun to sing for people to kinda just remind them, but also to remind myself…”

The Maryland natives also built some Osborne family history into the tune. 

“If you listen closely to the second verse,” John tells ABC Audio, “we mentioned our grandfather who grew up in West Virginia and then moved to Baltimore for work. So it explains a lot about us, our family, our upbringing.”

“I mean, hate has been around for a long time,” John continues, “longer than all of us have been alive. So it’s always going to be a topic. It just so happened that it has coincided with a lot of newer public events that have reached the media.”

“One of my favorite lines,” TJ interjects, “is ‘You need a paddle on the left and a paddle on the right, because we’re all on the same damn boat.’ That is so true.”  

Brothers’ third album, Skeletons, arrives October 9, and also features their current hit, “All Night.”

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

July 31, 2020 • No Comments • Country Music News

Warner Music NashvilleTucker Beathard brought Lindsay Ell into the studio for a new duet version of “Faithful,” a song he released as a solo effort early this month.

Lindsay lends harmony vocals and takes the lead on the second verse of the song. She also brings her noted guitar skills to the track. Tucker recently told CMT that shooting the video for the song’s new version provided a fun chance for the two artists to geek out over musical equipment.

“I always love nerding out with anyone over gear and guitars,” he admits. “…I also loved hearing another artist interpret and approach one of my songs their own way. She gave a whole different feel to ‘Faithful.’”

The solo version of “Faithful” is included on Tucker’s upcoming project, King. It’s the second half of his debut double album, which began with 2018’s Nobody’s Everything, and is due for release on August 21.

Tucker’s not the only one with new music on the horizon: Lindsay also recently announced a new album, heart theory. That project will come out on August 14.

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

July 31, 2020 • No Comments • Country Music News

Big Machine RecordsThis week, Rascal Flatts dropped their six-track EP, How They Remember You. The new batch of tunes marks their 20-year anniversary as a trio, but the bandmates agree that one of the most special parts of celebrating that milestone is being able to thank the listeners who love them.

“Our fans are so important to the three of us,” Joe Don Rooney reflects. “And so, with everything happening in the world, we still wanted to find a way that felt right to mark an amazing two decades together on this journey.”

The project’s track list includes a duet with newcomer Rachel Wammack called “Quick, Fast, in a Hurry.” It also includes Rascal Flatts’ take on a Kenny Rogers classic, “Through the Years.” The trio performed that song early this year during a virtual benefit show, which paid tribute to the legendary singer-songwriter following his death in March.

2020 is a special year for Rascal Flatts. Not only is it the group’s 20th anniversary, but it’s also the year they’d planned to embark on a massive farewell tour before disbanding their trio in order to focus on separate pursuits.

In light of the COVID-19 pandemic, those plans are now in limbo. The Farewell: Life is a Highway Tour has been pushed back from its scheduled June launch date, but the band has promised that they will be back at some point to deliver their big final run.

In the meantime, the trio are focusing on their new EP and its title track single, as well as individual creative endeavors. Gary LeVox is working on a solo Christian album, and Jay DeMarcus will star in a new Netflix series.

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

July 31, 2020 • No Comments • Country Music News

UMG NashvilleLauren Alaina shared the first taste of her next batch of new music this week, releasing her anthemic new “Run.” It’s the first of six tracks included in an upcoming EP from the singer called Getting Over Him.

“We’re all running. Constantly. Non-stop. Even in this quarantine, we are all still the busiest we’ve ever been,” Lauren reflects. “Life just keeps going and going in unbelievable paces as we try to race ourselves to the next thing.”

No matter who you are or what your position in life may be, the singer goes on to say, everybody has to work hard to accomplish their goals, and that drive is what inspired her to write “Run.”

“My idea with the song was to refer to examples of all things that run, because no matter what your walk of life is, we are all racing to the next thing,” she explains. “We are all trying to get where we are going. We all get our hearts broken. We all have these childhood dreams. We ‘run’ to make it all happen.”

The singer previously shared Getting Over Him’s full track list, which includes a duet with Jon Pardi as well as another collaboration with Danish pop performers Lukas Graham.

The project is due out in full on September 4.

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