July 31, 2020 • No Comments • Country Music News

Courtesy ABCSince filling hotel ballrooms or stadiums with screaming — and singing — hopefuls is no longer an option amid the COVID-19 pandemic, American Idol is taking its auditions on the road virtually for the spring 2021 edition of the show.

Starting August 10, the show will kick off its “Idol Across America” remote auditions, which will take place in all 50 states as well as Washington, D.C. for the first time ever.  To sign up for a chance to virtually audition for an American Idol producer, visit www.americanidol.com/auditions. 

All the details are there — you just need to be between the ages of 15 and 28. You’re allowed to audition during any date, regardless of where you actually live.  The show will use “custom-built Zoom technology” to hold the auditions.

Earlier this year, American Idol became the first reality competition series to air remotely, with contestants performing and judges Lionel Richie, Luke Bryan and Katy Perry commenting from their respective homes. Singer Just Sam was crowned the winner on May 17.

The audition dates are as follows:

Delaware, Florida and Ohio (Aug 10)
Louisiana, Missouri and Wisconsin (Aug 12)
Arizona, Oregon and Washington (Aug. 14)
Georgia, Maryland, Washington D.C. and Rhode Island (Aug 16)
Open Call Auditions (Aug 17)
Alabama, Arkansas and Kansas (Aug 18)
Idaho, New Mexico and Utah (Aug. 20)
Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota and Texas (Aug 22)
Michigan, Tennessee and Virginia (Aug 24)
Open Call Auditions (Aug 25)
Iowa, Mississippi and Oklahoma (Aug 26)
Illinois, Indiana and Minnesota (Aug 28)
Connecticut, New Jersey and New York (Aug 30)
Colorado, Montana, Nevada and Wyoming (Sep 1)
Maine, South Carolina and West Virginia (Sep 3)
Alaska, California and Hawaii (Sep 5)
Kentucky, New Hampshire and Pennsylvania (Sep 7)
Massachusetts, North Carolina and Vermont (Sep 9)

By Andrea Dresdale
Copyright © 2020, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

July 31, 2020 • No Comments • Country Music News

Warner Music NashvilleFans have been waiting for new music from Dan + Shay ever since they topped the country chart with Justin Bieber back in January with “10,000 Hours.” Today, the anticipation comes to an end, as Dan Smyers and Shay Mooney arrive back on the scene with their new tune, “I Should Probably Go to Bed.”

The duo’s latest single owes its origins to a trip west where Dan + Shay picked up a trophy for Best Country Duo/Group Performance at music’s most prestigious night.

“We wrote part of this song in Los Angeles during Grammy week,” Dan explains, “but finished it at my house, on my piano, kind of by accident.”

“Shay had come over to record vocals on another song that we had written,” he continues. “We took a break, went downstairs, started singing this song, and realized this song needs a big ending.”

Dan’s never been shy about bragging on his musical partner’s vocal prowess, but he believes this time, Shay really hit it out of the park. 

“We really went for it,” Dan says. “Shay delivered one of my favorite vocal performances of all time.”

“We’re so proud that this is our new single,” he adds.

If Dan + Shay are going the traditional route, this is likely the second single from their upcoming fourth album. 

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

July 30, 2020 • No Comments • Country Music News

Courtesy of the Country Music Hall of Fame and MuseumAs COVID-19 cases continue to rise in Tennessee and across the U.S., the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum has announced that its galleries will remain closed to the public through August 31.

“The museum’s top priority is the health and safety of our guests and staff,” says CEO Kyle Young. “…We look forward to the day when guests from all over the world can explore our galleries again, but the continued increase of COVID-19 cases throughout the nation causes us to feel that it wise to remain closed at present, to protect employees and visitors.”

The Hall of Fame first closed its doors in mid-March, when the threat of the virus’ spread began canceling tours and in-person events throughout the country industry and beyond. Earlier this summer, the venue also canceled its regular course of summer in-person events, including screenings, summer camps, family programming and its internship program.

However, the museum maintains a variety of virtual experiences for country fans to enjoy remotely. These include the Hall of Fame’s podcast, Voices in the Hall, as well as its virtual “Songwriter Sessions” series and a number of online family programming options.

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

July 30, 2020 • No Comments • Country Music News

ABC/Image Group LAJust days after he first shared “Hallelujahville,” Tim McGraw is ups the ante on small-town sentimentality with a new acoustic performance version of the piano ballad.

The singer and his bandmates deliver “Hallelujahville” against the backdrop of a small, church-like venue with high, dark windows. It’s a simple video treatment that highlights the song’s message of gratitude for growing up with small-town values and a sense of community.

Tim’s new ballad is from Here on Earth, his 16th studio album and first solo project in five years. It also marks his first batch of new tunes since re-signing to his longtime label home, Big Machine Records.

Tim previously described Here on Earth as a 16-track collection of “vignettes of life.”

Prior to dropping “Hallelujahville,” he shared the equally poignant “I Called Mama,” another ballad that brings family front and center.

Here on Earth is due out on August 21.

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

July 30, 2020 • No Comments • Country Music News

ABC/Image Group LARussell Dickerson is putting his downtime to good use during the COVID-19 pandemic: He’s hard at work on album number three.

This week, the singer has been taking to social media to give fans a little taste of the new music he’s got cooking. He posted three videos sharing snippets of as-yet-unheard songs, and also offered a couple of clues to what their titles might be.

“Whatever you want I’m / All yours, all night / Sunset to sunrise,” Russell sings in one of the clips. Coupled with a caption that reads “AYAN,” it seems like “All Yours All Night” might be the track’s title.

Another clip, captioned “CTJ,” had fans baffled as to what the song’s name might be.

“I’m the little devil on her shoulder / And she brings it in a little closer / I take her outside of the lines / Oh, but she’s my voice of reason…” he sings in the unreleased new tune.

Though Russell hasn’t unveiled many details about his next project, it seems like an official announcement might not be too far in the future. The singer has already dropped two singles off the project: “Love You Like I Used To” and “Home Sweet.”

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

AYAN #RD2 pic.twitter.com/luO3agGEUW

— Russell Dickerson (@russelled) July 30, 2020

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#CTJ #RD2 pic.twitter.com/0f793MP5uf

— Russell Dickerson (@russelled) July 30, 2020

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