March 17, 2021 • No Comments • Country Music News

Jason Kempin/ACMA2019/Getty Images for ACMIt’s been a long and emotional road to pregnancy for Granger Smith and his wife, Amber, who announced last week that they’re expecting a baby boy in August.

The couple, who are also parents to nine-year-old daughter London and seven-year-old son Lincoln, lost their youngest child, three-year-old River, in a tragic drowning accident at the family’s home in 2019.

One year after River’s death, the couple decided to try for another baby — a decision that was complicated by the fact that Amber had undergone a tubal ligation procedure after giving birth to River, thinking that their family was complete.

In an hour-long documentary uploaded this week to their YouTube channel, The Smiths, Amber takes fans behind the scenes of her IVF journey, explaining each stage of the process behind her efforts to get pregnant.

One especially heartrending moment from the film happens when Amber finally gets the good news from her doctor that she’s pregnant, only to experience a miscarriage weeks later. She recounted her painful story to her fans, pointing out that her faith was bringing her peace.

“There is a purpose for this. There is a purpose for this pain and this loss, and I know and I’m trusting that God is gonna bring good from this,” Amber says. “I’m only sharing this because I don’t think it’s talked about a lot.”

The couple had one more viable embryo from their IVF procedure, and happily, the second implantation worked.

When they finally announced their news last week, the couple appeared on CBS This Morning to discuss the experience.

“[We want to spread] a message of hope, restoration, faith and redemption. Because that’s what this story is for us,” Granger said at the time.

By Carena Liptak
Copyright © 2021, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

March 17, 2021 • No Comments • Country Music News

Warner Music NashvilleNext month marks the 20th anniversary of the release of “Austin,” Blake Shelton’s debut single, which also became his first chart-topping country hit.

To celebrate, the singer is releasing a commemorative vinyl version of the song, featuring an updated version of the same cover art used for the original release. The vinyl will also include the single’s original B-side track, “Problems at Home.”

You can order the anniversary vinyl edition beginning April 16, which is the exact date that Blake first shared “Austin” with the world back in 2001.

“I remember the first time I heard ‘Austin’ on the radio,” Blake recalls. “I was driving on 440, and I kept looking to both sides trying to see if other drivers were singing along!…This song started it all for me. I couldn’t be prouder to celebrate its 20th anniversary.”

The years that have elapsed since “Austin” have been memorable ones for the singer, who’s amassed a slew of hit songs, awards show trophies and more. His newest single, “Minimum Wage,” is a top-30 hit and climbing.

By Carena Liptak
Copyright © 2021, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

March 17, 2021 • No Comments • Country Music News

Cody Heckber

This week, the band Parmalee and Blanco Brown return to the top of the country chart, this time with their collaboration, “Just the Way.”

The Tarheel natives Parmalee previously topped the radio airplay tally with “Carolina” in 2013, while Blanco made a name for himself with his triple-Platinum earworm, “The Git Up,” just a couple years ago.

“When I created the song, I had this mindset of bringing joy to everyone that heard the record, because it brought me so much joy,” Blanco reflects on “The Git Up.” “And I told myself when I was creating it, man, it could be like the 2019/2020 ‘Achy Breaky Heart.’ And I put out a one-minute clip video and it just WENT!”

Along the way, Blanco got to be good friends with Matt Thomas and his bandmates, who also happen to work with the same record company.

“I met ’em at Jason Aldean‘s spot [in] downtown [Nashville] last year,” Blanco told ABC Audio in 2019, “and we just clicked.”

“And since then we’ve been jeep-jumping, BB-thumping!” he added.

Both acts knew they were onto something with “Just the Way,” which Matt co-wrote.

“Ah man, we have something special special!” Blanco says of the collab. “It’s gonna be good to you, good to the world! It’s purposeful, and the song is just out of here.”

Matt believes part of the magic is definitely Blanco’s vocals.

“It’s a song that allows Blanco to really sing, because he can sing,” Matt declares. “And it mixes it up with our band, and it’s just a cool, like, combination that you probably wouldn’t expect from either of us. But it’s a really cool song with a great message.”  

You can check out the uplifting, inclusive video for “Just the Way” now.

By Stephen Hubbard
Copyright © 2021, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

March 16, 2021 • No Comments • Country Music News

ABCSeveral country artists are taking part in Matthew McConaughey‘s “We’re Texas” benefit show. 

The Oscar-winning actor recently announced that he and his wife Camila Alves McConaughey are orchestrating a fundraiser for their home state of Texas following the winter storm in February.

Miranda Lambert, Kacey Musgraves, George Strait and Willie Nelson are among country performers in the all-star lineup that also features Kelly Clarkson, Post Malone, Khalid, Leon Bridges and many more. 

“Y’ALL means ALL,” Kacey writes on Twitter. 

Proceeds from the virtual event will benefit the McConaugheys’ Just Keep Livin’ Texas Relief Fund that is distributing funds to organizations providing critical care and resources during the recovery process.

The show will stream on McConaughey’s YouTube page on March 21 at 8 p.m. ET. 

By Cillea Houghton 
Copyright © 2021, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

March 16, 2021 • No Comments • Country Music News

Todd Williamson/NBC/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty ImagesGarth Brooks is moving full steam ahead when it comes to new music.

During the Monday night installment of Inside Studio G, Garth revealed that, hours before the livestream, he was in a writing session with Ashley McBryde and frequent collaborator Mitch Rossell, who wrote Garth’s hit, “Ask Me How I Know.”   

“She was tearing it up today. Me and Mitch just kind of sat and watched her,” Garth raves, referring to Ashley. The icon has made his admiration for Ashley known in the past:  He even released a revised cover of her Grammy-nominated song, “Girl Goin’ Nowehere,” as “Guy Goin’ Nowhere” on The Anthology, Part III: Live. 

“I can tell you exactly what we wrote – something country,” he teases, calling the track “stone country,” and adding, “I love writing country music.” 

Additionally, the superstar revealed that his cult classic 1999 album, The Life of Chris Gaines, will soon be available on multiple platforms, including digital and vinyl.

“You’re going to have it in every format you can possibly imagine. It’s coming,” he confirmed, adding that previously unreleased songs by his alter ego are also on the way.

“You’re going to have Chris Gaines stuff nobody’s ever heard before either,” he teased. “I love that project, so I’m excited.”

Fans can also look forward to The Anthology Part II, scheduled for release later this year. 

By Cillea Houghton 
Copyright © 2021, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.