July 24, 2020 • No Comments • Country Music News

Warner Music Nashville

It’s round two for power couple Blake Shelton and Gwen Stefani, who released their second duet “Happy Anywhere,” right as the clock struck 12 a.m. ET on Friday.

The two previously topped the country chart with “Nobody but You.”

Now with their latest, “Happy Anywhere,” the two aim to bring smiles to faces everywhere with their whimsically effervescent collaboration that they created while in quarantine together.

“Even though Gwen and I just had a single out we decided that, under the circumstances, this year…man, there’s never been a better time for ‘Happy Anywhere,'” Blake, 44, previously said in a statement. “We’ve all been in quarantine and lockdown, and hopefully we’ve been doing that with somebody that we really love and enjoy being around.”

“Happy Anywhere” chronicles how Shelton and Stefani lived a rough and tumble life on the road that never fully slowed down to let them appreciate the little things in life until their paths collided.

“I’m running wide open/ I was born with my feet in motion/ But since I met you, I swear/ I could be happy anywhere,” Croons Shelton as Stefani harmonizes, saying that’s true because “You’re always my destination.”

The two agree that life is all the more sweeter now that they are spending the rest of it together, vowing, “So girl, I hope you know/ Wherever you go, I go, I know.”

The song is now available for purchase and stream, well, anywhere.

“Happy Anywhere” is the first taste of new music from Blake since he released his Fully Loaded: God’s Country greatest hits collection in December.

It’s unknown if this track is one piece of a larger album the Grammy-nominee is cooking up.  However, he did previously indicate he’s perfectly content issuing one-off singles for the meantime.

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

July 24, 2020 • No Comments • Country Music News

EMI Nashville/Joseph Llanes Most people know Chrissy Metz as one of the breakout stars of TV’s This Is Us. But after Saturday night, more folks will recognize her as an up-and-coming country singer, as she makes her Grand Ole Opry debut. 

Based on her childhood, the actress could’ve chosen any number of musical paths.

“I grew up in Japan,” Chrissy explains. “My dad was in the Navy, so I grew up there, my first nine years. And my parents were like melting pots of music. So we grew up with everything from like Motown to the Doobie Brothers, the Righteous Brothers to Charlie Daniels Band. I mean, everything, anything. Charley Pride, you know, just everything.”

“And I always just loved the storytelling of country music,” she points out. “And then obviously, being from a small town in Florida, country music was always playing. And I just, I just loved it.”

Chrissy believes playing Kate Pearson on This Is Us helped clarify her musical direction.

“For me, country music just made sense,” she continues, “because I feel like I’m vulnerable enough to be comfortable with being uncomfortable in the storytelling. And I think that obviously through the character that I play on This Is Us, it’s lended [sic] my heart to be really open and exposed.”

You can watch Chrissy’s Opry debut Saturday night starting at 8 p.m. ET via Circle All Access on YouTube. Expect to hear her debut country single, “Talking to God,” as well as the new track, “Actress.” Both will be featured on her debut EP, which is expected sometime this fall.

Chrissy’s busy finishing the record in Nashville as she waits for production to resume on the new season of This Is Us.

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

July 23, 2020 • No Comments • Country Music News

ABC/Gavin BondLuke Bryan’s Farm Tour is the latest 2020 event to be canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The singer made the sad announcement on social media this week, admitting that after 11 years running, it’s an event that’s particularly close to his heart.

“We’ve been going strong for the past 11 consecutive years, so this one really hurts,” Luke wrote. “We have looked at all kinds of ways to continue with the shows this year, but couldn’t come up with a solution to give y’all the full Farm Tour experience while keeping everyone safe.”

Still, he stressed that Farm Tour will resume in 2021: “Until next year!” Luke added. “Love y’all.”

Each year since 2010, Luke’s fall Farm Tour finds the country superstar and his musical friends playing shows on farms in small towns across America. Last year, he brought acts like Cole Swindell and Mitchell Tenpenny along for the ride.

While Luke’s touring plans may be on hold for now due to the pandemic, he’s still got an exciting month ahead: The singer plans to release his next album, Born Here, Live Here, Die Here, on August 7. The project includes Luke’s current single, “One Margarita,” which became his twenty-fifth number-one hit this month.

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

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— Luke Bryan (@LukeBryanOnline) July 23, 2020

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July 23, 2020 • No Comments • Country Music News

Steven LyonTanya Tucker‘s exclusive Cosa Salvaje Tequila is available online everywhere these days, priced at under $50 a bottle. Now, tequila lovers who happen to be in Music City can now pick up a bottle at a handful of local liquor stores.

The country superstar’s brand of tequila is now available at downtown Nashville’s Frugal MacDoogal liquor store, as well as Mt. Juliet Wine & Spirits and Liquor World in Mt. Juliet and Antioch, respectively. Fans can also pick up a bottle at Parkway Wine & Liquor in Bristol, Tennessee.

Crafted by the family-owned Partida Distillery in Jalisco, Mexico, the brand’s name is Spanish for “wild thing.”

“I used to be a wild thing…now, I just drink a wild thing,” Tanya notes of her new product. “I truly love the taste of Cosa Salvaje Tequila. What’s even more important to me is how the agave and distilling process is environmentally conscious, so we’re taking care of our planet, too.”

This is the newest venture in what has been a productive couple of years for Tanya, who returned in 2019 with a new, Brandi Carlile-produced album, While I’m Livin’. This year, the singer took home two Grammys for that project, her first-ever wins, including the title of Best Country Album as well as Best Country Song, for “Bring My Flowers Now.”

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

July 23, 2020 • No Comments • Country Music News

ABC/Image Group LA

Maren Morris recently made the call to stop showing her 4-month-old son Hayes’ face in social media posts, a decision the singer says came after receiving more than her share of mommy-shaming in the comments section.

While Maren’s used to seeing criticism of her music and career, she says that negative responses to her parenting style are off-limits.

“It’s been so fun sharing photos of him,” she told host Andy Cohen on Watch What Happens Live Wednesday. “But I feel like, you know, I can take someone saying my music sucks or I’m ruining country music, but for some reason, the mother card I just can’t emotionally handle right now. So I was like, ‘I’m just gonna protect myself and him from it.’”

Late last month, the “Girl” hitmaker received a comment asking where baby Hayes’ life jacket was after she posted a snapshot of herself and her son enjoying a day at the lake. Both Maren and her husband, fellow artist, Ryan Hurd, stood up against the naysayer, though she ultimately decided to delete the picture and several others.

Now, when Maren does share pictures of Hayes on social media, his face is typically covered by an emoji.

“I would just have to say that anyone that is a mother who is shaming another mother…I think it comes from just a deep insecurity in your own motherhood that you have to criticize someone else that’s especially, like, you know, brand-new at this,” she says. “We all feel like we suck in the beginning anyways.”

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