July 22, 2020 • No Comments • Country Music News

ABC/Stewart CookLuke Bryan has some words of wisdom for his fans: don’t plant sweet corn during a global pandemic. 

The country superstar took to Instagram to reveal that he’s used his time in quarantine to plant a corn field on his Tennessee property, an activity that appears to be as stressful as it is rewarding. 

“Little tip for you guys — never get bored during a pandemic and plant four acres of sweet corn,” the Georgia native advises with a disgruntled look on his face as he struggles to carry a Home Depot bucket filled with ears of corn under the beating sun, accompanied by the caption, “sweet corn out the a**.”

Though Luke may not be thrilled with his new pastime, he’s piqued the interest of his fans and country music friends, with Dustin Lynch commenting “on my way,” while Proud To Be Right Here Tour opener Caylee Hammack inquires, “Can I come out and pick my own for dinner? This is a dream!” 

Luke recently spent his 44th birthday weekend doing something a little more relaxing with a fishing trip with his family in Wyoming. The American Idol judge is also celebrating the success of his latest number-one single, “One Margarita.”

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

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YEq-cvq_cK4&w=640&h=360]

July 22, 2020 • No Comments • Country Music News

ABC/Mark Levine Jay DeMarcus is heading into the world of television. 

The Rascal Flatts star has announced that he and his family are at the center of a new reality show called DeMarcus Family Rules that’s set to air on Netflix next month. The show will offer a behind-the-scenes look at Jay’s life in Nashville with his wife, Allison, and two young children Madeline and Dylan. 

The family made the announcement with a sweet Instagram video that shows them cuddled together on the couch, smiles abound.

“We can’t wait to come into your homes and show you a glimpse behind-the-scenes at all the chaos and the craziness,” Jay shares. DeMarcus Family Rules premieres on Netflix on August 19. 

Jay and his wife got a taste of reality TV life with appearances on the USA Network show Chrisley Knows Best,  which that focuses on the lives of their friends Todd and Julie Chrisley. 

Jay and his Rascal Flatts band mates Gary LeVox and Joe Don Rooney announced in January that they were disbanding after 20 years together. They were scheduled to hit the road on the Farewell: Life is a Highway Tour, but plans were scrapped due to the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Rascal Flatts will release their new EP, How They Remember You, on July 31.

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

July 22, 2020 • No Comments • Country Music News

Brad Barket/Getty ImagesDuring The Chicks‘ recent appearance on Watch What Happens Live, lead singer Natalie Mainessays that while she doesn’t regret her 2003 statement denouncing then-President George W. Bush‘s declaration of the Iraq War, she’s had somewhat of a change of heart when comparing Bush’s presidency to Donald Trump‘s administration.

“Today, I might actually make out with George Bush,” Natalie jokes, drawing laughs from her band mates Martie Maguire and Emily Strayer. “It would be a huge love fest if I saw George Bush right now because of where we’re at with this current president.”

While The Chicks haven’t had any interactions with the Bush family since the controversy, Martie revealed that she and her sister Emily used to sing the National Anthem at the Texas Rangers’ games that the former president would frequent, the two parties often engaging in “friendly” exchanges at the time. 

The Chicks released Gaslighter on Friday, their first album since 2006’s Taking the Long Way, a project that earned them five Grammy Awards.

Prior to the album’s release, the band dropped “Dixie” from its name to remove themselves from the word’s association with the confederacy during the Civil War.

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

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y0JWINh-Bjw&w=640&h=360]

July 22, 2020 • No Comments • Country Music News

ABC/Image Group LARussell Dickerson and his wife Kailey recently celebrated a socially distances baby shower thrown by some of the couple’s friends in the country music community.

In a series of photos shared with People, Kelsea Ballerini, Carly Pearce and Thomas Rhett and Tyler Hubbard‘s wives Lauren Akins and Hayley Hubbard, respectively, were in attendance, the latter two hosting the event alongside Kailey’s other close friend, Ali Ryan. 

The photos show a beautiful outdoor soiree during which each guest wore a mask and was seated on a blanket in the grass spaced six feet apart, under a stunning sunset with twinkle lights strung overhead.  

Russell also made an appearance at the shindig, evidenced by a glowing photo of him and his wife, his hand resting on her baby bump. 

“I know so many people haven’t been able to have baby showers, so it meant the world that our friends took the precautions we needed to be safe and celebrate our little guy on the way,” Kailey remarks. 

“While it is such a challenging time in so many ways, this time off of the road has been a sweet and unexpected gift,” adds Russell. “We get to give this baby our full attention and it is something we wouldn’t trade for the world.” 

The couple is expecting their first child, a boy, in the fall.

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

July 22, 2020 • No Comments • Country Music News

ABC/Image Group LAWhile pregnancy certainly changes your body, in some ways it changes it for the better.  At least, Maren Morris thinks so.