July 22, 2020 • No Comments • Country Music News

EMI Records NashvilleBrothers Osborne will welcome fall with the release of their third studio album. 

The duo of brothers John and TJ Osborne will reveal Skeletons on October 9. The project is preceded by their 2016 debut, Pawn Shop, and their sophomore follow-up Port Saint Joe, released in 2018. 

Skeletons features the current single “All Night” along with the 11 other tracks co-written by the duo such as “Old Man’s Boots,” “Dead Man’s Curve,” “Lighten Up” and more.

“If Pawn Shop was our introduction, and Port Saint Joe was like the first conversation we had with someone over a beer, then Skeletons is the moment where you start getting down to the real stuff and showing who you really are,” John says. “If you really want to get to know us, this is the record to do it.” 

Between the two previously released albums, the duo has scored hits with “Stay a Little Longer” and “It Ain’t My Fault,” the latter of which was named Music Video of the Year at the 2017 CMA Awards. Brothers Osborne has also been named Vocal Duo of the Year at both the CMA and ACM Awards.

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

July 22, 2020 • No Comments • Country Music News

Warner Music NashvilleBlake Shelton and girlfriend Gwen Stefani topped the country chart back in May with “Nobody but You,” and this Friday, the superstar couple returns with another collaboration, titled “Happy Anywhere.”

“You’re always my destination/You’re the only thing that I’m chained to,” Blake and Gwen sing in a short preview of the upbeat love song.

“I could be happy anywhere/I could be happy anywhere with you,” the chorus concludes.

One of Blake and Gwen’s happy places is obviously the recording studio.

“You know, ‘Happy Anywhere’ has gotta be one of the most fun songs that I’ve ever had a chance to record,” Blake reflects, “and the actual recording process was a blast. Listening to it afterwards was a blast.”

He continues: “I had a moment where Gwen told me, ‘You know, there’s something about this song that just makes you smile.'”

“And it doesn’t hurt that it has ‘happy’ in the title,” Blake adds.

You’ll be able to stream or download the full song on Friday, with Blake and Gwen also set to perform their new tune during the 8 a.m. hour of NBC’s Today show. 

There’s also a “Happy Anywhere” music video on the way, featuring the couple having fun at home, by the lake, and in a cornfield, though they haven’t revealed exactly when that’ll arrive.

“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 not clear whether Blake’s necessarily working on a new full-length album, especially since he’s previously indicated he’s enjoyed the freedom of putting out single tracks. 

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

July 21, 2020 • No Comments • Country Music News

ABC/Image Group LAKacey Musgraves and Ruston Kelly continue to show benevolence toward one another following the announcement of their separation.

The singer shared her first official post on the platform in two months, and first since announcing that she and Ruston were divorcing, with a photo of the work of visual artist Sara Shakeel that shows her crying glitter tears and donning a pair of sparkling butterfly wings, in addition to bedazzling her outfit. 

“If only tears were actually glittery..” Kacey contemplates in the caption, with Ruston himself replying with a muscle arm and heart emoji in the comment section. 

Kacey has a song titled “Glittery,” an original duet with pop singer Troye Sivan that’s featured in her 2019 holiday special, The Kacey Musgraves Christmas Show. Troye also commented on the photo with a simple heart symbol, with Lindsay Ell adding, “You are perfect.” 

Sara also chimed in, writing, “You kindness & warmth is BEYOND!” The artist shared in an Instagram post earlier this month that she was commissioned to create artwork for The Kacey Musgraves Christmas Show, with the Grammy-winner herself commenting then, “you’re my favorite of all time.” 

Kacey and Ruston announced their divorce on July 3 following a more than two-year marriage. The couple met at the Bluebird Cafe in Nashville in 2016 and married in October 2017. 

“Though we are parting ways in marriage, we will remain true friends for the rest of our lives. We hold no blame, anger, or contempt for each other and we ask for privacy and positive wishes for us both as we learn how to navigate through this,” the couple said in a joint statement. 

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

July 21, 2020 • No Comments • Country Music News

Big Loud RecordsHardy is setting his sights on his debut album. The sought-after songwriter behind such hits as “God’s Country” by Blake Shelton and Morgan Wallen‘s “Up Down” will release A Rock on September 4. 

Co-writing all 12 tracks, the project features the current single “One Beer,” featuring Lauren Alaina and Devin Dawson, along with “Boots,” which was released earlier this year. Other titles include “Ain’t a Bad Day,” “Hate Your Hometown,” and “Unapologetically Country as Hell.” 

In an interview with Rolling Stone, Hardy shares that most of the album that blends his love for country, rock and even a hint of heavy metal, was recorded during quarantine with players submitting tracks from their home studios. 

“I didn’t want to fill my record up with overly obnoxious country songs. I love those kind of songs, but I wanted for people to know that I have a little bit more to say than just that,” he says. 

Hardy struck out on his own as a solo artist with his debut single, “Rednecker,” released in 2019. “One Beer” is currently making its way toward the top 20 on the Billboard Country Airplay chart.

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

July 21, 2020 • No Comments • Country Music News

Greg NoireBrett Eldredge is cruising to the top of the country charts with his new album, Sunday Drive.  

The project has debuted at number one on the Billboard Top Country Albums chart, marking his fifth album to reach the top five on the chart, following in the footsteps of his self-titled fourth album, his holiday album Glow, 2015’s Illinois, and his debut, Bring You Back.  

The introspective project found Brett returning to his roots in his hometown of Paris, Illinois and going so far as to retire his smart phone in exchange for a flip phone in order to disconnect from the fast-paced world. 

Sunday Drive features lead single “Gabrielle” and was co-produced by Daniel Tashian and Ian Fitchuk, who also produced Kacey Musgraves‘ Grammy-winning Golden Hour. 

Brett has also released a documentary taking fans inside the album-making process.

“As [my manager John] and I dove into this whole deeper side of who I am as an artist, who I am as a person makes me who I am as that artist,” Brett remarks of the project. “Even in my own life, to come back and find that and to show it to others… that’s something that is gold.”

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