July 21, 2020 • No Comments • Country Music News

ABC/Image Group LAGarth Brooks is done with FUN. 

The superstar revealed on Inside Studio G on Monday night that his upcoming 14th studio album is complete, and and says he’s now in limbo, waiting for the right moment to share his labor of love with the world. 

“FUN is coming. FUN is done…We’re waiting for the right time for us to kind of get to enjoy it and have fun with it,” Garth shared with viewers. 

He also hinted that another exciting surprise may be coming with the album’s release that will culminate with Inside Studio G, which debuted in 2016. 

“Something else might be coming with FUN that’s pretty cool that will wrap up several years of Inside Studio G. FUN is coming, but it might also be sitting side-by-side with something that’s pretty cool,” he alludes. 

Garth has already shared a handful of tracks off the highly anticipated project, including his duet with Blake Shelton on “Dive Bar,” which reached the top 10 on the Billboard Country Airplay chart, in addition to “All Day Long,” “Stronger Than Me,” “Party Gras,” and “That’s What Cowboys Do,” among others. 

FUN will follow Garth’s 2016 album, Gunslinger.

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

July 21, 2020 • No Comments • Country Music News

ABC/Image Group LAMiranda Lambert is expanding MuttNation with a new food line.

The “Bluebird” singer took to Instagram to announce that her animal-friendly nonprofit has added a line of food and treats for cats and dogs, called On the Farm.

Available through Tractor Supply, On the Farm blends are made with farm-raised meat and high-quality grains and other ingredients.  

“Well y’all the cat’s outta the (food) bag,” Miranda jokes in the caption announcing the new venture, sharing photos of her furry friends posing with the new products that come in such flavors as chicken and brown rice, and beef and cranberry. “Dinner time at our house is fun and I like knowing that my fur babies are eating good quality food.”

A portion of the sales will go toward MuttNation Foundation, established by Miranda and her mom, Bev Lambert, in 2009 to help rescue animals find homes. MuttNation also sells dog beds, toys, and food and water bowls, among many other products.

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

July 21, 2020 • No Comments • Country Music News

ABC/Mark LevineTim McGraw is turning his new album into an experience. 

In honor of the release of his 16th studio album on August 21, the country superstar will host the Here on Earth EXPERIENCE. The livestream event will offer fans an inside look at the the project as Tim hosts Q&As with the songwriters, chats with his band members and shares stories behind the songs. 

Tim will also perform songs off the new project, along with some of his classic hits, with the support of a five-member acoustic band. 

“The thing I miss the most about playing live is the connection I feel to everyone. Even if we can’t physically be together this summer, hopefully this will give us a chance to share the new album and know how much we are still together seeing each other through,” Tim says in a statement. 

Tickets are on sale now and priced at $15. The event will stream on August 21 at 9 p.m. ET.

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

July 21, 2020 • No Comments • Country Music News

Connor DwyerIt’s a big deal when one’s music tops the charts, but when Sam Hunt has a certified hit on his hands, he has a somewhat unconventional way to give himself a pat on the back.

Instead of posting to social media or cutting into a cake, Hunt picked up his tackle box and pole to hit the shores for some celebratory fishing.  Easy to say, he didn’t go home empty handed, either.

“Thanks to everybody who helped make Hard to Forget #1!!,” The 35-year-old wrote on Monday while sharing a photo of him hoisting up his impressive prize. “Celebrating with some early morning Tennessee Stripers.”

Fans were quick to marvel over the size of his catch and offer tips on how to cook it up for a celebratory meal.

“Hard to Forget” is The CMA Award winner’s latest addition to the top of the charts, officially besting Luke Bryan‘s “One Margarita” atop the Billboard country airplay chart for this week. 

The song is officially Hunt’s seventh no. 1 hit, joining previous successes “Take Your Time,” “House Party,” “Make You Miss Me,” “Leave the Night On,” “Kin-Folks” and “Body Like a Back Road,” the latter of which earned him two Grammy nods for Best Country Song and Country Solo Performance in 2018.

“Hard to Forget” is the second single off Hunt’s sophomore album SOUTHSIDE.

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

July 21, 2020 • No Comments • Country Music News

Warner Music NashvilleGabby Barrett already made it to number one on the country chart with her debut single, “I Hope,” and now she’s well on her way to following suit on the adult contemporary side, thanks to a new duet version with pop star Charlie Puth.

Gabby wrote “I Hope” from the perspective of a woman who sounds like she’s about to wish her ex well with his new love — but then ends up saying she hopes the new girl cheats on him, the way he cheated on her. Turns out Charlie was a big fan of the original song, so he reached out to Gabby on Instagram.

“He had originally posted about the song, saying that he loved it,” Gabby explains. “And he messaged me later and said that he wanted to remix it and be on it. And so our teams kind of just collabed together — and now we have an awesome feature on a pretty cool song! So we’re excited about it.”

One reason Gabby’s excited is that adding a male point of view to the song makes it more relatable to both sexes.

“I definitely think with Charlie being on this track, it changes the perspective of the song,” she explains. “Because when I wrote it, I was just writing from a woman’s kind of perspective. And so with him being on it, it kind of shows a men’s perspective too, that both sides get cheated on and it’s not just a one-sided thing.”

“So he’s gonna be kind of talking to the guys,” she notes. “And I’m talking to the girls.”

Gabby’s new country single is the track, “The Good Ones,” from her debut album Goldmine.

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