March 16, 2021 • No Comments • Country Music News

Big MachineThese days, Lady A‘s Charles Kelley and Dave Haywood are feeling “Like a Lady” — and they happen to be just fine with that. 

You see, the guys are supporting Hillary Scott‘s lead vocals this time around, on the sassy new single she co-wrote.

“I think what drew me to the song initially was when I first saw the title ‘Like a Lady,’ I was like, ‘Okay, it’s gonna be ladylike,'” Charles explains. “And I think it’s basically kind of flipping that on its head.”

Perhaps most importantly, Charles noticed an instant reaction from the lady in his life: his wife, Cassie.

“I’ve got a really strong woman at home,” he continues, “and my wife immediately just responded to this song as well. It just felt very female-empowering.”

“And this is the time for Dave and I to kind of be the support system in Hillary’s fierceness, as they say,” Charles adds, as Hillary and Dave laugh.

“Like a Lady” is the first taste of the trio’s forthcoming eighth studio album, and the follow-up to their multi-week number one, “Champagne Night.”

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

March 15, 2021 • No Comments • Country Music News

For Pete’s Sake Cancer Respite FoundationDarius Rucker, Dierks Bentley and Jon Pardi have joined the lineup for the For Pete’s Sake Cancer Respite Foundation virtual fundraiser. 

The three stars will perform during the event, which raises money for the organization that supports adults who have cancer and their families. Other participating artists include Anne Hathaway, Emily Blunt and Fran Drescher, along with Broadway stars Mandy Gonzalez, Hugh Panaro and more. 

The For Pete’s Sake Cancer Respite Foundation offers patients and their families a travel respite program and Staycation respite packages, among other resources. 

The event will also share the stories of cancer patients, highlighting their resiliency and how they overcame adversity. It streams on March 25 at 7 p.m. ET. 

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

March 15, 2021 • No Comments • Country Music News

ABCIn honor of the one-year anniversary of her mother Jacqueline McEntire‘s passing, Reba McEntire is paying tribute to her with the video for “You Never Gave Up on Me.” 

The video opens with black-and-white footage of Reba’s tearful acceptance speech at the 1984 CMA Awards, where she dedicated the award for Female Vocalist of the Year to her mother.

Old family photographs, Reba singing alongside her mom and sisters, and a sweet shot of the country icon resting her head on her mother’s lap as she reads to her are among the other clips that scroll by as Reba sings, “I never gave up, ’cause you never gave up on me.”   

The video’s ending mirrors that of the beginning, with a vintage interview clip of Reba quoting her mom telling her “well, you did good,” to which the singer corrected her saying, “we did good.”

“One year ago yesterday, Mama went to heaven. I know she’s still not giving up on me. Thank you Mama,” Reba writes on Instagram.

Jacqueline passed away of cancer on March 14, 2020 at the age of 93. 

“You Never Gave Up on Me” is featured on Reba’s 2019 album, Stronger Than the Truth.

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

March 15, 2021 • No Comments • Country Music News

Houghton Mifflin HarcourtTrisha Yearwood‘s cooking empire is expanding with a new line at Williams-Sonoma, the Trisha Yearwood Gwendolyn Dinnerware Collection, named in honor of her late mother.

Growing up in Georgia, Trisha’s mom, Gwen, balanced three jobs as a third grade teacher, wedding planner and cake decorator. After Gwen passed in 2011, Trisha and her sister, Beth Bernard, found their mother’s old drawings that she used to sketch her original cake designs that are now featured on items in the collection including dinner plates, severing platters, mugs and more, along with a stamp of Gwen’s signature.  

“I feel like my mom, Gwen, right now is smiling because they’re so beautiful. They’re elegant and they’re classy, just like her,” Trisha shared in a Facebook video, excitedly opening boxes of items in the collection for the first time. 

The Williams-Sonoma line is a precursor to the singer’s new cookbook, Trisha’s Kitchen: Easy Comfort Food for Friends and Family, which will be released on September 28.

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

March 15, 2021 • No Comments • Country Music News

Sweet Talk Publicity Tik Tok star Lathan Warlick is teaming up with Florida Georgia Line‘s Tyler Hubbard on a new song. 

The rapper from West Tennessee will release “My Way” on Friday, which is described in a statement as a cross between “acoustic samples” and “surging beats” that is centered around the theme of “coming together to live every day like a weekend.” Lathan and Tyler co-wrote the song with RaeLynn, Blake Hubbard and Jarrod Ingram. 

The singers have been teasing the track on social media, including a TikTok video that shows them singing along to the song in the car. “If I had it my way/Every day would be a Friday/We’d be riding with the windows down,” Tyler can be heard singing over a hip-hop beat.

“With this single, we really had it our way. It was so great working with Tyler! This song is how we’d both spend our Friday, living free and having fun,” Lathan says.

“I’m team Lathan all day — I was a huge fan before, and I feel like I have a new brother after this,” Tyler adds. “We wanted to write a fun one that had a good, positive feel. It’s a summer jam. I just envision everybody riding around with the windows down, blasting this song, and forgetting all their worries for a little bit.” 

Lathan was discovered through Tik Tok by Granger Smith last year, the country star featuring him on a remix of “That’s Why I Love Dirt Roads.” Lathan also sang with Matt Stell on “Over Yonder.” 

Lathan’s debut EP featuring a variety of country collaborations is expected to be released this spring.

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