March 2, 2021 • No Comments • Country Music News

Trae Patton/NBCBlake Shelton got quite the surprise during Monday night’s season premiere of The Voice. 

When Pete Mroz took the stage for the blind auditions during the episode, performing Blind Faith‘s “Can’t Find My Way Home,”  both Blake and John Legend hit their buzzers. But when Blake turned around, he was met with a face from the past. 

“I think I’m the old guy here,” the 45-year-old hopeful said, prompting Blake and his fellow coaches to state that he, in fact, is the resident “old guy.” “I’m gonna get to you,” Pete said pointing at Blake.

“It sounds like there’s some history there, and that’s normally not a good thing with me,” the country star joked. 

Pete shared how he got his start in Nashville as a songwriter and musician, using the name Pete Mitchell. Upon hearing that name, Blake immediately recalled how he used to be in a band with Pete called the Young Riders, and revealed that they hadn’t seen each other in 25 years. 

“You stole my bass player,” Pete said.

“No, I gave your bass player a job,” Blake retorted, laughing. “Obviously we would have a blast if we got to work together again. No joke, I would love it.”

Blake clearly made a compelling argument: Pete did choose the “Minimum Wage” star as his coach.    

The Voice airs on Monday and Tuesday nights on NBC at 8 p.m. ET. 

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

March 2, 2021 • No Comments • Country Music News

Michael Loccisano/Getty ImagesThe National Music Council and the National Federation of State High School Associations have tapped several country artists to voice their support for music education and how it’s impacted their lives, including Garth Brooks and Trisha Yearwood. 

The superstar couple opens the video, with Garth sending a “big hello and a big thank you and a big ‘keep it going’ to the music teachers that are teaching music in schools today during the pandemic.”  He cites music as “the most powerful sword for communication,” adding, “Everybody loves music, everybody should, it’s within us all.” 

Trisha shares that she has a “special place” in her heart for teachers, since her late mother was a schoolteacher. “We all know how important music is in our lives to keep us sane, especially during this time. So thank you for what you’re doing,” she added.

John Rich of Big & Rich, CMT Next Women of Country inductees Chapel Hart and Rosanne Cash also appear in the video, with John crediting music education with teaching him “discipline” and “opening up my mind in many areas.”  

“So you stay strong, and you keep those kids apart, but bring them together through the glorious gift of music. We love you guys,” Garth says, in closing. 

The video serves as the launch of Music In Our Schools Month, a campaign that encourages schools to understand the value of music education. 

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

March 2, 2021 • No Comments • Country Music News

Arista NashvilleIf you’re anxiously awaiting the third album from Maren Morris, the hitmaker behind “The Bones” and “My Church” promises it’s well on its way. 

“I am still writing,” Maren explains. “I’ve recorded a bulk of the songs, but I’m kind of giving myself this time to just see if I get any other songs in the mix.”

“I feel like I have a really strong batch of songs that I’ve already recorded with Greg Kurstin, my producer, and I love the sound direction that it’s heading in,” she adds, mentioning the Grammy-winner who also worked on 2019’s Girl.

You’ll have to admit Maren certainly hasn’t wasted much time, especially since she gave birth to her first child with Ryan Hurd, their son Hayes, just a year ago. 

“It’s imminent, but there’s no date on it yet,” she clarifies. “But I’m really enjoying just kind of finding the footing of where it’s going.”

“This is like the best part before anyone hears it,” she reflects. “You just get to, like, figure it out yourself. Like, what is the sound like? What’s the theme? What am I saying? And I’m in the thick of that right now, so I’ll probably have a better answer in a couple months.”

Sonically, Maren says the record “feels very back to my roots,” while adding she wrote a “handful” of the songs with Ryan during quarantine. 

“It’s really awesome!” he interjects, as Maren laughs. “From the non-objective husband sitting right here, it’s a really cool next step.”

Meanwhile, Ryan and Maren have released their duet, “Chasing After You,” as we wait for more new music.

Tonight, she performs her collaboration with JP Saxe, “Line by Line,” on The Late Late Show with James Corden on CBS. 

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

March 1, 2021 • No Comments • Country Music News

Trae Patton/NBCBlake Shelton picked an odd place to hide Gwen Stefani‘s engagement ring. 

While waiting for the right moment to pop the question to his fiancee, the country star kept the ring hidden in the side pocket of the door in his farm truck — stashed away under loose change, pocket knives and McDonald’s salt packets, he describes.

“I knew that I needed to have the ring ready at any moment, so I put it in the pocket of my truck because I didn’t want to set up the moment, I wanted her to accidentally set up the moment. I needed the ring available whenever that was,” Blake explains to Extra about his methodical thinking.  

The “God’s Country” singer kept the ring in the truck for roughly five days until he proposed at the couple’s ranch in Oklahoma in October. They are still in the planning process for the wedding, waiting out the COVID-19 pandemic so they can safely gather their loved ones for the celebration. 

“We want our families to be able to be there. We don’t have a clue when we’re going to be able to mingle again, so that’s literally all we’re waiting on,” Blake says, adding, “I would marry her when we’re done with this interview if I could.”

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

March 1, 2021 • No Comments • Country Music News

ABC/Christopher WillardLuke Bryan is back at the top of the country charts. 

The Georgia native reigns at #1 this week with “Down to One.” It’s the latest hit off his 2020 album, Born Here Live Here Die Here, following previous chart-topping singles “Knockin’ Boots,” “What She Wants Tonight” and “One Margarita.”

Luke is releasing a deluxe edition of the album that debuted at #1 on the Billboard Top Country Albums chart and #5 on the Billboard 200 with half a dozen new songs including titles “Country Does,” “Drink a Little Whiskey Down” and “Bill Dance.” It arrives on April 9. 

The superstar singer has also scored nominations at the 2021 ACM Awards for two of the night’s biggest prizes — Entertainer of the Year and Album of the Year for Born Here. The show airs April 18 on CBS at 8 p.m. ET. 

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