February 12, 2021 • No Comments • Country Music News

ABC/Image Group LAWith the return of in-person, large-scale live music still far in the future, Luke Combs took to social media this week to commiserate with his fans and offer something to tide them over.

“Sure I’m not the only one, but man, I miss live music,” the singer tweeted. “So I got to thinking — my team recorded the shows on my last tour. What would y’all think about me posting a full show to watch? All the camera angles and everything. Thought it may be pretty cool.”

The run in question is Luke’s 2019 Beer Never Broke My Heart Tour, a trek named for the anthemic, chart-topping single that he put out in May of that year. It was the first single off his record-breaking, hit sophomore project, What You See is What You Get, which would arrive in full that November.

“Beer Never Broke My Heart” was the first of four chart-topping singles to come off of What You See is What You Get, followed by “Even Though I’m Leavin’,” “Does to Me” and “Lovin’ on You.”

“Does to Me” was a collaboration with Eric Church, and the album also included a Brooks & Dunn duet, “1, 2 Many.”

Luke hasn’t yet shared many details about the release of his concert film footage. He didn’t indicate whether it would be free to watch, nor did he tell fans how they can watch it. However, the singer did share a date for his upcoming show.

“Maybe the night of Feb. 18?” he suggested in his Twitter message.

Sure I’m not the only one, but man, I miss live music. So I got to thinking – my team recorded the shows on my last tour. What would y’all think about me posting a full show to watch? All the camera angles and everything. Thought it may be pretty cool. Maybe the night of Feb. 18?

— Luke Combs 🎤 (@lukecombs) February 12, 2021

By Carena Liptak
Copyright © 2021, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

February 12, 2021 • No Comments • Country Music News

John ShearerFlorida Georgia Line will make a stop on ABC’s Jimmy Kimmel Live! next Tuesday, where they’re performing their current top-10 hit, “Long Live.”

The song comes off the duo’s Life Rolls On album, which officially arrived on Friday. Also included in the project’s track list is “I Love My Country,” its chart-topping lead single.

Band mates Tyler Hubbard and Brian Kelley also have a global livestream event on the docket next week, which will celebrate their new project. They’ll perform from their namesake bar in downtown Nashville on Wednesday, and the show will stream on Amazon Music’s Twitch channel.

Life Rolls On is Florida Georgia Line’s fifth studio album to date. In addition to their work together, the duo told fans earlier this year that they’re also pursuing some projects independently. Brian says he’s at work on a solo album, while Tyler plans to collaborate with some other artists in the genre. He kicked off that venture last month, releasing his Tim McGraw duet, “Undivided.”

By Carena Liptak
Copyright © 2021, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

February 12, 2021 • No Comments • Country Music News

ABC/Image Group LAGarth Brooks and Trisha Yearwood have canceled all their planned appearances for the next two weeks, after news that someone they’ve had contact with has tested positive for COVID-19.

“Before you do any major television, they have you do pre-tests for COVID, then you have to do the final test,” Garth explained of the change of plans. “On the pre-test, our small little group all tested negative. On the final test, one of the people that were in our little group tested positive. So we decided not to risk anything.”

Instead, the country superstar couple will spend Valentine’s Day weekend — and the two weeks beyond — enjoying each other’s company at home, the singer goes on to say.

“The Queen and I will be quarantining…living on love…and testing every 72 hours,” Garth explains. “And our thoughts and prayers are with the one person that is in this group…and hope that’s as far as it goes, and hopefully we get past this thing.”

Most recently, Garth sang “Amazing Grace” at President Biden’s inauguration in January. Though you won’t be able to catch him at any live television events in the weeks ahead, you can see Garth and Trisha in their pre-recorded performance for the Grand Ole Opry’s 95th Anniversary TV special on NBC on Sunday.

By Carena Liptak
Copyright © 2021, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

February 12, 2021 • No Comments • Country Music News

ABC/Brian Bowen SmithWhen the new season of American Idol premieres Sunday on ABC, it’ll be a bit different, thanks to the COVID-19 pandemic. Starting last August, the show used custom-built Zoom technology to host live, virtual remote auditions from all fifty states and Washington, D.C.

Even though it’ll be a season like none before, judges Luke Bryan, Lionel Richie and Katy Perry promise the Idol magic remains intact. 

“They really do a great job at really scouring the country and America and really getting that talent to us,” Luke tells ABC Audio. “I mean, obviously in the early years of Idol, they really hit a lot of different, different cities. But now we have the ability with the help of online and virtual…”

“Virtual everything,” Lionel interjects.

“Yeah, virtual everything,” Luke agrees, “I mean, these kids can submit a very, very positive audition.”

Luke goes on to say he even hopes the different way they were forced to do auditions “may motivate somebody to try out that may have not necessarily tried out on a normal year.”

After all, part of the unchanging appeal of American Idol is that you never know when an unexpected talent may appear.

“The last day,” Luke says, “the final inning, the ninth inning, there may be a special…”

“Bottom of the ninth!” Katy suggests.

“The bottom of the ninth,” Luke agrees, “there may be a special kid that comes in that really has something to offer.”  

The two-hour premiere of American Idol, hosted by Ryan Seacrest, starts Sunday at 8 p.m. ET on ABC.

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

February 11, 2021 • No Comments • Country Music News

ABC/Image Group LANow that she’s officially cancelled her tour plans for 2021, Maren Morris says she’s excited to focus on new music.

“I ended up just going ahead and canceling my tour for the year, because it was just getting rerouted and rerouted, and I just felt weird having bands’ money hanging in the balance for that long,” the singer explained during a recent appearance alongside her husband, fellow performer Ryan Hurd, on Apple Music Country.

Though her tour schedule is stalled for the foreseeable future, Maren says that she’s in a creative headspace, and writing for album number three is proceeding full steam ahead. “So I’m actually about to start recording. Ryan and I are about to go on a big writing, recording trip together,” she explains.

It’ll be a new experience for the “Girl” star, who’s used to a routine that involves a lot of travel and performing live show after live show. Maren says that it’ll be her first time making a destination record.

“I’ve never gotten away to write. This is the first time we’re going away to do something creative,” she says. “We’re bringing our baby with us and that’s kind of it.”

The couple welcomed their first child, baby Hayes, in March of last year. Before the COVID-19 pandemic hit, they were planning to take him out on tour in the summer of 2020. Staying at home with her new family has been one unexpected silver lining of a turbulent time, Maren says.

“We’re also getting a ton of time home with our baby, and he’s about to have his first birthday in a couple of months. So that’s crazy,” she adds.

Maren and Ryan will release their first-ever duet, “Chasing After You,” Friday morning.

By Carena Liptak
Copyright © 2021, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.