February 8, 2021 • No Comments • Country Music News

Big MachineFor Florida Georgia Line, Life Rolls On this week, as their fifth studio album arrives on Friday.

The sixteen-track collection kicks off with the duo’s latest top ten hit, “Long Live.”

“We wrote this song on the Can’t Say I Ain’t Country Tour,” Brian Kelley recalls, “on our bus with some good buddies, and it was a good time. Before a show, I think we were just kind of kickin’ around ideas and somebody threw out ‘Long Live’ or ‘Long Live Nights Like These’ and we were off to the races.”

From there, Brian, Tyler Hubbard, and their co-writers started a nostalgic stroll down memory lane.

“I think we just started talking about things that mean a lot to us,” Brian continues, “the simple things: workin’ hard, playin’ hard, families, good friends, good times, Walmart parking lot parties. Hey, love ‘em — always have!”

For FGL, the sentiments in “Love Live” have only intensified during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“You know, this song has taken on a new meaning for us, I think, even in the midst of these uncertain times,” Brian reflects.

“Crank it up and let’s celebrate this amazing life we do get to live!” he adds. “Let’s celebrate all the wins that we get baby.”

Life Rolls On is far from the only new music these days from FGL. They’re also climbing the chart with “Drinkin’ Beer Talkin’ God Amen” with their former housemate Chase Rice, as well as Tyler’s duet with Tim McGraw on “Undivided.”

They’re featured on the track “It’s About Time” on Russell Dickerson‘s Southern Symphony album, too.

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

February 5, 2021 • No Comments • Country Music News

ABC/Image Group LAEarlier this week, Morgan Wallen’s rising star status in the country music industry plummeted after video footage emerged that showed him yelling racial slurs, including the N-word.

In the span of just 24 hours, Morgan’s music was swiftly removed from country radio station playlists. His contract with Big Loud Records, in conjunction with Republic Records, was suspended “indefinitely.” He was dropped by his booking agency, and CMT committed to “removing his appearances from all of our platforms.”

In the wake of the fallout, Wallen’s music saw a 65-percent drop in radio spins as the result of stations pulling it from their playlists, according to data collected by Rolling Stone.

However, at least for the time being, the singer’s fan base doesn’t seem to be wavering in their support. Rolling Stone‘s data also indicates that Morgan’s sales actually jumped 1,220 percent on Wednesday, and his streaming numbers remained steady, despite his removal from playlists on Spotify and Apple Music.

The video in question initially surfaced on TMZ Tuesday evening. That same night, the singer apologized in a statement made available to ABC News. “There are no excuses to use this type of language, ever. I want to sincerely apologize for using the word,” Morgan said. “I promise to do better.”

Since issuing that statement late on Tuesday, Morgan has remained quiet throughout the ensuing fallout. The Nashville branch of the NAACP has, however, extended an invitation to the singer to join them in conversation and educate himself about why the use of racial slurs is so hurtful.

February 5, 2021 • No Comments • Country Music News

Monument RecordsAfter releasing his debut song “Half Past You” in 2020, singer-songwriter and guitarist Alex Hall’s star is quickly rising in Nashville.

This week, he drops his debut EP, Six Strings: A six-song project that features a wide array of collaborations with some of country music’s biggest names. Brad Paisley, Tenille Townes, Vince Gill, Kassi Ashton, Old Dominion’s Brad Tursi and Brothers Osborne’s John Osborne all lend their talents to the project.

“Last One to Leave,” Alex’s duet with Brad Paisley, is a classic country love song that finds the narrator promising to stay with a woman who’s been burned by unreliable men in the past.

Alex is streaming his album release party on Friday night live from The Bluebird Cafe in Nashville, and he’ll be joined by Brad Tursi, Tenille and Kassi, who all appear on the EP. The show supports Alive Hospice, as part of the Alive & the Bluebird Series.

Furthermore, Alex and Tenille will be teaming up yet again later in the month. They’re on the same bill for a Songwriter Session at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum on February 16.

February 5, 2021 • No Comments • Country Music News

Reid LongEric Church recently announced the April release of his Heart & Soul triple album, and he’s been slowly rolling out songs off the massive, three-disc project.

But like any other country act, live music is a huge part of Eric’s album cycle, and the continuing effects of the COVID-19 pandemic are still making it difficult to plan a tour anytime soon. Still, the singer said in a video message to his fans on Friday that he’s got every intention of returning to the road as soon as possible.

“We are working on a North American tour,” Eric confirms. “We’re waiting on the right time to officially announce all the details, but I want you to know that a tour is coming. We are very excited to play new music for our old friends.”

Eric didn’t offer up any details about when a potential tour would kick off, though he’s speculated in past interviews that he thinks it might be possible to resume in-person live shows in the fall of 2021. Backstage at the 2020 CMA Awards, after he was crowned Entertainer of the Year, he predicted good things ahead for 2021.

“I think around the…March, April, May time, that we’ll start getting back to what used to be normal for us,” he guessed back in November. “And I believe that will start to be normal for all of us — for touring, for our daily life. Third, fourth quarter [of 2021] is going to be a f****** great thing.”

First up, however, Eric will head to this year’s Super Bowl on Sunday to perform the national anthem with Jazmine Sullivan.

February 5, 2021 • No Comments • Country Music News

Allister AnnJust one day after announcing her upcoming seven-song collection, 29, Carly Pearce is sharing one of the project’s new tracks. “Should’ve Known Better” is a poignant reflection on heartbreak, and the hindsight gained after going through a painful experience.

“I gave you my heart, you let it go to waste / You made me do the leaving and you made me take the blame,” Carly sings in the chorus. “Does it make you feel good to make me feel bad? / Yeah, you should’ve known better, should’ve known better…”

When she first announced 29, Carly introduced it as the product of a difficult time in her life marked by the sudden loss of her producer and mentor, busbee, as well as her divorce from fellow country artist Michael Ray.

Now, the singer explains that this song in particular is the result of what she’s learned about finding accountability and perspective in the wake of a break-up.

“I’ve discovered a lot about myself over the last year, wrestling with how not to assign so much blame for accepting or overlooking things that in the end, you should’ve known,” she explains. “This song is about finding peace in all kinds of relationships as you figure them out, and hopefully, you’re better for the next.”

29 is due out on Feb. 19. It features Carly’s current single, “Next Girl.”