February 5, 2021 • No Comments • Country Music News

NFLOn Sunday, when the Kansas City Chiefs take on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, some of the biggest names in country music will be watching — and they think it’s pretty clear who’ll win. 

For former UNC linebacker Chase Rice, it’s bittersweet.

“I never had my shot in the NFL,” he tells ABC Audio, “so I’m sitting here watching Tom Brady — I think he’s got like 34 postseason wins… He has more postseason wins than I ever got to play in NFL games.”

“This is a real interesting one for me…” Chase continues, “because it’s the best to ever do it versus the young gun. That’s a Hollywood story right there.”

“I see the Chiefs winning,” he adds. “I think they’re a team that’s done it together longer. This Bucs team was all just a bunch of guys pieced together, but you never know. They got Tom Brady, so they obviously have a chance to win.” 

Darius Rucker agrees.

“I kind of like Kansas City, but you can’t bet against Tom Brady…” Darius warns. “I think Kansas City’s gonna win the game, but I wouldn’t be surprised… if the Bucs won. I just think you’re gonna see two great offenses really go at each other.”

Matt Stell‘s on the same side, with “some skin in the game.”

“This is a long-standing sort of bet,” he explains. “I’m in this weird league that’s kind of like fantasy football, except it’s entire teams instead of players. I actually have the Chiefs still left… It’ll ring the bell for me pretty good if they pull it off.”

The former college athlete also has several “side bets,” including “which coaches nostrils are shown first when they pull their mask down,” and “how many times Gisele will be shown in the luxury box.”

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

February 4, 2021 • No Comments • Country Music News

Ebru Yildiz / courtesy of Shore Fire MediaIt’s been 20 years since Lee Ann Womack released her signature single ,“I Hope You Dance,” which was a chart-topping hit at country radio as well as the 2001 CMA Single of the Year.

To celebrate the anniversary, Lee Ann is launching a brand-new line of merchandise, including a selection of T-shirts, mugs and even a mask that reads “I Hope You Dance (6 Feet Away).”

20 percent of the net proceeds from the “I Hope You Dance” merch line will benefit Music Health Alliance, a network that supports the music community worldwide. Since the COVID-19 pandemic began impacting the live music industry, the Music Health Alliance has been working to provide critically needed resources as well as mental health services.

In 2017, Lee Ann released her ninth and most recent studio album, The Lonely, The Lonesome & the Gone. The project earned her two Grammy nominations.

February 4, 2021 • No Comments • Country Music News

Reid LongIf you’re a member of Eric Church’s Church Choir fan club, you’re in luck: You’ve got access to the singer’s two new exclusive tracks.

Those songs are “Lone Wolf” and “Lynyrd Skynyrd Jones.” The former track is the sixth and final song listed on his middle album, &, which will be available exclusively on vinyl to the Church Choir when it drops in April.

Meanwhile, “Lynyrd Skynyrd Jones” is the final track on Soul, the last of Eric’s three-album collection. Along with those tracks, the singer also released studio videos of each song to the Church Choir on Thursday.

Eric will roll out his triple album during the month of April, with Heart arriving on April 16, & on April 20 and Soul on April 23.

The songs were written and recorded during a marathon music-making retreat that Eric and his team undertook early in 2020: They headed to the North Carolina mountains to work in a makeshift studio. The project features Eric’s touring band, including fan-favorite backing vocalist and frequent duet partner Joanna Cotten, as well as producer Jay Joyce.

Eric has previously shared several songs off the new project, and his current single, “Hell of a View,” is currently nearing the Top 20 at country radio.

February 4, 2021 • No Comments • Country Music News

ABCThe youngest member of Jason Aldean’s family, his daughter Navy, turned two on Thursday, and the country star posted a montage of photos to social media to celebrate the occasion. 

“Hard to believe this lil nugget is 2 years old today,” Jason wrote. “ “I wish all kids could be this sweet and loving. She is a special little girl! Happy bday Navy baby. We love u so much.”

A series of snaps show a glimpse into little Navy’s personality, including one hilarious picture of the young girl with her hair standing up from static electricity. Jason wasn’t the only one to post a birthday tribute to his daughter: Brittany Aldean, the singer’s wife, shared video footage of the family waking up Navy by singing “Happy Birthday.”

In the clip, both Jason and Brittany sing to Navy as she’s waking up in her crib, and at the end of the song, Jason removes the pacifier from her mouth. “No,” Navy sleepily comments.

“Yeah! Today’s your birthday!” Jason responds. “You’re two! That’s so cool!”

In addition to Navy, Jason and his wife share a son, Memphis, who turned three years old in December. Jason also has two teenage daughters, Keeley and Kendyl, from a previous marriage.

Hard to believe this lil nugget is 2 years old today. I wish all kids could be this sweet and loving. She is a special little girl! Happy bday Navy baby. We love u so much. 🎈 🎂 🥳 pic.twitter.com/IoyvzpK0cQ

— Jason Aldean (@Jason_Aldean) February 4, 2021

February 4, 2021 • No Comments • Country Music News

ABC/Image Group LAOn Wednesday, Brothers Osborne bandmate T.J. Osborne was the subject of an in-depth TIME profile, in which he came out as gay.

That made him the first artist signed to a major country label to publicly discuss being gay — a historic step for the genre as a whole, as well as a major step for T.J., the singer later stated in an Instagram video message to his fans.

“I know it’s gonna help my relationship with my fans, with my family, and honestly, it’s gonna help my relationship with myself,” he said in the clip.

Thursday morning, T.J. appeared on The Ellen DeGeneres Show to further reflect on his experience.

“I’m trying not to cry on national television right now,” the singer joked, explaining what an empowering and emotional process it had been. “…I instantaneously felt like I wished I had done this a long time ago.”

He added, “I expected a wave of love from family and friends. I did not expect it to feel the way it felt. I think it’s one thing when you just know and assume that people love you, and it’s different when you hear it and hear it with sincerity. Right now, I feel so incredibly loved.”

T.J. goes on to say that while he expected to feel support from his friends and closest musical pals, he wound up being surprised by positive reactions from people he wouldn’t necessarily have expected to hear from.

“People that I feel personify masculinity and the straight culture to the nth degree, coming out with a lot of pride for me,” he explains.

Still, T.J. says in the interview, he knows that there may be challenges ahead, especially once touring resumes and Brothers Osborne play shows in more rural, conservative areas.