February 4, 2021 • No Comments • Country Music News

ABCIn the midst of a TV-appearance hot streak that included an appearance on Ellen and another on The Late Late Show with James Cordon last month, Ingrid Andress is heading for yet another late-night performance.

She’ll stop by The Late Show With Stephen Colbert to perform her current single and the title track of her debut album, “Lady Like.” Ingrid’s performance is set for next Tuesday at 11:35 PM ET on CBS.

“Lady Like” follows “More Hearts Than Mine,” Ingrid’s breakout hit, which landed her her first chart-topping song on country radio last year.

Even amid a turbulent year, Ingrid found massive career success in 2020, emerging from a noted songwriter into an acclaimed performing artist in her own right. She’s showing no signs of slowing down in 2021: Ingrid’s up for three Grammy Awards at the upcoming March ceremony, and she’s even got a nomination in the all-genre Best New Artist category.

Aside from that, the singer is also nominated for Best Country Album and Best Country Song, putting her in a tie with Miranda Lambert as the most-nominated country artist at the 2021 Grammy Awards.

February 4, 2021 • No Comments • Country Music News

Chris HolloGarth Brooks, Carrie Underwood, Kane Brown and Dolly Parton are just a few of the stars performing in honor of the 95th anniversary of the Grand Ole Opry stage.

Entitled Grand Ole Opry: 95 Years of Country Music, the special event will feature a slew of performances, all of which were taped on the Grand Ole Opry House’s famous stage. Also among the list of featured artists are Little Big Town, Old Crow Medicine Show, Darius Rucker and Trisha Yearwood.

Covers, collaborations and artist tributes are on the docket, too: Kelsea Ballerini will perform “When You Say Nothing at All,” Dierks Bentley will team with Marty Stuart for a rousing rendition of “Pancho & Lefty,” and Lady A will take on Randy Travis’ classic “Forever and Ever, Amen.”

In between performances, the show will revisit historic moments from the hallowed hall, showing archival footage and rare interviews with some of the Opry’s legends. Audience members will have a chance to relive some more recent historical moments, too: During Lady A’s taping for the Opry special, for example, Darius surprised the trio by inviting them to become Opry members.

In another instance of history in the making, Kane’s performance in the special is his official Opry debut.

Brad Paisley and Blake Shelton have already been announced as the hosts for the two-hour 95th anniversary special. They will also give performances during the event.

Grand Ole Opry: 95 Years of Country Music airs February 14 between 9-11 p.m. ET on NBC.

February 4, 2021 • No Comments • Country Music News

Big Machine RecordsCarly Pearce went through upheaval, grief and pain to create her next collection of songs, 29. The project traces a period of Carly’s life marked by the sudden loss of her mentor and producer, busbee, followed by a very public divorce from fellow country star Michael Ray.

“Losing busbee was a jolt,” Carly says in a video trailer for 29. “He was my champion before anyone believed.”

As Carly’s longtime producer, busbee also co-wrote her 2017 breakout hit, “Every Little Thing.” He worked with Carly through the process of making her 2020 self-titled sophomore project, but died in September of 2019 after being diagnosed with brain cancer just a short time beforehand.

“Then came the divorce — something I never saw coming,” Carly continues. She officially filed for divorce in June of 2020, just eight months after she and Michael tied the knot.

“In that grief, I started swimming to save myself from the sadness, then realized I’d found something even deeper,” the singer continues. “29 came from that recognition. I got back to myself, to my roots, to my truth, and then the songs just kept spilling out.”

29 features some familiar song titles, including Carly’s empowering current single, “Next Girl,” as well as her powerful remembrance of busbee, “Show Me Around.” The singer has also previously teased unreleased snippets of a couple more tracks, “Messy” and “Should’ve Known Better.”

The other, as-yet-unheard, songs on 29 are called “29,” “Liability” and “Day One,” the latter of which was co-written by Old Dominion singer Matthew Ramsey. Carly had a hand in penning every track on the project.

29 is due out on Feb. 19, but you can pre-save it now.

February 4, 2021 • No Comments • Country Music News

ABC

Country singer Morgan Wallen continues to face repercussions after a video surfaced on Tuesday that showed him shouting a racial epithet during a night of partying.

The Academy of Country Music has announced that it is barring the “More Than My Hometown” singer from the ACM Awards.

“The Academy of Country Music will halt Morgan Wallen’s potential involvement and eligibility for this year’s 56th Academy of Country Music Awards cycle,” the Academy tweeted on Wednesday.

“We have made his management team aware of this decision. The Academy does not condone or support intolerance or behavior that doesn’t align with our commitment and dedication to diversity and inclusion,” the statement continued.

The 27-year-old former Voice contestant, who has since apologized for his behavior, has already seen his recording contract “indefinitely” suspended, and several national radio station chains have pulled his music from their playlists. 

CMT also announced it is “in the process of removing his appearances from all of our platforms.”

pic.twitter.com/wzRTETc7IU

— ACM Awards (@ACMawards) February 3, 2021

By George Costantino
Copyright © 2021, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

February 4, 2021 • No Comments • Country Music News

ABC

As Darius Rucker‘s latest hit, “Beers and Sunshine,” nears the top of the chart, the follow-up to 2017’s When Was the Last Time can’t be far behind. 

For his next record, the Hootie and the Blowfish superstar didn’t shy away from tough topics. 

“With everything going on in the world and everything going on in my life, it was easy to find stuff to write about,” he says candidly. “And this record, you know, a lot of it’s really personal.”

Last July, Darius and wife Beth Leonard announced they were ending their nearly 20-year marriage, adding they “remain close friends and parenting partners and continue to be each other’s biggest cheerleaders.”

Darius confesses some of his new material simply hit too close to home.

“I wrote a couple of songs that… actually we cut one of ’em,” he reveals, “And I said, ‘I can’t put that on the record.’ It was just too personal… I just realized that I can’t put that on… And so we took that one off.”

“But that happens when you’re really writing everything and you’re just saying everything,” he reflects, “and then… you hear it back and you say, ‘I guess that’s a little bit too much.'”

Ultimately, Darius believes his next work is some of his very best.

“I have really had a blast making it,” he continues, “And I’ve been listening to it a lot, and it’s just one of those records that, you know, I said a lot of things I wanted to say…”

“It’s probably my most mature record of my career,” he adds. “It’s really a record that I’m really proud of. I can’t wait for you guys to hear it.”

So far, Darius hasn’t announced the title or release date of his new album. 

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