February 3, 2021 • No Comments • Country Music News

ABC/Image Group LAAfter video footage surfaced Tuesday night showing Morgan Wallen shouting racial slurs, including the N-word, during a night of partying, Mickey Guyton called on the industry to hold Morgan accountable for his actions.

After the footage surfaced, Morgan apologized for his behavior, but for many, including Mickey, that apology fell flat. “Promises to do better don’t mean s***,” she stated on Twitter.

“This is not his first time using that ‘unacceptable’ racial slur and we all know that,” Mickey pointed out. “So what exactly are y’all going to do about it. Crickets won’t work this time.”

With songs like “Black Me” and “What Are You Gonna Tell Her?,” Mickey has been open about her experience as a Black woman in country music both in music and in sharing the instances of hate and racism she routinely encounters.

On social media, she reflected on “why I continue to fight to be in an industry that seems to hate me so much,” saying that she draws inspiration from young artists of color entering the industry.

“This artist might not have the strength to fight for themselves. But I do. And I will be that artist’s warrior as they pursue their dream of singing country music, because their dreams are valid, too,” the singer continued. She then named a number of artists who have supported her and her fellow Black performers, including Kacey Musgraves, Maren Morris, Keith Urban and many more.

Finally, while she stressed that Morgan should face repercussions for his actions, Mickey cautioned her followers against cancel culture.

“Watching anyone fall from grace is a terrible thing to see,” she said. “People must all be given a chance to change. Morgan must feel the weight of his words but completely throwing someone away is detrimental to anyone’s mental health.”

Morgan has already faced serious repercussions for his actions.  His record label has “indefinitely” suspended his contract several national radio station chains have pulled his music from their playlists, and CMT announced they’re “in the process of removing his appearances from all of our platforms.”

This is not his first time using that “unacceptable” racial slur and we all known that. So what exactly are y’all going to do about it. Crickets won’t work this time.

— Mickey Guyton (@MickeyGuyton) February 3, 2021

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

February 3, 2021 • No Comments • Country Music News

Courtesy of BBR Music GroupAhead of this year’s Super Bowl LV in Tampa, Florida, country duo LoCash are joining the pre-game festivities for the third year in a row.

On Thursday, the pair will perform a socially distanced acoustic set at nearby venue the Sparkman Wharf, exclusively for healthcare workers. They planned the show in conjunction with Pepsi Stronger Together, an initiative that aims to give back to communities nationwide.

Though it’s not the first time LoCash has helped celebrate the Super Bowl, this year’s game is an especially meaningful one for the band. Not only does band mate Chris Lucas live in Tampa — where the 2021 game is taking place — but LoCash also recently released the song “Cloud of Dust” featuring The Gronkowski brothers, one of whom is playing for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday.

“Excited again to be a part of our Pepsi family and the Super Bowl! Of course, I’m even way more excited that it’s in my home city of Tampa,” says Chris.

“We’re so honored to be performing for our healthcare workers who have done so much for the community,” adds fellow LoCash member Preston Brust. “They’ve shown courage and heroism throughout a tough year and it feels good to celebrate them and show them how much they mean to all of us!”

LoCash isn’t the only country act set to participate in Super Bowl festivities this year: Eric Church is on deck to sing the National Anthem before the big game, along with R&B star Jazmine Sullivan.

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

February 3, 2021 • No Comments • Country Music News

ABC/Image Group LA

Dolly Parton is updating her classic workplace anthem, “9 to 5,” in honor of those who get home from their day jobs just to spend their evenings working on their side hustle.

The new song, “5 to 9,” is part of an ad campaign for website creation and hosting company Squarespace. The new ad spot, featuring Dolly’s re-worked lyrics, will air during the Super Bowl.

“Working 5 to 9, you’ve got passion and a vision / ‘Cause it’s hustlin’ time, whole new way to make a livin’,” Dolly sings. “Gonna change you life, do something that gives it meaning / With a website that is worthy of your dreaming…”

Tony Award winner Justin Peck oversaw choreography for the video, which features dancers from on and off Broadway. The commercial’s story line follows a sleepy office building that suddenly comes to life, with dancers leaping out of their cubicles, as the clock strikes five and they begin work on their passion projects.

“9 to 5” was originally released in 1980. It was a hit single for Dolly and won her a slew of awards. It’s also featured in the soundtrack of the 1980 hit comedy film of the same title, win which Dolly starred alongside Lily Tomlin and Jane Fonda.

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

February 3, 2021 • No Comments • Country Music News

ABC/Image Group LAIt’s been exactly eight years since Russell Dickerson popped the question to his now-wife, Kailey. In the years that elapsed, Kailey’s been the inspiration for hit love songs like “Yours” and “Blue Tacoma,” and she’s been an active participant in the singer’s career, too, directing the music videos for both those songs.

Kailey has perhaps an even more important role in the music video for Russell’s “Home Sweet,” which dropped on Wednesday in celebration of the couple’s eighth anniversary of getting engaged.

Home video footage of the proposal kicks off the clip, followed by a sweet montage of the couple’s life together through the years. We see all the special moments, including highlights from their wedding day, the day they purchased their first home together and most recently, their experience of welcoming their first child, Remington.

“Home Sweet” comes off of Russell’s sophomore album, Southern Symphony, which arrived in December. It follows “Love You Like I Used To,” which topped the Billboard Country Airplay chart for two weeks straight in November.

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

February 3, 2021 • No Comments • Country Music News

ABCNashville’s Big Loud label, which releases Morgan Wallen’s music in conjunction with Republic Records, has suspended the singer’s contract indefinitely, according to a social media statement posted on Wednesday morning.

The decision comes “in wake of recent events,” according to the statement. Morgan came under fire when video footage obtained by TMZ Tuesday night showed him shouting the N-word and other racial slurs while partying.

The singer subsequently apologized in a statement issued to ABC News. “There are no excuses to use this type of language, ever. I want to sincerely apologize for using the word. I promise to do better,” Wallen said.

Meanwhile, many others in the country community, including Mickey Guyton and Maren Morris, began to call for the genre to hold Morgan accountable for his behavior.

Also on Wednesday, CMT announced via Facebook that they are “in the process of removing his appearances from all of our platforms,” adding that the singer’s words and actions “are in direct opposition to our core values that celebrate diversity, equity and inclusion.”

Big Loud’s Wednesday morning statement also said that Republic Records is in agreement with their decision to suspend Morgan’s contract. “Republic Records fully supports Big Loud’s decision and agrees such behavior will not be tolerated,” the statement added.

Several national radio ownership groups have also removed Wallen’s music from their stations’ playlists in response to the incident.

Reps for the singer had no additional comment as of Wednesday morning.

pic.twitter.com/ooRYfOTlud

— Big Loud (@BigLoud) February 3, 2021

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