January 20, 2021 • No Comments • Country Music News

Monarch Publicity/Sony Music NashvilleChris Young’s upbeat new duet with Kane Brown is an ode to the hometown heroes they knew and loved growing up. An award-winning school teacher named Megan, a star high school quarterback named Brandon and more are the stars of this song.

Chris, who co-wrote “Famous Friends” with Cary Barlowe and Corey Crowder, says that the names listed in the lyrics represent real people, many of whom are buddies of his from his hometown in Murfreesboro, Tennessee.

But he might never have gotten the idea to spotlight his not-so-famous friends without the help of his 2019 single, “Raised on Country.”

“With ‘Raised on Country,’ what we were trying to write was an anthem about the music I grew up on,” Chris explains to Billboard. “And obviously, when you start talking about how you grew up and what shapes you outside of your town and the music you listened to, it’s definitely your friends.”

From there, the connection was clear. “I think that was kind of the seed in ‘Famous Friends,’” the singer adds.

“Famous Friends” is the third single off Chris’ upcoming album, following “Raised on Country” and “Drowning.” He hasn’t shared an exact timeline for the project’s rollout, but has hinted that the release day may be nearing. Last weekend, he posted a photo of himself to Twitter, captioning the image, “Feeling album cover, might delete later” along with the hashtag “#FamousFriends.”

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

January 20, 2021 • No Comments • Country Music News

ABC

On his massive new sophomore effort, Dangerous: The Double Album, Morgan Wallen gets honest about the ways in which his celebrity status has impacted his life.

The title track, for example, is a cautionary tale about the perils of drinking and getting into trouble. That’s a lesson that Morgan has learned first-hand, when he was arrested for public intoxication and disorderly conduct last May in downtown Nashville.

Then there’s “Living the Dream,” a track that flat-out states that fame isn’t always everything it’s hyped up to be. In the lyrics, he describes “drinking ‘cause I need to” and repeats the song’s haunting refrain, “This living the dream is killing me.”

In a new interview with People, Morgan doesn’t mince words about the ups and downs he’s experienced. He speaks in particular about his now-infamous spree of maskless partying at the height of the pandemic, where a series of TikTok videos showed him kissing multiple women. Those antics cost him his debut performance spot on Saturday Night Live.

“It’s fun,” Wallen admits, talking about all the adulation from women he receives due to his fame. “I wouldn’t do it if it wasn’t fun. It’s a high, in a way. It’s almost like I have access to a drug that a lot of people don’t have access to.

But like any drug, he says, it has its downsides. Looking back at the experience, he understands why his behavior was seen as irresponsible.

“I’m not a malicious person,” he reflects. “Just kind of…I should have been more aware.”

Fortunately, not only did Morgan learn his lesson, he ultimately got a second chance. He made his SNL debut in December, two months after his originally-planned performance.

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

January 20, 2021 • No Comments • Country Music News

Drew Angerer/Getty ImagesGarth Brooks offered the final musical performance of President Joe Biden’s inauguration on Wednesday, delivering an a capella rendition of the classic hymn, “Amazing Grace.”

Clad in a dark shirt and jacket, the seven-time CMA Entertainer of the Year wore his signature cowboy hat as he walked to the podium, but removed it before he began to sing. Taking his initial pitch from a trumpet, Garth launched into what are traditionally considered the first and last verses of the John Newton standard, encouraging everyone both at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C. and watching at home to join him as he reprised the initial stanza.

Though his performance was stellar, it’s perhaps his exit that most will remember, as Garth couldn’t help but display his innate warmth and humanity. The Oklahoma native began by shaking hands with newly-inaugurated President Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris and former Vice President Mike Pence. As he continued to recede through the audience, Garth forgot all social-distancing, stopping to hug the Obamas, Clintons and more, as the former presidents seemed to recognize they were seeing their friend.

Previously, Garth performed his anthem “We Shall Be Free” at the 2008 first inauguration of President Barack Obama, and has shown up for every president since Jimmy Carter in some capacity, with the exception of Ronald Reagan.

Today, Garth followed the same convention as fellow superstars Lady Gaga and Jennifer Lopez, forsaking their own songs for traditional fare, with Lady Gaga performing the national anthem, and J-Lo offering a medley of “This Land Is Your Land” and “America the Beautiful.”

Tonight, Tim McGraw and Florida Georgia Line’s Tyler Hubbard continue country’s inaugural contributions, as they deliver their new hit “Undivided” on the Celebrating America special, which begins airing at 8:30 p.m. ET on all the major networks.

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

January 20, 2021 • No Comments • Country Music News

ABC/Image Group LAMickey Guyton is gearing up to welcome her first child any day now, and the singer posted a sweet and glamorous snapshot from her maternity shoot on social media.

In the photograph, the “Black Like Me” star cradles her stomach, dressed in a black top with her hair styled into flowing “Stop for a minute. Baby I’m so glad that you’re mine,” Mickey captioned her post, nodding to the lyrics of the 1991 hit “Baby, Baby,” by singer, and wife of Vince Gill, Amy Grant.

It’s the second maternity photoshoot shot Mickey’s shared in the past week. The first was a powerful black and white image of Mickey and her baby bump, accompanied by a quote on motherhood from Maya Angelou.

Late last year, Mickey revealed she’s expecting a boy, adding that the prospect of raising a Black son weighed heavily on her in light of the racial injustice she’s seen happen both to her husband and also across the nation, especially during 2020. Still, in conversation with People, she described her baby-to-be as “an absolute miracle.”

While the singer hasn’t shared her exact due date, Mickey did recently joke that her labor was fast approaching. “I’m officially 9 months pregnant,” she tweeted last weekend. “Lord give me strength and comfort for what is coming next.”

“Stop for a minute. Baby I’m so glad that you’re mine.” -Amy Grant

📸💄: @DAndreMichael pic.twitter.com/5Jxo1YbVWd

— Mickey Guyton (@MickeyGuyton) January 20, 2021

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

January 20, 2021 • No Comments • Country Music News

Courtesy of C2C FestivalThough promising news of a vaccine is on the horizon, the COVID-19 pandemic still poses significant concerns for concert-goers and large-scale events organizers.

As a reminder of that fact, the C2C Music Festival, Europe’s largest annual country music event, has postponed its 2021 festivities until 2022. The news came via a social media update, in which the organization explains that due to the current restrictions on mass gatherings and travel, it will be impossible for this year’s event to go on as planned.

C2C was originally scheduled to take place in March. The 2020 iteration of the fest became one of the first major events affected by the pandemic, as it was canceled on March 12, 2020 — just one day before it was set to begin.

“In March of 2020, we could never have foreseen the extent of what has unfolded and the prospect that we would be without C2C for two years running was unthinkable,” organizers share. “We are devastated that we are unable to deliver you the event that we all love.”

At the same time, they assure fans that plans for C2C 2022 are already underway. Tickets purchased for 2021 will remain valid for next year’s event, and ticket-holders can also get a refund by contacting the point of purchase.

The C2C Festival is now scheduled to resume March 11-13, 2022.

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