Maren Morris Teams Up With Brandi Carlile For Powerful Ballad, “Common”

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Brandi Carlile and Maren Morris

Photo Credit: Al Wagner/Invision/AP/REX/Shutte

In current times, society is often fixated on our differences and they tend to drive a wedge between individuals, well Maren Morris’ new duet with Americana Folk Rock singer Brandi Carlile couldn’t have come at a better time. On Thursday, the 28-year-old announced the March 8th release of her sophomore album, “GIRL,” and surprised fans the same night with a brand new duet and instant-gratification track coinciding with the album’s pre-order.

Morris and Carlile first debuted the song last Saturday night (Feb 1) at the latter’s ‘Girls Just Wanna Have Fun Weekend Festival’ in Mexico, and since then clips of the song have been circulating online and fans wondered if the track would be included on  Morris’ upcoming release. Well, it is, and we love every bit of it!

This mid-tempo ballad reflects on the current state of society, humanity and the world. “I’ve been tryin to carry on, but I’m crushed under the weight of the world I belong,” Morris laments, as she takes listeners into a dive straight into the importance of seeing past our differences because, “we’ve got way too much in common, so what’s the point of fighting?”

“Common” pleads us to direct our eyes away from the differing social, political and many other differences plaguing our society, but turn them toward our similarities because “we’re the different kinda same.” And, if we want to “get to the bottom of this,” we have to step down from the top, humble ourselves and work together to bring change.

Carlile’s vocals, unarguably, augment the poignancy of the situation and depth of the message. For those who aren’t aware, Carlile is a multi-nominated Grammy artist herself and is no stranger to country music. Last October, she performed with Morris on a stellar rendition of “Natural Woman” as a tribute to Aretha Franklin on CMT’s Artist of The Year.

Above all, the message of this song is important to our current time. “Common” is Morris and Carlile’s aching plea and a personal invitation to mankind to really let our commonalities triumph over our differences, and let love truly bind us all.

Carlile is up for six Grammys, including the all-genre Album of the Year and Morris is nominated for five Grammys, be sure to tune in to the prestigious award show on CBS this Sunday night at 8:00 PM ET.

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New Country Music Friday – The Playlist 2/8/19

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It’s that time of the week again… New Music Friday! Today, we see brand new music from Florida Georgia Line and Hardy, a new track from Maren Morris featuring Brandi Carlile, a killer version of Brooks and Dunn’s “Brand New Man” with Luke Combs as well as “Believe” with Kane Brown. We also see new music from Chris Janson, Adam Hambrick, Swag Session Alumn Riley Green and so much more.

Check out our Spotify New Country Music Playlist below and be sure to follow for updates each and every Friday:

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[Watch] Gabby Barrett’s Vindictive Video for “I Hope”

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It’s been nearly a year since country music newcomer, Gabby Barrett placed third in season 16 of American Idol. Last week, she debuted her first single entitled “I Hope.” Co-penned with Jon Nite and Zachary Kale, the sultry and vulnerable tune puts a cheating ex on display. In a recent press release, Barrett shared that the vindictive song says all of the things “girls really want to say when done wrong.”

“I hope you both feel the sparks by the end of the drive / I hope you know she’s the one by the end of the night / I hope you never ever felt more free, tell your friends that your so happy / I hope she comes along and wrecks every one of your plans / I hope you spend your last dime to put a rock on her hand / I hope she’s wilder than your wildest dreams, she’s everything you’re ever gonna need / And then I hope she cheats / Like you did on me”

The music video complies with the song’s message. The video starts off with Barrett falling for said cheater, showing tender moments between the couple.  The story then unfolds, showing his infidelity then scenes from his new relationship. It doesn’t stop there, what Barrett “hopes” for, comes to be a reality. The story is the perfect “what goes around comes back around” tale.  The comparison can be made to another American Idol alumni’s revenge song, Carrie Underwood’s “Before He Cheats”, Barrett has a similar power behind her vocal range and the sass needed to make it big in this industry.

To keep up with the songstress for future song releases and more, be sure to visit gabbybarrettofficial.com and follow her on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.

 

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Lauren Jenkins Makes Her National Television Debut on TODAY!

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Earlier this morning, country music newcomer and Big Machine Records recording artist, Lauren Jenkins, made her national television debut on NBC’s Today Show. She took the stage during the 10 AM hour with co-anchors, Hoda Kotb and Kathie Lee Gifford, performing her new track, “Running Out Of Road,” off her upcoming debut album, No Saint,  slated for release on March 15th.

Before performing her powerful track, Hoda, Kathie Lee, and Elvis Duran from Z100’s morning show came to the stage to introduce Jenkins as not only an artist to watch but this month, Elvis Duran’s Artist Of The Month. This time picking a country artist, Elvis had one question for the singer-songwriter saying, “So out of all the things you could have done with your life being an artist, it’s not an easy road to drive down as you know, why do you have to do this for a living?” Jenkins responding, “I really, honestly since I was young, ever since I could remember, being a storyteller is the only thing I’ve wanted to do and can do and yea it’s been really hard sometimes but then some days you get to play on the Today show!”

After the quick interview, Jenkins gave her all during her performance, showing everyone watching just how deserving she was of the title. The singer-songwriter mesmerized viewers at home with her passion-filled performance, making her presence known in the genre. The combination of her gritty vocals and her storytelling shows her pure talent and that this is exactly what she was born to do. At the end of the performance, the studio erupted in cheers as Hoda, Kathie Lee, and Elvis came back on stage clapping and screaming her name, making it a moment to never forget. For viewers who did not know who Lauren Jenkins was before, they sure do now.

Make sure to check out Lauren Jenkins debut studio album, No Saint, out on March 15th and follow her on Instagram for the most recent updates.

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Easton Corbin Releases New Music For the First Time in Years

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Easton Corbin has had successful hits including “A Girl Like You” and “All Over The Road” but it has been almost 4 years since we have seen an album release. For fans waiting for new music, wait no longer. Corbin just released his newest single “Somebody’s Gotta Be Country” along with a new music video.

While Corbin has continued to tour all across the country, he surprised fans last week with a free show at Nashville’s The Stage on Broadway, where he performed the new single among other hits. Written by talented songwriters Ashley Gorley, Dallas Davidson, and Rhett Akins, the new song calls out the fact that maybe country music isn’t so country anymore although Corbin is here to keep it that way.

“Somebody’s gotta party till the stars burn out / There’s some worn-out boots in a high-class crowd / All my rowdy buddies keep settling down / Somebody’s gotta be country in this town / Somebody’s gotta be country in this town.”

In the new video, Corbin shows off his true side with everyday things in the back of his truck. From driving his truck, moving hay, playing his guitar around a fire, he shows off what his life looks like outside of music. What fans might not know was this video was not staged at all. In one of his recent Instagram stories, he explained that he and his crew went out to a farm that he tends to spend a lot of time at, and really just spent the day doing what he would on any normal day, only this time, capturing it for the video.

We are hoping that with this new single comes more tour dates and possibly a new album. But in the meantime, “Somebody’s Gotta Be Country” is available now on all digital streaming platforms. Follow along on Corbin’s socials as well to get a heads up for tour dates, new music, and more!

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Justin Moore’s Moving Video for “The Ones That Didn’t Make It Back Home”

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With his fifth studio album Late Nights and Longnecks on the horizon, Justin Moore recently released the powerful music video to his first single, “The Ones That Didn’t Make It Back Home.” Moore co-wrote the heartfelt ballad with Paul DiGiovanni, Jeremy Stover, and Chase McGill.

“The Ones That Didn’t Make It Back Home” honors the men and woman who risk their lives serving our country, as well as the first responders that put their lives in danger day in and day out. Directed by Cody Villalobos, the music video depicts an emotional storyline of real-world heroes. A somber woman planning a welcome home BBQ for a deployed soldier is faced with the reality that her loved one will not be coming home. A police officer and firefighter are running in to save lives all while risking their own, and a teacher is shielding her students from gunfire during a school shooting. Each storyline and character is connected, proving how small the world is and how we all need to respect and love one another.

Moore honors these incredible individuals with lyrics, “Here’s to the ones that didn’t make it back home/the ones we ain’t seen in so long/the hold up a beer ones/the wish they were here ones/the not forgotten but gone.” The chorus continues reminding us “They’re in a better place up there/But they sure left a hole down here/We just go on livin’ and go on missin’ the ones/The ones that didn’t make it back home.”

The singer-songwriter dedicates the touching video to all of the innocent lives that were lost and their grieving families by showing a quote at the very end stating, “Here’s to the families that live in the reality of this video, and to the ones that didn’t make it back home.” Moore’s upcoming album Late Nights and Longnecks is set to be released on April 26th and he is touring throughout 2019! Head to http://www.justinmooremusic.com/ for details and tour dates.

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Randy Houser Sings “What The Whiskey Does” on Kimmel

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On the heels of releasing his most personal album to date, Magnolia, singer-songwriter Randy Houser takes on late night television. Houser took the stage at the venue on Hollywood Boulevard in California to perform for fans, as part of the Jimmy Kimmel LIVE! concert series sponsored by Mercedes-Benz, making his television debut performance of his bluesy song, “What Whiskey Does.”

Host Jimmy Kimmel eagerly introduced the singer to the audience with his record in hand, “This is his album. It’s called Magnolia. Here with the song, “What Whiskey Does,” with help from Hillary Lindsey, Randy Houser!” The camera quickly moved to showcase a beaming Houser and his four-piece band, ready to rock on stage. The entertainer was joined by fellow songwriter, Lindsey, who lent her voice to both the live performance and the recorded track.

Houser gave fans an epic rendition of his new song, showcasing his beautiful voice, as well as, his guitar skills, while Lindsey provided delicate harmonies to the already enticing track. About midway through the performance, Houser belted the lyrics, proving, once again, why he is one of the best vocalists in country music. The live studio audience immediately erupted into applause. Houser’s performance ended with some acapella notes, followed by an awesome guitar solo.

Just prior to his Kimmel performance, Houser released the official music video for “What Whiskey Does.” The video follows a potential couple, as they navigate the highs and the lows of their relationship, starting in a bar. The singer acts as the lyrical narrator to the song, as well as, makes a cameo as the bartender. The images are raw, real, and vulnerable, just like the song. Watch the full video below.

Next up for Houser, he will play some shows, fairs, and rodeos throughout the month of February. As of right now, he is not scheduled to play any shows in the New York area anytime soon, but keep checking our calendar to see if any shows are added in the future.

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Casssadee Pope Performs “If My Heart Had A Heart” on TODAY

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Just days after the release of her new album, Stages, independent artist Cassadee Pope, appeared on NBC’s Today Show for the second time. She took the stage during the 9 AM hour with co-anchors Al Roker, Sheinelle Jones, Dylan Dreyer, and Craig Melvin to perform on The Artist Lounge presented by Today. The Artist Lounge is where our favorite singers will be performing stripped down versions of their songs and this week it was Pope’s turn performing the T.V. debut of her new single, “If My Heart Had A Heart.”

Before performing her emotional ballad, co-anchors, Roker, Jones, Dreyer, and Melvin came to the stage to introduce and talk to the singer-songwriter. While welcoming her, they played a short clip showing Pope’s story, mentioning that she won The Voice back in 2012 along with many of her other musical accomplishments throughout the years. After the clip, Pope couldn’t stop smiling while mentioning she was so excited. Once she was introduced, Melvin had one question for the singer-songwriter saying, “You’re going on tour, by the way, you got a big tour coming up but the title of the album, stages, What’s behind that?” Pope replying, “So it’s basically an album I’ve been writing over the last year and a half and lots happened in my life so it just explains all the stages I’ve been through.”

After the brief interview, it was the moment viewers at home had been waiting for. Pope appeared on stage with only a cello and keyboard player to perform her stripped down version of “If My Heart Had AHeart.” She belted out the lyrics over the instruments, putting her beautiful vocals on full display while leaving viewers at home with chills. Pope captivated her audience with her passion-filled performance showcasing her talent along with the song’s vulnerability and pain of heartbreak. At the end of the song, the studio erupted in cheers.

Luckily for New Yorkers, we can catch Cassadee Pope on CMT’s Next Women of Country Tour with special guests Hannah Ellis and Clare Dunn, hitting the Gramercy Theater on April 26th!

 

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Rob Baird Performs at Fort Worth Live in Texas

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Friday, Feb 1st brought unseasonably warm weather – but that wasn’t the only thing that had Fort Worth, Texas locals happy.  TCU alumni and Austin resident Rob Baird was playing Fort Worth Live, celebrating the release of his new album, After All, that was released earlier this year. Held on the second story of the Juvenile Shoe Store, Fort Worth Live was the perfect venue for Baird fans to share an intimate evening listening to the singer-songwriter’s hits and even sharing a drink with him. The venue hosted 130 of Baird fans old and young, all singing along to his music.

The show began with Fort Worth local, Parker Chapin. As Chapin began to sing he quickly won over the crowd with his eclectic vocals and beautiful lyrics.

Baird opened up the show strumming away to one of his new songs “I Tried”. His fans listened intensely once he was done as he talked about his TCU days, his brief stint in Nashville and finally how he made the move to Austin. He also discussed how the album After All came to be – a shotgun romance with an actress from California. “Fade Away”, “Give Me Back Love” and “Best That I Was” were also some other hits played on this February night. Baird played a heck of a show, especially considering he was up before dawn for Good Day Fox 4 Dallas. He provided the perfect blend between hits from his previous albums and his newest masterpiece.

Rob Baird

What was most intriguing about Baird was his connection to his fans, college students, young couples and even older adults all seem to have had the same enthusiasm for the Tennesee native. His lyrics speak to them, connecting fans from all over the country. The night was filled with sharing stories and the intimate setting was unforgettable for the fans in attendance.

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NYCountry Swag Team Heads to Country Radio Seminar in Nashville

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CRS 2019 Country Radio Seminar

Next Week, the New York Country Swag team heads to Nashville to take part in the 50th Annual Country Radio Seminar (CRS).  CRS is an annual three-day convention where country music and the radio industry gather to exchange ideas, set trends, introduce brands, launch artists and make decisions that affect every aspect of the genre’s future.   The seminar includes new music from rising artists as well as some of the most established artists in the business.

This year kicks off with an opening day luncheon hosted by Warner Music Nashville featuring performances from Blake Shelton, Dan + Shay, Devin Dawson, Chris Janson, Morgan Evans, Cody Johnson, Ashley McBryde, and Cole Swindell. Wednesday evening is Amazon Music Presents: “Country Heat” at CRS, With Performances by Zac Brown Band, Tenille Townes, Adam Hambrick, HARDY, and King Calaway.  Garth Brooks will bring his one-man show to the Bridgestone Arena as well as sit down for a Q&A during the seminar.

Just announced, the UMG Lunch, taking place at The Ryman, will feature Kassi Ashton, Dierks Bentley, Eric Church, Jordan Davis, Travis Denning, Vince Gill, Adam Hambrick, Caylee Hammack, Brandon Lay, Little Big Town, Maddie & Tae, Darius Rucker, Chris Stapleton, and Keith Urban.

This year’s BLMG Luncheon will feature Rascal Flatts, Brantley Gilbert, Riley Green, Lauren Jenkins, and
Noah Schnacky. New Faces of Country Music which takes place Friday night to close out the seminar will include Russell Dickerson, Jimmie Allen, Lindsay Ell, Dylan Scott, and LANCO. The show is sponsored by the Academy of Country Music and St. Jude Children’s Hospital and will include performances by each of the five artists.

Besides these major events, the week promises to be filled with surprises and incredible new music from some of country’s biggest and best.  For a full recap of CRS 2018 click here.

Be sure to follow us on all of our social channels to see exclusive content from the seminar (Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.)

 

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