News Archives

Luke Combs: What You See Ain’t Always What You Get Album Review

October 23, 2020/in Blog, First Impression, New Music, News /by Erica Zisman

Luke Combs’ brand new deluxe record What You See Ain’t Always What You Get is available now, October 23rd on all streaming platforms. Take a look below as dig a little deeper into the new songs off the deluxe record.

Luke Combs’ What You See Ain’t Always What You Get Deluxe Album is available now

Last year, country superstar Luke Combs released his sophomore record titled What You See Is What You Get, full of 17 original songs. The album quickly went to the top of the charts, achieved platinum status, and boasts four number-one singles so far. If that wasn’t enough for fans to be excited about, Combs decided to release a deluxe version of his latest project, cleverly changing the name to What You See Ain’t Always What You Get. The album features five new tracks that prove once again why Combs is one of the best in country music.

Keeping with his traditional meets modern sound and soulful voice, Combs makes an already incredible project that much better with the addition of the new tracks. “Six Feet Apart,” which was later added to the original album touched the hearts of fans everywhere with its poignant message during these unprecedented times that 2020 has found us in. The somber ballad is truthful and inspiring, reminding us all that “there’ll be crowds and there’ll be shows” and of course, “there will be light after dark.”

Combs’ collaboration with violinist, Amanda Shires, “Without You” was also released before the record. Similar to one of our favorite deep cuts, “This One’s For You” off his debut record, “Without You” is sentimental, honest, and highly personal. The new song is the ultimate expression of gratitude to all that have helped him get to this point in his career.

For fans, who prefer the high-energy side of Combs, the singer added songs like “Cold As You” and “My Kinda Folk” to the project. Along the same lines as “Beer Never Broke My Heart” and “Does to Me,” the former compares a girl to a beer, calling her “cold.” The ultimate diss is as clever as the song is catchy.

The latter, “The “My Kinda Folk” fits in line with his song “Blue Collar Boys.” Combs is always reminding us that he is humble to his core and that he knows exactly who he is and where he came from. Both these songs are a must-play when concert season finally rolls around again!

“There oughta be a law against working this hard and still having this much fun / We get it done, drink a beer, catch a fish, hunt a deer and then we’ll fire up a little smoke / Me and my kinda folk”

“The Other Guy” is a mid-tempo song off the new project. All heart, Combs proves that he feels things deeply. The emotive track is all about a guy who looks like he is doing well on the outside but is still grieving over his ex. Truly relatable, the song has Combs’ stamp on it.

“You should see the other guy that’s missing you / and late at night he’s wishing you would come back home / girl, he can’t move on / and his heart still takes a beating just living with your leaving / and it might look like I’m doing alright / but you should see the other guy”

Finally, the deluxe record ends with the touching, heartfelt song “Forever After All.” The singer originally teased a clip of this song on TikTok back in August, and fans obviously went crazy for it. Clearly inspired by his now-wife, Nicole, Combs is giving us a love song that completes the trilogy of hit songs that have come before, including “Beautiful Crazy” and “Better Together.” The ballad reflects how love knows no bounds and will truly last forever even in death.

Time and time again, Combs proves his staying power. The singer-songwriter is as real as it gets. As long as he continues to be true to himself, stick to his roots, and release music, the fans, and the success will follow. What You See Ain’t Always What You Get is just a bonus on an already incredible career and record!

Fans can join our Weekly Round-Up e-newsletter here, for the latest in country music and more news about future Luke Combs releases.

To keep up with Luke Combs, follow him on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook.

What You See Ain’t Always What You Get is now available everywhere you buy or stream music. Take a listen below and check out more new recently released music here on our ‘New Country Music’ playlist. Be sure to give the playlist a follow for your weekly new country music fix.

What You See Ain’t Always What You Get Tracklist:

Beer Never Broke My Heart
Refrigerator Door
Even Though I’m Leaving
Lovin’ on You
Moon Over Mexico
1, 2 Many
Blue Collar Boys
New Every Day
Reasons
Every Little Bit Helps
Dear Today
What You See Is What You Get
Does to Me (feat. Eric Church)
Angels Workin’ Overtime
All Over Again
Nothing Like You
Better Together
Six Feet Apart
Cold As You
The Other Guy
My Kinda Folk
Without You (feat. Amanda Shires)
Forever After All

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SHOP THE HERO COLLECTION

The Hero Collection by NYCountry Swag is inspired by the men and women of the Fire, Police and Military Departments across the country. Specially selected foundations that support our heroes will receive donations from each purchase. Honoring their service and remembering their sacrifice is what we are dedicated to.

—————————-

Thank You for supporting Country Music in NYC & Beyond!

Subscribe to our Weekly Round-Up here
for ticket giveaways, meet & greet contests, upcoming events,
and all things country music in the New York metro area and beyond!

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Dierks Bentley Returns With Brand New Song “Gone”

October 22, 2020/in Blog, New Music, News /by Dylan Bestler

Dierks Bentley’s new song, “Gone” is available now, October 22nd, on all streaming platforms. Written by Ben Johnson, Nicolle Galyon, and Niko Moon, take a look below as we dig a little deeper into the track.

It’s been almost two and a half years since multi-platinum singer/songwriter, Dierks Bentley released his ninth studio album, The Mountain. Fans were beginning to wonder what the “Burning Man” singer was up to during quarantine besides spending his time up in the Colorado mountains and reviving the Hot Country Knights. Bentley has been teasing a new track on his socials all week and today, October 22^nd, he officially released “Gone” on all streaming platforms and to country radio.

“Country music is the best genre for storytelling, and I feel like we are realizing it probably now more than ever since we can’t congregate together at concerts, high five each other, sing and shout at the top of our lungs,” Bentley said in a recent press release. “A good country show is just about the greatest communion there is out there.”

Written by Nicolle Galyon, Ben Johnson, and Niko Moon, this new and catchy tune is about a man who goes into hiding and ghosts his family, friends, and boss because he cannot handle his former lover walking out on him. Instead of being productive, he just sits around all day trying to “figure out how a good thing went wrong.” Being married with three kids, Bentley has a less-literal interpretation of this song but instead relates the woman to touring and the fans he can no longer see due to quarantine and the pandemic.

Dierks Bentley’s New Song “Gone” is available now

“I’ve been a million places but they’re all up in head / Over-drinking overthinking ever since you left / I’ve been gone, I’ve been gone / I’ve been sitting on the couch watching TV all day long / All day long, I’ve been tryin’ to figure out how a good thing went wrong”

“We are all relying on lyrics and melodies at home and trying however we can to find different ways to connect with our fans, so that they know how important they still are to us,” Bentley expressed. “I hope this song resonates with mine, and I’m counting the days until we can all be back together again, beers in the air.”

Fans can virtually sing along to this radio-friendly track at the 2020 iHeartCountry Festival that Bentley is headlining tomorrow night, streaming live at 8:00 PM on LiveXLive.

Fans can join our Weekly Round-Up e-newsletter here, for the latest in country music and more news about future Dierks Bentley releases.

To keep up with Dierks Bentley, follow him on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

“Gone” is now available everywhere you buy or stream music. Take a listen below and check out more new recently released music on our ‘New Country Music’ playlist. Be sure to the playlist a follow for your weekly new country music fix.

—————

SHOP THE HERO COLLECTION

The Hero Collection by NYCountry Swag is inspired by the men and women of the Fire, Police and Military Departments across the country. Specially selected foundations that support our heroes will receive donations from each purchase. Honoring their service and remembering their sacrifice is what we are dedicated to.

—————————-

Thank You for supporting Country Music in NYC & Beyond!

Subscribe to our Weekly Round-Up here
for ticket giveaways, meet & greet contests, upcoming events,
and all things country music in the New York metro area and beyond!

+ Follow our country music adventures on Instagram, Twitter & Facebook:

Trace Adkins: Ain’t That Kind of Cowboy – EP Review

October 22, 2020/in Blog, First Impression, New Music, News /by Erin Crosby

Trace Adkins’ latest EP, Ain’t That Kind of Cowboy is available now, October 16th on all streaming platforms. Take a look below as we dive deeper into the collection of songs in our full review.

After nearly four years since new music from Trace Adkins, a new EP Ain’t That Kind of Cowboy has been released, marking his first project since joining Verge Records Nashville. Still, the six-track release is a continuation of the well-known, lively, and deep-southern-rooted style from the “You’re Gonna Miss This” and “Ladies Love Country Boys’” performer.

The title track acts as the third on the setlist and includes moments of raw sentiment and country-style storytelling. It utilizes a few different approaches through production in regards to Adkins’ heavy tone among stripped chords as well as, primarily in the chorus, more present accompaniment that creates a strong and confident “take it or leave it” feel. “Ain’t That Kind of Cowboy” seemingly points out all the creative and artistic elements that this seasoned musician is capable of since releasing his debut album, Dreamin’ Out Loud, over 20 years ago in 1996.

“Running Into You”, a ballad written by James Slater and Tony Lane, showcases the softness and delicacy of Adkins, who often records heartfelt cuts. Though, there’s something different about this arrangement that stands out. Bart Butler, the producer of the collection, in addition to Adkins and the instrumentalists, maintained a sincerity throughout the process that affects listeners in a way for all emotions involved to be delivered at full force.

A track that annotates a broken heart and explores the aftermath, “Running Into You” covers scenarios in which the person who has said goodbye hasn’t entirely left.

“Round the corners of my heart // Waiting there to take me there again // In the shadows and the light // In the morning and the midnight // When the leaves are still blowing in the wind // That’s when”

Ain’t That Kind of Cowboy is an exciting sneak peek to Adkins’ journey with Verge Records Nashville. In fact, with over 8 million streams in seven months since “Better Off” was released as a single, the EP’s introduction track, the Louisiana native seems to have a lot left up his sleeve. Check out Adkins’ performance of “Better Off” that aired on “TODAY with Hoda and Jenna” from the Grand Ole Opry.

“It was a lot of fun to get back into the studio with Mickey Jack (Cones) and work with Bart (Butler) on this EP, and I couldn’t be prouder of these songs from some of my favorite writers,” shares Adkins in a recent press release. “I’m looking forward to what’s to come.”

Trace Adkins’ latest EP, “Ain’t That Kind of Cowboy”, is available now, October 16th.

Fans can join our Weekly Round-Up e-newsletter here, for the latest in country music and more news about future Trace Adkins releases.

To keep up with Trace Adkins, follow him on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook.

Ain’t That Kind of Cowboy EP is now available everywhere you buy or stream music. Take a listen below and check out more new recently released music on our ‘New Country Music’ playlist. Be sure to the playlist a follow for your weekly new country music fix.

—————

SHOP THE HERO COLLECTION

The Hero Collection by NYCountry Swag is inspired by the men and women of the Fire, Police and Military Departments across the country. Specially selected foundations that support our heroes will receive donations from each purchase. Honoring their service and remembering their sacrifice is what we are dedicated to.

—————————-

Thank You for supporting Country Music in NYC & Beyond!

Subscribe to our Weekly Round-Up here
for ticket giveaways, meet & greet contests, upcoming events,
and all things country music in the New York metro area and beyond!

+ Follow our country music adventures on Instagram, Twitter & Facebook:

2020 CMT Awards: The Complete Recap

October 22, 2020/in Blog, News /by Dylan Bestler

Country artists Kane Brown and Ashley McBryde, along with Modern Family star, Sarah Hyland hosted this year’s CMT Awards that took place in unique locations all over Nashville, Tennessee. Take a look below to see which artists took home hardware.

This year’s award show was very different than previous years in certain ways, as winners accepted their awards virtually and artists performed their songs from all different venues throughout Nashville, including Bicentennial Capitol Mall State Park, Cherokee Dock, The Barn at Sycamore Farms, and Ruskin Cave.

One thing remained the same though; all the winners were chosen by the fans. They even got to vote for their favorite Video of The Year throughout the night, which started with fourteen nominees and dwindled down to just three by the start of the show. Carrie Underwood’s “Drinking Alone,” directed by Randee St. Nicholas, beat out Keith Urban’s “Polaroid” and Tanya Tucker’s “Bring My Flowers Now.” Underwood also took home the Female Video of the Year award with the certified gold song. For Underwood, this was her 21^st and 22^nd CMT award, making her the winningest artist in CMT history.

“Fan, you guys never cease to amaze me at how hard you work,” Underwood expressed after winning the Video of the Year. “I’ve seen you guys throwing Twitter parties and doing your thing and voting…this one is really all about you guys, especially because we haven’t been together, but I feel so loved this evening.”

CMT’s own Cody Alan and Katie Cook hosted a small, but live viewing party presented by Ram Trucks. The select, socially-distanced fans got to watch the show live from Cumberland Park on a big screen.

Luke Combs got the show off to a raging start with his upbeat, drinking tune “1, 2 Many.” Brooks and Dunn, who are featured on the studio version of the track, surprised fans and came out to perform their verse. Kix Brooks brought Combs a beer, which he then quickly shot-gunned. Sam Hunt was on next, performing his latest number one song, “Hard To Forget.”

McBryde handed out the first award of the night; the Duo Video of the Year award presented to Dan + Shay for “I Should Probably Go To Bed,” continuing their incredible success at award shows. They also performed this song later in the show. Shortly after, CMT honored their first Equal Play award winner to Jennifer Nettles for her contribution and dedication to getting women more airplay on country radio.

One aspect that made this show stand out from other years was the elaborate, music video-styled sets put together for the artists. A few sets we loved included Shania Twain’s, who performed her classic hit “Whose Bed Have Your Boots Been Under” in a western-themed jail cell with realistic mannequins beside her, and Kelsea Ballerini and Halsey’s performance of “The Other Girl” in an old saloon in Los Angeles.

Speaking of memorable performances, Chris Young took home the award for CMT Performance of the Year for “Drowning” at the CMT Artists of the Year special. That night honored five artists who had tremendous years in 2019 and Kane Brown was one of the recipients. However, that week his friend and drummer, Kenny Dixon passed away in a car accident and Young stepped in for Brown who was too emotional to perform.

“It was a really difficult moment for me, to get up there and play that knowing that he (Brown) was watching, knowing everything he was going through,” Young reflected. “I can’t imagine, even still, what his passing does to you.”

CMT continued their tradition of showcasing new artists throughout the show from the Ram Truck stage. Artists who performed snippets of their hits included Ingrid Andress, Travis Denning, Caylee Hammack, Riley Green, Mickey Guyton, and HARDY.

Old Dominion won the Group Video of the Year award for “One Man Band,” and Luke Bryan took home Male Video of the Year for “One Margarita.” He said the video was a blast to shoot and was a perfect song to lift our spirits as we entered the uncertainties of the coronavirus pandemic.

Gabby Barrett, making her CMT Awards debut, gave us an explosive performance of her double-platinum smash hit, “I Hope.” Later, Taylor Swift, who won the Breakthrough Video of the Year at the CMT’s thirteen years ago, announced Barrett as this year’s winner.

Later in the show, Jimmie Allen and Noah Cyrus performed “This Is Us” on stage together for the first time. This was followed by the announcement of the Collaborative Video of the Year; Blake Shelton and Gwen Stefani for “Nobody But You.”

“I really do believe that these award shows are beginning to lose credibility over the last few years and fan-voted awards, to me, are really the only stand-up award shows left in our industry, Shelton stated after winning, “because you guys buy the records and come to the shows and vote on these things.”

Other performances included “Martha Divine” by McBryde, “Chasin’ You” by Morgan Wallen, “What She Wants Tonight” by Bryan, “Worship You” by Brown, and an acoustic rendition of “Hell and Back” by Maren Morris. A drinking song began this fun and incredible night, so it was fitting that a drinking song would end the show as well. Little Big Town performed their energetic current single, “Wine, Beer, Whiskey” from the Ruskin Cave.

HERE IS THE COMPLETE LIST OF WINNERS:

VIDEO OF THE YEAR
Best video of the year; awarded to the artist (male, female, group/duo or collaboration) and the video director.

Carrie Underwood – “Drinking Alone” * WINNER
Keith Urban – “Polaroid”
Kelsea Ballerini – “homecoming queen?”
Luke Combs – “Beer Never Broke My Heart”
Miranda Lambert – “Bluebird”
Tanya Tucker – “Bring My Flowers Now”

FEMALE VIDEO OF THE YEAR
Best video by a female artist; awarded to the artist

Ashley McBryde – “One Night Standards”
Carrie Underwood – “Drinking Alone” * WINNER
Gabby Barrett – “I Hope”
Kelsea Ballerini – “homecoming queen?”
Maren Morris – “The Bones”
Miranda Lambert – “Bluebird”

MALE VIDEO OF THE YEAR
Best video by a male artist; awarded to the artist

Jason Aldean – “Got What I Got”
Luke Bryan – “One Margarita” * WINNER
Luke Combs – “Even Though I’m Leaving”
Morgan Wallen – “Chasin’ You (Dream Video)”
Sam Hunt – “Hard To Forget”
Thomas Rhett – “Remember You Young”

GROUP VIDEO OF THE YEAR
Best video by a group; awarded to the artists

Lady A – “Champagne Night”
Little Big Town – “Wine, Beer, Whiskey” (Live Cut)
Midland – “Cheatin’ Songs (Live From the Palomino)”
Old Dominion – “One Man Band” * WINNER
The Chicks – “Gaslighter”
The Highwomen – “Crowded Table”

DUO VIDEO OF THE YEAR
Best video by a duo; awarded to the artists

Brothers Osborne – “All Night (Studio Performance)”
Dan + Shay – “I Should Probably Go To Bed” * WINNER
Florida Georgia Line – “Blessings”
LOCASH – “One Big Country Song”
Maddie & Tae – “Die From A Broken Heart”

BREAKTHROUGH VIDEO OF THE YEAR
Best video from an artist’s major breakthrough album; awarded to the artist (male, female or group/duo)

Blanco Brown – “The Git Up”
Caylee Hammack – “Family Tree”
Gabby Barrett – “I Hope” * WINNER
Ingrid Andress – “More Hearts Than Mine”
Riley Green – “I Wish Grandpas Never Died”
Travis Denning – “After a Few”

COLLABORATIVE VIDEO OF THE YEAR
Best video from a collaboration; awarded to the artists

Blake Shelton with Gwen Stefani – “Nobody But You” * WINNER
Carly Pearce and Lee Brice – “I Hope You’re Happy Now”
Dan + Shay and Justin Bieber – “10,000 Hours”
Kane Brown featuring Nelly – “Cool Again”
Marshmello and Kane Brown – “One Thing Right”
Thomas Rhett featuring Jon Pardi – “Beer Can’t Fix”

CMT PERFORMANCE OF THE YEAR
Musical performance on a television show, series or variety special on CMT; awarded to the artist (individual, group or duo)

From CMT Artists of the Year: Ashley McBryde – “One Night Standards”
From CMT Crossroads: Brooks & Dunn and Luke Combs – “Brand New Man”
From CMT Artists of the Year: Chris Young – “Drowning” * WINNER
From CMT Crossroads: Halsey and Kelsea Ballerini – “Graveyard”
From CMT Artists of the Year: Sam Hunt – “Fancy”
From CMT Crossroads: Sheryl Crow and Chris Stapleton – “Tell Me When It’s Over”

QUARANTINE VIDEO OF THE YEAR
*favorite video created during quarantine

Big & Rich – “Stay Home”
Brad Paisley – “No I In Beer”
Carly Pearce – “It Won’t Always Be Like This (The Social Distance Sessions)”
Charlie Worsham ft. Billy Justineau, Molly Tuttle, Rachel Loy, Jillian Jacqueline, Tucker Wilson, Stephen Wilson Jr., Leigh Nash, Fancy Hagood, Lucie Silvas, John Osborne & Sadler Vaden – “With A Little Help From My Friends” (Beatles Cover)
Dave Haywood (of Lady A) & Kelli Haywood – “Just Another Day In Quarantine”
Dolly Parton – “When Life Is Good Again”
Granger Smith – “DON’T COUGH ON ME!” * WINNER
Luke Combs – “Six Feet Apart”
Tenille Townes ft. Abby Anderson, Kassi Ashton, Keelan Donovan, Alex Hall, Adam Hambrick & Caylee Hammack – “Lean On Me” (Bill Withers Cover)
Thomas Rhett ft. Reba McEntire, Hillary Scott, Chris Tomlin & Keith Urban – “Be A Light” (Fan Video)

——

Fans can also join our Weekly Round-Up e-newsletter here, for the latest in country music and more news about the upcoming performance announcements in the coming weeks.

To keep up with CMT, follow along here on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter.

—————

SHOP THE HERO COLLECTION

The Hero Collection by NYCountry Swag is inspired by the men and women of the Fire, Police and Military Departments across the country. A portion of sales from each purchase is donated to different foundations that support our heroes. We are dedicated to honoring their service and remembering their sacrifice.

—————————-

Thank You for supporting Country Music in NYC & Beyond!

Subscribe to our Weekly Round-Up here
for ticket giveaways, meet & greet contests, upcoming events,
and all things country music in the New York metro area and beyond!

+ Follow our country music adventures on Instagram, Twitter & Facebook:

2020 CMT Awards: What You Need To Know

October 20, 2020/in Blog, News /by Stephanie Wagner

The CMT Music Awards are set to air on Wednesday, October 21st at 8PM ET / 7PM CT on CMT, MTV, MTV2, Logo, Paramount Network, Pop, and TV Land. Check out all you need to know below.

Hosted by Ashley McBryde, Kane Brown, and Sarah Hyland, the 2020 CMT Music Awards will be a celebration country music fans will not want to miss. The show will honor country music’s biggest stars bringing next-level energy and unique performances from Music City.

The annual show is the only entirely fan-voted award show in the country music world honoring the genre’s best and most fan-favorite artists. Fan voting has closed for all categories, except the highly coveted “Video of the Year”, which remains open now through the show. Visit vote.cmt.com to cast your votes.

Up for awards are Ashley McBryde, Dan + Shay, Kelsea Ballerini, Luke Combs, Sam Hunt and Thomas Rhett who lead with three nominations each. Blanco Brown, Carrie Underwood, Gabby Barrett, Kane Brown, Little Big Town, Miranda Lambert, Old Dominion, and The Chicks also racked up multiple nominations. While many rising stars received their first-ever nominations for the special accolades. Check out the full list of nominations below.

Check out a full list of performances to expect, nominations, and everything you need to know below…

When are the 2020 CMT Awards? Wednesday, October 21st at 8PM ET / 7PM CT

Where can I watch the 2020 CMT Awards? CMT, MTV, MTV2, Logo, Paramount Network, Pop, or TV Land

Who is performing at the 2020 CMT Awards?

– MAIN STAGE PERFORMERS: Ashley McBryde, Dan + Shay, Gabby Barrett, Jimmie Allen + Noah Cyrus, Kelsea Ballerini + Halsey, Kane Brown, Little Big Town, Luke Bryan, Luke Combs + Brooks & Dunn, Maren Morris, Morgan Wallen, Sam Hunt, and Shania Twain

– RAM TRUCKS SIDE STAGE PERFORMERS: Caylee Hammack, HARDY, Ingrid Andress, Mickey Guyton, Riley Green, and Travis Denning

Who is presenting at the 2020 CMT Awards?

– PRESENTERS: Brandi Carlile, Demi Lovato, Diplo, Idina Menzel, Jessica Chastain, Katy Perry, Kelly Clarkson, Rob Thomas, Tanya Tucker, and Taylor Swift

Who is nominated for the 2020 CMT Awards?

VIDEO OF THE YEAR
Best video of the year; awarded to the artist (male, female, group/duo or collaboration) and the video director. * Fans can vote for the top six finalists by visiting vote.cmt.com into the show on Wednesday, October 21.

Carrie Underwood – “Drinking Alone”
Keith Urban – “Polaroid”
Kelsea Ballerini – “homecoming queen?”
Luke Combs – “Beer Never Broke My Heart”
Miranda Lambert – “Bluebird”
Tanya Tucker – “Bring My Flowers Now”

FEMALE VIDEO OF THE YEAR
Best video by a female artist; awarded to the artist

Ashley McBryde – “One Night Standards”
Carrie Underwood – “Drinking Alone”
Gabby Barrett – “I Hope”
Kelsea Ballerini – “homecoming queen?”
Maren Morris – “The Bones”
Miranda Lambert – “Bluebird”

MALE VIDEO OF THE YEAR
Best video by a male artist; awarded to the artist

Jason Aldean – “Got What I Got”
Luke Bryan – “One Margarita”
Luke Combs – “Even Though I’m Leaving”
Morgan Wallen – “Chasin’ You (Dream Video)”
Sam Hunt – “Hard To Forget”
Thomas Rhett – “Remember You Young”

GROUP VIDEO OF THE YEAR
Best video by a group; awarded to the artists

Lady A – “Champagne Night”
Little Big Town – “Wine, Beer, Whiskey” (Live Cut)
Midland – “Cheatin’ Songs (Live From the Palomino)”
Old Dominion – “One Man Band”
The Chicks – “Gaslighter”
The Highwomen – “Crowded Table”

DUO VIDEO OF THE YEAR
Best video by a duo; awarded to the artists

Brothers Osborne – “All Night (Studio Performance)”
Dan + Shay – “I Should Probably Go To Bed”
Florida Georgia Line – “Blessings”
LOCASH – “One Big Country Song”
Maddie & Tae – “Die From A Broken Heart”

BREAKTHROUGH VIDEO OF THE YEAR
Best video from an artist’s major breakthrough album; awarded to the artist (male, female or group/duo)

Blanco Brown – “The Git Up”
Caylee Hammack – “Family Tree”
Gabby Barrett – “I Hope”
Ingrid Andress – “More Hearts Than Mine”
Riley Green – “I Wish Grandpas Never Died”
Travis Denning – “After a Few”

COLLABORATIVE VIDEO OF THE YEAR
Best video from a collaboration; awarded to the artists

Blake Shelton with Gwen Stefani – “Nobody But You”
Carly Pearce and Lee Brice – “I Hope You’re Happy Now”
Dan + Shay and Justin Bieber – “10,000 Hours”
Kane Brown featuring Nelly – “Cool Again”
Marshmello and Kane Brown – “One Thing Right”
Thomas Rhett featuring Jon Pardi – “Beer Can’t Fix”

CMT PERFORMANCE OF THE YEAR
Musical performance on a television show, series or variety special on CMT; awarded to the artist (individual, group or duo)

From CMT Artists of the Year: Ashley McBryde – “One Night Standards”
From CMT Crossroads: Brooks & Dunn and Luke Combs – “Brand New Man”
From CMT Artists of the Year: Chris Young – “Drowning”
From CMT Crossroads: Halsey and Kelsea Ballerini – “Graveyard”
From CMT Artists of the Year: Sam Hunt – “Fancy”
From CMT Crossroads: Sheryl Crow and Chris Stapleton – “Tell Me When It’s Over”

QUARANTINE VIDEO OF THE YEAR
*favorite video created during quarantine

Big & Rich – “Stay Home”
Brad Paisley – “No I In Beer”
Carly Pearce – “It Won’t Always Be Like This (The Social Distance Sessions)”
Charlie Worsham ft. Billy Justineau, Molly Tuttle, Rachel Loy, Jillian Jacqueline, Tucker Wilson, Stephen Wilson Jr., Leigh Nash, Fancy Hagood, Lucie Silvas, John Osborne & Sadler Vaden – “With A Little Help From My Friends” (Beatles Cover)
Dave Haywood (of Lady A) & Kelli Haywood – “Just Another Day In Quarantine”
Dolly Parton – “When Life Is Good Again”
Granger Smith – “DON’T COUGH ON ME!”
Luke Combs – “Six Feet Apart”
Tenille Townes ft. Abby Anderson, Kassi Ashton, Keelan Donovan, Alex Hall, Adam Hambrick & Caylee Hammack – “Lean On Me” (Bill Withers Cover)
Thomas Rhett ft. Reba McEntire, Hillary Scott, Chris Tomlin & Keith Urban – “Be A Light” (Fan Video)

——

Although it is sure to be different, this will definitely be a night not to miss. Make sure to gear up for the big night and set your DVR’s for 8PM ET on October 21st and follow along on Twitter as we live-tweet the show, @NYCountrySwag.

Fans can also join our Weekly Round-Up e-newsletter here, for the latest in country music and more news about the upcoming performance announcements in the coming weeks.

To keep up with CMT, follow along here on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter.

—————

SHOP THE HERO COLLECTION

The Hero Collection by NYCountry Swag is inspired by the men and women of the Fire, Police and Military Departments across the country. A portion of sales from each purchase is donated to different foundations that support our heroes. We are dedicated to honoring their service and remembering their sacrifice.

—————————-

Thank You for supporting Country Music in NYC & Beyond!

Subscribe to our Weekly Round-Up here
for ticket giveaways, meet & greet contests, upcoming events,
and all things country music in the New York metro area and beyond!

+ Follow our country music adventures on Instagram, Twitter & Facebook:

Jason Aldean’s “Got What I Got” Tops Charts and Earns Him 24th Career #1

October 19, 2020/in Blog, News /by Erica Zisman

Jason Aldean’s “Got What I Got” earns him his 24th career number one as the song hits the top spot on the country charts this week.

For fifteen years, superstar Jason Aldean has been a staple in country music. Throughout the years, Aldean has scored 23 number one singles, including hits like “Why,” “She’s Country,” and “You Make It Easy” in his career so far up until today. Today marks the moment Aldean’s single “Got What I Got” off his latest record 9 goes number one, solidifying its spot as his 24th hit song!

“When I got what I got, I don’t miss what I had / The old me before you belongs to the past / In the back of your mind, you might think there’s somethin’ more I want / But when I got what I got, girl, I don’t”

“Got What I Got” is the singer’s only radio single of 2020 so far, and boy is it a special one. The deeply personal song is all about being appreciative for what you have and the life you built with your family. The music video features Aldean’s children with his wife Brittany and sweet family-filmed moments with his entire family. Brittany even videoed some of the clips for her husband. Fans seem to relate deeply to Aldean’s more vulnerable side in his music!

We cannot wait to see if “Got What I Got” gets a second week at the top of the charts or if some of the rising artists like Jameson Rodgers, Matt Stell, or Russell Dickerson make it to the top spot next. Check back next week to see who takes it.

Fans can join our Weekly Round-Up e-newsletter here, for the latest in country music and more news about upcoming Jason Aldean announcements and releases.

To keep up with Jason Aldean, you can follow him on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook.

“Got What I Got” is available everywhere you buy or stream music. Take a listen below and check out more new recently released tunes on our ‘New Country Music’ playlist. Be sure to give the playlist a follow for your weekly new country music fix.

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The Hero Collection by NYCountry Swag is inspired by the men and women of the Fire, Police, and Military Departments across the country. A portion of sales from each purchase is donated to different foundations that support our heroes. We are dedicated to honoring their service and remembering their sacrifice.

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Luke Combs Releases Acoustic “Forever After All” In Weekly Series

October 19, 2020/in Blog, New Music, News /by Dylan Bestler

Luke Combs released an acoustic preview of “Forever After All” from his upcoming What You See Ain’t Always What You Get Deluxe album, out this Friday, October 23rd. This marks the final track of Combs’ Weekly Series, in which the singer-songwriter has taken to social media every Monday over the past five weeks to perform an acoustic snippet of each of the five new songs from the forthcoming deluxe album. Watch “Forever After All” below:

Combs originally previewed this track on TikTok. The glowing reviews from fans caused him to make it a part of his deluxe album. Clearly inspired by his new wife, Nicole Hocking, Combs gives us a love song that completes the trilogy of hits that have come before, including “Beautiful Crazy” and “Better Together.” The unreleased ballad reflects how love knows no bounds and will truly last forever even in death.

“They say nothing lasts forever / But they ain’t seen us together / Or the way the moonlight dances in your eyes / And I know there’ll be a moment / The good Lord calls one of us home and / One won’t have the other by their side / But heaven knows that won’t last too long / Maybe some things last forever after all”

Photo via Luke Combs on Facebook

The deluxe album, What You See Ain’t Always What You Get also includes new songs “Cold As You,” “The Other Guy,” “My Kinda Folk,” and the already released “Without You” featuring Amanda Shires. The highly anticipated project is set to release this Friday, October 23rd, and will be available everywhere you buy or stream music.

Fans can join our Weekly Round-Up e-newsletter here, for the latest in country music and more news about the upcoming Luke Combs release in the coming weeks.

To keep up with Luke Combs, you can follow him on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook.

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SHOP THE HERO COLLECTION

The Hero Collection by NYCountry Swag is inspired by the men and women of the Fire, Police and Military Departments across the country. Specially selected foundations that support our heroes will receive donations from each purchase. Honoring their service and remembering their sacrifice is what we are dedicated to.

—————————-

Thank You for supporting Country Music in NYC & Beyond!

Subscribe to our Weekly Round-Up here
for ticket giveaways, meet & greet contests, upcoming events,
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Luke Combs Teases Unreleased Song “Sleepless in a Hotel Room”

October 19, 2020/in Blog, New Music, News, Unreleased Songs /by Erica Zisman

Luke Combs teased fans with a brand new unreleased song “Sleepless in a Hotel Room”, performing it on social media just before the Billboard Music Awards. Check out the track below and read on as we dig a little deeper into what we know about the new tune.

As if a deluxe record (coming out Friday, October 23rd) isn’t enough, country superstar, Luke Combs continues to prove that he is all about the music and the fans. Just before his Billboard Music Awards performance and subsequent win for Best Country Artist, Combs’ shared an unreleased song entitled “Sleepless in a Hotel Room” on Instagram and Facebook.

Co-written by Combs with Jonathan Singleton and Randy Montana, “Sleepless in a Hotel Room” is all about longing to be with the one you love. As an entertainer, Combs is often away from his loved ones, especially his new wife, Nicole Hocking Combs, who inspired this song. The singer shared on social media, “Trying to take a nap before my @bbmas performance tonight and I couldn’t sleep. It reminded me of this song I wrote a few months ago right before everything shut down. Had this idea one night when I was missing @nicohocking, like I am right now. Hope y’all dig the preview of it.”

Luke Combs unreleased song "Sleepless in a Hotel Room"

“It’s 2 in the morning / TV’s on / And I never felt so far from home / I can hear the lonely howl out my window / The morning light kicks up too soon / Lying here not next to you”

Obviously, we dig it and fans agree! The new song is everything we have come to love from Combs – honest, relatable, real, and catchy! His voice shines on the personal tune, and it is evident that the singer is truly experiencing and feeling everything he is singing. Hopefully, Combs will release this song and another new batch of songs in the near future. Until then, fans can enjoy What You See Ain’t Always What You Get, out this Friday, October 23rd.

Fans can join our Weekly Round-Up e-newsletter here, for the latest in country music and more news about the upcoming Luke Combs release in the coming weeks.

To keep up with Luke Combs, you can follow him on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook.

—————

SHOP THE HERO COLLECTION

The Hero Collection by NYCountry Swag is inspired by the men and women of the Fire, Police and Military Departments across the country. Specially selected foundations that support our heroes will receive donations from each purchase. Honoring their service and remembering their sacrifice is what we are dedicated to.

—————————-

Thank You for supporting Country Music in NYC & Beyond!

Subscribe to our Weekly Round-Up here
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Runaway June: When I Think About Christmas – EP Review

October 16, 2020/in Blog, First Impression, New Music, News /by Brianna Vacca

Runaway June’s first-ever holiday EP, When I Think About Christmas, is available now, October 16th on all streaming platforms. Check out our full EP Review below as we dive deeper into the collection of songs.

Releasing their first-ever holiday project, When I Think About Christmas, Runaway June are bringing the holiday spirit to fans a little early this year. The five-song EP features three well-known Christmas classics and two new original tracks. Although it’s only October, we’re more than ready to curl up next to the fire, hot chocolate in hand, with Runaway June playing on the record player.

“Christmas On The Radio,” written by Sam Hollander and Martin Johnson, is the first original on the project to make its debut and is a perfectly hand-crafted reference guide to all things Christmas. Silver bells, classic hits from Otis Redding, and Nat King Cole.

“When I Think About Christmas” is the second original and serves as the title track of the project. Written by Runaway June member Jennifer Wayne, Josh Matheny, and Tiffany Goss, the song pays homage to conventional country in the sweetest way: swing-laced instrumentation, pure joy, and your loved one.

“When I think about Christmas // I don’t worry ‘bout the cold // I’m covered up in all your kisses // C’mon baby let it snow”

“O Holy Night” strays away from any traditional version with elegant and flawless harmonies. Of course, the holiday season just isn’t complete without the classic tune, “Let It Snow” and Runaway June’s beautiful upbeat version concludes the jolly project with glistening bells.

“Our new Christmas EP, When I Think About Christmas has all of these beautiful mountain Appalachian sounds,” said Runaway June’s Naomi Cooke, Wayne, and Natalie Stovall. “So we put our own little spin on Christmas music and we’ve got some fiddle so why not!” The trio continued to share in an Instagram post, “It’s been a long crazy year, and working on this music has felt so liberating from the madness of the world. When we think about “Christmas” we think of family, peace, rest, love and reflection, gratitude, celebration, and we wanted this music to be the soundtrack of what Christmas is to us and hopefully spread a little of that to all of you through this project.”

Singer-songwriter and fiddle player Natalie Stovall recently joined the band after Hannah Mulholland left the group. Members Naomi Cooke and Jennifer Wayne announced Stovall’s addition shortly after Mulholland announced that she was leaving, simply because she wanted to be in California with her husband and family.

Runaway June When I Think About Christmas

Runaway June’s first-ever holiday EP, When I Think About Christmas, is available now, October 16th.

When I Think About Christmas EP Tracklist:
1. Christmas On The Radio (Runaway June Original – Sam Hollander, Martin Johnson)
2. Sleigh Ride (Leroy Anderson, Mitchell Parish)
3. O Holy Night (Traditional Holiday Song)
4. When I Think About Christmas (Runaway June Original – Jennifer Wayne, Josh Matheny, Tiffany Goss)
5. Let It Snow – (Julie Styn, Sammy Cahn)

Fans can join our Weekly Round-Up e-newsletter here, for the latest in country music and more news about future Runaway June releases.

To keep up with Runaway June, follow them on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook.

When I Think About Christmas EP is now available everywhere you buy or stream music. Take a listen below and check out more new recently released music on our ‘New Country Music’ playlist. Be sure to give the playlist a follow for your weekly new country music fix.

—————

SHOP THE HERO COLLECTION

The Hero Collection by NYCountry Swag is inspired by the men and women of the Fire, Police and Military Departments across the country. Specially selected foundations that support our heroes will receive donations from each purchase. Honoring their service and remembering their sacrifice is what we are dedicated to.

—————————-

Thank You for supporting Country Music in NYC & Beyond!

Subscribe to our Weekly Round-Up here
for ticket giveaways, meet & greet contests, upcoming events,
and all things country music in the New York metro area and beyond!

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Matt Stell ‘Better Than That’ EP Review

October 16, 2020/in Blog, First Impression, New Music, News /by Dylan Bestler

Matt Stell’s new 8-track extended play, Better Than That, dropped today and is available now on all streaming platforms. Take a look below as we dive deeper into the project.

SONY Nashville recording artist, Matt Stell released a new EP titled Better Than That today (October 16^th) containing eight songs, four previously released tracks, and four brand new ones. Stell produced the EP with Ash Bowers and has writing credits on five songs.

“Everywhere But On,” originally featured on his EP of the same name, begins the record. It is about a man who has moved all over the country to try and get over this particular girl, but no location can erase his memory of her. This track hit number six on Country Airplay last week and continues to climb to the top of the charts. “Prayed For You,” ironically, reached the top spot the same time last year and has racked up over 75 million streams to date. In this track, the singer found a girl he never met but knew she was the one he always wanted.

Matt Stell – Photo Credit Dustin Haney

Other previously released tracks include “If I Was A Bar” and the title track. The latter of which tells the story of two old flames at the same bar. Despite wanting to say hello, the ex-boyfriend holds back as a new guy steps in to make a move, calling out every wrong gesture the new guy is making. Stell knows she deserves better than that. “If I Was A Bar” is another breakup song. In this one, he describes how if he was a bar, the ‘getting over her’ process would be must faster. In the last song, he is upset at the bar and feeling bad for himself, but in this one, there’s a hint of anger and resentment still left in him. These tracks contain heavy electric guitar and percussion, displaying his rock-n-roll influence.

The first of the new tracks is “I Love You Too,” which sounds like it would be a sweet love song. However, the singer describes a relationship where the woman has settled with a man who does not reciprocate the same amount of love and effort the woman does. Stell is telling this story from the third-person, so we are not sure if he had any relationship to the two in the story, but one can speculate that this song is about the same girl from “Better Than That.”

With young love comes immediate infatuation and a lot of mistakes made, and Stell paints that picture beautifully in the next track. “Sadie” is a somber, folk-influenced song that, although not written by Stell, could be very personal to him. The singer admits his wrong and confesses that he would do anything to get this girl back. It is impressive when such a personal song like this can relate to almost anyone who has been in a relationship at a young age.

“Sadie / If you need to k-k-keep me waiting / Just do what you got to, girl / I-I-I-I-I-I-I’d start a riot for ya / I-I-I-I-I-I-I’d fall in the fire for ya”

“Chase It Down” is about gaining the courage to leave your hometown to follow your dream. People from the singer’s hometown generally end up staying there forever, but him and his girl are determined to make a name for themselves. The final song, “Look At Me Now” has the potential to become a common first dance-wedding song. A troubled man’s life was turned around when he met the love of his life. He went from a lone “hell-raiser” to tearing up watching his soon-to-be wife walk down the aisle.

“Look at me now, tears in my eyes / Even though I swore that I wouldn’t cry / Lost in the second I saw you in that dress and your daddy was walking you down / Thought I’d never do this but look at me”

Stell sings from the heart, and listeners can hear his honesty and humbleness in these eight, terrific tracks. He has shown country music his versatility as he has something for everyone: heartbreak, love, and vengefulness, all demonstrated in different ways sonically. He is open and honest with his fans which makes us feel a part of his life and leave us wanting to hear more stories. That is an incredible trait of any new artist. Expect to see his name atop the charts for years to come.

NYCS Picks:

Sadie
Look At Me Now

BETTER THAN THAT EP TRACKLISTING

Everywhere But On– Matt Stell, Paul Sikes, and Lance Miller
2. If I Was a Bar – Dan Isbell, Zack Kale, and Jonathan Singleton
3. Prayed For You – Matt Stell, Ash Bowers, and Allison Veltz
4. Better Than That-Matt Stell, Joe Fox, and Phil Barton
5. I Love You Too – Matt Stell, Seth Alley, and Ryan Peterson
6. Sadie – Nate Cyphert, Sam Roman, Parrish Warrington, and Diederik van Elsas
7. Chase it Down – Matt Stell, Jarrod Ingram, Blake Hubbard, and Brian Maher
8. Look at Me Now – Joe Fox, Seth Ennis, and Thomas Finchum

Fans can join our Weekly Round-Up e-newsletter here, for the latest in country music and more news about upcoming Matt Stell announcements and future releases.

To keep up with Matt Stell, follow him on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook.

Better Than That is now available everywhere you buy or stream music. Take a listen below and check out more new recently released tunes on our ‘New Country Music’ playlist. Be sure to give the playlist a follow for your weekly new country music fix.

—————

SHOP THE HERO COLLECTION

The Hero Collection by NYCountry Swag is inspired by the men and women of the Fire, Police and Military Departments across the country. Specially selected foundations that support our heroes will receive donations from each purchase. Honoring their service and remembering their sacrifice is what we are dedicated to.

—————————-

Thank You for supporting Country Music in NYC & Beyond!

Subscribe to our Weekly Round-Up here
for ticket giveaways, meet & greet contests, upcoming events,
and all things country music in the New York metro area and beyond!

+ Follow our country music adventures on Instagram, Twitter & Facebook: