Who Is Mae Estes? The Story Behind Her Journey to Country Music

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Who is Mae Estes? The singer-songwriter joined us to chat about her journey to country music. Get to know the rising star here…

Quick Facts:

Full Name – Mae Estes
Birthday – November 15th
Hometown – Hope, AR
Current City – Nashville, TN
Musical Influences – Keith Whitley, The Judds, Lee Ann Womack
Label – Maeniac Records
Current Project – “Run” (*as of date of article: 2/6/23)

The Beginning:

As we kick off 2023, we are excited to introduce you to an artist who you are going to love, Mae Estes. A Nashville transplant, the singer-songwriter’s songs are all heart and honesty. She knows a thing or two about crafting a song that is relatable and innovative.

Growing up in a small town in Arkansas, Estes got the bug for music early. “I grew up rodeoing and started singing at the age of 7 when I told my mom I could out sing LeAnn Rimes on the national anthem,” she shared adding, “I started singing in a rodeo arena and did not even hold a candle to LeAnn.”

Despite only being seven years old, the singer had charisma and a voice for days. “I caught the bug then and I fell in love with country music.” Throughout her childhood, Estes recalls playing around town, as well as, singing at the local classic country music radio station every week. She even wrote her first song at just twelve years old. “I would turn my poetry and my journals into something with some melody,” she shared.

Estes recalls appreciating old-school country music but preferred to listen to powerful female musicians in the genre. She shared a love for artists like Martina McBride and Patty Loveless. “I was heavily influenced by the ladies of the 90s,” she shared, “but Keith Whitley and Lee Ann Womack have always been my biggest influences.”

The Turning Point:

Although she dreamt of moving to Nashville and attending Belmont University, Estes took the sensible route and stayed in Arkansas to pursue her degree armed with scholarships to help her through. Shortly after achieving her degree in Mass Media Communications, the singer hightailed it to Nashville. “In 2015, I made the move to what has been my dream city since I was probably in middle school. The plan has always been to get to Music City.”

While living in Nashville, Estes worked as hard as she could to make a name for herself in music. “I worked a lot of jobs at a time, just trying to pay my rent, writing a lot of songs, playing any shows for people who would listened, and just built the most incredible network,” shared the songstress. ” I truly feel like I have built a team and a family over all this time and now we’re excited to put a stamp on it by releasing that EP coming out next month.”

Estes joins the likes of country artists she’s once admired. “It’s been a crazy journey of learning myself too. I truly feel like I know myself better than I ever have.”

Today:

The singer-songwriter has slowly been releasing music lately, gearing up for her brand new EP, out February 16th, which will feature a new song, amongst songs like, “Die In A Bar.”

“I’m super excited to keep growing and to keep releasing music,” shared Estes. “I felt like I have to create. It was just an outlet for me. Honestly, a form of therapy, I didn’t know what to do with all the feelings I had […] So I had to start getting those out. Nothing is more reassuring that you are exactly in the place you are supposed to be than people relating to the super specific stories [in my music].”

While fans await the upcoming project, they can rejoice in the singer’s new single, “Run,” which comes out at the end of this month. “We decided to do an instant gratification track with “Run” before you get the unheard track with the EP on February 16th,” explained the entertainer. “I wrote [Run] at a time where I was still dating my husband and so there’s a couple of songs on the project that are at different stages in my relationship […] It’s kind of cool to look back song by song and reflect.”

Fans can also anticipate new visuals to go along with the single, “Run.” Estes even got back on a horse for the first time in seven years for the video. “The first thought was let’s go get on a horse because nothing feels as free as getting on the back of the horse and feeling like you can run for miles […] I have had some serious flight or fight characteristics to me and I just think a lot of people struggle with commitment if they take it as seriously as I do.”

2023 is gearing up to be a huge year for the newcomer. Keep your eyes and ears open!

Connect:

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

To keep up with Mae Estes, follow her on Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook.

Mae Estes’ music 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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Robyn Ottolini Drops Brand New Song “Five Years” Out Now

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Robyn Ottolini shares new song “Five Years,” out now, February 6th, on all streaming platforms. Listen to the brand new track below.

Warner Music Nashville recording artist, Robyn Ottolini is back with new music to excite fans. Ottolini’s brand new song, “Five Years” is officially here. It follows previous releases “Say It” and “F-150.”

The new track features Ottolini’s incredible songwriting prowess and vocal ability. Ottolini dives deep into introspection, sharing all about her fears and everything in-between. “Five Years” is relatable and thought-provoking. The singer-songwriter ponders a question that we all have thought about before, “what if I hate myself [in the future]?”

“Yeah, in five years I could be happy with a shitty apartment // a couple of friends with the same taste of wine // and a different taste in men // Yeah in five years, I could’ve let myself fall in love // Have a family // and consider myself a grown-up // If worse comes to worst, I could be in heaven or hell // But in five years // I just hope I don’t hate myself”

For someone who has seemingly made all the right choices in life, landing her a place in country music, Ottolini’s honest depiction of her thoughts and feelings is both refreshing and exciting. Her place in country music is distinctly her own and her new song, “Five Years” proves it.

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Robyn Ottolini’s new song “Five Years” is out now on all streaming platforms.

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

To keep up with Robyn Ottolini, follow her on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook.

“Five Years” 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.

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LOCASH Share New Song “Three Favorite Colors” with Fans

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LOCASH shares new song “Three Favorite Colors,” out now, February 3rd, on all streaming platforms. Listen to the brand new track below.

In honor of those who fight for our country and American pride, hitmakers, LOCASH released their brand new song. “Three Favorite Colors” is a surefire good-time anthem that has a message we can all get behind.

Co-written by the duo Chris Lucas and Preston Brust with Nate Kenyon and Drew Baldridge, the up-tempo song is as patriotic as it gets. The first verse kicks off with the men singing about all their favorite things like country music and Tootsie’s Bar. Of course, the hook leads into an impressive chorus that will have every fan singing along to every word.

“My favorite music’s country // And my favorite truck’s a Ford // My favorite spot to fish is down off the Florabama shore // My go-to bar is Tootsie’s // And my beer of choice is Bud // When it comes to college football teams // I only cheer for one // But I got three favorite colors // Not just one, not just two // I got three favorite letters // And let me spell ‘em out for you // They say USA // Where I wish everything was made // Every truck, every boot, and every tool // Yeah, I got three favorite colors // And that’s red, white, and blue”

“Three Favorite Colors” is made for the live stage. We predict that this song will become a huge part of LOCASH’s live performances. The final verse and chorus are clearly made for a sing-along!

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LOCASH’s new song “Three Favorite Colors” is out now on all streaming platforms.

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

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

“Three Favorite Colors” 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.

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Jordan Davis Shares Brand New Song “Money Isn’t Real” Out Now

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Jordan Davis shares new song “Money Isn’t Real,” out now, February 3rd, on all streaming platforms. Listen to the brand new track below.

In anticipation of his forthcoming album Bluebird Days, out February 17th, Jordan Davis is sharing another sneak peek with brand new song, “Money Isn’t Real.” The release follows the recent release, “No Time Soon” and Davis’ latest number one single, “What My World Spins Around.”

Written by Jameson Rodgers with Jake Mitchell, Josh Thompson, and Sarah Turner, Davis absolutely brings “Money Isn’t Real” to life. The song is a heartwarming message about knowing the things that truly matter. Similar to the vibe of the hit song, “Buy Dirt,” “Money Isn’t Real” is an incredible reminder that money is the least important thing; our loved ones are everything.

“Money isn’t real // It can’t call you like your mama does // It can’t make you old friends // It can’t get you young again // It won’t buy you real love // It’s just paper and some make // It will never ask you how you feel // A dollar doesn’t make you rich // When it comes to happiness // Money isn’t real // Money isn’t real”

Fans can anticipate that Bluebird Days will be a conglomerate of all of Davis’ experiences in his life. According to the singer, “Bluebird Days” is a culmination of the past, present, and future…”  Check back here for more updates on the album and the new songs that come before it!

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Jordan Davis’ shares another taste of upcoming album with new song “Money Isn’t Real,” out now.

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

To keep up with Jordan Davis, follow him on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook.

“Money Isn’t Real” 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.

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Luke Bryan Announces New ‘Country On Tour’ with Special Guests

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Luke Bryan dropped a major announcement this week revealing his 2023 ‘Country On Tour.’ Get all the dates and details below.

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On the heels of his latest number one single at country radio, Luke Bryan is announcing his summer and fall headlining tour. The 36-city tour features Bryan with special guests Chayce Beckham, Tyler Braden, Ashley Cooke, Jackson Dean, Jon Langston, Conner Smith, Alana Springsteen, and Hailey Whitters at select shows.

New York fans will get to see special guests Conner Smith and Alana Springsteen at the July 6th show at the Jones Beach venue in Wantagh. Bryan is excited to support many new and up and coming artists, while expanding his legacy on this one-of-a-kind tour.

“Artists get into the business to make music and perform it for the fans. Leaving it all out on that stage is what it’s all about for me. I’m excited to support and have so many talented new artists along for the ride this year.  It’s one of the most rewarding parts of our job,” shared the singer and mentor.

Luke Bryan ‘Country On Tour’ Dates:

06/15/2023: Syracuse, NY- St. Joseph’s Health Amphitheater at Lakeview

06/16/2023: Darien Center, NY-Darien Lake Amphitheater

06/17/2023: Toronto, ON-Budweiser Stage

06/23/2023: Philadelphia, PA-Freedom Mortgage Pavilion

06/24/2023: Holmdel, NJ -PNC Bank Arts Center

07/06/2023: Wantagh, NY-Northwell Health at Jones Beach Theater

07/07/2023: Columbia, MD-Merriweather Post Pavilion

07/13/2023: Hershey, PA-Hersheypark Stadium

07/20/2023: Portland, OR-RV Inn Style Resorts Amphitheater

07/21/2023: Wheatland, CA-Toyota Amphitheatre

07/22/2023: Mountain View, CA-Shoreline Amphitheatre

07/27/2023: Lubbock, TX-United Supermarkets Arena

07/28/2023: Albuquerque, NM-Isleta Amphitheater

07/29/2023: Denver, CO-Ball Arena

08/04/2023: Salt Lake City, UT-USANA Amphitheatre

08/05/2023: Boise, ID-Ford Idaho Center Amphitheater

08/10/2023: Rogers, AR-Walmart AMP

08/12/2023: Nashville, TN-Bridgestone Arena

08/13/2023: Brandon, MS-Brandon Amphitheater

08/17/2023: Cincinnati, OH-Riverbend Music Center

08/18/2023: Indianapolis, IN-Ruoff Music Center

08/19/2023: Pittsburgh, PA-The Pavilion at Star Lake

08/25/2023: Evansville, IN-Ford Center

08/26/2023: St. Louis, MO-Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre

09/28/2023: Dallas, TX-Dos Equis Pavilion

09/29/2023: Ft Worth, TX-Dickies Arena

09/30/2023: Tulsa, OK-BOK Center

10/05/2023: Orlando, FL-Amway Center

10/06/2023: Savannah, GA-Enmarket Arena

10/07/2023: Charlotte, NC-PNC Music Pavilion

10/12/2023: Sioux Falls, SD-Denny Sanford PREMIER Center

10/13/2023: Green Bay, WI-Resch Center

10/14/2023: St. Paul, MN-Xcel Energy Center

10/26/2023: Raleigh, NC-Coastal Credit Union Music Park

10/27/2023: Charlottesville, VA-John Paul Jones Arena

10/28/2023: Charleston, SC-Credit One Stadium

Tickets are on sale Friday, February 3rd at  10AM. EST. via Ticketmaster. Ticket presale for Luke’s fan club members begins Tuesday, Jan 31st at 8am local time through Thursday, February 2 at 5pm local time. For details go HERE. For more general information, visit lukebryan.com. 

Fans can join our Weekly Round-Up e-newsletter here, for the latest in country music and more news about future tour dates, ticket giveaways, and more.

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

Follow us on Instagram and TikTok for more.

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Here Are All of Chris Young’s Number One Songs in His Catalog

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Here are all of Chris Young’s number one songs on country radio in his music catalog. The singer-songwriter has 13 number ones to his name.

Chris Young’s career began in 2006 when he took home first place in the fourth season of singing competition Nashville Star. This led to a recording contract with RCA records and the release of his self-titled debut album. From there, the rest is history. Young has released eight studio albums and 13 number one songs. Check out the full list below.

 

“Gettin’ You Home (The Black Dress Song)” – The Man I Want to Be

While Young’s debut album didn’t have any number ones, however, he came out swinging with his sophomore album The Man I Want to Be. Written by Young, Cory Batten, and Kent Blazy, “Gettin’ You Home (The Black Dress Song)” shows the world why Young was meant to become a star with his unique yet old school sounding vocals. It’s a classic romance song about a couple wanting to get back home after a date but the lyrics are presented in a classy way.

 

“The Man I Want to Be” – The Man I Want to Be

Written by Brett James and Tim Nichols, this was Young’s second number one song in a row. Everyone has a time in their life where they want to become a better version of themselves, whether in relationships, friendships, their career etc. This song is that journey through a conversation with God.

 

“Voices” – Voices

Marking his third consecutive number one, “Voices” is a true classic. While the track appeared on his sophomore album, it didn’t get the recognition it deserved until it appeared on the EP Voices in 2010. Written by Young, Chris Tompkins, and Craig Wiseman, it’s a song about no matter where you are, you’re never going to stop hearing your family’s advice in your head while going through important moments in life.

 

“Tomorrow” – Neon

“Tomorrow” was the singer-songwriter’s fourth consecutive number one. Written by Young, Anthony Smith, and Frank Myers this was the first single off the album Neon. It is an emotional track truly showcasing Young’s vulnerability as it is just him and a guitar.

 

“Who I Am With You” – A.M.

Written by Marv Green, Paul Jenkins, and Jason Sellers, “Who I Am With You” may be another country love song but with Young’s charm, it has its own unique sound. It shares a sign to look out for if you’ve found your person. That sign is you’ll want to be a better person for them, but you will also be comfortable showing them who you really are.

 

“I’m Coming Over”  – I’m Coming Over

Young wrote this song with Corey Crowder and Josh Hodge. When you end a relationship with someone, it’s hard to move on from them right away. That’s the story this song shares. The couple believes they should break up yet spends the night together. It may be a typical breakup song but Young’s pure vocals make it a hit.

 

“Think Of You” (Featuring Cassadee Pope) – I’m Coming Over

Another track written by Young, Crowder, and Hodge, this breakup song shows you that it’s ok to think of your ex while trying to navigate life without them. Young and Pope’s voices blend together perfectly throughout the chorus. The song recently resurfaced as a fun TikTok sound where users sing about being the life of the party but their lives have changed, reminding us what a hit it truly is.

 

“Sober Saturday Night” (Featuring Vince Gill) – I’m Coming Over

Written by Young, Brad Warren, and Brett Warren this was the third number one from Young’s fifth studio album. The title makes you believe the song is related to drinking but it’s actually about waking up alone and not being over a significant other. With the play on words and the combination of Young and Gill’s vocals, it’s no surprise this rose up the charts.

 

“Losing Sleep” – Losing Sleep

This was the first single off of Young’s 2017 album. Written by Young, Chris Destefano, and Josh Hodge, this song has a bit more of a pop sound compared to Young’s previous songs. However, it doesn’t steer too far away from Young’s traditional sound.

 

“Hangin’ On” – Losing Sleep

Young’s 11th number one song is “Hangin’ On”. The track was written by Young, Corey Crowder, and Josh Hoge. This goes back to a more traditional country sound. It’s a genuine love song about falling for someone and hanging on to the time you spend together and not taking it for granted.

 

“Famous Friends” (Featuring Kane Brown) – Famous Friends

After a bit of a hiatus, Young came out swinging with “Famous Friends” in 2020. It is an upbeat song that pays tribute to small-town nurses, teachers, and first responders. This was a great tribute to those who were not only heroes during the pandemic but continue to be heroes every single day. While this wasn’t the first time this duo teamed up, you can tell that Young and Brown had a great time reuniting. 

 

“At the End of a Bar” (Featuring Mitchell Tenpenny) – Famous Friends

Lucky number 13 came this past August. Written by Young, Tenpenny, and Chris DeStefano, “At The End of a Bar” is an incredible acoustic ballad about what you can find at the bar including friendships, relationships, etc. Tenpenny and Young bring their unique own sound to the table while also flowing together perfectly.

 

With 13 number ones, Young is certainly not slowing down.  With two new songs recently released and talks of an upcoming album, we can’t wait to see what is in store for Young this year.

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

To keep up with Chris Young follow him on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook.

All of these Chris Young songs are 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.

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Who Is Meg McRee? The Story Behind Her Journey to Country Music

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Who is Meg McRee? The singer-songwriter joined us to chat about her journey to country music. Get to know the rising star here…

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Meg McRee

Quick Facts:

Full Name – Meg McRee
Birthday – 04/02/1996
Hometown – Sugar Hill, Georgia
Current City – Nashville, Tennessee
Musical Influences – The Beatles, Bobbie Gentry, Grateful Dead
Current Single – “Tried & True” (*as of date of article: 01/30/2023)

The Beginning:

Meg McRee is an artist you are going to want to pay attention to! She is currently on tour with Lainey Wilson and Ben Chapman, and is poised for success with her upcoming album, slated for release later this year. We caught up with her to learn all about her story so far. Keep reading!

Growing up in Sugar Hill, Georgia, McRee always had a natural pull towards music. “When I was five, my mom had all of The Chicks’ CDs in the car and she played this song called “There’s Your Trouble” all the time. I kept asking her what’s the instrument in that song, and she said that’s a fiddle or violin. […] For my birthday, they put me in lessons.”

Throughout her youth, all the way through high school, McRee played and competed with the violin. “I ended up sticking with it pretty much my whole life. I was in lessons, competitions, and orchestra until I was eighteen. On the side, I also picked up the guitar.”

All along, she was quietly building an arsenal of music knowledge, while listening to artists from both the county genre and the classic rock genre. “I listened to a wide variety of music. I was a music-head,” she recalls, later naming artists like Guy Clark, Steve Miller Band, The Eagles, and Bobbie Gentry as some of her earliest influences.

While, she was not exactly sure if she would pursue music for a living, despite wanting to, McRee fell in love with Nashville. “When I was fourteen, I visited Nashville for the first time, and I kind of became obsessed.” A few years later, she moved to Music City to pursue her college degree at Vanderbilt University.

The Turning Point:

During college, McRee knew how much she wanted to pursue music, but like many of us, practicality often seeped in. “I kind of told myself that it’s not really realistic for you to do music full time, you’re going to go to Vanderbilt to get a degree. However, in my heart, I was like I want to at least work around the business if I can’t be a musician,” she shared, adding later, “I got a bunch of music internships while I was at Vandy. […] I thought it was so rad to get to be around it.”

In her last year at college, a series of events brought her to a crossroads. “I was interning for a company called SMACKSONGS, and I asked my boss, I showed him a few songs, and I said be honest do you think I should go for this and he was like ‘honestly, yes.’”

With a push from her boss, McRee began waitressing and nannying and writing every spare minute she could. “The week after I graduated, I got a job waiting tables and started writing songs every day, and now I’m here.”

McRee also made sure to find her crew in Nashville. “There’s a lot of cool ways that my story has kind of woven into people around me. I think that’s why I always go back to the Nashville community. It has been so good to me in a lot of ways.”

While working at The Listening Room in Nashville, McRee would perform often at writer’s rounds. By happenstance, she signed a publishing deal because of one of her performances and a write with Hillary Lindsey.“Right before COVID, I got the opportunity to write with Hillary Lindsay who is my hero of heroes. […] She owns the publishing company I’m signed at.”

Today:

Flash forward to today, Meg McRee is on tour with Lainey Wilson, heading out with Morgan Wade later in the year, and has her debut album coming out this March. One of the singles off the record, “Tried & True” speaks to the project as a whole.

“‘Tried & True’ I wrote with Lainey [Wilson] and Harper [O’Neil] […] I had been writing this record and my manager was like why don’t you just write for one more week […] We ended up adding four of the songs on the album that we wrote in one week, and that was one of them,” she began.

“If I’m going to be honest about where I am right now, I’m in a committed relationship with another musical, and I had this idea on my phone, ‘Tried & True’ and what the song is exactly about, the more time you spend together, the more you know it’s real […] That’s what real love is.”

When it comes to the album, McRee spent a full year getting it to where she wanted it with her producer and team. “It was a long process [over a year] of finding my sound, and I feel really proud and excited about my debut record, and I feel it shows who I am and I’m really looking forward to everyone hearing it.”

Fans can expect to hear a lot more from McRee coming soon and can definitely expect to see her out on the road in 2023. For New York country fans, catch her on tour with Lainey Wilson at New York City’s Irving Plaza this Friday, February 3rd!

Connect:

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

To keep up with Meg McRee, follow her on Instagram, TikTok, Twitter, and Facebook.

Meg McRee’s music 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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Morgan Wallen Announces New Album + Releases Three New Songs

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Morgan Wallen announces new album, One Thing At A Time and shares three new songs as instant gratification tracks. Learn more here.

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Morgan Wallen by David Lehr

After announcing his first-ever arena tour, Morgan Wallen is readying fans for album number three, One Thing A Time. The massive 36-song project is slated to be released on March 3rd. To mark the momentous occasion, Wallen is sharing three new songs for all fans who preorder the record. Amongst the three new songs are, “Last Night,” “Everything I Love,” and “I Wrote the Book.”

Each of the three new songs showcase a different side of Wallen’s personality and artistry. “Last Night,” one of the few outside cuts on the record paints the story of fighting with your partner while drinking. Despite the concept, the song comes across as confident and sexy, while the tempo begs for fans to sing along.

“Everything I Love” is the most true-blue country of the three new songs. The relatable track is about everything you love and every place that is yours being tainted by an ex who no longer loves you. While the story might be melancholy, the banjos and the instrumentals make for a fun, bluesy song.

Finally, “I Wrote The Book,” written by Wallen with HARDY and Cameron Montgomery, is quite possibly the most Wallen song of the releases. The singer teased the track earlier this month, which led to fans begging for its release. “I Wrote The Book” is a honest depiction of a man just trying to walk a straight line, despite temptation. Something tells us that Wallen wrote this one from experience.

Wallen shared about the record in a recent press release.“This record represents the last few years of my life, the highs and the lows. It also brings together the musical influences that have shaped me as an artist – country, alternative and hip-hop,” shared the singer.

“There are 36 songs on this album because we just kept exploring with fresh lyrics, music, and production ideas and these are the songs that felt right to me. It was a blast to create, and I was so grateful to be back in the studio to lay this out for my fans. I just try to tell it how it is – the good, the bad, the love, the heartbreak. That’s all I know how to do.”

Wallen finishes his statement with the sentiment, “My hope is that this album makes my fans proud; makes ‘em laugh, smirk, cry, and think – just like it did for me.”

Fans can expect the project to be full of A-list writers and collaborators. Artists and songwriters like HARDY, Devin Dawson, Ernest, and Travis Denning all have cuts on the record. Wallen also features HARDY, Ernest, and Eric Church on respective songs.

Check back on March 3rd for our full review of Wallen’s One Thing At A Time album.

One Thing At A Time Track List:

  1. “Born with a Beer in My Hand” (Morgan Wallen, Zach Abend, Michael Hardy)
  2. “Last Night” (John Byron, Ashley Gorley, Jacob Kasher Hindlin, Ryan Vojtesak)
  3. “Everything I Love (Wallen, Gorley, Ernest K. Smith, Vojtesak)
  4. “Man Made a Bar” (Feat. Eric Church) (Rocky Block, Jordan Dozzi, Larry Fleet, Brett Tyler)
  5. “Devil Don’t Know” (Travis Denning, Jared Mullins, Ben Stennis)
  6. “One Thing at a Time” (Gorley, Smith, Vojtesak, Wallen)
  7. “’98 Braves” (Byron, Josh Miller, Travis Wood)
  8. “Ain’t That Some” (Chris LaCorte, Chase McGill, Josh Miller, Blake Pendergrass)
  9. “I Wrote the Book” (Wallen, Hardy, Cameron Montgomery)
  10. “Tennessee Numbers” (Minton, Pendergrass, Wood)
  11. “Hope That’s True” (Wallen, Smith, Vojtesak)
  12. “Whiskey Friends” (Wallen, Gorley, Jonathan Hoskins, Smith, Josh Thompson, Vojtesak
  13. “Sunrise” (Byron, Pendergrass)
  14. “Keith Whitley” (Thomas Archer, Brad Clawson, Mullins)
  15. “In the Bible” (Feat. Hardy) (Byron, Jeff Garrison, Jon Hall, Johnson, Geoffrey Warburton)
  16. “You Proof” (Wallen, Gorley, Smith, Vojtesak)
  17. “Thought You Should Know” (Wallen, Michelle Galyon, Miranda Lambert)
  18. “F150-50” (Mullins, John Pierce, Stennis)
  19. “Neon Star (Country Boy Lullaby)” (Wallen, Smith, Thompson, Vojtesak)
  20. “I Deserve a Drink” (Byron, Devin Dawson, Jacob Durrett, Hillary Lindsey)
  21. “Wine Into Water” (Bryon, Matt Jenkins, Pendergrass)
  22. “Me + All Your Reasons” (Wallen, Gorley, Smith, Vojtesak)
  23. “Tennessee Fan” (Wallen, Gorley, Smith, Vojtesak)
  24. “Money on Me” (Michael Lotten, Pendergrass, Matt Roy)
  25. “Thinking’ Bout Me” (Byron, Gorley, Taylor Phillips, Vojtesak)
  26. “Single Than She Was” (Byron, Ben Johnson, Vojtesak)
  27. “Days That End in Why” (Byron, Pendergrass, Driver Williams)
  28. “Last Drive Down Main” (Jerry Flowers, Ryan Hurd, Lotten)
  29. “Me to Me” (Wallen, Gorley, Smith Vojtesak)
  30. “Don’t Think Jesus” (Jessi Alexander, Mark Holman, McGill)
  31. “180 (Lifestyle)” (Block, Gorley, Holman, Pendergrass, Smith Vojtesak)
  32. “Had It” (Block, Alex Eskeerdo Izquiedo, Vajtesak)
  33. “Cowgirls” (Feat. Ernest) (Block, Gorley, James Maddocks, Smith, Vjjtesak)
  34. “Good Girl Gone Missin’” (Wallen, Gorley, Maddocks, Smith, Vojtesak)
  35. “Outlook” (Wallen, Clawson, Hyde)
  36. “Dying Man” (Johnson, Pendergrass, Thompson)
Morgan-wallen-new-album

Morgan Wallen readies fans for album number three, ‘One Thing At A Time’ out March 3rd.

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

To keep up with Morgan Wallen, follow him on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook.

“One Thing At A Time,” “Days That End In Why,” and “Tennessee Fan” are 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.

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Who Is Ben Chapman? The Story Behind His Journey to Country Music

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Who is Ben Chapman? The singer-songwriter joined us to chat about his journey to country music. Get to know the rising star here…

who-ben-chapman

Ben Chapman

Quick Facts:

Full Name – Ben Chapman
Birthdate – 12/20/1997
Hometown – Lafayette, Georgia
Current City – Nashville, Tennessee
Musical Influences – Allman Brothers, Guy Clark, Little Feat
Current Single – “Georgia Dreamin'” (*as of date of article: 1/30/2023)

The Beginning:

Today, we are introducing you to a country artist that we believe is going to continue to garner more and more fans this year. Ben Chapman is a talented singer-songwriter, who knows how to create songs that entice the listener, while still remaining true to himself and his artistry.

“I’m from a really small town in Georgia, there are about 2000 people there,” began Chapman. ” I started playing when I was like 12 and I really got that country bug from riding around with my grandfather. We would just listen to country records.” He recalls falling in love with classic country artists from a young age.

“I never listened to any new music growing up, so I was just listening to classic country, classic rock, just trying to find all these songwriters and stuff, and then I started playing guitar when I was 12.” Chapman’s parents introduced him to rock and roll and artists like the Allman Brothers.

“Country-rock is kind of what I do naturally. […] If I’m going to be honest and genuine, this is the music that I have to do. […] I just fell in love with it.”

Although he did not know it yet, these early influences would help him to fine-tune his own country-rock sound as a Nashville artist. “I started writing when I was 14 or 15, and ever since then I started playing at some little bars and honky tonks,” shared the singer.

After spending two years at community college, Chapman’s mom recognized that this was not his calling. “My mom sat me down one day and said ‘hey you don’t have to do this.’ […] I was going to class and I would go play gigs at night. I never really had a plan B for sure, music was always plan A,” he shared.

He continued to play around regionally and locally, until 21 years of age, when he finally made the move to Nashville.

The Turning Point:

After some encouragement from his mom and a buddy in the industry, Chapman drove the few hours to Music City, sharing that he did not have any nerves because “It felt like home anyways.” When he got to Nashville, his priority was to find his people. “When I first moved, I was just trying to find a community of songwriters […] I was trying to find a group of writers that really wanted to dive into the type of music that I was doing.”

Chapman hit it off with a few different writers including his now girlfriend and tourmate on Lainey Wilson’s ‘Country With A Flare Tour’, Meg McRee.

“Meg and I hit it off, and we have written a lot of songs together. We were playing at The Listening Room,” began Chapman, “and this guy was there, [who started] his own company with Hillary Lindsay and he was like, ‘hey,’ and we just started a conversation that night and it grew into this relationship, so Meg and I were some of the first people they signed.” This encounter led to Chapman signing a publishing deal with Hang Your Hat Music.

The publishing deal led to meeting Lainey Wilson’s manager, which helped him land an opening spot on her current headlining tour.

Today:

Currently, Chapman is not only touring with Lainey Wilson and Meg McCree, but he is also hard at work, getting music out to fans. Last week, the singer-songwriter released his brand new song, “Georgia Dreamin’.”

“Meg and I wrote it in Dallas, Texas with Bo Bedford. […] We were on our way back to Nashville, and we stopped in at his place and wrote “Georgia Dreamin’,” explained Chapman. “It is a song about being a drifter and a dreamer and being from the small towns that Meg and I are both from, everybody grows up and they leave and come back, and they leave again and come back. We were like, ‘we have to write a song for the drifters who don’t know what they want to do, but they always find it when they come back home.’”

Simply put, Chapman calls the new song, “a song for the small-town people.” Anyone who could not wait to escape their hometown, but ultimately missed it when they were gone can definitely relate to this transcendent song.

If news of the new single is not exciting enough, Chapman also has a seven-song project called Amber Sound Vol. 1 slated for release at the end of February. Volume 2 is going to come out later this year too. Fans can catch Chapman on tour with Lainey Wilson and on the festival circuit this year. The tour hits New York City’s Irving Plaza this Friday, February 3rd!

Connect:

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

To keep up with Ben Chapman, follow him on Facebook, TikTok, Instagram, or Twitter. 

Ben Chapman’s music 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.

2023 Country Artists to Watch

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Introducing our 2023 Country Artists to Watch!

Over the past 7+ years of Country Swag, we have always loved to support rising artists and introduce our followers to the best new music in the genre. Since our first Artists to Watch list back in 2017, we have pinned rising stars like Luke Combs, Brett Young, Russell Dickerson, Jordan Davis, Walker Hayes, HARDY, Gabby Barrett, Ernest, and more. Each year we choose ten new artists that we believe are destined for killer careers, our only rule when choosing is the artist can NOT already have a number one song.

Check out our picks in 2017, 2018, 2019, 2o2o, 2021, and 2022 before checking out the 10 artists we picked to have a huge 2023 below.

MEGAN MORONEY –

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Listen: “Tennessee Orange”
Stay Connected: @megmoroney

It is hard to talk about 2022 without Megan Moroney popping into the conversation! The singer-songwriter steadily gained popularity on social media throughout the year. With half a million followers on TikTok alone, Moroney is clearly one to look out for. Her break-out single, “Tennessee Orange” was one of the biggest songs of the year. Fans can anticipate her umping debut album that is slated to come sometime this year. What a way to start 2023!

 

BEN BURGESS –

who-is-ben-burgess

Listen: “Tears the Size Of Texas”
Stay Connected: @thebennyburgess

Known as a killer songwriter in Nashville, Ben Burgess made his artist debut in the last quarter of 2022 with his incredible album, Tears the Size of Texas. The ten-song project blew us away, and we knew then and there that he was destined to make this list. Burgess knows who he is as an artist, and he creates music for the everyday country music fan. Each and every one of his songs are sprinkled with a charm that only he could create. Learn more about his story here.

 

DYLAN MARLOWE –

Listen: “Why’d We Break Up Again”
Stay Connected: @dylanmarlowemusic

Dylan Marlowe is a young, standout artist who is wise beyond his years. Back in September we spotlighted his story and shared that he is about to blow up – we stand by that sentiment! This year, Marlowe garnered new fans everywhere he went while touring with Cole Swindell and Ashley Cooke. If 2022 was the year to set the stage for Marlowe, 2023 is the year that is going to continue his momentum to stardom. Check out his newest collaboration with Kasey Tyndall here.

 

MACKENZIE CARPENTER –

Listen: “Jesus, I’m Jealous”
Stay Connected:@mackcarpmusic

It is hard not to fall in love with Mackenzie Carpenter. A co-writer behind Lily Rose’s smash hit, “Villain,” Carpenter is the real deal as a songwriter alone; however, her striking vocals add to her undeniable talent. Her current single, “Jesus, I’m Jealous” is one of our favorite new songs, and we anticipate that 2023 is going to be an incredible year for the new recording artist.

 

TYLER BRADEN –

Listen: “Try Losing One”
Stay Connected: @tylerbradenmusic

Tyler Braden is the type of artist who knows exactly who is. The country-rock artist has the unique ability to create songs that are upbeat, yet sentimental or heartbreaking like his single, “Ways to Miss You.” This year, Braden is heading out on tour with Mitchell Tenpenny on the ‘This Is The Heavy’ tour and we look forward to seeing him win fans over show after show.

 

SHANE PROFITT –

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Listen: “Better Off Fishin'”
Stay Connected: @theshaneprofitt

We love a God moment, and Shane Profitt’s story is exactly that. Profitt is an artist that is hard not to love. His humble confidence is admirable, and his songs depict the exact experiences we all go through, while still conveying his own personal story. The Tennessee native lives and breathes country music, and it is evident both in his music and on stage.

 

AVERY ANNA –

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Listen: “Narcissist”
Stay Connected: @avery.anna.music

Perhaps one of the biggest viral TikTok sensations on this list, Avery Anna rose to notoriety with her raw and incredible song “Narcissist.” She drew fans in by the thousands with each and every video she shared. Anna’s EP, Mood Swings solidified her staying power, showcasing her as a true star. The Warner Music Nashville signee continues to make waves in country music with each and every single note she sings and lyric she writes. Learn more about her story here.

 

ASHLAND CRAFT –

Listen: “Your Momma Still Does”
Stay Connected: @ashlandcraft

The last two years the landscape of country music has been all about Ashland Craft. Her debut album, TRAVELIN’ KIND is still making waves and garnering new fans for the songstress; despite, its 2021 release. The singer-songwriter is one of the most talented acts in country music. Her unique sound, vocal range and clever lyrics make her one of our easiest picks for this year’s list, hands down.

 

DALTON DOVER –

 

Listen: “Baby I Am”
Stay Connected: @daltondover_music

Dalton Dover first made a splash appearing on The Voice Season 16, where he got a chair turn from none other than Blake Shelton. Now, the talented singer-songwriter has won over fans everywhere amassing a huge fanbase on TikTok and putting out his own music, including one of our favorites – “Baby I Am”. Upon first listen, it’s easy to see Dover’s undeniable talent through his strong vocals and impressive delivery. We’re eager to follow along on Dover’s country music journey as he continues to build up his name.

 

JOSH ROSS –

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Listen: “Trouble”
Stay Connected: @joshrossmusic

One of our favorite rising artists out there right now, Josh Ross has talent that everyone should know about. His song, “First Taste of Gone” was one of our favorite songs of 2022. With just a few songs out, Ross has already shown fans and industry alike that he is the real deal. Ross is cultivating his own sound, clearly influenced by his love of pop-punk music, current industry hitmakers, (HARDY, Morgan Wallen, Thomas Rhett), and rock elements. He is a must-listen to!

Like what you hear? Give a follow to our 2023 Artists to Watch Playlist here.

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

Check out the latest tunes in country music on our ‘New Country Music’ playlist. Be sure to give the playlist a follow for your weekly new country music fix.