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5 Things to Expect from Hannah Ellis’ Debut Album ‘That Girl’

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We chatted with country songstress, Hannah Ellis about her debut album, That Girl, out Friday, January 12th. Here are five things to expect from the upcoming project.

  1. That Girl features stories from many different times and phases in Ellis’ life and career.

“It covers a lot of ground. It covers the stories I was writing when I first moved to town and when I got here and when I met Nick [Wayne] and our relationship growing together, and also my growth as a person myself, my struggles, and also the things that I’m super confident and secure in.”

  1. The debut project encapsulates a true one-of-a-kind introduction to the songstress.

“I always knew that this first record was kind of my introduction, my “nice to meet you,” and I really wanted to choose songs that told all the different parts of my story, not just where I am at right now, but how I got here.”

  1. For Ellis, it was important to share different stories and musical arrangements that felt like “her” rather than to stick to a theme or specific sound.

“We didn’t get too hung up on ‘does this go with that or is this sound identical’ because I think – just like my personality, there’s a lot of different facets to the music that I love and there’s a lot of music that was a part of my musical raising if you will, and we just leaned into all the different aspects of me as an artist and me as a person.”

  1. The single, “Too Much & Not Enough” was inspired in the writing room by the experiences of being a woman in today’s landscape, something any woman can relate to.

“We started talking about what it feels like as a woman in the industry and just as a woman in general, and sometimes the things you love the most about yourself, the things you do really well, somehow also end up being the things you’re insecure about. […] It’s exactly how I feel all the time. I love these big sides of my personality, but they also feel like something I am constantly fighting or trying to put in their right place.”

  1. There is a special song on the record called “Still” that embodies the relationship between friends. It reads as a conversation between two friends too.

“I wrote it from the perspective of one friend to another, and I wrote it for my friend, whenever she kept kind of going back to the same guy every time he would apologize. […] It’s kind of a song of ‘hey loving someone is not always enough to constitute that person being right for you’, and I think it’s a unique song to me, because I am the person that my friends go to for advice. […] I don’t think there’s a ton of songs out there of one friend talking to another.”

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Hannah Ellis’ debut album, ‘That Girl’ will be released on January 12th.

Check back on January 12th for our full album review of Hannah Ellis’ record That Girl.

To keep up with Hannah Ellis, follow her on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter.

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

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Who is George Birge? The Story Behind His Journey to Country Music

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

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Quick Facts:

Full Name – George Birge
Birthdate – November 28th
Hometown – Austin, Texas
Current City – Nashville, Tennessee
Musical Influences – Gary Allan, George Strait, Jason Aldean, Eli Young Band
Label – RECORDS Nashville
Current Single – “Mind On You” // as of date of article: 01/02/2024

The Beginning:

In our first spotlight of the 2024, we are highlighting the incredible career of singer-songwriter, George Birge. Birge has been a Nashville-transplant for about nine years, and his career is one of determination, grit, and integrity.

“I was born and raised in Austin, Texas, and country music is kind of in your blood down there,” shared the singer. “I fell in love with it literally listening to the radio in my dad’s truck. It was the genre to me that told stories and made you feel something, and was like real life.” At a young age, Birge recalls appreciating country music and its knack for storytelling.

“I grew up idolizing George Strait and Willie Nelson and Stevie Ray Vaughan, and all the classic guys,” he shared. Adding, “For more modern, Eli Young Band were a huge influence on me. They were the first guys I saw make it out of Texas on a National scene.”

Birge took his love of country music to heart, even learning to pen lyrics at an early age and playing live gigs just a few years later. “I started writing songs in middle school, started playing guitar by high school, and then started a band at 14,” he shared.

“I started playing live music on 6th street at 14 or 15 years old. We would play downtown Austin with x’s on our hands. We always played original music, which I felt like was different than any other city. […] They were terrible songs, but it was a really cool way to learn how to write music, learn how to connect with other people, and learn what resonated with people. I was instantly hooked to the collaborative culture.”

The Turning Point:

After graduating high school, Birge played music through college. “I played music through college. I went to University of Texas, played golf there briefly. Then I ended up chasing the music thing. By the time I graduated, I had a job, but I was playing every night and weekend in little bars around Austin.”

Because of his hard work and dedication to his craft, the singer grew a following in the Texas music scene. “I never toured before, but we started to get a pretty big following to where we were selling out every Friday and Saturday night, little 300-400 people club. We started to make some noise, which was something I always dreamed about but never thought I could do it professionally.”

This led to Birge catching the ear of some people in Nashville, who came out to see him play, and ultimately offered him his first record deal in 2015. The singer and his new wife moved to Music City upon landing his first deal. Birge started a duo called Waterloo Revival, who achieved a moderate amount of success including touring and radio songs.

Despite the early success, the singer started to feel burnt out on the path he was heading down. “In 2020, when the world shut down, I had kind of run out of steam, and honestly had given up on the artist thing. I asked out of my record deal. I had decided for about an 8-month window there that I was just going to be a songwriter.”

With a plan to just be a songwriter moving forward, Birge began writing songs and getting cuts by bigger artists in town, which would eventually lead him to a new record deal with RECORDS Nashville. “I had written some songs for some bigger artists in town and had some folks start believing in me, supporting my songs, and started putting them on the radio, and then just through the motivation of some family and friends, I got talked into sneaking some of my solo stuff into social media that ended up blowing up and getting me my own record deal.”

Today:

Flash forward to today, Birge is finally making music the way he always dreamed of. “This iteration as a solo artist, I promised myself that if I was going to do this again, I was going to do it this my way and I was going to write and record songs that I believed in, and I was going to pick producers, players, and direction, and I was lucky enough to find a label that believed in that with me. It’s taken off faster than anything I’ve done in my career and I think that’s probably because I was able to really believe in myself, be authentic, and write music that’s honest and comes from a real place for me. It’s the most exciting time in my life right now, and  it has definitely been a long journey to get here.”

His current radio single, “Mind On You” has been a huge success both according to fans and radio. It is hard to believe that the song almost went to another artist. “I wrote it at the end of 2020, when I was kind of between the artist thing. At the time, I was under the influence that I was just going to be a songwriter. […] I knew it was special, but I had no intentions of putting it out because I wasn’t doing the artist thing, so we originally pitched it to Jason Aldean and 24 hours later, I get an email back from Aldean’s team, saying don’t play this for anybody, Jason loved it and he wants it for his new record and that was the biggest thing to ever happen to me.”

Eventually after a call from his label head, who said “That song that you’re going to give away to Aldean, I think it was a mistake, you need to call and ask for it back because it’s going to be your first single, and it’s going to change your life,” and some prayer and guts, Birge decided to ask for it back.

“Mind On You” is the first of many incredible songs to come from Birge. He is already working on his album and more new music is slated to come out early this year. “Making and writing music is my favorite thing in the world to do, so we are going to put out as much music as we can next year, and I’m really excited about that.”

Connect:

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

To keep up with George Birge, follow him on Instagram, Twitter, TikTok, and Facebook.

George Birge’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.

10 New Country Songs of 2023 That Should Be On Your Playlist

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2023 was full of amazing country songs. Here are ten new songs released in 2023 that may not have hit the number one spot on charts (yet), but we believe should be on your playlist! Learn more here.

“West Of Tulsa” – Wyatt Flores

Artist to look out for, Wyatt Flores is winning the hearts of country music lovers everywhere. His song, “West Of Tulsa” showcases his songwriting prowess, his storytelling artistry, and his incredible vocals. The track is a true standout of 2023.

 

“Man Made A Bar” – Morgan Wallen & Eric Church

Morgan Wallen joined forces with one of his musical heroes, Eric Church on this iconic collaboration. “Man Made A Bar” is one of the best off Wallen’s latest album, and a true must listen to of 2023!

 

“I’m Not Pretty” – Megan Moroney

Megan Moroney is quite possibly the biggest breakout start of 2023. Her debut album Lucky boast many incredible songs, including “I’m Not Pretty.” The song resonated with fans across the genre, making it an absolute top new song of the year.

 

“Sometimes She Stays” – Kip Moore

When Kip Moore released his record, Damn Love, we knew it would be one of our favorites. The music video for the standout track, “Sometimes She Stays” was filmed in New York City, adding to overall likability of the beautiful song.

 

“Penthouse (The Healed Version)” – Kelsea Ballerini

Kelsea Ballerini’s Rolling Up The Welcome Mat (For Good) EP is one of the best of the year. The Grammy-nominated record boasts incredible songs that speak to Ballerini’s heartbreak and healing, including this one, “Penthouse.”

 

“Creek Will Rise” – Conner Smith

Conner Smith is a rising artist with a bright future in the genre. His current single, “Creek Will Rise” is one of his best to date. The uptempo, stage-ready song is exciting, fun, and primed for the live show. We imagine that this song will continue to do big things for Smith’s blossoming career.

 

“In Your Love” – Tyler Childers

Tyler Childers is one of the most prolific, yet underrated artists in country music. His song, “In Your Love” challenges the norms of country music. The song expresses a story of same-sex love that is both beautiful and empowering.

 

“screen” – HARDY

HARDY’s ‘the mockingbird & THE CROW’ is one of the best projects released in 2023. His song, “screen” is a true standout on the mockingbird side of the record. “screen” is a motivational anthem about the use of technology in the world, and how we can be a better society when we are more present. As the song progresses it cleverly weaves through different variations and definitions of the simple word and makes for a clever yet relatable track.

 

“Part Of It” – Jordan Davis

One of our all-time-favorites, Jordan Davis is an artist who deserves to be named up there with the top entertainers. Many of his new songs released this year reached the caliber to be included on this list, but one of our favorites is “Part Of It.” The beautiful song speaks to a universal experience that we all understand.

 

“Bench Seat” – Chase Rice

Chase Rice is arguably in his best era of music in his career at the moment. “Bench Seat’ is undeniably one of his best songs in his impressive catalog. The song is a moving story about mental health and other relatable variables.

 

Listen to these ten songs and more recently released music on our New Country Music Playlist below. Fans can join our Weekly Round-Up e-newsletter here, for the latest in country music and more news about future releases.

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Who is Colin Stough? The Story Behind His Journey to Country Music

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

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Quick Facts:

Full Name – Colin Stough
Birthdate – 07/28/2004
Hometown – Gattman, Mississippi
Current City – Nashville, Tennessee
Musical Influences – Lynyrd Skynyrd, Chris Stapleton, The Allman Brothers, Marcus King, Stevie Ray Vaughan
Label – 19 Recordings/BMG
Current Single – “Til the Day One Does” // as of date of article: 12/26/2023

The Beginning:

Today’s spotlight shines on an artist that has already won the hearts of America. Colin Stough graced our television screens on the hit show American Idol, earning third place during his season. Today, he is continuing to build his fanbase with brand new music. We caught up with the singer about what he is doing, where he’s been, and where he’s going.

“I come from a small town in Mississippi,” began Stough. “I grew up living the life – raising hell, hanging out, just a regular guy around there, and I picked up music at a young age. I started doing it for fun, and it turned into a way to cope, so I just kind of rolled with it that way.”

Throughout his childhood, Stough believed in working hard and remembering your roots. These notions are evident today in his music too. He recalls loving music and listening to artists that span different music genres.

“I was listening to everything from Tupac to George Jones and people like that,” shared the singer. Adding, “I definitely have a lot of country influences. My mains were probably like Hendricks, Skynyrd, Stevie Ray Vaughan, and definitely people like that. In today’s world, I jam out to a little bit of everything like Marcus King and Luke Combs.”

Despite loving music, he never in a million years thought it would be a reality for him. “It was always a dream of mine, but I never thought it would come through where I’m from.”

The Turning Point:

At just eighteen years old, Stough’s mother convinced him to audition for American Idol. “My mom signed me up for Idol, and I went on to do that. Stough impressed all three judges, during his audition, singing an emotive cover of the Lynyrd Skynryd song, “Simple Man.” His incredible vocal tone and heart proved his staying power from day one.

The singer-songwriter ended up earning third place on the competitive show. “It was definitely a good experience. After auditions, I was a little on edge, having to live in Los Angeles for a little bit,” he shared. Adding, “It took a lot of getting used to, but all and all, I can’t be more blessed with the support and the platform, and what that network has given me.”

Right after the show ended, Stough made the move to Nashville. “I got off the show, moved to Nashville, signed some deals, and am just living the dream now.” However, it was important for him to start releasing music as soon as possible, and to not get lost in the sea of talent in Music City.

“I told my team, I’m a worker, I’m a workhorse that’s what I was raised to do, that’s what I was born to do, work my ass off […]. My team put it together and they’re a huge inspiration, but I really think me stepping up kind of kept the ball rolling and kept my career moving in a fast pace.”

Today:

Flash toward to today, Stough wasted no time cranking out new music. American Idol wrapped in May of 2023, and by October, the singer released his brand new, debut EP, Promiseland. With six incredible songs, the singer showcases his talent both as a singer and as a songwriter across the entire record.

“I’m in a writing session a lot of the time. If I’m not on the road, I’m in sessions and stuff in Nashville. […] My thing as an artist and stuff is that I want to tell my story. That’s kind of always been the look at it that I had,” shared Stough, when asked about his writing prowess on the project.

While all of the songs are true hits, our personal favorite on the record is a song called, “Lonely Hour.” “When the idea first came about, I had made it to like top 12 on the show,” shared Stough. ” I was sitting there, and I was with a buddy, and he left and whatnot, and I was sitting there, and I was like “man this hotel is lonely.” […] It was probably like 2 in the morning and I grabbed my guitar and starting playing a few chords. I kept hearing that “I’m in a lonely hour.” I kept hearing that melody. I put the chorus together and a little bit of the verses, Then, when we got to Nashville and we were talking ideas and whatnot, we finished ironing it out and writing it, and bam it was on the EP.”

Other standouts on the project are “‘Til The Day One Does” and “If Not For Me.” Both songs evoke meaning, story, and honesty. Stough is the real deal, and we are excited to see what he has coming down the pipeline next for 2024. “We just announced some tour dates with one of my good buddies, Chase Matthew, and we’ve got some more new songs rolling, so keep your ears open and stay tuned.”

Connect:

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

To keep up with Colin Stough, follow him on Instagram, Twitter, TikTok, and Facebook.

Colin Stough’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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Who is Bryce Leatherwood? The Story Behind His Journey to Country Music

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

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Quick Facts:

Full Name – Bryce Leatherwood
Birthdate – 2/3/2000
Hometown – Woodstock, Georgia
Current City – Nashville, Tennessee
Musical Influences – Conway Twitty, The Allman Brothers, Tim McGraw
Label – Republic Records
Current Single – “The Finger” // as of date of article: 12/18/2023

The Beginning:

Today’s spotlight sines on an artist that you may recognize! Bryce Leatherwood, recent winner of the hit show, The Voice chatted with us all about his upbringing, his time on The Voice, and what fans can expect coming into 2024.

“I’m from Woodstock, Georgia. I grew up in a small little town and got to experience the best of country and the outdoors, and country music through my grandfather, who lived in Macon, Georgia,” began the singer-songwriter. “He had a farm down there, and I worked the summers there with him. He was my biggest hero and I got to learn the best of Conway Twitty, Merle Haggard, George Jones, and that’s where I grew up. It really shaped me and made me a respectful southern gentleman.”

Leatherwood took a liking to traditional greats of country music at an early age, but he also appreciated country and rock artists that his father introduced him to. My father was a big country music fan,” shared the singer, “I was raised on Kenny Chesney, Tim McGraw, artists like that, and besides country music, Southern Rock & Roll. My father’s a big Lynyrd Skynyrd  fan. […] I found southern rock to be as much of a love for me as country music.” Additionally, the singer recalls falling in love with Chris Stapleton’s Traveller album, mentioning Stapleton as one of his influences as well.

The rising artist still finds ways to infuse the country and southern rock sound into the music he loves and creates today. “I think country music and Rock & Roll share very similar qualities, and it was a great time to grow up as a kid and have an old soul.”

The Turning Point:

Despite loving music at an early age, Leatherwood did not see it as a potential future until college. “I always saw music as an escape from the real world. Growing up, I never really showed my talent. In high school, I thought I had to be a tough nose guy, and didn’t do any music,” he shared.  “When I moved to college at Georgia Southern University, I figured out quickly that I could drink for free and get paid to sing, so I decided to pick it back up, and I made a little career out of it down there and earned my stripes.”

As he garnered fans and honed in on his talent, Leatherwood knew that country music was in his future. After auditioning for the 22nd season of the hit show, The Voice, the singer appeared to be living in his purpose. He went on to win the show, and secured himself a record deal.

“I went out there and I stuck out pretty well, ya know the redneck with an accent […] It was a long, tough experience, it was hard being away from home and what you know for so long,” he shared. Adding, “Getting to perform for millions of people every Monday, Tuesday night, it was a very, very cool experience, getting to inspire so many people. […] It was truly a life-changing experience and thanks to that show, I get to do what I do professionally.”

Immediately after the show, Leatherwood made the move to Nashville, Tennessee. “After leaving the show, I moved directly up here to Nashville after Christmas and slept on a couch for five months. I finally got a room up here in July. […] I was writing songs Monday to Friday over here at SONY,” shared the singer. “I’ve just been making waves here. I’ve gotten some songs that I have written. I’ve written over 75 songs this year and kept busy writing and growing my catalog. I’ve also gotten the opportunity to pitch songs for artists who are even bigger than me.”

Today:

Now, Leatherwood is emerging a recording artist and entertainer. In just one year, the singer has garnered praise from both country music fans and the industry. Earlier this year, the singer shared his major-label debut song, “The Finger.” “For how much I’ve written, there’s sometimes songs that you hear that you’re given the opportunity to cut that just say ‘that’s me, that’s exactly who I am.’ I’m always going to put music out there that’s me. I’m never going to shy away from that.”

While Leatherwood didn’t pen the song, the track is the perfect example of the type of music that the singer wants to share and showcase with his growing fanbase. “I was like ‘that’s my song’,” shared the singer upon hearing the song for the first time.

For Leatherwood, it is important that his music speaks to his experiences, as well as, cultivates a feeling in his listeners. While 2023 was a monumental year for Leatherwood in a lot of ways behind the scenes, 2024 is slating to be a year to remember for the singer, who promises that there is much more coming down the pipeline next year. “2024 is going to be a big year for me. We’ve got some things in the works.”

Stay tuned and keep your eyes and ears open for more from Leatherwood!

Connect:

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

To keep up with Bryce Leatherwood, follow him on Instagram, Twitter, TikTok, and Facebook.

Bryce Leatherwood’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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Nate Smith Earns 2nd Number One at Country Radio with “World On Fire”

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Nate Smith earns his second number one single at country radio with his song, “World On Fire.” Get all the details here.

Rising superstar in the making, Nate Smith has had an impressive 2023. He started off the year landing his first number one single with his song, “Whiskey On You.” Today, the singer-songwriter adds to his catalog of hits, earning himself a second number one single at country radio. His song, “World On Fire” is officially the number one song this week.

Written by Smith with Ashley Gorley, Taylor Phillips and Lindsay Rimes, ‘World On Fire” has been a fan-favorite since day one. The song depicts the end of a relationship, with sweeping symbolism embedded throughout the track. “World On Fire” demands your attention from the first note, making it clear why the song did so well at country radio this year.

“You set my world on fire // Yeah, it’s all long gone // I’m watching flames get higher // And I can’t move on // I just gotta let it burn, burn, burn on down // Girl, without you it don’t turn, turn, turn around // You set my world on fire // You set my world on fire”

Congratulations to Smith and his team on an incredible accomplishment! Smith is currently two for two for hit radio singles. We look forward to more music from Smith in 2024!

Join our Round-Up e-newsletter here, for the latest in country music and more news about upcoming Nate Smith announcements and releases.

To keep up with Nate Smith, follow him on Instagram, Twitter, TikTok, and Facebook.

“World On Fire” 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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Dasha Shares New Song “King of California” Out Now

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Dasha shares new song “King of California,” out now, December 15th, on all streaming platforms. Listen to the new track below.

Dasha is emerging as one of the most interesting new singer-songwriters on the country music scene right now. Her song, “Austin” showcased her unique style and story-telling. Today, she strips things down a bit more with a slower, more introspective song with that signature Dasha flair. “King of California” is officially out now.

“This track is almost a continuation of the story told in “Austin,” shared the songstress in a recent press release.  “As a songwriter, I love creating worlds in which the same characters exist in more than one song so I wanted to continue that tumultuous love story. “So “King of California”  is basically 40 years later and no matter how beautiful life is or where in the world I am, this person and their memory still trumps it all.”

“King of California” depicts how it feels to still be thinking of that previous flame. Despite the heartbreak and the tumultuous moments, the love seems to still transcend it all. Throughout the song, Dasha finds a way to win the hearts of listeners everywhere, while also delivering a unique sound and style that is proving to be quite the ear worm.

Dasha is proving herself to be one to look out for. We look forward to seeing what Dasha has coming down the pipeline next!

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Dasha’s new song, “King of California” 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 Dasha releases.

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

“King of California” 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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Troy Cartwright Releases New Song “Deathbed”

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Troy Cartwright shares new song “Deathbed,” out now, December 15th, on all streaming platforms. Listen to the new track below.

Since making the decision to leave his record label in favor of being an independent artist, Troy Cartwright has found his true North in his music. He continues to grow his music catalog with brand new songs the speak to his talent and knack for story-telling. Today, the singer shares another beautiful new song called “Deathbed.”

The introspective and vulnerable new song is a sincere reflection that almost reads like a poem or a prayer to someone to a loved one. “Deathbed” is focused on a perfect moment stopped in time. It is emotive, pensive, and deeply heartwarming. Cartwright’s vocals shine throughout the track, while the lyrics are a true standout of the song.

“When all the sand in the hourglass // Runs out and my race is run // St. Peter calls me home
// And all my work down here is done // It could be nine or 90 years // But when I’m down to my last breath // I’ll remember this on my deathbed”

Cartwright has a unique voice in the country music genre. His music transcends into the space of true art put to song. “Deathbed” is just another notch in his belt. It is a must listen to and a must add to your music playlists.

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Troy Cartwright shares new song, “Deathbed,” 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 Troy Cartwright releases.

To keep up with Troy Cartwright, follow him on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook.

“Deathbed” 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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Who is Tanner Usrey? The Story Behind His Journey to Country Music

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

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Quick Facts:

Full Name – Tanner Usrey
Birthdate – March 11th
Hometown – Prosper, Texas
Current City – Texas
Musical Influences – Whiskey Myers, Faces, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Cross Canadian Ragweed, Wade Bowen
Label – Atlantic Records
Current Project – Crossing Lines (as of date of article: 12/11/23)

The Beginning:

Today’s spotlight shines on country artist and entertainer, Tanner Usrey. The Texas native has had music in his bones since day one and it is evident across both his journey and his music catalog.

“I grew up in a small town in Prosper, Texas. From early on, I was always singing,” began Usrey. “They used to tell me to shut up all the time,” he laughed. “I was the kid in class that was always singing and I kept doing that until my senior year of high school. Then I saw a Wade Bowen concert.”

Usrey recalls being enamored by artists and the country music genre throughout his upbringing. “Me and my buddy would just roll around, playing and listening to music like Whiskey Meyers, Wade Bowen, and old-school Alan Jackson, stuff like that.” He also credits his brothers for introducing him to Texas country. Nowadays, Usrey still appreciates the music of his youth, but tends to lean more towards the old school stuff in the genre like Lynyrd Skynyrd.

Clearly inspired by music and the Bowen concert he attended, Usrey began taking music more seriously, playing gigs wherever he could. “Two months after I started playing guitar, I started playing more actual shows, acoustic shows, after I graduated.”

The Turning Point:

Usrey became a staple on the Texas country music circuit. He played gigs around Texas and nearby states for years, while simultaneously holding down odd jobs. “I did that for five, six years, maybe longer,” he shared. After growing his fanbase and honing his craft, Usrey finally took the leap of faith and focused only on music.

“In 2019, I quit my job and went full time playing music and touring,” he shared. Adding, “COVID hit right after I quit my job, so I was like I guess this is do or die. […] We would just play wherever we could for however much we could.”

This led to Usrey finding new pockets of places to play his music at. “That’s how we got started playing in Oklahoma and the midwest, and then Nashville was next up. […] That’s how we broke out of Texas, I think because we had to.”

Despite the fact that Usrey still resides in Texas, his music has transcended the Texas country scene as he continues to play show after show, while creating music that country music fans love. “We played 180 dates last year and 180 dates this year.”

Today:

Flash forward to today, while maintaining a rigorous tour schedule, Usrey was able to create a 15-song debut album called Crossing Lines. “Finding time to do the studio in between that was pretty difficult, so we would get off the road, and we would go straight to the studio and just do one song at a time. Usually, I would have a song idea, and I would have it halfway written, and I would take it to my producer and we’d finish it. Then the band would come in and we would just figure it out, which I kind of liked. It was kind of letting the song be what the song was meant to be.”

The record features confessional-style lyrics and music that expresses vulnerability and reliability. With a soulful voice and confessional lyrical style, the country newcomer shows off his undeniable talent, charm, and charisma throughout each and every song off the project. “The writing is just stories that I have written, my own personal stories about being on the road,” shared Usrey. Adding, “Lyrics started coming to me and I’ve lived a lot of life in 29 years, so I just wanted to write about what was real to me, my experiences, and hope that people would resonate with it.”

While each of the songs are an important component of the project, the collaboration with Ella Langley, “Beautiful Lies,” is a true standout. “The “Beautiful Lies” thing wasn’t really my idea, I didn’t even necessarily want it to be on the record, but I think my booking agent had an idea to get Ella on there, and I was like “you know what that’s kind of a a good idea.” We decided to make a full production of it,” he shared. “I think it turned out really well. Ella’s amazing at what she does. She’s the full package.”

Crossing Lines is just the beginning for Usrey as he paves his way throughout the more mainstream country music scene. Next year will bring a lot more shows and possibly a new project for the rising artist. Stay tuned!

Connect:

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

To keep up with Tanner Usrey, follow him on Instagram, Twitter, and TikTok.

Tanner Usrey’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.

What Does ‘This Shirt Saves Lives’ Mean? — St. Jude Campaign

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Curious as to why so many of your favorite artists and celebrities are rocking a ‘This Shirt Saves Lives’ t-shirt? Learn all about the special tee and how you can get one to support St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital here…

As a country music fan, year after year, it’s almost certain that you’ve found your favorite country music artists supporting St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. Whether through benefit concerts, posts on social media, or rocking the ‘This Shirt Saves Lives’ tee, it’s pretty clear that St. Jude holds a very special place in the country music community. 

While the answer may seem obvious by brief definition alone, — St. Jude leads the way the world understands, treats, and defeats childhood cancer and other life-threatening diseases. To learn even more, Country Swag took a visit to St. Jude during the annual ‘Country Cares Seminar’ this fall.

Launched more than 30 years ago, Randy Owen from the band Alabama stood up during Nashville’s Annual Country Radio Seminar and asked his friends, colleagues, and radio partners to join together to help St. Jude and the children they serve, and so, the ‘Country Cares Seminar’ was born. The program unites more than 200 radio stations, influencers, and dozens of country music artists annually to raise awareness and support for St. Jude.

During the seminar, all guests are invited to tour St. Jude, located in Memphis, Tennessee, and see firsthand the inspirational work that the teams at St. Jude are doing. Upon the first introduction, guests learn about the organization and what exactly makes it so impactful and so special. Perhaps the most remarkable part is that thanks to very generous donors, families never receive a bill from St. Jude for treatment, travel, housing, or food. Families receive the best care in the world, at no cost, making the worst and darkest days of their lives a little bit brighter – because all a family should worry about is helping their child live.

In addition, St Jude’s research facility and labs are open 24/7 and freely share their findings, protocols, and breakthroughs, so that every child saved at St. Jude means doctors and scientists worldwide can use that knowledge to save thousands of more children.

Thanks to generous donations, the brilliant teams at St. Jude have access to equipment that costs millions and millions of dollars, which just not all doctors and scientists everywhere have access to. This not only gives them the freedom to focus on what matters most — saving kids regardless of their financial situation, but they are able to share their discoveries and patients everywhere are getting treatments that were started at St. Jude. Consequently, when you’re donating to St. Jude, you’re not just donating to one hospital in one city, you’re funding the source and if speaking to cancer patients around the world, a common thread may be that many have been treated by protocols that have been sourced by St. Jude. St. Jude is actively working towards a world where no family ever has to hear the words “you have cancer”.

Seeing the work, hearing stories from doctors and patients alike, and understanding the experiences at St. Jude make it easy to recognize the importance of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital and instantly inspires guests to get involved and help raise awareness. Next time you see your favorite artists talking about and supporting St. Jude it’s likely because they were able to have these experiences too and see firsthand the amazing work done at St. Jude.

Words like “inspiring”, “joy”, “positivity” and “healing” are just some of the many terms that came to mind for country artists like Breland, Kameron Marlowe, and Randy Owen, during their visit to St. Jude, as seen in the video above.

There are great research institutions, great hospitals, and great charities. St. Jude is all three. You can join the cause and help support St. Jude and the incredible initiative set forth by many country artists and celebrities alike with the ‘This Shirt Saves Lives’ t-shirt. For a monthly donation of just $19, you get the exclusive tee and all funds directly support the incredible St. Jude organization.

It costs over a million dollars daily to operate St. Jude each and every day. Donations allow St. Jude to continue to help children everywhere.

Join us and many of your favorite country artists like Lainey Wilson, Jon Parsi, Jordan Davis, and Lady A, and help save lives.

To donate and get your own “This Shirt Saves Lives” t-shirt head to: musicgives.org.

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