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Spotify Premieres New Season of ‘Living & Learning with Reba McEntire’

Spotify premiered a brand new season of ‘Living & Learning with Reba McEntire,’ with two episodes featuring Rex Linn and Trisha Yearwood.

reba-living-&-learning-new-episode

Country royalty, Reba premiered her podcast ‘Living & Learning with Reba McEntire’ last year, featuring incredible guests. This week, in conjunction with Spotify, Reba premieres not one, but two episodes to kick off Season 2 of the successful podcast!

On Episode one, Reba is joined by her boyfriend Rex Linn. The two dive in to a deep conversation about life, love, and their careers. This marks the first time the couple have ever publicly let fans know intimate details of their life and relationship.

On the second episode of the double feature premiere, Reba brings on another legend in country music, Trisha Yearwood. Reba and Yearwood gab about their careers, their friendships, and much more. Individually both women are undeniable living legends, so this episode is absolutely iconic.

If you are looking for a new podcast to get into, we definitely suggest ‘Living & Learning with Reba McEntire,’ especially if you’re a true-blue country music fan.

Follow us on Instagram and TikTok for more.

Cody Johnson Reimagines “Dear Rodeo” Featuring Reba

Cody Johnson and Reba McEntire’s version of “Dear Rodeo” is available now on all streaming platforms. Take a look below as we dig deeper into the track.

Country legend, Reba McEntire joins Texas-native and rising country star, Cody Johnson for a duet of his song, “Dear Rodeo” off his latest album, Ain’t Nothing To It. This song can be interpreted literally—a former rodeo competitor who walked away from the sport a while ago, but still misses the joy and rush it brought into his life—and figuratively—the rodeo being a metaphor for a former lover. McEntire’s backs Johnson until her voice takes center stage in the song’s final verse.

Dear Rodeo / I’d like to think you miss me too / But I know you don’t / Oh, but that don’t change the past / And that don’t change the truth / I’m still in love with you / Dear Rodeo

Cody Johnson, Reba McEntire, Dear Rodeo

Reba McEntire and Cody Johnson

Johnson has been singing and playing guitar since he was twelve years old. He built up a large fanbase in Texas and had several top-ten hits on Texas radio before signing with Warner Music Nashville in 2018. McEntire is not only a popular counterpart for Johnson to drive streams and sales, she fits the role well, as she is a former rodeo competitor herself who won two buckles barrel racing. Her music career launched when Red Steagall discovered her singing the national anthem at the 1974 National Finals Rodeo in Oklahoma City.

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

To keep up with Cody Johnson, follow him on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

To keep up with Reba McEntire follow her on FacebookTwitter, and Instagram.

“Dear Rodeo” featuring Reba McEntire 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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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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Throwback Thursday – Reba McEntire Songs You May Have Forgotten

By Michal Pietrzak

Reba McEntire is a great singer, performer, and actress. She’s definitely one of the greatest female country singers and she might be even a Queen of Country Music. But we all can agree that behind every great man is a great woman and behind country music success there are a lot of great female artists.

Reba McEntire has 32 number one hits and many more great songs so picking ten songs you may have forgotten wasn’t an easy task. Warning: The main theme of the list is love.

 

  1. I Don’t Want To Be a One Night Stand Reba is such a good example for young women and this song is her great advice. Listen to it carefully and draw conclusions. “Well, I do not want to be a one night stand/ So if that’s what you got planned/ Baby before we go, you better let me know/ I don’t want to be a one night stand”

 

  1. Make Me Feel Like a Woman Wants to Feel“I know you love me because you told me so/ But that isn’t enough because I want to be shown/ Make me feel like a woman wants to feel/ And let me know you miss me when I’m not around/ Go ahead and kiss me when I’m feeling down”

 

  1. I Can See Forever In Your Eyes – Seeing forever and love that never dies in someone’s eyes seems like a dream coming true. It’s such an amazing thing. “Give me all my heart can hold/ Hold me never let me go/ Love was mystery/ Until you touched me with sweet. sweet love/ Now it’s so clear to me/ This is what love is made of/ I can see forever in your eyes”

 

  1. I’d Say You – Usually, men are the ones praising women so why not listen to Reba singing about what love looks like and how good men sometimes can be. “If I had to say what love feels like/ I’d say you/ If I had to say what love tastes like/ I’d say you”

 

  1. Poison Sugar – The song has a western movie vibe. Melody and lyrics create the impression of good ole gold rush times. Ladies, look out for that mysterious cowboy in the saloon. “Oh, they call him poison sugar/ Because there’s poison in his kiss/ Oh, you ladies warn your daughters/ About the stranger with the poison lips”

 

  1. Lookin’ For a New Love Story – Finding true love is the hardest quest in everyone’s life. The best advice is to never give up, eventually, he or she will come to your life when you least expect it. That’s the point of this song. “And I have searched the oceans of many man’s eyes/ But I have yet to feel like more than some deserted island/ I know a relationship will come for me in time/ And I can’t wait to see his face on my horizon/ Because one of these days he’ll sail into my life”

 

  1. Little Girl – Not being constantly in rush seems like an unspoken moral of this story. It sounds like a piece of great advice to not hurry in life. “Daddy used to tell me/ If I ran too fast I’d fall and hurt myself/ But the ice cream man would ring his bell/ And I’d get there before anyone else”

 

  1. He Wants to Get Married – Such an amazing song about important values and definition of a real man which is becoming an endangered species nowadays. Word to the wise, you should stop listening before four last words because they change completely the meaning of the tune and turn in into a sad song. “He’ll build a house in the country/ Where he’ll watch his children grow/ And teach them the values of something/ That most people never even know/ He wants to get married”

 

  1. Good Friends  – Good friends are the family you can choose. After all, they stayed with you despite your flaws. That makes good friends the greatest gift, of course beside true love. “Oh, people even new ones come/ You’re lucky if you find just one good friend/ And we say goodbye/ Knowing what we have will fade away/ We’ll meet another time/ Another day/ My friend”

 

  1. Moving Oleta – Love that lasts through good and bad times can be called true love. The song is about the struggles of being old. Beautiful piece of soft melody and compelling lyrics performed by the Queen of Country Music. “He woke up each morning and drove into town/ He stayed all day until her dinner came/ Then he took her to her room/ Leaned on her wheelchair like a walker/ And covered her with a quilt that she made/ Only God and a couple of nurses/ Helped the old man shoulder the road/ Love is a hard, hard road”

 Reba McEntire is one of the best-selling and beloved country artists of all time. She’s true Queen of Country Music. A list of 10 songs is just a drop in the ocean of Reba’s songs.

To keep up with Reba McEntire follow her on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

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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. 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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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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CMA Awards Set to Honor Women In Country Music

 

Just last month the Country Music Association announced that women will be the focus of it’s upcoming 53rd Annual CMA Awards broadcast. Carrie Underwood is returning as host for the November event for the 12th year in a row, and this time she will be joined by female legends Dolly Parton and Reba McEntire.

While prime time country award shows have previously had multiple male hosts (Luke Bryan and Dierks Bentley, for example, hosted the Academy of Country Music Awards for two years) and females have done similar gigs solo, this marks the first time a group of women will be teaming up for such an event. 

Combined, the three have won a staggering 124 CMA accolades, a number which is sure to increase as these powerhouses continue on in their careers. We’re stoked to watch this special night unfold, and Underwood, Parton, and McEntire are just as pumped as the rest of us, sharing their excitement via social media.

“Let’s go girls! I’m so excited to be joining Carrie Underwood and Reba to celebrate the legendary women of country music” Parton wrote. McEntire echoed the sentiments in a similar post, re-sharing a video clip the CMA released to announce the big news. Underwood, who until now has only hosted the show with Brad Paisley, expressed the pinch-me moment she was having getting to team up with two of her idols, posting “I couldn’t be more excited to get to stand up there with 2 of my personal heroes. Reba and Dolly are trailblazers, icons and legends. We’re gonna make Country Music proud!” accompanied by the hashtag “#DreamComeTrue”.

While we can certainly expect some witty and fun moments to come from the emcees, live performances from other women are bound to be highlights of the night as well. Miranda Lambert, Kelsea Ballerini, Kacey Musgraves, Maren Morris and more have had an incredible year, and will most likely grace the stage at some point during the broadcast.

The full list of nominees was announced last week. And it’s safe to say that no matter what happens, we’re in for a special night.

The CMA Awards air live from Nashville, TN on ABC on November 13, 2019.

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NYCS First Impression Reba ‘Stronger Than The Truth’

Reba Stronger Than The Truth

Almost immediately, one can sense that there’s something inherently different about Reba’s album, Stronger Than the Truth (out April 5). It speaks to the soul in a way most modern country albums fail to. On each of the collection’s twelve tracks, the famous redhead flexes her impeccable vocal talent, her distinct voice wrapping itself around each syllable and emotion in a way only a master of the craft can do. While many of her younger contemporaries rely heavily on pop beats, collaborations, and cookie cutter lyrics, Reba truly strikes a different chord on this release.

Stronger Than the Truth is truly a standout in a sea of sameness that seems to envelop Nashville much of the time. The indisputable legend is stronger than ever here, with an album that is country to its core. From the opening strains of “Swing All Night With You,” it’s evident that this isn’t an album targeted at country radio. It’s an album targeted at country fans.

Since the earliest days of her long and storied career, Reba has been a captivating storyteller. There are few other singers who could’ve delivered “Fancy,” “The Night the Lights When Out in Georgia” or “Whoever’s New England” with the same charisma and conviction. On her new album, Reba steps effortlessly back into those types of narratives, and in an era laden with beer and back roads, it’s a welcome change of pace.

An immediate standout of the album is “Cactus in a Coffee Can,” a track that hearkens back to the heyday of the story song. Here, Reba sings of a chance encounter with a brokenhearted stranger on an airplane. While the song title may seem silly at a glance, the song is incredibly well-crafted and moving. “She started talking and pain poured out,” Reba sings of the girl named Elaina, whose mother gave her away on the day she was born. She admits that she searched for her for ten years, finding her when “she was almost gone.” “We had two weeks together, to laugh and to cry, two weeks to say hello and goodbye.”

Heartbreak is a common theme throughout Stronger Than The Truth, threading its way through songs like “The Clown,” “Tammy Wynette Kind of Pain,” and “The Bar’s Getting Lower.” On the latter, Reba plays the role of a woman who’s giving up hope on finding true love, willing to settle for something less than the best to ease her loneliness. She was waiting for pink champagne, but as life passes by, she’s willing to lower the bar and settle for “well whiskey.”

On the piano-driven “The Clown,” written by Dallas Davidson, Hillary Lindsey, and James Slater, Reba is a woman forced to put on a brave face as life goes on around her after heartbreak. “So you paint a big smile on your face to cover that frown,” She sings of a relationship being ended in a crowded restaurant. “In that room full of jokers and jesters, sometimes you’re the clown.”

While the ballads here are powerful, there’s no shortage of sass on Stronger Than the Truth. There’s the album’s opening track, the snappy “No U in Oklahoma” and the up-tempo “Storm in Shot Glass.” On “Storm,” Reba tells the tale of a scorned woman drowning her sorrows in alcohol. “You better run for cover,” She warns. “She’ll just order another.”

The album’s penultimate track is the anthemic “Freedom,” most remnant of Reba’s “Love Revival,” with it’s Gospel-tinged country stomp. Here, Reba is strong and empowered, belting “Loving you feels like freedom” over soaring guitars. Here, she’s revealing it all, realizing that she’s come out on the other side, and is finally free. “I’ve searched high and low/ Been to hell and back/ Been a prisoner to my soul / And all I know is that/ The price of being free/ It don’t come cheap.”

The album ends on a sweet note, a simple piano-driven ballad that’s a letter of gratitude to her 91-year-old mother, Jacqueline. “I’ve been told I’m not enough by everyone but you,” Reba reveals to the listener. “You never gave up on me/ I’m here where I was always meant to be/ I never gave up/ ‘Cause you never gave up on me.”

While it would be easy for the 64-year-old songstress to rest on her laurels and release same-ish music or cave to contemporary trends in an attempt to maintain relevance, there’s none of that here. On Stronger Than the Truth, Reba is authentically Reba, and that’s really all country music really needs right now.

Reba McEntire, Stronger Than the Truth Track Listing:

1. “Swing All Night Long With You” (Sidney Cox, Jon Randall)
2. “Stronger Than the Truth” (Hannah Louise Blaylock, Autumn McEntire)
3. “Storm in a Shot Glass” (Mary Browder, Will Robinson, Leslie Satcher)
4. “Tammy Wynette Kind of Pain” (Brandy Clark, Mark Narmore, Shelley Skidmore)
5. “Cactus in a Coffee Can” (Steve Seskin, Allen Shamblin)
6. “Your Heart” (Kellys Collins)
7. “The Clown” (Dallas Davidson, Hillary Lindsey, James Slater)
8. “No U in Oklahoma” (Reba McEntire, Ronnie Dunn, Donna McSpadden)
9. “The Bar’s Getting Lower” (Kellys Collins, Erin Enderlin, Liz Hengber, Alex Kline)
10. “In His Mind” (Reba McEntire, Liz Hengber, Tommy Lee James)
11. “Freedom” (Jay Brunswick, Tommy Cecil, Jaida Dreyer, John Pierce)
12. “You Never Gave Up on Me” (Billy Aerts, Burton Collins)

To keep up with Reba, follow her on InstagramTwitter, and Facebook.

Stronger Than the Truth 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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Thank You for supporting Country Music in NYC & Beyond!

Subscribe to our Weekly Round-Up here 
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6 Life Lessons We’ve All Learned from Reba Songs

Reba

Photo Couresty of @RebaMcEntire on Facebook

 

Since the earliest days of her career, Reba has released songs with interesting stories and valuable messages. While some of the stories tend towards the macabre, other Reba tracks are ripe with life experience and advice that we could stand to hear. As we prepare for the April 5 release of her new album, Stronger Than the Truth, we started thinking about the most important lessons we’ve learned over the years from the Queen of Country.

So, without further ado, here are six of our favorite life lessons learned from Reba songs.

 

“The Heart Won’t Lie”: When it comes to life lessons, this one is pretty simple and clear, as told by the song’s title. Simply put, follow your heart, as “the heart won’t lie.” On this 1993 duet with Vince Gill, Reba and Gill are lovers separated by circumstance. However, the love remains between them, despite trying to move on. These lyrics make it clear: “The hear won’t lie/ Sometimes life gets in the way/ But there’s one thing that won’t change/ I know I’ve tried/ The heart won’t lie.”

 

 

“Turn On the Radio”: In the case of “Turn on the Radio,” Reba is telling a “no good, two timin’, cheatin’, mistreatin'” man that the only place he can hear from her is by turning on the radio. If he wants to hear from her, he’ll find her words in the messages of her songs playing through his stereo. While this 2010 track may be slightly outdated in its radio references, the message still rings true. Having a tough time in life? Turn to music. Turn on Spotify, Apple Music, SiriusXM, or even the radio.

 

 

“The Fear of Being Alone”: On 1996’s “The Fear of Being Alone,” Reba is enjoying a romantic night out with a special guy, and she’s finding it hard not to “jump the gun” into something serious. She’s wondering if it’s truly a real romance or simply the fear of being alone. The message here is to take your time and make sure things are right before jumping into a new relationship. She warns the man not to drop those three little words because it may not be the real thing. According to Reba, “Reckless hearts can clear a path wider than a hurricane’s aftermath.”

 

 

“God and My Girlfriends”: In 2017, Reba released her Gospel album, Sing It Now: Songs of Faith & Hope, featuring a mix of traditional hymns and original tracks. One of the originals was “God and My Girlfriends,” a song with a simple message to rely on God and your girlfriends. While she may have a man in her life in the song, it’s God and her girlfriends that she can always turn to, and this is certainly an important lesson to remember. “God and my girlfriends/ They’re always there when/ I’m feeling down, always around, lifting me up/ I love how they know me, forgive me, and show me / Again and again, I can depend / On God on and my girlfriends.”

 

 

“Somebody”: While “Somebody” was originally recorded by Mark Wills, it was Reba who took the song to the top of the charts in 2004. The song celebrates finding love in unexpected places. While you may be searching for love, it may be right in front of you. Reba reminds us, “But keep on lookin’ ’cause maybe who you’re lookin’ for is / Somebody in the next car/ Somebody on the morning train / Somebody in the coffee shop / That you walk right by every day/ Somebody that you look at / But never really see / Somewhere out there is somebody.”

 

 

“Fancy”: It would be impossible to create any type of Reba song list and not include “Fancy.” Although the song was originally released by Bobbie Gentry in 1969, it was Reba’s version that made “Fancy” and her famous red dress into icons. While the song tells an interesting tale and there may not be a clear message upon first listen, it’s possible to dig deeper and discover a few life lessons. For one, Fancy’s mama urges her “to thine own self be true.” She also celebrates equality and working hard to make a better life for yourself. While Fancy methods of self-improvement may not be the best method, there’s a “rise from the ashes” message here for everyone.

Reba’s new album Stronger Than the Truth will be released on April 5th and is sure to feature even more valuable messages and lessons. To keep up with Reba, follow her on InstagramTwitter, and Facebook.

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Thank You for supporting Country Music in NYC & Beyond!

Subscribe to our Weekly Round-Up here 
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ACM Awards

ACM Nominees Announced: Chris Stapleton Leads, Our Favorite Rising Stars Nominated

Yesterday morning the nominations for the 53rd Annual Academy of Country Music Awards were announced by sixteen-time ACM winner Reba McEntire. The front-runner for the past several years Chris Stapleton leads the nominations with eight, while newcomers like Russell Dickerson and Carly Pearce are nominated for their very first awards in the New Male/New Female Vocalist of the Year categories.

Check out the full list of nominees below. 

ENTERTAINER OF THE YEAR
Jason Aldean
Garth Brooks
Luke Bryan
Chris Stapleton
Keith Urban

FEMALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR
Kelsea Ballerini
Miranda Lambert
Reba McEntire
Maren Morris
Carrie Underwood

MALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR
Jason Aldean
Thomas Rhett
Chris Stapleton
Keith Urban
Chris Young

VOCAL DUO OF THE YEAR
Brothers Osborne
Dan + Shay
Florida Georgia Line
LOCASH
Tim McGraw & Faith Hill

VOCAL GROUP OF THE YEAR
Lady Antebellum
LANCO
Little Big Town
Midland
Old Dominion

NEW FEMALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR
Lauren Alaina
Danielle Bradbery
Carly Pearce
Raelynn

NEW MALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR 
Kane Brown
Luke Combs
Devin Dawson
Russell Dickerson
Brett Young

NEW VOCAL DUO OR GROUP OF THE YEAR 
High Valley
LANCO
LOCASH
Midland
Runaway June

ALBUM OF THE YEAR
Breaker – Little Big Town
Producer: Jay Joyce
Record Label: Capitol Records Nashville
California Sunrise – Jon Pardi
Producers: Bart Butler, Jon Pardi
Record Label: Capitol Records Nashville
From a Room Vol. 1 – Chris Stapleton
Producers: Dave Cobb, Chris Stapleton
Record Label: Mercury Records
Happy Endings – Old Dominion
Producer: Shane McAnally
Record Label: RCA
Life Changes – Thomas Rhett
Producers: Julian Bunetta, Jesse Frasure, Dann Huff, Joe London, Thomas Rhett
Record Label: The Valory Music Co.

SINGLE RECORD OF THE YEAR
“Better Man” – Little Big Town
Producer: Jay Joyce

“Body Like a Back Road” – Sam Hunt
Producer: Zach Crowell

“Broken Halos” – Chris Stapleton
Producers: Dave Cobb, Chris Stapleton

Drinkin’ Problem” – Midland
Producers: Dann Huff, Shane McAnally, Josh Osborne

I’ll Name the Dogs” – Blake Shelton
Producer: Scott Hendricks

SONG OF THE YEAR
“Body Like a Back Road
” – Sam Hunt
Songwriters: Zach Crowell, Sam Hunt, Shane McAnally, Josh Osborne

“Female” – Keith Urban
Songwriters: Ross Copperman, Nicolle Galyon, and Shane McAnally

“Tin Man” – Miranda Lambert
Songwriters: Jack Ingram, Miranda Lambert Jon Randall

“Whiskey and You” – Chris Stapleton
Songwriters: Lee Thomas Miller, Chris Stapleton

VIDEO OF THE YEAR
“Black” 
– Dierks Bentley
Director: Wes Edwards
Producer: Max A. Butler
It Ain’t My Fault” – Brothers Osborne
Director: Wes Edwards, Ryan Silver
Producer: Tiffany Davies
Legends” – Kelsea Ballerini
Director: Jeff Venable
Producer: Ben Skipworth
Marry Me” – Thomas Rhett
Director: TK McKamy
Producer: Dan Atchison
We Should Be Friends” – Miranda Lambert
Director: Trey Fanjoy
Producer: April Dace

SONGWRITER OF THE YEAR
Rhett Akins
Ashley Gorley
Hillary Lindsey
Shane McAnally
Josh Osborne

VOCAL EVENT OF THE YEAR
“Craving You” – Thomas Rhett Featuring Maren Morris
Producers: Julian Bunetta, Dann Huff, Joe London, Thomas Rhett

“Dear Hate” – Maren Morris featuring Vince Gill
Producers: Brad Hill, Maren Morris

“Funny (How Time Slips Away)” – Glen Campbell And Willie Nelson
Producer: Carl Jackson

The Fighter” – Keith Urban featuring Carrie Underwood
Producers: Busbee, Keith Urban

What Ifs” – Kane Brown Featuring Lauren Alaina
Producer: Dann Huff

McEntire who has hosted the ceremony fourteen times in the past will return to host the awards show from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on Sunday, April 15, at 8 p.m. ET on CBS.

 

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