Meet the man who pulled the trigger on the most surprising Dutton Ranch death yet. Continue reading…Country Music News – Taste of Country
Category: Music
Meet the man who pulled the trigger on the most surprising Dutton Ranch death yet. Continue reading…The Boot – Country Music News, Music Videos and Songs
Who’s got your vote this week? Continue reading…Country Music News – Taste of Country
Alan Jackson is set to open a Nashville museum later this month. Continue reading…Country Music News – Taste of Country
Alan Jackson is set to open a Nashville museum later this month. Continue reading…The Boot – Country Music News, Music Videos and Songs
Koe Wetzel has spent the past year putting together his brand-new record, The Night Champion. Today, June 12, his sixth studio album finally arrives via Columbia Records, giving fans a taste of everything that has led up to him becoming best version of himself.
A few days before the highly anticipated release, Wetzel made the trip to Chicago to give a select group of fans an early listen. He performed a few of the songs that reflect spirit of the project produced by Gabe Simon, and its underlying theme of resilience as he celebrates surviving the “night side” of himself and coming out a champion.
“We’ve been listening to it damn near every day through the mixing process and the master process. But I think we got something really special with this record,” he admitted to the crowd at Carol’s Pub.
While the Texas native taps into his deep thoughts and vulnerable emotions throughout the 11 tracks, he doesn’t lose sight of his signature gritty, hard-edged sound. Listeners will even get a dose of lust, romance and heartbreak come to play with songs like “Magnet,” “I’ll Lock Up,” “Dollar and a Bottle” and more.
“It’s kind of where I am now: an edgy roughness to all of the songs that doesn’t give a f*ck, but there’s a tenderness to it, too. Whatever happens, I’m man enough to deal, but the focus and headspace have shifted; I’ve grown up and become okay with looking back,” he admitted.
Wetzel only included one outside cut on the entire project, “Circus.” While introducing the track to fans in Chicago, he explained it was the only song he didn’t write on the record and said there was a “damn good reason” it made the final tracklist.
The song, penned solely by Sam Harris, taps into the gap between how life was imagined versus how it actually turned out. In this case, Wetzel reflects on the dreams he once had and contrasts them with the reality, which feels much heavier and less glamorous.
Then there’s the “really sad cowboy sh**” on the record, as Wetzel describes, that comes through in songs like “When I Was,” featuring harmonies from Maggie Antone.
“We had her come on and throw some harmonies on it and it really made the song what it is,” he said of Antone’s vocals. “I’ve been telling everybody that this is probably one of the slower, sadder songs that I’ve put out in a very, very long time. I’m really excited about this tune.”
Whether you’re a fan who’s been here since day one or who jumped on the train during Wetzel’s most prominent radio hit is “High Road,” The Night Champion serves as the perfect place for all listeners to meet in one place and experience where the singer/songwriter is at in his life now.
“In a lot of ways, it’s closing a chapter, and opening another one for what’s to come for the next 10, 12 years,” Wetzel admitted.
Following “High Road,” Wetzel returned to country radio with “Hurts Like You,” the lead single from his new project. Now he is gearing up to take the new music on the road during his 50+ date The Night Champion World Tour. The trek launches July 8 in Edmonton, Alb. and will continue with several dates across Canada before returning to the U.S. on July 23 with a show in Nampa, Idaho and running through the fall.
The post Koe Wetzel Celebrates New Era With ‘The Night Champion’: ‘We Got Something Really Special’ appeared first on Country Now.
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Fans will soon get the chance to relive the magic of CMA Fest as country music’s biggest stars take over the small screen for CMA Fest presented by SoFi, returning to ABC and Hulu later this month.
As anticipation builds, the Country Music Association and ABC have revealed the star-studded lineup for the three-hour concert special, which will be hosted by country superstar Riley Green alongside Good Morning America co-host Lara Spencer.
The special will feature performances from Bailey Zimmerman, Blake Shelton, The Band Perry, Brothers Osborne, Carly Pearce, Cody Johnson, Deana Carter, Ella Langley, Fetty Wap, Florida Georgia Line, Gretchen Wilson, HARDY, Jason Aldean, Jelly Roll, Jordan Davis, Keith Urban, Lainey Wilson, Luke Bryan, Michael McDonald, Molly Tuttle, The Red Clay Strays, Ricky Skaggs, Riley Green, Russell Dickerson, Shaboozey, Shay Morgan, Stephen Wilson Jr., Tim McGraw, Tucker Wetmore, and Zach Top.
Airing Thursday, June 25 at 8/7c on ABC and streaming the next day on Hulu, the special will give fans a front-row seat to one of country music’s biggest weekends, all set in the heart of Music City.
SoFi has been named the first-ever broadcast presenting sponsor and Official Bank of CMA Fest, joining the festival in a partnership centered on helping people pursue financial independence through music. As part of the collaboration, SoFi will highlight standout performances, including country icon Deana Carter and the live debut of Shaboozey’s new single, “Cowgirl.”
This year, CMA Fest — the longest-running country music festival in the world — welcomed an estimated 100,000 fans per day to Nashville. Coming from all 50 states and 39 countries around the globe, fans flooded Music City for four days and nights packed with nonstop music and no shortage of surprises.
Country Music fans can already start marking their calendars for next year’s celebration. The 54th CMA Fest will return to Nashville June 10–13, 2027, continuing its run as the longest-running country music festival in the world. Over four days and nights, fans can expect nonstop performances, surprise collaborations, and one-of-a-kind moments only CMA Fest can deliver.
The post Ella Langley, Zach Top, Lainey Wilson, Tim McGraw & More Set for CMA Fest TV Special appeared first on Country Now.
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He’s setting the record straight about some things. Continue reading…Country Music News – Taste of Country
He’s setting the record straight about some things. Continue reading…The Boot – Country Music News, Music Videos and Songs
Priscilla Block has never been one to sugarcoat things, and her latest social media update is proof of that.
The North Carolina native recently got candid with fans about the less glamorous side of life on the road, revealing that a packed CMA Fest schedule left her feeling exhausted and under the weather.
“The level of exhaustion at this current moment in time? Very high,” she admitted.
While getting ready for a show, Block opened up about the reality of touring and the challenges artists often face behind the scenes.
“I truly feel like not enough people talk about this. Well, maybe they do whenever they do their documentary down the road, you see the craziness of touring, the behind the scenes of artists losing their mind,” she said. “There are days where it’s just kind of hard.”
Block went on to reveal that she got “pretty sick” after CMA Fest, where she packed in multiple appearances and performances throughout the week.
@priscillablock Farm life farm wife era loading 😂
“My fever finally broke yesterday, but I’ve had a super sore throat, fever-ish, achy all day today. I literally slept till 1:50. I’ve just been trying to take it easy. I got a show tonight and tomorrow. But yeah, I think the hardest part, I guess, of touring is when you’re not feeling good, but you have to just dig deep, find that energy.”
Fortunately, she says her fans help provide the boost she needs to push through.
“And the good thing is, I feel like y’all always give me energy that I don’t have at shows. When the crowd is super hype, I feel like it fuels me,” she shared. “But I feel good enough to go out there. I’m so excited. I’ve already seen so many people out there. It’s nights like these that they’re a little scary because as an artist, you never want to cancel a show. So then you give it and you push and then you hope the next day you don’t have to suffer the consequences of that. There’s so much that goes into putting on a show and bringing the energy and your vocal ability, being where it needs to be. It’s kind of insane.”
Despite feeling run down, Block still found plenty to celebrate from her CMA Fest experience. The singer later shared that she filmed a music video, hosted two fan club parties, took over a karaoke event, performed at Riverfront Stage, and even got the chance to meet reality TV icon Snooki during the whirlwind week in Nashville.
Priscilla Block has plenty of summer tour dates on the books, including a performance at 27LIVE Powered by Country Now in Nashville on July 30. Fans can RSVP for free HERE.
To view a complete list of her upcoming tour dates, visit Block’s official website.
The post Priscilla Block Gets Real About Getting Sick After CMA Fest and the Reality of Life on Tour appeared first on Country Now.
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