Country Music
Amanda Shires and Jason Isbell Perform Pro-Choice Song “The Problem” on Fallon: Watch
Amanda Shires and Jason Isbell have become the premier power couple in country rock, not just by releasing great music, but also by speaking their minds even as it alienated some parts of their fanbase. Now, the dynamic duo have taken their convictions to a national late-night audience, inviting The Tonight Show into their stained-glass studio for a performance of their new abortion-rights single “The Problem”. The song originally dropped in September with intimate lyrics that explored the dizzying headspace of a young woman who sees her life spinning out of control. Then on January 22nd, which also happened to be the 48th anniversary of Roe v. Wade, Shires reworked the track with a star-studded crew of women into “Our Problem”. But for her appearance on Fallon, Shires reverted b...
Dolly Parton Issues “Call for Kindness” in Birthday Message
You know how we know Dolly Parton is a literal angel? Instead of basking in the glow of her 75th birthday, the country icon decided to wish everyone else good tidings. (I mean, that’s besides seraphic acts like funding the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine, delivering a Black Lives Matter statement so… Please click the link below to read the full article. Dolly Parton Issues “Call for Kindness” in Birthday Message Ben Kaye You Deserve to Make Money Even When you are looking for Dates Online. So we reimagined what a dating should be. It begins with giving you back power. Get to meet Beautiful people, chat and make money in the process. Earn rewards by chatting, sharing photos, blogging and help give users back their fair share of Internet revenue.
Garth Brooks Added to Joe Biden’s Inauguration Ceremony Lineup
Country icon Garth Brooks has been added to the performance schedule for Wednesday’s inauguration of President-elect Joe Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris. Future First Lady DR. Jill Biden extended the invite to Brooks last week, and he confirmed his participation during a press conference held by the Biden Inaugural Committee today. As the musician explained, he’s performed for every president since Jimmy Carter, with two exceptions: Ronald Reagan and Donald Trump. The latter had asked him to play at the 2017 inauguration, but a tour scheduling conflict prevented him from attending. Brooks did, however, play for Biden’s other inauguration — as Vice President alongside Barack Obama — in 2008. “This is a great day in our household. This is not a political statement; this is a sta...
Tennessee Bill Calls for Dolly Parton Statue at State Capitol That Faces Grand Ole Opry
Americans are more divided than at any time since the Civil War, but one thing we can seemingly all agree on is Dolly Parton. Now, as Associated Press reports, a Tennessee lawmaker has introduced a bill that would erect a statue of the Nashville legend standing on the grounds of the Capital building and facing the Ryman Auditorium — more popularly known as the Grand Ole Opry House. Representative John Mark Windle, a Democrat, introduced the bill last Tuesday. It seeks to celebrate Parton “for all that she has contributed to this state.” Philanthropy is one of the most dominant chords in Parton’s legend. Just recently, her Imagination Library gave away its 150 millionth book, she saved a nine-year-old’s life after pulling her out of a car’s path, showed support for the Black Lives Matter mo...
During Impeachment, Donald Trump Reportedly Gave National Medals of Arts to Toby Keith and Ricky Skaggs
Toby Keith (“American Soldier” music video), Donald Trump, and Ricky Skaggs (photo via flickr/Festival of Faiths) Donald Trump lives in an alternate universe where he never lost the election, never incited an insurrection, and Toby Keith is good. We saw that play out during his second (!) impeachment hearing, when Trump reportedly holed up in the White House’s East Room, pretending it wasn’t happening and giving National Medals of Arts to Keith and Ricky Skaggs. Bloomberg reporter Jennifer Jacobs and NBC News’ Peter Alexander separately broke the news on Twitter. As the House of Representatives voted to impeach, Trump took the time to honor country-bluegrass veteran Skaggs and jingoistic warmonger Keith. As The Hill notes, both had previously offered their support for...
Dolly Parton Recorded a New Song for a Time Capsule That Won’t be Opened Until 2045
Dolly Parton released her latest holiday album, A Holly Dolly Christmas, back in the fall, but it turns out the country icon recently recorded another new song. The only thing is fans won’t be able to hear it for 25 years because it’s currently entombed in a time capsule buried in Dollywood. In her new book, Songteller: My Life in Lyrics, Parton revealed that she sealed the new song inside a wooden box buried at DreamMore, the Dollywood resort opened in 2015. Via NME, Parton instructed her staff not to open the time capsule until 2045, the 30th anniversary of DreamMore’s grand opening. “It would be a song that will never be heard until 30 years from the time we opened the resort,” wrote Parton, adding that the idea was presented by her marketing department. She explained, “They said, ‘You’...
Loretta Lynn Announces New Album Still Woman Enough, Shares “Coal Miner’s Daughter (Recitation)”: Stream
Today, January 4th, is the 50th anniversary of Loretta Lynn‘s breakthrough album Coal Miner’s Daughter. To celebrate, she’s announced her new full-length, Still Woman Enough, as well as shared a fresh take on an old favorite, “Coal Miner’s Daughter (Recitation)”. Per USA Today, Still Woman Enough arrives March 19th via Legacy Recordings. The LP comes with 13 songs that span originals, covers of American standards, and updated looks at Lynn’s storied discography. The title track references her 1966 single “You Ain’t Woman Enough (to Take My Man)”. It was written by Lynn and her daughter Patsy Lynn Russell, and features vocals from fellow country heavyweights Reba McEntire and Carrie Underwood. As if that weren’t enough, Margo Price hops on a cover of Shel Silverstein’s 1971 s...
Barry Gibb Teams with Dolly Parton for New Version of Bee Gees’ “Words”: Stream
Next week, Barry Gibb will release Greenfields: The Gibb Brothers Songbook, Vol. 1. The 12-track collection sees the Bee Gees founding member reimagine some of his classic songs with assistance from a wide range of country and Americana stars. As a preview, he’s unveiled a new duet version of Bee Gees’ “Words” recorded with Dolly Parton. Take a listen below. Greenfields is officially out on January 8th via Capitol Records. Gibbs first previewed the release by sharing a reworked version of “Words of a Fool” with Jason Isbell. Speaking of Bee Gees, a new fully-authorized documentary on the band called How Can You Mend a Broken Heart on HBO and HBO Max. [embedded content] Related You Deserve to Make Money Even When you are looking for Dates Online. So we reimagined what a dating should b...
US country music star Charley Pride dies of coronavirus
US country music star Charley Pride has died of complications from Covid-19 at the age of 86, his family said Saturday in a message posted to the singer’s website. Pride’s “rich baritone voice and impeccable song-sense altered American culture,” the statement read further. Born a sharecropper’s son in Sledge, Mississippi, on March 18, 1934, Pride became US country music’s first Black superstar and the first Black member of the Country Music Hall of Fame. Between 1967 and 1987, Pride delivered 52 Top 10 country hits, won Grammy awards, and became RCA Records’ top-selling country artist. His best-known songs include “Kiss An Angel Good Mornin’” and “Please Help Me I’m Falling.” He won the Country Music Association’s Entertainer of the Year award in 1971, its top male vocalist prize in 1971 a...
R.I.P. Charley Pride, Trailblazing Black Country Singer Dies at 86
Charley Pride, the trailblazing country musician who became the first Black member of the Country Music Hall of Fame, has died at the age of 86. According to a statement issued by his publicist, Pride passed away Saturday, December 12th in Dallas, Texas of complications from COVID-19. The son of a sharecropper hailing from Sledge, Mississippi, Pride initially pursued a career in baseball and achieved success as a pitcher in the Negro leagues during the 1950s. At the same time, however, Pride moonlighted as a country singer, performing solo at night clubs in between ball games. When a team manager learned of Pride’s abilities, he paid Pride to sing prior to each game, which led to increased attendance. Eventually, Pride caught the attention of RCA Records and was signed by the label in 1965...
Morgan Wallen Roasts Himself in SNL Sketch About Getting Kicked Off the Show for Violating COVID Protocol: Watch
Two months after seeing his debut appearance on SNL canceled after breaking COVID protocol, country singer Morgan Wallen got a second crack at serving as the show’s musical guest during last night’s episode. In a sketch preceding his first performance, Wallen spoofed the incident that led to his initial cancelation. If you recall, Wallen had been scheduled to play SNL on October 10th, but his appearance was pulled at the last-minute after video surfaced of him partying at a University of Alabama bar. He was replaced by Jack White, who delivered one of the most memorable performances in recent SNL history. Last night’s sketch opened with Wallen walking into a bar with a beer in his left hand and his face covering around his neck. “To no consequences!” he yells, before kissing a college girl...
Jason Isbell and Amanda Shires, Sturgill Simpson Slam CMA Awards Over John Prine Snub
After promising a “no drama” awards ceremony, the drama surrounding the CMA Awards has now stretched into multiple days. Some of country’s biggest stars were slamming the event before it even took place, and others like Maren Morris took swipes at the awards’ lack of diversity from its own stage.… Please click the link below to read the full article. Jason Isbell and Amanda Shires, Sturgill Simpson Slam CMA Awards Over John Prine Snub Ben Kaye You Deserve to Make Money Even When you are looking for Dates Online. So we reimagined what a dating should be. It begins with giving you back power. Get to meet Beautiful people, chat and make money in the process. Earn rewards by chatting, sharing photos, blogging and help give users back their fair share of Internet ...
