May 1 marks the first day of Mental Health Awareness month. In honor of the month, Tennessee quarterback Brian Maurer took to social media to tell his story about his battle with mental health issues.
Tim McGraw to Release New Single, “I Called Mama,” on May 8
Tim McGraw will release a new single, “I Called Mama,” on May 8.
Penned by Lance Miller, Marv Green and Jimmy Yeary, “I Called Mama” is about the special connection mothers share with their children, especially when times are tough.
“On the one hand, this song is literally, ‘Hey, call your mom,’” says Tim. “On the other hand, you look at a time like this, there are real hardships for everyone, and it’s a great reminder that hearing someone’s voice who knows you and loves you can help you get through anything. I think it’s at these very difficult times that music can help and the power of a song can give someone a moment of clarity or comfort, or just a smile. Especially now, when we seem to need it more than ever.”
The single will launch with a lyric video containing footage of Tim as a baby with his mom. The official video will be released later this month featuring fan-submitted videos and photos of their moms.
“Mother’s definitely deserve to be honored more than one day a year,” says Tim. “We’ve have had such an incredible response of people sharing their special mama videos, we are going to get you something really special in a few weeks.”
photo by Curtis Hilbun, AFF-USA.com
![Luke Combs Officially Releases New Quarantine-Inspired Song, “Six Feet Apart” [Listen]](https://cdn.socast.io/6616/sites/602/2020/05/01092908/Luke-Combs-TA.jpg#aqua_resizer_image_not_local)
Luke Combs Officially Releases New Quarantine-Inspired Song, “Six Feet Apart” [Listen]
After debuting his new quarantine-inspired song, “Six Feet Apart,” via YouTube on April 15, Luke Combs officially released the tune on May 1.
Penned by Luke, Brent Cobb and Rob Snyder, “Six Feet Apart” features Luke crooning the chorus: “I miss my mom / I miss my dad / I miss the road / I miss my band / Giving hugs and shaking hands / It’s a mystery, I suppose / Just how long this thing goes / There’ll be crowds and there’ll be shows / And there will be light after dark / Someday, when we aren’t six feet apart.”
Luke’s current single, “Does to Me,” featuring Eric Church, is No. 6 on the Billboard Country Airplay chart after 14 weeks.
Listen to “Six Feet Apart” below.
photo by Tammie Arroyo, AFF-USA.com
![Rascal Flatts Honors Kenny Rogers by Releasing New Cover of “Through the Years” [Listen]](https://cdn.socast.io/6616/sites/602/2020/05/01085611/Rascal-flatts-kenny-Rogers-ch.jpg#aqua_resizer_image_not_local)
Rascal Flatts Honors Kenny Rogers by Releasing New Cover of “Through the Years” [Listen]
Rascal Flatts is paying tribute to Kenny Rogers, who passed away on March 20, by releasing a new cover of Kenny’s “Through the Years” on May 1.
Kenny recorded “Though the Years, which was penned by Steve Dorff and Marty Panzer, for his 1981 album, Share Your Love. The single topped the Billboard Adult Contemporary chart, while reaching No. 5 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart.
Rascal Flatts performed the song during the TV special, CMT Giants Kenny Rogers, on April 8.
“‘Through The Years’ is a perfect love song, and it only felt right that this was the song we chose to pay tribute to Kenny,” says Gary LeVox. “We’re honored to be able to keep shining Kenny’s light on the world in this small way. Music is healing and I think it’s important for us to keep embracing the power of music right now. Kenny would have wanted it that way.”
Listen to Rascal Flatts’ cover of “Through the Years” below.
photo by Curtis Hilbun, AFF-USA.com
Kenny Chesney Says “There Was a Lot of Living in Every One of These Songs” on Brand-New Album, “Here and Now”
Kenny Chesney released his 19th studio album, Here and Now, on May 1. Longtime collaborator Buddy Cannon co-produced the album, with additional production assistance from Ross Copperman.
The 12-song offering features tunes from some of the best songwriters in the business, including Shane McAnally, JT Harding, Josh Osborne, Scooter Carusoe, Tom Douglas and more.
“This album, Here and Now, was a lot of fun to make because the songs were a lot of fun,” says Kenny. “There was a lot of living in every one of these songs and when you can take a collection of music like this into the studio and do your best to wrap your arms around it, you know, the creative process is pretty fun.”
Much of the album was written and recorded over the last 18 months, including the title track, which is currently Top 10 on Billboard’s Country Airplay chart. Penned by Craig Wiseman, David Garcia and David Lee Murphy at a writing retreat Kenny set up in Malibu, the new tune beckons listeners to live in the present with a chorus that proclaims: “You and me, ain’t it good to be alive / Ain’t no better place, ain’t no better time / Than here and now.”
“Within the creative process when you start to make a record, you think about yourself being up there on stage and what kind of energy you want, you know, because whatever you leave the studio with is what you have to play up on stage,” says Kenny. “And in my brain I kept hearing a melody and this urgency and the angst of a song like ‘Here and Now.’ And I’m telling you, I cannot wait to do this song live. And what a great sentiment, really. Because we all try to plan ahead or we’re all living in the past and it’s really hard to live in the moment and to live in the here and now. And in my opinion there’s no other place that happens, for me anyway, and what a beautiful place for that to happen, than on stage in front of so many people that’s living in the here and now with you.”
Listen to “Here and Now” below.
photo by Tammie Arroyo, AFF-USA.com
![Brett Young Releases Family-Inspired New Single, “Lady” [Listen]](https://cdn.socast.io/6616/sites/602/2020/05/01072022/Brett-Young-CH.jpg#aqua_resizer_image_not_local)
Brett Young Releases Family-Inspired New Single, “Lady” [Listen]
Brett Young will try to score his seventh consecutive No. 1 single with the release of “Lady.”
Brett co-penned the new tune with Ross Copperman and Jon Nite shortly before the birth of his daughter, Presley, in October 2019. The song, which will impact country radio on May 4, pays tribute to Presley and Brett’s wife, Taylor.
“‘Lady’ is easily one of the most special songs I’ve ever written,” says Brett. “I always knew I would want to write songs for my children, but didn’t realize the inspiration would come so quickly before my daughter was even born. It’s a message to Presley about her mom and it became a pretty obvious choice for my first single in a new chapter of music. It’s so meaningful to Taylor and I, and I hope it resonates in a similar way for anyone who listens.”
The new song features Brett crooning the sweet chorus: “I hope you look just like your mama / And love her like I do / You’ll see close to perfect patience / If you watch her every move / You can always run to daddy / You’ll always be my baby / But look at her, baby girl / And you’ll learn how to be a lady.”
“Lady” follows the release of Brett’s six No. 1 singles: “Mercy,” “Sleep Without You,” “In Case You Didn’t Know,” “Like I Loved You,” “Here Tonight” and” Catch.” The new tune will likely serve as the lead single to Brett’s upcoming third album.
Listen to “Lady” Below.
photo by Curtis Hilbun, AFF-USA.com
May 1: Live-Stream Calendar With Kenny Chesney, Luke Combs, Brantley Gilbert, Carly Pearce & More
Country stars are trying to do their part to keep us entertained during our self-quarantines (hopefully) due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Here’s a rundown of what to expect as some of our favorite stars perform live and chat via social media.
May 1 (updated throughout the day)
- Stephanie Quayle: 10 a.m. CT – Facebook
- Cam: 11 a.m. CT – Instagram
- Keith Anderson: 3 p.m. CT – Instagram
- Craig Morgan: 4 p.m. CT – Facebook
- Ross Ellis: 6 p.m. CT – Facebook & Instagram
- Kenny Chesney: 6 p.m. CT – Facebook, Instagram, YouTube
- Luke Combs: 7 p.m. CT – Facebook, Instagram, YouTube
- Wynonna: 8 p.m. CT – Facebook
- Brantley Gilbert, Michael Ray, Carly Pearce: 8 p.m. CT – Instagram
photos: Luke Combs by Tammie Arroyo, AFF-USA.com; Kenny Chesney by E.M., AFF-USA.com
![The Dixie Chicks Share New Track, “Julianna Calm Down” [Listen]](https://cdn.socast.io/6616/sites/602/2020/04/30160113/Dixie-Chicks-AFF1.jpg#aqua_resizer_image_not_local)
The Dixie Chicks Share New Track, “Julianna Calm Down” [Listen]
Natalie Maines, Emily Robison and Martie Maguire of the Dixie Chicks aren’t letting a little thing like an album postponement keep them from releasing new music.
The trio shared a new song, “Julianna Calm Down,” via Instagram TV on April 30.
“Julianna Calm Down” will be featured as Track No. 9 on the trio’s upcoming eighth album, Gaslighter, which was originally slated for release on May 1, before being postponed. No new release date has been announced.
Produced with Jack Antonoff, “Julianna Calm Down” counsels women to look inward for strength in the face of harmful relationships, with lyrics like: “Julianna, calm down / You know he’s about to leave but don’t panic / Don’t give him the satisfaction that you can’t handle it / Breathe / It’ll be okay.”
The song is now available via Amazon, Apple, Spotify and more.
photo by AFF-USA.com
![The Highwomen Drop Star-Studded New Video for “Crowded Table” [Watch]](https://cdn.socast.io/6616/sites/602/2020/04/30082736/Highwomen-TA.jpg#aqua_resizer_image_not_local)
The Highwomen Drop Star-Studded New Video for “Crowded Table” [Watch]
The Highwomen—Brandi Carlile, Amanda Shires, Maren Morris and Natalie Hemby—dropped a new video for “Crowded Table” on April 30.
Penned Natalie, Brandi and Lori McKenna, “Crowded Table” is featured on the foursome’s 2019 self-titled debut album, which reached No. 1 on the Billboard Top Country Albums chart.
Filmed throughout the making of the album, the new video for “Crowded Table” features appearances by Brandi, Amanda, Maren and Natalie, as well as other artists who contributed to the album, including Sheryl Crow, Jason Isbell, Yola, Tim Hanseroth, Phil Hanseroth, producer Dave Cobb and more.
“Anyone can be a Highwoman,” Carlile says. “It’s about banding together, abandoning as much ego as humanly possible, holding one another up and amplifying other women every chance we get. Shoulder to shoulder. One push, one love.”
Watch the new video for “Crowded Table” below.
photo by Curtis Hilbun, AFF-USA.com
Blake Shelton, Trace Adkins, Dustin Lynch & Gwen Stefani to Perform on the Opry on May 9
The Grand Ole Opry will register its 4,923rd consecutive Saturday night broadcast on May 9 with a stacked lineup consisting of Opry members Blake Shelton, Trace Adkins and Dustin Lynch. In addition, Gwen Stefani will make her Opry debut, joining boyfriend Blake to sing their new No. 1 hit, “Nobody But You.”
Trace and Dustin will perform onstage at the Grand Ole Opry House, after which Blake and Gwen will perform via a remote broadcast performance from Blake’s farm in Oklahoma.
The show will air at 7 p.m. CT on 650 AM WSM and be broadcast live on Circle Television, as well as streamed on Circle’s Facebook and YouTube.
On May 2, Garth Brooks and Trisha Yearwood will take the stage for the 4,922nd consecutive Saturday night Opry show, which will air at 7 p.m.
For the past seven weeks during the current COVID-19 pandemic, the Grand Ole Opry has aired without an audience present. The Opry has aired every Saturday for more than 90 years. Opry fans are invited to contribute to the Opry’s #UNBROKEN charitable campaign, which raises money for the MusiCares COVID-19 Relief Fund to benefit artists and musicians struggling through the pandemic.
photo by NCD
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