Vote Now: Best Country Album of 2016

Vote Now: Best Country Album of 2016

Posted on December 16, 2016

With more than 150 new country albums dropping in 2016, Nash Country Daily had its hands full trying to pick the best ones. We narrowed the list down to 10 albums, and now it’s up to you to help us decide who reigns supreme.

Vote now for your favorite album of 2016. Polls close on Thursday, Dec. 22, 2016, at 11:59 p.m. CT.

Look’s like you missed your chance to vote. Read about the results now!

Come back soon to participate in our next poll!

 

 

Artist Album Release Date
Brothers Osborne Pawn Shop Jan. 15
Loretta Lynn Full Circle March 4
Margo Price Midwest Farmer’s Daughter March 25
Sturgill Simpson A Sailor’s Guide to Earth April 15
Maren Morris Hero June 3
Brandy Clark Big Day in a Small Town June 10
Keith Urban Ripcord May 6
Blake Shelton If I’m Honest May 20
Dierks Bentley Black May 27
Miranda Lambert The Weight of These Wings Nov. 18
Cole Swindell Says Goodbye to a Milestone 2016 and Looks Forward to the New Year

Cole Swindell Says Goodbye to a Milestone 2016 and Looks Forward to the New Year

Posted on December 15, 2016

2016 has been a memorable year for Cole Swindell. As the singer prepares to close out the year by finishing up his sold-out Down Home Tour this weekend, he took a moment to reminisce about a few of his accomplishments, including notching his sixth consecutive No.1 single, “Middle of a Memory,” winning the NSAI Songwriter/Artist of the Year, earning platinum certification for his self-titled debut album and celebrating the biggest song of his career, “You Should Be Here.”

“I look back on this year and am just overwhelmed with emotion,” said Cole in a statement. “I knew that music was powerful, but I never ever could have imagined what impact my music could truly have on other people and more importantly in turn what it has done for me. I wrote a song as a way to help myself through the grief of losing my dad. But it quickly became bigger than me as people began writing to me with the most incredible stories about how the song helped them through extraordinary life events. I knew then it wasn’t about me anymore. I hope my fans know they have helped me with every story, every ticket they have bought this year, every call to radio, and just showing up at my shows. ‘You Should Be Here’ has truly changed my life. I am truly truly blessed with a great team around me, great friends, great songwriting buddies, encouraging support from my friends at radio and media and most importantly blessed with the greatest fans in the world. 2016 was pretty amazing and it’s going to be really hard to top . . . but I’m up for the challenge!”

Cole’s Down Home Tour wraps up Dec. 15–17 with dates in Knoxville, Tenn., Greenville, S.C., and Charlotte, N.C., and he tells Nash Country Daily that he will be spending the holidays with family. “I took so much from ‘You Should Be Here’ thinking of people that should be here and now it’s got a whole new meaning,” said Cole. “We still have people that are here and you better take every chance to spend that time with them on Christmas, Thanksgiving and all the holidays. I can’t wait to take a break and get some good food and some good hugs.”

Now that’s how you end a milestone year!

Photo by Scott Legato/Getty Images

In the Lead-Up to Christmas, Hunter Hayes Is Celebrating With “12 Days of Holiday Hayes” . . . But His Dog Seems Unimpressed [Watch]

In the Lead-Up to Christmas, Hunter Hayes Is Celebrating With “12 Days of Holiday Hayes” . . . But His Dog Seems Unimpressed [Watch]

Posted on December 15, 2016

In the lead-up to Christmas, Hunter Hayes has been releasing short videos of classic holiday tunes in what he is calling 12 Days of Holiday Hayes.

In the first installment posted on his Tumblr site, Hunter strums a guitar and sings an abbreviated version of “Let It Snow.”

But it’s the second post that caught our eye, when Hunter tickles the piano keys and sings “Santa Claus Is Coming to Town.” While we give his performance two thumbs up, check out Hunter’s tranquil dog, a greyhound named Cole, in the background. Cole seems unmoved by the ditty, but perhaps he is accustomed to daily performances from Hunter and only gets excited for full concerts with a light show.

Check out Hunter and Cole below.

Listen to Cyndi Lauper and Alison Krauss Duet on “Hard Candy Christmas”

Listen to Cyndi Lauper and Alison Krauss Duet on “Hard Candy Christmas”

Posted on December 15, 2016

Is it or isn’t it? It has long been argued among peers about whether or not Dolly Parton’s “Hard Candy Christmas” is a Christmas song or not. Well, is it or isn’t it? We’ll let you decide.

screen-shot-2016-12-15-at-10-16-12-amYou may recall the song, written by Carol Hall, sung famously by Dolly Parton in the movie The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas, when the ladies of the house are forced to shut down and leave town. If you haven’t seen the film, it’s a must-see.

In the meantime, Cyndi Lauper has recorded her own version of the song and invited special guest Alison Krauss to join her on the classic. The song is featured on Cyndi’s album of classic country covers, Detour, which dropped in May.

This isn’t Cyndi’s first foray into Christmas music. The pop icon recorded “Merry Christmas…Have  Nice Life” and collaborated with Frank Sinatra on “Santa Claus Is Coming to Town” and with The Hives on “A Christmas Duel.”

Check out Cyndi and Alison’s version of “Hard Candy Christmas.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p8aAplQzTrk&feature=youtu.be

Photo by Chapman Baehler/Webster PR

Watch Reba McEntire Serve Some Pie and Then Dish Out “Winter Wonderland” on “A Pentatonix Christmas Special”

Watch Reba McEntire Serve Some Pie and Then Dish Out “Winter Wonderland” on “A Pentatonix Christmas Special”

Posted on December 15, 2016

Reba McEntire served up some pie and then dished out “Winter Wonderland” on a capella group Pentatonix’s Christmas Special last night (Dec. 14) on NBC.

During a skit for the show, Pentatonix’s five members gathered at Nashville’s Elliston Place Soda Shop (home to some of the best pies and milkshakes in town) to talk about their upcoming Christmas Special, when lo and behold waitress Reba McEntire brought the group some dessert.

“By the way, 30 percent tip is acceptable,” said Reba. “I’m not kidding. Yeah, I’m kidding, I’m kidding. So what brings you guys to town?”

The members of Pentatonix revealed that the real reason they were in Nashville was to see Reba for their Christmas Special.

Upon hearing the news, Reba ditched her apron and broke into harmony with the group on an a capella version of “Winter Wonderland.”

Watch the clip below.

 

What Is Keith Urban Getting for Christmas? According to Wife Nicole Kidman, Just “A Kiss” [Watch]

What Is Keith Urban Getting for Christmas? According to Wife Nicole Kidman, Just “A Kiss” [Watch]

Posted on December 15, 2016

Nicole Kidman stopped by The Ellen DeGeneres Show yesterday (Dec. 15) to talk about her new movie Lion, for which she is nominated for a Golden Globe for Best Supporting Actress.

After chatting about the new film, Ellen delved into Nicole’s Christmas plans, including what husband Keith Urban was getting her.

“And Keith, what will he get you [for Christmas]?” asked Ellen.

“Get me?” replied Nicole. “We don’t give each other gifts at Christmas . . . I’ll kiss him . . . He’s in Australia right now on tour, and the girls and I are here, and we’re flying to him tonight, so we’re his presents.”

Watch the segment from Ellen below.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3HRWvu5pqPQ

photo by Jason Simanek

Dan + Shay’s Tour Bus Gets Vandalized in Baltimore

Dan + Shay’s Tour Bus Gets Vandalized in Baltimore

Posted on December 15, 2016

The duo Dan + Shay is on the road right now for their 2016 Obsessed Tour, a 15-date trek that began in Denver on November 10 and caps in Boston on December 17.

With only three dates left before the tour ends, the boys made their way to downtown Baltimore, Md., yesterday (Dec. 14) for their show scheduled tonight (Dec. 15) at Rams Head Live in Baltimore.

But Dan Smyers and Shay Mooney’s day off wasn’t without incident. According to a post from their Twitter account, someone threw a brick through their tour bus windshield. The good news is that nobody was hurt and they have video footage of the vandal, so hopefully he will be apprehended soon.

Check out a couple of Twitter posts from Dan + Shay below (NCD censored a word from the first post).

dan-and-shay-2016-12-14-tweet-brick-through-bus-window

photo via Dan + Shay’s Twitter page

Dolly Parton’s “Smoky Mountains Rise” Telethon Raises Nearly $9 Million . . . and Still Counting

Dolly Parton’s “Smoky Mountains Rise” Telethon Raises Nearly $9 Million . . . and Still Counting

Posted on December 15, 2016

Dolly Parton’s Smoky Mountains Rise telethon on Dec. 13 has already raised nearly $9 million, and the total amount is expected to rise as mail donations are counted and the telethon is rebroadcast to new audiences over the next five days.

More than 1300 families have been displaced due to the wildfires that spread across Dolly’s home area of Sevier County, Tennessee, in late November. Dolly established the Dollywood Foundation My People Fund to provide $1,000 each month for six months to every family who lost their primary residence.

In addition to huge donations from Taylor Swift, Kenny Chesney, Chris Stapleton, Chris Young, Paul Simon and Dierks Bentley, the star-studded telethon featured performances from Dolly, Kenny Rogers, Hank Williams Jr., Chris Stapleton, Reba McEntire, Alison Krauss, Michael W. Smith, Chris Janson, Big & Rich, LOCASH, Chris Young, Montgomery Gentry, Jamey Johnson, Cyndi Lauper, Don McLean, Amy Grant, Alabama, Aaron Lewis and Rhonda Vincent.

“I am overwhelmed by the generosity of the people who have donated from all over the country and to my friends who donated their time, their talent and money for My People,” said Dolly. “The response has been so overwhelming that we haven’t been able to count all of the donations yet. Right now, in total, we have raised about $9 million dollars for the folks who lost everything in Sevier County.”

Anyone who would like to make a tax-deductible contribution to the My People Fund may visit dollywoodfoundation.org. For those wishing to send donations via mail, those contributions should be sent to: My People Fund, c/o Dollywood Foundation, 111 Dollywood Lane, Pigeon Forge, TN 37863. Donations are also being accepted by texting DOLLY to 501501 for a onetime $10 donation or DOLLY25 to 501501 for a onetime $25 donation. Messaging and data rates will apply.

photos by Anna Webber/Webster PR; photo composite created by Jason Simanek for “Smoky Mountains Rise”

Watch Jennifer Nettles’ Stunning Version of “UnLove You” on the Grand Ole Opry Stage

Watch Jennifer Nettles’ Stunning Version of “UnLove You” on the Grand Ole Opry Stage

Posted on December 14, 2016

She may be in the midst of select dates on her Christmas tour and promoting her holiday album, To Celebrate Christmas, but Jennifer Nettles found a moment to stop by the Ryman Auditorium on Tuesday night (Dec. 13) to perform on the Grand Ole Opry.

Jennifer commanded the stage from the center circle with powerhouse vocals on her latest single, “UnLove You,” featured on her current album, Playing With Fire.  

“Sometimes people will make fun of country music,” Jennifer said from the Opry stage. “And they will say ‘Oh, country music is about your dog dying and your truck breaking down and your wife leaving ya.’ Well, there is a little kernel of truth to that stereotype but what I believe that is, is what country music does better than any other genre, is celebrate brokenness and celebrate realness in a way that sometimes we need to hear in order to heal.”

Get ready to heal, because Jennifer’s rendition of “UnLove You” will send chills down your spine. Check out her performance below.

There’s a New Sheriff in Town: Reba McEntire Slated to Star as a Small-Town Sheriff in New TV Series on ABC

There’s a New Sheriff in Town: Reba McEntire Slated to Star as a Small-Town Sheriff in New TV Series on ABC

Posted on December 14, 2016

According to Variety, Reba McEntire is headed back to television to star in a new series on ABC.

The new hour-long series from creator Marc Cherry (Desperate Housewives, Devious Maids) is described as a “Southern Gothic soap opera” set in motion after a suspected act of terrorism happens at a Fourth of July parade in the small town of Oxblood, Ky. The untitled project, which has already received a script commitment from ABC, will star Reba as a small-town Kentucky sheriff who teams up with a Middle Eastern FBI agent to investigate the incident.

The new show marks Reba’s return to television after the fleeting ABC sitcom Malibu Country (Nov. 2012–March 2013) and her hit sitcom Reba (2001–2007).

And if you’ve seen the cinematic masterpiece that is Tremors, you know Reba won’t have any trouble handling a gun for her new role.

 

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