Lisa talks with Mickey Guyton about her latest single, “Heartbreak Song,” whether or not she feels like a “trailblazer,” how she got excited about country music as a young girl back home in Texas, all the drama on last season’s The Bachelorette, meeting Dolly Parton and more.
“I love singing power ballads but I also love singing fun songs too.” Mickey Guyton
“Do you consider yourself a trailblazer in country music, because you are the only female African American singer in the genre?” Lisa Konicki
“I’m with myself every day, so I don’t really view myself as that. But then, when I get messages on Facebook or Instagram or Twitter from different girls—not just women that are African American, but I get women from hispanic descent and from all different racial backgrounds—that are, like, ‘Thank you for opening the doors for a lot of us.’ And I’m just … I didn’t realize … you don’t think about it when you have your blinders on and you’re just trying to get to the next point in your career. This is what I grew up on. This is just who I am and it’s crazy that people see [my musical career] like that, because I’m just—you know—a girl from Texas that likes to shop.” Mickey Guyton
“[Dolly Parton] is everything right with the world, in my personal opinion.” Mickey Guyton
The Writers Room, Ep. 38, 12 minutes photos by Jason Simanek
Carrie Underwood released the music video to her current single, “Dirty Laundry,” last week (Oct. 13). And just like Miranda Lambert’s “Vice,” it’s a metaphorical promise land—full of animals, flaming doorknobs and, yes, dirty laundry.
I decided to break down the video—frame by frame, metaphor by metaphor—and give you my two cents’ worth. Without further ado, here’s my slanted interpretation of each metaphor. Keep in mind, this isn’t serious.
0:09
The first thing you’ll notice is that the video is shot in black and white, which obviously means it’s a period piece. The second thing you’ll notice is Carrie has on backward suspenders, which Jean Paul Gaultier was doing in 2013. Based on this info, we can conclude this video took place in 2013 when reversed suspenders were fashionable.
Metaphor: Sometimes we need more than suspenders to help hold us up.
0:14
Carrie sings That lipstick on your collar, well, it ain’t my shade of pink, as a lone lipstick is forced to look at its own shadow. Since the video is black and white, we have to take Carrie at her word that this lipstick ain’t her shade of pink.
Metaphor: Trust in Carrie.
0:23
We have our first animal spotting as a snake slithers through the dirty laundry.
Metaphor: Among other things, snakes can represent both the life force and Satan. I’m going with life force on this one. This snake is too small to be Satan.
0:39
It wouldn’t be a Carrie Underwood video unless there was a wardrobe change . . . or two . . . or six.
Metaphor: Don’t let suspenders restrict who you are.
This may be a first for a music video: a flaming doorknob.
Metaphor: In the event of a house fire, remain low to the floor and don’t grab the doorknob.
1:52
More items are spontaneously combusting, this time it’s a flaming heel.
Metaphor: Don’t be a flaming heel.
2:08
A street sign appears out of nowhere, but that’s keeping with the anything-goes theme of the video, where random things like flaming shoes and owls are abundant.
Metaphor: Love is a two-way street.
2:12
A peacock makes an appearance, bringing the menagerie of animals in this video to 5 (animals not pictured earlier include a lion and horse). Surely this won’t be the last animal spotting. Spoiler alert: an elk appears at the 2:50 mark.
Metaphor: Strut your stuff.
2:28
We learn that Love St. intersects Lost St.
Metaphor: It is better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all.
3:01
With the flaming shoe and doorknob in the room, it was getting too hot for Carrie, so she shed her jacket.
The Nash Next Challenge is down to its 10 finalists, and in the lead-up to the announcement of the champion on Oct. 25, NCD will be profiling each of the 10 finalists.
Today, we are getting to know finalist Ashley Jordan.
In July, Cumulus Media and Big Machine Label Group invited aspiring country artists and bands to participate in the Nash Next Challenge, an artist development competition where the winner will receive a recording contract with Big Machine Label Group and have an original song produced by Jay DeMarcus, which will garner national radio airplay on Cumulus Media radio stations across the U.S.
The winner of the Nash Next Challenge will be crowned on Tuesday, Oct. 25, at Mercy Lounge in Nashville by judges Kix Brooks of Brooks & Dunn, Jay DeMarcus of Rascal Flatts, Danielle Bradbery and Big Machine CEO Scott Borchetta. The event, which will also feature a performance from Trent Harmon, is open to the public from 7–10 p.m.
Ashley Jordan
Age: 24 Twitter:@ashleyjmusic Home City Market: Boston
How did you get started in music?
I had been singing and learning the guitar on my own when I was young, but my real start came when I went to a show and saw a local performer by the name of John Gerard sing and play guitar. He was so passionate about performing, and I immediately knew that I wanted to sing and play the guitar like him. He was a complete stranger, but I went up to him and asked if he’d work with me, and he agreed! He was a really cool guy and he gave me the courage to start street performing in Boston in my early teens.
At what age did you realize you wanted to make music your career?
I was 13.
Who are your musical influences?
Kacey Musgraves, Miranda Lambert, Jewel, Sturgill Simpson, Chris Stapleton and so many more.
What three words describe you?
Sensitive, creative, free-spirited.
What would you say is unique about your sound?
I feel a lot of emotion about many of my songs and I feel that this comes across in my music.
What three albums would you take to a deserted island?
Lori McKenna’s Lorraine, James Taylor’s Greatest Hits and Ellis Paul’s The Day After Everything Changed.
What’s a song you wish you had written?
“Humble and Kind” by Lori McKenna.
What was the first concert you ever attended?
Rascal Flatts.
Who are the King and Queen of country music?
The king is Garth Brooks and the queen is Reba McEntire.
What’s your go-to karaoke song?
“Baggage Claim” by Miranda Lambert.
Where is the craziest place you’ve performed?
At a ski resort, which doesn’t sound that crazy except for the fact that we had to ride up the mountain on a chairlift, with all my gear and a complete sound system to the lodge that was at the top of the mountain. It was pretty freaky.
What’s the first thing you do after a show?
Go out and talk and connect with people in the audience.
What’s been your most exciting or unusual fan encounter?
After I performed at the Boston Hatch Shell in front of 40,000 people for MixFest 2015, a group of young girls contacted me because they had started a fan club and named themselves Ashley’s Jordies, and they posted pictures and words of encouragement on the fan page. They continue to be awesome and sweet fans by coming to shows, contacting me and posting things on their fan page.
What’s your favorite song to cover?
“My Church” by Maren Morris.
What’s the most embarrassing thing you’ve done onstage?
It was my first time to perform late night at a radio station and I broke two strings during the first song I played. I didn’t have replacement strings or another guitar and we were live on the radio! It was really awkward, but finally the host put out a plea to the listening audience to see if anyone could help. A short time later we had a station full of people, including a band who showed up with replacement strings and another person who ran in with a guitar. It turned out to be a crazy and fun night after the initial embarrassment.
It’s hard to believe that in the midst of their 16-year career, the guys from Rascal Flatts—Gary LeVox, Jay DeMarcus and Joe Don Rooney—have yet to put out a Christmas album. Until now. The “I Like the Sound of That” trio is excited to release their first-ever Christmas album, The Greatest Gift of All, tomorrow (Oct. 21).
“The timing never seemed right,” Jay told Nash Country Daily. “We were touring and always busy and going 90 miles a minute. We were asked early enough out this time. Scott Borchetta—president of Big Machine Record Label—came to us and said ‘Look, you guys can do whatever you want to do, whatever songs you want to do and take your time with it and do it the way you want to do it.’ So it just felt right. It felt like it was time and the fans have been asking for it for a long time. We gathered up a bunch of songs that have been our favorites over the years and just took our time and really had a ball making it.”
Produced by all three members of the band, The Greatest Gift of All consists of a 10-track collection of both classic and contemporary country songs— each song with its own nuanced arrangements varying from big band and jazz to R&B and traditional sounding.
“We wanted to do something different,” adds Gary. “That’s kind of what we cut our teeth on in the past–these songs have been done so many times that you’ve got to do something to make them fresh and new and your own and something that sounds like Rascal Flatts.”
The making of the Christmas album was a collaborative effort among the men. Emails and voice recordings were shared as they decided which songs would best fit their album.
“It was a collaborative effort in the sense that I told them what we were going to do,” jokes Jay.
“He [Jay] sent us a list of classic songs—which all made this record,” said Joe Don. “But Jay said ‘I think we have a couple of spots for some outside songs that may be a little more current and ‘Strange Way to Save the World,’ recorded by Contemporary Christian group 4Him, is one of those that Jay brought to us.
Gary, Jay and Joe Don’s favorite Christmas songs on the album?
Gary: It’s kind of hard to beat “Silent Night” on this one with our kids on it. That one will hold a very special and dear place in our heart for life.
Jay: “Strange Way to Save the World.” To have a song written from Joseph’s perspective is so unique and the weight and responsibility he must have felt and the things that must’ve been going through his mind as he looked at the birth of the Savior in that manger is really incredible.
Joe Don: I think “O, Holy Night” is one of my favorite Christmas songs ever. The melody is just amazing. That song in particular too is one a lot of singer’s singers tackle because it’s really fun for them to pull off and Gary was just wow. It’s a beautiful arrangement and he really just brings that one home.
“We sang that on a CMA Country Christmas a couple of years back but we never recorded it. So it was fun to take it back in the studio and re-do it again. The other one was ‘Someday at Christmas,’ the Stevie Wonder tune, which has been re-cut by a lot of people through the years, it has truly become a classic. But it is a more up-tempo fun yet throwback kind of retro sound. I’m really proud of this record overall, I really am. It’s something that’s been waiting for a long time for us to do and I think it probably took us 16 years to get it done.”
The Greatest Gift of All is the gift that keeps on giving, a gift that shines with the striking Flatts harmonies we’ve come to expect, that will keep you warm on a cold winter’s night—along with their non-traditional depiction of fan-favorites such as “Joy to the World,” “Let It Snow and “The First Noel.”
“Silent Night” is one of the cuts that stands out due to the help of Gary, Jay and Joe Don’s children. All seven of the Rascal Flatts kids—Brittany, Brooklyn, Madeleine, Dylan, Jagger, Raquel and Devon—can be heard singing on the opening verse, with Gary’s daughter Brittany taking the lead.
“That kid loves to sing. Brittany just loves to sing,” Gary says proudly. “Brittany and Brooklyn were in the studio and Brittany just takes over. Who knows in the future what will happen with her.”
“It was fun,” Jay says of having the kids in the studio. “Some of them were awful,” he jokes. “I mean they have some really bad pitch problems. I’m not gonna call anybody out but…” He turns serious, “It was precious to have them in the room singing it. Joe Don and I were out there trying to direct them and lead them. They were shy but they opened up about the third or fourth time through.”
Gary, Jay and Joe Don can be seen at the 50th Annual CMA Awards on Nov. 2 where they will be vying for the Vocal Group of the Year trophy followed by a One Night Only concert on Nov.14 at the Theater at Madison Square Garden in New York where they will perform songs from their newly released Christmas album.
It was a night of a thousand stars last night (Oct. 19). OK, maybe 10 or 12 stars, but still, it was a big night for Carrie Underwood, Chris Stapleton, Luke Bryan, Thomas Rhett and Florida Georgia Line, who were honored at the CMT Artists of the Year show, which airs tonight (Oct. 20) on CMT.
The event, held at Nashville’s Schermerhorn Symphony Center, celebrated five artists selected by CMT as top artists of the year. In addition, Kelsea Ballerini was honored with the second annual Artists of the Year Breakout Award and Shania Twain received the third annual Artist of a Lifetime Award.
The night was filled with performances from all the award honorees, which included some big collaborations. Thomas Rhett was joined by Swedish singing sensation Zara Larsson on a mashup of TR’s’ “Die a Happy Man” and Zara’s “Never Forget You”; Luke Bryan performed his No.1 duet, “Home Alone Tonight, with Little Big Town’s Karen Fairchild; Carrie Underwood was joined onstage by The Love Junkies—songwriters Liz Rose, Lori McKenna and Hillary Lindsay; and Kelsea Ballerini, Jill Scott and Meghan Trainor collaborated on a tribute to CMT Artist of a Lifetime recipient Shania Twain.
You can check out the full show when it airs Thursday (Oct. 20) on CMT at 9 p.m. ET. Don’t miss all the performances and speeches from CMT’s Artists of the Year.
Watch a sneak peek of Kelsea Ballerini, Jill Scott and Meghan Trainor’s tribute to Shania Twain with “Man! I Feel Like A Woman.”
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Main photo and performance photos by Rick Diamond/Getty Images for CMT; Red Carpet photos by Curtis Hilbun/AFF-USA.COM
With her name in neon amid the glow of purple and blue stage lights, the Texas songbird belted out her Top 20 hit to the delight of the audience, who went home with a copy of Maren’s album, Hero, courtesy of Ellen.
Lauren Alaina has released a powerful new video to complement her Top 20 single, “Road Less Traveled,” a song she co-penned with Meghan Trainor and Jesse Frasure about remaining true to who you are despite self-doubt and external pressures.
As a 15-year-old on American Idol, Lauren was thrust into the national spotlight in 2011 and had to deal with a lot of external pressures and self-doubt.
“I actually had an eating disorder for four years,” Lauren, 21, told NCD earlier this summer. “I had it before [American Idol]. But it got dramatically worse after the show. I dropped 40 pounds after the show aired. I was 25 pounds underweight. It was ridiculous. It was not good. My hair was falling out—I had bald spots all over my head. I seriously messed my stomach up. I was very very unhealthy.”
After overcoming her eating disorder, Lauren wanted to give hope, encouragement and inspiration to other young women who may be dealing with negative self-image issues, which is one of the reasons she co-wrote “Road Less Traveled.”
“I just feel like when I was growing up, there were so many songs that made you proud to be who you were,” said Lauren. “Like, [Shania Twain’s] ‘Man I Feel Like a Woman’ and [Martina McBride’s] ‘This One’s for the Girls.’ All of these songs that were super inspiring as far as feeling good in your own skin and you’re not alone. I wanted to write a song like that, and ‘Road Less Traveled’ is that song for me. Actually, a lot of the songs on the album have this message, because it’s what I’m most passionate about. It’s super fun and I feel like it kind of showcases my personality, but it also has a serious message that I think people will benefit from hearing. It’s really universal.
“I wanted to share my story because I think that some of my favorite artists just own what they are going through and share it. It’s so healing for everyone. It’s healing for them to write it, it’s healing for people to hear and think, ‘Oh my gosh, I’m not alone.’”
Watch Lauren celebrate the “Road Less Traveled” in her new video below.
Maren Morris has announced that she will be hitting the road in the early part of 2017 for her first-ever headlining tour, The HERO Tour 2017.
The HERO Tour kicks off on Feb. 2 in New York City with stops in Boston, Philadelphia and Washington, D.C.
With the release of her debut album, HERO, in June, Maren has been out on the road with Keith Urban as part of his ripCord World Tour 2016, wrapping on Nov. 19 at the BarClays Center in Brooklyn, N.Y. —leaving Maren plenty of time to get ready for The HERO Tour in Feb.
You can catch Maren at the 50th Annual CMA Awards, Nov. 2 on ABC as she vies for five of country’s top awards, including Album of the Year (HERO) Female Vocalist of the Year, New Artist of the Year, Song of the Year (“My Church) and Single of the Year (“My Church”).
DateVenueCity
Feb. 2 Bowery Ballroom New York
Feb. 3 Paradise Rock Club Boston
Feb. 4 TLA Philadelphia
Feb. 16 9:30 Club Washington, D.C.
Feb. 17 Bijou Theatre Knoxville, Tenn
Feb. 18 Georgia Theatre Athens, Ga.
March 1 Brick Street Oxford, Ohio
March 2 Joe’s on Weed Street Chicago
March 3 Boondocks Pub Springfield, Ill.
March 4 Headliners Music Hall Louisville, Ky.
March 23 Cambridge Room, House of Blues Dallas
March 24 Bronze Peacock Room, House of Blues Houston
March 25 Gruene Hall New Braunfels, Texas
April 4 Cannery Ballroom Nashville, Tenn.
April 5 Cannery Ballroom Nashville, Tenn.
The Nash Next Challenge is down to its 10 finalists, and in the lead-up to the announcement of the champion on Oct. 25, NCD will be profiling each of the 10 finalists.
Today, we are getting to know finalist Alexis Gomez.
In July, Cumulus Media and Big Machine Label Group invited aspiring country artists and bands to participate in the Nash Next Challenge, an artist development competition where the winner will receive a recording contract with Big Machine Label Group and have an original song produced by Jay DeMarcus, which will garner national radio airplay on Cumulus Media radio stations across the U.S.
The winner of the Nash Next Challenge will be crowned on Tuesday, Oct. 25, at Mercy Lounge in Nashville by judges Kix Brooks of Brooks & Dunn, Jay DeMarcus of Rascal Flatts, Danielle Bradbery and Big Machine CEO Scott Borchetta. The event, which will also feature a performance from Trent Harmon, is open to the public from 7–10 p.m.
Alexis Gomez
Age: 24 Twitter:@thealexisgomez Home City Market: Cincinnati, Ohio
How did you get started in music?
My dad was a musician. Growing up, he taught me to play guitar, piano, sing and I even wrote my first song with him. My dad, brother, sister and I played in a family band together growing up. My very first show was when I was 8 years old. I also started singing at my church when I was in elementary school.
At what age did you realize you wanted to make music your career?
One of the very first shows I remember was at a homeless shelter in my hometown of Dayton, Ohio. I sang a Martina McBride song, “Love’s the Only House.” I was so nervous. I got up there and messed up the words, it was terrible. I walked offstage so disappointed but at that same moment, a woman came up to me in tears and looked me in the eyes and thanked me for singing that song. She told me how bad she needed to hear those words in her life that morning. It was then that I realized the amazing power music can have on a person’s life, even when I don’t get it perfect—the words, the music and the stories speak through all of it. I feel that God gave me a gift and I want to work hard at it and use it to touch as many people as I can.
Who are your musical influences?
My influences come from all over country music over the decades. My dad turned me on to people like Merle Haggard, Johnny Cash and Garth Brooks. As I got older I really fell in love with Martina McBride, Taylor Swift, Miranda Lambert and The Band Perry. As I look back through the music I have written over the years, it’s so cool to hear the changes in my style as my influences started to grow and evolve.
What three words describe you?
Goofy, passionate, adventurous.
What would you say is unique about your sound?
Most people can’t tell by looking at me, but I am part Mexican and I would love to be a country artist that can help bridge the gap into the Latino community. I put my own Hispanic twist on some of my originals and even some of the covers that I perform.
What three albums would you take to a deserted island?
Martina McBride’s Greatest Hits, Taylor Swift’s Fearless and Hillsong United’s Zion.
What’s a song you wish you had written?
“Oceans” by Hillsong United. The song has such a cool message and has touched and changed so many lives across the world. I can only dream of writing something so powerful.
What was the first concert you ever attended?
My first country concert was Taylor Swift and Keith Urban.
What’s the last song you heard that blew you away?
Chris Stapleton and Justin Timberlake singing “Tennessee Whiskey” at the CMAs in 2015.
What’s your go-to karaoke song?
“Before He Cheats” by Carrie Underwood.
Where is the craziest place you’ve performed?
In the parking lot of a barbecue restaurant on a bicycle trail.
What’s the first thing you do after a show?
I love to go straight to my merchandise table and meet the fans and people in the audience. I want them to know how much I love getting to know them and want them to always have the chance to get to know me after a show.
What’s been your most exciting or unusual fan encounter?
I did a meet and greet in my hometown at our famous local donut shop, Bill’s Donuts, and I met this little girl who had written to me on Facebook for months and sent me videos with her mom. We finally got to meet and I signed her mini guitar. It was one of the best moments ever. My most unusual fan encounter was when a man told me that God told him we were meant to get married [laughing].
What’s your favorite song to cover?
“Little Red Wagon” by Miranda Lambert.
What’s the most embarrassing thing you’ve done onstage?
My super cute, hippie skirt came untied while I was performing, and I didn’t even notice until the last song of the show [laughing]. Thank goodness my daddy always told me to wear spanx.
Kane Brown announced today (Oct. 19) that he will be releasing his self-titled debut album on Dec. 2—just in time to pick it up for Christmas.
Kane, who got his start posting videos of cover and original songs on Facebook and YouTube, found success the non-traditional way. Amassing a fan base of more than 2 million followers, the Georgia native released his EP, Chapter 1, in March 2016, where it debuted at No. 3 on the Billboard Country Album chart. He is currently enjoying the success of his latest single, “Thunder in the Rain,” which rocketed to the No. 1 spot on the iTunes Country chart thanks to his passionate fan base.
Kane co-penned seven tracks on his new album, which also features cuts penned by Chris Young and Florida Georgia Line’s Tyler Hubbard and Brian Kelley. Kane is currently on the road as part of Florida Georgia Line’s 2016 Dig Your Roots Tour and will be headlining his own Ain’t No Stopping Us Now Tour with Monster Energy Outbreak this fall.
“It’s like a big family out there. We all hang out and have fun,” Kane told Nash Country Daily. “I did get a song from [Tyler and Brian] that they wrote out there on the road called ‘Hometown,’ which I’m super excited about. It might be my next released song, maybe.”
You can pre-order Kane’s album starting on Friday, Oct. 21, to receive the instant-grat track “Hometown.”
0:09
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0:39
1:15
1:28
2:08
2:12
2:28
3:01
3:04
3:14
THE GREATEST GIFT OF ALL Track List:
Kane Brown – Full Track Listing with Songwriters:
