Tennessee head football coach Jeremy Pruitt held his weekly Monday game-week press conference ahead of Saturday’s game at Arkansas.
WATCH: Jeremy Pruitt Arkansas week Monday press conference
Luke Combs’ New Deluxe Album Hits No. 1 on All-Genre Billboard 200 Chart
Luke Combs’ new deluxe album, What You See Ain’t Always What You Get, which dropped on Oct. 23, reached No. 1 on the all-genre Billboard 200 chart this week.
The new album features all 18 songs from the digital version of Luke’s 2019 sophomore album, What You See Is What You Get, as well as five brand-new tracks: “Cold as You,” “The Other Guy,” “My Kinda Folk,” “Forever After All,” and “Without You,” featuring Amanda Shires.
The deluxe album moved 108,787 equivalent album units in its first week, according to Nielsen Music/MRC Data. It is only the second country album to top the all-genre Billboard 200 chart in 2020, following Kenny Chesney’s Here and Now in May.
Luke’s four year-career on the charts has been nothing short of amazing. It’s also been historic. Luke is the first artist in country music history to have his first two albums—This One’s for You and What You See Is What You Get—spend at least 25 weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard Top Country Albums chart. In addition, Luke is the first country artist in history whose first nine singles have reached No. 1 on the Billboard Country Airplay chart. Of Luke’s nine No. 1 hits on the Billboard Country Airplay chart, eight have had multi-week runs at No. 1.
Luke is trying to score his unprecedented 10th consecutive No. 1 single—to start a career—with the release of “Better Together.” The new tune, which was penned by Luke, Dan Isbell and Randy Montana, impacted country radio on Oct. 12.
photo by Tammie Arroyo, AFF-USA.com
Matt Stell Scores 2nd No. 1 Single With “Everywhere But On”
Matt Stell scored his second consecutive No. 1 single as “Everywhere But On” topped both the Billboard Country Airplay chart and Mediabase chart this week.
Penned by Matt, Lance Miller and Paul Sikes, “Everywhere But On” is the title track to Matt’s 2019 EP. Matt previously topped the charts with “Prayed for You” in October 2019.
“It is tough for me to be at a loss for words, but I am,” says Matt. “As a songwriter, to experience this twice in a row is just the best feeling. There is a lot of me in this song and that makes this extra special. I am so grateful to country radio and all of the hard-working people on my team!”
In celebration of his new No. 1 single, Matt is donating $5,000 to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital through his Give A Damn Foundation.
Matt released a new EP, Better Than That, on Oct. 16.
photo by Arroyo/O\’Connor, AFF-USA.com
![Jameson Rodgers Announces New Single, “Cold Beer Calling My Name,” Featuring Luke Combs [Listen]](https://cdn.socast.io/6616/sites/602/2020/11/02153718/Jameson-Rodgers-1-TA.jpg#aqua_resizer_image_not_local)
Jameson Rodgers Announces New Single, “Cold Beer Calling My Name,” Featuring Luke Combs [Listen]
Jameson Rodgers will follow up his recent No. 1 single, “Some Girls,” by releasing “Cold Beer Calling My Name.”
The spirited song features vocals from Luke Combs, who took Jameson on the road with him as part of his Beer Never Broke My Heart Tour in 2019. Penned by Jameson, Hunter Phelps, Brett Tyler and Alysa Vanderheym, “Cold Beer Calling My Name” will officially impact country radio on Dec. 7.
“Once we finished [writing it], I thought it’d be a cool song to have somebody on it,” says Jameson. “At the time, I was out [on tour] with Luke Combs, so I asked Luke if he’d like to sing on it. I know he’s a cold beer drinker like myself, so it worked out. Yeah, I’m excited for everyone to hear it.”
Jameson has used his writing chops to co-pen tunes like Luke Bryan’s “Born Here, Live Here, Die Here,” Jason Aldean’s “Camouflage Hat” and Florida Georgia Line’s “Wish You Were On It.”
Listen to “Cold Beer Calling My Name” below.
photo by Tammie Arroyo, AFF-USA.com
Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame Class of 2020 Includes Steve Earle, Bobbie Gentry, Brett James & More
The Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame announced its Class of 2020 on Nov. 2: Steve Earle, Bobbie Gentry, Kent Blazy, Brett James and Spooner Oldham.
The five new electees will follow in the footsteps of more than 200 previous honorees, including Kris Kristofferson, Guy Clark, Merle Haggard, Tom T. Hall, Buck Owens, John Prine, Tammy Wynette, Jerry Reed, Dolly Parton and more.
Due to the ongoing pandemic, the Class of 2020 will be inducted with the yet-to-be-named Class of 2021 on Nov. 1, 2021, at the Music City Center in Nashville.
Class of 2020 With Partial Songwriting Credits
- Kent Blazy: “If Tomorrow Never Comes” [Garth Brooks], “Ain’t Goin’ Down (’Til The Sun Comes Up)” [Garth Brooks] and “Gettin’ You Home (The Black Dress Song)” [Chris Young]
- Brett James: “Jesus Take The Wheel” [Carrie Underwood], “When The Sun Goes Down” [Kenny Chesney & Uncle Kracker] and “Summer Nights” [Rascal Flatts]
- Spooner Oldham: “I’m Your Puppet” [James & Bobby Purify], “Cry Like A Baby” [The Box Tops] and “Sweet Inspiration” [The Sweet Inspirations]
- Steve Earle: “Guitar Town,” “Copperhead Road” and “The Devil’s Right Hand”
- Bobbie Gentry: “Ode To Billie Joe,” “Fancy” and “Mornin’ Glory”
photo by Jim Casey
Tracy Lawrence Announces 15th Annual Turkey Fry & Concert to Benefit Nashville Homeless
One of Nashville’s big-hearted holiday traditions will continue this year as Tracy Lawrence announced he will host his 15th annual Mission Possible Turkey Fry at the Nashville Rescue Mission on Nov. 24.
In addition, Tracy will once again host the Mission Possible Benefit Concert on Nov. 24 at Nashville’s Wildhorse Saloon. This year’s concert will be live-streamed for free via Talk Shop Live. Performers and special guests will be announced soon.
Over the years, Tracy and his team have raised close to $1 million and served approximately 93,000 meals to the homeless and hungry. Proceeds from this year’s event will benefit the Nashville Rescue Mission.
“The annual Mission Possible Turkey Fry is my favorite time of the year,” said Tracy during last year’s event. “Being able to bring awareness and raise money to Nashville Rescue Mission is such an honor. As the homeless population grows in our country, it’s important that we continue to work toward understanding all of the different situations that lead people down the path of homelessness. Rescue Mission is such an important part of our Nashville community and I look forward to working with them for many more years.”
photo by TCD
Watch Ashley McBryde Honor Loretta Lynn by Singing “You’re Lookin’ at Country” at the Hall of Fame
Nashville’s Country Music Hall of Fame & Museum hosted an online fundraiser via YouTube on Oct. 28 that featured a who’s who of country stars.
Big Night (At the Museum) paired country music stars with historic instruments for a one-of-a-kind night of music. Artists taking part included Alison Brown, Kane Brown, Brad Paisley, Dan Tyminski, Carlene Carter, Rodney Crowell, Emmylou Harris, Miranda Lambert, Ashley McBryde, Reba McEntire, Tim McGraw, Keb Mo, Ricky Skaggs, Marty Stuart and The War and Treaty.
During the show, Ashley McBryde paid tribute to Loretta Lynn by singing “You’re Lookin’ at Country,” while playing Loretta’s 1956 Gibson J-50 guitar. Loretta scored a Top 5 hit with the tune in 1971.
During the free concert, viewers were encouraged to donate to the Museum through YouTube Giving. More than $500,000 has been raised.
Watch Ashley’s performance below.
photo courtesy of Country Music Hall of Fame & Museum
Garth Brooks Says New Cover of “Shallow” With Trisha Yearwood Is a “Song That We Believed In”
Garth Brooks and Trisha Yearwood’s new single, “Shallow,” officially impacts country radio on Nov. 2. The new cover, which is currently only available via Amazon Music, will be featured on Garth’s upcoming album, Fun (Nov. 20).
Penned by Lady Gaga, Andrew Wyatt, Anthony Rossomando and Mark Ronson for the 2018 movie, A Star is Born, “Shallow” was recorded as a duet by Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper. The tune garnered widespread critical acclaim and netted numerous awards.
Before recording the song for Fun, Garth and Trisha performed “Shallow” during his Facebook Live series, Inside Studio G, in March, with an encore during their CBS TV special a few days later on April 1.
As Garth and Trisha’s version of the song officially hits country radio as a single, the husband-and-wife tandem is hoping it resonates with listeners.
“We didn’t ever actually say, ‘Hey . . . we’re gonna cover this song that was a huge hit for Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper,’” says Trisha. “But what happened was it just started to get its own momentum going . . . and then we did it again. And I hope they will see it as the nod to them—and the appreciation to what they did—that it was intended to be.”
“My thing is just, ‘Did Trisha and I—and the band—do the best we could with a song that we believed in?’ I’m gonna say ‘yes’ on all those boxes,” says Garth.
Garth has already shared a number of songs from Fun, including “That’s What Cowboys Do,” “The Road I’m On,” “Courage of Love,” “Party Gras,” “All Day Long,” “Stronger Than Me” and “Dive Bar.”
photo by TCD
Collin Raye Readies New Album, “Scars,” Featuring Guest Artists Miranda Lambert & Vince Gill
Collin Raye will release a new album, Scars, on Nov. 20.
The 14-song offering represents Collin’s first album of new music in more than 10 years. Collin co-wrote 12 songs on the new project, which features guest vocals from Miranda Lambert (“Scars”) and Vince Gill (“Rodeo Girl”). In addition, Dan Auerbach backs Collin on electric guitar throughout the album.
“Scars is the album I’ve dreamed of making my entire recording career,” says Collin. “I sincerely hope that the people who have embraced my music the last 29 years will embrace Scars and find enjoyment and emotional inspiration from this album. Having Miranda and Vince sing with me on this record gives it an extra special element of ‘coolness.’ I’m excited for the release!”
Scars Track List & Songwriters
1. “Ghost Story” (Scotty Wray)
2. “Scars” feat. Miranda Lambert (Scotty Wray, Tony Ramey)
3. “Bad Storm Coming Tonight” (Pat McLaughlin, Joe Allen, Collin Raye)
4. “Dancing Alone in the Street” (Collin Raye)
5. “Never Going Back There Again” (Collin Raye, Britanny Raye, Michael Curtis, Troy Powers)
6. “Loved By An Angel” (Pat McLaughlin, David Ferguson, Collin Raye)
7. “Rodeo Girl” feat. Vince Gill (Pat McLaughlin, David Ferguson, Collin Raye)
8. “Chasing Renee” (Collin Raye, Jacob Wray)
9. “I’ve Got A Lot to Drink About” (Collin Raye, Shaunna Larkin)
10. “Ever Making Up Time” (Collin Raye, Gene Lasage)
11. “Let It Go Away” (Joe Allen, Collin Raye, David Ferguson)
12. “Rock ’n’ Roll Bone” (Collin Raye)
13. “Young As We’re Ever Gonna Be” (Scotty Wray, Collin Raye)
14. “Mama Sure Could Sing” (Scotty Wray, Collin Raye)
photo by Tammie Arroyo, AFF-USA.com
![Eric Church Dedicates New Song, “Through My Ray-Bans,” to Route 91 Harvest Festival Fans [Listen]](https://cdn.socast.io/6616/sites/602/2020/10/30113313/Eric-Church-JPA.jpg#aqua_resizer_image_not_local)
Eric Church Dedicates New Song, “Through My Ray-Bans,” to Route 91 Harvest Festival Fans [Listen]
Eric Church shared a new song, “Through My Ray-Bans,” on Oct. 30.
Eric, Luke Laird and Barry Dean co-penned the song in honor of the fans who attended the Route 91 Harvest Festival in 2017. Eric was a headliner at the festival two days before a lone gunman opened fire during Jason Aldean’s set on Oct. 1, which killed 60 people and injured hundreds more.
“Through My Ray-Bans” finds Eric crooning the chorus: “Everybody’s got their arms around everybody else’s shoulders / Guarding against the world outside like an army of Friday night soldiers / The battle wages tomorrow but tonight you don’t give a damn / Wish you could stay the way I see you through my Ray-Bans.”
“Through My Ray-Bans” follows the recent release of “Hell of a View,” “Crazyland,” “Bad Mother Trucker” and current single, “Stick That in Your Country Song.”
Listen to “Through My Ray-Bans” below.
photo by JPA, AFF-USA.com
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