Blake Shelton & Gwen Stefani Get Engaged

Blake Shelton & Gwen Stefani Get Engaged

Posted on October 27, 2020

Blake Shelton, 44, and Gwen Stefani, 51, are engaged.

Blake announced the news via Instagram with a photo of him kissing his bride-to-be while she showed off her new engagement ring: “Hey @gwenstefani thanks for saving my 2020… And the rest of my life.. I love you. I heard a YES!”

Gwen added, “@blakeshelton yes please!” via her official Instagram.

Blake and Gwen have been dating since 2015.

Over the past five years, Blake and Gwen have joined forces on a handful of projects, including recent No. 1 single, “Nobody But You,” and current Top 10 single, “Happy Anywhere.”

Blake was married to Kaynette Williams from 2003-2006 and Miranda Lambert from 2011-2015, while Gwen was married to Gavin Rossdale from 2002-2016.

photo by Arroyo/O\’Connor, AFF-USA.com

Gabby Barrett Tops the Billboard Hot Country Songs Chart for 14th Week With “I Hope”

Gabby Barrett Tops the Billboard Hot Country Songs Chart for 14th Week With “I Hope”

Posted on October 27, 2020

Gabby Barrett’s “I Hope” is No. 1 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart (streaming, sales and airplay-based) for the 14th week, which is the second-longest run by a solo female artist in the history of the chart. Only Maren Morris’ “The Bones” enjoyed a longer reign with 19 weeks atop the chart.

The longest run on the Hot Country Songs chart is Bebe Rexha’s “Meant to Be,” featuring Florida Georgia Line, which spent 50 weeks at No. 1 in 2017-2018.

Penned by Gabby, Zachary Kale and Jon Nite, “I Hope” is featured on Gabby’s 2020 debut album, Goldmine. “I Hope” topped the Billboard Country Airplay chart in April.

Gabby is nominated for New Artist of the Year at the upcoming CMA Awards, while “I Hope” is nominated for Single of the Year. Gabby is also nominated for Favorite Female Artist – Country at the upcoming American Music Awards.

On Oct. 23, Gabby gave her fans a reason to rejoice this holiday season with the release of a stunning new rendition of “The First Noel.”

photo by O\’Connor, AFF-USA.com

Everything You Need to Know About the Country Music Hall of Fame’s Big Night (At the Museum) on Oct. 28

Everything You Need to Know About the Country Music Hall of Fame’s Big Night (At the Museum) on Oct. 28

Posted on October 27, 2020

Here’s everything you need to know about the Country Music Hall of Fame & Museum’s online fundraiser of Oct. 28.

  • What: Big Night (At the Museum), which will pair country music stars with historic instruments for a one-of-a-kind night of music
  • Where: Country Music Hall of Fame
  • Date: Wednesday, Oct. 28
  • Time: 8 p.m CT
  • Broadcast: YouTube
  • Performers: Alison Brown, Kane Brown, Carlene Carter, Rodney Crowell, Emmylou Harris, Miranda Lambert, Ashley McBryde, Reba McEntire, Tim McGraw, Keb Mo, Ricky Skaggs, Marty Stuart,The War and Treaty, Lucinda Williams, Brad Paisley and Tyminski
  • Host: Marty Stuart
  • Audio Supervisor: Dave Cobb
  • Notes: During the free concert, viewers will be encouraged to donate to the museum through YouTube Giving.

Lineup

  • Alison Brown plays Earl Scruggs’s 1930 Gibson RB Granada banjo
  • Kane Brown sings a Randy Travis hit with accompaniment on Travis’s Gibson J-185KOA guitar
  • Carlene Carter plays the 1928 Gibson L-5 guitar that belonged to her grandmother Maybelle Carter
  • Rodney Crowell pays tribute to songwriters Guy Clark and Boudleaux and Felice Bryant
  • Country Music Hall of Fame member Emmylou Harris uses Boudleaux Bryant’s 1961 Martin guitar to partner with Crowell on a Bryant classic
  • Miranda Lambert plays John Prine’s David Russell Young custom-made guitar
  • Ashley McBryde plays Loretta Lynn’s 1956 Gibson J-50 guitar
  • Country Music Hall of Fame member Reba McEntire pays homage to Patsy Cline
  • Tim McGraw plays Keith Whitley’s C.W. Parsons acoustic guitar
  • Keb’ Mo’ plays the 1928 custom Weymann guitar that belonged to Jimmie Rodgers
  • Brad Paisley plays Don Rich’s 1964 Fender Telecaster
  • Country Music Hall of Fame member Ricky Skaggs plays Bill Monroe’s 1923 Gibson F-5 mandolin
  • Country Music Hall of Fame member Marty Stuart plays Lester Flatt’s 1950 Martin D-28 guitar
  • The War and Treaty pays tribute to Ray Charles
  • Tyminski joins Brad Paisley in performance, using Buck Owens’s red, white and blue American acoustic guitar
  • Lucinda Williams plays Johnny Cash’s customized Martin D-35S guitar

photos: Brad Paisley, Miranda Lambert, Reba McEntire by Curtis Hilbun, AFF-USA.com; Tim McGraw by Tammie Arroyo, AFF-USA.com

Sturgill Simpson’s “Cuttin’ Grass” Debuts at No. 2 on Billboard Top Country Albums Chart

Sturgill Simpson’s “Cuttin’ Grass” Debuts at No. 2 on Billboard Top Country Albums Chart

Posted on October 27, 2020

Sturgill Simpson’s new 20-song bluegrass album, Cuttin’ Grass: Vol 1 – The Butcher Shoppe Sessions, debuted at No. 2 on the Billboard Top Country Albums chart this week.

Sturgill’s new album moved 20,322 equivalent units, according to Nielsen Music/MRC Data, while Luke Combs’ 2019 sophomore album, What You See Is What You Get, once again secured the top spot on the chart by moving 21,779 equivalent units.

Cuttin’ Grass debuted at No. 1 on both the Billboard Bluegrass Albums chart and the Billboard Americana/Folk Albums chart.

Cuttin’ Grass consists of 20 songs from Sturgill’s past catalog, which have been reincarnated as bluegrass tunes. The new album features Mark Howard (banjo), Scott Vestal (banjo), Mike Bub (bass), Sierra Hull (vocals/mandolin), Tim O’Brien (vocals/guitar), Miles Miller (vocals/snare) and Stuart Duncan (fiddle).

The new album follows the release of Sturgill’s fourth studio album, Sound & Fury, which dropped in September 2019. Sturgill’s 2016 album, A Sailor’s Guide to Earth, won the Grammy for Best Country Album.

photo by TCD

Josh Turner to Celebrate Album Release With Live-Stream Event on Oct. 29 Featuring Runaway June and Maddie & Tae

Josh Turner to Celebrate Album Release With Live-Stream Event on Oct. 29 Featuring Runaway June and Maddie & Tae

Posted on October 27, 2020

Josh Turner paid homage to his musical heroes with the release of his new album, Country State of Mind, which dropped on Aug. 21.

Josh will celebrate the release of the new album with a live-stream event on Oct. 29 at AJ’s Good Time Bar in Nashville. Josh will perform songs from the new album, with special appearances by Runaway June and Maddie & Tae. Fans can to tune in to the live-stream performance via Facebook and YouTube at 5 p.m. CT.

The 12-song collection features popular tunes and deep cuts from many of Josh’s influences, including Randy Travis (“Forever and Ever, Amen”), John Anderson (“I’ve Got It Made”), Keith Whitley (“I’m No Stranger to the Rain”), Johnny Cash (“The Caretaker”), Vern Gosdin (“I Can Tell By the Way You Dance”), Hank Williams (“Alone and Foresaken”) and more.

“I’ve admired this collection of songs most of my life,” says Josh to The Country Daily. “One of the things I’ve always loved about music is how it stands the test of time. It is my hope that there are songs on this project that will introduce a whole new generation of fans to Vern Gosdin, Keith Whitley, John Anderson and all the amazing artists I was honored to include on this project.”

A number of artists contributed vocals on the new album, including Kris Kristofferson (“Why Me”), Chris Janson (“Country State of Mind”), Maddie & Tae (“Desperately”), Runaway June (“You Don’t Seem to Miss Me”), Randy Travis (“Forever and Ever, Amen”), John Anderson (“I’ve Got It Made”) and Allison Moorer (“Alone and Foresaken”).

photo by Curtis Hilbun, AFF-USA.com

Jameson Rodgers Scores No. 1 Hit With Debut Single, “Some Girls”

Jameson Rodgers Scores No. 1 Hit With Debut Single, “Some Girls”

Posted on October 27, 2020

Jameson Rodgers 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.”

Now the singer/songwriter is celebrating a hit of his own as his debut single, “Some Girls,” reached No. 1 on both the Billboard Country Airplay chart and Mediabase chart this week. The Mississippi native co-penned the tune with Hardy, Jake Mitchell and C.J. Solar.

“Some Girls is #1!!!!!” said Jameson via Twitter. “Unreal. Thank you thank you thank you to everyone that has supported me and this song. Love y’all. Time to celebrate.”

photos by Tammie Arroyo, AFF-USA.com

Ingrid Andress Releases New Holiday Tune, “Christmas Always Finds Me” [Listen]

Ingrid Andress Releases New Holiday Tune, “Christmas Always Finds Me” [Listen]

Posted on October 27, 2020

It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas, everywhere you go . . . in country music. Ingrid Andress has joined the growing list of artists who have released new holiday music, including Dolly Parton, Carrie Underwood, Mitchell Tenpenny, Gabby Barrett, Maddie & Tae and more.

Ingrid’s “Christmas Always Finds Me” is a wistful piano-driven tune about celebrating the holidays despite the challenges. Ingrid co-wrote “Christmas Always Finds Me” with frequent collaborators Sam Ellis and Derrick Southerland—the same trio that penned Ingrid’s platinum-selling No. 1 single, “More Hearts Than Mine,” as well as her current single, “Lady Like.”

“‘Christmas Always Finds Me’ is about being able to celebrate Christmas no matter where you are, or who you’re with,” says Ingrid. “It was inspired by this year, actually, because it’s been such a weird year, but at the end of the day, we still get to celebrate Christmas and that is a beautiful thing.”

Listen to “Christmas Always Finds Me” below.

photo by Curtis Hilbun, AFF-USA.com

Jason Aldean Releases New Single, “Blame It On You” [Listen]

Jason Aldean Releases New Single, “Blame It On You” [Listen]

Posted on October 26, 2020

Jason Aldean will try to score his 25th No. 1 single with the release of “Blame It On You” on Oct. 26.

Penned by Kurt Allison, Tully Kennedy, John Edwards, Michael Tyler and Brian White, “Blame It On You” is featured on Jason’s 2019 album, 9. The tune follows the release of Jason’s previous No. 1 single, “Got What I Got,” which topped both the Billboard Country Airplay chart and Mediabase chart earlier this month.

“When I hear songs like ‘Blame It On You’ that have more of a pop side but are still killer . . . I always want to see what we can do with it,” says Jason. “The demo had this really cool auto-tune in the background that I immediately knew we needed to leave in there. We ended up cranking it up and now it almost sounds like there’s another singer on the song. It’s just really cool. I’ve always said that just because it’s a slower song, it doesn’t mean that it can’t be edgy. You can still have some attitude to it.”

Listen to “Blame It On You” below.

photo by Tammie Arroyo, AFF-USA.com

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