Lauren Akins released her new memoir, Live in Love: Growing Together Through Life’s Changes, on Aug. 18. The new book chronicles Lauren’s childhood friendship with husband-to-be Thomas Rhett, explaining how they reconnected as young adults, got married and are now raising three girls. The book also delves into many of the “challenges they faced as…
Luke Bryan may be busy hitting the talk-show circuit this week to promote his brand-new album, Born Here, Live Here, Die Here, but one month ago he was using his free time to check an item off of his bucket list. In July, Luke loaded up all of his boys—Til, 18, Bo, 12, and Tate,…
Lee Brice is trying to score his eighth No. 1 single with the release of “One of Them Girls.” Penned by Lee, Ashley Gorley, Dallas Davidson and Ben Johnson, “One of Them Girls” is currently No. 18 on the Billboard Country Airplay chart after 16 weeks. The new tune follows Lee’s previous No. 1 singles, “Rumors,”…
Thomas Rhett’s 2013 debut album, It Goes Like This, spawned three consecutive No. 1 singles: “It Goes Like This,” “Get Me Some of That” and “Make Me Wanna.” When TR was planning his 2015 sophomore album, Tangled Up, he knew he needed a lead single that wouldn’t crash and burn. Ironically enough, Thomas Rhett chose…
By sampling Webb Pierce’s 1953 No. 1 hit, “There Stands the Glass,” in his current single, “Hard to Forget,” Sam Hunt has introduced Webb’s iconic song to a new generation of country music fans. While hardcore, old-school country fans may liken Sam’s sampling to blasphemy, the closer truth is that Sam has opened up the…
When the stars align . . . sometimes the music stars align. Keith Urban shared just such an instance during a recent sit-down with Kix Brooks of American Country Countdown. As Kix was reminiscing about his fun-loving days on the road as part of Hall of Fame duo Brooks & Dunn, he jokingly noted that…
Like the rest of the music-making world, Jordan Davis was forced to cancel his spring and summer gigs due to the COVID-19 pandemic. But there’s been a silver lining for the Louisiana native, who has scored three consecutive No. 1 singles with “Slow Dance in a Parking Lot” (April 2020), “Take It From Me” (March…
Garner, N.C., native Scotty McCreery has a special affinity for his home state. To this day, the American Idol winner—who has scored three No. 1 albums and two No. 1 singles—cites an honor from his home state as one of his “prouder moments.” In March 2017, Scotty was honored with the Order of the Long…
Kip Moore released his fourth studio album, Wild World, on May 29. The 13-song offering features 12 songs that Kip co-wrote, including lead singe, “She’s Mine,” which is currently No. 26 on Billboard’s Country Airplay chart after 38 weeks. In addition, Kip co-produced the album with David Garcia, Luke Dick and Blair Daly on select…
With songs like “Girl Goin’ Nowhere,” “A Little Dive Bar in Dahlonega and “One Night Standards,” Ashley McBryde has proven herself to be one of the most vivid storytellers in country music. Her lyrics are almost as fun to read as listen to—but, of course, she also has a beautiful voice. After breaking out in…
Chase McDaniel believes that listening to music in real-time can have a significant impact on listeners, rather than letting an algorithm choose what they hear. The new country artist recalls three life-changing moments he’s had while hearing songs on country radio, and McDaniel hopes his first radio single, “Burned Down Heaven,” has a similar effect…
Lainey Wilson will make her feature film debut in the Universal adaptation of Colleen Hoover’s best-selling novel, Reminders of Him. The Grammy-winning country superstar will join a star-studded cast that includes Maika Monroe, Tyriq Withers, Rudy Pankow, and Lauren Graham, with the film set to be directed by Vanessa Caswill. This won’t be Wilson’s first…
In a new interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Kacey Musgraves clarified her previous comments on her marijuana use, revealing that she still smokes, though not to the extent she did when she was younger. “I never said I don’t ever partake,” says the 36-year-old singer. “I just don’t wake up and hit a gravity bong…
Reba McEntire has been one of the top female country stars since the ’80s, but she realizes she wouldn’t be anywhere without the support of her dedicated fans. In the new Variety cover feature on McEntire as part of their Power Of Women Nashville issue, the 70-year-old country music icon says she owes everything to…
In a new interview with Variety for their Power of Women Nashville issue, Sheryl Crow reflected on the evolving landscape of women in music, while celebrating the rise of young and talented female musicians. “The caliber of writing is just so good with Chappell Roan, Olivia Rodrigo, and Phoebe Bridgers, and these women are not…