Author: Lauren Zimmerman

4X AMA winner Kane Brown lands this week’s most-added single at country radio as “Cool Again” garners 103 combined Billboard and Country Aircheck/Mediabase stations, a career high for the 26-year-old entertainer. “Cool Again,” which officially impacted Thursday, April 23, also topped the Country Aircheck Today Top 5 that day and was the highest point-gainer of last week. The track is the latest in a hot streak for the RCA Nashville/Zone 4 star, whose last single, the Platinum-certified “Homesick,” marked his fifth consecutive No. 1 airplay hit. 

Critic’s praise for the multi-platinum singer’s latest release include:

“The jaunty track…will be a sure contender for song of the summer…” Billboard

“…Kane was cool before and is back and cooler than ever with his new cold shoulder country bop.”iHeartRadio

“…the propulsive track sways like a hammock in the tropical breeze.” Sounds Like Nashville

“The country crooner continues his genre exploration with this new single about longing for a lost love that finds him singing over a breezy dance beat. The wistful wishing for better days sure hits a little differently in the current climate…” E! News

“Cool Again,” co-written by Brown, Josh Hoge, Matthew McGinn, and Lindsay Rimes, and produced by Dann Huff and Lindsay Rimes, is available now on all streaming platforms and digital retailers. Earlier this month, Brown and 11X Grammy winner John Legend released “Last Time I Say Sorry,” their co-written song which they performed from their respective homes on the CBS special, ACM Presents: Our Country.

RCA Records Nashville’s rising star Rachel Wammack has released her impassioned new track, “When I Say Amen.” Written by Wammack, Matt Maher, and co-penned and produced by Sam Ellis, the song offers hope despite circumstances. Listen here.

Named a country artist to watch in 2020 by Paste Magazine, Wammack is singled out as a “much needed female voice” by Sounds Like Nashville. After appearing on several dates of Trisha Yearwood’s “Every Girl On Tour” and touring overseas as part of CMA’s “Introducing Nashville” series in 2019, Wammack plans to open select dates for Rascal Flatts and Reba McEntire this year.

Grammy-winning superstar Maren Morris makes history this week. Her Platinum-certified “The Bones” achieves the longest post-peak run on the Country Aircheck/Mediabaseradio chart, nine weeks following its second week at #1 in February. The song was also the first solo female back-to-back #1 since 2012. 

The monumental growth of “The Bones” also sees the song reach the top 20 at Top 40 radio this week, while last week the track rose to #1 on the Billboard Adult Pop Songs and Mediabase Hot A.C. charts. Moreover, “The Bones” is spending its sixth week at #1 on Billboard’s Hot Country Songs chart. When the song first earned #1 on the chart in February—which followed the chart-topping stint of “Girl ” last summer—it marked the first time since 2016 that a solo country female artist had two #1’s from the same album. “The Bones” was also #1 on SiriusXM The Highway’s Hot 30 in July.

2020 is off to an incredible start for Maren. Over the weekend she performed the duet version of “The Bones” with Hozier as part of Global Citizen’s special broadcast “One World: Together At Home,” marking her first performance since welcoming her first child in March. Watch here.

Also in March, Maren received RIAA Gold certification for her critically lauded album GIRL, which shattered the record for the largest ever debut streaming week for a country album by a woman, with 23.96 million streams in its first week. In addition, Maren played her biggest show to date for more than 60,000 fans at theHouston Rodeo—watch her exclusive interview with Anthony Mason for CBS This Morninghere —and she leads the 2020 ACM Awards nominations this year with five nods including Female Artist of the Year andAlbum of the Year for GIRL. And her latest single, “To Hell & Back,” was the second most-added at country radio upon impact, with 41 first week stations. 

Later this year Maren will embark on “RSVP: TheTour” throughout North America, including festival dates atJazz Aspen Snowmass Labor Day Experience and Railbird Festival and headline stops in Los Angeles,Atlanta, Colorado’s storied Red Rocks Amphitheatre and many more. Supporting acts James Arthur,Ryan Hurd and Caitlyn Smith are confirmed for select dates. The tour kicks off in June.

Tickets for “RSVP: The Tour” are currently on sale to the public. For more information please visithttps://www.marenmorris.com/.

Multi-Platinum, 4X AMA-winner Kane Brown premieres his new single, “Cool Again,” on country radio today. In the upbeat track, co-penned by Brown, Josh Hoge, Matthew McGinn, and Lindsay Rimes, and produced by Dann Huff and Lindsay Rimes, Brown reminisces about the good times of a past relationship.  “Cool Again” is the follow-up single to the Platinum-certified “Homesick” which recently became the RCA Nashville/Zone 4 recording artist’s fifth consecutive No. 1 airplay hit. Listen HERE.

“We wrote ‘Cool Again’ at a writing retreat when it was about 20 degrees outside,” Brown said. “At the time, it was about missing warm weather, but then it became so much more. It made us think about all the amazing memories of summer. We were really wanting to go back to that. I think that’s something people can really relate to in their own lives, especially right now.” 

The release of “Cool Again” builds on a landmark year for Brown who kicked off his North American “Worldwide Beautiful Tour” on Feb. 29, directly after a European stint with sold-out appearances in London, Dublin, Amsterdam, Paris, and Berlin earlier that month.  In March, Brown joined Garth Brooks and Carrie Underwood as the only artists to achieve Platinum and Multi-Platinum certifications in 2020, as his self-titled debut album was certified 2X Platinum and critically acclaimed Experiment certified Platinum.

Earlier this month, Brown and EGOT (Emmy, Grammy, Oscar and Tony) award winner John Legend released “Last Time I Say Sorry,” their co-written track that they performed together from their respective homes on the CBS special, “ACM Presents: Our Country.”

“Cool Again” Lyrics:

I’ve been thinkin’ about ya lately
Reminiscin’, going crazy
Miss the way your kiss would keep me up

Hey, wish that you were here tonight
Drinkin’ vodka soda, extra limes
And we could just get back to being us

‘Cause I just wanna be cool again, cool again, cool again
Like we were last summer
Want you again, you again, you again
To be stealin’ my covers
All tangled in each other, nights still playin’ back in my head
I just wanna be cool again, cool again, cool again, yeah

Do you ever think about
The days we couldn’t live without each other
Where the hell did we go wrong

Hey, how’d we go from that to this
How’d we let a good thing slip
Do we really have to go move on

Written by Kane Brown, Josh Hoge, Matthew McGinn and Lindsay Rimes

Cracker Barrel Old Country Store® announced today the launch of ‘There’s Comfort in Giving’, a program to donate meals and pay-it-forward to healthcare professionals in the HCA Healthcare system fighting on the frontlines of COVID-19.

Over the next few weeks, Cracker Barrel will donate 5,000 meals to healthcare workers at select hospitals in partnership with Sony Music Nashville. Country music superstar Chris Young will kick off the program with a live stream performance on the Cracker Barrel Facebook page on Sunday, April 26. In addition to Young, who will remain involved throughout the campaign, participating Sony Music Nashville artists include Adam Doleac, Jameson Rodgers, Niko Moon, Matt Stell, Mitchell Tenpenny, Rachel Wammack, Robert Counts, Seaforth, and The Sisterhood Band . Many artists will host performances on their own social channels as well as engage on Cracker Barrel channels to help provide comfort and entertainment to those at home. Each Sony Music Nashville act has chosen specific hospitals that hold special meaning to them to receive meal donations.

“We’re humbled and honored to provide meals to those on the frontlines working so hard to protect us,” said Jeff Sigel, Vice President of Marketing for Cracker Barrel. “Thanks to a great partnership with Sony Music Nashville, we’re pleased to invite guests and fans to pay it forward.” 

Guests and fans will have the opportunity to join Cracker Barrel and Sony Music Nashville in paying it forward. When guests and fans give the virtual gift of a homestyle meal to someone they love, Cracker Barrel will give a meal to a frontline worker. With the purchase of every $10 in Cracker Barrel Old Country Store® e-gift cards via crackerbarrel.com now through May 12, Cracker Barrel will donate one additional meal (up to 5,000 meals) to healthcare workers as a ‘thank you’ for their tireless efforts during these unprecedented times. The meals will go to caregivers at HCA Healthcare affiliated hospitals in the following locations: 

• Medical City Healthcare in Dallas, Texas
• HCA Houston Healthcare in Houston, Texas
• HCA Healthcare affiliated hospitals in Orlando, Florida
• HCA Healthcare affiliated hospitals in Tampa, Florida
• TriStar Health in Nashville, Tennessee

“I am glad to be teaming up with Cracker Barrel to give back to the doctors, nurses, and first responders who are pushed to the limit day in and day out fighting COVID-19,” said multi-platinum selling Sony Music Nashville recording artist, Chris Young. “My Dad is in the high risk category as a cancer survivor and missing part of his lung and I’m immensely grateful for everything our healthcare workers are doing to keep everyone safe.”

“We are deeply grateful to Cracker Barrel and Sony Music Nashville for generously honoring our healthcare heroes,” said Heather J. Rohan, President of TriStar Health. “Thank you for recognizing our dedicated caregivers who are giving their all everyday on the frontlines.”

Visit www.crackerbarrelcom/comfort for more information about Cracker Barrel’s ‘There’s Comfort in Giving’ program and/or to  purchase an e-gift card.

Acclaimed 2-time CMA Vocal Group of the Year and 2-time ACM Group of the Year Old Dominion reveal mini-documentary behind their moving music video for single “Some People Do.” The documentary goes deeper into celebrity men’s groomer, Jason Schneidman’s story, who the music video was inspired by, as well as shows the band on the ground with him in Los Angeles. Click HERE to watch. 

Jason Schneidman, who also works with Old Dominion, was previously homeless and, after overcoming drug addiction, turned his life around. In his spare time, he helps out the homeless of LA, providing haircuts as a means to connect with those who may be battling addiction issues, and funds scholarships to rehab centers. Back in early February 2020, the band joined him on the to help out. The visuals, directed by Mason Allen, show the effect that if we all do a little, we can help out a lot.

Jason Schneidman’s Men’s Groomer Foundation is inspired by more than just a calling but the ability to help people get off the street and back on their feet. A haircut can change a person’s appearance, instill confidence and allow someone to reach for opportunities when they thought life had passed them by. The foundation seeks to help give second chances and helping anyone out who is willing to do the work. The foundation is working with rehabs in California providing funding through the sales of Schneidman’s products. For more information go to: https://themensgroomer.com/pages/the-mission

“Some People Do” is Old Dominion’s newest single with currently over 26.2  million streams. The song is the latest track off Old Dominion’s self-titled third studio album, which was released in the fall of 2019. Old Dominion’s most recent single, “One Man Band” went to No. 1 and was certified platinum by the RIAA. With over 319 million streams, “One Man Band” marked the band’s 8th consecutive No. 1 and biggest song to date. Most recently, the band notably received eight ACM nominations, as well also Platinum and Gold certifications for 5 of their other hit songs: “Written in the Sand” (2x Platinum), “Break Up With Him” (2x Platinum), “Hotel Key” (Platinum), “Make It Sweet” (Gold) and “Nowhere Fast” (Gold). 

RCA Nashville star Ryan Hurd has released his brand new single “Every Other Memory” today to all streaming platforms and digital retailers. Listen here.

“‘Every Other Memory’ just feels like such a nostalgic track,” said Hurd. “It’s so cool because it feels like each line in the song is almost like an emoji. It’s a feeling and it’s a picture that you can just really grab onto. The way the words came out, it just felt like each picture was really amazing.”

Hurd co-wrote the new track with Nathan Spicer and Cole Taylor. “Every Other Memory” follows Hurd’s Gold-certified Top 20 hit “To A T,” and is his first taste of new music since releasing his Platonic EP last year, which “balances commercial viability with a very grounded and organic songwriting approach” (American Songwriter).

“Country music’s next big star” (AOL) recently released two live videos from his headlining PLATONIC TOUR: “timely message of solidarity” (ABC News Radio) “Wish for the World” and his “haunting” (Billboard) cover of Taylor Swift’s “False God,” which received high praise from its original composer. 

Arista Nashville’s Adam Doleac is treating fans to a collection of his most loved tunes – along with a new track – with the release of his Famous EP, now available for streaming and purchase.

On the heels of the title track’s release to country radio nationwide, the project chronicles Doleac’s time in Nashville and rise to success, featuring his debut release and SiriusXM The Highway’s Top 5 “Whiskey’s Fine,” autobiographical favorite “Mom and Daddy’s Money,” and new song “I Choose Lonely.” Co-produced by Jason Gantt (“SOLO”), Lindsay Rimes (“Whiskey’s Fine”) and Andy Skib (“Famous,” “I Choose Lonely,” “Mom and Daddy’s Money”), the EP exemplifies Doleac’s “mesmerizing vocals” and trademark “ear-grabbing guitar parts” ( Billboard ). 

Listen to Adam Doleac’s Famous EPHERE.

“These songs and the inspiration behind them go back as far as five years and some only a few months ago. So for people to finally get to see how they all come together as one body of work is the coolest thing for me,” said Doleac. “This is my first Arista Nashville EP since signing with Sony Music Nashville, and I couldn’t be more thrilled to be able to share this music that means so much to me with all my fans.”

Shortly after his label signing in October 2019, Doleac released his single “Famous” to country radio, along with a concept video featuring ABC’s The Bachelor sweethearts Colton Underwood and Cassie Randolph.  “Famous,” already a two-week No.1 hit on SiriusXM’s The Highway, has collectively accrued over 50 million streams to date. 
TRACK LISTING: 

1. Famous (Adam Doleac/Bobby Hamrick/Andy Skib)
2. Neon Fools (Adam Doleac/Thomas Finchum/Andy Skib)
3. I Choose Lonely (Adam Doleac/Jason Sellers/Paul Jenkins)
4. SOLO (Adam Doleac/Jason Gantt/Chris Gelbuda)
5. Mom and Daddy’s Money (Adam Doleac/AJ Babcock/Pete Good)
6. Whiskey’s Fine (Adam Doleac/Monty Criswell)

Global superstar Brad Paisley has unveiled “No I In Beer,” his first country radio single of 2020 impacting immediately. The new arrival, which Paisley co-wrote with longtime collaborator Kelley Lovelace in 2018, is about spending time with close friends and family. Listen HERE.

“People are utilizing this time to connect and to feel solidarity as human beings,” said Paisley. “This song wasn’t written for this specific moment we are all facing, but it takes on a new meaning for me when I hear it now.” 

In keeping with the uplifting spirit of his song, Paisley plans to host virtual happy hours and continue performing live stream concerts in the immediate future. 

“If we’ve ever felt unified as Americans,” Paisley went on to say, “as citizens of the world, it’s in the fact that nobody loves what we’re going through, but everybody’s willing to do what we have to do. One of those things is, let’s be a team.”