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ABC - Country Music News

Sam Hunt's throwing a two-night "House Party" in Vegas

Todd Owyoung/NBC

Sam Hunt is headed to Fontainebleau Las Vegas' BleauLive Theater for two nights on Friday, October 25, and Saturday, October 26.

Presale for Citi cardmembers and Sam's fan club begins Tuesday, April 16, at 10 a.m. PT and Wednesday, April 17, at 10 a.m. PT. General sale kicks off Friday, April 19, at 10 a.m. PT. For tickets, head to Fontainebleau Las Vegas' website.

Before heading to Sin City, Sam will kick off his Locked Up Tour on June 28 in Bend, Oregon, before wrapping in London, Ontario, on September 28. Tickets and a full list of dates can be found at samhunt.com.

On the music front, Sam's approaching the peak of the country charts with "Outskirts." You can find it on his Locked Up EP, out now.

Copyright © 2024, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.


Keith's recorded a duet with Lainey, and he's "ready for it to come out"

ABC

Keith Urban and Lainey Wilson have recorded a duet — and it might be dropping soon.

In a recent interview with ET, Keith revealed that he's already got a collab with Lainey in the cans and is beaming with excitement to release it. 

"So, 'Straight Line,' [was the] first single, 'Messed Up as Me,' just came out in February, and we have another single coming out [in May] -- that's a duet," Keith said. "So excited to get that out."

Could this duet be the one with Lainey?

"You just never know!" Keith teased. "We recorded it last summer, and I've been having to sit on this thing since then, so I'm ready for it to come out. Then the album later this year."

While you wait for May's release, you can check out "Straight Line" and "Messed Up as Me" wherever you enjoy music.

Copyright © 2024, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.


Zac Brown Band to honor Jimmy Buffett with new track

Disney/Frank Micelotta

Zac Brown Band are honoring their late friend Jimmy Buffett with a new track, "Pirates & Parrots," arriving Friday.

If you find the song title familiar, it's because Zac Brown Band sang its chorus at the 2023 CMA Awards with Alan Jackson during an all-star tribute to Jimmy. 

Its studio version will also feature Jimmy's longtime friend Mac McAnally.

You can presave "Pirates & Parrots" now to hear it as soon as it drops.

For tickets to see Zac Brown Band on Kenny Chesney's ongoing Sun Goes Down Tour, head to zacbrownband.com.
 

Copyright © 2024, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.


The one apparel that's dominating Bailey Zimmerman's closet? Sports jerseys

Monica Schipper/Getty Images for Stagecoach

Bailey Zimmerman may be a rising country star, but there still are days when he feels like he doesn't have enough clothes.

"It’s so funny because the other day I was like, 'Man, I ain’t got no clothes.' And my buddy that lives with me goes, 'Dude, you have so much clothes. What are you even talking about?' I’m like, 'No, I don’t," Bailey recalls in a press interview.

Well, Bailey's friend and housemate was right.

"[My buddy] opened up my closet door, and he’s like, 'That whole closet is jerseys and all the stuff you’ve got. And that’s just one closet, buddy. So yeah, you have a lot of clothes. Yes, you do," Bailey continues.

If you've not seen Bailey live yet, he usually pays homage to cities he's at by throwing on their hometown team's sports jerseys whenever he's singing at a sports venue. 

So, the next time you see him in your hometown, don't be surprised if he passes off as a local.

On the music front, Bailey's current single, "Where It Ends," is in the top 10 and making its way up the country charts. You can find it on his debut record, Religiously. The Album., out now.

Copyright © 2024, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.


Nashville notes: Warren Zeiders' acoustic drop + Colt Ford cancels shows

Warren Zeiders has dropped an acoustic version of his song, "Heartbreaker." You can check it out now on YouTube and all digital platforms.

Colt Ford's publicist has offered an update on his post-heart attack recovery. "In the past week, Ford has made significant progress in his recovery and his condition is slowly but steadily improving," read the press statement. Colt's scheduled tour dates through August 31 have also been canceled. For more information, visit his website.

Chris Stapleton was the musical guest on the latest episode of Saturday Night Live and performed his songs "White Horse" and "Mountains of My Mind." In case you missed it, you can watch them now on YouTube.
 

Copyright © 2024, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.


Jelly Roll on how he lost 70 pounds and plans to lose more

Disney/Eric McCandless

Jelly Roll is sharing details of his health transformation as he prepares to kick off his nationwide tour in August.

The 39-year-old singer told People magazine he has lost around 70 pounds and hopes to lose another 100 pounds by eating well and exercising.

"I'm doing two to three miles a day, four to six days a week. I'm doing 20 to 30 minutes in the sauna, six minutes in a cold plunge every day. I'm eating healthy right now," Jelly Roll told People. "I feel really good."

He continued, "I was thinking, I plan on losing another 100, 100-and-something [pounds]. If I feel this good down this weight, man, I can only imagine what I'm going to feel like by the time I go on tour."

The singer has spoken out about his weight before, describing in the ABC News Studios-produced documentary Jelly Roll: Save Me that he was told he was "too fat" to succeed in music.

"They say we were too fat to be in the music business, my voice wasn't cool enough -- these were all mountains that we had to conquer," Jelly Roll said in the documentary.

After overcoming additional obstacles including addiction, incarceration and mental health struggles, Jelly Roll is now a country music superstar.

Earlier this month, he took home three awards at the 2024 CMT Music Awards, including CMT Performance of the Year, Video of the Year and Male Video of the Year, the latter of which he also won the previous year.

Jelly Roll's "Beautifully Broken" tour kicks off Aug. 27 in Salt Lake City and ends Oct. 27 in Charlotte, North Carolina. Tickets are available now at jellyroll615.com.

Copyright © 2024, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.


Luke Combs tugs at the heartstrings with unreleased song, "Take Me Out to the Ballgame"

ABC

Luke Combs may have party songs like "Beer Never Broke My Heart," but he's never one to shy from heartfelt numbers.

The country star took to Instagram recently to share an acoustic preview of an unreleased track, "Take Me Out to the Ballgame."

The heartrending ode chronicles a young boy's plea for his dad to take him to a ballgame and spend quality time together. As the story unfolds, listeners learn that the kid's parents are divorced, and the boy pines for his parents' reconciliation.

"Take me out to the ball game/ Pick me up at the house/ What's this every other weekend thing even all about?/ 'Cause mama said she loves you, and in some ways always will/ I guess maybe things are different now, but daddy can't you still?/ Take me out to the ball game," Luke sings in the video while playing his acoustic guitar in a stadium.

You can watch the full clip now on Luke's Instagram.

Luke recently kicked off his Growin’ Up and Gettin’ Old Tour in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, with upcoming stadium shows in Buffalo, New York; Jacksonville, Florida; and San Antonio, Texas. Tickets are available now at lukecombs.com.

Copyright © 2024, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.


Russell Dickerson plots trip across the pond

ABC

Russell Dickerson is gearing up to bring country music across the pond.

The "Every Little Thing" singer will head out on his Good Day To Have A Great Tour in August for shows in the U.K., Northern Ireland and the Netherlands.

The trek kicks off August 23 in Belfast, Northern Ireland, before hitting the U.K. and concluding in Amsterdam, Netherlands, on September 1.

"I’m so excited to see the RD Fam across the world!" Russell says in a press release. "I’ve had the best time playing in the UK in the past so to be able to return and play in the UK, Northern Ireland, and the Netherlands is honestly a dream come true."

"Can’t wait to see everybody - we are going to have many great days on the road this summer!" he adds.

Tickets go on sale Friday, April 19, at 9 a.m. local time at Russell's website.

In the meantime, while you wait, you can presave Russell's new song, "Good Day to Have a Great Day," arriving May 3.

Copyright © 2024, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.


Saddle up for a new Lainey Wilson documentary special

ABC

Lainey Wilson and ABC News Studios are teaming up for a new documentary-style special.

With production led by Robin Roberts, the project will chronicle Lainey's rise to stardom and spotlight her versatility and multimedia career as a singer, songwriter and actress.

"It’s such an honor to be a part of this project," says the "Heart Like a Truck" hitmaker. "Thank you to Robin and ABC News Studios for helping bring light to my story throughout the past year. I can’t wait for everyone to watch."

"I look forward to telling stories about talented women who are strong and authentic. Lainey is definitely one of those women, and I can’t wait to share her uplifting story with audiences around the world," shares Robin.

"Robin has a passion for telling stories about the human experience," adds Mike Kelley, head of ABC News Studios. "This project gets to the heart of the triumphs and challenges in Lainey’s journey to the top of country music. We can’t wait to share it with the Hulu audience."

Lainey's special will start streaming on Hulu Wednesday, May 29.

Tickets to Lainey's Country's Cool Again Tour, which kicks off in Nashville on May 31, are available now at laineywilson.com.

Copyright © 2024, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.


Forever on the Heart: Conner Smith marries wife Leah Thompson

Brett Carlsen/Getty Images for BMLG

Conner Smith is officially a married man.

The "Creek Will Rise" singer tied the knot with his wife, Leah Thompson, in Wilmington, North Carolina, on Friday, April 12.

"Mr & Mrs Smith // 4/12/24 [ring emoji]," Leah captioned the Instagram carousel, which featured heartwarming photos from their wedding day.

Conner and Leah said "I do" at Lebanon Chapel, with Conner dressed in a dapper black suit, white shirt and black tie, while Leah donned a classic white gown. 

The couple got engaged on September 26, 2023. 

On the music front, Conner's headed to country radio with his next single, the Hailey Whitters-assisted "Roulette on the Heart." You can find it on his debut album, Smoky Mountains, out now.

Copyright © 2024, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.


Warren Zeiders was sick + out on tour when "Pretty Little Poison" hit #1

Disney/Randy Holmes

If you thought Warren Zeiders was in full party mode the week "Pretty Little Poison" hit #1, you're wrong. 

Unfortunately, as Warren recounts, he was under the weather and was trying to get on the mend while juggling a busy tour schedule.

"You know, I'm a firm believer in the fact that God has a sense of humor. So when I went #1, I happened to be sick for two weeks straight [and was] trying to get over that while on tour," Warren recounts to ABC Audio.

"Needless to say, I think it's a great example of a pinch-me moment. You're still living, you're still breathing. The good and bad, ebb and flow can all happen to you even in the highest moments," he notes.

Regardless, Warren's thankful now to have his career-first #1 under his belt. 

"Hearing those words still doesn't feel real," says the country newcomer. "I'm just very grateful for it." 

"Pretty Little Poison" is the title track of Warren's 2023 debut album, which received the deluxe treatment in February. 

Later this fall, Warren will join Jelly Roll on his Beautifully Broken Tour. For tickets and Warren's full tour schedule, head to his website.
 

Copyright © 2024, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.


Jelly Roll sued by Philadelphia musician Jellyroll for trademark infringement

Scott Kirkland/Disney

How many Jelly Rolls is too many? For one Philadelphia musician, there can only be one, and it's him.

Jelly Roll, born Jason DeFord, has been hit with a lawsuit by musician Kurt Titchenell, who performs with his band under the name Jellyroll. According to legal documents obtained by ABC News, Titchenell says he and his band have been performing at weddings, galas and charity events in the Philadelphia area under that name since 1980; he trademarked the name in 2010.

Grammy-winning singer Jelly Roll, meanwhile, says he adopted that name because his mom called him that as a kid. He began releasing mixtapes as Jelly Roll in 2003. Titchenell claims that by using the name, Jelly Roll is violating his trademark. The suit alleges that currently, if you Google the name, you get "as many as 18-20 references" to the Jelly Roll of "Need a Favor" fame "before any reference to plaintiff’s entertainment dance band known as Jellyroll can be found.”

According to the suit, Titchenell's lawyers sent a cease-and-desist letter to Jelly Roll in February, and though there were "conversations," they didn't come to an agreement. Titchenell's attorneys write in the suit, "At one point, defendant’s counsel inquired as to whether defendant really was in competition with plaintiff.”

The suit now seeks an immediate court order to stop Jelly Roll from using the name, saying that his continued use of it will "irreparably harm" Titchenell and cause "actual confusion, mistake, and deception" in the marketplace — especially given the fact that Jelly Roll has a concert planned in Philadelphia in October.

At press time, Jelly Roll's team had not responded to ABC Audio's request for comment.

Copyright © 2024, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.


Nashville notes: Fresh tracks from Avery Anna, Ryan Hurd + Vincent Mason

Avery Anna has dropped an autobiographical new breakup song, "Two Sides of the Story." "I felt a lot of closure writing this song. To me it conveys the acceptance after heartbreak when you truly know that no matter what happened, and who is to blame, the outcome is the same. All that’s left to do at that point is move on," Avery reflects to the press.

"To a T" singer Ryan Hurd has teamed up with pop artist Sasha Alex Sloan for a ruminative new track, "Go to Bed Sober." Ryan and Sasha penned it with King Henry, and it's the follow-up release to "Midwest Rock & Roll." 

Up-and-coming country singer/songwriter Vincent Mason's new track, "Livin' Proof," has arrived. "'Livin' Proof' was written about a heartache so bad that you become unrecognizable to your friends and even yourself," Vincent shares.
 

Copyright © 2024, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.


Riley Green super serves fans with 'Way Out Here' EP

Courtesy of Nashville Harbor Records & Entertainment

Riley Green is celebrating the kickoff of his annual Duckman Jam at Flora-Bama with a new EP, Way Out Here.

Out now, the seven-song set includes the earlier released "Worst Way" and its title track, as well as a cover of Bruce Springsteen's "Atlantic City."

"We’ve been playing these new songs on the road and wanted to get them to the fans [as] soon as possible," Riley say in a press release. "I’m always working on new music and have more coming throughout the year."

Riley's Way Out Here EP was preceded by his latest full-length album, Ain't My Last Rodeo, which arrived in 2023.

Here's the Way Out Here EP track list:
"Jesus Saves"
"Way Out Here"
"Atlantic City"
"Good Morning from Mexico"
"Damn Good Day to Leave"
"Pick a Place"
"Worst Way"

Copyright © 2024, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.


Cole Swindell drops personal love song, "Forever to Me"

Courtesy of Warner Music Nashville

Art imitates life for Cole Swindell in his new song, "Forever to Me."

Co-written by Cole, the romantic ode follows a guy recounting putting a ring on his sweetheart and all it entails.

"She gave eighteen summers to Caroline/ Spent a few more wild and free/ Gave a long shot chance to a Georgia boy in Tennessee/ I gavе a promise to her daddy/ And a grass stain to my knee/ I mighta gave hеr the diamond, but she gave forever to me," Cole sings in the chorus.

"To be living in a moment and get to write about it, I don’t think it can ever get more real than that," says Cole, who's engaged to Courtney Little. "Outside of 'You Should Be Here,' I think this song is honestly one of the most personal songs I have written and shows exactly where I am in my life."

"Greylan [James], Rocky [Block] and I knew from the time we sat down to write this song that it was special," he recounts. "This is one I think a lot of folks can relate to in some way- either what you dream about one day or what it is like to finally find your forever."

"Forever to Me" previews Cole's forthcoming as-yet-untitled fifth album.

Coming up, Cole will kick off his Win The Night Tour May 16 in London, Ontario. For tickets and a full list of dates, head to coleswindell.com.

Copyright © 2024, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.


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