For the first time ever, “Voice” coaches Kelly Clarkson, Alicia Keys, Adam Levine and Blake Shelton have recruited those who know best how to navigate and win the competition to advise their artists – former “Voice” champions. Winners Cassadee Pope, Jordan Smith, Chris Blue and Chloe Kohanski will serve as advisers for the coaches during the Knockout Rounds on NBC’s four-time Emmy Award-winning musical competition series “The Voice,” beginning Monday, April 2 (8-10 p.m. ET/PT).
Grammy-award nominee and “The Voice” Season 3 winner Cassadee Pope, who is releasing new music on Friday, will advise Team Kelly. As an adviser during the Knockout Round, Pope will work with and mentor the remaining artists on Team Clarkson.
“Going back to ‘The Voice’ is like coming home,” says Pope. “It was such an honor to give advice to these incredible artists alongside Kelly (Clarkson). Having done exactly what they’re doing, I felt this urge to let them know the nerves are normal and to just breathe through it all. If a past ‘Voice’ winner came back to advise me during my season, it would’ve been extremely welcomed! I can’t wait for everyone to see these artists in action.”
Thompson Square Set To Release First Full Length Album In Five Years
MULTI-PLATINUM selling and two-time GRAMMY-nominated Country duo THOMPSON SQUARE have just revealed news of their first album in more than five years, announcing the June 1 release of their third studio project, MASTERPIECE.
Working independently for the first time in their career, the award-winning pair continue to explore the organic vocal blend at the core of their husband-and-wife team, a quality which has made Keifer and Shawna Thompson one of the best loved male/female duos in recent Country-music memory.
Eleven new tracks follow in the romantic footsteps of #1 hits like the MULTI-PLATINUM “Are You Gonna Kiss Me Or Not” and GOLD-certified “If I Didn’t Have You,” while new influences from R&B, reggae and hard rock works its way into the album’s sound. The duo recorded with studio aces Nathan Chapman (Taylor Swift) and Dann Huff (Keith Urban), but also self-produced a handful of tracks as they step up to take control of their musical destiny.
“This album is called MASTERPIECE, and the definition of a masterpiece is an artist’s life’s work,” Keifer says. “When we’re 80 years old and we look back, we want to be able to say we’re really proud of all the stuff we did.”
“It is extremely diverse,” Shawna adds. “We didn’t design it that way, but Keifer and I love all types of music, and I think that shows more on this record than any of the others.”
Marking the beginning of the next chapter of Thompson Square’s story, five songs (“Masterpiece,” “A Love Like This,” “Millionaires,” “Up In Smoke” and “Let’s Do Something Stupid”) are available now for fans and the full length album is available for pre-order here. After breaking out in 2010 with the tempting come-on of “Are You Gonna Kiss Me Or Not,” the duo went on to place three more singles in Country radio’s Top 10, while both of their first two albums landed in Billboard’s Top 5.
Thompson Square have traveled the world with superstars like Jason Aldean and Lady Antebellum, and even scored a #1 hit in Australia with 2013’s “Everything I Shouldn’t Be Thinking About,” earning GRAMMY nominations and trophies from the Academy of Country Music and the Country Music Association along the way. Sharing their love for both wine and music, Thompson Square launched the fun Facebook series, #WinoWednesday, which gives fans a chance to connect with the duo plus hear new tunes, the hits and even some covers. Tune in at 7pm CT tonight (3/28), as Keifer and Shawna host #WinoWednesday live from their SOLD OUT concert at City Winery in Nashville.
They stepped away from the limelight to welcome the birth of their first child in 2016 – a son named Rigney Cooper – and are now back with the MASTERPIECE album and a summer of nationwide tour dates, which will include acoustic and full-band shows. More details will be revealed soon.
Scotty McCreery Lands At No. 1 With New Album SEASONS CHANGE
Scotty McCreery has walked through many seasons, both hot and cold, since breaking onto the country music scene in 2011, and yet, it seems as though this is only the beginning. His new album, Seasons Change, arrived at No. 1 on the Billboard Country Albums Chart, marking his fourth full album to enter at No. 1 on a Billboard album chart, selling more than 40,000 units in its release week (released 3/16/18), one of the strongest first weeks for a country music album in the last year.
Seasons Change, joins McCreery’s Clear As Day (2011), Christmas With Scotty McCreery (2012) and See You Tonight (2013), all of which reached chart-topping success in their respective album release cycles. The album was produced by Frank Rogers, Derek Wells and Aaron Eshuis.
“It’s been quite a journey these last few years, and to learn that Seasons Change has debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard Country Albums Chart is awesome and so gratifying,” said McCreery. “I’m glad everyone is enjoying the new music. I am so thankful to my fans, who have always been so supportive. With a No. 1 album, my first-ever No. 1 single, and my upcoming wedding to the love of my life, I just don’t see how 2018 can get any better!”
Seasons Change, which the Tennessean called “an intensely personal album” is McCreery’s first record in five years – proving sometimes, things are worth the wait. Perhaps his most anticipated project yet, the album, released on Triple Tigers Records, catches fans up to where McCreery is in life today, and exactly how he got here.
Unlike his previous releases, Seasons Change showcases McCreery’s songwriting talents on all 11 tracks, featuring collaborations with Jessi Alexander (Dierks Bentley, Brad Paisley, Blake Shelton), Monty Criswell (Eric Church, Darius Rucker, George Strait) and more. With themes such as losing loved ones, moving out on his own, falling in love and coming of age, Seasons Change is a reflective and honest narrative of McCreery’s experience navigating life in his early twenties.
A No. 1 debut is not the first recognition McCreery’s new music has seen. The single “Five More Minutes,” which was released independently last year, earned McCreery his first No. 1 single to date, reaching the top spot on both the Billboard and Mediabase/Country Aircheck Country Airplay charts. The song has become the highest-ranking single of his career and is RIAA Gold certified.
Just as seasons change, a new one begins for the now 24-year-old. “There aren’t too many rebirths that happen in Nashville,” he told Rolling Stone. Yet, McCreery is back, stronger than ever and ready for the sure-to-be promising seasons ahead.
Fans can hear Seasons Change here.
Rodney Atkins Returns With Brand New Single “Caught Up In The Country” Featuring The Fisk Jubilee Singers
Curb recording artist Rodney Atkins is “back and better than ever,” according to Whiskey Riff, with his new single “Caught Up In The Country” available on digital and streaming platforms now and impacting country radio on Monday, April 23.
The lead single and title track off his forthcoming fifth studio album features Atkins’ timeless twang while pushing boundaries through a thunderous beat and vocals from the Fisk Jubilee Singers. The historic a cappella vocal group consisting of students at Nashville’s Fisk University has performed everywhere from the White House to the United Kingdom, where Queen Victoria noted that such a talented group must come from the Music City of the United States – and thus Nashville’s nickname was born.
Atkins recently collaborated with the group at Music City’s iconic Ryman Auditorium and knew he had to include them on his album. The resulting song, called a “contagious country anthem” by The Boot and applauded for its “modern ‘anything goes’ style of production” by Taste of Country, serves as the perfect launching pad for Atkins’ return to country music.
“Listening to the Fisk Jubilee Singers with their hand clapping and foot stomping music is really a spiritual experience,” says Atkins. “When I heard ‘Caught Up In The Country’ I just felt like the two things had to come together. It doesn’t sound like anything I’ve recorded or released before and that also excites me.”
Atkins’ new music follows a season of personal renewal for the platinum-selling artist, which he credits for helping him to take stock not just of where he had been but also where he is going. He married fellow performer Rose Falcon, with whom he welcomed new baby Ryder Falcon Atkins in December, and her impact – whether lyrically, in a duet or just in spirit – is evident throughout Atkins’ new music.
“I equated it to my bow and arrow moment,” Atkins says. “I felt like I needed to stop, take a few steps back. Re-aim. Re-adjust. Get back on target, and to the level I wanted to operate on.”
For more information, visit www.rodneyatkins.com or follow online @RodneyAtkins.
Ryan Hurd Releases New Song “Diamonds Or Twine” As Wedding Gift For Wife Maren Morris
RCA Nashville singer/songwriter Ryan Hurd releases brand new song “Diamonds or Twine” as a wedding gift for his bride-to-be (now WIFE), Maren Morris. Hurd first played the soulful love track for Morris the night he popped the question in Michigan last summer. However, unbeknownst to Morris, the “Love In A Bar” singer/songwriter secretly recorded the track with long-time producer, Aaron Essuis, as a gift to celebrate their wedding weekend.
Co-penned by Hurd, Laura Veltz and Mark Trussell, “Diamonds Or Twine” is available at all retail partners now. Listen Now!
“I played this song for Maren the night we got engaged,” shares Hurd. “We were at the lake in Michigan, on the dock, and I will never forget that moment. Diamonds or twine, no matter what, I’ll be yours and you’ll be mine.”
“Diamonds Or Twine” Lyrics
You know when you know
You hear that all your life
Well whoever they are
Turns out they were right
The sunshine, the good times
Yeah we’ve got a few behind us
But when the bad times come
I ain’t gonna runIt doesn’t matter if it’s diamonds or twine
I’ll be wrapped around your finger
Girl you got me till we run out of time
Rich or poor, rain or shine
The winds gonna blow wherever it goes
And the road is gonna wind
It doesn’t matter if it’s diamonds or twine
Forever more, I’ll be yours, and you’ll be mine
When I look at you now
I see all I ever wanted
You make me wanna hang around
And hold your hand when we’re a hundred
You make love feel so real
So simple and honest
It’s in every breath, in every kiss
Yeah the thing about you is
It doesn’t matter if it’s diamonds or twine
I’ll be wrapped around your finger
Girl you got me till we run out of time
Rich or poor, rain or shine
The winds gonna blow wherever it goes
And the road is gonna wind
It doesn’t matter if its diamonds or twine
Forevermore, I’ll be yours, and you’ll be mine
You’ll be my baby yeah
It don’t matter where
Whatever happens
Girl I’ll still be there
It doesn’t matter if it’s diamonds or twine
I’ll be wrapped around your finger
Girl you got me till we run out of time
Rich or poor, rain or shine
The winds gonna blow wherever it goes
And the road is gonna wind
It doesn’t matter if its diamonds or twine
Diamonds or twine
It doesn’t matter if it’s diamonds or twine
Forevermore, I’ll be yours, and you’ll be mine
Diamonds or twine