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

Trent Harmon To Release Debut Album YOU GOT ‘EM ALL May 18

Trent Harmon sat down with Good Morning America co-host Lara Spencer yesterday morning to exclusively reveal YOU GOT ‘EM ALL will be released everywhere May 18.

Featuring eleven songs – several of which he co-wrote, including the hit title track – Trent’s debut album on Big Machine Records was recorded in Nashville alongside producers Jimmy Robbins and Scott Borchetta. Pre-order on TrentHarmon.com will be available in the coming weeks, but fans can preview the lead single now HERE.

“It is surreal that this moment is almost here,” said Trent. “My album is two years in the making, and it was worth every minute. I’m grateful to have taken the time to write songs, which was never something I had never done before. The fact that I have been able to make this album so personal is very special to me.’

YOU GOT ‘EM ALL Track List
1. “You Got ‘Em All” | Trent Harmon, Justin Ebach, Jordan Minton
2. “There’s a Girl” | Trent Harmon, Jimmy Robbins, Laura Veltz
3. “Hold On” | Jim Beavers, Chris Stapleton
4. “Her” | Trent Harmon, Jimmy Robbins, Laura Veltz
5. “First Five Minutes” | Trent Harmon, Paul DiGiovanni, Adam Hambrick
6. “Money’s On You” | Trent Harmon, Justin Ebach, Josh Thompson
7. “’Cause I Do” | Trent Harmon, Josh Kerr, Nick Wayne
8. “On Paper” | Trent Harmon, Jimmy Robbins, Laura Veltz
9. “My Somebody” | Trent Harmon, Jimmy Robbins, Laura Veltz
10. “Falling (Remix)” | Dallas Davidson, Brett James, Keith Urban
11. “Chandelier” | Sia Furler, Jesse Shatkin

As the reigning American Idol, Trent also spoke about his experience on the show and offered advice on how to navigate the pressures of competition.

“The hardest part of the show is not knowing what comes next,” expressed Trent. “You just go out there and perform the best you can, but it is hard to prepare when you don’t know what lies ahead. It is so exciting but also nerve wracking.”

Trent will share music from the new album on his headline dates throughout the summer in addition to select shows on tour with Country superstars Rascal Flatts. He will perform during CMA Fest in Nashville in June. For more information, visit TrentHarmon.com.

Drew Baldridge Announces Shriners Hospital for Children As First WERD Charity Initiative

Drew Baldridge and his new monthly charity initiative, WERD, has announced Shriners Hospital for Children will receive all proceeds raised during the month of April 2018. WERD, (Drew spelled backwards,) was created by the up-and-coming country star to inspire his fans to Win, Encourage, Rejoice, Daily. Each month a new charity will be selected with all proceeds raised from WERD T-shirt sales at shows and online merchandise store to be donated to the selected charity.

Although the charity of choice will change each month, Baldridge picked Shriners Hospitals to kick off his initiative because of his own personal childhood experience. He explains, “When I was in the seventh grade I was having issues with my feet and those issues kept me from playing basketball. I was breaking my feet a lot, and then I went to Shriners. They built special shoes for me to wear all throughout high school. I was so grateful for all of their help and I have always wanted to find ways to give back to them.”

Shriners Hospitals for Children is changing lives every day through innovative pediatric specialty care, world-class research and outstanding medical education. Their health care system provides advanced care for children with orthopedic conditions, burns, spinal cord injuries, and cleft lip and palate. Shriners Hospitals for Children is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization and relies on the generosity of donors.

“We couldn’t be more grateful that Drew has chosen Shriners Hospitals for Children as the first charity he represents as part of his WERD campaign,” said Stephanie Herron, chief development officer for Shriners Hospitals Children. “It’s even more meaningful to us that as a former patient of our hospital in St. Louis, that he has chosen to give back in honor of the wrap-around care our experienced health care professionals provided him, and made a difference for him at a critical time in his life.”

ACM New Artists of The Year Award Winners Revealed

The Academy of Country Music® revealed the winners of the new artist categories for the 53rd ACADEMY OF COUNTRY MUSIC AWARDS™, Country Music’s Party of the Year®. Lauren Alaina, Midland, and Brett Young have been named New Female Vocalist of the Year, New Vocal Duo or Group of the Year, and New Male Vocalist of the Year, respectively.

The winners received a surprise phone call from 53rd ACM Awards® host Reba McEntire notifying them of the news. In addition, Lauren Alaina, Midland, and Brett Young will all perform on the ACM Awards, to be broadcast LIVE from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on Sunday, April 15, 2018 at 8:00 PM ET/delayed PT on the CBS Television Network.

These awards mark the first-ever ACM Award wins for Alaina, Midland and Young. In addition, Alaina is nominated for Vocal Event of the Year for “What Ifs” with Kane Brown, and Midland is nominated for Vocal Group of the Year and Single Record of the Year for “Drinkin’ Problem.”

Tickets to the ACM Awards are now on sale at www.axs.com. For more information on the ACM Awards and all ACM events including ACM Party for a Cause®, visit www.ACMcountry.com and www.PartyForaCause.com. You can like Academy of Country Music on Facebook or follow on Twitter at @ACMawards and Instagram @ACMAwards for more immediate updates.