Thomas Rhett Set To Release New Single “Craving You” featuring Maren Morris on March 31

Multi-PLATINUM artist Thomas Rhett is set to release a brand new single, “Craving You,” on Friday, March 31. The new track will feature GRAMMY award winner Maren Morris, and serves as the lead single from his forthcoming studio album. 

“I remember hearing ‘Craving You’ and was immediately blown away by the story behind the longing of this guy who can’t wait to see his girl again,” said Thomas Rhett. “There’s this 80s vibe that’s rocking throughout this track that makes it really euphoric. It was so nice to be able to work with Maren whose voice is undeniably powerful and soulful, and just really adds a lot of intensity to the song.”

Find out more about “Craving You” and how the song came to light by watching the video below.

Bailey Bryan To Release “So Far” EP April 14

Critics ranging from Rolling Stone to People, Entertainment Weekly to Huffington Post, The Bobby Bones Show to Perez Hilton have urgently selected singer/songwriter Bailey Bryan as an “Artist You Need to You Need to Hear Now” and the “Next Big Thing.” On the heels of the release of her infectious first single “Own It,” Bryan reveals plans to share more new music with her SO FAR EP (300 Entertainment/Warner Music Nashville), available digitally April 14.

Produced by GRAMMY award-winner Dennis Matkosky, Bryan co-wrote each of the five songs in the collection that is not only her story so far, but also a blueprint for who she wants to be as an artist. These are her stories, presented in a way that allows one to make them his or hers. Followers on Instagram are treated to pictures taken from the road and studio, as well as unfiltered, no makeup shots. And her scar, it’s a striking, waistline to shoulder tops zipper that came after back surgery. It’s a symbol of Bryan’s greatest hardship but also one of the most beautiful things about her, which led to a greater understanding of how the world works, acceptance and honesty.

“This idea, which obviously I believe so strongly in, that the hardships in life, the things that are the hardest to come through are what kind of form the most beautiful things about us,” Bryan says. “If you listen to ’Scars,’ it was inspired by coming to terms with this giant scar that I have on my back and the fact that I love it now, it’s a part of me and it came from a really hard thing.”

That’s Bailey Bryan. Thought-provoking tracks that allow anyone to replace her scar with theirs and then closes with words of wisdom and inspiration. Bryan’s formal country introduction came via a groundbreaking music video for her self-doubt anthem “Own It.” The irresistible clip, shot vertically, portrays her as wild but a little nerdy, awkward in conversation but “Shakespeare when I’m texting.” “Used To” is a more soulful selection of the Sequim, WA native’s dynamic debut project. Even a tear-jerking breakup song like “Hard Drive Home” finds room for optimism or at the very least forward motion. The boy she’s singing about is the one she left behind in Washington, but the emotions return every time her parents leave after a visit.

“I do think the reason I’m able to feel and be positive on a daily basis is just because — especially in my writing — I prioritize honesty,” the singer/songwriter says, pointing first to “Own It” and then the other songs.

SO FAR Track List:
1. Own It
(Bailey Bryan, Dennis Matkosky, Casey Brown)
2. Hard Drive Home
(Bailey Bryan, Dennis Matkosky, Matt McVaney)
3. Scars
(Bailey Bryan, Tom Douglas, Dennis Matkosk)
4. Life Goes On
(Bailey Bryn, Casey Brown, Becki Devries, Dennis Matkosky
5. Used To
(Bailey Bryan, Michael Hardy, Dennis Matkosky)

Carrie Underwood Celebrates 100th Performance at the Grand Ole Opry

Seven-time GRAMMY® Award winner and ACM Entertainer of the Year nominee Carrie Underwood celebrated her 100th performance on the Grand Ole Opry this weekend with four sold-out shows. Underwood made her Opry debut on June 10, 2005, less than two weeks after winning American Idol, and became an official Opry member in 2008. Her love for the Opry started as a child, as she grew up watching and listening to the show, dreaming of one day performing there and even becoming a member herself.

Opry and Country Music Hall of Fame member Connie Smith introduced Underwood on Saturday’s first show and presented her fellow Opry member with a commemorative print and a rose bouquet in celebration of 100 Opry appearances. “Opry fans, all of us Opry members, and the entire Opry family are excited when you come home to the Opry stage,” Smith said to Underwood. “Even when you’ve been on the road more than 200 days a year, you’ve always come back to the Opry. That tells me you love us, and we love you right back.”

“I grew up dreaming of one day performing here and maybe even becoming a member. That dream comes true over and over each time I take the Opry stage,” Underwood said. “Here’s to the next 100!”

Photo by Chris Hollo for Grand Ole Opry

Backstage, Underwood marked the 100-show milestone with a specially-decorated cake from Nashville’s Ivey Cake and 100 pink roses in her dressing room, a surprise gift from the Opry.

This week, Carrie heads to Las Vegas to perform on the “52nd Academy of Country Music Awards” on Sunday, April 2 on CBS where she is up for two awards including Entertainer of the Year and Female Vocalist of the Year. Carrie has a career win of 12 ACM Awards including being the first female artist to be twice named the Academy of Country Music’s Entertainer of the Year and the Triple Crown Award.

Chase Rice Introduces New Music During His “Pub Shows” Concert Series

Chase Rice has established himself as a no-holds-barred artist, as forthright on stage as he is off, constantly finding creative ways to engage with fans and deliver authentic experiences driven by music. Having launched his 2017 tour with back-to-back sold-out shows at the newly built House of Blues in Anaheim, Calif. and returned from a successful Canadian run, Rice veered off the beaten path over the weekend to play his first three “Pub Shows” at select venues throughout Georgia.

Rice named the limited series of underplays after his own “Pub 44” backstage hang, re-creating the intimate, feel-good vibes of his early dive-bar-playing days. All three of the weekend’s shows in Rome, Valdosta, and Columbus, Ga. were packed to capacity as die-hard fans heard several new songs from Rice’s forthcoming studio album live for the first time.

“We always know we’re in for a good time when we play Georgia,” said Rice. “They show up and sing every note of every song — even the ones we haven’t played much yet. Even as we’re still working on the next album, we’re able to perform some of these new songs and see how fans are reacting to them in real time, which is really cool and just goes to show that we’re all in this thing together.”

True to his word, Rice recently released the reflective new song, “If I’m Bein’ Honest,” direct to fans via streaming and digital platforms to give them the first listen and share new music with them immediately as anticipation for the new album continues to build. Rice penned the song himself while on tour in Southern California and was so inspired that he tracked down a local recording studio to record the song and release it – all of which he accomplished in less than 24 hours, from strumming the first guitar chords to releasing it into the world.

“If I’m Bein’ Honest” is available for digital download now at smarturl.it/beinhonest and can be streamed here. Watch real-time video footage of Rice writing and recording the song here.

Rice will perform his second series of Pub Shows later this week, with sold-out stops in Lansing, Mich.; Iowa City, Iowa; and Lincoln, Neb. For ticketing information and upcoming tour dates, visit www.chaserice.com or follow on Twitter @ChaseRiceMusic and Facebook.com/ChaseRiceMusic.

Luke Combs To Release Debut Album “This One’s For You” June 2

Country’s breakout singer/songwriter Luke Combs is set to release his debut album This One’s For You on June 2 with River House Artists/Columbia Nashville, as he revealed today exclusively with Entertainment Weekly.

Forecasted as “one of the most anticipated albums of 2017” by Rolling Stone Country, This One’s For You includes Combs’ debut hit single “Hurricane” which boasts a staggering 59 million streams and continues an unprecedented rise at country radio; reaching No. 1 on SiriusXM’s The Highway in December and this week, landing at No. 13 on both Billboard Country Airplay and Country Aircheck’s Mediabase Chart. This One’s For You will be available for pre-order at digital retailers and LukeCombs.com starting April 28.

The 27-year-old Asheville, NC native co-penned all 12 tracks on the project which birthed from the rise of his music and songwriting in the mountains of North Carolina. In addition to “Hurricane”, This One’s For You includes hallmark fan favorite “One Number Away”, jocular, silver-lining song “When It Rains It Pours” and the poignant part-love letter, part-apology title track dedicated to those who supported Luke on the road to here.

“I couldn’t be more proud of this album. These songs mean so much to me and all my friends who I wrote them with,” shares Combs. “From North Carolina to Nashville, this project has been such a long time in the making and I can’t wait for the fans to hear it. I sincerely hope they enjoy the album because they are the reason I do what I do.”

This One’s For You is the culmination of Combs’ steady, burgeoning groundswell career built through his restless touring schedule and his independently released EPs – Can I Get An Outlaw (2014), The Way She Rides (2014) and This One’s For You – EP (2015). From three-hour acoustic sets at his local bar in Boone, North Carolina to growing to sold out back-to-back headlining dates at the country’s most iconic venues, the climb to This One’s For You came after years of labor and as Rolling Stone notes “he earned his newfound success by tirelessly delivering the goods on the road.”

In addition to his trademark, rowdy headlining shows, Combs has shared the stage with Blackberry Smoke, Randy Houser and joins Brantley Gilbert on his 8-month cross country Devil Don’t Sleep Tour through September 2017. Combs has also beentapped to join star-packed festival lineups for Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival, CMA Music Fest, Stagecoach Festival and Tortuga Music Festival this summer.

Entering 2017, Combs was selected by iHeart Media’s Bobby Bones for his “Class Of 2017” and featured in Billboard’s 2017 Predictions Issue as one of four all-genre artists anticipated to breakthrough this year and topped “Watch Lists” curated by Huffington Post (Top 10 Country Artists To Watch In 2017), Pandora (Artists To Watch in 2017) and Rolling Stone (2017 Country Music Preview: Most Anticipated Albums, Tours, Festivals).

This One’s For You Track Listing
1. Out There
Luke Combs, James McNair, Ray Fulcher, Jacob Bryant
2.  Memories Are Made Of
Luke Combs, Ray Fulcher, Cody Webb
3. Lonely One
Luke Combs, Drew Parker, Erin Ashley O’Keefe
4. Beer Can
Luke Combs, James McNair, Ray Fulcher
5. Hurricane
Luke Combs, Thomas Archer, Taylor Phillips
6. One Number Away*
Luke Combs, Robert Williford, Sammy Mitchell, Steven Andre Battey
7. Don’t Tempt Me
Luke Combs, Robert Williford, Joseph Michael Costa
8. When It Rains It Pours
Luke Combs, Ray Fulcher, Jordan Walker
9. This One’s For You
Luke Comb, Ray Fulcher, Pat Cooper
10.  Be Careful What You Wish For
Luke Combs, Rob Crosby, Ray Fulcher
11. I Got Away With You
Luke Combs, Ray Fulcher, Tyler Reeve
12. Honky Tonk Highway
Luke Combs, Ray Fulcher, Rob Crosby

This One’s For You is produced by Scott Moffatt
*Produced by Sammy Mitchell & Jackie Boyz