Country Music Icon Merle Haggard Passed Away

It is with a heavy heart to report that country music icon, Merle Haggard, has passed away today, on his birthday, April 6. Haggard, 79, had been battling pneumonia for several months and spent time in & out of the hospital recently.

Haggard, a legend, will sorely be missed in the country music community. Our thoughts and prayers go out to the family during this difficult time.

CMR Exclusive: Interview with Chase Bryant

Chase Bryant’s latest single “Little Bit Of You” has been heating up country radio, and currently sits in the Top 5 on the country radio charts. Signed with RED BOW Records, this hot new single is the second release from the rising star.

Of his first Top 5 hit Chase Bryant shares with us, “It’ll be my highest charting single, my first Top 5 and my second Top 10. I couldn’t be more thankful. I’m really thankful for the things going on in my career right now”

“I don’t know how it happens,” Chase continues, “but I will say I give 100% of the credit to country music fans and the guys at country radio who play the songs over and over and over again, and sometimes more than they want to. I’m very thankful for those things, and I see those people make such an effort to help me make a career. It’s really enlightening and it’s also a humbling experience for me. I’m very, very thankful.”

Bringing the hot new single full circle, Chase released a music video for “Little Bit of You” which currently has over 1.5 Million views. His previous video, “Take It On Back,” portrayed the artist as more of the narrator, whereas, Bryant takes on the lead role in this new video.

“This video had more of the sensual stuff about it. It was fun being apart of it” Chase shares. “A lot of it was unplanned, a lot of stuff on the road, and a lot of fun, raw footage. We had a blast making it and I’m proud of it. I’m excited about it. I’m excited where it went and the life it took on. It’s been a fun ride.”

Bryant was pretty involved throughout the whole video, down to the creative process and storyline. “The story came because I was dating a girl in California at the time. It was that kind of angst trying to get to her as fast as I could because I was 3,200 miles away or whatever distance. I’m a single guy now, that didn’t end up working out, but we’re still good friends & still keep in touch. I was a big part of the creative process, I co-produced the record and co-writer on the song.”

Chase is a hands-on guy when it comes to his career. When we asked him if he adds extra pressure to himself being so involved, he shared, “I’m hard on myself because I’m a messed up perfectionist. I like the stuff sometimes that is a little awkward and a little odd in a track, and I also like the stuff that is really shiny and produced and seen. I’m hard on myself because I know I’m going to have to listen to it and I’m going to have to live with it, so I just want to make sure I make the best record I can on whatever single it may be or the full length LP. I try to do the best work that I can so that I can be able to live with it and want to sing it for year and years to come.”

Speaking of music, Bryant is in the process of working on his debut album, however, he is not rushing this process. “I know it’s kind of irritating to some people that I haven’t come out with a record yet and people are always wondering when it’s going to come out. I just want to make sure I make the best first record I can possible make.”

“You only make one first record so you don’t want to mess it up” Chase continues. “I’ve just been taking my time with it. Hopefully we’re going to have a record done that will come out this fall or maybe soon after. I’m excited about it, we’re working really hard and working really diligently trying to get this record done.”

Many folks may not realize that artists don’t always play on their albums, however, Chase was adamant about leaving his mark on his album. “Absolutely! It’s a limb off my body for me to play guitar. For me, I had to have the guitar side as part of my record, it’s kind of about 90% of my sound. Besides my voice, that’s going to be the biggest part of my sound that there is. I was adamant, I made sure that I could play on the record, absolutely. And being co-producer, it’s not that hard to do.”

Chase Bryant spent last summer out on the road with Tim McGraw. Not many can say they’ve spent a summer with Tim, but Chase certainly can. The country newcomer didn’t take being on the road with McGraw for granted. He was serious about his time on that tour and was eager to learn from the country superstar. Having spent weekend after weekend with McGraw, Chase did have time to get to know him and even get some advice. “He told me one time ‘it’s not who’s the most talented, it’s the one that works the hardest to get the job.’ I believe him, and I believe that statement. I believe that hard work is the biggest part of dedication.”

Chase has been hard at work over the past few years, and throughout that time he has grown into a solid artist and performer. His career success is well deserved. As Bryant’s single continues to rise on the charts, be a part of his career milestone by calling your local radio station and request “Little Bit of You.”

Chase Bryant’s self-titeld EP, featuring “Little Bit of You” and “Take It On Back,” is available now on digital media outlets such as iTunes HERE.

Stay connected with Chase Bryant by visiting his Official Website, Like him on Facebook and Follow him on Twitter and Instagram.

Finalists Announced for 2016 American Country Countdown Awards

Finalists for the 2016 AMERICAN COUNTRY COUNTDOWN AWARDS were announced today. Country superstar Luke Bryan dominates the list with seven category nods, followed by newcomer Sam Hunt with five, Thomas Rhett and Zac Brown Band each with four, and Florida Georgia Line with three.

Additionally, megastar and multi-category finalist Carrie Underwood has been added as a performer, joining previously announced performers Florida Georgia Line, Thomas Rhett and more.

The AMERICAN COUNTRY COUNTDOWN AWARDS are based on country music’s longest-running radio countdown show, “American Country Countdown with Kix Brooks,” which has recognized the best in country radio for more than 40 years. This year’s host and additional performers and presenters will be announced soon.

The 2016 American Country Countdown Awards will air live from the Forum in Los Angeles, CA, Sunday, May 1 (8:00-10:00 PM ET live/PT tape-delayed) on FOX. The two-hour event is the first country music awards show to air live from Los Angeles in more than 10 years. Tickets for the AMERICAN COUNTRY COUNTDOWN AWARDS at the Forum are on sale now at www.ticketmaster.com.

Below are the finalists for the 2016 AMERICAN COUNTRY COUNTDOWN AWARDS:

ARTIST OF THE YEAR
Blake Shelton
Florida Georgia Line
Jason Aldean
Luke Bryan
Sam Hunt

MALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR
Blake Shelton
Jason Aldean
Luke Bryan
Sam Hunt
Thomas Rhett

FEMALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR
Cam
Carrie Underwood
Jana Kramer
Kelsea Ballerini
Miranda Lambert

GROUP/DUO OF THE YEAR
A Thousand Horses
Dan + Shay
Florida Georgia Line
Old Dominion
Zac Brown Band

BREAKTHROUGH MALE OF THE YEAR
Chris Janson
Michael Ray
Sam Hunt

BREAKTHROUGH FEMALE OF THE YEAR
Cam
Jana Kramer
Kelsea Ballerini

BREAKTHROUGH GROUP/DUO OF THE YEAR
A Thousand Horses
Dan + Shay
Old Dominion

SONG OF THE YEAR
“Stay A Little Longer” – Brothers Osborne
“Home Alone Tonight” – Luke Bryan featuring Karen Fairchild
“Strip It Down” – Luke Bryan
“Die A Happy Man” – Thomas Rhett
“Homegrown” – Zac Brown Band

ALBUM OF THE YEAR
“Storyteller” – Carrie Underwood
“Traveller” – Chris Stapleton
“Kill the Lights” – Luke Bryan
“Montevallo” – Sam Hunt
“Jekyll + Hyde” – Zac Brown Band

DIGITAL SONG OF THE YEAR
“Girl Crush” – Little Big Town
“Kick The Dust Up” – Luke Bryan
“Die A Happy Man” – Thomas Rhett

DIGITAL ALBUM OF THE YEAR
“Anything Goes” – Florida Georgia Line
“Montevallo” – Sam Hunt
“Tangled Up” – Thomas Rhett

TOURING ARTIST OF THE YEAR
Garth Brooks
Kenny Chesney
Luke Bryan
Shania Twain
Zac Brown Band

Lee Brice Surprises Military Widow By Retrieving Fallen Soldier’s Truck

At Saturday’s ACM “Party for a Cause” in Las Vegas, Lee Brice surprised a military widow with the family truck her husband traded in before shipping out to Iraq 10 years ago.

Ginger Gurley Gilbert Ravella’s late husband, Troy Gilbert, was an F-16 pilot killed in action on Nov. 27, 2006. Lee heard about Ginger’s desire to recover the 1992 Chevy Silverado 1500 that once belonged to Troy, and he, his management team and several friends of Ginger’s immediately began researching.

Fighting tears, Ginger said, “Troy traded in his old beloved truck for a new one about a month before he found out he was deploying. Things were starting to break on his old one and he needed a reliable ride. Just a week before he took off for Iraq he said, ‘I think we need to sell my new truck. We really can’t afford to make payments while I am gone.’ So we sold it and he left. After he was killed I was most certainly grateful Troy took another big thing off my plate after he was gone.”

Ginger eventually sold the newer truck to save money while Troy was in Iraq. “Years later, when Lee’s song came out, it wasn’t the new truck I wished we still had,” she said. “It was the old one, the one that belonged to Troy’s dad first, the one Troy drove for years, the one I knew our sons, Boston and Greyson, would get a kick out of.”

Once Lee found the truck, he purchased it and had it shipped to Las Vegas. During his “Party for a Cause” set, Lee presented a $40,000 donation to Folds of Honor — a non-profit that provides educational support to spouses and children of America’s fallen and wounded soldiers — sang his moving “I Drive Your Truck,” and invited Ginger and her family to the stage where he presented her with the keys to Troy’s truck.

“I’m so happy that we were able to locate this truck because it meant so much to Ginger and her family,” Brice said. “Troy paid the ultimate price in service to our country and I’m grateful we got to show our appreciation in a small way, comparatively, this weekend.”

Maddie & Tae Team Up With Bloomingdale’s For Fashion Collection

Maddie & Tae have been re-writing the rules since hitting the charts with “Girl In A Country Song,” the historic #1 debut for the platinum blond duo that called out a marginalizing status quo. Though still making their way through START HERE (Dot Records), the Sugarland, Texan and Ada, Oklahoman are thrilled to be teaming with Bloomingdale’s on a capsule collection for the storied retailer’s AQUA line.

“AQUA does everything girls like us like!” marvels Maddie Marlow. “Super-fun pieces… stuff that’s hip without screaming ‘fashion victim’… things you can really wear. And the best part: they come in all kinds of color and fits, so everyone gets to be part of the party. It’s great clothes for everyone, and they’re fresh and fun.”

“And AQUA is dress up and dress down: go to school, go to work, go out kinda clothes,” adds Taylor Dye smiling. “No matter where you’re going or what you’re doing AQUA’s got you covered. All in one place! When you’re busy like we are, they make it soooo easy.”

If Maddie & Tae never intended to be fashion muses, the the CMA Award winning “Girl In A Country Song” brought their roots-forward Country to places most Nashville artists never see. From Atlantic Monthly to The New Yorker, three pieces in The Washington Post to multiple NPR placements, they captured America’s imagination.

One of those people was Bloomingdale’s Vice Chairman Frank Doroff. Upon reading about Maddie & Tae in Women’s Wear Daily, Doroff was introduced to the artists through Marvin Traub Associates. Doroff and his team brainstormed with Maddie and Tae, which led to the girls’ curating a unique and exciting capsule collection for AQUA exclusively for Bloomingdale’s. M&T’s initial collection will be available Fall of 2016.

“Maddie & Tae represent the fresh, fun and modern young women who wear Aqua,” says Doroff. “As creative artists, their influence and input feels like a strong fit for this line. Bloomingdale’s welcomes the opportunity to work with young talent in all phases of their business. We’re thrilled to have Maddie & Tae working with our AQUA brand.”

“Obviously we’re not the kind of girls who’re obsessed with clothes and make-up,” laughs the harmony singing, rhythm guitar playing Dye. “But we want to look good! We have ideas about style and think your clothes can be cool without obsessing about it. That’s why we love everything about AQUA.”

“When you look good, you feel great. You just do,” Marlow continues. “We don’t want our clothes to wear us… But we do want to wear clothes that say who we are. Working with the AQUA team, I think these clothes are going to be something real young women everywhere are going to want to wear, which is crazy! But it’s also everything we’ve been about since Tae and I started making music.”

The clothes will be available in all Bloomingdale’s store locations, as well as online at Bloomingdales.com.