Kickin’ off the New Year with a whole bunch of country music news in my column, Inside Track on Music Row, the longest continuously-running monthly country music column in the USA. Click here to read it in the January edition of Nashville Music Guide.
Among the many news items in this month’s column:
New albums from Brandy Clark, Chris Stapleton, Alex Hall and Bill Anderson
A look at Shenandoah’s 2020 all-star project, Every Road
The Grammys are set for Jan 31 and here’s a glance at all the nominations in the country music categories
Two new syndicated radio shows from Hope Radio: 90s Country Flashback and 615 The Grind
2020 was a great year for Curb’s ‘golden boy’ Lee Brice. Or should that be ‘platinum boy’?
Dates announced for Tin Pan South 2021
Brady Seals (Little Texas) releases new autobiography, God Blessed Texas and Me Too
Plus Matt Stell, Eric Church, Blane Howard, Old Dominion, Chris Young and more. Catch the entire column in the January 2021 Nashville Music Guide.
Preshias Harris is an advocate for songwriters and a music career development consultant with the emphasis on new and aspiring artists and songwriters. Her book, ‘The College of Songology 101: The Singer/Songwriter’s Need to Know Reference Handbook’ is available at www.collegeofsongology.com Follow her blog at www.nashvillemusicline.com
Here’s a quick roundup of what’s happening this week on Music Row and in Country Music!
Luke Combs logs his tenth No. 1
Morgan Wallen debuts on both Billboard’s Top 200 and Top Country Album charts
HARDY set to “Give Heaven Some Hell”
Parker Millsap is “The Real Thing”
Loretta Lynn and Willie Nelson roll up their sleeves for vaccine
GigTours™ wants you to say “I’m With the Band”
Plus an “I Know Country” Q&A and more. Scroll down to read all these country music news items
Luke Combs does it again. Luke has logged his tenth consecutive No. 1 song atop the Billboard Country Airplay chart for the week of Jan 23. Titled “Better Together,” the song was co-written by Combs with Dan Isbell and Randy Montana and is the fifth single from Luke’s album What You See Is What You Get.
Preshias talks country music with Y’all Show host Jon Rawl
Another busy week on Music Row. @PreshiasHarris and Jon discuss a bunch of topics on this week’s livestream that you can watch now on the Ya’ll Show website or the Y’all Show YouTube channel. Among the topics:
Morgan Wallen’s new double album includes collaborations with some of Nashville’s biggest writers and artists
Terry McBride – of McBride & the Ride – releases a new album, and the Ride’s entire catalog is now available on Spotify
Tim McGraw and FGL’s Tyler Hubbard are “Undivided” on a new heartfelt song of unity
Three sad losses for Nashville: the passing of Ed Bruce, Jamie O’Hara and Misty Morgan
Thomas Rhett launches Dos Primos tequila and joins the list of country artists in the wine and liquor business
Lady A’s “Champagne Night” takes the charts by storm after Songland TV show
Plus an “I Know Country” Q&A, some country artists celebrating birthdays this week, the Top 5 Country Airplay songs and more. Scroll down to read the program notes, and watch the livestream at the Y’all Show website or the Y’all Show YouTube channel.
Preshias is back on the Ya’ll Show for the first show of 2021, talking about what’s happening in Nashville and the world of country music. There was a lot to catch up on after the Christmas and New Year’s break! Y’all Show host Jon Rawl is on hand to ask @PreshiasHarris what’s up on Music Row. Watch the latest Y’all Show with Preshias at the Y’all Show YouTube Channel or at the Y’all Show website. Among this week’s topics…
The Grammys have been postponed thanks to the Coronavirus. The Recording Academy has set a new date in March…
Loretta Lynn is Still Woman Enough and this week she took to Twitter to talk about her upcoming album and the women of Country who’ll be featured on the project…
Shenandoah marked a ‘high’ point in a ‘low’ year for me with the 2020 release of their album Every Road featuring Luke, Blake, Carly, Brad and more of their friends…
Broken Bow’s Elvie Shane premieres the music vid – directed by video veteran Peter Zavadil – for his moving debut single, “My Boy”…
Former Bee Gee Barry Gibb’s Nashville album Greenfields: The Gibb Brothers Songbook, Vol. 1 produced by Dave Cobb drops January 8 featuring a who’s who of Music City’s finest…
Blane Howard is a die-hard Kansas City Chiefs fan and his single “Run It Back” is his tribute to his favorite team, when he isn’t singing “Promise To Lover Her” to his wife…
We take a lot back at how 2020 treated Chris Young – and it treated him pretty well with a stack of Gold and Platinum discs for his album I’m Coming’ Over and a bunch of singles…
A sad week as country music loses a much-loved pioneer. But Preshias and Jon get to talk about some more Nashville news, including new music from Brett Young and Dierks Bentley, the 2021 CRS New Faces of Country Music, a new book from Brady (Little Texas) Seals, Jeannie Seely’s “Santa Paws” livestream fundraiser, Billboard’s year-end country charts, an I Know Country Q&A and more.
Watch the entire show at the Y’all Show website here or on Y’all Show’s YouTube channel here.
John Rawl and Preshias on the Y’all Show
Preshias Harris is a music journalist and music career development consultant with the emphasis on new and aspiring artists and songwriters. Her book, ‘The College of Songology 101: The Singer/Songwriter’s Need to Know Reference Handbook’ is available at www.collegeofsongology.com Follow her blog at www.nashvillemusicline.com
Preshias Harris is a music journalist and music career development consultant with the emphasis on new and aspiring artists and songwriters. Her book, ‘The College of Songology 101: The Singer/Songwriter’s Need to Know Reference Handbook’ is available at www.collegeofsongology.com Follow her blog at www.nashvillemusicline.com
Preshias Harris joined Jon Rawl again this week on the Y’all Show for another look at what’s happening on Music Row. Among the items they discuss…
The new Barry Gibb album, Greenfields: The Gibb Brothers Songbook, Vol. 1, with some of country music’s biggest stars, including Keith Urban, Dolly Parton, Miranda Lambert, Brandi Carlile and more.
It’s CMA Awards time! Gabby Barrett sings her hit duet with Charlie Puth – and this is the first time they’ve met in person.
Dan + Shay are saying “Take Me Home For Christmas” with their first-ever original Christmas song.
Platinum-selling Blackhawk are releasing a two-disc greatest hit project, Just About Right: Live From Atlanta.
CJ Solar’s new single “The Only Present I Want” arrives while he is still celebrating his second No. 1 as a songwriter.
Plus a Q&A from “I Know Country” and some country music birthdays to celebrate this week.
Jon Rawl and Preshias talk Country on the Y’all Show
Preshias Harris is a music journalist and music career development consultant with the emphasis on new and aspiring artists and songwriters. Her book, ‘The College of Songology 101: The Singer/Songwriter’s Need to Know Reference Handbook’ is available at www.collegeofsongology.com Follow her blog at www.nashvillemusicline.com
Lindsay Ell, Mitchell Tenpenny perform at dinner, bourbon
tasting
Here’s a last-minute opportunity to enjoy “When Pigs Fly”, an evening of fun and music that benefits Christmas 4 Kids, the organization that provides hundreds of underprivileged children in Middle Tennessee with their very own Christmas shopping spree. Due to the restrictions caused by the pandemic, the need is even greater this year. Read on to find out more about the fun evening set for November 7 and the great organization you’ll be helping. Or go here for more info or to buy tickets to “When Pigs Fly” and other Christmas 4 Kids events.
Note: the annual shopping spree for kids in need will be a little different this year. Scroll down for details.
Lindsay Ell
Lindsay Ell and Mitchell Tenpenny have signed on to perform at the Christmas 4 Kids “When Pigs Fly” dinner event in Hendersonville, TN this Saturday, November 7. The evening will feature a BBQ dinner and bourbon tasting event with additional performances by Rockland Road and other surprise musical guests. The new Christmas 4 Kids fundraising effort will be made possible thanks to a partnership with Live Love Nashville, the Hendersonville Parks Department and HolidayFest.
Mitchell Tenpenny
“I’m so excited to be a part of the Christmas 4 Kids show again this year,” says Tenpenny. “I always love getting to be a part of giving back to the greater Nashville community as a native myself! Can’t wait to have a fun night with everyone!”
Catered by Martin’s BBQ, the dinner will take place at 7:00 pm/CT behind the Ultimate Party Super Store located at 246 West Main Street in Hendersonville. Tickets are $50.00 each, with an additional charge of $5.00 for Bourbon Tasting, provided by Lipman Brothers, and $10.00 to participate in a rib-eating contest sponsored by Texas Roadhouse. This event is also the first in a series of Hendersonville Hometown Jam music events for 2020. The Hometown Jam was started in 2019 by the Hendersonville Parks Department, and this year will feature multiple nights that benefit different charities throughout the year.
Live Love Nashville, a local 501c3 that has raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for various local charities, will be hosting an online giving campaign with 100% of all gifts going to C4K. Live Love Nashville’s core values are helping children who are less fortunate, and this mission is a perfect match for C4K.
HolidayFest is a non-profit community service organization that serves as the umbrella organization to promote, market, and act as the governing body to set policies and determine approval of the charity and service organizations that are supported. HolidayFest has worked to raise funds for local charities for the past 16 years.
Virtual Concert with Phil Vassar Nov 23
To close out this year’s events, on Monday, November 23, country music artist Phil Vassar will host Phil Vassar & Friends for an at-home virtual concert starting at 7:00 pm/CT. Online tickets are $25.00 each and can be purchased at philvassar.com. Virtual meet-and-greet passes can also be purchased for an additional amount. Gohere to purchase tickets for the Virtual Concert with Phil Vassar.
Shopping Spree will be different this year
Due to current social distancing restrictions, the shopping spree will be done a little differently this year. Each child will still receive the $150.00 shopping spree, but the kids will provide “wish lists” to volunteers who will personally shop for them at the Hendersonville Walmart on December 7th-8th. The Christmas gifts will then be delivered to the children at their appropriate schools on December 15.
Go here for more information on Christmas 4 Kids, to donate online or to purchase tickets to upcoming events.
About Christmas 4 Kids
Christmas 4 Kids is a not-for-profit organization that has been in existence for over three decades. Each year, the organization provides hundreds of underprivileged children in Middle Tennessee with their very own Christmas shopping spree. The funds generated from the annual Ryman concert and Tour Bus Show/artist meet-and-greet event, are used to give many children, from nearly 30 schools, a day-long shopping excursion. For more information, visit here.
Preshias talks Nashville music with Y’all Show host Jon Rawl
Preshias and Jon talk about the new single “Pink”
Another packed livestream as Preshias Harris and Jon Rawl talk about what’s happening right now in Country music. Among the topics up for discussion on this week’s Y’all Show…
Jake Owen makes a ‘mini movie’ as the music video for “Homemade”
The new single “Pink” brings together Dolly Parton, Sara Evans and more to benefit breast cancer organization, Susan G. Komen
BIG NIGHT at the Museum makes country music history ‘sing again’ in the hands of modern masters
A preview of the 51st annual GMA Dove Awards, putting the focus on Contemporary Christian and Gospel artists
Jon Rawl and Preshias Harris on this week’s Y’all Show
Read the story behind the making of “Pink”, the new single featuring Dolly Parton, Sara Evans, Monica, Jordin Sparks and Rita Wilson, produced by Victoria Shaw at the Susan G. Komen blog here.
Preshias Harris is a music journalist and music career development consultant with the emphasis on new and aspiring artists and songwriters. Her book, ‘The College of Songology 101: The Singer/Songwriter’s Need to Know Reference Handbook’ is available at www.collegeofsongology.com Follow her blog at www.nashvillemusicline.com
His love of stepson captures No. 1 spot on TikTok with
#MyBoy
By Preshias Harris
Elvie Shane knows just how much dedication and hard work (and patience!) it takes to see one of your songs eventually begin to climb the charts. The Billboard Country Airplay chart for October 16 shows Elvie’s “My Boy” jumping in at No. 56. The song also tops Billboard’s “Most Added” chart that lists the songs added to the playlists of Country Radio stations nationwide.
Watch Elvie perform a ‘Live in Studio’ version of “My Boy” at YouTube here.
Due to the continuing corona virus, Elvie and BBR Music Groupreimagined the traditional radio tour. The innovative approach involves customized, high-quality live-streamed, full-band performances and video chats, which deliver extraordinary experiences for the viewer and will likely become the model of radio tours for the foreseeable future. For six weeks straight, Elvie has performed roughly five full-band shows per day—miraculously maintaining his stamina, gaining believers and setting the bar high for future newcomers.
The song also leapt to No. 1 on TikTok’s Country chart with well over 775 million uses of #MyBoy and more than 1.5 million streams in the USA alone. You can see a few of the posted TikTok videos here.
No overnight success
Elvie Shane wows the crowd at the 2019 CMA Fest. Photo credit: Catrina Engelby
This achievement is no overnight success – either for “My Boy” or for Elvie himself. Growing up in rural Caneyville, KY, Elvie absorbed influences from the Gospel music of his church and the gritty rock music favored by his truck-driving dad.
He credits a professor at Western Kentucky University for encouraging him to develop his creative writing, but, much as he enjoyed listening to music it wasn’t an immediate career choice, particularly as he devoted his attention to providing for his wife and stepson.
After he watched the now-famous Chris Stapleton/Justin Timberlake duet at the 2015 CMA Awards, he saw that his voice and personal style of songwriting might find an outlet in country music. He started performing anywhere he could find a mic.
