#CenterStageMag Archives - Nashville Music Line

Alex Miller says, “Girl, I Know a Guy”

New single from American Idol alum

By Preshias Harris

For Alex Miller, it all began with his fan-favorite appearance on American Idol. But it was a beginning that was a decade in the making for an artist who had been performing since he was nine years old.

Now with a new single – “Girl, I Know A Guy” – impacting radio April 21 and a new EP scheduled for later this year, Alex is on the way up. In March, Alex and I sat down at Country Radio Seminar (CRS) to catch up on what’s going on in what he calls his “crazy” life. Read the full interview at Center Stage Mag here.

The new single follows previous releases, “When God Made the South”, “I’m Over You, So Get Over Me”, “Don’t Let the Barn Door Hit Ya” and “Through With You” – the latter peaking in the Top 35 of the Billboard Indicator Chart and at No. 1 on The Country Network.

*Alex Miller and his grandfather GB Miller visiting the Ernest Tubb Record Store in Nashville.*

In our interview, Alex shared a touching story about the unflagging support he received from his grandfather. “He’d say, ‘You’re gonna play at the Grand Ole Opry someday. I’m gonna make that happen,’” Alex told me.

Buddy Jewell’s “Sweet Southern Comfort” pours again

Clint Black, Marty Rabon, Bellamy Brothers add their voices

By Preshias Harris

Buddy Jewell captured hearts and ears across America when he emerged as the fan-voted winner of Nashville Star’s inaugural season – ahead of second placed Miranda Lambert.

His prize included a record deal with Columbia Records and an album to be produced by country superstar Clint Black, as he recounted in an interview with me at Center Stage Mag here.

The self-titled album quickly earned Gold certification, and the debut single, “Help Pour Out the Rain,” became the highest-debuting single by a new country artist since Nielsen SoundScan began tabulating charts.

The second single from that self-titled album was “Sweet Southern Comfort” penned by Rodney Clawson and Brad Crisler, released in October 2003, peaking at No. 3 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles and Tracks the following year.

Celebrating the song’s twentieth anniversary, Jewell has now recorded a new version of the hit song and he invited some famous friends to join him on the track: Clint Black, Marty Rabon of Shenandoah and the Bellamy Brothers.

I caught up with Buddy Jewell during Country Radio Seminar in March and he told me the story behind the original 2003 recording and why Clint Black had to be part of the new version too.

Jewell has certainly earned his place in the spotlight, recording 5,000 demos as an in-demand demo singer for ten years before the Nashville Star opportunity came along. But when he could finally record his own albums, “singing all those demos really helped a lot,” he told me.

Read my full interview with Buddy Jewell at Center Stage Mag here.

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 @PreshiasHarris #PreshiasHarris

Garth Brooks: “Friends In Low Places” almost didn’t happen

Garth Brooks tells the story behind the song at CRS

by Preshias Harris

Garth Brooks became the inaugural recipient of the Country Radio Broadcasters’ Garth Brooks No Fences Award, named after Brooks’ ground-breaking No Fences album. It recognizes an individual in the country music industry who boldly demonstrates innovation, creativity and tenacity.

During this year’s Country Radio Seminar (CRS) in March, Brooks was interviewed by CRB’s RJ Curtis. Read my full report of the in-depth interview at Center Stage Mag here.

*Garth Brooks talks with Country Radio Broadcasters at CRS 2023. Photo: Preshias Harris*

At one point, Curtis put up a screenshot showing a string of Garth Brooks hit songs in a thirteen-month period across 1989 and 1990. The songs were: “Much Too Young (To Feel This Damn Old)”, “If Tomorrow Never Comes”, “Not Counting You” and “The Dance”.

However, Brooks was not among the rising artists selected to appear at the New Faces of Country Music show at the 1990 CRS. To the amazement of the ‘standing room only’ audience, Brooks never played the New Faces show.

In the interview, Brooks frankly described how his monumental hit “Friends in Low Places” very nearly became Mark Chesnutt‘s hit single, rather than his. Brooks had actually cut the demo for the songwriters while he was a shoe salesman in Goodlettsville, Tennessee, moonlighting as a demo singer.

He went on to explain his prolonged absence from music to be with his family and how: “it was probably the most selfish move I ever made in my life.”

Read my full report of the in-depth Garth Brooks interview in the ‘Preshias On The Row’ section of Center Stage Mag here. #CenterStageMag

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 @PreshiasHarris #PreshiasHarris

Juna N Joey interview with Preshias

Juna N Joey “Slip Out the Side Door” on new single

By Preshias Harris

Brother and sister duo, Juna N Joey, caught the world’s attention as viral sensations. They chalked up around 8.5 million collective views on YouTube and a viral 10 million views on Tik Tok; their rendition of Mariah Carey’s Holiday classic “All I Want for Christmas is You” landed them on Instagram’s Best Covers of the Year list for 2022.

Then came two singles and a debut EP ahead of their current single “Slip Out the Side Door” that takes full advantage of their peerless sibling harmonies.

During Country Radio Seminar (CRS) in March, Juna N Joey sat down with me to talk about the new single and their upcoming EP. You can read the full interview at Center Stage Mag here.

In the interview we talked about their songwriting process and their experience of being in the studio recording “Slip Out the Side Door.” All their previous recording had been during Covid. “With this record,” Joey told me, “I felt that everybody was together and had ideas while we were in the same room so there was more of a connection.”

Read my full interview with Juna N Joey at Center Stage Mag.

Dallas Remington: the story behind “Steal Your Dad”

Dallas and co-writer honor “Uncommon Man” farmer dads

By Preshias Harris

Dallas Remington and her co-writer Courtney Bumbacher both grew up in farming families and they know farmers are often America’s ‘unsung heroes.’ Together they wrote “Uncommon Man” – even calling their farmer dads while in the writing session to be sure they captured the right phrasing.

I caught up with Dallas during this year’s Country Radio Seminar and you can read the full interview at Center Stage Mag here.

Dallas also told me the story behind the song “Steal Your Dad” and how it racked up thousands of views almost instantly on Tik Tok. “A lot of people like the goofy songs,” she told me.

In the interview, she also shares the reason she decided to record a ‘countryfied’ version of Metallica’s “Enter Sandman.” Check out the “Preshias On The Row” section at CenterStageMag.com for more stories and interviews.