George Strait Archives - Nashville Music Line

Here’s your September Inside Track on Music Row!

New Country albums & singles, tour updates, and more…

By Preshias Harris

September’s Need-to-Know news about albums, singles, tours and videos from Lauren Alaina, Big and Rich, Luke Combs, Little Big Town, Miranda Lambert, American Blonde, Donna Fargo, George Strait plus many others, along with info on rising stars, emerging artists and more… including DollyFest!

QUOTE OF THE MONTH: “I saw this ad that said, ‘You too can look like Dolly Parton for only $500.’ Boy, I sure wish I’d seen that ad before I spent millions of dollars to look like Dolly Parton.” – Dolly Parton (01/19/1946 – 08/25/2026), spoken during a televised interview.

BIBLE VERSE OF THE MONTH: With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible. – Matthew 19:26

ALBUM & EP NEWS

LAUREN ALAINA

LAUREN ALAINA: Country superstar Lauren Alaina has released her highly anticipated album, Stages, out now via Big Loud Records (listen/play here). The 17-song collection was co-produced by hitmakers Joey Moi, Ben Johnson, Jacob Durrett, Mikey Reaves and Adam James. Stages chronicles the defining chapters of Alaina’s life, with her signature lyrical candor and powerhouse vocals. Over the course of the album, she explores coming of age to starting a family and more, marked by three Stages – Stage One: The Dreaming, Stage Two: The Breaking, Stage Three: The Becoming.

Following the 08/28 release of Stages, Lauren played Rock The Country in Ocala, Florida, then the Grand Ole Opry Sept 01, with additional festival dates to close out the summer. Beginning in October, Alaina will head out on her headlining The Stages Tour spotlighting every era of her career, blending new music with the fan-favorite anthems that have defined her rise. Support across select dates will include rising artists Shane Profitt, Ashley Kutcher, and fellow American Idol alum Hannah Harper. Find tour/ticket information and more at Lauren Alaina’s Official Website; follow her on Instagram, X, Facebook, YouTube.

AMERICAN BLONDE

AMERICAN BLONDE’s long-awaited October 2 release, Delta Home, opens with the gritty, revenge-filled “Mississippi Moonshine,” and instantly sets a high bar for this six-song collection. It’s one that this tight-knit five-piece unit of Mississippi natives tops effortlessly. Fronted by sisters Nata and Tinka Morris, the group features Nata (lead vocals, acoustic guitar), Tinka (vocals, drums, percussion), Pete Horne (lead and rhythm guitar), Zach Dickerson (lead and rhythm guitar), and Will Garrett (bass, background vocals). Collectively, the players bring together diverse influences (The Eagles, Paul Gilbert, Carole King, Dave Grohl, Lynyrd Skynyrd) and varied life experiences to create a unique sonic tapestry of Delta Blues-infused Southern Country Rock. Pre-save now.

American Blonde joins multi-Platinum rockers Candlebox for select October shows on their Can’t Quit You Tour. More at www.AmericanBlondeMusic.com, Instagram, Facebook, TikTok and YouTube.

Inside Track on Music Row July 2024

Inside Track on Music Row July 2024… right here and ready to read!

Due to a technical glitch, Nashville Music Guide was unable to publish my column this month. So… here it is in full! Apologies to my readers and to the labels and artists’ representatives who share their news with me so I can bring it to you in this, the longest continuously running country music column in America!

Scroll down for news about George Strait, Morgan Waller, Luke Bryan, Dierks Bentley, Luke Combs, HARDY, Brantley Gilbert, Phil Vassar, Randy Rogers, Wade Bowen, Jelly Roll and many more!

QUOTE OF THE MONTH: “I didn’t know if it would be a successful one, or what the stages would be, but I always saw myself as a lifetime musician and songwriter.” – Bruce Springsteen

BIBLE VERSE OF THE MONTH: I will declare your name to my brothers and sisters; in the assembly, I will sing your praises. – Psalm 22:22

ACOUSTIC VERSION NEWS: After putting fans first with the social media-driven Find Another Bar Tour: College Edition, multi-Platinum artist Chris Lane delivers another surprise with the release of From Where I’m Sippin’ (Deluxe) (Red Street Records/Voyager Records). Listen to From Where I’m Sippin’ (Deluxe) here. Watch Chris Lane’s performance video for “Mistake (Acoustic)” here. “I’ve always been a big fan of stripped-down versions of songs, and how the track can take on a new life while also giving me a new connection to it,” shares Lane. “I’m excited to add three acoustic versions to the From Where I’m Sippin’ EP, and hope y’all enjoy them.”

Lauded by Billboard as “veering slightly from hip-hop infused, polished pop-country to a sound with a ragged rock edge, while still residing squarely in his musical wheelhouse” with his new music, From Where I’m Sippin’ poured five fresh-Country concoctions – four of which were co-written by the top-shelf hitmaker – produced by Derek Wells with additional production from Michael Lotten. Now serving up three brand-new acoustic versions with the 2023 EP release, Lane adds an intimate element to stripped-down renditions of fan-favorites “Mistake,” “Way to Go Girl,” and current chart-rising single “Find Another Bar” – that’s nearing Top 35 at Country radio. Music and tour info at Chris Lane’s website. #ChrisLane

ALBUM NEWS: Country superstar Luke Combs’ new full-length album, Fathers & Sons, is out now on Columbia Nashville. Stream/purchase here. A collection of 12 poignant tracks, Fathers & Sons was recorded entirely live and features Combs most personal songwriting to date, as he reflects on his own experiences being a dad to his two sons and the unique bond between parents and their children. Ahead of the release, Combs unveiled new song, “The Man He Sees In Me,” which The Tennessean says is “redefining his level of superstardom.”

The album adds to yet another landmark year for Combs, who recently released his new radio single, “Ain’t No Love in Oklahoma,” which will be featured on the soundtrack for the new Twisters movie (out July 19) and is the subject of a new exhibit at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum opening July 11. The exhibit, entitled Luke Combs: The Man I Am, will feature a variety of photographs, childhood memorabilia, instruments, set lists and more from throughout Combs’ life and career. Combs has also partnered with Opry Entertainment Group to open a massive multi-level entertainment complex in downtown Nashville later this summer. Music and tour updates at Luke’s websiteand socials. #LukeCombs

Preshias on The Y’all Show, June 23, 2020

George Strait, Buddy Jewell, The Judds, Willie Nelson… so much to talk about this week!

Livestreamed on The Y’all Show

Our weekly livestream on the Y’all show with Jon Rawl. Here’s this week’s episode on the Y’all Show channel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fAEPlF3UCIw

George Strait takes advantage of the quarantine to rehab from knee replacement surgery.
Buddy Jewell sets June 26 for release of his most ambitious project yet: the 15 song Bluebonnet Highway.
A star on Hollwood’s Walk of Fame for the Judds, Kelly Clarkson, Trisha Yearwood and more.
Willie Nelson’s ‘new’ release is a 40-year-old song from his upcoming album First Rose of Spring.
CMA Summer Stay-Cay set for July 1, and CMA Best of Fest airs July 9.
Randy Travis No. 1… on the country book charts with his memoir, Forever and Ever, Amen.
A quick look at why Copyright is so important for singer-songwriters.
Billboard’s Country Airplay Top 5 for June 27, 2020
A country music Q&A from my book, I Know Country
…and more on this week’s Y’all Show with Preshias. Scroll down to read more

Having to cancel tours and stay home was a pain in the neck for most singers and bands. But in one way, the timing kinda worked out for the “King of Country” George Strait, who had a pain in the… knee!

So George recently underwent successful knee replacement surgery. He told Billboard, “I had a knee replaced right before the quarantine. I had been planning that for a while. It went very well, but I had to rehab on my own due to the obvious conditions. I’m ready to go again now though. All good.”

You can find info about tickets to George’s scheduled Strait to Texas shows in Las Vegas, and Honky Tonk Time Machine, George’s 30^th studio album at http://www.georgestrait.com/

‘Song of the Year’ named, songwriters honored

George Strait, Loretta Lynn, Luke Combs, Josh Osborne receive Awards

By Preshias Harris

Country music ‘royalty’ came to the Ryman Auditorium on 17 September, but the real stars were songwriters. The occasion was the 2019 Nashville Songwriter Awards presented by the Nashville Songwriters Association International (NSAI) and City National Bank.

Kid Rock escorts Loretta Lynn to podium. Photo: Catrina Engelby

The audience came to their feet to give a standing ovation to the real Coalminer’s Daughter, Loretta Lynn who was escorted by Kid Rock to the podium where she received the Kris Kristofferson Lifetime Achievement Award.

The award is given in recognition to a songwriter whose works have made a significant contribution to the American songbook and who has inspired the careers of others. “Hello everybody. I’m Loretta,” she said, as if she needed any introduction.

Reba, Kellie Pickler, Tayla Lynn sing to Loretta

The presentation was preceded by a performance of “Coal Miner’s Daughter” by Loretta’s granddaughter, Tayla Lynn. Also on hand to honor Loretta were Kellie Pickler who sang “I’m A Honky Tonk Girl” and Reba McEntire who sang “You Ain’t Woman Enough.”

George Strait took the stage to accept the President’s Keystone Award. Acknowledging the debt he owes to the songwriters who wrote so many of his chart-topping hits, Strait said, “I want to thank you for sharing your talent with me over the years and I want to thank NSAI for giving me this great honor tonight.” Continue reading “‘Song of the Year’ named, songwriters honored”