Get Ready for Florida Georgia Line to Change Country Music . . . Again
Are you ready for another seismic shift in country music, or do you not remember the first one? Me neither, but FLORIDA GEORGIA LINE does . . . because they’re the ones who caused it.
They’ve been working on their new album and BRIAN KELLEY told reporters that it’s going to transform country music . . . for the second time. (???)
Quote, “I think [the new] music is on another level from anything that we’ve ever done. I think content, lyrically, musically . . . I think the next single, I’m not even gonna tell you the title, but I think it’s going to change country music again.”
The downside to this awesome news is that you’ll have to wait a while to hear it. Quote, “We’re gonna take some time from country radio, give it a rest for a second. We haven’t done that since we came out, really.” No word when the new music will be out.
Jennifer Nettles Is a Now Brunette
Here’s a change that’s visible to the eye. JENNIFER NETTLES has gone from blonde to brunette. She posted a photo of her new look and wrote, “My son’s response upon seeing my new color: ‘No, not that one.'”
She also posted an Instagram pic of her in the chair having it done.
Video of Tyler Farr Falling Off the Stage
TYLER FARR took a serious misstep and fell off the stage during his show last week in Glen Allen, Virginia. It looks like he misjudged the distance from the stage to a nearby platform. He wasn’t seriously injured but he did tell the audience it hurt.
He also confirmed the pain the next day when he Tweeted, “Tyler Fall . . . apparently my new name. Damn, that hurt.”
HUNTER HAYES revealed some dates of his fall tour, which kicks off October 22nd in Cullowhee, North Carolina. KELSEA BALLERINI will join him starting on November 5th in Bowling Green, Kentucky. More dates will be announced.
Jimi Westbrook Is Talking (and Playing Jokes) Again After Vocal Cord Surgery
Things are back to normal in the world of Little Big Town. After undergoing vocal cord surgery in mid-June, LBT member Jimi Westbrook is good to go — and even having a little fun with the country quartet’s fans.
Westbrook posted a video to the group’s Facebook page on Monday (Aug. 10), celebrating the fact that he’s off vocal rest and can speak normally again. However, Westbrook couldn’t resist playing a prank and talking in a high, somewhat-squeaky voice at first.
“I can talk. It’s kind of … different … weird … but maybe I can get used to it,” Westbrook says in his fake “new” voice, before ending the charade with a laugh.
“Everything’s good. I’m talking, which is a blessing — well, except to Karen [Fairchild, Westbrook’s wife and fellow LBT member], but anyway …,” Westbrook continues. “… All is well.”
After canceling many of their 2015 Pain Killer Tour dates to allow Westbrook time to heal, Little Big Town are now scheduled to return to the road on Aug. 22, with a show at the Eastbound Hoedown Music Festival in Avondale, Newfoundland, Canada.
Read More: Jimi Westbrook Talking (and Playing Jokes) After Surgery | http://theboot.com/jimi-westbrook-vocal-cord-surgery-update/?trackback=tsmclip
See Tom Hiddleston as Hank Williams in First ‘I Saw the Light’ Promo Image
Hank Williams III may have his doubts about whether or not Tom Hiddleston can accurately portray his grandfather, Hank Williams, in I Saw the Light, the upcoming biopic about the legendary country artist, but a new promotional image released by Sony Pictures Classics proves that Hiddleston can certainly look a lot like Williams.
The promo photo of Hiddleston, which you can see in full below, mimics a famous shot of Williams from around 1945. Hiddleston’s attire is slightly different — and the photo itself is in color, versus in black and white — but his face and expression will have you doing a double take.
“Hank’s life has a tragic arc, but in simple truth, he was a genius: a star that burned twice as bright and lived half as long,” Hiddleston says. “It’s a huge role for me and a huge responsibility. I’m going to give it everything I’ve got.”
I Saw the Light is set for a Nov. 27 release. Directed by Marc Abraham, the movie is based on Colin Escott’s biography of Williams. In addition to Hiddleston, the biopic also stars Elizabeth Olsen, Bradley Whitford, Cherry Jones and Maddie Hasson. Rodney Crowell served as I Saw the Light‘s musical director and stands behind the filmmakers’ choice of Hiddleston for the starring role.
“I’m as respectful of the man’s work ethic as I’m mystified by his transformational skills,” Crowell says of Hiddleston. “Without a doubt, the filmmakers chose the right actor for the job.”
Read More: See Tom Hiddleston as Hank Williams in First Biopic Image | http://theboot.com/tom-hiddleston-hank-williams-i-saw-the-light-photo/?trackback=tsmclip
The New #1 Album in America Is . . . Luke Bryan’s “Kill the Lights”
After a record low last week, music sales rebounded slightly this week . . . at least at the top . . . with TWO big selling debuts. Luke Bryan picked up his third #1 album, as “Kill the Lights” sold 345,000 copies in its first week.
Hear Lynn Anderson’s Final Recording, ‘Drift Away Gospel’
Before she died in July, Lynn Anderson chose “Drift Away Gospel” as the single from her final album. Family has honored that wish and are now sharing this fragile recreation of the popular Dobie Gray song with country music lovers.
Anderson’s version stays true to the Gray original with one significant version. The chorus and bridge are tweaked to make the song a more inspirational experience about facing the end of life. It’s a religious song, true to the Bridges album.
“Give me my heart heart boy / You freed my soul / I wanna walk down those streets of gold / And drift away,” she sings. Gray, and later Uncle Kracker, sing of getting lost in rock ‘n’ roll. Later, Anderson tweaks the bridge, adding the disciples’ names to make it less about music and more about faith.
“Bridges is Mom’s first religious CD in her long career of making music,” Anderson’s daughter, Lisa Sutton, says in a statement. “It has been our soundtrack the past few months and now it’s become the perfect memoir. Like a gift left behind, delivered as only Mom can … It’s almost like it was meant to be.”
Bridges was released in June, and features a collaboration with the Oak Ridge Boys.
Listen to Lynn Anderson’s “Drift Away”
Read More: Hear Lynn Anderson’s Final Recording, ‘Drift Away Gospel’ | http://tasteofcountry.com/lynn-anderson-final-recording-drift-away-gospel/?trackback=tsmclip