NEW MUSIC OUT TODAY:
- “Southern Drawl”, Alabama
- “Panhandle Rambler”, country rocker Joe Ely
- “Turnpike Troubadours”, red dirt rockers Turnpike Troubadours
HAPPY BIRTHDAY
- Taylor Dye is 20 from the country duo Maddie & Tae.
SATURDAY BIRTHDAYS
- Chase Rice is 29.
- Trisha Yearwood is 51
Sam Hunt is Single Because He Doesn’t Have Time for a Steady Woman
SAM HUNT got a dose of what it’s like to be ambushed by the paparazzi, and he handled it well. TMZ spotted him at LAX on Wednesday.
They started by complimenting his boots, and then hit him with silly stuff like, “why do women swoon over country stars?” He played along, saying quote, “I don’t know. I guess it’s just the charm that comes along with the music.”
When asked if artists make better music when they’re in love or broken up, he went with “broken up.” He has some shows coming up with MIRANDA LAMBERT, so they wondered if he thinks her divorce will make her music better. He didn’t go there.
Quote, “Her music? I don’t know. I know when I’m going through stuff, my songwriting gets better.” They wrapped it up by finally asking if he’s single. He answered, quote, “Yeah. Don’t have time.”
And he stayed with that theme when they wanted to know if he’s “looking for a steady woman.” He said, quote, “When I have time, yeah.”
Watch Sturgill Simpson Cover Otis Redding in Concert
STURGILL SIMPSON brought a little soul to his concert in Asheville, NC this week when he broke into some Otis Redding’s “You Don’t Miss Your Water.”
Cyndi Lauper Reveals Plans for a Country Album
Count Cyndi Lauper among the former rockers going country. Lauper made the announcement at London’s Adelphi Theatre for the U.K. premiere of her musical Kinky Boots
“I want to work with Tony Brown down in Nashville and do a country record, finally,” the singer says. “I want to record all those songs I used to sing my guts out in my apartment to! It’ll be out next year.”
Country Music Extras
TIM MCGRAW released the details of his new album. It’s called “Damn Country Music”, and it’ll be out November 6th. It features BIG & RICH on the song “California”, and Tim’s daughter Gracie on the track “Here Tonight”. (Rolling Stone)
THOMAS RHETT says he wrote his song “Die a Happy Man” for and about his wife Lauren. So, it only made sense to cast her as the love interest in the video. You can check it out at People.com.
DANIELLE BRADBERY is hanging with Hollywood heavyweights. She posted a photo of her and [Tom Hanks’ wife] Rita Wilson. She captioned it, “Magic everywhere in the studio today. @Rita Wilson wow, beautiful person inside and out.” (Rita’s on the left. The chick in the middle is a singer you’ve never heard of named Shari Short.)
BLAKE SHELTON Says Trace Adkins Showed Him How to Be a Mentor (Taste of Country)