Jason Taylor
Jason Taylor Joins Adams/Tallahassee As OM, PD For WWOF (103.1 The Wolf)
JASON TAYLOR, veteran TALLAHASSEE programmer has joined ADAMS RADIO/TALLAHASSEE as OM and PD of Country WWOF (103.1 THE WOLF). TAYLOR replaces CASEY DANIELS, who will announce a new position soon. For 16 years prior to joining ADAMS, TAYLOR was ...
Morgan Wallen Rescheduled For December Episode Of 'Saturday Night Live'
BIG LOUD RECORDS' MORGAN WALLEN will make his debut appearance on NBC-TV's "SATURDAY Night Live" (SNL) on DECEMBER 5th. WALLEN was originally scheduled to perform in ...
After releasing his self-titled debut EP in May, Chris Bandi is already making his mark on the world of Country music with his latest single, "Would Have Loved Her." The song starts with an introduction about a woman the narrator met, and how he "thinks I met the one / But I don't wanna jump the gun." By the time the first chorus rolls around, you'll be reaching for the Kleenex, and trust us, you'll want to keep them around for the remainder of the song. The chorus goes, "She's from a small town just like you / She's got a smile that could light up the room / She's pretty as a hallelujah / But don't let it fool ya," before switching into a funkier, catchy rhythm with the lyrics, "'Cause she'll dance when she drinks / And she'll say what she thinks / She makes me a better man like you did / I miss you and wish you could just meet each other / 'Cause I bet you would have loved her." Beautiful! The second verse brings with it wedding bells, as the couple ties the knot and Bandi sings, "I bet you would have loved our wedding band / I bet you would've slid in and stole a dance." As the bridge approaches, the music strips down and we hone in on Bandi's soft voice as he sings, "Hey pops, you know I hate to cry / But I just let 'em rain that night / That I held your grand baby in my hands for the very first time." Remember those aforementioned Kleenex? We told you! The chills-inducing last chorus goes, "'Cause she's got brown eyes just like you / Her momma's glow that could light up the room" and "She makes me a better man like you did / I miss you and wish you could just meet each other / Dad, I know you would've loved her." Written by Bandi and Zach Kale, the song was inspired by the singer's late grandfather, who Bandi thinks "would have loved his girlfriend were he still here to meet her." With the music video already over two million views, there's no doubt this song will resonate with anyone who has lost someone they love and wishes they were still here to experience life's milestones with them. Let's give this heartwarming song some love on Country radio, and give Bandi one more milestone to celebrate. 
A song with a rich history, “Go Tell It On The Mountain,” was originally an African-American spiritual song dating back to the 1800s. In the hands of folk group Peter, Paul & Mary, it was rewritten as “Tell It On The Mountain” in the 1960s, and addressed the civil rights struggle of the time. Through the years it has been recorded by a wide range of artists, including Dolly Parton, Pentatonix, Alabama, Tori Kelly, Sarah McLachlan, MercyMe, James Taylor and Frank Sinatra. In this new version, Lee Brice wraps his warm, raspy vocals around the familiar, uplifting lyrics about the Nativity and God’s salvation, ultimately building the track into a spiritual celebration it’s impossible not to be moved by. “I have been wanting to do my own version of one of my favorite Christmas songs," says Brice. "So excited to have been able to do it over this time at home. Hope folks love it as much as I do.” Check out a behind the scenes video showing Brice and his band recording it in the studio 
Thomas Rhett is off to a fast start with his new single, "What's Your Country Song." Earning 141 Mediabase adds in its first week at Country radio and debuting at #25 on the chart, it's clear that if you're not already on it, you're behind! Through the nostalgic tune, Rhett calls out well-known Country hits like Merle Haggard's "Mama Tried," Alan Jackson's "Chattahoochee," Alabama's "Dixieland Delight," and his own father, Rhett Akins' "That Ain't My Truck," among many more as he asks listeners, "What's Your Country Song?" The chorus sings, "Everybody got a small town anthem / Everybody got a story to tell / Everybody got a hallelujah / Everybody been through a little hell / When you're rolling down a two-lane highway / And you turn your radio on / Tell me which one hits you, baby / Yeah, what's your Country song?" Written by Rhett alongside Ashley Gorley, Jesse Frasure, Parker Welling and Akins, the song is an instant mood booster that will have fans turning up the dial as they reminisce on the greatness of Country music, past and present. The song comes to life in the freshly released music video highlighting the greatest moments of Country living that will speak to listeners far and wide. We couldn't ask for more from the reigning ACM Entertainer Of The Year, and we're excited to see this one fly up the charts. Be sure you don't miss it!
With the global pandemic putting a damper on the holiday plans of many families, the yuletide chestnut “I’ll Be Home For Christmas” seems especially poignant this year, particularly in the capable hands of Meghan Patrick. She manages to wring every drop of genuine emotion out of the lyrics without veering into maudlin territory. Patrick gives the song a straight reading in a pure Country voice, yet makes it her own with some vocal and musical embellishments. Patrick, a two-time Canadian Country Music Association Female Vocalist of the Year, is making headway in the U.S. with her grittier current single, “My First Car,” but this holiday classic provides a second look at her range and talent. Originally written to honor soldiers serving overseas, Bing Crosby scored a top 10 hit with what is still the best-known version of the song. Says Patrick, “One of my favorite traditions was watching ‘White Christmas’ on Christmas Eve every year, and one of my favorite songs in that movie was Bing Crosby’s version of ‘I’ll Be Home For Christmas.’ I wanted mine to be reminiscent of that, but I also wanted to keep the delivery raw and emotional to create my own version … In light of this year’s challenges with COVID, and knowing that some people, myself included, may not be able to go home to be with their family because of it, ‘I’ll Be Home For Christmas’ seemed like the perfect choice to give everyone a bit of nostalgic hope leading up the holidays." 
The theme of kids growing up fast is a popular one in Country music, but Jackson Michelson has taken an especially poignant look at it in his new single, which he co-wrote with Matt Alderman and Justin Ebach. A new version adds the talents of Country star and Michelson’s musical hero, Collin Raye, turning the sentimental song into an effective duet. The mid-tempo tune paints vivid pictures of the everyday little moments that can sometimes be taken for granted, like making homemade pizza after church, while encouraging moms and dads to soak it all in and not waste a single day of young parenthood. As Michelson and Raye sing in the chorus, “One day he's gonna want my keys / One day she'll be 17 / Running down the stairs in a prom dress / And we'll be saying time went by fast / Wishing we could get some back / ‘Cause one day they walk and I swear the next they run / Baby someday we’ll be wishing for one day / One day when they were young.” “It’s a true honor to be able to create with [Raye] and to sing such a personal song,” says Michelson. “I’m so glad he connects with the song on such a deep level. He did an incredible performance on the song. I’m excited to share this version of ‘One Day’ with the world. It’s my hope that it inspires people to live in the moment and soak in the time they have with the ones they love.” Adds Raye, “Jackson is exactly, and I mean exactly, what Country music needs today: a truly solid songwriter and a great, great singer … It was a tremendous honor for me to sing with him, especially on a song that hits so close to home for me personally.” Check out a “behind the song” video that shows Michelson and Raye working together in the studio 
The classic saying "easier said than done" is taking on a whole new meaning in this new single penned and performed by up-and-coming artist Brian Blake. The tune begins with a soft and slow melodic introduction, and sets the scene of someone who's had more than enough advice from others on how he should move on from his current relationship. "I take advice 'cause God knows they're right, but their motivation ain't motivating me tonight" he sings in the first verse before the energy picks up and instruments start to flood in for the chorus. Blake passionately sings about how "they're telling me to run, but I can't even walk" and "the thing that's killing me can't see I'm already dead" before he admits defeat in the summarizing line of the song, saying, "I don't control me anymore." Whether you've felt this way in a relationship you just couldn't seem to quit, or a situation you knew you wasn't good for you but you couldn't work up the courage to leave, the lyrics will resonate with many. The song offers a glimpse of relief and hope with the final verses and chorus, as Blake builds up the courage to sing "so take the dog, the rings, the furniture," "Get your things and don't walk back through that door," and the final jab, "You don't control me." You go, Blake! The song, from Blake's forthcoming album, "Perceptions," is a relatable tune, accompanied by a fresh voice in Country music and a powerful message to carry it home. 
There's nothing quite like the Christmas season, especially when you're a child. Lady A is capturing that childlike joy of the holidays with a new Christmas original, "Christmas Through Your Eyes." The song will give you the warm fuzzies from the very first note as the trio's Hillary Scott sings, "Watching you from the front porch playing / Bundled up under snowflakes falling / It takes me back to when I was a kid." As Scott continues to take the lead while guiding listeners down memory lane, trio mates Charles Kelley and Dave Haywood back her up, showcasing unmistakable Lady A harmonies that make the magic of the season come to life. The chorus sings, "I'm seeing Christmas through your eyes / Yeah, it's been a while / The joy and wonder of your smile / Such a precious child / Suddenly I'm drifting back in time / Seeing Christmas through your eyes." Reminiscing on better times and channeling that inner child are sure to pull listeners in as they eagerly await the fresh start of a new year. The song, inspired by the trio's own kids, is featured on the new, deluxe version of their holiday album, "On This Winter's Night," available now. "We've always loved the holiday season, but it has become even more magical now that we're parents," the trio said in a post on their Instagram account. Parent or not, this song will bring you joy as you unpack your own Christmas memories that bring out the child in you.
With the holidays rolling in, another Christmas classic is rolling out. Off of his 2019 seasonal album, "Merry Christmas," Dylan Scott is delivering dreamy vocals paired with his signature Louisiana twang in this rendition of "Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas." Originally written by Hugh Martin and Ralph Blane, it's one of those classic Christmas songs that exudes peace and harmony with each line. Scott's deep and soothing vocals add an extra layer of stillness and comfort as the melody melts away worries. After a whirlwind year, lyrics like, "Let your heart be light" and "From now on our troubles will be out of sight" are words that every family needs to hear as they close the tumultuous chapter of 2020 and are reminded of hope for a better year ahead. 
Hailing from a family that has made their living as farmers for five generations and more than 100 years, Adam Warner had plenty of personal experience to draw from when he crafted the mid-tempo “4 Square Miles” with co-writers Jeff Anderson and Karlene Watts. The lyrics are filled with deeply personal touches, including references to both his late grandfather, Fred Wright, and the Embarras River near his Lawrenceville, IL hometown (pop. 4,400). Warner may have moved to Nashville after five years in the Marines, but the Prairie State is obviously still close to his heart. “Everything I know, lies in four square miles of home,” he sings of his hometown, noting in the song’s bridge, “No matter how far away I get I know / I can close my eyes and dream myself back home.” Warner says, “This song represents many of life's philosophies which I hold dear to my heart,” citing “the importance of family, home, heritage and hard work. My grandpa Fred embodied all of those things. I am blessed to share this song with folks everywhere in hopes that it resonates with them and takes them back to their own Four Square Miles.” A 
Christmas is near, and Florida Georgia Line's Tyler Hubbard and Brian Kelley are kick-starting the season by sharing their holiday spirits ... spirits of their Old Camp Whiskey brand, that is! The duo's new Christmas original, "Lit This Year," is sure to fill your cup with more than cheer as the duo sets the scene for holiday parties everywhere, FGL style. "That Christmas tree ain't the only thing gettin' lit this year / There's Old Camp in the eggnog and that fridge is full of cheers / Got some good ol' Christmas spirit and in this cup right here / That Christmas tree ain't the only thing gettin' lit this year," according to the chorus. Written by Hubbard and Kelley alongside Corey Crowder, the song is a perfect gift to modern Country fans who are ready to celebrate the season with laughs, good vibes and, of course, booze. “BK [Brian Kelley], Corey and I had a good time writing this one,” said Hubbard. “We felt like we were writing the modern-day version of ‘Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer’ meets 'Christmas Vacation'." Kelley added, “Get your holidaze on, y’all ... we’re excited for fans to have something FGL to cheers to the season with!” So fill your favorite holiday cup and raise it up to all the good times about to be ignited, shared by this holiday jam.
Hot off his recent #1, "Got What I Got," Jason Aldean is back, but this time with a love story gone wrong. "Blame It On You," the third single off of Aldean's 2019 album, "9," features the narrator taking ownership of the relationship's demise. The chorus goes, "I could blame it on the whiskey / I wouldn't blame you if you didn't even miss me / Gave you a million reasons girl not to be with me / Should've never let you go / Should've never watched you go." Remorse-filled vocals also fill the second half of the chorus, with the lyrics, "I could say I never knew / I could drink around the truth / But I can't blame it on you." Written by Brian White, John Edwards and Aldean's bandmates Kurt Allison, Michael Tyler and Tully Kennedy, the song has the perfect blend of Country storytelling, with Aldean's signature rock sound giving it an extra edge. Aldean says the song "was just one of those things that was just really different for the record that I thought we were missing. It kind of reminded me a lot of a song 'Girl Like You' that we had, where it kind of starts off down and you almost wonder is it going to be a ballad, and then the chorus kicks in and it turns into Rock & Roll. It was one that just ... grabbed me right off the bat, and I’m really glad we cut it." We're glad too, and when the single goes #1, we'll just have to blame it on you.
Troy Cartwright signed with Warner Music Nashville in 2018, and has been steadily releasing songs since then, but the mid-tempo “Hung Up On You” is officially his debut radio single. It was worth the wait. Written by Cartwright, Solomon Olds and Rebecca Lauren Olds, the song looks back on a lost teenage romance that hasn’t quite ended for the narrator. “Can’t seem to get you out of my head / Drinkin’ to forget all those nights in my bed,” he sings, later adding, “The last thing I should do, stop texting you / Baby it’s not over / Only had a few, I’m missin’ you / Yeah I wish you were back in town / For one more round.” It’s true to life for the Berklee-trained musician, who tells All Access, “I wrote ‘Hung Up On You’ a few years ago with a couple friends when I first moved to town. We wanted to write something that was fun, that was upbeat, and that was true. For me, it’s about somebody I couldn’t stop thinking about, but I think the magic of it is that it can mean something different to you each time you hear it. My favorite part of this process has been hearing from different people about how it has resonated with them. That means the world to me. It has literally changed my life, and I’m so excited for it to be my first single on Country radio.” The Texas native has already made Rolling Stone’s list of “10 New Country Artists You Need To Know.” Now it’s time for Country radio listeners to get to know him too.
A fresh taste of Eric Church music is here and ready to feed your airwaves with the perfect recipe of love, rebellion and freedom that only the Chief can accomplish. The song, written by Church alongside Casey Beathard and Monty Criswell, tells the story of two defiant lovers who live their love story wild and free without looking back. "I was no daddy’s dream / Was not your mama’s prayer / But I was your first and your last ticket outta there / I caught your wings on fire / When I smoked my Bronco tires / Outta that town," he sings. A simple, midtempo beat frames the lyrics to shine brightly and capture the passion behind each word as Church builds into the chorus, "This ain’t for everybody / Toes hanging off the ledge / Like we got nothin’ to lose / Ain’t always heaven baby / This livin’ on the edge / You holdin’ me holdin’ you / It’s a hell of a view." As if the song doesn't already have listeners submerged in a blissful dream, it's taken up a level with the vocal embellishments of longtime background vocalist Joanna Cotten, who has elevated Church's music for many years with powerhouse vocals and the passion to match. Serving up a breath of fresh air and allowing listeners to escape the everyday, there's no reason this song shouldn't soar to the top.
Heartbreak and hiding are the two main themes in Dierks Bentley's newest single, "Gone." We've all been there before. We get our hearts broken, and the thought of having to go out and face the "real world" again is enough to make us want to bury our head under the covers forever. "Boss thinks I've been sick for days" and "All the gas is in the tank / All the neighbors probably think I'm dead" are just a few ways Bentley describes the isolation during this three-and-a-half minute track. He passionately sings in the chorus, "I’ve been gone / I’ve been sittin’ on the couch watching TV all day long / All day long I’ve been tryin’ to figure out how a good thing went wrong," before the pace picks up, and in an almost rap-like style, he sings, "Faster than that freight train, farther than that airplane / Sadder than a Country song / Headed down that highway, anywhere but my way / Ever since you moved on, I’ve been gone." Despite melancholy lyrics, the super catchy tune, written by Nicolle Galyon, Ben Johnson and Niko Moon, has a modern and fun sound to it that will make listeners want to sing along. As Bentley pointed out while discussing the song during a virtual media roundtable, the tune is filled with irony, as the narrator sings about being "gone" while never actually leaving to go anywhere, and he's "been a million places, but they’re all up in my head." "Country music is the best genre for storytelling, and I feel like we are realizing it probably now more than ever since we can’t congregate together at concerts, high five each other, sing and shout at the top of our lungs," Bentley said. "A good Country show is just about the greatest communion there is out there. We are all relying on lyrics and melodies at home, and trying however we can to find different ways to connect with our fans so that they know how important they still are to us. I hope this song resonates with mine, and I’m counting the days until we can all be back together again, beers in the air.” Although Bentley might have been "gone" for a little while since quarantine started, one thing's for sure -- he's back now and better than ever. 
An artist just on the cusp of having Music Row take notice in a big way, independent (for now) singer/songwriter Emily Rose is taking a confident first swing at radio with “Windshield,” a standout track from her debut EP, “The Heart.” Written by Rose, Ed Hill and Donnie Skaggs, the mid-tempo tune showcases Rose’s classic, Patty Loveless-style sound with just enough contemporary touches to make it a fit for Country radio in 2020 and beyond. As Rose’s narrator is fleeing a bad relationship, and that “real tough town” known as heartache, she hits on a moment of clarity that becomes the song’s empowering chorus. “The windshield is a whole lot bigger than the rear view mirror / The windshield is where you’re going not where you’ve been / I ain’t shattered and I ain’t broke / I see happy just down the road / Through the windshield,” she sings. Rose wrote or co-wrote — and co-produced — all six songs on “The Heart,” released today (10/23) via her own Growing Rose Recording Company imprint. Her previously-released songs, “Go To The Moon,” “Dance In The Kitchen,” and most recently “Hey Child,” have garnered critical acclaim and more than 200,000 streams to date. Rose calls the new EP, “an introspective compilation of the real emotions I've felt through life — heartbreak, empowerment, growth, love, and the ups and downs of being a dreamer." She says, "I only ever want to create music that feels one hundred percent honest and raw. I can relate to each of these songs, and it is my proudest work yet, so I hope it makes people feel something and gives them hope for the future.” Speaking of the future, take a look through the windshield at one of County music’s likeliest next stars.
The stars have aligned this October for Breast Cancer Awareness month with a brand-new, multi-genre single, "PINK," featuring female powerhouses Dolly Parton, Monica, Jordin Sparks, Sara Evans and Rita Wilson. The song, written by Victoria Shaw, Erin Kinsey and Jodi Marr, serves as a beautiful glimmer of hope to individuals battling breast cancer and the families fighting alongside them. "You gotta believe without seeing / You gotta keep going, keep breathing / When you face a day that feels like you're gonna break / Lean on the ones that love you / The guardian angels above you / And think about when pink / is just another color," are the words to the powerful chorus. With one in eight women being diagnosed with breast cancer at some point in their lifetime, and breast cancer killing more than 42,000 women and men in the U.S. alone each year, the song is sure to resonate with many who continue to fight the fight themselves, or are helping someone else through it. While the single is sure to inspire, it is also giving back financially, with proceeds from the project benefiting the Susan G. Komen foundation. “This is such a beautiful song of hope,” said Parton. “I’m honored to join with these powerful women to help support Susan G. Komen’s life-saving work.” Added Evans, “There is something magical that happens when women band together to have a positive impact on the world for our sisters and our daughters.” We're excited to see the magic spread, and will support this song until pink is just another color!
In a time where the world's been bombarded with having to adapt to "new normals" almost every day, a shiny new Christmas album from Dolly Parton, "A Holly Dolly Christmas," filled with holiday classics and duets, is just what we need to feel some sense of normalcy and comfort, and to kickstart us into the holiday spirit. Late night talk show host Jimmy Fallon adds that extra flair of humor and wit as he joins Parton in this rendition of a Christmas classic, originally written by Mariah Carey, Walter Afanasieff and Walter N. Afanasieff. The pair adds touches of their own personalities and flavor as they exchange dialogue throughout the song. In the beginning, they talk of being "mushy and romantic," and how much Fallon loves Parton, before Parton humorously says to Fallon, "I've always wanted to sing a duet with you, so you can go first ... right after me." Queen Dolly! While the two are an unexpected pair for a duet, Fallon's surprisingly smooth vocals and Parton's instantly-recognizable voice sound great together and elevate the song to a whole new level. It's impossible not to sing along when you hear this song, so grab yourself a cup of hot cocoa, a warm and fuzzy blanket, and turn it up!
Lee Brice is on a massive roll. On the heels of three consecutive #1 singles comes a song so hooky and evocative it seems certain to extend that run to four in a row. Starting with a series of nostalgic recollections culled from a lost romance — a sundress on the front steps, a blanket down in the backyard and, in a later verse, Springsteen on the speakers — Brice leads into the sing-along chorus, wringing every last drop of emotion out of the lyrics. “That’s a memory I don’t mess with / The girl I was the best with / The one I was obsessed with / Girl, you just don’t get it / I’d fall right back with one slip / Always leaves me helpless / Don’t hate me I can’t help it / Gotta leave us where we left it / You’re a memory I don’t mess with.” Those images are all things he doesn’t allow himself to think about because they still “kill me now.” In the bridge, we learn he’s just bumped into that lover he’s not quite over as he sings, “It’s good running into you like this / But girl, I’m as close as I can get” to those memories. Brice says of the song, “It’s about exactly what it says. It’s one of those memories, it’s one of those things that you can’t let yourself get too close to because it just pulls you in too deep. The memory’s always there. The pictures are always there in your head. But that’s the one you’ve just gotta let alone, and let just be a memory.” Written by Brice, Brian Davis and Billy Montana, the song is another tantalizing glimpse into Brice’s upcoming album, “Hey World,” due out on November 20th.
Superstar Luke Bryan is at it again and ready to climb the charts with his latest single, "Down To One." Digging into his emotional side, Bryan makes it easy for listeners to catch the theme of the song, mentioning the number one no less than 21 times as he croons about finding the "one." The chorus sings, "We were down to 1 AM / Listening to one more song / Thinking I want more than just one night out here with you alone." Are you catching his drift? The chorus concludes, "Down to one hand in mine / Down to one beautiful smile / I was done with the girl I want / Straight falling in love / Right there that night / Down to one." The song, written by Dallas Davidson, Justin Ebach and Kyle Fishman, embodies all aspects of a Country love gone right, and is sure to have fans everywhere swooning. Not straying far from his strong Country vocals that have won over the hearts of many over the years, this song is sure to see success as Bryan delivers exactly what fans want to hear. "Down to one is a real kind of typical song from me that you’d expect through the years,” said Bryan in a video posted to his 
Have you ever had a week gone wrong that miraculously turned around for you? The character in Rayne Johnson's latest single finds himself in that exact predicament as he's "at a bar with a band and an empty seat" and tries to "drink that whole week off of me." His woes suddenly disappear when a woman walks in, changing his week's downhill trajectory. The chorus goes, "‘Cause that night, didn't feel right / ‘Til I saw her pretty face / We were dancing, it was crazy / I felt like a new man baby / That night was looking bad ‘til I saw her / But it got good, good, real dang good." The song, written by Joe Jordan, is a fun, feel-good tune that even features an exciting electric guitar solo. "We can all agree that times are a bit wild right now," Johnson wrote about the song in an Instagram post. "It’s times like now when I turn to music that I love to help pick me up! I’m hoping that my new single, 'Real Dang Good,' can be one of those songs for you like it has [been] for me!" The song is definitely relatable, especially to anyone who's ever found that person that can turn their day around, or feels like "the band sounded better when she sang along." It's young and exciting, and would sound great on airwaves everywhere because, well ... it's real dang good. 
Traditional Country music is making a comeback in Michael Ray's latest single, "Whiskey And Rain." Written by Jesse Frasure and Josh Thompson, the mid-tempo song is relatable to anyone who's ever turned to alcohol after heartbreak. "Yeah, whiskey and rain coming down, coming down," Ray sings in the chorus, as he paints a picture of the narrator pouring himself some alcohol as it simultaneously, and symbolically, pours outside. "Splash of bourbon in a glass / Yeah, pouring something on the pain, let it drown, let it drown / Try to wash away the past," he continues with twang-tinged vocals and a fiddle in the background. "Since my blue sky, sunshine, whole life hopped on that midnight train / Till the bottle runs out or the clouds roll away / It's just whiskey and rain." The song is the first taste of new music since Ray's 2018 album, "Amos," and seems to reflect a new direction sonically. "It was a Country song that made me pick up a guitar and move to Nashville 10 years ago," captioned Ray on an Instagram post announcing the new song. "With this new music we're making, I tried to remind myself that I'm just as much of a fan of traditional Country music today as I ever was ... and we're bringing it back ya'll! ! I hope you hear the influences I grew up on when you listen to this song."
In his latest single, Cody Johnson has managed to write one of the most romantic love songs to date without ever dropping the words "she," "her," "baby," "girl" or "wife." That's because the subject of "Dear Rodeo" isn't about a person, but rather, what Johnson would probably describe as his other love: the rodeo. Johnson opens his love letter in the first verse with "Dear Rodeo / I'd be lyin' if I tried to tell you I don't think about you / After all the miles and the wild nights that we've been through / Lord knows we had a few." He's joined in the next verse by Country legend Reba McEntire, before they passionately sing in the chorus, "Between the almost had 'ems and broken bones / The dream of a buckle I'll never put on / I'm jaded / Woah, I hate it." If you've ever had a dream that you came close to reaching, but could never quite attain, this song will hit you where it hurts. They offer hope in the second half of the chorus, singing, "But somehow the highs outweigh the lows / And I'd do it all again even though we both know / I'd still have to let you go." Written by Johnson (who was inspired by his real-life struggle of having to quit a rodeo career) alongside Dan Couch, the four-minute song has a way of transcending the listener back in time to their own dream they've had to let go of -- be it a dream job or even a dream partner. When the news of the duet was revealed on Instagram, Johnson captioned his post, "I think everyone has their own #DearRodeo story. I found out Reba had her own 'Dear Rodeo' story and it impacted her enough to want to do a duet. She adds a certain level of authenticity to this song that makes it so special. The story behind 'Dear Rodeo' is more about life than the rodeo." Amen to that! This song has everything Country music is built upon, including two powerhouse vocalists, entrancing instrumentals and one hell of a story to carry it home. While the rodeo might be a dream Johnson's put to rest, this loving tribute to his former career just might take his music further than he could have ever imagined. 
Hiawassee, GA native Kaleb Garrett is giving us a taste of his own Country style with his single, "Sunshine Girl." Don't let the title fool you, this isn't another windows-down summer love song, but rather a reality check many may relate to as Summer romances try to survive the Fall. The deeply emotional lyrics showcase Garrett's creativity and natual vulnerability as he sings, "So just like the sun, don't look too closely / As bright as she shines you just can't get too near / Not even she knows where she's going / I just know it isn't here," before pleading for his lady's change of heart: "Well that girl's my sunshine but she'll never be mine / Sunshine girl, won't you change your mind?" After growing up around music his whole life and falling in love with Bluegrass at the age of 14, Garrett has always used music to express himself, and this song is no exception. "Creativity and expression through music always came most natural to me, sometimes even more than speaking," said Garrett. "I feel like I can tell someone about myself and how I’m feeling so much more easily through musical inflections.” His love for music propelled him to earn a classical guitar music degree, which soon led him to gigs opening for artists including Diamond Rio, Travis Tritt and Three Dog Night. “When I discovered music as a kid, it was cathartic," he added. "I set my goal early on that I wanted to be a great songwriter. Now I have experienced some incredibly humbling moments and feel way out of my league sometimes, but I love networking and learning all I can. I want to travel, tour the world, and share music with people because that’s what it’s all about.”
Country Things, Vol. 2
