Chris Stapleton and George Strait are among the artists taking part in the 90th Birthday Celebration of Willie Nelson. The star-studded special, filmed live earlier this year across two nights before a sold-out crowd at the legendary Hollywood Bowl, celebrates Nelson’s milestone 90th birthday and the 12-time GRAMMY® Award-winner’s contributions to popular culture and music. This historic concert event features unforgettable collaborations and once-in-a-lifetime performances by Chris, Strait, Willie, Beck, Gary Clark Jr., Sheryl Crow, Snoop Dogg, Norah Jones, Miranda Lambert, Dave Matthews, Nelson’s sons Lukas Nelson and Micah Nelson and Keith Richards. The two-hour special, hosted by stars Jennifer Garner, Chelsea Handler, Woody Harrelson, Ethan Hawke, Helen Mirren and Owen Wilson, will air December 17th beginning at 8:30pm ET/PT on CBS and streaming on Paramount+ (live and on-demand).

Fans of Chris Stapleton can listen to his new album, Higher, before it’s available on November 10th. Indie record stores across the country will be holding a special listening party on Tuesday (November 7th).

Higher Indie Record Store Listening Parties
Nov 7th

Find & contact your local record store to attend: https://t.co/UNSjxylGmF pic.twitter.com/UvgQXF5aVy

— Chris Stapleton (@ChrisStapleton) November 1, 2023

Kassi Ashton has released her own version of Christina Aguilera’s “Genie In A Bottle.” The song was recorded with her band and produced by Oscar Charles.

https://twitter.com/KassiAshton/status/1720088949836988426

Maddie and Tae will be in Kansas City on December 1st to perform at the 19th Annual Ugly Christmas Sweater Party. The event is an annual holiday fundraiser started by a group of volunteers to support Operation Breakthrough — with a goal to raise funds and awareness for kids/families living in poverty in Kansas City’s urban core. The ladies just released the extended version of their holiday collection, We Need Christmas.

Did someone say CHRISTMAS?!?! Kansas City!! We're coming your way on Friday, December 1st for the 19th Annual Ugly Christmas Sweater Party at @thetrumankc. We'll be singing songs, being jolly and raising money for @OB_Inc_KC. Tickets: https://t.co/fcUXryyWyW pic.twitter.com/EDtLttIPlz

— Maddie & Tae (@MaddieandTae) November 3, 2023

On the heels of his much-lauded debut as host of NBC’s Saturday Night Live, comedian Nate Bargatze will be ESPN’s College GameDay Celebrity Guest Picker on Saturday (November 4th) in Alabama.

Big news! I will be ESPN’s College GameDay Celebrity Guest Picker this Saturday at Alabama! @CollegeGameDay

Tune in around 11:30a ET on ESPN to see me make my picks! #anchordown pic.twitter.com/UDyKGcb5Ai

— Nate Bargatze (@natebargatze) November 2, 2023

Chrissy Metz is heading out on select dates on Jim Brickman’s A Joyful Christmas tour, hitting such cities as Nashville, Pensacola and Cleveland, among others. Go to chrissymetz.com for more information on tour dates.

https://twitter.com/JimBrickman/status/1720214202093130214

MCA Nashville artist Kassi Ashton releases a sultry Dark Room Edition of her Top 40 tune “Drive You Out Of My Mind.” Written by Ashton with Travis Wood and Todd Clark, “Drive You Out of My Mind” has made waves as MusicRow notes, “Ashton rocks out on this hit-the-road, tempestuous tempo tune,” and Country Now says, “The Missouri native strikes a match with her hard-hitting vocals and mood-boosting melody.” Ashton is now more magnetic than ever with vulnerability rolling through “Drive You Out Of My Mind” Dark Room Edition.

Listen to “Drive You Out of My Mind” Dark Room Edition HERE

The widely acclaimed singer/songwriter known for her free spirit and her rich, soulful voice, is currently on the No Bad Vibes Tour with Old Dominion with upcoming dates in Boston and New York. For more information, visit www.KassiAshton.com.

About Kassi Ashton:
With a little bit of rock, a hell of a lot of soul, and a throwback R&B groove, MCA Nashville’s Kassi Ashton is set to take the music world by storm. “Kassi Ashton is in line for Nashville domination, and she’ll do it her way – unapologetically,” proclaims PEOPLE Magazine. Kassi brings a whole new attitude to country music. The California, Missouri singer/songwriter touched down with a string of critically acclaimed tracks released by UMG Nashville in conjunction with Interscope Records. Her introductory release “California, Missouri” stirred widespread critical acclaim from Taste of Country, CMT, The Boot, and many more. Named “Who to Watch” by Huffington Post, The Tennessean, and radio personality Bobby Bones. Rolling Stone lauds her as “a devilish songwriter who isn’t afraid to flip convention on its head,” while Refinery29 claims, “she blends pop aesthetics with a presence doused in no-fucks-left-to-give authenticity,” PAPER Magazine calls her “the next big country superstar,” and American Songwriter notes, “Ashton brings powerful storytelling and a sense of poetry in every release.”

Kassi defies convention and defines her signature style with confessional, catchy storytelling and dynamic delivery on songs including her latest, “Drive You Out of My Mind,” and critically acclaimed releases “Dates In Pickup Trucks,” “Heavyweight,” “California, Missouri,” “Hopeless,” “Violins,” and more.

Kassi Ashton releases brand new track, “Drive You Out of My Mind,” today. Written by Ashton with Travis Wood and Todd Clark, “Drive You Out of My Mind,” serves as the Missouri-native’s next country radio single hitting the airwaves March 13th.

“When nothing else works, I hit the gas,” says Ashton. “I feel like I can breathe when the windows are down, and my main character soundtrack is turned up. Put this song at the top of your playlist the next time you need to get lost.”

Listen to “Drive You Out of My Mind” HERE

Ashton is set to make her debut on the Grand Ole Opry March 15th. The widely acclaimed singer/songwriter known for her free spirit and her rich, soulful voice, is also currently on the No Bad Vibes Tour with Old Dominion. Upcoming dates include Kennewick, WA; West Palm Beach, FL; Key West, FL; and Bangor, ME. For more information, visit www.KassiAshton.com.

Drive You Out of My Mind

I cried, I tried
I’ve been about as “mama’s broken heart” as I can be
These small talk, slow down, one road in and out
Walls are closing in on me

This town ain’t big enough for breakin’ up
I’m ‘bout to leave it in a cloud of dust
You’re everywhere and I can’t take it
Chevy wild horses offto the races

Until I hit the city limits, ‘til I hit the state line
‘Til I reach a coast or a ghost town a thousand miles out
Keep this needle hittin’ ninety ‘til your memory can’t find me anyhow
Keep the pedal down

‘Til I see some taillights that don’t make me think of you
‘Til I’m pulled over on the shoulder by some flashin’ blue lights
‘Til this heart forgets to break, I don’t care if it takes me all night
I’m gonna drive you outta my mind

I did hot mess, new dress
Leanin’ on the whiskey but it just won’t do it
And somethin’ ‘bout this driver’s side dried my eyes
Got me thinkin’ maybe I should just keep movin’

Until I hit the city limits, ‘til I hit the state line
‘Til I reach a coast or a ghost town a thousand miles out
Keep this needle hittin’ ninety ‘til your memory can’t find me anyhow
Keep the pedal down

‘Til I see some taillights that don’t make me think of you
‘Til I’m pulled over on the shoulder by some flashin’ blue lights
‘Til this heart forgets to break, I don’t care if it takes me all night
I’m gonna drive you outta my mind
I’m gonna drive you outta my mind

This town ain’t big enough for breakin’ up
I’m ‘bout to leave it in a cloud of dust
You’re everywhere and I can’t take it
Chevy wild horses off to the races

Until I hit the city limits, ‘til I hit the state line
‘Til I reach a coast or a ghost town a thousand miles out
Keep this needle hittin’ ninety ‘til your memory can’t find me anyhow
Keep the pedal down

‘Til I see some taillights that don’t make me think of you
‘Til I’m pulled over on the shoulder by some flashin’ blue lights
‘Til this heart forgets to break, I don’t care if it takes me all night
I’m gonna drive you outta my mind
I’m gonna drive you outta my mind
Drive you
I’m gonna drive you outta my mind

MCA Nashville singer/songwriter Kassi Ashton announces her debut on the Grand Ole Opry. The widely acclaimed Missouri-native known for her free spirit and her rich, soulful voice, is set to take the famed Opry stage on March 15th.

“I can’t begin to tell you what this means to me,” shared Kassi. “I grew up on voices and songs that are long past gone, but still echo in that room. I told myself at a young age that if I made it to the Opry stage, I’d sing those songs again. I am honored to get the chance.”

https://twitter.com/KassiAshton/status/1613629815336144910

Kassi also joins Old Dominion for the upcoming U.S. tour dates of the No Bad Vibes Tour kicking off January 19th in Evansville, Indiana. She will bring her songs including “I Don’t Go Back,” “Dates In Pickup Trucks,” “Pretty Shiny Things,” and more, to stages from Green Bay to Boise and Lake Tahoe to Key West. For more information, visit www.KassiAshton.com.

Kassi Ashton grew up in a rural town called California, Missouri, and she took ballet and other dance classes for many years. So, one of her favorite Christmas memories include being in The Nutcracker every year. “One of my favorite Christmas traditions growing up was always being a part of The Nutcracker,” says Kassi. “[I took] ballet my entire life, and now that I’ve graduated and moved on, I go see The Nutcracker at the Nashville Ballet every year. I can’t wait to have a little girl some day and put her in ballet class.”

Kassi loves Christmas music, especially the holiday classics. “My favorite thing about Christmas hands down is Christmas music. I start playing eh, the day after Thanksgiving usually, if not a little sooner. I love the classics – Judy Garland, Frank Sinatra, anything that you know by heart and you don’t have to really think about. Christmas songs are the best,” she says. “My favorite Christmas song is ‘Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas’ by Judy Garland in the key of G, because that’s my key [laughs], and I can sing along perfectly.” [laughs]

In 2020, Kassi mixed melancholy and hope beautifully to deliver a stirring rendition of the Dolly Parton classic “Hard Candy Christmas.” Written by Carol Hall for the Broadway musical The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas, which later became a movie starring Parton, “Hard Candy Christmas” serves as testimony that while things may be tough right now, it will get better.

Kassi Ashton is currently on the country radio airwaves with her single, “Dates In Pickup Trucks,” which she co-wrote and produced with Luke Laird and David Garcia. The California native singer/songwriter, who also competed in many pageants when she was young, says she’s been singing since she was a tiny tot.

“I always say I’ve been singing since before I could read, because my mom would sneak me into karaoke bars, literally sneak me, because you know the high-top cocktail tables? She’d put me under the tablecloth, and I’d do scratch off tickets under the tablecloth,” she recalls. “But she would stand behind me, because I couldn’t read the prompter and tell me the words before they came up on the screen, and I was so little that if people clapped too loud, I would cry. So, I’ve literally been singing since I was tiny.”

Click here to find more information on Kassi and where you can see her perform live.

MCA Nashville and Interscope Records artist Kassi Ashton releases new song “I Don’t Go Back,” today. Written by Ashton with Luke Laird and Hillary Lindsey, “I Don’t Go Back” is a slow, introspective track shows off Kassi’s soulful voice as the lyrics allow her to reminisce over good parts of that past while being exactly where she wants to be in the present, “I’m a moving on, straight ahead. Eyes on the road always does me best.  I’m out with the old, in with the new.  Yeah, I don’t go back but if I did, it’d be to you,” and “I don’t miss who I was, I’m exactly where I wanna be now.  These ain’t tears, this ain’t no flood.  It’s just a song that I can’t turn down.”

“My favorite part of songwriting is giving someone a real piece of myself from a certain time in my life,” shares Kassi. “It’s more than sharing a picture and it’s more than sharing a story; it’s sharing a feeling. When I wrote this song in 2017 with Luke and Hillary, we all put a piece of ourselves in it. I hope you listen and feel and find a piece of yourself too.”

Listen to “I Don’t Go Back” HERE

Along with the new song, Kassi brings two live performance videos to light today from a recent trip to VEVO Studio in Brooklyn, N.Y.  Watch “I Don’t Go Back” HERE and “Dates In Pickup Trucks” HERE.

Kassi’s debut radio single, “Dates In Pickup Trucks,” is playing now on country radio. She also makes several appearances at next week’s CMA Fest in Nashville including a performance on the Chevy Vibes Stage on Saturday, June 11.

“I Don’t Go Back” Lyrics:

I don’t cry

But if I did, there’d be an Eric Church song playing

In my car

Driving past the blue school doors that are faded

I’m not sad

But if I was, there’d be a ’97 F-250

Driving away

In my head while I’m in Nashville feeling guilty

I’m a moving on, straight ahead

Eyes on the road always does me best

I’m out with the old, in with the new

Yeah, I don’t go back but if I did, it’d be to you, you, you

I don’t go reminiscing

But when I do, it’s usually when I’ve been drinking

Like tonight

Start thinking about you playing pool in your mama’s basement

I don’t wanna be 17 again

I don’t go chasing around could-have-been’s

And I don’t regret

That ain’t me but if I did I know where I’d be ‘cause

I’m a moving on, straight ahead

Eyes on the road always does me best

I’m out with the old, in with the new

Yeah, I don’t go back but if I did, it’d be to you, you, you

I don’t miss who I was, I’m exactly where I wanna be now

These ain’t tears, this ain’t no flood

It’s just a song that I can’t turn down’

I don’t cry

But if I did there’d be an Eric Church song playing, playing

I’m a moving on, straight ahead

Eyes on the road always does me best

I’m out with the old, in with the new

Yeah, I don’t go back but if I did, it’d be to you, you, you

It’d be to you, you, you

About Kassi Ashton
With a little bit of rock, a hell of a lot of soul, and a throwback R&B groove, Kassi Ashton has crash landed on country radio with her latest song and radio debut, “Dates In Pickup Trucks.”

“Kassi Ashton is in line for Nashville domination, and she’ll do it her way – unapologetically,” proclaims PEOPLE Magazine. Kassi brings a whole new attitude to country music. The California, Missouri singer/songwriter touched down with a string of critically acclaimed tracks released by UMG Nashville in conjunction with Interscope Records. Her introductory release “California, Missouri” stirred widespread critical acclaim from Taste of Country, CMT, The Boot, and many more. Named “Who to Watch” by Huffington Post, The Tennessean, and radio personality Bobby Bones. Rolling Stone lauds her as “a devilish songwriter who isn’t afraid to flip convention on its head,” while Refinery29 claims, “she blends pop aesthetics with a presence doused in no-fucks-left-to-give authenticity,” PAPER Magazine calls her “the next big country superstar,” and American Songwriter notes, “Ashton brings powerful storytelling and a sense of poetry in every release.”

Kassi defies convention and defines her signature style with confessional, catchy storytelling and dynamic delivery on songs including “Dates In Pickup Trucks,” on country radio now, and critically acclaimed releases “Heavyweight,” “California, Missouri,” “Hopeless,” “Violins,” and more.

Kassi Ashton has released the music video for her single, “Dates In Pickup Trucks.” Check it out below.

The California, Missouri singer/songwriter wrote and produced the song with Luke Laird and David Garcia.