Maddie & Tae’s eagerly awaited sophomore album THE WAY IT FEELS (Mercury Nashville) debuted at No. 1 on the Current Country Albums sales chart and inside the Top Ten on Billboard’s Country Albums chart this week arriving at No. 7.  Anchored by their GOLD-certified single “Die From A Broken Heart,” which is closing in on Top 20, the song described by Esquire as “their finest moment yet” continues to be embraced widely, notably collecting over 10 million streams since the album’s release with over 181 million streams worldwide to date.

Co-writing all but one of the album’s “vulnerable 15 tracks” (Billboard), critics laud Maddie & Tae’s sophomore album has been “well worth the wait” (E! Online), delivering “stories tackling grueling heartbreak, glowing marriage and the late nights where friends matter more than either” (The Tennessean).

“The Way It Feels shows off plenty of sides to this refreshing, exciting pair. It often resembles a greatest hits package — and in some ways it is.” – Associated Press

“a 15-song reminder of the group’s penchant for real-life experiences explained through diligent truth-telling” – The Tennessean

“the new project is filled with even deeper, more vulnerable lyrics, paired with a more mature, polished brand of pop-country, added to their tightly-woven harmonies” – MusicRow

“Throughout the old and new tracks on The Way It Feels, Maddie & Tae’s harmonizing and hook creation serve as a worthy bedrock, and one that will still delight longtime supporters.” – Billboard

“The Way It Feels, the follow-up to Start Here, is more mature and highlights a different place in life for 24-year-old singers” – US Weekly

“they’re a little older, a little wiser, but still every bit the prolific and gifted singer-songwriters they were five years ago” – CMT.com

“the duo’s long-awaited sophomore album is filled with their pristine harmonies wrapped around stories of love, loss and redemption.” – Sounds Like Nashville

“The Way It Feels has all the feels, from the poignant ballad ‘Die From A Broken Heart’ and the girls’ anthem ‘Bathroom Floor’ to the plaintive prayer ‘Water in His Wine Glass’ and the feisty kiss-off ‘New Dogs Old Tricks.’” – The Oklahoman

Award-winning duo Maddie & Tae are drawing praise for their new music “anchored around their stellar vocal pairings and some of the tightest harmonies on Music Row” (Rolling Stone) with a “sound that’s identifiable while still representing a distinct step forward” (Billboard). Their highly anticipated sophomore album THE WAY IT FEELS is available now (Mercury Nashville), featuring the GOLD-certified nearly Top 20 single “Die From A Broken Heart.” Maddie & Tae first broke out in 2013 with their brilliant “Girl In A Country Song,” which took Country radio by storm, skyrocketing to the top of the charts and quickly going PLATINUM. The duo became only the third female duo in 70 years to top the Country Airplay charts, also earning trophies from the Country Music Academy and Radio Disney Music Awards along with multiple ACM, CMA and CMT Award nominations. Receiving widespread praise from NPR, Billboard, Entertainment Weekly, The Washington Post, Glamour and others, Country music’s hottest stars including Carrie Underwood, Dierks Bentley, Lee Brice and Brad Paisley have welcomed Maddie & Tae on the road, with the pair set to support Lady Antebellum’s 2020 OCEAN TOUR. For additional information, visit www.maddieandtae.com

The Hot Country Knights performed their song, “Pick Her Up,” with Travis Tritt on ABC’S GOOD MORNING AMERICA on Monday (May 4th).

The song is from the group’s new album, The K is Silent.

Capitol Records Nashville’s Caylee Hammack “bares her soul” (Billboard) with the release of her latest single “Small Town Hypocrite,” available at country radio today. Co-written and co-produced by Hammack, the autobiographical ballad ties together her “top-notch” writing skills and vocals that “carry a story of broken hearts and survival” (Rolling Stone). The prodigiously talented singer/songwriter shared more details “Behind The Song” with American Songwriter here, as the new single paints the unvarnished truth of Hammack’s personal journey of heartbreak and reflection. Critics and artists alike have been overwhelmingly quick to spotlight and applaud the career-song-in-the making since its release just over a month ago.

“An autobiographical ballad about giving up her dreams for a man who she came to find out later was only holding her back, the pain is felt within every lyric she sings.” – Billboard

“On the Georgia native’s new track, cadences reminiscent of Dolly Parton carry a story of broken hearts and survival” – Rolling Stone 

“The track is a perfect wonder… The lyric is extraordinary, relating the saga of a woman who sets aside her dreams for a no-good guy, then summons the strength to move on. The vocal performance is quite moving, radiating vulnerability, heartache, bitterness and honesty. All in all, a fabulous little record.”  – Music Row 

Hammack is also hosting “CMT’s Next Women of Country Goes Live” series inviting special guests each week, with previous guests including Ashley McBryde, Cassadee Pope, Tenille Townes and this week’s guest Lindsay Ell, as a medium to connect with audiences through music and conversation.  Fans can tune in each Tuesday at 5pm CT on CMT’s Facebook page to watch.

Background on Caylee Hammack:
Capitol Records Nashville’s Caylee Hammack grew up in the tiny town of Ellaville, Georgia where she used to pray every night as a kid, “God, just please make me different,” she remembers. Hammack is indeed refreshingly different. And at only 25, she has already packed a full life into just a few years, using fake IDs to get gigs around South Georgia, turning down a college scholarship for a love that burned out, sleeping in her car when she arrived in Nashville and then losing her home in an electrical fire. Her self-penned songs tug on her own life story – bad decisions, broken hearts, a quirky family lineage.

Hammack’s debut Top 30 breakout single “Family Tree,” co-written/co-produced by Hammack was the most-added single at Country radio by a female artist in over three years and praised for its “soulful vocals and descriptive lyrics [that] shine” (Billboard). Hammack has brought her firebrand live set to opening slots for Eric Church, Dierks Bentley, Miranda Lambert, Trisha Yearwood, Brothers Osborne and some of country music’s biggest festivals. Next up, Hammack will return to the road later this year with Luke Bryan, Reba and Rascal Flatts. Hammack has also been the noted as an “Artist To Watch” by outlets including The Bobby Bones Show, Rolling Stone and HITS Magazine for her “voice to move mountains” (Rolling Stone). For more information, visit cayleehammack.com.

Travis Denning loved the treatment for his official music video for his current single “After A Few.” Directed by Justin Clough, the mysterious video depicts scenes of Denning playing a heated game of poker in the back room of a smoky bar, while other shots illustrate his masterful guitar playing. The video parallels the song’s lyrics through the poker game by intensifying the stakes with the lead character’s relationship. The video was shot at Beer Sellar in Nashville, Tennessee.

“One thing I loved about the treatment for the After a Few music video is Justin Clough, who directed it, just had this great idea of the similarities between the relationship and taking a gamble on that and actually taking a gamble on a poker game,” says Travis. “And so, we decided to kind of have this story line of me and this girl that I just couldn’t help but go back to and every drink was a gamble into falling back in her arms. And then this other side where I’m going up playing poker and getting more confident and winning money and then finally, everything comes to a T with going all in on this hand, and all of a sudden, I’m all in with her. I just thought it was so cool, and it was just great how the cinematic aspect completely mirrored one another. It was fun to act in it.”

Travis just hit the Top 5 on the country charts with “After a Few.”

On Saturday night (April 18th), numerous networks and social and digital platforms aired the Lady Gaga-curated Global Citizen’s “One World: Together at Home” event to say thank you to all of the frontline workers, healthcare professionals and everyone else out there trying to stop the death, illness and destruction caused by COVID-19. Businesses and corporations and others donated nearly &128 Million dollars to the organization for world health.

Not one, but three Keith Urbans (by the magic of technology), performed Steve Winwood’s “Higher Love.” At the end of the performance, he was joined by hiw wife, Oscar-winning actress Nicole Kidman, to express their gratitude to all involved in stopping this disease.

What a night! A huge thank you to @ladygaga, @GlblCtzn, and @WHO for having me and arranging this entire show along with EVERYONE who performed and gave their time. #TogetherAtHome https://t.co/Pmvt5zFKLY pic.twitter.com/fCZqgMe6z6

— Keith Urban (@KeithUrban) April 19, 2020

Kacey Musgraves performed her ethereal and hopeful song, “Rainbow” (from her Golden Hour album — and a huge fan favorite), during the show.

After thanking everyone on the frontlines, Kacey said she chose to sing “Rainbow,” because she was inspired by everyone posting their homemade rainbows sowing support for people with the Coronavirus.  “I’ve also been really loving seeing everyone’s rainbows in their windows. It’s inspired me to sing this song for you.”

Taylor Swift also performed her heart-wrenching “Soon You’ll Get Better,” which appears on her latest album, “Lover.”

The Rolling Stones, Stevie Wonder, Sir Paul McCartney, Sir Elton John, John Legend, Sam Smith, Maren Morris, Lizzo, Madonna, Jennifer Lopez, Jennifer Hudson and many others also performed during the event.

Eric Church posted a video message to fans, as well as the world, along with a clip of a song he recently recorded, “Through My Ray Bans.”

“Where there once were roars,
Now there are just echos.
The handshakes and the hugs of yore are now too dangerous.
But I don’t believe in fear. I don’t believe in panic.
I don’t believe in all this complexity
This damn virus has any idea what it’s up against:
The American resolve, steeled by the world, steadied by faith, calmed by song,
healed by prayer. Oh, I believe. Damn right, I believe.
I believe these halls will roar again.
These stadiums will be deafening and the answer to this enemy.
The silence of now will cower at the noise of soon.
When the question of who will answer this call is asked
Thousands will raise their fists and say I will. We will.
And we damn sure will. Where fear preys, we will feed.
Where pestilence stalks, we will hunt.
I feel for our enemy, for it has no chance. It has no prayer.
And I believe, I believe our best is yet to come. We shall rage.
We shall roar. I cannot wait to see you again through my Ray Bans.”

Eric is currently making his way up the country charts with “Monsters.”

After 30 wasted years and countless bad decisions, the moment has finally arrived for the ’90s influenced band Hot Country Knights as they come riding in with the release of their debut album THE K IS SILENT (Capitol Records Nashville), available now. Produced by Dierks Bentley, the multi-Platinum entertainer also serves as a co-writer on over half of the 10 brawny tracks. The Knights will showcase the substance behind the new album as they perform its lead single “Pick Her Up” (feat. Travis Tritt) this Monday on Good Morning America (5/02 at 7:00A Local Time on ABC) alongside the ’90s icon.

Basking in more glory today, the Knights have landed a dream partnership with Hooters who will be offering fans a limited time discount, prize opportunities, exclusive content and a virtual socially distanced listening party. More information will be revealed on the Knights’ Twitter account. As “it’s not hard to see what Country fans are enjoying about Hot Country Knights” (Variety), the band will celebrate the release of the most musically satisfying debut album since 1999 with their loyal following today on Facebook and YouTube (5/01 @ 3:00P CT). Additionally, lead singer Doug Douglason will share the oral history behind the Knights on NPR Morning Edition next Friday (5/08).

Even though some said this moment would never happen, critics have praised THE K IS SILENT for the organic euphoria of live Country music and its truly gratifying lyrics.

“Deadly serious about paying tribute to ’90s country, and the acts that influenced its sound.” – Billboard

“Their debut album is hitting us like a lightning bolt of testosterone and sex appeal.” – The Chive

“Just like those essential ingredients to Country music, humor has mostly been lost in modern country. Along with actually sounding Country, Hot Country Knights is also helping to return this important element to Country too.” – Saving Country Music

“Bentley and his fellow songwriters did ‘do it right.’” – American Songwriter

“The dancing song ‘Moose Knuckle Shuffle’ actually shouts out Tracy Byrd and gives partial songwriting credit to the guys behind ‘Watermelon Crawl’ while ‘Then It Rained’ bears at least a passing resemblance to a certain very serious Garth Brooks song….and that’s part of the charm of THE K IS SILENT.” – Rolling Stone

“With THE K IS SILENT the band reaches what it would call ‘all lower 48 states.’ Songs include the self-explanatory ‘Hot Country Knights,’ goober-y pensive ‘Mull it Over,’ chaotically patriotic ‘The USA Begins With Us’ and, of course, ‘Kings of Neon.’” – The Tennesseean 

Famous for never giving up on the dream of the ’90s, the Hot Country Knights are comprised of band leader Douglas (“Doug”) Douglason, lead bass player Trevor Travis, lead guitarist Marty Ray (“Rayro”) Roburn, keytar/fiddle player Terotej (“Terry”) Dvoraczekynski, steel guitarist Barry Van Ricky and percussionist Monte Montgomery. For more information on new music, visit www.hotcountryknights.com.

Kip Moore released “Southpaw,” the next standout track off his upcoming fourth studio album, WILD WORLD, exclusively with American Songwriter today and available to listen here. Co-written (with Westin Davis) and produced by Moore, the track hailed by Billboard as a “guitar-heavy arena-rocker celebrating the underdog,” provides fans with another glimpse into Moore’s highly-anticipated forthcoming release, out May 29 and available to preorder here.  The sturdy “Southpaw” stands as a grunge-rocking manifesto for the proudly out of touch, rejecting the notion of “going with the flow” and showcasing just how Moore stands apart in today’s Wild World.

Moore also shared the stripped-down, emphatic acoustic version of “Southpaw,” as the next installment of his “IN THE WILD SESSIONS” video series, available to watch here. Directed by PJ Brown, the stunning video was shot in the heart of Red River Gorge in Kentucky. Last week, Moore debuted the first installment of the “IN THE WILD SESSIONS,” which featured the singer/songwriter performing the album’s title track in the Mojave Desert in California. More videos set in both locations will be unveiled in the following weeks.

“’Southpaw’ started from a feeling of being on the outside looking in on modern society,” explains Moore. “I don’t want my edges to be smoothed to fit into a box. I woke up the day we wrote it feeling like I was born in the wrong era. I grew up a boxing fan and a Southpaw was always a rare sighting, unpredictable and hard to prepare for. I wrote the song with Westin Davis in South Dakota and we’ve always understood each other like brothers and being kind of cut from the same cloth. I knew he would get my headspace that day and he always brings the magic. And on the recording side of things, I don’t think I’ve ever felt so much juice in a session.”’

Co-writing all but one of WILD WORLD’S insightful tracks, Kip Moore navigates the search to find a place and purpose. Throughout the 13-song collection that search is revealed in deeply personal terms, with Moore even self-producing the set, with help from David Garcia, Luke Dick and Blair Daly on respective tracks. The weathered heartland-rock sound Moore has embraced on previous efforts gets its emotional volume pumped up, recorded live with a full band, as substance trumped style and the timeless prevailed over the trendy.
Kip Moore has toured the world headlining his own shows, earning acclaim and a rabid fanbase as an all-in performer in each setting and most recently wrapping 40 sold-out headlining shows in The U.S, The U.K. and Canada. Praised by Noisey as “an uncompromising, genre-defying artist firing on all cylinders” Moore has blazed his own trail. The current CMA “International Artist Achievement Award” nominee first splashed into the mainstream with the double-PLATINUM “Somethin’ ‘Bout a Truck” in 2012, then followed up with three more best selling No. Ones (“Hey Pretty Girl,” “Beer Money” and “More Girls Like You”), a trio of ambitious, critically-praised albums and two gritty EPs that landed Moore on multiple “Best Of” lists. Moore is currently gearing up to hit the road this summer as a special guest on Sam Hunt’s THE SOUTHSIDE SUMMER TOUR. For more information visit kipmoore.net.

Kip Moore is sharing more music from his forthcoming studio album WILD WORLD, exclusively premiering the groove-driven track “Crazy For You Tonight” with Esquire today, available to listen here. Co-written by Moore with Blair Daly and Westin Davis, he also shared an emotive acoustic take on the track as part of his “In The Wild Sessions.” Filmed in the Mojave Desert in California, the session sees Moore duetting with independent artist India Carney as the pair offer another perspective on “Crazy For You Tonight.”

Moore also announced his WILD WORLD GLOBAL LIVESTREAM TOUR PRESENTED BY FULL THROTTLE ENERGY today, set to take place on Monday, May 5. The current CMA “International Artist Achievement Award” nominee will perform specially geo-targeted livestream shows for multiple territories including the US, The U.K., Europe, Africa, Australia, Asia and Canada on Youtube Live. Moore has built a fiercely loyal following internationally, selling out venues in The U.K., Australia, Canada and The U.S. For time zones and more information visit, kipmoore.net.

“The feedback from the songs we have released from WILD WORLD so far has been really amazing,” shared Moore. “I’m looking forward to hearing what the fans think of ‘Crazy For You Tonight’ so they can get a feel for this upcoming record with each song we release ahead of it. I think the video we shot in the desert gives a whole other layer to the song too, and the shoot that day was just a purely joyful experience. I’m also looking forward to connecting with more fans on Monday with the global livestream we’re doing. I think right now we are all searching for ways to keep in touch and hopefully this will offer a way to do that.”

Available on May 29th, Moore co-wrote all but one of WILD WORLD‘s insightful tracks. Throughout the 13-song collection Moore navigates the search to find a place and purpose. That search is revealed in deeply personal terms, with Moore even self-producing the set, with help from David Garcia, Luke Dick and Blair Daly on respective tracks. The weathered heartland-rock sound Moore has embraced on previous efforts gets its emotional volume pumped up, recorded live with a full band, as substance trumped style and the timeless prevailed over the trendy.

Kip is currently sitting inside the Top 30 with his latest single, “She’s Mine.”