Universal Universal Music Group Nashville Pressroom

Ontario native Josh Ross is making his way up the country charts with his song “Trouble,” his first single in the U.S. The reigning CCMA Breakthrough Artist of the Year co-wrote the song with Matt Thornley about by his own life after moving to Music City a few years ago.

Being in the studio to record “Trouble” was a special day for Josh, even though he had to go back and remember how he was feeling when he wrote the song. “Recording ‘Trouble’ was definitely a special day,” he says. “I think in certain ways it was kind of hard, because I had to kinda go back and remember how I felt when I wrote that song and kind of the place I was in in life then, but I think it also translates in the vocal and really feeling emotion in the song.”

Josh recently wrapped up his opening slot on Nickelback’s Get Rollin’ Tour, and he’s slated to perform in Del Mar, California on Thursday (October 12th), followed by a performance on the Grand Ole Opry on Tuesday (October 17th). He’s also performing at a few festivals before wrapping it up for the year. Go to joshrossmusic.com for more information.

Carrie Underwood is looking forward to hitting the stage at the fourth annual ATLive later this month. The two-day music festival kicks off on Friday, October 20th with an all Latin lineup, including Grupo Firme, J Balvin, Farruko and Yahritza Y Su Esencia, followed by an all-star country lineup on Saturday, October 21st with George Strait, Carrie, Willie Nelson and Little Big Town.

Carrie says she is “super excited” to perform at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, along with some of country’s biggest stars. “I’m sandwiched between George Strait and Willie Nelson, so that’s not a bad place to be in,” she laughs. “I wish I could tell my childhood self that someday that’s gonna happen, but I’m just super excited. I think it’s going to be an awesome show, and I’m, of course, looking forward to watching all the other acts on stage – Little Big Town, Willie and George. It’s gonna be a good time.”

Carrie is currently making her way up the country charts with her latest single, “Out Of That Truck.”

Reba McEntire‘s new lifestyle book, NOT THAT FANCY: LESSONS ON LIVING, LOVING, EATING AND DUSTING OFF YOUR BOOTS, is available now. The book contains personal stories, photos, lifestyle tips, recipes and so much more.

My new book, #NotThatFancy, is officially here! Grab your copy to learn about my years growing up on the ranch in Oklahoma, important life lessons, my favorite recipes, and SO much more. I can't wait to hear what y'all think!

Order your copy here: https://t.co/vstuHgZIOw pic.twitter.com/Z3687C7Iop

— Reba McEntire (@reba) October 10, 2023

The Oklahoma native was first signed to a solo record deal with PolyGram/Mercury Records in Nashville in 1975. With a series of single and album releases, it wasn’t until her fifth album did she have her first chart-topper, “Can’t Even Get the Blues.” Up until that moment — and even after — she performed anywhere she could.

“From hearing that first song on the radio, I spent the next seven years traveling around playing anywhere I could living on greasy burgers and corn dogs at truck stops and county fairs from Los Angeles to Boston, seven years of performing at fairs, rodeos and honkytonks, singing over bar brawls and tractor pull competitions and even bull sales; seven years of patience before I had a real hit, ‘Can’t Even Get the Blues,'” Reba recalls in her new book. “That was in January of 1983. Even with that hit, the first time I headlined my own show in 1984, only 800 people showed up. I actually lost money. I had to write a check to get out of town, because I didn’t sell enough tickets. I thought, ‘Welcome to the big time, little girl.’ I sure did appreciate the few who did show up, though. Thank God for that McEntire determination.”

Women in the music business in the music business in the ’70s and ’80s and earlier didn’t really have a say in their career or what songs they would record. However, Reba really started taking control when she heard the song “Can’t Even Get The Blues,” which her producer played for her, but he was going to have her male labelmate, Jacky Ward (“Fools Fall in Love”), record. Reba persevered and the song became her first No. 1 hit.

“I knew the boys in the business were all picking their own songs and producers and running their tours they way they wanted to, why couldn’t I? Then one day my producer Jerry Kennedy played me a song called ‘Can’t Even Get the Blues.’ It was uptempo, sassy and strong, a real departure from the waltzes I’d been recording,” she recalls. “I loved it from the first moment I heard it, but he intended it for Jacky Ward, my fellow labelmate. ‘Why wouldn’t you pitch me a song like that,’ I asked him. ‘You’d record that?’ I said, ‘Heck yeah, I would.’ So, we did. It became the second single on Unlimited, my fifth album, and it went to number-one. It was great to feel like I had a seat at the table for what I wanted my career to be.”

Reba recently spoke to PEOPLE magazine and gave them the recipe for her chocolate chip cookies, which just so happens to be a favorite of her boyfriend, actor Rex Linn. Click here for the article and recipe.

The Country Music Hall of Famer previously co-wrote a 1994 memoir titled Reba: My Story with Tom Carter and also authored a second biography, Comfort From a Country Quilt, in 1999.

You can catch Reba every week as a coach on NBC’s The Voice.

Multi-Platinum country duo Maddie & Tae are sparking the holiday spirit with We Need Christmas (Extended Version), out October 27th and available to pre-order/pre-save now. Three additional Christmas classics – “It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas,” “The Christmas Song” and “White Christmas” – round out the track list for the nine-song project, that features both holiday favorites and festive original songs.

“We had so much fun making and releasing We Need Christmas, we decided to extend it! We hope y’all feel the joy and spirit,” shared Maddie & Tae.

Maddie & Tae’s We Need Christmas (Extended Version) Track List:
1. “This Christmas”

2. “It’s Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas”
3. “Holly Jolly Christmas”
4. “O Come All Ye Faithful”
5. “The Christmas Song”
6. “Merry Married Christmas”
7. “Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)”
8. “White Christmas”
9. “We Need Christmas”

Maddie & Tae recently released their new single, “Heart They Didn’t Break,” available on all platforms and playing on country radio now. The song’s lyrics tell a story of true friendship in times of heartbreak, as the pair take turns on lead vocals. American Songwriter praises, “The release continues Maddie & Tae’s symbiotic harmonies and endlessly catchy melodies,” while Taste Of Country calls it “a best friend ballad that’s sure to stick to the hearts of country music fans.”

Maddie & Tae are currently nominated for Vocal Duo of the Year at the upcoming 57^th Annual CMA Awards. For more information and to keep up with Maddie & Tae, visit www.maddieandtae.com.

Reba McEntire will appear on NBC’s Late Night With Seth Meyers and Bravo’s Watch What Happens Live! on Wednesday (October 11th) to talk about her new book Not That Fancy: Lessons in Living, Loving, Eating and Dusting Off Your Boots, as well as her companion album and being a coach on NBC’s The Voice.

Reba McEntire stopped by NBC’s TODAY Show for all three hours on Tuesday (October 10th). She talked about her new book, Not That Fancy: Lessons in Living, Loving, Eating and Dusting Off Your Boots, starting her music career, her mother and how she almost stopped singing after her mother passed in 2020.

Darius Rucker will perform on CBS’ The Late Show With Stephen Colbert on Thursday (October 12th).

The War And Treaty are among the rotating opening acts for Zach Bryan on The Quittin’ Time 2024 Tour. They’ll open five shows in Los Angeles (2 nights), Boston, Orlando and Sunrise. The husband-wife duo, Michael and Tanya (pr. Tonya) Trotter also appear on “Hey Driver” from his recent self-titled album, which also features the No. 1 duet with Kacey Musgraves, “I Remember Everything.”

https://twitter.com/warandtreaty/status/1711457047789666431

Anne Wilson, who just released her debut country single “Rain In The Rearview,” will join Scotty McCreery as direct support on his Cab In A Solo Tour early next year. The trek will kick-off at Hobart Arena in Troy, Ohio on January 26th, 2024 with stops in Atlanta, Philadelphia, Boston and more. Tickets go on sale this Friday (October 13th).

https://twitter.com/ScottyMcCreery/status/1711733729566261486

Multi-Platinum, CMA award-winning artist and current reigning CMA Song of the Year winner Jordan Davis today announced the extension of his sold-out DAMN GOOD TIME Tour, adding several additional dates across the US, Canada, the UK and Europe. Davis will kick off the tour February 2^nd in Copenhagen, Denmark and visit several markets including Amsterdam, London, and Belfast, before returning to tour the US and Canada beginning in April. The announcement was made on the heels of his sold-out headlining dates this weekend in Philadelphia (10/5) and New York (10/6) as well as two sold out dates in Boston (10/7, 10/8). Tickets will be available through his fan club, The Parish, on Wednesday, October 11^th before general on-sale via his website on Friday, October 13^th, 10am local time. Having cemented himself at the “pinnacle of country music’s mainstream” (The Tennessean), Davis is currently nominated for 3 CMA Awards including a back-to-back nomination for Song the Year.

https://twitter.com/JordanCWDavis/status/1711396251147603993

Earlier this year Davis shared in his American Songwriter Cover story, “It has been an amazing feeling to watch the way this new music has reached fans, and we’ve been seeing that out on the road in the live shows. Our fans knew every lyric to ‘Next Thing You Know’ even before it was a single, and to watch the sold-out venues get bigger and bigger….I’m just so grateful everyone has been so supportive,” adding, “The big thing for me was to show my growth. Growth in shows, growth in the songwriting, growth in the topics we’re touching on. I really wanted to show how I’ve changed as an artist and a songwriter, for the better.”

That growth has been reflected in his sold-out tour dates and upcoming European headlining run- where he will bring the DAMN GOOD TIME tour to Europe as a headliner for the first time and continue playing his largest venues to date, as well as in his second GOLD-certified album, Bluebird Days, which recently celebrated its third consecutive #1 single off the album with “Next Thing You Know.” Featured by The Tennessean, Billboard, and more, Bluebird Days debuted to rave reviews, with  Billboard noting “Davis soars on ‘Bluebird Days’” and Entertainment Focus echoing, “Jordan Davis comes of age on new album ‘Bluebird Days’ and shows the world the type of mature, meaningful and melodic songwriter he is.” In addition to his 3X Platinum hit “Buy Dirt”-which garnered numerous accolades including Song of the Year at the CMA and NSAI awards and Billboard, AMA, iHeart and ACM award nominations, Jordan co-wrote most of the 17 tracks on the album, including the highly personal hits “What My World Spins Around” and “Next Thing You Know,” with critics taking notice of his lyrical ability and “the way he summarizes life, love, family,” notes Taste of Country,”..anyone …can be excused for feeling a bit breathless by the time he finishes what we’re going to predict will be the 2023 CMA winner for Song of the Year.”

To sign up for The Parish, Jordan Davis’ official fan club, for first access to tickets at www.theparish.club.  For a full list of tour dates and ticket sales information, visit www.jordandavisofficial.com.

Already Announced DAMN GOOD TIME Tour Dates:

EXTENDED DAMN GOOD TIME Tour Dates:

*Tickets for Boston will go on sale starting Friday, October 20 at 10 AM local time at www.jordandavisofficial.com.

+ Tickets for Seattle will go on sale starting November 10^th at 10 AM local time at www.jordandavisofficial.com.

**Not a Live Nation date.

The full 17 track album, Bluebird Days, is available here.

Reba McEntire will release her new lifestyle book, NOT THAT FANCY: LESSONS ON LIVING, LOVING, EATING AND DUSTING OFF YOUR BOOTS, on Tuesday (October 10th). “An homage to her faith, family and Oklahoma upbringing,” (Booklist) the book is an enchanting collection of funny, poignant and deeply personal stories, photos, lifestyle tips and recipes.

From the audio version of her book, Reba gives a little insight into what lies within its pages. “That’s what I’m sharing in this book – the simple Oklahoma-style truths I keep coming back to and a bunch of good stories, photos and recipes that go along with ‘em,” she says. “So, if you’re looking to slow down, get back to basics and just have a heckuva lot of fun, then I think we’re gonna have a good time together in these pages. Come on in. Kick off your boots or leave ‘em on. I don’t care and learn how to bring a little of my Western-inspired life into your own. Let’s have a good time, alright?”

Reba is determined to enjoy her life, both personally and professionally. “Everything I’m doing in my life from here on out – personal or professional, doesn’t matter – I’m gonna have fun,” she says. “Enjoying what we’ve been given is one of the best ways I know to honor the Lord. I’ve been blessed beyond measure, and I want to make sure to never stop letting God know just how thankful I am for the life he’s given me, especially those Not That Fancy things, because as I found, that’s where my heart is.”

Tomorrow, we will have more of Reba talking about her career in music, taken from the audio version of her book.

The Country Music Hall of Famer previously co-wrote a 1994 memoir titled Reba: My Story with Tom Carter and also authored a second biography, Comfort From a Country Quilt, in 1999.

On Tuesday (October 10th), fans can tune in to catch Reba on TODAY at 8a ET/7a CT. On Wednesday (October 11th), Reba will appear on Late Night With Seth Meyers at 12:35a ET/11:35p CT. Reba will also appear on Bravo’s Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen, on Wednesday (October 11th) at 9p ET/8p ET.

Darius Rucker sat down with NBC’s Willie Geist for Sunday Today (October 8th), and the talked about  dedicating his new album, “Carolyn’s Boy,” to his mother, how an appearance on “The Late Show with David Letterman” changed the trajectory of Hootie & the Blowfish and embarking on a solo country music career.

Loved this conversation with @WillieGeist! Thank you for helping to tell the story of ‘Carolyn’s Boy’ and so much more.

Watch the Sunday Sitdown on #SundayTODAY here: https://t.co/XZaVKancAG https://t.co/s4KNQ3wS7i

— Darius Rucker (@dariusrucker) October 8, 2023

Reba McEntire premiered the music video for her new song, “Seven Minutes In Heaven,” on CMT’s Hot 20 Countdown over the weekend. The clip imagines what it would be like to be able to spend seven minutes in the afterlife with a special loved one, and for Reba, that would be her mother Jaqueline, who passed away in 2020 at the age of 93.

Dierks Bentley will issue a 10th anniversary edition of his 2010 album, Up on the Ridge, just in time for Record Store Day on November 24th. The collection, which will be pressed on orange vinyl, features special guests, including Chris Stapleton, Miranda Lambert, Jamey Johnson, Vince Gill, Alison Krauss and Kris Kristofferson.

Mickey Guyton was announced as the featured performer at Helluva Block Party prior to Georgia Tech’s Family Weekend football game against Boston College on October 21st.

Priscilla Block will perform at Tracy Lawrence‘s 18th Annual Mission: Possible Turkey Fry and Benefit Concert at Nashville’s Wildhorse Saloon on November 21st. Lee Brice and Halfway to Hazard will also perform. The Turkey Fry is set to take place at the Nashville Fairgrounds that morning, followed by the concert that evening. Last year, Tracy’s event fried 1200 turkeys to benefit the Nashville Rescue Mission in helping to feed the homeless in Middle Tennessee.

Dalton Dover will perform the National Anthem prior to Monday’s (October 9th) game in Atlanta as the Braves play host to the Phillies in Game 2 of the National League Division Series.

Tyler Hubbard will be one of the headliners at next year’s CMC Rocks QLD  at the Willowbank Raceway in Ispwich, Queensland March 15th – 17th. Lainey Wilson and Chris Young will also headline during the three-day festival. Priscilla Block, Chase Rice, Megan Moroney, Jackson Dean, Elvie Shane, Drake Milligan, Morgan Wade and Tyler Braden, among others, will also perform.

See y'all next year, Australia. CMC Rocks QLD 2024 tickets on sale now: https://t.co/PlJYtiCQXR pic.twitter.com/HZK7GHmdHY

— Tyler Hubbard (@tylerhubbard) October 8, 2023

Keith Urban is set to be inducted into the Nashville Songwriter’s Hall of Fame on Wednesday (October 11th), along with Kix Brooks, David Lee Murphy, Casey Beathard and Rafe Van Hoy, and he couldn’t be more honored to be included in the Class of 2023.

The three-time Entertainer of the Year says it’s impossible to pick a favorite song he’s written, since he’s written thousands of songs, but he can point to specific songs that have changed the course of his career, including his six-week No. 1 song (his second chart-topper), 2002’s “Somebody Like You.”

“It’s impossible for me to sort of pick a favorite song that I’ve written or anything that I’m more grateful than any others, because they all capture a different part of my life and tell a different part of my story,” says Keith. “But certainly, songs that can send a career into a whole other gear, I mean, I would have to look at something like ‘Somebody Like You’ as one of the most important songs for me that happened and just changed this sort of, to a large degree, just sent my career into a whole different speed in a really wonderful way. Of course, you know, there’s hundreds of songs I’ve written that led up to that one getting written, and it’s just magic. It’s magical how that song got written. I wrote it with a guy called John Shanks, who I’d never met and I was nervous showing up that morning to write that song, and he had a little drum loop happening and I happened to bring my six-string banjo and I pulled it out of the case and the first thing that I played was that opening riff of the song and I started singing a melody, and the words started coming fairly quickly, and it was one those pretty easy to write songs, and I think it’s just where I was in my life at the time too. It really captured probably more of the person I wished I could be. I wasn’t that person in the song, but I wanted to be, and I felt I was getting close to being that person. So, it’s a truthful song. It came from a truthful place, and I’m still incredibly grateful for it. I can’t imagine doing a show and not doing that song, and I feel really grateful that I love it. I love it as much today as the day I wrote it.”

On his socials, he’s shining a light on some of the songs he’s written. He writes, “A recurring theme I write about often is being present and in the moment. For whatever reason, I’ve usually found uptempo music brings this out in me the most. Songs like “Days Go By” and “Gone Tomorrow (Here Today)” started with the music first, and for me, the music was already telling the story. Seize the day and LIVE !!!!” You can find these songs on a “SHINE” playlist he made on all digital and streaming platforms.

It's a massive honor to be inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame next week and I wanted to shine a light on a collection of songs that I've written.

Shine
Coming Home
I Told You So
Somebody Like You
Days Go By
Gone Tomorrow (Here Today)

I chose SHINE as the first… pic.twitter.com/CdiPW6oHjp

— Keith Urban (@KeithUrban) October 6, 2023

All five members will be formally inducted during the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame Gala on Wednesday, October 11th, at the Music City Center.

Keith’s Las Vegas residency returns to the Bakkt Theater at Planet Hollywood in Las Vegas on November 1st and runs through November 18th.

California-born singer/songwriter Dillon James details his journey from reckless to revival with his debut major label track, “Walking Man,” out everywhere today. Written by Dillon with Paul Sikes and Paul Wrock, the song is produced by Paul DiGiovanni and Sikes. It’s an autobiographical introduction to a soul-stirring talent set to weave his hard-fought footprints through Nashville and beyond. Get to know Dillon James here.

Have you ever been a mile past goin’ gets tough

Six feet under but you push dirt up

Till sun breaks through

Gets you back up kickin’

From a dead man walking to a

Walking man livin’

“Walking Man” is the first look at new music from Dillon since signing to Buena Vista Records/UMG Nashville/19 Recordings. He is managed by The Core Entertainment.

“Dillon is going to leave an indelible fingerprint on country music,” shares UMG Nashville Chair & CEO, Cindy Mabe. “His purpose and vision is to share his fiery lyrics and his raw gritty sound infused with his life’s journey with the world, bringing in his story of loss, hope, faith and redemption to country music. I’m so proud to add Dillon to our UMGN family.”

Dillon has been performing his soon-to-be-released music on the road with tour dates across the country this year. For more information, please visit DillonJames.com.

About Dillon James:
Born and raised in Bakersfield, California, Dillon James was influenced by the city’s unique blend of Rock n’ Roll and Country music from an early age, picking up a guitar for the first time at the age of 10. Dillon was first drawn to classic rock, though his tastes diversified to the likes of City And Colour, Glen Campbell, Jeff Buckley, George Strait and Bob Dylan by the time he began writing his own music as a teen. Combined with inspiration from the local sounds of Merle Haggard and Buck Owens, Dillon developed the country-rock infused vocals and powerful storytelling that would define his distinct sound. After winning several singer-songwriter competitions and a brief stint working as an actor in Los Angeles, Dillon entered a turbulent period of substance abuse and homelessness. During this painful time, he realized that if he could heal himself and achieve his lifelong dream of becoming a singer-songwriter, he could become a living testament to others as well. Dillon accomplished his goal and moved to Nashville to write and record music, including his debut track “Walking Man” and more set to be released soon. In his own words, “human connection is the goal, music is just the vessel.”