Universal Universal Music Group Nashville Pressroom

Mickey Guyton will release her debut single and debut video, “Better Than You Left Me,” on Monday (January 12th). Check out the sneak peek below.

Lady Antebellum not only performed during Wednesday night’s People’s Choice Awards, but the trio also picked up the award for Favorite Country Group. After performing their current single, “Freestyle,” the group were standing on stage again accepting the award voted on by their fans.

“We are just so excited! We were not expecting it. I mean, the list of nominees that we were in the category with are just amazing. But what a way to kick off 2015!,” says Lady A’s Hillary Scott. “The fans are just so loyal and unbelievable. The guys and I were just talking, and I think the best thing we can do is head out on tour and put on the greatest show we possibly can for all of you.”

The group just announced their Wheels Up Tour, featuring Hunter Hayes (who picked up the People’s Choice Award for Favorite Country Male) and Sam Hunt.

Keith Urban returns to the judges’ table when the new season of American Idol premieres Wednesday (January 7th). You’ll see a few changes to the show, such as when the Idol hopefuls head to the West Coast.

“We sent over 200 people through to Hollywood, then we narrowed it down, of course, and then even further down to get to our Top 48. And those 48 guys and girls, we took them into the House of Blues in Los Angeles to put them in a live club setting where the band was set up, and they got up on stage to do a song each in front of the audience in that club, and we’d never done that before,” says Keith. “For me, it was a very important part of the process, because in years past, we’ve seen them in these various audition environments, and then they go straight to the TV studio and they’re in front of a live audience. I really wanted to see what they’re like in front of a club setting.”

American Idol premieres Wednesday (January 7th) at 8pm ET on FOX.

Several artists have taken the time off around the holidays and will hit it hard when they return to the road in mid-January. Some artists have resolutions and some are very helpful with their own hangover cures for those who imbibe too much on New Year’s Eve.

David Nail’s favorite Christmas memories are all about family…and naps. When he was growing up in Missouri, his grandparents lived right across the street and everyone would gather
there for Christmas morning.

“I would get up in the morning, and I’d look out the window and you’d see a car there, and you’d get in the shower and come back and see a couple more cars there, and it was kind of that anticipation of seeing all the family members start to come into town in the morning,” recalls David. “Then we always got to kind of roll over there last, and it was like once we showed up, that was kind of the go-time!”

The holiday also featured some ZZZZ’s, as well. “After we opened gifts, it was kind of a race to see who could catch my dad sneak back across the street to take a nap, because he was always the first one to start dozing off on the couch.”

David is currently making his way up the country charts with his latest single, “Kiss You Tonight.”

Brothers Osborne are back home in Delaware for the holidays, and while they’re enjoying the down time with family, they also love the sights and sounds of Christmas.

“It stays dark so you have a lot of Christmas lights. I just love Christmas lights – they put you in such an amazing mood,” says John Osborne. “Just the sounds, like all the Christmas music and even shopping, which is quite possibly one of the most hectic things to do during the holidays. Even if we have all our shopping done, we’ll still go to the mall just because it’s so alive and vibrant and the colors and the music and the lights. I just love it. It’s a bit sensory overload, but I kinda dig that.”

When American Idol returns next month, you might notice a little different judging style from Keith Urban. He says he goes more on gut feeling rather than how well someone sings.

“I think more and more, I find myself going with a gut reaction to someone’s performance. It’s ‘Do I feel something?’ I think it’s just so simple, ‘Do I feel something from this performer?’ ‘Cause I mean, sometimes they can have a pretty average voice, but they know what to do with it, to communicate and to get my attention and to make me feel something,” says Keith. “I’m interested in all of those things, because at the end of the day, it’s all about connecting, and the way in which we all do that is infinite. There are plenty of people that come on and they sing and they sound amazing, and I don’t feel anything. And so, those people, I’m not going to respond to them. I’m going to respond to the people that I feel something from.”

American Idol 2015 will open the season with a two-night premiere event starting with Wednesday, January 7th and Thursday, January 8th.

Keith Urban (judging Idol-gut feeling) OC: …something from. :41
“I think more and more, I find myself going with a gut reaction to someone’s performance. It’s ‘Do I feel something?’ I think it’s just so simple, ‘Do I feel something from this performer?’ ‘Cause I mean, sometimes they can have a pretty average voice, but they know what to do with it, to communicate and to get my attention and to make me feel something. I’m interested in all of those things, because at the end of the day, it’s all about connecting, and the way in which we all do that is infinite. There are plenty of people that come on and they sing and they sound amazing, and I don’t feel anything. And so, those people, I’m not going to respond to them. I’m going to respond to the people that I feel something from.”

In addition to his holiday single, “What God Wants for Christmas,” Darius Rucker’s new Home for the Holidays album contains a duet with special guest Sheryl Crow on the sexy “Baby, It’s Cold Outside.” Though many duets are recorded separately, Darius and Sheryl were actually in the studio together to cut the song.

“When we got Sheryl to come and do it and after sitting there with her in the studio right next to each other singing it over and over and laughing and having a great time, I knew it was a great choice,” says Darius.

The crooner says he did the song for one reason, the movie Elf, starring Will Ferrell and Zooy Deschanel. “I decided to do that for one reason, for Elf, for that movie and how great they did it when she’s taking a shower in the bathroom, and he comes and sits on the counter and he’s singing along with her. I thought it was just a great song.”

Darius is also nearing the Top 10 on the country charts with his latest single, “Homegrown Honey,” which is the first release from his forthcoming album, due out next year.

Darius Rucker (Baby, It’s Cold Outside) OC: …great choice. :29
“‘Baby It’s Cold Outside’ — I decided to do that for one reason, for Elf, for that movie and how great they did it when she’s taking a shower in the bathroom, and he comes and sits on the counter and he’s singing along with her. I thought it was just a great song. And we wanted to have another voice on the record somewhere and that was a great song to do it on. And then when we got Sheryl to come and do it and after sitting there with her in the studio right next to each other singing it over and over and laughing and having a great time, I knew it was a great choice.”

Jon Pardi is thrilled to be heading home to California for the holidays this year, especially since last year he wasn’t able to go home because of knee surgery. He’s not the only one who is excited about where he’s spending his downtime this year – his mom, Shelly, already has the house decorated and is patiently awaiting his arrival.

“I’m looking forward to seeing my mom. I didn’t get to go home last year, ‘cause I had knee surgery. That’s all better now, so I’m going home and be with all my family,” says Jon. “My mom’s super excited. She’s got the house all decorated, a big Christmas tree. I think she’s more excited than me [about me going home], so I’m gonna try to make it the best for her. And I get to see all my family. It’s gonna be a lot of fun.”

Jon’s latest single, “When I’ve Been Drinkin’,” is currently making its way up the country charts.

Jon Pardi (Christmas 2014) OC: …and family. :32
“I’m looking forward to seeing my mom. I didn’t get to go home last year, ‘cause I had knee surgery. That’s all better now, so I’m going home and be with all my family. My mom’s super excited. She’s got the house all decorated, a big Christmas tree. I think she’s more excited than me [about me going home], so I’m gonna try to make it the best for her. And I get to see all my family. It’s gonna be a lot of fun. I’m actually going to be there for eight days, which is the longest I’ve stayed in California for two years now, so I actually get some time off. I’ll be having fun, seeing old friends and family.”