Universal Universal Music Group Nashville Pressroom

Tyler Hubbard has scored his third solo No. 1 with his latest hit, “Back Then Right Now,” the follow-up to his previous chart-toppers (“5 Foot 9” and “Dancin’ In The Country”). Tyler co-wrote the tune with Jessie Jo Dillon, Geoff Warburton and David Garcia.

Tyler’s co-writer, David Garcia, came in to the writing session with a really cool groove, and that carried through to the recording process of the song.

“I just sort of told the players to really take creative freedom and see where this song led. During the process we were really pulling a lot of I guess ‘80s inspiration, if you will, ‘80s sounds. Everything sort of had this undertone of ‘80s, vintage undertone, but it really just felt fresh and fun. It just livened it up for some reason,” he says. “So, I told (the studio musicians) to really keep leaning into that, you know, whatever that thing is, it just feels classic and kind of felt unique at the time. And so, we just ran with it and had a lot fun with it, and I feel like it was the perfect blend of lifestyle, nostalgic memories and pictures and colors mixed with incredible musicianship and production, as well.”

Tyler is currently on the road with Kane Brown on the In The Air Tonight World Tour. He’s also headlining a bunch of fairs and festivals, before his own Strong World Tour kicks off in Indianapolis on September 6th.

On the heels of sharing the news of his 31st studio album with fans during a sold-out show at Indianapolis’ Lucas Oil Stadium earlier this month, Country Music Hall of Fame member George Strait debuts the first release from Cowboys And Dreamers with “MIA Down in MIA.” Listen to the song HERE and pre-save/pre-add Cowboys And Dreamers, set for release September 6th, HERE.

Written by Adam Craig and Dean Dillion, and produced by Strait with Chuck Ainlay, “MIA Down in MIA” features the Texas native’s Ace in the Hole Band, including longtime fiddle player Gene Elder.

“I’m dedicating this record to my longtime manager and friend Erv Woolsey and my longtime fiddle player and friend Gene Elders (a player on four of these tracks), who we lost on the same day, March 20, 2024, as well as my longtime friend and road manager Tom Foote, who we lost on April 29, 2024,” shares Strait. “I will never forget all of the good times we had together. May they rest in peace with our Lord Jesus Christ.”

The follow-up to Honky Tonk Time Machine, Strait’s 27th No. 1 Billboard Country album, Cowboys And Dreamers will feature 13 new songs, including “Honky Tonk Hall Of Fame” featuring Chris Stapleton, which the pair debuted during the sold-out show at Lucas Oil Stadium on May 4, and his own rendition of Waylon Jennings’ “Waymore’s Blues.”

The Texas Troubadour will continue his series of stadium shows next Saturday, May 25 at Jack Trice Stadium in Ames, Iowa, followed by additional dates this summer in Charlotte, N.C.; East Rutherford, N.J.; College Station, Texas; Salt Lake City, Utah; Detroit, Mich.; and Chicago, Ill., before supersizing his longstanding Strait to Vegas show with a December date at Las Vegas’ Allegiant Stadium to mark the 37th installment of the engagement.

 Cowboys And Dreamers Tracklist:

(Songwriters in parentheses)

1. Three Drinks Behind (Benjamin Gaither, Jeff Silvey and Kim Williams)
2. Cowboys And Dreamers (Jessie Jo Dillon, Keith Gattis and Bubba Strait)
3. To The Moon (Marty Brown and Steve Clark)
4. MIA Down in MIA (Adam Craig and Dean Dillon)
5. Wish I Could Say (Keith Gattis)
6. Calling From The Car (Bobby Braddock)
7. People Get Hurt Sometimes (Jim Lauderdale, Kendell Marvel and Jimmy Ritchey)
8. Honky Tonk Hall Of Fame ft. Chris Stapleton (Chris Stapleton, Jameson Clark and Timothy James)
9. The Little Things (George Strait, Monty Criswell and Bubba Strait)
10. The Book (George Strait, Dean Dillon, Jessie Jo Dillon and Bubba Strait)
11. Rent (Guy Clark and Keith Gattis)
12. Waymore’s Blues (Curtis Buck and Waylon Jennings)
13. The Journey Of Your Life (Ronnie Bowman and Troy Jones)

Strait’s 2024 Concert Calendar:
5/25 Jack Trice Stadium  Ames, IA
6/1  Bank of America Stadium  Charlotte, NC
6/8  MetLife Stadium  East Rutherford, NJ
6/15 Kyle Field  College Station, TX
6/29 Rice-Eccles Stadium  Salt Lake City, UT
7/13 Ford Field   Detroit, MI
7/20 Soldier Field   Chicago, IL
12/7 Allegiant Stadium  Las Vegas, NV

For more information and to purchase tickets to all upcoming dates, visit GeorgeStrait.com.

“MIA Down in MIA” lyrics/credits available HERE.

Country newcomer Timothy Wayne today releases his major label track debut, “God Made A Country Boy.” The upbeat anthem illustrates Wayne’s background of growing up in the Tennessee country, learning the value of hard work and respecting others. Written by Brad Warren, Brett Warren and Lance Miller, the song is produced by Tim McGraw and Byron Gallimore.

“I grew up working on our family farm in the summers, working in the fields, bush hogging, mowing, taking care of the horses, and I loved it,” said Wayne. “It taught me a lot about responsibility. It was tough work, but a more simplistic way of life. My parents made a point of teaching me (and my siblings) about respecting others, standing up for beliefs and having manners. And, if you disagree with someone, you can still be respectful toward them. When I heard this song, I really liked the idea behind it and knew I wanted to record it because it really showcases who I am as a person.”

This summer, Wayne will perform at Nashville’s CMA Fest (June 6 on the Reverb Stage) and he will also be the opener on several dates of Tim McGraw’s Standing Room Only Tour 2024.

Chris Stapleton, along with producers wife Morgane Stapleton and Dave Cobb, picked up the award for Album of the Year for Higher!

Chris was the most awarded artist of the evening with four wins, including his eighth win for ACM Album of the Year, four as an artist and four as a producer, making him the artist with the most wins in the category (passing George Strait with seven wins). His win for ACM Male Artist of the Year brings his total in the category to four. Stapleton’s win for ACM Artist-Songwriter of the Year marks his first win in the category. His four wins bring his ACM Awards count to 20.

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Chris Stapleton picked up the award for Male Artist of the Year at this year’s ACM Awards, and earlier this week was named Artist-Songwriter of the Year.

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Chris later performed his current single, “Think I’m In Love With You,” and blew the crowd away with a surprise duet with Dua Lipa!

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Jordan Davis won Song of the Year for his multi-week No. 1 “Next Thing You Know.” Written by Jordan with Greylan James, Chase McGill and Josh Osborne, “Next Thing You Know” was his third consecutive multi-week No. 1 off of his PLATINUM-certified sophomore album, Bluebird Days.

This was Jordan’s first TWO ACM Awards with an Artist and Songwriter credit on “Next Thing You Know.”

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The season finale of American Idol is coming to a close on Sunday (May 19th), and it will be a bittersweet ending as Katy Perry is leaving the judges’ table after seven years. Luke Bryan and fellow judge Lionel Richie will be emotional about her departure, for sure, as they’ve all become quite close. Katy tells ET her after-show celebration with Luke will involve some adult beverages. “I’m gonna stay present and take it all in and then have a little after-party and Luke [Bryan] and I will finally drink. After seven years, we’ll really drink.”

Luke says he’s not sure yet who Katy’s replacement will be, and since it’s an annual deal, he still hasn’t made a decision on his future yet.

“The relationship with Katie that we’ve had – me and Lionel and Ryan and the show – has been amazing. I don’t know any info on who may be her potential replacement, but it’s a fun thing to be a part of,” says Luke. “I think Katie, you know, I think she’s probably launching world tours and stuff where she goes around the world, and so she probably had to make a decision several months out to get in front of her plans. So, yeah, I kind of roll in, we’ll know how the show’s doing and typically everybody’s really fired up at Disney and ABC about it, so we’ll make that decision. Hadn’t made it yet.”

He’s still having fun on the show, but he adds, “I kind of treat American Idol like I do my music career. As long as the show feels like the show is reinventing itself and as long as it looks fresh and fun and I know we’re really doing positive things, it’s gonna always be something that I really consider doing.”

Sunday’s three-hour Season 22 finale will feature the Top 3 contestants — Abi Carter, Jack Blocker and Will Moseley — as well as performances from all three judges, finale mentor Jon Bon Jovi, Hootie & the Blowfish, Wynonn Judd, Cody Johnson, New Kids on the Block, CeCe Winans and Jason Mraz, among others.

Catch the finale — and Katy’s last show —  on Sunday (May 19th) at 8pm ET/7pm CT on ABC.

In the meantime, Luke’s latest single “Love You, Miss You, Mean It” is climbing the country charts.

Chris Stapleton was named the winner for Artist-Songwriter of the Year. Chris Stapleton is the reigning ACM Entertainer of the Year and also the most-recent recipient of the Academy’s coveted Triple Crown prize, which celebrates artists who have won New Female/Male Artist of the Year, Female/Male Artist of the Year and Entertainer of the Year.

He also has four additional nominations going into Thursday night’s ACM Awards, including Album of the Year (artist and producer) for  Higher, Male Artist of the Year, and Entertainer of the Year, and is set to perform live on the show.

The 59th Annual ACM Awards, hosted by Reba McEntire, will stream live from Ford Center at The Star in Frisco, Texas on Thursday (May 16th) at 8pm ET/7pm CT/5pm PDT on Prime Video.  You can also catch offical red carpet coverage on Prime Video, the Amazon Music Channel on Twitch and P, the Amazon Music Channel on Twitch and Amazon Live, starting at 7 p.m. EDT/6 p.m. CDT/4 p.m. PDT.

Parker McCollum won the ACM award for Visual Media of the Year for his music video “Burn It Down,” directed by Dustin Haney. This is the Texas native’s second career ACM Award. In 2022, Parker won ACM New Male Artist of the Year. He is also nominated for ACM Single of the Year for his recent fourth No. 1, “Burn It Down,” and he’s set to perform on the show, as well.

Parker was surprised on stage with the award, presented by Old Dominion during his headlining performance set at Parker McCollum and Friends: ACM Lifting Lives LIVE, an all-star fundraiser concert on the green at Topgolf – The Colony. Proceeds from the show will benefit the philanthropic partner of the Academy of Country Music.

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The 59th Annual ACM Awards, hosted by Reba McEntire, will stream live from Ford Center at The Star in Frisco, Texas on May 16th at 8pm ET/7pm CT/5pm PDT on Prime Video.  You can also catch offical red carpet coverage on Prime Video, the Amazon Music Channel on Twitch and P, the Amazon Music Channel on Twitch and Amazon Live, starting at 7 p.m. EDT/6 p.m. CDT/4 p.m. PDT.

Tyler Hubbard is poised to top the country charts with his latest hit, “Back Then Right Now.” He says he really feels the support from the industry, country radio and the fans.

“I definitely feel supported and welcomed, and it’s really nice to know that I still have a spot in the genre, you know, a spot on radio, a spot in the country music fans’ hearts is what it feels like,” he says. “As fun as it is to rebuild, it’s given me that much more gratitude and perspective of what’s important. And I think the journey that I was on over the last decade has really allowed me to enjoy this season even more.”

Tyler is set to launch the first leg of his Strong World Tour September 6th in Indianapolis with opener Alana Springsteen. In the meantime, you can catch him on the road headlining fairs and festivals throughout the U.S. this summer.