I went to the No. 1 party for “What Happens in a Small Town,” recorded by Brantley Gilbert and Lindsay Ell. No. 1 parties are frequently held in one of Nashville’s many bars and honky-tonks, but not this one. The celebration was held at Music City Indoor Karting, a go-kart track. There was a good reason for choosing this location. “I like to go fast. I like to go real fast!” said Gilbert with a grin. “December 18th was eight years without having a drink for me. I can still go to bars and it’s not a problem but it’s not quite as fun for me as it is for most. But this place, everyone can still drink and have a good time and I can run people into the wall!”
They revealed there was a lot of pressure to get the song written: BMLG’s Scott Borchetta believed Brantley’s upcoming album needed a strong single with ‘Number One’ potential. He told Brantley to get co-writers on his tour bus as headed to New York for a weekend tour date. He told them that when they returned, Brantley would go straight into the studio and cut the song. The song was written by Brantley along with Brock Berryhill, Josh Dunne and Rhett Akins.
“What Happens in a Small Town” seemed a perfect song for a duet. Scott Borchetta suggested Lindsay Ell as Brantley’s duet partner. Lindsay remembered hearing the demo. Lindsay told us, “I remember, it took me thirty seconds listening to this song and I was like, ‘Well, that’s a hit.’ I remember calling my manager like, ‘Okay! We need to do this!’
Nashville is often called a ‘ten year town,’ because it can take ten years of being here before finding success. This song was Brock Berryhill’s first No. 1 as a writer and Lindsay’s first No. 1 as an artist after ten years.
BABY NEWS: Before the presentations at the No. 1 party, I was catching up with Rhett Akins and his lovely wife Sonya. I asked them what the ‘due date’ will be for their baby. Rhett said their baby is due in March. Their new son will be named Brady. Then, with a smile, Rhett added that his son, Thomas Rhett, and wife Lauren are also expecting a baby, due in February. Rhett was explaining to me how the kinship worked out, and we laughed as it sounded like figuring out a Kentucky Family Tree! As Rhett pointed out, his son Thomas will be getting a new baby and a new sibling within a few weeks of each other.
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“I Know Country” Q&A from www.IKnowCountry.com
QUESTION: In January 1998, which famed male artist began a six-week stay at No. 1 on the Billboard country chart with “Just To See You Smile”?
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Tim McGraw has just announced the first dates for his 2020 Here On Earth Tour. Midland and Ingrid Andress will be supporting. The tour kicks of July 10 in NYC. Luke Combs will co-headline on two arena dates in Philadelphia and Los Angeles.
- Ingrid Andress is ‘one to watch’ in 2020. She signed with Warner Nashville in 2018 and put out one single – “More Hearts Than Mine” – in 2019 that charted. There’s a lot of buzz about her. She’s been opening for Dan + Shay, Carly Pearce and more and could break big.
Last week, I mentioned I was going to John Rich’s Nashville mansion, Mount Richmore, for a media presentation. Sure enough, on Saturday, John hosted a great party and introduced two new products to join his popular Redneck Riviera whiskey. The new products include three varieties of Redneck Riviera pork-based jerky, including Spiced Fried Pickle flavor, Whiskey BBQ flavor and Texas Jalapeno flavor. The other new product is a canned carbonated beverage he’s calling “Howdy Dew,” a sort of blend of wine spritzer and punch.
Rich also announced a new TV series that will launch on the Fox News channel. It will be called “The Pursuit With John Rich.” It will be based on the concept of “the pursuit of happiness,” a phrase in the U.S. Declaration of Independence. John will feature people whose lives are inspirational in their own pursuit of happiness.
Ronnie Milsap celebrates his 77th birthday on January 16, but Jan. 16 is important in Milsap’s life for another reason. On Jan. 16, 1982, his recording of “I Wouldn’t Have Missed It For the World” climbed to No. 1 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart. That’s a pretty good birthday gift from his fans. It was Milsap’s 19th of 35 total Hot Country Songs No. 1s. He was born with a disorder that left him blind from birth. He was inducted into the Grand Ole Opry in 1976 and the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2014.
Garth Brooks has set yet another record. He is now the only artist to have appeared on Billboard’s Hot Country Songs chart in the ‘80s, ‘90s. ‘00s, ‘10s and now the ‘20s. “Dive Bar,” his duet with Blake Shelton is current No. 21 and still rising.
- Can you remember the first Garth Brooks song to appear in the Hot Country Songs chart? It was “Much Too Young (To Feel This Damn Old)” that first charted in March 1989. Brooks co-wrote the song with Randy Taylor. The lyrics mention the name of rodeo champion and singer Chris LeDoux of whom Brooks was a fan. The mention boosted LeDoux’s career and Garth has said that including LeDoux in the lyrics boosted his own career and the success of “Much Too Young,” Garth’s first single.
Billboard Hot Country Songs chart Top Five for week of January 18 (Last week’s position in parentheses)
- (3) “What If I Never Get Over You” Lady Antebellum
- (4) “10,000 Hours” Dan + Shay & Justin Bieber
- (3) “Even Tho’ I’m Leaving” Luke Combs
- (1) “Ridin’ Roads” Dustin Lynch
- (5) “Heartache Medication” Jon Pardi
- “What If I Never Get Over You” is Lady A’s first Country Airplay No. 1 since 2014 with “What If I Never Get Over You. “What If I Never Get Over You” is the lead-off single from their album
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“I Know Country” Q&A Answer: Tim McGraw. It was one of four singles from the album A Place In The Sun to reach No. 1 in the Country singles charts.
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On this day in Country Music
Jan. 15, 1969 Elvis Presley recorded “Don’t Cry Daddy” in Memphis. The song was written by Mac Davis. (Later Elvis’ daughter, Lisa Marie, made a video in which she a duet of the song with her late father. It aired Aug 16, 1997, the 20th anniversary of Elvis’ death.)
Jan. 15, 1992 Two albums by Garth Brooks – No Fences and Ropin’ the Wind – became the first ever country albums with certified shipments of 6 million. His self-titled set was also certified triple platinum.
Jan. 15, 2010 Charlie Daniels suffered a stroke while snowmobiling in Colorado. (He was released from hospital two days later and returned home to recuperate.)
This week’s Country Music Birthdays
Jan. 12 William Lee Golden (Oak Ridge Boys), 1939
Ricky Van Shelton, 1952
Jan. 13 Trace Adkins, 1962
Jan. 16 Ronnie Milsap, 1943
James Eli (Eli Young Band), 1980
Jan. 17 Steve Earle, 1955
Kid Rock (Robert James Ritchie), 1971
Jan. 18 Bobby Goldsboro, 1941
Mark Collie, 1956
Preshias Harris is the author of “I Know Country” with 366 daily country music questions and answers. You can buy and instantly download your e-book copy at www.IKnowCountry.com.
Harris is also a music career development consultant with the emphasis on new and aspiring artists and songwriters. Visit www.collegeofsongology.com for more details. Follow her blog at www.nashvillemusicline.com
