We’ve been talking about some of the nominees in the Country categories for The Grammys in the last couple of Y’all Shows of 2020, but now there’s an update from The Recording Academy.
Due to concerns over health and safety issues related to the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2021 Grammys, originally scheduled for January 21st, have now been postponed until March 14.
The January 21st show was already planned as a ‘scaled back’ event because of the pandemic with no ‘live’ audience. Only presenters and performers would have been allowed on-site with nominees and Grammy winners appearing remotely, However, the worsening situation in California has now forced the postponement.
Los Angeles, the city that would host the Grammys, has been particularly hard-hit. According to the Los Angeles Times, in Los Angeles County, the hospital system has been stretched so thin that Covid-19 patients are often forced to wait in ambulances for hours until hospital beds open up, while the L.A. County Emergency Medical Services Agency has directed ambulance crews to ration oxygen and not transfer patients who have virtually no chance of surviving.
Loretta Lynn took to Twitter on Monday, Jan 4, to announce the release date of her new album, Still Woman Enough, and to reveal the names other female stars whose voices will be joining hers on the album: Reba McEntire, Carrie Underwood, Tanya Tucker and Margot Price.
Pre-order the album via Loretta’s website https://www.lorettalynn.com where you can find more info on the upcoming album.
From her homage to the originators, Mother Maybelle Carter and the Carter Family (via her cover of “Keep On The Sunny Side”) through a new interpretation of her very first single, “I’m A Honky Tonk Girl” Loretta Lynn acknowledges her role in country music sharing the musical torch with some of the brightest lights and biggest stars in contemporary country.
- “I am just so thankful to have some of my friends join me on my new album. We girl singers gotta stick together” said Loretta Lynn. “It’s amazing how much has happened in the fifty years since ‘Coal Miner’s Daughter’ first came out and I’m extremely grateful to be given a part to play in the history of American music.”
With that weirdest of weird years now behind us and 2021 just beginning, I’ve been looking back at some of the high points that made 2020 memorable for good reasons.
For me, one of the best was the release of Every Road, the amazing album from Shenandoah, the iconic band with a shelf full of Grammy, CMA and ACM Awards aplenty. Every Road (Foundry Records) spotlights star power collaborations with Luke Bryan, Blake Shelton, Ashley McBryde, Dierks Bentley, Lady A, Zac Brown Band, Carly Pearce, Cody Johnson and Brad Paisley. Stream or download Every Road at http://smarturl.it/ShenandoahEveryRoad.
Led by frontman Marty Raybon and co-founding member Mike McGuire, Shenandoah’s timeless catalog of hits solidified the group as a country music mainstay over the past 30 years. Every Road marks the group’s 10th studio album, and first album of all-new music since 1994, after notching 13 No. 1 hits and charting 26 singles on Billboard country charts throughout their career.
The 10-song album was produced by industry veteran Buddy Cannon. Raybon and McGuire formed Shenandoah in 1984 in Muscle Shoals, Alabama with bassist Ralph Ezell, keyboardist Stan Thorn and guitarist Jim Seales. It was the band’s sophomore effort, The Road Not Taken, that spawned their first top ten hits—“She Doesn’t Cry Anymore” and “Mama Knows.” Shenandoah followed with three consecutive No. 1 hits—“Church on Cumberland Road,” “Sunday in the South” and “Two Dozen Roses.”
BBR Music Group/Wheelhouse Records artist, Elvie Shane has premiered the music video for his debut single, “My Boy” as well as digitally released a reimagined sister version of the single for daughters across the world.
The song, written as a heartfelt tribute to his stepson, has become celebrated by blended and unconventional families. As “My Boy” climbs the Country radio chart, the internet has embraced the tender ballad—with more than nine million streams in the U.S. alone, the song is currently on Spotify’s Viral Top 50 in U.S. and Canada and is one of the top 20 highest-selling Country singles and in the top 100 across all genres.
Directed by Peter Zavadil, “My Boy” is deeply personal to the Kentucky native, who was recently named as one of Pandora’s “Country Artists to Watch 2021.” The video depicts the struggles of being a hard-working American trying to make a living and being something more to someone special. Letting his blue-collar love story be the star, Elvie plays a supporting role as a mechanic in his first-ever music video. Follow Elvie at https://www.facebook.com/elvieshanemusic/
Barry Gibb and Dolly Parton join forces on a new version of the beloved Bee Gees’ song, “Words,” released January 1st, the third and final song unveiled from Gibb’s new album, Greenfields: The Gibb Brothers Songbook, Vol. 1, set for release January 8 on Capitol Records.
Produced by Grammy Award-winning producer Dave Cobb, the record finds Gibb realizing his long-time dream of working with some of the artists he admires the most. In addition to Parton, the album features collaborations with Alison Krauss, Brandi Carlile, Gillian Welch and David Rawlings, Jason Isbell, Jay Buchanan, Keith Urban, Little Big Town, Miranda Lambert, Olivia Newton-John, Sheryl Crow and Tommy Emmanuel.
In addition to the new album, Gibb is the subject of an acclaimed new documentary, The Bee Gees: How Can You Mend A Broken Heart, directed by Frank Marshall. Out now on HBO Max. More about Barry Gibb and the new album at https://www.barrygibb.com
Born in Kansas and raised in Arkansas, Blane Howard had already passed 75 million streams with his “Promise To Love Her” single, when he changed plays…er…plans and wrote, recorded and released “Run It Back” to honor his beloved Kansas City Chiefs’ follow up run at the Super Bowl.
The action-packed video garnered over 450,000 views in a week, and the “Run It Back” single is available to download from all the usual places. “With the 2020 Chiefs motto being ‘Run It Back,’ I decided that was the perfect inspiration for a song as they defend their Championship,” said Howard. “I had no idea it would take off like it has, but the fans in Chiefs Kingdom are just like country fans – very dedicated.”
Howard wrote the touching “Promise To Love Her” with Jordan Reynolds (Dan & Shay’s “Tequila,” “10,000 Hours,” “Speechless” and many more) as a gift from Blane to his wife on their wedding day three years ago. More at www.blanehoward.com
The NSAI (Nashville Association of Songwriters International) is a great way to meet up with other songwriters, attend educational sessions and get song critiques. NSAI is kicking off the New Year with a nice offer to new members in 2021: Save up to 21 percent when you purchase an annual or lifetime membership, and you can opt to may in monthly installments if you prefer. If you are a songwriter (or want to be one) find the details at https://www.nashvillesongwriters.com/join-nsai
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“I Know Country” QUESTION:
On Jan. 3, 1991, the mayors of both Ashland, Ky. and Flatwoods, Ky., declared a “Day” to honor this singer a year after he signed his first recording contract with Mercury Records. He went on to become a well-known singer and actor (and a famous dad). Who is he?
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Chris Young will remember 2020 for more than the pandemic. The multi-platinum entertainer and RCA Nashville recording artist accumulated some serious ‘heavy metal’ from the R.I.A.A. in the summer of 2020 – 8 total certifications, to be exact— signifying over 7 Million consumption units across several projects.
These new certifications include:
SINGLE: “Tomorrow” – 2x Platinum;
ALBUM: I’m Comin’ Over – Platinum;
SINGLE: “Lonely Eyes” – Platinum;
SINGLE “Voices” – Platinum;
SINGLE “Drowning” – Gold;
SINGLE “Raised On Country” – Gold;
SINGLE “Hangin’ On” – Gold;
SINGLE “I Can Take It From There” – Gold.
Along with the R.I.A.A. Awards, Chris received the news that he’s amassed over 3.5 Billion career streams. In total, the Grammy-nominated singer/songwriter has earned 21 R.I.A.A. Gold/Platinum/Multi-Platinum certifications to date. Chris Young has already achieved membership in the iconic Grand Ole Opry, nearly 4 Billion on-demand streams, 13 Million singles sold, 11 career No. 1 singles, 21 R.I.A.A. Gold/Platinum/Multi-Platinum certified projects, 2 Grammy nominations, 3 Country Music Association nominations and 4 Academy of Country Music nominations. Updates at https://www.chrisyoungcountry.com/welcome
This Week In Country Music
Jan 3, 1950 Sam Phillips opened Sun Studios (originally Memphis Recording Studio) at 706 Union Avenue, Memphis, where he would record tracks by Elvis Presley, Jerry Lee Lewis, Roy Orbison, Carl Perkins and many more Country and Blues artists.
Jan 3, 2014 Phil Everly passed away in Burbank, CA, from chronic pulmonary disease, a few days before his 75th birthday.
Jan 4, 1969 Dolly Parton became a member of the Grand Ole Opry.
This Week’s Country Music Birthdays
January 4 Patty Loveless, 1957
Deana Carter, 1966
January 5 Sam Phillips (Sun Records), 1923
January 6 Earl Scruggs (Flatt & Scruggs), 1924
January 7 Jack Greene (“There Goes My Everything”), 1930
David Lee Murphy (“Dust on the Bottle”), 1959
John Rich (Big & Rich, Redneck Riviera), 1974
January 8 Elvis Presley, 1935
January 9 Crystal Gayle (Brenda Gail Webb), 1951
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“I Know Country” ANSWER: Mr. “Achy Breaky Heart” Billy Ray Cyrus, father of Miley, and star of the TV series Doc. His collaboration with Lil Nas X on ”Old Town Road” was a record-breaking 19 weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100.
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This Week’s Top 5 ‘Mainstream Country’ Songs as reported to CDX TRACtion
- “Better Together” Luke Combs
- “Starting Over” Chris Stapleton
- “Champagne Night” Lady A
- ”Pretty Heart” Parker McCollum
- “Down to One” Luke Bryan
Preshias Harris is 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
Harris s also 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.
