Inside Track on Music Row October 2020 Music News

BAND NEWS:

Hard to believe, but Shenandoah hasn’t released an album of all-new music since 1994. The sonic legacy of Shenandoah – led by frontman Marty Raybon and co-founding member Mike McGuire – has captivated fans, galvanized the country music industry and influenced legions of artists. The Grammy, ACM and CMA winning band will change that 26-year hiatus Nov. 13, 2020 with Every Road via Foundry Records, which includes Shenandoah star power collaborations with Luke Bryan, Blake Shelton, Ashley McBryde, Dierks Bentley, Lady A, Zac Brown Band, Carly Pearce, Cody Johnson and Brad Paisley. The first single off the new album, “I’d Take Another One of Those,” featuring Grammy Award-winning Zac Brown Band is available at http://smarturl.it/ShenandoahZBB.  Pre-order Every Road at http://smarturl.it/ShenandoahEveryRoad.  Every Road will be the band’s 10th studio album after notching 13 No. 1 hits and charting 26 singles on Billboard country charts throughout their career. 

CD NEWS: 

Chris Stapleton has released “Cold,” the second song from his upcoming new album, Starting Over, due out November 13 on Mercury Records Nashville.  Pre-order/pre-save at http://strm.to/CSStartingOverAlbumPR   Written by Stapleton along with producer Dave Cobb and longtime bandmembers, J.T. Cure and Derek Mixon, “Cold” follows the album’s title track which was released earlier and is already receiving widespread acclaim. Starting Over was completed in late February only days before the shutdown began. Across its fourteen tracks are songs that examine life’s simplest joys and most serious struggles. Alongside eleven written by Stapleton with both longtime friends and new collaborators are three carefully chosen covers: John Fogerty’s “Joy Of My Life” and Guy Clark’s “Worry B Gone” and “Old Friends.” Watch the official music video for “Cold” directed and filmed by Becky Fluke.    

CD RELEASES: 

Mega hit songwriter and performer, Kent Blazy (“If Tomorrow Never Comes”), is releasing his new 13-track album, Authentic, recorded and mixed by Chris Utley at Sound Emporium Studios and mastered by Mayfield Mastering. The new music is available to order on Kent Blazy’s website  https://kentblazy.com/. Streaming and download is available on all digital music platforms. “What does a songwriter /performer do in a pandemic, of course create a new record! Authentic is the title, although it could have been called six masked men,” said Blazy. “My aim was to have this record bring hope, joy, gratitude and fun to anyone listening.” Blazy added, “I miss playing live and doing album release shows and look forward to the day that will be possible again. I hope the listeners will enjoy hearing these songs as much as I did creating it.”  Blazy has a total of seven number one hits to his credit, among many other hit singles and album cuts including several recorded by Garth Brooks. 

CHARITY NEWS: 

Christmas 4 Kids, a non-profit organization that benefits hundreds of underprivileged children in Middle Tennessee, announced it’s HAS CANCELLED THIS YEAR’S EVENT. However, there are other ways to help these kids. Please visit via a link at http://christmas4kids.org.  Christmas 4 Kids has been in existence for over three decades. Each year, the organization provides hundreds of underprivileged children in Middle Tennessee with their very own Christmas shopping spree. The funds generated by the Ryman concert and Tour Bus Show/Artist Meet and Greet event, are used to give over 400 children from 29 different schools, a day-long shopping excursion. 

CHRISTMAS MUSIC NEWS:

Dolly Parton is shepherding in the holiday season as she releases the second track from her upcoming A Holly Dolly Christmas album, available everywhere on October 2nd. For her latest release, Dolly is taking on one of her childhood favorites, “I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus,” as only she can. “I have always loved ‘I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus’ because it’s a song I heard growing up,” says Dolly. “I wanted to do something for the kids and I think it’s a real cute little song. I have a child-like spirit and I love everything about Christmas!”  The song follows “Mary Did You Know?”, Dolly’s first release from her holiday album. For A Holly Dolly Christmas, Dolly collaborated with some of her dearest friends on the 12-track collection including Miley Cyrus, Jimmy Fallon, Billy Ray Cyrus, Michael Buble, Willie Nelson, and a special duet with her brother, Randy Parton.  A Holly Dolly Christmas is available now worldwide for digital pre-add/pre-save/pre-order, exclusive pre-order bundles, and physical pre-order at https://shop.dollyparton.com/.    

CMA NEWS: 

Luke Combs is nominated for six awards at the 54th Annual CMA Awards: Entertainer of the Year, Album of the Year (What You See Is What You Get), Song of the Year (“Even Though I’m Leaving” performed by Combs and “I Hope You’re Happy Now” performed by Carly Pearce and Lee Brice), Male Vocalist of the Year and Single of the Year (“Beer Never Broke My Heart”). Combs is the reigning CMA Male Vocalist of the Year as well as Song of the Year recipient. The awards ceremony will be broadcast on ABC Wednesday, November 11 at 8:00pm ET/7:00pm CT. The accolades are just the latest in a series of groundbreaking and historic years for Combs. “Lovin’ On You” is Combs’ ninth-consecutive #1 single—a first on Billboard’s Country Airplay chart—and extends his record-breaking streak at country radio.  Combs will release his new deluxe album, What You See Ain’t Always What You Get, October 23 on River House Artists/Columbia Nashville. Pre-order/pre-save at https://lc.lnk.to/WYSAAWYG  — More CMA info at https://www.cmaworld.com/  

COUNTRY NETWORK NEWS:

Country Network premiered the music video for Brandon Collins latest single “Blame It On Nashville” on Monday, September 28. “Blame It On Nashville” is an emotive tune about falling in love and breaking up among the magic of Music City. Brandon dives deep into the difficulty of getting over an ex when everything around him serves as a constant reminder. The video was directed by Quinton Cook (Keith Urban, Tim McGraw, Blake Shelton and Dustin Lynch) and was captured during the pandemic, which created a unique opportunity and hurdle for Brandon. Find the song and the ‘making of’ video at https://www.brandoncollinsmusic.com/  

“When we scheduled the shoot for ‘Blame It on Nashville’, it certainly posed challenges as we were faced with managing a video crew while doing our best to ensure social distancing and safety,” recalls Brandon. “On the other hand, because of the quarantine orders, it allowed us to film a nearly barren downtown further capturing the emptiness and downfall of the lyrics.” Purchase or stream “Blame it on Nashville at https://ampl.ink/LQl3p