Lauren Alaina‘s new six-song EP, “Unlocked,” comes out today – but for impatient fans, the singer dropped two of the six new songs in advance.

“A Walk In The Bar” and “Hangovers” came out ahead of the singer’s new music – and she dedicated the EP to her hometown girls. “I recorded these songs thinking about the girls back home,” Alaina says. “At some point or another, I’ve lived every one of these stories, and I think that might mean that they have, too. I hope they feel seen and heard whenever they turn this music on. Rossville (Georgia) girls: this is for you.”

Check out the tracklist below, and the first two songs off the EP to the right.

Lauren Alaina’s Unlocked EP Track List:

1. “A Walk in the Bar”
2. “Hangovers”
3. “Don’t Judge a Woman”
4. “Smaller the Town”
5. “Like Her”
6. “Thicc as Thieves” (ft. Lainey Wilson)

Source: TasteOfCountry

Garth Brooks had a solid decade of country dominance under his belt when he decided to make a hard left into the pop music lane with his album “Garth Brooks…In The Life Of Chris Gaines.” The album was the “soundtrack” to an intended movie titled “The Lamb,” which was to be a biography of the fictitious rock star Gaines – portrayed by Garth. The movie never happened, the album was met with confusion by many fans, and most people thought it was a weird detour for the country star, best left in the past.

Not to hear Garth tell it. The country legend was part of Billboard’s Country Live In Conversation Q&A, and the subject of the Chris Gaines project came up. Far from being embarrassed by that part of his career, Garth intends to revisit it.

While noting that because Gaines’ 1999 LP was a “greatest hits” compilation, he technically has five albums that he, as Gaines, could make. “I love the Chris Gaines record, so I want to do it for me,” he said. “It challenged me as a vocalist. So I don’t know when we’re going to get to it, but it’s on the list.”

He continues, “I don’t know if it’s just because I’m 114, but now everything takes three hours more than it took time to do before. Business-wise I’ll say I’ve never been this busy before in my life, and I’m not as in the eye of the public as I was. So I think what it’s telling me as an older artist, you have to work a lot, lot, lot – not work, put in more time – to get the same results. So the Gaines project was a lot of time put in because it’s not natural. You’re acting on record. But I want to do it just simply for the people who love the Gaines project. Selfishly, I love the Chris Gaines record. So I want to do it for me. I don’t know when we’re going to get to it, but it’s on the list and hopefully we’ll get it done. Five albums.” You have been warned.

Source: WhiskeyRiff

For almost 15 years, Darius Rucker has been raising money for St. Jude Children’s Hospital with his annual “Darius & Friends” Charity Auction & Concert – an event that never fails to bring the stars out – and this year was no different.

Monday night, the Ryman Auditorium was the setting for the 14th Annual “Darus & Friends,” the unofficial kickoff to CMA fest, and the roster of performers taking part was impressive. Along with Darius, Jelly Roll, HARDY, Vince Gill, Jake Owen and Megan Moroney took part in the evening’s festivities.

The event was another impressive success – over the years, the concert and auction have brought in more than $3M for the children’s hospital. If you’d like to help, visit www.stjude.org/donate/donate-to-st-jude-today.html.

Source: KnoxNews

He’s a few years removed from his last radio hit, and he’s closer to the end of his legendary craer than the beginning – but don’t tell that to the tens of thousands showing up at his concerts. George Strait is still a draw – so much so that he broke attendance records at his most recent concert over the weekend.

George, along with Chris Stapleton and Little Big Town, played American Family Field in Milwaukee and shattered attendance records, bringing in 46,641 country fans and setting a new record in the process.

And in case you think this is a fluke, think again; just a week prior, the same lineup brought in 63,891 to the Buckeye Country Superfest at Ohio Stadium in Columbus, Ohio – shattering records there as well. They don’t call him King George for nothing.

Source: Billboard

Luke Bryan‘s annual farm tours are a cool alternative to parking garages and city skylines, arena shows and nosebleed seats. Instead, every year Luke does a short series of concerts in more rural settings, in towns and cities not ordinarily found on an artists schedule. The farm tour has been a yearly event on Luke’s schedule since 2009, and not only does it bring country music to areas that usually don’t see shows of this size, but the annual event awards college scholarships to students from local farm families in each of the markets where the tour plays, as well as raising funds and providing resources in those underserved communities.

Luke’s 2023 Farm Tour has been announced – dates, locales, and tour openers. Coming along for the ride are Kameron Marlowe, Chayce Beckham, the Peach Pickers and DJ Rock, and the five shows will take place over a week and a half – the last few days of summer.

Check out the 2023 Farm Tour dates below:

Luke Bryan’s 2023 Farm Tour Dates:

Sept. 14 — Shelbyville, Ky. @ Mulberry Orchard
Sept. 15 — Millersport, Ohio @ Miller Family Farm
Sept. 21 — Colfax, Iowa @ Schnell Family Farms
Sept. 22 — Brooklyn, Wisc. @ Klondike Farms
Sept. 23 — Eyota, Minn. @ Gar-Lin Dairy LLC

Source: TasteOfCountry