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Morgan Wallen Gives Fans an Update on His Life

Posted on by Bob Ballard

Morgan Wallen is a man of mystery.  For starters, he won CMA Entertainer of the Year and still hasn’t even said anything about it.

And, in general, he doesn’t post or share much, so it’s tough to get updates on him . . . especially since his One Night at a Time Tour wrapped back in October.

But if you bought a ticket for his tour . . . you were just treated to an exclusive, surprise video from Morgan.

He said, “I just wanted to say thank you personally and give you an opportunity to have something cool at the same time.  I’m working.  I’m taking a little time for myself but I’m working also.  Can’t wait to get back out there and see y’all at some point next year.”

(You can watch the video, here.)

In related news, Spotify Wrapped recently announced that Morgan’s “One Thing at a Time” was the second-most streamed album this year in the country.  Taylor Swift’s “The Tortured Poets Department” was #1.

This day in Country Music History

Posted on by Bob Ballard
  • Today in 1980, the “Theme” from “The Dukes Of Hazzard” single by Waylon Jennings was certified gold.
  • Today in 1987, Reba McEntire’s “Greatest Hits” went gold.
  • Today in 1989, Rodney Crowell became the first country artist to release an album that included five singles that went #1 in the U.S.
  • Today in 1989, Garth Brooks scored his first #1 hit on the country charts with the single, “If Tomorrow Never Comes.”
  • Today in 1992, Tanya Tucker earned a gold record for “Can’t Run From Yourself.”
  • Today in 1995, Nick Kane of the Mavericks married his wife Kimberly.
  • Today in 1996, the “Marshall Tucker Band’s Greatest Hits” album was certified platinum.
  • Today in 1998, Shania Twain’s “Come On Over” album was certified for multi-platinum sales of 7-million.
  • Today in 1999, Brad Paisley guest starred on the “Woman’s Day Holiday Special with Florence Henderson” on TNN. Brad wasn’t really interested in holiday crafts — he just wanted to meet Florence, better known as Mrs. Brady from “The Brady Bunch.” With Lari White and Lee Roy Parnell also on the show, they all helped Florence bake gingerbread cookies. At the time, Brad said that if anyone had told him a year before that he’d be baking cookies on TV with Carol Brady and Lee Roy Parnell, he would’ve thought they were crazy.
  • Today in 2003, Toby Keith was named Country Singles Artist of the Year at the Billboard Music Awards. Other country acts taking home awards included Martina McBride, Kenny Chesney and the Dixie Chicks.
  • Today in 2003, Toby Keith’s “Shock’n Y’all” album went gold, platinum, and double platinum.
  • Today in 2004, CMT premiered the videos for Craig Morgan’s “That’s What I Love About Sunday” and Billy Dean’s “Let Them Be little.”
  • Today in 2005, the film “Brokeback Mountain” opened in theaters. The film featured music by Emmylou Harris, Willie Nelson, Steve Earle, and Linda Ronstadt.
  • Today in 2009, The Zac Brown Band performed “Chicken Fried,” “Toes,” and “Margaritaville” with Jimmy Buffet during their installment of “CMT Crossroads.”
  • Today in 2014, Carrie Underwood’s two-disc compilation, “Greatest Hits: Decade #1,” was released.
  • Today in 2016, Jason Aldean earned a triple-platinum single from the RIAA for “Big Green Tractor.” The same day? Jana Kramer single, “I Got The Boy,” also went platinum – and Blake Shelton’s single, “She’s Got A Way With Words,” went gold as well.
  • Today in 2016, Kacey Musgraves performed Christmas songs for residents at the Little Flower Manor, a nursing home in Darby, Pennsylvania.
  • Today in 2016, Garth Brooks and Trisha Yearwood performed the first of three concerts at the Neil Blaisdell Center in Honolulu, Hawaii, recognizing the 75th anniversary of the bombing of Pearl Harbor.
  • Today in 2017, Tim McGraw & Faith Hill were at #1 on the Billboard country albums chart with “The Rest Of Our Life.”
  • Today in 2018, Brett Eldredge became a wedding singer when Chicago Cubs first baseman Anthony Rizzo got married.
  • Today in 2019, Garth Brooks and Trisha Yearwood were surprise guests during a Nashville Unlimited concert at the Christ Church Cathedral for the homeless shelter Room In The Inn. The show also features Emmylou Harris, Riders In The Sky, Charlie McCoy, Don Schlitz and Charles Esten.
  • Today in 2020, Dustin Lynch, Travis Denning, Maddie & Tae, Mickey Guyton and Tyler Farr delivered an online benefit concert, The Farm Must Go On, from Nashville’s Brooklyn Bowl.

JELLY ROLL WILL PERFORM AT THE 2024 BILLBOARD MUSIC AWARDS

Posted on by Bob Ballard

Jelly Roll may have intended to take a breather after his “Beautifully Broken” tour wrapped a few weeks back, but the man can’t slow down. Yesterday it was announced that JR would be performing at the 2024 Billboard Music Awards next week. It makes sense for the man to be there; he’s up for three BBMAs, including top song sales artist, top rock artist and top hard rock song. The 2024 Billboard Music Awards will air on Thursday, December 12, at 8 p.m. ET/PT on FOX and Fire TV Channels, and on-demand on Paramount+.

This day in Country Music History

Posted on by Bob Ballard
  • Today in 1968, aides to President Richard Nixon send out 66,000 letters signed by Nixon, to potential administrative office holders. Among those receiving one was Elvis Presley.
  • Today in 1980, the single, “I Love A Rainy Night,” by Eddie Rabbitt entered the Top 40 chart.
  • Today in 1988, Roy Orbison died of a heart attack while on a visit to his mother near Nashville. He was 52. His biggest hit is the million-selling #1 song “Oh, Pretty Woman.” He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1987.
  • Today in 1991, Ricky Van Shelton’s “Backroads” album was certified platinum.
  • Today in 1991, Lorrie Morgan’s album, “Something In Red,” went gold.
  • Today in 1991, the “White Limozeen” album by Dolly Parton was certified gold.
  • Today in 1993, the Eagles shot a video for with Travis Tritt’s for his version of their classic, “Take it Easy.”
  • Today in 1994, Mary Chapin Carpenter’s album, “Stones in the Road,” was certified gold and platinum simultaneously.
  • Today in 1996, Little Texas’ “Greatest Hits” album was certified gold.
  • Today in 1998, Faith Hill was #1 on the singles charts with “Let Me Let Go.”
  • Today in 2001, Audrey Caroline McGraw was born at 4:39pm to her parents, Faith Hill and Tim McGraw. While she arrived a month earlier than expected, and suffered some complications initially, the good news is that the littlest McGraw is just fine.
  • Today in 2002, Travis Tritt and Ray Charles are paired for an hour of music as a new episode of “CMT Crossroads” debuted.
  • Today in 2003, Brad Paisley performed two songs at the Palm Springs wedding reception of Trista Rehn and Ryan Sutter, who met on ABC’s “The Bachelorette.”
  • Today in 2005, Dierks Bentley net a platinum album for “Modern Day Drifter.”
  • Today in 2008, a “CMT Giants” installment celebrating Alan Jackson premiered with performances by Dierks Bentley, George Strait, Lee Ann Womack, Miranda Lambert and Brad Paisley.
  • Today in 2012, Sugarland’s Jennifer Nettles and her husband, Justin Miller, welcomed a son, Magnus Hamilton Miller.
  • Today in 2013, Kacey Musgraves and Taylor Swift received four nominations apiece, making them the top country finalists in the 56th annual GRAMMY awards.
  • Today in 2016, both Maren Morris and Kelsea Ballerini were nominated for Best New Artist in the GRAMMY Awards. Why was this so special? It was the first time in history that two artists being actively marketed to country were finalists for that trophy in the same year. The trophy ultimately went to Chance The Rapper.
  • Today in 2018, Sam Hunt’s single, “Body Like A Back Road,” was certified six-times platinum. The Dierks Bentley single, “Drunk On A Plane,” was certified double- and triple-platinum
  • Today in 2018, Chris Stapleton’s single, “Millionaire,” was certified gold.
  • Today in 2019, Jason Aldean performed a Las Vegas concert for the first time since a shooting ended his 2017 appearance at the Route 91 Harvest Music Festival. He included “When She Says Baby,” the song he was playing when the gunfire erupted two years prior.
  • Today in 2019, Maddie & Tae’s single, “Die From A Broken Heart,” went gold. On the same day, Eric Church collected a gold single for “Carolina” and Jon Pardi’s single, “Dirt On My Boots,” went triple-platinum.
  • Today in 2019, Morgan Wallen’s “Whiskey Glasses” was framed as a double-platinum single by the RIAA.
  • Today in 2019, Jason Aldean’s album, “They Don’t Know,” went gold.
  • Today in 2020, the Dolly Parton holiday special, “A Holly Dolly Christmas,” aired on CBS. Parton performs “A Holly Jolly Christmas,” “Coat Of Many Colors” and “I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus.”

H & S FEED & COUNTRY STORE PET OF THE WEEK: BOBO

Posted on by Bob Ballard

This week’s H&S Feed and Country Store Pet of the Week is “Bobo”, a super-friendly and affectionate 9 month old Schanuzer mix. Bobo gets along great with other dogs, doesn’t mind cats and LOVES kids! Bobo is a very well-socialized and easygoing fellow who is housetrained, loves walks and would love to meet you! Bobo is neutered, fully vetted, vaccinated, microchipped and ready to go to a loving home.

And because Bobo is the Pet of the Week, the adoption fee is only $50 this week!

If you’d like to set up an appointment to meet Bobo or any of the pets at Stephen Memorial Animal Shelter, visit https://www.stephenmemorial.org/ and fill out an adoption application.

Check out our visit about Bobo with Nicole from Stephen Memorial Animal Shelter here:

TAYLOR SWIFT CROWNED SPOTIFY’S TOP ARTIST OF 2024

Posted on by Bob Ballard

Taylor Swift has been crowned Spotify’s top global artist of 2024, earning the honor for the second year in a row with over 26.6 billion streams. Her latest release, “The Tortured Poets Department: The Anthology,” was the most-streamed album of the year, while her re-recorded “1989 (Taylor’s Version)” and “Lover” also ranked in the top 10. In celebration, Spotify launched Swift-themed in-app Easter eggs and shared video messages from the singer to her top listeners, with Swift expressing gratitude for their support during the “Eras Tour,” calling 2024 “a wild ride” thanks to her devoted fans.

 

This day in Country Music History

Posted on by Bob Ballard
  • Today in 1967, Gary Herzberg was born in Montebello, California. Under the stage name Gary Allan; the scratchy-voiced singer debuted in 1996, with hits like “Smoke Rings In The Dark,” “Watching Airplanes,” and “Every Storm (Runs Out Of Rain).”
  • Today in 1978, The Charlie Daniels Band recorded “The Devil Went Down To Georgia” in Nashville.
  • Today in 1987, Ricky Van Shelton made his first appearance at #1 on the Billboard country singles chart with, “Somebody Lied.”
  • Today in 1992, George Strait topped the Billboard chart with “I Cross My Heart,” from the “Pure Country” soundtrack.
  • Today in 1993, Jeff Hanna, of The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, married singer/songwriter Matraca Berg.
  • Today in 2000, the soundtrack to “O Brother, Where Art Thou?” was released.
  • Today in 2010, Merle Haggard, Oprah Winfrey, and Paul McCartney were recognized during the 33rd annual Kennedy Center Honors in Washington, D.C.
  • Today in 2012, Hunter Hayes received three Grammy nominations, including one for Best New Artist, tying him with Taylor Swift for the most among country acts.
  • Today in 2013, Carrie Underwood took the role of Maria Von Trapp as NBC aired a three-hour live production of “The Sound Of Music.”
  • Today in 2014, Eric Church and Miranda Lambert received four nominations apiece to lead the country contingent as finalists were announced for the 57th annual GRAMMY awards.
  • Today in 2016, Craig Campbell is part of a USO tour that gets underway at Incirlik Air Base in Turkey, joined by actors Scarlett Johansson and Chris Evans and NBA athlete Ray Allen.
  • Today in 2018, Thomas Rhett shot an appearance on the PBS show, “Sesame Street” in New York.

ALISON KRAUSS & UNION STATION TO TOUR FOR FIRST TIME IN A DECADE

Posted on by Bob Ballard

It’s been a long time coming. Alison Krauss is hitting the road with her band, Union Station. On top of that, fans will be thrilled to know Alison and her band will also be headed back to the studio. The “Arcadia Tour” will be the first for the group in 10 years, while the album will be their first new studio effort in 14 years. The tour kicks off April 17 and 18, 2025 in Louisville, Kentucky and consists of 73 dates, wrapping up September 26-28 in St. Augustine, Clearwater and Hollywood, Florida. Tickets go on sale to the general public on Friday. Pre-sales begin today at 10 a.m. local time on Alison’s website. See the entire tour itinerary here.

This day in Country Music History

Posted on by Bob Ballard
  • Today in 1944, Eddy Arnold held his first recording session at the WSM radio studios in Nashville. He recorded his first hit, “Each Minute Seems A Million Years,” and his first version of “The Cattle Call.”
  • Today in 1956, Elvis Presley, Carl Perkins, Johnny Cash, and Jerry Lee Lewis posed for a photo at the Sun studio in Memphis. The foursome conducted an impromptu jam session, which was dubbed “The Million Dollar Quartet.”
  • Today in 1965, Eddy Arnold net a #1 country single in Billboard Magazine with “Make The World Go Away.”
  • Today in 1971, seven months after eloping in Mexico, George Strait re-married Norma Voss.
  • Today in 1971, Charley Pride’s biggest hit, “Kiss An Angel Good Mornin” ascended to #1 on the Billboard country chart.
  • Today in 1991, The Judds performed a final show of their Farewell Tour at the Murphy Center in Murfreesboro, Tennessee.
  • Today in 2003, Ricky Skaggs received five nominations for the annual Grammy Awards, more than any other country artist.
  • Today in 2004, Gary Allan collected a #1 single on the Billboard country list with, “Nothing On But The Radio.”
  • Today in 2012, the Band Perry’s video for “Better Dig Two” premiered on CMT.
  • Today in 2013, Lee Brice and his wife, Sara, welcomed their second son, Ryker Mobley Brice.
  • Today in 2014, Chely Wright took part in the lighting of the national Christmas tree on the White House grounds in Washington, D.C. Also joining president Barack Obama on the PBS telecast: Tom Hanks, Rita Wilson, Steve Miller and Patti LaBelle.
  • Today in 2015, Carrie Underwood’s “Storyteller” album went gold.
  • Today in 2017, Luke Combs’ single “One Number Away” hit the airwaves.
  • Today in 2017, Love And Theft held the ‘Shine For Susie’ benefit for ALS charities at the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville, joined by Florida Georgia Line, Tyler Farr, Jerrod Niemann, Craig Campbell, Trent Tomlinson, Canaan Smith and The Warren Brothers.
  • Today in 2018, Brad Paisley threw a surprise concert at Tootsie’s Orchid Lounge in Nashville, where he also shot a new video.
  • Today in 2018, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) indicated that pilot error was the cause of a helicopter accident that claimed the life of Montgomery Gentry’s Troy Gentry in 2017.

ZACH BRYAN CHANGES THE BACKSTORY OF HIS SONG “28”

Posted on by Bob Ballard

When you’re telling the truth, it doesn’t vary. When you’re embellishing, it’s tough to remember what the story is. A couple months back, Zach Bryan took questions on X, when one fan asked what inspired the song “28,” to which he replied, “Boston, our puppy was going into surgery, and I told Brianna (his now ex-girlfriend Brianna LaPaglia), “How lucky are we?” to have -had- a puppy so beautiful, and she came out of it just fine; I wrote it the next day because I felt like the luckiest man on the planet.” Great story, touching. BUT…more recently, Zach had a different story about the song, introducing it in concert by saying, “I wrote this song because one night I and all the boys were bowling in New York City, and I felt lucky to have each and every one of them. And I was so glad to be alive, I wrote a song called ’28.'” No ex-girlfriend, no puppy, but now it’s bowling with the boys that inspired the track.

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