Exclusives

Keith Urban has released a video for his most recent single God Whispered Your Name, which was directed by Jennifer Massaux. You can see the video below. [wpdevart_youtube]yyn7_u-sha8[/wpdevart_youtube] Urban, who will be hosting the ACM Awards this year and is current ACM Entertainer of the Year, released the single on February 27 but has now shared a video for the track, which sees him smash out of a prison and find himself in open space, epitomising leaving the dark to be in the light. The song is the second single that Urban has released (excluding his Christmas track, I’ll Be Your Santa Tonight) since his 2018 album ‘Graffiti U’, with God Whispered Your Name following in the footsteps of We Were. It was therefore shaping up that Urban was working to release a new record at some point this year, but given the COVID-19 pandemic, whether that still remains on track or not is another matter. Elsewhere, Keith Urban was meant to be gigging in the UK in May, with a series of dates spread across the first two weeks – including two headline dates at the Eventim Apollo in London – but given what is happening in the world, it is seemingly only a matter of time until there is an announcement confirming rescheduled dates.

Asleep at the Wheel frontman and country music icon Ray Benson has tested positive for COVID-19, though is optimistic about recovery. The 69-year-old, who has been writing and playing songs for 50 years now, shared on his Facebook that he has the virus and lamented a lack of immediate testing. Speaking in a lengthy statement explaining everything, Benson said that he had to make multiple trips to the doctor to find out the true extent of his illness. “To clear up any confusion or questions, I have tested positive for the COVID 19 Virus,” Benson posted onto his Facebook on April 1. “12 days ago, I had become bed ridden with headaches and extreme fatigue/dizziness. “I made an appointment with my Dr on Saturday March 21st to see what was up. Got tests for Flu, etc.. All came back negative. I then asked for a COVID 19 test. They said they didn’t have any! So I just went back home and hunkered down to see if it went away. “Unfortunately, the same symptoms kept occurring/progressing. Being extremely fatigued, just falling asleep all the time, headaches were getting worse. Went back to Dr on Monday the 30th to do some bloodwork and other tests to try and figure out what was going on. “After not finding anything through those, I was finally given a COVID 19 test and was sent home and said they’d call me with the results. So I got a call Tuesday morning saying I tested positive! Luckily for me nothing has progressed any farther and feel very lucky and optimistic about my current situation. “I am still very fatigued/dizzy and in bed for now. DR says if nothing further comes up like elevated temperature, respiratory, cough etc.. I should be in the clear in the coming weeks.”

The Americana Music Association UK (AMA UK) have announced that Bob Harris OBE and Mumford & Sons’ Ben Lovett will join the board. The duo will join Billy Bragg, Mary Gauthier and Ethan Johns on the board of what is an ever-growing association, with both Harris and Lovett both being long-term supporters of the genre. Speaking about the news, Lovett – who contributes on piano, keyboard, synthesiser and vocals for Mumford & Sons – said that it was an honour for him to be put onto the board and really believes in the organisation. “It’s a pleasure to be asked to join the Americana Music Association Board as one of the Artist Ambassadors,” Lovett said. “I believe in Stevie (Smith, Chief Executive) and her Board and all the good work they do to bridge community through the Americana Music Awards UK and throughout the year, with both artists and the wider industry.  I feel honoured to now be able to contribute in a small way. Adding further comment was Harris, with the iconic broadcaster – who comperes the Americana Music Association UK Awards each year – expressing his joy that he will be taking a more hands on role with the organisation. “I am so happy and proud to be joining the Ambassadors board of AMA-UK and to be a representative for the warmth and creativity of the wonderful UK Americana music community,” Harris said. 

CMA Fest 2020 has been cancelled as a direct result of the COVID-19 pandemic, with the festival pulling the plug on safety grounds. All purchased tickets will be valid for 2021, which will take place June 10-13. The four day festival, which was due to take place between June 4-7 and takes over downtown Nashville, is the biggest country music festival in the world and some of the biggest acts in the genre are frequently booked. There are a number of free stages which all feature some of country music’s best talents, while a paid ticket enables you to see the biggest names take to the stage in the Nissan Stadium at night. Speaking about the decision, the CMA released a statement which explained why they had to cancel, stressing that the health and safety of the country music community must come first. “After careful deliberation and in following the latest guidance from national, state and local authorities, we are sad to announce that CMA Fest will not take place in 2020,” the CMA said in a statement. “Whether you planned to attend CMA Fest for the first time, or you have attended many times throughout the last 48 years, we know how special this festival is for Country Music fans around the globe and that many will be disappointed by this decision. “As the world is still greatly affected by the spread of COVID-19, we cannot in good conscience risk the health and wellbeing of our fans, artists, staff and Country Music community. “We greatly appreciate your understanding and patience, as our actions are always in the best interest of our Country Music community. “In the coming weeks and months, we will continue to bring Country fans and artists together to celebrate the unique spirit and sense of unity that is at the heart of what CMA Fest stands for.”

Thomas Rhett has shared a new song called Be A Light, which features Reba McEntire, Keith Urban, Hillary Scott and Chris Tomlin. You can listen to the song here. All proceeds from the song will be going to the MusiCares COVID-19 Relief Fund, as Rhett tries to do his best to assist those in need at time of this pandemic. Speaking about the song, Rhett shared that he wrote the song 12 months ago as a coping mechanism to deal with the outside world and was delighted to be able to get the people he did on the track to share the positive message. “I wrote Be A Light last year as a way to process negativity and sadness I was seeing in the world,” Rhett said. “Now, as I sit in my home with my family on my 30th Birthday, we are in the middle of a worldwide pandemic affecting every single human on earth, all while our town of Nashville is still healing from devastating tornadoes that destroyed so much of our city less than one month ago. “But, among the wreckage, I see us come together in ways I never dreamed possible. I knew in my heart this was the time to share this message with the world and our community. “The voices who join me on this track are some of the brightest lights I know. I hope this song serves as a reminder that we are all in this together.” So far for Thomas Rhett, 2020 has been positive at least from a professional outlook, with the artist being nominated for five ACM Awards, including Entertainer of the Year.

Megan O’Neill has released a new song called Devil You Know, which is the third standalone single that the Irish artist has released from her next project. You can listen to the song here. Written with Essex-based artist Jake Morrell and produced by the Dunwells, Devil You Know follows in the footsteps of Rootless and Winter Sun. Speaking about the song, O’Neill explained where the inspiration for the track came from and opens up on the song’s message, which ultimately is a positive one. “I wrote Devil You Know based on the expression: ‘It’s better the devil you know than the devil you don’t’,” O’Neill said. “Sometimes in a long-term relationship, it’s easy to forget what it was like at the beginning when after a number of years, you’re so familiar with your partner and you often pass each other like ‘ships in the night’. “That initial can’t-keep-your-hands-off-each-other phase is over. So the mind wanders and you wonder what it would be like with someone new – would it end up just the same as this after a number of years? Is this normal? “By the end of the song, the singer realises that love just inevitably changes as the years go on – it might be less exciting in some ways but much more exciting in others. Building a life with someone is never easy and the singer here is quite sure she’s found a good one – despite it not being the honeymoon phase anymore!” Megan O’Neill was set to tour Ireland and Germany in April, but the COVID-19 pandemic has forced her to cancel those dates.

Margo Price has postponed the release of her upcoming album ‘That’s How Rumors Get Started’ indefinitely as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. The album, Price’s third studio effort, was due to be released on May 8, but as a result of the pandemic and how it is impacting the world, Price has been left with little choice but to halt proceedings. As of yet, there isn’t a date locked in for it to be rescheduled to, but speaking about the situation, Price said that she’s still keen to release some singles and that she cannot wait to get out into the world once the pandemic is over to play her new material. “Sometimes circumstances are beyond our control,” Price explained. “I would say that’s the case for folks everywhere in the world right now. Life is postponed until further notice. “I would love nothing more than for everyone to hear my next album in it’s entirety but it’s just not gonna be May 8th. More realistically, it’s going to be this summer. Even the record plants have halted production of vinyl. “I want to be able to play this album live and tour with my band all over the world and I know that time will come. In the meantime, I’m still going to release some singles and be making lots of music for y’all anyway that I possibly can. “Until then, take care of yourselves, be good to each other and this weary planet… and watch what you say and who you trust, because we all know… That’s How Rumors Get Started” The previous effort from Margo Price, ‘All American Made’, elevated her to a whole new platform as the album played a big part in her being nominated for a Grammy for Best New Artist.

Florida Georgia Line have announced their comeback with the release of their brand new single, I Love My Country, which dropped on March 27. You can listen to the single here. The single marks the first taste of the next album from the duo – made up of Tyler Hubbard and Brian Kelley – which will mark their fifth studio release. Speaking about the next step to Esquire, the duo stated that they are constantly seeking to grow and evolve as musicians and as a duo, while they are also keen to see how far they can test the boundaries. “We’re not afraid of change,” Hubbard stated. “We’re proud of where we came from, but we’re excited to grow. “We’re always evolving—whether it’s our personal lives, whether it’s our career, whether it’s our marriages, whether it’s friendships. We’re always trying to better ourselves and just continue.” “We’re just hyper creatives,” Kelley added. “And we’re always writing with great, young songwriters in town. Worlds are colliding, from L.A. to New York to Nashville, even people from Europe hopping into co-writes. “Especially with streaming, artists have an option to be a real global presence. So for us, it’s about how far can we push ourselves?” The last album from Florida Georgia Line was ‘Can’t Say I Ain’t Country’, which is now Gold certified and featured hit songs Simple and Talk You Out Of It.

Jordan Davis has offered fans a glimpse into what will come next with the release of Detours, which is the first single from his upcoming record. You can listen to the track here. The track itself is a deeply personal one for Davis as it is written about his wife Kristen and his recently born baby daughter Eloise. Speaking about the song, Davis – who only moved to Nashville back in 2012 – said that it is a song very close to his heart and that he is still in disbelief that the life he leads now is a genuine reality. “This song is probably one of my favourites I’ve ever written,“ Davis said. “My life has changed so much since I moved to Nashville – from meeting Kristen, getting married and having Eloise to signing a record deal, landing back to back No. 1s and touring the country playing for fans, I pinch myself every day that this is my life. “I’m so blessed and so grateful for all of the detours that led me to today.” Jordan Davis was recently nominated for Best New Male Artist of the Year at the 2020 ACM Awards, which will now take place in September as opposed to its initial date in April.