Pulse – Country Music News

Cole Swindell and Lainey Wilson's hit duet, "Never Say Never," speaks to a situation that many people can relate to, as Cole explains. "You know when I think of the song ‘Never Say Never' I think it's relatable. I think a lot of us at some point in life have been in a situation, relationship where you know it might not be the best thing for both of you but it's just hard to turn down. (Lainey) It's like that piece of chocolate cake. It's like you know you don't need it but you gotta have it (laughs). (Cole) Exactly."

"Never Say Never" will be included on Cole's fourth studio album, Stereotype, which will be released on April 8th. The song currently sits inside the Top 20 and climbing on the country charts.

Cole's headlining Down To The Bar Tour opens on Thursday (February 17th) in Peoria, IL with special guests Travis Denning and Ashley Cooke.

George Strait will perform a one-night-only concert at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, MO on Saturday, July 30th. Making his first return to the venue since 2001, "King George" will be joined by special guests Chris Stapleton and Little Big Town. Tickets go on sale to the general public on Friday, February 25th at 10 a.m. local time via ticketmaster.com.

The show will mark the 54th concert or music festival in GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium history and will be the 15th concert performance that the stadium has hosted since 2011.

The 2022 show will be George's fourth performance (1998-99, 2001) at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium.

Reba McEntire's next project is devoted to some of the most loved hymns of all time. She will release a special CD & DVD pairing, called My Chains Are Gone, on March 25th. The CD will feature 12 songs, including collaborations with Lauren Daigle, Kelly Clarkson, Trisha Yearwood and The Isaacs.

The DVD features a recording of Reba's 2017 first-ever solo headlining show at the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville. Featuring special guests Trisha Yearwood, Kelly Clarkson and The Isaacs, the special combines footage from that night along with newly-captured 2021 performances recorded at Clementine in Nashville. The DVD is hosted by Gospel music legend Bill Gaither.

In addition to the DVD, fans will be able to watch a special broadcast premiere of the performance on UPtv on March 25th at 8 p.m. ET, with an encore on April 4th at 2 a.m. ET.

Reba will be featured on talkshoplive on March 1st at 5 p.m. CT, where she will share stories behind this album as well as a special sneak peek at one of the performances from the DVD.

Sara Evans has teamed up with BOXT, a female-founded and run venture-backed, luxury boxed wine company for "Tap In For A Cause." The partnership means that BOXT will donate a percentage of sales to Thistle Farms, a Nashville non-profit that helps women survivors of trafficking, addiction and prostitution, an organization dear to Sara's heart.

She said, "When I first discovered BOXT and saw the unique and fabulous packaging, I was immediately intrigued. I'm normally a cabernet sauvignon fan and once I tasted Profile FourFive, I fell in love. Making quality wine accessible with a taste first approach and a monthly subscription just makes so much sense. As a business owner myself, I try to champion women owned businesses whenever I can, and love that BOXT is female led."

BOXT cause-based partnerships commit to donating a portion of all sales on behalf of their partners chosen charities.

For more information and to sign up for a BOXT subscription visit drinkboxt.com and using code SARAEVANS at checkout. Fans subscribing using Sara's code will also receive a $20 discount on their first membership order.

Jason Aldean will be celebrating summer with a new 34-city tour. The Rock N' Roll Cowboy Tour will open on July 15th in Scranton, PA with special guests Gabby Barrett, John Morgan and Dee Jay Silver. Tickets go on sale to the general public this Friday (February 18th) at 10 a.m. local time at jasonaldean.com.

Jason said, "I'm ready to get back out and feel the nights come alive," We are already thinking about the the setlist…there will be some songs off the new record like ‘Rock And Roll Cowboy,' which felt like a great tour name because it's all about knowing you belong on the road."

"Rock N' Roll Cowboy" is included on Jason's 10th release double-album Macon, Georgia, available in its entirety on April 22nd.

He is nominated for Single, Video and Music Event of the Year for "If I Didn't Love You" featuring Carrie Underwood at next month's ACM Awards. The show will stream live from Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas on Amazon Prime beginning at 8 p.m. ET on Monday, March 7th.

Jimmie Allen charts his third career Number One single this week with "Freedom Was A Highway," featuring Brad Paisley, which claims the top spot on both the Billboard and Mediabase charts. It also gives Brad his 25th Number One song.

Last night (Monday, February 14th), Jimmie posted the news on social media writing in part, "Yo @bradpaisley this song was a fun one. I appreciate you doing this song with me and giving it that BP Swag. Thank you to country radio for supporting this song . . . To all the people that have requested this song, bought and streamed it thank you!!!!"

Via a release, Brad said, "Couldn't be prouder to ride shotgun on this record with Jimmie. I'll be the Sally Fields (sic) to his Burt Reynolds anytime."

"Freedom Was A Highway" is the latest single off Jimmie's 2021 album Bettie James Gold Edition.

When Kane Brown kicked off his first big headlining Blessed & Free tour last October, it was the first time he had performed before a live audience since prior to the pandemic. While it didn't take him long to get back in the swing of performing, he tells us those early shows were integral to helping him become the entertainer he is now. "At the very beginning of the tour, it was very weird. For the first couple of shows back, you know, at first it was just seeing how many people are going to show up. They've been holding their tickets for 700 days. I know if I had to hold my ticket for that long, especially a paper ticket I would've probably lost it. So I found out there's a lot of responsible fans that really care and really save their tickets. And then also, this tour has been very good to me. On just finding my stage presence, and finding out who I am on stage. This has probably been my favorite tour so far and always thought that I would have more fun direct supporting. But honestly, being a headliner has been amazing."

Kane's Blessed & Free Tour resumes on May 7th in his hometown of Chattanooga, TN where he'll headline his first stadium show at Finley Stadium, along with special guest Walker Hayes.

Kane sits inside the Top Five and climbing on the country charts with his latest single, "One Mississippi."

Granger Smith is trying his hand at acting. He updated fans on social media with a post about wrapping up work on a new movie he recently filmed called Moonrise. The post shares a picture of Granger walking alongside the movie's director and writer Vickie Bronaugh writing in part, "I spent about a month in Blanco TX with some incredibly talented actors & crew pouring a lot of hours and a completely different side of my creative brain into this character. It's about a country singer who lost his wife and struggles to find purpose, redemption, forgiveness, embrace fatherhood, faith and ultimately the ability to love again. I remember getting this script back in Nov and I read the entire thing in one sitting on the porch swing. It's special. I've never acted in this way, but I fell in love with the character and knew that I had to do it . . . or at least give it my best shot . . ."

Granger said that while he doesn't have an exact release date, the film is supposed to be released later this year. He's also working on the music for the Moonrise soundtrack.

Miranda Lambert celebrated Valentine's Day by sharing her big heart and $20,000 with deserving animal shelters arount the country. She donated $1,000 to 20 shelters on behalf of the volunteers who gave their time and energy to animals housed there over this past year.

Eli Young Band have released a new single called "Love Talking." Lead singer Mike Eli co-wrote the song, which "chronicles the morning-after emotions of a vulnerable love-drunk conversation," according to a release.

Luke Bryan kicked off his residency at Resorts World Las Vegas on Friday (February 11th) night. The sold-out performance featured a shifting stage that lifted Luke and his band to the rhythms of his hit songs and an elevated catwalk that appeared from the ceiling and floated back up 45 feet high above the crowd, bringing Luke face-to-face with the mezzanine and balcony levels.

Before playing his first show, Luke took some time to chat with reporters about his first headlining residency. He explained that he wants to be a big competitor on the Vegas strip. "It's no lie when they say it's the entertainment capital of the world, and you better figure out a way to be entertaining because there's, I mean there's a million things around here to get entertained by, and it is a challenge. What I want people to be doing when they come into Vegas, and I think as the world gets back to normal, the more people start funneling to Vegas and conventions get going, I mean you want on the street for everybody to be talking about, ‘Hey, did you go see the Luke Bryan show?' ‘Cause that's what it's all about. I mean, I want to come out and here and this place be packed every night."

Due to demand, Luke has added nine new dates to "Luke Bryan: Vegas," going on sale to the public beginning on Monday, February 21st at 10 a.m. PT. The new dates are June 15, 17, 18, 22, 24, 25; August 31; and September 3, 4.

Luke's previously announced Vegas shows are February 16, 18, 19, 20, 23, 25, 26. Tickets and VIP packages are available at and AXS.com/lukeinvegas.

Today (Monday, February 14th) is Valentine's Day, but it shouldn't really matter because if you're with someone you love, everyday should be Valentine's Day. Right? So says Jimmie Allen. In fact, not only does he think the holiday is useless, he tells us exclusively that it's very one-sided. "I feel like it's a bunch of unnecessary pressure for men because it's supposed to be a day where you celebrate the person you love, men and women, but yet a lot of times the pressure falls on men where men have to buy the flowers and men have to make the reservations, men have to do this, and if we don't we're a horrible person, but I'm like, 'Wait a minute. What do men get for Valentine's Day?' I feel like if it's supposed to be about the person you love both people should be doing something to make the other person . . . but also, there's 365 days in the year. If you really love someone you're not waiting for one day."

Jimmie has something else to celebrate today -- his latest single, "Freedom Was A Highway" featuring Brad Paisley, sits at Number One on the Mediabase country chart this week. The song is included on Jimmie's 2020 EP, Bettie James.

Jimmie is featured on Backstreet Boys member Nick Carter's solo Country song called "Easy."

Morgan Wallen and his girlfriend, Paige Lorenze, have gone public with their relationship. After Morgan's first stop on his Dangerous Tour at New York City's Madison Square Garden on Wednesday (February 9th), Paige shared an Instagram story photo of the two embracing with the caption, "i love you! and am so proud of you. @morganwallen."

According to reports, Morgan and Paige have been quietly dating for the last year. She previously dated disgraced actor Armie Hammer but broke up with him last March because, she said, "you never know what you're going to get with him — he's kind of a scary person," according to People.com.

Morgan's Dangerous Tour rolls on to Columbia, SC on February 24th.

It may come as no surprise that Priscilla Block is no fan of today's (Monday, February 14th) romance holiday, Valentine's Day. And it's not just because she doesn't like chocolate, which is a fact, by the way.

Priscilla tells us EXCLUSIVELY: "I've never been a Valentine's Day girl, to be honest. (I'm) not much of like the Galentine's Day girl either (laughs). I don't know. I'm just like, 'Can't we go celebrate ourselves all the time?' Like why not. I'm down to go drink some wine. Even in a relationship when I've been there, I'm like 'Don't get me anything on Valentine's Day.' I don't know. Like show up. Show up all the time."

Priscilla released her debut album, Welcome To The Block Party, on Friday (February 11th). The project features her current single, "My Bar," as well as her Top 20 debut hit single, "Just About Over You."

Priscilla is nominated for New Female Artist of the Year at next month's ACM Awards, taking place in Las Vegas on March 7th. It will be livestreamed on Amazon Prime beginning at 8 p.m. ET.

Lauren Alaina was officially inducted into the Grand Ole Opry on Saturday (February 12th) by her friend and mentor Trisha Yearwood. She has appeared on the Opry more than 50 times since making her Opry debut on June 10, 2011, just after she was named runner-up on Season 10 of American Idol.

An emotional Lauren stood in the circle saying, "Ever since I was a little girl I dreamed of this moment. Both of my parents raised me with an appreciation for country music and all that it is, and all of the people who have come before me. I just want to say I promise to do everything I can to represent country music. I promise to represent this family well. I have felt like family here as long as I remember. Everyone at the Opry has always made me feel like family so for me to finally be officially in is the biggest dream come true of all time. Most little girls dreamed of their wedding; I dreamed of this. God Bless you guys and God bless country music."

Lauren's induction included a special video message from Dolly Parton who said, "You and I have a lot in common," said Parton via video. "We both started young, we love country music and we love the Grand Ole Opry and I'd give a million dollars if I could be there with Trisha and Garth and everyone who loves you to get you inducted into the Grand Ole Opry. I just want to wish you the best in your whole career."

Trisha surprised Alaina before their performance of Trisha's classic "Walkaway Joe" by introducing her husband, Garth Brooks, to the stage to play guitar for them.

Thomas Rhett continues to preview new music from his next album, Where We Started, due out on April 1st. The latest track he's previewing is called "Us Someday," which he co-wrote with his dad, hit songwriter Rhett Akins, as well as Jesse Frasure and Amy Wadge.

Thomas said, "For me, this song is sort of talking to (wife) Lauren at 19 years old telling her, ‘I know you think this is crazy, but I believe all of these things are going to happen for us.' And now here we are, over 10 years later, and most of those things actually happened, which is just the wildest thing. I also love how different this song sounds from the rest on the project, it opens with just strings and a vocal. I hope people will listen and be able to relate with their own relationships."

In other Thomas news, he will headline the "Amazon Music Presents: Country Heat at CRS," being held on February 23rd during the annual Country Radio Seminar in Nashville. The show will also feature performances by Frank Ray, Lily Rose, Conner Smith, and Morgan Wade.

Thomas is nominated for Male Artist of the Year and Album of the Year for Country Again: Side A at the ACM Awards. The show will stream live on Prime Video on Monday, March 7th at 8 p.m. ET from Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas.

Maren Morris has released a new song, called "Background Music," which she co-wrote alongside previous collaborators Jimmy Robbins and Laura Veltz. The song is featured on Maren's upcoming album, Humble Quest, set for release on March 25th.

She said, "I wrote ‘Background Music' about the beauty of the temporary, which is inevitably all things. The romanticism of eternity sounds nice, but I like to think I savor things better when I know I'm not entitled to it in perpetuity. It's a love song that addresses mortality but it's also promising someone that even when we aren't cool anymore, I want to grow old with them and laugh about the times we thought we were."

Maren is nominated for Female Artist of the Year at the 57th Academy of Country Music Awards, taking place on March 7th in Las Vegas.The show will be streamed live on Amazon Prime beginning at 8 p.m. ET.

Chris Lane has released a new song called "Howdy." He said, "'Howdy' is a fun one - the play on words is super clever and it's going to be a great addition to my set list on tour. Hope y'all love it!" Chris continues on his headlining Fill Them Boots Tour which runs through April.

Dolly Parton has released her latest single, "Blue Bonnet Breeze," from her upcoming album, Run, Rose, Run, alongside the track's lyric video. She said, "I came up with the idea for 'Blue Bonnet Breeze' because two of the characters decide to begin working together on a song. I thought, what song would that be? What song would they write? So, I just chose a Romeo and Juliet kind of story and made the music very slow, very emotional, and it's actually one of my very favorites from this album. It could be a movie of its own!"