New Music Video From Jessie James Decker & Billy Currington - "I Still Love You"

Write You A Song Podcast - An Interview With Brandy Clark

We share another new podcast from host Tom Mailey from Bonneville radio station New Country 105.1 KNCI in Sacramento. Tom is a country radio veteran with over 30 years of experience in Seattle and Sacramento and a key partner in our Golf & Guitars Children's Charity Music Festival, a little event in our twelfth year that has raised well north of a million bucks for kids and individuals with disabilities. It highlights the songwriters in our industry and is entitled Write You a Song. It's his hope that this podcast will shine a little overdue spotlight on the talented men and women who, mostly behind the scenes, write the songs that become part of our lives. You know their words and music, but maybe not their names: Write You a Song will feature some of country music’s biggest songwriters--like Jeffrey Steele, Brett Warren, Ashley McBryde, Tim Nichols and more.

Singer/songwriter Brandy Clark has released 2 critically acclaimed albums and scored a handful of hits writing for other artists, including Sheryl Crow, Miranda Lambert, The Band Perry, Reba McEntire, LeAnn Rimes, Billy Currington, Darius Rucker, and Kacey Musgraves. But she hasn't yet had the widespread commercial success other songwriters have had, and believe it or not, that's just fine with her. She has performed on popular TV shows including: The Ellen DeGeneres Show , Good Morning America, and The Late Show with David Letterman. She was also nominated for Best New Artist category at the 2015 Grammy Awards. Here, she talks about her start in music, her college formative years and how she approaches songwriting. 

Jennifer Hanson To Release Holiday Project Under the Tree

Artist: Jennifer Hanson
Album: Under the Tree
Label: Independent
Release date: November 3, 2017

Jennifer Hanson came on the scene to critical acclaim with her self-titled debut album. Her single “Beautiful Goodbye” went on to be a top 15 hit, the highest charting debut single by a new female artist for that year. Solidifying herself as a viable artist in the country music format, recording for both Capitol Records and Universal South, it has been Hanson’s songwriting that has led to her continued success in an ever-changing industry. Hanson’s artistry and songs have garnered ACM, CMT and GRAMMY nominations, as well as numerous BMI, SESAC and NSAI awards. Collectively, her songs have sold millions of albums worldwide. She wrote the #1 song “Leave the Pieces”; the debut single for Michelle Branch & Jessica Harp of The Wreckers, as well as the debut single for American Idol finalist Bucky Covington titled “A Different World”, which went on to become a top 5 hit on the Billboard charts. Hanson celebrated her second #1 single with her self-penned song “Let Me Down Easy” recorded by Billy Currington. Hanson also wrote the title track to the movie “Country Strong” performed by Gwyneth Paltrow and has had songs recorded by artists such as pop sensation Kelly Clarkson, country music superstars Rascal Flatts, The CW’s One Tree Hill actress and singer Jana Kramer, rising country music star Mickey Guyton and country legends Pam Tillis, Vince Gill and Don Williams to name a few.

Says Hanson about the project, "Several months ago, I ran across a cassette tape of my dad and I singing “Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer” when I was 3 ½ years old. As I listened to this spirited little kid blaring out the lyrics to “Rudolph” with such gusto and enthusiasm, I was reminded of the joy and wonder of Christmas and the love and good times it always used to bring around our home that time of year. It was a normal occurrence for my dad to put in a cassette tape and record everything back then, and there was never a minute there wasn’t music playing. Looking back now, I’m so thankful he did. That moment in time he captured is what inspired me to make “Under the Tree”. I’ve always had a love for all things Christmas. It is, by far, one of my most favorite times of the year and nothing makes the holidays more festive than Christmas music. I hope you’ll enjoy listening to this little sampler of new tunes and old as much as I enjoyed making it. Happy Holidays…"

New Projects Announced From John Anderson, Sammy Kershaw, Keith Anderson, Billy Currington and JT Hodges

Artist: John Anderson
Title: Goldmine
Label: Bayou Boys Music
Release Date: May 26, 2015

“With Goldmine, I thought, first off, I’m going to take my songs into the studio and make a record like I think it ought to be made, without all those other influences,” Anderson says, “I’m more pleased with the sound of this record than I have been in a long time.” The first single, “I Work a Lot Better” will be shipped to radio on May 11.  When asked about the single, Anderson stated, “It was actually Josh Turner’s idea. He is a fine young man, a great talent and a real asset to modern day country music. Josh and I have written several songs together and it’s always a pleasure to write with him”.

Artist: Sammy Kershaw
Title: I Won't Back Down
Label: Cleopatra Records
Release Date: June 9, 2015

“At all of our shows, or wherever go, people keep asking for new music. I’m glad to have a new record coming their way. They’ve waited a while. Hell, I’ve waited a while,” he said with a grin. “The other aspect of the new album that makes it exciting is getting a chance to work with Tim Yasui and all the staff at Cleopatra Records. Together, we’re ready to get it out to the people.”

The album s a mixture of all things Kershaw, ranging from the romantic yearnings of “Lay Back Down” and “Let’s Lay Here Forever” to the heartfelt regret of the haunting “I Had To Give That Up Too.” He also ventures into a light-hearted feel on up-tempo cuts like “Fixer Upper” and “Grillin’ and Chillin.” As is the case with any Kershaw album, you can always count on a cover – and I Won't Back Down adds two to the mix – “Take A Letter Maria,” originally a No. 2 hit for R.B. Greaves on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1969, and the title cut, familiar to Pop listeners as a hit for Tom Petty from 1989.

Artist: Keith Anderson
Title: I'll Bring the Music EP
Label: Indie
Release Date: May 12, 2015

Award winning songwriter/performer Keith Anderson is back with brand new music, a brand new perspective and a brand new tour.  The man behind "Pickin’ Wildflowers" will release his I'll Bring the Music EP to iTunes May 12. “After taking a break when my mother passed away, it gave me a chance to focus on my growing family and appreciate the blessings in my life.  I used that fire to create this music.  I can’t wait for people to hear it,” explains Anderson.

Artist: Billy Currington
Title: Summer Forever
Label: Mercury Nashville
Release Date: June 2, 2015

Mercury Nashville recording artist Billy Currington will return with his sixth studio album, Summer Forever, on June 2. With producer Dann Huff at the helm, the project features song from writers including Ashley Gorley, Shane McAnally, Josh Osborne, Cole Swindell, Florida Georgia Line and Jimmy Robbins.

“Making this album was such a blast for me. I put a lot of love into this project and couldn’t be more excited for fans to hear the new music,” shares Currington. “Summer Forever for me represents a positive, happy, good time lifestyle and that’s what I hope the fans feel when they hear this record.”

Artist: JT Hodges
Title: Locks on Doors EP
Label: Indie
Release Date: This week

“The EP, ‘Locks on Doors,’ is a compilation of songs I’ve always kept close to me. You could kind of say I’ve locked them behind a door, but it was time for these songs to be set free,” said Hodges of the new project. “These songs were me. The production, the music, the arrangements, all represent who I am stylistically as an artist. For the first time I was free to make music instinctively rather than calculated and for the first time every song went beyond what I imagined it could be. I’m proud of that.”  In honor of Earth Day, Hodges releases his eco-friendly EP packaged with a sleeve made of recycled paper and vegetable based inks

New Music Video From Billy Currington- "Don't It"

New Music Video From Billy Currington- "We Are Tonight"

Music video by Billy Currington performing We Are Tonight. (C) 2013 Mercury Records, a Division of UMG Recordings, Inc.

New Music Video From Billy Currington- "Hey Girl"

Billy Currington To Release We Are Tonight On 9/17

Billy Currington‘s new Mercury Records album, We Are Tonight, is due out September 17 featuring his latest single, “Hey Girl.” Billy also covered Jack Johnson‘s “Banana Pancakes” and welcomed Willie Nelson to sing on the track “It’s Hard to Be a Hippie.”

We Are Tonight also marks the first time Billy has worked with multiple producers on a project. He says, “It wasn’t planned but just kind of happened that way. It was a great experience to be able to bring a different sound to this album and I hope the fans love it as much as I do.”

Currington released his self-titled debut album in 2003. His six No. 1 hits include "Must Be Doin' Something Right," "Good Directions," "People Are Crazy," "That's How Country Boys Roll," "Pretty Good at Drinkin' Beer" and "Let Me Down Easy."

People Magazine and Noise Trade Offer Lots Of Free Country Music Downloads

People Magazine has a brand new country music edition on newsstands featuring Lady Antebellum. To celebrate the new edition, they’re giving away a free playlist download featuring some big hitters including some of country music's biggest names. Click HERE to download the following:

o Ronnie Dunn- “Cost of Livin'”
o Vince Gill- “Threaten Me With Heaven”
o Billy Currington- “Until You”
o Jake Owen- “Keepin' It Country”
o Terri Clark- “Breakin' Up Thing”
o Matraca Berg- “You and Tequila”
o JT Hodges- “Hunt You Down”
o Bradley Gaskin- “Mr. Bartender”
o Sonia Leigh- “My Name is Money”

There are also a couple of new free downloads available through NoiseTrade.com. Soulful Louisiana crooner Marc Broussard has a brand new digital album available called The Atlantic Recordings and new country upstarts Eden’s Edge have a couple of new songs available as well. Click HERE to download those recordings.

Country Music News Round-Up- Songwriter Bill Morrissey Passes and Kenny Chesney Writes For ESPN

Ira Dean- Average Joe's Entertainment

• Folk singer/songwriter Bill Morrissey passed away in Georgia this last week.
• If only for the fantastic personal family recordings interspersed between every other song on her album, it’s worth picking up the new bluegrass album On The Brooklyn Road by Nell Robinson.  You can read my review on the album that I did for Engine 145 HERE.
• Lots of new music videos released in the last week- with Brad Paisley and Carrie Underwood being the more recent with “Remind Me.” Other new videos include:
• Pistol Annies — “Hell On Heels”
• Ronnie Dunn — “Cost of Livin’”
• Billy Chernoff — “Circle of Grace”
• Billy Currington — “Love Done Gone”
• Steve Richard — “Love’s Gotta Go Somewhere”
• Steve Holy — “Love Don’t Run”
• Phil Vassar — “Let’s Get Together”
• Alan Jackson –- “Long Way To Go”
• Indian Rodeo —“If I Could Go Back”
• Brandon Rhyder with Radney Foster (Live) — “Lord I Hope This Day Is Good”
• Jack Ingram shared his foolproof way to break up fights at his shows this week on his Acoustic Motel series.
• With the Dixie Chicks’ Martie Maguire in attendance at her most recent concert, Taylor Swift covered the Chicks’ “Cowboy Take Me Away.” Check out the video HERE.
• Kenny Chesney has written a new theme song for ESPN.
• After $1,500 went missing after his recent concert, Bucky Covington has been accused of grand theft.
• 3^rd Place American Idol finisher Haley Reinhart has signed a record deal.
• Mick Buck, Curator Director at the Country Music Hall of Fame blogs a bit about what will be going into the new Chet Atkins exhibit at the museum.
• Average Joe’s Entertainment added to its growing roster when it signed former Trick Pony member Ira Dean this week. His song “Beer or Gasoline” is currently at radio.

Billy Currington & Babyface Collaborate On Stage

During a Joe’s Bar stop in Chicago last Wednesday, multi Grammy award-nominated Mercury Nashville artist Billy Currington surprised fans by bringing out superstar artist and Grammy award-winning producer Kenny Babyface Edmonds for a soulful collaboration of “Change The World.”

Billy Currington Covers Kenny Rogers' "Sweet Music Man" At All For The Hall

Billy Currington Plans 4th Album Release For September 21

The fourth record from Mercury Nashville singer/songwriter Billy Currington is set for release September 21st. The album is entitled Enjoy Yourself, and includes the crooner’s Top 5 smash hit “Pretty Good At Drinkin’ Beer” written by Troy Jones. Enjoy Yourself, featuring the Georgia native’s trademark mix of country, R&B and beach music, is produced by Currington and Carson Chamberlain.

"It’s a great mix. It reflects who I am,” Currington says about the collection of 10 songs. “I’m definitely not just one thing. I’m the beach guy, I’m the country guy, I love my dirt roads and fishin’, but I love New York City and L.A. and Miami, too.”

The album features Nashville’s songwriters Dave Barnes, Shawn Camp, Scotty Emerick, Jones and Mark Nesler.

“This record was about recording songwriter’s songs,” says Billy. “I could have gone back and recorded a bunch of mine that I’ve written, but there were a lot of writers I wanted to record, like Shawn and Troy. I had to put their songs on this album.”

New Music Video From Billy Currington- "Pretty Good At Drinking Beer"

Lots Of New Music Videos Released This Weekend From The Big Guns Of Country Music

Miranda Lambert- "White Liar"



Reba McEntire- "Consider Me Gone"



Sugarland- "Keep You"



Kenny Chesney & Dave Matthews- "I'm Alive"



Keith Urban- "Hit The Ground Runnin'"



Billy Currington- "That's How Country Boys Roll"

Billy Currington's Shiner From Weekend Stage Collapse

As we reported yesterday morning, Billy Currington and his band were on stage outside Edmonton, Calgary when a tornado force wind hit the stage and collapsed it on top of them Saturday night. Currington was hit in the head by falling debris from the stage and came out on his Twitter account this morning showing his big black eye. It reads, “The boys and i are very grateful to be home and for life itself. We thank you for your prayers and concern and will see you on the road again soon.”

Tragedy At Canadian Country Music Festival As Stage Collapses

The stage at an open-air country music festival in Calgary, Canada has collapsed in sudden, high winds, killing one person and injuring 15 others- two being in critical condition. The Associated Press news agency says one of the performers, a member of the Billy Currington band, was removed from the wreckage with a badly injured arm.

The Big Valley Jamboree, held annually near Edmonton, in central Alberta, attracts thousands of music fans. Spectators fled in panic as a severe thunderstorm, with high winds and rain, swept through the festival site early on Saturday evening.

One of the Billy Currington band guitarists, Doug Collins, told the Calgary Herald: "I was playing slide guitar and I have to look constantly at my hands. All of a sudden, I saw this blast coming at me and I ran off the stage. "One amp started falling toward me and that is when it got bizarre. That's when I ran." Billy Currington was taken to the hospital as a precaution but released.

Music fan Maris Orydzuk described what happened to Canadian broadcaster CTV: "Next thing I know there is like concrete, and there's something on my back. I can't see a thing.
"It was awful. I thought my life was ending because it was completely dark and black. There was a tiny, tiny hole that I crawled through."

The film actor Kevin Costner, and his band Modern West, were due to perform after Billy Currington.

A Country Music Reason To Visit The Mouse

As is the case with many of the travel destinations across the United States (and the world for that matter), Disneyland has suffered an attendance drop at the landmark theme park due to the economic malaise we find ourselves in. They've come back with a three unique value-added opportunities for the new year to help stimulate patrons, however:

1. You're able to attend for free on your birthday

2. Disney is offering a 'three nights free' deal to Disney visitors who book a week-long vacation. You buy four nights in a Disney hotel with a four-day Magic Your Way theme park ticket and get the extra three days free.

3. There's a current offer floating around the internet offering 30% off any Disney hotel during their non-peak time through the end of 2009.

But now, there's a couple more reasons for the country music fan to plan a visit soon to the "happiest place on earth." At the Downtown Disney location, the famed House Of Blues has scheduled three concerts with artists with Nashville music roots:

* Thursday, January 15, 2009- Bayou country rocker Marc Broussard

* Monday, January 19, 2009- The Country Rat Pack- Tracy Byrd, Tracy Lawrence & Richie McDonald

* Monday, April 7, 2009- Billy Currington

Happy Birthday To Billy Currington Today

That Nashville Sound wishes Happy Birthday to Billy Currington- born on this date back in 1973 (making him 35 today.) Celebrate by partaking of his brand new video Don't below...