That Nashville Sound Friday Newsbytes: Sarah Silverman, Lee Brice, Sarah Darling, Alan Jackson & More

There's lots of news on the table this morning including several new album announcements and a surprise country music performance from one of America's leading comics.

- Actress and comedian Sarah Silverman headed down to Nashville, TN to write and perform a country song with Grammy nominated country songwriter Lee Thomas Miller at The Bluebird Café for her Hulu show, I Love You, America.

- Lee Brice has a new music video for "Rumor".

- Miranda Lambert had a couple performances on Austin City Limits pop up worth watching for "Automatic" and "Tin Man".

- Chris Stapleton released another new song off his upcoming album From A Room: Volume 2 entitled "Scarecrow in the Garden".

- Anderson East will be releasing his next Elektra Records album Encore on January 12, 2018.  East also released a music video for "King for a Day".

- The self-released Winter Wonderland will come out on November 17 from Sarah Darling.

- Josh Kelley will release an album of covers appropriately titled Under the Covers, Vol. 1 on November 17.

- Kelsea Ballerini released a music video for "Roses".

- Donna Ulisse performed "It Could Have Been The Mandolin" over at Music City Roots.

- And my favorite music video of the day, a new music video from Alan Jackson - "The Older I Get".

That Nashville Sound Sunday Newsbytes - New Music Videos & Upcoming Releases

We're playing catch-up this weekend with lots and lots of new music videos and a handful of new album introductions. TNS would love to hear from you- what's your favorite off of the list below?

- Tracy Lawrence has set November 10, 2017 as the release date for one of the most ambitious and significant albums of his career. Good Ole Days celebrates the country legend’s indelible mark on country traditionalism with an album of 11 duets pairing a selection of his most iconic hits with some of country and rock’s contemporary superstars and newcomers. See a video about the project HERE. The collaborative collection includes guest appearances by Jason Aldean, Big & Rich, Luke Bryan, Luke Combs, Easton Corbin, Dustin Lynch, Tim McGraw, Justin Moore, Kellie Pickler and Chris Young. 3 Doors Down leader Brad Arnold makes his country music debut on the title track “Good Ole Days,” which is the second of the two original songs.

- On November 10th, Jeff Bates will be releasing an EP called Troublemaker.

- Blake Shelton released a new music video for the song "I'll Name The Dogs."

- Alison Krauss released a new music video for the track "Windy City."

- Whitney Rose released a new music video for her new song "Better To My Baby."

- Maggie Baugh released a new music video for "Catch Me."

- On the eve of Irma making landfall, it seems appropriate that Georgia-native Derek Hoke's next album is titled Bring the Flood. It comes out on Oct. 13 on Little Hollywood Records.

- Award-winning bluegrass artist Donna Ulisse has a new project out on Sept. 22 on Mountain Home Records called Breakin' Easy.

- Jack Ingram will be releasing a new song on Sept 19, a Next Waltz project with a cover of Jason Eady's "Why I Left Atlanta."

- Kelly Clarkson will return with her debut project for Atlantic Records on Friday, Oct. 27. The new album, Meaning Of Life, will feature songs including “Move You” and the album’s first single, “Love So Soft.”

- Valerie June and her top flight band stopped by Los Angeles' legendary public radio station KCRW on June 7th, 2017, for a live session on the their flagship Morning Becomes Eclectic program and released it into an live EP this week. Valerie June - Live at KCRW features eight songs from her critically acclaimed album The Order of Time (released earlier this year.)

- Blackbird Presents Records and CMT have combined forces and have announced the broadcast premiere and CD/DVD release of The Life & Songs Of Kris Kristofferson. The broadcast, concert film and music release features a collection of legendary singers, songwriters, and rising superstars who came together for a once-in-a-lifetime concert event taping in Nashville, Tennessee at the Bridgestone Arena to celebrate the songs of music icon Kris Kristofferson. CMT will premiere the 90-minute broadcast on Friday, October 27 at 10 PM ET/PT, and Blackbird Presents Records will release the full-length concert film as a CD/DVD combo, which is available for immediate preorder at http://songsofkristofferson.com and http://pledgemusic.com/projects/songsofkristofferson.  The Life & Songs Of Kris Kristofferson features captivating performances, in-depth interviews, and compelling behind-the-scenes footage with Kris Kristofferson, Jessi Alexander, Lady Antebellum, Dierks Bentley, Ryan Bingham, Rosanne Cash, Eric Church, Jessi Colter, Rodney Crowell, Larry Gatlin, Emmylou Harris, Jack Ingram, Shooter Jennings, Jamey Johnson, Alison Krauss, Martina McBride, The Travelin' McCourys, Reba McEntire, Buddy Miller, Willie Nelson, Jennifer Nettles, Jon Randall, Darius Rucker, Hank Williams Jr. and Lee Ann Womack.

- Calico the Band, the California Americana country group led by the female duo of Manda Mosher and Kirsten Proffit, premiered their Western-themed music video for "Cold Cold Love," the latest single from the band's forthcoming album Under Blue Skies. Click here to watch the video that was filmed just outside of Joshua Tree, a Southern California location which has a "mystical cosmic country connection that is inspiration for us," says the band. -

That Nashville Sound Sunday Newsbytes - New Music Videos & Upcoming Releases

We're playing catch-up this weekend with lots and lots of new music videos and a handful of new album introductions. TNS would love to hear from you- what's your favorite off of the list below?

- Bill Withers, Tim O'Brien, Kathy Mattea, Charlie McCoy, Connie Smith and many others from the bluegrass genre have contributed to a new project celebrating one of the Grand Ole Opry's all time favorites: Rhinestone Hillbilly: A Tribute to Little Jimmy Dickens.

- Rockabilly singer Sonny Burgess, who recorded for Sun Records, passed away at the age of 88.

- Billy Ray Cyrus‘ upcoming album Set The Record Straight, which releases November 10, will be packed with collaborations with Joe Perry, George Jones, Loretta Lynn, Bryan Adams, Glenn Hughes, Jencarlos Canela, and Ronnie Milsap, as well as with Cyrus’ daughter Miley Cyrus.

- That Nashville Sound favorite Aubrie Sellers released a new music video for "Paper Doll."

- Bluegrass Hall of Fame member Pete Kuykendall has died in Virginia at age 79.

- Kip Moore has released a new music video for his song "Bittersweet Company."

- Bluegrass artist Rebekah Long has enlisted the production and writing help of Donna Ulisse on her new album Run Away that will be coming out on September 8.

- The Texas Gentelmen released a new music video for their song "Bondurant Women."

- Radney Foster's upcoming September 15 release, For You To See The Stars, is a project comprised of two parts - a book of short fiction and an album of the songs that inspired them.

- Doug Supernaw has re-recorded his biggest charted songs and will release a new Greatest Hits package on September 22.

- A new project will be forthcoming from the famed Jennings family with Shooter Jennings' Live at Billy Bob's TX- to be released on November 10.

- November 10 will also be the release date for Taylor Swift's next pop album, Reputation. Her first single off of the project is "Look What You Made Me Do."

- Carly Pearce will be releasing an album on Big Machine Records on October 13 under the same name of her big surprise chart hit, Every Little Thing.  

New Music Video From Donna Ulisse- "Hard Cry Moon"

Donna Ulisse To Release Hard Cry Moon On Sept 25

Artist: Donna Ulisse

Album: Hard Cry Moon
Label: Hadley Music Group
Release date: Sept 25, 2015

Second chances don’t often make themselves available in the crazy thing they call a music industry. For Donna Ulisse (pronounced "you-liss-ee"), it looked like there might not be one. 

Like so many other aspiring country music artists, Ulisse followed her dream to Nashville where she first found work as a back-up and session singer, working with the likes of Jerry Reed. She finally got the attention of record executives and in 1991, Atlantic Records released the album Trouble at the Door. The album had three singles released off it, along with a music video. None of the singles cracked the Top 50 and Atlantic cut ties shortly thereafter.  

For many artists, that would be the end of the story. Somewhere along the way, however,  Ulisse fell in love and got married to a gentleman named Rick Stanley. The same Stanley moniker made so famous by bluegrass legend Ralph Stanley. And because Rick and Ralph Stanley are cousins, Ulisse became immersed in a generational family legacy and musical genre she would come to love. 

Throughout the late 90’s and early 2000’s, her songwriting would take on a more and more bluegrass feel. By 2007, her publisher decided that this collection of songs being written needed a release on its own. Keith Sewell was brought in and When I Look Back was released to critical acclaim. Five additional albums have been released since and Ulisse has become a key artist in the bluegrass field.

He next album on the Hadley Music Group label will be out on September 25 and will be titled Hard Cry Moon. The first single off of the album is a track called "It Could Have Been the Mandolin" in which Donna has developed a cute spoof news report to tease the new track.
 

New Music Video From Donna Ulisse- "Showin' My Roots"

Six New Country Album Release Announcements Include Nichols, Rhett, Travis, McCreery, Ulisse and Feek

Over the last couple of days, six new album release announcements have been made that should go on your radar including projects from Joe Nichols, Thomas Rhett, Randy Travis, Scotty McCreery, Donna Ulisse and Heidi Feek.

Joe Nichols- Crickets-  release date 10/8
Joe Nichols has released both the cover art and track list for his upcoming album Crickets, due out on October 8. Crickets is Nichols' eighth studio album and first release for Red Bow Records, a joint venture between Broken Bow Records and Sony Music's RED distribution.  The album features 15 original tracks and a cover of Merle Haggard's "Footlights." Track listing:
1. "Just Let Me Fall in Love With You" 2. "Hard to Be Cool" 3. "Baby You're in Love With Me" 4. "Yeah" 5. "Billy Graham's Bible" 6. "Better Than Beautiful" 7. "Gotta Love It" 8. "Sunny and 75" 9. "Y'ant To" 10. "Hee Haw" 11. "Love Has a Way" 12. "Smile on Mine" 13. "Open Up a Can" 14. "Old School Country Song" 15. "Footlights" 16. "Crickets"

Thomas Rhett- It Goes Like This- release date 10/29
Rhett just made his big announcement about his forthcoming debut album, It Goes Like This.
The 12-track listing was revealed as was the fact that the album will hit the streets on Oct. 29.
Rhett said via a press release, “I’m so pumped to finally be releasing my first album! My music has evolved so much since I started making this record two and a half years ago and it’s representative of all my experiences along the way … the tours I’ve been on and the fans and friends I’ve made at our shows across the country. I’m very lucky that I’ve had the chance to experience so much and thankful for every moment. I just tried to pour it all into the songs we recorded." 1. ‘Whatcha Got in That Cup’ 2. ‘Something to Do With My Hands’ 3. ‘Get Me Some of That’ 4. ‘Call Me Up’ 5. ‘It Goes Like This’ 6. ‘Make Me Wanna’ 7. ‘Front Porch Junkies [Remix]  8. ‘In a Minute’ 9. ‘Take You Home’ 10. ‘Sorry for Partying’ 11. ‘All American Middle Class White Boy’ 12. ‘Beer With Jesus’

Randy Travis- Influence Vol. 1- The Man I Am- release date 10/1
Multi-Platinum and seven-time GRAMMY winning icon Randy Travis is set to release his 21st studio album October 1st on Warner Bros. Records titled Influence Vol. 1: The Man I Am. Travis and his music has been a major influence to other country artists throughout his celebrated career thus far. In his new album, Influence Vol. 1: The Man I Am, Travis looks back at some of the songs and artists that were instrumental in crafting his musical career, including Merle Haggard, George Jones, Lefty Frizzell, among others. After releasing his 25th Anniversary Celebration album and going back through his repertoire of collaborations with artists including Zac Brown Band, Kenny Chesney, Don Henley, Alan Jackson, Jamey Johnson, Josh Turner, George Jones, Kris Kristofferson, Tim McGraw, Willie Nelson, Brad Paisley and Carrie Underwood, Travis reflected on the icons and their music that have inspired him over the years. “When I think of my musical heroes of yesteryear, or the younger stars of this year, I am reminded that it is true we learn from the ones ahead of us, and teach the ones that follow.  They are the reason I chose to make this album,” says Randy Travis.

Scotty McCreery- See You Tonight- release date 10/15
“American Idol” winner Scotty McCreery’s new album, “See You Tonight,” will come out Oct. 15.   Produced by Frank Rogers, best known for his work with Brad Paisley and Darius Rucker, the album features a number of tracks co-written by McCreery.  “This album is a big step from where we were. I have been writing for a long time now, since I was a kid, but these are the first songs I've had a chance to record and release to the public and I'm excited,” says McCreery, in a statement. “I was lucky to have my first single off the record be one that I co-wrote.  I am excited about letting folks hear it. We have been working on this for the better part of a year now, so it's a long time coming.”

Donna Ulisse- Showin' My Roots- release date 10/22
Donna Ulisse had a big-label country music taste back in the early 1990's, but has since resurfaced as one of the more important female voices in bluegrass music. She's nominated for multiple IBMA awards and this very site has given high marks to her bluegrass releases. Now comes word that she'll be doing a dedication of sorts with her next October release, Showin' My Roots. Bluegrass heavyweights Sam Bush, The John Cowan Band, Larry Cordle Fan Page Larry Stephenson Band, Fayssoux McLean, Frank Solivan of Frank Solivan and Dirty Kitchen, Rick Stanley, Carl Jackson, Greg Papaw Davis, Tony King, and Jerry Salley will all be lending their talents to the project.

Heidi Feek- The Only- release date 10/8
Heidi might be a new name to most of our readers but her family certainly isn't. Heidi is the daughter of married duo Joey+Rory Feek and has travelled around the world with her parents as part of their band as a back-up vocalist. The Only is now her chance to step out in front of the stage and make her own brand of music. Check out the video below to get a taste of the new project.
 

New Music Video From Donna Ulisse- "He Is Here"

An Interview With Bluegrass Artist Donna Ulisse At Engine 145

Country music fans remember Donna Ulisse from her time on Atlantic Records when she released a critically acclaimed traditional country album Trouble at the Door with 3 singles and two videos and appeared on “Hee Haw, “NBC’s Hot Country Nights”, “Nashville Now” and “Crook and Chase”. Bluegrass fans have been getting to know Donna over the past few years through her own brand of bluegrass; mostly self-written. Her 2007 CD When I Look Back featured the song ”I’m Calling Heaven Down” which won the Top Bluegrass Song in the 2009 Just Plain Folks Awards. The title track from her 2009 release Walk This Mountain Down was in the Bluegrass Unlimited charts for six months and in June 2009 she was the #1 artist on Sirius XM Satellite radio’s Bluegrass Junction and her song “I Lied” was #1 five different times during the same year. As a writer she has recently had songs recorded by Claire Lynch, Darin & Brooke Aldridge and also co-wrote the title cut to Louise Mosrie’s “Home” which was the #1 Folk album in the nation in January 2010. Ulisse released her third bluegrass CD Holy Waters in April of 2010. Some people would call it a bluegrass gospel album, others label it as more spiritual. She refers to it as her own “soul journey”.

2011 proved to be the busiest year every for Ulisse as she and her band The Poor Mountain Boys took their music to an international audience for the first time with a tour of Russia at the invitation of the U.S. Embassy to play four bluegrass festivals. She also released her fourth bluegrass CD, "An Easy Climb" in June 2011 which has spent the second half of the year climbing all of the bluegrass music charts.

I had an opportunity to interview the delightful Ms. Ulisse for Engine 145 and talk about her journey in bluegrass for Engine 145.  Check out a snippet below and and then read the entire interview HERE.

We did four different venues. The first show we did, there was a horrible tragic boating or fishing accident the same day where a whole bunch of people died. In Russia, they would normally cancel the performance and everyone in the country would mourn. But because they brought us all the way over there, they let us perform our show. When I did the song “Who Will Sing For Me?,” I dedicated it to those that had lost their lives. And that was a real standout moment. They were just precious. They were so moved that we would recognize their disaster. They talked about it afterwards for a long time. But all of them had standout moments. And because they don’t have anything else to give you, they’re taking their jewelry off and giving it to you as a thank-you for moving them so much. They’re giving me jewelry and I’m turning around and giving away all my jewelry. (Laughter)

New Music Video From Donna Ulisse- "You Cannot Stay Here"

New Music Video from Donna Ulisse- "Her Heart Is A Stone Hard Ground"

At the end of the day while working on her album "An Easy Climb" Ulisse & the musicians did this in-studio performance of the song " Her Heart Is A Stone Hard Ground" off the album. The song was written by: Donna Ulisse, Marc Rossi & Irish singer songwriter Ben Glover. Musicians: Acoustic guitar: Keith Sewell, Mandolin: Andy Leftwich, Banjo: Scott Vestal, Upright Bass: Viktor Krauss, Dobro: Rob Ickes, Harmonies: Tony King and Rick Stanley.

CD Album Review- Donna Ulisse- An Easy Climb

The Review-
Lemonade from lemons. Strike that. Really good ice cold frosty strawberry lemonade from lemons.

Let me explain. Way back in 1991, a young singer/songwriter named Donna Ulisse was signed to Atlantic Records which subsequently released three solid singles and two music videos. For whatever reason, the country music Gods didn’t smile down on the release and Ulisse and the label parted ways. For most artists that would have been the end. Lemons. But in a moment of serendipitous purpose, Ulisse returned a whopping eight years later with a homespun collection of bluegrass albums that even better represented the artist.

Over a five year period, Ulisse has released four independent bluegrass albums to widespread critical acclaim. What makes each album consistent to one-another is the inclusion of one magical and powerful song to go along with a collection of solid ones. 2007’s album was the Just Plain Folks Awards Bluegrass Song of the Year,“I'm Calling Heaven Down", off of her 2007 release of When I Look Back. On 2009’s Walk This Mountain Down, the haunting tale of a lost child on “Levi Stone” was one of That Nashville Sound’s top ten songs of the year- in all genres. 2010’s Holy Waters' title track made an incredible combination of faith and Appalachian love.

An Easy Climb continues that trend of including a song for the ages- only this time, we’re treated with two. “Shady Glen” is masterful storytelling at its best. At once fictional history as well as a fantastic ghost story, it tells the tale of a Confederate loyalist female infiltrating the union army before they destroy her town and poisoning them with rabbit stew. It’s modern day ghosts and a story from 150 years ago all wrapped up in a perfect little package. It has all the things you want from a story, a protagonist, a purpose, a cause, action and reaction- all wrapped up perfectly in a wondrous four minute tale. The other phenomenal track is the fantastic autobiographical “Hand Me Down Home.” Every detail of her family cabin that’s been handed down by several generations is lovingly described in personal important minutia. From the background of the family headstones to the wood the porch is made from, it’s a caring tribute to her family that’s a treasure- one she shares with us like a guest room.

For those two reasons alone, this album is worth a purchase.

Track Highlights:
Shady Glen
Hand Me Down Home
Let It Rain
Black Snake

Sounds Like:
Patty Loveless’s Mountain Soul Albums

The Verdict:
Four Stars Out Of Five