One of my favorite songs of the past year is Cody Johnson’s “The Painter”, and he just released the music video to it, and it’s basically the love story between he and his wife Brandi, to whom he has been married to for fourteen years.
Of course, the video makes sense, as Brandi is who inspired the beautifully written love song.
Way to up the game for all the guys, Cody!
Ad in case you missed it, here’s Cody’s tribute to his wife at the CMA Awards last November:
I still get choked up watching this.
Check out Cody’s latest double album “Leather” out now, and his 2024 tour dates atĀ http://codyjohnson.com
You may remember that Elle King made headlines a few weeks ago with her drunk performance on New Year’s Eve on Nashville’s Big Bash. It was on live TV, and personally, I didn’t see the problem. It was NYE, Elle is known for being a party girl, and she still had a solid (if no a bit slurred) performance.
No harm, no foul, right? I’ve seen waaaaay worse.
Welllll… Elle King is raising eyebrows again for another drunken performance. This time, this past Friday night at the Ryman for the Dolly Parton Tribute in honor of the legend’s 78th birthday. She was obviously lit UP (hey, she admitted it) and her introduction had a lot of people ticked off, and some say it was disrespectful to Dolly.
Her performance of “Jolene” that found I found wasn’t awful, though…
Look, I have nothing against drinking. I love my wine, but I have also learned in my older years about a thing called moderation. Now in my early twenties, when I was young, dumb, and had no real big responsibilities, sure, I overdid it, and even had my share of drunken nights on stage with cover bands. But nothing near the level that Elle is performing at. She is one heck of a talent, and I really do like her, and enjoy her music.
I hope she slows her roll a bit…
If nothing else, because taking care of a toddler with a hangover can’t be fun. Her son is about the same age as mine, and I can’t even imagine!
Then again, isn’t a double standard? Some of Country’s greats were complete hot messes- Hank Williams, Johnny Cash, Willie, Waylon, the list goes on and on… and they were WAYYYY worse than the shennanigans Elle has been up to these past few weeks.
Except they’re men, and they can get away with it.
What do you think?
Does Elle need to slow it down a bit?
Or should she be able to have her fun as long as she’s not hurting anyone?
First off, I have always been and will always be #TeamNSYNC.
That being said, I’ve always loved Justin Timberlake. Not just because he hails from Memphis, TN, which is close to where I grew up, but also he’s incredibly talented, funny as hell, and has major sex appeal. Basically, he checks all the entertainer boxes.
He did a one-off show at The Orpheum in Memhis this past Friday, and debuted his first new song in a while called “Selfish”.
The video and audio isn’t the best, but it’s all I can find.
Ok, so it’s not the deepest of songs lyrically, and the use of the word “boo” is kind of overkill at his age, but it IS catchy, and his voice sounds amazing as always.
Also, I found this video of Justin jamming to a song called “No Angels” which I’m assuming is an unreleased track?
Now THAT song- from what I could make out- sounds awesome. I really hope he releases it soon. It has “Sexyback” vibes for sure.
I can definitely see this being a bit radio hit.
I’m thinking Justin is poised for some big stuff in 2024, especially as he has booked a “Tonight Show” appearance for this upcoming week, as well as a Musical Guest spot on SNL this upcoming Saturday night.
He also announced his new album “Everything I Thought I Was”, but no release date set as of yet. Hopefully we’ll find out during one of his appearances this week.
Megan Moroney is one of my favorite new artists on the Country scene. She’s got a unique, smoky voice that you don’t hear on the radio these days, as well as mad songwriting skills and smokeshow looks to complete the total package.
She burst onto the airwaves last year with her #1 debut single “Tennessee Orange” and she shows no signs of being a one-hit wonder.
Megan just released a new song yesterday, and it’s another great one- something ALL women (and guysm too, I’m sure) can releate to, as we all have been there.
It’s called “No Caller ID” and it’s really, really good.
I just love how the song flows, and the lyrics are spot on, as again, most of us have been there a time or two. Or three. Whatever.
If you haven’t checked out Megan’s highly lauded debut album “Lucky”, you need to get on that now. You won’t be dissapointed.
Also, Megan is hitting the road this Summer with Kenny Chesney on his stadium tour, which will only raise her profile more.
One of my first musical memories is “We Are the World”.
My babysitter gave me the VHS of the taping for my third birthday, and I was obsessed. I watched it over and over again, and fell in love with the artists, particulary Cyndi Lauper and Kenny Rogers. I would demand to watch it nightly, and soon knew all of the words by heart,
This video and performance still holds a special place in my heart, not just for all the the amazing artists who were a part of it, but also because of the cause it supported.
All these years later, a documentary is cming to Netflix later this month, and after viewing the trailer, it’s definitely worth a watch!
If you haven’t seen the iconic performance, well, let me educate you on one of history’s greatest musical moments!
Seriously, how great is that???
Watching this tonight for probably the eight millionth time made my little heart happy.
I can’t wait for the Netflix special.
“The Greatest Night in Pop” debuts on Netflix on January 29th.
And to celebrate her birthday, she just released a Deluxe Version of her “Rockstar” albuym featuring some new reimagined tracks, like “Sweet Dreams” by The Eurythmics:
Ok, how cool was that? Haunting and creepy, and still has the rock edge and those stellar Dolly vocals. Honestly, I think that is one of my favorite verisons of that song.
She also released a version of “Bridge Over Troubled Water”:
Annnnnddd… a version of Eddie Money’s “Two Tickets to Paradise”!
Overall, she has nine new tracks on the Deluxe version of her “Rockstar” album, which is available now.
Carly Pearce is one of the best vocalists in Country Music right now, and she has once again proven why in a gorgeous acoustic version of her latest single “We Don’t Even Fight Anymore”.
It’s a song that she shares with Chris Stapleon, but this version that she just released shows that she doesn’t even need Chris’s incredible vocals to make it special.
Also, apparantly she did it in one take?
Masterful.
How good was that, though?nail
I’ve got goosebumps over here.
Carly Pearce is a legend in the making, and I love that she can nail a song and make it come to life with all of the emotion that her voice conveys.
Autotune? AI? Not necessary when you have talent like that.
Carly is teasing more new music for 2024, and like a lot of the newer female artists on the scene, this is just the beginning for her.
You probably weren’t aware (unless you are in the dance world) that the “College Cheerleading and Dance Team National Championships” were held in Florida over the weekend. Or maybe you are now, since there has been a host of viral videos making the rounds these past few days, opening so many eyes to the sheer talent of these student athletes.
Anyhow, the College Dance World is getting some major attention, as it should, because these dancers are absolutely incredible.
First off, the University of Minnesota Dance Team- winner of the Jazz Championship!
I watched this three times in a row. I mean, how??? How did they DO THAT?
Keep in mind, these athletes have to go to school, as well as nail these routines.
I’m flabbergasted.
Here’s a few other notable performances, as I fell down the rabbit hole this week:
The DIA Hip-Hop Winners- The LSU Tiger Girls:
The DIA Jazz Winners- Ohio State University:
I also have to metion that my husband’s alma mater University of Memphis got 3rd in the DIA Hip-Hop Division:
But… noone is talking about the OPEN Hip-Hop Champions Northwest Mississippi Community College:
I mean, come on… a Community College bringing that much talent and winning? Where’s the news coverage on that?
Pretty damn badass if you ask me.
Oh, and another amazing routine that the LSU Tigers Girls brought…
I seriously can’t get enough.
As someone with negative zero dance skills, I salute these student-athletes, and wish like hell that I could do one-twentieth of what they can do.
I can do one half-assed pirouette. Before I get dizzy and trip over the dog, that is.
Did I miss any other stellar routines?
Let me know! I’m always happy to go back down the dance rabbit hole again.
Luke Grimes- best known as the actor who portrays Kayce Dutton in “Yellowstone” is making quite the name for himself in the Country Music world, which is even further solidified with his live version of “Burn” during a recent Spotify Outside Session.
Check this out:
I love the simplicity of his music, which a good bit of it he has written or co-written.
If you haven’t heard the studio verison, here you go:
So, so good.
All of his music sounds like it could be featured on he “Yellowstone” soundtrack- and some of it is!
Luke’s debut EP “Pain Pils or Pews” is out now, and you get get more info and dates atĀ http://lukegrimes.com
This was THE jam in the early 90’s. I still know every word, even if I never mastered the line dance.
5.Ā Ā “All My Ex’s Live in Texas”Ā byĀ George StraitĀ (1987)
If you don’t love George Strait, you’re unamerican. That is all.
6.Ā Ā “Song of the South”Ā byĀ AlabamaĀ (1988)
Same goes for Alabama. If you don’t celebrate their entire catalogue, you aren’t living your life right.
7.Ā Ā “Where the Green Grass Grows”Ā byĀ Tim McGrawĀ (1998)
Definitely one of my favorites from Tim McGraw- reminds me of home. Man, I can’t wait to get back there someday for good… farm life is the best life. At least for me it is.
8.Ā Ā “No Shirt, No Shoes, No Problem”Ā byĀ Kenny ChesneyĀ (2002)
Kenny Chesney has no shortage of great beachy party songs. He also rocks the no shirt/cowboy hat look pretty dang well, which is also a pick-me-up in itself.
9.Ā Ā “Barefoot Blue Jean Night”Ā byĀ Jake OwenĀ (2011)
This was THE Country song of 2011, and a career maker for Jake Owen. It’s still a Counry radio staple, and never gets old.
10.Ā Ā “Life Is a Highway”Ā byĀ Rascal FlattsĀ (2006)
I’m honestly “meh” about Rascal Flatts and always have been (except for “Moving On- GREAT song), but they did do justice to the Tom Cochrane original “Life is a Highway” for the “Cars” movie soundtrack.
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