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Megan Vaughan

Loretta Lynn’s Grandaughter Emmy Russell Auditons on “American Idol”

“American Idol” Season 22 is back in full swing!

One of the big stories from last night’s auditions is Loretta Lynn’s granddaughter Emmy Russell took to the stage to perform an original song that she wrote about eating disorders.

Of course, she was fantastic, because she’s got Loretta Lynn’s legendary blood running through her veins.


Ok, I know “American Idol” is totally staged, like all “reality” shows.  Believe me, I know these things. But still, I always enjoy watching great talent and stories, and I just find Emmy very likeable. It’s refreshing to see someone seemingly authentic, unlike so many out there. Plus, Emmy was a Christian missionary travelling the world before returning to music, whcih I have mad respect for.

Of course, she made it to the next round. I might actually have to tune in now and see how she does!

Find out more about Emmy on her instagram: https://www.instagram.com/emmyroserussell/

“American Idol” Season 5,876 or whatever they’re on now is Sunday and Monday nights on ABC.

Dierks Bentley “American Girl”

It was announced a few days ago that a Tom Petty Country Tribute album titled “Petty Country” featuring Country stars like Dolly Parton, Willie Nelson, Chris Stapleton and even some of the original Heartbreakers members which will be released on May 31st.

As a big Tom Petty and Country Music fan, I am pretty dang stoked about this!

Country star Dierks Bentley just released his version of “American Girl” ahead of the album release courtesy of BLMG and it’s really good:


Solid work!

I do love me some Dierks, and he definitely did the song justice.

He’s also hitting the road this year on his “Gravel and Gold” tour with Chase Rice and Zach Top, and you can get those dates at http://dierks.com

Again, “Petty Country” drops May 31st, and I can’t wait for more!

Here’s the full track listing just to get you ready:

1. “I Should Have Known It” – Chris Stapleton
2. “Wildflowers” – Thomas Rhett
3. “Runnin’ Down a Dream” – Luke Combs
4. “Southern Accents” – Dolly Parton
5. “Here Comes My Girl” – Justin Moore
6. “American Girl” – Dierks Bentley
7. “Stop Draggin’ My Heart Around” – Lady A
8. “I Forgive It All” – Jamey Johnson
9. “I Won’t Back Down” – Brothers Osborne
10. “Refugee” – Wynonna Judd & Lainey Wilson
11. “Angel Dream #2” – Willie Nelson and Lukas Nelson
12. “Learning to Fly” – Eli Young Band
13. “Breakdown” – Ryan Hurd featuring Carly Pearce
14. “Yer So Bad” – Steve Earle
15. “Ways to Be Wicked” – Margo Price and Mike Campbell
16. “Mary Jane’s Last Dance” – Midland
17. “Free Fallin’” – The Cadillac Three featuring Breland
18. “I Need To Know” – Marty Stuart And His Fabulous Superlatives
19. “Don’t Come Around Here No More” – Rhiannon Giddens featuring Benmont Tench
20. “You Wreck Me” – George Strait
HOT DAMN!

Eddie Vedder and Post Malone Peform “Better Man” for Charity

Earlier this month, Eddie Vedder and his wife Jill held a benefit at the Humble Baron at Nearest Green Distillery in Shelbyville, TN for the EBResearchPartnership which supports funding research to treat and cure Epidermolysis Bullosa (EB).

The event raised over 1 million dollars for the cause, which isn’t shocking with performances like this one featuring Eddie Vedder and Post Malone on “Better Man”- my favorite Pearl Jam song!

How great was that? Seriously, I’m becoming more and more of a Post Malone fan every day.

Also, Eddie still sounds great.

This whole thing just made my heart happy!

Ok, soooo…. a Post Malone/Eddie Vedder offical collab now, please?  Just putting that out into the universe…

 

Miranda Lambert and Enrique Iglesias “Space In My Heart”

Well, this was an unexpected collaboration, but I’m not mad at it!

Miranda Lambert (one of my favorites ever) teamed up with Pop Star Enrique Iglesias for a song called “Space in My Heart”.

I wasn’t sure what to expect, but honestly, I was pleasantly surprised:

Overall, I found it very sweet, and easy to listen to. It perfectly captures that moment in a new relationship where you know it could be something special, but you don’t want to get your hopes up too much just in case.

Miranda has many more collabs coming- I know she’d been writing with Wade Bowen and Ashley Monroe this year, and I’m really hoping for a release of this song she performed with Miranda Lambert in December:

Let’s make it happen, ladies!!!!

Selena Gomez “Love On”

2024 is shaping up to be a great year already for new music!

That being said, Pop Star Selena Gomez just dropped her new track “Love On” like 2 seconds ago:


Ok, that is definitely one of my favorites of hers.

Cute, catchy Pop perfection right there!

I can see this being on TV/Movie soundtracks, commercials, etc.  I have a feeling this will be her biggest hit to date, and a Spring/Summer smash.

I’m calling it right now.

What do you think of Selena Gomez’s new song?

Lainey Wilson and Dolly Parton Perform “I Will Always Love You”

Dolly Parton’s “Pet Gala” is happening right now on CBS.

Am I watching?

No. My husband has commandeered the TV for the Memphis Basketball game (Go Tigers!), but I have my phone, and upon opening instagram, I saw this performance from Dolly Parton and Country’s new darling Lainey Wilson doing a version of Dolly’s iconic “I Will Always Love You”:

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Lainey Wilson (@laineywilson)


Dolly and Lainey?

Night = Made!

Post Malone Teases Collab With Luke Combs!

Posty is going all in on his Country Music career!

First off, he was definitely giving that Country sound during his performance of “America the Beautiful” prior to the Superbowl last week.  And now he’s teasing a collab with Country superstar Luke Combs!

And you know what? It’s sounds like it will be pretty good:

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by @postmalone

 

Not too shabby, right?

I can’t wait for the full song to drop. I’m sure it won’t be long since he’s teasing it.

Honestly, I’m not mad at about artists in other genres trying their hand in Country music.  I wish people could be more open-minded about it. Country isn’t just about beer, trucks, heartbreak, and tan legs in cutoff jeans… ok that’s a lot of it, sure. But it’s a story. It’s genuine emotion and a lifestyle… three chords and the truth and all that.  You don’t have to be a redneck from the hills of Kentucky to get it right. And what if someone wants that lifestyle later on?  If they choose the country over the city like my parents did in 1992? Is that not ok?

Keep an open mind, kiddos.

Anyhow, I’m looking forward to “Country Posty”.

If nothing else, he may bring a whole new fanbase to the genre, and that’s not a bad thing.

 

Billy Joel “Turn The Lights Back On” Official Music Video

Billy Joel is back on the Billboard Hot 100 Chart for the first time in decades with his first single in 31 years ‘Turn the Lights Back On”.  The release was well worth the wait, as it is a great song, and classic Billy Joel, really.  He even performed it at The Grammy Awards a couple of weeks ago to a well-deserved standing ovation.

Well, it just go better with his music video for “Turn the Lights Back On”- now THIS was a great use of AI, as it’s basically Billy Joel throught the years performing the same song:


Ok, for some reason I started tearing up at this.

My entire life, I’ve loved Billy Joel- he has always been a staple- and seeing this is strangely poignant.

Maybe I’m just emotional this morning, or just feeling my middle age, but this video hit me hard.

Dammit, Billy Joel.

But seriously, how great is this video?

I’m totally down with AI if it’s used like this.

 

Kelly Clarkson “Save Me”

Ok, I admit it. I am living for “Kellyoke” these days.

Seriously, I love seeing Kelly Clarkson’s take on different songs, and she hasn’t failed us yet.

Her latest effort? Covering the Jelly Roll hit “Save Me”.

I have a thousand and three chill bumps after this.

I mean, damn, how good is that?

And Jelly Roll, naturally, was extremely impressed as well, as he expressed on his socials:

Having Kelly cover your song on her show has to be a double-edged sword, though.

It’s great that she deemed a song great enough to cover, sure, but she’ll also sing it better than anyone else ever could.

Girlfriend sets the bar HIGH.

 

What song would you like to see Kelly Clarkson cover?

Lainey Wilson “Country’s Cool Again”

Lainey Wilson is on FIRE and there ain’t no hosing that girl down.

Fresh off of winning her first Grammy, Lainey just dropped a new song called “Country’s Cool Again”, and it’s catchy, Country perfection!


Lainey can’t miss right now, and I loved that song as soon as I hit play.  It’s fun, autobiographical, and factual… Country IS cool again. In fact, I don’t think it’s ever been hotter, except in the early 90’s when Garth Brooks was setting the world on fire. Country music is HUGE right now, and being a “country girl” myself,  growing up on the genre, and working in Country Radio, I couldn’t be happier. And I am so proud that we have amazing artists like Lainey on the forefront.

Lainey is hitting the road this year, and she’s hella good live. Get info and dates at http://laineywilson.com

Speaking of live music, here’s Lainey debuting “Country’s Cool Again” at Red Rocks last Fall:

Hot Damn, Ya’ll!