In this column of gender parity in country, the choices are clear. Jake Owen continues his recent winning ways by nailing down the Disc of the Day honor. Dee White is totally the obvious choice as the DisCovery Award winner.

MICKEY GUYTON/Hold On
Writers: Mickey Guyton/Karen Kosowski/Victoria Banks; Producer: none listed; Publisher: none listed; Mercury
– Magical. Her hushed, throaty alto eases into the song with the intimacy of a midnight prayer. As the song builds, her performance becomes a soaring shout of strength and reassurance. I remain a huge fan.

TONY JACKSON/Country Road
Writers: none listed; Producer: none listed; Publishers: none listed; DDS
-Let’s face, James Taylor is more “country” than most of today’s Nashville artists. This revival of his 1971 classic goes down smoothly. Mellow and welcome.

KASSI ASHTON/Pretty Shiny Things
Writers: Ashton/Emily Landis; Producer: Luke Laird; Publishers: none listed; MCA Nashville
– Ya gotta love this gritty, expressive, soulful voice. The lyric about a pill-popping beauty is a grabber. Sing on, sister.

BROOKS & DUNN and BRETT YOUNG/Ain’t Nothing ‘Bout You
Writers: Tom Shapiro/Rivers Rutherford; Producers: Dann Huff/Brett Young; Publisher: none listed; Arista
– The duo’s 2001 chart topper becomes an r&b groover in this cool collaboration. Horns, even. Be careful not to hit your head when the ending slams on the brakes abruptly.

CAYLEE HAMMACK/Family Tree
Writers: Hammack/Troy Verges/Gordie Sampson; Producers: Mickey Reaves/Caylee Hammack; Publishers: Universal/Sounds Like Chet/Songs of Universal/Low Z/1217 Songs/Still Working for the Woman/Kobalt, BMI/ASCAP; Capitol
– It’s an odd sonic combination. The lyrics are full of vivid, countrified details, but the track is thoroughly pop. I also could have done without the gang-chorus “whoa-hoas.”

REBA McENTIRE/Freedom
Writers: none listed; Producer: none listed; Publisher: none listed; Big Machine
– As you might expect from the title, it’s a blood-stirring tempo anthem of power and victory. This gal knows her way around a song.

DEE WHITE/Wherever You Go
Writers: none listed; Producer: Dan Auerbach/David Ferguson; Publisher: none listed; Easy Eye/Warner Music Nashville
– Intriguing. There’s something in this youngster’s voice that draws you closer. The song beckons us to the open road to the accompaniment of harmonica, banjo, guitar and gentle percussion. Very, very promising.

JAKE OWEN/That’s On Me
Writers: Laura Veltz/Benjy Davis/Matt Dragstrem; Producer: Joey Moi; Publisher: none listed; Big Loud
– His voice sounds better than ever on this sexy, romantic groove tune. The song is super well written, and the production swings and sways in all the right places.

LANCO/Rival
Writers: Brandon Lancaster/Tripp Howell; Producer: Jay Joyce; Publishers: none listed; Arista
– It’s a stomper with hooks on top of hooks. Joyce’s production, as usual, is an audio delight with beats, electronic crunches, jangling guitars and other ear-catching elements. This talented band always specializes in fabulous ear worms.

ABBY ANDERSON/Good Lord
Writers: Abby Anderson/Josh Kerr/Jordan Minton; Producer: none listed; Publisher: none listed; Black River
– A not-too-country, three-minute, uptempo love song. Brainless radio fodder.

Nashville’s Tin Pan South attendees had plenty of options for the 6 p.m. show last night (March 27). Phil Barton, Cameron Bedell, Seth Ennis, Alyssa Micaela and Liz Rose occupied Analog at the Hutton Hotel; and Gary Burr, Sarah Buxton, Charles Esten and Georgia Middleman were across town at the TRUE Music Room and Bar at the Cambria Hotel.

ASCAP songwriters Chris DeStefano, Ashley Gorley and Chase Rice came together at 3rd & Lindsley to share some of their many hits between them. Hit-maker Gorley kicked the round off with his Jon Pardi hit “Dirt On My Boots” on the keyboard. He went on to play a sampling of his nearly 40 No. 1 hits, including: Thomas Rhett’s “T-Shirt” and “Marry Me,” Luke Bryan’s “Play It Again,” Billy Currington’s “Do I Make You Wanna” and Blake Shelton’s “I Lived It.”

The very talented vocalist and instrumentalist, DeStefano, kept the crowd entertained with his performing chops, playing some of his hits like Morgan Evan’s “Kiss Somebody,” Luke Bryan’s “Kick The Dust Up,” Dan + Shay’s “From The Ground Up” and Carrie Underwood’s “Something In The Water.” DeStefano also performed both Underwood’s part and Ludacris’ rap in the 2018 Superbowl theme, “The Champion,” and did a swankier version of Brett Eldredge’s “Don’t Ya.”

Rice kept up with the A-list songwriters playing his radio hits “Ready Set Roll,” “Gonna Wanna Tonight,” “Eyes On You” as well as his Florida Georgia Line smash “Cruise.” He also displayed his chops as a lyricist in “Three Chords & The Truth” and “Jack Daniels & Jesus.”

As for the 9 p.m. show, attendees could treat themselves at The Local with some Natalie Hemby, Hannah Ellis, Josh Kerr and Nick Wayne; or they could hear some tunes from Corey Crowder, Ernest K, Jared Mullins, RaeLynn and some special guests—including NEEDTOBREATHE’s Bear Rinehart—at the Listening Room Cafe.

SESAC songwriters Rob Hatch, Cary Barlowe, Craig Campbell, and Josh Hoge performed some originals at the Analog at The Hutton Hotel. Hatch kicked off the night with “Goodnight Kiss” (Randy Houser) and later performed hits like “I Don’t Dance” (Lee Brice) and “If Heaven Wasn’t So Far Away” (Justin Moore). Barlowe performed “American Honey” (Lady Antebellum), “It Don’t Hurt Like It Used To” (Billy Currington) and Chris Young’s new single, “Raised on Country.” Campbell performed a new song that has yet to be released, along with “Outskirts of Heaven” and “Fish.” Josh Hoge also performed his Chris Young hits like “I’m Comin’ Over” and “Hangin’ On.”

NASH 103.3 occupied 3rd & Lindsley’s 9 p.m. show and featured songs from busbee, Ryan Griffin, Carly Pearce, Emily Shackelton and some special guests. All the songwriters were connected by at least one thing: busbee, and his new development company, Altadena. The man himself played some of his hits and told some stories about them, including: “H.O.L.Y.” (Florida Georgia Line), “My Church” (Maren Morris) and “Try” (P!nk). He later tapped Pearce for Carrie Underwood’s half of the Keith Urban duet “The Fighter.”

Pearce showed off her skilled vocals on her radio hits “Closer To You” and “Hide The Wine,” as well as her co-written hits “Every Little Thing” and “If My Name Was Whiskey.”

Shackelton played her Lauren Alaina testimonial single, “Doin’ Fine,” as well as a flirty new Runaway June cut with the lyric, I know the way to unbreak your heart.

Shackelton also played a song she wrote in 2011, “Dashboard Jesus,” and said that one of her favorite artists had finally decided to cut it this year. Carly Pearce took up the second verse, revealing that she was that artist. She also revealed that she had had the song on hold while in a record deal in 2011, and was thrilled when the song was still available eight years later.

The United Kingdom’s Bauer media is set to launch the first nationwide country music radio station in the UK, Country Hits Radio, with The Ty Bentli Show as the only American radio show included. Ty Bentli and his co-hosts Chuck Wicks and Tricia “TJ” Jenkins will entertain fans during the afternoon drive time in the UK.

Country Hits Radio launches on April 5, 2019 via DAB in top markets London, Birmingham, Manchester, Liverpool, Leeds, South Yorkshire, Lancashire, Humberside, Tyne & Wear, Teesside, Glasgow, Edinburgh, Tayside, Inverness and Ayr. The Ty Bentli Show joins a lineup of presenters that includes Jennie Longdon, Baylen Lenoard, and Una Healy (of The Saturdays).

Bentli said, “Every trip I’ve taken to Europe, I’ve sat for hours with a notepad and an AM/FM headset listening to radio at a table or park and taking notes with a fantasy in my head that maybe someday I’d have the chance to be a presenter in the UK. Not only will I now be living that dream, I get to do it in a way that’s never been done! Bauer is spreading COUNTRY across the UK and I can’t wait to take our UK listeners behind-the-scenes to understand what makes their favorite artists tick, while also sharing hilarious moments, real-life insecurities and triumphs of our daily experiences as they intertwine with the Music City, and the stars that make the country music we play!”

James Brownlow, Content Director for Country Hits Radio, said “Since we have the responsibility of launching the UK’s first-ever national country music radio brand, it was vitally important to everyone at Country Hits Radio that we pull together a team that could represent the current country music scene as well as authentically engage UK and world audiences with original, entertaining, and market-leading content. This vision led us directly to The Ty Bentli Show. After speaking to Ty and the team at Westwood One and Cumulus Media, we knew this was the right fit. Great Britain is going to have one brilliant country music party each weekday on their way home!”

“We’re delighted that Bauer Media recognized that by giving The Ty Bentli Show a featured role on Country Hits Radio channel, they are giving their UK audience a front-row seat to Nashville’s country music scene,” added Suzanne Grimes, EVP, Marketing for Cumulus Media and President, Westwood One “Ty’s unique interview style attracts the who’s who of country music, and we are excited to share the program with an entirely new audience of country music fans.”

Luke Combs will extend his sold-out Beer Never Broke My Heart Tour through this fall. The newly confirmed dates commence Sept. 26 at Rogers, Arkansas’ Walmart AMP, and span through the end of the year, culminating at Nashville, Tennessee’s Bridgestone Arena on Dec. 13. Special guests throughout the tour include Morgan Wallen, The Cadillac Three and Jameson Rodgers.

Presale will be available starting Tuesday, April 2 at 10 a.m. local time with general on-sale following on Friday, April 5 at 10 a.m. local time.

Earlier this week, Combs made history as the first artist to simultaneously top all five Billboard country charts for multiple weeks: Top Country Albums, Hot Country Songs, Country Airplay, Country Streaming Songs and Country Digital Song Sales (dated March 9 and March 30).

The success comes on the heels of Combs’ 2x Platinum single, “Beautiful Crazy,” which remains No. 1 on the Mediabase/Country Aircheck chart for the third-straight week and holds strong at No. 1 on Billboard‘s Country Airplay chart for the fifth-straight week.

Already the 2019 ACM Award-winner for New Male Artist of the Year, Combs is also nominated for Male Artist of the Year at this year’s awards and will perform during the ceremony.

LUKE COMBS’ BEER NEVER BROKE MY HEART FALL TOUR:
September 26—Rogers, AR—Walmart AMP§
September 27—Bloomington, IL—Grossinger Motors Arena§
September 28—St. Paul, MN—Xcel Energy Center§
October 3—Cape Girardeau, MO—Show Me Center**
October 4—Kansas City, MO—Sprint Center**
October 5—Des Moines, IA—Wells Fargo Arena**
October 8—Winnipeg, MB—Bell MTS Place**
October 10—Saskatoon, SK—SaskTel Center**
October 11—Edmonton, AB—Rogers Place**
October 12—Calgary, AB—The Scotiabank Saddledome**
October 15—Missoula, MT—Adams Center**
October 16—Bozeman, MT—Brick Breeden Fieldhouse**
October 18—Portland, OR—Moda Center**
October 19—Vancouver, BC—Rogers Arena**
October 25—Fresno, CA—Save Mart Center**
October 26—Sacramento, CA—Golden 1 Center**
October 31—Nampa, ID—Ford Idaho Center**
November 1—Spokane, WA—Spokane Arena**
November 2—Tacoma, WA—Tacoma Dome**
November 6—San Jose, CA—SAP Center at San Jose**
November 8—Phoenix, AZ—Talking Stick Resort Arena**
November 15—Indianapolis, IN—Bankers Life Fieldhouse**
November 16—Cleveland, OH—Quicken Loans Arena**
November 21—Philadelphia, PA—Wells Fargo Center**
November 22—Uncasville, CT—Mohegan Sun Arena**
November 23—Pittsburgh, PA—PPG Paints Arena**
December 5—Bossier City, LA—CenturyLink Center**
December 6—Lubbock, TX—United Supermarkets Arena**
December 13—Nashville, TN—Bridgestone Arena**

§with The Cadillac Three and Jameson Rodgers
**with Morgan Wallen and Jameson Rodgers

Dan + Shay will join Shawn Mendes‘ Australian tour dates in Perth, Adelaide, Melborne and Sydney later this year. The duo, riding high on singles including their Grammy-winning “Tequila,” as well as “Speechless” and “All To Myself,” will join the pop star on a run of six tour dates beginning in October.

Australian artist Ruel is also on the bill for shows in both Australia and New Zealand in November.

The tour is in support of Mendes’ self-titled 2018 album. “In My Blood,” a recent single from the project, has been certified Platinum.

Australia dates with Dan + Shay:

Oct. 23 – Perth, AU @ RAC Arena
Oct. 26 – Adelaide, AU @ Adelaide Entertainment Centre
Oct. 29 – Melbourne, AU @ Rod Laver Arena
Oct. 30 – Melbourne, AU @ Rod Laver Arena
Nov. 2 – Sydney, AU @ Qudos Bank Arena
Nov. 3 – Sydney, AU @ Qudos Bank Arena