P!nk and Chris Stapleton perform onstage during the P!nk Beautiful Trauma 2019 Tour at Madison Square Garden on May 21, 2019 in New York City. Photo: Zachary Mazur/WireImage

The year of unusual collaborations continues.

Today, it’s pop queen P!nk and country king Chris Stapleton. Their track on P!nk’s album is essential listening and was a highlight of her recent TV special.

In more familiar terrain, the chest-out, proudly country new track by Jon Pardi wins the Disc of the Day award, and the rockin’ country of James Wesley earns him a DisCovery honor.

LOVE AND THEFT/Gimme Tonight
Writers: Jaren Johnston/Andrew Dorff; Producers: Josh Leo/Jim Ed Norman; Publisher: none listed; Curb
-I have always liked this duo. This pop confection sports their twin-like harmony voices amid a choppy, electronic and sophisticated production. Airplay ready.

SARA EVANS & THE BARKER FAMILY BAND/Dreams
Writer: Stevie Nicks; Producers: Sara Evans/Ben Fowler; Publisher: none listed; Born to Fly
– It sounds almost exactly like the Fleetwood Mac 1977 mega hit, so why not listen to the original version? That said, it is a splendid showcase for how gifted Sara’s teen children are.

JAMES WESLEY/Running
Writers: Marcum Stewart/Zack Wrixon/James Wesely Prosser; Producers: none listed; JWM
– Nicely done. He has a tough, confident, traditional-country vocal delivery, and the band cooks with gas on the rocking track. This has a driving “open road” tone that is perfect for summer.

JOHN BERRY/The Richest Man
Writers: John Berry/Liz Hengber/Will Robinson; Producer: Chuck Howard/Barry Weeks; Publishers: JB/Modern Music Works/Give It All/More Coco/Notting Hill/Will Chill, SESAC/ASCAP/BMI; JB Music
– I never tire of hearing this most fundamental message of country music — happiness doesn’t lie in wealth, but in love. Few have the heart and soul to deliver it as effectively as this guy. Brilliantly crafted, wonderfully melodic, exquisitely poetic and flawlessly produced.

JON PARDI/Heartache Medication
Writers: none listed; Producers: none listed; Publishers: none listed; Capitol
– Just when you thought country music was dead and buried, along comes an artist and a single like this. So righteous and hillbilly, I practically shouted hallelujah. The fiddles-and-steel production, the peppy-two-step rhythm and his drawling delivery are beamed straight from Hillbilly Heaven. Turn it on, turn it up, turn it loose.

P!NK & CHRIS STAPLETON/Love Me Anyway
Writers: James Allen Shamblin II/Tom Douglas/Alecia B. Moore; Producers: Pink/Sal Oliveri/Simon Gooding; Publishers: Sony/ATV, no performance rights listed; RCA
– Gorgeous. It’s a stunning, vulnerable Nashville love ballad that P!nk delivers with seething passion. Stapleton provides occasional harmony and then answers her phrase-for-phrase as the song moves into its luscious finale. I’d have used his vocal talent a little more, but they sound great together.

NOE PALMA/This Summer
Writers: Brian Kolb, Brian McElyea, Noe Palma; Producer: Brian Kolb, Brian McElyea, Noe Palma; Publishers: none listed; Mae Capital
– From the “woah-oh” shouted interjections to the generic country-party lyrics, this doesn’t break any new ground. However, the relentless tempo is irresistible and the youthful, “this summer’s gonna last forever” hook is completely captivating. This definitely belongs on your June/July/August playlist.

WALKER HAYES/Don’t Let Her
Writers: Walker Hayes/Shane McAnally/Andrew DeRoberts; Producer: none listed; Publishers: none listed; Arista/Monument
– His delivery remains more spoken than sung. I remain confused about how and why this is a “country” artist.

MONTGOMERY GENTRY/King of the World
Writers: Troy Jones; Producer: none listed; Publishers: none listed; Average Joes
– Hale and hearty. It’s a delightful, cute and clever little ditty about the simple pleasures of being a country boy. Your toes will tap and your lips will smile. I’m a little unclear about the billing. It’s an Eddie Montgomery solo performance, but still seems to have the “Montgomery Gentry” imprimatur.

LEE ANN WOMACK/Hollywood
Writers: Waylon Payne/Mando Saenz/Lee Ann Womack/Adam Wright; Producer: Frank Liddell; Publishers: Drip Rock Creek/Words & Music/Scrambler/Tiltawhirl/Casa de Casa/Carnival, ASCAP/BMI; ATO
– The second single drawn from her acclaimed The Lonely The Lonesome & The Gone collection is a hypnotic, sultry, shimmering heartache ballad. She is an absolutely magical vocalist. To listen is to fall in love.

Lori McKenna is celebrating the 15h anniversary of her album Bittertown by releasing new acoustic versions of Bittertown’s “Bible Song” and “Stealing Kisses” July 24 on CN Records. The re-recorded songs were produced by Luke Laird and recorded at Sound Stage Studios in Nashville.

In addition to being released digitally, the songs will appear on limited edition 7” vinyl along with specialty merch which will be available for purchase at six intimate performances of the album this summer. McKenna will play shows in Washington D.C, New York, Portland, Maine, and several others through Aug. 4 in support of the new project. Tickets for the special shows go on sale this Thursday, May 23.

“Bittertown was my fourth record,” said McKenna. “It came out in 2004, three days before my fifth and youngest child was born and it changed my life. Faith Hill recorded three of the songs on that record and that was my introduction to Nashville and how I found my second home. Boston to Bittertown to Nashville you could say. It was a blessing and remains a huge part of my life even now.”

Pictured: Jovaun Woods, Hope Darst, Jamie MacDonald, Brittney Spencer, Carrie Karpinen, Ellie Holcomb, Kari Jobe, Elyssa Smith, Mia Fieldes, Lauren Strahm, Daniella Mason, Melody Noel, Meredith Andrews, Rita Springer, Mandisa Hundley, Hannah Hobbs, Lindsey Sweat, Jessica Bakken, Lauren Smith, Kenzie Walker, Melodie Malone, Krissy Nordhoff, Jerrica Matrone, Emily Franklin, Adaeze Noelle, Sydney Wilson, Janice Gaines, Tara Cruz, Allison Cruz, Emily Wyant, Brooke Figueroa, Lindy Cofer (Conant), Kirby Kaple, Nicole Serrano, Cammie Avers, Jessie Early, Calah Mikal, Jillian Edwards, Terrian Woods, Rhyan Shirley, Olivia Yokubonis, Leslie Jordan, Audrey Assad. Credit: Jordan Merrigan

Capitol CMG Publishing hosted 45 influential female songwriters, producers, and worship artists in Nashville on May 13-14, as a celebration of women who use their music to spread hope to the world. The inaugural “Women Who Worship Writing Camp” was used both as a time to connect and worship together, but also a time for songwriting collaboration. Among those who united for the two-day event including Audrey Assad, Bethel Music’s Lindy Conant-Cofer, Ellie Holcomb, Hillsong’s Hannah Hobbs, Jessie Early, Kari Jobe, Mandisa, Mia Fieldes, Passion’s Melodie Malone, Mia Fieldes, Rita Springer and Steffany Gretzinger.

“This vision of this writing camp came from the idea of wanting to create a space where these women could come together to support and encourage one another,” said Karrie Dawley, Vice President and Creative Director of Capitol CMG Publishing. “God took this idea and turned it into something way bigger than any of us could have imagined. These two days truly felt like the start of something bigger and we feel called to continue to find ways to support this movement and these amazing women who God is using to spread His truth around the world through the universal language of music.”

Pastor and author Alex Seeley alongside artist, worship leader and writer Rita Springer were among the contributors of the two-day event. Premier Productions, Multitracks, Worship Together, CCLI, ASCAP, Compassion, BMI, UMPG, WORD/CURB, SESAC, NSAI and sozo playlists served as sponsors and partners.