Diamond Rio Slates New EP ‘America Works’ For November

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Diamond Rio will release a new four-song EP, America Works, on Nov. 13 via Rio Records 2.0/One Riot Records. The band released the title track last week.

“America Works” was penned by Diamond Rio’s Jimmy Olander and Jeffrey East, and centers on the idea of Americans showing up for one another through service, sacrifice and simple acts of selflessness. The song is accompanied by a new video that world premieres tonight on The Heartland Network’s Country Music Today. The clip was filmed in part at Fort Campbell, Kentucky, and features military personnel along with the band’s own family members, friends and crew, reflecting the song’s message of community, service and looking out for one another.

“Other than a few soldiers at Fort Campbell, every cast member in the video is connected to us personally,” says Olander. “It made the whole thing feel incredibly meaningful.”

Following “America Works,” Diamond Rio will release “Other Side of The World” on Oct. 16. Written by Olander, Marty Roe and Heather Morgan, the personal song was inspired by Roe watching his eldest daughter move to Australia to attend Hillsong College to study music. The song also marks a first for Diamond Rio, as it features Carson McKee on lead vocals, performing the duet alongside Roe.

“The inspiration was trying to create a special piece of music that tells some of Marty’s pride and heartbreak as his daughter moved to Australia,” explains Olander. “Marty was very open and transparent when we wrote it, and things got emotional a time or two. Now, with Carson McKee in the band, it created a great opportunity to cut the song as a duet.”

“This was emotional for me,” says McKee. “I was homesick, and there’s a line in my verse, ‘I miss you Dad like you’ll never know.’ I remember having to cut it over and over because I couldn’t sing it without crying. It’s a powerful song, and getting to sing it as a duet with Marty was really special.”

The America Works EP also includes “Pink Guitar,” featuring McKee on lead vocals, as well as the previously released instrumental “The Kick.”

The band also recently celebrated several new certifications from the RIAA for “Meet in the Middle,” which has been certified double-Platinum, and “Beautiful Mess” and “One More Day,” both of which are now Platinum.

America Works Track List:
1. “America Works” (Jimmy Olander and Jeffrey East)
2. “Other Side of The World” (Jimmy Olander, Marty Roe and Heather Morgan)
3. “Pink Guitar” (Jimmy Olander, Hayley McLean and Josh Shilling)
4. “The Kick” (Jimmy Olander)

Lorie Hollabaugh
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