Ella Langley. Photo: Caylee Robillard
Rising country star Ella Langley delivered her much-anticipated debut album on Friday (Aug. 2) via Columbia Records/SAWGOD. The 14-track effort titled Hungover proved to be a fantastic display of the young artist’s boldness and creative assuredness, featuring unique songs that show off Langley’s roots and vision.
Included on Hungover are the previously-released fan-favorites “Nicotine” and “Paint The Town Blue” as well as her and Riley Green‘s viral hit “You Look Like You Love Me.” It follows Langley’s debut EP, Excuse The Mess, which garnered the singer-songwriter early acclaim with tracks like “Country Boy’s Dream Girl,” “Could’ve Been Her” and the CMT Music Award-nominated “That’s Why We Fight” featuring Koe Wetzel.
Concurrently with her debut album, Langley is also turning heads with “Strangers,” her duet with Kameron Marlowe. The single recently earned 36 first-week adds during its impact week at country radio.
Prior to Hungover‘s release, she sat down with MusicRow to chat about the project. While she shared the backstories of some of the tunes, her skin was inked with a few more tattoos to mark the occasion.
“All my tattoos mark memories of certain things. I got a feather when my EP came out, and I got another one the first time I was published in the New York Times,” she shares as her tattoo artist begins prepping her skin for the new ink. To commemorate the release of her debut album, she’s chosen to get a small fractured heart on one arm and lyrics from “Broken In” on another.
It’s a good choice, as the tune is definitely a stand-out on the record. Written by Langley with Ian Christian and Jordan Fletcher, the song is about the value of going through trials, and is one of two acoustic tracks on the album.
“‘Broken In’ is one of my favorite songs I’ve ever written,” Langley says. “I kept it acoustic because I couldn’t stop listening to the guitar/vocal from the write. I just love the acoustic tracks on the record. I’ll put acoustic tracks on every body work I ever put out.”
Langley’s assuredness has been critical to her success. After listening to the 25-year-old’s songs or hearing her talk about her vision, it’s clear that she sees boldly following her muse as the only way to be an artist, despite the risks of being too different.
On Hungover, Langley sings about love gained and love lost in a bar room, giving into the pull of an old flame, telling off a cheater, moving onto the next and more. There’s tunes about the demons we all face, the death of a loved one and even a mysterious story-song. Sonically, it’s country as cornbread. Her Alabama twang comes through strong, glittering with charm. Producer Will Bundy turns all the quintessential country knobs that complement Langley’s voice so well, but also leaves space for her to truly grab the listener with her lyrics.
“When I moved here, my goal was to write my tail off. That’s what I did,” she says. “This record was really written from ages 21 to 25. I was very precious with a lot of my songs, I wanted to make sure that I understood me as an artist before I tried to present myself to the world.
“My music is just raw and real,” she adds. “I write music that I want to listen to. I didn’t know my record was supposed to sound a certain way—it’s just real life.”
When asked how she has been able to stay true to herself in the industry, Langley recalls something she’s learned from a hero.
“Everyone’s journey is so different. There’s not a rule book, but I look up to people like Dolly Parton who has gotten every bit of what she’s ever wanted out of her career. It feels like it’s not for anyone other than herself. She obviously cares about her fans, but you can tell that she’s doing this because she’s always wanted to. Lainey Wilson is another one who has done that.”
Riley Green & Ella Langley. Photo: Caylee Robillard
Langley’s boldness has already begun to pay off. Along with Green, she is enjoying the success of “You Look Like You Love Me,” a witty song with recitation in the verses that harkens back to the good ole days in country music. The track has garnered over 80 million streams and more than a billion plays on TikTok.
“I wrote that song with Aaron Raitiere. He asked me how my love life was going and I said, ‘Aaron, I’m at the point where if they look like they love me, I get the hell out of there.’ He said, ‘That’s a great title, but what if we wrote it a nice way?’
“A year later in a different write, I was wanting to write a funny song that I could play when no one is listening at Live Oak, so we brought that song back up. It was written as a joke. We laughed the whole time we wrote it.”
After a work tape was made for “You Look Like You Love Me,” Langley’s team member Mya Hansen caught on to its charm and potential.
“Mya kept trying to get me to put it in the Dropbox link to send it to the label. I said, ‘Mya, that song is a joke. I’m drunk and I’m ready to leave?‘” Langley sings the line with a laugh. “She sent it in the Dropbox link for the album anyway and everyone freaked out. Everyone loved the shitty work tape with the giggling and ridiculousness.”
Langley asked Green to write a verse and sing on it with her when she decided to cut the song. She says the acceptance of “You Look Like You Love Me” spurred her onward towards staying true to herself. “Now more than ever I’m trying to create things that are different not just for the fans, but for me,” she says. “I’m just trying to do stuff that people haven’t heard.”
Another stand-out on Hungover is “Cowboy Friends.” Written by Langley with Joybeth Taylor, Lydia Vaughan and Austin Goodloe, the song sounds like a tear-in-your-beer farewell at the start, but it turns into a shuffling good time as Langley sings, “I wont have no trouble rounding up the next one when this ends. I’ve got me more than a few cowboy friends.”
“We were in the middle of writing another song and were screwing around and talking. I said, ‘Joybeth, you know I’ve got a few cowboy friends.’ We immediately paused and wrote the ‘Cowboy Friends’ chorus.”
On another interesting track, “Girl Who Drank Wine,” Langley tells the tale of a mysterious maiden who wanders in, steals a cowboy’s heart and disappears. She says she was inspired to write the tune while traveling through Wyoming on the Jon Pardi tour.
“I woke up one morning and opened the window of the sprinter van and a black stallion was [running alongside us]. It was the most majestic shit I’ve ever seen,” Langley quips. “I was done writing for the album but I started humming that little melody and the story just popped in my head. I have a very vivid imagination—I was homeschooled for six years.
“I love story songs,” she adds. “It’s something that country music has somewhat gotten away from, but it’s such a pinnacle in country music. I want to bring it back.”
“Better Be Tough” is another highlight on the album. Written with Bundy, Brett James and Erik Dylan, it gives the phrase, “if you’re going to be dumb, you better be tough,” another meaning.
“I’ve heard that phrase my whole life. One of the girls that works with us broke her foot and I said it to her. All of a sudden it clicked in my brain that [we could write it] about a guy cheating. If you’re going to be stupid enough to do that to me, [you better watch out],” Langley says. “Plus, I don’t have a crazy-girl song and I had to have one for the first record I’m putting out as a female country artist.”
When it comes to the title track, Langley says she thinks it embodies Hungover in full.
“It represents the songs that I have been writing for the past four or five years, this era of my life from 21 to 25. How many different ways can you be hungover?” she sums. “It shows the artist I want to be, raw and real. This is a safe place to enjoy the one ride we get in this life.”
With her album out in the world and two fresh tattoos, Langley is now bringing her new tunes on the road. She opens for Morgan Wallen this weekend at Las Vegas’ Allegiant Stadium before hitting a few fairs and festivals to finish out the summer, and is certain to make plenty more fans in her wake.
Jelly Roll, Shaboozey, More Among First-Time VMA Nominees
/by Liza AndersonMTV has revealed the nominees for this year’s Video Music Awards (VMAs). Taylor Swift leads with 10 nods, and Jelly Roll, Shaboozey, Morgan Wallen and Tyler Childers are among the 29 first-time nominees.
Jelly Roll and Jessie Murph‘s “Wild Ones” is up for Best Collaboration alongside Post Malone and Wallen’s “I Had Some Help.” Jelly Roll also received a Video For Good nomination with Joyner Lucas for “Best For Me.” They join Childers, who scored a nod for “In Your Love,” as Shaboozey represents the country format in the Best New Artist category.
The ceremony will once again air on New York Live from UBS Arena to celebrate this year’s honorees on Sept. 11 at 7 p.m. CT. Fans can vote across 15 categories, including Video of the Year, Best Collaboration and Artist of the Year, now until Aug. 30. Voting for Best New Artist will continue into the show on Sept. 10, with help from The General Insurance. Nominations for the social categories will be announced at a later date.
For the full list of unveiled nominees, click here. Nominations for the social categories will be announced at a later date.
2024 MusicRow Awards Category Profile: Male Artist Of The Year
/by MusicRow StaffFollowing the announcement of this year’s nominees for the 36th annual MusicRow Awards, presented by City National Bank, we take a closer look at the Male Artist of the Year category. This category is voted on by MusicRow’s subscribers to honor outstanding achievements by a Nashville male artist during the eligibility period.
This year’s winners will be announced online on all MusicRow platforms on Tuesday, Aug. 27.
Click here to see the full list of MusicRow Awards nominees.
Winners are determined solely by MusicRow Magazine subscribers. Voting is now open and closes on Aug. 9 at 5:00 p.m. To receive a ballot to vote in the MusicRow Awards, becoming a MusicRow subscriber here.
Kane Brown has been making history since the start of his career. With the release of his early single “Heaven,” Brown became the first artist in history to top all five Billboard Country charts simultaneously. The song’s Diamond certification also made Brown the first Black artist in country music to earn the certification with an original song. To date, he has garnered 23 RIAA certifications, five CMT Music Awards, five American Music Awards and one ACM Award. Brown recently notched his second nomination for Entertainer of the Year at the ACM Awards and made waves with his 11th No. 1 hit single “I Can Feel It.” He has also been named to the Time100 list, and became the first Black artist in history to headline and sell out Boston’s historic Fenway Park. Brown is currently on his headline tour, which includes six major stadium dates, as well as 23 other stops.
Singer-songwriter Zach Bryan has shown no signs of slowing down over the past year. The Oklahoma native released his self-titled album last year, his fourth overall. With standout tracks such as “I Remember Everything” featuring Kacey Musgraves, “Hey Driver” featuring The War And Treaty, “East Side Of Sorrow” and “Tourniquet,” the project debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 charts. He then dropped his Boys Of Faith EP a month later, featuring smash hit “Sarah’s Place” with Noah Kahan. Bryan was crowned Billboard‘s Top New Artist of 2023 and was nominated for three Grammy Awards at this year’s ceremony. He took home his first Grammy for Best Country Duo/Group Performance with “I Remember Everything.” Bryan is currently playing stadiums across the country on his headlining tour, and recently released his latest album, The Great American Bar Scene, featuring focus tracks “Pink Skies” and “Purple Gas” with Noeline Hofmann.
Two-time CMA Entertainer of the Year Luke Combs recently kicked off another stadium tour, setting attendance records in Milwaukee, Buffalo and University Park. The Asheville, North Carolina native led the 2024 ACM Award nominations with eight nods and performed an unforgettable duet of “Fast Car” with Tracy Chapman during the 2024 Grammy Awards. Combs’ cover of the track won Single of the Year at the 2023 CMA Awards, spent five consecutive weeks on top of Billboard’s Country Airplay chart and reached No. 1 on the Hot AC chart, becoming the first song by a male solo artist to ever top both the Hot AC and Country chart. The song has been streamed over 1.1 billion times, has been certified double-Platinum and spent 18 weeks in the top five of Billboard‘s all-genre Hot 100 chart, eight of which were spent at No. 2. His Gettin’ Old album has further established Combs as one of music’s most authentic and powerful voices. He also recently released his Fathers & Sons collection celebrating the journey of parenthood.
With the release of his second album, Bluebird Days, Jordan Davis further cemented himself as a widely acclaimed singer-songwriter. The Shreveport, Louisiana native dropped the Gold-certified, 17-track project last year, featuring CMA Song of the Year “Next Thing You Know” as well as double-Platinum, multi-week No. 1s “What My World Spins Around” and “Buy Dirt” featuring Luke Bryan, which won numerous accolades including CMA and NSAI Song of the Year. To date, Davis has garnered over five billion streams and made television appearances on Good Morning America, Today, The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, Jimmy Kimmel Live and more. He is currently on the road for his headlining tour, as well as Luke Combs’ stadium run. Davis recently gave a taste of his upcoming music with the release of “Good News Sold.”
Award winning singer-songwriter Jelly Roll burst into the country music scene with his debut country album, Whitsitt Chapel. The project debuted in the top three on the Billboard 200 all-genre chart and at No. 2 on the Top Country Album chart, earning the biggest country debut album in Billboard consumption chart history. In 2023, the Nashville native won four People’s Choice Country Awards, three CMT Music Awards, Billboard‘s 2023 Breakthrough Award and the CMA Award for New Artist of the Year. He is also one of three artists to have scored three Country Airplay No. 1s in 2023 and the first to do it with his first three singles. The two-time Grammy nominee shares confessional, vulnerable expressions of selfdoubt through his tunes, including smash hit “Save Me” with Lainey Wilson and “Need A Favor.” His documentary Save Me became the most watched music documentary on ABC News. On the heels of his new release “I Am Not Okay,” he is gearing up for his headlining arena tour this fall.
With 11 Billboard Music Award wins in 2023, Morgan Wallen continues to push his fame to the top. His third studio album, One Thing At A Time, has remained atop the all-genre Billboard 200 chart for 19 non-consecutive weeks, taking the record for most weeks at No. 1 for a country album, and was the most streamed album of the year on Spotify. The six-time Platinum hit “Last Night” was streamed over 1.5 billion times, becoming the most-streamed song of any genre in the U.S. across Apple Music and Spotify and the longest-running No. 1 solo song in the Hot 100 chart’s history at 16 weeks total. His recent history making collaboration with Post Malone, “I Had Some Help,” impacted at country radio with 167 first-week adds, debuting at No. 15 on the Media base charts. The track has become the longest-running No. 1 of 2024. His 2023 stadium tour took the Tennessee native to five countries, playing for over 2.4 million fans. Wallen was also honored with the distinction of Billboard and Pollstar Country Tour of the Year.
Industry Ink: Megan Moroney, Alana Springsteen, Chance Pena, Creative Girls Rock
/by Lorie HollabaughMegan Moroney Gets Some New ‘Pretty’ RIAA Bling
Megan Moroney. Photo: Mason Goodson
Megan Moroney was presented with two plaques celebrating the RIAA Platinum certification of her hit single “I’m Not Pretty” from her newly RIAA-certified Gold debut album Lucky. The plaques were presented at her Nissan Stadium show Saturday night (Aug. 3.)
Alana Springsteen Makes NPR Tiny Desk Concert Appearance
Alana Springsteen performs on NPR Music’s Tiny Desk Concert series. Photo: Sofia Seidel / NPR Music
Alana Springsteen appeared this week on NPR Music’s Tiny Desk Concert series live from the NPR Music headquarters. During the performance she premiered an unreleased track “Feels Good,” plus stripped down her brand-new “Hot Honey” collaboration with multi-Platinum superstar DJ/producer Tiësto in a solo rendition.
“I grew up studying Tiny Desk Concerts,” says Springsteen. “I’d memorize them and dissect the creative decisions and departures that were made from the original versions of the songs. They were always the most inspiring display of artistry to me. No production, effects, or tracks to hide behind. Just yourself, your band, and your God-given talent. I think that’s why Tiny Desk is as revered as it is by artists and fans. In a world where there’s so much noise and it’s so easy to fake perfection, it’s a platform that removes the possibility of inauthenticity. I’m still completely shook that I got to play it.”
Chance Pena’s ‘In My Room’ Shines Gold
Pictured (L-R): Julia Mcleod (ONErpm VP of Marketing), Elizabeth Baylog (Bread City Management), Chance Peña, Alex Ziabko (ONErpm VP A&R) and Eric Schissel (ONErpm DSP and Artist Relations Manager)
Chance Peña was presented a Gold plaque for “In My Room” from his album Lovers To Strangers by his partners at ONErpm.
“Two years ago I’d have never dreamed this song would do what it’s done. Biggest lesson I’ve learned as an artist – TRUST YOUR GUT,” said Pena on his instagram.
Creative Girls Rock Appoints New 2024 Board
Creative Girls Rock has appointed six new members to its Board of Directors. The new board members, each serving a two-year term, will bring decades of experience and diverse perspectives to the organization, which strives to foster a supportive environment where young girls and women can develop their creative talents, build confidence and positively influence the world around them.
The 2024-2026 Board of Directors include Regions Bank’s Joya Dinwiddie, Mental Health Cooperative’s Elizabeth Hart, Heritage Medical Associates’s Ebonee Ifeobu, Amplified Ventures’ Nicole Marinake, FirstBank’s Michael Mettee and Metro Nashville Public Schools’ Franklin Willis.
“We are excited to welcome these six new board members at this critical milestone for Creative Girls Rock,” says Charmin A. Bates, Founder and CEO. “As we celebrate our fifth-year anniversary of our Back-2-School Bash on Saturday, August 3, we believe this was the right time to call on proven leaders in the community to provide invaluable expertise and guidance. We look forward to their contributions and insights.”
Jonas Group Publishing Signs Justin Ebach & Acquires Catalog
/by Liza AndersonPictured (L-R): SESAC’s Lydia Schultz Cahill, Shannan Hatch, Jonas Group Entertainment’s George Kreis, Kevin Jonas Sr., Justin Ebach, Ebach Entertainment’s Janine Ebach, Jonas Group Publishing’s Leslie DiPiero, Emily Peacock and Milom Crow Kelley Beckett Shehan PLC’s David Crow. Photo: Cole Barnhill
Jonas Group Publishing has signed Justin Ebach and acquired his catalog.
The two-time SESAC Songwriter of the Year has celebrated six No. 1 hits thus far, including Luke Bryan’s “Down To One,” Jordan Davis’ multi-Platinum “Singles You Up,” Brett Young’s multi-Platinum “Sleep Without You” and “Here Tonight” and Jon Pardi’s “Your Heart Or Mine.” He is currently enjoying chart success with Warren Zeider’s “Relapse,” Carly Pearce’s “Truck on Fire” and Chris Lane’s “Find Another Bar.” Ebach’s credits also consist of tunes recorded by Keith Urban, Dan + Shay, Lauren Daigle, Cole Swindell, Jason Aldean and more.
“The Jonas team are Ebach believers,” says Leslie DiPiero, President of Jonas Group Publishing. “Justin is an exceptional talent whose songwriting resonates with artists and fans alike. We are excited to welcome him to the JGP family and to support him as he continues to create music that inspires and connects with people around the world.”
“I’m very excited about the opportunity to work with Leslie. She has been a great friend and a great source of wisdom over the years,” shares Ebach. “I’m grateful to Kevin [Jonas Sr.] for believing in me and putting this deal together to make me a part of the Jonas crew. I look forward to celebrating a lot of success together.”
“We are honored to have Justin, and his incredible catalog, join our roster. His proven track record and versatility as a songwriter make him a perfect fit with our vision,” expresses Jonas Sr., Founder & Chairman of Jonas Group Entertainment. “In addition to his artistry, what stands out is his unwavering work ethic and passion for music. This partnership goes beyond numbers. It’s about a shared vision and love for what we do.”
He continues, “Jonas Group Entertainment also wants to extend our gratitude to a few of our partners who were instrumental in helping us achieve this great partnership with Justin Ebach. “We are thankful for our partners Access Media Advisory and Teresa Miles Walsh, Dave and Ruscell Pavlin, Serengeti Asset Management, Moghan Music, Alex Hartnett and Winslett Studnicky McCormick & Bomser.”
Old Dominion To Release Curated ‘Odies But Goodies’ Collection
/by Lorie HollabaughOld Dominion has curated a collection of their obscure tracks and fan-favorite tunes titled Odies But Goodies that is set to be released on Sept. 6.
The 31-song project aims to span the band’s journey in a way that pays tribute to what their fans request. Odies But Goodies opens with “Coming Home,” and features “Written in the Sand,” “Song for Another Time,” “Break Up with Him,” “Hotel Key” and “Snapback” along with “Nowhere Fast,” “Hawaii,” “Some Horses” and “Still Writing Songs About You,” among others. They also recorded their own version of Johnny Lee’s No. 1 “Lookin’ For Love,” which they performed during the 2020 CMA Awards to honor the movie Urban Cowboy.
“We love that the people who love our music love all of it,” says lead singer/guitarist Matthew Ramsey. “Obviously we love the songs on the radio, but some of the deeper dive stuff, that Johnny Lee song we got to perform to honor him, Mickey Gilley and Urban Cowboy, all those things are as much a part of who we are as the hits. So when you listen to Odies But Goodies, I think you get a very good sense of who we are as a band, but also as individuals—and even a sense of the people who show up for this music.”
Before forming Old Dominion, Ramsey, guitarist/vocalist Brad Tursi and guitarist/keyboardist/vocalist Trevor Rosen had written songs recorded by Kenny Chesney, Dierks Bentley, Keith Urban, Sam Hunt, Blake Shelton and The Band Perry. They, alongside bassist Geoff Sprung and drummer Whit Sellers, have always sought to create a vibe that made people happy. After getting their start by performing in bars, they group served as support for some of the biggest acts in country before they began to their own headlining tours.
“We all believe in the power of the song,” Ramsey notes. “And taking that song out to where people could hear it, feel it, maybe even be in it. We did it for the fun, and then we realized that an awful lot of people were loving the songs. And not just the ones on the radio, but the songs that were never gonna be singles. That’s when you know you’ve hit something.”
Odies But Goodies Track Listing:
1. “Coming Home”
2. “Lookin’ for Love”
3. “Song for Another Time”
4. “Beer Can in a Truck Bed”
5. “Make It Sweet”
6. “My Heart Is a Bar”
7. “All I Know About Girls”
8. “Wrong Turns”
9. “Snapback”
10. “Stars in the City”
11. “Break Up with Him”
12. “I Should Have Married You”
13. “Written in the Sand”
14. “Hear You Now”
15. “How Good Is That”
16. “Some People Do”
17. “Hotel Key”
18. “I Was On a Boat That Day”
19. “Not Everything’s About You”
20. “Some Horses”
21. “No Such Thing as a Broken Heart”
22. “Memory Lane”
23. “One Man Band”
24. “Nowhere Fast”
25. “Shut Me Up”
26. “Hawaii”
27. “Lonely Side of Town”
28. “Can’t Break Up Now”
29. “Never Be Sorry”
30. “No Hard Feelings”
31. “Still Writing Songs About You”
BMG Appoints Jenn Dobbins To SVP, Rights & Royalties
/by LB CantrellJenn Dobbins. Photo: Kevin Grace
BMG has named industry veteran Jenn Dobbins as Senior Vice President, Rights & Royalties.
Based in BMG’s US Copyright & Royalties hub in Nashville, Dobbins will be responsible for Copyright and Recorded Music Administration. She reports to Eric Scott, EVP, Rights Administration and Royalty Services.
“Jenn’s extensive expertise, deep knowledge, and proven experience in managing complex rights and royalties will not only streamline our operations but also set a new standard of excellence in how we support and empower artists and stakeholders in an ever-evolving landscape,” shares Scott.
Prior to joining BMG, Dobbins led asset operations for online music royalties trading platform JKBX (Jukebox) and was Director of Royalties at Exactuals. The Canada native has spent the past 18 years working in royalty departments in Toronto and Nashville, leading teams as they process artist, joint venture, mechanical and writer payments for record labels, publishers and music distributors.
She began her career in copyright & licensing before moving into royalties at Sony Music Entertainment. In 2015, she joined Big Machine Label Group before departing in 2021 as Director of Royalty Accounting and Income Analysis.
Ella Langley Shows Boldness & Authenticity On Debut Album ‘Hungover’ [Interview]
/by LB CantrellElla Langley. Photo: Caylee Robillard
Rising country star Ella Langley delivered her much-anticipated debut album on Friday (Aug. 2) via Columbia Records/SAWGOD. The 14-track effort titled Hungover proved to be a fantastic display of the young artist’s boldness and creative assuredness, featuring unique songs that show off Langley’s roots and vision.
Included on Hungover are the previously-released fan-favorites “Nicotine” and “Paint The Town Blue” as well as her and Riley Green‘s viral hit “You Look Like You Love Me.” It follows Langley’s debut EP, Excuse The Mess, which garnered the singer-songwriter early acclaim with tracks like “Country Boy’s Dream Girl,” “Could’ve Been Her” and the CMT Music Award-nominated “That’s Why We Fight” featuring Koe Wetzel.
Concurrently with her debut album, Langley is also turning heads with “Strangers,” her duet with Kameron Marlowe. The single recently earned 36 first-week adds during its impact week at country radio.
Prior to Hungover‘s release, she sat down with MusicRow to chat about the project. While she shared the backstories of some of the tunes, her skin was inked with a few more tattoos to mark the occasion.
“All my tattoos mark memories of certain things. I got a feather when my EP came out, and I got another one the first time I was published in the New York Times,” she shares as her tattoo artist begins prepping her skin for the new ink. To commemorate the release of her debut album, she’s chosen to get a small fractured heart on one arm and lyrics from “Broken In” on another.
It’s a good choice, as the tune is definitely a stand-out on the record. Written by Langley with Ian Christian and Jordan Fletcher, the song is about the value of going through trials, and is one of two acoustic tracks on the album.
“‘Broken In’ is one of my favorite songs I’ve ever written,” Langley says. “I kept it acoustic because I couldn’t stop listening to the guitar/vocal from the write. I just love the acoustic tracks on the record. I’ll put acoustic tracks on every body work I ever put out.”
Langley’s assuredness has been critical to her success. After listening to the 25-year-old’s songs or hearing her talk about her vision, it’s clear that she sees boldly following her muse as the only way to be an artist, despite the risks of being too different.
On Hungover, Langley sings about love gained and love lost in a bar room, giving into the pull of an old flame, telling off a cheater, moving onto the next and more. There’s tunes about the demons we all face, the death of a loved one and even a mysterious story-song. Sonically, it’s country as cornbread. Her Alabama twang comes through strong, glittering with charm. Producer Will Bundy turns all the quintessential country knobs that complement Langley’s voice so well, but also leaves space for her to truly grab the listener with her lyrics.
“When I moved here, my goal was to write my tail off. That’s what I did,” she says. “This record was really written from ages 21 to 25. I was very precious with a lot of my songs, I wanted to make sure that I understood me as an artist before I tried to present myself to the world.
“My music is just raw and real,” she adds. “I write music that I want to listen to. I didn’t know my record was supposed to sound a certain way—it’s just real life.”
When asked how she has been able to stay true to herself in the industry, Langley recalls something she’s learned from a hero.
“Everyone’s journey is so different. There’s not a rule book, but I look up to people like Dolly Parton who has gotten every bit of what she’s ever wanted out of her career. It feels like it’s not for anyone other than herself. She obviously cares about her fans, but you can tell that she’s doing this because she’s always wanted to. Lainey Wilson is another one who has done that.”
Riley Green & Ella Langley. Photo: Caylee Robillard
Langley’s boldness has already begun to pay off. Along with Green, she is enjoying the success of “You Look Like You Love Me,” a witty song with recitation in the verses that harkens back to the good ole days in country music. The track has garnered over 80 million streams and more than a billion plays on TikTok.
“I wrote that song with Aaron Raitiere. He asked me how my love life was going and I said, ‘Aaron, I’m at the point where if they look like they love me, I get the hell out of there.’ He said, ‘That’s a great title, but what if we wrote it a nice way?’
“A year later in a different write, I was wanting to write a funny song that I could play when no one is listening at Live Oak, so we brought that song back up. It was written as a joke. We laughed the whole time we wrote it.”
After a work tape was made for “You Look Like You Love Me,” Langley’s team member Mya Hansen caught on to its charm and potential.
“Mya kept trying to get me to put it in the Dropbox link to send it to the label. I said, ‘Mya, that song is a joke. I’m drunk and I’m ready to leave?‘” Langley sings the line with a laugh. “She sent it in the Dropbox link for the album anyway and everyone freaked out. Everyone loved the shitty work tape with the giggling and ridiculousness.”
Langley asked Green to write a verse and sing on it with her when she decided to cut the song. She says the acceptance of “You Look Like You Love Me” spurred her onward towards staying true to herself. “Now more than ever I’m trying to create things that are different not just for the fans, but for me,” she says. “I’m just trying to do stuff that people haven’t heard.”
Another stand-out on Hungover is “Cowboy Friends.” Written by Langley with Joybeth Taylor, Lydia Vaughan and Austin Goodloe, the song sounds like a tear-in-your-beer farewell at the start, but it turns into a shuffling good time as Langley sings, “I wont have no trouble rounding up the next one when this ends. I’ve got me more than a few cowboy friends.”
“We were in the middle of writing another song and were screwing around and talking. I said, ‘Joybeth, you know I’ve got a few cowboy friends.’ We immediately paused and wrote the ‘Cowboy Friends’ chorus.”
On another interesting track, “Girl Who Drank Wine,” Langley tells the tale of a mysterious maiden who wanders in, steals a cowboy’s heart and disappears. She says she was inspired to write the tune while traveling through Wyoming on the Jon Pardi tour.
“I woke up one morning and opened the window of the sprinter van and a black stallion was [running alongside us]. It was the most majestic shit I’ve ever seen,” Langley quips. “I was done writing for the album but I started humming that little melody and the story just popped in my head. I have a very vivid imagination—I was homeschooled for six years.
“I love story songs,” she adds. “It’s something that country music has somewhat gotten away from, but it’s such a pinnacle in country music. I want to bring it back.”
“Better Be Tough” is another highlight on the album. Written with Bundy, Brett James and Erik Dylan, it gives the phrase, “if you’re going to be dumb, you better be tough,” another meaning.
“I’ve heard that phrase my whole life. One of the girls that works with us broke her foot and I said it to her. All of a sudden it clicked in my brain that [we could write it] about a guy cheating. If you’re going to be stupid enough to do that to me, [you better watch out],” Langley says. “Plus, I don’t have a crazy-girl song and I had to have one for the first record I’m putting out as a female country artist.”
When it comes to the title track, Langley says she thinks it embodies Hungover in full.
“It represents the songs that I have been writing for the past four or five years, this era of my life from 21 to 25. How many different ways can you be hungover?” she sums. “It shows the artist I want to be, raw and real. This is a safe place to enjoy the one ride we get in this life.”
With her album out in the world and two fresh tattoos, Langley is now bringing her new tunes on the road. She opens for Morgan Wallen this weekend at Las Vegas’ Allegiant Stadium before hitting a few fairs and festivals to finish out the summer, and is certain to make plenty more fans in her wake.
Roger LeBlanc Joins Romeo Entertainment Group
/by Lorie HollabaughRoger LeBlanc. Photo: Courtesy of LeBlanc
Industry veteran Roger LeBlanc has joined Romeo Entertainment Group (REG) as Vice President of Sales Development.
LeBlanc founded and served as CEO of talent buying agency Madison Entertainment until its recent sale to ASM Global, at which point LeBlanc became Head of Talent Buying for the company. He brings over 35 years of experience in the live entertainment industry to REG. A Pollstar Talent Buyer of the Year, LeBlanc has producing live concert events with various acts, including Red Hot Chili Peppers, Foo Fighters, Zac Brown Band, Aerosmith, P!nk and more.
“I have had the pleasure of knowing Roger LeBlanc for many years, and I can attest to both his exceptional skills as a talent buyer and his remarkable character as a person,” says R.J. Romeo, REG President & CEO. “We are beyond excited that he has chosen to join our team. Roger’s vast knowledge and his commitment to mentorship will not only enhance the capabilities of our sales team but also propel our growth and set new standards for excellence in our company and the broader industry.”
“I’m very excited to be joining the Romeo Entertainment Group family! The standard-setting level of service and quality that they have brought to the concert industry for 70 years is well-known and respected,” shares LeBlanc. “I’m looking forward to bringing my relationships, skills and experience to the team and helping to further expand and develop an already amazing organization.”
ACM Honors To Air On Dr. Phil’s Merit Street Network
/by Lorie HollabaughThe 17th Academy of Country Music Honors will air on Dr. Phil’s Merit Street network on Sept. 24, marking the first time the special will air on the network as part of a partnership between Merit Street Media and the Academy of Country Music.
In addition to ACM Honors this year the Academy and Merit Street will explore programming development opportunities around country performances, behind-the-scenes and lifestyle moments, documentaries, and other content.
“We’re excited to partner with Merit Street Media to bring one of my favorite nights of the year, ACM Honors, to households across North America through this growing network,” says Damon Whiteside, CEO of the Academy of Country Music. “With so many great performances honoring some of country music’s biggest stars, we can’t wait for fans to tune in to this event on Merit Street, and in the months ahead, we plan to bring even more content focused on country music to the Merit Street viewers.”
“For our first step into music programming, we can’t imagine a better marriage than Merit Street with ACM,” says Merit’s EVP/COO Joel Cheatwood. “To kick this off with such an amazing celebration as ACM Honors is exactly what we aspired to deliver to viewers, and we look forward to creating additional original country music content for fans everywhere.”
The ACM Honors will recognize several special honorees, including ACM Lifting Lives Award recipient Luke Bryan, ACM Poet’s Award recipient Alan Jackson, ACM Triple Crown recipient Lainey Wilson, ACM Icon Award recipient Trisha Yearwood and more. Carly Pearce and Jordan Davis will host the ceremony at the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville, which will feature performances from Eric Church, Vince Gill, Emmylou Harris, Tyler Hubbard, Jamey Johnson, Ashley McBryde and Keith Urban. Additional performers, presenters and event details will be announced in the coming weeks.
2024 MusicRow Awards Category Profile: Female Artist Of The Year
/by MusicRow StaffFollowing the announcement of this year’s nominees for the 36th annual MusicRow Awards, presented by City National Bank, we take a closer look at the Female Artist of the Year category. This category is voted on by MusicRow’s subscribers to honor outstanding achievements by a Nashville female artist during the eligibility period.
This year’s winners will be announced online on all MusicRow platforms on Tuesday, Aug. 27.
Click here to see the full list of MusicRow Awards nominees.
Winners are determined solely by MusicRow Magazine subscribers. Voting is now open and closes on Aug. 9 at 5:00 p.m. To receive a ballot to vote in the MusicRow Awards, becoming a MusicRow subscriber here.
Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter Kelsea Ballerini continues to make history year after year. When the Knoxville native released her debut album, The First Time, she became the only female country artist to hit No. 1 with the first three consecutive singles from a debut album. Since, she has garnered seven No. 1 hits and five consecutive top 10 entries on the Billboard Top Country Albums chart. She has also won two ACM Awards, was nominated for four Grammy Awards and she was honored at the iHeartRadio Music Awards, among many other accolades. Ballerini hosted the 2024 CMT Music Awards for the fourth year, where she led in nominations. She has been inducted as a Grand Ole Opry member, and was recently named a new face of Covergirl. After the release of her latest project, Rolling Up The Welcome Mat, she made her Saturday Night Live debut, was nominated for Best Country Album at the Grammys, and was on the cover of TIME Magazine’s TIME100 Next issue. She recently released “Cowboys Cry Too” with Noah Kahan and is gearing up for the unveiling of her next album.
Groundbreaking singer-songwriter Miranda Lambert has earned accolades as an artist, entertainer, entrepreneur, advocate and businesswoman. In addition to being the most-awarded artist in ACM history, the Texas native has won three Grammy awards, 14 CMA Awards and is a TIME100 honoree. Her discography includes seven No. 1 solo albums, 10 No. 1 radio singles and countless Gold, Platinum and multi-Platinum certifications. She held her twice-extended Las Vegas residency “Velvet Rodeo,” and has collaborated with Leon Bridges, Enrique Iglesias, the B-52s, Loretta Lynn, Sheryl Crow and Elle King. Lambert is a New York Times best-selling author and the first female bar owner on lower Broadway. She recently launched her Wanda June Home collection, exclusive to Walmart, and her ldyllwind clothing and boot line available at Boot Barn. Her nonprofit, MuttNation Foundation, has raised over $10 million to date. She was featured on the Twisters soundtrack and is getting ready to release her next album.
After bursting onto the scene with her smash hit “Tennessee Orange,” Megan Moroney continues to showcase her true to-life storytelling, identifiable vocals and strong-minded yet fiercely-sensitive point of view. The double-Platinum tune became Moroney’s first No. 1 at country radio and notched her first CMT Music Award for Breakthrough Female Video of the Year. The Georgia native got her start singing covers with her dad and brother. The release of her powerhouse debut album, Lucky, led Moroney to massive commercial and critical success. With the lived-in intimacy and electrifying impact of her songwriting, the record also led to her ACM New Female Artist of the Year win, along with award nominations from CMA, iHeart, and Billboard. With over one billion streams to date, Moroney recently released her sophomore album, Am I Okay? The project features exceptional singles “No Caller ID,” “28th of June,” “Indifferent” and “Man on the Moon.”
Kacey Musgraves continues to put out impactful music with each album she releases. The Texas native unveiled her sixth studio album, Deeper Well, earlier this year, which reached No. 1 on Billboard’s Top County Albums and Folk Albums charts, and No. 2 on the Billboard 200 chart. With focus tracks such as “Deeper Well,” “Too Good To Be True,” “Cardinal” and “The Architect,” Musgraves continued to show off her mastery of songwriting and artistry. She also returned to the Saturday Night Live stage following the album’s release. Musgraves appeared on a host of collaborations this year, including “She Calls Me Back” with Noah Kahan, “Overtime” with Rainbow Kitten Surprise and “I Remember Everything” with Zach Bryan. The latter single went on to debut at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, and was nominated for two Grammy Awards, winning Best Country Duo/Group Performance. Musgraves also spent some time executive producing the competition show My Kinda Country with Reese Witherspoon.
Since leaving her Kentucky hometown at 16, Carly Pearce has had no reason to look back. With a sound that is fiercely rooted in the classics, yet embraces the genre’s forward progression, Pearce has won a Grammy Award, four ACM Awards, two CMA Awards, a CMT Music Award and has been inducted as a member of the Grand Ole Opry and the Kentucky Music Hall of Fame. Pearce was first introduced with Platinum certified “Every Little Thing” and triple-Platinum duet “I Hope You’re Happy Now,” with Lee Brice. Her third studio album, 29, includes hits “Never Wanted To Be That Girl” with Ashley McBryde and “What He Didn’t Do.” The duet with McBryde became the third duet between two solo women to top Billboard‘s Country Airplay chart. Her recently-released Hummingbird album continues to show off her honest lyrics and timeless musicality. The project features her top five radio smash “We Don’t Fight Anymore” with Chris Stapleton, and her newest single, “Truck On Fire.”
Grammy-winning singer-songwriter Lainey Wilson has become a force in the music industry. As the reigning ACM and CMA Entertainer of the Year, her unique sound and spirit has led her to earn numerous accolades and develop a diehard fan base. Nearly 10 years after leaving her small town in Louisiana, she earned her first Platinum No. 1 hit with “Things A Man Oughta Know.” She’s built on that success, scoring six more No. 1 smashes and becoming the lead female artist with the most No. 1 hits this decade. Wilson has earned two Grammy nominations, nine ACM Awards, seven CMA Awards and became an official member of the Grand Ole Opry. Thus far, her music has taken her worldwide. Wilson also made her acting debut in season five of Paramount’s smash hit series Yellowstone. She is currently gearing up for the release of her next album, Whirlwind, containing previously-released tracks “Country’s Cool Again,” “4x4xU” and top-15-and-rising single “Hang Tight Honey.” Wilson is also in the middle of her “Country’s Cool Again Tour” across North America.