Parker McCollum. Photo: Courtesy of True Public Relations

Parker McCollum has entered the top five country streaming songs this week. The singer-songwriter’s current single, “To Be Loved By You,” comes in at No. 4 with 5.3 million streams, according to MRC data.

Securing the top spot on the top country streaming songs for another week is Walker Hayes‘ “Fancy Like.” The track boasts 6 million streams this week, contributing to a staggering 336 million streams RTD. The Monument recording artist also snags No. 3 as “AA” gains 5.7 million streams. “Buy Dirt” (Jordan Davis & Luke Bryan) falls to No. 2 with 5.7 million streams. Cody Johnson round out the top with “Til You Can’t” adding 5 million streams this week.

On the albums chart, Morgan Wallen continues to have the most consumed country album this week as Dangerous: The Double Album earns 41K in total consumption (1.4K album only/50 million song streams), according to MRC data. Taylor Swift holds steady in the second spot with Red (Taylor’s Version) gaining 25K in total consumption. Hayes’ Country Stuff: The Album falls to fourth with 17K. Luke Combs claims the remaining two spots: What You See Is What You Get in third with 17K and This One’s For You in fifth with 15K in total consumption.

Trisha Yearwood officially welcomes Lauren Alaina as the newest member of the Grand Ole Opry. Photo: Chris Hollo

Lauren Alaina was officially inducted as the newest member of the Grand Ole Opry Saturday night (Feb. 12) by her friend and mentor Trisha Yearwood.

Yearwood surprised Alaina before their performance of Yearwood’s classic “Walkaway Joe,” introducing her husband Garth Brooks to the stage to play guitar for them.

“What I have gotten to observe in knowing you for the couple of years I have known you is how genuine you are,” Yearwood shared. “I think country music is in good hands. You are exactly the kind of artist that the Opry loves, and wants and looks for. Usually when someone gets inducted they say ‘it’s on behalf of all the members of the Grand Ole Opry,’ and I’m going to say that, but I also want to say every single person from the house band, to the crew, to who is parking cars, everybody tonight says how deserving you are and it’s about time. So on behalf of myself, all the members of the Opry, the crew and everyone who is associated with the Opry, you are now officially a member of the Grand Ole Opry, Miss Lauren Alaina.”

Lauren Alaina. Photo: Chris Hollo

“Ever since I was a little girl I dreamed of this moment,” said Alaina. “Both of my parents raised me with an appreciation for country music and all that it is, and all of the people who have come before me. I just want to say I promise to do everything I can to represent country music. I promise to represent this family well. I have felt like family here as long as I remember. Everyone at the Opry has always made me feel like family so for me to finally be officially in is the biggest dream come true of all time. Most little girls dreamed of their wedding; I dreamed of this. God Bless you guys and God bless country music.”

The Opry was the first major stage Alaina played just a week after she was named runner-up on Season 10 of American Idol, making her Opry debut on June 10, 2011. She has appeared on the hallowed stage more than 50 times since.

EJ Gaines

Capitol Christian Music Group (CCMG) has promoted EJ Gaines to Sr. VP Marketing/Co-Executive Director of Motown Gospel.

Gaines has served as Co-Executive Director of Motown Gospel and Vice President of Marketing at CCMG since 2018, prior to his position as Motown Gospel’s Vice President of Marketing. He reports to Capitol Christian Music Group Co-President Hudson Plachy.

In his new, expanded role, Gaines’ responsibilities include overseeing the marketing and brand development for many Capitol CMG artists, while also maintaining his role and responsibilities as co-executive director at Motown Gospel. Most recently, he oversaw the marketing campaigns for Harry Connick Jr.‘s award-winning project, Alone With My Faith; Tori Kelly’s Grammy winning Gospel album, Hiding Place; and Tasha Cobbs Leonard’s acclaimed Royalty: Live at The Ryman.

“I’m thrilled for EJ and this well-deserved promotion,” shares Plachy. “EJ is an important part of the senior leadership team at CCMG and he has taken on increased responsibility to serve our artists across the company. He brings unique experience and energy to the artists and partners we serve at CCMG.”

“EJ is an excellent executive who embodies our company’s mission,” echoes Co-President Brad O’Donnell. “We’re very thankful to have him on our team and believe he will do great things in his new role.”

Previously, Gaines was an entertainment attorney and artist manager, helping to guide the careers of numerous Grammy award-winning and chart-topping artists, including Mary Mary, Natalie Grant, Donald Lawrence, William McDowell, and Jonathan McReynolds. He began his career at Jive Records and Verity Records, before becoming an executive assistant to Platinum-selling Gospel artist Donnie McClurkin.

“I’m thrilled to serve our artists, writers, and label team in this greater leadership capacity,” Gaines adds. “It’s an exciting time of forging new paths for our company, and I’m so fortunate to work with the best in the business as we continue to impact the world with our music.”

Priscilla Block. Photo: Logen Christopher

In just under two years, Priscilla Block has gone from a hopeful singer-songwriter, grinding it out in Nashville’s songwriting circles, to a New Female Artist award nominee at the upcoming ACM Awards.

Her shot at country stardom came during a difficult time. In early 2020, Block was struggling to make ends meet after losing her job and her apartment. Without a place to play anymore due to the pandemic, she turned to TikTok to experiment with promoting her music, and soon started building a fan-base with her relatable lyrics and charm.

After uploading a snippet of “Just About Over You,” a tune about relapsing after nearly moving on from a tough breakup, Block’s fate was sealed. The song took off on the platform, garnering hundreds of thousands of views.

Pictured: Priscilla Block with cardboard cutouts of UMG Nashville’s Brian Wright, EVP of A&R; Mike Dungan, CEO & Chairman; and Cindy Mabe, President. Photo: Katie Kauss

With the attention of multiple major labels, Block signed to UMG Nashville’s Mercury Nashville. The powerhouse label then shipped “Just About Over You” to country radio as her debut single.

“Brian Wright, Cindy Mabe and Mike Dungan have been the most supportive and encouraging people that I’ve ever met,” Block says of her new label home execs. “I’ll never forget when I signed with UMG, Cindy looked at me and she said, ‘Let me learn from you.’ That was the moment that I knew that I was in the right place, because no was trying to change me.”

Since then, Block has commanded the attention of the industry. She was named part of MusicRow‘s Next Big Thing Class of 2021, as well as many other artist to watch lists from Amazon Music, Pandora, Spotify, CMT, and more.

Today (Feb. 11) she releases her debut album, Welcome To The Block Party. Among the collection’s 12 songs, all co-written by Block, the bold new artist has set the tone for her career to be filled with vulnerable, honest songs—with a splash of sass.

On Welcome To The Block Party, Block tackles heartache with “Wish You Were The Whiskey,” personal set-backs with “Just About Over You,” self-assertiveness with “My Bar,” and no-holds-barred confidence with “Thick Thighs” and “Peaked In High School.”

“I’m a big Taylor Swift fan. I connect to artists that I feel like get me. People want to be around authentic people,” Block says of her songwriting. “All these songs are me: my experiences, and my life. It’s the way that I want my music to be. Where fans can relate to it and be like, ‘Holy crap. She’s just like me, she’s gone through this shit. She’s real.'”

Since Block entered the country music space, fans and members of the media have grabbed hold of her messages of self-love and body positivity. Her infectious anthem “Thick Thighs,” where Block sings “I can’t be the only one who likes extra fries over exercise,” is a big fan favorite.

When asked if she likes being known as the “body positive country artist,” Block owns it. “I take that as the biggest compliment ever. I’m a curvy girl and for so long, I didn’t love being a curvy girl. My body changed so much when I hit puberty and I spent so many years of my life hating my body and myself.

“When I wrote ‘Thick Thighs,’ that was one of the biggest moments that changed my artistry. It changed who I was as a person. It was like a switch for me. And people want to hear that, people need to hear that! It really gave me a lot of confidence to own that.

“At the end of the day, if you talk about your flaws in songs, or things that people might consider a flaw, they can’t call you out about it. If I see a magazine one day that says I’m fat, at least I have a song called ‘Thick Thighs!,'” she adds with a laugh.

Another moment of confidence and personal growth showcased on Welcome To The Block Party is “I Know A Girl,” featuring background vocals from one of the song’s co-writers, Hillary Lindsey.

“That song was something that I had never said before,” Block says. “I remember the day that I wrote it, Hillary Lindsay had just asked me, ‘Why are you the way that you are? You’re like my little sister, but I want to know more about you.’ We just started talking about my life and how I’m the life of the party, but that I’ve also gone through a lot.

“I feel like it’s an older sister talking to the younger me. It [represents] the idea that you don’t need anybody to get you through something. You got that in you. That’s really powerful.”

A stand out track on Block’s debut is her live-show ready, head bobber, “Ever Since You Left.” Reminiscent of fellow North Carolinian Luke Combs‘ “When It Rains It Pours,” Block lets her ex know that she’s been “having a hell of a time with you off my mind.”

Another great song, “Peaked In High School,” finds Block moving on from those in her past who didn’t believe in her. The music video interweaves clips of the singer as a child, dealing with bullying, with her all grown giving a victorious speech at graduation.

In the video, a text message appears that tells young Block that she would look “way hotter” if she “got slimmer.” The text was a real message Block received as a teen.

“I got a message from two of my guy friends telling me that I would be way prettier if I lost weight. We used that exact message that I got in that music video,” Block says.

“I wrote ‘Peaked In High School’ with some of my best friends. We were out in Ohio and ‘Just About Over You’ was blowing up. We were all just hanging out, talking about how I started hearing from people that I hadn’t heard from in forever. People that I could have sworn hated me in high school,” Block recalls. “There’s a lot of people that made me feel really bad about myself in high school, but now they are reaching out. It’s a good testament to be nice to people.”

But now, Block is far from her high school days and on top of the world. With her debut album out, a hit single, and her first ACM nomination, Block is on her way to being country music’s bold and hilarious it girl.