Kane Brown Claims No. 1 Spot On MusicRow Radio Chart

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Kane Brown has earned his second MusicRow CountryBreakout Radio Chart No. 1 of the year for “One Mississippi.” This follows his duet with Chris Young, “Famous Friends” which hit No. 1 in May. The single was written by Brown, Jesse Frasure, Levon Gray, and Ernest K. Smith.

Brown has earned several honors this year including ACM Video of the Year for “Worldwide Beautiful,” surpassing 2 billion streams on Pandora, and an NMPA Platinum Anthem for being the most listened to song in the past year for “Be Like That,” which features Swae Lee & Khalid.

Brown is currently on the Blessed & Free Tour with Jordan Davis and Restless Road. 

Click here to view the latest edition of The MusicRow Weekly containing the MusicRow CountryBreakout Radio Chart.

Hannah Dasher To Rock Country Music Hall Of Fame’s Nightfall At The Hall

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Hannah Dasher will perform at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum’s ninth annual Nightfall at the Hall concert on December 7.

The after-hours celebration is held exclusively each year for the museum’s Troubadour members, a community of young leaders aged 21 to 45 who collaborate with other like-minded professionals in supporting their community and the museum.

Dasher released her debut EP, The Half Record, earlier this year, which includes the autobiographical song “You’re Gonna Love Me.” She was also named a member of CMT’s Next Women of Country, class of 2021.

Prior to Dasher’s performance, student artist Jazmine Croom will perform a song she wrote with museum staff, “Let’s Go With The Flow.” A Metro Nashville Public Schools student, Croom has participated in a variety of museum songwriting programs since 2019.

Nightfall at the Hall admission is a benefit of Troubadour membership. Young professionals can become a Troubadour member between now and Dec. 14, 2021, at a discounted rate of $5 off an individual Troubadour membership and $10 off a dual membership.

Jason Aldean To Drop Second Half Of Double Album In April

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Jason Aldean will release the second volume of his expansive double album Macon, Georgia on April 22, offering fans plenty of new music, including “Whiskey Me Away” (available today), as well as a career retrospective of live recordings from the road.

The first volume, titled Macon, is already available.

For his 10th release, Aldean and longtime producer Michael Knox compiled a massive set of 20 new tunes and 10 unheard live takes. “We’ve always tried to lean toward more songs than less…and this album is no different,” Aldean says. “We decided to pepper in some of the live tracks we’ve had stockpiled for a while. After nine albums and 16 years of recording, I hope people can tell I wanted to make this tenth album fun and different from anything we’ve done before.”

Aldean’s influences spawn from his hometown of Macon, Georgia, known for a mix country music, Southern rock, and R&B, as well as music legends the Allman Brothers and Otis Redding.

The full release on Macon Music/Broken Bow Records will also be marked by a commemorative three-disc vinyl set.

Macon Track List (Available Now):
1. “After You”
2. “Over You Again”
3. “That’s What Tequila Does”
4. “Small Town Small”
5. “If I Didn’t Love You”
6. “Story For Another Glass”
7. “Heaven”
8. “This Bar Don’t Work Anymore”
9. “The Sad Songs”
10. “Watching You Love Me”
11. “Amarillo Sky” (Live from Nashville, TN)
12. “Johnny Cash” (Live from Los Angeles, CA)
13. “She’s Country” (Live from Las Vegas, NV)
14. “Big Green Tractor” (Live from Dallas, TX)
15. “My Kinda Party” (Live from St. Louis, MO)

Georgia Track List (out April 22, 2022):
16. “Whiskey Me Away”
17. “Trouble With A Heartbreak”
18. “The State I’m In”
19. “Midnight And Missin’ You”
20. “Ain’t Enough Cowboy”
21. “God Made Airplanes”
22. “My Weakness”
23. “Holy Water”
24. “Rock And Roll Cowboy”
25. “Your Mama”
26. “Take a Little Ride” (Live from Las Vegas, NV)
27. “Burnin’ It Down” (Live from St. Louis, MO)
28. “Any Ol’ Barstool” (Live from Knoxville, TN)
29. “Rearview Town” (Live from St. Louis, MO)
30. “Blame It On You” (Live from Manchester, TN)

Expanded All-Day “Streaming Summit” To Kick Off CRS 2022

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The 2nd Annual CRS Streaming Summit will kick off CRS week on Wednesday, Feb. 23, featuring targeted, informative sessions and star-studded afternoon and evening music events.

Established last year during CRS 2021: The Virtual Experience, the Streaming Summit was popular enough for the CRS Agenda Committee to expand the program to an all-day educational event, accented with the Warner Music Nashville luncheon. A one-day Streaming Summit pass is $249 or is included in a full CRS 2022 registration fee of $649.

“I can confidently say the amount of talent and wide-reaching expertise found in every session at this summit would be difficult to find under the roof of only one conference,” says CRS 2022 Streaming Summit Committee Chair, Annie Ortmeier (UMG Nashville). “Our Streaming Summit team of Sarah D’Hilly, Ali Matkosky, and myself are thrilled with the lineup for 2022 as we align with new partners and new boundary-pushing perspectives, making this day a no-miss.”

Below is an overview of Streaming Summit items confirmed for the CRS 2022 agenda:
Streaming Summit Networking Breakfast
Introducing Chart-metric Panel
Twitch/Live Streaming for Music Panel
Music Discovery Through Streaming: Spotify Fan Study Panel
Warner Music Nashville Lunch and Performance
Talk Data To Me: 2021 In Review Panel
Road To The Next Big Thing: The Connected Car Panel

Confirmed panelists speaking throughout the day include Timothy Babbitt (General Motors), Lauren Black (Country Now), Sung Cho (ChartMetric), Emily Cohen (Amazon Music), Patch Culbertson (Big Loud), Tim Foisset (Warner Music Nashville), Margaret Hart (YouTube Music), Claire Heinichen (Spotify), Brandon Jarrett (MRC Entertainment), Haley Jones (MRC Entertainment), Alison Junker (Spotify), Soy Kim (Spotify for Artists), Allison Laughter (Red Light), Ali Matkosky (Big Loud), Annie Ortmeier (UMG Nashville), Ashton Pierre (AT&T), Vipin Reddy (UMG Nashville), Steve Stewart (Cox Media Group), Jonathan Tarlton (Spotify), Alina Thompson (Pandora), and Taylor Viegut (UMG Nashville).

More details, including the lineup for the Warner Music Nashville Kickoff Luncheon, will be announced soon.

DISClaimer Single Reviews: Chris Stapleton Sings With Adele & Taylor Swift

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Chris Stapleton

As the year winds down, country steps into the national spotlight.

The genre’s stars seem to be everywhere on TV specials and at media events these days. Which is the perfect time to be releasing headline-making new music.

Stepping up the the plate today are Alan Jackson, Old Dominion, Walker Hayes, Kameron Marlowe and Taylor Swift, all with superb fresh sounds. The Disc of the Day goes to Adele with our own Chris Stapleton, adding more than a little to the pop superstar’s performance.

I don’t know much about her, but the DISCovery Award winner is Madeline Edwards.

AMERICAN BLONDE / “Quicksand”
Writers: Jimmy Nash/Natalia Morris; Producer: Cliff Downs; Label: AB
– The Mississippi-bred Morris sisters are feisty and fierce on this downbeat rocker about a dissolving relationship. The tune is rather repetitive, but there’s plenty of energy and attitude.

ADELE & CHRIS STAPLETON / “Easy On Me”
Writers: Adele Adkins/Greg Kurstin; Producer: Greg Kurstin; Label: Columbia
– The simple piano-and-rhythm accompaniment stays in the background to let both voices shine in the spotlight on this stunning ballad. The harmony performance by Stapleton is exquisite. Supple, soulful and powerful. There are few vocalists who can stand toe-to-with Adele, but this mighty man can. And does.

DALLAS SMITH / “Hide From a Broken Heart”
Writers: Mark Holman/Lauren LaRue/Ernest Keith Smith/Geoff Warburton; Producer: Joey Moi; Label: Big Loud
– Smith was just named Canada’s country Entertainer of the Year for the third consecutive time. Judging by his current single, I can’t explain it. The formulaic song, jumbled production and generic vocal performance went in one ear and out the other.

WALKER HAYES / “AA”
Writers: Walker Hayes/Shane McAnally/Luke Laird; Producer: Joe Thibodeaux/Shane McAnally/Scott Johnson; Label: Monument Records
– Hardly anything in the lyric rhymes. The track is a looped groove. He doesn’t really sing. But you know what? As was the case with “Fancy Like,” this guy taps directly into a blue-collar mindset that is absolutely the Truth. He’s just trying to get along like an ordinary fella, resisting the lure of alcohol while raising his kids, making a living and loving his wife. I hear ya, bro.

MADELINE EDWARDS / “Best Revenge”
Writers: Joy Lippard Hanna/Klare Essad/Madeline Edwards; Producer: Gena Johnson; Label: ME
– She was the “unknown” in the vocal trio on the CMA Awards with Mickey Guyton and Brittney Spencer. Her sultry, midtempo single reveals a husky, throaty vocalist with a tremendous intimacy that communicates really well. The song is cool, too: “The best revenge is moving on.”

OLD DOMINION / “No Hard Feelings”
Writers: Matthew Ramsey/Trevor Rosen/Whit Sellers/Geoff Sprung/Brad Tursi/Shane McAnally; Producer: Old Dominion/Shane McAnally; Label: Arista
– Ridiculously catchy and utterly irresistible. If the rump-shaking rhythm doesn’t get you, the jaunty, melodic singing will. Galloping talent from the Vocal Group of the Year.

COLE SWINDELL & LAINEY WILSON / “Never Say Never”
Writers: Cole Swindell/Jessi Alexander/Chase McGill; Producer: Zach Crowell; Label: Warner
– Both singers are coming off huge hits (”Single Saturday Night” and “Things a Man Oughta Know,” respectively). This choppy, bombastic, loud effort doesn’t measure up to either of its predecessors. It also has one of those irritating, shrieking rock guitar solos. Pass.

HAILEY WHITTERS / “Heartland”
Writers: Hailey Whitters/Nicolle Galyon/Forest Whitehead; Producer: Jake Gear/Hailey Whitters; Label: Big Loud
– This troubadour has proved herself as a major talent over and over again. Her current tune is a winning meditation on life and love. As always, she is delightfully melodic and endearingly sincere. She has just landed a Song of the Year Grammy nomination as a co-writer on “A Beautiful Noise” (sung by Alicia Keys & Brandi Carlile). There are eight (!) writers credited on the song, so you know somebody is getting a free ride. I’m guessing it’s not her.

ALAN JACKSON / “Racing the Dark”
Writers: Alan Jackson/Mattie Jackson Selecman; Producer: Keith Stegall; Label: ACR/EMI
– Daughter Mattie wrote the lyrics, and daddy Alan put them to music and then recorded this extraordinary, beautifully country, vocal performance. It’s mini-masterpiece about healing, which is something Mattie has learned about following the tragic death of her husband. She also has an inspirational book exploring grief and God, titled Lemons on Friday.

KAMERON MARLOWE / “Steady Heart”
Writers: Kameron Marlowe/Jessi Alexander/Dan Isbell; Producer: Dann Huff; Label: Columbia
– OMG, how romantic is this? His soulful singing has always pierced my heart, but never more so than on this terrifically warm, tender paean to True Love. A song to make you dreamy, soft, grateful and swoony.

TAYLOR SWIFT & CHRIS STAPLETON / “I Bet You Think About Me”
Writers: Taylor Swift/Lori McKenna; Producer: Aaron Dessner/Taylor Swift; Label: Republic/MCA
– She’s the working-class gal who married the upper-crust dude, and it didn’t work out. Like, spectacularly wrong. So she wrote a song excoriating him (surprise). The hilarious video (directed by Blake Lively) is a fantastic mini movie. The previously unreleased song dates from her country-music days, and the addition of Stapleton’s harmony voice underscores the point.

CALLISTA CLARK / “Real To Me”
Writers: Callista Clark/Cameron Jaymes/Laura Veltz; Producer: Nathan Chapman; Label: Big Machine
– She sings so well. She’s only 18, and this soul-pop stomp points the way toward something more promising than her current radio tune.

Johnny Cash Museum Partners With National Museum of African American Music For New Ticket Bundle

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Bill Miller‘s Icon Entertainment has formed a strategic partnership between the Johnny Cash Museum and the National Museum of African American Music to aid guests seeking to learn more about the evolution and culture of music.

The partnership begins Dec. 1, and will give guests the option of purchasing a ticket bundle which includes admission to the Johnny Cash Museum and the National Museum of African American Music. The bundle will be offered at $41.85 and will be sold online and in store at both museums.

“I’m proud of the partnership between NMAAM and the Johnny Cash Museum,” said Miller, Icon Entertainment President and CEO. “Johnny was a pioneer in showcasing African American artists on his prime time TV series The Johnny Cash Show, which emanated from the Ryman Auditorium from 1969 through 1971. Louis Armstrong, Stevie Wonder, Ray Charles, Charlie Pride and numerous other legends appeared alongside Johnny to share their art and talent with the world. This partnership will provide a rich and robust experience to guests from around the world.”

“Johnny Cash’s music reflected the lived experience of his life, something that any fan of genres created or heavily influenced by African Americans will recognize. Our alliance with the Johnny Cash Museum is a natural way to ensure that visitors to Nashville can explore music and culture that we all share,” said H. Beecher Hicks, III, NMAAM President and CEO.

Since 2013, the Johnny Cash Museum has welcomed millions of guests and features the largest and most comprehensive collection of Johnny Cash artifacts and memorabilia in the world. Opened in 2020, NMAAM is the only dedicated museum celebrating the major influence African Americans have played in the growth of American music. Through this partnership, both museums will showcase influential stories in music history to hundreds of thousands of Nashville visitors.

Allie Colleen Delivers Her Debut Album, ‘Stones’

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Singer-songwriter Allie Colleen digitally released her debut album, Stones, on Wednesday Nov. 24 and celebrated with a special celebration at The Local in Nashville.

Songwriters Kelli Johnson, Kimberly Atwood, Steven McMorran and Jason Matthews, who all collaborated on the project, along with Mitch Rossell and Anthony Mossburg joined Colleen to share the stories behind the songs followed by a full band show.

The project was co-produced by Joe Costa and Ben Watts and was recorded at Allentown Recording Studio in Nashville. Throughout the album’s 11 tracks are a variety of songs and topics, including “Only Oklahoma,” which places the Oklahoma native in a position of questioning what her life might be like if she’d have never left home; the seemingly innocent named yet innuendo-filled “Pink Lemonade;” and the powerful anthem “Wildflower,” which provides encouragement to embrace one’s uniqueness.

“I’ve always been drawn to artists that can do it all. Someone who can write their own songs and come into the studio and perform them in a way that moves the listener and makes you believe every single word they sing. That’s Allie Colleen,” shares Costa. “This girl is the whole package, and I couldn’t be more honored and proud to have played a part in helping her vision to come to life.”

“Allie Colleen delivers the goods on her debut album. From moments of angsty blues to soulful ballads and classic country. Allie does it all with raw, heartfelt lyrics and an honest vocal delivery,” adds Watts. “It was a pleasure to play a part in the creation of this project. I’m sure she’s set for a bright journey ahead!”

“I am beyond grateful every day of my life to pursue this dream. This collection of songs holds stories and narratives that are very close to my heart, and it is my hope and intention that they will have their own place in your story as well. So from my heart and all the amazing hands that touched this project, thank you for my life and career,” says Colleen. “I hope you love this album, but at the end of the day-I LOVE this album. Love one another.”

Colleen visited the MusicRow offices earlier this year and shared snippets and stories from her debut album. To read about the visit, click here.

Stones Track List:
1. Stones (I Don’t Give A …) – Sara Brice / De’Leah Shane / Tony McVaney / Allie Colleen
2. Playin’ House – Billy Dawson / Jason Matthews / Allie Colleen
3. Don’t Give Your Heart To A Cowboy – Eric Dodd / Allie Colleen
4. Vagabond Angels – Steven McMorran / Allie Colleen
5. Wildflower – Billy Dawson / De’leah Shane / Sara Brice / Allie Colleen
6. Only Oklahoma – Matt McKinney / Allie Colleen
7. Blame It On The Weather – Allie Colleen
8. Good As It Gets – Carly Rogers / Kelli Johnson / Allie Colleen
9. Well Enough Alone – Kimberly Atwood / Allie Colleen
10. Make Me A Man – Eric Dodd / Allie Colleen
11. Pink Lemonade – Nora Collins / Nick Donley / Matt McVaney

Cole Swindell & Lainey Wilson Join Forces On Fiery Duet, ‘Never Say Never’ [Interview]

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Grammy-nominated entertainer Cole Swindell and fast-rising, country songstress Lainey Wilson recently released their fiery new duet, “Never Say Never” via Warner Music Nashville.

For Swindell, the track is his 12th career single following his back-to-back No. 1 hits “Love You Too Late” and “Single Saturday Night.” Meanwhile, Wilson, who won the 2021 MusicRow Discovery Artist of the Year award, is coming off her Gold-certified, No. 1 debut single “Things A Man Oughta Know.”

Swindell co-wrote “Never Say Never” with Jessi Alexander and Chase McGill in 2018. The Zach Crowell-produced track blends Swindell and Wilson’s signature sounds, offering a perfect mixture of country twang and relatability with rocking guitar licks and powerful concert-ready production. The hard-hitting back and forth dialog finds the duo admitting that sometimes you just can’t walk away, even when you know you should.

“I don’t know anyone who hasn’t been in this situation at some point in time,” Wilson says. “I was telling Cole the other day, it’s like that piece of chocolate cake that you know you shouldn’t have but you take it anyway. We’ve all been there, so we can all relate even if you’ve never been in a relationship in your life.” She continues, “It’s hard sometimes to have a rocking song that’s also passionate, and I think this song does that. It makes you feel all the things. It makes you wanna say ‘Hell yeah!’ and it makes you want to kiss somebody.”

YouTube video

Though the two artists have been long-time fans of each other, “Never Say Never” is their first collaboration. It is also Swindell’s first true duet from his seven year career.

“I wrote [the song] with two of our really good friends, Chase McGill and Jessi Alexander. I was in [Lainey’s] hometown in Louisiana playing the last show of the year a couple of years ago, and we wrote this song that weekend. We knew it was special and we could tell it was going to be a rocking song with a lot of energy, but the way we wrote it we knew it had to be a duet,” Swindell says. “We were trying to find the right person that could sing it and make it feel like it needed to. I’ve been a big fan of [Lainey’s] music, so when she popped into my head [we knew that she was it].”

“I take a whole lot of pride in my own songwriting and my own art. People pitch me things and I am a stickler, I’m not going to lie. It’s got to hit me right [in the heart]. It’s gotta make me feel something and it’s gotta make me feel like I wrote it,” Wilson explains. “I listened to the first verse and the chorus and I was like ‘Holy moly! This song is special and it made me feel something.’ I’ve been a fan of his for the longest time and look up to him as a songwriter, entertainer, and artist so I couldn’t say yes quick enough.”

Throughout his career, Swindell has racked up 10 No. 1 singles, multiple Gold and Platinum singles and albums, and nearly 4.5 billion career streams. However, upon its release to country radio, “Never Say Never” earned 91 first-day adds at Billboard and Country Aircheck/Mediabase, making it Swindell’s biggest add day so far in his career.

With “Never Say Never” now out into the world and gaining traction, Swindell and Wilson have many plans in the works and dreams for the project, including a cinematic, attention-grabbing music video and hopes of a 2022 award show performance.

“Never Say Never” is available everywhere now.

Mark Your Calendar—December 2021

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Single/Track Releases

December 3
Sarah Darling/Song Still Gets Me/Be Darling Records

December 6
Brooke Moriber/This Town Made Us/Reviver Records
Walker Hayes/AA/Monument
Richard Lynch/I Saw Santa Balin’ Hay/MTS

December 13
Old Dominion/No Hard Feelings/Arista
Ingrid Andress with Sam Hunt/Wishful Drinking/Atlantic/Warner/WEA
Chayce Beckham & Lindsay Ell/Can’t Do Without Me/Wheelhouse/Stoney Creek

 

Album/EP Releases

December 3
Blake Shelton/Body Language Deluxe/Warner Music Nashville

December 10
Hardy & Various Artists/Hixtape: Vol. 2/Big Loud

Artist Action: Carrie Underwood, Keith Urban, Kane Brown, Brett Eldredge

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Carrie Underwood Kicks Off First Las Vegas Residency

Carrie Underwood. Photo: Denise Truscello

Carrie Underwood premiered “Reflection: The Las Vegas Residency” at the brand-new Resorts World Theatre last night (Dec. 1). The evening marked the Grammy award-winning performer’s first residency.

Underwood was the first artist to break in the new venue’s stage, which is the largest and tallest in Las Vegas. Revisiting some of the highlights of her recording and touring career, “Reflection” celebrates her greatest hits from the last 15 years. The show also features her band, dancers, aerialists, a virtual orchestra, an array of costumes, and a water wall feature finale.

“It’s such a special honor to be the first artist to perform on this incredible stage in a brand new, beautiful, state-of-the-art theatre at such an exciting new destination as Resorts World Las Vegas,” Underwood shares. “I’m so proud of this show and so happy to finally get to share it with the amazing audiences here in Las Vegas.”

The show is directed by Barry Lather, with Creative Production & Show design by Nick Whitehouse & Fireplay, and Costume Design/Wardrobe Styling by Emma Trask.

For a full list of upcoming shows for the “ReflectionL The Last Vegas Residency,” click here.

 

Keith Urban Makes Surprise Visit To Nashville High School

Keith Urban visits Hillwood High School in Nashville, TN on Tuesday, Nov. 30 to speak with students from Orchestra, Rock Band, Choir and more to share the impact of music education. Photo: Acacia Evans/CMA

12-time CMA Award winner Keith Urban recently met with students from Hillwood High School in Nashville’s Rock Band, Orchestra, Choir and Band programs. During his visit, Urban hosted a Q&A session that discussed songwriting, performing, and the music industry.

In addition to offering students tips and words of encouragement, Urban was also treated to a pair of student performances in preparation for their winter concerts–one from the school’s Rock Band and the other from its String Orchestra, which performed Urban’s hit “Wasted Time.”

“There is nothing more fulfilling than experiencing the incredible impact music has on a student’s life,” says Tiffany Kerns, Executive Director, CMA Foundation. “Whether they are performing music or talking about the transformative power of music, yesterday’s school visit reiterated that our priority in education is always our students’ ability to be successful, heard, and seen. Keith provided insight on his musical journey but more importantly, he shared a commonality with the students-music making is life changing and critical to our next generation.”

 

Kane Brown To Co-Host ‘A Home For The Holidays At The Grove’

Kane Brown. Photo: Cliff Lipson/CBS

Singer-songwriter Kane Brown will join fellow musical artists Justin Bieber, Alessia Cara, and Darren Criss to host CBS Presents the 23rd annual A Home For The Holidays At The Grove on Sunday, Dec. 5 at 8:30 p.m. on CBS.

Filmed at famed retail, dining and entertainment destination The Grove in Los Angeles, will share stories from several American families as well as special performances from musical artists.

For the last two decades, the award-winning special has shined a light on the thousands of American children in foster care and has inspired tens of thousands of adoptions. There are currently more than 400,000 children in foster care in the United States.

 

Brett Eldredge Brings “Glow Live” To Sold Out Ryman Crowds

Pictured (L-R): John Esposito (Chairman & CEO, WMN), Jamie Younger (Sr. Director, Artist Development, WMN), Brett Eldredge, Cris Lacy (EVP, A&R, WMN), Shane Tarleton (EVP, Artist Development, WMN). Photo: Austin Screws

Brett Eldredge played a pair of sold-out shows this past weekend (Nov. 26-27) as he brought his holiday “Glow Live” show to the historic Ryman auditorium. The Warner Music Nashville recording artist showcased performances from his recently released Mr. Christmas album, as well as his 2016 holiday album, Glow.

The Platinum-selling artist will bring his beloved “Glow Live” tour to Boston before heading to New York City later this month. The tour will come to a close in his home state of Illinois for two nights at The Chicago Theatre.

To ring in the holiday season, Eldredge also graces the cover of MusicRow‘s Touring & NBT print issue, which is available to purchase now.