The Oak Ridge Boys will celebrate the summer with the release of their new album, Front Porch Singin’, on June 11.

The album is their fourth collaboration with producer Dave Cobb. Recorded during the pandemic, the project was built around the feelings in the lead single, “Love, Light And Healing,” which is now available.

“We were sitting in the studio when David Cobb walked in and asked, ‘If you were sitting on the front porch, just singing songs you know, what might you sing?’ Well, we started singing ‘Unclouded Day’… and he said, ‘Let’s go to the microphones.’ That’s how this album was recorded,” says the Oaks’ Duane Allen.

“This title has become more of an attitude than anything else,” shares the Oaks’ Joe Bonsall. “What if the four of us were sitting on a porch together and someone begins to sing a favorite old Gospel song, like ‘Swing Down Chariot,’ or a country and western standard like ‘Red River Valley,’ and everyone else just joined in? That is what happened at RCA Studio A. But, as usual under producer Dave Cobb’s leadership, this album turned into so much more. This project is quite honestly one of the most heartfelt albums we have ever recorded. It was a bit strange to social distance from each other in the studio, but I believe it drew us all closer and in doing so we may have inadvertently recorded the perfect project for this time period. These songs, whether new or old, reflect a certain optimism and a deep-seated faith that God will work all of this out as we move forward. Life is beautiful as one song says. We must embrace it and celebrate it with all of our being.”

“I always love working with The Oaks and with this album, they’ve really captured the warmest feelings of home and family,” shares Cobb.

Front Porch Singin’ Track List
01. Life Is Beautiful
02. Love, Light, And Healing
03. Old Ways
04. Promised Land
05. Red River Valley
06. Life’s Railway To Heaven
07. Rock My Soul
08. Swing Down Chariot
09. ‘Till I See You Again
10. Unclouded Day
11. When He Calls

Maddie & Tae. Photo: Nolan Feldpausch

Award-winning country artists Maddie & Tae have joined forces with the CMA Foundation to inspire music teachers and students through virtual classroom visits.

As the newest CMA Foundation Artist Ambassadors, the duo will participate in discussions about overcoming challenges and the importance of empowering the next generation of female leaders. They’ll also discuss how music helped them develop confidence and share experiences about their journeys in the music industry.

“Maddie & Tae have used their voices throughout their careers to advocate for the importance of music education, supporting the CMA Foundation’s mission to provide equitable opportunities for students across the country,” says Tiffany Kerns, CMA Foundation Executive Director. “As we are celebrating Music In Our Schools Month in March, we are excited to have these talented women join our CMA Foundation Artist Ambassador collective to share the power of music with students and music teachers. The CMA Foundation understands that representation is key in all areas of life. Maddie & Tae are two strong, talented and resilient female leaders in the music industry and we are looking forward to them being examples for these students and teachers, showing them that anything is possible.”

“Music has always been incredibly special to us,” says Taylor Kerr of Maddie & Tae. “Not only for the enjoyment of listening and creating, but for the healing and connection it brings to so many. We feel honored to be the new CMA Foundation ambassadors and look forward to chatting about our favorite thing in the whole world!”

Maddie & Tae will be joining a notable group of CMA Foundation Artist Ambassadors, including Jimmie Allen, Linday Ell, and Ashley McBryde, who have helped advocate for access to music education for students across the country.

Award-winning songwriter and producer Ross Copperman is gearing up for the release of his forthcoming EP, Somewhere There’s a Light On, set for release on Photo Finish Records on May 21.

The shimmery Southern pop flavored project features back-to-back singalongs and Copperman’s ferocious musicality, radio-ready piano, staccato percussion, synths, snaps and smooth vocals, with country’s love of cohesive narratives. “I’ve always liked to write songs to live in any world and not necessarily be too specific to genres,” Copperman said. “It feels like pop has really been influenced by country writing in the last few years.”

Ross Copperman. Photo: Gus Black

Signed initially as an artist to the UK’s Phonogenic Records/RCA in the early 2000’s, Copperman found himself touring, landing syncs on popular shows, and earning success for two releases out of the gate. Relocating to Nashville, he became a student of songwriting, and a respected producer as well, with 29 No. 1 songs under his belt. Now he’s coming full circle with a new release as an artist himself.

Copperman co-wrote Somewhere There’s a Light On with some of his favorite collaborators, including a pair with Ed Sheeran. “I’ve never loved two songs more than ‘Electricity’ and ‘Therapy’ in my life,” Copperman said of the tracks he wrote with Sheeran. “We were pitching them to country artists, and I had this realization: ‘Wow. I think these might be my songs.’ Finding love, becoming a dad, helping other artists find their voice…all of this life I’ve lived has informed my new music. Without those experiences, I’m not sure we’d be here at this moment with these songs.”

Somewhere There’s a Light On Track List:
1.     “Not Believe” (Ross Copperman, Jordan Reynolds, Emily Weisband)
2.     “Electricity” (Ross Copperman, Ed Sheeran, Johnny McDaid)
3.     “Therapy” (Ross Copperman, Ed Sheeran, Johnny McDaid)
4.     “Somewhere There’s a Light On” (Ross Copperman, Shane McAnally, Josh Osborne)
5.     “Holdin’ You” (Ross Copperman, Ashley Gorley, Shane McAnally)

Kenny Chesney is expanding upon his album Here And Now with a new deluxe edition, available for preorder beginning March 26 and set for release May 7.

Here And Now Deluxe includes four diverse new tracks: “Wind On” (David Lee Murphy and Rodney Clawson), “Fields of Glory” (Josh Osborne, Ashley Gorley and Ross Copperman), “My Anthem” (Osborne, Shane McAnally and Jason Gantt) ,and “Streets,” (co-written with Tom Douglas).