Carrie Underwood. Photo: Joseph Llanes
Country music mainstay Carrie Underwood goes back to her musical and spiritual roots on her album of gospel hymns, My Savior, that released today (March 26).
The hymns honor the sacred music Underwood grew up singing in her rural Oklahoma church, and her incomparable voice and the diverse arrangements bring the collection to present day. My Savior follows her first-ever Christmas album, 2020’s chart-topping My Gift, which partly inspired the project.
Traditional gospel hymns like “How Great Thou Art,” “Great Is Thy Faithfulness,” “The Old Rugged Cross,” “Blessed Assurance” and “Amazing Grace” are among the 13-tracks, co-produced and arranged by Underwood and David Garcia (Cry Pretty).
When it came to picking which hymns to record, Underwood says it was no easy task.
“We had a big list,” she says. “I definitely had my pillars, like ‘How Great Thou Art,’ I wanted to have a proper studio recording of that, and ‘Softly And Tenderly’ and ‘Just As I Am.’
“We tried to go about it having some of my absolute favorites, but we also wanted to make it a musical journey as you would an album. We wanted to have places to go and have a little bit of tempo and things that we could do differently as far as instrumentation to give enough variety. So it was tough, but I’m very happy with the ones we ended up recording.”
The hymns are carefully arranged, adding elements of classic country, church music, folk, and bluegrass. “Amazing Grace” is translated as a sing-along campfire song, featuring harmonies from Underwood’s family and friends. “Victory In Jesus” is colored with a bluesy swagger, “Because He Lives” moves like folk-pop. The ethereal production of “Nothing But The Blood Of Jesus,” is perhaps the most contemporary sounding, while songs like “Blessed Assurance” and the outstanding “How Great Thou Art” don’t waver much from the traditional versions.
“Initially I wanted everything to be very traditional and standard, the way that it was rolling around in my head from when I was a child and growing up, but then once we got into it, we did want to explore a little bit,” Underwood says.
“We wanted to keep the heart that was behind them, but we wanted to try to—I don’t want to say modernize—but we just wanted to give a fresh take on some of them. A lot of these songs, there’s no chorus. It’s verse after verse after verse, there’s like eight verses and no chorus. So we tried to play just a little bit and push some boundaries to try to create a chorus with some ‘oohs’ or something like that. We tried to decide what the song wanted to do, and follow that.”
Carrie Underwood and David Garcia. Photo: Jeff Johnson
One of the two collaborations on My Savior, “Nothing But The Blood Of Jesus,” features the harmonies of NEEDTOBREATHE’s frontman, Bear Rinehart.
“That was one that when we were sitting down trying to figure out what that song wanted to do, David would just pick up a guitar, I start singing, we were both fiddling around on the piano just trying to figure out what [the songs] wanted. We sped it up, we wanted it to move and [Bear’s] was a voice that felt like it was easy to hear on it. Before we even asked him to be a part of it, we were like, ‘Wow, his voice would be really cool.’ I’m a fan of NEEDTOBREATHE and he has such a unique, very cool voice.”
The most-awarded female gospel artist of all time, CeCe Winans, joins Underwood on “Great Is Thy Faithfulness.” In a recent interview with MusicRow, Winans talked about the collaboration, and how she asked Underwood if she was prepared to release such a powerful project.
Underwood feels that the process has touched her. “Going into this, we just wanted to do right by the songs. I mean this is a bucket list album for me, this is something that I’ve always wanted to do. It means a lot to me, so I wanted to have this recorded, just for me and for my heart. I definitely hope that other people listen to it and hear that,” she says. “If one person listens to it and feels a closer connection with their creator, I think that it was worth it. I know I did when making this project.”
Underwood will be bringing these powerful songs to life with a virtual live concert performance from the Ryman Auditorium at 11 a.m. CST on Easter Sunday (April 4). The event will stream live globally on her Facebook page, and will benefit Save the Children. Southern gospel and harmonica legend Buddy Greene and 10-time CMA Musician of the Year Mac McAnally, both of whom played on the album, will also appear with Underwood.
The global superstar is excited to have an opportunity to sing these special songs live.
“The live stream that we’re doing on Easter will help to fill that void. Normally I would have an album out and I would get to go sing these songs somewhere. It was like, ‘Man, you don’t want it to just come out and you never get to sing them.’ It feels good to sing them and I’m glad that’s happening.”
Fans can RSVP for My Savior: Live From The Ryman via Facebook here. It will remain exclusively on Facebook for 48 hours.
Patrick Droney Set To Drop Full-Length Debut ‘State Of The Heart’ In May
/by Lorie HollabaughPatrick Droney is releasing his debut, full-length studio album State Of The Heart on Warner Records on May 21.
The album features 15 tracks co-produced and co-written entirely by Droney. The pulsating title track is out today, featuring a video starring Lucy Hale.
Droney contributed multiple instrumentals to the project, including signature electric guitar, keys, bass and drums, and mines inspiration and confessional details from multiple coming-of-age seasons on his debut across New York City, Los Angeles and Nashville, weaving listeners through the heartbeat of three cities for some of his most intimate storytelling. Moments like the groove-tinged “River” explores the essence of time, bolstered by red-hot electric guitar riffs, while “Talk About That” finds Droney searching deeper about the human condition. The solo-penned “On Your Way Home” put his textured vocals on the forefront and “When The Lights Go Out” is an infectious jolt of energy paired over a sprawling melody.
“It’s been a true journey to the state of the heart,” Droney says. “This album is both an accumulation of where I’ve been these last ten years as well as a real starting point towards where I’m going. I hope this collection of songs serves as a friend on the long, but worthy, pursuit of trying to find ourselves.”
State Of The Heart Track List:
1. State of the Heart
2. Talk About That
3. When the Lights Go Out
4. Yours in the Morning
5. River
6. Little by Little
7. The Wire
8. Nowhere Town
9. Guess That’s Why I’m Calling
10. Where You Are
11. Glitter
12. Right With You
13. Chasing You
14. Passerby
15. On Your Way Home
Carrie Underwood Deepens Her Musical Legacy With ‘My Savior’ [Interview]
/by LB CantrellCarrie Underwood. Photo: Joseph Llanes
Country music mainstay Carrie Underwood goes back to her musical and spiritual roots on her album of gospel hymns, My Savior, that released today (March 26).
The hymns honor the sacred music Underwood grew up singing in her rural Oklahoma church, and her incomparable voice and the diverse arrangements bring the collection to present day. My Savior follows her first-ever Christmas album, 2020’s chart-topping My Gift, which partly inspired the project.
Traditional gospel hymns like “How Great Thou Art,” “Great Is Thy Faithfulness,” “The Old Rugged Cross,” “Blessed Assurance” and “Amazing Grace” are among the 13-tracks, co-produced and arranged by Underwood and David Garcia (Cry Pretty).
When it came to picking which hymns to record, Underwood says it was no easy task.
“We had a big list,” she says. “I definitely had my pillars, like ‘How Great Thou Art,’ I wanted to have a proper studio recording of that, and ‘Softly And Tenderly’ and ‘Just As I Am.’
“We tried to go about it having some of my absolute favorites, but we also wanted to make it a musical journey as you would an album. We wanted to have places to go and have a little bit of tempo and things that we could do differently as far as instrumentation to give enough variety. So it was tough, but I’m very happy with the ones we ended up recording.”
The hymns are carefully arranged, adding elements of classic country, church music, folk, and bluegrass. “Amazing Grace” is translated as a sing-along campfire song, featuring harmonies from Underwood’s family and friends. “Victory In Jesus” is colored with a bluesy swagger, “Because He Lives” moves like folk-pop. The ethereal production of “Nothing But The Blood Of Jesus,” is perhaps the most contemporary sounding, while songs like “Blessed Assurance” and the outstanding “How Great Thou Art” don’t waver much from the traditional versions.
“Initially I wanted everything to be very traditional and standard, the way that it was rolling around in my head from when I was a child and growing up, but then once we got into it, we did want to explore a little bit,” Underwood says.
“We wanted to keep the heart that was behind them, but we wanted to try to—I don’t want to say modernize—but we just wanted to give a fresh take on some of them. A lot of these songs, there’s no chorus. It’s verse after verse after verse, there’s like eight verses and no chorus. So we tried to play just a little bit and push some boundaries to try to create a chorus with some ‘oohs’ or something like that. We tried to decide what the song wanted to do, and follow that.”
Carrie Underwood and David Garcia. Photo: Jeff Johnson
One of the two collaborations on My Savior, “Nothing But The Blood Of Jesus,” features the harmonies of NEEDTOBREATHE’s frontman, Bear Rinehart.
“That was one that when we were sitting down trying to figure out what that song wanted to do, David would just pick up a guitar, I start singing, we were both fiddling around on the piano just trying to figure out what [the songs] wanted. We sped it up, we wanted it to move and [Bear’s] was a voice that felt like it was easy to hear on it. Before we even asked him to be a part of it, we were like, ‘Wow, his voice would be really cool.’ I’m a fan of NEEDTOBREATHE and he has such a unique, very cool voice.”
The most-awarded female gospel artist of all time, CeCe Winans, joins Underwood on “Great Is Thy Faithfulness.” In a recent interview with MusicRow, Winans talked about the collaboration, and how she asked Underwood if she was prepared to release such a powerful project.
Underwood feels that the process has touched her. “Going into this, we just wanted to do right by the songs. I mean this is a bucket list album for me, this is something that I’ve always wanted to do. It means a lot to me, so I wanted to have this recorded, just for me and for my heart. I definitely hope that other people listen to it and hear that,” she says. “If one person listens to it and feels a closer connection with their creator, I think that it was worth it. I know I did when making this project.”
Underwood will be bringing these powerful songs to life with a virtual live concert performance from the Ryman Auditorium at 11 a.m. CST on Easter Sunday (April 4). The event will stream live globally on her Facebook page, and will benefit Save the Children. Southern gospel and harmonica legend Buddy Greene and 10-time CMA Musician of the Year Mac McAnally, both of whom played on the album, will also appear with Underwood.
The global superstar is excited to have an opportunity to sing these special songs live.
“The live stream that we’re doing on Easter will help to fill that void. Normally I would have an album out and I would get to go sing these songs somewhere. It was like, ‘Man, you don’t want it to just come out and you never get to sing them.’ It feels good to sing them and I’m glad that’s happening.”
Fans can RSVP for My Savior: Live From The Ryman via Facebook here. It will remain exclusively on Facebook for 48 hours.
Chase Bryant Announces Debut Album ‘Upbringing’
/by Steven BoeroChase Bryant. Photo: Jeff Ray.
Chase Bryant has announced his debut album, Upbringing, will release on July 16 via Green Iris Records.
Upbringing will feature 12 songs, 10 of which were co-written by Bryant. The music is captured live with an all-star band under the guidance of writer/producer Jon Randall. Embracing the album’s Texas roots, they recorded it over the course of a month at Austin’s famed Arlyn Studios. Backed by drummer J.J. Johnson (Gary Clark, Jr., Tedeschi Trucks Band) and guitarist Charlie Sexton (Bob Dylan, Lucinda Williams), Bryant and the band performed much of the material live on the floor, capturing the energy and catharsis of the moment.
The waltzing “High Drunk And Heartbroken” nods to Willie Nelson and Kris Kristofferson as it grapples with loneliness and self-medication, while the dreamy “Think About That” meditates on memory and regret. The bittersweet “Even Now,” which features Jessi Alexander on background vocals, aims to cut its losses and move on in the wake of a toxic relationship. The album’s lighter moments, like the driving “Cold Beer” and sensual “Selfish,” hint at deeper universal truths that bind us: the need for connection, for release, for love.
Fans can get a taste of the record with singles “Upbringing” and “High, Drunk, and Heartbroken” which are out now.
Tim McGraw And Tyler Hubbard Earn MusicRow No. 1
/by Alex ParryTim McGraw’s collab with Tyler Hubbard, “Undivided,” rises to No. 1 in just 11 weeks on the MusicRow CountryBreakout Radio Chart. Hubbard co-wrote the single with Chris Loocke, and co-produced it with McGraw, Corey Crowder and Byron Gallimore. The inspiration for the song came out of Hubbard’s time spent soul searching on his bus while waiting out a positive COVID-19 quarantine.
“Undivided” will be included on the deluxe version of McGraw’s No. 1 album Here On Earth, due out later this spring on Big Machine Records.
The music video features behind the scenes footage of the two in the studio and has amassed over 1.8 million views.
Click here or above to view the latest edition of The MusicRow Weekly.
BBR Music Group Signs Byron Kennedy To Brand New Comedy Record Deal
/by Lorie HollabaughPictured (L-R:) Neal Spielberg, Spielberg Entertainment; Peter Strickland, Marathon Talent Agency; Byron Kennedy; Jon Loba, President, Recorded Music, BMG Nashville; JoJamie Hahr, SVP, BBR Music Group Not Pictured – Daniel Novick, Novick Law PLLC. Photo: Cody Heckber
Comedian Byron Kennedy has signed with BBR Music Group.
With the signing Kennedy finds himself among a familiar artist roster, since he was a recent executive at the label group. Formerly the VP of Promotion for Stoney Creek Records, an imprint of BBR Music Group, Kennedy comes from years of radio/music industry experience. Doing comedy on the side as often as he could, Kennedy was eventually encouraged to follow his true dream in the entertainment business: comedy. The trajectory of his comedy career took him from open mic nights to featuring, performing in Las Vegas, and beyond. The explanation for his fast start is exceedingly simple: he hated sitting in meetings.
Quickly switching gears from working to help build artist careers to now building his own as an artist, Kennedy kicked off an ongoing residency at the LA Comedy Club in the newly renovated STRAT Hotel, Casino and Sky Pod in Las Vegas on March 21. He’s planning a stop in Nashville in mid-July as he tours comedy clubs across North America.
“Byron Kennedy is one of the funniest people I have ever met,” says Jon Loba, President of Recorded Music at BMG Nashville. “Having worked with Jeff Foxworthy and Bill Engvall among others, that says a lot. While he was a very capable label and radio executive, I always encourage our staff to follow their passions. Comedy has always clearly been his. We are so excited to join him in that journey and look forward to helping the world laugh at and with Byron, just as anyone who personally knows him has.”
“What is this life!?! The first time I signed a contract with BBR Music Group it was to promote their artists, the second time I signed a contract with BBRMG it was to BE one of their artists! THIS IS NUTS! I’d like to thank Jon Loba for his belief in me,” says Kennedy. “This is a dream come true and I don’t think anything I say here could possibly capture how grateful I truly am. We have all been through some crazy times the last 12 months and we need to laugh now more than ever. Getting to bring joy and laughter to people every week is such a blessing and BBR Music Group is now going to help me do that on a much larger scale! I hope we can all laugh together soon!”
Kennedy is managed by Neal Spielberg of Spielberg Entertainment and Peter Strickland of Marathon Talent Agency, who together helped launch the careers of Jeff Foxworthy and Bill Engvall. Daniel Novick of Novick Law PLLC serves as Kennedy’s attorney.
River House Artists/Sony Music Nashville Sign Georgia Webster
/by LB CantrellGeorgia Webster. Photo: Chris Morley
Sony Music Nashville and River House Artists have announced the signing of country singer-songwriter and TikTok creator Georgia Webster.
Webster is celebrating her record deal signing by releasing “Push & Pull,” her first release through the label. The song follows her debut track, “Tell Your Mom,” which took off on TikTok and on streaming platforms.
Georgia Webster signing
The Massachusetts native grew up listening to a variety of music, from John Mayer and Miley Cyrus to Carrie Underwood, Keane, and the Grateful Dead. She attended the prestigious Berklee College of Music’s songwriter camps, before her viral track “Tell Your Mom” hit.
“I’m beyond excited to be joining the River House/Sony Music Nashville team,” Webster says. “Being a songwriter has been my dream since 4th grade, and I just can’t wait to see these songs come to life!”
DISClaimer Single Reviews: Kelsea & Kenny, Breland & Mickey, Morgan Wade
/by Robert K OermannDisc of the Day winner “Half of My Hometown.”
The pickin’s are slim today.
There are only five essential listening experiences here. They belong to Marty Stuart, Breland & Mickey Guyton, Mo Pitney and the Lee Ann Womack collaboration with the Fisk Jubilee Singers. Plus our Disc of the Day winner, Kelsea Ballerini with an assist from Kenny Chesney.
Morgan Wade, who has been opening shows for her equally tattooed sister Ashley McBryde, wins the DISCovery Award.
FILMORE / “Good Thing”
Writers: Filmore/Geoff Warburton/Zach Abend; Producer: Zach Abend; Label: Curb
—The relationship is kaput, but the fond memories linger. He sings it with sweet regret, and the shuffling, kinda nervous track is cool. The repetitive chorus is sung a few too many times.
KELSEA BALLERINI & KENNY CHESNEY / “Half of My Hometown”
Writers: Kelsea Ballerini/Jimmy Robbins/Nicolle Galyon/Ross Copperman/Shane McAnally; Producer: Kelsea Ballerini/Jimmy Robbins/Ross Copperman; Label: Black River
—Wonderfully evocative. Musing about your roots. Whether you get away or stay put, your heart always belongs to the place where you were raised. Chesney provides a subtly shaded, perfectly nuanced harmony vocal.
STEPHEN FLATT / “Hold You Tonight”
Writers: Stephen Flatt; Producer: Dave Roe/Stephen Flatt; Label: SF
—It’s a breezy country rocker about a trucker headed for home. The ride is smooth and easy. The singer is the great-nephew of Country Music Hall of Fame bluegrass legend Lester Flatt.
LORETTA LYNN & MARGO PRICE / “One’s on the Way”
Writer: Shel Silverstein; Producers: Patsy Lynn Russell/John Carter Cash; Label: Legacy
—Well, nothing is ever going to match Loretta’s original 1972 performance of this gem. But this has plenty of verve and goodwill going for it. Margo is very much a disciple, and her affectionate warmth shines through.
GARY LeVOX / “The Distance”
Writers: Gary LeVox/Josh Hoge/Matt McVaney; Producers: Gary LeVox/Matthew McVaney; Label: Big Machine
—Gary’s debut solo single is a big-production, Christian pop outing. It’s about leaning on faith when times are hard. His searing tenor retains its impressive range.
BRELAND & MICKEY GUYTON / “Cross Country”
Writers: Breland/Sam Sumser/Sean Small/Will Gittens; Producers: Sam Sumser/Sean Small; Label: Bad Realm/Atlantic
—This is simply lovely. An airy, lilting track with both vocalists turning in extraordinarily affecting performances. The gentle tune celebrates a journey, a quest to find one’s identity, and it hits home beautifully. Previously issued as a superb Breland solo track, this duet version is just as terrific.
LATHAN WARLICK & TYLER HUBBARD / “My Way”
Writers: Lathan Warlick/RaeLynn/Tyler Hubbard/Blake Hubbard/Jarrod Ingram; Producer: The720; Label: RECORDS/Columbia
—Warlick raps. FGL’s Hubbard sings and raps. The hip-hop track is stuffed with acoustic samples. It sounds too spare for the r&b crowd and too rap for the country audience.
MORGAN WADE / “Don’t Cry”
Writers: Morgan Wade/Paul Ebersold; Producer: Sadler Vaden/Paul Ebersold; Label: Orchard/Ladylike
—Confessional and soul baring. She has a hushed, intimate delivery, and the overall vibe is kinda like ‘70s singer-songwriter-troubadour. Promising.
MARTY STUART / “Ready for the Times to Get Better”
Writer: Allen Reynolds; Producer: none listed; Label: MS
—If I didn’t know this was a 1978 Crystal Gayle oldie, I’d swear this lyric was written specifically for our seemingly endless pandemic times. New Country Music Hall of Fame member Stuart strips things down to a moody, guitar-vocal track and dips down into his lower baritone to create charismatic audio magic. Compelling and mesmerizing.
CHARLES N. GALLASPY JR. / “Fried Bologna Sandwich”
Writers: Charles N. Gallaspy, Jr.; Producer: none listed; Label: CNGJ
—Don’t give up your day job.
MO PITNEY / “Local Honey”
Writers: Adam Wood/Mo Pitney/Wil Nance; Producer: Jim “Moose” Brown; Label: Curb
—I love the loose-limbed, funky track with all the rhythm in the trunk. Pitney’s on-the-money vocal brings out the tune’s good-time vibe perfectly. Rollicking and a boatload of fun. Get buzzy with this.
THE FISK JUBILEE SINGERS & LEE ANN WOMACK / “Everybody Ought to Treat a Stranger Right”
Writer: Blind Willie Johnson; Producers: Shannon Sanders/Jim Ed Norman/Mike Curb/Paul T. Kwami; Label: Curb
—The disc celebrating the 150th anniversary of Nashville’s original superstars has won the Jubilee Singers their first Grammy Award. Collaborations abound on it — Jimmy Hall, Keb Mo, CeCe Winans, Rodney Atkins, The Fairfield Four, Ruby Amanfu and more make appearances. A wailing Womack fronts the ensemble on this rousing foot stomper drenched in bluesy gospel atmosphere. Soulful in the extreme. Clap hands and believe.
DISCovery Award winner Morgan Wade.
Country Radio Hall of Fame Nomination Deadline Approaching
/by Lorie HollabaughThe 2021 Hall of Fame inductees will be recognized during the annual Country Radio Hall of Fame Dinner and Awards Ceremony on Oct. 13 at The Westin in Nashville. The Country Radio Hall of Fame is dedicated to the recognition of individuals who have made significant contributions to the radio industry over a 20-year period, 15 of which must be in the country format.
It was founded in 1974 to recognize outstanding individuals working in the broadcasting industry who are promoting the country radio format. There are two categories recognized: Radio and On-Air Personality. The CRB President’s Award and Artist Career Achievement Award are also presented during the event.
“We’re chomping at the bit to find the next class of professionals for the Country Radio Hall of Fame for 2021,” said CRB’s Country Radio Hall of Fame Committee Co-Chair Joel Raab.
Information regarding sponsorship opportunities and tickets for the event will be available in the coming months.
Oak Ridge Boys Plan Some ‘Front Porch Singing’ For June
/by Lorie HollabaughThe 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
Chase Rice, MTN DEW Team Up For Outdoor Stimulus Promotion
/by Lydia FarthingChase Rice. Photo: Kaiser Cunningham
Chase Rice is teaming up with MTN DEW to support its campaign to empower outdoor enthusiasts across the country.
Rice will support the “Get Out And Do” campaign by sharing social content that encourages DEW Nation to apply for the Outdoor Stimulus program, which is offering $1 million in prizes.
Through the promotion, fans are eligible for a chance to receive a $25 reimbursement on their most recent outdoor pass or license for hunting, fishing, camping, hiking, and more.
Alternatively, fans can choose to donate their stimulus funds to a variety of charitable organizations whose goal is to protect and support the great outdoors.
Details at MountainDEW.com/OutdoorStimulus.