Photo: Courtesy of UMG Nashville
Award-winning artist Darius Rucker has been bringing people together with his warm, comforting sound and lowcountry spirit for decades now. His music career first took off as the lead singer and rhythm guitarist for the multi-Platinum band Hootie & the Blowfish. In addition to playing with the group, Rucker has garnered success as an individual country act with 10 No. 1 hits and multiple No. 1 albums. Yesterday (Oct. 4), the Grand Ole Opry member was inducted into the Music City Walk of Fame, and tomorrow (Oct. 6), he unveils his first solo record in six years, Carolyn’s Boy.
In addition to his Music City Walk of Fame induction, the singer-songwriter gave fans a taste of the highly-anticipated release yesterday at Analog at the Hutton Hotel in Nashville, where he was recorded as part of the “Recorded Live at Analog” series supported by Heaven’s Door and debuting on PBS early next year.
Named in honor of Rucker’s mother Carolyn, the album exhibits his homey vocal stylings with a beautiful blend of feel-good, fun tunes and deeper, moving numbers that remind us that we can always connect to one another in some way and make it through the hard times. He co-wrote 11 of the 14 tracks, and recently shared some stories behind the collection with MusicRow.
Rucker notes that he had always thought about paying homage to his mother with a project, and recalls the moment he came up with the title.
“It was the first day of recording, and I just wasn’t in a good place mentally. I sat down after a take and said to myself, ‘At the end of the day, I’m just my mama’s boy,’ and after thinking about it more, I decided I was going to name the record Carolyn’s Boy.”
The Charleston native knew he wanted to make a living in the world of music as a child. Growing up, his mother was extremely supportive of his passion and introduced him to genres including gospel and R&B. That influence can be detected in tracks such as “Ol’ Church Hymn (feat. Chapel Hart)” as well as his decision to cover Rihanna‘s “Lift Me Up” from the Black Panther: Wakanda Forever soundtrack.
Rucker cut “Ol’ Church Hymn” almost immediately after writing it alongside Greylan James, Ben Hayslip and Josh Miller. After recording his own vocals on the song, he came across something special that he felt would enhance it immensely. “I was on Twitter and came across these three women singing country music, and they sounded amazing, absolutely amazing. [In that moment], I said ‘I’m going to get these girls to sing on [‘Ol’ Church Hymn’].”
Rucker then messaged the ladies on Instagram and collaboration began. Those three women turned out to be trio Chapel Hart, who would go on to earn the coveted “golden buzzer” on the talent competition show America’s Got Talent. “They really took [the track] to different level. Their vocals are so great, and I love that song so much,” he expresses.
After hearing Rihanna’s stunning work on “Lift Me Up,” Rucker was inspired to cover the Black Panther: Wakanda Forever song and include it on Carolyn’s Boy. When it comes to the current trend of established artists covering songs outside of their genre, Rucker is all for it.
“People have been covering great songs forever, and when it happens in a big way, it’s awesome to see,” he states.
The artist continues to echo encouragement and unity with tunes “In This Together,” “Have A Good Time” and chart-topping single “Same Beer Different Problem.”
“There’s so much division within our country, and we all have to live together. So, I hope people find songs on this record that resonate with them and help them get through the hard times. I want that on every record”
Written by Rucker, Monty Criswell, Derek George and Bobby Hamrick, “Have A Good Time” was also released as a single along with outside cuts “Fires Don’t Start Themselves” and “Southern Comfort.” The artist says he knew he had to cut “Fires Don’t Start Themselves” as soon as he heard it due to it’s ’90s country energy, and describes his love for the feel, speed and story “Southern Comfort.” The album also features “Sara,” which Rucker concocted with fellow renowned entertainer Ed Sheeran, Joel Crouse and Kyle Rife. He recalls witnessing Sheeran’s early days as an artist. Over the years, the two have developed a friendship, and had been wanting to collaborate for quite sometime. Rucker shares that he spontaneously flew to England one day to write with Sheeran.
“Ed asked me who my first love was, and I told him it was my fifth grade girlfriend Sara. He then asked me a million questions about that [time in my life]. In the end, he wanted to write a song about her, so we did,” he reminisces.
Creating Carolyn’s Boy has given the hitmaker a new sense of appreciation for the art of music.
“One thing that really came out of [this record] for me was a better love for what I do. We went through the pandemic and all the hardships of the past few years, and writing through all that stuff made me want to write and perform more. It further solidified how much I love what I do.”
He continues to feed that desire to perform and connect as he readies his personally-curated Riverfront Revival Music Festival for this weekend (Oct. 7-8), following the album’s release. Rucker will also wrap the stateside leg of his “Starting Fires Tour” at Nashville’s Ascend Amphitheater on Oct. 14, and make his way back across the pond and to Ireland for a few international dates in 2024.
The Core Entertainment Launches Producer Management Division
/by Steven BoeroPictured (L-R): Kevin “Chief” Zaruk, Tim Crane, Matt Geroux, Austin Shawn, Marty James and Simon Tikhman. Photo: Alanna McArdle
The Core Entertainment has announced the launch of its new Producer Management division, aiming to celebrate and elevate game-changing producers in the evolving music industry.
Founded by Kevin “Chief” Zaruk and Simon Tikhman, the new Producer Management division presents a fresh perspective on songwriting and production, placing song creation ahead of established conventions. Tim Crane has been tapped to spearhead the division.
Built to both manage the careers of emerging writer/producers, and give them same services and respect traditionally given to artists, the company seeks to push music’s new generation of writer/producers into the spotlight.
The team’s objective is to foster the creation of cutting-edge, culturally-significant hit songs – no matter who needs to be in the room to make them happen. The division’s current roster includes Austin Shawn, Marty James and Matt Geroux, with more additions to be announced soon.
“The idea behind creating this division is to work with the most talented writers and producers that are not afraid to push the boundaries of music,” say Tikhman and Zaruk in a joint statement. “With Austin, Marty and Matt, they have all shown exactly that. They challenge artists to be the best they can be, while maintaining their visions and the integrity of the songs. The goal here is to work with producers around the globe that touch every genre of music and continue to disrupt the industry with their unique artistry.”
Best known for his work with emerging superstar Bailey Zimmerman on Religiously. The Album, Shawn is a writer/producer/mixer/engineer who has spent 11 weeks at No. 1 on Billboard’s Hot Country Producers chart. He is also credited for producing/mixing/mastering rising star Chase Matthew’s breakout hit “County Line,” and boasts three No. 1 singles at country radio–Zimmerman’s “Fall In Love,” “Rock and A Hard Place” and “Religiously.”
James is credited as a co-writer of Luis Fonsi and Daddy Yankee’s 13-time Platinum No. 1 Billboard Hot 100 smash “Despacito (feat. Justin Bieber)” who also co-wrote Zimmerman’s recent No. 1 single, “Religiously.” He has earned further credits across the pop and hip-hop spectrum, from Enrique Iglesias to Wiz Khalifa, Christina Aguilera and more.
Finally, Geroux is a Nashville-based writer/producer/engineer with over 130 million streams to his credit, currently earning attention for his work with rising artist Josh Ross. Produced by Geroux, Ross’s breakout single “Trouble” has racked up more than 70 million global streams, reigned No. 1 on the Canadian Country Radio Chart, earned Platinum certification in Canada, plus debuted at No. 43 on Billboard’s Hot Country Songs chart this year. Adding to the nods with Ross, the Geroux-produced track “On A Different Night” was nominated for Single of the Year at the 2023 Canadian Country Music Awards (CCMA). He also has a whole new wave of cuts set to be revealed soon.
Initially launched in 2019 as an artist management company in partnership with Live Nation, The Core Entertainment spotlights an artist roster led by Zimmerman and Nickelback, and features Ross, Nate Smith, Dillon James, Valley and more. In July of 2023, The Core Records was founded through a separate partnership with Universal Music Group (UMG), and now, The Core’s Producer Management division will operate as a third standalone team.
Ronnie Milsap Entertains Nashville One Last Time
/by LB CantrellEarlier this week, Country Music Hall of Famer Ronnie Milsap played his final show in Music City.
Milsap was joined by a host of artist admirers for the occasion, each of whom took a shot at one of the country, pop and R&B-stylings that gave Milsap his 40 No. 1 hits. Country radio mavericks Storme Warren and Bill Cody were the emcees for the three-hour marathon of hits. Sixwire was the outstanding house band.
One by one, artists appeared on the Bridgestone Arena stage to pay tribute to Milsap. Most all of them cited him as a hero and musical influence.
Country hitmaker Keith Urban gave a tender performance of “Out Where The Bright Lights Are Glowing,” Tracy Lawrence took on Milsap’s cheeky “Daydreams About Night Things,” Terri Clark performed “My Love” and Trace Adkins honored the legend with “She Keeps the Home Fires Burning.”
Sara Evans gave a powerful performance of “Let’s Take The Long Way Around The World.” Mark Wills sounded great on “Don’t You Know How Much I Love You.” Ricky Skaggs pulled out “Let My Love Be Your Pillow,” The Gatlins performed “Back On My Mind Again,” Ray Stevens took on “(I’m) A Stand By My Woman Man” and Lorrie Morgan sang “(I’d Be) A Legend In My Time.”
Hitmaker Scotty McCreery charmed on a Milsap favorite “Pure Love,” while Breland showed off the R&B flair of Milsap’s catalog with “Any Day Now.” Justin Moore took on “What Goes On When The Sun Goes Down,” Hunter Hayes performed “He’s Got You” and Randy Houser sounded awesome on “Don’t You Ever Get Tired (Of Hurting Me).”
Artist from other genres came out to support, too. Kelly Clarkson did a fabulous job with “It Was Almost Like a Song,” and the Los Lonely Boys were one of the best performances of the night, taking on “All Is Fair in Love and War” and “Prisoner of the Highway.” Steven Curtis Chapman touched our hearts with Milsap’s “What a Difference You’ve Made in My Life.” The McCrary Sisters thrilled with “Stand By Me,” and Band of Heathens did an awesome job with “Houston Solution.”
Beloved Nashville musician Gordon Mote gave one of night’s best performances with “Lost in the Fifties Tonight (In the Still of the Night),” as did Phil Vassar with “Happy Happy Birthday Baby.” Elizabeth Cook sounded great on “Nobody Likes Sad Songs,”
When it came time for the man of the hour to make his appearance, fans were on their feet. After he was placed at the piano, Milsap jumped right in, starting his performance with the enduring “Stranger In My House” before transitioning right into “We’re An American Band” and “(There’s) No Gettin’ Over Me.”
Every now and then, a smile would touch Milsap’s face, and he would say, “That sounds real good boys,” to the band. Milsap fans young and old basked in the charisma of the 80-year-old Hall of Famer who has impacted all genres of music for the last 50 years.
Milsap thrilled with “Smoky Mountain Rain” and “America The Beautiful” before the whole artist cast came to join him for his last number, “Honky Tonk Women.”
While Milsap plans to continue recording and playing some shows, the night served as a special finale to his time performing in Nashville. After the legend waved goodbye to Bridgestone Arena, fans filed out into the street singing their favorite Milsap tunes. We certainly wouldn’t have missed it for the world.
Mac Davis’ Legacy Honored With New Song Painter Fund
/by Lorie HollabaughMac Davis Enterprises has announced a new charitable fund set up to support causes and endeavors that were near and dear to the legendary late songwriter’s heart.
Established to honor Davis’ legacy, “Song Painter: The Mac Davis Fund for the Art of Songwriting” aims to promote greater appreciation for the craft and artistry of songwriting. The Song Painter Fund is designed to respond to the needs of emerging songwriters, and to foster creative innovation through workshops, music and songwriting programs at high-profile institutions, and more. It will actively support work by underrepresented songwriters and strive to recognize organizations that believe in the importance of the role music plays in human culture.
The Song Painter Fund was realized through guidance from Mac Davis’ widow, Lisë Davis, who will actively collaborate with advisors on what projects to fund. The Song Painter Fund will be administered by The Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee.
“Mac’s Foundation will work tirelessly to elevate the craft of songwriting by creating platforms where artists can explore new boundaries in musical storytelling,” said Davis. “Mac considered himself a songwriter above all else and I know he would want to support songwriters of the next generation.”
“I loved Mac, I still love Mac and think of him all the time. Mac was one of the greatest talents of all time, especially his songwriting and I was fortunate to have the honor of co-writing many songs with Mac,” said Dolly Parton. “The songs were good of course, but not nearly as good as the fun and the love we shared while we were writing them. I will cherish our friendship forever. Mac was always very supportive of me and helped me a great deal in my early years. I miss you Mac.”
“Few artists have been as prolific a song writer as Mac,” said Reba McEntire. “His lyrics have touched so many lives around the world. He has impacted people on stage, the silver screen, and TV with his lyrics, voice, and personality. His legacy will influence songwriters forever. I am so honored to have known him, and it’s been a privilege to call him my friend.”
Davis first garnered widespread recognition when Elvis Presley recorded his poignant ballad “In The Ghetto.” Following the song’s success, Davis continued to write for Presley, creating other memorable hits like “Memories,” “Don’t Cry Daddy” and “A Little Less Conversation.” Davis’ songwriting talent extended to other artists as well, including Bobby Goldsboro, Vikki Carr, Kenny Rogers and The First Edition, Nancy Sinatra, Bruno Mars, Weezer, and Avicii, to name a few.
Establishing the foundation marks the commencement of a multitude of projects envisioned to pay tribute to Davis’ enduring legacy including several books, a Broadway production and career retrospectives. Fans can also explore the all-new website, complete with a monthly blog, never-before-seen photos, videos, and details from his decades-long music, songwriting and acting career. One-of-a-kind Mac Davis merchandise will also soon be available to purchase.
Hunter Phelps Renews Deal With Tape Room Music & Warner Chappell Music
/by Liza AndersonHunter Phelps. Photo: Hunter Berry
Hit songwriter Hunter Phelps has renewed his global publishing deal with Tape Room Music and Warner Chappell Music. Warner Chappell Music has also acquired Phelps’ catalog.
The Florida native was first introduced to songwriting by his father, who owned a small recording studio, and had taught himself how to play guitar by the age of 12. While in college, he joined a a band and quickly gained a loyal following. Phelps moved to Nashville in 2012 to focus on songwriting. He has collaborated with top country artists including Hardy, Cole Swindell, Dierks Bentley, Jelly Roll, Ernest and more. He earned his first Songwriter of the Year and Song of the Year nominations at the 2023 ACM Awards for his work on “Wait In The Truck,” which also scored a Song of the Year nomination at the upcoming CMA Awards in November.
With over 455K monthly Spotify listeners, the CMA Triple Play Award winner also releases his own music. His work includes “My Kinda Livin'” with Hardy and Jameson Rodgers as well as “Throwin’ Parties” and “Breakup Sex.” Last year, he released his most recent single, “Bird Dog.”
“We could not be prouder of Hunter as he has grown into a true superstar songwriter. Because of his innate talent, the songs he writes always stand out on projects and playlists and become the music that artists and labels want to support. He is also one of the most sincere, appreciative, and hard-working humans working in country music, and we couldn’t be happier for him,” says Ben Vaughn, President & CEO, Warner Chappell Music Nashville.
Ashley Gorley, Tape Room Music Founder, adds “Getting to see Hunter develop from a new writer to one of the top writers in Nashville has been amazing to watch. I’m excited to continue this partnership and keep rockin!”
“The first nine years went so well, I figured we should add some more and keep it going. I’m just as excited to sign this deal as I was back in 2014. I love working with this crew, and I’m thankful to have them on my team. Everyone at Tape Room and Warner Chappell believed in me from the start, and I can’t to wait see what’s next,” says Phelps.
For King + Country, Zach Williams, More To Perform At 54th GMA Dove Awards
/by Lorie HollabaughThe first round of performers has been announced for the upcoming 54th annual Gospel Music Association Dove Awards, set to take place Oct. 17 in Nashville.
Brandon Lake, For King + Country, Katy Nichole, Miel San Marcos, Pastor Mike Jr., Phil Wickham, Tasha Cobbs Leonard and Zach Williams with Walker Hayes are all on tap to perform at the celebration, which will be hosted by platinum-selling musician, preacher and public speaker Tauren Wells.
Tickets have sold out for the in-person Nashville event at Lipscomb University’s Allen Arena, but The GMA Dove Awards will air exclusively on TBN and The TBN app on Oct. 20 at 7 p.m. CT and 9 p.m. CT. Additionally, the audio simulcast will air on SiriusXM’s The Message (Channel 63) and on the SiriusXM app. An encore presentation of the broadcast will air on TBN Oct. 27 at 7 p.m. CT and 9 p.m. CT.
Key partners for this year’s Dove Awards include Christian non-profit Cantinas Arts Foundation, whose mission is to support artists who share their talent and faith through Arts and Media, WieRok Entertainment, an organization passionate about creating and supporting Christian creatives in making and distributing great content, and Lipscomb University, who is now in its 10th year as venue host for the Dove Awards.
The 54th annual GMA Dove Awards are produced by the Gospel Music Association. Jackie Patillo and Justin Fratt serve as showrunners and executive producers, alongside Curtis Stoneberger and Paul Wright as producers. Russell E. Hall returns as director, Michael Nolan as scriptwriter, Scott Moore and Go Live Productions as production manager.
SongwritingWith:Soldiers To Hold First ‘Run Walk Ride’ Fundraiser
/by Lorie HollabaughSongwritingWith:Soldiers will hold its first-ever “Run Walk Ride” fundraiser on Veterans Day, Saturday, Nov. 11.
Participants across the country are invited to team up for a run, walk or ride (via bike, wheelchair, motorcycle, etc.) of any distance at any location. Funds raised support SongwritingWith:Soldier’s mission of transforming veterans’ lives through collaborative songwriting with hit writers. Registration for the event, presented by Atmos Energy, is now open. Prizes will be awarded for the largest team, the team with the most donations, and more.
“We have seen how our program changes the lives of veterans and their families,” said SongwritingWith:Soldiers’ Executive Director Kristin Starling. “Our desire is to reach as many veterans as we can, which is made possible through fundraising efforts like ‘Run Walk Ride.’ We hope you’ll form a team and join us in honoring those who have served our country this Veterans Day.”
SongwritingWith:Soldiers transforms lives by pairing professional songwriters with veterans at retreats across the country to share their stories and connect with others. The first retreat was held in 2012 near Fort Hood, Texas with eight veterans, and since then, retreats have been held across the U.S. with hundreds of veterans and military families connecting, sharing their experiences, and writing songs with professional songwriters. This year alone, SongwritingWith:Soldiers will write with more than 1,000 veterans.
Tyler Childers Extends ‘Mule Pull ’24 Tour’ Through Next Summer
/by Lorie HollabaughTyler Childers and The Food Stamps. Photo: Sam Waxman
Tyler Childers has extended his global “Mule Pull ’24 Tour” through next summer with newly-confirmed shows in Chicago, Boulder, Tampa, Vancouver, Calgary and more.
Special guests on the tour include Adeem The Artist, Willi Carlisle, S.G. Goodman, Wayne Graham, Shakey Graves, Valerie June, Laid Back Country Picker, Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats and Allison Russell.
Fans are being asked to register before tickets go on-sale, and registration for the pre-sale is open now until Oct. 8. For more information, click here. Once registration closes, fans will be randomly selected to receive a code that grants them access to the pre-sale starting Oct. 11. A very limited number of tickets will be available for the general on-sale following on Oct. 13 at ticketmaster.com, while supplies last.
The new dates follow the first leg of Childers’ trek, which sold out instantly last month. The upcoming performances celebrate his new album, Rustin’ In The Rain, which recently debuted at No. 10 on the all-genre Billboard 200 chart. Ahead of the release, Childers unveiled the lead single, “In Your Love,” along with a video that debuted as YouTube’s No. 1 trending music video. Since then, it has garnered over 6.6 million video views and 30 million on-demand streams.
Russell Dickerson’s ‘God Gave Me A Girl’ Reaches No. 1 On MusicRow Radio Chart
/by Sherod RobertsonRussell Dickerson‘s heartfelt song “God Gave Me A Girl” reaches the pinnacle of the MusicRow CountryBreakout Radio Chart this week, jumping from No. 4 to No. 1.
With its soul-stirring lyrics and melodic composition, this song written by Dickerson, Zach Crowell, Ashley Gorley, and Chase McGill has touched the hearts of many listeners and continues to leave a lasting impression.
“God Gave Me A Girl” has the ability to resonate with a wide range of audiences. Whether you are in a committed relationship or searching for that special someone, the song’s universal message of love and gratitude strikes a chord.
The song currently sits at No. 12 on the Billboard Country Airplay chart and No. 6 on the Mediabase chart.
Dickerson recently kicked off his “Big Wheels & Backroads Tour” with his high-energy show in Philadelphia, Silver Springs and Boston. Continuing through November, the tour will hit a total of 11 states across the country with opener Restless Road on all dates with Parmalee and Niko Moon performing on select dates.
Click here to view the latest edition of The MusicRow Weekly containing the MusicRow CountryBreakout Radio Chart.
Darius Rucker Details The Creation Of ‘Carolyn’s Boy’ [Interview]
/by Liza AndersonPhoto: Courtesy of UMG Nashville
Award-winning artist Darius Rucker has been bringing people together with his warm, comforting sound and lowcountry spirit for decades now. His music career first took off as the lead singer and rhythm guitarist for the multi-Platinum band Hootie & the Blowfish. In addition to playing with the group, Rucker has garnered success as an individual country act with 10 No. 1 hits and multiple No. 1 albums. Yesterday (Oct. 4), the Grand Ole Opry member was inducted into the Music City Walk of Fame, and tomorrow (Oct. 6), he unveils his first solo record in six years, Carolyn’s Boy.
In addition to his Music City Walk of Fame induction, the singer-songwriter gave fans a taste of the highly-anticipated release yesterday at Analog at the Hutton Hotel in Nashville, where he was recorded as part of the “Recorded Live at Analog” series supported by Heaven’s Door and debuting on PBS early next year.
Named in honor of Rucker’s mother Carolyn, the album exhibits his homey vocal stylings with a beautiful blend of feel-good, fun tunes and deeper, moving numbers that remind us that we can always connect to one another in some way and make it through the hard times. He co-wrote 11 of the 14 tracks, and recently shared some stories behind the collection with MusicRow.
Rucker notes that he had always thought about paying homage to his mother with a project, and recalls the moment he came up with the title.
“It was the first day of recording, and I just wasn’t in a good place mentally. I sat down after a take and said to myself, ‘At the end of the day, I’m just my mama’s boy,’ and after thinking about it more, I decided I was going to name the record Carolyn’s Boy.”
The Charleston native knew he wanted to make a living in the world of music as a child. Growing up, his mother was extremely supportive of his passion and introduced him to genres including gospel and R&B. That influence can be detected in tracks such as “Ol’ Church Hymn (feat. Chapel Hart)” as well as his decision to cover Rihanna‘s “Lift Me Up” from the Black Panther: Wakanda Forever soundtrack.
Rucker cut “Ol’ Church Hymn” almost immediately after writing it alongside Greylan James, Ben Hayslip and Josh Miller. After recording his own vocals on the song, he came across something special that he felt would enhance it immensely. “I was on Twitter and came across these three women singing country music, and they sounded amazing, absolutely amazing. [In that moment], I said ‘I’m going to get these girls to sing on [‘Ol’ Church Hymn’].”
Rucker then messaged the ladies on Instagram and collaboration began. Those three women turned out to be trio Chapel Hart, who would go on to earn the coveted “golden buzzer” on the talent competition show America’s Got Talent. “They really took [the track] to different level. Their vocals are so great, and I love that song so much,” he expresses.
After hearing Rihanna’s stunning work on “Lift Me Up,” Rucker was inspired to cover the Black Panther: Wakanda Forever song and include it on Carolyn’s Boy. When it comes to the current trend of established artists covering songs outside of their genre, Rucker is all for it.
“People have been covering great songs forever, and when it happens in a big way, it’s awesome to see,” he states.
The artist continues to echo encouragement and unity with tunes “In This Together,” “Have A Good Time” and chart-topping single “Same Beer Different Problem.”
“There’s so much division within our country, and we all have to live together. So, I hope people find songs on this record that resonate with them and help them get through the hard times. I want that on every record”
Written by Rucker, Monty Criswell, Derek George and Bobby Hamrick, “Have A Good Time” was also released as a single along with outside cuts “Fires Don’t Start Themselves” and “Southern Comfort.” The artist says he knew he had to cut “Fires Don’t Start Themselves” as soon as he heard it due to it’s ’90s country energy, and describes his love for the feel, speed and story “Southern Comfort.” The album also features “Sara,” which Rucker concocted with fellow renowned entertainer Ed Sheeran, Joel Crouse and Kyle Rife. He recalls witnessing Sheeran’s early days as an artist. Over the years, the two have developed a friendship, and had been wanting to collaborate for quite sometime. Rucker shares that he spontaneously flew to England one day to write with Sheeran.
“Ed asked me who my first love was, and I told him it was my fifth grade girlfriend Sara. He then asked me a million questions about that [time in my life]. In the end, he wanted to write a song about her, so we did,” he reminisces.
Creating Carolyn’s Boy has given the hitmaker a new sense of appreciation for the art of music.
“One thing that really came out of [this record] for me was a better love for what I do. We went through the pandemic and all the hardships of the past few years, and writing through all that stuff made me want to write and perform more. It further solidified how much I love what I do.”
He continues to feed that desire to perform and connect as he readies his personally-curated Riverfront Revival Music Festival for this weekend (Oct. 7-8), following the album’s release. Rucker will also wrap the stateside leg of his “Starting Fires Tour” at Nashville’s Ascend Amphitheater on Oct. 14, and make his way back across the pond and to Ireland for a few international dates in 2024.
DISClaimer Single Reviews: Toby Keith Gives ‘Emotionally Gripping’ Performance
/by Robert K OermannPictured: Toby Keith performs on stage during the 2023 People’s Choice Country Awards at the Grand Ole Opry House on Sept. 28. Photo: Mickey Bernal/NBC via Getty Images
This week, DISClaimer feels warm and nostalgic.
On hand are such monumentally gifted old friends as Toby Keith, Brad Paisley, Dolly Parton, Lacy J. Dalton and Marty Stuart. The youngsters are keeping pace, because we also have Brittney Spencer, Maren Morris, Dustin Lynch and Joy Oladokun with Chris Stapleton playing at the top of their games.
The Disc of the Day goes to the stardust sprinkled collaboration between Old Dominion and Megan Moroney.
ANNE WILSON / “Rain in the Rearview”
Writers: Anne Wilson/Matthew West/Zach Kale/Jaren Johnston; Producers: Jeff Pardo/Jonathan Smith/Zach Kale; Label: UMG
— Wilson is a major Christian-music star, but this is her bid to cross over into country music. Vocally, she’s got the goods. The crashing, echoey production of this anthem sounds like ‘70s rock, which means she should fit right in.
BRAD PAISLEY / “Son of the Mountains”
Writers: Brad Paisley/Dan Tyminski/Jerry Douglas; Producers: Luke Wooten/Brad Paisley; Label: EMI Records Nashville
— This is a splendid country rocker, packed with Paisley guitar runs and wailing vocals. The lyric is an ode to his gorgeous West Virginia homeland. Dan Tyminski provides tenor vocals and Jerry Douglas offers slippery Dobro licks. Dandy listening.
LACY J. DALTON / “Devil By a Different Name”
Writers: Lacy J. Dalton; Producers: none listed; Label: StarVista
— Accompanied by a chugging rhythm track and some scampering fiddle and guitar picking, Dalton offers a timely message of inclusion and togetherness. She’s unafraid to confront our racial, gender, political and sexual differences and to urge tolerance. More power to her.
ZAC BROWN BAND / “The Way You Look Tonight”
Writers: Dorothy Fields/Jerome Kern; Producers: Zac Brown/Matt Mangano; Label: Home Grown Music
— Are you ready for a finger popping, jazzbo outing by these guys, complete with punctuating horn blasts? The Great American Songbook number was introduced by Fred Astaire in the 1936 film Swing Time and won the Best Song Oscar. The Lettermen made it a big pop hit in 1961, and it is associated with singers ranging from Frank Sinatra to Rod Stewart. It has nothing to do with country music, but it’s always a pleasure to hear it.
BRITTNEY SPENCER / “Bigger Than the Song”
Writers: Tofer Brown/Brittney Spencer/Jennifer Anne Wayne; Producers: Marcus “Marc Lo” Lomax; Label: Elektra
— The ballad’s electro track beats steadily behind her while she vocally strolls through a pithy lyric. Along the way, she drops the names of her inspirations—Reba, Aretha, Whitney, Dolly, Alannis, Janis, Johnny & June, Latifah, Beyonce…. Anyhow, it’s ear catching as all get out.
OLD DOMINION & MEGAN MORONEY / “Can’t Break Up Now”
Writers: Emily Weisband/Tofer Brown/Matthew Ramsey/Trevor Rosen; Producers: Old Dominion/Ross Copperman; Label: Columbia Nashville
— Country’s new “it girl” teams up with the genre’s top band to create a little audio magic. The power ballad features primo picking and dynamic vocal harmonies. Matthew Ramsey and Moroney portray a troubled couple who have too much invested in one another to call it quits. As you might guess where this group is concerned, the melody is luscious.
GIRLS NEXT DOOR / “When the Water’s Down”
Writers: TW Hale/Leslie Satcher; Producers: TW Hale/Tom Harding; Label: Girls Next Door 2.0
— Each member of the quartet gets a lead vocal on the verses, then they join in for rousing harmonies on the Dobro-laced choruses. The song has a cool Southern-gothic lyric about a hypocritical small town whose dark secrets emerge during a drought when lowered river water reveals all.
MAREN MORRIS / “The Tree”
Writers: Jimmy Robbins/Laura Veltz/Maren Morris; Producers: Greg Kurstin; Label: Columbia
— Morris apparently bids farewell to country music by releasing her strongest performance in years. The empowerment song finds freedom by exiting a toxic relationship, and it soars with powerful harmonies and audio dynamics. I’m totally into this marvelously written and produced outing.
JOY OLADOKUN & CHRIS STAPLETON / “Sweet Symphony”
Writers: Joy Oladokun/Ian Fitchuk/Shae Jacobs; Producers: Joy Oladokun/Mike Elizondo/Ian Fitchuk; Label: Republic Records/Verve Forecast
— This was originally issued at this time last year. A new version pairing the folkie conversationalist with the fire-breathing soulman is even more thrilling than the original. The ultra romantic ballad remains a great song to snuggle to. This deserves massive attention.
DUSTIN LYNCH / “Honky Tonk Heartbreaker”
Writers: Dustin Lynch/Hunter Phelps/Zach Crowell/Ben Johnson; Producers: Zach Crowell/Ben Johnson; Label: Broken Bow Records
— A good-time party banger with a romping beat and countryboy lyrics. Tap yer toes.
MARTY STUART AND HIS FABULOUS SUPERLATIVES / “Altitude”
Writers: Marty Stuart; Producers: Mike Conley/Chris Scruggs/Harry Stinson/Kenny Vaughn/Marty Stuart; Label: Snakefarm
— Beautifully country, drenched in steel guitar and drawled vocals. The title tune of this outfit’s latest is like a splash of cool water on the desert. To put in culinary terms, this is palate cleansing, so play it and chill. Love at first listen.
DOLLY PARTON & LINDA PERRY / “What’s Up”
Writers: Linda Perry; Producers: Kent Wells/Dolly Parton; Label: Butterfly Records
— The latest advance track from Parton’s forthcoming Rockstar mega, 30-track collection is a 4 Non Blondes cover that was originally a hit in 1993. The ballad begs for a better day. It’s essentially a Dolly solo with songwriter Perry providing a soft harmony vocal.
TOBY KEITH / “Don’t Let the Old Man In”
Writers: Toby Keith; Producers: Toby Keith/Reid Shippen/Arturo Buenahora; Label: Show Dog
— Keith stopped the show with this during last week’s debut People’s Choice Country Awards. His powerful performance of a lyric facing mortality was an emotionally gripping moment that electrified us all. The undertone of his cancer struggle was unmistakable and heart wrenching. The video of it shot to No. 1 on iTunes in the days following the telecast. If you didn’t catch it, do so now.