Music News

• The storm keeps strengthening in the wake of CMT's dropping of the controversial Jason Aldean video, "Try That In A Small Town"
• For every Sheryl Crow, who claims the video and song are not representative of "Small Town America," there are fellow musicians - and politicians - getting behind Aldean
• Speaking up on Aldean's behalf: Travis Tritt, presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy, and South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem
• Source: WhiskeyRiff

• The roster of performers has been announced for the upcoming Sixth Annual Nashville Songwriters Awards - and the names range from obscure songwriters to newcomers to established superstars
• Slated to appear: Trannie Anderson, Renee Blair, Ben Johnson, Tracy Lawrence, Megan Moroney, Hunter Phelps, Emily Shackelton, Blake Shelton, Cole Swindell, Dallas Wilson and more
• The event takes place September 26 at the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville and is open to the public
• Source: MusicRow

• That escalated quickly. It's only Thursday but CMT's dropping of Jason Aldean's "Try That In A Small Town" video Monday has caught the attention of even non-country fans
• With people divided on how they feel about the song and video, Sheryl Crow has weighed in - and she's definitely not Team Jason
• Sheryl Tweeted, "Jason Aldean, I’m from a small town. Even people in small towns are sick of violence. There’s nothing small-town or American about promoting violence. You should know that better than anyone having survived a mass shooting. This is not American or small town-like. It’s just lame"
• Source: Deadline

• Taylor Swift has passed 100 career hits on Billboard’s Hot Country Songs chart, with 22 new entries from her album "Speak Now (Taylor’s Version)”
• She now has a total of 108 career hits on the chart
• Taylor Swift is the second woman to achieve this milestone, following Dolly Parton, who holds the record with 110 hit songs
• Billboard’s Hot Country Songs chart ranks the most popular country music songs weekly, considering digital downloads, streaming, and radio airplay
• Swift's debut on the Hot Country Songs chart was with the song “Tim McGraw” in 2006, which entered at number 60 at that time
• Source: Billboard

• Lots of people eat while driving, but some foods are easier to devour behind the wheel than others.
• Some of the best foods to eat while driving are French fries, soft serve in a cup and simple sandwiches.
• The foods you probably don’t want to attempt to eat while driving include tacos, ice cream cones and salad.
• Source: The Takeout

Jason Aldean's new music video "Try That In A Small Town" is causing a stir.  See it yourself and make your own decision.

• Newcomer Alana Springsteen is fairly unknown - but she just got a big boost
• Joining her on her new single, "Ghost In My Guitar," is superstar Chris Stapleton - though you won't hear his voice - just his guitar playing
• The song appears on her debut album "Twenty Something:  Figuring It Out" - and the single dropped Friday
• Source: WhiskeyRiff

• Eric Church, like many other country stars, is opening a new bar in Nashville - "Chiefs"
• The singer has big plans for the venue, including a menu created by Carolina barbecue legend and James Beard-award winner Rodney Scott and a two-story staged performance area
• Eric also plans a couple of tribute shows, paying tribute to the Route 91 Harvest Festival shooting in Las Vegas, and to his brother, Brandon, who passed away suddenly in 2018
• Source: WhiskeyRiff

• Bud Light has announced their "Bud Light Backyard Tour," and the multi-genre series of concerts will travel to four cities this summer
• Along with Bush, Dashboard Confessional and OneDirection, the country fans will get Midland, Lindsay Ell and Tyler Braden
• The over-21 four city schedule kicks off in Nashville on August 10
• Source: Billboard

• Syndicated sports show "The Dan LeBatard Show" was in Lake Tahoe, Nevada for the American Century Celebrity Golf Tournament when show member Stugotz scored a sit-down with NFL great Aaron Rodgers
• Huge moment, right? Except Stugotz was not talking to Rodgers,  but his semi-doppelganger, Jake Owen
• Jake just rolled with it - for twenty minutes, before the ruse was revealed - leading to much razzing from Stugotz' co-workers
• Source: WhiskeyRiff

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