Country update from Preshias
Here’s a quick roundup of what’s happening this week on Music Row and in Country Music!
- Luke Combs logs his tenth No. 1
- Morgan Wallen debuts on both Billboard’s Top 200 and Top Country Album charts
- HARDY set to “Give Heaven Some Hell”
- Parker Millsap is “The Real Thing”
- Loretta Lynn and Willie Nelson roll up their sleeves for vaccine
- GigTours™ wants you to say “I’m With the Band”
- Plus an “I Know Country” Q&A and more. Scroll down to read all these country music news items
Luke Combs does it again. Luke has logged his tenth consecutive No. 1 song atop the Billboard Country Airplay chart for the week of Jan 23. Titled “Better Together,” the song was co-written by Combs with Dan Isbell and Randy Montana and is the fifth single from Luke’s album What You See Is What You Get.
Meanwhile, the album dipped to No. 2 on Billboard’s Top Country Albums chart – but don’t feel bad for him: What You See sat atop the album chart for 37 weeks. And it could ascend to No. 1 again before it’s through. (see Country Airplay Charts, below.)
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As we predicted last week, Morgan Wallen’s latest album, Dangerous: The Double Album, debuted at No. 1 on Billboard’s Top Country Albums chart, toppling Luke Combs from the top spot. Additionally, it debuted at No. 1 on the al-genre Billboard 200 album chart.
Wallen’s single, “Wasted on You” (from the Dangerous album) debuted on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart that combines airplay, streaming and sales), knock Gabby Barrett from No. 1.
The album makes several benchmarks, according to Billboard’s Jim Asker:
- The largest ‘streaming week’ ever for a country album with 240.2 million streams.
- The strongest week for a country album since Carrie Underwood’s Cry Pretty, in September 2018.
- Wallen is the first artist to debut simultaneously on Top Country Albums and Top 200 album charts (with Dangerous) and the Hot Country Songs chart (with “Wasted on You”).
- Wallen also tops Billboard’s Country Songwriters chart for a 5th week.
- 25 of the Top 50 Billboard Hot Country Songs chart are from Morgan Wallen, including six of the Top Ten.
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A Preshias ‘one to watch’…
The new release from HARDY, “Give Heaven Some Hell.” HARDY began writing the song with Hunter Phelps and Ben Johnson, then revisited it during a writing retreat with Ashley Gorley. Between them, they crafted an uptempo but moving song about imagining a friend who has passed away who they hope is still getting a little loud and rowdy up in heaven.
The song was produced by Joey Moi (Morgan Wallen, FGL) and was released to country radio (by Big Loud) in December but officially ‘goes for adds’ starting January 25. The music video is already posted at Vevo and YouTube.
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Parker Millsap’s musical influences run the gamut from blues, rock and folk to Americana and of course country. He garnered national attention with his 2014 song, “Truck Stop Gospel.” On January 14, Millsap released the single, “The Real Thing,” as a teaser for his upcoming album.
Titled Be Here Instead, the album will drop via his own Okrahoma Records and Thirty Tigers on Friday, April 9. Produced by the legendary John Agnello (Kurt Vile, Sonic Youth, Waxahatchee), The new single, “The Real Thing,” is available now at all DSPs and streaming services. The song – which features guest vocals from Nashville singer Erin Rae – is joined by an official companion video, streaming now at YouTube.
“It’s a song whose meaning has revealed new layers to me over time,” Millsap says. “At first it was about being on the road and missing my wife, then it was about my general distaste for internet communication, and then the pandemic hit, and it became about having to depend on that type of communication and being starved for physical closeness.
The 12-song album – Millsap’s fifth – is available for pre-order now via https://www.parkermillsap.com/
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Loretta Lynn is “Ready to put Covid in the rear-view mirror.” Over the weekend, Loretta, who is 88, and daughter Peggy Jean ventured out of their ranch in Hurricane Mills, Tenn., for Loretta to get her first shot of the vaccine, as she is considered to be a candidate because of her age in the “75 and over” group.
Loretta has had several health concerns in recent years, including pneumonia. On social media, she said she was “sure glad to get it” and “I enjoyed the mom-daughter time too!”
Another ‘Country senior Citizen’ rolling up his sleeve: Willie Nelson, 87, who took advantage of a drive-up service at Family Hospital Systems in Texas, got his vaccine earlier this month.
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If you’ve ever wanted to say, “I’m with the band” – and actually mean it, here’s your chance.
GigTours™ founder, Donny Michael, has announced plans to launch the new “I’m With The Band” ™ lottery program and corresponding Gigtour package in 2021. The “I’m With The Band” ™ Gigtour is the reality experience of a typical day-in-the-life of a touring artist. In partnership with the State Lotteries across the country, and in alliance with top-selling concert performers, “Second Chance Winners” will be awarded an all-inclusive 4-day/3-night excursion to shadow their favorite entertainer on tour.
The GigTours “I’m With The Band” package includes airfare, hotel accommodation, show tickets and more. Owner Donny Michael describes GigTours as “a no-cost revenue source and promotional tool, tailor-made for touring artists.” Artists who have previously participated with GigTours™ include Keith Urban, George Strait, Little Big Town, Brooks & Dunn, Montgomery Gentry, and many more.
More about GigTours and the “I’m With The Band” Experience at https://www.gigtours.com/
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This Week in Country Music
Jan 17, 1986 Reba McEntire became a member of the Grand Ole Opry.
Jan 19, 1971 Nashville Songwriters Association International (NSAI) named Kris Kristofferson ‘Songwriter of the Year’ and his composition “For the Good Times” was named ‘Song of the Year.’
Jan 22, 1969 Glen Campbell received his first-ever Gold single – for the Jimmy Webb song “Wichita Lineman” that Webb originally titled “Washita Lineman” after seeing a lone lineman working in Washita County, OK.
Jan 23, 1963 The No. 1 song on the Billboard Country Singles chart: “The Ballad of Jed Clampett” by Jerry Scoggins, Lester Flatt and Earl Scruggs; the theme music for The Beverly Hillbillies.
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This week’s Country Music Birthday highlight
Jan 17, 1955: Steve Earle
It seemed like the biggest break of the young songwriter’s budding career, but those hopes were quickly dashed. In 1975, songwriter Steve Earle had only been in Nashville for about a year when he was informed that Elvis Presley would be cutting one of his songs, “Mustang Wine,” and studio time was booked.
However, Elvis did not show up at the studio and the session was canceled. Elvis never did cut the song, although his former Sun labelmate Carl Perkins did release his own version of the song in the 1980s. Despite the crushing blow of losing a cut on Elvis, Earle stayed with his craft and is considered a “songwriter’s songwriter” by many artists and songwriters in Nashville. As an artist himself, Earle has release 19 albums, the latest being J.T., released on January 4, 2021.
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I Know Country Q&A for Jan 17 – 23
Test your knowledge of country music and see if you know the answer to this question from the e-book I Know Country by Preshias Harris www.iknowcountry.com
QUESTION:
He made his debut on the Grand Ole Opry on January 20, 1973, after promising he wouldn’t curse and he wouldn’t sing any rock n’ roll. He broke both promises. Can you name him?
ANSWER:
Pat Boone. Nah, just kidding! Of course, it was The Killer himself, Jerry Lee Lewis! Scheduled to sing two or three country songs, he played for 40 minutes with a set that included “What’d I Say,” “Whole Lotta Shakin’ Goin’ On” and “Chantilly Lace.”
Opry officials were probably dismayed to hear him yell from the stage: “I am a rock-and-rollin’, country-and-western, rhythm-and-blues singing [expletive deleted]!”
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This week’s Top 5 songs on Billboard Country Airplay charts
For chart dated Jan 23, 2021
- (2) “Better Together” Luke Combs
- (4) “I Should Probably Go To Bed” Dan + Shay
- (3) “Love You Like I Used To” Russell Dickerson
- (7) “Happy Does” Kenny Chesney
- (1) “Champagne Night” Lady A
Highest new entry: “Undivided,” by Tim McGraw & Tyler Hubbard of FGL, hits the Country Airplay charts from nowhere to No. 19, with a song encouraging unity and understanding.
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Preshias Harris is a music career development consultant with the emphasis on new and aspiring artists and songwriters. Visit www.collegeofsongology.com for more details. Follow her blog at www.nashvillemusicline.com
Preshias is also the author of “I Know Country” with 366 daily country music questions and answers. You can buy and instantly download your e-book copy at www.IKnowCountry.com.
@PreshiasHarris #PreshiasHarris