There's nothing quite like scoring your first chart-topping single, especially when it's something you've worked toward for years.
That's how George Birge feels about "Mind on You," especially after moving to Nashville years ago to chase his country music dreams.
"What a feeling. It's something that I've chased for a long time," George tells ABC Audio. "You never really know if it's going to come true and to have 'Mind on You' go number one, last day of the year, December 31st. What a way to close a chapter and start a new one for me."
So, how did George celebrate his first #1 hit? Well, let's just say it was simple and sweet.
"I was actually back in Texas with my family. I found out on a Thursday that we had a lead that was not going to be caught up to [on the country charts], so I went to the liquor store down the street from my house that I was staying at. I bought the nicest bottle of wine I could find," George shares.
"It was like a $100 bottle of wine. And we popped that, me and my wife, and had a great night, man," he recalls. "So, pretty low-key, but a great way to celebrate."
You can find "Mind on You" on George's debut album, George Birge: Mind On You. His latest single, "Cowboy Songs," is the title track of his follow-up seven-track EP, which arrived in April.
Copyright © 2024, ABC Audio. All rights reserved. Read moreGeorge Birge on scoring a #1 hit: "It's something that I've chased for a long time"
Can't be at Jo Dee Messina's Friday show at Nashville's Ryman Auditorium? Fret not, she's bringing it to you via livestream. You can get all the information on how to watch it at Veeps' website.
Sara Evans is dropping her new song "21 Days" on Friday, and it's available for presave now. The track previews Sara's forthcoming album, Unbroke, arriving June 7.
Darius Rucker has announced that he's dropping a duet version of his song "Never Been Over" with Jennifer Nettles on Friday. "Just when I thought I loved this song, here comes Jennifer taking it over the top!!" Darius shares on Instagram.
Copyright © 2024, ABC Audio. All rights reserved. Read moreNashville notes: Jo Dee's livestream + Darius and Jennifer's collab
Wondering why there are no collabs on Kenny Chesney's latest album, Born? Well, the answer's simple: There wasn't an organic fit.
"Look, I love collaborations, but there’s no collaborations on this record because I always felt like the collaborations had to start with the song, and I’m just not a big fan of putting people on a record just to have someone on the record," Kenny shares in a recent press interview.
"It’s just disingenuous, you know? So, there’s no collaborations on this record because I didn’t feel like the songs lent itself to it," adds the country star, who's previously dueted with Grace Potter, Uncle Kracker, David Lee Murphy, P!nk and more.
Born's lead single, "Take Her Home," is currently approaching the top five of the country charts.
To see Kenny at an upcoming Sun Goes Down Tour date, visit his website.
Copyright © 2024, ABC Audio. All rights reserved. Read moreNo collabs on 'Born'? No problem for Kenny Chesney
Lainey Wilson's making country and Western hats cool again, y'all.
The country superstar announced Thursday that she's teamed up with Charlie 1 Horse for a new line of Western hats.
"Watching y'all come out to the shows in your bells and hats only cemented my decision that we needed a special line just for all the cowgirls and cowboys out there lookin' to make a statement with their look," Lainey shares on Instagram.
"It has been such a joy working with @charlie1horse to put together this collection of hats for y'all and they're finally live! Can't wait to see y'all rockin' them on the #CountrysCoolAgain tour here soon," she says.
You can shop the Lainey Wilson x Charlie 1 Horse hat collection now at charlie1horsehats.com.
For tickets to Lainey's upcoming Country's Cool Again Tour, head to laineywilson.com.
Copyright © 2024, ABC Audio. All rights reserved. Read moreLainey teams with Charlie 1 Horse for new Western hats
"Outskirts" may have hit #1 this week, but did you know Sam Hunt once thought it'd never reach the peak of the country charts?
In a press interview ahead of his latest achievement, Sam shared that he was worried that he'd not get to lock in his milestone 10th chart-topper.
"It is always as special because you’ll have one, and then immediately you’ll think, 'Could I have another one?'" says Sam. "When 'Outskirts' had a slow start, I thought, 'Well, maybe I’ll never hit 10.' I was already coming to terms with not reaching that number."
He continues, "I remember folks told me back in the day, 'You really haven’t solidified a career that you can tour on with longevity until you have 10 number-ones.'"
With "Outskirts" being his milestone 10th #1, Sam's grateful to fans and country radio for their support.
"It was a slow burn there for a while but Outskirts has had wind in its sails these last few weeks. It’s the #1 song at Country Radio right now. Thank you to everyone at radio for all your support and everyone who has been in my corner helping make it happen," Sam shares on X, formerly known as Twitter.
You can find "Outskirts" on Sam's latest EP, Locked Up, out now.
Copyright © 2024, ABC Audio. All rights reserved. Read moreSam Hunt didn't think "Outskirts" would hit #1
Surprise! Carly Pearce is dropping her new album, hummingbird, a week earlier.
Initially set for June 14, the record will now be released on June 7.
Carly updated fans on the change via an Instagram Live on her birthday on Wednesday.
"For my birthday this year, I wanted to give you guys a gift instead. My album hummingbird is now coming out Friday, June 7. CMA Fest, I hope you’re ready because we’re going to be celebrating!" Carly shared.
Hummingbird is available for preorder and presave now. Its Chris Stapleton-assisted lead single, "We Don't Fight Anymore," is approaching the top 10 of the country charts.
Carly's currently on tour with Tim McGraw on his Standing Room Only Tour. For tickets, head to carlypearce.com.
Here's the full track list for hummingbird:
"Country Music Made Me Do It"
"Truck on Fire"
"Still Blue"
"Heels Over Head"
"We Don’t Fight Anymore" featuring Chris Stapleton
"Rock Paper Scissors"
"Oklahoma"
"My Place"
"Things I Don't Chase"
"Woman to Woman"
"Fault Line"
"Pretty Please"
"Trust Issues"
"Hummingbird"
Copyright © 2024, ABC Audio. All rights reserved. Read moreCarly Pearce's birthday gift to fans? An earlier album release date
Reba McEntire is set to host the 59th Academy of Country Music Awards.
"I am tickled to pieces to get to host the ACM Awards for the 17th time!" says Reba, who's returning to host the awards show for the 17th time.
“What an honor to have been part of the past, present and now the future of the Academy of Country Music with Amazon Prime Video," she adds. "I can’t wait to get to Texas and see everybody May 16th!"
"We are thrilled for the homecoming of Reba to the ACM Awards stage for the 17th time!" ACM CEO Damon Whiteside says in a press release. "There is simply no one better to continue to elevate this show in our new global streaming era with Amazon Prime Video."
Reba also shared on Instagram that she'll be "performing brand new music during the show."
The 2024 ACM Awards will stream live on Prime Video May 16 at 8 p.m. ET.
Copyright © 2024, ABC Audio. All rights reserved. Read moreReba to host + perform new music at the 2024 ACM Awards
If you were confused by the "drinking cab in a solo, solo in the cab of my truck" line in Scotty McCreery's latest single, you're not alone.
That typical bafflement and follow-up reaction is actually what Scotty loves about "Cab in a Solo."
"I'll always love the hook on 'Cab in a Solo,' especially just when we sent the song out to radio [and] sent the song out to fans," Scotty tells ABC Audio. "They see the title and they're like, 'What the heck is this song going to be about?' And then they listen to it and it clicks."
"For a lot of people, it took two or three listens for it to click and they're like, 'Oh,'" he shares.
Listeners and fans weren't the only ones Scotty confused. His father also had trouble interpreting the meaning of "Cab in a Solo" at the onset.
"Even my dad was like, "So, 'Cab in a Solo,' it's like cab, just like wine, right?'" And I was like, 'Yeah.' He's like, 'And solo's just like a cup, right?' And I'm like, 'Yeah?' He was like, 'Solo, drinking by yourself in the cab, oh,'" Scotty recounts.
"It's like, he pieced it together just [by] talking about it. It's like, "Yeah dad, you're right,'" shares the country star.
"Cab in a Solo" is now #2 and approaching the peak of the country charts. You can find it on Scotty's forthcoming fifth album, Rise & Fall, arriving May 10.
Copyright © 2024, ABC Audio. All rights reserved. Read moreScotty McCreery recalls his dad's funny confusion over "Cab in a Solo"
HARDY has dropped a new Somewhere in the Dessert tank top to celebrate his upcoming appearance at Stagecoach Festival, happening April 26-28. You can check it out now at HARDY's merch store.
Tickets to the upcoming Kickoff Jam Festival are now available for purchase. Slated for August 30 to September 1, the Panama City Beach, Florida, event features a star-studded lineup that includes Garth Brooks, Carrie Underwood, Lauren Alaina, Randy Houser and ALABAMA. You can grab yours now at kickoffjampcb.com.
Up-and-comer Mason Ramsey has announced that he's dropping a new song, "Something You Can Hold," on Friday. While you wait, you can check out its cover art now on Mason's Instagram.
Copyright © 2024, ABC Audio. All rights reserved. Read moreNashville notes: HARDY's tank top + Mason Ramsey's new track