Lady Antebellum, ‘Downtown’ Released; Sheryl Crow Joins ‘The Voice’ + More: Country Music News Roundup
The first single from Lady Antebellum's upcoming fourth studio album is out! "Downtown" is an uptempo tune that reminisces about fun, carefree nights in a high-energy city. "There's some sass to this track that makes it really fun to sing. It's definitely a roll down the windows and bob your head kind of thing," says Lady A's Hillary Scott. "Downtown" was written by Natalie Hemby, Luke Laird and Shane McAnally. Listen to it here.
NEW MUSIC TUESDAY! Country music releases out today, Jan. 22 (Click album titles for more information): Gary Allan, Set You Free; Randy Houser, How Country Feels; 2013 Grammy Nominees (feat. Taylor Swift, Hunter Hayes, Kelly Clarkson); Kris Kristofferson, Feeling Mortal (iTunes); Buck Owens, Honky Tonk Man: Buck Sings Country Classics; Don Rich, Sings George Jones; Dolly Varden, For a While; Carrie Rodriguez, Give Me All You Got; Daniel Romano, Come Cry With Me.
The New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival has a handful of country acts lined up to perform this year. Willie Nelson, Little Big Town, the Mavericks and bluegrass legends the Del McCoury Band will be among the diverse roster of performers at the prestigious week-long concert series that begins April 26 in the Crescent City.
Classic rock band Journey will join Rascal Flatts for the Super Bowl XLVII edition of "CMT Crossroads" at the New Orleans Sugar Mill. The concert takes place at 9:00 CT on Saturday, Feb. 2 and will air at 11:00 PM ET/PT on CMT the night before Super Bowl XLVII. Fans can register to be a part of "CMT Crossroads" as NFL Insiders here.
Sheryl Crow has signed up to mentor Blake Shelton's team of hopefuls for the upcoming fourth season of TV singing competition "The Voice." The Grammy-winning singer will help contestants perfect their performances on the show when the new season begins March 25. "I've been friends with Blake for a few years now and am honored he invited me to be an adviser on 'The Voice' this season," Sheryl tells "Entertainment Tonight." Kelly Clarkson, Reba McEntire and Blake's wife Miranda Lambert have previously served as mentors for Team Blake.
Lauren Alaina is hard at work on her sophomore album. The high school senior has been tweeting about being in the studio, and recently told the Chattanooga Times Free Press newspaper that she's been writing since last summer, and listening to tunes submitted by Nashville songwriters. "What makes you or breaks you are the songs you pick and the songs you release to radio, and that's what we're focusing on right now," she told the publication. Before the record is released, though, the 18-year-old plans on walking the stage with her class at her high school graduation in May. [Chattanooga Times Free Press]
Taylor Swift and Scholastic Inc. are donating books to hospitals around the country, namely the one where she was born in Pennsylvania. The Reading Hospital Child Health Center's early literacy program received 2,000 books through the Reach Out and Read initiative, which stresses the importance of reading aloud to children. Patients from six months to 5 years old are sent home with "a new, developmentally and culturally appropriate book," and now the hospital's inventory has been given a boost by the superstar. [WFMZ-TV/Reading]
Mom of six adopted dogs Miranda Lambert has teamed with Pedigree in a search for the community to receive free dog food in select shelters. Nominate your community -- and help raise awareness for pet adoption -- at Facebook.com/PEDIGREE.
Watch Gary Allan's 'Every Storm (Runs Out of Rain)' Video