The Boot News Roundup: Luke Bryan’s ‘What Makes You Country’ Coming on Vinyl + More
Welcome to The Boot's News Roundup, a morning rundown of the news country music fans need to know. Read on to learn more about the latest goings-on in the country, Americana, bluegrass and folk genres.
Luke Bryan has announced plans to release his most recent album, What Makes You Country, on vinyl. The 14-track record, on which Bryan's newest single, "Most People Are Good," appears, debuted back in December; the vinyl version will hit shelves on March 9. Fans who scoop up this release will also score a bonus track, titled "I Can't Even."
This holiday season, Vince Gill and Amy Grant will return to Nashville for a 12-night run of their wildly popular Christmas at the Ryman performances. According to the Tennessean, the 2018 run includes two more dates than in 2017, which was the duo's longest holiday residency to date. "I’ve always loved Christmas music, and I’ve toured the country singing it for years," says Grant. "But there’s nothing sweeter than coming home to the Ryman Auditorium each holiday season to join Vince on this legendary stage, making even more music and memories with old friends and new."
Americana icon Lucinda Williams will soon release her first memoir. According to the New York Times, Williams inked a deal with publisher Henry Holt and Company for a book that will "explore the genesis of her deeply personal catalog, filled with a blend of rock, folk country, blues and gospel" and "chronicle her experience navigating an unfriendly record industry." The book is set to be published in 2020.
Congratulations are in order for "Who I Am" singer Jessica Andrews, who recently gave birth to her first child, a baby boy, with husband Marcel Chagnon. Andrews announced the arrival of her new bundle of joy, named Rockwell and born on Feb. 6, on Instagram: "How do you even figure out words to describe feelings that you didn’t know you could have?!" she gushes. "I’ll just say welcome to this world my beautiful baby boy Rockwell."
'90s country six-piece Shenandoah have announced plans to release a brand-new live album. Titled Reloaded, the record will feature live performances of Shenandoah hits such as "The Church on Cumberland Road" and "Two Dozen Roses," filmed while the band was out on tour in 2017; it will also include three new songs from the band: "Noise," "That's Where I Grew Up" and "Little Bit of Livin'," each produced by Jay DeMarcus. The album coincides with the band's 30th anniversary, and will be released on March 16.