This Week’s Country Music News and Videos

• Lyric Video:  “Let the Lonely” by Kameron Marlowe
• Jason Aldean, Lainey Wilson, and Bailey Zimmerman to Headline New Year’s Eve Nashville’s Big Bash
• Ian Munsick Announces The Eagle Flies Free Tour
• Lyric Video:  “Damn What A Woman” by Tyler Rich
• Alan Jackson Announces Final Concert
• Luke Combs Announces “My Kinda Saturday Night” Tour Dates
• Gene Watson Announces Fourteen Carat Mind Tour
• Lyric Video:  “Beautiful Lonely” by Brett Eldredge
• Audio:  “Goodbyes are Hard to Listen To” by Joe Nichols
• Rodney Crowell Announces Airline Highway Tour Dates

This Date in Country Music History

• 2020 – Carrie Underwood’s Christmas album The Gift topped the Billboard Country Albums chart
• 2020 – Niko Moon made his Grand Ole Opry debut
• 2019 – Luke Bryan’s single “Kiss Tomorrow Goodbye” was certified Double Platinum
• 2019 – Luke Bryan’s single “Someone Else Calling You Baby” was certified Platinum
• 2019 – Jon Pardi’s single “Up All Night” was certified Platinum
• 2019 – Dan + Shay’s single “Tequila” was certified Quadruple Platinum
• 2019 – Dan + Shay’s single “Speechless” was certified Triple Platinum
• 2019 – Dan + Shay’s single “All to Myself” was certified Platinum
• 2019 – Mitchell Tenpenny’s single “Drunk Me” was certified Double Platinum
• 2019 – Maren Morris’ single “Girl” was certified Platinum
• 2018 – David Nail’s single “Whatever She’s Got” was certified Double Platinum
• 2018 – Darius Rucker’s single “If I Told You” was certified Platinum and his single “Alright” was certified Double Platinum
• 2018 – Florida Georgia Line’s single “Cruise” was certified 11x Platinum!
• 2000 – Sara Evans released her album Born To Fly
• 1995 – Lonestar released their self-titled debut album
• 1988 – Loretta Lynn and Roy Rogers were inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame
• 1988 – Hank Williams Jr. wins the CMA Awards for Entertainer of the Year and Album of the Year (Born To Boogie)
• 1983 – Little Jimmy Dickens was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame
• 1983 – Alabama cleans up at the CMA Awards winning trophies for Entertainer of the Year, Vocal Group of the Year, and Album of the Year (The Closer You Get)
• 1977 – Ronnie Milsap won 3 CMA Awards:  Entertainer of the Year, Male Vocalist, and Album (Ronnie Milsap Live)
• 1971 – Charley Pride won CMA Awards for Entertainer of the Year and Male Vocalist
• 1970 – Johnny Cash scored a #1 hit with “Sunday Morning Coming Down,” which was written by Kris Kristofferson

Today’s Birthdays

• John Prine (d)
• Tanya Tucker

Today’s New Albums

• Dasha – Anna
• Jason Aldean – 30 Number One Hits
• Lauren Watkins – In a Perfect World
• Priscilla Block – Things You Didn’t See
• Shane Profitt – Population Me

Today’s New Singles

• Goodbyes Are Hard to Listen To – Joe Nichols
• Slippery Slope – Jamie O’Neal

Today’s Photo Flashback

• Brett Eldredge – 10/10/13 – Round Up in Davie, FL
• The Railers – 10/10/13 – Round Up in Davie, FL

This Week’s Notable Events

• Riverfront Revival – Charleston, SC – Oct 10, 2025
• Iron Hills Country Music Festival – Birmingham, AL – Oct 11, 2025
• Riverfront Revival – Charleston, SC – Oct 11, 2025
• Rock Down South – Atlanta, GA – Oct 11, 2025 – 7:00 pm
• Iron Hills Country Music Festival – Birmingham, AL – Oct 12, 2025
• Jamey Johnson – Nashville, TN – Oct 17, 2025 – 7:30 pm

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Happy Birthday to today’s Country Music Birthdays!

• Bruce Robison
• Jay McDowell (BR549)
• Kameron Marlowe

Artist Name:  Owen Morton
Hometown:  Liverpool

What project(s) are you currently working on?

I’m currently in the process of promoting two exciting new singles, “Mine” and “Never Wanna Be Without You” which will hit the digital shelves on January 24th and February 14th respectively. I’m also preparing to release a couple of other new singles, which you definitely don’t want to miss, ultimately prepping the ground for my first EP release in the summer!

What inspired you to pursue a career in music and when did you know?

I did this as a hobby for 6 years at first, starting as a timid teenager who could not sing to save his life. As I drifted between side hustles, business ideas, and jobs – singing country music was the one thing that remained constant in my life. I gradually became better and tried my luck at being a freelance singer during lock down in 2020, but it was only in October 2023 when I met my good friend Texas songwriter John Williamson (aka Swilson) through Fiverr, who chose me to sing on his debut country album ‘Backroads and Bonfires’. It was a success, and this was the first time someone unbiased ever told me, (to paraphrase) “kid, your good enough to make it”. Those words changed my life completely.

Using that album as a launchpad, I continued my journey as an artist by releasing my own stuff onto Spotify. I reasoned that this was a golden opportunity, which many artists would only wish for, so lets go for it. In the first year, I saw stream numbers hit over 400,000, and it became clearer and clearer that God had planted this seed in me all along – this was what I was born to do.

If you weren’t pursuing a career in music, what would you be doing for a living?

I’m entrepreneurial at heart, so I’d likely be carrying on with what I was doing before: running an online marketing agency whilst working full time as a deckhand on the River Mersey! (I let the agency give way for the music, but I still work on boats!)

What is your favorite downtime activity?

Outside of music, I love hiking and pretty much anything outdoors based! That also includes cold water swimming… don’t judge me.

Who is your biggest celebrity crush?

Olivia Rodrigo…

Who is your favorite sports team(s)?

I’m not a follower of sports, but honestly if I was, I’d be a Tennessee Titans fan! I went to see them play a couple of years ago whilst in Nashville.

What is the last movie that you watched?

Braveheart! Amazing film.

What is the last album you listened to?

Kameron Marlowe – Keepin’ The Lights On

If you could only listen to one album for the rest of your life, what would it be?

Easy, Twisters: The Album.

What is the greatest country song of all time?

Garth Brooks – The Dance. This was the nail in the coffin that made me adore country as a teenager.

What has been your favorite city/town that you’ve visited out on the road?

Boise, Idaho, is heaven on earth in my opinion. As I have family there, I’ve been on multiple occasions. It’s capital city vibe with a small mountain town feel makes it a place I’ll never not love visiting.

What is your favorite meal?

Steak, eggs and avocado.

Who is your dream duet partner?

My female artist pick would be Lainey Wilson, male has to be the amazing Chris Stapleton!

Who would you like to go on tour with?

If I made it, I’d love to go on tour with the small artists who helped me find my own feet in the industry when I knew nothing. One would be the guy who helped me produce my first ever song called Sam Hinds. If you wanna hear my pick for top British country talent… it’s him.

What is your ultimate career goal(s)?

Ultimately, I want to see how far I am destined to go with my music. That’s all I can ask for. I want to look back when my time is up and know with satisfaction in my heart that I made the biggest impact I could with the gift God has given me. Whether that means becoming a household name in country music, selling out stadiums around the world, or just being that one guy who plays your local pub on a humble Tuesday night – I’ll be happy.