This Week’s New Singles
New Music
Today’s New Albums
Today’s New Singles
Richie McDonald, best known as the lead singer of Lonestar, has announced his departure from the band for the second time in it’s history. He originally left the band in 2007 to pursue a solo career that failed to yield a Top-50 hit before rejoining them in 2011. This time, he leaves the band to dedicate his time to what was a side project, a band called The Frontmen of Country.
The Frontmen of Country is comprised of McDonald, Tim Rushlow who was once the lead singer of Little Texas, and Larry Stewart, the lead singer of Restless Heart.
“I’ve been with Lonestar for almost 30 years and have enjoyed my time with the guys,” explains McDonald. “With everything that has happened in the past year, it has made me think about other things I want to do in life. This opportunity with The Frontmen came up and I’ve decided to go a new direction. I’ve always enjoyed performing with Tim and Larry and I can’t wait to see how this new chapter unfolds. I want to thank my bandmates Dean, Keech and Michael for a great run. I wish them nothing but the best.”
As The Frontmen, the three lead singers have performed together many times through the years. Restless Heart’s Larry Stewart is thrilled about hitting the road with McDonald and Rushlow, backed by a full band for the first time.
“The three of us have proudly performed for our country on battleships USS Bush and USS Truman, in the Middle East and even the Presidential Inauguration,” says Stewart. “Touring the United States for country music fans coast-to-coast, backed by a world class band, performing hit after hit, will be exciting and something we have never done together. I’m looking forward to hitting the stage with these two great singers!”
“We are ecstatic to have this amazing opportunity to bring this show on the road and celebrate the music of three of the biggest bands from the ’90s in one night,” adds Rushlow. “I don’t know that I have ever seen three lead vocalists on a tour like this. There’s a common thread that runs through our collective catalog of hits and it will be awesome to sing them all in one concert event!”
The band has announced a series of 2021 tour dates, check them out below to see if they’re coming to a town near you.
The Frontmen of Country 2021 Tour Dates:
April 16 – Grant, OK – Choctaw Casino Resort
April 17 – Sonora, TX – JL Bar Ranch and Resort
Sept 18 – Orange Park, FL – Thrasher-Horne Center for the Arts
Sept 25 – Farmington, NM – Farmington Civic Center Theatre
Sept 27 – Yakima, WA – Central Washington State Fair
Oct 1 – Flint, MI – The Capitol Theatre
Oct 2 – Bristol, VA – The Cameo Theater
Oct 8 – Eau Claire, WI – Pablo Center at the Confluence
Oct 9 – Springfield, MO – Gillioz Theatre
Oct 23 – Tracy, CA – Grand Theatre Center for the Arts
Oct 29 – Buda, TX – Buck’s Backyard
Oct 30 – Hinton, OK – Sugar Creek Casino
Nov 4 – Whitecap, SK – Dakota Dunes Casino
Nov 5 – Calgary, AB – The Grey Eagle Event Centre
Nov 6 – Rama, ON – Casino Rama Entertainment Centre
Nov 11 – Green Bay, WI – Meyer Theatre
Nov 12 – Milwaukee, WI – The Northern Lights Theater
Nov 13 – Tonawanda, NY – Riviera Theatre and Performing Arts Center
Nov 14 – Warsaw, IN – Wagon Wheel Theatre
Thomas Rhett has announced the upcoming release of a new double album! The first half, titled Country Again: Side A will be released on April 30th, with Side B due out later this year.
Fans that pre-order the album starting today will instantly get two new tracks, “Want It Again,” and “Growing Up.”
“Country Again: Side A is everything I wanted to say when I was 19 years old, but hadn’t lived enough to know how to say any of those things yet,” Thomas Rhett shared. “It’s about the crazy journey that took me out into the world over the last ten years and ultimately brought me back home, more centered and content than ever, with a deep understanding for what’s important in life. I’ve had a blast sharing some of these songs in their acoustic form during quarantine and am blown away by the reaction the fans have already shown.”
“How else do you slow down unless you’re forced to?,” he adds. “For the first time, I had to look at myself and say ‘Who am I? Who is Thomas Rhett without a microphone or a guitar or a stage?’ I had to really dig deep and figure it out. So in many ways, 2020 was a big ol’ reality check, a complete reset. And when I finally settled into myself and my family, and started to work again, it completely influenced all of my songwriting. “
COUNTRY AGAIN: SIDE A TRACK LIST:
1. “Want It Again” | Thomas Rhett, Matt Dragstrem, Josh Miller, Josh Thompson
2. “Growing Up” | Thomas Rhett, Matt Dragstrem, Josh Miller, Josh Thompson
3. “What’s Your Country Song” | Thomas Rhett, Rhett Akins, Jesse Frasure, Ashley Gorley, Parker Welling
4. “Where We Grew Up“* | Thomas Rhett, Luke Laird, Josh Miller
5. “Heaven Right Now” | Thomas Rhett, Rhett Akins, Matt Dragstrem, Josh Thompson, Laura Veltz
6. “To The Guys That Date My Girls” | Thomas Rhett, Rhett Akins, Will Bundy, Josh Thompson
7. “More Time Fishin’” | Thomas Rhett, Rhett Akins, Will Bundy, Josh Thompson
8. “Country Again” | Thomas Rhett, Zach Crowell, Ashley Gorley
9. “Put It On Ice (featuring Hardy)“+ | Thomas Rhett, Rhett Akins, Matt Dragstrem, Josh Thompson
10. “Blame It On A Backroad” | Thomas Rhett, Zach Crowell, Ashley Gorley
11. “Ya Heard” | Thomas Rhett, Rhett Akins, Matt Dragstrem, Chase McGill
Produced by Dann Huff and Jesse Frasure
+Produced by Dann Huff and Matt Dragstrem
*Produced by Dann Huff
What project(s) are you currently working on?
Currently I am working to finish an album of my own original songs by the end of 2021. I currently have 2 songs released called “Bonnie & Clyde” produced by Dexter Redding and “Deserve Better” produced by Rockbot Studios.
I have a song called “Stop” being released in April and its focus is on mental health awareness.
What inspired you to pursue a career in music and when did you know?
What inspired me to pursue a career in music is the feeling I get performing in front of an audience. I feed off their energy and is is such an adrenaline rush. I knew this is something I wanted to do when I began performing at 7 years old.
If you were not pursuing a career in music, what would you be doing for a living?
I am currently a junior in high school. If I was not pursuing a career in music, I would be playing volleyball. Due to conflicting schedules, I had to choose between the two
What is your favorite downtime activity?
My favorite downtime activity is being able to work with kids. I formed a high school club volunteering at an organization called The Foster Closet. It is a non-profit organization that works with foster kids in Florida to provide resources they need. Being adopted from the foster care system, this place holds a special place in my heart.
Who is your biggest celebrity crush?
My biggest celebrity crush is Shawn Mendes. I have loved him ever since he was 15 and on Disney’s Next Big Thing.
Who is your favorite sports team(s)?
My favorite sports teams are the Dallas Cowboys and The Steelers.
What is the last movie that you watched?
The last movie I watched was The Notebook, it is my favorite movie and makes me cry every time.
What is the last album you listened to?
The last album I listened was Billie Eilish’s “When We All Fall Asleep”
If you could only listen to one album for the rest of your life, what would it be?
If I could listen to one album for the rest of my life, it would be a tie between any of Billie Eilish’s albums or any Dan and Shay albums. I love the lyrics of both artists.
What is the greatest country song of all time?
I love any song by Dan and Shay, but personally my favorite is “Speechless.” I love the lyrics of “Speechless,” they are so romantic.
What has been your favorite city/town that you have visited out on the road?
My favorite city I have visited is Savannah, Georgia. It is a gorgeous place with amazing food.
What is your favorite meal?
My favorite meal is sushi. I could eat sushi every day for the rest of my life.
Who is your dream duet partner?
My dream duet partner is Shawn Mendes. He has an amazing voice that is so soothing.
Who would you like to go on tour with?
I would love to go on tour with Shawn Mendes. Besides him being my celebrity crush, I also love his voice and would love to be able to sing and perform with him.
What is your ultimate career goal(s)?
My ultimate career goal is to be a child psychiatrist and be able to incorporate music into my studies.