Tag Archives: NECM

Keep Your Eyes on the Restless Road

The rising trio, Restless Road is hitting the road this summer as they embark on their Bar Friends Tour. NECM caught up with the group, made up of Garrett Nichols, Colton Pack, and Zack Beeke, ahead of their Boston, MA stop on May 16th.

It has been quite the journey for the band so far. Zach recalled the group’s creation, dating back about nine years when Colton and Zack appeared on the TV show, The X Factor. “We auditioned individually and about halfway through the show we decided to join forces.” A fun fact is that Kane Brown also appeared on that season of The X Factor and was originally slated to be the third member of the group. Brown decided the group wasn’t for him and went in his own direction, but their stories would cross paths down the road. 

Restless Road ultimately landed in fourth place on the show. “About a year or so after the show was over we were looking for a brand new member. We kind of took to the internet looking at people on YouTube and the app called Vine. We found some great videos that Garrett had posted and we hit him up in the DM and asked him to join Restless Road. The band just wouldn’t be the same without him and it’s been kicking ever since.”

Fast forward to 2019 when Kane Brown reached out to Colton after seeing a cover Pack posted of ‘Good as You’. “Kane texted me and told me about him starting a label, and we started talking and we wanted to get the band back together,” Pack shared. Not only did Kane want the trio on his new label, he wanted them on his tour, too. “It was within six months of when we had gotten back together that we were playing at the Staples Center – pretty insane!” 

Things were going seemingly well for the trio, but after five or six shows, they hit a roadblock – the COVID-19 pandemic put a halt to touring just as Restless Road was getting fired up. The band used the time off to post tons of content to social media, Garrett explained. “We got a lot of fans over that time and connected with new people and now it’s really starting to show when we’re back on the road.”

Last summer, the group got to finish up the tour with Kane. “It really helped us get our name out there and a lot of people got to see us and we got to kind of show what we’re all about. It really has helped us carry over into this next season that we’re in right now. We’re going on our first ever headlining tour and we have a lot of people coming back to our show who were there for Kane’s show. It’s great because we have over twice as much music at our show than during Kane’s and we just got to learn so much from Kane being on tour,” Zack said.

The guys started the tour in April and already have a handful of shows under their belt, including a sold-out show in Nashville. Garrett said the group has been blown away by the support thus far. “We couldn’t ask for anything better! We had so many people supporting us online these past few years and we’re really starting to meet everyone.” He added, “It was kind of a great moment to see all the work that we put in come together, and yeah, it was incredible!”

As mentioned earlier, Restless Road will be playing an all-ages show in Boston on May 16th at the Sinclair. The group can’t wait to get back up to New England. Colton shares the sentiment that many of us New Englanders have, “The people there were absolutely incredible, for one. We’re really excited! This has honestly been one of the best selling shows, I mean, from as soon as we started putting tickets on sale, this one has gone really really fast. I think we’re really excited because that just shows us that fans are really eager to come out to the show.” But that’s not all, “My gosh, you CANNOT forget the food! I’m ready to come back to Boston and get a lobster roll,” he laughed. 

It’s obvious that the future is bright for this band. And even though they’ve already checked off so many things on their bucket list – from their Opry debut to playing on The Bachelor – they have so much to look forward to. The road might be restless, filled with ups and downs, twists and turns, but as they like to say, “It’s all about just hanging on and enjoying the ride… No matter what life brings you, just keep your eyes on the road and keep going.”

To stay up to date with Restless Road, you can follow them on Instagram, Tik Tok, Facebook, YouTube, and Twitter.

Florida Georgia Line: ‘I Love My Country’ Single Review

If you’re looking for some new tunes to help get you through this difficult time, Florida Georgia Line has just the song for you. Written by Corey Crowder, Ernest K Smith, and Charlie Handsome, ‘I Love My Country’ has that vintage FGL party vibe. As the lyrics suggest, this is one of those songs that you have to turn up loud. Whether you’re tailgating in a parking lot or relaxing at home, the rockin’, banjo-infused melody will have you bopping along to the beat. Tyler Hubbard and Brian Kelley hoped that this new single would bring some joy to their fans in the midst of the current pandemic, and it certainly does just that.  

‘I Love My Country’ is an ode to life in the countryside and loving country music. The lyrics detail the simpler, more laid-back aspects that come along with living in the country, such as hunting and fishing and a barbecue, steak fries, styrofoam plate date night. Tyler and BK go on to sing about how they like other genres of music but country is their favorite. They love driving around town with the windows down and the music up. The fun, light-hearted nature of this song is reminiscent of many of the first big hits that helped launch FGL’s career. The duo have been in the studio working on their next album, and if this first single is any indication of what’s to come, we can’t wait to hear the rest of it.

Favorite lyrics: Six strings and fiddles, whiskey from Kentucky, We keep it funky we like how it sounds, Monday to Sunday, yeah, I love my country

You can purchase ‘I Love My Country’ here.

Kenny Chesney: ‘Here and Now’ Album Review

Kenny Chesney’s nineteenth studio album ‘Here and Now,’ was released on May 1st – perfect timing with summer on it’s way! With as many records as Chesney, one may ask how he continues to produce great music. For ‘Here and Now,’ Kenny brought together his favorite writers to all have a hand in this record. Out of the 12 songs, only two were co-penned by Chesney. Instead, he let his writers take the reins to create top-notch work for this very personal record. On his Instagram Chesney wrote: “When I looked at these songs, they were polaroids from the parking lots, back home, the islands, my friends’ lives. Every single song is someone I know or someone you know. And right now, our friends are absolutely the most precious thing we have.”

1) ‘We Do’ Written by Kenny Chesney, Craig Wiseman, Scooter Carusoe and David Garcia

Impression: Kenny opens things up with a tribute to his loyal fan-base of No Shoes Nation. ‘We Do’ has a sweet sounding melody with a harder hitting chorus that Chesney sings directly towards his fans – touching upon the tailgates, people gathering far and wide, and traveling city to city. This single is definitely catchy, and members of No Shoes Nation will feel the love from their leader. 

Favorite Lyrics: No matter where it goes, you know we’re here for the ride. Who gets to roll like we do?

2) ‘Here and Now’ Written by David Lee Murphy, David Garcia & Craig Wiseman

Impression: The title track holds people accountable for not living in the present. Chesney sings the poignant lines “everybody’s waiting, but they’re waiting on what? Better get to living, because all we’ve got is here and now.” It’s the perfect song that emphasizes making the most out of doing nothing. 

Favorite Lyrics: I must’ve sat on a dozen islands, watched the sun sink into the sea. Been there, done that, got the T-shirt and hat…

3) ‘Everyone She Knows’ Written by Ross Copperman, Shane McAnally and Josh Osborne

Impression: Kenny does it again with his pure storytelling on ‘Everyone She Knows.’ This song will resonate with women in a way they didn’t think possible – especially since it is written and performed by men. It tells the common tale of women comparing their lives to everyone they know and shaming themselves for not being like them. It’s classic Kenny with a twist. “Everyone She Knows’ is blissfully sweet. 

Favorite Lyrics: She’s bored with all the boys and the men are too damn old. She’s sick of summer love, but the winter’s just too cold…

4.) ‘Wasted’ Written by David Lee Murphy, Bobby Hamrick and James Slater

Impression: ‘Wasted’ gives off classic Kenny beach vibes, with some resemblance of his hit ‘Pirate Flag.’ This song is an ode to being thankful for what you have, when you have it. Money cannot buy happiness, and Kenny highlights that with these subtle lyrics.

Favorite Lyrics: I was going nonstop ’til I squeezed every drop of that good time top shelf, sweet life that I tasted. And to tell you the truth, the rest, I just wasted.

5) ‘Knowing You’ Written by Brett James, Adam James and Kat Higgins

Impression: Who does a song filled with nostalgia better than Kenny Chesney? ‘Knowing You’ is filled to the brim with reflection of the past. Chesney said “When I heard this song, it knocked me out. It’s such a classic kind of country song you don’t hear anymore and it’s so pure.” Kenny sings it passionately, yet delicately. In a way, it mimics his older song ‘You Save Me’ with its melody and tone.

Favorite Lyrics: Knowing you, you probably got your toes in the sand, at a bar on a beach in the sun somewhere. Knowing you, you got something cold in your hand, chatting up a stranger without a care

6) ‘Heartbreakers’ Written by Zach Crowell, JT Harding and Josh Osborne

Impression: ‘Heartbreakers’ brings out the classic Kenny feel of jammin’ guitars and an upbeat melody. This single reminisces on the people that were known as heartbreakers and how they were idolized growing up. Kenny wants to know, where are they now?

Favorite Lyrics: You were lucky just to know ’em. If you got lucky, you got broken. You were never gonna hold ’em…

7) ‘Someone to Fix’ Written by Scooter Carusoe and Jon Nite

Impression: ‘Someone to Fix’ is extremely relatable for many. This ballad is simple and wholesome. Chesney’s voice carries the listener through the lyrics and melody. Soft in nature, but truthful in its approach. ‘Someone to Fix’ is a favorite from this album. 

Favorite Lyrics: Broken hearts leave hearts broken. Loving me is so hard, I know it. Why you took me on, I’ll never understand…

8) ‘Happy Does’ Written by Brad Clawson, Jamie Paulin, Brock Berryhill and Greylan James

Impression: Three words to describe this song: island-esque, catchy, and happy. As the title states, this song embodies what it means to be smiling, despite things being far from ideal. ‘Happy Does’ fits perfectly into Kenny’s repertoire. 

Favorite Lyrics: Laugh and live with a half-full cup. When it’s all black clouds, find the sun, ’cause happy is as happy does.

9) ‘Tip of My Tongue’ Written by Kenny Chesney, Ross Copperman and Ed Sheeran

Impression: Chesney takes a different approach with this single, as ‘Tip of My Tongue’ is more contemporary than his usual stuff. This song is all about connection, and its dreamy lyrics paints the story of celebrating sensuality. ‘Tip of My Tongue’ was the first single released off the album back in July 2019. 

Favorite Lyrics: I wanna love you ’til my days are done. I wanna tell you that I think that you’re the one. Oh girl, you know when it’s all said and done, everything about you’s on the tip of my tongue.

10) ‘You Don’t Get To’ Written by Dustin Christensen, Josh Kerr and Barry Dean

Impression: A slow and sensual melody accompanies powerful and pain-filled lyrics. ‘You Don’t Get To’ is prominent with hurt and ridden with damage. The lyrics display taking a stand against it and finding your inner peace again. 

Favorite Lyrics: Did you hear that I was happy? You just had to mess it up. Or is it just some phase you’re always going through? To want what you can’t have and leave it when you do…

11) ‘Beautiful World’ Written by David Lee Murphy, Tony Lane and Tom Douglas

Impression: ‘Beautiful World’ expresses the amazement in everything surrounding us. In this world we are small, and that can be beautiful, scary, and profound. The lyrics pay homage to the world and respect the things more powerful than us. The melody is airy and it has tropical tones underlying. 

Favorite Lyrics: It’s the blue sky days you don’t wanna miss. Jukebox dances and girls to kiss, keeps us all living for nights like this. It’s a big old beautiful world.

12) ‘Guys Named Captain’ Written by James Slater

Impression: To close the album, Kenny sings a ballad about all of the Captains he has met along the way. Chesney said this song is about the guys where “those things [the road or the water] take them away, bring them back, but mostly allow them to be free. This song feels like it distills their soul into just a few lines…”

Favorite Lyrics: Buccaneers with nothing to fear. He’ll go down with the ship, last man standin,’ guys named Captain.

Gear up this album for your summer playlists, because the King of Summer gave us more tunes to get us through our days! Take the time to really sink into this album, as Chesney shows us a side of him that we don’t always get to see. You can listen to ‘Here and Now’ on Spotify, iTunes, and more platforms here.

NECM’s WCW: Hillary Scott

We, at New England Country Music, have decided to continue 2020 with our popular WCW (Women Crush Wednesday) series, where we spotlight women in country music. Each month we will feature a talented woman who is crushing the country music scene.

For March, we’re featuring the lovely singer/songwriter Hillary Scott. Unlike many of the WCW that have come before her, Scott was born right in Nashville, Tennessee. Her mother, Linda Davis, was building a career as a country music artist, and her father, Lang Scott, was working as a musician. With music running in her veins, at the young age of fourteen, she decided to follow in her parent’s footsteps. It was without a doubt that Hillary was bound for musical greatness.

Scott attended Middle Tennessee State University. After college, she began writing with Charles Kelley and Dave Haywood. With Hillary Scott taking the role of co-lead singer, the trio began performing as Lady Antebellum in 2006. In 2007 they signed with Capitol Nashville.

Lady Antebellum dropped their debut single, ‘Love Don’t Live Here,’ in the fall of 2007. Their self-titled, eleven-track, debut album was released in the Spring of 2008 and debuted at Number One on the Top Country Albums Chart. The trio released their second album, ‘Need You Now,’ in the winter of 2010. It sold over 481,000 copies the first week. In 2011, they released ‘Own the Night’ and in 2012 they dropped a Christmas album, ‘On This Winter’s Night.’ They went on the release three more albums: ‘Golden,’ ‘747,’ and ‘Heart Break.’ Their most recent single, ‘What if I Never Get Over You,’ dropped last spring from their latest album ‘Ocean.’

Lady Antebellum took home their first Academy of Country Music Award in 2008 for Top New Duo or Vocal Group. Since then, the trio has received seven more ACM Awards. Over the years, the trio has won six CMA Awards, seven GRAMMYS, four American Music Awards, and two Billboard Music Awards.

Alongside from her success with Lady Antebellum, Hillary Scott has also released some faith-inspired music. With her mother, father, and sister, the Scott family released their first album together, ‘Love Remains,’ in 2016. The thirteen-track record includes singles ‘Thy Will,’ ‘Beautiful Messes,’ ‘Love Remains,’ and ‘Still.’ At the 2017 Grammy Awards, Hillary Scott and the Scott Family’s ‘Love Remains,’ won for Best Contemporary Christian Music Album and ‘Thy Will’ won for Best Contemporary Christian Music Performance/Song.

Hillary Scott will be in New England this summer with Lady Antebellum. You can see them here:

Hartford, CT at the Xfinity Theater on June 14th.

Gilford, NH at the Bank of New Hampshire Pavilion on June 18th.

Bangor, ME at Darling’s Waterfront Pavilion on June 19th.

Mansfield, MA at the Xfinity Center on June 20th.

Be sure to download Lady Antebellum’s latest album, ‘Ocean,’ on Apple Music here.

You can stay connected with Hillary Scott by following her on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.

Stay tuned for our next installment of WCW in country music. It is set to hit our page in April.

NECM’s WCW: Stephanie Quayle

We, at New England Country Music, have decided to continue 2020 with our popular WCW (Women Crush Wednesday) series, where we spotlight women in country music. Each month we will feature a talented woman who is crushing the country music scene.

For February, we’re featuring the lovely singer, songwriter, and musician, Stephanie Quayle. Her interest in music began when she was a young girl growing up in Bozeman, Montana. She began playing the piano when she was four and picked up the guitar a few years later. This WCW sang in her very first band when she was only sixteen.

Stephanie Quayle dropped her first single, ‘Drinking with Dolly,’ in 2016. She released her second single, ‘Winnebago,’ in 2017. Winnebago, along with The RV Loft and KOA, decided to sponsor her first U.S. tour. This same year, Rolling Stone Magazine named Quayle one of their Top 10 Artists to Watch. Rebel Engine Entertainment released her first album, ‘Love the Way You See Me.’ One of the eleven tracks, ‘Selfish,’ was her first song to reach the Billboard Country Airplay chart. This past fall, she released her five song EP, ‘If I Was a Cowboy.’

While talking about her latest EP with Rolling Stone, Stephanie Quayle mentioned: “When I think of cowboys, it’s not a gender thing to me. It’s a state of mind. That has been a huge part of me persevering and making decisions. When you’re out on the range, you don’t have always a lot of time to make choices. You have to really look at today and what has to happen today for tomorrow to show up.”

Quayle had the honor of performing alongside Lady Gaga and Alabama at a hurricane relief benefit concert, Deep from the Heart: The One America Appeal. She made her Grande Ole Opry debut in the spring of 2018. And she had the honor of being part of CMT’s 2019 Next Women of Country class.

We hope you were lucky enough to catch Stephanie when she was here in Foxboro at Six String Grill and Stage on February 7th. Her loyal fanbase, known as the “Flock of Quayle’s” really showed up that night. With the support of her fans, Quayle definitely got the crowd’s energy up for Jimmie Allen to hit the stage.

Be sure to download her latest EP, ‘If I Was a Cowboy,’ on Apple Music here.

You can stay connected with Stephanie Quayle by following her on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.

Stay tuned for our next installment of WCW in country music. It is set to hit our page in March.

NECM’s WCW: Maddie & Tae

We, at New England Country Music, have decided to continue 2020 with our popular WCW (Women Crush Wednesday) series, where we spotlight women in country music. Each month we will feature a talented woman who is crushing the country music scene.

We’re kicking things off with a double dose of talented females, Maddie and Tae. This country music duo, both twenty-five-years old, is comprised of Madison (Maddie) Kay Font and Taylor (Tae) Elizabeth Dye. Maddie is from Sugarland, TX and sings lead vocals and plays the guitar as well as the mandolin. Tae is from Ada, OK and sings background vocals and also plays the guitar. While in high school, the pair met through their shared vocal coach and became friends. They started performing under the name ‘Sweet Aliana.’

Upon graduating high school, they both moved to Nashville and were picked up by Dot Records. These talented ladies wrote their debut single, ‘Girl in a Country Song,’ alongside Aaron Scherz. It was released in July 2014 and it peaked at number one on Billboard’s Country Airplay Chart in December. This was only the second time in history that a female duo’s debut single reached number one. The only other women to accomplish is was The Wreckers with their 2008 single ‘Leave the Pieces.’ ‘Girl in a Country Song’ was certified platinum by the RIAA and went on to sell over 650,000 copies in the USA. Later in 2014, Maddie & Tae dropped their four song, self-titled EP. They released their first album, ‘Start Here,’ in 2015. In early 2018, this WCW duo signed with Mercury Nashville and released two singles, ‘Friends Don’t’ and ‘Die From a Broken Heart.’ They went on to release two more Eps: ‘One Heart to Another,’ in April 2019 and ‘Everywhere I’m Goin’ in October 2019.

Maddie and Tae were nominated for Vocal Duo of the Year at the 2017 ACM Awards held in Las Vegas, NV.

Just this month, Maddie and Tae announced some super exciting news. They are heading out on their first headlining tour in over five years, the Tourist in This Town Tour. The tour will run from mid-April through mid-July, but will not be stopping anywhere in the Northeast.

Following their headlining tour, Maddie and Tae will be joining Jake Owen on Lady Antebellum’s Ocean 2020 Tour. Definitely grab your tickets now as they’ll hit four New England states this summer!

You can see them on June 14th at the Xfinity Theater in Hartford, CT, on June 18th at the Bank of NH Pavilion in Gilford, NH, on June 19th at Darling’s Waterfront Pavilion in Bangor, ME, and on June 20th at the Xfinity Center in Mansfield, MA.

Be sure to download ‘Girl in a Country Song’ on Apple Music here.

You can stay connected with Maddie and Tae by following them on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.

Stay tuned for our next installment of WCW in country music. It is set to hit our page on Wednesday, February 26th.

Sam Hunt: ‘Sinning With You’ Single Review

Fresh into 2020 and Sam Hunt is back in the country music spotlight. Hunt unveiled his latest single ‘Sinning With You’ at midnight on January 3rd. The release comes just three months after his 2019 single ‘Kinfolks.’ 

The subdued single confesses Hunt’s desire to stay connected to his faith while passionately indulging himself in a lover. Both come to him effortlessly and both are highlighted with innocence and forgiveness. With sultry tones and haunting guitar strings, ‘Sinning With You’ instantly gives goosebumps. Although much different than his usual sound, this ballad fits into Sam’s repertoire perfectly. 

The single is a reflection into Hunt’s own mental and emotional processes – which makes the single that much more relatable.The lyrics show a sense of urgency for whatever it is he is speaking on. With lines like “My past was checkered, your spotless record was probably in jeopardy. Your place or my place, His grace and your grace, felt like the same thing to me” and “...I felt forgiveness in my heart with you, saw the light in the dark with you, felt like I could fly,” Sam’s approach to being raw shines bright. 

The chorus displays an inner battle between his morals, and challenges the teachings of his faith against his desires. The lyrics will resonate with many: “I never felt like I was sinning with you. Always felt like I could talk to God in the morning. I knew that I would end up with you. Always felt like I could talk to God in the morning. If it’s so wrong, why did it feel so right? If it’s so wrong, why’d it never feel like sinning with you? Sinning with you.”

‘Sinning With You’ takes on different forms: oppressive to some due to its introspective approach, or like a breath of fresh air with its truthfulness and purity. Either way, Sam Hunt took his artistry to another level. The single has powerhouse writers Emily Weisband, Josh Osborne, Paul DiGiovanni, and Hunt himself behind it. If this is what to expect out of Sam in 2020, we are excited and ready to see what he has in store for us!

Favorite Lyrics: “But I never felt shame, never felt sorry, never felt guilty touching your body. As long as you’re for me, as long as I’m for you; who could be against us, baby?”

Listen to ‘Sinning With You’ now: Spotify, Apple Music, and YouTube.

NECM’s WCW: Shania Twain

We, at New England Country Music, are continuing our series spotlighting women in country music. While the acronym WCW, standing for ‘Women Crush Wednesday,’ is often used for physical attraction, that is not the case here. This series will feature talented women who are crushing the country music scene.

This week, we are featuring Eilleen Edwards, also known as Shania Twain! If you watched the 2019 American Music Awards last Sunday, 11/24, you caught an incredible performance. Twain hadn’t been on that stage in sixteen years, but she knocked it out of the park with some covers including Post Malone’s ‘Rockstar,’ Taylor Swift’s ‘Shake It Off,’ and Drake’s ‘God’s Plan.’ Of course, she sang some her own hits as well: ‘Any Man of Mine,’ ‘Don’t Impress Me Much,’ and ‘Man! I Feel Like A Woman.’

This Canadian born singer/songwriter has sold over one million records. Dubbed the “Queen of Country Pop,” she is one of the best-selling female country music artists. Twain grew up as Eilleen Regina Edwards with two sisters in Ontario, Canada. After a divorce, her mother remarried Jerry Twain, a full-blooded Ojibwa. Mr. Twain adopted all of the Edwards children. The family was quite poor and Shania started singing at local bars at the young age of eight to help her family pay the bills. She wrote her first song when she was ten. Her interest in music continued throughout high school where she played in the band ‘Longshot.’ After high school, she joined the band ‘Flirt’ and took singing lessons. When she was twenty-two, tragedy hit the Twain household. Both her mom and step-dad died in a car crash and she took on the responsibility of raising her siblings. When her siblings were grown and moved out of the house, Twain returned to her passion – music. She recorded a demo tape that was picked up by Mercury Nashville Records and they signed her shortly thereafter. In 1993, Eilleen changed her name to Shania, meaning “I’m on my way” in Ojibwa. She dropped her debut, self-titled album, this same year. Twain went on to release four more albums: ‘The Woman in Me,’ ‘Come On Over,’ ‘Up!,’ and ‘Now.’ Over her career, this WCW has headlined four tours.

Shania Twain was the first non-US citizen to win a CMA Award. In 1999 she took home the CMA Award and ACM Award for Entertainer of the Year. She was inducted into the Canadian Music all of Fame in 2011. And she received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. From 2017-2018 Shania Twain had her own exhibit at the Country Music Hall of Fame.

We can’t wait to see where this WCW goes from here.

Hopefully you were lucky to see Shania Twain in June of 2018, as she stopped at the TD Garden in Boston then. She will be filling up 2020 by playing ‘Let’s Go! – The Las Vegas Residency’ starting in December.

Be sure to download some of her earlier songs including ‘Any Man of Mine’ and ‘Whose Bed Have Your Boots Been Under?’ from ‘The Woman In Me’ on Apple Music here.

You can stay connected with Shania Twain by following her on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.

Stay tuned for our next installment of WCW in country music. It is set to hit our page on Wednesday December 4th.

Granger Smith: ‘That’s Why I Love Dirt Roads’ Review

In his new single, ‘That’s Why I Love Dirt Roads,’ Granger Smith takes us on an emotional journey of self-discovery and healing. As we ride along through beautifully textured descriptions of a winding country road, we can’t help but reflect on the influence behind the lyrics. This song is Smith’s first release since the tragic death of his three-year-old son, River, five months ago. His message of finding serenity, even while enduring unimaginable heartbreak, is truly inspired.

On October 24th, Granger took to social media to announce the release. His statement was raw and honest. Smith spoke candidly about his loss, about anxiety, and about finding what truly matters. He was sure to stress that music matters to him. He pointed to the fact that it matters so much because it highlights all of the important events and people in life. And while Granger says this single isn’t about River, it certainly pays homage to him. 

https://www.instagram.com/p/B4BPSIkJtTg/

Just like Smith’s announcement, ‘That’s Why I love Dirt Roads’ is as uplifting as it is somber. The rapid tempo, paired with poignant lyrics, will stir the soul of every listener. Smith sings of being delivered from the fast-paced highways to the dirt roads that slow down life. Here, he’s given pause to reflect on his memories, on his faith, and on the freedom found in taking the road less travelled. Smith relates that it’s on these dirt roads that he feels a piece of heaven. When he says, ‘out here in the quiet, I know you hear me. The stars are smiling. I feel you near me,” we can imagine he’s in the presence of his late son. While the road is slower, longer, and rougher than the highways, he appreciates the journey of finding his way home again.

‘That’s Why I love Dirt Roads’ is sure to become a fast hit, not only because of its catchy tune, but more so, the message behind it. While Granger Smith may be suffering the most inconceivable pain, he’s proven that we can still travel forth by the means of what we love most. Because of him, we’ve fallen in love with dirt roads too! 

Also, be sure to check out the gorgeous artwork that accompanies this track. It’s rife with hidden gems. Just take a closer look at the mountains! 

Favorite Lyrics: Sometimes they’re beat up and broken, scattered and tossed in the breeze. But no matter their scars, it don’t change what they are. That sounds a little like me.

You can listen to his new single here.

NECM’s WCW: Trisha Yearwood

We, at New England Country Music, are continuing our series spotlighting women in country music. While the acronym WCW, standing for ‘Women Crush Wednesday,’ is often used for physical attraction, that is not the case here. This series will feature talented women who are crushing the country music scene.

This week, we are featuring the one and only Trisha Yearwood. You may know her as the country singer that is married to Garth Brooks, but you may not know that she is also an actress, author, television personality and celebrity chef.

Trisha Yearwood grew up in Georgia, the daughter of a schoolteacher and a banker. The fifty-four-year-old has always been passionate about music. Throughout her childhood, she performed in talent shows, community events, church functions, and musicals. She received an associate degree in business from Young Harris College and moved to Nashville in 1985. It was her job with MTM Records that really kicked things off for Yearwood. This is also where she first recorded demo tapes with her future husband, Garth Brooks. The two struck up a friendship, and in 1990, Yearwood sang background vocals on Brooks’ album ‘No Fences.’ She toured with Garth and released her debut, self-titled album in 1991. The lead single ‘She’s In Love With the Boy’ peaked at Number One on the Billboard Hot Country Songs Chart. This album went on to be certified double platinum by RIAA, making Trisha Yearwood the first female country artist to sell one million copies of her debut album. Over the next twenty-eight years, she released twelve more albums. We are excited to mention that she just released her latest single, ‘Every Girl in this Town,’ this past summer.

Trisha Yearwood has been on various television shows including Dr. Quinn Medicine Woman, Ellen, JAG, and Nashville. She has hosted a popular cooking show, Trisha’s Southern Kitchen, since 2012. And she has written several cook books including ‘Home Cooking With Trisha Yearwood,’ ‘Georgia Cooking in an Oklahoma Kitchen,’ and ‘Trisha’s Table: My Feel-Good Favorites.’

As far as awards go, this WCW has earned quite a few. She has received three GRAMMY Awards, 3 CMA Awards, 3 ACM Awards, and 1 Daytime Emmy Award.

We can’t wait to see Trisha Yearwood continue along the path of success.

Lucky for us, Trisha Yearwood will be at the Wilbur Theatre in Boston, MA on Friday, November 22nd. You can purchase tickets here.

Be sure to download ‘Every Girl in this Town’ on Apple Music here.

You can stay connected with Trisha Yearwood by following her on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.

Stay tuned for our next installment of WCW in country music. It is set to hit our page on Wednesday, November 6th.