Transcript

1.16.26 · Country Weekly

0:05
Speaker 1: Now it's time to catch up with Country Weekly, where
0:08
we check out news and gossip from the world of
0:11
country music. I'm your host, Ken Dawkins, and I will
0:14
be reading from various sources found online. As a reminder,
0:19
RADIOI is a reading service intended for people who are
0:22
blind or have other disabilities that make it difficult to
0:25
read printed material. We'll become with the first article, dated
0:29
January twelfth from countrynow dot com. Chris Stapleton's Tennessee Whiskey
0:36
becomes first country song certified double Diamond. Country superstar Chris
0:41
Stapleton from Kentucky, of course, is celebrating a major career
0:45
milestone as his rendition of Tennessee Whiskey has been certified
0:49
RIAA Double Diamond, surpassing twenty millions units sold. The achievement
0:55
marks the first country song ever to reach double Diamond status.
1:00
Chairman and CEO Mitch Glazier reflected on the moment, calling
1:03
the achievement remarkable. Chris Stapleton's undeniable vocal grit and storytelling
1:09
have connected deeply, driving chart successes, earning major awards, and
1:13
most important, resonating with fans. Glacier shared, ri IAA is
1:18
proud to celebrate him alongside MCA as Tennessee Whiskey today
1:22
makes history, becoming the first country single ever to earn
1:26
a double Diamond certification. With twenty million units sold in
1:29
the US alone, It's a remarkable achievement and another defining
1:33
moment in Stapleton's career. Tennessee Whiskey was written by Dean
1:38
Dylon and Linda Hargrove and was originally recorded by David
1:41
allan Coe and later by George Jones. Stapleton's version came
1:46
in twenty fifteen after his producer Dave Cobb heard him
1:50
cover the song during a sound check on tour. The
1:53
news of the double diamond status arrives on the heels
1:56
of the ten year anniversary of his groundbreaking debut album, Traveler,
2:00
which Stapleton celebrated last year. Recorded at Nashville's historic RCA
2:05
Studio A with producer Dave Cobb, the album's success was
2:09
fueled in part by the breakout hit Tennessee Whiskey. Traveler
2:13
went on to win Best Country Album at the fifty
2:15
eighth Grammy Awards, as well as Album of the Year
2:18
honors at both the c m A and ACM Awards.
2:21
And ultimately became the best selling country album of the
2:23
two thousand tens. That same year, Traveler made history as
2:28
the first album ever to re enter the Billboard two
2:30
hundred dollars genre chart at number one, where it remained
2:33
for two consecutive weeks. With global sales exceeding eleven million.
2:37
The album is certified RIAA seven times platinum in the US,
2:42
has surpassed eleven billion streams worldwide, and has spent more
2:46
than five hundred weeks on the Billboard two hundred, making
2:49
it the first country album to reach that milestone. Stapleton
2:53
recently surprised fans by extending his All American road show,
2:56
adding twenty new dates for twenty twenty six. The expanded
2:59
run include stops at several major US stadiums, along with
3:02
additional special guests including Laney Wilson and Zach Topp on
3:07
select shows. Next, When on a Judd Honor's mother, Naomi
3:12
on what would have been her eightieth birthday. When on
3:16
a Judd took a moment to remember and honor her mother,
3:18
Naomi jud on what would have been her eightieth birthday,
3:21
sharing a heartfelt throwback on social media, The country star
3:25
posted a photo of herself gently kissing her mother on
3:27
the cheek. Alongside the image went on a road a
3:30
touching caption saying she still feels her mother everywhere she
3:33
goes and wondering why she isn't with her today. She
3:37
would have been eighty today. I still feel her everywhere.
3:40
She has two beautiful great granddaughters. We could be celebrating
3:43
with why aren't you here? I love you, Mom, she
3:46
shared when on his post was flooded with heartfelt comments,
3:49
including sweet messages from Carly Pearce, Tiger, Lily Gold, Karen Fairchild,
3:54
and others. Naomi jud of course, passed away at seventy
3:58
six on Saturday, April thirtieth in twenty twenty two. Her
4:01
death shocked the country music community and continues to leave
4:04
a lasting impact to this day. Her passing was revealed
4:08
on social media in a statement from her daughters. The
4:11
unexpected loss came just days after Naomi Judd and Winona
4:14
Judd reunited as the judge for a performance of Love
4:17
Can Build a Bridge at the twenty twenty two c
4:20
MT Music Awards, and only one day before the judge
4:23
were set to be officially inducted into the Country Music
4:26
Hall of fame. The Jud's induction went on, with Winona
4:30
and her sister Ashley tearfully honoring their mother during the ceremony. Later,
4:35
when on A Judd revealed plans to embark on the
4:37
Jud's final tour in honor of her mother, Winonah opened
4:41
up about her mother's death for the first time in
4:43
a sit down interview with CBS Sunday Morning, admitting I
4:46
did not know that she was at the place she
4:48
was at when she ended it, because she had had
4:51
episodes before and got better.
4:53
Speaker 2: And that's what I live in.
4:55
Speaker 1: It's like, was there anything I could have done or
4:57
I should have looked for or should have known. I didn't,
5:01
and that's why it's such a shock. The Judge earned
5:04
fourteen number one hits over a career spanning nearly three decades,
5:08
including Love Can Build a Bridge, Mama, He's Crazy?
5:10
Speaker 2: Why Not Me?
5:11
Speaker 1: Turn It Loose, Girls' Night Out, Rocking with the Rhythm
5:14
of the Rain, and Grandpa. The mother daughter duo racked
5:18
up twenty top ten hits, sold over twenty million albums,
5:21
and earned a combined sixteen gold, platinum, and multi platinum certifications,
5:26
including the Jud's greatest hits. Moving On Vince Gill celebrates
5:32
fifty years of music with new EP and tour, including
5:35
a six night Rhyman residency. Vince Gill is kicking off
5:40
twenty twenty six strong with a new tour and music announcement.
5:43
Fans have the chance to celebrate a milestone year in
5:46
Vince Gill's five decade long journey in music when he
5:49
hits the road for a highly anticipated summer trek that
5:52
includes a six night residency at the Ryman Auditorium across
5:56
July and August. His run at Nashville's His Star Our
6:00
venue will cap off the tour with performances on July thirtieth,
6:03
thirty first, in August first, sixth, seventh, and eighth. The
6:07
sixth night residency serves as an epic finale to the
6:09
summer trek that set the kickoff on June eighteenth in
6:12
Orlando and includes stops across Florida, Alabama, Georgia, New York,
6:17
and elsewhere. Gil, who spent much of the past nine
6:20
years touring with The Eagles, will also continue performing with
6:23
the legendary band even as he hits the road for
6:25
his own twenty twenty six headlining run. The Eagles are
6:29
currently playing to sold out crowds at the Sphere in
6:32
Las Vegas. Next After a breakout year, Hudson Westbrook prepares
6:37
for big twenty twenty six with new EP and major tours.
6:42
Hudson Westbrook is gearing up to release a brand new
6:45
EP entitled Exclusive, Its arriving January twenty third. The Texas
6:50
native tells Country Now that the project is a little
6:52
more rock sounding than his previous releases. Westbrook recently unveiled
6:57
the EP cover and track list, adding to the excitement
7:00
surrounding the project. The track list features five songs, including
7:03
the previously released if We Had To and Pretty Privilege.
7:07
Westbrook co wrote all five tracks of the project. Westbrook
7:12
tells the Country Now it's like a relationship advice EP
7:16
because I'm twenty one and then once I'm raising kids
7:18
of my own and doing the things that I feel
7:20
like you write songs about once you get older and
7:22
experience more life, that's what's going to be on the
7:25
next album. But this EP, I'm excited for it. The
7:29
track list includes Exclusive Lmy, That's lmwy L Love, and
7:35
on Me if He Wanted To end Pretty Privilege. The
7:39
Exclusive EP arrives as Westbrook's debut single, House Again, continues
7:43
to climb the charts at country Radio, making its way
7:46
into the top ten and still climbing. Westbrook burst onto
7:50
the scene back in twenty twenty four with the release
7:52
of his viral hit take It Slow, which arrived while
7:55
he was enrolled in college. Now focusing on music full time,
7:59
the rising Country react as living out his dreams one
8:01
day at a time, opening four and collaborating with his
8:04
heroes along the way. While chatting with Country Now backstage
8:08
at the CMA Awards, the twenty one year old reflected
8:11
on his rise to fame, admitting every moment's a pinch
8:13
me moment. Right now, I'm doing all the things that
8:17
I've never done. I was washing cattle this time and
8:19
doing math homework last year. Now, not last year, but
8:23
a year and a half ago, two years ago whatever.
8:25
Meeting fellow Texas native Parker McCollum was a highlight for him.
8:29
I met Parker at Red Rocks for the first time,
8:32
and then we played a show together, and I was
8:34
watching him in concert two years ago. Then he walks
8:37
by here and he's like, what's up, man, And You're like, wow,
8:39
I just said hi to Parker McCollum. After a breakout year,
8:43
Westbrook's gearing up for an even bigger twenty six, joining
8:46
Bailey Zimmerman and Morgan Wallen on their headline tours. Next,
8:52
new Oklahoma bill aims to memorialize Toby Keith through renaming
8:57
of bridges and parkway. The new bill has been introduced
9:01
in Oklahoma which would permanently honor the legacy of the
9:04
Lake Country music icon Toby Keith across several key roadways
9:08
in his home state. Nearly two years after his passing,
9:11
new and meaningful efforts continued to honor the impact he
9:14
left behind. KSWOTV reports that Oklahoma State Senator Lisa Standridge,
9:20
Republican from Norman, has introduced Senate Bill fourteen seventy five
9:25
proposing that the bridge over Interstate thirty five at Indian
9:28
Hills Road be renamed the Toby Keith Memorial Bridge. If
9:32
the bridge has ever rebuilt or expanded in the same location,
9:36
the bill specifies it would be named or renamed the
9:38
Toby Keith Memorial Interchange. Additionally, the legislature in Oklahoma proposes
9:44
naming a potential future road connecting Indian Hills Road to
9:47
I thirty five and I forty four the Toby Keith Parkway,
9:51
where the Canadian River bridge along the group being called
9:54
the should have been a Cowboy bridge in honor of
9:57
Keith's first breakout hit. Sb V fourteen seventy five would
10:01
not only rename the infrastructure, but also open the door
10:04
for private citizens to help fund artwork for any of
10:07
the new bridges or interchanges along the proposed Toby Keith Parkway.
10:11
This idea would give Keith's family the option to commission
10:14
pieces that celebrate his life and contributions to music on
10:18
a huge scale that would be scenes by so many.
10:21
The Oklahoma state senator shared that while the design details
10:24
would ultimately be up to the Keith family, she envisions
10:27
a powerful tribute that captures the singer's iconic image and
10:30
patriotic spirit, creating a lasting landmark for fans and residents alike.
10:35
I would defer completely to the family that has lived
10:38
in my district for many years, but personally I can
10:40
picture a profile rendering of Toby in his hat with
10:44
a guitar in his hands, framed by an American flag
10:46
Standrids said the bill would be eligible for consideration when
10:49
Oklahoma legislature convenes on February tewod. This news comes nearly
10:55
two years after Keith's pass passing on February fifth, twenty
10:58
twenty four, following a more than two year battle with
11:01
stomach cancer. He is survived by his wife Tricia Lucas,
11:05
his children, Crystal, Shelley, and Stellen, and his four grandchildren,
11:09
including his newest Millie Brooks, who was born to Stellen
11:13
and his wife Haley back in August. His family continues
11:16
to celebrate his incredible legacy, both through his philanthropic work
11:20
with the Ok Kids Corral and his honorable career as
11:23
a singer, songwriter and performer. Now we wander down the
11:28
road to saving Country music. Where we get news and commentary.
11:31
First article dated January thirteenth, The Grand Old Opry punts
11:36
on reinstating Hank Williams again. On January tenth, Saturday, the
11:42
Grand Old Opry paid tribute to Hank Williams as part
11:45
of their one hundredth anniversary celebration held at the Opry's
11:49
original home, the Rayman Auditorium. The presentation featured Mandy Barnett,
11:53
The Grascals, John Foster, Chuck Meade, as well as Hank
11:56
Williams grandchildren, Hillary, Holly and Sam Williams performing the songs
12:00
of Hank January tenth would have been the perfect time
12:04
to put to bed a long running controversy with the
12:07
Grand Old Opry about how Hank Williams was kicked out
12:10
for drunkenness and missing rehearsals back in nineteen fifty two.
12:14
Though nobody holds it against the Opry for not putting
12:17
up with Hank's behavior, the Opry promised that if Hank
12:20
could clean up his act, that would welcome him back.
12:23
Hank Williams never got that opportunity. The country legend passed
12:26
away in the back of his Cadillac on New Year's
12:28
Day nineteen fifty three. Hank Williams the Third founded the
12:33
Reinstate Hank movement back in three in an effort to
12:36
get the Grand Old Opry to recognize his grandfather and
12:39
symbolically reinstate him into the Grand Old Opry. The Reinstate
12:44
Hank online petition now has over sixty two thousand signatures
12:48
on it. Hillary and Holly Williams have signed it, as
12:51
have Country legends such as Chris Christofferson and Charlie Leuven. Saturday,
12:56
January tenth at the Riman Auditorium, where Hank reportedly took
12:59
six on core upon his debut on the stage. Would
13:01
have made the perfect storybook moment to reinstate Hank, says,
13:05
saving country music, but that did not happen. Proponents of
13:09
the Reinstate Hank movement had renewed hope it might occur
13:12
after Keith Whitley was recently ceremoniously inducted in October of
13:16
twenty three as part of the Keith Whitley Tribute. The
13:20
Grand Old Opry ceremoniously inducted Keith Whitley after citing how
13:24
Whitley was set to be inducted before he passed away
13:27
on May ninth, nineteen eighty nine due to alcoholism eerily
13:31
similar circumstances to the Hank Williams Opry story, Keith Whitley
13:36
was posthumously inducted as a Grand Old Opry member, taking
13:39
into consideration that his alcoholism got in the way of
13:42
it happening in life, the same thing the Reinstate Hank movement,
13:45
sixty two thousand plus signatures and Hank's family have been
13:49
saying for over twenty years. It would have been nothing
13:52
for the opera to offer this simple token gesture to
13:55
the Hank Williams family on Saturday. Instead, on Sunday the eleventh,
13:59
the Grand Old Opry isshus the following statement. All the
14:02
names enshrined in the Opering Member gallery backstage at the
14:05
Grand Old Opry House represent artists who are part of
14:08
the Opry's history as passed or current members of the
14:11
Grand Old Opry Cast. Over the course of one hundred years,
14:15
many artists became members and remained active throughout their lives.
14:19
During earlier years, some artists stepped away from the cast
14:22
to pursue fuller touring schedules, or for a variety of
14:26
other reasons. Amid numerous personal struggles. Hank Williams was dismissed
14:30
from the Opry by management in August of nineteen fifty two.
14:35
Less than six months later, he passed away before there
14:37
was an opportunity for his relationship with the Opry to
14:40
be repaired while he was alive. Like other artists whose
14:44
time with the opre ended under complicated circumstances, Hank Williams's
14:48
music and influence remained central to the Opry and country
14:51
music's past, present, and future. His name stands will always
14:55
stand alongside other past and current members in the Opry
14:58
Member gallery in recogni of his enduring contributions to our legacy.
15:03
Thank you, Hank, and thank you to all who continue
15:05
to sing his songs and carry his music across the
15:08
Opry airwaves. You almost feel bad for the Opry, says
15:12
Saving Country Music, because they clearly were facing public pressure,
15:16
felt the need to address the matter, and even believe
15:19
some complex statement would suthe the tension or solve this
15:21
ongoing drama. However, it would have been even easier to
15:25
simply make up a symbolic plaque or even make a
15:28
more succinct statement from the stage certifying and cementing that
15:32
Hank Williams was, is, and always will be a grand
15:35
old Opry member, which is what they seem to attempt
15:38
to do with a statement, but clumsily inflamed tensions and
15:41
rip the scab off the wound. There were many comments
15:45
below the reading. The majority of the comments beneath the
15:48
Opery statement bring up reinstate Hank and disappointment that the
15:52
Opry did not take the opportunity of January tenth to
15:55
make it happen. Within the Opry statement, seems to be
15:58
the assertion by the Opery that Hank Williams doesn't need
16:00
to be reinstated because he never left. But herefore that
16:04
has not been the position of the Grand Old Opry.
16:07
The Opry manager was in charge when Williams the Third
16:11
made his request to have Hank reinstated was Pete Fisher.
16:15
He responded with, will never reinstate a dead guy. In
16:19
twenty twenty, when current Grand Old Opery manager Dan Rodgers
16:22
took charge, he said about the issue, had Hank Williams lived,
16:25
there is little doubt in my mind that I would
16:27
hope he would have returned to the Opry and all
16:30
would have been great and right in the world. Unfortunately
16:33
he didn't, implying he was still not reinstated. Now, after
16:37
punting at such a golden opportunity to put the issue
16:40
to bed, the Grand Old Opry has not exactly exacerbated
16:44
the matter with their statement. It also makes it feel
16:46
like an impossibility it will ever happen, and due to
16:49
the heat the Opery gets every time Hank Williams is broached,
16:53
they have a perverse incentive to never broach Hank Williams.
16:56
It all feels like a tragically missed opportunity to alleviate
16:59
the drum behind the issue, honor the legacy of Hank Williams,
17:02
and complete the circle when it comes to the legacy
17:05
of Hank Williams and the Grand Old Opry. Next, the
17:10
one hundredth birthday of Ray Price celebrated in Austin. Not
17:14
all birthday bashes are built the same. When you're paying
17:17
tribute to a country legend on their one hundredth birthday,
17:20
you pull out all the stops, or at least that's
17:22
what the current Queen of Texas Music, Summerdan did on
17:26
January eleventh at Sagebrush in Austin. Some are rounded up
17:30
some of the best traditional country talent in town and beyond,
17:33
put an incredible band behind them, and did the legacy
17:36
of Ray Price right for the revelers who assembled Sunday afternoon.
17:40
We all did this because we love traditional country music
17:42
and will do anything to keep it alive, Summer Dean
17:45
proclaimed from the stage. And that's what the audience witnessed
17:48
as a carousel of Kroner's cycled in front of a
17:51
hot house band singing the songs of Ray Price as
17:54
two steppers twirled away on the Sagebrush Dance Floor. The
17:58
top lying talent assemble included Theo Lawrence, who recently signed
18:02
with Warner Records, throwback singer Eliza Thorne who turned in
18:06
a spectacular version of night life, Rhode Island's Tyler, James
18:10
Kelly who was in town and did just destroyed Justice,
18:15
Austin's Honckey Tok's Sweetheart Catherine Legendaire, and cosmic cowboy guarantee
18:19
caps from San Antone who surprised a few by breaking
18:23
out the fiddle while playing I'll.
18:25
Speaker 2: Be There and Pride.
18:27
Speaker 1: The second portion of the presentation included the incomparable Jake Penrod,
18:31
who puts the old soul magic and everything he sings,
18:34
the ravishing Brennan Leigh, who they smartly saved Funny how
18:37
Time Slips Away for the Queen of Sagebrush, page pleasants
18:41
who performed make the World Go Away, throwback country artist
18:45
Christopher Seymour, whose hair was almost as impressive as his
18:48
rendition of New Heartache, and the recently unretired second incarnation
18:53
of George Jones, the one and Only Jason James, who
18:56
closed the shindig out with crazy arms, you Couldn't be
19:00
a Lightweight, and take the stage Sunday afternoon. Ray Price
19:04
was iconic for his incredible country music crooning, and that's
19:06
what each player brought to the stage just as much
19:09
as the singers. The stand in Cherokee Cowboys were lights out,
19:13
including two fiddler players, Katie Shore and Blake Whitmer, who
19:16
both sang multiple songs, as well as the double steel
19:19
lead guitar accompaniment of Kevin Scala Callie Milo, two of
19:23
the best on the planet as the sage brush. In
19:26
Austin's Sunday Afternoon it was like the Golden Sixties of
19:29
country music never ended. The two steppers were out in force,
19:32
as were a lot of other Austin country musicians waiting
19:35
to show their support for the memory of Ray Steel.
19:39
Radio dot Org was also there, as was a tattoo
19:42
artist inking Rape Price specific tattoos along with custom every
19:46
day I'm Shuffling merch available to mark the occasion. Summerdan
19:50
had played a packed headlining show at Groen Hall just
19:53
the night before, but stood on her head to make
19:56
it all come to life. Rape Price passed away, of course,
20:00
back in twenty thirteen, but he was brought back in
20:02
spirit on Sunday through the uncommon showcase of talent. The
20:06
one hundredth birthday of Ray Price is officially being observed
20:09
on Monday, January twelfth, the day he was born in
20:13
nineteen twenty six. He was born, as you know, probably
20:17
in Perryville, Texas, and served in the United States Marine
20:19
Corps for three years before joining the Big d Jamboreede
20:23
Show in Dallas back in nineteen forty nine. He then
20:26
went on to manage Hank Williams Drifting Cowboy band after
20:30
the untimely death of Hank in nineteen fifty two. In
20:33
fifty three, Ray Price formed his own band, the Cherokee Cowboys,
20:37
which had many notable members over the years, including Willie Nelson,
20:41
Roger Miller, Johnny Paycheck, Johnny Bush, and steel guitar player
20:45
Buddy Emmons, among others. Race scored his first number one
20:49
hit in nineteen fifty six with Crazy Arms, and later
20:52
became seminal to the nineteen sixties Nashville sound, scoring a
20:56
total of eight number ones, including My Shoes, keep Walking
20:59
Back to You, City Lights, the Same Old Me for
21:02
the Good Times in nineteen seventy written by Chris Christofferson
21:06
and I Won't Mention It Again in nineteen seventy one.
21:10
One of his most well known songs as Heartaches by
21:12
the Number, released in nineteen fifty nine. Price released over
21:16
fifty albums over his career and became a legend of
21:19
country music, being inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame.
21:23
Speaker 2: In nineteen ninety six.
21:25
Speaker 1: Now we try out Country Central with their first article
21:28
dated January twelfth. Rock the Country and this is interesting
21:33
because it's coming to Ashland. Rock the Country will return
21:36
in twenty twenty six with an eight city tour making
21:40
or marking America's two hundred and fiftieth anniversary. According to
21:43
announcement from Peachtree Entertainment on Monday, the multi city festival
21:48
will feature two day events and communities across the US,
21:51
with rotating line ups that vary by market. Organizers describe
21:55
the tour as a celebration of live music and small
21:58
town communities, combining established headliners with emerging artists. Artists scheduled
22:04
to appear across select Rock the Country twenty twenty six
22:08
dates include Kid Rock, Jason Aldean, Blake Shelton, Jelly Roll,
22:12
Creed Brooks and Dunn, Miranda Lambert, Riley Green, Hank Williams, Junior,
22:17
Leonard skinnerd Shinedown, John Party, La Langley, Brantley, Gilbert Treaty,
22:22
Oak Revival, Gavin Adcock, Ludacris, and Nelly.
22:26
Speaker 2: Full City.
22:27
Speaker 1: Specific lineups are available at Rockthecuntry dot com. The Ashland,
22:31
Kentucky dates are July tenth and eleven. In addition to concerts,
22:36
each tour stop will include daily throwback DJ sets, with
22:40
select dates also featuring host appearances by comedian Chelsea Lynn.
22:45
Peachtree Entertainment did the twenty twenty sixth tour, or said
22:48
the twenty twenty six tour will include expanded investments and
22:51
fan amenities. Planned editions include increased shade and cooling areas,
22:55
a new fan zone with second stage presented by Raised Rowdy,
22:59
and a Dead D catered food area featuring multiple local
23:02
food trucks and shaded seating. Of course, VIP ticket holders
23:06
will have access to premium food offerings curated by chef
23:09
David Bancroft, winner of Food Network's Iron Chef Showdown. Bancroft's menu,
23:14
inspired by Southern flavors, will be available for purchase exclusively
23:18
within VIP members. Next, Cody Johnson reveals new tour dates
23:26
Cody Johnson has announced a new slate of tour dates
23:28
for twenty twenty six, including Kentucky, extending his return to
23:32
the road following the cancelation of his renaming or remaining
23:36
twenty twenty five performances due to a ruptured ear drum.
23:40
The newly announced tour expands on Johnson's previously revealed comeback plans,
23:44
with more than thirty dates scheduled across the US and
23:47
Canada from February through September. The tour will feature rotating
23:51
special guests on select dates, including Clint Black, Randy Hauser,
23:55
Scotty McCreery, Kip Moore, Ian Munsick, and John Party with
23:59
a Dish support from Drew Baldridge, Carter Faith, Alexander kay
24:03
Walker Montgomery, and Emily Ann Roberts. Johnson was forced to
24:08
cancel the remainder of his twenty twenty five to Her
24:10
last fall after suffering a ruptured ear drum while being
24:13
treated for a severe respiratory and sinus infection. At the time,
24:18
the singer shared that he required immediate surgery and an
24:20
extended recovery period that prevented him from singing for several weeks.
24:25
Johnson stated that surgery was necessary to avoid a potentially
24:29
longer downtime, and shared his optimism about returning to the
24:33
stage following recovery. Tickets for most shows went on sale Friday,
24:38
or we'll go on sale this Friday, January sixteenth. The
24:42
Kentucky dates are now Valentine's Day Louisville, and now we
24:47
move over to the boot dot com with the first
24:49
article date of January fourteenth. Crystal Gale updates health after
24:54
injury forced her to cancel appearance. Crystal Gale says she's
24:59
doing better, but she she still got a way to
25:00
go in her recovery after a recent knee injury led
25:03
her to having a cancel a planned public appearance speaking
25:07
to people. The seventy five year old Country Legends says
25:10
having to cancel planned appearances has impacted her mentally and physically,
25:15
adding that these things happened and you just don't want
25:17
them to. I've never had anything like this, she adds, mentally,
25:20
you're going through a why me. Gail was scheduled to
25:24
appear at the Your Roots or Showing conference in Belfast,
25:27
Ireland on Monday, where she was to perform as part
25:30
of the Folk Infusion Nashville to Belfast opening concert. She
25:34
was also slated to take part in various other activities
25:37
during that conference. She recently suffered a torn meniscus in
25:41
her knee, and her doctors subsequently advised Gail that she
25:44
was not ready to travel large distances due to the
25:47
possibility of blood clots forming in her knee. According to people,
25:51
I was truly looking forward to coming to Belfast, singing
25:53
a few songs, sharing some stories, and spending time with everyone,
25:57
Gail said in a press release announcing that her cancel
26:00
had happened. But my doctors tell me this knee isn't
26:03
ready for those overseas miles just yet. I promise I'll
26:06
be ready for the times to get better, just not
26:09
a thirty thousand foot next week. Thank you for your understanding,
26:13
and I hope we can make it up soon. I
26:16
know people have and there are different types of surgeries
26:19
they do. So we'll see what I'm going to do
26:21
and when I'm back on stage, she tells people. Gale's
26:24
been getting conflicting opinions from different specialists, she adds, but
26:27
I'll be doing things soon. I can go and sit
26:30
and sing, but it does not put you in a
26:32
different place. Mentally, it's harder to get around, but hopefully
26:35
in the.
26:35
Speaker 2: Near future it won't be.
26:37
Speaker 1: And of course, Crystal Gale is one of the country
26:40
music's biggest hit makers. In the seventies and eighties, she
26:43
scored a string of hits that included I'll get over You,
26:45
Don't It make my brown eyes blue? Why have you
26:48
left the One you left me for? And many more,
26:51
often combining country and pop elements and becoming a crossover
26:54
star in the process. She scored her final number one hit,
26:58
Straight to the Heart in nineteen eighty six, and the
27:00
singer has remained active in recording and performing in the
27:03
years since.
27:03
Speaker 2: Her biggest chart successes.
27:06
Speaker 1: And finally, Meghan Maroney drops a breakup bomb. Is Riley
27:09
Green in the blast zone? Meghan Maroney isn't naming names,
27:13
but her fans are already connecting the dots. On Monday,
27:16
the six month later, sing a previewed or new single
27:18
wish I Didn't, and it didn't take long for speculation
27:21
to take over her Instagram comments. The track out is Friday,
27:25
as fans convinced it's about her roomword ex Riley Green
27:29
wearing a pink, starry sweatshirt. Maroni mal of DeLong to
27:33
the fiery lyrics in her teaser video, You've got a
27:36
hell of a reputation, so here I am patiently waiting
27:39
for that other shoe or should I say boot to drop?
27:41
She sings, I've heard all the horror stories your graveyard
27:44
of girls before me. If you play dirty, how do
27:47
I say this? Hell hath no fury. But it's a
27:50
sharp line in the chorus that had fans doing a
27:52
double take. It's all sunshine and blue skies, but I
27:55
can also make it rain. That making it rain lyric
27:59
immediately mark chatter about Green's twenty twenty four song different
28:03
Round Here make it Rain the riley dig One fan wrote,
28:06
another added, this has mister Green written all over it.
28:10
The two were linked in early last year, when fans
28:12
speculated they vacationed together. Neither confirmed the relationship, though Green
28:16
later said he was single during a podcast appearance. Fans
28:20
have also questioned whether an upcoming song on Cloud nine,
28:23
who Hurt You, is about Green, but Maroney's not saying.
28:27
Her third album, Cloud nine, arrives February twentieth, followed by
28:30
a major tour across the US and Europe. And as
28:33
for who inspired what she's keeping that to herself. Well.
28:37
This concludes the reading of Country Weekly for this week.
28:40
If you have any comments or suggestions about our program,
28:43
kindly call us at eight five nine four two two
28:46
six three nine zero. Thank you for joining me and
28:49
on behalf of everyone here at RADIOI. This is Ken Dawkins,
28:53
wishing you a great day.