The New My 97.5 FM: Chad 7pm - 12Midnight Weekdays https://www.my975fm.com/blogs/chad/ Sun, 05 Apr 2026 14:47:30 +0000 en Copyright 2026 The New My 97.5 FM Aiir http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss Country Music News Country Music News 10/23/24 Wed, 23 Oct 2024 17:00:00 +0000 https://www.my975fm.com/blogs/chad/post/country-music-news61/ o59-650-67194593b3da1 Chad Music News 1) Jelly Roll's album "Beautifully Broken" is number one on the Billboard 200.  This is his first number one album on the chart . . . Last year's "Whitsett Chapel" climbed all the way to number three. (STORY)

 

2) Morgan Wallen's One Night at a Time Tour is the highest-grossing Country tour of all time.  Over the past two years, his tour saw over 3.1 million fans.  And that was in 87 shows . . . across 10 countries . . . and on three continents. (STORY)

 

3) Zach Bryan is officially single again.  He confirmed the rumors that he and Brianna Chickenfry broke up.  She posted her own statement saying she felt "blindsided" by it.

 

4) Lainey Wilson made a visit to the Chimney Rock area of North Carolina on Monday, where they're recovering from Hurricane Helene.  She thanked the first responders . . . and boosted morale.

She also brought in some "supplies" of some sort, and provided a platform for people to share the status of the recovery.

]]> https://www.my975fm.com/_app_pages/stations/3327/blogs/posts/77541 Graduations Around The Valley It's graduation time in the valley! Congrats to all of the 2024 graduates! Tue, 28 May 2024 16:23:22 +0000 https://www.my975fm.com/blogs/chad/post/graduations-around-the-valley/ o59-650-665604fadb967 Chad Local MAY

Monday 27

Tuesday 28

Golden West High School – Visalia (Mineral King Bowl)

Wednesday 29

El Diamante High School – Visalia (Mineral King Bowl)

Granite Hills High School – Porterville (Jacob Rankin Stadium)

Sequoia High School – Visalia (LJ Williams Theater)

Thursday 30

Redwood High School – Visalia (Mineral King Bowl)

Citrus High – Porterville (Citrus High)

Monache High School – Porterville (Jacob Rankin Stadium)

Strathmore High School – Strathmore (Spartan Stadium)

Dinuba High School – Dinuba (Dinuba High)

Friday 31

Mt Whtiney High School – Visalia (Mineral King Bowl)

Porterville High School – Porterville (Jacob Rankin Stadium)

 

JUNE

Tuesday 4

Cutler/Orosi High School – Orosi (Orosi High)

Wednesday 5

Mission Oak High School – Tulare (Bob Mathias Stadium)

Hanford Adult School – Hanford (Presentation Center)

Hanford West High School – Hanford (Neighbor Bowl)

Thursday 6

Tulare Western High School – Tulare (Bob Mathias Stadium)

Hanford High School – Hanford (Neighbor Bowl)

Lemoore High School – Lemoore (Lemoore High School)

Friday 7

Tulare Union High School – Tulare (Bob Mathias Stadium)

Sierra Pacific – Hanford (Neighbor Bowl)

Woodlake High School – Woodlake (Woodlake High School)

Exeter High School – Exeter (Monarch Stadium)

]]> https://www.my975fm.com/_app_pages/stations/3327/blogs/posts/75205 Woodlake Western Week It's Western Week in Woodlake! Mon, 06 May 2024 13:00:00 +0000 https://www.my975fm.com/blogs/chad/post/woodlake-western-week/ o59-650-663a5762ec5c3 Chad Local

 

]]> https://www.my975fm.com/_app_pages/stations/3327/blogs/posts/74906 Stagecoach Breakdown Stagecoach went down this weekend and there were some really great moments, and a bit of controversy as well. Mon, 29 Apr 2024 16:00:00 +0000 https://www.my975fm.com/blogs/chad/post/stagecoach-breakdown/ o59-650-662fc63f9264a Chad Music News Stagecoach went down this weekend and there were some really great moments, and a bit of controversy as well.

Here are the highlights:

1.  The biggest storyline of the weekend was Eric Church's performance.  He did a stripped-down acoustic set of gospel covers with a full choir.  Problem was, he was headlining, so his set started at 10:00 P.M. on Friday night.

A lot of people were pretty angry and wondering why he ruined the party vibe.  One guy even called it, quote, "career suicide."  As for Eric, he said, "This was the most difficult set I have ever attempted."

(You can check out a clip, here.)

2.  One of the highlights of the weekend was Post Malone's set of country covers.  He did a great job, and brought out an all-star guest list.  He was joined by Dwight Yoakam, Sara Evans, and Brad Paisley.

Posty and Brad sang "I'm Gonna Miss Her" and then belted out Vince Gill's "One More Last Chance".  On the final song of the set, Brad came back out to play guitar while Posty killed it with Alan Jackson's classic "Chattahoochee".

3.   Miranda Lambert brought out Reba McEntire for her finale and the crowd loved it.  They sang "Mama's Broken Heart", "Fancy", and "Gunpowder & Lead".

4.  Jelly Roll and T-Pain honored Toby Keith with a cover of "Should've Been a Cowboy".

5.  And if you were excited to livestream Morgan Wallen's headlining set last night, you ended the night pretty bummed.  Amazon streamed every other Stagecoach headliner, except for Morgan.

]]> https://www.my975fm.com/_app_pages/stations/3327/blogs/posts/74740 New Music New Country Music to check out! Mon, 29 Apr 2024 13:00:00 +0000 https://www.my975fm.com/blogs/chad/post/new-music/ o59-650-662f9815822f9 Chad Music News Happy Monday!  Here is the best new music we could find that was just released recently:

 

 

1.  "Well Alright" by Johnny Cash. 

 

 

 

 

2.  "Made in Texas" by Willie Nelson.

 

 

 

 

3.  "I Should Have Known It" by Chris Stapleton.  This is a Tom Petty cover.

 

 

 

 

4.  "The Dark End of the Street" by T. Graham Brown and Tanya Tucker.

 

 

 

 

5.  "Never Been Over" by Darius Rucker and Jennifer Nettles.

 

 

 

 

6.  "Lonely" by Scotty McCreery.

 

 

 

 

7.  "Add Her to the List" by Travis Denning.

 

 

 

 

8.  "Heatin' Things Up" by Josh Turner.

 

 

 

 

9.  "21 Days" by Sara Evans.

 

 

 

 

10.  "Drinkin' Buddies" by Nate Smith, Lee Brice, and Hailey Whitters.

 

 

 

 

11.  "Scary Love" by Mickey Guyton.

 

 

]]> https://www.my975fm.com/_app_pages/stations/3327/blogs/posts/74732 10 Things That Turn 50 This Year "Mental Floss" posted a list of things that turn 50 this year. Tue, 19 Mar 2024 17:00:00 +0000 https://www.my975fm.com/blogs/chad/post/10-things-that-turn-50-this-year/ o59-650-65f9f76236144 Chad Entertainment News Mid-March seems like a random time for this, but "Mental Floss" just posted a list of things turning 50 in 2024, and there are some big ones.  If you were born in 1974, here are 10 random things that are as old as you are . . .

 

1.  Post-It Notes.  A guy accidentally invented a weak glue in 1968, but didn't know what to do with it.  Six years later, another guy wanted a way to bookmark pages in his hymnal book at church, and Post-Its were born.

 

2.  The Rubik's Cube.  Invented in 1974 by a guy Hungarian guy named Erno Rubik.  He originally called them "Magic Cubes".

 

3.  Bar codes.  A guy from New Jersey named Joe Woodland came up with the idea, and drew it in the sand while vacationing in Florida.  The first bar code was scanned on June 26th, 1974, and then completely revolutionized shopping.

 

4.  Baileys Irish Cream.  Cream-based liqueurs are common now, but it debuted as the first Irish cream on the market in 1974.

 

5.  The Heimlich Maneuver.  Dr. Henry Heimlich described it in an article in 1974.  It started as a theory, and it turned out it worked really well.  Before that, the advice was to smack a choking person on the back over and over again.

 

6.  Dungeons & Dragons.  The first people to own a copy got their hands on it in early 1974.

 

7.  Connect Four.  A guy named Howard Wexler wanted to create a board game that was played vertically.  Milton Bradley ran with it and started selling it in February of 1974.

 

8.  Skittles.  They were invented in the U.K. in 1974, but didn't hit shelves in the U.S. until 1979.  (Their chocolately cousin M&M's are a lot older.  The first M&M's hit stores in 1941.)

 

9.  DayQuil.  NyQuil hit pharmacies eight years earlier in 1966.  DayQuil landed in 1974 and was originally called "DayCare".

 

10.  The Meow Mix Jingle.  In the commercials, the cats just sing "meow" over and over.  If you remember the lyrics, "I want chicken, I want liver" . . . it's only because you've seen "Austin Powers".  The old ads had similar subtitles though.

]]> https://www.my975fm.com/_app_pages/stations/3327/blogs/posts/73860 Country Music News 3/19/24 Tue, 19 Mar 2024 13:00:00 +0000 https://www.my975fm.com/blogs/chad/post/country-music-news60/ o59-650-65f9f44a7cba0 Chad Music News 1) If you had to guess right now, what do you think the #1 best-selling country music album of all-time was?  If you said Garth Brooks, you're right!  And, if you said Shania Twain, you were almost right!

To the surprise of no one, '90s artists dominate this list, back when CD sales were at an all-time high.  Here are the top ten selling country music albums of all-time, according to RIAA's album sales.

1.  "Double Live" by Garth Brooks

Released: November 1998

Certified U.S. sales: 23 million

2.  "Come on Over" by Shania Twain

Released: November 1997

Certified U.S. sales: 20 million

3.  "No Fences" by Garth Brooks

Released: August 1990

Certified U.S. sales: 18 million

4.  "Ropin' the Wind" by Garth Brooks

Released: September 1991

Certified U.S. sales: 14 million

5.  "Wide Open Spaces" by Dixie Chicks

Released: January 1998

Certified U.S. sales: 13 million

6.  "The Woman in Me" by Shania Twain

Released: February 1995

Certified U.S. sales: 12 million

7.  "Kenny Rogers' Greatest Hits" by Kenny Rogers

Released: October 1990

Certified U.S. sales: 12 million

8.  "Fly" by Dixie Chicks

Released: August 1999

Certified U.S. sales: 11 million

9.  "Up!" by Shania Twain

Released: November 2002

Certified U.S. sales: 11 million

10.  "Fearless" by Taylor Swift

Released: November 2008

Certified U.S. sales: 10 million

Fun fact:  Morgan Wallen's, "Dangerous: The Double Album" came in #32 on this list with 6 million in sales even though it was only released in 2021.

Second fun fact:  Garth is #8 all-time out of all genres in album sales.  "Their Greatest Hits" by the Eagles is #1 with 38 million.

 

2) Morgan Wallen teased a new song called "Redneck".  He posted a clip of the recording playing on a laptop, but he didn't give any details on when it'll come out.

 

3) The late Toby Keith has been elected to the Country Music Hall of Fame, along with John Anderson and guitarist James Burton, who's going in under the Recording/Touring Musician category.

The Hall has a rule against inducting an artist in the year of their death . . . but Toby was chosen for induction before he died, so he goes in.

Toby died on February 5th, just ONE DAY before the names of the inductees were locked in, so he never knew it was coming.  His rep says, quote, "My heart hurts that [Toby didn't receive this honor] when he was alive."

 

4) "Please don't believe everything you see on the Internet."  That's a direct quote from Reba McEntire, who just had to shoot down rumors she called Taylor Swift an "entitled little brat."  A fake news site ran the bogus story, and it's been making the rounds on Facebook.

 

]]> https://www.my975fm.com/_app_pages/stations/3327/blogs/posts/73859 New Country Music Here are some new songs that you'll want to check out: Mon, 26 Feb 2024 16:00:00 +0000 https://www.my975fm.com/blogs/chad/post/new-country-music1/ o59-650-65dcb4fd11366 Chad Music News A bunch of solid country music came out recently and we wanted to make sure you heard it. 

 

Check out these great new tunes:

1.  "Thinkin' Bout" by Kenny Chesney.

2.  "Space in My Heart" by Miranda Lambert and Enrique Iglesias.

3.  "Holy Smokes" by Bailey Zimmerman.

4.  "As You Are" by Tenille Townes.

5.  "Good News Sold" by Jordan Davis.

6.  "Use Me" by Zach Top. 

7.  "Quit You" by Kameron Marlowe.

8.  "A Hard Rain in Bozeman" by Danno Simpson.

9.  "Old Fashioned" by Matt Koziel and Isaac Gibson (of "49 Winchester").

10.  "Running Out of Time" by Casey Donahew and featuring Texas greats Pat Green . . . Randy Rogers . . . and Wade Bowen.

]]> https://www.my975fm.com/_app_pages/stations/3327/blogs/posts/73344 Check Out the Lineup for an All-Star Country Tribute to Tom Petty A new tribute album called "Petty Country: A Country Music Celebration of Tom Petty" drops on May 31st, and the lineup is amazing. Mon, 26 Feb 2024 15:00:00 +0000 https://www.my975fm.com/blogs/chad/post/check-out-the-lineup-for-an-all-star-country-tribute-to-tom-petty/ o59-650-65dcb3b0e65f6 Chad Music News A new tribute album called "Petty Country: A Country Music Celebration of Tom Petty" drops on May 31st, and the lineup is amazing.

It includes Willie Nelson . . . Dolly Parton . . . George Strait . . . Chris Stapleton . . . Lainey Wilson . . . Wynonna Judd . . . Luke Combs . . . Steve Earle, and more.

The first single is out now. It's "American Girl" by Dierks Bentley.

 

Petty Country tracklist:

1. “I Should Have Known It” – Chris Stapleton
2. “Wildflowers” – Thomas Rhett
3. “Runnin’ Down a Dream” – Luke Combs
4. “Southern Accents” – Dolly Parton
5. “Here Comes My Girl” – Justin Moore
6. “American Girl” – Dierks Bentley
7. “Stop Draggin’ My Heart Around” – Lady A
8. “I Forgive It All” – Jamey Johnson
9. “I Won’t Back Down” – Brothers Osborne
10. “Refugee” – Wynonna Judd & Lainey Wilson
11. “Angel Dream #2” – Willie Nelson & Lukas Nelson
12. “Learning to Fly” – Eli Young Band
13. “Breakdown” – Ryan Hurd feat. Carly Pearce
14. “Yer So Bad” – Steve Earle
15. “Ways to Be Wicked” – Margo Price & Mike Campbell
16. “Mary Jane’s Last Dance” – Midland
17. “Free Fallin'” – The Cadillac Three feat. Breland
18. “I Need To Know” – Marty Stuart And His Fabulous Superlatives
19. “Don’t Come Around Here No More” – Rhiannon Giddens feat. Benmont Tench
20. “You Wreck Me (Live)” – George Strait

]]> https://www.my975fm.com/_app_pages/stations/3327/blogs/posts/73342 Country Music News 2/19/24 Mon, 19 Feb 2024 14:00:00 +0000 https://www.my975fm.com/blogs/chad/post/country-music-news59/ o59-650-65d3aea018ebb Chad Music News  

1) The People's Choice Awards were last night. Lainey Wilson won the award for Female Country Artist Of The Year and Jelly Roll won the award for Male Country Artist Of The Year. Check out the complete list of winners here.

 

2) Jelly Roll was once sued by Waffle House for copyright infringement because he put out a mixtape called, "Whiskey, Weed, and Waffle House".  If that wasn't enough, he then used their logo on the cover. (Whiskey Riff)

 

3) Here are some cool new covers that were just released in the country music world:  Kelly Clarkson tried her hand at some Jelly Roll . . . and Lorrie Morgan covered her late-husband Keith Whitley.

 

4) Scotty McCreery will be inducted into the Grand Ole Opry on April 20th.  Josh Turner will be doing the honors.  It's a full-circle moment because Scotty auditioned for "American Idol" in 2011 with Josh's hit, "Your Man", then went on to win Season 10.  

 

5) If you loved the Luke Combs / Tracy Chapman duet, hold onto your boots, because this is the next best thing:  Luke and... Post Malone!

Post Malone is teasing an upcoming collaboration with Luke Combs.  He recently shared a brief clip of himself jamming out to a track featuring Luke.

There aren't many details.  Post just captioned it with a beer emoji . . . tagged Luke . . . and Luke responded with a beer emoji.

 

]]> https://www.my975fm.com/_app_pages/stations/3327/blogs/posts/73123 Country Music Pays Tribute To Toby Keith Stars of Country Music are paying tribute to Toby Keith. Tue, 06 Feb 2024 17:30:00 +0000 https://www.my975fm.com/blogs/chad/post/country-music-pays-tribute-to-toby-keith/ o59-650-65c26b655d3ad Chad Music News Toby Keith -- the iconic country music singer -- has died after a battle with stomach cancer.

Keith passed away Monday night while surrounded by his family, according to a statement posted to his socials.

 

Country Stars are paying tribute to home on their socials.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Embed not found

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

]]> https://www.my975fm.com/_app_pages/stations/3327/blogs/posts/72755 Country Music News 2/6/24 Tue, 06 Feb 2024 14:00:00 +0000 https://www.my975fm.com/blogs/chad/post/country-music-news58/ o59-650-65c2826f10b55 Chad Music News 1) Toby Keith, the iconic country music singer, has died after a battle with stomach cancer.

Keith passed away Monday night while surrounded by his family, according to a statement posted to his Facebook page.

 

2) Jelly Roll was so gracious with his comments after not winning Best New Artist at the Grammys. He tweeted, "Just so we are clear, Victoria Monet deserved that award.  She is incredible."

 

3) Lainey Wilson won Best Country Album Sunday night at the Grammys, and fans were quick to analyze Kelsea Ballerini's reaction, since she was also up for the award.  So, to clear the air, Kelsea said, "You can be bummed for your loss and happy for somebody else's win at the same time."

Then she got philosophical.  Quote, "Two things can be true and both hold valid and valuable space.  The 'face-reading' and 'reaction-analysis' is unnecessary and hurtful to everyone.  A woman's win is a team win.  Write about that instead?"

 

4) Some people are calling it the greatest Grammy performance of all time.  And you already know what I'm talking about:  The duet between Tracy Chapman and Luke Combs on "Fast Car".

It made such an impact that Tracy's original version of the song . . . which is almost 36 years old, has hit #1 on iTunes. 

Meanwhile, Luke said he'll have more to say after he's able to process it all.  Luke's version of "Fast Car" previously hit #1 on country radio, and #2 on the Billboard Hot 100.

 

5) Zach Bryan is having a pretty big week.  First a Grammy win, and now his new music video's got an OSCAR-WINNER in it?  It's for his song "Nine Ball" from last year's "Boys of Faith" E.P. . . . and Matthew McConaughey stars.

He plays the dad character with a gambling problem, who turns his kid into a pool shark.  The son is Tye Sheridan, Cyclops in the "X-Men" movies. 

]]> https://www.my975fm.com/_app_pages/stations/3327/blogs/posts/72765 Country Music News 2/5/24 Mon, 05 Feb 2024 14:00:00 +0000 https://www.my975fm.com/blogs/chad/post/country-music-news57/ o59-650-65c138ba004d2 Chad Music News 1) Last night's Grammys were filled with some amazing performances.  And if you didn't catch Luke Combs performing with Tracy Chapman, you really should check it out online.  It was awesome to see them singing together. 

(There's a link to the full performance, here.)

Jelly Roll was also up for Best New Artist, but Victoria Monet went home with the prize instead.

Here are the Grammy results in Country's top four categories . . .

1.  Best Country Song goes to . . . Chris Stapleton with "White Horse".

2.  Best Country Album goes to . . . Lainey Wilson with "Bell Bottom Country".

3.  Best Country Solo Performance goes to . . . Chris Stapleton with "White Horse".

4.  Best Country Duo/Group Performance goes to . . . Zach Bryan featuring Kacey Musgraves with "I Remember Everything"

 

2) Morgan Wallen's "One Thing at a Time" wasn't up for Album of the Year OR Best Country Album at the Grammys.  And fans aren't happy, especially after it just tied a Billboard RECORD.

It's now topped the Billboard 200 for 18 total weeks.  That ties Garth Brooks' 1991 album "Ropin' the Wind" for most weeks at #1 for a country album.  Keep trying, Morgan . . . maybe your next one will be "good." (Billboard)

 

3) Kacey Musgraves posted a nude photo of herself laying in a pasture on Saturday.  She didn't include a caption, but fans were quick to speculate that it could be her next album cover.  An announcement is expected to be coming soon.

(Kacey isn't exactly SHY when it comes to nudity.  Remember her 2021 "Saturday Night Live" performance?)

 

4) Cody Johnson rocked the Bridgestone Arena in Nashville the other night, and sold more tickets than any debuting headliner in the venue's history.

He also surprised the crowd by bringing out Brooks & Dunn to join him on "Long Live Country Music", their duet from his latest album, "Leather".

And he assured the crowd that they were hearing LIVE music.  Quote, "There ain't no tracks on my stage.  This is seven guys working our ass off to play real country music for you up here today."

@whiskeyriff

#codyjohnson #whiskeyriff #countrymusic #concert #Nashville

♬ original sound - Whiskey Riff

 

]]> https://www.my975fm.com/_app_pages/stations/3327/blogs/posts/72719 Country Music News 1/25/24 Thu, 25 Jan 2024 14:00:00 +0000 https://www.my975fm.com/blogs/chad/post/country-music-news53/ o59-650-65b2a55d1bf92 Chad Music News 1) Security footage from the Dawg House in Nashville shows a Tennessee Alcoholic Beverage Commission agent shoving Chris Young . . . rather than the other way around, as early reports made it seem. To be fair, Chris does put his hands on the guy first.  He puts an arm out to stop him as he's trying to get by Chris. 

Young's attorney says, quote, "In light of the video evidence, Tennessee ABC needs to drop the charges and apologize for the physical, emotional and professional harm done towards my client."

If that doesn't happen, Young is due in court next month.

 

2) Last year, Luke Bryan got in hot water because of the way he introduced his friend Dustin Lynch.  So, this year, Dustin hired roast master Jeff Ross to take down Luke Bryan in epic fashion.

 

3) The website All Country News just came out with their list of the top ten country artists to look out for in 2024.  Some of these names have already creeped into the mainstream, but it will be cool to look back at the end of the year, to see if any of them made it big.

Here are the new artists they highlighted, along with a favorite song of theirs. . .

1.  Wyatt Flores.  "Life Lessons"

2.  Stephen Wilson Jr.  "Patches"

3.  Ryan Larkins.  "King of Country Music"

4.  Peytan Porter.  "God's Hotel"

5.  Matt Schuster.  "Tell Me Tennessee"

6.  John Morgan.  "Friends Like That"

7.  Emily Ann Roberts.  "Whole Lotta Little"

8.  Chayce Beckham.  "23"

9.  Ella Langley.  "Paint the Town Blue"

10.  George Birge.  "Mind On You"

]]> https://www.my975fm.com/_app_pages/stations/3327/blogs/posts/72485 Country Music News 1/24/24 Wed, 24 Jan 2024 14:00:00 +0000 https://www.my975fm.com/blogs/chad/post/country-music-news54/ o59-650-65b2a6e5a7dd8 Chad Music News 1) Chris Young was arrested Monday night at a Nashville bar for confronting Alcohol Beverage Commission officers who were conducting routine checks.  Cops say his eyes were bloodshot and watery and he was slurring his speech.

 

2) With the country music world mostly focused on Chris Young's arrest last night, we figured we should give you a little theme music to go along with that story. Taste of Country just released a list of the 11 best country songs about being arrested.  They include . . . "Back in My Drinkin' Days" by Chris Janson . . . "I Ain't Living Long Like This" by Waylon Jennings . . . and "Women's Prison" by Loretta Lynn. (Taste of Country)

 

3) Taylor Swift is dominating NFL headlines right now, so it's probably smart for artists to start covering her songs.  Luckily, Ryan Hurd is all over it.  He just posted a cover of her song, "Now That We Don't Talk", one of her "From the Vault" tracks.

Ryan said, "Every time I cover a Taylor song I am amazed at how perfectly they are written." 

 

4) Hardy opened up about the reason behind postponing shows last October.  He was coming up on the one year anniversary of his tour bus accident, and had taken a break from drinking, when he had a panic attack on a golf course. He initially thought it was a heart attack. (Whiskey Riff)

]]> https://www.my975fm.com/_app_pages/stations/3327/blogs/posts/72486 Country Music News 1/23/24 Tue, 23 Jan 2024 14:00:00 +0000 https://www.my975fm.com/blogs/chad/post/country-music-news55/ o59-650-65b2a8eb95210 Chad Music News 1) Cody Johnson was brought to tears by a young fan at a show who was holding a sign that said she'd survived a bone marrow transplant.  He gave the kid a hug and told her to keep fighting.

@victoria.gomesphoto

This little girl was holding a sign sayinh she just had bone marrow cancer treatment and she came straight to the concert! 😢 #codyjohnson #codyjohnsonconcert #anaheim #hondacenter #fyp

♬ original sound - Victoria

 

2) Brooks & Dunn announced the return of their Reboot Tour.  This time they'll be joined by David Lee Murphy and ERNEST as their opening acts.  Their tour kicks off in May in Florida.  Tickets go on sale Friday. 

 

3) Do you remember the case of Luke Bell?  He mysteriously disappeared in 2022, until authorities found him a week later dead of a fentanyl overdose.

Well, a new documentary about his life is now in production called, "Where Ya Been?  The Odyssey and Elegy of Luke Bell". 

There is a Kickstarter if you want to pitch in to help complete the film.

]]> https://www.my975fm.com/_app_pages/stations/3327/blogs/posts/72487 Country Music News 1/22/24 Mon, 22 Jan 2024 14:00:00 +0000 https://www.my975fm.com/blogs/chad/post/country-music-news56/ o59-650-65b2b4dfe8ad6 Chad Music News 1) Miami Heat superstar Jimmy Butler just released a clip of a new song that he produced.  But he won't be singing any time soon, he left that up to Breland.  Instead, he says, "I'm like the DJ Khaled of this thing."  

 

2) Parker McCollum had to pause the first show on his Break It Down tour Thursday night to break up a catfight.  Two girls were causing trouble while he was performing his song "Speed". (Music Mayhem)

 

3) Dolly Parton released a  released a "deluxe" version of her album "Rockstar" with extra tracks including Pat Benatar's "Hit Me with Your Best Shot".  Meanwhile, Elle King ruined a Dolly celebration at the Grand Ole Opry by showing up and performing drunk. (You can see videos here.)

]]> https://www.my975fm.com/_app_pages/stations/3327/blogs/posts/72490 Country Music News 1/18/24 Thu, 18 Jan 2024 14:00:00 +0000 https://www.my975fm.com/blogs/chad/post/country-music-news52/ o59-650-65a97b7a80b97 Chad Music News 1) Kenny Chesney announced his 20th album, "Born", will come out March 29th.  He says everything about this record has been different, including the time spent on it and the different ways it was recorded.  No word on the track listing yet, except the lead single "Take Her Home". 

 

2) Alabama will be honored with a two-hour "CMT Giants" special.  It'll include performances from Blake Shelton, Brad Paisley, Little Big Town, and Sam Hunt.  A premiere date hasn't been announced.  (CMT)

 

3) A Country Music website recently posted a list of the 100 most-played songs over the past 50 years. 

Here are the Top 15:

1.  "Live Like You Were Dying",  Tim McGraw

2.  "I Love this Bar",  Toby Keith

3.  "Amazed",  Lonestar

4.  "The Good Stuff", Kenny Chesney

5.  "It's Five O'Clock Somewhere",  Alan Jackson and Jimmy Buffett

6.  "Somebody Like You",  Keith Urban

7.  "Last Night",  Morgan Wallen

8.  "She'll Leave You with a Smile",  George Strait

9.  "19 Somethin'",  Mark Wills

10.  "The Best Day",  George Strait

11.  "Here You Come Again",  Dolly Parton

12.  "My Wish",  Rascal Flatts

13.  "Good Morning Beautiful",  Steve Holy

14.  "My Next 30 Years",  Tim McGraw

15.  "The Most Beautiful Girl",  Charlie Rich

Toby Keith placed EIGHT songs on the list.  And in a post on Facebook he said, quote, "What an honor it is to have accomplished this along with legends like Dolly Parton, Willie Nelson, and Tom T. Hall."

]]> https://www.my975fm.com/_app_pages/stations/3327/blogs/posts/72327 Country Music News 1/17/24 Wed, 17 Jan 2024 14:00:00 +0000 https://www.my975fm.com/blogs/chad/post/country-music-news51/ o59-650-65a81237b6996 Chad Music News 1) Before every show of her Las Vegas residency, Miranda Lambert takes communion with her crew.  But instead of wafers, they use . . . TEQUILA SHOTS.

 

2) Miami Heat star Jimmy Butler says he's been quietly working on his own country album for over a year.  He says he already has about 60 songs, but he's aiming to record around 200 to have more to choose from. (The Guardian)

 

3) Rascal Flatts guitarist Joe Don Rooney suffered a panic attack on his plane after it landed safely in Nashville, but was stuck on the tarmac for THREE HOURS.  He says it triggered his anxiety disorder and claustrophobia.

Once Joe was able to get off the plane, he had to wait two more hours to get his luggage, then drive through the winter storm to get home.  He says he wishes airlines had better systems in place to assist people like him.

 

 

4) LeAnn Rimes had surgery this past Friday to remove precancerous cells that were detected on her cervix during a routine exam.  It sounds like they caught it early, so that's good.

 

]]> https://www.my975fm.com/_app_pages/stations/3327/blogs/posts/72290 Country Music News 1/16/24 Tue, 16 Jan 2024 14:00:00 +0000 https://www.my975fm.com/blogs/chad/post/country-music-news50/ o59-650-65a6b70798d3d Chad Music News 1) You never know what you're going to find on the internet, and sometimes the weirder something is . . . the more likely it is to go viral.  The latest online oddity is a video of an A.I.-generated version of Hank Hill from "King of the Hill" . . . singing the Morgan Wallen hit "Last Night".  It's something.

 

2) Craig Counsell blames his strange batting stance on Garth Brooks.  He said he changed to that stance after Garth made a diving catch to rob him of a hit in spring training back in the '90s.

 

3) It took longer than usual, but winter has FINALLY arrived . . . and for most of middle America it's been super cold, and super snowy.  Country stars in Nashville spent the long weekend playing in the snow.

Kane Brown played with his kids in the snow, and used his Polaris RZR to be "the Uber driver of Nashville" . . . Miranda Lambert was brought to tears by the brutal cold as she fed her horses . . . and Kelsea Ballerini went outside in her bikini to use the hot tub.  (MusicMayhemMagazine.com has a full rundown.)

 

4) Yesterday was "Blue Monday", supposedly the most depressing day of the year.  So here's something to cheer us all up:  Ranker.com had fans vote on the best "feel good" country songs of all time.  Here are the Top 10 . . .

1.  "Friends in Low Places" by Garth Brooks.  (1990)

2.  "Chicken Fried" by Zac Brown Band  (2008)

3.  "It's Five O'Clock Somewhere" by Alan Jackson and Jimmy Buffett  (2003)

4.  "Boot Scootin' Boogie" by Brooks & Dunn  (1991)

5.  "All My Ex's Live in Texas" by George Strait  (1987)

6.  "Song of the South" by Alabama  (1988)

7.  "Where the Green Grass Grows" by Tim McGraw  (1998)

8.  "No Shirt, No Shoes, No Problem" by Kenny Chesney  (2002)

9.  "Barefoot Blue Jean Night" by Jake Owen  (2011)

10.  "Life Is a Highway" by Rascal Flatts  (2006)

(Ranker)

]]> https://www.my975fm.com/_app_pages/stations/3327/blogs/posts/72255 Country Music News 1/15/24 Mon, 15 Jan 2024 14:00:00 +0000 https://www.my975fm.com/blogs/chad/post/country-music-news49/ o59-650-65a571cc57408 Chad Music News 1) Morgan Wallen's "One Thing at a Time" is back at #1 on the charts.  (Full Story) 

 

2) Jason Aldean and Luke Bryan had a scary emergency landing on Friday while flying home out of St. Louis.  Luke says it was 16 degrees and winds were blowing at 40 miles per hour, so some instruments on the plane weren't working properly.

But it all worked out.  They were able to rent a car, and make a stop at Dairy Queen, with Jason behind the wheel. 

 

3) Sheryl Crow released a new song about artificial intelligence called "Evolution".  It includes riffs from Rage Against the Machine's guitarist, Tom Morello.  It's the first single from her upcoming album of the same name, that comes out March 29th.

 

4) So much country music these days is about partying, enjoying life, and saving horses by riding cowboys.  But some of the best stuff ever written in the genre takes you to the depths of sadness . . . and leaves you there.

TasteOfCountry.com put together a list of the 30 most depressing country songs. 

Here are the Top 15 . . .  

1.  "Elephant",  Jason Isbell

2.  "Hurt",  Johnny Cash

3.  "Down from Dover",  Dolly Parton

4.  "Whiskey Lullaby",  Alison Krauss and Brad Paisley

5.  "She Thinks His Name Was John",  Reba McEntire

6.  "He Stopped Loving Her Today",  George Jones

7.  "Best Years of My Life",  Pistol Annies

8.  "Waiting Around to Die",  Townes Van Zandt

9.  "I'm Not Gonna Miss You",  Glen Campbell

10.  "Livin' the Dream",  Morgan Wallen

11.  "If You're Reading This",  Tim McGraw

12.  "Dad's Old Number",  Cole Swindell

13.  "South Dakota",  James McMurtry

14.  "My Son Calls Another Man Daddy",  Hank Williams

15.  "Whiskey and You",  Chris Stapleton

 

5) Back in 2015, Hardy was still a struggling musician, playing for tips.  And one night, instead of a tip, someone wrote "QUIT!" on a napkin and dropped it in his jar. Well, Hardy didn't quit.  He doubled down . . . and I probably don't have to tell you that he MADE IT.

And on Friday, he released a song about it.  Not surprisingly, it's called "QUIT!"

]]> https://www.my975fm.com/_app_pages/stations/3327/blogs/posts/72232 Country Music News 1/11/24 Thu, 11 Jan 2024 14:00:00 +0000 https://www.my975fm.com/blogs/chad/post/country-music-news47/ o59-650-65a047043b8f1 Chad Music News 1) Kane Brown and his wife Katelyn surprised their two daughters with a gender reveal cake to see baby #3's gender.  Spoiler alert:  It's a boy.  Four-year-old Kingsley helped her parents use champagne glasses to open the cake to reveal blue, while two-year-old Kodi sat on her dad's lap. 

 

2) The new Brothers Osborne album will have elements that they've never done before.  In an interview with the Country Music Association, they said there will be synthesizers, big string sections, and a piano ballad. 

There will even be a song that sounds like the Bee Gees.

 

3) Zach Bryan played a surprise 40-minute acoustic set Tuesday night at the Sagebrush in Austin, Texas.  The first 100 fans to show up got in, and they also received FREE beer courtesy of Zach.

If you've been following Zach, you probably noticed he's participating in Dry January.  Well, he seemed to cave Tuesday night by toasting with the crowd then later tweeting quote, "I am a weak man" and "Back to bidness tomorrow". 

 

4) What does 2024 have in store for Country Music?  "Rolling Stone" put together a list of 10 "burning" questions we want answers to.  They include whether Oliver Anthony will get bigger or fizzle out, and what genre of music Maren Morris will find herself in. (Check out the list here.)

]]> https://www.my975fm.com/_app_pages/stations/3327/blogs/posts/72172 Country Music News 1/10/24 Wed, 10 Jan 2024 14:00:00 +0000 https://www.my975fm.com/blogs/chad/post/country-music-news48/ o59-650-65a04863a9e40 Chad Music News 1) It's time to make you feel old:  Here's a list of 10 country albums that turn 25 this year. 

1.  "Breathe",  Faith Hill

2.  "Fly",  The [Dixie] Chicks

3.  "LeAnn Rimes",  LeAnn Rimes

4.  "A Place in the Sun",  Tim McGraw

5.  "Under the Influence",  Alan Jackson

6.  "Everywhere We Go",  Kenny Chesney

7.  "Tight Rope",  Brooks & Dunn

8.  "How Do You Like Me Now?!",  Toby Keith

9.  "Who Needs Pictures",  Brad Paisley

10.  "Single White Female",  Chely Wright

(You can see more here.)

 

2) Zach Bryan thinks it's "insane" that Tyler Childers just got his first ever chart hit at country radio because he's, quote, "one of the best songwriters to ever do it." (Whiskey Riff)

 

3) Zach Top will release his first album, "Cold Beer & Country Music", on April 5th.  His single, "Sounds Like the Radio", debuted as the "most added" song on country radio this week.  You can catch him on tour this year opening for Lainey Wilson. 

 

4) We're only 10 days into 2024 and Miranda Lambert has already written three new songs.  She met up with her best friend Ashley Monroe and newcomer Stephen Wilson Jr. for a songwriting session. 

 

5) Dylan Scott performed an acoustic cover Keith Whitley's "Don't Close Your Eyes" as part of CMT's "Campfire Sessions".  Dylan calls it the "most iconic song in country music" and referred to Keith as his hero.

]]> https://www.my975fm.com/_app_pages/stations/3327/blogs/posts/72173 Country Music News 1/9/24 Tue, 09 Jan 2024 14:00:00 +0000 https://www.my975fm.com/blogs/chad/post/country-music-news46/ o59-650-659d826b5f2ee Chad Music News 1) Parker McCollum shared this simple tip on marriage:  give them your time.  He's been married to his wife for almost two years and says time is the one thing he doesn't have a surplus of. (Sierra Daily News)

 

2) Garth Brooks is NOT quitting country music.  An article over the weekend alleged that he said he didn't fit in anymore and that the industry isn't what it used to be.  It turned out to be completely false. (Snopes)

 

3) Walker Hayes performed "Y'all Life" on ESPN's "College Gameday" last night, before the National Championship game between Michigan and Washington.

Social media was all over it.  Here are some of the comments from viewers:

"One of the cringiest things I've ever watched."

"I'm glad they put Walker Hayes on ESPN just now so I know to never listen on my own time."

"This Walker Hayes country-rap dog[crap] with the weird TikTok dancers in the background is the cringiest [crap] I've ever seen in my life."

(You can see a low-quality video of Walker's performance here.)

 

4) Chris Young announced his ninth album, "Young Love & Saturday Nights", comes out March 22nd.  It'll be his largest album with 18 tracks.  He's also releasing a new song called "Right Now" on Friday. 

 

5) Hunter Hayes shared the passing of Cole, his Greyhound rescue.  He says, quote, "I've never known a man that has taught me so much.  How to be still, how to appreciate nature and how to create peace . . . thank you for rescuing me." 

 

]]> https://www.my975fm.com/_app_pages/stations/3327/blogs/posts/72124 The Most Inappropriate Emojis To Use At Work A poll found the most inappropriate emojis to use at work. Mon, 08 Jan 2024 17:00:00 +0000 https://www.my975fm.com/blogs/chad/post/the-most-inappropriate-emojis-to-use-at-work/ o59-650-659c34a9452e3 Chad Fun News A poll last month found most of us think emojis are okay to use at work now.  But maybe not ALL of the emojis you have at your disposal . . .

 

Someone polled 1,000 employees and asked them to name the most inappropriate emojis to use at work.  Can you guess what #1 is?  How you answer might depend on your age. 

 

For Gen Z, it's the peach emoji that kind of looks like a butt . . . for Millennials, it's the beer mug emoji . . . for Gen X, the eggplant emoji . . . and Baby Boomers think the middle finger emoji is the most unprofessional.

 

The top answers for men and women were also different.  Women think the peach and eggplant emojis are the most unprofessional.  Men said the beer mug and kiss mark emoji.

 

But the one that got the most votes overall was . . . the BEER MUG emoji.  So I guess talking about getting drunk at work is still taboo.

 

The top five in order are:  Beer mug, eggplant, kiss mark, middle finger, and peach. 

]]> https://www.my975fm.com/_app_pages/stations/3327/blogs/posts/72091 Country Music News 1/8/23 Mon, 08 Jan 2024 14:00:00 +0000 https://www.my975fm.com/blogs/chad/post/country-music-news45/ o59-650-659bfb6a917af Chad Music News 1) It's been a crazy ride for Jelly Roll, and he revisited an important part of his history in an interview with "CBS Sunday Morning". They took him back to his old jail cell at the Metro-Davidson County Detention Facility in Nashville . . . and it choked him up. He said, "There was a time in my life where I truly thought . . . this was it."

 

2) Riley Green shared an acoustic clip of a new song he "wrote a couple nights ago".  Based on the hashtags he used, it COULD be titled, "I Couldn't Fit That on a Sign".  He says, quote, "You never know what someone else has been through in their life.  Hope y'all like it."

 

3) A 13-year-old impressed Lainey Wilson with a cover of "Heart Like a Truck".  She commented on a video of the girl with, "Let's go!!!  Sing it girl."  The video also caught the attention of Jelly Roll and Morgan Wallen.

Jelly Roll said, "She sounds incredible to be so young!  Tell her keep chasing that dream, keep singing from the soul young lady."  And Morgan said, "She got something special!  Keep goin" 

@theesingingbarber

Sweet Rilee is only 13 years old. She has never sang in front of anyone. @Lainey Wilson i want you to see this!!!! #singingbarber

♬ original sound - Noah Peters

 

]]> https://www.my975fm.com/_app_pages/stations/3327/blogs/posts/72083 Country Music News 11/30/23 Thu, 30 Nov 2023 14:00:00 +0000 https://www.my975fm.com/blogs/chad/post/country-music-news44/ o59-650-65689974a7ee6 Chad Music News 1) Elle King and Rachel Smith from "Entertainment Tonight" will co-host "New Year's Eve Live: Nashville's Big Bash" on CBS and Paramount+.  It starts at 10:30 p.m. Eastern on New Year's Eve.  It'll include performances from Elle, Lainey Wilson, Thomas Rhett, and Lynyrd Skynyrd.  (Full Story)

 

2) Sam Hunt just signed off on a big new publishing deal with a group called "CTM Outlander", which will give them the rights to his entire catalog, including his FUTURE work.  There's no word how much Sam scored.  (Full Story)

 

3) Darius Rucker will receive a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame this Monday.  His guest speakers have yet to be announced, but his ceremony will be live-streamed for fans to watch.  (Full Story)

 

4) Carrie Underwood was asked what Christmas is like around her house.  She seems to enjoy toiling in the kitchen.  She cooks turkey for everyone, and tofurkey for herself.  She also does cranberry sauce, and sweet potato casserole.

And her family has a new tradition.  Quote, "For the past few years, we all get matching PJs.  My husband, myself, my sons and our dogs.  And getting my German shepherd into a Christmas sweater is no easy feat."  (UMG)

 

5) This week, Tom Brady posted a montage on Instagram of himself hitting some golf shots on the driving range, with Morgan Wallen's songs "Broadway Girls" and "Whiskey Friends" playing in the background.

Morgan noticed it, and reposted it on his Instagram story, asking the question:  "When we playing a match??"  And Brady responded:  "LFG," which of course is a colorful way of saying, "let's go!"  (TMZ)

 

6) This Christmas will be special for Jon Pardi and his wife Summer now that they're a family of three.  Their daughter Presley was born last February.  During a recent interview Jon talked about his expectations.

Quote, "She will not know what the hell's going on.  She's gonna love the lights. She's gonna try to eat everything, but it'll be very magical [and] I'm glad I have an album now I can play for her."  ("Merry Christmas from Jon Pardi" came out last month.)  (UMG)

]]> https://www.my975fm.com/_app_pages/stations/3327/blogs/posts/71408 Country Music News 11/29/23 Wed, 29 Nov 2023 14:00:00 +0000 https://www.my975fm.com/blogs/chad/post/country-music-news43/ o59-650-656898af2830e Chad Music News 1) Brothers Osborne announced a 35-date Might As Well Be Us tour that starts in March.  They'll be joined by Jackson Dean, The Cadillac Three, Stephen Wilson Junior, and a few others on select dates.  (Full Story)

 

2) Kenny Chesney will play at three Major League Soccer stadiums next year during his Sun Goes Down tour.  He'll be joined by Megan Moroneyand Uncle Kracker.  (Full Story)

 

3) Quick reminder:  "Christmas at Graceland" airs live tonight at 10:00 p.m. on NBC and Peacock.  It'll honor Elvis Presley with performances from Lainey Wilson, Kane Brown, Kacey Musgraves, Post Malone, and more.  (Full Story)

 

4) You've heard it a lot on the radio in 2023, and maybe on your AirPods too:  Apple Music announced that "Last Night" by Morgan Wallen was its most streamed song of the year.

 

5) Parmalee just put out a dramatic video for their new song "Gonna Love You", which reenacts the attempted robbery and shooting in 2010 that nearly killed their drummer, Scott Thomas.

]]> https://www.my975fm.com/_app_pages/stations/3327/blogs/posts/71407 Country Music News 11/28/23 Tue, 28 Nov 2023 14:00:00 +0000 https://www.my975fm.com/blogs/chad/post/country-music-news42/ o59-650-656654b9035c9 Chad Music News 1) Kelsea Ballerini shared a video of herself helping her mom pull down the Christmas bins . . . despite their shared fear of spiders.

@kelseaballerini

anyway, happy holidays 🫠

♬ original sound - Kelsea Ballerini

 

2) You want adorable?  How about a photo of Thomas Rhett's four daughters wear matching dresses while decorating the Christmas tree.  (Full Story)

 

3) Miranda Lambert turned 40 this month, and "Billboard" paid tribute to her songwriting skills by ranking the best songs she co-wrote but didn't record herself.  Chris Stapleton's new song "What Am I Gonna Do?" is #1.  Then it's "Thought You Should Know" by Morgan Wallen. (Billboard)

]]> https://www.my975fm.com/_app_pages/stations/3327/blogs/posts/71361 Country Music News 11/27/23 Mon, 27 Nov 2023 14:00:00 +0000 https://www.my975fm.com/blogs/chad/post/country-music-news41/ o59-650-656653a14cbc6 Chad Music News 1) Blake Shelton produced another Hallmark Christmas movie.  It's called "Time for Her to Come Home for Christmas" and it premieres this Thursday.  (Full Story)

 

2) Jon Pardi's Aunt Shane is a huge Wynonna fan, so Jon arranged a meeting.  He shared a video of them hanging out, and Wynonna even autographed her shirt.

 

3) Taste of Country has list of country albums that will be coming out in the first three months of 2024.  (Full Story)

 

4) Sam Hunt rarely posts photos of his growing family, but he did share a new pic of baby #2 on Friday.  His wife Hannah is holding the newborn, while Sam has their one-year-old daughter Lucy in his arms.

 

5) Carrie Underwood usually "busts out" her Christmas decorations over the Thanksgiving weekend.  But this year she had to get it done earlier so she could scoot to Vegas for her Reflection residency at Resorts World.

And there are ALREADY gifts wrapped and waiting.  She says there's "nothing sadder" than a Christmas tree that's up and decorated with NO presents underneath it.

 

]]> https://www.my975fm.com/_app_pages/stations/3327/blogs/posts/71359