Keepin' it Country Media & Radio » Luke Laird

Kacey Musgraves’ Album “Same Trailer Different Park” Out Now

Jeanna D. — Wed, 20 Mar 2013 19:17:53 +0000

You have probably been hearing this name more and more frequently, and I have a feeling you will continue to hear it for a long time.

The Nashville singer-songwriter made her major record label debut yesterday with her album, Same Trailer Different Park. By the way, that might be one of my favorite album titles in recent memory.

Musgraves co-produced the album with Shane McAnally and Luke Laird, and co-wrote all 12 tracks. The lead single off of the album, “Merry Go ‘Round,” was recently certified gold by the RIAA for 500k downloads.

Musgraves is definitely a stand-out when it comes to songwriting. The former Nashville Star contestant has written a couple of other songs you already know. She co-penned Miranda Lambert‘s current sassy single, “Mama’s Broken Heart.” She also co-wrote the emotional track, “Undermine,” which was one of the songs featured on ABC‘s TV hit show, Nashville.

The 2013 ACM nominated singer is not afraid to speak her mind when it comes to her music, and her lyrics are as honest and real as they get. On top of that, her voice is just as genuine and honest as her songwriting which makes for the perfect mix. The highly anticipated album from the 24-year-old definitely did not disappoint. Go grab your copy from iTunes!

Continue reading for links and to watch a video of “Undermine”….

Musgraves is currently on the road with Kenny Chesney on the No Shoes Nation Stadium Tour. For info & tickets, check out: www.kaceymusgraves.com.

Stop by NPR to get a first listen of the album: http://www.npr.org/2013/03/10/173745915/first-listen-kacey-musgraves-same-trailer-different-park.

And watch this video of Musgraves singing one of my favorite songs this year, “Undermine,” with co-writer Trent Dabbs:

Little Big Town To Sing Hunter Hayes Song at ACMs

Lydia Picknell — Fri, 23 Mar 2012 14:26:23 +0000

Country music group Little Big Town are teaming up with the Academy of Country Music’s Lifting Lives to help raise awareness of childhood hunger in the United States. They will perform “Here’s Hope,” an original song co-written by ACM New Artist of the Year nominee Hunter Hayes, during the 47th annual ACM Awards broadcast on April 1st. The performance is sponsored by ConAgra Foods’ Child Hunger Ends Here Campaign, with Hunter introducing the special musical moment. Little Big Town will be joined by the Clark Country Children’s Choir for the powerful performance.

“When I first learned about ACM Lifting Lives a few years ago, I immediately asked to be a part of this amazing organization,” said Kimberly Schlapman of Little Big Town. “Lifting Lives seeks out needs and takes care of people. They work hard at giving both children and adults comfort, contentment and happiness. We are so honored and excited to be a part of the very special Lifting Lives moment to end child hunger on the ACM Awards. We can’t wait!”

After Hunter found out that one in five children in America don’t know where they will get their next meal, he teamed up with songwriters Luke Laird and Barry Dean to pen “Here’s Hope.” They wrote the song hoping to inspire music fans to help fight childhood hunger in the United States.

“What I didn’t realize – and what most people may not know – is that child hunger is not a faraway problem; it’s a problem right here in our own backyards,” said Hunter. “The good news though is that this is a problem we can all help solve together. My hope is that through music, we can inspire people to get involved and finally put an end to child hunger in our country.”

Hunter has been dedicated and to his partnership with ConAgra Foods to help fight childhood hunger in the United States through the ConAgra Foods Child Hunger Ends Here campaign that has lead to a donation of up to five million meals this year. Fans can join his passion by purchasing specially-marked select ConAgra brands like Chef Boyardee, Banquet, Healthy Choice, Hunt’s, Marie Callender’s, Manwich, Orville Redenbacher’s, Peter Pan and Snack Pack, then visiting ChildHungerEndsHere.com to enter the eight-digit code found on the select packaging. For every code entered through to August 2012, ConAgra Foods will donate the equivalent of one meal to Feeding America. In return for entering the code and supporting the campaign, fans will be able to download their favorite version of “Here’s Hope” including versions from Jewel, Owl City, and Jay Sean.

This year’s ACM Lifting Lives show moment with Little Big Town marks the fourth consecutive year of moving performances for various causes.

Neal McCoy’s New Album Out March 6th; Track Listing Now!

Ted Efron — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 01:20:13 +0000

Neal McCoy will be celebrating his 12th on the 6th. That is to say he will be releasing his 12th album, appropriately entitled XII, on March 6th.

The album marks his debut for Blaster Records and is being backed by some of country’s biggest names. It’s produced by CMA’s reigning Male and Female Vocalist of the Year, Blake Shelton and Miranda Lambert (who had McCoy perform at their wedding), and renowned guitar-slinger, Brent Rowan. Shelton and Lambert even contributed background vocals for the album’s lead single, “A-OK.”

“Neal is not only a friend of mine, but my hero,” commented Blake Shelton about working with McCoy on XII. “Our first priority with this album was that Neal only cut songs that he truly loved and was excited about. That was very important to us.” Miranda Lambert added, “It was a blast seeing Neal and Blake together…had the place laughing all the time. I think fans will hear three different artists coming together on this album with their individual takes on the music.”

Fans will also be hearing the writing styles of many well-known artists who were all eager to be part of McCoy’s XII. Tom Douglas, Rivers Rutherford, Jamey Johnson, Allen Shamblin, Rhett Akins, and newcomers Luke Laird, Brett Eldredge, Geroge Terren and Barry Dean all made contributions.

“It’s like my shows, a little bit of everything that makes music special,” said McCoy. “XII has a little bit of church, a little bit of bar-room, a couple ballads that’ll encourage, and a real Texas thing about finding your groove in the midst of heartbreak with a cold beer and a good jukebox.” Blake and Miranda had definite ideas about what this should be – you almost couldn’t hold ‘em back.”

Here’s the track listing for XII (fittingly there are 12 of them!):

1. A-OK

2. Real Good Feel Good

3. Judge A Man By The Woman

4. Mouth

5. Shotgun Rider

6. That’s You

7. Crazy Women

8. Lucky Enough

9. Every Fire

10. That’s Just How She Gets

11. Borderline Crazy

12. Van Gogh

Chris Young Goes Golden!

Lydia Picknell — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 15:58:36 +0000

It might only be six weeks into 2012, but that isn’t stopping Chris Young from already having a huge year! He’s gone gold not only once, but twice this week for two of his latest singles: “You” and “Voices.” The Academy of Country Music nominated singer had already kicked the year off with a sold-out performance on Miranda Lambert‘s “On Fire” tour, a performance on the Ellen DeGeneres show, ACM nominations for both Male Vocalist and Single of The Year, and his fifth consecutive number one single.

The RIAA officially certified both “You” and “Voices” this week and presented Chris with gold plaques to celebrate the status. The now-gold single “You” was a co-write by Chris and Luke Laird, and the second single from his newly released “NEON.” Chris became only the second solo artist to top Billboard’s Hot Country Songs Chart with five most recent singles.

After hitting number one last year with “Voices,” Chris broke a 25-year old record. He’s only the second artist in modern-era history of the Billboard Hot Country Singles Chart to re-release a single and hit number one.

ACM Songwriter of the Year Nominees

Lydia Picknell — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 14:55:07 +0000

The Academy of Country Music have just announced their nominees for Songwriter of the Year for the 47th Annual Academy of Country Music Awards. Congratulations to all the nominees!

The nominees for Songwriter of the Year are…

Rhett Akins
Dallas Davidson
Ben Hayslip
Luke Laird
David Lee Murphy

Eric Church Receives First Ever Grammy Nomination

Lydia Picknell — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 20:39:26 +0000

Eric Church‘s chart-topping album “Chief” has earned the country rebel his first career Grammy nomination for “Best Country Album.” The nomination was announced as part of “The Grammy Nominations Concert LIVE!” on CBS last night, which celebrates the best in music of all genres and releases the nominees for the 2012 Grammy Awards next year.

“The GRAMMYs are the ultimate honor for any recording artist. It’s very cool that they recognized CHIEF in what I feel is the most coveted category,” shares Church. “I got into the music business because of great records and the feelings they imparted on my heart. I’ve poured everything I am into making those kinds of albums, and I am very thankful for this nod.”

Produced by Jay Joyce, “Chief” was a labor of love for the singer who had locked himself away in a North Carolina cabin to write the songs for the record. Eric co-wrote tracks with Casey Beathard, Luke Laird, Jeff Hyde and many more of his friends. “Chief” was released on July 26th, 2011 and produced the top 15 hit “Homeboy,” and his current rising single “Drink In My Hand.”

Eric recently announced his first headlining tour next year “The Blood, Sweat & Beers Tour” which will hit 50 different markets starting on January 19th in Fort Smith, Arkansas.

Details on Miranda Lambert’s New Single

Lydia Picknell — Mon, 11 Jul 2011 23:30:17 +0000

Miranda Lambert’s going to be a busy woman this Summer. Her girl group, Pistol Annies, will be releasing their debut album as a trio in August. She just finished up her fourth album, “Four The Record,” due out in November. She’s also on-tour this summer still supporting her last release, “Revolution.”

Looks like she found a little time in her schedule for one more thing: her lead-off single from “Four The Record” in August. Lambert still isn’t sure which song she’s going to release first from the album, but she is promising an August single release according to her interview with Tasteofcountry.com.

“We’re still choosing [it], but it should be August by the time it comes out,” Lambert tells Taste of Country.

“My part’s done. Now it’s in post-production, a little bit of overdub, backup singing and really, it’s close to being done,” she says of the new album’s progress.

Lambert also promises that her fourth studio album will push the envelope much like “Revolution” did. Husband Blake Shelton did manage to get in another co-write on this album, along with hit-maker Luke Laird for the first time. She also promises many special guests, but won’t name them just yet.

Who do you hope is one of Lambert’s “special guests”?