 Photo: Nicole Marchesi It’s almost officially… country music festival season. The time of year we have all been waiting for. When the ladies rock the denim skirts and the men break out their finest cut offs. No matter where you live, chances are there is a festival within a reasonable driving distance. This is not a list of every single country music festival happening, but it’s a roundup of the biggest and most popular. How many festivals are you attending this summer? Leave a comment of which ones you plan to attend in 2020!
Tortuga Music Festival Ft. Lauderdale Beach, Florida April 17-19 2020 https://www.tortugamusicfestival.com/lineup/ Luke Bryan, Miranda Lambert, and Tim McGraw will be partying on the beach with you here. Pack your bikini and swim trunks for this festival. Stagecoach Indio, California April 24-26, 2020 https://www.stagecoachfestival.com Thomas Rhett, Carrie Underwood, Eric Church, and Alan Jackson are just a few of the dozen artists at Stagecoach. Prepare to spot some famous stars in the crowd as well, Stagecoach is known for drawing celebrities from all walks of life… including Bachelor and Bachelorette alums. iHeartCountry Festival Austin, Texas May 2, 2020 https://www.iheart.com/iheartcountry-festival/ Blake Shelton, Dierks Bentley, Sam Hunt, Lady Antebellum, Kelsea Ballerini, and more. Even though iHeartCountry Festival is only one day, they have it jam packed with all of your favorite artists. Rock The South Cullman, Alabama May 29-30, 2020 https://rockthesouth.com Luke Combs, Eric Church, Brothers Osborne, Russell Dickerson, Ashley McBryde, and more are ready to Rock The South. Only 50 miles North of Birmingham, this is where you want to be. CMA Fest Nashville, Tennessee June 4-7, 2020 https://cmafest.com Does the lineup even matter? Being in Nashville, you are guaranteed a star studded list of the hottest talent to ever hit country music. Carolina Country Music Fest Myrtle Beach, South Carolina June 4-7, 2020 https://carolinacountrymusicfest.com Jake Owen, Luke Combs, Eric Church, Maddie & Tae, and Darius Rucker are about to take Myrtle Beach by storm. Experience Myrtle Beach like never before by attending Carolina Country Music Fest. Heartland Stampede Topeka, Kansas June 25-27, 2020 https://www.heartlandstampede.com Toby Keith, Riley Greene, Mitchell Tenpenny, Luke Combs will be stampeding through Topeka this year. Heartland Stampede is held at Heartland Motorsports Park. Country Jam Eau Claire, Wisconsin July 16-18, 2020 https://www.countryjamwi.com Chris Janson, Carly Pearce, Luke Combs, Locash, Chris Young, and more will be jamming out at Country Jam this year. Good vibes and great times here. Faster Horses Country Festival Brooklyn, Michigan July 17-19, 2020 https://fasterhorsesfestival.com Luke Combs (Yes, he’s at like ALL), Thomas Rhett, Hardy, Chris Lane, and Jimmie Allen will be giddying on up at Faster Horses Country Festival this year. It is set on the rolling hills of Brooklyn, MI right behind the Michigan International Speedway. Watershed The Gorge, Washington July 31 - August 2, 2020 https://watershedfest.com Billy Currington, Lindsay Ell, Kelsea Ballerini, Tenille Arts, Morgan Evans, and Keith Urban will be in George, Washington the last weekend in July. Summer might be winding down at this point, but festival season is still in full force. Boots and Hearts Oro-Medonte, Ontario Aug 6-9, 2020 https://bootsandhearts.com Dan + Shay, Granger Smith, Jillian Jacqueline, Caylee Hammack, and Dustin Lynch will be kicking off Boots and Hearts. Boots and Hearts is our friendly neighbor up north largest camping country music festival. Hometown Rising Louisville, Kentucky Sept 12-13 2020 https://hometownrising.com Old Dominion, Carrie Underwood, Lainey Wilson, Blake Shelton, and Billy Ray Cyrus will be at Hometown Rising in Louisville, Kentucky. Not only is it a country music festival, it is also a bourbon festival. Double win. By: Haley Moloney
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 The new season of American Idol airs February 16th featuring judges Luke Bryan, Katy Perry, and Lionel Richie. Tune in to cast your vote for the next upcoming female country singer! “You’re going to Hollywood!” quickly turned into you’re “You’re going to Nashville!” for these successful women of country music. Carrie Underwood Undeniably, the most successful star to come from American Idol, is our very own Carrie Underwood. Underwood was the winner of the fourth season of American Idol, and her debut single, “Inside Your Heaven” debuted at number one on the Billboard 100. Since her debut album, Some Hearts in 2005, Underwood has sold 70 million records worldwide, created her own athleisure line, blessed us with the NFL Sunday Night Football intro, and has truly made the world a better place for rising female artists. Her latest tour featured all female opening acts, Runaway June and Maddie & Tae. Please keep gracing us with your incredible talent for many more years to come Carrie! Kellie Pickler Sweet southern, Kellie Pickler gained fame the season following Underwood. Pickler placed sixth on American Idol, but this did not stop her from releasing the catchy girl power hit, “Red High Heels.” She isn’t only a breathtaking singer, she can dance! Pickler won the sixth season of Dancing with the Stars with partner, Derek Hough. Wait, there is still more! She then went on to co-host the talk show, Pickler & Ben with Ben Aaron. What can’t the amazing Kellie Pickler do? Lauren Alaina If you are not following Lauren Alaina’s journey. You are missing out! Not only is the Georgia native absolutely hilarious (with a talented knack for puns), she is a show-stopping singer. Alaina was the runner up on the tenth season of American Idol. Beginning singing at the age of 3, she was destined for greatness. Alaina then went on to open for acts such as Jason Aldean, Sugarland, Alan Jackson, and Blake Shelton. She attended the same high school as Kane Brown, and they went on to duet on his number one single, “What If’s.” Following her massive wave of success she went on to win New Female Vocalist of the year at the 2018 ACM Awards. Similar to Kellie Pickler, this girl can dance! Alaina was partnered with Gleb Savchenko on the most recent season of Dancing with the Stars. During her time on the show she danced to her own song, “The Other Side” in dedication to her step-father. Keep doing you Lauren, we love you! Gabby Barrett Despite being only 19 years old, Gabby Barrett has made a name for herself in country music! Barrett finished third on the sixteenth season of American Idol. In the process, she found her soulmate and husband, Cade Foehner. Her post-breakup anthem, “I Hope” has received over 25 million streams. The Pittsburgh native sang in an all-black church choir during her teenage years, and has also performed the National Anthem for the Pittsburgh Steelers. Barrett has already gone on to open for country stars Toby Keith, Keith Urban, and Cole Swindell. This girl is only getting started, watch out for Gabby Barrett! Kelly Clarkson After becoming the first winner of American Idol, Kelly Clarkson moved on to becoming a top artist across genres. Now a coach on The Voice and host of her own show, Kelly continues to win over fans. Maddie Poppe Winner of season 16, Maddie Poppe won over the hearts of America and runner-up Caleb Lee Hutchinson. Following the release of her album “Whirlwind,” she announced a tour with Ingrid Michaelson. American Idol returns for its 18th season this Sunday (2/16) on ABC. AuthorHaley Moloney  CP2 is finally out and the thirteen-song album encompasses all the stages of love. Following her marriage to Michael Ray, Carly wanted to include “Finish Your Sentences” a duet with her husband. A song written by Kelsea Ballerini, Thomas Rhett, Jesse Frasure, and Ashley Gorley, it was Carly’s label CEO Scott Borchetta who sent her the track telling her to sing with her new boyfriend.
While the majority of the songs are about love, the album also speaks of female empowerment and heartache. To show her strength and determination, Carly added “Dashboard Jesus” and “Woman Down” to her track list. Originally set to appear on her first record before she was turned down, “Dashboard Jesus” speaks to Carly never losing faith in herself. Meanwhile, “Woman Down” is inspired by the work of Shania Twain. Carly stating to Billboard, “I feel like Shania had a way [with] those empowering female songs - and as soon as I heard that song, I wanted to sing it for my mom. I wanted to sing it for my grandmother. I wanted to sing it for myself.” It is in the final song of her sophomore album “It Won’t Always Be Like This” which speaks on heartache. Written with Sam Ellis and Natalie Hemby, the song was inspired by her grandfather and ultimately the passing of her producer busbee who died unexpectedly of brain cancer. “I just feel grateful for the time that I got with him and I feel like it’s my duty to carry on his legacy and be a small part that gets to keep these songs going and cherish these little moments of music that he created. busbee changed our lives. His heart was all over this and I will forever be grateful to busbee.” Listen to CP2 here.  Photo: John Myers This Valentine's Day, Cross Atlantic's Karli Chayne and James Sinclair-Stott will release their enchanting new single "Just a Word" marking a prolific next chapter for the newly wedded duo.
Uplifted by an irresistible, arena-ready groove, the couple sings of the sacred moment when you meet your forever person, and the word "love" becomes more than just language others casually use. The lighthearted and meaningful love song was one-year in the making with Cross Atlantic's frequent co-writer, Bryan Austin. Sinclair-Stott co-produced the song with celebrated, hit-making songwriter-producer, Derek George (producer for Joe Nichols, Bryan White, Chase Bryant and Randy Houser; author of hits by Darius Rucker, Blake Shelton, Miley Cyrus and Rascal Flatts). "I realized that love was just a word before when I felt I found my best friend for life," Chayne says of Sinclair-Stott. "I never felt anything like it … I always wanted to be a solo artist. I never even considered being a duo until I realized I get to do this with him. I have someone there I can trust onstage and in the writer's room, creating music and producing music. He's there." The autobiographical lyrics were inspired by the instant connection they felt when they first met by chance in 2015 at Nashville's Crema coffee shop. At the time, Chayne, from Bolivar, Mo. was pursuing music professionally in town as a solo singer-songwriter. Sinclair-Stott, from Huddersfield, UK, was based in London and visiting the Tennessee capital for a second time. When they initially started collaborating, they discovered their respective approaches to music enhanced each other and realized they were onto something bigger than themselves. They developed an undeniable signature sound offering a timeless blend of organic, soul-stirring instrumentation that is artfully executed from the first time it's sourced. "After we had written together, he would produce the songs in England, and when he sent them to me, I realized that this is the sound I had been looking for," Chayne adds. "This is what I want. But he was in England. I didn't know if he was coming back." When Sinclair-Stott acquired his visa to be in Nashville and work as a duo, he lived at Chayne’s parents’ home in Hendersonville, Tenn. allowing the two to establish a solid foundation for a lifetime in music and for their friendship to grow into a relationship while navigating careers on the rise. They married on Sept. 24, 2019 at Middle Tennessee's The Estate at Cherokee Dock. "Just a Word" continues Cross Atlantic's musical dialogue that blends Sinclair-Stott’s British rock edge with Chayne’s rich heritage as a seasoned country artist from the Missourian Ozarks. "We want to tell our love story but also keep talking about who we are individually because we each bring something different to Cross Atlantic," Sinclair-Stott says. "We are who we are because of where we came from, which are very different places and families, but yet still have so much in common. We think that's something a lot of people can connect with." Listen to "Just a Word" here.  Triple-threat Kasey Lansdale is always focused on the next project. A singer-songwriter, author, and actress, Kasey found her place in the melting pot that is Los Angeles. Originally from Texas, her roots are embedded in country music. Growing up to Martina McBride and Reba, she writes music from personal experiences, or those things she hears around her. Her song “Good Girl” is a direct reflection of that.
Geared up for the release of the film “All Hail the Popcorn King,” she’ll be performing during its LA premiere on February 16th. The film celebrates her father’s contributions to the worlds of literature and entertainment through interviews with his many colleagues and fans including Bruce Campbell, Joe Hill, Mick Garris, David J Schow, James Purefoy, Yuri Lowenthal, Keith, Kasey and Karen Lansdale, Brian Keene, Del Howison, Amber Benson and Christopher Golden. An engaging performer, Kasey encourages fans to interact with her. In fact, her residency at Mixology 101 at the Grove has allowed her to try out new songs and sounds on different audiences to get their reactions. Not in Los Angeles? You can also watch Kasey on an upcoming reality show premiering on the USA Network within the year. Stay up to date with Kasey’s many accomplishments by following her on social media at @KaseyLansdale and on her website at http://www.kaseylansdale.com/. |