Feel-Good Friday: Uplifting Country News From Brett Eldredge, The Chicks & Sam Hunt

Lift up your mood with these fun stories... 

Written by Annie Reuter
Feel-Good Friday: Uplifting Country News From Brett Eldredge, The Chicks & Sam Hunt
Brett Eldredge; Photo credit: Greg Noire

Welcome to Feel-Good Friday, a weekly roundup of heartwarming stories, lighthearted videos, and inspiring country news that reminds us all there is still good in the world.

Brett Eldredge Bares His Soul In New Documentary

On the heels of releasing the deeply personal Sunday Drive, Eldredge has unveiled a 22-minute documentary on the making of his latest album. Sunday Drive (The Documentary) follows the country crooner reflecting on his career in Nashville, returning to his hometown of Paris, Illinois, and recording in Chicago.

“I got afraid of taking the full-on risk sometimes,” Eldredge admits of his career. So, he decided to go back to his home state to share the energy he wanted to capture on the record with his producers. The mini-doc includes interviews with his aunt and uncle and footage of Eldredge in his hometown catching up with old friends and neighbors. Throughout the clip, he can be found singing on his uncle’s farm, in his aunt’s garden and around the campfire, as well as cruising on the lake.  

“I need to tell a unique story,” he says. “Who I am as a person makes me who I am as that artist. In a world that sometimes lacks authenticity — even in my own life — to come back and find that and to show that to others is something that is gold … I didn’t write any of these songs with the intention, ‘This is a hit.’ I wrote it with, ‘Does this make me feel something?’”

The Chicks drop first album in 14 years with Gaslighter

The long anticipated new album from The Chicks is finally here! After a 14-year wait and name change, Natalie Maines, Emily Strayer and Martie Maguire provide a much needed soundtrack to 2020. Songs like protest anthem “March March” and anthemic title track “Gaslighter” serve as a time capsule of the current political climate while the vulnerable “Everybody Loves You” and confessional “Sleep at Night” recall the band’s early ballads with sweeping musical accompaniment and mesmerizing harmonies.

While the poignant “Young Man” serves as heartfelt message from a mother to her child, its universal message rings true. “Leave the bad news behind you … After the storm, there’s nothing you can’t navigate … You’re gonna be alright,” Maines sings. On Gaslighter, The Chicks prove that some things in life are well worth the wait.

Jake Owen shares a glimpse into family life on “Made For You”

Owen offers a look into his everyday life with his girlfriend and two daughters in the beautiful new clip for “Made For You.” The four-minute music video shares footage from Owen’s family life out on the lake and at home together as well as a cameo from former No. 1 ranked PGA professional golfer Jordan Spieth and fan-submitted clips that tug on the heartstrings.

Mason Ramsey is back … and singing about cow farts?

The young country yodeler returns thanks to a new Burger King commercial where Ramsey helps to address the environmental impact of beef. Donned all in white with a rhinestone studded gas mask to boot, he endearingly sings about Burger King’s new mission to help the environment by reducing methane emissions.

When cows fart and burp and splatter/ Well it ain’t no laughing matter,” Ramsey sings before an ear-grabbing yodel of “methane.”

Sam Hunt hints at new music with “23” clip

While the coronavirus pandemic has put a halt on tours for the time being, Sam Hunt is using quarantine to work on new music. The country star recently debuted a nostalgic new ballad called “23” on Instagram earlier this week, and promised that even more new music is on the way.

“I’ve been writing some new songs and working them up with the guys. We played this one, called 23, and a few songs from Southside on the Highway Finds Fest that airs this weekend on SiriusXM,” he captions the clip.