Feel-Good Friday: Uplifting Country News From Dolly Parton, Sam Hunt & Taylor Swift
What stories lifted you up this week?
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.
Chris Young, Jimmie Allen share demos of unreleased songs
COVID-19 is giving country artists more time to write and record new music. This week Chris Young and Jimmie Allen shared demos of unreleased songs. “Ok guys… just a demo, but wanna know what you think about adding this one to the album,” Young captions a clip of “Rescue Me” on Instagram. “Thoughts?”
Meanwhile, Allen shares his idea of a perfect day out in the country that includes tailgate chilling, backroads driving and some mudding in a clip titled “Get Country.”
Dolly Parton donates guitar to Grand Ole Opry’s Opry Fund auction
Dolly Parton partners with the Opry Trust Fund to auction off an autographed guitar. All proceeds go to financially help music professionals impacted by the pandemic. Bids are now open for Parton’s handcrafted Oscar Schmidt Acoustic commemorative “9 to 5” and Opry 95th Anniversary Guitar. The auction ends Feb. 19.
Mickey Guyton learns how to work a farm with Cardi B
Mickey Guyton makes a guest appearance on Cardi B’s Facebook series “Cardi Tries.” In the 16-minute must-watch episode the women try their hands at ranching in Southern California as Cardi B admits she wants to have a farm. During the episode, they learn how to milk a cow, shear sheep and feed pigs and hilarity ensues.
Sam Hunt hints at new music
Sam Hunt posted a picture from his home studio earlier this week giving fans a glimpse into his world. “New songs coming soon,” he captioned the photo. It has been nearly a year since Hunt released his sophomore album, Southside. The follow-up to 2014’s Montevallo, Southside includes his latest single “Breaking Up Was Easy in the 90s” which is currently in the top 25 at country radio.
Taylor Swift releases “Love Story (Taylor’s Version)”
Taylor Swift reveals that she has re-recorded her 2008 album Fearless and that the project is coming very soon. The first release from the upcoming 26-song collection includes “Love Story (Taylor’s Version),” out today. Swift explains the process of recording the project and the addition of six never before released songs in an Instagram note to fans that spells out the date April 9 in caps. If the April 9 album reveal date is correct, it will mark the third album release in less than a year following 2020’s folklore and evermore.
“I’ve decided I want you to have the whole story, see the entire vivid picture, and let you into the entire dreamscape that is my ‘Fearless’ album,” she writes. “That’s why I’ve chosen to include 6 never before released songs on my version of this album, written when I was between the ages of 16 and 18. These were the ones it killed me to leave behind.
“This process has been more fulfilling and emotional than I could’ve imagined and has made me even more determined to re-record all of my music. I hope you like this first outing as much as I liked traveling back in time to recreate it.”
