Single “Just As I Am” available everywhere Friday, December 16

Brothers of the Heart — the “country, bluegrass, gospel dream team” (Cowboys & Indians) featuring award-winning artists Jimmy Fortune, Bradley Walker, Mike Rogers, and Ben Isaacs — returns with its sophomore album Listen to the Music (Gaither Music Group), releasing January 20, 2023.

On the 12-track record, produced by group member Ben Isaacs (producer for Oak Ridge Boys, Rory Feek and more), the Brothers reimagine country, gospel and pop classics, including “Ring of Fire,” “Desperado,” “Bye Bye Love” and more. Showcasing the supergroup’s signature seamless harmonies and impeccable arrangements, the anticipated album illuminates the joy of listening to great music.

“Being a part of this project has been so much fun,” stated Isaacs. “Not only do I get to produce, I also get to sing with three of the best singers and musicians ever. The song choices on this project are special to all of us; we feel that the songs have been a huge part of our pasts. I hope the listener enjoys the music and hears our love and passion in every song.”

Listen to the Music’s second single, the Brothers’ breathtaking arrangement of the classic hymn “Just As I Am,” will be released Friday, December 16, on all digital streaming platforms. The album’s debut track, the group’s reimagining of The Statler Brothers’ “I’ll Go to My Grave Loving You,” is available everywhere now.

Following Brothers of the Heart’s acclaimed debut album Brotherly Love (more than 31 million streams worldwide), the Listen to the Music record will be accompanied by a DVD and TV special.

Trailblazing singer/songwriter Bryan Ruby has announced the release of a support video for his new holiday single, “Christmas With You.” The in-studio video footage was captured by Justin Mayotte with all the warm and fuzzy festive feelings surrounding the season. The support video for the new holiday tune was premiered on AIM TV and is available on various streaming platforms including Byran Ruby’s official Vevo Video Channel here.

“Between music and baseball I spend most of the year on the road, so getting to come home for Christmas is always a high point. I wanted to paint that picture with this song,” expressed Bryan Ruby.

“Smooth like expensive bourbon around a ski lodge or a nighttime fire pit,” shared David Ross, Founder of Music Row Magazine

Stream and download “Christmas With You” on Spotify, Amazon Music, Apple Music/ iTunes, YouTube Music, Pandora and more at bryanruby/christmas-with-you.

Co-written by Ruby, Kayleigh DeLozier, Kristin Denton, Chad Albert Sellers and David M. Ross, the tune has an instantly likable cool, bluesy groove and is sure to become a Christmas playlist favorite.

The new music was recorded at Nashville’s Pentavarit Studios and produced by Smith Curry. Bobby Holland served as Sound Engineer, David Axelrod as Mix and Vocal Tracking Engineer and mastering was done by Andrew Mendelson of Georgetown Masters in Nashville. Studio musicians on the project were Caleb Gilbreath on drums, Tim Denbo on bass, Devin Malone played acoustic guitar, Nathan Keeterle was on electric guitar, while Luke Moseley played keyboards and Bryan Ruby sang background vocals. Cover art was created by Max Gordon.

Full-length album Living In A Song due out February 10th via Compass Records

American roots music has seen its fair share of beloved duos over the years—from The Monroe Brothers and Flatt & Scruggs to modern-day pairs like Milk Carton Kids and The War and Treaty—but few leave audiences as amazed as Grammy Award nominees Rob Ickes and Trey Hensley. Built on the interplay of Ickes’s Dobro and Hensley’s six-string guitar, the only thing outshining the virtuosity of this group’s instrumental performances is their singing and songwriting prowess. On February 10th, Ickes and Hensley are set to release a new full-length album via Compass Records, Living In A Song. Featuring ten original tunes plus two timeless covers, and focusing on a classic country sound as heard in contemporaries like Chris Stapleton, Jamey Johnson, Sturgill Simpson, and Jason Isbell, Living In A Song is a love letter to a bygone Nashville and an in-depth look at the wonderful interplay between two masters of their craft.

Today, Ickes and Hensley shared a sneak peek of Living In A Song, the album’s title track which grew out of their experiences as touring musicians. According to Hensley, the song practically wrote itself after a long day on the road driving through Ohio. When Hensley digs into the lyrics there is no question that he has lived the story he is telling, lifted up even further when Ickes’ tenor harmony enters the chorus.

Fans can check out “Living In A Song” today at this link and pre-order or pre-save Living In A Song ahead of its February 10th release right here. Rob and Trey will next take the stage on December 30th in Asheville, North Carolina, with their friends Leftover Salmon.

Twenty rising artists named to year-long campaign

CMT revealed its newest lineup of rising artists to watch in its highly anticipated 2023 CMT LISTEN UP program, which recognizes and supports country music’s most promising newcomers across CMT platforms. The year-long initiative is committed to raising support for these artists via full cross-brand support for their music and videos across CMT and CMT Music, CMT Hot 20 Countdown, CMT Hits on Pluto TV, CMT.com and @CMT social platforms, in addition to opportunities across other Paramount Media Networks with live events, the Paramount Times Square NYC Billboard and more.

“We’re thrilled to welcome this exciting list of new artists to our 2023 LISTEN UP initiative,” shared Leslie Fram, SVP of Music & Talent at CMT.  “Each of these acts stand out in their authenticity and are already finding an audience with exceptional music. We look forward to amplifying their content across all CMT platforms and building long lasting relationships with this dynamic group of individuals.”

The following 20 artists join CMT’s prestigious 2023 LISTEN UP roster:

Ashley Cooke
Bailey Zimmerman
Brandon Ratcliff
Catie Offerman
Chapel Hart
Cody Belew
Conner Smith
Corey Kent
Dalton Dover
Drake Milligan
Hannah Ellis
Ian Munsick
Jackson Dean
Kameron Marlowe
Madeline Edwards
Nate Smith
Pillbox Patti
The War And Treaty
Warren Zeiders
Zach Bryan

Since 2011, CMT’s LISTEN UP franchise has introduced new talent to the brand’s passionate fan base and has helped launch the careers of many country sensations. Some notable alumni of the franchise include: Ashley McBryde, Blanco Brown, BRELAND, Brett Eldredge, Brittney Spencer, Carly Pearce, Dan + Shay, Gabby Barrett, Ingrid Andress, Jimmie Allen, Jon Pardi, Kacey Musgraves, Kelsea Ballerini, Lily Rose, Luke Combs, Maren Morris, Morgan Wade, Thomas Rhett, Walker Hayes and Yola among others.

All Proceeds from Fan Favorite Track Benefit Stray Rescue of St. Louis

Anyone who’s seen Kenny Chesney’s social media over the last few days knows about the passing of his beloved rescue, Ruby. He wrote that the red and white mix “lived her life never holding anything against anybody. She had an ancient, calming soul. She was honest and authentic, she was a protector… Ruby loved the sun and how it felt on her face. She and I had that in common… I’m going to miss her, especially in the mornings. That’s when she and I really connected. So bye-bye, Ruby. You were a very good girl. We loved you and thank you for teaching us how to love unconditionally. You were one heaven of a dog.”

The East Tennessee songwriter closed the post with a lyric from the No Shoes Nation favorite “Da Ruba Girl,” which aired regularly on Chesney’s SiriusXM station, No Shoes Radio. After years of requests to make the song available, the man known as much for his introspective songs about the islands and life on the coastlines as his high-impact stadium shows has decided to honor Ruby – and help one of the nation’s largest pit bull rescue shelters – by making the song available in her memory.

“No one had a bigger, bolder heart than Da Ruba Girl, whose name was Ruby,” Chesney explains. “She was a rescue my friend Mary brought into our lives, and she was the most loving, gentle soul. It’s why she inspired the song, and truly how she showed us better ways to be human. Losing her has left a hole there are no words for…

“And while she was a rescue, she truly rescued every single person who came in contact with her. To honor her life, I wanted that love and her ability to rescue people to continue. I wanted to do something that embodied what she was, and that would also help people know these dogs can save you. So it only made sense – after all the years of people asking – to release Ruby’s song, and to let ‘Da Ruba Girl’ pay it forward by helping the incredible people at Stray Rescue of St. Louis, who not only worked closely with us after the hurricanes in the Virgin Islands, but who also continue to help find homes for big dogs, old dogs and especially pits, which they are one of the largest shelters for.”

Starting this Friday, December 9, “Da Ruba Girl” will be available for purchase via iTunes as well as on all streaming platforms, with pre-save/pre-add options available HERE. All proceeds from the song will be donated to Stray Rescue of St. Louis. Additional donations may be made through their website: www.strayrescue.org. Be sure to note the gift “In Honor of Da Ruba Girl” – and help make other abandoned animals’ holidays brighter while they’re waiting on their forever home.

“They say we rescue them, but I know from experience we’re really the ones who are rescued,” Chesney says. “And I also know some of the biggest angels on earth are the people who work in the shelters, healing these poor, abandoned, often abused babies. Ruby was everything good, and in her memory, this is her way of continuing to give and bring love where it’s most needed.”