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.”

Multi-GRAMMY® nominated singer-songwriter Jamie O’Neal’s “Christmas” video debuts on CMT Music, CMT’s 24/7 music video channel, tomorrow, Dec. 9 at approximately 6:12 a.m. ET with additional airings to follow throughout this holiday season.

“Christmas” served as the album opener for Spirit & Joy, O’Neal’s first holiday album, released on Oct. 21 from JOG Inc. and BFD/AUDIUM Nashville. Like the holidays, the making of Spirit & Joy was truly a family affair, and the “Christmas” video, directed by John Lee, features several of O’Neal’s family members.

O’Neal produced Spirit & Joy with her husband Rodney Good, a platinum-certified recording engineer (Waylon Jennings, Dolly Parton), who joined her for their first-ever duet with “Please Come Home for Christmas.” Forbes exclusively premiered the video for “Please Come Home for Christmas” and praised O’Neal’s “enviable range and heartfelt vocals.”

Spirit & Joy also features a collaboration with O’Neal’s father Jimmy Murphy, sister Melissa Murphy and daughter Aliyah Good on “Do You Hear What I Hear?” Taste of Country exclusively premiered the first listen to the “timely” classic, noting “the album is more than just another holiday collection,” while Wide Open Country selected O’Neal’s duet with fellow ACM Award winner Collin Raye on “Silver Bells” as one of 2022’s “Most Festive Christmas Songs by Country Acts.”

The 10-track collection celebrates the cheerful nature of the season, while honoring the sentimental side of the holidays. “For every lighthearted song about love and togetherness that fills the album, there is one track that hangs on loss and pain. ‘You Were Christmas to Me’ was written with the artist’s lost loved ones in mind,” wrote American Songwriter. With cuts from Reba McEntire, Martina McBride and Idina Menzel, O’Neal co-wrote two more light-hearted originals, “Christmas You,” and “Gulf of Mexico.”

O’Neal’s latest album, Sometimes, celebrated the 20th anniversary of her debut album, Shiver. The critically-acclaimed project proved that O’Neal “hasn’t lost an iota of her powerhouse vocal talent (Rolling Stone Country).” Featuring collaborations with John Paul White, Lauren Alaina, Martina McBride, Sara Evans and O’Neal’s daughter Aliyah Good, Sometimes received additional praise from People, Forbes, Parade, American Songwriter, The Boot, Wide Open Country, MusicRow and many more.

Premieres Monday, December 12th at 8PM ET/PT on Paramount Network with simulcast on CMT
 Additional encore presentation on Sunday, December 25 at 11AM ET/PT on CMT

Watch the trailer here.

• Premiere Date: December 12, 2022 at 8PM ET/PT on Paramount Network. The film will have an additional encore presentation on Sunday, 12/25 at 11AM ET/PT on CMT.
• Synopsis: Overwhelmed by her high-powered agent, a bombastic Hollywood director, and a totally tricked-out, off-base holiday spectacular, a country music superstar bolts from her outrageous lifestyle, seeking a haven at her grandma’s Tennessee farm. Rather than refuge, she finds romance when she reconnects with her handsome ex, a return to her musical roots, and an unexpected family when she discovers three clever kids who’ve outsmarted the foster care system are living at the family homestead at Christmas.
• Cast: Tanya Tucker, Keith Carradine, Ana Ortiz, Olivia Sanabia
• Production Companies: MTV Entertainment Studios, Principle Productions, Off Camera Entertainment, Synthetic Cinema International
• For MTV Entertainment Studios: Trevor Rose, Leslie Fram, Amal Baggar, Andrew Lutin and  Donny Hugo Herran will serve as executive producers.
• Producers: Andrew Gernhard, Dustin Rikert
• Executive Producers: Stephanie Slack, Margret Huddleston, Kristofer McNeeley, Ali Spuck and Tanya Tucker
• Director: Ashley Williams
• Writers: Casie Tabanou & Ali Spuck
• Quote: “It’s amazing that after 50 years in this business, I get to see my dreams become reality! And being part of A Nashville Country Christmas is definitely one of them. I’ve always wanted to do more acting, and it was a gift from the good Lord when this role came along. I can’t wait for everyone to enjoy the movie this season,” says Tanya Tucker.