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Alan Jackson and his daughter, Mattie Jackson Selecman, have released their collaborative song titled “Racing the Dark,” which coincides with the release of Selecman’s book 'Lemons on Friday'. Selecman recently lost her husband Ben after only 11 months of marriage. Both song and book detail Selecman’s painful heartbreak while also honoring the life that Ben and Mattie shared.

Jackson said in a statement: “I’m really surprised how well she was able to handle all that. I know I couldn’t have done what she’s done. One day she came to me with this piece of paper and said, ‘I wrote this song… the lyrics,’ and asked me to put it to music. So, I wrote the melody for it, and it turned out to be a very sweet song. It’s a beautiful song. And it’s well-written, lyrically. She told a little more of her story in it… so I’m anxious for my fans to get to hear this.”

To purchase Lemons on Friday, head here.  Take a listen to "Racing the Dark" at the link here.

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Kelsea Ballerini is opening up about her struggles in her teenage years in her new poetry book, Feel Your Way Through,  The 28-year-old country singer revealed that she had struggled with an eating disorder when she was a teenager, saying, "My parents had just gotten divorced, and I think for me, it was a source of control."  The singer revealed that up until the age of 18 she had battled bulimia, took several diet pills, and worked out excessively until she sought help after passing out numerous times, noting, "It's a journey, and it's never-ending."

While Ballerini says she is in a better mindset now, she revealed that she still struggles with body image issues at times, saying, "There are still days when I revert back to being that 12-year-old, and I have to catch myself, and hold myself accountable to the work I've done. I've re-calibrated what it means to me to just look in the mirror and just be like, 'Man, I'm healthy. I'm strong. I have good breath support to do my job well.' Those are things that matter to me now, rather than: 'I look skinny in a dress.'"

The country singer hopes to shed light on the issue and help those who have struggled with it in the past:  It took me some time to feel bold enough and confident enough to share my true self. When you're able to talk about things, you either are going to feel shame about it and you're going to keep it hidden, or you're going to air it out and be vulnerable and connect with people and take the sting away from it and heal together. And I think that's just the better option for me at this point in my life. So that's why I air out a couple of my dark secrets in this book."

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Luke Combs, Thomas Rhett and Morgan Wallen will headline the 2022 Tortuga Music Festival in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

The annual music event will take place on April 8-10, 2022 and will mark the fest's return to its typical April schedule after it was canceled in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.  Among the other stars slated to perform at the three-day installment include Breland, Priscilla Block, Brothers Osborne, Jordan Davis, Travis Denning, Walker Hayes, Randy Houser and more.

Launched in 2013, the Tortuga Music Festival was set up to provide attendees with ocean-side performances and awareness for marine conservation. Tickets to the 2022 Tortuga Music Festival go on sale on Friday at 10 AM ET. Click here for more information - tortugamusicfestival.com

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Singer Thomas Rhett and his wife, Lauren Akins, have welcomed their fourth daughter, Lillie Carolina.

The 31-year-old Rhett shared the news Wednesday on Instagram alongside a photo of himself with Akins and their baby girl at the hospital, along with the caption: "Lillie Carolina Akins born November 15th. 7.5 pounds of pure joy. @laur_akins you are my hero. Watching a child being born is legit a miracle. 4 under 6 here we go!"  Akins posted on her own account: "Our little miss Lillie Carolina Akins was born on November 15th and our family couldn't be more over the moon about our littlest joy."

Rhett and Akins married in October 2012 and have three other daughters together: Willa Gray, 6, Ada James, 4, and Lennon Love, 21 months.

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Chris Janson announced his headlining 'Halfway to Crazy' tour, which finds Janson playing auditoriums, theaters and arenas across the nation. The "Halfway to Crazy" tour kicks off on Feb. 10, and will run through April, including a Nashville date at the Ryman Auditorium on March 10. Joining him as support on tour will be Ray Fulcher and Shane Profitt.

Said Janson: “I’m super excited to hit the road in early 2022. It’s been incredible to be back in front of an audience again this year, with crowds more hungry and grateful for live music than ever before. Whether you’re a fan or an artist, there’s nothing like a seeing a live show. I can’t wait to see everyone on the ‘Halfway to Crazy’ Tour and to maybe play y’all some new music that I’ve got coming real soon.”

Fan club members can purchase tickets now; general public on-sale will start on Friday, Nov. 19. More dates are expected to be announced over the coming weeks.  For more info, head to ChrisJanson.com.

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Willie Nelson released his latest single from his upcoming album, The Willie Nelson Family, which is due out November 19. The single is a cover of Hank Williams’ classic 1948 tune “I Saw The Light.”

The 88-year-old singer/songwriter recruited a number of his family members for his new album. including sister Bobbie Nelson on piano, sons Lukas and Micah Nelson on drums, guitars, and vocals, and daughters Paula and Amy Nelson, also on drums, guitars, and vocals.  The album will be comprised of six Willie Nelson originals, along with six covers, including George Harrison’s “All Things Must Pass” and the spiritual “In The Garden.”

The Willie Nelson Family is the third new Willie Nelson studio album to be released since July 2020.

Check out the cover of “I Saw The Light" - here.

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The Country Music Association (CMA) has announced Gabby Barrett and Carly Pearce will host this year's annual CMA Country Christmas television special.  The event will serve as Pearce and Barrett’s first time hosting a network television special together.

Pearce, the newly crowned CMA Female Vocalist Of The Year award winner, shared "And the day just keeps getting better!! SO thrilled to be hosting #CMACountryChristmas with guys the beautiful @gabbybarrett”

Gabby added:  “So excited to be hosting CMA Country Christmas w/ ma girl Carly Pearce. It’s my FAVORITE time of the year.”

CMA Country Christmas will air on ABC and Hulu on Monday, November 29th. Performers include Carrie Underwood, Jimmie Allen, Pistol Annies, Lady A, Lainey Wilson, BRELAND, Brett Eldredge, The Shindellas, Louis York, and the two hosts themselves: Carly Pearce and Gabby Barrett.

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Morgan Wallen is returning to the road with the announcement of his headlining The Dangerous Tour for 2022. The tour news was posted on social media, and will kick-off February 3, 2022 in Evansville, Indiana. The Dangerous Tour will also feature his friends and label mates HARDY and Larry Fleet.

The tour marks Wallen’s first official headlining tour since 2020’s Whiskey Glasses Roadshow and will make stops throughout the U.S. through summer 2022, including venues such as Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Madison Square Garden in New York City, and Staples Center in Los Angeles.  Wallen is also confirmed to headline several major festivals in 2022, including Country Thunder in Florida, Arizona, Wisconsin and Bristol, as well as The Country Fest in Ohio and Tailgate N’ Tallboys in Illinois.

Ticket info can be found on Ticketmaster; for more information, head to MorganWallen.com.

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Russell Dickerson officially announced his headlining tour, ‘All Yours, All Night’.  The tour kicks off on January 25th in New York City at Irving Plaza, and will include stops in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, ending with a stop at the famed Ryman Auditorium in Nashville.  Joining him on tour will be opening act, Breland.

Tickets are on sale now with code: RDFAM22. For more information, visit russelldickerson.com and follow @russelled on social media.

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Staind's Aaron Lewis will release his new solo country album Frayed at Both Ends on Jan. 28, and the singer-songwriter will head out on the road in support of the new release with a U.S. tour.  Frayed At Both Ends features Lewis's current single "Goodbye Town", as well as the previously released "They Call Me Doc" and "Am I The Only One".

The 38-date tour will kick-off on January 14 at the Adler Theatre in Davenport, IA , wrapping up April 23rd at the Premier Theater At Foxwoods Resort Casino in Mashantucket, CT.

Aaron's official Facebook page shared this message about tickets: "Secure your tickets today for Aaron's Frayed At Both Ends, The Acoustic Tour! Use code AFL2022 to unlock access and make sure you're among the first to hear music from his new album live."   Head to AaronLewisMusic.com for more information.

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