Friday, November 25, 2016

Jana Kramer Is Striving to ‘Show Women That They Are Strong’

Image result for jana kramer dancing with the stars
Jana Kramer is keeping very busy these days. She just competed as a finalist on Dancing With the Stars, balancing her career and being a mom, and she wants to be a role model to show women that they can do anything.

The country singer has formed unexpected friendships with fellow DWTS competitors Terra and Laurie this season, but she didn’t join the show solely for the kinship. Instead, she wants to empower moms like her.

“I really wanted to show women out there that it can be done. That you can be an amazing mom, be a career-driven woman and also do something that you love and that you want to make time for yourself as well,” she tells Taste of Country. “It’s been a lot but I’ve been very fortunate.”

After she’s done dancing each week, Kramer gets back to feeding and taking care of her young daughter, Jolie. The singer and actor has a new partnership with Colgate Optic White, and she’s excited to show off her pearly whites on the red carpet.

“I really wanted them to partner with me because everyone’s always said, ‘Your smile, your smile is your best feature.’ I think a smile is the most important thing because it shows confidence. It shows grace,” Kramer says, adding that she hopes to “look strong and confident and classy and fierce.”

"I want to show women that they are strong and they are good enough."

Looking strong will be easy for the “Circles” singer, who recently showed just how strong she is by opening up about her abusive first marriage. Although it wasn’t easy for her to talk about, it was important and fans are showing her why.

“Last night at a show a girl wrote on her phone, ‘You saved me,’ and I literally got so choked up that I almost started sobbing,” Kramer discloses. “In that moment I felt so much at peace knowing that what I’ve done has already started to affect other women. It’s a very powerful moment. It’s not a very talked-about subject and I want to show women that they are strong and they are good enough.”

Kramer held it down for more than just women on DWTS; she held it down for country music, getting more impressive and sexier with each passing week. The 32-year-old country singer enjoyed dancing with her partner, Gleb Savchenko, but enjoyed the dances that were “just about the emotion” more than anything. The toughest part? Combating her nerves.

“It’s very nerve-wracking to go out there and do something you’ve never done, especially on live television having millions of people watching you,” Kramer tells us. “That’s been hard for me, but it’s fun just going out there and trying to have the confidence and trying to enjoy the moment.”

Kramer danced all the way to a fourth place finish on Dancing With the Stars before being eliminated on the first night of the finals.

Watch Jana's freestyle performance here.


By Coti Howell

Wednesday, November 23, 2016

Ten New Songs To Be Thankful For This Year

Image result for jessie chrisLove Like Theirs -Maddie Wilson
Seize The Moment -Hawley Penfold
In The Meantime -Jessie Chris
Cowboy's Love -Leah Turner
Night We Won't Forget -Jess Moskaluke
Dance With Me -The Springs
Patchwork Heart -Chandler Stephens 
Comin Back as a Cowboy -Savvy & Mandy
Feels Like Home -Lucy Hale
Set You Free -Allison Veltz

Wednesday, November 16, 2016

CMA Country Christmas is To Dazzle Again This Year

Every year Nashville’s Grand Ole Opry lights up for the holidays. Though it’s called CMA Country Christmas, don’t expect much twang in this year’s edition of the popular TV special.

Hosted by Jennifer Nettles for the sixth time, CMA Country Christmas is a treasured holiday tradition with no shortage of talented artists ready to welcome the holiday season. This year’s lineup is no exception, from the powerful voice of Grammy-nominated Andrea Day to women of country powerhouse Kelsea Ballerini and ‘Wrapped in Red’ artist Kelly Clarkson, the show features a strong array of country artists who deftly expand beyond their genre, as well as other special guests who otherwise circulate outside country’s porous borders.

Taped before a live audience on election night at the Grand Ole Opry House, Nashville families had a chance to welcome the holiday season a little early. In the true spirit of Christmas, the taping of the show also serves as a toy drive benefiting the Toys for Tots Program as a partnership between ABC and the U.S. Marine Corps, who operate Toys for Tots. Attendees are encouraged to bring unwrapped toys to the taping, which will be distributed to children in need throughout the Middle Tennessee region.
As for the rest of us, CMA Country Christmas airs on November 28 at 8:00 ET on ABC. You can find the full lineup below:

Amy Grant
Andra Day
Brad Paisley
Brett Eldredge
Chris Young
Idina Menzel
Jennifer Nettles
Joey Alexander
Jordan Smith
Kacey Musgraves
Kelly Clarkson
Kelsea Ballerini
Rascal Flatts
Sarah McLachlan
Trisha Yearwood

Tuesday, November 15, 2016

Ten New Songs For You

Image result for jana kramer
Home to Me -Tiffany Ashton
Is This Love -Rhea Francani
Parade -Shylo Sharity
Letting Go -Colby Dee
Hurt Like I Had Fun -Kristen Kuiper
Disposable -Tori Darke
Evergreens -Maia Dobbs
For Never -Bailey James
It's You -Lauren Davidson
Last Song -Jana Kramer

Friday, November 11, 2016

Nikki Briar honors Veterans With the Release of ‘After the New Wears Off’


The daughter of two aspiring musicians and the first female drummer at her school, Nikki Briar has always known she was destined to be the next great musician this country has ever seen. Her father, a Motown drummer, and her mother, a piano player, taught Nikki how to sing at a young age through their combined love of music. Taught by her father and brother Nikki picked up the art of the drums before moving onto learning the guitar, the instrument she most often uses today.

After college Briar took a job as an elementary school music teacher and married a soldier who soon took off to Iraq. His absence forced Nikki to place all her attention towards her music career and inspired her song “Soldier’s Princess.” After some radio time and a positive response to her new song, Nikki became determined to continue sharing her story through music.

With that is mind Nikki is releasing her newest radio single ‘After the New Wears Off’ today, Veteran’s Day in honor of her husband. Today Nikki is also planning on hosting her EP release concert at the Headliner in Neptune, NJ featuring opening acts Mason Jar Rebellion and Love Devine. The concert sponsored by western apparel companies, Fiercely Burning and Hogwash and Rhinestones, also features a DJ and line dancing. The concert is free for all veterans and only $10 dollars for the greater public.

The viewing of Nikki’s official video is to be released at the concert as well. Or you can check out an exclusive clip of it here…

So make sure to get your tickets before it’s too late and check out the newest from Nikki Briar via Spotify, iTunes, and at her website at www.nikkibriar.com.


Monday, November 7, 2016

We've Been Here - The Problem With Erasing Black Women From Country And Rock Music

Beyoncé’s surprise performance with The Dixie Chicks at the 2016 Country Music Awards had everyone buzzing.

Announced only a few short hours before the show aired live, the Bey Hive geared up and spread the word, encouraging Black audiences to do something they don’t usually do—watch the Country Music Awards. The women performed Beyoncé’s “Daddy Lessons,” the poignant country song from her latest project, Lemonade, and Beyoncé reminded America that not only do Black Girls Rock—we have some country in us too!

Shortly after their performance, it appeared as though the social media accounts associated with the awards show removed images and references to the performance and some sources speculated that it was because of the overwhelming racist responses to Beyoncé being asked to perform at the show. Unfortunately, some people only think of country music in terms of its White performers and they consider a Black woman performing country music as some kind of theft of their art.

The official website posted the images of the performance and listed the women as performers, so the erasure wasn’t complete; it just seemed really suspicious that video clips and images were hard to find on the CMA’s social media channels.

Well, the truth is that Black women have been performing country music and rock ‘n’ roll since the inception of both genres, but, as is often the case, have found themselves routinely erased from the annals of country and rock music folklore.

Tuesday, November 1, 2016

Start off the Month With These Ten New Songs

Image result for belles and whistles
Give and Take -Gabby Barrett
Rollercoaster Life -Lauren Wheatley
I'm Wild -Belles & Whistles
Wichita Lineman -Ashley Campbell
Bow and Arrow -Nicole Rayy
Forget the Night -Jade Helliwell
The Call -Ashliegh Lisset
How To Lose It All -Lucie Silvas
Lipstick -Runaway June
American Fathers -Farewell Angelina