Carly Pearce just scored a #1 along with Ashley McBryde for their duet "Never Wanted To Be That Girl", and now Carly has released her next single. In a post to social media, she explains where her new song "What He Didn't Do" came from: 

♥️ pic.twitter.com/RpHi36bbOF

— Carly Pearce (@carlypearce) May 23, 2022

Carly will sing this one when she comes to Blossom Music Center with Kenny Chesney on Thursday, June 9th. Click here to purchase tickets!

  I have been looking forward to writing this for a while.  Memorial Day Weekend is here, and I thought I'd showcase songs right for this occasion. Country music has a long history of Patriotic Songs.  In fact, it's part of our fabric.  It's woven through the DNA of those who love country music, and love their country. 

So I came up with a list of songs right for this weekend.  Also, there is a difference between a song of remembrance and a patriotic song. Memorial Day is a day to remember those who gave all they had. And also to those who still give their all for us every day.  Today, we will feature both. 

These kind of songs are almost uniquely country. NOBODY does it better in song or in video.  There is a strong bond, as many times fans of country are very connected to the military and those in it.  These songs strengthen that bond without question.

I have played all of these songs for many years on great radio stations across the country.  We love these songs, because they make us feel.  They make us feel good, and proud.

Billy Ray Cyrus - Some Gave All  - (1992)  One of the most loved and requested songs in this category. BRC is clearly known for Achy Breaky Heart, but he's loved for this song.  Powerful song.

Aaron Tippin - Where The Stars And Stripes And Eagle Fly  - (2001)  This song is right on the money, and raised a ton of money for the Red Cross as all proceeds were donated there after the 911 attacks.  Filmed in NYC, and recorded two days after that fateful day. 

Tim McGraw  - If You're Reading This  - (2007)  Made its world debut on the ACM Awards - and was a moment no one will forget!

Lee Greenwood - God Bless The USA  -  (1984)  For a guy who was originally known for singing powerful and soaring love ballads, this was his most powerful love ballad of all - for the love of his country.

Brooks And Dunn  - Only In America  - (2001)  About a perfect song, sung by the perfect artists.  HUGE in concert! This song makes you happy and proud.

Waylon Jennings  - America - (1984)  Not much is more American than a more than honest song about America from the late Waylon Jennings. Lyrically this is really nice, done simply.

Toby Keith  - American Soldier  - (2003)  This song will be played and loved forever.  Many feel it's the crown jewel of his incredible career. This song speaks directly to millions of soldiers, friends, and famlies.

Trace Adkins  - Arlington  - (2005)  Perfect artist for this song!  Strong performance.

David Ball  - Riding With Private Malone  - (2001)  This song is loved. 

Memorial Day Weekend   -   "Please remember those, who gave theirs, so we could have ours" -  

Bonus - God Bless America - LeAnn Rimes

Faith Hill - Incredible!  - The Anthem!

  This week, the new Top Gun movie comes out and it's bound to be a big hit. After a few delays, Tom Cruise and crew will be flying around again, saving the world.  The original was 1986 and was a huge success. Also some of the music became very popular from that movie. Take My Breath Away, and Danger Zone both charted well.

Danger Zone was from Kenny Loggins, but it wasn't his first hit from a big movie that decade.  In fact, there were a few others as well.  How did this star manage all that?  How did it happen that he wrote themes to a bunch of big movies in the 80's? Read below and find out!  I always wondered.

Kenny Loggins and 80's Movies

    Love me a GREAT sandwich!  Any time, any day, any way.

So, let's get to work on these!

Great Sandwiches!

Florida Georgia Line's Tyler Hubbard has released his first solo single! "5 Foot 9" is inspired by his wife Hayley and is co-written by Hubbard, Jaren Johnston of The Cadillac Three and Chase McGill. Tyler is currently working on a solo debut project that will showcase his many musical sides and influences. We'll keep you updated on that album!

Lainey Wilson has released her follow up to her #1 hit "Things A Man Ought To Know". Her new single is called "Heart Like A Truck" and Lainey says this new song is for anybody and everybody who's been through hard times, hard luck, heartbreak. It’s about finding freedom in your strength and about not being afraid of the scars and the bumps along the way because it builds some character.

Elle King has released a new song called "Worth A Shot", it's a collaboration with Dierks Bentley. This is the second time they have collaborated together, they previously earned a #1 with "Different For Girls" in 2016. Elle says that this song is about a releationship that is worth working out, and if they can go back to where it started and maybe do that together, they can get back what they feel like they are missing.

Box Office Results - Dr. Strange  -  (61 Million)

New This Week - Downton Abby: A New Era  -  Chip and Dale Rescue Rangers  (Disney Plus)

Netflix - Just laid off about 2% of its workers due to a slowing revenue stream  (Story) 

Roasting Tom – There will be a Netflix celebrity roast of Tom Brady – then he will produce a series of other roasts  (Story) 

Paramount+ - Says its subscriber count has ballooned to almost 40 million  (Story) 

Yellowstone Prequel - Will star Harrison Ford and Helen Mirren and be called 1932 - Coming in December!  (Story) 

Top Gun – Word is the new Top Gun which opens May 27 – is very good

Chow Yun-Fat - Turned 67 this week, there was a time he was the number one box office draw in the world! Dethroned - Jackie Chan

This Weekend – Check out my Country Music Memory Lane (link)

Dana asked if I would feature Tim McGraw this week as he kicks off the summer concert season at Blossom Music Center on Thursday.  Well, yeah! - McGraw is certainly going into the Mega Star Series as his career has been nothing short of incredible.  I have played his music on great radio stations all across the country.

Six Weeks Number One!

TM had an interesting road to the top, and is proof positive that it isn't always easy as it may look.  Most of us can go back to the time we first heard, Indian Outlaw and the rest is history. That song, although not a huge chart hit, was a gigantic hit with the listeners and really got him noticed at last. It then paved the way for Don't Take The Girl, which in turn paved the way for decades of great success.  But there was a time before that where the dream seemed far away.  Much like Tracy Lawrence, TM was very young when started recording, and was 26 when he finally hit.

Breakthrough Hit Single

But in the 1990's and well into the 2000's it seemed that McGraw could do no wrong at all in any way. It was just hit after he hit and all of them simply huge.  His appeal was sweeping as he was popular with guys, women, young, old, fringe country listeners, traditionalists, he was just a huge star that everyone liked.  When he was really rolling, TM was on par with any of the mega stars of the era, or any era, and being honest, he outlasted most of them. He was not a part of the class of 1989, but you thought he may have been.

When I Heard This Song, I Knew There Was Something There -  (Should've Been A Hit)

His breakthrough came in 1994 with the album, Not A Moment Too Soon, after the lack of success from his debut album of 1992 that was self titled.  There was a song on that first album though that only went to #47 on the charts that I absolutely loved called, Welcome To The Club.  I thought it was a hit, others didn't, but I loved what I heard.  I heard something in the song that told me he was going to make it in time. As his debut album faded, the Not A Moment Too Soon album took hold, and TM was on this way to superstardom.

This Song Made Him A Star  (Huge Video Too) 

I always felt that the calling card that McGraw had was the quality of his entire albums.  One of the reasons the 1990's is such a great decade for us, artists in general started paying much deeper attention to the overall quality of the entire album. For decades for many, it was two great songs and fillers, and more albums in a short period of time.  The 1990's erased that for good, and McGraw was a big part of it.  I always felt Earl Thomas Conley in the 80's was the real trailblazer on that, as his albums were stocked from start to finish. McGraw would record great album after album, that featured many great songs start to finish with huge success.

What A Song!

The Everywhere album in 1997 to me, is the best country album of the last 40 years, and one of the best albums of any genre  - period  - of the same era. That album to me is the kind of project that every recording artist dreams about when they get their record deal. To me, it i was a career crown. It boasted 6 singles, 4 number ones and Just To See You Smile was number one for 6 weeks!  The YouTube views on those videos are huge. There would be great albums of his to follow that enjoyed tremendous success, but Everywhere is a gem plain and simple.

Beloved Duet - Will Be For Generations  (With Faith)

McGraw married Faith Hill of course and their duets have always been popular as have their incredibly successful Soul 2 Soul concert tours.  He has recorded with artists like, Def Leppard, Florida Georgia Line, JoDee Messina, Nelly and countless others. During this amazing run, he has become of of the most popular recording artists in any format.  McGraw has some insane stats, including 80 million albums sold, some 25 number one songs, and a list of top 5 songs that is borderline ridiculous. He has also recorded some songs so big, so powerful, they will be played on the radio for generations to come, without any question.

Another Classic - Will Be For Years Still To Come

Lucky for us, TM is still recording and releasing hit songs, and even luckier for us, he is still touring. He is a sensational performer and his shows are not to be missed.  It's almost difficult to think, he's been around for 30 years now, but it's true. Not bad for a performer that whiffed on the charts with his first album, only to go on and become one of the biggest international stars we have ever had.  That does happen sometimes, just ask George Strait, happened to him as well.

McGraw 21st Century - Still GREAT!

Tim McGraw - one huge star!

Others In The Exclusive Mega Star Series  (So Far)

Alabama

Vince Gill

George Strait

Shania Twain

Hank Jr.

  How GREAT are croutons?  I love them in soup, salad and wherever else you want to put them. They give a nice, or additional crunch to a ton of good foods.  Yesterday was National Crouton Day  - Not so sure we need all that, but what the heck!

Ruby Tuesday has croutons that I could eat with a spoon, especially if they are warm on the salad bar. The are soft and pumpernickel.  They solely have been the reason I have gone there many times for just the salad bar.

Store bought are fine, but what if we could make them at home and keep them warm?

Well, here we go!!!

Made At Home Croutons!