“Billboard” put out its annual year-end report on the top country artists, songs, producers, and everything else you can think of. And the standout again this year was Morgan Wallen. He’s at the top of NINE different lists, three more than a year ago. They include Top Country Artist . . . Top Male Country Artist . . . top album for “Dangerous: The Double Album” . . . and “Wasted on You” was the Top Hot Country Song AND that most-streamed country song in 2022.
Here are a few more artists and songs that topped Billboard’s lists this year . . .
Top Female Country Artist . . . Carrie Underwood
Top Duo or Group . . . Zac Brown Band
Top New Country Artist on a major label . . . Zach Bryan
Most-heard song on country radio . . . “Take My Name” by Parmalee
Most digital downloads for an artist . . . Walker Hayes. “Fancy Like” was the most-downloaded song of the year.
Top Country Tour . . . Kenny Chesney. He filled 1.3 million seats, and his tour grossed over $135 million.
You won’t be seeing artificial Christmas trees at Thomas Rhett’s house. His wife Lauren loves the process of going to the lot and picking out the perfect tree. Or should I say, perfect FIVE trees. “We also get a real Christmas tree for each of the girls’ bedrooms. They’re like four feet tall or so, and we take two nights and build a fire, put on ‘Home Alone’, get out all the ornaments, and let the girls go crazy on the tree.”
Tyler Hubbard teamed up with the First Responders Children’s Foundation and Mattel to deliver toys to children at a hospital in Nashville last week. He also performed for the kids and their families. Quote, “I hope we brought some joy to these families this holiday season. This is truly what the holidays are all about.”
Zac Brown Band will be hitting the road next summer. Their “From the Fire” tour picks up June 30th in Columbus, Ohio . . . and continues into early November. Tenille Townes, Marcus King, and King Calaway will be opening select dates. July 1 – Hershey
Luke Combs shared a clip of an unreleased song on Instagram called “Tattoo on a Sunburn”. He asked fans in the comments section if he should release it, and the response was, yes please.
Yesterday, Scotty McCreery announced the details of his Damn Strait Tour. He’ll kick it off January 20th in Hinton, Oklahoma . . . and visit over 20 cities before wrapping on April 30th. Tickets go on sale Friday. April 28 – Lancaster
Lainey Wilson performed “Watermelon Moonshine” on a flatbed trailer on Sunday’s episode of “Yellowstone” . . . and it was a “full-circle moment” for her. She says it reminded her of when she was a high school student, and her first gig was performing as a Hannah Montana impersonator on a flatbed trailer stage.
A lot of tours are being announced lately, but Walker Hayes has my vote for the best title. His 22-city “Duck Buck Tour” picks up April 13th in Rosemont, Illinois . . . and wraps August 5th in Sterling Heights, Michigan. Chris Lane, Ingrid Andress, Breland, and Ray Fulcher are opening select shows.
Taylor Swift is 33.
Katherine Schwarzenegger is 33. Mrs. Chris Pratt.
Jamie Foxx is 55. “Beat Shazam” and Electro in “Spider-Man: No Way Home
Johnny Whitaker is 63. Johnny on the original version of “Sigmund & The Sea Monsters”. He was also Jody on the forgotten ’60s sitcom “Family Affair”.
Steve Buscemi is 65. Nucky Thompson on HBO’s “Boardwalk Empire” and one of the greatest character actors ever.
Wendie Malick is 72. Victoria Chase on “Hot in Cleveland”, Nina on “Just Shoot Me”, and Hobie’s mom Gayle Buchannon on “Baywatch”.
Randy Owen is 73. Singer for Alabama.
Ted Nugent is 74.
Jeff “Skunk” Baxter is 74. The Doobie Brothers guitarist.
Dick Van Dyke is 97.
