Tyler Hubbard has had a very successful start to his second time around in the Country music world. After going his own way following years of record-breaking success with Florida Georgia Line, the 36-year-old has found his stride as a solo artist.

“I’ve got a new perspective and it’s a great place to be — not going to wish it away too quick,” Hubbard told Audacy’s Katie Neal. “It’s a fun part of the journey and I think the first time we were so set — eyes and goals — were so set on arenas and seeing how many tickets we could sell that we forgot to maybe enjoy the season of smaller, more intimate shows.”

The solo road has been kind to Hubbard as he celebrated his first #1 within a year of it’s release and already debuted his first solo album. The "5’ 9" singer plans to carry this momentum right into more new music and according to him, he already has a big head start.

“I’ve already recorded 12 songs and I have another session in a couple weeks to go record more,” he said of the progress he’s made towards his next solo project. “I’m just stacking songs up and figuring out how I’m going to roll them out next and what the play is. I love this part of the process — writing a ton and then going and tracking the songs and kind of watching it come together — it’s been fun.”

Sounds like there’s a lot more new music to look forward to from Hubbard. Hear more about it as well as his current tour, family life and more by checking out his conversation with Katie Neal on the Superstar Power Hour above.

Words by Monica Rivera Interview by Katie Neal

After recently celebrating his 11th #1 single with “Woman You Got,” Justin Moore is already back and climbing the charts again with “You, Me and Whiskey” featuring Priscilla Block.

While some may find this duo surprising, Justin said their voices, personalities, and camaraderie with one another has been a perfect fit since they first met.

“She and I played a show together 2 years ago or something like that — an acoustic benefit show — it was me and Lee [Brice] and a bunch of us knuckleheads about the same age and then her and I remember thinking that night, ‘That was intimidating to me when I was a brand new artist,’” Justin said of the first time he met Block.

“She stole the show! She sang her butt off, her songs were well-written and great, her rapport with the audience was awesome and I was just really impressed with her. So I went up to her after the show and said, ‘Hey, I’m Justin. I don’t know what I could ever do for ya, but if I can do anything, I’m a fan, here’s my number. Reach out.’”

As it turns out, a few months down the line, Justin was the first to reach out for a favor by asking Block to join him on “You, Me and Whiskey.”

“Two, three, four months after that, this song kind of came across my desk and I ask her for a favor— to sing on my song,” Justin said.

It’s been a natural fit for Moore and Block who also hit the road this Spring together.

“She’s great,” Moore continued. “She’s got a really bright future ahead. She’s been on the road with us this Spring and she’s really really good. I’m a really big fan and will do anything I can to help her. She’s teaching me to use TikTok and all this stuff I had no idea how to use.”

“You, Me and Whiskey” can be heard on Justin’s brand new album, Stray Dog, available now.

“I’m proud of it,” Justin said of the project. “I think the longer you do something —regardless of what industry you’re in — I think, you should get better and more comfortable and I certainly feel that way the older I get and the more opportunities I get to record albums.”

Words by Monica Rivera Interview by Katie Neal

Katie Neal talks with HARDY backstage at the 2023 ACM Awards

Cole Swindell started off ACM Award week already a winner as he became an engaged man.

Happy as can be, Swindell caught up with Audacy’s Katie Neal ahead of the 58th Annual ACM Awards to fill us in on everything surrounding the big proposal. From the special place he asked, to fighting Taylor Swift traffic to pick up the bling -- he filled us in on all the memorable behind-the-scenes moments.

“I did it Sunday, on the way out here [to the ACM Awards]”, Cole said. “We have both of our families coming out to the awards — we’ve never done that before — she’s never had family come out to the awards so figured it would be a cool place [to celebrate].”

He continued to share he popped the question on a special “detour” the couple took on their way to the Awards in a special spot in rural Tennessee where they had their first date.

“It just dawned on me that our first date was a video shoot for my song, ‘Some Habits,’ so that location is right outside of Nashville about 45 minutes, so we took a little detour on our way to Frisco and I took her back to the video shoot location and that’s where I proposed,” he said. “She never saw that coming — we had talked about the engagement — but she didn’t know when. She thought it was going to be out here [in Texas].”

The 39-year-old said he got right down to business after picking up the ring only 7 hours before he popped the big question. A little tighter of a time frame than he hoped for, and that’s all thanks to Taylor Swift concert traffic.

“I only had it for about seven hours. The day we were leaving, the people in Charlotte that did it flew it to Nashville and little did I remember that Taylor Swift was in town,” he explained. “I was like, ‘It’s 10:30 in the morning, I’ll be good, Imma go ahead and get [picking it up] out of the way — not good. It looked like she [Swift] was playing a pop-up acoustic show in every restaurant in the Gulch [in Nashville]. People everywhere! I didn’t miss any of the craziness of T. Swift, but got the ring and had it about 7 hours before I got it off of me and on her hand and that’s where it’ll be.”

The engagement was the perfect start to a big week for Swindell who has a whopping 5 nominations at tonight’s awards and will also be performing his mega-hot, “She Had Me At Heads Carolina” alongside ‘90s artist, Jo Dee Messina.

Catch all the action at tonight’s 58th Annual ACM Awards taking place live from Ford Center at The Star in Frisco, TX. The show can be streamed via Amazon’s Prime video beginning at 7PM EDT / 6PM CDT / 4PM PDT.

Words by Monica Rivera Interview by Katie Neal

Katie Neal talks with Nate Smith backstage at the 2023 ACM Awards

Hailey Whitters is heading into tonight’s 58th ACM Awards already a winner as she was presented the awards for New Female Artist of the Year earlier this week.

“I am out of my mind, I feel like I am just floating on a cloud,” she told Audacy’s Katie Neal of receiving the award. “I’m so happy. The category was just stacked [with] so many amazing females so I’ve got goosebumps.”

The win is the perfect start to a dream-come-true summer for the 33-year-old who is headed to play shows with Eric Church, Luke Bryan, Cody Johnson, and Shania Twain.

“We’re going on tour with Shania [Twain] in a week,” she said with excitement. “I’m definitely going to be really extra for the Shania Tour. I’ve got a few outfits that I’m working on with a stylist and they’re pretty over the top. But if any tour you’re going to do it — it’s gotta be a Shania Twain Tour, right?”

The fun is just beginning for Whitters who is currently celebrating her single, “Everything She Ain’t” being in the top 25 on Country radio.

“Just to soak it up and be present for all of it because it’s going to go by so fast,” she said of her focus as her career continues to skyrocket. “So many cool moments that I’ve dreamt about my whole life is happening in a year.”

Catch Hailey at tonight’s 58th Annual ACM Awards taking place live from Ford Center at The Star in Frisco, TX. The show can be streamed via Amazon’s Prime video beginning at 7 p.m. EDT/6 p.m. CDT/4 p.m. PDT.

Words by Monica Rivera Interview by Katie Neal

Lainey Wilson is heading into tonight’s 58th Annual ACM Awards with a whopping six nominations. While preparing for possible acceptance speeches, the almost 31-year-old is also preparing for a special performance.

Ahead of tonight’s show, Wilson shared with Audacy’s Katie Neal that her performance will be something a little different from what fans are used to seeing from her on the road as she tours with Luke Combs.

“It is going to show a side of me that you’ve seen before, but it’s not been televised,” she shared. “It’s going to be a little more like, sexy, sassy, fiery. I’m pumped to show that side because at my live shows, I do a ‘lil turkey leggin’ and stuff like that.”

While she is opting out of “turkey leggin’” for the awards show, Wilson says her high-energy show on the road has kept her in shape.

“It’s those hour-and-a-half shows I’ve been doin' just running up and down the stage,” said when complimented on her current glow. “It is a workout. If I don’t get a workout in during the day, I don’t feel bad because I know I’m going to get one in at night… I need to put a Fitbit on my ankle or something.”

As she prepares to show a different side of herself on tonight’s performance stage, she admits she’s staying a little more in her comfort zone for her red carpet look, which every good Country fan knows means bellbottoms!

“Of course, it’s going to be bell bottoms — you know you ain’t going to see me in a dress — not just yet,” she laughed. “It’s beautiful. I’m going to have some really long flown sleeves and I can’t wait for you to see it.”

Catch Lainey at tonight’s 58th Annual ACM Awards taking place live from Ford Center at The Star in Frisco, TX. The show can be streamed via Amazon’s Prime video beginning at 7 p.m. EDT/6 p.m. CDT/4 p.m. PDT.

Words by Monica Rivera Interview by Katie Neal

On behalf of the Academy of Country Music, Audacy’s Katie Neal revealed today that Cody Johnson will perform a special tribute to Willie Nelson at this year’s 58th annual ACM awards.

“Nominee, Cody Johnson, is going to be taking the stage, but he won’t be performing one of his songs“ Neal said in the exclusive announcement. “He’s going to be paying tribute the one, the only, the iconic, the legendary, Willie Nelson.”

Johnson added, “I grew up on Willie Nelson and Waylon Jennings, so to get to celebrate Willie’s 90th birthday and get to play one of his songs, it’s a big deal to me.”

The 58th Annual ACM Awards will air live from Ford Center at The Star in Frisco, Texas on Thursday, May 11 at 7PM ET / 4PM PT. Fans can tune in via live stream available exclusively on Prime Video and the Amazon Music channel on Twitch.

Words by Monica Rivera

Ahead of the 2023 ACM Awards, Ian Munsick caught up with Katie Neal to chat about turning 30 and getting a Ford Raptor as a birthday surprise from his wife, plus more.

After wishing him a happy belated, Ian got candid about his feels about turning 30. “I’m 30, this feels… like the most awkward year because you feel like you are now actually, finally an adult after all this time. But then I'm like I still feel kinda young.”

“We were out on the road playing in Denver and she woke me up that morning and she gave me keys to a Ford Raptor, which is pretty awesome because I’ve wanted a truck  for a long time.” A big improvement from what he’s currently driving, a Hyundai, which he funnily and purposefully (we think) mispronounced.

Also chatting about his recent album release, White Buffalo, which Katie noted is “getting so much buzz.”

"I worked on this album for three years, and I really think people will know exactly who I am when they hear this record. So I’m very very excited for it to be out in the world now."

Also up for discussion, selling out arenas, what he’s excited about for the next 30 years. Listen to the entire conversation in the clip above and check out the 2023 ACM Awards on Thursday May 11 on Amazon Prime.

Words by Maia Kedem Interview by Katie Neal

Jelly Roll is on a roll with his current single, “Need A Favor” in the top 20, a new album on the way and now, he’s revealed a documentary is coming as well.

Jelly took to social media yesterday to share his documentary, Jelly Roll: Save Me, will debut May 30 via Hulu and showcase some of the most intimate parts of this life.

“This follows me from last year’s show at Red Rocks to the Bridgestone Arena,” the 38-year-old said of the documentary timeline. “It is the most intimate, personal thing I could have showed the world. It’s my daughter, my wife, my real life, my struggles, my mother, my family… They were with me for hours and hours, thousands of hours.”

He continued, “I watched the two-minute teaser — cried. I cried the first time I watched it, I cried the second time I watched the teaser, I cried the third time I watched the teaser and teared-up the fourth time.”

The documentary will release just ahead of Jelly Roll’s debut Country album, WHITSITT CHAPEL, due June 2.

“I just hope the music and the documentary connect and I hope they both thrive because it’s hard to pick one to talk about the most,” he said. “That documentary is going to be so special. But this is my debut Country album!”

As Jelly prepares for the big releases in the coming weeks, he has plenty to occupy his mind with a performance slot at this week’s 58th Annual ACM awards, airing May 11 via Amazon Prime Video. “I am nervous! I’m not even excited yet because I’m so nervous,” he said, teasing that he is taking the stage with a big-time special guest. “I’m singing with a special guest and I am nervous because that special guest can really sing and I’m new to singing… When you hear who it is you’re going to be like, ‘Oh , I see, I’d be nervous too.’”

Only adding to the nerves is the fact that Trisha Yearwood and Zach Bryan will be seated directly in front of the stage. Luckily, so will Jelly Roll’s good friend, HARDY, who he says he knows he can count on for a smile.

“HARDY is my friend, so I know I can look at him and get a smile, so I know I can look at him. I’m such a Zach Bryan fan and I’m such a Trisha Yearwood fan, so those are the ones I’ll have to avoid.”

See Jelly Roll on the The 58th Annual ACM Awards set to take place live from Ford Center at The Star in Frisco, TX on May 11 and can be viewed via Amazon’s Prime video. This year’s show will be hosted by Dolly Parton and Garth Brooks.

Words by Monica Rivera Interview by Katie Neal