DAVE'S DIARY - 27/9/2021 - PREVIEW OF EPISODE 5 - SERIES 49
LUKE COMBS HEADLINES NU COUNTRY TV
North Carolina nouveau outlaw star Luke Combs headlines Nu Country TV on Saturday October 2 at 9.30 pm on Channel 31/Digital 44.
Louisiana born rodeo queen Kylie Frey and Randy Houser return to the show repeated on Wednesday at 11.30 pm.
Our multi-talented lockdown host-producer-editor Laith Graham introduces the debut of another Texan Billie Jo and Nashville singer-songwriter Conner Smith.
Albury born Bill Jackson and late Texan Waylon Jennings also boomerang to the program.
Nu Country TV is a highlight of C 31 streaming list on Digital 44.
Further info - https://www.c31.org.au/
LUKE RECRUITS MAMA FOR RETURN
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Luke Combs wasn't the only star in his favourite bar in Charlotte, North Carolina.
Luke, 31, recruited his mum Rhonda to play the barmaid at Whiskey River - part of a restaurant chain owned by former Nascar driver Dale Earnhardt Jr and diner in his college town Boone , North Carolina.
Rhonda served cold beer to hot young patrons who proved love comes to all who wait.
Cold As You video follows a man through an emotion-charged night after he escapes his ex-girlfriend and her new lover through secret doors behind a jukebox in the retro diner.
Lead character Nick McNeil enters the country bar and meets a love interest with his ex in close pursuit.
He leaves the bar with his new date bringing the narrative of a bitter breakup full circle to the start of a new romance.
McNeil and video ex played by Katie Cronin starred in Combs first video for his Hurricane hit .
Cold as You continues their story with actors from his Beer Never Broke My Heart video.
Luke's mum and child actors who played younger versions of Combs and wife Nicole in his Lovin' on You video also appear in Cold as You.
The video contains multiple Easter eggs.
When McNeil's character hits number 26 on the jukebox it's a veiled reference to Combs' new album release on November 26.
Cold As You is seventh hit on his second deluxe CD What You See Ain't Always What You Get.
KYLIE FREY AND RANDY HOUSER RIDE HORSES IN HEAVEN
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Louisiana born rodeo queen Kylie Frey and Mississippi man Randy Houser combine on her evocative new video.
Kylie, 26 and daughter of a bronc rider, told how her late grandpa taught her to ride horses when she was just five years old.
"The odds of anyone having the same story of a grandpa teaching them how to ride horses is not very common. The song was so personal to me that I didn't think anyone would relate to it," Kylie revealed.
"My grandpa was a really important person in my life and, and I wouldn't have grown up in the rodeo if it wasn't for him. My grandpa would always say one day, you're going to sing the National Anthem at the National Finals Rodeo. He would tell me that's how I was going to get my start because that's how Reba McEntire did it and that's how I was going to do it."
Kylie and Randy Houser, 45, sang the anthem and her song Horses In Heaven on stage at the National Rodeo Finals in Arlington, Texas.
"The song was so personal to me that I didn't think anyone would relate to it, but it's been quite the contrary,” Kylie added.
“People have found themselves in the song - sometimes it's not even about their grandpa, but someone else in their life who was influential. It was a big shock to me, and it was a big lesson to know that the more details I could put into a song about my life, the more relatable it would be for others. That song really opened up my world. Randy just brought the song to a whole other level that none of us knew existed. I'm so thankful for him and I'm so thankful that this video now shows the journey that we have all been on with this song. And I'm thankful for my grandpa, who seemed to be the one that brought everything together."
Horses In Heaven is on her new EP Rodeo Queen .
Further info - https://www.kyliefrey.com/
BILL JACKSON HANDS WHEEL TO JESUS
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Albury born singer-songwriter Bill Jackson surrenders his car to higher being on his Nu Country return.
Bill also gave spare change to a beggar on the street in his video whose title was borrowed from a movie.
Jesus Take The Wheel is on his seventh album Wayside Ballads Volume 3 he recorded with former Dingoes ace Kerryn Tolhurst.
Bill also appeared on Nu Country with a video honoring his great grandfather William Jackson - a founder of the Australian union movement.
William was one of nine shearers jailed in the 1888 strike at Brookong near Lockhart in NSW.
Bill wrote all 11 songs with brother Ross - his co-writer on two previous Wayside Ballads albums.
Jackson features partner Ruth Hazleton on claw hammer banjo and Tolhurst on mandolin, lap steel, keyboards, percussion and guitar.
It was released on April 19 and launched at Brunswick Ballroom on June 3.
CLICK HERE for a CD feature in The Diary on March 29.
ANOTHER TEXAN BILLIE JO
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Texan belle Billie Jo showed why she is a rising star not to be mistaken for late Texan Billy Joe Shaver on her Nu Country debut.
She toured with Pat Green, Gene Watson, Justin Moore, Wade Bowen, Stoney LaRue, Roger Creager, Jerrod Niemann, Sam Riggs and late Texan icon Ray Price.
Billie Jo, 30, also fronted American Idol, The Voice and Real Country TV shows in her ascent.
She detailed the end of a romance in her Forever Came Today video - her third single on Smith Family Records.
Billie Jo's 2018 debut single Favourite Place To Be was nominated for Song of Year and female vocalist at 2019 Texas Country Music Awards and followed by Simpler Way Of Life .
Further info - https://www.billiejomusic.com/
CONNER SMITH LEARNS
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Nashville born Conner Smith wrote his first song at the age of six, signed a BMI publishing deal at 9 and wrote songs with Ashley Gorley and Zach Crowell at high school
Conner detailed his journey in Learn From It that joins Tennessee on his debut Valory album.
“I'm so excited to finally get to start this journey with these two songs,” Conner revealed.
“Both Tennessee and Learn From It show so much of who I am as a person and artist and are the perfect songs to get this started. Been working for this moment since I was 9 years old, and it truly feels like God's aligned all the right pieces for this moment. Couldn't be more grateful for every person that's helping get this music out to the world. We're just getting started.”
Conner's Nashville mother interviewed songwriters in her work when he was a small child.
By the time he was 6 he was writing his own songs and at 9 he signed to BMI as a writer and wrote with hit songwriters Ashley Gorley and Zach Crowell in high school.
They encouraged Conner to finish his education so he spent his teenage years leading a double life - student in the morning, working songwriter from noon.
His dream turned into real life - his songs show maturity and insight of an old soul discovered early.
Further info - https://www.connersmithmusic.com/
WAYLON JENNINGS RETURNS
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Late Texan outlaw king Waylon Jennings returns with a live version of one of his embryonic hits - Lonesome, Ornery & Mean.
He recorded the song in 1972 as the title track of his 1973 album and revived it live in 1975.
Prolific Georgian born singer-songwriter and frequent Aussie tourist Steve Young wrote the song and died at 73 on March 17, 2016, after making five Australian tours.
You can win Waylon albums featuring that song by becoming a Nu Country TV member or renewing your membership.
WIN WAYLON, GEORGE JONES AND HIGHWAYMEN
George Jones, Waylon and Willie Nelson were among country historian Barbara Dowling's favourite Texans.
You can win Waylon, Highwaymen , Merle Haggard and George Jones discs donated by Barbara who died at 77 in December by becoming a Nu Country TV member or renewing your membership.
She co-hosted Long In The Saddle in our Nu Country FM era and was pioneer Australian and Victorian country music awards judge.
Barbara was admired for rising above losing her sight as a young woman and her country passion with annual trips to Waylon's birthplace in Littlefield, West Texas .
Waylon died at 64 on February 13, 2002, and is survived by singing spouse Jessi, now 78, and son Shooter, 42.
WIN KEITH URBAN CDS ALSO
We have expatriate Australasian superstar Keith Urban's chart topping 12th album The Speed Of Now - Part 1.
Also BR5-49 CD Big Backyard Beat Show and Billy Ray Cyrus's historic 1992 album Some Gave All that features Achy Breaky Heart.
Join Watling & Bates as members and win their 13 track CD Small Town Tales.
We have other CDS by major artists you can win by becoming a Nu Country TV member or renewing your membership.
They include Brad Paisley, Carrie Underwood, Eric Church, Kip Moore and late larrikin legend A.P. Johnson.
CLICK HERE for our Membership Page for details.