TTLD - Monday, Feb. 8th

MIRANDA LAMBERT BUYS A NEW HOUSE

 

Variety reports that Miranda Lambert has paid $3.4 million for a 400-plus acre estate in near Primm Springs, Tennessee, which is located about an hour south of Nashville. According to the publication, the property features two "rustic-looking yet luxuriously appointed" cabins, 75 acres of fenced pasture, a lake with a dock and boathouse, a two-stall horse barn and a six-bay garage that features a loft-style apartment. The property also boasts lighted walking trails that lead through the woods to a pavilion that features a stage and seating for 60 people. Pictures of one of the cabins on Variety's website show a porch that closely resembles the one Lambert was sitting on in a photo she posted to Instagram recently. In the caption for the picture, Miranda said she was spending the weekend with her boyfriend Anderson East and also hinted that the two might be writing a song together.

Following her divorce from Blake Shelton last July, Miranda reportedly retained ownership of the 11,000-square-foot suburban Nashville mansion the couple purchased in 2013. Shelton reportedly kept his 1,200-acre ranch near Tishomingo, Oklahoma.

NELLY RELEASES THOMAS RHETT COVER

 

He found success with the remix to Florida Georgia Line's mega-hit "Cruise" in 2013, and now hip-hop star Nelly has set his sights on another widely-popular country single; Thomas Rhett's "Die a Happy Man." Nelly's cover of Rhett's multi-week #1 song hitiTunes on Friday (2/5) and can be heard here. Thomas' version of "Die A Happy Man" spent six consecutive weeks at #1 on theBillboard Country Airplay chart and made Rhett the first artist to hold the top spot for the same reign since Taylor Swift did so with her hit "Our Song" eight years ago. Nelly has also collaborated with Tim McGraw in the past, releasing his hit 2004 single "Over and Over" featuring the country superstar.

STEPPING UP FOR FRIENDS - MADDIE AND TAE

 

After Tyler Farr was placed on aggressive vocal rest following his recent microlaryngeal surgery, the girls from Maddie and Tae were happy to step up for him and help their friend Lee Brice kick off his "Life Off My Years Tour." The duo's Tae Dye says the two were scheduled to write for the next album when they received the call about joining the tour, but quickly made a few changes to accommodate the new tour schedule and help out their friends. Dye shares, "I couldn't imagine being in that position, right as you're about to kick-off a tour..." Maddie Marlow continues, "So we figured, we should do this. Not only are we friends of both Lee and Tyler, when you put good energy into the world, it sets an example of kindness for our fans. We'll get back to writing next week!" The girls helped Brice launch the "Life Off My Years Tour" in Salisbury, Maryland, on Thursday (2/4) and also made stops with him in Rochester, New York, and Kingston, Rhode Island, over the weekend. Jerrod Niemann and Clare Dunn will each separately step in for Farr during a series of tour dates before Maddie and Tae re-joins the trek in April.

RETURNING TO IDOL – SCOTTY MCCREERY

 

Last week, Scotty McCreery returned to where it all began when he taped an episode of the Farewell Season of American Idol. For three days, Scotty mentored two of the Top 24 contestants and shared with them the lessons he learned from both his experience on the hit singing competition show and in his career. The Season 10 Idol champion also performed duets with both singers while on the program. McCreery said of returning to the show, "I remember how important it was to me during my time on 'Idol' to meet and learn from all the great artists who visited the set and offered their advice. I was proud to be able to come back and offer whatever guidance I could to my two talented contestants. This is their season and their show. I was there to help them shine...and I believe they both did!" The episode of American Idol featuring Scotty, along with five other returning Idols, will air on Thursday (2/11) at 8:00 PM ET on FOX.

KRISTIAN BUSH SIGNS WITH BBR

 

Kristian Bush has inked a multifaceted publishing, production and label deal with BBR Music Group. Kristian is already hard at work in the studio on his sophomore solo studio album, which is set to be released on BBR's Wheelhouse Records imprint. As part of the deal, Bush has also joined the roster at BBR Music Group's publishing division, Magic Mustang Music. Kristian shares, "As both a recording artist and a songwriter, I am honored to be a part of the BBR Music Group/Magic Mustang family. I'm in love with making music, and I'm humbled every day that I get to do this job." As for the talented team he'll be working with at BBR, Bush says, "My train runs on believers, and I found some incredible supporters in this building. There's no telling what can happen when like-minded people get together, so to be surrounded by this team and given this opportunity makes me feel like a rocket sitting on a launchpad. I can't wait to take off."

Kristian's Sugarland duo partner, Jennifer Nettles, is currently signed with Big Machine Label Group, where she is also working on her sophomore solo studio project. Bush's debut solo album, Southern Gravity, was released on Streamsound Records in April of 2015.