BRETT YOUNG’ first album had a lot of heartbreak songs on it, because that’s where he was emotionally when he was writing and recording it. His second one, “Ticket to L.A.”, is just the opposite – lots of upbeat and happy stuff. Both albums were inspired by the same woman . . . his new wife Taylor Mills. He says, “When you look back at the first record, me and Taylor were completely broken up, and so as much as the first record reflected how heartbroken I was, the second one is a reflection of what a different place I’m at in my life. Getting to see the transition that I made as a person through the jump from album one to album two is kind of a cool way to look at it. Even if you aren’t listening to the words, the feel of the production and tempo is a lot peppier and happier.” Now that Brett and Taylor are official, they’re dealing with the really important stuff. Like, which family they’ll spend the holidays with. “We’re talking about who’s able to do what and what’s available. I think we’re intent on splitting time as well as possible. It’s brand new, so that’s still a learning curve we haven’t figured out yet.”
If someone gave you a “really nice shotgun” as a gift, how long would it take you to yank it out of the box? Maybe a half-second? Well, DUSTIN LYNCH got that exact gift three years ago and he still hasn’t taken it out for a spin. He told Taste of Country, quote, “Luke Bryan gave me a gift that’s still not out of the box. It was a really nice shotgun. “It’s too nice to open. I don’t know. I need a special day to open it up and take it out. It was a really nice gun.”
As expected, REBA MCENTIRE did an awesome job hosting and performing at last night’s “CMA Country Christmas” special. One of the highlights was when she did a version of Dolly Parton’s “Hard Candy Christmas”.
KANE BROWN noticed a young fan at his show over the weekend holding up a sign asking for a hug, so he did one better. He brought her on stage and held her in his arms.
SOPHIA BUSH says her decision to leave “Chicago P.D.” was based on, quote, “a consistent onslaught barrage of abusive behavior” . . . including being “assaulted” in a room full of people who did nothing to stop it.
Another WAL MART payoff! The founder of the Jimmy John’s sandwich chain paid off the layaway account off 330 people at three Walmart stores in Champaign, Illinois, where Jimmy lives. The pay-off cost him $80,000.
The QUEEN classic “Bohemian Rhapsody” is the most-streamed song of the 20th Century, with 1.6 BILLION streams. “Bohemian Rhapsody” has entered the Hot 100 three separate times. It peaked at #9 when it was released in the U.S. in 1975. It got all the way back to #2 in 1992, thanks to its use in the movie “Wayne’s World”. Last month, thanks to the new movie, it re-entered the Hot 100 at #33. It was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 2004.
The debate over the appropriateness of “Baby, It’s Cold Outside” is becoming THE debate of our generation. DEAN MARTIN has broken his silence. Kind of. Dean has been dead since 1995. But his daughter DEANA yesterday said her dad would be “going insane” over the debate if he were alive. “He would say, ‘What’s the matter with you? Get over it. It’s just a fun song.’ ‘Cause he was so sweet anyway . . . He was a great guy. Fun guy. Nice. And he wouldn’t want to do anything offensive.” As for herself, Deana says she was “flabbergasted” over the controversy, because it’s, “a sweet, flirty, fun holiday song.” Dean did the song for his 1959 album “A Winter Romance”. In 2006, MARTINA MCBRIDE overdubbed her vocals to sing it with him for a remastered version of the album “Christmas with Dino”.
The mid-season finale of:
“NCIS” at 8:00 p.m. on CBS.
“The Conners” at 8:00 p.m. on ABC.
The mid-season finale of “FBI” at 9:00 p.m. on CBS.
The mid-season finale of “Black Lightning” at 9:00 p.m. on the CW.
The mid-season finale of “Black-ish” at 9:00 p.m. on ABC.
The mid-season finale of “The Rookie” at 10:00 p.m. on ABC.
The mid-season finale of “NCIS: New Orleans” at 10:00 p.m. on CBS.
“Darci Lynne: My Hometown Christmas” at 9:00 p.m. on NBC. You know Darci as the 14-year-old ventriloquist who won Season 12 of “America’s Got Talent”.
A holiday edition of “Hollywood Game Night” at 10:00 p.m. on NBC.
Brenda Lee is 74.
John Kerry is 75.
