in Mayberry Only God Knows What Color’s Your Wild, so You’ll Be Alright, Kid!

Hello, Monday peeps! We made a huge dent in our purging purgatory, and while we ran into some snafus that slowed us down and still have a long way to go, we did make a lot of progress. We’ll keep the momentum going over the next several weeks months, though!  😅 Meanwhile, it is Monday; you know that Monday means music! This week is a freebie week, so grab your favorite tune(s) and come dance with us, won’t you?

Let’s start with an excellent collaboration between these two country entities that reimagined a decades-old classic (from 2002!) that was just released last Friday. The country group that collaborated with a country star wrote on a social media post:

“Can’t think of anyone we’d rather share a cherry coke with than our friend @blakeshelton!

Sometimes it feels like this world’s spinning faster, than it did in the old days… “Mayberry” with @BlakeShelton is out now! 🍒”

Prepare to be impressed, here’s Rascal Flatts and Blake Shelton with “Mayberry”:

Next up is another amazing collaboration – a new, bluesy, gospel-influenced country duet with this artist that pairs him with a man who, for two decades, has been his fellow Nashville native rapping partner, friend, and essentially big brother in life and music. He said:

“[He] rose to the occasion, faced every battle, and never gave up. He’s the biggest [local-to-global] success story in Nashville, Tennessee’s history. I’m proud to watch how we’ve grown from everything we’ve endured.”

This song occupies a space where hip-hop’s swagger infiltrates a Venn diagram between blues, gospel and traditional country music. The performer cites hearing choirs at church services at a string of churches within 30 miles of each other, stretching as far north as Mt. Zion Baptist Church near Whites Creek and south as Antioch’s Hickory Hollow Baptist Church. The inspiration, similar to stories of Elvis Presley’s life, was a soul-borne seed that “planted and watered gospel’s roots in (him).”

“For a generation, that sound has 1000% been beautifully and organically meshing the (deepest loved) musical interests of artists and fans with their desire to hear their personal stories expressed.”

The personal stories examined in this song are the five years Jennings served in prison for drug charges from 2011 to 2016 and the 40 times Jelly Roll entered jail in the 2000s.

“Because of our criminal activities, both of us have been through so much, made so many mistakes and were so close to, as we say in the song, ‘damned near came close to selling our souls’ to survive. We’ve gotten beyond that because God knows our hearts and who we (aspire to) be.”

Get ready for goosebumps, here’s Struggle Jennings and Jelly Roll with “Only God Knows”:

Next up is a brand new song from this artist, a hard-driving anthem that is dedicated to everything that keeps the excitement and inspiration coming, tapping the wisdom of “different strokes for different folks.” Whether that happens to be painting the town red – or the magnetic pull of an empty canvas – this artist lets loose in a free-wheeling send-up to whatever makes your heart beat.

Get ready for some fun, here’s Trace Adkins with “What Color’s Your Wild”:

Last but certainly not least is a song from this artist’s newest album, a deeply personal release that highlights his journey of emotional growth and resilience. The artist described the project as something he’d show his younger self, reflecting the challenges that have shaped him along the way.

For the artist, the album isn’t just music—it’s an open letter to his younger self and a way to connect with listeners on a personal level. The album’s viral success, coupled with its emotional depth, sets the stage for what’s sure to be a bright future in his music career.

Without further ado, here’s Alex Warren with “You’ll Be Alright, Kid”:

That’s a wrap for this week – have a great Monday! See you on the dance floor!

Now onto the particulars of Monday’s Music Move’s Me:

I have the supreme honor and privilege of being a co-host with the inimitable Xmas Dolly and our musical cohort, the awesome Cathy from Curious as a CAThy, and Alana of Ramblin’ with AM!

Want to join in the fun? It’s easy – just find a tune that rocks your boat, post it and link up – don’t forget to grab Xmas Dolly…er, um, I mean her button…over at her place here. Check out Xmas Dolly’s sidebar for the random themes we sport each week – and you can always ask for a specific theme of music you like, too. Check out the other music lovahs and let’s jam!