Absolute Radio Country Celebrates First Birthday
Take a look at the highlights of our first year!
Last updated 20th May 2022
Whether it's your first job or your first concert... you never forget your firsts! And Absolute Radio Country's first year has been nothing short of absolutely (excuse the pun), incredible. Let's take a trip down memory lane to see some of the highlights of year 1.
KEITH URBAN LAUNCHES ABSOLUTE RADIO COUNTRY
Back in May 2021, Keith Urban joined Baylen Leonard as the first guest on Absolute Radio Country to chat about his track ‘Out the Cage’ featuring Breland and Nile Rodgers. Just under a year later, Keith would embark on his first UK tour in years thanks to the COVID-19 pandemic, and couldn't stop gushing about British fans. "I can’t thank you enough for the overwhelming energy, wild singing, and UK spirit. I’m already planning the next visit. Love you all."
WE INTERVIEWED LEGENDS LIKE DOLLY PARTON...
Dolly Parton sat down with us to talk the 9 to 5 musical, diversity in country music and funding the Moderna vaccine. Dolly told Baylen she’s “very proud” of the diversity in country music today with black artists including Mickey Guyton and Jimmie Allen enjoying huge success, and musicians including TJ Osborne, Brooke Eden and Brandi Carlile all out and proud.
... AND WE GOT REBA MCENTIRE TO HOST A SHOW!
Reba McEntire joined Absolute Radio Country’s Baylen Leonard, to co-host his show and talk about her new album, Revised Remixed Revisited and FINALLY working with Dolly Parton. “Dolly is so witty and warm and approachable. She’s like your buddy. She’s an incredible woman, she’s done so much in her life, but if you just sit and talk with her, you’d never know all the incredible things she’s done.”
WE MADE A DOCUMENTARY
We even made our own documentaries - Women of Country of Country and ‘Our Own Country’ - celebrating country music, and in particular, the women who shaped the genre. Listen to the full documentary on the Absolute Radio Country app or online.
ELAINA D. SMITH AND BEN EARLE JOINED THE TEAM
Our family also grew this year. Not only did we launch of The Nashville Show with Elaina D. Smith, who brings the Music City to the UK every week, but so did The Shires' Ben Earle who's become a huge asset to the team. Not to mention special Takeover Shows with the likes of Brothers Osborne, Charles Esten and Sam Palladio, to name a few.
WE LAUNCHED OUR FIRST SONGWRITERS' ROUND
Live country music came back with a vengeance, and what better way to kick off the very first Songwriters Round than with Morgan Wade and Callista Clark?! They told Baylen the stories behind the songs in this intimate performance. We will always champion new artists here at Absolute Radio Country, as well as playing the hits you know and love.
YOU CAN BUY AN ABSOLUTE RADIO COUNTRY CD
We might be a radio station, but that's not the only way you catch our playlist chock-a-block with great country tunes. We launched our very own CD, because country is all about remembering the gold old days, except you don't have to burn all your favourite songs onto it - we did the hard work for you!
BAYLEN WON A CMA!
And last but not least, our very own Baylen Leonard won a Country Music Association Award! Honoured and well deserved, if we do say so ourselves. Here's to another year of Absolute Country, and we've got some exciting things up our sleeve, keeping tuning in to see what we get up to in Year 2 of Absolute Radio Country!