This Week’s Guest Host: Chris Janson

Chris Janson is this week's guest host on Shawn Parr's Backstage Country (January 29- February 2).

The country star released his latest album, The Outlaw Side Of Me, this past summer and immediately got back into it while recording new music. In recent weeks, Janson has been spending most of his time either having some fun in the snow or working hard at Blackbird Studio in Nashville.

"We've been rocking and rolling, you know. It was a great 2023, and 2024 has been no short of moving and shaking," Janson said.

He continued, "Life is on the fast track all the time. Life moves so fast, and music moves so fast. And, you know, we're right here, nearing the top of the chart with 'All I Need Is You,' which I'm grateful for. I'm constantly collaborating and working on new things all the time, whether it be musically or not. Musically speaking, I have some new music that's knocking on the door and, and going to be coming real quick."

The multi-platinum songwriter known for his No. 1 hits, including "Fix A Drink," "Good Vibes," and his current single, "All I Need Is You." He admits, "My songs are just true to me as they always have been."

Janson talks about everything from starting to play music at nine years old, to working with some of the biggest songwriters in Nashville, his family, filming CMT Crossroads with Bret Michaels, and everything in between.

Janson is currently out on the road with a tour in full swing this year. He has dates scheduled now through July, including Boots In The Park 2024 in California, Country Freedom Fest 2024 in Pennsylvania, and more.

Check back all week for more from Chris Janson on Shawn Parr's Backstage Country. For more information, visit chrisjanson.com and follow him on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and TikTok to see more.

Country music fans are some of the biggest football fans in the world, so when they announced Usher was going to be playing the 2024 Super Bowl Halftime show, no doubt many country die-hard fans were disappointed. I'm sure many wondered: Why, once again, will we not see a country superstar on the halftime show? Especially when country superstars today have been selling out multiple nights at many football stadiums all over the country in 2023.

In 2003, Shania Twain played the Halftime show at the Super Bowl, and since then, country music has not been part of the event. While many country stars, including Carrie Underwood, Faith Hill, Eric Church, and Luke Bryan, have performed the National Anthem at the Super Bowl, the Halftime show has excluded country stars for the most part.

No one can forget the reaction to Chris Stapleton's 2023 Super Bowl National Anthem that had some people on social media quipping, "I hear there was a football game at the Chris Stapleton National Anthem performance."

As we wrote in February, Stapleton did not disappoint with his version of the National Anthem before Super Bowl LVII at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona, near Phoenix. Wearing all black and sunglasses, Chris played a soulful guitar without his trademark hat as he sang. During his performance, the camera shot went to many of both teams' players, some of whom were brought to tears. Philadelphia Eagles' head coach Nick Sirianni was visibly crying while Stapleton sang.

And Dolly Parton, well her halftime performance at the Dallas Cowboys Red Kettle Kickoff game on Thanksgiving Day was epic and in advance of the performance, she surprised Dallas Cowboys' Charlotte Jones with a donation of $1 million dollars to the Salvation Army. Parton's appearance in the game helped it become the third most-viewed regular-season game in NFL history, with a 44 million viewership peak.

So, in 2024, it would have been great to see country music shine at the big game. Here are five country superstars who we believe should be a Super Bowl Halftime show sometime in the near future.

Luke is all about having a good time on stage, and his energy and hit songs make for a great show for his double-booked sold-out arena shows. He has also become a Las Vegas performer in the last couple of years, which helps. When we interviewed Bryan recently, he shared his thoughts on if he ever got asked to play a Super Bowl halftime show. He told us, "I think I would certainly love the opportunity to do a Super Bowl Halftime show. I think the beauty of someone in that role, if it were me, I would bring everybody to the party. A lot of special guests, a lot of surprises. If I got asked, certainly Jason Aldean would be my first call."

This journalist has loved Keith Urban for his music and the generally lovely and considerate guy he is since the day I met him at an interview before he became a superstar in the early 2000s. So, yes, I am biased when it comes to Urban. That being said, his shows are legendary, and with his guitar skills, Keith would make country music proud at the Super Bowl halftime show. His Las Vegas residency sells out every year, and imagine, with an Oscar-winning wife (Nicole Kidman) to cheer him on, how Hollywood would come out to support a Keith Urban halftime show.

One of country music's biggest stars and personalities, Blake would be great at the Super Bowl halftime show, especially if his wife, Gwen Stefani, took the stage with her man. Shelton is one of country music's biggest NFL fans; specifically, he is a die-hard Arizona Cardinals fan.

Morgan's star is getting so big in country music, and this guy keeps fans screaming for more in multiple nights of stadium shows in big cities all over the country. If Wallen played the Super Bowl halftime show, you can bet he would more than likely have his buddies HARDY, Ernest, and Bailey Zimmerman also on the show.

Luke knows how to keep a stadium of fans hanging on his every word at his double night booked stadium shows all over the country, so he is a natural to play the Super Bowl halftime show. Just a handful of years into his massive career and three CMA Entertainer of the Year awards already under his belt, he is a no-brainer for the halftime show. Can you imagine the excitement of the Super Bowl crowd when he plays his wild "Beer Never Broke My Heart" encore?

With her ties to Sunday Night Football and her love of the game and the players, Carrie would be great at the Super Bowl Halftime show. Her energetic performance would undoubtedly include some of her big rocker friends like Axl Rose and Joan Jett. Underwood would more than likely also have some serious aerial moves like she did when she performed on her Denim & Rhinestone tour.