Country on the Rise: January 30, 2021

Every Saturday morning, Kari highlights some of her favorite new country songs during the new 9 a.m. show, Country on the Rise.

From new songs by artists you already know and love to tunes from country up-and-comers, Country on the Rise covers the industry's latest gems and gives them their much-deserved spotlight.

Here are Kari's featured songs for Country on the Rise's January 30 episode.

Old Dominion - "Never Be Sorry"

You can always count on Old Dominion for a solid groovy jam, and "Never Be Sorry" certainly doesn't disappoint. The boys bring all the good vibes for this song, all about loving unapologetically.

Teddy Robb - "Heaven on Dirt"

In an interview on Instagram live, Ohio native Teddy Robb said the coronavirus pandemic gave him the chance to revisit and grow his relationship with the outdoors, which has become the focal point of his new single, "Heaven on Dirt."

Granted, Robb said he would have much rather spent his year playing live shows, but given the circumstances, he was able to make the most of 2020 and get back to some of his lifelong passions that had been put to the wayside a bit after he moved to Nashville in 2013.

"I moved down here and learned pretty quickly that I had a long way to go and I had a lot of work to do, so a lot of those things I did growing up, I kind of pushed to the side for the last eight years," Robb said. "[I] just really kept my head down and was working on my craft as much as possible and trying to get those ten thousand hours in. Having this year happen and this song, getting to kind of go back and do some of those things again, I relearned what kind of makes me happy and makes me tick and makes me have fun."

Carly Pearce - "Next Girl"

Carly Pearce released "Next Girl" shortly after her divorce from fellow country star Michael Ray, and naturally, she came out swinging. Although Pearce has kept pretty tight-lipped about the details of her split from Ray, she sings about relationship red flags in "Next Girl," and it's safe to assume her ex-husband was the song's muse.

Larry Fleet - "Where I Find God"

Larry Fleet worked in construction and masonry for years, all while perfecting his craft in country music. A chance meeting with Jake Owen changed his path, though, and forged a friendship between the two that has led to them sharing stages across the country.

Fleet's single, "Where I Find God," is an ode to family, fishing and faith, things that he, and many in his growing fanbase, hold close to their hearts.

Lauren Weintraub - "She's Mine"

Lauren Weintraub may have released her debut single, "She's Mine," just less than a week ago, but she's already gaining traction and shooting into the spotlight thanks to her incredible voice and storytelling abilities. The Boston native moved to Nashville to pursue a career in music just a few years ago, and released her single after thousands of TikTok users found familiarity in the feelings following a breakup.

Lee Brice - "Memory I Don't Mess With"

Lee Brice does not disappoint.

While that's a general rule, it's also, of course, applicable to his most recent single, "Memory I Don't Mess With." You can just hear the hurt in his lyrics, and the song's music video completes the story.

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