Lauren Jo Black

Lauren Jo Black

Lauren Jo Black, a University of Central Florida graduate, has immersed herself in the world of country music for over 15 years. In 2008, she co-founded CountryMusicIsLove, eventually selling it to a major record label in 2015. Following the rebranding of the website to Sounds Like Nashville, Black served as Editor-in-Chief for two and a half years. Currently, she assumes the role of Editor-in-Chief at Country Now and oversees Country Now’s content and digital footprint. Her extensive experience also encompasses her previous role as a Country Music Expert Writer for Answers.com and her work being featured on Forbes.com. She’s been spotlighted among Country Aircheck’s Women of Influence and received the 2012 Rising Star Award from the University of Central Florida. Black also spent time in front of the camera as host of Country Now Live, which brought live music directly to fans in 2021 when the majority of concerts were halted due to the pandemic. During this time, she hosted 24 weeks of live concerts via Country Now Live on Twitch with special guests such as Lady A, Dierks Bentley, Jordan Davis, Brett Young, and Jon Pardi. Over the course of her career, she has had the privilege of conducting interviews with some of the industry’s most prominent stars, including Reba McEntire, Blake Shelton, Luke Combs, Carrie Underwood, Luke Bryan, Miranda Lambert, Lainey Wilson, and many others. Lauren Jo Black is a longtime member of the Country Music Association and the Academy of Country Music.

Jordan Davis and Wife, Kristen O'Connor; Photo by Michael Loccisano/Getty Images

Jordan Davis and Wife Welcome Baby Girl: ‘God Is Good’

Posted on November 19, 2019

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Lauren Jo Black

Jordan Davis is a dad! The “Slow Dance In A Parking Lot” singer and his wife Kristen welcomed their first…

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Katie Austin, Walker Hayes

Watch Walker Hayes, Riley Green & More Play ‘Finish the Lyric: Women of Country Edition’

Posted on November 18, 2019

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Lauren Jo Black

The 2019 CMA Awards was a celebration of country music’s greatest females, so our host for the evening, Katie Austin,…

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Eric Church; Photo by Andrew Wendowski

Eric Church Calls Out Garth Brooks, Says ‘Music Is Not Awards’

Posted on November 18, 2019

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Lauren Jo Black

Eric Church returned to the road over the weekend following last week’s CMA Awards where Garth Brooks took home a…

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A hat is left at a makeshift memorial during a vigil to mark one week since the mass shooting at the Route 91 Harvest country music festival, on the corner of Sahara Avenue and Las Vegas Boulevard at the north end of the Las Vegas Strip; Photo by Drew Angerer/Getty Images

2017 Las Vegas Shooting Claims Its 59th Victim

Posted on November 18, 2019

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Lauren Jo Black

The Route 91 Harvest Festival massacre, which took place on October 1, 2017 in Las Vegas, has claimed another victim….

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Dierks Bentley; Photo by Andrew Wendowski

Dierks Bentley’s Whiskey Row Plots Denver Location

Posted on November 18, 2019

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Lauren Jo Black

Dierks Bentley’s beloved gastropub, Dierks Bentley’s Whiskey Row, is headed to Denver, Colorado. The superstar, along with Riot Hospitality (RHG),…

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Dolly Parton; Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images for The Recording Academy

Dolly Parton Reveals She’s Covered In Hidden Tattoos

Posted on November 18, 2019

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Lauren Jo Black

At 73, Dolly Parton is making more headlines than ever. This time, she shocked fans by revealing she has several…

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Reba McEntire; Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images

Reba McEntire Unveils Plans For 2020 Tour

Posted on November 17, 2019

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Lauren Jo Black

Right in the middle of the madness that was CMA Awards week, CMA Awards special guest host Reba McEntire revealed…

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Lady Antebellum; Photo by Nathan Congleton/Today

Lady Antebellum Delivers Stunning Performance of ‘What If I Never Get Over You’ on ‘Today’

Posted on November 15, 2019

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Lauren Jo Black

 Lady Antebellum’s highly anticipated new album, Ocean, is out now, and to celebrate, the trio stopped by NBC’s Today…

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Luke Bryan, Luke Combs & More Read Mean Tweets About Themselves

Posted on November 15, 2019

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Lauren Jo Black

It’s that time again – Jimmy Kimmel rounded up music’s hottest stars to read mean tweets and a few country…

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Reba McEntire, Carrie Underwood, Dolly Parton; Photo by Terry Wyatt/Getty Images

CMA Awards Viewership Up 12 Percent In 2019

Posted on November 15, 2019

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Lauren Jo Black

It appears The 53rd Annual CMA Awards was a hit with viewers. According to the Country Music Association, the three-hour…

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