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Shenandoah and Luke Combs Unite To Revive Country Classic, ‘Two Dozen Roses’
Combs was thrilled to join the ‘iconic” country group on the song.
Luke Combs, Marty Raybon; Photo Courtesy Facebook
Award-winning country group Shenandoah is joined by country superstar Luke Combs on a brand-new version of the band’s chart-topping hit, “Two Dozen Roses.”
Out now, the reimagined version remains true to the original with an added bonus of Combs’ smoky vocals. Shenandoah lead singer Marty Raybon takes the lead on the just-released collaborative track, delivering the opening lyrics.
“I brought flowers to your door last night/ I done you wrong, and I wanna make it right/ You say I’m not welcome here/ I know it oughta be perfectly clear/ But I can’t help but wonder what it might be like,” Raybon sings.
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Combs, who has previously incorporated the song into his set list on tour, joins in on the second verse.
“Oh, I must’ve been a fool back then/ To lose somethin’ that you can’t have again/ I’ve done all that I know to do/ And second-guess my every move/ I can’t help but wonder how it might have been,” Combs sings.
The new version of “Two Dozen Roses” was produced by GRAMMY® winning engineer Noah Gordon and recorded at the historic Fame Studios in Muscle Shoals, Alabama, the longtime home to founding Shenandoah members Marty Raybon and Mike McGuire. This studio is the same place where the original version of the song was recorded.
Originally Appeared On The Group’s 1989 Album, The Road Not Taken
Mac McAnally and Robert Byrne co-wrote “Two Dozen Roses,” which appeared on the group’s album The Road Not Taken. It climbed to the top of the charts and eventually became their third No.1 single.
“It appears ‘Two Dozen Roses’ is as big as it ever was and having Luke’s vocal on there just proves the timelessness of what folks have felt about this song for years,” Raybon told Billboard of the song.
“Complete Honor”
Following the release of the song, Combs shared, “Iconic group. Iconic song. Complete honor to sing on this one, @Shenandoahband! Thank y’all for having me.”
“Two Dozen Roses” featuring Shenandoah and Luke Combs quickly rose to the top of the iTunes chart after its release, earning the band its first No.1 on that chart in quite some time. They took to social media to showcase their gratitude to those who downloaded it.
No.1 On iTunes
“WE’RE #1. Thanks to all of our friends and family that helped make this happen. To everybody that downloaded it and shared it with everybody me and Marty can’t thank u enough. Now I’m gonna just enjoy this for a while. It’s been a LONG time since we had a #1 record. We are SO excited and thankful,” a post to Shenandoah’s Facebook page reads.
The release of “Two Dozen Roses” follows the release of Shenandoah’s star-studded 2020 album, Every Road. The project features special guests Luke Bryan, Blake Shelton, Ashley McBryde, Dierks Bentley, Lady A, Zac Brown Band, Carly Pearce, Cody Johnson and Brad Paisley.
Every Road was the band’s 10th studio album and garnered praise from fans and critics alike.
Formed In 1984
Shenandoah was formed by Marty Raybon and Mike McGuire in 1984. They were later joined by bassist Ralph Ezell, keyboardist Stan Thorn, and guitarist Jim Seales.
Shenandoah signed a record contract with Columbia Records and began building a nationwide fan base through their self-titled debut album in 1987. However, it was their second album, The Road Not Taken, that produced their first top ten hits, namely “She Doesn’t Cry Anymore” and “Mama Knows.”
The band achieved a remarkable feat with three consecutive No. 1 hits: “Church on Cumberland Road,” “Sunday in the South,” and “Two Dozen Roses.” “Church on Cumberland Road” spent two weeks at the top of the charts, making history in country music by becoming the first debut No. 1 single from a country band to stay atop for more than one week. This took their career to new heights and earned Shenandoah their first gold album.
In 1990, their fan-favorite track “Next to You, Next to Me” held the number one position on the charts for an impressive three weeks.
Additionally, the group’s stunning duet with Alison Krauss, “Somewhere in the Vicinity of the Heart,” earned them a Country Music Association Award for Vocal Event of the Year and a GRAMMY® for Best Country Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal. In 1991, Shenandoah clinched the Academy of Country Music’s Vocal Group of the Year award.
Today, the group is comprised of its original members: Marty Raybon as the lead vocalist and Mike McGuire as the drummer, alongside Paul Sanders on bass, Donnie Allen playing acoustic guitar and fiddle, Andrew Ishee on keys, and Nicky V on guitar.
Lauren Jo Black is a longtime country music journalist, editor, host, and media personality whose work has helped shape the conversation around country music for nearly two decades. As the current Editor-in-Chief of Country Now, she has become one of the genre’s most respected voices, interviewing hundreds of country music’s biggest stars, including Dolly Parton, Garth Brooks, Reba McEntire, Shania Twain, Randy Travis, Luke Bryan, Carrie Underwood, Blake Shelton, Luke Combs, and countless others. Over the course of her career, Black’s written work and interviews have reached billions of country music fans worldwide. A 2009 graduate of the University of Central Florida, Black began her career by founding Country Music Is Love, one of country music’s earliest independent digital publications, which she later sold to a major record label in 2015 before it was rebranded as Sounds Like Nashville. She then served as the publication’s Editor-in-Chief for more than two years. Her work has also appeared in Forbes, and she previously served as the Country Music Expert for Answers.com. Widely recognized for her expertise, Black has appeared as a featured guest on The Bobby Bones Show, BobbyCast, and Scripps News Morning Rush, providing insight on country music’s biggest moments. She has also hosted Country Now Live, a concert series featuring performances from artists including Lady A, Dierks Bentley, Riley Green, Jordan Davis, Dustin Lynch, Gabby Barrett, Brett Young, Jon Pardi, Kip Moore, Chris Young, and more. The series has welcomed thousands of fans in person while reaching millions more online. In addition, she hosted Connect With Country Now, a weekly interview series featuring conversations with rising country stars. Throughout her career, Black has earned a reputation for discovering and championing artists long before they become household names. She has covered Luke Bryan since the early days of his career, beginning when he was writing songs for other artists, including Billy Currington’s No. 1 hit “Good Directions,” before stepping into the spotlight with his debut single, “All My Friends Say” and eventually becoming one of biggest names in music. She also gave Megan Moroney her first opportunity to walk a major red carpet as Country Now’s official guest correspondent at the 2022 CMA Awards. An interview she conducted in 2018 for Forbes.com with Luke Combs that inspired his multi-week No. 1 hit, “Doin’ This.” She has also hosted stages at CMA Fest, moderated an industry panel at Country Radio Seminar, and helped lead important conversations about the evolving landscape of country music media. Beyond journalism, Black has also used her platform to support charitable causes and highlight organizations making an impact. Through Country Now Live, she has helped raise awareness and support for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, while also advocating for animal rescue through Country Now’s Pupdate series, spotlighting organizations including MuttNation Foundation, Wags & Walks, and Proverbs 12:10 Animal Rescue. Black has been recognized as one of Country Aircheck’s Women of Influence and received the 2012 Rising Star Award from the University of Central Florida. She is a longtime member of both the Country Music Association (CMA) and the Academy of Country Music (ACM). After nearly 20 years covering country music, Lauren Jo Black has spent her career telling the stories behind the artists, songs, and moments that have shaped the genre. Her first-ever book, Country Music Forever: An A-to-Z Celebration of Icons, Songs and Stories, brings that same passion and firsthand knowledge to the page, celebrating not only the legendary artists and timeless songs that have become the soundtrack to generations of fans, but also the places, traditions, and cultural moments that have made country music one of the most beloved genres around the world.
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