John Anderson to Release New Single 'Magic Mama' by Merle Haggard

Country chart-topper John Anderson's new single "Magic Mama," penned by Merle Haggard just for Anderson, is now impacting radio. The feel-good anthem is the latest single from Anderson's critically acclaimed album, Goldmine, which was listed as one of Rolling Stone's "40 Best Country Albums of 2015."

When speaking about the song, Haggard said, "It was recorded in an excellent way. Just the way I pictured it."

"A couple of years ago I got a call from Merle saying that he had written a song with me in mind. I saw him about six months later and asked if he finished it," Anderson said. "He pulled out a little piece of paper from his back pocket that had the lyrics on it, and he got a guitar and played it for me. That's probably one of the greatest moments of my career, sitting there listening to Merle play that song that he had written for me." He adds, "I was so pleased and I'm so thrilled to have a brand new Merle Haggard song on the latest cd. 'Magic Mama,' for me, will always be a treasure."

The song showcases Anderson's distinct vocals, which has made him one of the most sought-after artists in country music. Fans can catch Anderson on tour (see tour dates below), where he will be performing "Magic Mama." The country hit-maker will also be playing other tracks off of the Goldmine album, along with his signature hits like "Swingin'" and "Seminole Wind."

John Anderson On Tour:
Apr 01 - Opp, Ala. - Channell-Lee Stadium
Apr 02 - Cape Coral, Fla. - Naples Boat Show & Seafood Show
Apr 22 - Effingham, Ill. - Effingham Performance Center
Apr 23 - Sioux City, Iowa - Anthem at Hard Rock Hotel & Casino
May 06 - West Monroe, La. - Louisiana Craw-fish Gator Festival
May 19 - Greensboro, N.C. - Carolina Theatre - Acoustic
May 20 - Hopewell, Va. - The Beacon Theatre
May 21 - Rocky Mount, Va. - Harvester Performance Center - Acoustic
Jun 03 - Panama City, Fla. - Marina Civic Center
Jul 09 - Brainerd, Minn. - Iconic Fest - Green Lantern
Aug 20 - Durant, Okla. - Choctaw Grand Theater
Sep 11 - Alexandria Bay, N.Y. - Thousand Islands Winery
Sep 15 - Dade City, Fla. - Dan Cannon Auditorium
Sep 16 - Renfro Valley, Ky. - Renfro Valley Entertainment Center
Sep 17 - Morehead, Ky. - Poppy Mountain Bluegrass Festival

Raised in Apopka, Fla., Anderson was exposed to both rock and traditional country growing up and, as incendiary rock outfits like Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers and Lynyrd Skynyrd honed their chops around him, learned to love (and play) both types of music. But Anderson resisted the call of rock 'n roll, electing rather to pursue his country music dreams. It was the traditional country ballads that lured him in and changes music history, songs like Porter Waggoner's "Green, Green Grass of Home."

Anderson moved to Nashville in 1972, working construction by day (including as a roofer at the Grand Ole Opry House) and playing the honky-tonks at night. He signed to Warner Bros. in 1977, and notching his first major hit in 1980 with Billy Jo Shaver's "I'm Just an Old Chunk of Coal (But I'm Gonna Be a Diamond Someday)." Other hits, including the classic "Wild and Blue" in 1982, solidified his status as a powerful new voice in country music. "Swingin'," written by Anderson and Lionel Delmore, blew the roof off a year later, exploding to No.1 on the Billboard Country chart, propelling Anderson to the CMA Horizon Award, and becoming one of the most enduring hits in the country canon.

Anderson plowed through the ebbs and flows of country music (and the country music business) throughout the '80s, and in the early 1990s engineered one of the greatest "comeback" runs (he never really left) in the history of the genre. Seminole Wind, released on BNA, produced hit singles in "Straight Tequila Night," "When It Comes To You," "Money in the Bank," and the stirring title cut. The latter would have never been released had Anderson not stuck to his guns, a familiar refrain throughout his career as the artist has wound his way through virtually all of Nashville's major labels.

Despite his music biz travails, Anderson, who has made his home in Smithville, TN, for more than 30 years, is far from a bitter man. Rather, he feels more than blessed, and subscribes to the mentality expressed in Goldmine's compelling "Don't forget to Thank the Lord."

Stay Social With John Anderson on Facebook: facebook.com/JohnAndersonOfficial, Twitter: @johnanderson and online at johnanderson.com.

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