Luke Combs And Shenandoah Announce New “Two Dozen Roses” Collab
Shenandoah/Instagram
Country supergroup Shenandoah and reigning CMA Entertainer of the Year Luke Combs have teamed up for a collab that will bring a lot of joy to ’90s country enthusiasts.
Shenandoah teased a collaboration in June by sharing a photo of lead singer Marty Raybon in the studio with Luke Combs. Fans reacted with excitement at the potential collab, with some fans even guessing that they were likely recording “Two Dozen Roses.” Combs has long performed the song during his concerts, using it as a way to introduce his band.
The long-awaited collab between the two acts was confirmed Thursday morning (September 14) in a post made by Shenandoah on social media.
“We are absolutely tickled to death to announce that we will be releasing a brand new version of Two Dozen Roses with the one and only @LukeCombs,” the video post read.
The song will be released on September 22 and is available for pre-save and pre-add now.
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While Shenandoah is often regarded as one of the greatest bands of the ’90s (and they were!), they actually got their start in the late ’80s.
In 1989, “Two Dozen Roses” became their third No. 1 single, preceded by “The Church on Cumberland Road” and “Sunday in the South.”
Founded in 1984 by Marty Raybon, Ralph Ezell, Stan Thorn, Jim Seales and Mike McGuire, Shenandoah’s bluegrass influence and Raybon’s standout vocals set them apart from other country bands at the time. The band underwent a number of shakeups over the years, the most notable being the 17 years when Marty Raybon stepped away to pursue a solo career.
In 2014, Raybon rejoined Shenandoah, connecting with fellow founding member Mike McGuire. The reunion came at a fundraiser for a friend battling cancer. It was the first time in 17 years the band had played together with Raybon at the helm.
“We saw how folks reacted,” Raybon said. “And then Jerry Phillips, son of legendary Sun Records producer Sam Phillips, said ‘You guys need to make a run at this. People still love what you do. You can tell by the reaction. There’s a lot of excitement in the air.’”
McGuire added that being back with the band was like riding a bicycle.
“We had done so many shows over the years together, even though we spent 17 years apart, we got back up on the stage and it was like we never stopped. We knew those songs inside out. They were still dear to our hearts. It was great to get back up there and do them together again.”
Shenandoah‘s impact on the generations of country music artists that followed them is evident in the number of artists who have covered their songs. From Luke Combs singing “Two Dozen Roses” and Kelsea Ballerini and Alison Krauss each offering their take on “Ghost In This House” to Rascal Flatts singing “Church on Cumberland Road” and new artist Heath Sanders covering “Sunday in the South,” Shenandoah’s impact can’t be ignored.
Get a taste of Luke Combs singing “Two Dozen Roses” in the video below.
