• DARIUS RUCKER ANNOUNCES SUMMER CONCERT RUN.

    Darius Rucker has announced plans for a summer run of shows, bringing a who’s who of rising Nashville stars along on 14 dates while also appearing at several fairs, festivals and special events. Together with Tyler Booth, Daves Highway, Larry Fleet, Caylee Hammack, Ryan Hurd, Jameson Rodgers, Elvie Shane and Tenille Townes, Rucker will visit cities across the U.S. and Canada from July through September.

    Tickets to several dates are on sale now, with tickets to most newly announced dates on sale to the general public beginning this Friday, April 22 at 10 a.m. local time via DariusRucker.com and on sale dates for remaining shows to follow, as noted below.

    The announcement follows Rucker’s recently concluded spring theater tour, which brought the three-time GRAMMY winner to iconic venues across the country he had never previously played, earning rave reviews along the way and setting the stage for a lively summer of music.

    “With a six-piece band, he delivered a simple, straightforward, delightful 90 minutes of country and pop, with songs from his solo repertoire and from Hootie & the Blowfish,” noted the St. Louis Post-Dispatch of his show at the city’s Fox Theater. At Detroit’s venue of the same name, the Oakland Press remarked that his “potent” performance was “genuinely special,” while The Boot celebrated his “charm and enthusiasm” on display at New York City’s Beacon Theater while “showcasing his mastery of country music” with his “sheer vocal power” and “roguish charm.”

    Rucker also recently announced the 13th annual “Darius and Friends” benefit concert set for Monday, June 6 at Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium. The perennially popular event serves as an unofficial kickoff to the week of CMA Fest in Music City and has raised over $2.5 million to date for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.

    For more information, visit www.DariusRucker.com and follow on social media @DariusRucker.

    Upcoming Darius Rucker Tour Dates
    * denotes newly announced dates on sale April 22
    ^ denotes newly announced dates on sale May 6
    # denotes newly announced date with on sale information TBA
    June 6                    Nashville, Tenn.  |  Ryman Auditorium (Darius and Friends)
    June 9                    Nashville, Tenn.  |  Nissan Stadium (CMA Fest)
    June 18                  Nashville, Tenn.  |  Bridgestone Arena (Brooks & Dunn Reboot Tour 2022)
    June 23*                Cleveland, Ohio  |  Jacobs Pavilion at Nautica (with Tyler Booth)
    June 24*                Huber Heights, Ohio  |  Rose Music Center at The Heights (with Tyler Booth)
    June 25                  Interlochen, Mich.  |  Interlochen Center for the Arts (with Tyler Booth)
    June 29                  Anchorage, Alaska  |  Backyard Country BBQ
    July 8                    Cavendish, P.E.I.  |  Cavendish Beach Music Festival
    July 15#                 Memphis, Tenn.  |  venue TBA
    July 16*                Rogers, Ark.  |  Walmart AMP (with Ryan Hurd & Elvie Shane)
    July 21                  Paso Robles, Calif.  |  California Mid-State Fair (with Lindsay Ell)
    July 22*                Phoenix, Ariz.  |  Arizona Federal Theatre (with Caylee Hammack)
    July 28*                Bend, Ore.  |  Hayden Homes Amphitheater (with Tenille Townes & Caylee Hammack)
    July 30                  Cowichan, B.C.  |  Sunset Music Festival
    July 31                  Merritt, B.C.  |  Rockin’ River Music Festival
    August 25             Tryon, N.C.  |  Night in the Country Carolinas
    August 26*           Wilmington, N.C.  |  Live Oak Bank Pavilion (with Larry Fleet & Tyler Booth)
    August 27*           Doswell, Va.  |  Meadow Event Park (with Larry Fleet & Tyler Booth)
    September 2*        Bridgeport, Conn.  |  Hartford HealthCare Amphitheater (with Jameson Rodgers & Elvie Shane)
    September 3*        Bethel, N.Y.  |  Bethel Woods Center for the Arts (with Jameson Rodgers & Elvie Shane)
    September 4*        Gilford, N.H.  |  Bank of New Hampshire Pavilion (with Jameson Rodgers & Elvie Shane)
    September 9^        Tulsa, Okla.  |  Paradise Cove at River Spirit Casino Resort (with Tyler Booth)
    September 10^      Camdenton, Mo.  |  Lake Ozarks Amphitheater (with Tyler Booth)

    About Darius Rucker
    Rucker first achieved multi-Platinum status in the music industry as lead singer and rhythm guitarist of the GRAMMY Award-winning band Hootie & the Blowfish, who have sold more than 25 million albums worldwide including their Diamond-certified debut Cracked Rear View, which remains among the Top 10 best-selling studio albums of all time. Since releasing his first Country album in 2008, Rucker has earned a whole new legion of fans with four No. 1 albums on the Billboard Country chart, including RIAA Platinum-certified Learn to Live and True Believers, plus 10 No. 1 singles at Country radio and 11 Gold, Platinum or multi-Platinum certified hits. Rucker was inducted as a Grand Ole Opry member in 2012 and in 2014 he won his third career GRAMMY Award for Best Solo Country Performance with his 9x Platinum version of Old Crow Medicine Show’s “Wagon Wheel,” one of the top five best-selling Country songs of all time. He co-hosted the 54th annual CMA Awards in 2020 and topped the charts at Country radio once again with “Beers And Sunshine” in 2021. Follow up single “My Masterpiece” is available everywhere now as Rucker puts the finishing touches on a forthcoming album.

    As a lifelong philanthropist, Rucker supports the MUSC Children’s Hospital in his hometown of Charleston, South Carolina and has also raised millions of dollars for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital through his annual Darius & Friends benefit concert and golf tournament. Rucker has also advocated for over 200 charitable causes supporting public education and junior golf programs in South Carolina through the Hootie & the Blowfish Foundation and serves as a National Chair for the National Museum of African American Music in Nashville.

  • NEWS AND NOTES: Kacey Musgraves, Chris Stapleton, Carrie Underwood, Luke Bryan, Darius Rucker

    Kacey Musgraves is among the many artists who joined together on Friday (April 8th) to Stand Up For Ukraine, a social media movement powered by Global Citizen. The Weeknd, Jon Batiste, Jonas Brothers, Katy Perry, Billy Porter, Ellie Goulding, Jon Bon Jovi, U2, Bruce Springsteen, Elton John and many others also joined the movement. The online event took place just a day before a “pledging summit” to aid displaced Ukrainians.

    https://twitter.com/KaceyMusgraves/status/1512569821208141826

     

    Chris Stapleton picked up four nominations for this year’s Billboard Music Awards, including Top Country Artist, Top Country Male Artist, Top Country Tour and Top Country Song (“You Should Probably Leave”). Carrie Underwood also has four nominations, including Top Country Female Artist, Top Christian Artist, Top Christian Album (My Savior) and Top Country Song (“If I Didn’t Love You”). Luke Bryan has two with Top Country Tour and Top Country Song for “Buy Dirt,” which is also a nomination for Jordan Davis. Eric Church picked up a nomination for Top Country Tour. The BBMAs will broadcast live coast-to-coast from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on Sunday, May 15th at 8pm ET/5 pm PT on NBC and will stream live on Peacock.

     

    Priscilla Block, who is performing at tonight’s (April 11th) CMT Music Awards, is set to open the 2022 Downtown @ Sundown Concert Series in Clarksville, Tennessee on May 6th. The Concert Series is free to the public and will take place on the first and third Fridays of the month May through October.

    University of South Carolina alum Darius Rucker will perform a free concert for students to celebrate the women’s basketball team’s national championship. Darius suggested the concert in a tweet April 1st after South Carolina beat Louisville for a spot in the championship game. The Gamecocks went on to defeat UConn 64-49 to take their second national title in five years. Students can sign up for a lottery here to win a ticket to the concert, which will be held April 24th at Colonial Life Arena.

  • 13TH ANNUAL “DARIUS AND FRIENDS” BENEFIT CONCERT RETURNS TO NASHVILLE’S RYMAN AUDITORIUM MONDAY, JUNE 6th.

    Multi-Platinum superstar Darius Rucker will return to the historic Ryman Auditorium on Monday, June 6th for his 13th Annual Darius and Friends concert benefitting St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital®. The event, which unofficially kicks off the week of CMA Fest in downtown Nashville and has raised more than $2.5 million to date, will feature an all-star roster of friends to be announced in the coming weeks.

    “I can’t wait to be back at the Ryman with all of our friends from St. Jude,” shares the three-time GRAMMY Award winner. “This show is always a highlight of the year for me, because it not only raises funds for a very important cause, but it also allows me to bring together some of my best friends in Nashville for a fun night of incredible music.”

    Rucker, who has always prioritized philanthropic work, made a commitment to support St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital nearly 15 years ago after taking an inspiring tour of the hospital. Through this meaningful experience, Rucker learned how St. Jude is leading the way the world understands, treats and defeats childhood cancer and other life-threatening diseases.

    Reflecting on his 2008 visit to the hospital to the Tennessean ahead of last year’s show, Rucker noted, “You see these kids who are sick, and they’re so happy to be there, because their caregivers are so loving and giving to them. And then you find out that nobody ever gets a bill. That blew me away. I was just like, ‘We’ll figure out some way to help you guys as much as I can.’”

    Now, more than a decade later, that effort has become an annual tradition. Friends performing with Rucker in past years have included Lauren Alaina, Jason Aldean, Brooks & Dunn, Brothers Osborne, Luke Bryan, Luke Combs, Sheryl Crow, John Daly, Charles Kelley of Lady Antebellum, Ashley McBryde, A.J. McLean of the Backstreet Boys, Brad Paisley, Kenny Rogers and Tommy Thayer of KISS, among many others. The lineup for this year’s event will be announced soon.

    Tickets to the 13th Annual Darius & Friends benefit concert start at $50 with VIP options up to $150, available via AXS.com. Pre-sale access begins tomorrow, April 6 at 10 a.m. CT, with tickets on sale to the general public this Friday, April 8 at 10 a.m. CT.

    The event is made possible with support from generous sponsors AMD, Hendrix Enterprises, CDW, Intel, Fanatics, Hewlett-Packard, CAA and Arrow Electronics.

    For more information, please visit www.DariusRucker.com and follow on social media @DariusRucker.

  • NEWS AND NOTES: Darius Rucker, Kacey Musgraves, Gary Allan, Billy Currington

    Darius Rucker is one happy man as the South Carolina Gamecocks women’s basketball team beat UConn to win the championship! He posted on his socials a congratulatory note and added, “U have made this Gamecock extremely happy. I will not miss another one. Keep being great y’all in sports but more importantly in life!!”

     

     

    Kacey Musgraves will introduce The Judds’ performance on this year’s CMT Music Awards and talk about the duo’s influence on her own career. Kacey is nominated for overall Video of the Year and Female Video of the Year for “justified.” The 2022 CMT Music Awards will air live from Nashville beginning at 8pm ET/delayed PT on April 11th on CBS and streaming live and on demand on Parmount+.

    Billy Bob’s, the world’s largest honkytonk in Fort Worth, Texas, recently announced their lineup for this year. Gary Allan will headline two nights – June 10th and 11th – while Billy Currington is set to headline June 24th.

  • SUPER BOWL 2022 AUDIO

    This Sunday (February 13th), millions of people around the world will be tuning in to the Super Bowl (the Big Game), including some of your favorite country artists. Some will be rooting for the Cincinnati Bengals, while others will be pulling for the Los Angeles Rams.

    Mickey Guyton is set to perform the National Anthem prior to the Big Game, while the half-time performers include Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, Eminem, Kendrick Lamar and Mary J. Blige.

    Check out all the action at the SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles, at 6:30pm ET on NBC.

    *More audio to be added.

    Audio / Billy Currington says he loves watching football.

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    Billy Currington (football fan) OC: …love football. :36
    “I’m a big football fan. I mean, when I was growing up, if you asked me who my favorite team is now, I couldn’t tell you. But when I was a kid, it was the Dallas Cowboys. And I don’t know if it was because my mom bought my brother a Pittsburgh Steelers pennant for some reason, and bought me a Dallas Cowboys pennant, and of course over the year I fell in love with the Cowboys, and then I wanted a jersey the next Christmas, and then the next one, I wanted [more Cowboys stuff]. So, I became a long-term fan with those guys. But I like it all now that I’m older. I’ll watch any game, it doesn’t matter who’s playing. But [I] love football.”

    Audio / Darius Rucker is a HUGE football fan, as everyone probably knows by now, and he explains why he loves football so much. SIDENOTE: He’s a huge Miami Dolphins fan, and word has it, just to be able to meet then Dolphins quarterback, Dan Marino, he asked him to be in a Hootie & the Blowfish video for “Only Wanna Be With You.”

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    Darius Rucker (football) OC: …football season. :20
    “Ever since I was five years old, I’ve loved football, and I love how physical it is. I love the chess match of the game. I love the speed of the game. I love college football, but for me watching pro football is better because the speed is so much more. For me, there’s two times a year, man — football season and waiting for football season.”

    Audio / Keith Urban says his wife, Nicole Kidman, got him interested in football.

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    Keith (Nicole and football) OC: …new to me. :04

    “She’s a big NFL fan, and she sort of turned me on to it.”

    Audio / LAUREN ALAINA LOVES WATCHING FOOTBALL.

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    Lauren Alaina (Super Bowl) OC: …I love it. :30
    “My dad raised me to love football, so I think it’s like kind of in my blood to be obsessed with it. I feel like the guys are so passionate and they try so hard. Those people love playing that game as much as I love singing. I just love the heart and the drive and the passion behind it. I feel like those boys are playing as hard as they can – in college football and pro football – because it’s what they love to do and it’s their passion, and I just, I don’t know. I love it.”

    Audio / Little Big Town’s beautiful and talented Karen Fairchild was a badass growing up when she was playing quarterback for her powder puff football team.

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    LBT (football story) OC: …my lip. :40
    “I was the quarterback to my powder puff team. I was running the ball and I came around the corner – this was in high school – and a foreign exchange student, I think her name was Inga (KIMBERLY: “Inga.”), and I didn’t want to fumble ‘cause my brother and my dad were there, and I come from this very athletic family, so I held onto the ball. I knew I was going to go down, so I let my head hit first and I bit all the way through, but I didn’t fumble and I had a hole in my face, though. The sad thing is that it was just flag football, but I left my flags on and cleats and everything, ‘cause it looked cool, and I had blood running all down my jersey. I went to the emergency room like that, and they sewed up my lip.”

    Audio / Luke Bryan talks about some of the food he likes to have while watching the Super Bowl.

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    Luke Bryan (Super Bowl food) OC: …over again. :22
    “Definitely Super Bowl is like the queso, the Frito Lay scoops with the Ro-tel situation. I guess it’s like, what’s the black-eyed pea stuff too? All of that, just stuff that you can sit there and have lots of sodium, and then just, it’s like Thanksgiving all over again.”

    Audio / Priscilla Block says Super Bowl Sunday is so much fun.

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    Priscilla Block (Football/Super Bowl food) OC: …what happens. :23
    “I mean, I feel like the Super Bowl is like just such a fun day. I’m really excited for the half-time show. I feel like that’s usually why I’m there, is to watch the anthem and the half-time show, but yes, excited to eat all the bad things. And I’m honestly, I don’t feel pulled any way this year. I wish the (Tennessee) Titans were in it, but we’ll see what happens.”

    Audio / SAM HUNT LOVES THAT THE SUPER BOWL MIXES HIS TWO LOVES – MUSIC AND FOOTBALL.

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    Sam Hunt (Super Bowl & music) OC: …combined there. :24
    “It’s become such a massive pop culture event, and I love that they’ve incorporated music and entertainment with the sport itself and the entertainment value that comes from that. It encompasses just a strong representation of American culture, and I’m a huge music fan, obviously, and I’m a huge sports fan, so those are two of my favorite worlds combined there.”

    Audio / Travis Denning is excited about this year's Big Game because former Georgia quarterback Matt Stafford, who plays for the St. Louis Rams, is in the Super Bowl for the first time.

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    Travis Denning (Super Bowl 2022) OC: …amazing game. :35
    “Hey y’all, Travis Denning here. I’m super fired up for this upcoming Super Bowl, mainly because Matt Stafford – a Georgia boy – is starting for the Rams. I’ve been a big fan of his since he played college at Georgia, obviously, and it’s amazing to see after 10-plus seasons, I think it’s like 13 seasons or something that he’s finally in the Super Bowl. So, I’m pulling for the Rams, but I’m a big Joe Burrow fan. I do like Joe Burrow. He’s fun, he’s hilarious, he’s an amazing football player, so I think it’s gonna be an amazing game.”

    Audio / Travis Denning reveals his go-to Super Bowl snack.

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    Travis Denning (go-to Super Bowl snack) OC: …other pick. :05
    “My go-to Super Bowl snack is buffalo chicken dip, obviously. There’s no other pick.”

     

  • NEWS AND NOTES: Taylor Swift, Eric Church, Darius Rucker, George Strait, Travis Denning

    Taylor Swift has been announced as the official ambassador for Record Store Day this year. The 15th Anniversary of Record Store Day will be celebrated April 23rd.

    At his show in Detroit, Michigan on Saturday (January 21st), Eric Church paid tribute rock legend Meat Loaf who passed away over the weekend with a cover of “I’d Do Anything For Love (But I Won’t Do That)” with the crowd of fans singing along. After part of the song, he launched into the fan-favorite, “Springsteen.”

    The Darius Rucker Intercollegiate presented by PXG will make its television debut on the GOLF Channel this spring, marking the first all-women’s regular-season collegiate golf tournament to be presented live on the network. The annual event, hosted by Darius Rucker, will be held at Long Cove Club in Hilton Head, South Carolina over three days February 28th-March 2nd at Long Cove Club in Hilton Head Island, and features a 54-hole stroke play competition for individual and team honors.

    George Strait’s two December dates at Las Vegas’ T-Mobile Arena place him at the top of Pollstar’s latest LIVE75 chart. The couple of December shows grossed an average of $2.04 million, Eric Church lands at No. 5, the only other country act in the Top 10.

    Travis Denning releases an acoustic video version of his song “Jack and Coke” from his Dirt Road Down EP.

     

  • NEWS AND NOTES: Luke Bryan, Taylor Swift, Brothers Osborne, Mickey Guyton, Darius Rucker, Dierks Bentley

    Luke Bryan will appear on ABC’s Good Morning America on Monday (February 7th).

    Taylor Swift, Brothers Osborne, Chris Stapleton and Mickey Guyton are among the artists featured in the new Country Music Hall of Fame & Museum’s new American Currents: State of the Music exhibit opening March 4th. The annual exhibit highlights notable music, artist achievements and events from the past year, and it will also include a video compilation of important country music moments from 2021, and recaps the year’s chart-topping country albums, singles and highest-grossing tours. The exhibit will run through February 2023.

    Taylor Swift is the subject of a course at New York University, which continues through March 9th.

    Darius Rucker was among the celebrities at this past weekend’s Pebble Beach Pro-Am. He was joined by fellow country artists Jake Owen, Clay Walker, Charles Kelley and Colt Ford, as well as a few famous faces including Don Cheadle, Bill Murray, Ray Romano, Alfonso Ribeiro, Andy Garcia and Chris O’Donnell. Check out the gallery of photos from The Californian here.

    Dierks Bentley will co-headline the NHL Stadium Series with pal Miranda Lambert when the Nashville Predators host the Tampa Bay Lightning in a couple of weeks. The Predators will take to the ice outdoors at Nissan Stadium (instead of Bridgestone Arena). The game will air on TNT February 26th beginning at 7:30pm ET/6:30pm CT.

     

  • NEW YEAR’S 2021: Dierks, Eric, Kip, Jon, Jordan, Lauren, Luke, Priscilla, Travis and more

    What are some of your favorite stars doing to welcome in the New Year? A few of them are working to help fans celebrate. Several artists have taken the time off around the holidays and will hit it hard when they return to the road in 2022. Some artists have resolutions, some artists look ahead to 2022 and some are very helpful with their own hangover cures for those who imbibe too much on New Year’s Eve.

    For several country stars, they’ll be ringing in the new year with Dierks Bentley in Nashville on New Year’s Eve as CBS presents NEW YEAR’S EVE LIVE: NASHVILLE’S BIG BASH on Friday (December 31st) at 8-11pm ET/PT and 11:30pm-1:30am ET/PT. The special programming will air on CBS and available to stream live and on demand on Paramount+. Originating from downtown Nashville across multiple locations, the star-studded special will be packed with high-energy performances celebrating the excitement and anticipation of a new year. In addition to Dierks Bentley, Luke Bryan, Darius Rucker, Sam Hunt, Jon Pardi, BRELAND, Jason Aldean, Jimmie Allen, Kelsea Ballerini, Gabby Barrett, Brooks & Dunn, Dan + Shay, Elle King, Miranda Lambert, Blake Shelton, Cole Swindell and Zac Brown Band, among others will perform.

    Music City has built an outstanding reputation for hosting the most musical New Year’s celebration and country’s biggest party. The five-hour celebration will feature nearly 50 performances from locations across the city, including the main stage in Nashville’s Bicentennial Capitol Mall State Park anchored by headliners Dierks Bentley, Zac Brown Band and Dan + Shay. The broadcast will cross multiple time zones, with the traditional countdown at midnight ET, culminating with the renowned Nashville music note drop and fireworks at midnight CT.

     

    Audio / Brothers Osborne talk about how people spend the last moments of the year, and the first moments of the new year.

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    Brothers Osborne (New Year) OC: (TJ) …next month. :44
    JOHN: “I think it’s kind of funny how we spend literally the last moment and the very first moment of every year being extremely intoxicated, extremely, because you don’t want to wait until like 12:30 to get your buzz on. You’ve got to do it before midnight, and then once midnight happens, you’re like, ‘Omigod! Now it’s time to celebrate even more.’ Debauchery is the literally bookending your entire year.” TJ: “I love how everyone starts the year off with diets and then we end the year with like excessive amounts of food. And then you get to the end of the year, you’re like, ‘Oh, I’m going to start a diet on the 1st, so I’m going to eat everything that’s in front of me.’ I love it.” JOHN: “And come February 1st, ‘what diet?’” [laughs] TJ: “What diet? I’ll start it next month.” [laughs]

    Audio / John Osborne of Brothers Osborne says a little hair of the dog is definitely the cure for a hangover.

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    Brothers Osborne (hangover cure) OC: …of the year. :07
    “Usually drinking more. I mean, a little hair of the dog never hurt anybody. Plus, it’s the first of the year.”

    Audio / Dierks Bentley talks about the big New Year’s Eve special from Nashville he’s headlining.

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    Dierks Bentley (New Year’s Eve 2021) OC: …on CBS. 1:07
    “I haven’t played a New Year’s Eve show in a really long time. Somewhere along the way, I just decided I wanted to be a regular fan of New Year’s Eve and just be doing the stuff with my kids and watching the ball, the countdown in New York or in Colorado, I think we had a pair of skis that came down instead of a ball. But I just kind of enjoy being off and just doing all that, but when I found out that this big CBS special is happening in my adopted hometown of Nashville where I’ve lived for almost 30 years, I really wanted to be a part of it, because it’s a special moment for the city, it’s a special moment for country music. I love our town and I love country music, and I watch the stuff out of New York and some of the other networks that do New Year’s Eve Countdowns, and there’s no reason why Nashville shouldn’t, why Country Music shouldn’t be the No. 1 thing everyone’s watching on New Year’s Eve. We have all the artists and they’re all great to work with and they’re just gonna put on great performances and I think it’ll be a big moment for the city and a big moment for Country Music. So, I asked the powers that be if I could be a part of it, and they said yes, and I’m really excited to showcase our city on CBS.”

     

    Audio / Dierks Bentley talks about special guests for this year's New Year's Eve TV special.

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    Dierks Bentley (New Year’s Eve Special guests) OC: …one-time event. :31
    “There’s so many artists down there, so many people involved. I think they had maybe 50 different artists performing at this event, so definitely would love to have some collaborations. I’ve looked around to see who else is also performing on the stage with me and there’s some great artists there, so if they’re hanging around, we’ll definitely be pulling people up and trying to make it great.’ Cause it’s not just about the people watching on CBS, I think we’ll have over 100-thousand people in the Bicentennial Mall, so really want to make it special for all of the Nashville people and the people who traveled to Nashville for this one-time event.”

     

    Audio / Dierks Bentley says he's not making any resolutions for 2022 other than to enjoy every moment and have gratitude for what he does get to do, especially after the past two years.

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    Dierks Bentley (2022) OC: …you know. :30
    “Just like everyone coming out of 2020 and coming back into this year, it’s been such a great year for us to be back out on the road and readjusting life in Nashville. I can’t say I have any 2022 resolutions other than just enjoying every day and enjoying every show and getting a chance to make a record right now; it kind of feels like starting all over again because of what we’ve been through the last two years. So, no, I’m just looking for another great year and again, it’s a lot of gratitude for what I get to do moreso than ever just because 2020 and…you know.”

    Audio / Eric Church has a couple of hangover cures for those times (especially on New Year’s Eve) when you might imbibe a little too much.

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    Eric Church (hangover cure) OC: …every time. :17
    “The best hangover cure – I’ve got two. One is 5-hour Energy [bottles], because of all the B-vitamins that are in it. You can start pounding those, and it’s either gonna work, or it’s gonna keep you up and prolong your misery. But the other one I have is just take two Advil and a beer in the morning. Hair of the dog, man – that works every time.”

    Audio / Jon Pardi says he's looking forward to new music in 2022.

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    Jon Pardi (2022) OC: …this album. :20
    “What I’m looking forward to the most for 2022 is a brand new album. We haven’t had no time to work on it because I’ve (only) been home about two or three days for the past three months, it seems like, and I haven’t been writing. I’ve been doing nothing but touring. So, I’m gonna get some songwriting in and finish this album.”

    Audio / Jon Pardi says Bloody Marys are the way to go to cure a hangover.

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    Jon Pardi (hangover cure) OC: …deal with it. :20
    “My hangover cure is Bloody Marys, but be careful – because once you have a couple, don’t go to beer, because if you go to beer, you’re gonna start drinking again and you’ll end up a morning drunk. OR if you want to go the non-alcoholic route, there’s nothing you can do for hangovers. [laughs] You just go deal with it.”

    Audio / Jordan Davis takes a look back at 2021.

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    Jordan Davis (reflecting back on 2021) OC: …of 2021. :18
    “Reflecting back on 2021, man, we released the EP Buy Dirt, and that’s been really special for us, so seeing that EP really connect with the fans, and the son in general, you know, ‘Buy Dirt’ with me and Luke has been really, really cool to see people gravitate towards that one. So, that’s been one of the coolest things of 2021.”

    Audio / Jordan Davis says the biggest thing he's looking forward to in 2022 is playing for the fans.

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    Jordan Davis (2022) OC: …the fans. :15
    “Looking ahead to 2022, just getting back on the road playing shows. We’re going out with Dierks early in the year, and then just gonna stay busy for the rest of the year playing shows. So, really the thing I’m most looking forward to is just getting back on the road and playing for the fans.”

    Audio / Kacey Musgraves has her own hangover cure.

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    Kacey Musgraves (hangover cure) OC: …water. Yup! :32
    “Coconut water is a major help with hangovers and also, a lot of times we go and eat Vietnamese pho. It’s a soup, and it’s got this awesome broth. You can get different things in it or whatever, but for some reason, it’s just like…it’s almost like a chicken noodle soup kind of an idea, you know, but it’s good. That’s good for hangovers too. That, sleep, Tylenol, coconut water and just water, in general. And when you’re drinking, have your alcohol, drink a little bit of water, drink some more alcohol, drink some water. Yup!”

    Audio / Kip Moore gives advice on how to avoid a hangover on New Year’s Eve.

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    Kip Moore (avoiding hangovers on NYE) OC: …yourself. :03
    “Pace yourself on New Year’s – that’s the remedy. Pace yourself.”

    Audio / Lauren Alaina reflects back on 2021.

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    Lauren Alaina (reflecting back on 2021) OC: …normalcy. :23
    “When I reflect back on 2021, I think the thing that stands out most to me is how much I’ve realized that we’re all in this together. Even though we’re all separated, and it’s been such a rough couple of years, I have felt overwhelming love and support from people, and I hope that everyone is feeling that and that we’re all feeling like we’re getting back to some sort of normalcy.”

    Audio / Lauren Alaina talks about her hopes for 2022.

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    Lauren Alaina (2022) OC: …as I can. :19
    “My hopes for 2022 are normalcy (laughs). As much as we can get back to our lives, I’m looking forwarding to touring. I’m looking forward to celebrating my new album, Sitting Pretty On Top Of The World, and getting to play that music in front of my fans and just connecting with people as much as I can.”

    Audio / Luke Bryan’s favorite New Year’s Eve has to be when he and his now wife Caroline reunited.

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    Luke Bryan (New Years-best) OC: …great night. :17
    “My best New Year’s Eve is definitely when my wife and I started back dating. We started back dating right before Christmas, and we went on a trip down to Florida and met some friends. And her birthday is New Year’s Eve. We celebrated it that night. It was just a great night.”

    Audio / Priscilla Block is looking forward to 2022 for more music, more shows and meeting more fans.

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    Priscilla Block (2022) OC: …awesome year. :33
    “I cannot believe that 2021 is almost over. This has been seriously one of the best years of my life. And I’m just so thankful I’ve been able to put out new music, meet new fans. I am so excited for 2022. I feel like it’s just gonna be bigger and badder. I cannot wait for y’all to hear new music, me get out on the road and meet all of y’all, and I think it’s gonna be a really, really awesome year.”

    Audio / Travis Denning recalls his favorite New Year’s Eve party.

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    Travis Denning (favorite New Year’s Eve party) OC: …it was good. :41
    “I think my favorite New Year’s Eve party ever was when my sister got married, and my sister’s party got done at 10:30, 10:45 and she got married right behind a little club that I played a lot in Macon, Georgia called the Crazy Bull and love the owner. We’re boys, you know? So, we just literally walked right over and burned the house down. That was one of my favorite New Year’s Eve memories, ‘cause I got to see my sister and brother-in-law get married and that was such a great, great time, and then me and my older cousin and best friend, we ended up at Waffle House that night, so it was good.”

    Audio / Travis Denning talks about his hangover cures.

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    Travis Denning (hangover cure) OC: …me better. :17
    “You know, I think my hangover cure is just sitting on my butt, [laughs] not doing anything. Drink some water, a cup of coffee, but usually anything greasy or just some big ole Mexican food that’ll get me at least to a nap, which will get me better.”

     

  • ‘TWAS THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS 2021

    Keith Urban
    Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house
    Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse.

    The stockings were hung by the chimney with care,
    In hopes that St Nicholas soon would be there.

    Carrie Underwood
    The children were nestled all snug in their beds,
    While visions of sugar-plums danced in their heads.

    And mamma in her ‘kerchief, and I in my cap,
    Had just settled down for a long winter’s nap

    Kimberly from Little Big Town
    When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter,
    I sprang from the bed to see what was the matter.

    TJ Osborne
    Away to the window I flew like a flash,
    Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash.

    John Osborne
    The moon on the breast of the new-fallen snow
    Gave the lustre of mid-day to objects below.

    Tae from Maddie & Tae
    When, what to my wondering eyes should appear,
    But a miniature sleigh, and eight tinny reindeer.

    Jimi from Little Big Town
    With a little old driver, so lively and quick,
    I knew in a moment it must be St Nick.

    Lauren Alaina
    More rapid than eagles his reindeer they came,
    And he whistled, and shouted, and called them by name!

    “Now Dasher! now, Dancer! now, Prancer and Vixen!
    On, Comet! On, Cupid! On Donner and Blitzen!

    Caylee Hammack
    To the top of the porch! to the top of the wall!
    Now dash away! Dash away! Dash away all!”

    Dierks Bentley
    So up to the house-top the reindeer they flew,
    With the sleigh full of Toys, and St Nicholas too

    Darius Rucker
    And then, in a twinkling, I heard on the roof
    The prancing and pawing of each little hoof.

    As I drew in my head, and was turning around,
    Down the chimney St Nicholas came with a bound.

    Jordan Davis
    He was dressed all in fur, from his head to his foot,
    And his clothes were all tarnished with ashes and soot.

    Maddie from Maddie & Tae
    A bundle of Toys he had flung on his back,
    And he looked like a peddler, just opening his pack.

    Karen from Little Big Town
    His eyes-how they twinkled! his dimples how merry!
    His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry!

    Jon Pardi
    His droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow,
    And the beard of his chin was as white as the snow.

    The stump of a pipe he held tight in his teeth,
    And the smoke it encircled his head like a wreath.

    Brandon Lay
    He had a broad face and a little round belly,
    That shook when he laughed, like a bowlful of jelly!

    He was chubby and plump, a right jolly old elf,
    And I laughed when I saw him, in spite of myself!

    Phillip from Little Big Town
    A wink of his eye and a twist of his head,
    Soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread.

    Josh Turner
    He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work,
    And filled all the stockings, then turned with a jerk.

    Luke Bryan
    And laying his finger aside of his nose,
    And giving a nod, up the chimney he rose!

    He sprang to his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle,
    And away they all flew like the down of a thistle.

    Alan Jackson
    But I heard him exclaim, as he drove out of sight,
    “Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good-night!”

     

     

    Audio / Twas The Night Before Christmas (produced)

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    Audio / Twas The Night Before Christmas (dry, no music bed)

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  • NEWS AND NOTES: Dierks Bentley, Sam Hunt, Jon Pardi, Mickey Guyton

    Sam Hunt and Jon Pardi are among the performers added to the lineup for NEW YEAR’S EVE LIVE: NASHVILLE’S BIG BASH, a star-studded entertainment special, which will air LIVE from Music City, Friday, December 31st (8:00-11:00 PM, ET/PT, 11:30 PM-1:30 AM, ET/PT) on CBS , and available to stream live and on demand on Paramount+*.  Additional performers includeLady A, Ingrid Andress, BRELAND, King Calaway, Riley Green, Chris Janson, Carly Pearce and Lainey Wilson.  They join the previously announced stellar lineup that includes Jason Aldean, Jimmie Allen, Kelsea Ballerini, Gabby Barrett, Dierks Bentley, Brooks & Dunn, Luke Bryan, Elle King, Miranda Lambert, Darius Rucker, Blake Shelton, Cole Swindell and Zac Brown Band. The five-hour broadcast will feature a staggering hit parade of more than 50 back-to-back performances and cross multiple time zones, live from the destination home of country music. Nashville will count down with the East Coast at midnight and keep the party going through midnight Central Time with the city’s renowned Music Note Drop®.


     

    Mickey Guyton performed the holiday classic, “O Holy Night,” on the Tamron Hall Show. Check it out below.

    You can also catch Mickey with Pentatonix for the Cracker Barrel Sounds of the Season.

    This year’s Christmas program ‘Sounds of the Season: Together Again!’ Watch exclusive performances and fun holiday traditions by Mickey and Pentatonix on Cracker Barrel’s YouTube and Facebook pages all month long, and tune into the debut of the full special on December 15th!