GRAMMY, CMA, CMT, and ACM award-winning country supergroup, Little Big Town, is set to release the song of the summer, “Summer Fever,” Wednesday, June 6th to Country radio and all digital service providers.

LBT’s Karen Fairchild, Kimberly Schlapman, Phillip Sweet, and Jimi Westbrook will open the 2018 CMT Music Awards that same day with a performance of “Summer Fever” and continue as the night’s hosts for the duration of the show.

The track, co-written by Fairchild, Jesse Frasure, Cary Barlowe, and Sam Romans features Fairchild on lead vocals and encapsulates the spirit of summertime with an infectious melody and nostalgic guitar tones set against the group’s famous four-part harmonies.  “Summer Fever” was co-produced by Frasure and Shane McAnally and mixed by Spike Stent in Los Angeles.

“It’s always amazing when a song seems to just wait for its own perfect timing,” said Frasure. “Getting the chance to bring this song to life in the writing room with my co-writers, and through the opportunity to co-produce with my friend Shane McAnally has been a dream come true.  I can’t wait to hear this song coming out of a rolled down window this Summer.”

Photo Credit: Williams + Hirakawa

Summer Fever Creative: Milkglass

Sam Hunt is set to headline the fifth annual Firestone Legends Day concert on Saturday (May 26th), and he’s looking forward to performing for the crowds gathered for the Indianapolis 500.

“The race is the draw, but when you have people together in a good mood for a common cause and you can come in and provide entertainment during the down time, it’s like you’re already ahead when you start playing,” says Sam. “There is something about having people come out to a show and specifically come out to see you, but there’s also something about getting a bunch of people together to have a good time and playing some music and that’s what we’ll be doing at the race. I’ve never been to this style of race and I’ve never been in this environment before. I’ve gone to some races back around the house at Talladega, which is just down the road from my [old] house, and they’re just so festive. The race culture is unique and specific, and I can get in there and mix it up with ‘em.”

This will be the first live performance of his new hit, “Downtown’s Dead,” which he just released last week. It’s the follow-up to 2017’s smash hit, “Body Like a Back Road.”

He joins Luke Bryan for his What Makes You Country XL Stadium Tour May 31st in Toronto.

Carrie Underwood has high hopes for the Nashville Predators, a team which includes her husband Mike Fisher. Last year, the Preds went to the Stanley Cup Finals for the first time, and she thinks 2018 is going to be a big playoff for the team, as well.

“I think this year is definitely going to be another one for the books, and I think they’re going to be amazing and play amazing,” says Carrie. “Whatever they do, they’re just gonna give it their all, so hopefully, that leads them back to another Stanley Cup Final round, but we’ll see. But I know they’re excited.”

The Nashville Predators have made it to the second round of the Stanley Cup playoffs, which has them hitting the ice against the Winnipeg Jets. They’re down 2-1 in the series and are set to play Game 4 on Thursday (May 3rd) in Winnipeg.  Carrie brought the team good luck when she performed the Anthem on Sunday at Game 2 as they won the game in double overtime.

Carrie is making her way up the country charts with her new song, “Cry Pretty,” which is the title cut from her upcoming album, due September 14th.

The Summer of 2018 is shaping up to be “hotter than a hoochie-coochie” for Alan Jackson and his fans! The Country Music Hall of Famer is set to be honored at a series of events…all while continuing to bring the music that earned him those accolades to audiences far-and-wide!

Alan will become a member of the Songwriters Hall of Fame during a gala ceremony in New York City on June 14th. Already a member of the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame, Alan’s induction will place him alongside the greatest composers of all-time – from the likes of Irving Berlin and Cole Porter…to Motown greats Lamont Dozier, Brian Holland and Eddie Holland…John Lennon and Paul McCartney…film icons John Williams and Henry Mancini…rock greats Bob Dylan, Bruce Springsteen, Mick Jagger and Keith Richards…and country legends like Merle Haggard, Harlan Howard, Kris Kristofferson, Loretta Lynn and Willie Nelson.

On August 22nd, Alan will be saluted by the Academy of Country Music at the annual ACM Honors event in Nashville as the recipient of this year’s Cliffie Stone Icon Award. One of the organization’s highest honors, the award is only given to artists or industry leaders who have “advanced the popularity of the genre through their contributions in multiple facets of the industry such as songwriting, recording, production, touring, film, television, literary works, philanthropic contributions and other goodwill efforts.” This will be Alan’s 19^th ACM Award.

All this comes on the heels of this month’s Billboard Music Awards, where Alan’s Precious Memories Collection was named Top Christian Album of the year!

Through the summer, Alan will be performing songs he’s written and recorded that have earned him “icon” status and made him a Hall of Famer. Warm weather anthems “Chattahoochee” (celebrating its 25^th anniversary of being a summertime staple), “It’s Five O’Clock Somewhere” and “Summertime Blues”…signature songs like “Drive” and “Gone Country”…and such poignant ballads as “Remember When” and “Where Were You (When the World Stopped Turning)” will be heard as Alan plays amphitheaters, festivals and arenas through the summer and into the fall (full list of dates below).

ALAN JACKSON’S 2018 “HONKY TONK HIGHWAY TOUR:”

All cities/shows listed are currently on sale!

Friday, June 22 – Brandon, MS (Brandon Amphitheater) ++

Saturday, June 23 – Orange Beach, FL (The Wharf) ++

Friday, July 27 – Central Point, OR (Country Crossing Music Festival)

Saturday, July 28 – Mountain Home, ID (Mountain Home Country Music Festival)

Friday, August 10 – Canandaigua, NY (CMAC) ^^

Saturday, August 11 – Oro-Medonte, ONT (Boots ‘n’ Hearts Music Festival)

Thursday, August 16 – Vienna, VA (Wolf Trap) **

Friday, August 17 – Gilford, NH (Bank of New Hampshire Pavilion) **

Friday, September 14 – North Charleston, SC (North Charleston Coliseum) ++

Saturday, September 15 – Charlotte, NC (Spectrum Center) ++

Friday, September 21 – Omaha, NE (CenturyLink Center) ++

Saturday, September 22 – Rogers, AR (Walmart Music Amphitheater) ++

++ with Randy Houser

** with Lee Ann Womack

^^ special guest to be announced

ABOUT ALAN JACKSON:

Recently inducted to the Country Music Hall of Fame and newly named as a 2018 inductee to the Songwriters Hall of Fame, Alan Jackson’s membership among country music’s all-time greats is the latest in a long line of career-defining accolades that include three CMA Entertainer of the Year honors, more than 25 years of membership in the Grand Ole Opry, a 2016 Billboard ranking as one of the Top 10 Country Artists of All-Time, induction to the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame, and the Heritage Award as the most-performed country songwriter-artist of ASCAP’s first 100 years.

The man from rural Newnan, GA has sold nearly 60-million albums worldwide, ranks as one of the 10 best-selling male vocalists of all-time in all genres. He has released more than 60 singles – registering 50 Top Ten hits and 35 #1s (including 26 Billboard chart-toppers). He has earned more than 150 music industry awards – including 18 Academy of Country Music Awards, 16 Country Music Association Awards, a pair of Grammys and ASCAP’s Founders and Golden Note Awards.

Jackson is one of the most successful and respected singer-songwriters in music. He is in the elite company of Paul McCartney and John Lennon among songwriters who’ve written more than 20 songs that they’ve recorded and taken to the top of the charts. Jackson is one of the best-selling artists since the inception of SoundScan, ranking alongside the likes of Eminem and Metallica. He’s also the man behind one of Nashville’s most-popular new tourist stops, AJ’s Good Time Bar, a four-story honky-tonk in the heart of downtown (along a stretch of Broadway known as the “Honky Tonk Highway”) featuring daily live music and a rooftop view of Music City.

This Friday (April 27th) marks the release of Keith Urban’s GRAFFITI U, his first new studio album in nearly two years.  The much-anticipated follow up to 2016’s record-breaking, No. 1, platinum album RIPCORD, GRAFFITI U is a natural musical progression that began with FUSE, but it also marks where Urban currently resides creatively. It’s this sense of presence during his writing and recording process that gives each of Urban’s albums an unabashed honesty and authenticity.

“There were no parameters or preconceived ideas,” says Keith.  “I began this process with a completely blank canvas. Every initial spark is organic and then expanded upon, like the art of graffiti, so the name really fit the music. I also liked the idea of “you” the listener (or the audience), because this is an inclusive experience. And because of my last name we had a little grammatical fun and shortened it to U.”

When Keith titles his albums, he usually does it with a lot of care, time and consideration. The last two — Ripcord and Fuse — had energy-driven titles, while his new record, Graffiti U has a very free, no boundaries feel to it. “As the record started to reveal itself to me, the word ‘graffiti’ kept coming to me out of the blue,” says Keith. “I’ve always loved that word, loved the sound of the word, and then I loved the fact that it’s art-driven. When I think of graffiti, I think of self-expression, personal expression, absolutely personal expression whether you’re painting something on the side of a building in a city or whether you’re painting ‘Billy Bob Loves Charlene’ on the side of an overpass [laughs], it’s all graffiti and it’s all free and pure and very personal, and I thought this record feels like that to me.”

A soaring spirit spray-painted right from the heart, Keith’s curiosity powers each moment on GRAFFITI U and the very title speaks to that personal and passionate vibrancy, vitality, and vision.

Of his continued drive to collaborate and explore his musical curiosity, Keith says, “I’ve always been creatively curious and I follow that passionately. That’s why I work with different people, and on this album predominantly new people, giving me an opportunity to discover new musical sides of myself.”

When Keith titles his albums, he usually does it with a lot of care, time and consideration. The last two — Ripcord and Fuse — had energy-driven titles, while his new record, Graffiti U has a very free, no boundaries feel to it. “As the record started to reveal itself to me, the word ‘graffiti’ kept coming to me out of the blue,” says Keith. “I’ve always loved that word, loved the sound of the word, and then I loved the fact that it’s art-driven. When I think of graffiti, I think of self-expression, personal expression, absolutely personal expression whether you’re painting something on the side of a building in a city or whether you’re painting ‘Billy Bob Loves Charlene’ on the side of an overpass [laughs], it’s all graffiti and it’s all free and pure and very personal, and I thought this record feels like that to me.”

Graffiti U, which has already seen the release of “Female” and “Coming Home,” features over thirty songwriting, producer and featured guest performance credits, including Greg Wells, Dann Huff, Mike Elizondo, Ed Sheeran, Ross Copperman, JHart, Julia Michaels, Nicolle Galyon, J.R. Rotem, Shane McAnally, Shy Carter and a signature lick for “Coming Home,” which credits Merle Haggard as one of its songwriters.

GRAFFITI U TRACK LIST:

Coming Home (Featuring Julia Michaels)
Written by Keith Urban, J.R. Rotem, Julia Michaels, Merle Haggard, Nicolle Galyon
Produced by J.R. Rotem & Keith Urban

Never Comin Down
Written by Keith Urban, Josh Kerr, James Abrahart, Shy Carter
Produced by Josh Kerr & Keith Urban

Same Heart
Written by Keith Urban, Jason Evigan, Emily Weisband, Jordan Minton
Produced by Jason Evigan & Keith Urban

My Wave (Featuring Shy Carter)
Written by Keith Urban, Greg Wells, Shy Carter
Produced by Greg Wells & Keith Urban

Parallel Line
Written by Ed Sheeran, Benjamin Levin, Johnny McDaid, Julia Michaels, Amy Wadge
Contains elements of “Everglow” courtesy of Chris Martin, Will Champion, Jonny Buckland, Guy Berryman, Tor Hermansen and Mikkel Eriksen used by permission.
Produced by Benny Blanco, Ed Sheeran, Johnny McDaid & Keith Urban

Drop Top (Featuring Kassi Ashton)
Written by Keith Urban, Jimmy Robbins, Mozella, Josh Osborne
Produced by Jesse Shatkin, Jimmy Robbins & Keith Urban

Way Too Long
Written by Oscar Holter, Julia Michaels, Nate Ruess
Produced by Oscar Holter for Wolf Cousins Productions

Horses (Featuring Lindsay Ell)
Written by Matt Rad, Mozella, Jamie Scott
Produced by Matt Rad & Keith Urban

Gemini
Written by Keith Urban, Julia Michaels, Justin Tranter, Ian Kirkpatrick
Produced by Ian Kirkpatrick & Keith Urban

 Texas Time
Written by Max Townsley, Drew Erickson, Steve Lindsey, Dillon O’Brian
Produced by Mike Elizondo & Keith Urban

Love The Way It Hurts (So Good)
Written by Keith Urban, Ben Berger, Ryan Rabin, Ryan McMahon
Produced by Captain Cuts & Keith Urban

Female
Written by Nicolle Galyon, Ross Copperman, Shane McAnally
Produced by Ross Copperman, Dann Huff & Keith Urban

Steal My Thunder
Written by Keith Urban, Jason Evigan, Emily Weisband, Jordan Minton
Produced by Jason Evigan & Keith Urban

For more official Keith Urban news and information go to www.keithurban.net.

Darius Rucker is poised to enter the top of the country charts with his latest song, “For the First Time.” He says the song means “living life” to the fullest and doing something you’ve never done.

“For me, that song is really about life; about going out and living life and doing something you haven’t done before, because at this point in my life that’s something that’s so important to me – to do those bucket list things that you’ve never gotten to do,” says Darius. “And I just thought that song was perfect.”

Darius, who just performed his No. 1 hit “Wagon Wheel” on ABC’s American Idol finale, will return to national television on Thursday (May 24th) at 11:35pm ET as the musical guest for a special Fleet Week episode of “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon” on NBC. He will then grace the TODAY plaza stage for the Citi Summer Concert Series on Friday (May 25th).

The South Carolina native will hit the road with Lady Antebellum on their co-headlining Summer Plays On Tour, kicking off July 19th in Toronto.

Brothers Osborne’s TJ and John Osborne are headed across the pond for their first headlining UK tour. They kick it off Friday (May 4th) in Dublin, Ireland, followed by shows in Belfast, Birmingham, Bristol and London and are set to wrap May 13th in Glasgow.

The duo has become one of the UK’s favorite country acts to see live, and the guys couldn’t be more thrilled to head back overseas.

“We’re excited to get over for our first headline tour in the UK. We’ve been over there several times, and we’ve really been itching at getting back over there, and it’s close to being all sold-out and hopefully by the time we get there, it’ll be a completely sold-out tour,” says TJ. “And the fans, man, the fans. The only thing I can imagine what it was like was playing music in the United States in the ‘70s. They don’t really, they’re kind of just listening to music they think is good. They don’t really care what you call it, if it’s country, if it’s rock or it’s blues. They just like it or don’t, and they will show up if they think it’s authentic.”

For John, who is one of the best guitar pickers in Nashville and beyond, the UK is also home to many legendary guitarists. “The UK is home to some of the most legendary guitarists of all time. If Eric Clapton is from where you’re from, then you should be known that’s clearly a guitar area,” he says. “A lot of guys I listened to growing up are from the UK, so they have a huge love for that…It took Jimi Hendrix, he had to go to the UK for the world to understand what he was about. So, we’re stoked. We can’t wait to go back.”

When John and TJ return to the States, they only have a couple of days at home before they head out on tour with Dierks Bentley on his Mountain High Tour, kicking off May 18th in Columbia, Maryland.

The reigning ACM and CMA Vocal Duo of the Year are making their way up the country charts with “Shoot Me Straight,” from their new sophomore album, Port Saint Joe.

Little Big Town released the video for their version of “Rocket Man” this week. The song appears on the tribute album, Restoration: Reimagining the Songs of Elton John and Bernie Taupin, which is available now. Check out the video below.

The group will host next week’s CMT Music Awards, which will air live from Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena at 8pm ET on CMT.

John and TJ Osborne, Brothers Osborne, performed their latest single “Shoot Me Straight” on The Late Show With Stephen Colbert Monday night (April 23rd). Watch their performance below.

Backstage at the show, the guys met Cheech Marin and Tommy Chong (aka Cheech & Chong) and left with a parting gift.

Uh… met @cheechandchong backstage at @colbertlateshow. Great great people and left us with a very kind parting gift. Life complete. @CheechMarin @tommychong @chongschoice pic.twitter.com/MhBoY23q7D

— Brothers Osborne (@brothersosborne) April 24, 2018

Listen to the new album Port Saint Joe from Brothers Osborne here: http://strm.to/PortSaintJoeYD

Travis Denning is climbing the country charts with his debut single, “David Ashley Parker From Powder Springs,” a story based solely on his own experiences with a fake id that’s connecting with people everywhere.

“A friend of mine I went to high school with, he was one of my best friends in high school, he was going to school at University of Georgia. He went out one night and while he was out, he found an id on the floor of the bar, and he called me and said, ‘Hey man. It kind of looks a lot like you – looks like a skinny white boy with a buzzed haircut,’” recalls Travis. “So, he gave me that id, and that ultimately led to about a year-and-a-half of my life where like I was that guy, and that’s what I used to go to the bar, to buy beer at the gas station, you know whatever it was. And I think that’s when we wrote the song, I told my story. I told my version of the story.”

Travis shot the video for the song earlier this week, and the REAL David Ashley Parker (real name is Ashley David Parker) showed up.

“One of these I sure hope I get to meet…” and today I did. Y’all say hey to Mr. Ashley David Parker. #theREALDAP #FirstNameIsAshley pic.twitter.com/z1o6spolry

— Travis Denning (@Travis_Denning) May 21, 2018

For all information on music and tour dates, go to travisdenning.com.