• JOSH TURNER GETS READY TO RELEASE HIS LATEST SINGLE, ‘ALL ABOUT YOU.’

    Josh Turner is getting ready to hit the airwaves with his new single, “All About You,” the follow-up to his recent No. 1 single, “Hometown Girl.” The song goes for adds at radio on Monday (May 15th).

    Written by Craig Wiseman and Justin Weaver, the tune “is a fun, hillbilly kind of song, you know, with very, more new, updated, fresh production,” according to Josh.

    Later this week, the North Carolina native is headed to Minnesota to play a pair of shows, followed by a date in Orlando, Florida May 23rd.

    Audio / Josh Turner says new single, "All About You," is a fun song with fresh production.

    Download

    Josh Turner (All About You) OC: …production. :09
    “‘All About You’ is a fun, hillbilly kind of song, you know, with very, more new, updated, fresh production.”

    Audio / LINER Josh Turner (All About You) 1

    Download

    Audio / LINER Josh Turner (All About You) 2

    Download
  • CARRIE UNDERWOOD IS HONORED BY BMI.

    1e31c1c7003933ba0868d33f_576x416
    Carrie Underwood was honored at the 69th annual BMI/NAB Dinner held this week at the Wynn Encore in Las Vegas. Carrie was recognized with the BMI Board of Directors Award for the impact her music has had on the broadcast industry, as well as her many contributions as a songwriter. With her string of radio hits, groundbreaking videos and television performances, Underwood was the ideal recipient of the BMI/NAB honor.
    In addition, BMI took the opportunity to present Underwood with the latest three of her 14 career BMI songwriting awards for “Heartbeat,” “Little Toy Guns,” and “Smoke Break.” These awards are traditionally given out at BMI’s Country Awards Dinner in November, which Underwood was unable to attend due to her hosting preparation for the CMA Awards.  She was also presented with nine BMI “Million-Air” Certificates, which are acknowledgements of songs that have achieved one million or more spins on radio. Underwood now has a career total of 14 BMI “Million-Air” certificates. (Full list below)
    Hosted annually by the BMI Board of Directors, the annual NAB dinner salutes the Directors of the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) and celebrates the longstanding partnership between the songwriting community and the broadcast industry.  
    Mike O’Neill, BMI’s President and CEO, spoke to the room of industry heavy-hitters about Underwood’s impressive career and commented that, “Not every superstar is a songwriter, but Carrie is. She has earned the respect of her colleagues, not only for her singing, but also for her brilliant songwriting and storytelling, and that is an accomplishment that cannot be overstated.”
    In accepting the award, Underwood remarked, “I am beyond blessed to get to do what I do, and am grateful that I am surrounded by such incredible people. I love the people that I get to work with — it’s a joy, a pleasure, and a privilege. Thank you so much BMI for everything that you have done for me and my music.” After her remarks, Underwood performed several songs from her impressive repertoire including “Two Black Cadillacs,” “So Small,” “Jesus, Take the Wheel,” and “Smoke Break.” 
    Past recipients of the BMI/NAB honor include Dolly Parton, Willie Nelson, Graham Nash, Paul Simon, Carlos Santana, and John Williams, among others.
    Carrie Underwood emerged from the promise of her 2005 American Idol win to become a true multi-format, multi-media superstar, spanning achievements in music, television, and film. A seven-time GRAMMY® Award winner, she has amassed over 100 major honors, sold 64 million records worldwide, and recorded 25 #1 singles, 13 of which she co-wrote, with a catalog of songs that have been streamed more than 2.6 billion times worldwide. The first female artist to be twice named the Academy of Country Music’s Entertainer of the Year, Underwood was recognized by Pollstar as the top female country touring artist for each of her headlining tours in 2008, 2010, 2012, and for 2016’s “The Storyteller Tour – Stories in the Round.” Underwood also topped Billboard’s Top 25 Tours of 2016 as the leading female country artist and was the leading female artist on Country Aircheck’s top country radio performers list for her success in both 2015 and 2016. All five studio albums, Some Hearts, Carnival Ride, Play On, Blown Away and Storyteller – are certified Platinum or multi-Platinum, and each an American Music Awards winner as Favorite Country Album – and tallied an incredible 40 weeks at #1 on Billboard’s Top Country Albums chart.  The RIAA’s highest certified country album artist to debut this century, Underwood also holds the distinction of the highest album certification of any country artist to emerge since 2000 with the 8x Multi-Platinum success of her 2005 debut, Some Hearts.  She is the all-time Top Country Artist (male or female) on RIAA’s Digital Single Ranking, also placing her among the Top 5 females in the history of RIAA’s Digital Single Program across all genres.  In December of 2014, she released her Platinum-certified Greatest Hits: Decade #1, which produced two new #1 hits co-written by Underwood, including the RIAA-Platinum, GRAMMY-winning “Something in the Water.” 2016 marked Underwood’s fourth season as the voice of primetime television’s #1 program, Sunday Night Football, and in November, she returned for a ninth consecutive year as co-host of the CMA Awards. The Grand Ole Opry member also demonstrated her diversity in 2013, starring as Maria von Trapp in NBC’s three-hour holiday blockbuster, the Emmy®-winning The Sound of Music Live!, whose airings attracted 44 million viewers. The reigning CMA Female Vocalist of the Year, Underwood recently claimed her fourth win in the category amid the ongoing success of her chart-topping fifth studio album, Storyteller – the only country album to launch to Platinum certification since the time of its release in October of 2015. 
     **   Underwood received the nine Million-Air Certificates for the following songs:  “Cowboy Casanova” (2 million plays),  “Last Name” (2 million), “Undo It” (2 million), “Heartbeat” (1 million), “ Little Toy Guns” (1 million), “See You Again” (1 million), “Smoke Break” (1 million),  “Something in the Water” (1 million), and “Two Black Cadillacs” (1 million). She has already received “Million-Air” Awards for the following songs: “All American Girl” (2 million), “Good Girl” (1 million), “Mama’s Song” (1 million), “So Small” (1 million), and “Temporary Home” (1 million).

    photo credit: Mike O’Neill, President and CEO of BMI, Carrie Underwood, and Paul Karpowicz, Chairman, BMI Board of Directors & President, Meredith Local Media Group Present Underwood with the BMI Board of Directors Awards at the 69th Annual BMI/NAB Dinner

  • NEWS AND NOTES: Chris, Shania, Dierks, Keith, Kip, Lauren, Lady A

    Chris Stapleton will appear on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon on Monday (May 8th) and Howard Stern on Tuesday (May 9th).

    Chris Stapleton and Shania Twain will perform during NBC’s Today Show summer concert series. Shania will take the stage in Rockefeller Plaza June 16th, while Chris, who just released his album From A Room, Volume 1, is scheduled to perform July 18th. Zac Brown Band, Brad Paisley, Thomas Rhett, Jason Aldean, Tim McGraw and Faith Hill, Harry Styles, Miley Cyrus, Bruno Mars and Ed Sheeran are also scheduled to perform throughout the summer.

    Dierks Bentley appears on ABC’s Good Morning America on Tuesday (May 9th) to announce the lineup for this year’s GMA Summer Concert Series.

    Keith Urban earned platinum certification for several of his albums, including Ripcord, Fuse, Get Closer and Greatest Hits-18 Kids.

    Kip Moore and Lauren Alaina will take part in the fourth annual Georgia on My Mind concert, hosted by the Peach Pickers (songwriters Rhett Akins, Dallas Davidson and Ben Hayslip), on May 16th at Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium. The event is a fundraiser for the Georgia Music Foundation and will also feature performances by Michael Ray and Chris Janson.

    Lady Antebellum will take part in a multi-artist episode of CMT Crossroads featuring Earth, Wind & Fire. The latest installment will film in downtown Nashville during this year’s CMA Music Festival.

  • JON PARDI RETURNS TO SCHOOL.

    Jon Pardi made a surprise visit to his alma mater, Dixon High School, on Wednesday (April 26th). The California native addressed the 2017 graduating class as part of the school’s Decision Day festivities and also performed for the entire student body.

     

    Jon is starting to hit the airwaves with his new single, “Heartache on the Dance Floor,” which is the follow-up to two No. 1 songs, “Head Over Boots” and “Dirt on My Boots.”

    He has a string of four tour dates beginning Thursday (April 27th) in San Jose, followed by stops in Indio on Friday (April 28th) at the annual Stagecoach Festival, in Fresno on Saturday (April 29th) and in Reno on Sunday (April 30th).

  • LADY ANTEBELLUM PERFORMS THE NATIONAL ANTHEM DURING GAME 6 OF ROUND 2 BETWEEN THE NASHVILLE PREDATORS AND ST. LOUIS BLUES.

    The members of Lady Antebellum are the latest country superstars to perform the National Anthem before Game 6 of Round 2 of the Stanley Cup Playoffs between the Nashville Predators and St. Louis Blues on Sunday (May 7th).

    The trio follow Carrie UnderwoodLuke BryanLittle Big Town and Vince Gill with daughters Jenny and Corrina in singing the Anthem during the Preds Stanley Cup Playoff run.

    The Preds made history by winning 3 – 1, clinching the series 4-2 and moving them into the semi-finals for the Stanley Cup. For the first time in their nearly two-decade history, the Predators are headed to the Western Conference finals

     

    Dierks Bentley and his band are pretty happy about the Preds  win.

     

  • JOSH TURNER RETURNS WITH A NEW EDITION OF ‘UNSCRIPTED’ AND TRIES TO EXPLAIN SOUTHERN SAYINGS TO CHILDREN.

    Josh Turner is joined by the kids again, and this time they’re trying to answer questions about Southern Sayings! Check out this new episode of #Unscripted! #DeepSouth

    Video / Josh Turner Unscripted -- Southern Sayings with kids

  • LUKE LAUNCHES HIS HFE TOUR WITH TWO SOLD-OUT NIGHTS AND SURPRISE GUESTS IN NASHVILLE.

    93707f44dc8aae92a9ae8996_880x586
    Four-time Entertainer of the Year Luke Bryan, who is a master at reading fans from the stage and delivering exactly what they want (Tennessean), did just that as he kept his fans on their feet during a two-night run at Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena this weekend. Luke debuted his new tour, Huntin’, Fishin’ And Lovin’ Every Day Tour, with TWO sold-out shows.

    Luke’s weekend performances included many of his 18 No. 1 hits, superstar guests and a score check on Friday night as the Nashville Predators played simultaneously in St. Louis in second round playoffs away from Bridgestone’s home turf.

    SAM_7972 - edited
    NASHVILLE, TN - MAY 06:  Singer-songwriters Luke Bryan (L) and Carrie Underwood (R) perform on stage and Kicks off the "Huntin', Fishin' And Lovin' Every Day" Tour at Bridgestone Arena on May 6, 2017 in Nashville, Tennessee.  (Photo by John Shearer/Getty Images for Schmidt PR) *** Local Caption *** Luke Bryan;Carrie Underwood

    NASHVILLE, TN – MAY 06: Singer-songwriters Luke Bryan (L) and Carrie Underwood (R) perform on stage and Kicks off the “Huntin’, Fishin’ And Lovin’ Every Day” Tour at Bridgestone Arena on May 6, 2017 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by John Shearer/Getty Images for Schmidt PR) *** Local Caption *** Luke Bryan;Carrie Underwood

    NASHVILLE, TN - MAY 06:  Singer-songwriters Cole Swindell (L) and Luke Bryan (R) perform on stage and Kicks off the "Huntin', Fishin' And Lovin' Every Day" Tour at Bridgestone Arena on May 6, 2017 in Nashville, Tennessee.  (Photo by John Shearer/Getty Images for Schmidt PR) *** Local Caption *** Luke Bryan;Cole Swindell

    NASHVILLE, TN – MAY 06: Singer-songwriters Cole Swindell (L) and Luke Bryan (R) perform on stage and Kicks off the “Huntin’, Fishin’ And Lovin’ Every Day” Tour at Bridgestone Arena on May 6, 2017 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by John Shearer/Getty Images for Schmidt PR) *** Local Caption *** Luke Bryan;Cole Swindell


    Karen Fairchild of CMA and ACM Vocal Group of the Year Little Big Town performed with Luke on Friday night singing their No. 1 duet “Home Alone Tonight” and “Girl Crush.” On Saturday’s show, 2016 NSAI Songwriter of the Year and six-time No. 1 platinum-selling artist Cole Swindell joined Luke on “Roller Coaster” and “This Is How We Roll.” And closing out the weekend’s superstar appearances was seven-time Grammy® award winner Carrie Underwood, who took the stage sporting a Predators #12 t-shirt, performed “Play It Again” and “I Told You So” with Luke.

    SAMSUNG CSC

    SAMSUNG CSC

    Backstage Luke was surprised with a commemorative plaque from UMG Nashville Chairman & CEO Mike Dungan and UMG Nashville President Cindy Mabe in celebration of four consecutive years as the most streamed country artist. To listen go here: http://strm.to/BestOfLukeBryan
    Huntin’, Fishin’ And Lovin’ Every Day Tour will run through this fall with special guest Brett Eldredge. Artists sharing the opening slot throughout the tour’s run include Lauren Alaina, Craig Campbell, Adam Craig, Seth Ennis and Granger Smith.

    Huntin’, Fishin’ And Lovin’ Every Day Tour
    5-12                 Bristow, VA                 Jiffy Lube Live
    5-13                 Hartford, CT                Xfinity Theatre
    5-18 & 19        Moline, IL                    iWireless Center
    6-1                   Cincinnati, OH             Riverbend Music Center
    6-2                   Cullman, AL                Rock the South*
    6-3                   St. Louis, MO              Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre
    6-9                   Little Rock, AR            Verizon Arena
    6-10                 Tulsa, OK                    BOK Center
    6-15, 16 & 17  Atlanta, GA                 Verizon Amphitheatre
    6-23                 Hershey, PA                Hershey Park
    6-24                 Mansfield, MA            Xfinity Center
    6-25                 Columbia, MD             Merriweather Post Pavilion
    6-29                 Milwaukee, WI            Summerfest*
    7-1                   Dauphin, MB               Dauphin’s Countryfest*
    7-13                 Bethel, NY                   Bethel Woods Center for the Arts
    7-15                 Cleveland, OH             Progressive Field
    7-16                 Holmdel, NJ                P.N.C. Bank Arts Center
    7-21                 Kansas City, MO         Sprint Center
    7-22                   Eau Claire, WI           Country Jam USA*
    7-23                   Brooklyn, MI              Faster Horses*
    7-26                   Cheyenne, WY            Cheyenne Frontier Days*
    7-28                 Central Point, OR         Country Crossings Music Festival*
    7-29                 Mountain Home, ID     Mountain Home Country Music Festival*
    7-30                 Quincy, WA                Watershed Festival*
    8-1 & 2            Anchorage AK             Sullivan Sports Arena
    8-5                   Detroit Lakes, MN       WE Fest*
    8-8, 10 & 11    Gilford, NH                 Bank of New Hampshire Pavilion  
    8-12                 Syracuse, NY               Lakeview Amphitheater
    8-13                 Oro-Medonte ON         Boots and Hearts Music Festival*
    8-17                 Virginia Beach, VA     Veterans United Home Loans Amphitheater at Virginia Beach
    8-18                 Charlotte, NC               PNC Music Pavilion
    8-19                 Raleigh, NC                 Coastal Credit Union Music Park at Walnut Creek
    8-25                 Darien Center, NY       Darien Lake Performing Arts Center
    8-26                 Saratoga Springs, NY   Saratoga Performing Arts Center
    8-27                 Jones Beach, NY         Northwell Health at Jones Beach Theater
    9-1                   Lexington, KY             Red, White & Boom*
    9-3                   Panama City Beach, FL   Pepsi Gulf Coast Jam
    9-6                   Scranton, PA                The Pavilion at Montage Mountain
    9-8                   Philadelphia, PA          Citizens Bank Park
    9-9                   Pittsburgh, PA              KeyBank Pavilion
    9-15                 Indianapolis, IN           Klipsch Music Center
    9-16                 Chicago, IL                  Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre
    9-21                 Austin, TX                   Austin360 Amphitheater
    9-22                 Houston, TX                Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion presented by Huntsman
    9-23                 Dallas, TX                   Starplex Pavilion
    10-12               Concord, CA               Concord Pavilion
    10-13               Sacramento, CA           Toyota Amphitheatre
    10-14               Mtn. View, CA            Shoreline Amphitheatre
    10-19               Albuquerque, NM        Isleta Amphitheater
    10-21               Salt Lake City, UT       USANA Amphitheatre
    10-26               Phoenix, AZ                AK-Chin Pavilion
    10-27               San Diego, CA             Sleep Train Amphitheatre
    10-28               San Bernardino. CA     Glen Helen Amphitheater
    *Festival dates, not “Huntin’, Fishin’, And Lovin’ Every Day Tour” 
    Live Nation is the national tour promoter for the “Huntin’, Fishin’ And Lovin’ Every Day Tour” and Cabela’s, the World’s Foremost Outfitter of hunting, fishing and outdoor gear, is a sponsor. Citi is the official credit card of the tour. Citi cardmembers will have access to presale tickets through Citi’s Private Pass Program. For complete presale details visit www.citiprivatepass.com and additional information atwww.lukebryan.com and www.livenation.com. Tickets for select dates will become available as part of Live Nation’s Country Megaticket going on sale Jan. 27 at www.megaticket.com.
    ABOUT LUKE BRYAN
    Country music superstar Luke Bryan is a two-time Academy of Country Music and Country Music Association Entertainer of the Year and has hosted the ACM Awards for five consecutive years. Since the debut of his first album in 2007 he has placed 18 singles at No.1, sold over 10 Million albums, sold more than 40 million tracks with three Billion music streams.   Luke’s concert tours have consistently sold out shows across North America including many NFL Stadiums like the Patriot’s Gillette Stadium where he played back-to-back sold out concerts last summer. Luke has also sold out Chicago’s Soldier Field, Cleveland’s First Energy Stadium, the AT&T Stadium in Dallas, Denver’s Sports Authority Field at Mile High, Ford Field in Detroit, home of the Vikings at US Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, Pittsburgh’s Heinz Field, and Levi Stadium in San Francisco. In the last three years, Luke has performed to nearly five Million fans on tour.

    For a one-stop shop for everything Luke Bryan, his community of fans have unparalleled access to his life through Luke Bryan’s official App. Launched in June 2015 in partnership with Disciple Media, the app offers everything from exclusive live streams to updates from the road, competitions to video premieres, exclusive merchandise and more. The App is available now on the Apple App Store and Google Play.


    Visit www.LukeBryan.com or follow Luke on Twitter @LukeBryanOnline, Instagram and Facebook
  • EASTON CORBIN FINDS A PLACE TO WORK OUT EVERYWHERE HE GOES.

    Easton Corbin can work out anywhere! The fit and fab country star was in an office today and decided to do a few pull-ups…on a door.

    Easton, who plays in Tulsa, Oklahoma on Thursday (April 27th), is currently making his way up the country charts with his latest single, “A Girl Like You.”

  • DIERKS BENTLEY IS SOARING OVER HIS APPOINTMENT TO THE NASHVILLE AIRPORT AUTHORITY’S BOARD OF DIRECTORS.

    Dierks Bentley has been confirmed by the Metro Council to fill the latest vacancy on the Nashville Airport Authority’s Board of Directors. He was nominated to the board last month by Nashville Mayor Megan Barry as her nominee.

    “I just recently found out that the nomination was confirmed for my position on the Airport Authority Board, which is pretty cool,” says Dierks. “I think there’s nine members on this board. The board really helps kind of oversee the Nashville airports, the John Tune, where I fly out a bunch, and obviously, our bigger airport, our main airport BNA. But there’s a lot of expansion going on over there right now. The airport is the heart of the city. It is where, everything runs through the airport. We’ve always had a great airport. One of my favorite things about Nashville is the airport. It’s small and easy to use and you go to these other cities and it’s complicated. It’s tough as the city’s grown, the airport’s had to grow a little bit and there’s some changes that happened that kind of hurt at first, but they had to happen because our city is just exploding. I’m honored to get a chance to sit on this board and oversee some of the growth and try to make this airport as friendly as possible to all our fans that travel here to come and watch the concerts and obviously all of the commerce and business folks, as well.”

    He started flying planes back in 1994 for the love of it, but then once he got married, it made a lot of sense to fly to and from tour dates and is a big advocate for aviation.

    “I do love aviation. For me, it plays a central role in my life,” he says. “I couldn’t continue doing country music without flying, because I have a lot going on back here and my band guys do too. They all fly with me, and there’s less stress when we get out there. Our families are happy because we’ve been with them longer and our kids are happy, and we’re able to go out there and rock those shows even harder knowing that we’re getting as much time at home as we possibly can. It’s a big deal. Everyone who I’ve turned onto flying from Randy Houser to a bunch of people I’ve introduced to them to a six-cylinder engine, what a six-cylinder engine and one propeller can do for you. I mean, it’s a game-changer, so it’s been a big part of my life, something I’m a big advocate of and I’m really excited about being a part of the Airport Authority Board.”

    He calls his plane “The Time Machine,” because it literally buys him time to spend with his family, which includes his beautiful wife Cassidy and his three children – Evie (rhymes with Chevy), Jordan and Knox.

    Dierks is currently sitting inside the Top Five on the country charts with “Black,” the title track from his latest album.

    Dierks is headlining his What the Hell Tour, featuring Jon Pardi and Cole Swindell, and they make a stop in Wichita, Kansas on Friday (May 5th).

    Audio / Dierks Bentley confirms his appointment to the Nashville Airport Authority Board.

    Download

    Dierks Bentley (Nashville Airport Authority) OC: …folks, as well. :57
    “Well, I just recently found out that the nomination was confirmed for my position on the Airport Authority Board, which is pretty cool. I think there’s nine members on this board. The board really helps kind of oversee the Nashville airports, the John Tune, where I fly out a bunch, and obviously, our bigger airport, our main airport BNA. But there’s a lot of expansion going on over there right now. The airport is the heart of the city. It is where, everything runs through the airport. We’ve always had a great airport. One of my favorite things about Nashville is the airport. It’s small and easy to use and you go to these other cities and it’s complicated. It’s tough as the city’s grown, the airport’s had to grow a little bit and there’s some changes that happened that kind of hurt at first, but they had to happen because our city is just exploding. I’m honored to get a chance to sit on this board and oversee some of the growth and try to make this airport as friendly as possible to all our fans that travel here to come and watch the concerts and obviously all of the commerce and business folks, as well.”

    Audio / Dierks Bentley explains why he’s a big advocate for flying.

    Download

    Dierks Bentley (Nashville Airport Authority) 2 OC: …Authority Board. :46
    “I do love aviation. For me, it plays a central role in my life. I couldn’t continue doing country music without flying, because I have a lot going on back here and my band guys do too. They all fly with me, and there’s less stress when we get out there. Our families are happy because we’ve been with them longer and our kids are happy, and we’re able to go out there and rock those shows even harder knowing that we’re getting as much time at home as we possibly can. It’s a big deal. Everyone who I’ve turned onto flying from Randy Houser to a bunch of people I’ve introduced to them to a six-cylinder engine, what a six-cylinder engine and one propeller can do for you. I mean, it’s a game-changer, so it’s been a big part of my life, something I’m a big advocate of and I’m really excited about being a part of the Airport Authority Board.”

  • DIERKS BENTLEY IS EXCITED TO WITNESS THE NASHVILLE PREDATORS IN THE STANLEY CUP PLAYOFFS.

    Longtime hockey fan, and especially a fan of the Nashville Predators, Dierks Bentley couldn’t be more thrilled that the NHL team is heading into Round 2 of the Stanley Cup Playoffs against the St. Louis Blues Wednesday night (April 26th). Dierks was in attendance with thousands of Preds fans — including Vince Gill, Luke Bryan who sang the National Anthem and Carrie Underwood, who’s married to Preds captain Mike Fisher – when they won Round 1 against the Chicago Blackhawks 4-0.


    “Nashville is just on fire right now, and what I think is so cool about the Predators is it’s a young team, [and] the energy in that building [Bridgestone Arena] is just, this energy of youthful exuberance, excitement, you know? Nothing against Chicago or teams we’ve played before or will play, but we’re an expansion team and it wasn’t that long ago when even the players were donating salary and money to buy tickets to keep the team here,” says Dierks.

    “Just to watch the team grow over the last five, six years and even when we’re playing a team like the Blackhawks, it used to be half and half – red jerseys and gold jerseys. It’s all gold. It’s all hardcore Predators fans, and to move on now to the [St. Louis] Blues and with every game they win, it just grows more, hockey just grows more and more exciting in this town. More people come check it out. You know, we’ve got the greatest location for an arena right there downtown. It’s just so fun to be part of that energy and this moment for the Preds. So, hopefully, they can keep it going on. It feels like they’re really got a good thing going.”

    Dierks has been a hockey fan for a very long time, even suiting up to play pick-up games or practice with professional teams before his shows, as well as playing in the NHL All-Star game last year. He has even been part of a local Nashville hockey team named the Iceholes.

    The Arizona native is closing in on the Top 5 on the country charts with his latest single, “Black,” the title track of his current album.

    Audio / Dierks Bentley talks about the Nashville Predators as they enter the second series of the Stanley Cup Playoffs against the St. Louis Blues.

    Download

    Dierks Bentley (Nashville Predators) OC: …thing going. :58
    “You know, Nashville is just on fire right now, and what I think is so cool about the Predators is it’s a young team, [and] the energy in that building [Bridgestone Arena] is just, this energy of youthful exuberance, excitement, you know? Nothing against Chicago or teams we’ve played before or will play, but we’re an expansion team and it wasn’t that long ago when even the players were donating salary and money to buy tickets to keep the team here. Just to watch the team grow over the last five, six years and even when we’re playing a team like the Blackhawks, it used to be half and half – red jerseys and gold jerseys. It’s all gold. It’s all hardcore Predators fans, and to move on now to the [St. Louis] Blues and with every game they win, it just grows more, hockey just grows more and more exciting in this town. More people come check it out. You know, we’ve got the greatest location for an arena right there downtown. It’s just so fun to be part of that energy and this moment for the Preds. So, hopefully, they can keep it going on. It feels like they’re really got a good thing going.”