• ALAN JACKSON WRAPS FIRST LEG OF 25TH ANNIVERSARY KEEPIN’ IT COUNTRY TOUR.

    NASHVILLE, Tenn. (May 26, 2015) Country superstar Alan Jackson just wrapped the spring run of his 25th Anniversary KEEPIN’ IT COUNTRY TOUR to a capacity crowd at the famed Red Rocks Amphitheater in Denver (Morrison), CO. Sponsored by Kubota Tractor Corporation, the tour made stops to massive critically-acclaimed reviews and sold out crowds in Los Angeles, Nashville, Kansas City, Green Bay, the tour’s kickoff in Fort Myers, FL and the famed Houston Rodeo among others. Capitol Records Nashville’s Jon Pardi and Grammy/CMA/ACM nominated hit singer/songwriter Brandy Clark joined Jackson on this first leg of the tour.

    Throughout the tour, Jackson received rave reviews from fans and critics alike:

    “The enduring quality of the 56-year-old Georgia native’s work — ‘Don’t Rock the Jukebox’ and ‘Chattahoochee,’ or ‘I Don’t Even Know Your Name’ and ‘Here in the Real World’ — allows it sound as relevant in 2015 as it did in 1989 or 1992.” – Ft. Worth Star Telegram

    “With a few chords and a deft phrase or two, Jackson can do in three minutes what some artists never accomplish in entire careers.” – Ft. Worth Star Telegram

    “From the high-pitched screams coming from the crowd, you would have thought Justin Bieber was playing at Valley View Casino Center Friday night.” – San Diego Union Tribune

    “Jackson’s tour, which stopped Friday night for a sold-out concert at the Nokia Theatre, might be an assurance that he won’t be next to disappear.” – Los Angeles Times

    “From the moment he sauntered onto the stage and began singing “Gone Country,” the audience was his to command.” – San Diego Union Tribune

    “An artist who knows how to get you with a hook (‘Livin’ on Love,’ ‘Drive’), Jackson’s music is unapologetically grounded in honky tonk. Pure country in its purest form …” – Green Bay Press Gazette

    “Jackson already has, as he admitted onstage, more hits than can fit in a two-hour concert, but if country music is lucky enough to get another 25 years of music from the singer, to quote one of his own songs, ‘that’d be all right.’” – Tennessean

    Jackson’s KEEPIN’ IT COUNTRY TOUR takes a break before heading out again early this summer in advance of the July 17 release of his first studio album of new music in three years, Angels and Alcohol.  Jackson will headline shows at the Rock The South music festival in Cullman, AL (June 20), Calgary, AB (July 7), the California Mid-State Fair in Paso Robles, CA (July 28), Minnesota State Fair (Aug 30), Ravinia Festival in Highland Park, IL (Aug 31) and Chasin’ The Sun music festival in Panama City (Sept 26). Tickets and information for all KEEPIN’ IT COUNTRY TOUR dates will be available via local outlets and by visiting www.alanjackson.com, where you can find information about Alan, his tour schedule, music and more.

    Jackson will release Angels and Alcohol, his 15th studio album, on July 17. The album was produced by Jackson’s long-time collaborator and friend Keith Stegall who has produced every one of Jackson’s 23 albums over the past 25 years with the exception of one album – Like Red On A Rose (Alison Krauss).

    Angels and Alcohol is available for preorder by clicking HERE

    Alan Jackson’s 25th Anniversary KEEPIN’ IT COUNTRY TOUR has been a memorable celebration for his longtime fans as well as the legions of new fans who have been discovering his music throughout this 25th Anniversary celebration. His songs have withstood the test of time and influenced many new artists of today like the tour’s special guests Jon Pardi and Brandy Clark. Fans have heard the songs they have loved over the past 25 years from the man who wrote them and made them famous – from his massive debut hit, “Here In The Real World” to “Chattahoochee,” “Drive,” “Gone Country,” the summertime party-anthems “It’s Five O’Clock Somewhere” and “Good Time,” and many, many more.

    Jackson’s tour has been an extension of the year-long 25th anniversary celebration which kicked off last summer with the opening of his exhibit at the Country Music Hall of Fame® and Museum, Alan Jackson: 25 Years of Keepin’ It Country, which will run through June 21, 2015. The multi-platinum selling Grammy winner played two record-breaking sold out shows last October at the Country Music Hall of Fame’s CMA Theater making him the first simultaneous artist-in-residence and major museum exhibit subject.

    About Alan Jackson
    In his 25-year career, Jackson has been steadfast in his love for traditional music while enjoying major chart success.  Since signing his record deal in June 1989, he has sold nearly 60 million albums worldwide and ranks as one of the 10 best-selling vocalists of all-time in all genres. He has released more than 60 singles—registering 50 Top Ten hits and 35 #1s (including 26Billboard #1s).  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 received the first-ever ASCAP Heritage Award in 2014 having earned the title of most performed country music songwriter-artist of ASCAP’s first 100 years.  He is a member of the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame and the Grand Ole Opry.

    Alan 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.

  • MOTHER’S DAY AUDIO: AJ, Darius, Dierks, Church, Paslay, Jon, Keith, Lady A, LBT, Shania and more!

    Some of your favorite country stars will be celebrating Mother’s Day on Sunday (May 10th). Check out Mother’s Day memories and moments from our artists, including Alan Jackson, Darius Rucker, Dierks Bentley, Eric Church, Eric Paslay, Jon Pardi, Keith Urban, Lady A, Little Big Town and Shania Twain, among many others.

    Audio / Alan Jackson’s wife Denise wrote a book, It’s All About Him: Finding The Love Of My Life, that chronicled the couple’s relationship and marriage. It was a huge success, debuting at number-one on The New York Times Best-Sellers List when it was released several years ago. Alan believes her accomplishment set a really good example for their three daughters, showing that a mom can do things outside of the household, too.

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    AJ (Mday) OC: …to see that. :30
    “I think it’s been great for them to see her do something out there that’s, again, not typical for a parent at all. But she’s a great role model for them anyway and always has been, whether she did anything professionally or not. I could see it in their eyes, you know, that they were surprised — very surprised, and also, I could see them with interest looking at her thinking it was special for her to do that. So, I think it was a very good thing for the kids to see that.”

    Audio / Darius Rucker talks about not disappointing his beloved mother, who passed away a few years ago.

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    Darius Rucker (Mother’s Day) OC: …killed me. :17

    “I think that’s the main reason I am how I am…an innate fear of disappointing my mom.  My mom’s not even alive, and I have a fear of her looking down from heaven and going, ‘Man I’m just disappointed in my son.’ She could have said anything in the world to me, but if she would have said, ‘Son, you just disappointed me,’ That would have killed me. It would have killed me.”

    Audio / Darius Rucker says the best thing he can give his wife on Mother’s Day is his time…and to take the kids off her hands for a little while.

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    Darius Rucker (wife on Mother’s Day) OC: …try to do. :20

    “I think the best Mother’s Day gift my wife would say I’ve given her is to let her not have to deal with her kids. [laughs] But, I’m not really a good gift-giver. I’m not gonna lie. And my wife and I have a deal that if you want it, just get it, so when it’s time to buy gifts, it’s hard to do. But, I think my time is the best thing I can give to my family, because I’m on the road so much. So, that’s what I try to do.”

    Audio / Dierks Bentley talks about Mother’s Day in regards to his wife, Cassidy.

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    Dierks (Mother’s Day) OC: …something great. :23
    “When it’s your actual mom, you know, there’s some slack there, but when with your wife – any touring husband, anyone who tours who has kids and a wife back home, it’s tough man. It’s a lot of work. So, I definitely need to step up to think of something great to do this Sunday, for sure. But nothing yet. As usual, I’ll probably get something last minute and hopefully, it’ll be great, though. She deserves something great.”

    Audio / Eric Church says he’s learned quite a bit from his mom.

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    Eric Church (Mother’s Day) OC: …as a man. :57
    “My mom, even though my dad won’t like this, my mom is by far the toughest person that I’ve met. She’s tough. One of those people that’s been through a lot in her life, adversity wise and never complains, always really resilient with anything that’s happened to her. And it’s just that attitude, the positive attitude, regardless of what has happened that I think is the one thing that I got from her. With career, she’s always been a person that’s been really positive through times that I couldn’t find a positive streak, [laughs] and she was always really positive, and very much believes in tough it out, keep working hard, and that’s her motto with stuff like that. I’ve always been impressed with that stuff. Then musically, she’s where I get my talent from, musically. She sings great, always has, her mom sang great. I owe my musical chops to her. And she still sings some. So, career-wise, I owe her everything. And just in life-wise she’s given me a lot of the qualities that it has taken for me to get me where I am. Not only as a musician, but as a man.”

    Audio / Eric Paslay talks about his mother, Donna.

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    Eric Paslay (Mother’s Day) OC: …it’s good. :21
    “I wanna thank my mom for giving me faith, laughter and pride in the family I came from. She’d be the fun Mom, just goofing off in the sprinklers outside or we’d go out and play in the rain and all that stuff growing up. She’s always good to be around; always happy, and it’s good.”

    Audio / Jon Pardi says his mother, Shelly, is an angel.

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    Jon Pardi (Mother’s Day 2015) OC: …worrying about me. :29
    “My mom’s always been there for me. First of all, she’s a great mom. She’s an angel. She takes care of people that aren’t even in the family. She’s always been like that, and she’s a great mother. She’s always proud, and she’s always there supporting and being a great mom. She’s just a good human being. There’s not one mean bone in her body. And she cries about every time I talk to her. She always worries about me. I have to tell her, ‘Stop worrying about me.’”

    Audio / Keith Urban explains why his wife Nicole Kidman is an extraordinary mother to their two children, Sunday and Faith.

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    Keith Urban (Nicole is extraordinary mother) OC: …to see. :45
    “She’s an extraordinary mum, she really, really is. Those girls are very, very lucky, and I feel very lucky that the children I should have in this world happen to be with Nic. I don’t know anything about raising kids and Nic does, and that comes in extremely, um, it’s really made for an experience I wouldn’t have had without that. Her patience, her recognizing them as people and not just little kids is really extraordinary. Her attention to honoring their feelings and listening to them right from day one – really being attentive to that is not how I was raised at all, so it’s really beautiful to see.”

    Audio / With Mother’s Day on Sunday, Lady Antebellum’s Charles Kelley explains he and his brothers – Josh and John -- owe their mother a lot for all of their childhood antics.

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    Lady Antebellum (Charles Kelley-Mother) OC: …playing music. :23
    “We were honestly, at times, pretty hard to handle, both of us. We used to play our music loud up above on the second floor [of the house], bang on the drums and the guitar. And my mom’s just one of those people, she’ll do anything for her family and she sacrificed a lot for us boys. Anytime we needed something, she made it happen. And so, we owe her a lot. She’s definitely the reason we’re playing music.”

    Audio / Little Big Town’s Kimberly Schlapman says she always dreamed of being a mother…and her dream came true nearly eight years ago when she gave birth to daughter, Daisy (July 27, 2007).

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    LBT (Mother’s Day) OC: …for my mother. :34
    “Being a mother is a life-long dream for me. When I was a kid, that’s what I wanted to be is a mama. It took a long time. I wasn’t ever sure that I would be, but I am now, and it’s the greatest gift of my life. And as I’m a mother now, I see what my mother gave up and her sacrifices and her love and how she made us the most important thing in her life, and that’s what I strive to do for my little girl. It’s the most important job I have, and it’s the most responsibility that I have, and I try to live up to a great example that I had for my mother.”

    Audio / Little Big Town’s Karen Fairchild says being a mother to Elijah Dylan Westbrook is the best feeling in the world.

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    LBT (Mother’s Day-Karen) OC: …every day. :23
    “There isn’t anything that means more to me than sitting on the bench and eating a grilled cheese sandwich with this little guy who calls me Mama. There isn’t anything better than that. He’s just a little miracle. I went from dreaming about him to eating grilled cheese sandwiches and ketchup with him, and I could never have dreamed this up – how good it could be, and it just gets better every day.”

    Audio / Shania Twain says it’s such a joy to be a parent.

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    Shania Twain (joy to be a parent) OC: …means everything. :14
    “It’s such a joy to be a parent. So, I relate to all the mums out there who are getting all their love and appreciation from their kids, and I hope, when you’re a kid, a child of somebody, show your mum you love her, because it means everything.”

  • ALAN, DARIUS, DIERKS, ERIC, KEITH, LADY A, LUKE AND SAM AMONG THE STARS PERFORMING FOR CBS-TV SPECIAL ‘ACM PRESENTS: SUPERSTAR DUETS.’

    Encino, CA (April 9, 2015) – The Academy of Country Music and dick clark productions announced the full lineup of country music luminaries and chart-topping artists who will perform together on “ACM Presents: Superstar Duets” and make up the evening portion of the 3rd Annual ACM Party for a Cause Festival.  Performances at the two-day outdoor music festival celebrating the 50th ACM Awards will begin at 7:30pm on Friday, April 17th and continue Saturday, April 18th on the Main Stage inside of Globe Life Park in Arlington, TX. A two-hour special including performances from the event will air on Friday, May 15th on the CBS Television Network.

    Friday’s lineup will include special collaborations by Alabama & Eli Young Band, Brooks & Dunn & Reba, Darius Rucker & Sara Evans, Dierks Bentley & Kip Moore & Ashley Monroe, Dwight Yoakam & Sam Hunt, and Luke Bryan & Ronnie Milsap, along with a special performance by Brantley Gilbert.

    Saturday’s lineup will include duet performances by Alan Jackson & Cole Swindell, Clint Black & Joe Nichols, Eric Church & Marty Stuart, Florida Georgia Line & David Lee Murphy, Hunter Hayes & Brett Eldredge, Keith Urban & John Anderson, Lady Antebellum & Brandy Clark, Miranda Lambert & Patty Loveless, and The Band Perry & Deana Carter along with special performances by Kenny Chesney and Jake Owen.

    Ticket packages to the ACM Party for a Cause Festival INCLUDING the 50th ACM Awards are available NOW at Ticketmaster.com. Tickets to the 50TH ACM Awards sold out last spring in a record 18 minutes but as staging changes became final for the ACM Awards, seats to the previously SOLD OUT Awards show and festival are now available.
    lease see a full lineup of tentatively scheduled performances below for “ACM Presents: Superstar Duets” listed by order of appearance and subject to change. For additional updates please visit www.ACMcountry.com.

     Friday, April 17, 2015 (Listed in Order of Appearance)

    ·         Brantley Gilbert

    ·         Dwight Yoakam & Sam Hunt

    ·         Darius Rucker & Sara Evans

    ·         Alabama & Eli Young Band

    ·         Brooks & Dunn & Reba

    ·         Dierks Bentley, Kip Moore & Ashley Monroe

    ·         Luke Bryan & Ronnie Milsap

     Saturday, April 18, 2015 (Listed in Order of Appearance)

    ·         Clint Black & Joe Nichols

    ·         The Band Perry & Deana Carter

    ·         Lady Antebellum & Brandy Clark

    ·         Hunter Hayes & Brett Eldredge

    ·         Jake Owen

    ·         Kenny Chesney

    ·         Alan Jackson & Cole Swindell

    ·         Miranda Lambert & Patty Loveless

    ·         Keith Urban & John Anderson

    ·         Eric Church & Marty Stuart

    ·         Florida Georgia Line & David Lee Murphy

    The 3rd Annual ACM Party for a Cause Festival, beginning at 12:00 PM on April 17-18, 2015, will include multiple stages for ongoing LIVE country music performances, interactive experiences, a family-friendly country marketplace with food trucks and vendors from around the country, and much more, all leading up to the 50th Academy of Country Music Awards, which will be broadcast LIVE for the first time ever from AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas on Sunday, April 19, 2015 at 8:00 PM live ET/delayed PT on the CBS Television Network. Proceeds from the event will benefit ACM Lifting Lives, the philanthropic arm of the Academy of Country Music and military philanthropies including Folds of Honor Foundation, Wounded Warrior Project, Navy SEAL Foundation, and Task Force Dagger Foundation.

    ACM Presents: Superstar Duets is produced for television by dick clark productions. Allen Shapiro, Mike Mahan and R.A. Clark are executive producers.  Mark Bracco, Barry Adelman and Tom Forrest are co-executive producers. Bob Romeo is executive producer for the Academy of Country Music.

  • ALAN JACKSON’S MOTHER-IN-LAW PASSED AWAY PEACEFULLY APRIL 3RD.

    April 6, 2015 – Mrs. Nell Brown Jackson, the mother of Denise Jackson and mother-in-law of Alan Jackson, passed away peacefully on the morning of Friday, April 3. Her life was a simple love story for her God, her family, her church and her friends. She was happiest when she was with her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Mrs. Nell Brown Jackson was 94 and survived by her three children, eight grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren.

    Visitation with the family will be tonight, April 6, in Newnan, GA. Funeral services will be held in Newnan on Tuesday, April 7.

    In lieu of flowers, a memorial gift may be sent to Unity Baptist Church (311 Smokey Road Newnan GA 30263) or to Emory Chapel United Methodist Church (2677 Highway 34 West Newnan, GA 30263.)

  • ERIC, ALAN, KEITH, KIP, LADY A ADDED TO THIS YEAR’S ACM PARTY FOR A CAUSE FESTIVAL.

    Eric Church, Alan Jackson, Kip Moore, Keith Urban and Lady Antebellum are a few of the latest performers announced for the 3rd Annual ACM Party for a Cause Festival, taking place in Arlington, Texas April 17th and 18th. They’re joined by John Anderson, Deana Carter, Brandy Clark, Brett Eldredge, Sara Evans, Brantley Gilbert, Hunter Hayes, Ashley Monroe, David Lee Murphy, Joe Nichols, Jake Owen, Reba, Marty Stuart, Cole Swindell, Brooks & Dunn and The Band Perry.

    Previously announced performers include Darius Rucker, Dierks Bentley, Luke Bryan, Sam Hunt, Kenny Chesney, Miranda Lambert, Patty Loveless, Ronnie Milsap, Dwight Yoakam, Alabama, Eli Young Band Clint Black and Florida Georgia Line.

    The event will be taped for a two hour special, ACM Presents: Superstar Duets, which will air May 15th on the CBS. Proceeds from ticket sales for the ACM Party for a Cause Festival will benefit ACM Lifting Lives, the charitable arm of the Academy.

     

  • NOW THAT’S WHAT I CALL ACM AWARDS 50 YEARS IS AVAILABLE TUESDAY.

    NASHVILLE, TN (March 10, 2015) – NOW That’s What I Call ACM Awards 50 Years, the milestone anniversary collaboration between the Academy of Country Music and NOW That’s What I Call Music!, is released Tuesday, March 31st.

    The collection of recordings celebrate the ACM Awards’ 50-year history and will feature 2 discs as well as a digital collection of ACM award-winning songs. The first disc will feature recent contemporary hits while the second will include timeless classics.

    The complete track listing for NOW That’s What I Call ACM Awards 50 Years includes:

    DISC ONE (1990-2015)

    1. Jason Aldean (with Luke Bryan & Eric Church) The Only Way I Know 2012
    2. Lee Brice I Drive Your Truck 2012
    3. Luke Bryan Country Girl (Shake It For Me) 2011
    4. Blake Shelton Honey Bee 2011
    5. Taylor Swift Mean 2010
    6. Lady Antebellum Need You Now 2010
    7. Miranda Lambert The House That Built Me 2009
    8. Brad Paisley & Keith Urban Start A Band 2008
    9. Reba & Kelly Clarkson Because of You 2007 
    10. George Strait Give It Away 2006
    11. Carrie Underwood Jesus, Take the Wheel 2005
    12. Tim McGraw Live Like You Were Dying 2004
    13. Kenny Chesney The Good Stuff 2002
    14. Lee Ann Womack I Hope You Dance 2000
    15. Faith Hill This Kiss 1998
    16. Alan Jackson Chattahoochee 1993
    17. Brooks & Dunn Boot Scootin’ Boogie 1991

    DISC TWO (1965-1989)

    1. Clint Black Better Man 1989
    2. Hank Williams Jr. There’s a Tear in My Beer 1989
    3. Randy Travis Forever and Ever Amen 1987
    4. The Highwaymen Highwayman 1985
    5. The Judds Why Not Me 1984
    6. Dolly Parton & Kenny Rogers Islands in the Stream 1983
    7. Willie Nelson Always on My Mind 1982
    8. Alabama Love in the First Degree 1981
    9. The Oak Ridge Boys Elvira 1981
    10. David Frizzell & Shelly West You’re the Reason God Made Oklahoma 1980
    11. George Jones He Stopped Loving Her Today 1980
    12. Larry Gatlin & the Gatlin Bros. All the Gold in California 1979
    13. Don Williams Tulsa Time 1978
    14. Glen Campbell Rhinestone Cowboy 1975
    15. Charlie Rich Behind Closed Doors 1973
    16. Loretta Lynn & Conway Twitty Lead Me On 1971
    17. Merle Haggard Okie From Muskogee 1969

    The album will be released on March 31st, just in time for the 50th Academy of Country Music Awards broadcast LIVE on Sunday, April 19th at 8:00pm ET/delayed PT on the CBS Television Network. All of the Academy’s proceeds from sales of the album will go to ACM Lifting Lives, the philanthropic arm of the Academy of Country Music, dedicated to improving lives through the power of music.

    NOW That’s What I Call ACM Awards 50 Years is a collaboration between Universal Music Group, Sony Music Entertainment and the Academy of Country Music, and the album will be distributed by Universal Music Group Distribution. The NOW That’s What I Call Music! series is a joint venture from Universal Music Group and Sony Music Entertainment.  NOW and NOW That’s What I Call Music!are registered trademarks of Universal Music Group and its affiliates.

    NOW That’s What I Call Music! debuted in the U.S. in 1998, following 15 years of multi-platinum international success. The series has generated sales exceeding 250 million albums worldwide, including more than 94 million in the U.S.  All 53 volumes in NOW’s numeric U.S. series have charted in the top 10 of Billboard’s Album Chart, 19 of which have reached #1.

    The 50th Academy of Country Music Awards is dedicated to honoring and showcasing the biggest names and emerging talent in the country music industry.  The show is produced for television by dick clark productions and will broadcast LIVE from AT&T Stadium in Arlington, TX on Sunday, April 19, 2015 at 8:00 PM live ET/delayed PT on the CBS Television Network. Allen Shapiro, Mike Mahan, R.A. Clark and Barry Adelman are executive producers.  Bob Romeo is executive producer for the Academy of Country Music.

    ACM Lifting Lives® is the philanthropic arm of the Academy of Country Music dedicated to improving lives through the power of music.  Through partnerships with artists and strong ties in the music industry, ACM Lifting Lives develops and funds music-related therapy and education programs, and serves members of the community who face unexpected hardships through its Diane Holcomb Emergency Relief Fund. Through generous donations and the support of artists and fans, ACM Lifting Lives is able to fund everything from disaster relief and helping communities in need, to music education in schools and music camps for those with disabilities, to supporting programs that use music therapy as a means to help our veterans and wounded warriors, while providing grants to help them ease back into life. For more information, please visit www.ACMLiftingLives.org.

    Audio / Luke Bryan explains what he loves about his song, “Country Girl (Shake It For Me).”

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    Luke Bryan (loves Country Girl) OC: …tiresome work. :33
    “What I love about the song the most is the verses. I really like how the verses came together. It seems like around every little corner there’s a fun, you know, with the little break-down dance – ‘like a dandelion’ and all that. All that stuff is like ear candy to me. I just felt like it was important, I felt like it was a young, fun song, and I felt like it said right away what we were going after and it’s certainly it’s kind of paced faster than anything I’ve ever had and that’s always rewarding. I think it makes everybody’s hard work, everybody can go, ‘Yeah, it’s worth all the sleepless nights and all the tiresome work.’”

  • ALAN JACKSON, LADY ANTEBELLUM AND LITTLE BIG TOWN ADDED TO LIST OF PERFORMERS AT THIS YEAR’S ACM AWARDS.

    Alan Jackson, Lady Antebellum and Little Big Town have been announced as performers at this year’s ACM Awards. They’re joined by Brad Paisley, Brooks & Dunn, Rascal Flatts and Martina McBride, as well as special duets by Christina Aguilera with surprise artists and Nick Jonas with Dan + Shay.

    They join previously announced performers Dierks Bentley, Luke Bryan, Eric Church, Sam Hunt, George Strait, Keith Urban, Reba, Garth Brooks, Jason Aldean, Blake Shelton, Miranda Lambert, Florida Georgia Line, Cole Swindell and Thomas Rhett.

    The 50th Annual Academy of Country Music Awards – hosted by Luke Bryan and Blake Shelton – will air live from the AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas April 19th at 8pm ET on CBS.

  • NEWS AND NOTES: Alan, Sam, Mickey, Keith

    Alan Jackson has been announced as the headliner for this year’s Rock the South Festival June 19-20 in Cullman, Alabama. Brantley Gilbert, Blackberry Smoke, Travis Tritt, Tyler Farr and Sara Evans will also perform during the festival.

    Sam Hunt once again tops Billboard’s Country Album chart this week with Montevallo. The record sold nearly 16,000 units this past week. Coming in second is Shania Twain’s new collection, Still the One: Live From Vegas.

    Mickey Guyton will appear on Access Hollywood on Monday, March 30th as part of the program’s Access Breakthrough Week, which will spotlight a new artist each day. Her Good Morning America performance, which was set to air last week, was rescheduled for Monday (March 16th).

    Keith Urban won International Artist of the Year and International Video of the Year for “Cop Car” at the 5th Annual CMC Music Awards this week. He didn’t attend the awards, since he was in L.A. for the new season of American Idol. While Keith wasn’t there, a few of Nashville’s acts were attended and performed on the show, and they included Lady Antebellum, Kacey Musgraves, Lee Brice and Maddie & Tae.

  • LUKE, CHURCH, DIERKS, LADY A, AJ, LBT, DARIUS, KEITH AND SAM HAVE BEEN ANNOUNCED AS PERFORMERS FOR THIS YEAR’S CMA MUSIC FESTIVAL.

    NASHVILLE – CMA Music Festival will be the hottest concert destination of the summer with today’s announcement that Country Music superstars Jason AldeanDierks BentleyLuke BryanEric Church,Brett EldredgeFlorida Georgia LineSam Hunt,Alan JacksonLady AntebellumLittle Big Town,Neal McCoyOak Ridge BoysBrad PaisleyRascal FlattsThomas RhettDarius RuckerCole Swindell,The Band PerryKeith UrbanWynonna & The Big Noise, and Zac Brown Band will each take the stage during the Nightly Concerts at LP Field. The 2015 CMA Music Festival takes place Thursday, June 11-Sunday, June 14 in downtown Nashville.

    Subscribers to CMA Exclusive, CMA’s e-newsletter, were the first to learn about the star-studded lineup Wednesday morning.

    “CMA Music Festival is all about the fan experience,” said CMA Chief Executive Officer Sarah Trahern. “Our fans snapped up LP Field tickets at a record pace, and we wanted to reward that loyalty by sharing this exciting lineup with them first this morning.”  

    While the relationship between artists and fans is the foundation for the event, CMA Music Festival benefits music education programs for children in need. Wednesday morning, Thomas Rhett welcomed guests to Nashville Children’s Theatre for a performance of “Jack’s Tale: A Mythic Mountain Musical,” which was funded by a $10,000 grant from the CMA Foundation from the 2014 CMA Music Festival. Threats of snow in Nashville prevented a majority of students from attending, but he warmly greeted the enthusiastic crowd.

    “When I was little I was in a play called ‘A Christmas Carol’. I was Scrooge,” Thomas Rhett told the student-filled crowd. “Music education was super important for me, and today was a good reminder of how neat it is to see the Country Music community band together to help give back to that through CMA Fest.”

    The CMA Foundation presents grants on behalf of the artists who perform at CMA Music Festival each year for free and has donated more than $11 million to music education initiatives across the country since 2006.

    Tickets to the Nightly Concerts at LP Field sold out in November. Across the river from the stadium, there are countless free and low-cost entertainment options for fans around downtown Nashville as part of the CMA Music Festival. Seven free entertainment stages give fans an opportunity to choose their musical adventure, including the hugely popular Chevrolet Riverfront Stage, which consistently fills the Cumberland riverbank each of the four days.

    AT&T U-verse Fan Fair X at Music City Center moves the CMA Music Festival party inside, with musical performances on three stages, artist interactions, meet-and-greets, shopping and other unique fan experiences. Tickets to AT&T U-verse Fan Fair X are available now atCMAfest.com (AT&T U-verse Fan Fair X admission is included in four-day CMA Music Festival tickets). AT&T U-verse Fan Fair X tickets are $10 per day or $25 for a four-day pass.

    The Nightly Concerts will be taped for a three-hour prime time special airing later this summer on the ABC Television Network.

    For upcoming talent announcements and all other info stay connected with CMA on Facebook.com/CMA,Twitter.com/CountryMusicInstagram.com/CMA, and sign up for CMA Exclusive, CMA’s e-newsletter. Fans can also download the 2015 CMA Music Festival mobile app foriPhone or Android to view the latest artist lineups and to plan their festival experience.

    -30-

    **Suggested Tweet**: The 2015 #CMAfest LP Field lineup is here! Download the app to plan your Fest experience http://countrymu.sc/MF15app 

  • ALAN JACKSON CELEBRATES 25 YEARS OF ‘HERE IN THE REAL WORLD.’

    NASHVILLE, Tenn. (February 24, 2015) – On February 27, 1990, country superstar Alan Jackson released his landmark debut album Here In The Real World. The album, certified Double Platinum by the RIAA for sales of over two million, spawned four no. 1 hits including his trademark self-penned hit of same name, “Here In The Real World,” as well as his self-penned hits “Wanted,” “Chasin’ That Neon Rainbow,” and “I’d Love You All Over Again.”

    Jackson, currently on his 25th Anniversary KEEPIN’ IT COUNTRY TOUR, will be celebrating the anniversary with his fans at the Nokia Theatre LA LIVE in Los Angeles, CA on the actual anniversary date this week of Friday, February 27, 2015. Fans in attendance will be receiving a special limited edition commemorative poster celebrating Here In The Real World’s 25th anniversary.

    Since the release of Here In The Real World, Jackson has released 22 albums including two Christmas albums, two gospel albums and three Greatest Hits collections. The man from rural Newnan, GA, who claims he is just a “singer of simple songs,” has gone on to sell nearly 60 million albums worldwide and ranks as one of the 10 best-selling 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 #1s).  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 received the first-ever ASCAP Heritage Award in 2014 having earned the title of most performed country music songwriter-artist of ASCAP’s first 100 years.  He is a member of the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame and the Grand Ole Opry.

    Alan 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.

    Alan Jackson’s 25th Anniversary KEEPIN’ IT COUNTRY TOUR, sponsored by Kubota Tractor Corporation, continues to be a memorable celebration for his longtime fans as well as legions of new fans who are discovering his music through the many songs that have withstood the test of time and influenced many new artists of today like the tour’s special guests Jon Pardi and Brandy Clark. Fans will hear the songs they love from the man who wrote them and made them famous – from his massive debut hit, “Here In The Real World” to “Chattahoochee,” “Drive,” “Gone Country,” the summertime party-anthems “It’s Five O’Clock Somewhere” and “Good Time,” and many, many more.

    Alan Jackson’s 25th Anniversary KEEPIN’ IT COUNTRY TOUR:

    FEB 27             Los Angeles, CA                              Nokia Theatre LA LIVE
    FEB 28             Phoenix, AZ                                      Ak-Chin Pavilion
    **MAR 06       Dallas (Grand Prairie), TX              Verizon Theatre at Grand Prairie**
    ^MAR 07           Houston, TX                                    Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo
    MAR 27           Augusta, GA                                      James Brown Arena
    MAR 28           Greenville, SC                                  Bon Secours Wellness Arena
    APR 09            Wilmington, NC                                North Carolina Azalea Festival
    APR 11            Nashville, TN                                    Bridgestone Arena
    APR 17           Kansas City (Independence), MO Independence Events Center
    APR 18           Enid, OK                                             Enid Event Center
    APR 24           St. Augustine, FL                               Augustine Amphitheatre
    APR 25           Roanoke, VA                                     Berglund Center Coliseum
    MAY 01           Sioux City, IA                                     Tyson Events Center
    MAY 02           Brookings, SD                                   Swiftel Center
    MAY 08           Green Bay, WI                                   Resch Center
    MAY 09           Bloomington, IL                                US Cellular Coliseum
    MAY 16           Salt Lake City (West Valley City), UT   USANA Amphitheatre
    MAY 17           Denver (Morrison), CO                     Red Rocks Amphitheatre
    ^JUNE 20        Cullman, AL                                      Rock The South Festival
    ^JULY 7           Calgary, AB, CANADA                    Cowboys Stampede
    ^JULY 28         Paso Robles, CA                             California Mid-State Fair
    ^AUG 30         St. Paul , MN                                      Minnesota State Fair
    ^SEPT 26         Panama City Beach, FL                 Chasin’ The Sun Music Festival

    **Jon Pardi and Ashley Monroe opening
    ^ Alan Jackson only (Jon Pardi and Brandy Clark not on bill)

    Jackson’s tour is an extension of the already year-long 25th anniversary celebration which kicked off last summer with the opening of his exhibit at the Country Music Hall of Fame® and Museum, Alan Jackson: 25 Years of Keepin’ It Country, which has been extended through June 21, 2015. The multi-platinum selling Grammy winner played two record-breaking sold out shows last October at the Country Music Hall of Fame’s CMA Theater making him the first simultaneous artist-in-residence and major museum exhibit subject.

    Tickets and information for all KEEPIN’ IT COUNTRY TOUR dates will be available via local outlets and by visitingwww.alanjackson.com, where you can find information about Alan, his tour schedule, music and more