• NEWS AND NOTES: Keith, Darius, Shania

    Keith Urban has been added as one of the presenters for Sunday night’s (January 7th) Golden Globe Awards. He will present Best Original Song. Keith’s wife Nicole Kidman is nominated for Best Performance by an Actress in a Limited Series or Motion Picture for her role as Celeste Wright in HBO’s much-lauded Big Little Lies. Jennifer Aniston, Helen Mirren, Angelina Jolie, Reese Witherspoon, Kit Harington, Ron Howard, Halle Berry, Emma Stone, Penelope Cruz, Allison Janney, Gal Gadot, Kelly Clarkson, Hugh Grant and many others will also present. The 75th Annual Golden Globe Awards airs live Sunday at 8pm ET on NBC.

    Darius Rucker
    will headline the free AT&T Playoff Playlist concert at Atlanta’s Centennial Olympic Park on Monday (January 8th) prior to the College Football National Championship game between Alabama and Georgia.

    Shania Twain is set to appear on the show Drop the Mic where stars go head-to-head in an amateur rap battle. The show, which pits the superstar against pop star Megan Trainor, will air Tuesday (January 9th) at 10p ET.

    Luke Bryan, Chris Stapleton, Little Big Town and Keith Urban are among the acts performing at this year’s Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo. The event, taking place February 27th – March 18th, will also feature performances by Blake Shelton, Rascal Flatts, Jason Aldean, Rascal Flatts, Garth Brooks and many more.

  • NEWS AND NOTES: Chris, Lady A, Sam, Darius

    The dynamic duo of Chris Stapleton and Justin Timberlake is back, according to several sources, including Rolling Stone, Hollywood.com and Spin. The two will pair up for their first collaboration on record on the pop superstar’s new album, Man of the Woods, due for release February 2nd. The two previously shared the stage during the 2015 CMA Awards, as well as last year’s Pilgrimage Festival. JT’s new album will also feature appearances by Alicia Keys, Pharrell and Timbaland.

    Lady Antebellum’s Charles Kelley is set to headline the Snowmass Celebrity Ski Fest next month in Colorado. The two-day event, taking place February 21st and 22nd, will also feature appearances by Nashville’s Charles Esten and singer-songwriter Edwin McCain and will raise money for Lady A’s charity, LadyAID.

    Sam Hunt‘s “Body Like a Back Road” has been certified quadruple platinum (4x) by the RIAA (Recording Industry Association of America).

    Darius Rucker is enjoying the winter weather that has hit the Eastern Seaboard. He posted of a photo of his snow-covered front yard in Charleston, South Carolina. Check it out below.

     

     

  • CHRIS STAPLETON, LADY ANTEBELLUM AND LITTLE BIG TOWN ARE INCLUDED ON THE NEW 2018 GRAMMY NOMINEES ALBUM.

    Lady Antebellum, Chris Stapleton and Little Big Town will be featured on the new compilation, 2018 GRAMMY Nominees album, which will be released January 12th. Hits by Kenny Chesney, Thomas Rhett, Bruno Mars, Kelly Clarkson, P!nk and Kendrick Lamar are also included on the collection.

    A portion of album proceeds benefit the year-round work of the GRAMMY Museum and MusiCares—two charitable organizations founded by the Recording Academy that focus on music education programs and critical assistance for music people in need.

    The 60th Annual GRAMMY Awards, which will be hosted by James Corden, will air live from New York City’s Madison Square Garden January 28th beginning at 7:30pm ET on CBS.

    2018 GRAMMY Nominees Album Track List:

    1. BRUNO MARS
      “24K Magic”
      Record Of The Year
      Album Of The Year
    2. KELLY CLARKSON
      “Love So Soft”
      Best Pop Solo Performance
    3. LUIS FONSI & DADDY YANKEE FEAT. JUSTIN BIEBER
      “Despacito” (Remix)
      Record Of The Year
      Song Of The Year
      Best Pop Duo/Group Performance
    4. KENDRICK LAMAR
      “HUMBLE.”
      Record Of The Year
      Album Of The Year
    5. LORDE
      “Green Light”
      Album Of The Year
    6. CHILDISH GAMBINO
      “Redbone”
      Record Of The Year
      Album Of The Year
    7. JAY-Z
      “The Story Of O.J.”
      Record Of The Year
      Album Of The Year
    8. ZEDD & ALESSIA CARA
      “Stay”
      Best Pop Duo/Group Performance
    9. LADY GAGA
      “Million Reasons”
      Best Pop Solo Performance
    10. IMAGINE DRAGONS
      “Thunder”
      Best Pop Duo/Group Performance
    11. THE MAN
      “Feel It Still”
      Best Pop Duo/Group Performance
    12. THE CHAINSMOKERS & COLDPLAY
      “Something Just Like This”
      Best Pop Duo/Group Performance
    13. P!NK
      “What About Us”
      Best Pop Solo Performance
    14. LOGIC FEAT. ALESSIA CARA & KHALID
      “1-800-273-8255”
      Song Of The Year
    15. JULIA MICHAELS
      “Issues”
      Song Of The Year
    16. KESHA
      “Praying”
      Best Pop Solo Performance
    17. CHRIS STAPLETON
      “Broken Halos”
      Best Country Album
    18. LITTLE BIG TOWN
      “Better Man”
      Best Country Album
    19. THOMAS RHETT FEAT. MAREN MORRIS
      “Craving You”
      Best Country Album
    20. LADY ANTEBELLUM
      “You Look Good”
      Best Country Album
    21. KENNY CHESNEY
      “All The Pretty Girls”
      Best Country Album
  • CHRIS STAPLETON HAS THE ‘TIME OF HIS LIFE’ WITH ACTOR CHRIS PRATT ON THE JIMMY KIMMEL SHOW.

    Chris Stapleton appeared on Jimmy Kimmel Live on Monday (December 4th) with Guardians of the Galaxy’s Chris Pratt as guest host. During the show, Pratt brought out Stapleton to sing a duet, aka “Cheesy Duet.” After spinning a wheel of several songs including “A Whole New World,” “Don’t Know Much,” “You Don’t Bring Me Flowers,” the wheel landed on “I’ve Had the Time of My Life” from Dirty Dancing. They did a great job, and even did the “lift” from the end of the film, starring Patrick Swayze and Jennifer Grey.

    The two then talked about Stapleton’s new album, From A Room: Volume 2, as well as their newfound friendship and toast each other with some “Tennessee Whiskey.”

    Check out the videos below.

    Stapleton is currently climbing the country charts with his song, “Broken Halos.”

    Video / Chris Stapleton and Chris Pratt duet

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    Video / Chris Pratt interviews Chris Stapleton

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  • CHRIS STAPLETON’S ‘SCARECROW IN THE GARDEN’ IS A STORY SONG FEATURING DARK SUBJECT MATTER.

    Chris Stapleton released his new album, From A Room: Volume 2, which he recorded at the same time as Volume 1, released this past May and won the CMA Album of the Year Award. The very first song he recorded for both projects is “Scarecrow in the Garden,” which he wrote with Brice Long and Matt Fleener. The tune’s subject matter is relatively dark, but the story song contains a lot of substance and imagery, according to Chris.

    “Maybe it’s my inner love of bluegrass murder ballads creeping out. It’s a farming/suicide song for the most part [laughs], you know. So it’s not exactly like, it’s not happy fare at all. But it’s a fun story-song and fun’s not the right word, but for me it’s fun, you know. I love things with story and substance and I feel like lyrically and subject-matter-wise, that thing has all that to me. And I just love the imagery in that song. I’m not trying to toot my own horn, I just, we had a good day that day.”

    Chris, who is making his way up the country charts with “Broken Halos,” will appear on ABC’s Jimmy Kimmel Live on Monday (December 4th).

    Audio / Chris Stapleton talks about “Scarecrow in the Garden,” a song featured on his new album, From A Room: Volume 2.

    Download

    Chris Stapleton (Scarecrow in the Garden) OC: …that day. :54
    “That’s the very first thing that we recorded. That’s the one song I walked into the studio, I mean not for this record, for both of these few records, and I said, ‘I want to do this song.’ And that song has been in my catalog for a bit, and it’s been hanging around. Nobody recorded it or anything. Maybe it’s my inner love of bluegrass murder ballads creeping out. It’s a farming/suicide song for the most part [laughs], you know. So it’s not exactly like, it’s not happy fare at all. But it’s a fun story-song and fun’s not the right word, but for me it’s fun, you know. I love things with story and substance and I feel like lyrically and subject-matter-wise, that thing has all that to me. And I just love the imagery in that song. I’m not trying to toot my own horn, I just, we had a good day that day.”

  • NEWS AND NOTES: Chris Stapleton, Darius Rucker, Luke Bryan, Kacey Musgraves, Vince Gill, Dierks Bentley, Billy Currington

    Chris Stapleton is making the media rounds this week. He’s scheduled to appear on ABC’s Jimmy Kimmel Live on Monday (December 4th) along with superfan/actor Chris Pratt (Guardians of the Galaxy, Parks and Recreation, Jurassic World) and actress Margot Robbie (The Suicide Squad). Stapleton is also scheduled to perform on the Ellen DeGeneres Show on Wednesday (December 6th).

    OF NOTE: Pratt appeared on Popcorn with Peter Travers where he talked about how Chris Stapleton was on his own mixtape (a reference to Guardians) and sang part of “Tennessee Whiskey.” Then, Chris sent him a mixtape of his From A Room: Volume 1 along with a walkman, so he could listen to it properly. When Stapleton performed during the second of a two-night stand at Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena earlier this year, Pratt came out wearing a jean jacket embossed with Stapleton’s image. They proceeded to sing “Tennessee Whiskey” together.

    Luke Bryan will perform on the Ellen DeGeneres Show on December 12th.

    Darius Rucker, as well as Dolly Parton and Brad Paisley, will honor the late Glen Campbell during ABC’s The Year in Memoriam 2017 television special airing December 18th at 10pm ET. A companion special, The Year: 2017, will air the following night (December 19th) and will highlight major events that took place over the past year. Both specials will be hosted by Good Morning America’s Robin Roberts.

    Kacey Musgraves will join Josh Groban for the Home for the Holidays special December 19th at 8pm ET on CBS. Kelly Clarkson and Kane Brown will also appear during the one-hour show which will feature performances alongside inspirational stories of families whose lives have been changed by adoption.

    Vince Gill was honored with the CMA Foundation Humanitarian Award last week at the Country Music Hall of Fame & Museum.

    Dierks Bentley has been booked as one of the headliners for the fourth annual Country LakeShake Festival, being held June 22nd – 24th in Chicago. He’ll be joined by Blake Shelton, Florida Georgia Line, Billy Currington, Lee Brice, Tracy Lawrence, Cole Swindell and many more.

    Video / Chris Pratt listening to From A Room: Volume 1

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    Video / Chris Pratt joining Chris Stapleton on stage.

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  • CHRIS STAPLETON PROFILED ON NBC’S SUNDAY TODAY WITH WILLIE GEIST.

    Chris Stapleton and his wife Morgane were featured on NBC’s Sunday Today With Willie Geist (December 3rd). They talked about Chris’ new album, From A Room: Volume 2, which just came out last week, as well as his road to stardom, “Drink a Beer,” which he wrote and his friend Luke Bryan took to No. 1, as well as when he and Morgane found out they were expecting twins.

    Chris is currently making his way up the country charts with “Broken Halos,” which is on From A Room: Volume 1.

    Video /

  • CHRIS STAPLETON RELEASES ‘FROM A ROOM: VOLUME 2’ ON FRIDAY.

    Chris Stapleton’s From A Room: Volume 2 arrives Friday (December 1st). The multiple Grammy, CMA and ACM Award-winning musician. The forthcoming album takes its name from Nashville’s historic RCA Studio A (the capital “A” in “From A Room”) where it was recorded over the last year with Grammy Award-winning producer Dave Cobb. Along with Stapleton on vocals and guitar and Cobb on acoustic guitar, the album features Morgane Stapleton on harmony vocals as well as longtime band-members J.T. Cure on bass and Derek Mixon on drums. In addition to seven songs co-written by Stapleton, the album features versions of Kevin Welch’s “Millionaire” and the Homer Banks/Lester Snell-penned song made famous by Pops Staples, “Friendship.” See below for complete track list.

    Chris says he didn’t feel any pressure to make From A Room: Volume 1 or Volume 2, because he’s just making music he likes. “My goal with making Traveller, I hoped to possibly sell 50,000 records, and that was my goal. I was like I was gonna make this record and I was going to go out and play music, because that’s what I knew how to do and that’s what Universal allowed me to do. Obviously, we did a little better than that, and so this time around I tried to reset – to a degree – and go, but let’s put this into perspective here. None of this was expected stuff. What were you trying to do? What are we trying to do? We’re trying to make music that we like and make a record that we like,” says Chris. “So, very much I would love to be able to sell enough records that I can still go play shows and keep making records. That’s the goal. That’s the dream, whether it’s 20,000 records or 50,000 records or getting to play a room for 300 people or 20,000 people. That’s the dream still. I’m still making a living playing music. So, no, I didn’t feel any pressure from it whatsoever, because all that came from just making music for the sake of making music.”

    Volume 2 follows the release of From A Room: Volume 1, which debuted earlier this year at #1 on the Billboard Country Albums chart, #2 on the Billboard Top 200 chart and, with its RIAA Gold certification, remains the #1 best-selling country album of 2017.

    Check ChrisStapleton.com/tour for tickets and more information.

    FROM A ROOM: VOLUME 2 TRACK LIST:

    1. Millionaire (Kevin Welch)
    2. Hard Livin’ (Chris Stapleton, Kendell Marvel)
    3. Scarecrow In The Garden (Chris Stapleton, Brice Long, Matt Fleener)
    4. Nobody’s Lonely Tonight (Chris Stapleton, Mike Henderson)
    5. Tryin’ To Untangle My Mind (Chris Stapleton, Jaron Boyer, Kendell Marvel)
    6. A Simple Song (Chris Stapleton, Darrell Hayes)
    7. Midnight Train To Memphis (Chris Stapleton, Mike Henderson)
    8. Drunkard’s Prayer (Chris Stapleton, Jameson Clark)
    9. Friendship (Homer Banks, Lester Snell)

      Audio / Chris Stapleton wanted to make music so he could play music.

      Download

      Chris Stapleton (making music Vol. 2) OC: …making music. :59
      “You know, my goal with making Traveller, I hoped to possibly sell 50,000 records, and that was my goal. I was like I was gonna make this record and I was going to go out and play music, because that’s what I knew how to do and that’s what Universal allowed me to do. Obviously, we did a little better than that, and so this time around I tried to reset – to a degree – and go, but let’s put this into perspective here. None of this was expected stuff. What were you trying to do? What are we trying to do? We’re trying to make music that we like and make a record that we like. So, very much I would love to be able to sell enough records that I can still go play shows and keep making records. That’s the goal. That’s the dream, whether it’s 20,000 records or 50,000 records or getting to play a room for 300 people or 20,000 people. That’s the dream still. I’m still making a living playing music. So, no, I didn’t feel any pressure from it whatsoever, because all that came from just making music for the sake of making music.”

  • GRAMMY NOMINATIONS FOR CHRIS, LBT, LADY A, SAM AND BROTHERS O.

    The nominations for the 60th Annual Grammy Awards were announced early Tuesday morning (November 28th). Chris Stapleton and Little Big Town lead the country nominees with three apiece.

    Chris is up for including Best Country Album for From A Room: Volume 1, as well as Best Country Solo Performance for “Either Way” and Best Country Song for “Broken Halos.”

    The members of Little Big Town have nominations for Best Country Album for The Breaker, Best Country Duo/Group Performance for “Better Man” and Best Country Song for “Better Man.”

    Lady Antebellum have two nods for Best Country Album for Heart Break and Best Country Duo/Group Performance for “You Look Good.”

    Sam Hunt is also up for two Grammy Awards for Best Country Solo Performance for “Body Like a Backroad,” which is also nominated for Best Country Song. Sam wrote the record-breaking hit with Zach Crowell, Shane McAnally and Josh Osborne.

    Brothers Osborne picked up a nomination for Best Country Duo/Group Performance for “It Ain’t My Fault.”

    The 60th Annual Grammy Awards will air live from New York City’s Madison Square Garden January 28th on CBS.

    Best Country Album
    Cosmic Hallelujah, Kenny Chesney
    Heart Break, Lady Antebellum
    The Breaker, Little Big Town
    Life Changes, Thomas Rhett
    From A Room: Volume 1, Chris Stapleton

    Best Country Solo Performance
    “Body Like A Back Road,” Sam Hunt
    “Losing You,” Alison Krauss
    “Tin Man,” Miranda Lambert
    “I Could Use A Love Song,” Maren Morris
    “Either Way,” Chris Stapleton

    Best Country Duo/Group Performance
    “It Ain’t My Fault,” Brothers Osborne
    “My Old Man,” Zac Brown Band
    “You Look Good,” Lady Antebellum
    “Better Man,” Little Big Town
    “Drinkin’ Problem,” Midland

    Best Country Song
    “Better Man,” Little Big Town
    Songwriter: Taylor Swift

    “Body Like A Back Road,” Sam Hunt
    Songwriters: Zach Crowell, Sam Hunt, Shane McAnally and Josh Osborne

    “Broken Halos,” Chris Stapleton
    Songwriters: Mike Henderson and Chris Stapleton

    “Drinkin’ Problem,” Midland
    Songwriters: Jess Carson, Cameron Duddy, Shane McAnally, Josh Osborne and Mark Wystrach

    “Tin Man,” Miranda Lambert
    Songwriters: Jack Ingram, Miranda Lambert and Jon Randall

     

  • SOME OF NASHVILLE’S BIGGEST STARS HELP RAISE MORE THAN FOUR MILLION DOLLARS FOR THE COUNTRY RISING BENEFIT.

    Nashville’s biggest stars united Sunday night for COUNTRY RISING, raising more than four million dollars to support charitable initiatives for those affected by the September 2017 hurricanes as well as victims of the recent shooting in Las Vegas. From top to bottom, the production was as big as the talent that took the stage at Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena, including host Bobby Bones and performers Jason Aldean, Dierks Bentley, Sam Hunt, Lady Antebellum, Little Big Town, Martina McBride, Reba McEntire, Chris Stapleton, George Strait, Keith Urban and surprise guest Jon Pardi. Additionally, Garth Brooks sent in a special video from Spokane, WA where he donated proceeds from the night’s two shows.
     
    Lady Antebellum opened the show with some of their biggest chart-toppers as well as an ode to Tom Petty as the trio covered “Learning To Fly,” followed by host Bobby Bones welcoming the crowd. “Our country has been hit hard by tragedy this year,” Bones said. “It’s affected our families. It’s affected our friends. It’s affected the Country music community, but even during those hard times what we always try to do is find the good and make the difference, and tonight we’re trying to make the difference.” 

    Sam Hunt performed a medley of his biggest hits, as well as a unifying chorus of “This Land Is Your Land.” Martina McBride belted out timely songs including “Love’s The Only House” while Keith Urban brought energy to the stage as he interacted with the crowd and performed his soulful “Blue Ain’t Your Color.” Dierks Bentley’s set included his powerful song “Riser,” which he dedicated to the first responders and the community for rallying together and rising up in the midst of tragedy, also surprising the crowd by bringing out special guest Jon Pardi who performed “Dirt On My Boots.” 

    Jason Aldean took the stage for a significant set, acknowledging the shooting in Vegas that personally affected him.
     
    “It’s been a rough couple months for us up here, and it’s a lot of fun to get back out and play for the people who matter which is you guys,” said Aldean. “I love getting up every day and playing music, and I’ll be damned if anybody out there will ever stop me from doing that.”
     
    Little Big Town performed some of their biggest hits including their smash “Better Man” while Chris Stapleton’s set included his poignant “Broken Halos,” as he announced that he and his wife Morgane are donating $250,000 to the cause.

    Reba McEntire’s performance included her tenacious “Going Out Like That” while Garth Brooks sent a surprise special video performing “Callin’ Baton Rouge” from Spokane, WA, donating proceeds from the night’s shows.
     
    George Strait closed out the evening with his beloved hits including “Amarillo By Morning.”

    Fans across the country unable to attend the benefit can continue to give by texting ‘NASHVILLE’ to 41010, by donating at www.CountryRising.org or by purchasing merchandise HERE. All proceeds raised will go toward the Country Rising Fund of The Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee, which was established to support charitable initiatives to help victims of the September 2017 hurricanes — Hurricanes Harvey, Irma, Jose and Maria. Additionally, the fund will also envelop victims of the recent shooting in Las Vegas. In the course of rebuilding lives disrupted by these devastating events, there are immediate needs and there also will be long-term needs. 
     
    COUNTRY RISING has also been supported by sponsors Citi, Texas Roadhouse, Tito’s Handmade Vodka, BMI, Budweiser, Frost, City National Bank, Cracker Barrel Old Country Store™, Sony Pictures Animation’s THE STAR, WME and Creative Artists Agency (CAA). Additional local businesses including Vintage Sparkle Furniture Rental, Events Plus, Dierks Bentley’s Whiskey Row, Black Tie Moving, Virago, Hattie B’s, Copper Whisk Cakes, Tin Roof, Dry House, Love and Lion, Foot and Salt Spa, HH Events and Revive Nashville have also stepped up to support the cause. 

    all photo credit: Getty Images