• NEWS & NOTES: LBT, Luke, Eric, Sam, Darius, Chris, Alan

    Little Big Town will perform on The Ellen DeGeneres Show on Wednesday (March 1st), followed by The Talk on March 14th.

    Luke Bryan will perform on The Tonight  Show Starring Jimmy Fallon on Thursday (March 2nd).

    Eric Church and Sam Hunt, along with Jason Aldean, will headline the 4th Annual Route 91 Harvest Festival September 29th – October 1st at Nevada’s Las Vegas Village. Tickets go on sale Friday (March 3rd).

    Luke Bryan, Darius Rucker, Chris Stapleton and Alan Jackson are scheduled to perform during this year’s Tortuga Music Festival in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. The three-day concert event will take place April 7th – 9th and will also feature such artists as Brett Eldredge, Kenny Chesney, Maren Morris, Dustin Lynch, Brett Young, Chris Lane and many more.

  • ACM AWARDS 2017: Some Reactions

    The members of Lady Antebellum were in New York City this morning (February 16th) to announce several of this year’s ACM Awards nominations live on CBS This Morning.

    Keith Urban leads leads with seven nominations in five categories, including his seventh for Entertainer of the Year and 10th nod for Male Vocalist of the Year. Keith’s nominated twice, as both artist and producer, in the Album of the Year category for Ripcord.  He received an additional two nominations, for both artist and producer, in the Single Record of the Year category for “Blue Ain’t Your Color,” which is also nominated in the Song of the Year category.

    “I’ve been a musician since I was 6 years old,” says Keith.  “I just love writing songs, making records and touring.  So, for the ACMS’s to recognize RIPCORD in such a big way today is humbling.  I share these nominations with everyone in my life who made it possible – and a BIG shout out to all of our fans, who came out to see us on the ripCORD tour.  Can’t wait to play for you all again soon.”

    https://twitter.com/KaceyMusgraves/status/832274828468031488

    Lauren Alaina picked up her first award nomination for New Female Vocalist of the Year, which she found out while at  the Detroit airport. “I honestly cannot believe I am nominated for New Female Vocalist. I don’t even know what to say,” exclaimed Lauren. “I’ve been waiting I guess five years for a nomination at the ACMs and I am so excited and so thankful and so humbled by the industry voting for me to get into this category. It means so much to me, and I found out in the Detroit airport while I was eating breakfast and I was really keeping it together until I Facetimed my dad to tell him and then I lost it and have cried for the last 10 minutes and then have gotten it together enough to talk about it again.”

    Jon Pardi is also nominated for his first award for New Male Vocalist of the Year; he woke up to numerous text messages on his phone.


    ACM Awards co-host Dierks Bentley received three nominations, including his fourth nomination in the Male Vocalist of the Year category.  Also, Bentley received his third nod in the Album of the Year category for Black, and his second nod in the Vocal Event of the Year category for “Different For Girls,” featuring Elle King.

    Chris Stapleton is nominated in three categories. Once again, Stapleton is nominated in both the Male Vocalist of the Year category, and the Song of the Year category with “Tennessee Whiskey.”  Also, Stapleton received a nod in the Video of the Year category for “Fire Away.”

    The 52nd Annual Academy of Country Music Awards, hosted by Luke Bryan and Dierks Bentley, will be broadcast live from the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas April 2nd at 8pm ET/delayed PT on CBS.

    ENTERTAINER OF THE YEAR
    Jason Aldean
    Luke Bryan
    Florida Georgia Line
    Carrie Underwood
    Keith Urban
    MALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR
    Jason Aldean
    Dierks Bentley
    Thomas Rhett
    Chris Stapleton
    Keith Urban

    FEMALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR
    Kelsea Ballerini
    Miranda Lambert
    Kacey Musgraves
    Maren Morris
    Carrie Underwood

    VOCAL DUO OF THE YEAR
    Big & Rich
    Brothers Osborne
    Dan & Shay
    Florida Georgia Line
    Maddie & Tae

    VOCAL GROUP OF THE YEAR
    Eli Young Band
    Lady Antebellum
    Little Big Town
    Old Dominion
    Rascal Flatts

    NEW MALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR PRESENTED BY T-MOBILE

    Kane Brown

    Chris Janson

    Chris Lane

    Jon Pardi

    Brett Young

    NEW FEMALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR PRESENTED BY T-MOBILE

    Lauren Alaina

    Cam

    Brandy Clark

    Maren Morris
    NEW VOCAL DUO OR GROUP OF THE YEAR PRESENTED BY T-MOBILE

    A Thousand Horses

    Brothers Osborne

    Dan + Shay

    LOCASH

    Maddie & Tae

    ALBUM OF THE YEAR [Awarded to Artist(s)/Producer(s)/Record Company–Label(s)]

    Black – Dierks Bentley

    Dig Your Roots – Florida Georgia Line
    HERO – Maren Morris

    Ripcord – Keith Urban

    The Weight of These Wings – Miranda Lambert

    Single Record of the Year [Awarded to Artist(s)/Producer(s)/Record Company–Label(s)]

    Blue Ain’t Your Color – Keith Urban

    H.O.L.Y. – Florida Georgia Line

     

    Humble And Kind – Tim McGraw

    My Church – Maren Morris

    Vice – Miranda Lambert

    SONG OF THE YEAR [Awarded to Songwriter(s)/Publisher(s)/Artist(s)]

    Blue Ain’t Your Color – Keith Urban
    Songwriters: Clint Lagerberg, Hillary Lindsey, Steven Lee Olsen

    Die A Happy Man – Thomas Rhett
    Songwriters: Thomas Rhett, Sean Douglas, Joe Spargur

    Humble And Kind – Tim McGraw
    Songwriter: Lori McKenna

    Kill A Word – Eric Church Featuring Rhiannon Giddens
    Songwriters: Eric Church, Luke Dick, Jeff Hyde

    Tennessee Whiskey – Chris Stapleton
    Songwriters: Dean Dillon, Linda Hargrove

    Vice – Miranda Lambert
    Songwriters: Miranda Lambert, Shane McAnally, Josh Osborne

    Video of the Year PRESENTED BY XFINITY [Awarded to Producer(s)/Director(s)/Artist(s)]

    Fire Away – Chris Stapleton 


    Forever Country – Artists of Then, Now & Forever

    Humble And Kind – Tim McGraw
    Peter Pan – Kelsea Ballerini

    Vice – Miranda Lambert

    Vocal Event of the Year [Awarded to Artist(s)/Producer(s)/Record Company–Label(s)]

    Different For Girls – Dierks Bentley Featuring Elle King

    Forever Country – Artists of Then, Now & Forever

    May We All – Florida Georgia Line Featuring Tim McGraw

    Setting The World On Fire – Kenny Chesney Featuring P!nk

    Think Of You – Chris Young Featuring Cassadee Pope

    Audio / Lauren Alaina is emotional talking about her ACM Award nomination for New Female.

    Download

    Lauren Alaina (ACM New Female) OC: …it again. :44
    “I honestly cannot believe I am nominated for New Female Vocalist. I don’t even know what to say,” exclaimed Lauren. “I’ve been waiting I guess five years for a nomination at the ACMs and I am so excited and so thankful and so humbled by the industry voting for me to get into this category. It means so much to me, and I found out in the Detroit airport while I was eating breakfast and I was really keeping it together until I Facetimed my dad to tell him and then I lost it and have cried for the last 10 minutes and then have gotten it together enough to talk about it again.”

  • CHRIS STAPLETON ANNOUNCES NEW TOUR AND NEW ALBUM.

    Chris Stapleton announced a lot of news this week – a new headlining tour and a brand-new album. Chris will officially launch his All-American Road Show May 5th in Alpharetta, Georgia and will hit cities such as Los Angeles, Philly, San Diego, Phoenix, Cincinnati and more, including a stop at Denver’s Red Rocks Amphitheatre, before wrapping in Gilford, New Hampshire August 25th. The trek will take place after several dates in March and April, and Chris will also make time to open for Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers for a trio of shows in June.

    Brothers Osborne, Lucie Silvas, Brent Cobb, Anderson East and Margo Price will join Chris on the road, with the artists playing select dates. Brothers Osborne and Lucie Silvas (who is married to John Osborne) will kick off the trek in May.

    Chris will also release his new as-yet-to-be-titled album, the follow-up to his multi-platinum Traveller, on May 5th.

    Tickets for the All-American Road Show will go on sale for fan club members February 21st, with tickets to the general public will be available beginning February 24th.

    All-American Road Show Tour:

    March 9 – Houston, TX @ Rodeo Houston
    March 18 – London, ON @ Budweiser Gardens*
    March 19 – Ottawa, ON @ Canadian Tire Centre*
    March 22 – Winnipeg, MB @ MTS Centre*
    March 24 – Calgary, AB @ Scotiabank Saddledome*
    March 25 – Edmonton, AB @ Rexall Place*
    March 27 – Vancouver, BC @ Rogers Arena*
    March 28 – Seattle, WA @ Key Arena†
    March 30 – Las Vegas, NV @ Pearl Theater – Palms Casino Resort†
    April 6 – Columbus, GA @ Columbus Civic Center†
    April 8 – Ft. Lauderdale, FL @ Tortuga Music Festival
    April 20 – Roanoke, VA @ Berglund Center‡
    April 21 – Pikeville, KY @ East Kentucky Expo Center‡
    April 22 – Pikeville, KY @ East Kentucky Expo Center‡
    April 27 – Columbia, MO @ Mizzou Arena+
    April 28 – Cape Girardeau, MO @ Show Me Center+
    April 29 – Bloomington, IL @ U.S. Cellular Coliseum+
    May 5 – Alpharetta, GA @ Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre§
    May 11 – Virginia Beach, VA @ Veterans United Home Loans Amphitheater at VA Beach§
    May 12 – Raleigh, NC @ Coastal Credit Union Music Park at Walnut Creek§
    May 13 – Charlotte, NC @ PNC Music Pavilion§
    May 18 – San Diego, CA @ Mattress Firm Amphitheatre§
    May 19 – Phoenix, AZ @ Ak-Chin Pavilion§
    May 20 – Los Angeles, CA @ The Forum§
    May 23 – Denver, CO @ Red Rocks Amphitheatre§
    June 1 – Fresno, CA @ Save Mart Center at Fresno State§
    June 2 – Mountain View, CA @ Shoreline Amphitheatre§
    June 3 – Wheatland, CA @ Toyota Amphitheatre§
    June 9 – Southaven, MS @ BankPlus Amphitheater at Snowden Grove#
    June 10 – Birmingham, AL @ Oak Mountain Amphitheatre#
    June 15 – Charleston, WV @ Charleston Civic Center#
    June 16 – Cincinnati, OH @ Riverbend Music Center#
    June 17 – Indianapolis, IN @ Klipsch Music Center#
    June 22 – Tulsa, OK @ BOK Center#
    June 23 – Manhattan, KS @ Country Stampede
    June 24 – North Platte, NE @ Nebraskaland Days
    June 29 – Chicago, IL @ Wrigley Field††
    July 5 – Milwaukee, WI @ Summerfest††
    July 6 – Milwaukee, WI @ Summerfest††
    July 14 – Mansfield, MA @ Xfinity Center#
    July 15 – Hartford, CT @ The XFINITY Theatre#
    July 16 – Darien Lake, NY @ Darien Lake Performing Arts Center#
    July 20 – Holmdel, NJ @ P.N.C. Bank Arts Center#
    July 21 – Wantagh, NY @ Northwell Health at Jones Beach Theater #
    July 22 – Bristow, VA @ Jiffy Lube Live#
    July 28 – George, WA @ Watershed Festival
    July 29 – Central Point, OR @ Country Crossings Music Festival
    July 30 – Mountain Home, ID @ Mountain Home Country Music Festival
    August 3 – Duluth, MN @ AMSOIL Arena**
    August 4—Prairie Du Chien, WI—Country on the River
    August 5 – St. Louis, MO @ Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre**
    August 10 – Hershey, PA @ Giant Center**
    August 11 – Pittsburgh, PA @ First Niagara Pavilion**
    August 12 – Philadelphia, PA @ BB&T Pavilion**
    August 17 – Toronto, ON @ Budweiser Stage**
    August 18 – Cleveland, OH @ Blossom Music Center**
    August 19 – Clarkston, MI @ DTE Energy Music Theatre**
    August 25 – Gilford, NH @ Bank of New Hampshire Pavilion**

    *with special guest Lindi Ortega
    †with special guest Maren Morris
    ‡with special guest Brent Cobb
    +with special guest Lucie Silvas
    §with special guests Brothers Osborne and Lucie Silvas
    #with special guests Anderson East and Brent Cobb
    **with special guests Margo Price and Brent Cobb
    ††with Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers

  • FIRST LOOK: The initial ACM Awards nominations have been announced…more to come.

    The members of Lady Antebellum were in New York City this morning (February 16th) to announce several of this year’s ACM Awards nominations live on CBS This Morning.

    Luke Bryan and Keith Urban are among the Entertainer of the Year nominees, along with Carrie Underwood, Florida Georgia Line and Jason Aldean.

    The 52nd Annual Academy of Country Music Awards, hosted by Luke Bryan and Dierks Bentley, will be broadcast live from the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas April 2nd at 8pm ET/delayed PT on CBS.

    ENTERTAINER OF THE YEAR
    Jason Aldean
    Luke Bryan
    Florida GeorgiaLine
    Carrie Underwood
    Keith Urban
    MALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR
    Jason Aldean
    Dierks Bentley
    Thomas Rhett
    Chris Stapleton
    Keith Urban

    FEMALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR
    Kelsea Ballerini
    Miranda Lambert
    Kacey Musgraves
    Maren Morris
    Carrie Underwood

    VOCAL DUO OF THE YEAR
    Big & Rich
    Brothers Osborne
    Dan & Shay
    Florida Georgia Line
    Maddie & Tae

    VOCAL GROUP OF THE YEAR
    Eli Young Band
    Lady Antebellum
    Little Big Town

    Old Dominion
    Rascal Flatts

    Video / LADY ANTEBELLUM ANNOUNCE THE INITIAL ACM NOMINEES.

  • NEWS AND NOTES: Lady Antebellum, Darius Rucker, Chris Stapleton

    Don’t forget to catch Lady Antebellum on CBS This Morning on Thursday (February 15th). They will be announcing the nominees for this year’s ACM Awards during the 8am hour.

    Lady A is also scheduled to appear on the Late Show with Stephen Colbert tomorrow night, as well.

    Darius Rucker and Chris Stapleton, along with Brett Eldredge, will appear in a new CMT special titled CMT Hometown Heroes. Darius will return to MUSC Children’s Hospital in Charleston, South Carolina, where his mother worked as a nurse, while Chris goes back to his high school in Paintsville, Kentucky. The one-hour special debuts March 31st at 10pm ET.

  • NEWS AND NOTES: Keith, Dierks, Lady A, Chris

    Keith Urban is set to co-host the third hour of NBC’s Today Show on Tuesday (February 7th).

    Dierks BentleyLady Antebellum, Chris and Morgane Stapleton, and many others are featured on a new tribute album, Gentle Giants: The Songs of Don Williams. The 11-track album will be released May 26th, in honor of Williams’ birthday the following day. See track list below.

    Gentle Giants: The Songs of Don Williams Track List: 
    1. “Tulsa Time” –  Pistol Annies
    2. “I Believe in You” – Brandy Clark
    3. “We’ve Got a Good Fire Goin'” – Lady Antebellum
    4. “Some Broken Hearts Never Mend” – Dierks Bentley
    5. “Amanda” – Chris Stapleton feat. Morgane Stapleton
    6. “Till The Rivers All Run Dry” – Alison Krauss
    7. “Love Is On A Roll” – John Prine feat. Roger Cook
    8. “If I Needed You” – Jason Isbell & Amanda Shires
    9. “Maggie’s Dream” – Trisha Yearwood
    10. “Lord I Hope This Day is Good” – Keb’ Mo’
    11. “Good Ole Boys Like Me” – Garth Brooks

  • NEWS AND NOTES: Luke, Chris, Lauren, Brothers Osborne, Little Big Town

    Luke Bryan, Chris Stapleton and Kenny Chesney will headline the fifth annual Tortuga Music Festival. The three-day event will take place April 7th – 9th in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida and will also feature performances by Alan Jackson, Darius Rucker, Brett Eldredge, Maren Morris, Dustin Lynch, Old Dominion and Nelly, among others.

    Chris Stapleton appeared on NBC’s Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon on Tuesday (January 24th) for the show’s “Behind the Lyrics” segment. He “explains” the story behind the title track of his hit album, Traveller. Check it out here.

    Luke Bryan will be joined by Cole Swindell, Phillip Phillips and songwriter Dallas Davidson to perform a benefit concert to help victims affected by the storms that recently devastated South Georgia. A  date for the benefit will be announced soon.

    Little Big Town, Brothers Osborne, Lauren Alaina and Gary Allan are among the artists performing at Chicago’s Country LakeShake this summer. The three-day event, which also features Miranda Lambert, Rascal Flatts and many others, will take place June 23rd – 25th at the Huntington Bank Pavilion. Tickets go on sale February 3rd at 10am.

  • NEWS AND NOTES: Little Big Town, Luke Bryan, Dierks Bentley, Chris Stapleton, Keith Urban, Sam Hunt, The Band Perry

    Little Big Town will perform the National Anthem at the 2017 College Football Playoff National Championship between the Alabama Crimson Tide (winner of the Peach Bowl) and the Clemson Tigers (winners of the Fiesta Bowl). The game takes place at the Rayond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida on Monday (January 9th) at 8:30pm ET.

    Nominations were announced for the iHeart Music Awards on Wednesday (January 4th). Luke Bryan has nods in a couple of categories, including the all-genre Male Artist of the Year, as well as Country Artist of the Year, alongside labelmate Keith Urban. Dierks Bentley’s “Somewhere on a Beach” is up for Country Song of the Year, while Chris Stapleton has a Best New Country Artist of the Year nomination.

    Chris Stapleton earned some heavy metal. His songs “Traveller,” “Fire Away,” “Nobody To Blame” and “Parachute” have all been certified gold.

    Keith Urban, Luke Bryan and Sam Hunt are up for Favorite Male Country Artist, while Little Big Town and The Band Perry are up for Favorite Country Group at this year’s People’s Choice Awards, airing live January 18th at 9pm ET on CBS.

  • NEWS AND NOTES: Darius, David, Easton, Chris, Luke

    Darius Rucker helped pay tribute to James Taylor at this week’s Kennedy Center Honors by performing a medley of some of the iconic singer-songwriter’s biggest hits, including “Sweet Baby James” and “Carolina in My Mind.” Rounding out the tribute, Darius, along with Garth Brooks and Sheryl Crow, performed ‘How Sweet It Is’ together. See videos of their performances below.

    David Nail’s “Good at Tonight” will play throughout the Peach Bowl on New Year’s Eve. Check it out, as well as the matchup between Alabama and Washington at 2p ET on ESPN.

    Easton Corbin performed the National Anthem at his alma mater, The University of Florida, before their first basketball game in their brand new arena at the Stephen C. O’Connell Center. Check it out in a post by Rare Country here.

    Chris Stapleton will be the special guest with Tom Petty at Wrigley Field on June 29th, as well as July 5th and 6th at the 50th Anniversary of Summerfest in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

    Luke Bryan took his boys to the WWE Live Holiday Tour when it made its stop at Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena this week. He went backstage to meet the legendary wrestler, Jon Cena.

     

    Video / Darius Rucker performs tribute to James Taylor

    View

    Video / Darius, Garth and Sheryl pay tribute to James Taylor

    View
  • NEWS AND NOTES: Chris, Lauren, Keith

    Chris Stapleton and Lauren Alaina are set to perform during Dolly Parton’s telethon to benefit the victims of the deadly wildfires in East Tennessee. The three-hour telethon, Smoky Mountains Rise: A Benefit for the My People Fund, airs tonight (December 13th) at 8pm ET on GAC, AXS-TV, RFD and the Heartland Network, while also simulcasting on numerous radio clusters, including select iHeart Media stations, Cumulus’ NASH Nights Live and Country Roads on TuneIn. Reba, Kenny Rogers, Alabama, Hank Williams Jr., Chris Young, Amy Grant, Cyndi Lauper and Don McLean will also perform.

    Chris Stapleton will open three shows for Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers’ 40th Anniversary Tour at Chicago’s Wrigley Field on June 29th and at Milwaukee’s Summerfest July 5th-6th.

    Keith Urban’s “Blue Ain’t Your Color” is spending a third week at the top of the Canadian Country Singles Chart.