Father’s Day is Sunday (June 21st), and we have liners with many of your favorite country stars! See and download below.

CMA Music Fest 2015 is winding down on the last full day, to include performances from Darius Rucker, Eric Church, Keith Urban and many more to close it out. Over the course of several days, hundreds of artists performed and thousands upon thousands came to Nashville to see them. For the artists themselves, they love this week to get up close and personal with the fans.

“I truly love this week for, I mean, hundreds of reasons. I always remember my first ones starting out and doing River Stages and always dreaming of coming over here and performing at LP Field,” says Luke Bryan. “I did my fan club party, and I truly love that opportunity to do that show for them really, really kind of acoustic and a chance to kind of sit there and be real with them for a little bit, and then obviously through the day and being here tonight. It’s an amazing night of music and an amazing week for Nashville and it’s a great, great week for me.”

Darius Rucker agrees with Luke’s sentiment about the week. “Being at CMA Fest, I love it! It’s such a great festival, and I can’t believe they can put it together every year and get everybody to play every year. It’s so great for Nashville, and it’s great for country music.”

Tickets for next year’s CMA Music Festival go on sale Friday, June 19th.

Darius Rucker has a lot of friends. Put them all together and they can do amazing things. Like raise more than $220,000 for childhood cancer and other life threatening diseases at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.

Rucker and a handful of today’s top country music stars spent Monday night putting on the sold-out sixth annual “Darius and Friends” benefit concert at the Wildhorse Saloon in Nashville, then hit the course Tuesday for the Celebrity Tee-Off sponsored by State Water Heaters. The two-day total is almost two times as much as the record $120,000 Rucker earned last year and brings the annual benefit’s total contribution to St. Jude to $660,000.

Rucker was an active master of ceremonies at the Wildhorse, performing his own set of hits and joining every invited star – the lineup included Little Big Town, Brett Eldredge, A Thousand Horses, Brothers Osborne, Scotty McCreery and Steve Wariner – on stage at some point. He stretched his instantly recognizable baritone voice in every direction through a night that included – but was not limited to – a set heavy with songs from his latest No. 1 album, Southern Style. He also brought out a horn section so he and new friend Eldredge could explore their mutual love of Frank Sinatra with covers of “Come Fly With Me” and “That’s Life.”

The South Carolina singer started to show off when he joined A Thousand Horses for a cover of the Black Crowes’ “Hard to Handle” and joined Wariner on the Beatles’ “Get Back.” Rucker finished the night with his now-standard cover of Prince’s “Purple Rain,” a song written for a club just like the Wildhorse.

Eldredge and the guys in A Thousand Horses – both opening on Rucker’s Southern Style Tour – and McCreery woke up early Tuesday for their tee times, joining Vince Gill, Eric Paslay, JT Hodges, Jon Pardi, Joe Nichols, Cole Swindell, David Nail, Dustin Lynch, James Otto and Jana Kramer on the links.

“Darius and Friends” is sponsored by State Water Heaters, Intel, CDW, Two Bits and Humdingers.

For more information about Darius Rucker or to buy tickets for the Southern Style Tour, please visit www.DariusRucker.comand follow @dariusrucker at Twitter.

About State Water Heaters
For nearly 70 years, State Water Heaters has built dependable, long lasting water heaters for commercial and residential applications. State offers over 500 water heater products, and has consistently developed new technologies to ensure longer product life. Based in Ashland City, Tennessee, State has seven water heater manufacturing plants. Hundreds of distribution centers across the United States ensure efficient service to State’s national customer base of residential homeowners, wholesalers, contractors, and other members of the engineering community. All State products are backed by customer technical support and durable tank and parts warranty. For more information, please visit www.StateWaterHeaters.com.

About St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital
Since opening 50 years ago, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital has changed the way the world treats childhood cancer and other life-threatening diseases. No family ever pays St. Jude for the care their child receives and, for every child treated here, thousands more have been saved worldwide through St. Jude discoveries. The hospital has played a pivotal role in pushing U.S. pediatric cancer survival rates from 20 to 80 percent overall, and is the first and only National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center devoted to children. It is also a leader in the research and treatment of blood disorders and infectious diseases in children. St. Jude was founded by the late entertainer Danny Thomas, who believed that no child should die in the dawn of life. Join that mission by visiting stjude.org or followingfacebook.com/stjude and twitter.com/stjude.

Several of your favorite artists will be attending Wednesday night’s CMT Music Awards, including Video of the Year nominees Luke Bryan (“Play It Again”), Dierks Bentley (“Drunk on a Plane”), Darius Rucker (“Homegrown Honey”), Sam Hunt (“Leave the Night On”), Lady Antebellum (“Bartender”).

Luke, Eric Church, Keith Urban, Lady Antebellum, Darius and Sam, as well as Carrie Under, Jason Aldean, Florida Georgia Line, Jake Owen, Reba and Zac Brown Band, are scheduled to perform.

Darius will sing to several thousand folks during an outdoor performance down the street from Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena, while Keith will perform his brand new single, “John Cougar, John Deere, John 3:16” during the show. The members of Lady A are pairing up with DJ-producer Zedd with an EDM-inspired country performance.

Dierks’ alter-ego Captain Holden Mike Johnson performed “Drunk on a Plane” during last year’s CMT Music Awards and apparently made out like a bandit. “Last I’d heard, he’d been demoted, and he’s flying a little Cessna smiling somewhere where there’s no FAA regulations after his CMT performance debut,” says Dierks. “He’s a strong man with a strong look, and I don’t know…He took my wife home from the CMT Awards, so he’s got some moves.”

Darius says he’s just happy to be nominated this year. ““It’s really just one of those things where I’m really happy to be nominated, because I didn’t expect that all,” says Darius. “What I always look forward to is the performances, because you never get to see anybody because we’re always on the road and you only see the guys you play with.”

Sam Hunt has two nominations – Video of the Year and Breakthrough Video of the Year — for his first official music video, “Leave the Night On.” He made a couple of videos prior to getting signed to MCA Nashville, and said he learned a lot. “I learned from making a few of these low-budget videos early on that the best way to go about doing it is just try to keep it honest and real and all of the people in the ‘Leave the Night On’ video was friends of ours,” says Sam. “We didn’t really want to hire actors and actresses to come in. It’s just hard to stage a good time. You kinda have to just let it naturally happen. So, that was a good thing about that video is that it turned into a just a fun day hanging out with all of our buddies, and we had a really good time making the video.”

The Walking Dead‘s Norman Reedus will be on hand to dole out trophies, as will Little Big Town, Dancing With the Stars champ Rumer Willis, action icon Arnold Schwarzenegger,  Nikki Reed, Aloe Blacc, Billy Ray Cyrus, Brett Eldredge, Cassadee Pope, Cole Swindell, David Spade, Hunter Hayes, Jana Kramer, Jenna Dewan-Tatum, Houston Texans JJ Watt, Kellie Pickler, American Idol’s Nick Fradiani, Noah Galloway, Ron White, Sara Evans, Thomas Rhett and Tom Arnold will also present.

The six finalists for video of the year will be announced at the beginning of the live show, and fans can then vote at CMT.com throughout the live telecast (ET/CT only) to determine the night’s big winner.

The 2015 CMT Music Awards will broadcast live from Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena, Wednesday (June 10th) at 8pm ET.

Video of the Year
Carrie Underwood, “Something in the Water”
Darius Rucker, “Homegrown Honey”
Dierks Bentley, “Drunk on a Plane”
Florida Georgia Line, “Dirt”
Jason Aldean, “Burnin’ It Down”
Kenny Chesney, “American Kids”
Lady Antebellum, “Bartender”
Lee Brice, “I Don’t Dance”
Luke Bryan, “Play It Again”
Maddie & Tae, “Girl in a Country Song”
Miranda Lambert and Carrie Underwood, “Somethin’ Bad”
Sam Hunt, “Leave the Night On”

Male Video of the Year
Dierks Bentley, “Drunk on a Plane”
Eric Church, “Talladega”
Jason Aldean, “Burnin’ It Down”
Keith Urban, “Somewhere in My Car”
Kenny Chesney, “American Kids”
Luke Bryan, “Play It Again”

Female Video of the Year
Carrie Underwood, “Little Toy Guns”
Carrie Underwood, “Something in the Water”
Lee Ann Womack, “The Way I’m Livin'”
Miranda Lambert, “Little Red Wagon”
RaeLynn, “God Made Girls”
Reba, “Going Out Like That”

Group Video of the Year
A Thousand Horses, “Smoke”
Eli Young Band, “Dust”
Lady Antebellum, “Bartender”
Little Big Town, “Day Drinking”
The Band Perry, “Chainsaw”
Zac Brown Band, “All Alright”

Breakthrough Video of the Year
Chase Rice, “Gonna Wanna Tonight”
Frankie Ballard, “Sunshine & Whiskey”
Kelsea Ballerini, “Love Me Like You Mean It”
Maddie & Tae, “Girl in a Country Song”
RaeLynn, “God Made Girls”
Sam Hunt, “Leave the Night On”

Duo Video of the Year:
Big & Rich “Look at You”
Brothers Osborne “Rum”
Florida Georgia Line “Dirt”
Florida Georgia Line “Sun Daze”
Maddie & Tae “Girl in a Country Song”
Swon Brothers “Later On”

Collaborative Video Of The Year
Blake Shelton feat. Ashley Monroe, Lonely Tonight
Brantley Gilbert feat. Justin Moore and Thomas Rhett, Small Town Throwdown
Jennifer Nettles feat. Brandy Clark, His Hands
Kenny Chesney with Grace Potter, Wild Child
Miranda Lambert with Carrie Underwood, Somethin’ Bad
Tim McGraw feat. Faith Hill, Meanwhile Back at Mamas

CMT Performance Of The Year
Brett Eldredge, Beat of the Music from CMT’s Ultimate Kickoff Party
John Legend and Lee Ann Womack, You & I (Nobody In The World) from CMT Crossroads
Katy Perry and Kacey Musgraves, Roar from Crossroads
Keith Urban, It’s a Man’s, Man’s, Man’s World from 2014 CMT Artists of the Year
Kenny Chesney, American Kids from Instant Jam
Lady Antebellum and Aloe Blacc, Wake Me Up from CMT’s Ultimate Kickoff Party
Lady Antebellum and Chris Stapleton, Drink a Beer from 2014 CMT Artists of the Year

It’s that time again! The CMA Music Festival begins this week in Nashville, and the stars are ready to come out to perform and check in with their fans!

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (June 2, 2015) – Darius Rucker has put together an exciting lineup of some of today’s best country music performers for his sixth annual “Darius and Friends” benefit concert June 8 at the Wildhorse Saloon in Nashville.

A Thousand Horses, Brett Eldredge, Brothers Osborne,Little Big Town and country music legend Steve Wariner will join Rucker at the Wildhorse Saloon to raise money for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.

With a surprise guest yet to be announced and Nan Kellyof GAC hosting, the fundraiser will mark the kickoff to an exciting week in Nashville when the entire constellation of country stars are in town for the CMA Music Festival. The event has always sold out and has raised more than $400,000 for cancer research and treatment in past years. The next day Rucker will host his yearly Darius and Friends Celebrity Tee-Off, a golf tournament that also benefits St. Jude and is sponsored by State Water Heaters. Rucker raised a record $120,000 last year between the benefit concert, golf tournament and auction.

For more information on Darius and Friends, please visit www.DariusRucker.com.  

About State Water Heaters
For nearly 70 years, State Water Heaters has built dependable, long lasting water heaters for commercial and residential applications. State offers over 500 water heater products, and has consistently developed new technologies to ensure longer product life. Based in Ashland City, Tennessee, State has seven water heater manufacturing plants. Hundreds of distribution centers across the United States ensure efficient service to State’s national customer base of residential homeowners, wholesalers, contractors, and other members of the engineering community. All State products are backed by customer technical support and durable tank and parts warranty. For more information, please visit www.StateWaterHeaters.com.

About St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital
Since opening 50 years ago, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital has changed the way the world treats childhood cancer and other life-threatening diseases. No family ever pays St. Jude for the care their child receives and, for every child treated here, thousands more have been saved worldwide through St. Jude discoveries. The hospital has played a pivotal role in pushing U.S. pediatric cancer survival rates from 20 to 80 percent overall, and is the first and only National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center devoted to children. It is also a leader in the research and treatment of blood disorders and infectious diseases in children. St. Jude was founded by the late entertainer Danny Thomas, who believed that no child should die in the dawn of life. Join that mission by visiting stjude.org or following us on facebook.com/stjude and twitter.com/stjude.      

Darius Rucker just kicked off his Southern Style Tour last week, and he’s excited to be on the road with his supporting acts – Brett Eldredge, Brothers Osborne and A Thousand Horses.

“I wanted to get guys whose voices I loved, first of all,” Darius says. “Those Brothers Osborne – their harmonies, man, it just kills me when brothers can sing like that, you know? It kills me, and I love it. And I thought they’d be great.”

As far as newcomers A Thousand Horses, “The last year, I’ve spent a lot of time hanging out with those guys and doing stuff together and playing shows together, and I think they’re great. I love what they do.”

“Brett, because there’s just something about that kid. I mean, his voice is so special. I mean, it’s so special. I love him. I think he’s awesome,” he says. “I wanted to tour with him, and I thought it’d be really cool to just take him out and have a good time and just, you know, this might be the last time he ever opens up for somebody. He’ll probably be a headliner next year, so it’s like let’s get him and go have some fun.”

Darius does have a few issues with Brett Eldredge, though. “I wish he didn’t know how to dress. I’m like, ‘Dude, if we have a day off and we’ve got out to dinner, I’ve got to see what you’ve got on before we go out, [laughs] ‘cause you’re not gonna make me look like a bum and you like you’re on your way to the Playboy Mansion you look so cool.’”

The Southern Style Tour will initially hit 30 cities across North America. The next stop is Thursday (May 21st) in Alpharetta, Georgia, followed by shows in Tampa and West Palm Beach.

Darius has hit the airwaves with his new single, “Southern Style.”

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – On June 9th, Universal Music Group Nashville will release Now That’s What I Call Country Vol. 8, the latest installment in the popular NOW series. Country music fans can hear hits by some of their favorite artists including Luke Bryan, Darius Rucker, Eric Church, Keith Urban, Miranda Lambert, Cole Swindell, Lady Antebellum and more.

Now That’s What I Call Country Vol. 8 includes 14 No. 1 hits and 18 total tracks from today’s country music superstars and exciting new artists:

1. Luke Bryan                                         Roller Coaster
2. Jason Aldean                                     Just Gettin’ Started
3. Sam Hunt                                           Leave The Night On
4. Darius Rucker                                   Homegrown Honey
5. Florida Georgia Line                         Sun Daze
6. Jake Owen                                          Beachin’
7. Brantley Gilbert                                  Bottoms Up
8. Eric Church                                         Give Me Back My Hometown
9. Lady Antebellum                               Bartender
10. A Thousand Horses                          Smoke
11. Cole Swindell                                     Ain’t Worth The Whiskey
12. Keith Urban                                       Somewhere In My Car
13. Miranda Lambert                             Automatic
14. Brad Paisley                                       Perfect Storm
15. Tyler Farr                                           A Guy Walks Into A Bar
16. Lee Brice                                            Drinking Class
17. Chris Young                                       Lonely Eyes
18. Eric Paslay                                          She Don’t Love You

The project is a joint venture from Universal Music Group and Sony Music Entertainment. This release is part of the multi-platinum NOW That’s What I Call Music! compilation series, the world’s best-selling multi-artist albums with sales topping 250 million worldwide and 94 million in the U.S.  The seven previous NOW That’s What I Call Country releases have debuted in the Top 3 of the Billboard Country albums chart.  Now That’s What I Call Country Vol. 8  is distributed by Universal Music Group. NOW and NOW That’s What I Call Music! are registered trademarks of Universal Music Group and its affiliates.

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Pitch Perfect’s Anna Kendrick teams up with Today’s Hoda Kotb to play against Darius Rucker and Kathie Lee Gifford in a fun-filled game of root beer pong. You’ll also find out what Darius’ go-to karaoke song is in the clip below.