• DIERKS BENTLEY HOSTS 750K FANS ON HIS ‘WHAT THE HELL TOUR.’

    Current CMA “Male Vocalist of the Year” nominee Dierks Bentley’s 2017 WHAT THE HELL WORLD TOUR wrapped this past weekend, after consistently ushering crowds of 25,000+, the biggest of his career, while notching more than 60 shows at arenas and amphitheaters across the country since January. Bentley “has always been one of Country’s most engaging performers…with enough hits to fill an entire set,” (Asbury Park Park Press) and earned the top spot on Billboard‘s “Hot Tours” list now having sold more than 750,000 tickets this year to date. 
     
    “This tour has been one of those experiences you wait for your entire life,” said Bentley. “To the fans and all the people who filled every seat in the house, who stood on their feet for hours and spent their hard-earned money to come see a show, you have made this an unforgettable journey. It’s going to be weird not having Cole and Pardi around, but I can’t thank those guys enough for coming along for this ride. Night after night the crowds were more explosive than the last…it will be a really hard year to top!”
    “Bentley’s raucously entertaining tour” (Rolling Stone) made “sure the fans had an experience they’ll never forget,” (Billboard) from impromptu bluegrass sets in disguise, dancing in aisles with security guards to touching salutes for military members. Bentley’s 2017 WHAT THE HELL WORLD TOUR thrived in spontaneous moments keeping fans on their feet until the very last note was played each night. Bentley challenged himself to cover George Strait at every stop with Jon Pardi and he invited Cole Swindell back to the stage during his set to perform their chart-topping hit, “Flatliner.” Memorable shows included his first headlining night at Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena with a sold-out crowd, a first-ever arena play and capacity hometown show at Phoenix’s Talking Stick Resort Arena and two sold out nights at Red Rocks. With “his nightly goal to make sure the crowd is having as much fun as he and his band are having onstage” (Music Row), select shows hosted friends such as Elle King, Kelsea Ballerini, Cindy Crawford, the Phoenix Suns dancers and Peyton Manning.
     
    “He’s really good at speaking to – not at – the audience, drawing them deeper into the more emotional moments in the set while his five bandmates effortlessly navigate the changing moods on a multi-tiered stage with the drums at the top and elaborate lighting rigs.” – Arizona Republic
     
    “Whether Bentley’s playing bluegrass in the evening or country after the sun goes down, he’s grateful for every minute he spends on the music.” – CMT
     
    “Not only is Bentley one of country music’s biggest stars  — he’s also one of its longest-reigning names.” – San Diego Union Tribune
     
    “The country star ran around the stage as he attempted to touch all the bases of the tens of thousands of fans begging for his attention.” – MLive
     
    “The most important thing to Bentley is that no city gets less of a show then the next.” – Billboard
     
    “With one foot planted on the country side and the other tapping along the rock and roll side, Dierks Bentley roared with a fun, solid two hours of his hits old and new.” – The Sun Chronicle
     
    “Few artists in country put on a show with the energy, passion and all out fun that Dierks Bentley does.” – Whiskey Riff
     
    “With all the quality party songs, Bentley made this Thursday evening feel a whole lot like a Saturday night.” – Country Standard Time
    The “regular hit-making machine,” (Mercury News) has a “reputation as one of the hardest-working entertainers in country music,” (Music Row) as “he sells out enormous tours, is a perennial favorite of format radio stations, and earns critical acclaim without compromising his artistic vision,” (Entertainment Weekly). With 17 No. One hits and more than one billion digital streams he “continues to take risks that pay off,” (USA Today) as his eighth studio album BLACK has been hailed the “most fully-formed LP of his career,” (TIME). BLACK has garnered nominations from the ACMCMAGRAMMY and Billboard Music Awards while earning three consecutive No. Ones; the GOLD certified title-track and the PLATINUM certified hits “Somewhere On A Beach” and “Different For Girls.” For more information visit www.dierks.com.
  • CMA AWARDS NOMINATIONS REVEALED.

    Lauren Alaina, Brothers Osborne and Dustin Lynch announced the final nominees for “The 51st Annual CMA Awards” Monday morning live from ABC’s “Good Morning America” studio in New York’s Times Square.

    Alaina emerged as a first-time nominee, making her debut in the New Artist of the Year category. Brothers Osborne will once again vie for Vocal Duo of the Year and also received a first-time nomination for Music Video with their anthemic “It Ain’t My Fault.”

    The artists revealed six categories live on-air, then announced the remaining six categories, along with finalists for the CMA Broadcast Awards, on GoodMorningAmerica.com as well as via “Good Morning America’s” Facebook page through Facebook Live and simulcast on “Good Morning America’s” YouTube channel.

    Little Big Town and Keith Urban each garner four nominations, tying for the second most nominations this year.

    Little Big Town’s nominations include Single, produced by Jay Joyce and mix engineered by Jason Hall and Joyce; Music Video of the Year directed by Becky Fluke and Reid Long for “Better Man”; Album of the Year for The Breaker, also produced by Joyce; and Vocal Group of the Year. This is Little Big Town’s fourth nomination for Music Video. They have been nominated in past years for “Pontoon” (2012), “Tornado” (2013), and “Girl Crush” (2015). They are seven-time CMA Awards winners and this year’s nods bring their career total to 26 nominations. Taylor Swift received her 23rd nomination for writing “Better Man,” marking her second nomination for Song of the Year and first CMA Awards nod since 2014.

    Urban tallied up nominations for Entertainer of the Year, Single and Music Video of the Year for “Blue Ain’t Your Color” and Male Vocalist. This is his thirteenth nomination for Male Vocalist and he is a three-time consecutive winner in this category (2004-2006). Urban is a 10-time CMA Awards winner. Songwriters for “Blue Ain’t Your Color,” Clint Lagerberg, Hillary Lindsey, and Steven Lee Olsen earned a nod for Song of the Year. “Blue Ain’t Your Color” Music Video Director Carter Smith is a first-time nominee. “Blue Ain’t Your Color” producer Dann Huff and mix engineer Chris Lord-Alge also earned nods. Urban received one nomination for Single of the Year, but can receive an additional trophy as producer.

    Eric Church
    and Chris Stapleton each earned three nominations.

    Church scored recognition in the Entertainer of the Year category, as well as Male Vocalist, his sixth consecutive nomination, and Musical Event of the Year for “Kill A Word” featuring first-time nominee Rhiannon Giddens. He is a three-time CMA Award winner with 25 total career nominations.

    Five-time CMA Awards winner Stapleton is nominated for Entertainer of the Year, Male Vocalist and Album for From A Room: Volume 1, which was produced by Dave Cobb and Stapleton. He receives one nomination for album, but can receive an additional trophy as producer. This is Stapleton’s third consecutive nomination for Male, which he’s won the past two years. He was also nominated for Entertainer last year and won Album for Traveller in 2015. He is an 11-time CMA Awards nominee.

    Brothers Osborne, Sam Hunt, Lady Antebellum and Jon Pardi garnered two nominations.

    Reigning CMA Vocal Duo of the Year Brothers Osborne earns their third nomination in this category. They also received their first Music Video nod for “It Ain’t My Fault,” directed by Wes Edwards and Ryan Silver. They’ve earned five career nominations.

    Hunt was recognized in the Single and Song categories for the record-setting “Body Like A Back Road,” produced and mix engineered by Zach Crowell, and written by Crowell, Hunt, Shane McAnally, and Josh Osborne. In 2015, Hunt received the same nods for “Take Your Time.” He is a five-time CMA Awards nominee.

    Lady Antebellum is nominated for Vocal Group of the Year and Album for their latest effort Heart Break, produced by busbee. Their previous records Need You Now (2010) and Own The Night (2012) both received Album nods. They are a 10-time consecutive (2008-2017) Vocal Group nominee and have won the category three years back to back (2009-2011).

    Newcomer Pardi burst onto the Awards scene with his first two CMA nominations this year. “Dirt On My Boots,” which he co-produced with Bart Butler, earned him a nod in the Single of the Year category. He receives one nomination as the artist, but can receive an additional trophy as producer. The song was mix engineered by Ryan Gore. “Dirt On My Boots” songwriters Rhett Akins, Jesse Frasure, and Ashley Gorley are also nominees. Additionally, Pardi received a New Artist of the Year nomination.

    Other first time CMA Awards nominees include Alaina, Combs, and Young in the New Artist of the Year category, and LOCASH in Duo. Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit debuted in Album of the Year with The Nashville Sound, produced by Cobb.

    The 51st Annual CMA Awards, hosted by Brad Paisley and Carrie Underwood, will be broadcast live from Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, November 8th at 8pm ET on ABC.

    For more information and a full list of nominees, visit CMAawards.com.

     

     
    The Final Nominees for “The 51st Annual CMA Awards” (by ballot category order):

     

    ENTERTAINER OF THE YEAR

    Garth Brooks

    Luke Bryan

    Eric Church

    Chris Stapleton

    Keith Urban

     

    SINGLE OF THE YEAR

    (Award goes to Artist, Producer(s), and Mix Engineer(s))

    “Better Man” – Little Big Town

    Producer: Jay Joyce

    Mix Engineers: Jason Hall, Jay Joyce

                                                                     

    “Blue Ain’t Your Color” – Keith Urban

    Producers: Dann Huff, Keith Urban

    Mix Engineer: Chris Lord-Alge

     

    “Body Like A Back Road” – Sam Hunt

    Producer: Zach Crowell

    Mix Engineer: Zach Crowell

     

    “Dirt On My Boots” – Jon Pardi

    Producers: Bart Butler, Jon Pardi

    Mix Engineer: Ryan Gore

     

    “Tin Man” – Miranda Lambert

    Producers: Frank Liddell, Eric Masse, Glenn Worf

    Mix Engineer: Eric Masse

     

    ALBUM OF THE YEAR

    (Award goes to Artist and Producer(s))

    The Breaker – Little Big Town

    Producer: Jay Joyce

     

    From A Room: Volume 1 – Chris Stapleton

    Producers: Dave Cobb, Chris Stapleton

     

    Heart Break – Lady Antebellum

    Producer: busbee

     

    The Nashville Sound – Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit

    Producer: Dave Cobb

     

    The Weight of These Wings – Miranda Lambert

    Producers: Frank Liddell, Glenn Worf, Eric Masse

    SONG OF THE YEAR

    (Award goes to Songwriter(s))

    “Better Man”

    Songwriter: Taylor Swift

     

    “Blue Ain’t Your Color”

    Songwriters: Clint Lagerberg, Hillary Lindsey, Steven Lee Olsen

     

    “Body Like A Back Road”

    Songwriters: Zach Crowell, Sam Hunt, Shane McAnally, Josh Osborne

     

    “Dirt On My Boots”

    Songwriters: Rhett Akins, Jesse Frasure, Ashley Gorley

     

    “Tin Man”

    Songwriters: Jack Ingram, Miranda Lambert, Jon Randall

     

    FEMALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR

    Kelsea Ballerini

    Miranda Lambert

    Reba McEntire

    Maren Morris

    Carrie Underwood

     

    MALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR

    Dierks Bentley

    Eric Church

    Thomas Rhett

    Chris Stapleton

    Keith Urban

     

    VOCAL GROUP OF THE YEAR

    Lady Antebellum

    Little Big Town

    Old Dominion

    Rascal Flatts

    Zac Brown Band

     

    VOCAL DUO OF THE YEAR

    Brothers Osborne

    Dan + Shay

    Florida Georgia Line

    LOCASH

    Maddie & Tae

     

    MUSICAL EVENT OF THE YEAR

    (Award goes to each Artist)

    “Craving You” – Thomas Rhett featuring Maren Morris

    “Funny How Time Slips Away” – Glen Campbell with Willie Nelson

    “Kill A Word” – Eric Church featuring Rhiannon Giddens

    “Setting the World on Fire” – Kenny Chesney with P!nk

    “Speak to a Girl” – Tim McGraw & Faith Hill

     

    MUSIC VIDEO OF THE YEAR

    (Award goes to Artist and Director(s))

    “Better Man” – Little Big Town

    Directors: Becky Fluke and Reid Long

     

    “Blue Ain’t Your Color” – Keith Urban

    Director: Carter Smith

     

    “Craving You” – Thomas Rhett featuring Maren Morris

    Director: TK McKamy

     

    “It Ain’t My Fault” – Brothers Osborne

    Directors: Wes Edwards and Ryan Silver

     

    “Vice” – Miranda Lambert

    Director: Trey Fanjoy

     

    NEW ARTIST OF THE YEAR

    Lauren Alaina

    Luke Combs

    Old Dominion

    Jon Pardi

    Brett Young

     

     

  • LABOR DAY 2017: AJ, Billy, Canaan, Darius, Dierks, Keith, Kip, Lady A, Luke and many more

    For many decades, Labor Day was seen as a day for workers to voice their complaints and discuss better working conditions and pay.

    U.S. Congress declared Labor Day a national holiday in 1894, and on Monday, September 4th, we will once again celebrate the people in every occupation whose work and dedication make this nation great. Labor Day in the United States is a holiday celebrated on the first Monday in September. It is a celebration of the American labor movement and is dedicated to the social and economic achievements of workers.

    Labor Day weekend also signals the unofficial end to summer, and many of the hottest country stars are taking a look back at some of the toughest jobs they had prior to making their mark in music or talking about their dream job now.

    Audio / Alan Jackson says that working man values have always been a part of his music.

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    AJ (working people songs) OC: … appreciate that. :28
    “I’ve always written songs and recorded songs, other people’s songs, about workin’ people, and workin’, the workin’ life ’cause I mean, that’s where I’m from. I mean, I worked…I’d already had jobs and worked as a grown person before I ever even thought about bein’ in the music business, so I come from that background, and…although I hadn’t had a job in a long time (laughs), I still remember a lot about it, you know, and I remember what the lifestyle is, and I still appreciate that.”

    Audio / Billy Currington recalls some of the jobs he had before landing his record deal in 2003.

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    Billy Currington (Labor Day) OC: …record deal. :40
    “I started working like at [age] 12, landscaping. This was summer, every summers, and roofing. I started when I was about 16 roofing houses, and that was probably one of my toughest jobs because down there in South Georgia, it gets hot, so doing that every day all summer long. The pawn shop when I moved to Nashville was one of my favorites, even though it was one of my least favorites. The concrete job was my least favorite of all – six years of that, and I couldn’t take it no more. After that job, that was my turning point. Either I’m going to do something else for a living [laughs] or quit and try to really focus on music and get this record deal.”

    Audio / Canaan Smith talks about the bad jobs he had before signing a publishing deal and later a record deal.

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    Canaan Smith (worst jobs) OC: …of that. [laughs] :54
    “I’ve had some terrible jobs. I was a janitor for a while, and I mopped floors, vacuums all kinds of, picking up dog poop, taking out trash, just basically somebody’s beyatch [laughs], that was my job. I did that for two-and-a-half years before I signed a publishing deal. Before that, actually my very first job, I got fired from. It was some sort of candy/chocolate store. My mom dropped me off one time, and I went to work and I was like I think I can do this, and then two shifts later I just didn’t show up because I didn’t understand the concept of having to look at a schedule to see when you come in. I just didn’t show. I just thought they’d call me, ‘Hey, we need you to come in.’ I didn’t know. I was 15 years old, and never worked and that kind of stuff. I always cut grass when I was a kid and cleaned golf clubs – whatever I could do to make some money. But, yeah, I got fired from my first job. I’m pretty proud of that.” [laughs]

    Audio / Darius Rucker recalls one of his worst jobs before turning to music.

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    Darius Rucker (Labor Day) OC: …pizza. :15
    “I was fifteen, and I worked at a pizza place, and the guy decided that at fifteen, that I could not only clean the floors and wash the dishes, but I also had to make pizza. So, for two months, he taught me how to make pizza.”

    Audio / Dierks Bentley makes a living performing for his fans, and he can’t say enough about them.

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    Dierks Bentley (Labor Day) OC: …generosity. :26
    “Personally, the fans give me amazement. That’s the only word to really sum it up. I look out in the crowd, you know, usually see a lot of faces and fans are cheering. I know each one of these like from the road-the signs are from California…Michelle and Kayla live up in the Ohio area. They’re all, I just see them, and I’m like, ‘Wow!,’ they’re all from different regions. You know when you’re in a different region of the country and you just see certain fans. These people are way more hard core than I am, and I’m just amazed by their generosity.”

    Audio / Eric Church talks about one of his worst job.

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    Eric Church (Labor Day-odd jobs) OC: …bought at 2am. 1:27
    “I had an awful job. I’ve had a lot of awful jobs…my worst one was when I first came to Nashville. I got a job at the Shop at Home Network. I worked midnight, graveyard, midnight to eight. That was bad enough but then I would work all night, go home, shower and then I had writing appointments all day because I was trying to get a career started. I’d go write songs and get meetings just trying to get signed. And end up getting done at 3 of 4 with all of that, I’d go home, take a shower or sleep for a little bit and then I had to be at work again at midnight. So the schedule was bad enough, however, what I had to do at the job…I sold knives from midnight to 7 or 8am. And, anytime somebody calls you at 3 or 4am and needs 200 knives for $19.95, it’s automatically an alarming situation. And I just, I was young and I’d been in a lot of these people’s shoes, I had done this…I knew they were drunk. I knew what they had done. They’d just come home from the bar, flipped on Shop at Home and said, ‘You know what? I need that.’ So the reason the job didn’t last long for me is that I was maybe the worst salesmen in history because I ended up talking a lot of these people out of it, I’d say, ‘I’ll tell you what man, go to bed, call me, I’ll be here in the morning. If you get up in the morning and want these knives you call me back.’ Because I knew what was going to happen, you know. They bought 200 knives for $19.95…first of all some of these people you didn’t know whether you should call the cops. What do you need 200 knives for? Even though I’m selling them…what do you need them for? So, it was awful doing that job. And then they got rid of me because, they were like, ‘You’re the worst. I can’t believe you’re talking people out of it.’ I was like, ‘Man I know…I’ve been there.’ [laughs] I’d want some to talk me out of buying some of the stuff I’ve bought at 2am.”

    Audio / Eric Paslay talks about his first job…printing logos on fanny packs.

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    Eric Paslay (Labor Day) OC: …could print. :34
    “My first official job was working at a screen printing place in Texas during the summer in a metal building that had no AC. We printed on fanny packs – really cool — and these other little bags. And it was eye doctors that, some company if you bought supplies through them, they’d put your logo on fanny packs for your customers to put in a drawer somewhere. Fanny packs are cool, if you like ‘em. You know, we’d like time ourselves to see how many fanny packs you could print.”

    Audio / Jon Pardi talks about his worst job, which was at a grocery store.

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    Jon Pardi (Labor Day) OC: …so bored! :17
    “The worst job I ever had was at Hometown Grocery Store. I didn’t want to work. I was 15, and I did not want to work at the grocery store. Bagging was fun, but they sent me down the aisles to pull up cans and turn ‘em around and face ‘em, and I would just get so bored!”

    Audio / Jordan Davis, whose debut single is making its way up the country charts, talks about his worst job.

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    Jordan Davis (Labor Day) OC: …worst job. :41
    “[My] worst job was probably whenever I got out of school I started working for an environmental group in Baton Rouge, and I was doing actual environmental work at first. I went to my boss probably about four months in and told him that I was going to move to Nashville and write songs. Luckily enough, he let me stay on, but I became the weedeater guy for the landscaping side of the business. I seriously weedeated eight hours a day. The only break I would get would be in-between yard to yard. So, like we would be in the car and I would try to doze off for like 10 minutes. I was covered in grass in the middle of the summer in Baton Rouge. It was awful. That was definitely the worst job.”

    Audio / Kip Moore recalls his worst job...ever.

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    Kip Moore (Labor Day-worst job) OC: …than that. :21
    “I’d have to say my worst job ever was laying sod in the south Georgia heat. There’s nothing than that, especially when somebody would think that you’re waiting for the next sod patch to be thrown to you and you got your back turned, and all of a sudden, that big ole piece of sod hits you right on the back. You got nowhere to clean up, and you’re just stuck with dirt on your back for the rest of the day. It doesn’t get any worse than that.”

    Audio / Keith Urban talks about performing for fans.

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    Keith Urban (Labor Day) OC: …amazing. :22
    “Seeing people connect to the music is absolutely, hands-down the biggest reward for me, especially when you go to a place you’ve never been to before and it’s all these people, I mean lots of people out there. You’ve never met a single one of ‘em and they’re singing every word, and you realize that it’s not just a pretty melody and everything, but they get the songs. It’s amazing.”

    Audio / Charles Kelley of Lady Antebellum tells us what he used to do to make a buck before finding success as a musician.

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    Lady A (Labor Day) OC: …I had a lot of crummy jobs. :31
    CK “I used to…” HS: “… knock out asbestos walls.” CK: “I did that for a long time. But even before that, I used to do lawn care every summer. Oh, man, I do not miss that. Just glad those days are over. I get out here and play music for a living. It’s a lot more fun. But yeah, I used to do that, and I used to work as a bag boy at a golf course once. I did that for a couple of summers. I had a lot of crummy jobs.”

    Audio / Luke Bryan talks about the different jobs he worked in and around Leesburg, Georgia, before heading to Nashville to pursue a career in music.

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    Luke Bryan (Labor Day-jobs) OC: …Nashville… 1:07
    “At age 12 thru 13, I worked at Rubos IGA Supermarket in Leesburg, GA. I worked during the summers on Monday and Tuesday. I stocked and cleaned up the produce.  They paid me under the table…I peeled off all of the brown lettuce. Let’s see, when I was 15, I was a cashier at K-Mart for two months. I worked at K-Mart for two months, and then I reverted back to Rubos because it didn’t really make sense for me to drive all the way into Albany and work for K-Mart. The benefits were great though-you’d get an hour-long on the blue light special. So I started back at Rubos, and then I quit Rubos and worked for my Dad-just awful just driving tractors through cotton all day, and spraying pesticides that eventually would turn your hair green. And then at some point, I started playing guitar. And well, after college I went back and worked for my dad and continued to spray and haul fertilizer around. And then I moved to Nashville…”

     

     

     

  • LABOR DAY LINERS 2017

    Audio / LINER Billy Currington (Labor Day)

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    Hey y’all! It’s Billy Currington, wishing you a very happy Labor Day weekend.

    Audio / LINER Brandon Lay (Labor Day)

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    “Hey y’all, this is Brandon Lay, wishing you a happy and work-free Labor Day Weekend.”

    Audio / LINER Brothers Osborne (Labor Day)

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    This is TJ, and I’m John, and we are Brothers Osborne, wishing you a happy and work-free Labor Day weekend.

    Audio / LINER Canaan Smith (Labor Day)

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    Hey! What’s up, guys? I’m Canaan Smith. Have a great and work-free Labor Day weekend.

    Audio / LINER Canaan Smith (Labor Day)

    Download

    Hey! What’s up, guys? I’m Canaan Smith. Have a great and work-free Labor Day weekend.

    Audio / LINER Clare Dunn (Labor Day)

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    Hey! What’s up? This is Clare Dunn, and I hope you have a Happy Labor Day weekend.

     

    Audio / LINER Darius Rucker (Labor Day)

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    Hey! It’s Darius Rucker, and I hope you have a have a happy work-free Labor Day weekend.

    Audio / LINER Eric Church (Labor Day)

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    Hey! It’s Eric Church, and I hope you have a have a happy Labor Day weekend.

    Audio / LINER Eric Paslay (Labor Day)

    Download

    Hey! It’s Eric Paslay, and I hope you have a happy and work-free Labor Day weekend.

    Audio / LINER Jon Pardi (Labor Day weekend)

    Download

    Hey! It’s Jon Pardi, and I hope you have a happy and work-free Labor Day weekend.

    Audio / LINER Kacey Musgraves (Labor Day weekend)

    Download

    Hey! It’s Kacey Musgraves, hoping you have a happy Labor Day weekend.

    Audio / LINER Keith Urban (Labor Day weekend)

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    Hi everybody! This is Keith Urban, wishing you a very happy Labor Day weekend.

    Audio / LINER Kip Moore (Labor Day)

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    Hey—what’s happening guys? This is Kip Moore, wishing you a happy and work-free Labor Day Weekend.

    Audio / LINER LBT (Labor Day)

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    Hi! We’re Little Big Town, hoping you have a work-free Labor Day weekend.

    Audio / LINER Luke Bryan (Labor Day)

    Download

    Hey! It’s Luke Bryan, and I hope you have a have a happy Labor Day weekend.

    Audio / LINER Sam Hunt (Labor Day)

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    Hey everybody! I’m Sam Hunt. Have a great and work-free Labor Day weekend.

     

    [[audio-player-17]]

  • COUNTRY STARS REACT TO THE DEVASTATING EFFECTS OF HURRICANE HARVEY.

    Lady Antebellum had to cancel their show on their You Look Good World Tour in Houston on Sunday night (August 27th) due to the ravaging effects from Hurricane Harvey.

    The band sent a message to the fans to express sorrow for the cancellation and the circumstances, as well as letting them know they would donate proceeds from their merchandise sales to hurricane relief funds.

     

     

    Maddie & Tae are over in the U-K, but send their thoughts and prayers to Maddie’s home state of Texas.

    https://twitter.com/MaddieandTae/status/901954088333606915

     

     

     

     

    Kacey Musgraves sends a message of love to her home state of Texas.

    https://twitter.com/KaceyMusgraves/status/901232729269907456

  • JON PARDI’S ‘CALIFORNIA SUNRISE’ CERTIFIED GOLD.

    pardi gold

    Dierks Bentley and UMG Nashville Chairman & CEO Mike Dungan surprise Jon Pardi with a Gold plaque for California Sunrise. Sacramento, Calif. Aug. 19, 2017
    Photo Credit: Zachary Belcher

     

    Jon Pardi’s impressive breakthrough year hit another milestone Saturday night as he celebrated his first-ever GOLD-certified album for sophomore release California Sunrise. During the Sacramento What the Hell World Tour stop, Dierks Bentley brought Pardi back on stage as the California-native may have expected, but Bentley had a surprise for his good friend and tour mate. Bentley then welcomed their label head, Universal Music Group Nashville’s Chairman & CEO Mike Dungan to join them as they presented the rising country star with a gold plaque acknowledging 500,000 sales of California Sunrise. The sold-out crowd showed their pride in the Dixon local with boisterous cheering, toasting and a lively chant of “PARDI! PARDI! PARDI!” View video HERE.

     

    An incredibly grateful Pardi shares, “That was definitely a surprise, and for it to be acknowledged in front of a hometown crowd of 18,000 in Northern California, amongst my friends and family and early supporters, made it an emotional moment. I will never forget it.”

    PARDI GOLD 2

    Pictured (L-R): UMG Nashville’s CEO & Chairman Mike Dungan, Jon Pardi
    Photo Credit: Nolan Feldpausch

    Debuting at No. 1 on the Billboard Country Albums chart, California Sunrise released to overwhelming praise from press highlighting Pardi’s ability to blend together modern production and traditional soundscapes. Rolling Stone proclaims, “Traditionalism isn’t dead … and [California Sunrise] is a fine example, mixing a pronounced California twang and George Strait’s easy swing with some meaty guitar riffs,” while The Tennessean notes, “In a time when many country artists are incorporating progressive, edgy studio tricks to contemporize their sound, Jon Pardi eschewed trends and made a boot scootin’, honky-tonkin’ country album.” HITS calls the album “a triumph of gritty, honky-tonkin’, old-school country with a healthy dose of ballsy guitar rock,” with Billboard adding that California Sunrise is “loaded with attitude…[and] manages to have both a sonic edginess and a defiant grasp of country tradition.”

     

    California Sunrise features Pardi’s back-to-back No. 1 hits with the Platinum-selling “Head Over Boots” and the three-week No. 1, “Dirt On My Boots,” along with his current single climbing country radio airplay’s Top 10, “Heartache on the Dance Floor.”

     

    Pardi found his lane within the wide-open gates of the country music genre. With an invigorating energy across the album dispensed by a live seven-man band, his confident and authoritative low baritone and a blue-collar spirit, he amassed a loyal following of fans and listeners with a sound that sets him apart from the rest. In the past year, Pardi’s distinct blend landed his name on several ‘Best Of’ lists, appearances on NBC’s “Late Night with Seth Meyers” and ABC’s “Good Morning America” and multiple CMT Music Award nominations.

     

    The reigning ACM New Male Vocalist of the Year is currently on one of the hottest tours of the summer with Bentley’s What the Hell World Tour before the road warrior heads out with Luke Bryan for next month’s Farm Tour. Next, Pardi headlines CMT On Tour Presents: Jon Pardi’s Lucky Tonight Tour kicking off Oct. 12. Multiple dates are already sold out for Pardi’s headlining fall run. For a full list of tour dates, tickets and more, visit www.jonpardi.com.

     

    About Jon Pardi:

    Capitol Records Nashville’s Jon Pardi is one of country music’s fastest-rising new stars. Pardi’s sound is undeniably country, and his laid back, fun-loving approach towards life comes through in his music and his raucous live show. The California native’s charisma and authenticity strike a chord with country audiences and fellow artists alike. Pardi has toured with Luke Bryan, Eric Church and Zac Brown Band; he was hand-picked by country legend Alan Jackson to join him on his 25th anniversary tour; he is currently on the What the Hell World Tour with Dierks Bentley and Cole Swindell; and he was recently named this year’s ACM New Male Vocalist of the Year.

     

    Pardi’s latest album, California Sunrise, debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard Country Albums chart and includes his very first No. 1 single, the Platinum-selling “Head Over Boots,” along with the three-week No. 1 smash “Dirt on My Boots,” and Pardi’s current Top 10 radio single, “Heartache on the Dance Floor.” The album landed on multiple “Best of the Year” lists including those from Rolling Stone, Music Aficionado, The Tennessean and NASH Country Daily. California Sunrise is the follow-up to Pardi’s highly-praised debut, Write You A Song, which also landed on several “Best of” lists including the Los Angeles Times’ Mikael Wood’s all-genre Top 10 and both Rhapsody’s and Taste of Country’s Top 10 Country Albums. Additional hits include the Top 10 RIAA Gold-certified single “Up All Night,” “When I’ve Been Drinkin,’” “What I Can’t Put Down,” and “Missin’ You Crazy.”

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  • COUNTRY STARS REACT TO THE PASSING OF GLEN CAMPBELL.

    Glen Campbell passed away Tuesday afternoon (August 8th) after a long battle with Alzheimer’s disease. The iconic singer, known for such classic songs as “Galveston,” “Wichita Lineman,” “Rhinestone Cowboy,” “Southern Nights” and “By the Time I Get to Phoenix,” was 81. The Country Music Hall of Famer was an inspiration and musical hero to many of today’s country stars.

     

     

    https://twitter.com/littlebigtown/status/895060238872739842

    https://twitter.com/KaceyMusgraves/status/895041594742587392

     

     

     

    Keith Urban, who cites Glen as one of his musical idols, posted a heartfelt message about the legendary performer.
    “What a powerful artistic and personal journey Glen Campbell’s passage has been. As a role model, singing guitar player he was a big influence on me.

    His blend of genres created his own sound and style and his ability to entertain wasn’t limited to the stage. He blazed real trails through film (and especially television) where his charismatic southern charm and personality fit perfectly.

    The night I won my first country music award, I got back to my hotel room and there was a fax on the floor.

    “Welcome to the award winning world kid. You got it.” Glen Campbell.

    Universal music, universal stories, universal spirit. No wonder he was a global superstar. I love Glen for so many reasons – but above all, for his humanity. My thoughts and prayers are with Kim and all of his extended family today. May peace be with you all. Go rest high on that mountain, Glen.” – KU

     

    Keith performed at last year’s 10TH ANNUAL ACM HONORS™ for a special tribute to Glen Campbell, who was honored with the ACM Career Achievement Award. Dierks Bentley also performed during the tribute, who said “He just has a way of performing that I’ve always felt like he’s one of those guys that if all of the power went out and there was no PA system and no band behind you and it just had to be just you and a guitar, he could entertain that crowd just as well as if they had all of the lights and production, and it’s Glen. He’s such a great singer, great musician and so funny, and such a great storyteller. He really carved out his niche. There’s no one that’ll ever sound like him – a classic legend.”

    Audio / A couple of years ago, Keith Urban said Glen Campbell was one of his biggest influences.

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    Keith Urban (Glen Campbell) OC: …guitar player. :22
    “I’ve always been a fan of what I like to call Guitartists, you know those guitar artists like Glen Campbell who’s probably one of my biggest influences. Those guys who knew a good song, had a great voice and played great and you know, just the all-around guys with the guitar you know? ‘Cause when you think of Glen Campbell you think off, I think of ‘Galveston’ and ‘Wichita Lineman’ then I also think of him being a phenomenal guitar player.”

     

     

     

    Video / Keith Urban and Glen Campbell performing "Wichita Lineman" in Las Vegas during a stop on Keith's 2009 tour.

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  • NEWS AND NOTES: Lady A, Dierks, Kip

    Lady Antebellum have contributed a new song, titled “Chop to the Top,” for Broadway’s new offering, The SpongeBob Musical, which is set to open at the Palace Theater in New York City December 4th.

    Dierks Bentley will make an appearance in the new show, Carpool Karaoke, which is based on the popular segment featured on The Late, Late Show with James Corden. The What the Hell Did I Say singer teams up with Sheryl Crow for an episode of the show. Future installments will include Blake Shelton and Chelsea Handler, Gwyneth Paltrow, Jessica Alba, Alicia Keyes, John Legend, the entire Cyrus clan (including Billy Ray, Miley and Noah), as well as NASCAR driver Jeff Gordon and Michael Strahan, Shakira, Metallica and many more. Carpool Karaoke will premiere exclusively via Apple Music on August 8th.

     

    Kip Moore takes fans behind-the-scenes again for the making of his new album, Slowheart, available September 8th.

     

  • NEWS AND NOTES: Dierks, Jon, Chris, Lauren, Easton

    Dierks Bentley and Jon Pardi will appear on CMT’s Hot 20 Countdown this weekend. The cameras caught up with the tourmates backstage at the recent Faster Horses Festival. Check out what the two had to say on Saturday (July 29th) at 9am ET.

     

    Chris Stapleton is set to perform during the annual iHeartRadio Music Festival at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, which runs September 22nd and 23rd. The two-day event will also feature performances by Pink, Thomas Rhett, Miley Cyrus, Kings of Leon, Harry Styles, Coldplay, Niall Horan, The Weeknd and Thirty Seconds to Mars, among others.

    Chris Stapleton, along with Lee Ann Womack, will perform in honor of the legendary Jerry Lee Lewis on August 24th for a taping for the online series Skyville Live in Nashville. The show will premiere sometime in the coming months.

    Lauren Alaina has released the lyric video for her current single, “Doin’ Fine,” the autobiographical song she wrote with busbee and Emily Shackleton. Check it out here.

    Easton Corbin, who’s making his way up the country charts with “A Girl Like You,” recently took in a New York Yankees baseball game at Yankees Stadium.

     

  • DIERKS BENTLEY LENDS SONG TO THE UPCOMING FILM, ‘ONLY THE BRAVE.’

    Dierks Bentley has a song in the upcoming film, Only the Brave. The movie is based on the true story of the Granite Mountain Hotshots – a group of elite firefighters, otherwise known as the Seal Team 6 of firefighters, who battle out of control wildfires. The feature film focuses mainly on the men who fought and subsequently lost to the tragic Yarnell Hill wildfire, which burned a wide swath through Arizona in 2013, killing 19 firefighters.

     

    Dierks shared the movie trailer, stating he was “so honored to have a song in this film. it sheds light on the lifestyle of wilderness fire fighters and honors these men and their families.”

    Only the Brave, starring Josh Brolin, Miles Teller, Taylor Kitsch, Jeff Bridges and Jennifer Connelly, hits theaters nationwide October 20th.

    The Arizona native is currently making his way up the country charts with “What the Hell Did I Say.”

    Video / Only the Brave movie trailer

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