News Filter

By Artist

  • DIERKS BENTLEY PREMIERES THE VIDEO FOR ‘RISER.’

    Video
    Dierks Bentley

    Dierks Bentley premiered the video for his latest single – the title track from his album Riser – with Entertainment Weekly. The clip was from his amazing performance of the song at this year’s ACM Awards. “It was really hard for me not to get emotional that night at the ACMs in Cowboy’s Stadium,” Dierks tells EW. “I really wanted to keep the production simple and make the performance all about the arrangement and the lyrics. The reaction that night and now when we perform it on tour has already been so gratifying. People just relate to the message in that song…we’ve all lived it in one way or another.”

    Dierks is currently on the road with his Sounds of Summer Tour, which makes a stop tonight in Tampa, followed by a show in West Palm Beach tomorrow (July 3rd).

    Video / Dierks Bentley Riser video

  • FOURTH OF JULY AUDIO: AJ, Billy, Canaan, Darius, Dierks, Easton, Church, Josh, Kip, Lady A, Lauren, LBT, Luke, Sam, Scotty

    Audio
    Alan Jackson / Billy Currington / Canaan Smith / Darius Rucker / Dierks Bentley / Easton Corbin / Eric Church / Josh Turner / Kip Moore / Lady Antebellum / Lauren Alaina / Little Big Town / Luke Bryan / Sam Hunt / Scotty Mccreery

    Independence Day, commonly known as the Fourth of July, is a federal holiday commemorating the adoption of the Declaration of Independence on July 4th, 1776, declaring independence from Great Britain. The holiday is commonly associated with fireworks displays, parades, barbecues and concerts. Some of your favorite country stars take time to remember their Fourth of July traditions, memories and what the holiday really means to them.

    Video / Alan Jackson Fourth of July

    View

  • DIERKS BENTLEY IS HAILED BY CRITICS FOR SOUNDS OF SUMMER TOUR.

    Press
    Dierks Bentley

    ce1652dc3a9baf820b65cb98_216x156d233228f83e002542296a20f_234x156

    Three weeks into country music superstar Dierks Bentley’s 2015 SOUNDS OF SUMMER TOUR, music critics in major markets across the U.S. are applauding the PLATINUM seller as he engages capacity amphitheater crowds, delivering epic performances and “memories that will last a lifetime.”

    “Yes, the crowd sings along with every word. Yes, he pulls female fans dressed as flight attendants up on the stage with him. And yes, we all wanted more.” – St. Louis Dispatch

    “Bentley has had a long, steady climb to Chesney heights, which he has finally reached in the form of a headlining package tour and all its accouterments…onstage, Bentley was as exuberant as ever, roaming and high-fiving, running up to a tiny stage set in the cheap seats for a handful of songs, doing a little crowd surfing. Judging from his performance, Dierks Bentley is enjoying the view from the top.”  – The Boston Globe

    “Bentley lost no time engaging himself with fans…from there, it was a total country singalong party, with the audience following along to nearly every of Bentley’s dozen-year hit catalog, ranging from 2003’s ‘What Was I Thinkin” all the way to his current single, ‘Riser.’” – Yahoo!

    “Cleveland has always had an affection for the Arizona-born singer-songwriter with the expressive Everyman voice…his ability to convey that kind of “I can relate” emotions are what make Dierks Bentley a special kind of performer.” – The Plain Dealer

    Additionally, Bentley was the inaugural headliner at New York City’s first-ever country festival this weekend, with Rolling Stone naming him FarmBorough’s “Best of the Fest,” observing his set provides “levity to his victory lap of a performance.” Village Voice simultaneously handpicked Bentley’s set as a Top 10 highlight, noting “Bentley’s set solidified him as the artist you most want to have a beer with.”

    Bentley’s 2015 SOUNDS OF SUMMER TOUR lands over the holiday weekend in Tampa, FL (7/2) and West Palm Beach, FL (7/3) before his performance on NBC’s annual Macy’s 4th of July Fireworks Spectacular (7/4 at 7:00P CT on NBC). For a full list of upcoming appearances and tour dates, visit www.dierks.com.

  • DIERKS BENTLEY HITS THE SMALL SCREEN FOR A COUPLE OF PERFORMANCES AND HEADLINES NEW YORK’S FIRST FARMBOROUGH FESTIVAL.

    Press
    Dierks Bentley

    NASHVILLE, TN – June 24, 2015 – Multi-PLATINUM singer/songwriter Dierks Bentley will kickstart the crowd in New York City on Friday (6/26), as he takes over Central Park for an early four song set during Good Morning America’s Summer Concert Series (ABC at 7:00A ET), before lighting up the first-ever FarmBorough Festival as the city’s inaugural headliner. Additionally, Bentley will be part of an all-star line up for NBC’s annual Macy’s 4th of July Fireworks Spectacular two-hour special, airing July 4th at 8:00P ET on NBC.

    “It’s a big weekend for country fans in NYC…they got their own festival! And it’s just as big of a deal for me to get to kick the whole thing off,” said Bentley. “The ‘Sounds of Summer’ tour has been a total blast so far, and we’re pumped about getting to party with the fans in Boston and Philly this weekend too.”

    Of the new single “Riser,” Billboard notes that Bentley “has spent the past two years trickling out singles from the Grammy-nominated album…but all along, he had the secret weapon of ‘Riser’ in his back pocket.” It has also has been dubbed by CMT as its “favorite song on the album” and the career-defining track is “on the cusp of a movement, a defining brand with which he and his audience can identify” (Rolling Stone).

    Bentley’s three weekends into his 2015 SOUNDS OF SUMMER TOUR, which will continue this week following FarmBorough (6/26) with stops in Boston, MA (6/27) and Camden, NJ (6/28). For a full list of upcoming tour dates and appearances, visit www.dierks.com.

  • NEWS AND NOTES: Toby, LBT, Kacey, Dierks

    Press
    Dierks Bentley / Kacey Musgraves / Little Big Town

    Toby Keith became a member of the Songwriters Hall of Fame during a ceremony in New York City last week. Comedian and TV show host Stephen Colbert honored him. Songwriter Bobby Braddock (“He Stopped Loving Her Today,” “Time Marches On,” “People Are Crazy”), Cyndi Lauper, Jerry Garcia, Linda Perry, Willie Dixon and Robert Hunter were also inducted.

    Little Big Town was featured on CBS Sunday Morning with Charles Osgood over the weekend. The band, who taped their interviews last year and earlier this year, talked about their longevity as a group, their induction into the Grand Ole Opry and their latest smash hit, “Girl Crush.”

    Kacey Musgraves is scheduled to perform on ABC’s Good Morning America on Tuesday, the release day of her new album Pageant Material. She’ll also perform on ABC’s The View on Wednesday.

    Dierks Bentley will perform during NBC’s  Macy’s 4th of July Fireworks Spectacular on Saturday, July 4th beginning at 8pm ET. Brad Paisley, Kelly Clarkson and Meghan Trainor are also scheduled to perform.

    Video / LBT on CBS Sunday Morning

  • FATHER’S DAY AUDIO: Canaan, Darius, Dierks, Church, Paslay, Keith, Kip, Lady A, LBT, Sam, Scotty

    Audio
    Canaan Smith / Darius Rucker / Dierks Bentley / Eric Church / Eric Paslay / Keith Urban / Kip Moore / Lady Antebellum / Little Big Town / Sam Hunt / Scotty Mccreery

    Audio / Canaan Smith says his father is a big inspiration.

    Download

    Canaan Smith (Father’s Day) OC: …I love him. :35
    “My dad, I think is just the greatest man. He’s always provided for us. He was always there. He was always a great dad. He worked his butt off, you know, and showed me what it was like to work hard and provide for a family, and I just hope I can do that one day too. We’ve always had a special bond. He’s been a songwriter and a singer too for a long, long time, and so I got to grow up listening to him do his thing, sitting in the other room while they do band rehearsal. I’d be sitting on the couch in the other room just taking it all in, dreaming one day to be behind that microphone, so he’s definitely been an inspiration. I love him.”

    Audio / Canaan Smith says his father taught him quite a bit about being a musician.

    Download

    Canaan Smith (Father’s Day) 2 OC: …learned that too. :45
    “I learned that music scores chicks. [laughs] My dad had a rehearsal one time at his piano player’s house, and I was sitting on the couch in the living room, and the piano player had two daughters that were around my same age, and they were sitting on either side of me on the couch. I thought I was king of the world, you know, watching this rock and roll band and a girl around each arm, and I was like six-years-old, eight-years-old something like that, old enough to know that was pretty awesome! My dad, he taught me hard work too. It took rehearsals. It took dedication. You can’t just get up on a stage and fly by the seat of your pants. You have to be prepared, and so I learned that too.”

    Audio / Darius Rucker says his kids would say he was a fun dad, unless they did something wrong.

    Download

    Darius Rucker (Father’s Day) OC: …loving dad. :41
    “I think if you asked my kids what kind of Dad I was they would probably say…Danny would say that I was a fun Dad. My little daughter would say that I was a fun dad; she thinks I’m a lot of fun. I think if you caught them at the right moment they would say I was mean [laughs] because when I’m home I’m not afraid to discipline them. I’m all fun until it’s not fun anymore and then daddy’s not the fun guy. I think that they’d say that I was a fun Dad, I’m a loving Dad and I think they would say that. I’m gone so much that when I’m home, I just shower love upon my kids. I say ‘I love you’ probably fifty times a day. We hug, we kiss all the time. I’m always wanting them to know how much I love them. So I’d hope they’d say that I was a loving dad.”

    Audio / Dierks Bentley is a father of three, and he said it has changed him significantly.

    Download

    Dierks Bentley (how fatherhood has changed him) OC: …different. :07
    “There’s a whole kind of universe that opens up that I didn’t know existed, and I’m not the center of it, which is really cool. It just makes you look at everything totally different.”

    Audio / Eric Church describes his father and the qualities he admires in him.

    Download

    Eric Church (Father’s Day) OC: …always admired. :29
    “My dad is a, I’m trying to find the right words to describe him. My dad is a great guy, honest guy, very call it like he sees it, which is where I get a lot of that. No BS. I’m gonna tell you how I feel whether you like it or not. I’m that guy, I’m me…My dad’s that way, so I get a lot of that from him. There’s also an honesty and an integrity that my dad carries himself with that I’ve always admired.”

    Audio / Eric Paslay talks about what his father has taught him.

    Download

    Eric Paslay (Father’s Day) OC: …ceiling fan. :21
    “He just taught me that working hard and sticking it out, even when you know things aren’t right, if you stick it out, it’s worth it in the end. He just taught me to work hard, and there’s a lot of things that you don’t need to pay someone to do, and it feels more rewarding when you’re able to put in new light fixtures or paint your own walls or put in a new ceiling fan.”

    Audio / Keith Urban – father to daughters Sunday and Faith -- says there are a number of things that are at the top of the list of being a dad.

    Download

    Keith Urban (Father’s Day) OC: …experience that. :36
    “The first thing is probably just having someone call you dad. I’m like, ‘Omigosh! I’m her dad! That’s amazing.’ That’s probably the first thing to me. I don’t know, I mean, the different personalities that our two daughters have, that’s amazing. It’s such a long list I think. I always say…I think for the people that haven’t had kids – which I hadn’t for a long, long time. I didn’t have kids ‘til later on, and being around it is not the same as having them, you know? I realize that it’s not something that can be explained until you actually sort of have it, so I’m glad I got to experience that.”

    Audio / Kip Moore talks about his father’s influence on his music career, and how he’d play classics on their fishing trips.

    Download

    Kip Moore (Father’s Day-dad’s influence) OC: …of us singin’ ‘em. :29
    “He would just play all those classic records – Little River Band, Jackson Brown, Springsteen, Seeger, Willie Nelson, the Red-Headed Stranger, Kristofferson, Sam Cook – like classic music. He’d be singing the songs and telling us why it was such good music. And I looked up to him so much, that’s the music I gravitated towards and that’s what I continue to listen to. Whenever I think about those old fishing trips, that’s what I think about is on the way down there, him singing those songs and all of us singin’ ‘em.”

    Audio / Lady Antebellum’s Dave Haywood says his father was a big influence both personally and musically, and he wants to pass along those qualities to his own children someday.

    Download

    Lady A (Father’s Day-Dave) OC: …like that. :39
    “My dad was a really hard worker growing up and was always great, however hard he worked, he’d always make important time for family, important time to be home for dinner and be there for a lot of special moments for us growing up. For all the money he would make, he would always give a portion of it back to charity or to the church, and so that was always important for me to watch. We had a great relationship growing up. My dad plays guitar; he’s very musical. I learned how to play acoustic guitar with him playing ‘Day Tripper’ by the Beatles and all these old songs we’d play together when he’d show me how to play these James Taylor songs and things like that. So, definitely want to pass along music, of course, to my children, as well, like that.”

    Audio / Lady Antebellum’s Hillary Scott says her father is a great communicator.

    Download

    Lady A (Father’s Day-Hillary) OC: …my children. :33
    “I definitely got my Type-A personality from my dad. He’s the same way, but one thing I’m so appreciative of – especially from a father-daughter relationship – my dad always, always talked to me, even when I didn’t want to talk to him. He would force me to communicate and talk through things, and not always the easy stuff, which is such a rare quality in a man, truthfully. And so, I am very, very thankful for that. I think it helped me find the right husband for me, and I also know that it will help me be that much of a better communicator to my children.”

    Audio / Lady Antebellum’s Charles Kelley says he’s always idolized his dad.

    Download

    Lady A (Father’s Day-Charles) OC: …rubbed off. :23
    “My father definitely passed down his work ethic to me. I idolized my dad a lot and would always like to be by his side when he did certain projects, and so I learned a lot from him about that, and just always respected him and just the way he could see a project from start to finish with such dedication, and so I’ve taken that into this and into this group, and hopefully, some good has rubbed off.”

    Audio / Little Big Town’s Jimi Westbrook says fatherhood is absolutely beautiful. He and wife Karen Fairchild became parents to Elijah Dylan on March 5, 2010.

    Download

    Little Big Town (Jimi-Father’s Day) OC: …beautiful. :32
    “It’s still such a new experience for us, and man, I’m telling you, people can tell you all day long how great it’s going to be, but it still never touches it. That little man looking back at me, it’s the most unbelievable feeling. And every day, for me who hates mornings [laughs], waking up to a slap in the face; he’s like pounding on me, then he’s like kissing on me and stuff. It’s unbelievable. It’s absolutely beautiful.”

    Audio / Sam Hunt says his father taught him a lot about being a man and knowing the right thing.

    Download

    Sam Hunt (Father’s Day) OC: …he’s great. :27
    “I’m obviously biased about my parents, but I’ve been around a lot of great men of integrity, but he is by far the best man that I know. He’s just taught me so much about being a man, doing the right thing, knowing the difference between right and wrong. And even though I don’t always follow his lead, I definitely know better because of him, and that means a whole lot to me. I was just really fortunate to have him as a dad, and he’s great.”

    Audio / Scotty McCreery says his father has helped him grow into an adult.

    Download

    Scotty McCreery (Father’s Day) OC: …was to me. :29
    “My father has been incredible to me my whole life. I remember going to the baseball field when I was five-years-old and he played ball in college, so he was always trying to teach me the mechanics, but more so than that, he was teaching me the life lessons growing up. Those are the things you learn on the field – becoming a man out there. So, he’s always had my back and he’s always teaching me those values and those morals that are important to a young kid and also a growing young adult. So, love my daddy, love my father, and I just hope that one day I can be half the dad he was to me.”

  • DIERKS BENTLEY SENDS EMOTIONAL NEW SINGLE, RISER, TO RADIO.

    Press
    Dierks Bentley
    NASHVILLE, TN – June 15, 2015 – There’s a heightened depth in Dierks Bentley‘s vocals on the powerful anthem “Riser,” an increased vulnerability and a greater sense of purpose in every word, every line. The title track of the Multi-PLATINUM singer/songwriter’s CMA, ACM and GRAMMY nominated album RISER (Capitol Records) is being released to radio today.
     
    It’s an everyman quality that underlines Bentley’s performance of the song, giving a voice to the peaks and valleys of life familiar to many Americans. The new single radiates with intensity but is hardly a downer.  It conveys a sense of hope and perseverance, spiked with just the right amount of levity.  
     
    “Everything we’ve done for this album has been building to the release of ‘Riser’ as a single,” said Bentley. “It’s the cornerstone of this record, and the lyrics speak to the kind of guy I want to be. It’s about the country fans that I see out in the crowd each night…the sacrifices they make and the hardships that we all have to overcome. It’s for anyone who chooses to be a Riser.”
     
    Bentley’s “finest vocal work ever” (Country Weekly), serves as the perfect exclamation point to his seventh studio album and follows three consecutive No. one hits, “I Hold On,” “Drunk On A Plane” and “Say You Do.” The standout track “reflects not only his standing as one of country music’s most durable acts, but his personal journey as a man” (People).  
     
    Bentley first performed the song nationally on CBS’ The Late Show With David Letterman, and his unforgettable performance during the 50th Annual Academy of Country Music Awards was handpicked by Billboard as the night’s best, boldly stating “here’s hoping it’s his next single…and No. 1.” And now, on his new headlining 2015 SOUNDS OF SUMMER TOUR, epic performances have inspired standing ovations and an emotional fan reaction with Rolling Stone noting “’Riser,’gets a spectacular treatment fitting its name and drawing all eyes to Bentley.”     
     
    The lyrical power of the song is spreading through social media through personalized lyric cards where fans can choose which line of the song means the most to them and then match an image to make it unique to their own real life experiences. The lyric cards are available at  www.tweematic.com/risercard/.
     
    The 2015 SOUNDS OF SUMMER tour continues this week in St. Louis, MO (6/18), where fans will be able to stream the concert on Yahoo! before he continues on to Chicago’s first-ever Windy City LakeShake (6/19) and Pittsburgh, PA on Saturday. For a full list of upcoming tour dates and appearances, visit www.dierks.com.

  • DIERKS BENTLEY CALLS THE LATE JIM ED BROWN A ‘GREAT EXAMPLE OF WHAT IT’S ALL ABOUT.’

    Audio
    Dierks Bentley

    Grand Ole Opry member Jim Ed Brown passed away Thursday night (June 11th). Brown, who was elected into the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum in March with his sisters Maxine and Bonnie, died at Williamson Medical Center in Franklin, Tennessee (south of Nashville). He was diagnosed with lung cancer in September. He was 81.

    Fellow Opry member Dierks Bentley said he always enjoyed running into him backstage at the Opry, and the legendary performer always had a nice word to say.

    He’s just a really nice, nice guy, a great singer and a great ambassador to the next generation of how country should be even as it grows and leaves some of its roots behind. He’s a great example of what it’s all about.”

    Audio / Backstage at LP Field during night one of the CMA Music Festival, Dierks Bentley talks about Grand Ole Opry member and Country Music Hall of Famer Jim Ed Brown. [NOTE: slight buzz in the audio]

    Download

    Dierks Bentley (passing of Jim Ed Brown) OC: …all about. :28
    “What a great guy. I remember being at the Opry for one of my first times and him being there and being so gracious and so kind to us. I had a chance to wear his glasses one time, and mess around a little bit and got some great pictures together. He’s just a really nice, nice guy, a great singer and a great ambassador to the next generation of how country should be even as it grows and leaves some of its roots behind. He’s a great example of what it’s all about.”

  • CMT MUSIC AWARDS WILL INCLUDE SOME BIG PERFORMANCES.

    Audio
    Darius Rucker / Dierks Bentley / Lady Antebellum / Little Big Town / Luke Bryan / Sam Hunt

    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

    Audio / Dierks Bentley gives an update on Captain Holden Johnson, who performed “Drunk on a Plane” at last year’s CMT Music Awards.

    Download

    Dierks Bentley (CMT—Drunk captain) OC: …some moves, yeah. :26
    “Captain Holden Mike Johnson – I don’t know where he is right now. 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. I don’t know. I think he’ll still come around every now and then. He’s a strong man with a strong look, and I don’t know. Management’s not too excited about him, but we’ll see. [laughs] He took my wife home from the CMT Awards, so he’s got some moves, yeah.”

    Audio / Darius Rucker says he’s just happy to be nominated at this year’s CMT Music Awards.

    Download

    Darius Rucker (CMT performances) OC: …play with. :11
    “It’s really just one of those things where I’m really happy to be nominated, because I didn’t expect that all. I’m looking forward to, 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.”

    Audio / Sam Hunt talks about his music video for “Leave the Night On,” which is nominated for CMT Video of the Year.

    Download

    Sam Hunt (Leave the Night On video) OC: …making the video. :38
    “‘Leave the Night On’ was my first official music video, although I have a bit of a passion for the video world because my manager, Brad, comes from the videographer world. That’s how our relationship started was shooting this little video for another song about six months before that. But 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. 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.”

    Audio / Lady Antebellum's Charles Kelley talks about the band's CMT video nomination for "Bartender."

    Download

    Lady A (Bartender video) OC: …was perfect. :34
    “I think there’s no surprise why ‘Bartender’ is in video of the year — Kate Upton. You’ve got all these guys sitting there voting, and the first thing that pops in their mind is Kate Upton. And so, that was all part of the plan, so our evil plan worked. But, that was definitely one of the most fun videos to shoot, having Kate Upton and Tony Hale. He was hilarious. I mean, he took the video to a whole ‘nother level. So, we’re just really proud of that video. Shane Drake did a great job, and just kind of really actually took this basic concept and really brought it to life. I thought it was perfect.”

  • DIERKS BENTLEY KICKS OFF SOUNDS OF SUMMER TOUR WITH A BANG!

    Press
    Dierks Bentley
    NASHVILLE, TN – June 8, 2015 – “Plenty of fireworks – musically and literally” (Billboard) launched Dierks Bentley’s 2015 SOUNDS OF SUMMER TOUR this weekend as the roar of capacity crowds filled amphitheaters in Raleigh, NC (6/5) and Cleveland, OH (6/6). The multi-PLATINUM entertainer pulled out “top-tier production” (Rolling Stone Country) to create the ultimate summer party complete with fireworks, crowd surfing, beer shotgunning, a custom built wave-shaped video wall, a satellite stage for closer fan interaction and special guest performances.
    Critics’ opinion paralleled fan enthusiasm, noting his emotional delivery cemented “his ability to convey that kind of ‘I can relate’ emotions,” making him “a special kind of performer.” – Cleveland Plain Dealer
    “Dierks definitely ‘rises’ to a whole new level with the Sounds of Summer tour.  Here in Raleigh, the crowd went rabid for Dierks!!  He delivered incredible energy, and hit after hit after hit… The crowd (and I) enthusiastically belted back every word!” –Todd Nixon, WNCB/WTQR
    “Dierks set the bar high for the rest of the acts that will follow him this summer. 20,000 fans danced, sang and lived the Sounds of Summer.” – Janie Carothers, WQDR 
    “Dierks is on fire!  What an amazing show! Scary thing is it was the opening show and it was epic! It’s only going to get better! With Kip Moore, Canaan Smith and Maddie and Tae on point. This is a show that is worth the price of admission.” – Cody Clark, WQDR
    As the 2015 SOUNDS OF SUMMER TOUR heats up, PEOPLE simultaneously named Bentley “Country’s Hottest Guy” of the year. In addition to the news, the singer’s No. one hit “Drunk on A Plane” is nominated for “Video of the Year” and “Male Video of the Year” for the 2015 CMT Music Awards airing live this Wednesday (6/10) at 8P ET. Bentley will hit CMA Music Festival’s stadium stage at LP Field on Thursday (6/11) prior to resuming his headlining tour in Buffalo, NY (6/12) and Lansing, MI (6/13). For a full list of tour dates and upcoming appearances, visit www.dierks.com.