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  • MOTHER’S DAY AUDIO: AJ, Darius, Dierks, Church, Paslay, Jon, Keith, Lady A, LBT, Shania and more!

    Audio
    Alan Jackson / Darius Rucker / Dierks Bentley / Eric Church / Eric Paslay / Jon Pardi / Keith Urban / Lady Antebellum / Little Big Town / Shania Twain

    Some of your favorite country stars will be celebrating Mother’s Day on Sunday (May 10th). Check out Mother’s Day memories and moments from our artists, including Alan Jackson, Darius Rucker, Dierks Bentley, Eric Church, Eric Paslay, Jon Pardi, Keith Urban, Lady A, Little Big Town and Shania Twain, among many others.

    Audio / Alan Jackson’s wife Denise wrote a book, It’s All About Him: Finding The Love Of My Life, that chronicled the couple’s relationship and marriage. It was a huge success, debuting at number-one on The New York Times Best-Sellers List when it was released several years ago. Alan believes her accomplishment set a really good example for their three daughters, showing that a mom can do things outside of the household, too.

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    AJ (Mday) OC: …to see that. :30
    “I think it’s been great for them to see her do something out there that’s, again, not typical for a parent at all. But she’s a great role model for them anyway and always has been, whether she did anything professionally or not. I could see it in their eyes, you know, that they were surprised — very surprised, and also, I could see them with interest looking at her thinking it was special for her to do that. So, I think it was a very good thing for the kids to see that.”

    Audio / Darius Rucker talks about not disappointing his beloved mother, who passed away a few years ago.

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    Darius Rucker (Mother’s Day) OC: …killed me. :17

    “I think that’s the main reason I am how I am…an innate fear of disappointing my mom.  My mom’s not even alive, and I have a fear of her looking down from heaven and going, ‘Man I’m just disappointed in my son.’ She could have said anything in the world to me, but if she would have said, ‘Son, you just disappointed me,’ That would have killed me. It would have killed me.”

    Audio / Darius Rucker says the best thing he can give his wife on Mother’s Day is his time…and to take the kids off her hands for a little while.

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    Darius Rucker (wife on Mother’s Day) OC: …try to do. :20

    “I think the best Mother’s Day gift my wife would say I’ve given her is to let her not have to deal with her kids. [laughs] But, I’m not really a good gift-giver. I’m not gonna lie. And my wife and I have a deal that if you want it, just get it, so when it’s time to buy gifts, it’s hard to do. But, I think my time is the best thing I can give to my family, because I’m on the road so much. So, that’s what I try to do.”

    Audio / Dierks Bentley talks about Mother’s Day in regards to his wife, Cassidy.

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    Dierks (Mother’s Day) OC: …something great. :23
    “When it’s your actual mom, you know, there’s some slack there, but when with your wife – any touring husband, anyone who tours who has kids and a wife back home, it’s tough man. It’s a lot of work. So, I definitely need to step up to think of something great to do this Sunday, for sure. But nothing yet. As usual, I’ll probably get something last minute and hopefully, it’ll be great, though. She deserves something great.”

    Audio / Eric Church says he’s learned quite a bit from his mom.

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    Eric Church (Mother’s Day) OC: …as a man. :57
    “My mom, even though my dad won’t like this, my mom is by far the toughest person that I’ve met. She’s tough. One of those people that’s been through a lot in her life, adversity wise and never complains, always really resilient with anything that’s happened to her. And it’s just that attitude, the positive attitude, regardless of what has happened that I think is the one thing that I got from her. With career, she’s always been a person that’s been really positive through times that I couldn’t find a positive streak, [laughs] and she was always really positive, and very much believes in tough it out, keep working hard, and that’s her motto with stuff like that. I’ve always been impressed with that stuff. Then musically, she’s where I get my talent from, musically. She sings great, always has, her mom sang great. I owe my musical chops to her. And she still sings some. So, career-wise, I owe her everything. And just in life-wise she’s given me a lot of the qualities that it has taken for me to get me where I am. Not only as a musician, but as a man.”

    Audio / Eric Paslay talks about his mother, Donna.

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    Eric Paslay (Mother’s Day) OC: …it’s good. :21
    “I wanna thank my mom for giving me faith, laughter and pride in the family I came from. She’d be the fun Mom, just goofing off in the sprinklers outside or we’d go out and play in the rain and all that stuff growing up. She’s always good to be around; always happy, and it’s good.”

    Audio / Jon Pardi says his mother, Shelly, is an angel.

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    Jon Pardi (Mother’s Day 2015) OC: …worrying about me. :29
    “My mom’s always been there for me. First of all, she’s a great mom. She’s an angel. She takes care of people that aren’t even in the family. She’s always been like that, and she’s a great mother. She’s always proud, and she’s always there supporting and being a great mom. She’s just a good human being. There’s not one mean bone in her body. And she cries about every time I talk to her. She always worries about me. I have to tell her, ‘Stop worrying about me.’”

    Audio / Keith Urban explains why his wife Nicole Kidman is an extraordinary mother to their two children, Sunday and Faith.

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    Keith Urban (Nicole is extraordinary mother) OC: …to see. :45
    “She’s an extraordinary mum, she really, really is. Those girls are very, very lucky, and I feel very lucky that the children I should have in this world happen to be with Nic. I don’t know anything about raising kids and Nic does, and that comes in extremely, um, it’s really made for an experience I wouldn’t have had without that. Her patience, her recognizing them as people and not just little kids is really extraordinary. Her attention to honoring their feelings and listening to them right from day one – really being attentive to that is not how I was raised at all, so it’s really beautiful to see.”

    Audio / With Mother’s Day on Sunday, Lady Antebellum’s Charles Kelley explains he and his brothers – Josh and John -- owe their mother a lot for all of their childhood antics.

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    Lady Antebellum (Charles Kelley-Mother) OC: …playing music. :23
    “We were honestly, at times, pretty hard to handle, both of us. We used to play our music loud up above on the second floor [of the house], bang on the drums and the guitar. And my mom’s just one of those people, she’ll do anything for her family and she sacrificed a lot for us boys. Anytime we needed something, she made it happen. And so, we owe her a lot. She’s definitely the reason we’re playing music.”

    Audio / Little Big Town’s Kimberly Schlapman says she always dreamed of being a mother…and her dream came true nearly eight years ago when she gave birth to daughter, Daisy (July 27, 2007).

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    LBT (Mother’s Day) OC: …for my mother. :34
    “Being a mother is a life-long dream for me. When I was a kid, that’s what I wanted to be is a mama. It took a long time. I wasn’t ever sure that I would be, but I am now, and it’s the greatest gift of my life. And as I’m a mother now, I see what my mother gave up and her sacrifices and her love and how she made us the most important thing in her life, and that’s what I strive to do for my little girl. It’s the most important job I have, and it’s the most responsibility that I have, and I try to live up to a great example that I had for my mother.”

    Audio / Little Big Town’s Karen Fairchild says being a mother to Elijah Dylan Westbrook is the best feeling in the world.

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    LBT (Mother’s Day-Karen) OC: …every day. :23
    “There isn’t anything that means more to me than sitting on the bench and eating a grilled cheese sandwich with this little guy who calls me Mama. There isn’t anything better than that. He’s just a little miracle. I went from dreaming about him to eating grilled cheese sandwiches and ketchup with him, and I could never have dreamed this up – how good it could be, and it just gets better every day.”

    Audio / Shania Twain says it’s such a joy to be a parent.

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    Shania Twain (joy to be a parent) OC: …means everything. :14
    “It’s such a joy to be a parent. So, I relate to all the mums out there who are getting all their love and appreciation from their kids, and I hope, when you’re a kid, a child of somebody, show your mum you love her, because it means everything.”

  • MOTHER’S DAY LINERS: Brothers Osborne, Canaan, Darius, Dierks, Church, Paslay, Strait, Jennifer, Jon, Josh, Keith, Kelleigh, LBT, Luke, Scotty, Shania

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    Brothers Osborne / Canaan Smith / Darius Rucker / Dierks Bentley / Eric Church / Eric Paslay / George Strait / Jennifer Nettles / Jon Pardi / Josh Turner / Kacey Musgraves / Keith Urban / Kelleigh Bannen / Little Big Town / Luke Bryan / Scotty Mccreery / Shania Twain

    Audio / LINER Brothers Osborne (Mother’s Day)

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    “Hey! What’s up guys! We’re Brothers Osborne, wishing all you mothers out there a very, very Happy Mother’s Day.”

    Audio / LINER Canaan Smith (Mother’s Day)

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    “Hey! What’s up, guys? I’m Canaan Smith. Happy Mother’s Day!”

     

    Audio / LINER Darius (Mother’s Day) 2

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    “Hey! What’s up? This is Darius Rucker, wishing all you mothers a Happy Mother’s Day.”

    Audio / LINER Dierks (Mother’s Day)

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    “Hey, y’all! This is Dierks Bentley, wishing all you mothers out there a Happy Mother’s Day.”

    Audio / LINER Eric Church (Mother’s Day) 1

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    “Hey everybody! This is Eric Church, wishing you a Happy Mother’s Day. Happy Mother’s Day, mom!”

    Audio / LINER Eric Paslay (Mother’s Day)

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    “Hey! This is Eric Paslay. Happy Mother’s Day to all you awesome Mom’s out there.”

    Audio / LINER George Strait (Mother’s Day)

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    “Hi! This is George Strait, wishing you a Happy Mother’s Day.”

    Audio / LINER Jennifer Nettles (Mother’s Day)

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    “Hi! This is Jennifer Nettles, and I hope you have a wonderful Mother’s Day.”

    Audio / LINER Jon Pardi (Mother’s Day)

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    “Hey y’all, it’s Jon Pardi. I want to wish all the mamas out there a very Happy Mother’s Day.”

    Audio / LINER Josh Turner (Mother’s Day)

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    “Hi! This is Josh Turner, wishing you a Happy Mother’s Day.”

    Audio / LINER Keith Urban (Mother’s Day)

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    “Hi everyone, it’s Keith Urban. Hoping all the mothers out there have a very, very Happy Mother’s Day. Love ya, Mom!”

    Audio / LINER Kelleigh Bannen (Mother’s Day)

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    “Hi! I’m Kelleigh Bannen, hoping you have a Happy Mother’s Day.”

    Audio / LINER LBT (Mother’s Day)

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    “(ALL) Hi! This is Little Big Town. (KIMBERLY) We want to wish all you mothers out there a Happy Mother’s Day. I love ya, Mama!”

    Audio / LINER Luke Bryan (Mother's Day)

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    “Hey! It’s Luke Bryan, hoping all you mothers out there have a Happy Mother’s Day.”

    Audio / LINER Scotty McCreery (Mother’s Day)

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    “Hi! This is Scotty McCreery. Happy Mother’s Day.”

    Audio / LINER Shania Twain (Mother’s Day)

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    “Hi! This is Shania Twain. Happy Mother’s Day.”

    Audio / LINER Kacey Musgraves (Mother's Day)

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    “Hey! It’s Kacey Musgraves. To all you mothers out there, Happy Mother’s Day!”

     

  • KEITH URBAN FELT ‘RAISE ‘EM UP’ WAS A PERFECT COLLABORATION WITH ERIC CHURCH.

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    Eric Church / Keith Urban

    One of Keith Urban’s favorite records is Eric Church’s Chief, and the two became friends over the course of the past few years. The two started sharing music that the other one may not have heard, which led to their collaboration on Keith’s latest album, Fuse.

    “He’d be turning me on to new music, and I’d be texting him about something, ‘You’ve got to listen to (1975’s) Bankrupt by Dr. Hook.’ We’re trying to hip each other to records that we love that the other guy hasn’t heard,” says Keith. “That sort of banter started happening fairly regularly, and I thought I’d really like to do something with Eric on my record, if I find the right song. And this song called ‘Raise ‘Em Up’ came along.”

    “Raise ‘Em Up” didn’t start out as a duet, but Keith said it “struck” him as the perfect song for him and Eric to record together.

    “There’s a particular theme really in the song, particularly in the second verse that I felt was just perfect for Eric. I sent him the song, and he loved it. And I was really happy that he came in and sang on it.”

    “Raise ‘Em Up,” the fifth single from Fuse, is poised to hit the top of the country charts.

    Audio / Keith Urban and Eric Church share a love of music.

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    Keith Urban (Raise ‘Em Up) 4 OC: …came along. :42
    “Chief was one of my favorite records over the last, easily over the last 10 years, if not more. Just top to bottom, it’s just a great, great record. So, we became friends…our families, our wives and stuff would go out and have dinner, and he’d be turning me on to new music, and I’d be texting him about something, ‘You’ve got to listen to (1975’s) Bankrupt by Dr. Hook.’ We’re trying to hip each other to records that we love that the other guy hasn’t heard. That sort of banter started happening fairly regularly, and I thought I’d really like to do something with Eric on my record, if I find the right song. And this song called ‘Raise ‘Em Up’ came along.”

    Audio / Keith Urban said ‘Raise ‘Em Up’ was the perfect song for him and Eric Church to do together.

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    Keith Urban (Raise ‘Em Up) 3 OC: …sang on it. :15
    “It wasn’t written as a duet, but it just struck me as the perfect song. There’s a particular theme really in the song, particularly in the second verse that I felt was just perfect for Eric. I sent him the song, and he loved it. And I was really happy that he came in and sang on it.”

  • ERIC CHURCH ADDS A SECOND NIGHT TO HIS ASCEND AMPHITHEATER DATE.

    Press
    Eric Church

    NASHVILLE, Tenn. (Friday, May 1, 2015) – NPR has time-after-time praised Eric Church declaring his music “transcends the genre,” New York Magazine’s deemed him “not just the most consistent male country star of his generation but one of the brightest lights in any genre,” andSPIN Magazine praised him “the most exciting, sonically fearless singer in Nashville,” but Nashville? Right now they just call for MORE!

    After announcing a rare solo performance opening Nashville’s new Ascend Amphitheater show one week ago for Thursday, July 30, ticket on-sales this week swiftly sold out in less than five minutes – too quick, actually, for many of the 7-time GRAMMY nominee’s own Church Choir to secure seats.

    “I wouldn’t be where I am today if I didn’t listen to my fans, and this time they spoke up loud and clear,” shares Church. “I am keeping with the tradition of The Outsiders Tour in that no show will be the same, but I am adding a second night to ensure we can get all our friends in for this performance.”

    Ascend Amphitheater has added a second night, Friday, July 31, 2015, with tickets going on sale to general public Thursday, May 7 at 10:00 a.m. CT. General admission pit and reserved seating is priced at $85 and general admission lawn seats are $45. For tickets, please visitTicketmaster.com.

    The CMA and four-time ACM Award winner finished 2014 as country music’s top-selling artist, with the year’s highest debut and sales of any release in the format as the critical and commercial success The Outsidersreached Platinum status, marking more than one million albums sold. Debuting at No. 1 on both the Billboard Top 200 Albums Chart and Top Country Albums chart, The Outsiders garnered GRAMMY, CMA, and ACM Top Album nominations and features his No.1 hits “Give Me Back My Hometown” and “Talladega” as well as his current single “Like A Wrecking Ball.” The Outsiders is the follow-up to Church’s Platinum-certified Chief, (named the 2012 Album of the Year by both CMA and ACM, and GRAMMY-nominated for Best Country Album) which featured five Top 20 singles: “Homeboy” (certified Platinum for sales in excess of one million singles); the Top 10 “Like Jesus Does” and the Top 5 “Creepin’” (both certified Gold for sales in excess of 500,000 singles each); and two No. 1 hits “Drink in My Hand” (certified Platinum) and “Springsteen” (certified Double Platinum for sales in excess of two million singles). Church’s 2006 debut album, Sinners Like Me (2006) and his sophomore album Carolina (2009) are both RIAA Gold-certified.Carolina had three hit singles: the Top 10 “Hell on the Heart” as well as Top 20 hit “Smoke A Little Smoke” and Top 10 smash “Love Your Love The Most,” which were both certified Gold. Sinners Like Me spawned three Top 20 singles: “How ‘Bout You,” “Two Pink Lines,” and “Guys Like Me.”

    For more information on Church, visit www.EricChurch.com.

  • ERIC CHURCH WILL BE THE INAUGURAL PERFORMER FOR NASHVILLE’S NEW ASCEND AMPHITHEATER AT RIVERFRONT PARK.

    Press
    Eric Church

    NASHVILLE, Tenn. – (Apr. 23, 2015) – Nashville Mayor Karl Dean and Live Nation announced today that on July 30, seven-time GRAMMY nominee Eric Church will be the inaugural performer for Music City’s new Ascend Amphitheater in Riverfront Park.

    Recently ranked No. 1 on the all-genre Billboard Hot Tours chart for his successful “The Outsiders World Tour” which continues through this summer, Church will give a rare solo concert performance with just his guitar, giving fans a unique experience from when he set a new venue attendance record of 18,441 at Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena earlier this year in January. Tickets will go on sale at Ticketmaster next Thursday, Apr. 30 at 10:00 AM (CT).

    “The newest addition to Music City’s live music scene will get off to a great start with a concert from Eric Church, who represents what’s great about Music City,” Mayor Dean said. “His songs can’t be confined to just one genre; he draws from country, rock and other types of music that help make the scene here in Nashville so vibrant and eclectic.”

    Named one of the “50 Greatest Live Acts Right Now” by Rolling Stone, the EMI Nashville recording artist “… is arguably both the mainstream country artist of the year and the mainstream rock artist of the year and his show made a case for that blend” proclaimed the Memphis Commercial Appeal when reviewing his concert late last year. “

    The CMA and four-time ACM Award winner finished 2014 as country music’s top-selling artist, with the year’s highest debut and sales of any release in the format as the critical and commercial success The Outsiders reached Platinum status, marking more than one million albums sold. Debuting at No. 1 on both the Billboard Top 200 Albums Chart and Top Country Albums chart, The Outsidersgarnered GRAMMY, CMA, and ACM Top Album nominations and features his No.1 hits “Give Me Back My Hometown” and “Talladega” as well as his current single “Like A Wrecking Ball.”

    The Outsiders is the follow-up to Church’s Platinum-certified Chief, (named the 2012 Album of the Year by both CMA and ACM, and GRAMMY-nominated for Best Country Album) which featured five Top 20 singles: “Homeboy” (certified Platinum for sales in excess of one million singles); the Top 10 “Like Jesus Does” and the Top 5 “Creepin’” (both certified Gold for sales in excess of 500,000 singles each); and two No. 1 hits “Drink in My Hand” (certified Platinum) and “Springsteen” (certified Double Platinum for sales in excess of two million singles). Church’s 2006 debut album, Sinners Like Me (2006) and his sophomore album Carolina (2009) are both RIAA Gold-certified. Carolina had three hit singles: the Top 10 “Hell on the Heart” as well as Top 20 hit “Smoke A Little Smoke” and Top 10 smash “Love Your Love The Most,” which were both certified Gold. Sinners Like Me spawned three Top 20 singles: “How ‘Bout You,” “Two Pink Lines,” and “Guys Like Me.”

    For more information on Church, visitwww.EricChurch.com.

  • KEITH URBAN MARKS 32ND TOP 5 SINGLE.

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    Eric Church / Keith Urban

    Keith Urban’s latest single, “Raise ‘Em Up”, featuring Eric Church, his fifth from his #1 album FUSE, hits #5 this week marking his 32nd Top 5 single.  But perhaps even more impressive is his place alongside some of history’s greatest streaks – the Miami Dolphins 1972 march to 17-0 or  Joe DiMaggio’s 56-game hitting streak of ’41 – as Urban’s consecutive streak of Top 10 songs hits thirty three.

    “The support I get from my friends at country radio and the fans, is absolutely astounding, said Urban.  “Its what makes ALL of this possible, and I can’t wait to hit the road again and thank you all in the best way I know how!”

    In addition, as Urban took to the stage to perform “Raise ‘Em Up” with Eric Church at the 50th Academy of Country Music Awards, he released a special behind-the-scenes making of the music video for “Raise ‘Em Up” via Twitter.   The groundbreaking campaign made it possible for fans to unlock the video by tweeting with #behindRaiseEmUp. Find the official behind-the-scenes video for “Raise ‘Em Up” here: http://smarturl.it/behindRaiseEmUp

    For more Keith Urban news and information go to www.keithurban.net.

  • ERIC CHURCH’S THE OUTSIDERS WORLD TOUR IS NO. 1 ON BILLBOARD’S HOT TOURS.

    Audio
    Eric Church

    NASHVILLE, Tenn. – (April 17, 2015) – Add another milestone in a year full of them: Eric Church’s “The Outsiders World Tour” is No. 1 on Billboard’s Hot Tours recap.

    Church scored the top slot – over some of music’s biggest pop stars.Billboard said Church has visited more than 60 cities and sold more than 725,000 tickets so far in support of the GRAMMY and ACM Award-nominated and widely acclaimed 2014 album The Outsiders.

    Church has set venue attendance records in three cities, including his hometown Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tennessee, and Allstate Arena in Rosemont, Illinois. More than 18,000 fans attended each rowdy show. Feel left out? Fans can still see what all the fuss is about through September.
    First up, the North Carolina native will perform on the CBS broadcast of the 50th anniversary edition of the Academy of Country Music Awards on Sunday at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, where he is nominated for four ACM Awards including Album of the Year for The Outsiders, Male Vocalist of the Year and Song of the Year as both artist and co-writer for “Give Me Back My Hometown.”

    There are still more than 20 dates left on “The Outsiders World Tour.” For more information about Church or to buy tickets, visit www.EricChurch.com and follow @ericchurch on Twitter.

    Audio / Prior to kicking off The Outsiders World Tour, Eric Church talked about the trek and how he hopes that fans will feel it's a great experience.

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    Eric Church (The Outsiders World Tour) OC: …from the stage. 1:01
    “We’ve waited our whole career to make a record like The Outsiders. I felt like our entire career has been building up to that moment, to this record. Likewise, with this tour. This tour, we’ve waited our entire career to put on this tour. Anybody who’s seen us before musically, because of the amount of music we have, visually, and then as far as we want to do sonically. I think it’s gonna be something that people will say it’s the best they’ve seen. And we still want to make it about the music, but at the same time, we have some other things to make sure everybody, no matter what seat you’re in in the house, no matter where you are – front, back, side, top – we want to make sure it’s a unique experience for everybody in there and that everybody in there feels like they’re a part of the show, and there’s not a bad seat in the house. We’ve thought about that ad nauseam, to make sure that regardless of where you are, without giving too much away surprise-wise, that you’ll be able to experience it and be a part of the show and share in that feeling from the stage.”

  • ACM AWARDS 2015: Eric Church

    Audio
    Eric Church

    Eric Church has a trio of ACM nominations going into Sunday’s show, including Male Vocalist, Album of the Year for The Outsiders and Song of the Year for “Give Me Back My Hometown.”

    When Eric was making The Outsiders, he said they didn’t go into the studio with any preconceived notions. “You’ve got to be committed and take the time in the process to let the creativity to lead you there,” he says. “And I think for us, I think that’s what we did. We let the songs dictate what was next. There’s two songs on this album that if you pull them out of the album, I like ‘em, [but] I just don’t love ‘em near as much as if you put ‘em back in because of the space that they give the songs in-between and what I feel when I listen to the record. By themselves? Fine, but in its spot, I love ‘em. It’s an album. It’s start to finish.”

    Catch Eric perform during the 50th Annual ACM Awards, which will be broadcast live from AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas at 8pm ET on CBS.

    He’s currently making his way up the country charts with his “Like a Wrecking Ball,” as well as for “Raise ‘Em Up” with Keith Urban.

    Audio / Right before The Outsiders was released, Eric Church talked about the creativity that went into making a complete album.

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    Eric Church (making the album) OC: …as an album. :41
    “I think a lot of when you make an album, you can’t go in with a preconceived notion of here’s what it is. You’ve got to be committed and take the time in the process to let the creativity to lead you there. And I think for us, I think that’s what we did. We let the songs dictate what was next. There’s two songs on this album that if you pull them out of the album, I like ‘em, [but] I just don’t love ‘em near as much as if you put ‘em back in because of the space that they give the songs in-between and what I feel when I listen to the record. By themselves? Fine, but in its spot, I love ‘em. It’s an album. It’s start to finish. Shuffle is gonna aggravate me on this if people play shuffle, because it’s not right. It needs to be listened to as an album.”

    Audio / Eric Church says his ACM-nominated Song of the Year, “Give Me Back My Hometown,” captured what he was feeling the day he wrote it.

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    Eric Church (Give Me Back My Hometown) 3 OC: …the lyrics say. :23
    “I just think everybody ties into the emotion of it, and I think the music captured the emotion. I mean, I think the job of all of us when you write a song you want to make sure you capture, when we sat down to write it, you capture that feeling that you were feeling when you were writing it, and that song does it better than any on the album. I mean, it captures that emotion. The music sounds like what the lyrics say.”

  • ALAN, DARIUS, DIERKS, ERIC, KEITH, LADY A, LUKE AND SAM AMONG THE STARS PERFORMING FOR CBS-TV SPECIAL ‘ACM PRESENTS: SUPERSTAR DUETS.’

    Press
    Alan Jackson / Darius Rucker / Dierks Bentley / Eric Church / Keith Urban / Kip Moore / Lady Antebellum / Luke Bryan / Sam Hunt

    Encino, CA (April 9, 2015) – The Academy of Country Music and dick clark productions announced the full lineup of country music luminaries and chart-topping artists who will perform together on “ACM Presents: Superstar Duets” and make up the evening portion of the 3rd Annual ACM Party for a Cause Festival.  Performances at the two-day outdoor music festival celebrating the 50th ACM Awards will begin at 7:30pm on Friday, April 17th and continue Saturday, April 18th on the Main Stage inside of Globe Life Park in Arlington, TX. A two-hour special including performances from the event will air on Friday, May 15th on the CBS Television Network.

    Friday’s lineup will include special collaborations by Alabama & Eli Young Band, Brooks & Dunn & Reba, Darius Rucker & Sara Evans, Dierks Bentley & Kip Moore & Ashley Monroe, Dwight Yoakam & Sam Hunt, and Luke Bryan & Ronnie Milsap, along with a special performance by Brantley Gilbert.

    Saturday’s lineup will include duet performances by Alan Jackson & Cole Swindell, Clint Black & Joe Nichols, Eric Church & Marty Stuart, Florida Georgia Line & David Lee Murphy, Hunter Hayes & Brett Eldredge, Keith Urban & John Anderson, Lady Antebellum & Brandy Clark, Miranda Lambert & Patty Loveless, and The Band Perry & Deana Carter along with special performances by Kenny Chesney and Jake Owen.

    Ticket packages to the ACM Party for a Cause Festival INCLUDING the 50th ACM Awards are available NOW at Ticketmaster.com. Tickets to the 50TH ACM Awards sold out last spring in a record 18 minutes but as staging changes became final for the ACM Awards, seats to the previously SOLD OUT Awards show and festival are now available.
    lease see a full lineup of tentatively scheduled performances below for “ACM Presents: Superstar Duets” listed by order of appearance and subject to change. For additional updates please visit www.ACMcountry.com.

     Friday, April 17, 2015 (Listed in Order of Appearance)

    ·         Brantley Gilbert

    ·         Dwight Yoakam & Sam Hunt

    ·         Darius Rucker & Sara Evans

    ·         Alabama & Eli Young Band

    ·         Brooks & Dunn & Reba

    ·         Dierks Bentley, Kip Moore & Ashley Monroe

    ·         Luke Bryan & Ronnie Milsap

     Saturday, April 18, 2015 (Listed in Order of Appearance)

    ·         Clint Black & Joe Nichols

    ·         The Band Perry & Deana Carter

    ·         Lady Antebellum & Brandy Clark

    ·         Hunter Hayes & Brett Eldredge

    ·         Jake Owen

    ·         Kenny Chesney

    ·         Alan Jackson & Cole Swindell

    ·         Miranda Lambert & Patty Loveless

    ·         Keith Urban & John Anderson

    ·         Eric Church & Marty Stuart

    ·         Florida Georgia Line & David Lee Murphy

    The 3rd Annual ACM Party for a Cause Festival, beginning at 12:00 PM on April 17-18, 2015, will include multiple stages for ongoing LIVE country music performances, interactive experiences, a family-friendly country marketplace with food trucks and vendors from around the country, and much more, all leading up to the 50th Academy of Country Music Awards, which will be broadcast LIVE for the first time ever from AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas on Sunday, April 19, 2015 at 8:00 PM live ET/delayed PT on the CBS Television Network. Proceeds from the event will benefit ACM Lifting Lives, the philanthropic arm of the Academy of Country Music and military philanthropies including Folds of Honor Foundation, Wounded Warrior Project, Navy SEAL Foundation, and Task Force Dagger Foundation.

    ACM Presents: Superstar Duets is produced for television by dick clark productions. Allen Shapiro, Mike Mahan and R.A. Clark are executive producers.  Mark Bracco, Barry Adelman and Tom Forrest are co-executive producers. Bob Romeo is executive producer for the Academy of Country Music.

  • LUKE BRYAN AND ERIC CHURCH ARE ALREADY ACM WINNERS!

    Press
    Eric Church / Luke Bryan

    ENCINO, CA (April 7, 2015) – The Academy of Country Music announced today the winners of awards that will not be televised during the 50TH ACADEMY OF COUNTRY MUSIC AWARDS, due to time constraints. The 50thACM Awards will be telecast LIVE from AT&T Stadium, home of the Dallas Cowboys, in Arlington, Texas on Sunday, April 19th at 8:00PM live ET/delayed PT on the CBS Television Network. Special Awards honorees will be feted during the 9th Annual ACM Honors event on September 1, 2015 at the historic Ryman Auditorium in Nashville, TN.

    The Academy of Country Music Special Awards are voted on by the ACM Board of Directors and specific categories are awarded during years where the Board of Directors feels there are clear and deserving candidates. The Studio Recording Awards (formerly known as the Musician-Bandleader-Instrumentalist (MBI) Awards) ballot is voted on by professional members of the Academy who are classified in the Artist-Entertainer/Musician-Bandleader-Instrumentalist category and the Producer-Engineer-Studio Manager sub-category (contained within the Affiliated category). The Songwriter of the Year ballot is voted on by professional members of the Academy in the following categories: Artist-Entertainer/Musician-Bandleader-Instrumentalist, Composer, Music Publisher/PRO, Record Company, and the Producer-Engineer-Studio Manager sub-category (contained within the Affiliated category). Industry Awards are voted on by all professional members of the Academy and for the first time ever this year’s ballot included the ACM Festival of the Year category. The Academy wanted to recognize the growing festival industry, a platform that has helped raise awareness and appreciation for country music.

    SPECIAL AWARDS

    Career Achievement Award – Alabama has been chosen to receive the Career Achievement Award, honoring an individual artist, duo, group or multiple artist collaboration that has advanced the popularity and acceptance of country music through their endeavors in the entertainment industry in multiple areas during the preceding calendar year.

    Alabama received the ACM Artist of the Decade award for the 1980s after winning the Entertainer of the Year award for five consecutive years. Combining their rock influences with Southern roots, the ensemble charted 51 Top 10 hits between 1980 and 1999, with 32 reaching No. 1. They also earned six consecutive ACM awards in the Vocal Group category. Alabama joined the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2005. In 2011, original band members Randy Owen, Jeff Cook and Teddy Gentry brought their mountain music back to country radio by singing on “Old Alabama,” Brad Paisley’s salute to them. In 2013, the band celebrated 40 years in country music with the “Back to the Bowery” Tour and the tribute album Alabama & Friends, which featured Jason Aldean, Luke Bryan, Kenny Chesney, Florida Georgia Line and many others. Their 2013-2014 run culminated in the September 2014 releases of theAngels Among Us: Hymns and Gospel Favorites album and the Alabama & Friends At The Ryman live CD/DVD. Also in 2014, Alabama frontman Randy Owen celebrated the 25th anniversary of his call to country radio to support St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis. To date, the “Country Cares for St. Jude Kids” initiative has raised more than $500 million for the hospital.

    Past recipients of the Career Achievement Award include John Anderson, Vince Gill, Faith Hill, Toby Keith, Tim McGraw, Ronnie Milsap, Johnny Paycheck, Carl Perkins, Reba, and Kenny Rogers.

    Crystal Milestone Award – Loretta Lynn has been chosen to receive the Crystal Milestone Award, which is given to an artist or industry leader to commemorate a specific, remarkable achievement.

    Loretta Lynn remains one of country music’s most beloved and admired artists. Celebrated for her keen songwriting and down-home personality, she was named the ACM Artist of the Decade for the 1970s, an honor bestowed after she claimed four Female Vocalist awards, four Vocal Group awards (with Conway Twitty) and ultimately 1975 Entertainer of the Year – the first woman ever to earn that distinction. Lynn joined the Grand Ole Opry in 1962 and the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1988. The film version of her life, Coal Miner’s Daughter, is an Oscar-winning classic. Lynn has captivated a younger generation as well, collaborating with rocker Jack White on the Grammy-winning Van Lear Rose album and championing today’s female vocalists like Miranda Lambert. In 2014, Loretta celebrated her 50th anniversary in country music. New music is expected in 2015.

    Past recipients of the Crystal Milestone Award include Jason Aldean, Garth Brooks, Kenny Chesney, Merle Haggard, Gayle Holcomb, Jennifer Nettles, and Taylor Swift.

    Gene Weed Special Achievement Award – Luke Bryan has been chosen to receive the Gene Weed Special Achievement Award, which acknowledges unprecedented, unique and outstanding individual achievement in country music.

    Luke Bryan is experiencing a career rush thanks to his double-platinum project, Crash My Party. The album ushered in a record-setting six consecutive No. 1 singles: “Crash My Party,” “That’s My Kind of Night,” “Drink A Beer,” “Play It Again,” “Roller Coaster” and “I See You.” In 2014, he performed for 1.7 million fans, marking his best year of touring yet. In January, he carried his music to Europe for the first time and announced a schedule of arenas and stadium concerts stateside. An exhibit on his stellar career will open at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum this summer.

    Past recipients of the Gene Weed Special Achievement Award include Garth Brooks, George Burns, Jeff Foxworthy, Willie Nelson, Blake Shelton, George Strait, and Carrie Underwood.

    Jim Reeves International Award – Eric Church has been chosen to receive the Jim Reeves International Award, which is presented to an artist for outstanding contributions to the acceptance of country music throughout the world.

    Eric Church is proving that modern country music translates across borders, even when his biggest songs reference iconic American imagery like “Springsteen” and “Talladega.” The North Carolina native introduced The Outsiders World Tour to Europe in early 2014, sharing his rugged, original music across 12 major markets and thousands of new fans. Church began his ambitious international trek in Dublin, Ireland, with dates following in Belfast, Northern Ireland; Glasgow, Scotland; Manchester, United Kingdom; London, England; Amsterdam, Holland; Cologne, Hamburg and Munich, Germany; Malmo and Stockholm, Sweden; and Oslo, Norway. His worldwide legion of fans is known as the Church Choir.

    Past recipients of the Jim Reeves International Award include Garth Brooks, Dick Clark, Roy Clark, Merv Griffin, Alan Jackson, Charlie Nagatani, Buck Owens, Dolly Parton, Taylor Swift, Keith Urban, Lady Antebellum, andRascal Flatts among others.

    Mae Boren Axton Award – Barry Adelman and Tim DuBois have been chosen as the recipients of the Mae Boren Axton Award, which is given in recognition of years of dedication and service by an outstanding individual to the Academy of Country Music.

    Barry Adelman, EVP of Television for dick clark productions, has been a tireless champion of the Academy of Country Music Awards as the show’s long-time writer and executive producer, and has served on the ACM Board of Directors. He is one of the most prolific producers working in Hollywood today, with credits including the Golden Globes, American Music Awards, So You Think You Can Dance and Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve, among many other high-profile live broadcasts. He has received multiple Emmy nominations in his role as a producer and has written speeches for Presidents Clinton, Bush and Reagan. Early in his career, he also wrote forThe Sonny & Cher Show and wrote the eulogy for Elvis Presley’s funeral.

    Tim DuBois enjoyed a significant songwriting career before developing Arista Nashville into a powerhouse label in the 1990s. His writing credits include ACM-nominated songs such as Alabama’s “Love in the First Degree,” Vince Gill’s “When I Call Your Name” and Jerry Reed’s “She Got the Goldmine (I Got the Shaft).” Under his leadership at Arista, artists like Brooks & Dunn, Alan Jackson, Brad Paisley and Pam Tillis picked up numerous platinum albums and industry awards. Despite his busy schedule, DuBois has given countless hours to the Academy of Country Music as an officer and a member of the Board of Directors for more than 30 years. His experience and wisdom have been instrumental in helping the Academy grow and transition. He currently serves as ACM board’s Sergeant-at-Arms. Following positions at ASCAP and Vanderbilt University, he is now a partner at Artist Management Partners.

    Past recipients of the Mae Boren Axton Award include John Dorris, Rod Essig, Gayle Holcomb, Jack Lameier, Marge Meoli, Paul Moore, Ray Pilzak, Gaynelle Pitts, Gene Weed, Tommy Wiggins and David Young.

    Poet’s Award – Felice and Boudleaux Bryant (awarded posthumously) and Bob McDill have been selected to receive the Poet’s Award, which honors songwriters for outstanding musical and/or lyrical contributions throughout their careers in the field of country music.

    Felice and Boudleaux Bryant moved to Nashville in 1950 and helped established the city’s songwriting industry. Boudleaux Bryant matched his talent as a professional fiddler to his wife’s interest in poetry to create a winning formula. Their catalog includes the Everly Brothers’ “Bye Bye Love” and “All I Have to Do Is Dream,” as well as Eddy Arnold’s “How’s the World Treating You,” Jimmy Dickens’ “I’m Little But I’m Loud,” Roy Orbison’s “Love Hurts” and the Osborne Brothers’ “Rocky Top.” Boudleaux died in 1987; Felice died in 2003. They were elected to the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1991

    Bob McDill weaves his incredible stories with vivid language, memorable melodies and a wise, relatable perspective. The Texas native has written 30 No. 1 country hits since moving to Nashville in 1970. His rich catalog includes Alabama’s “Song of the South,” Alan Jackson’s “Gone Country,” Waylon Jennings’ “Amanda” and Don Williams’ “It Must Be Love.” In addition, his ACM-nominated songwriting credits are Mel McDaniel’s “Baby’s Got Her Blue Jeans On,” John Schneider’s “I’ve Been Around Enough to Know,” Dan Seals’ “Everything That Glitters (Is Not Gold),” Pam Tillis’ “All the Good Ones Are Gone” and Keith Whitley’s “Don’t Close Your Eyes.”

    Previous recipients of the Poet’s Award include Bill Anderson, Bobby Braddock, Guy Clark, Jack Clement, Hank Cochran, Dean Dillon, Merle Haggard, Tom T. Hall, Harlan Howard, Kris Kristofferson, Roger Miller, Buck Owens, Fred Rose, Don Schlitz, Cindy Walker and Hank Williams.

    INDUSTRY AWARDS

    • CASINO OF THE YEAR:
      • SMALL CAPACITY– Hard Rock Live – Biloxi, MS
      • MEDIUM CAPACITY– MGM Grand Casino – Las Vegas, NV
    • FESTIVAL OF THE YEAR:Country Thunder USA: East – Twin Lakes, WI
    • NIGHTCLUB OF THE YEAR:  Joe’s Bar – Chicago, IL
    • VENUE OF THE YEAR:
      • SMALL CAPACITY– Ryman Auditorium – Nashville, TN
      • MEDIUM CAPACITY – Red Rocks Amphitheatre – Morrison, CO
      • LARGE CAPACITY – Hollywood Bowl – Hollywood, CA
    • DON ROMEO TALENT BUYER OF THE YEAR:  Sally Williams – Ryman Auditorium
    • PROMOTER OF THE YEAR: Ed Warm – Joe’s Live

     

    STUDIO RECORDING AWARDS (FORMERLY THE MBI AWARDS)

    • BASS PLAYER OF THE YEAR:  Glenn Worf
    • DRUMMER OF THE YEAR:  Greg Morrow
    • GUITAR PLAYER OF THE YEAR:  Tom Bukovac
    • PIANO/KEYBOARDS PLAYER OF THE YEAR:  Michael Rojas
    • SPECIALTY INSTRUMENT(S) PLAYER OF THE YEAR:  Ilya Toshinsky
    • STEEL GUITAR PLAYER OF THE YEAR:  Dan Dugmore
    • AUDIO ENGINEER OF THE YEAR:  Chuck Ainlay
    • PRODUCER OF THE YEAR:  Jay Joyce

     

    SONGWRITER OF THE YEAR

    SONGWRITER OF THE YEAR:  Luke Laird

     

    About the Academy of Country Music Awards

    The 50th Academy of Country Music Awards is dedicated to honoring and showcasing the biggest names and emerging talent in the country music industry.  The show is produced for television by dick clark productions and will broadcast LIVE from AT&T Stadium in Arlington, TX on Sunday, April 19, 2015 at 8:00 PM live ET/delayed PT on the CBS Television Network. Allen Shapiro, Mike Mahan, R.A. Clark, Barry Adelman and Mark Bracco are executive producers.  Bob Romeo is executive producer for the Academy of Country Music.