The King of Country’s one-night-only concert event planned for July 30th at Kansas City’s GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium keeps getting bigger as Messina Touring announces the addition of ACM New Male Vocalist and fellow Texan Parker McCollum. The chart-topping artist joins superstars Chris Stapleton and Little Big Town in gracing the stadium’s stage for the first time, while George Strait himself makes his first return to the venue since 2001. Tickets are on sale now via Ticketmaster.com with limited quantities remaining.

McCollum’s major label debut Hollywood Gold was met with widespread critical acclaim and became the top-selling debut country EP of 2020. The singer/songwriter and multi-instrumentalist earned his first-ever No. 1 hit with his Platinum-selling debut single, “Pretty Heart,” and his follow up single, “To Be Loved By You,” off debut album Gold Chain Cowboy, also took the No.1 spot for two consecutive chart-topping singles. McCollum has been named an ‘Artist to Watch’ by Rolling Stone, Billboard, SiriusXM, CMT, RIAA and more with American Songwriter noting, “The Texas native teeters on the edge of next-level superstardom.” A dedicated road warrior, McCollum already sells out venues across the country including record-breaking crowds in Austin and Lubbock, plus Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium and three nights at the iconic Billy Bob’s Texas. He also made his Grand Ole Opry debut last year and recently made his RODEOHOUSTON debut performing for a sold-out crowd and turning his childhood dream into a reality.

With an unmatched 60 singles hitting the top of the charts—more than any other artist in any genre—during the span of his 30+ year career, Strait has collected 33 Platinum or multi-Platinum-selling albums, more than any other Country artist and ranking third across all genres behind The Beatles and Elvis Presley. The Texas troubadour is the only artist or act in history to have a Top 10 hit every year for over three decades and recently earned his 100th entry on the Billboard Country Airplay chart with his latest single, “The Weight of the Badge.” He has sold nearly 70 million albums and earned more than 60 major entertainment industry awards, including induction in the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2006.

The July 30th show will mark the 54th concert or music festival in GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium history and will be the 15th concert performance that the stadium has hosted since 2011. The 2022 show will be Strait’s fourth performance (1998-99, 2001) at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium. In addition to performing in Kansas City, Strait will also headline Lincoln, Nebraska’s Pinnacle Bank Arena tomorrow, April 23, and will perform back-to-back nights with Willie Nelson and Randy Rogers for the grand opening of the Moody Center in Austin on April 29 and 30.

For more information and to purchase tickets to all upcoming dates, visit GeorgeStrait.com.

Taylor Swift has been announced as the official ambassador for Record Store Day this year. The 15th Anniversary of Record Store Day will be celebrated April 23rd.

At his show in Detroit, Michigan on Saturday (January 21st), Eric Church paid tribute rock legend Meat Loaf who passed away over the weekend with a cover of “I’d Do Anything For Love (But I Won’t Do That)” with the crowd of fans singing along. After part of the song, he launched into the fan-favorite, “Springsteen.”

The Darius Rucker Intercollegiate presented by PXG will make its television debut on the GOLF Channel this spring, marking the first all-women’s regular-season collegiate golf tournament to be presented live on the network. The annual event, hosted by Darius Rucker, will be held at Long Cove Club in Hilton Head, South Carolina over three days February 28th-March 2nd at Long Cove Club in Hilton Head Island, and features a 54-hole stroke play competition for individual and team honors.

George Strait’s two December dates at Las Vegas’ T-Mobile Arena place him at the top of Pollstar’s latest LIVE75 chart. The couple of December shows grossed an average of $2.04 million, Eric Church lands at No. 5, the only other country act in the Top 10.

Travis Denning releases an acoustic video version of his song “Jack and Coke” from his Dirt Road Down EP.

If you happened to miss the premiere of Reba McEntire‘s Lifetime holiday movie, Christmas in Tune, you’re in luck. The channel will air encore presentations of the movie several times throughout the month, including December 4th, December 16th, December 21st and December 24th.

Alan Jackson, Reba McEntire, George Strait, Shania Twain, Trace Adkins, Vince Gill, Suzy Bogguss, Deana Carter and many more are featured on the new compilation 90s Country Christmas. Click here to download or stream.

Let it be Christmas and celebrate with this 90's Country Christmas Compilation, ft. Alan's #LetItBeChristmas! ❄️ https://t.co/euOGfNIjM1 pic.twitter.com/UHbyrIwXZH

— Alan Jackson (@OfficialJackson) December 3, 2021

Caylee Hammack shared her tour diary from her dates opening up for Chris Stapleton. Check it out below.

https://twitter.com/Cayleehammack/status/1466788316762804231

Josh Turner talked to People about his new holiday song, “Soldier’s Gift,” his first-ever Christmas album, King Size Manger, and his holiday tour.

Thanks, @people, for talking to me about my new song, "Soldier's Gift," my debut Christmas album, 'King Size Manger,' and my first-ever Christmas tour, the 'Holiday & The Hits' tour! Y'all go check it out!#KingSizeManger #SoldiersGift #holidayandthehitshttps://t.co/RjXuXaaYh0

— Josh Turner (@joshturnermusic) December 3, 2021

Here are some holiday liners from UMG Nashville artists, including Alan Jackson, Billy Currington, Brothers Osborne, Carrie Underwood, Caylee Hammack, Chrissy Metz,Darius Rucker, Dierks Bentley, Eric Church, Gary Allan, George Strait, Hootie & The Blowfish, Jon Langston, Jon Pardi, Jordan Davis, Josh Turner, Kassi Ashton, Keith Urban, Kip Moore, Kylie Morgan, Lauren Alaina, Little Big Town, Luke Bryan, Maddie & Tae, Parker McCollum, Priscilla Block, Reba McEntire, Sam Hunt, Shania Twain, Taylor Swift, Terri Clark, Travis Denning and more!

To celebrate Giving Tuesday, Universal Music Group Nashville is offering up a discount code for anyone who wants to donate into the raffle for the Parade of Trees Event for Gaylord Opryland Resort’s 38th Annual Country Christmas event. Universal Music Group Nashville is hosting the Parade of Trees, a display featuring Christmas trees decorated by Grand Ole Opry members Alan Jackson, Carrie Underwood, Darius Rucker, Josh Turner, Keith Urban and Reba McEntire, along with Eric Church, George Strait, Luke Bryan and Mickey Guyton.

Along with their trees, country music’s biggest stars have each donated “Once in a Lifetime” VIP experiences (fly-aways, VIP concert experiences, exclusive merchandise and more) all to benefit First Responders Children’s Foundation. Proceeds raised will provide scholarships and mental health services to children who have lost a parent in the line of duty.

You don’t have to be in Nashville to check out the beautiful trees & check out the ‘once in a lifetime’ package offerings at www.CharityStars.com/ParadeOfTrees! For a limited time, if you bid to win one of these artist-hosted packages, you can use code: UMGN at checkout for 100 extra entries (that is 100 extra ways to win!!)

In honor of First Responders Day, today, Oct. 28, country music superstar George Strait releases a powerful new music video for “The Weight of the Badge” as a tribute to first responders. The video focuses on stories and moments with some of our nation’s first responders and their families, giving some insight on what it means to live every day bearing the weight of the badge.

“The men and women in this music video are our friends and neighbors who carry the weight of the badge each day,” says Strait in the video. “Thank you. We appreciate you and the sacrifices you and your families make.”

The video made a special premiere last night at the First Responders Children’s Foundation 20^th anniversary gala in New York City with many of the first responders featured in the video in attendance.

The country superstar wrote the song with his son, Bubba, and frequent collaborator Dean Dillon, after an encounter with an officer and Strait’s grandson Harvey during the ceremony honoring the singer with the Texan of the Year Award.

Also launching today is TheWeightOfTheBadge.com, a site inviting people to share their stories and gratitude for the first responders in their lives.

About First Responders Children’s Foundation:First Responders Children’s Foundation provides financial support to both children who have lost a parent in the line of duty as well as families enduring significant financial hardships due to tragic circumstances. The Foundation also supports educational activities and programs and operated by first responder agencies whose purpose is to benefit children or the community at large.

With an unmatched 60 singles hitting the top of the charts—more than any other artist in any genre—during the span of his 30+ year career, Strait has collected 33 Platinum or multi-Platinum-selling albums, more than any other Country artist and ranking third across all genres behind The Beatles and Elvis Presley. The Texas troubadour is the only artist or act in history to have a Top 10 hit every year for over three decades and recently earned his 100th entry on the Billboard Country Airplay chart with his latest single, “The Weight of the Badge.” He has sold nearly 70 million albums and earned more than 60 major entertainment industry awards, including induction in the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2006.

For audio from George, click here.

Thursday (October 28th) is National First Responders Day and George Strait‘s song, “The Weight Of The Badge,” is even more relevant on this day.

“It’s gonna be a long one another graveyard shift
As he says goodbye to his wife and kids
He spends his life just like his dad’s
Driving away under the weight of the badge

He’s seen it all in his fifteen years
Watching our backs, facing our fears
Lord knows it ain’t no easy task
Keeping us safe under the weight of the badge

He swore that oath to protect and serve
Pours his heart and soul into both those words
Lays his life on the line
The line he walks is razor fine
Tempered strength is always tough
But he ain’t gonna buckle
Under the weight of the badge”

The country superstar wrote the song with his son, Bubba, and frequent collaborator Dean Dillon, after an encounter with an officer and Strait’s grandson Harvey during the ceremony honoring the singer with the Texan of the Year Award.

“‘The Weight of the Badge,’ the idea for that song came about when I got the Texan of the Year award,” George recalls. “Me and Bubba, Tamara and Harvey, everybody Norma, and even Jilliann, I think were there, and I had security you know I had an officer who was talking to Harvey and letting him play with his badge and hold it and pinning it on his shirt. And I just got to thinking about that because it really wasn’t that heavy until you put it on it and then it means, it really gets heavy. So, that was one of those things I thought was a real important message especially these days and times. I love the way it turned out.”

George is expected to release a video for the song on Thursday.

Tune in tonight (August 23rd) at 7pm ET/6pm CT for an exclusive look at Reba McEntire‘s new box set REVIVED REMIXED REVISTED in a special TalkShopLive conversation with TV host Nancy O’Dell. You’ll be able to pre-order the collection on vinyl with an autographed poster or on CD with an autographed booklet, as well.

Brothers Osborne appeared on CBS This Morning to talk music and how life has changed for them.

"I didn't realize, kind of, what a sense of purpose it would bring to my life to be here": After coming out, TJ Osborne has created a safe space for LGBTQ fans at @brothersosborne shows, and inspired them to live out loud. pic.twitter.com/rVLOk1lBZp

— CBS Mornings (@CBSMornings) August 23, 2021

Chris Stapleton is scheduled to perform on NBC’s Late Night With Seth Meyers on Wednesday (August 23rd).

Tune in Wednesday (August 25th) for CMT GIANTS: Charley Pride at 9pm ET/8pm CT on CMT. The 90-minute special will feature performances by Alan Jackson, Darius Rucker, George Strait, Mickey Guyton, Reba McEntire, son Dion Pride, Gladys Knight, Jimmie Allen, Lee Ann Womack, Luke Combs featuring Robert Randolph + Reyna Roberts, Garth Brooks and Wynonna celebrating the extraordinary life and legacy of the iconic Charley Pride.

Alan Jackson has been added the lineup of performers for the 14th Annual Academy of Country Music Honors taking place on Wednesday (August 25th) at Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium.  The event, which will also feature performances and appearances by Trace Adkins, Lauren Alaina, Devin Dawson, Jessie Jo Dillon, Ronnie Dunn, Sara Evans, Nicolle Galyon, HARDY,  Chris Janson, Lady A, Ashley McBryde, Carly Pearce, RaeLynn, Jordan Reynolds, Brittney Spencer, Keith Urban, Laura Veltz, Sam Williams and Lee Ann Womack, will be livestreamed on Circle Network’s social channels – Circle All Facebook, Twitter and YouTube. Circle Network will also air a television special around the 14^th Annual Academy of Country Music Honors on Tuesday, November 23rd.