• NEWS AND NOTES: Darius Rucker, Kacey Musgraves, Gary Allan, Billy Currington

    Darius Rucker is one happy man as the South Carolina Gamecocks women’s basketball team beat UConn to win the championship! He posted on his socials a congratulatory note and added, “U have made this Gamecock extremely happy. I will not miss another one. Keep being great y’all in sports but more importantly in life!!”

     

     

    Kacey Musgraves will introduce The Judds’ performance on this year’s CMT Music Awards and talk about the duo’s influence on her own career. Kacey is nominated for overall Video of the Year and Female Video of the Year for “justified.” The 2022 CMT Music Awards will air live from Nashville beginning at 8pm ET/delayed PT on April 11th on CBS and streaming live and on demand on Parmount+.

    Billy Bob’s, the world’s largest honkytonk in Fort Worth, Texas, recently announced their lineup for this year. Gary Allan will headline two nights – June 10th and 11th – while Billy Currington is set to headline June 24th.

  • NEWS AND NOTES: Kacey Musgraves, Mickey Guyton, Taylor Swift, Caylee Hammack, Keith Urban

    Kacey Musgraves will perform during the inaugural Palomino Festival at the Rose Bowl in Southern California July 9th. Willie Nelson, Jason Isbell, Turnpike Troubadours, Orville Peck, Morgan Wade and Old Crow Medicine Show will also perform. Tickets go on sale Friday (April 1st).

     

    Mickey Guyton is among the special guests at BRELAND’s upcoming benefit for Nashville’s Oasis Center taking place at Nashville’s historic Ryman Auditorium on April 12th. Kane Brown, Russell Dickerson and Charles Kelley are also part of the lineup.

    Taylor Swift is set to receive an honorary doctorate for Fine Arts from New York University, and she will speak at the college’s commencement taking place at Yankee Stadium May 18th.

    Caylee Hammack, who just wrapped up a tour with Darius Rucker, will head out on the road on Brad Paisley‘s World Tour 2022, along with Tracy Lawrence, Scotty McCreery and Tenille Townes. Tickets go on sale Friday (April 1st). The tour is set to kick off on May 27th at the Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, CT. Guests will vary by market.

    Keith Urban‘s “One Too Many” featuring P!nk is winner of the 2022 Queensland Music ‘Highest Selling Single Award.’ 

     

  • NEWS AND NOTES: Luke Bryan, Chris Stapleton, Kacey Musgraves, Vince Gill, Dierks Bentley, Sam Hunt and more

    Luke Bryan and Chris Stapleton honor Lionel Richie in an upcoming PBS special concert celebrating the music icon’s Library of Congress Gershwin Prize for Popular Song. The tribute concert, which was taped earlier this month and will air May 17th on PBS, featured Luke singing “Lady,” the hit Lionel wrote for Kenny Rogers, and Stapleton performing “Say You, Say Me.” Other performers include Gloria Estefan, Yolanda Adams, Boyz II Men, Andra Day and many more.

    Kacey Musgraves is the recipient of this year’s GLAAD Vanguard Award. The presentation will be made at the 33rd Annual GLAAD Media Awards in Los Angeles, which will take place at the Beverly Hilton on April 2nd. Vanguard Awards are given to allies who have made a major contribution to the advancement of LGBTQ rights. GLAAD praised Musgraves’ efforts, including her use of her platform to collect cash for GLAAD’s annual anti-bullying Spirit Day campaign and to raise awareness of anti-LGBTQ. Previous recipients include Beyonce and Jennifer Lopez.

    Vince Gill and Amy Grant will return to Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium for their holiday residency, Christmas At The Ryman, in December. The pair will perform holiday classics for the shows spanning December 12, 13, 14, 15, 17, 18, 20 & 21. Tickets are on sale now.

    Dierks Bentley, Sam Hunt and Parker McCollumare among the artists performing at Cheyenne Frontier Days, taking place July 21st – 31st in Cheyenne, Wyoming. Check out the entire schedule here.

  • CELEBRATING INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY ON TUESDAY, MARCH 8TH.

    Tuesday (March 8th) is International Women’s Day, which is a global day celebrating the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women. The day also marks a call to action for accelerating gender parity. International Women’s Day has been observed since the early 1900’s.

    Many of your favorite female country artists are also celebrating this day in honor of women everywhere and of their influences and inspirations.

     

    Audio / CARRIE UNDERWOOD TALKS ABOUT HER AMAZING PROFESSIONAL INFLUENCES.

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    Carrie Underwood (Musical influences) OC: …do it too. :54
    “I think my biggest influences musically, or career-wise, would have to be women like Reba, like Dolly, like Faith Hill, like Martina McBride. You see all of these women just juggle everything masterfully and many of them are moms and they’re superstars and they’re talented, and you know, I know how hard they work because I’m in their shoes somewhat and doing the same juggling. You know, you have the kids and the career and you’re just trying to crush everything you do and being pulled in a million different directions. And to see women like that who are just beautiful and smart and strong and talented, knowing that they have come first and they’re still getting to do what they love and they’re still getting to be the mom and the wife and all the things – that’s just such an inspiration to me and just lets me know that I can do it too.”

    Audio / CARRIE UNDERWOOD TALKS ABOUT HER BIGGEST FEMALE INFLUENCE – HER MOM.

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    Carrie Underwood (biggest female influence) OC: …ever had. :25
    “I would say my biggest female influence would have to be my Mom. She was the first person that I was around that really taught me what it was like to be a woman, to be a Mom, to be a wife, to be a daughter and a sister. And just watching her and how she did everything with grace and integrity and she’s so strong. I mean, she was just the best role model anybody could have ever had.”

    Audio / LINER CARRIE UNDERWOOD (IWD)

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    “Hey, this is Carrie Underwood, and today is International Women’s Day. Let’s celebrate and encourage the achievements of women and girls around the world today and every day.”

    Audio / LINER CARRIE UNDERWOOD (NWM)

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    “Hi, this is Carrie Underwood, and March is National Women’s month. Celebrate and encourage the achievements of women and girls everywhere today and every day.”

    Audio / LINER CATIE OFFERMAN (INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY)

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    “Hey y’all, this is Catie Offerman. Happy International Women’s Day. This is such a special chance for all of us to celebrate each other and all the women around the globe and all their amazing accomplishments. We love you!”

    Audio / CAYLEE HAMMACK TALKS ABOUT HER PROFESSIONAL INSPIRATIONS, WHO INCLUDE LORETTA LYNN, DOLLY PARTON, REBA MCENTIRE AND MORE.

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    Caylee Hammack (Loretta Lynn and professional inspirations) OC: …look up to. :31
    “My first concert ever was Loretta Lynn. I was 13 years old and I got to see her in Columbus, Georgia. I begged my Dad to bring me, and I just remembered sitting on the edge of my seat waiting to see what she’d sing or say next. Loretta Lynn has been such an inspiration to me and all of the women who came before me – Patsy Cline, Tammy Wynette, Dolly Parton, Reba McEntire, all the way to Miranda Lambert and the legends of today. It’s unreal how many amazing women I have been given in this world to look up to.”

    Audio / CAYLEE HAMMACK TALKS ABOUT SEEING LORETTA LYNN IN CONCERT WHEN SHE WAS 13 YEARS OLD.

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    Caylee Hammack (Loretta Lynn) OC: …should listen. :28
    “My female idol growing up was Loretta Lynn. I was 13 when I got to see her live in-concert for the very first time. It was my first concert ever, and I will always remember sitting on the edge of my seat waiting to just see what she was gonna sing or say next. The power she had on stage is something you don’t see much; there’s a magic there. I think that when a woman tells her story – a woman like Loretta Lynn – everyone should listen.”

    Audio / CAYLEE HAMMACK TALKS ABOUT THE WOMEN IN COUNTRY MUSIC WHO HAVE BECOME HER FRIENDS AND SUPPORTIVE COUNTRY MUSIC FAMILY.

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    Caylee Hammack (Miranda, Ashley, Tenille) OC: …more grateful. :46
    “I could on and on about Loretta Lynn and Patsy Cline and Tammy Wynette and Reba and Dolly, but I want to actually mention a few friends that I’ve recently made in this year of quarantine and that’s Miranda Lambert and Ashley McBryde and Tenille Townes, these women that I’ve really gotten to connect with over this time in random group messages and such. I‘m just so very grateful that not only do I have women that have paved the way for us coming up in the country music industry, but I also have amazing women around me that I get to celebrate every single time that they put a new song out or win an award. I feel like I’ve found a family in country music, in the women of country music and I just couldn’t be more grateful.”

    Audio / DURING A BACKSTAGE PRESS CONFERENCE AT THE CMA AWARDS A FEW YEARS AGO, KACEY MUSGRAVES TALKED ABOUT BEING INSPIRED BY TWO OF HER IDOLS, LORETTA LYNN AND DOLLY PARTON, AND HOPED SHE COULD CARRY THAT INSPIRATION ON IN HER OWN MUSIC.

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    Kacey Musgraves (women in Country Music) OC: …of it all. :37
    “I look at people like Loretta Lynn and Dolly Parton, songwriters who were sassy and intelligent and beautiful and also intelligent and humorous. They inspired me, and if I can be at all any part of that in carrying that on, then I feel like,  that’s just the icing on the cake for me, and I feel like I’ve done my job.”

    Audio / Kassi Ashton says one of her most memorable moments watching a female artist is when The Chicks performed “Sin Wagon” on the 2000 CMA Awards.

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    Kassi Ashton (female artist-first memory) OC: …want to do. :24
    “When I think of my most memorable moment as a country music fan of a female artist, it would have to be when I was really little sitting crisscross-applesauce on the carpet looking up at the TV watching the Chicks perform on the CMA Awards. They were performing ‘Sin Wagon.’ There were CGI flames on the screen and gates opened up and they just tore it up. It’s still to this day is one of my favorite performances to watch over and over on Youtube. I remember looking up at the screen and thinking that that is exactly what I want to do.”

    Audio / KYLIE MORGAN EXPLAINS WHAT INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY MEANS TO HER.

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    Kylie Morgan (International Women’s Day) OC: …so young. :21
    “For me, International Women’s Day is not only about women supporting women but also looking up to other women. And the very first tiny woman, actually, I ever looked up to was Shirley Temple. Not only was she a child star, but she never let her age hold her back. And I feel like I continue to grow up with that mentality and why I started my career so young.”

    Audio / LORETTA LYNN, WHO WAS ONCE SIGNED TO DECCA AND MCA RECORDS, TALKS ABOUT TWO OF HER SONGS THAT HAD A BIG IMPACT.

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    Loretta Lynn (which songs had most impact) OC: …double hits. :10
    “‘You Ain’t Woman Enough (To Take My Man)’ and ‘Fist City’ is another one. They both hit women, you know? I wrote them about other women at the time and myself too, so I think that’s why they were double hits.”

    Audio / MADDIE & TAE TALK ABOUT SOME OF THE WOMEN THEY MOST ADMIRE.

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    Maddie & Tae (women most admire) OC: (Maddie) …everybody! :43
    “I definitely can’t pick just one inspiring woman in my life, because I’ve been blessed by many. (TAE INTERRUPTS) Yeah, I was gonna say Tae is definitely one that inspires me always for many different reasons. You are really good at living in the moment, I feel like; very good at being present and I always pick that up from you every time we hang out. (TAE SAYS, “Your joy inspires me.”) My mom, she is just a baddie and amazing. I would say our manager Haley. She is just so great at balancing work life and family life, and I really admire that. And I would say, I don’t know. All the women in my life – my sister, my sister-in-laws, my mother-in-law. I love ‘em all. My grandma…everybody!”

    Audio / LINER MADDIE & TAE (IWD)

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    “We’re Maddie & Tae on International Women’s Day.”

    Audio / MICKEY GUYTON RECALLS THE MOMENT SHE WANTED TO BECOME A COUNTRY SINGER.

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    Mickey Guyton (started with LeAnn) OC: …done. :24
    “I was eight-years-old, and my church, I grew up singing in the church, and my church drove to Arlington [Texas] from Waco to go see a Texas Rangers baseball game. We were all the way up in the nosebleed section, and the announcer says, ‘Please rise as 10-year-old LeAnn Rimes sings the National Anthem,’ and that was before ‘Blue’ came out. I was already stuck on her, and then when ‘Blue’ came out, I was just like done.”

    Audio / MICKEY GUYTON TALKS ABOUT THE FEMALE COUNTRY ARTISTS SHE ADMIRED GROWING UP.

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    Mickey Guyton (on pursuing a career as a singer) OC: …all those people. :50
    “It wasn’t like something where I was like, ‘Dad, I want to be a professional singer.’ It wasn’t until I was older when I finally admitted it. When you say something like that, it’s pretty crazy. What are we normally supposed to be? We’re supposed to be a teacher, a doctor, a lawyer, go to school and for me to even say that was just kind of crazy. So, I took an interest in singing. I started doing solos in the church choir or the school had a talent show. I’d bring my boom box, and I’d sing ‘I Will Always Love You.’ I was just mesmerized by big-voiced women, so from LeAnn, I started listening to Dolly and Patsy Cline and Patty Loveless and Reba McEntire and Faith Hill and Martina McBride, all those people.”

    Audio / MICKEY GUYTON RELEASED THE SONG “SISTER” A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO, AND SHE EXPLAINS WHY THE MESSAGE WAS SO IMPORTANT.

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    Mickey Guyton (why the song Sister is so important to her) OC: …out there. :21
    “As a woman, we need our sisters and this song is just so important for women, for girls, for everyone right now, to show solidarity and support for each other. No matter what it is that you believe, no matter what it is that you do, this song is exactly that for every woman out there.”

    Audio / PRISCILLA BLOCK TALKS ABOUT THE LEGENDARY DOLLY PARTON.

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    Priscilla Block (Dolly Parton) OC: …me some Dolly. :19
    “Hey-this is Priscilla Block, and I would say one female country legend that I look up to would be Dolly Parton. I love how honest she is, and she’s always just embraced who she is as a woman, and I love that so much, you know. Big hair, big hoops and you know what’s next. I love me some Dolly.”

    Audio / PRISCILLA BLOCK SAYS SHE IS INSPIRED BY HER MOTHER.

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    Priscilla Block (Mom) OC: …in the butt. :25
    “I would honestly say one of the most inspiring women in my life is my mom because she raised five kids, and honestly had no clue what she was doing, but kind of always just made life so fun. She was there when we needed to laugh and when we needed to cry, and she was also there when we needed a little kick in the butt.”

    Audio / Priscilla Block says her favorite compliment from another woman is that she helps make them feel confident about themselves.

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    Priscilla Block (favorite compliment from another woman) OC: …means the world. :18
    “I would say that my favorite compliment that I’ve received from a woman is that I made them feel comfortable in their own skin. You know, it’s something that doesn’t come easy all of the time, and it’s something that I’ve worked on my whole life on feeling comfortable, so when another girl says, ‘Yeah, you make me feel confident,’ it means the world.”

    Audio / A few years ago, Taylor Swift said Reba McEntire was one of her favorite people in the world.

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    Taylor Swift (Reba) OC: …factored in. :33
    “Reba is absolutely one of my favorite people on this planet. And yk, I think when you’re making your way up in the music industry, you have all these heroes and the reasons why they’re your heroes are one thing, and then as soon as you kind of get in the industry, your guidelines change a little bit. For me, my heroes now are great people first and great artists second – people that I just feel strive to be great people and kind people first before anything else gets factored in.”

  • NEWS AND NOTES: Jon Pardi, Jordan Davis, Kacey Musgraves, Chris Stapleton

    Jon Pardi and Jordan Davis are among the list of rotating artists joining iconic duo Brooks & Dunn for their Reboot 2022 Tour. The trek, which will also feature Gabby Barrett, Riley Green, Walker Hayes, Morgan Wade and others, kicks off May 5th in Evansville, Indiana. Each stop will feature two opening acts.

    Kacey Musgraves is on the cover of the current TIME Magazine for its Women of the Year issue. Read the feature HERE
    Kacey is among 12 women being recognized by TIME with their Women of the Year list. Kacey will perform at TIME‘s invitation-only Women of the Year Gala in Los Angeles on International Women’s Day (March 8th). The event will also include TIME Women of the Year honorees Tracy ChouAllyson FelixAmanda GormanSherrilyn IfillJennie JosephAmanda Nguyen, Michaela Jaé Rodriguez and Kerry Washington. Additional honorees highlighted in the TIME Women of the Year list include Amal ClooneyAdena Friedman and Zahra Joya.

    Chris Stapleton has partnered with E.H. Taylor, Jr. for the 125th Anniversary of Bottled in Bond Day. Two packages are now up for bid with prizes including an autographed bottle, tickets, a VIP distillery tour and much more. All proceeds will benefit Outlaw State of Kind, which is Chris and Morgane Stapleton’s charitable fund that supports a variety of causes that are close to their heart.

     

  • KACEY MUSGRAVES KICKS OFF “star-crossed: unveiled” HER ANTICIPATED 2022 HEADLINE TOUR.

    “On the opening night of her first arena tour, the country-pop star offered a mix of catharsis and humor as she brought her latest album to life.”
    Billboard

     Kacey Musgraves burns bright in emotional, visual St. Paul tour opener”
    Minneapolis Star Tribune

    “Musgraves turned in a show that felt truly special… she’s going to settle in just fine as a newly crowned arena performer.”
    Twin Cities Pioneer Press

     

    Six-time GRAMMY Award-winning, singer-songwriter Kacey Musgraves embarks on her sold-out North American tour, “star-crossed: unveiled,” promoted by AEG Presents. Kicking off last night in Saint Paul, Minnesota, the shows see Kacey performing selections from her critically acclaimed album star-crossed for the first time and marks her first-ever triumphant arena tour across America. With stops including New York City’s iconic Madison Square Garden, Dallas’ American Airlines Center in her native state of Texas, and Bridgestone Arena in her current home of Nashville, Kacey ends the tour on a high note at LA’s famed Crypto.com Arena. The shows feature support artists King Princess and MUNA; more information on tickets is available HERE.

    Musgraves’ fourth studio album star-crossed was hailed as one of 2021’s best albums by the likes of Billboard, Stereogum, Complex, Uproxx and People Magazine. Upon its release, USA Today raved “the genre-defying singer is back with an even more sonically adventurous new effort,” The New York Times described star-crossed as “the psychological hangover to Golden Hour,” and Pitchfork noted “she sounds alternately vulnerable and triumphant.

    Once again nominated for two GRAMMY-Awards including Best Country Solo Performance and Best Country Song for “Camera Roll” from star-crossed, Musgraves continues to move audiences with her authentic, confessional, and poignant songwriting. Her emotional performance of “Camera Roll” opened the season of Saturday Night Live; more recently, Kacey made a special appearance on Sesame Street singing “All The Colors of the World” and graced the cover of V Magazine. This past weekend she made a memorable appearance on NPR’s Wait Wait… Don’t Tell Me! 

    “star-crossed: unveiled,” is a welcome and celebratory return to live music and Kacey’s long-awaited return to the stage following her groundbreaking album Golden Hour, and subsequent Oh, What A World: Tour that spanned over two years. The live dates included an arena tour with Harry Styles and headlining venues including New York’s Radio City Music Hall, as well as festivals including Coachella, Stagecoach, Fuji Rocks Festival, Global Citizen Festival, Austin City Limits, Outside Lands, Newport Folk Festival, Bonnaroo, Governor’s Ball, Farm Aid, Lollapalooza and more.

     

  • CHRISTMAS 2021: Kacey Musgraves

    Kacey Musgraves really appreciates homemade gifts that come from the heart. Two of her favorite presents have come from her mother, who is a gifted artist and painter.

    “I’ve gotten several really great handmade presents from her that really touched me and you know I still really appreciate. One of them was a portrait of my dog, Pearl, my 3-legged dog, and it was just the most realistic, beautiful painting of her, and then another one was this beautiful guitar,” says Kacey. “It’s a guitar made completely out of found objects, and so like the tuning keys are skeleton keys, old skeleton keys…It’s just there’s something about someone using their hands and their brain to like come up with something that like no one can buy. It’s really special to me.”

    Kacey has a couple of favorite Christmas traditions that her family does every year.

    “My grandpa has a scavenger hunt puzzle that he does every year. Even though I’m like too old for the puzzle, he’s like, ‘You’re still gonna do it.’ So, every year we do that, and it’s funny ‘cause sometimes you’ll find your present in the bathroom or in a tree or out behind the shed,” says Kacey. “He does a little trail of like either corn or a string to it. It’s very imaginative, and it’s something I look forward to every year.”

    Another one of her beloved traditions is the Christmas stocking. “They’re kinda my favorite, ‘cause it’s like all the little goodies in there just are fun.”

    A few years ago, Kacey released her first holiday collection, A Very Kacey Christmas, which includes several classics and a few originals, including “Present Without a Bow,” featuring Leon Bridges

     

    Audio / Kacey Musgraves talks about a couple of her favorite Christmas gifts that were handmade by her mother.

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    Kacey Musgraves (favorite Christmas gifts) OC: …special to me. :55
    “I always really appreciate homemade gifts and my mom is a wonderful visual artist and painter and she just kind of works her magic with all different kinds of mediums and anything that she comes up with is really special and I’ve gotten several really great handmade presents from her that really touched me and you know I still really appreciate. One of them was a portrait of my dog, Pearl, my 3-legged dog, and it was just the most realistic, beautiful painting of her, and then another one was this beautiful guitar. I actually have it upstairs. It’s a guitar made completely out of found objects, and so like the tuning keys are skeleton keys, old skeleton keys. You know, the neck is an old vintage-like level. There’s like parts of fans and stuff in there, but it looks like a beautiful old guitar and it’s just really cool. She put like a special message in there and I don’t know. It’s just there’s something about someone using their hands and their brain to like come up with something that like no one can buy. It’s really special to me.”

    Audio / Kacey Musgraves talks about one of her favorite Christmas traditions.

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    Kacey Musgraves (Christmas puzzle tradition) OC: …a little tradition. :28
    “My grandpa has a scavenger hunt puzzle that he does every year. Even though I’m like too old for the puzzle, he’s like, ‘You’re still gonna do it.’ So, every year we do that, and it’s funny ‘cause sometimes you’ll find your present in the bathroom or in a tree or out behind the shed. He does a little trail of like either corn or a string to it. It’s very imaginative, and it’s something I look forward to every year. It’s a little tradition.”

    Audio / Kacey Musgraves says one of her favorite things at Christmas are the stockings.

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    Kacey Musgraves (Christmas stockings) OC: …are fun. :07“Stockings. I love stockings. They’re kinda my favorite, ‘cause it’s like all the little goodies in there just are fun.”

    Audio / Kacey Musgraves discusses the different facets of Christmas songs.

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    Kacey Musgraves (different facets of Christmas) OC: …heartbreaking. :34
    “To me there’s a lot of different facets and sides of Christmas. You know, there’s a very nostalgic, whimsical, childish side of Christmas, you know with ‘Christmas Don’t Be Late,’ ‘Let It Snow’ and ‘Rudolph,’ and ‘I Want a Hippopotamus For Christmas.’ And then, to me, there’s kind of a melancholy, sadder side of Christmas that it definitely exists for me, and I know a lot of other people kind of feel that way too. It can be an intense time. So, songs like ‘Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas’ or ‘I’ll Be Home For Christmas,’ I mean they’re beautiful, but they’re also kind of heartbreaking.”

  • NEW YEAR’S 2021: Dierks, Eric, Kip, Jon, Jordan, Lauren, Luke, Priscilla, Travis and more

    What are some of your favorite stars doing to welcome in the New Year? A few of them are working to help fans celebrate. Several artists have taken the time off around the holidays and will hit it hard when they return to the road in 2022. Some artists have resolutions, some artists look ahead to 2022 and some are very helpful with their own hangover cures for those who imbibe too much on New Year’s Eve.

    For several country stars, they’ll be ringing in the new year with Dierks Bentley in Nashville on New Year’s Eve as CBS presents NEW YEAR’S EVE LIVE: NASHVILLE’S BIG BASH on Friday (December 31st) at 8-11pm ET/PT and 11:30pm-1:30am ET/PT. The special programming will air on CBS and available to stream live and on demand on Paramount+. Originating from downtown Nashville across multiple locations, the star-studded special will be packed with high-energy performances celebrating the excitement and anticipation of a new year. In addition to Dierks Bentley, Luke Bryan, Darius Rucker, Sam Hunt, Jon Pardi, BRELAND, Jason Aldean, Jimmie Allen, Kelsea Ballerini, Gabby Barrett, Brooks & Dunn, Dan + Shay, Elle King, Miranda Lambert, Blake Shelton, Cole Swindell and Zac Brown Band, among others will perform.

    Music City has built an outstanding reputation for hosting the most musical New Year’s celebration and country’s biggest party. The five-hour celebration will feature nearly 50 performances from locations across the city, including the main stage in Nashville’s Bicentennial Capitol Mall State Park anchored by headliners Dierks Bentley, Zac Brown Band and Dan + Shay. The broadcast will cross multiple time zones, with the traditional countdown at midnight ET, culminating with the renowned Nashville music note drop and fireworks at midnight CT.

     

    Audio / Brothers Osborne talk about how people spend the last moments of the year, and the first moments of the new year.

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    Brothers Osborne (New Year) OC: (TJ) …next month. :44
    JOHN: “I think it’s kind of funny how we spend literally the last moment and the very first moment of every year being extremely intoxicated, extremely, because you don’t want to wait until like 12:30 to get your buzz on. You’ve got to do it before midnight, and then once midnight happens, you’re like, ‘Omigod! Now it’s time to celebrate even more.’ Debauchery is the literally bookending your entire year.” TJ: “I love how everyone starts the year off with diets and then we end the year with like excessive amounts of food. And then you get to the end of the year, you’re like, ‘Oh, I’m going to start a diet on the 1st, so I’m going to eat everything that’s in front of me.’ I love it.” JOHN: “And come February 1st, ‘what diet?’” [laughs] TJ: “What diet? I’ll start it next month.” [laughs]

    Audio / John Osborne of Brothers Osborne says a little hair of the dog is definitely the cure for a hangover.

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    Brothers Osborne (hangover cure) OC: …of the year. :07
    “Usually drinking more. I mean, a little hair of the dog never hurt anybody. Plus, it’s the first of the year.”

    Audio / Dierks Bentley talks about the big New Year’s Eve special from Nashville he’s headlining.

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    Dierks Bentley (New Year’s Eve 2021) OC: …on CBS. 1:07
    “I haven’t played a New Year’s Eve show in a really long time. Somewhere along the way, I just decided I wanted to be a regular fan of New Year’s Eve and just be doing the stuff with my kids and watching the ball, the countdown in New York or in Colorado, I think we had a pair of skis that came down instead of a ball. But I just kind of enjoy being off and just doing all that, but when I found out that this big CBS special is happening in my adopted hometown of Nashville where I’ve lived for almost 30 years, I really wanted to be a part of it, because it’s a special moment for the city, it’s a special moment for country music. I love our town and I love country music, and I watch the stuff out of New York and some of the other networks that do New Year’s Eve Countdowns, and there’s no reason why Nashville shouldn’t, why Country Music shouldn’t be the No. 1 thing everyone’s watching on New Year’s Eve. We have all the artists and they’re all great to work with and they’re just gonna put on great performances and I think it’ll be a big moment for the city and a big moment for Country Music. So, I asked the powers that be if I could be a part of it, and they said yes, and I’m really excited to showcase our city on CBS.”

     

    Audio / Dierks Bentley talks about special guests for this year's New Year's Eve TV special.

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    Dierks Bentley (New Year’s Eve Special guests) OC: …one-time event. :31
    “There’s so many artists down there, so many people involved. I think they had maybe 50 different artists performing at this event, so definitely would love to have some collaborations. I’ve looked around to see who else is also performing on the stage with me and there’s some great artists there, so if they’re hanging around, we’ll definitely be pulling people up and trying to make it great.’ Cause it’s not just about the people watching on CBS, I think we’ll have over 100-thousand people in the Bicentennial Mall, so really want to make it special for all of the Nashville people and the people who traveled to Nashville for this one-time event.”

     

    Audio / Dierks Bentley says he's not making any resolutions for 2022 other than to enjoy every moment and have gratitude for what he does get to do, especially after the past two years.

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    Dierks Bentley (2022) OC: …you know. :30
    “Just like everyone coming out of 2020 and coming back into this year, it’s been such a great year for us to be back out on the road and readjusting life in Nashville. I can’t say I have any 2022 resolutions other than just enjoying every day and enjoying every show and getting a chance to make a record right now; it kind of feels like starting all over again because of what we’ve been through the last two years. So, no, I’m just looking for another great year and again, it’s a lot of gratitude for what I get to do moreso than ever just because 2020 and…you know.”

    Audio / Eric Church has a couple of hangover cures for those times (especially on New Year’s Eve) when you might imbibe a little too much.

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    Eric Church (hangover cure) OC: …every time. :17
    “The best hangover cure – I’ve got two. One is 5-hour Energy [bottles], because of all the B-vitamins that are in it. You can start pounding those, and it’s either gonna work, or it’s gonna keep you up and prolong your misery. But the other one I have is just take two Advil and a beer in the morning. Hair of the dog, man – that works every time.”

    Audio / Jon Pardi says he's looking forward to new music in 2022.

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    Jon Pardi (2022) OC: …this album. :20
    “What I’m looking forward to the most for 2022 is a brand new album. We haven’t had no time to work on it because I’ve (only) been home about two or three days for the past three months, it seems like, and I haven’t been writing. I’ve been doing nothing but touring. So, I’m gonna get some songwriting in and finish this album.”

    Audio / Jon Pardi says Bloody Marys are the way to go to cure a hangover.

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    Jon Pardi (hangover cure) OC: …deal with it. :20
    “My hangover cure is Bloody Marys, but be careful – because once you have a couple, don’t go to beer, because if you go to beer, you’re gonna start drinking again and you’ll end up a morning drunk. OR if you want to go the non-alcoholic route, there’s nothing you can do for hangovers. [laughs] You just go deal with it.”

    Audio / Jordan Davis takes a look back at 2021.

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    Jordan Davis (reflecting back on 2021) OC: …of 2021. :18
    “Reflecting back on 2021, man, we released the EP Buy Dirt, and that’s been really special for us, so seeing that EP really connect with the fans, and the son in general, you know, ‘Buy Dirt’ with me and Luke has been really, really cool to see people gravitate towards that one. So, that’s been one of the coolest things of 2021.”

    Audio / Jordan Davis says the biggest thing he's looking forward to in 2022 is playing for the fans.

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    Jordan Davis (2022) OC: …the fans. :15
    “Looking ahead to 2022, just getting back on the road playing shows. We’re going out with Dierks early in the year, and then just gonna stay busy for the rest of the year playing shows. So, really the thing I’m most looking forward to is just getting back on the road and playing for the fans.”

    Audio / Kacey Musgraves has her own hangover cure.

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    Kacey Musgraves (hangover cure) OC: …water. Yup! :32
    “Coconut water is a major help with hangovers and also, a lot of times we go and eat Vietnamese pho. It’s a soup, and it’s got this awesome broth. You can get different things in it or whatever, but for some reason, it’s just like…it’s almost like a chicken noodle soup kind of an idea, you know, but it’s good. That’s good for hangovers too. That, sleep, Tylenol, coconut water and just water, in general. And when you’re drinking, have your alcohol, drink a little bit of water, drink some more alcohol, drink some water. Yup!”

    Audio / Kip Moore gives advice on how to avoid a hangover on New Year’s Eve.

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    Kip Moore (avoiding hangovers on NYE) OC: …yourself. :03
    “Pace yourself on New Year’s – that’s the remedy. Pace yourself.”

    Audio / Lauren Alaina reflects back on 2021.

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    Lauren Alaina (reflecting back on 2021) OC: …normalcy. :23
    “When I reflect back on 2021, I think the thing that stands out most to me is how much I’ve realized that we’re all in this together. Even though we’re all separated, and it’s been such a rough couple of years, I have felt overwhelming love and support from people, and I hope that everyone is feeling that and that we’re all feeling like we’re getting back to some sort of normalcy.”

    Audio / Lauren Alaina talks about her hopes for 2022.

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    Lauren Alaina (2022) OC: …as I can. :19
    “My hopes for 2022 are normalcy (laughs). As much as we can get back to our lives, I’m looking forwarding to touring. I’m looking forward to celebrating my new album, Sitting Pretty On Top Of The World, and getting to play that music in front of my fans and just connecting with people as much as I can.”

    Audio / Luke Bryan’s favorite New Year’s Eve has to be when he and his now wife Caroline reunited.

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    Luke Bryan (New Years-best) OC: …great night. :17
    “My best New Year’s Eve is definitely when my wife and I started back dating. We started back dating right before Christmas, and we went on a trip down to Florida and met some friends. And her birthday is New Year’s Eve. We celebrated it that night. It was just a great night.”

    Audio / Priscilla Block is looking forward to 2022 for more music, more shows and meeting more fans.

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    Priscilla Block (2022) OC: …awesome year. :33
    “I cannot believe that 2021 is almost over. This has been seriously one of the best years of my life. And I’m just so thankful I’ve been able to put out new music, meet new fans. I am so excited for 2022. I feel like it’s just gonna be bigger and badder. I cannot wait for y’all to hear new music, me get out on the road and meet all of y’all, and I think it’s gonna be a really, really awesome year.”

    Audio / Travis Denning recalls his favorite New Year’s Eve party.

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    Travis Denning (favorite New Year’s Eve party) OC: …it was good. :41
    “I think my favorite New Year’s Eve party ever was when my sister got married, and my sister’s party got done at 10:30, 10:45 and she got married right behind a little club that I played a lot in Macon, Georgia called the Crazy Bull and love the owner. We’re boys, you know? So, we just literally walked right over and burned the house down. That was one of my favorite New Year’s Eve memories, ‘cause I got to see my sister and brother-in-law get married and that was such a great, great time, and then me and my older cousin and best friend, we ended up at Waffle House that night, so it was good.”

    Audio / Travis Denning talks about his hangover cures.

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    Travis Denning (hangover cure) OC: …me better. :17
    “You know, I think my hangover cure is just sitting on my butt, [laughs] not doing anything. Drink some water, a cup of coffee, but usually anything greasy or just some big ole Mexican food that’ll get me at least to a nap, which will get me better.”

     

  • NEWS AND NOTES: Luke Bryan, Kacey Musgraves, Sam Hunt, Little Big Town, Mickey Guyton, Boy Named Banjo

    Luke Bryan shared the news that American Idol‘s historic 20th season will premiere February 27th (2022) on ABC.

     

    Sam Hunt and Little Big Town were added to the list of performers at next year’s San Antonio Stock Show And Rodeo taking place February 10th – 26th. They join previously announced artists including Tim McGraw, Mickey Guyton, Brad Paisley, Ludacris, Jimmie Allen and Ryan Bingham, among others.

    Mickey Guyton shared some great Christmas ideas from black-owned small businesses on her socials. Check them out.

    Check out and get to know new band Boy Named Banjo. Find out how they met and started performing together.

    https://twitter.com/BoyNamedBanjo/status/1466074623460605955

     

  • CHRISTMAS 2021 LINERS

    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!

     

     

    Audio / LINER AJ (Christmas)

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    “Hi! This is Alan Jackson, and I’m wishing y’all a very Merry Christmas.”

    Audio / LINER Billy Currington (Happy Holiday Season)

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    “Hi! Billy Currington here, wishing you and your family a safe and Happy Holiday Season.”

    Audio / LINER Brothers Osborne (Merry Christmas)

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    “Hey! This is T.J., and I’m John, and we are Brothers Osborne, wishing you a very Merry Christmas.”

    Audio / LINER Carrie Underwood (Christmas)

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    “Hi! I’m Carrie Underwood, wishing you a Merry Christmas.”

    Audio / LINER Carrie Underwood (Christmas) 2

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    “Hey, it’s Carrie Underwood. From our house to yours – Merry Christmas.”

    Audio / LINER Caylee Hammack (Christmas) 1

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    “Hey y’all, this is Caylee Hammack, wishing you a very Merry Christmas.”

    Audio / LINER Caylee Hammack (Happy Holidays)

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    “Hey y’all, this is Caylee Hammack. Happy Holidays, everybody!”

    Audio / LINER Chrissy Metz (Happy Holidays)

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    “Hey! This is Chrissy Metz, wishing you Happy Holidays.”

    Audio / LINER Darius Rucker (Christmas)

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    “Hey y’all! What’s up? This is Darius Rucker, wishing you a Merry Christmas.”

    Audio / LINER Dierks Bentley (Christmas)

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    “Hey! This is Dierks Bentley, wishing you a very Merry Christmas.”

     

    Audio / LINER Dierks Bentley (Happy Holidays)

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    “Hey everybody! It’s Dierks Bentley, wishing you a very Happy Holiday season.”

    Audio / LINER Eric Church (Merry Christmas)

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    “Hey everybody! It’s Eric Church, wishing you a very Merry Christmas.”

    Audio / LINER Gary Allan (Christmas)

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    “Hey! This is Gary Allan. Merry Christmas.”

    Audio / LINER George Strait (Happy Holidays)

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    “Hey everybody! This is George Strait, wishing you and your family a Happy Holiday season.”

    Audio / LINER Hootie & The Blowfish (Christmas)

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    “Hey Everybody, we’re Hootie & The Blowfish, wishing you a very Merry Christmas.”

    Audio / LINER Jon Langston (Christmas)

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    Hey y’all this is Jon Langston, wishing you a very Merry Christmas.

    Audio / LINER Jon Langston (Happy Holidays)

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    “Hey y’all, this is Jon Langston. Happy Holidays.”

    Audio / LINER Jon Pardi (Merry Christmas)

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    “Hey! This is Jon Pardi, wishing you a Merry Christmas!”

    Audio / LINER Jordan Davis (Christmas)

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    “Hey! I’m Jordan Davis, wishing you a very Merry Christmas.”

    Audio / LINER Josh Turner (Happy Holidays)

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    “Hey! I’m Josh Turner, wishing you and your family a Merry Christmas and a Happy Holiday season.”

    Audio / LINER Kacey Musgraves (Christmas)

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    “Hey! This is Kacey Musgraves, wishing you a very Merry Christmas.”

    Audio / LINER Keith Urban (Christmas)

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    “Hi folks, this is Keith Urban, wishing you and yours a very Merry Christmas.”

    Audio / LINER Keith Urban (Holiday season)

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    “Hi everyone, this is Keith Urban, wishing you and all your family the very best this holiday season.”

    Audio / LINER Kip Moore (Christmas)

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    “Hey guys, this is Kip Moore, wishing you a Merry Christmas.”

    Audio / LINER Kip Moore (Happy Holidays)

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    “Hey y’all, it’s Kip Moore. Happy Holidays!”

    Audio / LINER Kylie Morgan (Christmas)

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    “Hey y’all, this is Kylie Morgan, wishing you a very Merry Christmas.”

    Audio / LINER Lauren Alaina (Christmas)

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    “Hey! This is Lauren Alaina, wishing you a Merry Christmas.”

    Audio / LINER LBT (Christmas)

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    “Hey! We’re Little Big Town, wishing you a very Merry Christmas.”

    Audio / LINER Luke Bryan (Christmas)

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    “Hey! It’s Luke Bryan, wishing you a Merry Christmas.”

    Audio / LINER Luke Bryan (Happy Holidays)

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    “Hey! It’s Luke Bryan. Happy Holidays!”

    Audio / LINER Maddie & Tae (Christmas)

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    “Hi! We’re Maddie & Tae, wishing you a Merry Christmas.”

    Audio / LINER Mickey Guyton (Christmas)

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    “Hey! It’s Mickey Guyton, wishing you a Merry Christmas.”

    Audio / LINER Parker McCollum (Christmas)

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    “Hey, I’m Parker McCollum, and I’m wishing you a very Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays and a Happy New Year.”

    Audio / LINER Priscilla Block (Christmas)

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    “Hi! This is Priscilla Block wishing you a very Merry Christmas.

     

    Audio / LINER Reba McEntire (Christmas)

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    “Hey-Reba here-hoping you have a very Merry Christmas. Ho, Ho, Ho.”

     

    Audio / LINER Reba McEntire (Happy Holidays)

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    “Hey, this is Reba, wishing you a Happy Holiday Season.”

    Audio / LINER Sam Hunt (Christmas)

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    “Hey everybody! This is Sam Hunt, wishing you a very Merry Christmas.”

    Audio / LINER Sam Hunt (Happy Holidays)

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    “Hey everybody! I’m Sam Hunt. Happy Holidays!”

    Audio / LINER Shania Twain (Christmas)

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    “Hi! This is Shania Twain, wishing you a very Merry Christmas.”

    Audio / LINER Taylor Swift (Happy Holiday Season)

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    “Hey, this is Taylor Swift, wishing you a very Happy Holiday Season.”

    Audio / LINER Terri Clark (Christmas)

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    “Hey! This is Terri Clark, wishing you a very Merry Christmas.”

    Audio / LINER Travis Denning (Happy Holidays)

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    “Hey! I’m Travis Denning. Happy Holidays.”