• 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.’ 

     

  • KEITH URBAN PAYS TRIBUTE TO ADELE.

    Keith Urban paid tribute to Adele during a recent headlining show at The Coloseum at Caesar’s Palace this past weekend. He performed a cover of her multi-week #1 hit, “Easy On Me.”

    “I would like to make a special dedication tonight to somebody I just absolutely adore as a performer, as a songwriter, a trailblazer. I’m looking forward to seeing her when the time comes,” said Keith before launching into “Easy On Me.”

    Keith filled in more dates for Adele, as she had to cancel due to production delays, etc. He posted the video of his acoustic performance on his socials and said, “Her writing, heart and soul is needed right now more than ever. For me, this ‘hymn’ is divinely timed. Thank you for being so raw Adele. We love you !”

    His upcoming shows at The Colosseum at Caesars Palace are set for March 30th, April 1st-2nd, and May 27th-29th.

    Keith is currently making his way up the country charts with his latest song, “Wild Hearts.”

  • KEITH URBAN TAKES ASPIRING HIGH SCHOOL MUSICIANS BEHIND-THE-SCENES OF HIS VEGAS RESIDENCY.

    Keith Urban invited some Las Vegas high school students to take a look behind the curtain at his Las Vegas residency at Caesar’s Palace’s Colosseum. Approximately 30 students – all guitar majors – from the Las Vegas Academy of the Arts were able to watch Keith perform several songs, go backstage to witness the production of the show, as well as learn about sound engineering and ask the global superstar questions.

    “It’s great to kind of be in that situation to give any answers that might help, but also to hear questions and challenges that they’re going through right now,” Keith exclusively told PEOPLE.

    “It was very apparent that this is what I was going to do. I love that I get to play [The Colosseum,] but I’d be doing it if I could just play some bar on the Las Vegas Strip tonight. That’s where I’d be. I’d be doing that,” he added. “But this place is better. This place is amazing.”

    Keith, who is sitting inside the Top 10 on the country charts with his latest single “Wild Hearts,” will resume his Vegas residency March 30th, 31st and April 1st before heading across the pond.

  • KEITH URBAN AND LITTLE BIG TOWN ARE AMONG THE INITIAL PERFORMERS AT THIS YEAR’S CMT AWARDS.

    Keith Urban and Little Big Town are among the initial performers at this year’s CMT Music Awards. Luke Combs, Miranda Lambert, Maren Morris and Ryan Hurd, Kane Brown, Carly Pearce, Cole Swindell and Lainey Wilson, Cody Johnson and Kelsea Ballerini will also perform on the show.

    The CMT Music Awards will air live from Nashville on April 11th at 8pm ET/delayed PT on CBS.  The show will also be available to stream live and on-demand on Paramount+.

  • KEITH URBAN RELEASES “WILD HEARTS” MUSIC VIDEO FOR ALL THE DREAMERS.

    “I wanted to create the feeling of the journey I’ve been on – hoping that one day I’d be playing live in front of as many people as can be jammed into a concert hall,” said Keith Urban of the “Wild Hearts” music video.  Of the boom box in the opening scenes of the new video, he says, “it represents the beginning, when I had no band, and I just played to a couple of people.”

    But things didn’t stay that way for Urban and as the video and song reveals his was a steady climb driven by his own dream.  “The building I’m playing on starts rising higher, as my audience grows,” explains Urban.  “All of this leading to a starry sky becoming a sea of camera phones in the air – a phenomenal sight to see from any stage.”

    And after nearly four years, Urban will have the chance to see them again.  “All of this gives me the same adrenaline rush. Knowing that we’re heading back out on the road again – it’s been so long since we’ve done that (because of COVID).  I feel like a caged animal kicking at the gate to be let out!”

    THE SPEED OF NOW WORLD TOUR gets underway on April 28th at the O2 Academy Birmingham, the first of seven shows in the U.K., before launching in the U.S. on June 17th in Tampa, Florida.  Urban will also return to The Colosseum at Caesars Palace with shows on March 25, 26 and 30th, as well as April 1,2 and May 27, 28 and 29th. For information on where to get tickets go to www.keithurban.com.

    “Wild Hearts” is quintessential Urban.  The fist-pumping, arena-ready, rise-up against all odds anthem is as musically intoxicating as it is infectious and relatable. It’s the follow up to his duet with P!nk, “One Too Many,” which to date has amassed over 400 million worldwide streams.

  • SUPER BOWL 2022 AUDIO

    This Sunday (February 13th), millions of people around the world will be tuning in to the Super Bowl (the Big Game), including some of your favorite country artists. Some will be rooting for the Cincinnati Bengals, while others will be pulling for the Los Angeles Rams.

    Mickey Guyton is set to perform the National Anthem prior to the Big Game, while the half-time performers include Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, Eminem, Kendrick Lamar and Mary J. Blige.

    Check out all the action at the SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles, at 6:30pm ET on NBC.

    *More audio to be added.

    Audio / Billy Currington says he loves watching football.

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    Billy Currington (football fan) OC: …love football. :36
    “I’m a big football fan. I mean, when I was growing up, if you asked me who my favorite team is now, I couldn’t tell you. But when I was a kid, it was the Dallas Cowboys. And I don’t know if it was because my mom bought my brother a Pittsburgh Steelers pennant for some reason, and bought me a Dallas Cowboys pennant, and of course over the year I fell in love with the Cowboys, and then I wanted a jersey the next Christmas, and then the next one, I wanted [more Cowboys stuff]. So, I became a long-term fan with those guys. But I like it all now that I’m older. I’ll watch any game, it doesn’t matter who’s playing. But [I] love football.”

    Audio / Darius Rucker is a HUGE football fan, as everyone probably knows by now, and he explains why he loves football so much. SIDENOTE: He’s a huge Miami Dolphins fan, and word has it, just to be able to meet then Dolphins quarterback, Dan Marino, he asked him to be in a Hootie & the Blowfish video for “Only Wanna Be With You.”

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    Darius Rucker (football) OC: …football season. :20
    “Ever since I was five years old, I’ve loved football, and I love how physical it is. I love the chess match of the game. I love the speed of the game. I love college football, but for me watching pro football is better because the speed is so much more. For me, there’s two times a year, man — football season and waiting for football season.”

    Audio / Keith Urban says his wife, Nicole Kidman, got him interested in football.

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    Keith (Nicole and football) OC: …new to me. :04

    “She’s a big NFL fan, and she sort of turned me on to it.”

    Audio / LAUREN ALAINA LOVES WATCHING FOOTBALL.

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    Lauren Alaina (Super Bowl) OC: …I love it. :30
    “My dad raised me to love football, so I think it’s like kind of in my blood to be obsessed with it. I feel like the guys are so passionate and they try so hard. Those people love playing that game as much as I love singing. I just love the heart and the drive and the passion behind it. I feel like those boys are playing as hard as they can – in college football and pro football – because it’s what they love to do and it’s their passion, and I just, I don’t know. I love it.”

    Audio / Little Big Town’s beautiful and talented Karen Fairchild was a badass growing up when she was playing quarterback for her powder puff football team.

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    LBT (football story) OC: …my lip. :40
    “I was the quarterback to my powder puff team. I was running the ball and I came around the corner – this was in high school – and a foreign exchange student, I think her name was Inga (KIMBERLY: “Inga.”), and I didn’t want to fumble ‘cause my brother and my dad were there, and I come from this very athletic family, so I held onto the ball. I knew I was going to go down, so I let my head hit first and I bit all the way through, but I didn’t fumble and I had a hole in my face, though. The sad thing is that it was just flag football, but I left my flags on and cleats and everything, ‘cause it looked cool, and I had blood running all down my jersey. I went to the emergency room like that, and they sewed up my lip.”

    Audio / Luke Bryan talks about some of the food he likes to have while watching the Super Bowl.

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    Luke Bryan (Super Bowl food) OC: …over again. :22
    “Definitely Super Bowl is like the queso, the Frito Lay scoops with the Ro-tel situation. I guess it’s like, what’s the black-eyed pea stuff too? All of that, just stuff that you can sit there and have lots of sodium, and then just, it’s like Thanksgiving all over again.”

    Audio / Priscilla Block says Super Bowl Sunday is so much fun.

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    Priscilla Block (Football/Super Bowl food) OC: …what happens. :23
    “I mean, I feel like the Super Bowl is like just such a fun day. I’m really excited for the half-time show. I feel like that’s usually why I’m there, is to watch the anthem and the half-time show, but yes, excited to eat all the bad things. And I’m honestly, I don’t feel pulled any way this year. I wish the (Tennessee) Titans were in it, but we’ll see what happens.”

    Audio / SAM HUNT LOVES THAT THE SUPER BOWL MIXES HIS TWO LOVES – MUSIC AND FOOTBALL.

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    Sam Hunt (Super Bowl & music) OC: …combined there. :24
    “It’s become such a massive pop culture event, and I love that they’ve incorporated music and entertainment with the sport itself and the entertainment value that comes from that. It encompasses just a strong representation of American culture, and I’m a huge music fan, obviously, and I’m a huge sports fan, so those are two of my favorite worlds combined there.”

    Audio / Travis Denning is excited about this year's Big Game because former Georgia quarterback Matt Stafford, who plays for the St. Louis Rams, is in the Super Bowl for the first time.

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    Travis Denning (Super Bowl 2022) OC: …amazing game. :35
    “Hey y’all, Travis Denning here. I’m super fired up for this upcoming Super Bowl, mainly because Matt Stafford – a Georgia boy – is starting for the Rams. I’ve been a big fan of his since he played college at Georgia, obviously, and it’s amazing to see after 10-plus seasons, I think it’s like 13 seasons or something that he’s finally in the Super Bowl. So, I’m pulling for the Rams, but I’m a big Joe Burrow fan. I do like Joe Burrow. He’s fun, he’s hilarious, he’s an amazing football player, so I think it’s gonna be an amazing game.”

    Audio / Travis Denning reveals his go-to Super Bowl snack.

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    Travis Denning (go-to Super Bowl snack) OC: …other pick. :05
    “My go-to Super Bowl snack is buffalo chicken dip, obviously. There’s no other pick.”

     

  • WE NEED KEITH URBAN AND DOLLY PARTON TO BAKE A CAKE AND COLLABORATE TOGETHER.

    The iconic Dolly Parton recently did an interview and was asked who she’d like to bake a cake with (based on her new Duncan Hines baking collection) and who she’d like to duet with, and her answer was…Keith Urban. The interview segment appeared all over social media.

    Dolly said, ‘I love Keith Urban. I’ve always thought he was one of the most talented and cutest guys in the world. Not that, like I say, I’m not trying to hit on him. He’s got Nicole and who can beat that? She’s Jolene. But anyway, I love his writing and I just think he’s dear, and he reminds me so much of my brothers and my own family back home. He’s from Australia, but he has that feel of like our mountain, Southern people, and he’s fit right in. So, I’d be happy to bake a big ole cake for him and spend all afternoon singing songs.”

    Keith had a video response he posted today (February 4th), and it kicked of with a piece of one of her songs, “Applejack.” He, along with a cameo of his wife Nicole Kidman, said they’d love to have cake and sing with Dolly. “Miss Dolly. I am so honored of the things you said. Thank you. I definitely will have a cake with you.” To which Nicole piped in, “I’ll bake a cake with you…but don’t take my man.” Keith laughed, adding “Nic’s gonna bake the cake. Thank you so much. We love you, Dolly…I would love to have cake with you. We all would, and I would love to do a song with you sometime. Let’s do that.”

    This is a collaboration the entire world needs! Before we get a Dolly-Keith duet, you can hear him on the airwaves with his latest song, “Wild Hearts.” You can also see him at the Houston Rodeo March 1st and during his Las Vegas Residency, which continues March 25th.

  • NEWS AND NOTES: Keith Urban, Brothers Osborne, Luke Bryan

    Keith Urban has added five new shows to his residency at The Colosseum at Caesar’s Palace in Las Vegas. They’ll take place March 25th – April 2nd.

    https://twitter.com/KeithUrban/status/1485979574123077635

     

    Brothers Osborne appeared on ABC’s Nightline Tuesday night (January 25th). Check out the comprehensive interview here.

    Go behind-the-scenes of Luke Bryan‘s seventh annual Crash My Playa event with CMT this weekend. Check out all the action on CMT Hot 20 with Cody Alan Saturday (January 29th) beginning at 9am ET/8am CT.

     

  • KEITH URBAN IS WILD FOR HIS LATEST SINGLE.

    Keith Urban’s “Wild Hearts” is closing in on Top 20 on the country charts, and it tells the story of his own wild heart, which started beating furiously at age five when his dad took him and the rest of his family to a Johnny Cash concert. He said once he was sent the song by the writers – Brad Tursi of Old Dominion, Jennifer Wayne of Runaway June and Eric Paslay – and he asked to rewrite some of the lyrics to reflect his story, it came together really quickly from start to a finished record.

    “I got sent the song in early May, and I rewrote the lyrics within a couple of weeks of getting the track without the vocals on it, so I could work on that. And once I got those where I wanted them, I went down into my studio and put down a vocal on the song and then I added guitars and I sort of built out the demo that I got sent,” says Keith. “Everything was done so quick, and then I sent it to my manager to say, ‘Hey, we just did this last week. What do you think about this song?’ And he said, ‘I think we should put that song out.’ I went, ‘When?’ He was like, ‘Now!’ (laughs) He’s like, ‘This just sounds great.’ And we played it for a bunch of different people, and everybody just loved it.”

    During this crazy time we’ve all been living for the past nearly two years, Keith feels people have responded to the message of the song. “I think people were responding to the message. It’s a universal want, I think, to have a song motivate us at the times when we need it in our lives. This song was just magical, I think, how quick it was done, how quick it made its way into a finished record to how soon we were releasing it – all very, very fast through for anything I’ve ever done, so I think there’s other powers at work with this song.”

    Keith is set to kick off the North American leg of his first world tour in four years, THE SPEED OF NOW WORLD TOUR, June 17th in Tampa, Florida. Prior to the summer/fall run in North America, he’ll be across the pond in the spring with dates in the U-K before heading to his Las Vegas residency in May.

    Audio / Keith Urban talks about his latest single, "Wild Hearts."

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    Keith Urban (Wild Hearts) OC: …with this song. 1:16
    “This whole thing came together faster than probably any song I’ve ever done. I got sent the song in early May, and I rewrote the lyrics within a couple of weeks of getting the track without the vocals on it, so I could work on that. And once I got those where I wanted them, I went down into my studio and put down a vocal on the song and then I added guitars and I sort of built out the demo that I got sent. Everything was done so quick, and then I sent it to my manager to say, ‘Hey, we just did this last week. What do you think about this song?’ And he said, ‘I think we should put that song out.’ I went, ‘When?’ He was like, ‘Now!’ (laughs) He’s like, ‘This just sounds great.’ And we played it for a bunch of different people, and everybody just loved it. I think people were responding to the message. It’s a universal want, I think, to have a song motivate us at the times when we need it in our lives. This song was just magical, I think, how quick it was done, how quick it made its way into a finished record to how soon we were releasing it – all very, very fast through for anything I’ve ever done, so I think there’s other powers at work with this song.”

    Video /

    View
  • KEITH URBAN ENLISTS THE HELP OF SOME FANS FOR HIS TOUR SETLIST.

    Keith Urban made a few phone calls to some fans to see what songs they wanted to make sure made his setlist on his upcoming THE SPEED OF NOW WORLD TOUR 2022.

    He posted on socials, “working on the setlist for tour and decided to call a few friends for suggestions. there’s no one better out there to help than all of YOU ! drop a song (or ten) that you want to hear.”

    https://twitter.com/KeithUrban/status/1478488732269531136

     

    Keith is currently making his way up the country charts with “Wild Hearts.”