Keith Urban’s latest single, “Raise ‘Em Up”, featuring Eric Church, his fifth from his #1 album FUSE, hits #5 this week marking his 32^nd 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 50^th 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.

Darius Rucker, Keith Urban and Mickey Guyton have been added to the list of performers at Sunday night’s (April 19th) ACM Awards, along with Clint Black, Lee Brice, Brett Eldredge, Kelly Clarkson, Brantley Gilbert, Hunter Hayes, Justin Moore, Jake Owen, Thomas Rhett, Trisha Yearwood, Alabama, Dwight Yoakam and Big & Rich. Also presenting will be Modern Family’s Sophia Vergara, Oscar winner Reese Witherspoon, Aerosmith’s Steven Tyler, Two Broke Girls’ Beth Behrs, former Dallas Cowboys’ quarterback Troy Aikman, current QB Tony Romo and tight end Jason Witten.

The 50th Annual ACM Awards, hosted by Luke Bryan and Blake Shelton, will be broadcast live from AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas at 8pm ET on CBS.

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 3^rd Annual ACM Party for a Cause Festival.  Performances at the two-day outdoor music festival celebrating the 50^th 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 50^th ACM Awards are available NOW at Ticketmaster.com. Tickets to the 50^TH 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 3^rd 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 50^th 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.

Go behind-the-scenes of the making of “Raise ‘Em Up,” featuring Keith Urban and Eric Church.

Eric Church, Alan Jackson, Kip Moore, Keith Urban and Lady Antebellum are a few of the latest performers announced for the 3^rd Annual ACM Party for a Cause Festival, taking place in Arlington, Texas April 17th and 18th. They’re joined by John Anderson, Deana Carter, Brandy Clark, Brett Eldredge, Sara Evans, Brantley Gilbert, Hunter Hayes, Ashley Monroe, David Lee Murphy, Joe Nichols, Jake Owen, Reba, Marty Stuart, Cole Swindell, Brooks & Dunn and The Band Perry.

Previously announced performers include Darius Rucker, Dierks Bentley, Luke Bryan, Sam Hunt, Kenny Chesney, Miranda Lambert, Patty Loveless, Ronnie Milsap, Dwight Yoakam, Alabama, Eli Young Band Clint Black and Florida Georgia Line.

The event will be taped for a two hour special, ACM Presents: Superstar Duets, which will air May 15th on the CBS. Proceeds from ticket sales for the ACM Party for a Cause Festival will benefit ACM Lifting Lives, the charitable arm of the Academy.

NASHVILLE, TN (March 10, 2015) – NOW That’s What I Call ACM Awards 50 Years, the milestone anniversary collaboration between the Academy of Country Music and NOW That’s What I Call Music!, is released Tuesday, March 31st.

The collection of recordings celebrate the ACM Awards’ 50-year history and will feature 2 discs as well as a digital collection of ACM award-winning songs. The first disc will feature recent contemporary hits while the second will include timeless classics.

The complete track listing for NOW That’s What I Call ACM Awards 50 Years includes:

DISC ONE (1990-2015)

1. Jason Aldean (with Luke Bryan & Eric Church) The Only Way I Know 2012
2. Lee Brice I Drive Your Truck 2012
3. Luke Bryan Country Girl (Shake It For Me) 2011
4. Blake Shelton Honey Bee 2011
5. Taylor Swift Mean 2010
6. Lady Antebellum Need You Now 2010
7. Miranda Lambert The House That Built Me 2009
8. Brad Paisley & Keith Urban Start A Band 2008
9. Reba & Kelly Clarkson Because of You 2007 
10. George Strait Give It Away 2006
11. Carrie Underwood Jesus, Take the Wheel 2005
12. Tim McGraw Live Like You Were Dying 2004
13. Kenny Chesney The Good Stuff 2002
14. Lee Ann Womack I Hope You Dance 2000
15. Faith Hill This Kiss 1998
16. Alan Jackson Chattahoochee 1993
17. Brooks & Dunn Boot Scootin’ Boogie 1991

DISC TWO (1965-1989)

1. Clint Black Better Man 1989
2. Hank Williams Jr. There’s a Tear in My Beer 1989
3. Randy Travis Forever and Ever Amen 1987
4. The Highwaymen Highwayman 1985
5. The Judds Why Not Me 1984
6. Dolly Parton & Kenny Rogers Islands in the Stream 1983
7. Willie Nelson Always on My Mind 1982
8. Alabama Love in the First Degree 1981
9. The Oak Ridge Boys Elvira 1981
10. David Frizzell & Shelly West You’re the Reason God Made Oklahoma 1980
11. George Jones He Stopped Loving Her Today 1980
12. Larry Gatlin & the Gatlin Bros. All the Gold in California 1979
13. Don Williams Tulsa Time 1978
14. Glen Campbell Rhinestone Cowboy 1975
15. Charlie Rich Behind Closed Doors 1973
16. Loretta Lynn & Conway Twitty Lead Me On 1971
17. Merle Haggard Okie From Muskogee 1969

The album will be released on March 31^st, just in time for the 50^th Academy of Country Music Awards broadcast LIVE on Sunday, April 19^th at 8:00pm ET/delayed PT on the CBS Television Network. All of the Academy’s proceeds from sales of the album will go to ACM Lifting Lives, the philanthropic arm of the Academy of Country Music, dedicated to improving lives through the power of music.

NOW That’s What I Call ACM Awards 50 Years is a collaboration between Universal Music Group, Sony Music Entertainment and the Academy of Country Music, and the album will be distributed by Universal Music Group Distribution. The NOW That’s What I Call Music! series is a joint venture from Universal Music Group and Sony Music Entertainment.  NOW and NOW That’s What I Call Music!are registered trademarks of Universal Music Group and its affiliates.

NOW That’s What I Call Music! debuted in the U.S. in 1998, following 15 years of multi-platinum international success. The series has generated sales exceeding 250 million albums worldwide, including more than 94 million in the U.S.  All 53 volumes in NOW’s numeric U.S. series have charted in the top 10 of Billboard’s Album Chart, 19 of which have reached #1.

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 and Barry Adelman are executive producers.  Bob Romeo is executive producer for the Academy of Country Music.

ACM Lifting Lives® is the philanthropic arm of the Academy of Country Music dedicated to improving lives through the power of music.  Through partnerships with artists and strong ties in the music industry, ACM Lifting Lives develops and funds music-related therapy and education programs, and serves members of the community who face unexpected hardships through its Diane Holcomb Emergency Relief Fund. Through generous donations and the support of artists and fans, ACM Lifting Lives is able to fund everything from disaster relief and helping communities in need, to music education in schools and music camps for those with disabilities, to supporting programs that use music therapy as a means to help our veterans and wounded warriors, while providing grants to help them ease back into life. For more information, please visit www.ACMLiftingLives.org.

Tomorrow night will not only see Keith Urban’s return to the couch for Late Night with Conan O’Brien, it will also serve to mark the debut of his new music video for “Raise ‘Em Up”, the fifth single from his record-breaking album FUSE, which features Eric Church.  It comes on the heels of Urban’s third #1 from the album, “Somewhere In My Car.”

The video, shot in Nashville last month, premieres with Conan O’Brien online today at 3:00PM EDT at http://smarturl.it/REUvideo.

“Some of the idea for this video started with me playing with my phone one day, filming our girls jumping in slow motion,” explains Urban.  “That’s all that they were doing, just jumping up in the air in slo mo.  We put ‘Raise ‘Em Up’ on and were watching this film of our girls and they just went together beautifully.  It was so simple, and emotional, and it captured some of the spirit of what I feel is at the heart of this song.”

“My favorite part of this video were the candid moments that were captured between Keith and I on film,” said Church.  “It’s cool that a number of those made it in the final version.  To me, they really reify the emotion of the moment and experience.”

The Grammy nominated single, “Raise ‘Em Up”, already marks Urban’s 33^rd top 10.  It extends his lead as the artist with the most consecutive top 10s, a streak that began on August 12^th, 2000 with the release of “Your Everything.”  Urban and Church will perform the song for the first time on network television on the 50^th Annual Academy of Country Music Awards on Sunday, April 19^th at 8:00PMEST/7:00PMCST.

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

Eric Church is featured on the Keith Urban single, “Raise ‘Em Up,” and he says he thought it was a huge hit.

“Plain and simple, it’s a hit. I mean, there’s very few times that I’ve heard a song and said, ‘That’s [a hit].’ I don’t care what the circumstances are, it’s probably a hit in Portugese. It’s a hit,” says Eric. “It’s gonna be a big hit for Keith, and I’m glad. I’m glad to be a part of it, and I’m glad he asked me. It’s just a beautiful song.”

“Raise ‘Em Up” was written by Jaren Johnston, Jeffrey Steele and Tom Douglas, and is featured on Keith’s album, Fuse.

Eric is currently scaling the country charts with his own hit single, “Like a Wrecking Ball.”

Keith Urban will chat live with fans on Wednesday through his Facebook page to give guitar tips and answer any questions. The chat begins at 5:30pm ET/4:30pm CT.

Darius Rucker will perform on NBC’s Today Show next week. Catch him live Tuesday (March 31^st) — which is the same day as his new album, Southern Style, is released.

George Strait will receive the prestigious 50^th Anniversary Milestone Award, along with and Brooks & Dunn. They are being honored with the trophy to commemorate their groundbreaking career achievements in ACM Awards history. Each will receive an exclusive trophy created by renowned jewelry and timepiece designer, David Yurman, during the 50^th ACM Awards.

In the latest issue of Glamour magazine, pop superstar Katy Perry spotlights 10 women who changed her life. She writes, “Kacey is one of the most unique songwriters I’ve heard in the past decade. She puts into words what the heart feels. And she’s not bad on the eyes and has a great sense of humor the whole way through.”

Keith Urban was the man of honor at a party celebrating his recent No. 1 hit, “Somewhere in My Car.” The event was held at Nashville’s Musicians Hall of Fame, which was the star’s choice of venue to draw more attention to the place as well as to pay tribute to the musicians who played on his album, Fuse.

After speaking to the media, Keith jumped on stage and sat down at the piano to perform “Somewhere in My Car” with a trio of string musicians. He and his co-writer J.T. Harding were presented with plaques and awards commemorating the song’s success. In addition to his publishing company, management company and record label, Keith’s wife, Nicole Kidman, was also in attendance to celebrate Keith and the song.

Prior to his party, Keith says a No. 1 song has to have a couple of different elements – relatability and production. “People relate to that story of that kind of painful, somewhat pathetic reminiscing, desperate, you know? That you can’t help yourself, sort of play those memories over and over even though you know it’s never coming back,” says Keith. “I think that the essence of that with the song is the first thing, and then hopefully the record-making process has sort of an ear appeal to get you to hear the lyric.”
Keith is also racing up the country chart with his latest single, “Raise ‘Em Up,” featuring pal Eric Church.