Luke Bryan, Lionel Richie and Katy Perry will be featured in a new half-hour American Idol special on ABC to air ahead of the 91^st Oscars on Sunday (February 24th). In American Idol: A New Journey Begins, Seacrest sits down with judges Luke Bryan, Katy Perry and Lionel Richie to discuss the Season 2 return of the series and share a preview of this year’s crop of new talent. The panel also will answer fan questions and share behind-the-scenes secrets. It will air at 4pm ET Sunday. In addition, ABC will air a musical performance featuring some of the auditionees from the upcoming premiere episode to air during the live broadcast. The new season of American Idol will premiere March 3rd at 8pm ET.

Speaking of the Oscars, don’t forget to tune-in on Sunday to watch Kacey Musgraves present at this year’s Oscars. The 91st Academy Awards will air live from the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood on Sunday (February 24th) at 8pm ET/5pm PT on ABC.

Kip Moore will be featured in a new special on the Audience Network on DirecTV/UVerse on March 1st, which will include performances from his show at L.A.’s Wiltern Theater, as well as footage from his Journey to Slowheart documentary. The special will air at 9pm ET/PT.

Darius Rucker has been announced as the recipient of the Music Business Association’s Harry Chapin Memorial Humanitarian Award for his years of charitable contributions, including St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital and MUSC Children’s Hospital in Charleston, South Carolina (Darius’ hometown). He will accept the honor during the annual Music Biz 2019 Awards & Hall of Fame Dinner May 7th in Nashville. Previous recipients of the Humanitarian Award include Martina McBride, Melissa Etheridge, Annie Lennox and Bonnie Raitt, among others.

Luke Bryan, Keith Urban, Little Big Town, Lauren Alaina, Clare Dunn and Kassi Ashton are among the artists playing the first annual Hometown Rising Country Music & Bourbon Festival September 14th and 15th in Louisville, Kentucky. Tim McGraw, Dwight Yoakam, Brett Young and Jake Owen will also perform. For ticket information, go to hometownrising.com.

Kassi Ashton, Travis Denning, Clare Dunn and Caylee Hammack are on the bill for the “Next From Nashville” stage at this year’s Country LakeShake Festival in Chicago June 21st-23rd.

Kip Moore is unleashing “The Bull,” as the next single from his third studio album SLOWHEART. With a take-no-prisoners attitude and a spiraling acoustic guitar lick, the song became a quick standout on the album, immediately resonating with Moore’s fierce fanbase during his energetic live performances. Co-written by Jon Randall and Luke Dick, the song marks Moore’s first-ever outside recording, available HERE.

“This song embodies who I am and what we’ve been doing on the road as a band for years,” said Moore. “I think ‘The Bull’ is for every common man and woman. It embodies the struggles that we all face in life, and it’s about getting up after you’ve been knocked down and going after whatever you believe in.”

Moore was also recently recognized for his global success and growth, with a nomination for CMA’s International Achievement Award. The nod follows the recent extension of his Room To Spare: Acoustic Tour, following a sold-out run last fall. Moore will head out on a stacked tour next month with shows scheduled in the U.S., Canada and The U.K. where tickets to all four dates of his upcoming U.K. shows in London, Glasgow, Birmingham, and Manchester sold out within minutes of going on sale. Moore has relentlessly poured his energy into nurturing his international fanbase, with Music Row highlighting “Moore is part of a groundswell of rising country artists with a focus on building their international presence, and with good reason.”

For more information, visit kipmoore.net.

For the past few years following the holidays, Kip Moore has taken time off to go surf and basically recharge his batteries. His job, like so many other folks who does what he does for a living, is pretty demanding both mentally and physically, and so he can be better and feel refreshed to do it all over again, he “disappears” for a bit and goes where the waves are calling to him.

“I’m definitely going to disappear again. It’s something that I’ll probably do for the rest of my career is disappear during the winter. I’ve got to get that surfing in and I’ve got to hit that recharge button,” says Kip. “As cliché as that sounds, it truly wipes you out all of your mind, body, spirit, everything. I wouldn’t trade it for the world and I love doing it, but it takes a toll in so many ways mentally on you. So, when I get to get out and surf, it definitely brings me back to center and gets me ready to go again.”

When Kip returns, he’ll hit the road on the 2019 leg of his Room to Breathe Acoustic Tour, which launches March 7th in Chicago. The Georgia native is sitting inside the Top 5 with his current hit, “Last Shot.”

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 January. Some artists have resolutions, and some are very helpful with their own hangover cures for those who imbibe too much on New Year’s Eve.

Keith Urban is set to headline Music City on New Year’s Eve for the third consecutive year. He’ll perform at the Bicentennial Capitol Mall State Park as part of the Jack Daniels Music City Midnight bash. Peter Frampton, Judah & the Lion, Caitlyn Smith, Devon Gilfillian and the Fisk Jubliee Singers are also on the bill. Keith will be featured on “NBC’s New Year’s Eve,” which will be hosted by Carson Daly and Chrissy Teigen. The special will air Monday, December 31st from 10-11pm ET/PT and return 11:30pm – 12:30am ET/PT.

Lauren Alaina will perform during the West Coast celebration of “Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve with Ryan Seacrest 2019.” She joins Kane Brown, Bazzi, Kelsea Ballerini, Camila Cabello, Ciara, Halsey, Shawn Mendes, Weezer, The Chainsmokers, Foster the People, Dua Lipa, Ella Mai and Charlie Puth, as well as a performance by Macklemore with Skylar Grey. Airing just after midnight, Post Malone will perform from a stop on his current tour in Brooklyn, New York. The televised celebration takes place Monday, December 31st beginning at 8pm ET on ABC.

Dierks Bentley will perform on the FOX Network’s New Year’s Eve with Steve Harvey. The special begins at 8pm ET/7pm CT.

Kip Moore released his recent Room to Spare: The Acoustic Sessions in November, and it was driven by a promise to fans to share an acoustic EP. Kip co-wrote five of the seven tracks in the collection, including an acoustic versio of “Plead the Fifth.”

The Georgia native felt it was time to release the new project. “We’d been playing the Slowheart record for the last year and a few months to so many people that I knew in the Spring and the Summer we were going to be touring again and we weren’t gonna have a new record,” says Kip. “So, it was more about they’d been asking for this acoustic thing and now’s the time ‘cause we’ve got to give them something to tide them over until I put out a full new project. And then it gives us a chance to go play – we’d already been planning this acoustic tour – and it was gonna give us a chance to go play new songs acoustically for these fans. So, and a lot of ‘em are old songs that the fans have been asking for, so I just felt like it was time.”

ROOM TO SPARE: THE ACOUSTIC SESSIONS Track List:
1. Plead The Fifth (Acoustic Version)
(Luke Dick, Josh Kear)

2. Tennessee Boy
   (Kip Moore, Dan Couch)
3. Love You To The Moon
   (Charlie Worsham, Natalie Hemby, Luke Dick)
4. It Ain’t California
   (Kip Moore, Charlie Worsham, Jon Mabe)
5. Wish It Was Me
   (Kip Moore, Adam Browder, Scott Stepakoff, Dan Couch)
6. Come Home With You
   (Kip Moore, Troy Verges, Blair Daly)
7. Part Of Growing Up
   (Kip Moore, Josh Miller, Andrew DeRoberts)

He will play these songs plus so many more when he launches the 2019 leg of his Room to Spare: Acoustic Tour March 7th in Chicago. He’ll wrap the trek with international shows in The U.K. and Canada. The newly revealed dates follow a limited fall run, which saw Moore playing all SOLD-OUT dates and audiences praising his stripped-down, intimate set. Charlie Worsham and vocal duo, Muscadine Bloodline are set to join Moore on select dates next year.

Kip is sitting at No. 5 on the country charts with his latest song, “Last Shot,” which is the second taken from his third studio album SLOWHEART and follows his fourth No. One hit “More Girls Like You.”

Audio / LINER Adam Hambrick (New Year) 1

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“Hey Everybody! I’m Adam Hambrick, wishing you a Happy New Year.”

Audio / LINER Adam Hambrick (New Year) 2

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“Hey Everybody! I’m Adam Hambrick. Happy New Year.”

 

Audio / LINER Brandon Lay (New Year)

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“What’s up everybody? This is Brandon Lay, wishing you a Happy New Year.”

Audio / LINER Brothers Osborne (New Year)

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“Hey! This is TJ, and I’m John, and we are Brothers Osborne. Happy New Year.”

 

Audio / LINER Carrie Underwood (New Year)

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“Hi! I’m Carrie Underwood, wishing you a Happy New Year.”

Audio / LINER Clare Dunn (Happy New Year)

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“Hey! I’m Clare Dunn, wishing you a Happy New Year.”

 

Audio / LINER Darius Rucker (Happy New Year)

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“Hey y’all! What’s up? This is Darius Rucker, wishing you a Happy New Year!

Audio / LINER Dierks Bentley (Happy New Year)

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“Hey, it’s Dierks Bentley. Happy New Year!”

Audio / LINER Eric Church (10 COUNTDOWN)

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“10-9-8-7—6-54321, Happy New Year, y’all. It’s Eric Church, and it’s time to put a drink in MY hand!”

Audio / LINER Eric Church (Happy New Year)

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“Hey! It’s Eric Church, hoping you have a Happy New Year.”

Audio / LINER Eric Church (Hand your keys to a friend)

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“Hey! Eric Church here…This New Year’s Eve, if you put a drink in your hand…hand your keys to a friend. Trust me guys, don’t drink and drive.”

Audio / LINER Gary Allan (New Year)

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“Hey everybody! I’m Gary Allan. Happy New Year!”

Audio / LINER Jon Langston (New Year) 1

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“Hey y’all! I’m Jon Langston, wishing you a very Happy New Year.”

Audio / LINER Jon Langston (New Year) 2

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“Hey y’all, I’m Jon Langston. Happy New Year.”

Audio / LINER Jon Pardi (New Year)

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“Hi! I’m Jon Pardi, wishing you a Happy New Year!”

Audio / LINER Jordan Davis (New Year)

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“Hey! I’m Jordan Davis, wishing you a Happy New Year!”

Audio / LINER Josh Turner (New Year)

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“Hey! I’m Josh Turner. Happy New Year!”

Audio / LINER Kacey Musgraves (New Year)

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“Hey! It’s Kacey Musgraves, hoping you have a safe and Happy New Year!”

Audio / LINER Kassi Ashton

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“Hey! It’s Kassi Ashton. I’d love to wish everyone a safe and happy New Year.”

Audio / LINER Keith Urban (New Year)

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“Hey everyone! This is Keith Urban. Have a safe and happy New Year.”

Audio / LINER Kip Moore (New Year)

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“It’s Kip Moore, wishing you a Happy New Year.”

Audio / LINER Lauren Alaina (New Year)

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“This is Lauren Alaina, wishing you a Happy New Year.”

Audio / LINER LBT (New Year)

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“Hey! We’re Little Big Town. Happy New Year!”

Audio / LINER Luke Bryan (New Year)

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“Hey! This is Luke Bryan, hoping you have a Happy New Year.”

Audio / LINER Maddie & Tae (New Year)

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“Hi! We’re Maddie & Tae, wishing you a Happy New Year.”

Audio / LINER Mickey Guyton (New Year)

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“Hey! This is Mickey Guyton, wishing you a Happy New Year.”

Audio / LINER Sam Hunt (Happy New Year)

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

Audio / LINER Shania Twain (Happy New Year)

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“Hi! This is Shania Twain. Happy New Year!”

Audio / LINER Travis Denning (New Year)

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“Hey y’all, this is Travis Denning, wishing you a Happy New Year.”

Kip Moore answers five questions, including what he has to have on the road, his favorite food (when not being healthy) and what he would tell his 13-year-old self. Check it out below.

Another round of 5 questions coming up! @KipMooreMusic tells us his favorite food, his must-haves on the road and the advice he would give to his 13-year-old self! pic.twitter.com/Cw1Q8CWVyk

— ACM Awards (@ACMawards) December 18, 2018

Kip is currently sitting inside the Top 10 with his latest hit, “Last Shot.”

Kip Moore took to the stage for a sold-out “Evening with Kip Moore at the GRAMMY Museum”on Friday night (December 14th) in Los Angeles. Hosted by Executive Director Scott Goldman, Moore offered insight into his career path so far and played a powerful solo acoustic set for the packed audience at the GRAMMY Museum’s Clive Davis Theater.

During the evening, Moore answered questions from the audience, and his performance included a moving rendition of his current Top 10 single “Last Shot” and the fitting “It Ain’t California” for the LA crowd, taken from his recently released ROOM TO SPARE: THE ACOUSTIC SESSIONS EP. 

Moore recently announced the extension of his Room To Spare: Acoustic Tour, following a sold-out run this fall. Moore will head out on a stacked tour with shows scheduled in the U.S., Canada and The U.K. Tickets to all four dates of Moore’s upcoming U.K. shows in London, Glasgow, Birmingham, and Manchester sold out within minutes of going on sale on Friday.

Kip Moore’s current single “Last Shot” is the second taken from his revered third studio album SLOWHEART and follows his fourth No. One hit “More Girls Like You.” Moore’s third studio album SLOWHEART garnered instant praise from critics as his “most complete, cohesive declaration of his artistic sensibilities yet” (NPR,) as well landing on multiple “Best Of” lists including Entertainment Weekly, Rolling Stone, UpRoxx, Bobby Bones Show, Taste Of Country, Sounds Like Nashville, The Boot, PopMatters and Whiskey Riff. SLOWHEART follows the acclaim that surrounded Moore’s sophomore album WILD ONES and his PLATINUM debut album UP ALL NIGHT that spawned three No. One hit singles, including GOLD certified “Beer Money,” PLATINUM certified “Hey Pretty Girl,” and the DOUBLE PLATINUM breakout hit “Somethin’ ‘Bout A Truck.” For more information, visit kipmoore.net.

Photo credit: Courtesy of the Recording Academy™/photo by Rebecca Sapp, Getty Images © 2018
Right Photo: Kip Moore pictured with Executive Director of the GRAMMY Museum, Scott Goldman

Kip Moore and his brothers would go on fishing trips with their dad around Christmas before the elder Moore passed away a few years ago, and it was always one of his favorite traditions. Another one of his favorite traditions was watching movies with his family on Christmas Eve.

“The night before Christmas, we would rent a bunch of movies,” says Kip. “My dad would take us to the store, the video store and we would rent a bunch of movies and we’d watch them all through the night. That was always a thing that we’d look forward to was all hanging out together and laugh until 3 or 4 or 5 in the morning, then waking up two hours later for the presents.”

With five brothers and sister and their expanding families back home in Georgia, Kip is having a lot of fun with all of his nieces and nephews around Christmas. “All my brothers and sisters started having kids around the same time a few years ago, so it’s like a house full of little five-year-olds and under just going nuts. So, it’s brought a lot of joy to the house.”

The Georgia native will take some time off after the holidays and then launch the 2019 leg of his Room to Spare Acoustic Tour March 7th in Chicago.