Kacey Musgraves and Little Big Town will pay tribute to the legendary Dolly Parton, who is this year’s MusiCares Person of the Year. They’ll perform some of her biggest hits along with Maren Morris and Katy Perry during Sunday night’s GRAMMY Awards. The Country Music Hall of Famer will also sing new music from her Netflix film, Dumplin’. This is Dolly’s first GRAMMY performance since 2001.
The 61st Annual GRAMMY Awards will be broadcast live from the Staples Center in Los Angeles on Sunday, February 10th at 8pm ET/5pm PT on CBS.
This Sunday (February 3rd), 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 National Football Conference champion Los Angeles Rams, while others will be pulling for the two-time defending American Football Conference champion New England Patriots to win the Big Game. Darius Rucker, Jordan Davis, Luke Bryan, Keith Urban, Sam Hunt, Travis Denning and Little Big Town are definitely fans of football…Check out all the action at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia on Sunday at 6:30pm ET on CBS.
SIDENOTE: Gladys Knight is set to perform the National Anthem, while Maroon 5, Travis Scott and Big Boi will perform during the half-time show.
Audio / Darius Rucker is a HUGE football fan, as everyone probably knows by now. He even has a special man cave with probably six or seven (or more) televisions mounted on the wall to catch all of the games being played during the season. 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.”
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 / Jordan Davis says he’s looking forward to watching this year’s Super Bowl, even though his beloved New Orleans Saints aren’t part of the game.
Jordan Davis (Super Bowl 2019) OC: …Who Dat? :10 “Hey guys-this is Jordan Davis, and I am looking forward to Super Bowl 53 to see if the greatness continues for the Brady-Belichik [team], even though I wish my Saints were in it. Who Dat?”
Audio / Keith Urban says his wife, Nicole Kidman, got him interested in football.
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 / 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.
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.
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 / Sam Hunt loves that the Super Bowl mixes his two loves – music and football.
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 / Sam Hunt, a former University of Alabama Birmingham quarterback, was inspired by retired Indianapolis Colts and Denver Broncos quarterback and future NFL Hall of Famer Peyton Manning when he was in high school.
Sam Hunt (Peyton Manning) OC: …with music. :39
“When I was in high school, I went to a camp called the Manning Academy, and it’s a quarterback camp down in Louisiana. And I got to spend some time with Peyton and Eli, and they have another brother [Cooper]. I’ve followed [Peyton’s] career for a long time,” he says. “Actually, a couple of years ago, I was at a concert of Kenny Chesney’s in Denver, and I was standing there side stage and Jake Owen was there. He had opened up for [Kenny], and I’ve been a friend of his for a little while, and he turned and introduced me to the guy behind us, who I wasn’t aware of at the time, but it turned out to be Peyton Manning. He was just a really nice guy, and it was just pretty cool to be on the stage with two people who inspired me in two different arenas, with Peyton with football and Kenny with music.”
Audio / An Atlanta Falcons fan, Travis Denning doesn’t really have a team in this year’s Super Bowl. However, he said he will be pulling for his friend, New England Patriots’ Center David Andrews, to get another Super Bowl ring.
Travis Denning (Super Bowl 2019) OC: …this year. “I’m a Falcons fan through and through, so I don’t have a huge dog in the fight. The Patriots are playing their best football at this point right now in the season, and the Rams are gonna have to give ‘em a big ole fight if they want to win it. But I’m pulling for David Andrews to get another ring. That’s my boy, and he’s been killing it this year.”
Keith Urban, Toby Keith and Zac Brown Band will headline this year’s Faster Horses Festival July 19th – 21st in Brooklyn, Michigan. Tickets go on sale January 25th for the three-day events, which also features Brothers Osborne, Brett Young, Maren Morris, Michael Ray, Morgan Evans, Old Dominion and many others.
Keith Urban, Darius Rucker, George Strait, Alan Jackson, Kacey Musgraves, Little Big Town and many more will help Loretta Lynn celebrate her 87th birthday with an all-star concert April 1st at Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena. Garth Brooks, Trisha Yearwood, Jack White and Miranda Lambert among others will also perform. Tickets go on sale Friday (January 18th) with the pre-sale taking place Tuesday (January 15th) with the special code: BIRTHDAY. “I am so excited to celebrate my 87th birthday with all my friends,” said the Country Music Hall of Famer. “This is the first time I’ve ever had a birthday party! My birthday wish has come true. The only other wish I have is that Keith Urban jumps out of my birthday cake!” The show will benefit the Opry Trust Fund and the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum.
Jordan Davis has been on a safari in South Africa. He apparently “ran” into an elephant who really didn’t seem to want his photo taken.
Catch Jordan, who is making his way to the top of the country charts with “Take It From Me,” when he hits the road next week with Old Dominon on their Make It Sweet Tour.
Keith Urban, Carrie Underwood, Dierks Bentley, Darius Rucker and Little Big Town will take part in NBC’s Elvis All-Star Tribute airing February 17th at 9pm ET on NBC. The two-hour program, hosted by Blake Shelton, will tribute to Elvis Presley’s “’68 Comeback Special,” recreating the iconic night with musical performances, a showcase of rare footage and interviews with Priscilla Presley and Steve Binder, the director of the original special, plus a special appearance from Lisa Marie Presley.
The special will also include performances by Post Malone, Jennifer Lopez, Kelsea Ballerini, John Legend, Ed Sheeran, Shawn Mendes and many others. In addition to performing “Burning Love,” Keith also teams up with Post Malone for “Baby, What You Want Me to Do.” Dierks performs “Little Sister,” while Little Big Town turns in “Are You Lonesome Tonight” and Darius sings “One Night.” Check out the full list of musical performances below.
Some of UMG Nashville’s talented artists have recited the age-old holiday poem, “Twas the Night Before Christmas.” This year, we have Alan Jackson, Luke Bryan, Keith Urban, Carrie Underwood, Little Big Town, Darius Rucker, TJ and John Osborne (Brothers Osborne), Jordan Davis and Brandon Lay doing the honors.
For your convenience, we’re offering a produced and a dry version of the holiday classic.
Keith Urban
Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house
Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse.
The stockings were hung by the chimney with care,
In hopes that St Nicholas soon would be there.
The children were nestled all snug in their beds,
While visions of sugar-plums danced in their heads.
TJ Osborne
And mamma in her ‘kerchief, and I in my cap,
Had just settled down for a long winter’s nap.
When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter,
I sprang from the bed to see what was the matter.
Away to the window I flew like a flash,
Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash. John Osborne The moon on the breast of the new-fallen snow
Gave the lustre of mid-day to objects below.
When, what to my wondering eyes should appear,
But a miniature sleigh, and eight tinny reindeer.
With a little old driver, so lively and quick,
I knew in a moment it must be St Nick.
Lauren Alaina
More rapid than eagles his reindeer they came,
And he whistled, and shouted, and called them by name!
“Now Dasher! now, Dancer! now, Prancer and Vixen!
On, Comet! On, Cupid! On Donner and Blitzen!
To the top of the porch! to the top of the wall!
Now dash away! Dash away! Dash away all!”
So up to the house-top the reindeer they flew,
With the sleigh full of Toys, and St Nicholas too.
Darius Rucker And then, in a twinkling, I heard on the roof
The prancing and pawing of each little hoof.
As I drew in my head, and was turning around,
Down the chimney St Nicholas came with a bound.
Jordan Davis
He was dressed all in fur, from his head to his foot,
And his clothes were all tarnished with ashes and soot.
A bundle of Toys he had flung on his back,
And he looked like a peddler, just opening his pack. Carrie Underwood His eyes-how they twinkled! his dimples how merry!
His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry!
Little Big Town’s Phillip Sweet
His droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow,
And the beard of his chin was as white as the snow.
The stump of a pipe he held tight in his teeth,
And the smoke it encircled his head like a wreath.
Brandon Lay
He had a broad face and a little round belly,
That shook when he laughed, like a bowlful of jelly!
He was chubby and plump, a right jolly old elf,
And I laughed when I saw him, in spite of myself!
Luke Bryan
A wink of his eye and a twist of his head,
Soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread.
He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work,
And filled all the stockings, then turned with a jerk.
And laying his finger aside of his nose,
And giving a nod, up the chimney he rose!
He sprang to his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle,
And away they all flew like the down of a thistle.
Alan Jackson
But I heard him exclaim, as he drove out of sight,
“Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good-night!”
Happy Holidays!
Audio / Twas the Night Before Christmas (produced)
Little Big Town will be featured on NBC’s Today Show on Wednesday (December 19th). The segment was shot during their annual Christmas program at Blackberry Farm this past weekend.
Kacey Musgraves’ Golden Hour album, which was named CMA Album of the Year last month, has made it onto several Best of 2018 album lists. The latest include AP (Associated Press) and GQ.
Maddie & Tae have been added to the Country Thunder lineup in Kissimmee, Florida March 22nd – March 24th.
UMG Nashville is pleased to bring you a unique holiday special to help you program your stations. The three-hour program is spot-free (includes 10-14 minutes of local avails per hour; non-exclusive).
A Country Christmas is a three-hour, multi-artist special hosted by Lauren Alaina, and features classic holiday tunes, as well as Christmas thoughts, memories and more from many of your favorite country artists, including Luke Bryan, Carrie Underwood, Darius Rucker, Keith Urban, Little Big Town, Alan Jackson and George Strait, among many others. We’ll also give you some bonus content and liners, as well.
The members of Little Big Town have their own traditions, but one they’ve all seemed to have adopted is Kimberly Schlapman’s annual holiday tradition.
“My favorite holiday tradition is, it’s happened every year that I can remember that I’ve been alive,” she says. “We would go over to my grandmother’s house and have Christmas over there, and everybody would come home to Mama and Daddy’s house. We’d sit down and Mama hands out everybody a gift, and we act like we don’t what it is, but we do ’cause it’s always Christmas pajamas. So, everybody opens their Christmas pajamas and goes and puts ’em on, and we come back to the living room and we sit around Daddy and he reads ‘The Christmas Story,’ and we tuck ourselves in until Santa comes.”
For Jimi Westbrook, nothing says Christmas like Elvis Presley. “My favorite Christmas song is this song I start with every year Thanksgiving drive, my first Christmas song to play is Elvis Presley, ‘Santa Claus is Back in Town.’ Sexy. Rockin’. Love it.”
One of Karen Fairchild’s traditions include making candy. “Christmases at our house usually included making candy with my mother and my grandmother,” says Karen. “We did everything from potato candy to chocolate dipped peanut butter (JIMI: “That all sounds amazing.”) and fudge. My mom’s fudge recipe is amazing.” KIMBERLY: “What is potato candy?” KAREN: “It does use a potato, but it’s rolled and it has peanut butter inside.”
Phillip Sweet and his wife Rebecca start early with their gift-giving for daughter Penelopi. “We do a little Christmas tradition in our house,” he says. “We do, you know the little tree in the countdown to Christmas? We put little treats in each little doorway. [Penelopi] opens the countdown to Christmas. (KIMBERLY: “Cuuuute.”) She gets a new little treat every day leading up to Christmas.”
Audio / Little Big Town's Kimberly Schlapman have their annual Christmas tradition.
LBT (Christmas tradition) OC: …Santa comes. :28 “My favorite holiday tradition is, it’s happened very year that I can remember that I’ve been alive. We would go over to my grandmother’s house and have Christmas over there, and everybody would come home to Mama and Daddy’s house. We’d sit down and Mama hands out everybody a gift, and we act like we don’t what it is, but we do ’cause it’s always Christmas pajamas. So, everybody opens their Christmas pajamas and goes and puts ’em on, and we come back to the living room and we sit around Daddy and he reads The Christmas Story. And we tuck ourselves in until Santa comes.”
Audio / The members of Little Big Town talk about some of their favorite Christmas movies and holiday specials.
LBT (Holiday movies) OC: (Phillip) …whatever I touch. [LAUGHS] :38 KAREN: “One of our favorite Christmas traditions is gathering around the television to watch holiday movies. And I know [for] Kimberly, it starts with [KIMBERLY: “It’s a Wonderful Life.”] It’s a Wonderful Life. Ours is holiday movies and records, like certain records have to be played in order for Jimi.” JIMI: “You have to start out the season right with Elvis, a little Elvis Presley.” KAREN: “I like the Charlie Brown Christmas movie.” KIMBERLY: “It’s sweet.” KAREN: “Yeah, it is sweet.” JIMI: “I like all those classic ones like the Rudolph and what is the one with the Abominable Snowman?” KIMBERLY: “Frosty, the Snowman?” PHILLIP: [sings] “I’m Mister Heat Miser/whatever I touch…” [LAUGHS] (The song is from the Claymation special ‘A Year Without a Santa Claus.’)
Audio / Little Big Town’s Karen Fairchild talks about making candy at Christmas with her mother and grandmother.
LBT (Karen-candy making) OC: …peanut butter inside. :19 “Christmases at our house usually included making candy with my mother and my grandmother. We did everything from potato candy to chocolate dipped peanut butter (JIMI: “That all sounds amazing.”) and fudge. My mom’s fudge recipe is amazing.” KIMBERLY: “What is potato candy?” KAREN: “It does use a potato, but it’s rolled and it has peanut butter inside.”
Audio / Little Big Town’s Phillip Sweet talks about having his own Christmas tradition with wife Rebecca and daughter Penelopi.
LBT (Phillip-tradition) OC: …to Christmas. :13 “We do a little Christmas tradition in our house. We do, you know the little tree in the countdown to Christmas? We put little treats in each little doorway. [Penelopi] opens the countdown to Christmas. (KIMBERLY: “Cuuuute.”) She gets a new little treat every day leading up to Christmas.”
The nominations for 2019’s GRAMMY Awards have been announced, and Kacey Musgraves leads the list of UMG Nashville’s artists with four, including overall Album of the Year for Golden Hour, as well as Best Country Album. Her song “Butterflies” picks up a nomination for Best Country Solo Performance, while “Space Cowboy” earns a nod for Best Country Song.
Chris Stapleton is nominated for three awards, including Best Country Solo Performance (“Millionaire”); Best Country Album (From A Room: Volume 2) and Best Pop Duo/Group Performance with Justin Timberlake for “Say Something.”
Brothers Osborne has a pair of noms for Best Country Duo/Group Performance (“Shoot Me Straight”) and Best Country Album (Port St. Joe).
Little Big Town competes for Best Country Duo/Group Performance for their song “When Someone Stops Loving You” – the song is also nominated for Best Country Song (award goes to the songwriters).
Keith Urban grabs a nod for Best Country Solo Performance for “Parallel Line,” which is from his latest album, Graffiti U.
Vince Gill gains a Grammy nomination in the Best Country Duo/Group Performance category for the duet “Dear Hate” with Maren Morris.
And Restoration: Reimagining the Songs of Elton John and Bernie Taupin captures a nomination for Best Country Solo Performance for Maren Morris’ version of “Mona Lisas and Mad Hatters.”
The 2019 Grammys will air live from the Staples Center in Los Angeles February 10th on CBS.
Album of the Year Invasion of Privacy — Cardi B By the Way I Forgive You — Brandi Carlile Scorpion — Drake beerbongs & bentleys — Post Malone H.E.R. — H.E.R. Dirty Computer — Janelle Monae Golden Hour — Kacey Musgraves Black Panther: The Album — Kendrick Lamar
Best Pop Duo/Group Performance “Fall In Line” — Christina Aguilera Featuring Demi Lovato
“Don’t Go Breaking My Heart” — Backstreet Boys
“‘S Wonderful” — Tony Bennett & Diana Krall
“Shallow” — Lady Gaga & Bradley Cooper
“Girls I Like You” — Maroon 5 Featuring Cardi B “Say Something” — Justin Timberlake Featuring Chris Stapleton “The Middle” — Zedd, Maren Morris & Grey
Best Country Solo Performance “Wouldn’t It Be Great?” — Loretta Lynn “Mona Lisas and Mad Hatters” — Maren Morris
“Butterflies” — Kacey Musgraves
“Millionaire” — Chris Stapleton
“Parallel Line” — Keith Urban
Best Country Duo/Group Performance “Shoot Me Straight” — Brothers Osborne “Tequila” — Dan + Shay ”When Someone Stops Loving You” — Little Big Town
“Dear Hate” — Maren Morris Featuring Vince Gill
“Meant to Be” — Bebe Rexha & Florida Georgia Line
Best Country Song “Break Up in the End” — Jessie Jo Dillon, Chase McGill & Jon Nite, songwriters (Cole Swindell)
“Dear Hate” — Tom Douglas, David Hodges & Maren Morris, songwriters (Maren Morris Featuring Vince Gill) “Space Cowboy” — Luke Laird, Shane McAnally & Kacey Musgraves, songwriters (Kacey Musgraves) “Tequila” — Nicolle Galyon, Jordan Reynolds & Dan Smyers, songwriters (Dan + Shay) “When Someone Stops Loving You” — Hillary Lindsey, Chase McGill & Lori McKenna, songwriters (Little Big Town)
Best Country Album Unapologetically — Kelsea Ballerini Port Saint Joe — Brothers Osborne GirlGoingNowhere — Ashley McBryde Golden Hour — Kacey Musgraves From A Room: Volume 2 — Chris Stapleton
