New York, N.Y. – May 1, 2015 – Darius Rucker and Jennifer Nettles will host the 2015 iHeartRadio Country Festival, bringing together Country music’s biggest superstars all on one stage at the Frank Erwin Center in Austin, Texas on Saturday, May 2nd. This year’s incredible lineup will feature Darius, Little Big Town, Dierks Bentley, Sam Hunt, Tim McGraw, Brad Paisley, Rascal Flatts, Brantley Gilbert, Justin Moore, The Band Perry and Tyler Farr, as well as special guest appearances by Bobby Bones, Big & Rich, Cody Alan, Brooklyn Decker, Craig Robinson, Eric Decker and Jessie James Decker.

The iHeartRadio Country Festival will video stream live exclusively on Yahoo Live, where fans have the freedom to stream the concert for free wherever they are through the Yahoo Screen App for iOS and Android, and on connected devices including Apple TV, Roku, XBox, Tivo and www.yahoo.com/iheartcountry.  It will also broadcast live on iHeartMedia Country radio stations across the U.S. on Saturday, May 2nd at 7 p.m. CT. NBC will televise the iHeartRadio Country Festival on NBC Wednesday, May 27th from 9-11 p.m. ET/ 8-10 p.m. CT.

“I am thrilled to host the iHeartRadio Country Music Festival and celebrate our beautiful country community of music and musicians,” said Nettles.  “I’m excited to share the stage with some of the biggest names in country music. It’s going to be a wonderful night in the great town of Austin and I look forward to being a part of it.”

“Growing up in South Carolina, I would lay in bed at night listening to all kinds of music and commentary from deejays on the air. It actually led me to go into sports broadcasting in college, so I have always wanted an opportunity to try my skills at being one of those commentators. I can’t think of a better opportunity to talk directly to the fans — and bring them some great music — than co-hosting this fantastic night with some really awesome friends,” said Rucker.

Proud partners of this year’s event include Bud Light, Firestone®, Mtn Dew® DEWshine™, NBC, State Farm® and Tito’s Handmade Vodka.

Tickets are on sale now at TexasBoxOffice.com and for more information visit iHeartRadio.com/countryfestival. The iHeartRadio Country Festival is an iHeartMedia Production.

Nashville, Tennessee – (April 30, 2015) – The stars are aligning for the 25^th Annual City of Hope Celebrity Softball Game, a fan favorite event and longstanding tradition of CMA Music Festival! Suiting up to play in this year’s game are “Nashville” star and singer/songwriter Charles Esten; “Stealing Cinderella” singer and national radio morning show co-host Chuck Wicks; rising country star and “American Idol” finalist Lauren Alaina; guitar slayer and country music vocalist Lindsay Ell; reigning ACM and CMA Vocal Group of the Year Little Big Town; and hitmakers Love and Theft.  After a twenty-year run playing in the City of Hope Celebrity Softball Game, country music icon Vince Gill is returning to the field for this special milestone event. The full line-up of celebrity players stepping up to the plate on the Grand Ole Opry and iHeartRadio teams will be announced in the coming weeks.

Taking place on June 13 at 9 a.m. from the state-of-the-art field at First Tennessee Park in Nashville, Tennessee, the City of Hope Celebrity Softball Game is gearing up to celebrate 25 years of striking out cancer. Tickets for the City of Hope Celebrity Softball Game are on sale now at Ticketmaster.

Each year, the Celebrity Softball Game regularly features some of Country Music’s biggest and hottest stars. Over the years, Carrie Underwood, Darius Rucker, Florida Georgia Line, Jason Aldean, Luke Bryan, Scotty McCreery, Vince Gill and many more have taken to the field in support of City of Hope’s lifesaving mission.

City of Hope is an independent biomedical research institution and comprehensive cancer center where scientists and physicians quickly transform scientific discoveries into better treatments and prevention strategies for people around the world. Support from the Nashville community and its country music artists directly benefit City of Hope’s mission to find cures for cancer, diabetes and other life-threatening diseases.

Tickets for the game can be purchased through Ticketmaster. Get more information on the game and the line-up of celebrities at www.cityofhope.org/softball. Those not able to attend the game can still support the cause. A variety of unique merchandise and experiences, including meet-and-greets with the hottest artists, will be available for bid at charitybuzz.com. The proceeds will benefit City of Hope’s mission to eradicate cancer and other life-threatening diseases.

To request media credentials for the 25^th Annual City of Hope Celebrity Softball Game, apply HERE.

Suggested Tweet: PLAY BALL! @littlebigtown @VGcom @charlesesten @lauren_alaina #strikeoutcancer @cityofhope Celeb Softball Game 6/13 @firsttnpark http://bit.ly/csg15pr

Suggested Tweet: .@loveandtheft @chuckwicksmusic @lindsayell @aaron_watson #strikeoutcancer @cityofhope Celeb Softball Game 6/13 @firsttnpark http://bit.ly/csg15pr

About City of Hope
City of Hope is an independent research and treatment center for cancer, diabetes and other life-threatening diseases. Designated as a comprehensive cancer center, the highest recognition bestowed by the National Cancer Institute, City of Hope is also a founding member of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network, with research and treatment protocols that advance care throughout the nation. City of Hope’s main hospital is located in Duarte, California, just northeast of Los Angeles. It is ranked as one of “America’s Best Hospitals” in cancer by U.S.News & World Report. Founded in 1913, City of Hope is a pioneer in the fields of bone marrow transplantation and genetics. For more information, visit www.cityofhope.org or follow City of Hope on facebook, twitter, youtube, instagram or flickr.

Little Big Town’s Kimberly Schlapman will appear on The Chew on Tuesday at 1pm ET on ABC to chat about her new cookbook, Oh Gussie!

Vince Gill is the featured guest on The Big Interview With Dan Rather on Tuesday (April 21st) at 8pm ET.

Dierks Bentley, as well as Kenny Chesney and Carrie Underwood were announced as headliners for next year’s ACM Party for a Cause Festival, taking place April 1^st – 3^rd, 2016.

Little Big Town went home with the trophy for Vocal Group of the Year at Sunday night’s ACM Awards. The group performed their latest hit, “Girl Crush,” which has drawn the support of the music industry at large.

“It’s mind-blowing. It’s the most beautiful thing and you couldn’t create this out of thin air,” says LBT’s Phillip Sweet. “It’s like, this is something that just happens and I think we feel really humbled by it.” Bandmate Karen Fairchild agrees, “Like Garth said, ‘Our Mamas raised us to do certain things, and we cultivate that in this little subculture that we’ve made,’ and it makes me really, really proud.”

“Girl Crush,” from their ACM-Award nominated album, Pain Killer, is making its way up the country charts and is selling like hotcakes. Little Big Town has sold more than 95,000 just this week – 30,000 during the ACM Awards alone. The single should be close to being certified Gold.

Little Big Town won the ACM Vocal Group of the Year award in 2013, and they’re back in the running with that nomination, as well as a nod for Album of the Year for Pain Killer.

“Winning awards and having success, commercial success with Tornado, I think, gave us a bigger platform, and for me – I’m really proud that we made Painkiller, because it’s the best thing we’ve ever done and that we have a platform to share it on is amazing,” says LBT’s Phillip Sweet. “So, I think we wanted to step up to the challenge and know there’s a great platform here, what are we going to put on it? And we wanted something to stand the test of time.”

The members of Little Big Town are making their way up the country charts with “Girl Crush,” a song from their ACM-nominated album, Pain Killer.

Little Big Town has released the beautiful and stark music video for their latest hit, “Girl Crush.” Check it out here or below.

CMT Hot 20 Countdown captured “A Day In The Life” with Little Big Town on the road with their Pain Killer Tour. They check them out on stage and backstage in “The Pharmacy,” as well as goofing off right before they’re set to perform.

Little Big Town’s latest single, “Girl Crush,” is climbing the country charts, and the support it’s received from fans, radio and other country stars is overwhelming. The group wanted “Girl Crush” for themselves the first time they heard it, because they felt it was such a special song.

“I think ‘Girl Crush’ is one of the most brilliant lyrics I’ve heard in such a long time,” says LBT’s Jimi Westbrook. “It’s taking a phrase that you’ve heard so many times, and just the way it turns at the hook, it just catches you. It gives me chills every time I listen to it, when that hook turns like it does. It’s just brilliant. I think it’s a brilliant song, and [Karen’s] vocal is perfection. It’s so good. The emotion of that song comes through. I love it.”

Little Big Town will perform during this year’s ACM Awards where they’re up for Vocal Group and Album of the Year for Pain Killer. The 50th Annual ACM Awards will air live from AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas April 19th at 8pm ET on CBS.

Alan Jackson, Lady Antebellum and Little Big Town have been announced as performers at this year’s ACM Awards. They’re joined by Brad Paisley, Brooks & Dunn, Rascal Flatts and Martina McBride, as well as special duets by Christina Aguilera with surprise artists and Nick Jonas with Dan + Shay.

They join previously announced performers Dierks Bentley, Luke Bryan, Eric Church, Sam Hunt, George Strait, Keith Urban, Reba, Garth Brooks, Jason Aldean, Blake Shelton, Miranda Lambert, Florida Georgia Line, Cole Swindell and Thomas Rhett.

The 50th Annual Academy of Country Music Awards – hosted by Luke Bryan and Blake Shelton – will air live from the AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas April 19th at 8pm ET on CBS.