Little Big Town’s latest single, “Girl Crush,” is racing up the country charts, but there’s been a little confusion on the part of a few folks about the actual theme of the song. If you listen to the lyrics, you’ll see it’s just about good old-fashioned jealousy.

“The lyric of ‘Girl Crush’ is written in a kind of sexy way, so some people might turn it off when they get to ‘I wanna taste your lips’ and all that, but once they get to the hook, they go, ‘Oh! It turns,’” says LBT’s Karen Fairchild. “It’s about a girl saying, ‘Why do you love her and not me?’ And that’s what makes it. You’ve got to lean in a little bit, but the fans are really loving this one.”

The reigning CMA and ACM Vocal Group of the Year will embark on the new leg of their Pain Killer Tour March 5th in Savannah, Georgia with Chris Stapleton. First, they’ll head across the pond to do a few shows in the U-K beginning February 10th in London.

The nominations for the 50th Academy of Country Music Awards have been announced, via its social media outlets.
The awards show will take place April 19th at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. Blake Shelton and Luke Bryan return to co-host the event.

Entertainer of the Year
Jason Aldean
Garth Brooks
Luke Bryan
Miranda Lambert
Florida Georgia Line

Male Vocalist of the Year
Jason Aldean
Dierks Bentley
Luke Bryan
Eric Church
Brad Paisley
Blake Shelton

Female Vocalist of the Year
Brandy Clark
Miranda Lambert
Martina McBride
Kacey Musgraves
Carrie Underwood

Group of the Year
Lady Antebellum
Little Big Town
Rascal Flatts
The Band Perry
Zac Brown Band

Album of the Year

Old Boots, New Dirt, Jason Aldean
Producer: Michael Knox
Record Label: Broken Bow Records

Pain Killer, Little Big Town
Producer: Jay Joyce
Record Label: Capitol Records Nashville

Platinum, Miranda Lambert
Producers: Chuck Ainlay, Frank Liddell, Glenn Worf
Record Label: RCA Nashville

Riser, Dierks Bentley
Producers: Ross Copperman, Jaren Johnston
Record Label: Capitol Records Nashville

The Outsiders, Eric Church
Producer: Jay Joyce
Record Label: EMI Records Nashville

Vocal Duo of the Year
Brothers Osborne
Florida Georgia Line
Dan + Shay
Maddie & Tae
The Swon Brothers

New Artist of the Year (currently open for fan voting)
Brett Eldredge
Tyler Farr
Sam Hunt
Kip Moore
Thomas Rhett
Chase Rice
Cole Swindell
Dan + Shay

Single Record of the Year (awarded to artist/producers/record company)

“American Kids” Kenny Chesney
“Automatic” Miranda Lambert
“Dirt” Florida Georgia Line
“Drunk On A Plane” Dierks Bentley
“I Don’t Dance” Lee Brice

Vocal Event of the Year
Lonely Tonight – Blake Shelton Featuring Ashley Monroe, Producer: Scott Hendricks, Record Label: Warner Bros. Records
Meanwhile Back At Mama’s – Tim McGraw Featuring Faith Hill,  Producers: Byron Gallimore, Tim McGraw, Record Label: Big Machine Records
Somethin’ Bad – Miranda Lambert Duet With Carrie Underwood, Producers: Chuck Ainlay, Frank Liddell, Glenn Worf, Record Label: RCA Nashville
The South – The Cadillac Three Featuring Florida Georgia Line, Dierks Bentley & Mike Eli, Producers: Dann Huff, Justin Niebank, Record Label: Big Machine Records
This Is How We Roll – Florida Georgia Line Featuring Luke Bryan

Video of the Year
American Kids – Kenny Chesney. Director: Shaun Silva, Producer: Don Lepore
Cop Car – Keith Urban, Director: John Urbano, Producer: Michelle Abnet
Drunk On A Plane – Dierks Bentley, Director: Wes Edwards, Producer: Clarke Gallivan
I’m Not Gonna Miss You – Glen Campbell, Director: James Keach, Producer: Julian Raymond
Somethin’ Bad – Miranda Lambert Duet With Carrie Underwood, Director: Trey Fanjoy, Producer: Trent Hardville

This Sunday (February 1st), 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 Seattle Seahawks, while others will be pulling for the New England Patriotsto win the Big Game. Canaan Smith, Darius Rucker, Luke Bryan, Lady Antebellum, Easton Corbin, Kip Moore, Keith Urban, Sam Hunt and Little Big Town are definitely fans of football…Check out all the action at the University of Phoenix stadium on Sunday at 6:30pm ET on NBC.

A handful of artists will be out in Phoenix for events preceding Sunday’s game.

Dierks Bentley returns to his home state to perform at the annual Night Before concert, along with Jason Aldean and Florida Georgia Line. The show takes place January 31^st at the US Airways Center.

Sam Hunt will perform at the first-ever DIRECTV Super Fan Festival in Glendale, Arizona, along with the Zac Brown Band, Thomas Rhett and the Cadillac Three.

The members of Little Big Town are set to perform at this year’s Taste of the NFL Party With a Purpose Saturday in Scottsdale, Arizona. It’s a strolling wine and food event featuring a chef from each NFL city serving their signature dish, alongside a current or alumni NFL player. All proceeds go to benefit food banks in every NFL city. “It’s a privilege to perform at this year’s Taste of the NFL event and to help raise funds and awareness for hunger relief,” says LBT’s Karen Fairchild. “Working together to support the fight against hunger is something that we are very passionate about. We are excited to help support local food banks and are eager to defeat hunger throughout the U.S.”

Several artists have taken the time off around the holidays and will hit it hard when they return to the road in mid-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.

Jennifer Nettles is still in New York City following the announcement that she’ll make her Broadway debut as “Roxie Hart” in the Tony award-winning musical revival of Chicago. On Wednesday, she took to Instagram to post a photo of her at the official photo shoot photo shoot.

Dierks Bentley and Josh Turner are among the featured artists on bluegrass legend Ralph Stanley‘s new album, Ralph Stanley & Friends: Man of Constant Sorrow. Lee Ann Womack, Robert Plant, Ricky Skaggs and Elvis Costello are also featured on the album, which will be available at Cracker Barrel and crackerbarrel.com January 19th.

The members of Little Big Town are set to tour the U.K. beginning February 10th. They’ll play dates in London, Manchester, England and Glasgow, Scotland before returning to the States.

Kacey Musgraves has begun work on her new album, the follow-up to the hugely successful and award-winning Same Trailer Different Park.

Gary Allan is sporting a new tattoo. The California native, who’s been in the studio working on his next album, shared a photo and video of his new tattoo that he got in Las Vegas this week. The ink took 12 hours to do and is featured on the underside of his left forearm. It’s of a neck of an electric guitar held by a green female hand as a serpent encircles them both. He shared the photo as part of his #TattedTuesday where he encourages fans to share picks of tattoos his music inspired.

The four members of Little Big Town, who have recorded a couple of Christmas tunes including “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas,” each have their own traditions, some carried over from childhood and some started when they had their own families. The entire band loves the holiday, and are featured once again on the ABC special CMA Country Christmas, which will re-air Saturday, December 20th at 9pm ET on ABC. Check out their stories below.

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.’) 

LBT (Karen-making candy) 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.” 

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.”

LBT (Kimberly & Karen – favorite childhood gift) OC: (KAREN) …Andy Gibb. [laughs] :46
KIMBERLY: “I remember when I was a kid, I really badly wanted a record player, and I got one of those little box record players and it was blue and white plaid. And then I got Andy Gibbs’ 45 to go on it, and I was in love with Andy Gibb.” KAREN: “You mean Britney Spears?” KIMBERLY: “Yes, Britney Spears.” JIMI: “Justin Bieber.” KIMBERLY: [LAUGHS] Justin Bieber. I loved my little record player. I wish I still had it. It was blue and white checked.” KAREN: “Checked. Checked means plaid, people. Checked. [Jimi laughs] I got a bicycle for Christmas, and I remember it was like a yellow three-speed. [KIMBERLY: “Whoa! Sounds fancy.”] Remember those? Speaking of Andy Gibb. [EVERYONE LAUGHS]

Kip Moore and Scotty McCreery are among the artists announced as presenters for the American Country Countdown Awards. They’re joined by Kix Brooks, Sara Evans, Hunter Hayes, Chris Young, Thomas Rhett, Chase Rice, Cole Swindell and Maddie & Tae, along with Brooklyn Nine-Nine’s Terry Crews, The Walking Dead’s Emily Kinney, NASCAR’s Jimmie Johnson, Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Clayton Kershaw and Miss America 2015 Kira Kazantsev. The show will air live from Nashville’s Music City Center December 15th at 8pm ET on FOX.

Darius Rucker will perform during this year’s Christmas in Washington special, airing December 19th at 8pm ET on TNT. Hunter Hayes, Rita Ora, Christina Perri and Aloe Blacc also are set to perform. Dwayne “The Rock“ Johnson will host the show.

Sam Hunt is headed to the Super Bowl to perform during the DIRECTV Super Fan Festival. The three-day event will take place in Phoenix, Arizona and also include performances by Zac Brown Band, Thomas Rhett, The Cadillac Three, Imagine Dragons, Snoop Dogg and more.

This year’s CMA Country Christmas, featuring performances by Little Big Town, Brett Eldredge, Hunter Hayes, Carrie Underwood, Michael W. Smith, Brad Paisley with Stephen Tyler, Dan + Shay, as well as the show’s host Jennifer Nettles and Idina Menzel, will re-air Saturday, December 20th at 9pm ET on ABC.

Little Big Town’s “Pontoon” has been called “the hit of the summer,” and may be linked to the spike in sales of pontoon boats. The response from the Top 5 song – written by Natalie Hemby, Luke Laird and Barry Dean – has been overwhelming for the band as they’ve made their way across the country as part of Rascal Flatts’ Changed tour. “Now, for the first time we don’t have to say a word,” says LBT’s Phillip Sweet. “We just have to start the song and the crowd immediately knows what it is – that’s started happening, so it’s been so fun to see that.” Bandmate Kimberly Schlapman agrees, especially after the opening notes of the song. “They go crazy! It’s so fun.”

“Pontoon” is the first single from the band’s forthcoming album, Tornado, available September 11th.

Little Big Town’s Tornado spends a fourth week atop the Country Albums chart. The album sold another 31,000 copies to hold the top spot on the Country chart, and moves up one notch to No. 8 on the overall Billboard 200. Carrie Underwood’s Blown Away is No. 2 on the country chart, followed by Luke Bryan’s tailgates & tanlines at No. 3. Hunter Hayes self-titled debut album and Eric Church’s Chief round out the Top 5.

Little Big Town’s latest single, “Tornado,” is flying up the charts.

Little Big Town are celebrating their very first No. 1 single this week, as “Pontoon” hits the top of both the Mediabase/Country Aircheck and Billboard country singles charts. The song, the first release from their new album Tornado, was just certified platinum by the R.I.A.A. last week for more than one-million downloads (their first platinum-selling single). The track – written by Natalie Hemby, Luke Laird and Barry Dean — is their fastest selling-single to date and has spent four weeks as a No. 1 country digital download, as well as topping the country chart in Canada just last week.

“Pontoon” is being called the “song of the summer,” and LBT’s Phillip Sweet would have to agree with that assessment. “It’s just fun,” he says. “It feels like summer, and it feels exactly what it sounds like. I grew up on pontoon boats in the summer on the lakes and just having a blast, so it’s good ole clean summertime fun.”

During their 13-year-plus career, Little Big Town has sold more than 1.5 million records, racked up numerous Grammy, CMA and ACM nominations and enjoyed a handful of Top 10 country hits (“Boondocks” and “Bring It On Home” from their platinum 2005 album The Road to Here, and “Little White Church” from their acclaimed 2010 release, The Reason Why).

Little Big Town’s preparing for the release of their highly-anticipated fifth studio album, Tornado, set for release September 11th, with coast-to-coast television appearances, including ABC’s Good Morning America (September 10th) and a performance during the premiere week of The Ellen DeGeneres Show (September 13th). The band will perform on the upcoming ABC Television Special CMA MUSIC FESTIVAL: COUNTRY’S NIGHT TO ROCK (September 17th) and will also be featured on CMT’s Unplugged Series which will premiere on CMT.com September 11th and on CMT September 18th.