Scotty McCreery‘s paternal grandfather, William James McCreery, passed away over the weekend. Below find a statement from Scotty on his passing.

“I am sad to share my Granddad, Bill McCreery, passed away unexpectedly last Sunday. He had celebrated his 86th birthday just two days earlier. My Granddad was a hard worker who spent 20 years in the US Air Force Strategic Air Command and 10 more years working for the US Civil Service at the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard in Kittery, Maine. He lived life to the fullest, was good-natured and had a hearty laugh. He was totally devoted to my Grandmother Paquita for 57 years. Together, they raised three children and were inspirations for their six grandchildren. He was one amazing guy who drove a black mustang convertible and could still dive off his diving board in his backyard pool.  As his only grandson, it will be an honor to carry on the family name. Thank you Granddad, for everything, but especially the lessons on love and respect, the golf and diving lessons AND that McCreery deep voice.”

Lady Antebellum’s Charles Kelley co-wrote Darius Rucker’s latest single, “Homegrown Honey,” withNathan Champman, and it was a writing session that Charles actually pushed for during a round of their favorite sport.

“We were out playing golf, like we always do when he’s in town, and I was gettin’ on to him that we’ve never written before, and he said he was writing for a new record,” recalls Charles. “Literally, I didn’t give him an out. He was having a busy day actually the next day singing vocals, and he was done until like 8 that night. I’m sure he was tuckered out. I said, ‘We have to make this a priority and write,’ and sure enough, came up with what I think is a great song, and it’s his first single [from the new album], and I’m excited, man. Just to have a little part of a Darius Rucker song is a huge honor.”

“Homegrown Honey” is the lead single from Darius’ forthcoming album, due out later this year.

Lady A’s on the country charts with their latest hit, “Freestyle,” from their 747 album.

NASHVILLE, TN. (Saturday, January 10, 2015) – Eric Church took the stage Saturday night (January 10th) in Nashville, Tennessee at Bridgestone Arena demanding, once again, that the fans pay attention, crackling “Nashville, I have high expectations for you. I live here!” And the 18,411 fans in attendance at The Outsiders World Tour roared letting their ‘Chief’ know they were right there with him for the night. Church’s record-breaking crowd shatters the venue’s highest attended event, The Blue Collar Comedy Tour, set on Feb. 16, 2006.

This news comes on the heels of Church’s achievement as the top-selling and highest-selling album debut of 2014 with his RIAA Platinum certified The Outsiders and four GRAMMY nominations including Best Country Song for his third No. 1, “Give Me Back My Hometown,” and Best Country Album — bringing his career tally to seven.

Nashville’s The Scene dubbed Church a “modern country troubadour,” and tonight’s show lived up to that moniker with a set list varying across his 2006 critically-acclaimed debut Sinners Like Me to 2009’s Carolina and deep album cuts from his 2011 commercial breakthrough Chief. Church kicked off the night with the title track to his latest album, “The Outsiders,” but allowed the crowd in Nashville to feel like an insider as he reveled in the ups and downs depicted through the characters portrayed across his vast catalogue.

Church will continue The Outsiders World Tour on Wed., January 14 in Oklahoma City, OK at the Ford Center. To purchase ticket or learn more about Eric Church, visit www.ericchurch.com and www.facebook.com/ericchurch, or follow @EricChurch on Twitter.  

Lady Antebellum will perform during CMT’s Ultimate Kickoff Party Live From the College Football Playoff National Championship on Friday (January 9TH), as the show will air live on CMT beginning at 9pm CT.

Lady Antebellum will perform their latest hit “Freestyle,” and will then be joined by Aloe Blacc to perform his hit “Wake Me Up” together.

But wait, there’s more! The members of Lady A will perform the National Anthem before the College Football Championship Game between No. 3 ranked Oregon Ducks and No. 5 ranked Ohio State Buckeyes. The game will air live from AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas beginning at 8:30pm ET on ESPN.

Lady Antebellum not only performed during Wednesday night’s People’s Choice Awards, but the trio also picked up the award for Favorite Country Group. After performing their current single, “Freestyle,” the group was standing on stage again accepting the award voted on by their fans.

“We are just so excited! We were not expecting it. I mean, the list of nominees that we were in the category with are just amazing. But what a way to kick off 2015!,” says Lady A’s Hillary Scott. “The fans are just so loyal and unbelievable. The guys and I were just talking, and I think the best thing we can do is head out on tour and put on the greatest show we possibly can for all of you.”

The group just announced their Wheels Up Tour, featuring Hunter Hayes (who picked up the People’s Choice Award for Favorite Country Male) and Sam Hunt. The band will kick things off on February 28th with a European trek through Norway, Sweden, Ireland, Scotland, the UK and Australia and will begin the North American leg on May 1st in Lubbock, Texas.

As we all know, music makes an impact on folks, a lot bigger impact than the artists who create them even realize. When Kip Moore was headlining his CMT Up in Smoke Tour, he was approached by a fan, telling the singer-songwriter his music helped him during a very dark and turbulent time.

“I had a Marine come up to me after one of the shows and tell me my Up All Night record actually was the only thing that gave him peace as he was camped out in some really rough place where they’d been under fire for a while, and he had his headphones in at this little place they were hiding out, and that record was what gave him peace,” says Kip. “It’s a wild thing to know that my thoughts and pen to paper and those dark places that I wrote those songs – not knowing if anyone was going to hear them – can have that kind of impact on somebody’s life.”

Kip’s new single, “I’m to Blame,” is being shipped to radio on Monday (official ADD date is February 2nd).

Mickey Guyton will release her debut single and debut video, “Better Than You Left Me,” on Monday (January 12th). Check out the sneak peek below.

Lady Antebellum not only performed during Wednesday night’s People’s Choice Awards, but the trio also picked up the award for Favorite Country Group. After performing their current single, “Freestyle,” the group were standing on stage again accepting the award voted on by their fans.

“We are just so excited! We were not expecting it. I mean, the list of nominees that we were in the category with are just amazing. But what a way to kick off 2015!,” says Lady A’s Hillary Scott. “The fans are just so loyal and unbelievable. The guys and I were just talking, and I think the best thing we can do is head out on tour and put on the greatest show we possibly can for all of you.”

The group just announced their Wheels Up Tour, featuring Hunter Hayes (who picked up the People’s Choice Award for Favorite Country Male) and Sam Hunt.

Keith Urban returns to the judges’ table when the new season of American Idol premieres Wednesday (January 7th). You’ll see a few changes to the show, such as when the Idol hopefuls head to the West Coast.

“We sent over 200 people through to Hollywood, then we narrowed it down, of course, and then even further down to get to our Top 48. And those 48 guys and girls, we took them into the House of Blues in Los Angeles to put them in a live club setting where the band was set up, and they got up on stage to do a song each in front of the audience in that club, and we’d never done that before,” says Keith. “For me, it was a very important part of the process, because in years past, we’ve seen them in these various audition environments, and then they go straight to the TV studio and they’re in front of a live audience. I really wanted to see what they’re like in front of a club setting.”

American Idol premieres Wednesday (January 7th) at 8pm ET on FOX.

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.