Josh Turner is celebrating the 20th anniversary of his hit album, Long Black Train, and the album’s second single of the same name, which were both certified Platinum by the R.I.A.A. On Friday (May 19th), the album was released on vinyl for the very first time, to coincide with the anniversary of the single’s original 2003 release date.

Josh wrote “Long Black Train” while he was still attending Nashville’s Belmont University. “I just remember it being super dark when I had the vision come to me of what I saw, and then I got back to my apartment,” he recalls. “I had these string lights hanging around the perimeter of my ceiling in my room, and I just sat down on the bed and I put my capo on the third fret and just played this B flat chord for what seemed like an eternity before the words started coming out.”

The South Carolina native says he owes his 20 years of success to the fans, country radio and his supportive family and team. “The fact that I’ve been able to have hits and sell records and continue to sell tickets for the last two decades, I think that is the big reason why I’m sitting here celebrating 20 years of my first hit single. Because had it not been for the support of the fans and radio and different people, I wouldn’t have this opportunity or privilege.”

“LONG BLACK TRAIN 20TH ANNIVERSARY TOUR” DATES:

6/3 Pender, NE Cattlemen’s Ball of Nebraska

6/9 Nelsonville, OH Black Diamond Music & Arts Festival

6/10 Renfro Valley, KY Renfro Valley Entertainment Center

6/16 Prestonsburg, KY Mountain Arts Center

6/17 Romeoville, IL Deer Crossing Park

7/1 N. Myrtle Beach, SC Alabama Theatre

7/2 Simpsonville, SC Simply Freedom Fest

7/15 Breim, Norway Norsk Countrytreff 2023

7/22 West Liberty, IA Muscatine County Fair

8/4 Colorado Springs, CO Pikes Peak Center

8/5 Sterling, CO Logan County Fairgrounds

8/10 Grants Pass, OR Josephine County Fairgrounds

8/11 John Day, OR Grant County Fairgrounds

8/12 Oroville, CA Gold Country Casino

8/18 Valley Center, CA Harrah’s Resort

8/24 Princeton, IL Bureau County Fairgrounds

8/25 Watseka, IL Watseka Family Festival

9/23 Columbus, MN Running Aces Casino

Josh has sold more than six and a half million records, reached 5 billion global streams, and has become a favorite and unforgettable hitmaker on country radio. With timeless songs like “Long Black Train” and “Why Don’t We Just Dance,” Turner’s five No. 1 singles also includes “Your Man.”

The War And Treaty will perform during the National Memorial Day Concert on PBS this Sunday (May 28th). The concert, which will be broadcast on PBS as well as the American Forces Network, will also feature performances by Trace Adkins, Jo Dee Messina, Yolanda Adams, Phillip Phillips, Broadway actress Megan Hilty, Actor-singer Chosen Jacobs and the National Symphony Orchestra, among others. Also appearing are actors Gary Sinise, Joe Mantegna, Mary McCormack, Dulé Hill, S. Epatha Merkerson and John Slattery.

The National Memorial Day Concert honors our country’s veterans and servicemen and women, and for more than 30 years, this TV special has featured musical performances, documentary footage and more inspirational moments.

The PBS special premieres Sunday (May 28th) beginning at 8pm ET/7pm CT and will repeat at 9:30pm ET. The concert can also be streamed live on PBS.org, on YouTube and the PBS app.

We're thrilled to share the lineup for the 2023 National Memorial Day Concert! Don't miss the live broadcast on PBS at 8/7c, Sunday, May 28th.

— National Memorial Day Concert (@MemorialDayPBS) May 21, 2023

The War And Treaty’s Michael Trotter Jr. has his own story to tell.

The Story of Us: Sometimes we win the wars in our life by sheer dumb luck. pic.twitter.com/ZEpFC5RKxk

— The War And Treaty (@warandtreaty) May 19, 2023

Tyler Hubbard is sitting atop the Mediabase/Country Aircheck chart this week with his hit song “Dancin’ In The Country,” marking his second No. 1 as a solo artist, and his 21^st career chart topper on Country Radio. Hubbard now holds the record for most spins in an official tracked week on Mediabase country’s mainstream panel.

Written by Tyler, Keith Urban, Ross Copperman and Jon Nite, “Dancin’ In The Country” is the second single off Hubbard’s debut solo album, Tyler Hubbard. His debut single, “5 Foot 9,” also hit No. 1 and was released exactly one year ago (5/20/22). Hubbard celebrated his first year as a solo artist this past weekend when he surprised fans with a 75-minute pop-up show at Nashville’s famed honky tonk, The Stage, on Saturday night. 

“Having a second No. 1, one year to the day after my debut solo single was released, is really incredible,” said Hubbard. “It’s been an amazing year, and I’m thankful to Country Radio and the fans for embracing my music, and to Keith, Ross and Jon for sharing their creative genius with me.”

“Dancin’ In The Country” has almost 155M global streams, already hit No. 1 on SXM’s The Highway and the MusicRow chart, and the song spent three weeks at No. 1 on the Canadian Country Radio Chart. CMT calls the track “bouncy banger infused with thrilling guitar pull and Hubbard’s signature country-pop sound.”

Tyler is continuing to write, record and tour the country at fairs and festivals throughout the summer.

Keith Urban returned to ABC’s American Idol for Sunday night’s (May 21st) season finale. He mentored the Top 3 contestants, and he also performed his hit, “Wild Heart,” for all the dreamers on the show. Iam Tongi was crowned the winner of this season.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fqWhrJJUL2w

Keith Urban will release Volume 2 of a special No. 1’s exclusive vinyl at Walmart on August 11th.  It includes 12 No. 1 Hits from his entire catalog of albums.  The vinyl will be on exclusive purple/grape vinyl and will include a limited-edition poster inside. The track list includes such chart-toppers as “John Cougar, John Deere, John 3:16,” “Break On Me,” “We Were Us” (with Miranda Lambert), “You Gonna Fly,” “Once in A Lifetime,” “Who Wouldn’t Wanna Be Me” and “Making Memories of Us,” as well as many more. Volume 1 is also still available and features “Somebody Like You,” “The Fighter” (with Carrie Underwood), “Blue Ain’t Your Color,” “Days Go By,” “You’ll Think of Me” and “Long Hot Summer,” among others.

Eric Church is set to release the THIRD pressing of his 2015 album, Mr. Misunderstood, on blue vinyl on June 9^th. The collection features the title track, “Chattanooga Lucy,” “’Round Here Buzz,” “Holdin’ My Own” and “Record Year,” among others.

Alan Jackson was the subject of a recent episode of the game show Jeopardy with the answer being “What is ‘Chattahoochie?'”

Did you guess the correct answer on @Jeopardy last night? #Chattahoochee30 pic.twitter.com/qLZLaBduWx

— Alan Jackson (@OfficialJackson) May 18, 2023

Sam Hunt posted a handful of photos of him with his daughter, Lucy, and wife Hannah, to his socials. Sam just released the song, “Women In My Life.”

She is worth far more than rubies pic.twitter.com/TygWOCshUf

— Sam Hunt (@SamHuntMusic) May 22, 2023

Tyler Hubbard surprised fans with a pop-up show at Nashville’s popular Broadway hotspot, The Stage, on Saturday night (May 20th) to celebrate the one-year release of his No. 1 debut solo single, “5 Foot 9.” He also celebrated his second No. 1 for “Dancin’ In The Country.”

Carrie Underwood celebrated her 15th Anniversary as a member of the Grand Ole Opry with a two-show performance this past Saturday (May 13th). While she says it’s unbelievable she’s been a member for a decade and a half, it’s something that has always meant so much to her.

Carrie made her Grand Ole Opry performance debut on June 10th, 2005, just two weeks after winning American Idol. Underwood’s love for the Opry started as a child as she grew up watching and listening to the show, dreaming of one day performing there and even becoming a member herself. The multi-GRAMMY®/CMA/ACM award winner was officially inducted in to the Opry family on May 8th, 2008 by fellow Oklahoman, Opry member Garth Brooks.

“It’s hard to believe that it’s been 15 years that I have been a member of the Grand Ole Opry, but it has always been just something that’s meant so much to me. I feel like I’ve been very blessed to take a part in a lot of awards shows and things like that over the years, but kind of having THIS thing in my career that I feel like I was able to accomplish is just one of the most important things that I think I have ever done,” says Carrie. “I love the Opry. I love the family. I love that it signifies being a part of country music, and we all it the Mother Church and we do so for very good reason. It is like going to church and you can pay your respects to those that came before, those that are playing now and whoever’s going to come later on. So, it’s just a really cool thing just being able to be a part of that family. I always love going to the shows, and you never know who’s going to be on stage and you hear a lot of people doing what they love. It’s like singing in your living room. It’s very comfortable and relaxed and very sweet.”

The Oklahoma native will return to the stage of the Grand Ole Opry for two shows on June 6th before heading back to Las Vegas to continue her residency at Resorts World June 21st.

Tyler Hubbard is closing in on the top spot on the country chart with his latest hit, “Dancin’ In The Country,” and he says it’s the perfect song to end his show.

“Every time we start playing ‘Dancin’ In The Country,’ the energy just goes through the roof, you know. It just gets wilder and wilder, and it feels like the set hits a climax, and it’s really, really fun,” says Tyler. “The crowd goes crazy, and it’s a just a good way to end the set. Everybody leaves the show really happy. Everybody’s singing that song. It’s sort of an earworm. Even myself, I’m singing it for the next two hours after the set, just because it’s stuck in my head. So, it’s a special song and it’s a fun one to leave the fans with.”

You can catch Tyler live at various fairs and festivals, as well as in Nashville at Nissan Stadium during CMA Fest June 8th before hitting the road with Old Dominion for select dates later this year. For more information on Tyler tour dates, click here.

Travis Denning is getting ready to tie the knot to longtime girlfriend/fiance, Madison Montgomery, this month, and he cannot wait to be married.

“I’m really looking forward to just being married, honestly. That’s kind of the most important part of the wedding I’m looking forward to,” says Travis. “It’s gonna be a beautiful ceremony. I’m excited to see all our friends and family, and of course, the reception’s gonna be a good ole time. And then after that, I’m looking forward to the honeymoon. We’re going to Switzerland.”

The pair were engaged in October 2021 in New York’s Central Park.

She Said Yes. pic.twitter.com/rboBEM9AqD

— Travis Denning (@Travis_Denning) October 30, 2021

He’s been a little bit involved with the planning of the upcoming nuptials, especially when it comes to food and drink, but not when it comes to all of the decorations. “I’ve been semi-involved. I picked the alcohol package and the food, and I think that’s kind of two of the more important things of a wedding,” he says. “Past that, I’ve been told to just sit down and be quiet, because truthfully, I have a horrible taste for aesthetic and luckily, Madison has a great taste for it.”

When the couple hits the floor for their first dance as husband and wife, the pair will sway along with a tune from The Rocket Man. “Our first dance song is ‘Your Song’ by Elton John. We’re both huge Elton fans, and that song, I think, just kind of speaks to both of us. It’s always been our song, for sure.”

Travis recently released two new songs, to celebrate Madison just weeks ahead of his upcoming wedding. The songs were a surprise to his future wife, Madison Montgomery. “Second Best Thing,” was written by Denning, Nathan Spicer and Scooter Carusoe and “New Year’s Kiss,” which is a peek into their relationship, was written by Denning, Shane McAnally and Nathan Spicer. Both tracks were produced by Jeremy Stover and Paul DiGiovanni.

The season finale of American Idol takes place this Sunday, and the Top 3 contestants – Megan Danielle, Colin Stough and Iam Tongi – will vie for the sought-after title of “American Idol.” Judge Luke Bryan tells us this season of the singing competition features probably the most talented singers he’s seen so far. He also feels a responsibility to give each of them the best chance possible to make it.

“I think the talent on this year of American Idol is the best we’ve ever had. When I look at our Top 10, any of those kids can go and be massive superstars. And I think it’s really important for us to put these kids in a situation where they want to be in music their whole life and they want to get out there and tour and make all their dreams come true.”

Luke is set to perform his latest single, “But I Got A Beer In My Hand,” in addition to a star-studded line-up, including Keith Urban who will come back to the Idol stage to mentor the finalists and to perform a song of his own. Fellow judges Katy Perry and Lionel Richie will also perform, as well as Lainey Wilson, Jelly Roll, Season 2 stars Clay Aiken and Ruben Studdard, Ellie Goulding, James Blunt, Jazmine Sullivan, Kevin Cronin from REO Speedwagon, Kylie Minogue, Lauren Daigle, Pitbull and TLC, among others.

The American Idol Season 21 finale will air live on Sunday (May 21st) at 8pm ET/7pm CT on ABC.

Luke Bryan and Peyton Manning return to co-host this year’s CMA Awards. The pair first hosted Country Music’s Biggest Night in 2022 and led to a three-year high in viewership.

The dynamic duo are the fourth hosting team to repeat as CMA hosts; Barbara Mandrell and Mac Davis co-hosted the show three consecutive years from 1980-1982; Brooks & Dunn co-hosted three years running (2004-2006), followed by Brad Paisley and Carrie Underwood from 2008 to 2018.

The 57th CMA Awards will air live from Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena November 8th at 8pm ET/7pm CT on ABC.

Little Big Town’s 2012 Tornado album has been certified double-platinum by the R.I.A.A. (Recording Industry Association of America). The album, which features the No. 1 songs “Pontoon” and the title track, “Tornado,” stayed atop the Billboard Country Albums charts for its first five weeks, making it their longest running No. 1 album.

When the album was released, the group hoped fans would have it as one of their go-to records. I hope it’s a record that stays in their collection for years to come,” said Karen Fairchild. “You know, like one of those timeless records? That would be an amazing compliment to know that I was in someone’s playlist or go-to list of someone’s records that defined a summer time or a period in their life. I can name records for me that when I go back and I think about moments in my life, it was like my theme song or my theme record.”

Our album, Tornado, is certified multi-platinum! Thank you for continuing to listen and love these songs over the years. https://t.co/CGzFmDB93V pic.twitter.com/QdgFb7RA3m

— Little Big Town (@littlebigtown) May 15, 2023