Dierks Bentley and the world’s leading live entertainment company Live Nation shared the upcoming Labor Day Weekend’s (Sept. 3-5) stacked lineup today, following a special series of Bentley performing covers of some of the artists on his curated lineup, revealed exclusively with Billboard and available to watch here.

https://twitter.com/DierksBentley/status/1402316996130136070

Set to take place against the the mountains of Buena Vista, Colorado, it was revealed that the festival will host headlining performances by Keith Urban and Dierks. Kip Moore, Old Crow Medicine Show, Randy Houser, Hot Country Knights, Clay Walker, Travis Denning, Ingrid Andress, Molly Tuttle, Mark Chesnutt, Caitlyn Smith, Hailey Whitters, Pam Tillis, Callista Clark, Jackson Dean, Ray Fulcher, Willie Jones, Caroline Jones, Rapidgrass, Reyna Roberts, Payton Smith and Aydamn will also perform.

https://twitter.com/DierksBentley/status/1401886579686363141

https://twitter.com/DierksBentley/status/1401977257799921667

Three-day passes go on sale beginning June 18th at 10am MT.

“Getting the green light to book artists and plan our third annual Seven Peaks was the single best piece of news I’ve gotten in the last year,” shared Bentley. “It is my favorite weekend of the year, and I know every fan and artist that has been there will tell you the same. It’s the only time my band and crew ever show up to a gig a week early too…because we can’t wait to be out there with our friends and fans soaking up the Colorado sunshine and mountain vibes.” 

For more information fans can visit sevenpeaksfestival.com, Facebook: Seven Peaks Festival, Twitter: @sevenpeaksfest and Instagram: @sevenpeaksfest.

This summer, Dierks will launch his 2021 BEERS ON ME TOUR with special guests Riley Green and Parker McCollum on August 13th at Salt Lake City, Utah’s USANA Amphitheatre. For tickets and more information visit Dierks.com.

Dierks is currently making his way to the top of the country charts with his latest song, “Gone.”

This year’s CMT Music Awards will include cool collaborations, featuring some of the format’s biggest stars. Carrie Underwood will team with Christian supergroup NEEDTOBREATHE; while Lauren Alaina and Jon Pardi pair up. More collaborations include Mickey Guyton and BRELAND, Luke Bryan and Thomas Rhett, as well as Chris Stapleton and Luke Combs.

Previously announced performances and collabs include Brothers Osborne and Dierks Bentley, Mickey Guyton and Gladys Knight and the Marfa Tapes trio of Miranda Lambert, Jack Ingram and Jon Randall. 

The top six finalists will be revealed for “Video of the Year” Tuesday (June 1st) with voting for the night’s most sought-after prize continuing through the show on June 9th.

The 2021 CMT Music Awards will air from Nashville on Wednesday, June 9th at 8pm ET/7pm CT.

Today, Nashville singer/songwriter Sam Williams has announced his debut album, Glasshouse Children, is arriving August 20th via Mercury Nashville. Watch the teaser trailer for the album HERE.

Pre-order Glasshouse Children HERE

Glasshouse Children is an introspective meditation on hurt and healing, growth and loss, and sin and redemption, but more than that, it’s a reckoning with fate and freewill and the family ties that bind us. Sam’s skyscraping vocals shine through these ten lush, cinematic songs, as he delivers gut-wrenching, honest and plainspoken lyrics with raw vulnerability and deep empathy.

To bring the album to life, Williams recorded primarily in Nashville with Jaren Johnston (The Cadillac Three, Keith Urban, Tim McGraw), and other producers such as 5 time GRAMMY-nominated producer Paul Moak (Joy Williams, Ashley Monroe), Sean McConnell, Bobby Holland and more. The record includes co-writes with notable songwriters such as Dan Auerbach (The Black Keys), Sean McConnell (Little Big Town, Christina Aguilera, Rascal Flatts), Justin Parker (Lana Del Ray, Dua Lipa) and Jaren Johnston. It also features collaborations with country music icon Dolly Parton on “Happy All the Time,” and the legendary Keith Urban who plays guitar on “Kids.”

Ahead of the release, today, Sam shares “Kids (Feat. Keith Urban).”  Of the song, Williams says “Kids is a reflection of the monotonous negativity that comes with staying in the same town your entire life. While you want to get out, you still feel like a child, so you stay and continue the cycle.” “Kids” was written by Hank Compton, Boots Ottestad (Robbie Williams, Tim McGraw) and Eric Arejes (Tim McGraw, Thompson Square, Rachel Wammack), produced by Jaren Johnston (Keith Urban, Thomas Rhett) and features Keith Urban on electric guitar. Listen to “Kids (Feat. Keith Urban)” now HERE.

To date, Sam has shared five songs as a taste of what’s to come from Glasshouse Children — “Kids (Feat. Keith Urban)” was preceded by “10-4,” “Can’t Fool Your Own Blood,” “SHUTEYE” and “The World: Alone,” a song he released in honor of his late sister Katie Williams’ 28th birthday. The tracks have received critical acclaim from the likes of American Songwriter, Billboard, NPR and Rolling Stone who praised “Can’t Fool Your Own Blood” as “a haunting performance worthy of his surname.”

This past April, Sam made his television debut on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, performing “Can’t Fool Your Own Blood.” Shot in one take at his grandfather Hank Williams Sr.’s house in Franklin, Tenn., the camera weaves in between different rooms of the abandoned home as Sam delivers a beautifully intimate performance highlighting his vocal prowess. Watch it now.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N13cti2SFYE

Glasshouse Children Track Listing:

1. Glasshouse Children
2. Happy All The Time (Feat. Dolly Parton)
3. Can’t Fool Your Own Blood
4. Bulleit Blues
5. 10-4
6. Wild Girl
7. Kids (Feat. Keith Urban)
8. SHUTEYE
9. Hopeless Romanticism
10. The World: Alone

Five-time Entertainer of the Year Luke Bryan blazed the trail for the country music industry this weekend with the launch of his PROUD TO BE RIGHT HERE TOUR becoming the first major country tour to hit the road this year. After a forced fifteen-month hiatus shut down the concert industry, Luke, along with guests Dylan Scott, Caylee Hammack and DJ Rock, played to capacity crowds in Syracuse, Hershey, and Boston. His PROUD TO BE RIGHT HERE TOUR is slated to run through October 16 with 35+ shows.

From the stage this weekend Luke thanked his fans for enduring all the postponements, schedule changes and delays before getting to this weekend. “It means the world to me that you guys showed up after all these changes.”

WATCH the Entertainer of The Year enjoy receiving the energy back from his fans during performance

Media exclaimed Luke’s performance “set the bar high for the rest of the concert season,” “was electrifying” as “the excitement of watching live music was evident in the crowd.”

The tour was originally announced in January 2020 to come alongside Luke’s BORN HERE LIVE HERE DIE HERE album release and was named from a line in the album’s title track. Since the tour was paused due to the global pandemic, Luke’s fans remained dedicated and helped to send multiple songs from the album to #1- “Knockin’ Boots,” “What She Wants Tonight,” “One Margarita,” and “Down To One”- most that Luke has yet to play live.

2021 PROUD TO BE RIGHT HERE TOUR DATES:

July 16 Hartford, CT – Xfinity Theatre

July 17 Bristow, VA – Jiffy Lube Live

July 18 Holmdel, NJ – PNC Bank Arts Center

July 22 Cincinnati, OH – Riverbend Music Center

July 23 Charlotte, NC – PNC Music Pavilion

July 24 Raleigh, NC – Coastal Credit Union Music Park at Walnut Creek

July 30 Nashville, TN – Bridgestone Arena

July 31 Orange Beach, AL – The Wharf

Aug 5   Bangor, ME – Darling’s Waterfront Pavilion

Aug 6   Gilford, NH – Bank of New Hampshire Pavilion

Aug 7   Gilford, NH – Bank of New Hampshire Pavilion

Aug 8   Philadelphia, PA – BB&T Pavilion

Aug 12 Columbia, MD – Merriweather Post Pavilion

Aug 13 Wantagh, NY – Northwell Health at Jones Beach Theater

Aug 14 Darien Center, NY – Darien Lake Amphitheater

Aug 19 St. Louis, MO – Hollywood Casino Amphitheater

Aug 20 Indianapolis, IN – Ruoff Music Center

Aug 21 Chicago, IL – Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre

Aug 27 Rogers, AR – Walmart AMP

Aug 28 Dallas, TX – Dos Equis Pavilion

Aug 29 Brandon, MS – Brandon Amphitheater

Sept 3   Welch, MN – Treasure Island Amphitheater

Sept 23 San Diego, CA – North Island Credit Union Amphitheatre

Sept 24 Phoenix, AZ – AK-Chin Pavilion

Sept 30 Bend, OR – Les Schwab Amphitheater

Oct 1    Bend, OR – Les Schwab Amphitheater

Oct 2    Portland, OR – Sunlight Supply Amphitheater

Oct 8    Los Angeles, CA – STAPLES Center

Oct 9    Mountain View, CA – Shoreline Amphitheatre

Oct 10  Sacramento, CA – Toyota Amphitheatre

Oct 14  Irvine, CA – FivePoint Amphitheatre

Oct 15  Fresno, CA – Save Mart Center

Oct 16  San Bernardino, CA – Glen Helen Amphitheater
Dylan Scott on all dates
Caylee Hammack on all dates through August 14
Runaway June on all dates beginning August 19
DJ Rock on all dates

Lipton Iced Tea is the official sponsor of the PROUD TO BE RIGHT HERE TOUR. CITI is the official presale credit card and Live Nation is the official tour promoter.

Opry NextStage has named MCA Nashville’s Platinum-selling, rising country star Parker McCollum as the featured artist for July.

Developed by Opry Entertainment Group and the Grand Ole Opry, Opry NextStage invests in the discovery and development of new artists and highlights one up-and-coming artist per month. Nashville-based country breakout artist Hailey Whitters served as the inaugural artist for 2021.

McCollum, the ACM-nominated New Male Artist of the Year, stepped into the iconic Opry center stage for his Grand Ole Opry debut in February of this year and is set to return to the Opry on Tuesday, July 20.

“Parker has a way of connecting with fans through a sound that is about as real as it gets,” says Jordan Pettit, Director of Artist Relations & Programming Strategy at Opry Entertainment Group. “We look forward to shining a spotlight on his craft as he continues to win over the hearts of our audiences.”

Opry NextStage collaborations include live performances, strategic marketing support and short-form documentary-style storytelling created by Opry Entertainment’s award-winning content team.

Opry NextStage initially launched in 2019 with four diverse artists making incredible music at the forefront of their careers. The inaugural class included Riley Green, Tegan Marie, Tenille Townes and Travis Denning.

Opportunities for Opry NextStage artists include but are not limited to:

• Feature performances on the Grand Ole Opry and Circle’s Opry Live broadcast and livestream (when possible)
• Performance at a special Opry NextStage concert in 2021 and additional live opportunities
• Content produced by Opry Entertainment’s award-winning content team that utilizes all Opry Entertainment venues including Nashville’s historic Ryman Auditorium and Ole Red locations in Nashville; Gatlinburg, TN; Tishomingo, OK; and Orlando, FL
• Exclusive content to be distributed via Circle broadcast, streaming and video-on demand channels
• Customized marketing and promotion activations utilizing Opry web and social assets including Opry.com and Opry Entertainment’s millions of combined social followers
• Other opportunities including outdoor advertising, 650 WSM-AM radio specials

For more information on Opry NextStage, visit opry.com/nextstage.

For 95 years, the Grand Ole Opry has created opportunities for artists throughout the country music spectrum to make strong connections with fans and fellow artists – on its stages and across its channels – from terrestrial radio to network television to the digital universe and to Circle, which is home to Opry Live and earned the Opry the No. 1 spot on Pollstar’s Top 100 Livestreamers Chart. Audiences around the world look to the Opry to showcase the very best in country music.

Since its inception, the Opry has helped launch the careers of countless artists, including Roy Acuff, Patsy Cline, Little Jimmy Dickens, George Jones, Loretta Lynn, Bill Monroe, and Dolly Parton, to name just a few. Award-winning group Little Big Town made its very first public appearance as a group on the Opry stage in 1999, and Carrie Underwood cemented a place in country music with her first Opry appearance less than two weeks after having been named American Idol in 2005.

Darius Rucker is featured in this week’s episode of  “Dinner Drive With Kyle Petty,” a new series hosted by NASCAR legend and multi-time Cup Series winner Kyle Petty.

The episode, which airs Thursday (July 22nd) at 8pm on the Circle Network, has Darius driving Kyle around his hometown of Charleston, South Carolina in the singer’s vintage Volkswagen Karmann Ghia.

Had fun catching up with @kylepetty on @dinnerdrivekp! We drove around Charleston in my Karmann Ghia listening to music. Tune in on Thursday, July 22 at 8pm EST on @CircleAllAccess and @peacockTV! pic.twitter.com/pF1BT7Cmph

— Darius Rucker (@dariusrucker) July 19, 2021

They stop at Pearlz Oyster Bar, and then hit up a back porch to pick up guitars and talk about success, living in the South and their love for country music.

Other famous faces appearing in episodes of “Dinner Drive With Kyle Petty” include Dale Earnhardt, Jr., Pitbull and wrestler Ric Flair.

Darius is currently making his way up the country charts with “My Masterpiece.”

Jordan Davis says he changed instantly the moment his daughter, Eloise, was born in the fall of 2019, and with a new baby boy expected in September, every aspect of his life and wife Kristen’s have been impacted dramatically.

“I’m very blessed to have Eloise and to have another baby coming in September. It’s tough to put into words the change of becoming a dad. It really is an instant change in just your outlook on everything,” says Jordan. “I think it’s been amazing for me just to come home and see Eloise be so excited. It puts a lot of things into perspective. I think it’s helped with my music. It’s helped with every aspect of my life. Becoming a dad, it’s the coolest thing that’s ever happened to me.”

Jordan, who just released his new EP Buy Dirt, is making his way towards the top of the country charts with his latest hit, “Almost Maybes.”

In case you missed it, Brothers Osborne performed the emotional “Younger Me” during this year’s “Can’t Cancel Pride” event broadcast by iHeartRadio. They performed the song in front of the Tennessee State Capitol Building in Nashville, and the black and white video also featured LGBTQ+ youth and their families. Watch their performance and the official music video for “Younger Me” below.

John and TJ, who are making their way up the country charts with their single, “I’m Not For Everyone,” hit the road with their We’re Not For Everyone Tour launching July 23rd in Louisville, Kentucky.

Alan Jackson, Mickey Guyton and Vince Gill performed during this year’s National Memorial Day Concert on PBS in honor of the upcoming 20th anniversary of the deadly September 11th attacks.

Mickey kicked off the evening with her stunning performance of the National Anthem.

Alan performed his song “Where Were You (When the World Stopped Turning),”

While Vince performed “Go Rest High On That Mountain.”

Alan Jackson has been tapped to perform at the inaugural Music City Grand Prix August 8^th. For three days in August, the streets of downtown Nashville will be filled with racing, music and food, and the temporary street circuit will take racers by Nissan Stadium, over the Korean War Veterans Memorial Bridge into downtown.

Less than a month until Alan takes the stage at the Grand Ole Prix show during the inaugural Big Machine @MusicCityGP on Aug. 8th! Show starts at 7PM. #musiccitygp #bigmachinemusiccitygp @opry

Tickets are available at https://t.co/lbeRXN8Lsr pic.twitter.com/1zExqaH4tF

— Alan Jackson (@OfficialJackson) July 15, 2021

Carrie Underwood will be one of the headliners at next year’s Stagecoach 2022, taking place in Indio, California April 29^th – May 1^st. The other headliners for the festival include Thomas Rhett and Luke Combs, as well as performances by Brothers Osborne, Maren Morris, Lee Brice, The Black Crowes, Cody Johnson and many more. Tickets are on sale now.

Lauren Alaina will perform during the 14^th Annual Academy of Country Music Honors on August 25^th, along with Devin Dawson, Sara Evans, HARD, Chris Janson, Lady A, Ashley McBryde and Lee Ann Womack. The event will be held at Nashville’s historic Ryman Auditorium and will be livestreamed on Circle Network’s social channels