Brandon Lay owes some of his extreme work ethic and teamwork to playing basketball in high school. The singer-songwriter, who just made his Grand Ole Opry debut, was one of the smallest guys on the basketball court, so he had to work a little bit harder than other guys to prove himself. The same can be said for his music career.

“I was usually the smallest guy on the court, and I had to work harder than other people and I feel the same in music,” says Brandon. “[Basketball] taught me that work ethic and nobody’s going to give you anything and somebody’s always wanting what you’ve got when you do get on top. I’m fortunate [that] I had good coaches. Basketball in high school was just the best thing for me. I mean, everything stopped for those games and we had fun because we were best friends – me and my teammates. And so, losing together, winning together, just the whole small town thing, having rivals and giving it all you got. It’s just something that sticks with you

Brandon, who still loves a good pickup game on the road, is currently making his way up the country charts with his latest song, “Yada Yada Yada.”

Jordan Davis performed at half-time during Sunday Night Football’s match-up yesterday (October 28th) between the New Orleans Saints and Minnesota Vikings. New Orleans came from behind to win the game 30-20.

I can’t believe I just played Sunday Night Football… pic.twitter.com/xBPpuR2NBM

— Jordan Davis Music (@JordanCWDavis) October 29, 2018

Keith Urban, Chris Stapleton and Lady Antebellum will headline next year’s C2C: Country to Country music festival. The three-day event, which runs March 8th-10th in London, Glasgow and Dublin, will also feature performances by Lyle Lovett, Brett Eldredge, Dustin Lynch and many more.

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— Country2Country (@C2Cfestival) October 22, 2018

Josh Turner was able to take a couple of days to spend with his family (which includes his wife and four sons) at Disneyworld in Orlando, Florida for the boys fall break. His first gospel album, I Serve a Savior, is available now.

Very grateful to sneak in a quick family vacay for the boys’ fall break. Not sure who had more fun… me or them. pic.twitter.com/WIt2sYXkrm

— Josh Turner (@joshturnermusic) October 28, 2018

Kacey Musgraves covered Keane‘s “Somewhere Only We Know” for the BBC last week, and over the weekend, the band’s Tom Chaplin joined her at her show in London for a live performance of the song.

https://twitter.com/CAFCfanDanii/status/1056295840120221697

Named one of the “most-anticipated country albums” this fall by USA Today, multi-platinum-selling country singer Josh Turner’s I Serve A Savior released today to critical acclaim, “bypassing the Saturday-evening revelry of most modern-day country,” as stated by Rolling Stone. The collection of hand-picked hymns, alongside brand-new originals and live recordings of some of Turner’s most memorable hits, I Serve A Savior “complements the singer’s baritone voice. All the while, [Turner] manages to put his distinct spin on the classics,” says Sounds Like Nashville adding, “I Serve A Savior provides a much-needed message of hope to the listener… and proves that [Turner’s] gospel album was well worth the wait.”

For I Serve A Savior, Turner collaborated with GRAMMY Award-winning producer Kenny Greenberg. Greenberg calls the album “a vocal tour de force” with a bluegrass flare. “This is where he comes from and who he is. This is what he grew up listening to and it became this labor of love.”

Making I Serve A Savior was a dream come true for Turner, with his faith as the basis of the project, as he told The Tennessean in an upcoming Sunday cover story. Additionally, the gospel project is one that fans have been asking to hear for years and it “adds new meaning to the songs that have defined Turner’s spirituality while allowing him to contribute his own voice,” says Taste of Country. Bringing a new dimension to the GRAMMY® nominee’s already acclaimed career, “Turner has outdone himself,” with his latest faith-based endeavor according to Digital Journal, who calls each track on the project “warm, inspirational and unique. It is evident that this studio effort was a labor of love for Turner.”

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In addition to the 12-track studio project, Turner has released a complementing 90-minute live performance DVD featuring a special interview of Turner with gospel legend Bill Gaither, a performance with Turner alongside his wife, Jennifer, their four sons, and more. The DVD has been edited to air as a one-hour television special hosted by Bill Gaither, which will air this week on numerous networks across the U.S. and Canada, and will continue to air throughout the fall. Click here for more information on networks and air times.

Talking with People.com, Turner discussed working with his family on the album stating, “I wanted to have a moment on this record where I could feature [my kids] and my wife. It’s kind of wild and I think it might be the beginning of something special because all four of my boys seem to have a strong musical talent. Whether or not they pursue that as a career, time will tell. I don’t know what the Lord is calling them to do.”

Check out Josh’s Gospel Greats playlist HERE. To listen and to purchase Josh Turner’s I Serve A Savior, click HERE.

About Josh Turner:
With his rich, deep voice and distinctive style, MCA Nashville recording artist Josh Turner is one of country music’s most recognizable hit-makers. From his 2003 Platinum-selling debut Long Black Train to his 2017 Billboard No. 1 release, Deep South, Turner has scored multiple GRAMMY®, CMA and ACM Awards nominations and received six Inspirational Country Music Awards. As one of the youngest members inducted into the Grand Ole Opry, Turner has sold more than 8 million units, topped more than 1.5 billion in global streaming and populated radio with such memorable hits as “Hometown Girl,” “Would You Go With Me,” “Your Man,” “Time Is Love,” “Why Don’t We Just Dance” and “Long Black Train.”

With his latest, I Serve A Savior, Turner adds an exciting new dimension to his already acclaimed career. I Serve A Savior is a thoughtful gospel collection that finds Turner’s rich, distinctive baritone paired with timeless classics including “Amazing Grace,” “How Great Thou Art” and “Great Is Your Faithfulness,” as well as introducing originals including the title track, “I Serve A Savior,” and “The River (of Happiness),” written by his wife, Jennifer, and their eldest son, Hampton.

Turner is a disciple of traditional country music, a mentor to up-and-coming artists, and one of the youngest members of the Grand Ole Opry.  Turner has been an Opry member for over 10 years and he recently reveled in his 150th performance on the famed Opry circle.

The Hannah, S.C. native has been songwriting and performing since he was a child, and in support of music education, he created The Josh Turner Scholarship Fund to assist students interested in pursuing a future in arts and music. As a high school student, Turner had very little access to music education, therefore realizes first-hand the importance of arts education in schools. For more information on Josh Turner including a list of his upcoming tour dates, visit www.JoshTurner.com.

Get Connected with Josh Turner:
Website: http://joshturner.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/joshturner/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/joshturnermusic/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/joshturnermusic

Current three-time CMA nominee Dierks Bentley announced today that his 2019 BURNING MAN TOUR will kick off on January 17th in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada with special guests Jon Pardi, Tenille Townes and Hot Country Knights. Bentley is known to “pull out all the stops, not quitting until the crowd is whipped into a frothy frenzy” (On Milwaukee) and will continue to do so in 2019 with the run named after his “most affecting song” (Rolling Stone) and hit single “Burning Man” feat. Brothers Osborne.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BpZV9YcFuYe/?taken-by=dierksbentley

Citi® cardmembers will have access to purchase pre-sale tickets beginning October 31st through Citi’s Private Pass® program. For complete pre-sale details visit www.citiprivatepass.com. Initial public on-sales are scheduled for Friday, November 2nd beginning at 10:00a local time via www.dierks.com and www.livenation.com, where additional dates will be announced in the coming weeks.

“I talked to Jon Pardi last April about the idea of going back on the road together one last time, and I am so happy that I can finally let our fans in on this,” said Bentley. “I’m still coming off the high of playing Hollywood Bowl and the last tour but knowing that this Burning Man Tour with Pardi was out there waiting has been so awesome. We cannot wait to get back on the road!”

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Bentley adds, “Who we bring with us on tour is so important to the band, crew and me and the addition of Tenille Townes is something we are all stoked about. Our hardcore fans are aware of the 90s country cover band, the Hot Country Knights, who have been following us around and opening shows. They talked us into having them on the actual billing for this tour…hope their van has snow tires for Canada!”

Dierks will make notable stops throughout the country including his return to Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena after making a sold-out headlining debut in 2016.

2019 BURNING MAN TOUR Dates:
1/17/19    Hamilton, ON – FirstOntario Centre
1/18//19   Ottawa, ON – Richcraft Live at the Canadian Tire Centre
1/19/19    Oshawa, ON – Tribute Communities Centre
1/22/19    Winnipeg, MB – Bell MTS Place
1/23/19    Saskatoon, SK – SaskTel Centre
1/24/19    Edmonton, AB – Rogers Place
1/26/19    Calgary, AB – Scotiabank Saddledome
1/28/19    Kelowna, BC – Prospera Place
1/29/19    Vancouver, BC – Pepsi Live at Rogers Arena
2/14/19    Ontario, CA – Citizens Business Bank Arena
2/15/19    Fresno, CA – Save Mart Center
2/16/19    Reno, NV – Reno Events Center
2/21/19    Lexington, KY – Rupp Arena
2/22/19    Nashville, TN – Bridgestone Arena
2/23/19    Columbia, MO – Mizzou Arena
2/28/19    Sioux Falls, SD – Denny Sanford PREMIER Center
3/01/19    Wichita, KS – INTRUST Bank Arena
3/02/19    Omaha, NE – CHI Health Center Omaha
3/07/19    Moline, IL – TaxSlayer Center
3/08/19    Duluth, MN – AMSOIL Arena
3/09/19    Grand Forks, ND – Alerus Center
3/28/19    Toledo, OH – Huntington Center
3/29/19    Columbus, OH – Nationwide Arena
3/30/19    Grand Rapids, MI – Van Andel Arena

The multi-PLATINUM singer/songwriter “has one of Country music’s most enviable brands, equal parts affability and authenticity” (Forbes). Reaching a new creative high while “making music designed to challenge” (New York Times), Bentley co-wrote 10 of his current album THE MOUNTAIN’s (Capitol Records Nashville) 13 tracks, which earned him the highest debut sales of his career and became his seventh chart-topping album. Bentley has amassed 17 career No. Ones, billions of digital streams, countless nominations from the ACMs, Billboard Music Awards and more while earning 13 GRAMMY  nominations – including at least one stemming from each of his last six albums.

Bentley continues with his endeavors outside of the music industry by partnering with Flag & Anthem to create an exclusive lifestyle collection, Desert Son, and with four Dierks Bentley’s Whiskey Row locations throughout the country. For more information visit www.Dierks.com.

Jon Pardi’s GOLD-certified album CALIFORNIA SUNRISE (Capitol Records Nashville) debuted at #1 on Billboard’s Top Country Albums chart earning him CMA “New Artist of the Year” and ACM “New Male Vocalist Of The Year.” Pardi dominated the top of the country music charts with consecutive #1 hits including 2x Platinum-selling songs “Dirt On My Boots” and “Head Over Boots,” and Platinum-certified “Heartache On The Dance Floor.” ESPN debuted the music video for Pardi’s fifth single “Night Shift,” which is currently Top 30 on the Billboard Country Airplay charts and follows his fourth single “She Ain’t In It.” CALIFORNIA SUNRISE is the follow up to WRITE YOU A SONG (Capitol Records Nashville), which debuted at #3 on Billboard’s Top Country Albums chart and yielded Top 10 GOLD-selling song “Up All Night,” “What I Can’t Put Down,” “Missin’ You Crazy” and “When I’ve Been Drinkin” (all co-written by Pardi). The West Coast native and fast-rising newcomer received multiple first-ever nominations at the 2017 CMA Awards, CMT Awards, ACM Awards, AMA Awards and iHeartRadio Music Awards. For more information visit www.jonpardi.com.

Click here to download Josh Turner‘s Album Audio Toolkit for I Serve a Savior, available October 26th.

Maddie & Tae are nominated for Vocal Duo of the Year at this year’s CMA Awards, and they couldn’t be more grateful for the nomination. The pair didn’t expect a nod since they’d just released their new song, “Friends Don’t,” on a new record label (Mercury Nashville) and were putting the finishing touches on a new album.

“Being nominated this year, one-we did not, we never expected it, obviously, but we didn’t really expect it this year, because we just put the first single out and everything is slowly rolling out,” says the duo’s Maddie Marlow. “Having that nomination was like, oh wow, our peers do still feel like we’re doing something special and do still believe in us and that was a really nice spirit-lifter where we were like, ‘Oh my gosh. We are doing something right and we’re making music that people are enjoying,’ and that was just a huge, huge compliment. And we’re nominated with some of favorite people in the industry, so super fun.”

The 52nd Annual CMA Awards will broadcast live from Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena November 14th at 8pm ET/PT on ABC.

Luke Bryan wraps his What Makes You Country Tour and his XL Stadium Tour this weekend with shows on Thursday (October 25th) in Rochester, New York and Friday (October 26th) at Ford Field in Detroit.

“I just love to see the fans out there singing these big hits that they’re hearing on the radio, and I think when they can come out and see artists in that setting, I just enjoy trying to make the best fan experience” said Luke. “The fact that we can all come together and create a package for fans and at the end of the day I get so excited to put these guys in the best scenario possible to showcase what they are and where they’re going and what they’re going to be.”

Luke is currently making his way up the country charts with the title track from his latest album, What Makes You Country.

Luke is nominated for this year’s CMA Entertainer of the Year Award. The 52nd Annual CMA Awards will broadcast live from Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena November 14th at 8pm ET/PT on ABC.

Luke Bryan’s mother, LeClaire, returned to Mexico Beach to try to salvage what was left of her home following the devastation left by Hurricane Michael which hit the Florida Panhandle earlier this month.

LeClaire was staying with Luke at his home outside Nashville when the storm hit landfall in Florida. He asked friends and fans to keep his family and the residents of Florida in their prayers. “Hey everyone. Pray for my people. So many dear people I know are being affected. My mother and so many friends live in Mexico Beach.”

Luke shared a video of his mother earlier this week. She wanted to send her thanks to everyone who sent their thoughts and prayers for her and her neighbors.

Thank you so much for all the outpouring of concern for my mama over the past couple of weeks. She & her friends are sticking together & helping each other in their communities during this devastating time. Many prayers for those along the gulf coast & South Georgia. Love y’all pic.twitter.com/hliA81YuAB

— Luke Bryan (@lukebryan) October 24, 2018

Dierks Bentley, Brothers Osborne and Kacey Musgraves have been added to the list of performers at this year’s CMA Awards, along with Florida Georgia Line with Bebe Rexha, Pistol Annies and Thomas Rhett. They join previously announced performers Luke Bryan, Carrie Underwood, Keith Urban, Kelsea Ballerini, Kenny Chesney, Dan + Shay and Old Dominion.

Dierks is a three-time CMA Awards winner and 24-time career nominee. He returns this year with his seventh nod for Male Vocalist of the Year and sixth nod for Album of the Year, as well as a nomination for Musical Event of the Year with John and TJ Osborne for their current hit, “Burning Man,” which they’re performing on the awards show.

Brothers Osborne, three-time CMA Awards winners and seven-time career nominees, are the reigning Vocal Duo of the Year winners, bringing home the Award consecutively in 2016 and 2017. They return this year with their fourth consecutive Vocal Duo of the Year nomination.

Kacey is a 15-time CMA Awards nominee and two-time winner. She returns this year with her fifth Female Vocalist of the Year nomination and third Album of the Year nomination.

The 52nd Annual CMA Awards will broadcast live from Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena November 14th at 8pm ET/PT on ABC.

Eric Church’s Desperate Man held the top spot on the Billboard Country Album Chart for a second week in a row. The collection sold nearly 16,000 copies to land at No. 1, followed by Carrie Underwood’s Cry Pretty at No. 2.

Eric says the key that unlocked the album was made up of three songs. “An interesting thing about this album is that there are some crumbs that led us to this album. There were three songs that really led to the rest of the album and that’s ‘The Snake,’ which is up front on the album, that’s ‘Hippie Radio’ and that’s ‘Higher Wire,’ and there is a creative thing that happened. Those were the ether of the earlier ones that took us from we are on this path, and then we went to this path,” says Eric. “I think that if I am talking to [the fans] and they are listening to the album the album as a whole, there’s something pretty magical about those three tracks because they really made the record happen. And that’s not something that everybody would know unless I tell you. For me, that was really the key that unlocked Desperate Man.”

Eric, who is currently sitting inside the Top 20 with his latest song, “Desperate Man,” will kick off his Double Down Tour with a two-night stand in Omaha, Nebraska beginning January 18th.