Catch Lauren Alaina‘s performance of her single, “Road Less Traveled,” on NBC’s Today show on Thursday (September 8th).
Lauren is opening for Alan Jackson on the Still Keepin’ It Country Tour, which makes it next stop September 30th in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
Gary Allan’s latest release, “Do You Wish It Was Me,” had some tough competition when it came time to pick the first single.
“Jonathan Singleton and Andrew Dorff. Man, I’ve always wanted to write with both of ‘em. I had a song already that I wanted to beat, so I basically took that song and played it for them and said, ‘If we beat this, we have a single,’” says Gary. “And, then we went through a couple of their hooks, landed on the hook. It was a great write. It was an easy write, and then I tracked it with my band and my band absolutely delivered. I love the track, so proud of it.”
Fans will be able to hear the song when he performs it during his show September 30th in Little Rock.
Gary Allan (writing Do You Wish It Was Me) OC: …proud of it. :27
“Jonathan Singleton and Andrew Dorff. Man, I’ve always wanted to write with both of ‘em. I had a song already that I wanted to beat, so I basically took that song and played it for them and said, ‘If we beat this, we have a single.’ And, then we went through a couple of their hooks, landed on the hook. It was a great write. It was an easy write, and then I tracked it with my band and my band absolutely delivered. I love the track, so proud of it.”
Lauren Alaina debuts her current single, “Road Less Traveled,” on the Today show Thursday (September 8th) on NBC.
Dierks Bentley performs “Freedom,” from his album, Black, Thursday night (September 8th) on the 2016 NFL Kickoff at 7:30pm ET on NBC.
Darius Rucker recently narrated the NASCAR Production, Southern Speed: The Legend of Darlington for NBCSN. Current NASCAR drivers Jimmie Johnson, Carl Edwards and Kurt Busch were featured, along with racing legends Dale Jarrett, Kyle Petty and Jeff Burton. They reflected on how the Southern 500 became a stock car racing edition.
Luke Bryan released his first-ever Farm Tour EP, Here’s to the Farmer, on Friday (September 23rd). The five-song collection, three of which he co-wrote, coincides with his eighth annual Farm Tour, which is set to kick-off October 5th in Gaston, South Carolina.
Luke says being surrounded by farmers – including his father who was a peanut farmer – gave him a great work ethic and foundation, especially after moving to Nashville to pursue his dream of being a country artist.
“My whole existence and 90% of the men that I grew up with in my life were all farmers and of that background. So, it was just what I knew. I saw all of the struggles that all of them dealt with – the things that they could control and the things that they can’t,” he says. “Just that whole farming mentality, you can learn so many things from, from just how to properly do business and how to do business like you should. It’s a pretty resilient business, and at the end of the day, it was a great foundation of upbringing to prepare me for another type of farming, which is music. So, it’s all farming up something whether you’re farming corn or songs, I guess. So, certainly growing up like that taught me a lot.”
Luke is also “moving” up the country charts with his latest single, “Move,” from his Kill the Lights album.
Buy Link: http://umgn.us/farmtourep
Stream link: http://strm.to/FarmTour
D2C: http://lukebryan.gobigwin.com/
Luke Bryan (grew up with farmers) OC: …coming out. 1:12
“My whole existence and 90% of the men that I grew up with in my life were all farmers and of that background. So, it was just what I knew. I saw all of the struggles that all of them dealt with – the things that they could control and the things that they can’t. I mean, it’s an interesting dynamic being a farmer. I watched my dad deal with the ups and the downs, and so much of it is weather-related and we all know we certainly can’t do anything about that. Just that whole farming mentality, you can learn so many things from, from just how to properly do business and how to do business like you should. It’s a pretty resilient business, and at the end of the day, it was a great foundation of upbringing to prepare me for another type of farming, which is music. So, it’s all farming up something whether you’re farming corn or songs, I guess. So, certainly growing up like that taught me a lot, and certainly honored to have started the Farm Tour and now to have an album coming out.”
“Country music’s most relatable star” (Esquire) Dierks Bentley has a full week ahead with national television performances that showcase his depth and diversity across all major broadcast networks. Ahead of the Denver Broncos’ Super Bowl rematch against the Carolina Panthers tomorrow (9/8), the multi-CMA nominee will perform the anthemic album cut “Freedom” off his No. One album BLACK during the 2016 NFL KICKOFF PRESENTED BY HYUNDAI (NBC & NFL Network at 7:30P ET on 9/8) pregame festivities. He will perform that same track, as well as honor Glen Campbell, on CBS’ broadcast of 10th Annual ACM Honors the following night at 9:00P ET. Additionally, Bentley was tapped to reimagine David Bowie’s “Heroes” with Keith Urban and Little Big Town during the 5th Annual Stand Up To Cancer telecast (ABC, CBS, FOX, NBC at 8P ET on 9/9).
Bentley’s “game-changing” (Taste Of Country) single “Different for Girls” with friend Elle King climbs up the Top 5 at Country radio after receiving a CMA nomination last week for “Musical Event of the Year.” As a top nominee with four total nods, Bentley was also recognized in the “Album of the Year” category for his No. One selling and critically acclaimed BLACK, “Male Vocalist of the Year” and “Music Video of the Year” for his Platinum multi-week No. One summer anthem “Somewhere On A Beach.”
This weekend Bentley will bring his “massive summer trek” (Entertainment Weekly) to the West Coast with capacity crowds (9/9 in Mountain View, CA; 9/10 in Irvine, CA; 9/11 in Chula Vista, CA) on his 2016 SOMEWHERE ON A BEACH TOUR. Bentley has extended the run with additional arena dates through the end of October with Randy Houser and Drake White. For more information and a full list of tour dates, visit www.dierks.com
Darius Rucker has never recorded a song like “If I Told You,” the first single from his upcoming album, due out next year. Working with producer Ross Copperman (Keith Urban, Dierks Bentley, Brett Eldredge), Darius says he’s having so much fun recording different stuff.
“I’ve never sung anything like ‘If I Told You’ before, and the whole album is like that are songs that I don’t know if I’d ever done. And it’s been fun. It’s been amazing. We’re so excited that we have singles and we have great album tracks. I mean, it’s gonna be fun puttin’ this one out.”
He says of all the songs he has recorded for the new album, “If I Told You” was the perfect first single. “Every time everybody hears it, they go, everybody that makes these decisions all went, ‘Wow! That’s a great song. Great production on it. It’s what we’ve been looking for,” says Darius. “It was really, the cream just rises to the top, and that one just rose to the top of the songs that we cut already.”
Darius is also featured on “Forever Country,” a star-studded song celebrating the CMA Awards 50th Anniversary.
Darius Rucker (If I Told You) 3 OC: …putting this one out. :23
“You know, this whole new project. I’m working with Ross Copperman, and we’re having fun just doing some different stuff. I’ve never sung anything like ‘If I Told You’ before, and the whole album is like that are songs that I don’t know if I’d ever done. And it’s been fun. It’s been amazing. We’re so excited that we have singles and we have great album tracks. I mean, it’s gonna be fun puttin’ this one out.”
Darius Rucker (If I Told You) 4 OC: …cut already. :17
“‘If I Told You’ was easy to pick as the first single, because every time everybody hears it, they go, everybody that makes these decisions all went, ‘Wow! That’s a great song. Great production on it. It’s what we’ve been looking for.’ It was really, the cream just rises to the top, and that one just rose to the top of the songs that we cut already.”
Tune-in Friday, September 9, 2016 at 9:00pm ET/PT on CBS for the television debut of the 10th Annual ACM Honors™. Hosted by multi-ACM Award-winning group Lady Antebellum, the two-hour special is dedicated to celebrating honorees and off-camera category winners from the 51st Academy of Country Music Awards.
The television special features an all-star lineup of live performances as well as award presentations celebrating honorees including Special Awards recipients Glen Campbell, Crystal Gayle,Eddie Rabbitt (awarded posthumously), Tanya Tucker, Carrie Underwood, Keith Urban, Jeff Walker (awarded posthumously), Jimmy Webb, Little Big Town and The Statler Brothers. Additionally, Jason Aldean was honored with the ACM Triple Crown Award and Miranda Lambert was presented with the inaugural ACM Merle Haggard Spirit Award. Ross Copperman was also honored as Songwriter of the Year.
Artists who performed in tribute to the honorees include:
The Academy’s Studio Recording Award winners were celebrated in a pre-televised ceremony, and many served as the house band for the night under the direction of music director Frank Liddell. Backing up artists during performances on the telecast were ACM Guitarist of the Year Derek Wells, ACM Bass Player of the Year Michael Rhodes, ACM Specialty Instruments Player of the Year Danny Rader and ACM Piano/Keyboards Player of the Year Jim “Moose” Brown, who also served as bandleader. Other Studio Recording Award honorees included Producer of the Year Dave Cobb, Audio Engineer of the Year Justin Niebank, Drummer of the Year Shannon Forrest and Steel Guitar Player of the Year Paul Franklin.
The ceremony presenters included Blake Shelton, Cole Swindell, Dierks Bentley, Emmylou Harris, Kelsea Ballerini, Little Big Town, Luke Bryan, Maren Morris, Martina McBride, Mike Fisher,Thomas Rhett, and Toby Keith. The event was taped at Nashville’s historic Ryman Auditorium in Nashville, TN, and sponsored by City National Bank and Kendra Scott.
About ACM Honors™
ACM Honors™ is an evening dedicated to recognizing the special honorees and off-camera category winners from the Academy of Country Music Awards, including the Special Awards, Studio Recording Awards and Songwriter of the Year Award winners. The 10th Annual ACM Honors was taped on Tuesday, August 30, 2016 at Nashville’s historic Ryman Auditorium and – for the first time ever – was produced for television by dick clark productions to be broadcast on Friday, September 9 (9:00-11:00 PM, ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network. Allen Shapiro, Mike Mahan, R.A. Clark, Barry Adelman and Mark Bracco are executive producers. Tiffany Moon is executive producer for the Academy of Country Music. For more information, visit www.ACMcountry.com.
Photo L-R: Shannon Campbell, Keith Urban, Blake Shelton, Dierks Bentley and Toby Keith performing at the 10th Annual ACM Honors in tribute to Glen Campbell. Photo Credit: John Shearer/Getty Images for ACM/ Courtesy of the Academy of Country Music)
Chris Stapleton picked up the trophy for Artist of the Year at the 15th Annual Americana Awards Wednesday night (September 21st). The awards show was held at Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium. “Thank you to all the Americana radio stations out there, it’s been a big part of what we’ve been doing,” Chrissaid, genuinely touched by the Artist of the Year award. “I’m nervous, there’s so many heroes out here in audience and up here on the stage, this is a remarkable thing.”
George Strait attended the 15th Annual Americana Awards this week to present singer-songwriter Jim Lauderdale with the Lifetime Achievement Award.
Sam Hunt will be one of the headliners at the 5th Annual Taste of Country Music Festival. He’ll join previously announced headliner Jason Aldean at next year’s festival, being held June 9th – 11th at Hunter Mountain Resort in Hunter, New York.
Darius Rucker shot the video for his latest single, “If I Told,” at the top of the Capitol building in Los Angeles on Wednesday (September 21st).
Shooting he new video for If I Told You in the top of the @CapitolRecords building and this is my view. Awesome!!!!! pic.twitter.com/aCwnfWi01o
— Darius Rucker (@dariusrucker) September 22, 2016
Mickey Guyton performed her single, “Heartbreak Song,” on NBC’s Today show on Wednesday (September 21st).
Kacey Musgraves will release her very first holiday album, “A Very Kacey Christmas” Featuring Leon Bridges, Willie Nelson & The Quebe Sisters on Friday, Oct. 28. Produced by Musgraves, Misa Arriaga and Kyle Ryan, the album features four festive original tracks, co-written by Musgraves, as well as covers of eight holiday favorites.
“Working on my first Christmas album has been one of the most enriching musical experiences I’ve ever had and I can’t wait for everyone to hear it,” said Musgraves. “I really wanted to create a whimsical throwback holiday record, one that evokes feelings of nostalgia and simpler times. I think that the fine musicians and brains that were a part of this project have helped me create a body of music that can be added to people’s classic collections.”
To Musgraves, holiday music has always had a great combination of pop sensibilities and melodies, and when she began to work on the album, she knew she wanted to create something unique. It’s been an exciting experience for her to watch these songs come alive. “It would have been easy to simply copy old versions of these songs that have been around forever, but it was very important for us to build arrangements that are totally new and very me.”
Inspired by Bing Crosby, the Andrew Sisters, Nat King Cole and the classic sounds of the ‘40s, ‘50s and ‘60s, “A Very Kacey Christmas” features the Grammy Award-winner’s charming take on classic standards, as well as four original tracks to put her personal perspective on the holidays. “There can be a touch of sad feelings and memories during the holiday season for a lot of people so I knew when I went in to write I wanted to include all the emotions this time of year can bring out.” It’s tough to decide what the overall sound could be described as but Musgraves says it’s “part Western Swing sprinkled with bits of classic pop, hazy Hawaiian moments and child-like fun, all coming to a nostalgic and melancholy end.”
Track Listing:
The Texas native has earned massive critical acclaim for her first two albums, the Gold-certified debut album Same Trailer Different Park in 2013 and Pageant Material in 2015. Musgraves has taken home the award for “New Artist of the Year” at 2013’s CMA Awards and also won two Grammy Awards for Best Country Song (“Merry Go ‘Round”) and Best Country Album (Same Trailer Different Park), the ACM Award for Album of the Year (Same Trailer Different Park), and most recently the 2014 CMA Award for Song of the Year (“Follow Your Arrow”). Launched last August, The Kacey Musgraves Country & Western Rhinestone Revue has sold-out famous venues all over the world, including the famed Royal Albert Hall in London. She recently opened for George Strait’s exclusive Las Vegas shows in April, with additional performances scheduled for Sept. 9 and 10 and Dec. 2 and 3.
For additional information, please follow Kacey Musgraves on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
In conjunction with the art project, a new website – AngelsInThisTown.com – also launches as a call to action for fans to profile the heroes and positive stories in their own lives and towns across the country. Additionally, as fans share their stories, take pictures with Montague’s Angel Wings, and use the hashtag #angelsinthistown, they may see their post featured on the site, presented by Dexcom. A few lucky fans, handpicked by Eric, will not only see their stories re-posted to Eric’s social media, but may also hear from the singer himself.
“Angels In This Town” is now available for download at all digital retail outlets. To stream the song, visit the “Angels In This Town” playlist HERE.
The unique single art is by Original Street Art by Kelsey Montague, located at 11th Ave. South in the Gulch, between the Gulch Crossing and Velocity buildings, Nashville, Tenn. Montague is an internationally renowned artist that explores how public art, interactive art and social media intersect. Her murals invite people into the piece and then to share online. “I believe that art should not be separated from the human experience. Instead the human experience should have a hand in creating the art itself,” said Montague on her website. To learn more about Montague and her work go towww.kelseymontagueart.com
“Angels In This Town,” is written by Paslay, Corey Crowder and Erik Dylan, from his forthcoming sophomore album, DRESSED IN BLACK.
About Dexcom, Inc.
Dexcom, Inc., headquartered in San Diego, CA, is dedicated to helping people better manage their diabetes by developing and marketing continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) products and tools for adult and pediatric patients. With exceptional performance, patient comfort and lifestyle flexibility at the heart of its technology, users have consistently ranked Dexcom highest in customer satisfaction and loyalty. For more information on the Dexcom CGM, visit www.dexcom.com.
About Eric Paslay
EMI Records Nashville breakout country artist, Eric Paslay, delivers a powerful punch as a renowned, Platinum-selling, hit songwriter and dynamic performer. Paslay has celebrated five No. 1 hits including “Even If It Breaks Your Heart” (Eli Young Band), “Barefoot Blue Jean Night” (Jake Owen), “Angel Eyes” (Love & Theft), “Rewind” (Rascal Flatts) and “Friday Night,” the smash lead single from his critically acclaimed self-titled debut album. The Temple, Texas native earned nominations for GRAMMY Best Country Song, ACM Song of the Year and CMA Song of The Year for “Even If It Breaks Your Heart” in 2013 and earned his first GRAMMY nomination as an artist in 2016 for Best Country Duo/Group Performance for “The Driver”- a collaboration with friends Charles Kelley and Dierks Bentley. Most recently he was honored with an ACM Song of the Year nomination for “She Don’t Love You” at the 2016 ACMs in Las Vegas. A true artist’s artist, USA Today calls Paslay “flat out-brilliant” and American Songwriter names him an influencer of country music.
Paslay has joined friends Chris Young and Brad Paisley on tour this past year and is currently out with Toby Keith this summer as part of “The Interstates and Tailgates Tour, Presented by Ford F-Series.” On the road he has been sharing new songs with fans from his forthcoming sophomore album, DRESSED IN BLACK, including his brand new single “Angels in This Town”- an especially meaningful song for Paslay as it celebrates not only the unexplained miracles in life but also local heroes around the world.
For the latest information on Paslay go to: