• ERIC CHURCH TAKES FANS BEHIND-THE-SONG OF ‘MISTRESS NAMED MUSIC’ FROM HIS MR. MISUNDERSTOOD ALBUM.

    Eric Church, along with producer Jay Joyce and members of Eric’s band, talk about the song, “Mistress Named Music,” from his surprise release album, Mr. Misunderstood. The song talks about chasing a song down, which is exactly what they did with this song. Check out their conversation below.

    Video / Eric Church Behind-the-Song of 'Mistress Named Music'

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  • JON PARDI RELEASES HIS SOPHOMORE ALBUM — ‘CALIFORNIA SUNRISE’ — ON JUNE 17TH.

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    Jon Pardi releases his highly-anticipated sophomore album, California Sunrise, on June 17. The album’s lead single, “Head Over Boots,” is a swinging, mid-tempo tune currently climbing country radio’s Top 20 and gaining Top 15 in country track sales. The song immediately connects with fans and gives a taste of what to expect from the California native’s upcoming second studio album.

    Pardi is often commended for sticking to his traditional country roots. “I always want to have the traditional country soul while meeting the new standards of country music,” explains the country singer. As with traditional country music, much of the appeal comes from a compelling narrative. Pardi adds, “As a songwriter, we’re looking for a good story and we’re always looking to push the limits. I love having those lyrics that at first make you think it’s about one thing, but it’s really about something so much more.”

    In the studio, Pardi and Butler captured a palpable live energy on California Sunrise by recording each song with a full band. “I’m a big fan of a live band recording and it was really important for me to get that sound on my record,” says Pardi. “The heart of this record comes across with a live band. We used seven guys – one band, and there’s something special about that.”

    California Sunrise Track List:

    1. Out Of Style
    2. Cowboy Hat
    3. Head Over Boots
    4. Night Shift
    5. Can’t Turn You Down
    6. Dirt On My Boots
    7. She Ain’t In It
    8. All Time High
    9. Heartache On The Dance Floor
    10. Paycheck
    11. Lucky Tonight
    12. California Sunrise

    California Sunrise is the follow-up to Pardi’s celebrated debut album, Write You A Song,featuring his Gold-selling Top 10 hit, “Up All Night,” along with fan-favorites “What I Can’t Put Down,” “Missin’ You Crazy” and “When I’ve Been Drinkin.’”

    Pre-order packages available now include a California Sunrise vinyl, T-shirt and autographed guitar. Click HERE for more information.

    To listen to Pardi’s current single, “Head Over Boots,” and more songs that inspiredCalifornia Sunrise, click HERE or use the playlist embed code found HERE.

    For information, images, tour dates and more, please visit www.JonPardi.com.

    www.JonPardi.com | facebook.com/JonPardi | twitter.com/JonPardi | instagram.com/JonPardiPics

    Audio / Jon Pardi explains the changes he’s gone through between his first album, Write You a Song, and his new sophomore effort, California Sunrise.

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    Jon Pardi (changes between albums) OC: …other stuff. :50
    “As I have traveled everywhere, it does something to you, and you sing more and you see your fans and you see something grow. And with me, like we never had huge chart success but had a good fan base out there. So, it was a good like keep going even though what you want, it’s not there yet, and you kind of like take all that in and you know what your fans like and you know what country radio, kind of where that’s at and how you can kind of meet in the middle where you still get where you started out with and you can still kind of like – I call it a more mature me after this next record of knowing what’s going to work. Not to say I know. I don’t even know what’s going to work. But what I was saying was, it’s just a direction that I kind of know what I want because I’m more comfortable with who I am from traveling and other stuff.”

  • CHRIS STAPLETON HEADS HOME WITH RAM TRUCKS AND ACM LIFTING LIVES.

    Chris Stapleton and Ram Trucks, in conjunction with ACM  Lifting Lives, the charitable arm of the Academy of Country Music, today announced a partnership that will see the two-time Grammy Award winner return to Johnson Central High School, his alma mater, located in Stapleton’s hometown of Paintsville, Kentucky.   During the visit, Ram Nation volunteers (a grassroots team of Ram truck owners) and students from the Johnson Central High School carpentry program will dedicate an outdoor performance space, The Golden Eagle Stage Powered By RAM Trucks, for the school’s use.   It will be located on the grounds of Johnson Central High School, and was constructed by JCHS carpentry students in conjunction with Ram Nation volunteers.

    In addition, Stapleton will perform a closed afternoon concert for students, educators and administrators at the Johnson Central High School Gymnasium.  Later that evening, Stapleton will return to the same stage for his sold-out ‘Ram Trucks Hometown Concert’ for the Paintsville community.

    “While the story of Chris Stapleton may not be widely known, it’s one of pride, dedication and perseverance, all values important to our Ram truck owners,” said Marissa Hunter, Director of Brand Advertising, FCA US. “It’s a great opportunity and honor for us to go back to Paintsville with Chris to document his return to the place that built his character and work-ethic. Ram will be creating videos from this experience to show millions of people the very special town and moments that made Chris the man he is today.”

     

    About Ram Trucks

    The Ram Truck brand is sponsoring the March 24 Paintsville activities as part of its ongoing relationship with Stapleton. In conjunction with his 2015 Traveller album, the brand first partnered with the award-winning and critically acclaimed artist, who is a Ram truck owner himself, for a series of episodic videos telling stories of Stapleton and real Ram truck owners’ experiences travelling in their trucks. The videos can be seen at https://www.youtube.com/ramtrucks along with a“Waltz Across Texas” videofeaturing Stapleton’s powerful vocals (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KJQVOlnleuk).

    Ram Nation is a grassroots volunteer corps of Ram owners and like-minded people willing and ready to lend a helping hand in their communities when an opportunity arises. Truck owners interested in answering future calls to help, whether its mobilizing volunteers to assist in disaster relief efforts or proactive community outreach initiatives, can sign up for Ram Nation at RamTrucks.com/RamNation.

    About ACM Lifting Lives®
    ACM Lifting Lives® is the philanthropic arm of the Academy of Country Music dedicated to improving lives through the power of music. Through partnerships with artists and strong ties in the music industry, ACM Lifting Lives develops and funds music-related therapy and education programs, and serves members of the community who face unexpected hardships through its Diane Holcomb Emergency Relief Fund. Through generous donations and the support of artists and fans, ACM Lifting Lives is able to fund everything from disaster relief and helping communities in need, to music education in schools and music camps for those with disabilities and supporting programs that use music therapy as a means to help our veterans and wounded warriors ease back into life.  For more information, please visit www.ACMLiftingLives.org.

    Video / Chris & Ram Trucks 1

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  • ERIC CHURCH EXPLAINS WHY HE SURPRISE RELEASED HIS ACM NOMINATED ALBUM, ‘MR. MISUNDERSTOOD.’

    Eric Church has six nominations going into this year’s ACM Awards, including Album of the Year for his surprise record, Mr. Misunderstood, which dropped unexpectedly at last fall’s CMA Awards. While the album certainly surprised fans and the industry alike, the inspiration also came unexpectedly for the North Carolina native.

    “I didn’t expect inspiration to really strike the way it did. I mean, I certainly didn’t sit down and expect to write an album or have an album, but it happened that way. When it happened, all of it happened in about 30 days, I thought it was a crime against that inspiration to when it fell out like that to just put it on a shelf for a while,” says Eric. “So, we decided to, instead of what most people do which is based around hype which is to let the label have the product and let the media or our critics, we decided to let the fans have it first. So, snail mail, we sent out about 80,000 of the vinyl and CDs and really let the fans be the mouthpiece for what this album was.”

    Eric, who is climbing the country charts with his latest single “Record Year,” is also nominated for Entertainer of the Year, Male Vocalist of the Year, Video of the Year for the album’s title track, as well as two more nominations, Musical Event of the Year and Song of the Year, for “Raise ‘Em Up” with Keith Urban.

    The 51st Annual Academy of Country Music Awards will be broadcast live from the MGM Grand in Las Vegas April 3rd at 8pm ET on CBS.

    Audio / Eric Church explains why he surprised everyone by releasing his ACM-nominated Album of the Year, Mr. Misunderstood, without any buildup.

    Download

    Eric Church (MM album) 1 OC: …album was. :41
    “I didn’t expect inspiration to really strike the way it did. I mean, I certainly didn’t sit down and expect to write an album or have an album, but it happened that way. When it happened, all of it happened in about 30 days, I thought it was a crime against that inspiration to when it fell out like that to just put it on a shelf for a while. So, we decided to, instead of what most people do which is based around hype which is to let the label have the product and let the media or our critics, we decided to let the fans have it first. So, snail mail, we sent out about 80,000 of the vinyl and CDs and really let the fans be the mouthpiece for what this album was.”

  • LUKE BRYAN HAS BEEN ANNOUNCED AS ONE OF THE FIRST PERFORMERS FOR THE ACC AWARDS IN MAY.

    Luke Bryan is set to perform on the AMERICAN COUNTRY COUNTDOWN AWARDS. It will honor the year’s best country music with awards, performances, special moments and additional surprises. This year’s host, additional performers and award finalists will be announced in the coming weeks. Florida Georgia Line and Thomas Rhett will also perform.

    Tickets for the AMERICAN COUNTRY COUNTDOWN AWARDS go on sale to the general public March 22nd at 10am PT at www.ticketmaster.com.

    The AMERICAN COUNTRY COUNTDOWN AWARDS is based on country music’s longest-running radio countdown show (43 years), “American Country Countdown with Kix Brooks,” and honors country music’s biggest stars, based on album sales and radio airplay.

    The show will air live from the Forum in Inglewood, California, Sunday, May 1st on FOX.

  • CHRIS STAPLETON ADDS MORE TOUR DATES.

    If you haven’t had a chance to see Chris Stapleton in concert, never fear. He’s added several more shows to his touring schedule this spring and summer. In addition to his dates with Luke Bryan and Hank Williams, Jr., he’s also got several headlining gigs with Jason Isbell, Aubrie Sellers, Anderson East and Sam Lewis on select shows. Tickets for the new shows go on sale Friday (March 18th).

    Go to Chrisstapleton.com for more information on tour dates or to see when he’s coming to your town.

    In other news, Chris, who’s up for seven ACM Awards next month, has announced he’s returning to his homestate of Kentucky, the town of Paintsville, to be exact, to perform a FREE concert at Johnson Central High School Gymnasium. The show, sponsored by Ram Trucks, will take place March 24th; tickets were handed out on a first come, first serve basis.

    Chris is sitting inside the Top 10 on the country charts with “Nobody to Blame.”

  • JON PARDI KICKS HIS ‘BOOTS’ UP FOR HIS LATEST SINGLE.

    You never know when the inspiration for a song might hit, and for Jon Pardi’s latest single, “Head Over Boots,” it was at a Texas dancehall.

    “I was at a Texas dancehall with my dad, and I was just watching older people and young people two-stepping around a circle and listening to old country and everybody seemed so happy. I just kind of soaked that in,” says Jon. “It was actually like a positive love song about growing old together, being together. It was a very easy song to write. It just kind of came out of me.”

    Jon wrote the song with Luke Laird (“Last Name,” “Pontoon,” “Drink in my Hand”), and the tune is the first release from his upcoming album, due out later this year.

    Audio / Jon Pardi talks about coming up with the idea for his current single, “Head Over Boots.”

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    Jon Pardi (Head Over Boots idea) OC: …out of me. :55
    “I was at a Texas dancehall with my dad, and I was just watching older people and young people two-stepping around a circle and listening to old country and everybody seemed so happy. I just kind of soaked that in. As a songwriter, you can just soak a feeling; you can watch a movie and come up with a song just because of how it makes you feel. So, that makes me feel like I need a song that fits in this situation. So, the next morning I woke up and had a cup of coffee, and I just started strumming the guitar and I came up with the whole chord progression and ‘I want to sweep you off your feet tonight and spin you around on some old dance floor.’ I had it and I was like, ‘I’m going to play this for Luke. I know we can do this.’ He loved it and he like did a little drum loop thing and it was real fun, and we just kind of had the ‘Head Over Boots’ idea title come up and I kind of talked about the positive love song I wanted. So when you dance with somebody, it was actually like a positive love song about growing old together, being together. It was a very easy song to write. It just kind of came out of me.”

    Video / Jon Pardi lyric video 'Head Over Boots'

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  • DIERKS BENTLEY IS UP FOR THE CHALLENGE OF CO-HOSTING THIS YEAR’S ACM AWARDS.

    Dierks Bentley jumped at the chance to co-host this year’s ACM Awards with his pal, Luke Bryan. It seems the Phoenix native is always up for a challenge, such as when he was learning how to pilot his own plane or taking chances with his music or seizing new opportunities to stretch himself, like hosting a major awards show.

    “I’m constantly picking things up just to see if I can do them, and I view music that way in some ways. I try to challenge myself to make better records,” says Dierks. “The idea of hosting the ACMs – that’s pretty crazy. Yeah, let’s give it a shot and see what happens. So, it should be a lot of fun. I feel pretty comfortable with Luke, obviously, being around him, and I’ve watched those guys the last couple of years, and I think I can get up there and take a shot at it.”

    The 51st Academy of Country Music Awards will air live from the MGM Grand in Las Vegas April 3rd at 8pm ET/PT delayed on CBS.

    Dierks is making his way up the charts with “Somewhere on a Beach,” his fastest rising single to-date.

    Audio / Dierks Bentley says he’s “up” for the challenge of hosting the ACM Awards with his buddy, Luke Bryan.

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    Dierks Bentley (ACMs challenge) OC: …shot at it. :26
    “You know, I love challenges. It’s, I’m always up for a challenge, anything. I’m constantly picking things up just to see if I can do them, and I view music that way in some ways. I try to challenge myself to make better records. The idea of hosting the ACMs – that’s pretty crazy. Yeah, let’s give it a shot and see what happens. So, it should be a lot of fun. I feel pretty comfortable with Luke, obviously, being around him, and I’ve watched those guys the last couple of years, and I think I can get up there and take a shot at it.”

    Audio / LINER Dierks Bentley (ACM liner)

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    “Hey! I’m Dierks Bentley. Join me and my pal, Luke Bryan, for this year’s ACM Awards April 3rd on CBS. You never know what’s gonna happen.”

    Audio / LINER Dierks Bentley (ACM liner) 2

    Download

    “Hey! I’m Dierks Bentley. I’m hosting the ACM Awards. Join me and that other guy…I think his name is Luke Bryan…April 3rd for the 51st Academy of Country Music Awards on CBS.”

  • WATCH SOME OF THE HIJINKS ON THE SET OF ERIC PASLAY’S ‘HIGH CLASS’ VIDEO.

    Watch some of the outtakes of the “High Class” video below with Eric Paslay and his special guests, Charles Kelley, Kristian Bush and Maddie and Tae.

    Video / Eric Paslay High Class video outtakes

    We had a little too much fun creating this video. Check out a few of the bloopers from the filming of #HighClass. #MusicMonday http://bit.ly/HighClassVid

    Posted by Eric Paslay on Monday, March 21, 2016
  • DAVID NAIL MAKES HIS DEBUT AT C2C FESTIVAL OVERSEAS.

    DN C2C 1David Nial - Sara Lincoln Photography-8

    David Nail made his debut at the Country to Country (C2C) Festival at The O2, London – Europe’s largest country music festival. Nail played the BBC Radio 2 Country Stage and the inaugural Sounds Like Nashville late night stage at Indigo at The O2.

    “It was remarkable to witness the fanbase that country music has overseas,” said David Nail. “I was blown away by the support we received. I can not wait to get back.”

    Nail’s current single “Nights on Fire,” from his upcoming album Fighter is at No. 25 on the country singles charts.

    MCA Nashville and Grammy-nominated recording artist David Nail, considered to have one of the most distinct and powerful voices in country music today, released his third album, I’m A Fire, to massive acclaim. I’m A Fire landed on many BEST OF lists including Rolling Stone Country, NPR, iTunes and Billboard. And the album’s first single, “Whatever She’s Got,” was a No. 1 certified PLATINUM hit and was named one of the Top 3 country songs of 2014 by Billboard. Nail has been in the studio working on his upcoming new album, Fighter. His current single “Nights On Fire,” from the new album is currently climbing the country singles charts.

    No stranger to the road, Nail’s own headlining tour I’M A FIRE TOUR was named one of the Must See Concert Tours by Rolling Stone Country. He has toured with Taylor Swift, Darius Rucker, Lady Antebellum, Little Big Town, Sugarland, Gavin DeGraw and Kenny Chesney and most recently with Darius Rucker’s Southern Style Tour. For all tour dates go to http://www.davidnail.com
    Follow @DavidNail on Twitter: https://twitter.com/davidnail

    Official Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DavidNail

    PHOTO CREDIT: Courtesy of C2C Festival London