Four-time Entertainer of the Year winner Luke Bryan took his Kill The Lights Tour back on the road this past weekend after a short hiatus to co-host the ACM Awards on April 3rd in Las Vegas.

All three weekend concerts sold out including the Carrier Dome in Syracuse, New York, where Luke set a record with the largest single day country concert attendance and the largest single day country concert gross in the venue’s history.

During the tour break, Luke was named the Country Artist of the Year at the iHeart Radio Music Awards, also held on April 3, and dominated as the most-nominated artist with seven category nods for the upcoming American Country Countdown Awards set for May 1.

Luke’s Kill The Lights Tour resumes this weekend in Toledo and will go on to play six stadiums concerts before wrapping in the fall.

The Georgia native is making his way up the country charts with his latest single, “Huntin’, Fishin’ and Lovin’ Every Day,” which is from his latest album, Kill the Lights.

2016 Kill The Lights Tour:

4-14                 Toledo, OH                 The Huntington Center

4-15                 State College, PA       Bryce Jordan Center

4-16                 Charlottesville, VA     John Paul Jones Arena

4-20                 Missoula, MT              Adams Center

4-21                 Missoula, MT              Adams Center

4-22                 Bozeman, MT             Brick Breeden Fieldhouse

4-23                 Bozeman, MT             Brick Breeden Fieldhouse

4-29                 Concord, CA              Concord Pavilion

4-30                 Fresno, CA                  Save Mart Center

5-1                   Indio, CA                    Stagecoach

5-12                 Omaha, NE                 CenturyLink Center

5-13                 Wichita, KS                INTRUST Bank Arena

5-14                 Oklahoma City, OK    Chesapeake Energy Arena

5-20                 Atlanta, GA                Lakewood Amphitheater

5-21                 Atlanta, GA                Lakewood Amphitheater

5-27                 Baton Rouge, LA       Bayou Country Superfest*

5-29                 Daytona Beach, FL     Country 500

6-2                   Holmdel, NJ                P.N.C. Bank Arts Center

6-3                   Atlantic City, NJ         Boardwalk Hall

6-4                   Hershey, PA                Hershey Park Stadium

6-9                   Virginia Beach, VA    Veterans United Home Loans Amphitheater at Virginia Beach

6-10                 Washington, DC         Jiffy Lube Live

6-11                 Washington, DC         Jiffy Lube Live

6-17                 Oshkosh, WI               Country USA*

6-19                 Columbus, OH            Buckeye Country Superfest*

6-24                 Toronto, ON               Molson Canadian Amphitheatre

6-25                 Toronto, ON               Molson Canadian Amphitheatre

7-7                   Milwaukee, WI           Summerfest*

7-8                   Indianapolis, IN          Klipsch Music Center

7-9                   Indianapolis, IN          Klipsch Music Center

7-15                 Boston, MA                Gillette Stadium***

7-16                 Boston, MA                Gillette Stadium***

7-17                 Bangor, ME                Darling’s Waterfront Pavilion

7-21                 Scranton, PA               The Pavilion at Montage Mountain

7-22                 Pittsburgh, PA            First Niagara Pavilion

7-23                 Pittsburgh, PA            First Niagara Pavilion

7-29                 Philadelphia, PA         BB&T Pavilion

7-30                 Philadelphia, PA         BB&T Pavilion

7-31                 Saratoga Springs, NY Saratoga Performing Arts Center

8-11                 Cleveland, OH            Blossom Music Center

8-12                 Cleveland, OH             Blossom Music Center

8-13                 Cincinnati, OH            Riverbend Music Center

8-14                 Cincinnati, OH            Riverbend Music Center

8-19                 Minneapolis, MN       U.S. Bank Stadium

8-21                 Calgary, AB                Country Thunder Calgary*

8-25                 Kansas City, MO        Providence Medical Center Amphitheater

8-26                 St. Louis, MO             Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre

8-27                 Chicago, IL                Wrigley Field

9-1                   Raleigh, NC                Walnut Creek Amphitheatre

9-2                   Charlotte, NC             PNC Music Pavilion

9-9                   Denver, CO                 Dick’s Sporting Goods Park

9-10                 Denver, CO                 Dick’s Sporting Goods Park

9-15                 Sacramento, CA          Toyota Amphitheatre

9-16                 Mountain View, CA   Shoreline Amphitheatre

9-22                 Phoenix, AZ                Ak-Chin Pavilion

9-30                 Salt Lake City, UT      USANA Amphitheatre

10-1                 Salt Lake City, UT      USANA Amphitheatre

10-22               Arlington, TX            AT&T Stadium ***

10-29               Detroit, MI                 Ford Field

Dates and Cities subject to change

*festival date

**no Little Big Town

***Chris Stapleton joins

For up to date information on Luke, the tour and tickets go to www.lukebryan.com or www.livenation.com.

https://twitter.com/lukebryanonline

https://www.facebook.com/lukebryan

http://instagram.com/lukebryan

Happy Birthday to Vince Gill, who was born on this date in Norman, Oklahoma.

Happy Birthday to Easton Corbin, who was born on this date in Trenton, Florida.

Eric Paslay has been announced as the first performer at the Riverfront Stage during this year’s CMA Music Festival. The news was revealed during a recent visit to the CMA’s office in Nashville. The rest of the performers at Riverfront will be announced on Tuesday (April 12^th). CMA Fest 2016 is scheduled June 9th-12th.

Keith Urban is one of the writers on the song “Falling,” which is American Idol winner Trent Harmon’s debut single. The former A.I. judge co-wrote the song with Dallas Davidson and Brett James.

Kacey Musgraves performed “High Time” from her Pageant Material on The Late Late Show with James Corden last week. Check it out below.

Kacey Musgraves is set to perform on Record Store Day Saturday (April 16^th) at Lunchbox Records in Charlotte, North Carolina. Other artists are set to perform at different stores around the nation, including Bonnie Raitt, Metallica and Mumford & Sons.

Dierks Bentley is swimming up the country charts with his latest single, “Somewhere on a Beach,” from his upcoming album, Black, set for release this spring. Raised in Arizona, Dierks and his family often went to Southern California to hit the beach, and he still tries to hit the sandy terrain with his family quite often.

“My favorite beach is the closest beach. I mean, I’m not picky. [laughs] Whatever’s the closest beach, that’s my fave,” says Dierks. “Now we go down to like Destin [Florida], that’s close to us here; Gulf of Mexico. Mexico itself, I mean gosh, the whole Playa del Carmen area is amazing. I got married in Cabo San Lucas, so I definitely love the beach.”

Dierks is looking forward to turning his upcoming summer tour to “Somewhere on a Beach.” The trek, which also features Randy Houser and Cam, kicks off May 12th in Holmdel, New Jersey.

In 2012 on April 10th, Keith Urban was invited to join the Grand Ole Opry by pal (and his All for the Hall co-host) Vince Gill.

The May 6th release of Keith Urban’s RIPCORD already features a virtual who’s who of writers and co-producers, but now two Grammy Award-winning artists, Carrie Underwood and Pitbull, have officially been confirmed as featured guests.

“Sun Don’t Let Me Down,” co-produced by Nile Rodgers, busbee and Urban, “was basically finished,” said Urban.  “But there was this musical breakdown about half-way into the song that we were going to leave, and then I heard this Pitbull song. I’ve always loved his vocal style and swagger, and in that moment I could hear his voice in the breakdown of the song.  So I called Nile (Rodgers) and asked him if he could send the song to Pitbull.  Thankfully he felt it, spat out a verse, and it was the most incredible feeling hearing him on the track for the first time.  It suited the spirit of the song.”

“The Fighter,” was written and co-produced by busbee and Urban. “Carrie and I toured together a few years ago and every night we’d do a song together,” said Urban.  “I’ve always loved singing with her.  We had written this song, “The Fighter,” that needed a female voice and Carrie’s voice immediately came to mind.  I can’t wait for people to hear it – and hope that we get to do it live.”

RIPCORD pre-orders are currently available at iTunes and Amazon.

RIPCORD Track Listing

1. Gone Tomorrow (Here Today)
2. John Cougar, John Deere, John 3:16
3. Wasted Time
4. Habit Of You
5. Sun Don’t Let Me Down (featuring Pitbull)
6. Getting’ In The Way
7. Blue Ain’t Your Color
8. The Fighter (featuring Carrie Underwood)
9. Break On Me
10. Boy Gets A Truck
11. Your Body
12. That Could Still Be Us
13. Worry ‘Bout Nothin’

Urban launches his “ripCORD World Tour 2016” with Brett Eldredge and special guest Maren Morris on June 2nd in Kansas City and thus far will play more than 50 shows in amphitheaters and arenas through the U.S.

For more official Keith Urban news and ticket information go to www.keithurban.net.

Country Music has lost a legend. Merle Haggard, who turned 79 today, died Wednesday (April 6th) in California, surrounded by friends and family. The Country Music Hall of Famer had been in failing health for quite some time, diagnosed with double pneumonia in December, which led to the cancellation of several dates, including a two-night stand at the Ryman Auditorium.

Haggard had 40 No. 1 songs, including “Mama Tried,” “Workin’ Man Blues,” “Okie From Muskogee” and “The Fightin’ Side of Me” and wrote many classics, some of which had been recorded by folks such as Dolly Parton, Emmylou Harris and Vince Gill, who is a lifelong fan of the iconic entertainer.

“I‘ve been a [Merle] Haggard nut my whole life,” says Vince Gill, who along with his pal Paul Franklin released Bakersfield album in 2013 (a collaborative tribute of Merle Haggard and Buck Owens songs). “And I’ve played country music, recorded country music my whole life, and I’ve tried to emulate what I loved about Merle Haggard on a lot of occasions.”

Many of country music’s brightest stars took to Twitter to offer their thoughts:

For Eric Church, he wrote and recorded “Pledge Allegiance to the Hag” for his Sinners Like Me album. The song also featured the subject of the song, Mr. Merle Haggard.

Eric Church ‏@ericchurch 
Rest in peace. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=00IEK9KdWgE …

Alan Jackson ‏@OfficialJackson 
“We lost one of the greatest singer/songwriters since Hank Williams. Inspiration to millions, great American, thank you Merle. I’ll miss you.”

Luke Bryan ‏@LukeBryanOnline 
“A true hero was lost today. Thank you for your contribution to not only country music but all music. @merlehaggard”

Keith Urban ‏@KeithUrban 
“One of the gr8 concert memories I have is seeing Merle and the Strangers at the Ryman in Nashville. We had a ‘live’ album of his when I was growing up and I felt like I’d fallin’ inside my Dad’s stereo speakers. One of my all time favorite voices – and a master songwriter. Blessings to your soulful spirit Merle & all of you family & loved ones.” – KU

Hillary Scott ‏@HillaryScottLA
“You are a cornerstone of country music @merlehaggard…u will be missed greatly. Praying for the Haggard family.”

KACEY MUSGRAVES ‏@KaceyMusgraves 
“I think I’ll just stay here and drink.”

Billy Currington ‏@billycurrington 
“rip @merlehaggard thank you for all the great music u blessed us with. we will play it forever.”

Dierks Bentley ‏@DierksBentley 
“Literally just fell to the floor. can’t believe we lost the hag. rip merle haggard.”

Toby Keith ‏@TobyKeithMusic 
“The greatest singer songwriter of my lifetime is gone. Thanks for the music and friendship. R.I.P. Hag. – T”

GaryAllan ‏@GaryAllan 
“Merle was my all-time hero. Today we lost one of the greatest songwriters of country music and I will always regret not recording with him. He was a legend and I was honored whenever we got the chance to share a stage with him. Thank you for the inspiration, the advice and for always being you. I, as well as the entire music community, will miss you Merle.”

Darius Rucker ‏@dariusrucker
“Heaven’s band just got better! RIP to the LEGENDARY @merlehaggard. Your music will never die!”

Jon Pardi ‏@JonPardi 
“Sad day today @merlehaggard has passed. RIP to a true songwriter, a pioneer of California Country, and country music.”

Kip Moore ‏@KipMooreMusic 
“RIP Merle…you paved the way for so many. You had what we all hope for…a voice that matters and survives the ever changing trends.”

Josh Turner ‏@joshturnermusic  5m5 minutes ago
“Pains me to say that country music icon @merlehaggard has passed away. So honored to have known him and shared the stage with him. Thanks Merle for all you’ve done for us!”

Mickey Guyton ‏@MickeyGuyton 
“RIP Merle Haggard. Heaven’s choir just got a heck of a lot better.”

For David Nail, seeing Merle in concert was a life-changing experience. “The night I saw Merle At the Golden Nugget, it was the single greatest combination of seeing an artist/venue/city together, that I’ve ever witnessed.  It was a spiritual experience.  I looked at my buddy multiple times in disbelief that we were actually there.  I teared up on a few songs.  I knew the greatness I was seeing/hearing.”

George Strait was a huge fan of Merle Haggard’s. He says, “When I was in the Army and stationed at Schofield barracks in Hawaii, you know Merle came there, and he played Conroy Bowl.  And I remember I was playing an NCO club that night, and before my little gig, I got to run over there and I kinda snuck in and saw Merle and it just blew me away. That’s what I wanted to be like, you know, I wanted to be like the Hag. And so, I can’t tell you how big of an influence he was on me, just huge.”

Strait also posted a reaction on his socials: “It’s a very sad day for all of us Hag fans. He was a true icon of the music world and it’s hard to believe we won’t be able to see him anymore. I honestly think that had it not been for him, I would not have chosen the path that I chose.” – G

Finalists for the 2016 American Country Countdown Awards were announced today. Luke Bryan leads the nominees with seven nods, including the night’s biggest honor, Artist of the Year. Sam Hunt has five, while Thomas Rhett and Zac Brown Band each have four.

The American Country Countdown Awards are based on country music’s longest-running radio countdown show, “American Country Countdown with Kix Brooks,” which has recognized the best in country radio for more than 40 years. This year’s host and additional performers and presenters will be announced soon.

The 2016 American Country Countdown Awards will air live from the Forum in Los Angeles, California May 1^st at 8pm ET/PT delayed on FOX. (8:00-10:00 PM ET live/PT tape-delayed) on FOX. Tickets for the American Country Countdown Awards at the Forum are on sale now atwww.ticketmaster.com.
ARTIST OF THE YEAR

Blake Shelton

Florida Georgia Line

Jason Aldean

Luke Bryan

Sam Hunt 

MALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR

Blake Shelton

Jason Aldean

Luke Bryan

Sam Hunt

Thomas Rhett

FEMALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR

Cam

Carrie Underwood

Jana Kramer

Kelsea Ballerini

Miranda Lambert
GROUP/DUO OF THE YEAR

A Thousand Horses

Dan + Shay

Florida Georgia Line

Old Dominion

Zac Brown Band
BREAKTHROUGH MALE OF THE YEAR

Chris Janson

Michael Ray

Sam Hunt

BREAKTHROUGH FEMALE OF THE YEAR

Cam

Jana Kramer

Kelsea Ballerini

BREAKTHROUGH GROUP/DUO OF THE YEAR

A Thousand Horses

Dan + Shay

Old Dominion

SONG OF THE YEAR

“Stay A Little Longer” – Brothers Osborne

“Home Alone Tonight” – Luke Bryan featuring Karen Fairchild

“Strip It Down” – Luke Bryan

“Die A Happy Man” – Thomas Rhett

“Homegrown” – Zac Brown Band

ALBUM OF THE YEAR

“Storyteller” – Carrie Underwood

“Traveller” – Chris Stapleton

“Kill the Lights” – Luke Bryan

“Montevallo” – Sam Hunt

“Jekyll + Hyde” – Zac Brown Band

DIGITAL SONG OF THE YEAR

“Girl Crush” – Little Big Town

“Kick The Dust Up” – Luke Bryan

“Die A Happy Man” – Thomas Rhett

DIGITAL ALBUM OF THE YEAR

“Anything Goes” – Florida Georgia Line

“Montevallo” – Sam Hunt

“Tangled Up” – Thomas Rhett

TOURING ARTIST OF THE YEAR

Garth Brooks

Kenny Chesney

Luke Bryan

Shania Twain

Zac Brown Band

AMERICAN COUNTRY COUNTDOWN AWARDS finalists and winners for all categories are based on radio airplay charts, sales and streaming data from April 1, 2015 to March 28, 2016 provided by BuzzAngle Music. Touring data is from Pollstar “The Concert Hotwire.” The NASH Icon Award is chosen by The American Country Countdown.

Chris Stapleton teamed up with Ram Trucks and the ACMs to journey back home in his Ram Truck to his high school in Paintsville, Kentucky. He performed a pair of concerts and left the students and community with something to build on…in the hometown that built him. Directed by rock-star photographer and director, Danny Clinch.

Chris, whose single “Nobody to Blame” won the ACM Song of the Year, left Las Vegas with six total awards, including Male Vocalist, New Male Vocalist and Album of the Year for Traveller.

Cabela’s and country music superstar and Cabela’s ambassador Luke Bryan announced the superstar’s 32 Bridge clothing line will expand to offer a new collection of apparel inspired by his new single, “Huntin’, Fishin’ and Lovin’ Every Day.” The new apparel line, named HFE, will be available exclusively at Cabela’s and debuted this past Friday (April 1st).

The HFE collection will offer both men’s and women’s apparel, including short-sleeve T-shirts, long-sleeve T-shirts, caps and more. It will be offered online at www.cabelas.com, by phone at (800) 237-4444 and at select Cabela’s retail stores.

“I grew up hunting, fishing and loving the outdoors in Lee County, Georgia,” said Bryan. “No matter where you may be from, my hope is that living the HFE lifestyle will make you feel complete. My song ‘Huntin, Fishin and Lovin Every Day’ embodies who I am as a person and an artist and I want to share that with all my fans and those who share my love for the outdoors.”

Cabela’s and Bryan collaborated to design and create the 32 Bridge clothing line to appeal to country music fans and outdoor enthusiasts. Bryan drew inspiration for the collection from his childhood home near Route 32 Bridge in Lee County, Georgia and his passion for the outdoors. The new HFE assortment expands on that inspiration and passion for the outdoors.

For additional information about Cabela’s partnership with Luke Bryan, 32 Bridge products and Cabela’s locations offering 32 Bridge, visit www.cabelas.com/32bridge.