• CHRIS STAPLETON SHOWS HIS FUNNY SIDE ON JIMMY KIMMEL WITH A ‘CHRINGEWORTHY’ PROJECT.

    Chris Stapleton showed his funny side on ABC’s Jimmy Kimmel Live Wednesday night (February 17th), just days after winning two GRAMMY Awards.

    Not only did he perform “When the Stars Come Out” with wife Morgane and producer Dave Cobb, as well as the rest of his band, but he also was game for a fake TV ad for a “special concept album,” titled Chringeworthy, in which he takes some of the most irritating words in the English language and turns them into songs. Some of the words include “delish,” “moist” and juicy,” as well as “panties,” “scrotum” and “vajayjay.”

    During the ad, Chris pledged that he would “turn all the words you hate the most, into songs you will love the most.” And, if you didn’t wait to buy it, you could also get a free tube of ointment.

    Chris tops the ACM nominations, alongside Eric Church, with five. He earned nods in both the Male Vocalist and New Male Vocalist categories, as well as Vocal Event for “Hangover Tonight” with Gary Allan, plus nominations as both artist and producer in the Album of the Year category for Traveller. These mark Chris’ first nominations as an artist. He was previously nominated as a songwriter in 2014 for “Drink A Beer,” which was recorded by Luke Bryan (with Stapleton on background vocals). The Academy of Country Music Awards will air live from the MGM Grand in Las Vegas April 3rd beginning at 8pm ET on CBS.

  • VINCE GILL KICKS OFF HIS SONGS AND STORIES TOUR WITH LYLE LOVETT.

    Vince Gill hit the road with Lyle Lovett on Wednesday night (February 17th) in Montgomery, Alabama. The pair reunited for the Songs and Stories Tour, revisiting their acoustic dates they did together last year.  It’s just the two of them and their guitars onstage at the same time, swapping stories and songs.

    “I know Lyle won’t have a plan, and I won’t either,” says Vince. “What he plays will inspire me, and probably vice-versa. It’ll be like playing ping-pong. Whatever song he chooses to sing will inspire the next song that comes out of me.”

    The two became friends in the ‘80s when Vince sang on Lovett’s second album. “We’ve been friends for a long, long time, and we did some shows together last year and just had a blast. You know, he’s got a great sense of humor and sometimes I do too, so I think the in-between song stuff is about as much fun as the song sometimes.”

    Vince just released his latest album, Down to My Last Bad Habit, which features his single, Take Me Down, featuring Little Big Town.
    Vince Gill and Lyle Lovett Songs and Stories Tour Dates:

    Feb. 17 — Montgomery, Ala. @ Montgomery Performing Arts Centre
    Feb. 18 — Huntsville, Ala. @ Von Braun Center Concert Hall
    Feb. 19 — Birmingham, Ala. @ Alabama Theatre
    Feb. 20 — Atlanta, Ga. @ Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre
    Feb. 21 — Asheville, N.C. @ Thomas Wolfe Auditorium
    Feb. 23 — Daytona Beach, Fla. @ Peabody Auditorium
    Feb. 24 — Clearwater, Fla. @ Ruth Eckerd Hall
    Feb. 25 — Jacksonville, Fla. @ Florida Theatre
    Feb. 26 — Sarasota, Fla. @ Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall
    Feb. 27 — Key West, Fla. @ Tennessee Williams Theatre
    Feb. 28 — Melbourne, Fla. @ King Center for the Performing Arts
    Feb. 29 — Fort Myers, Fla. @ Barbara B Mann Performing Arts Hall
    March 1 — Coral Springs, Fla. @ Coral Springs Center for the Arts

    Audio / Vince Gill talks about touring with Lyle Lovett.

    Download

    Vince Gill (Lyle Lovett) OC: …song sometimes. :18
    “I sang on Lyle’s, I think, second record back in about 1985, something like that. We’ve been friends for a long, long time, and we did some shows together last year and just had a blast. You know, he’s got a great sense of humor and sometimes I do too, so I think the in-between song stuff is about as much fun as the song sometimes.”

  • LUKE BRYAN IS READY TO ‘KILL THE LIGHTS’ ON THE ROAD WITH LITTLE BIG TOWN AND DUSTIN LYNCH.

    Luke Bryan kicks off his 2016 Kill The Lights Tour at the Ford Center in Evansville, Indiana on Thursday (February 18th), and he’s taking along some friends with Little Big Town and Dustin Lynch. They’ll perform nearly 70 concerts across the U.S. before wrapping this fall.  The tour also includes five stadiums shows- July 16th in Boston at Gillette Stadium, August 19th, in Minneapolis at U.S. Bank Stadium, August 27th in Chicago at Wrigley Field, October 22nd in Dallas at AT&T Stadium, and closing out the tour October 29th in Detroit at Ford Field.

    Luke couldn’t be happier that both acts will be on the road with him. ““When I found out we were able to get Little Big Town to tour with me, which is a huge honor for me. They’re headliners in themselves, and we started the talks, and I was like, ‘Oh my God. They’re interested. Let’s do this,’” says Luke. “We got together and worked it out, and now it’s my job to just get with them and create just a fun experience for the fans with them. And I was chomping at the bit to ask Dustin last year did he want to come out again. I just feel like the tour is a great package, and I think I’m just excited about the whole package. It’s gonna be an amazing year.”

    The members of Little Big Town are equally as thrilled to hit the road with their pal, Luke, and hope to be able to save some money in the long run. “Nobody throws a party bigger than Luke does, and if you don’t know this about us, we kinda like to have a good time too, so we’re not gonna have any fun,” laughs LBT’s Karen Fairchild. Her bandmate Kimberly Schlapman puts a little levity into the conversation with her tip for not spending a lot on stage clothes. “We’re gonna save some money on wardrobe because Luke, Karen and I can all wear the same jeans.”

    Over the weekend, the reigning CMA and ACM Entertainer of the Year learned his Kill The Lights album had been certified Platinum by the RIAA. The album debuted at No. 1 on both the Billboard Top 200, his third consecutive album to do so, and Top Country Albums charts. Kill The Lights contains Luke’s two-week No. 1 single “Home Alone Tonight” featuring Karen Fairchild of Little Big Town, which they’ll most certainly perform on the road together, and closed 2015 as the best-selling country album of the year and the 10th biggest selling album on the all-genre Billboard Top 200 Year-End list. Luke also wrapped 2015 as the most streamed country artist with 660 Million streams.

    2016 Kill The Lights Tour:

    2-18                 Evansville, IN              Ford Center

    2-19                 Peoria, IL                     Peoria Civic Center Arena

    2-20                 Cedar Falls, IA             UNI Dome

    2-25                 Montreal, QC               Bell Centre

    2-26                 Uncasville, CT             Mohegan Sun Arena **

    2-27                 Uncasville, CT             Mohegan Sun Arena **

    3-8                   Las Cruces, NM           Pan American Center**

    3-11                 Little Rock, AR            Verizon Arena **

    3-12                 Bossier City, LA          CenturyLink Center **

    4-7                   Charleston, WV           Charleston Civic Center Coliseum

    4-8                   Baltimore, MD             Royal Farms Arena

    4-9                   Syracuse, NY               Carrier Dome

    4-14                 Toledo, OH                  The Huntington Center

    4-15                 State College, PA         Bryce Jordan Center

    4-16                 Charlottesville, VA      John Paul Jones Arena

    4-21                 Missoula, MT               Adams Center

    4-22                 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      Florida Country Superfest*

    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

    7-16                 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                 Bonner Springs, KS     Cricket Wireless 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               Dallas, TX                   AT&T Stadium

    10-29               Detroit, MI                 Ford Field

    Dates and Cities subject to change

    *festival date

    **no Little Big Town

    Audio / Luke Bryan talks about going on tour with Little Big Town and Dustin Lynch.

    Download

    Luke Bryan (touring with LBT & Dustin) OC: …amazing year. :35
    “When I found out we were able to get Little Big Town to tour with me, which is a huge honor for me. They’re headliners in themselves, and we started the talks, and I was like, ‘Oh my God. They’re interested. Let’s do this.’ We got together and worked it out, and now it’s my job to just get with them and create just a fun experience for the fans with them. And I was chomping at the bit to ask Dustin last year did he want to come out again. I just feel like the tour is a great package, and I think I’m just excited about the whole package. It’s gonna be an amazing year.”

    Audio / Little Big Town talk about going on tour with Luke Bryan.

    Download

    LBT (Luke tour) OC: (Kimberly) …need some lessons. :47
    KAREN: “We’ve been on such an incredible ride and he’s been on such an incredible ride, and it just felt like, ‘Gol, this would be incredible if we could just put it together.’ Being back out on the road with Dustin Lynch again is gonna be so much fun. Nobody throws a party bigger than Luke does, and if you don’t know this about us, we kinda like to have a good time too, so [laughs]…(PHILLIP: “We’re not gonna have any fun at all.”) …we’re not gonna have any fun. (JIMI: “It’s gonna be so boring.”) Yeah, we’re looking forward to it. The whole year will be with Luke.” KIMBERLY: “And we’re gonna save some money on wardrobe because Luke, Karen and I can all wear the same jeans.” [laughs] KAREN: “We’re gonna weigh in backstage.” JIMI: “I guess Phillip and I are gonna have to learn how to shake our hips or something to be on that stage.” KIMBERLY: “Yeah, y’all need some lessons.”

    Audio / Little Big Town’s Phillip Sweet says the energy on the Kill the Lights Tour will be incredible with both Luke Bryan and Dustin Lynch.

    Download

    LBT (Luke tour) OC: …come back. :31
    “I think the energy is gonna be off the charts. Just the crowds are gonna be amped up. We’re all out there ready to have fun, and Dustin is a really energetic and charismatic performer and can really get the crowd going. He’s a seasoned veteran on stage. So, it’s pretty cool to have that much talent to be surrounded by, [and] we’re in the middle! [laughs] So, we’re right there, and it’s gonna be an incredible time. Hopefully, people will come away feeling amazing and wanting to come back.”

  • LITTLE BIG TOWN TAKES HOME GRAMMY AWARD FOR BEST COUNTRY DUO/GROUP PERFORMANCE.

    Little Big Town and their song “Girl Crush” was named Best Country Duo/Group Performance at this year’s GRAMMY Awards. The group was overwhelmed by the award and thanked several folks including the songwriters – Liz Rose, Hillary Lindsey and Lori McKenna. “Thank you, the beautiful writers of this gorgeous song, Hillary Lindsey, Liz Rose and Lori McKenna — thank you for bringing us to this big ol’ party…And the fans, for sticking with the song.”

    The song’s writers also picked up the GRAMMY for Best Country Song. “We have to thank Little Big Town, the most amazing band that we’ve been able to work with — the nicest people in the whole world,” they said.

    Little Big Town also turned in one of the night’s best performances, as they sang with just a string section and B-3 organ.

    The group is climbing the country charts with their latest single, “Pain Killer.”

    Audio / Backstage at last year’s CMA Awards, Little Big Town’s Kimberly Schlapman talks about being able to record “Girl Crush.”

    Download

    LBT (Girl Crush CMAs) OC: …do it! :25
    “We knew when we first heard this song that it was incredibly special. It literally took my breath. I gasped when I realized what this song was actually about. These three women poured their heart and soul into an incredibly special once in a lifetime song, and the fact that we were able to cut it is an incredible gift, and we’ll always be thankful to them for letting us do it!”

     

    Video / LBT at Grammy Awards

    View
  • CHRIS STAPLETON WINS HIS FIRST GRAMMY AWARD!

    Chris Stapleton just picked up his first-ever GRAMMY Award, for Best Country Solo Performance for the song “Traveller.” He accepted the award .in the pre-telecast Premiere Ceremony. “I’ve never had one of these, and that’s amazing,” he said. “I’ve been sitting out in this audience a couple different times. Third time’s the charm.”

    Chris thanked his wife, Morgane, his band, UMG and his producer, Dave Cobbs.

    The Kentucky native is also nominated for overall Album of the Year for Traveller and overall Album of the Year.

    UPDATE: Chris also took home the Grammy Award for Best Country Album for Traveller.

    Audio / Chris Stapleton explains why he felt why his album should be named Traveller.

    Download

    Chris Stapleton (title of Traveller) OC: …folks too. :43
    “The song ‘Traveller’ and how it ended up being the title of the record, it seemed like a natural thing to call it, because a lot of, certainly the inspiration for this record came from a series of events. It’s kind of the only song that was written inside of, well, there might’ve been one other song written inside of knowing I was going to make this record in this way. The rest of the songs came from outside of that time period. So, that’s one reason to name it that. The other reason is that it can mean a lot of different things to a lot of different people. It’s about a journey in a musical sense and in a physical sense and in a spiritual sense. In every way that you can have a journey, this record is kind of that for me, and hopefully for some other folks too.”

  • LITTLE BIG TOWN SET TO ‘CRUSH’ THE GRAMMY AWARDS.

    The members of Little Big Town have a handful of nominations going into Monday night’s (February 15th) GRAMMY Awards with their platinum song, “Girl Crush.” They’re nominated for Best Country Group/Duo Performance, Best Country Song, Song of the Year all for “Girl Crush,” plus their album, Pain Killer, is up for Country Album of the Year.

    The band’s Karen Fairchild and Kimberly Schlapman heard the song right after Liz Rose, Lori McKenna and Hillary Lindsey wrote it, and asked for the song to be saved for them. “Kimberly and I are so lucky that we were writing with them, and they had just written that song. And…Liz said, ‘Can we play you guys something? She said, ‘You’ll never cut it, but I just want to play it for you. We said, ‘Yeah, yeah, play it.’ We had just set down, cups of coffee in the morning, we were hanging out, and they played ‘Girl Crush,’” says Karen. “We could not say, ‘Can we please have that’ quick enough. Like as soon as it was over, we were like, ‘We want that song! We want it right now!’ Why would we not cut that song?”

    You can also catch the group, who is currently making their way up the country charts with their latest single, “Pain Killer,” performing on this year’s GRAMMY Awards, which will air live from L.A. Monday night beginning at 8pm ET on CBS.

    Audio / Little Big Town’s Karen Fairchild recalls the first moment they heard “Girl Crush.”

    Download

    LBT (Girl Crush) 3 OC: …that song? :33
    KAREN: “Kimberly and I are so lucky that we were writing with them, and they had just written that song. And they said, (JIMI: “…like the day before.”) Liz said, ‘Can we play you guys something?” PHILLIP: “You’ll never cut it.” KAREN: “She said, ‘You’ll never cut it, but I just want to play it for you.” We said, ‘Yeah, yeah, play it.’ We had just set down, cups of coffee in the morning, we were hanging out, and they played ‘Girl Crush.’” KIMBERLY: “We were slayed.” KAREN: “We could not say, ‘Can we please have that’ quick enough. Like as soon as it was over, we were like, ‘We want that song! We want it right now!’ Why would we not cut that song?”

  • LUKE BRYAN WILL HONOR LIONEL RICHIE, ONE OF HIS TOP INFLUENCES, AT THE GRAMMY AWARDS.

    Luke Bryan will perform at Monday night’s (February 15th) Grammy Awards as part of a tribute to Lionel Richie, who is one of the Georgia native’s top infl He’ll be joined by John Legend, Meghan Trainor and Demi Lovato and perform songs spanning the legend’s career, and Lionel will also join the four performers for a special collaboration during the tribute segment of the show.

    Richie was honored this year as the 2016 MusiCares Person of the Year on Saturday, which also featured performances by Luke, Chris Stapleton and many others.

    You can also catch Chris Stapleton performing during a tribute to BB King, Sam Hunt teaming up with Carrie Underwood and Little Big Town singing one of their biggest hits during this year’s GRAMMY Awards, which air live from the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles Monday (February 15th) beginning at 8pm ET on CBS.

    Audio / Luke Bryan says Lionel Richie is one of his Top 3 influences.

    Download

    Luke Bryan (Lionel Richie influences) OC: …of all time. :06
    “He is, y far, in my top 3 most influential songwriters and artists of all time.”

  • SAM HUNT IS ADDED TO THE LIST OF PERFORMERS AT THIS YEAR’S GRAMMY AWARDS.

    Sam Hunt has been added to the list of performers at this year’s Grammy Awards. In his Grammy debut, he’ll be included in a never-before-seen moment, in a duet with Carrie Underwood. Other pairings include James Bay and Tori Kelly, as well as nominees Andra Day and Ellie Goulding and a special tribute to 2016 MusicCares Person of the Year, Lionel Richie. Previously announced performers include Little Big Town, Adele, Kendrick Lamar and The Weeknd.

    “The prestige of being involved with the Grammys, like those, the people who make those decisions, they know music, and their choices for who they involve in the Grammys have reflected their appreciation for and integrity in music, and I think that’s what makes them The Grammys. That sort of puts them at the top of the pack for awards shows, especially in terms of integrity and the way they’ve maintained that class they represent in what they do.”

    Sam is up for two awards — Best New Artist and Best Country Album for Montevallo. You can catch all of the nominees and performances when the 58th Annual Grammy Awards airs live February 15th at 8pm ET/5pm PT on CBS.

    Audio / Sam Hunt talks about this year's Grammy Awards.

    Download
  • THE ROLLOUT CONTINUES FOR VINCE GILL’S ‘DOWN TO MY LAST BAD HABIT.’

    On the eve of the February 12th release of his new album, Down To My Last Bad Habit, Vince Gill journeyed to Los Angeles to be inducted into the Guitar Center’s historic RockWalk by one of his guitar gods, the Eagles’ Joe Walsh.

    Vince Joe Walsh

    Guitar Center’s RockWalk is dedicated to honoring those artists who have made a significant impact and lasting contribution to the growth and evolution of music. As the newest RockWalk inductee, Gill’s handprints will reside on Hollywood Boulevard alongside equally accomplished musicians and innovators such as Eric Clapton, George Martin, Jimmy Page, Iron Maiden, Carlos Santana, Johnny Cash, Van Halen, AC/DC, Aerosmith, Korn, Marvin Gaye, James Brown, B.B. King, Stevie Wonder, Run-D.M.C., Queen, Linkin Park and many others.

    “It’s a pretty impressive little piece of real estate out front,” said Walsh, eyeing the star-studded pavement.  “And today’s going to take it up a notch.”  Vince acknowledged Walsh among his many musical exemplars and mused on their importance to him.  “I felt like the point of any of it was to have an open mind,” he said, “and be willing to learn something from anybody.”

    After leaving his handprints for other pickers to try on for size, it was back to Nashville to perform at Country Radio Seminar and follow it with a day-of-release show at the fabled Ernest Tubb Record Shop on Lower Broadway.  The show will stream live at 7pm ET on Gill’s Facebook page.

    Reviews of Down To My Last Bad Habit have been rapturous.  Rolling Stone extolled the album’s “exquisite guitar work and soulful vulnerability.”  USA Today agreed, calling it “soulful yet sophisticated, emotionally raw yet gleaming with studio polish.”  The Boot ventured even farther, declaring that the album is “quite possibly his most perfect project—from a vocal and instrumental perspective—that he has recorded in his career.”  Forbes, Nash Country Weekly, The Boston Globe, Tulsa World and Nashville Scene all added their voices to the hallelujah chorus.

    Vince has also teamed with the Guitar Center chain of instrument and gear stores to conduct a nationwide search for previously undiscovered guitarists of merit.  It’s called Guitar Center OnStage With Vince Gill.  Details can be accessed at https://youtu.be/ro74jiAQ82s.

    Once the entries are in, Vince will pick five finalists who will then compete in Los Angeles for the grand prize.   That prize includes the opening slot on one of Vince’s U. S. shows during his upcoming tour, $10,000 in cash, a single produced by Justin Niebank (who’s also produced Vince, Keith Urban, Taylor Swift and Sheryl Crow), a meeting with Universal Music Group talent scouts and assorted other musical goodies.

    Beginning February 17th, Vince will reunite with Lyle Lovett for a 13-city tour of acoustic shows. For a full list of tour dates, news, images and more, visit www.VinceGill.com

     

    www.VinceGill.com| facebook.com/VinceGill| twitter.com/vgcom| instagram.com/vincegillmusic

  • KIP MOORE RELEASES THE VIDEO FOR HIS LATEST SINGLE, ‘RUNNING FOR YOU.’

    Kip Moore premiered the emotion-driven music video for “Running For You” on VEVO Friday (February 12th).  Moore is cast as the male lead in the passionate and fiery video that follows him and his leading lady as they face the individual challenges of their respective career paths, culminating in a dramatic Hollywood-style ending.  Moore tapped his longtime friend PJ Brown to direct the video, though he had never been in the director’s chair before.
    “I’ve been friends with PJ for years, he was the main one pushing me to chase my passion and move to Nashville,” said Moore. “He’s been able to document some of my concerts here and there, but we haven’t worked together on this level before.  This song is unlike other songs I’ve released before and so I wanted the video to be really different from any of my other videos.  PJ was able to bring our vision to life and I’m glad that the label let me take a chance on him.””Running for You” is from Kip’s latest album, Wild Ones.
    Moore continues to make an impression overseas as demand in Europe has led to bigger venues being scheduled in Birmingham, UK and Dublin, IE following venue capacity increases in Manchester, UK and Glasgow, UK almost immediately following on-sales, ahead of his stint in April. This fervent fan-following was established during Moore’s first visit across the pond last year when he “led the 20,000-capacity through a singalong” (Rolling Stone) at the O2 Arena in London. Moore continues his headlining WILD ONES TOUR this weekend with stops in Denver, CO (2/12) and Salt Lake City, UT (2/13) followed by a string of dates in Canada.  For a full list of dates and more information visit www.kipmoore.net.

    Video / Kip Moore Running for You video