Jennifer Nettles will make her Broadway debut as “Roxie Hart” in the Tony-winning revival of the musical Chicago, which will run February 2^nd through March 29^th at the Ambassador Theatre in the Big Apple.

“Broadway has always been a special, magical place, with a wonderful tradition of singers and actors,” she said in a statement. “I feel honored and proud to be part of this great tradition. Taking on such an iconic role as Roxie in Chicago is a dream come true.”

Jennifer replaces Amy Spanger, who originated several lead roles in Broadway productions, including Rock of Ages before re-joining the Chicago cast as Roxie in early October. 

The Grammy-winning artist made the announcement on NBC’s Today Show on Tuesday (December 9th). See the video below.

The weekly performance schedule is as follows:

Monday at 8pm
Friday at 8pm
Tuesday at 8 pm
Saturday at 2:30pm & 8pm
Thursday at 8pm
Sunday at 2:30pm & 7pm

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla., December X, 2014 – Fresh off his win at last month’s Country Music Awards, and being nominated for two GRAMMY Awards® for ‘Best Country Solo Performance’ and ‘Best Country Duo/Group Performance’ just last week, Keith Urban returns to leading entertainment and lifestyle retailer HSN, to give fans and music lovers the chance to be a guitar player too, with the HSN debut of Urban’s Deluxe “Player” Guitar Collection on December 14^th.

“I first started playing the guitar when I was six and I remember feeling an instant connection to it,” said Urban. “So it was important to me to make learning it as easy as possible, for any age, and to create an affordable, quality instrument so that as many people as possible could have a chance to discover the joy of playing. I believe that’s exactly what we’ve been able to do.”

Appearing live across all of HSN’s platforms – TV, online and mobile – four-time GRAMMY Award® Winner Keith Urban will be on HSN on Sunday, December 14th at 12:01 AM ET and throughout the day. Urban follows up his previous three guitar collections for HSN with this one-day-only exclusive set that will be available for $299.95, $100.00 off of the regular HSN price.

“We are excited to launch Keith’s Deluxe Player Guitar Collection with the amazing breakthrough lesson series ‘30 Songs in 30 Days’,” says Joy Mangano, President of Ingenious Designs. “Not only is Keith a tremendous guitar player and performer, but a great teacher as well.  He makes it so much fun for people who have always wanted to play the guitar to discover the joy that music can bring!”  

Urban’s largest guitar collection to date, the Deluxe “Player” package comes with a 30-DVD lesson series where Keith personally teaches aspiring musicians the fundamental building blocks needed to learn how to play 30 hit songs: 15 of his top hits and 15 classic rock favorites. Each disc includes: 

• a full lesson designed for you to build as you go to master the song from start to finish
• a one-on-one solo performance practice session to cement the flow of the song
• a play along with the band practice session
• a final session featuring a backup band where you become the star

As part of his music mission, Keith brings his years of experience with this ultimate package in hopes to share the gift of music, inspiring you to set out on your own musical journey and become the next Player!   

The exclusive Deluxe “Player” series arrives just in time for the holidays and features two versions of the guitar: an all-wood body, handcrafted, Acoustic-Electric guitar with built-in on board 4 band EQ and tuner; or the Solid Body Electric guitar complete with double humbucker style pick-ups, 3 way selector switch and volume and tone controls. Each complete 50-piece set is available in four stunning color ways including the Keith Urban signature Brazilian Burst, Rich Black, Crimson and Jade. Other features include: a beautiful cognac distressed faux leather padded case with interior cushion to cradle the guitar; an adjustable guitar strap, a chord chart poster; a powerful 15-watt amplifier with built in reverb and overdrive; an extra set of comfort-coated strings; five signature picks and more!

The Keith Urban Deluxe “Player” Collection launches on HSN live on Sunday, December 14 at 12AM ET for a one-day-only price of $299.95 (over a $1,400 value) for the complete 50-piece guitar and lesson package. For more information, visit HSN.com or join the conversation @HSN on Facebook and Twitter.

Urban recently released his seventh studio album FUSE, which marked the first time that ANY country artist has simultaneously debuted at #1 on the all-genre charts in the United States, Canada and Australia. He recently completed his “Raise ‘Em Up” Tour, and last month won a CMA for Musical Event of the Year for his #1 song “We Were Us” featuring Miranda Lambert. Last week, Urban was honored as the “Artist of the Year” by CMT. Urban has also received three Academy of Country Music® Awards earlier this year, bringing his total to twelve, and he has won four GRAMMY Awards. He is the first artist to win the Country Music Association’s Horizon Award® for best new artist and to go on to win Best Male Vocalist, a title he’s captured three times, as well as the coveted Entertainer of the Year Award. He’s won an American Music Award® and People’s Choice Award®. He’s had 17 No. 1 singles, including three from FUSE, and five consecutive platinum or multi-platinum albums.

The four members of Little Big Town, who have recorded a couple of Christmas tunes including “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas,” each have their own traditions, some carried over from childhood and some started when they had their own families. The entire band loves the holiday, and are featured once again on the ABC special CMA Country Christmas, which will re-air Saturday, December 20th at 9pm ET on ABC. Check out their stories below.

LBT (Holiday movies) OC: (Phillip) …whatever I touch. [LAUGHS] :38
KAREN: “One of our favorite Christmas traditions is gathering around the television to watch holiday movies. And I know [for] Kimberly, it starts with [KIMBERLY: “It’s a Wonderful Life.”] It’s a Wonderful Life. Ours is holiday movies and records, like certain records have to be played in order for Jimi.” JIMI: “You have to start out the season right with Elvis, a little Elvis Presley.” KAREN: “I like the Charlie Brown Christmas movie.” KIMBERLY: “It’s sweet.” KAREN: “Yeah, it is sweet.” JIMI: “I like all those classic ones like the Rudolph and what is the one with the Abominable Snowman?” KIMBERLY: “Frosty, the Snowman?” PHILLIP: [sings] “I’m Mister Heat Miser/whatever I touch…” [LAUGHS] (The song is from the Claymation special ‘A Year Without a Santa Claus.’) 

LBT (Karen-making candy) OC: …peanut butter inside. :19
“Christmases at our house usually included making candy with my mother and my grandmother. We did everything from potato candy to chocolate dipped peanut butter (JIMI: “That all sounds amazing.”) and fudge. My mom’s fudge recipe is amazing.” KIMBERLY: “What is potato candy?” KAREN: “It does use a potato, but it’s rolled and it has peanut butter inside.” 

LBT (Phillip-tradition) OC: …to Christmas. :13
“We do a little Christmas tradition in our house. We do, you know the little tree in the countdown to Christmas? We put little treats in each little doorway. [Penelopi] opens the countdown to Christmas. (KIMBERLY: “Cuuuute.”) She gets a new little treat every day leading up to Christmas.”

LBT (Kimberly & Karen – favorite childhood gift) OC: (KAREN) …Andy Gibb. [laughs] :46
KIMBERLY: “I remember when I was a kid, I really badly wanted a record player, and I got one of those little box record players and it was blue and white plaid. And then I got Andy Gibbs’ 45 to go on it, and I was in love with Andy Gibb.” KAREN: “You mean Britney Spears?” KIMBERLY: “Yes, Britney Spears.” JIMI: “Justin Bieber.” KIMBERLY: [LAUGHS] Justin Bieber. I loved my little record player. I wish I still had it. It was blue and white checked.” KAREN: “Checked. Checked means plaid, people. Checked. [Jimi laughs] I got a bicycle for Christmas, and I remember it was like a yellow three-speed. [KIMBERLY: “Whoa! Sounds fancy.”] Remember those? Speaking of Andy Gibb. [EVERYONE LAUGHS]

Kip Moore and Scotty McCreery are among the artists announced as presenters for the American Country Countdown Awards. They’re joined by Kix Brooks, Sara Evans, Hunter Hayes, Chris Young, Thomas Rhett, Chase Rice, Cole Swindell and Maddie & Tae, along with Brooklyn Nine-Nine’s Terry Crews, The Walking Dead’s Emily Kinney, NASCAR’s Jimmie Johnson, Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Clayton Kershaw and Miss America 2015 Kira Kazantsev. The show will air live from Nashville’s Music City Center December 15th at 8pm ET on FOX.

Darius Rucker will perform during this year’s Christmas in Washington special, airing December 19th at 8pm ET on TNT. Hunter Hayes, Rita Ora, Christina Perri and Aloe Blacc also are set to perform. Dwayne “The Rock“ Johnson will host the show.

Sam Hunt is headed to the Super Bowl to perform during the DIRECTV Super Fan Festival. The three-day event will take place in Phoenix, Arizona and also include performances by Zac Brown Band, Thomas Rhett, The Cadillac Three, Imagine Dragons, Snoop Dogg and more.

This year’s CMA Country Christmas, featuring performances by Little Big Town, Brett Eldredge, Hunter Hayes, Carrie Underwood, Michael W. Smith, Brad Paisley with Stephen Tyler, Dan + Shay, as well as the show’s host Jennifer Nettles and Idina Menzel, will re-air Saturday, December 20th at 9pm ET on ABC.

Kelleigh Bannen‘s video for “Smoke When I Drink” premiered Friday (December 5th) on VEVO.

The video for “Talladega” — the fourth single from Eric Church‘s Grammy-nominated album, The Outsiders — premiered on VEVO on Friday (December 5th). Check it out below.

Nashville, Tenn. – (Dec. 4, 2014) – This week, Eric Church debuts the music video for his latest hit single, “Talladega.”

Church Choir members will get an exclusive first look at the video today (Thursday, Dec. 4) at EricChurch.com. “Talladega” will then premiere Friday (Dec. 5) on Vevo.com and Saturday (Dec. 6 at 11 AM/ET) on “CMT Hot 20 Countdown,” before being released to all video outlets on Monday (Dec.8).

“Talladega” is the fourth single from Church’s critically acclaimed 2014 album The Outsiders, a CMA Album of the Year Award nominee. The poignant song looks at memory through the lens of a youthful trip taken to the iconic Alabama racetrack. Like an earlier single from The Outsiders, the chart-topping “Give Me Back My Hometown,” “Talladega” showcases Church’s softer side and his ability to filter shared universal experiences through deeply personal points of view.

The video, directed by Peter Zavadil from a concept by Church’s longtime manager John Peets, arrives as the song is set to break into the Top 10 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs Chart. “Talladega” is the North Carolina native’s 14th Top 20 entry on that chart.

“Talladega” weaves performances filmed at Nashville Speedway with a narrative about the passing of time that’s augmented with archival Super 8mm footage of family, celebration and, of course, racetrack scenes. The video’s release caps a stellar year for Church. The Outsiders enjoyed one of 2014’s best debuts regardless of genre and will likely appear on several year-end best-of lists. He was a top nominee at the CMA Awards as he continued to push country music in new directions, appeared on the cover of Rolling Stone’s first country issue, and played to his largest crowds yet.

Church is on the road with his “The Outsiders World Tour” mates Dwight Yoakam and Halestorm through Dec. 13 before kicking off the 2015 leg of the tour in January. For tickets or to learn more about Eric Church, visit www.ericchurch.com and www.facebook.com/ericchurch, or follow @EricChurch on Twitter.

Nashville, TN – Dec. 3, 2014 – Momentum for singer/songwriter Dierks Bentley continues to build as he becomes one of only three country artists to earn two RIAA certified PLATINUM and No. one radio singles in 2014. “I Hold On” was certified PLATINUM this week and now joins “Drunk On A Plane” to give Bentley two of the year’s biggest back-to-back hits. He joins Luke Bryan and Florida Georgia Line as one of only three artists to accomplish this in 2014. 

“When Dierks played us the ‘RISER’ album for the first time, we knew it was something special,” commented Cindy Mabe, President, Universal Music Group Nashville. “But having two back-to-back #1 Platinum hits within a year shows the real power of how Dierks’ music has resonated and how he’s connected with the fans.” 

In addition to his success on the sales and radio charts, Bentley was also recently honored as a songwriter for both tracks by the NSAI as two of this year’s 10 Songs I Wish I’d Written, an honor voted on by other songwriters.

Bentley’s latest single “Say You Do” is now available at Country Radio as he wraps the second leg of his  2014 RISER TOUR this weekend in Canada amid sold out crowds.

Dierks Bentley (Riser snapshot) OC: …decided for me. :45
“I think every record I’ve made has always been a little bit of a Polaroid snapshot of where I was at that place and time when I made it. This particular album just has a lot of scenery in the picture. I mean there’s a lot that’s gone on in the last two years, more so than any other time in my life. You look at some of the bookends of the making of this record – my Dad passing away at the start of the process and then my son Knox being born at the end of the process. It was unexpected…when I made this record I just wanted to have the best songs. I wasn’t sure what they were going to be about, but I wanted them to be the best. I wanted to write my best songs, I wanted to write a lot of songs. I wanted to listen to a lot of outside songs and find the best songs that I could for whatever I was going to write about, but I wasn’t sure what it was gonna be, and then life came along and decided for me.”