• LUKE BRYAN REVS HIS ENGINES IN THE LATEST EPISODE OF LBTV. (VIDEO)

    Luke Bryan got to hang with Brad Keselowski at the Michigan 400 recently. You may have noticed the new paint scheme on the #2 Miller Lite car that included a familiar face.

    The Georgia native is currently charging up the charts with his latest single, “That’s My Kind of Night!”

    Video / LBTV Thursdays 2013! Episode 33

    View
  • KEITH URBAN ‘RAISES’ THE BAR ON HIS NEW ALBUM. (AUDIO)

    Keith Urban just released his much-anticipated album, Fuse, this week, and the collection has not one, but two duets. One is Keith’s new single, “We Were Us,” a duet with Miranda Lambert, and the other is “Raise ‘Em Up,” a cool collaboration with his pal, Eric Church.

    Keith considers Eric’s most recent album, Chief, one of his favorite records, from top to bottom and the two share a mutual love of musical finds. “We became friends and our families and wives would go and have dinner. He would be turning me on to new music and I’d tell him, ‘You gotta listen to ‘Bankrupt’ by Dr. Hook!’,” says Keith” “We’re trying to hip each other with records we love that probably the other guy hasn’t heard, so that banter started sort of started happening pretty regularly.”
     
    The Grammy winner just finished up his media rounds, but he’s back on the road with his Light the Fuse 2013 Tour in Cleveland on Thursday night (September 12th) and Pittsburgh on Friday (September 13th).

    Audio / Keith Urban (Raise 'Em Up-Church) 1

    Download
    AUDIO: Keith Urban says he found the perfect song in “Raise ‘Em Up” to have as a duet with pal Eric Church.

    Keith Urban (Raise ‘Em Up-Church) 1 OC: …sang on it. :52
    “‘Chief’ is one of my favorite records of the last, easily the last 10 years, as a whole. From top to bottom, it’s just a great, great record. So, we became friends and our families and wives would go and have dinner. He would be turning me on to new music and I’d tell him, ‘You gotta listen to ‘Bankrupt’ by Dr. Hook!’ We’re trying to hip each other with records we love that probably the other guy hasn’t heard, so that banter started sort of started happening pretty regularly. I thought I’d really like to do something with Eric on the record if I find the right song. The song called ‘Raise ‘Em Up’ came along, and it wasn’t written as a duet, but it just struck me as the perfect song. There’s a particular theme, really, in the song, particularly in the second verse that I felt was just perfect for Eric. I was really happy that he came and sang on it.”

    Video / [HD] Keith Urban - Good Thing - David Letterman 9-11-13

    View
  • CMA AWARDS NOMINATIONS 2013: Kacey, Keith, Kip, Darius, Eric, George, Lady A, Little Big Town and Luke Bryan. (AUDIO)

    Kacey Musgraves, along with Taylor Swift, lead the list of this year’s CMA Awards with 6 nominations each.

    Kacey, who is a first-time nominee in 2013, has six nominations spanning several categories including Female Vocalist and New Artist of the Year, as well as two nominations for Album of the Year for Same Trailer Different Park and Single of the Year for “Merry Go ‘Round,” which she co-produced with Luke Laird and Shane McAnally. In the Song of the Year category (which is presented to songwriters), she is nominated twice, once for “Merry Go ‘Round” with songwriters Josh Osborne and McAnally and for the hit that Miranda Lambert took up the country charts, “Mama’s Broken Heart,” with songwriters Brandy Clark and McAnally. Kacey took to Twitter to say, “6 great reasons to get out of bed today.. SO grateful!!”

    Keith Urban received four nominations including Male Vocalist of the Year, which he has won three times (2004-2006); and three more (Single, Musical Event and Music Video of the Year) with Tim McGraw and Taylor Swift for “Highway Don’t Care.”

    Luke Bryan and Little Big Town picked up three nods each. Luke, who was named the ACM Entertainer of the Year in April, receives his first Entertainer of the Year nomination this year. He’s also nominated for Male Vocalist and Musical Event of the Year for “The Only Way I Know” with pals Jason Aldean and Eric Church.

    Reigning CMA Vocal Group of the Year, Little Big Town received three nominations, including their eighth Vocal Group of the Year nod; Album of the Year for Tornado, which was produced by Jay Joyce; and Music Video of the Year for “Tornado,” which was directed by Shane Drake. Songwriters Natalie Hemby, Laird, and Barry Dean picked up a Song of the Year nomination for their hit, “Pontoon.” The band was on a plane when they found out the news of their nominations. “Just heard INCREDIBLE news about our #CMA nominations! This plane’s about to be a big ‘ol party!,” they tweeted.

    The reigning CMA Album of the Year winner, Eric Church, received nominations for Male Vocalist of the Year and Musical Event of the Year with Aldean and Bryan for “The Only Way I Know.” Church received his first CMA Awards nomination in 2011 for New Artist of the Year.

    Lady Antebellum also picked up a pair of nominations for Vocal Group of the Year (a trophy they’ve won three times) and Music Video of the Year for “Downtown,” which was directed by Peter Zavadil. Lady A’s Charles Kelley tweeted, “So excited to have a couple CMA nominations. And how about our opening acts Kip and Kacey with huge nominations. We know how to pick em.”

    *George Strait enters the field of nominees again in 2013 in the coveted Entertainer of the Year category. Strait is now the most nominated artist in CMA Awards history with 82, breaking a previous tie with Alan Jackson. Strait was last nominated for Entertainer of the Year in 2009, and has picked up the night’s top honor twice (1989, 1990).

    Darius Rucker picks up a nomination for Single of the Year and songwriters Bob Dylan and Ketch Secor received a nomination for Song of the Year.

    Kip Moore and Kacey Musgraves both pick up their first nomination in the New Artist of the Year category. “It’s been a long road. I think back on the thousands of hours of songwriting and hundreds of thousands of miles we’ve logged on the road…I wouldn’t trade any of that for the quick and easy route. I’ve learned so much, and I’m truly honored to be up for the CMA’s ‘New Artist Of The Year’ Award,” says Kip, who just scored his third No. 1 single with “Hey Pretty Girl.” “I have to admit…this is also a little extra inspiration for us as we finish up the next album!”

    2013 CMA Nominations:

    Entertainer of the Year 

    Jason Aldean

    Luke Bryan

    Blake Shelton

    George Strait

    Taylor Swift

     

    Album of the Year  

    Based On A True Story – Blake Shelton

    Blown Away – Carrie Underwood

    Red – Taylor Swift

    Same Trailer Different Park – Kacey Musgraves

    Tornado – Little Big Town

     

    Single of the Year

    “Cruise” – Florida Georgia Line

    “Highway Don’t Care” – Tim McGraw with Taylor Swift & Keith Urban

    “Mama’s Broken Heart” – Miranda Lambert

    “Merry Go ‘Round” – Kacey Musgraves

    “Wagon Wheel” – Darius Rucker


    Song of the Year

    I Drive Your Truck – Jessi Alexander, Connie Harrington, Jimmy Yeary (Lee Brice)

    Mama’s Broken Heart – Kacey Musgraves, Brandy Clark, Shane McAnally (Miranda Lambert)

    Merry Go ‘Round – Kacey Musgraves, Shane McAnally, Josh Osborne (Kacey Musgraves)

    Pontoon – Barry Dean, Natalie Hemby, Luke Laird (Little Big Town)

    Wagon Wheel – Bob Dylan, Ketch Secor (Darius Rucker)

     

    Female Vocalist of the Year 

    Kelly Clarkson

    Miranda Lambert

    Kacey Musgraves

    Taylor Swift

    Carrie Underwood

     

    Male Vocalist of the Year 

    Jason Aldean

    Luke Bryan

    Eric Church

    Blake Shelton

    Keith Urban

     

    Vocal Group of the Year  

    Eli Young Band

    Lady Antebellum

    Little Big Town

    The Band Perry

    Zac Brown Band

     

    New Artist of the Year  

    Lee Brice

    Brett Eldredge

    Florida-Georgia Line

    Kip Moore

    Kacey Musgraves

     

    Vocal Duo of the Year  

    Big and Rich

    Florida-Georgia Line

    Love and Theft

    Sugarland

    Civil Wars

    Thompson Square

     

    Musical Event of the Year

    Boys ‘Round Here – Blake Shelton with Pistol Annies

    Cruise – Florida Georgia Line feat. Nelly

    Don’t Rush – Kelly Clarkson with Vince Gill

    Highway Don’t Care – Tim McGraw with Taylor Swift & Keith Urban

    The Only Way I Know – Jason Aldean feat. Eric Church & Luke Bryan

    Video of the Year

    Blown Away – Carrie Underwood

    Boys ‘Round Here – Blake Shelton with Pistol Annies

    Downtown – Lady Antebellum

    Highway Don’t Care – Tim McGraw with Taylor Swift & Keith Urban

    Mama’s Broken Heart – Miranda Lambert

    Tornado – Little Big Town

    Musician of the Year

    Brent Mason

    Dann Huff

    Mac McAnally

    Paul Franklin

    Sam Bush

    Audio / Kacey Musgraves (debut album)

    Download
    AUDIO: Kacey Musgraves says her debut album, Same Trailer, Different Park, took a lifetime to make.

    Kacey Musgraves (debut album) OC: …was in and whatever. :20
    “I made it with two friends of mine – Shane McAnally and Luke Laird. It was, for all three of us, the first time that we’ve ever gotten to produce anything, but it just felt right and natural and good. The songs all came from different aspects of my life over the years. You know, you have your whole life to make your first record, so it really comes from inspiration from everywhere – relationships I was in and whatever.”

    Audio / LBT (album has a feeling to it)

    Download
    AUDIO: Little Big Town’s Karen Fairchild says the band’s album, Tornado, has an overall feeling to it.

    LBT (album has a feeling to it) OC: …same feeling. :34
    “This record has a feeling to it. [PHILLIP: “Yeah.”] I mean, we were feeling it in the moment in the studio, every song. But when you hear it, I think it has an overall feeling to it. We laugh about like ‘Pontoon’ has a little bit of a swagger to it, but this whole record has this sentiment – and I don’t even know how to define what the sentiment is, it just has its own unique voice, and it really describes the mood that the band’s been in and the place that we’ve been in our career. It’s that same feeling.”

    Audio / George Strait (awards)

    Download
    AUDIO: George Strait received a nomination for “Entertainer of the Year. George explains he’s thrilled to still be a viable act.

    George Strait (awards) OC: …as I can. :15
    “To be here and still being a part of the business and nominated for awards and current and everything, it’s just unbelievable. And I’m enjoying every bit of it, and I’m gonna keep on doing it for as long as I can.”

  • 12TH ANNIVERSARY OF 9-11: Alan Jackson, Eric Church, Eric Paslay, Lady A (AUDIO)

    On September 11, 2001, the world changed forever with the devastating attacks on both the World Trade Center and the Pentagon. Alan Jackson’s “Where Were You (When the World Stopped Turning)” embodied the thoughts and feelings of millions in the wake of the events that took place 12 years ago.

    There is audio from country superstar Alan Jackson sharing memories and thoughts on the events of September 11, 2001 and discussing his song, “Where Were You (When the World Stopped Turning),” as well as remembrances from Lady Antebellum, Eric Church and Eric Paslay.

    The chorus and melody of “Where Were You…” came to Jackson in the middle of the night several weeks after the 9/11 tragedies. He awoke…sang the words into a recorder and wrote down key elements of the chorus…and completed the lyrics and verses later that same day. Initially reluctant to record the song, he was convinced by family and friends to share it with the world and debuted “Where Were You…” live on national television in early November at the 35th annual CMA Awards.

    Audio / AJ (Where Were You) 2

    Download
    AUDIO: Alan Jackson describes how the events of September 11, 2001 impacted him…and talks about writing “Where Were You (When the World Stopped Turning)” a few weeks later.

    AJ (Where Were You) 2 OC: …same feelings. 1:33
    “Well, I don’t know – I think I was probably like most people that were impacted with that day and the months that followed. You know, everybody was glued to the news and television and I think it really affected a lot of people – their perspective on their lives and their jobs and their families and where they were and what they were wanting to do and how they looked at things. And I guess…I mean, that’s what I was thinking, too. And I just pretty much visualized a lot of those scenes and stories I’d heard and seen on television or heard people talk about. The song came out of nowhere in the middle of the night – the chorus did. Just a gift. And I got up and scribbled it down and put the melody down so I wouldn’t forget it, and then the next day I started piecing all those verses together that were the thoughts I’d had or visuals I’d had, and…that was about it. I think it was just really…I had so many people tell me that there’s always a line or something in there that they did, whether it was go to church or pick up their Bible or go see their mother or watch a sunset – I mean, just a lot of things in there people told me that they had actually done those things, so…I guess I was like everybody else, just feeling those same feelings.”

    Audio / Lady A (9-11 Charles)

    Download
    AUDIO: Lady Antebellum’s Charles Kelley – whose birthday is September 11th – recalls where he was on September 11, 2001.

    Lady A (9-11 Charles) OC: …everybody. :30
    “It was my birthday believe it or not. Yeah. 9/11. So, I was in college, and yeah, it was wild. I mean, woke up, was getting ready to go to class. And I had a roommate come in and say, ‘Man, turn on the TV. Classes are canceled. You won’t believe…’ He had had an earlier class, and he comes in and says, ‘Turn on the TV.’ And we all got up and watched it. It was just wild. So, it’s hard to put into words. But it is funny, that it’s still and I can remember it and everybody can. It had such a huge Effect on everybody.” 

    Audio / Lady A (9-11 Hillary)

    Download
    AUDIO: Lady Antebellum’s Hillary Scott explains she was in high school when she and her fellow classmates heard about the tragic events of 9-11.

    Lady A (9-11 Hillary) OC: …we’re protected. 1:19
    “I was in 10th grade, which is weird to think that I was in 10th grade and Charles and Dave were in college. But I was actually on my way to history class, interestingly enough, and so we got to that class and turned the TV on, and we’re just watching the footage and then our, we ended up having an assembly that day where the whole school went into the gym and our headmaster got up and explained kind of everything that was going on and what happened. And it is. It’s one of those things that’s forever ingrained in your memory. And I actually had a close friend of mine, it’s actually my God sister’s dad has been in the military and he’s retired now. But he was on his way to the Pentagon and didn’t get there. But so luckily before everything happened but it’s just, I think everyone has that personal connection to it no matter if you knew someone there or not. It’s just … and I think too not only is it a time to reflect on those lost in that tragedy, I think it’s a time to really celebrate our military. And just another way of bringing praise to them and thanking them for what they do, which is protect us and protect our freedom on a daily basis. And thankfully nothing like that has happened since. And I think that that’s a testament to how well we’re protected.”

    Audio / Lady A (9-11 Dave)

    Download
    AUDIO: Lady Antebellum’s Dave Haywood says he will never forget the lives that were lost during the tragic events of 9-11.

    Lady A (9-11 Dave) OC: …were lost. :27
    “Gosh, I mean as a human, it just completely breaks your heart. And as an American, it was such a devastating tragedy. Gosh, I mean that it still affects us 10 years later, and it will for the rest of our lives. I mean, there’s no doubt that it will. But I think as people and as a country, we’re stronger for it and going to keep pushing forward. And our goal is to get rid of people that would do evil like that in the world. So it’s tough to have that happen to us but we’ll always remember those that were lost.”

    Audio / Eric Church (9-11)

    Download
    AUDIO: Eric Church was on his way to work when he heard the news of the attacks on the World Trade Center in 2011.

    Eric Church (9-11) OC: …that feeling. :23
    “I was driving into work — the Shop-At-Home Network — I was listening to Gerry House, I remember that, and the news broke. [I] really couldn’t grasp what had happened until I got to work and saw it for myself on television. I remember I watched the second plane hit the tower in real time. I had just moved to Nashville earlier that year, and all I remember is wanting to go home and be with those I loved. I’ll never, I’ll never forget that feeling.”

    Audio / Eric Paslay (9-11)

    Download
    AUDIO: Eric Paslay remembers being in class during the tragic events of 9/11.

    Eric Paslay (9-11) OC: …I’ll never forget it. :31
    “On 9/11, I remember I was a freshman in college, and I was in a class early that morning and a girl came in with the craziest look on her face, and she just started telling us she was listening to the radio and had heard that the planes had hit the buildings. Our teacher let us out of class, and I ended up going home and my dad was at the house already. We ended up going to eat an early lunch at kind of a burger joint in my hometown. And I remember just going in and everybody was just eating in silence. It was an awkward day. I’ll never forget it.”

  • BROTHERS OSBORNE RELEASE THEIR DEBUT SINGLE, ‘LET’S GO THERE.’ (PRESS RELEASE)

    Nashville, TN – EMI Nashville singer/songwriter duo Brothers Osborneare set to release their debut single “Let’s Go There” today to country radio. Brothers Osborne are a twang-and-crunch duo that blends equal parts country and rock that consist of TJ Osborne on guitar/vocals and John Osborne on guitar. Their sound is aggressive, bold and fragile at times. “Let’s Go There” will appear on the duo’s debut album expected in 2014 and was written by both Brothers and Jon Mabe.

    After years of hard work, no sleep, broken strings, unpaid bills, and more love and support than we probably deserved at times, we couldn’t be prouder to finally release our debut single Let’s Go There,” says John Osborne.

    Brothers Osborne were recently listed as one of Paste Magazine’s “Best Of What’s Next” annual list touting “Like a more aggressive post-Americana guitarslinger/singer duo, a got-to-be-real country act, the pair offers the kind of kinetic chemistry that made Chris and Rich Robinson such a flint strikes rock spark in the Black Crowes.”

     Click HERE to read the Bros’ feature.

    Fans can catch Brothers Osborne this fall out on tour with MCA Nashville’s David Nail with stops in Columbus, Chicago, New York, Boston and Atlanta to name a few. Full list of dates at bottom of page.

    Brothers Osborneare two of five siblings from Deale, Maryland; a water town on the Chesapeake Bay. Getting into music was unavoidable for the two brothers as it was a large part of their family growing up. The family members would sit around playing and writing songs. As the brothers grew older, they formed a band with their dad called Deuce & a Quarter.

    After moving to Nashville, Brothers Osborne began writing and playing every open-mic in town that they could. In 2012 the brothers signed to EMI Nashville (part of the Universal Music Group Nashville). Brothers Osbornemark the first duo signed to the EMI Nashville imprint.

    Brothers Osborne have opened up shows for Eric Church, Dierks Bentley, Kacey Musgraves, Willie Nelson and Thompson Square.

     

    Date
    Venue City
    11/7 The Bluestone Columbus, OH
    11/8 The Intersection Grand Rapids, MI
    11/9 Joe’s Bar Chicago, IL
    11/13 Gramercy Theatre New York, NY
    11/14 Asylum Portland, ME
    11/15 Royale Boston, MA
    11/17 The Fillmore Washington, DC
    11/21 Iron City Birmingham, AL
    11/22 120 Tavern & Music Hall Atlanta, GA
  • GEORGE STRAIT ANNOUNCES FINAL TOUR DATES AND SPECIAL GUESTS! (AUDIO)

    ARLINGTON, Texas – Musical icon George Strait has announced the dates for the second leg of his final two-year tour – The Cowboy Rides Away Tour. In a press conference streamed live on georgestrait.comfrom AT&T Stadium, home of the NFL’s Dallas Cowboys, earlier today, Strait revealed the final 26 markets he will visit during the winter and spring legs of his 2014 tour. Additionally, Strait revealed he will have special guests on each tour weekend that will be matched with the corresponding tour date and market via a “tweet to unlock” campaign. Special guests will include Jason Aldean, Eric Church, Sheryl Crow, Ronnie Dunn, Vince GillMerle Haggard, Miranda Lambert, Little Big Town, Martina McBride, Lee Ann Womack, Chris Young, and more.

    “The first leg of the tour earlier this year was very fun, but also very emotional,” said Strait. “Every city and venue holds such great memories. I’m really looking forward to seeing our fans out on the road in 2014.”

    George Strait fan club members will have an opportunity to purchase tickets during a pre-sale period beginning at 10 a.m. in the venue’s respective time zone on Tuesday, September 24. Additionally, American Express® Cardmembers can purchase tickets before the general public. Tickets available to the general public will go on sale in select markets beginning Sept. 27 at 10:00 a.m. (time zone restraints apply) at www.georgestrait.com.

    The Cowboy Rides Away Tour 2014 dates are as follows

    January 9, 2014       CenturyLinkâ��Bossier City, La.

    January 10, 2014     Frank Erwin Centerâ��Austin, Texas

    January 17, 2014     CenturyLink Centerâ��Omaha, Neb.

    January 18, 2014     Sprint Centerâ��Kansas City, Mo.

    January 30, 2014     SAP Centerâ��San Jose, Calif.

    January 31, 2014     Valley View Casino Centerâ��San Diego, Calif.

    February 1, 2014     MGM Grand Arenaâ��Las Vegas, Nev.

    February 7, 2014     US Airways Centerâ��Phoenix, Ariz.

    February 8, 2014     Staples Centerâ��Los Angeles, Calif.

    February 14, 2014   The Palace of Auburn Hills â��Auburn Hills, Mich.

    February 15, 2014   Nationwide Arenaâ��Columbus, Ohio

    February 28, 2014   Wells Fargo Arenaâ��Philadelphia, Pa.

    March 1, 2014         Prudential Centerâ��Newark, N.J.

    March 7, 2014         KFC Yum! Arenaâ��Louisville, Ky.

    March 8, 2014         Allstate Arenaâ��Chicago, Ill.

    March 21, 2014       Bridgestone Arenaâ��Nashville, Tenn.

    March 22, 2014       Philips Arenaâ��Atlanta, Ga.

    April 4, 2014            Intrust Bank Arenaâ�� Wichita, Kan.

    April 5, 2014            Pepsi Centerâ��Denver, Colo.

    April 11, 2014         The Moda Centerâ��Portland, Ore.

    April 12, 2014         Tacoma Domeâ��Tacoma, Wash. 

    April 18, 2014         Wells Fargo Arenaâ��Des Moines, Iowa

    April 19, 2014         BOK Arenaâ��Tulsa, Okla.

    May 23, 2014          LSU Tiger Stadium Bayou Country Superfest â��Baton Rouge,  La.

    May 31, 2014          Gillette Stadium â�� Foxborough, Mass.

    TBD                          AT&T Stadium â��Dallas, Texas

    Strait, who recently renewed his record deal with MCA Records during a celebration at Nashville’s Schermerhorn Symphony Center, will continue to record new music and play select dates around the country following the completion of the tour. The Cowboy Rides Away Tour will offer fans a final opportunity to see Strait’s live show filled with hits from throughout his remarkable career, including many of his 60 No. 1 hits (more than any other artist in any genre). Additionally, Strait will receive Billboard’s Legend of Live Award in November in a ceremony in New York City. This is the magazine’s most coveted touring award, and he is the first country music artist to achieve this honor. 

    For more information on George Strait and for tour updates, please visit www.GeorgeStrait.com or follow Strait on Facebook and Twitter @georgestrait.

    Audio / George Strait (what he'll miss touring)

    Download
    AUDIO: George Strait explains what he will miss when he’s not touring anymore…and what he won’t.

    George Strait (what he’ll miss touring) OC: …the traveling. :35
    “I’m gonna miss the shows. I’m not gonna miss the traveling, but I’m gonna miss [the shows] a lot. I’ve been doing it so long. It’ll be interesting to see just how I handle that in 2015. We’ll see what happens, but I think I’m making the right choice. It’s the right decision. I’m pretty happy with my decision, knowing that I can still go out and do one-offs here and there. I’m just going to [do] five or six things a year out there if I want to. I know I’ll miss it. I know I’ll miss all of it…except for the traveling.”

    Audio / George Strait (bittersweet)

    Download
    AUDIO: At Monday’s press conference, George Strait says the final leg of his Cowboy Rides Away will be bittersweet.

    George Strait (bittersweet) OC: …doing it. :35
    “I am excited about the tour next year. It’s going to be a little bittersweet for me. It’s starting to sink in for me after the first leg of the tour. It’ll be a little tough next year saying goodbye to some of those places. My plan is to keep doing things here and there when I feel like it, and hopefully those opportunities will come for me. I can’t see hanging it up forever. As long as I keep enjoying it, I’m going to keep doing it.”

  • DIERKS BENTLEY PLAYS DJ FOR A WEEK IN LATEST EPISODE OF DBTV. (VIDEO)

    Dierks Bentley takes over the controls as he guest-hosts the syndicated radio show, After Midnite, this week. He’s joined by several special guests, including Charles Kelley from Lady Antebellum and singer-songwriter Chris Stapleton. Check out the behind-the-scenes look in the latest episode of DBTV below.

    Video / Dierks Bentley - DBTV Episode 116 - After MidNite

    View
  • KEITH URBAN SET TO RELEASE HIS NEW ALBUM, FUSE, TOMORROW. (AUDIO)

    Keith Urban hits stores with his new album, Fuse, tomorrow (Tuesday), and it’s been a very creative process for him. The project started with Keith wanting to work with totally different people, mainly different producers and songwriters. In many cases, he pursued folks based on previous projects they worked on and which he really enjoyed. “I just wanted to start in a place that was being completely uncharted waters for me…I started seeking out guys who I liked what they did. In a lot of cases, I had never even met them before,” says Keith. “The whole journey started of trying to meet these people and get in the studio with them.”

    The number of producers he worked with on Fuse increased exponentially during the process. While he did go into the studio with his longtime producer Dann Huff, he branched out of his comfort zone to work with a few different people, including Mike Elizondo (Eminem, Dr. Dre, Pink, Fiona Apple), Butch Walker (Fall Out Boy, Weezer), Jay Joyce (Eric Church, Little Big Town, The Wallflowers), Nathan Chapman (Taylor Swift, The Band Perry) and Stargate (Beyoncé, Rihanna, Ne-Yo). “I think what I liked about working with different people is the fact that everybody makes records differently,” says Keith. “I didn’t set out for there to be eight different producers on all these different songs. I was sort of searching for synergy and compatibility between some people, and I found it in a lot of people on certain songs. That’s how this sort of record became what it was. I thought I would find one or two guys out of the exploration, and we would go and make the whole album. I loved how everybody had a different take on different things, and it pulled out something different in me too.”

    He’s set to begin hitting the airwaves this week with his new single, “We Were Us,” a duet with Miranda Lambert.

    Don’t forget to catch Keith performing live on NBC’s Today Show on Tuesday (September 10th) and The View and Late Show With David Letterman on Wednesday.

    Audio / Keith Urban (how Fuse started)

    Download
    AUDIO: Keith Urban explains how he started putting together his new album, Fuse.

    Keith Urban (How Fuse started) OC: …with them. :24
    “I just wanted to start in a place that was being completely uncharted waters for me. I sought out Michael Elizondo, and I started seeking out guys who I liked what they did. In a lot of cases, I had never even met them before. I had never met Butch Walker, but I had liked what he had done on the Fall Out Boy record. So, the whole journey started of trying to meet these people and get in the studio with them.”

    Audio / Keith Urban (different producers)

    Download
    AUDIO: Keith Urban talks about working with all of the different producers on his new project, Fuse.

    Keith Urban (different producers) OC: …in me too. :53
    “I think what I liked about working with different people is the fact that everybody makes records differently. Jay Joyce makes records very, very differently than the way Dann Huff does. Dann makes them different than Nathan Chapman. Stargate makes them in a different way. Everybody makes records very differently. What I was trying to do was find a song where the particular way of making records made sense for the particular song we were working on, and the way I wanted that song to sound. I didn’t set out for there to be eight different producers on all these different songs. I was sort of searching for synergy and compatibility between some people, and I found it in a lot of people on certain songs. That’s how this sort of record became what it was. I thought I would find one or two guys out of the exploration, and we would go and make the whole album. I loved how everybody had a different take on different things, and it pulled out something different in me too.”

  • GET A SNEAK PEEK OF LADY ANTEBELLUM AND STEVIE NICKS FROM ‘CMT CROSSROADS.’ (VIDEO)

    Lady Antebellum share the stage with the legendary Stevie Nicks in the new installment of CMT’s Crossroads. The episode pairs the two acts in which they trade vocals on each other’s songs. Check out their performance of the Fleetwood Mac classic, “Rhiannon,” below.

  • LUKE BRYAN GOES BEHIND-THE-SCENES OF RECORDING HIS TARGET DELUXE VERSION OF ‘CRASH MY PARTY.’ (VIDEO)

    Luke Bryan takes fans behind-the-scenes of the making of the four extra songs on his Crash My Party Target Deluxe Edition. Those songs include ‘What Is It With You,” “Your Mama Should’ve Named You Whiskey,” “Better Than My Heart” and “Sunburnt Lips.” Check it out!

    Video / LBTV Thursdays 2013! Episode 32

    View