• NEWS AND NOTES: Little Big Town, Parker McCollum, Kylie Morgan, Glen Campbell

    Little Big Town and Parker McCollum will take part in an all-star tribute to Ronnie Milsap during his final Nashville stop on October 3rd. Tickets for the show go on sale Friday (June 9th) at 10am CT via Ticketmaster. The concert will also feature performances by Kelly Clarkson, Justin MooreScotty McCreeryTracy LawrenceRandy HouserSara EvansLorrie MorganNeal McCoyBRELANDPhil VassarTerri Clark, The Band of HeathensCharlie McCoy and more.

    Hannah Corbin’s Country Happy Hour returns for Season 4 on Friday (June 9th) at 3pm ET, and the series will feature the music of several of the biggest names in country music. Hannah is one of Peloton’s lead instructors, and this class is the only country focused series Peloton has and will include songs by Carrie Underwood, Luke Bryan, Dierks Bentley, Jordan Davis, Brothers Osborne and Kylie Morgan. Classes will be live beginning at 3pm ET, but you can also take them at any time after they debut. Also, Peloton has asked Kylie to join them in studio for a “from ride to dine” Happy Hour on July 7th. Kylie will take the class and then have a real-time happy hour post-class.

    A bio-pic on the life of Glen Campbell is currently in development by director Justin Chadwick and producer James Keach (who directed the documentary on Campbell I’ll Be Me). Currently titled Rhinestone Cowboy, after the legendary performer’s 1975 chart-topper of the same name, the film reportedly has Tim McGraw attached to it.

     

  • “CAPTIVATING PERFORMER” DIERKS BENTLEY HITS THE ROAD ON GRAVEL & GOLD TOUR WITH SOLD OUT FIRST WEEKEND.

    Dierks Bentley unveiled his Gravel & Gold Tour this weekend marking the beginning of summer with sold out amphitheaters in Toronto, ON; Detroit, MI and Cleveland, OH. “Playing in front of a huge high-definition screen (seriously, the whiskey barrels and steel beams looked real)” (Cleveland Plain Dealer), his all-new production otherwise was fairly simple, leaving room for music and “night of serious fun.” Tickets for upcoming Gravel & Gold Tour dates can be found at Dierks.com.

    “I’ve been working on this tour ever since I started working on the album four years ago,” said Bentley. “My band, crew and I have poured everything into the show, the flow and the production. I can’t even begin to tell you how incredible it feels to see it come to life in front of sold out crowds at these iconic venues. This will be the best tour I’ve ever been part of, no doubt.”

    For the new tour, “Bentley certainly has the goods to throw a full-on party — 22 No. 1 country hits over the past two decades, along with a well-established reputation for eye-catching stages and a deft touch for blending silly and serious…a night of serious fun” (Oakland Press). Each night included his biggest hits and fan favorites, a stripped down bluegrass set, collaborations with openers Jordan Davis and Molly Tuttle and 90’s covers – all while Bentley “came off as a guy who has a blast onstage” (Cleveland Plain Dealer).

    Before returning to the road, Bentley will once again host CMA Music Fest in Nashville this week with Elle King and Lainey Wilson, airing July 19th on ABC. On June 26th, he will also host the NHL Awards on TNT, Sportsnet TVA Sports in the US and Canada.

    Dierks Bentley recently released his 10th studio album GRAVEL & GOLD.

  • ERIC CHURCH TO BE FEATURED IN NEW COUNTRY MUSIC HALL OF FAME® AND MUSEUM EXHIBITION OPENING JULY 13th.

    The Country Music Hall of Fame® and Museum will explore the life and ever-growing career of 10-time GRAMMY nominee and CMA Entertainer of the year Eric Church in its newest exhibition, Eric Church: Country Heart, Restless Soul, presented by Gibson. The exhibit will chronicle Church’s unique path to stardom, from his early years playing late-night gigs in bars and writing songs in Nashville to his current prominence as one of country music’s most authentic voices and revered rule-breakers. The exhibit, which opens July 13 and runs through June 2024, is included with museum admission.

     

    Having long eschewed industry norms with a sound and approach uniquely his own, the man praised by The Wall Street Journal as “knowledgeable and respectful of country’s history, but not shackled by it” has held tight to his artistic identity throughout his more than two decades in Nashville, earning a devoted audience and amassing an impressive list of accolades, including 10 Billboard #1 country radio hits and over 50 million units sold across multiple Gold, Platinum and multi-Platinum-certified albums. A revered storyteller, Church has also written or co-written almost all of the songs he has recorded and released. He continues to fill sold-out venues with his raucous live show, as well as challenge his own musical approach with every new level of success he achieves.

    “Eric Church has done it his way completely,” said Kyle Young, CEO of the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum. “His steadfast artistic vision and authenticity resonate deeply with audiences, and he continues to serve as an important collaborator and renegade role model for generations of country music artists.”

    The exhibit will include musical instruments, song manuscripts, stage wear, tour memorabilia, awards, photographs and more from Church’s personal collection. Photos of artifacts featured in the exhibit can be found here. More information about the exhibit can be found on the museum’s website.

    Examples of items to be displayed include:

    • the Harmony H-303 three-quarter-size acoustic guitar that belonged to Church when he was a child.
    • Ray-Ban Aviator Mirror sunglasses worn by Church onstage.
    • the Von Dutch trucker hat Church bought at a Mississippi truck stop in the late 2000s and began wearing onstage.
    • the outfit worn by Church on the album cover of The Outsiders and at the CMA Awards in 2013, which includes a Rogue two-tone leather jacket, John Varvatos shirt and Diesel jeans.
    • a sculpture made from vinyl records of various sizes, which replicates the soundwave of Church’s recording of “Record Year” and was used as a prop in the 2016 music video for the song.
    • a Gibson Eric Church Hummingbird Dark guitar. Church contributed to the design of the limited-edition guitar and used it on his “Double Down Tour” (2019).
    • the Tom Ford purple suede jacket that Church wore when he and Jazmine Sullivan sang the national anthem at Super Bowl LV at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida, in 2021.

    In support of the exhibit’s opening, the museum will host a public program, Writers’ Round: The Songs of Eric Church, featuring Luke Laird, Jeremy Spillman and others, on Saturday, July 15, at 2:30 p.m. in the museum’s Ford Theater. The writers will perform and share the stories behind the songs they have crafted with Church. To reserve tickets to the program or learn more about the exhibit, visit the museum’s website.

    The exhibit’s announcement comes ahead of Church’s CMA Fest performance at Nissan Stadium this Saturday, June 10 and the kickoff of The Outsiders Revival Tour on June 22. The first fully outdoor tour of his career will feature a rotating lineup of emerging artists across varying dates, Whiskey Myers, Cody Jinks, Jelly Roll, Ashley McBryde, Koe Wetzel, Lainey Wilson, Midland, Parker McCollum, Travis Tritt, Elle King and Paul Cauthen, plus Jackson Dean, Morgan Wade, Muscadine Bloodline, Shane Smith & The Saints, Hailey Whitters, Ray Wylie Hubbard and The Red Clay Strays.

    For more information, visit www.ericchurch.com and follow on Facebook and Twitter @ericchurch and Instagram @ericchurchmusic.

    Eric Church 2023 Tour Dates
    * denotes festival dates

    June 10*             Nashville, Tenn. / Nissan Stadium                                                                          CMA Fest
    June 16*             Central Point, Ore. / Jackson County Expo                                                            Rogue Music Festival
    June 17*             Santa Rosa, Calif. / Sonoma County Fairgrounds                                                  Country Summer Music Festival
    June 22              Milwaukee, Wisc. / American Family Insurance  Amphitheater                              Elle King
    June 23              Detroit, Mich. / Pine Knob Music Theatre                                                               Ashley McBryde, The Red Clay Strays
    June 24              Cleveland, Ohio / Blossom Music Center                                                                Ashley McBryde, The Red Clay Strays
    June 29              Charleston, S.C. / Credit One Stadium                                                                     Ashley McBryde, The Red Clay Strays
    June 30              Charleston, S.C. / Credit One Stadium                                                                     Parker McCollum, Morgan Wade
    July 1                Virginia Beach, Va. / Veterans United Home Loans Amphitheater                           Parker McCollum, Morgan Wade
    July 6                Toronto, Ontario / Budweiser Stage                                                                          Koe Wetzel, Shane Smith & The Saints
    July 7                Toronto, Ontario / Budweiser Stage                                                                          Koe Wetzel, Shane Smith & The Saints
    July 8                Pittsburgh, Pa. / The Pavilion at Star Lake                                                               Koe Wetzel, Shane Smith & The Saints
    July 14              Cincinnati, Ohio / Riverbend Music Center                                                             Travis Tritt, Muscadine Bloodline
    July 15              St. Louis, Mo. / Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre                                                   Travis Tritt, Muscadine Bloodline
    July 21*             Cheyenne, Wyo. / Cheyenne Frontier Days Arena                                                  Cheyenne Frontier Days
    July 23*             Minot, N.D. / North Dakota State Fairgrounds                                                        North Dakota State Fair
    July 27              Rogers, Ark. / Walmart AMP                                                                                    Midland, Ray Wylie Hubbard
    July 28              Dallas, Texas / Dos Equis Pavilion                                                                           Midland, Ray Wylie Hubbard
    July 29              Austin, Texas / Germania Insurance Amphitheater                                                  Midland, Ray Wylie Hubbard
    Aug. 4               Raleigh, N.C. / Coastal Credit Union Music Park                                                   Cody Jinks
    Aug. 5               Bristow, Va. / Jiffy Lube Live                                                                                  Cody Jinks
    Aug. 11             Indianapolis, Ind. / Ruoff Music Center                                                                  Cody Jinks
    Aug. 12             Chicago, Ill. / Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre                                                     Cody Jinks
    Aug. 13*            Des Moines, Iowa / Iowa State Fairgrounds                                                           Iowa State Fair
    Aug. 17             Orange Beach, Ala. / The Wharf Amphitheater                                                       Lainey Wilson, Jackson Dean
    Aug. 18             Orange Beach, Ala. / The Wharf Amphitheater                                                       Lainey Wilson, Jackson Dean
    Aug. 19             Orange Beach, Ala. / The Wharf Amphitheater                                                       Lainey Wilson, Jackson Dean
    Aug. 24             Saratoga Springs, N.Y. / Saratoga Performing Arts Center                                     Lainey Wilson, The Red Clay Strays
    Aug. 25             Holmdel, N.J. / PNC Bank Arts Center                                                                   Whiskey Myers
    Aug. 26             Philadelphia, Pa. / Freedom Mortgage Pavilion                                                      Whiskey Myers
    Sept. 8               Portland, Ore. / RV Inn Style Resorts Amphitheater                                               Jelly Roll, Hailey Whitters
    Sept. 9               George, Wash. / Gorge Amphitheatre                                                                      Jelly Roll, Hailey Whitters
    Sept. 10             George, Wash. / Gorge Amphitheatre                                                                     Jelly Roll, Hailey Whitters
    Sept. 15             Albuquerque, N.M. / Isleta Amphitheater                                                               Paul Cauthen, Hailey Whitters
    Sept. 16             Phoenix, Ariz. / Talking Stick Resort Amphitheatre                                               Jelly Roll, Paul Cauthen
    Sept. 21             Atlanta, Ga. / Ameris Bank Amphitheatre                                                              Whiskey Myers
    Sept. 22             Atlanta, Ga. / Ameris Bank Amphitheatre                                                              Whiskey Myers
    Sept. 23             Charlotte, N.C. / PNC Music Pavilion                                                                    Whiskey Myers
    Sept. 24             Charlotte, N.C. / PNC Music Pavilion                                                                    Whiskey Myers
    Sept. 29             West Palm Beach, Fla. / iTHINK Financial Amphitheatre                                     Whiskey Myers
    Sept. 30             Tampa, Fla. / MIDFLORIDA Credit Union Amphitheatre                                     Whiskey Myers
    Oct. 7*              Bristol, Tenn. / Bristol Motor Speedway                                                                 Country Thunder Bristol
    Oct. 15*             Sacramento, Calif. / Discovery Park                                                                       GoldenSky Festival

  • ANNE WILSON AND CAPITOL CHRISTIAN MUSIC GROUP ALIGN WITH UNIVERSAL MUSIC GROUP NASHVILLE FOR NEW MUSIC.

    Universal Music Group Nashville and Capitol Christian Music Group are teaming up for the release of new music from award-winning artist Anne Wilson. Tallying more than 600 million global streams, Wilson has won two GMA Dove Awards and earned a GRAMMY nomination for her 2022 debut album, My Jesus. The Kentucky native is one of Nashville’s most inspiring young trailblazers, mixing the heart of Contemporary Christian with the sound of Country music.

    “From the moment we first met Anne, it was clear she had a special talent and an incredible story and message,” shares Capitol CMG’s Brad O’Donnell and Hudson Plachy. “It’s been so rewarding to be a part of the success she’s had with her debut project and we are thrilled to have UMG Nashville and Cindy Mabe as partners for this next chapter. We believe there’s no ceiling for what Anne can achieve.”

    “Anne Wilson is a boundary pushing artist who belongs in both Christian and Country music formats and cultures,” adds UMG Nashville Chair & CEO, Cindy Mabe. “She’s here to take her story and the power of her music to new audiences, while continuing to be an ambassador of faith in youth culture and beyond within the Christian music audience. She’s unique and dynamic in sound, purpose and spirit and getting to partner with her, her team at Story House Collective, and Hudson Plachy and Brad O’Donnell and their team at Capitol Christian Music Group is a great privilege.”

    Adding to her powerhouse Nashville team, Wilson has also signed on with boutique talent agency The Neal Agency.

    Next up, Wilson will take the stage at RiseFest in Iowa on June 9, CMA Fest in Nashville June 10-11, and will perform at the Grand Ole Opry on June 16. She is set to release her personal track “Seventh Of June” on Wednesday (6/7). For more information, visit AnneWilsonOfficial.com.

  • CMA FEST 2023

    It’s that time of the year again! The 2023 CMA Fest is kicking off this week in Nashville, and the stars are coming out to perform and hangout with their fans. You can find out where your favorite artists are playing, if go to cmafest.com here.

    Darius Rucker unofficially kicks off his Darius & Friends concert on Monday (June 5th) with proceeds going to benefit St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.

    https://twitter.com/dariusrucker/status/1665801859372572674

    The Grand Ole Opry will celebrate CMA Fest in a huge way with performances by Carrie Underwood, Josh Turner, Bill Anderson and Lainey Wilson beginning Tuesday (June 6th). On Thursday (June 8th), Sam Hunt and Terri Clark will perform. On Friday (June 9th) and Saturday (June 10th), Vince Gill, Trace Adkins and more are set to perform.

    The CMA Closeup Stage will feature interviews and more with the Artists of the Day — Thursday (Dierks Bentley); Friday (Reba McEntire); Saturday (Brothers Osborne); Sunday (Wynonna Judd).

    Spotify is featuring performances from tons of country artists, including Jordan Davis, Dierks Bentley, Sam Hunt, Brad Paisley, Brothers Osborne, Dalton Dover, Josh Ross, Luke Grimes, Mickey Guyton and many more, at their fourth annual Spotify House located at Ole Red on Broadway in downtown Nashville beginning Thursday (June 8th).

    https://twitter.com/OleRed/status/1661010487704973315

    Universal Music Group Nashville will be putting on a ton of performances, as well, at the Skydeck at 5th and Broadway for more than 20 hours of live music featuring Brothers Osborne, Jordan Davis, Maddie & Tae, Luke Grimes, Priscilla Block, Travis Denning, Kylie Morgan, Caylee Hammack, Catie Offerman, Josh Ross, Kassi Ashton, Dalton Dover, Boy Named Banjo, Sam Williams and many more beginning Thursday (June 8th).

    https://twitter.com/UMGNashville/status/1664645097126862848

     

    On Wednesday (June 7th), the annual Concert for Love and Acceptance will take place at Nashville’s Wildhorse Saloon. The show will feature performances by Maddie & Tae, Terri Clark, Pam Tillis, Desmond Child and more. More information can be found at nashvillepride.org.On Wednesday (June 7th), the annual Concert for Love and Acceptance will take place at Nashville’s Wildhorse Saloon. The show will feature performances by Maddie & Tae, Terri Clark, Pam Tillis, Desmond Child and more. More information can be found at nashvillepride.org.

    Whiskey Jam will take over with performances by Kassi Ashton, the Hot Country Knights, Dylan Scott and many more. They start at Losers through Wednesday (June 7th) and then move downtown from Thursday (June 8th) to Sunday (June 11th).

    Maddie & Tae are throwing their fans a party on Saturday (June 10th) from 11a – 1pm. This is their first-ever fan club party at 5th & Broadway’s Skydeck.

    Audio / Darius Rucker returns to the historic Ryman Auditorium on Monday (June 5th) for his annual Darius and Friends concert benefitting St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. He says there’s nothing like CMA Fest.

    Download

    Darius Rucker (CMA Music Fest) OC: …awesome. :48
    “Music Fest is like nothing else. I say all the time that country music is the only genre that could have something like that. It’s truly amazing, when I come that weekend, people are everywhere and they want to be your best friend. It’s always cool and I love coming here. The thing that always gets me is the show. The fact that you can get that many superstars at one show all playing for free, for the same goal, to entertain those people that are in that stadium that come here for the whole week from all over the world. They come here for one week to see country music, and it’s amazing that those artists say on Friday and Saturday night, this is country music come on out. That’s awesome.”

    Audio / DIERKS BENTLEY, WHO WILL PERFORM AT NISSAN STADIUM ON SUNDAY (JUNE 11TH AND IS CO-HOSTING THE TELEVISED VERSION OF CMA FEST) RECALLS THE WORST THING HE'S BEEN ASKED TO SIGN.

    Download

    Dierks Bentley (signing a baby’s head) OC: …child’s brain. :13
    “A baby’s head with a sharpie. Yeah, like a two-week old baby. I didn’t want to do it. I didn’t want to do it. The woman was like, ‘Please.’ I was like, ‘Alright.’ The head at that point is so vulnerable, transparent, so I’m just hoping they didn’t get any ink in the child’s brain.”

    Audio / Jordan Davis, who has multiple performances this week including on stage at Nissan Stadium Thursday night (June 8th), says he’s grateful to be a part of CMA Fest (what he calls the best music festival around).

    Download

    Jordan Davis (CMA Fest) OC: …this one. :56
    “The role reversal of who’s traveling. Now everybody gets to come to, not just my hometown, but all the artists. We’re all pretty much based in Nashville now, and it really is the best week of the year – from fan club parties to where we can go to and either play new music or just get a chance to say thank you. The fans are why we get to do this, so any chance we get to get one-on-one time with them or take a photo, play a song, say thank you, not just me, but we all love it. And also, to be able to be home, you know Broadway has such a special place in country music, so to bring country music to that street for a week and then end it every night at the stadium with the biggest names in country music. It’s the best music festival out there, and I’m truly blessed that I get to be a part of it. So, I’m grateful for it and looking forward to this one.”

    Audio / Josh Turner, who will perform at Nissan Stadium during CMA Fest on Sunday night (June 11th), talks about the weirdest thing he's signed for a fan.

    Download

    Josh Turner (weirdest things he’s signed) OC: …Sharpie, though. :10
    “A toothpick; an unused toothpick, let me throw that out there, an unused toothpick. It was quite challenging, actually, and it didn’t look anything like my autograph. It took a really small Sharpie, though.”

    Audio / KEITH URBAN, WHO PERFORMS AT NISSAN STADIUM (HOME OF THE TENNESSEE TITANS) ON FRIDAY (JUNE 9TH), SAYS CMA MUSIC FEST IS LIKE SUMMER CAMP.

    Download

    Keith Urban (CMA Music Fest) OC: …love it. :25
    “I love it! It’s like summer camp. I mean, it is! It’s a chance to obviously see a lot of people I don’t normally see. I don’t know. It’s just palpable. Since Fan Fair, it’s just been that sort of week-plus of energy; the town just explodes, and what it is we love about this genre and the community aspect of it. I always love it.”

    Audio / LUKE BRYAN, WHO IS SET TO PERFORM AT NISSAN STADIUM ON SUNDAY (JUNE 11TH), ENJOYS CMA MUSIC FEST WEEK.

    Download

    Luke Bryan (CMA Music Fest) OC: …for this week. :33
    “It’s a great week. I truly love this week for hundreds of reasons. I always remember my first ones and starting out and doing River Stages and always dreaming of coming over here and performing at LP Field (now Nissan Stadium) and all of the stuff building the fan base early in the week. It’s an amazing week for Nashville, and it’s a great week for me. And then I get to be home and do all this stuff. It’s always been a fun week for me. A lot of my family always comes in for this week.”

    Audio / Sam Hunt talks about his first time at CMA Music Fest.

    Download

    Sam Hunt (CMA Music Fest-move to Nashville) OC: …good week for Nashville. :38
    “You know, I was here several years ago for the first time for CMA Fest as a fan. I came out to the show, did the full experience, and it really was one of the big reasons I decided to move to Nashville. It kind of made the idea of being a songwriter more tangible and realistic, and also I fell in love with the city, Nashville, so I knew it’d be a place I’d be happy living, and also because of the music. So, yeah, that week here really inspired my move here, and it was a significant part of my life. But since then, I’ve been to every CMA Fest since, I think, and it’s a good week for Nashville.”

    Audio / Tyler Hubbard, who is set to perform at Nissan Stadium on Thursday (June 8th), talks about his first time at CMA Music Fest.

    Download

    Tyler Hubbard (1st CMA Fest) OC: …a special week. :55
    “The first CMA Music Fest that I remember was we were not performing. We were not invited. It was BK and I were actually working as promotional guys for Coke Zero, so we were passing out free Coke Zero in the middle of summer in downtown Nashville, burning hot, and dreaming of the year that we would be able to play a show there. Looking back, it’s been such an awesome progression to go from that to playing small stages and then playing Riverfront and then getting to play Nissan Stadium multiple times was just a dream come true. Every year we’d go back, and we’d say remember where we started over there with the Coke Zero tent? So just a lot of great memories of that week, what a special week in Nashville and a special week for not only us as artists, but for the fans too to just connect, so it’s always a special week.”

  • GEORGE STRAIT KICKS OFF SUMMER OF STADIUMS WITH TWO-RECORD SETTING PERFORMANCES.

    The King of Country continues his reign as “the genre’s most consistent A-list act,” as declared by the Los Angeles Times, setting back-to-back venue attendance records with his two most recent shows. George Strait brought a record-setting 46,641 attendees to Milwaukee’s American Family Field on Saturday evening (besting Paul McCartney’s 2013 record by over 2,000 people). The standout show came on the heels of last weekend’s record-setting 63,891 attendees at Columbus’s Ohio Stadium for Buckeye Country Superfest.

    “With support from the 11-member ‘Ace in the Hole’ band, Strait’s setlist in Milwaukee was nicely plotted, frequently going back and forth between somber songs and playful tunes,” praised the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel of Strait’s 32 songs over more than two hours on Saturday evening. “He let storytelling seize the spotlight, expressed with a golden croon that showed no strain while offering enough emotional nuance to embody the material.”

    “We have been fortunate to have a number of fantastic shows at American Family Field since we opened our doors. Our expectations for George Strait, Chris Stapleton and Little Big Town were very high and those expectations were blown away,” shared Jason Hartlund, executive vice president/chief commercial officer for the Milwaukee Brewers. “We set venue records for concert attendance and gross ticket revenue, among others. The Brewers have worked with Messina Touring Group for over a decade and have always enjoyed the relationship. We look forward to working together on many future shows at American Family Field.”

    The record-setting concerts followed the Country Music Hall of Famer’s recent headlining performance at Phoenix’s State Farm Stadium (May 6) and set the stage for a summer of stadium shows to come, with dates to follow in Seattle (June 17), Denver (June 24), Nashville (July 28 & 29) and Tampa (Aug. 5).

    “We truly have the best fans in the world. There’s nothing like seeing their faces when I walk on stage with my Ace in the Hole band jamming to ‘Deep in the Heart of Texas,’” shared Strait. “The energy they’re giving back to us is indescribable. I’m very grateful to all of the fans who come out to see us for these shows and I can’t wait to see you at the next one.”

    For more information and to purchase tickets to upcoming dates, visit GeorgeStrait.com.

  • “CMA FEST,” HOSTED BY DIERKS BENTLEY, ELLE KING AND LAINEY WILSON, TO AIR JULY 19 ON ABC.

    Dierks Bentley, along with Elle King and Lainey Wilson, will host this year’s CMA Fest TV special. The three-hour primetime concert special, which is set to film in Nashville this week, will air July 19th beginning at 8pm ET/7pm CT on ABC.

    Returning to host the special for the second year in a row, Dierks is looking forward to hangtime with his artist friends and watching incredible performances, but most of all, working with two of the funniest people he knows.

    “Hosting the CMA Fest is the ultimate gig. It’s so fun,” says Dierks. “I mean, I’ve hosted some big awards show as well and those are great too, but this is a four-day festival, so I get to be there for four days. And which if I was doing it by myself, it would be great because you get a chance to see all your artist buddies you don’t see very often, hear great music, see the all-stars of the country music fans, people that travel from all over the world to be here and they bring the most energy. It’s the greatest fans to play in front of, BUT I get to co-host this with two of the funniest people I know – Elle King and Lainey Wilson. I mean, yes, talented beyond all talent, both incredible stylists vocally that sound like nobody else, great songwriters. You can list all that stuff. Whatever. Who cares? They’re funny. They’re so fun to be around. They make you laugh the whole time, so it doesn’t even feel like work. It just feels like this is ridiculous that I get the chance to hang out with these girls. So, yeah, we’re hosting the CMA Fest. Last year it was Elle and I; this year we’re bringing on Lainey Wilson…It’s going to be so much fun. I cannot wait. It’s gonna be the greatest CMA Fest of all time.”

    The CMA Fest television event will feature never-before-seen performances and surprise collaborations from some of the best in the Country Music format.

    Dierks, who recently hit the top of the country charts with “Gold,” just kicked off his Gravel & Gold Tour last week.

    Audio / Dierks Bentley talks about hosting this year's CMA Fest with Elle King and Lainey Wilson.

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    Dierks Bentley (hosting CMA Fest 2023) OC: …of all time. 1:01
    “Hosting the CMA Fest is the ultimate gig. It’s so fun. I mean, I’ve hosted some big awards show as well and those are great too, but this is a four-day festival, so I get to be there for four days. And which if I was doing it by myself, it would be great because you get a chance to see all your artist buddies you don’t see very often, hear great music, see the all-stars of the country music fans, people that travel from all over the world to be here and they bring the most energy. It’s the greatest fans to play in front of, BUT I get to co-host this with two of the funniest people I know – Elle King and Lainey Wilson. I mean, yes, talented beyond all talent, both incredible stylists vocally that sound like nobody else, great songwriters. You can list all that stuff. Whatever. Who cares? They’re funny. They’re so fun to be around. They make you laugh the whole time, so it doesn’t even feel like work. It just feels like this is ridiculous that I get the chance to hang out with these girls. So, yeah, we’re hosting the CMA Fest. Last year it was Elle and I; this year we’re bringing on Lainey Wilson. It’s gonna be…it’s fun. It’s going to be so much fun. I cannot wait. It’s gonna be the greatest CMA Fest of all time.”

  • VINCE GILL AND PAUL FRANKLIN ANNOUNCE RELEASE OF SWEET MEMORIES: THE MUSIC OF RAY PRICE & THE CHEROKEE COWBOYS – STREET DATE: AUGUST 4th.

    Ten years following the release of the critically-acclaimed Bakersfield album, country music icon Vince Gill and legendary musician Paul Franklin, have joined forces again for their latest project, Sweet Memories: The Music of Ray Price & The Cherokee Cowboys. The 11-track album is set for release on August 4, 2023 on MCA Nashville and pre-orders for the much-anticipated project launch today.

    PRE-ORDER ALBUM | HERE

    LISTEN TO “KISSING YOUR PICTURE (IS SO COLD)” | HERE

    Sweet Memories: The Music of Ray Price & The Cherokee Cowboys contains material that might be surprising to even the most die-hard of Price’s fans. Gill explains, “When we originally started thinking about doing this record, we were going to do half and half, focusing on two different artists like we did with Bakersfield, recording songs of Buck Owens and Merle Haggard. But we got to liking so many of Ray’s songs, that it became ‘Let’s do all Ray’ and ‘Well, Okay!””

    Franklin adds, “We had such a great time doing Bakersfield. It felt good introducing that music to a new generation. This time, it was a no-brainer to pick Ray Price. Once we locked in on Ray, we started looking through the sheer volume of his material. We looked for obscure songs, ones even Ray’s fans might not know as well.”

    “We kind of shopped for the unfamiliar,” Gill continues. “Eddie Stubbs [the former Grand Ole Opry announcer, WSM disc jockey and music scholar] was part of this process, although he didn’t know it at the time. I’d listen to him at night and call him up and say, ‘Play something for me I’ve never heard before.’ He’d often play something that knocked me out, and I’d take note of all the songs. I had maybe 30 different ones for Paul to listen to—some so outside the box that I didn’t know them, and Paul didn’t either.”

    In addition to choosing material that was less than predictable, as co-producers of Sweet Memories, Gill and Franklin approached the recording from a different angle as well.

    Gill explains, “This isn’t a sound-alike record. I never wanted to do that. I don’t think any of these songs sound comparable to the original.”

    The final component was their take on the musicians, from the original The Cherokee Cowboys band to the stellar lineup of players contributing to Sweet Memories.

    Gill acknowledges, “There were some unbelievably gifted musicians who were such a part of those original records. We were drawn to them probably as much as we were drawn to Ray.”

    The musicians contributing to Sweet Memories include: Tom Bukovac (electric guitar), Dennis Crouch (bass), Stuart Duncan (fiddle), Steve Gibson (electric guitar), John Jarvis (piano), Greg Morrow (drums), Wendy Moten (harmony vocals), the late Michael Rhodes (electric bass), Jerry Roe (drums), Derek Wells (electric guitar), and Andrea Zonn (harmony vocals).

    “I’m excited this music is getting out there in a way we feel brings new life and new ideas to it,” Franklin notes. “And hopefully will expose a younger generation to Ray’s music.”

    Track Listing – Sweet Memories: The Music of Ray Price & The Cherokee Cowboys

    1. “One More Time”

    Written by Mel Tillis

    1. “I’d Fight The World”

    Written by Hank Cochran and Joe Allison

    1. “You Wouldn’t Know Love”

    Written by Hank Cochran and Dave Kirby

    1. “Walkin’ Slow (And Thinking ‘Bout Her)”

    Written by Bobby Bare and Lance Guynes

    1. “The Same Two Lips”

    Written by Marty Robbins

    1. “Weary Blues From Waitin’”

    Written by Hank Williams Sr.

    1. “Kissing Your Picture (Is So Cold)”

    Written by Mel Tillis, Ray Price and Wayne Walker

    1. “Sweet Memories”

    Written by Mickey Newbury

    1. “Danny Boy”

    Written by Fred E. Weatherly

    1. “Your Old Love Letters”

    Written by Ray Price

    1. “Healing Hands Of Time”

    Written by Willie Nelson

     

    ABOUT VINCE GILL:
    One of the most popular artists in modern country music, Vince Gill is famous for his top-notch songwriting, world-class guitar playing and warm, soaring tenor, all wrapped up in a quick and easy wit. Gill achieved his big breakthrough in 1990 with “When I Call Your Name,” which won both the Country Music Association’s (CMA) Single and Song of the Year awards as well as a Grammy for Best Country Vocal Performance, Male. In total, Gill has won 18 CMA Awards, 22 Grammy Awards, and 8 Academy of Country Music Awards. In 1991, Gill was invited to become a member of The Grand Ole Opry, and in 2007 was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame. In 2012 he was honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. A gifted songwriter, Gill’s compositions earned him entry into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2005 and was awarded the prestigious BMI Icon award in 2014. Throughout his career he has released 20 albums, sold over 30 million albums, and charted 45 singles. Always considering himself a musician above all else, Gill has over the years been a part of some iconic bands including Pure Prairie League, The Notorious Cherry Bombs, and The Time Jumpers. In 2022, Gill was inducted into the Musician’s Hall of Fame.  In 2017 Gill was asked to join the Eagles on the road and continues to be a part of that historic band’s tour.

     

    ABOUT PAUL FRANKLIN:
    A native of Detroit, Paul Franklin moved to Nashville in 1972. He immediately began touring with some of country’s most legendary artists of the time including Barbara Mandrell, Jerry Reed and Mel Tillis. In the early 80’s, after so many years of being on the road, Franklin decided to take a hiatus from touring to focus primarily on recording session work. He has become one of the most iconic pedal steel players in the world playing behind such legendary artists as Sting, Mark Knopfler, Vince Gill, George Strait, Alan Jackson, Shania Twain, Barbra Streisand and Megadeth. Franklin is a member of the Grammy Award-winning band The Time Jumpers. His ability to create music outside of the country field has taken him well beyond the stereotype by which the pedal steel guitar has often been limited. His soulful playing on this uniquely voiced instrument is clearly from the heart and makes him one of the most in-demand musicians in Nashville. Franklin is currently touring with Chris Stapleton.

     

    Audio / Vince Gill talks about his upcoming project with Paul Franklin, Sweet Memories: The Music of Ray Price & The Cherokee Cowboys.

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    Vince Gill (Ray Price record) OC: …a soundalike. :42
    “With Ray, this Ray record, I knew my job to honor Ray would be much more as a singer. The Ray Price records never had hardly any guitar featured.  It was always twin fiddles and steel guitar was predominant on all those records. So, this was a record for me to really focus on the singing and not emulate Ray in the way that he sang but just to honor it and the way that these songs are phrased is way different than the way I would have phrased a Buck Owens song or a Merle Haggard. There’s elements of what they did that I would use but not to the point of where it was a soundalike.”

    Audio / Vince Gill talks about the way Ray Price sang, and how he phrased his songs.

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    Vince Gill (Ray Price record) 2 OC: …what people think. :58
    “You often think what is it that made Ray Price such a great singer and it’s very simple. It’s the way that he phrased. You say the same thing about Ray Charles. He was a great soulful singer, but nobody phrased like Ray Charles. Jerry Lee Lewis when he would make country records was one of the greatest phrasers. All time Willie has gone on. Everybody goes oh it’s so odd he back phrases. No, he front phrases more than he back phrases. And it’s because he can have that call and response with himself. He can sing and then play, sing and then play. And it makes so much sense when you look at it logically. And so we took off on this record and we thought about doing half and half like we did with Bakersfield but we wound up liking so many songs I said hell, let’s just do all Ray songs on this one. And it made a lot of sense and took a long time to finish because of Covid and all that mess but pretty grateful that it’s finally out there and see what people think.”

    Video /

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  • LUKE BRYAN ANNOUNCES SPECIAL GUEST LINE-UP FOR FARM TOUR 2023.

    Luke Bryan, who wrapped the sixth season as a celebrity judge on American Idol on ABC last month, is announcing the special guest line up for this year’s FARM TOUR taking place September 14-23: Kameron Marlowe, Chayce Beckham, the Peach Pickers and DJ Rock.

    Tickets for FARM TOUR 2023 are on sale NOW at LukeBryan.com.

     

    FARM TOUR 2023:

    9/14     Shelbyville, KY                     Mulberry Orchard

    9/15     Millersport, OH                    Miller Family Farm

    9/21     Colfax, IA                              Schnell Family Farms

    9/22     Brooklyn, WI                        Klondike Farms

    9/23     Eyota, MN                             Gar-Lin Dairy LLC

     

    Farm Tour 2023 is sponsored by Bayer, Farmland, Fendt, and Citi.

    Since 2009 when the Farm Tour began Luke has granted 78 college scholarships to students from farming families to their local college or university near the tour stops. Over the years event sponsors have donated money, food and resources to the local communities and also nationally. Last year alone Bayer provided one million meals to Feeding America®, Farmland® donated a truckload of protein to local foodbanks in each of the states that hosted the tour and also donated $9,000 to each state’s FFA Association, and Fendt donated $25,000 to the national FFA organization.

    Luke wrapped his celebrity judging duties alongside Lionel Richie and Katy Perry on American Idol last week performing his brand new single “But I Got A Beer In My Hand.” The song was written by Chase McGill, Matt Dragstrem, and Geoff Warburton, and was produced by Jeff Stevens and co-produced by Jody Stevens. Get it HERE.

    Farm Tour playlist HERE.

  • JORDAN DAVIS LOOKING FORWARD TO BABY NO. 3.

    Jordan Davis and his wife Kristen are anxiously awaiting the arrival of their third child. The couple, who married in 2017, revealed on socials back in February that they’re expecting their third child this month. The new addition will join big sister Eloise (2019) and Locklan (2021).

    Jordan says he’s excited for the arrival of his third child, and he and Kristen are waiting to see whether it will be a boy or a girl.

    “I think you’re kind of all the emotions – excited and scared, nervous,” says Jordan. “I think the thing I’m looking most forward to is there’s no love like a new baby, and so being able to hold – we don’t know what it is yet – so being able to hold him or her for the first time is always pretty special. It is crazy just the personalities that you see right off the bat, and it was such a difference between my son and daughter. You know, for me, it’s just exciting to get to see them who they’re going to become. We’re here to guide ‘em and love ‘em, but you want, it’s a fun ride to get to see them grow up. I am. I’m excited to meet the new one and bring ‘em home and let big sister…you know now Eloise can actually, she knows what’s going on. She knows we’re getting a new baby, and I know she’s excited, so I’m ready to see her face when the baby comes home.”

    The Louisiana native, who is racing up the country charts with his latest single, “Next Thing You Know,” joins Dierks Bentley on the Gravel & Gold Tour, which kicks off Thursday night (June 1st) in Toronto.

    Audio / Jordan Davis is excited for the arrival of his third child.

    Download

    Jordan Davis (Baby No. 3) OC: …comes home. 1:03
    “Yeah, I think you’re kind of all the emotions – excited and scared, nervous. I think the thing I’m looking most forward to is there’s no love like a new baby, and so being able to hold – we don’t know what it is yet – so being able to hold him or her for the first time is always pretty special. It is crazy just the personalities that you see right off the bat, and it was such a difference between my son and daughter. You know, for me, it’s just exciting to get to see them who they’re going to become. We’re here to guide ‘em and love ‘em, but you want, it’s a fun ride to get to see them grow up. I am. I’m excited to meet the new one and bring ‘em home and let big sister…you know now Eloise can actually, she knows what’s going on. She knows we’re getting a new baby, and I know she’s excited, so I’m ready to see her face when the baby comes home.”