You may have noticed that Eric Church has been sporting a lengthier beard than normal, perhaps at last month’s ACM Awards where he picked up the Album of the Year award for Chief. There’s a good reason behind that particular look – he’s working on the follow-up to his award-winning album. The North Carolina native says when he trims the beard, then he’s got the songs for his next collection.

It is an ongoing progression for Eric, who’s been taking time to write for the forthcoming project. “It’s a process for me, so when people ask where we’re at, I don’t know. I don’t have like a definitive, ‘Here’s where we are,’” says Eric. “I can tell you that we’ve started the process, and then we’ll go on to the next step in the process. There’s like 20 steps to get the record done.”

Eric is currently sitting inside the Top 10 with his current hit, “Like Jesus Does,” and he’s set to rejoin Kenny Chesney on the No Shoes Nation Tour May 11th in Dallas, Texas.

BTW–It’s Eric’s Birthday today (Friday)–wishing him a very Happy Birthday!!!!!

AUDIO: Eric Church gives an update on his next album, the follow-up to the platinum-selling Chief.

Eric Church (next album process 2013) OC: …end up with. :23
“We started the process, as evidenced by the beard. But it’s a process for me, so when people ask where we’re at, I don’t know. I don’t have like a definitive, ‘Here’s where we are.’ I can tell you that we’ve started the process, and then we’ll go on to the next step in the process. There’s like 20 steps to get the record done. I’m excited creatively to see where we can go from here, and see what we end up with.”

NFL great Peyton Manning steps on the stage and joins Luke Bryan to perform at Peyton’s Annual Charity Gala in Indianapolis, Indiana.

Lady Antebellum will be doing a special show on May 31st in Chicago at the Pritzker Pavilion in Millenium Park. Lady A will be playing new music from their forthcoming album, Golden, which is set for release Tuesday (May 7th). 

Lady Antebellum‘s GOLDEN journey continues to NYC where they will be celebrating the release of GOLDEN with a special iHeartRadio show on May 8th. For all the fans who can’t be there, the show will be live streaming at 9pm ET! Check it out here.

Kacey Musgraves has been added to the lineup for this year’s Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival. She joins Sir Paul McCartney, Mumford & Sons and many more in Manchester, Tennessee June 13th-16th.

Little Big Town are heading down to New Orleans to perform at this year’s Jazzfest on Saturday (May 4th). The band explains that this was an item on their bucket list…especially to be opening for Fleetwood Mac. “We got to meet the promoter this [past] summer, and we told him that it was on our bucket list to play Jazzfest, and he said, ‘Well, consider it done,’” says Karen. “It did, and we’re opening up for Fleetwood Mac, and they’ve not played a show together in, I believe he said, 20 years.”

The reigning ACM Vocal Group of the Year (and CMA Vocal Group) will most likely perform their hit single, “Your Side of the Bed,” when they hit the Acura Stage on Saturday.

AUDIO: Little Big Town’s Karen Fairchild talks about performing at this year’s Jazzfest.

LBT (Jazzfest) OC: …for sure. :21
KAREN: “We got to meet the promoter this [past] summer, and we told him that it was on our bucketlist to play Jazzfest, and he said, ‘Well, consider it done.’” KIMBERLY: “It happened!” KAREN: “And it did, and we’re opening up for Fleetwood Mac, and they’ve not played a show together in, I believe he said, 20 years.” JIMI: “Wow!” KAREN: “It’s gonna be a highlight of this year, for sure.”

NASHVILLE, TN (Wednesday, May 1, 2013) –Country super-group Little Big Town was recently announced as a nominee for a Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Original Song –“GOOD AFTERNOON” for Good Afternoon America on ABC.

“GOOD AFTERNOON” was co-written by Little Big Town, Brett Warren and Brad Warren and was produced by Jay Joyce and recorded in Nashville, TN last summer.

“What an unexpected honor to be nominated for an Emmy,” exclaimed Jimi Westbrook. “This is something we never could have dreamed up as a band and we are beyond thrilled to say the least!”

The exciting announcement comes fresh off of the heels of a sold-out show at the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville, TN. The foursome played a rousing 90-minute set with multiple standing ovations and a set list that covered everything from current single ”Your Side of the Bed,” their #1 hits “Pontoon” and “Tornado” and country versions of Justin Timberlake’s “Suit & Tie” and Fleetwood Mac’s “The Chain.”

“Your Side of the Bed,” from their nearly platinum album Tornado, is currently making its way up the country charts.

Eric Paslay has been announced as one of the performers at this year’s CMA Music Festival Riverfront Stages. Check out his performance of the lineup for the shows, which will take place June 6th-9th in downtown Nashville!

Nashville, Tenn. (May 1, 2013) – George Jones’ funeral will take place on Thursday, May 2nd at The Grand Ole Opry House in Nashville, Tennessee, starting at 10 am (Central) and will be open to the public.  Doors will open at 9 am.
 
In addition, national television networks CMT, GAC, RFD, and FamilyNet, as well as local Nashville stations WKRN 2, WSMV 4, WTVF 5, WZTV 17 will broadcast the funeral service “LIVE”, with radio partners WSM 650AM and SiriusXM Willie’s Roadhouse (Ch. 56) broadcasting the service.  Fans around the world can listen online at wsmonline.com or watch online at opry.com.
 
“The caliber of speakers and performers is a testament to what George Jones meant to everyone in the world,” says publicist Kirt Webster. “Nancy is overwhelmed by the love and support of not only George’s fans, but also the music community, public figures and friends.”

The service will include music from Charlie Daniels, Vince Gill w/ Patty Loveless, Alan Jackson, Ronnie Milsap, Kid Rock, The Oak Ridge Boys, Brad Paisley, Randy Travis, Travis Tritt, Tanya Tucker, and Wynonna.  Former First Lady Laura Bush, Kenny Chesney, Grand Ole Opry VP&GM Pete Fisher, Governor Bill Haslam, former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee, Barbara Mandrell, and CBS News’ Chief Washington Correspondent Bob Schieffer will all make special remarks.

Fans not able to attend can leave a special message about George Jones at: http://tinyurl.com/GJtribute

Nashville, TN (April 30, 2013) –  Mercury Records recording artist Billy Currington’s new single “Hey Girl” is Top 30 and climbing the Country radio charts.  The flirty and carefree song is the first single from Currington’s upcoming studio album to be released later this summer.

“Hey Girl” was written by Rhett Akins, Ashley Gorley and Chris DeStefano and produced by Dann Huff.  The single is currently available for digital purchase here.  

“When I first heard ‘Hey Girl’ it took me back to chasing young love and the sweet summertime,” explains Currington. 

Currington is a Grammy  nominated and Platinum selling artist who has celebrated seven # 1 career singles including “Don’t,” “Good Directions,” “Let Me Down Easy,” “Must Be Doin’ Something Right,” “People Are Crazy,” “Pretty Good At Drinkin’ Beer” and “That’s How Country Boys Roll.”  His upcoming studio album was produced by Carson Chamberlain, Dann Huff and Shy Carter.

Nashville, TN – April 29, 2013 – Seven-time GRAMMY winning trio Lady Antebellum will light up national TV over the next two weeks with performances spotlighting tracks from their upcoming fourth studio album GOLDEN out May 7th.

Release day will begin with appearances on Good Morning America and The Ellen DeGeneres Show and end with an exclusive and intimate release show at New York City’s newest hot spot The McKittrick Hotel for the Lady Antebellum GOLDEN Release Show presented by Citi.  The VIP event will give a select number of fans the first preview of songs off the new album and a donation will be made to Musicians On Call on behalf of the group’s charity initiative LadyAID™. The next day, Lady A will begin their take-over on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon and set up residency at 30 Rock with interviews and performances on both Wednesday (5/8) and Thursday (5/9) nights’ shows. The following week, Lady A will jet to the West Coast for an appearance on Chelsea Lately (5/13) and a performance on NBC’s The Voice (5/14) before continuing on to Toronto for more media appearances and events. 

Fans will find the new album familiar but simultaneously unlike any of its predecessors. It focuses on songwriting and fresh uses of their talents, which was at the heart of what drew Lady A together in the first place. In the end, the mix of their road experiences, songwriting and challenging outside songs adds a brightness to the album that’s reflected in the GOLDEN title. GOLDEN’s playful lead single “Downtown” set the pace ahead of its release, quickly becoming the trio’s fastest charting No. one single, holding at No. one for two weeks and earning GOLD certification by the RIAA.  

Since its 2006 inception, Lady A had risen quickly to become Country Music’s most influential current group. The group won the “Vocal Group of the Year” honor from both the CMA and from the ACM’s three times in a row and sold 11 million albums worldwide. Nine of the band’s singles went Gold, with four surpassing the Platinum mark. “Need You Now” went on to sell over seven million downloads and claimed five of the trio’s seven career GRAMMY wins, including the all-genre “Record of the Year” and “Song of the Year.” 

For more information on the new album and upcoming appearances, visit www.ladyantebellum.com. 

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AUDIO: Lady Antebellum’s Hillary Scott says the band didn’t feel a lot of pressure on their new album, Golden, so they were able to take a few more risks.

Lady A (taking a risk on Golden) OC: …more risks. 1:00
HILLARY: “We’ll be really honest and say that on our last record we felt the pressure. You know, we had just had the success of Need You Now, that whole album, that song in particular, and we started recording the third record, went to the Grammys, had that amazing life-changing night, and then went back into the studio to finish it up. And as much as we tried for the pressure to not get to us, I think it definitely did, and with having an album removed from that and knowing that we, you know, we wanted to continue to grow. Everybody says the word evolve, but it’s true. We were all in different places we had more to say, and truthfully, we felt like we were writing songs because we love writing songs, not trying to chase a hit, you know. So, not only did we write songs that we were really excited about, that told a story, that we were really proud of, but we got pitched songs that were great too. And so, I think we just really relaxed into the process, and in that relaxation, it almost gave us more confidence to take some more risks.”

Randy Rogers Band’s new album – their sixth studio collection and eighth overall — arrives in stores on Tuesday (April 30th). The collection was produced by Jay Joyce (Wallflowers, Eric Church, Little Big Town), and it was the band’s first time working with the famed producer, which the band feels helped them get through a difficult time.

During the time they spent working on their new album Trouble, the band and its extended family suffered a number of tragic events including the untimely death of bassist Jon Richardson’s brother. “During this recording process [and] writing process for this record, all of us I think, kind of went through trying times in our life,” says lead singer Randy Rogers. “For me playing the guitar has always calmed me down; writing songs always helps me through a difficult situation. So, definitely there’s some songs that I wrote for this record that were kind of like therapy for me. And then I know that when we got into the studio and we were all excited to be working with Jay Joyce and excited about recording our eighth record, it really pulled us all together, and I think it was a healing for us for some of the things that we had been through during the making of this record.”

The band just released their latest single, “Fuzzy,” which is from their new album, Trouble.

AUDIO: Randy Rogers says working on the band’s new album, Trouble, helped them through a rough time in their lives.

RRB (trying times) OC: …hole, I guess. :41
“During this recording process, writing process for this record, all of us, I think, kind of went through trying times in our life. And for me playing the guitar has always calmed me down. Writing songs always helps me through a difficult situation. So definitely there’s some songs that I wrote for this record that were kind of like therapy for me. And then I know that when we got into the studio and we were all excited to be working with Jay Joyce and excited about recording our eighth record, it really pulled us all together and I think it was a healing for us for some of the things that we had been through during the making of this record. So it pulled us out of a hole I guess.”