Luke Brryan performed his number-one hit, “I Don’t Want This Night to End,” on the Grammy Nominations Live TV special earlier this week. Go backstage and into rehearsals.

Eric Church has had an amazing year, with his first two No. 1 singles (“Drink in My Hand” and “Springsteen”), his first headlining arena tour (Blood, Sweat & Beers) and his first CMA Award (for Album of the Year for Chief) and his two recent Grammy nominations. Prior to all of these amazing things, he also worked long and hard on his third album, Chief, in which he gave it all he had, so he’s about to take some time off. First up is the Christmas holiday, which he’ll spend with his family in North Carolina. “Then we’re gonna try to get away as just a family, just the three of us and try and go have some time after that,” says Eric. He’s also preparing for his tour north of the border, followed by a handful of dates on Kenny Chesney’s stadium tour, No Shoes Nation.

Eric Church is currently closing in on the Top 5 on the country charts with his latest single, “Creepin’.”

AUDIO: Eric Church talks about his plans for the next few months, including those for Christmas.

Eric Church (Christmas plans) OC: …year is off. :37
“We’re going back to North Carolina for a week or so, spend some time with my family. Then we’re gonna try to get away as just a family, just the three of us and try and go have some time after that. Then we have a little bit of time, we have the rest of the month of January before we do a Canadian tour, which I’m excited. I think all those shows are gonna be sold out, it looks like most of them are and to be able to go to another country and have that happen, is just really a special thing for me. So, I’m looking forward to that. It’s gonna be cold. It’s gonna be February in Canada. I get it. It’s gonna be snowy, but we’re gonna go do that. And after that, it’s just [Kenny] Chesney and the rest of the year is off.”

Dierks Bentley revisits an amazing year through his DBTV episodes, including his Home album release party at The Ryman, his bus, Goldie, hitting one-million miles and hitting the beach in Australia, among others…and this is just Part 1!

ALAN JACKSON CONGRATULATES NEPHEW ADAM WRIGHT ON FIRST GRAMMY® NOMINATION

“So You Don’t Have to Love Me Anymore” Nominated as “Best Country Song”

“So You Don’t Have to Love Me Anymore,” recorded by Alan Jackson, has earned a GRAMMY® Award nomination as “Best Country Song.” The song was written by Alan’s nephew, Adam Wright, and Jay Knowles. “You know, the first time I heard that song, I knew it was a great song,” Jackson says. “I was proud to have it. Everybody that heard it, the first thing they’d say was ‘Man, that thing gave me goosebumps on my arms!’ It’s just a great song, a great melody. I’m a songwriter, and I appreciate songs…so I definitely appreciate this song.”

“The first time I heard Alan sing it, it really put tears in my eyes and not just because I was hearing someone doing our song,” Wright says. “It was the emotion of having an experienced singer who could convey it…whose heart was connected with his voice. It hurt in ways that song is supposed to hurt. The fact that he can do that with a song is why he’s been so successful – there just aren’t many people on earth who can do that.”

The song has received many accolades, with the New York Times noting, “Jackson does sublimely expressive things with ‘So You Don’t Have to Love Me Anymore,’ a fine tear-jerker that captures a distinctly masculine blend of gallantry, taciturnity and martyrdom.”

Artists have echoed the media’s praise, with Taylor Swift telling Lon Helton’s Country Countdown USA, “That is, to me, one of the best songs he’s ever put out. I read those lyrics for the first time and just got chills.” Zac Brown said, “That’s classic country. That’s a heartbreaker, tears-in-the-beer song done well. It’s a selfless song, but it’s just a great way of telling that story.” And Miranda Lambert tweeted to her followers, “‘So You Don’t Have to Love Me Anymore’ is the $hit!!!”

“So You Don’t Have to Love Anymore” was recorded by Jackson for Thirty Miles West, which topped the country chart when it was released in June. The 55^th annual GRAMMY Awards® will be held on Sunday, February 10, 2013 at the Staples Center in Los Angeles. The event airs live on CBS-TV (8:00-11:30pm ET).

Alan Jackson speaks about “So You Don’t Have to Love Me Anymore,” the song that earned his nephew, Adam Wright, and Jay Knowles their first Grammy nominations (as writers in the “Best Country Song” category).

AJ (Grammy nod for So You Don’t) OC: …this song :33
“You know, the first time I heard that song, I knew it was a great song. I called the writer, who just happened to be…one of the co-writers on it is my nephew Adam Wright who lives here in Nashville and is a singer-songwriter. I called Adam and I said, ‘Man, this is a great song. You sure you want to let me have it? I mean, there’s a lot of people that can sing this thing out there.’ And he said no – if I wanted it, he wanted me to sing it. So I was proud to have it. Everybody that heard it, the first thing they’d say was ‘Man, that thing gave me goosebumps on my arms!’ It’s just a great song, a great melody. I’m a songwriter, and I appreciate songs…so I definitely appreciate this song.”

Eric Church picked up a pair of Grammy nominations for Best Country Solo Performance and Best Country Song for “Springsteen,” which he co-wrote with Jeff Hyde and Ryan Tyndell…one of which was announced during the Grammy Nominations Live concert on Wednesday night (December 5th).

Dierks Bentley and The Band Perry kicked off the show with a tribute to Johnny Cash performing “Jackson,” while Luke performed his multi-week number-one hit, “I Don’t Want This Night to End.”

Other UMG Nashville artists picking up nominations include Dierks, Eric Paslay, Little Big Town (who announced the nominees for Best New Artist) and Jamey Johnson. Also picking up a nod was Alan Jackson’s song, “So You Don’t Have to Love Me Anymore.” Check out the country nominees below:

Best Country Solo Performance:
Dierks Bentley “Home”
Eric Church “Springsteen”
Ronnie Dunn “Cost of Livin’”
Hunter Hayes “Wanted”
Blake Shelton “Over”
Carrie Underwood “Blown Away”

Best Country Song:
“Blown Away” – Josh Kear & Chris Tompkins (Carrie Underwood)
“Cost of Livin’” – Ronnie Dunn & Phillip Coleman (Ronnie Dunn)
“Even If It Breaks Your Heart” – Eric Paslay & Will Hoge (Eli Young Band)
“So You Don’t Have to Love Me Anymore” – Jay Knowles & Adam Wright (Alan Jackson)
“Springsteen” – Eric Church, Jeff Hyde & Ryan Tyndell (Eric Church)

Best Country Duo/Group Performance:
Eli Young Band “Even If It Breaks Your Heart”
Little Big Town “Pontoon”
Taylor Swift & The Civil Wars “Safe & Sound”
The Time Jumpers “On the Outskirts of Town”
Don Williams, featuring Alison Krauss “I Just Come Here for the Music”

Best Country Album:
Uncaged – Zac Brown Band
Hunter Hayes – Hunter Hayes
Living For a Song: A Tribute to Hank Cochran – Jamey Johnson
Four the Record – Miranda Lambert
The Time Jumpers – The Time Jumpers

AUDIO: Eric Church says his Grammy-nominated “Springsteen” takes him back to when he was 16-years-old at his first amphitheater experience.

Eric Church (Springsteen inspiration) OC: …everybody out there. :38
“Springsteen’ is one of those songs that every night that I sing it, I can remember being 16 years old at Verizon Wireless Amphitheater in Charlotte, North Carolina – my first amphitheater experience up there on the lawn. And I can remember spreading that blanket down, and I can still see the faces of the people that were there with me; I still remember what the weather was like; I can still remember what the air smelled like, what the sky looked like. And I think the great thing about that song – you always try to write music and record music that sparks a memory, and there’s a line in the song – ‘Funny how a melody sounds like a memory.’ That’s exactly what ‘Springsteen’ is for me, and I hope that that’s what it’s for for everybody out there.”

AUDIO: Eric Church talks about Grammy nominations.

Eric Church (Grammy nominations) OC: …Grammys. :10
“If you’re a musical artist, the Grammys are pretty much the Holy Grail, because it’s all genres, it’s everybody, it’s peers. That’s why they are revered the way they are – you know, they’re the Grammys.”

AUDIO: Dierks Bentley talks about his Grammy-nominated “Home.”

Dierks Bentley (Home-Americans) OC: …the bad. :09
“You know, we’re all Americans. I think that’s the most important description of all of us and I think we wanted to write a song that really captured the spirit of this country – the good and the bad.”

It’s that time of the year to hurry to the malls and inflate your emails with alerts to your favorite online shopping stores. If you’re looking for a quick and easy list, search no further! Sugarland’s Kristian Bush has provided us with another easy Holiday Gift Guide to soothe your shopping needs. Check it out below!

The holidays are here, and we all start depending on each other and the Google search bar for answers on complex gift-giving. Well, my friends, here is my collection of stuff I like and stuff I dare you to give to yourself or others. They say the best gift is the one you want to keep for yourself, and I would gladly (or embarrassingly) keep all of these for myself, if given the option.

Drinking Situation
This looks kind of crazy Southern and awesome and has to hit my list. Not because I want one, but because I am dying to buy one for someone. Maybe even just to see someone drink out of it. It’s like my obsession with the TV show “Bootleggers” has collided with my obsession with walking around Syd Mashburn’s in Atlanta. Simultaneously hip and tacky.

The Prisoner
If you have someone in your life that enjoys wine, this is a real treat. I don’t know how popular this wine is in real life, but I think it is pretty amazing and it is popular in mine.

Palomino Blackwing 602
I think last year’s Palomino was a gateway drug and now I am staring down a long dark hallway of beautiful, perfectly-sharpened grey Palomino Blackwing 602 pencils with black erasers. Now it’s all I think about. How do black erasers remove pencil lead and make it disappear into the white of the paper??? Good news: You can find out for yourselves, because the good people at the Palomino Pencil Company are offering Sugarland fans a discount and exclusive offer this holiday season. Click here to purchase!

CB I Hate Perfume
I am still obsessed with these. The Smell of Snow one is amazing, as is the Beach one.

Unraveling Calendar
I have not really been interested in a calendar since maybe college, and then it was only for the pictures, and less for the marking of time. This is the first time I have seen something that makes me curious. Although it means making sure you don’t have a pet or a two year old running near it, this calendar may be one to really show time moving.

Cigar Box Guitars by Mike Snowden
These are hands down the coolest things I have found this year, and that is honestly even in comparison to the new donut shop down the street. I give these as gifts myself. I love Mike and his craftsmanship is unreal. If you have someone in your life that plays guitar, they will love this, and if you have someone who doesn’t but always wanted to? Well, three strings are the perfect way to start.

Concert Bracelet
This cracks me up every time I see them. I wrestled with these things for years and years trying to get them off. Now someone has decided they are ready to go back on. For the rock club girl in your life. I think they come in silver as well.

Angry Birds Star Wars Everything
Enough said here. Choose the Empire. Long live the 501st.

Bezzerwizzer
This game is pretty awesome. I had it on the bus this year and bought another one for my house. My kids actually think it is funny to ask me an entire card full of questions while I make breakfast just to see if I can answer them all. It’s like working out, but with your brain.

For The Art Collector – James Hance
When I have vivid dreams and my brain mixes up all of my favorite pop culture books and movies and TV shows and it all smears together in my mind as I shake off the night and begin my day, sometimes all the right things are misplaced in all the right places. James’s art is like that for me. It is perfect.

For The Gadget Person – Photojojo Phone Lens Series
So Instagram gives my life more meaning with every lomographic click of my phone screen, and the filters make it so that my plastic camera itch is easily scratched without all the waiting to get film developed. Now the missing part is all of the cool lenses that “real” camera’s have. Wait, the sounds of ingenuity in the distance seem to be jingle bells this year. Check out these cool, easy-to-use tiny lenses for your phone camera. They really work and will blow your mind how much they change your pictures. I like the fish eye and the wide angle.

This Year’s Headphones
OK, so I live for music and I travel every week so my headphones are my stereo. Here is a quick guide to some quality out there, no matter what you have to spend.

First things first: It is socially ok to have big headphones again, so please, if you have the space in your carry-on or bag, take the closed-back headphones with you. We musicians and producers work hard to make our music sound as interesting and cool as we can when we record, and shoving sound out of plastic ear buds is like looking at pictures in black and white instead of color.

Okay, preaching is finished:

AKG K77
Stylish, affordable and sound good.

Sure SRH440
These are your mid-range, your Honda Civic, workhorse, won’t-have-to-replace-them-in-five-years headphones.

Audio Technica ATH-M50S
I use these every day. It’s what I listen with when I record, and when I evaluate my own music and recordings. Get the curly cable if you are feeling retro.

I have only tried the Dr. Dre Beats headphones once and it was more for the novelty of talking on my phone through the mic that hangs off the headphones. I didn’t get to spend any time listening to music so you are on your own there. They are quite popular and come in groovy colors, but look at the ones above for price comparisons.

Toys Section
The Original Silly Putty
I totally used to spread it out and use it to lift the pictures off of the comics. The most distinctive smell ever.

Army Men
We could play with these for hours on end, invading the living room and then retreating back to the kitchen.

Water Powered Space Rocket
Because I still am amazed every time it launches.

Top
The top is one of the oldest toys in the world. They say that the spinning top originated independently in cultures all over the world. To me, it is one of the most fascinating and hypnotizing examples of physics. Get one and see how long you stare.

Curve Balls
(aka things I can’t believe that I found that I kind of want)

We need this in our lives. All of us.
U-Socket USB Wallplug

Just to see if anyone at the coffeshop is looking.
TARDIS Journal

I dare you. I just dare you.
Bluetooth Handset Gloves

– kb

Lady Antebellum Headlines Star-Studded Special with Backstreet Boys, Colbie Caillat, Brad Paisley, Yolanda Adams, Classic Holiday Characters & Favorite Disney Friends

Music, magic and merriment come together when Disneyland Resort in California and Walt Disney World Resort in Florida present the 29th annual Disney Parks Christmas Day Parade holiday TV special, airing December 25th on the ABC Television Network. Hosts Nick Cannon and Mario Lopez, along with co-host Maria Menounos, lead the two-hour telecast with GRAMMY® Award-winning trio Lady Antebellum headlining the seasonal celebration. Joining the trio during the coast-to-coast party are international superstars Backstreet Boys, soulful pop songstress Colbie Caillat, CMA Award winner Brad Paisley, Christian music chart-topper TobyMac, “American Idol” Season 11 champion Phillip Phillips, Gospel legend Yolanda Adams and Disney Channel star Ross Lynch.

The award-winning television spectacular also features special appearances by Sarah Hyland, Nolan Gould and Aubrey Emmons-Anderson from ABC’s hit comedy “Modern Family,” actor Patrick Warburton, Olympic Gold Medal-winning gymnast Gabrielle Douglas, and the popular pint-sized duo from daytime TV, Sophia Grace & Rosie. Travel expert and television personality Samantha Brown checks in throughout the program, filling families in on the fun they can experience at Disney Parks in the upcoming year. Brown also will share other ways to vacation with Disney, including Aulani – A Disney Resort & Spa in Hawaii, Adventures by Disney and Disney Cruise Line.

Don’t Miss a Moment of the Magic! Tune-in times are as follows, on the ABC Television Network (check local listings):

• Eastern Standard Time: 10 a.m.-noon
• Central, Mountain, Pacific Standard Time: 9-11 a.m.
• The show also will air in Canada on CBC Network, and across the globe on the American Forces Network.

Viewers can go HERE for updates on the show and join the social media conversation before and during the telecast with the hashtag, #DisneyParade

Holiday liners from UMG Nashville artists, including Alan Jackson, Billy Currington, Darius Rucker, David Nail, Dierks Bentley, Easton Corbin, Eric Church, Eric Paslay, Gary Allan, George Strait, Jamey Johnson, Jon, Josh Turner, Keith Urban, Kelleigh Bannen, Kip Moore, Lady Antebellum, Little Big Town, Luke Bryan, Randy Rogers Band, Sugarland and more!

LINER AJ (Christmas)
“Hi! This is Alan Jackson, and I’m wishing y’all a very Merry Christmas.”

LINER Billy Currington (Happy Holiday Season)
“Hi! Billy Currington here, wishing you and your family a safe and Happy Holiday Season.”

LINER Darius Rucker (Christmas)
“Hey y’all! What’s up? This is Darius Rucker, wishing you a Merry Christmas.”

LINER David Nail (Christmas)
“Hey! This is David Nail, wishing you a very Merry Christmas.”

LINER Dierks Bentley (Happy Holidays)
“Hey everybody! It’s Dierks Bentley, wishing you a very Happy Holiday season.”

LINER Easton Corbin (Happy Holidays)
“Hey everybody! This is Easton Corbin, wishing you and your family a Happy Holidays.”

LINER Easton Corbin (Merry Christmas)
“Hey everybody! This is Easton Corbin, wishing you a Merry Christmas.”

LINER Eric Church (Christmas)
“Hey everybody! It’s Eric Church, wishing you a very Merry Christmas.”

LINER Eric Paslay (Christmas)
“Hi! I’m Eric Paslay. Hope you have a Merry Christmas.”

LINER Eric Paslay (Happy Holidays)
“Hi! I’m Eric Paslay, wishing you a very Happy Holiday Season.”

LINER Gary Allan (MerryChristmas)
“Hey! This is Gary Allan. Merry Christmas.”

LINER George Strait (Happy Holidays)
““Hey everybody! This is George Strait, wishing you and your family a Happy Holiday season.”

LINER Jamey Johnson (Happy Holidays)
“Hey! This is Jamey Johnson, wishing you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.”

LINER Jon Pardi (Merry Christmas)
“Hey! This is Jon Pardi, wishing you a Merry Christmas!”

LINER Josh Turner (Happy Holidays)
“Hey! I’m Josh Turner, wishing you and your family a Merry Christmas and a Happy Holiday season.”

LINER Keith Urban (Christmas)
“Hi folks, this is Keith Urban, wishing you and yours a very Merry Christmas.”

LINER Keith Urban (Holiday season)
“Hi everyone, this is Keith Urban, wishing you and all your family the very best this holiday season.”

LINER Kelleigh Bannen (Merry Christmas)
“Hey y’all, it’s Kelleigh Bannen, and I hope you have a very Merry Christmas.”

LINER Kelleigh Bannen (Happy Holiday Season)
“Hey there! It’s Kelleigh Bannen, wishing you a very Happy Holiday Season.”

LINER Kip Moore (Christmas)
“Hey guys, this is Kip Moore, wishing you a Merry Christmas.”

LINER Kip Moore (Happy Holidays)
“Hey y’all, it’s Kip Moore. Happy Holidays!”

LINER Lady A (Christmas)
“Hey everybody! We’re Lady Antebellum, wishing you a very Merry Christmas.”

LINER Lady A (Happy Holidays)
“Hey everybody! We are Lady Antebellum. Happy Holidays.”

LINER LBT (Very Merry Christmas)
“Hey! We’re Little Big Town, and we just want to say Have Yourself a Very Merry Christmas.”

LINER LBT (Happy Holidays)
“Hey! We’re Little Big Town. Happy Holidays!”

LINER Luke Bryan (Christmas)
“Hey! It’s Luke Bryan, wishing you a Merry Christmas.”

LINER Luke Bryan (Happy Holidays)
“Hey! It’s Luke Bryan. Happy Holidays!”

LINER Randy Rogers (Merry Christmas)
“Hey everybody, this is Randy Rogers from the Randy Rogers Band. Merry Christmas from our family to yours.”

LINER Sugarland (Happy Holidays)
“Hey! This is Jennifer…and Kristian…from Sugarland, wishing you Happy Holidays.”

LINER Sugarland (Merry Christmas)
““Hey! This is Jennifer…and Kristian…from Sugarland, wishing you a Merry Christmas.”

LINER Uncle Kracker (Merry Christmas)
“Hey! This is Uncle Kracker, wishing you a Merry Christmas.”

Don Williams’ new video for “Imagine That” with Keith Urban went live on CMT.com. and you can see it on CMT Pure starting Wednesday evening at 8:30pm ET!

Lady Antebellum’s first Christmas special, On This Winter’s Night, on Wednesday night (December 5th) on GAC. The trio shot the special on Monday night (December 3rd) at Nashville’s Schermerhorn Symphony Center, and performed holiday favorites, which are featured on their new Christmas album, On This Winter’s Night, including “A Holly Jolly Christmas,” “I’ll Be Home for Christmas,” “Blue Christmas,” “The First Noel,” “Christmas Baby,” “Silent Night,” “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas,” “Silver Bells,” “Let It Snow,” and “This Christmas,” in addition to the original “On This Winter’s Night.” Hillary, Charles and Dave will share personal Christmas memories and the trio will be joined by students from Nashville’s W.O. Smith Music School. The special will also re-air on December 6th and 8th.

Sidenote: Most of Dave Haywood‘s family, including his 91-year-old grandfather who made his first trip to Nashville, were in the audience for the show.

The band is also featured in the CMA Country Christmas special on December 20th at 9pm ET on ABC, than again on Dec. 22nd and Dec. 23rd!

AUDIO: Lady Antebellum’s Dave Haywood talks about his favorite Christmas gift.

Lady A (Dave-favorite Christmas gift) OC: (Charles) …cover, too. :14
DAVE: “My favorite Christmas gift was probably my very first guitar from my grandpa about 15 years ago. And more recently I got a red Gibson, that red one we use onstage was given to me from my dad years ago.” CHARLES: “It was on our first album cover too.”