Nashville, TN – Jan. 13, 2014 – Seven–time GRAMMY award-winning trio Lady Antebellum returned to the stage this weekend on their headlining TAKE ME DOWNTOWN TOUR. Saturday night’s show (pictured here) in Toledo, OH at the Huntington Center hosted a capacity crowd of eager fans.

“It’s indisputable that Lady A has amazing chemistry that has grown stronger…” noted the Toledo Blade. “The one impression to take away from Lady A’s 90-minute set was the enthusiasm that the set was delivered…the unbridled joy on the faces of the three close friends was priceless.”

This weekend, the tour continues to Fargo, ND and Rapid City, SD with special guests Kip Moore and Kacey Musgraves. For a full list of tour dates and for ticket information, visit www.ladyantebellum.com.

Keith Urban may be seated at the judges’ table on the new season of American Idol, but at one point the talented musician was a contestant on not one, but three different talent shows in Australia. “The first one was when I was nine. It was called Pot of Gold.  And then two other ones, one was called Stairway to the Stars and one was called, and I kid you not, it’s called Have a Go Show. And I was on Have a Go Show and bombed dismally.  Well,  I was 12, so what do I care?  I’m like, ‘Scrape off the knees and get back on the horse.’”

Keith is joined on the judges panel by Mariah Carey, Nicki Minaj and Randy Jackson. The 12th season of American Idol premieres Wednesday (January 16th) at 8pm ET on FOX.

(Check out the first look at Season 12 below.)

AUDIO: Keith Urban recalls being on a few different TV talent shows when he was just a young boy.

Keith Urban (on 3 talent shows) OC: …on the horse. :25
“I did three different versions of these TV talent shows. The first one was when I was nine. It was called Pot of Gold.  And then two other ones, one was called Stairway to the Stars and one was called, and I kid you not, it’s called Have a Go Show. And I was on Have a Go Show and bombed dismally.  Well,  I was 12, so what do I care?  I’m like, ‘Scrape off the knees and get back on the horse.’” 

Dierks Bentley will hit the road with pal, Miranda Lambert, on the Locked & Reloaded Tour on Thursday (January 17th) in Columbia, South Carolina. Dierks upped the ante for the trek with a new set and more bells and whistles than he’s had in the past. “Just got the checkbook out and started writing some checks for [laughs] a new set, and let’s get some video…and let’s pretend this is the last tour we’re ever gonna do,” says the “Tip It On Back” singer. “What would I do? Well, we’d have a killer set that we could climb around and shoot lights through it and make it something really exciting and new for us and for our fans.” He also will showcase a nice big video screen behind the set.

This isn’t the first time Dierks and Miranda have toured together. They hit the road on Dierks 2006-2007 Locked and Loaded trek.
 
AUDIO: Dierks Bentley will have a brand new set when he hits the road on the Locked & Reloaded Tour with pal, Miranda Lambert.

Dierks Bentley (more bells & whistles) OC: …for the fans. :46
“This is one of those tours where it feels like it’s a chance to go back and relive those high school days a little bit with Miranda and her camp. We get along so well. Just got the checkbook out and started writing some checks for [laughs] a new set and let’s get some video…and let’s pretend this is the last tour we’re ever gonna do. What would we do? Well, we’d have a killer set that we could climb around and shoot lights through it and make it something really exciting and new for us and for our fans. And what could we do video-wise? We really wanted to have as wide a screen as we possibly could use, so that means using projectors and that means just getting like [off mic] those two little bad boys up there that are fairly new stuff technology-wise. Just trying to find a good blend between keeping the motion of the show and the rawness of the show, and so we’re using a little bit of that video element to make it fun for us and fun for the fans.”

Kelleigh Bannen is not just a hugely talented singer-songwriter, but she also has other artistic talents. In her latest webisode, she discusses her jewelry business and how she got started!

 In their first Webisode Wednesday of 2013, Lady Antebellum talk about their new single and play a snippet of it for you, they talk about the late great Lady Aunt Bella, who “passed” before the holidays, and talk about how excited they are to have a new album and a new baby on the way. Check it out below.

Keith Urban begins his role as a judge on the 12th season of American Idol tonight (January 16th). Everyone, including his fellow country stars, agree that the show’s producers couldn’t have picked a better judge than Keith, including David Nail. “”He’s arguably one of the more talented individuals in music period, if you look at it across the board — singing and playing an instrument [and] co-producing a lot of his records and songwriting,” says David Nail. “Of all the people that’s been on there, arguably the most talented judge would be him.”

Check out the season premiere of American Idol at 8pm ET on FOX.

David Nail (Keith Urban AI Judge) OC: …would be him. :15

”He’s arguably one of the more talented individuals in music period, if you look at it across the board — singing and playing an instrument [and] co-producing a lot of his records and songwriting. Of all the people that’s been on there, arguably the most talented judge would be him.”

Gary Allan arrives in stores with his new album, Set You Free, next Tuesday (January 22^nd), and he tells us the songs are more upbeat than his previous projects contained. “I think it’s a lot lighter. It’s kind of a double-edge sword for me, because I don’t like the happy songs,” says Gary. “And [then comes] ‘Every Storm Runs Out of Rain,’ so I think that is more what this album is all about is me coming up for air, and I’m in a lot better spot.”

Gary’s latest single, “Every Storm (Runs Out of Rain),” is closing in on the top spot on the country charts.

• Gary is scheduled to perform his single next Wednesday (January 23^rd) on NBC’s Tonight Show With Jay Leno (11:35p ET) and NBC’s Late Night With Jimmy Fallon on February 11th (12:35a ET).
• You can also catch Gary on GAC Daily Countdown all next week as well as upcoming episodes of CMT Insider, CMT’s Top 20, GAC’s Top 20 and Headline Country and The Travel Channel’s Trip Flip.

AUDIO: Gary Allan says his new album, Set You Free, is a lighter fare than his previous offerings.

Gary Allan (album is lighter) OC: …better spot. :25
“I think it’s a lot lighter. It’s kind of a double-edge sword for me, because I don’t like the happy songs. Nobody gives a Sh [BEEP] if you’re happy. I want the cutting ones that make you like, I am drawn to those anyway, plus I’ve been through a lot, so I think everybody was like looking at it like, ‘Wow- he’s like really spinning out. And [then comes] ‘Every Storm Runs Out of Rain,’ so I think that is more what this album is all about is me coming up for air, and I’m in a lot better spot.”

The feuds and disagreements hit the internet and went viral as the new panel of judges on American Idol were getting to know each other at the same time as they were choosing which unknown talents were going to Hollywood to compete on the 12th season of the popular FOX TV show. We all viewed the video, which featured Mariah Carey and Nicki Minaj going at it with our own Keith Urban sandwiched between them. He often says when word of the disagreements between the two female superstars hit the news, he’s like the country of Switzerland and tries to remain neutral.

He said part of the reason that there were a few, shall we say, discussions early on during the audition process was because the four of them were basically thrown together and put to work. “You’ve got four very passionate artists all sort of thrown onto a dance floor, and they’re saying, ‘OK, dance together in perfect synchronized movements,’ and we stepped on a few toes at the beginning while we were getting our groove on; because we had no direction,” says Keith. “We all met [for the first time] the night before [we started auditions] in New York for dinner, and that’s the first time I ever met Nicki and Mariah. I’d met Randy [Jackson] and Ryan [Seacrest] before. So, we all had dinner that night, and then the next day showed up on set and saw the set, and they led us up to the desk and we sat behind the desk, and the next thing we know, they’re like, ‘OK, and off we go.’ And I thought, ‘Well, surely we’ll have some ‘fake’ contestants first, you know, coming through and then they’ll bring out the real artists.’ Nope! That was it. We were just diving into it.”

Keith adds that the way they were put together was probably a good thing. “I think that kind of anxiety and strange energy and uncertainty and all of that went into the mix. I think it makes for great viewing, but it certainly caught all of us off-guard.”

The new season of American Idol premieres Wednesday (January 16th) at 8pm ET on FOX.

Keith Urban (AI passionate lot) OC: …passionate lot. 1:23
“It took a little while. [laughs] I mean, look, you’ve got four very passionate artists all sort of thrown onto a dance floor, and they’re saying, ‘OK, dance together in perfect synchronized movements,’ and we stepped on a few toes at the beginning while we were getting our groove on; because we had no direction. Nothing. It was interesting that we all met [for the first time] the night before [we started auditions] in New York for dinner, and that’s the first time I ever met Nicki and Mariah. I’d met Randy and Ryan before. So, we all had dinner that night, and then the next day showed up on set and saw the set, and they led us up to the desk and we sat behind the desk, and the next thing we know, they’re like, ‘OK, and off we go.’ And I thought, ‘Well, surely we’ll have some ‘fake’ contestants first, you know, coming through and then they’ll bring out the real artists.’ Nope! That was it. We were just diving into it [laughs], so I think that kind of anxiety and strange energy and uncertainty and all of that went into the mix. I think it makes for great viewing, but it certainly caught all of us off-guard. Randy was the only one who knew what he was doing. So, the three of us are trying to figure it out and we finally got our groove on. We’re a passionate lot, no question.”

King of Country George Strait Soon to Saddle Up for The Cowboy Rides Away Tour

Tour dates commence Jan. 18 at the United Spirit Arena in Lubbock, Texas

 NASHVILLE, Tenn. – George Strait announced the news of his two-year final U.S. tour last fall, and now the time has come to saddle up for the 2013 leg of The Cowboy Rides Away Tour, opening at the United Spirit Arena in Lubbock, Texas this Friday, Jan. 18.  Joining the icon on tour will be special guest Martina McBride, who is not only a fan, but a longtime friend of Strait’s.

 The excitement surrounding this tour was evident when tickets in most markets sold out within mere minutes of going on sale.  Sharing in the fans’ enthusiasm, Strait reveals, “I’ve got over 30 years of great memories out on that road.  I’m sure these last two are going to be just as good or better. It’s going to be fun but at the same time sad. I can’t wait!”

With 59 No. 1 hit songs under his belt, concert-goers can expect to hear many of their Strait favorites plus new music including his latest single, “Give It All We Got Tonight,” one of the first releases from Strait’s forthcoming album due out later this year. “Give It All We Got Tonight” is currently available on iTunes.

For news, information, photos, and more on King George, please visit www.GeorgeStrait.com.  Updates can also be found on www.Facebook.com/GeorgeStrait and by following Strait on Twitter @GeorgeStrait.  

The Cowboy Rides Away – 2013 Tour Dates

Jan 18  |  United Spirit Arena   |   Lubbock, Texas

Jan 19  |  Chesapeake Energy Arena  |  Oklahoma City, Okla.

Jan 25  |  EnergySolutions Arena  |  Salt Lake City, Utah

Jan 26  |  Idaho Center  |  Nampa, Idaho

Jan 31  |  Sleep Train Arena  |  Sacramento, Calif.

Feb 1   |  SaveMart Center  |  Fresno, Calif.

Feb 2   |  MGM Grand Garden Arena  |  Las Vegas, Nev.

Feb 15 |  Xcel Energy Center  |  St. Paul, Minn.

Feb 16 |  Alerus Center  |  Grand Forks, N.D.

Feb 22 |  First Niagara Center  |  Buffalo, N.Y.

Feb 23 |  XL Center  |  Hartford, Conn.

Mar 1   |  Thompson-Boling Arena  |  Knoxville, Tenn.

Mar 2   |  Rupp Arena  |  Lexington, Ky.

Mar 17 |  Reliant Stadium  |  Houston, Texas

Mar 22 |  Bi-Lo Center  |  Greenville, S.C.

Mar 23 |  Greensboro Coliseum  |  Greensboro, N.C.

Apr 5   |  The Pit  |  Albuquerque, N.M.

Apr 6   |  Pan American Center  |  Las Cruces, N.M.

Apr 12 |  Verizon Arena  |  N. Little Rock, Ark.

Apr 13 |  New Orleans Arena  |  New Orleans, La.

Jun 1    |  Alamodome  |  San Antonio, Texas*

* On sale date March 9, 2013

AUDIO: George Strait talks about touring with Martina McBride.

George Strait (on touring with Martina) OC: …about that. :13
“Martina’s certainly one of the greatest female artists out there, and she’s just an incredible, incredible singer and a great person. We have a lot of fun out there with her, so we’re happy about that.”

Jake’s back home and makes an appearance during Dierks’ rehearsals in DBTV Ep. 92. Also, Dierks preps to go all out for the Locked & Reloaded Tour. Take a look at a brand new feature of the stage.