• KELLEIGH BANNEN TRIES HER HAND AT MAKING MARSHMALLOWS. (VIDEO)

    Kelleigh Bannen‘s love of fine candies led her to the Bang Candy Company in Nashville, where she was invited to help make homemade marshmallows.

    Kelleigh is scaling the country charts with her single, “Sorry on the Rocks.”

    Video / Kelleigh Bannen On "Marshmallows"

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  • DIERKS BENTLEY PLAYS IMPROMPTU SHOW AT HARD ROCK CAFE FOLLOWING POSTPONED MILES & MUSIC FOR KIDS. (PRESS RELEASE)

    Nashville, TN – Oct. 15, 2012 – Multi-platinum country music star Dierks Bentley made a difficult decision to postpone his seventh annual “Miles & Music for Kids” celebrity motorcycle ride and concert yesterday in Nashville, TN when high winds and storm warnings threatened the safety of riders, fans and event organizers. Hundreds of fans from across the country, already in town for the annual event, met at the Hard Rock Café where Bentley played an impromptu set and was joined by Sheryl Crow who participated despite the cancellation of the day’s festivities.

    “It was a tough call, but we had to make it for everyone’s safety,” said Bentley. “But, we still had so many fans in town who traveled, sometimes hundreds of miles to help support Vandy’s Children’s Hospital, I felt like we had to find a way to do something to thank them for their time and donations over the past seven years. We decided to run across the street, invite anyone still hanging around and before we knew it, the place was packed out. I still can’t believe Sheryl came by…she jumped in her car and came over the minute she heard it was happening.”

    Since first hitting the pavement in 2006, Dierks Bentley’s “Miles & Music for Kids” celebrity motorcycle ride and concert has held 12 events in seven US cities to raise over $2 million for Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals across the country. For more information, visit www.dierks.com.

  • LUKE BRYAN FORMS PARTNERSHIP WITH CABELA’S. (PRESS RELEASE)

    Nashville – (Oct. 15, 2012) – Two-time CMA and AMA Award nominee and platinum-selling artist Luke Bryan and Cabela’s, the World’s Foremost Outfitter of hunting, fishing and outdoor gear, are pleased to announce a multi-year partnership. The partnership centers around a series of cross-promotions and marketing collaborations across Cabela’s and Luke Bryan’s year round activities. Co-branded marketing campaigns will appear in Cabela’s world famous stores, as well as in their catalog and e-commerce materials. Social media and content collaborations will offer fans an exclusive, behind the scenes look into Luke’s off-stage activities as an avid outdoorsman.

    “My love for the outdoors is something that has been a part of me ever since I can remember,” says Luke. “It seems there was never a time when we weren’t hunting, fishing, farming or playing outside since I was very young. Teaming with Cabela’s is such a natural fit for me.”

    “Luke is the perfect partner for Cabela’s as he combines a lifelong love of the outdoors along with strong country roots. This passion comes through in everything that Luke does- from his hunting and fishing, to his music. We’re really excited to welcome Luke to the Cabela’s family,” stated Scott Williams, EVP and Chief Marketing/E-Commerce Officer.

    The partnership will also see Cabela’s sponsorship of Luke’s concert tours beginning with his first-ever headlining tour, the “Dirt Road Diaries Tour”, launching in January 2013. Cabela’s CLUB Visa Members will have access to presale tickets and preferred seats in select markets beginning Monday, October 22, 2012. Complete details will be available at www.cabelas.com/lukebryan starting October 22nd.
    About Luke Bryan
    Country superstar Luke Bryan has had quite a year, celebrating three back-to-back Platinum singles “Country Girl (Shake It For Me),” “I Don’t Want This Night To End” and “Drunk On You,” all from his Platinum-certified album, tailgates & tanlines. The Leesburg, Georgia native has achieved 5 career #1 singles. He was recently nominated for two Country Music Association Awards and two American Music Awards in the Male Vocalist and Album of the Year (for tailgates & tanlines) categories. Luke will headline his first major tour in 2013, the “Dirt Road Diaries Tour,” launching January 17th.
    About Cabela’s
    Cabela’s Incorporated, headquartered in Sidney, Nebraska, is a leading specialty retailer, and the world’s largest direct marketer, of hunting, fishing, camping and related outdoor merchandise. Since the Company’s founding in 1961, Cabela ’s® has grown to become one of the most well-known outdoor recreation brands in the world, and has long been recognized as the World’s Foremost Outfitter®. Through Cabela’s growing number of retails stores and its well-established direct business, it offers a wide and distinctive selection of high-quality outdoor products at competitive prices while providing superior customer service. Cabela’s also issues the Cabela’s CLUB® Visa credit card, which serves as its primary customer loyalty rewards program. Cabela’s stock is traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “CAB.”
  • KEITH URBAN CHECKS IN FROM THE STUDIO IN HIS CAR. (VIDEO)

    Keith Urban checked in with his fans from his car on Friday to give them a quick update on the progress of his next album. “New music sounds really good,” Keith says.  “I’m looking forward to you guys getting to hearing it. I’m sick of talking about it. Looking forward to playing it.”

    The new project is set for release next year.

    Video / Urban Chat: Video 25: Studio Update!

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  • DARIUS RUCKER GETTING READY FOR OPRY INDUCTION. (AUDIO)

    Darius Rucker will become the newest member of the Grand Ole Opry on Tuesday night (October 16th). A couple of weeks ago, Darius was surprised by his pal, Brad Paisley, with the invitation to join the famed institution. He says every time he gets ready to walk onto the Opry stage, he thinks of the musical legends who performed there night after night. Now that he is going to become part of the Opry history, he says is “pretty damn awesome!”  

    When the news was announced, Grand Ole Opry Vice President and General Manager Pete Fisher stated, “We are extremely excited that Darius will be joining our Opry family. He’s forged an incredible, diverse musical path which has led today to the top of the country charts. It’s been clear from the moment Darius first stepped on our stage in 2008 in what high regard he holds the Grand Ole Opry and similarly how much Opry fans love Darius’ music.”

    Darius is currently making his way up the country charts with his single, “True Believers.”

    AUDIO: Darius Rucker describes how he feels about becoming part of the Grand Ole Opry family.

    Darius Rucker (Opry induction) 1 OC: …pretty damn awesome. :16
    “The thing you think of is the music and every time I’m about to walk on this stage, you really think of just the legends that played here night after night after night. You know, just be a part of it now, no, not just to be a part of it, to be a member of it is pretty damn awesome.”

    AUDIO: Darius Rucker says he will perform at the Grand Ole Opry as much as he can.

    Darius Rucker (Opry induction) 2 OC: …how I live. :15
    “I’m gonna be here a lot, as much as a member’s supposed to be here and more, because Pete [Fisher] and those guys have been awesome to me since I started this. I’m dedicated to this. I’m not the kind of guy who becomes a member and then gets lost. That’s not how I live.”

    Video / Darius Rucker Invited to Become a Member of the Grand Ole Opry

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  • DIERKS BENTLEY’S ‘MILES & MUSIC FOR KIDS’ EVENT IS POSTPONED.

    Dierks Bentley’s seventh annual Miles & Music for Kids motorcycle ride and concert in Nashville was cancelled on Sunday (October 14th), due to potentially dangerous weather, which included gusty winds and severe thunderstorms. Dierks is very disappointed since this year’s event was going to be extra special, according to the “Tip It On Back” singer, since it was to have one of the biggest turnout of artists and fans, including performances by Sheryl Crow, Kix Brooks, Brantley Gilbert, Chris Young, Craig Campbell and Cadillac Black.

    He posted the following statement to his website:

    “We have to postpone Miles & Music today because of dangerous wind & storms moving into Nashville. It’s the last thing we wanted to do but safety is the priority. HUGE thanks to all the fans, riders, sponsors & artists who always come out to support us & Vandy Childrens Hospital.”

    Dierks also posted messages on Facebook to his fans.

    can’t tell you all how disappointed i am and my team is about today. we have been looking forward to this day for a year.”

    A large crowd of riders still gathered at the Harley Davidson dealership in Columbia. To make amends to fans, Bentley turned the dealership into a concert venue. There was music, and he greeted fans and took pictures and signed autographs.

    “I just wanted to say hi and thanks to all these riders,” Dierks told WTVF, Nashville’s CBS-TV affiliate. “This is where it begins. These folks came out in spite of the weather to be here and be a part of this.”

    Event organizers have yet to say if the event will be rescheduled.

    Proceeds from Miles & Music benefits the Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt. Stay tuned to Dierks.com for more information.

  • LADY ANTEBELLUM HOST LIVE CONCERT FILM PREMIERE. (AUDIO)

    Lady Antebellum hosted a premiere of their Own the Night World Tour concert film in Nashville on Thursday (October 11th). The 90-minute movie, which will be available on DVD, Blu-ray and at all digital retailers on December 4th, includes footage from their Own the Night World Tour stop in Little Rock, Arkansas in June. It will also feature some behind-the-scenes footage, including some from when they heard their debut song on the radio for the very first time. “We carry a camera around with us everywhere, and so there’s so much footage, and we said, ‘We can’t do one of these and not put in a bunch of behind-the-scenes footage,’” recalls Lady A’s Charles Kelley. “So, it’s kind of almost like a live DVD concert/documentary.”

    Lady A will also release their first Christmas album, On This Winter’s Night, October 22nd.

    AUDIO: At Thursday night’s premiere, Lady Antebellum talk about their Own the Night World Tour concert film.

    Lady A (DVD premiere) OC: (Dave) …pretty surreal. :55
    “We really just wanted to kind of be able to tell the whole story and be within this tour, and this is our first-ever headlining arena and amphitheater tour. So, we put so much heart and effort and time into it, and so have it as a complete work now, it’s an amazing feeling. I mean, I think we’re all feeling a little out of our comfort zone. We’re in a movie theater about to watch ourselves in a movie theater.”

    CHARLES: “I think one thing we knew we had to put in there, though, was we carry a camera around with us everywhere, and so there’s so much footage. And we said, ‘We can’t do one of these and not put in a bunch of behind-the-scenes footage.’ So, it’s kind of almost like a live DVD concert/documentary…so you get to see a lot of stuff of where we started behind-the scenes and…”

    DAVE: “We actually have the footage from the very first time we heard our song on the radio. We had a camera out when that actually happened. So, to have moments like that all the way back from the beginning of our career and to sit here and watch them now is pretty surreal.”

  • LUKE BRYAN HONORS A CLOSE FRIEND IN LATEST EPISODE OF LBTV! (VIDEO)

    Luke Bryan helps to honor one of his best friends, Dallas Davidson, at the recent ACM Honors in Nashville. Dallas is one of Nashville’s most talented songwriters, and this year he won the ACM Songwriter of the Year award. Check out all of the festivities in the latest episode of LBTV!

    In the meantime, Luke is sitting inside the Top 10 with his latest single, “Kiss Tomorrow Goodbye.”

    Video / LBTV Thursdays! Episode 37

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  • KEITH URBAN WILL BE HONORED WITH THE NASHVILLE SYMPHONY’S HARMONY AWARD.

    Keith Urban has been named the recipient of this year’s Nashville Symphony’s Harmony Award, which is given to individuals who contain “the harmonious spirit of Nashville’s thriving musical community.” Not only has the entertainer taken Nashville’s music to the far corners of North America, he’s also brought in fans from overseas. He has put his stamp of support on various charities, including his own All for the Hall shows benefitting the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum, as well as raising money and giving  support to victims of Nashville’s 2010 flood, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital and many more.

    Previous recipients include Dolly Parton, Taylor Swift, Martina McBride, Rascal Flatts, Carrie Underwood, Chet Akins, Trisha Yearwood and more.

    Keith will receive the award during the 28th Annual Symphony Ball December 8th at the Schermerhorn Symphony Center.

  • LUKE BRYAN ANNOUNCES HIS FIRST HEADLINING TOUR! (PRESS RELEASE)

    “Dirt Road Diaries Tour” Launches in January

     
                    Nashville-(October 11, 2012) – Luke Bryan’s career has rocketed towards superstar status
    in the past couple of years.  He has seen his recent album tailgates & tanlines sell over one million copies and remain a Top 5 album for all of 2012, co-hosted the “CMA Music Festival: Country’s Night to Rock” special on ABC, taken home trophies at both the ACM Awards and CMT Music Awards and opened concert tours for artists such as Jason Aldean, Rascal Flatts and Tim McGraw.  In 2013, Luke will take another giant step and headline his first major tour, the “Dirt Road Diaries Tour.”  
    The “Dirt Road Diaries Tour” will kick off in Evansville, Indiana on January 17 with tickets on sale beginning Friday, October 26. The 20-city first leg will go through March and features Thompson Square and Florida Georgia Line as openers. Live Nation is the national tour promoter. Log on to www.lukebryan.com or www.livenation.com for tour dates and information.
    “I have dreamed about this day for a very long time,” said Luke.  “We are having the best time putting together all the bells & whistles for the tour.  I have spent a lot of time out on tours with some really great artists and each night we have tried to learn from them.  I couldn’t be more excited about this!”
    Citi is the official credit card of the “Dirt Road Diaries Tour.”  Citi card members will have access to presale tickets in select markets beginning Monday, October 22 at 10AM E.T. through Citi’s Private Pass Program.  For complete presale details visit www.citiprivatepass.com .
     
    In the past year, Luke has celebrated three back-to-back Platinum singles “Country Girl (Shake It For Me),” “I Don’t Want This Night To End” and “Drunk On You,” all from his Platinum-certified album, tailgates & tanlines. The Leesburg, Georgia native has achieved five career #1 singles and is currently on his fourth annual “Farm Tour” with eight shows through several southern states, including five in Georgia, through the end of this week.  When the tour wraps on October 13 a portion of the proceeds from the concerts will have created 20 scholarships in its four-year run to students of farming families
    within the communities the tour has played.  Luke recently received two CMA Award and two American Music Award nominations in the Male Vocalist and Album of the Year categories as well as
    leading the nominations with seven at the upcoming American Country Awards.
    Thompson Square, the reigning ACM “Vocal Duo of the Year” and Stoney Creek Records duo, ended 2011 as Billboard’s #1 New Country Artist and the #6 New Artist across all genres of music. The  husband/wife duo’s #1 smash, “Are You Gonna Kiss Me Or Not,” earned them 2 GRAMMY nominations, American Music Award and Teen Choice Award nods, 4 CMA, and 5 CMT Music Award nominations.  “AYGKMON” has sold nearly 2 million singles and was iTunes 2011 Country Song of the Year. Follow-up hits include the award winning, “I Got You,” (#6) and the critically lauded power ballad, “Glass” (#15).  Thompson Square is a 3x American Country Award and a 2012 CMT Music Award winner.  The duo is currently nominated for “Vocal Duo of the Year” and “New Artist of the Year” at the 2012 CMA Awards. 
     
    Florida Georgia Line has been quickly garnering buzz among fans, media and superstars (Taylor Swift,
    Keith Urban and Sugarland’s Jennifer Nettles) since releasing their Top 20 single, “Cruise.” With infectious lyrics and a buoyant melody, the single has sold well over 500,000 copies and has been certified GOLD in Canada. The song is also listed in the Top 10 for sales in many major markets and
    sits – with the video – in the Top 5 nationally on iTunes Country Charts. The Republic Nashville duo – comprised of Tyler Hubbard from Monroe, Georgia and Brian Kelley from Ormond Beach, Florida – brings a fresh sound to the genre and beyond, combining electrifying, hard-driving rock with honest, expressive lyrics. “Cruise” is featured on their EP It’z Just What We Do produced by Joey Moi (Jake Owen, Nickelback).   
    “Dirt Road Diaries Tour”    
    1-17        Evansville, IN                       Ford Center
    1-18        Huntsville, AL                      Von Braun Center
    1-19        Southaven, MS                     Landers Center
    1-25        Estero, FL                             Germain Arena   
    1-26        Orlando, FL                          Amway Center
    2-7          Uniondale, NY                     Nassau Coliseum
    2-8          State College, PA                 Bryce Jordan Center
    2-15        Toledo, OH                           Huntington Center
    2-16        Grand Rapids, MI                 Van Andel Arena
    2-17        Bloomington, IL                   US Cellular Center
    2-21        Ft Wayne, IN                        Allen County War Memorial Coliseum
    2-22        Louisville, KY                      KFC Yum! Center
    2-23        Columbia, MO                     Mizzou Arena
    2-28        Green Bay, WI                     Resch Center
    3-1          Sioux City, IA                      Tyson Events Center
    3-2          Moline, IL                             i wireless Center
    3-14        Orange Beach, AL               Amphitheatre at the Wharf
    3-21        Florence, SC                         Florence Civic Center
    3-22        Fayetteville, NC                   Crown Center
    3-23        Charlottesville, VA              John Paul Jones Arena