Little Big Town were on ABC’s Good Afternoon America on Thursday (August 2nd) to perform their smash hit “Pontoon,” as well as premiere the music video for the theme song of the show and perform it live, as well.
The band also talked about their upcoming album, Tornado, which is set for release September 11th. “It kind of feels like a little storm is brewing in our camp,” explains LBT’s Karen Fairchild. “Like a change is in the air, and it’s a good one.”
Dierks Bentley and the crew took some time off between dates to go rafting near beautiful Jackson Hole, Wyoming. Watch as they spend some time “in the woods” in DBTV Episode 74.
It was September 27, 2003. Dierks Bentley was at a club in the Dallas area, getting ready for a show that night when his phone rang. His debut Capitol single, “What Was I Thinkin,” had just ascended to the top of the country singles chart. It was a day he won’t forget.
“It’s a big lesson that you learn when it comes to how your song moves up the charts,” Bentley tells Billboard. “It was an eye-opening experience to see how much hard work goes into promoting the song from the Capitol Records promotion department. I learned a lot with that first single. It was really special.”
Since then, the singer has topped the charts on nine other occasions, with the latest coming this past week with “5-1-5-0” becoming his tenth record to occupy the top spot.
“It’s something that I never dreamed of — having that many number one songs,” he said in an exclusive interview with Billboard. “It all feels like a blur. It feels like yesterday that I was writing ‘What Was I Thinkin’ in the Sony Tree Publishing firehouse — we used to write songs in this old converted firehouse. To even put out ten songs — let alone ten go to number one seems like a lot to fathom.”
Bentley is proud of the fact that he has been able to mix it up musically since his first single, with his past two records being of great contrast to each other. “I’ve really been able to spread it around and do a lot of different kinds of music in my career, which has been a real blessing. I totally credit that to the fans for giving me that freedom – as well as country radio. ‘Home’ was a lot different than ‘5-1-5-0,’ but for me, it’s all about songs that take you on a journey. Certainly, I’m always thinking about the live show in the back of my head. I want to have material that encompasses a lot of ground – from partying and blowing off some steam and forgetting about our worries for a little while to a song like ‘Home’ that talks about the founding of this country and all our triumphs. So, there is a lot of stuff in there.”
Bentley continues to stretch artistically, as he does with the August 21st release of Country and Cold Beer, which he says is quite different from what he has released in the past. “Just like with “Up On The Ridge,” this is a project that I have wanted to do that is a little different from the stuff I have out there, but I think the fans will love it. We went in and did about four songs, turned them into the label, and they flipped out over them, and wanted to do this EP thing. It all ties in to the end of summer, and kicking it with your friends. It’s about country music, beer, and having a good time. I think a lot of our college age fans will really dig it.”
Bentley will support the disc with a small tour of some college campuses in the south. “I’m looking forward to this little tour we’re doing to support it, at some schools in the SEC. We’re going to Georgia, Mississippi, and South Carolina, so it should be a fun tour.”
The next single from Home will be “Tip It On Back,” which represents a first for Bentley. “This is the first song we’ve released as a single that I didn’t write,” he says, as the track was penned by Tully Kennedy, Ross Copperman, and Jon Nite. I’ve been trying to find some good outside songs. That’s a fun process – trying to find a song that fits who you are and what you’re trying to say. It would make my day to present a number one hit to them on their very first cut. That would be very special to me.”
Darius Rucker takes NotJakeOwen to school on Twitter after the fictional account known for its hilarious and sometimes notsonice tweets wrote:
Cake Bowen @NotJakeOwen
$500 reward to anyone that can prove @dariusrucker owns the best of Patsy Cline in his music collection.
Darius responded to the dig referencing his hit “Alright” (“I’ve got a stereo/and the best of Patsy Cline”) with a photo showing he does indeed have a Patsy Cline Greatest Hits collection, along with a little note back to the antagonist.
@NotJakeOwen Pay up – $500 and make it out to @StJude pic.twitter.com/ONOQSDAM
Included in the collection is Dierks Bentley‘s Greatest Hits, R.E.M, Hank Williams, Ray Charles, Radney Foster, BeBe Winans and Soul Hits of the ’70s.
UPDATE: @NotJakeOwen paid his dues and included a photo of the receipt from St. Jude’s.
Hey @dariusrucker This is my my bad. Pay up. Tweet. pic.twitter.com/bqNrlx5k
Darius will hit the airwaves with his own new music in the coming weeks.
Little Big Town are set to appear on ABC’s Good Afternoon America on Thursday (August 2nd). They’re set to perform their current hit, “Pontoon,” as well as the theme song to the show, which they co-wrote and recorded.
LBT’s new album Tornado is set for release September 11th.
Lady Antebellum had so much fun overseas playing for fans, and during the latest episode of Webisode Wednesday, they’re featuring their stops in Norway and Sweden.
NASHVILLE – August 1, 2012 – CMT has declared Capitol Records Nashville’s Jon Pardi as one of country’s hottest new acts, as he’s the featured artist on LISTEN UP this month. Fans can visit www.listenup.cmt.com for exclusive performances of “Chasin’ Them Better Days,” “Up All Night” and “Happens All the Time.” CMT debuted Pardi’s new video “Missin’ You Crazy” on-air today, and new performances including “Write You a Song” will debut August 15 at CMT.com.
Pardi will be featured at CMT.com all month long as the LISTEN UP artist, with new performances, photo galleries, interviews and more. Check out CMT, CMT.com, CMT Mobile and CMT Radio for more exclusive content. The franchise launched in 2011, and showcases country acts on the verge of breaking out.
Hailing from a small town called Dixon in Northern California, Capitol Records Nashville newcomer Jon Pardi’s first taste of country music stardom started in his Grandmother’s house at the tender age of three. The singer-songwriter spent his youth perfecting his craft – by eight years old, he was playing the guitar and at 12, he was writing his own songs. Determined to make his dream of country music fame a reality, Pardi moved to Nashville at 22 years old, where his unique musical style gained him a publishing contract, and later a record deal with Capitol Records Nashville. Pardi has shared the stage with Eric Church, Zac Brown Band, Dierks Bentley, Pat Green, Gary Allan and Luke Bryan. Pardi’s first single “Missin’ You Crazy” is out at country radio now and his debut album will be released next year.
TICKETS AVAILABLE ON FRIDAY, AUGUST 17th AT THE RYMAN BOX OFFICE, RYMAN.COM,
TICKETMASTER OUTLETS, TICKETMASTER.COM OR BY CALLING 800-745-3000
ENCINO, CA (August 1, 2012) – Today the Academy of Country Music is announcing that country music superstar Dierks Bentley will host the 6th Annual ACM HONORS, an evening dedicated to recognizing the special honorees and off-camera category winners from the 47th Annual Academy of Country Music Awards. The event will take place on Monday, September 24, 2012 at 7:00pm at the historic Ryman Auditorium in Nashville. Tickets priced at $37 will go on sale to the public at 8:00am PST on Friday, August 17, 2012 at the Ryman box office, Ryman.com, Ticketmaster outlets, Ticketmaster.com or by calling 800-745-3000. The evening is presented by City National Bank.
This is Bentley’s first time hosting the event and the third time the ceremony will be held at the Ryman Auditorium.
Those being honored include Special Award recipients Bobby Braddock, Kenny Chesney, Vince Gill, Emmylou Harris, Gayle Holcomb, Alan Jackson, Billy Sherrill, Ricky Skaggs and Dwight Yoakam. Roger Miller will also be honored posthumously. The evening also recognizes winners of the MBI (musician, bandleader, instrumentalist) and Industry categories, which are not presented during the live telecast of the Academy of Country Music Awards. In addition, the winner of Songwriter of the Year will also be recognized, an award which has been given out only once, in 1965, to Roger Miller.
ACM Award winning singer/songwriter Dierks Bentley has forged his own brand of country music combining classic country songwriting, influences of bluegrass instrumentation and the energy of rock & roll. He recently made plans to toast the end of summer with the release of a four song EP titled COUNTRY & COLD CANS available Aug. 21 on iTunes, while simultaneously kicking off tailgating season with a limited COUNTRY & COLD CANS: BACK TO COLLEGE TOUR. The new music follows Bentley’s sixth studio album HOME, released earlier this year, which debuted at No. one and has spawned three chart-toppings hits marking 10 career No. one songs as a singer and songwriter. His five previous studio albums have earned 10 GRAMMY nominations, sold over five million albums and an invitation to join the Grand Ole Opry.
“Dierks’ incredible passion combined with his respect for and overwhelming knowledge of the country music genre, both as a renowned artist and songwriter, make him an ideal host for ACM Honors,” said Michelle Goble, Senior Vice President, Membership & Industry Relations at the Academy of Country Music. “We look forward to his contribution to the show, as we pay tribute to those who helped forge country music into the outstanding genre it is today.”
“I’m really looking forward to helping recognize this year’s ACM honorees,” said Bentley. “Country music has so many talented artists, songwriters and people working behind the scenes…I’m flattered that I’ve been asked to stand on stage beside them.”
The Academy of Country Music Special Awards are voted on by the ACM Board of Directors and are awarded during years that the Board of Directors feels there are clear and deserving candidates. Honorees include:
The winners of the Musician-Bandleader-Instrumentalist (MBI) awards are voted on by Academy of Country Music members classified in the Artist-Entertainer/MBI category and the Producer/Engineer/Studio Manager subcategory (contained within the Affiliated category) on the final ballot. Honorees include:
The winners of the Industry Awards categories are voted on by the membership of the Academy of Country Music on the final ballot. Honorees include:
The Songwriter of the Year Award winner is determined by a vote of Academy of Country Music members classified in the Artist-Entertainer/MBI, Composer, Music Publisher/PRO and Record Company categories, along with the Producer/Engineer/Studio Manager subcategory (contained within the Affiliated category) on the final ballot. Honoree includes:
Social Media Copy:
Tweet: .@DierksBentley to host the 6th Annual @ACMawards Honors on Sept 24 at @TheRyman! Tickets on sale 8/17! Details at [insert your link here OR www.acmcountry.com]
Facebook: [Dierks Bentley] to host the 6th Annual [ACM – Academy of Country Music] Honors on September 24 at the [Ryman Auditorium] in Nashville! Tickets on sale to the public on August 17th! Details at [insert your link here OR www.acmcountry.com]
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For more information on the ACADEMY OF COUNTRY MUSIC and the ACADEMY OF COUNTRY MUSIC AWARDS, please visit www.acmcountry.com. For information on ACM LIFTING LIVES, please visit www.acmliftinglives.org.
Jon Pardi is one of country music’s latest rising stars, due in large part to his Top 40 debut single, “Missin’ You Crazy,” and taking his music on the road to open shows for such acts as Luke Bryan, Eric Church and Dierks Bentley. CMT also thinks he’s got quite a future ahead with their online series, Listen Up, which features live performances and interview clips with new artists.
The series kicks off Wednesday (August 1st) with “Missin’ You Crazy,” “Chasin’ Them Better Days” and “Up All Night.” A second wave of performances will also be showcased on August 15th, and they’ll include “Happens All the Time” and “Write You a Song.”
The video for “Missin’ You Crazy” is available for viewing at CMT.com.
The California native’s single has been connecting with fans, including those who make their living on the road and in the military, as well as the families left back home. “I had a couple wives of military men say, they always say, ‘My husband’s stationed overseas and this is my song. I miss him so much,’” says Jon. “It’s a positive kind of missing song. Even dudes on the road or stationed overseas, they like it ‘cause they’re missing their wives; they’re missing their families.”
AUDIO: Jon Pardi talks about the military connection to his debut single, “Missin’ You Crazy.”
Jon Pardi (Missin’ Military) OC: …for somebody. :33
“I had a couple wives of military men say, they always say, ‘My husband’s stationed overseas and this is my song. I miss him so much.’ I think it’s the upbeat kind of happiness to the song that kind of keeps them; it’s a positive kind of missing song. Even dudes on the road or stationed overseas, they like it ‘cause they’re missing their wives; they’re missing their families. There’s always somebody to be missed, but I’ve had a lot of good feedback towards people that have to be apart because of their jobs or what they do. There’s a connection there for somebody.”
Last week, Keith Urban played the part of tour guide as part of a feature that will appear on Yahoo’s “Going Home on Ram Country” series. The Nashville transplant took the crew to several of his favorite Music City locations, including the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum — the recipient of the proceeds from his annual All for the Hall benefit concerts.
The installment will premiere August 15th at ramcountry.music.yahoo.com.