Eric Church has had quite the year so far. He kicked off 2011 with an ACM trophy for Top New Solo Vocalist of the Year, been touring with such artists as Jason Aldean, Miranda Lambert and Toby Keith, AND he delivered his first “baby” in July. The baby we’re referring to his album, Chief, which debuted at the top of the overall Billboard album chart with nearly 145,000 copies sold.

Now, he and his wife, Katherine, are in the last remaining weeks before the birth of their first child – a boy. The parents-to-be have already been getting their unborn child used to traveling on a bus. “We’re gonna strap him up, give him some headphones, and we’re going on the road. We’ve been trying to get him used to the bus, even though we haven’t had him yet,” explains the singer-songwriter. “Katherine’s been riding the bus a lot and [getting him] used to the shaking and the movements, so. It’s funny now – he’s a bit of a kicker and a puncher, and he’s fine if she’s moving. If she stops moving, he starts kicking and punching, which is ironic ‘cause I punch on stage. So, we’ll see what happens with that in a few years.”

Since Eric and Katherine discovered the sex of the baby, folks have been asking them what they’ve decided on for a name. “We’ve got a few names,” he reveals. “I think you need to look at a boy before you name him, though. I think you need to step back and see which name they look like. So, we’re going to take a few names in to the hospital, and we’ll see which one comes out.”

• Eric is scaling the country charts with his latest single, “Drink in My Hand” – the second single from Chief.
• Eric is still on the Locked and Loaded Tour with Toby, and he’s scheduled for shows up until the baby’s due date, which is in the middle of October.
• Eric has earned a nomination for CMA New Artist of the Year. The awards will be handed out Wednesday, October 9th.

AUDIO: Eric Church talks about preparing his unborn child for life on the road.

Eric Church (baby stuff) OC: …in a few years. [laughs] :34

“I want to be the dad my dad was. I think I have a great father, and [he’s] always been supportive. We kind of joke with our lifestyle, you know what we do and touring 200 days a year. We’re not going to give him much leeway. We’re gonna strap him up, give him some headphones, and we’re going on the road. We’ve been trying to get him used to the bus, even though we haven’t had him yet. Katherine’s been riding the bus a lot and used to the shaking and the movements, so. It’s funny now – he’s a bit of a kicker and a puncher, and he’s fine if she’s moving. If she stops moving, he starts kicking and punching, which is ironic ‘cause I punch on stage. So, we’ll see what happens with that in a few years. [laughs]”

AUDIO: Eric Church says he and his wife Catherine haven’t fully decided on a name for their first child.

Eric Church (baby names) OC: …comes out. :13

“We’ve got a few names. I think you need to look at a boy before you name him, though. I think you need to step back and see which name they look like. So, we’re going to take a few names in to the hospital, and we’ll see which one comes out.”

Follow Lady Antebellum as they perform the National Anthem on the 10th anniversary of 9/11 and for the day of their new album release on September 13th.

Luke Bryan kicks off the 10th annual CMT on Tour Thursday (September 15th) in Huntington, West Virginia. The trek, which also features special guest Lee Brice, Josh Thompson and CMT’s Next Superstar winner Matt Mason, will play 22 shows before wrapping November 19th in Monroe, Louisiana. Nearly every single artist who has headlined the tour, such as Keith Urban, Miranda Lambert and Jason Aldean, has gone on to superstardom, and Luke hopes it does the same for him. “It was a big deal for me,” says Luke. “Everybody kind of watches that tour. I mean, I remember thinking it was a wildly strange coincidence that everybody that does that tour goes on to be headlining very soon afterwards. I was always going, ‘It just can’t be that coincidental.’ It seems like a great little notch in the belt of things that help you get further down the road to becoming one of the premiere acts in country music. So certainly that was a big reason why we signed up.” Luke is currently climbing the country charts with his latest single, “I Don’t Want This Night to End,” the second release from his new album, tailgates & tanlines.

AUDIO: Luke Bryan talks about his CMT Tour, kicking off Thursday (September 15th).

Luke Bryan (CMT Tour) OC: …other artists. 1:31

“I will be beating the streets pretty hard this fall but we’re so excited. When we had CMT ask to join up with us and be a part of it, we were like, ‘Yes.’ It was a big deal for me. Everybody kind of watches that tour. I mean, I remember thinking it was a wildly strange coincidence that everybody that does that tour goes on to be headlining very soon afterwards. I was always going, ‘It just can’t be that coincidental.’ It seems like a great little notch in the belt of things that help you get further down the road to becoming one of the premiere acts in country music. So certainly that was a big reason why we signed up. You know CMT is just great to have their media on your side, and we’re drawing plans together for the semis to have my picture on the side of ‘em, all that stuff. I’m so excited about the fall and the promise of headlining. I moved to town to be where I’m at and to have to bridge into that headlining status one day. This is certainly the first step of it. We’re saying our prayers it goes off good and doing all our homework and working hard, and gonna do everything we can to make sure the fans enjoy it more than ever. And kinda uphold the integrity and the reputation of kinda what the tour has done for all the other artists.”

Luke Bryan (looking forward to tour) OC: …along to that. :18

“Well, I’m looking forward to getting out there and playing for people that you know are 100% is your crowd and they’re there to see you, and they’re pretty much going to know every song on your album and they’re going to know everything you’ve got going on. And that’s always fun when you can do album cuts and you have the whole crowd singing along to that.”

Eric Church fans have proven to be a very loyal bunch, turning out to purchase nearly 145,000 copies of his latest album, Chief, during its first week of release. They’ve also been quite the inspiration for a handful of songs on the album, including his current single, “Drink in My Hand.” “I was on the bus with a couple of co-writers of mine, and we had just walked offstage and saw the crowd, saw our fans and saw ‘em put their beers in the air,” recalls Eric. “You could just tell that they had worked all week and this was their moment to let all that wash away. And that was where the title was born from really. ‘Everything’s OK now, I’ve got a drink in my hand, and I’m relaxing and I’m chilling.’ That just became a really good song born from our fans.”

AUDIO: Eric Church talks about “Drink in My Hand,” a song from his new album, Chief.

Eric Church (Drink in my Hand) OC: …play that one. :42

“We were out on tour. I think we were on tour with Miranda [Lambert] at the time, and I was on the bus with a couple of co-writers of mine, and we had just walked offstage and saw the crowd, saw our fans and saw ‘em put their beers in the air. You could just tell that they had worked all week and this was their moment to let all that wash away. And that was where the title was born from really. ‘Everything’s OK now, I’ve got a drink in my hand, and I’m relaxing and I’m chilling.’ That just became a really good song born from our fans. They’re the ones that inspired that, and it was on tour. It was on a tour bus, and I’ll never forget it. I’m happy it turned out the way it did, and I think our fans are gonna love putting their beer, or whatever they’re drinking, up in the air when we play that one.”

Little Big Town has released their new video for the emotionally charged fan-favorite “Shut Up Train” through their website, littlebigtown.com. The black and white, vintage-inspired video was shot at Nashville’s Rocketown and the historic Union Station Hotel. “We really believe in this song and wanted to give it a visual so that it would have a chance to be seen and heard,” said LBT’s Kimberly Schlapman. “If you’ve ever wrestled with something that you can’t seem to let go of then you’ll understand ‘Shut Up Train’,” continued Karen Fairchild. “We watch the fans every night when we sing this song and you can tell they relate to the struggle.” The song was featured on AOL’s The Boot in May of this year in the No. 1 spot on the “Top 10 Country Songs That Aren’t Singles…Yet” list.

In other LBT news, Kimberly will join a handful of other country stars when she makes an appearance on GAC’s upcoming new series, Day Jobs. It’s being described as a show that follows country stars around as they return to their previous jobs before becoming famous. Can you guess Kimberly’s former gig? She was a waitress in her “former” life. The show is set to premiere Sunday, October 2nd, but if you can’t wait, a special sneak peek airs Wednesday (September 14th) at 8pm ET on GAC. 

Lady Antebellum has released their much-anticipated third album, Own the Night, the follow-up to the multi-platinum album, Need You Now. The trio wrote or co-wrote 10 of the album’s 12 tracks on the collection, which they co-produced with veteran producer Paul Worley. The new collection features their most recent multi-week No. 1 single, “Just a Kiss,” as well as their current single, “We Owned the Night.” “We’ve literally been working towards these next few weeks all year,” says Lady A’s Charles Kelley. “The anticipation of being able to FINALLY share these songs with our fans is killing us. Hopefully, those who have been with Lady A for a long time will see this as the next chapter for us as songwriters and performers; and the people who aren’t as familiar with us will check it out and maybe find something on the album they dig.”

Bandmate Hillary Scott says she hopes the album “makes an honest statement and one of just truly enjoying your life, every moment in it, whether it’s a heartbreaking moment or a moment where you’re about to float off the ground you’re so head-over-heels for someone. It’s really — embrace every single moment and choose to celebrate it.”

• For more information regarding the album, tour dates and Lady Antebellum news, go to their website, ladyantebellum.com.
• Following their appearances at last Thursday’s NFL kickoff in Green Bay and on Sunday performing the National Anthem on NBC prior to the Jets and Cowboys season opener, Lady A will also appear on NBC’s Today Show on Tuesday (September 13^th), The Ellen DeGeneres Show and The Tonight Show With Jay Leno on Friday (September 16^th), CBS Sunday Morning (September 25^th) and NBC’s Saturday Night Live (October 1^st).
• Lady A will travel to Canada and Europe with more television appearances and fan events lined up over the course of the next month.
• Fans can catch Lady Antebellum on the upcoming first leg of their headlining Own The Night 2011 Tour beginning on November 11^th in Knoxville.  

AUDIO: Lady Antebellum’s Hillary Scott discusses how the group’s tight bond shines through in every aspect of their careers.

Lady A (closeness of relationship) OC: …every area. 1:02

“We know each other so well. We’ve spent so much time together that, from a musical standpoint, and a personal standpoint, that it’s getting to the point where it’s almost instinctive. Like we just know each other. And one of the examples I use for that is when I was singing in harmony on ‘Singing Me Home,’ a song on this new album, and that Charles has lead on. And I didn’t even listen to his complete vocal take before I went in, and I didn’t study it at all before I went in to sing harmony on it. And there were points that I literally, instinctively knew where he was going without even hearing it. It’s just whenever you’re onstage, night after night, when you spend almost every single day with each other, you just learn each other inside and out from a creative standpoint and from a personal standpoint. It’s the same thing with I know when not to approach Charles about something if he needs space or if I need space. It’s just the closeness of our relationship. The closeness of our relationship I think shows in every area.”

AUDIO: Own The Night is the title of Lady Antebellum’s third album, and the band’s Hillary Scott explains what kind of statement she hopes the album makes.

Lady Antebellum (Title statement) 091211 OC: …celebrate it. :23

“Oh gosh. I mean, we hope that this album makes an honest statement and one of just truly enjoying your life, every moment in it, whether it’s a heartbreaking moment or a moment where you’re about to float off the ground you’re so head-over-heels for someone. It’s really — embrace every single moment and choose to celebrate it.”

AUDIO: Lady Antebellum’s Dave Haywood describes Own The Night as a call-to-action.

Lady A (Own the Night) 091211 OC: …enjoy them. :50

“I mean, we wanted to have a call-to-action, sort of speak. I think for us, this on a lot of different levels, Own The Night applies to us — one being that we want to own these experiences that we’re going through right now, and all the exciting things that we get the opportunity to do, and we want to enjoy them. We don’t want these just to pass on by and look back and wonder what happen. We want to live in each and every single moment and enjoy these, and as well, when fans come out to see us, which we hope that they do this fall, we want people to have that experience and hopefully have something that they can look back on, as well, that they enjoy. So, we want, it’s that call- to-action to tell people to get out there. ‘Let’s own this experience, own this evening, own what you’re going through, whatever it is in your life, own it and enjoy it.’ Because life’s too short not to enjoy them.”

Alan Jackson’s “Where Were You (When the World Stopped Turning)” resonated throughout the nation on Sunday, as well as in the aftermath of the devastating events of September 11th (2001). The country superstar took part in A Concert for Hope, performing “Where Were You” right before President Obama addressed the nation on the 10th anniversary of 9/11. The concert, which took place at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. (it was originally scheduled to originate from the National Cathedral), was the finale for “A Call to Compassion,” a three-day event which began on Friday.

• R-&-B legend Patti LaBelle and renowned opera star Denyce Graves also performed during the special tribute.
• Check out the video clip taken from the calltocompassion.org live streaming event.

Lady Antebellum will release their third album, Own the Night, on Tuesday (September 13th), and the title has been described by the band as a “call to action.” So, we asked the band how they would describe how they each own the night. While there were similarities, for example, when they perform for their fans, they do “own the night” in different ways. “I think the trick is learning how to own the night on the normal nights,” Hillary Scott explains. ”In my personal life, turning off my cell phone and just being present in the moment with my fiancé at dinner, or watching a movie, or cooking dinner at home and just relaxing. It’s truly a state of mind.” For the married Charles Kelley, it’s spending time at home. “The nights I remember now more than anything now are the nights being with my wife,” he says. “We cook out, and it’s just the two of us, and we’re sitting there eating in front of the TV watching our favorite show, and it’s just very special. There’s something very nice about that.” Dave Haywood says those nights on stage performing for fans are extraordinary to him. “It’s easy just to kind of get on stage and forget where you are and what you’re doing,” he explains. “But I think when we’re in these live show scenarios, finding just that energy of making a special moment that night and making something that hopefully people will remember and having that connection with them that will be a memorable night.”

AUDIO: Lady Antebellum’s Hillary Scott says “owning the night” is about those “normal” nights when she’s not on stage or in the studio.

Lady A (Owning the Night) OC: …takes work. :47

“For me, owning the night can be anything from, for example, the Grammy’s — having that experience and feeling on top of the world and feeling almost like it was an out-of-body experience, but those nights are very rare. I think the trick is learning how to own the night on the normal nights. Every night during our shows, looking out into the audience and finding those people who, they’re just glowing. They’re having such a great time and focusing on them. And then in my personal life, turning off my cell phone and just being present in the moment with my fiancé at dinner, or watching a movie, or cooking dinner at home and just relaxing. It’s truly a state of mind. It’s a mindset that you kind of let yourself get into, and sometimes it takes work.” 

AUDIO: As their lives get crazier because of their success, Lady Antebellum’s Charles Kelley explains how he “Owns the Night” at home.

Lady A (Owning the Night-Charles) OC: …cool thing. :32

CK: “Honestly, for me, the nights I remember now more than anything now are the nights that being with my wife. We cook out and it’s just the two of us. And we’re sitting there eating in front of the TV watching our favorite show, and it’s just very special. There’s something very nice about that. And also, too, just nights out with the band. And we go out and you feel like, ‘Man, we’re really doing it.’ We’re all out having a drink together and celebrating a great show and just soak it up. Like being in a traveling band, this has been a dream of mine forever. And to be out there really doing it, and recognizing that, is a cool thing.”

AUDIO: Lady Antebellum’s Dave Haywood explains how he “Owns the Night” on the road.

Lady A (Owning the Night-Dave) OC: …memorable night. :28

“Yeah. I think when we’re on the road, too, just enjoying and finding the uniqueness in each of the shows that we play, and not just going through the motions. It’s easy just to kind of get onstage and forget where you are and what you’re doing. But I think when we’re in these live show scenarios, finding just that energy of making a special moment that night and making something that hopefully people will remember and having that connection with them that will be a memorable night.”

Eric Paslay has hit the country charts with his debut single, “Never Really Wanted,” which is connecting to both men and women because of its subject matter. “I think ‘Never Really Wanted’ is the song that every girl wished some guy would tell her, even if she wanted him back or not, and even if he deserved it or not, she’d love to hear him say it,” says Eric. “I think guys agree with it, because we’re the idiots that either never officially asked her out or was being a jerk because we were young and stupid.”

• “Never Really Wanted” hit iTunes this week.
• Eric is also enjoying his first No. 1 song…that he wrote. “Barefoot Blue Jean Night,” which was recorded by Jake Owen, has already been certified gold and topped the country charts this week.
• Eric is not only a talented singer, songwriter and performer, but he’s also a talented carpenter and all-around handyman. He recently began remodeling a bathroom in his home.

AUDIO: Eric Paslay talks about his debut single, “Never Really Wanted.”

Eric Paslay (Never Really Wanted) OC: …young and stupid. :19

“I think ‘Never Really Wanted’ is the song that every girl wished some guy would tell her. Even if she wanted him back or not, and even if he deserved it or not, she’d love to hear him say it. I think guys agree with it, because we’re the idiots that either never officially asked her out or was being a jerk because we were young and stupid.”

The following is a corrected version of Washington National Cathedral’s advisory about this weekend’s September 11 Commemoration. All events Sunday morning including the Interfaith Vigil will be held at Washington Hebrew Congregation Sunday evening’s event will be at the Kennedy Center.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Thursday, September 8, 2011

CONTACT: Ari Geller or Meredith MacKenzie, Rabinowitz-Dorf Communications:
(202) 265-3000 (o), ari@rabinowitz-dorf.com (202) 689-4985 (c) or meredith@rabinowitz-dorf.com (202) 427-2007 (c) **Media Advisory** Washington National Cathedral Commemoration of September 11 Moved to Kennedy Center

Washington, D.C.—Washington National Cathedral announced today that due to the crane accident on the Cathedral grounds yesterday, September 7, it will be moving its 9/11 commemorative events to various locations in the area including the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts for the concerts scheduled for Friday night and Sunday night. These events include “A Concert to Honor” featuring Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta, the Marine Chamber Orchestra, and United States Navy Band Sea Chanters on Friday, September 9, and culminate with “A Concert for Hope” on Sunday, September 11, which includes remarks from President Barack Obama, and performances by renowned mezzo soprano Denyce Graves, country star Alan Jackson, and R&B legend Patti LaBelle. Saturday’s community day concert will be rescheduled for a later date. Sunday morning’s Interfaith Vigil will take at Washington Hebrew Congregation and will host Sunday’s commemorative Eucharist service along with the forum featuring Karen Armstrong. All confirmed tickets for the Friday and Sunday night concerts will be honored in the Kennedy Center Concert Hall.

“We are grateful that there were no serious injuries in the crane accident, and while we are disappointed that we will not be able to host our ‘Call to Compassion’ commemoration in the Cathedral itself, we are determined to live out our mission to serve as the spiritual home for the nation as we remember the tragic events of September 11, 2001,” said Cathedral Dean Samuel T. Lloyd III. “The safety of our visitors and the staff of the Cathedral is our top priority, and we will make no compromises when it comes to that responsibility. At the same time we will not let obstacles put in our way stop us from fulfilling our mission as the spiritual home for the nation.”

At 10:55 Wednesday morning, the construction crane working on the south side of the Cathedral to stabilize debris from the August 23 earthquake fell over. The crane operator sustained minor injuries, was treated, and was released from the hospital last night. The Cathedral itself did not sustain any additional damage during the incident. The Herb Cottage, a gift shop on the grounds, and Church House, the headquarters of the Episcopal Diocese of Washington, did sustain some minor damages.

Press does not need to request new credentials; current requests are under review. Updated details and schedule follow.

Friday, September 9, 2011—LOCATION: KENNEDY CENTER CONCERT HALL—”A Concert to Honor” featuring Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta and a performance of the Brahms Requiem to honor the victims of 9/11 and survivors, their families, and emergency response personnel, as well as the nearly 6,000 fallen military service members whose lives have since been lost in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

What: Address by military leaders and the Brahms Requiem performed by the Marine Chamber Orchestra and the United States Navy Band Sea Chanters with the Cathedral Choir
Where: KENNEDY CENTER CONCERT HALL
When: 7:30–9:30 pm

Saturday, September 10, 2011— POSTPONED—”A Concert to Heal” and Community Gathering Day The Cathedral invites families to attend a free public concert featuring local artists and music encouraging interfaith understanding across cultures and generations to experience healing from loss and division. On this day, we recall the unity Americans felt in the face of the attacks on 9/11, and the common values that helped us become stronger as one nation and one people.

What:  Performances by Sweet Honey in the Rock, Ocho de Bastos and other local artists
When: POSTPONED

Sunday, September 11, 2011—Commemorating the tenth anniversary of September 11

The events of the tenth anniversary of September 11 will recognize our darkest moments, and through music, prayer, and conversation, offer hope. The capstone event of the Cathedral’s commemorative weekend will take place on Sunday evening at “A Concert for Hope.” The concert will feature words of wisdom, songs of hope, and messages of peace.

Interfaith Prayer Vigil—LOCATION: WASHINGTON HEBREW CONGREGATION

What: A vigil where participants of diverse faiths will pray together and mark the moments when airplanes struck the North and South Towers of the World Trade Center, hit the Pentagon, and crashed in Pennsylvania with the tolling of the largest bell in the Cathedral tower.
Where: WASHINGTON HEBREW CONGREGATION
When: 8:30–10 am
Who: Cathedral Dean Samuel T. Lloyd III; Bishop of Washington John Bryson Chane; Rabbi Bruce Lustig, Washington Hebrew Congregation; Jetsün Khandro Rinpoche of Tibet, Buddhist nun and incarnate lama; Dr. D.C. Rao, a Hindu priest serving on the Board of Directors of the Inter Faith Conference; Imam Mohamed Magid, president of the Islamic Society of North America; and musician Humayun Khan

Forum on Compassion
What: Guided conversation on what people of faith share in common
Where: WASHIGTON HEBREW CONGREATION
When: 10:15–11 am
Who: Author Karen Armstrong, Cathedral Dean Samuel T. Lloyd III

Commemorative Holy Eucharist
What: A commemorative celebration of Holy Eucharist
Where: WASHINGTON HEBREW CONGREGATION
When: 11:15 am–12:30 pm
Who: Bishop of Washington John Bryson Chane, presider; Cathedral Dean Samuel T. Lloyd III, preacher; the Rev. Dr. Kathy J. Nelson, president, F.I.S.H. Foundation, Inc.

“A Concert for Hope”
What: A program of poetry, reading, reflections, and classical and popular music
Where: KENNEDY CENTER CONCERT HALL
When: 7:30–9 pm
Who: Speakers including President Barack Obama and performing artists, including Alan Jackson, Patti LaBelle,  Denyce Graves and the Marine Chamber OrchestraJUST IN: