• “MASTER COUNTRY TALENT” DALTON DOVER CLOSES OUT PIVOTAL YEAR AS AN ARTIST TO WATCH IN 2023.

    Rising country newcomer Dalton Dover continues to earn accolades and benchmarks among a series of milestones in a pivotal year as Pandora names him a 2023 Artist to Watch while CMT welcomes him as a member of their 2023 LISTEN UP class.

    Earlier this month, Dover made his Grand Ole Opry debut with a performance of two new songs, “Giving Up On That” and “Dirt Roads And Jesus,” the latter being the first single he will release in 2023 via Universal Music Group Nashville/Mercury Records, who he signed with earlier this year.

    “I never thought in a million years that I’d be standing right here in this circle,” Dover shared on stage. “I brought my family last year, and we walked through on the tour here at the Opry. Little did I know that a year later, I’d be making my Opry debut. It’s pretty special to say the least.”

    In August, Dover was on the final night of his Ole Red residency, performing across the Nashville, Gatlinburg and Orlando locations, when legendary country artist Blake Shelton dialed in on the red phone at Ole Red Nashville and interrupted Dover’s set with an invitation to make his Grand Ole Opry debut. He tearfully accepted, replying, “I’ll be there, I promise.”

    His debut invitation was a full circle moment for Dover, as Shelton marked one of the first milestones in his career on Season 16 of “The Voice,” where the Georgia native earned a chair turn from the coach for his performance of Keith Whitley’s “Don’t Close Your Eyes.”

    After being named a 2022 Spotify Artist to Watch, he released “Hear About A Girl,” earning praise from Billboard noting, “Dover’s voice is both intimate and commanding on this track,” while MusicRow asserts it confirms “we’re in the presence of a master country talent when this man sings…Make him a star. Now.” He followed the song with “Damn Good Life,” with The Boot sharing, “Dover is savoring every moment in his uplifting new single,” while Country Now observes, “Between the optimistic narrative that Dover delivers through his crisp vocals and the carefree tune highlighted by the impressive guitar strum, nothing but a good time can be had when this song comes through the speakers.”

    Dover has honed his captivating live show with two performances at CMA Fest, opening for Luke Comb’s Mercedes-Benz Stadium show in Atlanta, Ga. and joining Priscilla Block’s Welcome To The Block Party Tour. In 2023, he prepares to make his international debut in March at C2C: Country to Country Festival’s CMA Songwriters Series before joining Chase Rice on the Way Down Yonder Tour in April.

    In addition to a deal with UMG Nashville, Dover has signed with Sony Music Publishing in partnership with Droptine Music Publishing along with United Talent Agency.

  • PARKER MCCOLLUM SCORES HIGHEST STREAMING DEBUT WITH NEW TRACK “STONED” WITH 2.4 MILLION ON-DEMAND STREAMS.

    After having a life-changing year, Parker McCollum is rounding out 2022 with his highest streaming debut track to-date. His latest release, “Stoned,” has so far received 2.4 million on-demand streams domestically, 2.7 million total global streams. The solemnly reflective track, written by McCollum, Brett James, and Mark Holman, explores the universal emotions of loneliness, uncertainty and misunderstanding, and how we often find ways to self-medicate our feelings.

    LISTEN:                 “Stoned”

    “Not every artist is comfortable with wearing their heart on their sleeves, but for McCollum, such vulnerability has become synonymous with his artistry as an honest storyteller.”
    Taste of Country

    “This new shooting star continues to go from strength to strength. On this crashing, bluesy ballad, he wails expressively about self-medicating to stave off loneliness. He’s as terrific as ever…”
    MusicRow

    Recently, Parker announced his upcoming 2023 tour dates and has already sold out his show at the iconic Red Rocks Amphitheatre in Morrison, CO.

    Tour Dates:

    February 2, 2023 Columbus, OH Palace Theatre  
    February 3, 2023 Detroit, MI The Fillmore Detroit *with Corey Kent & Catie Offerman
    February 4, 2023 Cincinnati, OH The Andrew J. Brady Music Center *with Corey Kent & Catie Offerman
    February 9, 2023 Minneapolis, MN The Amory *with Corey Kent & Catie Offerman
    February 10, 2023 Brookings, SD Swiftel Center *with Corey Kent & Catie Offerman
    February 11, 2023 Fargo, ND FARGODOME *with Corey Kent & Catie Offerman
    February 16, 2023 Coralville, IA Xtream Arena *with Corey Kent & Catie Offerman
    February 17, 2023 Ralston, NE Liberty First Credit Union Arena *with Corey Kent & Catie Offerman
    February 18, 2023 Springfield, MO Shrine Mosque *with Corey Kent & Catie Offerman
    February 23, 2023 Tallahassee, FL Donald Tucker Civic Center *with Corey Kent & Catie Offerman
    February 24, 2023 Baton Rouge, LA Raising Cane’s River Center Arena *with Corey Kent & Catie Offerman
    February 25, 2023 Bossier City, LA Brookshire Grocery Arena *with Corey Kent & Catie Offerman
    April 13, 2023 El Paso, TX Don Haskins Center *with Larry Fleet
    April 14. 2023 Albuquerque, NM Rio Rancho Event Center *with Larry Fleet
    May 8, 2023 Toledo, OH Toledo Zoo Amphitheatre *with Larry Fleet
    June 3, 2023 Wilmington, NC Live Oak Bank Pavilion *with Jackson Dean
    June 9, 2023 Midland, TX La Hacienda Event Center *with Larry Fleet
    June 10, 2023 Dallas, TX Dos Equis Pavilion *with Larry Fleet
    June 24, 2023 Indianapolis, IN TCU Amphitheatre at White River State Park *with Kameron Marlowe
    June 29, 2023 St. Augustine, FL The St. Augustine Amphitheatre *with Larry Fleet
    July 14, 2023 Huntsville, AL The Orion Amphitheatre *with Flatland Cavalry
    July 23, 2023 Modesto, CA The Fruit Yard *with Larry Fleet
    July 29, 2023 Nampa, ID Ford Idaho Center Amphitheatre *with Jackson Dean
    August 10, 2023 Morrison, CO Red Rocks Amphitheatre *with Randy Rogers Band
    August 17, 2023 Buffalo, NY ARTPARK *with Larry Fleet
    August 19, 2023 Syracuse, NY St. Joseph’s Health Amphitheatre at Lakeview *with Larry Fleet

    Tickets for all of Parker’s upcoming tour dates are available here.

     

    Parker is making his way up with his current single, “Handle On You.”

     

  • CHRISTMAS 2022: Carrie Underwood

    Christmas for Carrie Underwood hasn’t changed that much from when she was a young girl. She usually still gets together with her family, which includes her parents, two sisters and their families…as well as her own husband, Mike Fisher, and sons Isaiah and Jacob.

    Carrie says some of her Christmas traditions include a lot of traveling to visit her family and her husband Mike Fisher’s family…but also cooking and celebrating the season. “My perfect Christmas, generally we do a lot of traveling around Christmas. We’ll go see either my family or my husband’s family,” says Carrie. “I’ll spend all day cooking. I’ll make a small turkey, even though I don’t eat turkey. I’ll make myself some tofurkey; cranberry sauce, of course. Of course, sweet potato casserole. You have to have that. That’s one of my favorites because it’s a side dish and dessert, but I’ll just make a ridiculous amount of food. Just celebrate, have a fire, we wait for Santa and open our presents, then we’re off to see the next group of family. It’s all about watching it through my sons’ eyes and just getting to spend time with family.”

    The mother of two loves to cook, especially at Christmas, because of the food and most importantly, due to the company gathered around the dining table. “I do love to cook, and I love to go all out for Christmas,” says Carrie. “I don’t do anything super fancy – lots of casseroles and stuff like that, like broccoli rice casserole, and some sort of macaroni dish, and there’s always deviled eggs. I don’t know why we eat deviled eggs every holiday. It’s like the holiday thing to do is make deviled eggs. What else do I do? There’s pecan pie—that’s my husband’s favorite. I love pumpkin pie, so I’ll always make that. My son and I will make Christmas cookies and things like that; green bean casserole. That’s another one. I don’t know, I might be the only one who eats green bean casserole, but it’s the kind of thing that you just have to have it. But I love to cook, and I feel like that’s, you know, I love to feast. I love to get around the table. There’s way too much food to eat and everybody’s bellies are full and everyone’s happy and thankful and enjoying the food and the company.”

    She continues: “For me growing up, Christmas was always just comforting. We always had the same stockings and the same tree and the same decorations, and we would always decorate the weekend right after Thanksgiving. You know, flip the Christmas switch, put the tree up. Now that we’re adults and have kids, we can go to the Christmas tree farm and we can walk around, and we can pick out which one and ask Isaiah, ‘Which one do you think?’ Just things like that, making those memories. It’s just a joyful time of year.”

    One of the traditions she enjoys with her own family is picking out a Christmas tree with her husband and two sons. “We were an artificial tree family growing up. It was easier, you know, but now in our own home, we do the real tree thing, and we kind of try to make that a little bit of a tradition. We go and we pick it out. The boys have some say in which one we get, and they feel some ownership and we all decorate it together and of course, have Christmas music playing in the house. I make cookies that were my husband’s grandmother that my kids call Gigi. It’s her recipe, her ginger snap cookies, and we make those and it’s super sweet. Isaiah loves makes Gigi’s cookies, because he still remembers her a little bit. So, it’s something special we get to do.”

    One of her favorite memories from childhood was singing Christmas carols for folks in nursing homes. “Christmas was always just about family,” she says. “One thing that we always did growing up that was one of my favorite memories, we would on Christmas Eve we would go to my grandparents’ house. Us kids were always responsible for putting oranges and apples and bananas in little paper bags and we would go down to the nursing home and sing Christmas carols.”

    Carrie released a special edition of her Christmas album, My Gift, last year, featuring “Favorite Time of Year,” “Let There Be Peace” and “Hallelujah” with John Legend. The global superstar says there’s nothing like Christmas music that gets you in the spirit of the season. “There is no other like part of the year that gets its own music, like exclusively. When you think about it, like entire radio stations switch over to play Christmas music around Christmas time. So, I feel like it just puts you in the mood for Christmas. Christmas is something that everybody looks forward to and to have Christmas music start playing way before Christmas. It usually does because people just can’t wait to get there. It puts you in a mood. It changes your state of mind. It gets you ready for it and it just makes you feel a certain way.”

    Audio / CARRIE UNDERWOOD SAYS HER CHRISTMAS HOLIDAYS USUALLY INCLUDE COOKING AND TRAVELING, BUT MOST IMPORTANTLY, FAMILY.

    Download

    Carrie Underwood (perfect Christmas) OC: …with family. :40
    “My perfect Christmas, generally we do a lot of traveling around Christmas. We’ll go see either my family or my husband’s family. I’ll spend all day cooking. I’ll make a small turkey, even though I don’t eat turkey. I’ll make myself some tofurkey; cranberry sauce, of course. Of course, sweet potato casserole. You have to have that. That’s one of my favorites because it’s a side dish and dessert, but I’ll just make a ridiculous amount of food. Just celebrate, have a fire, we wait for Santa and open our presents, then we’re off to see the next group of family. It’s all about watching it through my sons’ eyes and just getting to spend time with family.”

    Audio / Carrie Underwood talks about what she likes to cook at Christmas.

    Download

    Carrie Underwood (Christmas eats) OC: …the food and the company. :53
    “I do love to cook, and I love to go all out for Christmas. I don’t do anything super fancy – lots of casseroles and stuff like that, like broccoli rice casserole, and some sort of macaroni dish, and there’s always deviled eggs. I don’t know why we eat deviled eggs every holiday. It’s like the holiday thing to do is make deviled eggs. What else do I do? There’s pecan pie—that’s my husband’s favorite. I love pumpkin pie, so I’ll always make that. My son and I will make Christmas cookies and things like that; green bean casserole. That’s another one. I don’t know, I might be the only one who eats green bean casserole, but it’s the kind of thing that you just have to have it. But I love to cook, and I feel like that’s, you know, I love to feast. I love to get around the table. There’s way too much food to eat and everybody’s bellies are full and everyone’s happy and thankful and enjoying the food and the company.”

    Audio / CARRIE UNDERWOOD RECALLS MEMORIES OF PAST CHRISTMASES.

    Download

    Carrie Underwood (Christmas memory) OC: …Christmas carols. :18
    “Christmas was always just about family. One thing that we always did growing up that was one of my favorite memories, we would on Christmas Eve we would go to my grandparents’ house. Us kids were always responsible for putting oranges and apples and bananas in little paper bags and we would go down to the nursing home and sing Christmas carols.”

    Audio / CARRIE UNDERWOOD TALKS ABOUT HER CHRISTMAS TRADITIONS.

    Download

    Carrie Underwood (Christmas traditions) OC: …time of year. :35
    “For me growing up, Christmas was always just comforting. We always had the same stockings and the same tree and the same decorations, and we would always decorate the weekend right after Thanksgiving. You know, flip the Christmas switch, put the tree up. Now that we’re adults and have kids, we can go to the Christmas tree farm and we can walk around, and we can pick out which one and ask Isaiah, ‘Which one do you think?’ Just things like that, making those memories. It’s just a joyful time of year.”

    Audio / Carrie Underwood says one of her family’s traditions is to go pick out a real Christmas tree and put it up together.

    Download

    Carrie Underwood (Christmas trees) OC: …get to do. :43
    “We were an artificial tree family growing up. It was easier, you know, but now in our own home, we do the real tree thing, and we kind of try to make that a little bit of a tradition. We go and we pick it out. The boys have some say in which one we get, and they feel some ownership and we all decorate it together and of course, have Christmas music playing in the house. I make cookies that were my husband’s grandmother that my kids call Gigi. It’s her recipe, her ginger snap cookies, and we make those and it’s super sweet. Isaiah loves makes Gigi’s cookies, because he still remembers her a little bit. So, it’s something special we get to do.”

    Audio / Carrie Underwood talks about one of her family's new Christmas traditions.

    Download

    Carrie Underwood (Christmas PJs) OC: …tell you that.
    “For the past few years, we all get matching PJs. Either we get them or somebody else gifts them to us, and we all match – my husband, myself, my sons and our dogs. And getting my german shepherd into a Christmas sweater is no easy feat, I will tell you that.”

    Audio / CARRIE UNDERWOOD TALKS ABOUT CHRISTMAS MUSIC.

    Download

    Carrie Underwood (Christmas music) OC: …a certain way. :37
    “There is no other like part of the year that gets its own music, like exclusively. When you think about it, like entire radio stations switch over to play Christmas music around Christmas time. So, I feel like it just puts you in the mood for Christmas. Christmas is something that everybody looks forward to and to have Christmas music start playing way before Christmas. It usually does because people just can’t wait to get there. It puts you in a mood. It changes your state of mind. It gets you ready for it and it just makes you feel a certain way.”

    Video /

    View

    Video /

    View
  • LUKE BRYAN SCORES HIS 30TH CAREER NO. 1 SONG WITH “COUNTRY ON.”

    Luke Bryan lands his 30th career #1 single today with “Country On” hitting the top of the Mediabase charts.  The song was written by Mark Nesler, David Frasier, Mitch Oglesby, and Styles Haury, produced by Jeff Stevens, co-produced by Jody Stevens, and features Sarah Buxton on background vocals. In his career Luke has amassed 56 total weeks at #1 including “Country On.”

    “Country On” is the first single from new music planned for release in 2023.

    The five-time Entertainer of the Year spoke to MusicRow Magazine exclusively today; here is an excerpt:

    “According to Bryan, the secret to his longevity is both being able to write songs and find outside songs. 12 of his 30 No. 1 hits were co-written by Bryan. ‘I looked at all my heroes—guys like George Strait and Brooks & Dunn—all of my heroes wrote songs and they found songs, too.’ He also points out that it’s been crucial to him to pay attention to the next generation of hit-makers. ‘Somewhere in Nashville, there’s young songwriters writing right now with a fresh approach and a new way to say stuff. For me, it’s always fun to really open up to the whole town to try to find new songs,’ he says. ‘The little nuances of production in their demos.’”

    “It’s fitting that Bryan’s 30th No. 1 hit, “Country On,” evokes the spirit of his lasting career. He sings, “Hey Nashville, keep bending them strings. Diggin’ for gold, chasin’ them dreams. Keep on with your songs ’til the whole worlds singin’ along.” ‘What I love about that song [Country On] is it’s got a lot of the same feelings of an Alabama song, like ‘Forty Hour Week (For a Livin’)’ or ‘Roll On (Eighteen Wheeler).’ That song just speaks to the hardworking Americans out there. In my opinion, a lot of the people that I reference in that song make the world go around. ‘I’ve never really done a song that had patriotic aspects to it,’ he shares. ‘When we say, ‘Hey, hey, USA. We ain’t seen our better days,’ that’s a come-together moment. I couldn’t have hand-picked a better 30th.’”

     

    30 Career NUMBER ONE Singles –   28 solo and **two ‘featuring Luke’

    Highlights are Multi-Week #1s

     “Country On”-written by Mark Nesler, David Frasier, Mitch Oglesby, and Styles Haury 12-12-22

    “Buy Dirt” Jordan Davis Feat. Luke Bryan    ** 1-24-22

    “Waves”- written by Zach Crowell, Ryan Hurd and Chase McGill 8-30-21

    “Down To One”- written by Dallas Davidson, Justin Ebach and Kyle Fishman 3-1-21

    “One Margarita” – written by Michael Carter, Matt Dragstrem and Josh Thompson 7-6-21

    “What She Wants Tonight”- written by Luke Bryan, Ross Copperman, Hillary Lindsey and Jon Nite 3-31-20

    “Knockin’ Boots”- written by Hillary Lindsey, Gordie Sampson and Jon Nite 9-9-19

    “What Makes You Country”- written by Luke, Dallas Davidson and Ashley Gorley 2-27-19

    “Sunrise, Sunburn, Sunset”- written by Zach Crowell, Ryan Hurd and Chase McGill 9-10-18

    “Most People Are Good”- written by David Frasier, Ed Hill and Josh Kear 3-26-18

    “Light It Up”- written by Luke Bryan, Brad Tursi 12-11-17

    “Fast”—Written by: Luke Bryan, Rodney Clawson, Luke Laird 4-3-17

    “Move”—Written by: Luke Bryan, Michael Carter, Jay Clementi 1-7-16

    “Huntin’, Fishin’, And Lovin’ Every Day”—Written by: Luke Bryan, Dallas Davidson, Rhett Akins, Ben Hayslip 6/20/16

    “Home Alone Tonight”—Written by: Jody Stevens, Cole Taylor, Jaida Dreyer, Tommy Cecil 2-1-16

    “Strip It Down”—Written by: Luke Bryan, Jon Nite, Ross Copperman 10-19-15

    “Kick The Dust Up”—Written by: Dallas Davidson, Chris DeStefano, Ashley Gorley 8/3/15

    “I See You”—Written by: Luke Bryan, Ashley Gorley, Luke Laird 2-2-15

    “Roller Coaster”—Written by: Michael Carter, Cole Swindell 10-6-14

    “Play It Again”—Written by: Dallas Davidson, Ashley Gorley 5-19-14

    “Drink A Beer”—Written by: Jim Beavers, Chris Stapleton 2-3-14

    “That’s My Kind of Night”—Written by: Dallas Davidson, Chris DeStefano, Ashley Gorley 10-21-13

    “Crash My Party”—Written by: Rodney Clawson, Ashley Gorley 7-1-13

    “Only Way I Know” Jason Aldean, Feat Luke Bryan   **2-4-13

    “Kiss Tomorrow Goodbye”—Written by: Luke Bryan, Jeff Stevens, Shane McAnally 11-5-12

    “Drunk On You”—Written by: Rodney Clawson, Chris Tompkins, Josh Kear 6-4-12

    “I Don’t Want This Night To End”—Written by: Luke Bryan, Dallas Davidson, Rhett Akins, Ben Hayslip 1-16-12

    “Someone Else Calling You Baby”—Written by: Luke Bryan, Jeff Stevens 2-13-11

    “Rain Is A Good Thing”—Written by: Luke Bryan, Dallas Davidson 7-11-10

    “Do I”—Written by: Luke Bryan, Dave Haywood, Charles Kelly 12-13-09

     

    Luke wraps a stellar touring year playing for one million fans including his “Crash My Playa,” “Raised Up Right Tour,” “Farm Tour,” festival dates and his exclusive Las Vegas headlining engagement at the new Resorts World Theatre with additional 2023 shows on sale now.

    In November for the second consecutive year, Luke hosted the ABC Special, “On the Road to the CMA Awards” and he and NFL great Peyton Manning hosted “The 56th Annual CMA Awards.”

    This fall Luke launched Jockey Outdoors™ collection with the apparel company and during 2020-2022 he and wife Caroline were Jockey brand ambassadors as part of their ad campaign, “There’s Only One Jockey™.”

    In their Tennessee home county, Caroline and Luke are serving as co-chair and honorary co-chair, respectively, for the Williamson Medical Center capital campaign to help fund a major renovation and expansion project.

    Luke’s charitable endeavors included donating proceeds from his Estero, Florida concert to the Florida Disaster Fund in November after Hurricane Ian ravaged that area of the state and many contributions through his yearly Farm Tour. He again gave scholarships to students from farming families who are attending the local college or university near the tour stops. He continued a partnership with Bayer to help celebrate America’s farmers and fight hunger through its #HerestotheFarmer campaign providing more than 6 million meals and more than $180,000 going to Feeding America member food banks and local farmers at each of the tour cities. He teamed up with the National Pork Board in their on-going campaign to dispel common misconceptions about modern pig farming as they in turn partnered with Farmland® to donate a truckload of protein to local foodbanks in each of the states that hosted the six Farm Tour stops. Farmland also donated $9,000 to each state’s FFA Association. Luke joined Farm Tour sponsor Fendt in creating the Luke Bryan’s Boldly Grown Popcorn, a limited-edition packaged snack. When the limited supply sold-out, Fendt donated $25,000 to the National FFA Organization, the premier youth organization that prepares members for leadership and careers in the science, business, and technology of agriculture.

     

    Audio / Luke Bryan talks about his new No. 1 single, "Country On."

    Download

    Luke Bryan (Country On) OC: …people out there. :29
    “When you hear, ‘Hey Farm Boy…’ I mean that certainly spoke to me right off the bat, and the fact that we were able to put so many different aspects of the way, the country American way of life out there, and I felt like this song really, really nailed it. It was something that really spoke to my heart and being able to put it out in the heart of summer, right against the Fourth of July, I feel it’s gonna talk to, speak to a lot of people out there.”

  • MADDIE & TAE EXTEND ALL SONG NO STATIC TOUR WITH SPRING 2023 DATES.

    Maddie & Tae will continue their headlining All Song No Static Tour into Spring 2023. Following fan demand and numerous sold-out shows in 2022, the pair will take the stage in 12 additional markets for a high-energy set filled with #1 hits (“Die From A Broken Heart,” “Girl In A Country Song”), fan-favorite tracks, album cuts, and music from their recently-released eight-song collection, Through The Madness Vol. 2. Tickets for the All Song No Static Tour go on sale Wednesday (12/14) at 10am local time, with exclusive Maddie & Tae fan club pre-sale happening now. To purchase, visit www.maddieandtae.com.

     

    Maddie & Tae All Song No Static Tour 2023 Dates:

    March 16 – Madison, WI – Majestic Theatre*
    March 17 – Liberty Township, OH – Lori’s Roadhouse*
    March 18 – Jeffersonville, IN – The Jefferson*
    March 23 – Mayetta, KS – Prairie Band Casino and Resort
    March 24 – Hays, KS – Fox Theatre*
    March 25 – Omaha, NE – Slowdown*
    March 30 – Hobart, IN – Art Theater*
    March 31 – Detroit, MI – Sound Board at MotorCity Casino Hotel*
    April 1 – Mount Vernon, KY – Renfro Valley Entertainment Center
    April 6 – Portland, ME – Aura*
    April 7 – Huntington, NY – The Paramount*
    April 8 – Uncasville, CT – Mohegan Sun Wolf Den

    * = with special guest Patrick Murphy

     

    Maddie & Tae are wrapping a landmark year that included the release of their two-part collection – Through The Madness Vol. 1 and Vol. 2 – a CMT Music Award for Group/Duo Video of the Year (“Woman You Got”), Duo of the Year nominations by both the ACM and CMA, wall-to-wall crowds at headlining shows across the country and more milestones. To ring in 2023, Maddie & Tae will bring their signature harmonies to Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve with Ryan Seacrest 2023. Performing two songs from Disneyland Resort, tune in on Saturday, Dec. 31, beginning at 8:00 p.m. ET / 7:00 p.m. CT on ABC.

     

    Doubling down on holiday spirit, the vinyl version of Maddie & Tae’s We Need Christmas is available now for the first time. Fans can order the exclusive emerald green vinyl HERE.

     

  • CARRIE UNDERWOOD ENDS 2022 ON A HIGH NOTE.

    Carrie Underwood wraps 2022 on a high note, setting the stage for another stellar year in 2023.  She closes out the year as Billboard’s Top Country Female 2022, Country Aircheck’s #1 Top Female of the Year, and Mediabase’s Most Played Female Country Artist this year.

    The global superstar continued her career-long winning streak with multiple awards and honors, beginning with her 8th GRAMMY® Award for Best Roots Gospel Album (My Savior), continuing with her 16th ACM Award for Single of the Year (“If I Didn’t Love You” with Jason Aldean), 24th and 25th CMT Music Awards for Collaborative Video of the Year Award and Video of the Year (“If I Didn’t Love You” with Jason Aldean), holding the record for the most award wins ever for the show. “If I Didn’t Love You” also won an iHeartRadio Music Award for Country Song of the Year, and is the 3rd Most Played Country Song of the Year on Mediabase’s year-end chart.  Carrie ended the year winning the People’s Choice Award for The Country Artist of 2022, marking her 10th win for the fan-voted awards.

    Other highlights of Underwood’s year include the release of her album, Denim & Rhinestones, in June, marking her 10th consecutive career Top 10 debut on the Billboard Top 200 chart for all genres.  Along with Cry Pretty and GRAMMY® Award-winning My Savior, Underwood also co-produced Denim & Rhinestones, which debuted as the top-selling country album in the U.S, and the #1 country album in Australia, Canada, and the UK. The album has also remained in the top 20 Current Country Albums sales chart since its release.  She celebrated the launch of her much-anticipated album with The Denim & Rhinestones Experience, a one-of-a-kind immersive interactive experience for fans at Nashville’s historic Bell Tower in June.  Denim & Rhinestones has amassed over 290M Global streams and nearly 120k Global album sales to date.

    Her first single from the album, “Ghost Story,” is RIAA certified gold.  Underwood showcased the single in a showstopping broadcast premiere performance on the GRAMMY® Awards telecast, followed by a high-flying performance on the CMT Music Awards, and an iconic music video, directed by legendary photographer and director Randee St. Nicholas, who has shot many of Carrie’s album covers and videos over the course of her career (watch here).  Her follow-up single, “Hate My Heart,” was #1 most added at country radio twice (non-consecutive weeks) and continues to rise up the charts with more than 10.5M Global streams to date, following an electrifying performance on the CMA Awards.  Carrie co-wrote “Hate My Heart” with frequent collaborators Hillary Lindsey and David Garcia, as well as hit artist/songwriter Hardy.  The music video for “Hate My Heart” (watch here) was directed by award-winning music video director Shaun Silva, who recently directed Underwood and Jason Aldean’s music video for their multi-week #1 smash hit duet, “If I Didn’t Love You.”

    In April, Carrie commanded the legendary Stagecoach Festival stage for the fourth time, and her showstopping surprise performance with Guns N’ Roses frontman Axl Rose made headlines around the world. She thrilled fans again when she joined Guns N’ Roses onstage for two songs during each of their shows at the UK’s Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in July.  In September, Carrie returned for her 10th season as the voice of primetime television’s #1 program, NBC’s Sunday Night Football.

    Carrie kicked off her new 43-city U.S. arena tour, THE DENIM & RHINESTONES TOUR, on October 15 with a sold-out show in Greenville, SC, continuing through Spring 2023, with upcoming stops including New York’s Madison Square Garden, Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena, and L.A.’s Crypto.com Arena.  She is joined on THE DENIM & RHINESTONES TOUR by special guest Jimmie Allen on all dates, with $1 from each ticket sold for THE DENIM & RHINESTONES TOUR will be contributed to the Tunnel to Towers Foundation. Tickets and limited VIP packages are available at carrieunderwoodofficial.com/tour/.

    On December 1, the one-year anniversary of the debut of her hit production, REFLECTION: The Las Vegas Residency at Resorts World Theatre, Carrie announced that her much-anticipated return to Las Vegas will commence on June 21, 2023, after she wraps THE DENIM & RHINESTONES TOUR in March. Tickets for 18 new show dates for REFLECTION, produced by Concerts West/ AEG Presents, are on sale now at axs.com/carrieinvegas. The first artist to grace the Resorts World Theatre stage, Carrie opened the doors of the 5,000-capacity, world-class theatre with a sold-out premiere in December 2021, garnering rave reviews by critics and fans alike and selling out all runs in 2022.

  • CHRISTMAS 2022: Caylee Hammack

    Caylee Hammack pretty much owes her music career to Buddy, the Elf. She says Elf, starring Will Ferrell, is her favorite Christmas movie, because she started singing “Baby, It’s Cold Outside” when she was a young girl, and her dad thought she had a great voice.

    “That is the whole reason I started singing was that song,” Caylee recalls. “I was leaning up against the kitchen island when they played ‘Baby, It’s Cold Outside’ in the movie, Elf, and I was singing along to it. I was 13 when it came out. And my dad said, ‘Caylee, you can actually sing.’ I was like, ‘No, don’t make fun of me.’ We were always tease each other, so I thought he was teasing me.’ And he’s like, ‘No, Caylee, I think you should try it,’ and that’s when I signed up for this little talent show in my hometown and I completely embarrassed myself. I sang, ‘I Will Survive,’ and I froze on the first lines – ‘At first I was afraid, I was p-pe-pet-petrified.’ And completely flunked it, but the whole reason I tried out for it is because my dad heard me singing in the kitchen to ‘Baby, It’s Cold Outside’ in the Elf movie. So, Elf is probably my favorite Christmas movie.”

    The ever-crafty and creative Caylee recalls her favorite Christmas present one year. “My favorite Christmas present was my mom and dad gave me an art table that had a light underneath it so I could trace things, and I had a place for all my markers and shelves for all my paper and I was just so excited. I was so excited. So, I got a craft table and they wrapped everything that year in Hello Kitty wrapping paper. Yup! That was my favorite Christmas.”

    Caylee has released two holiday tracks, including “Hard Candy Christmas” and the recently released “Christmas (Baby Please Come Home).”

    Audio / Caylee Hammack says her favorite Christmas movie inspired her musical career.

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    Caylee Hammack (why Elf is her favorite Christmas movie) OC: …Christmas movie. :53
    “I have to say Elf, because that is the whole reason I started singing was that song. I was leaning up against the kitchen island when they played ‘Baby, It’s Cold Outside’ in the movie, Elf, and I was singing along to it. I was 13 when it came out. And my dad said, ‘Caylee, you can actually sing.’ I was like, ‘No, don’t make fun of me.’ We were always tease each other, so I thought he was teasing me.’ And he’s like, ‘No, Caylee, I think you should try it,’ and that’s when I signed up for this little talent show in my hometown and I completely embarrassed myself. I sang, ‘I Will Survive,’ and I froze on the first lines – ‘At first I was afraid, I was p-pe-pet-petrified.’ And completely flunked it, but the whole reason I tried out for it is because my dad heard me singing in the kitchen to ‘Baby, It’s Cold Outside’ in the Elf movie. So, Elf is probably my favorite Christmas movie.”

    Audio / Caylee Hammack talks about her favorite Christmas present growing up.

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    Caylee Hammack (favorite Christmas present) OC: …23
    “My favorite Christmas present was my mom and dad gave me an art table that had a light underneath it so I could trace things, and I had a place for all my markers and shelves for all my paper and I was just so excited. I was so excited. So, I got a craft table and they wrapped everything that year in Hello Kitty wrapping paper. Yup! That was my favorite Christmas.”

  • UMG CHRISTMAS SPECIAL

    With hosts such as Josh Turner, Luke Bryan, Carrie Underwood, Keith Urban, Maddie & Tae, Jordan Davis and Travis Denning, as well as music and memories from more of your favorite country stars, you will have 24 hours of a star-studded holiday playlist with A Country Christmas. You can utilize in full or part of the special.

    Click HERE to download all of the segments of the special, show clock, promos and bonus segments/songs to give your staff a day, possibly two, off for the holidays.

  • CHRISTMAS 2022: Kassi Ashton

    Kassi Ashton grew up in a rural town called California, Missouri, and she took ballet and other dance classes for many years. So, one of her favorite Christmas memories include being in The Nutcracker every year. “One of my favorite Christmas traditions growing up was always being a part of The Nutcracker,” says Kassi. “[I took] ballet my entire life, and now that I’ve graduated and moved on, I go see The Nutcracker at the Nashville Ballet every year. I can’t wait to have a little girl some day and put her in ballet class.”

    Kassi loves Christmas music, especially the holiday classics. “My favorite thing about Christmas hands down is Christmas music. I start playing eh, the day after Thanksgiving usually, if not a little sooner. I love the classics – Judy Garland, Frank Sinatra, anything that you know by heart and you don’t have to really think about. Christmas songs are the best,” she says. “My favorite Christmas song is ‘Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas’ by Judy Garland in the key of G, because that’s my key [laughs], and I can sing along perfectly.” [laughs]

    In 2020, Kassi mixed melancholy and hope beautifully to deliver a stirring rendition of the Dolly Parton classic “Hard Candy Christmas.” Written by Carol Hall for the Broadway musical The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas, which later became a movie starring Parton, “Hard Candy Christmas” serves as testimony that while things may be tough right now, it will get better.

    Audio / KASSI ASHTON ALWAYS HAD A ROLE IN THE NUTCRACKER GROWING UP AND SHE SAYS TO THIS DAY, IT’S STILL ONE OF HER FAVORITE CHRISTMAS TRADITIONS.

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    Kassi Ashton (Christmas traditions) OC: …ballet class. :21
    “Hey, it’s Kassi Ashton. One of my favorite Christmas traditions growing up was always being a part of The Nutcracker. [I took] ballet my entire life, and now that I’ve graduated and moved on, I go see The Nutcracker at the Nashville Ballet every year. I can’t wait to have a little girl some day and put her in ballet class.”

    Audio / KASSI ASHTON SAYS SHE LOVES LISTENING TO CHRISTMAS MUSIC.

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    Kassi Ashton (Christmas music) OC: …the best. :23
    “Hey, it’s Kassi Ashton. My favorite thing about Christmas hands down is Christmas music. I start playing eh, the day after Thanksgiving usually, if not a little sooner. I love the classics – Judy Garland, Frank Sinatra, anything that you know by heart and you don’t have to really think about. Christmas songs are the best.”

    Audio / KASSI ASHTON SAYS HER FAVORITE CHRISTMAS SONG IS “HAVE YOURSELF A MERRY LITTLE CHRISTMAS.”

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    Kassi Ashton (Christmas song) OC: …along perfectly. [laughs] :11
    “My favorite Christmas song is ‘Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas’ by Judy Garland in the key of G, because that’s my key [laughs], and I can sing along perfectly.” [laughs]

    Video /

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  • WATCH: JON LANGSTON SHARES “I ONLY WANT YOU FOR CHRISTMAS” MUSIC VIDEO.

    Jon Langston taps into the holiday spirit with the music video for “I Only Want You For Christmas,” out today. Taking the stage for karaoke with “Santa” to perform the track, the clip was filmed at festive Nashville favorite, Santa’s Pub.

    Originally recorded by one of his musical heroes, Alan Jackson, Langston’s vocals shine on his rendition of the song, steeped in steel guitar. Langston’s spin on “I Only Want You For Christmas” follows his recent release “Give You My All.”

     

    About Jon Langston:

    Jon Langston grew up in Loganville, GA, listening to music by his heroes Alan Jackson and the Eagles. Earning a Division 1 college football scholarship, Langston always thought football would be a part of his life, but after his sixth concussion left him blind for fifteen minutes, his football career ended abruptly. He picked up his guitar – untouched since eighth grade – and re-taught himself how to play. Performing at open mic nights and honing his songwriting led to the 2013 release of self-penned, “Forever Girl,” the first song he ever wrote, and now certified GOLD by the RIAA. That release kicked off his music career, culminating in sold out shows across the country and over 500 million career streams. Once a fan attending Luke Bryan’s Farm Tour in Athens, GA, Langston experienced a full circle moment by joining Bryan on the Farm Tour in 2017 and 2018, and again as support on his Sunset Repeat Tour in 2019. Langston signed a publishing deal with Sony ATV, management with KP Entertainment, and is the first artist signed under Bryan’s label 32 Bridge Entertainment with EMI Records Nashville. He made his Grand Ole Opry debut in February, and his recent releases “Give You My All and “Beers Got Drank” follow tracks including “Back Words,” “Try Missing You” and “When You’re Lonely,” highlighting his adept songwriting and classic country influences. He released his anticipated EP Now You Know in 2019, featuring six original songs he co-wrote. Langston’s debut major label single, “When It Comes To Loving You” hit No. 1 on the all-genre iTunes Chart and his single “Now You Know” reached the Top 30 on the country radio airplay charts. Catch Langston out on the road for his headlining BEERS GOT DRANK TOUR.