Universal Universal Music Group Nashville Pressroom

Sam Hunt is getting ready to launch his Outskirts Tour 2024 in Grand Rapids, Michigan on Thursday (February 22nd), and he couldn’t be more excited to be on the road playing music for fans.

“My favorite thing about being on the road and playing our music in front of our fans is connecting with the folks who have provided me with a career, an opportunity to live out this dream that I had as a young college graduate years ago,” he says. “And I really enjoy being out on the road with my buddies in the band and our whole crew. We have a real family out there now that we’ve been out here for several years, get to travel and see places that I wouldn’t otherwise get to visit, and we get to play music. And that’s at the end of the day is something that I always wanted to do and that I really enjoy doing, but most importantly, it’s connecting with the fans.”

He adds, “You write these songs in little rooms in Nashville, and you hope that they mean something to somebody. It’s hard to believe that that’s true until you get out there and see the smiles on people’s faces and see people enjoying themselves and having a good time, and it really gives a lot of meaning to the whole thing.”

The trek, which will include stops in Louisville, Nashville, Milwaukee, Green Bay, Knoxville and more, is set to wrap in Charlottesville, Virginia April 13th. Sam is taking along openers Brett Young and Lily Rose.

Sam is making his way to the Top 15 on the country charts with his latest single, “Outskirts.”

Kacey Musgraves just revealed on socials she will be the musical guest on NBC’s Saturday Night Live on March 2nd. Actress Sydney Sweeney (Anyone But You, Euphoria, The White Lotus). This will be Kacey’s third musical performance on the long-running show.

https://twitter.com/KaceyMusgraves/status/1760048866093588843

Reba McEntire will receive the Lifetime Achievement Award at the 63rd annual Western Heritage Awards at the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum in Oklahoma City on April 13th. Reba’s late father, Pro Rodeo Hall of Famer and three-time world champion steer roper Clark Vincent McEntire, was posthumously inducted by Red Steagall (who discovered Reba singing the National Anthem 50 years ago) into the Hall of Great Westerners in 2019.

Darius Rucker‘s episode of CMT’s Campfire Sessions will air this Friday (February 23rd) at 10pm ET/9pm CT. He performs several of his hits in stripped-down acoustic versions in front of an actual campfire.

https://twitter.com/CMT/status/1760063031520698463

The members of Little Big Town are guest-hosting Apple Music Country’s The Kelleigh Bannen Show this week through Thursday (February 22nd).

Josh Ross has just released his new radio single, “Single Again,” which he co-wrote  with Joe Fox and Brad Rempel. He says he came up with the idea when he approached an old crush about four years ago.

“The honest story behind ‘Single Again’ was the title actually came from a night out. I was at a bar probably about four years ago, and I had saw a girl that I always had a crush on growing up, and I went to approach her and give her a drink and I found out she had a boyfriend, but I politely still said hello and then I gave her the drink, and I said, ‘Let me know if you’re ever single again.’ And that’s how we got the idea.”

Josh, who is on the road with Bailey Zimmerman on the Religiously The Tour as well as headlining his own Trouble Tour, will release an eight-song collection titled Complicated on March 29th.

Sam Hunt is thoroughly enjoying fatherhood, especially now that he has not one, but two children at home — Lucy Louise (May 2022) and Lowry Lee (October 2023). He tells us having children has given him so much that he never truly realized before he became a father.

“I think what I have enjoyed most about fatherhood is the sense of purpose. It’s deep, and it’s something I couldn’t have imagined until I experienced it,” says Sam. “It gives such meaning to all, all that I’m doing in life, all the little mundane things that I might have done by myself before having kids, now have all this weight and meaning when I do them with my children. I’ve got my little girl who’s coming up on two years old who is growing and changing every day, and I’m having a lot of fun with her. I have my first son, just a few months ago, who is growing fast and a lot of fun.”

Sam’s nearly two-year-old daughter Lucy, who he and wife Hannah nicknamed Ouisy (from her middle name Louise), is having fun being a big sister to Lowry.

“Lucy, Lucy the Ouise (Wheeze) — we call her Ouisy (pr. Wheezy) — Ouisy’s having a big time with her little brother, and one kid feels like a family, but two kids now feels like a big family. And it’s a lot of responsibility, but I feel like I’m walking in God’s will now more so than I ever have at any point in my life. So, I’m just eternally grateful for these little miracles and smelling the roses and soaking it in every day.”

The Georgia native is set to kick off his headlining arena Outskirts Tour on Thursday (February 22nd) in Grand Rapids, Michigan. He’s taking along Brett Young and Lily Rose on the trek, which will make stops in Louisville, Nashville, Columbus (Ohio), Green Bay, Knoxville and more.

Sam is currently sitting inside the Top 20 of the country charts with his latest single, “Outskirts.”

Platinum-selling recording artist Priscilla Block releases new tune “Good On You,” written by Block with Jessie Jo Dillon, Laura Veltz, and David Garcia. In “Good On You,” Block captures the mixed emotions of working to move past an ex who was never the right fit, made all the more clear by the “plain Jane” new girl and Block’s own admission that “vanilla ain’t me.”

“I haven’t been this pumped for a song in a while and it seems the fans feel like that too,” Block says excitedly. “I posted a clip of this online about a month ago, and people went crazy for it!”

Listen to Priscilla Block’s “Good On You” HERE

About Priscilla Block:

Country artist Priscilla Block draws listeners in with her unfiltered, relatable songwriting, and catchy melodies. Her gregarious personality and engaging stage presence have captured fans across the U.S. and abroad. Priscilla’s honest and upfront approach promotes self-love, empowerment, and acceptance through her own blend of country pop and southern rock, dubbed “the Block Party sound.”

Priscilla has been featured in The New York Times, Billboard, USA Today Network, and PEOPLE Magazine among others, appeared on national TV programs including The Kelly Clarkson Show, Tamron Hall Show, ACM Honors, CMT Music Awards, and more. Recognized by the ACMs with a nomination for New Female Artist of the Year and by CMT for Breakthrough Video of the Year, Priscilla has commandeered her place in country music with her rabid fan base and unmitigated honesty in songs like “Thick Thighs,” “PMS” and “Just About Over You.”

Since the release of her fan-favorite track “Just About Over You,” the song peaked both the iTunes Country and All-Genre song charts, was named one of The New York Times Best Songs of 2020, reached Top 15 on country radio and garnered Priscilla her first RIAA Platinum Certification. She has surpassed more than 665 million digital streams and counting with tracks like “Just About Over You,” “Wish You Were the Whiskey,” “I Bet You Wanna Know,” and Top 15 charting hit, “My Bar,” all featured on her major label debut album, Welcome to the Block Party, which was included on The New York Times list of Best Albums of 2022. Priscilla also celebrated her first No. 1 on country radio with “You, Me, and Whiskey,” a Gold-certified hit with country star Justin Moore. For more information, visit www.PriscillaBlock.com.

Block is currently crossing the country headlining her HEY JACK TOUR 2024 with upcoming dates in Portland, Spokane, Ft. Worth, and Little Rock. Full routing below including international stops in the UK and Australia. For more information on Priscilla Block, please visit www.priscillablock.com.

Dierks Bentley and Brad Paisley are among the performers for the all-star celebration, Great Performances — George Jones: Still Playin’ Possum, which is set to air Friday (February 23rd) at 9pm ET/8pm CT on PBS. Recorded last April in Huntsville, Alabama, the tribute marks the 10th anniversary of George’s passing. Jelly Roll, Justin Moore, Tracy Byrd, Sara Evans, Wynonna, Tanya Tucker, Trace Adkins, Jamey Johnson, Joe Nichols, Uncle Kracker, Travis Tritt and R&B legend Sam Moore also performed. Dierks performed “Why Baby Why,” while Brad performed the iconic hit “He Stopped Loving Her Today.”

Louie TheSinger released the epic video for his song, “Brothers.” The clip features musician Chris Perez, as well as actor Joseph T. (JT) Campos (Queen of the South, Law & Order: Organized Crime, Prison Break).

Jon Pardi marked the first birthday of daughter Presley Fawn on Sunday (February 18th), showing adorable photos of her smiling, in overalls, eating birthday cake and even a video of her first steps. Jon and his wife Summer are expecting their second daughter later this year.

Today, breakout country singer-songwriter Josh Ross announces the forthcoming release of his anticipated EP, Complicated, arriving March 29. Produced by frequent collaborator Matt Geroux (“Trouble,” “Red Flags,” “On A Different Night”), Complicated is an eight-song collection representing the last couple years of Ross’ life, showcasing a next generation talent who pairs heart-on-his-sleeve storytelling with a modern country-rock edge.

Reflecting on the project, Ross shares, “Finally! I’m stoked to announce a body of work that showcases lyrically who I am as a person, and me sonically as a creative. Like a lot of country fans, I listen to all types of music. I am drawn to different sounds and production depending on what the emotion of the song calls for, and I think that comes across in this EP. Complicated represents who I’m becoming as an artist, and I’m excited for y’all to hear it March 29^th.”

The EP is preceded with today’s release of his revealing piano ballad, “Matching Tattoos.” Laced with real-life detail, Ross co-wrote the track with Joe Fox, Mason Thornley, and Brad Rempel. “Matching Tattoos” follows his recent two-song pack “Single Again” and “Truck Girl”.  

PRE-SAVE COMPLICATED EP HERE

Ross’ lyricism delivers an emotional honesty as he sings, “I wonder where you are now / Sometimes I still think of how / We said something bout forever / but what’s that mean at 22? / Cause all that lasted are some matching tattoos.”

Of the track, Ross shares, “‘Matching Tattoos’ is very personal to me. It is a song that comes from a real experience I went through a few years ago. I wrote this song on the Nickelback tour this past year and I hope y’all can connect to the emotion of the song as much as I do.”

Complicated marks only the beginning of what is set to be a banner year for Ross, who has been named an artist to watch by Spotify, Amazon Music, Pandora, MusicRow and more. He is currently on his sold-out headlining ‘The Trouble Tour’ across Canada, and supporting Bailey Zimmerman’s ‘Religiously. The Tour.’ He will take the stage at high-profile festivals including Stagecoach and Country Thunder, and was recently tapped to join Luke Bryan’s ‘Mind Of A Country Boy Tour’ for select dates this summer. For tickets and a full list of tour dates, please visit www.joshrossmusic.com/#tour.

With more than 307 million global streams, Ross continues to carve out his place in Country music on both sides of the border. 2023 was marked by “Trouble” hitting No. 1 on Canadian country radio while achieving Platinum certification and led to his ‘Breakthrough Artist of the Year’ win at the Canadian Country Music Awards.  For the latest information and to learn how to join his fan club, The Roster, for first access to merch drops, new music and exclusive content, visit www.joshrossmusic.com.

Eric Church will release a special physical edition of his 2011 EP, Caldwell County, on vinyl for Record Store Day on April 20th. The 7-inch disc will feature the songs “His Kind of Money (My Kind of Love),” “My Heart’s Got a Memory,” “Faster Than My Angels Can Fly” and “Chevy Van.”
He posted the news on his Instagram stories.

Vince Gill will join Blake Shelton and his own All For The Hall at the Bok Center in Tulsa, Oklahoma on March 30th. The show will benefit the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum and will also feature performances by Ronnie Dunn, Kristen Chenoweth, Wade Hayes and The Swon Brothers.

Vince will be joining @BlakeShelton’s “All for the Hall” in Tulsa on March 30 alongside @RonnieDunn, @KChenoweth, @wadehayes1 & @TheSwonBrothers. Hosted by @stormewarren, the event will benefit the @countrymusichof. Get your tickets: https://t.co/aRVGuzvtwp pic.twitter.com/KmB923Ipyo

— Vince Gill (@VGcom) February 16, 2024

Josh Turner will be on hand to help induct Scotty McCreery into the Grand Ole Opry on April 20th. Scotty got his start during Season 10 of American Idol, and he auditioned by singing Josh Turner’s hit, “Your Man.”

Mickey Guyton is attending New York Fashion Week for the first time. She was invited by famed fashion designer Michael Kors. In her Instagram posts, she’s wearing a beautiful, above-the-knee white dress by Kors.

Tyler Hubbard continues to show his distinction as a writer and artist on his sophomore album Strong out April 12 via EMI Nashville. Co-produced by Hubbard alongside Jordan Schmidt, the Georgia native’s 13-track album is a reflection of Hubbard’s unique ability to epitomize his passion for life and love.

The 21x No. 1 hitmaker wrote or co-wrote all of the songs on Strong. Constructed both lyrically and sonically to emote a sense of thrill and fun, the tracks range from previously released “Back Then Right Now” and “Turn” to “Wish You Would,” which dropped today.

PRE-ORDER/PRE-SAVE STRONG | HERE

Throughout the album, Strong embodies a distinct variety of both sonic and geographical-driven influences. Songs like “Vegas” stamp the vulnerability of love at first sight, while “American Mellencamp” is pure, heartfelt fun. “Take Me Back” and “Park” offer unique views of hometown reminiscence, while “‘73 Beetle” is an ode to fatherhood, family and dream-filled aspirations. The title track “Strong” culminates Hubbard’s sophomore album both lyrically and symbolically as an ode to long-lasting, healthy and binding relationships that keep life moving forward.

Hubbard’s current single “Back Then Right Now” is currently Top 15 and climbing at Country radio. It follows RIAA 2x Platinum No. 1 single “Dancin’ In The Country” and RIAA Platinum No. 1 single “5 Foot 9” – both from his debut solo album Tyler Hubbard, which has garnered more than 1 billion streams since its release in 2023.

Hubbard’s announcement comes on the heels of his nomination at the iHeartRadio Music Awards for ‘Favorite Debut Album.’ Fans can hear songs from ‘Strong’ and more when Hubbard supports Kane Brown’s In The Air Tour this year, which kicks off in March and includes stops in Toronto, Houston, Las Vegas, Los Angeles and more.

For more information on Hubbard, visit tylerhubbardofficial.com.

Strong Tracklist:

1. Wish You Would (Tyler Hubbard, Corey Crowder and Chris LaCorte)

2. Park (Tyler Hubbard, Jesse Frasure, Ashley Gorley and Canaan Smith)

3. A Lot With A Little (Tyler Hubbard, Casey Brown and Parker Welling)

4. Night Like That (Tyler Hubbard, Andy Albert and Jordan Schmidt)

5. Take Me Back (Tyler Hubbard, Corey Crowder and Chris LaCorte)

6. Back Then Right Now (Tyler Hubbard, Jessie Jo Dillon, David Garcia and Geoff Warburton)

7. Vegas (Tyler Hubbard, Andy Albert and Jordan Schmidt)

8. Turn (Tyler Hubbard, Casey Brown and Josh Miller)

9. American Mellencamp (Tyler Hubbard, Jaren Johnston and Jordan Schmidt)

10. BNA (Tyler Hubbard, Chase McGill and Jordan Schmidt)

11. Summer Talkin’ (Tyler Hubbard, Jessie Jo Dillon, Jesse Frasure and Ashley Gorley)

12. ‘73 Beetle (Tyler Hubbard)

13. Strong (Tyler Hubbard, Matt Dragstrem and Josh Miller)

Tyler Hubbard On Tour:

Fri., Mar. 15 – Sun., Mar. 17 | CMC Rocks Qld 2024 | Willowbank, AUS

Thurs., Mar. 28 | John Paul Jones Arena | Charlottesville, VA^

Fri., Mar. 29 | PPG Paints Arena | Pittsburgh, PA^

Sat., Mar. 30 | Prudential Center | Newark, NJ^

Thurs., Apr. 4 | Little Caesars Arena | Detroit, MI^

Fri., Apr. 5 | ScotiaBank Arena | Toronto, ON, CA^

Sat., Apr. 6 | Keybank Center | Buffalo, NY^

Tues., Apr. 9 | Grand Ole Opry House | Nashville, TN

Thurs., Apr. 11 | T-Mobile Center | Kansas City, MO^

Fri., Apr. 12 | Allstate Arena | Rosemont, IL^

Thurs., Apr. 18 | Wells Fargo Arena | Des Moines, IA^

Fri., Apr. 19 | Target Center | Minneapolis, MN^

Sat., Apr. 20 | Alerus Center | Grand Forks, ND^

Fri., Apr. 26 | United Supermarkets Arena | Lubbock, TX^

Sat., Apr. 27 | Toyota Center | Houston, TX^

Sun., Apr. 28 | Moody Center | Austin, TX^

Thurs., May 9 | Matthew Knight Arena | Eugene, OR^

Fri., May 10 | Golden 1 Center | Sacramento, CA^

Sat., May 11 | Golden 1 Center | Sacramento, CA^

Fri., May 17 | Delta Center | Salt Lake City, UT^

Sat., May 18 | T-Mobile Arena | Las Vegas, NV^

Sun., May 19 | Boots In The Park | Tempe, AZ

Thurs., May 30 | Amway Center | Orlando, FL^

Fri., May 31 | Amalie Arena | Tampa, FL^

Sat., Jun. 1 | Amalie Arena | Tampa, FL^

Fri., Jun. 7 | PNC Arena | Raleigh, NC^

Sat., Jun. 8 | State Farm Arena | Atlanta, GA^

Sat., Jun. 15 | Boots In The Street | Sidney, OH

Sat., Jun. 29 | Lakes Jam 2024 | Brainerd, MN

Fri., Jul. 19 | Faster Horses Festival | Brooklyn, MI

Fri., Aug. 2 | County Line Country Fest | Prairie Du Chien, WI

Fri., Aug. 16 | Lasso Festival de Musique Country | Montréal, QC, CA

Sun., Aug. 18 | Indian Ranch | Webster, MA

Sat., Aug. 24 | BMO Stadium | Los Angeles, CA^

Fri., Aug. 30 | Denim On The Diamond | Kelowna, BC, CA

^supporting Kane Brown

‘Strong’ 4.12 pic.twitter.com/b9wBhQkkqW

— Tyler Hubbard (@tylerhubbard) February 16, 2024

“If I look back at my life and try to see into my past, everything seems blurry. But then I lean in and start to hear something. Melodies. Chords. Harmonies. Lyrics. This book is the story of my life as told through twenty-three songs that took me away, soaring, starting at ground level, living in a poor but happy home, never wanting for much more, enjoying what I had, even when times got tough, because I had my escape, my refuge, my music.” — Darius Rucker

LIFE’S TOO SHORT: A Memoir by Darius Rucker, a raw, heartfelt memoir from the three-time Grammy Award–winning, multi-Diamond-selling lead singer of Hootie & the Blowfish and country music sensation arrives May 28th via Dey Street Books.

This is the story of my life as told through 23 songs that took me away, soaring, starting at ground level, living in a poor but happy home, never wanting for more, enjoying what I had, even when times got tough, because I had my escape, my music. Read more from @people below! https://t.co/uEDiG09pMb

— Darius Rucker (@dariusrucker) February 15, 2024

Raised by a single mother in Charleston, South Carolina, Rucker co-founded Hootie & the Blowfish with three classmates at the University of South Carolina in 1986. What began as a party band playing frat houses and dive bars quickly became a global rock pop phenomenon through their Double Diamond-certified debut album Cracked Rear View, featuring the era-defining hit songs “Only Wanna Be With You,” “Let Her Cry” and “Hold My Hand.” Rucker has since also charted a pioneering path as a solo Country music artist, with Diamond-certified hit “Wagon Wheel” plus timeless anthems such as “Alright” and “Don’t Think I Don’t Think About It,” while sharing the stage and a mic with the likes of David Crosby, Al Green, Bob Dylan, Willie Nelson, Bruce Springsteen, Neil Young, Adele, Taylor Swift, and more.

Now multiple decades into his illustrious career, Rucker tells the story of his life through the lens of the music that made him, including songs by everyone from Frank Sinatra and Stevie Wonder to R.E.M., KISS, Prince and, of course, his own music with Hootie and as a solo artist. He recounts the unlikely ascent of his band and wild tales of his road-hardened life—one filled with stumbles, missteps and battles with demons, but ultimately resulting in triumph. Candid, entertaining, and moving, LIFE’S TOO SHORT is a classic story of a man and his music.

MORE ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Darius Rucker is a three-time GRAMMY award-winning American singer, guitarist and songwriter. He first achieved multi-Platinum status as lead singer and rhythm guitarist of Hootie & the Blowfish, selling more than 25 million albums worldwide, including their Double-Diamond-certified debut Cracked Rear View, which remains among the top 10 bestselling studio albums of all time. Since the release of his first Country album in 2008 via Capitol Records Nashville, Rucker has earned a whole new legion of fans with four No. 1 albums on Billboard’s Country chart plus 10 No. 1 singles at Country radio including Diamond-certified hit “Wagon Wheel,” one of the top 10 Country songs of all time. Annually, Rucker lends his time and voice to St. Jude Children’s Hospital, MUSC, the Hootie & the Blowfish Foundation and others to raise money for charitable causes close to his heart.