Universal Universal Music Group Nashville Pressroom

Travis Denning grew up in Warner Robins, Georgia with his parents and sister. One of the family’s Christmas traditions was to open presents on Christmas Eve, which actually gives them more time to spend together.

“My favorite Christmas tradition is we always open presents the night before and used to, I always thought it was ‘cause me and my sister ragged on my parents until they let us. But now the older I get, and to me it really does make a difference. I wake up on Christmas Day and think about what it really means instead,” says Travis. “My parents always do a big breakfast; mimosas on Christmas morning. It’s just such a great family affair, and I just think ultimately in opening presents on Christmas Eve versus Christmas Day, we get to spend time reflecting on what it really means.”

What Christmas means to Travis goes beyond exchanging gifts. “The older I got, as cliché as it sounds, I mean it really isn’t about the gifts. It’s more about drinking some whiskey with dad while the little nephew or whatever open presents or my little cousins,” he says. “It turns into sentimental things and what matters. For me one year, that was a shotgun and then it was a, just a Stranger Things coffee mug that my mom got me, which I drink [out of] every morning. Those things that are just more like, ‘Hey-I thought about you and I put a lot of you in this gift,’ you know, and that’s what I love about it.”

The Georgia native was recently announced as part of both the CMA Kixstart and Opry Nextstage programs.

Dierks Bentley will end 2018 on a high note with a performance of his Top 10 and climbing single “Burning Man” during the finale of The Voice (12/18 at 7:00P CT on NBC). “The hard-charging track” (Newsday) is the second release form his No. One selling ninth studio album THE MOUNTAIN, which earned Bentley the highest first week sales of his career and follows his 17th career chart topper and “most affecting song” (Rolling Stone), “Woman, Amen.”

As Bentley co-wrote 10 of the album’s 13 tracks that are unified by themes of presence and positivity, critics continue to applaud “one of the most joyful, brazen, and cohesive collections of his career” (Entertainment Weekly). His “music that’s designed to challenge” (New York Times) has been featured as one of “2018 Best Albums” by Esquire, USA Today, Rolling Stone, The Tennessean, Sounds Like Nashville and is one of the only Country albums on Billboard’s all-genre year end list. Additionally, the “downright euphoric” collaboration with Brandi Carlile, “Travelin’ Light,” landed on Esquire’s list for “Best Country Songs of 2018.” Just a few short months since its release, THE MOUNTAIN garnered multiple nominations including “Album of the Year” nods from the ACM and CMAs has been streamed more than 245 million times.

“Credit goes to Bentley’s heady mix of earnestness and confidence, both of which are on display all across the 2018 set. While most of his industry peers are still dropping lines about hot young things in cutoff shorts, Bentley digs into the importance of family, the transformative powers of love and monogamy and the hard-won perspective found in his forties. Amen is right.” – Esquire

“Bentley releases the most thoughtful, complete collections in Country music, and THE MOUNTAIN is among his best….a spacious, uncluttered showcase of Bentley’s heart and creativity that reflects the natural beauty of the Colorado mountains where it was written and recorded.” – USA Today

“There’s the rock & roll Bentley…the banjo and fiddle-loving Bentley…and the sultry piano-ballad Bentley. But the magic in THE MOUNTAIN is how it blends all of these elements, with each musical moment nodding to the next. Bentley no longer seems concerned with getting to the top. Rather, he’s perfecting the path of his ascension.” – Rolling Stone

“Whether it’s delving into bluegrass, as he did on 2010’s UP ON THE RIDGE, or contemplating the complexities of life with 2018’s THE MOUNTAIN, Bentley is stealthily one of Country Music’s most adventurous artists.” – Billboard

Outside of his 40-city tour trek, Bentley brought his love of the west to life by teaming up with Live Nation for the inaugural SEVEN PEAKS FESTIVAL in Buena Vista, CO over Labor Day weekend. The three-day festival included multiple stages and a campground set in front of the awe-inspiring collegiate peaks mountain range, creating one of the freshest and most eclectic Country music festivals. Bentley performed several times over the weekend, along with artists such as Miranda Lambert, Elle King, and the Del McCoury Band.

“Nothing and no one can get in his way” (Elle Magazine) as Bentley created professional endeavors outside of the music industry after he partnered with Flag & Anthem to create an exclusive new lifestyle collection, Desert Son. With its name inspired by some of the more autobiographical lyrics off THE MOUNTAIN, the offering will features vintage-washed tees, raglans, hoodies and hats along with a handful of women’s tees. Bentley also expanded his “Dierks Bentley’s Whiskey Row” franchise this year with Riot Hospitality Group as its fourth location opened on Nashville’s Lower Broadway, the street Bentley called his second home when he first moved to Nashville to pursue music.

Pegged as “one of Country music’s most enviable brands, equal parts affability and authenticity” (Forbes), Bentley continues to be a dominant voice for the genre with over 8.6 billion overall digital streams. He continues the momentum next year with the launch of his 2019 BURNING MAN TOUR, which kicks of Jan. 17 in Hamilton, ON, CAN, featuring special guests Jon Pardi, Tenille Townes and the Hot Country Knights.

PLATINUM-selling duo, Maddie & Tae’s “Die From A Broken Heart,” has been included on Esquire’s Top Country Songs of The Year list, out today. The honest, heart-rending track is the second song off their forthcoming concept album. “Their finest moment yet,” the song quickly resonated, breaking into Spotify’s Viral 50 charts in both the U.S. and Canada.

“‘Die From A Broken Heart’ is one of our most personal songs from the upcoming album, but to see the way it’s connecting with the fans and how they’re relating it to their own stories really means the world to us,” Maddie & Tae shared.

Listen to “Die From A Broken Heart” here: http://strm.to/DieFromABrokenHeart

**Award-winning duo Maddie & Tae are drawing praise for their new single “Friends Don’t,” “anchored around their stellar vocal pairings and some of the tightest harmonies on Music Row (Rolling Stone). “The sound is identifiable while still representing a distinct step forward” (Billboard), giving fans a taste of what to expect from their highly-anticipated forthcoming full-length album, due in 2019.

Maddie & Tae first broke out in 2013 with their brilliant take down of bro-country, “Girl In A Country Song,” which took Country radio by storm, skyrocketing to the top of the charts and quickly going PLATINUM. The duo became only the third female duo in 70 years to top the Country Airplay charts, also earning trophies from the Country Music Academy and Radio Disney Music Awards along with multiple ACM, CMA and CMT Award nominations. Receiving widespread praise from NPR, Billboard, Entertainment Weekly, The Washington Post, Glamour and others, country music’s hottest stars including Dierks Bentley, Lee Brice and Brad Paisley have welcomed Maddie & Tae on the road, with Carrie Underwood recently inviting the duo out as direct support on her 2019 Cry Pretty Tour 360.

For additional information, visit www.maddieandtae.com.

Some of UMG Nashville’s talented artists have recited the age-old holiday poem, “Twas the Night Before Christmas.” This year, we have Alan Jackson, Luke Bryan, Keith Urban, Carrie Underwood, Little Big Town, Darius Rucker, TJ and John Osborne (Brothers Osborne), Jordan Davis and Brandon Lay doing the honors.

For your convenience, we’re offering a produced and a dry version of the holiday classic.

Keith Urban

Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house
Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse.

The stockings were hung by the chimney with care,
In hopes that St Nicholas soon would be there.

The children were nestled all snug in their beds,
While visions of sugar-plums danced in their heads.

TJ Osborne

And mamma in her ‘kerchief, and I in my cap,
Had just settled down for a long winter’s nap.

When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter,
I sprang from the bed to see what was the matter.

Away to the window I flew like a flash,
Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash.

John Osborne
The moon on the breast of the new-fallen snow
Gave the lustre of mid-day to objects below.

When, what to my wondering eyes should appear,
But a miniature sleigh, and eight tinny reindeer.

With a little old driver, so lively and quick,
I knew in a moment it must be St Nick.

Lauren Alaina

More rapid than eagles his reindeer they came,
And he whistled, and shouted, and called them by name!

“Now Dasher! now, Dancer! now, Prancer and Vixen!
On, Comet! On, Cupid! On Donner and Blitzen!

To the top of the porch! to the top of the wall!
Now dash away! Dash away! Dash away all!”

So up to the house-top the reindeer they flew,
With the sleigh full of Toys, and St Nicholas too.

Darius Rucker
And then, in a twinkling, I heard on the roof
The prancing and pawing of each little hoof.
As I drew in my head, and was turning around,
Down the chimney St Nicholas came with a bound.

Jordan Davis

He was dressed all in fur, from his head to his foot,
And his clothes were all tarnished with ashes and soot.

A bundle of Toys he had flung on his back,
And he looked like a peddler, just opening his pack.

Carrie Underwood
His eyes-how they twinkled! his dimples how merry!
His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry!

Little Big Town’s Phillip Sweet

His droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow,
And the beard of his chin was as white as the snow.

The stump of a pipe he held tight in his teeth,
And the smoke it encircled his head like a wreath.

Brandon Lay

He had a broad face and a little round belly,
That shook when he laughed, like a bowlful of jelly!

He was chubby and plump, a right jolly old elf,
And I laughed when I saw him, in spite of myself!

Luke Bryan

A wink of his eye and a twist of his head,
Soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread.

He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work,
And filled all the stockings, then turned with a jerk.

And laying his finger aside of his nose,
And giving a nod, up the chimney he rose!

He sprang to his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle,
And away they all flew like the down of a thistle.

Alan Jackson

But I heard him exclaim, as he drove out of sight,
“Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good-night!”

Happy Holidays!

MCA Nashville recording artist Clare Dunn will perform two songs as part of The 87th Annual Hollywood Christmas Parade. Clare — getting ready for the 2019 Next Women of Country Tour with Cassadee Pope and Hannah Ellis — will perform a moving rendition of the Christmas classic “O Holy Night,” and her hit “Tuxedo.”

A national two-hour special premiere is slated to air on The CW Friday (December 14th) at 8pm ET/7pm CT.  American Forces Network and the Hallmark Channel will air on December 19th and December 22nd, respectively. (Check local listings for times in your area.)

Known for her transfixing live shows, her gifting as a power vocalist, songwriter and producer, plus her unparalleled guitar artistry, Clare Dunn is an artist on the ascent.

Clare is a “masterful guitar player who can do it all” (CMT) with “big, soaring vocals and serious guitar prowess” (Rolling Stone).  As a testament to her stage presence and live show, Clare caught the attention of rock legend Bob Seger who, after hearing her sound check only once, invited her to open for his Ride Out Tour.

UMG Nashville is pleased to bring you a unique holiday special to help you program your stations. The three-hour program is spot-free (includes 10-14 minutes of local avails per hour; non-exclusive).

Click here to download the special.

A Country Christmas is a three-hour, multi-artist special hosted by Lauren Alaina, and features classic holiday tunes, as well as Christmas thoughts, memories and more from many of your favorite country artists, including Luke Bryan, Carrie Underwood, Darius Rucker, Keith Urban, Little Big Town, Alan Jackson and George Strait, among many others. We’ll also give you some bonus content and liners, as well.

CLEARANCE WINDOW:

Friday, December 14th – Sunday, December 25th

Country Music Hall of Famer Alan Jackson will be hitting the road in 2019, bringing nearly three decades of hits to cities across America!

The country music icon will hit the road beginning January 25, headlining arena concerts and amphitheater shows (detailed listing below, with more dates to be added). The three-time CMA Entertainer of the Year will be thrilling audiences far-and-wide as they relive their favorite songs night-after-night in city-after-city.

Tickets and information for all Alan Jackson 2019 Tour dates are available at alanjackson.com/tour, where you can find information about Alan, his tour schedule, music and more. Jackson is again teaming up with CID Entertainment to offer fans VIP experiences at many of his 2019 shows.

Alan Jackson’s concerts find the country icon performing hits that have gained him legions of longtime fans, songs that continue to draw new crowds as a younger generation discovers his music. Jackson’s repertoire stands the test of time; it has impacted a field of artists who cite Jackson as an influence. It’s these same songs – many written by Alan – that earned him his place alongside country music’s greatest names and cemented his place in its history with membership in the Country Music Hall of Fame and the Songwriters Hall of Fame. Fans will hear the songs they love from the man who wrote them and made them famous, including his debut hit “Here in The Real World”…signature songs such as “Chattahoochee,” “Drive” and “Gone Country”…party anthems “It’s Five O’Clock Somewhere” and “Good Time”…and many, many more.

The country superstar will be bringing exciting talent on the road with him in 2019. Newcomer William Michael Morgan will be Jackson’s special guest on most shows; hitmaker Randy Houser will play the role on selected dates.

In addition to Morgan and Houser, many of Jackson’s shows will include a brief performance by aspiring singer-songwriters who’ve played AJ’s Good Time Bar, his self-owned honky-tonk on downtown Nashville’s famed “Lower Broadway.” Jackson has a long history of giving new and rising stars their first chances to perform in front of arena-size crowds – artists who’ve been on one of their “first big tours” with Alan include Brad Paisley, LeAnn Rimes, Sara Evans, Chris Young and, more recently, Jon Pardi and Lauren Alaina.

Alan Jackson’s touring history has taken him across America and to places far beyond, and his music has gained him fans around the globe. In 2019, he’ll continue his tradition of “keepin’ it country” for people far and wide as he brings nearly 30 years of hits to a city near you!

ALAN JACKSON’S 2019 TOUR

(Dates Already On Sale, Unless Otherwise Noted)

More Shows to Be Added!!

Friday, January 25          Louisville, KY (KFC Yum! Center)                               with William Michael Morgan

Saturday, January 26      Greenville, SC (Bon Secours Wellness Arena)           with William Michael Morgan

Friday, February 22         Madison, WI (Alliant Energy Center)                           with William Michael Morgan

Saturday, February 23    Grand Rapids, MI (Van Andel Arena) **                      with William Michael Morgan

Sunday, March 10           Bossier City, LA (CenturyLink Center) **                     with William Michael Morgan

Friday, April 12                Oklahoma City, OK (Chesapeake Energy Arena) ++ with William Michael Morgan

Saturday, April 13            Omaha, NE (CHI Health Center)                                 with Randy Houser

Friday, April 26                Fort Wayne, IN (War Memorial Coliseum) **              with William Michael Morgan

Friday, May 10                Columbus, OH (Schottenstein Center) **                    with William Michael Morgan

Friday, May 17                Winston-Salem, NC (Veterans Mem. Coliseum) ++   with William Michael Morgan

Saturday, May 18            Hershey, PA (Giant Center) ++                                   with William Michael Morgan

Friday, August 9              Rogers, AR (Walmart AMP)                                        with William Michael Morgan

Saturday, August 10        Wichita, KS (Intrust Bank Arena) ++                           with William Michael Morgan

Friday, August 23            N. Charleston, SC (N. Charleston Coliseum)              with Randy Houser

Saturday, August 24        Charlotte, NC (Spectrum Center)                                with Randy Houser

Friday, September 20      Orlando, FL (Amway Arena) ++                                   with William Michael Morgan

Saturday, September 21 Jacksonville, FL (Veterans Memorial Coliseum) ++    with William Michael Morgan

** Tickets on sale Friday, December 14

++ On sale date TBD

Luke Bryan releases the video for his hit, “What Makes You Country,” the title cut from his latest album.

The “What Makes You Country” video was directed by longtime collaborator Michael Monaco and was shot last month at Luke’s farm south of Nashville. It features his sons Bo and Tate, his nephew Til and a few of their close friends. The song, written by Luke, Dallas Davidson and Ashley Gorley, is the fourth single from his #1 debuting and RIAA certified gold album What Makes You Country. “What Makes You Country” is the follow up single to three consecutive #1 hits off the album, “Light It Up,” “Most People Are Good” and “Sunrise, Sunburn, Sunset.”

Luke recently wrapped his 2018 touring year headlining more stadium shows than ever before, playing 13 of the biggest and best sports stadiums across North America in Toronto, New York City, Cincinnati, Tampa, Pittsburgh, Boston, Minneapolis, Los Angeles, Denver, St. Louis, Chicago, Vancouver and Detroit. These shows were deemed the “What Makes You Country Tour XL Stadium Sized” and played for 30,000 to 50,000 thousand fans at each stadium stop often reaching crowds of more than 100,000 in a weekend with multiple back-to-back stadium dates and weekends.

Luke, Katy Perry and Lionel Richie will return as judges for television’s most widely recognized competition series, America Idol, on March 3, 2019 on ABC. They have concluded the cross-country audition tour and are now underway filming the middle rounds.

Mercury Nashville’s Travis Denning announced his 2019 “Heartbeat Of A Small Town Tour” today (December 13th). The rising country star kicks off his first-ever headlining tour in Rome, GA on February 1 and fans can purchase tickets beginning tomorrow at www.travisdenning.com.

“2018 was an unbelievable year that showed me just how many amazing country music fans are out there,” says Travis. “Seeing them singing along to ‘David Ashley Parker From Powder Springs’ was surreal, so I can’t think of a better way to kick off 2019 than to go right back and see them all again.”

Spurred by his debut single “David Ashley Parker From Powder Springs” which Taste of Country describes as “one of the most unique songs to come out of country music in 2018,” Travis has recently been named an Artist To Watch by Rolling Stone, HITS Daily Double, NY Country Swag, Pandora, Taste of Country and more. Travis was also just selected as a CMA Kixstart Artist Scholarship recipient and will receive unique opportunities to participate in CMA-related events as well as connect with industry professionals as part of the inaugural program. Additionally, Travis was tapped to be part of Opry NextStage alongside Riley Green, Tegan Marie, and Tenille Townes. The collaboration will include live performances, strategic marketing support and short-form documentary style storytelling created by Opry Entertainment’s award-winning content team.

HEARTBEAT OF A SMALL TOWN TOUR:

February 1, 2019: Rome, GA – Brewhouse

February 2, 2019: Athens, GA – 40 Watt Club

February 7, 2019: Raleigh, NC – City Limits Saloon

February 8, 2019: Charlotte, NC – Coyote Joe’s

February 9, 2019: Greenville, SC – Blind Horse Saloon

February 16, 2019: Birmingham, AL – Zydeco

February 21, 2019: Auburn, AL – Bourbon Street

February 22, 2019: Tifton, GA – Terminal South

February 23, 2019: Valdosta, GA – Bluewater Bar

March 21, 2019: Pittsburgh, PA – Tequila Cowboy

March 22, 2019: Indianapolis, IN – 8 Seconds Saloon

March 23, 2019: Columbus, OH – Tequila Cowboy

March 29, 2019: Statesboro, GA – The Blue Room

March 30, 2019: Macon, GA – Cherry Blossom Festival

The Georgia native has previously toured with Cole Swindell, Alan Jackson, Chase Rice, Justine Moore, and most recently LANCO. For a full list of tour dates, news, images and more, visit www.travisdenning.com

Luke Bryan, Lionel Richie and Katy Perry return for the new season of ABC’s American Idol, which will premiere Sunday, March 3rd beginning at 8pm ET.

A new journey begins Sunday March 3 on ABC! 💙✨ #AmericanIdol @LionelRichie @katyperry @LukeBryanOnline pic.twitter.com/u11NxrCBdE

— American Idol (@AmericanIdol) December 12, 2018

Jon Pardi designed a T-shirt of which 100% of the net proceeds will be donated to the Salvation Army and its California fire recovery efforts. Also supporting the cause are fellow California country artists including Gary Allan, Cam, Devin Dawson, Tyler Rich and Brett Young. PRE-ORDER is now open – https://calilove.shop.redstarmerch.com/store/