Universal Universal Music Group Nashville Pressroom

Eric Church releases his new album, Desperate Man, on Friday (October 5th), and we’ve got a one-hour radio special, featuring some of the tracks from the new album, as well as a few of his hits (see link below).

“What I thought this album was going to be—well, it wasn’t that at all,” says Eric Church. “But once we found the template and got on the right path, we were really knocking them down. It took a while, but then we got most of the album done in a few days.”

Church’s sixth studio album, Desperate Man, available October 5th, marks the end of the longest break in his career between putting out new music. In the three years since the sudden, surprise release of Mr. Misunderstood, though, he has experienced some of the highest peaks and some of the biggest challenges in his work and in his life and most are present in this new collection of songs.

Since his last recordings, Church had also been through a serious health scare and had performed at the Route 91 Harvest festival in Las Vegas, where dozens of country music fans lost their lives. “I still felt shook up pretty good,” he says. “I wasn’t ready yet, wasn’t settled from all that happened—I was still reeling from Vegas, I felt displaced and not really connected to anything. I had to get back to enjoying what we were making and finding refuge in the music as a bit of an anchor.”

He called his manager and said that he might need to take a break and hold off on the recording sessions (“that’s never happened to me before,” he notes). But then came a breakthrough, in the form of two songs that represented an entirely new direction.

“The Snake” is a menacing, spoken-word parable with a political undertone. “The rattlesnake and the copperhead—that’s left/right, blue/red, however you say it,” says Church. “They sit there and fight all day to rile people up and then go get a drink. They’re working together while the whole world is burning down.”

Then, immediately after, he wrote a simple song called “Hippie Radio,” an acoustic meditation on the ways that music is there to mark different phases in your life. And suddenly, Church started to get a notion of where this project might be headed. “It was making my Spidey Sense go up,” says Church. “It was different, soulful, a total left turn from what we had been doing. The coolness started to come in. Plus, it was saying something, and that’s what artists are supposed to do—give us guidance for where we are and where we’re headed.”

The sessions became more loose and experimental. The bulk of the material was written in the studio; he came up with “Hangin’ Around” in an hour and cut it that same day. For “Drowning Man,” Joyce secretly set up a microphone under Church’s foot, and the tapping forms the main kick on the final drum track. “My creative juices were really flowing,” says Church. “I was trying different sounds and calling more audibles than ever before. I really enjoyed the journey of where it was starting to take me.”

We are celebrating this new release with a one-hour special featuring several tracks from the new album, plus a few of Eric’s biggest hits.

The program is non-exclusive and commercial-free.

TOTAL RUNNING TIME:

@ One hour – delivery via link Wednesday evening (October 3rd)

CLEARANCE WINDOW:

Friday, October 5th – Sunday, October 14th

To download the album special, click here.

Eric Church is getting ready to release his new album, Desperate Man, on Friday (October 5th), and he felt pretty desperate when trying to put together an album.

“We were lost, in my opinion. I don’t know, I think there was a lot going on there. I had an interesting year personally, and, just in the studio, that safe-what we thought was gonna be the album wasn’t working with the creative energy. Two different things were going on,” says Eric. “So, what’s interesting about Desperate Man was when I went into the album making process, that song was not written. Like a lot of them on the record, they had not been created yet. I think that desperation of trying to find what this album is, led itself so that song and let it to the title of the album.”

Eric announced his new Double Down Tour, which kicks off January 18th and 19th in Omaha, Nebraska.

Throughout the entire month of October, ABC, Freeform and Disney Channel will roll out a series of customized public service announcements (PSAs) with fan favorite stars that call on audiences to end negativity, celebrate their differences, support love and, ultimately, choose kindness. Serving as the primary ambassadors for the campaign are award-winning radio and television personality Ryan Seacrest and seven-time GRAMMY^® Award winner, multi-platinum selling, global superstar Carrie Underwood.

Underwood lends her new single “Love Wins,” from her latest album “Cry Pretty,” as an anthem of solidarity throughout Disney|ABC’s month-long campaign. “Cry Pretty,” which Underwood co-produced, debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 and Top Country Album Charts, and is her first album released on Capitol Records Nashville. “Love Wins” was written by Underwood, David Garcia and Brett James.  A custom PSA, produced by Radio Disney Country and featuring Underwood, has debuted on the Disney Channel and across Radio Disney and Radio Disney Country’s social media platforms and YouTube channels.  Underwood recently received the Hero Award at the 2018 Radio Disney Music Awards recognizing her humanitarian efforts and support of a myriad of charities.

The always inspiring @CarrieUnderwood is here to remind you to #ChooseKindness! pic.twitter.com/40PfTsnNcb

— Radio Disney Country (@RDCountry) October 2, 2018

Stars across Disney|ABC Television are rallying behind National Bullying Prevention Month and encouraging viewers to #ChooseKindness through personal testimonials and videos that reinforce the importance of being kind. Along with nonprofit partners GLSEN, GLAAD, PACER, ESPN’s “Shred Hate” campaign, No Bully, and Common Sense Media, the multi-platform and cross-network initiative, now in its sixth year, focuses on inspiring kids, families and change-makers around the country to put an end to bullying in their communities and online.

“The Choose Kindness campaign is incredibly important to our identity as Disney|ABC Television, with storytelling across our series and networks that celebrate inclusion, respect and love,” said David Ambroz, executive director, Corporate Citizenship & Internal Communications. “We’re thrilled that for the sixth year, our talent has stepped up to deliver heartfelt and honest messages that encourage our viewers to accept the challenge of choosing kindness, and that our ongoing partnerships with these nonprofit changemakers continue to make a difference in our communities.”

“We are extremely proud to once again partner with Disney|ABC Television on this year’s #ChooseKindness campaign for National Bullying Prevention Month,” said Eliza Byard, GLSEN executive director. “Their invaluable dedication to this cause within its programming, through its talent and more continues to be an inspiring example for young viewers everywhere. As a national education organization working to create safe and inclusive K-12 schools for LGBTQ youth, GLSEN has seen firsthand what happens when students stand up against bullying – as happened just last week in thousands of schools nationwide during GLSEN’s Ally Week. When young people are encouraged to choose kindness, respect and taught how to be allies for one another, school becomes a safer and more welcoming environment in which all students can fully reach their academic potential.”

In addition to the PSAs, several stars offered honest testimonials of their personal experiences with bullying. From being called names to being teased about their weight to being judged by the color of their skin, these heartfelt videos offer audiences a glimpse into an epidemic that their favorite stars are not immune to, as well as uplifting messages on how to take a stand for those being bullied around them.

Among the stars featured in the videos and photos throughout the month are Kelly Ripa (“Live With Kelly and Ryan”); Taran Killam (“Single Parents”); Leighton Meester (“Single Parents”); James Roday (“A Million Little Things”); Ron Livingston (“A Million Little Things”); Randall Park (“Fresh Off The Boat”); Nathan Fillion (“The Rookie”); Raven-Symoné (“Raven’s Home”); Issac Ryan Brown (“Raven’s Home,” “Kim Possible”);  Sasha Pieterse (“Pretty Little Liars: The Perfectionists”); Janel Parrish (“Pretty Little Liars: The Perfectionists”) and many more.

In partnership with GLAAD and PACER, Disney|ABC will also celebrate two key dates in October that call on audiences to show their support and stand against bullying. On Thursday, Oct. 18, GLAAD encourages supporters to wear purple for “Spirit Day” to stand against bullying and demonstrate support for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ) youth. On Wednesday, Oct. 24, viewers are encouraged to celebrate PACER’s Unity Day. Wear and share orange to show unity against bullying and band together to celebrate for kindness, acceptance and inclusion.

Additional campaigns being celebrated throughout the month of October include GLSEN’s “Ally Week” and ESPN’s “Shred Hate,” a bullying prevention program from ESPN, MLB and X Games which seeks to eliminate bullying by encouraging kids to choose kindness. As part of “Shred Hate,” No Bully, a nonprofit organization that ignites student compassion to eradicate bullying and cyberbullying, is partnering with local school districts and training them how to implement the award-winning No Bully System. To date, more than 25,791 students have been impacted by the program in schools across the country and an additional 60,000 students will be reached in the 2018-2019 school year.

Carrie is set to perform on the American Music Awards which airs on Tuesday (October 9th) beginning at 8pm ET on ABC.

Carrie will also co-host the CMA Awards with pal Brad Paisley live from Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena on November 14th at 8pm ET on ABC.

Eric Church‘s new album, Desperate Man, is available Friday (October 5th). Click HERE to download the album audio toolkit. A link to a one-hour radio special will be posted later this week.

Dierks Bentley has a deep connection to the mountains out West. He grew up in Arizona, climbing Camelback Mountain, while exploring the rocks and crevices and adventures it possessed. Mountain living was the impetus that eventually formulated his latest album, The Mountain.

“I really connect with nature. I know that sounds weird, but I’m made to be outside,” says Dierks. “I grew up in Arizona and there was a mountain in our backyard, a big, big mountain called Camelback Mountain. I started climbing it when I was four years old. I just took Knox up it for the first time, but I’m just so used to being around desert landscape, mountains and family trips to Colorado and summers spent working at Lake Powell, this massive lake on the Arizona-Utah border. Really out west is where I really come alive.”

Dierks played a show out there over the weekend and took aerial photos to post to Instagram.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BoUXK5Hgln6/?taken-by=dierksbentley

“I lived with a mountain in my backyard,” he says. “And I looked at that mountain every day.”

Dierks is currently scaling the country singles “mountain” with his latest song, “Burning Man,” which features his tour mates Brothers Osborne.

He is nominated for a handful of CMA Awards, including album of the Year for The Mountain, as well as Male Vocalist and Musical Event of the Year for “Burning Man” with Brothers Osborne. The CMA Awards, which will be hosted once again by Carrie Underwood and Brad Paisley, will be broadcast live from Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena November 14th at 8pm ET on ABC.

Eric Church had a lot of fun making the video for his latest song, “Desperate Man.” He says it’s probably the favorite video he’s ever done in his career, due in large part to the song’s co-writer Ray Wylie Hubbard, as well as the theme of the video.

“My favorite video of my entire career is ‘Desperate Man.’ It’s my favorite video. And I think that…you know maybe we’re all shady characters, but I thought everybody played their part so well in that video. I mean Ray looks like a drug dealer, polyester suit, all my band members are shady as s*%t, so the whole thing to me was just the perfect culmination at this part in our career,” says Eric.

He adds, “With Ray Wylie Hubbard, to me, he’s a legend, he’s an icon. He’s exactly, he’s a troubadour. He’s the reason we should all aspire to do this. It’s not about money. It’s not about fame. It’s about, it’s what you’re born to do. It’s what you were put here to do. And I love the honesty and the integrity with which he’s done that throughout his career. So, for him to have a song that’s on the country chart and to be a part of mainstream country music is maybe one of the most favorite things I have ever done or been a part of.”

Eric’s latest album, Desperate Man, is available beginning Friday (October 5th).

Brandon Lay is a brand-new father! His wife Nicole gave birth to the couple’s first child on Thursday (September 27th). Ryder Knox was born at 1:52pm, weighing in at 7 pounds even and is 19 ½ inches long. Mom, Dad and their newborn son are all doing well.

Brandon took to his socials to alert his fans of the baby news. “God is good. Welcome to the world Ryder Knox. So many things I can’t wait to teach you. Thanks y’all for the prayers and support. I love you @NicoleJLay”

God is good. Welcome to the world Ryder Knox. So many things I can’t wait to teach you. Thanks y’all for the prayers and support. I love you @NicoleJLay pic.twitter.com/LkIa5rGYhL

— Brandon Lay (@brandonlay) September 28, 2018

The Tennessee native, who is set to make his Grand Ole Opry debut on Saturday (September 29th), is currently making his way up the country charts with his latest song “Yada Yada Yada.”

Brandon Lay is set to make his Grand Ole Opry debut on Saturday (September 29th).

This is gonna be one we won't forget.. Excited for my @opry debut on saturday. tickets https://t.co/3PMLCBJ3FR #yadayadayada pic.twitter.com/k4P2X2qQvE

— Brandon Lay (@brandonlay) September 27, 2018

Kacey Musgraves will perform on ABC’s Jimmy Kimmel Live October 2nd.

Luke Bryan, Sam Hunt and Little Big Town, along with Alabama, have been announced as headliners for the 28th Annual Country Jam. The weeklong event will take place June 13th – 19th in Grand Junction, Colorado. More artists will be announced soon.

Three-time 2018 CMA nominee and GRAMMY-winner Keith Urban will headline Jack Daniel’s Music City Midnight: New Year’s Eve in Nashville (#NashvilleNYE) for a third year in a row. Keith will be joined by rocker Peter Frampton, rock/pop band Judah & the Lion, pop rock singer/songwriter Caitlyn Smith, contemporary soul and rock artist Devon Gilfillian and the Fisk Jubilee Singers. The tenth annual event will take place at the Bicentennial Capitol Mall State Park and is free and open to the public.

“Keith is the perfect artist to headline this signature Nashville event, and we’re excited to have him back for a third year,” said Ronnie Smith, Head of Corporate Bank, Regions Bank, and chairman of the NCVC board of directors. “Keith’s an incredible performer and an even better partner. He’s a global entertainer who takes Nashville to the world and invites his fans to experience Music City for themselves. His great music includes many different influences and will cap off a lineup of outstanding performers representing many different genres.”

Gates will open at 4pm on December 31st, followed later in the evening by the raising of the Music Note to kick off the live music. The event will include the traditional Music Note Drop and accompanying fireworks display to ring in the New Year. Sirius XM host Storme Warren and “Today In Nashville” personality Kelly Sutton will serve as emcees.

Capitol Records Nashville / Buena Vista Records’ Adam Hambrick released his debut single “Rockin’ All Night Long” today and will hit country radio this Monday (October 1st). Listen HERE. Joining a star-studded roster of artists including Carrie Underwood, Keith Urban, Luke Bryan and many more, Adam is the first new artist signed to the Capitol Records Nashville label imprint in over five years.

Written by Adam along with Kelly Archer, and Pete Good, the nostalgic tune was inspired while Adam was rocking his daughter to sleep one night and thinking about how many of his favorite memories happened late into the night. “Rockin’ All Night Long” tells a reminiscent story marking the milestone moments from young adulthood to parenthood and pays homage to Don McClean’s 1971 hit “American Pie.”

“Rockin’ All Night Long” has already received praise from top country radio programmers.

“This guy is crazy gifted and a good human, PD’s need to pay attention to this one.”

– Gator Harrison, SVP of Programming – iHeart Media Nashville

“After one listen to “Rockin’ All Night Long” all I wanted to do was go home and hug my girls. Perfect tune for Adam to come out of the gate with.”

– Pat Brannan, KYGO

Adam will perform to a sold-out Ryman Auditorium, opening for Brett Young on October 10, marking the first time he will play the historic venue. Adam has had numerous cuts for other artists including Miranda Lambert and Eli Young Band, as well as, No. 1 hits for Dan + Shay (“How Not To”) and Justin Moore (“Somebody Else Will”).

Adam grew up in between Mississippi and Arkansas, influenced by artists such as Alan Jackson, Garth Brooks, John Mayer and The Foo Fighters. From an early age, Adam’s musical roots were grounded in the church singing hymns with his family, where his dad was a Baptist pastor and his mom played piano. After graduating from the University of Central Arkansas, the singer-songwriter made an appearance on Good Morning Arkansas where fellow Arkansas-native and country star Justin Moore happened to be watching and was impressed by Adam’s unique voice and distinctive songs. After spending more than a year making the drive from Arkansas to Tennessee for writing sessions, Adam made the permanent move to Nashville in 2013 to pursue music full-time. Since then, Adam has continued to hone his songwriting and vocal skills, while performing live with artists including Jordan Davis, LANCO and more. Adam is currently in the studio working on his debut album with producers Andrew DeRoberts (James Blunt) and Paul DiGiovanni (Blake Shelton).