Universal Universal Music Group Nashville Pressroom

Luke Bryan announces the ninth annual “Bayer Presents Luke Bryan Farm Tour 2017” set to run September 28 to October 7. Since the tour’s inception in 2009 Luke has awarded 50 college scholarships to a local student from a farming family within the communities the tour has played. A total of more than 100,000 fans have gathered on the farms each year. 2017 ACM New Male Vocalist Jon Pardi will support Luke at each stop with additional talent to be announced later. Tickets go on sale Friday, June 2 at 10am local time.

Eric Church fans have come to expect a transcendent experience when they attend one of his concerts. Friday night at Bridgestone Arena – the first of a two-night, sold-out hometown stand that wraps the Holdin’ My Own Tour – Church built a record crowd into a frenzy with the help of the East Nashville Magnet High School Choir as he closed show opener “Mistress Named Music.”

“Yeah, I’m married to a dream with a mistress named music,” the gathered throng sang in unison, nearly 19,000-strong record-breaking rocking Bridgestone Arena like the hometown Nashville Predators did just a few days ago in the same venue as they clinched a spot in the Stanley Cup.

Church told fans he promises attendees at every show the band will give everything they have. On Friday night, the visibly pumped singer-songwriter promised to take it further and made a simple request.

“I think it’s safe to say we’re going to give you more than we have over these two nights,” Church told the roaring crowd. “I just need you to meet me halfway.”

Of course, none of this is new for Church or his fans. Nashville has been full of milestone moments over the years and this weekend’s two-night hometown stand at Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena marks the frenzied end of the cross-continent Holdin’ My Own Tour. Over 900,000 fans have made it the No. 1 most-attended music tour in the world in 2017 (Pollstar) with sell outs in of each of the more than 60 shows he’s played since January.

Church has greeted each new crowd with a marathon set list and nearly four hours of music, playing more than three dozen fan favorites and deep cuts alike in a fully immersive experience that includes an intermission and no opening act. Friday night, while performing the title track of his fifth studio album, Mr. Misunderstood, Church brought out now-15-year-old McKinley “Mickey” Smay, who appears on the album’s cover, to jam. Church’s congregation responded in their usual overenthusiastic way, as captured by the Nashville Scene, which profiled “the country outsider” in a cover story to preview this weekend’s shows.

“They’re not like other fans – especially country fans,” Marissa R. Ross wrote in the Scene. “They sing along and know every word, and are more excited for deep cuts than singles like ‘Springsteen.’ The camaraderie in the crowd, the fervent dedication, the way people in the audience respond to each song – offering up some Jack Daniels during ‘Drink in My Hand,’ or raising a shoe during ‘These Boots,’ as a sign of solidarity, but also in hope Church might grab one and sign it onstage – are more like the rituals of the traveling rock cults associated with Phish or The Grateful Dead.”

Speaking of the Dead, Church and his longtime band covered “Tennessee Jed” Friday night before reprising Chief’s “Over When It’s Over” with Joanna Cotten on guest vocals, followed by an unexpected cover of Ben Harper’s “Steal My Kisses”—two unique cover jams just for Bridgestone’s crowd. In all, Church played 39 songs during his two sets with the to-the-rafters crowd standing the entire show, raising their glasses—and boots – when prompted. At one point, more than two hours into the show, Church stopped to gather album covers, platters of vinyl and magazines from fans before taking out a silver Sharpie and signing each, handing them back to fans as the crowd cheered.

Church drew a new arena record 18,996 fans Friday night, breaking February’s 18,514 set by Bon Jovi. That record broke Church’s previous Bridgestone mark of 18,411 set Jan. 10, 2015. The singer has a chance to break his newrecord again Saturday night with another sold-out show, the 62^nd and final of the tour. Church set the mark using a 360-degree stage and audience configuration and despite canceling 2,214 tickets for the shows previously listed on the secondary market.

Church once again opened a pop-up store in East Nashville (address: 218 South 11^th Street) for the third consecutive year with a portion of the proceeds benefiting his and his wife Katherine’s non-profit Chief Cares foundation that serves more than 2.5 million people around the globe with charitable giving. For more information on Chief Cares Fund, visit www.ericchurch.com/chiefcares.

The pop-up store will be open through Sunday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. where it will feature rare items specific to theHoldin’ My Own Tour. The store will open again Thursday, June 8, through Sunday, June 11, during the same hours and will feature exclusive merchandise unavailable anywhere else, such as the debut a never-before-seen design of his These Boots by Lucchese cowboy boot line, a custom Orion Cooler and vintage tour T-shirts and posters. The boot design is called The Chattanooga Lucy after the “the most thrilling country dance tune to come along in ages” (Rolling Stone Country) from his fifth studio album, Mr. Misunderstood. Church’s devotees have one more chance at making it to the sold-out Holdin’ My Own finale. If they come in to the Nashville pop-up store Saturday and purchase the store’s exclusive poster, they have a chance of finding a pair of tickets to that night’s show.

Fans who will be in town for CMA Fest and missed Church’s two-night stand at Bridgestone can catch The Chief at Nashville’s Nissan Stadium Friday, June 9 at 10 p.m. And Church has announced eight more shows in 2017 after the close of his current tour:
June 23 Cadott, WI at Country Fest
Sept. 2 and 3 Stateline, NV at Lake Tahoe Outdoor Arena at Harveys**
Sept 7, 2017 Austin, TX at Austin 360 Amphitheater***
Sept. 8, 2017 Houston, TX at Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion***
Sept 15, 2017 Tuscaloosa, AL at Tuscaloosa Amphitheater*
Sept 16, 2017 Orange Beach, AL at The Wharf Amphitheater*
Sept 21 and 22 Gilford, NH at Bank of New Hampshire Pavilion***
Sept. 29 Las Vegas, NV at Route 91 Festival+
*With special guests Brothers Osborne and Ashley McBryde
**Margo Price opening
***Special guests announced soon

Additional support announcement and on sale information coming soon.

Lauren Alaina celebrated her recent chart-topping hit, “Road Less Traveled,” with a Number-One-sie party at The Sutler in Nashville. Known for her love of wearing onesies, she wore a customized, blue sparkly zippered onesie and provided onesies for all of the guests at the party, including Frankenstein, hot dogs, astronauts and many other models.

She co-wrote the song with Jesse Frasure and Meghan Trainor, who flew in to surprise her in a sleek black onesie.

Lauren says she’s celebrated her first No. 1 in a lot of ways, but she hasn’t splurged on anything big yet, except for purchasing a goat onesie online.

Lauren, who will hit the road with Luke Bryan in a couple of weeks, has hit the airwaves with her new single, “Doin’ Fine.”

Having played 60 shows in just four months, Eric Church will end his tour with two sold-out shows at Nashville, Tennessee’s Bridgestone Arena this Friday, May 26 and Saturday, May 27. The final two cap-off his cross-continent, completely sold-out Holdin’ My Own Tour. The double-set/sans-opener show will deliver three+ hours of music pulling from Church’s full discography.

The No. 1 most attended music tour in the world so far this year (Pollstar) has been dominating charts and breaking records occupying ALL top five spots on May 15’s Billboard’s Country Boxscore with Church’s sell-outs of his April & May shows in Tampa, Fla.; Greenville, S.C.; Uncasville, Conn.; Pittsburgh, Pa. and Cincinnati, Ohio totaling more than 81,000 fans in attendance for those five shows alone. On May 5, Church shattered Florida’s Jacksonville Veterans Memorial Arena’s attendance record with an unprecedented 13,591 in capacity. The tour has also sold out every tour stop despite cancelling more than 33,000 tickets listed on the secondary market in an effort to reduce the activity of ticket scalpers.

Just hours away from his tour finale, Church will once again open a pop-up store in East Nashville (address: 218 South 11^th Street) for the third consecutive year in celebration of his performance at the Nissan Stadium during this year’s CMA Festival with a portion of the proceeds benefiting he and wife Katherine’s non-profit Chief Cares that serves over 2.5 million people around the globe with charitable giving. For more information on Chief Cares Fund, visit www.ericchurch.com/chiefcares.

The pop-up store will be open Friday, May 26 through Sunday, May 28 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. where it will feature rare items including Church’s Gibson Hummingbird Dark Signature autographed guitar and custom Jack Daniel’s barrels. The store will open again Thursday, June 8 through Sunday, June 11 during the same hours and will feature exclusive merchandise unavailable anywhere else, like a custom Orion Cooler and vintage tour T-shirts and posters.

Mr. Misunderstood’s devotees have one more chance at making it to one of the sold-out Holdin’ My Own finale shows at Bridgestone Arena. If they come in to the Nashville pop-up store beginning May 26, and purchase the store’s exclusive poster, they have a chance of finding a pair of tickets to that night’s show. There will be hidden tickets for both the Friday and Saturday shows.

This year Church will debut a never-before-seen design of his These Boots by Lucchese cowboy boot line Bridgestone Arena shows May 26 and 27. The design is called The Chattanooga Lucy after the “the most thrilling country dance tune to come along in ages” (Rolling Stone Country) from his fifth studio album, Mr. Misunderstood.

During CMA Festival store hours, fans will be able to purchase a pair of The Chattanooga Lucy design as well as the rest of These Boots by Lucchese that have previously been seen on the Holdin’ My Own Tour at the pop-up store. The line was developed in September of 2014 after Church visited the Lucchese factory to infuse his personal style into 10 different – his and hers—designs. Each pair is handmade by Lucchese artisans in El Paso, Texas and has Church’s handwritten lyrics to “These Boots” etched into the sole. Previously, These Boots by Lucchese were only available to VIP ticketholders at his concerts and at select pop-up stores, however they can now be previewed online at http://www.ericchurch.com/theseboots.

Church supporters wanting to get a virtual sneak peak of the pop-up store can visit Church’s Facebook page Thursday, May 25 at 11 a.m. CT to get a tour via Facebook Live.

An extremely limited, autographed Hummingbird Dark, Church’s signature Gibson Guitar, will be featured at the pop-up store. The sleek custom design was debuted in the music video for “Record Year,” Church’s second single from his fifth studio album, Mr. Misunderstood. Church is among iconic artists Bob Dylan, Jackson Browne, Emmylou Harris and Pete Townshend who have also been asked to design their own guitars.

Fans who will be in town for CMA Fest and missed Church’s two-night show at Bridgestone can catch The Chief at Nashville’s Nissan Stadium Friday, June 9 at 10 p.m.

Eric Church announced eight more shows for 2017 after his Holdin’ My Own Tour ends; those remaining 2017 performances are as follows:

June 23 Cadott, WI at Country Fest+
Sept. 2 and 3 Stateline, NV at Lake Tahoe Outdoor Arena at Harveys**
Sept 7, 2017 Austin, TX at Austin 360 Amphitheater**
Sept. 8, 2017 Houston, TX at Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion**
Sept 15, 2017 Tuscaloosa, AL at Tuscaloosa Amphitheater*
Sept 16, 2017 Orange Beach, AL at The Wharf Amphitheater*
Sept 21 and 22 Gilford, NH at Bank of New Hampshire Pavilion**
Sept. 29 Las Vegas, NV at Route 91 Festival+
*With special guests Brothers Osborne and Ashley McBryde; on sale May 12 at 10 a.m.
**Special guests announced soon
+Previously announced

Additional support announcement and on sale information coming soon.

On Saturday (May 27th), Dierks Bentley will celebrate the one-year anniversary of the release of his album, Black. The collection, which features the chart-topping hits “Somewhere on a Beach” and “Different for Girls,” also includes his current single, the title track, which is poised to go to No. 1.

The album basically follows one person and his growth as Dierks weaves in and out of each song.

“The record when people listen to it, they’re gonna hear right away that it’s about relationships and hopefully, project their own history and storyline and relationships into this particular album,” he says. “It’s a real story about just the highs and lows and really the maturity that I guess I go through, this singer goes through, throughout the album. You know the same guy that’s singing ‘Somewhere on a Beach,’ by the end of the record is singing a song called ‘Different for Girls,’ where he’s obviously matured enough to see that there is a different way that girls and guys handle breakups sometimes and there’s also a stereotype that goes along with that unfortunately, as well, too. A lot of growth throughout the record, but it’s all about relationships and this one person’s journey through love and trying to understand it.”
Dierks had to cancel his show this past weekend in Birmingham, Alabama because he was sick, but plans on taking his What the Hell Tour to Hartford, Connecticut on June 2nd.

Kip Moore took some time off at the end of last year through the beginning of 2017, and he traveled to several places including Iceland and Hawaii. It was in the South Pacific where Kip ran into pal Billy Currington to ride the waves for a day. Kip hopes the two will do more surfing together.

“I’ve been around Billy many a’times and he was one of my first major tours that I did about five or six years ago,” says Kip. “It’s like you can come across somebody and you can always have that small talk and whatever, but I freaking love the dude now, man. We’ve talked about taking some surfing trips together from here on out. He’s a solid, solid dude, and he’s got a lot to say actually when you get in that environment where, where you’re both comfortable to really be yourself, and we had a blast. We got into things. We had a good time.”

Kip is making his way up the country charts with his latest single, “More Girls Like You.”

Eric Church wraps up his Holdin’ My Own Tour this weekend with shows in Louisville (Thursday, May 25th) and a two-night stand in Nashville (Friday, May 26th and Saturday, May 27th).

He’s had a blast doing his own thing without a support act these past few months, but he feels that perhaps with his career path, he shouldn’t be able to play that long without a bunch of charted hits. However, that’s not the case, because his fans know every word to every song he’s ever put on record.

“People say, ‘Why…why are you playing three and a half hours?’ And I say, ‘Because we shouldn’t be able to, if you look at our career, if you look at our success.’ There was some article, and currently right now Paul McCartney is playing about 37 songs, we’re playing 37, 39, I think [Bruce] Springsteen’s playing 32 and Garth’s playing around 30. Okay, so let’s take those people – Springsteen, McCartney and Garth, [laughs] and then we’re in that. We’re way, way the outlier there, if you look at the success and you look at who they are and the records and one’s a Beatle, for Christ’s sake, and you take all those together,” Eric explains candidly. “But the fact that people have bought so much into the albums and I can play ‘Carolina’ and it’s as big as another song, or I can play ‘These Boots’ or I can play ‘Pledge Allegiance to the Hag’ or I can play ‘A Lot of Boot Left to Fill’ and I can play these songs, and they’re just as big – or ‘Sinners Like Me’ – as the stuff that was on the radio…or bigger in some cases, right? So, that’s what shouldn’t happen, and the fact that it is, I think I owe it to the records and I owe it to the fans that have made it a part of their life to play that long and to play those songs, because again, we shouldn’t be able to [even] play 90 minutes, but the fact that we can go do that and have the kind of show is the reason, that inspires me and makes me want to play that long and play that kind of show.”

He’ll take a break from the road for the most part this summer, and then return with a handful of dates this fall with two of his favorite acts, Brothers Osborne and Ashley McBryde

Eric Church Tour Dates:
Sept. 2-3: Stateline, Nevada (Lake Tahoe Outdoor Arena at Harveys)
Sept 7: Austin (Austin 360 Amphitheater)
Sept. 8: Houston (Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion)
Sept 15:Tuscaloosa, Alabama (Tuscaloosa Amphitheater)
Sept 16: Orange Beach, Alabama (The Wharf Amphitheater)
Sept 21-22: Gilford, New Hampshire (Bank of New Hampshire Pavilion)

After taking time to pursue solo projects last year, Charles Kelley, Hillary Scott and Dave Haywood, known collectively as Lady Antebellum, return to the road this Friday (May 26th) in Bakersfield, California on their YOU LOOK GOOD WORLD TOUR, presented by NABISCO.

“I think the thing that we’re looking forward to the most is just performing this new material. One of the most fun nights we’ve had in recent memory is performing ‘You Look Good’ at the ACM Awards,” says Charles Kelley. “You know, we plan on bringing out a little horn section out with us. Ever since that performance, it just really electrified us and can’t wait to play all the hits for the fans too, and we’ll have a brand-new production. [We] just can’t wait for it.”

The You Look Good World Tour will feature special guests Kelsea Ballerini and Brett Young, and will also trek to South Africa for the first time, along with monumental stops in Europe (overseas support may vary, check local listings).

• The trio are set to release their brand-new album, Heart Break, June 9th. The collection features their latest hit single, “You Look Good.”
• You can catch Lady A before the tour launch when they perform their latest hit, “You Look Good,” during the season finale of ABC’s Dancing With the Stars on Tuesday (May 23rd) beginning at 8:30pm ET.

  Audio / The members of Lady Antebellum are looking forward to hitting the road together on their new You Look Good World Tour.

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  Lady Antebellum (looking forward to tour) OC: …wait for it. :27
  “I think the thing that we’re looking forward to the most is just performing this new material. One of the most fun nights we’ve had in recent memory is performing ‘You Look Good’ at the ACM Awards. You know, we plan on bringing out a little horn section out with us. Ever since that performance, it just really electrified us and can’t wait to play all the hits for the fans too, and we’ll have a brand-new production. [We] just can’t wait for it.”

Lauren Alaina has hit country radio with her brand new single, “Doin’ Fine.” Following Lauren’s very first No. 1 smash “Road Less Traveled,” “Doin’ Fine” is another incredibly moving statement from the young star, who wrote the song with Emily Shackleton and producer busbee. While the weight of the circumstances is set up in the opening lines, “Daddy got sober, Momma got his best friend; I’ve cut down crying to every other weekend,” there is a hopeful message coming through in full as Lauren delivers raw honesty with her signature “powerhouse, honey-toned vocals” (Rolling Stone).

Chorus:

I’m doin’ fine enough to know that everyone’s a little broken

Fine enough to learn that hearts are best when they’re wide open

I still got fear inside of me, I’m not okay but I’m gonna be alright

For the first time, in a long time, I’m doin’ fine

I’m doin’ fine

“‘Doin’ Fine’ is a really special song because it’s uplifting, but really honest at the same time,” shares Lauren. “If you don’t know me and you don’t know that that’s actually what I went through, you would almost think, ‘Oh my gosh, she really tried to write a country song,’ but the truth is, I really live a country song!”

Billboard Magazine recognized Lauren for dipping into meatier, more serious content with “Doin’ Fine” along with Taste of Country which noted, “It’s difficult not to appreciate how she leans into all the emotions that come with the ups and downs of her struggles,” and the outlet recently named Lauren one of the 10 Hottest Country Women of 2017. Lauren is also one of CMT’s Next Women of Country and is currently nominated for three CMT Music Awards including Female Video of the Year, Breakthrough Video of the Year and Social Superstar.

“Doin’ Fine” is available now on the singer songwriter’s sophomore studio album, Road Less Traveled, which PEOPLE Magazine calls “full of life lessons and uplift.” Lauren recently wrapped the CMT Next Women of Country Tour with Martina McBride and this summer, the “sassy Southerner with killer pipes” (Parade) hits the road on select Huntin’, Fishin’ and Lovin’ Every Day Tour dates with Luke Bryan beginning with a two-night stand June 15th and 16th in Atlanta, Georgia.

Fans can find “Doin’ Fine” and Lauren’s official Road Less Traveled playlist HERE.  For more information on Lauren, her music and tour dates, visit www.LaurenAlainaOfficial.com.

From People.com:

It’s not always easy to be a kid with type 1 diabetes, and nobody knows that better than Eric Paslay.

But now that he’s a successful country star, the “She Don’t Love You” crooner, 34, wants to help young people who are living with the disease just like him. On Saturday, Paslay headed to Joslin Diabetes Center in Boston to chat with pediatric diabetes patients. In addition to giving a special private performance for the patients, Paslay  engaged with the kids as they shared experiences about living with the autoimmune disease. He even compared glucose numbers with a few who had the same Dexcom monitor as him.

One patient asked him what it was like to live with diabetes “on the road” and Paslay emphasized the importance of always being aware and never being afraid to ask for help when it is needed. He also admitted he keeps a glass of orange juice nearby during all performances, including the one at Joslin, in case his blood sugar starts to dip.

Paslay, who has said he’s “definitely had scary moments on stage” in the past, explained that his wife Natalie and other members of his team can monitor his blood sugar level remotely while he is performing to watch out for trouble.