Universal Universal Music Group Nashville Pressroom

Keith Urban is preparing to launch his upcoming ripCord World Tour Thursday (June 2nd) in Kansas City, Missouri, and he’s planning on a heavy dose of hits and new songs from his latest album, Ripcord.

“I wanted to obviously bring in some of the older songs that we haven’t done in a while, because we retire a lot of songs from certain tours, but I’m always aware that X-amount of people want to hear some of those songs. So, I wanted to sort of see if there was a way we could give them a fresh coat of paint without changing them so much, because I’m also respectful of people wanting to be able to sing along,” says Keith. “Sometimes [when] I go see artists play and when they do some of their older hits, they sing them in a way in which it seems like they’re obligated to do and they don’t want to do it and that sort of thing, and then they start changing the melody and no one can sing along. So, I’ve never been a fan of that, but also recognize that for us we’ve done the song a million times, so how can we change it so it’s fresh and new for us, but not too different for everybody out front? Hopefully, we’ve done that with things like ‘[Where the] Blacktop [Ends]’ by bringing in the Ralph Stanley sample and a few things like that.”

Keith’s ripCord World Tour, which also features Brett Eldredge and Maren Morris, launches Thursday (June 2nd) in Kansas City, Missouri.

Josh Turner releases his new single “Hometown Girl” off his upcoming sixth studio album. “Hometown Girl” will go for official radio adds on Tuesday, May 31, but is available for preview and purchase HERE.

“The first time I heard ‘Hometown Girl’ I was excited,” explains Josh. “First of all, it sounded like a hit to me. It just had that chorus and vibe that held your attention and didn’t lose you. Honestly, it was different for me and that was kind of what I was looking for.”

Radio programmers across the country join Josh in his excitement for the new single:

“It’s a GREAT Country song….feel good and what we need. Seriously glad he’s back!” Charli McKenzie/WNCY Green Bay

“Josh is about as center lane country as you can get and this song really takes him to a new level—it’s a totally today vibe with his amazing voice and a song that women will love.”  Mike Preston/KKWF Seattle

“The unmistakable voice is back with a fantastic song!”  Grover Collins/WUBE Cincinnati

“Yet again, Josh has hit a home run with this hometown right in the pocket tune.” Owen Pickard/KJKE Oklahoma City

“Josh is at his best with this one! One of country’s most familiar voices delivers a huge song to radio!!” Mark Jennings/WOKQ Portsmouth, NH

“Hometown Girl” was written by Marc Beeson and Daniel Tashian, and the song was produced by Kenny Greenberg.

With a rich, deep voice and distinctive style, Turner has sold more than five million albums. As a disciple of traditional country music and a mentor to up-and-coming artists, Josh is one of the youngest members of the Grand Ole Opry.  From his 2003 Platinum-selling debut Long Black Train to his most recent 2012 Billboard No. 1 release Punching Bag, Turner has received six Inspirational Country Music Awards and garnered multiple GRAMMY, CMA, and ACM nominations.  Turner’s hits include “Your Man,” “Time Is Love,” “Why Don’t We Just Dance,” “Firecracker,” “Would You Go with Me” and more.

For more information and tour dates visit http://joshturner.com/.

Luke Bryan, Little Big Town, Lady Antebellum, Chris Stapleton and Brothers Osborne are among the artists performing during the Country 500 three-day concert event taking place on the infield of the Daytona International Speedway, during Memorial Day Weekend. Also known as “The Great American Music Fest at Daytona,” the Country 500 is the first huge music festival inside the grounds of one of the most iconic motorsports venues.

During Jimmy Buffett‘s recent show at Nashville’s Ascend Amphitheater, Alan Jackson surprised the crowd to perform their huge hit, “It’s Five O’Clock Somewhere.”

Brothers Osborne and Kacey Musgraves are set to play alongside bands like Violent Femmes and Better Than Ezra at the second annual Pilgrimage Music & Culture Festival September 24 and 25 in Franklin, Tennessee.

Kip Moore revealed to Us Weekly a rock playlist that “inspire him and get his blood pumping.” Some of the tracks include Led Zeppelin’s “Whole Lotta Love,” Bruce Springsteen’s “I’m on Fire” and The Killers’ “Shot at the Night.”

Canaan Smith will take part in the 4th Annual Cornhole Challenge, hosted by Craig Campbell on Tuesday, June 7th during this year’s CMA Music Festival. Proceeds will benefit the fight against colorectal cancer.

Lady Antebellum’s Charles Kelley won $10,000 for their Lady Aid children’s charities at the KNCI Golf and Guitars event.

Jon Pardi’s upcoming album, California Sunrise, is now available for pre-order. The album is available beginning June 17th.

Little Big Town was recently named the Artist of the Year by the Music Business Association.

A date has been set for the installment of CMT Crossroads featuring Charles Kelley and Rob Thomas. The pair traded vocals on each other’s songs, both solo and group endeavors.

Some of the songs they performed include Lady Antebellum’s “Love Don’t Live Here Anymore” and “We Owned the Night,” and Charles’ current single, “Lonely Girl,” as well well as Rob’s “Lonely No More” (see clip below), “This is How a Heart Breaks” and Matchbox 20’s “3 AM.”

CMT Crossroads with Charles and Rob premieres July 1st at 10pm ET/9pm CT.

In other news, Charles and his Lady A bandmates kick off their summer tour Friday (May 27th) at the Bayou Country Fest in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

Memorial Day, originally known as Decoration Day, originated after the American Civil War to commemorate the fallen Union soldiers of the Civil War. However, by the turn of the 20th century, Memorial Day celebrated Americans who have sacrificed their lives in all wars. The holiday also typically marks the start of the summer vacation season.

Some of your favorite country artists talk about what it means to be free because of the brave men and women willing to fight and sacrifice for our freedom.

For liners, go to https://pressroom.umgnashville.com/news/memorial-day-liners-billy-brothers-darius-easton-church-paslay-jon-josh-keith-lauren-lbt-luke-sam/

For other soundbites go to https://pressroom.umgnashville.com/news/memorial-day-audio-dierks-church-keith-kelleigh-lbt-luke-sam/

Keith Urban has been in rehearsals in Nashville this week for his upcoming ripCord World Tour, kicking off next week. He’ll include several songs from his new album, Ripcord, which is spending a second week at the top of the Billboard country album chart. He said during a private rehearsal event on Wednesday that he’s still trying to figure out how to include about nine of the songs from the new record into the set.

He’ll start his shows with “Gone Tomorrow Here Today,” which is also the first song from his new album, Ripcord. “When we wrote ‘Gone Tomorrow Here Today,’ I not only felt like that was the perfect song to start a record, I felt like it was the perfect song to start a tour, as well,” says Keith. “It’s just my own personal love for the things that I like about it, which is the fusion of the ganjo – which is such a crucial part of my sound, but it’s presented in a way that I have not done before. The melodic structure of that riff is not like anything in any of my other songs, but the sound is very familiar. I like that sense of having something that is very familiar to everybody, but then do a twist on it…It hopefully has enough familiarity to pull you along, yeah, to pull you along for the journey as well. So, it seemed again like a good opening track for the show.”

Keith’s ripCord World Tour, which also features Brett Eldredge and Maren Morris, launches June 2nd in Kansas City, Missouri. He’ll play a bunch of amphitheaters and will include a second satellite stage located on the lawn.

Dierks Bentley has released his new single, “Different for Girls,” which features Elle King. It’s the follow-up to his two-week No. 1 single, “Somewhere on a Beach” – both of which are from his new album, Black, which is available beginning tomorrow (Friday, May 27th).

“There is a real honesty in these lyrics, and I haven’t heard a song written this way before. The differences in how guys and girls deal with a broken heart is really interesting material to me,” says Dierks. “Having two daughters certainly has changed the way I see the world and what they have ahead. What I love about Elle being on this record, besides her uniquely powerful but vulnerable voice, is that she’s a total badass. Having her perspective really helps tell the complete story.”

“When I got the call that Dierks wanted me to sing with him I was very honored, but I get a little shy when I’m asked to sing other people’s songs – let alone a duet with one of the biggest Country stars in the world,” added King. “Our voices blended really well together. Since I often write from the male perspective, I was really excited to be a part of someone else’s story that is jumping outside of the norm for a relationship song. The lyrics are really smart and I love that he is bringing a lot of attitude to modern country music.”

Dierks is set to perform the multi-week No. 1 smash “Somewhere On A Beach” on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon tonight (May 26th) on NBC, before taking over Rockefeller Plaza as part of TODAY’s Summer Concert Series on BLACK Friday (May 27th at 7:00A ET/CT on NBC). The multi-Platinum singer/songwriter continues the celebration with CMT’s Instant Jam Takeover Weekend, as he co-hosts the Hot 20 Countdown (May 28th at 10:00A CT on CMT) episode from his 2016 SOMEWHERE ON A BEACH TOUR followed by the premiere of his surprise Instant Jam (May 28th at 8:00P CT on CMT) concert special from Knoxville, TN. For more information on the new album, upcoming appearances and tour dates, visit www.dierks.com.

Dierks Bentley is throwing a Memorial Day beach bash, and he’s invited several thousand of his closest friends and fans. The Somewhere on a Beach Bash will take place Monday (May 30th) at Panama City Beach’s famed Spinnaker Beach Club and Paradise Grill.

Not only is Dierks going to be there to celebrate the two-week No. 1 single, “Somewhere on a Beach,” but also the release of his new album, Black, on Friday (May 27th).

“The album’s coming out Memorial Day Weekend, and so we’re gonna throw a big party on the beach down in Florida. It’s gonna be crazy. It’s gonna be absolutely crazy.  I’m so excited,” says Dierks. “I can’t imagine this beach party that we’re throwing is not going to be just off the charts. It’s gonna be fun.”

Catch Dierks tomorrow night on NBC’s Tonight Show Featuring Jimmy Fallon and on the Today Show on Friday (May 27th).

Dierks Bentley flew up to New York City on Tuesday (May 24th) and was able to go by the plant that’s manufacturing the vinyl version of his new album, Black.

The Academy of Country Music® announced today ten-time ACM Award-winning group, Lady Antebellum will host the 10^TH ANNUAL ACM HONORS™, an evening dedicated to celebrating the special honorees and off-camera category winners from the 51^st Academy of Country Music Awards. For the first time ever, ACM Honors will be produced for television by dick clark productions and broadcast at a later date on the CBS Television Network. The 10^th Annual ACM Honors will be held on Tuesday, August 30, 2016 at the historic Ryman Auditorium in Nashville, TN. ACM Honors performers and airdate for the primetime special will be announced in the coming weeks.

Honorees include Special Awards recipients Glen Campbell, Crystal Gayle, Eddie Rabbitt(awarded posthumously), Tanya Tucker, Carrie Underwood, Keith Urban, Jeff Walker (awarded posthumously), Jimmy Webb, Little Big Town and The Statler Brothers. Studio Recording Awards recipients include Jim ‘Moose’ Brown, Dave Cobb, Shannon Forrest, Paul Franklin, Justin Niebank, Danny Rader, Michael Rhodes and Derek Wells. In addition, Ross Coppermanwill be honored as Songwriter of the Year. For more information on specific awards, please visitwww.acmcountry.com.

Ticket on-sale information to be announced soon!

For more information on the ACADEMY OF COUNTRY MUSIC and the ACADEMY OF COUNTRY MUSIC AWARDS, please visit www.acmcountry.com. For information on ACM LIFTING LIVES, please visit www.acmliftinglives.org.