Universal Universal Music Group Nashville Pressroom

American Idol judge Keith Urban heard himself on the radio for the first time in Tamworth, Australia with a song called “Homefires.” Check out the video below as Keith recalls the life-changing event.

These days, he can hear his latest hit single, “Cop Car,” on the radio. It’s from his No. 1 album, Fuse.

Darius Rucker will be headed to Las Vegas for the ACM Awards next weekend. He’s nominated for three awards – Single, Song and Vocal Event of the Year – for his recording of “Wagon Wheel,” which also features his friends and label mates Lady Antebellum.

“We cut it, and after we finished it, it was great. And then so Frank [Rogers] and I were talking about what we’re gonna do, and I was like, ‘You know, I’m on tour with Lady A. Let’s see if they’ll sing on the backgrounds,’” recalls Darius. “They loved the song and came in and did it, and that song went from being…I cut it to put it as the last song on my record, to end the record that way, and when they were done, I was like, ‘Man, it’ll probably be second, and [laughs] if it’s the first single, I’m OK with that too.’ It was just so great.”

While in Vegas, Darius, who’s climbing the country charts with his single “Miss You,” will once again host the ACM Lifting Lives Celebrity Golf Classic on April 5th. He’s also most likely planning a little time for gambling, as well. One game he enjoys – sometimes — is Roulette.

“Roulette’s a fun game, especially if you’re just playing the colors, and if you hit a number one time, you feel like you’re on top of the world. I mean it pays 36 to one. That’s pretty amazing,” says Darius. “I’ve hit big once, once in Roulette, but Roulette’s that kind of game where…you can lose fast, and I don’t like losing fast.”

The 49th Annual Academy of Country Music Awards, hosted by Luke Bryan and Blake Shelton, will be broadcast live from the MGM Grand in Las Vegas April 6th at 8pm ET/delayed PT on CBS.

Darius (Lady A Wagon Wheel) OC: …own way. :20
“We cut it, and after we finished it, it was great. And then so Frank [Rogers] and I were talking about what we’re gonna do, and I was like, ‘You know, I’m on tour with Lady A. Let’s see if they’ll sing on the backgrounds.’ And he was like, ‘Yeah, ask ‘em.’ And they loved the song and came in and did it, and that song went from being…I cut it to put it as the last song on my record, to end the record that way, and when they were done, I was like, ‘Man, it’ll probably be second, and [laughs] if it’s the first single, I’m OK with that too.’ It was just so great…and it’s really great to get a song that’s so big in its own way.”

Darius Rucker (roulette) OC: …lose fast. :21
“Roulette’s a fun game, especially if you’re just playing the colors, and if you hit a number one time, you feel like you’re on top of the world. I mean it pays 36 to one. That’s pretty amazing. I’ve hit big once, once in Roulette, but Roulette’s that kind of game where you lose fast, you can lose fast, and I don’t like losing fast. I don’t mind losing. I just don’t want to lose fast.”

Eric Paslay has hit the airwaves with his latest single, “Song About a Girl,” from his self-titled debut album, which is on everyone’s playlist for the Spring/Summer seasons, but with his appearance at this year’s Tortuga Music Festival in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida next month, he’s whipped up a beach playlist for American Songwriter to help celebrate the sun-filled months.

1. The Beach Boys’ “Kokomo” — This was one of the first albums I bought as a kid. You can’t help but wish you’re sittin’ on one of these islands. 

2. Bob Marley’s “Is This Love” — This song is perfect for the beach, especially if you’re with your baby!

3. Jimmy Buffett’s “Margaritaville” — One of the best beach bum songs. Can’t help but wanna be Buffet, sip on a margarita, out on the beach . . . minus the broken heart and the lost shaker of salt.

4. Weezer’s “Island in the Sun” — When I hear this I always feel like I have nowhere to be or nothing to do! Other than soak up some sun in the island(s).

5. U2’s “Where the Streets Have No Name” — I’ve never seen a street sign on a beach and I love this song. Why not play an Irish band on the equator?!!

6. Eagles’ “Tequila Sunrise” — 1. Wake up at a beach. 2. Turn this on. 3. Have an awesome day!

7. Sheryl Crow’s “Soak Up the Sun” — Sheryl is awesome! All red heads listen up! Get your 45 (spf) on so you can rock on!

8. Willie Nelson’s “Luckenbach, Texas” — I know Luckenbach isn’t on the coast, but we all go to the beach to get away and that’s what this great Willie Nelson song is about.

9. Bing Crosby’s “Mele Kalikimaka “ — I just like getting funny looks from people when I play this in the summer time!

10. And of course – his own “Song About a Girl.”

Eric Church’s The Outsiders climbs back to the top of the country album chart this week. The collection sold 18,342 copies to land at No. 1 on the country chart and at No. 3 overall. Luke Bryan’s Spring Break 6…Like We Ain’t Ever follows at No. 2 on the country chart (Luke’s Crash My Party is at No. 4 on the country chart).

Eric describes the album as “more introspective” than what folks initially thought he would release as his fourth studio album. “What I chuckled about is when ‘The Outsiders’ came out and everybody thought it was going to be a progressive rock record, I kind of chuckled when it was happening. I mean, I enjoyed that, ‘cause I was sitting there going, ‘You’re judging it on the first song,’ and it’s probably the most introspective we’ve done,” says the North Carolina native. “To me, it shows maturity. It shows I’m not trying to figure out what people want me to be or want us to be. That’s just how it is right now, and at this stage in the career, I feel comfortable enough that to just say it or write it or sing it or play it.”

Eric’s latest single, “Give Me Back My Hometown,” is closing in on the top of the country charts.

Eric Church (introspective album) OC: …or play it. :41
“I think it’s more introspective. What I chuckled about is when ‘The Outsiders’ came out and everybody thought it was going to be a progressive rock record, I kind of chuckled when it was happening. I mean, I enjoyed that, ‘cause I was sitting there going, ‘You’re judging it on the first song,’ and it’s probably the most introspective we’ve done. I mean, you can take two or three tracks on the album that are just very real. ‘Dark Side’ is another one that’s very real and very introspective. To me, it shows maturity. It shows I’m not trying to figure out what people want me to be or want us to be. That’s just how it is right now, and at this stage in the career, I feel comfortable enough that to just say it or write it or sing it or play it.”

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (March 26, 2014) – George Strait rode into Music City’s Bridgestone Arena Friday on stop 16 of 26 on his two-year record-breaking The Cowboy Rides Away Tour, presented by Quicken Loans with special guest Sheryl Crow. The crowd, a raucous 16,652, welcomed the reigning CMA Entertainer of the Year and current ACM Entertainer of the Year nominee with overwhelming applause as he opened his nearly two-hour and 30+ song set with the Top 5 hit “The Fireman” – not even one of his 60 No. 1 singles. 

Crow, who joined Strait for Saturday’s Atlanta, Ga. show, too, accompanied Strait during his set on the hits “Here For A Good Time” and “When Did You Stop Loving Me.” Then, as an unannounced surprise to the crowd, Eric Church joined Strait halfway through the set for “Cowboys Like Us.” Upon exit, Strait said, “Eric Church, everybody – we’ll see you in Dallas!” referring to Strait’s tour finale on June 7 at AT&T Stadium.

As if that was not enough—being that it was Nashville—Kenny Chesney sauntered on stage to accompany Strait for the 1983 hit “Amarillo By Morning.” 

Earlier in the evening, UMG Nashville President Mike Dungan presented Strait, who is a 33-plus year veteran of the label MCA Nashville, with an RIAA Certified Platinum Plaque for his 60^th No. 1 single, “Give It All We’ve Got Tonight” from his latest album, Love Is Everything, which features his current Top 40-and-climbing single “I Got A Car.” 

Remaining 2014 The Cowboy Rides Away Tour dates are as follows:
April 4, 2014   INTRUST Bank Arena?Wichita, Kan.

*With special guests Lee Ann Womack and Merle Haggard
April 5, 2014   Pepsi Center?Denver, Colo.
*With special guests Lee Ann Womack and Merle Haggard
April 11, 2014   Moda Center?Portland, Ore.
*With special guest Chris Young
April 12, 2014   Tacoma Dome?Tacoma, Wash.
*With special guest Chris Young
April 18, 2014   Wells Fargo Arena?Des Moines, Iowa
*With special guest Ronnie Dunn
April 19, 2014   BOK Center?Tulsa, Okla.
*With special guest Ronnie Dunn
May 23, 2014   Tiger Stadium?Baton Rouge, La.
*Bayou Country Superfest
May 31, 2014   Gillette Stadium?Foxborough, Mass.
*With special guests Tim McGraw and Faith Hill
June 7, 2014   AT&T Stadium?Arlington, Texas
*With special guests Jason Aldean, Asleep At The Wheel, Kenny Chesney, Eric Church, Vince Gill, Faith Hill, Alan Jackson, Miranda Lambert, Martina McBride and Lee Ann Womack 

For more information on Strait’s forthcoming new music and Quicken Loans Presents George Strait’s The Cowboy Rides Away Tour 2014, please visit  www.georgestrait.com. 

Easton Corbin has been in the studio working on his follow-up to 2012’s All Over the Road album, when he hasn’t been on tour. “Clockwork,” the first single from the project, is climbing the country charts, and it’s a little taste of what’s in store for his fans. He was drawn to the song in a couple of different ways, including the fact that he felt most people could relate to it.

“The first time I heard that song, it really grabbed me melodically. I loved that melody, and for me, I guess, being a musician, a lot of times that’s the first thing that really, really grabs me,” says Easton. “Lyrically, it was just as strong, and the subject matter of that song, everybody goes through that at some point in their life, especially us guys…But usually when you think about that stereotypically, you think of the guy calling up the girl, but this time, it’s turned around. It’s a girl calling the guy, which I thought that was kind of interesting.”

In other news, Easton, who recently wrapped up his trek with The Band Perry, has also been performing ‘mini-concerts’ at high schools to help raise awareness for the Future Farmers of America (FFA) organization.

Easton Corbin (Clockwork) OC: …towards that. :40
“The first time I heard that song, it really grabbed me melodically. I loved that melody, and for me, I guess, being a musician, a lot of times that’s the first thing that really, really grabs me. And I guess second of all, lyrically, it was just as strong and the subject matter of that song, everybody goes through that at some point in their life, especially us guys. And also the subject matter, I hate to say it, but it’s kind of a booty call song – a little bit of that. But usually when you think about that stereotypically, you think the guy calling up the girl, but this time, it’s turned around. It’s a girl calling the guy, which I thought that was kind of interesting, and I just really gravitated towards that.”

Keith Urban has six nominations leading into next month’s ACM Awards, three of which are for “The Highway Don’t Care” with Tim McGraw and Taylor Swift, including Vocal Event, Music Video and Single of the Year.

“When I got the call from Tim about playing a solo on this ‘Highway Don’t Care,’ that’s just one of those magical little moments, you know? I mean, when I heard the song, I went, ‘Gol’, this is a great song,’ and I heard it before Taylor was on it,” says Keith. “So, the first time I heard the whole thing completed was on the radio, and it sounded amazing, and I just thought, ‘Gosh, I think this song’s gonna do really well.’”

Keith gets a kick out of the fact he’s nominated for his guitar playing. “I’ve never been nominated so much for a guitar solo in my life,” he laughs.

He’s also up for Male Vocalist of the Year, and he’s competing against himself in the Vocal Event of the Year category with his duet with Miranda Lambert on “We Were Us.” Keith could win a pair of trophies if he won this category since he’s both the artist and producer.

The 49th Annual ACM Awards will be broadcast live from the MGM Grand in Las Vegas beginning at 8pm ET/PT delayed April 6th on CBS.

Keith is currently flying up the country charts with his latest single, “Cop Car,” from his latest album, Fuse.

Keith Urban (Highway Don’t Care) OC: …in my life. [laughs] :25
“When I got the call from Tim [McGraw] about playing a solo on this ‘Highway Don’t Care,’ that’s is just one of those magical little moments, you know? I mean, when I heard the song, I went, ‘Gol’, this is a great song,’ and I heard it before Taylor [Swift] was on it. So, the first time I heard the whole thing completed was on the radio, and it sounded amazing, and I just thought, ‘Gosh, I think this song’s gonna do really well.’ I’ve never been nominated so much for a guitar solo in my life.” [laughs]

Nashville, TN – March 24, 2014 – Multi-Platinum artist Dierks Bentley has earned his first No. 1 hit off his seventh studio album RISER, as “I Hold On” tops both the Billboard Country Airplay and Mediabase radio charts this week.

“I was just sitting in my truck looking over at the passenger seat where my dad sat almost 20 years ago when we drove from Phoenix to Nashville at the beginning of this honky tonk dream. He would love that a song inspired from that road trip made it to the top of the country charts,” said Bentley. “I’ve said from the beginning, if you want to know who I am in three minutes and thirty seconds, play this song. The fact that country radio and the fans got on board for this one, and that I’m getting such great feedback to the entire album is so overwhelming. There are a lot of songs on this album I want to get to as singles, and there is no better way to do that than to start off with a big hit. I am really grateful that country radio continues to like what I’m doing and supports me and my music.”

The “sterling anthem that serves as the album’s centerpiece” (American Songwriter) becomes the 11th song to reach the summit for Bentley as both an artist and songwriter and served as the introductory track to his seventh studio album RISER, which continues to earn praise from critics.

“He sounds gritty and time-tested…the catchiest choruses country has heard in a while. Even after seven albums, Bentley finds new ground on Riser, and it’s fertile.” – Billboard

“On his latest, Riser, Dierks Bentley again elevates himself above the rest of the country pack.” – People

“…an album that resurrects personal stories that once defined country music.” – Country Weekly 

Bentley will kick off his headlining 2014 RISER TOUR on May 9 in Charlotte, NC with special guests Chris Young, Chase Rice and Jon Pardi. For a full list of upcoming tour dates and appearances,visit www.dierks.com. 

CHECK OUT A SPECIAL MESSAGE FROM DIERKS BELOW.

Dierks Bentley’s “I Hold On” climbed to the top of both the Country Aircheck and Billboard country singles charts this week. The song, from his latest album Riser, is his 11th song to hit No. 1, and it’s deeply personal to the father of three.

“These verses are snippets about my life and just things about me, and it’s kind of a song of self-discovery too,” says Dierks. “Who am I after all these years? What’s important to me? Why do I do certain things that I do? Why do I hold on to certain things that I hold onto? It’s a little bit of me trying to figure out who I am.”

Dierks will definitely perform the chart-topping hit when he hits the road on his Riser Tour May 9th in Charlotte, North Carolina.

Dierks Bentley (I Hold On) 1 OC: …at the end. :33
“It’s so me. It’s so personal, and yet it’s universal at the same time. You know, these verses are snippets about my life and just things about me, and it’s kind of a song of self-discovery too, you know. Who am I after all these years? What’s important to me? Why do I do certain things that I do? Why do I hold on to certain things that I hold onto? It’s a little bit of me trying to figure out who I am, and then the choruses, it’s who we are as Americans, as a people, as human beings, I guess. There are things that we really value and that we hold on to ‘em really tight – faith, love and freedom. In a way, it’s kind of a love song too, kind of wrapping up at the end.”

Luke Bryan is set to take part in another event leading up to this year’s ACM Awards. It’s not a concert or a show, but an event the reigning ACM Entertainer of the Year excels in, especially during the winter months. He is heading up his own team – and co-hosting – at Cabela’s Great Outdoor Archery Event at The LINQ in Las Vegas April 5th. His team includes former opening act, Florida Georgia Line, as well as Lee Brice, Tyler Farr, Dustin Lynch and songwriter Dallas Davidson. His fellow co-host Justin Moore is in charge of his team, consisting of Brantley Gilbert, Thomas Rhett, Ashton Shepherd, Chase Rise and Chuck Wicks, among others. You can catch the event live at Cabelas.com/ACM Archery beginning at 12:45pm ET/11:45am CT.

Luke will co-host the 49th Annual ACM Awards with his buddy, Blake Shelton, Sunday, April 6th live from the MGM Grand in Las Vegas on CBS. In the meantime, you can vote for Luke for Entertainer of the Year at acmvote.com.