Universal Universal Music Group Nashville Pressroom

If you go to a Luke Bryan show, you’re bound to get overheated – not only because of his sexy onstage dance moves and nonstop interaction with the audience, but because a lot of his shows are outdoor, and many of the cities he’s visited have been having record heat waves. So, how does this country boy stay cool onstage? “With playing really, really hot amphitheaters, you just have to remember throughout the day what you’re fixin’ to have to get up there and do,” says Luke. “For me, I love getting out there and sweatin’ and workin’. I mean, I grew up in South Georgia workin’ in the heat and I love getting out there and flushing out all the ole, the beer from last night out.” Luke isn’t too concerned about himself, but more about his fans. “In that scenario, I worry about the fans, ‘cause really, they’re out there drinking beer all day and you just worry about their safety and them being hydrated. I’ve got enough people checking on me and looking after me, so I’ll be taken care of.”

 AUDIO: Luke Bryan explains what he does to stay cool onstage during the hot summer months.

Luke Bryan (heat) OC: …taken care of. :54

“Well, with playing really, really hot amphitheaters, you just have to remember throughout the day what you’re fixin’ to have to get up there and do. For me, I love getting out there and sweatin’ and workin’. I mean, I grew up in South Georgia workin’ in the heat and I love getting out there and flushing out all the ole, the beer from last night out. So, it’s fun for me, but you do have to be careful. You know, some of the amphitheaters, I think in Philadelphia last year we had, under the shed it was like 115, 120. So, you just have to hydrate onstage and be mindful. In that scenario, I worry about the fans, ‘cause really, they’re out there drinking beer all day and you just worry about their safety and them being hydrated. I’ve got enough people checking on me and looking after me, so I’ll be taken care of.”

Luke Bryan has been tapped to perform during the annual Muscular Dystrophy Association’s Labor Day Weekend special, now titled MDA Show of Strength. Luke will join other such performers as Carrie Underwood, Tim McGraw, Pitbull, Will.i.am, Carole King and Hot Chelle Rae, among others.  

The show, featuring more than a dozen of today’s top entertainers, also will include inspirational “stories of strength” about families affected by muscular dystrophy and related diseases.

The three-hour special is scheduled to air Sunday, September 2nd at 8pm ET.

“The show will be broadcast over MDA’s “Love Network” of almost 150 television stations across the country and streamed from mda.org. 

Eric Church‘s new single, “Creepin’,” kicks off his platinum-certified album, Chief, and according to the North Carolina native, he couldn’t think of a better way to start the record. “I love how not only the title is ‘Creepin’,’ but it kinda creeps in. You know, it starts in one dynamic and ends in a totally different dynamic. I’ve always loved the song, I have loved the looseness and oddness of it,” says Eric. “It was just one of those things you didn’t expect, and I think it sets the tone for the record. It shows how unharnessed the album is gonna be. It is completely free and moving and breathing, and that’s what I love.”

The next leg of Eric’s Blood, Sweat & Beers Tour kicks off September 13th in Amherst, MA, and he’s bringing along special guests Justin Moore and Kip Moore.

AUDIO: Eric Church talks about his latest single, “Creepin’,” which kicks off his album, Chief.

Eric Church (Creepin’) OC: …what I love. :33

“‘Creepin’ ’ to me was the perfect way to start the record. I mean, I love how not only the title is ‘Creepin’,’ but it kinda creeps in. You know, it starts in one dynamic and ends in a totally different dynamic. I’ve always loved the song, I have loved the looseness and oddness of it. One of the best quotes I had [was] from somebody who heard it recently for the first time, and they got through listening to it and their response was ‘What the hell?’ And they went back and listened to it again, they love it. It was just one of those things you didn’t expect, and I think it sets the tone for the record. It shows how unharnessed the album is gonna be. It is completely free and moving and breathing, and that’s what I love.”

Newcomer Kelleigh Bannen has hit the country charts in a big way with her debut single, “Sorry on the Rocks,” and people are already clamoring over when they’ll be able to download it for themselves, especially those on a specific mission. “I had someone write me on Twitter and say, ‘I can’t wait for ‘Sorry on the Rocks’ to be up on iTunes, because I have someone who needs to hear that,’” laughs the Nashville native. Kelleigh’s college friends and roommates would agree. “Everyone has either placed that phone call or they’ve been on the receiving end of that phone call…that was college…when I was overhearing all of that from my girlfriends – ‘You would not believe who called me last night at 2 o’clock in the morning!’ Everyone gets really sorry and really apologetic, you know, at that time of the day.”

“Sorry on the Rocks” is the first single from Kelleigh’s debut album, due out early next year.

AUDIO: Kelleigh Bannen talks about her debut single, “Sorry on the Rocks.”

Kelleigh Bannen (Sorry on the Rocks) OC: …hear that. [laughs] :38

“Everyone has either placed that phone call or they’ve been on the receiving end of that phone call. I feel like especially, I don’t know why, for me, that was college was like when I was overhearing all of that from my girlfriends – ‘You would not believe who called me last night at 2 o’clock in the morning!’ Everyone gets really sorry and really apologetic, you know, at that time of the day. I don’t know if that’s it, but that was the concept and that’s where it came from. It’s fun now too to hear people say, I had someone write me on Twitter and say, ‘I can’t wait for ‘Sorry on the Rocks’ to be up on iTunes, because I have someone who needs to hear that.’ [laughs]”

Get the inside scoop Luke Bryan and Jason Aldean on the road this week, hosted by DeeJay Silver. Qued tries to let you in on some important information. And be sure to catch the prank played on Luke during his show.

This week’s Urban Chat video gives you a sneak peek into the studio where Keith Urban is writing and recording new songs! One of those songs is called “Tidal Wave,” which you can hear near the end of the clip.