Universal Universal Music Group Nashville Pressroom

The Duck Dynasty cast, including Willie, Korie, Jase, Missy, Uncle Si and Jeb Robertson, among more members of the family, announced at a Saturday night (June 8th) press conference backstage at the CMA Music Festival, that they signed with UMG Nashville and will release a holiday album, Duck the Halls: A Robertson Family Christmas on October 29th. The album, produced by Buddy Cannon, will feature their singing talents, as well as their own brand of Southern down-home sense of humor.

“Faith, family and ducks – in that order – have always been our priorities,” explains Willie Robertson, CEO of Duck Commander. “Christmas is an important holiday for us not only because of our strong faith, but also our holiday family traditions. We’re having a great time making this album.”

Willie’s wife, Korie, says, “The whole family is going to be involved. It’ll be kind of a variety show style, music CD, and we’ve got some surprises for you, so it’s going to be a lot of fun.”

AUDIO: Korie Robertson, Duck Dynasty, announces her family’s new Christmas album, Duck the Halls: A Robertson Family Christmas.

Duck Dynasty (Christmas-Korie) OC: …a lot of fun. :25
“We are coming out with a Christmas album – a Robertson Family Christmas album, and the title is, you could probably guess it, Duck the Halls. So, we’re really excited about it. We just signed with Universal Music group, and we’re so excited about it. The whole family is going to be involved. It’ll be kind of a variety show style, music CD, and we’ve got some surprises for you, so it’s going to be a lot of fun.”

Father’s Day is Sunday (June 16th), and we have many of your favorite artists talking about their own fathers or being fathers themselves. Thanks Dad!!!!

AJ (parenting style) OC: …what they did.  :19
“We try to be just not pushy hands on parents. We let them live and be their own way. I’m not stern with them. You know, I’m funny and light, and try to give them guidance and let them live and learn their own ways. And that’s something, I think, my parents did. It was accidental, but that’s what they did.”

Darius Rucker (Father’s Day) OC: …loving dad. :41
“I think if you asked my kids what kind of Dad I was they would probably say…Danny would say that I was a fun Dad. My little daughter would say that I was a fun dad; she thinks I’m a lot of fun. I think if you caught them at the right moment they would say I was mean [laughs] because when I’m home I’m not afraid to discipline them. I’m all fun until it’s not fun anymore and then daddy’s not the fun guy. I think that they’d say that I was a fun Dad, I’m a loving Dad and I think they would say that. I’m gone so much that when I’m home, I just shower love upon my kids. I say ‘I love you’ probably fifty times a day. We hug, we kiss all the time. I’m always wanting them to know how much I love them. So I’d hope they’d say that I was a loving dad.”

Dierks Bentley (dad & performer) OC: …to do both. :28
“When I get home, it’s a totally different reality that I wouldn’t trade for anything in the world. Just hanging with my girls and doing the things we do and seeing life through their eyes, it’s incredible. It takes a man to do it. It’s not a boys’ game. It takes a man to do it. I love the juxtaposition to be able to be that man and to also go on the road and act like I’m 13 years old and play video games all afternoon waiting for the fans to show up. So, it’s really a blessing to be able to do both.”

Dierks (Father’s Day) OC: …that’s for sure. :10
“My dad is my biggest influence in country music because my dad loved country radio. So, we always drove around listening to country radio and George Strait, Hank Williams and Randy Travis and all these guys, so. Without him, I wouldn’t be doing this, that’s for sure.”

Eric Church (Father’s Day) OC: …always admired. :29
“My dad is a, I’m trying to find the right words to describe him. My dad is a great guy, honest guy, very call it like he sees it, which is where I get a lot of that. No BS. I’m gonna tell you how I feel whether you like it or not, I’m that guy, I’m me…My dad’s that way, so I get a lot of that from him. There’s also an honesty and an integrity that my dad carries himself with that I’ve always admired. I think the both of them combined, and they’ve been married for I think 40 years, to be together that long in this day and time is a feat in itself.”

Keith Urban (Father’s Day) OC: …experience that. :36
“The first thing is probably just having someone call you dad. I’m like, ‘Omigosh! I’m her dad! That’s amazing.’ That’s probably the first thing to me. I don’t know, I mean, the different personalities that our two daughters have, that’s amazing. It’s such a long list I think. I always say…I think for the people that haven’t had kids – which I hadn’t for a long, long time. I didn’t have kids ‘til later on, and being around it is not the same as having them, you know? I realize that it’s not something that can be explained until you actually sort of have it, so I’m glad I got to experience that.”

Kip Moore (Father’s Day-dad’s influence) OC: …of us singin’ ‘em. :29
“He would just play all those classic records – Little River Band, Jackson Brown, Springsteen, Seeger, Willie Nelson, the Red-Headed Stranger, Kristofferson, Sam Cook – like classic music. He’d be singing the songs and telling us why it was such good music. And I looked up to him so much, that’s the music I gravitated towards and that’s what I continue to listen to. Whenever I think about those old fishing trips, that’s what I think about is on the way down there, him singing those songs and all of us singin’ ‘em.” 

Little Big Town (Jimi-Father’s Day) OC: …beautiful. :32
“It’s still such a new experience for us, and man, I’m telling you, people can tell you all day long how great it’s going to be, but it still never touches it. That little man looking back at me, it’s the most unbelievable feeling. And every day, for me who hates mornings [laughs], waking up to a slap in the face; he’s like pounding on me, then he’s like kissing on me and stuff. It’s unbelievable. It’s absolutely beautiful.”

Father’s Day is Sunday (June 16th), and we have liners with many of your favorite country stars! See and download below.

Dierks Bentley has released his new single, “Bourbon in Kentucky,” to radio on Tuesday (May 28th), and it’s the first taste of his new album, Riser, which is due in stores this fall. “Bourbon In Kentucky” explores the dark internal emotions of loss and disconnection told through an intense vocal performance by Bentley and haunting backing vocals from Kacey Musgraves.  The singers’ emotions are matched sonically with scraping guitar tones and a rhythm section based in tension and mystery. It’s a gripping account of separation and the dramatic steps many take to kill the pain that accompanies it.
 
“I’ve never heard anything like ‘Bourbon’ before,” Bentley said in a press release. “I really love the angst of it. I’ve been there before where you can’t drink your way through a heartache or a broken heart. There’s such an aggressive lonesomeness in this song.”

Dierks thought it was a perfect beginning for his forthcoming album, Riser. “‘Bourbon’ came around and it kinda has this darkness to it and this loneliness to it, but it kind of rocks, and Kacey Musgraves singing  harmonies. And it just opens the door to a whole new dimension, and it just was different. I think when people hear that, they won’t be able to pigeonhole the record and be like, ‘Oh, I know exactly what he’s doing here; what he’s trying to do.’ It’s gonna be like, ‘Wow! I really have no idea what is going on here. It’s so different from what I’ve heard in the past.’”

For a behind-the-scenes look into the studio for the recording of “Bourbon in Kentucky,” visit RollingStone.com.

Dierks Bentley (Bourbon in Kentucky) OC: …being heard together. :38
“It was just something different that my hardcore fans would be surprised to hear. Maybe just put out something new and different and exciting. ‘Bourbon’ came around and it kinda has this darkness to it and this loneliness to it, but it kind of rocks, and Kacey Musgraves singing  harmonies. And it just opens the door to a whole new dimension, and it just was different. I think when people hear that, they won’t be able to pigeonhole the record and be like, ‘Oh, I know exactly what he’s doing here; what he’s trying to do.’ It’s gonna be like, ‘Wow! I really have no idea what is going on here. It’s so different from what I’ve heard in the past.’ But, hopefully…it peaks their interest to check out the whole album, because it’s definitely an album project. It’s not just a bunch of songs thrown together. There’s an importance to the whole project.”

Four-time Grammy Award winner Keith Urban will release Fuse, his first new album in nearly three years, on Tuesday, September 10th.  The highly anticipated, seventh studio release (Hit Red Records/Capitol Records Nashville) has been nearly a year in the making.

“I really wanted to challenge myself musically,” said Urban. “…expand the boundaries of my sound, rhythm and melody, while still remaining true to who I am. Working with various co-producers while making Fuse, has been so inspiring and liberating – and we ain’t even done yet!.” 

The first single from Fuse, “Little Bit of Everything” was released to Country Radio on Monday, May 13th.  It marked a career best for Urban as the song debuted with official adds to the playlist’s of 100 Country radio stations. “Little Bit of Everything” debuted at #30 on the Billboard Country Singles Chart and today holds the #23 spot after only two weeks from release.

Upon the release of the single Urban commented, “On the song I was able to take elements of sound that I’ve used before and blend them together into a fusion of spirit and energy.”  Perhaps this provides a hint of what’s to come on Fuse.

Urban has celebrated two musical milestones in the past month, performing with The Rolling Stones and at Eric Clapton’s Crossroads Benefit with John Mayer and Vince Gill (on separate nights).  In addition, his recent, fourth annual All 4 The Hall Benefit Concert raised $650,000 for the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum. 

He kicks off his “Light The Fuse Tour 2013” on July 18^th in Cincinnati.

For official Keith Urban news and ticket information go to www.keithurban.net.

Dierks Bentley is readying the fall release of his next album, Riser, on Capitol Records Nashville. To celebrate, he’s released a clip for its lead single, “Bourbon in Kentucky,” which features country songstress Kacey Musgraves. She joins in on the chorus “There ain’t enough bourbon in Kentucky to forget you,” which serves as a tribute to Bentley’s father’s death. Riser was written and recorded in the year after he passed.

“I’ve never heard anything like ‘Bourbon’ before,” Bentley says. “I really love the angst of it. I’ve been there before where you can’t drink your way through a heartache or a broken heart. There’s such an aggressive lonesomeness in this song.”

Check out the entire article at RollingStone.com.

The new single is being released to radio on Tuesday (May 28th).

OKLAHOMA CITY — May 25, 2013 — Luke Bryan, Darius Rucker, Rascal Flatts and Ryan Tedder of One Republic have been added to the lineup for the “Healing in the Heartland: Relief Benefit Concert” organized and headlined by Blake Shelton with previously announced Grammy Award-winning artists Miranda Lambert, Reba and Vince Gill also performing.

Both Tedder and Joe Don Rooney of Rascal Flatts have strong Oklahoma roots.

Tickets for the concert went on sale Saturday morning and sold out in under five minutes. The Event will take place May 29th at Chesapeake Energy Arena in Oklahoma City.

The concert will be televised live at 9 p.m. ET/PT on NBC. It will also air on cable networks Style, G4, Bravo, E! and CMT on either a live or delayed basis.

“Everyone has their way to help, and mine as an entertainer is to perform to help raise money and awareness for this tragedy,” Shelton said. “This is why I want to do this special and especially hold it in Oklahoma City, which is near ground zero.”

The Event will raise funds for the United Way of Central Oklahoma May Tornadoes Relief Fund. Working with their local COMMUNITY partners, United Way of Central Oklahoma will use the Fund for immediate, intermediate and long-term recovery and rebuilding efforts in Oklahoma following the tornadoes that devastated Moore earlier this week.

Washington, DC can be a pretty cool place to be on Memorial Day Weekend…and this year, Eric Church and Kacey Musgraves are going to make it even more special for folks. They’ll be in the DC-area on Saturday (5/25) to perform as part of Kenny Chesney’s No Shoes Nation Tour at FedEx Field in Landover, Maryland.

•  Eric and Kacey both have several shows with Kenny under their belts already…and Eric says he’s having a blast on the tour. “It’s been great! I have a ton of respect for Kenny,” he says, adding, “I’m happy to be on that tour and proud to be on that tour.”
•  As for Kacey, she’s still trying to grasp the reality of being onstage in front of stadium-size crowds of fans. “I don’t know if any amount of preparation could prepare me for getting out on a stage in front of 70-thousand people. I mean, what human knows what to do with that!” She’s figuring it out, though! As Kacey explains, “Who better to learn from than someone who’s such an entertainer.”
• You can catch Eric and Kacey on the road all summer long, culminating with a two-night stand in late August at Gillette Stadium, home of the New England Patriots, in Foxboro, Massachusetts.

Eric Church talks about touring this summer with Kenny Chesney. (:30)

“It’s been great! I have a ton of respect for Kenny , [and] for the way he’s built his career. I know how hard it was for us to go from where we were to the arena level, and I can’t imagine to go from where he was to the stadium level. That’s just an amazing amount of commitment and passion. I have a lot of respect for that. And the work that’s went into it. I also have a lot of respect for the way he treats his crew, his band…the way they treat him…and the way he’s treated us. It’s…it’s something that I’m happy to be on that tour and proud to be on that tour.”

Kacey Musgraves says she’s soaking up the experience of being on tour with Kenny Chesney this summer. (:30)

“Well, I don’t know if any amount of preparation could prepare me for getting out on a stage in front of 70-thousand people. I mean, what human knows what to do with that, first! I don’t know! That’s got to create, like, a whole new level of energy that I’ve never been able to experience…until now. But who better to learn from than someone who’s such an entertainer, I mean, across all genres – I don’t care if you listen to his music or not. There’s no denying the fact that he is an amazing entertainer.”

Like most country artists, Kip Moore’s tour bus is his home-away-from-home – it has all the amenities he needs to get from city to city without feeling like he’s living out of a suitcase. But you have to wonder – is there a “must have” item on the bus that he simply can’t do without? Maybe something that’s even a bit of a luxury to have on-hand? Yep…but you’ll never guess what it is. “We’ve got this juicer that we’ve all gotten hooked on,” he says. It turns out the juicer is helping Kip and his band maintain a healthier regimen when they’re traveling – the stuff they make often takes the place of pizza, wings, mac-and-cheese and the occasional corndog. As a result, Kip admits, “Right now the juicer is the top dog on there!”

• Kip is currently climbing his way toward the Top 10 with his new hit, “Hey Pretty Girl” from his Up All Night album.

Kip Moore reveals his current “must have” item on the road…and it may not be what you’d expect! (:34)

“A must-have on my bus…. Actually, we’ve got this juicer that we’ve all gotten hooked on. I know that sounds crazy. I know that I’m supposed to say something wild, but…there’s so much bad food! Every night you get on the bus [and] there’s pizza…there’s…you know, somebody’s brought in chicken wings or whatever. But this juicer we’ve all gotten hooked on it, and it’s like we all feel better throughout the day. So we’ve all – all five of us are using this thing all through the day so we’re not eating five plates of mac-and-cheese and corndogs, you know. So, I’d say right now the juicer is the top dog on there!”

The last few days have been pretty cool for George Strait – since Saturday, the man has celebrated a birthday, scored his 60^th number-one hit, and now tops the country album chart with his new release, Love Is Everything! This latest accomplishment is pretty substantial – consider this: Love Is Everything is King George’s 25^th number-one country album, and the runners-up in the record books on that front are Willie Nelson and Merle Haggard, who’ve each topped that chart 15 times. What’s more, this is George’s 18th Top 10 album on the overall Billboard Top 200 Albums chart (where it debuts at number-two). Only three other male artists – Frank Sinatra, Elvis Presley and Bob Dylan – have scored more Top 10 Billboard albums. That’s some pretty impressive and revered company, to say the least!

• Last week’s number-one country album, Lady Antebellum’s new Golden, slips to number-two on the country chart this week.

George Strait, who tops the country album chart this week with Love Is Everything, tries to describe what he looks when choosing songs to record. (:14)

“You know, I think it’s…I’ve always said melody, I think, catches my ear first. And I think that’s true for most people. I don’t know exactly what it is that I look for in a song, but just…it’s hard to put my finger on.”

Hillary Scott of Lady Antebellum talks about writing, finding and recording songs for the group’s new album, Golden. (:27)

“Knowing that, you know, we wanted to kind of continue to grow and…everybody says the word ‘evolve.’ But it’s true. We were all in different places. We had more to say, and…and so, not only did we write songs that we were really excited about that told a story that we were proud of, but we got pitched songs that were great, too. And so I think we just really relaxed into the process and…and in that relaxation it almost gave us more confidence to take some more risks.”