Universal Universal Music Group Nashville Pressroom

Lady Antebellum arrive in stores with their brand new album, Golden, on Tuesday (May 7th). The band began putting together the album while they were on their first arena headlining tour, making writing and recording demos a part of their daily tour schedule. It helped to create an album full of songs that represents where they are in their career, and takes a look at where they’ve been, as well. “It’s like you can really see kind of what we’ve been through throughout our career as a band,” says Hillary Scott. “Whenever you go back and listen to every record, from the very first one to when you hear this one, it’s a journey.”

Lady A’s Charles Kelley says the album actually takes them back to the beginning. “Our evolution on this record was actually stripping it back down to the basics of how we started, and the basics of the song, and not throw in too many overdubs,” he explains. “We didn’t have any string sections on this record, which is a first for us. And so, I think it’s definitely all about the song and not trying to polish it up.”

Release day for Golden will begin with appearances on Good Morning America and The Ellen DeGeneres Show and end with an exclusive and intimate release show at New York City’s newest hot spot The McKittrick Hotel for the Lady Antebellum GOLDEN Release Show presented by Citi. The VIP event will give a select number of fans the first preview of songs off the new album and a donation will be made to Musicians on Call On behalf of the group’s charity initiative LadyAID. The next day, Lady A will begin their take-over on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon and set up residency at 30 Rock with interviews and performances on both Wednesday (5/8) and Thursday (5/9) nights’ shows. The following week, Lady A will jet to the West Coast for an appearance on Chelsea Lately (5/13) and a performance on NBC’s The Voice (5/14) before continuing on to Toronto for more media appearances and events.

Lady A (Golden represents their lives) OC: …a journey. :19
“It represents where we are in our life. We’re all thankfully, not that we don’t have our rough days, but are in really great places, and so that journey, it’s like you can really see kind of what we’ve been through throughout our career as a band. Like whenever you go back and listen to every record, from the very first one to when you hear this one, it’s a journey.”

Lady A (evolution) OC: …polish it up. :16
“Our evolution on this record was actually stripping it back down to the basics of how we started, and the basics of the song, and not throw in too many overdubs. We didn’t have any string sections on this record, which is a first for us. And so I think it’s definitely all about the song and not trying to polish it up.”

Keith Urban joined The Rolling Stones on stage Friday night (May 3rd) for their 1978 hit, “Respectable.” Keith traded guitar riffs with Keith Richards and Ron Wood, while swapping vocals and harmonizing with lead singer Mick Jagger. Keith looked so happy at one point that he dropped to his knees, seemingly worshipping the legendary band. Check out the video clip below.

It won’t be long before you can see the American Idol judge in concert — Keith kicks off his Light the Fuse Tour 2013 in Cincinnati, Ohio on July 18th.

Scotty McCreery takes the cameras inside at Wrigley Field in the latest episode of ScotTV.

Scotty McCreery talks about his latest single, “See You Tonight,” which he co-wrote with Ashley Gorley and Zac Crowell.

Mother’s Day is coming up, and some of your favorite country stars are “lining up” to send out the best of wishes to all of the moms in the world.

LINER Darius (Mother’s Day)
“Hey y’all, what’s up? This is Darius Rucker, hoping you have a Happy Mother’s Day.

LINER Darius (Mother’s Day) 2
“Hey! What’s up? This is Darius Rucker, wishing all you mothers a Happy Mother’s Day.”

LINER Dierks (Mother’s Day)
“Hey, y’all! This is Dierks Bentley, wishing all you mothers out there a Happy Mother’s Day.”

LINER Eric Church (Mother’s Day) 1
“Hey everybody! This is Eric Church, wishing you a Happy Mother’s Day. Happy Mother’s Day, mom!”

LINER Eric Church (Mother’s Day) 2
“Hey everybody! This is Eric Church, hoping you have a Happy Mother’s Day. Happy Mother’s Day, Mom.”

LINER Eric Paslay (Mother’s Day)
“Hey! This is Eric Paslay. Happy Mother’s Day to all you awesome Mom’s out there.”

LINER George Strait (Mother’s Day)
“Hi! This is George Strait, wishing you a Happy Mother’s Day.”

LINER Jon Pardi (Mother’s Day)
“Hey y’all, it’s Jon Pardi. I want to wish all the mamas out there a very Happy Mother’s Day.”

LINER Josh Turner (Mother’s Day)
“Hi! This is Josh Turner, wishing you a Happy Mother’s Day.”

LINER Keith Urban (Mother’s Day)
“Hi everyone, it’s Keith Urban. Hoping all the mothers out there have a very, very Happy Mother’s Day. Love ya, Mom!”

LINER LBT (Mother’s Day)
“(ALL) Hi! This is Little Big Town. (KIMBERLY) We want to wish all you mothers out there a Happy Mother’s Day. I love ya, Mama!”

LINER Luke Bryan (Mother’s Day)
“Hey! It’s Luke Bryan, hoping all you mothers out there have a Happy Mother’s Day.”

LINER Scotty McCreery (Mother’s Day)
“Hi! This is Scotty McCreery. Happy Mother’s Day.”

LINER Sugarland (Mother’s Day)
“Hi! This is Jennifer Nettles from Sugarland, and I hope you have a wonderful Mother’s Day.”

LINER Lauren Alaina (Mother’s Day)
“Hey! This is Lauren Alaina. Hope you have a very Happy Mother’s Day.”

George Strait is getting closer to scoring his 60th number-one single with “Give It All We Got Tonight,” a song that he wasn’t sure he would be able to fully capture the song. “The first time I heard it I thought, ‘Hmm, that’s a great song,” says George. “[It’s] a little different for me, you know, a little risqué kinda.’ I’m thinking, ‘I don’t know if I can pull this off or not.’”

After he spoke with a member of his team who assured the music icon he could do it (EDITOR’S NOTE: He could sing the contents of a cereal box and make it a hit.], George recorded it and just fell in love with it. “It’s a little different, the melody’s a little different, great lyrics,” he says. “It’s kinda about parking, [laughs] which I’ve done a few times back in the early days. [laughs]”

“Give It All We Got Tonight” is the first single from George’s forthcoming album, Love is Everything.

AUDIO: George Strait talks about his current single, “Give It All We Got Tonight,” the first release from his forthcoming album, Love is Everything.

George Strait (Give It All We Got Tonight) OC: …early days. [laughs]
“I hadn’t done any recording in quite a while, and so I really didn’t have anything to put out, but I was trying to find a few songs just to go in and cut. So, I was listening to stuff constantly, every day. The first time I heard it I thought, ‘Hmm, that’s a great song. [It’s] a little different for me, you know, a little risqué kinda.’ I’m thinking, ‘I don’t know if I can pull this off or not.’ But, I talked with [UMG’s] Brian [Wright] a little bit about it, and he said, ‘Sure you can. You can do it.’ I said, ‘Alright. We’ll try it.’ So, we did, and I just love it. I mean, it’s, like I said, it’s a little different, the melody’s a little different, great lyrics. It’s kinda about parking, [laughs] which I’ve done a few times back in the early days. [laughs]”

You may have noticed that Eric Church has been sporting a lengthier beard than normal, perhaps at last month’s ACM Awards where he picked up the Album of the Year award for Chief. There’s a good reason behind that particular look – he’s working on the follow-up to his award-winning album. The North Carolina native says when he trims the beard, then he’s got the songs for his next collection.

It is an ongoing progression for Eric, who’s been taking time to write for the forthcoming project. “It’s a process for me, so when people ask where we’re at, I don’t know. I don’t have like a definitive, ‘Here’s where we are,’” says Eric. “I can tell you that we’ve started the process, and then we’ll go on to the next step in the process. There’s like 20 steps to get the record done.”

Eric is currently sitting inside the Top 10 with his current hit, “Like Jesus Does,” and he’s set to rejoin Kenny Chesney on the No Shoes Nation Tour May 11th in Dallas, Texas.

BTW–It’s Eric’s Birthday today (Friday)–wishing him a very Happy Birthday!!!!!

AUDIO: Eric Church gives an update on his next album, the follow-up to the platinum-selling Chief.

Eric Church (next album process 2013) OC: …end up with. :23
“We started the process, as evidenced by the beard. But it’s a process for me, so when people ask where we’re at, I don’t know. I don’t have like a definitive, ‘Here’s where we are.’ I can tell you that we’ve started the process, and then we’ll go on to the next step in the process. There’s like 20 steps to get the record done. I’m excited creatively to see where we can go from here, and see what we end up with.”

NFL great Peyton Manning steps on the stage and joins Luke Bryan to perform at Peyton’s Annual Charity Gala in Indianapolis, Indiana.

Lady Antebellum will be doing a special show on May 31st in Chicago at the Pritzker Pavilion in Millenium Park. Lady A will be playing new music from their forthcoming album, Golden, which is set for release Tuesday (May 7th). 

Lady Antebellum‘s GOLDEN journey continues to NYC where they will be celebrating the release of GOLDEN with a special iHeartRadio show on May 8th. For all the fans who can’t be there, the show will be live streaming at 9pm ET! Check it out here.

Kacey Musgraves has been added to the lineup for this year’s Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival. She joins Sir Paul McCartney, Mumford & Sons and many more in Manchester, Tennessee June 13th-16th.