Universal Universal Music Group Nashville Pressroom

Lady Antebellum’s Hillary Scott apparently confirmed with Us Weekly that she and husband Chris Tyrell are expecting a baby girl. She recently said she loves sharing the news of her pregnancy with family, friends and fans, and just can’t keep any good news to herself. “We were very comfortable with everyone sharing in our joy very, very early, and so we have faith that this baby’s gonna be healthy and beautiful and perfect, and so let’s just kind of let everybody in on our excitement,” said Hillary Scott. “We’re gonna find out what it is, and it won’t be a secret. I’m not good at keeping secrets!”

Lady A’s “Downtown” is headed uptown on the country charts. It’s the first release from their upcoming album, Golden, which is scheduled for release on May 7th.

AUDIO: Lady Antebellum’s Hillary Scott says she has loved sharing the news of her pregnancy.

Lady A (baby-can’t keep a secret) OC: …I’m excited. :39
“We found out the day before Thanksgiving, my husband and I, and we were up at my in-laws in New York. And we were very comfortable with everyone sharing in our joy very, very early, and so we have faith that this baby’s gonna be healthy and beautiful and perfect, and so let’s just kind of let everybody in on our excitement. We’re gonna find out what it is, and it won’t be a secret. I’m not good at keeping secrets! [CHARLES: “No, you’re not.”] I don’t know. I just really have faith, I knew that everything was going to be okay, and that this baby was sent to us for a really special purpose, and it’s a huge blessing, so I’m excited.”

Little Big Town will make their way overseas early next week to perform at the O2 Arena in London, England, along with Vince Gill, Kristian Bush and Tim McGraw. The reigning CMA Vocal Group of the Year is really excited to experience their first trip to London. : “It’ll be our first time going to London,” says LBT’s Phillip Sweet. “And I’m excited to see the sights and see the culture and eat the food.” Apparently, the band has been receiving loads of messages from their fans across the pond, who are thrilled they are coming to perform for them. “We’ve been watching them. They’ve been talking about this show for a while, and they seem incredibly pumped up about it,” says Karen Fairchild. “We’re also happy to be opening up for Tim McGraw. So, it’s gonna be a special trip for us as a band – first time.”

Little Big Town, who are also nominated for four ACM Awards, are riding high on the country charts with their latest single, “Tornado.”

LBT (London) OC: (KAREN) …first time. :21
PHILLIP: “It’ll be our first time going to London. [JIMI: “Yes.”] And I’m excited to see the sights and see the culture and eat the food.” KAREN: “And meet the country music fans. We’ve been watching them. They’ve been talking about this show for a while, and they seem incredibly pumped up about it. We’re also happy to be opening up for Tim McGraw. So, it’s gonna be a special trip for us as a band – first time.”

Little Big Town‘s Kimberly Schlapman is back with a second season of her GAC-TV show, Simply Southern. The new season premieres Saturday (March 9th) at 1pm ET. On the first show, she travels to the “Sunshine State” for a first-hand Florida experience. Armed with a variety of juicy citrus fruits, Kimberly heads back to her kitchen in Nashville inspired to make a fresh and Simply Southern menu with the help of avid outdoorsman Craig Morgan.

Some of Kimberly’s other special guests this season include bandmate Karen Fairchild, Martina McBride, Josh Turner, Jerrod Niemann and Dustin Lynch.

Check out some of the highlights of the new season below.

Luke Bryan, who just released his new Spring Break…Here to Party album, says you just can’t do Spring Break without cold beer [check out the video below].

In the meantime, Luke is headed for his first number-one album on the Billboard 200 chart. His new compilation Spring Break . . . Here to Party may sell a bit over 100,000 copies by the end of the tracking week on Sunday, March 10th, according to Billboard.com. The new Billboard 200 chart’s top 10 will be revealed on the morning of Wednesday, March 13th.

 Capitol Records Nashville’s Darius Rucker has been shooting his latest music video for his new single “Wagon Wheel” in Nashville, TN this week.  The video directed by Jim Wright features several guest appearances including Jase, Korie, Sadie, Si and Willie Robertson from A&E’s Duck Dynasty and Charles Kelley of Lady Antebellum who along with Dave Haywood and Hillary Scott sing background vocals on the single.

“My wife came up with the idea to have the Duck Dynasty (DD) guys in the “Wagon Wheel” music video, and I thought we had no chance because they’re so busy so I never even said it out loud,” explains Rucker. “Thank God she called my manager because the DD folks took this video to a whole new level! Big thanks to them and Charles… It was a good time for sure, and I can’t wait to see how the video turns out!”

“Wagon Wheel” was written by Ketch Secur of Old Crow Medicine Show and is based on a sketch by Bob Dylan.  The hit single is from Rucker’s upcoming third solo country album, True Believers, which will be released this Spring.

Rucker recently had a childhood dream come true when he was inducted as the newest member of the Grand Ole Opry.  His first two country albums, Learn To Live and Charleston, SC 1966 both topped the Billboard Country album chart and produced five No. 1 singles including “Come Back Song,” “This,” “Alright,” “It Won’t Be Like This For Long” and “Don’t Think I Don’t Think About It.”  In 2009 Rucker was named New Artist of the Year at the CMA Awards. 

For more information, please visit www.dariusrucker.com.

Nashville, TN (March 7, 2013) – With the SOLD OUT final concert already hosting top names in all genres of music including Garth Brooks, Kid Rock, Kenny Rogers and Randy Travis among others, George Jones is excited to announce his dear friends and fellow Grand Ole Opry members Alan Jackson, Travis Tritt and other performers from his hit song “I Don’t Need Your Rockin’ Chair” will join him onstage. Pam Tillis, Kathy Mattea, Tracy Lawrence, Patty Loveless, Joe Diffie, Mark Chesnutt and T. Graham Brown latest additions to concert lineup. The event, which will soon be dubbed the Country Music Event of the Year, has already announced Dierks Bentley, Charlie Daniels, Jamey Johnson, Montgomery Gentry, Shelby Lynne, Sam Moore, Lorrie Morgan, The Oak Ridge Boys, Randy Travis, Tanya Tucker, Josh Turner and Gene Watson as participating in the evening of music.

In addition, Brenda Lee, John Conlee, Lee Greenwood, Eddy Raven, The Roys, Janie Fricke, T.G. Sheppard, Dailey & Vincent, Gary Morris, Jessi Colter, Bobby Bare, Jim Ed Brown, Little Jimmy Dickens, Stonewall Jackson and more will all take the stage during the finale performance.

More stars are expected to be announced as performers gear up to pay tribute to one of the world’s most accomplished recording artists.

“Alan and Denise Jackson have been friends of Nancy and I for years, so this show wouldn’t be the same without him,” says George Jones. “I am also so grateful that my dear friend Garth Brooks is going to be on stage with me. I am not sure who will be crying more, me or him.”

George Jones, often referred to as the “the greatest living country singer” will mark the end of an era with 2013’s farewell tour titled “The Grand Tour”. The tour is expected to make approximately 44 stops this year. The icon’s hits, “I Don’t Need Your Rockin’ Chair”, “Who’s Gonna Fill Their Shoes”, “White Lightning” and “He Stopped Loving Her Today” will surely be part of each night’s set list, along with plenty of guests and surprises.

About George Jones
George Jones is the #2 best-charting country artist of all time, with a staggering list of hit singles since the ‘50s. The Beaumont, Texas native also has 143 Top 40 hits to his name, has received two Grammy Awards, was a 2008 Kennedy Center Honor recipient, is a Country Music Hall of Fame member, was presented with a GRAMMY® Lifetime Achievement Award in 2012 and holds a National Medal of Arts medallion.

AUDIO: Alan Jackson talks about George Jones.

AJ (George Jones) OC: …respectful to me. :14
“I’ve met a lot of people, you know, artists, writers and music industry people, but that I never would’ve gotten close to or had the opportunity [to know]. George Jones, he’s always been real nice and respectful to me.”

Scotty McCreery Unveils New Webisode Series,”ScotTV”

Additional Dates Announced ForThe Weekend Roadtrip Tour 2013 

Platinum-selling recording artist and Season 10 American Idol winner Scotty McCreery has released the first two episodes of his brand-new webisode series, “ScotTV.” The series will give fans a behind-the-scenes experience with Scotty as he embarks on his first headline tour, sneak peeks of his forthcoming sophomore album, and much more.

“We always have a lot of fun out on the road and these first episodes of ScotTV are just the beginning,” says McCreery. “2013 is going to be a new chapter in my career and I’m excited to share it with all my fans. I hope they’ll enjoy the ride as much as I do.” Fans can tune in to ScotTV by visiting www.scottymccreery.com. 

Scotty fans will have even more opportunities to catch him on the road as additional dates are now announced for his first headlining tour, the Weekend Roadtrip Tour 2013, which launched on February 14. The tour will make stops across the country through May and features hits like “The Trouble With Girls,” “Water Tower Town” and “I Love You This Big” from McCreery’s #1 Billboard debut album Clear As Day, as well as a few classic covers. Scotty is also giving fans a first listen to new music from his next album, scheduled for release later this year on 19/Interscope/Mercury Records.

The Weekend Roadtrip Tour 2013 was named a “2013 Must-See Country Concert” by Taste Of Country and has received rave reviews from critics, such as The Buffalo News who praised McCreery as being “blessed with youthful good looks and good ol’ boy charm, he is a natural showman with a deep, melodious voice to match.” The tour also includes Sarah Darling as the opening act. Visit www.scottymccreery.com for more details and to learn about the VIP Concert Experience. 

The schedule for The Weekend Roadtrip Tour 2013:

Mar. 8 – Plant City, FL -Florida Strawberry Festival 
Mar. 9 – Kansas City, MO – Uptown Theater 
Mar. 23 – Katy, TX – Katy Crawfish Festival 
Mar. 28 – Aurora, IL – Paramount Theatre 
Mar. 29 – Prior Lake, MN – Mystic Lake Casino
Mar. 30 – Merrillville, IN – Star Plaza Theatre
Apr. 18 – Albany, NY – The Palace Theatre 
Apr. 19 – Wallingford, CT – Toyota Presents Oakdale Theatre
Apr. 20 – Wilkes-Barre, PA – F.M. Kirby Center
Apr. 25 – Tulsa, OK – The Brady Theater
Apr. 26 – Robinsonville, MS – Horseshoe Casino
Apr. 27 – Biloxi, MS – MS Coast Coliseum Crawfish Festival
May 10 – Lancaster, PA – American Music Theatre
May 11 – Hampton, NH – Casino Ballroom
May 12 – Morristown, NJ – Mayo Performing Arts Center
May 13 – Red Bank, NJ – Count Basie Theater
May 17 – Elizabeth, IN – Horseshoe Casino
May 18 – Windsor, ON – The Colosseum at Caesars Windsor
May 24 – Lake Buena Vista, FL – House of Blues
May 25 – Valdosta, GA – Wild Adventures
May 26 – Myrtle Beach, SC – House of Blues

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Luke Bryan performs “Buzzkill” from his new Spring Break…Here to Party album which turned into his number-one hit “Drunk on You” on the Ellen DeGeneres Show on Tuesday (March 6th).

ACM co-hosts Luke Bryan and Blake Shelton are among the initial performers announced for this year’s Academy of Country Music Awards. They’re not the only ones – George Strait, Kelly Clarkson, Miranda Lambert, Hunter Hayes and The Band Perry are also scheduled to perform. Luke is up for four ACM Awards, including Entertainer of the Year.

The 48th Annual ACM Awards will air live from the MGM Grand in Las Vegas April 7th beginning at 8pm ET on CBS.