• Parker McCollum Burn It Down
  • Tyler Hubbard Back Then Right Now
  • Jordan Davis Tucson Too Late
  • Sam Hunt Outskirts
  • Anne Wilson Rain in the Rearview
  • Chris Stapleton Think I'm In Love With You

News

KEITH URBAN CHECKS IN FROM THE STUDIO IN HIS CAR. (VIDEO)

Keith Urban checked in with his fans from his car on Friday to give them a quick update on the progress of his next album. “New music sounds really good,” Keith says.  “I’m looking forward to you guys getting to hearing it. I’m sick of talking about it. Looking forward to playing it.”

The new project is set for release next year.

Video / Urban Chat: Video 25: Studio Update!

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DARIUS RUCKER GETTING READY FOR OPRY INDUCTION. (AUDIO)

Darius Rucker will become the newest member of the Grand Ole Opry on Tuesday night (October 16th). A couple of weeks ago, Darius was surprised by his pal, Brad Paisley, with the invitation to join the famed institution. He says every time he gets ready to walk onto the Opry stage, he thinks of the musical legends who performed there night after night. Now that he is going to become part of the Opry history, he says is “pretty damn awesome!”  

When the news was announced, Grand Ole Opry Vice President and General Manager Pete Fisher stated, “We are extremely excited that Darius will be joining our Opry family. He’s forged an incredible, diverse musical path which has led today to the top of the country charts. It’s been clear from the moment Darius first stepped on our stage in 2008 in what high regard he holds the Grand Ole Opry and similarly how much Opry fans love Darius’ music.”

Darius is currently making his way up the country charts with his single, “True Believers.”

AUDIO: Darius Rucker describes how he feels about becoming part of the Grand Ole Opry family.

Darius Rucker (Opry induction) 1 OC: …pretty damn awesome. :16
“The thing you think of is the music and every time I’m about to walk on this stage, you really think of just the legends that played here night after night after night. You know, just be a part of it now, no, not just to be a part of it, to be a member of it is pretty damn awesome.”

AUDIO: Darius Rucker says he will perform at the Grand Ole Opry as much as he can.

Darius Rucker (Opry induction) 2 OC: …how I live. :15
“I’m gonna be here a lot, as much as a member’s supposed to be here and more, because Pete [Fisher] and those guys have been awesome to me since I started this. I’m dedicated to this. I’m not the kind of guy who becomes a member and then gets lost. That’s not how I live.”

Video / Darius Rucker Invited to Become a Member of the Grand Ole Opry

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DIERKS BENTLEY’S ‘MILES & MUSIC FOR KIDS’ EVENT IS POSTPONED.

Dierks Bentley’s seventh annual Miles & Music for Kids motorcycle ride and concert in Nashville was cancelled on Sunday (October 14th), due to potentially dangerous weather, which included gusty winds and severe thunderstorms. Dierks is very disappointed since this year’s event was going to be extra special, according to the “Tip It On Back” singer, since it was to have one of the biggest turnout of artists and fans, including performances by Sheryl Crow, Kix Brooks, Brantley Gilbert, Chris Young, Craig Campbell and Cadillac Black.

He posted the following statement to his website:

“We have to postpone Miles & Music today because of dangerous wind & storms moving into Nashville. It’s the last thing we wanted to do but safety is the priority. HUGE thanks to all the fans, riders, sponsors & artists who always come out to support us & Vandy Childrens Hospital.”

Dierks also posted messages on Facebook to his fans.

can’t tell you all how disappointed i am and my team is about today. we have been looking forward to this day for a year.”

A large crowd of riders still gathered at the Harley Davidson dealership in Columbia. To make amends to fans, Bentley turned the dealership into a concert venue. There was music, and he greeted fans and took pictures and signed autographs.

“I just wanted to say hi and thanks to all these riders,” Dierks told WTVF, Nashville’s CBS-TV affiliate. “This is where it begins. These folks came out in spite of the weather to be here and be a part of this.”

Event organizers have yet to say if the event will be rescheduled.

Proceeds from Miles & Music benefits the Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt. Stay tuned to Dierks.com for more information.

LADY ANTEBELLUM HOST LIVE CONCERT FILM PREMIERE. (AUDIO)

Lady Antebellum hosted a premiere of their Own the Night World Tour concert film in Nashville on Thursday (October 11th). The 90-minute movie, which will be available on DVD, Blu-ray and at all digital retailers on December 4th, includes footage from their Own the Night World Tour stop in Little Rock, Arkansas in June. It will also feature some behind-the-scenes footage, including some from when they heard their debut song on the radio for the very first time. “We carry a camera around with us everywhere, and so there’s so much footage, and we said, ‘We can’t do one of these and not put in a bunch of behind-the-scenes footage,’” recalls Lady A’s Charles Kelley. “So, it’s kind of almost like a live DVD concert/documentary.”

Lady A will also release their first Christmas album, On This Winter’s Night, October 22nd.

AUDIO: At Thursday night’s premiere, Lady Antebellum talk about their Own the Night World Tour concert film.

Lady A (DVD premiere) OC: (Dave) …pretty surreal. :55
“We really just wanted to kind of be able to tell the whole story and be within this tour, and this is our first-ever headlining arena and amphitheater tour. So, we put so much heart and effort and time into it, and so have it as a complete work now, it’s an amazing feeling. I mean, I think we’re all feeling a little out of our comfort zone. We’re in a movie theater about to watch ourselves in a movie theater.”

CHARLES: “I think one thing we knew we had to put in there, though, was we carry a camera around with us everywhere, and so there’s so much footage. And we said, ‘We can’t do one of these and not put in a bunch of behind-the-scenes footage.’ So, it’s kind of almost like a live DVD concert/documentary…so you get to see a lot of stuff of where we started behind-the scenes and…”

DAVE: “We actually have the footage from the very first time we heard our song on the radio. We had a camera out when that actually happened. So, to have moments like that all the way back from the beginning of our career and to sit here and watch them now is pretty surreal.”

LUKE BRYAN HONORS A CLOSE FRIEND IN LATEST EPISODE OF LBTV! (VIDEO)

Luke Bryan helps to honor one of his best friends, Dallas Davidson, at the recent ACM Honors in Nashville. Dallas is one of Nashville’s most talented songwriters, and this year he won the ACM Songwriter of the Year award. Check out all of the festivities in the latest episode of LBTV!

In the meantime, Luke is sitting inside the Top 10 with his latest single, “Kiss Tomorrow Goodbye.”

Video / LBTV Thursdays! Episode 37

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KEITH URBAN WILL BE HONORED WITH THE NASHVILLE SYMPHONY’S HARMONY AWARD.

Keith Urban has been named the recipient of this year’s Nashville Symphony’s Harmony Award, which is given to individuals who contain “the harmonious spirit of Nashville’s thriving musical community.” Not only has the entertainer taken Nashville’s music to the far corners of North America, he’s also brought in fans from overseas. He has put his stamp of support on various charities, including his own All for the Hall shows benefitting the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum, as well as raising money and giving  support to victims of Nashville’s 2010 flood, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital and many more.

Previous recipients include Dolly Parton, Taylor Swift, Martina McBride, Rascal Flatts, Carrie Underwood, Chet Akins, Trisha Yearwood and more.

Keith will receive the award during the 28th Annual Symphony Ball December 8th at the Schermerhorn Symphony Center.

LUKE BRYAN ANNOUNCES HIS FIRST HEADLINING TOUR! (PRESS RELEASE)

“Dirt Road Diaries Tour” Launches in January

 
                Nashville-(October 11, 2012) – Luke Bryan’s career has rocketed towards superstar status
in the past couple of years.  He has seen his recent album tailgates & tanlines sell over one million copies and remain a Top 5 album for all of 2012, co-hosted the “CMA Music Festival: Country’s Night to Rock” special on ABC, taken home trophies at both the ACM Awards and CMT Music Awards and opened concert tours for artists such as Jason Aldean, Rascal Flatts and Tim McGraw.  In 2013, Luke will take another giant step and headline his first major tour, the “Dirt Road Diaries Tour.”  
The “Dirt Road Diaries Tour” will kick off in Evansville, Indiana on January 17 with tickets on sale beginning Friday, October 26. The 20-city first leg will go through March and features Thompson Square and Florida Georgia Line as openers. Live Nation is the national tour promoter. Log on to www.lukebryan.com or www.livenation.com for tour dates and information.
“I have dreamed about this day for a very long time,” said Luke.  “We are having the best time putting together all the bells & whistles for the tour.  I have spent a lot of time out on tours with some really great artists and each night we have tried to learn from them.  I couldn’t be more excited about this!”
Citi is the official credit card of the “Dirt Road Diaries Tour.”  Citi card members will have access to presale tickets in select markets beginning Monday, October 22 at 10AM E.T. through Citi’s Private Pass Program.  For complete presale details visit www.citiprivatepass.com .
 
In the past year, Luke has celebrated three back-to-back Platinum singles “Country Girl (Shake It For Me),” “I Don’t Want This Night To End” and “Drunk On You,” all from his Platinum-certified album, tailgates & tanlines. The Leesburg, Georgia native has achieved five career #1 singles and is currently on his fourth annual “Farm Tour” with eight shows through several southern states, including five in Georgia, through the end of this week.  When the tour wraps on October 13 a portion of the proceeds from the concerts will have created 20 scholarships in its four-year run to students of farming families
within the communities the tour has played.  Luke recently received two CMA Award and two American Music Award nominations in the Male Vocalist and Album of the Year categories as well as
leading the nominations with seven at the upcoming American Country Awards.
Thompson Square, the reigning ACM “Vocal Duo of the Year” and Stoney Creek Records duo, ended 2011 as Billboard’s #1 New Country Artist and the #6 New Artist across all genres of music. The  husband/wife duo’s #1 smash, “Are You Gonna Kiss Me Or Not,” earned them 2 GRAMMY nominations, American Music Award and Teen Choice Award nods, 4 CMA, and 5 CMT Music Award nominations.  “AYGKMON” has sold nearly 2 million singles and was iTunes 2011 Country Song of the Year. Follow-up hits include the award winning, “I Got You,” (#6) and the critically lauded power ballad, “Glass” (#15).  Thompson Square is a 3x American Country Award and a 2012 CMT Music Award winner.  The duo is currently nominated for “Vocal Duo of the Year” and “New Artist of the Year” at the 2012 CMA Awards. 
 
Florida Georgia Line has been quickly garnering buzz among fans, media and superstars (Taylor Swift,
Keith Urban and Sugarland’s Jennifer Nettles) since releasing their Top 20 single, “Cruise.” With infectious lyrics and a buoyant melody, the single has sold well over 500,000 copies and has been certified GOLD in Canada. The song is also listed in the Top 10 for sales in many major markets and
sits – with the video – in the Top 5 nationally on iTunes Country Charts. The Republic Nashville duo – comprised of Tyler Hubbard from Monroe, Georgia and Brian Kelley from Ormond Beach, Florida – brings a fresh sound to the genre and beyond, combining electrifying, hard-driving rock with honest, expressive lyrics. “Cruise” is featured on their EP It’z Just What We Do produced by Joey Moi (Jake Owen, Nickelback).   
“Dirt Road Diaries Tour”    
1-17        Evansville, IN                       Ford Center
1-18        Huntsville, AL                      Von Braun Center
1-19        Southaven, MS                     Landers Center
1-25        Estero, FL                             Germain Arena   
1-26        Orlando, FL                          Amway Center
2-7          Uniondale, NY                     Nassau Coliseum
2-8          State College, PA                 Bryce Jordan Center
2-15        Toledo, OH                           Huntington Center
2-16        Grand Rapids, MI                 Van Andel Arena
2-17        Bloomington, IL                   US Cellular Center
2-21        Ft Wayne, IN                        Allen County War Memorial Coliseum
2-22        Louisville, KY                      KFC Yum! Center
2-23        Columbia, MO                     Mizzou Arena
2-28        Green Bay, WI                     Resch Center
3-1          Sioux City, IA                      Tyson Events Center
3-2          Moline, IL                             i wireless Center
3-14        Orange Beach, AL               Amphitheatre at the Wharf
3-21        Florence, SC                         Florence Civic Center
3-22        Fayetteville, NC                   Crown Center
3-23        Charlottesville, VA              John Paul Jones Arena

LADY ANTEBELLUM REVEAL THEIR AMAZING JOURNEY ON THEIR ‘OWN THE NIGHT 2012 WORLD TOUR’ IN LATEST WEBISODE. (VIDEO)

Lady Antebellum‘s Own The Night 2012 World Tour made its last stop in Sydney, Australia and closed its last show on October 3rd. The worldwide adventure was a dream come true for Charles, Hillary and Dave. Watch it all come together for one amazing

On December 4th, the band will release their live concert film, Own The Night World Tour, to their fans in the U.S. and Canada, with plans for release worldwide in 2013. Fans will be able to purchase the film in multiple formats including DVD, Blu-ray and will be available at all digital retailers.

The DVD is a full concert from their show in Little Rock, AR from their Own The Night 2012 World Tour this past year. Plus the DVD will include documentary and bonus footage about how it all came together.

Lady A will also release their first Christmas album, On This Winter’s Night, October 22nd.

Video / Lady Antebellum - Webisode Wednesday - Episode 220

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ACA NOMINATIONS: LUKE, ERIC, LADY A, KEITH, LITTLE BIG TOWN (AUDIO)

Luke Bryan is the lead nominee for this year’s American Country Awards (ACAs) with seven, including the night’s top honor, Artist of the Year. Lady Antebellum (along with the Zac Brown Band) are next with six nominations apiece, while Eric Church (and Taylor Swift) took five nods each.

Luke’s nominations include Male Artist, Album (tailgates & tanlines), Single and Video of the Year for “I Don’t Want This Night to End.”

Joining Luke on Album of the Year are Eric Church’s Chief, Lady A’s Own the Night, Dierks Bentley’s Home and Blake Shelton’s Red River Blue. Church is also nominated for Male and Touring Artist of the Year. “Drink in My Hand” gets nominated as Single of the Year, while “Springsteen” gets a nomination for Song of the Year. Lady A’s categories also include overall Artist of the Year, Group, Music Video and Touring Artist of the Year, among others. Keith Urban picks up a pair of nominations for Video of the Year for his poignant “For You,” while Little Big Town gets a nod for Group Video of the Year for their first chart-topper, “Pontoon.”

The third annual ACA Awards will air live from the Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas December 10th at 8pm ET (PT delayed) on FOX. Voting is open now on the show’s website here.

Artist of the Year:
Jason Aldean
Luke Bryan
Lady Antebellum

Taylor Swift
Zac Brown Band

Artist of the Year: Male
Jason Aldean
Luke Bryan
Kenny Chesney
Eric Church
Toby Keith

Artist of the Year: Female
Sara Evans
Miranda Lambert
Martina McBride
Taylor Swift
Carrie Underwood 

Artist of the Year: Group
The Band Perry
Eli Young Band
Lady Antebellum
Rascal Flatts
Zac Brown Band 

Artist of the Year: Breakthrough Artist
Lee Brice
Colt Ford
Gloriana
Justin Moore
Jake Owen 

Artist of the Year: New Artist
Lauren Alaina
Hunter Hayes
Jana Kramer
Kip Moore
Pistol Annies

Album of the Year
Dierks Bentley – Home
Luke Bryan – tailgates & tanlines
Eric Church – Chief
Lady Antebellum – Own the Night
Blake Shelton – Red River Blue 

Single of the Year
Jason Aldean, “Tattoos On This Town”
Luke Bryan, “I Don’t Want This Night To End”
Eric Church, “Drink In My Hand”
Chris Young, “You”
Zac Brown Band, “Keep Me In Mind”

Single of the Year: Male
Jason Aldean, “Tattoos On This Town”
Luke Bryan, “I Don’t Want This Night To End”
Kenny Chesney, “Reality”
Eric Church, “Drink In My Hand”
Chris Young, “You”

Single of the Year: Female
Sara Evans, “My Heart Can’t Tell You No”
Miranda Lambert, “Over You”
Martina McBride, “I’m Gonna Love You Through It”
Taylor Swift, “Ours”
Carrie Underwood, “Good Girl”

Single of the Year: Group
Eli Young Band, “Even If It Breaks Your Heart”
Lady Antebellum, “We Owned The Night”
Rascal Flatts, “Banjo”
The Band Perry, “All Your Life”
 Zac Brown Band, “Keep Me In Mind”

Single of the Year: New Artist
Hunter Hayes, “Wanted”
Jana Kramer, “Why Ya Wanna”
Dustin Lynch, “Cowboys and Angels”
Kip Moore, “Somethin’ ’Bout A Truck”
The Farm, “Home Sweet Home”

Single of the Year: Breakthrough Artist
Lee Brice, “A Woman Like You”
Brantley Gilbert, “You Don’t Know Her Like I Do”
Gloriana, “(Kissed You) Good Night”
David Nail, “Let It Rain”
Jake Owen, “Alone With You”

Single of the Year: Vocal Collaboration
Kix Brooks featuring Joe Walsh, “New To This Town”
Kenny Chesney and Tim McGraw, “Feel Like A Rock Star”
Brad Paisley featuring Carrie Underwood, “Remind Me”
Rascal Flatts featuring Natasha Bedingfield, “Easy”
Zac Brown Band featuring Jimmy Buffett, “Knee Deep”

Touring Artist of the Year
Kenny Chesney
Lady Antebellum
Miranda Lambert
Tim McGraw
Brad Paisley
Eric Church
Toby Keith
Rascal Flatts
Taylor Swift
Zac Brown Band
Jason Aldean

Music Video of the Year
Luke Bryan, “I Don’t Want This Night To End”
Jake Owen, “Alone With You”
Blake Shelton, “God Gave Me You”
Keith Urban, “For You”
Chris Young, “You”

Music Video: Male
Luke Bryan, “I Don’t Want This Night to End”
Jake Owen, “Alone With You”
Blake Shelton, “God Gave Me You”
Keith Urban, “For You”
Chris Young, “You” 

Music Video: Female
Sara Evans, “My Heart Can’t Tell You No”
Miranda Lambert, “Over You”
Martina McBride, “I’m Gonna Love You Through It”
Taylor Swift, “Ours”
Carrie Underwood, “Good Girl” 

Music Video: Group or Collaboration
Gloriana, “(Kissed You) Good Night”
Lady Antebellum, “Dancin’ Away With My Heart”
Little Big Town, “Pontoon”
Love and Theft, “Angel Eyes”
The Band Perry, “All Your Life”

Music Video: New Artist
Hunter Hayes, “Wanted”
Casey James, “Let’s Don’t Call It A Night”
Jana Kramer, “Why You Wanna”
Dustin Lynch, “Cowboys and Angels”
Kip Moore, “Somethin’ ’Bout A Truck” 

Song of the Year
Trace Adkins, “Just Fishin’” (Casey Beathard, Monty Criswell and Ed Hill)
Jason Aldean, “Fly Over States,” (Michael Dulaney and Neil Thrasher)
Jason Aldean, “Tattoos On This Town” (Michael Dulaney, Wendell Mobley and Neil Thrasher)
Lee Brice, “A Woman Like You” (Phil Barton, Johnny Bulford and Jon Stone)
Kenny Chesney featuring Grace Potter, “You And Tequila” (Matraca Berg and Deana Carter)
Ronnie Dunn, “Cost of Livin’” (Phillip Coleman and Ronnie Dunn)
Eli Young Band, “Even If It Breaks Your Heart” (Will Hoge and Eric Paslay)
Toby Keith, “Red Solo Cup” (Brett Beavers, Jim Beavers, Brad Warren and Brett Warren)
Eric Church, “Springsteen” (Eric Church, Jeff Hyde and Ryan Tyndell)
Tim McGraw, “Better Than I Used to Be” (Ashley Gorley& Bryan Simpson)

AUDIO: Luke Bryan says his ACA-nominated album, tailgates & tanlines, is more than just a collection of party songs.

Luke Bryan (more than a party) OC: …live shows. :26
 “I think it has serious stuff too. It’s a deeper deal too than just a party. I mean, I think what’s important to be able to do those fun songs but then to hit fans with a big thought song that really gets ‘em. People want to come and have a good time and I think that what you need to do with your albums. You can’t overload your album with it but you certainly need it for the live show and want it to happen in the live shows.”

AUDIO: Eric Church explains what his ACA-nominated song, “Springsteen,” means to him.

Eric Church (Springsteen) OC: …my favorites. :44
“The interesting thing about this song is it has probably less to do with [Bruce] Springsteen than it is about what’s happening at this amphitheater up on the lawn. I had this experience. If you’ve had this experience, no matter whether you stay together or don’t stay together, when you hear that person’s music whether it’s Springsteen or anybody else, you always think of the person you were with at that show. And I have that. I just thought it was an interesting story about two people falling in love at a concert, and for the rest of their life that’s the soundtrack. That artist is the soundtrack to their love, to that time. I just love that. It makes me feel 17 again every time I hear it, and I think that other people feel the same way. It’s just a track that I’m very, very proud of. It might be my favorite on the record. I mean, I go back and forth between a couple, but that’s one of my favorites.”

AUDIO: Lady A’s Hillary Scott talks about their song “Dancin’ Away With My  Heart,” which is up for Group Music Video of the Year for this year’s ACA Awards.

Lady A (Dancin’ Away With My Heart-Hillary) OC: …song’s about. :31
“The first dance I ever went to, I was in second grade in elementary school. It was like for an hour after school or whatever. I can see what my seventh grade boyfriend, you know, I can still picture him and what his name was, and all these things; then I think about prom and homecomings and all of that. I think everyone has that person whether they were technically in a relationship with them or not, or just if they had a secret huge crush on them, that they remember in high school, and wonder what they look like, what they’re doing, how they are, and that’s what that song’s about.”

LITTLE BIG TOWN’S ‘TORNADO’ HOLDS AT NO. 1 FOR FOURTH WEEK IN A ROW. (AUDIO)

Little Big Town’s Tornado spends a fourth week atop the Country Albums chart. The album sold another 31,000 copies to hold the top spot on the Country chart, and moves up one notch to No. 8 on the overall Billboard 200. Carrie Underwood’s Blown Away is No. 2 on the country chart, followed by Luke Bryan’s tailgates & tanlines at No. 3. Hunter Hayes self-titled debut album and Eric Church’s Chief round out the Top 5.

Little Big Town’s latest single, “Tornado,” is flying up the charts.

Audio / Little Big Town’s Karen Fairchild talks about the title of the band’s new album, Tornado.

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LBT (title of album) OC: …right now. :32
“It’s felt like a change in the air for the band. You know, there’s that reference in the song, ‘Tornado’ — change of weather — and it’s kind of felt that way for us. We’ve had an amazing journey as a band, but this has felt like a new day and it’s akin to a storm in a really cool way. It’s been overwhelming and outrageous and we just thought, ‘Tornado.’ I mean, that fits how we feel, what it feels like in the air around this band right now.”

 

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Photos

  • Alan Jackson with WUSN/Chicago’s Jeff Kapugi and Marci Braun, as well as UMG Nashville’s Mike Dungan and Steve Hodges.