Universal Universal Music Group Nashville Pressroom

AUDIO: Kacey Musgraves talks about one of her favorite Christmas traditions.

Kacey Musgraves (Christmas puzzle tradition) OC: …a little tradition. :28
“My grandpa has a scavenger hunt puzzle that he does every year. Even though I’m like too old for the puzzle, he’s like, ‘You’re still gonna do it.’ So, every year we do that, and it’s funny ‘cause sometimes you’ll find your present in the bathroom or in a tree or out behind the shed. He does a little trail of like either corn or a string to it. It’s very imaginative, and it’s something I look forward to every year. It’s a little tradition.”

AUDIO: Kacey Musgraves says one of her favorite things at Christmas are the stockings.

Kacey Musgraves (Christmas stockings) OC: …are fun. :07
“Stockings. I love stockings. They’re kinda my favorite, ‘cause it’s like all the little goodies in there just are fun.”

LINER Kacey Musgraves (Christmas)
“Hey! It’s Kacey Musgraves, wishing you a very Merry Christmas.”

Jon Pardi is throwing his “End of the World Party” at Joe’s in Chicago on Friday (December 21st). According to a very popular myth, the Mayans, whose civilization spanned across southern Mexico, Guatemala and Belize from 1000 B.C. to 1519 A.D., carved into their calendar the day the world would end, which is December 21st, 2012…hence, the name of Jon Pardi’s “Party.”

“We’ve named this the Year of the Pardi and if the world is really going to end that day, I can’t think of a better place to be than Joe’s on Weed,” Jon says. “The Pardi Animals have been a big part of Year of the Pardi, so of course I want them to be at Joe’s with me before the world ends!”

AUDIO: Jon Pardi explains what would be the last thing he’d like to do if the world ended.

Jon Pardi (last thing he’d do) OC: …my family. :09
“Just keep seeing family. I’m always more realistic. I’d probably just hang out with family and see everybody and make sure everybody’s fine. I gotta see my mom! I don’t ever get to see my family.”

AUDIO: Jon Pardi talks about what he’d want for his last meal.

Jon Pardi (last meal) OC: …Chinese food. :08
“For my last meal, just a good steak. I grew up eating steak all the time, and you just can’t beat that…or some Chinese food.”

Lady Antebellum‘s latest Webisode Wednesday has been taken yet again by crazy Aunt B. But this time she is up to no good with her new friend, Euneeda Biscuit. Check out the cameo by Dierks Bentley.

Little Big Town joined contestant Tate Stevens on Wednesday night’s episode of X-Factor. They performed the group’s No. 1 tune, “Pontoon,” together on the show. “He makes country music proud,” said Little Big Town’s Kimberly Schlapman.

Kelleigh Bannen talks about what Christmas means to her, and how she opens up her heart and truly listens to others, especially during this special time of year.

Also, check out the second video below from AOL’s The Boot. Kelleigh performs a stripped-down version of “Silent Night.”

Gary Allan has released the track list for his upcoming album, Set You Free, hitting stores and online retailers January 22nd. Gary co-wrote five of the 12 songs on the record, including his current Top 10 single, “Every Storm (Runs Out of Rain).” So, what can fans expect from his new project, his first in nearly three years?

“You can expect a lot of honesty and a lot of songs about life,” says Gary. “It’s gonna roll you through a break-up and roll you through the anger and the healing and wind you up good as new. I think what you can expect is something a little bit different musically out of this, but it’s still got the common thread.”

Expect the California native to perform some of the songs from his new album during his shows in Reno, Nevada on December 30th and Las Vegas on New Year’s Eve (December 31st).

Set You Free Track List:

• “Tough Goodbye” (Josh Thompson / Tony Martin) ***
• “Every Storm (Runs Out Of Rain)” (Gary Allan / Matt Warren / Hillary Lindsey) *
• “Bones” (Keith Gattis) *
• “It Ain’t The Whiskey” (Greg Barnhill / Jim Daddario / Cole Deggs) ***
• “Sand In My Soul” (Brad Warren / Brett Warren / Blair Daily) *
• “You Without Me” (Gary Allan / John Lancaster / Rachel Proctor) *
• “One More Time” (Gary Allan / Matt Warren / Hillary Lindsey) ***
• “Hungover Heart” (Matt Warren / James LeBlanc) **
• “No Worries” (Gary Allan / Odie Blackmon / Pat McLaughlin) **
• “Drop” (Joel Shewmake / Bruce Wallace / Brian White) ***
• “Pieces” (Gary Allan / Odie Blackman / Sarah Buxton) ***
• “Good As New” (Pat McLaughlin / Billy Burnette) **

  * Produced Gary Allan & Greg Droman
  ** Produced by Gary Allan & Mark Wright
  *** Produced by Jay Joyce

AUDIO: Gary Allan explains what you can expect from his new album, Set You Free, which will be released on January 22nd.

Gary Allan (what to expect from new album) OC: …common thread. :14
“You can expect a lot of honesty and a lot of songs about life. It’s gonna roll you through a break-up and roll you through the anger and the healing and wind you up good as new. I think what you can expect is something a little bit different musically out of this, but it’s still got the common thread.”

Kip Moore has scored his second number-one single with “Beer Money,” which climbed to the top spot on the Mediabase/Country Aircheck country chart. The Georgia native says the song was inspired by a friend of his whose father lost his job of 31 years. “I was talking to a buddy of mine’s dad who lost his job of 31 years, and how somebody his age, working at the same place for 31 years that has to be pretty much his only identity, that’s what he does. And how scared he must be for losing that job, which led into how tough times are right now,” says Kip. “But regardless of how tough times are, ticket sales are still up, people are still going to movies and bars are still filled with people having a good time. No matter how rough times get, people are still gonna need that outlet to go and do something.”

Kip just wrapped up his stint on Eric Church’s Blood, Sweat & Beers tour and is now probably enjoying a little R&R and perhaps a beer in Mexico. He tweeted to his fans on Sunday, “Mexico bound! Had a blast on the Church tour and look forward to shows next year…’preesh all the support!”

AUDIO: Kip Moore talks about the inspiration behind his new No. 1 single, “Beer Money.”

Kip Moore (Beer Money inspiration) OC: …got started. :32
“It actually sparked from, I was talking to a buddy of mine’s dad who lost his job of 31 years, and how somebody his age, working at the same place for 31 years that has to be pretty much his only identity, that’s what he does. And how scared he must be for losing that job, which led into how tough times are right now. But regardless of how tough times are, ticket sales are still up, people are still going to movies and bars are still filled with people having a good time. No matter how rough times get, people are still gonna need that outlet to go and do something, and that’s how the whole song got started.”

Nashville, TN – Dec. 17, 2012 – Award winning singer-songwriter Dierks Bentley has one of the most recognizable voices in country music, and this year, that signature sound that could only be Dierks was heard more than ever on country radio with three consecutive No. one hits off his sixth studio album HOME bringing his total as both a singer and a songwriter to 10. It was a dizzying 2012 for the artist, who also toured internationally, nabbed award nominations from the ACMs, CMAs and most recently the GRAMMYs, mined GOLD singles and found himself sitting at the top of critics’ year end lists.
 
“Seems like every man in Nashville wants to be the Nashville Everyman. Here, Bentley actually pulls it off, singing from various vantages with smarts and charm. Bonus points for the patriotic title track, which still sounds sensible after an election season that left America covered in red-and-blue bruises.” – Washington Post, 2012’s Top 10 Albums
 
“Bentley always utilizes banjo, fiddle, mandolin and especially dobro in his music, but with a modern beat and energy that, along with his distinctive voice, gives him a compelling sound of his own.” – Associated Press

“Dierks Bentley’s music reaches all the way from Nashville to my kitchen in Dublin. When he sings “Home” I feel patriotic about America and I’m not even American. I think anyone who hears it understands that America is not just a geography, it’s not just a country, it’s an idea. I think country fans get that deeper than most.”  – Bono

Bentley’s tribute to Johnny Cash on the GRAMMY Nominations Concert capped off 2012’s string of television appearances this year that included TODAY, The Late Show with David Letterman, The Ellen DeGeneres Show, Late Night with Jimmy Fallon, CMA Music Festival: Country’s Night to Rock, CBS’ Teachers Rock, and awards shows including the 54th Annual GRAMMY Awards, 47th Annual ACM Awards, 46th Annual CMA Awards and the 2012 American Country Awards.
 
Bentley toured the US and beyond to Canada and Australia during his 55-city Country & Cold Cans Tour. The road warrior sold out shows across the country including the iconic Red Rocks Amphitheater, and along the way notched the one millionth mile on his faithful tour bus “Goldie.”  He also shared the stage with iconic rock guitarists Mike McCready of Pearl Jam on Record Store Day and Chris Shiflett from Foo Fighters at the Nokia Theatre in Los Angeles. The Grand Ole Opry member lent his voice to the theme song of the final season of “Weeds” and set down his guitar to test his hosting skills at the 2012 ACM Honors where he charmed the industry-filled audience with jokes about his peers, thoughtful stories about his idols and obscure facts about Country Music history.  Not done yet, Bentley also found time to record and release the fan inspired COUNTRY & COLD CANS EP, as well as design and unveil his signature HD Dierks Bentley Custom Signature Artist Edition Martin guitar.
 
After some time off the road for the holidays, Bentley will ring in the New Year with pre-game concerts at both the Capitol One Bowl in Orlando and the BCS National Championship Game in Miami. From Florida, preparations will begin for the launch of the Miranda Lambert and Dierks Bentley: Locked & Reloaded Tour set to kick off January 17th in Columbia, SC.  

For a video look at the year in review and a full list of upcoming appearances and tour dates, visit www.dierks.com.