Universal Universal Music Group Nashville Pressroom

LINER Uncle Kracker (Thanksgiving)
“Hey! This is Uncle Kracker, wishing you a Happy Thanksgiving!”

Kelleigh Bannen was chosen to be the CMT Listen Up Artist of the Month for November, which she feels is pretty cool. “One of the cool things about that whole program is that it’s an amazing way to introduce CMT viewers and audience to new artists and to give them special content that they can only see there,” Kelleigh explains. “Our content is actually five live performances from the Capitol Street Party that was back in October, and it was just amazing that we got to have CMT there to film it, in front of that audience of 25-thousand people.” The content from the “Sorry on the Rocks” singer is now available online at CMT.com.

Kelleigh Bannen (Listen Up) OC: …at CMT.com. :40
“I’m really excited about being the CMT Listen Up Artist for November. One of the cool things about that whole program is that it’s an amazing way to introduce CMT viewers and audience to new artists and to give them special content that they can only see there, which I think is cool. And our content is actually five live performances from the Capitol Street Party that was back in October, and it was just amazing that we got to have CMT there to film it, in front of that audience of 25-thousand people. It’s pretty incredible, so it’ll all be available online at CMT.com.

Country music star and American Idol winner Scotty McCreery will turn his November 23rd concert at the historic Beacon Theater in New York City into a benefit concert to help the victims of Hurricane Sandy. The show, originally billed as “Christmas with Scotty McCreery” is now being tagged as the “Beacon Theater Benefit for Hurricane Sandy Relief.” McCreery will donate a portion of the ticket sales to World Vision’s Hurricane Sandy relief efforts.

“Being from North Carolina, I have seen firsthand what hurricanes can do. After seeing the devastation caused by Sandy, I wanted to figure out a way to help,” says McCreery of the upcoming concert. “And given that we have a show at the Beacon Theater the day after Thanksgiving, I thought ‘why not turn that New York show into a benefit?’”

Since the storm struck, World Vision has focused on providing assistance to communities in Queens, Staten Island, Bronx, Yonkers and Coney Island in New York; as well as in Hoboken and Egg Harbor township in New Jersey. In addition to McCreery’s ticket donation, World Vision will also be collecting donations onsite during the November 23rd concert.

“World Vision is honored to have been chosen by Scotty and his family to join together and help those still suffering from the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy,” says Michael Bianchi, Director, World Vision Artists. “Our global mission is to serve those in need, even here in our own country. Scotty’s wish to do the same, especially at this time of the year, makes for a perfect partnership.”

McCreery has also invited his friend and American Idol fan favorite Pia Toscano to join him at the Beacon for a special performance. “New York is my hometown and it’s been difficult to watch what has happened there to my friends and family,” says Toscano. “So when Scotty asked me to be a part of his Beacon Theater benefit performance, I jumped at the chance.”

The New York City concert will feature songs from McCreery’s Platinum debut album Clear As Day as well as many songs from his new holiday album, Christmas With Scotty McCreery, which has sold more than 100,000 units in 5 weeks. Christmas With Scotty McCreery, an 11-song collection produced by Mark Bright, features two original holiday tracks as well as classic favorites.

With the holidays in mind, McCreery adds, “It’s fitting that the day after Thanksgiving, we can all show how thankful we are to live in a great country where Americans help Americans in their time of need. So, I hope everyone will come out and support the ‘Beacon Theater Benefit for Hurricane Sandy Relief.’ It will be a fun night and a grateful way for us all to kick off the holiday season.”

Doors open at 5pm on Friday, November 23rd and the show begins at 5:30pm. For tickets, go to Ticketmaster here:

http://www.ticketmaster.com/event/1D004949814D4921?camefrom=CFC_BEACONTHEATRE_BEACONTHEATRE&brand=beacontheatre.

About World Vision:

World Vision is a Christian humanitarian organization dedicated to working with children, families, and their communities worldwide to reach their full potential by tackling the causes of poverty and injustice. Working in nearly 100 countries around the world, World Vision serves all people, regardless of religion, race, ethnicity, or gender.

Uncle Kracker has released the video for his latest single, “Nobody’s Sad on a Saturday Night,” which was shot at the Texas State Fair. Check out the couples dancing in the background at the fair — it was totally random. They heard the music blasting from the loud speakers and decided to “bust a few moves” while the crew was filming.

Check out Luke Bryan co-hosting Country Countdown USA with Lon Helton and hear what he has to say about the CMA awards! Also, get a sneak peak of what is going on in the studio for the upcoming album.

Lady Antebellum picked up the American Music Award for Favorite Country Band, Duo or Group during Sunday night’s (November 18th) show.

The trio, who have been working on the follow-up to the platinum-selling Own the Night, have released their first holiday album, On This Winter’s Night, featuring “A Holly Jolly Christmas.”

Luke Bryan, who is spending another week at the top of the country charts with “Kiss Tomorrow Goodbye,” picked up his first American Music Award for Favorite Country Male during Sunday night’s (November 18^th) show. The award was presented to him by his friends, Lady Antebellum. When his name was read as the winner, he kissed wife Caroline, and ran up on stage where he thanked his wife for letting him be a big kid on the road and doing what he loves—making music.

Luke has spent some of his time off the road in the studio working on his forthcoming album, the follow-up to his platinum album, tailgates & tanlines.

Darius Rucker will play the role of Santa this holiday season. He is running a Holiday Toy Drop on Eventful.com which will award $10,000 in toys to the most demanded city. The toys will be delivered by Darius to a Toys for Tots collection station in the city with the most “demands” received by December 10th. As of this posting, the Charleston metro area is currently in the lead with more than 350 “demands.” Lindenhurt, New York is currently in second place, followed by the Chicago Metro Area with the New York City Metro Area and Charlotte, North Carolina rounding out the top five.

To find out more information on the demand it contest, click here.

Darius is currently scaling the country chart with his latest single, “True Believers.”

AUDIO: Darius Rucker explains why he decided to kick off the holiday season with his ‘True Believers’ Holiday Toy Drop Demand It contest on Eventful.com.

Darius Rucker (Demand It Christmas) OC: …no-brainer. :17
“You know, it’s another one of those little things you can do to give back. I’m hoping everybody votes for some small town up in the Northeast that really needs it. You know, even if they don’t, I’ll probably match it and find a small town that needs it. It’s one of those things that where it’s another easy way to give back that you can get your fans involved. That’s a no-brainer.”

Kip Moore, along with Rascal Flatts and Jake Owen, have joined the list of performers at this year’s American Country Awards (ACAs). Previously announced performers include Luke Bryan, Lady Antebellum, Dierks Bentley, Little Big Town and Jason Aldean. Scotty McCreery, Lauren Alaina, Miranda Lambert, Chris Young, Scotty McCreery, Lauren Alaina, Casey James, Lee Brice, Jana Kramer, Dustin Lynch and others have been announced as presenters. The fan-voted awards will take place live from Las Vegas December 10th on FOX.

Luke Bryan was chosen as one of People magazine’s “Men of the Year,” while actor Channing Tatum was chosen as the magazine’s Sexiest Man Alive. Dierks Bentley, Jake Owen and Blake Shelton were also featured.