Luke Bryan co-hosts the CMA Red Carpet for the Ellen DeGeneres Show for the second year in a row. His guests include Kellie Pickler, Hunter Hayes, Blake Shelton and Darius Rucker.
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LITTLE BIG TOWN SCORE THEIR FIRST CMA AWARDS FOR VOCAL GROUP AND SINGLE OF THE YEAR! (AUDIO)
Little Big Town experienced a lot of firsts this past year, including their first No. 1 song for “Pontoon.” Thursday night (November 1st), they picked up two CMA Awards for the first time. They took home Single of the Year for “Pontoon,” as well as their very first Vocal Group of the Year award, for which they’ve been nominated a few times.
AUDIO: We caught Little Big Town’s Karen Fairchild right as she was walking into the backstage media area and asked her how she was feeling after the band’s two wins.
LBT (CMA) OC: …so happy. :07
“I feel crazy. I…I feel like I’m having an out-of-body experience, like I’m watching a movie. We’re so grateful; so happy.”
ERIC CHURCH SCORES FIRST CMA AWARD FOR ALBUM OF THE YEAR FOR ‘CHIEF!’ (AUDIO)
Eric Church took home the CMA Album of the Year award for his multi-platinum, Chief.
During the show, he performed his two-week No. 1 song, “Springsteen.”
He’s currently scaling the country charts with his latest single (from Chief), “Creepin’.”
AUDIO: Eric Church says his CMA Album of the Year award for Chief was more for his long-term supporters than for himself.
Eric Church (CMA Album) OC: …for them. :26
LITTLE BIG TOWN WILL LAUNCH ‘TORNADO TOUR’ IN JANUARY. (PRESS RELEASE)
NASHVILLE TN (Wednesday, October 31, 2012) – Country-super group Little Big Town—consisting of members Karen Fairchild, Jimi Westbrook, Phillip Sweet and Kimberly Schlapman—will be launching a new tour entitled The Tornado Tour January 31, 2013 in Murray, KY.
Fresh off of the success of their #1 album, Tornado, Little Big Town along with special guests Kacey Musgraves and David Nail (in select cities) will hit over 25 cities nationwide in some of the most beautiful theaters the US and Canada have to offer.
“We’ve been looking forward to announcing this tour for so long and can’t wait to hit the road next year,” said Schlapman. “It’s going to be so much fun to share more music from this record with our fans and we feel very honored to have Kacey and David opening for us. They’re incredible artists. This new album means so much to us and to be able to showcase all of these songs is a dream come true.”
“I can’t wait to kick off the new year with Little Big Town,” exclaimed Musgraves. “As a musician and fan I couldn’t be more proud to be a part of this amazing show. Theaters alone project a special vibe for live music and adding Little Big Town’s sound to that will be magical.”
“The only thing better than being on the road,” says Nail, “is being out on the road with people who’re friends. Being able to get out there with Little Big Town is gonna be a big time – and I can’t wait.”
CMT will have an exclusive presale for The Tornado Tour beginning at 11am ET today. Visit CMT’s Facebook page for the exclusive presale code to get tickets. The network exclusively premiered Little Big Town’s music video for their latest single “Tornado” this morning at 6am ET and will feature it every hour throughout music hours today. You can also view the video on CMT.com’s homepage now. “Tornado” is the follow up single to the #1 summer hit “Pontoon” and is their fastest rising single to date, currently sitting inside the Top 30 after only 5 weeks at country radio.
The Tornado Tour Dates and Markets:
| 1/31 | Murray, KY | Lovett Auditorium/ Kacey Musgraves |
| 2/1 | Birmingham, AL | Alabama Theatre / Kacey Musgraves |
| 2/12 | New York, NY | Irving Plaza / Kacey Musgraves |
| 2/14 | Washington, DC | 9:30 Club / Kacey Musgraves |
| 2/15 | Atlantic City, NJ | Harrah’s AC Concert Venue / Kacey Musgraves |
| 2/16 | Lowell, MA | Lowell Memorial Auditorium / Kacey Musgraves |
| 2/22 | Huntsville, AL | Von Braun Center / Kacey Musgraves |
| 3/1 | Huntington, WV | Keith Albee Theatre / Kacey Musgraves |
| 3/2 | Cherokee, NC | Harrah’s Cherokee Resort / Kacey Musgraves |
| 3/3 | Lancaster, PA | American Music Theatre / Kacey Musgraves |
| 3/7 | Peoria, IL | Peoria Civic Center Theater |
| 3/8 | New Buffalo, MI | Four Winds Casino Silver Creek Event Center / David Nail |
| 3/9 | Mt. Pleasant, MI | Soaring Eagle Casino & Resort / David Nail |
| 3/21 | Joliet, IL | Rialto Square Theatre |
| 3/22 | Rochester, MN | Mayo Civic Center / David Nail |
| 3/23 | Appleton, WI | Fox Cities Performing Arts Center/ David Nail |
| 3/26 | Winnipeg, MB | Pantages Playhouse Theatre |
| 3/27 | Saskatoon, SK | TCU Place |
| 3/28 | Regina, SK | Conexus Arts Centre |
| 3/30 | Edmonton, AB | Winspear Centre for Music |
| 4/1 | Calgary, AB | Southern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium |
| 4/3 | Vancouver, BC | Orpheum |
| 4/19 | Fayetteville, AR | Arkansas Music Pavilion / David Nail |
| 4/20 | Bossier City, LA | Riverdome at Horseshoe Casino / David Nail |
| 4/26 | Catoosa, OK | Hard Rock Hotel & Casino / David Nail |
| 4/28 | San Antonio, TX | Majestic Theatre / David Nail |
| 5/8 | Augusta, GA | William G. Bell Auditorium / David Nail |
| 5/9 | N. Charleston, SC | North Charleston PAC / David Nail |
DARIUS RUCKER SETS A DATE FOR HIS NEW ALBUM, ‘TRUE BELIEVERS.’ (AUDIO)
Capitol Records Nashville recording artist and newest Grand Ole Opry member, Darius Rucker will release his third country studio album, True Believers, on January 22, 2013. Darius wrote ten of the twelve tracks on True Believers including the title track and debut single which is currently Top 20 and climbing.
“For this album, we really paid attention to what our friends and fans were telling us on the road,” shares Rucker. “The result is an album that I’m so proud of because my fans really have been the true believers since I released my first single to country radio. I can’t wait for everyone to hear it on January 22nd.”
Rucker’s 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.”
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True Believers Track Listing:
1. True Believers (Darius Rucker, Josh Kear)
2. Miss You (Darius Rucker, Frank Rogers)
3. Wagon Wheel (Bob Dylan, Jay Secor)
4. Love Without You (Brandy Clark, Shane McAnally)
5. Radio (Darius Rucker, Luke Laird, Ashley Gorley)
6. Lost In You (Darius Rucker, Mark Nesler, Phillip White)
7. I Will Love You Still (Darius Rucker, Josh Kear)
8. Take Me Home (Darius Rucker, Frank Rogers, Monty Criswell)
9. Shine (Darius Rucker, Frank Rogers)
10. Heartbreak Road (Darius Rucker, Dallas Davidson, Rhett Akins)
11. Leavin’ The Light On (Darius Rucker, David Lee Murphy, Phil O’Donnell)
12. Lie To Me (Darius Rucker, Rodney Clawson, Bob DiPiero.
The album was produced by Frank Rogers (Learn To Live and Charleston, SC 1969).
Rucker is currently nominated for Musical Event of the Year at this year’s 46th Annual CMA Awards for his performance of “Stuck on You” with Lionel Richie. In 2009 he was named New Artist of the Year at the CMA Awards. Most recently, Rucker achieved a personal goal and childhood dream when he was inducted into the Grand Ole Opry becoming the newest member on October 16, 2012.
On Tuesday (October 30th), Darius invited special guests to preview his new album, True Believers, during a performance at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum in Nashville. He was joined by several of the writers on the project.
“I have learned that the heart and soul of country music is the songwriters,” Darius said before thanking the contributors on the album.
AUDIO: Darius Rucker said he and his producer Frank Rogers definitely wanted to have his third album, True Believers, sound a little different than his previous two records.
Darius Rucker (new album) OC: …definitely different. :30
“With the last record, Frank [Rogers] and I actually even talked about just picking up where we left off really. We thought we did something cool with the first record, and we just figured we’d pick up from there. And then with this record, we just wanted to do something a little different. I don’t think we knew what different meant; we just wanted to sound different. It was fun getting the songs together and everything. It was another great experience with great guys. Here in Nashville it’s always fun, and guys coming to Charleston and hanging out, and it was a great time writing it. But I think when you put on the three records, we wanted you to say this one was definitely different.”
KELLEIGH BANNEN LOVES CANDY! (VIDEO)
In the latest webisode — just in time for Halloween — we learn that Kelleigh Bannen has quite the sweet tooth; a love that has her husband taking extreme measures…by hiding it!
Kelleigh’s debut single, “Sorry on the Rocks,” is currently heading up the country charts!
Video / Kelleigh Bannen On "Candy"
ViewERIC PASLAY PICKS UP ASCAP AWARD!
Eric Paslay picked up an award Monday night (October 29th) at the 50th annual ASCAP Country Awards at Nashville’s Opryland Hotel. He co-wrote one of the Song of the Year winners, “Barefoot Blue Jean Night,” with Dylan Altman and Terri Sawchuk. It tied with Blake Shelton‘s No. 1 hit, “Honey Bee,” which was penned by Rhett Akins and Ben Hayslip.
Among those in attendance were Paslay, Dierks Bentley, Lady Antebellum‘s Charles Kelley and Dave Haywood, Kip Moore, David Nail, Lyle Lovett, Robert Earl Keen and many more.
DARIUS RUCKER ADDED TO THE LIST OF PRESENTERS AT THE CMA AWARDS.
Darius Rucker, Reba and Jake Owen have been added to the list of presenters for Thursday’s CMA Awards.
Reba will also perform two songs on ABC’s Good Morning America earlier that day. Additional presenters include newcomer Jana Kramer, Lisa Marie Presley, Olympic gymnast Shawn Johnson and actors Tim Allen, Kimberly Williams Paisley and Nashville stars Connie Britton and Hayden Panettiere.
Prior to the telecast, the awards for Musical Event, Music Video and Musician of the Year will be presented, while the winners of Musical Event and Music Video of the Year will be announced during ABC’s Good Morning America earlier on Thursday (November 1st).
LITTLE BIG TOWN RELEASE TRAILER FOR NEW ‘TORNADO’ VIDEO. (VIDEO)
Little Big Town will world-premiere their “Tornado” music video Wednesday (October 31st) at 6am ET on CMT, repeating every hour throughout the music hours.
“Tornado” was filmed in Watertown, Tennessee. Actor and friend of the band, Jonathon Schaech, co-stars in the video, which was directed by Shane Drake.
Check out the terrific “Tornado” trailer below.
LUKE BRYAN WILL PERFORM LIVE ON ‘THE GRAMMY NOMINATIONS CONCERT.’
Luke Bryan has been tapped to perform on The Grammy Nominations Concert Live!!—Countdown to Music’s Biggest Night. The CBS Television special will be co-hosted by LL Cool J and Taylor Swift, and will also include a performance by Maroon 5. The show will air live from Nashville December 5th on CBS.
Luke is on the verge of hitting the top of the country charts with his latest single, “Kiss Tomorrow Goodbye.”
