Universal Universal Music Group Nashville Pressroom

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 46^th 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.”

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!

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, 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 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 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.”

In this week’s Urban Chat, Keith Urban shares a few of his current favorite things. Be sure to check out the psychological thriller The Sound of My Voice, the single “1994” by Jason Aldean, Jeff Buckely music, Counter Culture Coffee and Ames Bros T-shirts!

Lady Antebellum picked up a pair of nominations at this year’s CMA Awards, including Vocal Group and Album of the Year for their platinum-certified Own the Night. The group picked up their first CMA award in 2008 for New Artist of the Year. They’ve been named Vocal Group of the Year for the past three years in a row (2009-2011).

AUDIO: Lady Antebellum’s Charles Kelley talks about their Album of the Year nomination.

Lady A (CMA-Album nomination) OC: …for granted. :20
“When we found out that the album was nominated, it was just such an amazing feeling. [The] Own the Night is really special to us and really a nostalgic record for us. And so, to see it still kind of get recognized like that is a special thing. There’s just so many great records in [that category] and so, it’s awesome. We definitely don’t take it for granted.”

Keith Urban is nominated for Male Vocalist of the Year, an award he has won three times (2004-2006). Since winning the CMA Horizon Award (now New Artist of the Year) in 2001, he has collected 25 CMA Awards nominations. He won Entertainer of the Year in 2005 and Musical Event of the Year in 2009 for “Start a Band” with Brad Paisley. The new American Idol judge is ready to hit the stage at the CMA Awards on Thursday.

The 46th annual CMA Awards will be broadcast live from Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena Thursday (November 1st) at 8pm ET on ABC.

AUDIO: Keith Urban talks about performing on awards shows.

Keith Urban (on perf on awards shows) OC: …know about. :10
“I look forward to being able to play on awards shows. That is the absolute moment that matters most to me, is getting to play. ‘Cause the other stuff is, I don’t know about the other stuff. I know about playing, that’s the only thing I know about.

Eric Paslay scored his very first nomination for Song of the Year for writing the No. 1 hit, “Even If It Breaks Your Heart,” with pal, Will Hoge.

AUDIO: Eric Paslay says it has always been a dream to be nominated for a CMA Award.

Eric Paslay (CMA 2012) OC: …nominated. :10
“Getting nominated for a CMA is crazy. There’s always that hidden secret in ya as a musician, as a songwriter and as a singer of like, ‘Maybe someday, I’ll get nominated.”

AUDIO: Eric Paslay talks about his CMA-nominated song, “Even If It Breaks Your Heart.”

Eric Paslay (CMA-Even If It Breaks Your Heart) OC: …just life. :32
“I wrote ‘Even If It Breaks Your Heart’ with Will Hoge, who’s an artist in Nashville, and he’s more of a Triple A artist; and that song actually was released on Triple A radio. I think the majority of people that tell me they love it are the musicians or the entertainers ’cause it’s so much about what we do. It’s like, ‘Keep on dreamin’ even if it breaks your heart.’ If you let it, it can break your heart every day from the ‘yes’s’ and the ‘no’s’ and the ‘you’re not good enough’ and ‘now you are’ and ‘you should have done.’ Whatever it is and I think that’s just life.”