Universal Universal Music Group Nashville Pressroom

T.J. MARTELL FOUNDATION ANNOUNCES LITTLE BIG TOWN TO PERFORM AT 37^TH ANNUAL NEW YORK HONORS GALA OCTOBER 23, 2012

 New York, New York… August 31, 2012… The T.J. Martell Foundation for Leukemia, Cancer and AIDS Research announced today that one of Country Music’s most popular groups Little Big Town will perform at its 37^th Annual Honors Gala on Tuesday, October 23, 2012 at the legendary Ciprianis on 42^nd St in New York. With the highly anticipated release of Little Big Town’s full-length album, Tornado, hitting the nation on September 11, 2012, the Capitol Records recording artists have found themselves on an impressive road to country music super stardom. Little Big Town includes Karen Fairchild, Kimberly Schlapman, Phillip Sweet and Jimi Westbrook, a group famous for their four part harmonies. 

In addition to its title track, Tornado includes their summertime smash hit, “Pontoon,” as well as “Your Side Of The Bed,” “Sober,” “Front Porch Thing” and seven other original songs from the powerhouse group. 

“We have had the pleasure of working with T.J.Martell for many, many years and it’s our great privilege to be invited to be part of the Honors Gala to celebrate all of the 2012 Honorees and their contributions for such a worthy cause,” said  Karen Fairchild. 

Little Big Town will join fellow performer Grace Potter and presenters to help pay tribute to honorees Russell Simmons, Del Bryant, Edward Walson and Randy Jackson. The T.J. Martell Foundation’s gala has long been a who’s who amongst celebrities and musical performers. The special evening includes a star-studded red carpet, musical performances by some of today’s greatest performers and attendance by celebrity friends and families. The night also includes a fantastic cocktail reception, dinner, awards presentation and world-class silent auction to raise funds for cancer and AIDS research. Red carpet arrivals will begin at 6pm EST.  Tickets and tables are available for purchase by calling the TJ Martell Foundation at (646) 841-1394 or at www.tjmartellfoundation.org 

AUDIO: Little Big Town talk about their involvement with the TJ Martell Foundation.

LBT (TJ Martell event) OC: (Phillip) …is there. :35

Dierks Bentley was the guest of honor at a No. 1 party for his recent chart-topper,“5-1-5-0,” at Nashville’s Tin Roof Thursday afternoon. The inspiration behind the song – his 10th No. 1 hit — first came from Van Halen then from his song, “Country and Cold Cans,” which he wrote a few years ago. His co-writer, Jim Beavers, asked him about 51-50 one time, and from that moment on begged him to write a song about it. It was from a song that I had written before and then he heard that and we wrote a song from that particular line. That’s where it came from – sitting on a beach, on Panama City Beach, which I hope is still there, and drinking beer and writing a song about drinking beer and listening to country music.”

Dierks, who drove up to the party in a black ’67 Camaro, planned an after-party celebration with his daughter, Evie, on the ice at Bridgestone Arena. The city’s NHL team, Nashville Predators, had an event where dads could skate with their daughters, so he had packed up all of his hockey gear before leaving the house.

Dierks has hit the airwaves in a big way with his latest single, “Tip It On Back,” the follow-up to “5-1-5-0.”

AUDIO: Dierks Bentley explains the inspiration behind his recent No. 1 hit, “5-1-5-0.”

Dierks (#1 5-1-5-0) OC: …and country music. :26

“A song I had written before called ‘Country and Cold Cans,’ I wrote by myself and it had the line, ‘Y’all, let’s get 51-50 tonight.’ And Jim [Beavers] had heard that and asked, ‘What does that mean?’ So, I explained that to him. It was from a song that I had written before and then he heard that and we wrote a song from that particular line. That’s where it came from – sitting on a beach, on Panama City Beach, which I hope is still there, and drinking beer and writing a song about drinking beer and listening to country music.”

Little Big Town’s “Pontoon” Certified Platinum

National TV Appearances Include ABC’s Good Morning America And The Ellen DeGeneres Show Supporting September 11^th “Tornado” Album Release           

  “Tornado” Available For Pre-Order Now

 Country super group Little Big Town has earned a RIAA Platinum certification for their current summer smash, “Pontoon,” the lead single from their upcoming album Tornado, in stores September 11^th. The track is their fastest selling-single to date and has spent four weeks as a #1 country digital download.  Written by Natalie Hemby, Luke Laird and Barry Dean, “Pontoon” has received rave critical praise and has been called the “song of the summer.” 

Little Big Town is preparing for the release of their highly anticipated fifth studio album Tornado, out September 11^th, with coast-to-coast television appearances, including ABC’s Good Morning America (September 10^th) and a performance during the premiere week of The Ellen DeGeneres Show (September 13^th).  The band will perform on the upcoming ABC Television Special “CMA MUSIC FESTIVAL: COUNTRY’S NIGHT TO ROCK,” (September 17^th) and will also be featured on CMT’s Unplugged Series which will premiere on CMT.com September 11^th and on CMT September 18^th.   

Fans anxiously awaiting the September 11^th release of Tornado can now pre-order the album at www.littlebigtown.com, Amazon or iTunes.

Little Big Town react to the success of their single, “Pontoon,” which has just been certified platinum.

LBT (Pontoon) 1 OC: …people smile. :31

JIMI: “How cool?” PHILLIP: “It’s so rewarding.” KAREN: “People like to motorboat!” [laughs] JIMI: “That’s right!” PHILLIP: “And you know, the great thing about this song too is it just makes people smile, so it’s a happy thing to celebrate this for us on a commercial level, but the mood that it creates and the party…what a great introduction to this record. And I think when people put on this album, the first four songs are gonna make you feel really good and are gonna take you on a ride. So, I’m just so, so proud of that, and I’m so glad that it’s making people smile.” 

LINER Darius Rucker (Labor Day)
Hey! It’s Darius Rucker, and I hope you have a have a happy work-free Labor Day weekend.

LINER Eric Church (Labor Day)
Hey! It’s Eric Church, and I hope you have a have a happy Labor Day weekend.

LINER Eric Paslay (Labor Day)
Hey! It’s Eric Paslay, and I hope you have a happy and work-free Labor Day weekend.

LINER Jon Pardi (Labor Day weekend)
Hey! It’s Jon Pardi, and I hope you have a happy and work-free Labor Day weekend.

LINER Kelleigh Bannen (Labor Day)
Hi! I’m Kelleigh Bannen, and I hope you have a happy Labor Day weekend.

LINER LBT (Labor Day)

Hi! We’re Little Big Town, hoping you have a work-free Labor Day weekend.

LINER Luke Bryan (Labor Day weekend)
Hey! It’s Luke Bryan, and I hope you have a have a happy Labor Day weekend.

Nashville, Tenn. – Capitol Records Nashville’s Darius Rucker debuted his new single “True Believers” at country radio this week. “True Believers” is the first single from Rucker’s upcoming third solo country album which is produced by Frank Rogers and will be released in early 2013.

Rucker admits that as a songwriter, the melody and the lyrics really come to him at the same time during the process. “Josh [Kear] brought the general idea of ‘True Believers’ into the writing sessions, and to me, it was so exactly what I wanted to say. It’s such a defiant song for me – the message that ‘My life works for me, whether it’s what you agree with or not’ – and it’s something I am really proud of as a singer and a writer. With this record as a whole, we wanted to do something a little different,” shares Rucker. “It’s really all about the songs, and I think ‘True Believers’ is a great sample of what’s to come from my third album.”

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.” In 2009 Rucker was named New Artist of the Year at the CMA Awards.

The track is now available on iTunes.

For more information, please visit www.dariusrucker.com.

AUDIO: Darius Rucker talks about his new single, “True Believers.”

Darius Rucker (True Believers) OC: …very disappointed. :20

“‘True Believers’ is real different. I mean, for me even singing it, you know, I’ve never sung a song like that. And it’s such a defiant song for me. It’s just a song of, ‘I’m gonna make my life work no matter what you all say or think,’ and I’ve lived my life like that for 46 years now. Singing that was awesome. When we were done with that one, I was very disappointed.”

LUKE BRYAN TO APPEAR ON LATE NIGHT WITH JIMMY FALLON AND
GOOD MORNING AMERICA

 Appearances Set for Wednesday, September 5 and Thursday, September 6

             Nashville- (August 28, 2012) –  Country music superstar Luke Bryan will head to the Big Apple next week to make appearances on Late Night With Jimmy Fallon and Good Morning America on Sept. 5^th and Sept. 6^th respectively.  Luke will perform his new co-written smash hit single “Kiss Tomorrow Goodbye” from his Platinum-selling album tailgates & tanlines. 

In addition, Luke will also be in town promoting the ABC Television Special “CMA Music Festival: Country’s Night To Rock,” which Luke co-hosts with Kimberly Perry of The Band Perry.  The special
will air on Monday, Sept. 17th, 8:00-11:00 PM ET.

Luke Bryan recently scored his third consecutive Platinum single with “Drunk On You” from his
Platinum-certified album, tailgates & tanlines.  The single joins previous Platinum tracks “Country Girl (Shake It For Me)” and the two-week #1 hit “I Don’t Want This Night To End.”

Luke is currently on the “My Kind of Party Tour” with Jason Aldean and also headlining his own shows this summer and fall.  In October, Luke will embark on his fourth-annual “Farm Tour” 2012 with eight concerts planned through several southern states, including five in his home state of Georgia.

Little Big Town has announced a new contest for fans on their website, inspired by the star-studded video getting their groove on to LBT’s hot single, “Pontoon.” The band wants their fans to make their own video to “Pontoon,” and the group’s favorite clip will win two tickets and meet-&-greet passes to a Little Big Town show of their choice.

Calling all a cappella groups! Lady Antebellum wants you to be a part of special event with them in Nashville this December. That’s right, your a cappella group could have the chance to be flown to Nashville and perform with Lady A. Start your vocal warm ups, grab a video camera and get your group together for an a cappella version of any Lady A song. Submit your video and YOUR a cappella group could be performing with Lady Antebellum! Click here for more information!

With songs like “Remember When,” “Drive (for Daddy Gene),” “Where I Come From” and “Where Were You (When the World Stopped Turning),” Alan Jackson is one of today’s most prolific songwriters, in addition to being one of the best country singers around. He has written/co-written 24 of his 35 No. 1 hits, which places him second only to Merle Haggard in country music history as artists who have written or co-written No. 1 songs they’ve also recorded. Even with all of that success, he doesn’t quite know where the inspiration originates. “I’ve never understood where a lot of the inspirations come from, or all of a sudden a line or a melody will just come out of nowhere, so you wonder where it comes from…whether it’s gonna stop or get better,” says Alan. “And I have had spells where I don’t write. I think it’s mainly what kind of mind frame you’re in.”

On Monday (August 27th), Alan hits the airwaves with his latest single, “You Go Your Way,” which is from his No. 1 album, Thirty Miles West.

AUDIO: Alan Jackson, who’s written hundreds of songs over the years, revealed that he doesn’t quite know where the inspiration for his songs comes from.

AJ (inspiration) OC; …appear somehow, yk? :31
“I’ve never understood where a lot of the inspirations come from, or all of a sudden a line or a melody will just come out of nowhere, so you wonder where it comes from…whether it’s gonna stop or get better. And I have had spells where I don’t write. I think it’s mainly what kind of mind frame you’re in – if you’re busy in your life and you’ve got a lot going on. I learned a long time ago if you’re not looking for song titles, you can’t hear ‘em or see ‘em. If I want to find something to write about, then I’ll hear a phrase or see it in a movie or on a sign, it’ll appear somehow, yk?”