Universal Universal Music Group Nashville Pressroom

TICKETS AVAILABLE ON FRIDAY, AUGUST 17^th AT THE RYMAN BOX OFFICE, RYMAN.COM,

 TICKETMASTER OUTLETS, TICKETMASTER.COM OR BY CALLING 800-745-3000

ENCINO, CA (August 1, 2012) – Today the Academy of Country Music is announcing that country music superstar Dierks Bentley will host the 6^th Annual ACM HONORS, an evening dedicated to recognizing the special honorees and off-camera category winners from the 47^th Annual Academy of Country Music Awards.  The event will take place on Monday, September 24, 2012 at 7:00pm at the historic Ryman Auditorium in Nashville.  Tickets priced at $37 will go on sale to the public at 8:00am PST on Friday, August 17, 2012 at the Ryman box office, Ryman.com, Ticketmaster outlets, Ticketmaster.com or by calling 800-745-3000.  The evening is presented by City National Bank.

This is Bentley’s first time hosting the event and the third time the ceremony will be held at the Ryman Auditorium.

Those being honored include Special Award recipients Bobby Braddock, Kenny Chesney, Vince Gill, Emmylou Harris, Gayle Holcomb, Alan Jackson, Billy Sherrill, Ricky Skaggs and Dwight Yoakam. Roger Miller will also be honored posthumously.  The evening also recognizes winners of the MBI (musician, bandleader, instrumentalist) and Industry categories, which are not presented during the live telecast of the Academy of Country Music Awards.  In addition, the winner of Songwriter of the Year will also be recognized, an award which has been given out only once, in 1965, to Roger Miller.

ACM Award winning singer/songwriter Dierks Bentley has forged his own brand of country music combining classic country songwriting, influences of bluegrass instrumentation and the energy of rock & roll. He recently made plans to toast the end of summer with the release of a four song EP titled COUNTRY & COLD CANS available Aug. 21 on iTunes, while simultaneously kicking off tailgating season with a limited COUNTRY & COLD CANS: BACK TO COLLEGE TOUR. The new music follows Bentley’s sixth studio album HOME, released earlier this year, which debuted at No. one and has spawned three chart-toppings hits marking 10 career No. one songs as a singer and songwriter.  His five previous studio albums have earned 10 GRAMMY nominations, sold over five million albums and an invitation to join the Grand Ole Opry.

“Dierks’ incredible passion combined with his respect for and overwhelming knowledge of the country music genre, both as a renowned artist and songwriter, make him an ideal host for ACM Honors,” said Michelle Goble, Senior Vice President, Membership & Industry Relations at the Academy of Country Music. “We look forward to his contribution to the show, as we pay tribute to those who helped forge country music into the outstanding genre it is today.”

“I’m really looking forward to helping recognize this year’s ACM honorees,” said Bentley. “Country music has so many talented artists, songwriters and people working behind the scenes…I’m flattered that I’ve been asked to stand on stage beside them.”

The Academy of Country Music Special Awards are voted on by the ACM Board of Directors and are awarded during years that the Board of Directors feels there are clear and deserving candidates. Honorees include:

• Bobby Braddock – Poet’s Award
• Kenny Chesney – Crystal Milestone Award
• Vince Gill – Career Achievement Award
• Emmylou Harris – Cliffie Stone Pioneer Award
• Gayle Holcomb – Mae Boren Axton Award
• Alan Jackson – Jim Reeves International Award
• Roger Miller (posthumously) – Poet’s Award
• Billy Sherrill – Cliffie Stone Pioneer Award
• Ricky Skaggs – Cliffie Stone Pioneer Award
• Dwight Yoakam – Cliffie Stone Pioneer Award

The winners of the Musician-Bandleader-Instrumentalist (MBI) awards are voted on by Academy of Country Music members classified in the Artist-Entertainer/MBI category and the Producer/Engineer/Studio Manager subcategory (contained within the Affiliated category) on the final ballot.  Honorees include:

• Stuart Duncan – Fiddle Player of the Year
• Shannon Forrest – Percussionist/Drummer of the Year
• Paul Franklin – Steel Guitar Player of the Year
• Kenny Greenberg – Guitarist of the Year
• Aubrey Haynie – Specialty Instrument(s) Player of the Year
• John Hobbs – Piano/Keyboard Player of the Year
• Frank Liddell – Producer of the Year
• Justin Niebank – Audio Engineer of the Year
• Michael Rhodes – Bass Player of the Year

The winners of the Industry Awards categories are voted on by the membership of the Academy of Country Music on the final ballot.  Honorees include:

• Jimmy Jay, Jayson Promotions, Inc. – Don Romeo Talent Buyer of the Year
• Brian O’Connell, Live Nation – Promoter of the Year
• Billy Bob’s Texas (Ft. Worth, TX) – Nightclub of the Year
• Bridgestone Arena (Nashville, TN) – Venue of the Year
• Mandalay Bay Hotel & Casino (Las Vegas, NV) – Casino of the Year 

The Songwriter of the Year Award winner is determined by a vote of Academy of Country Music members classified in the Artist-Entertainer/MBI, Composer, Music Publisher/PRO and Record Company categories, along with the Producer/Engineer/Studio Manager subcategory (contained within the Affiliated category) on the final ballot.  Honoree includes:

• Dallas Davidson

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For more information on the ACADEMY OF COUNTRY MUSIC and the ACADEMY OF COUNTRY MUSIC AWARDS, please visit www.acmcountry.com. For information on ACM LIFTING LIVES, please visit www.acmliftinglives.org.

Jon Pardi is one of country music’s latest rising stars, due in large part to his Top 40 debut single, “Missin’ You Crazy,” and taking his music on the road to open shows for such acts as Luke Bryan, Eric Church and Dierks Bentley. CMT also thinks he’s got quite a future ahead with their online series, Listen Up, which features live performances and interview clips with new artists.

The series kicks off Wednesday (August 1st) with “Missin’ You Crazy,” “Chasin’ Them Better Days” and “Up All Night.” A second wave of performances will also be showcased on August 15th, and they’ll include “Happens All the Time” and “Write You a Song.”

The video for “Missin’ You Crazy” is available for viewing at CMT.com.

The California native’s single has been connecting with fans, including those who make their living on the road and in the military, as well as the families left back home. “I had a couple wives of military men say, they always say, ‘My husband’s stationed overseas and this is my song. I miss him so much,’” says Jon. “It’s a positive kind of missing song. Even dudes on the road or stationed overseas, they like it ‘cause they’re missing their wives; they’re missing their families.”

AUDIO: Jon Pardi talks about the military connection to his debut single, “Missin’ You Crazy.”

Jon Pardi (Missin’ Military) OC: …for somebody. :33

“I had a couple wives of military men say, they always say, ‘My husband’s stationed overseas and this is my song. I miss him so much.’ I think it’s the upbeat kind of happiness to the song that kind of keeps them; it’s a positive kind of missing song. Even dudes on the road or stationed overseas, they like it ‘cause they’re missing their wives; they’re missing their families. There’s always somebody to be missed, but I’ve had a lot of good feedback towards people that have to be apart because of their jobs or what they do. There’s a connection there for somebody.”

Last week, Keith Urban played the part of tour guide as part of a feature that will appear on Yahoo’s “Going Home on Ram Country” series. The Nashville transplant took the crew to several of his favorite Music City locations, including the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum — the recipient of the proceeds from his annual All for the Hall benefit concerts. 

The installment will premiere August 15th at ramcountry.music.yahoo.com.

Lady Antebellum has wrapped up the European leg of their Own the Night 2012 World Tour, and band member Charles Kelley is using the down time to tune in to the Olympic games.

He tweets, “Women’s Olympic volleyball so far is my favorite things I’ve seen from the games. That is until I found out when ping pong is gonna air.”

As you may know, Lady A has a ping pong table set up backstage at each one of their concerts, but we’re not sure if they’re ready for Olympic competition just yet.  

The band is off the road until a September 22nd date in Honolulu.  After that, Lady A heads Down Under for a string of Australian shows starting September 25th in Melbourne.

Credit ABC News Radio for the story.

Eric Church and his album, Chief, were feted at a platinum-album party in Nashville on Monday (July 30th) in front of family (including wife Katherine and son Boone), friends, band, crew, record label and industry insiders. Eric’s recent two-week No. 1 single, “Springsteen,” was also celebrated and included presentations to the star’s co-writers, Jeff Hyde and Ryan Tyndell.

Eric received several “platinum” items to celebrate the status of Chief — which debuted at the top of the Billboard album charts last July — including a pair of platinum sunglasses, a box of custom cigars, a custom barrel of Jack Daniels (his favorite beverage) and a special bottle of the single barrel liquor with a platinum label–the first of its kind.

Check out what Eric had to say to those in attendance below.

July 29, 2012

Church determined to give fans a great show in August

JAMIE PARSELLBluefield Daily TelegraphThe Bluefield Daily TelegraphSun Jul 29, 2012, 04:50 AM EDT

Keith Urban‘s at the opening ceremonies of the Olympics, and he gives his fans a little sneak peek.

When Jon Pardi comes back home after a long day in the studio or a few days on the road, he’s greeted by his best friend, his dog Bandit. The singer says Bandit is a mix of two purebred dogs – a Queensland Heeler and Australian Shepherd. Until Jon came along, Bandit wasn’t liked by too many folks. “Nobody wanted him ‘cause he barked all the time,” Jon explained. “He had a petition by all the neighbors in the surrounding area because he barked so much that he’d get like kicked out. And by the time I got him, like they were just ready to give him away…and the first time I got him, he sat on my lap, just never got off my lap, and we’ve been best friends ever since.” We’re sure when his owner goes on the road for a few days, Bandit is “missin’” him “crazy.”

Jon is heading up the country charts with his single, “Missin’ You Crazy.”

In other news, Jon and labelmate Eric Paslay wrote a major hit song (we are sure) together earlier this week.

AUDIO: Jon Pardi talks about his “best friend,” Bandit.

Jon Pardi (dog) 1 OC: …ever since, man. :34

“My dog is Bandit. He’s a Queensland Heeler and Australian Shepherd. He’s two purebred dogs — his mom was an Australian Shepherd purebred, dad was a purebred Queensland Heeler, and he was a big ole dude. And I got him at a year and a half. Nobody wanted him ‘cause he barked all the time. He had a petition by all the neighbors in the surrounding area because he barked so much that he’d get like kicked out. And by the time I got him, like they were just ready to give him away and the first time I got him he sat on my lap, just never got off my lap, and we’ve been best friends ever since, man.”

AUDIO: Jon Pardi says his dog, Bandit, made the trek with him from California to Nashville in the back of his pickup truck…and just recently, got into a bit of a skirmish with a skunk.

Jon Pardi (dog) 2 OC: …around their face. :52

“He stood up the whole time on the back. He was in the bed. And he’d  stay; sometimes we couldn’t sneak him into the hotel rooms so he had to sleep with all the gear and stuff in the back. But it’s good cause he’s very protective, like you don’t want to go and reach your hand in the back of the truck while Bandi is back there, ‘cause you will be bit. But he’s been a really great dog. He’s getting really old, and it’s kind of sad to watch him get old, but I still take him out when I can. He got sprayed by a skunk. He stinks, man. But I found if your dog ever gets sprayed by a skunk, listen up now, a whole bottle of peroxide, not a big bottle, the medium-sized bottle, a half a cup of baking soda and a teaspoon of like dishwashing soap, and that will clear it out. It’ll dry his skin out, and it will be good. My dog, Bandit had gotten whiter after I poured peroxide on him, but he don’t smell as bad anymore. Just don’t get it in their eyes or around their face.”

Nashville, TN – July 26, 2012 – Award winning singer/songwriter Dierks Bentley is raising a glass to the end of summer with the release of a four song EP titled COUNTRY & COLD CANS at iTunes on Aug. 21. Produced by Jaren Johnston, the EP was inspired by the crowd-favorite title track and tour by the same name that recently wrapped legs in the U.S., Canada and Australia.

With the help of college students, Bentley will kick tailgating season off at three SEC campuses to celebrate the new music in a limited COUNTRY AND COLD CANS: BACK TO COLLEGE TOUR with special guest, The Cadillac Black. The tour begins at The University of Georgia (8/20) and continues to The University of South Carolina (8/21) and culminates in The Grove at The University of Mississippi (8/22).  Tickets are available to fan club members beginning today and the general public on Friday beginning at 10:00A ET, for ticket information visit Dierks.com.
 
“We thought we’d celebrate the end of summer and back to school with an EP of new material that’s about cutting loose…it was really inspired by how young and crazy the fans on the Country & Cold Cans Tour were earlier this year,” said Bentley.  “I’ve written a lot with Jaren, and we thought it would be fun to get the guys in my band and a couple of cases of beer and go see what happens in the studio.  I’m really happy with the tracks, and I think our crowd will dig it.”
 
COUNTRY & COLD CANS EP Track List:
 
1. Country & Cold Cans
 
2. Grab A Beer
 
3. Back Porch
 
4. Summer On Fire

5. Tip It On Back

For a preview of the new music from the recording studio, visit: www.dierks.com/videos/countryandcoldcansep
 
Bentley’s current sixth studio album HOME debuted at No. one on Billboard Country Albums chart earlier this year and has already earned three No. one hits at country radio “Am I The Only One,” “Home” and “5-1-5-0” for a career total of 10 No. one hits as an artist and songwriter.  For more information and for a full list of upcoming tour dates, visit www.dierks.com.