Universal Universal Music Group Nashville Pressroom

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.

Happy Anniversary to Eric Church!!!!  One year ago today (July 26th), he released his third and most-celebrated album, Chief. The platinum-certified album (his first) debuted at No. 1 on both the Billboard Country Albums chart and the over-all Top 200. He took time off the road to hole up in a cabin to write the songs for the album. “I felt like our career had really got to a point that, it had gotten to the next level, I wanted to make a record that was indicative to that. The only way I knew how to do that, was to pause, and just take time, and figure out where we go from there,” says Eric. “That month in the cabin, there was no television, cell phone service, which in the middle of football season is brutal. I spent a lot of time at a local bar [laughs] in Banner Elk [laughs]. But I sat there with co-writers, got them out of their element, and sometimes we’d write a song at 3 am, sometimes we would write a song at 7am, sometimes we didn’t write a song, we’d just ride around and drink beer in a four wheeler. It was really, really cool to just let the creative process, just un-harness it, and let the creative process flow. I think that “unharnessed” really became part of what the record was.”

Chief has spawned three hits, including his first two No. 1 singles, “Drink in My Hand” and the two-week chart-topper, “Springsteen.” The fourth single from the collection, ‘Creepin’,’ is making its way up the country charts.

AUDIO: Eric Church explains why he took time off the road to write most of the songs for his new album, Chief.

Eric Church (taking time to write) OC: …in that cabin. 1:09

“Well, it’s the first time taking a month off to write this record; it’s the first time I’ve taken a month off in the middle of any kind of touring season in a long time…ever. And it was for me, I thought it was time, and we, I put so much into the record making process, every time we do it, I empty the tank doing it. And this time, two records in, I felt like our career had really got to a point that, it had gotten to the next level, I wanted to make a record that was indicative to that. The only way I knew how to do that, was to pause, and just take time, and figure out where we go from there. That month in the cabin, there was no television, cell phone service, which in the middle of football season is brutal. I spent a lot of time at a local bar [laughs] in Banner Elk [laughs]. But I sat there with co-writers, got them out of their element, and sometimes we’d write a song at 3 am, sometimes we would write a song at 7am, sometimes we didn’t write a song, we’d just ride around and drink beer in a four wheeler. It was really, really cool to just let the creative process, just un-harness it, and let the creative process flow. I think that ‘unharnessed’ really became part of what the record was. It just is, there’s no rules. It’s unchained, it’s loose, it’s wild, and I think that started in that cabin.”

cHECK OUT the latest Webisode Wednesday, in which Lady A continue their tour of Europe with performances in Birmingham, UK, Zurich, Switzerland and Frankfurt.

When the band performed in Ireland, Lady A’s Hillary Scott stopped by to speak with Highland Radio’s own CMA award winning DJ, Pio Mc Cann, in Dublin. Listen to their interview here.

Dierks Bentley, along with Carrie Underwood, are set to take part in honoring teachers and education all across America in a new CBS-TV special, Teachers Rock, airing August 18th. They will be joined by such famous faces as Josh Groban, Jennifer Garner, Morgan Freeman, Adam Levine, Usher and Jack Black.

The live event will be take place August 14th at the Nokia Theater in Los Angeles. Tickets will go on sale on Friday, July 27, and proceeds from the concert will benefit DonorsChoose.org, Feeding America and Teach for America.

Dierks Bentley has scored his 10th No. 1 single as “5-1-5-0” tops both the Mediabase/Country Aircheck and Billboard’s country charts this week. “I like it more and more every time I see people out there going cra— you know, sing along to it and do the hand gestures to it. But, you know, I, everything revolves around just, the balance of a set list and a live show and also with radio too, and pushing and pulling,” says Dierks. “It’s just made to drink. It’s not, there’s nothing crazy about it, as far as thinking goes and there’s nothing wrong with that, you know. There’s a lot of songs that got me into country music, like “Chattahoochee,” Alan Jackson. That song wasn’t meant for anything, just to have a good time, and there’s nothing wrong with that every now and then to put a song out like that.”

AUDIO: Dierks Bentley explains that he enjoyed his No. 1 song, “5-1-5-0,” but liked it more and more as he and the fans had fun with it on the road.

Dierks Bentley (5-1-5-0 No. 1) OC: …like that. :39

“I like it more and more every time I see people out there going cra— you know, sing along to it and do the hand gestures to it. But, you know, I, everything revolves around just, the balance of a set list and a live show and also with radio too, and pushing and pulling. You know, a song like ‘Home’ can kinda make your brain work over time a little bit. There’s this pretty heavy song that I’m so proud to have, but it’s really nice to back it up with something that’s just a song that’s made pretty much just to lubricate your throat for cold beer. You know, it’s just made to drink. It’s not, there’s nothing crazy about it, as far as thinking goes and there’s nothing wrong with that, you know. There’s a lot of songs that got me into country music, like “Chattahoochee,” you know, Alan Jackson. That song wasn’t meant for anything, just to have a good time, and there’s nothing wrong with that every now and then to put a song out like that.”

The 2012 Summer Olympics officially begin on Friday (July 27th) from London, and the world will be watching who takes home the gold, silver and bronze medals. No country artist will be more psyched than Darius Rucker, who is a self-admitted sports junkie. In fact, his “man cave” features a number of televisions tuned in to different stations so he can watching multiple games or events. He enjoys watching the Olympics, not only because of the sportsmanship and competition, but because of a much deeper meaning for him and the nation. “Everybody watches the Olympics because you want to see America beat everybody else in the world,” says Darius. “I mean it sounds crazy, but that’s why you’re watching it; that’s why I’m watching the 100, because I want to see an American cross the line first. You know, that’s why we watch basketball, because we want to see America blow everybody out.” 

Be looking out for a new single from Darius in the coming weeks. It will be the first release from his third album from Capitol Nashville. 

London will become the first city to officially host the modern Olympic Games three times, having previously done so in 1908 and in 1948.

The Opening ceremony of the 2012 Summer Olympics will be held on 27 July 2012 and be called “The Isles of Wonder”. Oscar-winning director Danny Boyle will be the artistic director for the opening ceremony and the music directors will be Rick Smith and Karl Hyde of the electronic music duo Underworld.

The games will be officially opened by Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip. A short film starring Daniel Craig as secret agent “James Bond” will be screened during the television coverage of the ceremony. Sir Paul McCartney has announced he will perform at the end of the ceremony. 

Darius Rucker (Olympics) OC: …I love ‘em both. :30

The Olympics, still today – I don’t think as much as we were younger – but today it’s more than about sports, it’s about the country. Everybody watches the Olympics because you want to see America beat everybody else in the world. I mean it sounds crazy, but that’s why you’re watching it; that’s why I’m watching the 100, because I want to see an American cross the line first. You know, that’s why we watch basketball, because we want to see America blow everybody out – I mean, that’s why I’m watching it; I think that’s why the Olympics do such great business. I love it every two years…with the winter and the summer – I love ‘em both.”

Darius Rucker took a moment to be a fan during Friday night’s date at the Grand Ole Opry. He tweeted a photo of himself with country legend Charley Pride after meeting the singer backstage. He posted the photo (see below) and wrote: “I met the legendary Charley Pride last night at the @opry Wow. What an honor!”

The 2012 Teen Choice Awards will be handed out on Sunday (July 22nd), and Luke Bryan is in the running for Choice Male Country Artist. He says he’s flattered he’s nominated because teens have such a wide range of musical choices. “They’re listening to all kinds of music. So, when you’re able to grab a slot into their iPod and they nominate you, it’s pretty cool stuff,” says Luke. “And they’ll grow up 10 years from now, hopefully, still be fans.” 

Lady Antebellum is also up for a pair of awards, including Overall Choice Music Group and Choice Country Group.  

The Teen Choice Awards will air live on Fox on Sundayat 8pm ET/PT. 

AUDIO: Luke Bryan talks about being nominated for a Teen Choice Award.  

Luke Bryan (Teen Choice Awards) OC: …be fans. :26

“As long as you’re popping and you’re hip and young, and you’re making them pay attention, I think that’s very flattering, because they’re listening to all kinds of music. So, when you’re able to grab a slot into their iPod and they nominate you, it’s pretty cool stuff. So, we love anytime we get the Teen Choice nominations, and yeah, we’re glad of it. And they’ll grow up 10 years from now, hopefully, still be fans.”