Universal Universal Music Group Nashville Pressroom

Eric Church is shooting up the country charts with his latest hit, “Springsteen,” and he is amazed by the response the song is getting from radio and fans alike. “This is the one that even that the friends in radio, all the friends I’ve had, that this is the song when Chief came out, number-one, across the board, said, ‘We can’t wait for ‘Springsteen,’ and they’ve responded,” says Eric of his favorite song on the album. “I’m blown away at the way it’s moving and at the way the fans are responding. You know, when they hear it played on the radio, they’re responding to that. They’re calling. They’re requesting. They’re tweeting. They’re doing all these things, and I think that just speaks to the passion they have about it.”

• Eric will be performing on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon on March 19th and you can win tickets on the Band Bench, which is immediately next to the stage. Click here to enter to win tickets to the show.
• He’s currently making his way across the nation on his Blood, Sweat & Beers tour. The next stop is in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma on Thursday (March 8th).

AUDIO: Eric Church’s “Springsteen” is shooting up the country charts, and he says both radio and the fans responded quite positively to the song when it was released just a couple of weeks ago.

Eric Church (radio excited about Springsteen) OC: …amount of passion. :31

“This is the one that even that the friends in radio, all the friends I’ve had, that this is the song when Chief came out number-one, across the board, said, ‘We can’t wait for ‘Springsteen,’ and they’ve responded. You know, when we put ‘Springsteen’ out, I’m blown away at the way it’s moving and at the way the fans are responding. You know, when they hear it played on the radio, they’re responding to that. They’re calling. They’re requesting. They’re tweeting. They’re doing all these things, and I think that just speaks to the passion they have about it. It’s my favorite song [on the album], so I think it’s one that I have the same amount of passion.”

Lady Antebellum helped Oreo celebrate its 100th birthday with an impromptu acoustic concert at The Grove in Los Angeles. They also sang “Happy Birthday” to one of the nation’s favorite cookies, as well. It was followed by a small flash mob doing a dance for Oreo. 

The free show was one of seven parties staged in various cities including Pittsburgh and Washington, D.C. Lady A are also participating in Oreo’s Facebook promotion ” Join The Movement,” which encourages FB followers to share their favorite Oreo moment.

Lady Antebellum will sing “Happy Birthday” to Oreo cookies as the classic kids’ treat celebrates its 100th year with a flash-mob-style party today at the Grove, according to the Los Angeles Times.

Organizers say the 11 a.m. (PT) event is the flagship of seven similar spontaneous celebrations across the country where kids (big and small) will enjoy Oreo-themed games, photos with the Oreo Man and the free concert.

“Kids don’t necessarily get time to have kid fun anymore,” said event spokeswoman Caroline Lainio. “Those spontaneous moments of fun that people don’t have on a daily basis — that’s what Oreo wants to create.”

Nabisco, which makes Oreos, has research to back up such a claim. The company conducted a global survey of more than 7,000 parents last year and concluded that the “spirit of childhood is at risk worldwide, as parents and kids alike yearn to be more carefree.”

So organizers hope a few Oreos and a large glass of milk will get people dunking, splitting and licking the cookies in a few brief moments of unadulterated fun. 

“It’s a testament to a cookie that’s so unique in its own right,” Lainio said. “It just has some special  appeal to it.”

Alan Jackson has the ability to go from a raucous drinking song to a cry in your beer, rip-your-heart-out tune, and right back again to a fun, party song. This versatile performer, whose music has been the soundtrack to summer and helped heal a nation, enjoys the diversity of songs that make up his albums. “My albums and what I write and sing about have always been kind of from this side of country music to the other ’cause that’s what country music to me is. It’s all those things, you know,” says Alan. “It’s hurtin’ songs, cheatin’ songs, drinkin’ songs, almost religious-type songs. You know, just everything fits right in there, and that’s the way country music’s always been.” The Georgia native has hit the jackpot with his latest single, the heart-felt “So You Don’t Have to Love Me Anymore,” which is currently making its way up the country charts.

After breaking attendance records at the San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo last month, Alan heads to the Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo on March 18th.

Alan is scheduled to perform his latest single, “So You Don’t Have to Love Me Anymore,” on NBC’s The Tonight Show With Jay Leno on March 30th.

AUDIO: Alan Jackson, who is climbing the charts with his latest single “So You Don’t Have to Love Me Anymore,” talks about the diversity of songs that have made up his career.

AJ (diversity of songs) OC: …all of ‘em. :62
“I’ve always had that mixture of songs, from love songs to heartache and family-type songs, the fun, party songs and drinkin’ songs ’cause that, I mean, I played in the bars for years, and you had to play that stuff, and I liked it, anyway. I mean, I grew up on Hank Jr.’s stuff, you know? That was ultimate party country stuff, and that’s what I loved. And so it’s just kind of…to me, I’ve always…my albums and what I write and sing about have always been kind of from this side of country music to the other ’cause that’s what country music to me is. It’s all those things, you know? It’s hurtin’ songs, cheatin’ songs, drinkin’ songs, almost religious-type songs. You know, just everything fits right in there, and that’s the way country music’s always been. I mean, Hank Williams, Sr. — he’d write a party song, then he’d write a cryin’ song, and then he’d have a gospel song out, you know? So I just think it’s all the themes that represent country music, and yes, I’ve had my share of all of ‘em.”

Luke Bryan has been added to the all-star lineup scheduled to perform at the ACM Presents: Lionel Richie and Friends — In Concert TV taping at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas April 2nd (the day after this year’s ACM Awards). He joins Tim McGraw, Sara Evans and Sugarland‘s Jennifer Nettles, as well as previously announced artists Lady Antebellum, Kenny Chesney, Rascal Flatts, Martina McBride, Kenny Chesney, Jason Aldean and The Band Perry, among other surprise guests.

The special, which airs Friday, April 13th on CBS, is a concert event of country music collaborations with the legendary Lionel Richie, featuring duets from his upcoming album Tuskegee, out March 26th, along with solo performances. Some of Richie’s greatest hits will be performed by today’s hottest country artists including Jason Aldean (“Say You Say Me”), The Band Perry (“Penny Lover”), Luke Bryan (“Running with the Night”), Sara Evans, Lady Antebellum (“Truly”), Martina McBride (“Still”), Jennifer Nettles (“Hello”) and Rascal Flatts (“Dancing on the Ceiling”).  Duets with Richie include: “My Love” with Kenny Chesney, “Sail On” with  Tim McGraw, “Lady” with Kenny Rogers, and more surprises to be announced.

“It has been so rewarding to have my songs embraced by country music artists,” said Lionel Richie. “Since Conway Twitty recorded ‘Three Times a Lady’ and Kenny Rogers sang ‘Lady,’ I have been welcomed into the country music family with open arms.  It’s the ultimate compliment to have country artists record and perform songs that I’ve written.  I’ve always felt right at home in country because I was raised just down the road from Nashville in Tuskegee, Alabama, where I was immersed in country, R&B, gospel and classical music. This show will be a homecoming and family reunion combined, and I’m so glad that viewers will be able to share these special moments with us. It will be a night that I will remember for the rest of my life.”

Tickets for ACM PRESENTS: Lionel Richie and Friends In Concert are on sale NOW at Ticketmaster, priced at $200, $150, $100. Tickets proceeds will benefit ACM Lifting Lives, which works to improve lives through music.

Luke Bryan‘s “Country Girl (Shake It For Me)” and Dierks Bentley “Am I The Only One” were featured in ABC’s hot new series, GCB, which premiered Sunday night (March 4th). The series stars Kristen Chenoweth and Annie Potts.

Luke Bryan returns on Tuesday with his latest Spring Break EP, Suntan City. The fourth in a series features the title cut, as well as “Spring Breakup,” “Shake the Sand” and “Little Bit Later On.” He says one reason he included “Little Bit Later On” was that it was a little bit of a musical departure for him. “Part of the Spring Break album is for me to create maybe sounds or something you haven’t heard me do yet,” Luke explained. “Obviously, the sounds and the grooves and stuff in the front of it is new for me. It’s fun to have it on there, and that’s essentially why it made the Spring Break album.”

Luke is set to return to Panama City, Florida to put on his annual Spring Break concert at the Spinnaker Beach Club March 13th and 14th, when he’ll perform songs from his Spring Break 4…Suntan City EP. Luke’s ability to draw huge crowds in the Spring Break mecca caught the attention of the Panama City Convention & Visitors Bureau, who tapped Luke as a spokesperson.

• Luke has partnered with CMT to give away a one-week trip to Panama City Beach, along with tickets and meet & greet passes to one of his shows and a chance to join him onstage. Got to CMT.com to enter.
• Luke’s previous EP releases, which can all be found online at digital retailers, include 2009’s Spring Break…with All My Friends followed in 2010 with Spring Break 2…Hangover Edition and last year’s Spring Break 3…It’s A Shore Thing.
• Following his recent No. 1 single, “I Don’t Want This Night to End,” the Georgia native has hit the airwaves with his latest single, “Drunk on You.”  

AUDIO: Luke Bryan says the reason why “Little Bit Later On” made his latest Spring Break EP was because it was a bit of a departure for him musically.  

Luke Bryan (Little Bit Later On) 2 OC: …Spring Break album. :15

“Part of the Spring Break album is for me to create maybe sounds or something you haven’t heard me do yet. Obviously, the sounds and the grooves and stuff in the front of it is new for me. It’s fun to have it on there, and that’s essentially why it made the Spring Break album.”