Universal Universal Music Group Nashville Pressroom

From TasteofCountry.com:

Last week, Little Big Town‘s Phillip Sweet expanded his family by one, but it’s not what you’re thinking. Sweet, his wife and daughter adopted a new puppy!

The proud papa took to the band’s joint Twitter page to share his news with the 48,000-plus followers they have. “Say hello to the newest member of my sweet family!,” Sweet wrote, attaching a picture of his 4-year-old daughter, Penelopi Jane, clutching onto her new baby with a smile that can melt any heart.

After a flurry of congratulatory tweets from their fans, one finally asked what the precious pup’s name was. “Disney!” Sweet revealed.

FROM NASHVILLE’S TENNESSEAN:

Keith Urban’s “You Gonna Fly”, the fourth single from Get Closer, is charging up the airplay charts hitting #5 this week marking the four-time Grammy Award winner’s 27^th Top 5. It follows two consecutive #1s, “Long Hot Summer” and “Without You”, and begins a week that will see Urban’s return to the stage this Friday night at The Opry in Nashville.  The performance is his first since throat surgery late last year. 

“I’m really looking forward to being back on stage, and more specifically on the Opry stage. When I was told earlier this week that the Ryman was going to start renovations on the stage after our show I thought, ‘you know, when we say we’re really gonna tear it up tonight, maybe they’re worried I mean it literally?”

Later this month, Urban will head to Sydney for a week of filming for the Australian version of The Voice. Urban will pop back and forth to Australia over the next few months while maintaining a busy schedule here in the United States that includes a second show at the Opry, the much anticipated third annual “All For The Hall” benefit concert on April 10^th among other appearances and performances.

“It’ll be a blast spending a little time in Australia working on The Voice, getting the opportunity to try and help some killer raw talent blossom,” said Urban.  “And I have a feeling that being immersed in that new kind of “everything is possible” energy, will have a real inspiring and liberating effect on creating new music for my new album!”

Much of Urban’s time over the course of the year will be spent at home in Nashville, where he’s already begun writing and finding songs for his next album.  No release date set as of yet.

On Thursday night (February 2nd), Dierks Bentley put on a show at The Ryman Auditorium, and he made sure nothing was left to give on the stage of the legendary venue. His was the last official show before the well-worn stage is replaced this weekend. 

Dierks kicked off the show with “Tip It On Back,” a tune from his new album, Home, which is available beginning Tuesday (February 7th). He brought up special guests including The Del McCoury Band and his Up on the Ridge co-horts, The Travelin’ McCourys. Little Big Town‘s Karen Fairchild also made an appearance to perform their duet, “When You Gonna Come Around, also featured on the new album.

His most special guest was saved for last — Dierks’ three-year-old daughter, Evie, who made her debut appearance on The Ryman stage to perform “Thinking of You,” reprising her role as the last tune on the new album. (Check out the video below.)  

We’ve also included fully-produced vignettes of “Thinking of You.”

Dierks Bentley hits stores and online retailers with his latest album, Home, on Tuesday (February 7th), and we’re rolling out fully-produced vignettes of many of the songs on the album. Here, he’s chatting about his previous No. 1 hit, “Am I The Only One,” which is the first track on the album.

The Big Game between the New York Giants and the New England Patriots takes place this Sunday, and many of your favorite country artists will be tuned in to watch the two teams battle it out. Lady Antebellum have hung out with Eli Manning, the QB for the Giants, so they have unanimously picked New York to cheer on. Darius Rucker, who just performed a show during the pre-game festivities, has loved the game of football since he was just a little boy, and even now, he says there are only two times a year — “football season and waiting for football season.” Dierks Bentley is also an avid football fan, and while he’s not publicly picking a side, he says he was hoping for this particular match-up. Keith Urban says his wife Nicole Kidman actually turned him on to pro football.

AUDIO: Darius Rucker loves football.

Darius Rucker (football) OC: …football season. :20

“Ever since I was five, I’ve loved football. I love how physical it is, like, I love the chess match of the game. I love the speed of the game…I love college football, but for me watching pro football’s better, because the speed is so much more. But for me, there’s two times a year, man. There’s football season and waiting on football season.”

AUDIO: Dierks Bentley talks about this year’s Super Bowl matchup between the New England Patriots and the New York Giants.

Dierks Bentley (Super Bowl 2012) OC: …be cool. :42

“That’s really tough. I mean, you’ve got 2 teams with great quarterbacks that have Super Bowl history between them. Tom Brady is unbelievable — won so many Super bowls. I think this is his fifth Super Bowl appearance, but the last time these two teams met, Eli won and the Giants. So, I’m really just pulling for a great game. As a fan, I just really want to see a game that isn’t over by half-time. I want to see something that goes into the fourth quarter, maybe even deeper. It would be so cool. I had a chance to be at the last meeting between these two teams in Phoenix, and saw the catch and all this stuff. So it was a great game. I was kind of pulling for this rematch in some ways. There are a lot of great story lines to play out in this particular, this year’s playoffs. But I have a feeling that…a little payback. It’s gonna be cool.” 

AUDIO: Dierks Bentley talks about this year’s Super Bowl matchup between the New England Patriots and the New York Giants.

Dierks Bentley (Super Bowl 2012) OC: …be cool. :42

“That’s really tough. I mean, you’ve got 2 teams with great quarterbacks that have Super Bowl history between them. Tom Brady is unbelievable — won so many Super bowls. I think this is his fifth Super Bowl appearance, but the last time these two teams met, Eli won and the Giants. So, I’m really just pulling for a great game. As a fan, I just really want to see a game that isn’t over by half-time. I want to see something that goes into the fourth quarter, maybe even deeper. It would be so cool. I had a chance to be at the last meeting between these two teams in Phoenix, and saw the catch and all this stuff. So it was a great game. I was kind of pulling for this rematch in some ways. There are a lot of great story lines to play out in this particular, this year’s playoffs. But I have a feeling that…a little payback. It’s gonna be cool.”

Upcoming Television Appearances Include TODAY, The Late Show with David Letterman, The Ellen DeGeneres Show and the 54th Annual GRAMMY Awards

Celebration Officially Kicks Off Tonight with Sold Out Album Release Show at The Ryman Auditorium

 
Nashville, TN – Feb. 2, 2012 – Award winning singer/songwriter Dierks Bentley prepares for the release of his sixth studio album HOME with fan events, television appearances and exclusive album release shows in support of the disc, out Tues., Feb. 7.  Bentley will officially kick off release week at the ‘home’ of country music, the historic Ryman Auditorium, with a special album release show today.  Tonight’s sold out performance will also mark the last concert played on the current stage of the landmark venue before it undergoes renovation.  

Bentley will start on the east coast and move west over the course of the week visiting fans in Boston on Feb. 4,  Baltimore on Feb. 5, New York on Feb. 8, Chicago on Feb. 9, Denver on Feb. 10 and Phoenix on Feb. 11.  Throughout the cross-country trip, he’ll make time to  appear and perform on NBC’s TODAY on both Feb. 6 and Feb. 7 and The Late Show with David Letterman on Feb. 8, where he’ll follow the TV taping with a full set for their popular webcast program Live On Letterman from the famous Ed Sullivan Theatre.  The week will cap off in Los Angeles with the 54th Annual GRAMMY Awards on Feb. 12 and a performance on The Ellen DeGeneres Show on Feb. 15.

“We worked so hard and spent so much time writing and recording this album,” said Bentley.  “Now we get to criss cross the country and get it in the fans’ hands…I’m sure I’ll be running on adrenaline the entire time.  I’ve got a few surprises planned along the way too.  Kicking it all off tonight at The Ryman…there’s nothing better than that!”

Bentley’s versatility as a writer shines on the new disc that has already produced the rowdy No. one hit “Am I The Only One.”  He penned the good-time chart topper, as well as the disc’s spiritual anchor and title track “Home,” which caught early attention from National Public Radio critics for the authenticity of its lyrics.  Last week, it was nominated for ACM’s coveted “Song of the Year” award.  The new project also features special guests including Little Big Town’s Karen Fairchild and bluegrass icons Sam Bush and Tim O’Brien. Over his diverse career, the CMA winner has sold over five million albums, scored eight No. one hits at country radio and collected 10 GRAMMY nominations.

Following release week, Bentley will jet straight to the first show of his 2012 COUNTRY & COLD CANS Tour on Feb. 15 in Vancouver, BC Canada.  For a list of upcoming appearances and tour dates in Canada, Australia and the US, visit www.dierks.com. 

Now that he’s a husband and a father, Dierks Bentley says his music reflects a more well-rounded artist.

Dierks Bentley (Home album portrays real life) OC: …audience out there. :55

“I think if you’re trying to make great country music, I think we’re all trying to make the best records we can and write the best songs and put them together in a way that’s really a cohesive record, you really have to go inside and write about what’s happened to you in your life, at that moment.  For me, it’s not like going from one chapter to the next, it’s just, the book keeps evolving.  It’s all a part of the same story.  The road, the lifestyle, the partying, the fun and just that energy you feel when you walk on stage – it’s like always being a teenager up there.  You’re still bouncing around like you’re 17 years old.  But life for me, I’ve gone through first, second, third, fourth gear.  I’m moving up the gears and having a chance to experience more of life and having a couple kids is an amazing experience.  Trying to be honest as a person, as a songwriter, and stuff like that is going to make its way into the music.  It’s a big part of my life, so those songs get added to the playlist and part of the record, part of who I am and the live show.  I think it just helps, hopefully, to make you a more complete singer/songwriter, a more complete artist and gives you more material to draw from when you’re up there on stage singing to relate to your audience out there.” 

AUDIO: Now that he’s a husband and a father, Dierks Bentley says his music reflects his real life.

Dierks Bentley (Home album portrays real life) OC: …audience out there. :55

“I think if you’re trying to make great country music, I think we’re all trying to make the best records we can and write the best songs and put them together in a way that’s really a cohesive record, you really have to go inside and write about what’s happened to you in your life, at that moment.  For me, it’s not like going from one chapter to the next, it’s just, the book keeps evolving.  It’s all a part of the same story.  The road, the lifestyle, the partying, the fun and just that energy you feel when you walk on stage – it’s like always being a teenager up there.  You’re still bouncing around like you’re 17 years old.  But life for me, I’ve gone through first, second, third, fourth gear.  I’m moving up the gears and having a chance to experience more of life and having a couple kids is an amazing experience.  Trying to be honest as a person, as a songwriter, and stuff like that is going to make its way into the music.  It’s a big part of my life, so those songs get added to the playlist and part of the record, part of who I am and the live show.  I think it just helps, hopefully, to make you a more complete singer/songwriter, a more complete artist and gives you more material to draw from when you’re up there on stage singing to relate to your audience out there.”

Dierks Bentley hits the streets with his latest album, Home, on Tuesday (February 7th), and he’s giving you a sneak peek of “5-1-5-0,” one of the new tunes on the album.

(ALSO, WE’RE UPLOADING VIGNETTES OF DIERKS TALKING ABOUT THE SONGS ON THE ALBUM. THEY’RE ALL COMPLETELY PRODUCED AND INCLUDE THE ENTIRE SONG, AS WELL, FOR WEBSITE CONTENT, STREAMING AND ROLLING OUT DIFFERENT TRACKS LEADING UP TO AND INCLUDING STREET WEEK OF THE ALBUM.)

Dierks Bentley’s Home album is scheduled for release on February 7^th, but you can get an exclusive preview of one of the songs today at CMT.com. The video features Dierks with Little Big Town’s Karen Fairchild on the track they recorded together for the album called “When Ya Gonna Come Around.”

The Ryman Auditorium is a place most, if not all, musicians want to play, not only because of its great acoustics, but because of the revered building’s history. Dierks Bentley will celebrate the release of his new album, Home, with a special show on Thursday (February 2nd), while Keith Urban makes a triumphant return to the stage with an appearance during the Grand Ole Opry as the last shows on the Ryman stage before it is renovated this weekend.

AUDIO: Dierks Bentley explains why The Ryman Auditorium holds a special place in his heart for him.

Dierks Bentley (The Ryman) OC: …the show. :45

“There’s certainly nobody that loves the Ryman more than me. I’m sure there’s equals in country music, but there’s no one that loves it more. I really have so much respect and awe of that building. I’ve stood in that building and I’ve been on stage and I’ve sat in the audience. I’ve been there obviously at the Opry too. There’s so many different types of music I’ve seen in there. I’ve seen everything that building can do. We all know the history of the building and what it’s supposed to do, and for me, playing downtown on lower Broadway, all those early years and late nights. I would walk along that alley and just think about where Hank Williams had stood, and the stories you hear about Willie Nelson walking across the alley to Tootsies and go drink beer and do other things, and just the history of it. It’s just an amazing building. It’s the mother church of country music and everyone talks about it and how important it is. So for me to play a show there, I don’t take it lightly…We’re really excited. It’s such a great opportunity to play there. It means the world to me to get a chance to play there. I’m really looking forward to the show.”

AUDIO: Keith Urban returns to the Grand Ole Opry on Friday, his first show since undergoing vocal cord surgery. 

Keith Urban (return to Opry) OC: …the third. :09

“I didn’t have to cancel any other shows other than the Opry when I had my vocal surgery in November. So, the ones I wanted to do first was the Opry, so, we’re gonna be there on the third (of February).”

Dierks Bentley is heading to New York City for the release of his album, Home, February 7th. He’s set to perform on CBS’ Late Show With David Letterman (11:35pm ET) on Wednesday, February 8th.  Just prior to his appearance, the country star will also participate in a live webcast, performing several of his greatest hits, along with songs from the new collection. The Live on Letterman seriesat 8pm ET will be available on the LOL site and VEVO platforms. Select CBS Radio stations and Time Square’s JumboTron will also carry the concert. Radio.com‘s mobile apps will stream the show audio.

Dierks also recently announced the 2012 dates of his Country and Cold Cans tour, with the Eli Young Band returning to the trek, along with Will Hoge and the Cadillac Black also opening select shows. “Country & Cold Cans was such a great tour last fall,” says Dierks. “It’s way too much fun to stop, and we knew we had to continue it into the spring and make another run across the U.S. when we get home from Canada and Australia. We’re even going to Alaska .. giving new meaning to cold cans. [laughs] I’m excited that EYB is coming out with us again: great dudes and they put on a killer show. I’m also a big fan of both the Cadillac Black and Will Hoge, so I’m looking forward to watching their sets every night.”

The tour kicks off in Los Angeles at the Nokia Theatre on April 13. Tickets go on sale February 10th.

Dierks has also been tapped as a presenter, along with Miranda Lambert and Gwyneth Paltrow, during the 54th Annual Grammy Awards, airing live from Los Angeles February 12th on CBS.