Universal Universal Music Group Nashville Pressroom

Eric Church and Luke Bryan have joined the list of performers at this year’s CMA Awards. The two are up for New Artist of the Year, along with The Band Perry, Chris Young and Thompson Square.

This is the second time Luke has been nominated for the same award, while Eric is a first-time CMA nominee. He secured his first ACM Award earlier this year for Top New Solo Artist, and this will be the first time he’s performed on an awards show in front of his peers. At the ACMs, he performed at the ACM Fan Jam off-site from the actual awards show.

Luke took home the ACM Top New Artist of the Year award in 2010.

Other than the five New Artist of the Year nominees, the performance list includes Keith Urban, Lady Antebellum, Taylor Swift, Blake Shelton, Jason Aldean, Brad Paisley, Carrie Underwood, Miranda Lambert, Kenny Chesney with Grace Potter and Rascal Flatts with Natasha Bedingfield.

The 45th Annual CMA Awards will air live from Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena, November 9th at 8pm ET on ABC.

Eric Church’s latest single, “Drink in My Hand,” is quickly climbing the country charts. So, when he raises his cup, what drink does he have in his hand? Jack Daniels, of course. “I just love the product,” says Eric. “There’s just some products you find, whether it’s jeans or boots or whatever, [and] Jack Daniels is just one I love. I mean, I love it. It’s got me through many shows, and lines. [laughs]” He likes the product so much, he and a friend of his recently went in together to purchase an entire barrel at the Jack Daniels Distillery in Lynchburg, Tennessee.   

Eric Church (Jack Daniels alcohol) OC: …and lines. [laughs] :21

“I love Jack Daniels. We just actually went down there and bought a barrel, split a barrel with a friend of mine, and I’m excited about. But it was such a great trip to go down there and meet those guys. I just love the product. There’s just some products you find, whether it’s jeans or boots or whatever, Jack Daniels is just one I love. I mean I love it. It’s got me through many shows, and lines. [laughs]”

Dierks Bentley hosted his sixth annual Miles & Music for Kids celebrity motorcycle ride and benefit concert on Sunday (October 16th) in Nashville. More than one-thousand motorcycle riders participated in the event, which began south of Nashville and ended at Riverfront Park in downtown Nashville with a concert, featuring Dierks and special guests including Lady Antebellum’s Charles Kelley, Eli Young Band, Colt Ford and Josh Thompson. More than $200,000 was raised from this year’s ride and concert in Nashville, and all proceeds from the event benefit the Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt. Expanding to other cities, such as Chicago, Columbus (Ohio) and Atlanta, the event has raised more than $1.5 million.

Keith Urban presented labelmate Eric Church with an RIAA certified Gold plaque for Eric’s new album, Chief, backstage in Milwaukee, Wisconsin on Thursday (October 13th). The album has sold more than 500,000 copies since its release at the end of July. Keith invited Eric to be a special guest during his Get Closer 2011 World Tour stop to perform “Springsteen,” a track from Chief, for a sold out crowd.

Check out Eric’s facebook page for a photo.

Lady Antebellum will return to the Mother Church of Country Music, the legendary Ryman Auditorium, to perform a special acoustic performance exclusively for their fan club members. Tickets went on sale Friday (October 14th) for Own the Night: Unplugged, taking place November 14th. The trio’s Own the Night 2011 Tour launches November 11th in Knoxville, Tennessee, along with Josh Kelley and Randy Montana.

• Lady A are nominated or Vocal Group of the Year at this year’s CMA Awards, taking place November 9th, and broadcast live beginning at 8pm ET on ABC.
• The band is also nominated for three American Country Awards, which will be broadcast live from Las Vegas on FOX beginning at 8pm ET.

Dierks Bentley had an AWESOME first weekend on the Country & Cold Cans Tour. In this week’s DBTV, Episode 38, go behind the scenes as the tour takes off with Dierks, Jerrod Niemann and Eli Young Band.

Eric Church surprised the crowd at Keith Urban’s show on his Get Closer 2011 World Tour stop in Milwaukee, Wisconsin on Thursday night (October 13th). The pair performed Eric’s song, “Springsteen,” from his No. 1 debut album, Chief. Radio station WMIL caught all the action on flip cam – check it out below.

Alan Jackson is among this year’s five inductees, along with Garth Brooks, to the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame, and his induction – in the songwriter-artist category – will take place during a ceremony on Sunday (October 16th). Alan says it’s “one of the coolest honors” he has ever received. “I’ve always been more about the music and I’ve always been, especially proud to be able to be a writer and to have songs that affect people and that they enjoy. And you know to be included in the writers here in Nashville – that’s some of the best music in the world that comes out of this town.”

AJ (Songwriters HOF) OC: …of this town. : 19

“Man, that’s one of the coolest honors for me. I’ve always been more about the music and I’ve always been, especially proud to be able to be a writer and to have songs that affect people and that they enjoy. And you know to be included in the writers here in Nashville – that’s some of the best music in the world that comes out of this town.”

Dierks Bentley hosts his sixth annual Miles & Music for Kids celebrity motorcycle ride and benefit concert on October 16th in Nashville. The ride will begins in Columbia, Tennessee and will end at Riverfront Park in downtown Nashville with a concert featuring Dierks and special guests including Eli Young Band, Colt Ford and Josh Thompson. All proceeds from the event will benefit the Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt.

Dierks (Miles & Music 2011) 2 OC: …part of it. :15

“It’s been a lot of fun. I think what fans love about it is it’s a different type of show. It’s not a huge production deal. It’s really a friendly, fun, family type of deal. I really enjoy those days and look forward to them. It’s cool to see that people are making an event out of it coming from all over to be a part of it.”