Universal Universal Music Group Nashville Pressroom

Alan Jackson, who is climbing the country charts with “Long Way to Go,” doesn’t have a long way to go to get away from it all. He can walk to his garage and pick out one of his beloved vehicles and take a drive. “At certain times of the year, you know like up here in the fall when it’s really pretty and the temperature’s cooled off, I’ll get out just about every day that I can and take a little drive, run an old car out in the country,” says Alan. “That’s some of the most relaxing times for me.” Alan got the love of cars from his father, who worked at the local Ford plant in Georgia. For his first car – a white 1955 convertible Thunderbird – he began saving up for it when he was just 12 years old, and his love for anything with four wheels has not dissipated over the years. “There’s just something about cars, especially old cars that are just like a work of an art to me and the way they sound and smell and just certain looks.”

AJ (driving) OC: …for me. :14

“At certain times of the year, you know like up here in the fall when it’s really pretty and the temperature’s cooled off, I’ll get out just about every day that I can and take a little drive, run an old car out in the country. That’s some of the most relaxing times for me.”

AJ (cars) OC: …enjoy that, you know? :16

“It’s in my blood ‘cause I grew up with it and there’s just something about cars, especially old cars that are just like a work of an art to me and the way they sound and smell and just certain looks. And when you’re just out driving, it’s just a feeling, I don’t know, maybe it’s a little nostalgic or something, but I just enjoy that, you know?”

Darius Rucker kicked off his first solo headlining tour on Thursday (October 6th) in Glen Falls, New York. “I haven’t headlined a tour since Hootie [& the Blowfish], so to say I’m excited is an understatement.” His opening acts on select dates include Rodney Atkins, Justin Moore, Thompson Square and Brett Eldredge. One song we know he’ll perform is his latest Top 20 hit, “I Got Nothin’,” which he co-wrote with Clay Mills. “Everybody’s been there,” Darius says about the song. “Most people in their adult lives have been there where either they said something to keep it going when they know they shouldn’t have or they didn’t, and let it go. It’s one of those things where people just feel it, because they’ve been there.” Darius is taking his trek to Indiana, Pennsylvania on October 7th and Syracuse, New York on October 8th.

AUDIO: Darius Rucker talks about his latest single, “I Got Nothin’,” from his album, Charleston, SC 1966.

Darius (I Got Nothin’) OC: …been there. :17

“I think for me, ‘I Got Nothin’’ is kind of like ‘Don’t Think I Don’t Think About It’ – everybody’s been there. Most people in their adult lives have been there where either they said something to keep it going when they know they shouldn’t have or they didn’t, and let it go. It’s one of those things where people just feel it, because they’ve been there.”

Dierks Bentley will roar into Chicago on Sunday for his latest Miles & Music for Kids charity motorcycle ride and concert. Dierks’ Country & Cold Cans tourmates, Jerrod Niemann and Eli Young, will take part in the benefit with proceeds being donated to the Chicago-based Children’s Memorial Hospital. The ride will end in front of the famous Joe’s Bar, where an all-star concert will take place. His next Miles & Music event, featuring Eli Young Band and Josh Thompson, will take place October 16th in Nashville.

AUDIO: Dierks Bentley talks about his Miles & Music benefit.

Dierks (Miles & Music 2011) OC: …in Chicago. :29

“It’s the people behind the scenes that make it happen. You’ve got to find artists that want to take off a Sunday and come and play for free, you know, in Chicago. That’s not high on everybody’s list [laughs] of who wants to come home on Sunday. And yeah, all the money goes to the Children’s Hospital in Chicago, and the Children’s Miracle Network. So, it’s been cool. I think expanding was tough, because it’s one thing if you’re in Nashville where you can find friends to come out and be a part of it. But it’s hard to do it other cities when you’re trying to get some other acts to come out. And it’s amazing how gracious people are with their time and willing to do it. We have a great lineup in Chicago.”

Luke Bryan’s third album, tailgates & tanlines, has been certified gold. During his Farm Tour show in Statesboro, Georgia, Luke was surprised in front of a crowd of more than 8,000 fans with a plaque signigying his current album has been certified by the RIAA for sales of 500,000. The singer-songwriter’s previous single, “Country Girl (Shake It For Me),” has also been certified platinum. Luke co-wrote it with pal, Dallas Davidson.

AUDIO: Luke Bryan talks about how he has grown as an artist from his first album to his third.

Luke Bryan (third album) OC: …coming out. 1:18

“When you get into your third album, and you’re lucky enough to get to a third album, you just get more seasoned and a little more calm about the experience. You take the things you did right and wrong from your other two, and you make mental notes and try to do, you know, do all the things that you liked and roll into this album. You know, there were times on my first two albums. We were really pressured and up against the wall to get it done, so a lot of times I would go in and sing and my voice wouldn’t really feel as good as I wanted it to that day. But on this album, if I went in and it wasn’t happenin’, you know, I would just turn around and walk down, and I was like, ‘We’ll get it when it’s time.’ Little things like that that you learn, you know. I was able to take some songs that didn’t make ‘Doin’ My Thing’ and kind of hold them because I knew there was a proper time for them to come out and we’d put them on this album. And like I said, you get a little smarter about all of the, all of the aspects of making an album. You can, you can go back and make sure you don’t make the same mistakes twice and, um, and you know, I mean I know it even with the success with Doin’ My Thing, you know, there are little things I wanted to change about it and I made sure on this album I didn’t do it again and it makes the, I look back and I’m like, ‘Man, there isn’t one song that I would want to take off this album.” Everything had its place and that’s exciting, that’s what makes it fun to have recorded the album and now even more fun it is coming out.

Luke Bryan will join his friend and fishing buddy, Jason Aldean, on the My Kinda Party tour next year. The only date that has been announced so far is at Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena on February 24th, which sold out in just minutes. The two have previously toured together a couple of times before, and the Georgia natives became fast friends during their first tour of duty. “We’d roll into town and I’d have a fishing trip or something planned, and I would just get off the bus and go fishing or something,” says Luke recalls of their first tour. “I’d get back, and he’d be like, ‘Where have you been?’ I said, ‘I’ve been fishing,’ and he’s like, ‘You ain’t going to call me next time?’ Now I’ve learned that if I plan some off-site activity, if I don’t let him in on it, he gets a little mad. He wants to be in there fishing, too.” (AUDIO BELOW)

• Luke, whose single “I Don’t Want This Night to End” is quickly climbing the country charts, is in the midst of both his annual Farm Tour, as well as his first headlining tour for CMT. The trek, also featuring Josh Thompson and Lee Brice, is scheduled to wrap November 19th in Monroe, Louisiana.

FIRST ANNOUNCED CITIES ON THE 2012 MY KINDA PARTY TOUR:

Cedar Falls, IA

Champaign, IL

Charlottesville, VA

Dayton, OH

East Rutherford, NJ

Fayetteville, NC

Green Bay, WI

Greenville, SC

Huntsville, AL

Jonesboro, AR

Kansas City, MO

Nashville, TN

Oklahoma City, OK

Orlando, FL

St. Paul, MN

Tupelo, MS

Wichita, KS

AUDIO: Luke Bryan talks about his first tour with buddy, Jason Aldean. The two reunite early next year to do it again.

Luke (Jason Aldean) OC: …hit it off. :35

“Jason’s a more quiet and reserved guy until you get to hanging out with him. It was funny, we’d roll into town and I’d have a fishing trip or something planned, and I would just get off the bus and go fishing or something. I’d get back, and he’d be like, ‘Where have you been?’ I said, ‘I’ve been fishing,’ and he’s like, ‘You ain’t going to call me next time?’ Now I’ve learned that if I plan some off-site activity, if I don’t let him in on it, he gets a little mad. He wants to be in there fishing, too. So, we just got a lot of hang time on the first tour. We just had a great time. We hit it off.”

ERIC CHURCH AND WIFE KATHERINE WELCOME NEW BABY BOY, BOONE McCOY CHURCH

Nashville, Tenn. (Thursday, October 6, 2011) – One of country music’s most dynamic entertainers is now working on pleasing an entirely new audience. Eric Church and wife Katherine are proud to welcome their first child — Boone McCoy Church. 

Boone was born on Monday, October 3rd at Centennial Women’s Hospital in Nashville, Tennessee at 8:35a CT and weighed 7 lbs. and 11 oz. 

“Everybody always tells you what an awesome and unique experience being a parent is. Words can never do the feeling justice. I am very thankful and blessed to have a healthy and happy baby boy and baby mama,” shares Eric. 

Although Church has been touring extensively throughout 2011, he does have plans to reduce the number of his performances throughout the remainder of the year to enjoy time with his family. The last time Church took time away from the road was to write his chart-topping third studio album, CHIEF.  However, Church does expect an entirely new set of inspirations to come from his time at home. “It will be interesting to see how this new chapter in our life manifests itself musically,” Eric adds.  “I’ve always made music that was representative of real life. Life doesn’t get more real than having a newborn at home.”

The Church family will be releasing photos in the coming weeks of the latest addition to their family.  Stay tuned to www.ericchurch.com for more details. (AUDIO BELOW)

AUDIO: Prior to the birth, Eric was a bit nervous about becoming a father, and the excited singer-songwriter felt comfortable he wouldn’t be 100% ready even when the big day arrived.

Eric Church (baby anxiety) OC: …and around. :18

“It’s just a unique experience, you know, and it’s something you’re never gonna be ready for, so you just do the best you can and kind of roll with it. That’s kind of become my motto. I’m just gonna let it happen and try to be around as much as I can. That’s my biggest anxiety doing what I do. We’re on a bus all the time and always traveling. I want to make sure I’m present and around.”

Eric Church (excited for baby) OC: …running around. :18

“I’m excited. I mean, I’m anxious. I’m nervous. I think I have most of the emotions that parents would have, new parents. And the best advice I’ve heard is, ‘You’re not gonna be, you’re not ready for it. Don’t even think you are. There’s no way to get ready. You just go with the flow.’ I’m excited and can’t wait, especially at Christmas time to have a little one running around.”

AUDIO: Prior to the birth of Boone McCoy, Eric Church talked about preparing his unborn child for life on the road.

Eric Church (baby stuff) OC: …in a few years. [laughs] :34

“I want to be the dad my dad was. I think I have a great father, and [he’s] always been supportive. We kind of joke with our lifestyle, you know what we do and touring 200 days a year. We’re not going to give him much leeway. We’re gonna strap him up, give him some headphones, and we’re going on the road. We’ve been trying to get him used to the bus, even though we haven’t had him yet. Katherine’s been riding the bus a lot and used to the shaking and the movements, so. It’s funny now – he’s a bit of a kicker and a puncher, and he’s fine if she’s moving. If she stops moving, he starts kicking and punching, which is ironic ‘cause I punch on stage. So, we’ll see what happens with that in a few years. [laughs]”

AUDIO: A couple of months ago, Eric Church said he and his wife Katherine had not fully decided on a name for their first child.

Eric Church (baby names) OC: …comes out. :13

“We’ve got a few names. I think you need to look at a boy before you name him, though. I think you need to step back and see which name they look like. So, we’re going to take a few names in to the hospital, and we’ll see which one comes out.”

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

October 6, 2011

KEITH URBAN TO DONATE ONE OF A KIND FENDER GUITAR FOR AUCTION IN SUPPORT OF NATIONAL BREAST CANCER AWARENESS MONTH

Four time Grammy Award winner Keith Urban will donate a customized Fender guitar from his Get Closer 2011 World Tour to the Susan G. Komen for The Cure for auction. Urban specially requested the guitar from Fender as a way to acknowledge October as National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. All proceeds will be donated to the Susan G. Komen for the Cure and he’ll play the one of a kind guitar during his October tour dates and it will be auctioned off at the end of the month.

National Breast Cancer Awareness Month (NBCAM) has been promoting awareness of breast cancer issues for over twenty five years recognizing that, although many great improvements have been made in breast cancer awareness and treatment, there is still much to accomplish. NBCAM remains dedicated to educating and empowering women to take charge of their health. Susan G. Komen for the Cure is the global leader of the breast cancer movement and the world’s largest grassroots network of breast cancer survivors activists. For more information on breast health and other ways you can support breast cancer education and reasearch, please visit www.komen.org and www.nbcam.org.

For more official Keith Urban auction information go to www.keithurban.net.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

October 6, 2011

KEITH URBAN TO DONATE ONE OF A KIND FENDER GUITAR FOR AUCTION IN SUPPORT OF NATIONAL BREAST CANCER AWARENESS MONTH

Four time Grammy Award winner Keith Urban will donate a customized Fender guitar from his Get Closer 2011 World Tour to the Susan G. Komen for The Cure for auction. Urban specially requested the guitar from Fender as a way to acknowledge October as National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. All proceeds will be donated to the Susan G. Komen for the Cure and he’ll play the one of a kind guitar during his October tour dates and it will be auctioned off at the end of the month.

National Breast Cancer Awareness Month (NBCAM) has been promoting awareness of breast cancer issues for over twenty five years recognizing that, although many great improvements have been made in breast cancer awareness and treatment, there is still much to accomplish. NBCAM remains dedicated to educating and empowering women to take charge of their health. Susan G. Komen for the Cure is the global leader of the breast cancer movement and the world’s largest grassroots network of breast cancer survivors activists. For more information on breast health and other ways you can support breast cancer education and reasearch, please visit www.komen.org and www.nbcam.org.

For more official Keith Urban auction information go to www.keithurban.net.

Dierks Bentley kicks off the first leg of his Country & Cold Cans Tour Wednesday (October 6th) in La Crosse, Wisconsin. The 22-city trek also features opening acts,  Jerrod Niemann and the Eli Young Band. “I can’t imagine that I’ll have to convince Jerrod or EYB to have a cold beer or two,” Dierks recently said. “They are always up for the party.”

• For the tour, Dierks has teamed up with Believe in Heroes, a Wounded Warrior Project initiative. Leading up to Veterans Day (on 11/11/11), Dierks will host pre-show parties for select dates on the tour. The first of these parties is being held prior to his show in La Crosse.
• Aiming to support and honor wounded veterans who have sacrificed, each party will be a chance for fans to give back to veterans and win prizes from Dierks, including ticket upgrades, merchandise and autographed limited edition handwritten lyrics of his new single, “Home.” “I meet so many service men and women at our shows, so I love being able to support the Wounded Warriors Project and honoring the heroes who have served our country,” said Dierks. “This program fits perfectly with the message of ‘Home,’ so we are going to do what we can between now and Veterans Day to really honor these people. I hope fans will plan to get there early and be part of it!”

AUDIO: Dierks Bentley talks about his Country & Cold Cans Tour.

Dierks (Country & Cold Cans Tour) OC: …great time. :52

“It’s called ‘Country & Cold Cans,’ and you know, it’s gonna be a really fun tour. It’s been a great summer, being on the road, all the fairs and festivals, and this is two guys, two bands rather – Jerrod [Niemann] and Eli Young Band. They’re fun guys to be around. I know them personally. We’ve done some shows before. Eli Young Band’s done some benefits, some Miles & Music stuff for me in the past , and they like to have fun. When they’re putting on a show, it’s not just go up there and entertain and go back to the bus and go back to what you’re doing. They really give it their all and get into it. I like shows and tours and other artists that really invest everything they have into it, and get dirty. You know, I have a torn ACL from jumping around on stage. I don’t go up there just to fake it. I want it to be a real, down-and-dirty, fun country tour. And these guys are the right people to bring along for it, and I think it’s just gonna be a great way to end the year and go out with a lot of energy and a lot of fun, and give those crowds, those fans a great time.”

Go behind the scenes of Lady Antebellum’s debut appearance on NBC’s Saturday Night Live.

Lady Antebellum have been added to the list of performers at this year’s CMA Awards. The band, who just released their third album Own the Night, are nominated for CMA Vocal Group of the Year, which they’ve taken home the past two years in a row. The trio also picked up the trophy for Single of the Year last year for their smash hit, “Need You Now.” They join previously announced performances by Keith Urban, Taylor Swift, Blake Shelton, Jason Aldean and Brad Paisley. The 45th annual Country Music Awards will air live from Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena on November 9th on ABC-TV beginning at 8pm ET.

AUDIO: Lady Antebellum’s Dave Haywood says with all that has happened to them over the past couple of years, they rely on each other to stay grounded.

Lady A (soak up) OC: …time we have. :22

“We all keep each other grounded when we’re out there on the road and doing all these things. And every time something great comes in, I think we all have each other to share it with. But, I don’t know, personally, I feel like I’ve grown more as a good friend to these two and we’ve all had some really, really neat experiences and feel very blessed to be where we are. It’s been kinda tough to take it all in. But we’re just trying to soak up the moment and try to cherish every time we have.”