Category Archives: Artists

January Bluebird Cafe Shows Benefit Alive Hospice

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Bluebird Cafe News on Country Music News Blog

The 25th Annual Alive at the Bluebird concert series kicks off 2018 with a month of shows benefiting Alive Hospice at The Bluebird Cafe. More than 130 artists and songwriters are scheduled to perform at least 27 shows beginning Tuesday, January 2 and running through February 1, 2018. Presenting sponsors for the event include Bass, Berry & Sims, Cigna, HCA, Hub International, Jackson National and Tennessee Oncology. SouthComm and WSM-AM return as media sponsors. “We are thrilled to mark the 25th anniversary of Alive at the Bluebird with such an amazing roster of talent,” said Anna-Gene O’Neal, Alive Hospice President/CEO. “I am also super-excited to partner with our good friends at the Bluebird in celebration of their 35th year. We are beyond grateful for the incredible support that we get from the songwriting community, our sponsors and the public. Alive at the Bluebird is a truly unique partnership-talk about a Nashville original! The proceeds directly benefit patients and family, but the entire program that runs throughout the month brings much-needed awareness to the important work that our mission supports.” Perennial favorites Amy Grant and Vince Gill are scheduled to perform on January 3, 2018, and such luminaries as Kim Carnes, Phil Vassar, Styx lead guitarist and vocalist Tommy Shaw, John Oates, Beth Nielsen Chapman, Keb’ Mo’, Gordon Kennedy, Dave Barnes, Hunter Hayes, Kathy Mattea, Jon Vezner and Don Henry are already booked to appear. Additional writers and artists will be announced in the coming weeks. “Every year, Alive at The Bluebird gives the month of January a very special energy here at the club,” said Bluebird Cafe General Manager Erika Wollam Nichols. “Our community of songwriters is inspired and moved by the great service that Alive Hospice provides – this inspiration is reflected in the number of people who volunteer their time and talent to raise funds and awareness through the month of performances. We are honored to have partnered with Alive Hospice for 25 years and can’t imagine a January without this amazing performance series that lights up The Bluebird with love and generosity.” The 25th Annual Alive at the Bluebird shows benefitting Alive Hospice will take place Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursdays at 9:00pm, Fridays at 9:30pm and Saturdays at 6:30 and 9:30pm. Reservations and updated schedules and lineups can be found at www.BluebirdCafe.com. The Bluebird Cafe opened in June of 1982 and has been celebrating its 35th anniversary with special shows and events. Bluebird: The Movie, an in-depth documentary about the influence the tiny 90-seat venue has had on singers, songwriters and popular music in general, is currently in production. About Alive Hospice: Alive Hospice is a 501(c)(3) charitable nonprofit that provides compassionate care and support for terminally ill patients and their families, grief support for adults and children, and education about the end of life. Alive Hospice was founded in 1975, making it the first hospice program in Tennessee and the Southeast, and the first in the nation to provide hospice care in private homes. Alive Hospice is accredited Continue reading January Bluebird Cafe Shows Benefit Alive Hospice→

Listen Now: Jerrod Niemann – I Got This

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Curb Records hitmaker JERROD NIEMANN is back at Country radio this week with the fun, upbeat song, “I Got This,” from his latest studio album THIS RIDE. Penned by a trio of Country’s hottest writers – Rodney Clawson (Jason Aldean, Luke Bryan), Josh Osborne (Kenny Chesney, Sam Hunt) and Luke Dick (Eric Church, Miranda Lambert) – the “strutting indie-pop jam” (Rolling Stone Country) was one of the Top 3 most added songs at Country radio with 33 stations on board first week.   “‘I Got This’ really represents how my new music has evolved,” shared Niemann. “It has the vibe and groove that draws me towards songs. We used some of our very favorite tones and textures in the studio to amplify and uplift the lyrics and melody. Hopefully everyone will be toe tapping and singin’ along.” Recently, Neimann had the chance to talk all about THIS RIDE and new tune “I Got This” with Suzanne Alexander for GAC’s Great American Playlist and Cody Alan for CMT Hot 20 Countdown. The singer-songwriter also shared the accompanying music video, which was filmed by director Ryan Hamblin in a vibey studio in Nashville. Later this month, Niemann will join the USO’s 76th annual star-studded holiday tour as the musical guest. Led by the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Joseph F. Dunford Jr., he’ll have the opportunity to visit with and perform for service members stationed internationally. “After a life-changing USO tour last year, I couldn’t be more excited to give my appreciation to service members overseas during the holidays,” enthused Niemann. “While I can’t yet say where and when we’re going yet, I’ll send updates with the troops once we get there.” ABOUT JERROD NIEMANN: Fueled by a nearly decade-long career, prolific Nashville hitmaker Jerrod Niemann has dug deeper that ever before with THIS RIDE – his first album for Curb Records which includes the uplifting duet “A Little More Love” (with Lee Brice) and his romantic follow-up single “God Made A Woman.” Known for clever wordplay and attention-grabbing lyrics, the highly engaging singer-songwriter last topped Country charts with his PLATINUM-certified anthem “Drink to That All Night,” a multi week #1 from the 2014 album HIGH NOON – on which he co-wrote eight of the 12 tracks. Niemann first burst onto the scene in 2010 with his critically-acclaimed major-label debut, JUDGE JERROD & THE HUNG JURY, which skyrocketed on the strength of his PLATINUM-certified #1 smash “Lover, Lover” and GOLD-certified Top 5 “What Do You Want.” His second release, FREE THE MUSIC, included Top 15 “Shinin’ On Me” and poignant ballad “Only God Could Love You More.” From Academy of Country Music, Country Music Association, and CMT Award nominations, to headlining and touring with some of country’s hottest acts – Dierks Bentley, Brad Paisley, and Keith Urban – Niemann continues to make his mark by creatively pushing boundaries all while offering a sincere nod to the legends before him. For additional information on Jerrod Niemann, please visit www.jerrodniemannofficial.com.

Listen Now: Candi Carpenter – Nights And Weekends

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Candi Carpenter News on Country Music News Blog

Up and coming Nashville-based country singer Candi Carpenter is proud to debut her acoustic music video for her new song, “Nights and Weekends”, which premiered yesterday on Country Fancast. “Nights and Weekends” came to life as a therapy session with one of her co-writers who’d just finished working a double shift at a restaurant in Nashville. It was also inspired by Candi’s father, who rarely gets to see his wife during the day because of his third shift work schedule. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7zKkDzIWDIg&feature=youtu.be   “I hope this song will encourage people to keep going and hang on to their dreams, even when money is tight and work is wearing them down,” says Candi. The video was a production made up of Candi’s friends, and fellow artists- Hannah Bethel, Jenny Garner, Melanie Bresnan, and Aaron Kessler (left to right) who all helped with the acoustic performance, while Derek Oxford shot and edited the video himself. Truly Alvarenga handled set design, and Baumgartner Sound and Design supplied the beautiful handmade speakers that are featured in the video:   www.baumgartnersoundanddesign.com More about Candi Carpenter “I write my best songs when men piss me off,” says Candi Carpenter, whose fiery first single, “Burn The Bed” tells the story of a scorned woman’s cheating husband. Her aching, soulful voice has drawn comparisons to Janis Joplin and Patsy Cline, while critics have dubbed her “the modern Loretta Lynn” of country songwriting. “A lot of people say I have a crazy story,” she says. “Maybe I do, but I think we’re all messed up in our own way. That’s why I write about the bad, the ugly, and the good that makes it all worthwhile. The hurt, and the healing, and everything in between.” Candi’s musical roots are buried deep in memories of stained glass windows and dog eared hymnals, as she toured the midwest with her family’s gospel band. At age 11, she crashed a Vince Gill concert by writing “Can I yodel for you?” on the back of a ticket stub. Later that year, she signed her first production deal in Nashville. She traded high school for a small room at The Shoney’s Inn downtown, and the stages of honky tonk dives like Tootsies and The Broken Spoke Saloon became her classroom. She performed every night until the bars closed down, hiding from the police in the bathrooms.

Sugarland Announces New Music, ‘Still The Same’

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Sugarland Still The Same Official

Following their appearance together on “THE 51ST ANNUAL CMA AWARDS” and confirmation of a reunion, SUGARLAND‘s JENNIFER NETTLES and KRISTIAN BUSH will release new music in a joint venture between BIG MACHINE RECORDS and UMG NASHVILLE. SUGARLAND’s single, “Still The Same,” will be made available via ALL ACCESS DOWNLOADS and worldwide via all digital partners on THURSDAY, DECEMBER 21st. “We are thrilled for fans to hear our new music, especially this single,” said NETTLES. “The title of the song is so meaningful to us as we want fans to know, we are still the same, we are still the same SUGARLAND they’ve known and loved.” Added BUSH, “We want to finish where we left off. We always knew [we] were going to make music again, so this has been the best of both worlds. We were able to take time to feed our personal passions, and we’re excited to come back together to create music as a band again.” SUGARLAND is also back in the studio working on their new album and mapping out tour dates for 2018.

Zac Brown Raises $1.7 Million For Camp Southern Ground

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Zac Brown Band on Country Music News Blog

Kudos to ZAC BROWN of SOUTHERN GROUND/ELEKTRA/WAR‘s ZAC BROWN BAND on raising $1.7 million for his non-profit project, CAMP SOUTHERN GROUND, during the second annual “EVENING TO REMEMBER” fundraiser. Guests this year included Chef EMERIL LAGASSE, assisting BROWN’s Chef RUSTY HAMLIN with the dinner menu, and “Avengers” star CHRIS HEMSWORTH. Both donated items to the evening’s live auction, and the ZAC BROWN BAND performed a set. CAMP SOUTHERN GROUND stretches across more than 400 acres and serves children ages 7-17, from all socioeconomic backgrounds, races, and religions.

Listen Now: Luke Combs – One Number Away

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Luke Combs news on Country Music News Blog

Sony Nashville artist and fast-rising favorite Luke Combs is quickly making a name for himself in the country circles with his roots-true sound. Take a listen to his newest hit-in-the-making “One Number Away” expected on the airwaves in January 2018! Recorded at Sony Music Nashville offices when Luke was Live@1201. [bctt tweet=”Take a sneak preview at @LukeCombsMusic’s next single #OneNumberAway at Country Music News Blog!” username=”My_CountryMusic”]

ICYMI: Country Music News in a Minute Dec 4th, 2018

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Memphis Aldean

With the holidays fast approaching everybody’s been so busy getting last minute errands run gifts bought and parties planned that following the latest country music news has been put on the back burner. I’m here today to give you a recap of what you may have missed in the last week. On Friday Jason Aldean and wife Brittany welcome their new baby boy into the world. The proud parents were quickly sharing pictures of baby Memphis all over social media with Brittany posting a beautiful shot of him on Instagram. Country Radio Seminar officials have announced the CRS 2018 new faces of country music performers. Those performers are Lauren Alaina, Luke Combs, Midland, Carly Pearce, and Michael Ray. These up-and-coming acts will perform as part of the closing ceremony for the country radio seminar, co-sponsored by the Academy of Country Music and St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital. The seminar closes February 7th, 2018 at the Omni Hotel in Nashville. For those still following Taylor Swift, it’s officially been announced that she is adding Australian tour dates to her Reputation tour routes. Details for those dates are to follow. Blake Shelton, Dierks Bentley, and Florida Georgia Line are now scheduled to headline the Country LakeShake festival in 2018. The festival will be held at Huntington Bank Pavilion on Northerly Island outside of Chicago next June. The three-day event will run from Friday, June 22nd thru Sunday, June 24th. Additional artist performing during the Country LakeShake will include Lee Brice, Billy Currington, Cole Swindell, Russell Dickerson, Jillian Jacqueline, Chris Lane, Tracy Lawrence, Jackie Lee, LoCash, RaeLynn, Runaway June, and Dylan Scott. Tickets go on sale next Friday and will be available at countrymusicontour.com. And there you have it, all the headlines you may have missed over the weekend in country music news. Stay tuned next Monday for your next weekend recap.

Randy Travis Immortalized at Madame Tussauds Nashville

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Randy Travis in Madame Tussauds Nashville

Please join us on Friday, December 1 at Madame Tussauds Nashville in Opry Mills Mall as we unveil Randy Travis‘ wax figure. Media check-in will be at 10:30am at Entry 5. This event is open to the public! Randy’s wax figure will be added to a collection of over 50 figures at the Nashville attraction, which features artists from all genres of music including country, rock, jazz, blues and pop. Each Madame Tussauds figure is truly a work of art, involving teams of professional artists and sculptors who spend months on extensive research and take more than 300 measurements to recreate world-famous icons to achieve the kind of astonishing realism that has been at the heart of the 250-year Madam Tussauds legacy. The immersive experience in the attraction takes guests through different scenes and eras in America’s musical history.

Listen Now: MORGAN WALLEN IS READY TO TURN “UP DOWN”

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Morgan Wallen News on Country Music News Blog

Newcomer’s Driving New Single Featuring Florida Georgia Line Is Most Added At Country Radio Big Loud Records exciting new talent MORGAN WALLEN is primed to turn Country radio upside down as his new single “Up Down,” featuring BMLG Records’ superstar duo Florida Georgia Line, is this week’s most added single with 80 first week stations on board. Quickly after its October release, the fun-loving track rocketed into Spotify’s U.S. (#4) and Global (#6) Viral 50 charts, hit the iTunes Country A-List, launched into the Top 10 on Sirius XM The Highway, and entered the Top 40 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart. Meanwhile, the song’s “infectious” (Rare Country) beachside music video has racked up more than 5 million views. “Up Down” follows Wallen’s Top 30 debut single, “The Way I Talk,” and gives a taste of his first full-length album, expected in 2018. Critics and fans alike are hooked on the laidback groove, written by Brad Clawson, Michael Hardy, and C.J. Solar. One Country predicted “You’re about to hear Morgan Wallen and Florida Georgia Line’s ‘Up Down’ on repeat,” and Taste of Country lauded the “big rowdy anthem.” Rolling Stone Country noted the “buoyant” cut “revolves around the title hook, repeated in an irresistible, syncopated fashion.” As Morning Hangover summed it up: “…’Up Down’ is going to be HUGE.” The kinetic performer has been honing his skills on the road throughout the year, opening for FGL’s THE SMOOTH TOUR 2017 and labelmate Chris Lane’s TAKE BACK HOME TOUR. He’ll round out a fiery run as support on Granger Smith’s DON’T TREAD ON ME TOUR in Flint, MI on December 17. About Morgan Wallen: Born in Sneedville, Tenn. (also home to bluegrass legend Jimmy Martin), Wallen was a star on the baseball diamond, attended the same high school as Country superstar Kenny Chesney, and has deep roots in the church. With a Hard Rock-loving preacher for a father and a mother who couldn’t get enough Country and contemporary Christian music, Wallen began performing for his local congregation at the tender age of 3 and went on to develop a strong love of Country, Rock and Hip-Hop. After moving to Music City in 2015, he’s co-written with hitmakers like Craig Wiseman, Rodney Clawson, Chris Tompkins, the Warren Brothers, Tommy Cecil and Matt Dragstrem, and has been honing his studio poise with award-winning producer Joey Moi. Wallen’s five-song EP THE WAY I TALK (2016) features Top 30 debut single “The Way I Talk,” that made its mark on Spotify’s popular Wild Country, New Boots and New Music Friday playlists. For more about Morgan Wallen, visit www.morganwallen.com.

Kenny Chesney’s COSMIC HALLELUJAH Scores Country Album Grammy Nomination

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Kenny Chesney News on Country Music News Blog

Kenny Chesney’s Unorthodox Grammy Nomination Cosmic Hallelujah Scores Best Country Album Nod at 2018 Grammy Awards Nashville, Tenn. — When Kenny Chesney switched the lead single to “Noise” nine days before the launch of Cosmic Hallelujah, people thought he was crazy. But the song – written, recorded and mastered in three days – spoke to the toxic information overload in a way that felt urgent, and the 8-time Entertainer of the Year decided to let the music speak to the 24/7 rush of constant connection. From that moment, everything about the songwriter/superstar from East Tennessee’s 16th album defied conventional wisdom. Today, Cosmic Hallelujah received Chesney’s first solo Grammy nomination for Best Country Album for at the 2018 Grammy Awards. Upon hearing the news, he marveled, “People thought I was crazy doing what felt right for the music. But sometimes songs need to be released, or given a video even if they’re not a single, or have the people who’re living the song make the video… It’s easy to lose track of the music in the marketing and the promotion, but for Cosmic Hallelujah, I wanted music to drive the decisions. Right now, I feel that was the right thing to do.” From “Noise” being written, recorded and swapped at the last minute, to the euphoric multiple-week No. 1 “Setting the World On Fire” with P!nk, a provocative, big budget “Paper Chase” video featuring John C. McGinley for “Rich and Miserable,” which never was a single, to a three-week No. 1 final single “All the Pretty Girls,” with a  video made by a pair of Belmont University students, nothing about Cosmic Hallelujah followed traditional orthodoxy. As Chesney says of the decisions, “It was a lot of heart, soul, and passion driven by music.” The critics agreed. The New York Times recognized the stretch, writing, “a long, long way from Mr. Chesney’s typical arena-country ballads about rural pleasures and island getaways,” and NPR cited the album’s depths of “folk’s storytelling, soul’s honesty and gospel’s spirit,” while Los Angeles Times opined, “the new album offers deeper, more nuanced thoughts on the distractions of the Instagram era (“Noise”), the comforts of home (“Jesus and Elvis”) and even the stagnation of the American dream (“Rich and Miserable”).” Co-produced with Buddy Cannon (Willie Nelson, Merle Haggard), Cosmic Hallelujah marked a progression from The Big Revival, both groundbreaking records for Chesney. Reflecting the kindred spirits of the No Shoes Nation, who are voracious to live life, Chesney’s fourth Grammy nomination stands as recognition for finding the intersection between connecting through traditional mainstream media/radio and creating music that digs a little deeper. Entertainment Weekly agreed, “His attempts at digging deeper make the lighter material feel earned, and they elevate his work above much of country’s escapist fare,” while Newsday called it, “country perfection,” and The Boston Globe deemed it “a love song to another person and to the idea of getting away…working from a larger sonic palette, one that incorporates ideas from stadium-rockers with whom he shares dressing Continue reading Kenny Chesney’s COSMIC HALLELUJAH Scores Country Album Grammy Nomination→