Category Archives: Featured

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Introducing Levi Hummon

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Levi Hommon News on Country Music News Blog

Breakout artist/songwriter Levi Hummon transcends convention forging an impressive musical path that is gaining critical attention as he garners accolades and fans around the globe. Hummon released a new song, “Stupid,” which is about seizing opportunities and not thinking about the consequences (see it here), premiered with Just Jared and the song is developing an enthusiastic following on Spotify’s Hot Country, Wild Country, and New Boots, which is remarkable for an act following his dreams on his own terms. Especially since his previous release, “Don’t Waste The Night,” is still featured on Wild Country and New Boots. [embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MZG67PzHnkI[/embedyt] Recently, the consequences seem to be falling in Hummon’s favor including being named “One to Watch” by Rolling Stone Country, making his striking debut on the Grand Ole Opry, and performing as part of the sold-out CMA Songwriters Series in the U.K. in October. A fourth-generation progeny from the house of Hummon, he grew up surrounded by music greats including his father, Grammy-Award winning songwriter Marcus Hummon. Raised in Nashville, Hummon had distinctive ideas and concepts that developed from a deeply personal, reflective place. Performing them himself was a natural part of the evolution of his career as an artist. “You’re letting someone into your world which is really vulnerable,” Hummon says. “I couldn’t see anyone else singing these songs because they reflect my life.” Grounded in the community, Hummon has worked with notable songwriters including Jimmy Robbins, Shane McAnally, Andrew Dorff, Josh Osborne, Chris DeStefano, Brandy Clark, Tom Douglas and Ashley Gorley, among many others. Hummon also wrote with legendary entertainer Steven Tyler on the rocker’s single “Red, White and You,” which hit No. 1 in Italy. He is a nimble writer who can easily traverse the span between commercial appeal and artistic integrity, but he is an equally gifted performer with an eagerness that is addictive and an on-stage bravado that belies his age. He has toured with the likes of Kip Moore, Kelsea Ballerini, Cam, Billy Currington, Brantley Gilbert, Hunter Hayes, Sam Hunt, Maddie & Tae, Michael Ray, and is currently on tour with Eli Young Band. Catch Levi Hummon on the road: Oct. 26            Midnight Rodeo           San Angelo, TX Oct. 27            Charley B’s                  Lubbock, TX Oct. 28            Dos Amigos                 Odessa, TX Nov. 2             Joe’s Live                     Rosemont, IL Nov. 3             Joe’s on Weed Street    Chicago, IL Nov. 4             The Rave                      Milwaukee, WI Nov. 7             The Paramount             Huntington, NY Nov. 8             Aura                              Portland, ME Dec. 8             Georgia Theatre            Athens, GA Dec. 9          Continue reading Introducing Levi Hummon→

Kelsea Ballerini & Reba McEntire, Dierks Bentley & Rascal Flatts, More Slated For ’51st Annual CMA Awards’ Collaborations

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CMA Award News on Country Music News Blog

Following last week’s announcement of the first round of performers for the “51ST ANNUAL CMA AWARDS”, the COUNTRY MUSIC ASSOCIATION (CMA) has unveiled four musical collaborations to be highlighted during the event. KELSEA BALLERINI and REBA MCENTIRE will join forces; DIERKS BENTLEY and RASCAL FLATTS will perform together; BRAD PAISLEY and KANE BROWN will duet; and MAREN MORRIS will collaborate with Pop star NIALL HORAN. [embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_S8eONXaWGU[/embedyt]   Five of the performers are current CMA AWARDS nominees, including BALLERINI and MCENTIRE, who will face off in the Female Vocalist Of The Year category along with MORRIS; BENTLEY, who will contend for Male Vocalist Of The Year; and FLATTS, who are nominated in the Vocal Group Of The Year category. Hosted by PAISLEY and CARRIE UNDERWOOD for the tenth consecutive year, the “CMA AWARDS” are set to air live from NASHVILLE’s BRIDGESTONE ARENA on ABC-TV beginning at 8p (ET).

Watch Now: Ashley McBryde – A Little Dive Bar In Dahlonega

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Ashley McBryde on Country Music News Blog

Already dubbed an “Arkansas red-clay badass” by Rolling Stone, Ashley McBryde arrives at country radio today as the most added new artist and most added female with her debut Warner Bros. / Warner Music Nashville single “A Little Dive Bar in Dahlonega.” The track, which hit No. 1 on SirusXM’s The Highway Top 30 earlier this year, describes finding a much-needed musical pick-me-up in an unexpected place. Co-written alongside Nicolette Hayford and Jesse Rice, the single has already earned praise from some of the most influential outlets in the country. The New York Times claimed, “What makes ‘A Little Dive Bar in Dahlonega’ transcend is songwriting, songwriting, songwriting… It’s intelligently constructed and casually delivered, full of rich imagery… potent singalong moments… and words throbbing with outright lustrous feeling.” Following her recent World Café Nashville session, Ann Powers of NPR described McBryde as having “one of those voices that might belong to your sister or your best friend – if your sister or your best frined could belt like Loretta Lynn and croon like Reba McEntire.” [embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WI7YCYR4EyM[/embedyt] “Being embraced by country radio is so incredibly humbling!” said McBryde. “I’m hanging on with both hands.  It’s a wild journey and I couldn’t be more grateful to be on it.” No stranger to the stage, McBryde has already toured with some of the biggest names in country music, including Chris Stapleton and Eric Church. In conjunction with her early success with “A Little Dive Bar in Dahlonega,” the singer / songwriter will set off on select dates of the Sirius XM Presents: The Highway Finds Tour alongside label mates High Valley this Wednesday, October 18 in Washington D.C. Her eight cross-country dates will continue into November and include stops in New York and Nashville. Facebook // Twitter // Instagram // Spotify // Website

LIVE IN NO SHOES NATION Available Friday

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Kenny Chesney on Country Music News

Denver. Asbury Park. Dallas. Atlanta. Tampa. Green Bay. Perdido Key. Austin. Foxboro. Just some of the places and voices that populate Live in No Shoes Nation, Kenny Chesney’s second live album – and one that documents his rise as the nation’s leading stadium headliner. Beyond the massive stadium shows, LiNSN is laced with intimate performances, special guests and songs that have only been performed a handful of times.

Watch Now: Miles Hardt – “Long Ago”

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Miles Hardt on Country Music News Blog

Hailing from Los Angeles, CA, singer-songwriter Miles Hardt releases the music video for his debut single “Long Ago”. Of his debut single, Miles says, “Long Ago is a song I had been writing for years. I would sing to my (then) girlfriend, ‘If I wake up, and this is just a dream, I will close my eyes and go back to sleep.’  After a few months of us being apart and not being able to speak, I had finished the rest of the song and left a message in the bridge that I knew only she would understand. I wanted the song to truly be a reminder that it wasn’t that long ago we were in moments like that, and that I wasn’t giving up just yet.” [embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ml2bSGVG0q0[/embedyt] ABOUT MILES When his six-year relationship fell apart, 25 year-old singer-songwriter Miles Hardt’s life brought him face to face with an emotional crisis and at a cross road with his own sobriety. After witnessing members in his own family struggle and even die from substance abuse, he knew he was in a fight between numbing the pain and diving head into its depth. The loss of his stable relationship brought him to a dark and dangerous place; a place where in the process, you find out what you’re made of. He had fallen into a deep depression and was rapidly feeling his two years of sobriety begin to slip away, so Hardt made a decision to write every day and night using the songwriting process as a form of medicine.  Rather than getting drunk and high until he couldn’t feel, he poured everything he had into his music. With his upcoming music the Los Angeles native taps into the most brutally honest and genuine place he’s ever reached as a writer and performing artist.  While the recordings were born from pain they are mysteriously upbeat and tap into feelings we have all shared.  On his debut single, “Long Ago,” Hardt writes from a place of hope as he, “imagines her listening and remembers how amazing the love we had was.”  Creating music saved his life, and he hopes it can have just as strong an impact on others.   CONNECT Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mileshardt/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MilesHardt/ Twitter: https://www.facebook.com/MilesHardt/ Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/4w21F6N3M1Sdflo4zY1MPw Apple Music:  https://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/miles-hardt/id1245647650 Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/mileshardt YouTube:  https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSuEEULEw7_L8GaDZUbS1tg Website: http://www.mileshardt.com

Lady Antebellum To Perform As Part Of “Music Happens Here”

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WHO: Multi-platinum award-winning trio Lady Antebellum WHAT: An intimate concert by seven-time GRAMMY award winning Lady Antebellum at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum  exclusively for Hilton Honors members as part of Hilton’s music program, Music Happens Here. WHERE: Country Music Hall of Fame & Museum 222 Fifth Avenue South, Nashville, TN 37203 WHEN: Friday, November 10th | 7:30 PM WHY: Hilton’s music program, Music Happens Here, gives Hilton Honors members access to top concerts, private meet-and-greets with chart-topping artists, one-on-one artist experiences, and exclusive concerts at Hilton hotels/resorts and in legendary music landmarks. This year, Hilton, in partnership with Live Nation and Spotify, launched an original music and video travel series, Music Happens Here, which looks into some of the most iconic places around the world where music has been created, performed, and celebrated. The episodes released thus far examine the storied music histories of Los Angeles, London, and New Orleans. Check out the full series HERE.