Merle Haggard’s Legacy Celebrated On New "Country’s Family Reunion" Episodes In November With John Conlee, Mark Wills, Vince Gill, Bobby Bare & More

Upcoming brand new, never before seen episodes of “Country’s Family Reunion” will pay tribute to country music legend, Merle Haggard. Artists in this series include John Conlee, Vince Gill, Bobby Bare, Gene Watson, Moe Bandy, Teea Goans, Rhonda Vincent and more. This is one of the biggest ever Reunions as they pay tribute to the life and music of Merle Haggard. Featuring songs and stories from three of Merle’s sons, along with John Conlee, Vince Gill, Bobby Bare, Gene Watson, Moe Bandy, Teea Goans, Rhonda Vincent, Ray Benson, The Isaacs, Mark Wills, David Frizzell, Ronnie Reno, Mac Wiseman, Bill Anderson and more. The idea behind the hit “Country’s Family Reunion” series when it all started in 1997 was simple – ask the great people who shaped country music to get together and talk about their history, and maybe sing a few songs. Each episode of Country’s Family Reunion is hosted by country legend and hit songwriter, Bill Anderson who guides the discussion and supplies viewers with inside stories from his many years in the business. Nearly 20 years later, Gabriel Communications celebrates more than a dozen projects, featuring hundreds of songs and never-before-heard stories from some of country music’s original artists, which would have otherwise been lost forever. Click here to find out where to watch RFD-TV and “Country’s Family Reunion” in your area. Upcoming “Country’s Family Reunion” Airdates: *All episodes re-air on Saturdays at 11 pm CST Friday, November 4 – Wednesday Night Prayer Meeting Friday, November 11 – Tribute to Merle Haggard Friday, November 18 – Tribute to Merle Haggard Friday, November 25 – Tribute to Merle Haggard Tune in Fridays at 7 pm CST and Saturdays at 11 pm CST on RFD-TV. The “’Country’s Family Reunion’ Collection Series” DVD box set features four different show compilations including “Country’s Family Reunion Original,” “Country’s Family Reunion Celebration,” “Country’s Family Reunion Gospel,” and “Stories From The Golden Age Of Country.” Purchase the entire series and have unlimited access to over 50 legendary country music artists with 130 rare live performances online by visiting www.cfrvideos.com. ABOUT “COUNTRY’S FAMILY REUNION” Gabriel Communications, started in 1996 by long-time disc jockey Larry Black, is the producer of the popular “Country’s Family Reunion” and “Larry’s Country Diner” series. Black first applied the “Reunion” concept to the legends of country music in 1997. The idea was simple: bring America’s most-treasured artists together into one room to reunite and reminisce about their careers, perform signature songs and share stories while the cameras roll. The result has been pure magic, documenting hundreds of stories and performances that would have otherwise been lost. Each episode of Country’s Family Reunion is hosted by country legend and hit songwriter, Bill Anderson who guides the discussion and supplies viewers with inside stories from his many years in the business. The series’ popularity has led to top-rated shows on RFD-TV and wildly successful DVD sales, spurring the creation of more than a dozen more projects and “Country’s Family Reunion” News (a monthly newspaper Continue reading Merle Haggard’s Legacy Celebrated On New "Country’s Family Reunion" Episodes In November With John Conlee, Mark Wills, Vince Gill, Bobby Bare & More

Blake Shelton To Headline the First-Ever Happy Valley Jam, held in Beaver Stadium on the campus of Pennsylvania State University on Saturday, July 8, 2017

Other Artists Confirmed to Perform For This First Concert Held in Penn State Football Stadium  Include Chris Young, Big & Rich, Plus Newcomers David Ray and Adley Stump Tickets go on sale November 16 at HappyValleyJam.com Country music and “The Voice” superstar Blake Shelton will headline the Happy Valley Jam, held in Beaver Stadium on the campus of Pennsylvania State University on Saturday, July 8, 2017. This historic first concert includes a superstar lineup with Chris Young and Big & Rich also slated to take the stage. Tickets will go on sale to the general public starting November 16 at www.HappyValleyJam.com. The inaugural concert was announced Saturday night (11/5) during the Penn State-Iowa clash in Beaver Stadium, including a video message from Shelton (view here.) The concert and date were initially announced on Oct. 22 during the Nittany Lions’ gridiron victory over No. 2 Ohio State. The Happy Valley Jam is presented by Penn State Intercollegiate Athletics and Basis Entertainment, one of the nation’s premier live entertainment companies. “We are elated to welcome Blake Shelton and a tremendous lineup to the first-ever concert in Beaver Stadium,” stated Sandy Barbour, Penn State Director of Athletics. “We have been resolute in our efforts to make our first stadium event unique. The Happy Valley Jam will be an historic day for Central Pennsylvania and we can’t wait!” “We are thrilled to be the first to organize a concert at Beaver Stadium,” said Gary DeWaard, president and CEO of Basis Entertainment. “We have confirmed our stellar line up to create a historic moment for Penn State.” Shelton was selected the Country Music Association’s Male Vocalist of the Year a record-tying five consecutive times from 2010-14. He earned CMA Entertainer of the Year honors in 2012 and CMA Album of the Year in 2013, in addition to numerous other awards and nominations, including the Grammys and Academy of Country Music. Shelton has had 17 consecutive No. 1 singles, with 22 overall atop the charts, during his superlative career. In 2011, Shelton joined NBC’s hit music competition series, “The Voice,” as a coach. Shelton is in his sixth year, and the show’s 11th season, on the popular program. Also slated to join Shelton in performing during the Happy Valley Jam is Chris Young, one of the most identifiable voices of any young male singer in country music. With five albums to his credit, CMA Musical Event of the Year nominee Chris Young has amassed eight No. 1 singles, and fifteen Gold/Platinum certifications. Among the RCA Records artist’s hits are “Gettin’ You Home,” “Voices,” “Tomorrow,” “I’m Comin’ Over” and “Think Of You,” a duet with Cassadee Pope, Young’s latest No. 1 and fastest-rising single of his career. Released in November of 2015 and debuting at No. 1 on Billboard’s Top Country Albums chart, Young’s first co-produced album, I’m Comin’ Over, also includes the new single, “Sober Saturday Night” featuring Vince Gill and the three-week No. 1 smash title track. The single and album earned him four ACM Continue reading Blake Shelton To Headline the First-Ever Happy Valley Jam, held in Beaver Stadium on the campus of Pennsylvania State University on Saturday, July 8, 2017

‘To Joey, With Love’ To Be Released on DVD, On Demand and on iTunes

The film presents Joey+Rory’s strength during fight against cancer that captured  hearts of millions Husband-and-wife singing duo Joey+Rory wanted more to life, so they chose less. To Joey, With Love is the true story of life, love and hope that never dies, chronicling the couple’s journey as they simplified their lives, welcomed their daughter Indiana and Joey fought cancer, all while putting their hope in something far greater. The film is available from Provident Films and Anchor Bay Entertainment on DVD December 20, on iTunes December 9th and On Demand December 20th from Starz Digital. The intimate and deeply touching documentary follows Joey and Rory as they simplified their lives in preparation for their daughter Indiana, who was born with Down syndrome, and eventually as Joey fought against cancer. The couple’s strength captured the hearts of millions through Rory’s blog, This Life I Live, where Rory shared their story. Special features with the film include a previously unreleased song from Joey+Rory, “In The Time That You Gave Me,” as well as a family slideshow and video clips, “I Am Not A Mistake,” and “Not To Die, But To Live,” created by Rory. To Joey, With Love, presented nationwide by Fathom Events, Provident Films and Hickory Films, grossed more than $1.7 million. The film had two encores on October 6 and October 17, with a limited-theater screening that began on October 28. In their music career, Joey+Rory recorded eight studio albums for Vanguard Records and Farmhouse Recordings and charted three singles on Hot Country Songs. In 2008, the duo was the third-placed finalist on the CMT competition Can You Duet, and received the Academy of Country Music’s Top New Vocal Duo award in 2010. In October 2015, the duo cancelled all future concert appearances in the wake of Joey’s diagnosis with terminal cancer. On March 4, 2016 Joey Feek died; she was just 40 years old. Rory is also releasing a book, “This Life I Live: One Man’s Extraordinary, Ordinary Life and the Woman Who Changed It Forever” on February 14, 2017, through W Publishing, an imprint of Thomas Nelson. More information is available at www.thislifeilivebook.com.  

"Larry’s Country Diner" To Feature Guests Sierra Hull, John Berry, Bill Anderson And 45 RPM

Hot off the press at CountryMusicNewsBlog.com!

Hit television series, “Larry’s Country Diner,” will continue to entertain audiences nationwide on RFD-TV with some fan favorite episodes from earlier this season. In November, the series will feature guest stars Sierra Hull, John Berry, Bill Anderson and 45 RPM. With a stellar lineup of some of country music’s greatest artists and entertainers, along with stories and family-friendly entertainment, it will be an exciting month on “Larry’s Country Diner” that fans won’t want to miss. Tune in on Thursdays at 8 pm / 7 pm CST and Saturdays at 11 pm / 10 pm CST to RFD-TV. Enter your zip code here to find RFD-TV in your area. Upcoming Episodes of “Larry’s Country Diner”: *All episodes repeat on Saturdays at 11 pm / 10 pm CST Thursday, November 3 – Sierra Hull (Re-airing) Thursday, November 10 – John Berry (Re-airing) Thursday, November 17 – Bill Anderson (Re-airing) Thursday, November 24 – 45 RPM (Re-airing) To inquire about how to attend an upcoming taping, where you can have a front row seat at “Larry’s Country Diner” and be part of the on-camera studio audience, please call Gabriel Communications at 800-820-5405. Fans can also participate in Renae The Waitress’s weekly Diner Chat via phone where she shares behind-the-scenes secrets of the show, answers viewers’ personal questions and features exclusive interviews with celebrity guest stars on Thursdays at 2 p.m. CST. For more information on Diner Chat, please visit larryscountrydiner.com/dinerchat. Owned and produced by Gabriel Communications, “Larry’s Country Diner” is one of the top-rated programs airing on the RFD-TV network, which is No. 9 among all cable networks in growth since 2011. It receives 1.6 million viewers per month. For more information on “Larry’s Country Diner,” please visit larryscountrydiner.com or follow us on Facebook and Twitter! ABOUT “LARRY’S COUNTRY DINER”: “Larry’s Country Diner” is a unique down-home variety show, which integrates interviews and music in an entertaining weekly format, taped LIVE in front of a studio audience in an old-fashioned diner setting. The show features regular characters including Larry Black, Keith Bilbrey, Sheriff Jimmy Capps, Renae The Waitress and avid church gossip, Nadine, along with special guest appearances by country music artists of yesterday and today. Since its initial airing on August 3, 2009, “Larry’s Country Diner” has produced over 200 episodes and has become one of the most popular shows on RFD-TV, garnering 1.6 million viewers monthly. For more information, please visit larryscountrydiner.com. “Larry’s Country Diner” is a product of Gabriel Communications. Owned and operated by longtime disc jockey Larry Black, Gabriel Communications was created in 1996 and specialized in “Reunion” videos. The success of these videos spurred the creation of more than a dozen more “Country’s Family Reunion” projects, featuring hundreds of songs and stories as well as Country’s Family Reunion News, a monthly newspaper which highlights the music of yesteryear. For more information on “Country’s Family Reunion” products, please visit: cfrvideos.com.  

MIRANDA LAMBERT EXPANDS LONGTIME RELATIONSHIP WITH SONY MUSIC NASHVILLE 

Miranda Lambert - The Weight of These Wings - On Country Music News Blog

LAMBERT TO RELEASE THE WEIGHT OF THESE WINGS UNDER LAMBERT’S NEW IMPRINT VANNER RECORDS Nashville, TN – Singer-songwriter Miranda Lambert has established her own label imprint VANNER RECORDS at Sony Music Nashville and the very first release will be The Weight Of These Wings out on November 18.  This deal extends and expands the already successful relationship between Miranda Lambert and Sony Music Nashville. Creating an imprint was the natural next step in Miranda‘s and Sony Music Nashville’s long time relationship, whose musical journey began in 2004. “Re-signing Miranda to Sony Music Nashville and helping her create Vanner Records has been absolutely one of the highlights of my 15 months at Sony Music Nashville,” says Randy Goodman, Chairman  & CEO, SMN. “Miranda as an artist represents everything we want to be as a record company and her energy and vision will help drive us forward as well.” The Weight Of These Wings is co-produced by Frank Liddell, Glenn Worf, and Eric Masse and the new album features her critically acclaimed single “Vice.” About Miranda Lambert: Vanner Records/RCA Records Nashville singer/songwriter Miranda Lambert touts five studio albums to her repertoire; Kerosene (2005), Crazy Ex-Girlfriend (2007), Revolution (2009), Four The Record (2011) and Platinum (2014), the latter earning Lambert a GRAMMY Award for Best Country Album, in addition to her previous GRAMMY win for Best Female Country Vocal Performance in 2010 for “The House That Built Me.” The Texas native is set to release her sixth album, The Weight Of These Wings, on November 18, 2016. The first song released from The Weight Of These Wings, “Vice,” hit the Country Radio airwaves on July 18th touting a tally of 109 first week monitored reporting stations spinning the new song.  

TRAVIS TRITT’s A MAN AND HIS GUITAR – LIVE FROM THE FRANKLIN THEATRE 2-DISC CD SET NOW AVAILABLE FOR PRE-ORDER

Travis Tritt on Country Music News Blog

Travis Tritt’s forthcoming live 2-disc CD, A Man and His Guitar – Live From The Franklin Theatre, is now available for pre-order through iTunes; officially to be released ‪on Nov. 18.  The much-anticipated release, recorded at the historic Franklin Theatre in Franklin, Tenn., spotlights Tritt’s distinctively soulful voice and his exceptional guitar prowess in an intimate theater setting. The project features Tritt at his best; performing an unplugged solo concert that gives fans the rare opportunity to hear a fresh take on some of Tritt’s biggest hits, including “Help Me Hold On,” “Anymore,” and “Best of Intentions,” in a stripped down, pure form. Previously unreleased renditions of “Come And Go Blues” and “Pickin’ At It” are also included in the program. Tritt’s discovery that an audience loved to hear him perform songs accompanied only by his guitar served as the inspiration behind the project. In this concert, Tritt acknowledges and pays tribute to artists he grew up admiring and those that were influential to him as he punctuates the release with personal stories and anecdotes from his long career.   Select acoustic numbers and humorous moments between Tritt and his guests, Marty Stuart and James Otto, are also highlighted. The 2-disc CD set, A Man and His Guitar – Live From The Franklin Theatre, will be available for purchase through major digital retailers, TravisTritt.com and at various stops throughout Tritt’s tour.  The DVD will only be available at TravisTritt.com and on tour. For a list of forthcoming tour stops, please visit www.TravisTritt.com. For more information on Travis Tritt, visit his website TravisTritt.com and follow him on and Facebook and Twitter. Disc 1 1. “It’s All About The Money” (Donny Kees, Jody Harris) 2. “Where Corn Don’t Grow” (Mark Alan Springer, Roger Murrah) 3. “The Pressure Is On” (Hank Williams, Jr.) 4. “I’m Gonna Be Somebody” (Jill Colucci, Stewart Harris) 5. “Lord Have Mercy On The Working Man” [with James Otto] (Kostas) 6. “Country Club” (Catesby Jones, Dennis Lord) 7. “Country Ain’t Country” (Carson Chamberlain, Casey Beatherd, Teresa Boaz) 8. “500 Miles Away From Home” (Bobby Bare, Charles Williams, Hedy West) 9. “Here’s A Quarter” (Travis Tritt) 10. “Best of Intentions” (Travis Tritt) 11. “Drift Off To Dream” (Travis Tritt, Stewart Harris) 12. “Help Me Hold On” (Travis Tritt, Pat Terry) Disc 2 1. “Whiskey Ain’t Workin’” [with Marty Stuart] (Ronny Scaife, Marty Stuart) 2. “Pickin’ At It” [with Marty Stuart] (Travis Tritt) 3. “Come And Go Blues” (Gregg Allman) 4. “Anymore” (Travis Tritt, Jill Colucci) 5. “I Walk the Line” (Johnny Cash) 6. “Are You Sure Hank Done It This Way” (Waylon Jennings) 7. “A Long Time Ago” (Waylon Jennings, Shel Silverstein) 8. “Mama’s Don’t Let Your Babies Grown Up To Be Cowboys” (Patsy Bruce, Ed Bruce) 9. “Lone Wolf” (Hank Williams, Jr.) 10. “It’s A Great Day To Be Alive” (Darrell Scott) 11. “T-R-O-U-B-L-E” (Jerry Chestnut) 12.  “Modern Day Bonnie and Clyde” (Walt Aldridge, James LeBlanc) Tweet Cheat: .@Travistritt announes pre-order for 2-Disc CD/DVD A Man and His Guitar – Live from The Franklin Theatre. Hashtags: #AManAndHisGuitar #FranklinTheatre  

Country Music By The Numbers From Neilsen

Dialed up CMA insight by Neilsen

With the CMA’s today, Nielsen Entertainment has released a new report providing key insights around Country Music and its fans. The report discusses consumption channels and formats, as well as the stars of the industry and their endorsement and marketing potential. Take a look below and you’ll see that Nielsen’s report has some unique insights, from the crossover appeal of the industry’s talent, to the fans themselves.  

Brantley Gilbert World Premieres "The Weekend" on CMT "Hot 20"

Brantley Gilbert on Country Music News Blog

Brantley Gilbert World Premieres “The Weekend” on CMT  Top 20 Countdown Debuts Lead Track from The Devil Don’t Sleep Nashville, TN: Having just sold out two night’s at Denver’s legendary Red Rocks Amphitheater, as well as key amphitheaters in the heartland including 14,806 at Detroit’s DTE Energy Music Theatre and 15,038 at Cincinnati’s Riverbend Amphitheater, the wildly intense Brantley Gilbert gears up for the release of The Devil Don’t Sleep with a World Premiere of “The Weekend” on CMT: Country Music Television’s “Hot 20” this weekend Oct. 29-30. “We’re getting ready for the next phase,” says one of the rare country artists with back-to-back certified platinum releases for his Halfway To Heaven and Just As I Am. “There’s new music coming, in a very different way than people expect from us. But one thing we’re not gonna lose is the real life – and some of the real fun you can have – in this music. That’s what I love about this clip: it’s a lot of pieces of who I am.” Starting with Gilbert trying, badly, to fix an old Cougar – and needing to abandon the job to get on the bus, the Shane Drake-directed clip captures Gilbert out on this summer’s sold-out Take It Outside Tour, his dynamic with his lovely wife Amber, dealing with frustration, tearing it up with the band in an all-terrain vehicle rich and finding a party he can both crash and loosen up. Admitting to his new friends he’s a lousy mechanic, longtime collaborator Drake creates a surprise ending that’s not so far from the truth. “This isn’t that far off,” admits the man whose launched six #1s including the CMA Single of the Year nominee “Dirt Road Anthem,” as well his own “Country Must Be Country Wide,” “You Don’t Know Her Like I Do” and One Hell of an Amen” among others. “I’m not a great mechanic… and I do love that old Cougar and my wife. To mix it all up like this, and kinda make it about what every guy wants and get frustrated about? Well, that’s pretty much here.” With the heavy guitar thumper “It’s About To Get Dirty” featured in “Madden 17,” the latest in the series of high impact football video games, the Georgia native is keeping a strong emphasis on keeping the hard rock in his country for his upcoming project – due in early 2017. Working like twin engines, “The Weekend” reinforces the real world good time out in the sticks ethos that has defined the “Bottoms Up” artist since he released his first self-financed Modern Day Prodigal Son just out of his teens. “Boys get older, but not much changes,” he says with a laugh. “I was raised to work hard, but we also learned to play hard. You know, that’s the deal… When you give it all, you wanna take it back just as hard when you clock out. And if you’re not having fun, you’re not all in with your life, you’re Continue reading Brantley Gilbert World Premieres "The Weekend" on CMT "Hot 20"

Cole Swindell Wraps First Weekend of Headlining Sold-Out Shows on “CMT ON TOUR Presents the COLE SWINDELL DOWN HOME TOUR”

Cole Swindell on Country Music News Blog

NASHVILLE, Tenn.  –-Platinum-selling recording artist just wrapped the first weekend of his headlining CMT ON TOUR Presents the COLE SWINDELL DOWN HOME TOUR with sold-out shows. The tour kicked off last week with fans packing a sold-out Cain’s Ballroom in Tulsa, OK and continued to Wichita, KS, Denver, CO, and Odessa, TX. Swindell takes a brief detour back to Nashville this week for the 50th Annual CMA Awards where he is nominated for CMA New Artist of the Year. The Down Home Tour will continue Friday (Nov 4) at the Lyric Oxford in Oxford, MS. Following two previous sold-out Down Home tours, Swindell looks forward to this time of the year when he releases new fan-favorite music, and in tandem returning to some of the clubs, venues and fans that gave him his start in touring. “Taking care of the people who take care of you,” Swindell told CMT.com, “that’s how I was raised and how I like to do things. We wouldn’t be where we are without people loving our music.” Down Home Sessions III, the brand new collection of music for his fans, was just released in support of his annual fan-favorite Down Home Tour. The EP, Down Home Sessions III, is available digitally via Warner Bros. / Warner Music Nashville. Click HERE to purchase the Down Home Sessions III EP. Down Home Sessions III Track Listing: 1)         You’ve Got My Number 2)         Does It Hurt 3)         Six Pack Lines 4)         Chevrolet DJ 5)         Wildlife This year, Swindell has partnered with CMT to launch his third annual Down Home Tour with CMT ON TOUR Presents the COLE SWINDELL DOWN HOME TOUR. Following two previous sold-out tours, the third annual headlining tour kicked off this last week at Cain’s Ballroom in Tulsa, OK and will wrap in December. The tour features openers and rising new artists Cole Taylor, Travis Denning and Jon Langston. For complete information on tickets and the tour, sign up for the Down Home Crew at www.ColeSwindell.com, and follow the fun on social using #CMTonTour. Click HERE for Cole Swindell’s Down Home Sessions Playlist. The partnership marks the 15th annual tour for CMT, which has been a springboard for a number of country superstars. CMT On Tour launched in 2002, and has featured superstar headliners including Trace Adkins, Jason Aldean, Luke Bryan, Randy Houser, Jamey Johnson, Miranda Lambert, Brad Paisley, Rascal Flatts, Sugarland, Keith Urban, Jake Owen, Kip Moore, Brett Eldredge and Thomas Rhett. The tour is produced by Live Nation. CMT ON TOUR Presents the COLE SWINDELL DOWN HOME TOUR: Nov 4              Oxford, MS                             The Lyric Oxford** Nov 9              New York, NY                         Terminal 5** Nov 10            Pittsburgh, PA                         Stage AE** Nov 11            Norfolk, VA                              The Norva** Nov 12            Silver Spring, MD                    The Fillmore Silver Spring** Nov 17            Fort Walton, FL                       The Block^ Nov 18            Lake Buena Vista, FL             House of Blues^ Nov 25            Houston, TX                            House of Blues** Nov 26            Fort Worth, TX                        Billy Bob’s Texas** Nov 30            Rosemont, IL                          Joe’s Live** Dec 1              Continue reading Cole Swindell Wraps First Weekend of Headlining Sold-Out Shows on “CMT ON TOUR Presents the COLE SWINDELL DOWN HOME TOUR”

Tune-In Alert! Aaron Lewis Performs On The Late Show With Stephen Colbert (11/2)

Outspoken Entertainer to Appear on CBS Late Night Following the CMA Awards ________________________________________________________________ Show: The Late Show with Stephen Colbert   Date: Wednesday, November 2 Time:  11:35pm ET / 10:35pm CT Network: CBS (Check local listings) ________________________________________________________________ NASHVILLE, Tenn. (October 31, 2016) – While Nashville celebrates the CMA Awards, outspoken and sometimes controversial singer/songwriter Aaron Lewis will make his debut on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert  Wednesday (11/2) at 11:35pm ET / 10:35pm CT on CBS (check local listings). Singing a hit from his recent No. 1 album SINNER, Lewis will once again show why traditional Country still has a place in the mainstream. “I grew up listening to the Country greats – Willie, Merle and Waylon” said Lewis. “When turn on the radio in my car, I don’t even recognize what is now considered ‘Country’ music. So it was important to me when making this new album that I was true to myself and what I believe is good music. My mouth often gets me in trouble when I express this opinion, but it’s the truth.” Lewis recently kicked off his SINNER TOUR in LA with a sold-out show at The Troubadour and continues to make its run on the West Coast this week. He will head to New York City on November 15 for a special headlining date at The Beacon Theater for Budweiser One Night Only: Aaron Lewis. For additional information and dates, visit AaronLewisMusic.com.