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BUDDY LEE ATTRACTIONS SIGNS CMA & ACM AWARD WINNING, PLATINUM SELLING ARTIST JO DEE MESSINA

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Buddy Lee Attractions (BLA) is proud to welcome to their roster the multi-platinum and nine-time #1 songstress Jo Dee Messina. Talent buyers will get to experience this ACM and CMA award winning artist during the IEBA Conference in Nashville, TN on Monday, October 10th at 11:30 AM CT. “Look no further than Jo Dee Messina if you want a fierce performer who has raised the bar in both her live show and on the charts, where she became the first female in the country genre to have three multi-week number ones,” says BLA CEO and Co-owner Donna Lee. “Her two-decade career of hits has built a passionate fan base across all demographics and her relentless, high-energy performance will leave fans electrified and begging for more from this red-hot, no holds barred artist.” Jo Dee most recently released her last full length project ME on her own label Dreambound Records after a highly successful Kickstarter campaign. To stay updated on Jo Dee Messina, visit the following: Website: www.jodeemessina.com Facebook: www.facebook.com/jodeemessina Twitter: @jodeemessina Instagram: @jodeemessina About Jo Dee Messina Jo Dee Messina firmly established herself on the country scene with her breakthrough debut in 1996 Heads Carolina, Tails California from her self-titled album.  She would go on to top the charts nine times and score sixteen Top 40 hits including s ignature tunes: Bye, Bye, I’m Alright, Stand Beside Me, Burn and the Tim McGraw duet Bring On the Rain.  After a successful run with her launching label, Jo Dee departed and would engage her fans with the release of the critically acclaimed, crowd sourced project Me.  Throughout her career, she has taken home ACM and CMA trophies and was honored to be nominated for two Grammys.  Albums sales are over five million and counting with two Platinum and three Gold RIAA certified projects.  Known for her high-energy performances and fit lifestyle, she most recently partnered with Beachbody™ and released the song Night Crawl from their Country Heat Workouts. About Buddy Lee Attractions Serving a variety of live entertainment sectors across the globe since 1964, BLA has represented some of the biggest nam es in country music including Garth Brooks, the Dixie Chicks, Ronnie Milsap, Lorrie Morgan, Willie Nelson, George Strait, and reigning ACM Entertainer of the Year Jason Aldean.  BLA’s integrity, collective knowledge base and solid work ethic has garnered the agency numerous industry awards, including three “Talent Agency Of The Year” awards from Country Music Association, two “Tour Of The Year” Pollstar awards, and the 2014 Pollstar Touring Industry Award as “Independent Agency Of The Year.”  In addition to their celebrated roster of performing artists, the BLA umbrella also extends to their 38 Music Artist Development, 38 Music Publishing, and a public speaker division.  To stay updated on Buddy Lee Attractions, visit the following:  

Children’s Book Inspired By Dolly Parton’s Classic Song Shares Importance Of Respect And Gratitude

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Country music legend Dolly Parton brings her beloved classic to life in Coat of Many Colors (Grosset & Dunlap; on sale October 18, 2016), a new picture book for young readers with all-new illustrations by Brooke Boynton Hughes and featuring a downloadable exclusive original song by Dolly Parton, “Making Fun Ain’t Funny.” [AMAZONPRODUCTS asin=”0451532376″] Using lyrics from her classic song “Coat of Many Colors,” and inspired by Parton’s rural upbringing in the Smoky Mountains of Tennessee, the picture book tells the story of a young girl in need of a warm winter coat. When her mother sews her a coat made of rags, the girl is mocked by classmates for being poor. But Parton’s trademark positivity carries through to the end as the girl realizes that her coat was made with love “in every stitch.” Francesco Sedita, President and Publisher, Grosset & Dunlap, said, “As someone who grew up listening to Dolly Parton with my family, having this very special opportunity to work on the Coat of Many Colors picture book has been a lifelong dream come true. The book& mdash;and the song, of course—really speaks to how important family and community is. And how vital it is to respect those around us and to be grateful for what we have. I believe this book is one that will be passed down for generations to come.” Coat of Many Colors is the latest project in Dolly Parton’s longtime mission to support childhood literacy. In 1988, she began the Dollywood Foundation to inspire children in her home community to dream more, learn more, care more, and be more. The Foundation’s signature program is the Dolly Parton Imagination Library which works with local sponsors to give every preschool child a book each month from the time he or she is born until the child reaches kindergarten. The Imagination Library has gifted over 80 million books in the United States, Canada, United Kingdom and Australia. Following the publication of Coat of Many Color s, NBC will air the sequel to last year’s TV movie “Coat of Many Colors.” In “Dolly Parton’s Christmas of Many Colors: Circle of Love,” the Partons, a family of humble means living in the mountains of Tennessee, face a devastating event that challenges their will. But when they experience a bewildering Christmas miracle, the Partons are drawn closer together than ever—with deepened faith and love for one another. An internationally renowned superstar, the iconic and irrepressible Dolly Parton has contributed countless treasures to the world of music entertainment, penning classic songs such as “Jolene,” “Coat of Many Colors,” and her mega-hit “I Will Always Love You.” She has garnered 7 Grammy Awards, 10 Country Music Association Awards, 5 Academy of Country Music Awards, 3 American Music Awards, and is one of only five fema le artists to win the Country Music Association’s Entertainer of the Year Award. Dolly Parton is an instantly recognizable American icon. She is a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award Winner, a Kennedy Center Honors recipient, and Continue reading Children’s Book Inspired By Dolly Parton’s Classic Song Shares Importance Of Respect And Gratitude→

Nashville’s Lennon and Maisy Partners with Sesame Workshop for Love to Learn Segment

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YouTube musical sensations, Lennon & Maisy (also known for their roles on NASHVILLE airing on CMT Thursday, January 5th) have partnered with Sesame Workshop for their Love to Learn campaign. Lennon and Maisy covers a new arrangement of the classic song I Don’t Want to Live on the Moon with Ernie. The segment will air on Sesame Street’s YouTube Channel Wednesday, October 5th. Check it out: https://sesameworkshop.imeetcentral.com/p/eAAAAAAALK-IAAAAABMGqHw Sesame Workshop’s Love to Learn initiative is a six-month campaign where Elmo and his furry friends team up with a number of YouTube stars to explore new and exciting topics. This month’s #LovetoLearn topic is a Sesame Street favorite: Music and Dancing! Sesame Street Collaborates with YouTube Stars for Love to Learn Campaign It’s no secret that Elmo loves to learn.  Now kids everywhere can join him on a learning adventure with his furry pals and YouTube celebrity friends.  With the Love to Learn campaign, beginning in July, Elmo explores a new and exciting topic each month.  Viewers will be treated to six months of playlists, available on Sesame Street’s YouTube Channel, full of brand new videos and songs featuring these topics: July: Animals.  Elmo meets Simon’s Cat, star of one of the most popular animated channels on YouTube, and learns about funny cat behaviors like bath time and playtime!  He even learns that he and Simon’s Cat have a lot in common…they just do things a little differently! August: Games and Sports.  To celebrate the Olympics, Elmo and friends learn all about teamwork and sportsmanship with special guests. September: Ready for School.  In September, Elmo gets ready for school with the hilarious Eh Bee Family.  Elmo loves it all, from packing his backpack and having his picture taken, and gets some tips from the bigger kids who are already pros!  Captain America star Anthony Mackie also shares a fun tip to help get kids ready for school. October: Music and Dancing.   Superstar sisters Lennon & Maisy cover a new arrangement of the classic I Don’t Want to Live on the Moon with Ernie.  Plus, Jason Derulo and Tori Kelly teach Elmo new dance moves and how to play the guitar. November: Cooking.  Cookie Monster celebrates his birthday by guest starring on Rosanna Pansino’s Nerdy Nummies, one of the top three female-hosted channels on YouTube.  Cookie Monster learns how to make chocolate chip cookies, his favorite! December: Kindness.  The campaign comes to a close with a topic near and dear to Sesame Street’s heart, kindness.  Elmo and social media star Jérôme Jarre join forces on a mission to spread kindness throughout New York City!  Plus, Grammy-winning country musical group Little Big Town gives Elmo tips on how to get along with your friends. Sesame Street consistently ranks in the top 10 Education channels on YouTube, with 1 billion views in 2015.  Its social media presence continues to grow, with 17.5 million followers on Facebook, 1.5 million on Twitter, and nearly 100,000 on Instagram.  Combined with the Love to Learn YouTube celebrities’ following, the Continue reading Nashville’s Lennon and Maisy Partners with Sesame Workshop for Love to Learn Segment→

Collin Raye’s Big 25 Tour Update

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Collin Raye on Country Music News Blog!

Raye Continues On ‘The Big 25 Tour’ Throughout The Remainder Of 2016 Country superstar Collin Raye performed his timeless No. 1 hits “My Kind Of Girl” and “Love, Me” on “Ray Stevens’ Nashville” Saturday night, October 1, at 8:30/7:30c on RFD-TV. Visit www.rfdtv.com to find RFD-TV in your area. With 16 No. 1 hits, 24 top tens and ten Male Vocalist Of The Year nominations, Raye emerged on the country music scene 25 years ago and has sustained as one of the most recognized voices of the genre. In celebration of his 25th anniversary, the energizing showman is currently entertaining fans on a nationwide tour, including an upcoming Mexican Riviera Cruise that sets sail in mid-October. Fans are anxiously awaiting Raye’s soon-to-be released “Silver Anniversary Album” to commemorate his quarter-century in country music, featuring new recordings of his greatest hits. Raye’s most recent projects include a tribute to Glenn Campbell, Still On The Line, an inspirational album, His Love Remains, and his first autobiography A Voice Undefeated. To purchase, please visit www.collinraye.com. COLLIN RAYE’S THE BIG 25 TOUR Sept. 30 Grand Ole Opry – Nashville, Tenn. Oct. 01 Dixie Carter Performing Arts Center – Huntingdon, Tenn. Oct. 09 Big 25 Tour Cruise – Los Angeles, Calif. Oct. 10 Big 25 Tour Cruise – Los Angeles, Calif. Oct. 11 Big 25 Tour Cruise – Los Angeles, Calif. Oct. 12 Big 25 Tour Cruise – Los Angeles, Calif. Oct. 13 Big 25 Tour Cruise – Los Angeles, Calif. Oct. 14 Big 25 Tour Cruise – Los Angeles, Calif. Oct. 15 Big 25 Tour Cruise – Los Angeles, Calif. Oct. 16 Big 25 Tour Cruise – Los Angeles, Calif. Oct. 21 North Park Assembly Center –30 Denham Springs , La. Oct. 22 Arkansas State Fair – Little Rock, Ark. Nov. 06 Tribute to the Veterans, Foothills PAC – Oneonta, N.Y. Nov. 12 Plaza Theatre – Glasgow, Ky. Nov. 17 Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Tulsa – Tulsa, Okla. Nov. 18 Benton Civic Center – Benton, Ill. Dec. 09 California Center for the Arts – San Diego, Calif. Dec. 10 California Center for the Arts – San Diego, Calif. ABOUT COLLIN RAYE: Collin Raye’s searing ballads and electric performances have been captivating country audiences for more than 25 years. With 16 No. 1 hits, 24 top 10s and ten Male Vocalist Of The Year nominations, Raye has clearly emerged as one of the great voices of our time. The De Queen, Arkansas native rose to fame in 1991 with the timeless number one hit, “Love, Me.” In 1994, his music video for “Little Rock,” led to over 100,000 phone calls to Alcoholics Anonymous from addicts seeking help. “Not That Different,” was a song that pleaded for tolerance, and “I Think About You” (awarded as “Video Of The Year” by the Academy of Country Music in 1997) exposed exploitation of women and children. His latest album projects include His Love Remains, his first inspirational hymns album, as well as Still On The Line, a tribute Continue reading Collin Raye’s Big 25 Tour Update→

SECRET TIM MCGRAW AND FAITH HILL SHOW SELLS OUT RYMAN AUDITORIUM IN MINUTES

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How a failed audition may have saved Faith Hill's Life : On AXS TV

MONDAY, OCTOBER 3, 2016 (NASHVILLE, TN) ­– Tim McGraw and Faith Hill confirmed early this morning that they will be performing together at the historic Ryman Auditorium to morrow night (Tuesday, October 4) promptly at 7:30 pm.  There will be no opening act.  The show marks the couple’s first performance together at the venue. Tickets for the concert went on sale at 10:00 am CT Monday morning and officially sold-out in less than 12 minutes.  The Ryman’s website traffic was quadruple the normal rate during an on-sale.  In-person box office sales were also quadruple the normal on-sale rate with lines of people filling in the plaza. A show listing for “Sam and Audrey,” McGraw and Hill’s first names, appeared on the Ryman’s website this past Friday (Sept. 30) and immediately fans, along with media, began speculating as to who the duo could be.  

Del McCoury Band Re-releases Carlene Carter’s Classic "I Fell In Love"

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Hot off the press at CountryMusicNewsBlog.com!

Del McCoury Band releases brand new interpretation of Carlene Carter’s Hit  “I Fell In Love” LISTEN HERE   ***** October 3, 2016 – New York, NY – Del McCoury Band digitally releases brand new track “I Fell In Love”. The Del McCoury Band’s version of “I Fell In Love” – originally co-written and recorded by Carlene Carter (daughter of June Carter Cash and Carl Smith) in 1990 – offers a more stripped down interpretation of the hit song, complete with ferocious banjo picking and Del’s classic belting vocals. The Del McCoury Band’s “I Fell In Love’ is true, authentic bluegrass. Listen to “I Fell In Love” on Spotify: http://spoti.fi/2cGknRV At 77 years old, Del McCoury shows no signs of slowing down, remaining a dominating force in the bluegrass arena. In August, inspired by a spell of nostalgia, Del jumped at the chance to re-record the Carlene Carter hit as a treat for the fans. Almost immediately, he gathered the band at the famed Butcher Shoppe Recording Studio, in Nashville, to cut the tune. And, a treat it is. In fact, all five member’s voices can be heard on “I Fell In Love” – a rarity among the Del McCoury Band repertoire. This past weekend, Del held a special performance of Del & Woody at the Country Music Hall of Fame during AmericanaFest 2016. Additionally, to commemorate the 50th anniversary of their first show together, Del and Dawg (David Grisman) will perform a select run of dates through October and December of this year. Del has devoted his life to bluegrass music, constantly surprising fans by finding new ways of reinvigorating the bluegrass genre; whether its flying to New Orleans and playing with Preservation Hall Jazz Band, starting a music festival in his late ’60s, singing a U2 song with Dierks Bentley — Del genuine love for bluegrass resounds above all else. Del McCoury Band has shown unprecedented stability, with only one membership change in twenty years; nine IBMA ‘Entertainer of the Year’ awards, membership in the cast of the legendary Grand Ole Opry in 2003, and their first ‘Best Bluegrass Album’ Grammy Award in 2005 followed by their second Grammy win in 2014. Along with their many accolades, the Del McCoury Band has traveled with the groundbreaking post-O Brother “Down From The Mountain” tour, performed and recorded with Gill (on his Grammy-winning These Days) and with country star Dierks Bentley; they are a regular at Bonnaroo Music Festival, and Del’s namesake Festival, DelFest has quickly become one of the premier string band events in the country showcasing artists including bluegrass legend Bobby Osborne and Phish’s frontman < strong>Trey Anastasio. *** Upcoming Tour Dates: 1-Oct IBMA’s Wide Open Bluegrass Street Festival Raleigh, NC 4-Oct Grand Ole Opry House Nashville, TN 7-Oct Del & Dawg – Wisconsin Union Theater Madison, WI 8-Oct Del & Dawg – City Winery Chicago Chicago, IL 14-Oct Del & Dawg @ Germantown Performing Arts Center Germantown, TN 15-Oct Bloomin’ Bluegrass Festival Farmers Branch, TX 18-Oct Grand Ole Opry Continue reading Del McCoury Band Re-releases Carlene Carter’s Classic "I Fell In Love"→

Christmas 4 Kids Announces 2016 Ryman Concert Lineup

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Country Christmas

2016 Lineup Features The Marshall Tucker Band, Ray Stevens, Aaron Tippin, Montgomery Gentry and More Benefit Concert Set for Monday, November 21; Tickets On-sale Now at Ryman.com Nashville, Tenn. (September 29, 2016) – The Christmas 4 Kids organization has announced the lineup for its 2016 Ryman Auditorium concert, set for Monday, November 21 at 7:00 PM in Nashville.  For the second year, legendary southern rock group The Marshall Tucker Band will headline the show with Ray Stevens, Aaron Tippin and Montgomery Gentry also scheduled to perform.  Singer/songwriter James Robert Webb will open the show.  Country singer Ty Bates is also scheduled to perform.   “This year’s show at the Ryman is shaping up to be huge,” says Christmas 4 Kids President, Linda O’Connell.  “Last year, we set a record for money raised for Christmas 4 Kids.  With this great lineup, I think we can do it again!” Doug Gray, lead singer of The Marshall Tucker Band adds, “We had so much fun at last year’s show at the Ryman.  We’re grateful that Christmas 4 Kids asked us to come back for a second year.  We love being able to help an amazing organization that does so much to bring a memorable Christmas to the children who need it most.  See you in November, Nashville!” “I’m so glad to be a part of this great show,” notes Stevens.  “I’ll be debuting a brand new Christmas song at the show and I’m sure it’s one the kids will love.” Tickets are $36.50 and $60.00 and are available for purchase now at Ryman.com.  All proceeds generated from the concert go to the Christmas 4 Kids organization.  About Christmas 4 Kids  Christmas 4 Kids is a not-for-profit organization that has been in existence for over 25 years providing many children, each year, with their very own shopping spree.  The funds generated by the concert, and the Tour Bus Show/Artist Meet and Greet event, are used to give over 400 children from 29 different schools, a day-long shopping excursion.  The special day consists of a chauffeured trip from their school aboard an entertainer’s luxury tour bus, dinner, and a party hosted by Santa and Mrs. Claus.  To wrap up the day, the tour buses journey to the Hendersonville, Tennessee, Walmart, where the kids receive a brand new winter coat, and $150.00 to spend however they choose. For more information on Christmas 4 Kids, visit www.christmas4kids.org.  

Triple 7 Public Relations To Represent Riverside Entertainment

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Hot off the press at CountryMusicNewsBlog.com!

Triple 7 Public Relations is proud to announce its representation of Riverside Entertainment, a full-service development and production company with an impressive talent roster and state of the art production across television and digital series, feature films, music videos, branded content and more. Led by founding partners Brian Loschiavo and Jeff Molyneaux, Riverside Entertainment is currently producing On The Record for ABC’s new Digital Originals platform, ABCd. Today, ABC GO premiered its episode featuring recording artist Fancy Hagood. Watch here: http://abc.tv/Fancy. Premiering on the first of each month, the popular series gives a personal look at up-and-coming music artists with recent episode featuring Hollywood Records recording artist, Shawn Hook, and Verve Recording Artist, Yuna. Additional credits include the Rolling Stone Country Sessions series and the daily country music news series Rolling Stone Ram Report, ancillary content for CMT’s Nashville and additional projects with clients including Time, Inc., Chevrolet, Ram, StubHub, Marriott, CMA, and more. During his tenure at ABC, Loschiavo wrote and executive produced 3 primetime on-air specials (Nashville: On the Record 1-3). His additional credits include writing, directing and/or producing on-air and digital productions for Marvel Television, ABC’s Nashville, CMA Awards, CMA Festival, ABC Family and numerous integration sponsorships. For his work, Loschiavo was recognized in Variety’s 2015 Music City Impact Report and nominated for PGA’s Outstanding Digital series for his work on Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. He is a member of the Producers Guild of America and the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. Prior to Riverside Entertainment, Molyneaux was a founding member of ABC’s Digital Studio and worked as a Producer and Director of Photography on numerous Disney/ABC Television Group properties, including ABC, Marvel, ABC Family, SoapNet, and Disney Channel.  He is the recipient of an Interactive Media Emmy Award for his work on the Oscars Backstage Experience, and is a member of the Producers Guild of America and the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. More information on Riverside Entertainment can be found at riverside-ent.com.  

Kellie Pickler Honored With Department of Defense Spirit of Hope Award in D.C.

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Kellie Pickler on Country Music News!

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Loved not only for her bold personality and southern charm, country music recording artist and the star of the CMT hit docu-comedy television series I Love Kellie Pickler is known for her avid support of our servicemen and women. In honor of Kellie’s continued work spanning nine-and-counting USO tours, the critically-acclaimed North Carolinian and her husband Kyle Jacobs were honored Sept. 28, with the Department of Defense Spirit of Hope Award, presented annually to distinguished Americans and organizations to include entertainers and men and women of the United States Armed Forces whose patriotism and service reflec ts that of Mr. Bob Hope.  “I am so humbled to be in such great company in receipt of this honor from the Department of Defense,” Kellie shared after accepting the distinguished award with her husband Kyle on Wednesday in Washington D.C.  “We’ve been so blessed to have a great relationship with the USO which has allowed us to be able to take a little piece of home to our service men and women both overseas and here at home.”  The Department of Defense criteria for the Spirit of Hope Award requires the recipient to have selflessly contributed an extraordinary amount of time, talent or resources to significantly enhance the quality of life of service members and their families serving around the world and epitomize the values of Bob Hope—duty, honor, courage, loyalty, commitment, integrity and selfless dedication.  In 2015 at the CMA Music Festival the parents of slain Navy SEAL Chris Kyle presented Kellie Pickler with the first-ever Operation Troop Aid Chris Kyle Patriot Award and in 2013 Kellie received the Heart For The Warrior Award from the USO of North Carolina during the Salute to Freedom Gala.  

Shane Owens Releases Debut Album ‘Where I’m Comin’ From’ On December 9

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Hot off the press at CountryMusicNewsBlog.com!

Owens Receives Help from Country Music Icon Randy Travis on New Project NASHVILLE, Tenn. (September 29, 2016) – Critics and fans alike have been raving about Shane Owens’ highly anticipated debut album, Where I’m Comin’ From, citing the traditional-based artist as one – who like George Jones sang about in his classic song – just might be able to fill the shoes of legends such as “The Possum” and Merle Haggard. The Amerimonte Records recording artist received a ringing endorsement along those lines from Country Music Hall of Fame inductee Randy Travis – who lent his production talents to the album. “Shane’s song, “Country Never Goes Out of Style,” is a simple and perfect description of what country living and country music is all about.” said Travis in reference to Shane’s current single, which is going for adds at radio stations across the country. “In listening to it, I can’t help but reminisce about the best days of my youth and life in simpler times—when technology was a phone with a cord and a party line, transportation was a bicycle, a horse, or a hand-me-down car with manual windows, and taking the initiative to help someone in need was your pleasure and just the way it was. Though much has changed, I think it’s important to keep a focus on our roots—it is a way of life that should never go out of style. Shane has successfully merged yesterday, and today, to remind us that country will always be in style!” James Stroud, who produced the album, has blazed trails for country superstars such as Toby Keith, Tim McGraw, Clint Black, Aaron Lewis, Chris Young and many more during his career. Among Stroud’s credits include having produced over 130 No. 1 singles. The album Where I’m Comin From will be available for pre-order on iTunes and Amazon beginning on October 21 and available for purchase on December 9 in select retailers nationwide through Memphis, TN based distributor, Select-O-Hits. Click here to download Shane’s current single, “Country Never Goes Out Of Style.” “Country music fans have been yearning for an artist like Shane Owens,” said Steve Popovich Jr., President Amerimonte Records. “There’s a perception out there that traditional Country music is dead and I can assure you that’s not the case. This album is going to surprise a lot of people, and I mean that in a good way. Shane Owens is delivering a style of traditional Country music that Country music enthusiasts both here and abroad have been craving for a long time. I think fans of the genre will be pleased to know that style of Country music is alive and well.” “When I first heard Shane, I knew there was something special there,” said his publicist Kirt Webster. “His vocal stylings bring to mind the music that I – and so many others grew up on. His energy on stage is also a huge plus, but the most important element of the Shane Owens story is that in Continue reading Shane Owens Releases Debut Album ‘Where I’m Comin’ From’ On December 9→