Press Releases – Page 53 – Country Music News

2017 ACM Award Nominees!

Posted on February 16, 2017 by Shauna "WhiskeyChick" Castorena

This morning, the nominees were announced for the 52ndAcademy of Country Music Awards, taking place on Sunday, April 2, 2017 from T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas and airing on the CBS Television Network (live 8:00-11:00 PM, ET/delayed PT). Luke Bryan and Dierks Bentley will return to host for the second consecutive year. TO BE BROADCAST LIVE ON CBS, SUNDAY, APRIL 2, FROM T-MOBILE ARENA IN LAS VEGAS Keith Urban Leads with Seven Nominations; Miranda Lambert and Maren Morris Each Receive Six Nominations; Florida Georgia Line and Tim McGraw Each Receive Five Nominations; Dierks Bentley, Thomas Rhett and Chris Stapleton Each Receive Three Nominations [bctt tweet=”52nd @ACMawards nominations announced today! Don’t miss #ACMawards LIVE April 2 8pm on #CBS ” username=”CMNBlog”] Nominations were announced today for the 52ND ACADEMY OF COUNTRY MUSIC AWARDS™, Country Music’s Party of the Year®, honoring country music’s superstars and hottest emerging talent. Luke Bryan and Dierks Bentley will return to host for the second consecutive year. The ACM Awards® are produced for television by dick clark productions and will be broadcast LIVE from T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas on Sunday, April 2 (live 8:00-11:00 PM, ET/delayed PT) on the CBS Television Network. Ten-time ACM Award winners and multi-platinum trio Lady Antebellum announced the nominees in five categories, including Entertainer of the Year, Male Vocalist of the Year, Female Vocalist of the Year, Vocal Duo of the Year, and Vocal Group of the Year live today on “CBS This Morning.” “Entertainment Tonight” hosts Nancy O’Dell and Kevin Frazier announced additional nominees on ETonline.com. Keith Urban leads with seven nominations in five categories, including his seventh for Entertainer of the Year and 10th nod for Male Vocalist of the Year. Urban is nominated twice, as both artist and producer, in the Album of the Year category for Ripcord. He received an additional two nominations, for both artist and producer, in the Single Record of the Year category for “Blue Ain’t Your Color,” which is also nominated in the Song of the Year category. Seven-time Female Vocalist of the Year Miranda Lambert received six nominations and is once again nominated in the Female Vocalist of the Year category. Lambert received her fifth nomination in the Album of the Year category for The Weight of These Wings. Lambert’s “Vice” received nods in the Single Record of the Year, Song of the Year, and Video of the Year categories. Also, she received two nominations for “Vice” in the Song of the Year category, as both artist and songwriter. First-time ACM nominee Maren Morris earned six nominations in four different categories. Morris received nominations in both Female Vocalist of the Year and New Female Vocalist of the Year categories. She is also nominated twice for Album of the Year, as both producer and artist, on HERO. Morris is twice nominated as both artist and producer in Single Record of the Year for “My Church.” Reigning Vocal Duo of the Year Florida Georgia Line leads group nominations with five nods, including their fifth Continue reading 2017 ACM Award Nominees!→

Billy Dean Set for Induction into Florida Artists Hall of Fame

Posted on February 16, 2017 by Shauna "WhiskeyChick" Castorena

Hot off the press at CountryMusicNewsBlog.com!

Country music hitmaker Billy Dean will be inducted into the Florida Artists Hall of Fame on Thursday, February 23. Dean, a Florida native, will enter this year’s class along with former Eagles member Don Felder, comedy songwriter and performer Jim Stafford, and poet-anthologist Lee Bennett Hopkins. “I have a deep and eternal love for my home state of Florida and all her beauty and majesty,” says Dean. “I’m proud of my southern roots. Floridians are as diverse as the nature that surrounds her, and what an honor it will be to hang in the halls of her great capitol, next to some of my heros like Tom Petty and Don Felder, only a few short blocks from where my mom lives today. Thanks to all my friends for this great honor.” Established by the Florida Legislature in 1986, the Florida Artists Hall of Fame recognizes persons, living or deceased, who have made significant contributions to the arts in Florida either as performing or practicing artists in individual disciplines. The Florida Artists Hall of Fame Wall is located on the Plaza Level in the rotunda of the Capitol building in Tallahassee. Inductees receive a commemorative bronze sculpture commissioned by the Florida Council on Arts and Culture. The induction ceremony takes place at the Thomas Center for the Arts in Gainesville, FL. The event starts at 5:30 pm. The event is free and open to the public. About Billy Dean In his music career spanning more than 25 years, Dean has claimed eleven top ten Billboard country singles, including five #1 hits: “I Miss Billy The Kid,” “Somewhere In My Broken Heart,” “If There Hadn’t Been You,” “You Don’t Count The Cost” and “It’s What I Do.” Dean recorded eight major label studio albums, three of which have been certified gold by the RIAA, as well as a greatest hits album which is also certified gold. Earlier in his career, the Academy of Country Music named Dean Top New Male Vocalist and also awarded him Song of the Year for “Somewhere In My Broken Heart.” In 2000, Dean sang harmony vocals alongside Alison Krauss on Kenny Rogers‘ rendition of “Buy Me A Rose,” which earned a GRAMMY®. In addition to his successful recording career, Dean has also acted in several movies and appeared in numerous television shows

DUSTIN LYNCH Notches Fourth Straight #1 With “SEEIN’ RED”

Posted on February 14, 2017 by Shauna "WhiskeyChick" Castorena

First Taste of New Album Keeps His Hot Streak Alive, Partnering With Pepsi MidAmerica to Send Fans on a VIP Vegas Experience Broken Bow Records star DUSTIN LYNCH has taken “Seein’ Red” to the top of the charts, posting his fourth straight #1 single. A propulsive, passionate anthem of unrestrained desire, “Seein’ Red” is the first song released from Lynch’s upcoming third album, details of which will be revealed soon. Leading Billboard’s Country Airplay chart for the fourth time in a career that is still picking up steam, the Tennessee heartthrob and classic-country lover feels emboldened by fans’ reaction to his lusty, modern jam. “Thank you to my Country radio family for blessing us with four in a row. You all continue to support our lives in so many ways,” said Lynch. “This kicks off the next chapter of music for us and I’m so excited to share it with you soon!” Co-written by Kurt Allison, Steve Bogard, Tully Kennedy and Jason Sever, Taste of Country has proclaimed “Seein’ Red” “unapologetically sexy,” while Rolling Stone praises Lynch’s vocal delivery as “one of his most soulful and assured to date.” It follows the three-peat GOLD and PLATINUM #1 success of singles “Where It’s At,” “Hell of a Night” and “Mind Reader” from his sophomore album, WHERE IT’S AT. Lynch is currently thrilling sold-out crowds on Florida Georgia Line’s 2017 DIG YOUR ROOTS TOUR as the featured supporting artist, joining a lineup that also includes Chris Lane as well as Seth Ennis, Ryan Follese and Morgan Wallen on select dates. The high-octane tour heads to the deep South next weekend (2/16 – 2/18) with shows in Mississippi and Louisiana. In related news, the country star has partnered with Pepsi MidAmerica to send fans on a VIP VEGAS EXPERIENCE. The text-to-win and online contest will run through March 17 while Lynch is featured on cans of Dr. Pepper products all across Illinois, Missouri, Arkansas, Kentucky and Tennessee. Two winners will receive the VIP prize of a trip to Las Vegas which also includes a private meet-and-greet with Lynch, plus a three-night hotel stay and round-trip airfare from St. Louis, Missouri. Entries are being accepted now at http://www.pepsimidamerica.com/dustinlynch. “Teaming up with Pepsi to be on the can of one of my favorite drinks is a dream come true and so dang cool! Never has Dr. Pepper tasted so good … Hope to see you at a show soon!” shared Lynch. For more information, visit DustinLynchMusic.com. ABOUT DUSTIN LYNCH: Since releasing his PLATINUM debut single, “Cowboys and Angels,” Lynch has catapulted onto the country music scene, with four consecutive #1s, two Top 5 albums, Platinum-level certifications and back-to-back summers on one of the biggest tours in country music (opening for Luke Bryan). Racking up over 83.7 million views on YouTube/VEVO, scoring 173.8 million plus streams on Spotify, soaring to #1 on the MTV Music Meter and selling 3 million digital sales, he brings a fresh combination of traditional influences and edgy intensity to the genre. Continue reading DUSTIN LYNCH Notches Fourth Straight #1 With “SEEIN’ RED”→

Blackhawk’s Dave Robbins Reveals the Secret that Nearly Destroyed Him in a New Short Film

Posted on February 14, 2017 by Shauna "WhiskeyChick" Castorena

PLANO, Texas, February 14, 2017 – I Am Second, a storytelling movement meant to inspire others, today released a short film on IAmSecond.com featuring country music writer and Blackhawk founding band member Dave Robbins. The film, which is part of I Am Second’s White Chair Film Series, features Dave and his wife Mary Lynn sharing honestly about the struggles that nearly ended their marriage.Dave Robbins has been in the country music business for more than 25 years, writing songs that have fueled the careers of artists who illuminate his body of work through the refracted light of their own interpretations. In 1983, he helped pen his first No. 1 hit, “All My Life,” which crossover-king Kenny Rogers took to the top of the AC charts. Dave Robbins soon became instrumental in the success of country band Restless Heart, composing several of their hits including “The Bluest Eyes In Texas,” which was a No. 1 hit in 1988 and remains a country standard today. Dave Robbins is best known as a founding member of the multi-platinum country band, Blackhawk, which he joined in the early 1990s and for whom he plays keyboards and occasionally sings. He also co-wrote the band’s No. 1 hit song, “Every Once In A While,” which catapulted Blackhawk to fame and spurred sales of more than 7 million albums. Today, in addition to Blackhawk, Dave Robbins also tours with the Southern rock band, The Outlaws. But while Dave Robbins has had great success in the public eye, his personal life has been a different story. “Fifteen months ago I thought my life was over,” he confesses in the new I Am Second short film. Dave Robbins said he has spent an entire lifetime struggling with temptation including alcohol, sex and porn. Seven years into his marriage with his wife Mary Lynn, his infidelity nearly ruined the couple’s marriage. “I got sober and thought that would fix everything and all the other stuff would stop as well,” Dave Robbins said. “Eventually, going down the path I was and the more success I got in my career, I thought I could have what I wanted and do what I wanted to do. I created this dual life.” His behavior led him to relationships with other women outside of his marriage. “I kept my wife in the dark about everything … I was present but not present,” he said. Before he knew it, he was in too deep. Having run out of lies, his wife figured out what was happening. “I’ve read that infidelity is – next to the death of a child – the worst pain,” Mary Lynn Robbins said in a cameo in the I Am Second film. “You’re in this pit and you don’t feel like there’s any way out. And then you have to tell your kids … “It is so hard to believe that anyone can come home to their family and lie to them like he did,” she continues. Dave Robbins admits it was a tough Continue reading Blackhawk’s Dave Robbins Reveals the Secret that Nearly Destroyed Him in a New Short Film→

STEVE MOAKLER TO HEADLINE HIGHWAY FINDS TOUR

Posted on January 31, 2017 by Shauna "WhiskeyChick" Castorena

STEVE MOAKLER TO HEADLINE INAUGURAL THE HIGHWAY FINDS TOUR PRESENTED BY SIRIUSXM AND LIVE NATION SiriusXM’s first ever country tour kicks off March 16 After a string of successful releases on SiriusXM’s “The Highway,” Steve Moakler will headline The Highway Finds Tour this spring, with special guests Drew Baldridge and Smithfield. The singer-songwriter, who launched as a Highway Find in 2016 and has since climbed the chart on “The Highway” with two successful singles, will headline the 26-city tour, crisscrossing the country beginning March 16. The Highway Finds Tour is the first ever country tour initiative by SiriusXM’s “The Highway” and will include stops in Boston, New York, Nashville, Chicago and more. “This will be our fourth consecutive spring headline tour, but I can already tell this one is going to be on another level,” said Moakler. “Between ‘The Highway’’s support, a brand new album, and two great opening acts, I think these are going to be our most exciting shows to date. I can’t wait to get out and connect with all of our listeners, both new and old!” Moakler has had success with back-to-back hits, “Suitcase” and “Love Drunk.” The “in-demand artist” (Taste of Country) has also landed on more than 20 “artist to watch” lists including CMT, Huffington Post, Nashville Lifestyles, Rolling Stone Country and more. His energetic 60+-minute set will include SiriusXM favorites, as well as new music from his soon-to-be-announced, forthcoming album due later this year. “We’re extremely excited to announce The Highway Finds Tour, as an excellent opportunity to showcase these tremendous talents!,” said J.R. Schumann, Senior Director, Music Programming, SiriusXM. “As we continue our commitment to discovering and breaking new artists, this tour is a natural extension. This is going to be a lot of fun!” Last summer Moakler joined Billy Currington and Kelsea Ballerini on the Summer Forever Tour. He was then tapped as direct support on Old Dominion’s Meat and Candy Tour through the end of 2016. The Pittsburgh native moved to Nashville in 2006 to pursue a career in music and has since established himself as a prominent songwriter, penning numerous songs recorded by artists like Jake Owen, Ben Rector and, most recently, Dierks Bentley with his chart success and title track, “Riser.” For more information on Steve Moakler, visit www.stevemoakler.com.

Ned LeDoux Makes Opry Debut

Posted on January 31, 2017 by Shauna "WhiskeyChick" Castorena

Recording artist Ned LeDoux made his Grand Ole Opry debut at the Ryman Auditorium Friday night. The son of the late great Chris LeDoux performed his new single “Brother Highway” from his EP Forever a Cowboy. “What an honor it is to be here tonight,” said Ned LeDoux on making his debut at the Grand Ole Opry at the Ryman. “My Dad never had the opportunity to play the Ryman stage, but I know he’s standing right here next to me tonight having that chance now.” “Brother Highway” was co-written with Mark Sissel, a founding member and guitar player in his Dad’s band Western Underground. Making his Opry debut even more poignant, Sissel played guitar for the younger LeDoux Friday night as he performed “Brother Highway.” Ned closed his Opry debut with an emotional and stunning acoustic performance of “The Hawk,” a song he wrote as a tribute to his Dad, and is also included on Forever A Cowboy. Forever a Cowboy, produced by award-winning Mac McAnally and distributed by Thirty Tigers, includes “We Ain’t Got It All,” the first new Chris LeDoux co-write in over two decades. When Ned’s mom passed along a stack of his dad’s papers that included a list of unfinished song ideas and lyrics, Ned packed them up and travelled to Nashville to work with McAnally where they finished one of the ideas which became “We Ain’t Got It All,” – a brand new song by Chris LeDoux, co-written with his son Ned and McAnally. The song has now become Ned’s personal favorite to sing on the road because it’s the first original song he co-wrote with his Dad. He feels it is a nice tribute as it seems to pick up right where his Dad left off and carries on the LeDoux sound to and from a new generation. Click HERE to hear Ned talk about his inspiration for Forever a Cowboy and carrying on his Dad’s legacy while at the same time forging his own. Forever a Cowboy Track Listing: 1) “We Ain’t Got It All” (Ned LeDoux, Chris LeDoux, Mac McAnally) 2) “Brother Highway” (Ned LeDoux, Mark Sissel) 3) “Forever a Cowboy” (Ned LeDoux, Chris LeDoux, Mac McAnally) 4) “Johnson County War” (Chris LeDoux) 5) “The Hawk” (Ned LeDoux) Click HERE to purchase Forever A Cowboy. About Ned LeDoux: It has been over 11 years since Chris LeDoux passed and Ned believes that people want to hear something new. The timing couldn’t be more right for him to pick up a guitar and belt out “Western Skies.” Having been a drummer in Chris’s band Western Underground since 1998, Ned knew from an early age that he had “no plan b” but to play music, “Once I got the taste of the road, and being in front of a crowd and just the sound of it, it was…freedom.” When his dad passed away in Continue reading Ned LeDoux Makes Opry Debut→

Luke Bryan to Kick Off Super Bowl!

Posted on January 23, 2017 by Shauna "WhiskeyChick" Castorena

Country music superstar LUKE BRYAN will sing the National Anthem as part of Super Bowl LI pregame festivities at NRG Stadium in Houston on Sunday, February 5, the NFL and FOX announced today. The performance will be televised live on FOX prior to kickoff. The Super Bowl is annually the most-watched television program. Bryan’s performance of the National Anthem in Houston will be his first time appearing on the Super Bowl stage. Get tickets to all the Super Bowl action from our trusted partners at Country Music On Tour! Bryan is a two-time Academy of Country Music and Country Music Association Entertainer of the Year and has hosted the ACM Awards for four consecutive years. Since the debut of his first album in 2007, he has placed 17 singles at No.1 and sold nearly eight million albums. His fifth studio album, Kill The Lights, is certified Platinum and has sold 3.5 million tracks with over 400 million streams. Bryan joins the ranks of many great performers who have sang the Super Bowl National Anthem including: Lady Gaga, Idina Menzel, Renee Fleming, Alicia Keys, Billy Joel, Diana Ross, Neil Diamond, Whitney Houston, Harry Connick Jr., Garth Brooks, Natalie Cole, Vanessa Williams, Luther Vandross, Cher, Faith Hill, Mariah Carey, Dixie Chicks, Beyonce Knowles, Christina Aguilera and many more. In addition, on behalf of the National Association of the Deaf (NAD), actor KRISTON LEE PUMPHREY will perform in American Sign Language both the National Anthem and “America The Beautiful.” The NFL previously announced that LADY GAGA, who performed the National Anthem prior to Super Bowl 50, will headline the Pepsi Zero Sugar Super Bowl LI Halftime Show. The pregame and halftime shows are an NFL NETWORK PRODUCTION and will be executive produced by RICKY KIRSHNER.

KELSEA BALLERINI NAMED FEATURED ENTERTAINER FOR 2017 SYMPHONY FASHION SHOW

Posted on January 23, 2017 by Shauna "WhiskeyChick" Castorena

Kelsea Ballerini on Country Music News Blog

Best New Artist GRAMMY® nominee and Black River recording artist Kelsea Ballerini will be the featured entertainer for the 2017 Symphony Fashion Show, taking place on Tuesday, April 18, 2017 at Schermerhorn Symphony Center in Nashville, Tennessee. Ballerini will join featured designer Zac Posen for the star-studded, 12th edition of the annual event. Former Miss Tennessee, actress and television personality Allison DeMarcus will emcee the event, with Janet Ayers serving as honorary chair. Shaun Inman and Sheila Shields, co-chairs of the 2017 Symphony Fashion Show, made the announcement during the Symphony Fashion Show kickoff party at Gus Mayer. “Kelsea Ballerini is a one-of-a-kind talent whose gorgeous voice and incredible songs have already garnered her a host of awards and recognitions,” Inman and Shields said, “including her recent GRAMMY® and People’s Choice Awards nominations and a No. 2 ranking on the Forbes ‘30 Under 30’ list for 2017. Pairing her with renowned designer Zac Posen for the Symphony Fashion Show brings together two young stars at the top of their respective professions and adds even more excitement and energy to what is already one of Music City’s most glamorous and stunning annual events. It promises to be a magical evening, and we can’t wait to hear Kelsea perform for a sellout crowd in April!” Though only 23 years old, Ballerini has already skyrocketed into the spotlight thanks to her innovative vision, passionate ambition, natural-born talent and genuine charm. Dubbed “Country’s Next Queen” by Billboard, the Knoxville, Tennessee, native continues to blaze her own trail to superstardom as she is the only female artist in country music history, including female duos and groups, to go No. 1 with her first three consecutive singles from a debut album. Ballerini is currently climbing the country radio charts with the single “Yeah Boy.” Ballerini’s 2015 critically acclaimed Gold-certified stunner The First Time has earned her high praise from fans and the music press, and has delivered the Platinum-certified hits “Love Me Like You Mean It” and “Peter Pan,” and the Gold-certified “Dibs.” With a co-host spot alongside Arsenio Hall on ABC’s summer replacement series Greatest Hits and critics gushing over her live shows, Ballerini continues to earn awards and accolades, including her first ACM Award for New Female Vocalist of the Year, the fan-voted Radio Disney Music Award for The Freshest – Best New Artist (all genre) and the American Country Countdown Award (ACCA) for Breakthrough Female of the Year. In addition, Ballerini has become familiar face on the iconic Grand Ole Opry stage. The Symphony Fashion Show is one of Nashville’s leading runway shows and is presented through a partnership between the Symphony and Gus Mayer of Nashville. Proceeds from the Symphony Fashion Show help support the Nashville Symphony’s artistic, education and community engagement programs, which annually reach tens of thousands of children and adults through concerts, free performances and instruction, classroom curriculum and more. Tickets for the 2017 Symphony Fashion Show will go on sale in March. More information is available at NashvilleSymphony.org/fashionshow. Continue reading KELSEA BALLERINI NAMED FEATURED ENTERTAINER FOR 2017 SYMPHONY FASHION SHOW→

MIRANDA LAMBERT’S THE WEIGHT OF THESE WINGS SOARS INTO 2017

Posted on January 23, 2017 by Shauna "WhiskeyChick" Castorena

Miranda Lambert on Country Music News Blog

MULTIPLE GRAMMY NOMINATION’S TOPS 2016 CRITIC’S YEAR END LISTS HIGHWAY VAGABOND TOUR Vanner Records/RCA Records Nashville GRAMMY Award-winner Miranda Lambert’s new album, The Weight Of These Wings, ends 2016, and kicks off 2017 on a high note. The new release, The Weight Of These Wings, not only debuted at No.1 on the Billboard Country Albums Chart and No. 3 on the Billboard Top 200 Chart, it spawned two GRAMMY Award nominations for BEST COUNTRY SOLO PERFORMANCE and BEST COUNTRY SONG for the album’s lead single “Vice.” Also, The Weight Of These Wings has appeared on numerous music critic’s 2016 Year End Best of Lists including Billboard (#1), Rolling Stone (#2), Us Weekly (#2), Cosmopolitan (#4), Variety (#4), Entertainment Weekly (#5), Vulture (#7) and NPR (#9) amongst many others. In addition, the song “Highway Vagabond” which appears among the 24 tracks that comprise the album, has lent its title for Lambert’s new tour aptly called the Highway Vagabond Tour which kicks off January 26th in Evansville, Indiana. Lambert’s sixth studio album, The Weight Of These Wings, has continued to garner praise from the media: “It is, though, Lambert’s least exuberant album, and also her best—one of the year’s best, in fact.” – The New Yorker “If ever there was any question, this multifaceted and distinctly modern work ought to lay it to rest: Lambert is the most fascinating and unfettered singer-songwriter of her country generation.” – NPR “On her 24-track double album, the new country generation’s leading outlaw balances humor, regret, love and anger in the brutally blunt way that only she can.” – Rolling Stone “…her piercing voice breaks in just the right places when her mood grows downcast, and explodes into colorful curlicues when she’s enthused, or peeved.” – The New York Times “…marvelous 24-track masterwork.” – Us Weekly “ ‘The Weight of These Wings’ matches the take-no-prisoners attitude of her lyrics with music that travels unexpected routes but often winds up touching the soul.” – The Boston Globe “Across 24 contemplative songs, Lambert aches without wallowing. She daydreams without self-delusion. And that brilliant twang in her voice sounds more anchored, more experienced. If sorrow can congeal into wisdom, this is what it sounds like.” – The Washington Post The Weight Of These Wings, Lambert’s double album, is produced by Frank Liddell, Glenn Worf, and Eric Masse. About Miranda Lambert: Vanner Records/RCA Records Nashville singer/songwriter Miranda Lambert touts six 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 released 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 with a tally of 109 first week monitored reporting stations spinning the new song. Her second single “We Continue reading MIRANDA LAMBERT’S THE WEIGHT OF THESE WINGS SOARS INTO 2017→

CHASE RICE’S UPCOMING “PUB SHOWS” REMINISCENT OF EARLY DIVE BAR DAYS

Posted on January 23, 2017 by Shauna "WhiskeyChick" Castorena

The “dominating” performer and hit singer/songwriter will debut new songs from his forthcoming studio album for fans during a limited series of up-close, intimate shows in March From the moment he first picked up a guitar and started writing songs, Chase Rice knew that live shows would be the keystone of his music career. Having studied the mastery of entertainers like Blink 182, Kenny Chesney, Eric Church, Eminem and the Foo Fighters as a fan, Rice cut his own teeth as a performer playing every dive bar he could, sometimes playing to just a handful of people. The crowds have steadily grown over time as Rice has honed his craft, demanding as much of his audience as he does of himself and developing a uniquely unvarnished ability to connect with each and every person in the room when he takes the stage. Taste of Country calls Rice “a dominating presence in any room” and AXS notes that “he will have you hooked from the time you walk in the doors to the time you leave.” While his live show has evolved from dive bars and clubs to some of the country’s premiere festivals and stadiums, Rice fiercely guards that close connection with his fans and is revisiting his roots for a limited series of shows – aptly dubbed the “Pub Shows” after Rice’s own traveling backstage hang, “Pub 44” – bringing that intimate vibe to fans at select venues on March 23, 24 and 25. Get tickets to see Chase Rice from our partners at CountryMusicOnTour.com! “We’ve been touring nonstop for the past six years and have had the opportunity to play some of the biggest stages in the country, which has been incredible,” said Rice. “The fans have shown up and been there for us every day since the very beginning, so we wanted to do something for them and give them a different vibe and experience with some of these smaller shows. We’ve poured a lot into this album, and I can’t wait to get out there and share our new songs with fans face-to-face.” With his current single “Everybody We Know Does” climbing at country radio and a new studio album expected out this summer via Columbia Nashville / Dack Janiels Records, Rice is carefully curating a fresh set list for his upcoming live shows centered around the new music and will be giving fans the first listen to new songs starting in March. The inaugural Pub Shows will take place Thursday, March 23 at Brewhouse Music & Grill in Rome, Ga.; Friday, March 24 at Bluewater Bar & Grill in Valdosta, Ga and Saturday, March 25 at Dillinger’s in Americus, Ga. Tickets for the first three Pub Shows are available now. To purchase tickets and get more information on additional tour dates, visit www.chaserice.com or follow on Twitter @ChaseRiceMusic and www.Facebook.com/ChaseRiceMusic.