Category Archives: Press Releases

SERIES PREMIERE: ABC ANNOUNCES NEW MUSIC SERIES ‘GREATEST HITS,’ WHICH WILL FEATURE HIT-MAKERS OF THE 1980s, 1990s AND 2000s, PREMIERING JUNE 30 Series to Be Hosted by Actor and Comedian Arsenio Hall and Country Star Kelsea Ballerini ABC announced today a new music series “Greatest Hits.” Each episode will highlight a five-year period celebrating the biggest hits from that time, hosted by Arsenio Hall and Kelsea Ballerini. Each week, iconic music artists, as well as today’s music chart-toppers, will take the stage and perform the songs that defined the 1980s, 1990s and 2000s. The six-episode series will feature special solo performances, never-before-seen duets and incredible tributes on “Greatest Hits,” premiering THURSDAY, JUNE 30 (9:00-10:00 p.m. EDT), on the ABC Television Network. [bctt tweet=”Woot Woot Woot! @ArsenioHall is back and he’s bringing @KelseaBallerini with him! Get all the details on their new show #GreatestHits from @CMNBlog!”] Arsenio Hall The versatile actor, comedian and producer first became involved in the arts at ”The Cleveland Playhouse” and continued to hone his craft through his Kent State University years. In 1979, Hall moved from Ohio to Chicago, Illinois, where he tried his hand at stand-up comedy and was discovered by Jazz singer Nancy Wilson. In the following few years Arsenio toured, opening for twenty major headliners, including Patti LaBelle, Aretha Franklin, Tina Turner and Stevie Wonder. Soon after, Arsenio made numerous appearances on television shows such as ”Solid Gold” and “The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson.” In 1987, he served as interim host on “The Late Show,” and on the strength of his work, he was signed to a film and television deal with Paramount Pictures, which subsequently led to the opportunity to co-write and co-star in the hit comedy “Coming to America.” On January 3, 1989, “The Arsenio Hall Show” made its debut, providing a forum for cutting edge comedy and politics, and the television debut of such pop superstars as Mariah Carey, Snoop Doggy Dogg, Boyz II Men and countless others. He resigned from the late-night gabfest in 1994 to pursue other personal and professional interests. In 1998, Arsenio joined the cast of the CBS’s “Martial Law.” He followed this up with a two-season stint as host of CBS’s new “Star Search,” and then, taking on his most challenging task to date, he returned to stand-up comedy and toured for the first time in over a decade. In 2010, Arsenio was featured in the HBO sports documentary “Magic & Bird: A Courtship of Rivals,” A&E’s documentary special “The Battle For Late Night.” In 2012, he was featured in the NBA Entertainment documentary “The Announcement.” Arsenio was also featured as a “Guest Mentor” on the OWN Network’s “Your OWN Show,” as well as appearing as guest host on “Access Hollywood LIVE!,” CNN’s “Piers Morgan Tonight” and “The View.” On May 20, 2012, Arsenio was crowned the “Celebrity Apprentice” on NBC. He returned to late-night television as executive producer and host of the CBS/Tribune Broadcasting nationally syndicated “The Arsenio Hall Show,” which aired during the 2013– 2014 season. Most recently, he appeared on the PBS special “Eddie Murphy: The Kennedy Center Mark Twain Prize,” Continue reading ABC ANNOUNCES NEW MUSIC SERIES ‘GREATEST HITS,’ WHICH WILL FEATURE HIT-MAKERS OF THE 1980s, 1990s AND 2000s, PREMIERING JUNE 30→

KELSEA BALLERINI’S CHART-TOPPER “DIBS” GLIMMERS GOLD Third Single “Peter Pan” Already Taking Flight At Country Radio Pictured (L-R): Josh Kerr, Jason Duke, Kelsea Ballerini, Ryan Griffin, Jason Massey and Forest Glen Whitehead Photo Credit: Ed Rode / ASCAP NASHVILLE, TN (April 15, 2016) – On Wednesday (4/13), ACM New Female Vocalist of the Year Kelsea Ballerini celebrated her second consecutive #1 hit “Dibs” at a formal gathering in Nashville hosted by ASCAP. Surrounded by family, friends, and members of the music industry community, Ballerini was surprised by Black River Entertainment CEO Gordon Kerr with the news that “Dibs” now glimmers GOLD. Co-produced by Forest Glen Whitehead and Jason Massey, the follow up single to “Love Me Like You Mean It” has been officially certified by the RIAA for exceeding 500,000 sales and streams in the U.S. alone. To put off “ugly crying” for a minute or so, Ballerini opened up to the packed crowd with a funny story about her first GOLD record. “When I got my GOLD record for ‘Love Me,’ I got it the same day that my car broke down, which happens all the time, and I put it in my backseat. I brought it to the car shop, and then I got it back from the car shop, to find out they left my car in a sunny parking lot. And my GOLD record is now hanging on my wall, completely melted down to the bottom…and it’s beautiful,” laughed Ballerini. “So I’m really excited to have a new GOLD record, that’s not warped and weird!” Guests cheered on the “Dibs” songwriters – Ballerini, Jason Duke, Ryan Griffin and Josh Kerr – as the publishers (Black River Publishing, Dan Hodges Music and Nyssa Family Music) recognized each writer. The day was extra special for all four ASCAP songwriters since it marked the first career #1’s for both Duke and Griffin as well as second consecutive #1’s for Ballerini and Kerr (Co-writers on “Love Me Like You Mean It”). Ballerini’s third single “Peter Pan” (written by Ballerini, Jesse Lee and Forest Glen Whitehead) continues to soar to new heights, entering the Top 40 this week on the Country radio charts. Alongside “Love Me Like You Mean It” and “Dibs,” the song is from her critically-acclaimed debut THE FIRST TIME. Adding to the excitement, Ballerini is up for three Radio Disney Music Awards – Best New Artist (all genre), Favorite Country Song “Dibs,” and Favorite Country Artist – and is also a first-time finalist for the ACCA Female Vocalist Of The Year and Breakthrough Female Of The Year. Ballerini will perform on both awards shows, airing on May 1st. Having shared the stage with Alan Jackson, Lady Antebellum, Tim McGraw, Carrie Underwood and Keith Urban, Ballerini recently performed at the Country CMC Rocks Festival in Australia and will join select dates with Billy Currington and Rascal Flatts this spring. About Kelsea Ballerini Kelsea Ballerini launched to stardom with two consecutive record-breaking #1 smashes, making her the first solo female Continue reading KELSEA BALLERINI’S CHART-TOPPER "DIBS" GLIMMERS GOLD→