Category Archives: Luke Bryan

Singer and songwriter Luke Bryan comes by his country influences naturally — he grew up in Leesburg, GA, a small town 100 miles from the Alabama border where his father grew peanuts and sold fertilizer for a living. Bryan helped his family work the farm when he was young, but in his early teens he developed a passion for country music, picking up his influences from his parents’ record collection, listening to the likes of George Strait, Conway Twitty, Ronnie Milsap, Alan Jackson, and Merle Haggard. When he was 14, his folks bought Bryan his first guitar, and a year later his performing and singing was strong enough that he began sitting in with local bands at a club featuring live country songs. At 16, Bryan starting writing songs with the help of a pair of local tunesmiths who had enjoyed some success in Nashville, and Bryan planned to head to songs City to try his luck after graduating from high school until his brother died in an auto accident. Wanting to offer emotional support to his family, Bryan opted to attend Georgia Southern University instead, though he didn’t give up songs; Bryan continued writing songs, formed a ensemble and was performing bookings on campus or at nearby watering holes most weekends at a time of pursuing his studies. Bryan recorded a self-released album he sold at concerts at a time of this period, but he was reluctant to take the plunge and devote himself to songs full-time until he returned home to work in the family business after receiving his degree. Bryan’s dad, confident of his son’s talent, made him an offer — he could either move to Nashville or be fired. In the early fall of 2001, Bryan pulled up stakes and relocated to Nashville, where his heartfelt songs of country life acquired him a record deal with one of the city’s many publishing houses. In his free time, Bryan continued to perform at local clubs, and after an A&R man from Capitol Records saw him perform a set of his original material, he was given a album deal. Capitol gave us Bryan’s first widely distributed album, I’ll Stay Me, in the summer of 2007, not long after it with Doin’ My Thing in 2009.

Luke Bryan’s Crash My Playa Wraps in Mexico

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Luke Bryan’s Crash My Playa Wraps in Mexico Luke Bryan along with Dierks Bentley and Cole Swindell Headline Concerts during Sold-Out Fan Experience Reigning CMA and ACM Entertainer of the Year Luke Bryan wrapped the second annual sold-out, four-night concert event, Luke Bryan’s Crash My Playa, in Riviera Maya, Mexico on Monday night. The concert destination weekend featured two headline shows by Luke as well as headline concerts by Dierks Bentley and Cole Swindell. Additional performers included Craig Campbell, Brett Eldredge, Sam Hunt, Dustin Lynch, Chris Stapleton and DJ Rock. “The band and I really look forward to Mexico and these Playa shows,” shared Luke. “We like our tradition of launching into the new year this way.” Luke Bryan’s Crash My Playa musical vacation delivered a special setting for an unforgettable fan experience. The four-night tropical getaway and concert experience was designed and produced by CID Presents as the ultimate all-inclusive Caribbean concert vacation. Guests were treated to nightly beachfront concerts at The Barecló Maya Beach Resort, airport transportation, 24-hour concierge, optional daily activities and off-site adventures. The event was self-produced by the production arm of CID Entertainment, the premier music travel and fan-focused experiential agency. Having developed and implemented VIP and travel packages for Luke’s tours for years, CID was the perfect partner for Luke Bryan’s Crash My Playa, designing a country music festival where fans could see their favorite artists on stage and enjoy the sun, beach, food and adventures with their friends.

Luke Bryan’s Farm Tour 2015 and Bad Boy® To Give Away Recoil® 4×4!

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Luke Bryan on Country Music News Blog!

AUGUSTA, GA — Fans of kick-up-your-heels country music and four-wheeled outdoor adventure, take note! Bad Boy is giving away a Recoil® 4×4 utility vehicle and tickets to country-music superstar Luke Bryan’s Farm Tour 2015! Enter to win by visiting Bad Boy’s booth at each stop of the tour, or by visiting Bad Boy’s Facebook page at www.facebook.com/badboybuggies/app_143103275748075. After the tour’s conclusion Oct. 10, a grand-prize winner will be drawn at random from among all entrants to receive a Bad Boy Recoil 4×4 utility vehicle. In addition, before each of the tour’s eight stops, Bad Boy will draw an entry at random for a winner to receive two tickets to the next show on the tour. Bad Boy vehicles will be on display at each of the Farm Tour’s eight stops, including the Recoil and new Recoil iS Crew, a fully electric 4×4 side-by-side with forward-facing seating for up to four passengers. No purchase or obligation is necessary to enter or to claim any prize for the Bad Boy® Farm Tour 2015 Giveaway (“Sweepstakes”). A purchase does not increase chances of winning. Must be 21 years of age or older to enter for the grand prize. To view the giveaway’s official rules, please visit Bad Boy’s Facebook page. Dates for the Luke Bryan Farm Tour 2015 are: • Sept. 30: Fort Wayne, Ind. • Oct. 1: Lexington, Ky. • Oct. 2: Knoxville, Tenn. • Oct. 3: Columbia, SC • Oct. 7: Starkville, Miss. • Oct. 8: Tuscaloosa, Ala. • Oct. 9: Macon, Ga. • Oct. 10: Valdosta, Ga. Since the debut of his first album in 2007, Luke Bryan has placed 13 singles at No. 1 and sold nearly 8 million albums with 30 million digital tracks from his five studio albums. He has been named Entertainer of the Year by both the Academy of Country Music (twice) and the Country Music Association. Luke recently debuted his KILL THE LIGHTS album at #1 on both the Billboard Top 200 and Top Country Albums charts. This is Luke’s third consecutive album to debut at No. 1 on the Billboard Top 200. KILL THE LIGHTS also becomes the third-largest album debut in 2015, next to r&b/hip hop releases from Drake and Kendrick Lamar. KILL THE LIGHTS is the highest country album debut in the last two years as well, since Luke’s own CRASH MY PARTY release debuted at #1 in August 2013. Luke is taking his “Kick The Dust Up Tour” across North America in 2015 and to date has sold out eight stadium shows. This fall he will embark on his seventh annual “Bayer Presents Luke Bryan Farm Tour 2015” performing in eight cities across the south, granting local college scholarships to students from a farming family within the communities the tour plays. Earlier this year, the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum launched a new exhibit, “Luke Bryan: Dirt Road Diary.” The exhibit runs through Nov. 8, 2015. For more information on Bad Boy and its vehicles, visit www.badboybuggies.com. Join Continue reading Luke Bryan’s Farm Tour 2015 and Bad Boy® To Give Away Recoil® 4×4!→

Announcing the 2015 CMA Award Nominees!

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Nominees for the 49th Annual CMA Awards were announced this morning (Sept. 9) by rock legend Steven Tyler and rising star Kelsea Ballerini in conjunction with ABC’s Good Morning America. Brad Paisley and Carrie Underwood will return for the eighth consecutive year to host the annual country music event, which will air live from the Bridgestone Arena in Nashville at 8 p.m. ET/ 7 p.m. CT Nov. 4 on ABC. The 2015 CMA Award Nominees are: Entertainer of the Year Garth Brooks Luke Bryan Kenny Chesney Eric Church Miranda Lambert Male Vocalist of the Year Dierks Bentley Luke Bryan Eric Church Blake Shelton Chris Stapleton Female Vocalist of the Year Kelsea Ballerini Miranda Lambert Kacey Musgraves Carrie Underwood Lee Ann Womack Album of the Year Jason Aldean – Old Boots, New Dirt Kacey Musgraves – Pageant Material Little Big Town – Pain Killer Kenny Chesney – The Big Revival Chris Stapleton – Traveller New Artist of the Year Kelsea Ballerini Sam Hunt Maddie and Tae Thomas Rhett Chris Stapleton Vocal Duo of the Year Brothers Osborne Dan And Shay Florida Georgia Line Maddie and Tae Thompson Square Vocal Group of the Year Lady Antebellum Little Big Town Rascal Flatts The Band Perry The Zac Brown Band Single of the Year “American Kids” – Kenny Chesney (Produced by Buddy Cannon and Kenny Chesney) “Girl Crush” – Little Big Town (Produced by Jay Joyce) “I Don’t Dance” – Lee Brice (Produced by Lee Brice) “Take Your Time” –  Sam Hunt (Produced by Zach Crowell and Shane McAnally) “Talladega” – Eric Church (Produced by Jay Joyce and Arturo Buenabora, Jr.) Music Video of the Year (Artist and Director) “Biscuits” – Kacey Musgraves (Directed by Mark Klasfeld) “Girl Crush” – Little Big Town (Directed by Karla Welch and Matthew Welch) “Girl In A Country Song” – Maddie and Tae (Directed by TK McKamy) “Little Red Wagon” – Miranda Lambert (Directed by Trey Fanjoy) “Something in the Water” – Carrie Underwood (Directed by Raj Kapoor) Song of the Year (Songwriter) “American Kids” – Kenny Chesney (Songwriters: Rodney Clawson, Luke Laird, Shane McAnally) “Girl Crush” – Little Big Town (Songwriters: Liz Rose, Lori McKenna, Hillary Lindsay) “Like a Cowboy” –  Randy Houser  (Songwriters: Randy Houser, Bryce Long) “Like a Wrecking Ball” –  Eric Church (Songwriters: Eric Church, Casey Beathard) “Take Your Time” – Sam Hunt (Songwriters: Sam Hunt, Shane McAnally, Josh Osborne) Muscial Event of the Year Django and Jimmy – Willie Nelson and Merle Haggard “Lonely Tonight” – Blake Shelton feat. Ashley Monroe “Raise ‘Em Up” – Keith Urban feat. Eric Church “Smokin’ and Drinkin’” – Miranda Lambert feat. Little Big Town “Wild Child” – Kenny Chesney with Grace Potter Musician of the Year Sam Bush – Mandolin Jerry Douglas – Dobro Paul Franklin -Steel Guitar Dan Huff – Guitar Mac McAnally – Guitar

Presenting the Winners of the 2015 ACM Awards!

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The ACM Awards always bring out the big debates in country music: Who is “real country” and who is not? What does “entertainer of the year” really mean? Will Taylor Swift ever stop getting nominated now that she’s “off the country wagon”? No matter the question, our readers are sure to have an answer, and of course to help you with that, we’ve got your list of 2015 ACM Award nominees and winners right here at CountryMusicNewsBlog.com! SONG OF THE YEAR American Kids – Kenny Chesney **WINNER: Automatic – Miranda Lambert Drink A Beer – Luke Bryan Follow Your Arrow – Kacey Musgraves Give Me Back My Hometown – Eric Church I Hold On – Dierks Bentley VOCAL DUO OF THE YEAR Brothers Osborne Dan + Shay **WINNER: Florida Georgia Line Maddie & Tae The Swon Brothers VOCAL GROUP OF THE YEAR Lady Antebellum **WINNER: Little Big Town Rascal Flatts The Band Perry Zac Brown Band ALBUM OF THE YEAR Old Boots, New Dirt – Jason Aldean Pain Killer – Little Big Town **WINNER: Platinum – Miranda Lambert Riser – Dierks Bentley The Outsiders – Eric Church FEMALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR Brandy Clark **WINNER: Miranda Lambert Martina McBride Kacey Musgraves Carrie Underwood ENTERTAINER OF THE YEAR Jason Aldean Garth Brooks Luke Bryan – Winner! Miranda Lambert Florida Georgia Line MALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR Jason Aldean Dierks Bentley Luke Bryan Eric Church Brad Paisley Blake Shelton SINGLE RECORD OF THE YEAR American Kids – Kenny Chesney Automatic – Miranda Lambert Dirt – Florida Georgia Line Drunk On A Plane – Dierks Bentley I Don’t Dance – Lee Brice SONGWRITER OF THE YEAR Rodney Clawson Ashley Gorley Luke Laird Josh Osborne Chris Tompkins VIDEO OF THE YEAR American Kids – Kenny Chesney Director: Shaun Silva Cop Car – Keith Urban **WINNER: Drunk On A Plane – Dierks Bentley I’m Not Gonna Miss You – Glen Campbell Somethin’ Bad – Miranda Lambert Duet With Carrie Underwood VOCAL EVENT OF THE YEAR Lonely Tonight – Blake Shelton Featuring Ashley Monroe Meanwhile Back At Mama’s – Tim McGraw Featuring Faith Hill Somethin’ Bad – Miranda Lambert Duet With Carrie Underwood The South – The Cadillac Three Featuring Florida Georgia Line, Dierks Bentley & Mike Eli **WINNER: This Is How We Roll – Florida Georgia Line Featuring Luke Bryan

50th Annual ACM Awards on Country Music News Blog!

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As a huge fan of country music I am honored to help bring you everything you need to know to follow along with the 2015 Academy of Country Music Awards which are being aired LIVE this Sunday on CBS! Of course, as technology grows, so do your options of how you follow along, so we’ve gathered up all the resources you need to be in the know. Here are just some of the ways you can keep up with what’s happening on this year’s ACM’s: Twitter: The easiest way to get a play by play of the ACM awards is by following along on Twitter! Text “Follow @ACMAwards” to 40404 and you’ll get text notifications every time the Awards team updates! You can also send “Follow @CMNBlog” to the same number for our commentary. Don’t want texts? No worries, just click here to see all the posts in your browser: ACMAwards on Twitter but be warned! Those tweeters are fast so SPOILER ALERT!   Backstage Access with the new ACMBackstage app: This year the Academy of Country Music has partnered with Glow Motion Technologies and fan-engagement company Mobaglo to make the 50th ACM Awards at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, TX, a one-of-a-kind spectator experience with ACM Backstage. The ceremony, co-hosted by Luke Bryan and Blake Shelton, will be broadcast LIVE on Sunday, April 19, 2015 at 8:00 PM – 11:30PM ET/delayed PT on the CBS Television Network. The Academy of Country Music is lifting the backstage curtain at AT&T Stadium, the home of the Dallas Cowboys, for those who Shazam the CBS broadcast during the show. Fans who do will be entered to win a trip for two to next year’s ACM Awards, a guitar signed by the evening’s hosts, and more. ACM Backstage, powered by Mobaglo, will offer insider access to the night from a variety of live cameras around the stadium. Watch stars float down the red carpet before the awards and meet with reporters backstage during the show on the Mary Kay-sponsored Glam Cam, peek inside the director’s truck on the RAM Cam, watch live artist messages as they walk off stage following performances, award wins, and more. Access to ACM Backstage can also be found on the 50th ACM Awards app which iPhone users can download HERE and Android users can download on Google Play HERE. For more information, visit www.ACMBackstage.com.

LUKE BRYAN’S CRASH MY PLAYA LINE-UP REVEALED FOR JANUARY 23-27, 2015

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Four-day Musical Event Packages Available Today RIVIERA MAYA, Mexico (August 22, 2014) – Ticket packages for the highly anticipated Luke Bryan Crash My Playa concert, presented by CID Presents, are now available. The exclusive four-day country concert event – including performances from Luke Bryan, Florida Georgia Line and Cole Swindell – will take place in Riviera Maya on January 23 – 27, 2015. This intimate country concert experience has limited availability, and full package details and reservations can be found at www.crashmyplaya.com. All packages for Luke Bryan’s Crash My Playa include four nights / five days all-inclusive accommodations at one of the unique participating resorts, airport transfer to and from the hotel, admission to each night’s exclusive beach performances, a limited edition Luke Bryan’s Crash My Playa event poster, beach bag, and beach towel. Food featuring local flavors, alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages are available inside the venue and are included with all Crash My Playa packages. Optional themed adventures and activities that explore the riches of the Riviera Maya will also be offered – from ATV rides to zip lines through the jungle, snorkeling and SCUBA diving, tours through the ancient Mayan ruins and more! Find out more straight from the source! http://ebmediapr.com/home/139-crash-my-playa/697-luke-bryans-crash-my-playa-line-up-revealed-for-january-23-27-2015-

LUKE BRYAN’S CRASH MY PLAYA LIVE MUSICAL DESTINATION CONCERT EVENT ANNOUNCED FOR JANUARY 23-27, 2015 IN RIVIERA MAYA, MEXICO

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Additional Performances by Florida Georgia Line and Cole Swindell Packages go on-sale on Aug. 22 at crashmyplaya.com RIVIERA MAYA, Mexico (August 12, 2014) –Reigning Billboard Music Awards’ Top Country Artist Luke Bryan is pleased to announce an exclusive international four-day country concert event—Luke Bryan’s Crash My Playa. Bryan welcomes Florida Georgia Line, and Cole Swindell to join him in headlining four nights of mind-blowing beachfront concerts. Special guests Kelleigh Bannen, Dustin Lynch, Eric Paslay, DJ Rock and Chris Stapleton will also descend on the Barceló Riviera Maya, on the Yucatan Peninsula in Mexico for the musical destination event and all-inclusive Caribbean vacation experience. Luke Bryan’s Crash My Playa will create an unprecedented live country music multi-day experience. All packages include four nights / five days all-inclusive accommodations at one of the participating unique resorts, airport transfer to and from the hotel, admission to each night’s exclusive beach performances, a limited edition Luke Bryan’s Crash My Playa event poster, beach bag, and beach towel. Optional themed adventures and activities that explore the riches of the Riviera Maya will be offered – from ATV rides to zip lines through the jungle, snorkeling and SCUBA diving, tours through the ancient Mayan ruins and more. For full package details and reservations, please visit www.crashmyplaya.com. Find out more straight from the source! http://ebmediapr.com/home/139-crash-my-playa/687-luke-bryans-crash-my-playa-live-musical-destination-concert-event-announced-for-january-23-27-2015-in-riviera-maya-mexico-

CMA Music Festival – Full Show Online!

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Last night ABC broadcast one of the most highly-anticipated country music parties of the year, and like most busy people, you probably missed it. Well have no fear, we’ve got the best highlights of the CMA Music Festival performances submitted by fans who were actually there, so grab a seat and tune in! If that doesn’t quench your thirst, you can always go to ABC.COM where they allow subscribers of most cable providers to watch the entire show online!

Luke Byran’s Farm Tour to Launch in Knoxville, Tn

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Luke Bryan on Country Music News Blog!

Luke Bryan has announced the eight cities that he will reach with his smaller, more intimate “Farm Tour” in October. The first stop will be in Knoxvile, TN on October 1st. The concerts will take place in smaller markets during a brief hiatus from his My Kind of Night tour that continues through Oct. 25 at the Hollywood Bowl. He established the Farm tour to support the Luke Bryan Farm Tour Scholarship, an initiative that grants college scholarships to students from a farming family within the communities visited by the tour. In 2013, Bryan broke the previous year’s record by performing for a total of more than 115,000 fans during eight concerts. The Georgia native’s Farm tour will include three concerts in his home state. Here’s a list of tour dates announced late Monday (July 28): Oct. 1: Knoxville, Tennessee (Maple Lane Farms) Oct. 2: Auburn, Alabama (Ingram Farms) Oct. 3: Tallahassee, Florida (Cross Creek Place) Oct. 4: Gainesville, Florida (Whitehurst Cattle Farm) Oct. 8: Statesboro, Georgia (Perry Field) Oct. 9: Athens, Georgia (Meldon Farm) Oct. 10: Columbia, South Carolina (Culler Farms) Oct. 11: Macon, Georgia (Midway at Central City Park) Members of his fan club will be offered tickets during a presale beginning Tuesday at 10 a.m. local time in Knoxville, Gainesville, Auburn and Statesboro. Ticket sales to the public begin Aug. 1 at 10 a.m. A presale for the Macon, Columbia, Athens and Tallahassee shows will begin Aug. 5 at 10 a.m. with sales to the public beginning Aug. 8 at 10 a.m. Bryan’s That’s My Kind of Night tour resumes Friday in Canandaigua, New York, and Saturday in Bowmanville, Ontario.

Luke Bryan 2014 Tour Announcement: That’s My Kind of Night 2014

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In the smash and grab of everyone trying to push their concert dates out before Garth Brooks has a chance to, Luke Bryan is the latest to release a full tour announcement for 2014. Luke will be continuing his “That’s My Kind Of Night” tour through the spring and summer this year, along with special guests Lee Brice and Cole Swindell. The big change this year is that they will be doing double-night stops in select cities! That means Luke will play 2 nights in a row in some cities!