Just in time for the weekend, Jason Aldean hits us with a heartwrenching love anthem in his new track “I’ll Wait For you“. Give it a listen and let us know what you think! You can catch Jason Aldean on the road this summer with special guests Luke Combs and Lauren Alaina on his High Noon Neon tour! Tickets are on sale now at all Ticketmaster locations!
In First For Women’s exclusive cover story, country music icon Shania Twain reveals she is feeling great as she gears up for her international Now tour kicking off May 3. Shania tells First for Women that she chooses to focus on her triumphs. “I’m feeling really good,” she tells First. “I’m feeling like I’ve achieved an enormous amount in the last couple of years.” Indeed, in addition to releasing her first studio album in 15 years, she also made her acting debut in the new film Trading Paint, out June 1. Releasing a new album was a special accomplishment for her — after complications from Lyme disease left her vocal cords damaged, Shania worried she might never record another album. “I had gone through so many scary times with my voice and getting my voice back,” she admits to First. “I wondered if I would ever be able to record an album again and put a permanent stamp on a body of work. I was petrified about diving into the album and taking on the challenge.” But Shania refused to let fear hold her back. “I felt, personally, I needed to do it and rediscover a lot of things about myself,” she tells the mag. “Once I dove in, the confidence started to build from that point on.” Shania’s hard work paid off: Her album Now debuted to critical acclaim, and she’s thrilled to get to share it with her fans on tour. “I’m looking forward to this tour like no other,” she tells First. “Being able to take this music live to everyone is surreal for me.” For more on Shania, and to read her top wellness strategies that keep her feeling good, pick up the new issue of FFW, on stands now!
Country music icon and New York Times Best Selling author Naomi Judd is on top again with the No. 1 best-selling book in the country, according to Amazon’s Best Sellers in Country Music. Following national television appearances on CBS’ The Talk and Hallmark Channel’s Home & Family, “River of Time: My Descent Into Depression and How I Emerged With Hope” ascends to the top of Amazon’s Best Sellers. CLICK HERE to purchase. Naomi is also bringing her energetic flare to the April issue of First For Women as she opens up about the wellness strategies that keep her looking and feeling her absolute best. She also shares common sense beauty tips and the advice Oprah Winfrey gave her years ago that’s even more relevant today. This summer the country music icon will return to the ball field for the City of Hope 28th Annual Celebrity Softball Game in Nashville, Tenn. Naomi participated in the game in the late 80s and early 90s and is dusting off her glove to return as a play-by-play Guest Announcer Saturday, June 9. CLICK HERE to purchase tickets. Be sure to follow Naomi Judd on Facebook and Instagram or visit NaomiJudd.com. ABOUT NAOMI JUDD: Hailing from the Appalachian foothills of Ashland, Ky., mother and daughter duo, The Judds, were first discovered by RCA label head Joe Galante in 1983 after landing a spot on WSM-TV’s “The Ralph Emery Show.” They made their chart debut by the end of the year with “Had A Dream (For The Heart),” and the two were on their way to a history-making career. For the rest of the 1980’s, each single from The Judds released by RCA went to the Billboard Top 10, with 14 hits going all the way to number one. The Judds embarked on their “Farewell Tour” in 1991 after Naomi’s diagnosis of Hepatitis C forced her to retire from the road. Naomi focused on her health, beating the disease, writing several New York Times best-selling books and becoming a popular motivational speaker. This fall, the Country Music Hall of Fame® and Museum will explore the lives and careers of the GRAMMY®-winning mother-daughter duo with an exhibit opening Aug. 10, 2018. For more information, follow Naomi Judd on Facebook and Instagram or visit NaomiJudd.com.
Last week in Nashville, Henry Paul and Dave Robbins, members of country group BlackHawk, as well as southern rock band The Outlaws, paid visits to the Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center and MusiCares to deliver donations raised for each organization. Paul and Robbins presented a $40,000 check to Vanderbilt (on behalf of BlackHawk’s “Van Stephenson Memorial Cancer Research Fund“) and a $20,000 check to MusiCares (on behalf of The Outlaws’ “Fallen Outlaw Fund“). “The ‘Van Stephenson Memorial Cancer Research Fund’ and ‘The Fallen Outlaws Fund’ were both formed to help give back to two very worthwhile causes in the name of BlackHawk and Outlaw fans, respectfully,” says Paul. “Raising money for cancer research at the Vanderbilt Ingram Cancer Center and also for MusiCares, an organization that helps fund healthcare costs for uninsured musicians, is the cause. Honoring former founding BlackHawk member Van Stephenson and former founding Outlaws members Hughie Thomasson, Billy Jones and Frank O’Keefe, by perpetuating their memory in the name of these two charities, is our goal.” Collectively since 2006, BlackHawk’s “Van Stephenson Memorial Cancer Research Fund” has generated $200,000 for the Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center. Over the past three years, The Outlaws’ “Fallen Outlaw Fund” has donated nearly $50,000 to MusiCares. BlackHawk’s and The Outlaws’ “Freeborn Jam,” held each fall at Nashville’s City Winery, helps generate charitable contributions to these efforts along with corporate support from Agrilogic Insurance Services LLC and year-long help from The Outlaws’ benevolent organization, the Four Horsemen Society. About BlackHawk For more than 20 years, BlackHawk has shared a unique sense of harmony with their voices, their songs and their fans. It’s a harmony that has sold over 7 million albums, scored some of the most distinctive country radio hits of the 90’s, and still draws tens of thousands of fans to their electrifying live performances. Today, BlackHawk continues to honor its past as it forges its future, and does it all with a commitment that takes the group’s music – and harmony – to a whole new level. For more information, visit blackhawklive.com. About The Outlaws For The Outlaws, it’s always been about the music. For more than 40 years, the southern rock legends have celebrated triumphs and endured tragedies to remain one of the most influential and best-loved bands of the genre. Today, The Outlaws have returned with new music, new focus and an uncompromising new mission: It’s about a band of brothers bound together by history, harmony and the road. It’s about a group that respects its own legacy while refusing to be defined by its past. But most of all, it’s about pride. For more information, visit outlawsmusic.com.
ARISTA NASHVILLE’s CAM appeared on ABC-TV’s “Good Morning AMERICA” today (4/3), where she sang her current single, “Diane.” CAM was also surprised with a video message from DOLLY PARTON, whose song, “Jolene,” inspired “Diane.” Check out the full performance here. Additionally, CAM ventured out to TIMES SQUARE to perform “Palace.” See that performance here. You can also catch CAM in a special “Good Morning AMERICA” FACEBOOK LIVE video interview filmed backstage; see that here.
The ACADEMY OF COUNTRY MUSIC (ACM) and STAGECOACH FESTIVAL have teamed up to provide Country music fans with the chance to win passes to this year’s FESTIVAL — set for FRIDAY, APRIL 27th through SUNDAY, APRIL 29th — and next year’s “ACM AWARDS.” Interactive fan activation points will be featured at select ACM PARTY FOR A CAUSE events happening FRIDAY, APRIL 13th through SUNDAY, APRIL 15th in LAS VEGAS, leading up to SUNDAY’s (4/15) “53RD ANNUAL ACM AWARDS.” The ACM will also take over STAGECOACH’s INSTAGRAM account for a portion of “ACM AWARDS” weekend to give fans a behind-the-scenes peek at the AWARDS. “I am beyond excited about teaming up with the ACADEMY OF COUNTRY MUSIC,” said Dir./STAGECOACH FESTIVAL STACY VEE. “Our organizations share a passion for creating quality events and opportunities for artists and fans alike.” Added ACM SVP/Events & Partnerships ERICK LONG, “The ACM is thrilled to collaborate with SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA’s preeminent Country music festival, STAGECOACH. It seemed like a logical, natural fit to bring together these two WEST COAST forces to create additional opportunities for our Country music fans.”
Kenny Chesney Returns! Hear the People-Positive “Get Along” 4/6 Leave it to Kenny Chesney to tap into both the moment and the feel good. When the East Tennessee songwriter/superstar was working on what will be his most personal album to date, he found himself in a zone of looking at life, the world and the state of where we are now. From that soul-searching, the man the Los Angeles Times called “The People’s Superstar” found “Get Along.” With a deep pocket, a chorus that sweeps you up, banjo etching and Chesney’s signature acoustic guitar strum, the brisk mid-tempo offers an invitation to come together, find higher ground, exhale and seek a way of living that fosters harmony. In unlikely ways, the melody bubbles up, as the chorus offers a dose of self-acceptance and reality, “Get along on down the road/ We’ve got a long, long way to go/ Scared to live, scared to die/ We ain’t perfect, but we try…” “Some days, it’s like the world is just angry, screaming people,” Chesney reflects, “all harping on what’s wrong, how other people are awful. The more I move around, talking to people, though, the more I know people are seeking the same things, working hard to get by and hoping for the best for their family and friends. It’s simple, but we keep getting driven apart – and made unhappy. When I heard this song, beyond how good the rhythm felt, I was amazed how simply they broke all this stuff down. Get along… find the common ground… know the basic stuff is where the joy, the love, the happiness is.” Written by Shane McAnally, Ross Copperman and Josh Osborne, “Get Along” takes the exuberance of “American Kids,” the positivity of “Save It For A Rainy Day” and “Spread the Love” and the roots-driven musicality of “Everybody Wants To Go To Heaven” to a new place. Just as importantly, it continues expanding the 8-time Academy of Country Music and Country Music Association Entertainer of the Year’s take on American music. “To me, music is what you make it, and I want music that sounds good, but also gives you permission to really live,” Chesney explains. “I think we can get so caught up in expectations, our own and other people’s, and we forget what matters.” Beyond the obvious notion to “always give love the upper hand,” the chorus breaks it down to some very specific real-life items: “paint a wall, learn to dance, call your mom, buy a boat, drink a beer, sing a song, make a friend,” before asking, “can’t we all just… get along.” Equally intriguing, the song can be as much an encouragement to move on instead of clinging to grudges, as it is an invitation to find common ground with others. At a time when divisiveness is commonplace, Chesney is about elevating the No Shoes Nation – a place truly without borders – to finding the best in each other, loving life and making memories to treasure. Continue reading New Music from Kenny Chesney!
Randy Travis’ next round of songs on his Diggin’ Up Songs Spotify playlist premiered exclusively with Taste of Country yesterday. The playlist can be streamed here. Songs added this round include: “Hippies and Cowboys” by Cody Jinks “Junkyard” by Heidi Raye “I Never Shed A Tear” by Joshua Hedley “I Lived It” by Blake Shelton “Lie” by Shane Owens “This is so tough! Great thing is that we are realizing there is unbelievable talent out there, in the form of so many artists—writers and vocals!!” said Randy’s wife, Mary Davis-Travis. “This really makes you study the craft from another perspective—thank you for allowing Randy to do this!” Diggin’ Up Songs new music spotlight is a multi-faceted digital campaign across Spotify, Twitter, Facebook and RandyTravis.com highlighting music curated by Randy Travis himself. Five more songs will be added to the playlist on Monday, April 16. Country Music Hall of Fame member Randy Travis has long since marked his spot in music history as one of the truly timeless country icons. Now, he is putting his years of experience and golden ear to good use by shining a spotlight on new music he believes in and enjoys listening to. About Randy Travis With lifetime sales in excess of 25 million, Randy Travis is one of the biggest multi-genre record sellers of all time and a recent inductee into the Country Music Hall of Fame class of 2016. His honors include seven Grammy Awards, 10 Academy of Country Music statuettes, 10 American Music Awards, two People’s Choice awards, seven Music City News awards, eight Dove Awards from the Gospel Music Association and five Country Music Association honors. In addition, three of his performances earned CMA Song of the Year honors, “On the Other Hand” (1986), “Forever and Ever Amen” (1987) and “Three Wooden Crosses” (2002). To date, he has 18 No. 1 singles, 29 top-10 smashes and more than 40 appearances in feature films and television shows to his credit. Ten of his albums are Gold Records. Eight are Platinum. Two have gone Double Platinum. One is Triple Platinum and another is Quintuple Platinum. In 2004, Randy was honored with his own star in the Hollywood Walk of Fame and is honored on the Music City Walk of Fame in Nashville, TN. He has been a member of the cast of the Grand Ole Opry since 1986. Since his near fatal stroke in 2013, with the help of his wife Mary and rigorous physical therapy, Randy continues to make improvements in his speaking, walking, and yes, singing. For more information please visit www.randytravis.com.
A benefit concert for the Americana Music Association® at Music Hall Of Williamsburg on Wednesday, May 9 will feature some of this generation’s greatest talents paying homage to the pioneering women in songwriting history, including Patsy Cline, Dolly Parton, Bessie Smith, Carole King, Mahalia Jackson, Joni Mitchell, Linda Ronstadt, Emmylou Harris and many more. Appearing to cover some of these legends are Amy Helm, The Barr Brothers, Cassandra Jenkins, Courtney Marie Andrews, Craig Finn from The Hold Steady, Deva Mahal, Elizabeth & The Catapult, Jade Bird, Kam Franklin from The Suffers, Kanene Pipkin from The Lone Bellow, Lola Kirke, Nicki Bluhm, and Vera Sola, with others to be announced. The show is being produced by Jesse Lauter (Tedeschi Trucks Band), Hannah Gold (City Winery/ Luck Reunion) and Drew Thurlow (Sony Masterworks, SVP of A&R), with music direction from Josh Kaufman (Bob Weir, The National). Master of Ceremonies for the evening will be Lola Kirke from Mozart in the Jungle. This year’s event is made possible in part by the support of Change The Conversation, a community coalition fighting gender inequality in the music industry. All proceeds will benefit the Americana Music Association®, a not-for-profit music trade organization. Since 1999, the mission of the Americana Music Association® has been to advocate for the authentic voice of American roots music around the world. In recent years, the Association has been a galvanizing force garnering recognition from the Recording Academy (Best Americana Album Award), Billboard‘s Americana/Folk Album Chart and the inclusion of the musical term, Amer·i·ca·na, to Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary. Tickets for the tribute show will be made available for purchase by members of the Americana Music Association® during an exclusive pre-sale on Thursday, April 5 beginning at 9AM EST. Tickets will go on sale to the general public on Friday, April 6 starting at 9AM EST and can be purchased here: http://axs.com/events/352728/americana-benefit-tickets?skin=mhow About the Americana Music Association®: The Americana Music Association® is a professional not-for-profit trade organization whose mission is to advocate for the authentic voice of American roots music around the world. The Association produces events throughout the year; including AMERICANAFEST®: The Americana Music Festival & Conference and the critically acclaimed Americana Honors & Awards program. The Americana Music Association® receives enormous support from the Tennessee Department of Tourism, Nashville Convention & Visitors Corp, Lagunitas Brewing Company, RAM, Mountain Valley Water, ASCAP, BMI, SESAC. About AMERICANAFEST®: The 19th annual AMERICANAFEST®: The Americana Music Festival & Conference will take place September 11-16, 2018. The event brings together fans and music industry professionals alike, offering six days of celebration through seminars, panels and networking opportunities by day and raw, battery recharging showcases each night. The Americana Honors & Awards Show is the featured performance of the festivities, taking place at the historic Ryman Auditorium. For information on how to purchase a conference registration, please visit www.americanamusic.org. About Change the Conversation: Change the Conversation, an organization founded in 2014 by music executives Leslie Fram, Tracy Gershon and Beverly Keel, fights gender inequality in the music business by providing support, education, and a community for female artists and music professionals. For more information, visit www.changetheconversation.net.
Music Choice continues its “Primed” new artist initiative, highlighting the hottest new artists in all genres and their videos each week On Demand. The next installments kick off with Stephanie Quayle on April 2nd and Morgan Wallen on April 9th on Music Choice On Demand. (Directional: Music Choice On Demand>FEATURED) Quayle and Wallen will also be featured on the Today’s Country Music and Video Channels. Quayle’s new single “Selfish,” off her debut album, LOVE THE WAY YOU SEE ME, is currently climbing the charts at U.S. Country radio. Since releasing her album, Quayle has earned critical acclaim from Billboard, People, Huffington Post, Glamour, Hollywood Life, Inspirer Magazine, Taste Of Country, Sounds Like Nashville, to name a few. Quayle is set to make her Grand Ole Opry debut on Saturday, April 7. A week later on Saturday, April 14, she will perform at ACM’s Party For A Cause Festival in Las Vegas and will assume hosting duties for Wrangler Network on the red carpet at the 2018 ACM Awards on Sunday, April 15. Big Loud recording artist Wallen has a surefire smash with his latest Top 20 single “Up Down” featuring Florida Georgia Line. The electric performer is selling out venues across the country on his headlining UP DOWN TOUR and will join megastar Luke Bryan’s WHAT MAKES YOU COUNTRY TOUR as support beginning in May. Also an in-demand songwriter, Wallen has co-penned hits for A Thousand Horses, Dustin Lynch, and Kane Brown, as well as Jason Aldean’s sultry Top 10 “You Make It Easy.” Primed focuses on artists who are on the rise in the music industry, or international artists ready to make a name for themselves in the U.S. Who knows more about new artists than we do? The rising stars themselves. Get to know the next big thing on Primed, where artists introduce themselves to viewers and discuss what defines their sound. #MCPrimed A sneak peak of each Music Choice episode can be found here: Stephanie Quayle on Signing To Rebel Engine – Video Link: Morgan Wallen on Going From Songwriter To Singer – Video Link: Primed was originally launched on Music Choice On Demand in 2013. Artist that have been featured include: Macklemore, Lorde, Imagine Dragons, A$AP Rocky and many more. Get Music Choice on all your devices, and find out more at app.musicchoice.com
