SMOKEY ROBINSON AND CAM UNITE FOR THE FIRST TIME FOR GENRE-SPANNING “CMT CROSSROADS” PREMIERING MARCH 28 AT 10PM ON CMT Motown icon Smokey Robinson and acclaimed country artist Cam will share the stage and swap vocals on their most beloved hits spanning multiple genres and decades in a new installment of “CMT Crossroads,” premiering Wednesday, March 28 at 10 p.m. ET on CMT.
Country music icon Naomi Judd and The Scott Brothers’ Jonathan and Drew Scott are the first celebrities to sign up for the City of Hope 28th Annual Celebrity Softball Game. The event returns to First Tennessee Park on Saturday, June 9. CLICK HERE to purchase tickets. Naomi Judd, who participated in the game in the late 80s and early 90s, is dusting off her glove and returning as a play-by-play Guest Announcer. Additional legendary artists will be announced soon. “I may not be on the mound this time around, but I wanted to take a swing at cancer by being part of the game as one of the announcers! City of Hope is an incredible institution, so I’m honored to have a role in the event. I’m looking forward to seeing all the fans!” Naomi Judd said. The Scott Brothers are warming up for some sibling rivalry! “The City of Hope Celebrity Softball game is always great fun and for a really good cause. Can’t wait to play again this year,” says Drew. Jonathan adds, “It’s like a family reunion of the most giving people in the biz. I’m practicing my swing already with sledgehammers on Property Brothers.” Additional artists will be announced in the coming weeks. For more information, visit cityofhope.org/softball or follow City of Hope on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. ABOUT CITY OF HOPE: City of Hope is an independent research and treatment center for cancer, diabetes and other life-threatening diseases. Designated as one of only 49 comprehensive cancer centers, the highest recognition bestowed by the National Cancer Institute, City of Hope is also a founding member of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network, with research and treatment protocols that advance care throughout the world. City of Hope is located in Duarte, California, just northeast of Los Angeles, with clinical practice sites throughout southern California. It is ranked as one of “America’s Best Hospitals” in cancer by U.S. News & World Report. For more information, visit cityofhope.org. 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. ABOUT DREW AND JONATHAN SCOTT: Multi-faceted entrepreneurs, authors and twin Continue reading Naomi Judd and The Scott Brothers Join City of Hope 28th Annual Celebrity Softball Game
COUNTRY MUSIC HALL OF FAME member RANDY TRAVIS is shining a spotlight on new music he believes in with his “Diggin’ Up Songs” digital campaign. The music is curated by TRAVIS personally and can be found via SPOTIFY, TWITTER, FACEBOOK, and TRAVIS’s website. New songs will be added every two weeks; the first round of spotlight tracks was revealed today and includes KANE BROWN’s “Heaven,” BRETT ELDREDGE’s “The Long Way,” WALKER HAYES’s “You Broke Up With Me,” LUKE COMBS’s “One Number Away,” and LAUREN ALAINA’s “Doin’ Fine.” “Though RANDY may not be able to perform right now, his love and affinity for music stands strong,” said TRAVIS’s wife, MARY DAVIS-TRAVIS. “We like to say he is ‘singing a new song’ and spending his time giving back to the community and supporting fellow artists — streaming is a great new outlet to do just that.”
Kudos to our friends at Country radio that worked hard during their recent ST. JUDE Radiothons to raise money for ST. JUDE CHILDREN’S RESEARCH HOSPITAL. FEDERATE MEDIA Country WBYT/SOUTH BEND, IN raised $306,720 this year; HALL COMMUNICATIONS Country WPCV/LAKELAND, FL, raised $204,863, which is a $26,000 increase compared to last year’s radiothon; MIDWEST COMMUNICATIONS Country WDEZ/WAUSAU, WI raised more than $175,000, bringing their 17-year total to more than $2 million; and DICK BROADCASTING Country WRNS/GREENVILLE, NC’s two-day total came to $160,126.
Fresh from the mailbox this morning is Patrick Darrah‘s debut album “Northern Truth“. The quick version is that the album is interesting enough on the first listen to give it a second go-round, which is rare in blind submissions. Great songwriting and storytelling, and definitely a lot of potential here. I’d call this guy one to watch, and I’d love to hear him collaborate with some heavier hitters in Nashville to help add a little gravel and depth to his clean clear vocal tone. The long version is that, without reading his bio, you can tell that his song selection is clearly influenced by his life experience as each track flows from one right into the next, telling the full story of a man dealing with loss and heartbreak as he finds out what to do with his life once his love walks out. The songs are each well-written and performed with the kind of angst and longing that can only come from the feelings being real. That said, it would be fantastic to hear this album as a whole, remixed and mastered with the guiding hand of a more seasoned engineer as some of the grit and guts seem to have been over-compressed and cleaned up in the studio. I think that this album makes a very solid starting point for the very long career Patrick has ahead of him. To find out more about Patrick Darrah, visit https://www.patrickdarrah.com/ .
Carrie Underwood sure knows a hit when she hears one and when she laid tracks for this driving anthem she didn’t waste one second putting her stamp on it. Take a look at the inspiring video for “Champion” featuring Ludacris and tell us it doesn’t make you want to fight harder to reach your goals!
Spacey Kacey is at it again this time it’s an interstellar heartbreak song as she releases the official audio for her latest track “Space Cowboy“. Anyone who dares to say that Kacey Musgraves isn’t a country music legend in the making is going to be quick to swallow their words after giving this tune a spin. Preorder the new Kacey Musgraves album Golden Hour, releasing March 30th, here: http://strm.to/GoldenHourYD Sign up to the Kacey Musgraves email list here: http://www.kaceymusgraves.com/ Music video by Kacey Musgraves performing Space Cowboy. © 2018 MCA Nashville, a Division of UMG Recordings, Inc.
Hot country vocalist Lucas Hoge continues ascending into new territory as he joins Southwest Airlines’ Storyteller Brand Ambassador program. Over the next year, Lucas will be part of a curated group of 12 #SouthwestStorytellers who will promote the brand on their social channels. “We’re excited that Lucas is a part of our #SouthwestStorytellers Class of 2018. Over the years, Lucas has made Southwest his airline of choice as he has toured the country sharing his music with fans. We are excited to launch this partnership and are looking forward to what unfolds,” said Curtis Midkiff, Southwest Airlines Social Business Advisor. The Nebraska native is set to release the second single off his No. 1 album Dirty South to radio this March. Hoge had a career defining year in 2017, with his album ascending to the No. 1 spot on Billboard Country Album Sales Chart the week of release and making his Grand Ole Opry debut on the Ryman stage. For more information and the latest news on Lucas Hoge, follow him on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram and go to LucasHoge.com LUCAS HOGE ON TOUR: Jan. 26 Stoney’s Rockin’ Country – Las Vegas, Nev. Feb. 03 MGM Grand Hotel & Casino – Las Vegas, Nev. Feb. 17 Nissan Stadium – Nashville, Tenn. Feb. 23 Sandia Casino – Albuquerque, N.M. Feb. 24 Country Fest | Rodeo Weekend – Tuscon, Ariz. March 24 Broadbent Arena, Kentucky State Fair & Expo Center – Louisville, Ky. April 09 Whiskey Jam – Nashville, Tenn. April 14 ACM Party For A Cause – Las Vegas, NV April 25 Ralston Arena – Ralston, Neb. April 27 Red Cloud Opera House – Red Cloud, Neb. April 28 Opera House – Minden, Neb. June 01 Nebraska Cattlemen’s Ball – Kearney, Neb. May 23 – 30 Wrangler National Patriot Tour June 01 Nebraska Cattleman’s Ball – Kearney, Neb. June 22 Stoney’s Rockin Country – Las Vegas, NV June 23 Tower Theater – Fresno, CA July 07 The Golf Club at Black Rock – Coeur D’ Alene, Idaho ABOUT LUCAS HOGE: Some people are just born communicators and Lucas Hoge has that gift. Fans know this because Hoge’s new album Dirty South ascended to the No. 1 spot on the Billboard Country Album Sales chart during its debut week. Whether he’s performing for troops overseas, sharing his love for the great outdoors with fellow sportsmen at a Cabela’s gathering or writing another song for a hit TV show, Hoge has that rare ability to find common ground with just about anyone and draw them into his world. A passionate supporter of the U.S. military, Hoge has traveled the globe extensively performing for the troops visited numerous countries throughout the Middle East and beyond for the past nine years as part of the Wrangler National Patriot Tour. Hoge is also the celebrity spokesperson for Guardian Angels For Soldier’s Pet. Combine all of that with his Midwestern charm and a work ethic that won’t slow him down, it looks like the best is yet to come.
The Academy of Country Music announced today the host and nominations for the 53RD ACADEMY OF COUNTRY MUSIC AWARDS™, Country Music’s Party of the Year®, honoring country music’s superstars and hottest emerging talent. Multimedia superstar and sixteen-time ACM Award® winner Reba McEntire will return to host LIVE from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on Sunday, April 15, 2018 at 8:00 PM ET/PT on the CBS Television Network. Chris Stapleton Leads with 8 Nominations; Thomas Rhett Receives 6 NominationsKeith Urban and Songwriter Shane McAnally Each Receive 5 Nominations; Miranda Lambert and Maren Morris Each Receive 4 Nominations;Sam Hunt, Little Big Town and Midland Each Receive 3 Nominations;Tim McGraw & Faith Hill Receive First Nomination as Vocal Duo [bctt tweet=”Just announced! 53rd @ACMawards Nominations Revealed plus @Reba Returns to Host LIVE from Las Vegas @MGMGrand April 15 at 8pm on #CBS!” username=”My_CountryMusic”] ENCINO, CA (March 1, 2018) – The Academy of Country Music announced today the host and nominations for the 53RD ACADEMY OF COUNTRY MUSIC AWARDS™, Country Music’s Party of the Year®, honoring country music’s superstars and hottest emerging talent. Multimedia superstar and sixteen-time ACM Award® winner Reba McEntire will return to host LIVE from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on Sunday, April 15, 2018 at 8:00 PM ET/PT on the CBS Television Network. This year’s show will mark Reba’s fifteenth time hosting the ceremony, last appearing in 2012 with Blake Shelton. In addition to surprising audiences with the news that she will return to host, Reba appeared live today on “CBS This Morning” to announce this year’s ACM Award nominees for 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, as well as nominees for Song of the Year on Facebook LIVE. “Entertainment Tonight” host Nancy O’Dell announced additional nominees on ETonline.com. Chris Stapleton leads with eight nominations in five categories, including his first nod for Entertainer of the Year. Stapleton is also nominated for Male Vocalist of the Year, and twice, as both artist and producer, in both the Album of the Year and Single Record of the Year categories; he received the Album of the Year nod for From a Room: Volume 1, and the Single Record of the Year nod for “Broken Halos.” He is also nominated twice, both as artist and songwriter, in the Song of The Year category for “Whiskey and You.” Reigning Male Vocalist of the Year, Thomas Rhett earned six nominations, including his second in the Male Vocalist of the Year category. Rhett is also nominated twice, as an artist and producer, for both Album of The Year for Life Changes and Vocal Event of the Year for “Craving You” (featuring Maren Morris). Lastly, he is nominated for his first Music Video of the Year award for “Marry Me,” along with director TK McKamy and producer Dan Atchison. Keith Urban earned five nominations including his eighth nod for Entertainer of the Year Continue reading Presenting Your 2018 ACM Award Nominees:
Country music star and co-host of “Pickler & Ben,” Kellie Pickler wrapped up a whirlwind Los Angeles press tour this week to promote the freshman talk-show, which was recently picked up for its second season. She began the week on Tuesday, February 20th with an appearance on “Ellen” where she was scared by “Faith Hill.” https://www.ellentube.com/episode/bill-gates-kellie-pickler-keala.html On Wednesday, she headed over to E!’s “Daily Pop” for a chat about her upcoming birthday and her favorite things about hosting the first talk show based out of Nashville. http://www.eonline.com/shows/daily_pop/videos/269023/kellie-pickler-dishes-on-first-talk-show-in-nashville After which, she visited CNN for a live interview on HLN’s “MichaeLA.” Kellie and Michaela Pereira talked about the show and Kellie’s three USO Tours. At “ET Online,” Kellie and Sophie Schillaci talked about her most recent single and played a game about country slang terms. Thursday, the day began with a visit to “Access Live” where she spoke with hosts Kit Hoover and Scott Evans about the instant chemistry she and co-host Ben Aaron had from their very first meeting. Next she headed to “Perez Hilton,” who expressed how much he’d like to appear on “Pickler & Ben.” After a wild visit with “Extra” amid the crowds of Universal CityWalk, Kellie wrapped up her press tour at “Steve Harvey” where she shared her passion for extreme sports, including sky diving for a segment to air on February 26th.
