Celebration Of Life Set For Troy Gentry

A public celebration of TROY GENTRY’s life will take place at 11a (CT) on THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 14th at NASHVILLE’s GRAND OLE OPRY HOUSE. GENTRY, who co-founded the duo MONTGOMERY GENTRY, was killed FRIDAY in a helicopter crash prior to the pair’s show in NEW JERSEY. A private, family internment will follow. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to T.J. MARTELL FOUNDATION, or The AMERICAN RED CROSS for hurricane relief. For those unable to attend THURSDAY’s service, a live stream of the service can be viewed here.

Kenny Chesney Launches Love For Love City Foundation

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After releasing a statement regarding his wish to help areas being affected by HURRICANE IRMA last WEEK (NET NEWS 9/7), BLUE CHAIR/COLUMBIA NASHVILLE’s KENNY CHESNEY has created the LOVE FOR LOVE CITY FOUNDATION to benefit the U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS and BRITISH VIRGIN ISLANDS. For those wishing to donate, visit the foundation’s website here. CHESNEY, whose island home has been destroyed by IRMA, has also created LOVE FOR LOVE CITY FOUNDATION merch, which can be purchased here. “…I just wanted to say thank you to everybody that has donated to the LOVE FOR LOVE CITY FOUNDATION, because it’s going to help feed a lot of people,” CHESNEY expressed. “It’s going to help take supplies down to the island, and it’s hopefully going to help things has time goes on. And, I just wanted to say I’m very proud of everyone that’s donated, and I just wanted to tell y’all I love ya, and keep the VIRGIN ISLANDS in your prayers, in your thoughts, and I’ll keep you posted on what’s going on. GOD Bless you guys.”

Listen Now: Jennifer Nettles “King of the City”

It’s certainly been a while since we’ve heard new music from Sugarland’s Jennifer Nettles, but as it turns out, the wait has paid off. New this week, Jennifer released a track that pays tribute to the often forgotten fallen victims of the 2001 destruction at The World Trade Center. The track, “King of the City” is a heartwrenching emotional number and truly showcases the ability of a song to express something so raw in such a beautiful way.

Introducing Billy Shaw Jr., The Tucson Troubadour

Billy Shaw Jr News on Country Music News Blog

When you think “country fiddle player”, the hills and valleys of Southern Arizona aren’t really the first place you’d expect to stumble across one, but that’s exactly where our good friend Jessica Northey found Billy Shaw Jr competing for and winning the local Cumulus Radio contest “Nash Next Country Star“. The band went on to place in the top ten in the national finals, and is quickly making a name for themselves in the Southwest. The Billy Shaw Jr Band is currently promoting their first major single “Cowboy At Heart” which tells the story of what it’s like to be a working musician coming up outside of the stereotypical country fields and off Music Row. He took to Twitter this Labor Day weekend to answer a few questions in the running #CMChat series about his influences and what keeps him fighting for his chance in the spotlight. When asked what inspired this first single, his answer was a simple one… his mom, who encouraged him to be anything he wanted to be in life. Sadly she passed away earlier this year. It does warm our hearts though here at Country Music News Blog to see him working so hard to reach his dreams the way his mamma inspired him to do. A3: I wanted to be a cowboy when I was a kid, but it wasn’t in the cards. My mom said I could be anything, it was about the heart. #CMchat https://t.co/0RTMv4W6kf — Billy Shaw Jr (@BillyShawJr) September 5, 2017 Billy Shaw Jr Band – “Cowboy At Heart” [embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CrWzmoSp3xg[/embedyt] Of course it’s not all hard work and serious songs. Billy Shaw Jr. showed his funny side this spring when he decided to poke a little fun at one of our favorite songstresses, Miranda Lambert with a parody cover of “Little Red Wagon“. Billy Shaw Jr Band – “Little Red Wagon (parody)” [embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zj-ZNpgUJAU[/embedyt] It’s clear that he understands where he falls in the flashy pop and pompous marketing machine of Music Row as he is the first to call himself a “Country Music Superman”, calling out his own Clark Kent style during the day, but blowing away fans from the stage by night. For now you can find Billy and the band playing bars and clubs across the southwest, but they have plans to first hit the studio and track a full-length album, then hit the road for a hell of a tour! Billy Shaw Jr is joined by an all-star cast of bandmates: Laki Skouras – Guitar/Vocals, AJ Gonzales – Bass/Vocals and Carlos Solorzano – Drums/Vocals. You can learn more about Billy Shaw Jr Band on Facebook. Save

Country Stars Cover Queen – Celebrating Freddie Mercury On His Birthday

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On this day in 1946 one of the most iconic musical voices of all time was born, and would go on to inspire countless performers to let go of their inhibitions and take to the stage in a way that had never been done before him. In honor of Freddie Mercury‘s legacy, we’d like to share with you some amazing performances of some of our favorite country stars paying tribute to the man who fronted Queen. Zac Brown Band performing “Bohemian Rhapsody” [embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M_EKPN01jJQ[/embedyt] Dwight Yoakam covers “Crazy Little Thing Called Love” [embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NWiGnRFUbas[/embedyt] The Band Perry performing “Fat Bottomed Girls (starting at about 1:30)” [embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yPK5NAzqf64[/embedyt] Billy Gilman performs “The Show Must Go On” on The Voice [embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pmpCUNsI9Os[/embedyt] Sugarland, Little Big Town, and Matt Nathanson join together to perform “Somebody To Love” [embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QlEP6dKGxag[/embedyt]

The 2017 CMA Awards Are Coming!

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In standing CMA tradition, rising stars will take to the airwaves September 4th to announce the nominees for the 2017 CMA Awards on Monday, September 4th on Good Morning America. In most cases the artists that do the announcing are set up to have a pretty big upcoming year themselves, and looking at this lineup, it looks like the tradition is going strong. Providing us with this year’s list of honorees is Dustin Lynch, The Brothers Osborne, and Lauren Alaina. “The three rising country acts will appear on Good Morning America in a special Labor Day broadcast that will slant toward country music in anticipation of the yearly awards, which are billed as Country’s Biggest Night. Lynch, Alaina and Brothers Osborne will announce the nominations in all of the biggest categories of the 51st CMA Awards, and Brothers Osborne will also perform their current single, “It Ain’t My Fault,” during the special GMA broadcast beginning at 8:30AM ET on ABC”. – Courtesy of : Dustin Lynch + More Announcing 2017 CMA Awards Nominations

Zac Brown Band “Roots” Official Video

Zac Brown Band on Country Music News Blog

A personal favorite of ours here at Country Music News Blog, Zac Brown Band is doing a little looking back as they share a live recorded video for their latest single “Roots”. The video was shot during their Welcome Home tour. As he said himself, “This is in memory of every dive bar that I’ve played in this town.” [embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bW75vz11K98[/embedyt]

Jerrod Niemann VS Lee Brice on The Feud!

Jerrod Niemann on Family Feud with Country Music News Blog

TUNE IN: JERROD NIEMANN FACES OFF AGAINST LEE BRICE ON CELEBRITY FAMILY FEUD THIS SUNDAY (8/27) Anticipated New Album THIS RIDE Due Out October 6 Multi-platinum Country artist JERROD NIEMANN will face off against good friend and Curb labelmate Lee Brice for what is sure to be a very entertaining edition of Celebrity Family Feud on Sunday night (8/27). Both artists are competing to win $25,000 for charities near to their hearts – Niemann is playing for the USO and Brice for Folds of Honor. Joining Niemann on his family team are his wife Morgan Petek Niemann, brother Joseph Niemann and sisters Amy Jo Stelzer and Julie Schults. After a life-changing USO tour in 2016 throughout Kosovo, Kuwait, Afghanistan and Romania, the “God Made A Woman” singer will aptly host a live viewing party with service members stationed at USO Fort Campbell. “Playing Family Feud against my great buddy Lee Brice is truly one of my favorite memories ever,” shared Niemann. “We had the chance to enjoy such a unique opportunity with the ones we love, laughing until it hurt and more than anything, competing for causes that are near and dear to our hearts. Raising funds for our American heroes through USO and Folds of Honor made it just that much more special to us. I can’t wait to watch the debut of our episode with some of the brave men and women that provide all the freedoms we are fortunate to enjoy daily.” Marking the beginning of a new chapter for the PLATINUM-certified #1 artist (“Lover, Lover,” “Drink to That All Night”), Niemann is releasing a daring new set of tunes with his fourth studio album and first for Curb, THIS RIDE, on October 6. Regarded as one of Country music’s most progressive artists, he has nearly a decade of outside-the-box success as songwriter, singer, and performer under his belt. Co-produced by Niemann and studio ace Jimmie Lee Sloas, THIS RIDE features 13 inspired songs sourced from a stable of all-star tunesmiths including Shane McAnally, Ashley Gorley, Ross Copperman, Rodney Clawson, Craig Wiseman, Dallas Davidson, Natalie Hemby, Josh Osborne, Chris DeStefano and more. Each track pushes the boundaries of conventional Country wisdom – just as the singer-songwriter-producer has continually done throughout his career. Fans and critics alike have already praised THIS RIDE’s first two singles – the feel-good “A Little More Love” duet with Brice, and the classy romance of current single “God Made A Woman.” ABOUT JERROD NIEMANN: Fueled by a nearly decade-long career, prolific Nashville hitmaker Jerrod Niemann is digging deeper with his forthcoming Curb Records album with the uplifting duet “A Little More Love” (with Lee Brice) and his romantic follow-up single “God Made A Woman.” Known for clever wordplay and attention-grabbing lyrics, the highly engaging singer-songwriter last topped Country charts with his PLATINUM-certified anthem “Drink to That All Night,” a multi-week #1 from the album HIGH NOON – on which he co-wrote eight of the 12 tracks. Niemann first burst onto the scene in Continue reading Jerrod Niemann VS Lee Brice on The Feud!

Video Debut: Sandra Lynn – Hey California

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In a playful splash into mainstream country music, Sandra Lynn may seem like a newcomer to the Nashville scene, but this California gal has been slugging away since her 2014 self-titled EP. Now it seems like that hard work is paying off as her brand new video for “Hey California” picks up steam and is getting picked up by tv stations and blogs all over the country! Enjoy this playful take on a cute crush and tell us what you think. Do you want to hear more from Sandra Lynn? [embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3PUcqm8bpEA[/embedyt]