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Show Me The Country! Forbes Releases The Annual ‘Highest Paid’ List

Posted on July 11, 2017 by Shauna "WhiskeyChick" Castorena

Forbes magazine released its annual list of the World’s Highest Paid Country Musicians, and predictably Garth Brooks was sitting pretty on top. No. 1: Garth Brooks, $60 million No. 2: Kenny Chesney, $42.5 million No. 3: Luke Bryan, $42 million No. 4: Dolly Parton, $37 million No. 5: Toby Keith, $34.5 million No. 5: Florida Georgia Line, $34.5 million No. 7: Jason Aldean, $32.5 million No. 8: Blake Shelton, $31.5 million No. 9: Keith Urban, $30 million No. 10: Eric Church, $25 million No. 10: Zac Brown Band, $25 million With that kind of cashola—$394.5 million for the Top 11—it seems that country music is one of the few recession-proof industries! Read more at Forbes.com and NashCountryDaily.com!

Lee Roy Parnell To Release First New Studio Album In Eleven Years On August 11th

Posted on July 11, 2017 by Shauna "WhiskeyChick" Castorena

Lee Roy Parnell will release Midnight Believer on August 11 via Vector Recordings, by BFD Distribution (The Orchard). Parnell’s new album encompasses a realized vision that reflects the cumulative essence of who Lee Roy Parnell is today. He states, “One of the best things about gaining some maturity is you finally find out ‘Who You Is and Who You Ain’t.’ That said, I’d have to say that the song ‘Too Far Gone’ best describes me as an artist, now. It’s clearly a Blue-Eyed Soul ‘Beat Ballad’ as Barry Beckett (of The Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section and my first producer) would call it. Barry really taught me how to make records. He taught me about groove, soul, vocal delivery and how to make every note count! The message here is in life and love we ebb and flow. We have good days and tough days. What counts is going the distance (or at least as far as you can).” Parnell is part of a long line of Texas roots-music eclectics, and is among the elite few who can be identified as a triple threat. An ace guitarist, as well as a distinctive singer, and hit songwriter, his music runs the gamut of diversity. Combining the influences of Blue-Eyed Soul, Delta Blues, Road House Rock, Southern Boogie, Texas Swing, and Gospel, Parnell’s sound defies conventional classification. He draws from a broad range of musical sources and combines them with seamless dexterity and, unlike many other hard-to-pigeonhole artists, Parnell has enjoyed a run of success on the country and blues charts. He reflects, “I am a writer, guitarist, vocalist & a performer. Every skill set feeds the next. I’ve never been able to separate one from the other. It all starts with the song and when writing I’ve found that nothing is stronger than the truth. It is from that wellspring that my singing and playing are born…performing, too. My goal is to keep it honest and let the listener feel what I’m feeling. No matter our different walks in life I believe that most of us experience similar emotions. I’m tapping into you as much as you are tapping into me.” Musically, Parnell presents some of the best performances of his career on Midnight Believer. He approached this release with the intention of letting the music and performances speak. There is a level of organically-delivered emotion through his playing that took the path of not over-producing every track. He reflects, “Well, it’s funny…most folks think of me primarily as a slide guitarist, and to some degree that is true, but I played ‘regular lead guitar’ long before I played slide. On the song ‘Hours In Between’ what you’re hearing is one continuous lead guitar track from me…one pass going down with my band and no fixes. Not to say I didn’t want to, but they all threatened to walk out on me if I did! Looking back, I’m glad I didn’t get the chance to fix anything.” On the songwriting side, Parnell Continue reading Lee Roy Parnell To Release First New Studio Album In Eleven Years On August 11th→

Jana Kramer “I’m Not Leaving Nashville”

Posted on July 10, 2017 by Shauna "WhiskeyChick" Castorena

Country artist JANA KRAMER visited with SIRIUSXM “THE HIGHWAY” host STORME WARREN earlier TODAY (7/10) to address rumors that she is leaving Country music and NASHVILLE behind. KRAMER, who recently parted ways with her former label home, was quoted in “CHICAGO Splash” as saying she felt that “NASHVILLE wanted to put me in a box.” Following the publication of that interview, COX MEDIA GROUP’s “Rare Country” published an article, with which KRAMER disagreed, fueling rumors that KRAMER meant she was “done with NASHVILLE.” That article has since been edited and amended. The singer clarified the situation with WARREN, stating, “Sometimes I felt like NASHVILLE wanted to put me in a box. I live in NASHVILLE, I love NASHVILLE, I have a beautiful house in NASHVILLE, I’m just going to be doing the songs that I’m picking for myself.” KRAMER is currently working on new music for Country fans. Check out the SIRIUSXM blog here, and full audio of KRAMER’s interview setting the record straight here.

Thomas Rhett Makes #1 With “Craving You”

Posted on July 10, 2017 by Shauna "WhiskeyChick" Castorena

Congratulations to VALORY MUSIC CO. artist THOMAS RHETT for scoring the #1 spot on the MEDIABASE Country singles chart this WEEK with “Craving You” featuring COLUMBIA NASHVILLE’s MAREN MORRIS. “Craving You” is RHETT’s eighth career #1 single. Kudos to VALORY MUSIC CO. GM GEORGE BRINER, Dir./National Promotion ASHLEY SIDOTI, Dir./WEST COAST Promotion AMY STALEY, Dir./SOUTHWEST Promotion BRAD HOWELL, Dir./NORTHEAST Promotion DON GOSSELIN, Dir./MIDWEST Promotion ADAM BURNES, Dir./SOUTHEAST Promotion BROOKE NIXON, Promotion Analyst SEAN STEVENS and Promotion Coordinator LAUREN SIMON. ALL ACCESS delivered sweet treats to the VALORY MUSIC CO. staff TODAY (7/10) to congratulate the staff on its success.

Now Casting In Nashville: Soon-to-be-wed Couples!

Posted on July 10, 2017 by Shauna "WhiskeyChick" Castorena

Hot off the press at CountryMusicNewsBlog.com!

*CountryMusicNewsBlog has no affiliation with Doron Ofir Casting or Popular Productions, Inc, we are simply sharing an opportunity for those who might be interested. Please direct all inquiries to the contact form found at doronofircasting.com. Doron Ofir Casting and 495 Productions are currently seeking soon-to-be-wed couples and their wedding parties to be a part of a new television phenomenon; LAST BASH IN NASH – the most exclusive weekend of events, adventure and experiences only for Bachelor and Bachelorette parties. Pick your crew, gather your squad and pack your bags for 48 hours of exclusive events and parties. Explore Nashville TN, and make a lifetime of memories with your best friends over one EPIC weekend! We are casting nationwide for the hottest girl and guy groups, together or separate, who are at least 21 years old and worthy of the ultimate VIP celebration experience. We HELP YOU plan SO you CAN party! A better way to bachelor(ette) WITH ALL THE TRIMMINGS FROM LUXURY PAMPERING TO BLOWOUT BASHES, ALL DAY, ALL NIGHT. Celebrating the bride & groom WITH a destination weekend in the heart of “Music City!” Apply now at www.lastbashcasting.com Popular Productions, inc. We are a full service casting and development company with nationwide casting and production contacts. Numerous worldwide network and cable television programs. Producing partners, branding and packaging deals. Independent Films, Commercials, Music Videos, Internet, Broadband, Mobile content and Studio Films. This is a digital casting call for the opportunity to audition directly to producers. If you are interested in any of our other current television casting opportunities they can be found on our main casting site doronofircasting.com . Doron Ofir Casting is a legitimate television casting company and our credits can be found on IMDB. We never charge for casting EVER!

Academy of Country Music Announces ACM Studio Recording Award Winners

Posted on June 30, 2017 by Shauna "WhiskeyChick" Castorena

The Academy of Country Music® announced the Studio Recording Award winners for the 52ND ACADEMY OF COUNTRY MUSIC AWARDS™. The Studio Recording Award winners will be honored during the 11th ANNUAL ACM HONORS™, an evening dedicated to recognizing the special honorees and off-camera category winners from the 52nd Academy of Country Music Awards. The event will take place Wednesday, August 23, 2017 at the historic Ryman Auditorium in Nashville, TN. The Studio Recording Awards are voted on by professional members of the Academy classified in the Artist-Entertainer/Musician-Bandleader-Instrumentalist category, and the Producer-Engineer-Studio Manager sub-category (contained within the Affiliated category). The categories honor the behind-the-scenes musicians, producers, engineers and industry professionals who contribute so much to the artistry, success and longevity of country music. Below is a complete list of the Studio Recording Award winners for the 52nd Academy of Country Music Awards: STUDIO RECORDING AWARD WINNERS: (Note: ** Indicates a tie.) BASS PLAYER OF THE YEAR – Glenn Worf DRUMMER OF THE YEAR – Miles McPherson GUITAR PLAYER OF THE YEAR – Tom Bukovac & Danny Rader** PIANO/KEYBOARDS PLAYER OF THE YEAR – Dave Cohen SPECIALTY INSTRUMENT(S) PLAYER OF THE YEAR – Dan Dugmore STEEL GUITAR PLAYER OF THE YEAR – Dan Dugmore AUDIO ENGINEER OF THE YEAR – Chuck Ainlay PRODUCER OF THE YEAR – Jay Joyce

Hunter Hayes and Zappos Team Up For “Rescue” Charity

Posted on June 30, 2017 by Shauna "WhiskeyChick" Castorena

Hunter Hayes released his first new music of 2017 today with the soaring and electric guitar-driven track “Rescue.” An artist who has always stressed the importance of helping others through the power of music, Hayes has also partnered with Zappos.com to create shoes that give back. “The Rescue Collection” is a limited line that features artwork inspired by the song’s accompanying music video, which is also available everywhere today. Hayes shared an exclusive behind-the-scenes look with Entertainment Tonight this morning and also went into in-depth detail about the song’s inspiration with The Washington Post. “I’ve always loved what music and charity organizations can do together, and I think the tie in with this song is undeniable,” said Hayes. “We’ve had the opportunity to work with so many awesome charities over the years and I realized that, to me, they are exactly that: rescues. They are places of refuge for so many people who need a friend to help them through something or to be there for them. We’ve seen the power of music in so many ways and I wanted ‘Rescue’ to be a song that we used for good.” All profits from “The Rescue Collection” will be donated to Zappos for Good, the charity team at Zappos.com. These limited edition shoes will be available during the holiday season and benefit a number of charitable initiatives including the CMA Foundation, the charitable giving arm of the Country Music Association that’s focused on improving and sustaining music education programs everywhere, and Zappos’ annual Pawlidayz pet adoption drive. “We are thrilled about our partnership with Hunter and have been wowed by his sincere interest in helping the world to be a better place by using his music to inspire others. We are grateful to work with partners who share our values and commitment,” said Steven Bautista, Head of Charity at Zappos.com, known as Zappos for Good. The shoes will be available starting December 2017 exclusively on Zappos.com. All shoes will be accompanied by a digital download code for “Rescue” and a personalized lyric sheet from Hayes. Until then, fans can see Hayes perform “Rescue” and other new music live on tour throughout the summer, with full dates and details below. Hunter Hayes Summer Tour Dates Jul 01 – Provo, UT – Stadium of Fire America’s Freedom Festival Jul 04 – Houston, TX – Freedom Over Texas Jul 14 – Choctaw, MS – 68th Annual Choctaw Indian Fair Jul 15 – Baton Rouge, LA – Dixie Landin’ Summer Concert Series Jul 25 – Paso Robles, CA – California Mid-State Fair Jul 27 – Bethlehem, PA – Levitt Pavilion Steelstacks Jul 28 – Shelbyville, DE – The Freeman Stage at Bayside Jul 29 – Philadelphia, PA – Citizens Bank Park Aug 11 – Raleigh, NC – The Ritz Aug 12 – North Myrtle Beach, SC – House of Blues Aug 17 – Hampton Beach, NH – Hampton Beach Casino Ballroom Aug 18 – Jordan, NY – Kegs Canalside Event Center Aug 19 – Webster, MA – Indian Ranch Amphitheatre Aug 25 – Toledo, Continue reading Hunter Hayes and Zappos Team Up For “Rescue” Charity→

Josh Abbott Band Ready to Take on The World With New Album!

Posted on June 28, 2017 by Shauna "WhiskeyChick" Castorena

JOSH ABBOTT BAND TO RELEASE NEW ALBUM UNTIL MY VOICE GOES OUT ON AUGUST 18TH Listen to the first song “Texas Women, Tennessee Whiskey” HERE Josh Abbott Band will release their new album, Until My Voice Goes Out, on August 18th. Produced by Dwight Baker, Until My Voice Goes Out is a hopeful look into the future, a roll-up-the-sleeves-and-move-forward embrace of life and its potential. “This album is about appreciating the moment and your family and your friends, and living life the right way,” Abbott says. “It’s really all about finding clarity and focusing on what’s important.” As Josh Abbott Band moved into the final stages of work on Until My Voice Goes Out, lead singer Josh Abbott’s personal life took a couple significant twists that underscored where JAB finds itself professionally. Abbott’s father suffered a stroke while the album was being recorded, and Josh split his time between the studio and the hospital bedside, finishing all the lead vocals shortly before his dad passed away. Two months later, Josh welcomed his first child into the world. Those developments in the spring of 2017 nutshelled the circle of life, and in a way, that’s how Until My Voice Goes Out operates. As the band observes 10 years since recording its first single, “Taste,” Voice finds the seven-piece Texas ensemble ending one chapter and beginning another. Experiencing life at its fullest includes taking risks, and Josh Abbott Band does that successfully on the new album incorporating strings and a horn section for the first time. Arranger Rob Mathes – noted for his work with Tony Bennett, Sting and Bruce Springsteen – worked up a handful of mood-setting string preludes and added to JAB’s range. Mathes’ preludes became an important emotional glue for the project, and the titles that bookend the project – “An Appreciation of Life” and “Farewell Father” – helped bring a cohesiveness to the album and its back story. “Until My Voice Gives Out” is, after all, a song about embracing life lessons learned and using them to make a better future. Josh Abbott intends to do that in a way that supports his daughter, who arrived as JAB completed the album. The band is making a statement through the entire risk-taking album – about its continued growth and evolution as it moves forward, a decade after that first single gave Texas a taste of JAB’s brand of country. JAB’s last album ‘Front Row Seat’ debuted at #1 on Billboard’s Independent Albums chart and garnered high praise across the board. The band performed singles from the album on national television on both Jimmy Kimmel Live and Conan. Hailed as one of the top Texas country acts, Josh Abbott Band is renowned for heartfelt songwriting and traditional instrumentation. The independent band has accumulated over 68 million total streams, 15 million YouTube/VEVO views has over 1.5 million single sales and 200,000 album sales. Additionally, the band has sold over 1.2 million concert tickets the last two years. Josh Abbott Band is Continue reading Josh Abbott Band Ready to Take on The World With New Album!→

Kellie Pickler To Join All-Star Cast for PBS’ A Capitol Fourth!

Posted on June 26, 2017 by Shauna "WhiskeyChick" Castorena

Joining the all-star line-up for the 37th annual edition of PBS’ A CAPITOL FOURTH, broadcast live from the West Lawn of the U.S. Capitol, are acclaimed country music singer and songwriter Kellie Pickler, Grammy-nominated gospel legend Yolanda Adams and Broadway star and two-time Tony Award nominee Laura Osnes (BANDSTAND). Pickler, the AMERICAN IDOL alum, DANCING WITH THE STARS champion, and star of the hit TV show I LOVE KELLIE PICKLER will perform “This Land is Your Land” and “Small Town Girl” from her Gold-certified debut album. Adams, one of gospel’s seminal voices, will perform “Battle Hymn of the Republic” with Patrick Lundy & The Ministers of Music. Osnes will be featured in a patriotic medley and will also perform alongside the U.S. Army Band “Pershing’s Own” and members of the Armed Forces carrying the State and Territorial Flags during the fireworks finale. A CAPITOL FOURTH airs on PBS Tuesday, July 4, 2017 from 8:00 to 9:30 p.m. ET before a concert audience of hundreds of thousands, millions more at home, as well as to our troops serving around the world on the American Forces Network. The program can also be heard live in stereo over NPR member stations nationwide. In addition, the concert will be live-streamed online on Facebook Live and http://www.pbs.org/a-capitol-fourth and available as Video on Demand for a limited time only, July 4 to July 18, 2017. Emmy Award-nominated actor and producer John Stamos (FULLER HOUSE, SCREAM QUEENS) will host A CAPITOL FOURTH, featuring performances by: soul men Dan Aykroyd and Jim Belushi of The Blues Brothers; iconic multi-platinum selling music legends The Beach Boys, with special guests John Stamos (drums) and Sugar Ray’s Mark McGrath (vocals); legendary Motown stars The Four Tops; country music star and Grammy-nominated member of the Grand Ole Opry Trace Adkins; THE VOICE Season 12 winner Chris Blue; and multi-talented actress and singer Sofia Carson (DESCENDENTS 2); with the National Symphony Orchestra under the direction of top pops conductor Jack Everly. The program is a co-production of Michael Colbert of Capital Concerts and WETA, Washington, D.C. Executive producer Michael Colbert has assembled an award-winning production team that features the top Hollywood talent behind some of television’s most prestigious entertainment awards shows including the GRAMMY AWARDS, COUNTRY MUSIC AWARDS, TONY AWARDS, SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE, and more. About Capital Concerts Capital Concerts is the production force behind two of television’s longest-running and highest-rated live programs commemorating America’s most important holidays. THE NATIONAL MEMORIAL DAY CONCERT, the nation’s tribute to our men and women in uniform, and A CAPITOL FOURTH, our country’s biggest birthday party, have become American traditions that have consistently ranked among the highest rated programs on PBS over the past decade. The holiday specials have been honored with over 80 awards including the New York Film Festival Award, the Telly Award, the Golden Cine Award, the Videographer Award, the National Education Association Award, the Aurora Award, the Christopher Award, the Communicator’s Award, the AXIEM Award, the Omni Award and the Writer’s Guild of America Award. Underwriters A CAPITOL FOURTH is made possible by Continue reading Kellie Pickler To Join All-Star Cast for PBS’ A Capitol Fourth!→

Brad Paisley’s Comedy Rodeo Announced for Netflix

Posted on June 26, 2017 by Shauna "WhiskeyChick" Castorena

Brad Paisley Announces Netflix Comedy Special to Debut August 15 Brad Paisley’s Comedy Rodeo With Special Guests Nate Bargatze, John Heffron, Jon Reep, Sarah Tiana and Mike E. Winfield And Special Appearances by David Hasselhoff and Reba McEntire Nashville, TN (June 23, 2017) – Country music superstar Brad Paisley announced today, via his socials, that his Netflix one-hour comedy special, Brad Paisley’s Comedy Rodeo, will debut on August 15. The hilarious show includes special guests and fellow comedians Nate Bargatze, John Heffron, Jon Reep, Sarah Tiana and Mike E. Winfield. Actor David Hasselhoff and multi-talented Reba McEntire make special appearances. The show was filmed earlier this year when Paisley hosted two comedy shows at Zanies Comedy Club in Nashville as part of the Wild West Comedy Festival.