Bobby Bare Gets Sirius XM Special Celebrating Him As One Of Country Music’s Top 100 Artists of All Time!

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Bobby Bare on Country Music News!

BOBBY BARE CELEBRATED AS ONE OF ‘100 GREATEST COUNTRY ARTISTS OF ALL TIME’ BY ROLLING STONE, FEATURED WITH MAJOR SIRIUS XM SPECIAL NEW ALBUM, THINGS CHANGE, SPOTLIGHTED ON POPULAR SPOTIFY PLAYLIST AND CMT.COM SXM Willie’s Roadhouse, SXM Outlaw Country, Spotify’s New Traditions – Country Heroes and CMT’s Tim Ghianni Celebrate the Music of Bare’s “Things Change” NASHVILLE, Tenn. (June 26, 2017) – Influencers and critics agree, “Bobby Bare’s Outlaw Spirit Remains Undiminished” (Tim Ghianni, CMT.com) with the release of his newest album, Things Change. This past weekend saw a Bare takeover on Sirius XM with a subscriber-special airing numerous times on both Willie’s Roadhouse and Outlaw Country featuring performances by the legend and hosted by the Country Music Hall of Fame’s Peter Cooper from the SiriusXM Music City Theatre. Streaming giant Spotify added album cut “Ain’t No Sure Thing” to the popular New Traditions – Country Heroes playlist. Fans can hear the new music and add it to their own playlists on Bare’s Spotify page HERE. Rolling Stone honored Bobby Bare as one of the ‘100 Greatest Country Artists of All Time’ recently. The Country Music Hall of Famer and GRAMMY® winner was ranked number 43 on the list which also included many friends and collaborators including Waylon Jennings and Willie Nelson. Things Change features 10 tracks written by Bare and a slew of talented songwriters including Hoyt Axton, Mary Gauthier, Guy Clark and the producer of the project, hit singer/songwriter Max T. Barnes. The album features a collaboration on Bare’s iconic hit, “Detroit City,” with Chris Stapleton. The song was written by Mel Tillis and Danny Dill and was originally released by Bare in 1963 and would become one of his most highly requested songs at live shows to this day. “Detroit City” won a GRAMMY® in 1964 for Best Country/Western Recording and is one of many Grammy nods for the country legend. Things Change can be purchased at digital retailers and on BobbyBare.com. “In a career that has been marked with recordings from writers such as the afore-mentioned [Tom T.] Hall, Mel Tillis (‘Detroit City’) and the late Shel Silverstein (‘Marie Laveau,’ among many from the late tunesmith), Bare has always had a knack for finding a great song.” – Chuck Dauphin, Billboard Magazine “Bobby Bare has been one of country music’s most consistent – and most respected – singer/songwriters for over 50 years.” – Adrian Peel, Digital Journal About Bobby Bare Country Music Hall of Famer, Bobby Bare is one of the most iconic country artists of our time, with chart-topping songs like “Detroit City,” “500 Miles,” “Shame On Me” and many more. Artists from Little Jimmy Dickens and Hank Williams to big band acts like Phil Harris and the Dominoes all influenced his unique style leading to nearly five dozen top 40 hits from 1962 to 1983. The often referred to “Bruce Springsteen of Country” went on to earn multiple Grammy nominations and wins along with induction into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2013 among many other awards and Continue reading Bobby Bare Gets Sirius XM Special Celebrating Him As One Of Country Music’s Top 100 Artists of All Time!→

Kenny Chesney Launches Belmont and Tennessee State University Scholarship Contest

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Kenny Chesney on Country Music News

When it was time for a video for Kenny Chesney’s “All The Pretty Girls,” from Cosmic Hallelujah, the man The Wall Street Journal called “The King of the Road” could’ve gone the usual route. But in thinking about the song’s spirit and his own wild college days, it dawned on him: take “All The Pretty Girls” to the people living it, and have them make the video. “The best moments of being young and having fun should be captured,” says the songwriter from East Tennessee. “But nobody ever talks to the people who are right in the moment of living it about this kind of thing. Rather than look back, we oughta just go to the people living it.” Knowing how many young people come to Tennessee trying to get close to the dream, Chesney decided to reach out to the students at Nashville’s Belmont and Middle Tennessee State Universities, both schools with strong engagement in the music industry and invite them to create his next music video. And the winning entry – chosen by a blue-ribbon panel from Sony Nashville, CMT: Country Music Television and Chesney’s team – will receive a $5000 scholarship, as well as having their video world premiere on CMT: Country Music Television. Any student at Belmont University or Middle Tennessee State University may submit a video they’ve created for the song. Lyric, live action, notion, animation or something we’ve never thought of. As Chesney says, “Get creative. Get real. Get inside the song, and show us how ‘All The Pretty Girls’ looks, feels, and resolves.” For Chesney, who world-debuted the John C. McGinley pre-ambled album cut “Rich & Miserable” on the SiriusXM platform, seeking different ways to consider video speaks to his desire to create innovation in how supporting music is done. Now he wants to engage young filmmakers, music lovers and communicators to offer both a scholarship and a platform for their work to be seen. “I remember driving over the state line to West Virginia, playing in a restaurant, breaking down, driving back and parking in the music store lot, so I could turn in the sound system and get to class,” Chesney says. “When you have a dream, you’ll do whatever it takes. I’d like to bring some college students a little bit closer than I got… and I can’t wait to see the creativity everyone brings to this song.” “All The Pretty Girls” is the latest single from Chesney’s No. 1 Cosmic Hallelujah. Belmont and MTSU students can click here: www.KennyChesneyAllThePrettyGirls.com. Contest deadline is July 23. Winner will be announced July 31. “I wanna help a student filmmaker with school,” Chesney says. “And I want to give people a chance to get creative this summer.”

DAVID GRAY & ALISON KRAUSS ANNOUNCE FALL 2017 U.S. CO-HEADLINING TOUR

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David Gray and Alison Krauss on Country Music News!

21 CITY TOUR KICKS OFF SEPT. 18 IN HERSHEY, PA & INCLUDES SHOWS IN NEW YORK CITY (RADIO CITY MUSIC HALL, SEPT. 19), NASHVILLE (RYMAN, OCT. 1-2) & LOS ANGELES (GREEK THEATRE, OCT. 17) BEFORE ENDING IN BERKELEY, CA ON OCT. 19 Multi-Platinum artists Alison Krauss & David Gray will be touring together throughout the United States this fall. The 21 city, co-headlining tour kicks off on September 18 in Hershey, Pennsylvania, and finishes up in Berkeley, California on October 19, including concerts at Radio City Music Hall in New York City (September 19), the Greek Theatre in Los Angeles (October 17), and two nights at the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville (October 1-2). Ticketing information can be found at www.alisonkrauss.com and www.davidgray.com. ALISON KRAUSS Alison Krauss effortlessly bridges the gap between roots music and genres such as pop, rock, country and classical. She has released 14 albums and has sold more than 12 million records to date. With 27 wins, she is the most awarded female artist in GRAMMY history. Krauss recently released the critically acclaimed record Windy City, a collection of 10 classic country songs carefully selected with producer Buddy Cannon. Windy City debuted at #1 on the Country and Bluegrass Billboard charts. She has received a multitude of other honors throughout her career, including nine Country Music Association awards and 14 International Bluegrass Music Association awards. Alison has also contributed songs to numerous films, including O Brother, Where Art Thou? and Cold Mountain. Her 2007 platinum album Raising Sand with Robert Plant won six GRAMMY Awards including Album of the year, and was followed by 2011’s chart-topping, Paper Airplane with her longtime collaborators Union Station. DAVID GRAY David Gray has established himself as one of the UK’s leading artists both at home and overseas with a 25-year career marked by critical praise, numerous accolades and multi-platinum sales over the course of 10 album releases. The GRAMMY-nominated artist is known for his dynamic live shows and the energy behind his concerts exemplifies his deep and heartfelt music.  David Gray’s latest studio album Mutineers, found the singer-songwriter steering into unfamiliar territory while cultivating a respectful relationship with his own history. The release was hailed by The Guardian, who declared that there is “a rare comfort in hearing an artist in pursuit of joy.” In 2016, David released a greatest hits collection entitled The Best of that included a re-recorded 25th Anniversary version of “Shine” and new tracks “Smoke Without Fire” and “Enter Lightly.” David promoted the album with a multi-city North American tour and a performance of his international hit “Babylon” on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon. David is currently in the studio recording a new album which is set for release in 2018.   Tour Dates: September 18 – Hershey Theatre – Hershey, PA September 19 – Radio City Music Hall – New York, NY September 20 – The Mann Center for the Performing Arts – Philadelphia, PA September 22 – Blue Hills Bank Pavilion – Boston, MA September 23 – Merriweather Post Pavilion – Columbia, MD September 24 – Cary’s Booth Amphitheatre – Cary, NC September 28 – St. Augustine Amphitheatre – St. Augustine, FL September 29 – Continue reading DAVID GRAY & ALISON KRAUSS ANNOUNCE FALL 2017 U.S. CO-HEADLINING TOUR→

APA Nashville Signs Hudson Moore

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Hudson Moore on Country Music News

RISING COUNTRY RECORDING ARTIST HUDSON MOORE SIGNS WITH APA NASHVILLE Hudson Moore, the singer/songwriter who was recently named one of the 10 New Country Artists You Need To Know by Rolling Stone (click here), has signed with APA Nashville, it was announced today by Steve Lassiter, Partner and Head of Concerts for APA Nashville. Hudson, whose Spotify and Pandora streams have exceeded 3 million while his “Sand in the Bed” video accrued nearly 3 million views on YouTube, is known for his energetic and engaging live performances. The multi-instrumentalist was recently chosen for CMT’s Artist Discovery Program, and he has played alongside country superstars such as Alan Jackson, Rascal Flatts, Martina McBride and Hunter Hayes. “As a listener, I’ve always been equally drawn to the music, hooks and melodies as I have the lyrics,” says Moore. “Growing up listening to guys like Keith Urban and Vince Gill, I noticed the guitar was always at the forefront of their songs. That really stuck with me, and I think a lot of that sound has made its way into my music.” “Hudson Moore is the perfect addition to the APA Nashville family,” commented Lassiter. “His instrumental dexterity and passion for creating music set him apart in this industry, and we’re very excited to have him join our growing roster.” Moore continues to make waves in the country music scene and has captured the attention of national publications, including: Southernliving.com Fender Nash Country Daily Taste of Country The Boot AXS OneCountry Moore is also managed by Shawn Pennington of Pennington Entertainment. You can catch him on the road this summer on the following upcoming tour dates: June 17  – New Braunfels, TX – Whitewater Amphitheater w/ Pat Green + Mike Ryan July 4   – St. Louis, MO – Fair St. Louis w/ Dan + Shay & Jake Owen August 17  – Houston, TX – House of Blues Houston w/ Frankie Ballard August 18  – Dallas, TX –Granada Theatre w/ Frankie Ballard   For more information and a complete list of tour dates, visit http://www.hudsonmoore.net/.

Mighty Is The Pen: Shane McAnally

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Shane MacAnally on Country Music News

These days you can’t highlight one country music artist over another on social media without the inevitable “That’s not country music” comment getting spat back out at you from the readers, and to be honest, a lot of times us journalists tend to agree. For the fans, you listen to an hour or two (some quite a bit more) of country radio a day on your commute to work or as background music to get you through the things that need done. Meanwhile we get both the pleasure AND torture of listening to the flood of sounds coming out of Nashville and beyond nearly all day every day with the specific task of analyzing and tearing it apart to see what it’s made of. It’s a labor of love and sometimes we stumble across patterns long before the fans figure them out. For example, those artists that you love so much… that your soul finds shelter in the songs they sing… well, they’re getting by with the help of a particular friend and a mighty powerful pen! Enter Shane McAnally. He’s the guy that writes the songs that make the young girls cry. Or dance. Or laugh. Or raise a glass. While looking for the writing credits on a particular playlist we noticed that his name kept popping up on almost EVERY hit being played on Nash.FM. For example, here’s a list of songs Shane has written or co-written that you might not have realized were his: Body Like a Backroad – Performed by Sam Hunt Fingerprints – Performed by Eli Young Band Something’s Going On – Performed by Trace Adkins Black – Performed by Dierks Bentley Cosmic Hallelujah – Performed by Kenny Chesney Girl Problems – Performed by Chris Lane Hero – Performed by Maren Morris If I Told You – Performed by Darius Rucker Ripcord – Performed by Keith Urban Vice – Performed by Miranda Lambert 35 MPH Town – Performed by Toby Keith Kill The Lights – Performed by Luke Bryan Love Somebody – Performed by Reba McEntire Cold Beer Conversation – Performed by George Strait Tangled Up – Performed by Thomas Rhett 747 – Performed by Lady Antebellum For a complete list visit AllMusic.com The list goes on and on, and he markedly managed to manifest what seems like the entire soundtrack of the hit TV show Nashville, as well as held the pen behind literally HUNDREDS of chart-topping hits over the last decade. Next time you want to celebrate the song that soothed your soul, or curse the fact that so many these days sound the same, take a look at who’s behind the curtain… I’m pretty sure Shane McAnally will be there.  

Shania Twain Reveals New “NOW” Album Cover

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Shania Twain album art on Country Music News!

Canadian country songstress Shania Twain took to twitter to debut the cover art for her upcoming album. The record, simply titled “NOW” is set to release on September 29th, 2017, while the first single from the album is expected to impact country radio nationwide tomorrow, June 16th. Take a look at the cover art below and let us know what you think!

Charlie Daniels To Release New Version Of “Ragged Old Flag” On July 4th

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Few musical performers epitomize the American spirit with more passion and fervor than Country Music Hall of Fame member Charlie Daniels. The singer, who has sung of his unabashed patriotism time in and time out during his career, is showcasing his love of the Red, White, and Blue once again in his latest recording that will be available for sale digitally on July 4th via iTunes, Amazon, Google Play among other digital platforms. Daniels has recorded a stirring version of the Johnny Cash standard “Ragged Old Flag.” Written and recorded by “The Man In Black,” the song hit No. 31 on the Billboard Country Singles chart in 1974. The song still garners airplay during the summer months on Classic Country stations nationwide, particularly around the Fourth of July. Recording this song allowed Charlie to combine two of his biggest passions – his country and his love of Johnny Cash. Charlie is joined on this track by Mark “Oz” Geist, Benghazi Warrior/Survivor and co-author of “13 Hours: The Inside Account of What Really Happened in Benghazi.” “These lyrics are just as timely today as they were when Johnny originally recorded them over four decades ago,” said the Grand Ole Opry star. “The song demonstrates the passion and the love that we all should have for this country – and the freedoms that we enjoy with it,” he said. “Of course, it is always a joy to record a song written by the great Johnny Cash. He was an American original, and someone that I consider myself humbled and honored to call friend. Good songs, such as his, continue to remain in style.” Having just turned 80 last fall – just a few weeks after his induction into the Country Music Hall of Fame, Daniels is not slowing down in the slightest. He continues to tour across the country, and will release a new book, Never Look At The Empty Seats on October 24. The book will document his legendary career, as well as several of his many trips abroad in support of the United States Military.

GRETCHEN WILSON RELEASES NEW SINGLE

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Gretchen Wilson‘s new album Ready To Get ROWDY goes on sale this Friday, June 16, and today her Redneck Records label distributed her new single “Summertime Town” to Country radio via PlayMPE. “Sometimes a song idea is as simple as a great title,” said Gretchen about the single she wrote with Rob Hatch and Bridgette Tatum. “When you picture a summertime town in your head, you begin to imagine the romance and the heartache that could be attached to a place like that.” Gretchen wrote or co-wrote all 12 songs on Ready To Get ROWDY with some of Nashville’s best and most seasoned songwriters, and she produced the album with Blake Chancey (Dixie Chicks, Montgomery Gentry, Kellie Pickler.) Presale of the new album is available now at iTunes. About Gretchen Wilson: Gretchen Wilson exploded onto the country music scene with her smash hit “Redneck Woman” and has since scored three #1 albums. The critically-acclaimed singer/songwriter has won virtually every award for which she’s been nominated, including trophies from the Grammys, ACM, CMA, AMA and more. Her first book, the autobiographical “Redneck Woman: Stories from My Life,” landed her on the prestigious New York Times Best Seller List. She formed her own record company, Redneck Records, in 2009, and her I Got Your Country Right Here CD received two Grammy nominations. She released three albums in 2013: a new Country album entitled Right On Time, a 13-song Rock covers record Under The Covers, and her Christmas In My Heart holiday collection. After an almost three-year hiatus, she is back with her new album Ready to Get ROWDY, and her nationwide tour kicked off in Las Vegas last night. For more information, tour dates and more, visit www.GretchenWilson.com. Keep up with Gretchen at: www.Facebook.com/GretchenWilson https://twitter.com/gw27

Darius Rucker Finishes CMA Week Strong With Eighth Number One Hit

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Darius Rucker Tickets, Tour Dates, and Concert Details on Country Music On Tour!

DARIUS RUCKER SCORES EIGHTH NO. 1 WITH “IF I TOLD YOU” TO CAP OFF MOMENTOUS CMA FEST WEEK NASHVILLE, Tenn. – As Darius Rucker scores yet another No. 1 at Country radio with “If I Told You,” the first single from his forthcoming fifth studio album on Capitol Records Nashville, he looks back on a banner week. “If I Told You” is the eighth No. 1 single for Rucker since his debut in country music in 2008 and comes just a week after another milestone moment for the three-time GRAMMY Award winner, who reached the $1.2 million mark with his yearly kickoff to CMA Fest, the “Darius and Friends” concert and golf tournament to raise funds for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital®. Friends including Brooks & Dunn, Luke Combs, Dan + Shay, John Oates of legendary pop duo Hall & Oates were among those who helped the event reach its record-breaking achievement. On Wednesday morning Rucker visited TODAY’s Kathie Lee and Hoda at Honky Tonk Central in Nashville, presenting two worthy recipients of new homes through his partnership with Ply Gem and Habitat for Humanity’s Home Builders Blitz and serenading the crowd with a performance of “If I Told You.” “If I Told You” marks Rucker’s first collaboration with producer Ross Copperman. The song was written with Copperman’s co-writers Jon Nite and Shane McAnally. “I love this time in country music,” Rucker said. “It’s so wide in range and to have this song — a ballad and one I’ve loved and related to since first hearing the worktape — is pretty incredible.” On Wednesday evening the CMT Performance of the Year nominated star helped kick off the awards show as he joined Jason Aldean and Charles Kelley for a rendition of “Midnight Rider” in tribute to Gregg Allman, as well as reprising his role as CMT president for the second year in a skit airing at the top of the show. Acting as CMT president follows a long list of acting accolades Rucker has collected this year, including playing Johnny Bragg, lead singer of the Prisonaires on CMT’s Sun Records and a career criminal on Hawaii Five-0. Rucker closed out 2017’s CMA Music Fest with performances dedicated to the fans that make the week so special, performing at the HGTV Lodge on Sunday morning and Nissan Stadium Sunday evening. In celebration of the imminent No. 1 status of the first offering of his fall 2017 album, Rucker welcomed Little Big Town’s Karen Fairchild for a compelling duet of “If I Told You,” expressing to the crowd, “Thank you for believing in this song!” The emotional rendition had the crowd on their feet and in tears as Rucker and Fairchild crooned “I’ll love you anyway” to each other from either side of the stadium stage. Rucker’s as-yet-untitled fifth Capitol Records Nashville album will be released later this year with Copperman at the helm. It will be yet another signature moment in the multiplatinum career of one of music’s most beloved figures. Rucker has never been busier while working on his new album with a slate of television appearances this spring and summer that show just how popular he is, including his own CMT Crossroads episode with John Mellencamp. He also appeared Continue reading Darius Rucker Finishes CMA Week Strong With Eighth Number One Hit→

New Documentary From Noisey Explores Outlaw Country Influence

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Noisey news on Country Music News Blog

The often-controversial always-deep-digging journalist team over at Vice’s “Noisey” division have been diving into music history as they take a hard look at the outlaws of country music and explore the way they influence the industry today. Shooter Jennings and Sam Hunt join in on the conversation as they talk about how Waylon, Willie, Johnny, and Merle are to this day the driving force behind stepping outside of the Nashville template and finding a unique sound in the country music world. *Please note there is strong language and drug use in this video which means you may not want to watch it at work, but let’s not pretend our country forefathers weren’t doing the same things 😉 The Noisey documentary series, Under the Influence, takes a deeper look at the stories and lasting impacts of the world’s most influential music scenes. Sponsored by Pandora Premium, Noisey interviews today’s outlaws including Margo Price, Nikki Lane, Shooter Jennings, Jelly Roll and more to understand the genre’s origins in the American West to now. The documentary spotlights the influential original outlaws including Johnny Cash, Willie Nelson, Kris Kristofferson and Waylon Jennings. Noisey travels with Margo Price to Denver to the Sundance Cultivation Center, a medical marijuana facility inspired by Willie nelson’s career on the road. Margo explains what drew her to Outlaw Country and why she relates to Willie Nelson as she self-medicates. Waylon Jennings’ son, Shooter, speaks on his father being a pioneer influencer while his grandson, Struggle Jennings, shows how he combines country and hip-hop with the rapper Jelly Roll. Keeping its independent spirit alive today, these artists explain what the term “outlaw” means to them and how the new generation is finding success by combing country music with R&B, Rap, Rock and other genres. How Outlaw Country Keeps the Renegade Independent Spirit Alive: https://noisey.vice.com/en_us/article/under-the-influence-outlaw-country   Listen to Noisey’s Outlaw Country mixtape on Pandora. Save Save