Blackhawk’s Dave Robbins Reveals the Secret that Nearly Destroyed Him in a New Short Film

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PLANO, Texas, February 14, 2017 – I Am Second, a storytelling movement meant to inspire others, today released a short film on IAmSecond.com featuring country music writer and Blackhawk founding band member Dave Robbins. The film, which is part of I Am Second’s White Chair Film Series, features Dave and his wife Mary Lynn sharing honestly about the struggles that nearly ended their marriage.Dave Robbins has been in the country music business for more than 25 years, writing songs that have fueled the careers of artists who illuminate his body of work through the refracted light of their own interpretations. In 1983, he helped pen his first No. 1 hit, “All My Life,” which crossover-king Kenny Rogers took to the top of the AC charts. Dave Robbins soon became instrumental in the success of country band Restless Heart, composing several of their hits including “The Bluest Eyes In Texas,” which was a No. 1 hit in 1988 and remains a country standard today. Dave Robbins is best known as a founding member of the multi-platinum country band, Blackhawk, which he joined in the early 1990s and for whom he plays keyboards and occasionally sings. He also co-wrote the band’s No. 1 hit song, “Every Once In A While,” which catapulted Blackhawk to fame and spurred sales of more than 7 million albums. Today, in addition to Blackhawk, Dave Robbins also tours with the Southern rock band, The Outlaws. But while Dave Robbins has had great success in the public eye, his personal life has been a different story. “Fifteen months ago I thought my life was over,” he confesses in the new I Am Second short film. Dave Robbins said he has spent an entire lifetime struggling with temptation including alcohol, sex and porn. Seven years into his marriage with his wife Mary Lynn, his infidelity nearly ruined the couple’s marriage. “I got sober and thought that would fix everything and all the other stuff would stop as well,” Dave Robbins said. “Eventually, going down the path I was and the more success I got in my career, I thought I could have what I wanted and do what I wanted to do. I created this dual life.” His behavior led him to relationships with other women outside of his marriage. “I kept my wife in the dark about everything … I was present but not present,” he said. Before he knew it, he was in too deep. Having run out of lies, his wife figured out what was happening. “I’ve read that infidelity is – next to the death of a child – the worst pain,” Mary Lynn Robbins said in a cameo in the I Am Second film. “You’re in this pit and you don’t feel like there’s any way out. And then you have to tell your kids … “It is so hard to believe that anyone can come home to their family and lie to them like he did,” she continues. Dave Robbins admits it was a tough Continue reading Blackhawk’s Dave Robbins Reveals the Secret that Nearly Destroyed Him in a New Short Film

STEVE MOAKLER TO HEADLINE HIGHWAY FINDS TOUR

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STEVE MOAKLER TO HEADLINE INAUGURAL THE HIGHWAY FINDS TOUR PRESENTED BY SIRIUSXM AND LIVE NATION SiriusXM’s first ever country tour kicks off March 16 After a string of successful releases on SiriusXM’s “The Highway,” Steve Moakler will headline The Highway Finds Tour this spring, with special guests Drew Baldridge and Smithfield. The singer-songwriter, who launched as a Highway Find in 2016 and has since climbed the chart on “The Highway” with two successful singles, will headline the 26-city tour, crisscrossing the country beginning March 16. The Highway Finds Tour is the first ever country tour initiative by SiriusXM’s “The Highway” and will include stops in Boston, New York, Nashville, Chicago and more. “This will be our fourth consecutive spring headline tour, but I can already tell this one is going to be on another level,” said Moakler. “Between ‘The Highway’’s support, a brand new album, and two great opening acts, I think these are going to be our most exciting shows to date. I can’t wait to get out and connect with all of our listeners, both new and old!” Moakler has had success with back-to-back hits, “Suitcase” and “Love Drunk.” The “in-demand artist” (Taste of Country) has also landed on more than 20 “artist to watch” lists including CMT, Huffington Post, Nashville Lifestyles, Rolling Stone Country and more. His energetic 60+-minute set will include SiriusXM favorites, as well as new music from his soon-to-be-announced, forthcoming album due later this year. “We’re extremely excited to announce The Highway Finds Tour, as an excellent opportunity to showcase these tremendous talents!,” said J.R. Schumann, Senior Director, Music Programming, SiriusXM. “As we continue our commitment to discovering and breaking new artists, this tour is a natural extension. This is going to be a lot of fun!” Last summer Moakler joined Billy Currington and Kelsea Ballerini on the Summer Forever Tour. He was then tapped as direct support on Old Dominion’s Meat and Candy Tour through the end of 2016. The Pittsburgh native moved to Nashville in 2006 to pursue a career in music and has since established himself as a prominent songwriter, penning numerous songs recorded by artists like Jake Owen, Ben Rector and, most recently, Dierks Bentley with his chart success and title track, “Riser.” For more information on Steve Moakler, visit www.stevemoakler.com.

Ned LeDoux Makes Opry Debut

Recording artist Ned LeDoux made his Grand Ole Opry debut at the Ryman Auditorium Friday night. The son of the late great Chris LeDoux performed his new single “Brother Highway” from his EP Forever a Cowboy. “What an honor it is to be here tonight,” said Ned LeDoux on making his debut at the Grand Ole Opry at the Ryman. “My Dad never had the opportunity to play the Ryman stage, but I know he’s standing right here next to me tonight having that chance now.” “Brother Highway” was co-written with Mark Sissel, a founding member and guitar player in his Dad’s band Western Underground. Making his Opry debut even more poignant, Sissel played guitar for the younger LeDoux Friday night as he performed “Brother Highway.” Ned closed his Opry debut with an emotional and stunning acoustic performance of “The Hawk,” a song he wrote as a tribute to his Dad, and is also included on Forever A Cowboy. Forever a Cowboy, produced by award-winning Mac McAnally and distributed by Thirty Tigers, includes “We Ain’t Got It All,” the first new Chris LeDoux co-write in over two decades. When Ned’s mom passed along a stack of his dad’s papers that included a list of unfinished song ideas and lyrics, Ned packed them up and travelled to Nashville to work with McAnally where they finished one of the ideas which became “We Ain’t Got It All,” – a brand new song by Chris LeDoux, co-written with his son Ned and McAnally. The song has now become Ned’s personal favorite to sing on the road because it’s the first original song he co-wrote with his Dad. He feels it is a nice tribute as it seems to pick up right where his Dad left off and carries on the LeDoux sound to and from a new generation. Click HERE to hear Ned talk about his inspiration for Forever a Cowboy and carrying on his Dad’s legacy while at the same time forging his own. Forever a Cowboy Track Listing: 1)  “We Ain’t Got It All”         (Ned LeDoux, Chris LeDoux, Mac McAnally) 2)  “Brother Highway”           (Ned LeDoux, Mark Sissel) 3)  “Forever a Cowboy”         (Ned LeDoux, Chris LeDoux, Mac McAnally) 4)  “Johnson County War”     (Chris LeDoux) 5)  “The Hawk”                      (Ned LeDoux) Click HERE to purchase Forever A Cowboy. About Ned LeDoux: It has been over 11 years since Chris LeDoux passed and Ned believes that people want to hear something new. The timing couldn’t be more right for him to pick up a guitar and belt out “Western Skies.” Having been a drummer in Chris’s band Western Underground since 1998, Ned knew from an early age that he had “no plan b” but to play music, “Once I got the taste of the road, and being in front of a crowd and just the sound of it, it was…freedom.” When his dad passed away in Continue reading Ned LeDoux Makes Opry Debut

Maren Morris and More to perform at 59th Annual Grammy’s

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GRAMMY® MOMENTS SET WITH  MAREN MORRIS AND ALICIA KEYS; ANDERSON .PAAK JOINING A TRIBE CALLED QUEST AND DAVE GROHL; AND THE WEEKND WITH DAFT PUNK ON THE 59TH ANNUAL GRAMMY AWARDS® Music’s Biggest Night® — Hosted By James Corden — Airs Live On CBS, Feb. 12, 2017 The Recording Academy® has expanded its lineup for the 59th Annual GRAMMY Awards® with a series of debuts and collaborations poised to make for some incredible GRAMMY® Moments. Holding four nominations, including Best New Artist, Maren Morris will perform with 15-time GRAMMY winner Alicia Keys, who received the Best New Artist award in 2002; two-time nominee and fellow Best New Artist contender Anderson .Paak will join legendary hip-hop group A Tribe Called Quest, who hold four previous GRAMMY nominations, along with 15-time GRAMMY winner Dave Grohl; and two-time GRAMMY winner and current nominee The Weeknd is set to perform with six-time GRAMMY winners Daft Punk. Today’s round of artists join previously announced performers Adele, John Legend, Bruno Mars, Metallica, Carrie Underwood, and Keith Urban. Award-winning television personality and performer James Corden is set to host Music’s Biggest Night® for the first time. Taking place at STAPLES Center in Los Angeles, the 59th Annual GRAMMY Awards will be broadcast live in HDTV and 5.1 surround sound on the CBS Television Network, Sunday, Feb. 12, 2017, at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT. Additional performers will be announced shortly. Morris is nominated for four GRAMMY Awards this year: Best New Artist, Best Country Album (HERO), Best Country Song (“My Church”), and Best Country Solo Performance (“My Church”). .Paak is nominated for Best New Artist and Best Urban Contemporary Album (Malibu). Two-time GRAMMY winner The Weeknd is currently nominated as a featured artist on Beyoncé’s Lemonade. The 59th Annual GRAMMY Awards are produced by AEG Ehrlich Ventures for The Recording Academy. Ken Ehrlich is executive producer, Louis J. Horvitz is director, Ben Winston is a producer, and David Wild and Ehrlich are the writers. For the latest news and content, follow the GRAMMY conversation on social: Facebook https://www.facebook.com/RecordingAcademy Twitter https://twitter.com/RecordingAcad Instagram https://www.instagram.com/RecordingAcademy/ Snapchat ‘recordingacad’ Tumblr http://recordingacademy.tumblr.com/ YouTube https://www.youtube.com/RecordingAcademy Hashtag #GRAMMYs

Luke Bryan to Kick Off Super Bowl!

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Country music superstar LUKE BRYAN will sing the National Anthem as part of Super Bowl LI pregame festivities at NRG Stadium in Houston on Sunday, February 5, the NFL and FOX announced today. The performance will be televised live on FOX prior to kickoff. The Super Bowl is annually the most-watched television program. Bryan’s performance of the National Anthem in Houston will be his first time appearing on the Super Bowl stage. Get tickets to all the Super Bowl action from our trusted partners at Country Music On Tour! Bryan is a two-time Academy of Country Music and Country Music Association Entertainer of the Year and has hosted the ACM Awards for four consecutive years. Since the debut of his first album in 2007, he has placed 17 singles at No.1 and sold nearly eight million albums. His fifth studio album, Kill The Lights, is certified Platinum and has sold 3.5 million tracks with over 400 million streams. Bryan joins the ranks of many great performers who have sang the Super Bowl National Anthem including: Lady Gaga, Idina Menzel, Renee Fleming, Alicia Keys, Billy Joel, Diana Ross, Neil Diamond, Whitney Houston, Harry Connick Jr., Garth Brooks, Natalie Cole, Vanessa Williams, Luther Vandross, Cher, Faith Hill, Mariah Carey, Dixie Chicks, Beyonce Knowles, Christina Aguilera and many more. In addition, on behalf of the National Association of the Deaf (NAD), actor KRISTON LEE PUMPHREY will perform in American Sign Language both the National Anthem and “America The Beautiful.” The NFL previously announced that LADY GAGA, who performed the National Anthem prior to Super Bowl 50, will headline the Pepsi Zero Sugar Super Bowl LI Halftime Show. The pregame and halftime shows are an NFL NETWORK PRODUCTION and will be executive produced by RICKY KIRSHNER.

KELSEA BALLERINI NAMED FEATURED ENTERTAINER FOR 2017 SYMPHONY FASHION SHOW

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Best New Artist GRAMMY® nominee and Black River recording artist Kelsea Ballerini will be the featured entertainer for the 2017 Symphony Fashion Show, taking place on Tuesday, April 18, 2017 at Schermerhorn Symphony Center in Nashville, Tennessee. Ballerini will join featured designer Zac Posen for the star-studded, 12th edition of the annual event. Former Miss Tennessee, actress and television personality Allison DeMarcus will emcee the event, with Janet Ayers serving as honorary chair. Shaun Inman and Sheila Shields, co-chairs of the 2017 Symphony Fashion Show, made the announcement during the Symphony Fashion Show kickoff party at Gus Mayer. “Kelsea Ballerini is a one-of-a-kind talent whose gorgeous voice and incredible songs have already garnered her a host of awards and recognitions,” Inman and Shields said, “including her recent GRAMMY® and People’s Choice Awards nominations and a No. 2 ranking on the Forbes ‘30 Under 30’ list for 2017. Pairing her with renowned designer Zac Posen for the Symphony Fashion Show brings together two young stars at the top of their respective professions and adds even more excitement and energy to what is already one of Music City’s most glamorous and stunning annual events. It promises to be a magical evening, and we can’t wait to hear Kelsea perform for a sellout crowd in April!” Though only 23 years old, Ballerini has already skyrocketed into the spotlight thanks to her innovative vision, passionate ambition, natural-born talent and genuine charm. Dubbed “Country’s Next Queen” by Billboard, the Knoxville, Tennessee, native continues to blaze her own trail to superstardom as she is the only female artist in country music history, including female duos and groups, to go No. 1 with her first three consecutive singles from a debut album. Ballerini is currently climbing the country radio charts with the single “Yeah Boy.” Ballerini’s 2015 critically acclaimed Gold-certified stunner The First Time has earned her high praise from fans and the music press, and has delivered the Platinum-certified hits “Love Me Like You Mean It” and “Peter Pan,” and the Gold-certified “Dibs.” With a co-host spot alongside Arsenio Hall on ABC’s summer replacement series Greatest Hits and critics gushing over her live shows, Ballerini continues to earn awards and accolades, including her first ACM Award for New Female Vocalist of the Year, the fan-voted Radio Disney Music Award for The Freshest – Best New Artist (all genre) and the American Country Countdown Award (ACCA) for Breakthrough Female of the Year. In addition, Ballerini has become familiar face on the iconic Grand Ole Opry stage. The Symphony Fashion Show is one of Nashville’s leading runway shows and is presented through a partnership between the Symphony and Gus Mayer of Nashville. Proceeds from the Symphony Fashion Show help support the Nashville Symphony’s artistic, education and community engagement programs, which annually reach tens of thousands of children and adults through concerts, free performances and instruction, classroom curriculum and more. Tickets for the 2017 Symphony Fashion Show will go on sale in March. More information is available at NashvilleSymphony.org/fashionshow. Continue reading KELSEA BALLERINI NAMED FEATURED ENTERTAINER FOR 2017 SYMPHONY FASHION SHOW

MIRANDA LAMBERT’S THE WEIGHT OF THESE WINGS SOARS INTO 2017

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MULTIPLE GRAMMY NOMINATION’S TOPS 2016 CRITIC’S YEAR END LISTS HIGHWAY VAGABOND TOUR Vanner Records/RCA Records Nashville GRAMMY Award-winner Miranda Lambert’s new album, The Weight Of These Wings, ends 2016, and kicks off 2017 on a high note. The new release, The Weight Of These Wings, not only debuted at No.1 on the Billboard Country Albums Chart and No. 3 on the Billboard Top 200 Chart, it spawned two GRAMMY Award nominations for BEST COUNTRY SOLO PERFORMANCE and BEST COUNTRY SONG for the album’s lead single “Vice.” Also, The Weight Of These Wings has appeared on numerous music critic’s 2016 Year End Best of Lists including Billboard (#1), Rolling Stone (#2), Us Weekly (#2), Cosmopolitan (#4), Variety (#4), Entertainment Weekly (#5), Vulture (#7) and NPR (#9) amongst many others. In addition, the song “Highway Vagabond” which appears among the 24 tracks that comprise the album, has lent its title for Lambert’s new tour aptly called the Highway Vagabond Tour which kicks off January 26th in Evansville, Indiana. Lambert’s sixth studio album, The Weight Of These Wings, has continued to garner praise from the media: “It is, though, Lambert’s least exuberant album, and also her best—one of the year’s best, in fact.” – The New Yorker “If ever there was any question, this multifaceted and distinctly modern work ought to lay it to rest: Lambert is the most fascinating and unfettered singer-songwriter of her country generation.” – NPR “On her 24-track double album, the new country generation’s leading outlaw balances humor, regret, love and anger in the brutally blunt way that only she can.” – Rolling Stone “…her piercing voice breaks in just the right places when her mood grows downcast, and explodes into colorful curlicues when she’s enthused, or peeved.” – The New York Times “…marvelous 24-track masterwork.” – Us Weekly “ ‘The Weight of These Wings’ matches the take-no-prisoners attitude of her lyrics with music that travels unexpected routes but often winds up touching the soul.” – The Boston Globe “Across 24 contemplative songs, Lambert aches without wallowing. She daydreams without self-delusion. And that brilliant twang in her voice sounds more anchored, more experienced. If sorrow can congeal into wisdom, this is what it sounds like.” – The Washington Post The Weight Of These Wings, Lambert’s double album, is produced by Frank Liddell, Glenn Worf, and Eric Masse. About Miranda Lambert: Vanner Records/RCA Records Nashville singer/songwriter Miranda Lambert touts six studio albums to her repertoire; Kerosene (2005), Crazy Ex-Girlfriend (2007), Revolution (2009), Four The Record (2011) and Platinum (2014), the latter earning Lambert a GRAMMY Award for Best Country Album, in addition to her previous GRAMMY win for Best Female Country Vocal Performance in 2010 for “The House That Built Me.” The Texas native released her sixth album, The Weight Of These Wings, on November 18, 2016. The first song released from The Weight Of These Wings, “Vice,” hit the Country Radio airwaves with a tally of 109 first week monitored reporting stations spinning the new song.  Her second single “We Continue reading MIRANDA LAMBERT’S THE WEIGHT OF THESE WINGS SOARS INTO 2017

CHASE RICE’S UPCOMING “PUB SHOWS” REMINISCENT OF EARLY DIVE BAR DAYS

The “dominating” performer and hit singer/songwriter will debut new songs from his forthcoming studio album for fans during a limited series of up-close, intimate shows in March From the moment he first picked up a guitar and started writing songs, Chase Rice knew that live shows would be the keystone of his music career. Having studied the mastery of entertainers like Blink 182, Kenny Chesney, Eric Church, Eminem and the Foo Fighters as a fan, Rice cut his own teeth as a performer playing every dive bar he could, sometimes playing to just a handful of people. The crowds have steadily grown over time as Rice has honed his craft, demanding as much of his audience as he does of himself and developing a uniquely unvarnished ability to connect with each and every person in the room when he takes the stage. Taste of Country calls Rice “a dominating presence in any room” and AXS notes that “he will have you hooked from the time you walk in the doors to the time you leave.” While his live show has evolved from dive bars and clubs to some of the country’s premiere festivals and stadiums, Rice fiercely guards that close connection with his fans and is revisiting his roots for a limited series of shows – aptly dubbed the “Pub Shows” after Rice’s own traveling backstage hang, “Pub 44” – bringing that intimate vibe to fans at select venues on March 23, 24 and 25. Get tickets to see Chase Rice from our partners at CountryMusicOnTour.com! “We’ve been touring nonstop for the past six years and have had the opportunity to play some of the biggest stages in the country, which has been incredible,” said Rice. “The fans have shown up and been there for us every day since the very beginning, so we wanted to do something for them and give them a different vibe and experience with some of these smaller shows. We’ve poured a lot into this album, and I can’t wait to get out there and share our new songs with fans face-to-face.” With his current single “Everybody We Know Does” climbing at country radio and a new studio album expected out this summer via Columbia Nashville / Dack Janiels Records, Rice is carefully curating a fresh set list for his upcoming live shows centered around the new music and will be giving fans the first listen to new songs starting in March. The inaugural Pub Shows will take place Thursday, March 23 at Brewhouse Music & Grill in Rome, Ga.; Friday, March 24 at Bluewater Bar & Grill in Valdosta, Ga and Saturday, March 25 at Dillinger’s in Americus, Ga. Tickets for the first three Pub Shows are available now. To purchase tickets and get more information on additional tour dates, visit www.chaserice.com or follow on Twitter @ChaseRiceMusic and www.Facebook.com/ChaseRiceMusic.

Lady Antebellum “You Look Good” Video and Tour Details!

Country music’s favorite power trio is back! Lady Antebellum give it to us hot in their new track “You Look Good”, releasing the video for it today. This is the lead single from their upcoming album, Heartbreak, set to release June 9th. Lady Antebellum will be hitting the road to support the new album on the “You Look Good Tour” which kicks off May 26th! Check out the video for “You Look Good” right here on Country Music News Blog! Get tickets and tour details from our partners at Country Music On Tour!

ELI YOUNG BAND SAFE AFTER OVERNIGHT FIRE – BUS & TRAILER TOTAL LOSS

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Eli Young Band received a frightening call last night from their long-time driver Randy Moore with news that one of their two busses, the band bus and trailer, were on fire. Parked just outside of Topeka, Kansas, where Moore was planning to sleep for the night in route to the band’s next show, the blaze broke out close to midnight.  Moore was just about to fall asleep, when suddenly, he heard an alarm that he had never heard before. Moore went to the front to look out the window and realized that the bus was engulfed in flames.  He immediately jumped into action and was thankfully able to escape unharmed, as it was only minutes before the bus was a complete loss. Randy also managed to save one of the chart-topping band’s guitars in the process, but everything else in the bus and trailer was destroyed by the fire. “We’ve lost more than a bus here. There are memories and possessions that we can’t replace! It’s really sad to see her go. We’re just happy that our driver Randy is safe!” said lead singer Mike Eli. Bass player Jon Jones added, “We spent six great years living and traveling in our bus. It was gone in a matter of minutes. Thank goodness that everyone is safe. Our driver, Randy, was able to grab one guitar but the rest is gone. This is a sad moment. So many great memories and things collected over the years that can’t be replaced but we know how much worse it could have been.” Eli Young Band will resume their tour schedule this Friday (1/20), in Mahnomen, Minnesota with stops over the next few weeks in North Dakota, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Wisconsin and Indiana prior to heading to the West Coast. For more information about the band or upcoming dates log onto www.eliyoungband.com.