Hey Nashville fans, here’s a heads up that HAYDEN PANETTIERE will visit “LIVE with Kelly” this Thursday, January 5 to chat about the new season of “Nashville” with Kelly Ripa and guest co-host Chris Hardwick.
Continuing the tradition of presenting the top stories in country music, another all-new episode of the “The Pickup” features a look at Brad Paisley’s new exhibit at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum, a special holiday engagement, the new season of “Nashville” debuting on CMT, a new Pickup-and-Coming, a tribute to artists who left us in 2016 and more. The Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum has opened a new exhibit through May 14 taking a glimpse into Brad Paisley’s illustrious career thus far. The exhibit features the “Today” singer’s first guitar, some of his many awards and even a letter to Santa. The holidays are a popular time for engagements and that proved true when Kelsea Ballerini announced hers on Instagram. She posted her engagement photo with Morgan Evans appropriately hash tagging it with ‘#HeCalledDibs.’ According to a Facebook post from daughter Pam Tillis, Mel Tillis is out of the hospital and home in Florida. The good news came after many prayers and well wishes were extended to the songwriting legend from fans and friends in the industry alike. CMT will debut the fifth season of “Nashville” on January 5 promising more music than ever before for the popular series that has shined a national spotlight on Music City. If fans miss the premiere, they can see it on demand in multiple places. The latest edition of the Pickup-and-Coming features country newcomer Nick Brennan and his single “Buck Naked.” To hear the hilarious and thoughtfully written tune and learn more about Brennan, fans can head to NickBrennanMusic.com. A number one party for Keith Urban’s “Wasted Time” hit was held at Nashville’s newest hotel The Westin with the songwriters of the song. Urban said that the song was written by accident when he crashed the writing session that the two co-writers had previously scheduled. The hitmaker helped Nashville ring in the New Year with a performance on New Years Eve downtown, The Pickup will have more on that in the next edition, so stay tuned! In this episode, The Pickup pays tribute to artists who passed away in 2016, but whose music lives on. The memoriam includes Merle Haggard, Glenn Frey (The Eagles), Joey Feek, Sonny James, Guy Clark, Ralph Stanley, Jean Shepard, Holly Dunn and Bonnie Brown (The Browns). Keep on the lookout for the next episode, which will include Jeannie Seely dishing on her new album of originals, “Written In Song.” Check out the latest episode of The Pickup here: http://www.viewbix.com/v/The-Pickup–48/bef58f3c-dfaf-4ee0-8e98-d6cf46b19a6e ABOUT THE PICKUP: Launched in early 2015, The Pickup, a syndicated country video news series produced by The Hot Seat, highlights today’s stars and classic country artists making news today. New episodes are posted on the 1st and 15th of each month. The Pickup, hosted and produced by Adam Wurtzel, can be seen on the websites of broadcasters across the country (Nash Icon, HankFM, Midwest Communications, Zimmer Communications’ 94.3 KAT Country, etc.), online media blogs, the U.K.’s SKY Television, Heartland Network, and Sandy Zimmerman’s Continue reading BRAD PAISLEY, KELSEA BALLERINI, MEL TILLIS, NASHVILLE ON CMT, 2016 IN MEMORIAM AND MORE FEATURED IN THIS EDITION OF ‘THE PICKUP’
Blake Shelton, Eric Church, Thomas Rhett, and Alabama to Headline Festival CADOTT, Wis. – Country Fest is excited to announce its 2017 daily lineup and single day general admission ticket sales. For the past 30 years Country Fest has brought some of the biggest Country acts to the area and it continues that tradition this year. The iconic lineup will feature performances by award-winning artists Blake Shelton, Eric Church, Thomas Rhett, and Alabama. Country music superstar, Platinum-selling recording artist, and star of The Voice Blake Shelton is on fire after taking home the trophy for “Favorite Country Male Artist” at the 2016 American Music Awards. The Grammy-nominee isn’t slowing down as his latest album, “If I’m Honest,” debuted #1 on the Billboard Top Album Sales Chart and the Billboard Country Album Chart. “Performing for an audience is what I love most and if you’re coming to see me, you’re coming to hear country music, because that’s what I do,” said Shelton. “So get ready as we’re going to be ‘Doin’ it to Country Songs’ all night long!” Eric Church shocked the country world last November when he became the first country artist to pull off a surprise album drop. Church has become one of country’s most established artists over the past decade and he backed it up with the Country Music Award for his latest album release “Mr. Misunderstood”. This is the second time Church has taken home the coveted Album of the Year trophy. “We surprised everybody with this album on this stage a year ago, and trusted the fans, and gave it to the fans first,” said Church at the Country Music Awards. “And it’s because of the fans that this happened. And I love you, and thank you.” Platinum-selling Thomas Rhett is one of country music’s elite new artists. Rhett burst onto the country scene in 2013 with his debut album “It Goes Like This,” and has reached a higher profile with his sophomore album, “Tangled Up.” Three singles off the album have topped country-music charts during the last year in “Crash and Burn,” “Die a Happy Man” and “T-Shirt,” all while the album has been certified platinum. Alabama accomplished a feat that had never been achieved before by becoming first country group to go triple-platinum. They’ve blazed a trail for artists such as Kenny Chesney and Luke Bryan with 21 Gold, Platinum, and Multi-Platinum albums, 43 #1 singles, and over 73 million records sold. Add that to over 150 industry awards including eight country music “Entertainer of the Year” honors, two Grammys, two People’s Choice Awards, and their very own star on the “Hollywood Walk of Fame.” The band that “made country music bands popular again” continues to be an inspiration. The lineup also includes Chris Young, one of the most identifiable young male voices in country music, with hit singles such as “The Man I Want to Be,” and “Tomorrow.” In addition, Grammy award-winning artists such as The Oak Ridge Boys and Wynonna Judd with Continue reading Country Fest Announces 2017 Daily Lineup
The Canadian songstress Shania Twain took to twitter to wish fans a happy new year, and along with it, spilled the beans that she is working on new music too! Any new release from the queen of country crossovers would be the first in 6 years. Happy New Year! Thank you for all your continued support. So excited to share new music with you this year. 2017, i’m gonna getcha good 😘 pic.twitter.com/WAAOnIxBvT — Shania Twain (@ShaniaTwain) January 1, 2017 Her last single, “Today Is Your Day” came out in 2011 to less than phenomenal fanfair compared to her 2009 album “Come On Over” which was a chart-blasting success. In recent years Shania has limited herself to select television appearances and residencies in premium Las Vegas venues. A new album would most likely mean a new tour and all the publicity that surrounds it.
Three-time IBMA Entertainers of the Year and multi-Grammy®-nominated super duo Dailey & Vincent have been invited to become official members of the Grand Ole Opry. The pair returned to the Opry at the Ryman Auditorium tonight to celebrate the kick-off of its 10th year as a duo, which began on the Opry at the Ryman stage in 2007. The night also marked the duo’s 100th Opry appearance. The duo will be formally inducted into the Opry on Saturday, March 11. During a special half-hour Dailey & Vincent set, the two were joined by a series of guests including Opry members Marty Stuart and Connie Smith as well as John Carter Cash and his wife Ana Cristina in addition to Dailey’s father JB Dailey and Vincent’s mother Carolyn Vincent. After a performance with the duo, Stuart gave Jamie Dailey and Darrin Vincent the surprise of their lives, inviting the duo to officially join the Opry. “Country music needs you. Country music loves you. And the Grand Ole Opry welcomes you,” Stuart said. “This is one of the most special things that has ever happened to us,” a shocked Dailey said after a few seconds of stunned silence. “We’re so thankful.” Before closing out the show along with their guests on the gospel favorite “This Old House,” and equally surprised Vincent shared, “I have no words. I’m so honored. The Lord is so faithful to us.” “Dailey & Vincent have thoroughly entertained thousands of fans on the Opry stage over the past decade,” said Opry Vice President and General Manager Pete Fisher. Jamie Dailey and Darrin Vincent embody so much about what fans love about the Opry. They have a tremendous respect for tradition, and they’re also innovators committed to the future of the music they love. We’re excited to welcome them as official members of the family in March.” Crystal Gayle is set to be inducted into the Opry by her sister Loretta Lynn on Saturday, January 21. Other artists scheduled to play the Opry in early 2017 include Brandy Clark, Chris Janson, Ricky Skaggs, and Josh Turner, among many others.
*CountryMusicNewsBlog.com has not received any payment or product for this post. We just really love the ChordBuddy and wanted you to know about it in case someone you love has a shiny new guitar and needs help learning how to play it. Here at CMNB we’re all about bringing MORE music into the world in any way we can get it! ~WC Music plays a significant role in nearly everyone’s life, but for some people it represents much more than an invitation to dance or a soundtrack for the morning commute. Researchers have found that music therapy provides a diversion from negative feelings and helps manage the pain of not only adults, but of children with developmental, physical, behavioral, and neurological disabilities. It also increases range of motion and motor skills, and in some cases is a replacement for medication. In short, its therapeutic uses are many. “Music is invaluable to people with special needs, allowing them to express themselves non-verbally,” says Travis Perry, a music teacher for more than 35 years and inventor of ChordBuddy (www.chordbuddy.com), a device that makes guitar-learning easier for anyone – including those with disabilities. “Veterans can use music to help cope with PTSD as well as other physical injuries. Senior citizens can learn to play the guitar, which helps build hand strength.” One recent study showed that music therapy can even help children cope with routine immunizations, making them less stressed – and their parents less stressed as well. While music therapy is known to be fruitful for the person needing therapy, the results also can be a gratifying for the teacher. Perry says he’s found it especially satisfying to teach the guitar to autistic children, who can be challenging but ultimately rewarding pupils. In fact, a small number of people with autism are musical savants, according to the American Music Therapy Association, but all benefit from music therapy interventions to enhance their social, communicative and motor skills, among other needs. Generally, children with autism aren’t able to make what would be considered a pleasing sound on the guitar without some assistance. Perry uses his invention to help them. Instead of positioning their hand into the correct chord positions – often tricky for even able-bodied learners – they can just press a tab that results in a clear, strong chord sound. Perry, who has appeared on the popular TV show Shark Tank, didn’t actually have music therapy or people with special needs in mind when he invented ChordBuddy. He was trying to help his daughter learn to play and her frustration became his inspiration. “When learning an instrument, it’s important to have success right away, and that can be difficult to do with the guitar,” Perry says. “Most people give up within the first couple of months and the guitar ends up in a closet. That’s why I’m so excited when I know I’ve been able to help a special-needs child, a veteran with PTSD or a senior citizen with arthritis make music. “You Continue reading Travis Perry Wants YOU to put that Christmas Guitar to Great Use!
Donations to the fund continue as totals climb to $9.3 million PIGEON FORGE, Tenn. (December 22, 2016) – In a little more than two weeks after the wildfires that spread across Dolly Parton’s home area of Sevier County, Tennessee, Parton and the Dollywood Foundation launched the distribution of assistance from the My People Fund. During the four day cash distribution, 884 families received their initial support payments. “It’s a blessing during this holiday season that we are able to help as many families as we have so far,” Parton said. “We know there are more families out there who need our help and we encourage them to be in contact with us before our January distribution.” The Dollywood Foundation My People Fund provides $1,000 each month to Sevier County families whose homes are uninhabitable or were completely destroyed in the recent Smoky Mountain wildfires. Any family who lost their primary residence (renters and homeowners) due to the wildfires in Sevier County will be eligible. A pre-application for those affected is available at dollywoodfoundation.org. Millions of people watched Smoky Mountains Rise: A Benefit for the My People Fund telethon on Tuesday, December 13 on Great American Country, AXS-TV, RFD-TV and The Heartland Network and during several rebroadcasts throughout the last week. As a result, donations continued to roll in and thanks to generous people from coast to coast and Parton’s friends, the total amount raised has climbed to $9.3 million. “As, Dolly said, the response has been overwhelming,” David Dotson, Dollywood Foundation President said. “We will distribute all $9.3 million to the families affected. That will insure all of the money raised will go to where Dolly promised it would go.” The next distribution is January 26 and 27, 2017 at the LeConte Events Center in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee. About the Dollywood Foundation My People Fund: More than 1,300 families have been displaced due to the wildfires which spread across Parton’s home area of Sevier County, Tennessee in late November. The entertainment icon established the Dollywood Foundation My People Fund to provide $1,000 each month for six months to every family who lost their primary residence. About Smoky Mountains Rise: Smoky Mountains Rise was a three-hour telethon broadcast on Tuesday, Dec. 13 to raise money for the Dollywood Foundation’s My People Fund to benefit those affected by the Sevier County, Tennessee wildfires. Smoky Mountains Rise was executive produced by Dolly Parton, Danny Nozell, Kirt Webster, Pete Owens and Scott Durand. Produced by Edie Hoback, Jeremy Westby, Shanna Strassberg, Suzzane Skinner, Nic Dugger and Shantel Klinger. About The Dollywood Company: A highly-awarded and widely-recognized leader in the amusement industry, The Dollywood Company consists of the 150-acre Dollywood theme park; the 35-acre Dollywood’s Splash Country; Dollywood’s DreamMore Resort; and Dollywood’s Smoky Mountain Cabins. As unique as its namesake and owner Dolly Parton, Dollywood is the 2010 Applause Award winner, the theme park industry’s highest accolade; winner of nearly 30 Golden Ticket Awards; and recipient of 25 Brass Ring Awards for Live Entertainment (more Continue reading Dolly Parton’s My People Fund Serves Nearly 900 Families In First Distribution
On the heals of the release of her debut EP, Ride This Night, 22-year-old Kentucky native, Arista Manning, has released the music video for her first single Southern Drawl. The video premiered today on Next Women of Country and is an energetic nod to those who have “an appreciation for all things southern.” As entertaining as it is catchy, Arista brings hard-hitting vocals and an attitude to the track that is hard to resist. The upbeat tune and Arista’s refreshing sound have already impacted radio and grabbed the attention of industry professionals. Al Windsperger of WYRQ said of Southern Drawl, “The music on the track reminds me of Charlie Daniel’s southern style… [Arista has] a nice voice that is easy to listen to,” and Seth Coburn of KLAW noted that “[Arista has] got a great voice, and Southern Drawl is a great mix of classic country with a modern sound.” About Arista Manning The daughter of a local farmer, rising country songstress Arista Manning’s musical career began with the southern roots that now help grow her artistry–inside her hometown church in Kentucky where she played piano and sang in the choir at just eight years old. After taking the stage at local talent shows and events for several years, Arista’s goals broadened beyond her small town, and the teenager began traveling to Music City to record demos and pursue the dreams that have continued to follow her. Arista’s debut EP boasts five songs written by some of Nashville’s most decorated songwriters (Brian White, Ashley Monroe, Brett James and many others). Ride This Night takes listeners on a journey of both nostalgia and adventure. From lyrics about spirituality and trusting God to deliver your dreams (Amen to That), to living in the moment and seeking the unknown (Ride This Night), Arista pays homage to the sound and storytelling of the classics from the genre, while beautifully reflecting her own experience as she begins to carve her path as a new artist, one that will resonate with listeners who have answered the call of their dreams. Full of personality with passion and a voice to match, Arista Manning is poised to make waves in the country music industry—reaching out to listeners of all ages and in every walk of life with meaningful messages, youthful anthems, and a respectful nod to her roots. You can find more information about Arista by visiting her website.
Grammy Award-winning singer/songwriter Miranda Lambert headlines the 18th annual A HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS, to be broadcast Friday, Dec. 23 (8:00-9:00 PM, ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network. Miranda Lambert performs “Pushin’ Time” and “Keeper of the Flame” from her recently released and critically acclaimed sixth studio album, The Weight of These Wings, which spent two weeks at Number One on the Billboard Country Album Charts and is currently Number Three. The double album debuted at Number Three on the Billboard Top 200 Chart, which spans all genres. Lambert also performs the heart-warming, “The House That Built Me,” which is the song that earned Miranda her first Grammy Award for Best Female Country Vocal Performance (her second Grammy win was for Best Country Album for Platinum in 2014). A HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS features uplifting stories of adoption from foster care and raises awareness of this important social issue. At the emotional conclusion of the program, Miranda greets some of the families featured in these stories while “Jingle Bells” plays in the background. The special is presented in association with the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption and the Children’s Action Network. Wendy’s founder, Dave Thomas, who was adopted, established the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption in 1992. It is dedicated to dramatically increasing the adoptions of children in North America’s foster care system. The Children’s Action Network was founded in 1990 by leaders in the entertainment industry in order to harness the power of the entertainment media on behalf of children. The special is a part of CAN’s National Adoption Campaign to raise awareness of the joys of adopting and to find homes for the children who are waiting. The 18th annual A HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS with Miranda Lambert is produced by Triage Entertainment and Goldsmith Entertainment. Karen Mack, Stu Schreiberg, Stephen Kroopnick and Marilyn Seabury are the executive producers. Kelly Brock is the producer, Kimberly Steer is the supervising producer and Mary Donaldson is the coordinating producer. Mike Simon is directing the special. 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 on July 18th touting a tally of 109 first week monitored reporting stations spinning the new song. Her second single “We Should Be Friends” arrived at radio on December 12, 2016.
Took on Cassadee Pope in Last Night’s Hilarious Holiday Episode New Single “Seein’ Red” Enters Country Radio’s Top 10 Broken Bow Records artist DUSTIN LYNCH proved unbeatable in last night’s (12/21) laugh-out-loud episode of Spike TV’s LIP SYNC BATTLE, taking on fellow country star Cassadee Pope. Hosted by LL Cool J and Chrissy Teigen, LIP SYNC BATTLE pits celebrities in a head-to-head fight to see who can deliver the most outrageous and entertaining lip-synched performance, and Lynch wowed the crowd with Ludacris’ lusty rap hit “What’s Your Fantasy” and Lou Bega’s dancehall smash “Mambo No. 5,” earning himself the LSB championship belt. Trading in his cowboy hat for a flat-brimmed cap, Lynch turned on the goofy sex appeal for “What’s Your Fantasy,” a hip-thrusting good time that ended with a whipped cream finish and had Pope doubled over in laughter. “Mambo No. 5,” on the other hand, was full of zoot-suited, Latin-flavored fun … with “a little bit” of fake mustache thrown in for good measure. Catch Dustin Lynch’s “Mambo No. 5” vs. Cassadee Pope’s “I Write Sins Not Tragedies” performance here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zzxsK5mF3Z0 In case you missed it, Dustin Lynch syncs “What’s Your Fantasy” by Ludacris here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=flxMDlFXGj8 Meanwhile, Lynch’s current single – the steamy “Seein’ Red” – has just entered Country radio’s Top 10. Co-written by Kurt Allison, Steve Bogard, Tully Kennedy and Jason Sever, it’s the first taste of Lynch’s upcoming third album, with Rolling Stone praising Lynch’s vocals as “one of his most soulful and assured to date” and Taste of Country proclaiming the song “unapologetically sexy.” It follows the three-peat GOLD and PLATINUM success of singles “Where It’s At,” “Hell of a Night” and “Mind Reader” from his sophomore album, WHERE IT’S AT. Lynch will kick off 2017 with a bang, joining Florida Georgia Line’s DIG YOUR ROOTS TOUR as the featured supporting artist. The nationwide trek begins January 27 in Tallahassee, Florida, and also includes Chris Lane. For more information, visit DustinLynchMusic.com. ABOUT DUSTIN LYNCH: Since releasing his PLATINUM debut single, “Cowboys and Angels,” Lynch has catapulted onto the country music scene, with three consecutive #1s, two Top 5 albums, Platinum-level certifications and back-to-back summers on one of the biggest tours in country music (opening for Luke Bryan). Racking up over 55 million views on YouTube/VEVO, scoring 150 million plus streams on Spotify, soaring to #1 on the MTV Music Meter and selling 3 million digital singles, he brings a fresh combination of traditional influences and edgy intensity to the genre. Producers Mickey Jack Cones, Brett Beavers and Luke Wooten showcase his progressive sound throughout his sophomore album, WHERE IT’S AT (Broken Bow Records), which debuted at #1 on the iTunes Country Albums Chart upon release and has tallied over 1 million tracks sold to date. Realizing his long time dream of creating a fashion line, Lynch recently launched Stay Country. “Stay Country isn’t just a brand, it’s a lifestyle,” says Lynch. “It’s where I grew up. It’s home to the rivers I’ve fished, the Continue reading DUSTIN LYNCH WINS BIG ON SPIKE TV’S LIP SYNC BATTLE
