ERIC CHURCH, BLAKE SHELTON, THOMAS RHETT, ALABAMA & More Just Announced

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Eric Church on Country Music News Blog

31st Annual Country Fest, Cadott, WI Lineup Just Revealed for June 22-25. Superstar Headliners Include Blake Shelton, Eric Church, Thomas Rhett, and Alabama plus Chris Young, Dan + Shay, Brothers Osbourne, Wynonna Judd, The Oakridge Boys, Cam, The Cadillac Three & more. CADOTT, Wis. (Tuesday, November 22) – Country Fest, Cadott, Wis. Has just revealed its 2017 festival lineup, and it’s a historic celebration of the hottest acts in country past & present. The 2017 festival marks more than three decades of one of the largest and longest-running country music and camping events in the US. The multiple award-winning headliners announced this morning are BLAKE SHELTON, ERIC CHURCH, THOMAS RHETT AND ALABAMA.  Country Music Association’s 2012 “Entertainer of the Year,” five-time Male Vocalist of the Year winner, just announced American Music Award winner and GRAMMY nominee Blake Shelton continues to add to his superstar status. With 17 consecutive #1 singles, Shelton owns the record of successive #1 singles in the modern era, and has a total of 22 #1 singles. His new album, If I’m Honest, debuted at #1 on the Billboard Top Album Sales Chart and the Billboard Country Album Chart. If I’m Honest has already yielded the #1 smash single, “Came Here To Forget,” and his new single “She’s Got A Way With Words.” The album features three songs written by Shelton which include the gospel tinged “Savior’s Shadow,” “Friends,” which is also featured in the #1 film, The Angry Birds Movie, and “Go Ahead and Break My Heart,” a song he wrote and performs with Gwen Stefani. A member of the Grand Ole Opry, he has earned a host of awards throughout his career, including the recent People’s Choice Award for Favorite Male Country Artist. Shelton just celebrated his 10th season on NBC’s “The Voice” and recently hosted Nickelodeon’s slime-filled Kids’ Choice Awards.  Shelton is the subject of a career-spanning exhibition at the Country Music Hall of Fame® and Museum in Nashville, Tennessee. Blake Shelton: Based on a True Story.  The exhibit explores the life and work of one of country music’s most popular and multi-dimensional artists. With Eric Church’s fourth album, and a brand new CMA Award under his belt for Album of the Year, Eric has said “I really see this album as a game-changer for us,” Eric Church says of the follow-up to his platinum breakthrough Chief. “I want people to understand that we’re here and that we will be reckoned with.” He will be a force to be reckoned with in Cadott this June. Although Church has already built a reputation as a restless creative force while blazing an unconventional path to country superstardom, The Outsiders represents an audacious quantum leap. The aggressive set, which consists almost entirely of Church compositions or co-compositions, finds the iconoclastic singer-songwriter-guitarist covering a dizzying amount of musical and lyrical ground, taking advantage of a wide range of sonic options to construct an adventurous, consistently thrilling ride. The result is Church’s most revealing, personally-charged statement yet—and one that challenges many of the accepted rules of contemporary country music. Continue reading ERIC CHURCH, BLAKE SHELTON, THOMAS RHETT, ALABAMA & More Just Announced→

Carrie Underwood Scores Two American Music Awards

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Third Consecutive Win as “Favorite Female Artist- Country” and Fifth Win for “Favorite Country Album” Carrie Becomes Only Country Artist to Have All Studio Albums Honored as AMA “Favorite Country Album” Nashville – November 21, 2016 – Superstar Carrie Underwood won two American Music Awards last night as “Favorite Female Artist- Country” and “Favorite Country Album” for her Platinum-selling Storyteller album, bringing her career AMA tally to 11 wins. This is Carrie’s third consecutive win in the female-country category and she now becomes the only country artist to have all her studio albums honored as AMA “Favorite Country Album” – Some Hearts, Carnival Ride, Play On, Blown Away, and Storyteller. Carrie will wrap her highly successful “The Storyteller Tour- Stories in the Round” at the end of November with four additional concerts planned this month. She will then head to New Zealand and Australia to join Keith Urban on the ripCORD World Tour 2016. The Storyteller Tour fall dates: Nov-22 Wichita, KS INTRUST Bank Arena Nov-23 Oklahoma City, OK Chesapeake Energy Arena Nov-26 Las Vegas, NV T-Mobile Arena Nov-28 West Valley City, UT Maverik Center ripCORD World Tour 2016 New Zealand & Australia tour dates: Dec-3 Wellington Westpac Stadium Dec-6 Adelaide Entertainment Centre Dec-8 Melbourne Rod Laver Arena Dec-9 Melbourne Rod Laver Arena Dec-10 Canberra GIO Stadium Dec-12 Sydney Qudos Bank Arena Dec-14 Sydney ICC Sydney Theatre Dec-16 Brisbane Entertainment Centre Dec-17 Brisbane Entertainment Centre About Carrie Underwood: Carrie Underwood emerged from the promise of her 2005 American Idol win to become a true multi-format, multi-media superstar, spanning achievements in music, television, and film. A seven-time GRAMMY® Award winner, she has amassed over 100 major honors, sold 58 million records worldwide, and recorded 24 #1 singles, 13 of which she co-wrote, with a catalog of songs that have been streamed more than 1.9 billion times worldwide. The first female artist to be twice named the Academy of Country Music’s Entertainer of the Year, Underwood was recognized as Pollstar’s top female country touring artist for her headlining tours in 2008, 2010, and 2012, and this year Billboard ranked her current “Storyteller Tour – Stories in the Round” as the #1 country tour for the first half of 2016. All five studio albums, Some Hearts, Carnival Ride, Play On, Blown Away and Storyteller – are certified Platinum or multi-Platinum, and each an American Music Awards winner as Favorite Country Album – tallied an incredible 40 weeks at #1 on Billboard’s Top Country Albums chart. The RIAA’s highest certified country album artist to debut this century, Underwood also holds the distinction of the highest album certification of any country artist to emerge since 2000 with the 8x Multi-Platinum success of her 2005 debut, Some Hearts. She is the all-time Top Country Artist (male or female) on RIAA’s Digital Single Ranking, also placing her among the Top 5 females in the history of RIAA’s Digital Single Program across all genres. In December of 2014, she released her Platinum-certified Greatest Hits: Decade #1, which produced Continue reading Carrie Underwood Scores Two American Music Awards→

Trace Adkins, Kim Coates and Judd Nelson Star in the Gritty Western, STAGECOACH: THE TEXAS JACK STORY, Riding Onto BD/DVD on 12/13

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Revenge and redemption make uneasy bedfellows in STAGECOACH: THE TEXAS JACK STORY, a hardscrabble period Western loosely based on the real-life exploits of 19th-century American outlaw Nathaniel Reed, starring country music superstar Trace Adkins, Judd Nelson and Kim Coates.  Following its limited theatrical release, the frontier thriller rides onto Blu-ray and DVD on December 13. After retiring from his life as an infamous outlaw, livery owner Nathaniel Reed (Adkins) quietly leads an honest existence on the Texas frontier with his devoted wife, Laura Lee.  But his gun-slinging past suddenly comes back to haunt him when he learns that Calhoun (Coates), the man he once maimed during a stagecoach robbery, is now an unhinged U.S. Marshal who’ll stop at nothing to exact vengeance.  After a violent shootout brings tragic consequences, Nathaniel partners with his original gang, returns to his lawless ways and becomes Texas Jack: the most wanted outlaw in the West. An action-packed quest for redemption, STAGECOACH: THE TEXAS JACK STORY is filled with gunplay a’plenty, galloping getaways, a beautiful bounty hunter — and the possibility of a second chance. CAST Trace Adkins (Traded, Deepwater Horizon, The Virginian, The Lincoln Lawyer)Judd Nelson (The Breakfast Club, St. Elmo’s Fire, “Suddenly Susan”)Kim Coates (“Sons of Anarchy”)Claude Duhamel (Spaceman, Western Religion)Michelle Harrison (Fifty Shades Darker, “The Flash”) Garry Chalk (The Confirmation, Godzilla) Helena Marie (“Supernatural”)  PROGRAM INFORMATION Format:  BD/DVD Running Time:  90 mins. Genre:  Western Aspect Ratio:  16×9 (2.35:1) Audio:  BD (English 5.1 DTS MA)/DVD (5.1 Surround Sound)  

Radney Foster to Appear in Alliance Theatre’s ‘Troubadour’

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A WORLD PREMIERE MUSICAL BY JANECE SHAFFER WITH ORIGINAL MUSIC BY SUGARLAND’S KRISTIAN BUSH ANNOUNCING THE CAST – ANDREW BENATOR, SLYVIE DAVIDSON, RADNEY FOSTER, ROB LAWHON, BETHANY ANNE LIND, AND ZACH SEABAUGH TROUBADOUR OPENS AT THE ALLIANCE THEATRE IN ATLANTA, JANUARY 18 – FEBRUARY 12, 2017 NASHVILLE, November 18, 2017 -Legendary singer/songwriter Radney Foster has been cast in Atlanta’s Tony Award® winning Alliance Theatre upcoming world premiere musical, Troubadour, by playwright Janece Shaffer (The Geller Girls, Broke) with original music by Grammy Award-winning recording artist Kristian Bush. Set in 1950s Nashville, Troubadour is a romantic comedy about an unlikely group of friends whose unconventional style changes the course of country music.  Radney Foster plays Billy Mason, a 1940’s Country icon on the eve of retirement. His soft-spoken son, Joe (The Voice finalist singer-songwriter Zach Seabaugh) is attempting to break out of his father’s shadow. When he joins forces with an unlikely pair — Inez, a budding singer-songwriter (actor and singer-songwriter Sylvie Davidson) and Izzy, a rodeo tailor on a mission  (actor Andrew Benator Disgraced, One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest) –a revolution is born and Country music is changed forever. Troubadour is directed by the Alliance’s Jennings Hertz Artistic Director Susan V. Booth (One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, The Geller Girl) and runs on the Alliance Stage from January 18 – February 12, 2017. The cast also includes Atlanta-based actor and singer-songwriter Rob Lawhon (Songs to Grow On, Ghost Brothers of Darkland County); Atlanta-based actor Bethany Anne Lind (One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, Edward Foote).  The creative team for Troubadour includes Music Director Brandon Bush, Sound Designer Clay Benning, Costume Designer Lex Liang, Tony Award-winning Set Designer Todd Rosenthal, and Lighting Designer Ken Yunker. Troubadour includes original music by singer-songwriter Kristian Bush, known for his chart topping songs as one half of the Country duo Sugarland, as well as his work with duo Billy Pilgram and 2015’s critically-acclaimed Southern Gravity. “Janece created characters who seemed so real to me that it was easy to get inside their heads and write their stories into songs, even as I travelled 60 years back in time to find their authentic sound,” said Bush. “Now that we have this amazing cast to bring the story and the songs to life, I can’t wait to see what this becomes.” “I’m thrilled to be able to bring this character to life, and to work with a cast and creative team of this caliber,” says Foster. “When I first heard Kristian’s songs, I knew this would be something special.” Performances of Troubadour are Tuesday through Thursday at 7:30 p.m., Fridays at 8:00 p.m., Saturdays at 2:30 and 8:00 p.m., and Sundays at 2:30 and 7:30 p.m., January 18 – February 12, 2017.  Opening Night is January 25, 2017.  There will be no 2:30 p.m. performance on Saturday, January 21. Two special matinee performances for students will take place on Thursday, February 2, and Thursday, February 9, at 10:30 a.m.  For ticket information, contact allianceschoolday@woodruffcenter.org or call 404.733.4661. Continue reading Radney Foster to Appear in Alliance Theatre’s ‘Troubadour’→

COUNTRY MUSIC’S YOUNG ARTISTS RECORD EMPOWERING NEW SONG "THE HUMAN RACE"

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Several of country music’s brightest young stars have recorded “The Human Race,” an empowering anthem which premiered yesterday on Radio Disney and Radio Disney Country. Recorded in Nashville, Tennessee and distributed by the Disney Music Group on Buena Vista Records, it will be available for purchase NOVEMBER 18 on iTunes and available for free download on the T-Mobile Tuesdays app while supplies last on November 22.  In conjunction with its release and in celebration of Radio Disney’s ‘Share the Joy‘ campaign, a donation is being made to City of Hope, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Toys for Tots, Feeding America, and Musicians on Call. “The dedication and talent of so many artists and performers on this song manifests heart and humanity, and the positive power of music in our lives,” said Phil Guerini, Vice President, Music Strategy, Disney Channels Worldwide and General Manager, Radio Disney Networks. The recording artists include country music stars Kelsea Ballerini, Scotty McCreery, Locash, Jessie Chris, Mickey Guyton, Lindsay Ell and others who contributed their voices to the track. The single was produced by Guerini, Mike Daly, Executive Director, A&R and Music Publishing, Disney Music Group (Jason Mraz, Lucy Hale), and Grammy-nominated producer and songwriter Billy Mann. A sneak peek of “The Human Race” music video will be broadcast during “The Wonderful World of Disney: Magical Holiday Celebration” airing on ABC on Thursday, November 24 at 8:00 p.m. EST.  

Americana Alt-Country Rockers Angie and the Deserters Announce Second Single from their EP ‘You’, titled “Forgetting to Forget” – Impacting Radio on 1116!

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Angie and the Deserters remain unforgettable as they continue to release rousing singles that ooze with emotion and passion. The americana and alt-country Los Angeles based band announces their second single from their latest ‘You’ EP entitled, “Forgetting to Forget.” The single will be available for radio adds on November 18, 2016. Angie Bruyere’s lush vocals and emotive lyrics will strike a chord deeply within the soul with this new single. The song reveals the moment when trying to escape memories from a past relationship. Although time has passed by, Angie continues to find herself hung up over a previous lover as she continues to look at their old photo and ring their phone. She expresses that she is getting by and “still standing” however she cannot seem to shake these thoughts. Bruyere paints a vivid emotional portrait of personal thoughts that listeners can easily relate to. Her delicate vocal delivery is laced over soaring violin strings and intricate guitar riffs that dive into a beautiful splash of percussion that will send chills up the spine. The band has already received a significant buzz surrounding their follow-up EP and title-track, ‘You.’ The single charted #5 on the Radio Indie Alliance Charts and is airing on over 35 radio stations such as Radio Free Americana, WYAD (Jackson, MI), WNDY (Crawfordsville, IN), Pandora Radio and many more airplay outlets. The band’s “You” music video premiered on the popular Americana based website The Alternate Root and also on Variety Beat and reached over 25K views on FB and YouTube in the first two weeks of release. “I wrote this song a few years ago, thinking it would be a simple acoustic song, but once we got into the studio with the band it became so much more,” says Angie Bruyere. “Forgetting to Forget,” along with the rest of the tracks from the ‘You’ EP were recorded in Nashville’s Castle Recording Studios with renowned country producer Jeff Huskins (Clint Black, Keith Urban) and mastered by Grammy® Award Winning, Bod Ludwig (Rolling Stones, Led Zeppelin, Jimi Hendrix). For more information on Angie and The Deserters please visit the band’s official website at www.angieandthedeserters.com.  

Reba McEntire’s Country Music Class Launches Today on MasterClass

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In her first ever online class, she breaks down one of her greatest hits, “Fancy,” and shares what it takes to create a sustainable career in country music. McEntire’s MasterClass covers storytelling, connecting to an audience, singing, performance, vocal warm up, song selection, brand building and the business side of the industry. Reba McEntire’s MasterClass is available now at www.masterclass.com/reba To learn more about MasterClass go to www.masterclass.com View/Download: Reba McEntire’s official MasterClass trailer: here About MasterClass: Launched by David Rogier and Aaron Rasmussen in 2015, MasterClass provides online classes from world-renowned instructors, making it possible for anyone to learn from the best. Each class offers a unique learning experience which includes video lessons from the instructor, interactive exercises, course materials, peer interaction, and more. All classes are available online for individual purchase at www.masterclass.com for $90 each. MasterClass’ current roster of courses includes Christina Aguilera (singing), Kevin Spacey (acting), Usher (performance), Serena Williams (tennis), James Patterson (writing), Dustin Hoffman (acting), Werner Herzog (filmmaking), and Aaron Sorkin (screenwriting). Most recently, the company announced pre-enrollment for Deadmau5 (music production) and today announced Hans Zimmer (music composition).

THE LIGHTS OF THE HOLIDAY SEASON ARE SURE TO Bēm AT THE RYMAN AUDITORIUM ON MONDAY AT CHRISTMAS 4 KIDS BENEFIT CONCERT

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Monday’s Christmas 4 Kids (C4K) benefit concert is sure to kick attendees into the holiday spirit with the addition of Bēm wireless sponsored artist Ty Bates and over two grand in merchandise that will be given away. “I’m beyond honored to return to the Ryman for the Christmas 4 Kids benefit concert,” says Ty Bates. “I got to meet the team behind this charity in 2014 when I first appeared at the bus tour and was excited when Bēm wireless decided to get behind this group as well.  C4K spreads such needed joy to kids throughout Middle Tennessee and the money raised from this show ensures that they get to continue their efforts.” “Ty brought the idea of this event to our attention and when I saw the impact this organization has had on children throughout the years, I knew we had to get involved again,” says Bēm wireless Founder Mike Nakamura. “I hope the products we donated will help gain the attention of fans in the region to come out and support these people making an impact right there in their hometown communities.  They might even take home a bluetooth speaker or headphones as a thank you from all of us at Bēm wireless for supporting Christmas 4 Kids.” In addition to hearing performances from the legendary lineup of The Marshall Tucker Band, Aaron Tippin, Montgomery Gentry & Ray Stevens, 23 attendees will leave with one of the following products: Range Strum Speaker (Quantity 10) – Retail Price: $69.99 per device Range Freedom Headphones (Quantity 2) – Retail Price: $99.99 per device Speaker Mojo (Quantity 6) – Retail Price: $49.99 Boom Boxes (Quantity 2) – Retail Price: $299.99 EXO- 400 (Quantity 3) – Retail Price $79.99 The only way to guarantee a chance at taking home one of these innovative “tuned for country” units is to secure a ticket for the show.  Tickets range from $38.50 to $60 and can be purchased at www.ryman.com. About Christmas for Kids Christmas 4 Kids is a not-for-profit organization that has been in existence for over 25 years providing many children, each year, with their very own shopping spree.  The funds generated by the concert, and the Tour Bus Show/Artist Meet and Greet event, are used to give over 400 children from 29 different schools, a day-long shopping excursion.  The special day consists of a chauffeured trip from their school aboard an entertainer’s luxury tour bus, dinner, and a party hosted by Santa and Mrs. Claus.  To wrap up the day, the tour buses journey to the Hendersonville, Tennessee, Walmart, where the kids receive a brand new winter coat, and $150.00 to spend however they choose.   For more information on Christmas 4 Kids, visit www.christmas4kids.org.

Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo Opens Registration for 30th Annual Rodeo Run

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RodeoHouston Details on Country Music News Blog

HOUSTON LIVESTOCK SHOW AND RODEO™ OPENS REGISTRATION FOR 30TH ANNUAL RODEO RUN, PRESENTED BY CONOCOPHILLIPS — NOV. 16, 2016 — HOUSTON — FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE — Entries open today for the 30th annual Rodeo Run, with proceeds from the event benefiting the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo Educational Fund. Since the Rodeo Run began in 1988, $4.8 million has been contributed to the Show’s educational programs. The Rodeo Run is scheduled for Saturday, March 4, 2017, followed by the Downtown Rodeo Parade through the streets of Houston. There are several different ways to participate: 5K walk/run 10K run 5K/10K wheelchair race virtual runner donor All entries in the 5K and 10K, as well as virtual runners, receive the official Rodeo Run T-shirt. Registration Register online now at com/rodeorun. Everyone registering today, Nov. 16, 2016, will be entered to win a pair of United Airlines tickets. Early bird registration is open online now through Thursday, Feb. 16, 2017: 5K walk/run: $30 (plus a convenience and optional mailing fee) 10K: $30 (plus a convenience and optional mailing fee) virtual runner: $30 (plus a convenience and optional mailing fee) Late registration is available online from Friday, Feb. 17, to Friday, March 3, 2017, at noon: 5k walk/run: $35 (plus a convenience and optional mailing fee) 10k: $35 (plus a convenience and optional mailing fee) Online registration ends Friday, March 3, 2017, at noon. Participants may register in person at Luke’s Locker, 1953 West Gray, Houston, Texas 77019, from Wednesday, March 1, through Friday, March 3, 2017. PACKET PICKUP There is no packet pickup on the day of the race, Saturday, March 4. If packet mailing is not chosen during registration, participants MUST pick up their race packets at Luke’s Locker (1953 West Gray) on Wednesday, March 1, through Friday, March 3, 2017, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. RACE DAY SCHEDULE – Saturday, March 4, 2017 9 a.m. wheelchair race 9:10 a.m. 10K fast wave 9:20 a.m. 10K general wave 9:35 a.m. 5K walk/run ROUTE All events start on the corner of Bagby and Walker streets. The race ends on Allen Parkway, followed by a post-race party at Eleanor Tinsley Park. The Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo is a Section 501(c)(3) charity that benefits youth, supports education, and facilitates better agricultural practices through exhibitions and presentation. Since its beginning in 1932, the Show has committed more than $430 million to the youth of Texas. For more information, visit rodeohouston.com and connect with #RODEOHOUSTON online via Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube for all of the latest news. The 2017 Show is scheduled March 7 – 26.

The Country Network Now Available on Roku

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Streaming TV market adds 10.6M to TCN’s Household Reach Nashville, Tenn., (November 16, 2016)–The innovative television network dedicated to providing today’s country music enthusiasts more choices in televised and digital programming, The Country Network (TCN), is pleased to announce its carriage on the Roku streaming media platform. Country music fans with the device or Roku-enabled Smart TV can now access the latest and best videos from their Country, Americana, Red Dirt and Texas artists, as well as TCN’s original programming—including series such as Live from the Couch, On the Rise, Our Land: The Music Highway, Studio B Sessions, and more! This news comes as TCN expands into nine (9) additional markets throughout the heartland, renewal with Cocola Broadcasting, and the launch of eight original series for its initial fall lineup. It also recently launched its creative, state-of-the-art fan-incentive program, TCN All-Access. The carriage through Roku will add an additional 10.6M potential viewers to TCN’s overall household reach, now estimated at over 50 million DMA households, putting it squarely on pace with its growth strategy to reach 100 million homes within the next three years. For more information on The Country Network, please visit www.tcncountry.com. “The addition of Roku is extremely important to us,” states Tim Eaton, President and CEO of The Country Network. “4 in 10 households currently own an OTT streaming device, and by next year, Streaming Media Players (SMP) penetration will reach 40 percent of all U.S. homes with internet,” he explains. “The number of ways people are receiving TV content is expanding rapidly and we want to be a part of this conversation and be available to fans through a wide variety of sources.” Roku is the leader in SMP market share. There are currently 10.6M active Roku accounts across SMPs and smart TV, reaching 49% of SMP households. These figures are expected to climb steeply based upon reports by IHS Inc. (NYSE: IHS): 56 percent of all North American TV shipments in Q1-2016 were smart TVs; Roku-powered smart TVs earned 12% of all sales for the entire first half of 2016. For more information on The Country Network, upcoming show announcements, and a complete list of broadcast affiliates and channels, please visit www.tcncountry.com.