Kenny Chesney Previews 2016 Tour

Kenny Chesney Says Fans Driving 2016 Production
 
Inspired by The Big Revival, No Shoes Nation Defines Live Show

 
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (December 31, 2015) -- After only 57 dates, albeit 23 stadiums, Kenny Chesney found himself the only country artist making Billboard’s Top 5 Touring Acts of 2015 – alongside Taylor Swift, One Direction, U2 and the Rolling Stones. Of course as the only country artist on Billboard’s Top 10 Touring Acts of the Last 25 Years, that shouldn’t be surprising when considering the man who began headlining NFL Stadiums in 2005 – and what makes him always among the Top 5 tours every year is one thing: the fans.

Old Dominion Receives Rave Reviews

 

OLD DOMINION RAKES IN RAVE REVIEWS AT YEAR END

“very clever” – NPR, Ken Tucker
“deceptively smart” and “infectious” – Entertainment Weekly, Madison Vain
“first-rate craftsmanship” – NPR, Jewly Hight
“on the cusp of superstardom” – Vice, Dan Hyman
“razor-sharp sense of songcraft” – Rolling Stone, Jon Freeman
“decidedly unorthodox sound” – Billboard, Tom Roland
 
SiriusXM’s Best of 2015: Breakthrough Artists of the Year

Old Dominion CRS 2016 New Faces of Country Music Show

January 14 Nashville show goes clean on heels of two back-to-back sold out NYC performances + Chicago play

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (Thursday, Dec. 17, 2015) – What a year! Old Dominion began 2015 as “one of country music’s few current self-contained bands” (NPR) before signing with RCA Nashville in February of this year. Now, just 10 months later, they’re celebrating a two-week No. 1 debut single —joining the company of Zac Brown Band, Brooks & Dunn and Florida Georgia Line as the only brand new Duo/Group artists since 1990 to have a multiple-week No. 1 with their debut single. Selling out shows in Chicago, New York City, San Diego, Boston, Milwaukee and their upcoming show on Jan. 14 at Nashville’s Marathon Music Works, the band has been tapped for CRS 2016’s New Faces of Country Music Show and are poised for their debut morning television performance on Today Show Dec. 21.

Cole Swindell's Emotional New Song

COLE SWINDELL RECEIVES ENORMOUS RESPONSE FROM FANS AFTER RELEASE OF NEW SINGLE “YOU SHOULD BE HERE” “You Should Be Here” Becomes No. 1 Most Added Song at Country Radio This Week Song on iTunes Top 10 All Genre Chart and No. 1 on the ITunes Country Chart   “This is the song I came to Nashville to write.” – Cole Swindell

Cole Swindell Photo credit: Jim Wright NASHVILLE, Tenn. – December 17, 2015 – On Monday, Cole Swindell released his emotional new single, “You Should Be Here,” from his forthcoming album, and the ground swell of response was quick and overwhelming. The song, written by Swindell and Ashley Gorley, was originally inspired by the sudden passing of Swindell’s father, but for many fans it has resonated in a variety of ways of missing someone. Thousands of fans began sharing their personal stories via Twitter #YouShouldBeHere and Facebook after hearing the song and seeing the video when it world premiered on Yahoo!. Just hours after the release of the song, Swindell tells Rolling Stone, "It's only been a couple of hours and the stuff I'm already reading, it's unbelievable," says Swindell, recounting several fan stories filling up his social media feeds before the end of the day. "This is a new experience for me. I've experienced four hit songs but nothing like this and it's only been since this morning."

Big & Rich Release McGraw Duet

BIG & RICH RELEASE "LOVIN' LATELY" FEATURING TIM MCGRAW AS LATEST SINGLE FROM GRAVITY



The Gravity Quadrilogy Video Starring McGraw Featured on CMT.com
 

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (December 23, 2015) – Nearly 12 years after the release of their debut single, Country chart-topping duo Big & Rich continue to hit new highs with their latest album, Gravity. They look to build upon their current momentum with the upcoming single, “Lovin’ Lately” featuring Tim McGraw. The song is accompanied by the video starring McGraw, which is part of The Gravity Quadrilogy video series. Fans can check out the Trey Fanjoy directed video now, which was recently spotlighted by CMT.com.

Brenda Lee's #1 Holiday Hit

BRENDA LEE NO. 1 ON BILLBOARD COUNTRY STREAMING CHART WITH "ROCKIN' AROUND THE CHRISTMAS TREE"

Country Music Hall of Famer's Christmas Classic Breaks Top 40 on Billboard Hot 100

 

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (December 23, 2015) – Iconic entertainer Brenda Lee dashes to the top of the charts with “Rockin Around the Christmas Tree” at No. 1 on Billboard’s Country Streaming Songs and hits the top forty on the Billboard Hot 100 for the first time since 1961. The Christmas standard landed in the Hot 100's top 40 for the first time since Jan. 7, 1961, when it placed at No. 18 and peaked at No. 14 the week of Dec. 31, 1960. It’s Lee’s return to the top 40 with any record since 1967 when she went to 37 with Ride, Ride, Ride. Most recently, “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree” remained at No. 1 on the Billboard Holiday Airplay charts.

Kenny Chesney Tour Provides Help

KENNY CHESNEY AND LOVE HOPE STRENGTH FOUNDATION

25 Bone Marrow Matches Found from 2015’s Big Revival Tour

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (Dec. 22, 2015 ) - Kenny Chesney’s 2015 Big Revival Tour wasn’t just the most attended country music tour this year with 1,335,0022 fans, it was also a tour that made a difference.  Participating in the Love Hope Strength Foundation’s Get On The List Campaign, concertgoers at the East Tennessean’s stadium shows were able to participate in a mobile drive to register potential bone marrow donors with a simple cheek swab test that, in co-operation with Delete Blood Cancer, gets entered in the national donor bank for potential matches.

Dolly Parton Shares Christmas Memories

DOLLY PARTON SHARES CHRISTMAS MEMORIES WITH AOL, YAHOO! MUSIC, BILLBOARD, TASTE OF COUNTRY AND COUNTRY MUSIC NATION IN EXCLUSIVE VIDEOS FOR "COAT OF MANY COLORS" SWEEPSTAKES



December 31 Deadline to Enter Sweepstakes for Chance to Win Smoky Mountain Vacation Getaway

"Dolly Parton's Coat of Many Colors" to Re-air Christmas Day 9/8c
 

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (December 21, 2015) – Dolly Parton is opening up about her Christmas memories with AOL, Yahoo! Music, Billboard, Taste of Country and Country Music Nation in exclusive videos for each outlet as the country music icon invites fans and families to enter the “Coat of Many Colors” Sweepstakes. Parton wants to provide one lucky winner, and three guests a once-in-a-lifetime getaway to the Great Smoky Mountains, which includes a tour of her own Tennessee Mountain Home.

Brantley Gilbert Donates $10 Mil

BRANTLEY GILBERT DONATES $10.5 MILLION
TO TOYS FOR TOTS
 

Teams with Bendon Inc. for Unprecedented Contribution

 
Photo Credit: James Minchin

ASHLAND, OH (December 21, 2015) – Brantley Gilbert may be a hardcore songwriter/performer, but he also understands what Christmas means to kids – and how hard the holidays can be for families in transition. So as the holiday approaches, it should come as no surprise that the outspoken supporter of United States servicemen would team up with Marine Toys for Tots Foundation and children’s activity product producer Bendon, Inc. for an unprecedented $10.5 million donation this season.

Cam's Burning House Goes Platinum

GRAMMY® Nominee Cam Goes Platinum with “Burning House” as Acclaim Builds for Her New Album, Untamed

 

Cam Surprised with RIAA Platinum Plaque for “Burning House” at Performance on NBC’s Today Show

 

Rolling Stone Country’s #1 Song of 2015, “Burning House” Continues to Climb the Country Airplay Top 5

 

Cam to Appear on American Country Countdown’s Top 10 Stories of 2015, Airing Tonight on FOX

 

Nashville, TN – GRAMMY®-nominated Arista Nashville/RCA Records singer/songwriter Cam performed her Top-5-and-climbing smash single, “Burning House,” Tuesday morning on NBC’s Today show.  The California-native’s debut appearance on Today was made all the more special with the surprise presentation of a plaque celebrating the RIAA Platinum certification of “Burning House.”

Frankie Ballard Goes Platinum

FRANKIE BALLARD CELEBRATES PLATINUM STATUS FOR ‘SUNSHINE & WHISKEY’

Singer/songwriter preps for Saturday’s Christmas charity show, new single ‘It all Started with a Beer’ impacts radio

NASHVILLE, TN (Dec. 17, 2015) – Frankie Ballard will be celebrating more than just the season this Saturday at his sixth annual Country Christmas Concert in Kalamazoo, Michigan. He learned Monday that his single “Sunshine & Whiskey” has received platinum certification from the RIAA.

Kenny Chesney Has Top Country Tour

Kenny Chesney Hits Billboard’s Top 5 2015 Tours

Only Country Act Along w Taylor Swift, 1-D, U2 & the Stones

NEW YORK, N.Y. – (Dec. 15, 2015) - When Kenny Chesney took his 2015 The Big Revival Tour on the road, he wanted to rock as many people as humanly possible. With just 57 dates, albeit 23 stadiums, the man The Wall Street Journal called “The King of the Road” was the only country act making Billboard’s Top 5 Touring Acts of 2015 – alongside Taylor Swift, One Direction, U2 and the Rolling Stones.
 

Billy Currington Headline Tour

BILLY CURRINGTON’S HEADLINING SUMMER FOREVER TOUR

TO KICK OFF FEBRUARY 19^th

 

Chart Topping Singer/Songwriter Kelsea Ballerini to Join on Select Dates

 

 

Platinum-selling, Grammy, ACM and CMA nominated artist Billy Currington will hit the road on his headlining Summer Forever tour beginning in February 2016.  Billy’s high-energy live shows always gives the audience what they want and leave them feeling like they’ve been to a great family reunion that turned into a raucous party.

Luke & Dierks To Co-Host ACMs

LUKE BRYAN AND DIERKS BENTLEY TO CO-HOST

51^ST ACADEMY OF COUNTRY MUSIC AWARDS®

LIVE FROM THE MGM GRAND GARDEN ARENA IN LAS VEGAS,

SUNDAY, APRIL 3, 2016

ON THE CBS TELEVISION NETWORK

TICKETS FOR ACM AWARDS ON SALE DEC 18 AT TICKETMASTER.COM

ENCINO, CA (December 15, 2015) – Superstars Luke Bryan and Dierks Bentley willco-host the 51^st ACADEMY OF COUNTRY MUSIC AWARDS®, Country Music’s Party of the Year®, returning to Las Vegas’ MGM Grand Garden Arena and broadcast LIVE on Sunday, April 3, 2016 at 8:00 PM ET/delayed PT on the CBS Television Network.  The show, produced by dick clark productions, will mark reigning ACM Entertainer of the Year Luke Bryan’s fourth consecutive turn hosting the Awards, and Bentley’s first time hosting a LIVE televised event. 

Cole Swindell Releases New Single

COLE SWINDELL RELEASES EMOTIONAL DEBUT SINGLE AND VIDEO FOR
“YOU SHOULD BE HERE” FROM HIS BRAND NEW FORTHCOMING ALBUM

YAHOO! To World Premiere Video For “You Should Be Here” 

Swindell Becomes First-Ever Country Artist To Perform on Shazam Sessions

 

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – December 14, 2015 – On the heels of becoming the only solo male artist in the history of Country Aircheck/Mediabase to top the chart with his first four, out of the box, No. 1 singles as a solo artist (including his latest No. 1 smash “Let Me See Ya Girl,” along with Platinum-certified mega hits “Hope You Get Lonely Tonight,” “Ain’t Worth The Whiskey” and “Chillin’ It”), Cole Swindell releases the first single, “You Should Be Here,” from his forthcoming album today. While the song officially goes for adds in January, the song strongly resonates for people during this holiday season.  

While the lyrics for “You Should Be Here,” written by Swindell and Ashley Gorley, can relate to many interpretations of missing someone in any moment, the song was originally inspired by the sudden passing of Swindell’s father.  

Scotty McCreery Wins BMI Award

SCOTTY McCREERY MIA FROM BMI AWARDS; ACCEPTS 1 MONTH LATER
 
“See You Tonight” Singer/Songwriter Nabs a Coveted BMI Top 50 Country Song of the Year Award
  

NASHVILLE, TENN. – (Dec. 14, 2015) – After having to miss the BMI Country Music Awards in November due to a prior commitment performing at the CMA Marketing Summit, Scotty McCreery excitedly accepted his first BMI Award in person last Friday afternoon, Dec. 11, for writing one of BMI’s Top 50 Country Songs of 2015: his Platinum-selling Top Ten hit “See You Tonight.” BMI announced its list of Top 50 songs in November at its annual event, but with McCreery unavailable, he didn’t want to just “mail it in.” McCreery wrote the song with Ashley Gorley and Zach Crowell, and it served as the title cut of his second studio album and earned him a Top 10 hit on both Billboard and MediaBase. The multi-Platinum-selling singer/songwriter received his award in person in Nashville from Jody Williams, BMI Vice President, Writer and Publisher Relations and Bradley Collins, BMI Executive Director, Writer-Relations.

Taylor Swift 1989 Tour Video

TAYLOR SWIFT AND APPLE MUSIC PRESENT THE 1989 WORLD TOUR LIVE

 

 

 

The 1989 World Tour LIVE is Available Worldwide Exclusively on Apple Music on December 20th

 

Taylor Swift is giving her fans on Apple Music a special surprise this holiday, The 1989 World Tour LIVE. The 1989 World Tour LIVE was filmed in front of 76,000 fans at the ANZ Stadium in Sydney, Australia on November 28, 2015. The 1989 World Tour LIVE captures Taylor’s entire performance from Sydney with never seen footage filmed backstage and during rehearsals with surprise musical and special guests that appeared on The 1989 World Tour. 

 

Beginning Sunday, December 20, The 1989 World Tour LIVE will be available in its entirety exclusively to Apple Music members around the world at applemusic.com/Taylorswift and can be enjoyed across devices including iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, Mac, PC and Apple TV. Fans who don’t already have an active Apple Music account can visit apple.com/music to sign up for a three month free trial today. Plus, Apple Music is the only place where fans can stream Taylor Swift’s full catalog of albums and songs including the Grammy nominated Album of the Year, 1989.

 

Musical guests featured in The 1989 World Tour LIVE include: 

The Band Perry, Beck, Dierks Bentley, Mary J. Blige, Charli XCX, Jason Derulo, Echosmith, Fetty Wap, Selena Gomez, Ellie Goulding, HAIM  Fifth Harmony, Imagine Dragons, Mick Jagger, Nick Jonas, Alison Krauss, Lisa Kudrow, Miranda Lambert, Avril Lavigne, John Legend, Leona Lewis, Little Big Town, Lorde, Natalie Maines, Ricky Martin, Idina Menzel, Alanis Morissette, Rachel Platten, Nelly, Pitbull, St. Vincent, Justin Timberlake, Tove Lo, Steven Tyler, Keith Urban, Walk the Moon, The Weeknd and Wiz Khalifa. 

 

The 1989 World Tour LIVE also includes special guests appearances by: 

Lily Aldridge, Abigail Anderson, Joan Baez, Kobe Bryant, Ciara, Ellen Degeneres, Cara Delevingne, Lily Donaldson, Lena Dunham, Gigi Hadid, Mariska Hargitay, Martha Hunt, Kendall Jenner, Jaime King, Karlie Kloss, Heidi Klum, Matt LeBlanc, Sean O’Pry, Andreja Pejic, Behati Prinsloo, Julia Roberts,  Chris Rock, Hailee Steinfeld, Candice Swanepoel, Dwyane Wade, Serena Williams, Russell Wilson and the U.S. Women's Soccer Team.

 

For more information and details on how to view The 1989 World Tour Live please visit http://smarturl.it/1989TourLIVE

Buy Me A Boat Certified Platinum

CHRIS JANSON’S #1 SMASH “BUY ME A BOAT” CERTIFIED PLATINUM

Janson’s Debut Disc Named A Rolling Stone Best Country Album Of The Year as Second Single ‘Power of Positive Drinkin’” Continues Chart Climb

 

NASHVILLE, TN – (Dec. 11, 2015) – Chris Janson thought all the surprises in his life-changing 2015 had already been unwrapped, but as Christmas approaches he got one more present: a Platinum “Boat.”

The Warner Bros. Records/Warner Music Nashville recording artist’s breakthrough single “Buy Me A Boat” has been certified Platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America, with more than one million track equivalent units and counting for the escapist song of the summer.

David & Catherine Nail Welcome Twins

DAVID NAIL AND WIFE CATHERINE ANNOUNCE THE ARRIVAL OF THEIR TWINS

(Nashville, TN) DECEMBER 12, 2015 - MCA recording artist David Nail and wife Catherine received two early Christmas gifts with the arrival of their twins. The proud parents welcomed their twins, son Lawson Brent Nail born at 7:44 a.m. CT and daughter Lillian Catherine Nail at 7:45 am CT this morning at a local Nashville area hospital. Lawson and Lillian are the first children for the Nail’s. Lawson, Lillian and their Mom are doing great. “No words can describe the feeling,” says David and Catherine. “Beyond worth the wait. We are crazy in love with them both.”

Greetings From GarthVegas!

GARTH BROOKS: What Happens in Vegas…

 

…stays in Vegas – and will be unlike anything else we’ve seen on Garth Brooks’ current World Tour! “We’re looking at this like history. We’re looking at it like Central Park. We’re looking at it like Texas Stadium,” he says of his just-announced shows over the Fourth of July weekend in 2016 (with additional shows in June just added today!), comparing the performances to other landmark live events in his one-of-a-kind career.  

Carrie Has Grammy Nom, #1 Album

Carrie Underwood Earns a GRAMMY® Nomination as Storyteller Goes Gold and Returns to #1!  Underwood’s Latest Album Reclaims the Top Spot on Billboard’s Country Albums Chart

Carrie Performs During CBS' Sinatra 100- An All-Star GRAMMY Concert- photo by  Ethan Miller/ Wire Image NASHVILLE, TN – (December 7, 2015) Seven-time GRAMMY winner Carrie Underwood scored the 21st of her 22 #1 singles with “Little Toy Guns” (from  her Greatest Hits: Decade #1), and today, her performance of the song earned her a Best Country Solo Performance GRAMMY nomination for the 58th Annual GRAMMY Awards®.  The GRAMMY news comes as Carrie’s new Storyteller album achieves RIAA Gold certification and also returns to #1 this week on Billboard’s Top Country Albums sales chart.  Last month, Storyteller notched a historic debut when Carrie became the only artist in the chart’s 51-year history to have each of her first six albums enter the chart at #1.

58th Annual Grammy Nominees

2016 Grammy Nominations  

Keith Urban's Father Passes Away

Sad to report that Keith Urban's father, Robert, passed away Saturday night after a long battle with cancer.  Keith released this statement from his publicist:

“I’ve been deeply touched by the outpouring of love and support that Nic and I, and our family, have received since my Dad’s passing on Saturday night,” Keith Urban writes. “His long battle with cancer is now over and he is finally at peace. My Dad’s love of country music and America set me on my life’s journey, and shaped so much of who I am today. Thank you to everyone who has kept us all in your thoughts and prayers.”

 

The news comes just days after Keith unveiled an exhibit of personal items at the Country Music Hall of Fame & Museum.  That night he credited his father for his love and appreciation of country music.  “My dad always thought it was important that I dress like a performer.  So a lot of the outfits were made by him with my mom.  He thought I should dress well.  And a lot of the competitions I entered also had categories for Best Dressed Male, and I often won that.  Sometimes that was the only thing I won."  In fact the first items in the exhibits were three record albums from his father's collection. 

Back in 2002, Keith wrote "Song For Dad" that appeared on his Golden Road album.  He explained the song's inspiration: "For me, I just wanted to write a song to say thanks to my dad, you know? My love for American country music, American cars, American culture, all of that stuff was inherited from my dad. He grew up in the ‘50s and was infected with rock’n roll, like so many kids around the world were in the ‘50s, and that really started it for him. He was in. He was sucked in to the vortex, you know? And I inherited all that stuff, and I loved the fact that I did, because it sent me on my path, and it was where I was supposed to be. So, this song was my way of saying thanks to him."

Ronnie Dunn Considered Retirement

Back when Brooks & Dunn called it quits in 2010, Ronnie Dunn went solo.  He released a couple of albums on his own, and earlier this year, he signed with the NASH Icon record label for a yet-untitled album.  One year ago, it was announced that Brooks & Dunn would reunite for a series of shows in Las Vegas with Reba McEntire. 

Grand Ole Opry Movie Opens

AMERICAN SATURDAY NIGHT: LIVE FROM THE GRAND OLE OPRY OPENS TODAY IN SELECT THEATERS Grand Ole Opry and DigiNext Films team up with charitable partnerCOUNTRY CARES FOR ST. JUDE KIDS®

Nashville - (December 4, 2015) — American Saturday Night: Live From The Grand Ole Opry, the made-for-cinema feature film, opens today in select theaters across the country. After a one-week run, the film will return with a nationwide release in early 2016. The motion picture offers audiences a virtual front row seat and VIP all-access pass to country music’s most famous show, including live Opry performances and backstage conversations with Opry members Brad Paisley, Blake Shelton, and Darius Rucker as well as The Band Perry and Brett Eldredge. To celebrate and honor the Grand Ole Opry’s first-ever feature film, independent distributor DigiNext Films has teamed with one of the Opry’s long-time charitable partners ‘Country Cares for St. Jude Kids®.’ DigiNext is donating a portion of every movie theater ticket sold for American Saturday Night: Live From The Grand Ole Opry to benefit Country Cares for St. Jude Kids, one of the most successful radio fundraising programs of all time, which has raised $550 million dollars for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital®. The movie’s official trailer can be seen at www.oprymovie.com. Movie tickets are available via partners MovieTickets.com and Fandango.

Keith Urban's Father In Hospice

KEITH URBAN'S FATHER PLACED IN HOSPICE

Keith Urban's friends and family members were in Nashville on Tuesday night (12/1) for the opening celebration of his Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum exhibit "Keith Urban So Far …," but one of the singer's closest family members – his father Robert Urban – was not there. Keith tells The Tennessean that his father recently was placed in hospice care, which he says has affected him greatly in the last few days. Urban says of his father, "He's probably only got a few weeks, if that. I've just been dealing with that the last couple of days. This has all come at a very strange time where it's typical of a career that has extreme highs and extreme lows all often at the exact same time. So (the Hall of Fame exhibit) is bittersweet a little bit because (my dad) is the catalyst for all of this. My dad is the catalyst for me living in America."

Keith largely credits his father's love of country music for inspiring him to become an artist and move to Nashville. Among the many sentimental artifacts on display in the new exhibit are the stage outfits Urban's father made for him when he was a kid. The exhibit will run through May of 2016.

Carrie Underwood Doing Media Blitz

Carrie Underwood Shines across Multiple TV Appearances and New “Heartbeat” Music Video Featured on Last Night’s Late Late Show with James Corden and This Sunday’s Sinatra 100 – An All-Star GRAMMY Concert Vinyl Edition of Chart-Topping Storyteller Album to Release December 4

Making of Heartbeat Music Video

Nashville, TN – From London to Las Vegas, superstar Carrie Underwood has been in the spotlight in multiple ways this week following a Sunday performance of her new single, “Heartbeat,” on the smash UK series, The X Factor.

Dierks Bentley 2016 Europe Tour

DIERKS BENTLEY RETURNS TO EUROPE  FOR STRING OF HEADLINING TOUR DATES IN 2016   Newcomer Tucker Beathard Joins Bentley  To Cross The Pond For Upcoming Shows in Ireland and the UK   NASHVILLE, TN – Dec. 01, 2015 – Following stellar reviews on his two previous European tours, multi-Platinum artist Dierks Bentley will follow-up last year’s soldout performance that “blew the roof off” the O2 (BBC) with dates in Dublin, London, Manchester and Glasgow next April. Tickets for the international shows with rising singer/songwriter Tucker Beathard will be available this Friday (12/4) at 9:00A local time on www.dierks.com.