FOCUS on the 615
Nashville's premier entertainment blog including album, song and show reviews and exclusive artist interviews.
Photo credit: Rick Diamond
Legendary rock band Survivor is embarking on their next chapter in 2016 with a new member who has seemingly given new life to one of rock ‘n’ roll’s preeminent bands. With 21-year-old Nashville resident Cameron Barton assuming lead vocalist duties, the group will take their trademark arena rock sound to their loyal and devoted fan base.
Photo Credit: Steven Worster
MCA Nashville’s Sam Hunt released an emotional new music video today for his latest single, “Break Up In A Small Town.” Already Gold-certified and climbing country radio’s Top 25, “Break Up In A Small Town” is Hunt’s fourth single off his critically-acclaimed debut album, Montevallo. “Break Up In A Small Town” follows Hunt’s three consecutive Platinum-selling No. 1’s, “Leave the Night On,” “Take Your Time” and “House Party” – all three of which hold positions in the Top 5 most-streamed country tracks year-to-date.
The superstar lineup continues to grow with the announcement todayJason AldeanLuke Bryan, and Blake Shelton are each performing during “The 49th Annual CMA Awards,” which airs live Wednesday, Nov. 4 (8:00 PM/ET) from the Bridgestone Arena in Nashville on the ABC Television Network.
RAYMOND WEIL CEO, Elie Bernheim, Drake White & Gibson's Alex Juszkiewicz Photo credit: Rick Diamond
Luxury Swiss watchmaker, RAYMOND WEIL, Kings Jewelers and Gibson hosted a private event to celebrate the guitar-inspired nabucco timepiece and the brands’ partnership. The evening’s proceeds benefit The VH1 Save The Music Foundation.
Photo credit: Rick Diamond
On Wednesday, October 14th, ACME Feed & Seed in downtown Nashville played host to a special celebration with RAYMOND WEIL and Gibson benefiting VH1 Save The Music, a foundation that RAYMOND WEIL has supported since 2011. The two companies collaborated to create the special addition Nabucco timepiece.
The annual music bash that is Commodore Quake is back again. Students, alumni, and Nashvillians alike can get excited for two more huge musical acts to take the stage at Memorial Gym on Friday, October 23. This year, The Music Group is excited to present The Band Perry and Third Eye Blind.
Eric and his mother Rita Church on stage at the North Carolina Hall of Fame ceremony on Oct. 15, 2015 at Gem Theater. Photo credit: Daniel Coston
Long before receiving a CMA Entertainer of the Year nomination and shattering venue attendance records on his The Outsiders World Tour, Eric Church beguiled audiences in gritty dive bars with solo renditions of his then lesser-known hits amidst his show while giving his band a break from grueling three hour a night-plus set. Last night, Church found himself back in a small theater in North Carolina in a familiar yet slightly different situation after breaking in through a second story balcony, but still standing on stage with his trademark aviators and an electric guitar in hand wondering what in the hell he should play.
Some of the biggest names in music will come together to celebrate the holidays on “CMA Country Christmas,” a two-hour special hosted for the sixth year by Jennifer Nettles airing Thursday, Dec. 3 (9:00-11:00 PM/ET) on the ABC Television Network.
Although Halloween is still a few weeks away, country music fans can get a head start on celebrating Christmas thanks to Kenny Rogers! The music legend recently released his first new holiday album in seventeen years! The project is called Once Again It’s Christmas and serves as Rogers’ sixth Christmas record overall.
If you think the Country Music Hall of Fame member needs to decorate the studio or wear a Santa hat to get into the spirit before recording, think again.
“The songs and the lyrics themselves put me in the Christmas spirit,” Rogers admits. “I do love singing Christmas music. I’ve never been overtly religious, but I’ve always been deeply spiritual. And I think Christmas gives me a chance to say that without saying it.”
Rogers furthers, “I’ve learned a long time ago – if songs don’t touch me, I can’t make ’em touch anyone else. If they touch me, I can usually make someone enjoy ’em enough to say ‘I like that song.'”
Several guest stars join Rogers on Once Again It’s Christmas including Jennifer Nettles, Alison Krauss, Jim Brickman, Home Free, and Winfield’s Locket. The Texas-native has had great success with duets because of a particular theory he has. “You never start with a partner. You start with a song, and you say, ‘Who could sing this song well?'” Rogers talks about working with Nettles and Krauss in the video below.
The Once Again It’s Christmas album art holds a special place in the singer-songwriter’s heart. It’s a photo that Rogers took himself. Yep! He sings. He writes. He produces. He takes fantastic pictures! The jack-of-all-trades describes himself as an impulsive obsessive.
Speaking of the holidays, FOCUS on the 615 wanted to know how far in advance Rogers does his Christmas shopping and if his 11-year-old twins (Jordan and Justin) have been good boys this year.
“I do that all year long. I see something that I think will be nice, and I’ll order it and put it away. And especially for the kids… I just bought them a couple of – I think they’re called hamster balls. Those round things you get in and you bump into each other. They’re always trying to kill each other.” Rogers says with a laugh, “So I thought I’d try to either make it easier for them or take away the danger.”
When asked about a gift that he has always wanted and still to this day has not received, Rogers shares, “A Ferrari. Talk to my wife!” Here’s to hoping Santa brings him one this year!
And if you’re wondering about his favorite classic Christmas song of all time, Rogers loves “White Christmas.” Oh and turkey is his go-to holiday food. “I know that’s Thanksgiving but…” We can’t blame him for that!
Once Again It’s Christmas is certainly a must-have for the holiday season. And you’ll want to catch Rogers out on the road on his Once Again It’s Christmas Tour featuring Linda Davis – which kicks off Nov. 11.
Rogers announced his retirement from touring on NBC’s The Today Show. See more here.
Dates for Rogers’ farewell world tour are coming soon.
Lucchese, the iconic craftsman of handmade boots, today boot collection designed in collaboration with Texas native, Grammy-winning countrysinger/songwriter, Kacey Musgraves.
