Archive | May, 2017

Scotty McCreery Releases New Single, “Five More Minutes”

By on May 3, 2017 in In The Press

Photo credit: David McLister

The phrase “the song remembers when” was definitely true for Scotty McCreery when he wrote “Five More Minutes” in 2015, a fan favorite that he first premiered on The Grand Ole Opry stage last year. In the song, a reflective McCreery recalls events ranging from an early date with longtime sweetheart Gabi to his grandfather’s final moments. He is finally sharing it with the world this Friday, May 5, through digital retailers (including iTunes and Amazon) and online streaming services.

“I’ve been performing ‘Five More Minutes’ in my live show every night for almost a year and it always earns a standing ovation,” said McCreery. “Fans have been asking me for months to release it. When Frank, Monty and I got together to write, we talked about all those moments we could’ve used five more minutes to say ‘I love you’ or ‘goodbye’….it poured out.  Now we can get it out to fans on Friday, May 5. ‘Five More Minutes’ on 5/5… it’s fate. And it’s my favorite song I’ve ever written.”

McCreery wrote “Five More Minutes” with Frank Rogers and Monty Criswell in 2015, two weeks after the passing of his paternal grandfather who serves as a major inspiration for the song.  In a few minutes’ time, McCreery takes the listener on an emotional journey through both the joys and sorrows of life, ending with a plea for “five more minutes” with his grandfather. The song was produced by Rogers.

The multi-Platinum-selling singer debuted the song on the Grand Ole Opry in June 2016 to a standing ovation and thunderous applause. A video of the performance was soon posted to the Opry’s YouTube channel, quickly garnering millions of views in spite of the fact that the song had not yet been released. The performance recently earned McCreery a Rare Country Award for Grand Ole Opry Moment of the Year.

5/5/5MM

McCreery made history in 2011 as both the first country artist and the youngest male artist to debut his first studio album, the Platinum-certified Clear as Day, at No. 1 on the all-genre Billboard Top 200 album chart. He has gone on to see all three of his albums debut at No. 1 on a Billboard album chart, with current sales nearing 3 million copies. In addition to receiving both a Platinum and Gold album, he’s earned one Gold single and three Platinum singles, and achieved two Top Ten hits with “Feelin’ It” and “See You Tonight.” The latter song earned McCreery both his first BMI Award for writing one of the Top 50 Country Songs of 2015 and his first Music Row No. 1 Challenge Coin. He was named the ACM New Artist of the Year Award in 2011, won the CMT Music Award for Breakthrough Video of the Year (“The Trouble with Girls”) in 2012; and American Country Awards for new Artist of the Year in 2011 and Breakthrough Artist of the Year in 2013. In 2016, McCreery released his first book, Go Big or Go Home: The Journey Toward the Dream.  For more information and his current tour schedule, visit www.ScottyMcCreery.com.

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Brothers Osborne Releases “It Ain’t My Fault” Music Video With Vevo Debut, Join Chris Stapleton On Tour  

By on May 3, 2017 in In The Press

Reigning ACM and CMA “Vocal Duo of the Year,” Brothers Osborne, debuts the music video for their raucous new single “It Ain’t My Fault” with VEVO today, watch HERE. John and TJ Osborne partnered with directors Wes Edwards and Ryan Silver for the eccentric video that originated as a comedic spoof on the action film Point Break. Brothers Osborne portray pawn shop owners who are robbed at gunpoint by four masked men disguised as former presidents. Hijinks ensue as the video chronicles the consequential police chase.

 

For an inside look at the making of the “It Ain’t My Fault” video, People.com has premiered an exclusive behind-the-scenes piece which can be viewed HERE.

 

“The media these days is flooded with all things presidential and politics,” John notes. “No matter what happens, politicians all seem to pin the blame on something else as opposed to being accountable for their own actions. We felt the connection with the song title was perfect.”

 

TJ adds, “John and I always like song titles that aren’t immediately obvious but are common everyday sayings. We’re all guilty of saying ‘It Ain’t My Fault’ more so than it actually being true. When our co-writer, Lee Thomas Miller, brought up the idea we loved it. We wanted a video that was as exciting as the music.”

 

Climbing country radio’s Top 25, “It Ain’t My Fault” is Brothers Osborne’s current single off their critically-acclaimed debut album, Pawn Shop. The infectious track is quickly winning over both critics and fans alike with Rolling Stone Country praising, “‘It Ain’t My Fault’ rejuvenates the tired country-rock vibe overrunning the airwaves…it’s unique in the sonic landscape.” The song has already cracked the Top 20 on Shazam’s country charts and continues to increase in sales rankings each week.

 

“It Ain’t My Fault” follows the duo’s GRAMMY-nominated single “21 Summer” as well as the GRAMMY-nominated, Platinum-certified, No.1 smash hit “Stay A Little Longer.” The singer/songwriter siblings recently swept both duo categories at the 52nd Academy of Country Music Awards joining Brooks & Dunn as the only country music duos to win both “New Vocal Duo or Group of the Year” as well as “Vocal Duo of the Year” in the same night. They also stand as the reigning CMA “Vocal Duo of the Year.”

 

Brothers Osborne will next join Chris Stapleton as part of his All American Road Show starting May 5th in Atlanta. For a full list of tour dates, news, images and more, visit www.BrothersOsborne.com

 

Fans can listen to Brothers Osborne’s “It Ain’t My Fault” playlist HERE

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Dierks Bentley Helps Reunite Military Family At 2017 WHAT THE HELL Tour Stop On Saturday

By on May 3, 2017 in In The Press

Photo credit: Zachary Belcher

Multi-PLATINUM singer/songwriter Dierks Bentley played a special role in reuniting one local military family during his 2017 WHAT THE HELL WORLD TOUR stop in Fresno, CA, on Saturday (4/29). During a meet & greet with Sgt. Steven Mendez’ family backstage before the concert, Bentley helped Mendez surprise his two sons after being overseas for nearly a year. Following the emotional reunion, the “consummate entertainer” (The Boot) invited the family on stage during his performance of “Home,” where the capacity crowd’s “U-S-A” chants lifted the show even higher.


“I can’t begin to imagine the sacrifice of being away from your family for sometimes years,” said Bentley. “‘I love the fact that Country music fans hold our military and their families in such high regard and always jump at the chance to say thank you. It was a really cool moment in the show, and a really special thing for me to be part of.”

Watch the heartwarming reunion here: https://youtu.be/QpbaOjXJ3qw

Bentley will continue to throw the party of the summer with “ferocious live performances” (Fresno Bee) when he launches the next leg of his 2017 WHAT THE HELL WORLD TOUR, with special guests Cole Swindell and Jon Pardi, on May 19th in Columbia, MD. With “lyrics that are compassionate and purposeful” (The Post-Standard) he has “had the audience singing along at top volume” while “working the crowd with the charismatic brand of showmanship that’s made him one of Country music’s most exciting entertainers,” (Arizona Republic). For more information and a full list of tour dates, visit www.dierks.com.
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Kevin Carter And Jay DeMarcus Held “Waiting For Wishes” Celebrity Waiters Dinner And After-Party – Jammin’ With Jay DeMarcus & Friends 

By on May 3, 2017 in In The Press
NFL veteran, Super Bowl Champion and now College Game Day Analyst on ESPNU, Kevin Carter and co-host Jay DeMarcus of Rascal Flatts held the 16th Annual Kevin Carter’s “Waiting for Wishes” Celebrity Waiters Dinner at The Palm Restaurant on Tuesday, April 18, 2017.  The star-studded event will benefit The Kevin Carter Foundation and Make-A-Wish® Middle Tennessee.  The event raises funds to help grant the wishes of children with life-threatening medical conditions.  Nashville’s premier celebrity event raised $125,000 Tuesday night and has now raised more than $2.1 million for charity since its inception in 2002.
Jay DeMarcus, Kevin Carter, Beth Torres and Ben Hanback from Make-A-Wish.
The sold out celebrity event was an exclusive, VIP evening where Carter and DeMarcus invited professional athletes, country music artists and various celebrities from all over the country to take over The Palm as servers before they head over to Honky Tonk Central for the Official After-Party – Jammin’  with Jay DeMarcus & Friends.  The event, presented by The Campbell Family Foundation and HCA, continues to be one of the most unique celebrity events in the country and is considered a “must attend” event for patrons and participants alike.  Nearly fifty celebrities joined in to wait tables, sign autographs and perform at the after-party.
Celebrities included Motley Crue’s Vince Neil, country music artists Craig Campbell, Eric Paslay, Lindsay Ell, Hunter Hayes, Cassadee Pope, John Rich, Kellie Pickler, Halfway to Hazard, Kyle Jacobs, Hollywood actors Stephen Dorff, Michael Cudlitz, Marty Kove, Jonathan Schaech, Kristy Swanson, ESPN’s Charles Arbuckle, Rachel Baribeau, Jason Fitz, Elika Sadeghi, Maria Taylor, Tom Luginbill, Sage Steele, media personalities Bonnie Bernstein, Jenn Brown and Storme Warren, comedian Kevin Farley, ABC’s The Bachelor / Bachelorette’s Kaitlyn Bristowe, Shawn Booth, Luke Pell, Chris Soules, current and former Titans players Marcus Mariota, Chris Spencer, Michael Roos, UFC/MMA fighters Randy Couture, Mike Perry and WWE’s Titus O’Neil.
 
The Dinner – The Palm Restaurant
The evening began with a cocktail reception for patrons at 5:45 p.m., followed by The Palm’s famous “Surf & Turf” dinner. A premier silent and live auction featured exotic trips, autographed celebrity memorabilia, and once in a lifetime experiences.  The celebrities served guests, signed autographs, and accepted donations to indulge the lively crowd.
The Official After-Party
In 2012 “Waiting for Wishes” expanded to include an Official After-Party – “Jammin’ with Jay DeMarcus & Friends.”  This informal jam session is tons of fun for patrons and servers alike. “Jammin’ with Jay DeMarcus & Friends” has featured impromptu performances from artists like Rick Springfield, Darius Rucker and Big & Rich.
“I am again so grateful to be able to host this incredible event in Nashville,” said ESPNU Analyst Kevin Carter.  “I’m thankful to my co-host Jay DeMarcus and the unbelievable celebrities that show up to wait tables for our patrons each year.  I am thrilled when I think about how many wishes we’ve been able to grant for children with life-threatening illnesses through our fundraising efforts and this event for the past fifteen years.”
The event is sponsored by The Campbell Family Foundation, HCA, AudioDeluxe, Aon, PAR, Tennessee Titans, The Hilton Downtown Nashville, Empire Distributors, DET Distributing, Donatos Pizza, MStreet Properties, Nashville Lifestyles, RJ Young, The Palm, Matchless Transportation, Honky Tonk Central, Ego Design, Lipman, Jewelbox and Tito’s Vodka.
 
More About The Kevin Carter Foundation
Kevin and Shima Carter founded The Kevin Carter Foundation to enrich the lives of children focusing on youth and character development.  Carter often quotes his father’s saying, “To whom much is given, much is expected,” and admits he tries to live by that today.  For more information, visit www.Kevin-Carter.com or go to the foundation’s Facebook page at www.facebook.com/waitingforwishes.
The Kevin Carter Foundation will make a donation to Make-A-Wish® Middle Tennessee, the primary beneficiary of “Waiting for Wishes” with the proceeds of the event.  Make-A-Wish® Middle Tennessee grants the wishes of children with life-threatening medical conditions to enrich the human experience with hope, strength and joy.  www.middletennessee.wish.org
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2017 K-LOVE Fan Awards Voting Now Open, Uniting Fans To Support Military Heroes In A Big Way

By on May 3, 2017 in In The Press
Voting is now underway for the 2017 K-LOVE Fan Awards, empowering fans to not only select winners in each category, but additionally play a part in awarding a newly renovated, mortgage-free home for a combat wounded hero or Gold Star spouse through the Military Warriors Support Foundation (MWSF). Each category’s honorees were chosen by fans with for KING & COUNTRY, Lauren Daigle and TobyMac topping the nominations for this year’s fan-voted K-LOVE Fan Awards, honored in three categories each.

Unique to this year’s voting, the K-LOVE Fan Awards have enlisted the help of fans to partner with the K-LOVE Radio Network and MWSF in an effort to give back to some of our nation’s combat wounded heroes and Gold Star families. K-LOVE will assist MWSF in placing a combat wounded hero or Gold Star spouse into a newly renovated, mortgage-free home.

Nationally, MWSF has awarded over 768 newly renovated, mortgage-free homes to combat wounded veterans, Gold Star spouses and their families. Over 1,200 children and 1,300 adults have a place to call home, because of our Homes4WoundedHeroes and Homes4GoldStars programs. To find out more about MWSF, visit www.militarywarriors.org.
The nominees for Film/Impact award were just unveiled and include the following:

Ben Hur

Facing Darkness

Is Genesis History?

The Case for Christ

To Joey, With Love

The 5th annual K-LOVE Fan Awards will return to the historic Grand Ole Opry House on May 28. The fan experience driven weekend will kick off with a concert featuring MercyMe, Lauren Daigle, Danny Gokey and Zach Williams in Nashville on May 26. Coca-Cola Consolidated will once again serve as a presenting sponsor for the 2017 K-LOVE Fan Awards. For more information on attending the weekend, visit www.KLOVEFanAwards.com.

About Military Warriors Support Foundation:
Military Warriors Support Foundation (MWSF) is a 501(c)3 non-profit, founded by Lt. General, Leroy Sisco, (Ret), in 2007. Their mission is to provide support and programs that facilitate a smooth and successful transition for our Nation’s combat wounded heroes and Gold Star families. This is a very fragile time for these heroes, and their families, and it can be difficult for many. Our programs focus on housing and homeownership, employment, as well as recreational activities and transportation assistance.
About The K-LOVE Fan Awards:
The K-LOVE Fan Awards mission is to create a fan experience that celebrates and promotes artists, athletes, authors and entertainers who, with excellence, engage and impact popular culture for Jesus Christ. This year’s show includes the return of co-hosts Elisabeth Hasselbeck and Matthew West. Coca-Cola Consolidated is the sponsor for The 2017 K-LOVE Fan Awards.  For more information visit www.KLOVEFanAwards.com. The K-LOVE Fan Awards is a regional EMMY® (2016) winning John Sanders LLC/Eidon Event.
About K-LOVE:
The K-LOVE Radio Network creates compelling media that inspires and encourages you to have a meaningful relationship with Christ. With 531 total signals in 48 states, K-LOVE is enjoyed by millions of people across the country every week in markets including New York City, Chicago, Nashville, Philadelphia, Miami, Denver and many more. The K-LOVE Fan Awards mission is to create a fun, unique and meaningful fan experience that celebrates and promotes artists, athletes, authors and entertainers, who, with excellence, engage and impact popular culture for Jesus Christ.
Get Connected with the 2017 K-LOVE Fan Awards:
Website // KLOVEFanAwards.com
Hashtag // #klovefanawards
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Sara Evans Sets July 21 For Release Of New Album, WORDS

By on May 3, 2017 in In The Press

Days after Country Music star and entrepreneur SARA EVANS announced the launch of her own record label – Born To Fly Records – the multi-platinum entertainer has revealed additional details about her highly-anticipated forthcoming album. The ACM Female Vocalist of the Year divulged yesterday that her brand new album Words will release on July 21. Fourteen separate female songwriters, including powerhouses Ashley Monroe, Caitlyn Smith, Hillary Lindsey, Hillary Scott, Liz Hengber, Sonya Isaacs and of course Sara herself, contribute their words to the stunning, upcoming record.

“When I’m listening to a song, it’s the lyrics and the stories they tell that matter most to me,” said Sara. “Not only is ‘Words’ the title to one of the songs on my album but in listening to new music for the record, I was always looking for lyrics that moved me and expressed a powerful range of emotions. Women are natural storytellers and I’m proud to have so many amazing female songwriters represented on this record.”

Words marks a creative reunion for Evans, pairing her with frequent co-producer Mark Bright (2005’s Real Fine Place, 2014’s Slow Me Down) while Tracy Gershon provides A&R direction. Her daughter Olivia (14) even contributes background vocals to the record.

Beginning today, limited-edition, fan packages are available for pre-order at http://smarturl.it/SEStore. Pricing starts at $11.99 and include a variety of bundles ranging from a signed CD or vinyl version of Words, a Sara Evans t-shirt, journal, mug or acoustic guitar.

Additional details about Sara’s new album Words will be revealed in the coming weeks. Fans can catch up with Sara on the road with dates booked throughout the year. For more details, check out saraevans.com.

About Sara Evans: Multi-platinum entertainer SARA EVANS is at the top of her game. With five No. 1 Country singles including “No Place That Far,” “Suds In The Bucket, “A Real Fine Place To Start,” “Born to Fly,” and “A Little Bit Stronger,” which spent 2 weeks in the top spot and was certified platinum by the R.I.A.A., Sara thrills audiences across the U.S. playing close to 100 shows each year. Her “stunning, country voice” (Rolling Stone) has earned her the prestigious Academy of Country Music Top Female vocalist accolade as well as numerous American Music Awards, Billboard Music Awards, Country Music Association, CMT and Grammy Awards nominations. In addition, the CMA awarded Video of the Year honors for her hit chart-topping single, “Born to Fly” from her double-platinum album of the same name. In 2014 Evans released her critically acclaimed seventh studio album Slow Me Down, which debuted at #2 on the Country Album Chart and landed in the Top 10 on the Billboard 200 chart, winning over fans and media alike and dubbed her best album to date. Named one of People Magazine’s “50 Most Beautiful People,” Evans’ career also includes the platinum-selling studio albums Real Fine Place and Restless and the gold-certified No Place That Far. Sara continues to forge a bold, creative path with the launch of Born To Fly Records, distributed by Sony RED, and will release her highly anticipated eighth studio album, Words, on July 21, 2017.

In addition to a prolific country music career, Sara is an accomplished author, lifestyle blogger and Red Cross ambassador who in 2008 was presented with the national Crystal Cross award for her work with the disaster-relief organization.

For more information on Sara Evans, visit SaraEvans.com and ARealFinePlace.com and engage with her on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

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First Annual “WRECKING BALL 2017” Set To Strike Nashville On June 7th Following CMT Music Awards

By on May 3, 2017 in In The Press

The first-annual WRECKING BALL 2017 was announced today, as trailblazers Tucker Beathard and Ryan Hurd will light up Nashville, TN on June 7, for a high-energy evening of musicianship. An electric collaboration, with Beathard offering his own brand of “hot, smokin’, Southern rockin’, good old-fashioned tuneage” (Vice)  and Hurd, garnering acclaim as one of year’s boldest artists to watch (Pandora, Huffington Post, Rolling Stone), bringing his hit-packed performance, the distinct singer/songwriters will co-headline the after-hours party at local haunt 3rd And Lindsley, immediately following the CMT Awards. Tickets will go on-sale on Friday May 5 at 10am CT here. 
About Tucker Beathard:

Beathard will continue to prove that his live show “speaks louder than anything else,” (Rolling Stone) when he plays some of the biggest festivals of the summer, kicking off his stint at Stagecoach  Festival this past weekend, with  OC Register  declaring he’s “ready for the big time.” Beathard will follow up with coveted slots at Summerfest,  Bonnaroo Music + Arts Festival, Lollapalooza 2017 and more. Recently marking over 40 million streams worldwide, as he continues “generally blowing  folks’ minds with his catalog of heartbreak-heavy tunes” (Vice).  Following a breakout 2016, that saw Beathard further his “meteoric rise,” (MSN) with the success of his debut Top 5 summer  anthem “Rock On,” taken from his six-track FIGHT LIKE HELL EP, which showcases his self-taught musicianship, with lead guitar and drum credits throughout the collection. Beathard is turning heads with his homegrown sound with Noisey  recognizing “those guitar licks.  Listen to the flames wrapping around that guitar and try to get the fire that they light in your brain to stop… This is hot, smokin’, Southern rockin’, good old-fashioned tuneage.” For more information and a full list of dates visit  www.tuckerbeathard.com.

About Ryan Hurd:

Labeled a 2017 “One to Watch” by Pandora, Rolling Stone, Huffington Post, CMT and more, emerging singer/songwriter Ryan Hurd continues his groundswell taking his trademark, powerful lyrics & melodies and electric live performance to fans.  As one of Nashville’s most multi-dimensional young songwriters, Hurd claims co-pen credits on some of country’s biggest hits (“Lonely Tonight” – Blake Shelton, “You Look Good” – Lady Antebellum, “I Wish I Was” – Maren Morris) and continues his hit-song producing path with the release of his own debut music. Lauded for “generating major buzz” and “making waves online” (Rolling Stone) with his unconventional, fan-focused release of four tracks with corresponding artistry videos over four months, Hurd’s collection of songs, recently released on his debut EP, have garnered over 32 million streams worldwide. Following his breakout streaming success, Hurd’s debut single will hit country airwaves this Summer on RCA Nashville. With his dynamic music debut producing early fans among his country peers, Hurd was tapped by Thomas Rhett for the Home Team Tour, Maren Morris for her HERO Tour and will hit the road this summer with Florida Georgia Line on their Smooth Tour 2017. For more on Ryan Hurd and to catch him on the road, visit RyanHurd.com.

 

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Lee Brice And Justin Moore Bring Successful Tour To A Close

By on May 2, 2017 in In The Press

Photo credit: Amy Fischer

31 shows. 120,000+ fans. Multiple sold-out dates. Lee Brice and Justin Moore closed out their co-headline AMERICAN MADE TOUR on Friday, April 28 wrapping up a four-month trek alongside buzz-worthy opening acts William Michael Morgan and Brett Young.

 

Kicking off January 13 in LaCrosse, WI, the AMERICAN MADE TOUR cut a wide path across the Midwest and South, drawing capacity crowds in multiple cities including Chicago, Columbia, and Atlanta. The acclaimed shows were packed with more than three hours of the superstars’ number one hits including Moore’s “You Look Like I Need a Drink,” “Lettin’ the Night Roll,” and “If Heaven Wasn’t So Far Away,” and Brice’s “A Woman Like You,” “Hard To Love,” “I Drive Your Truck,” and “I Don’t Dance.”

 

Positive reviews poured in with critics and fans praising the artists’ sets:

 

“The Lee Brice, Justin Moore AMERICAN MADE TOUR was one of the better shows we have seen this year,” says Allan Vella, President and CEO of Atlanta’s Fox Theater. “It was high energy and bursting at the seams with talented musicians. I have been telling my friends and colleagues, ‘You have to get this show into your market and your building.’”

 

“This is my third time seeing Justin, and man, does he kill it every time,” said WKDQ’s Travis Sams. “For those people who say that country music isn’t ‘country’ anymore, they must not have seen a Justin Moore show! Great crowd interaction. You can see how humbled he is by the success he has attained when the crowd sings every word to his songs.”

 

Continuing his rave about Brice’s signature “evocative” vocals (New York Times), Sams adds, “You can hear the conviction in his voice with every song he sings. Lee is hands down one of the best songwriters in the business, but not only that, he’s clearly a family man.”

 

Brice’s family even surprised him onstage during the Evansville, IN tour stop, making an unannounced appearance to celebrate Brice’s wedding anniversary. Brice was halfway through a solo performance of his yet-to-be-released single, “Boy,” when his two sons ran onstage, announcing that their mother was waiting in the wings. It was an emotional, electrifying moment, one of many highlights delivered throughout a tour featuring one of “country music’s heavy hitters,” (Rolling Stone Country).

 

This is a continuing theme of family on the road as Moore and wife Kate announced earlier this year that they are expecting their fourth child. The gender will be a surprise for the couple who already have three daughters. “To have the opportunity to become parents again, is such a blessing and one we are so thankful to God for. We pray for a healthy baby boy or girl.”

 

Opening act William Michael Morgan rounded out the bill for two months with the ACM-nominated Brett Young joining in March.  Together, the songwriters spent two final months “representing the best in country music,” (Mel Raines, SVP of Pacers Sports & Entertainment), bringing the AMERICAN MADE TOUR.

 

For additional tour dates and information, please visit: LeeBrice.com and JustinMooreMusic.com.

 

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Jon Pardi “Heartache On The Dance Floor” Most-Added At Country Radio  

By on May 2, 2017 in In The Press

Photo credit: Erik Voake

Capitol Records Nashville’s Jon Pardi releases “Heartache on the Dance Floor” and the new single is the most-added at country radio with 65 first-week stations. Pardi’s latest tune, the third from his No. 1-debuting sophomore album California Sunrise, follows his back-to-back smash singles, the Platinum-selling No. 1 “Head Over Boots” and his most recent three-week No. 1 “Dirt On My Boots.” Written with Brice Long and producer Bart Butler, Pardi’s “Heartache on the Dance Floor” is poised to be the ACM New Male Vocalist of the Year’s next big hit.

 

“Jon has posted his third big one in a row with ‘Heartache On The Dance Floor.’ Look for him to fill up arenas soon with the track record he’s racking up!” predicts Kerry Wolfe, WMIL Sr. VP of Programming. While iHeartCountry Brand Coordinator and Sr. VP of Programming Nashville Gator Harrison attests, “Jon Pardi is Country Music’s SECRET Weapon, STRONG enough for a Man, but Made for a Woman. This is another EASY one!”

Photo credit: Jim Wright

Pardi, who brought thousands to their feet this weekend to sing and stomp along to his roaring set on the Stagecoach Mane Stage, also joined his tour mate and the night’s headliner, Dierks Bentley, for a spirited rendition of George Strait’s “Fireman.” Pardi is currently on the What the Hell World Tour with Bentley with upcoming dates in Wichita, Kan.; Columbia, Md. and Cincinnati, Ohio. The young country star also joins Tim McGraw and Faith Hill’s Soul 2 Soul next weekend with shows in Tulsa, Okla.; Lincoln, Neb. and Oklahoma City, Okla.

 

Fans can listen to “Heartache on the Dance Floor” HERE and find additional information, music and tour dates by visiting www.JonPardi.com.

 

 

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Country Music Superstar Billy Ray Cyrus Celebrates 25th Anniversary Of “Achy Breaky Heart” With A Reissue Available Now

By on May 2, 2017 in In The Press

It started out as a simple two-chord song with one verse and chorus, and ended up becoming a worldwide phenomenon that topped charts around the globe and made a superstar out of a boy from Flatwoods, Kentucky. “Achy Breaky Heart,” the multi-million selling country single that pretty much launched the 90’s line dance craze, is undoubtedly one of the most history-making songs in all of country music history. The song created a sensation upon its release 25 years ago, and now the artist who made it a smash, Billy Ray Cyrus, is releasing a brand new version of the song with a host of different versions and guest artist appearances, including Ronnie Milsap on keyboard, in celebration of the 25th anniversary of the release of the original.  The new cut, which is available now,  was recorded in Muscle Shoals and co-produced by Cyrus and Don Von Tress, the writer of the quintessential hit.

 

Cyrus sees plenty of parallels in the world at that time and now, and felt like it would be a good time to go back in and re-record the feel-good smash that had everybody’s hips shaking and feet moving to its groove.

 

“When the song was released in the spring of ‘92 the world, believe it or not, felt much like it does right now,” said Cyrus. “There were wars and rumors of wars. Famine and darkness was revealing itself much around the globe. People were divided. And politically it felt as crazy across America as it does now. Basically, it felt like a good time for a happy song. Something simple that everyone could sing and yes, even dance to. Take your mind off all the heavy stuff for 3 minutes and 27 seconds!”

 

The new version of “Achy Breaky” is actually a little closer to writer Don Von Tress’ original vision and sound for the song that he penned over a quarter decade ago. “We went back to my original demo which was a little more back in the pocket, and Billy really loved the demo all those years ago and he said ‘Yeah, let’s try to emulate this thing,” recalls Von Tress of recording the new version. “So we kind of did that, but with some new twists. The song is so simple…it’s two chords and some nursery rhyme verses really, so we created something again we both just really love, and it’s just fun to have the opportunity to put this song out again for people to really enjoy again. I really hope they love it as much as the first time!”

 

For Cyrus, revisiting the hit that made him a worldwide superstar and laying down the track provided a real full circle moment in a career that has no doubt had plenty of memorable highlights.

 

“For me personally it completed the body of work known as Some Gave All and a decade of persistence, dedication, failure, successes and a will to strive for purpose through the music,” said Cyrus. “A journey which led to a moment in time that just fit. Not to mention a friendship and musical soul mate that would last a lifetime. For you see, I had written “Some Gave All” about a Vietnam Veteran I met in 1989. Don Von Tress, himself a Vietnam Vet, walks into my life with what will become the cornerstone and launch pad for an album that represents a singer/songwriter from the Appalachian foothills of Eastern KY who had a dream and vision of touching peoples’ lives through music. Nothing more…nothing less. Full circle if you will.”

 

 

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