Tag Archives | Television

NBC Goes Country With ‘Dolly Parton: 50 Years At The Grand Ole Opry’ Airing Tuesday, Nov. 26

By press release on October 10, 2019 in Press Releases

Dolly Parton appears on the Grand Ole Opry in 2011. Photo by Chris Hollo © Grand Ole Opry

NASHVILLE – Country music legend Dolly Parton is returning to NBC and will perform at one of the most iconic stages in the world when “Dolly Parton: 50 Years at the Grand Ole Opry” airs Tuesday, Nov. 26 from 9-11 p.m. ET/PT

The special is a celebration of Parton’s 50 years as a member of the Grand Ole Opry. It will feature new interviews as well as a performance from Parton on the Opry stage where she’ll deliver some of her biggest hits in front of a live audience. In addition, her superstar friends – Dierks Bentley, Emmylou Harris, Chris Janson, Toby Keith, Lady Antebellum, Margo Price, Hank Williams Jr. and others – will also be on board to celebrate Parton’s career and perform.

“I’m so thrilled to be celebrating my 50-year anniversary with the Grand Ole Opry,” Parton said. “I’m also excited that NBC wanted to share in this milestone with me. Together we hope to entertain a broader audience on what the Grand Ole Opry is and what it means to me. We have some special treats, surprises and great performances by some very talented artists and I’m looking so forward to sharing it with you.”

“Dolly Parton’s impact on country music is beyond description, and she remains a cherished icon,” said Doug Vaughan, Executive Vice President, Special Programs, NBC Entertainment. “Dolly will always have a home at NBC and we can’t wait for her to deliver her wonderful collection of hits to the Opry stage.”

Dolly Parton – First appearance as Grand Ole Opry member in 1969. Photo by Les Leverett © Grand Ole Opry

“Since officially joining the Opry 50 years ago, Dolly Parton has taken the country music world — and the world, for that matter — by storm, taking her Opry roots with her,” said Dan Rogers, Opry vice president and executive producer. “We are thrilled that the girl who grew up listening to the Opry with her family in the Smoky Mountains will be sharing the heart of the Opry live this week on the Opry stage and with millions of fans next month on NBC.”

Justin Gorman, Matthew Hickling and Hannah Dodson will executive produce. Man Alive Entertainment is producing.

ABOUT DOLLY PARTON

Dolly Parton is the most honored and revered female country singer-songwriter of all time. Achieving 25 RIAA-certified gold, platinum, and multi-platinum awards, she has had 26 songs reach #1 on the Billboard country charts, a record for a female artist. Parton recently became the first country artist honored as Grammy MusiCares Person of the Year given out by NARAS. She has 41 career Top 10 country albums, a record for any artist, and 110 career-charted singles over the past 40 years. In 2014 the RIAA recognized her impact on recorded music with a plaque commemorating more than 100 million units sold worldwide. Her 2016 #1 album, “Pure & Simple,” which topped the Billboard Top Country Albums and Americana/Folk Albums charts and debuted at No. 1 in the U.S., Canada, U.K. and Australia, added to that massive tally. She has garnered eight Grammy Awards, including a 2017 win with Pentatonix for their collaboration on her iconic 1974 hit “Jolene”; 10 Country Music Association Awards, including Entertainer of the Year; five Academy of Country Music Awards, also including a nod for Entertainer of the Year; four People’s Choice Awards; and three American Music Awards. In 1999, Parton was inducted as a member of the coveted Country Music Hall of Fame.

ABOUT THE GRAND OLE OPRY

What began as a simple radio broadcast in 1925 is today a live entertainment phenomenon. Dedicated to honoring country music’s rich history and dynamic present, the Grand Ole Opry showcases a mix of country legends and the contemporary chart-toppers who have followed in their footsteps. The Opry, an American icon and Nashville’s #1 attraction, is world famous for creating one-of-a-kind entertainment experiences for audiences of all ages. It’s been called the “home of American music” and “the show that made country music famous.” Through the years the Opry has welcomed iconic artists such as Patsy Clineh George Jones and Dolly Parton as members. The tradition continues today with recent inductees that include Luke Combs, Kelsea Ballerini and Chris Janson, among others. The Grand Ole Opry_® is presented by Humana_®and performances are held every Friday and Saturday of the year, with Tuesday night shows through Dec. 11 plus seasonal Wednesday and Thursday Opry Country Classics performances. To plan an Opry visit, call (800) SEE-OPRY or visit opry.com. Celebrating nine decades of entertainment, the Opry can be heard at opry.com and wsmonline.com, Opry and WSM mobile apps, SiriusXM Satellite Radio, and its flagship home, 650 AM-WSM. The Grand Ole Opry is owned by Ryman Hospitality Properties (NYSE: RHP). For more information, visit opry.com.

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OZY Media Announces New Primetime Television Series, ‘Take On America’

By FOCUS admin on October 12, 2018 in In The Press

OZY Media, the daily information source for important stories told nowhere else, today announced their fourth primetime television show, Take On America, a groundbreaking series of televised town halls confronting the country’s most pressing issues through the lens of race. The series premieres on Thursday, October 18, 2018 at 8PM ET/ 7PM CT on PBS Stations, Facebook, YouTube and OZY.com.

There will also be a special Take On America podcast, with editorial highlights and commentary from each episode available in iTunes or wherever you get your podcasts.

Hosted by Emmy-award winning journalist and OZY co-founder and CEO Carlos Watson, Take On America will uncover the different perspectives among groups who are often stereotyped for voting as a bloc, and reveal surprising views and diverse values.

Featuring a panel of celebrities and political leaders, each town hall will tackle critical political and cultural questions in front of a live studio audience comprised of one hundred people of each featured demographic group. The first four episodes will feature the voices of:

Black Men in Baltimore (Airing October 18, 2018)
White Women in Nashville (Airing October 25, 2018)
Latino Families in New York City (Airing November 1, 2018)
Asian-American Millennials in San Francisco (Airing November 8, 2018)

Each episode will provide an inside look into the daily conversations these communities are really having, helping to forge paths for progressive dialogue and forward movement as one nation in the lead-up to the midterms and beyond. The series aims to foster dialogue that unites American people, and fosters a greater insight and understanding at a critical time.

“I feel passionately that we are at a pivotal moment in our nation’s history,” said series host Carlos Watson. “We are living in one of the most racially charged eras since the Civil Rights Movement, and the world is simultaneously more connected technologically, and disconnected interpersonally, than it’s ever been before. We hope that Take on America will create a forum for substantive dialogue and ultimately inform and inspire action.”

The announcement of OZY’s fourth primetime television show, Take On America comes on the heels of a number of recent major announcements for the company. In August, OZY announced the creation of an in-house production studio, OZY Studios, doubling the size of their video team in order to drive the company’s rapid growth in TV and digital video series. OZY also recently signed with premiere Hollywood talent agency, United Talent Agency (UTA) to accelerate the company’s growth in television, podcasts, and live events.

Take On America is supported by the Charles Koch Foundation and the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation.

“Conversations that surface our differences take courage,” said Charles Koch Foundation director of free expression Sarah Ruger. “We’re proud to support OZY’s national townhall series as it invites communities to join the forward-looking dialogue that’s built on respect for each other’s dignity, instead of divisiveness.” The Foundation supports partners who are working to understand the roots of intolerance and finding creative ways to increase engagement across divides in areas such as criminal justice reform, free expression, foreign policy, economic opportunity and innovation.

About OZY Media

With 40 million monthly unique users and 4 million subscribers, OZY brings readers “the new and the next,” offering 100 percent original content with a focus on the future, via unique OZY News, OZY Magazine, OZY TV and OZY Events products. Called “the new media magnet for the news hungry” by Fortune magazine, OZY’s in-depth and high-quality journalism has attracted a number of high-profile media partners including The New York Times, NPR, PBS NewsHour, TED, The Financial Times, The Huffington Post and many more, as well as guest editors including Bill Gates, President Bill Clinton and Prime Minister Tony Blair.

Founded in 2013 by Emmy Award–winning journalist Carlos Watson and co-founder Samir Rao, the OZY team is based in Mountain View, California, and backed by leading Silicon Valley investors including Laurene Powell Jobs, Ron Conway, David Drummond, Larry Sonsini and Dan Rosensweig and a significant investment from publishing giant Axel Springer.

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“CMA Fest” Hosted By Thomas Rhett And Kelsea Ballerini Premieres Aug. 8 At 8/7c On ABC

By FOCUS admin on July 27, 2018 in In The Press

Courtesy of CMA

“CMA Fest,” the Music Event of Summer, premieres Wednesday, Aug. 8 at 8/7c on the ABC Television Network. The three-hour primetime special broadcasts for its 15th straight year, with Thomas Rhett and Kelsea Ballerini returning as hosts, bringing Country Music’s Ultimate Fan Experience to a national television audience.

Filmed during Nashville’s 47th annual CMA Fest in June, the television special showcases 29 of music’s hottest acts as they hit the stage during the four-day festival. Don’t miss performances by Jason Aldean, Ballerini, Dierks Bentley, Brothers Osborne, Kane Brown, Luke Bryan, Luke Combs, Dan + Shay, Brett Eldredge, Florida Georgia Line, Sam Hunt, Dustin Lynch, Midland, Old Dominion, Jake Owen, Jon Pardi, Carly Pearce, Thomas Rhett, Darius Rucker, Blake Shelton, Chris Stapleton, Cole Swindell, Carrie Underwood, Keith Urban, and Brett Young. Special guest collaborations include Lauren Alaina joining Brown, Julia Michaels joining Urban, Morgan Wallen joining Florida Georgia Line, and Dwight Yoakam joining Bentley. Brown, Combs, Midland, Michaels, Pardi, Pearce and Wallen make their debut performances on the “CMA Fest” television special. 2018 marks the 15th consecutive year of the broadcast, a feat no other U.S. music festival has achieved.

Thomas Rhett returns to host “CMA Fest” for a third year, and Ballerini returns for a second year. Both artists hosted “CMA Fest” in 2017. “CMA Fest” is executive produced by Robert Deaton.

About CMA Fest
The Ultimate Country Music Fan Experience™ began in 1972 as Fan Fair®, which drew 5,000 fans to Nashville’s Municipal Auditorium. Having just wrapped its 47th year, the legendary festival has become the city’s signature Country Music event that hosts fans from all 50 states, Puerto Rico and 36 foreign countries. In 2018, CMA Fest featured 11 stages with over 300 acts – all to benefit music education. Since 2006, CMA and the CMA Foundation have invested more than $21 million to sustainable music education initiatives across the U.S. thanks to the fans who attend CMA Fest and the artists who donate their time.

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Celebrate The Holidays With Star-Studded 8th Annual “CMA Country Christmas” Airing Nov. 27 On ABC

By FOCUS admin on November 17, 2017 in In The Press

Host Reba McEntire performs at the “CMA Country Christmas” taping on Tuesday, Nov. 14, 2017 at the Grand Ole Opry House in Nashville, Tenn. “CMA Country Christmas” will air Monday, Nov. 27 at 8/7c on the ABC Television Network.

Country Music’s biggest names kick off the holiday season with “CMA Country Christmas,” airing Monday, Nov. 27 (8-10 PM/ET) on the ABC Television Network.

The eighth annual “CMA Country Christmas” returns with first-time host and iconic entertainer Reba McEntire and features two hours of star-studded performances from Nashville’s famed Grand Ole Opry House by Kelsea Ballerini, Luke Bryan, CB30, Dan + Shay, Brett Eldredge, Alan Jackson, Lady Antebellum, Little Big Town, Dustin Lynch, McEntire, CeCe Winans, Trisha Yearwood and Chris Young, in addition to special collaborations by Ballerini and McEntire, Little Big Town and McEntire, and Jackson and Young.

For more information, visit CMAChristmas.com and follow us on Twitter @Countrymusic.

“CMA Country Christmas” is a production of the Country Music Association. Robert Deaton is the Executive Producer, Paul Miller is the Director, and Jon Macks is the writer.

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PERFORMERS ANNOUNCED FOR TELEVISION’S BIGGEST SUMMER CONCERT EVENT: CMA MUSIC FESTIVAL

By FOCUS admin on July 12, 2016 in In The Press

Steven Tyler will perform a special collaboration with Martina McBride during "CMA Music Festival: Country's Night to Rock" airing Wednesday, Aug. 3 on the ABC Television Network.

Photo Credit: Donn Jones / CMA

Country Music’s hottest stars will take over primetime with the biggest concert event on television this summer when the ABC Television Network airs “CMA Music Festival: Country’s Night to Rock” on Wednesday, Aug. 3 (8:00-11:00 PM/ET). Brett Eldredge and Thomas Rhett host the three-hour special that brings Country Music’s most storied Festival to a national television audience. “CMA Music Festival: Country’s Night to Rock” will be executive-produced by Robert Deaton.
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A Closer Look @ Jana Kramer: Episode 3

By Ashley on September 8, 2011 in A Closer Look @

Here’s the newest episode of one of my favorite people and I think she should be YOUR favorite, too! Check it out and get to know Jana Kramer a little better! 🙂