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Spotify And Country Music Icon Reba McEntire Announce New Podcast Launching In Early 2020

One of country music’s iconic superstars, Reba McEntire, is partnering with Spotify to launch a new original podcast in early 2020. Fans worldwide can tune in to hear Reba’s trademark wit and wisdom as she and expert guests share honest, comedic takes on struggles we all face when it comes to confronting life’s challenges, making good decisions, and creating happiness around us. In a nutshell, it’s Reba’s interpretation of ‘living your best life.’

With her new show, Reba will be joining the growing list of names (lookin’ at you Kevin Bacon), opinion makers (Bill Simmons) and musicians (Midland) who have created podcasts exclusively for Spotify.

“I am so excited to be partnering with Spotify on my new podcast and I’m even more excited to be connecting with my fans in a way I haven’t done before,” says Reba. “I’m looking forward to sharing some of what I’ve learned from my own life challenges and hopefully learning more along the way. Spotify is the perfect platform to share this journey with my fans, old and new!”

One of the most successful female recording artists in history, McEntire has sold over 56 million albums worldwide and is a member of the Grand Ole Opry, Country Music Hall of Fame and Hollywood Bowl Hall of Fame. She has won 15 American Music Awards, 16 ACM Awards, nine People’s Choice Awards, six CMA Awards, three GRAMMY® Awards, an ACM Career Achievement Honor, was a 2018 Kennedy Center Honors recipient, and is one of only four entertainers in history to receive the National Artistic Achievement Award from the U.S. Congress. 

And she’s not slowing down. This year, she released her new studio album Stronger Than the Truth to rave reviews and received the Artist of a Lifetime award at the 2019 CMT Artists of the Year ceremony. On November 13, she will co-host the 53rd Annual CMA Awards with Carrie Underwood and Dolly Parton.

“We are so honored that one of country music’s most beloved stars, Reba McEntire, has chosen to launch her podcast exclusively on Spotify next year,” says Brittany Schaffer, Head of Artist & Label Marketing for Spotify Nashville. “We are all longtime fans of Reba’s extraordinary music, her career, and her razor sharp insights, and are certain that fans will absolutely love hearing a strong female icon like Reba share her advice and personal thoughts on all!”

Spotify is dedicated to collaborating with artists in the country music space, from legends to rising stars. So stay tuned for the launch date and more details—and in the meantime, tune in to Reba’s newest album. 

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“The 53rd Annual CMA Awards” Adds Not-To-Be-Missed Performances And Collaborations

  “THE 53RD ANNUAL CMA AWARDS” ADDS 
NOT-TO-BE-MISSED PERFORMANCES AND COLLABORATIONS BY 
KELSEA BALLERINI, BROOKS & DUNN WITH BROTHERS OSBORNE, 
GARTH BROOKS WITH BLAKE SHELTON, DAN + SHAY, 
KACEY MUSGRAVES WITH WILLIE NELSON,
LADY ANTEBELLUM AND HALSEY, OLD DOMINION, BLAKE SHELTON, AND THOMAS RHETT

Country Legend Willie Nelson Returns to the CMA Awards Stage for the First Time Since 2012 for a Special Performance with Kacey Musgraves

Country Music’s Biggest Night™ to Air Live from Bridgestone Arena 
Wednesday, Nov. 13 on the ABC Television Network

Photo Credit: Mark Seliger/ABC

NASHVILLE—“The 53rd Annual CMA Awards” has announced additional performances and collaborations by Kelsea Ballerini, Brooks & Dunn with Brothers Osborne, Garth Brooks with Blake Shelton
Dan + Shay, Kacey Musgraves with Willie Nelson, Lady Antebellum and Halsey, Old Dominion
Blake Shelton, and Thomas Rhett. Country Music’s Biggest Night™, hosted by Carrie Underwood with special guest hosts Reba McEntire and Dolly Parton, airs live from Bridgestone Arena in Nashville Wednesday, Nov. 13 at 8/7c on the ABC Television Network. 

Brooks & Dunn, an 18-time CMA Awards winner and two-time nominee this year, will perform their hit song “Hard Workin’ Man” with Brothers Osborne, the reigning CMA Vocal Duo of the Year and four-time nominee this year. Brooks & Dunn are also recent inductees into the Country Music Hall of Fame. Brooks, an Entertainer of the Year nominee this year, and Shelton, a three-time nominee this year, will perform their CMA Musical Event of the Year nominated hit, “Dive Bar.”

Three-time nominee this year, Musgraves welcomes long-time friend and 10-time CMA Awards winner Nelson to the CMA stage to perform a heartwarming collaboration that fans will soon see has been decades in the making. Nelson last performed on the CMA Awards stage in 2012 in honor of receiving the inaugural CMA Lifetime Achievement Award. In a never-before-seen collaboration, Halsey makes her first-ever CMA Awards appearance, joining six-time CMA Awards winner Lady Antebellum to perform a genre-defying mashup. 

Female Vocalist of the Year nominee this year, Ballerini is set to perform her latest hit single “homecoming queen?,” while Dan + Shay, a three-time nominee this year, will perform their CMA Single of the Year nominated song “Speechless” from their CMA Album of the Year nominated album Dan + Shay. Old Dominion, reigning CMA Vocal Group of the Year and nominee again this year in the category, will bring their hit “One Man Band” to the CMA Awards stage, while Thomas Rhett, a two-time nominee this year, will perform “Remember You Young” from his CMA Album of the Year nominated album Center Point Road. In addition to his performance with Brooks, Shelton will also hit the stage to perform his three-time nominated single “God’s Country.” 

Previously announced performers include Eric Church, Luke Combs, Miranda Lambert, Reba McEntire,
Maren Morris, Dolly Parton with for KING & COUNTRY and Zach Williams, P!NK and Chris Stapleton,
Carrie Underwood, and Keith Urban. Additional performers and presenters will be revealed in the coming weeks.

“The 53rd Annual CMA Awards” is a production of the Country Music Association. Robert Deaton is the Executive Producer, Alex Rudzinski is the Director, and David Wild is the Head Writer.

For more information on “The 53rd Annual CMA Awards,” please visit CMAawards.com and follow CMA on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. Fans can listen to music featuring the CMA Awards nominees and performers, on Amazon Music, Apple Music, Pandora, Spotify, Vevo and YouTube. To celebrate “The 53rd Annual CMA Awards,” the official merchandise line featuring tees, sweatshirts and other gifts is now available online. Fans can order by Tuesday, Nov. 5 to receive before the show. Merchandise will also be sold on-site at Bridgestone Arena on Wednesday, Nov. 13. 

About CMA Awards
The first “CMA Awards Banquet and Show” was held in 1967. The following year, the CMA Awards was broadcast for the first time – making it the longest running, annual music awards program on network television. The CMA Awards have aired on ABC since 2006. ABC is the network home of the CMA Awards and CMA’s other two television properties, “CMA Fest” and “CMA Country Christmas.”

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The Country Music Association Announces The First Round Of Performers At “The 53rd Annual CMA Awards” Nov. 13 On ABC

NASHVILLE – Eric Church, Luke Combs, Miranda Lambert, Reba McEntire, Maren Morris, Dolly Parton with for KING & COUNTRY and Zach Williams, P!NK and Chris Stapleton, Carrie Underwood, and Keith Urban have been announced as the first group of performers for “The 53rd Annual CMA Awards,” hosted by Underwood with special guest hosts McEntire and Parton. Country Music’s Biggest Night™ will air live from Bridgestone Arena in Nashville Wednesday, Nov. 13 at 8/7c on the ABC Television Network.

Nine-time CMA Awards winner Parton will welcome for KING & COUNTRY and Williams to the CMA Awards stage for the first time ever to perform an inspirational gospel medley of “God Only Knows,” “There Was Jesus,” and Parton’s not-yet-released new song “Faith.” In an epic collaboration, Stapleton, a three-time nominee this year, will join P!NK to perform their duet, “Love Me Anyway.”

With three nominations this year, Church will perform his hit “Some Of It” from his CMA Album of the Year nominated album Desperate Man. Combs, the reigning CMA New Artist of the Year and three-time nominee this year, will take the stage performing fan favorite “Beer Never Broke My Heart.” In addition to her guest host appearance, McEntire, a six-time CMA Awards winner, will perform her classic hit, “Fancy.” McEntire last performed the song at the CMA Awards in 2016 as part of a multi-artist medley, opening the 50th anniversary ceremony. Lambert, nominated for CMA Female Vocalist of the Year this year, will bring her rising new single “It All Comes Out In The Wash” to the CMA Awards stage, while Morris will perform her three-time nominated hit, “GIRL.” Morris is the top nominated artist this year with six total nominations. Host and reigning CMA Female Vocalist of the Year Underwood, also a three-time nominee this year, is set to perform “Drinking Alone” from her CMA Album of the Year nominated album Cry Pretty, and reigning CMA Entertainer of the Year and two-time nominee this year, Urban will perform his hit, “We Were.”

Additional performers and presenters will be revealed in the coming weeks.

“The 53rd Annual CMA Awards” is a production of the Country Music Association. Robert Deaton is the Executive Producer, Alex Rudzinski is the Director, and David Wild is the Head Writer.

For more information on “The 53rd Annual CMA Awards,” please visit CMAawards.com and follow CMA on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. Fans can listen to music featuring the CMA Awards nominees and performers on Amazon Music, Apple Music, Pandora, Spotify, Vevo and YouTube. To celebrate “The 53rd Annual CMA Awards,” the official merchandise line featuring tees, sweatshirts and other gifts is now available online. Fans can order by Tuesday, Nov. 5 to receive before the show. Merchandise will also be sold on-site at Bridgestone Arena on Wednesday, Nov. 13. 

About CMA Awards
The first “CMA Awards Banquet and Show” was held in 1967. The following year, the CMA Awards was broadcast for the first time – making it the longest running, annual music awards program on network television. The CMA Awards have aired on ABC since 2006. ABC is the network home of the CMA Awards and CMA’s other two television properties, “CMA Fest” and “CMA Country Christmas.”

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BMI Celebrates “Coming Home” No. 1 with Keith Urban, Julia Michaels And Nicolle Galyon

BMI songwriters Nicolle Galyon, Keith Urban and Julia Michaels (Photo: Steve Lowry for BMI)

On October 23rd, BMI celebrated at the Analog at the Hutton Hotel to honor the special fusion of classic and contemporary country with pop music seen in Keith Urban and Julia Michaels’ No. 1 hit “Coming Home.” Written by Urban, Michaels, Nicolle Galyon, JR Rotem and Merle Haggard, the relatable, feel-good track was showered with high-praise from BMI’s Mason Hunter, Sony ATV’s Josh Van Valkenburg, Universal Music Publishing’s Troy Tomlinson, Warner Chappell’s BJ Hill and Katy Wolaver and Universal’s Mike Dungan. As customary at a Keith Urban No. 1 party, he performed the song solo with a special nod to Michaels by incorporating her hit song “Issues” into a make-shift bridge. The celebration was packed with a who’s-who of Nashville and LA’s industry power-players, including a special appearance from James Burton, Elvis Presley’s guitar player who recorded what Urban described as the “incredibly iconic” lick on Haggard’s original track featured in the song. Urban is set to perform at the CMA Awards in November where he is nominated for the prestigious “Entertainer of The Year” award.

Top Row (L-R): Universal Music Publishing’s Troy Tomlinson, UMG Nashville’s Mike Dungan, Sony ATV’s Josh Van Valkenburg, BMI’s Mason Hunter and Warner Chappell’s Katy Wolaver and BJ Hill. 
Bottom Row (L-R): BMI songwriters Nicolle Galyon, Keith Urban and Julia Michaels.
(Photo: Steve Lowry for BMI)
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YouTube Announces First-Ever ‘CASH FEST’ Event  In Nashville On November 10

CELEBRATING RELEASE OF YOUTUBE ORIGINALS DOCUMENTARY

‘THE GIFT: THE JOURNEY OF JOHNNY CASH’ 

 ‘Cash Fest’ to Celebrate the Music of the Legendary Johnny Cash with Charity Concert Featuring Performances from Little Big Town, Perry & Etty Farrell, Matt Shultz Of Cage The Elephant, Elle King, Midland, Judah & The Lion, Cam, Grace Potter and More. Tickets on Sale Today

Youtube Originals Documentary ‘The Gift: The Journey of Johnny Cash’ Premieres On YouTube November 11

In celebration of the November 11 premiere of the YouTube Originals documentary The Gift: The Journey of Johnny Cash, The Johnny Cash Trust and The Best Fest, in partnership with YouTube, are bringing fans the first-ever Cash Fest, an unprecedented charity concert in Nashville honoring the music of the legendary Johnny Cash. The revue-style show, taking place November 10 at the War Memorial Auditorium, will feature an all-star lineup including Drew & Ellie Holcomb, Devin Dawson, John Oates, Lucie Silvas, Wilder Woods, and more performing their favorite Johnny Cash songs. Tickets for the event are available now: http://bit.ly/cashfest. Proceeds from ticket sales will benefit MusiCares®, helping musicians with critical assistance in times of need.

In addition to the stellar Cash Fest lineup of all-stars, the event will also feature an incredible house band of seasoned musicians that have shared the stage with some of music’s most celebrated artists. Johnny Cash fans in the audience will also get a sneak peek of the documentary, with clips playing throughout the evening ahead of its YouTube debut.The Gift: The Journey of Johnny Cash (TRAILER), created with the full cooperation of the Cash estate and rich in recently discovered archival materials, brings Cash the man out from behind the legend. Taking the remarkable Folsom Prison recording as a central motif and featuring interviews with family and celebrated collaborators, the 90-minute documentary from Emmy Award-winning director Thom Zimny (Elvis Presley: The Searcher, Springsteen on Broadway) explores the artistic victories, the personal tragedies, the struggles with addiction, and the spiritual pursuits that colored Johnny Cash’s life. The documentary will be available for free on YouTube Originals on November 11.

The Gift: The Journey of Johnny Cash is directed by Thom Zimny and produced by Thom Zimny, Glen Zipper, Sean Stuart and Jillian Apfelbaum. Frank Marshall, Ryan Suffern, Jeff Pollack, John Carter Cash, Josh Matas, Dan Friedkin, Bradley Thomas, Ryan Friedkin and Jasmine Daghighian serve as executive producers. The documentary is an Imperative Entertainment and Kennedy/Marshall production in association with Sutter Road Picture Company and The John R Cash Trust. The original composition for this project was composed and performed by Mike McCready. The documentary originally made its debut in March at the SXSW Film Festival and also screened recently at the 50th Annual Nashville Film Festival and the Telluride Film Festival as part of the event’s Backlot Series. The Gift: The Journey Of Johnny Cash: Original Score Music From A Film By Thom Zimny, will be released in November by Legacy Recordings, a division of Sony Music Entertainment.

To purchase tickets to Cash Fest, please visit http://bit.ly/cashfest. All ticket net proceeds will benefit MusiCares. For event details, please visit https://www.wmarocks.com/event/cash-fest/. Follow @youtubemusic on social for additional behind-the-scenes event captures. 

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About YouTube:

Launched in May 2005, YouTube’s mission is to give everyone a voice and show them the world. We believe that everyone deserves to have a voice, and that the world is a better place when we listen, share and build community through our stories. YouTube is a Google company.

About YouTube Originals:

YouTube Originals are award-winning, creative and engaging scripted and unscripted series and films for fans all over the world. Spotlighting both YouTube creators alongside Hollywood’s biggest stars, YouTube Originals provide an experience that only YouTube can offer. By tapping into the platform’s growing global community, fan engagement capabilities, and innovative content mixed with pioneering live streamed specials, there is truly something for everybody. Fans experience YouTube Original content through ad-supported YouTube as well as YouTube Premium, a subscription service that offers access to YouTube Original series and movies, a streaming music platform, and an uninterrupted, ad-free experience across all of YouTube. YouTube Premium is currently available in Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cyprus, Czechia, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Mexico, The Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, North Macedonia, Norway, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, Ukraine, The United Kingdom, United States and Uruguay.

About The Best Fest:

What began as a jam-session in a tiny Lower East Side bar to celebrate Bob Dylan’s 60th birthday in 2001, The Best Fest – producers of Dylan Fest, Petty Fest, Stones Fest, George Fest, Brian Fest and Neil Fest all-star charity concert series – are now a rock and roll tradition. The New York Times described The Fests as “one of the most jubilant events of the year” and RollingStone has touted it as “an experience that is equal parts concert and celebration.” The Best Fest travels the globe producing one of a kind all-star charity concerts. They have raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for charity nationally. Sold out shows in New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Seattle, Austin, Nashville, New Orleans, Chicago, and Dublin have featured guest performances from an incredible and diverse array of celebrities and some of the most revered artists including: Brian Wilson, Norah Jones, Johnny Depp, Patrick Carney of The Black Keys member of Kings of Leon, The Strokes, The Heartbreakers, The Killers, The Flaming Lips, Emmylou Harris, Kesha, Perry Farrell, Spoon, Jason Sudeikis, Kristen Wiig, Ben Harper, “Weird Al” Yankovic, Ann Wilson, Jakob Dylan, Trisha Yearwood, Jason Isbell, and many more. Their production of George Fest: A Night To Celebrate The Music of George Harrison, is now a beautifully captured live album and full length concert film available on Vagrant Records (BMG).  Fest Productions LLC is a proud supporter of MusiCares® helping musicians with critical assistance in times of need.

About MusiCares:

Established in 1989 by The Recording Academy, MusiCares provides a safety net of critical assistance for music people in times of need. MusiCares’ services and resources cover a wide range of financial, medical and personal emergencies, and each case is treated with integrity and confidentiality. MusiCares also focuses the resources and attention of the music industry on human service issues that directly impact the health and welfare of the music community. For more information, please visit www.musicares.org. For breaking news and exclusive content, please “like” MusiCares on Facebook, and follow @MusiCares on Twitter and Instagram.

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Luke Bryan Has Memorable Night At The Grand Ole Opry- Named Recipient For ACM Album Of The Decade Award And Flips Opry Barn Pink

Luke Bryan ‘flipping the switch’ on the Opry’s signature barn turning it pink.
Photo credit:  © Grand Ole Opry /Photos By: Chris Hollo

NASHVILLE, Tenn.  (Oct. 22, 2019) – Four-time Entertainer of the Year Luke Bryan planned a special acoustic set for his appearances as part of the 11th annual Opry Goes Pink tonight at the Grand Ole Opry. Luke began each of the two sold-out shows “flipping the switch” on the signature barn turning it pink to raise awareness for the fight against breast cancer. During his first Opry show performance, Luke was surprised with a special presentation by the Academy of Country Music’s RAC Clark naming him the first-ever recipient of the ACM Album of the Decade Award for Crash My Party.  

“‘Crash My Party’ was such a life changing album for us,” shared Luke from the stage of the Opry. “We didn’t know it at the time, we were just loving making music for you guys. It blew my mind the love and support we had from the fans. It’s so fun getting to do this. Thank you to my producer Jeff and my record label and management for sharing this experience with me tonight!”  

Luke accepting ACM Album of the Decade Award for Crash My Party
Photo credit:  © Grand Ole Opry /Photos By: Chris Hollo

The ACM Album of the Decade Award recognizes an album that has impacted country music over the decade. The factors to be considered are, but are not limited to the success at radio of singles released from album, album concept, commercial media, sales and streaming, artistic merit and ACM Award recognition.   Luke’s four-time Platinum selling album Crash My Party, produced by Jeff Stevens, was released in 2013 and firmly planted his career as a superstar entertainer. Crash My Party was the largest sales debut for a country male artist since 2004, selling nearly 530,000 albums its first week and debuting at #1 on the Billboard 200 and the Country sales chart. The album went on to sell over four million copies and contains six consecutive #1 singles, “Crash My Party,” “That’s My Kind of Night,” Drink A Beer,” “Play It Again,” “Roller Coaster,” and “I See You.”  

About Luke Bryan Luke Bryan is a twotime Academy of Country Music and a twotime Country Music Association Entertainer of the Year, a five-time host of the ACM Awards, a twoyear celebrity judge on ABC’s “American Idol,” a NSAI Artist/Songwriter of the Year, and was named a CMT Artist of the Year six consecutive years. Bryan has more certified digital singles than any other country artist, with 46 million tracks and 12 million albums with four Billion music streams. Bryan has now placed 23 singles at #1, 12 of which he co-wrote. In May 2019, Luke kicked off his “Sunset Repeat Tour” with special guests Cole Swindell and Jon Langston and played for 50,000 fans its opening weekend and followed by a soldout show in Boston’s Gillette Stadium. The tour wraps this Friday in Detroit’s Ford Field bringing his career headline stadium concert tally to 36. Last summer, Bryan opened Nashville’s only six-floor entertainment facility in the heart of Music City, LUKE’S 32 BRIDGE FOOD + DRINK. The name was inspired by Bryan’s childhood home near Route 32 Bridge in Lee County, Georgia.  

Visit www.LukeBryan.com or follow Luke on Twitter @LukeBryanOnline, Instagram and Facebook

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Carrie Underwood Celebrates 27th Number One “Southbound” With BMI And ASCAP

Top Row (L-R): BMI’s Jody Williams, ASCAP’s Kele Currier, Universal Music Group’s Cindy Mabe, Spirit Music Group’s Frank Rogers, Universal Music Publishing’s Troy Tomlinson, BMI’s MaryAnn Keen, Warner Chappell’s Ben Vaughn, Cornman Music’s Nate Lowery and Brett James
Bottom Row (L-R): ASCAP songwriter David Garcia and BMI songwriters Carrie Underwood and Josh Miller
(Photo: Steve Lowry)

BMI and ASCAP gathered alongside industry executives, friends and family to celebrate Carrie Underwood’s No. 1 hit “Southbound” at BMI’s Nashville office tonight. Written by BMI songwriters Underwood and Josh Miller and ASCAP’s David Garcia, the track marks Underwood’s 27th No. 1 and her 14th as a co-writer. Though packed, the celebration felt intimate, with heartfelt congratulations from BMI’s Jody Williams, ASCAP’s Kele Currier and Universal’s Cindy Mabe, as well as the writers’ respective publishers from Cornman Music, Universal Music Publishing and Spirit Music Group. Underwood will host the CMA Awards for the 12th consecutive year this November, and has been nominated for three awards, including “Female Vocalist of the Year”, “Album of the Year”, and “Entertainer of the Year”. 

ASCAP songwriter David Garcia and BMI songwriters Carrie Underwood and Josh Miller celebrate their No. 1 hit “Southbound.” (Photo: Steve Lowry)
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Rascal Flatts’ Celebrity Golf Classic Raises Funds For Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital

Rascal Flatts Celebrity Golf Classic at The Golf Club of Tennessee. Photos of the annual Rascal Flatts Celebrity Golf Classic to benefit Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt. Photo Credit: Joe Howell
Back Row: (L-R) Delta Dental’s Phil Wenk, Gary LeVox, Jay DeMarcus, Joe Don Rooney, Champ, WME’s Kristin Cantrell
Front Row: (L-R) Ambassadors Logan Miller, Jessica Meyer, Caroline Lantz and Levi Ray

Nashville, TN – October 15, 2019 – Superstar vocal group Rascal Flatts, in partnership with Delta Dental of Tennessee and WME, wrapped the fourth-annual Celebrity Golf Classic yesterday with proceeds benefitting Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt. Taking place at the Golf Club of Tennessee, the comradery-filled event gives each team participating the special opportunity to be paired with a celebrity teammate for a day on the course where funds are raised for the cause the trio has being supporting for over a decade. This year, the vocal group were joined by celebrity friends including Vince Gill, Charles Kelley, Tracy Lawrence, LOCASH, Jimmie Allen, Joe Diffie, Eric Paslay, Jamey Johnson, Mitchell Tenpenny, Shawn Booth, D.B. Sweeney, Eric Decker, Cortland Finnegan, Scott Hamilton, Brett Hull, Rob Riggle and more. 

The fun-filled event was rounded out with dinner, a silent and a live auction and intimate performance by Rascal Flatts. The trio’s spontaneous set featured impromptu collaborations with Charles Kelley, Jamey Johnson and Tyminski. This year’s sold-out event included 32 golf teams and over 350 guests in attendance for the evening show, emceed by Jessie James Decker. 

As longtime supporters of Children’s Hospital, performing and visiting patients across the last ten years as well as their now annual event, Rascal Flatts has raised a total of $5,850,000 for the hospital, which renamed its Pediatric Surgery Center to The Rascal Flatts Surgery Center in 2010. All proceeds benefit research and fellowship training in the Division of Pediatric Urologic Surgery in the Section of Surgical Sciences at Vanderbilt University Medical Center.

“We are thrilled to be a part of an event like this,” shared Jay DeMarcus. “We only hope that we can continue to help raise money for Monroe Carrell Jr. Children’s Hospital. We appreciate everyone who comes out to show their support or makes a donation to a cause that has always been so important to all of us.” 

“Rascal Flatts’ continued passion for helping our patients never ceases to amaze me,” said John W. Brock III, MD, Surgeon-in-Chief of Children Hospital, Senior Vice President of Pediatric Surgical Services, Director of the Division of Urology and Monroe Carell Jr. Professor. “Jay, Gary and Joe Don are committed to our patients first and foremost. They not only support our hospital through their generous giving, but they also give of their time, always going above and beyond to brighten the days of our patients and families.”

About Rascal Flatts:
With seventeen No. One hits, over 23.4 million albums sold, 35 million digital downloads and 2.2 billion streams worldwide, time and success have only put Rascal Flatts closer to their core with expert musicianship, razor-sharp vocals and songs that have shaped lives, loves and the genre of country music itself. The trio’s Top 20 single “Back To Life” follows back-to-back chart-topping singles “Yours If You Want It” as well as “I Like The Sound Of That.” The group has also earned over 40 trophies from the ACA, ACM, AMA, CMA, People’s Choice and more, also making them the most awarded country group of the past decade. Known as one of the hottest-selling touring acts in any genre, Rascal Flatts has sold over 11 million concert tickets to date. For more information visit rascalflatts.com.

About Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt:  
Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt is one of the nation’s leading children’s hospitals, treating and helping to prevent a full range of pediatric health issues from colds and broken bones to complex heart diseases and cancer. Achieving 10 out of 10 nationally ranked pediatric specialties in 2019, Children’s Hospital was again named among the nation’s “Best Children’s Hospitals” for the 13th consecutive year by U.S. News & World Report. Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt, a nonprofit organization, opened in 2004, expanded its physical space in 2012, and is currently adding four new floors and 160,000 total sq. ft. The new expansion will help advance the size and scope of the hospital’s mission. For more about Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt: ChildrensHospitalVanderbilt.org.

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Madison Kozak Makes Grand Ole Opry Debut On October 26

Madison Kozak | Photo credit: Alysse Gafkjen

NASHVILLE, TENN. (October 15, 2019) – Songs & Daughters recording artist and recent Belmont University graduate, Madison Kozak, is making her anticipated debut at the Grand Ole Opry on Saturday, October 26. This past summer, she was surprised with the bucket list invitation onstage at the iconic venue by mentor and label president, Nicolle Galyon.

“When I think about everything I know and love about Country music, it all circles back to the Grand Ole Opry,” shares Kozak. “Being asked to take the stage where so many of my heroes have made history is the ultimate honor. This is the dream that started the journey for me, and I’m beyond excited and grateful for the opportunity.”

The gifted singer-songwriter has already stockpiled an arsenal of tunes she’s penned alongside Nashville’s most sought-after songwriters, including Lori McKenna and Craig Wiseman, with her first Songs & Daughters release, “First Last Name,” out now. Written by Kozak, Claire Douglas, and James Slater, it’s “sharp, swooning, and all the right kinds of sentimental,” praises Rolling Stone.

Next Monday (10/21), Kozak will perform during a special pop-up event at Nashville’s ABLE store in partnership with CMT and hosted by Songs & Daughters. Promising can’t-miss new material from the 22-year-old budding star, additional details for the free event can be found here.   

Taking her talents on the road, she’ll support MORGAN EVANS (WORLD TOUR), AARON WATSON (RED BANDANA TOUR – FALL 2019), and MASON RAMSEY (HOW’S UR GIRL & HOW’S UR FAMILY PT. 2) this fall. Click here for a full list of tour dates and ticketing information. Kozak will also appear at Live In The Vineyard for a high-profile acoustic round in Napa Valley, CA, on November 1.

For more information on Madison Kozak, visit MadisonKozak.com. Reach out to her on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

ABOUT MADISON KOZAK:
A native of rural Ontario, Canada, rising Country singer-songwriter Madison Kozak is turning heads with her brand-new track “First Last Name.” The song is inspired by her relationship with her father, who introduced her to Country greats including Loretta Lynn, Patsy Cline and Johnny Cash. After scoring a publishing deal with powerhouse company Big Loud as a Junior at Belmont University, Kozak has signed as the flagship artist of Songs & Daughters – a female-focused label partnership between Big Loud and award-winning songwriter Nicolle Galyon. Joining Morgan Evans, Aaron Watson, and Mason Ramsey on tour this fall, she has taken the stage at high-profile fairs and festivals.

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Dierks Bentley Recognized By RIAA

L-R: Amy Beard (Manager of Marketing, UMG Nashville), Dierks Bentley, Mike Harris (COO, UMG Nashville)

NASHVILLE, TN – Oct. 14, 2019 – Current three-time CMA nominee and Grand Ole Opry member Dierks Bentley was surprised on Saturday (10/12) for the success behind his two back-to-back No. One hits, “Woman, Amen” and “Burning Man,” from his ninth studio album THE MOUNTAIN (Capitol Records Nashville). Before performing for NBC‘s upcoming special Dolly Parton: 50 Years at the Grand Ole Opry, Bentley was recognized by the RIAA for PLATINUM certification of “his most affecting song” (Rolling Stone) “Burning Man” (feat. Brothers Osborne) while the lead single from his No. One selling record “Woman, Amen” was certified GOLD.

Pegged as “one of Country music’s most enviable brands, equal parts affability and authenticity” (Forbes), Bentley continues to be a dominant voice for the genre with over 6.4 billion overall digital streams. Reaching a new creative high while “making music designed to challenge” (New York Times), Bentley co-wrote 10 of 13 tracks on THE MOUNTAIN, which earned him the highest debut sales of his career and became his seventh chart-topping album. Bentley has amassed countless nominations from the ACMs, CMAs, Billboard Music Awards, and GRAMMYs while being currently nominated for CMA “Male Vocalist of the Year,” “Single of the Year” and “Music Video of the Year.” He has created professional endeavors outside of the music with his Flag & Anthem partnership creating the exclusive lifestyle collection, Desert Son, along with four “Dierks Bentley’s Whiskey Row” locations across the country. For more information visit www.dierks.com.

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