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Country Star Walker Hayes Shares An Intimate Glimpse Into His Life At Home With The Release Of His Touching Music Video For “Don’t Let Her”

By on October 14, 2019 in In The Press, Press Releases
Photo Credit: Matthew Berinato

(October 11, 2019 – Nashville, TN) Country music star and quintessential family man, Walker Hayes is giving fans a heartwarming look into his beautifully chaotic life at home with the release of the music video for his latest single, “Don’t Let Her”.

“DON’T LET HER” OFFICIAL MUSIC VIDEO

The music video takes us through a typical day at the Hayes’ home – the warmth of making family breakfast, a rambunctious tribe of six children running around and most notably, the strong loving bond between a husband and wife who built a life together.

“This video is the rawest thing I have ever put out,” says Hayes. “No makeup, no lights, no production, no storyline – just a camera filming a day at our house. I’m so grateful to share this piece of my life with you guys.”

Written by Walker, with Andrew DeRoberts and multi GRAMMY-award winning producer and Songwriter Shane McAnally, and produced by McAnally and DeRoberts, “Don’t Let Her” is both an uplifting and devastatingly honest song that chronicles a conversation between Walker and a hypothetical man taking his place if something were to happen to him. 

Up next, Hayes is headed to the United Kingdom as part of the “Introducing Nashville” line-up, taking the sound of Music City to fans overseas.

For additional information on Walker Hayes and upcoming show dates, please visit:

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About Walker Hayes:

Monument Records recording artist, Walker Hayes, is a singer/songwriter originally from Mobile, Alabama. Hayes recently released his single, “Don’t Let Her,” a devastatingly powerful love letter about his wife, illustrated through a heartfelt conversation between Hayes and the hypothetical man that may take his place should anything happen to him. The single follows Hayes’ latest hit “90’s Country.” His debut album boom. was released in December 2017, which he co- produced with GRAMMY Award winning producer and songwriter, Shane McAnally. The 10 track album includes the RIAA certified Platinum Top 10 hit, “You Broke Up With Me” as well as the highly anticipated follow up single, “Craig,” which was nominated for Song of the Year at the 2018 AIMP Nashville Awards. During the fall of 2018, Walker headed overseas with Old Dominion for his first-ever European tour. Hayes has joined the likes of Kelsea Ballerini’s Unapologetically Tour and been on the road with Dan + Shay, Thomas Rhett, Old Dominion and more. In January 2019, Walker set out on his headlining, Dream On It tour. For more information on Walker and upcoming shows, please visit: www.walkerhayes.com

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Brantley Gilbert Set To Perform At Halftime On “Monday Night Football” Oct. 14

By on October 14, 2019 in In The Press, Press Releases
Brantley Gilbert Performs at Tootsies’ 59th Anniversary Birthday Bash | Photo Credit: Trevor Forbess

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Platinum-selling recording artist Brantley Gilbert celebrated the release of his fifth studio album Fire & Brimstone, via The Valory Music Co., with a packed week of activity including stops at the iHeart Theater in New York for an intimate “iHeartCountry Album Release Party” with his fans, a fiery performance on Fox & Friends and headlined the Tootsies’ 59th Anniversary Birthday Bash in Music City.

He shows no signs of slowing down as he gears up for a Monday Night Football appearance Oct. 14, performing at Lambeau Field at the Detroit Lions vs. Green Bay Packers game that will air on ESPN during the Genesis-sponsored halftime show.

Hailed by NPR for performances that “pack a punch,” Gilbert gave Nashville a taste of Fire & Brimstone as he headlined Tootsies’ 59th Anniversary Birthday Bash on Oct. 9, opening with fan favorites “Kick It in the Sticks” and “Country Must Be Country Wide,” before peppering in new tracks “Fire’t Up” and “Bad Boy.”

The rowdy Broadway crowd was delighted as Gilbert introduced Lindsay Ell to perform current Top 10 and climbing single, “What Happens in a Small Town.”

Before performing “One Hell Of An Amen,” Gilbert dedicated it to veterans, service men and women and their families, as well as those fighting cancer: “Whether you’re a patient, a doctor or a nurse, a friend or a family member, we all like to think we go through it together.”

Earlier this week, Gilbert treated fans to an intimate performance and Q&A at the iHeartRadio Theater NY on Oct. 7 and followed it up with an explosive morning show appearance on Fox & Friends Oct. 8, performing lead track “Fire’t Up” from Fire & Brimstone.

Next month Gilbert will embark on his Second Annual Kick It in The Ship cruise Nov. 4-Nov. 8, before kicking off his Fire’t Up Tour 2020 Jan. 23, in London, Ontario. For dates and to purchase tickets, visit BrantleyGilbert.com.

About Brantley Gilbert
With back-to-back platinum albums and a grassroots following millions strong, Brantley Gilbert has clearly struck a nerve. The Georgia native who started as the defiant life-of-the-party can still go ‘til sunrise, but he’s also emerged as something far greater: the leader of a massive tribe of hard-working, fun-loving believers for whom electric guitar-shredding, rapping, and twang can go hand-in-hand-in-hand. They call themselves the BG Nation, and when the BG Nation watches Gilbert on a stage, they don’t just see a star. They see themselves. Six No. 1 hits punctuate his career: “Country Must be Country Wide,” “You Don’t Know Her Like I Do,” CMA Awards Song of the Year nominee “Dirt Road Anthem,” “My Kinda Party,” “Bottoms Up,” and “One Hell of an Amen.” Gilbert’s landmark record Just As I Am clinched the 2014 American Music Award for Favorite Country Album. Earning praise from the New York Times, NPR, American Songwriter, and more, Gilbert has mined a rich vein of conflict between the party and the pew on all of his albums. Instead of toiling in limbo, unable to enjoy good times for fear of Judgment Day, Gilbert fully lives––rowdy friend, man of faith, devoted husband, smitten new father––just as he is. Highly anticipated Fire & Brimstone, out now (10/4/19) via The Valory Music Co., is Gilbert’s most mature and complex exploration of his world to date. Following this fall’s Not Like Us Tour and his Second Annual Kick It in The Ship cruise, Gilbert embarks on his Fire’t Up Tour 2020 on January 23 in London, Canada with special guests Chase Rice, Dylan Scott and Brandon Lay.

Brantley Gilbert Performs with Colt Ford at Tootsies’ 59th Anniversary Birthday Bash

For additional information, visit BrantleyGilbert.com or follow him on Instagram and Twitter at @BrantleyGilbert and on Facebook @BrantleyGilbertMusic.

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Home Free Asks “What’s The World Coming To?” In New Video

By on October 14, 2019 in In The Press, Press Releases
NASHVILLE, TENN. (October 11, 2019) — Already well-known for their knockout vocals, HOME FREE puts their voices on full display to encourage future generations to step up and make a difference with today’s release of the brand-new video for “What’s the World Coming To?” 

Chronicling a young girl’s mission to make the world a better place, the video begins in a classroom, where she finds inspiration for her upcoming science fair project. After learning the unfortunate effects of pollution on the environment, we see her diving into the world of wind power, sketching plans and building a model windmill, which she proudly displays the night of the fair. Flashing forward several years, her project becomes reality, and she stands as a young-adult, examining a massive version of the model she created years prior. WATCH THE VIDEO HERE.

Shot by The Bolo Brothers, the clip is the perfect visual accompaniment to the thought-provoking tune, which was co-written by the group’s bassist, Tim Foust, alongside Eric Arjes and Mark Nesler. “What’s the World Coming To?” serves as one of the 10 original tracks off Home Free’s top-charting album, DIVE BAR SAINTS (Home Free Records).

This weekend, Home Free will wrap the fall leg of their massive DIVE BAR SAINTS WORLD TOUR with back-to-back headlining shows at Nashville’s iconic Ryman Auditorium on Friday (10/11) and Saturday (10/12).

Up next, the quintet has a small winter leg of their DIVE BAR SAINTS WORLD TOUR scheduled before they close out their year in a festive way, embarking on their DIVE BAR CHRISTMAS TOUR at the end of next month. From there, Home Free will continue their DIVE BAR SAINTS WORLD TOUR in the new year, taking the trek overseas and hitting 16 countries with over 100 total shows through October of next year.

HOME FREE DIVE BAR SAINTS WORLD TOUR DATES:

+ DIVE BAR CHRISTMAS TOUR
 
OCTOBER 2019
 
11 | Nashville, TN – Ryman Auditorium           
12 | Nashville, TN – Ryman Auditorium           
 
NOVEMBER 2019
 
1 | Wilmington, DE – The Grand Opera House
2 | Boston, MA – Lynn Auditorium
3 | Albany, NY – Palace Theatre
4 | Portland, ME – Westbrook Performing Arts Center           
6 | Glenside, PA – Keswick Theatre  
7 | Pittsburgh, PA – Carnegie Music Hall        
8 | Atlantic City, NJ – Harrah’s Resort Atlantic City (18+)      
9 | Buffalo, NY – UB Center for the Arts        
10 | New York, NY – Town Hall  
30 | Nederland, TX – Nederland Performing Arts Center +

DECEMBER 2019

1 | Shreveport, LA – The Strand Theatre +
4 | Atlanta, GA – Atlanta Symphony Hall +        
5 | Birmingham, AL – Concert Hall at BJCC +
6 | Tifton, GA – John Hunt Auditorium +
7 | Spartanburg, SC – Spartanburg Memorial Auditorium +
8 | Raleigh, NC – Meymandi Concert Hall +
11 | Knoxville, TN – Tennessee Theatre +
12 | Wabash, IN – Honeywell Center +
13 | Troy, OH – Hobart Arena +
14 | Akron, OH – Akron Civic Theatre +
15 | Detroit, MI – Masonic Cathedral Theatre +
18 | Salina, KS – Tony’s Pizza Events Center +
19 | Omaha, NE – Orpheum Theater +
20 | Fargo, ND – Scheels Arena +
21 | Brookings, SD – Swiftel Center +
22 | Mankato, MN – Mankato Civic Center +

JANUARY 2020

30 | Brisbane, QLD – The Triffid
31 | Melbourne, VIC – 170 Russell
 
FEBRUARY 2020

1 | Sydney, NSW – Metro Theatre
21 | Leuven, Belgium – Het Depot
23 | Amsterdam, Netherlands – RAI Theatre
24 | Hamburg, Germany – Fabrik
25 | Copenhagen, Denmark – Hotel Cecil  SOLD OUT!
26 | Skive, Denmark – Skive Theater  
28 | Stockholm, Sweden – Göta Lejon  SOLD OUT!
29 | Gothenburg, Sweden – Concerthouse
 
MARCH 2020
 
1 | Oslo, Norway – Oslo Konserthus  SOLD OUT!
3 | Cologne, Germany – E-Werk    
4 | Hannover, Germany – Capitol-Hochhaus Hannover
6 | Berlin, Germany – Columbia Theater         
7 | Warsaw, Poland – Klub Proxima
9 | Prague, Czech Republic – Lucerna Music Bar      
10 | Vienna, Austria – Arena Wien
12 | Milan, Italy – Serraglio      
13 | Munich, Germany – Alte Kongresshalle  
14 | Zurich, Switzerland – X-TRA     
15 | Paris, France – La Maroquinerie
17 | Manchester, England, UK – O2 Ritz Manchester
18 | Glasgow, Scotland, UK – Saint Luke’s    
19 | Birmingham, England, UK – O2 Academy    
20 | London, England, UK – O2 Shepherd’s Bush Empire  

APRIL 2020

16 | Oxford, AL – Oxford Performing Arts Center
17 | Charleston, SC – Charleston Music Hall
18 | North Myrtle Beach, SC – Alabama Theatre
19 | Fayetteville, NC – Crown Theater
22 | Paducah, KY – Carson Theater
23 | Effingham, IL – Effingham Performance Center
24 | Dubuque, IA – Five Flags Center
25 | St. Louis, MO – Touhill Performing Arts Center
26 | Rockford, IL – Coronado Performing Arts Center
29 | Rochester, MN – Mayo Civic Center Presentation Hall
30 | St. Cloud, MN – Paramount Center for the Arts

MAY 2020

1 | Milwaukee, WI – Northern Lights Theater
2 | Wisconsin Dells, WI – Crystal Grand Music Theatre
3 | Duluth, MN – The DECC
5 | Eau Claire, WI – Pablo Center at the Confluence
6 | Wausau, WI – Grand Theater
9 | Waukegan, IL – Genesee Theatre
12 | Missoula, MT – Dennison Theatre
13 | Ogden, UT – Peery’s Egyptian Theater
14 | Cheyenne, WY – Cheyenne Civic Center
15 | Grand Junction, CO – Avalon Theatre
16 | Denver, CO – Paramount Theatre

SEPTEMBER 2020

9 | Surrey, BC – Bell Performing Arts Centre
10 | Kelowna, BC – Kelowna Community Theatre
11 | Calgary, AB – Southern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium
16 | Lethbridge, AB – ENMAX Centre
17 | Saskatoon, SK – TCU Place
18 | Regina, SK – Conexus Arts Centre
19 | Winnipeg, MB – Burton Cummings Theatre
22 | North Bay, ON – Capitol Centre
23 | Guelph, ON – River Run Centre
24 | London, ON – London Music Hall
25 | Toronto, ON – The Danforth Music Hall
26 | Niagara Falls, ON – Fallsview Casino Resort
28 | Ottawa, ON – Algonquin Commons Theatre
29 | Montreal, QC – Corona Theatre
30 | Sherbrooke, QC – Granada Theatre

OCTOBER 2020

1 | Moncton, NB – Capitol Theatre
2 | Halifax, NS – Spatz Theatre
KEEP UP WITH HOME FREEWEBSITE | FACEBOOK | TWITTER | INSTAGRAM | YOUTUBE
ABOUT HOME FREE:
All-vocal Country entertainers Home Free have made their mark on the music scene, racking up nearly 600,000 album equivalents globally; embarking on major international tours; amassing 318+ MILLION YouTube views; and being declared “Country music fans’ favorite a cappella group” (Taste of Country). Their fifth studio album, DIVE BAR SAINTS (Home Free Records) arrived at #2 on the Billboard Country Album Sales Chart. Now, the group has their massive DIVE BAR SAINTS WORLD TOUR on tap through 2020, plus the DIVE BAR CHRISTMAS TOUR. Home Free’s extensive catalog spotlights five additional Top 10 albums, including TIMELESS, FULL OF (EVEN MORE) CHEER, FULL OF CHEER, COUNTRY EVOLUTION, and their breakout debut CRAZY LIFE (2014), which hit #1 on iTunes Country chart and #4 overall following their victory on NBC’s The Sing-Off. With praise rolling in from the likes of Perez Hilton, Country Living, FOX & Friends, Rolling Stone, and AXS.com, the extraordinary showmen have continued to electrify crowds with a one-of-a-kind live show while their harmony-laden versions of hits by John Mayer, Blake Shelton, Keith Urban, Maren Morris, The Oak Ridge Boys, and more have built a loyal fanbase.
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Kiefer Sutherland Announces December Tour Dates

By on October 14, 2019 in In The Press, Press Releases

LOS ANGELES (October 11, 2019) – Kiefer Sutherland has announced new tour dates for the month of December. The headlinging seven-date West Coast run will include stops in Los Angeles, Phoenix, Las Vegas, and more (full itinerary below). Tickets for all shows will go on sale today (October 11) at 10:00am PST. For additional information and to purchase tickets, click here.   

Last month, Sutherland released Reckless & Me Special Edition, a deluxe edition of his 10-song Reckless & Me album, via BMG. Reckless & Me Special Edition includes the original album along with a bonus disc featuring Sutherland’s full concert in Berlin, Germany that was recorded on March 1, 2019 at SchwuZ. The live disc captures an energetic and dynamically-tight set from Kiefer and his band. Click here to watch a live performance of “Something You Love” from the show.   

Reckless & Me Special Edition can be purchased and streamed digitally on all DSPs here. A physical CD release of the deluxe package is set for Friday, November 1 in the U.S. For more information and full track listen, read a recent press release here. Reckless & Me delivers Sutherland’s Americana and country rock-infused songwriting style and highlights his gift of soulful storytelling. On the bonus disc, Live In Berlin, Sutherland gets to dive deeper into storytelling and reveals some personal anecdotes behind the songs.   

The official music video for “Something You Love” can be watched here.  

Click here to watch a video incorporating tour footage for “This Is How It’s Done.”  

Watch Kiefer Sutherland perform “Something You Love” on NBC’s “TODAY” here.  

Catch Kiefer Sutherland on the road: 

DATE CITY/STATE VENUE
Tue, December 10 Albuquerque, NM Sunshine Theater
Wed, December 11 Phoenix, AZ The Crescent Ballroom
Thur, December 12 Winterhaven, CA Quechan Casino
Sat, December 14 Las Vegas, NV Red Rock Casino
Sun, December 15 Napa, CA JaM Cellars Ballroom
Mon, December 16 Solana Beach, CA Belly Up
Wed, December 18 Los Angeles, CA The Troubadour

Some praise for Reckless & Me:   “Kiefer Sutherland is ready to show the music world how it’s done.” –Mitchell Peters, Billboard, March 9, 2019  

“…a collection of freewheeling honky-tonk anthems that will speak to every outlaw soul…Reckless & Me standouts that embody the freedom that touring life provides include his current single ‘This Is How It’s Done,’ opener ‘Open Road’ and ‘Something You Love.’ His take on Patty Loveless’ ‘Blame it On Your Heart’ is irresistible, and ‘Agave’ offers a Bonnie-and-Clyde storyline that’s set south of the border with salsa undertones and blues-rock guitar riffs that make it sound like two songs in one.” –Lauren Tingle, CMT, April 23, 2019  

“Kiefer Sutherland has shared his anthemic new ‘Something You Love’…Springsteen-esque and hard-charging…” —The Boot, March 22, 2019  

“…his infectious brand of Americana/country-rock and his whiskey-soaked growl…produced by Jude Cole, Reckless & Me also highlights Sutherland’s master storytelling ability, particularly on songs like ‘Something You Love,’ ‘Open Road’ and the locomotive-like ‘This Is How It’s Done.’ All of which lend themselves equally well to both the record and live performance.” –James Wood, Guitar World, April 4, 2019  

“Kiefer Sutherland proves he’s a storyteller with his new album Reckless & Me… Sutherland proves he’s a true artist with the ability to tell his story across multiple art forms in a compelling way.” –Cillea Houghton, Sounds Like Nashville, April 23, 2019

For more information on Kiefer Sutherland, visit:Official website / Spotify / Facebook / Instagram / Twitter

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Grand Ole Opry Celebrates Dolly Parton’s 50th Anniversary Of Opry Membership

By on October 13, 2019 in In The Press, Press Releases

Parton Performed Two Sold-Out Shows Tonight To Cap A Week-Long Salute

NBC Television Special “Dolly Parton: 50 Years at the Grand Ole Opry”
To Air Tues., Nov. 26 

Dolly Parton celebrates her 50th anniversary as a Grand Ole Opry member
© Grand Ole Opry | Photo by Chris Hollo

October 12, 2019 – NASHVILLE, TN – The Grand Ole Opry celebrated Dolly Parton’s 50th anniversary as an Opry member tonight with two sold out shows honoring arguably country music’s greatest global ambassador. 

The superstar performed on both sold-out shows tonight, capping the week-long celebration of Parton’s impact on music and the Opry. The Opry star performed some of her biggest hits for the sold-out crowd including “Joshua,” “Jolene,” “My Tennessee Mountain Home,” “Coat of Many Colors,” “Here You Come Again,” “9 to 5,” and “I Will Always Love You.” She also welcomed banjo great Buck Trent, a member of Porter Wagoner’s “Wagonmasters” who played lead guitar on Parton’s classics “I Will Always Love You” and “Jolene,” to perform Wagoner’s “Carroll County Accident.”

Select performances from Friday night’s Opry as well as tonight’s show were filmed for an NBC Television special “Dolly Parton: 50 Years at the Grand Ole Opry” which airs Tuesday, Nov. 26 from 9-11 p.m. ET/PT. The special celebrates Parton’s 50 years as a member of the Grand Ole Opry and will feature new interviews as well as performances from Parton and some of her superstar friends who performed in her honor – Dierks Bentley, Emmylou Harris, Chris Janson, Toby Keith, Lady Antebellum, Margo Price, Hank Williams Jr., and others.

Between shows, at a backstage reception with Parton’s fellow Opry members, friends, family and artists who participated in Dolly Week, Tennessee’s Governor Bill Lee presented her with a proclamation declaring October 12 as Dolly Parton Day.

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 No. 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 she has 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 – and in 2016 her No. 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. 

In 2008 Parton launched her return to touring on a global scale with Backwoods Barbie World Tour, the first of many sold-out arena tours, returning her to Billboard Boxscore’s Top 10 Country Tours of the Year. Her 2016 movie “Christmas Of Many Colors: Circle Of Love,” was nominated for an Emmy for Outstanding Television Movie. In 2017, Parton released her first children’s album, I Believe In You, on Dolly Records through her partnership with Sony Music Nashville; the project’s proceeds benefit The Dollywood Foundation’s Imagination Library, a non-profit that in August 2019 gave away over 1.4M books, and has given away a total of over 125M books to date to children from birth to five years of age in the United States, Canada, Australia and the UK. In 2018, Parton received her first two Emmy Awards as the organization recognized her lifetime of giving with the Governor’s Award and the award for Best Community Service Program lauding her 2016 telethon “Smoky Mountains Rise,” which raised more than $13 million for her My People fund, which provided financial assistance to victims of massive wildfires in Gatlinburg, Tenn. Parton recently collaborated with producer Linda Perry on the soundtrack for the Golden Globe nominated film Dumplin’ starring Jennifer Aniston and Danielle MacDonald. In addition, Netflix will be releasing an eight part anthology film series called Heartstrings thru her Sandollar Productions in association with Magnolia Hill Productions, with each individual film based on one of Dolly’s masterful songs. This will be released on Netflix in the fall of 2019. 

Up next, Dolly has partnered with IMG on an exclusive marketing/branding deal for 2020. Next year will also mark the 33rd anniversary season for Dollywood, her theme park in Pigeon Forge, Tenn., which since 1986 has hosted more than 2 million visitors annually.

About the Grand Ole Opry
The Grand Ole Opry® is presented by Humana®.  Opry performances are held every Friday and Saturday of the year, with Tuesday night shows through December 11 plus seasonal Wednesday and Thursday Opry Country Classics performances. To plan an Opry visit, call (800) SEE-OPRY or visit opry.com. The Opry presents the best in country music live every week from Nashville, Tenn.  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.

Dolly Parton celebrates her 50th anniversary as a Grand Ole Opry member
© Grand Ole Opry | Photo by Chris Hollo
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President And Mrs. Jimmy Carter Visit Grand Ole Opry

By on October 13, 2019 in In The Press, Press Releases
Mrs. Jimmy Carter, President Carter,
Trisha Yearwood and Garth Brooks.
Photo credit: Chris Hollo for Grand Ole Opry

Nashville- (October 12, 2019)– President and Mrs. Jimmy Carter visited the Grand Ole Opry last night while in Nashville for a weeklong build marking the 36th year of their Habitat for Humanity Jimmy & Rosalynn Carter Work Project. In a surprise moment, Opry members Garth Brooks and Trisha Yearwood introduced them on stage. Brooks and Yearwood have served as Habitat ambassadors for more than a decade and worked alongside the Carters at the build site.

President Carter had previously visited the Opry House as Governor of Georgia and again during his presidential term. President Richard Nixon was the first U.S. President to visit the Opry when he attended the opening night of the Grand Ole Opry House in 1974. President Nixon, who sang and played piano at the Opry that night, is the only President to have performed on the Opry stage.

Opry favorites provided the lunchtime entertainment at the Habitat build site as they performed behind the Opry mic stand for more than 300 volunteers each day Monday – Friday. More than 20 houses were built in North Nashville as part of the project.

About the Grand Ole Opry
The Grand Ole Opry® is presented by Humana®.  Opry performances are held every Friday and Saturday of the year, with Tuesday night shows through December 11 plus seasonal Wednesday and Thursday Opry Country Classics performances. To plan an Opry visit, call (800) SEE-OPRY or visit opry.com. The Opry presents the best in country music live every week from Nashville, Tenn.  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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Tennessee Tourism Debuts New “Ken Burns Country Music Pathway”

By on September 25, 2019 in In The Press, Press Releases

NASHVILLE – Sept. 25, 2019 – Trace the origins of the genre that inspired Ken Burns’ “Country Music” documentary via a newly-released Tennessee Music Pathways’ route. From Bristol to Memphis and everywhere in-between, visitors can uncover the history that changed the course of American music and walk in the footsteps of legends as seen in Burns’ latest masterpiece.

Airing now on PBS, the debut of “Country Music” coincides with the first anniversary of Tennessee Music Pathways, a program created to showcase the state’s rich musical legacy across all 95 counties with hundreds of landmarks and attractions.

Tennessee is home to seven genres of music: blues, bluegrass, country, gospel, soul, rockabilly and rock ‘n’ roll. Tennessee Music Pathways connects fans to music and inspires travel using a travel-planning website at www.TNmusicpathways.com.

See the places that inspired the music on the “Ken Burns Country Music Pathway”(full list available at www.TNmusicpathways.com):

  • The Birthplace of Country Music Museum (Bristol) and Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum (Nashville) offer almost a century of musical storytelling. The 1927 Bristol Sessions – known as the “big bang of country music” – are celebrated at the Smithsonian-affiliated Birthplace of Country Music Museum. The Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum is the world’s largest music museum, featuring galleries, archival storage, theaters, education centers and retail space, as well as RCA’s Historic Studio B and Hatch Show Print.
  • Stand Where Legends Were Born in Memphis. Self-taught producer Sam Phillips created a new sound at the iconic Sun Studio,where Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis, Carl Perkins and many more recorded. Visitors can still see where Lewis stubbed his cigar on the piano keys during the legendary “Million Dollar Quartet” sessions. Beale Street is the “Home of the Blues,” where musicians like B.B. King, Howlin’ Wolf and Louis Armstrong honed their music for a different kind of sound that has influenced artists for generations. Take a short drive and visit Elvis Presley’s Graceland where you can tour the King of Rock ‘n’ Roll’s beloved home, Graceland Mansion, or take in more than 10 exhibits that explore his passions and career at Elvis Presley’s Memphis.
  • Experience Music in Hallowed Venues. Country’s most famous stage began as a simple radio broadcast in 1925. Now, nearly a century later, the Grand Ole Opry reigns as an entertainment phenomenon. In the heart of downtown Nashville, Ryman Auditorium is hallowed ground where country music’s biggest stars performed, and today’s stars still revere the beloved hall. Today, the music lives on through nightly shows and daytime tours.
  • Celebrate the Women of Country Music at Sites Honoring Patsy Cline, Loretta Lynn, Minnie Pearl and Dolly Parton. The Patsy Cline Museum in downtown Nashville celebrates the life of the legendary songstress and features hundreds of never-before-seen artifacts, personal belongings and videos. An engraved boulder marks the site in Camden, Tennessee where a small plane carrying Cline, two of her co-stars and her manager crashed in 1963. Sarah Ophelia Colley Cannon, better known by her stage name Minnie Pearl, was a pioneering female comedian on the Opry stage. A statue made of chicken wire in her hometown of Centerville stands in her honor today. Loretta Lynn’s Ranch & Campgrounds in Hurricane Mills includes her plantation home and the famous Coal Miner’s Daughter Museum. Sevierville erected a statue in honor of their beloved hometown songstress Dolly Parton,best-selling female country music artist of all time.Sevier County is also home to her nearby award-winning attraction, Dollywood, which contributes thousands of jobs in her home community.
  • Walk the Line in Johnny Cash’s Footsteps. Located in the heart of downtown Nashville, the Johnny Cash Museum is dedicated to the life and music career of the late “Man in Black.” Cash also needed a hideaway, and he found one in the form of an abandoned 1800s general store and farm in tiny Bon Aqua. In 2015, a pair of entrepreneurial brothers purchased the general store and farm, converting it into a Johnny Cash museum called the Storytellers Museum & Hideaway Farm.
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CMT To Honor Five Superstar Artists As “2019 CMT Artists Of The Year”:  Carrie Underwood, Dan + Shay, Kane Brown, Luke Combs And Thomas Rhett

By on September 17, 2019 in In The Press, Press Releases

10th Annual Celebration Premieres Live Wednesday, October 16 at 8pm ET/PT

NASHVILLE – September 17, 2019 –CMT today revealed it will honor superstar acts Carrie Underwood, Dan + Shay, Kane Brown, Luke Combs and Thomas Rhett as the top country artists of 2019 to be celebrated at this year’s 10th Annual “CMT Artists of the Year” special, broadcasting LIVE from Nashville’s Schermerhorn Symphony Center on Wednesday, October 16 at 8pm ET/PT. 

The 90-minute special will highlight the five “Artists of the Year” who have collectively ruled the last 12 months in country music, leading across all CMT’s platforms, scoring chart-topping albums and singles while simultaneously selling out arenas across the country. The event will feature surprise musical pairings and guests as in past years, and will also feature a live-streamed remote performance by Carrie Underwood from her “Cry Pretty Tour 360” tour stop in Cleveland, Ohio. Additional performers and presenters will be announced at a later date.

“These five, stand-out honorees have dominated country music this year and we look forward to paying tribute to each of them at the 10th year anniversary CMT Artists of the Year event,” said Leslie Fram, Senior Vice President of Music Strategy & Talent, CMT. “From first-time honorees Dan + Shay, Kane Brown and Luke Combs to two-time honoree Thomas Rhett and now five-time honoree Carrie Underwood, this incredible collection of talent coming together at what marks a pivotal time in each of their careers promises to be a night of incredible performances and reflection.”

This year marks a significant milestone for the “CMT Artists of the Year” special as it celebrates the decade-long anniversary of the live music franchise. Through the years, the show has become a highly anticipated celebration of both country music’s breakthrough talent, as well as seasoned musicians who’ve become icons in the country music industry. 

While the awards special has always been exciting to watch with its unexpected performances and heartfelt moments from musicians, it has also been an advocate for supporting important causes. In years past, the show has raised both awareness and contributions for those impacted by such natural disasters as Hurricane Harvey and the tragic events at Route 91 Harvest music festival in Las Vegas. Last year, the “2018 CMT Artists of the Year” special was dedicated to the women of country music and demonstrated CMT’s commitment to female artists. 

Previous “CMT Artists of the Year” performances and surprise acts have included Adele and Darius Rucker performing Lady Antebellum’s “Need You Now,” Adam Lambert and Leona Lewis paying tribute to Little Big Town’s “Girl Crush,” and Maroon 5 covering Taylor Swift’s “Mine.” The show has featured appearances by Ellen DeGeneres, Matthew McConaughey, Selena Gomez, Billy Bob Thornton, Roger Clemens, Morgan Freeman, the cast of Nashville and more. Performers and presenters for “2019 CMT Artists of the Year” to be announced. 

For more updates go to CMTAOTY.CMT.com. Follow @CMT on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube and use #CMTAOTY to join the conversation.

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ABOUT CMT
CMT is the leading authority on country music and lifestyle, offering a mix of original series, music events and specials. CMT is everywhere its fans are including two cable channels (CMT and the 24-hour music channel, CMT Music), radio (CMT Radio), digital (CMT App, CMT.com) and social (CMT on Facebook, CMT on Instagram and CMT on Twitter). CMT is a unit of Viacom Inc. (NASDAQ: VIA, VIAB). For more information, please visit CMTPress.com.

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More High-Powered Performances Added To History-Making ‘2019 CMT Music Awards’ Lineup

By on May 29, 2019 in In The Press

Today, CMT announced the latest round of performers for the “2019 CMT Music Awards,” featuring all-star acts and award nominees Keith Urban(nominated for “Video of the Year” and “Collaborative Video of the Year”); hosts Little Big Town (“Group Video of the Year”); Luke Combs (nominated for “Video of the Year” and “CMT Performance of the Year”); and Zac Brown Band (nominated for “Video of the Year,” “Group Video of the Year” and “CMT Performance of the Year”).

Additionally, Nashville’s biggest party will include dynamic collaborations by Brandi Carlile (nominated for “Female Video of the Year” and “CMT Performance of the Year”) + Tanya Tucker;Brett Young + Boyz II Men (nominated for “CMT Performance of the Year” for their memorable performance from CMT Crossroads); and Thomas Rhett (nominated for “Male Video of the Year”) + Little Big Town (“Group Video of the Year”) + Trombone Shorty. GRAMMY award-winning artist Sheryl Crow will perform with previously announced three-time nominee and performer Maren Morris (“Video of the Year,” “Female Video of the Year” and “CMT Performance of the Year”).

The show will air LIVE from Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena on Wednesday, June 5 at 8 pm ET / 7 pm CT.

This year’s program marks a record-breaking number of performances at the annual awards show. Previously announced performers include Carrie Underwood, Dan + Shay, Kane Brown, Kelsea Ballerini, and Luke Bryan.

Fans can vote now for their favorite artists via vote.cmt.com, up until 11:59 pm ET on Tuesday, June 4 for all categories, including “Video of the Year,” “Male Video of the Year,” “Female Video of the Year,” “Duo Video of the Year,” “Group Video of the Year,” “Breakthrough Video of the Year,” “Collaborative Video of the Year” and “CMT Performance of the Year.” Tickets to the “2019 CMT Music Awards” are on sale now at Ticketmaster.com.

For more information, follow @CMT on Twitter and Instagram, use hashtag #CMTawards and like the CMT Music Awards on Facebook.

About CMT

CMT is the leading authority on country music and lifestyle, offering a mix of original series, music events and specials. CMT is everywhere its fans are including two cable channels (CMT and the 24-hour music channel, CMT Music), radio (CMT Radio), digital (CMT App, CMT.com) and social (CMT on Facebook, CMT on Instagram and CMT on Twitter). CMT is a unit of Viacom Inc. (NASDAQ: VIA, VIAB). For more information, please visit CMT Press at cmtpress.com.

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Wes Cook Band Releases Debut EP, HOW FREEDOM FEELS

By on May 25, 2019 in In The Press

NASCAR Driver Ryan Ellis Unites with Country Band in Patriotism with the #99 “I Stand For The Flag” Car

The Wes Cook band is thrilled to present their debut EP, How Freedom Feels, featuring the viral hit song, “I Stand For the Flag.” Wes, Trevor and Nathan first made international headlines last July 4, 2018 when the music video for their song, “I Stand for the Flag,” was censored in promotion by Facebook. The resulting viral story opened many doors for the independent Nashville based country band, and now they are doubling down on their love for America with a provocative EP intended to not only continue to discussion of patriotism with the lead single “I Stand for the Flag,” but at the same time challenge the accepted norms with a sound best described as “90’s meets now.” Wes describes the EP as “a journey through Americana that is both rockin and reflective.” Never the ones to shy away from controversy, the band is most comfortable blurring the lines between music, politics, and social conversation. “I Stand for The Flag” co-writer Nathan Stoops says “We’re the down-home band you can hang with around a campfire, but who are also a strong national voice for all the men and women who love their country and aren’t ashamed to stand for our great Flag.” Trevor Layne adds “How Freedom Feels is a very personal record to me…it’s just full of all the good feels.”

The band has growing partnerships with several NASCAR and Veteran companies. This Sunday, the Wes Cook Band will join Enlisted Nine Fight Company on the #53 Chevy driven by BJ Mcleod in the Coca-Cola 600 Cup race in Charlotte NC.

The band also recently announced a partnership with NASCAR driver Ryan Ellis to run the Wes Cook Band #99 “I Stand for the Flag” car in two Xfinity races this season. They will be joined on that car by Nine Line Apparel and Enlisted Nine Fight Company, two Veteran owned and operated companies. Wes says, “We’re so excited to have the support of these great men and women of our military. They put their life on the line to protect our country and we honor their service with this car.” The #99 car will run June 16 at the Iowa Speedway, and also August 24 at the Wisconsin International Raceway. Driver Ryan Ellis says he can’t wait to get the Flag themed car on the track…“Where some athletes may choose to kneel, we choose to stand.”

The Wes Cook Band is: Wes Cook, Nathan Stoops and Trevor Layne.

For more information, visit www.WesCookBand.com.

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