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Tag Archives | 2018

2018 CMT Music Awards & CMT Awards Week

By on June 14, 2018 in Music, Special Events, The Latest

We absolutely love any time we get a chance to attend any of CMT’s events.  The CMT Music Awards is a favorite of ours that happens just before CMA Music Festival in Nashville and always is a highlight of our week.

What I like most about the CMT Music Awards is that it is fan voted, beautifully-produced, and like the Golden Globes, they don’t take things too seriously.   There is always a fun and hip aspect of it like during the opening sketch with hosts Little Big Town at a news desk with various country artists spotted around town as they played off the hype surrounding the recent royal wedding and our own country bachelors.  I think my favorite was Darius Rucker dressed as the Queen.  It always is humorous and leads to a more relaxed feel to the whole night.  I just love the whole vibe of it.

This year, CMT decided to add their own events leading up to the awards show on June 6th.  There was the inaugural “Paws & Play” Music Festival on June 3rd partnering with Pedigree Dog Food encouraging dog lovers to enjoy a day in the park with activities that families and dogs all would enjoy.  If you did not come with a dog, you could adopt one on-site thanks to the Nashville Humane Society.  Plus, Cassadee Pope performed during the festival.  A night of music on June 4th presented by Ram Trucks “Drive: Artists To Watch” at the CMT Music Awards at TopGolf with LANCO, Devin Dawson, and Walker Hayes.  On June 5th & 6th the CMT Music Awards And Bar-S Block Party at the Schermerhorn Symphony Center Plaza each afternoon featuring free food, meet and greets, and performances from Kelleigh Bannen, The Sisterhood Band, Bailey Bryan, Tyler Rich, Carly Pearce, Morgan Evans, and Delta Rae.  

CMT Crossroads taped with Leon Bridges and Luke Combs downtown on an outdoor stage on Broadway on June 5th.  On June 6th, CMT Sweat With Barry’s Bootcamp at Schermerhorn Symphony Center Plaza.  Fans joined with Barry’s top national trainers for an early-morning workout, along with a performance by singer/songwriter Kalie Shorr, music curated by DJ Ivy, appearance by Danielle Bradbery as they turned the early morning into the ultimate calorie-shredding exercise session.  On June 6th, CMT and Hershey’s threw a free karaoke party, Hershey’s “Certified Country Gold” at the CMT Music Awards all day long from 1pm-7pm at the Bridgestone Plaza.  Fans were invited to hop on the karaoke RV, grab a mic and belt out Country Gold hits.  Fans enjoyed free Hershey’s Gold, a digital photo booth and certified gold prizes, including a chance to attend the CMT Music Awards that night.

Stand outs for me during the night included being on the red carpet interviewing Drake White, The Sisterhood Band, Maggie Rose, Shenandoah, and many more.  The fun opening of the show was highly-entertaining.  Thoroughly-enjoyed Carrie Underwood’s stellar performance surrounded by sparkling beads hanging from above the stage to the floor.  Florida Georgia Line’s performance was probably my favorite of theirs that I’ve seen with a vibey, stripped down performance.

Can’t wait to see what they do next year! Stay tuned for a video from our night on the red carpet!

 

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Craig Campbell’s 6th Annual Celebrity Cornhole Challenge Is A Success

By on June 8, 2018 in In The Press

Photo Credit: Sweety High

Red Bow Records Country star CRAIG CAMPBELL put his big-hearted values on display at yesterday’s 6TH ANNUAL CELEBRITY CORNHOLE CHALLENGE, hosting a star-studded afternoon of friendly competition to benefit Fight Colorectal Cancer (Fight CRC).

Taking place outside Nashville’s City Winery, the fun-filled day scored with plenty of cornhole action – a bag-toss game popular with tailgaters all around the nation – plus a celebrity cast which featured Campbell and his wife Mindy, Russell Dickerson, Lindsay Ell, Walker Hayes, Brett Kissel, NASCAR driver Scott Lagasse, Jr., LOCASH, Tegan Marie, Morgan Mills, Jerrod Niemann, Taylor Phillips, Dee Jay Silver, The Cadillac Three and Brett Young.

Fans bid for the chance to play against the stars in tournament fashion, with Craig Campbell ultimately taking home first place.

Tonight (6/6), Campbell will follow up at City Winery with the One Million Strong Dinner gala, where the total amount raised from this year’s event will be officially revealed. Having lost his father to colorectal cancer at 11 years old, the dedicated family man is one of FIGHT CRC’s national spokespersons, and has previously raised more than $300,000 for the cause.

But with Nashville’s beloved CMA Music Fest getting underway, Campbell’s big week is just getting started.

Tomorrow (6/7) Campbell will celebrate Throwback Thursday at his old haunt The Stage on Nashville’s Lower Broadway – the same honky tonk where he was discovered years earlier. Starting at 2 p.m. CT, the traditionally-minded star will deliver a set of ‘90s Country favorites for a show billed as Karaoke With Craig. Then at 9 p.m. CT he’ll bring out his own hits with a primetime set on the massive Cracker Barrel Country Roads Stage at Ascend Amphitheater.

On Friday (6/8), Campbell will release his highly-anticipated SEE YOU TRY EP – seven diverse tracks featuring his flirtatious chart-riser “See You Try” and two versions of the critically-acclaimed “Outskirts of Heaven.”

And finally on Sunday (6/10), he’ll finish up as the last artist to perform on the attention grabbing Chevy Riverfront Stage. That hit-filled set will get underway at 4:45 p.m. CT, and all of Campbell’s CMA Music Fest concert appearances are free and open to the public.

The week marks the beginning of a big summer for the fan favorite, who plans to headline select dates across North America following a standout 2017 which included Luke Bryan’s HUNTIN’, FISHIN’ AND LOVIN’ EVERY DAY Tour.

For more information on Craig Campbell and tour dates, visit www.craigcampbell.tv.

Reach out to him on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.

ABOUT CRAIG CAMPBELL:
Country singer-songwriter Craig Campbell’s neo-traditional sensibility and undeniable talent have made him a favorite of both fans and critics alike for nearly a decade. Since launching out of the legendary Nashville honky-tonk, The Stage, and into the Top 15 of Billboard’s Hot Country Songs chart with 2010’s heartfelt “Family Man,” Campbell has released two acclaimed studio albums and gathered over 1 billion radio airplay audience impressions. Singles like “Fish” have shown off the Lyons, Georgia, native’s down-home side, while the infectious romance of “Keep Them Kisses Comin’” rose into Country radio’s Top 10. A regular performer on the Grand Ole Opry and widely-praised entertainer, Campbell has been lauded by critical outlets like Rolling Stone Country and tastemakers like Country radio DJ Bobby Bones – who says “Seeing Craig perform live will change your perspective on what a well-rounded artist is.” He has been featured on NBC’s TODAY and Macy’s 4th of July Fireworks Spectacular, and is a frequent supporter of both the USO and Fight CRC, where he serves as a national spokesperson in the campaign against colorectal cancer. Last June, Campbell hosted the 5th Annual Craig Campbell Celebrity Cornhole Challenge, and has raised over $300,000 for the Fight CRC organization to date. Following the release of his latest hit, the uplifting 2016 ballad “Outskirts of Heaven,” Campbell has revealed a flirtatious new single – “See You Try” – and a brand new, seven-song EP of the same name on Broken Bow Records is set for June 8. He recently wrapped up Luke Bryan’s HUNTIN’, FISHIN’ AND LOVIN’ EVERY DAY Tour, and is currently headlining select dates nationwide.ABOUT FIGHT CRC:
Fight CRC is a national nonprofit advocacy organization fighting for a cure. It was founded in 2005 by Nancy Roach, a nationally-recognized patient advocate who witnessed the need for colorectal cancer advocacy after her mother-in-law’s diagnosis. The organization plays an important role in rallying colorectal cancer advocates to action. Fight CRC is known for activism and patient empowerment throughout patient, academic, political, scientific, medical and nonprofit communities. With a mission focused on advocacy, research, patient education and awareness, the organization serves advocates in every state of the U.S. and many others around the world. Fight CRC is a 4-star charity by Charity Navigator and 93 cents of every dollar donated goes directly to colorectal cancer programs. To learn more, visit FightCRC.org.

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“2018 CMT Music Awards” Is A Night Of Firsts As Blake Shelton Wins His First-Ever “Video Of The Year” And Little Big Town Serves As Host 

By on June 8, 2018 in In The Press

The Sisterhood Band on the CMT Music Awards red carpet.

The loudest night in country music kicked it up a notch as the biggest stars in the genre and beyond took on Nashville for the “2018 CMT Music Awards.” In a night of firsts, Blake Shelton won his first-ever Video of the Year Award for “I’ll Name The Dogs;” Little Big Town hosted for the first-time; and Darius Rucker, Dierks Bentley, Florida Georgia Line, Kelly Clarkson, Little BigTown, Sam Hunt and Backstreet Boys seized the moment to debut new music for the first-time anywhere. A slew of new artists walked away with their first buckles, including Dan + Shay (Duo Video of the Year), Carly Pearce (Breakthrough Video of the Year), Kane Brown (Collaborative Video of the Year with Lauren Alaina), Backstreet Boys (CMT Performance of the Year with Florida Georgia Line) and Ludacris (Female Video of the Year with Carrie Underwood). Carly Pearce and Kane Brown won the first awards  of their careers. Carrie Underwood’s win for “Female Video of the Year” extends her record for most “CMT Music Awards” wins with a grand total of 18.

The show kicked off with a star-studded tongue-in-cheek sendup that has the royal family in Nashville to escape the prying paparazzi, only to find themselves engulfed in the bachelorette party capital of the country. The sketch featured Kelly Ripa, Ryan Seacrest, hosts Little Big Town, Blake Shelton, Kelsea Ballerini, Midland, Dustin Lynch, Jake Owen, Jon Pardi, Trace Adkins,Darius Rucker (as the Queen, no less), and Florida Georgia Line as Princes William and Harry.

Drake White on the CMT Music Awards red carpet.

Little Big Town got the crowd jumping with their first-ever live performance of the danceable “Summer Fever” surrounded by large gold orbs, while Blake Shelton took to the rooftop of his new restaurant, Ole Red, in downtown Nashville for an intimate performance of his hit “Turnin’ Me On.”

Bordered by a dramatic white curtain, Jason Aldean delivered a stirring rendition of his hit “Drowns the Whiskey,” while Kelsea Ballerini offered a beautiful twist on love with her hit, “I Hate Love Songs.”

Dierks Bentley and Brothers Osborneshared the stage surrounded by fire for a hard-rocking version of Bentley’s single, “Burning Man.” Luke Bryan performed his summer anthem “Sunrise, Sunburn, Sunset” aptly at dusk on the crowd-filled outdoor stage.

Florida Georgia Line turned the Bridgestone Arena into a cozy backyard get-together with the first-ever-live performance of their new single “Simple,” while Carrie Underwood dazzled the audience with her soaring power ballad “Cry Pretty.”

Sam Hunt roamed the streets Nashville’s famed Broadway before taking the outdoor stage in front of thousands of country music fans and fireworks for first-ever-performance of “Downtown’s Dead,” while Dan & Shay, in their first-ever CMT Music Awards appearance, delivered a sobering sweeping rendition of their smash, “Tequila.”

Chris Stapleton’s unmistakably powerful voice boomed through the streets of downtown Nashville for a priceless performance of “Millionaire,” while pop royalty Backstreet Boys got the entire house dancing with an electric first-time-ever performance of their new single, “Don’t Go Breaking My Heart,” proving that great music transcends genres.

Accompanied by an all-female choir, Kelly Clarkson made her CMT Music Awards debut by reclaiming the classic “American Woman” as a fiery female-empowerment anthem from the forthcoming series “American Woman,” starring Alicia Silverstone, Mena Suvari and Jennifer Bartles, premiering tomorrow night, Thursday, June 7 at 10pm ET/PT on Paramount Network.

The evening concluded with a bang as Darius Rucker and The Troublemakers –Jason Aldean, Luke Bryan and Charles Kelley – turned the Bridgestone Arena into a local honky tonk with their first-ever-live performance of the seminal Drivin’ N Cryin’ classic, “Straight To Hell.”

Furthering its commitment to new artists, CMT’s Ram side-stage featured performances of CMT Next Women of Music artists Carly Pearce and Lindsay Ell, as well as CMT Listen Up Artists DevinDawson, LANCO and Russell Dickerson.

The A-list roster of presenters from music, television and film includes Backstreet Boys, Brett Young, Bobby Bones, Carly Pearce,Chrissy Metz (“This Is Us”), Cody Alan (Radio and TV Personality), Courtney Force (NHRA racing), Dustin Lynch, Garrett Hedlund (“Mudbound,” “Country Strong”), Hoda Kotb (“NBC’s TODAY”), Joel McHale(“The Joel McHale Show”), Jon Pardi, Kaitlin Doubleday (“Nashville”), Katie Cook (TV personality), Keith Urban, Lauren Alaina, Leon Bridges, Lennon Stella (“Nashville”), Lindsey Vonn (US Ski Team), Luke Combs, Maisy Stella (“Nashville”), P.K. Subban(Nashville Predators), RaeLynn, Rascal Flatts and Sugarland.

 

The winners of the 2018 CMT MUSIC AWARDS are:

VIDEO OF THE YEAR 
Best video of the year; awarded to the artist (male, female, group/duo or collaboration) and the video director. Final nominees announced the morning of the show, with final voting held on social media during the live telecast.

  • Blake Shelton – “I’ll Name The Dogs”

MALE VIDEO OF THE YEAR
Best video by a male artist; awarded to the artist

  • Blake Shelton –“I’ll Name The Dogs”

FEMALE VIDEO OF THE YEAR
Best video by a female artist; awarded to the artist

  • Carrie Underwood feat. Ludacris – “The Champion”

DUO VIDEO OF THE YEAR
Best video by a duo; awarded to the artists

 

  •     Dan + Shay –  “Tequila”

 

 

GROUP VIDEO OF THE YEAR
Best video by a group; awarded to the artists

 

  • Little Big Town – “When Someone Stops Loving You”

 

BREAKTHROUGH VIDEO OF THE YEAR
Best video from an artist’s major breakthrough album; awarded to the artist (male, female or group/duo)

 

  • Carly Pearce – “Every Little Thing”

 

COLLABORATIVE VIDEO OF THE YEAR

Best video from a collaboration; awarded to the artists

 

  • Kane Brown feat. Lauren Alaina – “What Ifs”

 

CMT PERFORMANCE OF THE YEAR

Musical performance on a television show, series or variety special on CMT; awarded to the artist (individual, group or duo)

  • From CMT Crossroads: Backstreet Boys and Florida Georgia Line – “Everybody”

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.

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Cracker Barrel Powers Jam-Packed First Night At Country Roads Stage At 2018 CMA Music Festival With Broken Bow Records  

By on June 8, 2018 in In The Press

Photo courtesy of FlyteVu.

Night one at CMA Fest’s free Cracker Barrel Country Roads Stage at Nashville’s Ascend Amphitheater featured an exciting evening of performances by some of Broken Bow Records’ brightest stars, including Chase Bryant, Craig Campbell, Lindsey Ell, Everette, Chase Rice, Runaway June, and Granger Smith.

On stage, Cracker Barrel and Chase Bryant organized a special, patriotic moment for 10 expectant mothers-to-be from Fort Campbell who were all active duty servicewomen and military spouses. They each received one of Cracker Barrel’s iconic rockers, free Cracker Barrel twice a month for a year, and gift cards to shop at the famous restaurant’s country store. Fans gave the women a standing ovation, and the moment was capped off with a heartwarming video showing 100 other military moms-to-be receiving rockers, too.
With the kickoff of CMA Fest yesterday, Cracker Barrel is encouraging festivalgoers to share photographs of themselves for a good cause. With Cracker Barrel’s Rock With Us fundraiser, every photograph taken in a Cracker Barrel rocker at the festival and shared on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram using the hashtag #CBMusic between June 7 and June 9 will result in a $1 donation from Cracker Barrel to the CMA Foundation (up to $15,000).
Red Light Management artists Lee Brice, Clare Dunn, and Tyler Farr will hit the stage tonight, while Warner Music Nashville will bring out Morgan Evans, Michael Ray, Cole Swindell, and more on Saturday evening.
About Cracker Barrel:
Cracker Barrel Old Country Store, Inc. (Nasdaq: CBRL) shares warm welcomes and friendly service while offering guests quality homestyle food and unique shopping – all at a fair price. By creating a world filled with hospitality and charm through an experience that combines dining and shopping, guests are cared for like family. Established in 1969 in Lebanon, Tenn., Cracker Barrel and its affiliates operate 653 company-owned Cracker Barrel Old Country Store® locations in 45 states and own the fast-casual Holler and Dash® restaurants. For more information about the company, visit crackerbarrel.com.
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“2018 CMT Music Awards” Featuring This Summer’s Newest Music With Multiple World Premiere Television Performances

By on June 5, 2018 in In The Press

CMT today revealed that some of music’s biggest stars will perform brand-new songs for the first time ever on television when the “2018 CMT Music Awards” premieres LIVE from Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena tomorrow, June 6 at 8pm ET/PT. The performances will not only feature the newest songs that will become the soundtrack to the summer, but they will use the CMT stage to introduce their new music to the world.

“CMT music fans have an unquenchable thirst for music discovery. This show features the freshest and most exciting summer songs ever presented on one stage,” said Margaret Comeaux, executive producer, CMT Music Awards.

The line-up of world television premiere performances includes:

  • Darius Rucker featuring Jason Aldean, Luke Bryan and Charles Kelley – “Straight to Hell”
  • Dierks Bentley featuring Brothers Osborne – “Burning Man”
  • Florida Georgia Line – “Simple”
  • Kelly Clarkson – “American Woman”
  • Little Big Town – “Summer Fever”
  • Sam Hunt – “Downtown’s Dead”
  • Backstreet Boys – “Don’t Go Breaking My Heart”

The performers join previously announced performers Blake Shelton, Chris Stapleton, Jason Aldean and Kelsea Ballerini to round out the ultimate night of country music in Nashville.

The latest announcement follows renewed ratings growth and critical acclaim for CMT music specials and events due in part to a creative refresh featuring current and genre-bending artist pairings and pro-social elements. In October, “CMT Artists of the Year” notched its highest rating to date and now ranks as one of the fastest growing award shows, while “CMT Crossroads” recently garnered its highest ratings in five years with an episode featuring Backstreet Boys and Florida Georgia Line. The network recently finished its highest-rated quarter since 2014 and notched its fifth consecutive quarter of year-over-year ratings growth. April 2018 was CMT’s best April performance in 4 years, extending to 17 the channel’s streak of consecutive months of year-over-year ratings growth among Adults 18-49 and Women 18-49. (L+SD, CMT Total Day)

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.

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Warner Music Nashville Welcomes Fans To Music Row With “The Warner Sound” 2018

By on June 4, 2018 in In The Press


Warner Music Nashville (WMN) is proud to announce the seventh year of The Warner Sound, a packed week of events in support of CMA Music Fest, June 7-10. Hosted at the label headquarters and studios in the heart of Nashville’s historic Music Row, The Warner Sound will feature fan events with WMN artists and guests including Cole Swindell, Charlie Worsham, Dan + Shay, Devin Dawson, Frankie Ballard, High Valley, Hunter Hayes, Michael Ray, Morgan Evans, RaeLynn, Tegan Marie, Trea Landon, Troy Cartwright and William Michael Morgan.
WMN is happy to welcome several generous sponsors that are providing unique touch points for both their artists and fans. Upon entry, guests will be able to visit the pop-up Waffle House restaurant inside the lobby, complete with complimentary waffles and hash browns. Those age 21 and over can enjoy a cocktail in the Crown Royal Lounge or on the George Dickel Patio daily 11:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Of age guests can also snag a Sam Adams, Twisted Tea or a hard cider from Austin Eastciders – and everyone is welcome to an ice cold Coca-Cola! Behind the scenes, Warner artists will relax and prepare for their performances in the “The Dream Room,” a deluxe green room designed by The Dream Hotel Nashville (opening late 2018). Additional sponsors include Popchips, PC/Nametag, Keurig, Lyft, Vega and Batiste.
The Warner Sound June 7 – 10, 2018
Except where noted, all fan events will be held at 20 Music Square East.
THURSDAY, JUNE 7
10:00 AM       Dan + Shay                 Tequila Sunrise Fan Party (Silent Disco)
1:00 PM          High Valley                AmeriCANADIAN Fan Party
4:00 PM          Michael Ray               Amos Album Release Fan Party
FRIDAY, JUNE 8
10:00 AM       Warner Artists             SoFar Sounds
1:00 PM          Morgan Evans             Album Listening Fan Party
4:00 PM          Cole Swindell             ‘The Ones Who Got Me Here’ Fan Party
SATURDAY, JUNE 9
10:00 AM       Warner Artists             WMN Family Brunch Fan Party feat. Bailey Bryan, Trea
                                                            Landon and Troy Cartwright
1:00 PM          RaeLynn                     ‘Kings & Queens Don’t’ Fan Party
4:00 PM          Hunter Hayes              For the Love of Music Fan Party
4:30 PM          Devin Dawson            Blackout Fan Party *Studio at 21 Music Square East
SUNDAY, JUNE 10
10:00 AM       Tegan Marie                Breakfast Beauty Shop Fan Party
10:00 AM       Charlie Worsham        Donuts & Jam Fan Party *Studio at 21 Music Square East
1:00 PM          William Michael Morgan Vinyl Fan Party
4:00 PM          Frankie Ballard           Frankie Ballard Fan Party
WMN also has other events being held around town, including:
  • Ashley McBryde Little Harpeth Fan Party at Little Harpeth Brewing on June 6 at 5:00 PM.
  • Blake Shelton & Friends Concert at Ole Red on June 6 at 10:30 PM (doors at 9:30 PM).
  • Chris Janson “Friend Party” at the Wildhorse Saloon on June 7at 9:30 AM.
  • Cracker Barrel Country Roads Stage at Ascend Amphitheater Presented by Warner Music Nashville on Saturday, June 9. The concert event will feature Cole Swindell, Michael Ray, Morgan Evans, Cale Dodds and Tegan Marie.
Guests can enjoy a free ride to WMN courtesy of JoyRide golf carts – just look for the one marked “The Warner Sound” and hop on. Fan party ticket purchasers will enjoy a transportation discount or free rides courtesy of Lyft.
For more info about The Warner Sound and other WMN events please visit WarnerMusicNashville.com/MusicFest / Follow @wmnashville
ABOUT WARNER MUSIC NASHVILLE
Warner Music Nashville was created in 2009 with the goal of expanding the presence of WMG and its family of labels has had in the Nashville music community for more than 60 years. Under the leadership of Chairman & CEO John Esposito, the division is home to Warner Bros. Nashville and Atlantic Nashville.
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2018 CMT Music Awards Ram Trucks Side Stage To Feauture Breakthrough Country Artists Carly Pearce, Devin Dawson, LANCO, Lindsay Ell, Russell Dickerson And Walker Hayes

By on May 31, 2018 in In The Press

CMT announced today that country music’s hottest breakthrough artists Carly Pearce, Devin Dawson, LANCO, Lindsay Ell, Russell Dickerson and Walker Hayes will perform on the Ram Trucks Side Stage at the “2018 CMT Music Awards,” airing LIVE from Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena on Wednesday, June 6th at 8:00 pm ET/PT.

From the group of fresh talent, first-time nominees Carly Pearce, Devin Dawson, LANCO, Russell Dickerson and Walker Hayes will all be vying for the title of “Breakthrough Video of the Year.” Platinum-selling band LANCO will also be up for “Group Video of the Year” and Carly Pearcewill battle it out for the coveted title of “Female Video of the Year” with her No. 1 hit “Every Little Thing.”

They join the growing list of previously announced performers including Blake Shelton; Carrie Underwood; Chris Stapleton; Dan + Shay; Darius Rucker;featuring Charles Kelley, Jason Aldean and Luke Bryan; Dierks Bentley featuring Brothers Osborne; Florida Georgia Line; Jason Aldean; Kelly Clarkson; Kelsea Ballerini; Little Big Town; Luke Bryan and Sam Hunt.

Follow @CMT on Twitter and Instagram, use hashtag #CMTawards and like the CMT Music Awards on Facebook.

The Ram Trucks Side Stage announcement follows renewed ratings growth and critical acclaim for CMT music specials and events due in part to a creative refresh featuring current and genre-bending artist pairings and pro-social elements. In October, “CMT Artists of the Year” notched its highest rating to date and now ranks as one of the fastest growing award shows, while “CMT Crossroads” recently garnered its highest ratings in five years with an episode featuring Backstreet Boys and Florida Georgia Line. The network recently finished its highest-rated quarter since 2014 and notched its fifth consecutive quarter of year-over-year ratings growth. April 2018 was CMT’s best April performance in 4 years, extending to 17 the channel’s streak of consecutive months of year-over-year ratings growth among Adults 18-49 and Women 18-49. (L+SD, CMT Total Day)

To request press credentials for the 2018 CMT Music Awards, please visit cmtmusicawardspress.com.

 

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.

 

About Ram Truck Brand
Since its launch as a stand-alone division in 2009, the Ram Truck brand has steadily emerged as an industry leader with trucks that are proven to last.

Creating a distinct identity for Ram trucks has allowed the brand to concentrate on core customers and the features they find valuable. Whether focusing on a family that uses a Ram 1500 day-in and day-out, a hard-working Ram 3500 Heavy Duty owner or a business that depends on its Ram ProMaster commercial van every day for deliveries, Ram has the truck market covered.

In order to be the best, it takes a commitment to innovation, capability, efficiency and durability. Ram Truck invests substantially in its products, infusing them with great looks, refined interiors, durable engines and exclusive features that further enhance their capabilities.

Ram continues to beat the competition in the most sought-after titles:

  • Over the last 30 years, Ram has the highest percentage of pickups still on the road
  • Highest owner loyalty of any half-ton pickup
  • Highest Ram torque ever – 930 lb.-ft. with Ram 3500 Cummins Turbo Diesel
  • Highest 5th wheel towing capacity – 30,000 lbs. with Ram 3500 Cummins Turbo Diesel
  • Best ride and handling with exclusive link coil rear and auto-level air suspensions
  • Best-in-class fuel economy and longest range with exclusive EcoDiesel – 27 mpg with Ram 1500
  • Best-in-class gas towing – 16,320 pounds with Ram 2500
  • Highest snow plow rating – Ram 2500 and 3500
  • Most luxurious trim available in pickups with Ram Tungsten Limited Edition
  • Most interior space with Ram Mega Cab
  • Most capable full-size off-road pickup – Ram Power Wagon

Truck customers, from half-ton to commercial, have a demanding range of needs and require their vehicles to provide high levels of capability. Ram trucks are designed to deliver a total package.

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CMA Music Festival: Your Survival Guide From A Nearly Native Nashvillian

By on May 30, 2018 in Music, Special Events

Photo credit: Courtney Davidson for FOCUS on the 615

Well, the biggest country music festival in the world, CMA Music Festival, is nearly upon us. We couldn’t be any more excited!

Truth be told, living in Nashville nearly my entire life, which is why I call myself a “nearly native Nashvillian”, I wasn’t always a big fan of Fan Fair as it used to be called many moons ago. For Nashvillians, it always brought a ton of people to town, lots of traffic, and interuption of our daily lives just trying to get to work or wherever.

Back then, I really was not a fan of country music at all, either. I just did not get the appeal then. Boy, I was I missing out!

Photo credit: Courtney Davidson for FOCUS on the 615

I guess you could say I had a “come to Jesus” moment with country music. I realized that, gasp, I liked it after all. I started attending CMA Music Festival almost 20 years ago. So, I think maybe I can give you some advice on just how survive it AND enjoy it to the fullest.

Photo credit: Courtney Davidson for FOCUS on the 615

First of all, prepare for some major heat and humidity. Traditionally, it always seems to be the hottest week of the year for us. Oh, I know it gets hotter in August, but it just FEELS a lot hotter when you are in the middle of those large crowds and walking all over. Bring lots of sunscreen and don’t forget to drink plenty of water. Ducking into the Goo Goo Cluster Store downtown off of 3rd Ave. South isn’t such a bad idea, either. You briefly escape the crowds while enjoying a tasty ice cream sundae inside with the air conditioning. Surprisingly, it’s not usually too crowded in there.

There’s always tons of great local food available from the many food trucks lined up between the Country Music Hall of Fame, that also has events going on, and Music City Center. You won’t ever be hungry. Bring some cash, though, since all don’t take credit cards.

Second, here in Nashville, we don’t typically wear sundresses, cowboy hats, and cowboy boots. We know you’re from out of town when we see that. Not that there is anything wrong with any of those things. It’s festive and seems fitting. My first thought is how hot, tired, and blistered their feet must be in cowboy boots walking everywhere in the heat. Ouch! Sandals, flip flops or tennis shoes are the best for the festival.

You might find yourself with a headache due to too much sun, maybe too much to drink, and listening to all of the loud music. So pack some Tylenol or something to bring with you because once you get downtown at the festival, it is darn near impossible to find anything to relieve a headache. If you do, it will probably cost a fortune. Trust me, I forgot some once and suffered for hours.

Don’t carry too much stuff, though, you don’t want to be stuck lugging a heavy bag around all day and you will need a clear bag to carry it to get into the nightly concerts at Nissan Stadium to get past security.

Most importantly, have fun! It’s a great time with plenty of great music to enjoy and country artists to meet. It’s all happening in downtown Nashville June 7th-10th. Maybe this year it won’t be SO hot, but it probably will.

Remember, there are the free shows during the day time, plus free nightly concerts at Ascend Amphitheatre if you want to enjoy a smaller venue besides the stadium. That’s where I am planning to spend a lot of my time and my favorite venue for concerts with a great view of the city.

NASHVILLE, TN – JUNE 10: An outside view of the HGTV Lodge during CMA Music Fest on June 10, 2017 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Jason Davis/Getty Images for HGTV)

Another favorite is the HGTV Lodge. Always intimate shows inside with some fans circulating some air to escape the heat for a bit and enjoy the music closer up.

Fan Fair X inside Music City Center offers great opportunities to meet some of your favorite country artists and avoid the summer heat for a while, too. It also has some fun shows inside on the CMA Close-Up stage and Radio Disney stage. It’s not free. You’ll need to buy a pass for it.

So much fun stuff to do all around Nashville and great music to enjoy. Additionally, did you know that all of the artists graciously donate their time and performances for free at the festival? They don’t make a dime. Instead, all the money goes to producing the festival year after year and to the CMA Foundation, which raises money to support music education.

Don’t forget to download the CMA Fest app to get all of the latest updates, plan the performances you want to see, and it’s just a great way to keep track of everything happening at the festival right on your phone, which you know you will have with you anyway!

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HGTV Lodge Headlines Top Country Artists At CMA Fest In Nashville June 7-10

By on May 24, 2018 in In The Press

NASHVILLE, TN – JUNE 10: An outside view of the HGTV Lodge during CMA Music Fest on June 10, 2017 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Jason Davis/Getty Images for HGTV)

Now in its seventh consecutive year, the HGTV Lodge will once again welcome country music’s hottest stars to the network’s popular and unique venue at CMA Fest in Nashville. From Thursday, June 7 – Sunday, June 10, the 3,500-square-foot HGTV Lodge will offer festival-goers the Ultimate Country Music Fan Experience™, including live musical performances by popular artists Dustin Lynch, Jon Pardi, Kip Moore, Lee Ann Womack, Lee Brice and Luke Combs. In addition, CMA and Grammy award-winning artist and Food Network star, Trisha Yearwood, will bring her Facebook Live show, “T’s Coffee Talk,” to the HGTV Lodge, allowing fans around the world access to this intimate CMA Fest experience. HGTV stars Jonathan and Drew Scott (Property Brothers), Leanne Ford (Restored by the Fords), Page Turner and DeRon Jenkins (Flip or Flop Nashville) and Dave and Kortney Wilson (Music City Fix) also will make special appearances throughout the festival.

The HGTV Lodge also will host performances with many more country music stars, including Ashley McBryde, Cam, Cassadee Pope, Chris Lane, Eric Paslay, Jordan Davis, LANCO, Lauren Alaina, Lindsay Ell, LOCASH, Maddie & Tae, Michael Ray, Morgan Evans, The Cadillac Three and Walker Hayes. In addition, the HGTV Lodge will host a special ASCAP Hit Songwriters Round featuring Ryan Hurd, Jillian Jacqueline and Chris DeStefano and a “Sony Discovered” set featuring Carlton Anderson, Mitchell Tenpenny, Tenille Townes and Rachel Wammack. Great American Country’s Suzanne Alexander will serve as the HGTV Lodge emcee during the four-day event.

“Country music fans get the thrill of seeing their favorite artists up close and personal at the HGTV Lodge,” said Karen Bronzo, senior vice president, brand marketing and partnerships for HGTV. “The Lodge is truly a ‘home for country music fans’ and offers them a unique opportunity to experience extraordinary, intimate performances in a setting that only HGTV could bring to life.”

Conceived and produced by experiential + music agency Pop2Life, a Condé Nast agency, the two-story HGTV Lodge is located in downtown Nashville just minutes from Nissan Stadium and features a unique fan experience with non-stop performances by more than two dozen top country artists.

For access to exclusive performances inside HGTV Lodge, fans must register for CMA Fest Fan Access at CMAfest.com/FanAccess or via the CMA Fest app and then enter the Ultimate Fan Experiences Drawing between Tuesday, May 29, at 10 a.m. CT/11 a.m. ET and Thursday, May 31, at 10 a.m. CT/11 a.m. ET. All drawing participants will be notified by email and text on Friday, June 1, to log in to their Fan Access account to see if they’re a winner. All prizes must be claimed by Tuesday, June 5, at 12 p.m.CT/1 p.m. ET, or they will be awarded to alternate winners.

Fans can share their love of music and home by uploading photos of their experience at HGTV Lodge on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and Snapchat using #HGTVLodge. The Lodge also will host several must-see Facebook Live videos with the HGTV stars and will post exclusive artist interviews via Instagram Stories. On Sunday, the network will host a special VIP event at the Lodge for the leading Nashville-area lifestyle writers and social influencers.

For media who want to schedule interviews with the artists appearing at the HGTV Lodge, CMA Media Guidelines specify that only credentialed journalists can conduct interviews onsite at CMA Fest. Media must contact the artist’s publicist and/or record label to set up interviews prior to arrival at CMA Fest. A list of publicist contacts can be found at CMApress.com. Please note that when arranging an artist interview, a scheduled location for the interview must be confirmed with the publicist. If you cannot interview the artist at the Lodge, then an alternative off-site location must be designated. For media interested in touring the Lodge, please contact Chelsey Riemann at criemann@hgtv.com and Amy Hammontree at ahammontree@hgtv.com.

Schedule of Events* at HGTV Lodge (All times CDT): 

Thursday, June 7: 
10 a.m.:        Michael Ray
11 a.m.:        LOCASH
1 p.m.:          Ashley McBryde
2 p.m.:          Chris Lane
3 p.m.:          Jordan Davis
5 p.m.:          Luke Combs

Friday, June 8:
10 a.m.:        Cassadee Pope
11 a.m.:        Kip Moore
12:30 p.m.:  LANCO
2 p.m.:          Jon Pardi
3 p.m.:          Cam
4 p.m.:          ASCAP Hit Songwriters Round: featuring Ryan Hurd, Jillian Jacqueline and Chris DeStefano
5 p.m.:          Lee Brice

Saturday, June 9:
10 a.m.:       Trisha Yearwood
11 a.m.:       Lindsay Ell
12 p.m.:       Morgan Evans
1 p.m.:         Lee Ann Womack
2 p.m.:         Meet and Greet with Jonathan and Drew Scott
4 p.m.:         Dustin Lynch
5 p.m.:         Lauren Alaina

Sunday, June 10:
11 a.m.:       Sony Discovered: featuring Carlton Anderson, Mitchell Tenpenny, Tenille Townes and Rachel Wammack
12 p.m.:       Maddie & Tae
1:30 p.m.:    Eric Paslay
2:30 p.m.:    Walker Hayes
4:00 p.m.:    The Cadillac Three

*All appearances and times subject to change without notice.

ABOUT HGTV
HGTV delivers the superstar experts, fascinating families, compelling renovations and stunning transformations that make all things home fun. America’s favorite way to get entertaining, relatable and inspirational home and lifestyle content, HGTV offers: a top 10 cable network that is distributed to more than 90 million U.S. households; a website, HGTV.com, that attracts an average of 9.7 million people each month; a social footprint of 16.8 million; HGTV Magazine, a monthly publication that reaches more than one million readers and exclusive collections of home-oriented products through the HGTV HOME™ consumer products line.  Viewers can become fans of HGTV and interact with other home improvement enthusiasts through Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and Instagram. HGTV is owned by Discovery, Inc., a global leader in real life entertainment whose portfolio also includes Discovery Channel, Food Network, TLC, Investigation Discovery, and OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network.

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. Now in its 47th year, the legendary festival has become the city’s signature Country Music event that hosts fans from all 50 states and nearly 20 foreign countries. In 2017, CMA Fest featured 11 stages with over 350 artists, 1,100 musicians, and 167 hours of music – all to benefit music education. Since 2006, CMA and the CMA Foundation have donated 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 perform for free. CMA Fest is filmed for a three-hour ABC Television Network special. 2018 marks the 15th consecutive year of the broadcast.

ABOUT POP2LIFE
Pop2Life is an award-winning, Condé Nast brand experience agency based in New York. Founded by Eric Murphy in 2003, the company offers ideation and strategy, environmental design and creative services, full-service event production, talent procurement, as well as software with a service through Concierge.com. Clients include Discovery Inc., AMC, Capital One, Comedy Central, Lincoln Motor Company, Allure, and iHeartRadio, among many others.

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George Dickel’s Second Porch Sessions Of The Summer Happening June 2nd

By on May 23, 2018 in Music, Special Events, Uncategorized

The next Porch Sessions at Cascade Hollow Distilling Co. is on Saturday, June 2nd with country stars Chase Bryant and Adam Craig for the second Porch Sessions event of Summer 2018. Tickets can be purchased for $25 at dickelporchsessions.com. All attendees must be 21 or older.

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