Tag Archives | Nashville

Country Music Fantasy Camp Announces January Camp Headlined By Country Hit-Maker Keith Burns And Lisa Guerrero Of ‘Inside Edition’

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

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (December 17, 2019) -The Country Music Fantasy Camp is excited to announce a star packed camp scheduled for January 13-15, 2020, headlined by country hit-maker, Keith Burns, formerly of Trick Pony, and television star and ‘Inside Edition’ Chief Investigative Correspondent-turned country singer, Lisa Guerrero. The camp will also feature special guests, rising sister duo, Presley & Taylor.
Burns was the founding member of the Grammy-nominated ACM & AMA award-winning, platinum-selling group Trick Pony, best known for their smash hits, “Pour Me” and “Just What I Do.” Guerrero is the popular on-air television personality of ‘Inside Edition.’ Burns and Guerrero recently released the single “Everybody Loves A Comeback,” which is currently making waves in the music industry. 

Burns and Guerrero will be joined by rising sister act, Presley & Taylor, who have recently released new music produced by legendary record producer, James Stroud and co-producer, Burns.
The camp will also feature some of the best singers and songwriters in Nashville. They will be the band’s coaches, providing expert guidance and knowledge. Some of the coaches have included Steve Williams, writer of “Redneck Yacht Club” for Craig Morgan and Tim “Fiddleman” Watson who has played and recorded with the likes of Tammy Wynette, Waylon Jennings, Willie Nelson, Travis Tritt, Jamey Johnson, Jon Pardi, Kid Rock, and many others. 


Country Music Fantasy Camp allows campers to write original country songs in a “band” setting with guidance from some of country music’s best. After the bands write the songs, they then head into the studio to record them with some of Nashville’s top musicians. That evening, magic happens with a group dinner and a live stage for any of the campers and musicians to get up and play and/or sing. The next day includes a live performance the band’s original song on a stage at one of Nashville top honky tonks, backed up with great live musicians. Delicious meals, photo shoots of each camper and the bands plus digital copies of all recorded music will be provided to all campers shortly after the end of this exciting two plus days in Nashville.


Each camper is responsible for their own accommodations. Country Music Fantasy Camp has also negotiated great rates at some of Nashville’s best hotels that campers can take advantage of.


Come live out your dream at this 2-day Country Music Fantasy Camp headlined by Keith Burns and Lisa Guerrero.Watch their video about the event, and reserve your space today at www.cmfantasycamp.com.


“You don’t need amazing talent as we have the best in the business teaching and backing you up” says Bob Ekman, Founder and CEO of Country Music Fantasy Camp. “You’ve just gotta love music.”
Country Music Fantasy Camp also develops customized corporate and other group events highlighting writing, recording and performing songs for team building, incentives and even competition. CMFC is also available to travel to work with corporations, the military, and associations so that many can live out their Country Music Fantasy anywhere in the US.


Follow Country Music Fantasy Camp on Social Media: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/countrymusicfantasycamp/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/countrymusicfantasycamp/


ABOUT KEITH BURNS: Keith Burns was the founding member of the Grammy-nominated ACM & AMA award-winning, platinum-selling group Trick Pony. He has had three Top 10 songs forTrick Pony and Joe Diffie and has also written several Top 40 songs for Hootie & The Blowfish, Sammy Kershaw, Burns & Poe, and Moe Bandy. You’ve probably sung out loud to his signature hits “Pour Me” and “Just What I Do” for Trick Pony and many more. Burns and Lisa Guerrero have recently released the critically-acclaimed single, “Everybody Loves A Comeback.”


ABOUT LISA GUERERRO: Lisa Guerrero is the award winning Chief Investigative Correspondent for America’s top rated syndicated news magazine, ‘Inside Edition.’ One of the most versatile broadcasters on television, Guerrero  has guest co-hosted ‘The View,’ been a special correspondent for Dr. Phil and is a frequent guest panelist on CNN and HLN. She is also a successful actress having starred in Aaron Spelling’s, Sunset Beach and guest starred on Southland, Frasier and The George Lopez Show. Guerrero recently played herself in the Academy Award nominated film, Moneyball. She is also quickly making her mark in the country music world with her new duet with Keith Burns, “Everybody Loves A Comeback.”


ABOUT PRESLEY & TAYLOR:When Presley & Taylor sing, and fans hear their sibling harmonies they experience more than beautiful music and a “neo traditional sound.” They experience the true bond of sisters and best friends. The brand that has become “Presley & Taylor” is already recognized as the next generation of country music. The duo has had several appearances on 650 AM, WSM the world’s most famous country radio station and radio home of the Grand Ole Opry. Perhaps the best example is the humbling recognition by the CMA’s as the organization has repeatedly invited the girls to appear at the CMA Music Fest on sanctioned CMA stages. Presley & Taylor have completed the recording new music with legendary record producer, James Stroud, and co-producer, Keith Burns.  

ABOUT COUNTRY MUSIC FANTASY CAMP: Have you ever dreamed about writing, recording, and performing country music in Nashville, Tennessee? Country Music Fantasy Camp is an all-inclusive, 2-3 day camps for country music fans all over the world! Escape to an experience that combines local Nashville dining and famous tourist hot-spots all while receiving the best country music coaching in Music City, USA. It’s time to put away your phone, make new friends, and grow your skills while being surrounded by other talented musicians who will guide you through your fantasy! Even if you have no musical talent, the CMFC experience combined with the people you’ll meet will be a memory you’ll talk about for the rest of your life. The Country Music Fantasy Camp experience includes top-notch coaching + mentoring, custom swag, local transportation, epic nightly events, professionally recorded + packaged EP’s, delicious meals and, of course, endless memories. At CMFC, our motto is “Make Your Music City Dreams Come True”. Your deposit locks in your spot and allows our Dream Team to begin planning your unique Nashville country music experience!

Keith Burns
Lisa Guerrero of ‘Inside Edition’
Presley and Taylor

Comments { 0 }

YouTube Originals Premiering “The Gift: The Journey of Johnny Cash” Documentary For Free Monday, November 11th at 11am Central

By on November 9, 2019 in Music, The Latest

I am going to admit it, I am a sucker for a good documentary and just had the opportunity to watch an advance screening of the new YouTube Originals documentary “The Gift: The Journey of Johnny Cash”.

This well-done documentary builds around the FOLSOM PRISON album that was recorded live with Johnny Cash performing in front of prisoners housed at prison. Viewers are treated to first hand stories and interviews with family and celebrated collaborators throughout.

I especially enjoyed learning about his humble beginnings in a small town living on a farm in Arkansas. Johnny Cash resonates with me a lot because my dad loved to listen to his music and their upbringings were very similar. My dad also grew up in a small town in Arkansas called Star City on a farm pretty much at the same time Johnny Cash did in a large family of 12 children. He used to also tell me that he loved to listen to the Grand Ole Opry on the radio as a kid. So, I see both Johnny Cash and my dad when watching this, including when both left their small town roots and joined the Air Force. Lots of similarities! Sadly, both of them have been gone for several years now.

I think you will enjoy this very much as a country music fan, Johnny Cash fan, or just a fan of documentaries. You can watch it for free starting on Monday, November 11th at 11AM Central / 12PM Eastern on YouTube. It was created with the full cooperation of the Cash estate and it is filled with recently discovered archival materials giving you a real glance into who Johnny Cash was aside from being a country music legend. More so than you got even from the award-winning bio pic several years ago, “Walk The Line”. It is a deeper dive into his life from the people who knew him best.

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 was nominated for a 2019 IDA Documentary Award.

In celebration of the YouTube Originals documentary, The Johnny Cash Trust and The Best Fest, in partnership with YouTube, are also bringing fans the first-ever “Cash Fest,” an unprecedented charity concert for MusiCares in Nashville at the War Memorial Auditorium on November 10th honoring the music of the legendary Johnny Cash. More information on “Cash Fest” and tickets can be found here.

Tune-In to “The Gift: The Journey of Johnny Cash” beginning Monday, November 11 at 11AM CT / 12PM ET and continuously run available for free on YouTube

ABOUT THE DOCUMENTARY:

“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.

“The Gift: The Journey of Johnny Cash” joins a robust slate of music-focused YouTube Originals including recent hits like “How to Be: Mark Ronson,” “Taylor Swift – Lover’s Lounge (Live),” “MALUMA: Lo Que Era, Lo Que Soy, Lo Que Seré,” “Ariana Grande: Dangerous Woman Diaries” and “Demi Lovato: Simply Complicated,” and forthcoming projects including “Coldplay: Everyday Life – Live in Jordan,” which premieres on YouTube on November 22.

# # #

About YouTube Originals:

YouTube Originals are award-winning, creative and engaging scripted and unscripted series and films across music, personalities and learning 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 Originals is a global platform available in over 60 countries worldwide.

Comments { 0 }

Women In Country Music Unite For Groundbreaking Performances At “THE 53RD ANNUAL CMA AWARDS” November 13 On ABC

By on November 9, 2019 in In The Press, Press Releases
“The 53rd Annual CMA Awards” hosted by Carrie Underwood with special guest hosts Reba McEntire and Dolly Parton, airs live Wednesday, Nov. 13 at 8/7c on ABC.

Photo Credit: Mark Seliger/ABC

NASHVILLE— Women in Country Music will unite for a historic, not-to-be-missed opening performance at “The 53rd Annual CMA Awards.” The groundbreaking number led by Carrie Underwood, Reba McEntire and Dolly Parton will also feature Terri Clark, Sara Evans, Crystal Gayle, The Highwomen (comprised of Brandi Carlile, Natalie Hemby, Maren Morris and Amanda Shires), Martina McBride, Jennifer Nettles, Tanya Tucker and Gretchen Wilson, each performing iconic Country songs for a monumental decades-spanning medley never before seen. 

Country Music’s Biggest Night™ will also feature an additional performance from Kelsea Ballerini, joined by fellow breakthrough artists Lindsay Ell, Maddie &Tae, Ashley McBryde, Carly Pearce and Runaway June. Coming together for an epic performance of an iconic CMA Song of the Year and CMA Single of the Year featuring a special appearance by Little Big Town, this will be one of the night’s most talked-about performances.  

“The 53rd Annual CMA Awards,” hosted by Carrie Underwood with special guest hosts Reba McEntire and Dolly Parton, celebrates legendary women in Country Music throughout the broadcast, airing live from Bridgestone Arena in Nashville Wednesday, Nov. 13 at 8/7c on the ABC Television Network.

Previously announced performances include Kelsea Ballerini, Dierks Bentley with Sheryl Crow, Chris Janson and John Osborne, Brooks & Dunn with Brothers Osborne, Garth Brooks with Blake Shelton, Eric Church, Luke Combs, Dan + Shay, Lady Antebellum and Halsey, Miranda Lambert, Reba McEntire, Maren Morris, Kacey Musgraves with Willie Nelson, Old Dominion, Dolly Parton with for KING &COUNTRY and Zach Williams, P!NK and Chris Stapleton, Blake Shelton, Thomas Rhett, Carrie Underwood, and Keith Urban.

Previously announced presenters include Bobby Bones, Blanco Brown, Hannah Brown, Deana Carter, Kristin Chenoweth, Janie Fricke, JimGaffigan, KathyMattea, Martina McBride, Craig Morgan, Jennifer Nettles, Madelaine Petsch, Midland, J.B. Smoove, Pam Tillis, Morgan Wallen, and Trisha Yearwood.

“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. 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.” 

Comments { 0 }

Strange 90s Nashville Adds Members Of Judas Priest, Florida Georgia Line, Sixpence None The Richer + More To Lineup

By on October 31, 2019 in In The Press, Press Releases

Benefitting Nashville-Based Charity The Beat of Life**Tickets On Sale Now at http://bit.ly/S90sNashville**

October 31, 2019 – Nashville, TN – Charity Bomb and AEG Presents have announced numerous adds to their already stacked lineup for Strange 90s Nashville. Members of Florida Georgia Line, Sixpence None The Richer, Judas Priest, Eagles of Death Metal, The All-American Rejects, Lit, Relient K, 3 Doors Down and more will join together to form super groups, performing the anthems of this golden decade in a real-life recreation of the era.

Taking place on November 23rd at Marathon Music Works, Strange 90s Nashville is a night not to be missed. Tickets are on-sale now at http://bit.ly/S90sNashville.  

All proceeds will go to Nashville organization The Beat of Life, a homegrown organization that provides therapeutic songwriting and music programs with the most talented musicians teaching children and inmates how to write and perform music as a preventive and coping mechanism. For more information on The Beat Of Life, please visit: http://www.thebeatoflife.org/.  

The full list of performers includes Sean Fuller (Florida Georgia Line), Jeffrey Steele, Leigh Nash (Sixpence None The Richer), Jennie Vee (Eagles of Death Metal), A. Jay & Jeremy Popoff (Lit), Richie Faulkner (Judas Priest), Dez Dickerson (Prince’s Band The Revolution), Slim Jim Phantom (Stray Cats), Chet Roberts (3 Doors Down), Nick Weeler (The All-American Rejects), Matt Thiessen (Relient K), Sean Nelson (Harvey Danger), Josh Paul (Infectious Grooves), Ira Dean (Trick Poney) and Jam Alker (The Jab).  

Iconic songwriters including Matt Warren, Ryman Wooten, Josh Wooten, Bridgette Tatum, Jess Cayne, Damien Horne, Danny Myrick, Keesy Timmer, Kim McClean Kasl as well as Casey Levasseur, Kurtis John, Alissa Morena, Sarah Jane Nelson and Brian Irwin will round out the night’s performers.   Strange 90s Nashville will be hosted by Jessie McNamara and will feature amazing opportunities for concert-goers to time warp back to the 90s complete with Tony Hawk Pro-Skater 360 Virtual Reality Experiences, a Saved By the Bell pop-up Diner, Vans Skate ramps, iconic 90’s accessories and costume giveaways, live graffiti walls and more.  

For updates on Strange 90s, please visit: Website: https://strange90s.com Twitter: https://twitter.com/strange_enter Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/strangeenter Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/strange_ent   ###  

EVENT DETAILS:Strange 90s Nashville – Presented by Charity Bomb & AEG Presents

DATE:Saturday, November 23rd, 2019

TIME: Doors – 6:30pm, Show – 8:00pm

VENUE: Marathon Music Works | 1402 Clinton St, Nashville, TN 37203

TICKETS: On Sale Now | http://bit.ly/S90sNashville

ABOUT CHARITY BOMB Charity Bomb provides entertainment with a purpose. Our mission is: to identify the challenges of overlooked or under-serviced constituencies, enlist the most effective and honest specialists in that field, and form partnerships to design and execute an immediate, intermediate and long-term plan for resolving a particular issue or challenge.   Charity Bomb earns our donations. This is achieved by creating custom experiential auctions and producing highly conceptualized benefit events involving celebrity talent. Charity Bomb then deploys the funds generated to our thoroughly vetted partnering organization.   Their purpose is to connect the needs of our constituents to their respective resources, while we systematically search to unveil a permanent antidote to a cause.   Charity Bomb is a creative organization, tethered to the virtues of transparency and altruism.

Launched in 2018, Charity Bomb was founded by three, life-long friends who share the virtues of fatherhood, philanthropy, musicianship, music lovers, music industry professionals, small business owners, entrepreneurs, and Fear Factor champions. Our motivation is to help.  

ABOUT STRANGE ENTERTAINMENT Welcome to the Wonderful World of STRANGE Entertainment! The benefit concert arm of Charity Bomb Inc, Strange Entertainment is a live music production company that specializes in creating unique, fundraiser events for various mental health organizations. Every performance features a rotating cast of marquis rock stars and entertainers forming supergroups to perform short sets of covers that are inline with the event’s theme. *see Strange 80s, Strange 90s, Strange 90s Nashville. Since the debut of Strange 80s in 2017, Strange Ent. has raised over $200,000 for our partnering organizations.

Musicians: 5 Seconds of Summer, Eagles of Death Metal, Alice in Chains, Deap Vally, Anberlin, Enter Shikari, Anthrax, Fall Out Boy, Ataris, Falling in Reverse, Black Veil Brides, Filter, Bowling for Soup, Bush, No Doubt, Flaming Lips, Go Gos, Goldfinger Good Cop Bad Cop, Katy Perry, Korn, The Interruptors, Bones UK, Chvrches, Weezer, Janes Addiction, The Offspring, Judas Priest, Papa Roach, Linkin Park, The Regrettes, Gavin Rossdale, Bush, Stephan Perkins, Jane’s Addiction, Marilyn Manson, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Metallica, Otto, Nsync, Ok Go!, Smashing Pumpkins, Pearl Aday, Slayer, Slipknot, Steel Panther, Stray Cats, Stone Sour, Sugarcult, Sum41, Taking Back Sunday, Tenacious D, Velvet Revolver, Wallows, Weird Al Yankovic, When in Rome, The Word Alive.

Actors: Sarah Silverman, Finn Wolfhard, Braedon Lemasters, Dylan Minnette, Chelsea Talmadge, David Hasselhoff, Thomas Payne, Jack Black.  

About The Beat of Life The Beat of Life’s mission is to create songwriting programs for Nashville’s most vulnerable, challenged, and overlooked populations -harnessing the power of music to speak to the most critical social issues in the world today. Essentially, it is a merging of the music industry/community and the human/social service sector. Our three signature programs include “Redemption Songs” – our prison music program for the incarcerated, “Beautiful Minds” – our mental health songwriting program for those in residential treatment or hospitals battling depression, mental illness, and suicide, and “Sing It To Stop It” – our youth-based programming designed to address the most harmful themes our children and teens are facing today: school violence, bullying/exclusion, anger, hate/prejudice, addiction, eating disorders, and their own forms of mental illness, depression, anxiety, self-harm, and suicide.

Comments { 0 }

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

By on October 25, 2019 in In The Press, Press Releases
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)
Comments { 0 }

Don’t Miss This Spooky Halloween Pop-Up Bar At The Hidden Bar Inside Noelle

By on October 24, 2019 in Music, The Latest

A special Halloween-themed pop-up bar called HALLOWED HAUNTS at Hidden Bar inside Noelle in Nashville promises to give you frights, mysterious potions, and bubbling brews to enjoy for 3 days only. You don’t want to miss this!

WHERE: Hidden Bar inside of Noelle (200 4th Avenue North)

WHEN: Thursday, Oct. 31 thru Saturday, Nov. 2 from 7 p.m. – 1 a.m.

Comments { 0 }

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

By on October 23, 2019 in In The Press, Press Releases
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 two–time Academy of Country Music and a two–time Country Music Association Entertainer of the Year, a five-time host of the ACM Awards, a two–year 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 sold–out 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

Comments { 0 }

Rascal Flatts’ Celebrity Golf Classic Raises Funds For Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital

By on October 15, 2019 in In The Press, Press Releases
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.

Comments { 0 }

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
Comments { 0 }

The Hottest Hotel Openings of 2020

By on October 11, 2019 in Press Releases

As 2019 comes to a close and we look forward to the year ahead, jetsetters have plenty to be excited about when it comes to new hotels. Many of these properties, all by world-renowned design firm HKS, are destinations themselves: some may introduce you to a new neighborhood in one of your favorite cities, while others will bring you to far-flung locales waiting to be explored.

Here are 7 of the most anticipated hotel openings of next year:

— The Otis Hotel

Austin, Texas

2019 brings the unveiling the brand new, HKS-designed, Autograph Collection and AC: dual-branded luxury and lifestyle hotels that capture the spirit of Austin. As a member of Marriott’s Autograph Collection, the new hotel will encourage guests to roam from the beaten path for an experience that is boldly independent and wholly luxurious. Highlights include a 4,000 square-foot rooftop deck — complete with outdoor pool, bar and terrace — that will deliver spectacular views of the University of Texas campus. AC will also add to the University of Texas area by providing a premium hotel experience that the community craves. It will serve business and leisure travelers alike with a lobby-level bar and lounge, multi-function space with light dining and coffee.

The hotel will provide a combined 347 rooms, 6,500 square feet of meeting space, and a full-service restaurant with outdoor seating and casual walk-up options.

Opening February 2020. 

St. Louis Live! By Loews

St. Louis, Missouri

“OH! What a lovely shade of Cardinal” red thread that runs through the new Live! by Loews Hotel in the midst of Cardinal Nation, St Louis, Missouri. Like the red that runs through the veins of “the best fans in baseball”, the Hotel will have a deep line of Cardinal running throughout as the narrative that underlines the history of the place as well as the spirit of the people. We cannot underestimate the impact of a team that has injected the lives of fans almost every decade for 125 years with world series wins, firmly establishing the Cardinal’s Nation in the heart of Midwest and Southern United States.

The hotel by HKS takes inspiration from the “Gateway City” to the West, where Bootleggers, Speakeasy’s and Beer Gardens fed the culture of a gritty gang of ballplayers. These stories inform the vision for a unique location for loyal lifelong members as well as new initiates to the red bird nation. “Traces of the past” form a foundation of the new Live! by Loews as the hotel sits literally atop the foundation of the old ballpark.

Opening February 2020.

Austin Marriott Downtown

Austin, Texas

Serving the Local Community and Guests Alike, the Marriott is uniquely situated between Lady Bird Johnson Lake and downtown Austin, promoting an authentic and varied body of experiences for guests. This expression of diversity and eclecticism is represented in both the hotel experience and in the architectural language, which balances its urbanity with its connection to nature. Designed to be a shared experience for Austin’s diverse population, the hotel promotes a place where the public can come together to celebrate and immerse in the exceptional urban landscape of the city. As a natural connection between the city’s convention center and downtown, the Marriott is designed to promote and engage the public realm. The hotel is designed by HKS.

Opening Summer 2020.

Fairmont TaghazoutMorocco

Agadir, Morocco 

Situated on a swathe of pristine beachfront along the Atlantic coast, the Fairmont Taghazout Morocco will be part of the 1,500-acre master planned seaside resort, 16km north of Agadir. Demonstrating a contemporary architectural expression new to this region of Morocco, the HKS-designed resort is opening Spring 2019. Its design tells a story about the transient nature of the site, from the time-honored farming and weaving communities of the Imazighen, also known as Berbers, who were the first known inhabitants of northwest Africa, to the modern-day ‘Agadirens’ seeking leisure and relaxation. The semi-nomadic Imazighen, which translates as ‘free people’, would seek shelter and water amongst the rugged natural surrounds according to the change in seasons, whereas today, holiday makers desire the solitude and thrill of surfing the waves year-round. The property will feature 150 spacious guest-rooms and suites with sea-facing views in addition to 52 Fairmont-branded luxury waterfront villas. 

Opening Summer 2020. 

Grand Hyatt Nashville

Nashville, Tennessee

A Premier Downtown Hotel, Inspired by Music City’s History, the Grand Hyatt Nashville Hotel serves as an elegant gateway to downtown Music City, welcoming visitors from the main interstate highway. Located on the corner of 10th Avenue and Broadway, the property is the second-largest conference hotel in the city. So that it fits seamlessly among the existing historical references, such as Union Station and the Frist Art Museum, the HKS team implemented an architectural design that is elegant and timeless – using stone based and glass light materials. The interactive design of both public areas and event spaces sets it apart from other downtown hotels. The Grand Hyatt is the first parcel of Nashville Yards, a multi-phase, 15-acre mixed-use development aimed at pumping new life into an underutilized downtown area.

Opening Fall 2020.

Moxy Austin

Austin, Texas

Moxy Austin is a 158-Key, limited service hotel in Austin, Texas on the western edge of the University of Texas campus. Sited prominently on an abandon corner lot along Guadalupe Street, referred to as “The Drag” by locals, the project is an important part of the area’s revitalization. The massing takes its cues from the external arrival sequence – both vehicular and pedestrian – and echoes the efficient internal programming. Materials are selected based on the local Hill Country vernacular with a base of masonry and reclaimed wood at the ground floor dress the public zones, while metal panels of weathering steel wrap the guest room levels above. The masonry and wood provide a tactile experience down low, resist the abrasion and abuse expected with heavy traffic, and are representative of the community uses at the ground level. The metal panels above provide a natural, ever-evolving quality. The weathering steel changes over time, symbolic of the travelers who come and go at the hotel, evolving in how they experience the building from start of stay until the end. The hotel is designed by HKS.

Opening Fall 2020.

W Nashville

Nashville, Tennessee

A New Stage for People to Play, the W Nashville takes center stage at the heart of the city’s historic Gulch District, a revitalized, upscale live-work-play neighborhood. Through iconic design, the hotel serves visitors and locals alike as a place to connect and socialize in a casual yet upscale environment, with a modern twist of Southern hospitality. The project optimizes social connectivity and interaction, not only at the street level, but at an elevated amenity level, inspired by Nashville’s love for the outdoors. The new hotel designed by HKS offers the city a unique destination where guests and locals can explore and experience Nashville’s social and music scene in a new and unexpected ways.

Opening December 2020.

Comments { 0 }
Verified by MonsterInsights