On May 15, Brad Paisley and Lady Antebellum treated fans to a two-hour concert via the Bud Light Seltzer Sessions, a weekly live-streamed event during May that features artists with full bands and production. The concerts benefit the American Red Cross and the heroes on the front lines of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Lady Antebellum opened the show with a bevy of tunes from their catalog, including “I Run To You, “What If I Never Get Over You,” “You Look Good,” “American Honey,” “Need You Now,” “Champagne Night” and more.
Brad followed with a set list that included “Crushin’ It,” “Ticks,” “Perfect Storm,” “Water,” “This Is Country Music,” “Mud On the Tires,” “Last Time for Everything,” “American Saturday Night,” “I’m Gonna Miss Her,” “No I in Beer” and more.
“Tonight was amazing—it felt so good being back with the band and playing for our fans,” said Brad. “While I can’t wait to perform on a stage with a live audience again, I hope you all enjoyed the Bud Light Seltzer Sessions show and are staying safe.”
During the season finale of American Idol on May 17, a number of past Idol stars appeared on the show for a special rendition of “We Are the World.”
Idol alum Scotty McCreery, Lauren Alaina, Kellie Pickler, Laine Hardy, Gabby Barrett, Alejandro Aranda, Jordin Sparks, Katharine McPhee, Phillip Phillips and Ruben Studdard appeared in a new video for the iconic tune alongside Idol judges Lionel Richie, Luke Bryan and Katy Perry.
Penned by Lionel Richie and Michael Jackson, “We Are the World” was recorded by an all-star group of artists in 1985 to benefit African famine relief. Vocalists on the Grammy-winning song included Stevie Wonder, Kenny Rogers, Billy Joel, Tina Turner, Ray Charles, Michael Jackson and more.
Watch the Lionel, Luke, Katy and past Idol stars perform “We Are the World” below.
photos: Scotty McCreery by NCD; Gabby Barrett & Lauren Alaina by Tammie Arroyo, AFF-USA.com; Kellie Pickler by Curtis Hilbun, AFF-USA.com
JaTarvious Whitlow (28) scores a touchdown in the second half. Auburn vs Texas A&M on Saturday, Sept. 21, 2019 in College Station, TX. Todd Van Emst/AU Athletics
Jimmy Hyams reported last week, on SportsTalk on 99.1 The Sports Animal here in Knoxville, about one of the options the Southeastern Conference is considering for an abbreviated 2020 college football season.
The league has discussed, just as a potential option, a conference game only season with a twist. The SEC schedule would be 9 games. The 9th game to be added to this season’s schedule would be each team’s crossover matchup scheduled for the 2021 season. That crossover is the rotating opponent for the opposite division.
This is just one of many scenarios the SEC has likely discussed, but it is an interesting once that deserves a deeper dive into.
The crossover matchups in 2020 have the seven SEC East teams playing on the road at the 7 SEC West teams. Here’s how those 2020 crossover matchups are currently scheduled.
Tennessee at Arkansas Florida at Ole Miss Georgia at Alabama Kentucky at Auburn Missouri at Mississippi St. South Carolina at LSU Vanderbilt at Texas A&M
That reverses in 2021 with the West teams playing at the East teams. Here are those matchups that potentially could be added to the 2020 schedule.
Ole Miss at Tennessee Alabama at Florida Arkansas at Georgia Auburn at South Carolina LSU at Kentucky Mississippi St. at Vanderbilt Texas A&M at Missouri
Here are just some of my takeaways in “Vince’s View” from this 9-game SEC scheduling scenario of adding the 2021 crossover opponent to the 2020 football schedule.
An Ole Miss game at Neyland Stadium would mean the return of one-time Vols coach Lane Kiffin. He coached against the Vols as an assistant at Alabama, but this would be his first game back as the head coach of another program since leaving after one season at the helm at UT in 2009. That would spice things up even more. It would be a shame if a full stadium of Vols fans wasn’t there to enjoy that.
Texas A&M would absolutely draw the shortest straw in this 9-game SEC scheduling scenario. With the annual game with Arkansas in Arlington, Texas being a “home game” in 2020 and the additional game also sending the Aggies on the road, that means A&M would only play 3 of 9 total games at home at Kyle Field in College Station.
In addition, if the 9th game is added to where the open week is scheduled or where any of the non-conference games are currently slated to be, it would overload A&M, either way, with all but one of their games away from home being played before their first game in College Station November 7. That is wild. This season’s schedule has the Aggies’ SEC home games at Kyle Field all in the month of November. That extra game, with no non-conference games late in the season, would likely be added before November, unless the extra game was tagged on to the end of the season or the entire season is moved back or rearranged. We’ll see if any maneuvering could be done to help Texas A&M. If not, it’s just part of the imbalance and lack of fairness we’re going to see during this period of the initial return of sports.
It’s certainly possible that home atmospheres won’t be the difference-makers they typically would be if social distancing measures are in place, but that is still brutally difficult. Remember, Texas A&M had to deal with #1 ranked teams Clemson, Alabama and LSU last season.
Arkansas enters this season on a 19-game SEC losing streak. Arkansas already has to deal with the gauntlet of the SEC West plus UT at home and at Missouri. Then, they would add a trip to SEC favorite and college football playoff contender Georgia on top of that.
Florida adding Alabama is tough on its own, but the Gators already have to deal with LSU as well, as its permanent crossover.
Alabama adding Florida on the road would mean no complaints about an easy schedule for the Crimson Tide this season. In addition to the West foes, Bama would have to play the expected three best teams in the East as well, Georgia, Florida and Tennessee.
South Carolina would play Auburn in addition to already having to play at Florida, at LSU, home to Georgia and Tennessee.
Fan bases will be in full throat and full posting-mode on social media to vent about how unfair things are against their team (insert conspiracy theories here.) If we get college football back, in any way this season, that should void all outrage. Just be thankful that our beloved sport is back, please.
In what shape will opponents be in when they play the Tennessee Volunteers in football in the 2020 season?
I understand the possibility, and even likelihood, that there will be changes to the 2020 college football season, but it’s still worth looking ahead to see how the schedule could unfold.
Does the opponent have a tough physical game just before facing the Vols? Is the UT game at the end of a long stretch without an open week? Could UT’s opponent have a rival awaiting for them to look ahead to? Is the opponent coming off of a coveted open week (teams are scheduled for just one this season) when they play the Vols?
Those answers for the 2020 season are below in the UT football schedule listed. I’ve listed what each team has the week before and the week after playing Tennessee. I’ve also included team and series informations along with my summary of each game.
Sept. 5 | vs. Charlotte | Knoxville
2019: 7-6 (5-3 CUSA)
Lost to Buffalo 31-9 in Makers Wanted Bahamas Bowl
All-Time Series Record: Tennessee leads 1-0
Last Meeting: 2018 in Knoxville (Tennessee 14 Charlotte 3)
Week Before: None – Start of Season Week After: vs. Norfolk St.
Vince’s View: There’s no factor with this being the opener. UT typically takes care of home non-conference opponents. Let’s just hope this game is played, because it would be an indicator that the rest of the season is largely in-tact.
Sept. 12 | at Oklahoma | Norman, OK
2019: 12-2 (8-0 Big 12 & Conf. Champ)
Lost to LSU 63-28 in the College Football Playoff Semifinal at the Peach Bowl
All-Time Series Record: Oklahoma leads 3-1
Last Meeting: 2015 in Knoxville (Oklahoma 31 Tennessee 24 in 2 OT)
Week Before: vs. Missouri St. Week After: at Army
Vince’s View: No schedule factor for Oklahoma or Tennessee. Both teams have light openers before this Week 2 matchup. Redshirt freshman Spencer Rattler, a former 5-star recruit, is expected to be this year’s star QB for OU. Despite some questions on defense, this should still be an elite team. This game will be a massive opportunity for Tennessee to alert the college football world that the momentum of the program with recruiting, and a likely 7-game win streak coming in, is legit under Jeremy Pruitt in his third season. At least a competitive game would be useful for UT.
Sept. 19 | Furman | Knoxville
2019: 8-5 (6-2, Southern)
Lost at Austin Peay in 1st Rd of FCS Playoffs
All-Time Series Record: Tennessee leads 2-0
Last Meeting: 1942 in Knoxville (Tennessee 52 Furman 7)
Week Before: at Charleston Southern Week After: vs. Western Carolina
Vince’s View: Tennessee will have the tougher lead-in with the Oklahoma game to recover from, but with it being an FCS opponent the schedule should not be a factor.
Sept. 26 | Florida | Knoxville
2019: 11-2 (6-2 SEC)
Defeated Virginia 36-28 in Capital One Orange Bowl
All-Time Series Record: Florida leads 29-20
Last Meeting: 2019 in Gainesville (Florida 34 Tennessee 3)
Week Before: vs. South Alabama Week After: vs. South Carolina
Vince’s View: Neither team has a challenge before this battle of rivals, so the schedule shouldn’t be an advantage or an excuse for either side. This is a little more likely of a marquee win opportunity than the Oklahoma game for Jeremy Pruitt and Tennessee. Getting the Gators at home will raise the confidence level of the fan base that the Vols will win this game. UT has closed the gap on the Gators and Bulldogs, largely because of where the Vols came from when Pruitt took over. If the expected (by some) progress on the field has been made by UT, then this is a must-have game with tiebreaker implications. Florida should once again be stout on defense, The Gators look to have one of the better QBs in the league as well in Kyle Trask.
Oct. 3 | Missouri | Knoxville
2019: 6-6 (3-5 SEC)
No postseason
All-Time Series Record: Missouri leads 5-3
Last Meeting: 2019 in Columbia, MO (Tennessee 24 Missouri 20)
Week Before: vs. Eastern Michigan Week After: at BYU
Vince’s View: UT has the tougher opponent to bounce back from entering this game than Missouri. This will be the first time these two have met this early in the season, before November. Eli Drinkwitz takes over the Tigers program that was average a season ago. Missouri was last in the SEC in sacks last season. Unless former TCU transfer Shawn Robinson or junior Taylor Powell develop into above average QBs, Missouri should be similar to last season or slightly worse.
Oct. 10 | at South Carolina | Columbia, SC
2019: 4-8 (3-5 SEC)
No postseason
All-Time Series Record: Tennessee leads 26-10-2
Last Meeting: 2019 in Knoxville (Tennessee 41 South Carolina 21)
Week Before: at Florida Week After: Open
Vince’s View: The schedule around this game could favor Tennessee. This will be the 6th straight game for South Carolina before their open week that follows. SC will come in with two straight games on the road. Will the Gamecocks be limping to that open week? This game has also been moved-up on the schedule, as it’s the earliest the two teams have played since 2003. Will Muschamp’s seat has warmed-up after an underachieving season in 2019. He made a ton of staff changes, so that adds to the unknown of what the Gamecocks will look like. QB Ryan Hilinski needs to take the next step. South Carolina finally landed a big-time RB in recruiting in MarShawn Lloyd, a 5-star signee. He’s the elite back the Gamecocks have been looking for since Marcus Lattimore.
Oct. 17 – Open Week
Oct. 24 | Alabama | Knoxville
2019: 11-2 (6-2 SEC)
Defeated Michigan 35-16 in Vrbo Citrus Bowl
All-Time Series Record: Alabama leads 57-38-7
Last Meeting: 2019 in Tuscaloosa (Alabama 35 Tennessee 13)
Week Before: vs. Mississippi St. Week After: Open
Vince’s View: The schedule around this game favors Tennessee. Alabama faces the most opponents in the SEC with open weeks before their meeting, 3, and UT is one of them. Alabama’s open week is the next week, which means this will be the 8th straight week with games for the Crimson Tide. Then again, this isn’t the first time the scheduling advantage has been there for UT but it hasn’t changed the results. The losing streak in the series for the Vols goes back to 2006, totaling 13 games. Will Pruitt be the first former assistant to defeat Nick Saban? Kirby Smart and Lane Kiffin get their shots before Pruitt’s turn on the schedule.
Oct. 31 | at Arkansas | Fayetteville, AR
2019: 2-10 (0-8 SEC)
No postseason
All-Time Series Record: Tennessee leads 13-5
Last Meeting: 2015 in Knoxville (Arkansas 24 Tennessee 20)
Week Before: Open Week After: at Auburn
Vince’s View: The schedule coming in clearly favors the Razorbacks. Arkansas will be coming off the open week. UT will have the typical challenge of bouncing back after playing Alabama, which is never easy for anyone. However, the Vols beat the Gamecocks the week after playing Alabama in 2019, so it can be done. If Arkansas is as bad again this year as it has been, the schedule won’t matter. How down has the Razorbacks program been? Arkansas enters the 2020 season on a 19-game SEC losing streak. Arkansas’ schedule is at MSU, vs. TAM in Arlington, vs. Bama and vs. LSU before UT comes to town. The Razorbacks could very well be on a 23-game conference losing streak when this game happens. The last SEC home win for Arkansas was November 5, 2016 vs. Florida. This will be UT’s first game at Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium in Fayetteville since 2011. Former Vols assistant Sam Pittman has his hands full, in his first season, with the Arkansas rebuilding project.
Nov. 7 | Kentucky | Knoxville
2019: 8-5 (3-5 SEC)
Defeated Virginia Tech 37-30 in the Belk Bowl
All-Time Series Record: Tennessee leads 81-25-9
Last Meeting: 2019 in Lexington (Tennessee 17 Kentucky 13)
Week Before: Open Week After: vs. Mississippi St.
Vince’s View: Kentucky will be rested coming off it’s open week while UT be coming off the road game at Arkansas. UT has defeated UK 17 consecutive times in Knoxville dating back to 1984. Mark Stoops will have another competitive team that no one believes in. SEC Network analyst Cole Cubelic told Jimmy Hyams and me on 99.1 The Sports Animal that he thinks UK and UT will be right there competing for the second-best offensive line in the SEC behind Alabama, with a chance to get to number one. The questions for Kentucky are how to the replace their quarterback, leading rusher and leading receiver…Lynn Bowden Jr and who will be their QB this season? Will Auburn transfer Joey Gatewood be granted immediate eligibility and win the job? Will Terry Wilson be healthy, win the quarterback job and, if so, be effective?
Nov. 14 | at Georgia | Athens, GA
2019: 12-2 (7-1 SEC, won East Division)
Defeated Baylor 26-14 in Allstate Sugar Bowl
All-Time Series Record: Georgia leads series 24-23-2
Last Meeting: 2019 in Knoxville (Georgia 43 Tennessee 14)
Week Before: at South Carolina Week After: at Kentucky
Vince’s View: The lead-up schedule is pretty much a wash. The most interesting scheduling aspect is that these two teams are playing so late in the season. This will be the first time they’ve met in the month of November since 1969 and only the second time they’ve played in November since 1925. Georgia is still loaded with 5-star and high 4-star talent, even if you may not recognize the names yet. Georgia will have one of the best defenses in the league and the country. If this has SEC East implications, with UT still having a shot in the East entering this game, then the season will be going pretty well for the Vols.
Nov. 21 | Troy | Knoxville
2019: 5-7 (3-5 Sun Belt)
No postseason
All-Time Series Record: Tennessee leads 1-0
Last Meeting: 2012 in Knoxville (Tennessee 55 Troy 48)
Week Before: vs. Coastal Carolina Week After: at Appalachian St.
Vince’s View: UT obviously has the tougher lead-in game playing at rival Georgia. Troy has defeated Power 5 schools before and nearly did so when these two teams met in 2012. That was the insane Big 12-ish game where both teams had over 700 yards of offense. Thankfully for Vols fans, UT has a much better defense these days, so an upset here would be surprising.
Nov. 28 | at Vanderbilt | Nashville, TN
2019: 3-9 (1-7 SEC)
No postseason
All-Time Series Record: Tennessee leads 76-32-5
Last Meeting: 2019 in Knoxville (Tennessee 28 Vanderbilt 10)
Week Before: vs. Louisiana Tech Week After: None – End of Season
Vince’s View: The schedule is not a factor in this one. The recent success that Vanderbilt had been enjoying is also likely no longer a factor. Vandy has questions all over the place on both sides of the ball. Depending on the Commodores record entering the game, Derek Mason could be coaching to keep his job.
Keith Urban treated more than 200 doctors, nurses and healthcare workers from Vanderbilt Health to a private, surprise concert at the Stardust Drive-In Movie Theater in Watertown, Tenn., (40 miles east of Nashville) on May 14.
More than 100 automobiles filled the theater for the show, which lasted more than an hour. The concert was a show of appreciation for healthcare workers on the front lines of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“It was a load of fun,” said Keith on the Today show on May 15. “We also really wanted to take the opportunity to not only do the first one but do it for the healthcare workers because that’s what this is all about right now. They did an amazing job as an audience and I had a great time.”
Collin Raye is set to headline a free concert at Barnes Park in Kaysville, Utah, on May 30 that would openly defy the state’s ban on gatherings of more than 50 people due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The concert is being organized by the Utah Business Revival and supported by Kaysville Mayor Katie Witt (Rep.), who is also running for Congress in Utah’s 1st District.
“Hopefully, this concert will inspire similar events in other states around the country as we try to unify and start pushing back against the effects of this pandemic,” said Collin in a statement. “We will be utilizing the recommended sensible safety precautions, and I’m confident it will be a huge success for small businesses, and hopefully, the country at large.”
While much of the state is moving from “orange” (moderate risk) to “yellow” (low risk) per Governor Gary Herbert’s announcement on May 14, gatherings of more than 50 people are still prohibited.
“Come support our local businesses, listen to country music, and be a pioneer and a patriot with us,” said Mayor Witt in a statement.
The outdoor event will also feature booths allowing nonessential businesses to sell their goods and services.
Lee Brice addresses the current COVID-19 pandemic in a hopeful new song, “Hey World.”
The new tune was penned by Lee, Dallas Davidson and Adam Wood in late March after the guys found themselves inundated with a negative news cycle regarding the pandemic.
“We wrote this song from an introspective, truthful place and probably what most people are actually feeling right now,” says Lee. “With everything that is happening in the world currently and how fast paced we are as a society in general, sometimes you just want everything to stop—just to appreciate what we do have. People are suffering and it can’t be ignored.”
Lee dropped a new video for “Hey World,” which was filmed at his home in Nashville.
Runaway June announced the news via Twitter, saying: “Everyone meet the newest member of Runaway June, Natlie Stovall!! We couldn’t be more excited for the future and we can’t wait to perform again soon. We love you all more than words could ever express and we thank you for the outpouring of kindness, love and support in these wild, crazy times. It has kept us going, kept up positive and motivated to give more, go further, push harder. We are ecstatic to share this new chapter with Natalie and cannot wait for you all to adore her as much as we do. See you all soon as possible and in the meantime please stay home and healthy! We miss and love you!! – Runaway June.”
Fiddle-playing Natalie fronted her own band, Natalie Stovall and the Drive, for more than 10 years. She also appeared on The Voice in 2017 as a member of Team Blake Shelton.
After releasing their second studio album, Port Saint Joe, in 2018, John and TJ Osborne of Brothers Osborne are back with a rockin’ new single, “All Night.”
Penned by John, TJ and Andrew DeRoberts, “All Night” will impact country radio on May 18. The new tune, which was produced by Jay Joyce, looks to be the lead single from the Brothers’ third studio album, although the project’s details have not yet been announced.
Watch the studio performance of “All Night” below.
The Grand Ole Opry will honor U.S. veterans, current military members and essential workers on the frontline of the COVID-19 pandemic with a special Salute the Troops show that features performances by Craig Morgan, Steven Curtis Chapman and Kellie Pickler.
The Opry’s annual pre-Memorial Day Salute the Troops performance will take place on May 23 at 7 p.m. CT. The show will be broadcast live on Circle TV, as well as streamed across Facebook and YouTube.
“The days preceding Memorial Day have for years brought with them our annual Salute The Troops show and unforgettable moments as we honor and say thank you to those who serve our country,” said Dan Rogers, Opry vice president and executive producer. “It’s more important than ever in 2020 that through words and songs we connect fans across the country to recognize the sacrifices of members of the U.S. Military. Additionally, this year’s show will offer the opportunity for fans tuned in around the world to honor the troops of essential workers on the frontline of the battles that have changed our world this year, the war on COVID-19.”
![Lee Brice Releases New Video for Hopeful Song, “Hey World” [Watch]](https://cdn.socast.io/6616/sites/602/2020/05/15122145/Lee-Brice-TA.jpg#aqua_resizer_image_not_local)
![Brothers Osborne Drop Studio Video for Rockin’ New Single, “All Night” [Watch]](https://cdn.socast.io/6616/sites/602/2020/05/15100622/Brothers-Osborne-JS.jpg#aqua_resizer_image_not_local)
