Kenny Chesney, Kelsea Ballerini, Tim McGraw & More to Perform During CMT’s “Feed the Front Line Live” Benefit Concert

Kenny Chesney, Kelsea Ballerini, Tim McGraw & More to Perform During CMT’s “Feed the Front Line Live” Benefit Concert

Posted on May 14, 2020

More than 40 country stars, musicians and celebrities will join forces for CMT’s Feed the Front Line Live benefit concert on May 20.

Feed the Front Line is dedicated to supporting local economies by purchasing meals from struggling restaurants and then donating the meals to frontline workers and other people in need during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The daylong live-stream event will air across CMT’s Facebook and YouTube, with three separate “mealtime” streams: breakfast (9 a.m. CT), lunch (1 p.m. CT) and dinner (7 p.m. CT).

Feed The Front Line Live will feature special at-home performances from Avril Lavigne, Billy Ray Cyrus, Blanco Brown, Brad Paisley, Brett Young, Caitlyn Smith, Carly Pearce, Cassadee Pope, Caylee Hammack, Charlie Worsham, Chase Rice, Dustin Lynch, Faith Hill, Grace Potter, Hailey Whitters, Jimmie Allen, Jon Pardi, Jordan Davis, Kelsea Ballerini, Kenny Chesney, Kip Moore, Kylie Morgan, Lori McKenna, Rita Wilson, Russell Dickerson, Sam Williams, Scotty McCreery, Sheryl Crow, Tenille Townes, Tim McGraw, Tucker Beathard and more.

Before, during and after each stream, fans will have the opportunity to make donations directly to Feed the Front Line.

Feed The Front Line LIVE Lineup

  • Adam Melchor
  • Avril Lavigne
  • Billy Ray Cyrus
  • Blanco Brown
  • Brad Paisley
  • Brett Young
  • Caitlyn Smith
  • Carly Pearce
  • Cassadee Pope
  • Caylee Hammack
  • Charlie Worsham
  • Chase Rice
  • Dustin Lynch
  • Faith Hill
  • Grace Potter
  • Hailey Whitters
  • Jimmie Allen
  • Jon Pardi
  • Jordan Davis
  • Kelsea Ballerini
  • Kenny Chesney
  • Kip Moore
  • Kylie Morgan
  • Lori McKenna
  • Matt Quinn
  • Peyton Manning (cameo)
  • Rita Wilson
  • Russell Dickerson
  • Ryan Tannehill (cameo)
  • Sam Williams
  • Scotty McCreery
  • Sheryl Crow
  • Shy Carter
  • Sloan Woolly
  • Solomon Thomas (cameo)
  • The Warren Brothers & Lance Miller
  • Tenille Townes
  • Tim McGraw
  • Tucker Beathard

photos: Kenny Chesney by E.M., AFF-USA.com; Kelsea Ballerini by Tammie Arroyo, AFF-USA.com

Lipcius Named to CoSIDA Academic All-District 3 First Team

Lipcius Named to CoSIDA Academic All-District 3 First Team

Posted on May 14, 2020
Vols 1B Luc Lipcius / Credit: UT Athletics

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – Tennessee redshirt junior first baseman Luc Lipcius was named to the Academic All-District 3 first team, as announced by CoSIDA on Thursday.

The Academic All-District teams are divided into geographic regions and recognize the nation’s top student-athletes for their combined performances on the field and in the classroom. All first-team all-district selections are eligible to receive Academic All-America honors as well, which will be announced in June.

The complete listing of Academic All-District teams can be found by clicking HERE.

Thursday’s honor marks the first time that Lipcius has been named to the Academic All-District team. He  joins Evan Russell (2019) as current UT players who have earned all-district honors in their careers. Tennessee has now had at least one player named to the Academic All-District team in each of the past five seasons.

If Lipcius is able to attain Academic All-America status, he would be the third Vols’ baseball player in as many years to do so, joining Russell (2019) and Nico Mascia (2018).

During his career on Rocky Top, Lipcius has been a model student-athlete, excelling on the field as well as in the classroom and the community. The Williamsburg, Virginia native boasts a 3.33 GPA while majoring in Aerospace Engineering and is also one of UT’s most active players in the community, totaling 76 community service hours throughout his career.

Lipcius represented Tennessee baseball in the VOLeaders Academy Class of 2018-19. The select group of student-athletes from all of UT’s athletic programs capped off their year-long program with a service trip to Rwanda last summer, providing applied leadership and service opportunities focused on community development and social change through sport.

Lipcius was one of the Vols’ most productive players during their shortened 2020 season, leading the team with 16 walks and a .525 on-base percentage while batting .326 with 13 runs scored and two homers. He also ranked second on the team with seven doubles and 15 runs batted in.

-UT Athletics

George Strait

George Strait

Posted on May 14, 2020

George Strait has announced rescheduled dates for two upcoming concerts.

George’s “Strait to South Bend” concert at Notre Dame Stadium in South Bend, Ind., which was originally scheduled on Aug. 15, 2020, will now take place on Aug. 7, 2021, with special guests Chris Stapleton and Brothers Osborne.

George’s concert at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minn., which was originally schedule on Aug. 22, 2020, will now take place on July 31, 2021, with special guests Chris Stapleton and Little Big Town.

Original tickets will be honored for the new dates. Fans unable to attend the rescheduled shows are eligible for a refund at the original point of purchase within the next 30 days.

photo by Kirkland, AFF-USA.com

Carly Pearce Releases New Video for “It Won’t Always Be Like This” [Watch]

Carly Pearce Releases New Video for “It Won’t Always Be Like This” [Watch]

Posted on May 14, 2020

Carly Pearce released a new video for “It Won’t Always Be Like This.” The new clip features Carly and her bandmates individually recording the tune for what she dubs “The Social Distance Sessions.”

Penned by Carly, Sam Ellis and Natalie Hemby, “It Won’t Always Be Like This” is featured on Carly’s self-titled sophomore album, which dropped in February.

“When I wrote this song, I knew that it was going to be a special one, but little did I know all of the ways it was to unveil its meaning even deeper,” says Carly. “A beautiful thing for me is seeing how we all can relate in some way right now. My band and I created a special video to hopefully give people peace and comfort through this very uncertain time. I hope everyone holds onto their faith and their loved ones a little tighter. Remember, it won’t always be like this.”

Watch Carly’s new video below.

Ingrid Andress, Lindsay Ell, Ashley McBryde, Carly Pearce & Gabby Barrett to Guest Host “Nights With Elaina”

Ingrid Andress, Lindsay Ell, Ashley McBryde, Carly Pearce & Gabby Barrett to Guest Host “Nights With Elaina”

Posted on May 14, 2020

Westwood One Nashville’s nationally syndicated radio show, Nights With Elaina, will feature a very special group of guest hosts on May 18–22.

Carly Pearce (May 18), Gabby Barrett (May 19), Lindsay Ell (May 20), Ingrid Andress (May 21) and Ashley McBryde (May 22) will each guest host one evening from their homes, providing listeners with an update on everything going on in their lives during the quarantine.

“Spending time away from listeners is always difficult, especially in these times,” says host Elaina Smith. “But I am so thrilled that these strong, powerful, talented women will be keeping everyone company while I’m gone. I know they are gonna crush it and continue spreading positivity all throughout the country. Lord knows we need it.”

Nights With Elaina airs from 7 p.m. to midnight, local time, featuring artist interviews, listener calls and 14-15 songs per hour.

On May 13, the Alliance for Women in Media Foundation named Elaina as the recipient of the Gracie Award for Nationally Syndicated Radio Host/Personality.

photos by Tammie Arroyo, AFF-USA.com

Miranda Lambert Drops Acoustic Video of “Bluebird” [Watch]

Miranda Lambert Drops Acoustic Video of “Bluebird” [Watch]

Posted on May 14, 2020

Miranda Lambert released an acoustic video of her single, “Bluebird,” on May 13. Miranda dedicated the vertical clip, which was filmed on the porch of her Tennessee home, to essential workers, first responders and healthcare professionals.

“I want to send this one out to the essential workers, the first responders and the healthcare professionals who are keeping us safe and fed,” says Miranda. “We’re thinking about y’all, and we’re praying for you, and we’re all in this together. And don’t forget to keep a bluebird in your heart.”

“Bluebird, which Miranda co-wrote with Luke Dick and Natalie Hemby, is featured on her seventh studio, Wildcard, which was released in November 2019. The single is currently No. 15 on the Billboard Country Airplay chart after 21 weeks.

Watch Miranda’s new vertical video below.

photo by Curtis Hilbun, AFF-USA.com

Watch Tim McGraw’s TV Debut of “I Called Mama” on “Ellen”

Watch Tim McGraw’s TV Debut of “I Called Mama” on “Ellen”

Posted on May 13, 2020

Tim McGraw performed his new single, “I Called Mama,” on The Ellen Show on May 13. Tim’s at-home performance marked his TV debut of the new single, which was released on May 8.

Penned by Lance Miller, Marv Green and Jimmy Yeary, “I Called Mama” is about the special connection mothers share with their children, especially when times are tough.

In addition to performing his new single, Tim shared his appreciation for essential workers during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“It’s crazy to see the dedication the front-line workers have,” said Tim. “It certainly gives you a different perspective on people’s lives.”

Watch Tim’s performance on Ellen below.

 

photo by Tammie Arroyo, AFF-USA.com

After Serious Single, Justin Moore Lightens It Up With Another Top 20 Hit as He Reminds Us to Have “Fun”

After Serious Single, Justin Moore Lightens It Up With Another Top 20 Hit as He Reminds Us to Have “Fun”

Posted on May 13, 2020

In September 2019, Justin Moore scored his eighth career No. 1 single with “The Ones That Didn’t Make It Back Home.” Co-penned by Justin, Jeremy Stover, Paul Digiovanni and Chase McGill, the heavy tune—with a military/first responder theme—was the lead single from Justin’s fifth studio album, Late Nights & Longnecks, which dropped in July 2019.

Justin followed up the serious song by releasing the lighthearted single, “Why We Drink.” Penned by Justin, Casey Beathard, David Lee Murphy and Jeremy Stover, “Why We Drink” is currently No. 17 on the Billboard Country Airplay chart after 32 weeks. The tune marks Justin’s 13th Top 20 single as a solo artist.

As Justin told Kix Brooks of American Country Countdown, it feels good to switch gears to a “fun” song after a year of promoting a single with such an important message.

“Gotta lighten it up a little after a heavy year of ‘The Ones That Didn’t Make It Back Home,’” says Justin. “Man, ‘Why We Drink’ is fun. I think the fans are gonna enjoy it. It’s another drinking song, but I think there’s a different take on it than what’s been out there in the past. I’ve done so many interviews over the course of the last four or five months based on the album coming out and they’re going, ‘Man, there’s a lot of drinking songs on there,’ and I said, ‘I told y’all I wanted to make a traditional country album!’ Drinking always works, you know? For whatever reason, it’s a good tool to use.”

Directed by Cody Villalobos, the video for “Why We Drink” was filmed at Justin’s home in Poyen, Ark., and features many of his family and friends, including his mom.

Watch Justin’s new video below.

photo by Tammie Arroyo, AFF-USA.com

Leach and Mascia Selected as Nominees for 2020 McWhorter Award

Leach and Mascia Selected as Nominees for 2020 McWhorter Award

Posted on May 13, 2020
Aubrey Leach & Nico Mascia / Credit: UT Athletics

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Former Tennessee student-athletes Aubrey Leach (softball) and Nico Mascia (baseball) have been nominated for the 2020 H. Boyd McWhorter Scholar-Athlete Post-Graduate Scholarship.

The H. Boyd McWhorter Scholar-Athlete Post-Graduate Scholarship has been presented by the Southeastern Conference since 1986 to the league’s top male and female scholar-athletes.

The SEC will name the 2020 recipients of the H. Boyd McWhorter Scholar-Athlete Post-Graduate Scholarship on May 26.

Highlights of Tennessee’s nominees are as follows:

AUBREY LEACH, Softball
Major: Political Science

  • Two-time All-SEC honoree (2018 & 2019)
  • Three-time NFCA All-Region honoree (2017-19)
  • SEC Spring Academic Honor Roll every year (2016-19)
  • Two-time NFCA All-American (2018 & 2019)
  • 2019 Softball America All-American
  • Set Tennessee single season record for runs scored with 80 in 2018
  • 2018 USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year Top 25 Finalist
  • Ranked No. 5 in Softball America’s 2019 Top 100 Ranking
  • 2019 Senior CLASS Award All-American Second Team
  • 2016 SEC All-Freshman Team
  • Two-time Easton/NFCA Scholar-Athlete (2016 & 2017)
  • Member of the VOLeaders Academy Class of 2016-17
  • Participated in numerous community service events:
    • Rhett Syndrome Awareness Pre-Game Clinic (2018)
    • Stronger TogetHER women’s basketball clinic for children in Knoxville (2018)
    • Autism Awareness Softball Tournament (2015)
    • Light the Night Walk for Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (2015, 2016)
    • Take Back the Night walk for victims and survivors of sexual assault and domestic violence (2015, 2018)
    • Goals for Girls, instructed an after-school program (2016)

NICO MASCIA, Baseball
Major: Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering

  • Nominated for the Chancellor’s Award for Outstanding Scholar Athlete in 2019
  • 2018 SEC Co-Scholar Athlete of the Year
  • 2018 Google Cloud Academic All-America Second Team, selected by CoSIDA (First UT baseball player since 2005 to earn Academic All-America honors)
  • 2018 Google Cloud Academic All-District 3 First Team, selected by CoSIDA
  • Dean’s List every year (2015-19)
  • SEC Spring Academic Honor Roll every year (2015-19)
  • Had highest GPA among male student-athletes at Tennessee during 2015-16 and 2017-18 academic years
  • Was a member of the 2019 UT baseball team that ended a 14-year NCAA Tournament drought
  • Led the Vols with a .487 slugging percentage and .439 on-base percentage and also finished the year third on the team with a .278 batting average and five home runs in 2018
  • Tied the Tennessee single-game record for runs scored in 2018 with seven against Western Carolina on March 27
  • In 2019, started a job as a full-time employee in the University of Tennessee Medical Center in the orthopedic trauma unit as a medical assistant
  • Throughout his baseball career, consistently led community service events such as visiting the East Tennessee Children’s Hospital and leading teaching sessions for under privileged children in local schools (2015-2019)
  • Worked in musculoskeletal research to help determine best possible artificial joint replacement for an individual (2015-2018)

Each year the SEC provides the league’s male and female McWhorter Scholar-Athlete Scholarship recipients with a $20,000 post-graduate scholarship. The 26 remaining male and female finalists for the award will also receive a $10,000 post-graduate scholarship. The award recipients are chosen by a committee of Faculty Athletics Representatives from the 14 SEC institutions and are honored at the SEC Spring Meetings in Sandestin, Florida in late May.

Zhipeng (Colin) Zeng of the swimming and diving team and Erica Treiber of the volleyball team were Tennessee’s nominees for the award in 2019. Last year’s McWhorter Award recipients were Texas A&M track and field member Nathan Hite and Vanderbilt bowler Kristin Quah.

-UT Athletics

Thomas Rhett’s “Beer Can’t Fix” Did NOT Break the Billboard Country Airplay Chart Record for Most Consecutive No. 1 Singles

Thomas Rhett’s “Beer Can’t Fix” Did NOT Break the Billboard Country Airplay Chart Record for Most Consecutive No. 1 Singles

Posted on May 13, 2020

Thomas Rhett’s current single, “Beer Can’t Fix,” featuring Jon Pardi, became his 15th No. 1 on the Billboard Country Airplay chart this week.

“Beer Can’t Fix” is Thomas Rhett’s ninth consecutive No. 1 single, the longest ACTIVE streak on the Airplay chart, ahead of Luke Combs (7) and Old Dominion (6).

However, contrary to reports from multiple media outlets, TR’s outstanding accomplishment is NOT the all-time chart record for consecutive No. 1 singles.

That honor goes to Blake Shelton, who scored 17 consecutive No. 1 singles on the Airplay chart from “Hillbilly Bone” in 2010 to “Came Here to Forget” in 2016.

Billboard created the Airplay chart in 1990.

And if you really want your mind blown . . . Alabama scored 21 consecutive No. 1 singles on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart, starting with “Tennessee River” in 1980 and ending with “You’ve Got the Touch” in 1987.

photo by NCD

Country News

Weather

  • Forecast
  • Currents
  • Planner