Justin Moore dropped a new video for his spirited single, “Why We Drink.”
Penned by Justin, Casey Beathard, David Lee Murphy and Jeremy Stover, “Why We Drink” is featured on Justin’s 2019 album, Late Nights and Longnecks.
Directed by Cody Villalobos, the new clip 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 NCD
Country stars are trying to do their part to keep us entertained during our self-quarantines (hopefully) due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Here’s a rundown of what to expect as some of our favorite stars perform live and chat via social medial.
March 25 (updated throughout the day)
photos by Tammie Arroyo, AFF-USA.com
The Nashville Songwriters Association International (NSAI) reschedule Nashville’s Tin Pan South Songwriters Festival for Oct. 19–24. Tin Pan South was originally scheduled for March 23–28 in Nashville.
The NSAI noted that “every effort will be made to bring as much of the originally scheduled programming back as possible.” Additional details regarding performers, venues and more will be announced in the coming weeks.
More than 400 artists were scheduled to descend upon Nashville for the 28th annual Tin Pan South Songwriters Festival. During the six-day festival, 10 Nashville venues were to host 100 shows, featuring some of the industry’s best singer/songwriters, including Hayes Carll, Jamey Johnson, Allison Moorer, Mindy Smith and more.
photo by NCD
Rhett Akins and wife Sonya welcomed a baby boy—Brody James Akins—to their family on March 13.
Sonya shared the news via Instagram, saying: “Friday the 13th is a pretty magical day. Our little angel arrived at 7:49 p.m. weighing 7.2lbs and 19 inches. He is perfect in every way!!!! Welcome Brody James Akins.”
Rhett and Sonya married in September 2017. Congrats to the happy family.
Rhett Akins has two children from his first marriage—country star Thomas Rhett, 29, and Kacey Lee, 27.
photo by Arroyo/O\’Connor, AFF-USA.com
By Vince Ferrara / @VinceSports
2020 free agency in the NFL is underway.
Here’s an updated list of players in the National Football League that started at the University of Tennessee but transferred and finished playing elsewhere or are from East Tennessee, but did not play at the University of Tennessee.
For perspective, you’ll see a recap of their 2019 seasons, along with free agents, notes and more.
In a separate blog post on 991TheSportsAnimal.com, you’ll find the current list of 32 VFLs in the NFL that played, and ended their careers, at the University of Tennessee.
Look for updates here on my blog “Vince’s View.” Bookmark my blog page and check back often.
One-Time Vols That Transferred To Other Schools On NFL Rosters (5) as of 3/24/20
TE – Lee Smith TE (85) Buffalo Bills (Powell HS/U. of Tennessee/Marshall)
2019: 17 GP, 5 starts, 5 rec 39 yds 1 TD
QB – Nathan Peterman (3) Las Vegas Raiders (U. of Tennessee/Pitt)
2019: DNP; Spent the season on injured reserve with an elbow injury
WR – Preston Williams (18) Miami Dolphins (U. of Tennessee/Colorado St)
2019: The rookie was impressive in the first half of the season; 8 GP, 7 starts; 32 catches, 428 yds (13.4 yds per) and 3 TD; Missed the 2nd half of the season due to a knee injury
TE – Daniel Helm (43) San Francisco 49ers (U. of Tennessee/Duke)
2019: DNP; Spent season on the practice squad
WR – Jalen Hurd (14) San Francisco 49ers (U. of Tennessee/Baylor)
2019: DNP: Spent the season on injured reserve with a back injury
Knoxville Area Players That Didn’t Play At UT on NFL Rosters (3)
P – Chris Jones (6) Dallas Cowboys (Carson-Newman)
2019: Played in 16 games; 50 punts for 41.6 yds per punt which was the lowest average among regular NFL punters
WR – Randall Cobb (–) Houston Texans (Alcoa HS/Kentucky)
2019: 15 GP, 6 starts with the Cowboys; 55 catches for 828 yds (18.1 yds per) and 3 TD
S – Harrison Smith (22) Minnesota Vikings (Catholic HS/Notre Dame)
2019: 18 GP, all starts; 103 tackles, 6 PD, 4 QBH, 3 sacks, 3 INT, 2 FR, 2 FF; Named to his 5th Pro Bowl
Notes and Numbers for One-Time Vols & Knoxville Area Players (as of 3/24/20)
*There are 5 players that were once at U. of Tennessee but then transferred
*There are 3 players that didn’t attend UT, but have Knoxville/East TN ties
Free Agents To Watch Among One-Time Vols and Local Players
DE – Dewayne Hendrix (U. of Tennessee/Pitt)
Find more of my broadcasting work at VinceSports.net
Garth Brooks has rescheduled two upcoming stops on his 2020 Stadium Tour due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
All previously purchased tickets will be honored.
“Like so many people right now, I just want to get back to what I do,” said Garth. “Knowing these shows are eventually going to happen makes me happy.”
Garth’s upcoming stop in Las Vegas is still scheduled for Aug. 22.
Garth’s Stadium Tour visited 10 cities in 2019: St. Louis, Glendale, Gainesville, Minneapolis (x2), Pittsburgh, Denver, Eugene, Boise (x2), Regina (x2) and Knoxville. Garth performed his first 2020 Stadium Tour show in Detroit on Feb. 22.
photo by NCD
Kelsea Ballerini and Halsey have become a captivating tandem, as of late.
In addition to teaming up for the 70th episode of CMT Crossroads, which will air on March 25 at 9 p.m. CT., the cross-genre stars collaborated on a new song, “The Other Girl,” which is featured on Kelsea’s new self-titled album.
While Kelsea, 26, has scored five No. 1 hits on the country charts since dropping her debut album in 2015, Halsey, 25, has earned a handful on No. 1 songs on the pop charts since releasing her 2015 debut album, including “Him & I,” “Eastside” and more.
As Kelsea told Kix Brooks of American Country Countdown, collaborating with your friend makes “perfect sense.”
“We are [friends],” says Kelsea to Kix. “I’ve always wanted to do a CMT Crossroads—I love collaborating—but I always wanted to do it with someone that I was comfortable with. You’re doing nine songs with that person, so it’s like you really want to be able to connect to their music and just them as a person, and so Halsey and I have been friends for a couple of years now and, it made perfect sense to kick it off with Crossroads.”
Listen to Kelsea’s new song, “The Other Girl,” featuring Halsey, below.
photos by Curtis Hilbun, AFF-USA.com
Keith Urban—and dancing wife Nicole Kidman—returned to Instagram on March 23 to perform another 30-minute live concert dubbed Urban Underground.
Keith treated fans to a number of his tunes, including “Never Comin’ Down,” “You Gonna Fly,” “Somewhere in My Car,” “God Whispered Your Name” and more, as well as a cover of Kenny Rogers’ “The Gambler.”
During the performance, Keith noted that a new video for “God Whispered Your Name” will hit the airwaves “very, very soon.”
Watch Urban Underground here.
photo by Curtis Hilbun, AFF-USA.com
Country stars are trying to do their part to keep us entertained during our self-quarantines (hopefully) due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Here’s a rundown of what to expect as some of our favorite stars perform live and chat via social medial.
March 24 (updated throughout the day)
photo by Tammie Arroyo, AFF-USA.com
Jake Owen scored the eighth No. 1 single of his career as “Homemade” reached the top of both the Billboard Country Airplay chart and Mediabase chart this week.
The wistful single, which was penned by Bobby Pinson, Drew Parker, Jared Mullins and Ben Goldsmith, highlights many of the staples commonly associated with small-town living, including pickup trucks, dirt roads, sweet tea, collard greens and more.
“Wow. Just woke up to a bunch of texts congratulating me on ‘Homemade’ going #1!” said Jake via Twitter. “My 8th #1 single. I am blown away and forever grateful to country radio for giving me the most amazing ride over the last 10 years. I’m just getting started. Thanks to my @BigLoud team and friends.”
“Homemade” is featured on Jake’s 2019 album, Greetings . . . From Jake, and follows the album’s previous Top 10 single, “Down to the Honkytonk,” and No. 1 lead single, “I Was Jack (You Were Diane).”
photo by JPA, AFF-USA.com
