University of Tennessee men’s basketball coach Rick Barnes visited with the media Tuesday afternoon to discuss the impact of the coronavirus and answer questions. Watch that full press conference below.
University of Tennessee director of athletics Phillip Fulmer visited with the media Tuesday afternoon to discuss the impact of the coronavirus and answer questions. Watch that full press conference below.
![Keith Urban Performs 30-Minute Instagram Concert Featuring Dancing Nicole Kidman [Watch]](https://cdn.socast.io/6616/sites/602/2020/03/17123947/Keith-Urban-Nicole-Kidman-TA.jpg#aqua_resizer_image_not_local)
Count Keith Urban among the country artists who are finding creative ways to keep fans entertained during the COVID-19 quarantine.
Keith treated fans to a 30-minute concert via Instagram on March 16, performing a number of songs from his instrument/gear warehouse, including “Somebody Like You,” “Coming Home,” “Blue Ain’t Your Color,” “God Whispered Your Name” and more.
Keith’s in-person audience included wife Nicole Kidman, who did a bit of dancing, along with a camera operator and sound tech.
“We’re coming to you live from our warehouse, actually,” said Keith, in part, during the video. “I was supposed to be playing tonight and I just thought it would be nice to be able to play anyway, even though we can’t be in front of all you guys [in person] tonight, I wanted to be able to play, and just play some songs and bring a little bit of entertainment into your screens right now.”
Watch Keith’s full concert here.
photo by Tammie Arroyo, AFF-USA.com
Former University of Tennessee offensive lineman Ramon Foster (2004-2008) joined his former college teammate Ramon Foster on The Erik Ainge Show (weekdays 9am to Noon) on 99.1 The Sports Animal.
Foster announced his retirement from the NFL on Monday via the Pittsburgh Steelers.
After 11 seasons in the Black & Gold, @RamonFoster has announced his retirement.
MORE: https://t.co/q7h8vsynFH pic.twitter.com/2fO8svW6sZ
— Pittsburgh Steelers (@steelers) March 16, 2020
Some high praise for @RamonFoster from @CoachTomlin: pic.twitter.com/A8Qq3utdGl
— Pittsburgh Steelers (@steelers) March 16, 2020
The VFL talked to Erik and Brian Rice about his decision to retire, playing for just one head coach in Mike Tomlin, the special times he had at UT when he played, Phillip Fulmer stories, using his platform to speak out on numerous subjects and much more.
Listen to the entire interview from Tuesday morning’s show below.
Find all podcasts of The Erik Ainge Show here and the entire 99.1 The Sports Animal station list of podcasts here.
In January 2018, Dierks Bentley opened his fourth Whiskey Row location—the first outside his home state of Arizona—on Nashville’s Lower Broadway. The allure of the location on Lower Broadway, among the bars and honky-tonks where Dierks got his start, compelled the Arizona native to open the venue in Music City.
On March 15, 2020, at 2:45 p.m., Nashville Mayor John Cooper announced the closure of bars throughout Davidson Country—including downtown’s famed Lower Broadway district—in response to the COVID-19 public health emergency.
The three-floor Whiskey Row Nashville features full bars, dining options and plenty of live music, as well as 90 hourly employees, which Dierks is compensating to the tune of $1,000 each.
Dierks made the announcement via Instagram on March 16, stating, in part: “My heart goes out to all the guys/girls down on Lower Broad. Feels like yesterday that it was me down there working for tips. I am going to immediately give each of our 90 hourly employees $1000 to help in the short run as our community and country try to get a handle on the situation.”
Kudos, Dierks. That’s setting a great example!
photo by Curtis Hilbun, AFF-USA.com
Natalie Maines, Emily Robison and Martie Maguire of the Dixie Chicks stopped by The Ellen Show on March 16 to perform their new single, “Gaslighter.”
The trio also chatted with the titular host during a sit-down interview about being the first targets of “cancel culture,” in addition to playing a hypothetical “dating” game, “Who Would Natalie Rather?”
The Dixie Chicks dropped their first single in 13 years with the release of “Gaslighter” on March 4. The new tune, which was co-penned and co-produced by the Dixie Chicks and Jack Antonoff, debuted at No. 36 on the Billboard Country Airplay chart. The tally marked the highest debut on the chart for the Dixie Chicks since their cover of Fleetwood Mac’s “Landslide” in September 2002, which debuted at No. 32. According to Billboard, “Gaslighter” is the first song by the Dixie Chicks to hit the Top 30 since Natalie’s comments about President George W. Bush in 2003.
“Gaslighter” serves as the title track to the Dixie Chicks’ upcoming eighth studio album, which is slated to drop on May 1.
Watch the clips of the Dixie Chicks on Ellen below.
main photo by AFF-USA.com
Sam Hunt is now scheduled to appear in a Nashville court on May 19 at 9 a.m. to face misdemeanor charges of driving under the influence and having an open container.
The new case details were found in a public records search on March 17, which follows Sam’s initially scheduled court date on Jan. 17 and a second scheduled date on March 17.
The Tennessee Supreme Court issued a ruling on March 13 that all courts in the state would remain open, but placing limitations upon in-person court proceedings through the end of the month. The order applies to all state and local courts in Tennessee, including appellate, trial, general sessions, juvenile, and municipal courts.
Sam was arrested in Nashville on Nov. 21. According to the arrest warrant, police were notified that a driver was traveling the wrong way on a Nashville road. Officers located the vehicle going the wrong way and pulled the car over. The driver, identified as Sam Hunt, had bloodshot eyes and smelled of alcohol. A field sobriety test was administered. Sam had a blood alcohol content of .173. The legal limit in Tennessee is below .08.
The day after being charge with driving under the influence, Sam released a statement via Twitter, saying: “Wednesday night I decided to drive myself home after drinking at a friend’s show in downtown Nashville. It was a poor and selfish decision and I apologize to everyone who was unknowingly put at risk and let down by it. It won’t happen again.”
photo by NCD
Kane Brown’s “Homesick” is No. 1 on both the Billboard Country Airplay chart and Mediabase chart for the second consecutive week.
Penned by Kane, Brock Berryhill, Matthew McGinn and Taylor Phillips, “Homesick” is Kane’s fifth consecutive No. 1 single. It is featured on Kane’s 2018 album, Experiment.
“‘Homesick’ is just kinda personal because we’ve done so many shows in the last couple of years, and I’m never home,” says Kane. “I miss my dogs, I miss my family and my friends. I had it tattooed on me already, so it kinda made sense [as a single].”
The tune follows Kane’s previous No. 1 singles “Lose It,” “Heaven,” “What Ifs” and “Good as You.”
photo by NCD
Reba McEntire’s mother, Jacqueline, 93, died on March 14.
Reba made the announcement via Instagram on March 14, saying, in part: “Our Mother, Jacqueline McEntire, made that wonderful cross over into Heaven today. She had a wonderful, full, healthy life and was absolutely ready to go. The cancer might think it won the battle but we’re giving God all the credit on selecting the time for her to go home to Him. She was ready to see our Daddy, her mama and daddy and all her family and friends.”
On March 16, Reba revealed via Instagram that Jacqueline’s funeral and burial have been postponed indefinitely. “After much thought and careful consideration among out family, we have decided to indefinitely postpone Mama’s funeral and burial at this time. We will continue to monitor the situation and let you know as soon as possible about future plans to celebrate her life when it is safe for everyone to attend. Thank you for all the calls, cards, thoughts and prayers for our family as this difficult time.”
photo by JPA, AFF-USA.com
Kelsea Ballerini will release her third studio album, Kelsea, on March 20.
In addition to penning every track on the upcoming project—much like her 2015 debut album, The First Time, and 2017 sophomore album, Unapologetically—Kelsea serves as the co-producer on her new album. Kelsea marks the first time Kelsea has assumed the role of co-producer on one of her albums.
To celebrate the album’s release this week, Kelsea planned to hit the road for 21 days as she made the media rounds to some of her favorite TV shows and radio stations.
However, the COVID-19 pandemic is putting the kibosh on her plans.
“I just want y’all to know that this release week is going to look pretty different that I had hoped and planned for,” said Kelsea via Instagram. “I wanted there to be so many face to face opportunities to perform these songs for you for the first time and hug as many of you as humanly possible. Unfortunately, due to the current global situation we aren’t able to do many of the things I had up my sleeve. We spent so much time trying to plan the biggest release for this album as possible. I had 21 days of straight travel planned to visit my favorite TV shows and radio stations and see you guys along the way, but what I care most about is getting this album to you and keeping everyone safe in the process. I know music can bring some peace and joy when everything feels a bit out of control. I hope my music can help bring that to you. I promise to find ways to re-imagine our surprises and plans as soon as it’s safe.”
In the lead up to the album’s release, Kelsea has already shared a few tracks, including lead single “Homecoming Queen,” “Club” and “LA.”
