Audio: Ramon Foster on EA Show “I see the league changing…great time to pivot to another part of my life”

Audio: Ramon Foster on EA Show “I see the league changing…great time to pivot to another part of my life”

Posted on March 17, 2020

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.

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.

Pittsburgh, PA – September 30, 2019 – Heinz Field: Ramon Foster (73) of the Pittsburgh Steelers during a regular season Monday Night Football game
(Photo by Allen Kee / ESPN Images)

 

 

Dierks Bentley Commits $90,000 to 90 Hourly Employees at Nashville’s Whiskey Row

Dierks Bentley Commits $90,000 to 90 Hourly Employees at Nashville’s Whiskey Row

Posted on March 17, 2020

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

Watch the Dixie Chicks Chat, Play a Game and Perform New Single, “Gaslighter,” on “Ellen”

Watch the Dixie Chicks Chat, Play a Game and Perform New Single, “Gaslighter,” on “Ellen”

Posted on March 17, 2020

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 Gets New Court Date for DUI Case

Sam Hunt Gets New Court Date for DUI Case

Posted on March 17, 2020

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 for the Second Straight Week

Kane Brown’s “Homesick” Is No. 1 for the Second Straight Week

Posted on March 17, 2020

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

Funeral for Reba McEntire’s Mother Has Been Postponed

Funeral for Reba McEntire’s Mother Has Been Postponed

Posted on March 16, 2020

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 Says Release Week for Her New Self-Titled Album “Is Going to Look Pretty Different”

Kelsea Ballerini Says Release Week for Her New Self-Titled Album “Is Going to Look Pretty Different”

Posted on March 16, 2020

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.”

Myth Busted: Jake Owen Says He Never Tried to Go Pro as a Golfer

Myth Busted: Jake Owen Says He Never Tried to Go Pro as a Golfer

Posted on March 16, 2020

Count Jake Owen among the best golfers in the country music community, just don’t count him as a pro.

Along with Colt Ford, Vince Gill and Lady Antebellum’s Charles Kelley, Jake is one of the best country singers out on the links. Read any story about Jake and it’s bound to bring up the fact that he got serious about country music in college after injuring his shoulder, which derailed his golf aspirations at Florida State University.

While Jake has played alongside Jordan Spieth at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am for the last several years, he doesn’t own one of Jordan’s green jackets, which is awarded to the winner of the Masters.

As Jake told morning show co-hosts Chuck Wicks and Trisha “T.J.” Jenkins, he’s a golfer…just not a pro.

“I didn’t [try to go pro], no I never did,” says Jake. “That was a big misunderstanding that everybody made up and I just got tired of talking about it, so I was like, ‘Yeah, I was pro, actually, at one point, I won the Masters, you didn’t know about that? Look at my green jacket.’”

You can listen to Jake’s full interview on March 17.

photo by JPA, AFF-USA.com

Blake Shelton Says Morgan Wallen Is the One That “Got Away” on “The Voice”

Blake Shelton Says Morgan Wallen Is the One That “Got Away” on “The Voice”

Posted on March 16, 2020

Morgan Wallen’s career is on fire right now.

The 26-year-old has scored back-to-back No. 1 singles on the Billboard Country Airplay chart with “Up Down” (June 2018) and “Whiskey Glasses” (June 2019). His current single, “Chasin’ You,” is No. 14 on the chart after 32 weeks.

But it wasn’t that long ago that the Sneedville, Tenn., native was a relative unknown. As a 20-year-old, he competed on Season 6 of The Voice in 2014, where he joined Team Usher and Team Adam Levine, before being eliminated in the playoff rounds.

“The Voice was a blessing for sure,” said Morgan to Nash Country Daily in 2017. “I really had no idea what to expect, going into it. None at all. And I didn’t know who I was as an artist and I really didn’t know who I was as a person at that time. I was 20 years old and my whole world had just changed. I went on there and I didn’t have my voice figured out either. I was forcing things that didn’t need to be forced and probably doing damage to my voice at the time. So I sounded more like a pop singer when I first went to try out for the show. So they wanted me to sing pop, which I understand, but I’m like ‘No, I want to sing country’ and there was a vocal coach behind the scenes and she really helped me figuring out my sound, like, ‘you don’t have to do this with your voice, just let it be natural, do what feels okay.’ And she really helped me to get my normal voice that ended up being the one I have now. You know, I’ve got rid of all the growl and all that stuff that I was doing and ended up being way more of a country voice than I really thought that I had. And I definitely think that’s my favorite thing that happened throughout the show.”

When longtime The Voice coach Blake Shelton was recently asked about a former contestant who slipped though the cracks, he referenced Morgan’s journey.

“Everybody has their own different kind of journey and things,” said Blake. “I think the one that I look back on now and go, ‘What the hell,’ is Morgan Wallen, you know? [laughing] He was on the show. He wasn’t even on my team. He was on Adam’s team—the whole thing just seemed screwed up, you know? It’s like he was on the show and he didn’t even get through the Battle [rounds] and now here he is having these gigantic, huge number one hits, and I can’t take any of the credit. It’s like, ‘I had him right there and he got away.’”

Season 18 of The Voice is currently airing on Monday and Tuesday nights on NBC.

photo by Tammie Arroyo, AFF-USA.com

Nashville’s Metro Board of Health Closes Bars on Lower Broadway

Nashville’s Metro Board of Health Closes Bars on Lower Broadway

Posted on March 16, 2020

On March 15 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 Metro Board of Health convened for an emergency meeting on March 15 at 5 p.m., unanimously approving the mayor’s proposal, which includes:

  • closing bars throughout Davidson County, including Lower Broadway
  • limiting restaurant seating to less than 50 percent of capacity, with no more than 100 individuals allowed in a given establishment
  • limiting bar service at restaurants to 50 percent capacity with no standing allowed

Not all Lower Broadway businesses are complying with the Metro Board of Health’s mandate. Steve Smith, the owner of Tootsies Orchid Lounge, Rippy’s, Honky Tonk Central, Kid Rock’s Big Ass Honky Tonk & Steakhouse and The Diner, says his businesses will continue to remain open to serve the public until a mandate is issued by the Tennessee governor.

photo by Tammie Arroyo, AFF-USA.com

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