The Hot Country Knights—a band fronted by an incognito Dierks Bentley—dropped a new video for their debut single, “Pick Her Up.” The Hot Country Knights are comprised of Dierks’ road band, performing ’90s-esque country tunes while donning aliases, mullet wigs and over-the-top attire from the era.
In addition to featuring Travis Tritt, the Wes Edwards-directed video stars ’90s knockout Kelly Kapowski,Valerie Malone,Tiffani Amber Thiessen.
“Travis Tritt is our longtime spirit animal and we have spent many a long night in the back of the van dreaming of working with or maybe even for Tiffani,” says HCK frontman Doug Douglason. “When UMG finally came around and signed us, they were two of our demands for the music video.”
The Hot Country Knights feature lead singer Douglas “Doug” Douglason, lead bass player Trevor Travis, lead guitarist Marty Ray “Rayro” Roburn, fiddle player Terotej “Terry” Dvoraczekynski, steel guitarist Barry Van Ricky and percussionist Monte Montgomery.
Penned by Brett Beavers, Jim Beavers and Dierks Bentley, “Pick Her Up” will impact country radio on Feb. 3. In January, the band signed a recording contract with Universal Music Group Nashville, which is Dierks’ longtime label partner.
LAWRENCE, Kan. – The Tennessee men’s basketball team hits the road for its nonconference finale against the third-ranked Kansas Jayhawks, inside Allen Fieldhouse on Saturday afternon. Tipoff is slated for 4 p.m. ET on ESPN.
Saturday’s game is a part of the Big12/SEC Challenge and is available on ESPN, online through WatchESPN, which can be accessed at espn.com/watch and on any mobile device through the ESPN App. Dan Shulman, Jay Bilas and Holly Rowe will have the call.
Fans can also listen in on their local Vol Network affiliate to hear Bob Kesling and Bert Bertlekamp describing the action.
Last time out the Vols took care of business at home against Ole Miss, giving head coach Rick Barnes his 100th victory as Tennessee’s head coach. UT controlled the contest from the outset, dominating the Rebels in the paint (outscoring them 30-20) and taking advantage of turnovers, holding a 15-4 advantage in points off turnovers.
Junior John Fulkerson led the way for UT, scoring a career-high 18 points and hauled in a career-high-tying 10 rebounds for his third career double-double. Freshman Olivier Nkamhoua was also big off the bench, finishing the night with 10 points and four big rebounds.
This will be the fifth all-time meeting between the Vols and the Jayhawks and the second time UT has traveled to Allen Fieldhouse.
A victory would be the Vols first true road win over an AP top five opponent since UT knocked off No. 1 Memphis, 66-62, in 2008.
Up next, Tennessee returns home to take on Texas A&M inside Thompson-Boling Arena on Tuesday night. The opening tap is set for 6:30 p.m. ET and the contest can be seen on SEC Network.
THE SERIES
• Tennessee owns a 1-3 all-time record vs. Kansas, dating to 2009.
• That first-ever meeting took place at Allen Fieldhouse, with KU claiming a 92-85 victory. The Vols avenged that loss the following season by upsetting the top-ranked Jayhawks in Knoxville on Jan. 10, 2010.
• The four previous meetings have been decided by an average of nine points.
• Tennessee’s all-time record against current members of the Big 12 stands at 14-17.
• Rick Barnes‘ 2010-11 Texas squad posted a 74-63 win at Allen Fieldhouse.
A WIN WOULD…
• Give the Vols a 5-3 record against teams ranked in the AP top five during the Barnes era.
• Be Rick Barnes‘ eighth head-to-head victory against Bill Self. His seven wins vs. Self currently tie for the most among active coaches (with Tom Izzo of Michigan State).
STORYLINES
• This week one year ago (Jan. 21, 2019), Tennessee ascended to No. 1 in both major polls.
• The 2020 Big 12/SEC Challenge marks the event’s seventh year. Tennessee is 4-1 in the event, as the Vols did not take part in the inaugural challenge.
• The Big 12 won the challenge in 2014, 2015, 2016 and 2019. The SEC claimed its lone win in 2018, and the series was tied in 2017. The Big 12 has a cumulative advantage of 35-25 (.583).
• This is Tennessee’s sixth time playing with the ESPN College Gameday crew on site. The Vols are 3-2 in those matchups. The six appearances tie for 11th-most among Division I programs.
• Tennessee’s staff will sport Nike footwear Saturday as part of the NABC’s Coaches vs. Cancer Suits & Sneakers Week.
• The Vols are 17-5 all-time in Suits & Sneakers games, including a 6-3 mark on the road.
• Dating to the start of the 2017-18 season, Tennessee is 17-9 (.654) in true road games.
LAYUP LINES
• Tennessee is 4-3 during the Barnes era against opponents ranked in the AP top five. The Vols went 3-2 against AP top-five foes last season.
• Tennessee leads the SEC in both scoring defense (59.0 ppg, seventh nationally) and field-goal percentage defense (.377, 15th nationally).
• During SEC play, junior forward John Fulkerson leads the team in scoring (11.3 ppg), rebounding (7.0 rpg) and steals (1.3 spg) while shooting .625 from the field and .900 from the free-throw line.
• Junior forward Yves Pons has blocked at least one shot in every game this season. He leads the SEC and ranks 19th nationally with 2.7 bpg. His 3.3 bpg during SEC play also leads the league.
• Tennessee freshmen Josiah-Jordan James (12-25) and Santiago Vescovi (13-30) combine to shoot .454 from 3-point range during SEC play.
ABOUT KANSAS
• Kansas is coming off its third consecutive victory in Big 12 action. An 81-60 win over Kansas State on Tuesday night improved the Jayhawks to 15-3 overall and 5-1 in Big 12 play.
• The Jayhawks’ lone conference loss came at home to then-fourth-ranked Baylor, 67-55. Since that loss, the Bears have ascended into the nation’s top spot in the AP poll, while Kansas landed at No. 3 in both the AP and coaches polls this week.
• A year after surrendering the Big 12 regular-season championship for the first time in 14 seasons, the Jayhawks look to climb back to the top of the Big 12 standings and into the conversation for a national championship run.
• 2019 All-Big 12 third team member Devon Dotson has been explosive for KU. The combo guard initially put his name into the 2019 NBA Draft and participated at the combine this past summer before returning for his sophomore season. Thus far, he is the Jayhawks’ leading scorer (18.2 ppg), is second in assists (4.2 apg) and leads the team in steals with 2.3 per game.
• Senior forward Udoka Azubuike has been productive for Kansas after having his 2018-19 campaign ended prematurely due to an injury. He currently ranks second on the team in scoring (12.9 ppg) and first in rebounding (9.5 rpg) and blocks (2.4 bpg). Azubuike leads the country in field-goal percentage, knocking down 77.7 percent of his attempts from the field.
• KU’s mascot, the Jayhawk, is derived from the word Jayhawker. Jayhawker was originally a term used for U.S. Civil War guerrilla fighters from Kansas who clashed with pro-slavery groups from the state of Missouri.
• Forwards Silvio De Sousa (2.6 ppg) and David McCormack (7.5 ppg) are suspended for Saturday’s game.
LAST TIME VS. KANSAS
• In a battle of top-five teams, No. 5 Tennessee dropped a heartbreaker to second-ranked Kansas in overtime, 87-81, in the NIT Season Tip-Off championship game at the Barclays Center on Nov. 23, 2018.
• The Big Orange fought the whole game, but an 18-12 advantage in overtime pushed the Jayhawks to the win. Admiral Schofield, who scored nine in overtime, finished with a team-high 21 points and six rebounds.
• Grant Williams, who fouled out with 1:24 left in regulation, added 18 points, eight rebounds, a career-high-tying six assists and two steals. Kansas’ Dedric Lawson won Most Outstanding Player of the tournament after leading the Jayhawks with 24 points, 13 rebounds and five assists in the championship.
• Tennessee point guard Jordan Bone chipped in 16 points on 6-of-10 shooting along with six rebounds and five assists. Lamonté Turner and Kyle Alexander added 10 points each.
• Williams and Bone both were named to the All-Tournament Team.
• With the game tied at 69-69 with 1:24 left, both teams’ defense stepped up and held the other without a basket, forcing overtime. Kansas had two looks at the basket during the final 30 seconds but missed both attempts, including one as time expired.
• KU opened overtime on a 5-0 run. An offensive rebound by Schofield got the Vols on the board to end the run, but it wasn’t enough to halt Kansas’ offense. The Jayhawks hit four of their final six shots to put the game away.
BARNES & SELF: 1,399 COMBINED WINS
• Rick Barnes (704) and Bill Self (695) are the seventh- and eighth-winningest active Division I coaches, respectively, in terms of total victories.
• Barnes owns seven head-to-head wins over Self—six while Self was at Kansas, once at Illinois. No other head coach (active or former) has defeated Self more than that. Michigan State’s Tom Izzo also has beaten Self seven times.
HISTORY VS. TOP-FIVE TEAMS
• Tennessee is 28-77 all-time against teams ranked in the top five of the AP poll. That includes a 3-16 mark against teams ranked No. 3.
• The Vols under head coach Rick Barnes are 4-3 against AP top-five opponents. He led UT to a 3-2 record in such games last season.
• During his career as a Division I head coach, Barnes owns a 21-44 record against AP top-five foes. Of his 27 previous games against Kansas, the Jayhawks were ranked in the AP top five for 11 of them (Barnes won two).
• On Feb. 11, 2008, Barnes led Texas to a 72-69 home win over a Kansas team ranked No. 3 in both polls.
VOLS, JAYHAWKS TRAVEL TOGETHER
• In addition to a home-and-home contract in 2009 and 2010—which saw each team win on its own home court—the Vols and Jayhawks have been on a similar holiday tournament rotation the past decade.
• The teams were part of the same field at the 2011 Maui Invitational (did not meet), the 2013 Battle 4 Atlantis (did not meet), the 2014 Orlando Classic (Kansas defeated the Vols) and last season’s NIT Season Tipoff (Kansas defeated the Vols in the championship game).
Keith Urban has extended his residency at Caesars Palace’s Colosseum in Las Vegas. Keith added four dates—one in July and three in September—to his Sin City residency, which is dubbed Keith Urban Live.
Keith has already performed four residency shows in January, with a number of previously announced dates in April, July, Aug. and Nov.
Tickets for the new dates on July 9 and Sept. 4, 5 and 6 will go on sale on Jan. 31 at 10 a.m. PT.
Tennessee basketball signee Jaden Springer was among 24 elite high school seniors selected Thursday to compete in the 2020 McDonald’s All-American Game.
Springer becomes the ninth Tennessee signee to earn McDonald’s All-American acclaim. This is the first time since 1997 and 1998 that the Vol signees have earned this honor in back-to-back years, as current UT freshman Josiah-Jordan James was a McDonald’s All-American last year.
The Toyota Center in Houston hosts the 43rd McDonald’s All-American Game on May 1 on ESPN.
Springer is a 6-4 guard from Charlotte, North Carolina, who is attending IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida. He is rated as a top-20 prospect nationally.
Last year, Springer played a key role in leading IMG Academy to the 2019 Geico High School National Championship while averaging 18.6 points, 3.9 rebounds and 3.5 assists per game.
Just last week, Springer—along with fellow UT signee Keon Johnson—was named to the 25-man 2020 Jersey Mike’s Naismith Boys High School Midseason Team, qualifying each of them as finalists for the Naismith High School Boys Player of the Year Award.
Head coach Rick Barnes has now signed 17 McDonald’s All-Americans.
Tennessee’s previous McDonald’s All-American signees were Doug Roth (1985), Allan Houston (1989), Charles Hathaway (1996), Tony Harris (1997), Vincent Yarbrough (1998), Scotty Hopson (2008), Tobias Harris (2010) and James (2019).
Chase Rice will release his new seven-song project, The Album Part 1, on Jan. 24. The newly revealed release date coincides with Chase’s upcoming appearance on ABC’s The Bachelor on Jan. 27.
Cue the dramatic music.
Apparently, one of the show’s contestants, Victoria F., previously dated Chase. During the upcoming episode, bachelor Peter surprises Victoria F. by taking her to Chase’s concert. The show’s upcoming preview suggests drama ensues as this occurrence was a shock to Chase, Victoria F. and Peter.
Chase called in to The Ty Bentli Show this week and revealed he’s dropping his new album on Jan. 24 in the hope that the Bachelor exposure boosts sales, even though he’s not thrilled with how the show threw him “under the bus.”
“The thing is, I knew [Victoria F.] was going to be on the show going into the very beginning of it, and we talked about it,” says Chase. “We were just like, ‘You know what? They’re not going to do that. There’s no way. They’re not going to involve me in the storyline.’ And sure enough, we underestimated them.
“It just seemed really unnecessary to be honest. I mean, it’s never happened before where one of the guests of the show gets involved, and I don’t believe that was a coincidence. I’m just going to be straight up, I can’t point the blame to anybody, but that’s why I twisted it to the music, because I mean, when [Peter and Victoria F.] turned the corner, obviously I’m the surprise for the date, and it’s just weird. But when I thought about it, I was like, ‘Okay, they’re going to throw me under the bus.’ I wanted to make it about the music. That’s why I dropped the album now. It’s like, ‘All right, if they’re going to do that, I’m going to put out The Album Part 1 and hopefully by the end of week, thank them for a number one album.’
“I have zero desire to be part of some BS reality TV drama. I could care less about that. This was not a coincidence. I put the album out on purpose right now. Then hopefully at the end of the week, I can be like, ‘Hey, thanks y’all for the BS drama. I got a number one album.’ That’s all I care about.”
Tune in to The Ty Bentli Show on Jan. 24 to hear Chase’s entire interview.
The Hot Country Knights—a band fronted by an incognito Dierks Bentley—announced their first single, “Pick Her Up,” which features Travis Tritt.
Penned by Brett Beavers, Jim Beavers and Dierks Bentley, “Pick Her Up” will impact country radio on Feb. 3.
In January, the band signed a recording contract with Universal Music Group Nashville, which is Dierks’ longtime label partner. The Hot Country Knights are comprised of Dierks’ road band, performing ’90s-esque country tunes while donning aliases, mullet wigs and over-the-top attire from the era.
“The sound behind ‘Pick Her Up’ is Hot Country Knights 101 . . . it’s so hot that I have advised the radio promotion department at UMG to wear oven mitts when delivering it to country radio,” said lead singer Doug Douglason. “Travis is an old buddy of ours . . . we go way back and everybody knows when you need a hit . . . you call Tritt. We appreciate his support and all our friends in the biz that are coming together right now to help us finally get our shot.”
The Hot Country Knights feature lead singer Douglas “Doug” Douglason, lead bass player Trevor Travis, lead guitarist Marty Ray “Rayro” Roburn, fiddle player Terotej “Terry” Dvoraczekynski, steel guitarist Barry Van Ricky and percussionist Monte Montgomery.
So you finally got the nerve to ask that little girl
You been diggin’ on if she wants to go out
She said yes now you’re wantin’ to impress
But you ain’t got no Casanova know-how
You ain’t gotta read a book to get her on the hook
She’s a country baby through and through
If you wanna do her right on a Saturday night
This is all you gotta do
Pick her up in a pickup truck
Take her out to a honky tonk
Turn an ice-cold longneck up
Dance around to an old jukebox
If you really wanna rock the world
Of a pretty little country girl
Just remember when you pick her up
Pick her up in a pickup truck
Yeah buddy she ain’t got no use for a B.M.W.
Or wine from a hundred-dollar bottle
She’d rather bounce around on the outskirts of town
Shotgunnin’ in a muddy Silverado
If you’re gonna have chance at closin’ time romance
Flip the switch on her neon heart
Don’t forget the first step ‘fore you get to two-step
Is knowin’ right where to start
Pick her up in a pickup truck
Take her out to a honky tonk
Turn an ice-cold longneck up
Dance around to an old jukebox
If you really wanna rock the world
Of a pretty little country girl
Just remember when you pick her up
Pick her up in a pickup truck
She wants to party and paint the town
Kick up her boots to a country sound
Come on buddy, don’t let us down
Pick her up in a pickup truck
Take her out to a honky tonk
Turn an ice-cold longneck up
Dance around to an old jukebox
If you really wanna rock the world
Of a pretty little country girl
Just remember when you pick her up
Pick her up in a pickup truck
Ya might even make her fall in love
Pick her up in a pickup truck
Kelsea Ballerini revealed that she will release her third studio album, Kelsea, on March 20. Kelsea shared the news via a secret pop-up show on Jan. 22, before posting on social media: “my third album, kelsea, will be released march 20th and will be available for preorder/presave this friday,” she said via Instagram.
The album’s lead single, “Homecoming Queen,” which was released in September, is currently No. 20 on Billboard’s Country Airplay chart after 20 weeks. Kelsea also teased that her new song, “la,” will be dropping on Jan. 24.
Kelsea will be the follow-up to her 2017 sophomore album, Unapologetically, which spawned No. 1 hits “Legends” and “Miss Me More.”
Before the guys from Rascal Flatts embark on their Farewell Tour this summer, they will perform at the 12th annual T.J. Martell Foundation Nashville Honors Gala on Feb. 24 at the Omni Hotel. In addition, Vince Gill, Carly Pearce, Michael Ray, Wade Hayes and CeCe Winas will take the stage at the annual celebration that pays tribute to outstanding community leaders.
The event has raised more than $4 million for leukemia, cancer and AIDS research since its inception in 2009.
This year’s honorees include:
Clint Higham: Chairman’s Award
Dr. Jordan Berlin: Medical Research Advancement Award
Patrick G. Emery: Spirit of Nashville Award
Amy Grant: Tony Martell Outstanding Entertainment Achievement Award
Jim and Laurie Seabury: Lifetime Humanitarian Award
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – Tennessee head coach Jeremy Pruitt announced the addition of veteran wide receiver and kick returner Velus Jones to the Volunteers’ football program on Monday.
Jones collected All-Conference Second Team honors from the Pac-12 as a return specialist in 2019. He graduated from Southern California and will be eligible to play this fall.
The Saraland, Ala., native was a valuable member of the Trojans’ receiver rotation during the last three years, while proving to be one of the Pac-12’s top kick returners during his career.
“We are very excited to welcome Velus to our Tennessee football family,” Pruitt said. “Velus is a dynamic player with the ball in his hands. He has strength, speed and a high football IQ. He will immediately add veteran leadership to our team and be an impact player as both a receiver and as a return guy. He’s an all-conference talent, and I know he is ready to get to work with the rest of our team.”
For his career, Jones has 36 receptions for 347 yards to go along with a 24.0 kick return average on 81 career attempts. The 6-0, 190-pounder has scored a touchdown receiving, rushing and on a kick return.
In 2019, Jones returned 29 kickoffs for 704 yards and one score. He added 35 yards on six receptions as a redshirt junior. He had a 100-yard kick return touchdown in the season-opener against Fresno State.
During the 2018 season, Jones was named to the PFF All-Pac-12 second team for his kick returning abilities, returning 21 kicks for 483 yards. Offensively, he collected 24 receptions for 266 yards and one touchdown. He also had six rushes for 13 yards and a touchdown.
As a redshirt freshman in 2017, Jones was named to the 2017 CollegeFootballNews.com All-Pac-12 first team, Athlon All-Pac-12 second team and Phil Steele All-Pac-12 second team as a kick returner. He returned 31 kickoffs for 760 yards, had six receptions for 46 yards, and five rushes for 15 yards.
Jones was a USA Today All-Alabama First Team selection and an Alabama Sportswriters Association All-State Class 6A First Team honoree after totaling 48 receptions for 945 yards and 10 touchdowns as a senior a Saraland (Ala.) High School in 2015.
WASHINGTON D.C. – Tennessee junior offensive lineman Trey Smith will be honored with the inaugural Fritz Pollard Trophy at the 15th annual Johnnie L. Cochran Jr. Salute to Excellence Awards on Jan. 30 at the Fort Lauderdale/Broward County Convention Center in South Florida in conjunction with Super Bowl LIV festivities, the Fritz Pollard Alliance Foundation announced Wednesday.
The Fritz Pollard Trophy honors a college player who has exemplified extraordinary courage, community values, and exceptional performance on the field, while the awards ceremony celebrates individuals and organizations who display outstanding performances on the field, in front offices and across the U.S. by exemplifying diversity, courage and meritorious performance.
Smith started 12 games at left guard in 2019 en route to All-SEC First Team honors from the coaches and media. He was named SEC Offensive Lineman of the Week twice this fall. After missing the final five games of the 2018 season and a comeback to football questionable, Smith returned to his dominant ways and spearheaded Tennessee’s six-game win streak to end the season. SEC Network analyst and offensive line expert Cole Cubelic named Smith to his All-America First Team.
Smith was diagnosed with blood clots in February of 2018, but returned to play for the Vols in 2018. Another setback occurred in October of 2018 and Smith missed the final five games of the season. He again fought back to return to football. A plan was developed by the Tennessee medical staff, in collaboration with specialists, which minimizes Smith’s risk for recurrent blood clots, while allowing him to play football.
The Jackson, Tenn., native continued his commitment to the community even during a busy football season. Smith is an active speaker to youth groups, elementary schools and organizations across the state and led coat drives for Knoxville Area Rescue Ministry (KARM) during the 2018 and 2019 seasons where over 1,000 coats were donated each year because of his efforts.
Smith, who recently announced that he will return to the Volunteers for his senior season, is also one of three finalists for the Jason Witten Collegiate Man of the Year Award given to the nation’s top all-around student-athlete, which will be awarded to the winner on Feb. 18.
Others to be honored include the Miami Dolphins Football Club (Paul J. Tagliabue Award), Richard Lapchick, PhD (Dan Rooney Lifetime Achievement Award), and NFL Executive Vice President, Football Operations Troy Vincent, President of 49ers Enterprises and EVP of Football Operations Paraag Marathe and the City Furniture Florida Business, who will all receive Salute to Excellence Awards.
NFL Commissioner Rodger Goodell will be in attendance and providing remarks.
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![Dierks Bentley’s Hot Country Knights Release First Single, “Pick Her Up,” Featuring Travis Tritt [Listen]](https://cdn.socast.io/6616/sites/602/2020/01/23123503/Hot-Country-Knights-UMG.jpg#aqua_resizer_image_not_local)
![Kelsea Ballerini to Release Third Album, “Kelsea,” on March 20 [Watch New “la” Video]](https://cdn.socast.io/6616/sites/602/2020/01/23095446/Kelsea-Ballerini-Ta.jpg#aqua_resizer_image_not_local)
