Over the course of his three-decade career, Keith Urban has never released a Christmas song—until now. Today (Dec. 5), Keith dropped his first-ever yuletide tune, “I’ll Be Your Santa Tonight,” a song he penned with Shane McAnally.
“I’ve always wanted to record a Christmas song, but I really wanted to try and write something new,” says Keith. “So, Shane came to my house and we wrote, really about a Christmas gone terribly wrong. No snow. Too much fog. Nobody can make it to the party. It’s going to be a colorless Christmas, until her man comes through.”
Keith also released a new video for “I’ll Be Your Santa Tonight,” which was directed by Chris Hicky.
“I wanted to keep the video loose and a bit more performance-based than the actual story line, because everybody has their own version of what a song should look like, so I didn’t want to touch on that too much,” says Keith.
Kix Brooks will be spreading cheer across the radio airwaves this season as he hosts Westwood One’s 13th annual An American Country Christmas holiday special.
Keeping with tradition, Kix has invited some of his festive friends to join him on this year’s show, including Blake Shelton, Carrie Underwood, Luke Bryan, Jason Aldean, Kenny Chesney, Keith Urban, Tim McGraw, Kelsea Ballerini, Brett Eldredge and more. Kix and his special guests will share holiday music, yuletide traditions and festive memories.
Radio stations can air Westwood One’s An American Country Christmas with Kix Brooks any time on Saturday, Dec. 21 through Wednesday, Dec. 25 between 6 a.m. and midnight. Check your local listings for air times.
Midland—the trio comprised of Mark Wystrach, Cameron Duddy and Jess Carson—will follow up their sophomore album’s lead single, “Mr. Lonely,” with the release of “Cheatin’ Songs” on Jan. 20.
Co-penned by the trio with Shane McAnally and Josh Osborne, “Cheatin’ Songs” is featured on Midland’s 14-song sophomore set, Let It Roll, which debuted at No. 1 on Billboard’s Top Country Albums chart in August.
The new single features Midland frontman Mark crooning the chorus with his breezy twang, while reference Conway Twitty’s 1981 single, “Tight Fittin’ Jeans”: “She’s bringin’ back cheatin’ songs / The kind of hurt that gets you singin’ along / Something circa 1973 / She’s lying with him and she’s lying to me / She’s bringin’ back diamond rings / Slipped in the pocket of her tight, fittin’ jeans / It’s back in fashion doin’ somebody wrong / She’s bringin’ back cheatin’ songs.”
Tennessee hoops guard Davonte Gaines spoke to the media in a group session Wednesday night after UT’s 72-43 win over Florida A&M.
KNOXVILLE, TN – DECEMBER 04, 2019 – Guard Davonte Gaines #0 of the Tennessee Volunteers during the game between the Florida A&M University Rattlers and the Tennessee Volunteers at Thompson-Boling Arena in Knoxville, TN. Photo By Kate Luffman/Tennessee Athletics
Tennessee hoops forward Olivier Nkamhoua spoke to the media in a group session Wednesday night after UT’s 72-43 win over Florida A&M.
KNOXVILLE, TN – DECEMBER 04, 2019 – Forward Olivier Nkamhoua #21 of the Tennessee Volunteers during the game between the Florida A&M University Rattlers and the Tennessee Volunteers at Thompson-Boling Arena in Knoxville, TN. Photo By Andrew Ferguson/Tennessee Athletics
Vols F Olivier Nkamhoua / Credit: 99.1 The Sports Animal
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – Behind a staunch defensive effort, No. 21 Tennessee moved past Florida A&M, 72-43, Wednesday night in Thompson-Boling Arena.
The 43 points scored by the Rattlers (0-7) were the second-fewest points scored by a Tennessee opponent this season. It also marked the fewest points for Florida A&M this season. It was the third time this season the Vols (7-1) held an opponent to fewer than 50 points.
The Vols limited the Rattlers to just 35.6 percent shooting from the field, as only two Florida A&M players shot better than 50 percent on the night. Tennessee’s 29-point margin of victory Wednesday was its second-highest margin this season.
Freshman Olivier Nkamhoua had a breakout performance, recording his first career double-double and the fourth for any Tennessee player this season.
The Helsinki, Finland, native nearly doubled his season-high with 13 rebounds–with seven coming on the offensive glass. He also posted a season-high 11 points on 5-of-9 shooting while adding a team-high two blocks.
Fellow Vols freshman Josiah-Jordan James finished with a season-high in points with 10, while freshman Davonte Gaines added seven. The first-year trio accounted for nearly 40 percent of the Vols’ scoring.
Their efforts helped push the nation’s longest active home winning streak to 31 games, the third-longest in program history.
In total, Tennessee had five players finish with double-digit points. John Fulkerson tallied a game-high 15 points on 7-of-12 shooting. It was just two points off his career high and was the sixth time in eight games this season he has scored in double-figures.
Yves Pons posted 14 points to go along with seven rebounds, two steals and a block. The 6-6 junior has now recorded at least one block in every game this season and double-digit points in six games. Lamonte Turner was the final Vol with double-digit points, all 10 of which came in the first half.
After Florida A&M scored a basket in the opening minute of the game, Tennessee held the Rattlers without a field goal for the next 9:15 in the half. During the stretch, UT built the lead to 14 points.
By halftime, the Vols had pushed the lead to 21 points, their largest lead at the midway point this season. Both Pons and Turner were in double figures as their combined 22 points outscored the entire Florida A&M team by four.
Tennessee made the most of its second-chance opportunities, scoring 14 points on eight offense rebounds in the first half. The Rattlers grabbed just 11 total rebounds through the first 20 minutes.
TOP TEN TAY: Lamonte Turner moved into the top 10 in program history in 3-point field goals Wednesday. In four seasons on Rocky Top, Turner has made 171 3-pointers, which ranks second among all active SEC players.
He entered UT’s all-time top 10 with a three at the 5:24 mark in the first half. He is currently tied with Greg Bell (1987-91) for 10th and is eight triples back of tying Jordan McRae (2010-14) and Vincent Yarbrough (1998-2002) for eighth.
PROTECTING OUR FLOOR: With the victory, Tennessee extended its home winning streak to 31 games, the longest active streak in Division I.
The 37-game win streak from 2006-09 and a 33-game win streak from 1966-68 stand as the only longer home win streaks in program history.
ONE WIN AWAY: Head Coach Rick Barnes is now just one win away from becoming the 22nd coach in NCAA history to reach 700 victories in his career.
During Barnes’ five years on Rocky Top, the Vols hold a 54-15 record as a ranked team (per the AP poll).
PONS PRODUCTION: Through just eight games this season, Yves Pons surpassed his combined point production from his first two seasons at Tennessee. This season he has upped his production to 12.6 points per game, an increase of 11 points over his first two seasons.
UP NEXT: Tennessee is off for nine days for exams before a top-25 matchup with in-state foe Memphis Dec. 14. Tipoff is scheduled for 3 p.m. ET on ESPN.
The game is sold out, but tickets are available through Tennessee’s exclusive resale partner, Vivid Seats.
The SEC announced on Wednesday that Vols wide receiver Jauan Jennings has been suspended for the first half of UT’s bowl game.
BREAKING: The SEC has announced #Vols wide receiver Jauan Jennings will be suspended for the first half of Tennessee's bowl game due to a 'flagrant personal foul' during the fourth quarter of the Vanderbilt game.
In October, Blake Shelton revealed the cover art and track list for his upcoming album, Fully Loaded: God’s Country, which drops on Dec. 13.
Today (Dec. 4), Blake revealed that one of the new tracks, “Nobody But You,” is a duet with girlfriend Gwen Stefani. Penned by Ross Copperman, Shane McAnally, Josh Osborne and Tommy Lee James, “Nobody But You” is one of five new tunes on the upcoming album.
“This was one of those songs where the more I heard it, the more I fell in love with it,” Blake says. “I also realized how important it is for me and where I am in my life, and I think that’s why Shane [McAnally] was trying to get it to me. It fits my story. I was about to go in and record when I decided that it needed Gwen on it—because it is our song. I think it’s magic.”
photo courtesy Warner Music Nashville
Fully Loaded: God’s Country Track List & Songwriters
1. God’s Country – Michael Hardy, Jordan Schmidt, Devin Dawson
2. Hell Right (feat. Trace Adkins) – David Garcia, Brett Tyler, Michael Hardy
3. Nobody But You (Duet with Gwen Stefani) – Ross Copperman, Shane McAnally, Josh Osborne, Tommy Lee James
4. Came Here to Forget – Craig Wiseman, Deric Ruttan
5. She’s Got a Way with Words – Wyatt Earp, Andy Albert, Marc Beeson
6. A Guy With a Girl – Ashley Gorley, Bryan Simpson
7. Every Time I Hear That Song – Aimee Mayo, Chris Lindsey, Brad Warren, Brett Warren
8. I’ll Name the Dogs – Matt Dragstrem, Ben Hayslip, Josh Thompson
9. I Lived It – Ashley Gorley, Ben Hayslip, Rhett Akins, Ross Copperman
10. Turnin’ Me On – Blake Shelton, Jessi Alexander, Josh Osborne
11. Jesus Got a Tight Grip – Blake Shelton, Chase McGill, Jessi Alexander, Rhett Akins
12. Tequila Sheila – Mac Davis, Shel Silverstein
The Country Music Hall of Fame & Museum announced that the lives and careers of Chris Stapleton, Martina McBride and Bill Anderson will be featured in individual exhibits in 2020.
Chris Stapleton: June 26 (opening date)
Martina McBride: Aug. 21
Bill Anderson: Nov. 20
Additional details specific to each exhibit will be revealed as the opening date approaches in 2020.
“I’m proud to get to share pieces of our musical journey at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum,” said Chris.
“Having an exhibit in the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum is something I’ve had on my dream list for a long, long time,” said Martina. “Being able to share moments and mementos from my life and career with my fans and country music fans from all over the world is both humbling and exciting. I’m so grateful to be a part of country music.”
“I grew up dreaming of the day they’d put my ball glove into the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, but realized many years ago that wasn’t going to happen,” said Bill. “But now, knowing that my guitar and maybe a rhinestone suit or two will be put into an exhibit at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum in Nashville, more than makes up for it. When our Hall does an exhibit, they really do it up right. I am thrilled to know that I am about to be a small part of their incredible legacy.”
In addition, the Museum’s annual American Currents: State of the Music exhibit will return in 2020, while the Outlaws & Armadillos: Country’s Roaring ’70s exhibit, which opened in May 2018, will continue through February 2021.
photos: Bill Anderson by AFF-USA.com; Martina McBride & Chris Stapleton by Curtis Hilbun, AFF-USA.com
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