Tennessee head football coach Jeremy Pruitt spoke to the media Monday at his weekly Monday press conference to review the Miss State win and preview the next opponent Saturday, Alabama.
For more than a decade, Garth Brooks and Trisha Yearwood have been swinging hammers and climbing ladders as volunteers with Habitat for Humanity, a global nonprofit housing organization that helps homeowners build their own homes alongside volunteers.
Last week, Garth and Trisha worked alongside hundreds of volunteers—including former President Jimmy Carter and former First Lady Rosalynn Carter—during the 36th Jimmy & Rosalynn Carter Work Project, which constructed 21 houses in the Nashville area. Since beginning their work with Habitat for Humanity in 1984, just years after leaving the White House, President and Mrs. Carter have helped build, renovate and repair 4,331 homes in 14 countries alongside more than 103,000 volunteers.
“This is beautiful,” said Garth. “What these guys build are a lot more than homes. They build hope. They build love.”
An additional 12 new single-family homes and 26 new townhomes will be constructed by 2021 with support of funding raised for the project. In total, funds raised through the 2019 Carter Work Project will serve 59 Nashville families.
Garth and Trisha first volunteered together with Habitat for Humanity in 2007 in New Orleans to help build post-Katrina homes.
Check out some photos from the 36th Jimmy & Rosalynn Carter Work Project.
photos by Tammie Arroyo, AFF-USA.com
Thomas Rhett capped his Very Hot Summer Tour on Oct. 12 in front of a packed house at Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena.
TR treated the crowd to a 20-song set that featured many of his fan-favorite hits, including “Crash & Burn,” ‘Sixteen,” “Life Changes” and more.
In addition to openers Rhett Akins, Russell Dickerson and Dustin Lynch, TR’s hometown show featured a number of surprise guests, including Little Big Town (“Don’t Threaten Me With a Good Time”), Hardy (“Nothin’ Out Here”) and Florida Georgia Line’s Tyler Hubbard (“Round Here”).
Thomas Rhett and Little Big Town joined forces on “Don’t Threaten Me With a Good Time,” a tune from TR’s 2019 album, Center Point Road, that features vocals from LBT. TR co-penned the song with LBT’s Karen Fairchild, among others.
Watch TR and LBT perform “Don’t Threaten Me With a Good Time.”
Trace Adkins, 57, and actress Victoria Pratt, 48, got married in New Orleans on Oct. 12 . . . with a very special wedding officiant conducting the service: Blake Shelton.
Trace’s official Instagram account shared a photo of the trio during the ceremony, saying: “Join us in congratulating Trace & Victoria! They tied the knot yesterday in New Orleans.”
Trace and Victoria met on the set of 2014’s The Virginian, which they both starred in.
photo by Janet Gough, AFF-USA.com
Kane Brown’s drummer, Kenny Dixon, 27, died from injuries sustained in a car wreck on Oct. 12.
The Tennessean confirmed the news, including a statement from Kane’s representatives: “It is with profound sadness and disbelief that we confirm we lost our drummer Kenny this weekend in a tragic car accident. Kenny was a member of our family from the very beginning and our hearts are with his fiancé Sarah, his son, and everyone who knew and loved him. He was truly one of the greatest and kindest people on and off stage we’ve ever known.”
Kane posted a message via Instagram, saying: “Love you so much dude!!! You started all of this with me from the start in 2015 when no body else believed we would make it out of Chattanooga playing for 500 people and your last show was in a Fn Stadium my guy 🔥 I know u will be watching over us with that red neck accent that we all love and you will never be replaced bro!!! I promise u that!! 🙌🏽🙌🏽🙌🏽”
Kenny and Sarah planned to marry on Nov. 30.
Sarah also shared a post on Instagram, saying: “I’m at a loss of words. I don’t even know how to write this or ever thought I would have to. Kenny passed away last night in a car accident. I know I have to be strong for Levi and God is gonna pull us through this. We have a forever guardian angel watching above us now. Please keep Levi, my family, and Kenny’s family in your prayers.”
Kane’s next scheduled tour date is on Oct. 19 at the Staples Center in L.A.
Tennessee men’s basketball head coach Rick Barnes held his preseason media day press conference to preview the 2019-2020 season on Friday.
The Grand Ole Opry celebrated Dolly Parton’s 50th anniversary as an Opry member on Oct. 12 with two sold-out shows honoring the country icon.
Special guest performers included Dierks Bentley, Emmylou Harris, Chris Janson, Toby Keith, Lady Antebellum, Margo Price, Hank Williams Jr., and more.
Dolly took the stage during both shows (7 p.m. and 9:30 p.m.) to perform a cache of her fan-favorite hits, including “Joshua,” “Jolene,” “My Tennessee Mountain Home,” “Coat of Many Colors,” “Here You Come Again,” “9 to 5” and “I Will Always Love You.”
Between shows, Tennessee’s Governor Bill Lee presented Dolly with a proclamation declaring October 12 as Dolly Parton Day.
If you weren’t lucky enough to watch the show in person, you can still catch all of the action on TV—albeit six weeks later. The two-hour TV special, Dolly Parton: 50 Years at the Grand Ole Opry, will debut on NBC on Nov. 26 at 9 p.m. ET. The show will feature new interviews and Opry performances from Dolly, Dierks Bentley, Emmylou Harris, Chris Janson, Toby Keith, Lady Antebellum, Margo Price, Hank Williams Jr. and more.
Check out our photo gallery of Dolly’s 50th Anniversary Celebration.
photos by Curtis Hilbun, AFF-USA.com
By Jimmy Hyams
Last November, Tennessee looked like a team and a program ready to turn the corner when it upset No. 12 Kentucky.
The Vols had just recorded a second win last season over a ranked team and pulled even at 5-5 with a bowl game in site.
Fast forward 11 months and Tennessee was mired in a horrible slump, having lost the last two games of last season 88-30 to Missouri and Vanderbilt, then squandering leads against FCS opponent Georgia State and BYU.
The Tennessee coaches, players and fans were starved for a win over someone not named Chattanooga.
They finally got it, taking down touchdown favorite Mississippi State 20-10 Saturday afternoon at Neyland Stadium, thanks to a ball-hawking, gang-tackling defense and an offense that generated an impressive fourth quarter drive to put the game away.
Tennessee’s maligned defense recorded 10 tackles for loss, seven sacks and three interceptions – one each by Nigel Warrior, Kenneth George and Trevon Flowers.
“I thought the guys fought really hard,’’ Tennessee coach Jeremy Pruitt said. “They’ve been busting their tails all fall, trying to find a way to win.’’
They found a way by stuffing the leading rusher in the SEC, State’s Kylin Hill. Averaging 119.2 yards per game with 344 yards coming after contact, Hill was a non-factor, rushing for 13 yards on 11 carries with a long of 4. He couldn’t have had more than 4 yards after contact.
“Defensive line wise, we played pretty well,’’ Pruitt said, who complimented the defense’s gap integrity, tackling in space and swarming to the ball.
“We felt like we needed to make the quarterbacks beat us and not Hill.’’
Hill certainly didn’t beat UT. Neither did the Bulldogs’ quarterbacks, who completed only 11 of 23 passes for 146 yards with three interceptions.
Warrior, a senior who played perhaps his best back-to-back games as a Vol, said his pick was a throw into double coverage.
“I saw a brown spot,’’ Warrior said when he turned around in coverage, “ and the only brown spot I know is the ball.’’
Warrior seemed to admonish himself for not being more productive in previous games.
“I wasn’t playing as hard as I could,’’ Warrior said.
Warrior said he wasn’t surprised by the team’s three picks.
“This is what we work for,’’ he said. “In practice, we have over 25 picks and it’s showing.’’
Tennessee threw two end-zone picks, both by Brian Maurer in the first half. And both into coverage.
Pruitt called them “silly mistakes … we can’t get greedy down there.’’
Tennessee wasn’t greedy before halftime. After a Flowers interception set the Vols up at the MSU 37, Pruitt went ultra conservative with backup quarterback Jarrett Guarantano, who was replacing the injured Maurer (concussion).
“Before the half we were pretty conservative,’’ Pruitt said. “We knew the line to gain for a field goal.’’
Brent Cimaglia connected from 51 yards out, with a foot to spare, to give UT a 10-3 halftime lead. It proved to be crucial when State rallied in the second half.
MSU scored a touchdown with 8:27 left in the game to cut UT’s lead to 13-10.
UT was backed up at its 9 after a holding penalty on the ensuing kickoff.
But the Vols marched 91 yards on nine plays, capped by Guarantano’s 39-yard touchdown pass to Tyler Byrd. The Vols chewed up almost six minutes, leaving State little time for a comeback.
“That was a great drive at the end of the game,’’ Pruitt said. “It was a great win for our program and good for our guys.’’
Byrd, a highly touted recruit who hasn’t been much a factor on the field during his career, said he never considered transferring in an age when transfers are common place.
“I feel like if you leave somewhere, you’re giving up,’’ said Byrd, a senior. “And I didn’t want to give up.’’
Tennessee junior guard Trey Smith was confident the Vols could score late in the game.
“We all believed in each other that we could get the job done,’’ Smith said. “It was a great feeling to impose your will and move guys from Point A to Point B.’’
To celebrate the win, Warrior leaped into the UT student section.
“I had to, I had to,’’ Warrior said.
“I should’ve joined you,’’ Bituli said.
“Yes,’’ Warrior said, “you should have.’’
UT’s hope is there will be a next time – and it won’t take 11 months.
Sponsored by Big Kahuna Wings: The wings that changed it all
Here’s an impressive photo gallery of over 125 images from Tennessee’s Week 7 game at Neyland Stadium against Mississippi State. Photos are property of Cumulus Broadcasting Knoxville and taken by staff photographer Sam Forman.
Tennessee head coach Jeremy Pruitt spoke with the media after UT’s home win on Saturday over Mississippi State 20-10.
