Since the release of his self-titled debut album in 1993 to his duets album with Faith Hill in 2017—and the 13 studio albums in between—there’s been at least one constant in Tim McGraw’s music career: producer Byron Gallimore, who also produced Tim’s newest songs, “Neon Church” and “Thought About You.”
Byron has been at the helm of all 15 of Tim’s studio albums, winning a number of trophies along the way, including multiple ACM and CMA awards for Album of the Year and Single of the Year. Byron has also copped a Grammy for Best Country Album for producing Faith Hill’s Breathe, and he has been recognized for his work with Lee Ann Womack, Sugarland, Phil Vassar and more.
While an artist of Tim’s caliber—and longevity—typically uses a number of producers over his career, Tim tells Kix Brooks of American Country Countdown that working with his best friend is about trust.
“I just completely trust Byron’s ears and his thought process and what he does,” says Tim, “We’ve known each other for so long. We’re best friends, so we spend a lot of time together, go on vacations together, and we’re always talking about music and talking about sounds, and we work really well together as producers. I’m not a learned musician. I can’t read music. I don’t know anything technically about music, but I know what I want to hear, and when we’re working together, he speaks my language. He always knows that I want to push things. And, he lets me push stuff, and, as I like to describe it, you know the rumble on the side of an interstate that you hear when you’re running off the road? He lets me hit that every now and then without running into the ditch too far.”
Arkansas native Heath Sanders left his job in the oil fields last year to pursue music full-time—and it seems to be working out well for the singer/songwriter. The 35-year-old brings his real-world experience to the stage every night, whether he’s opening for guys like Drake White and Cory Smith, or playing to a crowd of one. Heath recently signed a publishing deal with Sony ATV and released new single, “Down on the South.”
How did you get started in music?
I was raised by a very religious and musically involved family. My folks started putting me onstage as soon as I could walk. I got a drum set for Christmas when I was 10 and played in church until my late teens. I guess you could say I never really had a choice in the matter . . . and I’m damn grateful for it.
At what age did you realize you wanted to make music your career?
Where I’m from, most of us go to work right out of high school, and that’s just about as good as it gets for the majority. And hell, we like it that way, but we sure ain’t the kind to pass up the opportunity to do something we love for a living. [I got] the opportunity of a lifetime just over a year ago, and I ain’t looked back since.
Who are some of musical influences?
So many. From the harmonies of Southern gospel all through my childhood to the heavy hitters like Zeppelin, GNR and Steve Miller—even to the more modern rock of Tool and Metallica. On the country side, Garth Brooks, Shenandoah, Randy Travis and the like have always felt like home to me.
What three words describe you as a musician?
Hungry. Grateful. Honest.
What would you say is unique about your sound?
I hope it’s the honesty that an audience feels most. I hope I convey to them that I truly understand what its like to live like most of them do.
What does your new single, “Down on the South,” say about you?
It’s more of a window to the lifestyle and environment that shaped who I am. I guess if it says anything about me as far as the person I am today, it shows a true appreciation for my youth and reveals how hopelessly nostalgic I am.
What was the first concert you attended?
Tool. Little Rock, Arkansas, in 2002. And it was freakin’ amazing!
What’s the last song you heard that blew you away?
“Moon Over Mexico” by Luke Combs. What a song. It paints a picture in your head. You can almost taste the ocean air. Incredible. Getting to know some of the guys behind some of my favorite music—guys like Ray Fulcher and Jonathan Singleton—has definitely been one of the highlights of my career so far.
Where is the craziest place you’ve performed?
The Rosemont in Chicago. Sharing the stage with Cody Johnson and Justin Moore was unbelievable. That place was sold out to a rowdy crowd. I’ll never forget it!
What’s the first thing you do after a show?
I’ll grab a beer and hit the crowd. I love meeting the folks who allow me to do this for a living.
What’s been your most exciting or unusual fan encounter?
I played a show for a soldier who was set to ship out the following day. He shook my hand, and left a patch in it when he let go. You could feel the fear, pride and honor. It chilled me to the bone.
What’s your favorite song to cover?
“Sunday in the South” by Shenandoah. It’s hands-down one of my favorite songs.
What family member or friend has been the most supportive of your musical career?
Definitely, Momma. She’s been riding my hind end to pursue this for years. Now that it’s headed in the right direction, I get told, “I told you so” quite often. Momma knows best, I reckon.
Following a historic night in Brooklyn at the 2019 NBA Draft, four VFLs begin their professional careers as the NBA Summer League gets underway this week in Sacramento and Las Vegas.
First-round draft pick and two-time reigning SEC player of the year Grant Williams and the Boston Celtics begin their Summer League campaign on Saturday, July 6, when they take on the Philadelphia 76ers at the Thomas and Mack Center at 5:30 p.m. ET on ESPN.
Second-round picks Admiral Schofield and Jordan Bone jump into the action when Schofield’s Washington Wizards take on the New Orleans Pelicans on Saturday, July 6, at 10 p.m. ET on ESPN and Bone’s Detroit Pistons face off against the Croatian National Team on Friday, July 5, at 3 p.m. ET on NBA TV.
Undrafted rookie Kyle Alexander is competing with the Miami Heat at the second edition of the California Classic, held at the Golden 1 Center, home of the Sacramento Kings. The Heat take on the Los Angeles Lakers, the Kings and the Golden State Warriors in three games over three days from July 1-3, before traveling to Las Vegas to join the rest of the league.
In Miami’s 106-79 win over the Lakers Monday night, Alexander totaled two points, four rebounds and a pair of blocks.
The NBA Summer League consists of all 30 teams in the association, along with the addition of the Chinese and Croatian National teams. Each team plays four preliminary games, with the top eight seeds advancing to the quarterfinals and the knockout tournament. The remaining 24 teams will play in a series of consolation games, meaning each team is guaranteed five games over the league’s 10-day duration. Every game can be seen on the ESPN family of networks or NBA TV for the second consecutive year.
Below is the Summer League schedule for all four former Vols, including tip times and TV info. Updates will be posted throughout the summer on UTsports.com.
Grant Williams | Boston Celtics
7/6/19 vs Philadelphia 5:30 p.m. (ESPN)
7/8/19 vs Cleveland 7:30 p.m. (NBA TV)
7/9/19 vs Denver 8 p.m. (ESPN 2)
7/11/19 vs Memphis 10:30 p.m. (ESPN 2)
Admiral Schofield | Washington Wizards
7/6/19 vs New Orleans 10 p.m. (ESPN)
7/8/19 vs Brooklyn 5:30 p.m. (NBA TV)
7/9/19 vs LA Clippers 11:30 p.m. (NBA TV)
7/11/19 vs Atlanta 6:30 p.m. (ESPN 2)
Jordan Bone | Detroit Pistons
7/5/19 vs Croatia 3 p.m. (NBA TV)
7/6/19 vs Portland 3:30 p.m. (ESPNU)
7/8/19 vs Indiana 5 p.m. (ESPNU)
7/10/19 vs Philadelphia 3 p.m. (NBA TV)
Kyle Alexander | Miami Heat
7/1/19 def. LA Lakers, 106-79
7/2/19 vs Sacramento 11 p.m. (NBA TV)
7/3/19 vs Golden State 3 p.m. (NBA TV)
7/5/19 vs China 5:30 p.m. (ESPN U)
7/7/19 vs Utah 8 p.m. (NBA TV)
7/9/19 vs Orlando 4 p.m. (ESPN 2)
7/10/19 vs Minnesota 7 p.m. (NBA TV)
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – Tennessee freshman outfielder Christian Scott has been a key piece in the lineup for the Arroyo Seco Saints in the California Collegiate League and posted some more solid performances last week, with hits in all five games he played in.
Read more about Scott’s performances as well as other Vols playing summer ball below.
Each week on UTSports.com, we will provide an update on all of the Vols participating in the various summer leagues around the country.
USA Baseball Collegiate National Team (Team Website) LHP Garrett Crochet Season Stats: 1 App, 0 GS, 0-0, 0.00 ERA, 2.0 IP, 0 R, 2 H, 2 BB, 1 K, 2.00 WHIP
The USA Baseball Collegiate National Team wrapped up its Red vs. Blue Scrimmages on Sunday and will take on the Coastal Plain League Select Team on Monday before cutting the roster down to 26 players prior to the 8th USA vs. Cuba International Friendship Series that will take place July 2-6 in Cary, Charlotte, Durham and Hickory, North Carolina.
Crochet threw two shutout innings in his only appearance of the Red vs. Blue series. The big lefty faced nine batters, registering one strikeout while allowing two hits and two walks in the outing. He is scheduled to pitch two more innings in Monday’s scrimmage against the CPL Select Team.
Following Monday’s context, Team USA’s 26-man roster will travel to Taiwan for the 19th USA vs. Chinese Taipei International Friendship Series after which USA Baseball will announce a final 24-man roster to compete in the 43rd USA vs. Japan Collegiate All-Star Series from July 16-21 in Japan.
Cape Cod League (Full League Stats) OF Zach Daniels – Orleans Firebirds Season Stats: 13 GP, 3 R, 5 H, 1 3B, 2 RBI, 0 BB, 14 K, .156 AVG, .156 OBP, .219 SLG
Daniels drove in a pair of runs with a triple and also scored a run in a 3-3 tie at Cotuit on June 26. The Georgia native also scored a run in a 10-6 win over Cotuit on June 28.
In his only appearance last week, Heflin allowed just two hits and had three strikeouts over three shutout innings to earn his first save of the summer as the Mariners picked up a 6-0 victory over Hyannis on June 28. The junior lefty has yet to give up a run and has surrendered just three hits in 8.1 innings of work this summer.
RHP Sean Hunley – Brewster Whitecaps Season Stats: 2 App, 2 GS, 1-1, 5.14 ERA, 7.0 IP, 6 R, 4 ER, 10 H, 1 BB, 6 K, 1.57 WHIP
Hunley did not see action last week for the Whitecaps. He was the losing pitcher in a loss to Cotuit on June 23 after allowing three runs on four hits in three innings of work to fall to 1-1 for the summer.
Wallace gave up his first two runs of the summer in Orleans’ 10-6 win over Cotuit on June 28. The Sevierville native struck out one batter and allowed three hits and a walk in 1.2 innings of work in his lone appearance last week.
California Collegiate League (Full League Stats) OF Justin Ammons – Conejo Oaks Season Stats: 11 GP, 8 R, 14 H, 5 2B, 7 RBI, 5 BB, 8 K, 2 SB, .292 AVG, .358 OBP, .396 SLG
Ammons continued his solid play this summer with another productive week for the Oaks. The Memphis native had hits in four of five games played, including a 3-for-5 performance against the Academy Barons on June 28. Ammons registered a pair of base hits and drove in two runs against the San Luis Obispo Blues on June 25 as well. The junior outfielder is tied for the team lead with five doubles and is tied for sixth on the team in hits despite playing fewer games than most of the players on the team.
Derkay has reached base in all five games he’s played in and has hits in three of five contests. The Georgia native went 2-for-4 and hit a grand slam against the Conejo Oaks on June 29.
INF Max Ferguson – Orange County Riptide Season Stats: N/A
Lipcius did not see action last week. He went 2-for-5 with a run and an RBI in his second game of the summer against Conejo on June 8. Lipcius followed that with another hit and two runs scored against Orange County on June 9.
Lipscomb has a hit in his past two games and drove in two runs against the Arroyo Seco Saints on Sunday. The Maryland native also drew two walks and scored a pair of runs on June 26 against the Saints.
C Connor Pavolony – Santa Barbara Foresters Season Stats: 13 GP, 7 R, 10 H, 1 2B, 3 RBI, 8 BB, 13 K, .250 AVG, .412 OBP, .275 SLG
Pavolony had three hits, three walks and scored four runs in five games played last week. The freshman catcher went 2-for-3 with a run scored on Sunday against the Academy Barons. Pavolony has also thrown out five of 10 base stealers this summer.
Pleasants had three strikeouts in two shutout innings of relief on June 26 against the Santa Barbara Foresters but struggled a little bit in his first start of the summer on Saturday. The freshman right hander allowed five runs (three earned) on six hits while striking out four batters in five innings of work against the Foresters.
While Russell is batting just .167, he has reached base in six of his seven games played, drawing seven walks. In five games last week, Russell scored seven times and stole four bases. The Lexington, Tenn., native had two hits, two runs and two RBI against the Orange County Riptide on June 26 and followed that performance with a single and three runs against the Academy Barons on June 27.
OF Christian Scott – Arroyo Seco Saints Season Stats: 15 GP, 11 R, 14 H, 3 2B, 2 3B, 4 RBI, 3 BB, 14 K, 7 SB, .246 AVG, .317 OBP, .368 SLG
Scott is on a five-game hit streak entering this week after recording at least one base knock in every game he played in last week. The Clarksville, Tenn., native had two singles, scored a pair of runs and stole a base against Conejo Oaks on June 29. He had another hit, scored a run and stole two more bases on Sunday against the Orange County Riptide. Scott is tied for the team lead with seven steals this summer.
Coastal Plain League (Full League Stats) RHP Caleb Pearson – Forest City Owls Season Stats: 5 App, 4 GS, 0-2, 6.10 ERA, 20.2 IP, 17 H, 20 R, 14 ER, 19 BB, 11 K, 1.74 WHIP
Pearson received a no-decision in the Owls 7-6 victory over the Asheboro Copperheads on June 28 after allowing five runs (four earned) on four hits and four walks in 5.1 innings.
Plummer did not see action last week for the SwampDogs. He had his best start of the summer in a 9-6 win over Holly Springs on June 23. The Virginia native struck out six batters and allowed just one earned run on two hits and three walks in five innings of work to improve his record to 1-1 for the summer.
Rucker started the week off right, driving in all three of Forest City’s runs while also recording two hits in a 5-3 loss to High Point-Thomasville in game one of a doubleheader. In the second game of the doubleheader, Rucker had a hit and scored two runs in a 13-7 win.
Knight had a strong finish to the week with back-to-back multi-hit and multi-RBI games over the weekend. The freshman infielder had three hits – including his first home run – with three runs scored and two RBI on Saturday in a 12-2 win against the Kokomo Jackrabbits. He followed that by smacking two more hits and driving in three more runs in a 10-5 win over the Jackrabbits on Sunday.
Kohlhepp struggled in his lone start last week, allowing four runs (three earned) on seven hits and two walks while recording just two strikeouts in 3.1 innings. The Express won the game 12-5 as Kohlhepp received a no-decision.
Ohio Valley League (Full League Stats) C Matthew Ellis – Dubois County Bombers Season Stats: 11 GP, 6 R, 14 H, 2 2B, 1 HR, 12 RBI, 1 BB, 9 K, .341 AVG, .364 OBP, .463 SLG
Ellis currently ranks fourth on the Bombers with a .341 batting average and is third on the team with 12 RBI after driving in eight runs in five games played last week. The Kentucky native homered, had four base hits and drove in six runs in the Bombers 13-7 win over Fulton on Sunday. He also had three hits and two RBI against the Henderson Flash on June 25.
RHP Bennett Shoptaw – Dubois County Bombers Season Stats: 5 App, 2 GS, 1-1, 7.63 ERA, 15.1 IP, 24 H, 16 R, 13 ER, 6 BB, 15 K, 1.96 WHIP
Shoptaw had a pair of solid outings for the Bombers last week. The freshman right hander tossed 2.1 shutout innings to earn his first win of the summer in a victory over the Muhlenberg County Stallions on June 27. On Saturday against the Owensboro RiverDawgs, Shoptaw allowed two runs but struck out five in 2.2 innings of relief.
Expedition League (Full League Stats) RHP Hunter Dreves – Western Nebraska Pioneers Season Stats: 6 App, 4 GS, 1-1, 9.00 ERA, 15.0 IP, 14 H, 27 R, 15 ER, 29 BB, 18 K, 2.87 WHIP
Dreves fell to 1-1 on the summer after a rough start on June 30 as the Pioneers were routed by the Badlands Big Sticks, 22-11.
Gray had a huge game in a 22-3 blowout victory against the North Fork Ospreys on June 27. The junior catcher reached base in all five plate appearances, going 2-for-2 with two runs, a homer and four RBI while also drawing three walks. Gray also had a hit, scored a run and drove in a run in a 10-8 win over the Southampton Breakers on June 28.
A pair of VFLs and NBA veterans appear to be teaming up as members of the Philadelphia 76ers.
In moves that were first reported Sunday by the extraordinarily reliable Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN, Tobias Harris (2010-11) has agreed to a five-year, $180 million contract to remain with Philadelphia, and Josh Richardson (2011-15) is joining the Sixers from the Miami Heat.
Harris initially came to Philly via a trade with the Los Angeles Clippers in February. He averaged 18.2 points over the final 27 games of the regular season with his new team—starting all of them and playing 35.0 minutes per game—before the 76ers made a run to Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals. He became a free agent this summer and chose to agree to a long-term deal Sunday to remain in the City of Brotherly Love. His new deal is the richest contract in franchise history.
Harris is embarking on his ninth NBA season in 2019-20. He started all 82 regular-season games last year. He averaged a career-best 20.0 points per game during the regular season, and his 18.2 ppg with the Sixers ranked second on the team. For his career, Harris averages 15.4 points, 6.0 rebounds and 1.9 assists per game while shooting .364 from 3-point range.
Richardson’s move to Philadelphia comes as the 76ers work to complete a multi-team, sign-and-trade deal with veteran swingman Jimmy Butler.
Richardson in 2019-20 enters his fifth NBA season—the previous four with Miami, which drafted him in 2015. The 26-year-old has started 154 games over the last two seasons and averages 12.1 points, 3.2 rebounds and 2.9 assists during his NBA career. He also shoots at a .368 clip from 3-point range. His averages for points, rebounds and assists have improved every year as a pro.
Other SEC alums on the current Philadelphia roster include Ben Simmons (LSU) and Al Horford (Florida).
Free agency is still ongoing, but after Sunday’s movement throughout the league, the Sixers appear poised to be among the top contenders in the NBA Eastern Conference.
Carrie Underwood closed her set at the Glastonbury Festival in Somerset, England, on June 29 with a rendition of “Before He Cheats” that had the zealous crowd singing along.
The five-day festival, which debuted in 1970, drew an estimated crowd of more than 200,000 patrons. Carrie was featured on the headlining Pyramid stage with a who’s who of artists, including Janet Jackson, Hozier, Kylie Minogue, Lauryn Hill, Miley Cyrus, The Killers and more. Previous country acts to play the iconic festival include Dolly Parton and Johnny Cash.
“Before He Cheats,” which was featured on Carrie’s debut studio album, Some Hearts, topped the Billboard Country Airplay chart in 2007. C
Watch Carrie’s performance of “Before He Cheats” from the Glastonbury Festival below.
Lee Brice scored his sixth No. 1 single as “Rumor” hit the top spot on both the Mediabase chart and Billboard Country Airplay chart this week.
Co-penned by Lee, Ashley Gorley and Kyle Jacobs, “Rumor” is Lee’s first No. 1 single since “Drinking Class” reached the top of the Mediabase chart in Summer 2015.
“Watching it hit the number one spot on the Billboard and Mediabase charts is unreal,” says Lee. “I’m truly grateful to our supporters at radio, streaming platforms, TV and media, but I have to shout-out our incredible fans who have supported it by tuning in, downloading, streaming and coming to see our shows.”
“Rumor” is featured on Lee’s 2017 self-titled album.
Eric Church has another Top 5 hit on his hands with “Some of It,” which is the second single from his 2018 album, Desperate Man.
Co-penned by Eric, Jeff Hyde, Clint Daniels and Bobby Pinson, “Some of It” finds Eric dispensing “some” fatherly advice during the chorus: “Some of it you learn the hard way / Some of it you read on a page / Some of it comes from heartbreak / Most of it comes with age / And none of it ever comes easy / A bunch of it you maybe can’t use / I know I don’t probably know what I think I do / But there’s something to some of it.”
According to Eric, “Some of It” almost didn’t make the track list for Desperate Man. It was only after his wife, Katherine, played the song for a friend that Eric decided to revisit his upcoming track list.
“I was playing the album for a dear friend of ours, and my wife was with me, and it was just the three of us playing the album, and my wife said, ‘But let me play you what didn’t make it,’” says Eric. “And the first thing she played was ‘Some of It.’ I hadn’t listened to it in a while, and it was always a favorite song of mine, and I listened to it that night and went, ‘I’m gonna regret if I don’t record this song.’ I think my hesitation was because, initially, all the stuff that I thought was gonna be the pillars for this album just bombed, so I was scared of that song. But I think it’s really interesting that the album took on an identity that allowed ‘Some of It’ to make it from where it started to where it is now.”
Almost a year after releasing his previous single, Kenny Chesney will return to country radio on July 12 with “Tip of My Tongue.”
Co-penned by Kenny, Ross Copperman and Ed Sheeran, “Tip of My Tongue” will be the first taste of Kenny’s upcoming 18th studio album, which will be released via Blue Chair/Warner Music Nashville.
“It’s funny how a figure of speech can lead you to all kinds of places,” says Kenny. “You start talking, and words fall out, and anything can happen. When you go in and write on any given day, the chemistry is what it is. When the idea fell out, we all just laughed and went, ‘Well, what can we do with that?’ I’ve written so much with Ross [Copperman], that’s always easy. He brought Ed [Sheeran] in, and he is such a great writer . . . The way creativity works in creative people is so different, but it’s always exciting. As a co-write with a new writer, it’s one of the most fun sessions I’ve done in a long time. I get why people love working with him.”
No released date has been announced for the new album, which will be helmed by longtime producer Buddy Cannon.
“Tip of My Tongue” arrives on July 12 at 5 a.m. CT.
Born: Marshall, Ark.
