Grand Ole Opry Announces Luke Combs’ Induction Date & Lineup

Grand Ole Opry Announces Luke Combs’ Induction Date & Lineup

Posted on June 27, 2019

After only his 16th appearance on the Grand Ole Opry, Luke Combs was surprised by John Conlee, Chris Janson and Craig Morgan with an invitation to join the esteemed club on June 11.

The Opry announced that Luke will be formally inducted during its showcase on July 16. Kelsea Ballerini, Joe Diffie, The Gatlin Brothers, Vince Gill, Chris Janson, Del McCoury Band, Craig Morgan and Mark Wills are also set to take the stage during Luke’s celebratory night.

Luke’s invitation to join the Opry follows recent inductees Kelsea Ballerini (April 2019), Mark Wills (January 2019), Dustin Lynch (September 2018) and Chris Janson (March 2018).

Tickets for the July 16 show are on sale now.

Watch John Conlee, Craig Morgan and Chris Janson surprise Luke with his invitation to join the Opry.

Tennessee Sends Four to SEC Leadership Council Gathering

Tennessee Sends Four to SEC Leadership Council Gathering

Posted on June 27, 2019
Credit: UT Athletics

Four Tennessee student-athletes are headed to Birmingham, Alabama, this weekend to participate in a joint meeting of SEC Student-Athlete Leadership Councils and the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee.

Football’s Ryan Johnson, swimmer Madison Graham and basketball players Kamera Harris and John Fulkerson are set to attend the two-day event, during which representatives from each SEC institution come together to talk about their student-athlete experience, discuss ways the SEC can support student-athletes and collaborate on various programming ideas at the conference and campus level.

“The Joint SEC Student-Athlete Leadership Council meeting allows our student-athletes to engage with SEC staff and have meaningful discussions regarding the student-athlete experience,” Tennessee Coordinator for Student-Athlete Development Erin Holland said. “It also is a great opportunity for the student-athletes to have peer-to-peer conversations on various topics such as mental wellness, NCAA legislation and engagement initiatives.”

Johnson, a rising junior offensive lineman from Brentwood, Tennessee, is representing both the UT Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) and the SEC Football Leadership Council this weekend.

Johnson and Graham—a rising senior from Atlanta—are serving as Tennessee’s SAAC Co-Chairs for the 2019-20 academic year.

A 6-3 center for the Lady Vols, Harris is a rising senior from Hampton, Georgia. Fulkerson, a forward from Kingsport, Tennessee, will be a redshirt junior next season.

The meeting will begin with an open discussion with SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey on Friday followed by a presentation on leadership and perseverance by Thaddeus Bullard, WWE’s Titus O’Neil. Dr. Rob Bell, certified sports psychologist and SEC alum will meet with the group on Saturday, and the six Leadership Council chairs and vice chairs will provide an update from SEC Spring Meetings.

In other agenda items, SEC Assistant Commissioner Matt Boyer will discuss SEC- and NCAA-approved legislation for the 2019-20 academic year, and SAAC representatives will present programming ideas from their respective campuses. The meeting will conclude on Saturday with a session on career development with best-selling author Will Baggett and a review of SEC and NCAA scholarship and personal development opportunities with SEC Director of Student-Athlete Engagement Misty Brown.

This marks the third joint meeting of these groups since they were introduced in 2016. In total, 68 SEC student-athletes are set to attend the event.

 

UT Athletics

Why Does Maren Morris Speak Up On Behalf of the LGBTQ Community: “They’re Not Hearing Themselves in Our Platform”

Why Does Maren Morris Speak Up On Behalf of the LGBTQ Community: “They’re Not Hearing Themselves in Our Platform”

Posted on June 27, 2019

No one in country music has had a bigger month that Maren Morris.

In addition to notching her fourth Top 10 single with “Girl” (currently No. 8), Maren landed on cover of Women’s Health and scored a feature in Playboy. She’s also been hitting the touring trail, creating new music with supergroup The Highwomen (Brandi Carlile, Amanda Shires, Natalie Hemby), and making time for plenty of media interviews. Suffice it to say, June has been busy for the Texas native.

Maren has also been outspoken regarding her advocacy for the LGBTQ community—perhaps even more so in June, which is Pride Month. During her recent sit-down interview on The Ty Bentli Show, Maren revealed why she is so passionate in her support of the LGBTQ community.

“I love that community so much,” says Maren. “I love, like, at my shows, kinda picking out the pocket of gays that have all the choreography to every one of my songs, it makes my heart swell. To be accepted by that community, and my music, I feel like I owe them that, too. I grew up in musical theater, and I never thought of that community as different from me, because I was like, ‘I’m creative and colorful,’ and I just try to speak up on it so much because I am so privileged. Like, I have not had this hard life, like, I’m a young, white woman. Things have been pretty okay for me, and there are so many that that has not been the case. I feel like speaking up for them, especially in this genre—all the little kids that are at home listening to country music and country radio and they think they might be gay, they’re not hearing themselves in our platform or people speaking up for them, so I want them to feel like they’re at home here too, so that’s why I speak up when I do.”

Listen to Maren’s full interview from The Ty Bentli Show below.

photo by Curtis Hilbun, AFF-USA.com

Watch Exclusive Clip of Kane Brown Performing “Lose It” on Upcoming Episode of Nickelodeon’s “All That”

Watch Exclusive Clip of Kane Brown Performing “Lose It” on Upcoming Episode of Nickelodeon’s “All That”

Posted on June 26, 2019

Kane Brown will be the musical guest on an upcoming episode of Nickelodeon’s newly rebooted sketch-comedy series, All That.

Kane performs on “All That.” photo by Scott Everett White/Nickelodeon

Kane will be performing his hit song, “Lose It,” which became his third No. 1 single in December 2018.

All That originally debuted in 1994—running for 10 seasons until 2005—and made stars out of many of its original cast members, including Kenan Thompson and Kel Mitchell. The show was revived for an 11th season in 2019, debuting on June 15. Each new episode of All That features guest stars from television and film, as well as a musical performance from a visiting artist.

The new episode of All That featuring Kane will air on Nickelodeon on June 29 at 8:30 p.m. ET.

Below, watch an exclusive sneak peek of Kane’s performance of “Lose It” from All That.

photo/video courtesy Scott Everett White/Nickelodeon

UT Places 106 on Spring SEC Honor Roll

UT Places 106 on Spring SEC Honor Roll

Posted on June 26, 2019

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – The University of Tennessee placed 106 student-athletes on the 2019 Spring SEC Academic Honor Roll that was announced Wednesday by SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey.

The rowing team led the way for UT with 32 members on the list. Baseball had 16 make the honor roll, followed by softball (13), men’s track & field (12), women’s track & field (12), men’s golf (7), women’s golf (6), men’s tennis (4) and women’s tennis (4).

The 2019 Spring SEC Academic Honor Roll includes the sports of baseball, golf, rowing, softball, tennis and track & field. It is based on grades from the 2018 Summer, 2018 Fall and 2019 Spring terms.

A total of 1,234 student-athletes from around the league were named to the 2018-19 Spring SEC Academic Honor Roll, which is based on grades from the 2018-19 academic calendar.

Any student‐athlete who participates in a Southeastern Conference championship sport or a student‐athlete who participates in a sport listed on his/her institution’s NCAA Sports Sponsorship Form is eligible for nomination to the Academic Honor Roll.

The following criteria will be followed:

(1)  A  student‐athlete  must  have  a  grade point average of 3.00 or above for either the preceding academic year (two semesters or three quarters) or have a cumulative grade point average of 3.00 or above  at  the  nominating  institution.

(2)  If a student‐athlete attends summer school, his/her grade point average during the summer academic term must be included in the calculation used to determine eligibility for the Academic Honor Roll.

(3)  Student‐athletes eligible for the SEC Honor Roll include those receiving an athletics scholarship, recipients of an athletics award (i.e., letter winner) and non‐scholarship student‐athletes who have been on a varsity team for two seasons.

(4) Prior to being nominated, a student‐athlete must have successfully completed 24 semester  or  36  quarter  hours  of  non‐remedial  academic  credit  toward  a  baccalaureate degree at the nominating institution.

(5) The student‐athlete must have been a member of a varsity team for the sport’s entire NCAA Championship segment.

2019 Spring SEC Academic Honor Roll 
University of Tennessee 

Baseball (16)
Jay Charleston – Supply Chain Management
Pete Derkay – Supply Chain Management
Max Ferguson – Economics
Landon Gray – Management
Will Heflin – Supply Chain Management
Richard Jackson – Education Psychology
Tanner Kohlhepp – Management
Zach Linginfelter – Geography
Luc Lipcius – Aerospace Engineering
Ricky Martinez – Sociology/Criminal Justice
Will Neely – Sociology/Criminal Justice
Connor Pavolony – Biomedical Engineering
Evan Russell – Finance
Alerick Soularie – Communication Studies
Garrett Stallings – Supply Chain Management
Daniel Vasquez – Marketing

Men’s Golf (7)
Spencer Cross – Finance
Jake Meenhorst – Finance
Rhys Nevin – Political Science
Nolan Ray – Accounting
Chase Roswall – Finance
Sean Wilcox – Kinesiology
Hunter Wolcott – Finance

Women’s Golf (6)
Allison Herring – Marketing
Ariana Macioce – Marketing
Mariah Smith – Kinesiology
Haley Wagner – Kinesiology
Waverly Whiston – Management
Micheala Williams – Electrical Engineering

Rowing (32)
Amber Adams – Kinesiology & Neuroscience (Double Major)
Abbi Altman – Supply Chain Management, Business Analytics Collateral
Jaimie Armitage – Biosystems Engineering
Allie Asbury – Animal Science, Pre‐Veterinary Medicine
Pari Baker – Animal Science, Bioscience
Ashley Ball – Management, Marketing Collateral
Channing Bearden – Kinesiology
Rebecca Caruso – Kinesiology
Kathryn Cosgrove – Therapeutic Recreation
Abigail Craine – Accounting, Finance Collateral
Alex Dawson – Audiology & Speech Pathology
Mikayla Dutton – Sociology, Criminology & Criminal Justice
Kristen Freeman – Kinesiology
Kirsten Girard – Recreation & Sport Management
Loran Grant – Kinesiology
Katherine Hatchell – Environmental & Soil Sciences, Environmental Science
Gia Hodges – Neuroscience
Taylor Jones – Business Analytics, International Business Collateral
Katie Lance – Civil Engineering, 5yr BS/MS
Eleanor Loving – Psychology
Jessica Magnoli – Recreation & Sport Management
Hannah Major – Supply Chain Management, Business Analytics Collateral
Brookmyer McIntyre – Sport Management
Gina Michael – Biological Sciences, Biochemistry & Cellular & Molecular Biology
Lindsey Morrissett – Therapeutic Recreation
Ana Pelic – Psychology
Brenna Randall – History (Honors)
Amalia Tsiavou – Psychology
Ashley Van Roon – Kinesiology
Brayden Walters – Biological Sciences, Biochemistry & Cellular & Molecular Biology
Sarah Warner – Food Science
Anna Zikovich – Supply Chain Management, International Business Collateral

Softball (13)
Amanda Ayala – Kinesiology
Tianna Batts – Recreation / Sport Management
Haley Bearden – Kinesiology
Cailin Hannon – Audiology/Speech Pathology
Jenna Holcomb – Public Relations
Savannah Huffstetler – Teacher Education
Aubrey Leach – Political Science
Abby Lockman – Kinesiology
Ashley Morgan – Accounting
Matty Moss – Social Work
Treasuary Poindexter – Recreation/Sport Management
Chelsea Seggern – Kinesiology
Katie Weimer – Kinesiology

Men’s Tennis (4)
Andrew Rogers – Cinema Studies
Preston Touliatos – Biological Sciences, Biochemistry & Cellular & Molecular Biology
Adam Walton – Kinesiology
Luca Wiedenmann – Finance, Business Analytics Collateral

Women’s Tennis (4)
Sadie Hammond – Management
Tenika McGiffin – Kinesiology
Ariadna Riley – Political Science
Gabby Schuck – Industrial Engineering

Men’s Track & Field (12)
Nick Boogades – Environmental & Soil Sciences
Nick Brey – Astronomy
John Elrod – Accounting
Georde Goodwyn – Accounting
Nate Harper – Psychology
Adam Johnston – Mechanical Engineering
Joseph Maxwell – Marketing
Trey Quealy – Supply Chain Management
Wesley Robinson – Accounting
Tristan Slater – Recreation and Sport Management
Darryl Sullivan – Recreation and Sport Management
Seth Whitener – Business Analytics

Women’s Track & Field (12)
Nicole Adams – Biological Sciences
Brooklynn Broadwater – Kinesiology
Tamia Crockett – Biological Sciences and Psychology
Lenysse Dyer – Psychology
Hannah Jefcoat – Therapeutic Recreation
Savannah Marlow – Psychology
Maia McCoy – Communication Studies
Peighton Meske – Kinesiology
Megan Murray – Neuroscience
Abigail Smith – Kinesiology
Kim Spritzky – Kinesiology
Layla White – Sociology

 

UT Athletics

 

UT Athletics

Alan Jackson Celebrates 30th Anniversary of First Record Deal

Alan Jackson Celebrates 30th Anniversary of First Record Deal

Posted on June 26, 2019

After moving to Nashville in 1985, Alan Jackson singed his first major-label record deal with Arista Nashville on June 26, 1989—30 years ago today.

Eight months later, Alan released his debut album, Here in the Real World, which spawned hits such as the title track, “Wanted” and “Chasin’ That Neon Rainbow.” The rest, as they say, is history.

Over the course of his 30-year career, Alan has become one of the Top 10 best-selling country artists of all time, according to the RIAA. He has unleashed 35 No. 1 hits, dropped more than a dozen platinum albums and earned two Grammys, 16 CMAs (three for Entertainer of the Year) and 18 ACMs. He’s also a member of the Country Music Hall of Fame and Songwriters Hall of Fame.

Alan may be celebrating 30 years in the industry, but he’s not slowing down. In addition to touring, he’s the sole owner and creative force behind AJ’s Good Time Bar in downtown Nashville. He is also writing and recording new music—and he is the subject of a new documentary, Alan Jackson: Small Town Southern Man, which was released on DVD this week.

Congrats on the 30-year anniversary, Alan. Not bad for a man and his mustache.

photo by Tammie Arroyo, AFF-USA.com

PBS to Air “Country Music: Live at the Ryman” Concert With Dwight Yoakam, Dierks Bentley, Rosanne Cash, Vince Gill & More [Set List]

PBS to Air “Country Music: Live at the Ryman” Concert With Dwight Yoakam, Dierks Bentley, Rosanne Cash, Vince Gill & More [Set List]

Posted on June 26, 2019

After an eight-year exploration, Ken Burns’ 16-hour Country Music documentary will premiere on PBS on Sept. 15.

In celebration of the new film, PBS will air its all-star concert, Country Music: Live at the Ryman, on Sept. 8. Recorded at Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium in March, the concert will feature performances by Dierks Bentley, Rosanne Cash, Rodney Crowell, Rhiannon Giddens, Vince Gill, Brenda Lee, Kathy Mattea, Ketch Secor of Old Crow Medicine Show, Ricky Skaggs, Marty Stuart, Asleep at the Wheel, Holly Williams and Dwight Yoakam.

Country Music: Live at the Ryman Set List

  • “Ruby, Are You Mad at Your Man” – Rhiannon Giddens and Ketch Secor
  • “In the Jailhouse Now” – Ketch Secor
  • “Tumbling Tumbleweeds” – Riders in the Sky
  • “New San Antonio Rose” – Asleep at the Wheel
  • “Uncle Pen” – Marty Stuart and Ricky Skaggs
  • “I’m So Lonesome I Could Cry” – Holly Williams
  • “Orange Blossom Special” – Marty Stuart
  • “Crazy” – Rhiannon Giddens
  • “Hungry Eyes” – Dwight Yoakam
  • “Streets of Bakersfield” – Dwight Yoakam and Dierks Bentley
  • “Coal Miner’s Daughter” – Kathy Mattea
    “Sunday Morning Coming Down” – Larry Gatlin
  • “Pancho & Lefty” – Rodney Crowell
  • “Are You Sure Hank Done It This Way” – Dierks Bentley
  • “I Will Always Love You” – Vince Gill
  • “Don’t Get Above Your Raisin’” – Ricky Skaggs
  • “I Still Miss Someone” – Rosanne Cash
  • “Will the Circle Be Unbroken” – Full Cast

Country Music: Live at the Ryman will air on PBS on Sept. 8 from 8 p.m.–10 p.m. ET, as well as stream on PBS.org and PBS apps.

Ken and his team spent eight years researching and producing the film, as well as conducting interviews with more than 100 people, including 40 members of the Country Music Hall of Fame. Interviewees include Marty Stuart, Rosanne Cash, Vince Gill, Reba McEntire, Merle Haggard, Dolly Parton, Willie Nelson, Dwight Yoakam, Emmylou Harris, Kris Kristofferson, and Naomi and Wynonna Judd, as well as studio musicians, record producers and others. The film uses more than 3,200 photographs and more than two hours of archival footage, including rare and never-before-seen photos and footage of Jimmie Rodgers, Johnny Cash and more.

“In country music we found a love for storytelling that translates everyday experiences into universal truths that we can all identify with,” said Ken Burns. “We’re very excited to share this film with the country, in towns large and small, from one coast to the other. But we are most excited to share it in those areas that gave birth to this most American of art forms. Bringing our film to Ryman Auditorium, the Mother Church of Country Music, and a character itself in our film, is a dream for us.”

Watch Vince Gill’s incredible cover of Dolly Parton’s “I Will Always Love You” below.

photo by Jason Simanek/NCD

Watch Cole Swindell Raise a Little Hell in New Video for “Drinkin’ Hours”

Watch Cole Swindell Raise a Little Hell in New Video for “Drinkin’ Hours”

Posted on June 26, 2019

Cole Swindell is celebrating the fifth anniversary of his recording deal with Warner Music Nashville by dropping a new song every month for the next five months as part of his new EP, Down Home Sessions V.

First up, “Drinkin’ Hours,” which was released on June 21. Cole has also dropped a new feel-good video for the tune, featuring the Georgia native kicking back with his friends and fans, enjoying a few beers and raising “a little hell.”

“I can’t believe I am about to release my fifth Down Home Sessions,” says Cole. “It’s one of my favorite projects because it allows me to share songs I have written between albums. I’m excited to roll this one out a little differently by giving the fans one song a month for the next five months focusing on fun, uptempo music.”

Cole has released a Down Home Sessions EP each of the last four years and supported them with four Down Home Tours.

Watch the new video for “Drinkin’ Hours” below.

photo by NCD

First NBA Summer League Game For Each UT Rookie

First NBA Summer League Game For Each UT Rookie

Posted on June 25, 2019
Los Angeles, CA – April 12, 2019 – The Novo: Grant Williams during the 2019 College Basketball Awards (Photo by Eddie Perlas / ESPN Images)

By Vince Ferrara / @VinceSports

Here are the first NBA Summer League games for each of the four VFL rookies from the University of Tennessee

You will find the full list below in my blog, Vince’s View.

Kyle Alexander and the Miami Heat are playing in a 4-team California Classic Summer League in Sacramento before moving to the larger MGM Resorts NBA Summer League in Las Vegas.

Grant Williams with the Celtics, Admiral Schofield with the Wizards and Jordan Bone with the Pistons will all start and finish in the Las Vegas summer league.

Kyle Alexander @KyleJamal4
Monday, July 1 at 9 pm in Sacramento – Miami vs. LA Lakers (NBA TV)

Jordan Bone @JordanBone23
Friday, July 5 at 3 pm in Las Vegas – Detroit vs. Croatia (NBA TV)

Grant Williams @Grant2Will
Saturday, July 6 at 5:30 pm in Las Vegas – Boston vs. Philadelphia (ESPN)

Admiral Schofield @admiralelite15
Saturday, July 6 at 10 pm in Las Vegas – Washington vs. New Orleans (ESPN)

See the full NBA Summer League Schedule HERE

According to the NBA’s current schedule, no VFL in the NBA rookies are slated to meet. That could change when they get into the Summer League “postseason.”

Find more of my broadcasting work at VinceSports.net.

Watch Brooks & Dunn Team with Luke Combs for Performance of “Brand New Man” on Upcoming “CMT Crossroads”

Watch Brooks & Dunn Team with Luke Combs for Performance of “Brand New Man” on Upcoming “CMT Crossroads”

Posted on June 25, 2019

CMT Crossroads crossed up its playbook for an upcoming episode featuring Brooks & Dunn teaming with a number of country artists.

Instead of collaborating with a cross-genre artist—as is the norm on CMT Crossroads—Ronnie Dunn and Kix Brooks joined forces with a number of stars featured on their recent Reboot album, including Brett Young, Cody Johnson, Jon Pardi, Luke Combs, Midland and Brandon Lancaster from LANCO.

The hour-long episode, which was tapped on June 4 in downtown Nashville during CMA Fest week, will premiere on CMT on June 28 at 10 p.m. ET.

Check out the set list:

  • “Brand New Man” with Luke Combs
  • “My Next Broken Heart” with Jon Pardi
  • “Boot Scootin’ Boogie” with Midland
  • “Ain’t Nothing ‘Bout You” with Brett Young
  • “Red Dirt Road” with Cody Johnson
  • “Mama Don’t Get Dressed Up for Nothing” with Brandon Lancaster of LANCO

Brooks & Dunn also performed fan-favorites “My Maria” and “You’re Gonna Miss Me When I’m Gone.”

Watch a sneak peek of the new episode as Luke Combs collaborates with Brooks and Dunn on “Brand New Man.”

photos: Brooks & Dunn by Tammie Arroyo; Luke Combs by Curtis Hilbun, AFF-USA.com

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