Check Out Maren Morris’ “Playboy” Interview & Photos: “Not Many Country Artists Speak Up”

Check Out Maren Morris’ “Playboy” Interview & Photos: “Not Many Country Artists Speak Up”

Posted on June 18, 2019

Maren Morris’ new interview and photo spread in Playboy was posted online on June 18.

The almost-3,000-word interview covers a wide range of topics, spanning music, marriage, fears, sexuality, gender inequality more.

A number of artists have posed for Playboy over the years, including Dolly Parton (cover: Oct. 1978), Madonna (cover: Sept. 1985), Maria Carey (cover: March 2007), Halsey (cover: Sept//Oct. 2017) and more.

Check out a handful of choice quotes from Maren’s interview below, and be sure to read the full interview here.

  • “There’s strength in the femininity of needing someone but also in having the confidence to ask for it.”
  • “For the past two years I’ve been the most-played woman on country radio. It’s still way less than a man, but for some reason my music is being played.”
  • “I would love to sing with Kehlani. I saw H.E.R. at the Grammys, and she was incredible. I love Khalid. If I’m shooting real high, I would love to sing with Beyoncé. That’s the pinnacle.”
  • “I get only one life here, and if I’m going to be a musician and do this thing I’ve been given a gift for, I would like people to know what I believe in. This is where I stand, this is what I want, this is the world I want my kids to live in. That’s why I speak up when I do. It definitely ruffles feathers. Not many country artists speak up.”
  • “Doing Playboy has been a really fun challenge. I’m trying to do more things that scare me. Every year I’m trying to peel back my layers emotionally—and I guess physically.”

photo by Curtis Hilbun, AFF-USA.com

Morgan Wallen’s “Whiskey Glasses” Celebrates Third Straight Week Atop Billboard Chart

Morgan Wallen’s “Whiskey Glasses” Celebrates Third Straight Week Atop Billboard Chart

Posted on June 18, 2019

Morgan Wallen continues his reign atop the Billboard Country Airplay chart as “Whiskey Glasses” notched its third straight week at No. 1.

Penned by Ben Burgess and Kevin Kadish, “Whiskey Glasses” is Morgan’s first multi-week No. 1 tune. He scored his first No. 1 single with “Up Down” in June 2018.

“The power of this song, my fans and country radio continues to just blow me away,” says Morgan. “I can’t even express how grateful I am to everybody who made this all possible. Thank you for my first multi-week number one.”

Morgan will release his fourth single, “Chasin’ You,” in July. Morgan is currently on tour with Florida Georgia Line as part of their Can’t Say I Ain’t Country Tour.

photo by Tammie Arroyo, AFF-USA.com

“Dive Bar”—Garth Brooks Releases New Duet With Blake Shelton to Country Radio

“Dive Bar”—Garth Brooks Releases New Duet With Blake Shelton to Country Radio

Posted on June 18, 2019

Garth Brooks and Blake Shelton have joined forces for a new duet, “Dive Bar,” which will be featured on Garth’s upcoming album, FUN.

Penned by Garth, Mitch Rossell and Bryan Kennedy, “Dive Bar” was shipped to country radio on June 18, which is the only place you can hear it right now.

“It sounds fresh, and it sounds like summer to me,” Garth says. “Blake kept pushing for it to be more steels, more country and stuff. Blake was nothing short of fantastic.”

Garth and Blake will perform the single live for the first time during Garth’s Stadium Tour in Boise, Idaho, on July 19. Garth also revealed that he and Blake are shooting a music video for the new tune.

“The idea is coming for this one—to do a video that I’m not sure has been done before,” says Garth. “Any time you get that chance, take it. This will be fun.”

Nash FM 103.3 will be playing “Dive Bar” today.

photos: Blake Shelton by Tammie Arroyo, AFF-USA.com; Garth Brooks by NCD

Brett Eldredge Scores 7th No. 1 Single With “Love Someone” [Watch Him Celebrate With Dad]

Brett Eldredge Scores 7th No. 1 Single With “Love Someone” [Watch Him Celebrate With Dad]

Posted on June 17, 2019

Brett Eldredge scored his 7th No. 1 single this week as “Love Someone” ascended to the top of the Mediabase chart.

Penned by Brett, Ross Copperman and Heather Morgan, “Love Someone,” which is featured on Brett’s 2017 self-titled album, is his first No. 1 since 2016’s “Wanna Be That Song.”

“It’s been a hell of a ride with ‘Love Someone,’” says Brett. “I have to thank Ross Copperman and Heather Morgan for bringing your amazing gifts and writing this song with me. . . and, of course, I have to thank my insanely passionate fans, country radio and my team for their belief in me and my music. What a way to finish out this album—and we are just getting started!”

Brett celebrated the news onstage with his dad at the Tailgate ’N Tallboys music festival in home state of Illinois on June 16. Check out the clip below.

photo by Curtis Hilbun, AFF-USA.com

Donations & Tribute Shirt in Honor of Granger Smith’s Late Son Have Raised More Than $100,000 for Children’s Hospital

Donations & Tribute Shirt in Honor of Granger Smith’s Late Son Have Raised More Than $100,000 for Children’s Hospital

Posted on June 17, 2019

Following the death of their 3-year-old son, River Kelly Smith, in a tragic accident on June 6, Granger Smith and wife Amber asked that donations be made—in lieu of sympathies—to Dell Children’s Medical Center, the Central Texas hospital where River was treated.

In addition, Granger and Amber honored River with a T-shirt, which is on sale now for $21.99, that features an excavator adorned with “Riv,” with 100 percent of the proceeds benefiting Dell Children’s Medical Center.

As it currently stands, donations in River’s memory and T-shirt sales have raised more than $100,000 for Dell Children’s Medical Center.

photo courtesy of Granger Smith/Yee Yee Apparel
Post Malone’s Bonnaroo Attire Gets Dolly Parton’s Seal of Approval

Post Malone’s Bonnaroo Attire Gets Dolly Parton’s Seal of Approval

Posted on June 17, 2019

Post Malone sported a Dolly Parton-themed outfit during his headlining set at Bonnaroo on June 15—and Dolly “loved” it.

The 23-year-old rapper was decked out in a patterned short-sleeved suit adorned with hundreds of photos of Dolly’s face during his 75-minute set.

Dolly shared her sentiments on Post Malone’s garb via Twitter, saying: “Love the outfit from head to toe @PostMalone,” adding a winking emoji.

photo by Alive Coverage

Chase Rice Announces 34-Date Headlining “AM/PM Tour”

Chase Rice Announces 34-Date Headlining “AM/PM Tour”

Posted on June 17, 2019

Chase Rice will hit the road this summer for his 34-date headlining AM/PM Tour, which takes its moniker from a line in his new single, “Lonely If You Are.”

Kicking off on Aug. 1 in East Providence, R.I., Chase’s AM/PM Tour will run through December with stops in Indianapolis, Nashville, Chicago, Pittsburgh, New York, Boston, Las Vegas, Philadelphia and more. Cale Dodds, Chris DeStefano, Devin Dawson and Jon Nite will serve as support on select dates.

Penned by Chase, Lindsay Rimes and Hunter Phelps, “Lonely If You Are” is Chase’s first new music since the release of his fourth studio album, Lambs & Lions, in 2017.

AM/PM Tour

  • Aug. 1 | Bold Point Park | East Providence, R.I. #
  • Aug. 2 | The Papermill | Baldwinsville, N.Y. #
  • Aug. 4 | Indiana State Fairgrounds | Indianapolis, Ind.
  • Aug. 8 | Boots & Hearts Festival | Oro Medonte, Ont.
  • Aug. 14 | The Wiltern | Los Angeles, Calif. *
  • Aug. 16 | Del Mar Race Track | Del Mar, Calif.
  • Aug. 17 | Boots in the Park | Fresno, Calif.
  • Aug. 20 | Central States Fairground  | Rapid City, S.D.
  • Aug. 24 | Gympie Music Muster | Queensland, AUS.
  • Aug. 30 | Romare Bearden Park | Charlotte, N.C.
  • Aug. 31 | Farm Jam Festival | Colville, Wash.
  • Sept. 1 | Enumclaw Expo Center | Enumclaw, Wash.
  • Sept. 7 | Touchdown and Tunes Tailgate Party | Paducah, Ky.
  • Sept. 26 | The Clyde Theatre  | Fort Wayne, Ind. *
  • Sept. 27 | Marathon Music Works | Nashville, Tenn.  *
  • Sept. 28 | The Vic Theatre | Chicago Ill. *
  • Oct. 10 | Stage AE | Pittsburgh Pa. ^+
  • Oct. 11 | Playstation Theater  | New York, N.Y. ^+
  • Oct. 12 | House of Blues | Boston, Mass. ^+
  • Oct. 17 | White Oak Event Space | Greensboro, N.C. *
  • Oct. 19 | Greenfield Lake Amphitheatre | Wilmington, N.C. *
  • Oct. 25 | Red Rock Casino Resort Spa |  Las Vegas, Nev. *
  • Oct. 26 | House of Blues  | Anaheim, Calif. *
  • Nov. 4 | Norwegian Pearl Ship Sixthman Cruise | Miami, Fla.
  • Nov. 16 | House of Blues | Orlando, Fla. *
  • Nov. 21 | The Sylvee | Madison, Wis. *
  • Nov. 22 | The Masonic Temple | Cleveland, Ohio *
  • Nov. 23 | 20 Monroe Live | Grand Rapids, Mich. *
  • Dec. 5 | Gillioz Theater | Springfield, Mo. *
  • Dec. 6 | The Bourbon Theatre | Lincoln, Neb. *
  • Dec. 7 | The Granada Theater  | Lawrence, Kan. *
  • Dec. 12 | The Fillmore Silver Spring | Silver Spring, Md. *
  • Dec. 13 | The Fillmore | Philadelphia, Pa. ^+
  • Dec. 14 | The Fillmore | Philadelphia, Pa. ^+

*Cale Dodds
^Chris DeStefano
#Devin Dawson
+Jon Nite

Jason Isbell Announces 7-Night Run at Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium

Jason Isbell Announces 7-Night Run at Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium

Posted on June 17, 2019

Jason Isbell has sold out 20 consecutive shows at Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium since 2014—he’s going for 27.

Jason will perform seven shows at the Ryman in October, making it his longest stand at the iconic venue. Backed by the 400 Unit (Derry deBorja, Chad Gamble, Jimbo Hart, Amanda Shires and Sadler Vaden), Jason will take the stage on Oct. 18, 19, 20, 22, 23, 25 and 26.

Tickets go on sale on June 21 at 10 a.m. CT.

This fall will also see the reissue of Jason’s 2009 self-titled album and 2011’s Here We Rest—both remixed and remastered by producer Dave Cobb. These records feature some of Jason’s most beloved songs, including “Alabama Pines,” “Codeine,” “Cigarettes and Wine,” “The Blue” and “Tour of Duty.”

Morgan Evans Adds U.S. Dates to World Tour

Morgan Evans Adds U.S. Dates to World Tour

Posted on June 17, 2019

Morgan Evans has added a North American leg to his World Tour this fall and winter.

Morgan will perform 12 dates in Canada and the U.S., kicking off on Nov. 6 in Vancouver with additional dates in Calgary, L.A., Las Vegas, Boston, New York, Chicago and more.

Fan club pre-sale for the new North American tour stops will begin on June 19 at 10 a.m. local time, with general sale to the public beginning on June 21 at 10 a.m. local time.

Morgan Evans World Tour

  • Sept. 3 | Dublin, Ireland | Green Room at The Academy
  • Sept. 4 | Glasgow, Scotland | Oran Mor
  • Sept. 5 | Liverpool, U.K. | Arts Club Loft
  • Sept. 6 | London, U.K. | Borderline
  • Sept. 7 | Lutterworth, U.K. | The Long Road Festival
  • Sept. 9 | Berlin, Germany | Frannz Club
  • Oct. 17 | Sydney, NSW, Australia | Enmore Theatre
  • Oct. 18 | Sydney, NSW, Australia | Enmore Theatre | SOLD OUT
  • Oct. 20 | Perth, WA, Australia | Astor Theatre | SOLD OUT
  • Oct. 21 | Adelaide, SA, Australia | The Gov | SOLD OUT
  • Oct. 22 | Melbourne, VIC, Australia | Forum Theatre
  • Oct. 26 | Brisbane, QLD, Australia | Eatons Hill
  • Oct. 27 | Toowoomba, QLD, Australia | Empire Theatre | SOLD OUT
  • Oct. 29 | Auckland, New Zealand | Tuning Fork
  • Nov. 6 | Vancouver, Canada | Venue
  • Nov. 7 | Kelowna, Canada | OK Corral Cabaret
  • Nov. 8 | Calgary, Canada | Cowboys Dance Hall
  • Nov. 9 | Edmonton, Canada | Cook County Saloon
  • Nov. 21 | Los Angeles, CA | Troubadour
  • Nov. 22 | Las Vegas, NV | Stoney’s Rockin’ Country
  • Dec. 5 | Asbury Park, NJ | The Stone Pony
  • Dec .6 | Boston, MA | Brighton Music Hall
  • Dec. 7 | New York, NY | Bowery Ballroom*
  • Dec. 12 | Minneapolis, MN | The Varsity Theatre
  • Dec. 13 | Chicago, IL | Joe’s on Weed Street
  • Dec. 14 | Columbus, OH | The Bluestone

photo by Tammie Arroyo, AFF-USA.com

Shania Twain Announces 23-Date Las Vegas Residency

Shania Twain Announces 23-Date Las Vegas Residency

Posted on June 17, 2019

Shania Twain will return to Las Vegas for a new 23-date residency at Zappos Theater at Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino.

Shania’s Let’s Go! residency opens in December with a cluster of shows to close out 2019, followed by additional bunches in March, May and June 2020. Shania will serve as the creative director for the new shows, featuring her past catalog of music with videos and elements from her recent NOW tour.

Shania performed more than 100 dates in Vegas during her Still the One residency at Caesars Palace from 2012–2014.

Tickets go on sale to the public on June 21 at 10 a.m. PT. Pre-sale is available for American Express card members (June 18) and Caesars Rewards members, Caesars Entertainment’s loyalty program and Live Nation and Ticketmaster customers (June 20). General tickets prices begin at $60 plus taxes and fees.

Let’s Go! Las Vegas Residency

December: 6, 7, 11, 13, 14, 18
March 2020: 13, 14, 18, 20, 21, 25, 27, 28
May 2020: 20, 22, 23, 27, 29, 30
June 2020: 3, 5, 6

photo by JPA, AFF-USA.com

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