Midland frontman Mark Wystrach, 39, is engaged to Ty Haney, 30.
Mark shared the news via Instagram with a few pics of his bride-to-be and her new ring, along with the caption: “Popped THE QUESTION and @ty_haney had the answer I was lookin’ for!!!”
Ty is the founder and CEO of Outdoor Voices, an active-wear apparel company.
Congrats to the couple.
https://www.instagram.com/p/ByA2wk-hmQH/
main photo by Curtis Hilbun, AFF-USA.com
Lauren Alaina will hit the road this fall for her headlining That Girl Was Me Tour.
Kicking off on Sept. 14 in Columbia, Mo., the nine-date tour will make additional stops in New York, Boston, Atlanta, Nashville and more. Filmore will serve as support on eight dates. Tickets go on sale on May 31.
That Girl Was Me Tour
Sept. 14 | Columbia, MO | The Blue Note
Sept. 19 | Warrendale, PA | Jergel’s Rhythm Grille
Sept. 20 | New York, NY | Bowery Ballroom
Sept. 21 | Richmond, VA | The National
Sept. 26 | Boston, MA | Paradise Rock Club
Oct. 3 | Columbus, OH | The Bluestone*
Oct. 5 I |ndianapolis, IN | 8 Seconds Saloon
Oct. 24 |Atlanta, GA | Buckhead Theatre
Oct. 25 | Nashville, TN | Exit/In
*Opener to be announced later
In addition to the tour new, Lauren recently released her new video for “Ladies in the ’90s.” The throwback clips pegs Lauren as the host of home-shopping channel LVC and pays homage to many of those rad products from the ’90s, including slap bracelets, moon shoes, butterfly hair clips and more. Check out the new video below.
photo by Tammie Arroyo, AFF-USA.com
The Academy of Country Music announced its special awardees for the 13th annual ACM Honors ceremony, which will take place August 21 at Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium.
In addition to previously announced Songwriter of the Year Award winner Shane McAnally, the ACM Honors will pay tribute to a number of artists—and a film—for their specific achievements, including Brooks & Dunn, Martina McBride, Miranda Lambert, Kacey Musgraves, Rodney Crowell, Kye Fleming, Billy Joe Shaver, Gayle Holcomb and A Star Is Born.
Check out the list of awardees, awards and past winners below.
Cliffie Stone Icon Award: This award is presented to a country music artist, duo/group or industry leader who throughout their career has advanced the popularity of the genre through their contributions in multiple facets of the industry such as songwriting, recording, production, touring, film, television, literary works, philanthropic contributions and other goodwill efforts.
Past Winners: Alabama, Bob Beckham, Garth Brooks, Glen Campbell, Johnny Cash, Charlie Daniels, Larry Gatlin & The Gatlin Brothers, Crystal Gayle, Merle Haggard, Emmylou Harris, George Jones, George Strait, The Judds, Brenda Lee, Loretta Lynn, Willie Nelson, The Oak Ridge Boys, Dolly Parton, Charley Pride, Jerry Reed, Tex Ritter, Marty Robbins, Kenny Rogers, Billy Sherrill, Ricky Skaggs, The Statler Brothers, Mel Tillis, Randy Travis, Tanya Tucker, Conway Twitty, Porter Wagoner, Keith Whitley, Hank Williams, Hank Williams Jr., Bob Wills, Dwight Yoakam and Alan Jackson.
Gary Harber Lifting Lives Award: This award is presented to a country music artist, duo/group or industry professional who is devoted to improving lives through the power of music, has a generosity of spirit, and is committed to serving others, voted on by the ACM Lifting Lives Board of Directors.
Past Winners: Brooks & Dunn, Dolly Parton, Vince Gill, Lonestar, Martina McBride, Neal McCoy, Reba McEntire, Montgomery Gentry, Rascal Flatts, LeAnn Rimes, Carrie Underwood and Darius Rucker.
Gene Weed Milestone Award: This award is presented to a country music artist, duo/group or industry leader for a specific, unprecedented or outstanding achievement in the field of country music during the preceding calendar year.
Past Winners: Jason Aldean, Garth Brooks, Luke Bryan, Kelsea Ballerini, George Burns, Kenny Chesney, Jeff Foxworthy, Merle Haggard, Gayle Holcomb, Loretta Lynn, Little Big Town, Willie Nelson, Jennifer Nettles, Blake Shelton, George Strait, Taylor Swift, Carrie Underwood and Sam Hunt.
Jim Reeves International Award: This award recognizes an artist or industry leader for outstanding contributions to the acceptance of country music throughout the world.
Past Winners: Joe Allison, Bill Boyd, Garth Brooks, Steve Buchanan, Joe Cates, Eric Church, Dick Clark, Roy Clark, Al Gallico, Merv Griffin, Jim Halsey, Alan Jackson, Ken Kragen, Lady Antebellum, Sam Louvello, Thurston Moore, Charlie Nagatani, Buck Owens, Dolly Parton, Rascal Flatts, Roy Rogers, Bob Saporiti, Louise Scruggs, Dinah Shore, Taylor Swift, Keith Urban, Jeff Walker, Jo Walker-Meador, Bill Ward and Rob Potts.
Poet’s Award: This award is presented to a country music songwriter for outstanding and longstanding musical and/or lyrical contributions throughout their career, with special consideration given to a song or songs’ impact on the culture of country music.
Past Winners: Bill Anderson, Bobby Braddock, Toby Keith, Willie Nelson, Shel Silverstein, Felice and Boudleaux Bryant, Guy Clark, Jack Clement, Hank Cochran, Dean Dillon, Merle Haggard, Tom T. Hall, Harlan Howard, Kris Kristofferson, Bob McDill, Roger Miller, Buck Owens, Eddie Rabbitt, Fred Rose, Don Schlitz, Cindy Walker, Jimmy Webb, Hank Williams, Matraca Berg and Norro Wilson.
Songwriter of the Year Award: This award is presented to an individual known predominately as a songwriter, selected by a Professional Panel of judges composed of songwriters, publishers, producers, and performing rights organization representatives.
Past Winners: Ross Copperman, Dallas Davidson, Luke Laird, Shane McAnally, Lori McKenna, Roger Miller and Rhett Akins.
Tex Ritter Film Award: This award recognizes an outstanding television movie, series or feature film released during the preceding calendar year which prominently features country music.
Past Winners: Beer For My Horses, The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas, Country Strong, Crazy Heart, Dolly Parton’s Coat of Many Colors, Nashville, O Brother, Where Art Thou, Sweet Dreams and Walk the Line, among others.
photo by Arroyo/O\’Connor, AFF-USA.com
Fox & Friends’ annual All-American Summer Concert Series will feature a country-heavy lineup this season.
Eli Young Band, Michael Ray, Rodney Atkins, Walker Hayes, Big & Rich, Runaway June, Justin Moore and Phil Vassar are all set to perform live from Fox Square—the plaza outside the network headquarters in New York—on their respective dates, which run every Friday from May 31 to the end of August.
Concerts for the Fox and Friends‘ All-American Summer Concert Series are free for the public and held on Fox Square at 48th Street and 6th Avenue in Midtown Manhattan. The concerts are also streamed online.
Check out this year’s lineup below.
May 31: Eli Young Band
June 7: Michael Ray
June 14: Rodney Atkins
June 21: Jefferson Starship
June 28: Walker Hayes
July 5: Big & Rich
July 12: Runaway June
July 19: Phil Vassar
July 26: Skillet
Aug. 2: Justin Moore
Aug. 9: TBD
Aug. 16: Newsboys
Aug. 23: Kool & the Gang
Aug. 30: TBD
photo by Tammie Arroyo, AFF-USA.com
![Tracy Lawrence Marches On With 16th Studio Album, “Made in America” [Listen to Lead Single]](https://cdn.socast.io/6616/sites/602/2019/05/28111137/Tracy-Lawrence-TA.jpg#aqua_resizer_image_not_local)
Tracy Lawrence will release his 16th studio album, Made in America, on Aug. 16.
The 12-song offering features eight songs co-penned by Tracy. Additional songwriters include Chris Stapleton, Flip Anderson, Monty Criswell and more.
“I am extremely proud of my new album,” says Tracy. “It is possibly the most personal album I have ever released. I co-wrote eight out of the 12 songs, pouring my heart and soul into each of the songs. I feel it will resonate with my fans and country music lovers across this nation.”
Tracy, who scored a number of No. 1 hits in the 1990s with songs like “Time Marches On” and Texas Tornado,” shared the new album’s title track/lead single on May 24. The new tune, which was penned by Tracy, Rick Huckaby and Adam Sanders, celebrates the hardworking men and women that exemplify American fortitude.
Listen to “Made in America” below.
Made In America Track List & Songwriters
photo by Tammie Arroyo, AFF-USA.com
![Eric Church’s Outlaw Saga Continues Inside Prison in New Video for “Some of It” [Watch]](https://cdn.socast.io/6616/sites/602/2019/05/28101637/Eric-Church-JS.jpg#aqua_resizer_image_not_local)
Eric Church debuted his new video for “Some of It” during his concert at Nashville’s Nissan Stadium on May 25.
The new clip serves as the sequel to Eric’s “Desperate Man” video, which featured Eric evading agents from “EMI”—which happens to be the name of his label—as he and the song’s co-writer, Ray Wylie Hubbard, embarked on a mission to distribute music to the people.
Eric’s new video for “Some of It” picks up with Eric entering prison. While serving his time on the inside, Eric’s wife and daughter continue their lives on the outside. As the daughter grows, she stays in contact by writing letters and shipping her dad a guitar—piece by piece—which Eric slowly reconstructs with the help of other inmates and an understanding prison guard. The daughter’s letters inspire Eric to pen “Some of It,” which leads to a jam session in his cell.
Eventuality Eric is released from prison—but this story isn’t over. As the video ends, the scene cuts to an unknown man on the phone who ominously declares, “He’s out.”
“Some of It,” which was penned by Eric, Jeff Hyde, Clint Daniels and Bobby Pinson, is featured on Eric’s 2018 album, Desperate Man.
Watch the new video below.
photo by NCD
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – Tennessee will be playing baseball in the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2005 after being selected as the No. 2 seed in the Chapel Hill Regional hosted by the University of North Carolina.
The Vols will take on No. 3 seed Liberty to open regional play at 7 p.m. ET on Friday, May 31. Regional host North Carolina will take on UNC-Wilmington in the second game of the day and both contests will be streamed live on ESPN3 and the ESPN app.
Regional play is a double-elimination format with the winner of each of the 16 regional sites advancing to Super Regional play.
This will be Tennessee’s 10th NCAA Tournament appearance and first since 2005, ending a 14-year drought. The Big Orange have made four College World Series appearances as well (1951, 1995, 2001 and 2005).
Ticket packages for the NCAA Chapel Hill Regional will go on sale Wednesday at noon while single-game tickets will be available starting Thursday at noon through the UNC ticket office website by clicking HERE. Single-game tickets will be $15 while full-session tickets can be purchased for $60. Gates will open two hours prior to first pitch and the stadium will be cleared between games.
Parking will be available in the Rams Head Deck for $10 and in the Craige Deck for free (levels 5-9). Beginning at 5 p.m. Friday through Sunday, there will also be free parking available in the Bowles Lot, the Raleigh Road Visitors Lot and on Stadium Drive. Disability parking is available for $10 in the Rams Head Deck. Ridge Road will be closed to through traffic for the weekend.
For more information on accessible parking, please visit the UNC Department of Transportation and Parking website.
2019 NCAA Chapel Hill Regional Schedule
Friday, May 31
Game 1: #1 North Carolina (38-18) vs. #4 UNCW (32-29), 2 p.m.
Game 2: #3 Liberty (42-19) vs. #2 Tennessee (38-19), 7 p.m.
Saturday, June 1
Game 3: Loser Game 1 vs. Loser Game 2, 1 p.m.
Game 4: Winner Game 1 vs. Winner Game 2, 6 p.m.
Sunday, June 3
Game 5: Winner Game 3 vs. Loser Game 4, 1 p.m.
Game 6: Winner Game 4 vs. Winner Game 5, 6 p.m.
Monday, June 3
Game 7, if necessary, 4 p.m.
NCAA Tournament Bracket | Tickets
-UT Athletics
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – In Saturday’s extra-inning back and forth affair, No. 12 Tennessee came out on top, 3-2, against the No. 5 Gators in the ninth frame thanks to a bases-loaded, walk-off walk drawn by senior Haley Bearden to force the deciding Game 3 on Sunday.
Caylan Arnold spun a gem in the circle for the Lady Vols, tossing her second 9.0-inning complete game of the season. The junior allowed just two runs (one earned) on seven hits while striking out seven of her 34 batters faced. Arnold threw a career-high 177 pitches in the outing.
The Orange and White were led at the plate by Chelsea Seggern (3-for-4) and Aubrey Leach (2-for-4). Leach scored two of Tennessee’s runs, including the winning run.
The victor of tomorrow’s Gainesville Super Regional final will advance to the Women’s College World Series and join No. 8 Alabama as two of three potential SEC schools still in the running for the championship. No. 14 Kentucky needs to win tonight to force a third game against No. 3 Washington.
On Saturday, the Lady Vols wasted no time getting on the board, scoring one run on three hits in the first inning. Leach led off with a single and then took second on a delayed steal before advancing to third on a wild pitch. Seggern then hit the senior home with an RBI single to right field.
In the fourth inning, Florida tied the contest at 1-1. UF’s Kendyl Lindaman led off with a single and moved to second on a throwing error by Tennessee. She then came around to score on Jaimie Hoover’s single.
Tennessee reclaimed the lead in the bottom of the fourth off the bat of Madison Pacini. The freshman entered as a pinch hitter with runners on second and third and one out. With a 3-1 count, Pacini roped an RBI single to left field, giving UT a 2-1 edge.
The Gators then answered in the fifth stanza with a run of their own to square the game up at 2-2. Jade Caraway reached on a fielder’s choice and scored on an RBI single to center before Arnold delivered a strikeout to leave two runners stranded.
In the bottom of the fifth, Tennessee threatened with a lead-off double by Amanda Ayala, but she was left stranded as three consecutive outs were recorded.
After a silent sixth, Arnold retired UF in order to start the seventh frame. During their turn at the plate, the Lady Vols put the go-ahead run in scoring position with two outs but a strikeout ended the threat to send the game to extras.
Both teams saw runners reach third base in the eighth inning, but to no avail as consecutive outs ended Florida’s threat and Cailin Hannon was caught stealing at home.
The Lady Vols had executed delayed steals twice already in the game and made the decision to go for it with two outs on the board. As the throw was made back to the Gators’ Kelly Barnhill, Hannon took off for home but was called out at the plate.
In the final frame, Florida had runners reach base on back-to-back walks but couldn’t muster the offense needed to drive in a run.
UT broke the stalemate in the bottom of the ninth, using one hit and three walks. With one out, Leach and Ayala drew free passes. Seggern then knocked a single to right to load the bases and bring Bearden to the plate. The outfielder stayed patient in the at-bat and drew her second straight walk of the game to bring in the winning run, giving Tennessee the 3-2 edge.
WALK IT OFF: Saturday’s walk-off win against Florida marks the Lady Vols’ first walk-off win of the season and the first since Haley Bearden hit a two-run homer in the bottom of the eighth inning vs. LSU on April 14, 2018.
ON DECK: Tennessee will face off against Florida at 2 p.m. ET on Sunday with the winner advancing to the Women’s College World Series in Oklahoma City, Okla. The game will be aired on ESPNU and UTSports.com, AM 990 and the Tennessee Gameday App will carry a live radio broadcast.
Box Score | Photo Gallery | Postgame Presser
-UT Athletics
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – The WNBA tips off its 23rd season Friday, and as the new campaign begins there will be six former Lady Vols on rosters around the league. That total leads all SEC schools.
LVFLs in the WNBA include Diamond DeShields (Chicago Sky), Isabelle Harrison (Dallas Wings), Glory Johnson (Dallas Wings), Candace Parker (Los Angeles Sparks), Mercedes Russell (Seattle Storm) and Shekinna Stricklen (Connecticut Sun).
All-time, 48 Lady Vols have gone on to play in the WNBA. A total of 42 of those Tennessee products were taken in league drafts, including 17 first-rounders and three No. 1 overall selections.
Parker is Tennessee’s most seasoned WNBA veteran and enters her 12th year in the league with L.A. as a five-time WNBA All-Star forward, two-time league MVP and 2016 WNBA Finals MVP.
Last season, the 6-foot-4 standout started in 30 of her 31 games and produced an average of 17.9 points and 8.2 rebounds per game. She tips off this season against the Las Vegas Aces on Sunday, May 26, at 8 p.m. ET with fans being able to tune in on Twitter.
Stricklen is the second-most experienced UT player in the WNBA, heading into her eighth year as a pro. She was originally drafted second overall by the Seattle Storm and begins her fifth year with the Connecticut Sun by taking on the Washington Mystics on Saturday at 7:30 p.m. (Twitter)
Last season, Stricklen saw action in 34 games and started in 30 of them, marking a career high for starts. The 6-2 guard/forward averaged 6.6 ppg. and 2.3 rpg. while playing 18.8 minutes per contest and shot a career-best 43 percent from three-point land, knocking down 58 of 135 attempts.
Johnson begins her seventh season in the league and her fourth overall with the Dallas Wings on opening day (May 24) against the Atlanta Dream at 7:30 p.m. (League Pass: WSB Now). Last year, the 6-3 two-time WNBA All-Star forward saw action in 29 games and started in 17. She averaged 8.0 ppg. and 6.0 rpg.
Joining Johnson in Dallas is Harrison, who recently was traded to the Wings by Las Vegas. Harrison sat out last season with the Aces due to medical reasons. The 6-3 forward begins her third season in the WNBA with career averages of 7.8 ppg. and 4.4 rpg. with a 50.4 shooting percentage from the field. Two seasons ago in 2018, she put up averages of 11.4 ppg. and 6.4 rpg. while starting 33 of 34 games with the San Antonio Stars.
DeShields makes her second-year debut with the Chicago Sky when they play the Minnesota Lynx on Saturday, May 25, at 8 p.m. (CBS Sports Network/FOX Sports North). Last season, DeShields appeared in 34 games and started in 33 of those, averaging 14.4 ppg., 4.9 rpg. and 2.2 apg. for the Sky. The 6-1 guard was one of five players named to the 2018 WNBA All-Rookie Team, tying for the most votes with A’ja Wilson of Las Vegas and Ariel Atkins of Washington.
After winning a WNBA Championship in her first season as a professional player, Russell returns for her second go-around with the Seattle Storm. During her rookie year, the 6-6 center saw duty in 24 contests, averaging 1.7 ppg. and 1.4 rpg. in 5.6 minutes of duty. Her first game this year is Saturday, May, 25, against the Phoenix Mercury at 3:30 p.m. (ABC), and she comes into that contest after averaging 11.0 ppg. and 8.0 rpg. during two preseason outings in 2019.
UT Athletics
Warner Music Nashville has shared a previously unreleased song, “One in a Row,” by Country Music Hall of Fame member Randy Travis.
Randy recorded the breakup ballad prior to his stroke in 2013. Penned by Buddy Jewell and Thom McHugh, “One in a Row” is Randy’s first new tune in six years and comes out on the heels of the release of his new book, Forever and Ever, Amen: A Memoir of Music, Faith, and Braving the Storms of Life, which chronicles Randy’s working-class childhood, country music career, medical problems, broken marriage and more.
Over the course of his career, Randy has recorded 18 No. 1 hits and sold more than 25 million albums. He suffered a near-fatal stroke in 2013, but with the help of wife Mary and physical therapy, he has made improvements in his speaking, walking and singing. He was elected into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2016. Randy celebrated his 60th birthday in April.
Listen to “One in a Row” below.
photo by Tammie Arroyo, AFF-USA.com
