Eric Church added four new dates to his current 2019 Double Down Tour, including stops in San Francisco (Sept. 28), Grand Rapids, Mich. (Oct. 4 and 5), and Birmingham, Ala. (Oct. 26).
Eric kicked off his 2019 Double Down Tour in January, having already performed more than 25 shows. Tickets for the new dates go on sale on May 3, with pre-sale for fan club members starting on April 30.
2019 Double Down Tour (new dates in bold)
April 27–28 | Greenville, S.C. | Bon Secours Wellness Arena May 3–4 | Pittsburgh, Pa. | PPG Paints Arena May 10–11 | Denver, Colo. | Pepsi Center May 17–18 | Los Angeles, Calif. | Staples Center May 25 | Nashville, Tenn. | Nissan Stadium June 28–29 | George, Wash. | The Gorge Amphitheatre July 5 | Ottawa, Ontario, Canada | Ottawa Bluesfest July 7 | Cavendish, Prince Edward Island, Canada | Cavendish Beach Music Festival Sept. 13–14 | Green Bay, Wisc. | Resch Center Sept. 20–21 | Calgary, Alberta, Canada | Soctiabank Saddledome Sept. 28 | San Francisco, Calif. | Chase Center Oct. 4–5 | Grand Rapids, Mich. | Van Andel Arena Oct. 11–12 | Philadelphia, Pa. | Wells Fargo Center Oct. 25 | Little Rock, Ark. | Verizon Arena Oct. 26 | Birmingham, Ala. | Legacy Arena at the BJCC Nov. 1 | Manchester, N.H. | SNHU Arena Nov. 2 | Hartford, Conn. | XL Center Nov. 15–16 | Washington, DC | Anthem Nov. 22–23 | Sacramento, Calif. | Golden 1 Center
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – Kyle Phillips had a breakout senior season in 2018 for the Vols. The Nashville, Tenn., native totaled 55 tackles, five sacks and eight TFLs, while starting all 12 games and capturing Tennessee’s Defensive MVP honor at the end-of-year banquet.
His top highlight came when he intercepted Alabama quarterback Jalen Hurts in the third quarter on the Third Saturday in October, making the pick while engaged with an offensive lineman, before breaking four tackles and rumbling 27 yards for a touchdown.
That play perfectly summed up Phillips’ season and career, and it’s why he has a great shot at being selected at the 2019 NFL Draft this weekend (Thursday to Saturday) in Nashville.
Phillips showed off his athleticism, but also his heart.
Alabama had a commanding lead in the the third quarter, but the 6-4 277-pounder continued to play hard despite the score. And he surely wasn’t about to be tackled before scoring his first-career touchdown.
He was productive, versatile and worked his tail off at Tennessee.
“I never give up,” Phillips said. “No matter what the score is. We don’t look at the score. We play until the whistle. My mindset has always been to go hard each and every rep and each and every play. That’s just how I was built.”
Projections tab Phillips as the Volunteer with the best chance of being selected by an NFL team this weekend after his standout senior season and impressive performances at the East-West Shrine Game, the NFL Regional Combine Invitational in Kansas City, Mo. and his Pro Day in Knoxville.
Phillips, who graduated with a degree in sports management in three years from Tennessee and pursued a master’s degree as a senior, would be a high priority free agent signing for NFL teams if he is not selected.
“A lot of teams have shown interest in me,” Phillips said. “They really like my versatility. I can be a contributor right away. A lot of teams are thinking that I could be a third-day draft pick.
“Coach (Jeremy) Pruitt and his staff showed my versatility this year – being able to play at the end spot and being able to play inside. It allowed me to make a lot of plays.”
Fellow defensive linemen Shy Tuttle and Alexis Johnson, defensive back Micah Abernathy, linebacker Jonathan Kongbo and graduate transfers Keller Chryst, a quarterback, and Madre London, a running back, are also hoping to hear their names called in the draft, and will likely sign NFL contracts this weekend.
While the NFL Draft will take place in downtown Nashville, Phillips will be close by at the house where he grew up. He will be spending time with friends and family, including his mother Teresa Phillips – the Director of Athletics at Tennessee State.
At the conclusion of the 2018 season, Phillips began training at XPE Sports in Boca Raton, Fla. where VFLs Derek Barnett and Rashaan Gaulden had also prepped for the NFL. There, Phillips focused on preparing for the East-West Shrine Game before readying himself for the Regional Combine and Pro Day.
The training produced impressive results.
Phillips ran a 40-yard dash in the 4.6s at 277 pounds.
“I had a really good week at the East-West Game that allowed me to open eyes for different teams and scouts,” he said. “Then, I backed it up at the regional combine, and did the same at my Pro Day.
“Any opportunity that came my way, I had to show my abilities.”
Since his Pro Day at Tennessee in March, Phillips has split his time between Knoxville and Nashville, and continues to work out daily.
He is passionate about his university and the direction the football program is headed.
“This staff and Coach Pruitt have a great track record of developing players,” Phillips said. “They are great coaches and come from winning programs. The definitely instilled that winning attitude in me and my team. They have risen the expectations for us as players. Coach (Tracy) Rocker has done a great job of keeping us accountable. He is a coach that won’t settle.”
Phillips was a five-star recruit when he came to Tennessee in 2015. He battled injuries for much of his first two seasons, before starting seven games as a junior in 2017 and emerging as one of the Vols best players and unquestioned leaders in 2018.
He played for three defensive coordinators and three defensive line coaches.
“I kind of am an underdog, and I am kind of a guy that people wrote off,” Phillips said. “I had to work my way back up to prove I can play at the next level, and be a great player at the next level.”
Along the way, he earned his degree and collected numerous academic honors, including CoSIDA Google Cloud Academic All-District first-team accolades last fall.
The next chapter in his story begins this weekend. Phillips is naturally excited.
He is also reflective and thankful for his time on Rocky top.
“Tennessee is the best place to play college football,” Phillips said. “The atmosphere is unmatched. The passion of the fans is unmatched. It’s a place I can call home always. I will miss the atmosphere, the fans and ’Running through the T.’ I’m a VFL and I know I’m always welcomed back.
“I’m proud of what I’ve done at Tennessee, and I’m definitely going to miss it.”
Reggie Cobb’s Son Will Announce 49ers Second-Round Pick on Friday
The San Francisco 49ers announced that Reggie Cobb’s son, DeMarcus, will announce their second-round draft pick on Friday in Nashville.
The 49ers currently have the No. 36 overall pick in the second round.
Reggie Cobb passed away on Saturday morning at the age of 50. He was one of the top running backs in Tennessee history, leading the Vols in rushing in 1987 and 1988 and rushing for 225 yards against Auburn in 1989.
Cobb was a second-round pick in the 1990 NFL Draft and starred for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers before returning to Tennessee to finish his degree in 1999. He was a longtime scout for the 49ers, who also announced they will leave a seat open in honor of Cobb in their draft room this weekend.
Two other Tennessee legends, Al Wilson and Jamal Lewis, are scheduled to announce draft picks on Friday, as well.
Wilson is slated to announce the Denver Broncos’ second-round pick (No. 41), while Lewis is expected to announce one of the Baltimore Ravens’ two third-round picks (No. 85, No. 102).
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — The University of Tennessee placed 41 student-athletes on the 2018-19 Winter Southeastern Conference Academic Honor Roll that was announced Wednesday by league commissioner Greg Sankey.
The UT women’s swimming and diving program led the way with 21 making the list. Men’s swimming and diving boasted 15 members earning academic honors, while the men’s basketball and women’s basketball teams had three and two honorees, respectively.
A total of 705 student-athletes were named to the 2018-19 Winter SEC Academic Honor Roll. It includes the sports of men’s and women’s basketball, equestrian, gymnastics, and men’s and women’s swimming and diving. It is based on grades from the 2018 Spring, Summer and Fall terms.
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 SEC 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 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.
University of Tennessee 2018-19 Winter SEC Academic Honor Roll Members
Marty Stuart’s 18th annual Late Night Jam will return to Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium on Wednesday, June 5 at 9 p.m. CT.
The event, in association with Marty Stuart’s Congress of Country Music, will take place during CMA’s Music Festival week and feature a hand-picked lineup of musicians and entertainers, including Steve Miller, Sheryl Crow, Dierks Bentley and Tyler Childers.
Tickets for Stuart’s Late Night Jam will go on sale on April 26 at 10 a.m. CT.
Miranda Lambert and her pet pooches will be taking part in the MuttNation March through downtown Nashville on June 6 during CMA Fest week. The almost-one-mile march, which aims to raise awareness and funds for shelter pet adoption, will start at Nissan Stadium, continue across the Nashville pedestrian bridge and end at the Walk of Fame Park, where Storme Warren will interview Miranda in a live broadcast.
“We’re hoping that 1,000 or more people, some with their furry friends, will join us walking in support of shelter pet adoption,” said Miranda, the proud owner of eight rescue animals.
In addition, MuttNation will entertain CMA Fest attendees for the third year with adoptable dogs on the floor of Xfinity Fan Fair X at the Music City Center on June 6–9 from 12 p.m–3 p.m. Bev Lambert, Miranda’s mom and co-founder of the MuttNation Foundation, will be on-site to have photos taken with each of the new forever families. More than 100 shelter dogs found forever homes during the event in 2017 and 2018.
Miranda and Bev started the MuttNation Foundation in 2009, an organization with the mission of ending animal suffering and homelessness on every front. The foundation has successfully raised millions of dollars to aid organizations, government institutions and entities that build animal shelters for better care and increased pet adoption.
A number of country stars raised a glass in support of the T.J. Martell Foundation’s Best Cellars event at Loews Vanderbilt Hotel Nashville on April 22. The wine-tasting event, which also featured a gourmet dinner, helped raise more than $400,000 to benefit the T.J. Martell Foundation, the music industry’s leading foundation to fund innovative cancer research.
Country stars in attendance included Kix Brooks, Michael Ray, Carly Pearce, Hunter Hayes, Cole Swindell, Big Kenny Alphin of Big & Rich, Charles Kelley of Lady Antebellum, Trevor Rosen of Old Dominion, Bryan White and more.
Best Cellars provided guests the opportunity to mingle with the country stars while sipping rare wine and enjoying a sit-down dinner. Chefs Vivian Howard and Jason Stanhope created the dinner menu.
Kiefer Sutherland has announced a new tour in support of his sophomore album, Reckless & Me, which drops on April 26.
The tour kicks off on May 29 in Austin, with additional stops in Nashville, St. Louis, Boston, New York and more. Tickets go on sale on April 26. Additional dates are expected to be announced in the coming weeks.
“I couldn’t have imagined the depth with which I have fallen in love with touring,” says Kiefer. “To have the opportunity to convey intimate, personal stories to an audience has proven to be priceless.”
Kiefer Sutherland Tour
May 29 | Austin, TX | 3Ten Austin City Limits Live
May 30 | The Woodlands, TX| Dosey Doe – The Big Barn
May 31 | Fort Worth, TX | Billy Bob’s Texas
June 1 | West Siloam Springs, OK | Cherokee Casino West Siloam Springs
Dan + Shay will perform “Speechless” at the Billboard Music Awards on May 1. The duo picked up seven Billboard nominations, including all-genre nods in the Top Duo/Group category and Chart Achievement.
Additional artists who are slated to perform include Madonna with Maluma, the Jonas Brothers, Kelly Clarkson, Khalid, Sam Smith with Normani, Panic! at the Disco, Lauren Daigle, BTS, Ciara, Halsey and Tori Kelly
Hosted by Kelly Clarkson, the 2019 Billboard Music Awards will air live from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on Wednesday, May 1 at 8 p.m. ET on NBC.
Check out all of the country-centric nominations below.
Billboard Chart Achievement Award (all genre)
Dan + Shay
Drake
Ariana Grande
Lady Gaga & Bradley Cooper
Dua Lipa
Top Duo/Group (all genre)
Dan + Shay
BTS
Imagine Dragons
Maroon 5
Panic! At The Disco
Top Radio Song (all genre)
Bebe Rexha & Florida Georgia Line, “Meant to Be”
Zedd, Maren Morris & Grey, “The Middle”
Khalid & Normani, “Love Lies”
Maroon 5 ft. Cardi B, “Girls Like You”
Post Malone, “Better Now”
Top Country Artist
Jason Aldean
Kane Brown
Luke Combs
Dan + Shay
Florida Georgia Line
Top Country Male Artist
Jason Aldean
Kane Brown
Luke Combs
Top Country Female Artist
Maren Morris
Kacey Musgraves
Carrie Underwood
Top Country Duo/Group
Dan + Shay
Florida Georgia Line
Old Dominion
Top Country Tour
Luke Bryan
Kenny Chesney
Shania Twain
Top Country Album
Jason Aldean, Rearview Town
Kane Brown, Kane Brown
Luke Combs, This One’s For You
Dan + Shay, Dan + Shay
Carrie Underwood, Cry Pretty
Top Country Song
Kane Brown, “Heaven”
Luke Combs, “She Got the Best of Me”
Dan + Shay, “Speechless”
Dan + Shay, “Tequila”
Bebe Rexha & Florida Georgia Line, “Meant to Be”
Top Dance/Electronic Song
Zedd, Maren Morris & Grey, “The Middle”
DJ Snake ft. Selena Gomez, Ozuna & Cardi B, “Taki Taki”
Calvin Harris & Dua Lipa, “One Kiss”
Marshmello & Bastille, “Happier”
Tiësto & Dzeko ft. Preme & Post Malone ,“Jackie Chan”
Earlier this month, Jason Aldean joined a select group of country artists who have been named ACM Artist of the Decade. Jason, who is a three-time ACM Entertainer of the Year and 14-time ACM Award winner, is now in the company of past winners Marty Robbins (1969), Loretta Lynn (1979), Alabama (1988), Garth Brooks (1998) and George Strait (2008).
As Jason told Kix Brooks of American Country Countdown, he was “blown away” when he learned he had been named ACM Artist of the Decade. In fact, Jason, a longtime baseball fan, used a classic baseball idiom to describe his surprise, saying the honor “came out of left field.”
“We had been in the studio working on a new album, and my manager came over and kind of pulled me outside and goes, ‘I need to talk to you,’ and I thought, ‘Man, what did I do now?’” says Jason. “That was kind of the first thing that popped into my head, and he goes, ‘You know, they’re giving away the Artist of the Decade Award this year at the ACMs, and they just voted you to be the one to get it,’ and I was completely blown away. I guess more so just because . . . they clearly don’t give it out every year. It’s every 10 years, so it wasn’t even on my radar that it was coming up or that it was a thing, you know? It really came out of left field for me. There are a lot of artists I think are very worthy of the award, so for us to be the ones to get that, and people think enough of us to vote us in and feel like that we should have that, it means a lot to me.”
Here’s a fun fact: the five previous winners of the ACM Artist of the Decade Award have all been inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame.
Over the course of his 30-year career and countless number of performances, singer/songwriter Robert Earl Keen has grown accustomed to standing onstage behind the mic. On April 30, Robert Earl will finally get to sit behind the mic as the host of the new project, Americana Podcast: The 51st State.
The new podcast is dedicated to sharing and expanding the roots, reach and definition of the Americana genre. Each episode is told from the point of view of the artists who have dedicated their lives to Americana music.
“Our mission is reflected in the title,” says Robert Earl. “We want to define and expand the Americana music genre. Let’s unify the musical styles of folk, blues, bluegrass, country, string band, garage band rock into a powerful collectible under the same umbrella. Let’s make Americana, as Shakespeare said, ‘familiar in his mouth as household words.’ That is our mission. That is our goal.”
Scheduled to premiere on April 30, the first season will kick off with two episodes featuring guests Jamestown Revival and Lucero. The first season of the show will profile six artists, with new episodes releasing each month.
![Country Stars Help Raise More Than $400,000 for Cancer Research at the T.J. Martell Foundation’s “Best Cellars” Event [Photo Gallery]](https://cdn.socast.io/6616/sites/602/2019/04/24112623/Kix-Brooks-Carly-Pearce-Cole_Swindell-Michael-Ray-TA.jpg#aqua_resizer_image_not_local)
