Jake Owen and girlfriend Erica Hartlein welcomed daughter Paris Hartley Owen into the world on April 29.
Jake shared the news via Twitter, noting that his daughter shares a birthday with Willie Nelson: “It’s a Willie great day!! Well Happy Birthday to @WillieNelson born on this day April 29th, 1933. Also, happy birthday to my little beautiful daughter, Paris Hartley Owen born today April 29th, 2019. #GodIsGreat.”
It’s a Willie great day!!
Well Happy Birthday to @WillieNelson born on this day April 29th, 1933.
Also, happy birthday to my little beautiful daughter, Paris Hartley Owen born today April 29th, 2019.#GodIsGreat
The guys from Old Dominion—Matthew Ramsey, Trevor Rosen, Geoff Sprung, Brad Tursi and Whit Sellers—scored their sixth No. 1 hit on the Billboard Country Airplay with “Make It Sweet.” The new track, which was co-penned by the band with Shane McAnally, is also No. 1 on the Mediabase chart this week.
“We walked into the studio one day without discussing what we wanted the next step for our band to be,” says Matthew. “The plan was to write a song and record it on that same day. What happened was something we could never have planned. The words fell out and the next thing we knew, we had recorded ‘Make It Sweet.’ It’s raw, natural and 100 percent us. We are so proud and grateful to have the opportunity to share such a meaningful moment for our band with the world.”
“Make It Sweet” is the lead single from Old Dominion’s upcoming third studio album. The band is currently on the road for its 50-plus-date Make It Sweet Tour.
Blake Shelton and Luke Bryan will headline two concerts during the grand opening week (May 23–26) of Ole Red Tishomingo’s new music hall, The Doghouse.
Luke will headline at The Doghouse on May 23 (tickets on sale on May 2), while Blake will headline on May 24 (tickets on sale on May 3).
Proceeds from the ticket sales for Luke and Blake’s shows will benefit the Oklahoma Wildlife Conservation Foundation.
“It’s unreal to me that a spot like The Doghouse exists in Tishomingo,” says Blake. “Growing up, if I wasn’t outdoors hunting or fishing, I was looking for a stage to play music. The Doghouse is going to be the best place to see all the great talent that exists in this part of the country. I’m excited to get the party started with my friend Luke and support a cause that’s so close to my heart.”
The Doghouse’s weekly programming will include: Thursday Night Jams; Live in Concert on Friday nights; the Shindig dance party on Saturday nights; and more.
Blake opened Ole Red Tishomingo—a restaurant, live-music venue and retail space—in his home state of Oklahoma in 2017. Blake has opened additional Ole Red venues in Nashville (May 2018) and Gatlinburg (March 2019) with a fourth location in Orlando slated to open in 2020.
Maren Morris added a handful of new dates to her Girl: The World Tour, which kicked off earlier this month.
New stops include Philadelphia, Minneapolis, Jacksonville and more. Tickets for many of the new dates go on sale on May 3, with pre-sale beginning on April 30.
Girl: The World Tour (new dates)
Sept. 5 | Wallingford, CT | Oakdale Theatre
Sept. 7 | Philadelphia | The Met Philadelphia
Sept. 12 | Mesa, AZ | Mesa Amphitheater
Sept. 26 | Des Moines, IA | Des Moines Water Works Park
Sept. 27 | Columbia, MO | Roots, Blues & BBQ Festival
Nov. 16 | Minneapolis, MN | The Armory
Nov. 21 | Jacksonville, FL | Jacksonville Veterans Memorial Arena
Jennifer Nettles will have the honor of singing the national anthem before the start of the 145th Kentucky Derby on May 4.
Jennifer follows in the hallowed hoofprints of previous country stars who have performed the anthem at the Derby, including Lady Antebellum (2016), Jo Dee Messina (2014), Martina McBride (2013), Rascal Flatts (2010) and more.
Jennifer’s performance of “The Star-Spangled Banner” will be broadcast live on NBC and take place in front of approximately 160,000 fans attending the 2019 Kentucky Derby. Jennifer will perform the anthem in the Kentucky Derby Winner’s Circle just after 5 p.m. ET, immediately prior to the race.
Blake Shelton and Kelly Clarkson turned the L.A. premiere of UglyDollys on April 27 into a family friendly event.
Blake was in attendance with his girlfriend Gwen Stefani and her three kids—Kingston Rossdale, Apollo Rossdale and Zuma Rossdale—while Kelly was in tow with husband Brandon Blackstock, children River Rose and Remy, and step-children Savannah and Seth.
Blake and Kelly voice animated charters in the UglyDolls movie, which is based on the UglyDolls toy brand that features “characters who are distinct for their endearing ‘ugliness’ in a wonderful ‘uglyverse’ where differences are celebrated and embraced.”
According to the movie’s press release, “Unconventionality rules in UglyDolls, the new animated family adventure based on the beloved toy brand. In the adorably different town of Uglyville, the free-spirited Moxy and her friends confront what it means to be different, struggle with their desire to be loved, and ultimately discover that you don’t have to be perfect to be amazing because who you truly are is what matters most.”
Blake’s character, Ox, fancies himself the defacto mayor of the UglyDolls, while Kelly voices Moxy, the confident leader of the group.
STXfilms will release UglyDolls in theaters May 10. An animated kids series is also underway with a full series order from Hulu.
Randy Travis will make a special appearance on the Grand Ole Opry stage on May 4 to celebrate his 60th birthday.
Charles Esten, Josh Turner and Charlie Worsham are all scheduled to appear on the Opry on Randy’s birthday, as is fellow Country Music Hall of Fame member Don Schlitz, who penned a number of Randy’s biggest hits, including “Deeper Than The Holler,” “Forever And Ever, Amen,” “Heroes And Friends,” “On the Other Hand” and “Point Of Light.”
Randy will release his new book, Forever and Ever, Amen: A Memoir of Music, Faith and Braving the Storms of Life, on May 14. Randy, with the help of author Ken Abraham, shares stories of his working-class childhood, country music career, medical problems, broken marriage and more.
“I didn’t really feel I had a book to write until I stood on the distant shore and looked back over the ripples my life has made—on myself and on others,” said Randy. “My songs were the stories of my life and I learned from those who listened, they were theirs too—my fans inspired me and continue to do so.”
Vocal powerhouses Pink and Chris Stapleton teamed up for a new song, “Love Me Anyway,” which is featured on Pink’s new album, Hurts 2B Human.
Pink co-penned the tune with Allen Shamblin and Tom Douglas, the songwriting tandem behind Miranda Lambert’s “The House That Built Me.” The heavy-hearted piano ballad features Chris’ harmony vocals.
This isn’t Pink’s first foray working with a country artist—she collaborated with Kenny Chesney in 2016 for the duet, “Setting the World on Fire,” which hit the top of Billboard’s Country Airplay chart later that year.
Listen to “Love Me Anyway” below.
photos: Pink by Curtis Hilbun; Chris Stapleton by Tammie Arroyo, AFF-USA.com
Garth Brooks will make his mobile game debut on May 1 as he teams with Words With Friends for the final pre-sale of The Legacy Collection, his upcoming seven-disc vinyl collection that feature five albums: No Fences, The Chase, In Pieces, Fresh Horses and Triple Live.
On May 1 at 8:15 p.m. CT, Garth will co-host Words With Friends LIVE, the nightly trivia game broadcast within Words With Friends 2. In conjunction, the final pre-order window for special numbered editions of The Legacy Collection will open on that same day at 6 p.m. CT.
“For years, Words With Friends has been bringing the world together to play and build relationships between families, strangers and friends,” said Garth. “Their journey leads those who play to each other. I am a big fan and big player of Words With Friends and my relationships with my family and friends are better for it. It is an honor to team with them to spread the words of love, music and unity.”
To join Garth in his Words With Friends LIVE co-hosting debut, log in to Words With Friends 2 on May 1 at 8:15 p.m. CT. Additionally, from May 1–5 players of Words With Friends will be treated to additional in-game Garth Brooks activities, like Garth-inspired ‘Word of the Day’ entries.
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – University of Tennessee women’s basketball head coach Kellie Harper announced Thursday that Lacey Goldwire has joined her staff as an assistant coach and recruiting coordinator.
She will be part of a Lady Vol program that includes previously-announced assistants Jon Harper and Jennifer Sullivan.
The 2019-20 campaign will mark her eighth season full-time and her 12th year overall in the coaching profession, including stops at Oklahoma State, Morehead State, Iowa, Arkansas and now Rocky Top. She has been part of programs that have earned postseason berths in nine of 11 seasons.
“We are very excited to be adding Lacey Goldwire to our coaching staff,” Harper said. “Lacey is a person of high character and has a wonderful personality. She is a terrific recruiter and has knowledge and experience in the SEC that will prove to be very beneficial for our program.”
Goldwire comes to Knoxville from the University of Arkansas, where she spent the past two seasons as an assistant on Mike Neighbors’ staff. Since arriving in April 2017, she has helped in the rebuilding process as the Razorbacks went from 13-18 in Neighbors’ first season to 22-15 a year ago with a trip to the SEC Tournament championship game and the WNIT third round.
Prior to joining Neighbors in Fayetteville, Goldwire contributed to four postseason appearances in as many years at the University of Iowa. She worked with the wing players and served as the recruiting coordinator for the Hawkeyes, helping set the table for this season’s run to the NCAA Elite Eight.
Her initial season in Iowa City was the first of back-to-back trips to the NCAA Tournament. A 27-win season included a second round appearance in the Big Dance in 2013-14. Iowa returned to the NCAA Tournament in 2014-15 and defeated 14th-seeded American (75-67) in the first round and 11th-seeded Miami (88-70) in the second round. The victory secured a Sweet Sixteen berth at home on Mediacom Court in Carver-Hawkeye Arena.
The Hawkeyes closed their season with a 26-8 record overall, a runner-up finish in Big Ten Conference play with a 14-4 mark, and a No. 11 national ranking in the USA Today Top 25 Coaches’ Poll — then the highest for the program since 1995-96 (No. 7 in AP, No. 9 in USA Today). UI was one of 13 teams nationally to finish undefeated at home with an 18-0 mark, setting a program record for wins at home in a single season.
Goldwire and the Hawkeyes were one win shy of 20 in 2015-16, playing in the WNIT, but they reached 20 wins in 2016-17 and went deep into the WNIT bracket with wins over Missouri State, South Dakota and Colorado.
During her time in Iowa, Goldwire worked with consensus All-America selection Samantha Logic, whose honors also included being named a WBCA Division I Coaches All-American, USBWA All-American, ESPN Second Team All-American and Third Team Associated Press All-American. Logic was the only player in NCAA history to accumulate at least 1,500 career points, 800 rebounds, 800 assists and 200 steals. She also was one of 12 players in the country to be invited to attend the 2015 WNBA Draft, where she was selected with the 10th overall pick by the Atlanta Dream.
Goldwire spent the 2012-13 season as an assistant coach at Morehead State. Prior to joining the Eagles’ staff, Goldwire served on the Oklahoma State staff for four seasons — two as a student assistant (2008-10) and two as a graduate assistant (2010-12).
Following Oklahoma State’s tragic loss of its head and assistant coach during a plane crash in November of 2011, Goldwire was elevated to interim assistant coach, where she took on added recruiting duties. During her time with the program, the Cowgirls won 80 games and advanced to the postseason all four years, winning the 2012 WNIT championship.
A native of Oklahoma City, Goldwire played collegiately at East Central (Okla.) University, where she ranks fifth in career scoring with 1,340 points. She averaged 21.1 points and 5.9 rebounds as a senior and was tabbed Lone Star Conference North Co-Player of the Year and Second-Team All-South Central Region. She also earned ECU’s Athlete of the Year honor in 2007-08. She was named honorable mention All-LSC following her sophomore and junior campaigns.
Goldwire, an all-state and all-city player at Del City (Okla.) High School, graduated from Oklahoma State with a bachelor of science in education and a master’s degree in teaching, learning and leadership in 2010.
Randy will release his new book, Forever and Ever, Amen: A Memoir of Music, Faith and Braving the Storms of Life, on May 14. Randy, with the help of author Ken Abraham, shares stories of his working-class childhood, country music career, medical problems, broken marriage and more.
