Kane Brown, 25, and wife Katelyn Jae, 26, are expecting their first child.
Kane made the announcement via Instagram on April 15 by posting a sonogram photo with the caption: “It’s been so hard keeping this a secret!!!!! But the KB’S ARE GONNA BE PARENTS!!! KB3 🤗🤗🤗🤗🤗 IM GONNA BE A DADDY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!”
Kane and Katelyn Jae were married in October 2018.
Congrats to the happy couple.
photo by Arroyo/O\’Connor, AFF-USA.com
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – Tennessee women’s basketball head coach Kellie Harper has announced the first two assistants on her staff, selecting a pair of coaches with very successful stints working alongside her in Jon Harper and Jennifer Sullivan.
Jon Harper is Kellie Harper‘s husband, and he has been a vital member of her staff for all 15 of her previous years as a head coach. Sullivan, meanwhile, was an integral part of the program with them at Missouri State from 2013-18, serving as an assistant coach and recruiting coordinator there before spending the 2018-19 season at Ohio State as an assistant coach.
“I am really pleased to announce the addition of Jon Harper and Jennifer Sullivan as assistant coaches on the Lady Vol coaching staff,” Harper said. “In addition to each of them bringing different strengths to the table, there is a proven record of us working well together as a team to build measurable success in a program. Loyalty and trust are key components in how we operate every single day.
“Jennifer possesses great character, has a tremendous way with people, and is very intelligent and efficient in how she goes about her work. Jon is terrific with game flow as well as time and score, and he displays a persistent coaching approach. I am excited to work beside them but even more excited for our players to have the opportunity to learn from Jennifer and Jon.”
JON HARPER
Jon Harper is set to begin his 16th year serving as an assistant to Kellie Harper after the two worked together as assistants at Auburn and Chattanooga. He assists her with all aspects of the program.
In six seasons at Missouri State, Harper mentored players who earned a total of 15 all-Missouri Valley Conference selections, including two-time first-team picks Kenzie Williams and Liza Fruendt, 2016 MVC Player of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year Tyonna Snow, 2018 first-team selection Alexa Willard and 2019 first-team choice Danielle Gitzen.
The Lady Bears accumulated 118 wins, five top-three MVC finishes and five postseason berths with Harper on staff, including a 2016 NCAA Tournament appearance after a 24-10 record and MVC Tournament championship and a 2019 NCAA Tournament Sweet 16 finish with a 25-10 record and MVC tourney title.
While at North Carolina State from 2009-13, Harper tutored four different players to a combination of All-Atlantic Coast Conference, All-ACC Freshman, all-tournament honors and a league Freshman of the Year award. Harper helped a team that was predicted to finish ninth in the ACC to a fifth-place finish and NCAA Tournament berth in 2010, as well as a pair of WNIT appearances his final two seasons there.
Prior to NC State, Harper spent five years as an assistant coach at Western Carolina with Kellie, and before that three seasons at Chattanooga, before heading to WCU with Kellie for the 2004-05 campaign.
During his time at Western Carolina, Harper worked with the backcourt players and helped produce five all-conference selections and the Southern Conference’s Defensive Player of the Year in 2008. The Catamounts advanced to the postseason four of his five years on staff, including a pair of NCAA Tournament berths.
Harper got the coaching bug while serving as a manager at Auburn for three seasons from 1996-99, and he worked his way up to numerous administrative responsibilities with the team.
While he was with Auburn, the Lady Tigers compiled a 58-29 record that included the 1997 SEC Tournament Championship and a pair of NCAA Tournament berths in 1997 and 1999.
Harper joined the Auburn team as manager starting in 1996-97 and worked up to head manager in 1998-99. That season, he was charged with increasing responsibilities that included overseeing the men’s team that scrimmaged the Lady Tigers. He eventually served an internship with the coaching staff.
Harper earned his bachelor’s degree in health promotion/sports management in March 1999 and in May of that year married the former Kellie Jolly. After receiving his degree, Harper taught physical education and was an assistant football coach at Lee-Scott Academy in Auburn. He then moved into private business before joining the basketball coaching ranks on the Chattanooga staff.
The Harpers welcomed their first child, son Jackson, in November 2013, and had a daughter, Kiley, in June 2018.
JENNIFER SULLIVAN
Sullivan, who spent five seasons at Missouri State with the Harpers, joined the OSU women’s program last season. Her lone year in Columbus found the Buckeyes mixing together five graduate transfers and three freshmen with four returning players. Sullivan played an instrumental role in developing chemistry throughout the campaign. The Buckeyes started the year 4-8 but went on to win 10 of their final 15 regular season games to finish fifth in the Big Ten with a 10-8 mark.
At Missouri State, she served as the recruiting coordinator for Harper and played a significant role in the Lady Bears landing stellar recruiting classes each of her five seasons there.
In her first recruiting class at MSU, Sullivan helped land a trio of all-state players from Missouri and another from Illinois that helped the Lady Bears to 79 wins and four postseason appearances during the careers, combining for 439 career games, more than 3,100 points and nearly 1,500 rebounds.
Missouri State’s subsequent recruiting classes reinforced the school’s strong presence in the region, with players from Missouri, Iowa, Kansas, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Illinois and Minnesota signing National Letters of Intent.
Prior to making the move to Springfield, Sullivan spent the 2012-13 season as associate head coach for Garry Brodhead at the University of Louisiana in Lafayette, serving as the team’s recruiting coordinator while handling guard development and scheduling.
Prior to her stint with the Ragin’ Cajuns, Sullivan was an assistant at Arkansas State in her hometown of Jonesboro for three seasons. Sullivan served as ASU’s recruiting coordinator in addition to duties with summer camps, academic monitoring and opponent scouting.
Sullivan’s strong southern ties date to her playing days at Memphis from 2001-05, where she was a three-year starter and helped the Tigers to the second round of the WNIT in 2004. She finished her Memphis career with 800 points, 310 rebounds and 99 steals, graduating in 2005 with a communications degree after being named team MVP her senior season.
Sullivan remained in Memphis upon graduation as an assistant for the Rhodes College women and followed that by spending the 2007-08 season on the Memphis sideline before becoming an assistant at McNeese State for the 2008-09 campaign.
UT Athletics
After 40 weeks at country radio, Riley Green’s debut single, “There Was a Girl,” has reached No. 1 on the Mediabase chart.
Co-penned by Riley and Erik Dylan, “There Was a Girl” is featured on Riley’s major-label debut EP, In a Truck Right Now, which was released in June 2018 by Big Machine. Every track on the four-song EP, which Dan Huff produced, was co-penned by Riley.
“I just want to thank everyone for the last year of my life,” says Riley. “To go from framing houses back home to having the number one song in country music is pretty amazing. Huge shoutout to country radio for playing my song, BMLG for believing in a kid from Alabama and Erik Dylan for writing this song with me. And I can’t thank my fans enough for supporting me from day one—hope to see you all on the road soon.”
photo by Tammie Arroyo, AFF-USA.com
Brantley Gilbert announced he will hit the road this summer for his headlining 2019 Not Like Us Tour.
The tour will kick off on June 20 in Cincinnati, with future stops in Pittsburgh, St. Louis, Tampa and more. Additional dates will be announced soon.
Michael Ray and Lindsay Ell will serve as support on the tour.
“I’m trying to open things up, but keep bringing the intensity,” says Brantley. “I think Michael really gets how guys feel, and rolls into a sound that’s all his own, and Lindsay, man, the only thing better than the way she sings is the way she plays that guitar! I am really fired up to be bringing both these folks out on the road this fall, because I know they’re gonna give the BG Nation something that’s gonna lift em up, throw em down, and make them glad they got there early.”
2019 Not Like Us Tour
June 20 | Riverbend Music Center | Cincinnati, Ohio*
Aug. 22 | Darling’s Waterfront Pavilion | Bangor, Maine
Aug. 23 | Bank of New Hampshire Amp. | Gilford, New Hampshire
Aug. 24 | Xfinity Theater | Hartford, Connecticut*
Aug. 30 | Darien Lake Amphitheater | Darien Center, New York
Aug. 31 | KeyBank Pavilion | Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Sept. 20 | Hollywood Casino Amphitheater | St. Louis, Missouri
Sept. 21 | Ruoff Home Mortgage Music Center | Indianapolis, Indiana*
Sept. 27 | Daily’s Place | Jacksonville, Florida*
Sept. 28 | MIDFLORIDA Credit Union Amp. | Tampa, Florida
Oct. 10 | Ameris Bank Amphitheater | Alpharetta, Georgia
Oct. 11 | PNC Music Pavilion | Charlotte, NC*
*on sale soon
photo by Curtis Hilbun, AFF-USA.com
Hal Ketchum is suffering from Alzheimer’s disease/dementia, according to a post made by his wife Andrea on Hal’s official Facebook page.
Hal, 66, had a string of hits in the 1990s, including “Small Town Saturday Night,” “Sure Love,” “Hearts Are Gonna Roll” and more.
Andrea shared the news via Facebook to quell speculation related to Hal’s lack of future tour dates.
“Unfortunately, Hal is suffering from Alzheimer’s/ Dementia,” said Andrea, in part. “He has been battling this for some time now, but because of his love for his fans, he continued performing as long as it was possible. Dementia is an exhausting and confusing illness and now it’s time for Hal to stay home with loved ones. Hal is otherwise healthy and happy, enjoying time with his family and friends.”
You can read Andrea’s full post below.
photo by Curtis Hilbun, AFF-USA.com
Brooks & Dunn are riding high with the release of their new album, Reboot, which debuted at No. 1 on Billboard’s Top Country Albums chart.
The album moved 31,000 equivalent units in its first week, according to Nielsen Music. Reboot is Brooks & Dunn’s seventh No. 1 album—their first since 2009’s #1s…And Then Some.
Reboot features an all-star cast of artists performing duets with country’s greatest duo, including Kacey Musgraves, Kane Brown, Thomas Rhett, Brett Young, Lanco, Ashley McBryde, Midland, Luke Combs, Brothers Osborne, Cody Johnson, Jon Pardi and Tyler Booth.
“This whole experience has been humbling to say the least,” says Ronnie Dunn. “What a cool rush to hear somebody do one of your tunes in a unique way, and it still holds up. That’s the greatest compliment you can get as an artist. People used to ask us all the time about the legacy we wanted to leave, and it’s honestly just that—you hope the music stands up over time.”
“They’re making their own music,” says Kix Brooks about the Reboot guest list. “But just like we did, they still remember and respect the music they grew up with. It makes you feel good that these acts were inspired by us in some small way.”
Reboot Track List
1. Brand New Man (with Luke Combs)
2. Ain’t Nothing ‘Bout You (with Brett Young)
3. My Next Broken Heart (with Jon Pardi)
4. Neon Moon (with Kacey Musgraves)*
5. Lost and Found (with Tyler Booth)
6. Hard Workin’ Man (with Brothers Osborne)
7. You’re Gonna Miss Me When I’m Gone (with Ashley McBryde)
8. My Maria (with Thomas Rhett)
9. Red Dirt Road (with Cody Johnson)
10. Boot Scootin’ Boogie (with Midland)
11. Mama Don’t Get Dressed Up For Nothing (with LANCO)
12. Believe (with Kane Brown)
Produced by Dann Huff
*Produced by Dann Huff and Kacey Musgraves
photo by Arroyo/O\’Connor, AFF-USA.com
Here are over 100 images from Saturday’s 2019 Tennessee football spring Orange and White game at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville. All images were taken by our Cumulus Broadcasting Knoxville staff photographer, Sam Forman.
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – Tennessee redshirt junior quarterback Jarrett Guarantano passed for 198 yards and four touchdowns, as the White defeated the Orange, 28-10, on Saturday evening in the 2019 Chevrolet Orange & White Game at Neyland Stadium.
Guarantano, who was named the game’s most valuable player, was 12 of 22 for 141 yards in the first half and finished 19 of 37 for the night. He connected on scoring strikes with redshirt senior wide receiver Jauan Jennings (twice), senior tight end Dominick Wood-Anderson and junior wide receiver Josh Palmer. Jennings finished with five catches for 57 yards, while senior wideout Marquez Callaway caught two balls for 61 yards.
True freshman quarterback Brian Maurer (7 of 10, 105 yards) made his college debut for the Orange team in the second quarter, and he guided his unit to the game’s first points. His five-of-five passing effort on the drive accounted for all 59 yards of offense en route to a 20-yard field goal by sophomore Paxton Brooks that put the Orange on top, 3-0, with 4:00 left in the half.
Guarantano and the White team countered quickly on the next series, capping an eight-play, 78-yard drive with a four-yard pass to Wood-Anderson. Junior Brent Cimaglia kicked the extra point to make it 7-3 with 1:53 remaining in the first half and begin what would be a spree of 28 straight points by the White.
On that possession, Guarantano marched the White down the field on the strength of a 31-yard toss to Jennings, a 12-yard connection with junior running back Ty Chandler and rushes of nine and 13 yards by junior running back Tim Jordan.
After the White defense forced a three-and-out, Guarantano and company took over with 1:24 to go in the half and marched 84 yards in 10 plays for their second touchdown in as many possessions. Utilizing a 52-yard strike to Callaway to cover most of the real estate, Guarantano then put the finishing touches on the drive with a one-yard pass to Palmer as time expired. Cimaglia added the PAT to send the White into the locker room with a 14-3 advantage.
The White defense quickly set the offense up with great field position with 13:22 left in the third quarter. Freshman safety Jaylen McCollough stepped in front of a Maurer pass and returned it 32 yards to the Orange 7. Guarantano promptly fired his third TD toss of the game, finding Jennings from seven yards out. Cimaglia added the PAT to make the score 21-3.
McCollough added a second interception of Maurer late in the fourth quarter, running it back 27 yards before being tackled at the Orange 35 to finish with 59 return yards on the day. The White again capitalized, with Guarantano hooking up with Jennings for a nine-yard touchdown with 2:41 left in the game. Cimaglia booted the point after to make it 28-3.
The Orange ended the scoring run by the White with 1:33 remaining in the contest, as redshirt freshman quarterback J.T. Shrout(10 of 19, 138 yards) found redshirt sophomore tight end James Brown open for a 14-yard scoring strike. Brooks was accurate with the PAT to make the final score 28-10.
-UT Athletics
Box Score (PDF) | Postgame Notes (PDF) | Postgame Quotes
Tennessee head football coach Jeremy Pruitt spoke to the media in the postgame after UT’s Chevrolet Orange and White Spring Game at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville Saturday night.
Tennessee quarterback Jarrett Guarantano, linebacker Daniel Bituli and running back Ty Chandler spoke to the media in the postgame after UT’s Chevrolet Orange and White Spring Game at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville Saturday night.
