Jon Pardi Says Tour Headliner Dierks Bentley Is “One of the Sweetest Dudes to Call a Friend”

Jon Pardi Says Tour Headliner Dierks Bentley Is “One of the Sweetest Dudes to Call a Friend”

Posted on January 23, 2019

Dierks Bentley is currently heating up Canada on his Burning Man Tour with special guests Jon Pardi, Tenille Townes and the Hot Country Knights. The tour, which opened on Jan. 17 in Hamilton, Ontario, will make five more stops in Canada before hitting U.S. soil for 15 dates.

The trek is also another chance for Jon Pardi to team with Dierks, having supported him on 2014’s Riser Tour and 2017’s What the Hell World Tour. From what Jon tells Kix Brooks of American Country Countdown, it was an easy decision to join his “friend” for another string of dates.

“He’s an open-door kind of guy,” says Jon. “You get a lot of artists where you never see ’em—Dierks is definitely not a recluse. You’ll catch him walking around the hallways or hanging out with his crew at lunch. That’s what I love about him. He’s kind of like me in a way, like I never want to be the guy that hides. You know, he could be that dude. He’s a big star. He’s one of the biggest country artists there is, but he’s always out hiking, or, you know, eating lunch, or doing something like fishing. He’s just a very active guy, and I’ve always really liked that. And, he’s very humble and just one of the sweetest dudes to call a friend.”

Burning Man Tour

  • Jan. 23 | Saskatoon, SK | SaskTel Centre
  • Jan. 24 | Edmonton, AB | Rogers Place
  • Jan. 26 | Calgary, AB | Scotiabank Saddledome
  • Jan. 28 | Kelowna, BC | Prospera Place
  • Jan. 29 | Vancouver, BC | Pepsi Live at Rogers Arena
  • Feb. 14 | Ontario, CA | Citizens Business Bank Arena
  • Feb. 15 | Fresno, CA | Save Mart Center
  • Feb. 16 | Reno, NV | Reno Events Center
  • Feb. 21 | Lexington, KY | Rupp Arena
  • Feb. 22 | Nashville, TN | Bridgestone Arena
  • Feb. 23 | Columbia, MO | Mizzou Arena
  • Feb. 28 | Sioux Falls, SD | Denny Sanford PREMIER Center
  • March 1 | Wichita, KS | INTRUST Bank Arena
  • March 2 | Omaha, NE | CHI Health Center Omaha
  • March 7 | Moline, IL | TaxSlayer Center
  • March 8 | Duluth, MN | AMSOIL Arena
  • March 9 | Grand Forks, ND | Alerus Center
  • March 28 | Toledo, OH | Huntington Center
  • March 29 | Columbus, OH | Nationwide Arena
  • March 30 | Grand Rapids, MI | Van Andel Arena

photo by Tammie Arroyo, AFF-USA.com

Thomas Rhett Scores 12th No. 1 Single With “Sixteen”

Thomas Rhett Scores 12th No. 1 Single With “Sixteen”

Posted on January 23, 2019

Thomas Rhett scored the 12th No. 1 single of his career as “Sixteen” topped both the Billboard Country Airplay chart and Mediabase chart this week.

The tune is the fifth single from TR’s 2017 album, Life Changes, to reach No. 1, following “Craving You,” “Unforgettable,” “Marry Me” and “Life Changes.” In case you were wondering, Luke Bryan holds the record with six singles from one album, Kill the Lights, to reach No. 1 on the Billboard Country Airplay chart.

As TR told Kix Brooks of American Country Countdown, the message behind his nostalgic track, which he co-penned with Sean Douglas and Joe Spargur three years ago, is to “really enjoy your life.”

“I wrote ‘Sixteen’ when I was 25 years old,” says Thomas Rhett. “It was one of the first songs I wrote for Life Changes, and for a long time, I thought that ‘Sixteen’ would be the name of the record. I thought it would be the first single, and as you start to write, you start to figure out what’s first, what’s last, what’s second—and ‘Sixteen,’ to me, is one of my favorite songs I’ve gotten to write because I think that that story is so relatable to so many people. All of us that are young want to be old, and all of us that are old want to be young, and I think that song, really, the message is just be content where you are and really enjoy your life.”

photo by Tammie Arroyo, AFF-USA.com

Chris Stapleton Announces New Tour With Brothers Osborne, Margo Price & More

Chris Stapleton Announces New Tour With Brothers Osborne, Margo Price & More

Posted on January 23, 2019

Chris Stapleton will hit the road this summer and fall for his headlining All-American Road Show Tour. Kicking off on July 9 in Allentown, Pa., the tour will make additional stops in Omaha, Toronto, Memphis, Louisville and more.

Special guest openers include Margo Price, Brent Cobb, Brothers Osborne, The Marcus King Band and Kendell Marvel.

Ticket pre-sale for the Stapleton Fan Club will begin on Jan. 29 at 10 a.m. local time. Tickets for the general public go on sale on Feb. 1 at 10 a.m. local time.

All-American Road Show Tour & Previously Announced Dates

  • Feb. 10 | Los Angeles, CA | Citi Sound Vault at Hollywood Palladium
  • March 8 | Glasgow, Scotland | SSE Hydro Arena
  • March 9 | Dublin, Ireland | 3 Arena
  • March 10 | London, U.K. | The O2
  • March 15 | Durant, OK | Choctaw Grand Theater
  • March 16 | Durant, OK | Choctaw Grand Theater
  • March 30 | Atlanta, GA | Mercedes-Benz Stadium*
  • April 14 | Florence, AZ | Country Thunder
  • April 25 | Austin, TX | Mack, Jack & McConaughey Gala
  • July 9 | Allentown, PA | PPL Center†
  • July 12 | Fort Laramie, OH | Country Concert
  • July 14 | Craven, Saskatchewan | Country Thunder Saskatchewan
  • July 19 | Omaha, NE | CHI Health Center†
  • July 20 | Monticello, IA | Great Jones County Fair
  • July 21 | Twin Lakes, WI | Country Thunder
  • July 25 | Bangor, ME | Darling’s Waterfront Pavilion†
  • July 26 | Bethel, NY | Bethel Woods Center for the Arts†
  • July 27 | Canandaigua, NY | CMAC†
  • Aug. 1–3 | Detroit Lakes, MN | WE Fest 2019
  • Aug. 1 | Charleston, WV | Charleston Civic Center Coliseum†
  • Aug. 9 | Holmdel, NJ | PNC Bank Arts Center†
  • Aug. 10 | Burgettstown, PA | KeyBank Pavilion†
  • Aug. 11 | Columbia, MD | Merriweather Post Pavilion†
  • Aug. 15 | Erie, PA | Erie Insurance Arena‡
  • Aug. 16 | Grand Rapids, MI | Van Andel Arena‡
  • Aug. 17 | Toronto, ON | Budweiser Stage‡
  • Aug. 22 | Wichita, KS | INTRUST Bank Arena‡
  • Aug. 23 | Little Rock, AR | Verizon Arena‡
  • Aug. 24 | Bossier City, LA | CenturyLink Center‡
  • Aug. 29 | Huntsville, AL | Von Braun Center‡
  • Aug. 31 | Orange Beach, AL | The Wharf Amphitheater‡
  • Oct. 3 | Springfield, MO | JQH Arena§
  • Oct. 4 | Oklahoma City, OK | Chesapeake Energy Arena#
  • Oct. 5 | Memphis, TN | FedEx Forum§
  • Oct. 10 | Jacksonville, FL | Jacksonville Veterans Memorial Arena#
  • Oct. 11 | Tampa, FL | MIDFLORIDA Credit Union Amphitheatre#
  • Oct. 12 | West Palm Beach, FL | Coral Sky Amphitheatre#
  • Oct. 17 | Charleston, SC | North Charleston Coliseum§
  • Oct. 18 | Virginia Beach, VA | Veterans United Home Loans Amphitheater§
  • Oct. 19 | Greensboro, NC | Greensboro Coliseum§
  • Oct. 25 | Peoria, IL | Peoria Civic Center§
  • Oct. 26 | Kansas City, MO | Sprint Center§
  • Nov. 1 | Greenville, SC | Bon Secours Wellness Arena§
  • Nov. 2 | Louisville, KY | KFC Yum! Center§

*George Strait
†Margo Price, The Marcus King Band
‡Brent Cobb, The Marcus King Band
§Brothers Osborne, Kendell Marvel
#TBA, Kendell Marvel

photo by Tammie Arroyo, AFF-USA.com

Dan + Shay Reveal New Single, “All to Myself” [Listen]

Dan + Shay Reveal New Single, “All to Myself” [Listen]

Posted on January 22, 2019

Dan Smyers and Shay Mooney of Dan + Shay will try to score the sixth No. 1 single of their career with the release of “All to Myself,” which ships to country radio on Feb. 11.

Penned by Dan, Shay, Jordan Reynolds and Nicolle Galyon, “All to Myself” will be the third single released from the duo’s 2018 self-titled album, following No. 1 singles “Tequila” and “Speechless.”

Dan + Shay are nominated for Best Country Duo/Group Performance (“Tequila”) at the upcoming Grammy Awards on Feb. 10. The duo will also perform at the show.

Listen to “All to Myself” below.

photo by Curtis Hilbun, AFF-USA.com

Trace Adkins Announces 40-City “Don’t Stop Tour”

Trace Adkins Announces 40-City “Don’t Stop Tour”

Posted on January 22, 2019

In addition to supporting Blake Shelton’s Friends and Heroes Tour in February and March, Trace Adkins will hit the road for a headlining tour of his own this year.

Trace’s 40-date Don’t Stop Tour 2019 will kick off on Feb. 9 in San Antonio, before Trace shifts gears to join Blake on tour. Trace will resume his headlining tour on April 4, making additional stops in St. Louis, Cincinnati, Denver and more this spring and summer.

“I’m excited to get back on the road,” says Trace. “I am loading up the buses and bringing my band, a new set and new music to my Don’t Stop Tour 2019 and I’m looking forward to seeing the fans again this year and feeling the energy they bring to each and every show.”

Tickets for many dates are on sale now.

Don’t Stop Tour 2019

  • Feb. 9 | San Antonio Rodeo | San Antonio, TX
  • April 4 | Bologna Performing Arts Center | Cleveland, MS
  • April 5 | IP Casino | Biloxi, MS
  • April 6 | Oxford Performing Arts Center | Oxford, AL
  • April 11 | Country Thunder | Florence, AZ
  • April 12 | Peppermill Concert Hall | West Wendover, NV
  • April 13 | Peppermill Concert Hall | West Wendover, NV
  • April 27 | Pearl River Resort | Choctaw, MS
  • May 3 | Suwannee River Jam | Live Oak, FL
  • May 17 | Effingham Performance Center | Effingham, IL
  • May 18 | J. Scheidegger Center for the Arts | St. Louis, MO
  • May 19 | Niswonger Performing Arts Center | Greeneville, TN
  • May 24 | Shooting Star Casino | Mahnomen, MN
  • May 25 | Prairie Knights Casino & Resort | Fort Yates, ND
  • May 26 | Tree Town Country Music Fest | Forest City, IA
  • June 13 | Hard Rock Hotel & Casino | Tulsa, OK
  • June 15 | Kansas Star Casino | Mulvane, KS
  • June 20 | The Paramount Huntington | Huntington, NY
  • June 21 | Penn’s Peak | Jim Thorpe, PA
  • June 22 | Hollywood Casino | Charles Town, WV
  • June 27 | Country USA | Oshkosh, WI
  • June 28 | Jack Cincinnati Casino | Cincinnati, OH
  • July 2 | San Diego County Fair | Del Mar, CA
  • July 3 | Alameda County Fair | Pleasanton, CA
  • July 5 | LRS Music Festival | Paulina, OR
  • July 6 | Montbleu Resort Casino | Stateline, NV
  • July 10 | America First Event Center | Cedar City, UT
  • July 12 | Chumash Casino | Santa Ynez, CA
  • July 18 | Great Jones County Fair | Monticello, IA
  • July 20 | Country Thunder | Twin Lakes, WI
  • July 26 | Shawnee Bluff Vineyard | Eldon, MO
  • July 27 | United Wireless Arena | Dodge City, KS
  • July 28 | Paramount Theater | Denver, CO
  • July 30 | Sweetwater County Fair | Rock Springs, WY
  • July 31 | Montana State Fair | Great Falls, MT
  • Aug. 3 | Inn of the Mountain Gods | Mescalero, NM
  • Aug. 17 | Chase County Fair | Imperial, NE
  • Aug. 22 | Genesee County Fair | Mount Morris, MI
  • Sept. 10 | Spokane County Interstate Fair | Spokane, WA
  • Sept.14 | Blue Gate Theater | Shipshewana, IN
  • Nov. 13 | Royal Caribbean Poll Deck | Key West, FL
Loretta Lynn to Be Honored With Lifetime Achievement Award by Nashville Songwriters Association International

Loretta Lynn to Be Honored With Lifetime Achievement Award by Nashville Songwriters Association International

Posted on January 22, 2019

The Nashville Songwriters Association International announced that Loretta Lynn will be the recipient of the Kris Kristofferson Lifetime Achievement Award, which is the organization’s highest honor.

The award is given in recognition to a songwriter whose works have made a significant contribution to the American songbook and who has inspired the careers of others. The inaugural winner of the award was Bill Anderson in 2018.

Loretta, who penned hits such as “Coal Miner’s Daughter,” “Fist City” and “Don’t Come Home A’ Drinkin’ (With Lovin’ on Your Mind),” will be honored at the Nashville Songwriter Awards at the Ryman Auditorium on Sept. 17. In addition, Senator Lamar Alexander will be presented with the White Hat Award, which is bestowed to an individual who has significantly served the American songwriting community.

Additional honorees will include the 2019 “Song of the Year,” “Songwriter of the Year,” “Songwriter-Artist of the Year” and the NSAI’s “10 Songs I Wish I’d Written,” which are chosen by Nashville’s professional songwriters.

photo by Tammie Arroyo, AFF-USA.com

Country Music Hall of Fame Member Maxine Brown of The Browns Has Died

Country Music Hall of Fame Member Maxine Brown of The Browns Has Died

Posted on January 22, 2019

Maxine Brown Russell, one-third of the Country Music Hall of Fame group The Browns, died on Jan. 21 from complications of heart and kidney disease. Maxine was 87 years old.

Maxine and brother Jim Ed Brown performed together in the early 1950s. After younger sister Bonnie Brown graduated from high school, the siblings formed a trio. The Browns performed on The Louisiana Hayride and found chart success with “I Take the Chance” and “I Heard the Bluebirds Sing.” In 1959, the trio recorded one of the biggest hits of the era with “The Three Bells,” which topped Billboard‘s Country charts and led to appearances on The Ed Sullivan Show.

As the Browns helped define the Nashville sounds of the ’50s and ’60s, the hits continued with “Scarlet Ribbons,” “The Old Lamplighter” and “Then I’ll Stop Loving You.” The Brown were invited to become Grand Ole Opry members in 1963. In 1967, Bonnie and Maxine decided to leave the trio to spend more time with their families, and Jim Ed embarked on a very successful solo career.

In 2015, The Browns were inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame.

Maxine was preceded in death by her parents, Floyd and Birdie Brown, sisters Bonnie Ring and Norma Sullivan, brothers Jim Ed Brown and Raymond Brown, and her son, Tommy H. Russell, Jr. She is survived by two children, Jimmy Russell (Mary) and Alicia Short (Curtis), six grandchildren (Caitlin, Daniel, Meredith, Eva, Patrick, and Katherine), and two great-grandchildren (Atlas and Aina).

photo courtesy of Country Weekly Magazine

Garth Brooks Reveals the Name of His Upcoming Studio Album

Garth Brooks Reveals the Name of His Upcoming Studio Album

Posted on January 22, 2019

Garth Brooks just wants to have fun.

On his Inside Studio G series on Facebook Live on Jan. 21, the G-Man revealed his upcoming studio album will be titled Fun.

“We’re just going to call it Fun,” said Garth. “There it is. That’s all it’s going to be. It’s just been a fun thing to go through, a fun process to go through . . . especially being off from touring where you don’t have to worry about if your voice is going to be able to go in for sessions or not. You just get to go in when you want. So, this has been a fun experience.”

Garth has already debuted two songs from the album, including current single, “All Day Long,” and “Stronger Than Me,” which he performed at the CMA Awards. Garth expects the album to drop this spring.

“We’re going to probably wrap it up this week,” said Garth. “Maybe one more session after this week, but I think this is going to be it for us as far as cutting stuff. So, [it] should be out probably sometime this spring. But we’ll get exact dates coming to you pretty soon.”

photo by Tammie Arroyo, AFF-USA.com

Lauren Alaina & Alex Hopkins Call Off Their Engagement

Lauren Alaina & Alex Hopkins Call Off Their Engagement

Posted on January 22, 2019

Lauren Alaina and Alex Hopkins have called off their engagement.

Lauren and Alex, who got engaged in July 2018, announced they were ending their six-year relationship via a joint statement on Instagram.

“Over the last several years, you have been so supportive of us through all of our ups and downs, including personal struggles with health and family, and we couldn’t be more grateful. You share your lives with us, and we always want to be open with you in return. We want to let you know that we have decided to call off our engagement. While we still have love for each other, we’ve grown into very different people over the last six years. We are now in a place where we are each looking forward to starting our own fresh, new chapters of our lives. We both love and respect each other and hope you all will do the same. This has not been an easy decision, but we both feel it is the right decision. Thank you always for your love and support.”

In addition, Lauren added a brief statement to her Instagram post, saying, “We ask for grace, compassion, and respect in this time. I don’t regret a single second with Alex. I wish him the very best. Please do the same.”

photo by AFF-USA.com

Country News

Weather

  • Forecast
  • Currents
  • Planner