Eric Paslay & Wife Welcome Baby Girl

Eric Paslay & Wife Welcome Baby Girl

Posted on December 13, 2018

Singer/songwriter Eric Paslay and wife Natalie welcomed their first child, daughter Piper Lily Paslay, into the world on Dec. 8 in Nashville, according to People.

Eric has co-penned hits for Jake Owen (“Barefoot Blue Jean Night”), Eli Young Band (“Even If It Breaks Your Heart”), Rascal Flatts (“Rewind”) and more, as well as had his own success on the charts with “Friday Night,” “Song About a Girl” and “She Don’t Love You.”

Eric and Natalie were married in 2015.

Congrats to the happy couple.

photo by Arroyo-O\’Connor/AFF-USA.com

Luke Bryan Turns New Video for “What Makes You Country” Into a Family Affair [Watch]

Luke Bryan Turns New Video for “What Makes You Country” Into a Family Affair [Watch]

Posted on December 13, 2018

Luke Bryan turned his new video for “What Makes You Country” into a family affair by featuring his sons Bo and Tate, nephew Til and a few of their close friends having some down-home fun on his farm south of Nashville.

“What Makes You Country,” which is currently No. 14 on Billboard’s Country Airplay chart after eight weeks, was penned by Luke, Dallas Davidson and Ashley Gorley. The new single is the title track to his 2017 album and follows previous No. 1 singles “Light It Up,” “Most People Are Good” and “Sunrise, Sunburn, Sunset.”

Check out the new video below, which was directed by longtime collaborator Michael Monaco.

photo by Jason Simanek

Alan Jackson Announces New Tour for 2019 With Randy Houser & William Michael Morgan

Alan Jackson Announces New Tour for 2019 With Randy Houser & William Michael Morgan

Posted on December 13, 2018

Alan Jackson will hit the road for a number of weekend shows in 2019 . . . and he’s bringing Randy Houser and William Michael Morgan along for the ride.

Alan will visit more than 15 cities, including stops in Louisville, Omaha, Wichita, Orlando and more. In addition to Randy and William Michael, many of Alan’s shows will include a brief performance by aspiring singer/songwriters who’ve played AJ’s Good Time Bar, Alan’s honky-tonk on downtown Nashville’s famed Lower Broadway.

Tickets for most dates are on sale now.

Alan Jackson Tour

Jan. 25 | Louisville, KY | KFC Yum! Center*
Jan. 26 | Greenville, SC | Bon Secours Wellness Arena*
Feb. 22 | Madison, WI | Alliant Energy Center*
Feb. 23 | Grand Rapids, MI | Van Andel Arena*
March 10 | Bossier City, LA | CenturyLink Center*
April 12 | Oklahoma City, OK | Chesapeake Energy Arena*
April 13 | Omaha, NE | CHI Health Center**
April 26 | Fort Wayne, IN | War Memorial Coliseum*
May 10 | Columbus, OH | Schottenstein Center*
May 17 | Winston-Salem, NC | Veterans Mem. Coliseum*
May 18 | Hershey, PA | Giant Center*
Aug. 9 | Rogers, AR | Walmart AMP*
Aug. 10 | Wichita, KS | Intrust Bank Arena*
Aug. 23 | N. Charleston, SC | N. Charleston Coliseum**
Aug. 24 | Charlotte, NC | Spectrum Center**
Sept. 20 | Orlando, FL | Amway Arena*
Sept. 21 | Jacksonville, FL | Veterans Memorial Coliseum*

*William Michael Morgan
**Randy Houser

photo by Jason Simanek

Watch Dan + Shay Perform “I’ll Be Home for Christmas” From “CMA Country Christmas” TV Special

Watch Dan + Shay Perform “I’ll Be Home for Christmas” From “CMA Country Christmas” TV Special

Posted on December 13, 2018

CMA Country Christmas, a two-hour music celebration, aired on ABC on Dec. 10 with performances by Reba McEntire, Tony Bennett, Dan + Shay, Brett Eldredge, Amy Grant, Diana Krall, Dustin Lynch, Martina McBride, Old Dominion, Brad Paisley, Michael W. Smith, Lindsey Stirling and The Isaacs.

If you missed the show, you can catch an encore presentation on Dec. 22 at 7 p.m. CT on ABC.

In the meantime, check out Dan + Shay’s performance of “I’ll Be Home for Christmas.”

photo by Curtis Hilbun, AFF-USA.com

Blake Shelton, Dierks Bentley, Dustin Lynch, Jon Pardi & More to Take Part in Troy Gentry Foundation Benefit Concert

Blake Shelton, Dierks Bentley, Dustin Lynch, Jon Pardi & More to Take Part in Troy Gentry Foundation Benefit Concert

Posted on December 13, 2018

A star-studded cast of country artists will come together for C’Ya On the Flipside, a benefit concert on Jan. 9 at the Grand Ole Opry House that will support the Troy Gentry Foundation.

After Troy Gentry was killed in a helicopter crash on Sept. 8, 2017, his wife, Angie, helped launch the non-profit foundation that aims to provide financial support to cancer research organizations, military families and music education.

C’Ya On the Flipside will feature performances by Dierks Bentley, Lee Brice, Tracey Lawerence, Colt Ford, Ray Scott, Jimmie Allen, Halfway to Hazard, Chris Janson, Dustin Lynch, Eddie Montgomery, Justin Moore, Craig Morgan, Jon Pardi, Rascal Flatts, Jeffrey Steele and Neil Thrasher. Blake Shelton and Storme Warren will co-host the event. Tickets are on sale now.

The concert will also support the Opry Trust Fund, T. J. Martell Foundation, Make-A-Wish, The Journey Home project and scholarships and instruments for music education in Kentucky schools. Troy, a Kentucky native who was 50 at the time of his death, was one half of the country duo Montgomery Gentry. The duo found success with songs such as “My Town,” “If You Ever Stopped Loving Me,” “Something to Be Proud Of,” “Gone,” and “Back When I Knew It All.”

Troy is survived by his wife, Angie Gentry, and two daughters, Taylor and Kaylee.

photo by Tammie Arroyo, AFF-USA.com

Maren Morris, Kane Brown, Lauren Alaina, Kelsea Ballerini, FGL & More to Perform at “Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve”

Maren Morris, Kane Brown, Lauren Alaina, Kelsea Ballerini, FGL & More to Perform at “Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve”

Posted on December 12, 2018

A handful of country stars will help ring in 2019 as part of Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve event on ABC.

Kelsea Ballerini, Kane Brown and Lauren Alaina will perform as part of the Hollywood lineup, while Maren Morris and Florida Georgia Line will showcase their skills from New Orleans. Dan + Shay will perform from Times Square.

Ryan Seacrest will host the five-plus-hour event from New York City, while Lucy Hale will handle emcee duties in New Orleans and Ciara will call the shots from Hollywood. Additionally, Jenny McCarthy will report from Times Square.

Other performers include The Chainsmokers, Ella Mai, Camila Cabello, Hasley, Shawn Mendes, Weezer, Post Malone and more.

Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve begins live from New York City at 8 p.m. ET on ABC.

photo by Curtis Hilbun, AFF-USA.com

Billboard Reveals 2018’s Top 10 Country Artists, Singles, Albums & More

Billboard Reveals 2018’s Top 10 Country Artists, Singles, Albums & More

Posted on December 12, 2018

As 2018 begins to wind down, Billboard has released its top listening trends of the year, including the most-played country artists, singles, albums and more.

Check out a few of Billboard’s Top 10 lists below. For more comprehensive lists, visit billboard.com.

2018 Top Country Airplay Songs

photo by Jason Simanek
  1. “Heaven” | Kane Brown
  2. “Get Along” | Kenny Chesney
  3. “One Number Away” | Luke Combs
  4. “Hotel Key” | Old Dominion
  5. “Tequila” | Dan + Shay
  6. “Everything’s Gonna Be Alright” | David Lee Murphy & Kenny Chesney
  7. “Hooked” | Dylan Scott
  8. “For the First Time” | Darius Rucker
  9. “Blue Tacoma” | Russell Dickerson
  10. “Most People Are Good” | Luke Bryan

2018 Top Country Albums

photo by Tammie Arroyo
  1. This One’s for You Too | Luke Combs
  2. Kane Brown | Kane Brown
  3. Rearview Town | Jason Aldean
  4. Traveller | Chris Stapleton
  5. Life Changes | Thomas Rhett
  6. What Makes You Country | Luke Bryan
  7. From A Room: Vol. 2 | Chris Stapleton
  8. Brett Young | Brett Young
  9. From A Room: Vol. 1 | Chris Stapleton
  10. Cry Pretty | Carrie Underwood

2018 Top Country Artists

photo by Tammie Arroyo
  1. Chris Stapleton
  2. Kane Brown
  3. Florida Georgia Line
  4. Luke Combs
  5. Thomas Rhett
  6. Luke Bryan
  7. Jason Aldean
  8. Dan + Shay
  9. Kenny Chesney
  10. Blake Shelton

main photo by Tammie Arroyo, AFF-USA.com

Dierks Bentley Had to Have Jon Pardi on His Tour One Last Time Before Jon “Blasts Off Into Outer Space”

Dierks Bentley Had to Have Jon Pardi on His Tour One Last Time Before Jon “Blasts Off Into Outer Space”

Posted on December 12, 2018

Dierks Bentley will get the bus wheels turning in 2019 with his headlining Burning Man Tour, which kicks off on Jan. 17 and makes more than 20 stops in Canada and the U.S.

Joining Dierks on tour will be ’90s country cover band The Hot Country Knights, Tenille Townes and Jon Pardi, who is joining Dierks’ tour for the third time. As Dierks told Kix Brooks of American Country Countdown, this will probably be his last tour with Jon, whose career is poised to “blast off into outer space.”

“This is the third time out with Jon,” says Dierks. “I called Jon back in March to propose going out in 2019. We always talked about going out one more time with him being direct support ’cause he’s never been direct support—he’s always been the opener. So this will be the last year with Jon. I think Jon’s gonna blast off into outer space after this tour. He’s just poised to really start headlining on his own, for real. But, [he’s a] great guy. He’s one of the most fun people to be around, and he balances that with a really hard work ethic and killer live show. So I know when I walk out onstage every night, the fans have already had their money’s worth, you know? They’re already teed up and ready to go so we can go out there and try to knock it out of the park. I cannot wait to have him out there, along with Tenille Townes and the Hot Country Knights, There will be a lot of laughter, a lot of good times and, hopefully, a lot of great music.”

Burning Man Tour

  • Jan. 17 | Hamilton, ON | FirstOntario Centre
  • Jan. 18 | Ottawa, ON | Richcraft Live at the Canadian Tire Centre
  • Jan. 19 | Oshawa, ON | Tribute Communities Centre
  • Jan. 22 | Winnipeg, MB | Bell MTS Place
  • 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

UT, Cincinnati To Meet On The Hardwood

UT, Cincinnati To Meet On The Hardwood

Posted on December 12, 2018
Credit: UT Athletics

Tennessee has signed a two-year, home-and-home men’s basketball contract with Cincinnati, and the Volunteers and Bearcats are set to meet each of the next two seasons.

The Vols will play at Cincinnati’s Fifth Third Arena on Dec. 18 next season, and the Bearcats are set to visit Thompson-Boling Arena on Dec. 12, 2020. Fifth Third Arena underwent an $87 million facelift prior to this season. From Knoxville, Cincinnati is a four-hour drive north on I-75.

Tennessee trails its all-time series with Cincinnati 1-5, dating to 1952. The teams met in consecutive seasons in the early 1990s, with the Bearcats sweeping both games. The Vols’ lone win in the series came at home on Dec. 10, 1956.

Mick Cronin is in his 13th season as head coach at Cincinnati, and he has led his alma mater to the NCAA Tournament in each of the last eight seasons—one of only six coaches in the nation to have done so. He was named the 2018 Sporting News Coach of the Year and also was a semifinalist for the Naismith Trophy National Coach of the Year Award after guiding the Bearcats to a 31-5 (16-2 AAC) record last season.

This year, Cincinnati is off to a 9-1 start with non-conference wins over Ole Miss, UNLV and Xavier. The Bearcats are receiving votes in both major top-25 polls.

Tennessee owns a 44-39 all-time record against current members of the American Athletic Conference. Vols head coach Rick Barnes is 20-18 against AAC opposition. His Texas Longhorns fell in his only previous meeting with Cincy (2012 NCAA Tournament).

In its history, Cincinnati has made six Final Four appearances and won consecutive national championships in 1961 and 1962.

 

UT Athletics

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