Toby Keith’s 1993 debut single, “Should’ve Been a Cowboy,” helped ignite a career that has seen the Oklahoma native win multiple CMA Awards and ACM Awards, earn 20 No. 1 singles and sell more than 40 million albums worldwide.
To celebrate the 25th anniversary of Toby’s breakthrough song and self-titled debut album—which also included Top 5 hits “He Ain’t Worth Missing,” “A Little Less Talk and a Lot More Action” and “Wish I Didn’t Know Now”—Toby’s family, friends and industry insiders gathered at Nashville’s BMI headquarters on Dec. 5 to present Toby with a special citation of achievement.
NFL Hall of Fame member Terry Bradshaw, producer/executive Harold Shedd, and Toby’s daughters Shelley and Krystal and wife Trisha were on hand for the celebration that recognized Toby for more than 7 million broadcast performances of “Should’ve Been a Cowboy.”
Toby will perform two shows at the Grand Ole Opry in the Ryman Auditorium on Dec. 7. The following night, he will also perform at the Nashville Symphony’s 34th Annual Symphony Ball where he will be honored with their 2018 Harmony Award, which recognizes an individual who exemplifies the harmonious spirit of Nashville’s musical community.
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — The sophomore duo of Rennia Davis and Evina Westbrook combined for 44 points to lead No. 9/9 Tennessee to a 65-55 victory over Stetson at Thompson-Boling Arena on Wednesday night.
Davis (24 points and nine rebounds) and Westbrook (20 points) combined to hit 20 of 21 free throws in the win, as the Lady Vols finished 25 of 30 for the game from the charity stripe for 83.3 percent. Freshman Zaay Green tallied eight points and five rebounds, while Mimi Collins was strong on the glass with seven points and seven rebounds.
After being held to just 22 points at the half, Tennessee (7-0) rallied with a 22-0 run in the third quarter to outscore the Hatters 43-17 in the second half. Westbrook and Davis led the charge for the Lady Vols with 30 combined points in the final two quarters.
Stetson (1-7) was led by redshirt-senior forward Sarah Sagerer, who logged 19 points and six rebounds. Addi Walters was the only other Hatter with double-digit points (17), as she displayed 3-of-5 accuracy from deep range.
Tennessee got down early, as Stetson rode a 16-8 run on 5-of-6 shooting from the field to start the game. The Hatters hit three shots from beyond-the-arc and tallied eight points off turnovers in the first quarter. Stetson’s 62 percent shooting from the field granted them a 23-15 lead through 10 minutes of play. Five Lady Vols players logged points in the quarter but shot just one of six from three-point range. Meanwhile, 20 of the Hatters first-quarter points came from two players, Walters and Sagerer.
Not much changed for Tennessee to begin the second quarter, as it missed its first three shots and Stetson shot out on a 9-0 run. The first points of the quarter for the Lady Vols came on a pair of free throws from Davis after five minutes of play. The Hatters took a 38-22 lead to halftime, as Tennessee registered 13 first half turnovers. Davis and Westbrook led the Lady Vols with 14 combined points at the halfway point.
Behind Westbrook’s seven points early on, Tennessee hit its stride to start the second half and cut the Stetson lead to single digits after the Hatters had initially pushed their lead to 20, 42-22, with 7:29 to go in the third. The Lady Vols forced four Hatters turnovers and a four-minute scoring drought to cut the lead to 42-37 halfway through the period. A three-pointer from Davis at the 2:43 mark gave Tennessee the lead and its longest run of the year (22-0). The Lady Vols outscored Stetson 22-6 in the stanza, going into the fourth quarter tied up at 44 points apiece.
The Lady Vols jumped out to a six-point run and held the Hatters to a near three-minute scoring drought to start the fourth quarter. Westbrook and Davis took over, meshing for 10 of Tennessee’s first 14 points. Another near three-minute scoring drought for Stetson gave the Lady Vols a 60-53 lead with one minute remaining in the game. Tennessee iced the contest with a pair of free throws from Westbrook to claim a 10-point win.
Up Next: Tennessee travels to Austin to face Texas on Sunday. The game is slated for 1 p.m. ET (noon CT) and will air on ESPN 2.
20+ Club: Evina Westbrook totaled 20 points against Stetson for back-to-back 20+ performances, moving her total to three on the season. Rennia Davis also surpassed the 20-point mark against Stetson with a season-high 24 points to give Tennessee four 20+ point efforts this season. Westbrook previously had 29 on Sunday vs. Oklahoma State and tossed in 20 in the opener vs. Presbyterian.
Comeback Kids: Tennessee overcame a 20-point deficit against Stetson (erasing it during a 4:46 span of the third quarter), the largest comeback a team has made under Head Coach Holly Warlick and the second-largest comeback in program history. It is the fourth game this season in which Tennessee has trailed in the second half and come back to win.
Big Runs: Tennessee recorded its longest run of the season against Stetson with a 22-0 spree in the third quarter. It was the eighth time this season the Lady Vols put together a run of 10 or more points. UT has not allowed any double-digit runs.
Third Quarter Lockdown: The Lady Vols held Stetson to six third-quarter points, tying for the sixth fewest points scored by an opponent in any quarter.
Making Free Throws Count: Tennessee went a perfect 13 of 13 from the charity stripe in the third quarter against Stetson and was 25 of 30 on the game for a free-throw percentage of 83.3%. That is the team’s highest free-throw percentage since going 20-24 (83.3%) against Auburn in the SEC Tournament on March 1, 2018.
Scotty, 25, and Gabi, 24, tied the knot in North Carolina on June 16.
The couple met in kindergarten in Garner, N.C., and grew up together in the close-knit community. They began dating six years ago during their senior year at Garner High School. Gabi has appeared in several of Scotty’s music videos, including “The Trouble with Girls,” “Feelin’ It” and “Five More Minutes.”
Scotty and Gabi got engaged in September 2017 during a hike in the mountains of North Carolina near Grandfather Mountain. When the couple summited the mountain, Scotty got down on one knee, presented a ring he had helped design specifically for her, and asked Gabi to be his wife.
“I’ve been planning this moment for so long that it feels surreal for it to have finally happened,” said Scotty. “Gabi is the perfect girl and my true love, and I cannot wait to begin building our life together as husband and wife.”
The wedding ceremony, which was officiated by Scotty’s childhood pastor, was attended by more than 200 family and friends.
photo by Six Foot Photography/Southern Bride Magazine
Danielle Bradbery has been in the public eye since winning The Voice as a 16-year-old in 2013. But winning a reality talent competition doesn’t immediately translate to superstardom. Like most reality show winners, Danielle has had to work tirelessly to prove herself—and find herself as an artist.
In our sit-down interview this week, Danielle talks about her time on The Voice, growing up in the public eye, finding her confidence, releasing her recent album, I Don’t Believe We’ve Met, and so much more—including her thoughts on how to get more women on country radio. Plus, Danielle covers Carrie Underwood’s “So Small” and performs her recent single, “Worth It.” Hope you enjoy!
Podcast Participants:
Danielle Bradbery
Elaina Smith, host of WWTHW
Videos:
Danielle “Plays It Forward” by covering Carrie Underwood’s “So Small.”
Garth Brooks trickled out another date and venue for his 2019 Stadium Tour:
May 4
Minneapolis, MN
U.S. Bank Stadium
Tickets will go on sale for $94.95 on Dec. 14 at 10 a.m. CT.
Today’s news follows Garth’s previously announced stadium shows in St. Louis, Glendale, Gainesville and Pittsburgh.
The stadium concerts will feature in-the-round staging. Garth announced plans for his three-year stadium tour in October during a press conference in Nashville. Garth’s new Stadium Tour follows his successful stop at Notre Dame Stadium in October, which was attended by more than 84,000 fans.
The National Transportation Safety Board released a final report regarding the death of Troy Gentry, who was killed in a helicopter crash on Sept. 8, 2017, at the Flying W Airport in Medford, New Jersey.
According to the NTSB, the pilot, who also died, cut the engine too soon as he tried to make an emergency landing. The pilot error led to an uncontrolled descent that sent the helicopter crashing into the woods.
Shortly after takeoff the pilot reported that he could not control the engine. Experts on the ground suggested a shallow, run-on landing—similar to an airplane approaching a runway on a gradual horizontal plane—but the pilot instead attempted a power-off autorotation, a maneuver in which he cut the engine and tried to glide in. The experts stressed the need to wait until the helicopter was over the runway before turning off the engine, but investigators concluded the pilot did so too far out. The NTSB also said the maintenance crew’s failure to rig the throttle control assembly before the flight contributed to the crash.
Troy, who was 50 at the time, was one half of the country duo Montgomery Gentry. His bandmate, Eddie Montgomery, was at the airport during the crash, as the duo was scheduled to perform that night.
Montgomery Gentry was formed in 1999. 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.
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — No. 9/9 Tennessee (6-0) is back at Thompson-Boling Arena on Wednesday at 7 p.m., as the Lady Vols welcome Stetson (1-6) to Knoxville. The game will be available on SECN+ and the Lady Vol Radio Network.
This will mark UT’s first home appearance since November 18, when the Big Orange raced past Florida A&M, 96-31.
The Lady Vols remained perfect on the season on Sunday, as they erased a 43-40 halftime deficit with a 19-3 burst to open the third quarter en route to victory over previously-unbeaten Oklahoma State (6-1) at Gallagher-Iba Arena in Stillwater. That victory helped a young Lady Vols squad improve to 3-0 during a three-game stretch away from home. Prior to Sunday’s triumph, UT went 2-0 to win the Junkanoo Division at the 2018 Women’s Junkanoo Jam in Bimini, Bahamas, on Nov. 22 and 24.
Stetson comes to Rocky Top on the heels of its first victory of 2018-19, an 80-52 home win over Webber International on Friday night in DeLand, Fla. The Hatters are 0-2 in road games and 0-5 away from DeLand including neutral sites this season.
BROADCAST INFORMATION
Roger Hoover (play-by-play), LVFL Andraya Carter (analyst) and Maddy Glab (sideline) will describe the action for SECN+.
Mickey Dearstone is handling the call for IMG College/Lady Vol Network radio/online broadcasts for the 20th season. A link to the live audio stream can be found on each game’s Hoops Central page or the Lady Vol schedule on UTSports.com.
Air time for games on the Lady Vol Radio Network generally occurs 30 minutes prior to tip-off.
For UT home games (after football season has concluded), the Lady Vol Network has a low-power transmitter that makes the game available on the radio at 99.3 FM.
PROMOTIONS (IT’S WINSDAY!)
The UT-Stetson contest takes place on “WINSDAY.” We’re giving away prizes all game long! Enter to win at the Fan HQ table on the concourse at section 129.
The halftime performance will be by XPogo Stunt Team performer and UT student Dalton Smith.
Kids 12 & younger can pick up a wristband at the Fan HQ table on the concourse to participate in the pregame high-five tunnel. Wristbands are limited. To purchase discounted group tickets and reserve wristbands for your team, call 865-946-7000.
Tickets are available for as low as $5 at AllVols.com.
It’s the Twelve Names of Volidays! This game features the first name of Volidays! If your name is Joy, you will receive a complimentary ticket to the game at the ticket window when you show your ID.
Free parking & shuttle service will be available from UT’s Ag Campus. Shuttles begin two hours prior to tip.
ABOUT TENNESSEE
BACK IN THE TOP 10: UT has risen to No. 9 in both polls this week, marking the first time in the top 10 of the AP and USA Today Coaches Polls for the Lady Vols since sitting at No. 10 in the Jan. 22 and 23 polls of last season. It is UT’s highest position since ranking No. 6/7 in the Jan. 15 and 16 polls of 2018. Tennessee is the only school to have both its men’s and women’s teams ranked in the top 10 of the AP Poll this week.
GLASS CLEANERS: Tennessee is ranked No. 3 nationally in rebounds per game (48.7), No. 4 in rebound margin (16.3) and No. 5 in offensive rebounds per game (20).
PLAYING TAKEAWAY: UT ranks No. 5 in steals per game (14.2) and No. 8 in turnovers forced (20.8). Meme Jackson is ranked No. 35 in steals per game (3.2).
WESTBROOK ON POINT: Point guard Evina Westbrook’s confidence running this team is showing, reflected in 55-percent shooting from the floor, 62-percent accuracy from the three-point arc and a team-leading 15.0 points and 4.7 steals per game. She is coming off a 29-point effort at Oklahoma State on Sunday on 12-of-15 shooting.
GREEN MACHINES: UT opponents are seeing lots of Green, as in Zaay and Cheridene. Zaay tossed in a career-best 17 points vs. OSU on Sunday, while Cheridene pulled down a career-high-tying 13 rebounds. Zaay was named the SEC Freshman of the Week for her work vs. the Cowgirls.
ELECTRIC JACKSON: Meme Jackson is an energy-provider for UT on both ends of the floor. She leads the team in 3FGs (14), steals (19) and is second in assists (16) and blocks (4), averaging 12.0 ppg. and shooting 46% on FGs, 41% on 3FGs and 80% on FTs.
DEPENDABLE DAVIS: Rennia Davis missed the season-opener with a foot injury, but she has bounced back as the only Lady Vol to score in double figures in every game she has played. She had 13 vs. OSU on Sunday despite fouling out and is UT’s second leading scorer at 13.6 per contest.
ABOUT STETSON
Stetson is coached by Lynn Bria, who is in her 11th season at the helm of the Hatters. She is 195-135 at SU and is 348-348 in her 24th season as a coach.
The Hatters return three starters and five letterwinners after losing six from last season.
SU welcomes seven active players to the roster.
Stetson made the NCAA tourney in 2005, 2011 and 2013, the WNIT in 2012, 2014, 2015 and 2017 and the WBI in 2016 and 2018.
SU is led by 6-3 forward Sarah Sagerer (12.8 ppg./7.8 ppg.), 5-6 guard McKenna Beach (12.7 ppg.) and 5-9 guard Addi Walters (10.8 ppg.).
Asst. coach Shanasa Sanders was an assistant on the high school team (Ribault H.S.) of UT’s Rennia Davis and Stetson’s Day’Neshia Banks.
Stetson was 17-15 a year ago and finished 8-6 to place third in the Atlantic Sun Conference and earn a WBI postseason berth, where SU suffered a 49-33 first round loss to South Alabama.
UT-SU SERIES NOTES
Wednesday night’s match-up between Tennessee and Stetson will be the seventh meeting between these schools and the second between Holly Warlick and Lynn Bria.
UT is 6-0 all-time vs. the Hatters (Warlick is 1-0), including 5-0 at home and 1-0 at neutral sites.
Tennessee has scored 90+ points in five of six previous meetings, including 112 in a 112-39 outcome on Nov. 26, 1989.
Tennessee legend (1985-89) and current Lady Vols assistant Bridgette Gordon hails from DeLand, Fla., where Stetson is located.
The Lady Vols are 10-0 all-time against schools from the Atlantic Sun Conference. UT had a 100-60 win over ASUN opponent Liberty in last season’s NCAA First Round in Knoxville on March 16, 2018.
Redshirt sophomore Diamond DeShields scored 30 points, leading UT to a 90-56 win over Stetson in Knoxville on Dec. 30, 2015, the last time these programs met.
Te’a Cooper tallied 13, Jamie Nared 12 and Mercedes Russell 11. All 12 of Nared’s points came in the second half of that game.
The Lady Vols rushed out to a 24-14 lead after the first quarter, but the Hatters held strong to match Tennessee 17-17 in the second period, giving UT a 10-point halftime edge.
THE LADY VOLS’ LAST GAME
Sophomore Evina Westbrook poured in a career-high 29 points to lead No. 11/11 Tennessee to a gritty 76-63 road win Sunday over previously-unbeaten Oklahoma State at Gallagher-Iba Arena in Stillwater.
Sophomore Rennia Davis and freshman Zaay Green also hit double figures for UT (6-0) with 17 and 13, respectively, with Green posting a new career high. Cheridene Green was a presence on the boards, pulling down a career-best 13 rebounds.
The Cowgirls (6-1) were led in scoring by Braxtin Miller, who finished the day with 29 points.
With Tennessee trailing 43-40 at the break, Westbrook kicked things off in the second half, knocking down a three on UT’s first possession to ignite a 19-3 run that put the Lady Vols up 59-46 with 3:43 left in the third quarter.
The Cowgirls chipped away at UT’s lead to start the fourth stanza, pulling within five by the 4:18 mark. Zaay Green and Cheridene Green hit back-to-back buckets, however, to turn the tide for the Lady Vols and extend UT’s lead to 70-61 with 3:20 left in the game. OSU answered with a pair of made free throws, but Westbrook dropped another six points and Tennessee sealed a 76-63 victory.
THE HATTERS’ LAST GAME
Stetson scored a season-high 80 points and tied a school-record with 14 made 3-pointers in an 80-52 win over Webber International Friday afternoon at the Edmunds Center in DeLand, Fla.
Addi Walters led four players in double figures with a season-high 21 points as the Hatters (1-6) notched their first victory of the season.
Stetson went 14-for-35 (.400) from behind the arc as six different players hit threes. Walters drained five long-range shots, while Sarah Sagerer and Bianca Fizouaty hit three apiece.
Sagerer finished with 17 points, nine rebounds, five assists and five blocks. Fizouaty had season highs of 15 points and three steals for SU.
NEXT UP FOR UT AND STETSON
After the Stetson game, Tennessee travels to Austin on Saturday, where the Lady Vols will face off Sunday against #12/12 Texas at noon CT (1 ET) in the Frank Erwin Center. The game will carried by ESPN2.
Interestingly enough, Stetson’s next contest also is against the Longhorns. The Hatters play at Texas on Dec. 16 at 1 p.m. CT (2 ET).
In support of his upcoming album, The State I’m In, Aaron Lewis announced he will embark on a headlining tour of the same name in 2019. The 24-date tour will kick off in Dallas on Jan. 24 and make additional stops in Tampa, Milwaukee, Oklahoma City and more.
“My music is very first person, very autobiographical,” said Aaron. “It’s from my life experiences that I draw inspiration for my songs. This acoustic tour gives me the opportunity to share the stories behind my songs with my fans and play them stripped down, like I wrote them.”
Tickets will go on sale on Dec. 7 at 10 a.m. Fans who purchase tickets will receive a physical copy of The State I’m In at a later date.
The State I’m In Tour
Jan. 24 | Dallas, TX | Majestic Theatre
Jan. 25 | San Antonio, TX | Majestic Theatre
Jan. 26 | Corpus Christi, TX | American Bank Center
Feb.1 | Galveston, TX | The Grand 1894 Opera House
Feb.8 | Augusta, GA | Miller Theater
Feb.9 | Jacksonville, FL | Florida Theatre
Feb.10 | Tampa, FL | Tampa Theatre
Feb.11 | Melbourne, FL | King Center
Feb.22 | Virginia Beach, VA | Sandler Center
Feb.23 | Rocky Mount, VA | Harvester Performance Center
