Earlier this month, Chris Stapleton revealed during his concert at Madison Square Garden that he and wife Morgane are expecting their fifth child in 2019. Chris and Morgane also have twins sons who are eight months old and a son and daughter around ages 6 and 8.
For an artist who headlined more than 50 shows in 2018 with his wife by his side, Chris’ tours have become a family affair—both literally and figuratively—which bodes well for everyone involved, including the upcoming addition to the Stapleton clan.
“You know, our kids go on the road, my in-laws go on the road, my mom goes on the road when she feels like coming, and so we carry a good bit of actual family,” says Chris to Kix Brooks of American Country Countdown. “As an extension of that, I consider Derek [Mixon on drums] and J.T. [Cure on bass] to be family members, you know, the guys in the band, and all the guys in the crew. I want everybody to feel like they are family. We try to approach things that way. That’s always been the goal with me anytime.”
Chris and his touring family will have some downtime over the next couple of months before heading to the U.K. and Ireland in March. Chris will also perform in honor of Dolly Parton at 2019 MusiCares Person of the Year gala on Feb. 8.
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Tennessee sophomore offensive lineman Trey Smith has been named to the 2018 SEC Football Community Service Team, as announced by the Southeastern Conference on Wednesday.
The SEC names a Community Service Team for each of its 21-league sponsored sports, looking to highlight an athlete from each school who gives back to his community through superior service efforts.
The other 13 members of the 2018 SEC Football Community Service Team are Joshua Casher (Alabama), T.J. Smith (Arkansas), Derrick Brown (Auburn), Fred Johnson (Florida), Rodrigo Blankenship (Georgia), C.J. Conrad (Kentucky), Blake Ferguson (LSU), Javon Patterson (Ole Miss), Gerri Green (Mississippi State), Corey Fatony (Missouri), Spencer Eason-Riddle (South Carolina), Riley Garner (Texas A&M) and Khari Blasingame (Vanderbilt).
A member of the 2018-19 VOLeader Class, Smith participated and helped coordinate the adapted Sports Festival and worked with Club Vibes, which aids visually impaired youth. Smith also assisted in the organization of Tennessee’s annual VOLoween event. Throughout the year, Smith makes time to read to children at local schools in addition to participating in Read Across America Day.
The Jackson, Tennessee, native most recently spearheaded a coat drive for Knoxville Area Rescue Ministry (KARM). Smith set up a drop off point at the Thornton Student Life Center and promoted the event on social media. Due to his efforts, over 1,000 coats were donated in five days.
On the field, Smith was an integral part of the Vols’ offensive line rotation in 2017 and 2018 before his sophomore season ended seven games in due to blood clots. He started all 19 games of his career and was tabbed to the 2018 Outland Trophy Watch List while also being named a 2018 Preseason All-SEC First Team selection. Smith earned Freshman All-America designations from both 247Sports and FWAA in his first season with the Big Orange.
Pandora hosted a free “Backroads” concert that was headlined by Jason Aldean at Nasvhille’s Marathon Music Works on Nov. 27. The free concert was a celebration for fans—and Jason, who is the most played country artist in Pandora history.
“It’s cool to get to play shows like this where you know the fans are all going to be some of the biggest out there,” said Jason.
Steven Lee Olsen, who recently released his new album, Timing Is Everything, opened the show.
If you’re a fan of Jason’s music, tune in to Pandora’s “Backroads” station, which features music tailored for country listeners.
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – Houston Texans rookie punter Trevor Daniel is tied for fourth in the NFL with 24 punts downed inside the 20-yard line while veteran punter Britton Colquitt leads the NFL in punts (68) and longest punt (79). Colquitt also ranks second in punting yards (3,071) and punts I-20 (30).
Catch up with all of Tennessee’s former players below.
Derek Barnett – DE, Philadelphia Eagles 2018 Regular Season: Games/Starts: 6/6, Tackles: 11 UA, 5 A, 16 Total, Other: 2.5 Sacks
Barnett suffered a season ending injury to his shoulder in Week 7.
Eric Berry – DB, Kansas City Chiefs 2018 Regular Season: No Stats Recorded
Berry has yet to see action this season for the Chiefs. The five-time Pro Bowler has been rehabbing an Achilles injury he suffered in last year’s season opener.
Bray played in four preseason games for the Chicago Bears in 2018, completing 60-of-97 passes for 652 yards and one touchdown. The California native was named to the Bears’ practice squad to start the 2018 season.
Coleman made four tackles, three of which were solo, in Seattle’s Week 12 win against the Panthers. The outing marked Coleman’s third start of the season.
Daniel is tied for fourth in the NFL with 24 punts downed inside the 20-yard line. In Week 12, Daniel averaged 44.8 yards on five punts and landed two I-20 to help the Texans to a 34-17 win over Tennessee.
Dobbs completed his first career pass for 20 yards to help the Steelers defeat the Ravens, 23-16 in Week 9. The following week against the Panthers, Dobbs was 1-for-2.
Foster got his 126th career start on the offensive line for the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday. Foster is a leader for the Steelers, who hold a 7-3-1 record.
Kamara rushed for 89 yards on 14 carries in New Orleans’ 31-17 win over Atlanta. The running back also had one reception for nine yards in the outing.
Kamara is second in the league in total touchdowns scored this season (15) and sixth in total points with 94.
John Kelly – RB, Los Angeles Rams Preseason: Games/Starts: 3/0, Rushing Att-Yds: 46-197, 4.3 Avg., 40 Lg, 3 TD Rec-Yds: 6-18, 3.0 Avg., 12 Lg, 0 TD
Kelly rushed 46 times for 197 yards and three touchdowns through three preseason games Los Angeles. The rookie running back has not seen action in any regular-season contests for the Rams.
LaTroy Lewis – LB, Tennessee Titans (Practice Squad) Lewis was signed to the Titans’ practice squad in October.
McCullers didn’t record any stats in the Steelers’ 24-17 loss at Denver in Week 12.
Kahlil McKenzie – G, Kansas City Chiefs Preseason: Games/Starts: 4/0
McKenzie made four appearances in the preseason for the Chiefs and helped pave the way for 397 yards of total offense in the final preseason game against the Packers. McKenzie has not played in any of the Chiefs eight regular season games so far this year.
Emmanuel Moseley – DB, San Francisco 49ers (IR) 2018 Regular Season: Games/Starts: 1/0, Tackles: 1 UA, 0 A, 1 Total
Preseason: Games/Starts: 4/1, Tackles: 6 UA, 0 A, 6 Total, Other: 1 PD, 1-6 Int-Yds
Moseley made his NFL debut in Week 9, making one tackle in the first quarter of San Francisco’s 34-3 win over Oakland. He was placed on injured reserve after suffering an injury in the outing.
Sutton didn’t record any stats but saw action in the Steelers’ 24-17 loss at Denver in Week 12.
Jordan Williams – LB, New York Giants (IR) Preseason: Games/Starts: 4/0, Tackles: 3 UA, 0 A, 3 Total
Williams played in all four preseason games for the Giants, making three tackles. He is currently on injured reserve for New York.
Ethan Wolf – TE, Green Bay Packers
Wolf was signed to the practice squad by the Green Bay Packers on Oct. 30. He spent the preseason with the Tennessee Titans after signing as an undrafted free agent.
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — The Tennessee Volunteers will play their 500th game in Thompson-Boling Arena on Wednesday night, as they host Eastern Kentucky for a 6:30 p.m. tip.
SEC Network will carry the broadcast, which can also be streamed online through WatchESPN. Fans can also listen live on their local Vol Network affiliate to hear Bob Kesling and Bert Bertelkamp describing the action. Tickets are still available online at AllVols.com.
Tennessee (4-1) is coming off a trip to New York after playing in the NIT Season Tip-Off. UT split its two games in the Barclays Center, defeating Louisville in the semifinals, 92-81, and dropping a hardfought matchup against No. 2 Kansas, 87-81, in overtime.
Grant Williams was named the SEC co-Player of the Week after the tournament, averaging 21.0 points, 8.5 rebounds, 5.0 assists and 2.0 blocks per game. He was also named to the NIT Season Tip-Off All-Tournament Team along with Jordan Bone. Bone posted 13.5 points, 5.5 assists and 4.0 rebounds per game during the tournament. Against Kansas, he finished with 16 points on 6-of-10 shooting to go along with six rebounds and five assists.
THE SERIES
Tennessee leads the all-time series with Eastern Kentucky, 4-0.
Two meetings have taken place in Knoxville (1984 and 2005). The Vols also defeated EKU in Richmond (1912) and Murfreesboro (1979).
The Vols own a 56-2 all-time record against current members of the Ohio Valley Conference.
A WIN WOULD…
Extend Tennessee’s home win streak to 12 games, dating to last season.
Improve UT’s record vs. current members of the OVC to 57-2.
STORYLINES
This is Tennessee’s 500th men’s basketball game at Thompson-Boling Arena. The riverfront venue that seats 21,678 opened for the 1987-88 season.
The Volunteers are 370-129 at Thompson-Boling Arena.
Tennessee has committed fewer turnovers than its opponent in all five games this season.
Grant Williams leads the SEC in scoring (21.6 ppg) and ranks second in field-goal percentage (.597).
Grant Williams and Jordan Bone both were named to last week’s NIT Season Tip-Off All-Tournament Team.
Williams also was named the SEC Co-Player of the Week.
As a team, Tennessee leads the SEC in 3-point field-goal defense (.274), assists per game (20.6 apg) and assist/turnover ratio (1.7).
According to KenPom, Tennessee ranks in the top 15 in both offensive efficiency (13th) and defensive efficiency (11th).
VFL Scotty Hopson (2008-11) of the NBA G League’s Oklahoma City Blue was recently named to USA Basketball’s November USA World Cup Qualifying Team.
ABOUT EASTERN KENTUCKY
The Vols and the Colonels are set to meet for the first time in more than a decade, with UT looking to preserve its perfect record in a series that dates to 1912.
A.W. Hamilton is in his first year at the helm of a collegiate program after spending just one season as an assistant coach at NC State, but the two-time National Prep Coach of the Year excelled as head coach during his six seasons at Hargrave Military Academy, where he boasted a record of 237-22 and led his team to the 2016 National Prep Championship.
Eastern Kentucky (3-3) lost some key players from last year’s squad, but three-time All-OVC first-team selection Nick Mayo is back for his senior season. Mayo is on pace to become the program’s all-time leading scorer and is one of only six Colonels ever to record 1,500 points and 500 rebounds in a career. He also holds EKU’s career blocks record (132).
This season, Mayo is averaging 25.0 points and 9.2 rebounds per game. In a game at Chattanooga earlier this month, Mayo dropped 40 points on 12-of-23 shooting in a win over the Mocs.
Lachlan Anderson is another player to keep an eye on for the Colonels. The junior forward is second on the team in scoring (9.8 ppg) and rebounding (5.8 rpg).
LAST MEETING WITH EKU
Junior center Major Wingate scored a career-high 18 points and grabbed five rebounds to lead Tennessee to a 92-58 victory over Eastern Kentucky at Thompson-Boling Arena on Nov. 25, 2005.
Tennessee took advantage of 25 turnovers by Eastern Kentucky. The Big Orange improved to 3-0.
The Vols had 21 assists and 13 turnovers. Chris Lofton added 17 points, C.J. Watson 12 scored and Andre Patterson had 10.
Wingate, whose previous career high was 14 points against Kentucky last season, was 6-of-8 from the floor and made all six of his foul shots. Lofton, who hit 4 of 8 shots from 3-point range, had two points at halftime and was 0-of-4 from the floor.
Eastern Kentucky was led by Mike Rose with 13 points, and Jason McLeish and Alonzo Hird with 12 each.
Tennessee led 44-29 at halftime.
HOOPS RANKED HIGH ON ROCKY TOP
Tennessee joins Iowa as the only schools in the nation whose men’s and women’s basketball teams both are ranked in the AP top 15.
The Vols are ranked sixth in the country, while the Lady Vols are the AP’s 11th-ranked team.
HOME HOOPS DURING THE BARNES ERA
The Volunteers own a 39-11 record at Thompson-Boling Arena under the direction of head coach Rick Barnes.
With Barnes on the bench, Tennessee is 18-9 at home against SEC opposition.
The Vols’ current 11-game home win streak is longest of the Barnes era.
Barnes has led the Vols to a 3-3 home record against AP top-25 opponents.
Rennia Davis – Lady Vols Forward / Credit: UT Athletics
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – Tennessee sophomore guard/forward Rennia Davis has been named the Tennessee Sports Writers Association Women’s Basketball Player of the Week, the organization announced on Tuesday.
Davis, who hails from Jacksonville, Fla., led Tennessee to the Junkanoo Division title at the 2018 Women’s Junkanoo Jam in Bimini, Bahamas, last week, earning tourney MVP honors for her play. The 6-foot-2 standout averaged 15.5 points, 5.5 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 2.0 steals during the tournament, shooting 50 percent from the field (13-26) and 50 percent from three-point land (4-8).
Davis helped the No. 11/11 Lady Vols remain undefeated on the season on Saturday, draining three-consecutive fourth-quarter three-pointers and finishing with 18 points, seven rebounds, three assists and a blocked shot as UT came from 12-down to defeat UAB for the title. Davis connected on seven of 13 shots from the field, including three of six beyond the arc. The sophomore’s heroics helped UT outscore the Blazers 19-9 in the fourth period to force overtime and help the Lady Vols prevail in OT, 73-69.
In the opening contest of the tourney, Davis tallied 13 points, four rebounds, four steals and two assists as the Lady Vols toppled Clemson, 78-66. She made six of 13 field goal tries in 26 minutes of duty.
UT ended the third quarter tied at 54, and Davis went three of four from the field to produce six points to go along with two rebounds, two assists and a steal over the final 10 minutes as UT outscored the Tigers 24-21 in the final frame to win.
A Preseason All-SEC First Team pick by the coaches and media, Davis leads UT in scoring and rebounding through the team’s first five games, averaging 13.8 points and 7.5 rebounds per contest. She is shooting 52 percent from the field and 55 percent from the line on threes.
If you weren’t one of the more than 84,000 fans who purchased a ticket to watch Garth Brooks’ concert at Notre Dame Stadium in South Bend, Indiana, on Oct. 20, you can still be a part of the experience.
CBS will premiere a new two-hour television special that captures his performance. Garth: Live at Notre Dame will air on Dec. 2 at 8 p.m. ET.
While Garth may have had a pretty good vantage point during the concert, he told Kix Brooks of American Country Countdown that he’s looking forward to experiencing the TV special from a bird’s-eye view courtesy of the footage taken by helicopter cameras, including a shot of Notre Dame’s famous mural, Touchdown Jesus.
“I saw the first frames of [the TV special] about four days ago—it’s gorgeous,” says Garth to Kix. “The helicopter shots are my favorite because you get to see Touchdown Jesus. The stadium’s lit beautifully, but my favorite, favorite thing are the crowd shots ’cause it was not an easy concert for them to be in a crowd in ’cause it was cold. You’d never know it. They’re bundled up, but you’d never know it. They’re singing. They’re laughing. Their faces are beautiful and it goes all night long like that. They don’t wane. They don’t tire. I was impressed, so [I’m] really, really fired up for what the nation’s about to see.”
The Grand Ole Opry is rolling out a new campaign in 2019: Opry NextStage, which features yearlong collaborations with rising country artists Tegan Marie, Riley Green, Tenille Townes and Travis Denning.
The collaborations will include live performances, strategic marketing support and short-form documentaries. According to the Opry, the goal is to create a “connection between this group of exciting, talented and diverse young artists and the Opry’s passionate audience.”
Each Opry NextStage artist will perform on the Grand Ole Opry at Ryman Auditorium in December:
Tenille Townes on Dec. 7
Tegan Marie on Dec. 8
Riley Green on Dec. 11
Travis Denning on Dec. 15
Opry NextStage will officially launch with a kickoff party and concert featuring performances by the inaugural class at Ole Red Nashville on Jan. 8. Tickets for the Opry NextStage kickoff party go on sale on Nov. 29 at 10 a.m. CT.
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