Davis Garners TSWA Player of the Week Accolades

Posted on November 27, 2018
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.

 

UT Athletics

“Fired Up” Garth Brooks Looking Forward to “Helicopter Crowd Shots” During Notre Dame Stadium Concert TV Special

“Fired Up” Garth Brooks Looking Forward to “Helicopter Crowd Shots” During Notre Dame Stadium Concert TV Special

Posted on November 27, 2018

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.”

Grand Ole Opry Announces Yearlong Collaborations With Four New Artists

Grand Ole Opry Announces Yearlong Collaborations With Four New Artists

Posted on November 27, 2018

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.

photos by Tammie Arroyo, AFF-USA.com

“Women Want to Hear Women With Elaina” Featuring Leah Turner

“Women Want to Hear Women With Elaina” Featuring Leah Turner

Posted on November 27, 2018

Leah Turner has had such an interesting career since moving from California to Nashville in 2012. She is a true example of how finicky the country music industry can be—but her hard work and talent have not gone unnoticed.

While Leah has had many challenges, she’s also had many victories, including releasing her self-titled EP and charting two singles. Leah is one of the hardest working women in Nashville, and I’m thrilled we were able to sit down and chat. You’ll also find out how Leah originally sparked my idea for this podcast. Enjoy!

Podcast Participants:

  • Leah Turner
  • Elaina Smith, host of WWTHW

Oh! Here are the details for Leah’s upcoming show in Nashville, which I will be hosting.

Grit & Glamour Holiday Party
Date: Dec. 11
Location: Analog at the Hutton
Time: 6 p.m.
Setup: 1 round, 3 songs
Lineup: Leah Turner, Hannah Dasher, Jaden Michaels, Gwen Sebastian and special guests

Videos

  • Leah “Plays It Forward” with a cover of Miranda Lambert’s “Tin Man.”
  • Leah performs her single, “Sleep You Off.”

Leah’s Women Want to Hear Women Playlist

Need a refresher what #WomenWantToHearWomen is all about?
Past episodes: 
Kacey Musgraves
Dolly Parton
Carly Pearce
Shawna Thompson of Thompson Square
Tegan Marie
Clare Dunn
Stephanie Quayle 
Sarah Darling
Rachel Reinert
Carrie Underwood
Abby Anderson
Runaway June
Kalie Shorr
Rachel Wammack
Jessie Chris
Tenille Townes
Delta Rae
Logan Brill
Maren Morris
RaeLynn
Heather Morgan

VFL Tobias Harris named NBA Western Conference Player of the Week

VFL Tobias Harris named NBA Western Conference Player of the Week

Posted on November 26, 2018
Clippers F Tobias Harris / Credit: NBA Media Central

The NBA today announced that L.A. Clippers forward Tobias Harris has been named Western Conference Player of the Week for Week 6 (games played Monday, November 19, through Sunday, November 25). This is Harris’ second career Player of the Week award (Week 4 in 2017).

Harris helped the Clippers to a 3-1 week behind averages of 24.8 points and 8.8 rebounds in addition to shooting splits of 56.5% from the field, 45.5% from three-point range and 91.7% from the free-throw line. He tallied a career-high tying and team season-high 34 points in Sunday’s win over Portland, capping a week in which he scored at least 24 points in three of the team’s four games and logged a team-high +13 in his 12-point performance against Memphis on Nov. 23.

Now in his eighth NBA season, Harris is averaging career-highs in points (21.5), rebounds (8.7), field goal percentage (52.5%), three-point percentage (42.7%) & minutes (35.1). He is the only player in the NBA currently averaging at least 20 points and eight rebounds, while shooting over 50% from the field and 40% from three-point range.

The Clippers sit atop the Western Conference standings at 13-6 and have won nine of their last 11 games and eight straight at home.

-LA Clippers

Williams Named SEC Co-Player of the Week

Williams Named SEC Co-Player of the Week

Posted on November 26, 2018
Grant Williams – UT F / Credit: UT Athletics

The Southeastern Conference announced Monday that Tennessee men’s basketball player Grant Williams was named SEC co-Player of the Week for his performance in the NIT Season Tip-Off.

Williams earned a spot on the NIT Season Tip-Off All-Tournament Team after averaging 21.0 points, 8.5 rebounds, 5.0 assists and 2.0 blocks against Louisville and Kansas last week in New York City.

This is the second SEC Player of the Week honor for the junior forward. Previously, Williams was recognized as player of the week on Jan. 15, 2018, after a 37-point performance against Vanderbilt. He was also named the SEC co-Freshman of the Week on Feb. 13, 2017.

The reigning SEC Player of the Year led the fifth-ranked Volunteers in scoring (24), rebounds (9) and blocks (3) during UT’s victory over Louisville Wednesday. He totaled 18 points, eight rebounds and six assists before fouling out of UT’s overtime loss to second-ranked Kansas in the championship game Friday night.

Currently third in KenPom’s National Player of the Year standings, the Charlotte, North Carolina, native leads the SEC in scoring (21.6 ppg) while ranking second in field-goal percentage (.597), fourth in rebounding (8.4 rpg) and eighth in assists (4.2 apg).

-UT Athletics

 

Kelsea Ballerini to Headline “Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve” Event

Kelsea Ballerini to Headline “Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve” Event

Posted on November 26, 2018

Kelsea Ballerini will celebrate 2019 by headlining Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve event on the West Coast with a number of other artists, including The Chainsmokers, Foster the People, Dua Lipa, Macklemore, Skylar Grey, Ella Mai and Charlie Puth.

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 the West Coast. Additionally, Jenny McCarthy will report from Times Square.

Performers for the New York City and New Orleans celebrations will be announced soon.

Florida Georgia Line, Sugarland, Kane Brown and Thomas Rhett have performed as part of the New Year’s Rockin’ Eve show in recent years.

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

photo by Tammie Arroyo, AFF-USA.com

Dan + Shay to Headline Unity Concert to Benefit Pittsburgh Synagogue

Dan + Shay to Headline Unity Concert to Benefit Pittsburgh Synagogue

Posted on November 26, 2018

Dan + Shay will headline a Concert for Unity for the Tree of Life Synagogue at Byham Theater in Pittsburgh on Dec. 2.

The synagogue was the site of a mass shooting on Oct. 27 that left 11 people dead and seven injured. Proceeds from all ticket sales will go to the Tree of Life Synagogue to assist with the effort to rebuild and reopen. FRZY and The Andy Davis Band will also perform.

Dan + Shay’s Dan Smyers is a native of Wexford, Pa., which is about 20 minutes north of Pittsburgh.

Tickets are on sale now for $35. The concert will begin at 2 p.m. ET.

photo by Tammie Arroyo, AFF-USA.com

Jimmie Allen’s “Best Shot” Is No. 1 on the Country Charts for the Second Week in a Row

Jimmie Allen’s “Best Shot” Is No. 1 on the Country Charts for the Second Week in a Row

Posted on November 26, 2018

Jimmie Allen’s debut single, “Best Shot,” is living up to its moniker as it clocks in at No. 1 on the Billboard Country Airplay chart and Mediabase chart for the second consecutive week.

Written by Jimmie, Josh London and JP Williams, “Best Shot” is the first single from Jimmie’s debut album, Mercury Lane.

“In writing this song, we just wanted to be honest with ourselves and write something that others can empathize with,” says Jimmie.

Last week, Jimmie joined Darius Rucker as the only African-American country artists to hit No. 1 with their debut singles. Darius, who became a household name in the early 1990s as the frontman of Hootie & the Blowfish, accomplished the feat in 2008 with “Don’t Think I Don’t Think About It,” which remained No. 1 for two weeks.

“If someone asked me two years ago if I thought that this would be my life today—that I’d be on the red carpet at the CMAs or my song would be the No. 1 song on country radio, I would have honestly said ‘no,’” says Jimmie. “Did I think it would happen eventually? Absolutely! Just not this soon. I’m humbled and grateful—it’s such an honor to get my first No. 1 and to know that my song is connecting with people and resonating in a way that hopefully makes us all better people in the end, because that’s really what ‘Best Shot’ is all about.”

photo by Tammie Arroyo, AFF-USA.com

Grammy Nominations to Be Announced on Dec. 7

Grammy Nominations to Be Announced on Dec. 7

Posted on November 26, 2018

The Recording Academy will announce the nominations for the 61st annual Grammy Awards on Dec. 7.

The nominations were originally scheduled to be announced on Dec. 5, but the Recording Academy postponed the announcement out of respect for President George H. W. Bush’s funeral and public viewing.

Many of the top categories will be announced on CBS This Morning at 8:30 a.m. ET on Dec. 7, with the remaining nominees in the 84 categories revealed afterward via grammy.com and social media. The final-round voting takes place from Dec. 13, 2018, to Jan. 9. 2019.

The 61st annual Grammy Awards ceremony will recognize music’s best in the eligibility period from Oct. 1, 2017, to Sept. 30, 2018. The ceremony will be held on Feb. 10, 2019, at the Staples Center in Los Angeles. Tune in to CBS at 8 p.m. ET to catch the show.

photo courtesy the Recording Academy

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