Jason Aldean dusted off his high school baseball glove to lend a helping hand to the Spring Hill Police Department as they took on the Spring Hill Fire Department and Tennessee Highway Patrol in charity softball games that raised funds for the families of two fallen first responders who lost their lives in the line of duty.
The Spring Hill Police Department and Fire Department and the Tennessee Highway Patrol held the Battle of the Badges charity softball tournament on Oct. 20 at Evans Park for the families of police officer Sgt. Daniel Baker (Dickson County Sheriff’s Office) and fireman Jason Dickey (Lawrenceburg Fire Department).
Sgt. Baker was shot and killed in the line of duty on May 30 after responding to a suspicious vehicle call. He left behind a wife and daughter.
Dickey was killed in the line of duty of Feb. 12 after a burning home collapsed while he was battling a blaze inside. He left behind a pregnant wife, two daughters and a son.
The charity tournament included a silent auction and fun activities for kids.
“I love helping people do things like this, raise money for great causes, and it’s something that I’ve been fortunate enough to get involved a lot over the years,” said Jason to Nashville’s Fox 17.
Tim McGraw dropped a vibrant new lyric video for his current single, “Neon Church.”
The new clip was created by light-painting artist Patrick Rochon, who utilized a photographic technique of moving a light source while taking a long-exposure photograph.
“We wanted to give the fans something really special with this lyric video and we were blown away with Patrick’s work,” says Tim. “He’s an artist who uses light as paint and darkness as a canvas. That couldn’t be more perfect for ‘Neon Church.'”
“Neon Church” is currently No. 27 on Billboard’s Country Airplay chart after two weeks.
The Associated Press released its annual preseason poll Monday, and the Tennessee men’s basketball team earned its highest preseason ranking ever at No. 6.
UT has been ranked in the preseason AP poll 14 times, with the previous high of No. 7 coming during the 2007-08 campaign. That year, the Vols made their way to No. 1 for the first time ever and advanced to the Sweet Sixteen.
The last time Tennessee began the year in the top 10 was prior to the 2009-10 season, when the Big Orange started out ranked 10th. The Volunteers would go on to make their deepest postseason run in school history that season, advancing to the Elite Eight. This marks the sixth time UT will start the season ranked in the top 10.
The 2010-11 campaign was the most recent season the Vols earned a spot in the preseason poll, landing at No. 23 heading into the season-opener.
Kansas nabbed the top spot in the rankings, while Kentucky and Gonzaga claimed the No. 2 and No. 3 spots, respectively. Both the Wildcats and the Bulldogs are on UT’s slate for this season, while a matchup against the Jayhawks could occur in the NIT Season Tip-Off in New York. Auburn (11th), West Virginia (13th) and Mississippi State (18th) are also on the Vols’ schedule this year, with the Mountaineers and Bulldogs set to come to Knoxville.
After winning the regular-season championship last year, the Big Orange was picked to finish second in this year’s SEC race by a panel of SEC and national media members.
Tennessee returns 14 players from last year’s SEC Championship team that finished 26-9 and 13-5 in SEC play, including 2017-18 SEC Player of the Year Grant Williams. Reigning SEC Coach of the Year Rick Barnes enters his fourth year with the Vols needing only four wins to ascend past the legendary John Wooden into 26th place on the all-time Division I wins list.
Season tickets remain available, and single-game tickets are moving fast. Tennessee’s home games against West Virginia (Jan. 26) and Kentucky (March 2) are already sold out, and fewer than 100 remain available for the home game against Florida on Feb. 9.
UT Athletics
A few weeks ago I mentioned that I really wanted to start involving more men into the Women Want to Hear Women conversation, because the only way to change the conversation is by working together.
I thought the perfect guests would be the men and women of Delta Rae. The group, composed of two women and four men, released a female empowerment anthem on Oct. 19 called “Hands Dirty.” In a bit of a plot twist, band member Ian Hölljes was the initial writer of the song before his sister Brittany stepped in to work with him on it.
This band is an example of how men and women can work together to better champion the WWTHW movement.
I absolutely love this conversation, and I hope you do too! Plus, wait until you hear Delta Rae cover Cam’s “Diane.” It will blow you away.
Show Participants:
Ian Hölljes of Delta Rae
Eric Hölljes of Delta Rae
Brittany Hölljes of Delta Rae
Elizabeth Hopkins of Delta Rae
Mike McKee of Delta Rae
Grant Emerson of Delta Rae
Elaina Smith, host of WWTHW
Videos:
Delta Rae covers Cam’s “Diane.”
Delta Rae performs their new single, “Hands Dirty.”
Kane Brown is giving fans a glimpse into his recent wedding in a new video for “Good as You,” a tune from his upcoming album, Experiment, which drops on Nov. 9.
The video for the new slow-jam features highlights of Kane’s marriage to Katelyn Jae on Oct. 12 in Nashville, including the ceremony, reception, fireworks and a pre-wedding tattoo.
The Country Music Hall of Fame formally inducted three new members on Oct. 21: Ricky Skaggs (modern era), Dottie West (veteran era, decreased) and Johnny Gimble (musician, deceased).
A number of Hall of Fame members and other country artists were in attendance for the celebration, including Randy Travis, Charlie Daniels, Garth Brooks, Vince Gill, Emmylou Harris, the Oak Ridge Boys, Dierks Bentley, Chris Stapleton and more.
Johnny Gimble was recognized by:
The Time Jumpers and David Ball performed “Right or Wrong”
Michael Cleveland and Jeff White performed “Gardenia Waltz”
Connie Smith and Deannie Richardson performed “If It Ain’t Love”
Medallion Presentation: Connie Smith
Dottie West was recognized by:
Jeannie Seely performed “Here Comes My Baby”
Larry Gatlin and Steve Wariner performed “Country Sunshine”
The War and Treaty performed “Lesson in Leavin’”
Medallion Presentation: Brenda Lee
Ricky Skaggs was recognized by:
Garth Brooks, Larry Cordle and Sierra Hull performed “Highway 40 Blues”
Dierks Bentley performed “You’ve Got a Lover”
Chris Stapleton performed “Darkest Hour Is Just Before Dawn”
Medallion Presentation: Garth Brooks
After Garth presented Ricky with his medallion, the Hall of Fame offered Ricky the chance to play Bill Monroe’s Gibson F-5 mandolin, which is on display at the Hall of Fame. With the help of Garth Brooks on vocals, Ricky took his hero’s mandolin and performed “Will the Circle Be Unbroken,” which you can watch below (video courtesy of the Hall of Fame).
photo by Jason Kempin/Getty Images for Country Music Hall Of Fame
Lauren Alaina’s step-dad, Sam Ramker, passed away on Oct. 21, after battling Stage IV cancer since March.
Lauren shared the news via Instagram, stating: “My stepdad, Sam, went to heaven at one o’clock this morning. He was the purest example of how to love and live life fully. His last few hours were some of the most amazing moments I know I will ever have the privilege of witnessing. He opened his eyes last night. They shined the brightest I’ve ever seen anyone’s eyes shine, and he said, ‘Jesus.’ We said, ‘What do you see Sam?’ He said, ‘It’s so beautiful.’ Mom asked him who he saw and he told her a bunch of people, including his mama. He later said, ‘I love you all. I found it.’ My mom asked him what he found and he said, ‘Heaven. I’ve got to go.’ An hour later he went to be with the Lord. I want this story to be an example of how real God is. We are only here for a short amount of time, and we have to live like there is no tomorrow. I want us to all be a little more like Sam. He was strong. He was the most compassionate person in the world. He would go without to help a stranger. He was a great dad. Now he is with the best Father in the universe. Thank you to everyone who has supported our family in this time. We appreciate the love, donations, and prayers that we have received.”
In order to spend time with Sam during his final days, Lauren cancelled her concerts on Oct. 19 in Sugar Land, Texas, and Oct. 20 in New Braunfels, Texas, as part of Cole Swindell and Dustin Lynch’s Reason to Drink Another Tour.
Tennessee defensive Kyle Phillips and linebacker Darrin Kirkland Jr. spoke with the media in the postgame after Alabama defeated Tennessee 58-21 at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville.
Vols DE Kyle Phillips & LB Darrin Kirkland Jr. / Credit: WNML Staff
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – Tennessee fought back in the second quarter, scoring touchdowns on back-to-back drives, but the Volunteers fell to No. 1 Alabama, 58-21, on Saturday at Neyland Stadium.
“I think we learned a lot about our football team today,” UT head coach Jeremy Pruitt said. “There are some guys we had on our team that this game was way too big for them, and I think everyone was able to see that. It helps us, and we’ll move on with it. We play a good football team next week, so we have to go back to work tomorrow and get ready for South Carolina.”
Today’s “Third Saturday of October” matchup marked the 101st meeting between Tennessee (3-4, 1-3 SEC) and Alabama (8-0, 5-0).
Redshirt sophomore quarterback Jarrett Guarantano completed 5 of 10 passes for 63 yards before exiting the game with an injury in the second quarter. Redshirt senior backup quarterback Keller Chryst entered the game with 8:40 left in the first half and went on to complete 9 of 15 passes for 164 yards and two touchdowns.
Offensively, the Vols were led by redshirt junior wide receiver Jauan Jennings, who caught six passes for 102 yards, and sophomore running back Ty Chandler who had three receptions for 39 yards and a touchdown. Chandler also added 21 yards on the ground. His touchdown reception makes him the first Tennessee running back ever with TD catches in three consecutive games.
Alabama starting quarterback Tau Tagovailoa finished 19 of 29 for 306 yards and four touchdowns. Jalen Hurts entered in the third quarter and finished 2 of 3 for 21 yards with a rushing touchdown and an interception.
Tennessee’s two touchdowns during the second quarter were jumpstarted by back-to-back three-and-outs forced by the Vols’ defense. During those drives, the Crimson Tide were held to two yards and negative six yards, respectively. The back-to-back three-and-outs were the first the Tide had suffered with Tagovailoa running the offense this season.
To begin the game, Alabama went 58 yards down the field in nine plays to take a 7-0 lead. The Tide added another touchdown in the first quarter after recovering a forced fumble at Tennessee’s three-yard line.
Alabama totaled two more scoring drives in the opening frame on a 77-yard pass by Tagovailoa and a three-yard Damien Harris run.
In the final drive of the first quarter, the Vols got off eight plays for 33 yards, including a 20-yard pass from Guarantano to Jennings.
Tennessee’s defense came alive in the second quarter, forcing back-to-back three-and-outs. Guarantano then connected on a 30-yard pass to sophomore wide receiver Josh Palmer before exiting the game with an injury. Chryst entered with 8:40 left in the half and proceeded to find Chandler on consecutive throws of 10 yards or more, including a 10-yard touchdown pass. Sophomore kicker Brent Cimaglia added an extra point to make it a 28-7 ballgame.
Alabama answered with an eight-play, 43-yard drive of its own, capping it with a 2-yard touchdown run.
On UT’s following drive, Chryst marched the Vols 81 yards down the field in 1:58 for Tennessee’s second score of the night. The North Carolina native completed a 23-yard pass to Jennings before targeting him again for 40 yards. Chryst then threw to junior wide receiver Tyler Byrd for a 20-yard touchdown.
The Crimson Tide added a nine-yard touchdown to round out the half, scoring on nine plays in 2:01.
Alabama furthered its lead in the third quarter, scoring on a safety before going 54 yards in four plays for Tagovailoa’s fourth touchdown pass of the game.
Tennessee attempted a field goal with 6:07 left in the third quarter from 41 yards out but missed wide left.
With Hurts at quarterback for UA and under six minutes left in the third, junior defensive back Baylen Buchanan tipped a pass by Hurts that fell into the hands of Kyle Phillips, who then returned it 27 yards to the end zone. Cimaglia’s made PAT cut the Crimson Tide’s lead to 51-21. Phillips is the first opposing player to have a pick-six against Alabama since junior linebacker Daniel Bituli returned an interception 97 yards for a TD in 2017.
The Tide scored the final points of the game in their final drive of the third quarter on a 21-yard rush by Hurts.
Defensively, Tennessee was led by redshirt junior linebacker Quart’e Sapp, junior defensive back Nigel Warrior and Bituli with eight tackles apiece.
The Vols head to Columbia, South Carolina, next Saturday to face the Gamecocks at 7:30 p.m. ET. The game will be aired on SEC Network.
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