KNOXVILLE – The Tennessee Volunteer football team invites fans to meet the Vols in Neyland Stadium on Sunday, Aug. 5, for an open practice at 2:30 p.m. followed by an autograph session.
Admission and parking are free for the event.
Gate 21 will be open to fans at 1:30 p.m. The autograph session will begin at the conclusion of the practice at approximately 4:30 p.m. Stations will be designated by position group on each sideline, and head coach Jeremy Pruitt will have his own separate table.
Fans interested in attending the post-practice autograph session on the field will need to secure a wristband as they enter Gate 21. Wristbands will be distributed on a “first-come, first-served” basis and will only be available while supplies last. A wristband will not guarantee an autograph due to time constraints.
Concessions stands on the lower level will be open throughout the stadium, while the Official Athletic Team Store at Gate 20 will also be open for fans.
Members of the Tennessee Athletics ticket sales team will be available at Neyland Stadium for fans interested in purchasing season tickets or mini-plans for the upcoming football season.
Please note that a portion of Volunteer Boulevard – between Cumberland Avenue and Peyton Manning Pass – will be closed for streetscape enhancements.
The Tennessee Athletics’ Clear Bag Policy will be in effect for the event. More information on the policy can be found here.
Fans are also advised that if inclement weather forces practice indoors, the autograph session will be canceled.
The Music City Walk of Fame announced its 2018 inductees: Ben Folds, Brenda Lee, Jeannie Seely and Ray Stevens.
Following in the footprints of stars Garth Brooks, Reba McEntire, Dolly Parton, Randy Travis and more, Ben, Brenda, Jeannie and Ray will inducted into the Music City Walk of Fame on Aug. 21 at 11:30 a.m at Nashville’s Walk of Fame Park. The event is free and open to the public.
The Music City Walk of Fame—created in 2006—is a tribute to artists of all genres who have contributed to the world through song and made a significant contribution to the music industry with a connection to Music City. Sidewalk medallions line the one-mile stretch with the names of the inductees etched in a star and guitar design. Past inductees include Johnny Cash, Vince Gill, Alan Jackson, Miranda Lambert, Martina McBride, Keith Urban, Hank Williams, Trisha Yearwood, Little Big Town, Kenny Rogers and more.
The inductees will receive the 81st, 82nd, 83rd and 84th stars on the Walk of Fame. Ben, Brenda, Jeannie and Ray will be recognized for their significant contributions to preserving the musical heritage of Nashville and for contributing to the world through song or other industry collaboration.
Bios and photos of each inductee are below, courtesy of the Music City Walk of Fame.
Ben Folds
Multi-platinum selling singer/songwriter/producer Ben Folds’ genre-bending body of music spans the musical spectrum from pop to classical. An artistic advisor at the Kennedy Center, Folds actively tours the world performing with orchestras and as a pop artist. He frequently appears in film and TV, was a judge for five seasons on the critically-acclaimed NBC show “The Sing Off,” is an avid photographer, is a leading national advocate for arts funding in our schools and music therapy and is currently writing his first book. He also earned international praise for raising awareness that led to the saving of the famed historic RCA Studio A on Music Row from demolition.
Brenda Lee
Brenda Lee has been a superstar since childhood, selling more than 100 million units of music globally. She released her first single when she was only 11 years old, shared the stage of the Grand Ole Opry with Elvis Presley at 12 and watched The Beatles open for her on tour in Europe before she turned 20. The GRAMMY nominee’s biggest single was “I’m Sorry” in 1960, which went on to sell more than 20 million copies. She is the only female member of both the Country Music Hall of Fame and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
Jeannie Seely
A member of the Grand Ole Opry for 51 years, Jeannie Seely’s recordings have spanned six decades. She was a prolific songwriter, and she earned a GRAMMY for her recording of “Don’t Touch Me” in 1967. A country music legend and trailblazer, Seely became the first female to regularly host segments of the weekly Opry shows and is credited for being the first to wear a mini-skirt on the Opry stage. She hosted a show on the Armed Forces Network, wrote a book and starred in several major stage productions.
Ray Stevens
Twelve-time nominated and two-time GRAMMY winner Ray Stevens has spanned the generations with 60 years of comedic musical talent, including songs such as his multi-million selling hit “The Streak” and his classic pop standard “Everything Is Beautiful.” Throughout his career, Stevens has sold more than 40 million albums and continues daily office operations at his home base, Ray Stevens Music, located on Nashville’s historic Music Row. Stevens hosts Ray Stevens CabaRay Nashville, a 30-minute weekly music/talk show airing on public television. The music legend recently opened his very own Nashville entertainment venue, the CabaRay Showroom, a 35,000-square-foot music venue where Stevens performs weekly live concerts.
After lead single “Tequila” recently spent two weeks at the top of the Billboard Country Airplay chart, Dan + Shay have announced that “Speechless” will be the follow-up single from their 2018 self-titled album.
Penned by Dan Smyers, Shay Mooney, Jordan Reynolds and Laura Veltz, the song was inspired by Dan’s marriage to Abby Law (May 2017) and Shay’s marriage to Hannah Billingsley (October 2017). The video for “Speechless” features footage from both Dan and Shay’s weddings.
“Speechless is definitely inspired by our wives,” says Shay. “It’s very cool to release songs that are not only stories of our lives but also very personal experiences. Seeing our wives for the first time in their wedding dresses was absolutely an unforgettable and we talked about that while writing the song and bringing that moment to life in this song.”
“Speechless” will ship to country radio on Aug. 6.
The Judds will be the subject of an 11-month exhibit at the Country Music Hall of Fame & Museum.
Opening on Aug. 10 and running through July 14, 2019, The Judds: Dream Chasers will explore the lives and careers of the Grammy-winning mother-daughter duo. Wynonna and Naomi Judd dominated the country charts during the 1980s and ’90s, and have sold more than 20 million albums and registered 20 Top 10 hits.
“The Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum is sacred ground, regarded with reverence and respect,” said Naomi. “I am so overjoyed to have The Judds’ career encapsulated in this new exhibit. I’m so proud of all the success Wynonna has accomplished and we owe everything to the fans who welcomed The Judds music into their homes.”
“I am truly humbled and grateful to partner with the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum to honor The Judds’ legacy and relive some of the special moments we shared with our fans,” added Wynonna. “What an honor.”
The exhibit features rare artifacts, original manuscripts, unpublished photos and keepsake costumes, including:
Velvet jacket embellished with bugle beading and sequins, worn by Wynonna Judd on The Judds’ farewell concert in December 1991
Lyrics to the song released by The Judds as “Rockin’ with the Rhythm of the Rain,” handwritten by Don Schlitz, who co-wrote the song with Brent Maher
1996 Gibson Custom Shop ES-336 electric guitar used by Wynonna in her solo concerts
Nurse’s uniform worn by Naomi when she worked as a registered nurse
Certificate presented to 17-year-old Naomi for her volunteer work as a Candy Striper at King’s Daughters Hospital in Ashland, Kentucky
Hohner harmonicas and cigar box owned by Naomi, who began playing harmonica in the 1970s
Note to Santa Claus, written by Naomi and her siblings when they were children
Grammy for Best Country Song (1991) for “Love Can Build a Bridge,” presented to songwriters John Jarvis, Naomi and Paul Overstreet
CMA Horizon Award presented to The Judds in 1984
ACM Top Vocal Duet Award presented to The Judds in 1990
Silk jacket embellished with beaded stars and worn by Wynonna Judd at the 1991 ACM Awards
Kaat Tilley gown worn by Naomi Judd during The Judds’ nine-show residency in Las Vegas, October 2015
DALLAS – Tennessee football sophomore offensive lineman Trey Smith was named to the Watch List for the Outland Trophy presented by the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases on Tuesday.
Smith also collected preseason All-SEC First Team accolades on Friday.
The Jackson, Tenn., native’s preseason awards come after a standout freshman season in 2017 where Smith captured FWAA Freshman All-American Team honors in addition to All-SEC Second Team and All-Freshman honors from the league’s coaches and media.
The versatile 6-6, 320-pounder earned playing time at right guard, left guard, left tackle and right tackle last fall. He became the first Vol true freshman to start at left tackle in over 30 years when he protected the blind side against Southern Miss on Nov. 4. Smith led the Vols with 55 knockdowns and finished as the SEC’s top-rated freshman offensive player according to Pro Football Focus College.
Smith missed the spring with a medical condition, but head coach Jeremy Pruitt said last Wednesday at SEC Media Days he would be back for the start of fall practice.
The Vols open the season at 3:30 p.m. on Sept. 1 at the Belk College Kickoff against West Virginia in Charlotte, N.C., before hosting ETSU at 4 p.m. on Sept. 8 and UTEP at 12 p.m. on Sept. 15. Tennessee welcomes Florida on Sept. 22 (kickoff is TBD) to start SEC play.
Tennessee football single game tickets are on sale now for six of the seven home games at AllVols.com or by calling 1-800-332-VOLS.
University of Wisconsin All-American Joe Thomas, the 2006 Outland Trophy winner who retired earlier this year after a stellar 11-year career with NFL’s Cleveland Browns, will serve as the Outland Trophy #FightFlu ambassador. Thomas has been an avid supporter of annual flu vaccines. He will make media appearances on behalf of the #FightFlu public awareness campaign to remind people to get their annual flu shots.
Additionally, Thomas will announce the recipient of the 73rd Outland Trophy during ESPN’s The Home Depot College Football Awards on Dec. 6, live from the College Football Hall of Fame in Atlanta. The official presentation to the winner will be made at the Werner Enterprises Outland Trophy Awards Dinner produced by the Greater Omaha Sports Committeeon Jan. 9, 2019. Up to seven semifinalists will be named on Nov. 14 in Omaha and three finalists for the award will be announced on Nov. 19.
Cam will hit the road this fall for her biggest headlining tour to date.
Dubbed the Road to Happiness Tour, the 16-date trek will kick off in Nashville on Sept. 26 and make stops in Atlanta, Boston, Dallas, Denver and more. Lucie Silvas will serve as the opener.
Cam, who is currently on the road supporting Sam Smith on The Thrill of It All World Tour, recently dropped a new single, “Road to Happiness.”
Road to Happiness Tour
Sept. 26 – Nashville, TN – Ryman Auditorium
Sept. 27 – Birmingham, AL – Iron City
Sept. 28 – Atlanta, GA – Center Stage Theater
Sept. 29 – Charlotte, NC – The Underground
Oct. 4 – Washington, D.C. – 9:30 Club
Oct. 5 – Philadelphia, PA – Theatre of Living Arts
Oct. 6 – Boston, MA – Paradise Rock Club
Oct. 7 – New York, NY – Irving Plaza
Oct. 12 – Rosemont, IL – Joe’s Live
Oct. 13 – Columbus, OH – Newport Music Hall
Oct. 16 – Kansas City, MO – Madrid Theatre
Oct. 17 – Oklahoma City, OK – Tower Theatre
Oct. 19 – Dallas, TX – House of Blues
Oct. 20 – Austin, TX – Scoot Inn
Oct. 21 – Houston, TX – House of Blues
Oct. 23 – Denver, CO – Bluebird Theater
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — The Southeastern and Big 12 Conferences have announced the games that will be part of their women’s basketball challenge in 2018, and the Tennessee Lady Vols will be facing off against Oklahoma State.
The third all-time meeting between the Big Orange and Cowgirls is scheduled for Sunday, Dec. 2, at Gallagher-Iba Arena in Stillwater. No time has been set.
The Lady Vols own a 2-0 series record after defeating OSU last season on Nov. 24 at the 2017 Cancun Challenge in Puerto, Aventuras, Mexico, 79-69, en route to the Riviera Division championship. This will mark the first home-court game for either team, as the only other meeting (a 69-60 UT win) occurred on Dec. 4, 1992, at the Rainbow Wahine Classic in Hawaii.
Tennessee returns three starters and seven total letterwinners from a team that finished with a 25-8 overall record and 11-5 SEC mark (t4th) en route to final rankings of 12th by AP and 17th in the USA Today Coaches Poll. UT welcomes back starters and SEC All-Freshman honorees in 6-2 sophomore forward Rennia Davis (12.0 ppg., 7.6 rpg.) and 6-0 sophomore point guard Evina Westbrook (8.4 ppg., 2.4 rpg., 4.3 apg.) as well as 5-11 senior forward Meme Jackson (8.2 ppg., 4.0 rpg., 2.2 apg.).
Other key contributors returning from a year ago include the SEC 6th Woman of the Year in 5-7 guard Anastasia Hayes (9.3 ppg., 2.5 rpg., 3.5 apg.) as well as 6-3 senior forward and two-time JUCO All-American Cheridene Green (4.1 ppg., 3.7 rpg.). Seventh-year head coach Holly Warlick also welcomes a four-player freshman group that was ranked as the No. 4 signing class in the nation as well as graduate transfer, Lou Brown, a 6-3 forward who averaged 6.4 ppg. and 6.0 rpg. while hitting 28 three-pointers at Washington State last season.
The Cowgirls, meanwhile, finished the 2017-18 season receiving votes in the USA Today Coaches Poll (t27th) and AP Poll (32nd), posting a 21-11 overall record and 11-7 Big 12 mark, good for third place. Head coach Jim Littell’s squad returns two starters and seven total letterwinners, including 5-10 sophomore guard Braxtin Miller (11.7 ppg., 3.4 rpg., 2.2 apg.) and 5-8 sophomore guard Jaden Hobbs (4.6 ppg., 1.2 apg.). Among OSU’s signees is a HoopGurlz/espnW Top-100 player in 6-3 forward Kassidy DeLapp.
Ten teams from the SEC will participate in the challenge this season, while every team from the Big 12 takes part in the Challenge each season. The format features five home games on campus sites for each conference per year. Teams will not face the same opponent twice.
In 2018, games have been scheduled for the dates of Nov. 29 and Dec. 2. Exact times and television designations will be released when available. Dates and match-ups for 2019 will be announced at a later date.
The inaugural challenge was held in 2014 in Little Rock, Arkansas, and featured a top-five showdown with No. 3 Texas squaring off against No. 4 Texas A&M. Oklahoma and Arkansas, who were both receiving votes, played in the second game. The conferences split the Challenge with the two games decided by a total of nine points. The 2015 version was contested in Oklahoma City with the opponents reversed, as No. 5 Texas played Arkansas while No. 17 Oklahoma competed against No. 18 Texas A&M. Each league again claimed a win.
In 2016, the SEC edged the Big 12, 6-4, in the first 10-game slate, while in 2017 the conferences split 5-5.
Thursday, November 29
Kansas at LSU
TCU at Ole Miss
Sunday, December 2
Baylor at South Carolina
Arkansas at Iowa State
Vanderbilt at K-State
Oklahoma at Auburn Tennessee at Oklahoma State
Mississippi State at Texas
Texas Tech at Florida
Missouri at West Virginia
Cole Swindell, Dustin Lynch and Lauren Alaina will team up for The Reason to Drink . . . Another Tour this fall and winter.
The 25-date tour will launch on Oct. 4 in Tuscaloosa, Ala., and make stops in San Jose, Phoenix, New Orleans and more.
“Being in a place in your career to go out and headline a tour is such a rewarding feeling,” said Cole. “Dustin and I both know that is possible because of the fans who have supported us and now we’re getting to team up together for an even bigger show! Lauren is one of the best in the business and we are lucky to have her with us. So fired up to get started.”
“Cole and I have been dreaming this tour up for a few years now,” shares Dustin. “We wanted the time to be right. And, now it’s time. Can’t wait to party with y’all.”
Pre-sale tickets will be available July 24 at 10 a.m. local time, while general sale begins on July 27.
Reason To Drink…Another Tour
Oct. 4 – Tuscaloosa, Ala. – Tuscaloosa Amphitheater Oct. 5 – Simpsonville, S.C. – Heritage Park Amphitheater Oct. 6 – Huntsville, Ala. – Von Braun Amphitheater Oct. 11 – Wallingford, Conn. – Oakdale Theatre Oct. 12 – Worcester, Ma. – DCU Event Center Oct. 13 – Richmond, Va. – Richmond Coliseum Oct. 19 – Sugar Land, Texas – Smart Financial Center Oct. 20 – New Braunfels, Texas – White Water Amphitheater Oct. 25 – Missoula, Mont. – Adam Center Oct. 26 – Bozeman, Mont. – Brick Breeden Fieldhouse Oct. 27 – Bismarck, N.D. – Bismark Events Center Nov. 1 – San Jose, Calif. – Event Center at SJSU Nov. 2 – Bakersfield, Calif. – Rabobank Arena Nov. 3 – Phoeniz, AZ – Comerica Theatre
Nov. 8 – Minneapolis, NM – The Armory
Nov. 9 – Kearney, Neb. – Viaero Event Center
Nov. 10 – Wichita, Kan. – INTRUST Bank Arena Nov. 29 – Duluth, Ga. – Infinite Energy Arena Nov. 30 – Jackson, Miss. – Mississippi Colliseum Dec. 1 – Tupelo, Miss. – BancorpSouth Arena Dec. 6 – Evansville, Ind. – Ford Center Dec. 7 – Moline, Ill. – TaxSlayer Center Dec. 8 – Highland Heights, Ky. – BB&T Arena Dec. 13 – Bossier City, La. – CenturyLink Center Dec. 14 – New Orleans, La. – Champions Square
Three-time ACM Entertainer of the Year Jason Aldean returned to his home state of Georgia on July 21 for a sold-out show at the Atlanta Braves’ new SunTrust Park Stadium.
With direct support from Luke Combs and Lauren Alaina, as well as a reunited Hootie & the Blowfish, Jason treated the 37,935 fans to a number of his hits, including “Gettin’ Warmed Up,” “They Don’t Know,” “A Little More Sunshine,” ‘Any Ol’ Barstool,” “Tattoos on This Town” and more.
“Playing SunTrust was one of those nights I’ll never forget,” said Jason. “So many friends, family and fans were out in the sea of people and I could feel that energy the minute we got on stage. Hootie & the Blowfish, Luke and Lauren definitely set the night off right, and if we could have kept playing all night, I think we would have.”
Jason’s High Noon Neon Tour continues this week with Lauren and Luke as it makes stops in Tuscaloosa, Ala. (7/25), Orange Beach, Ala. (7/26), Brandon, Miss. (7/27) and Dallas (7/28).
Watch the sizzle reel recap of Jason’s Atlanta concert below, courtesy of Strange Bird Media/Weston Heflin.
Photo by Chris and Todd Owyoung Video by Strange Bird Media; Weston H
Ben Folds
Brenda Lee
Jeannie Seely
Ray Stevens![Dan + Shay Announce New Single Shipping to Country Radio on Aug. 6 [Listen]](https://cdn.socast.io/6616/sites/1446/2018/03/05103351/Dan-Shay1.jpg#aqua_resizer_image_not_local)
The exhibit features rare artifacts, original manuscripts, unpublished photos and keepsake costumes, including:
