With a new venue slated to open on Nashville’s Lower Broadway, Luke Bryan will soon be following in the foodie footsteps of Alan Jackson (AJ’s Good Time Bar), Dierks Bentley (Whiskey Row), Florida Georgia Line (FGL House), John Rich (Redneck Riviera), Blake Shelton (Ole Red) and Jason Aldean (Jason Aldean’s Kitchen + Rooftop Bar).
According to the Tennessean, which cited Metro Historic Zoning Commission documents, Luke is planning to open the new venue at 301 Broadway. The new restaurant will be named Luke’s 32 Bridge Kitchen + Drink.
32 Bridge is also the name of Luke’s clothing line.
Ohio-based TC Restaurant Group purchased the building at 301 Broadway for $5.5 million in March. The Group’s portfolio also includes Jason Aldean’s Kitchen + Rooftop Bar and FGL House.
Following in the footsteps of past country music luminaries like Vince Gill, Alan Jackson, Rosanne Cash and more, Miranda Lambert will be the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum’s 15th artist-in-residence.
Miranda will perform two shows in the museum’s CMA Theater on Wednesday, Sept. 19 and Wednesday, Sept. 26. Both shows will begin at 8 p.m. CT.
“The history that the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum holds is so important,” said Miranda. “It’s truly an honor to be named artist-in-residence for the museum. I’m thankful for this place, where our music can continue to be cherished, and I’m thrilled to be among the esteemed artists who have been honored by this designation.”
Established in 2003, the museum’s artist-in-residence series honors a musical master who has contributed a large and significant body of work to the canon of American popular music. The artist-in-residence is invited to use the museum’s performance venues to create unique musical experiences. Miranda joins a prestigious group of past honorees that includes Cowboy Jack Clement, Earl Scruggs, Tom T. Hall, Guy Clark, Kris Kristofferson, Jerry Douglas, Vince Gill, Buddy Miller, Connie Smith, Kenny Rogers, Ricky Skaggs, Alan Jackson, Rosanne Cash and Jason Isbell.
Garth Brooks can add another “first” to his list of accomplishments.
The G-man will be the first artist to play a concert at Notre Dame Stadium in South Bend, Indiana. No date has been revealed yet.
“Notre Dame stadium has seen so many iconic moments,” said Garth. “I look forward to bringing a new kind of crazy to the party.”
Garth was joined by revered member of the University of Notre Dame family and former head football coach Lou Holtz during the concert announcement in Nashville on July 9.
Aspiring country stars have the opportunity to kick-start their careers via the 4th annual NASH Next competition.
NASH Next 2018 officially launched on June 18, bringing together aspiring stars, a major record label (Big Machine Label Group) and the power of country radio (Cumulus Media). The winner of the four-month competition will receive a record deal with Big Machine Label Group and substantial radio exposure on Cumulus radio stations nationwide.
On July 9, the Fan Rating Period opened, allowing fans in local markets to rate the music of each entrant via NASH Next or participating local stations. The Fan Rating Period closes on July 22, 12:01 a.m. ET.
Local markets will then host live events or select their finalist by judging the contestants in a video performance of their original song.
Ten of the local finalists will be selected by industry professionals to compete at the national finale event in Nashville in October where a panel of celebrity judges—including BMLG’s Scott Borchetta and Brooks & Dunn’s Kix Brooks—will announce the NASH Next 2018 winner.
“I’m always on the hunt for great new talent, and there’s arguably no better way to do it than through country radio,” said Borchetta. “In our fourth year with NASH Next, this program provides the Big Machine Label Group an incredible opportunity to have our eyes and ears on the ground in all of the great Cumulus country radio markets. If you want to be next, enter now. Game on.”
Jason Aldean was featured on a new episode of the PBS series Breaking Big, which profiles how some of the world’s most influential artists, innovators, athletes and leaders achieved success.
The country superstar talked about a number of topics during the 26-minute clip, including the mass shooting at the Route 91 Harvest Festival in Las Vegas on Oct. 1, 2017, that left 58 people dead and more than 800 injured during his performance.
“It was the worst night of my life,” says Jason. “My wife, who was seven months pregnant at the time, was at the show, and I was separated from her, so trying to find her and just getting her and the baby somewhere where they were safe . . . You have a lot of different emotions going on, just heartbroken for families. As soon as it happened we went back to the hospital and we visited with the victims. You know, after that, it’s like a week later, you’re expected to jump back onstage and act like nothing happened and it was rough, it was rough the first couple of shows.”
While the tragedy will never be forgotten, Jason says it won’t keep him from doing what he loves—performing for his fans.
“Life’s short, man,” says Jason. “Don’t live in fear. That night is just something I’ll always remember, but it won’t keep me from doing what I do. No matter what happens from here on out, I’ll always go out and play my shows.”
A former member of the Roane County School Board was killed Friday night when he was struck by lightning. Officials say Everett Massengill had just finished mowing his lawn and was headed inside when he was struck by the lightning and killed instantly.
It happened in Walnut Grove in Kingston around 5:00 p.m. His wife found him in the yard. Massengill was an Army vet that worked for the Roane County Schools for more than 20 years.
The Roane County Schools is asking for prayer for his family saying Everett’s “cheerful personality and encouraging words will be greatly missed by all who knew him.”
With the release of “Talk You Out of It,” Tyler Hubbard and Brian Kelley of Florida Georgia Line have given fans the third sampling from their upcoming fourth studio album.
Following the release of lead single, “Simple,” and “Colorado” in June, the duo dropped “Talk You Out of It,” which features slow-jam lyrics that namedrop Luther Vandross and a suggestive hook: “I’m looking at the fine little dress you got on / Don’t get me wrong, girl, I love it / Now I just wanna talk you out of it.”
You can listen to “Talk You Out of It” below.
“Talk You Out of It”
Girl I know you had a long day
You ain’t feelin’ them downtown lights
But I got a bottle at your favorite place
Just waitin’ for us in a bucket on ice
Damn, I didn’t think it’d be that easy
‘Cause now you’re gettin’ ready
I’m just sittin’ there watchin’ TV
Here you come lookin’ like a grown man’s dream
Damn, I can’t believe, I can’t believe
I talked you into slippin’ down the hall, baby, turn it on
Your playlist you play when you’re in the shower
Talked you into taking up my time, making up your mind
Switching back and forth for an hour
And now you’re lookin’ like a line from a Vandross song
I’m looking at the fine little dress you got on
Don’t get me wrong, girl, I love it
Now I just wanna talk you out of it
Yeah, as cool at it would be
Watchin’ people wonder who you are
Oh, we should just say we did, we can start with a kiss
And pretend we just got back from the bar
I talked you into slippin’ down the hall, baby, turn it on
Your playlist you play when you’re in the shower
Talked you into taking up my time, making up your mind
Switching back and forth for an hour
And now you’re lookin’ like a line from a Vandross song
I’m looking at the fine little dress you got on
Don’t get me wrong, girl, I love it
Now I just wanna talk you out of it
Yeah, it’s a little cold outside
The music’s probably way too loud
To hear you laugh
And there’s a look in your eyes
Looks like we ain’t leavin’ now
Girl, I’m so glad, I’m so glad
I talked you into slippin’ down the hall, baby, turn it on
Your playlist you play when you’re in the shower
Talked you into taking up my time, making up your mind
Switching back and forth for an hour
And now you’re lookin’ like a line from a Vandross song
I’m looking at the fine little dress you got on
Don’t get me wrong, girl, I love it
Now I just wanna talk you out of it
Hey friends, after a one-week vacation at the beach, I’m baaaaaack.
I’m so amped to keep this Women Want to Hear Women conversation going.
As WHTHW gears up for a number of artist interviews in the coming weeks—including some fabulous up-and-comers—I wanted to feature a woman who has paved the way for so many of today’s female artists. She’s one of my personal heroes, Miss Dolly Parton. Hope you enjoy the podcast.
Elaina Smith talks with Dolly Parton about:
advice for new female artists in the country music industry: “bust those doors down”
her relationship with the new crop of female stars, including Kelsea Ballerini, Cam and Carly Pearce
Elaina’s first trip to Dollywood
being hands-on as the owner of Dollywood
random Twitter questions from fans, including the possibility of collaborating with Reba
The beginning of July means that 2018 is halfway over, which is the perfect opportunity to reflect on some of the noteworthy achievements from the past six months, including Gold certifications from the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).
Of the more than 40 songs from all genres of music that were released in 2018 and have been certified Gold (500,000 units) or Platinum (1 million units) by the RIAA, only three were country songs.
Any guesses?
Nope, it’s not Dierk’s Bentley’s “Woman, Amen,” Blake Shelton’s “I Lived It” or Carrie Underwood’s “Cry Pretty,” although each song could earn the certification in the future.
The three country songs released in 2018 that have been certified Gold by the RIAA for 500,000 units are:
Dan + Shay’s “Tequila” – Released Jan. 10 – Certified May 22
Dan + Shay: photo by Tammie Arroyo, AFF-USA.com
Jason Aldean’s “You Make It Easy” – Released Jan. 26 – Certified May 4
Jason Aldean: photo by Tammie Arroyo, AFF-USA.com
Brett Young’s “Mercy” – Released Feb. 20 – Certified May 3
Brett Young: photo by Tammie Arroyo, AFF-USA.com
While “You Make It Easy” and “Tequila” have already topped the Billboard Country Airplay chart, “Mercy” is currently No. 10 after 21 week.
If you were wondering, the RIAA defines one “unit” as one permanent digital download or 150 on-demand audio/video streams.
Queens of country music Dolly Parton and Reba McEntire are two of the most decorated female country artist of all time, winning a combined 10 Grammy Awards, 16 CMA Awards and 19 ACM Awards.
It’s only natural that we want to see the Country Music Hall of Fame members collaborate, à la George Strait and Alan Jackson’s 2000 duet, “Murder on Music Row.”
While Dolly and Reba shared the small screen together in 2005 when Dolly guest starred on Reba’s self-titled sitcom on the WB, their collaborations have been few and far between, which is remarkable considering the longevity of both of their careers.
Hopefully, that may change in the future.
In a sit-down interview with Elaina Smith, co-host of Nash Nights Live and host of Women Want to Talk About Women podcast, Dolly revealed that she could envision herself singing a duet with Reba.
“Yes!” said Dolly to Elaina. “Reba and I have often talked about working together or doing a TV show together. We certainly—through the years—should have done something together, [a TV show] or just to do a movie or something, but we certainly should sing something together.”
OK, Reba, the ball is in your court. Let’s make this happen.
![Florida Georgia Line Drops Suggestive New Song, “Talk You Out of It” [Listen]](https://cdn.socast.io/6616/sites/1446/2018/07/06085313/Florida-Georgia-Line-TA.jpg#aqua_resizer_image_not_local)
