Eli Young Band released an emotionally charged video for their new single, “Love Ain’t.”
The new clip follows the love story of Taylor Morrisâan explosive ordnance disposal technician with the Navy who became a quadruple amputee after an explosion in Afghanistan in 2012âand his girlfriend of more than a decade, Danielle, who remained by Taylor’s side.
The inspiring clip features personal videos of Taylor’s rehab, his 2013 homecoming in Cedar Falls, Iowa, and marriage to Danielle.
âWe first learned about Taylor and Danielle a couple of years ago, and there is no doubt their story speaks to what love is,â says EYB frontman Mike Eli. âWhen thinking about their story and the deeper meaning in this songâhow important love is and to know what love ainâtâwe knew the video should reflect that. [Band members] James, Chris, Jon and I all have family members who are part of the military so we know there are more couples struggling every day and how quickly lives are changed.â
Eli Young Band teamed with Wounded Warrior Project for the video to help bring to light the growing needs of servicemen and women, their families and caregivers. You can help support Wounded Warriors by making a donation today.
On this episode of the My Video Is Totally Awesome Podcast, NCD editor in chief Jim Casey sits down with Aaron Tippin to talk about the video for his 1995 No. 1 hit, “That’s as Close as I’ll Get to Loving You.”
Check out the video breakdown below, as well as the full video.
0:04
First of all, youâll notice the video is in black and white. Why? Because this is the Casablanca of â90s country music videosâfull of angst and unrequited love. Now, back to the play-by-play. This is our first glimpse of what we assume to be a rich poindexter (notice his big house, nerdy glasses and suspenders). Also, notice his smoking-hot wife, who is wearing a bathrobe because she doesnât have to go to work. Must be a nice life.
0:11
Take a gander at the yard helpâyep, itâs Aaron Tippin with his glorious mustache, flannel shirt and tool belt. And yes, he is wearing an undershirt (just a little foreshadowing).
0:18
Aaron waves to the poindexter, as if to say, âDonât worry about me sleeping with your wife while youâre at work.â
0:19
The poindexter waves back, not the least concerned with Aaronâs rugged masculinity impressing his wife while heâs gone.
0:25
Aaron makes eye contact with the smoking-hot wife, and gives her a head nod. Heâs just here to clean the yard and such.
0:26
The smoking-hot wife is impressed. But who wouldnât be?
0:36
A sweaty Aaron finds refuge in his fortress of solitude: the tool shed, where he has stripped down to his A-shirt, as these old-fashioned sleeveless numbers are called, and is reverse-seated in a chairâbecause thatâs how a badass sits in a chair. He also begins to sing about his unrequited love.
0:44
Aaron cuts a little lumber with a circular saw. Nothing to see here, or is there?
0:50
Now itâs time to water the trees.
1:03
The smoking-hot wife is joined by her smoking-hot friends (who are also unemployed) for a day of relaxing under the pergola and sipping beverages. Perhaps the sweaty yard boy (or is it yard man?) would like a sip.
1:44
Indeed, Aaron is thirsty, and the beverage is most appreciated. If only there was a way he could more appropriately thank her. But remember, Aaron waved at the poindexter earlier, and his wave is much like his handshakeâa bond that wonât be broken.
1:51
Aaron does a little bit of stalking from his fortress of solitude.
No harm, no foul.
1:57
Unnecessary close-up of the smoking-hot wife drinking from a straw. This was the â90s, and straws were considered very sexy.
2:16
Back in the yard, Aaron displays more of his rugged masculinity by swinging a pickaxe. Heâs sweatyâŚvery sweaty.
2:32
Smoking-hot wife is also sweaty. Itâs time for a dip in the pool. Is Aaron invited?
Find out in 11 seconds.
2:43
He is not invited.
Back in the tool shed, a glistening Aaron now stands from his seated position and wails.
We all feel his pain.
2:55
To everyoneâs disappointment, poindexter returns home from work to see that his wife has not been ravaged by Aaron.
3:18
Itâs time for Aaron to go homeâjust a man, his mustache and his muscles. Surely he finds solace in a hard dayâs work.
KINGSPORT, Tenn. â The Big Orange Caravan made its fifth and final stop in Kingsport on Thursday night, the most attended stop of the event’s 2018 tour.
Director of Athletics Phillip Fulmer, head football coach Jeremy Pruitt, head men’s basketball coach Rick Barnes and head women’s basketball coach Holly Warlick were all in attendance, signing autographs and posing for pictures with fans in addition to taking part in a Q&A session with “Voice of the Vols” Bob Kesling.
Also in attendance was former Tennessee quarterback Heath Shuler, letterman from 1991-1993. Shuler joined Kesling on stage and offered up his thoughts on the recent hires of his former head coach as the new director of athletics.
“These are exciting times when you think about the rich tradition at Tennessee,” Shuler said. “When Phillip Fulmer was announced as the new athletic director at Tennessee, I had the same exact feeling that I did when we won the national championship.
“It’s a sense of peace and leadership put back into the program that we’ve needed.”
Shuler also applauded new head football coach Jeremy Pruitt, whom he has been able to spend some time with in recent weeks.
“You have a lot of excitement when you look at his work ethic, the players he’s coached, how he’s recruited, and really the coaching staff that he’s put around him,” Shuler said. “I couldn’t be more excited about the future of this program and the path that we’re on.”
The Sullivan and Washington County Alumni Chapters awarded two scholarships at the event to rising UT freshmen Kennedi Hambrick (Washington County’s recipient) and Grant Wilmoth (Sullivan County’s recipient).
“I’m very thankful because this will help with paying tuition and everything else that I need,” Hambrick said. “It’s great to be a Vol and to be able to go to UT and support the school”
Added Wilmoth: “Receiving this scholarship means a lot. It’s such an honor to be able to represent the UTK Alumni Association, and the scholarship is very helpful in paying for college.”
Kirkland, an Indianapolis native, missed his junior season in 2017 due to injuries. Injuries played a part in shortening his sophomore season as well, when he played in 8 games with 6 starts. He was not as effective when returning from injury in 2016. Admittedly, he wasn’t fully healthy until before last season when he suffered another injury set-back that kept him out for the entire season..
An all-SEC selection as a freshman, Kirkland played in 13 games including 10 starts on John Jancek’s defense in 2015. He finished second among SEC freshmen in tackles (66) and fourth among freshmen all-time at UT.
In two playing seasons, Kirkland finished with 21 games played (tied for the most among Vols linebackers with Daniel Bituli.) He started 16 games in his time in the orange and white. That’s by far the most among UT’s LBs. The next most experienced starters are Daniel Bituli and Quart’e Sapp who’ve started 8 games at UT. Kirkland totaled 111 tackles in his career, 11.5 tackles for loss, 4 sacks, 2 passes defensed, 1 fumble recovery and 1 interception.
Purdue (his home state of Indiana near Indianapolis,) North Carolina (former UT coaches Tommy Thigpen and Robert Gillespie on staff there now,) Michigan (one-time commit before switching to Tennessee,) Kentucky (former DC John Jancek is there as a consultant) and Mississippi State (former DC Bob Shoop is now the DC there) could be potential landing spots for Kirkland Jr.. That’s purely initial connecting of the dots though. Kirkland will likely have no shortage of suitors. If healthy, he may have been the Vols’ best linebacker this upcoming season. He could be an impact starter for his new team, again, if healthy.
Here’s hoping Jeremy Pruitt gives him full clearance to go where he wants as a graduate transfer.
Darrin Kirkland Jr. / Credit: UT Athletics
Vince’s View
So what does Tennessee do to replace one of the expected starting inside linebackers?
First off, there are now 12 scholarship linebackers left on the team. They have enough numbers, but they lack experience and the quality is still a question mark. The 12 remaining returning linebackers only have 24 career starts among them. 7 of those starts are by converted defensive end Darrell Taylor. As mentioned above, Bituli and Sapp have started 8 games, while Austin Smith has started 1 game.
Daniel Bituli strengthens his hold on one inside LB spot, if healthy. Quart’e Sapp practiced at first-team ILB in the Spring, but he’s still a little undersized to what they ideally want inside. Sapp is smart, can run and could continue to add weight as he already has. Coming out of Spring practice, I believed Sapp was going to be moved back to outside linebacker in the Fall with the return of Kirkland Jr and Bituli inside. That may still happen, if they can find a second inside linebacker to pair with Bituli. Sophomore Will Ignont is a possibility. He played in five games as a freshman last season. He also saw an increased workload with Kirkland Jr and Bituli out for most of the Spring. He started for the first team defense alongside Sapp at ILB in the Orange and White Spring game.
Another name to watch is incoming true freshman LBÂ JJ Peterson. He’s big (last listed at 6’2, 231 but could be bigger by Fall,) physical and athletic. I think he fits the mold of what Pruitt wants in a versatile linebacker that can run. He’s a four-for-four guy as Pruitt has phrased LBs that can play all four positions. I already thought Peterson would shoot up the depth chart quickly before the Kirkland departure. I think this presents an even quicker opportunity for the high 4-star, near 5-star from Moultrie, Georgia.
We’ll never know what Kirkland would have looked like in Pruitt’s defense. This transfer thins another position that actually had some potential to be pretty good this year on paper. Maybe it still will be pretty good, but new “best football players” will need to emerge and show-out to Pruitt and his staff.
In Dwight Yoakam’s 30-plus-year career as a high-grade, hardcore, honky-tonkin’, musical maverick, he hasn’t recorded too many songs he co-wrote with other artists. He’s covered a lot of songs other artists have written, but generally speaking, he wrote the majority of his singles by himself.
Of course there are exceptions, like “It Only Hurts When I Cry,” which he co-penned with Roger Miller, and cuts like “It’s Never Alright,” which he co-penned with Ashley Monroe. My point is, it’s big deal when Dwight co-writes with other artists, as least from a fan’s perspectiveâwhich I most certainly am.
Chris Stapleton can add his name to small list of artists Dwight has invited into his writing sanctuary.
The pair co-penned “Then Here Came Monday,” which will be available for streaming on May 25, along with another new tune from Dwight, “Pretty Horses.”
The release of the new music comes as Dwight gears up for his LSD Tour with Steve Earle and Lucinda Williams. The 20-date tour kicks off on June 12 in Boston and makes stops in New York, L.A., Nashville and more.
Singer/songwriter Adam Sanders, 27, grew up doing what kids in the small town of Lake City, Fla., didânamely spend time with family, go to church, hunt, play sports and listen to country music. Those five pillars from his youthâfaith, family, outdoors, fitness and musicâare what drive Adam today as he works toward reaching the next level of country stardom.
Just like his hero Alan Jackson did in 1979, Adam packed his bags and moved to Nashville after high school in 2009 to “chase that neon rainbow.” Over the last nine years, Adam has found more than his share of success as a songwriter, penning tunes for Cole Swindell (“Ain’t Worth the Whiskey”), Dustin Lynch (“Hell of a Night”), Dierks Bentley (“Sounds of Summer”) and more.
With a new six-song self-titled EP, which dropped on May 11, Adam is hoping to channel his inner AJ in more ways than one, including on his new song, “Alan Jackson,” which tells the amusing story of a guy trying to win back his girlfriend with a little help from the Hall of Famer’s musical catalog.
“Growing up, the first songs I learned and sang were Alan Jackson songs,” says Adam to NCD. “His music has had an amazing influence on me. The new song is just an upbeat number that pays tribute to him . . . I’ve already got the video mapped out in my head.”
Alan, if you’re out there reading this, Adam needs a cameo from you.
“Having Alan Jackson in the video would be a dream come true,” says Adam. “Can you imagine me showing up at the girl’s house at the end with Alan Jackson in my car? If Alan can’t get the girl back, no one can.”
While Adam is currently pushing the EP’s new single, “Over Did It,” you can check out “Alan Jackson” below.
Not only is the Tennessee football team facing West Virginia this fall, the Volunteers’ basketball team is hosting the Mountaineers on the hardwood this winter as part of the 2019 SEC/Big 12 Challenge on Jan. 26.
The 2019 SEC/Big 12 Challenge marks the event’s sixth year. Tennessee is 3-1 in the event, as the Vols did not take part in the inaugural challenge. Four of the SEC’s 14 teams are idle during the challenge each year because there are only 10 teams in the Big 12.
Other challenge matchups set for Jan. 26 are: Alabama at Baylor, Arkansas at Texas Tech, Florida at TCU, Texas at Georgia, Kansas at Kentucky, Iowa State at Ole Miss, South Carolina at Oklahoma State, Kansas State at Texas A&M and Vanderbilt at Oklahoma.
Four of the 10 games will be televised on ESPN, four will be shown on ESPN2 and two games will air on ESPNU. All 10 games also will be available on the ESPN app. ESPN’s College GameDay Covered by State Farmâthe Saturday roadshow that discusses the top storylines of the college basketball seasonâwill originate from one of the challenge games. Tipoff times and network designations will be announced at a later date.
The SEC won the challenge for the first time last season (6-4), with Tennessee contributing to the league’s successful showing by dismantling Iowa State on the road.
The Volunteers are 3-5 all-time against West Virginia, including a 1-2 mark in Knoxville. The programs haven’t met since Nov. 23, 2007, when the seventh-ranked Vols defeated the Mountaineers, 74-72, at the Legends Classic in Newark, New Jersey.
Tennessee’s all-time record against current members of the Big 12 stands at 13-17. Fourth-year UT head coach Rick Barnesâwho spent 17 seasons coaching in the Big 12 before transitioning to Knoxvilleâowns a 159-94 record against current Big 12 teams and is 8-4 in his career against West Virginia.
Barnes (661 wins) and WVU head coach Bob Huggins (759 wins) rank seventh and fourth, respectively, in Division I wins among active head coaches.
Last season, West Virginia posted a 26-11 (11-7 Big 12) record and advanced to the Sweet Sixteen. It was the program’s third Sweet Sixteen appearance in the last four years.
Tennessee’s gridiron matchup against West Virginiaâbilled as the Belk College Kickoffâtakes place Sept. 1 at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, North Carolina. It is the season-opener for both teams, and the first-ever football meeting between the programs.
Using documentary-style footage from the kick-off of his recent Trip Around the Sun Tour, Kenny Chesney dropped a new video for his current single, âGet Along.”
Penned by Shane McAnally, Ross Copperman and Josh Osborne, the mid-tempo tune beckons listeners to live the Kenny lifestyle with lyrics like âbuy a boat, drink a beer, sing a song, make a friend.â Using video footage from his fansâaffectionately dubbed the No Shoes NationâKenny is hoping the songâs positive theme will help folks find common ground during divisive times.
âThe whole point of the song is to look for your common ground instead of worrying about your differences,â Kenny says. âAnd when I look out into the crowd, thatâs what I seeâpeople who are having a great time, getting along and making the most of every single minute.â
Kennyâs new single is the first song from his upcoming 17th studio album, Songs for the Saints, which drops on July 27.
Kenny’s Trip Around the Sun Tour continues through August.
Midlandâs Mark Wystrach, Cameron Duddy and Jess Carson are continuing to forge their own path in country music with the release of an elaborate new video for their current single, “Burn Out.”
Directed by TK McKamy (“Craving You,” “May We All”) and Midland’s Cameron Duddy, the video was filmed in one continuous shot at Forth Worth’s famed honky-tonk Billy Bob’s. The three-minute-plus clip features a long take with intricate actor blocking and plenty of camera movementâfrom a filmmaking standpoint, it’s a visual work of art.
Written by the band with Shane McAnally and Josh Osborne, “Burn Out” is the new single from the group’s debut album, On the Rocks, which spawned No. 1 hit, “Drinkin’ Problem,” and Top 15 hit, “Make a Little.”
Kudos to Midland, especially Cameron, and their team, including TK, on the visually stunning video. Watch the new video below.
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. —Â The 10th seeded Tennessee Lady Vols look to earn a berth in the Women’s College World Series when they travel to Athens this weekend to take on No. 7 seed Georgia in the NCAA Super Regional.
After sweeping its regional at Sherri Parker Lee Stadium last week, Tennessee (48-12) now turns its attention to the Bulldogs (46-11) for a best two-out-of-three series to determine which team advances to Oklahoma City. Game 1 of the series will take place on Friday, May 25 at 5 p.m. ET at Jack Turner Stadium.
Game 1 of the series will be broadcast live on ESPNU, with the second game airing on ESPN. Game 3 will also be on ESPN if necessary. Alex Loeb will be on the play-by-play call for each game, with Megan Willis alongside for color analysis.
Radio coverage for all Tennessee games will be carried on Sports Radio WNML (FM 99.1 or AM 990) and UTSports.com. Live stats will be available for every game on the Tennessee softball schedule page at UTSports.com.
Game Schedule
View the full NCAA Athens Super Regional schedule below:
The Lady Vols advancement to this weekend marks the 10th Super Regional appearance in program history. UT has now made it to a Super Regional in six of the past seven seasons, and seeks its eighth trip to the Women’s College World Series. Tennessee is 16-8 all-time in NCAA Super Regional games.
The Big Orange are traveling for a Super Regional for the fourth time. Tennessee went to Palo Alto to defeat Stanford in 2005 and then Ann Arbor to take down Michigan in 2010, but fell to Oklahoma in Norman in 2014.
The Lady Vols and Bulldogs faced off earlier this season in Knoxville. UT picked up a 1-0 win via a walkoff hit-by-pitch in the series’ opening game, but Georgia would claim the next two by scores of 9-1 and 8-0. Tennessee, however, maintains the all-time series lead against Georgia, 40-32.
UT will rely on offensive production from its top three hitters in Athens. Meghan Gregg, the reigning SEC Player of the Year, hit two home runs and recorded five total RBIs at the Knoxville Regional last weekend. Gregg leads the team with 18 long balls on the year, and she is also the NCAA active career leader in RBIs with 263. She is currently seven RBIs away from tying Auburn’s Kasey Cooper for the most all-time in the SEC.
Complimenting Gregg is Tennessee’s model of consistency, Aubrey Leach. Leach, who earned All-SEC honors for the first time of her career this season, currently leads the SEC in batting average (.447) and runs scored (79), while ranking second in hits (80) and on base percentage (.571). Her 79 runs scored are the most in a single season in program history.
Sophomore Chelsea Seggern has also added secondary hitting behind Gregg. Seggern’s seven home runs are the third most on the team, and her 66 RBIs rank seventh in the NCAA. She drove in four RBIs at the Knoxville Regional, including a two-run home run in a win over Monmouth.
Caylan Arnold leads the Lady Vols in the circle with a 2.11 ERA and a 26-4 record. Arnold had two complete-game wins last weekend, recording 15 combined strikeouts along the way. Her 222 strikeouts on the season are good for second in the SEC.
Georgia BulldogsÂ
No. 7 National SeedÂ
The Bulldogs put together perhaps the biggest turnaround in college softball this season, posting a 46-11 record and finishing second in the SEC standings after not making the conference tournament a year ago. Georgia swept the Athens Regional last weekend, defeating Northwestern and Harvard twice each while outscoring opponents 27-9.
Cortni Emanuel leads Georgia offensively with a .437 batting average, good for second in the SEC behind Leach. Emmanuel also leads the conference in hits with 87.
As a team, Georgia leads the SEC in batting average (.338), slugging percentage (.528) and hits (511). The Bulldogs have six players who are batting .300 or better.
Mary Wilson Avant comes into the weekend with 11 wins and a 1.74 ERA. Avant has pitched six complete games this season.
The Bulldogs last met the Lady Vols in the NCAA Tournament in 2012, when UT won two of three in the Super Regional at Sherri Parker Lee Stadium to punch a ticket to the Women’s College World Series.
What’s Next?
The winner of the NCAA Athens Super Regional will advance to the Women’s College World Series in Oklahoma City beginning Thursday, May 31.
![Eli Young Band’s Emotionally Charged Video for “Love Ain’t” Follows the Love Story of a Wounded Warrior & His Soulmate [Watch]](https://cdn.socast.io/6616/sites/1446/2018/05/25085208/Eli-Young-Band.jpg#aqua_resizer_image_not_local)
With a new six-song self-titled EP, which dropped on May 11, Adam is hoping to channel his inner AJ in more ways than one, including on his new song, “Alan Jackson,” which tells the amusing story of a guy trying to win back his girlfriend with a little help from the Hall of Famer’s musical catalog.
![Midland’s Ambitious New “Burn Out” Video Is a Visual Work of Art [Watch]](https://cdn.socast.io/6616/sites/1446/2017/12/04140322/Midland.jpg#aqua_resizer_image_not_local)
