Keith Urban’s New Album, “Graffiti U,” Debuts Atop Billboard Country Chart

Keith Urban’s New Album, “Graffiti U,” Debuts Atop Billboard Country Chart

Posted on May 8, 2018

Keith Urban is in familiar territory once again as his ninth studio album, Graffiti U, debuted at No. 1 on Billboard’s Top Country Albums chart.

The 13-track offering, which includes his current single, “Coming Home,” featuring Julia Michaels, is Keith’s sixth No. 1 album on the Top Country Albums chart. Graffiti U also debuted at No. 2 on the all-genre Billboard 200 chart, moving 145,000 equivalent albums units in its first week, according to Nielsen Music.

“Just off a plane to a ‘screaming’ phone filled with texts and emails about Graffiti U and I still feel like I’m in the clouds,” said Keith. “It’s amazing to know that these songs are connecting in the way that they are, and I feel so blessed and thankful to everyone who is coming along on the ride with me. I can’t wait to get out on the road to bring these songs to life on the Graffiti U World Tour.”

Keith will embark on a 58-city Graffiti U World Tour with opener Kelsea Ballerini this summer and fall. The tour will kick off on June 15 in St. Louis and will make stops in Nashville, Denver, Philadelphia, Chicago, New Orleans, Dallas and more, as well as 10 dates in Canada.

photo by Jason Simanek

Lady Vols Earn #4 Seed in SEC Softball Tournament

Lady Vols Earn #4 Seed in SEC Softball Tournament

Posted on May 7, 2018
Credit: UT Athletics

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – With a 14-10 conference record, the Tennessee softball team has earned the No. 4 seed in the SEC Tournament beginning Wednesday in Columbia, Mo.

The Lady Vols (44-11 overall) ended the regular season by winning four of their last five games to climb into fourth place in the SEC standings. UT will face the winner of 5th-seeded LSU and 12th-seeded Ole Miss in the quarterfinal round on Thursday, May 10, at 4 p.m.

With a 47-8 overall record and 20-4 mark in conference games, Florida enters as the tournament’s top seed. The Gators and Lady Vols have not met in 2018, the first time the two programs did not play one another in the regular season since 2015. Georgia (43-10, 16-8 SEC) and South Carolina (43-13, 15-9 SEC) make up the No. 2 and No. 3 seed, respectively.

UT will try to capture its third SEC Championship in program history, with the other titles coming in 2006 and 2011. Tennessee will rely on a balanced effort in Columbia, led offensively by its top three hitters. Junior Aubrey Leach currently leads the SEC in runs scored (72) while ranking second in  batting average (.439), hits (72) and on base percentage (.568). Senior Meghan Gregg (66) and Chelsea Seggern (62) rank third and fourth in the nation in RBI’s.

In the circle, Caylan Arnold looks to continue her sensational sophomore campaign. Arnold went 23-4 in the regular season with a 2.13 ERA and 203 total strikeouts. Junior Matty Moss added 17 wins of her own, while putting up a 2.30 ERA and 111 punchouts.

 

UT Athletics

Jason Aldean Drops Lyric Video for New Single, “Drowns the Whiskey,” Featuring Miranda Lambert [Watch]

Jason Aldean Drops Lyric Video for New Single, “Drowns the Whiskey,” Featuring Miranda Lambert [Watch]

Posted on May 7, 2018

Jason Aldean’s “You Make It Easy,” the lead single from his eighth studio album, Rearview Town, is the No. 1 song on Billboard’s Country Airplay chart for the second consecutive week. It’s also the only country song released in 2018 that has achieved Gold certification from the RIAA.

As Jerry Reed once said, “When you’re hot, you’re hot.”

Jason is hoping to continue his hot streak with the release of his new single, “Drowns the Whiskey,” which features vocals from Miranda Lambert. Written by Brandon Kinney, Jeff Middleton and Josh Thompson, “Drowns the Whiskey” has the chance to become Jason’s 21st No. 1 single after it hits country radio on May 14.

“The way fans and radio have responded to this record has been really cool for me,” said Jason. “‘Whiskey’ has always been a favorite of mine, but when Miranda came in and knocked out her parts in only a couple takes, I knew it was special.”

Watch the lyric video for “Drowns the Whiskey.”

photo by Jason Simanek

Morgan Evans Announces “10 in 10 Tour”

Morgan Evans Announces “10 in 10 Tour”

Posted on May 7, 2018

On the strength of his Top 20 debut single, “Kiss Somebody,” Morgan Evans announced he will embark on the 10 in 10 Tour this summer.

Kicking off on June 21 in Los Angeles, Morgan will perform in 10 cities over the course of 10 days, including stops in Denver, Chicago, Dallas, Atlanta and more.

“Playing live is my favorite thing to do, so what better way to celebrate my first single on country radio than to play it live?” says Morgan. “I’ll be bringing the loop pedal and giving you the first listen to music that is to come. I’d do 365 if I could, but 10 seems like a reasonable place to start. I can’t wait to see all 10 cities in 10 days.”

Tickets go on sale on May 11.

10 in 10 Tour

June 21
Los Angeles, CA

June 22
Denver, CO

June 23
Manhattan, KS

June 24
Chicago, IL

June 25
Dallas, TX

June 26
Austin, TX

June 27
Atlanta, GA

June 28
New York, NY

June 29
Philadelphia, PA

June 30
Washington, D.C.

main photo by Jason Simanek

Dustin Lynch Sets Sights on Summer Groove With New Single, “Good Girl”

Dustin Lynch Sets Sights on Summer Groove With New Single, “Good Girl”

Posted on May 7, 2018

Dustin Lynch is moving on from his 2017 album, Current Mood—which spawned No. 1 hits “Seein’ Red” and “Small Town Boy”—with the release of “Good Girl.”

Co-written by Dustin, Justin Ebach and Andy Albert, “Good Girl” is a song that Dustin felt was timely for the summer season and he wanted to get it on airwaves before the release of his next album.

“A few weeks ago, we came across something that I just fell in love with immediately,” said Dustin via an Instagram video. “And we just said, ‘Well, why not just go record the song?’ And once we decided that, I got to thinking, ‘Man, I cannot live with this song not being heard this summer.’ So, I called my record label, and they were cool with me going ahead and recording it, and then I asked, ‘Man, what if we went ahead and put this out for summer ’18. Like, I can’t wait all year long to put this out next year, or something.’ And they were like, ‘Why, hell yeah.’”

Listen to “Good Girl” below.

photo by Tammie Arroyo, AFF-USA.com

From Curveballs to Country Music, Charley Pride Celebrates 25th Grand Ole Opry Anniversary

From Curveballs to Country Music, Charley Pride Celebrates 25th Grand Ole Opry Anniversary

Posted on May 7, 2018

Life is full of curveballs—just ask Charley Pride.

Before winning Grammy Awards and topping the charts with hits like “Kiss an Angel Good Mornin’” and “I’d Rather Love You,” Charley had dreams of pitching in Major League Baseball. Charley chased the dream in his teens and 20s—finding some success in the Negro Leagues—but hung up his glove in the 1960s after an unsuccessful tryout with the New York Mets. From there, he embarked on a 50-plus-year country music career that saw him achieve induction into the Grand Ole Opry in 1993 and Country Music Hall of Fame in 2000.

Over the weekend, Charley, 84, celebrated the 25th anniversary of his Opry induction with appearances on the Opry stage on May 4 and May 5.

Never forgetting his baseball roots, Charley drew a correlation between his dream of playing in the Majors and the reality of being inducted into the Opry—where, like the Baseball Hall of Fame, you are immortalized with a bronze plaque.

“It’s as if I had made it in baseball and they came up to me and took me to Cooperstown and said, ‘This is where your plaque is going to be—beside Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, Jackie Robinson and Hank Aaron,’” said Charley.

Charley may not have made it to the Majors, but he became a part of the MLB in 2010 when he purchased a small stake in the Texas Rangers. Charley has been attending the Rangers spring training since the 1970s.

Charley will be performing at Nissan Stadium during CMA Fest on June 8 at 8 p.m.

photo by Rachael Black, courtesy of the Grand Ole Opry

Carrie Underwood Returning to “American Idol” to Mentor the Finalists

Carrie Underwood Returning to “American Idol” to Mentor the Finalists

Posted on May 7, 2018

As a farm girl from Checotah, Okla., Carrie Underwood burst onto the scene and into America’s heart during the fourth season of American Idol in 2013.

With a voice like a cannon, Carrie left no doubt night after night who the next American Idol was going to be (sorry, Bo Bice, it wasn’t even close.) Even judge Simon Cowell predicted Carrie’s coronation early in the competition—and he’s never wrong.

“I learned so much on American Idol,” said Carrie to NCD. “I’m an observer, and I’m the kind of person who can sit back and take it all in and really learn from an experience like that. It all happened in such a short amount of time. We went from being nobodies to people recognizing us on the street.”

On May 13, Carrie will return to Idol to serve as a guest mentor to the five finalists: Gabby Barrett, Cade Foehner, Caleb Lee Hutchinson, Maddie Poppe and Michael J. Woodard. The finalists will perform tunes from Carrie’s songbook, following a special mentoring session with her during a surprise trip to Nashville. Carrie will also perform her new single, “Cry Pretty.”

American Idol airs on May 13 at 7 p.m. CT on ABC.

Brett Eldredge Extends “The Long Way Tour” With New Fall Dates

Brett Eldredge Extends “The Long Way Tour” With New Fall Dates

Posted on May 7, 2018

After an initial run of 11 dates that ran from April 5 to May 5, Brett Eldredge announced he will extend his debut headlining tour with new fall dates.

Kicking off on Sept. 13 in Denver, the 14-date fall leg of The Long Way Tour will also make stops in Kansas City, Cleveland, St. Louis and more. Devin Dawson will serve as the opener.

Tickets go on sale on May 11.

The Long Way Tour

Sept. 13
Denver, CO
Bellco Theatre

Sept. 14
Council Bluffs, IA
West Fair Amphitheatre

Sept. 15
Kansas City, MO
Providence Medical Center Amp (KBEQ Yallapalooza)

Sept. 20
Puyallup, WA
Washington State Fair

Sept. 21
Kennewick, WA
Toyota Center

Sept. 22
Sun Valley, ID
Sun Valley Pavilion

Sept. 28
Cleveland, OH
Jacob’s Pavilion at Nautica

Sept. 29
Bloomsburg, PA
The Bloomsburg Fair

Oct. 4
Southaven, MS
Landers Center

Oct. 5
St. Louis, MO
Peabody Opera House

Oct.11
Kingston, RI
Ryan Center

Oct. 13
Manchester, NH
SNHU Arena

Oct. 18
Orlando, FL
Dr. Phillips Center

Oct. 19
Boca Raton, FL
Mizner Park Amphitheatre

photo by Tammie Arroyo, AFF-USA.com

Sounds Like Luke Combs Has Another Hit on His Hands With “Beautiful Crazy” [Watch Video]

Sounds Like Luke Combs Has Another Hit on His Hands With “Beautiful Crazy” [Watch Video]

Posted on May 7, 2018

Luke Combs’ debut album, This One’s For You, has already produced two No. 1 hits—“Hurricane” and “When It Rains It Pours”—and new single, “One Number Away,” is currently No. 6 on Billboard’s Country Airplay chart. To celebrate the one-year anniversary of his No. 1 debut album, Luke will drop a deluxe edition on June 1.

This One’s for You Too will feature 17 tracks, including the 12 originals from his debut album and five news songs: “Must’ve Never Met You,” “Houston, We Got a Problem,” “A Long Way,” “She Got the Best of Me” and “Beautiful Crazy.”

To get folks primed for the deluxe album, Luke released a new video for “Beautiful Crazy,” a tune he co-penned with Wyatt B. Durrette and Robert Williford.

“As a songwriter, I’m always writing and adding new songs to our set lists,” says Luke. “Some songs I haven’t released have even become staples in our shows because the fans request them. As we’re working on the next record, the deluxe gives me the chance to say thank you to the fans for supporting my debut album and share with them some of the new music they’ve fallen in love with on the road with us.”

Luke will join Jason Aldean’s 34-city High Noon Neon Tour on May 10, with dates through September 29.

Watch the video for “Beautiful Crazy” below.

SEC Softball Tourney Bracket: Lady Vols get desired seed

SEC Softball Tourney Bracket: Lady Vols get desired seed

Posted on May 6, 2018

The Tennessee Lady Vols softball team closed out the regular season with a 2-1 series win at Mississippi State. With that, UT (44-11, 14-10 SEC) earned the 4-seed for the SEC Softball Tournament in Columbia, Missouri this week. The Lady Vols are an impressive 21-1 in neutral site games this season.

Tennessee will play Thursday, May 10 at 5pm ET/4pm CT against the winner of Wednesday’s LSU/Ole Miss game.

See the full 2018 SEC Softball Tournament bracket here.

SEC logo / Credit: College Press Box

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