Carrie Underwood unleashed her emotional “Cry Pretty” video during the May 6th episode of American Idol, the reality TV show that launched her career in 2005.
The new video features interspersed clips of Carrie performing the song in a “live” setting with vignettes that depict her being overcome by emotion, including scenes in the shower, in front of a make-up mirror and in bed.
“Cry Pretty” is the lead single and title track from Carrie’s upcoming sixth studio album, which will drop on Sept. 14. Carrie will return to American Idol on May 13 to perform “Cry Pretty” live.
Carrie co-penned “Cry Pretty” with Hillary Lindsey, Liz Rose and Lori McKenna, and she co-produced the song with David Garcia.
Carrie’s upcoming album will be her first since 2015’s Storyteller, which spawned hits such as “Smoke Break,” “Heartbeat,” “Church Bells” and “Dirty Laundry.”
During the Nashville Predators 2017 playoff run to the Stanley Cup Finals, the Preds brought out some of country music’s biggest starts to sing the national anthem on their home ice, including Carrie Underwood, Luke Bryan, Little Big Town, Vince Gill, Lady Antebellum, Keith Urban, Kelly Clarkson, Trisha Yearwood, Martina McBride, Dierks Bentley and Faith Hill.
For the Preds 2018 playoff run, which began on April 12 against the Colorado Avalanche, Rascal Flatts had the honor of singing the national anthem before Game 1, while Brad Paisley and Maren Morris handled the duties before Game 2 on April 14 and Game 5 on April 20, respectively.
Before Game 1 of the Preds second round playoff series versus the Winnipeg Jets on April 27, Dierks Bentley and bluegrass great Del McCoury teamed up to perform the anthem. The Preds unleashed “proud hockey wife” Carrie Underwood—spouse of Preds center Mike Fisher—to perform the anthem before Game 2 against the Jets on April 29.
Before Game 5 vs. the Jets on May 5, Lady Antebellum performed the anthem, and while Charles Kelley had a little trouble remembering the words, Hillary Scott managed to bring it home with Dave Haywood’s help.
The trio even had a little fun on Twitter afterwards.
Before Justify galloped to victory on a sloppy track at the wettest Kentucky Derby in its 144-year history, a number of country stars walked the red carpet at Churchill Downs, including Brooks & Dunn, Eddie Montgomery, Terri Clark and Thompson Square.
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – Three University of Tennessee signees will be among 36 players taking part in the 2018 USA Basketball Women’s U18 National Team Trials, which are slated for May 26-28 at the United States Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colorado.
Lady Vols-to-be forward Amira Collins (Waldorf, Md./Paul VI Catholic H.S. [Fairfax, Va.]), guard Zarielle Green (Duncanville, Texas/Duncanville H.S.) and point guard Jazmine Massengill (Chattanooga, Tenn./Hamilton Heights Christian Academy) will compete for spots on the 12-member 2018 USA Women’s U18 National Team. Athletes eligible for this team must be U.S. citizens who are 18 years old or younger (born on or after Jan. 1, 2000).
“I think we’ve invited a very deep and talented group of players to the U18 Trials,” said Jennifer Rizzotti (George Washington University), chair of the USA Basketball Women’s Junior National Team Committee, which is responsible for selecting players and coaches for USA women’s U18 and U19 teams. “There is a good mix of players and diversity within positions. I feel the committee invited a good balance of players at every position, with and without USA basketball experience.”
The 2018 USA Women’s U18 National Team will be led by Jeff Walz of the University of Louisville, with Natasha Adair of the University of Delaware and Cori Close of UCLA serving as the USA’s assistant coaches. The trio will guide the USA at the 2018 FIBA Americas U18 Championship, for which the dates and location are still to be announced. The top four finishing teams at the championship will earn a qualifying berth into next summer’s 2019 FIBA U19 World Cup.
The chosen team members will return to Colorado Springs this summer for training camp (dates to be determined) before the team departs for the 2018 FIBA Americas U18 Championship.
Collins, Green and Massengill are part of UT’s four-player freshman signing class that was ranked No. 4 by Prospectsnation.com and No. 6 by espnW HoopGurlz. All three participated in the McDonald’s All-American Game and the Jordan Brand Classic this spring.
After dropping her “Space Cowboy” video earlier this week, Kacey Musgraves wasted no time giving us her “Butterflies” video on May 4. Shot in Mexico City by “Space Cowboy” director Courtney Phillips, the “Butterflies” video flutters with the thrill of falling in love.
Both tunes are featured on Kacey’s new studio album, Golden Hour, which debuted at No. 1 on Billboard’s Top Country Albums chart after being released on March 30. Kacey became the first solo female artist to top the chart since Jessie James Decker in November 2017.
The new 13-song offering follows Kacey’s 2013 debut album, Same Trailer Different Park, and her 2015 sophomore album, Pageant Material, both of which hit No. 1 on Billboard’s Top Country Albums chart. Kacey co-wrote every track on Golden Hour, and she co-produced the new album with Ian Fitchuk and Daniel Tashian.
“I had a different mindset this time, which was feeling rather than thinking—leading heart first,” says Kacey.
While Good Morning America‘s 2018 Summer Concert Series features only one country artist—Kelsea Ballerini—Today’s 2018 Citi Summer Concert Series lineup is plush with country stars, including Dierks Bentley, Darius Rucker, Dan + Shay, Lady Antebellum, Cole Swindell and Keith Urban.
Meghan Trainor kicks off the 23rd annual Summer Series on May 15 on NBC, before Darius Rucker takes the stage on Today’s outdoor plaza on May 25.
“I always love playing for our incredible fans in New York City,” says Darius. “I can’t think of a better place to get summer started than out on the Today plaza.”
Viewing for the free show is on a first-come, first-served basis, with the entrance located at 48th Street and Rockefeller Plaza in New York City.
Today Citi Summer Concert Series
May 15 – Meghan Trainor
May 25 – Darius Rucker
May 28 – Troye Sivan
June 1 – Shawn Mendes
June 8 – Kelly Clarkson
June 12 – Dierks Bentley
June 15 – Christina Aguilera
June 22 – 5 Seconds of Summer
June 25 – Dan + Shay
June 29 – Panic! at the Disco
July 6 – Lady Antebellum
July 13 – Maroon 5
July 20 – Charlie Puth
July 27 – Julia Michaels
Aug. 2 – Keith Urban
Aug. 10 – Jason Mraz
Aug. 17 – Cole Swindell
Dates for Alessia Cara and Why Don’t We Try to be announced soon
In January, the Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival announced its lineup of more than 100 artists as part of this year’s showcase on June 7–10, including country-centric performers Sturgill Simpson, Midland, Brothers Osborne, Ole Crow Medicine Show, Tyler Childers and more.
Now the Opry is upping the country ante.
For the first time in the festival’s history, the Grand Ole Opry will stage a show from Bonnaroo on Sunday, June 10, featuring Opry members Bobby Bare, Del McCoury Band, Old Crow Medicine Show and Riders in the Sky, as well as Brothers Osborne, LANCO, Nikki Lane and Lucie Silvas.
Grand Ole Opry at Bonnaroo will be broadcast online and over the airwaves with Bill Cody serving as the show announcer.
The 2018 Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival will take place June 7–10 at Great Stage Park, the 700-acre farm and event space located just 60 miles south of Nashville in Manchester, Tenn. And, if you were wondering, the dates are once again the exact same as this year’s CMA Music Fest (June 7–10) in Nashville.
FRISCO, Texas – Dallas Cowboys legend and former University of Tennessee star tight end Jason Witten announced his retirement from professional football on Thursday in a press conference at the Cowboys’ headquarters.
Witten will still be visible in retirement as he will enter broadcasting and has accepted a position to join ESPN’s Monday Night Football as an analyst.
Tennessee Director of Athletics Phillip Fulmer coached Witten at UT and famously had the Elizabethton, Tenn., native switch to tight end during his freshman season after beginning his career as a defensive end.
“Jason Witten is the epitome of a team player,” Fulmer said. “He is a guy that could do it all at the tight end position as a receiver or blocker. He was a great leader both on the field and in the locker room, and he was the rock in the Cowboys organization. He is also a wonderful man, husband and father. He represents the award that bears his name very well, the Jason Witten Collegiate Man of the Year Award.”
Witten had a standout three-year career (2000-02) playing tight end at Tennessee, earning All-America honors from The Sporting News and Sports Illustrated in 2002. Witten also earned consensus first-team All-SEC recognition in 2002 after establishing a then single-season school-record for catches (39) and receiving yards (493) by a tight end. Witten still ranks fifth all-time at UT in career receptions (68) and receiving yards (797) by a tight end and helped lead the Vols to an appearance in the 2001 SEC Championship game as well as a 45-17 victory over Michigan in the Florida Citrus Bowl to cap off the season. One of the top highlights of his collegiate career was catching the game-winning 25-yard touchdown in the Vols’ 41-38 six-overtime victory over Arkansas in 2002.
Following his tenure with the Vols, Witten was selected in the third round of the 2003 NFL Draft by the Dallas Cowboys. Witten went on to have one of the most dominant pro careers by a tight end in NFL history, totaling 1,152 catches for 12,448 yards and 68 touchdowns in 15 seasons, all with the Cowboys. The future Hall of Famer finished his career ranked fourth in NFL history in receptions and holds records for most catches in a single season by a tight end (110 in 2012) and most catches in a game by a tight end (18 in 2012). Witten’s 68 receiving touchdowns rank third in franchise history and fifth all-time among NFL tight ends.
Witten was an 11-time Pro Bowler, four-time All-Pro and was named the Walter Payton Man of the Year in 2012. The Dallas pass catcher holds numerous franchise receiving records including most career receptions, most career receiving yards and most consecutive seasons with a reception, among others.
Through his own charitable foundation, Jason Witten’s SCORE Foundation, Witten has launched numerous outreach programs and funded several new building projects in Texas and his native Tennessee.
The Jason Witten Collegiate Man of the Year Award was established in 2017 in his honor to reward the Division I college football player who has demonstrated a record of leadership by exhibiting exceptional courage, integrity and sportsmanship both on and off the field. UCF’s Shaquem Griffin was named the inaugural winner of the award in February.
After dropping lead single, “Tequila,” in January, Dan + Shay are giving fans the second taste of their upcoming third studio album by releasing “All to Myself” on May 3.
Dan + Shay teased the song’s release on Twitter—originally planning to drop the tune on May 4—but the duo felt the fan response had been “so big” that they decided to release the song one day early.
Dan + Shay released their sophomore album almost two years ago in June 2016.
We thought it would be interesting to crunch a few numbers to see which country stars have the biggest reach on social media.
Taking into account an artist’s total number of Twitter, Facebook and Instagram followers, we compiled a list of the Top 12 country stars with the biggest social media reach. While this total isn’t the be-all and end-all of social media reach, it’s a handy indicator.
It’s also interesting to see the platforms where individual artists excel. For instance, Blake Shelton has—by far—the most Twitter followers, while Carrie Underwood excels on Facebook and Instagram.
Take a look at the results below. [Editor’s note: we tried to be thorough in our search, but it’s possible we unintentionally omitted an artist who should be in the Top 12]
![Carrie Underwood Unleashes Emotional “Cry Pretty” Video [Watch]](https://cdn.socast.io/6616/sites/1446/2018/04/11064613/Carrie-Underwood.jpg#aqua_resizer_image_not_local)
![Brooks & Dunn, Terri Clark, Eddie Montgomery & Thompson Square Walk the Red Carpet at the Kentucky Derby [Gallery]](https://cdn.socast.io/6616/sites/1446/2018/05/05211936/Brooks-Dunn.png#aqua_resizer_image_not_local)
![Kacey Musgraves Gives Us “Butterflies” Video [Watch]](https://cdn.socast.io/6616/sites/1446/2018/05/04112554/Kacey-Musgraves-CR.jpg#aqua_resizer_image_not_local)
