After playing more than 360 shows over the course of the previous three years as part of his World Tour, Garth Brooks has had a relatively low-key 2018.
In addition to headlining opening and closing night at this year’s Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, Garth’s upcoming performance at Stagecoach Festival in Indio, Calif., on April 29 will be just his third full-scale concert of the year.
As you can imagine, Garth is pretty stoked to get onstage at Stagecoach, which will also feature performances by Keith Urban, Trisha Yearwood, Kacey Musgraves, Dwight Yoakam, Jason Isbell, Brothers Osborne and more.
“You know, this is going to be the first festival that we’ve gotten to play in the modern era, and I’m excited,” said Garth. “Keith Urban’s on there, so I had to text Keith, ‘Hey, man, what’re these things like?’ And he said, ‘It’ll be the most fun you’ve ever had.’ So to tell Garth Brooks it’s going to be the most fun you’ve ever had—I’m so looking forward to it.”
Broadcast Music, Inc. (BMI) held its first of six Rooftop on the Row concerts on April 24 in Nashville.
Trea Landon kicked off the night’s festivities atop the BMI building in the lobby of the BMI building as rainy conditions stifled the rooftop celebration, but that didn’t deter the crowd of industry insiders, fans or the Oak Ridge Boys, who headlined the event.
The BMI Rooftop on the Row concert series was created in partnership with George Dickel Tennessee Whisky, as well as sponsors Nash FM 103.3, 95.5 Nash Icon, Yeti Coolers, Texas Roadhouse, Sam Adams, First Tennessee, Royalty Exchange and Topo Chico.
Check out the Oaks in action as they sing their crowd-favorite hit, “Elvira.”
Listen to Nash FM for your chance to win free tickets to the next Rooftop show on May 22 that features Charlie Worsham and Lucie Silvas. Morgan Wallen, Lindsay Ell, Mitchell Tenpenny and more are slated to perform at upcoming Rooftop shows.
Is Blake Shelton stirring the pot with a new tweet?
“Been taking the high road for a long time.. I almost gave up. But I can finally see something on the horizon up there!! Wait!! Could it be?! Yep!! It’s karma!!”
A lot of folks are viewing the post as a dig at ex-wife Miranda Lambert. Some outlets are reporting that Miranda is in a relationship with Turnpike Troubadours frontman Evan Felker, who recently filed for divorce from his wife. Turnpike Troubadours toured with Miranda as part of her Livin’ Like Hippies Tour, which began in January and capped in March. It’s also around the time that Miranda and Anderson East reportedly ended their relationship.
Blake and Miranda divorced in 2015 after four years of marriage. The he-said-she-said tabloid game has been going on for three years.
Been taking the high road for a long time.. I almost gave up. But I can finally see something on the horizon up there!! Wait!! Could it be?! Yep!! It’s karma!!
Jason Aldean and wife Brittany are the proud parents of baby boy Memphis Aldean Williams, who was born on Dec. 1, 2017.
The five-month-old baby boy joins big sisters Kendyl, 10, and Keeley, 15, in the Aldean household, and from what Jason tells Kix Brooks of American Country Countdown, the girls have been a big help with Memphis.
“They’ve been really good with him, you know, both of them—but especially Kendyl,” says Jason. “She’s 10, and she’s the one who wants to really help out a lot—feed him, burp him and change him. She sits there on the couch with him and watches TV and hangs out with him. Keeley, she’s 15 now, so she’s a teenager, and she likes to hang out in her room and listen to music and talk on the phone or do whatever she’s doing, and so she’ll come down and hang for a little bit and then she’s back up there. I’ll hear her up there playing some music. She’s started learning to play guitar, so she’ll be up in her room, you know, doing that kind of stuff, but, yeah, they’re tight with him, which is cool.”
After tying the knot on March 24 in Nashville, Maren Morris and Ryan Hurd celebrated their one-month anniversary by releasing video footage from the big event.
Set to the R&B song “I Want to Love You Baby” by Peggy Scott & Jo Jo Benson, the new clip, which Maren posted on Instagram, shows the happy couple and attendees enjoying themselves before, during and after the ceremony.
“One month ago, I married my best friend and we threw a kickass wedding. Hope y’all enjoy. 🎥: @alexmferrari 💍💍,” said Maren in the Instagram post.
DALLAS, Texas – Rashaan Gaulden is ready for the next level. His nearly four years at the University of Tennessee have prepared him for the NFL and the former Vol defensive back is expected to hear his name called this weekend at the 2018 NFL Draft at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.
“There’s a relief and a calmness about it all because of all of the hard work I know I put in these last few months and the relationships I’ve built,” said Gaulden, who is ranked among the Top 100 draft prospects by NFL Network analysts Mike Mayock and Gil Brandt. “I know I’ve made good impressions on the people I have met throughout the process. I feel like I can be the right guy for a number of teams, and now I just have to see which team values me the most. I’m ready to find out where I’m going to be.
“I’m ready to get to work.”
Gaulden leads a group of Vols with a great chance to be selected that also includes running back John Kelly (Brandt’s No. 122 prospect), defensive tackle Kahlil McKenzie, punter Trevor Daniel and tight end Ethan Wolf, among others. Several Vols who go undrafted are expected to sign free agent contracts, too.
Tennessee had 30 alumni in the NFL last season and that number will increase this weekend.
The 2018 NFL Draft begins Thursday night with Round 1 at 8 p.m. Rounds 2-3 will be on Friday night beginning at 7 p.m. The draft will wrap up on Saturday with Rounds 4-7 starting at 12 p.m.
The NFL Network, FOX, ABC, ESPN and ESPN2 will broadcast the draft.
Gaulden, who had 65 tackles and three forced fumbles for UT in 2017, is in Dallas this week as part of a select group of rookies who will take part the NFL Players Association Rookie Debut, which includes several different events before the draft, featuring draft prospects interacting with current and former NFL players.
He will fly back home to Nashville on Thursday morning and watch the draft with close friends and family that night and on Friday before hosting a party on Saturday.
Gaulden credits Tennessee for molding him into an NFL player on and off the field.
“It’s all about connections, and I’ve built some great relationships during my time at Tennessee,” Gaulden said. “From my professors to the academic staff to the trainers to the equipment managers, and all of the support staff – they’ve prepared me for this and I’m very grateful. They’ve always had my back.
“The support of the Tennessee fans means a lot, too. I know I have a lot of people in my corner.”
Tennessee NFL Draft Prospects
Rashaan Gaulden, Defensive Back
Gaulden is a versatile defensive back who lined up at safety, nickel back and cornerback for the Vols during his career, finishing with 140 tackles, including 9.5 for loss, over 36 games with 19 starts. Gaulden had a breakout 2017 redshirt junior season, where he totaled 65 tackles to go along with three forced fumbles, three fumble recoveries, six passes defended and one interception. Draft Rankings
No. 93 by NFL Network Analyst Mike Mayock
No. 73 by NFL Network Analyst Gil Brandt
No. 228 by ESPN NFL Draft Insider Mel Kiper
No. 212 by ESPN’s Scouts Inc.
No. 18 safety by Mel Kiper
No. 32 cornerback by Scouts Inc.
John Kelly, Running Back
Kelly had a breakout junior campaign in his first year as a starter in 2017, leading the Vols in rushing (778 yards) and receptions (37) in 11 games. The Detroit, Mich., native scored nine touchdowns for the Vols and opened the season with 128 yards and four touchdowns in a double overtime win over Georgia Tech. For his career, Kelly rushed for 1,573 yards and 15 touchdowns, while averaging 4.8 yards per carry. Kelly added 43 receptions for 350 yards. He played in 33 games with 12 starts. Draft Rankings
No. 122 by NFL Network Analyst Gil Brandt
No. 258 by ESPN NFL Draft Insider Mel Kiper
No. 154 by ESPN’s Scouts Inc.
No. 19 running back by Mel Kiper
No. 15 running back by Scouts Inc.
Trevor Daniel, Punter
Daniel finished second nationally in punting average with a Tennessee record 47.5 average in 2017, breaking a 35-year old mark of 46.9 set by Jimmy Colquitt in 1982. The Dickson, Tenn., native also set the UT career record for punting average (45.9) during his tenure – which began as a walk-on. Daniel redshirted and did not play his first two seasons on Rocky Top before taking over the punting duties in 2015. He went on to play in 38 games and boomed 76 punts over 50 yards in his career. Draft Rankings
No. 236 by ESPN NFL Draft Insider Mel Kiper
No. 5 punter by Mel Kiper
Kahlil McKenzie, Defensive Tackle
McKenzie had a standout junior season in 2017, making 36 tackles and four TFLs over 11 games with nine starts. The son of Oakland Raiders general manager and Tennessee alum Reggie McKenzie, Kahlil McKenzie appeared in 31 games at defensive tackle over his Tennessee career and totaled 72 stops. Draft Rankings
No. 296 by ESPN’s Scouts Inc.
No. 30 defensive tackle by Scouts Inc.
No. 28 defensive tackle by ESPN NFL Draft Insider Mel Kiper
Ethan Wolf, Tight End
Wolf finished his career at No. 2 among tight ends in Tennessee history with 91 receptions and No. 3 in receiving yards (998). The Minster, Ohio, native started 47 games and appeared in 50 contests. He scored seven touchdowns and averaged 11.0 ypc. Draft Rankings
No. 29 by ESPN NFL Draft Insider Mel Kiper
Other Draft Eligible Vols
LB Elliott Berry
KR Evan Berry (2015 All-American)
WR Jeff George
TE Jakob Johnson
LB Colton Jumper
OT Brett Kendrick (Kiper’s No. 26 offensive tackle)
CB Justin Martin
PK Aaron Medley
CB Emmanuel Moseley
OL Jashon Robertson
WR Josh Smith (Kiper’s No. 119 wide receiver)
OL Coleman Thomas
DT Kendal Vickers (Kiper’s No. 46 defensive tackle)
CB Shaq Wiggins (Kiper’s No. 64 cornerback)
UT Athletics
A GoFundMe page has been created for Sharita Henderson, who was shot multiple times at a Waffle House in Antioch, Tenn., on April 22 after a lone gunman opened fire, killing four people and injuring several others.
Sharita was taken to Vanderbilt Medical Center in critical condition and underwent multiple surgeries. Currently, she is in stable condition.
Sharita is a member of the promotions department at WQQK (92-Q), which is the sister station of WKDF (103.3 Nash FM) and WSM (Nash Icon 95.5). All of the stations are owned by Nash Country Daily’s parent company, Cumulus Media, which broadcasts shows such as Ty, Kelly & Chuck, Nash Nights Live and American Country Countdown With Kix Brooks.
Sharita’s GoFundMe account, which is hoping to raise $10,000 toward her medical expenses, notes that Sharita is “an amazingly kind woman and one of the sweetest people around.”
Click on the image below to donate to Sharita’s GoFundMe account. NCD is wishing Sharita a speedy recovery.
Brian Kelley and Tyler Hubbard of Florida Georgia Line scored their 14th No. 1 single as their collaboration with Bebe Rexha, “Meant to Be,” ascended to the top of both the Billboard Country Airplay chart and Mediabase chart.
“Meant to Be,” which was co-penned by Bebe, Josh Miller, David Garcia and FGL’s Tyler Hubbard, was recently nominated for Top Country Song at the upcoming Billboard Music Awards on May 20.
“From day one, this song was just meant to be,” says Tyler. “Bebe jumped in on a canceled writing session last minute and now it’s going down in history.”
The tune has also resided atop the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart for 21 weeks, which is the third longest reign in the history of the chart, behind Sam Hunt’s “Body Like a Back Road” (34 weeks) and FGL’s “Cruise” (24 weeks).
“It’s been nothing but good vibes to see it take off and inspire,” says Brian. “Its message is a positive one and [that’s] why I think it’s connecting with those who hear it. We can’t thank country radio enough for all of the support.”
In support of their new sophomore album, Port Saint Joe, Brothers Osborne stopped by The Late Show With Stephen Colbert on April 23 to perform their current single, “Shoot Me Straight.”
The new tune, which is currently No. 37 on Billboard’s Country Airplay chart after 15 weeks, was penned by Lee Thomas Miller and John and TJ Osborne.
“We thought this lead single off of our new record would be a really great representation of just kind of what’s to come on this new record, but also was kind of a good little second story to ‘It Ain’t My Fault,’” says TJ. “The song is really being about the double entendre of just the saying, ‘shoot me straight,’ ‘give it to me straight,’ but also make it burn like a shot of whiskey and shoot me straight. It’s one of the songs that kind of ties the last record into this one.”
The singer/songwriter siblings recently took home two trophies at the 53rd ACM Awards, including Vocal Duo of the Year and Video of the Year for “It Ain’t My Fault.”
Watch Brothers Osborne perform “Shoot Me Straight” on The Late Show.
It’s been almost four years since Maddie & Tae strummed their way into country music consciousness with their breakout No. 1 hit, “Girl in a Country Song.”
The duo found success with subsequent songs, including Top 10 single, “Fly,” and Top 25 single, “Shut Up and Fish,” but they haven’t released a new single since 2016’s “Sierra,” which failed to chart higher than No. 47.
Maddie & Tae announced via Instagram that they are releasing a new song, “Friends Don’t,” on April 27. The new tune, which was penned by Maddie, Tae, Jon Nite and Justin Ebach, was co-produced by Jimmy Robbins and Derek Wells.
“Alright y’all. It’s been a crazy past couple of years but we are so excited to announce that we have a brand new single coming out NEXT WEEK!! 🙊🎶🙌🏼 Keeping this a secret has been one of the hardest things we’ve ever done haha but we wanted this release to be extra special for y’all (our sweet, sweet fans). Thank you for being so patient & supportive. You’ll never truly know how much that has meant to us. Gosh we love yall 💕FRIENDS DON’T. 4/27. LET’S DO THIS. Pre-save it NOW at the link in our bio.”
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