Vols to Welcome Vol Nation for DISH Orange and White Game

Vols to Welcome Vol Nation for DISH Orange and White Game

Posted on April 3, 2018
Credit: UT Athletics

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – This year’s DISH Orange and White Game will be the first public look at new head coach Jeremy Pruitt’s program. The event, on April 21, will feature a live game at 2 p.m., using standard scoring and rules, and several other new fan-friendly promotions. Pruitt hopes fans will treat the annual exhibition at Neyland Stadium like it’s a Saturday in the fall.

Admission and parking are free. Free shuttles will be provided from the UT Ag Campus and the Kingston Pike Building (Lot 40). The clear bag policy for Neyland Stadium will be in effect.

“There’s something about going out into Neyland Stadium and playing the game,” Pruitt said. “One thing that we want to do, from the coaches to the trainers and managers, and everyone in the entire organization, we want to approach the spring game and actually play a game.

“My challenge is for our fan base. The first two scrimmages aren’t open, but the spring game obviously is. The best way to put them in an adverse situation is to show up. That presence will create pressure which will prepare them for next season.”

In addition to the live game where the first team offense will face the first team defense, Tennessee has several other promotions scheduled, including:

  • 9:30 a.m. –  Toyota Vol Village in Lot 9 opens, which includes give-aways, face painting, music, photos with Smokey and the spirit squad, food options, inflatable games, interactive areas and more.
  • 12:30 p.m. – Gates Open
  • The first 5,000 fans in Gates 10 and 21 will receive a free “Fan-dana” from Coca-Cola.
  • 12:55 p.m. – The Vol Walk
  • 2 p.m. – Kickoff
  • Additional events and promotions will be announced soon.

“I want to create a game-like situation for the team to see who the competitors are,” Pruitt added. “That’s one of the things we talked about going into spring practice, it was finding the guys who love to compete when the game is on the line. The only way to figure that out is to put them in a game like situation and pick sides and ‘let’s go.’”

Pruitt Announces August Fan Day For Autographs
Tennessee will transition the autograph session, which has been a part of the Orange and White Game in the past, to a date in early August during fall camp. The transition will give fans an additional opportunity to watch a Tennessee practice inside Neyland Stadium. Following the August Fan Day open practice, fans will be able to meet the players and coaches and collect autographs.

 

UT Athletics

Kenny Chesney to Release New Single, “Get Along,” on April 6

Kenny Chesney to Release New Single, “Get Along,” on April 6

Posted on April 3, 2018

Kenny Chesney will return to radio airwaves on April 6 with a new single, “Get Along.”

Penned by Shane McAnally, Ross Copperman and Josh Osborne, the mid-tempo tune will the be the first single from Kenny’s upcoming 17th studio album.

Kenny is hoping the song’s positive theme will help folks find common ground during divisive times.

“Some days, it’s like the world is just angry, screaming people, [who are] all harping on what’s wrong, how other people are awful,” says Kenny. “The more I move around, talking to people, though, the more I know people are seeking the same things, working hard to get by and hoping for the best for their family and friends. It’s simple, but we keep getting driven apart—and made unhappy. When I heard this song, beyond how good the rhythm felt, I was amazed how simply they broke all this stuff down. Get along . . . find the common ground . . . know the basic stuff is where the joy, the love, the happiness is.”

Lyrics featured in the new song include:

  • Get along on down the road / We’ve got a long, long way to go / Scared to live, scared to die / We ain’t perfect, but we try
  • Paint a wall, learn to dance, call your mom, buy a boat, drink a beer, sing a song, make a friend
  • You find out when you die, the keys to heaven can’t be bought / We still don’t know what love is, but we sure know what it’s not

Kenny will kick off his Trip Around the Sun Tour on April 21.

photo courtesy of AFF-USA.com

Jason Isbell, Jessi Colter, Jamey Johnson & More to Headline “Outlaws & Armadillos” Concert at CMHOF

Jason Isbell, Jessi Colter, Jamey Johnson & More to Headline “Outlaws & Armadillos” Concert at CMHOF

Posted on April 3, 2018

The Country Music Hall of Fame’s upcoming exhibit, Outlaws & Armadillos: Country’s Roaring ’70s, will explore the era of cultural and artistic exchange between Nashville, Tenn., and Austin, Texas, that spawned artists like Willie Nelson, Waylon Jennings, Kris Kristofferson, Jessi Colter, Bobby Bare, Jerry Jeff Walker, David Allan Coe, Cowboy Jack Clement, Tom T. Hall, Billy Joe Shaver, Guy Clark, Townes Van Zandt and Tompall Glaser.

To help kick off the exhibition, which opens on May 25, the Hall of Fame will present a special concert on opening day that features Bobby Bare, Jason Boland, Jessi Colter, Joe Ely, Jack Ingram, Jason Isbell, Jamey Johnson, Ashley Monroe, Michael Martin Murphey, Gary P. Nunn, Willis Alan Ramsey, Kimmie Rhodes, Billy Joe Shaver, Amanda Shires, Colter Wall and more. The concert will be directed by Dave Cobb and Shooter Jennings. 

Tickets go on sale to the public at 10 a.m. CT on April 6.

The exhibit, which will run for nearly three years, will focus on the relationship between the two cities and the musical revolution created by the aforementioned artists. The music of that era influenced many of today’s Americana and country artists, including Dierks Bentley, Jack Ingram, Jason Isbell, Miranda Lambert, Kacey Musgraves, Margo Price, Sturgill Simpson and Chris Stapleton. The Outlaws exhibit will feature film content, including exclusive interviews and concert footage, by Austin-based filmmaker and exhibit co-curator, Eric Geadelmann, as well as visual art from Austin’s underground.

Outlaws & Armadillos will be accompanied by educational programs, including live performances, panel discussions and films. The Museum will produce a companion book that will be available on May 25. In addition, the Museum in partnership with Legacy Recordings, will release CD and LP sets featuring music by artists included in the exhibition.

Maren Morris Becomes 6th Artist to Accomplish Rare Billboard Feat

Maren Morris Becomes 6th Artist to Accomplish Rare Billboard Feat

Posted on April 3, 2018

Maren Morris scored her first No. 1 single on the Billboard Top Pop Songs chart with “The Middle,” her collaboration with Zedd and Grey.

Maren previously topped the Billboard Country Airplay chart with “I Could Use a Love Song” and her duet with Thomas Rhett, “Craving You.”

Maren is now the sixth artist to have topped both the Country Airplay and Pop Songs charts, joining the Backstreet Boys, Kelly Clarkson, Tim McGraw, Pink and Taylor Swift in the exclusive club.

Maren has had lots of reasons to celebrate recently, including marrying Ryan Hurd on March 24 and earning a nomination for Female Vocalist of the Year at the ACM Awards on April 15.

photo by Jason Simanek

Watch Thomas Rhett Hype His Life Changes Tour With New “Infomercial”

Watch Thomas Rhett Hype His Life Changes Tour With New “Infomercial”

Posted on April 3, 2018

Thomas Rhett showed off some of his acting chops in a new “infomercial” he posted on Facebook that touts his upcoming Life Changes Tour, which kicks off on April 5 and runs through October 27.

A combination of Brett Young, Midland, Russell Dickerson, Jillian Jacqueline and Carly Pearce will serve as openers during the tour.

Tickets for most dates of the fall leg of the tour go on sale on April 6, with pre-sale beginning on April 3.

Check out TR’s infomercial below, which features a cameo by Brett Young. And don’t forget to pick up some “tight merch” along the way.

Life Changes Tour
4/5/2018 Tulsa, OK BOK Center *
4/6/2018 Lubbock, TX United Supermarket Arena *
4/7/2018 Las Cruces, NM Pan American Center *
4/19/2018 Augusta, GA James Brown Arena **
4/20/2018 Jacksonville, FL Daily’s Place **
5/3/2018 Grand Forks, ND Alerus Center ***
5/4/2018 Bismarck, ND Bismarck Event Center ***
5/17/2018 Lafayette, LA Cajundome ***
5/18/2018 Bossier City, LA CenturyLink Center ***
9/13/2018 Bangor, ME Cross Insurance Center ****
9/14/2018 Uncasville, CT Mohegan Sun Arena ****
9/20/2018 Manchester, NH SNHU Arena ****
9/21/2018 Syracuse, NY OnCenter War Memorial Arena ****
9/22/2018 Albany, NY Times Union Center ****
9/27/2018 State College, PA Bryce Jordan Center ****
9/28/2018 Charleston, WV Charleston Civic Center ****
9/29/2018 Charlottesville, VA John Paul Jones Arena ****
10/5/2018 Toledo, OH The Huntington Center ****
10/6/2018 Grand Rapids, MI Van Andel Arena ****
10/11/2018 Little Rock, AR Verizon Arena ****
10/12/2018 Oklahoma City, OK Chesapeake Energy Arena ****
10/13/2018 Lincoln, NE Pinnacle Bank Arena ****
10/18/2018 Eugene, OR Matthew Knight Arena ****
10/19/2018 Boise, ID Ford Idaho Center ****
10/20/2018 Salt Lake City, UT Vivint Smart Home Arena ****
10/25/2018 Fresno, CA Save Mart Center at Fresno State ****
10/26/2018 Los Angeles, CA The Forum *****
10/27/2018 Sacramento, CA Golden 1 Center ****

* Brett Young w/Jillian Jacqueline
** Brett Young w/Carly Pearce
*** Brett Young w/Russell Dickerson
**** Brett Young and Midland
***** Brett Young and TBA

photo by Jason Simanek

Jessie James Decker & Husband Eric Welcome Baby Son

Jessie James Decker & Husband Eric Welcome Baby Son

Posted on April 2, 2018

Jessie James Decker and husband Eric welcomed their third child, son Forrest Bradley, on March 31.

Jessie made the announcement via Instagram, saying: “Forrest Bradley Decker born March 31st weighing 9lbs. We are so in love 🙏🏼❤️.”

Forrest Bradley joins older siblings, Vivianne, 4, and Eric Jr., 2.

Jessie and Eric married in 2013.

Congrats to the happy couple.

photo by Jason Simanek

Brett Eldredge Kick-Starts New Foundation With $60K Donation to Combat Pediatric Cancer

Brett Eldredge Kick-Starts New Foundation With $60K Donation to Combat Pediatric Cancer

Posted on April 2, 2018

Brett Eldredge helped raised $60,000 as he hosted his fourth annual holiday concert—An Evening with Brett Eldredge—in December 2017 at Nashville’s Country Music Hall of Fame.

(From left) Chris Eldredge, Robin Eldredge, Brett Eldredge & Brice Eldredge present a $60,000 check to Monroe Carell Jr. Hospital. photo courtesy of PMKBNC

On behalf of his newly established Brett Eldredge Family Foundation, the Illinois native and his family recently presented a check for $60,000 to Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt, which is a nationally recognized provider of pediatric healthcare services. With more than 400 physicians trained in 30 pediatric and surgical specialties, the 267-bed facility provides the highest level of pediatric health care services and is also a top-tier teaching and research facility.

Brett created his new foundation to help children battle pediatric cancer and support research for a cure.

photo by Jason Simanek

Kacey Musgraves’ New Album Draws Rave Reviews From Peers

Kacey Musgraves’ New Album Draws Rave Reviews From Peers

Posted on April 2, 2018

Kacey Musgraves dropped her new album, Golden Hour, on March 30, and it received rave reviews from some of her peers, including Little Big Town, Brothers Osborne, Brandy Clark and more.

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 and 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.

Check out what Kacey’s music-making colleagues had to say about the new album via social media.

photo by Jason Simanek

Sugarland Announces Release of Upcoming Sixth Studio Album, “Bigger”

Sugarland Announces Release of Upcoming Sixth Studio Album, “Bigger”

Posted on April 2, 2018

After a five-year hiatus, Jennifer Nettles and Kristian Bush of Sugarland surprised the country music-loving world by reuniting at the CMA Awards on Nov. 8, 2017, to present the trophy for Duo of the Year to Brothers Osborne.

Now, almost five months later, the duo has some definitive plans for 2018, including kicking off their Still the Same Tour on May 4 and releasing their upcoming sixth studio album, Bigger, on June 8.

In addition, the duo’s soaring single, “Still the Same,” is currently No. 45 on Billboard’s Country Airplay chart after 13 weeks.

“The first time we were in a room together in almost six years, ‘Still the Same’ is the first song we wrote,” said Jennifer to Nash Country Daily. “This song is quintessential Sugarland, sound and message-wise.”

“Normally, it takes 100 songs to write three good ones, but it’s different if you’re working with Jennifer,” says Kristian to NCD. “It takes one song to write one good one. That’s cool. You can’t ever underestimate the power of that.”

Sugarland will serve as contestant mentors on American Idol on April 9 at 7 p.m. CT. on ABC.

Watch Grand Ole Opry Mural of Dolly Parton Come to Life in Time-Lapse Video

Watch Grand Ole Opry Mural of Dolly Parton Come to Life in Time-Lapse Video

Posted on March 30, 2018

The Grand Ole Opry posted a time-lapse video on Facebook of Nashville artist Scott Guion painting a mural of Dolly Parton. The mural, which is on display at the Opry plaza, will soon be joined by “more familiar faces in the weeks to come.”

Check out the time-lapse video of Scott in action.

photo by Curtis Hilbun, AFF-USA.com

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