Dierks Bentley has released the first single, “Woman, Amen,” from his upcoming ninth studio album, The Mountain.
The impetus for the album’s creation was Dierk’s June 2017 performance at the Telluride Bluegrass Festival in the town of Telluride in the San Juan Mountains of southwestern Colorado. Dierks returned to Telluride a short time later for a week-long retreat with fellow songwriters Natalie Hemby, Luke Dick, Ross Copperman, Jon Randall, Jon Nite and Ashley Gorley and wrote the bulk of the album’s songs, including the title track.
However, “Woman, Amen” was penned by Dierks, Josh Kear and Ross Copperman in Nashville in between the Telluride Bluegrass Festival and his songwriting retreat.
“My wife and our relationship has been the one constant element in my life over all the ups and downs of my career and personal life,” said Dierks. “Our journey together has made me the man I am today. I doubt my heart would even recognize the old me. This song addresses that in the most direct possible way. The personal gratitude expressed in the lyrics, mixed with a track that leans heavily on some bigger sounds, is the perfect way to introduce the album.”
In addition to his longtime responsibilities as the frontman for the Zac Brown Band, Zac Brown recently teamed with songwriter Nico Moon and producer Ben Simonetti to form a new Southern pop trio, Sir Rosevelt, which dropped its self-titled debut album on Dec. 15. The 11-track offering fuses the sounds of pop, dance, acoustic instrumentation and Southern stylings.
Zac and Nico have been working together for more than 10 years and have been co-writers on a number of tunes, including “Homegrown,” “Loving You Easy” and “Beautiful Drug.” Ben was the recording engineer on ZBB’s 2015 album, Jekyll + Hyde.
Sir Rosevelt’s latest offering, “It Goes On,” will be featured in the new war drama, 12 Strong, which hits theaters on Jan. 19. The movie stars Chris Hemsworth and Michael Shannon and tells the story of the first Special Forces team deployed to Afghanistan after 9/11.
Kenny Chesney has signed a record deal with Warner Music Nashville, leaving his longtime home of Sony Music Nashville. As part of WMN, Kenny’s music will be released on the Blue Chair Records/Warner Bros. Records label.
“It is a big deal to change labels,” said Kenny. “To me, music is only complete when it gets to the fans and becomes part of their lives. The people at Warner understand my commitment to that idea, and they’re just as committed to those ideals as I am.”
Kenny joins Blake Shelton, Brett Eldredge, Dan + Shay, Cole Swindell, Chris Janson and more at Warner Music Nashville, while Sony Music Nashville’s stable includes Tim McGraw, Faith Hill, Miranda Lambert, Chris Young, Maren Morris and more.
Carrie Underwood departed Sony Music Nashville in 2017 for Universal Music Group.
For the ninth year, music lovers packed more than 25 venues along the Florida Panhandle to hear 185 singer/songwriters perform during the 30A Songwriters Festival on Jan. 12–15. Highway 30A stretches for 28.5 miles along the Florida coast as it intersects picturesque beach communities like Sandestin, WaterColor, Seaside and Rosemary Beach.
Despite this year’s blast of cold weather, attendees showed up in droves over three days to hear some of their favorite performers, including a country contingent of Emmylou Harris, Steve Earle, Lee Ann Womack, Deana Carter, Lady Antebellum’s Charles Kelley, James McMurtry, Hayes Carll and more.
If the rowdy spring-break experience isn’t your cup of beer anymore, graduate to 30A next year for friendly songwriters’ sessions, artist Q&As, respectful listening rooms and outdoor shows where a picnic blanket and a glass of wine are the norm.
Check out the photo gallery below, which includes Emmylou Harris, Steve Earle, Lee Ann Womack, Deana Carter and Hayes Carll.
Chris Stapleton will be the musical guest on Saturday Night Live on Jan. 27 as Will Ferell tackles the hosting duties.
Chris made his first appearance on SNL in January 2016.
Of the 10 Best-Selling Country Albums of 2017, Chris copped the No. 1, 2 and 7 spots on the list with From A Room: Vol. 1,Traveller and From A Room: Vol. 2, respectively. Chris’ Traveller was also the best-selling album of 2016.
Tune in at 10:30 p.m. CT on Jan. 27 to see Chris in action. Maybe this time he’ll show off some of his acting chops in a sketch.
Maren Morris is starting off the year with a bang.
The Texas native scored the first No. 1 single of her career this week as “I Could Use a Love Song” ascended to the top of the Mediabase chart. The tune, which was co-penned by Maren, Jimmy Robbins and Laura Veltz, is also nominated for Best Country Solo Performance at the upcoming Grammy Awards on Jan. 28.
While Maren was featured on Thomas Rhett’s 2017 No. 1 single, “Craving You,” “I Could Use a Love Song” is the first single from her catalog to reach No. 1.
Maren shared her excitement and gratitude regarding the song’s success in a recent Instagram post, saying: “43 weeks. Proud to be a woman today. To my amazing Columbia promo team, to country radio, to the fans, thank you for making ‘I Could Use A Love Song’ my first #1. Also, @jammyrabbins & @lauraveltz , I knew we found magic when we wrote this song 3 years ago. Let’s always start our writes with tequila.”
COLUMBIA, Mo. — Riding a three-game winning streak, the 21st-ranked Tennessee Volunteers are back on the road this week, beginning with a trip to face Missouri at Mizzou Arena on Wednesday night. The game will tip at 9 p.m. ET and will be televised live on SEC Network and streamed online via WatchESPN.
The Vols (12-4, 3-2 SEC) have picked up their offense since starting SEC play, ranking as the No. 2 scoring attack in the conference with 84.0 ppg through five contests. Grant Williams continues to shine for UT, leading the team in scoring (16.7 ppg) and rebounding (6.7 rpg) this season. The sophomore forward had a historic performance during Tennessee’s win at Vanderbilt last Tuesday, dropping a career-high 37 points on 12-of-20 shooting in 33 minutes, an effort that earned him SEC Player of the Week honors for the first time in his career.
Williams, the SEC’s leading scorer in league play at 19.6 ppg, is joined by Admiral Schofield as the Vols’ top performers. Schofield has stepped up as the vocal leader of the team while averaging 13.4 ppg and 6.0 rpg. The junior forward has led the team in rebounding in six of the last seven outings and paces the Volunteers in steals with 18 on the season.
Missouri (12-5, 2-2 SEC) is coached by former Tennessee head coach Cuonzo Martin, who’s in his first season with the Tigers. MU holds wins over Iowa State, Stephen F. Austin and UCF from its non-conference slate. The Tigers began SEC play with a road win over South Carolina and a home win over Georgia last Wednesday, 68-56. Missouri is paced by graduate transfer guard Kassius Robertson, who is averaging 16.0 ppg, 2.3 rpg and 2.1 apg. In conference play, Robertson stands as the second-highest scorer with 19.0 ppg.
After Wednesday night’s matchup, the Vols head to the other Columbia in the SEC to take on Frank Martin and the South Carolina Gamecocks at Colonial Life Arena on Jan. 20 at 6 p.m. UT then returns home for its second meeting with the Vanderbilt Commodores on Jan. 23 at 7 p.m.
THE SERIES
• Overall: Series tied, 6-6
• In Knoxville: UT leads, 4-2
• In Columbia: Missouri leads, 4-1
• Neutral Sites: UT leads, 1-0
• Current Streak: UT has won one
• Last Meeting: UT won, 90-70, in Knoxville, 2/18/17
• Rick Barnes vs. Missouri: 12-8
• Rick Barnes vs. Cuonzo Martin: Barnes leads, 1-0
RIGHT NOW
• In SEC games, reigning SEC Player of the Week Grant Williams leads the league with a scoring average of 19.6 ppg.
• Mizzou’s Cuonzo Martin spent three seasons as Tennessee’s head coach from 2011-14.
• The Vols are rated No. 13 in the NCAA RPI and own the nation’s third-rated SOS, per ESPN.
A WIN WOULD…
• Give Tennessee four true road wins in five tries this season. The Vols totaled four true road wins all of last season.
• Give the Vols their first four-game SEC win streak since Feb.-March 2014.
• Give Tennessee a 7-6 lead in its all-time series with Missouri.
• Give the Big Orange seven wins over teams occupying a top-100 spot in the current NCAA RPI.
ABOUT MISSOURI
• In his first season at Mizzou, former Tennessee head coach Cuonzo Martin has turned the Tigers (12-5, 2-2 SEC) around after they finished 8-24 last season.
• Missouri holds wins over Iowa State, Stephen F. Austin and UCF from its non-conference slate. The Tigers began SEC play with a road win over South Carolina and a home win over Georgia last Wednesday, 68-56. MU’s two losses have come by just two points each against Florida and at Arkansas.
• Missouri is paced by graduate transfer guard Kassius Robertson, who is averaging 16.0 ppg, 2.3 rpg and 2.1 apg. In conference play, Robertson stands as the second-highest scorer with 19.0 ppg, behind only UT’s Grant Williams (19.6 ppg).
• Senior forward Jordan Barnett has stepped up in a big way for the Tigers this season, posting 15.2 ppg and 6.4 rpg to go along with an impressive 92-percent (48-of-52) shooting percentage from the free-throw line. Barnett, who leads the SEC with 37.0 mpg in conference play, has been crucial down low after ESPN Preseason National Freshman of the Year Michael Porter Jr. went down with a season-ending injury in the first game of the year.
• Missouri ranks as one of the best defensive teams in the SEC, allowing just 66.5 ppg in conference play so far to come in at third. The Tigers sit on top of the standings when it comes to long-range shooting, connecting on 45 percent (41-of-92) of their shots from beyond the arc, and in defensive rebounding with 32.5 per game.
LAST MEETING WITH MISSOURI
• A pair of 20-point scorers led Tennessee to a 90-70 victory over Missouri at Thompson-Boling Arena on Feb. 18, 2017.
• Grant Williams led the Vols with 25 points and was on fire from the charity stripe, where he made 12 of his 13 shots. It marked Williams’ third game this season in which he has made at least 10 free throws.
• Robert Hubbs III dropped 21 points to go along with eight rebounds in the contest. The senior wing is six points shy of 1,000 for his career.
• In the second half, the Vols carried over their momentum from the first stanza and outscored Missouri, 49-42, to cruise to the win. Tennessee’s lead was insurmountable for the Tigers, who never pulled closer than seven points in the game after UT’s first-half run.
• Admiral Schofield and Shembari Phillips also eclipsed double-digit points with 17 and 10, respectively.
• Terrence Phillips led the Missouri offense throughout the game with 18 points, including four 3-pointers.
• After the opening basket by the Tigers, Tennessee responded with a 16-1 run against Missouri, beginning with a jumper by Hubbs. After the Tigers’ first field goal, the Vols held them without a field goal for a span of 8:08.
• Hubbs led the Volunteers’ offense with 11 points in the first half, with Williams not far behind with nine. Starting guard Jordan Bowden started for the 26th straight game but played limited minutes as he had been battling an illness (flu-like symptoms).
MEMORABLE VOL PERFORMANCES AGAINST MISSOURI
• Knoxville native Rob Jones totaled 14 points, 11 rebounds, one assist and a team-high three blocks against the Tigers Dec. 10, 1984, in Columbia, but it wasn’t enough, as Missouri posted a 70-61 victory. Five Tigers scored in double figures in the win.
• Mizzou had no answer for the great Bernard King, as the legendary Vols forward recorded a double-double with 32 points and 18 rebounds in a 99-77 Tennessee triumph at the Big Sun Invitational on Dec. 21, 1974 in St. Petersburg, Fla.
• Two-time first-team All-SEC honoree Mike Edwards tallied a team-high 19 points against Missouri during a 67-57 loss to the 12th-ranked Tigers in the 1972 Vol Classic title game in Knoxville on Dec. 16, 1972.
• In the first-ever meeting in this series, 6-10 Tennessee center Orb Bowling led the Vols in scoring (12) and rebounding (8), but Missouri managed an 86-61 win on Dec. 20, 1961, in Knoxville.
BARNETT A FORMER BARNES SIGNEE
• Missouri second-leading scorer Jordan Barnett originally signed with Rick Barnes‘ Texas program as a top-100 prospect out of Christian Brothers College High School in St. Louis in Nov. 2013. Rob Lanier was Barnett’s lead recruiter.
• In Barnes’ 17th and final season at Texas (2014-15), Barnett appeared in 21 games with the Longhorns. In 2015-16, playing for head coach Shaka Smart, Barnett saw action in four games before transferring to Missouri in January 2016.
MARTIN LED VOLS FOR THREE YEARS
• First-year Missouri head coach Cuonzo Martin was the head coach at Tennessee for three seasons from 2011-14.
• Martin led the Vols to a 63-41 (32-20 SEC) record and a memorable 2014 NCAA Tournament run that began in the First Four and ended in the Sweet Sixteen (one possession away from the program’s second all-time Elite Eight appearance).
• On April 15, 2014, it was announced that Martin had accepted the head coaching job at Cal, where he spent the past three seasons.
VOLS vs. FORMER UT HEAD COACHES
• Tennessee is 6-4 all-time when facing a team led by a former UT head coach. This is the first time the Vols will oppose Cuonzo Martin since his tenure at UT ended.
HEAD COACH LATER COACHED AT TENNESSEE’S RECORD VS.
Don DeVoe, 1979-89 Florida 2-0
Kevin O’Neill, 1994-97 USC 0-2
Bruce Pearl, 2005-11 Auburn 4-2
*Cuonzo Martin, 2011-14 Missouri 0-0
* Martin is 0-1 against Tennessee, having suffered a loss with Missouri State (11/17/11) prior to his tenure at UT.
TRENDING NOW
• In SEC play, Tennessee leads the league in assists per game (16.6) and rebounding margin (+3.8) while ranking second scoring offense (84.0).
• Admiral Schofield has led the Vols in rebounding in each of the last three games (8.0 rpg), and he has 11 offensive rebounds during that span. He has been UT’s leader on the boards in six of the last seven contests.
• Admiral Schofield also leads the team with 18 total steals through 16 games. In his first two seasons combined, he totaled 21 steals in 61 games played.
• In three of Tennessee’s last four games, a Vol has set a new career-high for scoring: 25 for Lamonté Turner vs. Auburn; 37 for Grant Williams at Vanderbilt; and 14 for Kyle Alexander vs. Texas A&M.
VOLS WIN IN BARNES’ 1,000th GAME
• Head coach Rick Barnes—who is in his third season at Tennessee but his 31st season as a Division I head coach—hit a career milestone on Jan. 13, as UT’s win over Texas A&M marked his 1,000th career game as a college head coach.
• His 647 wins rank seventh among active Division I head coaches.
WILLIAMS HAD HISTORIC SCORING EFFORT IN NASHVILLE
• Sophomore forward Grant Williams scored a career-high 37 points while leading Tennessee to a 92-84 win at Vanderbilt on Jan. 9. He earned SEC Player of the Week honors for the first time in his career as a result.
• Williams’ 37 points were the most by any SEC player in a league game this season.
• Williams’ 37 points were the most in a game by a Vol since 2003 SEC Player of the Year Ron Slay scored 38 vs. New Mexico on Jan. 4, 2003.
• Williams’ 37 points were the most by a Vol in a road game since All-American guard Allan Houston scored 37 at Oregon State on Dec. 22, 1990.
• Williams’ 37 points were the most by a Vol without making a 3-pointer since All-American guard Tony White scored 49 at Florida State on Dec. 30, 1986.
Walking alongside her softball teammates in the annual MLK Memorial Parade resonates on a deeply personal level for CJ McClain.
The Tennessee senior outfielder realizes how much the sacrifices made by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. impact her existence.
“If he wouldn’t have put his life on the line as many times as he did, there is no telling if other movements would have started and there is no guarantee that I would be at the University of Tennessee and playing softball and granted all these blessings I have been granted,” McClain said. “It really means a lot to me to be in this position and I am extremely grateful for what he did.”
As they have done for years, the Lady Vols took part in the memorial parade on Monday morning. Organized by the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Commemorative Commissions, the parade honors the life and legacy of the slain civil rights activist.
The Lady Vols assembled alongside other groups, organizations and individuals at Chilhowee Park and marched to Harriet Tubman Street, where a memorial tribute service took place at the Overcoming Believers Church.
“It’s just a great way to show the community that we support Martin Luther King Jr. He did great things, not just for black people but for anybody fighting for equal rights,” Tennessee sophomore Chelsea Seggern said. “Our team loves taking part in this and getting involved with other members of the community for such a great event.”
Tennessee co-head coaches Ralph Weekly and Karen Weekly have encouraged their players to take part in celebrating the life of Dr. King since they arrived at UT. At the annual parade, the team marches alongside patrons of the church the Weekly’s attend, St. John’s Lutheran Church.
“Everything that Dr. King fought for and stood for is really important and I think we need to continue to drive that message home to our student-athletes, and I think it’s important that we as a Lady Vols softball program represent that in our community,” Karen Weekly said. “Think about what he did and the time he did it and the courage that it took to do the things he did. We are still fighting for equal justice and equal rights for everybody and it’s the right thing to do.”
The parade participation capped a weekend of bonding for the Lady Vols as they prepare to begin the season on Feb. 8.
The Program, a company that helps teams with leadership development and team building, put the Lady Vols through various activities throughout the holiday weekend.
They did drills and exercises on Sunday night in the frigid temperatures to learn how to lead and command. At 5 a.m.on Monday morning, they met at UT’s indoor pool to complete the training.
“It was awesome. We are a little bit tired right now, but we are going to come out so much stronger from this and prepared for the season,” Seggern said. “We found some weaknesses we had to work on and tried to fix them before the games start. It was a great experience.”
McClain had to overcome vulnerability and self-doubt to survive the water exercises, and emerged with even greater faith in her teammates.
“I am not a pool person and I don’t like swimming. It’s just not my thing. But I knew if I panicked, I would freak out and it would mess up what we were doing as a team,” McClain said. “It took me awhile, but I calmed myself down and I was able to look at other teammates when I was struggling and tell them, ‘Yeah. I do need your help.’ I think that helps us bond as a team to go through moments like that.”
The Lady Vols headed straight from the pool to the MLK parade. Although some could have slipped away to a warm, comfortable bed, all 21 showed up and reaped the benefits of participating.
“It feels good to help in someone else’s life, even something as simple as walking in a parade and handing out candy and seeing a kid’s face light up and a parent’s face light up,” McClain said. “Just interacting with all the people at the parade is special and we are proud to do that.”
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – The Tennessee softball team took part in the annual MLK Memorial Parade today organized by the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Commemorative Commission to honor the life and legacy of the late Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. on what would have been his 89th birthday.
The parade offers the Knoxville community a visual and audible display in tribute to the life and works of Dr. King. Groups, organizations and individuals assembled at Chilhowee Park and marched to Harriet Tubman Street, where a Memorial Tribute Service took place at the Overcoming Believers Church.
The Memorial Tribute Service closed out a week of MLK Activities that included prayer services, a leadership symposium and awards luncheon, a community forum, a youth symposium and the memorial parade with the tribute service being a premier highlight event. Community awards were presented, and the Celebration Choir set the tone for the commemoration. The keynote speaker Rev., Dr. Otis Moss, Jr., whom served as a staff member along with Dr. Martin Luther King gave a dynamic and inspirational message that was encouraging, uplifting and it challenged participants.
Rev. Moss ministered alongside Dr. Martin Luther King, Sr. at Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta, Georgia. He is also the father of Otis Moss III, the current pastor of the famous Trinity United Church of Christ in Chicago.
“The function of education is to teach one to think intensively and to think critically. Intelligence plus character – that is the goal of true education” – Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
The Southeastern Conference announced Monday that Tennessee men’s basketball player Grant Williams was named SEC Player of the Week after averaging 23.0 points and 6.0 rebounds while powering the 24th-ranked Volunteers to a pair of wins.
It is the first SEC Player of the Week honor for the sophomore forward. He was named the SEC co-Freshman of the Week last season on Feb. 13, 2017.
The Charlotte, North Carolina, native had a historic scoring effort during UT’s win at Vanderbilt last Tuesday, dropping a career-high 37 points on 12-of-20 shooting in 33 minutes.
Williams’ 37 points against the Commodores were:
The most by any SEC player in a league game this season.
The most in a game by a Vol since 2003 SEC Player of the Year Ron Slay scored 38 vs. New Mexico on Jan. 4, 2003.
The most by a Vol in a road game since All-American guard Allan Houston scored 37 at Oregon State on Dec. 22, 1990.
The most by a Vol without making a 3-pointer since All-American guard Tony White scored 49 at Florida State on Dec. 30, 1986.
Williams leads the Vols in scoring (16.7 ppg) and rebounding (6.7 rpg) this season. In SEC play, his 19.6 points per game lead the league.
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