Watch Blake Shelton Perform “I Lived It” & “I’ll Name the Dogs” on “Jimmy Kimmel Live”

Watch Blake Shelton Perform “I Lived It” & “I’ll Name the Dogs” on “Jimmy Kimmel Live”

Posted on January 9, 2018

As Blake Shelton prepares for the launch of his County Music Freaks Tour on Feb. 15, he’s been busy keeping his voice in shape.

Blake was the musical guest on Jimmy Kimmel Live last night (Jan. 8), and he treated fans to a number of tunes, including “I Lived It” and his current single, “I’ll Name the Dogs,” which is currently No. 3 on Billboard’s Country Airplay chart.

Watch Blake perform “I’ll Name the Dogs” and “I Lived It” below.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AlL-zHxOXnI

photo by Jason Simanek

The 10 Best-Selling Country Albums of 2017 Came From Keith Urban, Chris Stapleton, Thomas Rhett & More—But Who’s No. 1?

The 10 Best-Selling Country Albums of 2017 Came From Keith Urban, Chris Stapleton, Thomas Rhett & More—But Who’s No. 1?

Posted on January 9, 2018

Nielsen Music released the 10 Best-Selling Country Albums of 2017, and a familiar name is once again at the top of the list: Chris Stapleton.

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.

Take a look at the list below, courtesy of Nielsen Music.

Top-Selling Country Albums of 2017

  1. Chris Stapleton, From A Room, Volume 1: 658,000
  2. Chris Stapleton, Traveller: 410,000
  3. Kenny Chesney, Live in No Shoes Nation: 342,000
  4. Keith Urban, Ripcord: 295,000
  5. Zac Brown Band, Welcome Home: 292,000
  6. Garth Brooks, The Anthology: Part 1, The First Five Years: 268,000
  7. Chris Stapleton: From A Room, Volume 2: 231,000
  8. Kane Brown, Kane Brown: 217,000
  9. Thomas Rhett, Life Changes: 214,000
  10. Brantley Gilbert, The Devil Don’t Sleep: 202,000

photos by Jason Simanek

Sugarland Announces “Still the Same Tour” Dates and Openers, Including Lindsay Ell, Brandy Clark & More

Sugarland Announces “Still the Same Tour” Dates and Openers, Including Lindsay Ell, Brandy Clark & More

Posted on January 9, 2018

Sugarland is back . . . and they may be coming to a city near you. The duo has announced plans for a new 48-city tour.

The Still the Same Tour will kick off on May 4 in Durant, Okla., and make stops in Atlanta, Nashville, Chicago, Dallas, L.A., Las Vegas, Seattle and more, before capping on Sept. 8 in Newark, N.J.

The first leg of the tour will feature opening acts Brandy Clark and Clare Bowen, while Frankie Ballard and Lindsay Ell will accompany the pair for the second half.

“We are thrilled to head back out on the road together as this has been a long time coming for the both of us,” said Jennifer Nettles. “And to have Brandy, Clare, Frankie and Lindsay join us will make our return really special.”

“Can’t wait to get back out there and share our new music with the best fans on earth,” adds Kristian Bush. “It will be great to hear everyone singing the old favorites along with us all summer.”

Tickets go on sale on Jan. 12 at 10 a.m. local time.

Still the Same Tour

May 4
Choctaw Grand Theatre
Durant, OK

May 25
James Brown Arena
Augusta, GA*

May 26
PNC Arena
Raleigh, NC*

May 27
Country 500 Festival
Daytona Beach, FL*

May 31
Gila River Arena
Phoenix, AZ*

June 1
Honda Center
Anaheim, CA*

June 2
San Diego County Fair
Del Mar, CA*

June 7
accesso ShoWare Center
Kent, WA*

June 8
Spokane Arena
Spokane WA*

June 9
MODA Center
Portland, OR*

June 12
Santa Barbara Bowl
Santa Barbara, CA*

June 14
Greek Theatre
Los Angeles, CA*

June 15
Rabobank Arena
Bakersfield, CA*

June 16
Mandalay Bay
Las Vegas, NV*

June 21
Fiddler’s Green Amphitheatre
Denver, CO*

June 22
Rushmore Plaza Civic Center
Rapid City, SD*

June 23
Bismarck Event Center
Bismarck, ND*

June 28
CenturyLink Center Omaha
Omaha, NE*

June 29
TaxSlayer Center
Moline, IL*

June 30
Chaifetz Arena
St. Louis, MO*

July 6
Fallsview Casino
Niagara Fall, ONT***

July 7
Fallsview Casino
Niagara Falls, ONT***

July 8
Turning Stone Resort
Verona, NY***

July 12
Schottenstein Center
Columbus, OH*

July 13
Covelli Centre
Youngstown, OH*

July 14
Merriweather Post Pavilion
Columbia, MD*

July 19
BOK Center
Tulsa, OK**

July 20
Verizon Theatre at Grand Prairie
Grand Prairie, TX**

July 21
Smart Financial Centre
Sugar Land, TX**

July 26
Pensacola Bay Center
Pensacola, FL**

July 27
Von Braun Center
Huntsville, AL**

July 28
KFC Yum Center
Louisville, KY**

Aug. 2
Bridgestone Arena
Nashville, TN**

Aug. 3
Infinite Energy Arena
Atlanta, GA**

Aug. 4
Bon Secours Wellness Arena
Greenville, SC**

Aug. 9
Huntington Center
Toledo, OH**

Aug. 10
Van Andel Arena
Grand Rapids, MI**

Aug. 11
Resch Center
Green Bay, WI**

Aug. 16
Denny Sanford PREMIER Center
Sioux Falls, SD**

Aug. 17
Iowa State Fair
Des Moines, IA**

Aug. 18
INTRUST Bank Arena
Wichita, KS**

Aug. 23
Ravinia Festival
Chicago, IL**

Aug. 24
Minnesota State Fair
St. Paul, MN**

Aug. 25
Nebraska State Fair
Grand Island, NE****

Aug. 30
Mohegan Sun Arena
Uncasville, CT**

Aug. 31
Allentown Fair
Allentown, PA**

Sept. 1
Bank of NH Pavillion
Gilford, NH**

Sept. 7
DCU Center
Worcester, MA**

Sept. 8
Prudential Center
Newark, NJ**

*with Brandy Clark and Clare Bowen
**with Frankie Ballard and Lindsay Ell
***with Brandy Clark only
****with Frankie Ballard only

photo courtesy of Big Machine Records / UMG Nashville

2018 Bonnaroo Lineup Includes Sturgill Simpson, Midland, Old Crow Medicine Show, Brothers Osborne & More

2018 Bonnaroo Lineup Includes Sturgill Simpson, Midland, Old Crow Medicine Show, Brothers Osborne & More

Posted on January 9, 2018

Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival unleashed its 100-plus-artist lineup for 2018, and it includes a number of country-centric performers, including Sturgill Simpson, Midland, Brothers Osborne, Ole Crow Medicine Show, Tyler Childers, Sheryl Crow and more.

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.

Tickets go on sale on Jan. 12 at 10 a.m. ET.

In addition to headliners Eminem, The Killers and Muse, the four-day festival will feature performances from:

  1. Eminem
  2. The Killers
  3. Muse
  4. Future
  5. Bassnectar
  6. Sturgill Simpson
  7. Bon Iver (playing 2 unique sets)
  8. Khalid
  9. Kaskade
  10. Paramore
  11. Alt-J
  12. Dua Lipa
  13. Sheryl Crow
  14. Anderson .Paak & The Free Nationals
  15. Sylvan Esso
  16. Rebelution
  17. The Revivalists
  18. Virtual Self
  19. Nile Rodgers & CHIC
  20. Rufus Du Sol
  21. Chromeo
  22. STS9
  23. Alison Wonderland
  24. Moon Taxi
  25. Carnage
  26. BROCKHAMPTON
  27. Old Crow Medicine Show
  28. Playboi Carti
  29. The Glitch Mob
  30. Rag’N’Bone Man
  31. Broken Social Scene
  32. Superjam
  33. Grand Ole Opry
  34. First Aid Kit
  35. Jungle
  36. Tash Sultana
  37. T-Pain
  38. Manchester Orchestra
  39. Brothers Osborne
  40. Gryffin
  41. What So Not
  42. Rich Brian
  43. Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue
  44. Billie Ellish
  45. Daniel Caesar
  46. Kali Uchi
  47. Kayzo
  48. Slander
  49. ARIZONA
  50. St. Paul & The Broken Bones
  51. Lany
  52. Thundercat
  53. Mavis Staples
  54. Hippie Sabotage
  55. Big Wild
  56. Shiba San
  57. Sir Sly
  58. Denzel Curry
  59. Moses Sumney
  60. Snakehips
  61. Tyler Childers
  62. Mr. Carmack
  63. Valentino Khan
  64. Amadou & Mariam
  65. Midland
  66. Opiou
  67. Japanese Breakfast
  68. Jessie Reyez
  69. K?D
  70. R.LUM.R
  71. Noura Mint Semali
  72. Gogo Penguin
  73. Lissie
  74. Chris Lake
  75. Billy Kenny b2b Mija
  76. Durand Jones & The Indications
  77. Space Jesus
  78. Manic Focus
  79. Boogie T b2b Squnto
  80. Ikebe Shakedown
  81. Pigeons Playing Ping Pong
  82. Spafford
  83. Said the Sky
  84. Elohim
  85. Melvv
  86. Alex Lahey
  87. Knox Fortune
  88. Lewis Capaldi
  89. Ron Gallo
  90. Pond
  91. Loudpvck
  92. Conway + Westside Gunn
  93. CloZee
  94. Chase Atlantic
  95. Leven Kali
  96. Bazzi
  97. Everything Everything
  98. Frenship
  99. Droeloe
  100. Taska Black
  101. Mikky Ekko
  102. The Spencer Lee Band
  103. Justin Jay’s Fantastic Voyage
  104. Blank Range
  105. Bayonne
  106. Bruno Major
  107. Duckwrth
  108. The War and Treaty
  109. Cyn
  110. Arlie
  111. Dreamers
  112. Spencer Ludwig
  113. The Brummies
  114. Jalen N’Gonda
  115. Jaira Burns
  116. OkeyDokey
  117. Zeshan B
  118. The Regrettes
  119. Tobi Lou
  120. Shey Baba
  121. Chastity Brown
  122. Topaz Jones
  123. Kyle Dion
  124. The Texas Gentlemen
  125. Michael Blume
  126. Post Animal
  127. Southern Avenue
  128. Larkin Poe
  129. Colin Elmore & The Danville Train
  130. The Blue Stones
  131. Michigan Rattlers
  132. Matt Maeson
  133. Fletcher
  134. Matt Holubowski
  135. Victory Boyd
  136. Saro
  137. FLOR
  138. Oliver Hazard
  139. Jade Bird
  140. John Splithoff
  141. Colin MacLeod
  142. *repeat repeat
  143. Low Cut Connie
  144. Davie
  145. Biyo
  146. Walden
  147. Hundred Handed

photo by Carissa Riccardi

Trey Smith captures FWAA Freshman All-American honors

Trey Smith captures FWAA Freshman All-American honors

Posted on January 9, 2018
Trey Smith – Vols OL / Credit: UT Athletics

ATLANTA – Tennessee offensive lineman Trey Smith captured Freshman All-America honors from the Football Writers Association of America on Mondayfollowing a standout first collegiate season.

Smith adds the FWAA award – the most prestigious Freshman All-America honor – to a growing list of accolades that also includes 247Sports True Freshman All-America Team, AP All-SEC Second Team, Coaches All-SEC Second Team, SEC All-Freshman Team and Phil Steele All-SEC Second Team honors.

The Jackson, Tenn., native was the only Tennessee offensive lineman to start all 12 games for the Vols in 2017. He had eight starts at right guard, three at left tackle and one at left guard, and also logged playing time at right tackle.

The 6-6 320-pounder became the first Vol true freshman to start at left tackle in over 30 years.

A physical blocker who excelled against the run and in pass protection, Smith tallied a team-high 55 pancakes and finished as the SEC’s top-rated freshman offensive player (80.6) according to Pro Football Focus College.

Smith was the nation’s No. 1-ranked recruit in the 2017 recruiting class by ESPN. His blocking helped pave the way for career-best seasons by running backs John Kelly (778 rushing yards), Ty Chandler (305 yards) and Carlin Fils-aime (215 yards), while he helped protect three different starting quarterbacks.

Smith is the eighth Vol to nab FWAA Freshman All-America honors, which began selecting a team in 2001, and the first to claim the award since Derek Barnett in 2014.

The complete 2017 FWAA Freshman All-America Team can be found HERE.

Tennessee FWAA Freshman All-Americans (All-Time, 2001 – present) 
2017 Trey Smith, G
2014 Derek Barnett, DE
2011 A.J. Johnson, LB
2010 James Stone, C
2009 Aaron Douglas, OL
2004 Roshaun Fellows, CB
2003 James Wilhoit, PK
2001 Kelley Washington, WR

-UT Athletics

 

Loretta Lynn “Is in Good Spirits” After Falling and Breaking Her Hip

Loretta Lynn “Is in Good Spirits” After Falling and Breaking Her Hip

Posted on January 8, 2018

According to a post on Crystal Gayle’s Twitter page, her sister, Loretta Lynn, fell and broke her hip last week.

“My birthday wish is for everyone to send love and prayers to my sister, Loretta Lynn, who fell and broke her hip last week,” Crystal said, in part. “I was with Loretta yesterday. She is in good spirits and is doing as well as can be expected with this type of injury.

Loretta, 85, suffered a stroke in May 2017. She made her first public appearance in October at the Tennessee Motorcycle and Music Revival.

photo by Tammie Arroyo, AFF-USA.com

Rascal Flatts’ Gary LeVox Escapes Bus Fire Unharmed

Rascal Flatts’ Gary LeVox Escapes Bus Fire Unharmed

Posted on January 8, 2018

Rascal Flatt’s lead singer Gary LeVox and his brother, Kevin, escaped unharmed after the tour bus they were riding in caught fire.

Gary and his brother were on their way to a hunting trip in Louisiana when the malfunction occurred.

Gary posted a video of smoke pouring out of the bus on Instagram with the caption: “My bus caught on fire this mornin on my way to a hunting trip. My brother Kevin and I got out. It happened so quick and could have been a different story if the ammunition would have caught fire. What a way to start 2018. Thank you lord for your covering this mornin!

https://www.instagram.com/p/BdnM5f_HWkD/?taken-by=garylevox

photo by Jason Simanek

Jason Isbell: Spring Tour Dates

Jason Isbell: Spring Tour Dates

Posted on January 8, 2018

April 14
Savannah, GA
Savannah Music festival

April 15
Panama City, FL
Marina Civic Center

April 17
Clearwater, FL
Ruth Eckerd Hall

April 18
Orlando, FL
Walt Disney Theater

April 20
Greenville, SC
Peace Center

April 21
Charleston, SC
Highwater Festival

April 22
Chattanooga, TN
Tivoli Theatre

April 24
Amarillo, TX
Amarillo Civic Center Auditorium

April 25
Albuquerque, NM
Popejoy Hall

April 26
El Paso, TX
The Plaza Theatre

April 28
Indio, CA
Stagecoach

April 30
Midland, TX
Wagner Noël Performing Arts Center

May 1
San Antonio, TX
Tobin Center for the Performing Arts

May 2
Sugar Land, TX
Smart Financial Centre

May 5
El Dorado, AR
Griffin Music Hall

May 6
Montgomery, AL
Montgomery Performing Arts Centre

May 8
Knoxville, TN
Tennessee Theatre

May 9
Knoxville, TN
Tennessee Theatre

May 10
Huntsville, AL
Von Braun Center

LANCO Drops New Single, “Born to Love You” [Listen]

LANCO Drops New Single, “Born to Love You” [Listen]

Posted on January 8, 2018

Riding high from the momentum of their recent No. 1 single, “Greatest Love Story,” LANCO—which consists of Brandon Lancaster, Chandler Baldwin, Jared Hampton, Tripp Howell and Eric Steedly—has released its follow-up single, “Born to Love You.”

Co-penned by Ross Copperman, Ashley Gorley, Josh Osborne and LANCO lead singer Brandon Lancaster, the track is the next taste of new music from the Southern five-piece band’s debut album, Hallelujah Nights, which will be released on Jan. 19.

“‘Born To Love You’ tells another piece of Lanco’s story—who we all are, the small towns we came from and the search for what the world has to offer,” said  Brandon. “This song brings together those early experiences with finding that person who makes it all matter . . . the person that you were born to love. We spent a couple of weeks writing this one, and in the studio, we got to explore a lot of different sounds on it.”

Listen to “Born to Love You” below.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DCGoyGPxQTg

photo courtesy of The GreenRoom

Houston Rodeo Announces Star-Studded 2018 Lineup, Including Garth Brooks, Blake Shelton, Luke Bryan, Kelsea Ballerini & More

Houston Rodeo Announces Star-Studded 2018 Lineup, Including Garth Brooks, Blake Shelton, Luke Bryan, Kelsea Ballerini & More

Posted on January 8, 2018

Running from February 27 to March 18—yes, 20 days—Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo is one of the largest rodeo and livestock exhibitions in the world. Rodeo Houston features a carnival, a bar-b-que contest, 10K race and some of the best live entertainment in the country. The event pulled in more than 2.6 million attendees during last year’s festivities and more than 1.3 million showed up just for the concerts.

And why wouldn’t they? Country music dominates the week’s lineup at NRG Stadium, and this year is no exception with a star-studded cast that includes Garth Brooks, Blake Shelton, Jason Aldean, Little Big Town, Chris Young, Luke Bryan, Kelsea Ballerini, Chris Stapleton and more.

Tickets for the event go on sale Jan. 11 at 10 a.m.

2018 Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo Lineup

Feb. 27: Garth Brooks
Feb. 28: Little Big Town
March 1: Blake Shelton
March 2: Leon Bridges
March 3: Kelsea Ballerini
March 4: Alessio Cara
March 5: Rascal Flatts
March 6: Jason Aldean
March 7: Thomas Rhett
March 8: Luke Bryan
March 9: Chris Young
March 10: Cody Johnson
March 11: Calibre 50
March 12: Zac Brown Band
March 13: J Bavin
March 14: OneRepublic
March 15: Keith Urban
March 16: Chris Stapleton
March 17: Brad Paisley
March 18: Garth Brooks

photo by Jason Simanek

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