Over the past week, Blake Shelton has steadily given fans a taste of his upcoming 11th studio album, Texoma Shore, by performing new tracks “At the House” on The Tonight Show and “I Lived It” on Today.
The party continued today (Nov. 1) as Blake shared “Turnin’ Me On,” a sultry track he co-penned with Jessi Alexander and Josh Osborne.
“We’re sitting on my bus one day earlier in 2017 and I think I was in Baton Rouge,” said Blake. “I was up there alone and I had my guitar, started playing a little melody that I was hearing in my head and next thing you know I started writing a song. I wrote a verse, then I wrote a chorus, then I realized it was going somewhere and I felt good about it. Like I always [have] in the last couple of years I called up my friend Jessi Alexander and said, ‘Man, I think I’m onto something and I need somebody way better than me to try to bring this thing home.’ She and I and Josh Osborne ended up writing this song, I’m super proud of it – and it’s not hard to figure out who this song is about.”
Texoma Shore drops on Nov. 3 and is available for pre-order now.
Garth Brooks’ World Tour has been a seemingly infinite string of dates since launching more than three years ago. But after more than 360 shows, Garth’s tour is coming to an end in the U.S.
Garth’s final North American stop will be in Nashville on Dec. 16 at Bridgestone Arena. It’s the first time Garth has played Bridgestone Arena in seven years.
Garth recently celebrated 6 million tickets sold on the tour, making it the biggest North American tour in history. Garth has now sold more than 6.3 million tickets on the tour . . . and counting.
Tickets for the Nashville show go on sale on Nov. 10 at 10 a.m. CT via Ticketmaster.
Boo! Check out the costumes some of your favorite country stars donned on Halloween, including Carrie Underwood, Jason Aldean, Luke Bryan, Keith Urban, Maren Morris, Kelsea Ballerini, Chris Young and more.
AUGUSTA, Ga. — Tennessee redshirt senior punter Trevor Daniel has been named as one of 78 punters on the final candidate list for the 2017 Ray Guy Award, as announced by the Augusta Sports Council on Tuesday.
The Ray Guy Award identifies the nation’s top collegiate punter at the Home Depot College Football Awards on ESPN every year in December. Among the 78 candidates are two of the 2016 finalists, Michael Dickson, Texas, and Mitch Wishnowsky, Utah. Candidates on our 2017 list were nominated for the award by their school’s Sports Information Departments (SIDs).
Through eight games this season, Daniel has 47 punts for 2,209 yards and a 47.0-yard average, which ranks second in the SEC and fourth in the nation. Daniel’s 19 punts inside opponents’ 20 and 21 punts of 50 or more yards lead the SEC. His 19 punts inside the 20 also rank fourth among Power Five schools. Daniel was named Ray Guy Award Punter of the Week on Sept. 5 after punting six times for a 47.0-yard average against Georgia Tech with five landing inside the 20.
Daniel was named to the Ray Guy Award Watch List in July. The Dickson, Tennessee, native was a candidate for the Ray Guy Award in both 2015 and 2016.
The candidate list will be narrowed down to 10 semifinalists to be announced on Thursday, Nov. 16. Following the announcement, a national voting body of Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) SIDs, media representatives and previous Ray Guy Award winners will vote for the three finalists who will be identified on Tuesday, Nov. 21. The voting body will then cast ballots to select the winner. The 2017 Ray Guy Award winner will be announced live on ESPN during The Home Depot College Football Awards on Thursday, Dec. 7.
Like many kids Trevor Daniel dreamed of playing football for the University of Tennessee someday. Growing up in Dickson, Tenn. – just outside of Nashville – Daniel would watch games every Saturday with his grandfather.
“Seeing them on TV and the Power T’s on their helmets, and the orange … it was something special,” Daniel said, remembering where his love for Tennessee began.
On Saturday against Southern Mississippi, kids will dream of being Daniel when he trots out onto Shields-Watkins Field, wearing that very helmet with the orange “Power T,” and booms another punt that flips field position – something he has done as well as any player in the country over the last three years as the Vols’ redshirt senior punter.
“I can’t say enough about him and his ability to change field position,” Tennessee head coach Butch Jones said. “He’s one of those individuals who works his craft every single day. He has turned into a weapon for us because he helps us control field position.”
Through eight games in 2017, Daniel ranks fourth in the nation with a 47.0 average, while leading the SEC in punts inside the 20-yard line (19) and punts 50 yards or more (21). He has eight punts that have been fielded inside the 10-yard line, as well.
Daniel’s career average of 45.6 yards per punt ranks No. 2 among all active punters in college football (any division) and the mark is also the best in Tennessee football history – an impressive feat for a school that counted four alumni as starting NFL punters in 2016.
Daniel didn’t begin punting until his junior year at Dickson County High School and only received scholarship offers from Lenoir Rhyne University and Eastern Kentucky University, so he jumped at the chance to come to Knoxville when he was offered a spot as a preferred walk-on in 2013.
Still, Daniel didn’t see the field for two years as he learned behind future NFL punters Michael Palardy and Matt Darr.
He seized his opportunity as a redshirt sophomore in 2015 by grabbing starting job and averaging 45.7 yards per punt, which ranked second in the SEC and eighth in the country.
“I never thought I was going to play here,” Daniel said. “I thought I was going to be a scout guy or something like that. Getting help from Darr and Palardy and they’re in the NFL, it was an honor to be able to work with them and be able to play with them while they were here.”
Daniel was awarded a scholarship in 2015, but that hasn’t caused him to relax. He has left an impression on his coaches and teammates with his hard work and determination. He arrived in Knoxville buried on the depth chart with no scholarship and only a hope that he may someday get on the field towards the end of his career. He will leave Rocky Top as one of the best punters in school history with a great opportunity to play in the NFL.
“What many people don’t see is the time,” said redshirt sophomore Riley Lovingood, Daniel’s long snapper the last two years. “Every day he works. He’s always working on his craft. He’s always thinking about what little thing can he do better. It’s really impressive. It’s inspiring to all of us to work even harder because he wants it that bad.
“He doesn’t want one kick to be out of place or too short or too long. He wants every kick to be perfect.”
While no punter is ever perfect every game, Daniel has come close over the last two years.
In the Franklin American Mortgage Music City Bowl, he trapped Nebraska back on its own 2-yard line twice.
He pinned Georgia back on its own 6-yard line with 3:43 left in the game in 2016, setting the Vols up for their first lead of the game following a fumble recovery in the end zone two plays later in a memorable 34-31 victory.
In the 2017 season-opener, Daniel tallied five punts inside the 20 and had a 70-yarder en route to collecting Ray Guy National Punter of the Week honors following a win over Georgia Tech.
A few weeks later he booted a career-best 72-yarder – the longest punt by a Vol since 1990 – against South Carolina. He has an incredible 52.3 yard per punt average against the Gamecocks.
Against No. 1 Alabama, he pinned the Crimson Tide back at its own 2-yard line in the first quarter.
The highlights go on and on like the seconds ticking off the clock when one of his punts hangs in the air for what seems like forever.
It’s easy to see why Daniel is bona fide contender for the Ray Guy Award and will contend for All-America honors.
He also has a great opportunity to join his old buddies Palardy and Darr in the NFL.
For now, the recreation and sports management major is soaking up every moment he can at the school he grew up rooting for with his grandfather.
“It’s still crazy looking back,” Daniel said. “I was just a little kid who loved watching Tennessee football and now I get to be a part of it.
“Sometimes I have to stop and think I’m seriously a Tennessee football player and I’m doing really well. I really can’t put it into words. It’s just awesome. I’m just trying to make the most of every opportunity I get here. It’s kind of sad that it’s almost over almost. I’m going to miss it a lot.”
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – Tennessee seniors Jashon Robertson and Kendal Vickers, along with junior Micah Abernathy, met with the media on Tuesday afternoon to talk about this Saturday’s Homecoming contest against Southern Miss.
The Vols return home this Saturday after two consecutive road games at Alabama and Kentucky. Saturday’s game will be the first of three home contests for UT in the month of November after having just one in October. The game will be aired on the SEC Network at 7:30 p.m.
Robertson talked about the great fan support at Neyland Stadium and his excitement to get to play three of the team’s last four regular-season games in front of the Big Orange faithful.
“I am from the state of Tennessee,” Robertson said. “I love this place and I came here to play in front of a great fan base like we have. We appreciate all the support they have given us this year, and we look forward to them continuing to give us that type of support.”
Offense Starting to Click
Tennessee’s offense is starting to click after producing 445 yards of total offense last week at Kentucky. The 445 total yards and 203 rushing yards were the most by UT in a game this season.
Running backs Ty Chandler and Carlin Fils-aime as well as quarterback Jarrett Guarantano had career days for the Vols and will look to keep the offense rolling this Saturday against the Golden Eagles.
“I am encouraged,” Robertson said when talking about the success the team had running the ball against the Wildcats. “We went down and back, and a lot of guys stepped up in the back. I am very proud of the way that they played, the toughness displayed and the ability that they displayed running the football.”
One person who certainly wasn’t surprised by Chandler’s breakout performance was Vickers, who said the freshman has been making plays throughout the year in practice.
“I wasn’t surprised at all by his performance,” Vickers said. “Obviously we’ve seen it in practice and we saw it in camp. He came on to the field right away and started making plays, so I wasn’t surprised at all.”
Four Vols Named to PFF College SEC Team of the Week
The Vols had four players named to the PFF College SEC Team of the Week, the most they’ve had during any week this season. Guarantano, Chandler and senior tight end Ethan Wolf represented the offense, while redshirt junior Rashaan Gaulden made the defensive team for the second straight week.
Guarantano earned an 84.2 grade after the best performance of his young career, passing for a career-high 242 yards while completing 18-of-23 passes at Kentucky. Chandler’s 90.9 grade was the highest of any player on the PFF SEC Team of the Week. The Nashville native rushed for a career-best 120 yards and two touchdowns against the Wildcats last week. Wolf had the second highest offensive grade at 87.1 after hauling in three catches for 33 yards.
Gaulden’s 86.4 grade was the second highest on the defensive team. The Spring Hill, Tenn., native was a force yet again for the Vols’ secondary, making five tackles will forcing and recovering a fumble as well.
QUOTES
Senior Offensive Lineman Jashon Robertson
On losing streak:
“Losing is something that is never tolerated, it is never easy to deal with. Of course there is a lot to learn from those losses and a lot to improve on. At this point we’re fighting for a bowl game. That’s the goal. Right now we’re doing everything we can to control what we can control.”
On the success running the ball against Kentucky:
“I am encouraged. We went down and back, and a lot of guys stepped up in the back. I am very proud of the way that they played, the toughness displayed and the ability that they displayed running the football. I am encouraged.”
On making it to a bowl game:
“It would mean a lot. For me, it’s an extra opportunity to strap it up with a “T” on my chest and just enjoy the game one last time. I would be very appreciative of an extra game and one more time in my football helmet.”
Senior Defensive Lineman Kendal Vickers
On the team’s confidence after close losses:
“We have a confident group of guys to begin with, so I don’t think it will shake any of our confidence. We just have to go out there and work and prepare like we’ve been preparing for Southern Miss, and hopefully the ball will fall in the right direction for us this time.”
On the team’s goals for the rest of the season:
“Just win. Winning is always a motivational factor. That’s why you play the game, so it’s the same message every week. Just go out there and get the win.”
On the energy that the team came out with against Kentucky:
“I think it’s just the mentality of the guys in our locker room. They love to work, they love to get better, they love to play the game of football. And we just embraced the conditions that were at Kentucky. It was cold, it was wet, and we just embraced it. And that’s what I love about those guys in the locker room.”
On if Ty Chandler’s performance came as a surprise:
“I wasn’t surprised at all by his performance. Obviously we’ve seen it in practice and we saw it in camp. He came on to the field right away and started making plays, so I wasn’t surprised at all.”
Junior Defensive Back Micah Abernathy
On preventing wearing down late in games:
“Obviously nobody is fresh going into the fourth quarter, but I feel like we just need to play through it and just get over whatever we had going in the first half and just give it our all in the fourth.”
On the defense’s performance against Kentucky:
“I think the defense played well, but we don’t feel like we completed our task. We hold ourselves to a higher standard as a defense, as we have the whole year. But we know we have another week coming up, and another week to complete our goals.”
On his assessment of the Southern Miss offense:
“They’re very fast and athletic, and have athletes at every position, and we just need to match their intensity.”
On the frustrations of inconsistency:
“We know that we’re a good defense, we just need to lock in on the small details of our run defense like I said, and even the deep ball as well. We just need to lock in.”
After more than five months of competition, Nash Next 2017 is down to its 10 finalists.
In May, Cumulus Media and Big Machine Label Group invited aspiring country artists and bands to participate in Nash Next 2017, a grassroots talent search and artist development program for country music. Sponsored nationally by Country Inns & Suites by Carlson, the winner of the competition will receive a recording contract with Nash Next Records under the Big Machine Label Group and garner substantial exposure, commensurate with a major-label release, on Cumulus radio stations nationwide.
The 10 finalists were selected by a panel of country radio professionals and will be judged in the finale by a group that includes:
Kix Brooks of Brooks & Dunn
Songwriter Hall of Fame writer Desmond Child
chart-topping entertainer Brantley Gilbert
Big Machine Label Group’s president/CEO Scott Borchetta
Cindy Watts of the Tennessean
The 10 finalists will perform at the Nash Next 2017 finale event at Nashville’s Wildhorse Saloon on Wednesday, Nov. 1, 2017, from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. The event is open to the public.
Below are the 10 finalists for Nash Next 2017. Click on their name to get to know each finalist.
Dierks Bentley was one of two artists tapped to help design songwriting rooms at Nashville’s Hutton Hotel.
Opening in December, the Writers’ Rooms were created by Studio 11 Design firm to serve songwriters and music industry professionals with the space and amenities to be creative.
Dierks drew from his Arizona roots—the use of Saltillo tile, rustic elements and Navajo area rugs—to create his motif. In addition to recording equipment and a vocal booth, Dierks’ room is furnished with a leather couch and chairs. OneRepublic’s Ryan Tedder also designed a room. The rooms feature a common area that includes kitchen facilities.
Take a look at some photos of Dierks’ room, courtesy of photographer Katie Kauss.
Blake Shelton stopped by The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon on Oct. 30 to talk about his upcoming album, Texoma Shore, but the conversation mostly consisted of some good-natured ribbing from Jimmy.
The topics Jimmy covered included:
making fun of Blake’s album cover
making fun of young Blake with an impression
making fun of Blake’s new restaurant/music venue, Ole Red
making fun of Blake’s coaching duties on The Voice
Jimmy closed the segment with a hip-shaking rendition of Blake’s new single, “I’ll Name the Dog.” You can watch the entire entertaining clip below, as well as Blake’s performance of “At the House.”
![Dierks Bentley Helps Design Songwriting Room at Nashville Hotel [Photo Gallery]](https://cdn.socast.io/6616/sites/1446/2017/07/20110534/Dierks-Bentley1.jpg#aqua_resizer_image_not_local)
