Here’s Vols defensive end Kyle Phillips talking with the media on Tuesday ahead of this week’s Georgia game.
Scotty McCreery Gets Engaged to Girlfriend Gabi Dugal
Scotty McCreery and longtime girlfriend Gabi Dugal are engaged.
Scotty popped the question during a hike in the mountains of North Carolina near Grandfather Mountain. When the couple summited the mountain, Scotty got down on one knee, presented a ring he had helped design specifically for her, and asked Gabi to be his wife.
“I’ve been planning this moment for so long that it feels surreal for it to have finally happened,” said Scotty. “Gabi is the perfect girl and my true love, and I cannot wait to begin building our life together as husband and wife.”
The couple met in kindergarten in Garner, N.C., and grew up together in the close-knit community. They began dating almost six years ago during their senior year at Garner High School. Gabi has appeared in several of Scotty’s music videos, including “The Trouble with Girls,” “Feelin’ It” and “Five More Minutes.”
“My fans instantly embraced Gabi once they learned we were dating and have always been loving towards her,” said Scotty. “When she graduated college last year, many of them brought me gifts for her at my shows and book signings. I will always appreciate their kindness to her.”
Gabi is a graduate of the University of North Carolina and currently works as a pediatric cardiac nurse at Duke University Hospital.
Congrats to the happy couple.
Check out a few pics, courtesy of EB Media.
photos courtesy of EB Media
Listen to Gwen Stefani’s New Holiday Tune Featuring Blake Shelton: “You Make It Feel Like Christmas”
Gwen Stefani is releasing a new holiday album, You Make It Feel Like Christmas, on Oct. 6.
The new 12-song offering includes yuletide classics like “Jingle Bells,” “Let It Snow,” “Santa Baby” and more, as well as the title track that features vocals from Gwen’s boyfriend, Blake Shelton.
Check out “You Make It Feel Like Christmas” below.
You Make It Feel Like Christmas Track Listing
- “Jingle Bells”
- “Let It Snow”
- “My Gift Is You”
- “Silent Night”
- “When I Was a Little Girl”
- “Last Christmas”
- “You Make It Feel Like Christmas”
- “Under the Christmas Lights”
- “Santa Baby”
- “White Christmas”
- “Never Kissed Anyone With Blue Eyes”
- “Christmas Eve”
Canaan Smith: Long Way From the Freeway Tour
Canaan Smith: Long Way From the Freeway Tour
Oct. 19
Des Moines, IA
Wooly’s *
Oct. 20
Champagne, IL
The City Center *
Oct. 21
Geneva, IL
Grunt Fest
Oct. 26
Darlington, SC
Carolina Nightlife
Oct. 27
Myrtle Beach, SC
The Boathouse
Oct. 28
Raleigh, NC
Lincoln Theater (w/ Gary Allan and LANco)
Nov. 2
Knoxville, TN
Cotton Eyed Joe *
Nov. 3
Rootstown, OH
The Dusty Armadillo
Nov. 4
Mt Laurel, NJ
Prospector’s
Nov. 9
Bakersfield, CA
Crystal Palace
Nov. 10
San Jose, CA
Rodeo Club
Nov. 11
TBA
Nov. 12
Dana Point, CA
Driftwood Festival
Nov. 17
Shelby Township, NJ
Coyote Joe’s **
Nov. 18
Indianapolis, IN
8 Seconds Saloon **
Nov. 30
Warrendale, PA
Jergel’s ***
Dec. 1
Buffalo, NY
VENU Buffalo ***
Dec. 2
Jordan, NY
Keg’s Canalside ***
* with Chris Bandi
** with Jackie Lee
***with Jackie Lee and Eric Van Houten
photo courtesy Jim Wright/Universal Music Group Nashville
Darius Rucker’s New Album Features a Collaboration With Luke Bryan, Jason Aldean & Charles Kelley on “Straight to Hell”
Darius Rucker will drop his fifth country album, When Was the Last Time, on Oct. 20.
The 12-song offering already boasts a No. 1 hit, as lead single, “If I Told You,” reached the top of the Billboard Country Airplay chart in June. The album’s follow-up single, “For the First Time,” is No. 45 on the chart after seven weeks.
In addition to featuring top songwriters such as Dean Dillon, Ross Copperman, Shane McAnally, J.T. Harding and more, When Was the Last Time also throws it back to the late ’80s with a cover of Drivin’ N’ Cryin’s “Straight to Hell.”
Darius enlisted the help of a few of his A-list friends—Luke Bryan, Jason Aldean and Lady Antebellum’s Charles Kelley—to provide vocals on the tune.
“‘Straight to Hell’ was huge in my day—when it was played in the bar, every single person in the bar was singing and hugging their best friend,” says Darius to Nash Country Daily. “I’ve wanted to cut that song since I came to Nashville, and I kept saying I was going to cut it someday. For this record, I was thinking about cutting it. Then Charles Kelley called me out of the blue and says, ‘Man, I was just listening to Drivin’ N’ Cryin’s “Straight to Hell” and I think you should cut it, and you should let me sing on it.’ I took that as the universe telling me it was time to cut the song, and I cut it. Jason [Aldean] and Luke [Bryan] and Charles and I are good buddies, so getting them to come sing on it made it something special.”
When Was the Last Time Track List and Songwriters
- “For the First Time” (Darius Rucker, Derek George, Scooter Carusoe)
- “Bring It On” (Ross Copperman, Ashley Gorley, Dallas Davidson)
- “Life’s Too Short” (Copperman, Jon Nite, Jaren Johnston)
- “If I Told You” (Copperman, Shane McAnally, Nite)
- “Don’t” (Adam Doleac, A.J. Babcock, Pete Good)
- “Twenty Something” (McAnally, Nite, Zach Crowell, Josh Osborne)
- “Straight to Hell” with Jason Aldean, Luke Bryan and Charles Kelley (Kevin Kinney)
- “Count the Beers” (Rucker, Dean Dillon, Josh Thompson)
- “Another Night With You” (Rucker, Dillon, Josh Thompson)
- “Hands On Me” (Copperman, McAnally, J.T. Harding)
- “She” (Chris Tompkins, Rodney Clawson)
- “Story to Tell” (Copperman, Gorley, Rucker)
Check out “Straight to Hell” by Drivin’ N’ Cryin’ below.
Wild Man Chris Janson Talks Mountain Dew, Shel Silverstein, Touring With Sam Hunt, Top 10 Single, New Album & More
Jim Casey talks with Chris Janson about being a Mountain Dew aficionado, his Shel Silverstein tribute performance at the ACM Honors ceremony, his Top 10 single, “Fix a Drink,” touring with Sam Hunt, his new album, Everybody, and more.
Show Participants
- Chris Janson
- Jim Casey, NCD director of editorial
Show Notes & Links
https://youtu.be/-_Op0bQfMoo
The Writers Room, Ep. 116, 15 minutes
photo by Jason Simanek
Jimmy’s blog: SEC Network analyst says ESPN, others favor `sensationalism’
Sept. 25
By Jimmy Hyams
SEC Network analyst Kevin Carter is very articulate and knowledgeable.
The former Florida All-American defensive lineman wowed the Knoxville Quarterback Club audience Monday with his analysis of the Tennessee team, Tennessee’s keys to beating Georgia and the importance of matchups in college football.
He is also very honest – and you wonder if that honesty will create pushback from ESPN.
Someone in the audience asked Carter about media member Clay Travis saying ESPN is the social justice network, and that liberal opinions are compensated and praised while those with conservative opinions get terminated.
Carter had an insightful response – one I hope does not result in admonishment from ESPN officials.
“I would say I am not in favor of the direction that major media is heading,’’ Carter said, “From CNN to Fox News to ESPN, I think it’s all the same. I think we are choosing sensationalism over substance.
“I think if you can get on television and rhetorically say things with a strong opinion, I think you get more air time.’’
Carter, as an example, then shouted into the mike praising Alabama and Nick Saban and quarterback Jalen Hurts as the greatest ever.
“You haven’t said a whole bunch,’’ Carter said. “That’s sensationalism. But I haven’t told you the difference in a 3-4 or 4-3. I haven’t talked about personnel and I haven’t talked about strengths and weaknesses and matchups.
“I’m not that type of analyst. I’m more of cerebral analyst. I try to connect with the viewer and teach the viewer and give them my knowledge.’’
Carter said it was hard for him to speak to the liberal comment.
But, he added: “ESPN is guilty of choosing, just like a lot of the networks are, they chose the ratings and what sells and what’s hot, over what should be broadcast. I think that’s a shame. I think it’s happening all over … with the media and the world we live in.
“We’re choosing to listen to blowhards and people who just say things with a strong opinion and say it convincingly, even though it may be way out in left field.
“I think we’re guilty of that as a society.’’
Carter is right.
Hopefully ESPN will respect Carter’s opinion without retaliation.
Otherwise, it will prove Travis’ point.
Sponsored by Big Kahuna Wings: The wings that changed it all
Checker Neyland: UT vs. Georgia
#CheckerNeyland 2017 is here! If you’re going to the UT vs. Georgia game, visit checkerneyland.com find out what color to wear based on where your seats are in Neyland Stadium.
Eddie Montgomery Makes First Statement Since the Death of “Friend” & “Brother” Troy Gentry
Montgomery Gentry’s Eddie Montgomery issued his first statement since his duo partner, Troy Gentry, died in a helicopter crash on Sept. 8.
“Our world was turned upside down in an instant, and nothing could have prepared us for this,” Eddie said in a statement issued by his PR team. “Over the past few months me and T-Roy have been working on what I think is the best record of our career. In the last few weeks we had been talking about what our first single would be. Then on September 8, none of that mattered.
“‘Better Me’ is a song we all loved and Troy sings his ass off on it. It speaks volumes about his life and who he had become and everybody he touched and how much he loved his family. I am so proud of this song and also to call him my friend, my family, my brother for 30 years.”
A recording of “Better Me” was played at Troy’s memorial service on Sept. 14.
After the tragedy, the touching tune takes on a new meaning as Troy croons, “I might cuss and fight, tell a few lies / Break a few rules making promises I can’t keep / But I’ve turned a page on wilder days / I’m writing all this down hoping you’ll see / I ain’t saying I’m perfect, but I’m working on a better me.”
Listen to the new song below.
Meghan Linsey Issues Statement After Kneeling During National Anthem Performance
Meghan Linsey performed the national anthem before the Tennessee Titans and Seattle Seahawks took the field in Nashville yesterday (Sept. 24). As Meghan hit the anthem’s final note, she chose to kneel down. Both the Titans and Seahawks remained in their locker rooms while the anthem was performed.
You can watch Meghan’s performance below.
ICYMI: The Titans & Seahawks remained in their locker rooms during the national anthem while the singer took a knee during her performance. pic.twitter.com/WBo5bNv7AC
— FOX Sports: NFL (@NFLonFOX) September 25, 2017
Today (Sept. 25), Lindsey released a statement regarding her decision to kneel, which you can read in its entirely below.
I want to say, I love my country and I have so much respect for those who died for our right to stand, kneel, or be absent during the anthem yesterday. The heart of our country is our Constitution, and we are all walking, talking, breathing symbols of that Constitution.
Yesterday upon finishing the anthem, I kneeled in solidarity with the players and for those who experience racism and police brutality on a daily basis. I love the American Flag, but a symbol is nothing without the people it represents, so yesterday, I kneeled for those who are mistreated, beaten down and disregarded.
It was never a choice for me as to whether or not I would show support for many of my fans and friends who have a heightened level of anxiety and fear because of the hateful, polarizing rhetoric from the President perpetuating a dangerous climate.
I can never be anything but me, the way God made me, and what I do is not just my art, it’s my calling. I will never normalize hate, whether that angers people or not. I knew there would be some backlash from people who don’t understand, but there has also been such an overwhelming amount of support from those who applauded and knelt with me, and I’m so grateful for that.
I pray that change is sparked and that our great country can find unity despite our differences.
Love and Light
Meghan
photo by Jason Simanek
Country News
Bruce Springsteen Shares Unheard Honky Tonk Tune, “Repo Man,” From ‘Tracks II’ Box Set
Steve Perry Duets With Willie Nelson On A New Version Of Journey’s “Faithfully”
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