Meghan Linsey Issues Statement After Kneeling During National Anthem Performance

Meghan Linsey Issues Statement After Kneeling During National Anthem Performance

Posted on September 25, 2017

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.

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

Sara Evans: 2017 At Christmas Tour

Sara Evans: 2017 At Christmas Tour

Posted on September 25, 2017

Dec. 1
Lincoln City, OR
Chinook Winds Casino

Dec. 2
Lincoln City, OR
Chinook Winds Casino

Dec. 7
Stroudsburg, PA
Sherman Theatre

Dec. 8
Northfield, OH
Hard Rock Casino

Dec. 9
Shipshewana, IN
Blue Gate Theater

Dec. 14
Des Moines, IA
Hoyt Sherman Place

Dec. 15
Norfolk, NE
Divots Event Center

Dec. 16
Mayetta, KS
Prairie Band Casino & Resort

Dustin Lynch’s “Small Town Boy” Goes Where No Country Song Has Gone in 2017

Dustin Lynch’s “Small Town Boy” Goes Where No Country Song Has Gone in 2017

Posted on September 25, 2017

Dustin Lynch’s “Small Town Boy” is No. 1 on Billboard’s Country Airplay chart for the fourth consecutive week, a feat no other country song has accomplished in 2017.

Four songs had three-week reigns atop the Airplay chart in 2017—including Blake Shelton’s “A Guy With a Girl,” Jon Pardi’s “Dirt on My Boots,” Sam Hunt’s “Body Like a Back Road” and Billy Currington’s “Do I Make You Wanna”—but Dustin’s “Small Town Boy” is the only single to secure the No. 1 postion for four weeks.

“I always knew ‘Small Town Boy’ was something special, but to be number one for four weeks is absolutely incredible,” says Dustin. “It’s been amazing to see people embrace this song and to have the continued support of country radio.”

Thomas Rhett’s 2016 hit, “Die a Happy Man,” was the last song to top the Airplay chart for four weeks. TR’s tune remained No. 1 for six weeks from January to February 2016.

Check back next week to see if Dustin can make it five weeks in a row.

 

Lady Antebellum to Be Featured on Upcoming Episode of “Live From the Artists Den” [Watch Trailer]

Lady Antebellum to Be Featured on Upcoming Episode of “Live From the Artists Den” [Watch Trailer]

Posted on September 25, 2017

In February, Lady Antebellum visited New York’s United Palace Theatre to record a concert for Season 12 of the PBS series Live From the Artists Den, a television program that presents intimate concerts in unique settings.

Lady A’s upcoming episode will air in select markets throughout the fall, including New York (9/29), Los Angeles (9/30), Boston (10/1), Nashville (10/17) and more. A full list of air dates can be found here.

In addition to treating the 1,400 fans in attendance to songs such as “Need You Now,” “I Run to You,” “You Look Good” and more, the trio sat down for an in-depth interview to talk about their new album, Heart Break.

Season 12 of Live From the Artists Den also includes concerts featuring Fleet Foxes, OneRepublic and John Legend. Previous episodes have showcased Zac Brown Band, Mumford & Sons, Adele and more.

Watch the Season 12 trailer below.

Luke Combs’ Secret to Success? The Internet & College Kids Played a Big Part

Luke Combs’ Secret to Success? The Internet & College Kids Played a Big Part

Posted on September 25, 2017

Luke Combs hit the top of the charts with his debut single, “Hurricane,” and now he’s hoping his second weather-related single, “When It Rains It Pours,” will do the same.

Written by Luke, Ray Fulcher and Jordan Walker, the fun-loving single is currently No. 8 on Billboard’s Country Airplay chart after 14 weeks.

With two Top 10 singles right out of the gate for the 27-year-old, Kix Brooks of American Country Countdown wanted to know Luke’s secret to success, which turned out to be a two-pronged approach by the North Carolina native.

“I learned guitar when I was 21, I’m 27 now, and so it’s only been about six years, but the second I could play at all—I mean, enough to play a show—I was playing shows, and we had people coming to shows five or six years ago that are still coming to shows now,” said Luke to Kix. “The way I looked at it the other day was someone was asking me this question and said, ‘How do these people know your music in Portland?’ Or, ‘How do they know it in Delaware and you’re from North Carolina?’ One, it’s the power of the internet. Two, when I started, my fan base was in a college town [Boone, N.C.]. I got that fan base and then everyone just went out everywhere else [after they graduated]. They moved to Florida or they moved to New York and said to their buddies, ‘Hey, I know this dude. He’s pretty good,’ and so I think that’s kind of how it blossomed on top of us staying busy and playing a 150 dates a year.”

Shania Twain Talks New Album, Past Health Problems, Finding Love & More in “Sunday Morning” Profile [Watch]

Shania Twain Talks New Album, Past Health Problems, Finding Love & More in “Sunday Morning” Profile [Watch]

Posted on September 25, 2017

The best-selling female artist in the history of country music—Shania Twain—will release her fifth studio album, Now, on Sept. 29.

Now, which is Shania’s first album since 2002’s Up!, will be offered as both a 12-track standard album and 16-track deluxe album.

“The new music is more celebratory, more inspirational, more about coming from somewhere bad and going somewhere good, dark to light, and that whole transition emotionally,” says Shania to NCD. “So, it’s a little deeper emotionally, for sure, this new album. There’s a lot of optimism, like ‘Life’s About to Get Good.’ The words are quite melancholy, but it’s just a happy song. It makes me feel happy when it comes on.”

Shania was the focus of a CBS Sunday Morning profile on Sept. 24, where she talked about the new album, her divorce from Mutt Lange, past health problems, finding love again and more.

Watch the profile below.

Scotty McCreery Has “Bucket-List Night” Performing Surprise Opening Gig for Garth Brooks

Scotty McCreery Has “Bucket-List Night” Performing Surprise Opening Gig for Garth Brooks

Posted on September 25, 2017

Scotty McCreery fulfilled a lifelong dream with a surprise performance before Garth Brooks and Trisha Yearwood’s sold-out show at the Denny Sanford Premier Center in Sioux Falls, S.D., on Sept. 22.

Scotty treated the 13,000 fans to an unannounced 30-minute set that included “See You Tonight,” “Five More Minutes” and more.

photo courtesy Triple 8 Management

“It was a really incredible moment just being out there on that stage in front of a Garth crowd,” said Scotty. “I was about as nervous as I’ve been before a show, probably ever, but as soon as they introduced me, the crowd went nuts and that kind of eased my nerves.”

After his opening gig, Scotty found his seat in the crowd and watched Garth and Trisha’s headlining set.

“We got out there and did our thing, and then we got out there and watched Garth Brooks,” said Scotty. “What better night could you ask for? Can’t thank him enough and Trisha enough for having me out. That was definitely a bucket list night for me!”

Apparently, the G-Man was impressed with Scotty’s performance.

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