Following the back-to-back successes of previous studio albums Bring You Back (2013) and Illinois (2015), Brett Eldredge is gearing up for the release of his upcoming self-titled album on Aug. 4—exactly 10 days away.
For Brett, the build-up to the release of the 12-song offering—all of which he co-wrote—is part of the fun.
“It’s the build-up, the countdown—that’s exciting,” says Brett to Nash Country Daily. “I’ve been waiting to get his album out for a while, so I’ve released a few songs early as instant grat tracks to kinda give people a taste of the depth of this record. I just think it’s a whole new level of musicality from me, and so I’m excited for the world to see it.”
NCD editor Jim Casey (left) with Brett in studio.
While more often than not, artists release a self-titled album as their debut, Brett felt his new project deserved to be self-titled because it represented him more than anything he had ever created.
“I think coming into my own and actually figuring out what I wanted to say and how I wanted to say it takes a couple of records,” says Brett. “When I got to this record, it’s like, this is me melodically and lyrically more than anything I’ve ever done. This deserves to be self-titled because it’s more me than anything yet. I want it to be that big career album for me, that one that took it to a whole nother level. Everything has been going so well, and the build-up to this big record has been what I wanted it to be. I like to put the pressure on myself to deliver and I think the fans are going to love it.”
Brett released the album’s lead single, “Something’ I’m Good At,” in February. After 22 weeks on the chart, the tune is currently No. 24 on Billboard’s Country Airplay chart.
Brett Eldredge Track Listing and Songwriters
“Love Someone” – Brett Eldredge, Ross Copperman, Heather Morgan
“Superhero” – Brett Eldredge, Ross Copperman, Heather Morgan
“The Long Way” – Brett Eldredge, Matt Rogers
“The Reason” – Brett Eldredge, Ross Copperman
“Somethin’ I’m Good At” – Brett Eldredge, Tom Douglas
“Haven’t Met You” – Brett Eldredge, Ross Copperman, Heather Morgan
“No Stopping You” – Brett Eldredge, Tom Douglas
“Brother” – Brett Eldredge, Tom Douglas
“Heartbreaker” – Brett Eldredge, Ross Copperman, Heather Morgan
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Tennessee’s 2017 home opener against Indiana State on Sept. 9 is slated for a 4 p.m. ET broadcast on SEC Network, as announced by the Southeastern Conference office on Tuesday.
The Vols and the Sycamores have never played each other on the gridiron before.
The television times and channels of Vols’ first three games of the 2017 season have been set. Tennessee opens the season against Georgia Tech in the Chick-fil-A Kickoff Game on Sept. 4 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia, with an 8 p.m. ET kickoff on ESPN. The Big Orange opens SEC play on Sept. 16 against Florida at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium in Gainesville, Florida, with a 3:30 p.m. ETbroadcast on CBS.
Times and television channels for the remainder of UT’s 2017 football games will be announced later during the season.
Today (July 25), Kelsea Ballerini announced on Good Morning America—with a follow-up post on Twitter—that her sophomore album, Unapologetically, will be released on November 3.
November 3nd my sophomore album "Unapologetically" will be released. whoomp there it is…💕✨
“[Unapologetically] is about years 21 through 23,” says Kelsea to Nash Country Daily. It really is. It starts with a gross breakup that I had. It talks about the darkness of that. I haven’t really . . . ‘Peter Pan’ is like as much of a breakup as I went into on the first record, because that’s really the only feeling of a breakup that I’d had at that point. This one definitely gets darker than that. But then it takes you through the darkness of that, the bounce back from that, into just growing up and finding who I am as a young girl. New insecurities that I have, all of that, into meeting [fiancé] Morgan [Evans] and getting engaged. It talks about all of it.”
At his show in Los Angeles on July 21, Garth assisted in the gender reveal of a pregnant couple’s baby. When the couple told Garth that they planned to name the child Brooks regardless of the gender, Garth opened the envelope containing the ultrasound to reveal that they would be having a baby girl. Garth then told the couple, “If I am still alive when Brooks goes to college, we will pay for her college.”
Sam’s “Body Like a Back Road” has been “doin’ 15 in a 30” for 24 straight weeks atop Billboard’s Hot Country Songs chart, which ties the record set by Florida Georgia Line’s “Cruise” in 2012 and 2013.
“I wrote ‘Body Like a Back Road’ with my producer Zach Crowell, Josh Osborne and Shane McAnally,” said Sam to Nash Country Daily. “I connect music to the emotions that come from relationships, so most of the songs that I write are inspired by those circumstances, emotions, feelings, all that kind of stuff. ‘Body Like a Back Road’ is a lighthearted song that was a lot of fun to write. It sort of swings, and hopefully it’s easy to listen to and will put a smile on some folks’ faces.”
Billboard’s Hot Country Songs Chart All-Time Record
1. “Body Like a Back Road” – Sam Hunt — 24 weeks (2017)
1. “Cruise” – Florida Georgia Line – 24 weeks (2012)
2. “Walk On By” – Leroy Van Dyke – 19 weeks (1961)
3. “H.O.L.Y.” – Florida Georgia Line – 18 weeks (2016)
4. “Die a Happy Man” – Thomas Rhett 17 weeks – (2015)
5. “Love’s Gonna Live Here” – Buck Owens – 16 weeks (1963)
The House of Blues in Myrtle Beach, S.C., cancelled Jamey Johnson’s concert hours before it was scheduled to take place on July 23.
The House of Blues issued a statement on Facebook, citing “safety and security” reasons.
A member of Jamey’s band, Melonie Cannon, posted two Facebook comments, one of which was attributed to Jamey’s drummer, TC Coleman.
“no one in the band carried a gun in that building . . . FYI”
“House of Blues didn’t need to treat us like we were terrorists, they put a medal [sic] detector between Jamey’s buses and the stage entrance and the only people coming in and out of his buses was us. His band and crew and we all have laminated stage identification. We did not come to House of Blues to be treated like we are going to kill the fans. If someone came backstage to harm anybody you better pray there is a Jamey Johnson type individual around. The backstage area is supposed to be tightly secured for our protection not to protect us from ourselves. How can you expect any artist to give a great performance if you are gonna give him or her a bunch of shit before we perform. I stand with Jamey because he’s a damn perfectionist about giving the fans a great qaulity [sic] performance without any phoney [sic] celebrity bullshit. Too bad Live Nations can’t figure it out. And for Live Nation concerts saying the artist did not enter the building is a damn lie. We did a hour plus soundcheck. No artist should be treated like that. Tony TC Coleman”
As you can imagine, the fans were not pleased and posted more than 160 comments to the House of Blues’ Facebook post.
Before his concert in Kansas City, Mo., on July 21, Luke Bryan shared a memorable meet-and-greet with one of his biggest fans, 88-year-old Francis Stanaway, who is battling a terminal illness.
Decked out in her “Shake It For Me, Luke” sweatshirt, not only did Francis get the chance to chat with Luke and attend his concert, but she also took part in a photo op that put a big smile on her face.
Miranda Lambert and her pet pooches led more than 1,000 people, including Nashville mayor Megan Barry, along the first-ever MuttNation March through Music City on June 8 as part of CMA Fest. The almost-one-mile march, which was created to raise awareness and funds for pet adoption, helped 60 shelter dogs find new homes across 21 states and Canada.
photo courtesy Metro Nashville
If Miranda has her way, the MuttNation March will become a yearly event.
“[The MuttNation March] was awesome,” says Miranda to Nash Country Daily. “It was our first year. We’re kinda in a revamp phase for MuttNation just ’cause it started with my mom and I and four other girls, and we kinda got a little too big for our britches. We don’t know what we’re doing at all [laughing]. Our main goals are to raise money for aiding shelters and aiding in rescues, either natural disasters or when dogs get misplaced in storms or when shelters need someone to come in and help move dogs out of there.
“We want to be able to raise enough money to help shelters do renovations and help with adoption drives. I really love it and I’m just excited because we’re sort of in a brainstorming mode of what can we do to make it bigger and better. At CMA Fest, we adopted out every dog that we brought and 1,000 people showed up to walk with us, so it really was amazing. I was so excited that it worked. You know what I mean, hopefully we’ll make it a [yearly] habit.”
With 18 pets under her care, Miranda is certainly practicing what she preaches through her MuttNation Foundation.
“I have five horses, two mini-horses, seven dogs and four rescue kitties,” says Miranda. “18 total—it’s my new lucky number.
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — The University of Tennessee Athletics Department on Monday announced its VOLeaders Academy Class of 2017-18. The third annual collection of VOLeaders comprises 19 current student-athletes who represent 15 different sports.
Those individuals will begin the program for this Fall 2017 semester.
“We continue to be excited about what the future holds for our athletic department and the VOLeaders Academy,” said Dr. Joe Scogin, Senior Associate Athletic Director, Assistant Provost and Director of the Thornton Center. “As the years build on each other and now going into the third year, our student-athletes have teammates that have gone through the program and can support them and help create an amazing culture on their team and in the athletic department. I’m really excited about this class because we are finally at a place where multiple classes have been through the program, so this class can lean on them, learn from them and grow from them.
“We are excited about the continued involvement of all of our sport teams. I think that is really critical to have all our teams involved and impacted by what I would consider one of the greatest student-athlete experiences in the country. We’ve talked about creating the best student-athlete experience in America and part of that is having them understand the influence and impact sport can have on their lives, not only in the four years while they are at Tennessee but how it can shape their future as well.”
ABOUT THE VOLEADERS ACADEMY
The University of Tennessee announced the inception of its VOLeaders Academy in July of 2015. The first-of-its-kind program is a dynamic partnership between the UT Center for Leadership and Service, the Center for Sport, Peace and Society and the Athletics Department.
The program is unlike any in the country, spanning the boundaries of three different areas of campus, from academics to student life and athletics. It partners athletics with two of the most unique and respected programs on campus for the development of the student-athletes.
By using their platform in sport, student-athletes admitted into the VOLeaders Academy learn how to positively impact their team, campus and local and global communities. The program aims to inspire student-athletes to find ways to use their passion of sport and their influence to enact positive change that transcends their athletic success.
Since 1968, the Torchbearer–UT’s official symbol–has borne silent witness to the university’s Volunteer Creed: “One that beareth a torch shadoweth oneself to give light to others.” The VOLeaders Academy takes that creed in action by engaging its participants in the understanding and development of servant leadership.
The Center for Leadership and Service, a department in the UT Division of Student Life, engages all students to lead and serve in the global community and directs leadership and service opportunities for the entire University student population.
The Center for Sport, Peace, and Society, housed in UT’s College of Education, is dedicated to promoting cultural diversity and empowering underserved populations through sport. It was the first research center in the United States to focus on the developing academic field of Sport for Development and Peace. In only their second year of existence, one of their key initiatives was named on the top 10 best diplomatic accomplishments in the world.
Participants are enrolled in two three-credit-hour courses in the College of Education, Health and Human Sciences. A Leadership in Sport course provides students with an understanding of their individual leadership styles, the practice of leadership in collegiate athletics and equips them with the foundational skills necessary to lead their teams, campus and communities, while a Sport for Social Change course teaches leadership principles, professionalism, critical thinking, and cross-cultural communication skills through sport-based service.
The final component of the VOLeaders Academy is a 10-day cultural exchange providing applied leadership and service opportunities focused on community development and social change through sport. International destinations vary each year.
In 2016, the inaugural class of academy enrollees traveled to Brazil, site of the 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Games, in partnership with the UT Center for Sport, Peace & Society. The 2017 class visited Vietnam, where they hosted several sports camps and toured historical sites.
“Love Someone” – Brett Eldredge, Ross Copperman, Heather Morgan
