“Sunday Morning” Subject Willie Nelson Hasn’t “Really Got Anything to Bitch About” [Watch]

“Sunday Morning” Subject Willie Nelson Hasn’t “Really Got Anything to Bitch About” [Watch]

Willie Nelson, 84, was the subject of a CBS Sunday Morning sit-down with host Bob Schieffer yesterday (July 16—an earlier version of the story was originally published on April 2, 2017).

In addition to talking about the long-running joke surrounding reported claims of his death (“I’ve been killed several times throughout the years”), Willie dished about his health (“I haven’t really got anything to bitch about”), his “wild and crazy” days in Nashville, the “truth” in songwriting, paying off his debt to the IRS (“It’s kind of funny when you think about it”), his affinity for marijuana (“It keeps me from going off and doing crazy things”), continuing to tour (“What, do you want me to quit?”) and more.

Watch the interview below.

photo via Sunday Morning

Social Media Roundup: Carrie Underwood’s ’70s Time Travel, Sam Hunt’s Aim, Kelsea Ballerini’s Twitter Timeout, Dolly’s Smile & More

Social Media Roundup: Carrie Underwood’s ’70s Time Travel, Sam Hunt’s Aim, Kelsea Ballerini’s Twitter Timeout, Dolly’s Smile & More

If you don’t have time to comb through social media all day, here’s what you’ve been missing over the last 48 hours or so in the country music world:

  • Carrie Underwood time travels back to the 1970s.
  • Sam Hunt and Chris Janson shoot some arrows pre-show.
  • Kelsea Ballerini takes a Twitter timeout.
  • Toby Keith finds a red solo cup and the Red Rocker, Sammy Hagar.
  • John Rich of Big & Rich catches a big bass.
  • Kane Brown and Jason Aldean appear to be semi-friends.
  • Keith Urban thanks the fans of Craven, Sask.
  • Sara Evans takes her two daughters out in downtown Nashville.
  • Dolly Parton reminds us all about the power of a smile.
  • Kip Moore shares a quick behind-the-scenes video while working in the studio.

What is happening? @iveychilders @bassmmmbass @mfisher1212

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Bows and stogies in Tampa with @thechrisjanson

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A post shared by Sam Hunt (@samhuntmusic) on

With @SammyHagar.

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How's your Sunday? Mine's pretty dang good 👍 #bass #merica

A post shared by Big & Rich (@bigandrichofficial) on

Really cool guy with a magical cowboy hat🔥 love ya brother

A post shared by New Album Below 👇🏽👇🏽👇🏽 (@kanebrown_music) on

Craven, SK, Canada • 7/16/17 • @CountryThunder

A post shared by Keith Urban (@keithurban) on

Dinner last night in Nashville with my girls!

A post shared by Sara Evans (@saraevansmusic) on

If you see someone without a smile, give 'em yours! If you aren't smiling today, this one is for you!! 🙂

A post shared by Dolly Parton (@dollyparton) on

https://twitter.com/KipMooreMusic/status/886987990823833600

main image courtesy of Carrie Underwood’s Instagram

RaeLynn Calls Upon the Friendly Support of Gal Pals in New “Lonely Call” Video [Watch]

RaeLynn Calls Upon the Friendly Support of Gal Pals in New “Lonely Call” Video [Watch]

Following the Top 30 success of WildHorse’s lead single, “Love Triangle,” RaeLynn released the album’s second single, “Lonely Call,” to country radio in June. Now she has a new video for the tune.

Co-written by RaeLynn, Nicolle Galyon and Rob Hawkins, “Lonely Call” finds the narrator refusing to be her ex’s late-night booty call as she sings “When you start to wonder if you made the wrong choice / So let it ring, let it ring all night long / ’Cause I ain’t your lonely call / I ain’t your lonely call, call, oh / Let it ring, let it ring, let it ring, girl.”

The new video, which was directed by Chris Hicky, features RaeLynn offering support to the lead character, who is played by real-life friend Abby Cook. To get Abby’s mind of the constant ringing off her tenacious ex, RaeLynn arranges a girls’ night in, with the help of a few friends, including her sister-in-law Heather Davis, The Goldbergs star Hayley Orrantia and upcoming artist Lindsay James Hague.

Watch the new clip below.

Jimmy’s blog: CBS analyst says Butch Jones `obviously’ on hot seat

Jimmy’s blog: CBS analyst says Butch Jones `obviously’ on hot seat

 

By Jimmy Hyams

Tennessee has recorded back-to-back nine-win seasons and won three bowl games in a row, but that doesn’t mean Butch Jones can prop his feet while sitting in a recliner.

In fact, CBS analyst Rick Neuheisel thinks Jones is squarely on the hot seat.

“I think obviously he’s on the hot seat,’’ said Neuheisel. “You’ve got a new AD (athletic director) who’s listening to all the noise and is going to be watching very carefully. … You’ve got a 100,000-seat stadium that needs to be rocking and rolling, and that first game against Georgia Tech will be huge.’’

Neuheisel thinks it’s important for Tennessee to get off to a good start considering Georgia Tech, Florida and Georgia are among the first five opponents on the schedule.

Neuheisel said if Jones can beat Florida and Georgia “as he did a year ago and stay healthy …you watch that contract extension. You watch how big it will be.’’

Neuheisel said being on the hot seat is part of the SEC “culture.’’

The fact that Tennessee plays Alabama each year as a permanent crossover opponent in the West Division isn’t doing Jones any favors.

“I term these guys Everest,’’ Neuheisel said of Alabama. “When you have to climb Everest every year, there’s going to be some casualties. We saw it happen to (former LSU coach) Les Miles. Kevin Sumlin’s AD came out and said he’s got to win more than eight. (Arkansas coach) Bret Bielema’s got to find a way to get going in the right direction. It’s on and on and on when you’ve got Everest in your division.’’

Overall, Neuheisel gives Jones a thumbs up for turning around Tennessee.

“I think Butch has been really good in terms of stockpiling talent, winning the day with respect to recruiting and getting great talent in there,’’ said Neuheisel.

But, there is a but – a big but.

“He’s been in some ways — and I know this because I did it to myself — a little bit his own worst enemy because he’s such a positive guy and he doesn’t shy away from high expectations,’’ said Neuheisel, former head coach at Colorado, Washington and UCLA.

“But when he says things like `champions of life’ and `five-star character (actually hearts)’ or whatever, when you say things like that, it can inflame the fan base. They don’t want to know about the pain, they just want to see the baby and the baby is a championship because the Tennessee fan base considers themselves the blue blood of college football.

“They go back to that BCS championship in 1998 and say, `Where is that?’ We want to be back in Atlanta (site of the SEC Championship game).’’

Neuheisel said he expects Jones to be a little bit more tightlipped about future expectations, but he added: “There’s no question that he understands the situation wasn’t good enough last year, given the start, given the promise, given everybody’s expectations. But I still think two years in a row of nine wins is evidence he’s on the right track.’’

Does Neuheisel likes UT’s chances of winning the East this year?

“I’ve got to see the quarterback,’’ Neuheisel said. “(Quinten) Dormady was 10-for-10 in the spring game. That to me says he can play, that to me says he understands how defenses play.

“I’ve got to see how (first-year offensive coordinator) Larry Scott manages that offense. Is Larry Scott getting that title mean Butch it getting himself more involved? When you’re on the hot seat, that’s what you want to do. If I’m going to lose my job, I want it to be me that loses it. So we’ll wait and see how all that plays itself out.’’

 


Big Kahuna Wings: The wings that changed it all

Dylan Scott Scores First No. 1 Single With Wife-Inspired “My Girl”

Dylan Scott Scores First No. 1 Single With Wife-Inspired “My Girl”

Dylan Scott has notched the first No. 1 song of his career this week as “My Girl” ascended to the top spot on both the Mediabase chart and Billboard Country Airplay chart. The tune, which Dylan co-penned about his wife Blair, reached No. 1 after 46 weeks on the charts.

“‘My Girl’ was 10 years in the making,” says Dylan to Nash Country Daily. “My wife and I, we’ve been together over 10 years now—been married for one—and ‘My Girl’ is basically about our life over the past 10 years. Almost everything in that song is true. We lived it.”

Dylan celebrated the No. 1 news with an Instagram post, saying: “There’s a lot of people I’ll be thanking, but this group of guys are first! Countless miles and hours away from our families, nights slept in a van, some days only enough money for the dollar menu, but today boys, we have the NUMBER 1 country song in America!! Y’all have been the backbone to this whole journey and I can never thank you guys enough! #fam.”

Dylan will release a deluxe edition of his self-titled debut album on August 4.

Couple Gets Engaged at Garth Brooks’ Concert . . . Garth Offers to Pay for the Honeymoon [Watch]

Couple Gets Engaged at Garth Brooks’ Concert . . . Garth Offers to Pay for the Honeymoon [Watch]

The G-man has done it again.

Garth Brooks loves interacting with his concertgoers. In the last few months, he has invited a teen onstage, given his guitar to a fan and serenaded an 89-year-old.

At his show in Oklahoma City on Saturday (July 15), Garth offered to pay for a couple’s upcoming honeymoon.

During Garth’s performance of “Unanswered Prayers,” a man named Drew proposed to his girlfriend, Chelsea. After Garth got wind of the situation, he stopped his show for a little banter with the couple, telling them, “If you pick Hawaii [for your honeymoon], Miss Yearwood and I will pay for it.”

Check out the video via Chaz Cook’s Facebook page.

A little later in the show, Trisha came onstage and congratulated the couple, but she made sure to tell the crowd that “nobody else can get engaged tonight.”

Check out the video courtesy of Bridgette Miserendino’s Facebook page.

Watch Luke Bryan Dance a Jig as Rhett Akins Busks on the Streets of Cleveland

Watch Luke Bryan Dance a Jig as Rhett Akins Busks on the Streets of Cleveland

Luke Bryan was in Cleveland on Saturday (July 15) for his Huntin’, Fishin’ and Lovin’ Every Day Tour, but before he took the stage at Progressive Field for the show, he hit the streets with the Peach Pickers (songwriters Rhett Akins, Dallas Davidson and Ben Hayslip).

In an Instagram video posted by Ben, Rhett (who is Thomas Rhett’s father) is shown busking on the sidewalk. As he performs “That’s My Kind of Night”—Luke’s 2013  No. 1 single that Dallas co-penned—Luke enters the video and busts a few moves to the delight of the onlookers, including Dallas.

Check out Ben’s video below, with the caption: “This street player named Luke Brown is pretty good! Even got @lukebryan dancin! #whoisyou @officialrhettakins.”

This street player named Luke Brown is pretty good! Even got @lukebryan dancin! #whoisyou @officialrhettakins

A post shared by Ben Hayslip (@benhayslip) on

 

photo via Ben Hayslip’s Instagram

Four Vols Earn Preseason Media Days All-SEC Honors

Four Vols Earn Preseason Media Days All-SEC Honors

4 Vols players / Credit: UT Athletics

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Tennessee senior offensive lineman Jashon Robertson, junior wide receiver Jauan Jennings, senior defensive back/kick returner Evan Berryand redshirt senior punter Trevor Daniel have garnered 2017 Preseason Media Days All-SEC honors, as announced by the Southeastern Conference on Friday.

On Thursday, Robertson was named by the Football Writers Association of America to the preseason watch list for the 2017 Outland Trophy. The Nashville native has started 34 games during his Tennessee career and was a key part of a UT offensive line that paved the way to record-breaking offensive numbers in 2016. The Vols set program records in points scored (473) and touchdowns (63) last season and won their third consecutive bowl game by defeating Nebraska, 38-24, in the Franklin American Mortgage Music City Bowl. Robertson is the Volunteers’ most-experienced offensive lineman with 39 games played and 35 starts in his career. He is also one of the most versatile offensive linemen on the roster as he started 12 games in 2016 at left guard and worked at center for much of the spring. As a sophomore in 2015, Robertson helped the Vols rush for a 2,908 yards, which was the second-most in UT history. He has been an anchor of Tennessee’s offensive line since his 2014 freshman year when he started all 13 games at right guard and earned Freshman All-SEC and ESPN True Freshman All-American honors.

Jennings is coming off a breakout 2016 sophomore campaign in which he set career highs with 40 receptions, 580 receiving yards and seven receiving touchdowns. He made two of the biggest catches of the 2016 season. In the Vols’ 38-28 comeback win against Florida on Sept. 24, Jennings caught three passes for 111 yards, including a 67-yard touchdown down the right sideline that gave the Vols the lead in the fourth quarter. He topped that the following week at Georgia on Oct. 1 when he outleaped several Bulldog defensive backs to catch Joshua Dobbs‘ 43-yard Hail Mary in the end zone and lift Tennessee to a 34-31 victory. He also completed a four-yard touchdown pass against Texas A&M on Oct. 8.

Berry, who Athlon named a Preseason All-American, was a 2016 Coaches Second Team All-SEC Selection after averaging 32.9 yards on 14 kick returns. In the Vols’ win against Georgia, Berry returned a pooch kick 20 yards to the Bulldogs’ 48-yard line and, along with a UGA offsides penalty, helped set up Dobbs’ 43-yard Hail Mary to Jennings. Berry had a 100-yard return for a touchdown at South Carolina on Oct. 29. In 2016, he also tallied 12 tackles and one tackle for loss. As a sophomore in 2015, he ranked first in the NCAA and first in the SEC with a 38.3-yard kickoff return average and was named a First Team All-American by Walter Camp, Sporting News and Sports Illustrated. For his career, Berry has returned 49 kicks for 1,677 yards, a UT-record 34.2-yard average and four touchdowns. His 34.2-yard career kickoff return average is the best mark of any current player in the NCAA, regardless of division.

On Wednesday, Daniel was named to the preseason watch list for the 2017 Ray Guy Award. In 2016, Daniel posted a 44.6-yard average with 28 of his 70 punts inside the 20, 29 fair catches and 21 punts of 50 or more yards. His 44.6-yard average ranked third among SEC punters and his 70-yard punt against South Carolina was the longest in the SEC in 2016. Daniel was a candidate for the Ray Guy Award in both 2015 and 2016. Daniel’s 45.1-yard career punting average ranks fourth among active NCAA punters, regardless of division.

-UT Athletics

 

Watch Lady Antebellum Perform  “You Look Good” and “Need You Now” on “Good Morning America”

Watch Lady Antebellum Perform “You Look Good” and “Need You Now” on “Good Morning America”

Fans braved the rain in NYC today (July 14) to watch Lady Antebellum headline Good Morning America’s Summer Concert series.

The trio performed a number of their tunes, including “Heart Break,” “Downtown,” “Good Time to Be Alive,” current single, “You Look Good,” and 2009 mega-hit, “Need You Now.”

Check out Lady A’s performance of “Need You Now” and “You Look Good” below.

Sara Evans Talks Career Highlights, Being a Woman in Today’s Male-Dominated Industry, New Album, “Words,” & More

Sara Evans Talks Career Highlights, Being a Woman in Today’s Male-Dominated Industry, New Album, “Words,” & More

Jim Casey talks with Sara Evans about some of her career highlights over the last 20 years, being a woman in today’s male-dominated country music industry, her new album, Words, selecting songs for the new project, being a lyric-driven artist and the family connection throughout the record.

Show Participants

  • Sara Evans
  • Jim Casey, NCD director of editorial

Show Notes & Links

https://youtu.be/iNUTJiHGa3I

The Writers Room, Ep. 104, 18 minutes
photo by Jason Simanek

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