Kelsea Ballerini stopped by NASH FM 94.7 studios in New York on June 22 for a live concert from Stage 17 that was sponsored by Wendy’s.
In addition to chatting with hosts Katie Neal and Jesse Addy and answering questions from the fans in attendance, Kelsea treated the audience to an acoustic set that included her new single, “Legends,” and “I Hate Love Songs.”
Watch Kelsea in action below.
In addition to showing off his dry sense of humor in his new digital series, A Little Too Far, Tyler Farr decided to dole out some real-life advice to fans in a new video clip called “Dear Tyler.”
“What’s up, y’all, it’s Tyler Farr here, and I am here to provide help and answers and advice on the questions you submitted,” says Tyler in the intro, before he tackles queries about hangovers, hunting mishaps, hockey and more.
Watch Tyler channel his inner psychiatrist below.
Following the Top 30 success of WildHorse’s lead single, “Love Triangle,” RaeLynn has released the album’s second single, “Lonely Call,” to country radio today (June 26).
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.”
“When it came time to pick my next single, I knew the most important voice in this decision would be my fans,” RaeLynn said. “I asked, and ‘Lonely Call’ won hands down. My fans obviously know me well because this is the one I was hoping for too.”
Listen to RaeLynn’s ringing new tune below.
Little Big Town is releasing its new single, “When Someone Stops Loving You,” to country radio today (June 26).
The new tune, which was penned by Hillary Lindsey, Lori McKenna and Chase McGill, features Jimi Westbrook out front on vocals. The breakup ballad is the third single from LBT’s eighth studio album, The Breaker, which dropped in February.
In the lead-up to today’s release, Little Big Town headed to New York City on June 23 and performed “When Someone Stops Loving You” as part of Today’s Summer Concert series.
Watch LBT in action below.
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By Jimmy Hyams
Derek Barnett was one of the all-time great defensive players in Tennessee history.
He set a school record for sacks in three seasons, breaking a mark that took Reggie White four years to accomplish.
Yet, with Barnett as the anchor, Tennessee fielded its second-worst defense in school history, allowing 28.8 points per game (36.9 in SEC play) and 449.2 yards per game.
It gave up 400 rushing yards in three of its last five SEC games. It gave up a school-record 740 yards to a 4-8 Missouri team. It allowed five plays of 70 or more yards, 37 of 30 or more yards. It ranked 95th in the nation in yards allowed per game.
So the question posed to second-year defensive coordinator Bob Shoop was simple: Can Tennessee’s defense be better without Barnett?
“We can be a better defense,’’ Shoop said, “but it’s not because Derek Barnett is not here. Yes we can be better defense; we have to be a better defense. We have to play better than we did last year and we will.
“This is a different team. Team 121 is different than team 120. Every group and every team and every unit has its own identity each year.
“I think this team has a little bit of a chip on their shoulder, specifically the defense.’’
The defense should have a chip on its shoulder considering it was historically bad.
One reason for Shoop’s optimism is new strength and conditioning coach Rock Gullickson.
“He’s laid a foundation of solid work ethic and this summer we’ve taken it to the next level,’’ Shoop said. “These first three weeks, the conditioning is on point, the strength’s better, the guys are doing what’s asked of them. The seniors are setting the pace and holding underclass guys to that level.’’
The defensive position hit hardest by graduation was end, where Barnett, Corey Vereen and LaTroy Lewis combined for 22.5 sacks.
But that’s a position Shoop likes.
“The irony of it is I actually see defensive end as a position of strength on the unit,’’ Shoop said.
Shoop said Jonathan Kongbo, Kyle Phillips and Darrell Taylor are “upper level players,’’ although they combined for only one sack and 35 tackles last season.
Shoop acknowledged Tennessee “may not have the star power’’ from a year ago, but he doesn’t think that means the program takes a step back.
“On offense, it may not be a (Josh) Dobbs, a (Alvin) Kamara,’’ Shoop said. “On defense, it may not be a Barnett, a (Jalen Reeves) Maybin, a (Cam) Sutton. But I think as a whole unit on defense, we have a chance to be better than we were a year ago.’’
Big Kahuna Wings: The wings that changed it all
By Jimmy Hyams
The Webb School tennis program has created a dynasty rarely if ever seen in the state of Tennessee.
The Lady Spartans have won 14 state team championships, 11 under coach Jimmy Pitkanen, and eight in a row.
The Spartan boys team has won six of the last eight.
To cap it off, Webb became the first school in state history to win the boys team, singles and doubles championships, and the girls team, singles and doubles titles in the same year. And they did it without a single senior in the lineup.
“I’m so pleased,’’ Pitkanen said. “It was a remarkable performance by the kids. They worked so hard to do it and they really came through in the clutch.’’
No one was more clutch than freshman Harrison Williams, who won the boys singles in bizarre fashion. After hurting his serving shoulder in team competition, he served underhanded in all four individual singles matches.
“I really didn’t think I would win,’’ Williams said. “It was pretty surprising.’’
Williams said he’d never been forced to serve underhanded in a match before.
“I mixed it up, spins, drops. It was pretty fun, I guess, pretty exciting,’’ said Williams, who lost serve only once in four matches.
Did he think of withdrawing?
“No, that really wasn’t an option for me,’’ Williams said. “I didn’t want to stop playing because my ground strokes were perfectly fine.’
Pitkanen was confident Williams could hold his own despite the shoulder problem.
“Harrison is one of the most resourceful players I have,’’ Pitkanen said. “He’s going to do things that are necessary to win. It wasn’t surprising to me, but it was a surprise that he did try the drop-shot serve a couple of times. I thought he was going to get killed.’’
In 2011, Pitkanen had another player overcome injury to win state. Brandon Fickey broke his thumb and resorted to playing left handed and hitting some underhanded serves. That didn’t stop Fickey from winning his fourth consecutive state singles title.
Webb’s Ohm Sharma and Ben Pearce won boys doubles in their first season playing together. Sharma won singles last year, but Pitkanen entered him in doubles, thinking that would give the Spartans their best representation. In state, you can enter singles or doubles – not both.
“We don’t really play conventional doubles,’’ Sharma said. “We like to basically keep opponents off their feet and throw in a lot of weird shots trying to make sure they’re not able to get a good rhythm.’’
Pearce said winning state was particularly meaningful for him since he didn’t quality individually last year and the team finished runner-up.
“It took weight off my shoulders,’’ said Pearce, the team captain.
Lauren Yoon was gratified to win state after losing in the semifinals as a freshman and falling in the finals as a sophomore.
Her strategy: “Don’t lose my head.’’
Anna Wisniewski and Audrey Yoon, Lauren’s younger sister, won doubles, defeating teammates in what Pitkanen called a “gut-wrenching’’ final.
“It was very emotional because both teams want to win and we’re such good friends,’’ Audrey Yoon said. “It was hard to keep your mindset while they were getting mad and we were getting upset, too.’’
Audrey Yoon said she cried after the match out of joy for herself but sadness for her teammates.
Wisniewski said it was “awkward’’ facing teammates in the final. She encountered the same dilemma last year, but lost in the doubles finals.
Lauren Yoon was asked if there is pressure on the girls to win state and maintain the streak.
“I don’t say it’s incredible pressure,’’ Lauren Yoon said, “but I did say right before the final, I don’t want to be a part of losing the streak.’’
Pitkanen said he treats each season differently and doesn’t refer to previous success.
“What’s happened in the past is done,’’ Pitkanen said. “I never bring it up to the kids. I don’t want them thinking they have to measure up to anything — except set their own performance standards.’’
Pitkanen was thrilled to see the boys finally break through for their first title in 2010.
“We’d been so close,’’ Pitkanen said. “We’d been runner-up twice before that. … It was really fun for me to see the guys achieve what they achieved. It was very rewarding.’’
While the Webb girls have the upper hand with 14 state titles, the boys with six have done quite well. But the girls still have bragging rights, and they rub it in on the practice courts, before matches, even in the lunch line.
Pearce said the girls’ success motivates the boys.
“Definitely, there’s no question because they always have that above us,’’ Pearce said. “They’ve won however many they’ve won in a row and they always brag about it.’’
Pitkanen will tell you the secret to his success is his players. But he has a philosophy that has served him well as a 20-year high school coach.
“We’re going to teach you how to be your own coach on the court’’ Pitkanen said. “That’s a very important concept. Some kids need the coaching. Some kids need the encouragement. And some need to be left alone. You have to figure that out.’’
Pitkanen said it’s rewarding to see his players win state, but it’s also a thrill to see them garner college scholarships.
“I really appreciate what they are doing for the school first,’’ Pitkanen said. “Our school supports them in an amazing way. But to see them have success afterward is a unique benefit to my job.’’
Pitkanen took time to note that of the eight possible state team titles in tennis, Knoxville won four: Webb got two, the Catholic girls and Christian Academy of Knoxville boys got the others.
Why is Knoxville high school tennis so good?
“I think it’s so competitive,’’ Pitkanen said. “Kids drive each other. When they see success from another kid, they want to achieve that as well and work hard to do that.’’
Big Kahuna Wings: The wings that changed it all
By WNML Staff
SportsTalk co-host Jimmy Hyams had a chance to catch-up with Vols offensive coordinator Larry Scott one-on-one.
They talked about Josh Dobbs’ comments comparing the UT offense to the Steelers offense, what he’ll miss the most about Dobbs, the “development of the football player,” adapting to his personnel, his upcoming first year as offensive coordinator, his style calling plays, having the QBs under center more, balance on office, being more physical upfront, Jauan Jennings’ potential, the kind of year Ethan Wolf could have, John Kelly’s workload, his biggest concerns about the offense, where he will coach during games and much more.
Listen to that full interview here.
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — Tennessee head women’s basketball coach Holly Warlick announced Friday that Diamond DeShields is no longer with the program.
“Diamond has opted to forego her final collegiate season,” Warlick said. “She earned a degree from UT and now has a chance to play professionally.
“I am pleased with the commitment of our talented group of returnees and highly-regarded freshman class, and I have been encouraged with the talent, chemistry, attitude, work ethic and intensity that have been displayed thus far during off-season workouts. Our staff can’t wait to continue building on that. We look forward to welcoming senior Kortney Dunbar and freshman Evina Westbrook to campus for the second summer session and are very excited about the future of this program, both for the upcoming season and in the years to come.”
-UT Athletics
Almost four years since the release of his 2013 album, Crickets, Joe Nichols announced that he will drop his new studio album, Never Gets Old, on July 28.
The album, which features songs penned by Chris Stapleton, Zach Crowell, Shane Minor and more, is available for pre-order now.
In addition to the title track, which you can listen to below, Joe’s new album includes a cover of Sir Mix-A-Lot’s “Baby Got Back,” featuring comedian Darren Knight. Joe’s longtime fans will recognize the song as one of his favorites to cover at his live shows.
Following in the party-time footsteps of songs like “Red Solo Cup” and “Beer for My Horses,” Toby Keith has added another impaired ditty to his repertoire with today’s release of “Wacky Tobaccy.” Written with longtime collaborator Scotty Emerick, “Wacky Tobaccy” celebrates the marijuana-loving lifestyle with lyrics like “That old Wacky Tobaccy / When you feel it creeping up on you / That old Wacky Tobaccy / Kick back and let it do what it do.”
“‘Wacky Tobaccy’ is a slogan, a saying that’s been around forever and no one has ever put it in a song,” says Toby. “When we were working on it, somebody asked if the saying has ever been written in a song and I said, ‘No, but they will now.’ [The song] is written to the screws, and it fits in with what we do every night with the party crowd.”
Toby also dropped a dopey video for the tune today, complete with a cameo from marijuana super-advocate Willie Nelson.
“We recorded it and shot the video in Nashville,” says Toby. “We got a cameo from Willie Nelson. We have a long-standing friendship. It’s fortunate that we got him”
Watch Toby’s new video below.
