Let’s Groove: Lady Antebellum to Team With Earth, Wind & Fire for Upcoming “CMT Crossroads”

Let’s Groove: Lady Antebellum to Team With Earth, Wind & Fire for Upcoming “CMT Crossroads”

Lady Antebellum is the first confirmed country act that will take part in a special outdoor CMT Crossroads featuring Earth, Wind & Fire.

More country acts are expected to be revealed in the coming days for the show, which will be filmed in downtown Nashville at a soon-to-be announced date.

Some of Earth, Wind & Fire’s biggest hits—such as “September,” “Let’s Groove” and “Shining Star”—will get a country twist as a bevy of country stars perform songs from EWF’s catalog. Earth, Wind & Fire, which was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2000, has won six Grammy Awards over its 40-plus-year career.

CMT Crossroads With Earth, Wind & Fire and Friends will air June 23 at 10 p.m. ET on CMT.

Head Coach Dave Serrano to resign at season’s end

Head Coach Dave Serrano to resign at season’s end

UT coach Dave Serrano / Credit: UT Athletics

Tennessee Head Baseball Coach Dave Serrano has notified Vice Chancellor/Director of Athletics John Currie of his intention to resign at the conclusion of UT’s season.

Serrano informed the Tennessee baseball team of his decision Wednesday. He will continue to coach the team through the end of the regular season as well as any postseason tournaments for which the team may qualify. Assistant Coach Larry Simcox will then serve as interim coach during a national search for Serrano’s replacement.

On Monday evening, John and I had what I felt was a very honest and productive conversation about the Tennessee baseball program,” Serrano said. “My decision to step aside at season’s end is based off what I believe is in the best interest of our student-athletes and this program.

“I have no regrets about taking on this challenge six years ago. It was a job I always coveted. My time living in this great community includes some of the best days of my life. My only disappointment is that we didn’t reach the expectations of success that I’ve strived to achieve for our fans, alumni and players.”

One of only 12 coaches in NCAA history to lead two programs to the College World Series, Serrano was introduced as Tennessee’s head coach on June 15, 2011, and this marks his sixth season guiding the program. In his 13 years as a head coach, he owns a 446-299-1 record. He is 157-160 at Tennessee.

“This program clearly means a great deal to Dave, and I appreciate that,” Currie said. “He steps away with plenty to be proud of. The program possesses a talented and promising young core. And the culture of academic achievement he and his staff fostered yielded positive results in terms of APR scores and graduation success rates.

“We are thankful to him for his service to the University of Tennessee, and we wish him and his family all the best moving forward.”

The most recent graduation success rate data, released in November, reflected a three-year improvement of 18 percentage points for the baseball program, from 50 percent in 2013 to a program-record 68 percent in 2016.

Under Serrano’s leadership in 2015, Tennessee baseball posted its highest team GPA in program history, at 3.12. He also was at the helm when UT baseball posted a program-record 1.000 single-year APR for 2014-15.

And just last week, Tennessee baseball recorded its highest-ever multi-year APR score with a 979. That stands as a 14-point improvement from the previous year and a 45-point improvement from three years ago, when it was at 934.

During his six seasons guiding the Vols, Serrano coached 14 Tennessee baseball players who went on to be selected in the MLB Draft, including first-round picks Nick Senzel (Cincinnati, 2016) and Christin Stewart (Detroit, 2015) as well as current Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher Zack Godley.

Serrano also signed six consecutive top-20 recruiting classes from 2012 to 2017.

“I’m very proud of what we accomplished with the program internally, but I realize it ultimately comes down to wins and losses,” Serrano said. “I will always be a big Vol fan and will continue to support and cheer on this great university.”

-UT Athletics

 

Dustin Lynch’s Upcoming Album Is All About Love, “But Not a Particular Woman”

Dustin Lynch’s Upcoming Album Is All About Love, “But Not a Particular Woman”

As Dustin Lynch’s current single, “Small Town Boy,” continues to climb the Billboard Country Airplay chart—currently No. 28 after 10 weeks—the small-town boy from Tullahoma, Tenn., is busy at work on his upcoming third studio album. While Dustin has already given fans a taste of what’s to come on the new project with the release of “Small Town Boy” and previous No. 1 single, “Seein’ Red,” Dustin says the new album is all about spreading the “love.”

“You can expect a lot of sexy songs, at least so far,” says Dustin to Nash Prep. “[There] are a lot of songs about love on this album, believe it or not, and either falling in love, making love, falling out of love or being in love . . . I’m in love with a lot of things, a lot of things, but not a particular woman.”

Dustin will join Brad Paisley’s Weekend Warrior Tour on May 18 for a bevy of summer dates, including stops in Cincinnati, Indianapolis, Dallas, Tampa, Cleveland and more. If you can’t wait until the upcoming album to hear Dustin’s new tunes, you can catch him on tour, where he’s been sampling songs from his new catalog.

“We’re already performing some of the songs live,” says Dustin. “I love to test songs live before we record them, just because you can see if there’s a connection or not, and that’s a big thing for me.”

 

photo by Jason Simanek

Man Rompers Are Here . . . And Country Stars Are None Too Pleased, Including Chris Young, Chase Rice, Kelsea Ballerini & More

Man Rompers Are Here . . . And Country Stars Are None Too Pleased, Including Chris Young, Chase Rice, Kelsea Ballerini & More

Rompers for dudes? Yep, they’re heeeerrrreee.

While fashion trends tend to be cyclical, the RompHim™—a romper specifically designed for men—has definitely left the fashion circle to start a couture revolution of its own.

Aced Design launched a RompHim Kickstarter campaign this week with the goal of raising $10,000 by June 13. Currently, $132,590 has been raised by 1,181 backers for the male onesie that features an adjustable waist, zipper fly (thank heavens you don’t have to get semi-nude to pee) and button-up top half.

But the RompHim has not been universally embraced, specifically in the country music community, where Chase Rice, Chris Young and Kelsea Ballerini (the country queen of the romper) have posted their good-natured vitriol on Twitter, while Maggie Rose stopped by the Ty, Kelly & Chuck morning show to sing about the RompHim in today’s 10-minute tune.

Check out the Twitter posts from Chase, Chris and Kelsea, as well as Maggie’s 10-minute tune below.

photos courtesy of RompHim

Te’a Cooper To Transfer From Lady Vols

Te’a Cooper To Transfer From Lady Vols

Te’a Cooper / Credit: UT Athletics

KNOXVILLE — Tennessee women’s basketball coach Holly Warlick announced Tuesday that redshirt sophomore guard Te’a Cooper is transferring.

“Te’a Cooper and I had a good conversation today during which she shared with me her wishes to transfer. We plan to grant that request. I appreciate all of Te’a’s hard work and her contributions to our program the last two years.”

Cooper averaged 8.6 points, 2.1 assists and 1.2 steals while appearing in 36 games as a true freshman in 2015-16. She missed the 2016-17 season due to injury.

-UT Athletics

 

2017 NCAA Softball Knoxville Regional Preview

2017 NCAA Softball Knoxville Regional Preview

Knoxville Regional / Credit: UT Athletics

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — The No. 8 national seed Tennessee Volunteers begin their quest to return to the Women’s College World Series this week by hosting Ohio State, USC Upstate and Longwood at the NCAA Knoxville Regional from Friday, May 19 through Sunday, May 21.

For more information on the this week’s regional, please visit the Tennessee NCAA Softball Gameday Information page HERE.

Media & Broadcast Info

Every game of the NCAA Knoxville Regional will be streamed on WatchESPN or broadcast on the ESPN family of networks. The opening game of the regional between Ohio State and USC Upstate with be streamed on WatchESPN while Tennessee’s first game against Longwood will feature a national broadcast on ESPN2.

Radio coverage for all Tennessee games will be carried on Sports Radio WNML (FM 99.1 or AM 990) and UTSports.com. Live stats will be available for every game on the Tennessee softball schedule page at UTSports.com HERE.

Game Schedule

View the full NCAA Knoxville Regional schedule below:

Friday

Game 1 | Ohio State vs. USC Upstate | 4:30 p.m. ET| TV: WatchESPN

Game 2 | #8 Tennessee vs. Longwood | 7 p.m. ET | TV: ESPN2

Saturday

Game 3 | Game 1 Winner vs. Game 2 Winner | 12 p.m. ET| TV: TBD

Game 4 | Game 1 Loser vs. Game 2 Loser | 2:30 p.m. ET | TV: TBD

Game 5 | Game 3 Loser vs. Game 4 Winner | 5 p.m. ET | TV: TBD

Sunday

Game 6 | Game 3 Winner vs. Game 5 Winner | 12 p.m. ET| TV: TBD

Game 7 (If Necessary) |Game 6 Winner vs. Game 6 Loser | 2:30 p.m. ET | TV: TBD

Scouting Report

Tennessee Volunteers

No. 8 National Seed | No. 1 Seed in Knoxville Regional

The Vols are making their 14th consecutive NCAA Regional appearance and the 15th overall in program history. UT is also hosting a regional for the 13th straight season. The Big Orange are a top-eight seed for the sixth time in program history (2006, 2007, 2012, 2013, 2015) and are looking to advance to their ninth NCAA Super Regional.

Tennessee enters the NCAA Tournament with a 44-10 overall record and finished in a tie for third in the SEC regular season standings, posting a 16-7 mark in conference play. The Vols had five players earn SEC postseason honors, led by sophomore shortstop Meghan Gregg, who was named the SEC Player of the Year and was also an All-SEC first team selection for the second straight season. Sophomore’s Brooke Vines and Matty Moss were both All-SEC second team picks while Caylan Arnold and Chelsea Seggern were both named to the SEC All-Freshman Team. Arnold was also the league’s Freshman of the Year, becoming the fourth player in program history to earn that honor.

Ohio State Buckeyes

No. 2 Seed in Knoxville Regional

The Buckeyes will make their second consecutive postseason trip to Knoxville after being eliminated by Tennessee in the NCAA Knoxville Regional last year. Ohio State is making its ninth NCAA Regional appearance after posting a 35-16 overall record and a 15-8 mark in Big Ten play, good for a third-place finish. The Buckeyes were the runner-up in the Big Ten Tournament, falling to Minnesota in the championship game.

OSU boasts a powerful lineup that ranks fourth nationally with 1.20 home runs per game. Sophomore infielder Lilli Piper was a unanimous All-Big Ten first team selection and leads the team in most major offensive categories, including batting average (.424), runs (46), hits (73), home runs (17), RBIs (51), slugging (.785) and on-base percentage (.440). Fellow sophomore Emily Clark was also first-team all-conference while Taylor White and Shelby Hursh were named to the second team.

USC Upstate Spartans

No. 3 Seed in Knoxville Regional

The Spartans are making their fifth consecutive NCAA Regional appearance after winning the Atlantic Sun Tournament title for the third straight season. Upstate was also the league’s regular-season champion after posting a 14-4 record in conference play and a 44-11 mark overall.

USC Upstate racked up Atlantic Sun postseason awards with 11 total postseason honors being awarded to players and coaches. Senior pitcher Holly McKinnon was named the league’s unanimous Pitcher of the Year, while Megan Obier was awarded Defensive Player of the Year and Chris Hawkins was tabbed the ASUN Coach of the Year. In addition to the individual award winners, McKinnon was named First Team All-Conference (unanimous) along with Ansley Gilstrap and Ryan Rector. Obier was joined on Second Team All-Conference by Lexi Shubert, Abbie Millete and Brittany Case. Alicia Dorgan earned a unanimous spot on the All-Freshman Team.

The Spartans feature the dominant pitching duo of McKinnon and Shubert, who have combined for 43 of the team’s 44 victories this season, and have ERAs of 1.36 and 1.43, respectively. Upstate’s team ERA of 1.39 ranks seventh nationally.

Longwood Lancers

No. 4 Seed in Knoxville Regional

The Lancers are making their fourth appearance in the NCAA Regionals, with all four of those trips coming over the past five seasons. This is the third time Longwood has been sent to the NCAA Knoxville Regional with previous trips in 2013 and 2015. The Lancers booked their trip to the tournament by winning their third consecutive Big South Tournament Championship, knocking off top-seeded Liberty in the final.

Longwood had seven players earn All-Big South Conference honors, led by first-team selections Elizabeth McCarthy and Kaylynn Batten. McCarthy, a senior pitcher, is the just the second player in program history to earn conference recognition during all four seasons of her career. Other players that earned all-conference accolades include: Jordan Clark (Second Team), Karleigh Donovan (Second Team), Sydney Gay (Second Team), Kasey Carr (Freshman Team) and Kelsey Sweeney (Academic Team).

Fan Information/Stadium Policies

Please be advised that the university’s clear bag policy for all of its athletic venues will be in effect for the NCAA Knoxville Regional and all other events at Sherri Parker Lee Stadium. In order to enhance safety and expedite fan entry at Tennessee athletic events, the university is implementing new safety policies for fans bringing bags into all athletic venues.

Only one clear plastic bag no larger than 12 inches by 6 inches by 12 inches or a one-gallon, clear, resealable plastic storage bag per person will be permitted. Fans will also be allowed a small clutch purse not to exceed 4.5 inches by 6.5 inches. Fans interested in purchasing an approved clear bag may visit the Official Team Store at Neyland Stadium, VolShop locations in the Student Union, 17th & Cumberland Avenue and University Commons; as well as other area retailers.

For more information on the new bag policy and all other stadium policies please visit the NCAA Knoxville Regional Gameday Information page HERE.

What’s Next?

The winner of the NCAA Knoxville Regional will advance to the NCA Super Regionals from May 25-28. Should Tennessee win, they would host the winner of the NCAA College Station Regional next week at Lee Stadium.

-UT Athletics

 

Watch: Keith Urban, Maren Morris, Jason Aldean, Chris Janson and More Smack Down Country Music Misconceptions

Watch: Keith Urban, Maren Morris, Jason Aldean, Chris Janson and More Smack Down Country Music Misconceptions

From dancing in lines in cowboy boots to saying “y’all” through missing teeth, country music artists and their fans can be subjected to particularly cartoonish caricatures and stereotypes.

Elaina Doré Smith, co-host of national radio show Nash Nights Live, got some of today’s biggest country music stars together to put these misconceptions to rest in a hilarious new video.

Watch the video “The Biggest Misconceptions About Country Music Fans and Artists” below.

Watch Keith Urban Sing the National Anthem Before Game 3 of the Nashville Predators Western Conference Finals

Watch Keith Urban Sing the National Anthem Before Game 3 of the Nashville Predators Western Conference Finals

The NHL’s Nashville Predators were back in action against the Anaheim Ducks for Game 3 of the Western Conference Finals on Tuesday night (May 16).

Like the Preds five previous home playoff games, the performance of the national anthem was a star-studded affair—this time it was Keith Urban who had the honor.

In Round 1 of the playoffs against the Chicago Blackhawks, Carrie Underwood (April 17) and Luke Bryan (April 20) sang the national anthem before Games 3 and 4, respectively.

In Round 2 against the St. Louis Blues, Little Big Town (April 30), Vince Gill (May 2) and Lady Antebellum (May 7) had the honors before Games 3, 4 and 6, respectively.

Tonight, Keith got the call to perform the anthem before the Preds’ first home playoff game in Round 3. Watch Keith sing the anthem in front of the sellout crowd.

Miranda Lambert and Her Mutts Are Hitting the Streets of Nashville for Inaugural MuttNation March

Miranda Lambert and Her Mutts Are Hitting the Streets of Nashville for Inaugural MuttNation March

Miranda Lambert and her pet pooches will be taking part in the first-ever MuttNation March through downtown Nashville on Thursday, June 8, during CMA Fest week. The almost-one-mile march, which aims to raise awareness and funds for shelter pet adoption, will start at Nissan Stadium, continue across the Nashville pedestrian bridge and end in downtown Nashville.

Miranda wants you and your pups to join the fun.

For $15, you can purchase a ticket and walk your dog(s) in the march. Every person who purchases a ticket gets a MuttNation t-shirt, which you can pick up before the march on June 8, as well as entry into a sweepstakes where the winner gets to join Miranda at an animal shelter makeover (transportation and hotel provided at a to-be-announced location). Even if you can’t join the march, you can still enter to win the sweepstakes for $10 or more—the more you donate, the cooler the swag, including a signed e-card ($25), photo of Miranda and her dog ($50), t-shirt ($100) and an autographed The Weight of These Wings coffee table book ($1,500).

 

Watch Grade-Schoolers Touching Performance of Tim McGraw’s “Humble and Kind” for One of Their Friends

Watch Grade-Schoolers Touching Performance of Tim McGraw’s “Humble and Kind” for One of Their Friends

Tim McGraw’s 2016 No. 1 hit, “Humble and Kind,” is a powerful reminder that humility is something you have to work toward. The tune, which was penned by Lori McKenna, also had a powerful effect on critics—it won the 2016 CMA Award for Song of the Year and 2017 Grammy Award for Best Country Song.

“Humble and kind—that’s the kind of person you always want to try to be, and that’s the person I’ve always tried to be,” said Tim to NCD in 2016. “I certainly haven’t always succeeded at it at times. That’s what I love about that song—it’s probably one of my favorite songs that I’ve ever recorded, and I think, as a father, that’s what you want to tell your kids and that’s what you want your kids to live by. It’s certainly something you heard as a kid growing up that you were sort of taught, and as you get older, you can get something out of that song, too.”

It looks like both adults and children are still getting something out of the song.

Third, fourth, fifth and sixth graders at an elementary school in Lanesboro, Minn., recently performed the song for a fellow classmate at an assembly for friends and family. Accompanied only by a piano, the school kids perform a touching rendition of the tune.

Watch the performance below.

video courtesy Hollie Clarke’s Facebook

Tim McGraw image courtesy PMK-BNC

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