More than 100,000 people hit the beach in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla., this past weekend (April 7-9) for the fifth annual Tortuga Music Festival—breaking previous attendance records of years past.
The 3-day festival featured a multitude of performers, including Kenny Chesney, Luke Bryan, Chris Stapleton, Alan Jackson, Brett Eldredge, Dustin Lynch, Darius Rucker, LoCash and Maren Morris.
“It’s a tremendous feeling to see Tortuga grow it’s fifth year in a row,” said Evan Harrison, CEO, Huka Entertainment. “The energy from the artists and fans fueled by our festive beach setting truly create a magical experience.”
Nash Country Daily has a comprehensive photo gallery of all the performances happening at Tortuga, that included Kenny Chesney performing “Save It For A Rainy Day,” Chris Stapleton debuing four new songs from his From A Room: Vol. 1 album, Alan Jackson treating the crowd to “5 O’Clock Somewhere,” Darius Rucker singing Hootie and the Blowfish classics and covering Prince’s “Purple Rain” and the crowd joining Maren Morris for every word of “My Church.”
Check out photos from country’s biggest beach party, a.k.a., 2017 Tortuga Music Festival.
After announcing their “mutual” split and calling for “privacy” on April 8, William Michael Morgan and Jennifer Wayne proceeded to remain anything but “private” over the weekend as both performed concerts and made numerous social media posts.
Time, friends and jägerbombs heal all wounds.
Below, you can check out the former couple’s plea for privacy on April 8, as well as what they did over their first post-breakup weekend.
Thank you for your support and respecting our privacy during this time.
The Voice alum Morgan Wallen recently released a new video for his single, “The Way I Talk,” which is currently No. 38 on Billboard’s Country Airplay chart.
“‘The Way I Talk’ is a song that lets the world know who I am right off the bat—the way I was raised and the things I love,” Morgan tells Nash Country Daily. “Even though it’s a song that tells my story, I believe that everyone can insert their own experiences and things they love.”
The Sneedville, Tenn., native is currently working on his debut album, which he hopes to release later this year. In addition to co-penning A Thousand Horses’ new single, “Preachin’ to the Choir,” Morgan will be joining Florida Georgia Line’s Dig Your Roots Tour for select dates in April.
UT’s Pete Derkay (L) & Andre Lipcius (R) / Credit: UT Athletics
GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Battling to overcome an early five-run deficit against No.7-ranked Florida on Sunday, Tennessee came up short in a 5-4 series finale at McKethan Stadium.
With the loss, Tennessee moves to 17-12 overall and 3-9 in SEC play, while the Florida Gators now stand at 21-11 (6-6 SEC) on the season.
This weekend, the Vols took their first series victory (2-1) over the Gators since April 2008, as well as their first series win in Gainesville since the 2007 season.
Each of Tennessee’s three games against the Gators this weekend were decided by one run.
For the second straight game, catcher Benito Santiago led the Volunteers at the plate with a 2-for-5 effort, while designated hitter Pete Derkay (2-for-3, RBI) also had multiple hits on the day.
A bases-loaded, RBI grounder to third by Gators leadoff man Deacon Liput gave UF a 1-0 lead in the second inning.
With runners on the corners in the next frame, a wild pitch from starter Zach Linginfelter brought another run home for UF, making it a 2-0 ballgame.
Florida cushioned its lead to 5-0 in the fourth, bringing three runs across on a bases-loaded walk, sac fly and RBI grounder through the right side.
Tennessee staged a rally in the sixth, as Jordan Rodgers, Santiago and Andre Lipcius reached on three consecutive base hits to begin the inning. With bases loaded, Derkay was hit by a pitch to score Rodgers before pinch hitters Will Heflin and Luc Lipcius each recorded RBIs to trim Florida’s lead to 5-3.
In the eighth, Tennessee would add a run to its total and make it a one-run game at 5-4. With runners on the corners and no outs, Dom Thornton punched an RBI single through the right side.
UT’s rally came up short in the ninth as Florida tracked down three, deep fly balls to the outfield to end the game.
On the mound for UT, Linginfelter went 2.1 innings with the Sunday start and allowed two runs on four hits in the loss.
With the loss, Tennessee moves to 86-150 all-time vs. Florida, including a 39-82 mark in games played in Gainesville, Fla.
Tennessee’s Friday and Saturday wins gave the Vols their first series win over Florida since 2008, as well as the program’s first series win in Gainesville since the 2007 season.
RODGER(S) THAT: With his two-out walk in the first inning vs. Florida, Jordan Rodgers has now reached base safely in each of his 28 games started this season.
On Deck for the Vols: Tennessee travels to Johnson City, Tenn., on Tuesday, April 11 to take on ETSU at 6:30 p.m. ET. The Vols then play host to the SEC’s Auburn Tigers for three games in Knoxville (Thursday, April 13 – Saturday, April 15).
LEXINGTON, Ky. — No. 17 Tennessee earned its first SEC series sweep on the road since 2015 with a 9-3 win over No. 20 Kentucky on Sunday afternoon at John Cropp Stadium.
The last time the Volunteers swept an SEC road series was April of 2015 at Mississippi State. UT has now swept three consecutive opponents over the past three weekends and has won 14 straight games overall.
Scarlet McSwain and Meghan Gregg led the charge offensively for UT, combining for three hits and eight RBIs on the afternoon. McSwain hit a grand slam in the first inning to give the Vols an early lead and added an RBI single in the second to tie her career high with five RBIs. Gregg drove in three more runs with a bases-loaded double in the third to increase her nation-leading RBI total to 57.
Caylan Arnold got the starting nod for the second straight game and battled through five innings to earn the win and improve to 15-4 on the season. The freshman right-hander gave up three runs on nine hits but also tied a career high with nine strikeouts and reached the 100 strikeout mark for the year.
For the third straight game the Vols jumped out to a lead in the top of the first inning. UT took advantage of three walks from UK starting pitcher Larissa Spellman when McSwain hammered the first pitch she saw over the left-field wall for her second-career grand slam.
The Big Orange (35-5, 9-3 SEC) didn’t stop there, as Katie Weimer doubled with two outs and came around to score on a triple off the wall by Chelsea Seggern to give the Vols a 5-0 lead after one half inning of play.
The Wildcats (24-11, 5-7 SEC) responded right away with two runs of their own in the bottom of the first. Breanne Ray had the big hit with a two-out single to center field to drive in a pair of runs and cut the UT lead to 5-2.
McSwain came up with another clutch, two-out hit in the second to drive in Aubrey Leach and extend the lead to four. The Vols plated three more runs in the third inning to give them their largest lead of the afternoon. Gregg drilled a 3-2 pitch to left center for a bases-clearing, three-run double to make it 9-2.
Kentucky tried to battle back and got two more RBI singles from Ray, who finished the day with three hits and four RBIs, but it wasn’t enough as Matty Moss closed the door over the final two innings to preserve the win.
SWEEP CITY: With Sunday’s win, Tennessee has now swept three straight weekend series’ and two straight in conference play (Ole Miss & Kentucky). The Vols have also swept the Wildcats two straight times and won seven straight in the series against them.
McSWAIN ON FIRE:Scarlet McSwain continued her torrid stretch at the plate, tying a career high with five RBIs in Sunday’s victory. The junior from Paris, Tenn., reached base in all four plate appearances, going 2-for-2 with two walks, a single and a grand slam. For the series, McSwain batted .500 with 10 RBIs and had a hit and an RBI in all three games.
BIG ORANGE BATS: The Big Orange brought out the big bats for Sunday’s series finale, cranking out nine runs on eight hits. The Vols have now scored five or more runs in 30 of their 40 games this season, including all three games of this weekend’s series. UT also scored in seven of the 19 innings this weekend and plated multiple runs in the first inning of each game.
UP NEXT: The Vols return to the friendly confines of Sherri Parker Lee Stadium for a Tuesday doubleheader against Tennessee State. First pitch is set for 5 p.m. and fans can listen to Brian Rice call the action on Sports Radio WNML (AM 990) and UTSports.com starting at 6 p.m.
Lauren Alaina has worked tirelessly since appearing on Season 10 of American Idol, finishing in the runner-up position behind Scotty McCreery. The hard work has paid off for the young singer, as she received the news that her current single, “Road Less Traveled,” has hit the No. 1 spot.
Lauren took to Facebook to share a heartfelt thank you to all the folks who supported her, especially her fans.
“I’m a mess. I just got a call from my label that said “Road Less Traveled,” Lauren said in the post as she broke down in tears. “I can’t even say it. I just wanted to get on here and say thank you to everyone. I just got a call from my label that said “Road Less Traveled” is the number one song in the country. I just wanted to get on here an say thank you to everyone who has supported me since the beginning.”
The 22- year-old went on to thank her co-writers, her promo team and country radio through tears.
“You guys, we did it. We have the number one song in the country. And I’m a mess, clearly. I’m sorry I’m ugly crying. I wanted to say thank you to everyone and say I hope it’s the first of many. ”
Listen to Lauren thank everyone for her No. 1 hit, “Road Less Traveled.”
An hour later, Lauren composed herself and posted another video celebrating her number one hit, with horns and a malfunctioning party popper.
A little more than three months after announcing their engagement, William Michael Morgan and Runaway June’s Jennifer Wayne have called off the betrothal.
William Michael and Jennifer made statements via social media this afternoon (April 7).
WWM’s Facebook post stated: “Jennifer and I have called off our engagement. We came to the mutual agreement that this is what’s best for both of us right now. Thank you for your support and respecting our privacy during this time.”
Jennifer released a statement on Twitter, saying: “William and I have called off our engagement. We came to the mutual agreement that this is what’s best for both of us right now.”
William and I have called off our engagement. We came to the mutual agreement that this is what’s best for both of us right now.
William Michael and Jennifer announced their engagement on Twitter on Dec. 30 with a post on Jennifer’s Twitter that read: “It’s you and me… Forever 🙂 @wmmorgan”
The post has since been deleted.
The good news is that the breakup was “mutual,” so no hard feelings, right?
photos: William Michael Morgan by Jack Guy/Monarch Publicity; Jennifer Wayne courtesy Red Light Management
Lisa talks with Sunny Sweeney about getting through life’s challenges with sarcasm and humor, how great Lori McKenna is at songwriting, not being discounted because she’s a woman, being successful because she’s as good as or better than any man, her new album, Trophy, and more.
Blake Shelton and Ryman Hospitality Properties have teamed up to transform Blake’s 2001 breakout hit, “Ol’ Red,” into two new venues in Nashville and his hometown of Tishomingo, Okla.
Construction is underway on Blake’s new entertainment venue on Main Street in his hometown. Old Red Tishomingo, which is scheduled to open in fall 2017, will include a 4,700-square-foot restaurant and performance space as well as a 1,400-square-foot retail store.
“This song has been such a big record for me, and now it’s turned into this,” said Blake. “It’s pretty incredible . . . When you go in there, it’s going to be our lifestyle, our lifestyle here in Tishomingo.”
Artist rendering of Ole Red Nashville
In addition to his Tishomingo venue, Blake is set to open a second Ole Red location in Nashville in 2018. Ole Red Nashville at 300 Broadway will be a multi-level 26,000-square-foot entertainment venue, with a two-story bar and restaurant, retail area, performance space, dance floor and private VIP booths for small groups. The complex will also include a large, private event space and a 6,000-square-foot rooftop featuring an indoor/outdoor bar and restaurant with panoramic views of Lower Broadway.
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