Solon Page III LB Marietta, GA 6’2″ 200 (3-star) Committed 4/16/16
Josh Ward’s Take:
Page might be the most underrated player in Tennessee’s signing class. Others at his position have received more attention, but Page earned Parade All-America honorable mention honors. How much weight Page adds will determine his best position in college.
Kivon Bennett DT Fort Lauderdale, FL 6’3″ 255 (4-star) Committed 6/19/16
Josh Ward’s Take:
Bennett was a standout at St. Thomas Aquinas, one of the nation’s premiere high school football programs. He was named the team’s MVP in its matchup in the GEICO State Champions Bowl Series in December. Bennett is a key member for the Vols’ signing class.
Deandre Johnson DE Miami, FL 6’3″ 234 (3-star) Committed 12/11/16 (Early E)
Josh Ward’s Take:
Johnson is already on campus and could help Tennessee as a rotation player on Tennessee’s defensive line in 2017. Rivals.com National Scouting Director Mike Farrell named Johnson a “sleeper” in the class during a recent interview on WNML.
Today (Feb. 1), Sam Hunt released his new single, “Body Like a Back Road,” a tune he co-wrote with Zach Crowell, Josh Osborne and Shane McAnally. The single is part of Sam’s plan to release new music as he finishes it, instead of delaying the release to make it part of a larger project.
“As I write these songs, I don’t want to sit on them for as long as it takes me to finish a record before I put them out, so I’m just going to try to put them out as I write them and finish them,” says Sam to NCD. “As quick as I can get them done, I’ll be shooting them out.
“[“Body Like a Back Road”] is a lighthearted song that was a lot of fun to write. I’ve been writing songs over the past, I guess, year and a half, trying to conceptualize a new record and it kinda started taking a heavy direction, and I sat down at one point and was like, ‘OK, I’m gonna lighten this up a little bit, it needs a lighter flair.’ [“Body Like a Back Road”] sort of swings, and hopefully it’s easy to listen to and will put a smile on some folks’ faces.
“I wrote it with my producer Zach Crowell, Josh Osborne and Shane McAnally. [I wrote] it after I got engaged. 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.”
Check out the new song below.
Sam Hunt “Body Like A Back Road”
Written by Sam Hunt, Zach Crowell, Josh Osborne & Shane McAnally
Produced by Zach Crowell
Got a girl from the Southside
Got braids in her hair
First time I seen her walk by
’Bout fell up out my chair
Had to get her number
Took me like 6 weeks
Now me and her go way back
Like Cadillac seats
Chorus:
Body like a back road
Could drive it with my eyes closed
I know every curve like the back of my hand
Doin’ 15 in a 30
I ain’t in no hurry
I’ma take it slow just as fast as I can
The way she fit in them blue jeans
She don’t need no belt
But I can turn ’em inside out
I don’t need no help
Got hips like honey
So thick and so sweet
Ain’t no curves like hers
On them downtown streets
(Repeat Chorus)
We’re out here in the boondocks
With the breeze and the birds
Tangled up in the tall grass
With my lips on hers
On a highway to Heaven
Headed south of her smile
Get there when we get there
Every inch is a mile
(Repeat Chorus)
I’m take it slow just as fast I can
Shawn ShamburgerDB Moultrie, GA 5’11” 185 (3-star) Committed 11/4/16
Josh Ward’s Take:
Shamburger transferred high schools before his senior season and greatly improved his status as a prospect when he was able to face stronger competition. Shamburger could prove to be a “sleeper” in the class who will have an opportunity to make an impact at cornerback.
Will McBride QB League City, TX 6’2″ 200 (3-star) Committed 12/12/16 (Early E)
Josh Ward’s Take:
Tennessee needed to land someone like McBride, who was able to enroll in school in January. The depth chart for Tennessee could be up in the air in 2017, which made McBride’s ability to go through spring practice vital. Height is the biggest question mark for McBride, but he’s a good athlete with a solid arm.
Matthew Butler DE Garner, NC 6’4″ 265 (3-star) Committed 12/20/16
Josh Ward’s Take:
Tennessee spent a lot of time during the recruiting process pursuing Butler, who could develop into a defensive tackle at the college level. He’s a physical lineman who performed well at the Shrine Bowl following his senior season.
Riley Locklear OL Huntington, WV 6’5″ 285 (4-star) Committed 7/8/16 (Early E)
Josh Ward’s Take:
Locklear enrolled at Tennessee in January and arrives as one of the top players from West Virginia. Locklear, who had a strong senior season, will likely be a redshirt candidate in 2017 with the opportunity to play a big role in 2018.
Known for making working-class songs like “You’ve Got to Stand for Something, “Working Man’s Ph.D.” and “Kiss This” a part of the country music landscape in the ’90s, Aaron Tippin is taking his own working-class attitude on the road in 2017.
The “As Close as I Get to Loving You” singer will crisscross the country when the tour kicks off on Feb. 9 in Airway Heights, Wash., making stops in Nashville, Tampa and Anchorage, as well as a few stops in Canada.
“Wow, looks like I’m going to be busy this year!” said Aaron in a statement. “I’m so thankful that the fans still come out and spend their hard earned money to see me. I know there’s a million other things they could be doing so it’s very humbling and much appreciated that they let me keep doing what I love. We’re going to have a blast in 2017!”
In addition to the tour, Aaron has released Aaron Tippin 25, a two-disc set of 25 songs that consists of 10 re-recorded versions of his biggest hits, as well as 15 brand-new songs, to celebrate 25 years in the business. Aaron Tippin 25 is available at iTunes.
Aaron Tippin Tour Dates
Feb 9 / Airway Heights, Wash. / Northern Quest Casino
Feb 10 / Pendleton, Ore. / Wildhorse Resort & Casino
Feb 11 / Fort Hall, Idaho / Fort Hall Casino
Feb 17 / Hinckley, Minn. / Grand Casino Hinckley Event Center
Feb 18 / Nashville / Grand Ole Opry
Feb 20 / Tampa, Fla. / Florida State Fair
Feb 24 / Youngsville, La. / Route 92
Feb 25 / Panama City Beach, Fla. / Panama City Beach Mardi Gras & Music Festival
March 9 / Bridgewater, Nova Scotia, Canada / Lunenbury County Lifestyle Centre
March 10/ New Glasgow, Nova Scotia, Canada / Pictou County Wellness Center
March 11 / Moncton, New Brunswick, Canada / The Centre at Casino New Brunswick
March 18 / Kissimmee, Fla. / Runaway Country
March 25 / Louisa, Va. / Louisa Arts Center
April 22 / Yorktown, Texas / 5D Steakhouse & Lounge
May 5 / Fort Myers, Fla. / The Ranch
May 6 / Live Oak, Fla. / Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park
May 12 / Bulverde, Texas / Tejas Rodeo
May 26 / Anderson, Ind. / Hoosier Park Racing Casino
May 27 / Seneca, S.C. / City of Seneca
May 29 / Victorville, Calif. / San Bernardino County Fair
June 8 / Del Mar, Calif. / San Diego County Fair
June 17 / Bowling Green, Ky. / BGWC Regional Airport
July 1 / Ninety Six, S.C. / 9th Annual South Carolina Festival of Stars
July 2 / Milner – Ga. / Rock Springs Church
July 15 / Beckley, W.Va. / Friends of Coal Auto Fair
July 21 / Herman, Minn. / Grant County Fair
Aug 5 / Cobleskill, N.Y. / Sunshine Fair
Aug 10 / Point Pleasant, W.Va. / Mason County Fair
Aug 11 / Milledgeville, Ill. / Carroll County Fair
Aug 25 / Miles City, Mont. / Eastern Montana Fair
Aug 31 / DuQuoin, Ill. / DuQuoin State Fair
Sept 1 / Philippi, W.Va. / Barbour County Fair
Sept 13 / Sioux Falls, S.D. / Jeschke Fine Arts Center
Sept 15 / Jamestown, N.D. / Jamestown Civic Center
Sept 16 / Bismarck – N.D. / Bismarck Civic Center
Sept 18 / Casper, Wy. / Casper Events Center
Sept 20 / Evanston, Wy. / Evanston High School
Sept 22 / Jackson, Ohio / Jackson Apple Festival
Sept 28 / Manteo, N.C. / Roanoke Island Festival Park
Sept 30 / McMinnville, Tenn. / Cumberland Caverns
Oct 7 / Winchester, Ohio / Red Barn Convention Center
Oct 14 / Jefferson, Iowa / Wild Rose Casino & Resorts
Oct 16 / Hiawassee, Ga. / Anderson Music Hall
Oct 20 / Kenai, AK / Kenai High School
Oct 21 / Anchorage, Alaska / William A. Egan Civic & Convention Center
Oct 22 / Fairbanks, Alaska / Carlson Center
Oct 24 / Juneau, Alaska / Elizabeth Peratrovich Hall
Oct 26 / Ketchikan, Alaska / Ketchikan High School
Oct 28 / Springfield, Ga. / Springfield Fall Festival
Photo Courtesy Absolute Publicity
It was a big day for Brandy Clark as she made her Today show debut (Jan. 31) by performing a song from her new album, Big Day in a Small Town.
The singer/songwriter performed “Love Can Go to Hell”—the second single from her critically acclaimed sophomore album—for her debut. Briefly talking to hosts Hoda Kotb and Kathie Lee Gifford, Brandy said, “This song I’m going to do is up for [Grammy] Best Solo Country Performance, by me.”
Brandy, who has written many songs for other artists, including Miranda Lambert and Jennifer Nettles, will be heading to Los Angeles for the Grammy Awards on February 12, where she is nominated for two awards: Best Country Album for Big Day in a Small Town and Best Country Solo performance for “Love Can Go to Hell.”
Check out Brandy’s performance of “Love Can Go to Hell” on Today.
