Watch Cassadee Pope Perform “Kisses at Airports” on the Hallmark Channel

Watch Cassadee Pope Perform “Kisses at Airports” on the Hallmark Channel

As Cassadee Pope gears up for the Grammys in three weeks (she’s nominated for Best Country Duo/Group Performance for “Think of You” with Chris Young), she stopped by the Hallmark Channel’s Home & Family to chat with the hosts and perform an acoustic version of “Kisses at Airports.” The tune, which was written by Jessi Alexander, Connie Harrington and Chase McGill, is featured on Cassadee’s 2016 EP, Summer.

Check out Cassadee’s performance below, and be sure to keep an eye out for her at the Grammys on Feb. 12.

Luke Bryan to Serve as Mentor for Blake Shelton’s Team on “The Voice”

Luke Bryan to Serve as Mentor for Blake Shelton’s Team on “The Voice”

Luke Bryan kicked the dust up on The Voice in May 2015 when he performed during the Season 8 finale. On Season 12 of The Voice in 2017, Luke is kicking it as an advisor for Blake Shelton’s team during the battle rounds.

Luke will serve as a mentor for Team Blake members during the battle rounds, where they compete against each other to keep their spot on Blake’s squad. Luke will assist the contestants with song arrangement and stage presence, among other variables. Luke filmed his episodes in Los Angeles last week.

“I’m not kidding, I probably could dig up emails about this, I’ve been trying to get [Luke] to do this for me, I swear, for three years, three years probably,” said Blake in an Access Hollywood interview.

“I really don’t feel any pressure, [Blake has] obviously been successful without me,” said Luke to Access Hollywood. “It’s just fun to be here and see new talent, new artists with a lot of dreams. I hope I can—I always want to help facilitate people’s dreams.”

Season 12 of The Voice will premiere on Feb. 27 on NBC with coaches Blake Shelton, Adam Levine, Gwen Stefani and Alicia Keys.

photo by Ethan Miller/ACM

Watch Chris Janson Perform “Holdin’ Her” on the “Today” Show

Watch Chris Janson Perform “Holdin’ Her” on the “Today” Show

Chris Janson stopped by the Today show (Jan. 23) to perform his current single, “Holdin’ Her,” a tune he co-penned with James Otto that is currently No. 28 on Billboard’s Country Airplay chart.

“The cool thing about ‘Holdin’ Her’ is seeing the song grow as it has,” said Chris to Nash Country Daily. “It’s a lot of people’s story, man. There’s a lot of people—it’s refreshing to see—there’s a lot of people in the world who still believe in true love, and they still live in true love, and they have found it. No matter what avenue, whether they’ve come from a split background, a divorce, a split-up, whatever it may be, or maybe they just married once and forever, or maybe they’re not married, maybe they’re very much in love. ‘Holdin’ Her’ translates with all walks of life, which has been a very cool and universal thing that. It has exceeded all of my greatest expectations.”

Watch Chris’ performance of “Holdin’ Her” on Today below.

Ayla Brown Takes Part in 58th Annual Inauguration Day Festivities [Photo Gallery]

Ayla Brown Takes Part in 58th Annual Inauguration Day Festivities [Photo Gallery]

Every four years the ceremony that celebrates the commencement of a new president of the United States takes place in Washington, D.C. This year country singer Ayla Brown was proud to take part in the festivities celebrating the inauguration of our 45th President of the United States, Donald J. Trump.

The daughter of former Massachusetts Senator Scott Brown, Ayla has been familiar with politics from a young age. After putting the word out that she would be honored to participate in the inauguration, she got the call to sing the national anthem at the Heroes Ball IV: A Rock and Roll Salute to the Armed Services the night before the inauguration (Jan. 19).

“As a performer, I see the opportunity to perform at any inauguration in history as the highest honor,” she told the Boston Herald in an interview. “It’s a shame that not everyone sees it that way.”

Ayla, who’s album Let Love In is currently available, shared some photos with Nash Country Daily from her weekend in D.C. and gave us a rundown of her experience at the 58th annual Inauguration of the President of the United States.

“On January 20, 2017, I was able to participate in history! A few weeks prior, I received an official invitation to the Presidential Inauguration from the RNC and immediately purchased my tickets to the Make America Great Again Welcome Concert, the Inauguration and the Official Presidential Ball. As a country music singer, my dream has always been to sing at either a Super Bowl or a Presidential Inauguration, and I was asked to sing the national anthem at the Heroes Ball IV with Bret Michaels in front of over 600 military members, veterans, and Gold Star families. It was so memorable and I can now cross that accomplishment off my bucket list, which feels SO GOOD!

“Traffic was so bad in Washington DC because so many of the roads were closed off. And even the access points into the city were closed because of the protests. So I hopped on the Metro and took the train into the city and walked to the Presidential Ball! I have to say, that was the funniest part of the trip. Seeing a six-foot tall girl in a long gown, sitting on the Metro going to see the 45th President of the United States. In a nutshell, I will never forget my time in DC. All politics aside, I was honored to take part in such an historical day!”

 

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7EH2mGej4us

Photos courtesy Ayla Brown

In the 50-Year History of the Super Bowl, Only 5 Country Artists Have Performed the National Anthem [Watch ’Em]

In the 50-Year History of the Super Bowl, Only 5 Country Artists Have Performed the National Anthem [Watch ’Em]

In the 50-year history of the Super Bowl, only five country artists have performed the national anthem before the big game: Charley Pride, Garth Brooks, Faith Hill, Dixie Chicks and Carrie Underwood. At Super Bowl LI (51) this year, Luke Bryan will add his name to the list as he sings “The Star Spangled Banner” before the Patriots and Falcons play on Feb. 5.

In addition to the aforementioned list of country stars, a few other artists with country ties have performed the national anthem at the Super Bowl, including Neil Diamond in 1987 (don’t you recall his 1996 country album, Tennessee Moon?), Jewel in 1998 and Kelly Clarkson in 2012.

But Charley, Garth, Faith, the Chicks and Carrie are the only PURE country songsters to tackle the anthem, which is no easy task considering that more than 70,000 people will be at this year’s game to watch Luke, and millions more will be watching around the world.

Take a look at our country contingent perform the anthem at their respective Super Bowls.

Charley Pride
Super Bowl VIII (8), 1974
Houston, Texas
Attendance: 71,882
Dolphins–24, Vikings–7

Garth Brooks
Super Bowl XXVII (27), 1993
Pasadena, California
Attendance: 98,374
Cowboys–52, Bills–17

Faith Hill
Super Bowl XXXIV (34), 2000
Atlanta, Georgia
Attendance: 72,625
Rams–23, Titans–16

Dixie Chicks
Super Bowl XXXVII (37), 2003
San Diego, California
Attendance: 67,603
Buccaneers–48, Raiders–21

Carrie Underwood
Super Bowl XLIV (44), 2010
Miami, Florida
Attendance: 74,059
Saints–31, Colts–17

 

photos: Dixie Chicks courtesy Dixie Chicks; Faith Hill courtesy PFA Medai; Garth Brooks by Mark Tucker/Sony Music Nashville; Charley Pride by Ben De Rienzo/Absolute Publicity; Carrie Underwood courtesy Schmidt Relations

Lady Antebellum’s Charles Kelley, Hillary Scott and Dave Haywood Reveal Breaking Up Was Never an Option

Lady Antebellum’s Charles Kelley, Hillary Scott and Dave Haywood Reveal Breaking Up Was Never an Option

When Lady Antebellum’s Charles Kelley, Hillary Scott and Dave Haywood decided to take a break in 2015 at the end of their 747 World Tour, rumors and speculation began to swirl that the band was done, kaput, breaking up.

Soon after Charles released his solo album, The Driver, Hillary teamed with her family for a faith-based album, Love Remains, and Dave took on other projects producing music, including country trio Post Monroe’s EP. It looked like the members of the band were going their separate ways. But those rumors were put to rest when the trio resurfaced on Thursday (Jan. 19) with a new single, “You Look Good.” The idea of breaking up after the hiatus was not even a thought that crossed their minds.

“Not even the slightest, honestly, we always knew what we were doing,” Charles tells Nash Country Daily. “It may have seemed kind of odd to everybody outside, but we knew. We just needed this time more than anything away and we could give the fans a little break from us too, you know?”

“Creatively, I mean we didn’t know where we wanted to go,” Dave adds. “I think that’s what we were taking a break from, was more of the creative mindset. It was like, we need a breather, we got to reset and figure out how to get back in the writing room and start like we did in 2006—with that kind of excitement and innocence and write that way.”

“We saw each other every day last year anyway,” Dave continues. “It was more of a creative, how do we get away, get back to the drawing board musically? Like Charles said, you need sometime to get refreshed and re-energize. I feel like this excitement, we haven’t felt. Even just the buzz this morning for us, I don’t think we felt like this in probably four or five years. Just that kind of—it’s new, it’s fresh.”

lady-antebellum-you-look-good

The good news for Lady A fans is that the “break” has gotten the band’s creative juices flowing again. Charles, Hillary and Dave are back.

“We got to go be inspired by just living life, by doing whatever passion projects we wanted to chase,” said Hillary. “We went to a lot of live shows—together we went to see Adele, Stevie Nicks when she came through. I mean just a lot of different opportunities to find inspiration. To be able to plug in to the creative process, to be able to creatively explore and just connect was really awesome. To remove all of our day in, day out routine and get out of town. We went down to Florida, brought in eight writers over the course of a week and we got nine songs in four days. One of them being ‘Heart Break,’ the title of the album. We just kind of flipped everything on its head. We’ve been able to write on the road for the most part over the past few years. Once our career really took off and we were traveling so much—you get to a point with families and other responsibilities that it gets hard to really find that time.”

The result of that inspiration is the groups return single, “You Look Good,” written by Hillary Lindsey, Ryan Hurd and producer busbee (Keith Urban, Maren Morris). The song has a funky ’70s-sound, including a horn section, which is a different vibe for the threesome.

“They like, ‘Hey, who that there with the shades?’ / Like oh, the way you move to the bass / Hold up, whole room gets to spinnin’ / From the second that you walk in it / Baby, you look good, all day all night / You look good, so fresh so fine / You look good, got everybody watchin’ you / Like cameras in Hollywood / Baby, you look good / Oh, baby, you look good,” the trio sings in the chorus.

“It’s kind of funky,” reveals Charles. “We always like to throw curve balls for sure when it comes to singles. There is a lot on the record that I think people will feel a little more reminiscent to what we’ve done in the past. I don’t know why we always just love to catch people off guard. The label really gravitated to this song, the minute we played them a few songs. They were just like, ‘Oh my gosh the horns, it just sounds fresh and different and like you all are having fun.’ So we felt like it would be a good first start. I mean the title track “Heart Break” is probably all our favorites too—I know that will be a single down the road too.”

“You Look Good” is just a taste of what you will hear on Lady A’s new album, Heart Break, when it drops on June 9. The threesome held a party in Nashville Thursday night (Jan 19) to preview some of their new music that will be found on the album, including their current single, “You Look Good,” the album’s title track, “Heart Break” and “Somebody Else’s Heart.”

In addition to the single and album, Lady A is pulling kicking off their You Look Good World Tour on May 26 with more than 65 shows in six countries. Joining them on the road will be country’s golden girl, Kelsea Ballerini, and newcomer Brett Young.

“Yeah in May, we got Kelsea Ballerini coming out with us,” Charles said. “This new guy, Brett Young, who is just on fire. It’s just going to be a fun summer and to have a song like ‘You Look Good’— by the time we’re out on tour, hopefully everybody will be knowing it. Just to have another really fun, funky song to perform live—to me, it helps take the show to that next level.”

Photo by Chris Hollo/ABC

Luke Bryan to Perform the National Anthem at This Year’s Super Bowl

Luke Bryan to Perform the National Anthem at This Year’s Super Bowl

During the NFL pre-game show on Fox today (Jan. 22), Luke Bryan announced that he will be performing the national anthem at this year’s Super Bowl.

“Hey guys, it’s Luke Bryan here, and I’m so excited to announce that I will be performing the national anthem at Super Bowl 51 live from NRG Stadium in Houston, Texas, right here on Fox, Sunday, February 5.”

Luke will be the first country star since Carrie Underwood in 2010 to sing the national anthem at the Super Bowl.

The Georgia native will travel to Houston on Feb. 5 to perform “The Star Spangled Banner” at Super Bowl 51. Tune in to Fox at 5:30 p.m. for the big game.

 

Crystal Gayle Becomes the Newest Member of the Grand Ole Opry

Crystal Gayle Becomes the Newest Member of the Grand Ole Opry

When Crystal Gayle made her debut performance on the Grand Ole Opry 50 years ago, she was a wide-eyed, nervous teenager. On Saturday night (Jan. 21), Crystal still felt a twinge of the nerves, but for an entirely different reason. She was about to become an official member of the Grand Ole Opry. And as Crystal joined the prestigious Opry family, her sister, country music icon Loretta Lynn, was on hand to perform the official induction. Loretta also gave the packed house at Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium an extra treat as she sang three of her classics during the ceremony.

Before her induction, Crystal met with members of the media to discuss her big night and share special memories of her career. “It’s been a long day but it’s been incredible,” she began, “I’m getting really nervous, too.” Crystal added that a case of the nerves is often a prelude to any performance that she gives. “But this is to a different degree,” she noted with a pleased grin.

Her knees were likely shaking that night in 1967 at the historic Ryman when Crystal first performed on the Opry. The 16-year-old was serving as a fill-in for Loretta, who had taken ill and was unable to perform. Crystal lovingly recalled that her mother made “a little shiny dress” for her to wear for the occasion. “I kept it all these years,” Crystal said. “I got to sing a song in Loretta’s place. I chose ‘Ribbon of Darkness,’ the old Marty Robbins song. I was very nervous, but I can still remember standing there on that stage.”

loretta-lynn-crystal-gayle-opry-induction3

Loretta joined Crystal and told the media members that she saw talent in her baby sister from a young age. “I knew it when she first started singing when she was about two years old,” Loretta said. “My daddy said she sounded like Molly O’Day. I have been proud of her ever since she has been on this earth, [and now] I’m so proud that she is getting to be a member of the Grand Ole Opry. Now we’re both members.”

Later in the evening, Loretta walked to the Ryman stage to roars of applause and performed three of her biggest hits: “Fist City,” “You’re Lookin’ At Country” and “You Ain’t Woman Enough.” As she handed Crystal her official Opry membership award, Loretta declared, “This is a special night for me.”

Crystal noted in return, “Being a member of the Grand Ole Opry is just incredible.” She also pointed to the side of the stage where that “little shiny dress” she wore on her Opry debut was displayed. Crystal delighted the house with a performance of her signature song, the CMA and Grammy-winning “Don’t It Make My Brown Eyes Blue.”

To fittingly close out the night, Crystal, Loretta and their sister Betty joined forces for Loretta’s classic “Coal Miner’s Daughter.” Everyone exited smiling.

Photos by Chris Hollo/Hollophotographics for Grand Ole Opry

Watch Lee Greenwood Sing “God Bless the USA” at Inauguration Ceremony

Watch Lee Greenwood Sing “God Bless the USA” at Inauguration Ceremony

Lee Greenwood was a featured performer at last night’s (Jan. 19) Make America Great Again Welcome Celebration at the Lincoln Memorial. Of course, no Lee Greenwood performance would be complete without his signature song, “God Bless the USA,” which he belted out to the delight of Donald Trump.

Lee, who made no apologies about his participation in the inauguration festivities, told CNN that he felt sorry for the artists who turned down the chance to perform.

“I feel sorry for them that they’re not going to be here to watch one of the most famous inaugurations of all time,” Lee said to CNN. “If you’re an artist, entertainer, writer or singer and you’re onstage, you’ve been given a great gift. For [other artists] to stick their head in the sand and say, ‘We’re not going to be involved in this or want to see it,’ that’s just rude . . . I can only just feel bad for them.”

Check out Lee’s performance below, courtesy of Fox News.

 

Watch Old Dominion Perform “Song for Another Time” on “Ellen”

Watch Old Dominion Perform “Song for Another Time” on “Ellen”

The boys from Old Dominion—Matthew Ramsey, Trevor Rosen, Whit Sellers, Geoff Sprung and Brad Tursi—stopped by The Ellen DeGeneres Show today (Jan. 20) to perform “Song for Another Time,” the third single from their debut album, Meat and Candy.

The tune, which was co-written by Matthew, Trevor, Brad and Matt Jenkins, reached No. 1 on Billboard’s Country Airplay chart in December 2016.

Watch Old Dominion’s performance below.

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