Alan Jackson has announced his Last Call: One More For The Road tour.
Bringing his more than 30 years of hits out with him on the road, Alan shares, “I’ve always admired my heroes like George Jones, Merle Haggard, Loretta Lynn and Charley Pride who just played as much as they wanted to, as long as they could – I’ve always thought I’d like to do that.”
Jackson went public in 2022 with the revelation that for a decade he’s been living with a degenerative nerve condition called Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease.
When it comes to his tour and playing in front of fans, Alan says he’d like to do it for as long as his health will allow. He adds, “I’ll try to do as much as I can, but if I’m comin’ your way, come see me….”
Last Call: One More For The Road starts in June and runs until October with 16-stops on the schedule.
Fans know when they show up to an Alan Jackson concert they are going to get hit after hit – like his iconic “Chattahoochee”
Kenny Chesney says that the character in his current single “Everyone She Knows” reminds him of the same type of woman he sings about in his song with Grace Potter, “Wild Child.”
Kenny shares “Nothing is more powerful or interesting than a woman who has a sense of her destiny and is willing to go chase it. It’s not always conventional, but that’s what makes her passion so much stronger. Whether it’s my island friends, musicians like Grace Potter, several women on my team, or any of you, No Shoes Nation… some women have a way of embracing life that’s unlike anyone else… and I think that’s awesome.”
Watch the music video for Kenny Chesney’s “Everyone She Knows.”
Zac Brown Band‘s current single from their album The Comeback in “Out In The Middle.”
Zac Brown describes the track as ““‘Out In The Middle’ is just Southern rock storytelling about being country and being proud of what it is to live in a simple life and working hard. A lot of country people that I know…they really know where it’s at. They work hard, they take care of their family, they know how to have fun. They know how to be in the outdoors and that’s really what that song’s about to me. It’s just tip of the hat to all the people that live out in the middle of no where and are happy being there.”
That “Out In The Middle” lifestyle is on full display in the music video for the song…
Fans will a chance to sing-along to “Out In The Middle” as the Zac Brown band heads out on their tour of the same name.
The run of shows kicks off in Greenville, South Carolina on April 22nd, and runs through November 19th wrapping up in Phoenix, Arizona.
Ingrid Andress’ current single at country radio is “Wishful Drinking” which she sings with Sam Hunt.
Ingrid shares, “When I wrote this song, I wanted it to have like a fun melody to kind of bring up the mood of the song even though it was sad and then obviously adding Sam Hunt to it just added a whole new level of like swag to it so I’m really happy with how it turned out.”
Fans will be wishful drinking all summer long as Ingrid is set to open for Keith Urban on his The Speed Of Now World Tour 2022 during it’s run in the States and Canada.
Check out the music video for Ingrid Andress and Sam Hunt’s “Wishful Drinking.”
People who tuned into the American Idol auditions a couple of weeks ago saw Noah Thompson get his ticket to Hollywood from Luke Bryan, Katy Perry and Lionel Richie after he performed Kameron Marlowe‘s “Giving You Up.”
Kameron was honored that Noah picked his song to perform during the Idol tryout, and Marlowe says that he met Noah right before his audition, but the conversation didn’t register with him until he saw the episode.
Kameron shares, “Man I tell you what I had not realized it, but I actually met Noah Thompson in a show, in I believed Tupelo, and I was just hanging out at the sound booth, and he came up and shook my hand and said ‘Hey I’m gonna use your song for American Idol’…I’m not gonna lie to you I was just kind of like ‘Oh man that’s cool.’ It didn’t really connect with me, and I didn’t know if he was actually doing American idol.”
Kameron adds, “Man he did it on America Idol and he did it justice!”
Kameron even reached out Noah and Arthur after the performance…
Watching Noah brought Kameron back to his own experience on The Voice, “I was moved pretty emotionally for that, cause when I did The Voice I did a Luke Combs song, and Luke reached out to me and just gave me some words of knowledge and just really was a foundation of why I came to Nashville and why I continued to do this and being able to give that back to somebody that used my song on one of those shows…man, that was awesome. I’m very very thankful that he decided to use my song.”
Kameron Marlowe appeared on Season 15 of The Voice – putting his own spin on Luke Combs’ “One Number Away.” Judges Kelly Clarkson and Blake Shelton turned their chairs with Kameron choosing Team Blake. Kelly did get her shot at Marlowe though when she used her “steal” in the Knockouts round bring him to Team Kelly. While Kameron was eliminated during the Live Playoffs, he made it to Nashville and released his debut EP in 2020.
The song that Noah picked to sing on American Idol is Kameron Marlowe’s current single at country radio – “Giving You Up.”
Kameron recently also released a new song for his fans called “Steady Heart” – which he shares was partially inspired by his parents 30-year marriage and is one of his favorite songs that he’s ever written…check out the emotional music video for track here…
George Birge‘s debut self-titled 5-track EP is available now.
The five song EP includes his current single “Mind On You” along with his viral hit “Beer Beer Truck Truck.”
George shares, “If I’m being honest, I’ve dreamed about making this project my whole life. Getting the opportunity to make the exact record I want to make, with the exact people I wanted to make it with, feels unbelievable. This project is me.”
George Birge’s EP track list;
“Reason To Go” (Written by Thomas Archer, Michael Tyler, Lalo Guzman)
“Mind On You” (Written by George Birge, Jaron Boyer, Michael Tyler, Colt Ford)
“Whiskey Side” (Written by George Birge, Jaron Boyer, Michael Tyler, Matt Stell)
“Didn’t Think I’d Miss” (Written by George Birge, Michael Tyler, Ben Stennis)
“Beer Beer, Truck Truck” (Written by George Birge and Eyrnn Chambers)
Fans will get to hear George perform music from his EP, live and in person as he’s hitting the road with Gary Allan and Matt Stell.
Starting this weekend George will be opening for Gary in back to back shows in Ohio, and in April he has a trio of dates with Matt in South Carolina, North Carolina and Tennessee.
Gary Allan dates; March 18th – Veterans Memorial Civic and Convention Center – Lima, OH March 19th – MGM Northfield Park – Northfield, OH
Matt Stell dates; April 15th – Cowboy Up Nightclub – Greenville, SC April 16th – Silverados – Black Mountain, NC April 23rd – Hub City Brewing – Jackson, TN
Matt Stell was also one of the co-writers with George on “Whiskey Side” – which is included on his debut EP.
George’s current single at country radio was one that he originally wrote for Jason Aldean – before fate stepped in, “I remember feeling like it was something really special when we finished it. The next day I sent it to Jason’s producer and they loved it. Little did I know the next six months would change my life, with the opportunity to sign a new record deal and record my own album. I am so proud of this song and thankful for the opportunity to record it myself. “
Get more info on George and his tour schedule HERE
Check out “Mind On You” from George Birge’s debut EP – which is available now…
After Tennessee beat Kentucky last month in Knoxville, Vols coach Rick Barnes told his team it was a national championship contender.
I didn’t buy.
I saw too many flaws in a team that was really good, but not elite.
I saw a team without inside scoring, without a rim protector, without consistent outside shooting, without the ability to maintain huge leads in the second half.
But after watching Tennessee beat four top five teams, win a rubber match against Kentucky in the Kentucky Invitational (also known as the SEC Tournament), and capture its first conference tournament title since 1979, I’ve changed my mind.
The SEC is one of the two toughest conferences in the country, yet the Vols, after a 2-3 conference start, earned the No. 2 seed in the SEC Tournament with a 14-4 league record. Then went 3-0 in the SEC tourney, knocking off No. 5 Kentucky and a red-hot Texas A&M team in the final. Remarkably, UT trailed by a grand total of 86 seconds in Tampa.
After getting blown out at Kentucky Jan. 15, UT has won 15 of 16 against SEC opponents.
That’s an incredible streak.
Yes, the Vols almost blew a 22-point lead against Arkansas, an 11-point lead against Auburn, a 14-point lead against Kentucky. But the key word in that sentence is almost.
Tennessee keeps finding a way to win, whether it’s Josiah-Jordan James and Santiago Vescovi hitting 3s or Kennedy Chandler driving the lane or Zakai Ziegler making steals or a stifling defense – in particular a stifling defense.
An SEC tourney title, a 26-7 record, a No. 8 Net rating, 11 wins over Quadrant-1 opponents and the No. 2 strength of schedule should have earned Tennessee a No. 2 seed in the NCAA Tournament.
UT’s resume is clearly better than Duke’s. it’s also better than Kentucky’s and Auburn’s.
Nonetheless, UT getting a 3-seed and opening the tournament Thursday against Longwood in Indianapolis with a potential second-round matchup against the Michigan-Colorado State winner is a favorable draw.
Tennessee’s victory over A&M was sparked by a trio of Vols. UT burst to a 14-0 lead. When the Aggies, playing their fourth game in four days, cut the margin to 34-29, Vescovi took over. He made a steal, hit three free throws, swished two 3s and before you could say Uruguay, the Vols were up 46-31. A&M never challenged again.
Vescovi had 17 points (he hit 4 of 9 3s), five assists, three rebounds and two steals in another stellar all-around game.
Chandler, who turned his ankle Friday against Mississippi State but was terrific against Kentucky, had 14 points (he made 4 of 7 3s), seven assistants and four rebounds with no turnovers.
James had 16 points (he was 3 of 7 on 3s), 10 rebounds, three blocks and two assists.
All three made the all-tournament team with Chandler being named the MVP.
But the MVP could easily have been Vescovi or James.
Tennessee got 15 points and 16 rebounds from its four bigs, with Fulkerson yanking down 12 rebounds.
While the inside production is still a concern, the guard play, James’ all-around play and 3-point shooting (UT was 12 of 28 from beyond the arc in the title game) have made UT a dangerous team. And a fun team to watch.
“They believe in each other,’’ said an ecstatic UT coach Rick Barnes, who won his second conference tournament title in 35 years. “They’re very unselfish guys.’’
As usual, Barnes had a message for his team.
“I want them to enjoy this,’’ Barnes said. “But you know what next week is about. You want more.’’
Barnes has taken just one team to the Final Four.
Tennessee has never reached a Final Four. It has made only one Elite Eight in program history. It is 1-7 in Sweet 16 games.
When this team was 2-3 in SEC play, I gave it no chance to win the SEC Tournament and little chance to make the Sweet 16.
But when you’re good enough to win the school’s first league tournament title since 1979, you’re good enough to make a significant run in the NCAA Tournament.
But for now, the Vols have earned the right to celebrate an achievement 43 years in the making.
“Man, I can’t even describe it,’’ James said.
Chandler was also euphoric.
“I’m just so happy, honestly,’’ said the true freshman point guard. “We work hard every single day in practice. We push each other. We deserve this win.
“And we’re not done yet. We’re just getting started.’’
The ninth-ranked and No. 2 seed Tennessee basketball team competes for an SEC Tournament title Sunday, taking on No. 8 seed Texas A&M at 1 p.m. ET.
Fans can catch Sunday’s game on ESPN and online or on any mobile device through WatchESPN. WatchESPN can be accessed through the ESPN App, or online at espn.com/watch. Karl Ravech (play-by-play), Jimmy Dykes (analysis) and Marty Smith (reporter) will have the call.
Vols G Santiago Vescovi / Credit: UT Athletics
Fans can also listen live on their local Vol Network affiliate to hear Bob Kesling and Bert Bertelkamp calling the action. A national radio broadcast is also available on channel 134 on Sirius, channel 190 SiriusXM and channel 961 on the SiriusXM app.
On Saturday, Tennessee (25-7) claimed its second win of the SEC Tournament and second win over rival Kentucky this season, 69-62. Second-team All-SEC selection Kennedy Chandler scored a team-high 19 points for the Volunteers on 8-for-16 shooting. Zakai Zeigler had 11 points, while Josiah-Jordan James added 10.
Brandon Huntley-Hatfield scored eight points on 4-for-7 shooting in 22 minutes. Uros Plavsic had six points on 3-for-4 shooting and a team-high eight rebounds.
Texas A&M (23-11) defeated No. 4 seed Arkansas in its semifinal game on Saturday, 82-64.
Saturday marks the second meeting of the season between Tennessee and Texas A&M. The Vols defeated the Aggies on Feb. 1 in Knoxville, 90-80.
Following the SEC Tournament, Tennessee will await Selection Sunday to learn its seeding and matchup for the NCAA Tournament. The 2022 NCAA Tournament Selection Show will air on Sunday at 6 p.m. ET on CBS.
BRACKET BREAKDOWN • Tennessee leads its series with Texas A&M, 10-6, dating to 1951. The Aggies joined the SEC for the 2012-13 season. The programs have never met in the SEC Tournament. • Tennessee won this season’s lone meeting, 90-80, in Knoxville. • Vol Network color analyst Bert Bertelkamp was a junior guard on the last UT squad to win the SEC Tournament (1979). • The Vols have now reached the title game both times the SEC Tournament has been played in Tampa (2009 and 2022).
LAYUP LINES • Tennessee is making its 13th all-time appearance in the SEC Tournament championship game. • Saturday’s win over Kentucky was UT’s 10th Quad 1 victory. • Tennessee stands at No. 8 in the NCAA’s latest NET ratings. Each of UT’s seven losses are Quad 1. • The Vols have faced 12 AP Top 25 opponents so far this season and own wins over the teams ranked Nos. 2, 4 and 5 in this week’s poll. • According to KenPom, the Vols rank third in the nation in adjusted defensive efficiency, allowing only 86.6 points per 100 possessions. • Tennessee’s scoring defense of 66.4 ppg in SEC play was the best in the league. The Vols have held nine of their last 11 SEC opponents to fewer than 65 points. • Tennessee also led the SEC in assists per game during conference play (14.9 apg). The Vols are averaging 16.0 assists at this week’s SEC Tournament. • Through Tennessee’s two SEC Tournament games, All-SEC point guard Kennedy Chandler leads the team in scoring with 15.0 points per game and owns a 2.67 assist/turnover ratio in a team-high 61 total minutes. • Josiah-Jordan James is shooting 60 percent from 3-point range (6 for 10) during this SEC Tournament while averaging 13.0 points per game. • All-SEC first-teamer Santiago Vescovi was the league’s top 3-point shooter during SEC play, hitting at a .445 clip. • Chandler’s 2.16 steals per game rank 17th in Division I and second nationally among true freshmen. • During SEC play, SEC All-Freshman teamers Chandler (2.24 spg) and Zakai Zeigler (2.22 spg) ranked second and third, respectively, in steals per game. • Super senior John Fulkerson has now seen action in eight career wins over rival Kentucky.
SEC TOURNAMENT HISTORY • Tennessee is 72-56 (.563) in 60 all-time SEC Tournament appearances. • The Vols own the third-best SEC Tournament winning percentage among league schools, trailing only Kentucky (.832) and Alabama (.565). • Since the tournament was renewed in 1979, the Vols are 37-41 (.474). • Tennessee has won the SEC Tournament four times, tying Florida for third-most among league schools. The Vols won the event in 1936, 1941, 1943 and 1979. • UT has now reached the title game 13 times (third-most among league schools), most recently back-to-back in 2018 (St. Louis) and 2019 (Nashville). • Tennessee has been the No. 2 seed four times previously (1979, 1982, 2012 and 2018). • This is the second time Tampa has hosted the SEC Tournament (same venue as this year). As the East No. 1 seed in Tampa in 2009, Tennessee defeated Alabama and Auburn to advance to the championship game, where it fell to Mississippi State, 64-61. • Tennessee’s SEC Tournament record in Tampa is 4-1, and the Vols own a 4-2 SEC Tournament record in the state of Florida (0-1 in Orlando in 1990).
LAST MEETING WITH TEXAS A&M • Shooting 57 percent in the second half and boasting five players who scored in double figures, the No. 22 Tennessee men’s basketball team defeated Texas A&M, 90-80, on Feb. 1, 2022, at Thompson-Boling Arena. • Tennessee was in rhythm all night shooting the basketball, making 29-of-57 (.509) from the floor and 11-of-26 (.423) from 3-point range. The second half was especially successful, as the Volunteers were 15-of-26 (.577) from the field, sinking 4-of-8 on 3-pointers. • The offense was marked by balance, as five Vols scored in double figures. Kennedy Chandler led the Vols in scoring with 16 points. He also dished out seven assists and had three steals. Olivier Nkamhoua tallied 15 points and swatted away three shots, while Josiah-Jordan James and Zakai Zeigler each posted 14 points. Santiago Vescovi finished with 13 points while shooting 4-of-8 from beyond the arc. • James’ had an all-around big night as his 15 points were the most he has scored this season. He grabbed eight rebounds, leading the team in boards for the seventh time this season and 20th time in his career. James picked up five steals, tying a career-high, and setting a career-best in an SEC game. He also sank a season-high five free throws • The Vols never trailed in the contest and scored 90 points in a conference game for the first time in an SEC game this season. • Texas A&M (15-7, 4-5 SEC) was led by freshman Wade Taylor IV, who scored 19 points. • The Volunteer offense was in a groove right from the tip, scoring its most points first-half points in an SEC game this season with 43. James came out firing, draining eight of Tennessee’s first 12 points. Nkamhoua led a balanced offensive attack with 11 points on 4-of-5 shooting from the floor, he also pulled down four rebounds in the frame. Chandler was a force distributing the ball, dishing out five assists in the first 20 minutes. • Tennessee had to fend off a speedy Aggies comeback, as the visitors shot 10-of-18 from the floor in the first 14 minutes of the second half. The Big Orange halted the Texas A&M momentum in a big way, going on a 12-0 run, courtesy of a pair of treys from Justin Powell and two steals that Tennessee turned into four points. The Vols never looked back, holding A&M at an arm’s length for the remainder of the game.
IF IT WEREN’T FOR TENNESSEE, TEXAS WOULD BE “NORTH MEXICO” • There can be no doubt Texas owes a great debt of gratitude for its statehood to the fierce men from Tennessee. • Before the Alamo fell, 33 Tennesseans, the largest number of defenders provided by any state—nearly four times as many as from Texas—kept Mexican General Santa Anna’s overwhelming army at bay for 13 days against unbelievable odds. • On March 6, 1836, the brave Tennessee Volunteers and the other Alamo defenders were overrun and breathed their last. • However, the crucial days the Volunteers slowed down the Mexican army gave another Tennessean, Sam Houston, enough time to gallop through Texas raising an army to defend what would become the Lone Star State. This army defeated Santa Anna in no small part because of the contributions of Tennessee’s Volunteers.
BARNES VERY FAMILIAR WITH A&M • As a head coach, Rick Barnes has faced Texas A&M 39 times, compiling a 30-9 (.769) record. • His Texas teams went 23-7 vs. the Aggies from 1999-2015, and he also led Clemson to a 2-0 record against A&M in the mid-90s. • The only teams Barnes has faced more than the Aggies are Oklahoma (41 meetings) and Oklahoma State (40). • Barnes once interviewed Aggies head coach Buzz Williams for an assistant coach position during Barnes’ tenure as the head coach at Texas.
TEXAS FOES HAVE BEATEN VOLS • This year’s Vols dropped a neutral-site contest to Texas Tech, 57-52, on Dec. 7 in New York City. And more recently, Tennessee fell at Texas, 52-51, in the Big 12/SEC Challenge on Jan. 29 in Austin.
CONTEXTUALIZING TENNESSEE’S SUCCESS VS. UK UNDER BARNES • From 1995-2015—a period that spanned the tenures of six UT head coaches—Tennessee’s record against Kentucky was a combined 9-33, including a 7-26 mark against ranked UK squads. • The Vols under Rick Barnes are 10-7 vs. Kentucky over just seven seasons, with a 9-5 record against ranked UK teams. • For five of UT’s Barnes-era wins over the Wildcats, Kentucky was ranked in the top five of the AP Top 25.
Tennessee head coach Rick Barnes, Uros Plavsic and Kennedy Chandler spoke to the media in the postgame press conference after UT defeated Kentucky 69-92 in the SEC Tournament Semifinals.
