With hosts Kelsea Ballerini and Kane Brown already in place for the CMT Music Awards, now the nominations are announced…
Maren Morris & Miranda Lambert have the most nods with 4 each, followed by Kane, Kelsea, Little Big Town and Mickey Guyton with 3 each.
Mickey is one of 13 first time CMT Music Award nominees a list that also includes Dylan Scott, Hailey Whitters, HARDY, Lainey Wilson, Margo Price, Nathaniel Rateliff, Niko Moon, Noah Cyrus, Parmalee, Ryan Hurd, Tyler Hubbard (as a solo artist) and Willie Jones.
The Fan voted categories are…
VIDEO OF THE YEAR
Best video of the year; awarded to the artist (male, female, group/duo or collaboration). Top five nominees, from the first round of voting, will be announced on June 1. Top 3 nominees, from the second round of voting, will be announced on June 8. Final voting will be determined via social media and announced as the final category during the live show.
Carrie Underwood with John Legend – “Hallelujah”
Dierks Bentley – “Gone”
Elle King and Miranda Lambert – “Drunk (And I Don’t Wanna Go Home)”
Ingrid Andress – “Lady Like”
Kane Brown – “Worldwide Beautiful”
Keith Urban with P!nk – “One Too Many”
Kelsea Ballerini – “hole in the bottle”
Kenny Chesney – “Knowing You”
Maren Morris – “Better Than We Found It”
Mickey Guyton – “Heaven Down Here”
Miranda Lambert – “Settling Down”
Ryan Hurd with Maren Morris – “Chasing After You”
Sam Hunt – “Breaking Up Was Easy In The 90’s”
Willie Jones – “American Dream”
FEMALE VIDEO OF THE YEAR
Best video by a female artist; awarded to the artist
Carly Pearce – “Next Girl”
Gabby Barrett – “The Good Ones”
Kelsea Ballerini – “hole in the bottle”
Maren Morris – “To Hell & Back”
Mickey Guyton – “Heaven Down Here”
Miranda Lambert – “Settling Down”
MALE VIDEO OF THE YEAR
Best video by a male artist; awarded to the artist
Chris Stapleton – “Starting Over”
Darius Rucker – “Beers and Sunshine”
Kane Brown – “Worship You”
Luke Bryan – “Down To One”
Luke Combs – “Lovin’ On You”
Thomas Rhett – “What’s Your Country Song”
DUO/GROUP VIDEO OF THE YEAR
Best video by a duo or group; awarded to the artists
Brothers Osborne – “All Night”
Lady A – “Like A Lady”
Little Big Town – “Wine, Beer, Whiskey”
Old Dominion – “Never Be Sorry”
Parmalee and Blanco Brown – “Just The Way”
Runaway June – “We Were Rich”
BREAKTHROUGH VIDEO OF THE YEAR
Best video from an artist?s major breakthrough album; awarded to the artist (male, female or group/duo)
Dylan Scott – “Nobody”
Hailey Whitters feat. Little Big Town – “Fillin’ My Cup”
HARDY – “Give Heaven Some Hell”
Lainey Wilson – “Things a Man Oughta Know”
Mickey Guyton – “Black Like Me”
Niko Moon – “GOOD TIME (Ride Along Video)”
COLLABORATIVE VIDEO OF THE YEAR
Best video from a collaboration; awarded to the artists
Carrie Underwood with John Legend – “Hallelujah”
Chris Young and Kane Brown – “Famous Friends”
Elle King and Miranda Lambert – “Drunk (And I Don’t Wanna Go Home)”
Keith Urban with P!nk – “One Too Many”
Ryan Hurd with Maren Morris – “Chasing After You”
Tim McGraw and Tyler Hubbard – “Undivided”
CMT PERFORMANCE OF THE YEAR
Musical performance on a television show, series or variety special on CMT; awarded to the artist (individual, group or duo)
From the 2020 CMT Music Awards – Brooks & Dunn and Luke Combs “1, 2 Many”
From the 2020 CMT Music Awards – Dan + Shay “I Should Probably Go To Bed”
From the 2020 CMT Music Awards – Jimmie Allen and Noah Cyrus “This Is Us”
From the 2020 CMT Music Awards – Kelsea Ballerini and Halsey “The Other Girl”
From the 2020 CMT Music Awards – Little Big Town “Wine, Beer, Whiskey”
From CMT Crossroads – Nathaniel Rateliff and Margo Price “Twinkle Twinkle”
Photo Courtesy of Kelsea Ballerini, Kane Brown and CMT Music Awards
Darius Rucker‘s new song “My Masterpiece” was inspired by one of his co-writers after he heard Darius during a radio interview, ““I was having a writing session with the same guys I wrote ‘Beers and Sunshine’ with, and they were talking about just, well, I think it was John (Harding) that said he heard me on a radio station talking about what I was doing during COVID. I said I was trying to learn to play piano and they asked if I could play, and I said, ‘I can’t play like Ray Charles.’ And that just stuck in his head and that was the idea that he had. And we went in, and it was another one of those songs that really, with when you think about all of the great masterpieces in the world, it was great to write that song and come up with another song that I love.”
Check out the music video for Darius’ new song…right here…
Kelsea Ballerini made a big move to Nashville from Knoxville in her teen years…it was a move that changed the course of her life.
In her music video for “half of my hometown” Kelsea gets to see what might have happened if the boxes were unpacked instead of loaded on the moving truck.
She says, “played out the what could have beens had I not left my hometown at 15 to live out this dream. the most emotional, grounding, and full circle video I’ve gotten to make.”
Check out the video for “half of my hometown” right here…
At the end of the music video did you catch that quick clip of Kelsea and Kenny Chesney performing – it was from this year’s ACM Awards…you can see the two East Tennessee kids singing “half of my hometown” right here…
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – In one of the most highly-anticipated series of the season, No. 4 Tennessee hosts No. 1 Arkansas this weekend at Lindsey Nelson Stadium.
First pitch for the series opener is slated for 6:32 p.m. on Friday night. The Vols and Razorbacks enter the series leading their respective divisions and tied for first overall in the SEC with identical 17-7 league records.
GAMEDAY INFORMATION
Relying on the expertise of public health authorities, the state of Tennessee, appropriate university and government agencies including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), we are implementing a number of new initiatives at Tennessee Baseball gamedays this spring. The well-being of our student-athletes, fans and staff are our top priorities and guide our decisions. Exposure to COVID-19 is an inherent risk in any public location where people are present; we cannot guarantee you will not be exposed during your visit.
The Southeastern Conference in August released several conference-wide fan health and safety guidelines for all member institutions this fall. The Tennessee-specific measures outlined on this page are in line with, and in addition to, the SEC’s guidelines.
Parking
Baseball parking is located primarily in Lots GF1, G16, and C1.
Additional on-street parking is located in C10 along Todd Helton Dr. and Chamique Holdsclaw Dr. and along West Volunteer Blvd.
Handicap parking is located in marked handicap spaces on Pat Head Summitt St. and in the G16 Volunteer Blvd. garage. The 2021 parking map can be seen HERE (PDF).
For more information and gameday info, visit the Tennessee Baseball Gameday Information page by clicking HERE.
TICKET INFORMATION
Tickets for this weekend’s series are SOLD OUT, but an extremely limited number of tickets will be available for purchase at the Lindsey Nelson Stadium ticket office 90 minutes prior to each game.
Single-game tickets can also be purchased through Vivid Seats by clicking HERE.
Tickets for next Tuesday’s regular-season home finale against Belmont may be purchased by calling the Tennessee Athletic ticket office at 865-656-1200 or online at AllVols.com.
In order to keep Lindsey Nelson Stadium as full as possible, we are encouraging season ticket holders who are unable to use their tickets for a game(s) to either transfer your tickets to someone else (Instructions HERE), sell them on VividSeats (Information available at UTSports.com/cantmakethegame) or participate in our new Seats for Student program (Instructions HERE).
BROADCAST INFO
Friday and Sunday’s games will be streamed live on SEC Network+ and the ESPN app as Bob Kesling (PxP) and Rusty Ensor (color) call the action. Saturday’s contest will be televised on the SEC Network with Clay Matvick (PxP) and Chris Burke (color) on the call.
Fans can also listen to the official Vol Network radio call for all three games on Sports Radio WNML (FM 99.1 / AM 990), as well as UTSports.com and the UT Gameday app. John Wilkerson and Vince Ferrara will call the action.
PROJECTED STARTING PITCHERS
Game 1: RHP Chad Dallas (8-1) vs. LHP Patrick Wicklander (4-1) Game 2: LHP Will Heflin (2-2) vs. RHP Peyton Pallette (1-2) Game 3: RHP Blade Tidwell (6-2) vs. TBD
SERIES HISTORY
Overall: Arkansas leads, 36-27
In Knoxville: Tennessee leads, 14-13
In Fayetteville: Arkansas leads, 20-12
Neutral Sites: Arkansas leads, 3-1
Last Meeting: L, 4-3 in 10 Inn. (April 28, 2019)
In the only other meeting between the two teams in the Vitello Era, Arkansas swept Tennessee in Fayetteville in 2019. The last time the two programs met in Knoxville, they split a doubleheader on a rain-soaked weekend in 2017.
NOTABLE
Battle Between SEC’s Best
Tennessee and Arkansas come into this weekend’s highly anticipated series tied atop the SEC standings at 17-7. Both teams lead their respective divisions and are ranked inside the top five nationally.
This will be the third series pitting top-10 teams against each other at Lindsey Nelson Stadium this season. No. 4 Tennessee won its series against No. 9 Florida before the third-ranked Vols lost their only series of the season to No. 2 Vanderbilt a week later.
Spence Has Been Sensational Liam Spence is having an All-America caliber season and could be in the running for SEC Player of the Year. The Australian is batting .404 in conference play and leads the league in on-base percentage (.558) and walks (29) in SEC games. He also ranks among the top five in the SEC in runs scored (3rd – 26) and hits (4th – 36). Spence has reached base in 49 straight games played dating back to last season, which is the longest active streak among NCAA Division I players. The senior shortstop also has a 10-game hit streak entering Friday’s contest.
Firing on All Cylinders
The Vols bats have been red hot over the past few weeks. The Big Orange have scored double-digit runs in five of their last seven SEC games after scoring 11 and 10 in wins over Missouri on Saturday and Sunday last weekend. UT has homered in 11 consecutive conference games and ranks among the top three in the league in batting average, hits, runs scored, doubles, home runs, slugging percentage, on-base percentage, walks and total bases.
SEC Benchmarks
After completing a series sweep at Missouri last Sunday, the Vols now sit at 17-7 in conference play, their best SEC record through 24 games since also going 17-7 in 1995. Tennessee has secured a winning record in league play for the first time since 2005 and has also recorded its most wins in SEC play since going 18-11 during that same season. UT has also won its first four SEC road series this year for the first time since 1994.
OPPONENT SCOUT
Arkansas Razorbacks
2021 Record: 37-9 (17-7 SEC)
Rankings: No. 1 (All Polls)
2019 Postseason: College World Series (0-2)
Head Coach: Dave Van Horn (19th season) // Has led Arkansas to six College World Serie appearances.
Predicted SEC Finish: 3rd (Western Division)
Preseason All-SEC Selections:
Casey Opitz (1st Team – C)
Robert Moore (1st Team – 2B)
Christian Franklin (1st Team – OF)
Matt Goodheart (1st Team – DH/UTL)
Stat Leaders:
Batting Avg: Matt Goodheart (.310)
Runs: Robert Moore/Christian Franklin (44)
Hits: Cayden Wallace (53)
Home Runs: Matt Goodheart (10)
RBI: Brady Slavens (52)
Stolen Bases: Christian Franklin (8-11)
Wins: Kevin Kopps (7-0)
ERA (min. 15.0 IP): Kevin Kopps (0.72)
Innings Pitched: Patrick Wicklander (53.1)
Strikeouts: Kevin Kopps (83)
Notable: Only team in the SEC to win all eight of its conference series this season.
GAME PROMOTIONS
This weekend’s series will feature a number of exciting promotions and fan festivities, including a free shirseys and a pig roast on Friday night and the first ever Checker LNS for Saturday’s game. Sunday will be Senior Day for eight of Tennessee’s players with a pregame ceremony scheduled to begin at approximately 12:30 p.m. For all the details on this weekend’s promotions, click HERE.
Upcoming promotions for all Tennessee athletics home events can be found on the UT Fan Experience page by clicking HERE.
Fans are encouraged to download the My All App for their phones and devices this season. The app is available on the Google Play Store and Apple App Store and will allow fans to participate in in-game trivia, the custom filter selfie cam and more throughout the year.
ON DECK
The Vols take on in-state foe Belmont next Tuesday night at 6:30 p.m. in their final regular-season home game before a trip to South Carolina to finish the regular season next Thursday-Saturday in Columbia.
LUBBOCK, Texas – Former Tennessee baseball great Todd Helton has been selected for induction into the National College Baseball Hall of Fame, as announced by the College Baseball Foundation on Thursday.
Helton had arguably the most decorated and dominant collegiate career of any player in program history and is still considered one of the greatest two-way players to ever play college baseball.
Helton is one of 14 members to be selected to the National College Baseball Hall of Fame Class of 2021, which will be inducted as part of the virtual College Baseball Night of Champions ceremony scheduled for June 26. The event will be hosted by Dani Wexelman, currently a host for MLB Network Radio on Sirius XM and the host of the 2020 event.
During his time on Rocky Top, Helton was a standout performer at the plate and on the mound, setting numerous program records during his storied career. The Knoxville native still sits atop UT’s record book in career home runs (38), RBI (238), walks (147) and saves (23). He also holds single-season records for runs batted in (92 in 1995), earned run average (0.89 in 1994) and saves (12 in 1995).
Helton earned a multitude of national awards and accolades during his three seasons in Knoxville, including 1995 National Player of the Year honors by the American Baseball Coaches Association, Baseball America and Collegiate Baseball Newspaper. Helton was also named the 1995 SEC Player of the Year, a two-time first-team All-American (1994, 1995) and a Freshman All-American (1993).
In his final season on Rocky Top in 1995, Helton helped lead the Volunteers to SEC regular season and tournament titles, as well as their first College World Series appearance in 44 years.
Helton was selected with the eighth overall pick in the 1995 MLB Draft by Colorado, where he played his entire 17-year Major League career. Helton was a five-time MLB All-Star (2000-04), three-time Gold Glove winner and four-time Sliver Slugger Award winner. He also helped lead the Rockies to their first and only World Series appearance in franchise history in 2007.
For more information on this year’s Hall of Fame class, click HERE.
The University of Tennessee Athletics Department recently selected its VOLeaders Academy Class of 2021-22. Following the success of last year’s expansion, this year’s program will be split into two cohorts that will participate simultaneously.
The seventh annual collection of VOLeaders is the largest in the history of the program, comprising 45 student-athletes that represent each of Tennessee’s 20 varsity sports. The year-long leadership curriculum begins annually starting with the Fall semester and concludes with an international cultural exchange trip in the summer.
Previous cohorts traveled to Vietnam, Brazil, Ecuador and Rwanda before the global COVID-19 pandemic prevented a trip in 2020. Planning for this summer’s trip is underway, and the destination will be announced soon.
The cultural exchange trip for this newly announced VOLeaders cohort, set for the summer of 2022, is targeted for Botswana in Southern Africa.
What Tennessee Coaches are Saying About VOLeaders Academy
“This is an invaluable experience for our student-athletes in their overall development. When I first learned of the history behind VOLeaders, I immediately thought about how unique and special a program of this caliber is. Few student-athletes get this kind of opportunity in a lifetime, and we are fortunate at Tennessee that we can provide this experience to them. I know our VOLeaders group will learn and grow from this prestigious honor.”
“It’s so easy to get sucked into what’s right in front of you that you forget what the world has to offer around you. The happiest and most fulfilled people I know are selfless people who serve their families, friends, teammates and communities.
“Transformational leadership is one of the four frameworks of leadership that is taught in VOLeaders. In addition to what Carly Briggs will do away from the tennis court, this type of leadership is where I really think she will grow. She can identify what changes need to be made on our team, she can help to create a vision of what that change looks like, and then, as a player, will help influence and inspire our program to execute that change.
“Servant leadership is another one of the four frameworks of leadership taught in VOLeaders. Eleonora Molinaro is one of the most selfless people I have ever met. She’s from Luxembourg City, Luxembourg, and through sport, has experienced life in so many different countries. She knows better than most student-athletes what it means to embrace other cultures and how to make the most out of uncomfortable situations. Although Elé has experienced so much, she has mainly done it with her family. I am thrilled for Elé to get the opportunity to experience positive social change, through sport, with new friends she will make over the next year.
“Five of our eight scholarship players are in Elé and Carly’s class. I am certain the concepts those two learn will help influence our program immediately.
“Joe Scogin and his staff have done an amazing job teaching our student-athletes how to compete in life. I have noticed a positive change in our student-athletes who have been a part of VOLeaders, and I am thrilled for Carly and Elé to experience this opportunity together.”
“The VOLeaders program continues to be an asset within our athletics department. First and foremost, our kids who go through the program learn so much about themselves—both as people and as leaders, which in turn puts them all in a better place to be effective leaders within our team. They learn to be strong and secure while also being vulnerable and empathetic—all characteristics of effective leadership.”
The University of Tennessee announced the inception of its VOLeaders Academy in July of 2015. The first-of-its-kind program is a dynamic partnership between the Division of Student Life, the College of Education, Health and Human Sciences and the Athletics Department.
By using their platform in sport, student-athletes admitted into the VOLeaders Academy learn how to positively impact their team, campus and local and global communities. The program aims to inspire student-athletes to find ways to use their passion of sport and their influence to enact positive change that transcends their athletic success.
Since 1968, the Torchbearer—UT’s official symbol—has borne silent witness to the university’s Volunteer Creed: “One that beareth a torch shadoweth oneself to give light to others.” The VOLeaders Academy takes that creed in action by engaging its participants in the understanding and development of servant leadership.
Participants are enrolled in two three-credit-hour courses in the College of Education, Health and Human Sciences. A Leadership in Sport course provides students with an understanding of their individual leadership styles, the practice of leadership in collegiate athletics and equips them with the foundational skills necessary to lead their teams, campus and communities, while a Sport for Social Change course teaches leadership principles, professionalism, critical thinking, and cross-cultural communication skills through sport-based service.
The final component of the VOLeaders Academy is a 10-day international exchange providing applied leadership and service opportunities focused on community development and social change through sport. International destinations vary each year.
The expansion of the VOLeaders Academy in 2020 was made possible through the generous and servant hearts of 1980 Tennessee alums Donnie and Terry Smith from Rogers, Arkansas. The Smiths’ passion and vision was to infuse a foundation of servant leadership in a greater percentage of Tennessee’s student-athlete population. Their sincere and heartfelt leadership to make a difference in UT student-athletes will create life-changing opportunities for all that come through the VOLeaders Academy.
For more information on The VOLeaders Academy, visit the website HERE.
Chance McKinney‘s new song “Want ‘Em All” is available now.
Talking about the track, Chance shares that it’s “a love song about a guy who wasn’t ‘good with the goodbyes’ or ‘watching her leave with the sunrise.’ He didn’t just want her for one night, he wanted to go the extra mile and build something meaningful with her.”
Chance went the extra mile to write this one. “Want ‘Em All” was created over Zoom in May of last year, with him and his co-writers coming together from 3 different parts of the country to write the track.
Like with all his music, Chance hopes this connects with the listener in a real and personal way, “I’d love it if everybody found a little bit of themselves in this one. I think we’ve all found ourselves in the shoes of the guy in the song where we just want to find something important that lasts. We just wanted to let girls know, there are guys who want more… days, nights, dances, you name it… they just want “
Check out the lyric video to “Want ‘Em All” — the title track from Chance McKinney’s upcoming EP (pre-save https://cmdshft.ffm.to/wea-single)
