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Alan Jackson Honors His Late Mother With Song on His New Album
Alan Jackson‘s new album, Where Have You Gone – arrives May 14th.
Among the 20 tracks, are some very personal songs for Alan, including one his wrote for his mom, “One song on there, especially I wrote when my mama died…I wrote for her funeral.”
Alan’s mom Ruth passed away 4 years ago, and at the time he wrote “Where Her Heart Has Always Been.” Alan shares, “I really love that track. It’s just really – I tried to write it in a way that I know she would appreciate it.”
When he first thought to add it to the collection, that would have been special enough, but thanks to Alan’s sister, now Ruth is joining her song on his latest project.
Alan explains, “After we had cut it and we were just about to finalize the record, my sister sent a recording of mama reading from the Bible for a Christmas story or something from a few years ago that I hadn’t heard, or I don’t remember if I had ever heard it. And I thought that would be cool to put that on there. So, we tried to pick a little piece of that that didn’t sound so Christmasy and put on there on the front end and that made it really, really sweet.”
Listen to the very personal track “Where Her Heart Has Always Been” from Alan Jackson, with a special spoken word piece by his mom Ruth included…
Headline Photo Credit: Russ Harrington
Additional Photo Courtesy of UMG Nashville
Michael Ray Has Tattoos for Family, Faith and Music
When you’re getting a permanent addition to you body, you want to make sure it means something, right?
Michael Ray has several tattoos, but each one has a personal connection to his life, “All my tattoos are either family based, religious based, or music based.”
He shares the story of one of his tattoos that honors his late grandmother, “So, my grandma, Penny, she passed away a couple of years ago, and I have a tattoo memory of my grandfather, and I wanted a tattoo for her. Her nickname was Penny, and I got a penny with my Grandmother’s birth year, 1942, on the date, on the inside of my arm.”
If he could change one thing about the tattoo…it would just be WHEN he got it. Turns out Michael got it on a show day, and it being on his arm, well, Michael admits “I started playing guitar that night…for the show, and it hurt like hell.”
But even with that night of pain Michael proudly says “it’s probably my favorite tattoo.”
The tribute joins other special tattoos he have honoring family members, “I feel like I got my grandparents with me, and got my dad with me.”
Check out this performance version of Michael’s current single at country radio, “Whiskey and Rain.”
Justin Moore Is Getting Tour Ready Thanks to His Daughter
Justin Moore is continuing to get back out on the road at the very end of this month, with more dates in June, and a pretty regular tour schedule kicking off in July.
Justin has plenty of new music to bring fans, as he just released his new collection of songs, Straight Outta The Country.
So, with new music, and a return to touring life, Justin wants to look his best…and with a little help from his daughter, he’s got a good start.
Check out this fun video that he posted to his social media with his very own beautician taking good care of him…
From his Straight Outta The Country — check out the acoustic version of current single at country radio, “We Didn’t Have Much”
Photo Courtesy of Justin Moore
A Day In The Country – May 3rd – with Brett Young, Thomas Rhett, Maren Morris, Alabama, Brad Paisley & Eric Church
This is A Day in the Country with Paul Koffy – May 3rd
On this day in 2019, Brett Young had the number-1 song with “Here Tonight”
Today in 2017, Thomas Rhett released the vide for “Craving You” which featured Maren Morris.
In 2011, the band Alabama returned to the Grand Ole Opry stage to play “Old Alabama” with Brad Paisley.
And a very happy birthday goes out to Eric Church…
Photo Credit: RIKER BROTHERS
Callista Clark Shares the Story Behind “It’s ‘Cause I Am” with Kelly & Ryan
Did you catch Callista Clark‘s recent appearance on Live with Kelly & Ryan?
Callista performed her current single “It’s Cause I Am” — which you can watch here…
Callista then shared with Kelly Ripa and Ryan Seacrest the story behind the song…
Headline Photo Courtesy of BMLG
Additional Photo Courtesy of Callista Clark & Live With Kelly and Ryan
Boxscore/Stats/Story: #16 Lady Vols Finish off Sweep of Auburn with 2-1 win
AUBURN, Ala. – The 16th-ranked Lady Vol softball team finished off their sweep of Auburn Sunday with a, 2-1, win at Jane B. Moore Field.
Auburn (26-19, 6-15 SEC) struck first in the bottom of the first as it pushed across one run on two hits. The Tigers’ run gave them their first lead of the weekend after trailing throughout games one and two.
After Makenna Dowell drew a leadoff walk, Tyler King moved her over to second on a ground out to first. Auburn then pinch ran Kelsey Schmidt for Dowell who moved around to third on a flyout to right, before coming across to score on a single up the middle from Lindsay Garcia.
In the fourth, Tennessee (38-8, 11-7 SEC) hit back as it pushed across two runs thanks to a little two-out magic from Ivy Davis. With one away, Chelsea Seggern singled to right and was pinch ran for by Josie Willingham.
After an Ally Shipman walk, she and Willingham advanced to second and third on a wild pitch. Auburn’s Shelby Lowe then struck out the next batter and intentionally walked Rylie West to bring Davis to the plate with the bases loaded and two away.
Davis fouled off three-straight pitches before smacking a double down the right field line to score Willingham and Shipman and give Tennessee the final margin of victory at, 2-1.
Callie Turner got the start for UT Sunday and tossed an inning, allowing one run on two hits. Ashley Rogers came on in relief, throwing six innings, striking out six and surrendered just one hit. Rogers picked up the win and improved to 22-6 on the year.
Over the weekend, Rogers picked up two victories and a save as UT earned its first sweep of the year.
UP NEXT
Tennessee heads out on the road for a makeup doubleheader May 5 at Mississippi State, before returning home to host Missouri May 7-9 in the final weekend of the regular season.
Box Score | Overall Stats | SEC Stats | UT at Auburn Series Stats
-UT Athletics
Chiefs Draft Trey Smith in Sixth Round of 2021 NFL Draft
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – One of the most decorated offensive lineman in Tennessee history now embarks on a professional career. Two-time first-team All-Southeastern Conference honoree and 2020 All-American Trey Smith was selected by the Kansas City Chiefs in the sixth round of the 2021 NFL Draft on Saturday evening.
Smith, who was taken No. 226 overall, joins teammate wide receiver Josh Palmer as part of the Volunteers 2021 draft class. Palmer was picked at No. 77 overall in the third round by the Los Angeles Chargers on Friday night.
Smith is the 11th Tennessee player all-time to be selected by Kansas City and the first since Kahlil McKenzie went in the 2018 sixth round.
The Jackson, Tennessee, native has proved to be one of the most dominant linemen in the country during his career. A starter in 41 games, he saw action on over 2,500 career offensive snaps and allowed only one sack in his final two seasons. He played 664 snaps in the fall of 2020, earning second-team All-America honors by the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) and Football Writers Association of America (FWAA).
Off the field, few in the nation have been as impressive as Smith. He was the recipient of the Tennessee Torchbearer Award, the highest student honor at UT, and he was a two-time SEC Community Service Team member. Smith won the 2019 Jason Witten Collegiate Man of the Year Award and the 2020 Fritz Pollard Trophy.
-UT Athletics
Postgame/Boxscore/Stats/Story: #16 Tennessee Takes Game Two Over Auburn to Win Fourth Consecutive SEC Series
AUBURN, Ala. – The 16th-ranked Tennessee softball won its fourth consecutive SEC series Saturday, as it defeated Auburn, 3-2, at Jane B. Moore Stadium.
The Lady Vols (37-8, 10-7 SEC) dug deep in the late innings to preserve the victory as Auburn (26-18, 6-14 SEC) fought back with runs in the fifth and seventh as it looked to avoid the series loss.
With Tennessee leading 3-0 in the fifth inning, Auburn’s Maddison Koepke hit a leadoff solo home run over the left field wall to put the Tigers on the board. The hit was Auburn’s second of the day, but UT was able to shut the door and limit the damage as it got the next three batters out.
Auburn threatened again in the bottom of the seventh as Lindsey Garcia reached on an error to short with one away in the inning. Following a strikeout, Justus Perry was hit-by-a-pitch to put two runners on. A single from Maia Engelkes in the next at-bat scored Garcia and advanced the game-tying run to third as Engelkes moved up to second on a throwing error.
Ashley Rogers, who came on in relief in the sixth inning, locked in on Auburn’s Aspyn Godwin and struck out the catcher to clinch the win, the save and the series for the Lady Vols.
The save is Rogers’ third of the season.
UT got the scoring started in the second with a pair of runs courtesy an Auburn fielding error and a sacrifice fly from Kiki Milloy.
Senior Chelsea Seggern led off the second with a double to right field and advanced to third on a single by Ally Shipman. Shipman then stole second as the Tigers skipped a ball into the outfield trying to throw her out.
That allowed Seggern to come home for the game’s first run as Shipman quickly jumped to her feet and raced to third.
In the next at-bat, Milloy hit a sac fly to right that got deep enough for Shipman to tag and score on.
In the third, Amanda Ayala singled to right and moved up to second on a bunt single by Cailin Hannon. Ashley Morgan then laced a single up the middle of the infield that scored Ayala, giving Tennessee its third run of the game.
Callie Turner took the ball for UT Saturday and tossed five innings, striking out two and allowing just one run on two hits. The lefty earned her 10th win of the season and third victory in SEC play. The win is her third-straight conference victory – pitching the Lady Vols to wins over South Carolina, Georgia and now Auburn.
Maddie Penta started in the circle for Auburn and threw 2.1 innings, surrendering three runs on five hits. Lexie Handley tossed 4.2 innings in relief, striking out six and allowing just a pair of hits. Penta suffered the loss and falls to 8-8 on the year.
UP NEXT
Tennessee looks for the series sweep on Sunday as it faces Auburn in game three. First pitch is slated for 2 p.m. ET and all the action can be streamed on SEC Network+.
Box Score | Overall Stats | SEC Stats | UT at Auburn Series Stats | VIDEO: Karen Weekly Postgame
-UT Athletics
Postgame/Boxscore/Stats/Story: #4 Vols Tame Wildcats, Take Series with 11-2 Win
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – A seven-run sixth inning helped No. 4 Tennessee pull away from Kentucky for a 11-2 win in Saturday’s rubber game at Lindsey Nelson Stadium.
The Big Orange blasted two home runs and had six hits in their seven-run outburst in the sixth inning, none bigger than Jake Rucker’s grand slam with one out. Max Ferguson drove in the first run in the inning with a single before Rucker’s second slam of the season. Luc Lipcius went deep for the third straight game with a two-run shot later in the inning to give the Vols a commanding 11-2 lead.
Rucker finished the day with two hits and tied a career high with five runs batted in. Jordan Beck (4-for-5, R, 2B, RBI), Liam Spence (3-for-4, 2 R) and Ferguson (2-for-4, 2 R, 2B, RBI) also had big days at the plate for the Vols as they scored double-digit runs for the third time in their last four SEC games.
The Wildcats were able to scratch across a run in the top of the first on a sacrifice fly from Coltyn Kessler, scoring Austin Schultz, who hit the first pitch of the game to straightaway center field for a double.
The Vols took the lead with a two-run second inning as Beck and Pete Derkay both drove in runs. Drew Gilbert led off the inning with a double and came around to score on an RBI double by Beck before Derkay plated Lipcius with a sacrifice fly to put UT ahead 2-1. Tennessee added another run in the third when Evan Russell was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded and took a 4-1 lead in the fifth on a Rucker RBI single before the big sixth inning to put the game out of reach.
Blade Tidwell improved to 5-2 on the year after giving the Vols a quality start. The freshman had five strikeouts and gave up two runs (one earned) on four hits and three walks.
Redshirt senior lefty Redmond Walsh came on in relief of Tidwell with one out in the sixth and took it home from there, tossing 3.2 shutout innings with a career-high tying five strikeouts to earn his fifth save of the year. The Louisville, Tennessee, native did not give up a hit and allowed just one runner to reach base via an error.
Coltyn Kessler was the only Kentucky player to drive in a run as the Wildcats (26-15 // 10-11 SEC) were held to just four hits for the game.
The Vols (34-11 // 14-7 SEC) will have five days between games before a road trip to Missouri next weekend.
NOTABLE
FEELING GRAND: Jake Rucker’s grand slam in the sixth inning was the fifth hit by the Volunteers this season and the second by the Greenbrier, Tennessee, native. UT has hit at least one grand slam in every month this season.
Tennessee Grand Slams
- Liam Spence at Georgia Southern (Feb. 21)
- Drew Gilbert vs. UNCG (March 14)
- Jake Rucker at Georgia (March 19)
- Evan Russell vs. Vanderbilt (April 17)
- Jake Rucker vs. Kentucky (May 1)
GREAT IN RUBBER GAMES: Tennessee continued its success in rubber games with Saturday’s win, improving to 4-1 on the year in such contests.
Box Score (PDF) | Series Stats (PDF) | Vitello, Beck & Walsh Postgame
-UT Athletics
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