Steve Wariner is celebrating the 23rd Anniversary of his album Burnin’ The Roadhouse Down.
He reflects on what the project meant to him, “An important album for me…this was my very first Capitol album, the very first album that I produced totally by myself…other than No More Mr. Nice Guy, my guitar record. ‘Holes In The Floor Of Heaven’ was track number 2, so, and I remember doing the song ‘Burnin’ The Roadhouse Down’…Garth (Brooks) came in and played on it and sang. Really tremendous this is a big album for me.”
One of the biggest hits from Burnin’ The Roadhouse Down was “Holes In The Floor Of Heaven” — Listen to it here…
You can check out the title track to the album featuring Garth Brooks here…
Carrie Underwood recently released her album My Savior, but she also teased that something new was dropping today…
Originally she posted “I’m all aflutter with something exciting coming April 21!”
but now she’s added, “*UPDATE* Looks like we have to keep those butterflies fluttering a little longer… more to come…”
While fans wait to see what Carrie has to set free, they can checkout some of her recent Award Show performances.
People are still raving about the medley of songs from her My Savior album that she sang with Cece Winins on the 56th ACM Awards — check out it out here..
Carrie also appeared at the 2021 Latin American Music Awards to perform “Tears of Gold” with David Bisbal…watch their performance here…
Congrats to Gabby Barrett for having the number-1 spot on the country music airplay chart for the second week in a row.
This past weekend, she and her husband Cade Foehner – who was also the inspiration behind Gabby writing “The Good Ones” – performed the number-1 song on the ACM Awards.
With everything happening in her life now – being named ACM New Female Artist of the Year, her second number-1 and motherhood — Gabby says “Life has been amazing…crazy…all the things.”
Of course she also joked about appearing at the Awards Show Sunday night, “I’m normally in bed right now, this is way past my bed time, but this is well worth it!”
While she’s loving being at home with her daughter, Gabby is also excited about her plans for later this year, “I’ve announced that I’m going to be going on tour this year with Thomas Rhett, so I’m excited for that, excited to get back out on the road…it’s good.”
Check out Gabby Barrett singing “The Good Ones” on the 56th Annual ACM Awards right here…
Thomas Rhett‘s Country Again – Side A comes out April 30th, and it already contains a number-1 hit, with “What’s Your Country Song.”
Now he’s released the title track, and it name drops a musical hero of Thomas’…Eric Church.
Eric chimed in on what he thought of the song — Thomas shares the text conversation the two had, “There’s obviously a line, about me and my buddies cranking Eric Church to 10, and he texted me and said ‘Hey man, I just wanted to say “Country Again” is great. Hope you and the family are doing well.’ And I said ‘Thanks a lot, it means a ton. Hope you don’t mind that I name dropped you.’ and he said ‘I’m honored.’ And that was full circle to me because he’s one of the biggest reasons, besides Merle Haggard, that I wanted to write songs in the first place. I remember being 16 years old and just being like ‘is there anyone better than Eric Church’ and I was the dude that my favorite songs were the b-sides or the album cuts, so, he’s always been somebody I looked up to as a songwriter. So, to have him kind of sign off on a song was very special to me.”
Thomas recently performed both songs, “What’s Your Country Song” and “Country Again” on the ACM Awards…
Country music artists and their fans have always had a special relationship.
The guys in LANCO know what it’s like to have dedicated fans that are there from the start…but as lead singer Brandon Lancaster says, “I think from day one we never really set out to have fans, we more just thought of having these people that come to our shows that we connect with, that we have a relationship with, so, that’s been really cool.”
Brandon adds, “It’s really cool when you see some of the same faces at different shows because you do have a relationship with them you know.”
Brandon says that it’s great to have people as invested in their career as the guys in the band are, “We understand our music obviously we create our music, but if there’s anyone that understands our music as much as we do it’s the people that you see in multiple times and listen to a lot and have really connected to it enough to see multiple shows…so that’s really fun for us because it’s a, there’s just a loyalty there, and it feels like we have a relationship with that person.”
LANCO fans can’t wait to see the band on the road again so they can see this one live…check out the music video for “Near Mrs.”
Ian Munsick recently had a moment that everyone who dreams about making music for a living hopes and waits for…the first time they hear their music on the radio.
Ian was in his car when he captured on video the first time he heard “Long Haul” on a country station.
Ian shared, “9 years ago, an 18 year old Ian moved from Wyoming to Nashville. A few days in, I missed the wide open spaces and friendly faces so much that I moved back to the ranch that raised me. My family supported my decision but never let me stop asking the question ‘what if?’ A few months later, that question haunted me into moving back to Music City. Fast forward 9 years… the question stopped haunting me. The Dream became a reality. If mine can, so can yours. Chase it.”
Check out Ian Munsick’s music video for “Long Haul” right here…
Kane Brown stopped by The Late Late Show with James Corden recently…they talked about Kane’s ACM Award win for Video of the Year, and his tour coming up this year.
Kane will be covering basketball arenas on his Blessed & Free tour — it’s the first time a country artist will headline at all 29 NBA home courts on one tour.
With Kane hitting basketball arena’s James asked which player Kane would like to go up against one on one…while Golden State WarriorStephen Curry is Kane’s favorite player, he did admit that Miami Heat‘s own Jimmy Butler, who is a big country music fan, called Kane out.
With a little encouragement from James Corden, Kane tried to trash talk Jimmy Butler…which James than busted Kane’s chops that his “trash talking” was to tell Jimmy to “practice.”
Watch the conversation, and a performance of “Worldwide Beautiful,” right here…
Dani Taylor has one important goal when it comes to her music, “I want to spread positivity and a healthier outlook on life and the future, for myself and for anyone who’s listening.”
Dani recently released her debut EP, which features “Midnight Cowgirl,” “Kiss Me If You Can” and “You Can Thank Me Later.”
She says, “The inspiration for this EP was the closing of my first chapter here in Nashville. I have learned so much having been here for three years. I’ve learned a lot about myself as well.”
One important lesson she learned was about the kind of songs she wants to create, “I want to be happy, and I want other people to be happy, even at their lowest. I want girls, the misunderstood, the underdogs, and anyone having a bad day or breakup to listen to my music and feel more empowered. I want people to go to my music to make them feel better.”
Dani adds, “This EP was a part of the recording project with the first three singles I released. It showcased everything I have learned and gone through when I first came here and it hints at where my journey is going next.”
When it comes to the track, “You Can Thank Me Later,” Dani shares the story behind the song, “A lot of time when I am writing, I will imagine the song as a music video. It helps me write it better. I had the hook and was so surprised that no one had written about it yet since it’s such a common saying, ‘You can hate me now, but you will thank me later.’ I had the idea of a girl going on a date with a bad guy whose no good for her. And she goes to the bathroom to fix her makeup and crying and her reflection in the mirror is like, ‘No, no.’”
Check out the lyric video for Dani Taylor’s “You Can Thank Me Later” — one of the 3 tracks on her debut EP that’s available now.
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – The final week of spring football practice for first-year Tennessee head coach Josh Heupel and his Volunteers began with a two-plus hour workout on Tuesday afternoon as Haslam Field.
Tennessee will practice again Thursday as it prepares for Saturday’s Chevrolet Orange & White Game in Neyland Stadium. Kickoff is 4 p.m. ET, and the contest will be broadcast on SEC Network+ and the Vol Network. Admission is free with gates opening at 2:30 p.m.
Linebackers coach Brian Jean-Mary discussed his unit’s progress this spring following practice. Jean-Mary brings an extensive resume to Knoxville that includes stints as linebackers coach at Georgia Tech, Texas, Louisville and Michigan.
“I commend our unit because they have never complained even when our numbers are low,” he said. “They go out and play. It’s about opportunity and being prepared when you have that opportunity. We have a lot of guys that probably thought they didn’t see themselves playing this early in their careers, and they’re getting the opportunity to impress coach (Josh) Heupel and coach (Tim) Banks. They’re making the most of it.”
“First, I like to commend those guys. Our numbers aren’t very high. The guys who have been out there, a hardworking crew. There’s a lot of buy-in with that group. They want to get out there and get better every day. A lot of guys with not a lot of experience, but they fight their butt off every day in some adverse situations. I want to commend them. As far as on the individual level, you have a bunch of guys that are athletic, have a lot of hunger and are just trying to learn football right now. They’ve gotten better. The transformation from the first practice to this last one being practice No. 12 has been amazing. I’m very proud of those guys.”
“He’s one of the main ones based off my last statement. Obviously, he’s new to the linebacker position. He’s a very athletic, very intelligent kid. Tough kid. He plays every snap like it’s his last. I think he’s got a very bright future because he’s still learning the game. He plays it the right way. With the DB background he has, obviously he’s made for the game the way it is today. It’s a space game where people play to the grass and to the field as far as the wide side of the field like most offenses. He’s kind of built for that with his athleticism and speed. We’ve been very happy with the way Pak has been playing so far.”
On having limited numbers through spring …
“It’s been a challenge, but like I said, I commend that unit because they have never complained even when our numbers are low. They go out and play. It’s about opportunity and being prepared when you have that opportunity. We have a lot of guys that probably thought they didn’t see themselves playing this early in their careers, and they’re getting the opportunity to impress coach (Josh) Heupel and coach (Tim) Banks. They’re making the most of it. We take it day-by-day. Obviously, our numbers are small, but we will never use that as an excuse. We are going to go out there and try to perform at the highest level. We are going to do what we can to play the Vol brand of defense.”
“They’re in every meeting. Every installation meeting, they’re in. They’re able to watch film with us. Most of the things we are going to grade them on will be the mental side, understanding what we are trying to get done. Obviously, new terminology, new schemes. That’s where they’re going to make the most is learning what to do. They’ve been doing great in the rooms. We treat them just like everybody else in the classroom where they’re able to answer questions, watch tape and take notes. I think they’re going to be ahead of anyone else as far as coming back in the fall because they’ve been able to sit in on every meeting and have a general understanding of what we’re trying to get done on defense.”
“Will is a team player. Obviously, he was recruited here as a long snapper, but he is an athletic long snapper. Based on our numbers, he wanted to do what he could to help the program. He also sees that as an opportunity for what he does. If you are able to play linebacker, tackle, take on blocks and understand the linebacker position, that only enhances what you can do as a long snapper and vice versa. He’s done a great job for us. He’s been rotating in every day, showing his toughness. He’s one of the guys that has had a really good spring. We have been very excited for what he has been able to show so far.”
Solon Page has done a great job. He’s been thrust into a leadership role, and he’s done a great job for us. He’s been the glue of what we have done because he’s kind of been the senior member of the unit. We have asked him to play both Mike and Will linebacker. He’s done a great job for us. He’s been learning on the run. He didn’t come in with a ton of experience, but he’s the most experienced guy in the room. I have seen him get more physical from day one and his understanding of what we are trying to get done on defense is really starting to get across. We have been very happy with him. He has a chance to help us.”
On his assessment of the defense from the first practice to now …
“I have been happy with them. Have we been perfect? Obviously not. We have a lot of things we have to clean up. There’s a lot of mistakes that have been made. I have been most impressed with the effort. Those guys really care about Volunteer football, and they want to do what’s best for the team. They are doing everything that they can. Like I said, we haven’t been perfect by every sense of the imagination, but with the effort that we have, I think we are going to have some positive results just because they play so hard and they want to do it within the framework of what we are trying to get done on defense. I have been pleased. We want to get better building the numbers and creating a little more havoc with turnovers, sacks, tackles for loss, interceptions and PBUs. We have gotten a few. We’ve had some missed opportunities, but when you have the effort there, the rest will take care of itself.”
On if principles at linebacker are different from last year’s defense …
“I didn’t study what they did last year. Obviously, we watched tape from last year just to get a general assessment on athletic ability. We didn’t get tied into what they did. We always try to give them a blank slate as they walk through the door. The thing we tried to evaluate was their tackling ability, how were they in coverage and how did they blitz? We tried to watch those things from last year. As far as the differences, football is still football. It’s get aligned, be gap assigned, know what your responsibility is, go find the football and go make plays when the ball is in your area. That’s how we are always going to assess them. I can’t really speak on how much different it is. I know with our system, it is very multiple. We do ask a lot of them, and they have been up to the task for the most part this spring.”
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – No. 5 Tennessee pulled out a 3-2 victory in walk-off fashion on Tuesday night against in-state foe Tennessee Tech at Lindsey Nelson Stadium.
With the game knotted at two in the bottom of the ninth, Max Ferguson delivered a walk-off RBI single to right field, scoring Jordan Beck from second. The hit was the only one of the night for Ferguson, who also drew a walk and made a couple of fine defensive plays at second base.
A strong group effort on the mound also played a major part in UT’s win, as six different pitchers saw action for the Big Orange. Sean Hunley got the win the improve to 6-2 on the year after allowing just one hit and racking up four strikeouts in two innings of work.
Jason Rackers got the start for the Vols and was solid in his longest outing of the year, allowing just one unearned run on one hit in 3.1 innings pitched.
Drew Gilbert also saw time on the mound and gave Tennessee two shutout innings in the middle of the game, giving up just one hit while striking out a pair.
The Golden Eagles jumped out to a quick lead with a run in the top of the first. UT responded immediately, tying the game with an RBI single by Gilbert in the bottom of the first to tie the game at one.
Both sides had opportunities to break the 1-1 tie, but neither team was able to capitalize until the Vols took a 2-1 lead on a no-doubt home run to left field by Beck in the sixth.
Tennessee Tech (12-17) was able to pull even with a run in the top of the eighth. It looked as if Tennessee was going to escape a jam, but a two-out single by Cody Littlejohn scored Brett Roberts from third to tie the game at two.
After Hunley retired the side in order in the top of the ninth, Beck drew a leadoff walk in the bottom of the inning to start UT’s rally. After a sacrifice bunt by Christian Scott and an intentional walk to Liam Spence, Ferguson lined a 1-2 pitch into right field. The throw from right fielder Theo Bryant IV was off line, allowing Beck to avoid the tag and slide into home safely to give the Vols the win.
Next up for Tennessee (30-8) is a road trip to College Station to take on the Texas A&M Aggies this weekend. First pitch for Friday’s series opener is slated for 7:30 p.m. ET.
NOTABLE
WALK IT OFF: Tuesday night’s win marked the fifth walk-off victory for Tennessee this season. The Vols have also posted walk-off wins over Indiana State (Feb. 28), ETSU (March 16) and LSU (March 27 and March 28) this season.
BECK BLAST: Jordan Beck hit his seventh home run of the season to put the Vols ahead 2-1 in the sixth inning on Tuesday. The Hazel Green, Alabama, native now owns sole possession of second place on the team in home runs this season, trailing Evan Russell, who leads the team with 10.
