Sunday night Matthew McConaughey hosted the fundraiser We’re Texas to help out his home state after it was ravaged by recent winter storms.
At just over 2 hours – the benefit featured music, stories, and appearances by Texans of all shapes and sizes. With performances by Willie Nelson, George Strait, Miranda Lambert, Kacey Musgraves, Parker McCollum, Clint Black, Kelly Clarkson, Randy Rogers, Gary Clark Jr. and Post Malone…who covered Brad Paisley‘s “I’m Gonna Miss Her.”
So far, We’re Texas has raised over a quarter million dollars to help those who could use a hand.
If you missed the fun Sunday night, you can watch it here, and the donate button is still active
100% of the donations raised through the Just Keep Livin Texas Relief Fund will support the critical short-term, mid-term and long-term needs resulting from the devastation caused by Winter Storm Uri. We are proudly collaborating with a number of carefully vetted and trusted partners on the ground in Texas.
Tennessee Lady Vols coach Kellie Harper spoke to the media after 3-seed UT’s 87-62 win over 14-seed Middle Tennessee in Austin, TX in the 1st Round of the NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament. The Lady Vols will play 6-seed Michigan Tuesday in the 2nd Round. Video is approved for use from the NCAA Digital Media Hub.
Kellie Harper – Lady Vols HC / Credit: NCAA Digital Media Hub
Tennessee Lady Vols guard/forward Rennia Davis spoke to the media after 3-seed UT’s 87-62 win over 14-seed Middle Tennessee in Austin, TX in the 1st Round of the NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament. The Lady Vols will play 6-seed Michigan Tuesday in the 2nd Round. Video is approved for use from the NCAA Digital Media Hub.
Lady Vols G/F Rennia Davis / Credit: NCAA Digital Media Hub
Gary LeVox has released his first post-Rascal Flatts project with his inspirational, faith-driven song “The Distance.”
Talking about the new track, Gary says, “With the struggles and battles so many have gone through this past year and taken over people’s everyday lives, this felt like a true song of hope. With this song, the message we wanted to share is that our hope is not lost, it’s found on the cross. And with God, we can go the distance. Don’t ever give up.”
Gary also shares, “’The Distance’ was the first song written for my solo chapter,” and when it came out on Friday Gary exclaimed, “It’s finally here y’all. I don’t have the words to describe how happy I am at this very moment. This is the start of a journey that I want to enjoy with each and every one of you that have supported me through the years. ‘The Distance’ is now available and I want to know your honest opinions on the song. God bless all of you and I want to thank you from the bottom of my heart. I truly love ya!”
Check out the new song “The Distance” from Gary LeVox right here…
ATHENS, Ga. — An incredible pitching performance from Blade Tidwell and a big day at the plate from Drew Gilbert led No. 10 Tennessee to a 4-1 victory in Sunday’s rubber game against No. 7 Georgia on Sunday afternoon at Foley Field in Athens.
Tidwell was dominant in his first SEC start, allowing just one run on four hits in a career-high 7.1 innings. The true freshman right hander also had six strikeouts and improved to 3-1 on the year with the win.
Gilbert had three of UT’s eight hits and drove in a pair of runs to provide some insurance for the pitching staff. Pete Derkay, Luc Lipcius and Connor Pavolony all had a hit and scored runs, as well.
For the third straight game, the Vols took a first-inning lead. After a strikeout to start the day, Tennessee loaded the bases with three straight singles by Derkay, Rucker and Gilbert before Jordan Beck drove in the game’s first run with an RBI fielder’s choice to make it 1-0. UT was unable to do any more damage in the inning as Georgia starter Jonathan Cannon struck out Max Ferguson to end the threat.
Cannon was credited with the loss after allowing two runs on five hits in 3.2 innings of work.
The Vols (17-4 // 2-1 SEC) extended their lead to three with a pair of runs in the top of the fourth. Lipcius started the inning with a walk and ended up scoring on a wild pitch to make it 2-0. After two more walks, Gilbert continued his big day with an RBI single to score Derkay from second and give the Big Orange a 3-0 lead.
The Bulldogs (14-5 // 1-2 SEC) cut their deficit to two with a run in the sixth. Ben Anderson led off the frame with a triple and scored on a groundout by Cole Tate one batter later. Tidwell got the next two batters to ground out to end the inning and keep the lead intact.
Tennessee added one more insurance run with a sacrifice fly from Gilbert in the ninth. Pavolony scored on the play after leading off the inning with a single before advancing to third on a double by Liam Spence.
Junior right hander Camden Sewell pitched the final 1.1 innings to earn the save, his first of the season, and secure the series victory for the Vols.
Tennessee heads back to Knoxville to open a five game homestand this Tuesday vs. Eastern Kentucky. First pitch will be at 6:30 p.m.
NOTABLE
Dominant SEC Debut for Tidwell: If right hander Blade Tidwell had any nerves before his SEC debut on Sunday, he definitely didn’t show it as the Loretto, Tennessee, native put forth the best pitching performance of the series with 7.1 dominant innings. Tidwell struck out the first batter he faced and retired the side in order to end the first inning to set the tone for the rest of the game. The true freshman struck out six and scattered four hits to earn his third consecutive win.
Starting with a Series Win: With Sunday’s victory, the Vols earned their first series win on SEC opening weekend since taking two of three games at Missouri in 2014.
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – Three runs in the bottom of the fifth was enough for No. 3 Alabama to claim the rubber match, 3-0, over No. 21 Tennessee Sunday afternoon at Rhoads Stadium.
Tennessee (21-5, 2-4 SEC) received another strong pitching performance from junior Ashley Rogers in the circle as she shutdown the Tide through the first four innings. The Athens, Tennessee, native worked three 1-2-3 innings in the first, second and fourth. She allowed just one Alabama baserunner on a walk in the third.
In the fifth, Alabama (24-2, 5-1 SEC) tagged Rogers as it strung together three runs on three hits. After a leadoff fly out to start the bottom of the fifth, Claire Jenkins drew a one-out walk and was advanced to second by Savannah Woodard on a single to right.
Lexi Kilfoyl drove in Jenkins for the games’ first run as she singled to right field. Jenkins went from second to home on the hit and just beat the tag at the plate. Woodard was able to make it around to third on the play.
Maddie Morgan was next up at the plate and reached on a fielder’s choice to Kaitlin Parsons at second base as Parsons threw home to get Woodard attempting to score. The throw home was in time, but Woodard was able to slide in and beat the tag to plate Alabama’s second run of the inning.
A single to left field loaded the bases for the Tide’s KB Sides who drew a walk on nine pitches as Kilfoyl scored the final run of the inning.
Rogers got out of the inning as she induced a lineout from Alexis Mack and a fielder’s choice from Bailey Hemphill, which Tennessee third baseman Chelsea Seggern fielded and stepped on third for the final out of the fifth.
The Lady Vol pitcher tossed six innings, struck out two, walked three and allowed three runs on three hits.
Offensively, Tennessee was once again able to get hits off Alabama’s Montana Fouts but was unable to push any runs across the plate. UT ended the day with six hits, but also stranded six runners on base.
Ashley Morgan had the best day at the dish for the Orange & White, going 2-for-3 with a single and a double.
Fouts tossed a complete-game for Alabama, allowing no runs on six hits and striking out eight.
UP NEXT
Tennessee returns home to Sherri Parker Lee Stadium for a Wednesday doubleheader against Kennesaw State, starting at 4 p.m. ET.
This weekend Carly Pearce debut a song that she co-wrote to one of her musical idols — Loretta Lynn.
Carly shares the story about being introduced to Loretta’s music and also about the new song, “My grandma introduced to me to her music when I was a little girl, and made sure I understood that if I was going to sing country music being from Kentucky— I had to know the importance of Miss Loretta Lynn. I’ve always loved her, but it wasn’t until the last year that I really FELT what she’s sang about all these years— and just how much we really do have in common. I wrote this song recently with Shane McAnally & Brandy Clark as a letter to her, saying all the things I wish I could say to her & sang it for the first time last night on my favorite stage. Thank you Loretta, for making me feel like it’s okay to write my truth and be unashamed.. just like you.”
Listen to the song here…
Carly is also climbing the country music airplay charts with this fan-favorite from her collection of songs, 29 — this is “Next Girl.”
Garth Brooks returned to The Ellen DeGeneres Show this past Friday and chatted with guest host tWitch.
Garth talked about Trisha Yearwood and her brush with COVID, and also how the couple used quarantine time to work on their relationship.
Then after talking about Trisha, she jumped in and join the conversation – sharing a story about the first homecooked meal she ever made for Garth, and how that recipe, which ended up in her cookbook, changed because of Garth.
The two also shared the story behind their version of “Shallow.”
Check out both parts of the conversation here…
Part 2 of Garth and Trisha’s conversation with tWitch on The Ellen Show.
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — Tennessee All-America offensive lineman Trey Smith added a crowning achievement on his decorated career as he was awarded with the Torchbearer award, the university’s highest student honor.
Torchbearers are seniors who embody the Volunteer spirit while demonstrating academic excellence and a commitment to serving others.
Chancellor Donde Plowman, Vice Chancellor/Director of Athletics Danny White and head coach Josh Heupel surprised Smith with the honor via Zoom. Watch here.
She might be a small town girl with a guitar full of dreams, but 2021 started off with a bang for Sacha as she was named one of CMT’s Next Women of Country – Class of 2021.
Now her independently released EP The Best Thing, which arrived last July, has surpassed 1 million streams. Sacha shares, “Thank You to all those of you who have purchased/streamed this album it means the world to me. I’m so thankful I was able to get this music out to the world.”
With songs like “Standards,” “Best Thing That Never Happened,” and the high-energy “Cheers” Sacha is finding new fans at every turn.
When it comes to the lead track from The Best Thing, Sacha says, “‘Cheers’ is a self-celebratory tune, from the lady who turns 87 dancing up at the bar, or the guy in the corner who likes to sing Celine Dion at karaoke. I hope the takeaway for fans is the feel-good, ‘be free to express your unique self’ nature of the song”
So, if you’re looking for fun, go ahead…and watch the music video for Sacha’s “Cheers.”
