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Lady A Established A Scholarship Fund to Help College Students

Posted on March 1, 2021

Lady A is helping college students with the LadyAID Scholarship Fund.

It was established by the trio to support students attending Historically Black Colleges and Universities, in hopes of helping relieve financial barriers to higher education and empower Black communities around the country. The scholarship launches with schools in Tennessee and Georgia to honor the members’ home states, but is available for any HBCU in any state.

The LadyAID Fund of The Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee is a philanthropic effort founded by GRAMMY award winning trio, Lady A – Dave Haywood, Charles Kelley and Hillary Scott – to bring awareness to numerous initiatives around the world ranging from helping vulnerable children, societal and cultural issues, as well as natural disaster aid and recovery. The multi-level campaign will focus primarily on the today’s youth to help provide a better tomorrow as well as supporting “sponsored” organizations through the fund.

Applications are open through March 15 for the recently formed LadyAID Scholarship Fund!

If you or anyone you know could benefit from this, you can find more info at ladyaid.org

Headline Photo Courtesy of BMLG

Additional Photo Courtesy of Lady A

Clint Black and Rosanne Cash Find Their Roots

Posted on March 1, 2021

Clint Black and Rosanne Cash appeared on a recent episode of the popular PBS series Finding Your Roots hosted by Henry Louis Gates Jr..

Clint and Rosanne start by sharing their immediate family roots before delving deeper into their ancestry. Clint shared how his father was a hard sell when it came to telling him that Clint wanted to pursue country music for a living.

Rosanne’s dad is probably one of the best known figures in country music…Johnny Cash. But the complicated relationship of her parents along with Johnny’s drug use, delayed her having a total connection to her father.

While both Rosanne and Clint had some ideas about their family’s history, there are some surprises along the way that both please and create emotional connections to their pasts.

Check out the episode of Find Your Roots featuring Rosanne Cash and Clint Black right here…

Headline Photos Courtesy of Getty Images

#17 Vols’ Midweek Game vs. Dayton Replaced with Wednesday Trip to Austin Peay

Posted on March 1, 2021

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – The Tennessee baseball team will now play in-state foe Austin Peay on the road in Clarksville on Wednesday after Dayton canceled its scheduled trip to Knoxville earlier on Monday.

First pitch for Wednesday’s contest is slated for 5:30 p.m. ET. The game will be streamed live on ESPN+ and fans can also listen to the live audio call from John Wilkerson, which will be available on UTSports.com and the UT Gameday App.

For the most up-to-date information on Tennessee baseball, follow the team on Twitter (@Vol_Baseball), Instagram (@Vol_Baseball) and Facebook (Tennessee Baseball).

-UT Athletics

Rogers Tabbed SEC Pitcher of the Week

Posted on March 1, 2021

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – After spinning absolute gems to bookend week 3 of the 2021 campaign, No. RV/23/24 Tennessee ace Ashley Rogers was named the SEC Player of the Week, the conference announced late Monday afternoon.

Rogers, a junior, combined for 41 strikeouts in 19.0 innings of work to go undefeated in the circle (3-0), tossing three complete games and a pair of shutouts. Rogers gave up one run during the stretch.

The Athens, Tennessee, native fanned her way into rare company after tossing 18 strikeouts against Central Michigan to close UT’s five game week with a career-best performance. She became just the fourth Lady Vol ever to reach that benchmark joining Monica Abbott, Ellen Renfroe and Megan Rhodes. Rogers is now tied for eighth all-time in single-game strikeouts with legendary Abbott.

That performance followed a one-hit outing four days earlier where Rogers eclipsed her then personal-best 13 strikeouts, by retiring 17 batters from Illinois State in a complete game 3-0 win for the Lady Vols.

The notable honor is the first for Rogers, who did not play the entire 2020 season after being temporarily sidelined from an injury, since she was named SEC Freshman of the Week on April 2, 2019. It also marks the first time Tennessee picked up the award since March 26, 2019 when Matty Moss won.

The Lady Vols will play on the road for the first time this season as they head to College Station, Texas for the Reveille Classic (March 5-7) and face Campbell, Lamar and Texas A&M during their five-game lineup.

-UT Athletics

Tennessee Baseball – Vols’ Midweek Game vs. Dayton Canceled

Posted on March 1, 2021

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – Tennessee’s midweek contest scheduled for Wednesday, March 3 has been canceled after Dayton decided to pull out of the game on Monday.

No makeup date for the game has been scheduled at this time and the Vols are actively seeking another opponent to play on Wednesday.

Ticket holders are encouraged to keep their Tennessee vs. Dayton ticket in its original form should a new opponent be announced. Ticket holders will receive communication via email if additional changes are made to Tennessee’s schedule and should ensure that [email protected] is recognized by their email client as a “safe sender” so emails are not directed to a junk or spam folder.

We will update fans on any new information as it becomes available.

-UT Athletics

Jimmy’s blog: NBA scouts evaluates Johnson, Springer

Posted on March 1, 2021

By Jimmy Hyams

Tennessee freshman guard Keon Johnson has been projected to be taken as high as the No. 7 pick in the NBA draft, according to one mock analysis.

That would tie him for the second-highest ever of any Vol player, behind only Tom Boerwinkle at No. 4.

Is that likely?

“That and a dollar will buy you a USA today,’’ said one long-time NBA scout. “A lot can be done between now and the draft.’’

While the scout isn’t ready to proclaim the 6-foot-5 Vol as a top 10 NBA pick, he does like Johnson’s game.

“He’s explosive,’’ the NBA scout said. “He’s off-the-chart athletically. He plays hard.

“What he needs to work on are his ball skills in traffic and shooting.’’

Johnson committed 23 turnovers in a recent five-game stretch. And he is shooting just 26.8 percent from 3-point range. He’s at 43.5 percent overall.

Tennessee’s other freshman guard, Jaden Springer, has been projected as a mid-20s NBA pick.

“I think he’s got a really good skill set,’’ the NBA scout said. “He shoots the ball very well. He’s athletic enough. He’s got a good body. He’s strong. But he also needs to work on his decision making. His ball skills are better than Johnson’s.’’

While Springer has the ability to create his own shots, “he’ll overdo it and get in trouble,’’ the scout said.

Springer is averaging 12.8 points while shooting a blistering 47.3 percent from 3-point range, 49 percent overall and 81.5 percent from the foul line.

The scout said Yves Pons could go late in the second round “if a team needs a defensive guy. He’s more of a bit player. He’ll likely get a two-way contract. His lack of offensive ability is glaring.’’

Pons considered turning pro after last season but knew he needed to work on his offensive game. He improved from a 28 percent 3-point shooter as a sophomore to 34.9 as a junior. But his outside accuracy has regressed markedly to where he is hitting only 28 percent thus far this season.

The scout thinks 6-foot-9 John Fulkerson might have a future in Europe.

“Even as much as he’s improved and he plays hard, he still gets knocked off balance way too easy,’’ the scout said. “I think he’s a good, solid college player.’’

Regarding this year’s version of the Tennessee Vols, who are 16-7 after getting off to a 10-1 start, the scout said the problems are simple.

“No low post, no true point guard,’’ the scout said, adding that UT struggles at half-court offense.

But, he cautioned, a lot can happen in college hoops over the next few weeks.

“Kansas is one of the hottest teams in basketball and a month ago, people were saying Kansas’ season is over,’’ the scout said. “Tennessee has got enough talent (to turn things around).’’

While the scout thinks UT could make noise down the stretch, he did caution: “It’s not like Pons and Fulkerson will become Bill Walton overnight. That’s not going to change. But if they get the right matchup and get their confidence back, a lot of things can happen.’’

Sponsored by Big Kahuna Wings: The wings that changed it all

Country Music Artists React To Their Nominations for the 56th ACM Awards

Posted on February 28, 2021

The nominations for the 56th Annual ACM Awards were announced on Friday, and the reactions from the nominees have been rolling in…

For the full list of nominees and categories, check it out HERE

Luke Bryan: “Wow, what a way to start my weekend! My team and I are so excited to be nominated for 2 ACM – Academy of Country Music Awards. 2020 was a tricky year but I really couldn’t do it without all my fans out there supporting me. Thank you so much. Is it too early for #OneMargarita? Ha love y’all.”

Miranda Lambert: “Thank you for the love ACM – Academy of Country Music Awards”

Thomas Rhett: “Feeling extra grateful to be included on these lists and to be able to make country music for y’all. Thank you ACM – Academy of Country Music. Looking forward to April 18th”

Maren Morris: “Thank you ACM – Academy of Country Music! Congratulations to Gabrielle Woodland on her FIRST ACM nomination for directing ‘Better Than We Found It'”

Luke Combs: “Wow! Entertainer, Male Artist and Music Event of the Year… Completed humbled and honored by these nominations, ACM – Academy of Country Music! To the best fans in the world: these nominations are OUR nominations. This, or anything else for that matter, does NOT happen with out you all, so thank you!”

Ashley McBryde: “Somebody pinch me!”

Chris Stapleton: “Thanks for all the love. I’m honored to be included & thrilled to see so many close friends and collaborators being recognized for their talents.”

Carly Pearce: “My mom and I were waiting for the ACM Awards nominations announcement this morning and then I got THE call from Scott Borchetta….he tells me I have not one but THREE and one of those is FEMALE ARTIST OF THE YEAR!! I truly have no words. Thank you thank you thank you, gonna go cry all day.”

Dierks Bentley: “Pumped for my ACM – Academy of Country Music noms, but I wanted to give a special shout to one of the co-directors of the ‘Gone’ video Ed Pryor for his very first country award nomination. Thanks for sharing your talent and vision with me and Wes Edwards.”

Maddie & Tae: “It’s always an honor. thank you to our country music family & ACM – Academy of Country Music!”

Brooks & Dunn: “Always honored to be nominated for a ACM – Academy of Country Music Award!”

Lady A: “Feeling extra grateful this morning…wow. Thanks so much ACM – Academy of Country Music and our friends and peers who support us with these nominations. Huge congrats to all the nominees this year.”

Brothers Osborne: “Duo and ALBUM!!! Beyond honored to have these ACM – Academy of Country Music Awards nominations. We poured our hearts and souls into Skeletons. Beyond appreciative to receive the love for this record. Love y’all.”

Little Big Town: “So proud to be in this category with Lady A, Old Dominion, The Cadillac Three, The Highwomen. Thanks ACM Awards, we will see you in April!”

Florida Georgia Line: “Grateful to be nominated for Duo of the Year at the #ACMawards this year! Big thanks ACM – Academy of Country Music”

Ingrid Andress: “Honored and shooketh. Thank you ACM – Academy of Country Music.”

Old Dominion: “Wow. From the bottom of our hearts, thank you.”

Tenille Arts: “I truly can’t find a single morsel of chill. Neither can my hands or legs. Seriously…. being nominated for my first ACM Award is beyond a dream come true. To be nominated alongside my friends & artists I admire so much is even better. Congratulations, Ingrid Andress, Gabby Barrett, Mickey Guyton, & Caylee Hammack. AND thank you to all of YOU for being so nice.”

Travis Denning: “If this don’t qualify for a celebratory Friday beer in my future then I don’t know what does! So grateful and excited for my first ACM Awards nomination.”

Gabby Barrett: “Thank you to the entire country music community. I’m incredibly honored to be nominated!!!!!!”

Cody Johnson: “What an honor to be nominated for the ACM – Academy of Country Music awards New Male Artist of The Year. Thank you to the ACM voters and #COJONation for y’alls continued support. Couldn’t do this without y’all.”

The Cadillac Three: “Thanks ACM – Academy of Country Music!!”

Mickey Guyton: “Look at God! He is showing up and showing out! With opportunity comes possibility. Thank you for never giving up on me.”

Kane Brown: “WHAT?!?!?!”

Caylee Hammack: “AHHH! Thank you for this, it’s incredible being nominated as New Female Artist of the Year for the ACM – Academy of Country Music!”

John Legend: “Thank you ACM Awards! Thank you Carrie Underwood and our wonderful director Randee St. Nicholas!”

Lauren Alaina: “Holy moly. NomiNEED a minute to process this. I’m thankful beyond words to be nominated for Music Event of the Year with HARDY and Devin Dawson for our song ‘One Beer’.”

Keith Urban: “Do I love collaborating or what?!!!! Huge thx to Thomas Rhett for asking me to be a part of Be A Light and a massive thx to P!nk for duetting with me on ‘One Too Many’!!! Surreal!!!!!!! I also just heard I was given a THIRD nomination as producer as well — the only way this day could get any better was if i heard that Rotier’s in Nashville was gonna stay in business. THANK YOU ACM’s!!!!”

Devin Dawson: “This one just keeps going ! Pumped to be nominated for another ACM Awards this year … Thank you ACM ! Let’s gooooo Hardy and Lauren Alaina”

Miranda Lambert & Elle King Pair Up and Hair Up

Posted on February 28, 2021

Miranda Lambert has teamed up with Elle King for a new song called “Drunk (and I Don’t Wanna Go Home)”.

The connection between the two singers started a couple of years ago, Miranda shares, “Elle and I were on tour together for Roadside Bars and Pink Guitars and she and I became really good friends.”

Elle says, “Miranda is someone I have looked up to as a songwriter, musician, performer, and human being for a long time. So our tumbleweed snowball story of getting to know each other is the ultimate real deal kinda thing. Nobody revs me up, kicks my ass on stage, or treats me more like family than Miranda Lambert.”

When it came to finding just the right musical partner for “Drunk (and I Don’t Wanna Go Home)” Elle knew who to reach out to, “The true story of this song sums up our wild friendship…Our rowdy reputations proceed us, so who else could sing this song together besides us?”

Miranda adds, “She sent me this awesome song 2019 and asked me if I would sing on it. And, I heard it and of course loved it- Such an anthem.”

Of course between getting the song, and then getting an opportunity to record it, quarantine happened — so while the song was delayed, it was not stopped.

Miranda says, “2020 happened, so we’re finally getting this song out.”

Elle couldn’t be more thrilled to start 2021 with this new track at radio, “Crawling out of such a crazy year, still full of so many unknowns, I ultimately couldn’t think of another person I’d rather come out singin’ and swingin’ with than the most badass chick I know. Miranda.”

The song is one thing, but the video…takes it to a whole new level according to Miranda, “We got to shoot a really fun video at the American Legion in Nashville and we got to have really big hair. So, we had a blast.”

Check out the music video for “Drunk (and I Don’t Wanna Go Home” from Miranda Lambert and Elle King, right here…

Photos courtesy of Sony Music Nashville

Postgame/Boxscore/Story: #15 Vols Walk-Off Indiana State in Series Finale

Posted on February 28, 2021

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – No. 15 Tennessee pulled out a 6-5 win in walk-off fashion against Indiana State in Sunday’s series finale at Lindsey Nelson Stadium.

The Vols (7-2) were able regroup after giving up a three-run lead in the eighth inning and won it in the bottom of the 11th when Luc Lipcius scored on a throwing error by Sycamores’ third baseman Diego Gines, his second error of the inning.

Seven UT players registered a hit on Sunday, led by Jordan Beck’s two-hit performance. The sophomore outfielder also drove in another run with a single in the first inning to increase his team RBI lead to 12.

Senior right hander Jackson Leath made his first start of the year but had to leave the game after just three batters with an apparent leg injury. Fellow senior Sean Hunley took over for Leath and put forth another outstanding performance in relief.

The Mount Juliet, Tennessee, native retired 13 of the first 14 batters he faced and the only hitter to reach base in that stretch was because of an error. Hunley ended up going 5.2 innings, allowing two runs on just two hits while striking out six.

Redshirt senior closer Redmond Walsh earned his second win of the year after 4.2 solid innings of relief. The Louisville, Tennessee, native had five strikeouts and all three runs he gave up were unearned.

After a tough day at the plate on Saturday, the Vols came out swinging on Sunday and wasted no time jumping out to an early lead, plating three runs on four hits in the first inning. Each of UT’s first four batters singled to start the game with Pete Derkay and Beck each driving in a run with their base hits.

A clutch two-out double by Max Ferguson drove in two more runs for the Vols in the fifth to extend their lead to 5-0. The Sycamores answered back with two runs of their own in the top of the sixth on a home run from Josue Urdaneta.

Indiana State took advantage of a critical throwing error by UT with two outs in the top of the eighth. After the error, a walk, a double and a single in consecutive at-bats brought in three unearned runs to tie the game at five.

Neither team was able to score in the ninth or 10th before the Vols were finally able to break through and end the game in the 11th , despite not recording a hit in the inning. Lipcius walked to start the frame and advanced to third on Gines’ first error of the inning, a throw that sailed over the first baseman’s head following a sac bunt by Liam Spence.

After an intentional walk to Derkay, Jake Rucker hit a hard ground ball to third base, which Gines fielded cleanly, but a rushed throw pulled catcher Grant Magill off of home plate, allowing Lipcius to score the game-winning run.

Tennessee will have a couple of days off before a home midweek matchup against Dayton on Wednesday at 6 p.m. The game will be streamed live on WatchESPN.com and the ESPN app.

NOTABLE

HUNLEY & WALSH SOLID OUT OF PEN: Seniors Sean Hunley and Redmond Walsh had their normal solid performances in relief on Sunday to help lead the Vols to a much-need victory after dropping both games of Saturday’s doubleheader. The duo combined for 11 strikeouts and walked just two batters in 10.1 innings pitched.

VOLS WALK IT OFF: Tennessee’s walk-off win on Sunday was it’s first since a 2-1 victory over Alabama on March 25, 2018 in Game 1 of a doubleheader that was limited to just seven innings.

EXTRA-INNING SUCCESS: With Sunday’s win, the Vols improved to 2-0 in extra innings this season and have won three straight extra-inning games dating back to 2019. UT defeated Georgia Southern 7-3 im 12 innings last Sunday and earned a 6-5 win in 10 innings against Liberty on June 2, 2019 in the NCAA Chapel Hill Regional.

Box Score (PDF) | Series Stats (PDF) | DOWNLOAD: Vitello, Walsh & Spence Postgame Video |

-UT Athletics

Highlights/Postgame/Boxscore/Story: No. 20/21 Lady Vols beat Auburn on Senior Day, 88-54

Posted on February 28, 2021

Kasiyahna Kushkituah – Lady Vols / Credit: UT Athletics

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – The No. 20/21 Lady Vols closed out the regular season with a dominant win over Auburn on Sunday, racing to an 88-54 victory in Thompson-Boling Arena on Senior Day.

With the triumph, Tennessee (15-6, 9-4 SEC) finished third in league play and locked up the No. 3 seed for next week’s SEC Tournament. It is UT’s highest seeding at the tourney since 2015, when the Big Orange carried a No. 2 tag into the event.

Tennessee was led by senior Rennia Davis, who logged a double-double with 23 points and 11 rebounds in her final game on The Summitt. Fellow senior Kasiyahna Kushkituah also had a big day, turning in a career-high 19 points and added eight rebounds. Classmate Jaiden McCoy also was honored before the game but was unable to play due to injury.

Additionally for UT, sophomore Tamari Key posted a double-double with 10 points and 10 rebounds, and sophomore Jordan Horston narrowly missed a double-double, finishing with 12 points and a career-high-tying nine assists. Junior Rae Burrell was also in double digits, ending the day with 14 points and four assists.

Alaina Rice was the high scorer for Auburn (5-18, 0-15 SEC) with 11 points, and Unique Thompson and Alycia Reese each finished with 10.

Davis got things started for Tennessee, scoring her first points just five seconds into the game. The Lady Vols had success inside early, finding Key and Kushkituah to build the lead to 10-4 by the 5:26 mark. The Tigers rallied back within four at 12-8 a minute later, but UT closed out the quarter with a 5-0 run to start the second with a 17-8 lead.

Davis poured in nine-straight points to open the second quarter, stretching Tennessee’s lead to 17 with 6:41 left in the half. Auburn remained without a field goal through the 4:48 mark when Thompson knocked down a long-range two to set off a 12-3 AU run that pulled the Tigers within 10 with a halftime score of 31-21.

A bucket by Honesty Scott-Grayson cut the Auburn deficit to single digits at the outset of the third quarter, but Burrell answered with a trey, and Davis followed it up with a layup on a fast break to put UT up 36-23 just over a minute into the period. Burrell hit from long range again at the 6:34 mark, fueling a 7-2 UT run that put the Lady Vols up 47-30 by the media timeout. They kept the pressure on following the break, outscoring the Tigers 9-7 in the last five minutes of the quarter to take a 56-37 lead into the final stanza.

Kushkituah scored six-straight points to start the fourth quarter, and Horston added a trey to give UT a 28-point lead less than two minutes in. Auburn would cut the lead to 24 off back-to-back threes by Rice and Reese with 3:32 left in the game, but that’s as close as they would get as UT closed out the game with a 12-2 run to win 88-54.

Up Next: The Lady Vols will head to the SEC Tournament as the No. 3 seed and will face the winner of the No. 6 seed vs. No. 11 game on Friday night. The game will start 25 minutes after the conclusion of the 6 p.m. game and will be televised by the SEC Network.

Coming In Hot: The 23-point effort against Auburn was Davis’ fifth-straight game of 20+ points. She will enter the SEC Tournament having averaged 24.0 ppg. and 8.0 rpg. while shooting 53.2 percent from the floor over the last five contests. Her 21st career 20-point effort pushed her past Meighan Simmons into sixth all-time at UT.

Double-Double Davis: With 23 points and 11 rebounds against Auburn, senior Rennia Davis recorded the 37th double-double of her career, passing Glory Johnson to rank fourth all-time among Lady Vols. It was her eighth of the campaign.

Unselfish Basketball: Tennessee dished out a season-high-tying 25 assists against Auburn with eight Lady Vols tallying at least one. Sophomore Jordan Horston led the way, tying her career high of nine.

Key Swattin’: Sophomore Tamari Key logged four blocked shots against Auburn, inching closer to seventh-place Nicky Anosike on the career blocks list. With 146 blocks during her young career, she trails Anosike by just 15. She has 60 for the year and is within six of cracking the season top ten for the second time in her career, even with a reduced number of games this season. She had 86 a year ago in 31 contests.

Big-Time Boards: The Lady Vols outrebounded the Tigers 47-29. They have outrebounded 20 of 21 opponents this season by an average margin of 14.2 rpg. The only team they didn’t outrebound was South Carolina, as the teams tied with 40 rebounds each.

Hot-Shooting Lady Vols: The Lady Vols found their range on Sunday, hitting a season-high 57.6 percent of their field goals and knocking down threes at a 60-percent rate, which also was a 2020-21 best.

-UT Athletics