Jon Pardi Wants To Party Like It’s 2019

Jon Pardi Wants To Party Like It’s 2019

Posted on December 29, 2020

Everyone is a little punch drunk coming out of 2020…but hopefully there’s a return to normal coming up soon.

Jon Pardi can be counted among the many Americans who are hoping the COVID vaccine allows life to get back to what it use to be, “For next year – 2021 – I’m looking forward to some kind of medication/vaccine to help people, to make people immune to this virus that is ruining EVERYTHING!” 

I think everyone feels the way Jon does, and he hopes that the future is just like the past, “So, I look forward to that and hopefully we’ll get that going and then we’ll be back to concerts and full capacity sports games and bars and honky tonks and — it looks like 2019. Remember 2019? That was awesome.”

If the prescription is for “Heartache Medication,” Jon is the man to help…

Photo Credit: Jim Wright

Jimmy’s blog: Pope explains decision to enter transfer portal

Jimmy’s blog: Pope explains decision to enter transfer portal

Posted on December 29, 2020

By Jimmy Hyams

Tennessee has had more than a dozen football players enter the transfer portal since the start of this year, but one that really stood out was a local player who was a starter and always aspired to play for the Vols: Tight end Austin Pope.

Pope put his name in the transfer portal shortly after the Vols ended their season with a home loss to Texas A&M.

Pope, who missed this past season after undergoing back surgery, is a product of Christian Academy of Knoxville who grew up a Tennessee fan.

So why leave Tennessee?

“I felt like with one year left, especially coming off an injury,’’ Pope told The Sports Animal, “I needed to show everything in my tool box to go to the next level because that’s my goal, that’s my dream. And I didn’t feel like I could do that in this offense.’’

Pope said he had “zero problems’’ with coach Jeremy Pruitt, In fact, Pope said he has “mad respect’’ for Pruitt.

But Pope, who has seven career catches in three years after catching 55 passes his senior year of high school, wants to be more involved with an offense.

“I’d like to catch passes,’’ said the 6-foot-4, 240-pound Pope. “I’ve been predominantly a blocker. I think I have the ability to catch balls and make plays.

“It’s not in my best interest (to be just a blocker). It just doesn’t fit me anymore.

“Last year (2019) 90 percent of the time I was blocking. I know what abilities are as a pass catcher, especially when I’m healthy.

“When it’s third-and-5, I want to make a play instead of being in there like a blocking dummy.’’

Pope said he would like to make a decision within the next two weeks so he could enroll at his new school by late January. He said he has received calls from about 20 schools, including multiple offers from SEC schools.

Pope said he consulted with former Tennessee tight end Eli Wolf, who transferred to Georgia for his senior season. Wolf told Pope he’s not sure he would have had a chance to join the Baltimore Ravens if not for going to Georgia.

“I want to play for money and change my family’s life,’’ Pope said.

Pope said he was a “terrible blocker’’ coming out of high school, but former UT tight ends coach Larry Scott “lit a fire under my butt’’ and toughened him up as a blocker.

“You’ve got to do what you’ve got to do to get on the field and if you can’t block, you can’t get on the field,’’ Pope said.

Pope said it was a “tough decision’’ to enter the transfer portal, but he “couldn’t live with myself if I don’t try’’ to get a fresh start – even if it is only for one year.

Pope said he doesn’t regret signing with Tennessee.

“I’m happy I came here, even though I didn’t catch as many balls as I wanted,’’ Pope said. “I did my job and was a good teammate.

“I love this place and I have no bad blood toward Tennessee.

“I just need to add something to my arsenal to get to the next level.’’

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

Rascal Flatts Are Going To Miss the Little Things

Rascal Flatts Are Going To Miss the Little Things

Posted on December 29, 2020

Earlier this year the guys in Rascal Flatts – Gary LeVox, Jay DeMarcus and Joe Don Rooney – announced they would be stepping away from the group to pursue solo endeavors in 2021.

After being a trio for more than 2 decades, there’s a lot of things they’ll miss about being together, but Jay shares that mostly it will be the little things, “I’m gonna miss the times that we shared together that no one knows about, that no one sees.” Jay elaborates, “The looks at each other on the stage, the moments that we look at each other and we know that we’re at our best. The time in the trenches that no one knows about that the three of us have shared together that have bonded us together for life is what I will miss the most.”

While they are one of the most successful country music acts in the history of the genre with hits like “What Hurts The Most,” “Bless The Broken Road,” “My Wish,” and “These Days,” Jay says that at the end of the day it was the guys, and they fact that they did together, “We’ve seen the best of each other, we’ve seen the worst of each other. We’ve held each other through the saddest of times, through love and loss, and it’s a brotherhood. It has always been a brotherhood and the day that we don’t have that anymore and we can’t just reach out to each other so easily is gonna be very, very sad and heartbreaking for me.”

Fans shouldn’t worry though, while the trio might be taking a hiatus, it doesn’t mean the end of Rascal Flatts in the future. Jay still envisions singing with Gary and Joe Don, “I know that when we’re old men together someday, sittin’ around on a porch and sharin’ old stories and singing ‘Prayin’ for Daylight’ when we’re 75, we’re gonna have a heck of a legacy to look back on”

The guys are still climbing the country airplay charts with their “How They Remember You” — which features a video that gives you glimpses of the history of Rascal Flatts…you can check it out here…

Photo Credit: Robby Klein

Carrie Underwood Announces New Album Due Out Around Easter!

Carrie Underwood Announces New Album Due Out Around Easter!

Posted on December 29, 2020

It has been a very merry Christmas for Carrie Underwood fans so far.

First, she released her holiday album, My Gift, now the superstar songstress has announced on social media that she’s coming with a sequel of sorts to that collection of music.

Carrie revealed in a video that she wanted to continue creating those kind of songs, “I basically didn’t want all of that to end, when I was making this music, I felt like my soul was in such a great place, I wanted to keep making music like the music off of My Gift.”

That’s when she broke some major news, “I’m here to give you guys a little gift right now and announce…I went ahead and made some more music. I made an album called My Savior, which is hopefully a little companion to My Gift.” Carrie shared some additional details about the new project, “This album is full of gospel hymns that I grew up singing.”

News of this album shouldn’t come completely out of the blue for Carrie’s fans, as she says that there’s been requests for her to make an album like this before, “I feel like you guys have kind of been asking me for a while to make an album like that because I’ve been lucky enough to do songs like that here and there…along the way in my career.”

Fans can look for Carrie’s My Savior album around Easter time.

Carrie added “It’s just been such a blessing to make music like this…music that is near and dear to my heart, and I hope you guys enjoy listening to it as much as I loved making it.”

Check out Carrie’s full message right here…

Photo Credit: Joseph Llanes

Luke Combs Spent His 2020 Writing Songs, Working on Chores and Hanging With His Wife

Luke Combs Spent His 2020 Writing Songs, Working on Chores and Hanging With His Wife

Posted on December 28, 2020

As 2020 comes to a close, and people look back on their year…did you have a productive quarantine?

(Such a 2020 question)

While Luke Combs would have rather had a “normal” year, he did make good use of his time, “I think it’s just been a lot of writing songs, done a lot of that.”

You’d kind of expect that from him in any year, but was there time in quarantine for doing things he usually wouldn’t be able to do?

Luke says, “Doing little projects in and around the house has been really nice, just really kind of having the time and the freedom to do some of the things that normally I wouldn’t have gotten to do this year.”

But Luke shares what time off the road gave him most importantly, “Obviously I had the opportunity to get married this year, which was really amazing, I am very thankful for the extra time that me and Nicole have had together.”

We can’t wait to see what Luke brings us in 2021 after producing hit after hit this year, including one of the biggest number-1 songs of 2020, “Lovin’ On You.”

Check out this great video featuring Luke Combs, his band, and his wife Nicole, along with their “younger versions”…

Photo Credit: Jim Wright

Carly Pearce Finds a Silver Lining From 2020 To Carry Into 2021

Carly Pearce Finds a Silver Lining From 2020 To Carry Into 2021

Posted on December 28, 2020

Everyone is ready for 2020 to be over, right?

By most accounts this was one of the roughest years we’ve had as a country and for many of us personally.

Well, Carly Pearce is ready to move on, but she will be taking a little bit of this year into her 2021, “I think 2020 for me was the biggest learning lesson of my life.” 

Carly explains what lessons she wants to hold onto going forward, “I think that you have to remember the stillness and remember what you learned, implement what you discovered about yourself, and don’t forget that. I think it’s so easy for us to kind of just be robots and do day in and day out and not check in with ourselves, and not just kinda make sure we’re okay.” 

Sounds like a silver lining in a year that everyone just wants to go away.

What’s next for Carly in 2021? Her next single…which is “Next Girl.” Check out the music video for the track right here…

Photo Credit: John Shearer

Brothers Osborne Talk About Drinking and Dieting in the New Year

Brothers Osborne Talk About Drinking and Dieting in the New Year

Posted on December 28, 2020

The Brothers Osborne find New Year traditions, and habits kind of amusing.

Sure, there will be a lot of people raising glasses, and probably consuming more than a few adult beverages this week when we ring in the New Year…but that’s also how they might have started the year too.

John Osborne says, “I think it’s kind of funny how we spend literally the last moment and the very first moment of every year being extremely intoxicated.”

He goes on to explain, “You don’t want to wait until like 12:30 to get your buzz on. You’ve got to do it before midnight, and then once midnight happens, you’re like, ‘Omigod! Now it’s time to celebrate even more.'” Which leads John to the revelation, “Debauchery is the literally bookending your entire year.”

His brother TJ Osborne is also amused by some people’s logic when it comes to eating during the holiday season, and then their thoughts of being healthy a few weeks later. “I love how everyone starts the year off with diets and then we end the year with like excessive amounts of food. And then you get to the end of the year, you’re like, ‘Oh, I’m going to start a diet on the 1st, so I’m going to eat everything that’s in front of me.’ I love it.”

Brother John then voices the cold hard reality most of us face after making the resolution to be healthier, “Come February 1st, ‘what diet?'”

To send off 2020, and welcome 2021, lots of people will be celebrating “All Night”…

Photo Credit: Eric Ryan Anderson

Gabby Barrett Soaks In The Success of “I Hope”

Gabby Barrett Soaks In The Success of “I Hope”

Posted on December 28, 2020

At the end of her American Idol audition when Katy Perry said “Be your own hero” — Gabby Barrett took it to heart and did exactly that.

Since then Gabby has been a rising star in country music, and 2020 has been her best year yet.

During the course of a normal year, she would have been busy crisscrossing the nation performing and making appearances…to the point where she probably couldn’t have fully appreciated the success that her song “I Hope” was having.

But like almost everyone else, Gabby was at home throughout quarantine, and had time to take it all in.

Gabby says, “You know, I’ve been able to sit more in the back seat, rather than performing and moving at a thousand miles per hour constantly, which is the normal artist life. So, I’ve been able to let kind of everything that’s going on soak in, which has been really really nice.”

So, when it comes to “I Hope,” did Gabby know the song would do what it did? She admits, “I never would’ve expected all of this from this song. So, I just think that the lord has been very gracious to me and I’m just very thankful.”

“I Hope” made history as the longest running number-1 song on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart, and was named as Billboard’s Top Country Song of 2020.

Photo Credit: Robby Klein

Dan + Shay Are Keeping the Christmas Vibe Going For the Rest of 2020

Dan + Shay Are Keeping the Christmas Vibe Going For the Rest of 2020

Posted on December 26, 2020

Dan of Dan + Shay posted on their social media accounts a “thank you” to their fans on the day following Christmas. It was acknowledging what the fans did for the duo this year, and also thanking them for making their two new Christmas songs a success this season.

We all know how 2020 went, and with the extra time home and not on the road, Dan admits that is what allowed them time to work on “Christmas Isn’t Christmas” and “Take Me Home For Christmas.”

He also shared that all Dan + Shay things will continued to be Christmas themed for the rest of the year, as he says “because why not” — and we agree with that.

He finished by teasing there will big, new and exciting things coming in 2021!

Read the whole message here, and than following their lead, you can check out a special acoustic version of “Take Me Home For Christmas” from Dan + Shay below…

“It’s always been a dream of ours to release Christmas music, but with the hectic touring schedule of a normal year, we’ve never been able to pull it off. Obviously, things were a little different this year, so we felt it was a good time to give it a try. Now that we’re here, on the day after Christmas, looking back at the last few weeks, we just wanted to say thank you all so much for everything you have done for us on ‘Take Me Home For Christmas’ and ‘Christmas Isn’t Christmas.’ The comments, the shares, the downloads, the streams, the playlisting, the radio spins, the TV, all of it. It’s been really encouraging, and has inspired lots of conversations about doing more next year (if you think we should, let us know). Hopefully, if nothing else, these songs brought a little bit of light and positivity into your world when we all needed it most. Even though Christmas is technically over, we’re gonna keep everything Christmas themed until New Year’s Day (because why not). Feel free to keep listening and savoring the magic of the holiday season. In the meantime, we’ll be working on some exciting things that we’ve got planned for 2021. From, (Dan), Shay, Abby, Hannah, Asher, Ames, Joy, Chief, Ghost, and Mac, much love, health, and happiness to all.”

Photo credit: Dan + Shay

Kenny Chesney & Ricky Skaggs React to the Passing of Bluegrass Great Tony Rice at Age 69

Kenny Chesney & Ricky Skaggs React to the Passing of Bluegrass Great Tony Rice at Age 69

Posted on December 26, 2020

IBMA Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame member, Tony Rice passed away yesterday, December 25, at age 69.

Today, he is remembered by fellow Bluegrass and Country music legend Ricky Skaggs and Country superstar Kenny Chesney.

Ricky Skaggs released the following statement:

“Sometime during Christmas morning while making his coffee, our dear friend and guitar hero Tony Rice passed from this life and made his swift journey to his heavenly home. It’s still quite a shock to the whole family. After talking with Tony’s wife Pam and their daughter India, they asked if I would make a statement on their behalf and give them some privacy to process during this difficult time. I was honored to help out. Tony is also survived by his brothers Wyatt and Ronnie, and all of you who loved his music and those who will continue to share it with others. 

Tony Rice was the single most influential acoustic guitar player in the last 50 years. Many if not all of the Bluegrass guitar players of today would say that they cut their teeth on Tony Rice’s music. He loved hearing the next generation players play his licks. I think that’s where he got most of his joy as a player. With many IBMA Awards and a Grammy Award, Tony was a gracious recipient of the International Bluegrass Music Association’s highest honor as an inductee into their Hall of Fame in 2013. 
Not only was Tony a brilliant guitar player but he was also one of the most stylistic lead vocalists in Bluegrass music history. When I joined the group The New South in 1974, I knew I’d found a singing soul mate with Tony. Our voices blended like brothers. In 1980, we recorded the album ‘Skaggs And Rice’ for Sugar Hill as a tribute to our duet heroes with just the simplicity of guitar, mandolin, and our voices. All these years later people tell me how much the purity of that record still touches their heart. That’s who Tony was, a singer from the heart. 

I will miss him as I’m sure all of you will. But where Tony is right now, he’s not missing us. He’s in the place that God has prepared for those who love Him and receive Him. Rest In Peace dear brother. Thank you for your great talent and the music that will continue to inspire more and more generations to come.”

Kenny Chesney shared on his social media:

“When I was in college I played a lot of music with a couple friends of mine, Shawn Lane and Marcus Smith. Every Wednesday night we played a place called the Down Home in Johnson City, TN. Whether it was Green Light On The Southern, which was the first song we ever played, Four Strong Winds, or anything off the Skaggs/Rice album… His music was always a staple of our set. Tony Rice inspired so many, including a kid like me from East Tennessee who was in awe of the way he sang and played Me And My Guitar. I’ll never forget seeing him sing that at the IBMA bluegrass festival in Owensboro, KY. It’s printed in my brain forever! Rest In Peace Tony Rice.”
Kenny also shared the following performance of Tony Rice…

Photo Credit: Jeremy M Lange
Video courtesy of Kenny Chesney

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