Thomas Rhett’s Parties Always End Up Where Yours Do Too

Thomas Rhett’s Parties Always End Up Where Yours Do Too

Posted on December 17, 2020

Do you have a big family that shows up for the holidays?

Thomas Rhett says that his house is like Grand Central Station on a normal day, “I mean there’s literally so many people in our house on a daily basis, whether it’s our friends or our family, our house seems to be the central location where people want to hang out.”

But when it comes to the holidays, that traffic is kicked up a notch. Big Christmas parties are a tradition that come from his wife, that they are carrying on, “Lauren’s house that she grew up in was always the house that kids went over to.  Thanksgiving they always had people over and they always had the biggest ugly sweater Christmas parties in the world.  So, even since we got married, we have continued to have this party, and it grows and grows and grows and grows.”

Thomas Rhett and Lauren Akins

 

Thomas adds, “Obviously in 2020 this party’s gonna look a little bit different, but we just love having people in our house.”

It doesn’t matter whether is a small or larger crowd though, there’s always one spot everyone gravitates to, “We always seem to hang out in the kitchen for some reason.  So sometimes, you know, especially last year, we had 60-some-odd people just packed into our kitchen for a Christmas party.  And so I would say our house is kind of the central location for a hangout.”

While Thomas and Lauren might not be throwing the holiday party they are use to in their own home, a few weeks ago they did host a party for everyone to attend, the CMA Country Christmas TV special. 

That’s where Thomas shared this holiday track, check out “Christmas In Country…

Thomas & Lauren Photo Credit: Katie Kauss-CMA
Thomas Photo Credit: John Shearer

Brothers Osborne Love the Look and Feel of This Time of Year

Brothers Osborne Love the Look and Feel of This Time of Year

Posted on December 17, 2020

The sights and sounds of Christmas are really amazing.

John Osborne of the Brothers Osborne would agree, “I love the overall feel and look at that time of year.”

A lot of people started decorating earlier than usual in 2020 just because of how putting up the Christmas decorations would make them feel. John shares that depending on where you live, the season change, along with the decorations, can also help in setting the Christmas mood, “It’s starting to get really cold then and everything’s coming to a halt. It stays dark so you have a lot of Christmas lights. I just love Christmas lights – they put you in such an amazing mood. Just the sounds, like all the Christmas music.”

While 2020 is a Christmas unlike one that we’ve seen before, John says that normally, all the hustle and bustle of holiday shopping puts him in the spirit, “Even shopping, which is quite possibly one of the most hectic things to do during the holidays. Even if we have all our shopping done, we’ll still go to the mall just because it’s so alive and vibrant and the colors and the music and the lights. I just love it. It’s a bit sensory overload, but I kinda dig that.”

Since it’s gets dark out earlier, that means people can leave their lights on…”All Night”…

Photo Credit: Eric Ryan Anderson

4-star ATH Kaemen Marley – Vols 16th 2021 ESP signee

4-star ATH Kaemen Marley – Vols 16th 2021 ESP signee

Posted on December 17, 2020
Kaemen Marley / Credit: UT Athletics

Kaemen Marley
(ATH) Ramseur, NC (Eastern Randolph HS)
6’2, 215
Commit: 5/20/20
4-star on 247 Composite/Rivals/ESPN

Josh Ward’s Analysis: Marley is a terrific athlete who could play a number of positions in college. Look for Marley to add some weight and player linebacker for the Vols. He’s talented enough to play on either side of the ball.

Eric Cain’s Analysis: Marley is one of the more intriguing prospects Tennessee is bringing in because he can play all over the field – literally. The four-star played quarterback, running back, tight end and wide receiver in high school – as well as linebacker and safety on defense. I think Tennessee will start him out at outside linebacker to put his speed and athleticism to use rushing the quarterback. Regardless, he is a student of the game and is versatile and prides himself on that.

Bio: Talented two-way player and a consensus four-star athlete by 247Sports.com, Rivals.com and ESPN.com … Could play on either side of the ball at the college level … The No. 101 player in the country and No. 2 athlete by Rivals.com … No. 172 ranked player in the ESPN 300 … Rated the No. 4 athlete and No. 9 player in the state of North Carolina by the 247Sports Composite … Named a 2021 Sports Illustrated All-America candidate … Named to the NCPreps Preseason All-State team as a junior in 2019 and a senior in 2020 … Was a North Carolina first-team all-state selection by MaxPreps in 2019 after leading Eastern Randolph to a 10-3 record and the second round of the Class 2A state playoffs … Starred on both sides of the ball for the Wildcats, finishing his junior season with 814 receiving yards, 396 rushing yards and 26 total touchdowns to go along with three interceptions while lining up at wide receiver, running back and defensive back … Has not played in 2020 after the North Carolina high school football season was postponed due to COVID-19 … Also played basketball in high school … Received offers from 16 schools … Committed to the Vols in May 2020 … Coached by Charles Arrington … Twitter handle is @Kaemen_Marley.

3-star JUCO OLB Byron Young – Vols 15th 2021 ESP signee

3-star JUCO OLB Byron Young – Vols 15th 2021 ESP signee

Posted on December 16, 2020
Byron Young / Credit: UT Athletics

Byron Young
(OLB) Hemingway, SC (Georgia Military College)
6’3, 240
Commit: 12/16/20
3-star on 247 Composite/Rivals/ESPN

Josh Ward’s Analysis: Young is a player who could add pass rush help to the Vols’ defense. Tennessee needs as much help as it can get on the edge; Young will be added to the list of options.

Eric Cain’s Analysis: Young is a win for Tennessee on Wednesday – especially with the uncertainty surrounding Dylan Brooks and his future. Out of Georgia Military College, Young is one of the top JUCO players in the country and a skilled pass rusher. He’s got length and great size (6-3, 240) and has a motor. With experience, I’d say Young competes for snaps right away.

Bio: One of the top pass rushers in the junior college ranks … Considered the No. 1 weakside defensive end and No. 11 overall junior college player by 247Sports.com … Top 20 junior college player according to the 247 Composite … Member of the ESPN.com JUCO Top 50 coming in at No. 47 … Tabbed a three-star prospect overall … Tallied 31 tackles, 11.0 tackles for loss and seven sacks for a loss of 46 yards during the 2019 season … Notched three sacks in a game against College of Dupage on Sept. 22, 2019 … Prepped at Carvers Bay High School, graduating in 2017 … Committed to the Vols on National Signing Day in December and chose UT over multiple SEC programs … Coached at junior college by Rob Manchester … Twitter handle is @byron_97.

3-star RB Jaylen Wright – Vols 14th 2021 ESP signee

3-star RB Jaylen Wright – Vols 14th 2021 ESP signee

Posted on December 16, 2020
Jaylen Wright / Credit: UT Athletics

Jaylen Wright
(RB) Durham, NC (Southern HS)
5’11, 200
Commit: 3/30/20
3-star on 247 Composite/Rivals/ESPN

Josh Ward’s Analysis: Speed. And lots of it. That’s what Tennessee will get from Wright, who the Vols should try to use as a runner and receiver out of the backfield.

Eric Cain’s Analysis: Jaylen Wright can do a lot and has been working extremely hard this fall since North Carolina did away with HS football due to the pandemic. He runs harder than he looks, but can catch passes out of the backfield and line up in the slot. That’s what Tennessee expects out of him – to be an all-purpose back. It’s now a crowded running back room, but I’d expect Wright to contend this spring for reps. He’s hungry.

Article on Wright

Bio: An explosive running back with elite speed … A consensus three-star prospect by 247Sports.com, Rivals.com and ESPN.com … Rated the No. 21 player in the state of North Carolina by Rivals.com … Rated the No. 30 running back in the nation by 247Sports.com … Named to the Big 8 3A All-Conference team as a junior in 2019 after rushing 89 times for 901 yards (10.1 yards per carry) and five touchdowns … Had four 100-plus yard rushing games as a junior … Helped lead Southern Durham High School to a 10-2 record and Big 8 3A conference championship as a junior in 2019 … Has not played this season after the 2020 North Carolina high school football season was postponed due to COVID-19 … Was also a star on the Southern Durham track & field team, winning an indoor state title in the 55m dash as a sophomore … Clocked a personal best time of 6.29 in the 55m dash in 2019, which was the fastest mark in the country at the time … Committed to the Vols in March 2020 … Coached by Darius Robinson … Twitter handle is @__jw12.

4-star RB Cody Brown – Vols 13th 2021 ESP signee

4-star RB Cody Brown – Vols 13th 2021 ESP signee

Posted on December 16, 2020
Cody Brown / UT Athletics

Cody Brown
(RB) Lilburn, GA (Parkview HS)
6’0, 217
Commit: 5/3/20
4-star on 247 Composite/Rivals/ESPN

Josh Ward’s Analysis: Brown has good size and should add a physical presence to Tennessee’s offensive backfield. Brown is the type of running back Jeremy Pruitt has tried to sign since he became Tennessee’s coach.

Eric Cain’s Analysis: I wouldn’t say it’s a surprise Cody Brown signed with Tennessee, but he’s gone cold the past several months. So, it always makes you wonder what was going on there. Regardless, Brown is a Vol and will have a chance to step in alongside Eric Gray and contend for snaps as a freshman. He’s got good speed and great tackle-breaking ability and a guy the Vols were high on for quite some time.

Bio: Decorated high school running back out of Georgia and a consensus four-star prospect by 247Sports.com, Rivals.com and ESPN.com … The No. 10 ranked running back in the nation and No. 20 ranked prospect in the state of Georgia according to the 247Sports Composite … No. 193 ranked player in the class by Rivals.com and No. 249 in the ESPN300 rankings … Named to 2020 MaxPreps Preseason Georgia All-State team as a senior … Named to 2020 AJC Super 11 … Named a 2021 Sports Illustrated All-American Candidate … Totaled over 5,000 career rushing yards and scored 65 touchdowns while averaging 116.0 yards per game during his prep career … Named to the 2019 Georgia Class 7A All-State team as a junior after rushing for 1,676 yards and 20 touchdowns while averaging 7.8 yards per carry … Named to the 2018 Georgia Class 7A All-State team as a sophomore after posting 183 carries for 1,588 yards (8.7 ypc) and 25 touchdowns … Helped lead Parkview High School to a 12-2 record and an appearance in the Georgia Class 7A state playoff semifinals as a junior in 2019 … Committed to the Vols in May 2020 … Coached by Eric Godfree … Twitter handle is @_codywbrown.

Gabby Barrett Makes History with “I Hope”

Gabby Barrett Makes History with “I Hope”

Posted on December 16, 2020

Gabby Barrett struck gold in 2020!

Her mega-smash hit “I Hope” has made history as it is now the longest running number-1 song on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart. She has reigned on top for 20-weeks, and is the first solo female to accomplish this feat.

Learning of the record-breaking accomplishment, Gabby shared, “Wow, I’m blown away, this year has been absolutely crazy for all of us, so to have this kind of year career-wise feels surreal.” she added, “I’m so grateful for every step that my team, my fans and most importantly my family have taken to bring us here. Thank you to all of you, and to Country radio, for making this possible!”

“I Hope” and her current single “The Good Ones” are both from her Goldmine album, which came out earlier this year. If you are one of the few to not hear Gabby Barrett’s record-breaking song, check out the music video for it right here…

Carrie Underwood Shares One of Her Favorite Christmas Eve Memories

Carrie Underwood Shares One of Her Favorite Christmas Eve Memories

Posted on December 16, 2020

While Carrie Underwood is a global superstar singing to millions of fans now, she used to sing to a much more exclusive crowd.

Carrie shares a Christmas tradition that she did with her family when she was younger, “One thing that we always did growing up that was one of my favorite memories, we would on Christmas Eve we would go to my grandparents’ house. Us kids were always responsible for putting oranges and apples and bananas in little paper bags and we would go down to the nursing home and sing Christmas carols.”

Carrie is still singing Christmas music in 2020 as she released her first holiday album, My Gift, this year.

One of the most talked about tracks is her duet with John Legend on the amazing song “Hallelujah”–you can check out the music video for it right here…

Photo Credit: Randee St Nicholas

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