More than 25 artists came together at Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena on April 6, 2017, to honor Merle Haggard on the one-year anniversary of his death.
Sing Me Back Home: The Music of Merle Haggard featured performances from Alabama, Ben Haggard, Billy Gibbons, Bobby Bare, Buddy Miller, Chris Janson, Connie Smith, Dierks Bentley, Hank Williams Jr., Jake Owen, Jamey Johnson, John Anderson, John Mellencamp, Kacey Musgraves, Keith Richards, Kenny Chesney, Aaron Lewis, Loretta Lynn, Lucinda Williams, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Miranda Lambert, Rodney Crowell, Ronnie Dunn, Sheryl Crow, Tanya Tucker, The Avett Brothers, Toby Keith, Warren Haynes, and Willie Nelson.
Highlights of the show included Miranda Lambert’s “Misery and Gin,” Keith Richards’ “Sing Me Back Home,” Dierks Bentley’s “If We Make It Through December,” Willie Nelson and Toby Keith’s “Ramlin’ Fever,” and more.
The full-length concert film in all audio and video formats—including digital, streaming, and CD/DVD—is now available.
Merle, one of the legendary figures of country music, died on April 6, 2016, at age 79 from complications of pneumonia. Merle scored 38 Billboard No. 1 hits, won the Country Music Association Entertainer of the Year honor in 1970 and was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1994. The tribute concert took place on what would have been Merle’s 80th birthday.
Everyone loves Dolly Parton! Everyone, including Saturday Night Live cast member Melissa Villaseñor.
Melissa broke out her Dolly impression during SNL‘s “Weekend Update” segment on Dec. 12. Dressed as Dolly, Melissa treated viewers to a few of her favorite holiday songs, including “Holly Jolly Christmas,” a mashup of “Jingle Bells” and “Jolene,” and “9 to 5.”
“Yeah, fine, news flash, I want to be Dolly,” says Melissa. “Who doesn’t? She’s the coolest. She’s a great singer, she writes her own songs, she donated a million dollars to the vaccine. Plus, there was a news story this week that she saved a kid from getting hit by a car, which made me mad, because I was speeding up to hit him—I’m kidding. Alright, look, I’ll sing you one actual Christmas song, a real one this time, okay?”
Lee Greenwood will celebrate 40 years of making music with an all-star concert on Oct. 12, 2021, at the Von Braun Center in Huntsville, Ala.
Performers slated to take the stage include Riley Green, Michael W. Smith, Lee Brice, Dustin Lynch, Michael Ray, Jamey Johnson, Big & Rich, Alabama’s Randy Owen, Home Free, Sam Moore, Tracy Byrd, The Oak Ridge Boys, Crystal Gayle, Mark Wills, The Frontmen of Country and more.
Since releasing his debut single in 1981, Lee has scored a number of hits, including “Somebody’s Gonna Love You,” “Going, Going, Gone,” “God Bless the USA,” “Dixie Road” and more.
“With this crazy year we have had to endure, I am really excited to be celebrating in 2021,” says Lee. “I have been part of so many of these tribute concert events and they are literally like a family reunion with everyone hanging backstage telling their favorite stories from the road or studio. You know, when you get in the music business you just hope for success. I can’t believe I have actually been having hits for 40 years. I never knew so many of my songs had influenced so many of these great artists that are joining me for this celebration. It’s going to be spectacular, something that Huntsville has never seen before.”
Eric Church shared a new song, “Doing Life With Me.”
Penned by Eric, Casey Beathard and Jeffrey Steele, “Doing Life With Me” finds Eric tipping his hat in thanks to those who have helped him along his musical journey. Eric expresses gratitude to his family, band and road crew by crooning the chorus: “I don’t pray much anymore / For this old troubadour’s / Happiness, wishes, wants and needs / End of my ropes, hopes and dreams / Spend my livin’ giving thanks / For the ships I never sank / Every big, every little in the everyday things / The notes and the words and the songs I sing / To the ones doing life with me.”
Like many of Eric’s tunes, “Doing Life With Me” features superb backup vocals from longtime collaborator Joanna Cotten.
“Doing Life With Me” follows the recent release of “Through My Ray-Bans,” “Crazyland,” “Bad Mother Trucker,” “Stick That in Your Country Song,” and his current single, “Hell of a View.”
Jimmie Allen like many around the world is deeply affected by the passing of Charley Pride this weekend, (Dec 12, 2020).
24 hours after the news broke of Charley’s death, Jimmie posted an 18 minute video to fully express his grief because what he wanted to say “couldn’t really (be) put into a caption on social media.”
Jimmie remembers being a teenager with dreams of making music, and sharing that with his dad, who then said to Jimmie there was an artist that he should get to know. His dad sat him down to listen to Charley’s music. Jimmie told his dad, “cool, he’s got a good voice, I like his voice” to which Jimmie’s dad said “No, you need to see what he looks like.” After looking at Charley Pride’s picture for the very first time Jimmie recalls saying “Whoa! OK. Alright, I get it now.”
Seeing that picture was a revelation for Jimmie, because now he could say that there was someone who looked like him in every genre of music he knew about.
Over the past few years, Jimmie’s relationship with Charley evolved, “He went from being a hero, to a friend, to someone that became like a grandfather to me.” Jimmie adds “We talked on the phone, he would tell me a bunch of different stories.”
Jimmie shares a great story about his own debut at the Grand Ole Opry in 2018. It turns out that they had been looking for a date for Jimmie to perform, and after having to change a couple of times they finally had one that worked for everyone.
Luck has it, that was also the night the Opry was honoring Charley’s 25th year as a member. Jimmie remembers being on stage, singing “Best Shot”, and then looking to the right. where saw his dad’s favorite country singer, Aaron Tippin, his own son, and Charley Pride. Jimmie recalls thinking at that moment “What in the world is life right now?” He jokes that he was trying to wrap his head around the fact that the “Superman of black people in country music” just watched his Opry debut.
Jimmie also revealed on the video, how his CMA Awards connection to Charley started 4 years prior to the two performing together on stage in 2020.
Jimmie had just moved, and was tight on cash…he had his publishing deal, but had yet to be signed to a record label. Jimmie found out that Charley would be performing at the 50th Annual CMA Awards. He knew he had to go. This might be his one and only time to see Charley perform live. So, he spent what felt like his last hundred dollars, and went. Of course, this was all done without the knowledge that he would meet and become friends with Charley 2 years later, and 4 years later Jimmie would be presenting Charley with the Willie Nelson Lifetime Achievement Award, and they’d share the stage singing “Kiss An Angel Good Morning.”
“The world is going to miss him, I’m going to miss him” Jimmie says “I hope, through this, people that didn’t know about Charley Pride or who he was, or what he did, I hope they get to know him through his music.”
Jimmie capped his emotional video tribute by saying “Charley, love you. Miss you. Thanks for everything you’ve done.”
Jimmie Allen’s video tribute to Charley Pride can be seen here…
AUSTIN, Texas – In accordance with Big 12 Conference women’s basketball interruption guidelines, the Tennessee at Texas women’s basketball game scheduled for Sunday, Dec. 13, has been postponed because of contact tracing issues within the Texas program.
It is unknown at this time whether there will be a future make-up date between the Longhorns and Lady Volunteers.
Next on Tennessee’s schedule is a home game vs. Jackson State on Dec. 20 at noon ET. The contest is slated to televised by the SEC Network.
Following the death of Charley Pride on Dec. 12 in Dallas, Texas, due to complications from Covid-19, the Country Music Association released a statement regarding its Covid-19 protocols at the CMA Awards on Nov. 11.
Charley was presented with the 2020 Willie Nelson Lifetime Achievement Award in Nashville at the 54th CMA Awards on Nov. 11. Charley also performed alongside Jimmie Allen during the show.
The CMA’s official statement noted: “Everyone affiliated with the CMA Awards followed strict testing protocols outlined by the city health department and unions. Charley was tested prior to traveling to Nashville. He was tested upon landing in Nashville, and again on show day, with all tests coming back negative. After returning to Texas following the CMA Awards, Charley again tested negative multiple times. All of us in the Country Music community are heartbroken by Charley’s passing. Out of respect for his family during their grieving period, we will not be commenting on this further.”
A post on Charley’s official Facebook page on Dec. 12 stated, in part: “He was admitted to the hospital in late November with Covid-19 type symptoms and despite the incredible efforts, skill and care of his medical team over the past several weeks, he was unable to overcome the virus. Charley felt blessed to have such wonderful fans all over the world. And he would want his fans to take this virus very seriously.”
Charley, a three-time Grammy winner, is considered country music’s first African-American superstar. He signed to RCA Victor in 1967 and earned a string of No. 1 hits, including “All I Have to Offer You (Is Me),” “(I’m So) Afraid of Losing You Again,” “Kiss an Angel Good Mornin’,” “Amazing Love” and many more. Charley won the CMA’s Entertainer of the Year award in 1971 and Top Male Vocalist in 1971 and 1972. Charley became the Grand Ole Opry’s first African-American member in 1993. Charley was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2000. He received the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 2017 for outstanding contributions of artistic significance to the field of recording.
Here are some images from Tennessee’s 42-17 win at Vanderbilt, courtesy of the SEC Media Portal. You can click on any image and then scroll through all the photos. Be sure to look through all our photo galleries in the Vols tabs on our website.
Tennessee at Vanderbilt
NASHVILLE, TN - DECEMBER 12, 2020 - Quarterback J.T. Shrout #12 of the Tennessee Volunteers during the game between the Vanderbilt Commodores and the Tennessee Volunteers at Vanderbilt Stadium in Nashville, TN. Photo By Andrew Ferguson/Tennessee Athletics
NASHVILLE, TN - DECEMBER 12, 2020 - Wide receiver Velus Jones Jr. #1 of the Tennessee Volunteers during the game between the Vanderbilt Commodores and the Tennessee Volunteers at Vanderbilt Stadium in Nashville, TN. Photo By Andrew Ferguson/Tennessee Athletics
NASHVILLE, TN - DECEMBER 12, 2020 - Running back Eric Gray #3 of the Tennessee Volunteers during the game between the Vanderbilt Commodores and the Tennessee Volunteers at Vanderbilt Stadium in Nashville, TN. Photo By Andrew Ferguson/Tennessee Athletics
NASHVILLE, TN - DECEMBER 12, 2020 - Tight end Princeton Fant #88 of the Tennessee Volunteers during the game between the Vanderbilt Commodores and the Tennessee Volunteers at Vanderbilt Stadium in Nashville, TN. Photo By Andrew Ferguson/Tennessee Athletics
NASHVILLE, TN - DECEMBER 12, 2020 - Quarterback Harrison Bailey #15 of the Tennessee Volunteers during the game between the Vanderbilt Commodores and the Tennessee Volunteers at Vanderbilt Stadium in Nashville, TN. Photo By Andrew Ferguson/Tennessee Athletics
NASHVILLE, TN - DECEMBER 12, 2020 - Quarterback Brian Maurer #18 of the Tennessee Volunteers during the game between the Vanderbilt Commodores and the Tennessee Volunteers at Vanderbilt Stadium in Nashville, TN. Photo By Andrew Ferguson/Tennessee Athletics
NASHVILLE, TN - DECEMBER 12, 2020 - Defensive back Kenney Solomon #31 of the Tennessee Volunteers during the game between the Vanderbilt Commodores and the Tennessee Volunteers at Vanderbilt Stadium in Nashville, TN. Photo By Andrew Ferguson/Tennessee Athletics
NASHVILLE, TN - DECEMBER 12, 2020 - Defensive back Bryce Thompson #0 of the Tennessee Volunteers during the game between the Vanderbilt Commodores and the Tennessee Volunteers at Vanderbilt Stadium in Nashville, TN. Photo By Andrew Ferguson/Tennessee Athletics
NASHVILLE, TN - DECEMBER 12, 2020 - Running back Eric Gray #3 of the Tennessee Volunteers during the game between the Vanderbilt Commodores and the Tennessee Volunteers at Vanderbilt Stadium in Nashville, TN. Photo By Andrew Ferguson/Tennessee Athletics
NASHVILLE, TN - DECEMBER 12, 2020 - Linebacker Henry To'o To'o #11 of the Tennessee Volunteers during the game between the Vanderbilt Commodores and the Tennessee Volunteers at Vanderbilt Stadium in Nashville, TN. Photo By Andrew Ferguson/Tennessee Athletics
NASHVILLE, TN - DECEMBER 12, 2020 - Wide receiver Jalin Hyatt #11 of the Tennessee Volunteers during the game between the Vanderbilt Commodores and the Tennessee Volunteers at Vanderbilt Stadium in Nashville, TN. Photo By Andrew Ferguson/Tennessee Athletics
NASHVILLE, TN - DECEMBER 12, 2020 - Linebacker Deandre Johnson #13 of the Tennessee Volunteers during the game between the Vanderbilt Commodores and the Tennessee Volunteers at Vanderbilt Stadium in Nashville, TN. Photo By Andrew Ferguson/Tennessee Athletics
NASHVILLE, TN - DECEMBER 12, 2020 - Wide receiver Jalin Hyatt #11 of the Tennessee Volunteers during the game between the Vanderbilt Commodores and the Tennessee Volunteers at Vanderbilt Stadium in Nashville, TN. Photo By Andrew Ferguson/Tennessee Athletics
NASHVILLE, TN - DECEMBER 12, 2020 - Running back Ty Chandler #8 of the Tennessee Volunteers during the game between the Vanderbilt Commodores and the Tennessee Volunteers at Vanderbilt Stadium in Nashville, TN. Photo By Andrew Ferguson/Tennessee Athletics
NASHVILLE, TN - DECEMBER 12, 2020 - Linebacker Quavaris Crouch #27 of the Tennessee Volunteers during the game between the Vanderbilt Commodores and the Tennessee Volunteers at Vanderbilt Stadium in Nashville, TN. Photo By Andrew Ferguson/Tennessee Athletics
NASHVILLE, TN - DECEMBER 12, 2020 - Wide receiver Velus Jones Jr. #1 of the Tennessee Volunteers during the game between the Vanderbilt Commodores and the Tennessee Volunteers at Vanderbilt Stadium in Nashville, TN. Photo By Andrew Ferguson/Tennessee Athletics
NASHVILLE, TN - DECEMBER 12, 2020 - Linebacker Quavaris Crouch #27 of the Tennessee Volunteers during the game between the Vanderbilt Commodores and the Tennessee Volunteers at Vanderbilt Stadium in Nashville, TN. Photo By Andrew Ferguson/Tennessee Athletics
NASHVILLE, TN - DECEMBER 12, 2020 - Quarterback Harrison Bailey #15 and Wide receiver Velus Jones Jr. #1 of the Tennessee Volunteers during the game between the Vanderbilt Commodores and the Tennessee Volunteers at Vanderbilt Stadium in Nashville, TN. Photo By Andrew Ferguson/Tennessee Athletics
Here’s some great video from different camera angles than how you may have watched the game of Tennessee’s 42-17 win at Vanderbilt. Video is courtesy of the SEC Media Portal.
UT QB Harrison Bailey and the offense / Credit: UT Athletics
Vols QB Harrison Bailey & WR Velus Jones Jr. / Credit: UT Athletics
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Tennessee was dominant in all phases of the game in a convincing 42-17 win over in-state rival Vanderbilt on Saturday in Nashville.
UT (3-6) was led by true freshman quarterback Harrison Bailey, who completed 14-of-18 passes for 207 yards and a pair of touchdowns, all career highs.
The freshman connected with redshirt senior wide receiver Velus Jones Jr. on a 74-yard touchdown reception in the fourth quarter to cap the scoring. Jones finished the contest as UT’s top receiver with 125 yards and a pair of touchdowns on seven receptions, all career highs.
Redshirt junior J.T. Shrout entered the game in relief in the second quarter and saw action throughout the game. The Santa Clarita, California, native completed 6-of-13 passes for 90 yards and a career best two touchdowns.
Defensively, sophomore linebacker Henry To’o To’o paced the Vols with 10 tackles, half of a tackle for loss and a pair of pass breakups. Junior defensive back Bryce Thompson had a pair of tackles and returned an interception for a touchdown in the second quarter, a play that turned the momentum of the game.
Vanderbilt (0-9) was led by quarterback Ken Seals, who was 22-of-39 passing for 239 yards. Seals threw a pair of touchdowns and one interception.
After the UT defense opened the game with a pair of three-and-outs, the Vols opened scoring on a nine-play, 42-yard touchdown drive with 5:54 left in the first quarter. Bailey connected with redshirt junior tight end Princeton Fant on a 6-yard touchdown reception.
Redshirt sophomore kicker Toby Wilson followed with the extra point. Fant and Wilson, both Nashville-area products, scored their first points for the Orange and White in their hometown.
The Commodores responded immediately with a 12-play, 75-yard scoring drive to tie the game at seven with 1:50 to go in the opening quarter.
Following a UT turnover, Vanderbilt’s Pierson Cooke hit a 39-yard field goal to give the Commodores a 10-7 advantage.
Momentum shifted midway through the second quarter when Thompson pulled in a one-handed interception and took it 18 yards to the house to put the Vols back ahead 14-10 with 8:37 remaining in the half. The interception was the eighth of Thompson’s career and his first pick six.
The Vols offense switched into high gear and scored 21 unanswered points heading into halftime. Shrout connected with Jones Jr. on a 23-yard touchdown reception, before tossing a 26-yarder to freshman Jalin Hyatt to give the Vols a 28-10 lead with just under a minute left in the half.
UT continued their first half momentum, scoring on a five-play, 72-yard drive to open the third quarter. Senior running back Ty Chandler capped the drive with a 20-yard touchdown rush.
With 7:22 left in the fourth quarter, Vanderbilt scored on a five-play, 59-yard drive to cut the Vols lead to 35-17.
The Vols responded immediately as Bailey and Jones Jr. connected on a 74-yard touchdown pass to give UT a 42-17 lead in the final frame. It was Tennessee’s longest play from scrimmage this season.
The Vols return to Neyland Stadium for Senior Day on Dec. 19 to take on No. 5 Texas A&M at noon ET.
![Eric Church Says Thanks With New Song, “Doing Life With Me” [Listen]](https://cdn.socast.io/6616/sites/602/2020/12/14084926/Eric-Church.jpg#aqua_resizer_image_not_local)
