Here’s some video of the Tennessee football team practicing ahead of Saturday’s game at Auburn, courtesy of UT Athletics and VFL Films.
WATCH: Tennessee Football Auburn Week Practice
Transcript: Kennedy, Jones, D. Johnson Media Availability
Brandon Kennedy, OL – R-Sr.
On what It meant to get a call from Peyton manning to congratulate him on being a National Football Foundation National-Scholar Athlete finalist…
“It definitely meant a lot. Throughout the years that I’ve been in college, all of the hard work that I’ve put in in the classroom and on the field, to see that pay off and get the recognition, it meant a lot to me. I was very excited to get that. My family is proud of me. It was exciting. It was great to see a VFL be able to talk to me and also somebody who is in that fraternity. For him to be able to talk to me was great.”
On how the team utilized the open week to improve fundamentals and get back on track…
“It’s been big for us. This week, when we didn’t play, fundamentals were a big part for us. We were able to get back to the basics and bring some of the young guys along. Those were two things we were able to work on this bye week.”
On if the offensive line developed more chemistry during the unexpected bye week…
“Any time you have a week like this, you have time to talk about some of the things that you wouldn’t be able to talk about in a normal week, such as technique and how the guy next to you works. It was a great week to do that and we kind of got back to the fundamentals.”
On who impressed you during the open week…
“Some of the guys like Malachi Wideman, Jimmy Holiday, Jimmy Calloway and some of those young skill players. They’ve come along and they’re progressing well, learning the plays and balling out.”
On what his academic future looks like as he approaches finishing his third degree…
“After the season, when my career ends, I think I want to get a doctorate in sports psychology. That’s kind of the thing that I want to work towards. I love consulting with athletes and doing those things. I’ve been fortunate enough to have an internship here at the University of Tennessee with Dr. Joe Whitney. We were able to work through different scenarios, as far as helping athletes. I kind of just pick his brain. That’s what I’ve been doing throughout the season. It’s been great and I’m fortunate to be able to have that opportunity.”
On where his motivation comes from over the last four games of the regular season…
“The motivation, to be honest, is really giving my all for Tennessee. About a year ago, I decided to come back. I wanted to help this team and also earn another degree, so that’s been my motivation as far as helping the team, being a leader and doing what I can do to help the team be successful.”
On what he has seen from the Auburn defensive line…
“The way I would describe them is they are ‘space eaters.’ They kind of eat up double teams and they align they’re linebackers, which I think is a strength of the defense. They allow them to play well. That’s what I think about the D-line.”
Velus Jones Jr., WR – R-Sr.
On what his experience at Tennessee has been like so far…
“My Tennessee experience has been a great experience. Bonding with my brothers, my teammates, the offense, the QBs, it’s been a great experience. There’s nothing like SEC football. This is something I’ve dreamed about ever since I was a kid coming up, just making dreams realities, so it’s been a great experience. We’ve been blessed to have fans at the stadiums due to COVID, so I can’t complain. I’m just blessed to be here.”
On assistant coach Tee Martin’s role in him choosing to transfer to Tennessee…
“Tee (Martin) was my former coach at the University of Southern California. It was big on my decision, but not only that, knowing the history of Coach (Jeremy) Pruitt and what he’s done in his time being a coach and his accomplishments, then Jim Chaney as well. Also, the absence of the two top receivers that left for the draft. That played a big role for me coming here as well.”
On what has been the biggest challenge for him since arriving at Tennessee…
“I wouldn’t say a challenge, it’s just the difference between playing Pac-12 football and SEC football. The SEC is like a junior varsity for the NFL. Players are a lot bigger, stronger, faster and it’s a lot more physical and stuff. First time in this system, (it’s) familiar, just different terminology, so I wouldn’t say challenges, just like adapting and getting a feel for everything.”
On how he sees his role in this offense…
“I see my role in this offense, as a veteran, giving knowledge, because it’s all about giving knowledge to the younger guys because once you leave, you’re replaced. Just taking those younger guys up under my wing and stuff and giving them as much knowledge as possible and hopefully turning them into better players than I am. Also, I’m here for my team, any way I can help my team be successful and get a win, at the end of the day or night, it’s good for me. So, I feel like my purpose is to be the best team player I can be and also better myself and my skillset to help my team be successful.”
On how important it’s been to him to have Tee Martin, who is from the same area as him, as his position coach…
“It’s a blessing. Not many players have that connection with their coaches. Him understanding me, understanding our background, our culture, where we come from, I look at it as a blessing. There’s a different level of thinking and stuff like that. Tee (Martin) knows the type of player I am. He knows the type of young man I am, and he knows my potential and where I can be. He’s going to push me, so just having that and him having that understanding of our background and what we came from and how hard we worked to be in a position, me playing in the league in the future, him being a coach now, it’s just a great feeling to know two kids from Mobile, Alabama are out here chasing their dreams. Just to have him as a coach is a true blessing.”
On if he’s always enjoyed being a kickoff returner and what it takes to be good at it…
“I went to USC in 2016. I redshirted my first year and my former special teams coach John Baxter, he believed in me and I always believed in myself. As a player, you have to believe in yourself even if nobody will and I always believed in myself. I knew I could accomplish anything through Christ. I’m a big believer in the Lord. Also, being motivated from my older cousin Kylen Towner* that has the kickoff return average in the NCAA, he’s the leader of that. So, that motivates me and the athletes I had in my family, just like my background. Football is like a culture in Mobile, Alabama. I’ve been playing since I’ve been four years old and I haven’t missed a year. Football is like everything to me, and so when you take that serious, it’s been built in me since I was young. Whatever I’m going to do, I’m going to do it to the fullest and I would never, ever give a poor performance. I will always give it my all. So, that was the mentality and the rest just took care of itself.”
*Kylen Towner played college football for Western Kentucky and holds the NCAA single-season record for kickoff return average (40.3 in 2016)
Deandre Johnson, LB – Sr.
On how he would assess how the team has done rushing and putting pressure on the passer and how he would assess his own play with the pass rush…
“I feel like we are improving each week, it is definitely something we have to get better at and there are things we can get greater at, but we are pretty decent. The same thing is with me, I think I am improving, but I am never satisfied because there is always work to be done and always room to get better, so I am never satisfied.”
On his thoughts about having an extra week to get back on track and prepare for Auburn…
“It’s something that was unexpected, but it was a chance to get back and recover and get mentally focused, mentally fresh, and I’m just thankful for it, it allowed me to get my body back right, some guys have got back well, and we are ready to go.”
On his reaction when he found out Tennessee was not playing Texas A&M…
“I was disappointed at first, I was looking forward to that game and guys were motivated to play, we just had to get back fresh and recover, so it was a good and bad thing but it all worked out.”
On if his success during the opening game against South Carolina seems like a long time ago and how different this point in the season feels compared to previous years…
“It does because the season moves so fast, it’s something that is still there, but I’m not too much into stats I am just looking forward to the next game and playing my best each week. It is crazy how the season definitely goes fast, so it does feel like we are in the middle, but it is crazy to think that we still got four more to go so it is a crazy feeling, but we just got to kick it up a level and just tighten up and get to work.”
-UT Athletics
Wade Watch List includes Rennia Davis of UT
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – The “Wade Watch” list of candidates for the 2021 Wade Trophy was released on Tuesday by the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association, and Lady Vol senior Rennia Davis has made the preseason list for the second year in a row.
The Wade Trophy, now in its 44th year, is the oldest and most prestigious national player of the year award in college women’s basketball. It is named in honor of the late, legendary Delta State University head coach Lily Margaret Wade, who won three consecutive national championships with the Lady Statesmen. First awarded in 1978 by the American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance (AAHPERD), now known as SHAPE America, the Wade Trophy has been presented to the WBCA NCAA Division I National Player of the Year since 2001.
The “Wade Watch” list of candidates for the Wade Trophy is composed of players selected by the WBCA NCAA Division I Coaches’ All-America Selection Committee. The committee will review the list midseason to determine if additional players will be added based on their play during the first half of the 2020-21 season.
Davis, a 6-foot-2 guard/forward from Jacksonville, Florida, previously has been announced as a member of the 2020-21 Women’s Jersey Mike’s Naismith Trophy and Cheryl Miller Award preseason watch lists as well as the SEC Coaches Preseason All-SEC First Team. The UT standout has displayed an impressive knack for knocking down shots at clutch moments during her career. She has hit 14 buckets with the game clock winding down, with two of those falling just before the final horn.
The second-leading returning scorer in the SEC, Davis was a first-team All-SEC selection in 2020 as well as an All-America honorable mention recipient from the AP, USBWA and WBCA. She averaged 18.0 points, 8.2 rebounds and 2.5 assists per game in 2019-20 while shooting 46.9 percent from the field and 80.2 percent from the free throw line.
With a scoring average that was the best by a Lady Vol since Candace Parker put up 21.3 ppg. in 2008, Davis enters her final collegiate season tied with Bashaara Graves for 10th in UT history with 29 double-doubles during her first three seasons on Rocky Top.
Davis averaged 19.9 ppg. and 8.0 rpg. vs. league foes in 2019-20. She hit 49.6% from the field and 82.8% at the charity stripe in 16 regular-season contests. Against nine ranked opponents, Davis tallied 19.8 ppg. and 7.0 rpg. and shot 43.8% on field goals and 84.2% on free throws vs. those teams.
The two-time All-SEC choice ranked fifth in the conference in rebounding last season at 8.2 rpg. and eighth in field goal percentage (.469) and stands No. 5 in both categories among returning players. She finished No. 4 in the SEC in free throw percentage at .802 a year ago and is No. 2 among returnees this season.
Davis is among the SEC’s active player career leaders, ranking second in points (1,400 points) and double-doubles (29) and third in rebounds.
-UT Athletics
Vols, Lady Vols Again Post Record Scores in Latest GSR Data
The NCAA on Tuesday announced Graduation Success Rate (GSR) and Federal Graduation Rate for the 2010-11 to 2013-14 freshman cohorts for all Division I institutions as part of the annual NCAA Division I Academic Performance Program.
This year’s Tennessee-specific data revealed an overall multi-year GSR of 90 percent—the highest in UT history. It marked the eighth straight year of improvement in Tennessee’s multi-year score.
Eleven of UT’s 16 programs tied or broke their GSR records, with seven sports posting a 100 percent GSR.
The teams with perfect multi-year GSRs are women’s golf, rowing, softball, men’s tennis, women’s tennis, women’s track & field and volleyball.
Baseball (90 percent), football (83 percent), men’s golf (89 percent) and women’s swimming (96 percent) each earned program-record GSRs.
Tennessee’s single-year (2013 cohort) GSR of 95 percent also was its all-time best, as a dozen teams posted a single-year GSR of 100 percent. Also noteworthy in UT’s single-year GSR data is the football program’s score of 94 percent, which is its highest since the data has been tracked.
“You won’t see many headlines about our Graduation Success Rate numbers, but it’s a vitally important metric,” Tennessee Director of Athletics Phillip Fulmer said. “Our GSR scores have improved for eight straight years now, and that’s a credit to the dedication of our student-athletes and the support systems we have in place to ensure their academic success. As always, I’m appreciative of the great work being done at the Thornton Center, and I also want to acknowledge our coaching staffs for their efforts to prioritize academics and progress toward degrees.”
The GSR is calculated differently than the Federal Graduation Rate (FGR). The GSR allows institutions to add scholarship transfers that fit into their respective freshman cohorts and remove those students that choose to leave and are academically eligible according to NCAA Progress-Toward-Degree-
One of Tennessee Athletics’ key objectives is to graduate student-athletes and prepare them for real-world experiences. In 2001, the University of Tennessee opened the Thornton Athletics Student Life Center to provide student-athletes with superior academic support programs and personal and career development assistance.
Sport-Specific Highlights (Multi-Year GSR)
- Football earned its all-time best GSR at 83 percent—a nine-point improvement over last year’s then-record score
- Volleyball earned a perfect 100 for the 14th consecutive year.
- Rowing earned a perfect 100 for the seventh consecutive year.
- Men’s tennis earned a perfect 100 for the sixth consecutive year.
- Women’s golf earned a perfect 100 for the fifth consecutive year.
- Women’s tennis earned a perfect 100 for the fifth consecutive year.
-UT Athletics
PHOTO GALLERY: Tennessee Basketball Preseason
Here are some photos of the Tennessee Volunteers men’s basketball team preparing for the 2020-2021 season, courtesy of UT Athletics.
Vols Hoops Preseason Practice
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- KNOXVILLE, TN - NOVEMBER 10, 2020 - Guard Keon Johnson #45 of the Tennessee Volunteers during practice at Thompson-Boling Arena in Knoxville, TN. Photo By Andrew Ferguson/Tennessee Athletics
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- KNOXVILLE, TN - NOVEMBER 10, 2020 - Guard Keon Johnson #45 of the Tennessee Volunteers during practice at Thompson-Boling Arena in Knoxville, TN. Photo By Andrew Ferguson/Tennessee Athletics
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- KNOXVILLE, TN - NOVEMBER 10, 2020 - Forward Corey Walker Jr. #15 of the Tennessee Volunteers during practice at Thompson-Boling Arena in Knoxville, TN. Photo By Andrew Ferguson/Tennessee Athletics
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- KNOXVILLE, TN - NOVEMBER 10, 2020 - Forward Uros Plavsic #33 of the Tennessee Volunteers during practice at Thompson-Boling Arena in Knoxville, TN. Photo By Andrew Ferguson/Tennessee Athletics
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- KNOXVILLE, TN - NOVEMBER 10, 2020 - Forward Olivier Nkamhoua #13 of the Tennessee Volunteers during practice at Thompson-Boling Arena in Knoxville, TN. Photo By Andrew Ferguson/Tennessee Athletics
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- KNOXVILLE, TN - NOVEMBER 10, 2020 - Forward E.J. Anosike #55 of the Tennessee Volunteers during practice at Thompson-Boling Arena in Knoxville, TN. Photo By Andrew Ferguson/Tennessee Athletics
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- KNOXVILLE, TN - NOVEMBER 10, 2020 - Guard Victor Bailey Jr. #12 of the Tennessee Volunteers during practice at Thompson-Boling Arena in Knoxville, TN. Photo By Andrew Ferguson/Tennessee Athletics
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- KNOXVILLE, TN - NOVEMBER 10, 2020 - Forward Drew Pember #3 of the Tennessee Volunteers during practice at Thompson-Boling Arena in Knoxville, TN. Photo By Andrew Ferguson/Tennessee Athletics
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- KNOXVILLE, TN - NOVEMBER 10, 2020 - Guard Josiah-Jordan James #5 of the Tennessee Volunteers during practice at Thompson-Boling Arena in Knoxville, TN. Photo By Andrew Ferguson/Tennessee Athletics
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- KNOXVILLE, TN - NOVEMBER 10, 2020 - Forward Corey Walker Jr. #15 of the Tennessee Volunteers during practice at Thompson-Boling Arena in Knoxville, TN. Photo By Andrew Ferguson/Tennessee Athletics
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- KNOXVILLE, TN - NOVEMBER 10, 2020 - Forward Uros Plavsic #33 of the Tennessee Volunteers during practice at Thompson-Boling Arena in Knoxville, TN. Photo By Andrew Ferguson/Tennessee Athletics
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- KNOXVILLE, TN - NOVEMBER 10, 2020 - Guard/Forward Yves Pons #35 of the Tennessee Volunteers during practice at Thompson-Boling Arena in Knoxville, TN. Photo By Andrew Ferguson/Tennessee Athletics
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- KNOXVILLE, TN - NOVEMBER 10, 2020 - Guard Davonte Gaines #0 of the Tennessee Volunteers during practice at Thompson-Boling Arena in Knoxville, TN. Photo By Andrew Ferguson/Tennessee Athletics
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- KNOXVILLE, TN - NOVEMBER 10, 2020 - Guard Santiago Vescovi #25 of the Tennessee Volunteers during practice at Thompson-Boling Arena in Knoxville, TN. Photo By Andrew Ferguson/Tennessee Athletics
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- KNOXVILLE, TN - NOVEMBER 10, 2020 - Guard Josiah-Jordan James #5 of the Tennessee Volunteers during practice at Thompson-Boling Arena in Knoxville, TN. Photo By Andrew Ferguson/Tennessee Athletics
Coaches Preseason First Team For Lady Vols Basketball’s Davis
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – The league’s coaches have chosen Tennessee’s Rennia Davis for the Preseason All-SEC First Team, marking her third year in a row of earning that distinction.
Joining Davis on the first team are SEC Preseason Player of the Year Rhyne Howard of Kentucky; Chelsea Dungee, Arkansas; Unique Thompson, Auburn; Khayla Pointer, LSU; Rickea Jackson, Mississippi State; Aliyah Boston, South Carolina; and N’dea Jones, Texas A&M.
The second team is comprised of Jasmine Walker, Alabama; Destiny Slocum, Arkansas; Lavender Briggs, Florida; Shakira Austin, Ole Miss; Jessika Carter, Mississippi State; Aijha Blackwell, Missouri; Zia Cooke, South Carolina; and Kayla Wells, Texas A&M.
In the race for the SEC regular season championship, meanwhile, the Lady Vols were predicted to finish sixth in the league standings by the coaches for the second straight season. A year ago, during Kellie Harper’s inaugural campaign at the helm of the Lady Vols, Tennessee fashioned a 21-10 overall record and 10-6 league mark, good for a tie for third in the standings. It was UT’s highest league finish since taking first in 2014-15.
South Carolina, ranked No. 1 in the AP Preseason Poll, is predicted to win the 2021 SEC women’s basketball championship. Kentucky, Texas A&M, Arkansas, Mississippi State, Tennessee and LSU round out the top half of the league. Alabama, Georgia, Missouri, Ole Miss, Florida, Vanderbilt and Auburn fill out the bottom half.
Tennessee returns four players who were regulars in the starting lineup at some point during the 2019-20 season. That group is headed by Davis, who is a two-time All-SEC and All-America honorable mention performer. The second-leading returning scorer in the SEC, she averaged 18.0 points, 8.2 rebounds and 2.5 assists per game in 2019-20 while shooting 46.9 percent from the field and 80.2 percent from the free throw line. In league play, Davis produced 19.9 ppg. and 8.0 rpg. while hitting 49.6% from the field and 82.8% at the charity stripe in 16 regular-season contests.
UT’s other players with significant starting experience include 6-1 junior guard/forward Rae Burrell (10.5 ppg., 5.5 rpg., 21 3FGs), 6-2 sophomore guard Jordan Horston (10.1 ppg., 5.5 rpg., 4.6 apg., SEC All-Freshman) and 6-5 sophomore center Tamari Key (7.3 ppg., 4.7 rpg., 2.8 bpg., 56% FG). Burrell was the team’s top reserve for the first 22 games before starting the final nine contests of the season. She averaged 12.3 ppg. and 5.7 rpg. during that end-of-year stint in the first five.
All told, UT returns five of its top six scorers and rebounders from 2019-20, including the top four in each category. Harper welcomes back 80.8 percent of her scoring, 76.4 percent of rebounds, 78.6 percent of blocks, 71.0 percent of steals and 64.8 percent of assists from a year ago. The Big Orange women also return 80.6 percent of their field goals, including 73.3 percent of their three-pointers, and 84.8 percent of free throws from last season.
In addition to returning Davis, Burrell, Key and Horston, the Lady Vols welcome back rotation regulars in 6-4 senior center Kasiyahna Kushkituah (5.4 ppg., 4.4 rpg., 49% FG, 31 games played), 5-8 sophomore guard Jessie Rennie (2.7 ppg., 25 3FGs, 46% 3FG, 30 games played) and 6-3 redshirt senior forward Jaiden McCoy (2.7 ppg., 1.8 rpg., 26 games played). Emily Saunders, a 6-5 sophomore center, saw action in only 10 games a year ago but averaged 3.7 ppg., 2.2 rpg. and 1.0 bpg. while shooting 71% on field goals.
Tennessee also welcomes a pair of highly-regarded graduate transfers in Keyen Green from Liberty and Jordan Walker from Western Michigan. Walker, an All-MAC guard with two seasons to play, brings experience, quickness and depth to the guard corps. The 5-8 redshirt junior averaged 16.0 ppg., 6.2 rpg., 2.5 apg. and 2.1 spg. while knocking down 66 three-pointers in 2019-20.
Green, meanwhile, is a first-team All-ASUN forward/center who is expected to bolster UT’s inside presence. She averaged 13.9 ppg. and 7.5 rpg. last season and shot 59 percent from the field. ESPN ranked Green, who has one season to play, at No. 15 in its 2020-21 preseason Newcomer Impact Rankings.
UT’s three-member rookie class includes 6-0 guard Destiny Salary (four-star prospect, #57 by espnW HoopGurlz), 6-1 guard/forward Tess Darby (#86 by Blue Star Media, four-star prospect by ProspectsNation.com) and 6-2 guard/forward Marta Suárez (a four-star prospect by Blue Star Europe).
PRESEASON COACHES’ POLL
ORDER OF FINISH
1. South Carolina
2. Kentucky
3. Texas A&M
4. Arkansas
5. Mississippi State
6. Tennessee
7. LSU
8. Alabama
9. Georgia
10. Missouri
11. Ole Miss
12. Florida
13. Vanderbilt
14. Auburn
PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Rhyne Howard, Kentucky
ALL-SEC FIRST TEAM
Chelsea Dungee, Arkansas
Unique Thompson, Auburn
Rhyne Howard, Kentucky
Khayla Pointer, LSU
Rickea Jackson, Mississippi State
Aliyah Boston, South Carolina
Rennia Davis, Tennessee
N’dea Jones, Texas A&M
ALL-SEC SECOND TEAM
Jasmine Walker, Alabama
Destiny Slocum, Arkansas
Lavender Briggs, Florida
Shakira Austin, Ole Miss
Jessika Carter, Mississippi State
Aijha Blackwell, Missouri
Zia Cooke, South Carolina
Kayla Wells, Texas A&M
-UT Athletics
Dan + Shay Are Spending 10,000 Hours Bringing New Fans To Country Music
In an already award filled year for Dan + Shay, the hottest duo in country music has another opportunity to walk home with 3 more trophies this weekend at the American Music Awards. Their nominations include Favorite Duo or Group of the Year, and Favorite Song for “10,000 Hours”, both in the country categories.
Dan + Shay’s “10,000 Hours” also has a nomination, along with Justin Bieber, in the all-genre Collaboration of the Year…which Shay says is not only important for him and Dan, but also country music in general “Being in that all-genre category just…I think it’s great for not only for our career, but just the country music format. You know, any time we can…We love country music and we’re so proud of the people who are in our format, and any time bring over some fans from somewhere else and get them to kind of check out some other country artists because they heard us on the pop station or watched us on an award show, we’re very thankful for that. And I think that’s good for everybody. So, we’re very appreciative to be in that all-genre category kind of waving that country music banner.”
The 2020 American Music Awards will broadcast live from the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles on ABC on November 22 at 8 PM ET/ 7C.
Check out the music video for Dan + Shay, and Justin Bieber’s American Music Award nominated song “10,000 Hours”
photo credit: Catherine Powell
Ashley McBryde Has New Thanksgiving Standards
Everyone is adapting their holiday plans this year, including Ashley McBryde. To keep her family safe, she and her siblings have laid out a holiday schedule for visiting their parents “Normally I would be at home, for every holiday, but my parents are no spring chickens…so, I’m trying to make sure that everybody is as safe as possible. So, my family and I, we’re gonna do holidays in shifts! We’ll be tested, and then I’ll get to go be with mom and pop, and then my brother or my sister can come a day or so later as long as everybody is making sure we’re keeping mom and dad safe”
Now, when she does get home, what will be her favorite Thanksgiving menu item? Ashley states “Mashed potatoes, mashed potatoes, mashed potatoes…with gravy? Even better! But, mashed potatoes.” We think she likes mashed potatoes.
Here’s hoping your holidays are nothing like the story line in Ashley’s latest song “Martha Divine”…
photo credit: Daniel Meigs
Laine Hardy Started With Elvis, Won American Idol, and Ended Up On the Ryman Stage
American Idol winner Laine Hardy celebrated Friendsgiving with some fellow country music making friends at the Ryman Auditorium Wednesday Night with a special performance. The concert was performed in front of a socially distanced crowd and streamed live for fans around the world to see.
This was a big night for Laine. Not only was it the first show he’s had with his band since the early spring, but it was also the first time he’s ever played at the Mother Church of country music. Laine’s road to the Ryman stage began when he heard Elvis Presley on the radio in the car with his mom “At 6, that’s when I got my first guitar, the reason I got it was because me and my mom were going down the road in the car, and he came on the radio, and I asked her ‘Who is that?’ She said ‘It’s Elvis’ and then I started watching videos and stuff…at 6 years old I was doing this.” Laine’s love of Elvis was even captured in a childhood photo session where he dressed as The King.
Laine’s mom was there when he discovered Elvis, and she was also the one who saw the musical potential in her son several years later, and asked if he’d like to try out for American Idol. After passing the audition phase in front of judges Lionel Richie, Katy Perry and Luke Bryan, Laine’s first trip to Hollywood didn’t end up like he hoped. The following year he showed up to support his friend Ashton Gill as she tried up for Season 17 of Idol. The judges recognized him, and after giving him a warm welcome back, they coaxed Laine into an impromptu audition that once again saw him heading to Hollywood, but this time it had the dream ending as Laine was crowned the winner.
But even during those successful days on the west coast, while he was in the L.A. of California, Laine knew his heart would always be in the LA of his home state of Louisiana.
Now the pride of Livingston, Louisiana is taking on Music City with his current single, “Tiny Town.” Laine knew the song was meant for him the very first time he heard it “I was listening to it, and was like ‘wow, it really sounds relatable to me’.” That might be because his home town of Livingston is a “tiny town” with a population of about two thousand people. Laine would have needed about 35 of his towns to fill the Super Down in New Orleans the first time his sang the National Anthem there.
From Friendsgiving this week to Thanksgiving next week, Laine Hardy is very thankful for the experiences he’s had along the way over the last couple of years “It means a lot to me, I never would have thought a few years back that I’d be doing this right now. It’s unreal, it feels unreal.”
As Laine Hardy closes out 2020…the boy who would be the king, and was crowned an Idol, is set to take on the country music world with the help of his “Tiny Town.”
Laine Hardy Key Art Credit Robby Klein HR
A Nashville Christmas Carol featuring Sara Evans, Kix Brooks, Kimberly Williams-Paisley Premieres This Saturday, Nov 21
This weekend, A Nashville Christmas Carol premieres on the Hallmark Channel. Saturday, Nov 21, you can watch Sara Evans, Wynonna Judd, Raelynn, Kimberly Williams-Paisley and Kix Brooks join Wes Brown and Jessy Schram as they give a country music themed twist to Charles Dickens’ timeless tale.
“It’s patterned after the classic Christmas Carol” says Sara Evans “It was such a fun experience, and I think the movie is going to be incredible.” Sara also shares that this was not a quick cameo “I actually have a pretty decent size roll in the movie.”
To see Sara Evans, Kix Brooks and all the other country stars in A Nashville Christmas Carol, tune into the Hallmark Channel this Saturday, November 21 at 8pm/7c.
Check out a preview here…
photo by TCD
Country News
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