Tim McGraw’s 16th studio album, Here On Earth, debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard Top Country Albums chart this week (8/27/20).
The new album moved 24,202 equivalent units, according to Nielsen Music/MRC Data. Buoyed by the May release of the album’s lead single, “I Called Mama,” the new project is Tim’s first solo release since 2015’s Damn Country Music. Tim and wife Faith Hill released a duets album, The Rest of Our Life, in 2017.
“I had a concept,” says Tim. “Now, that’s not to say that this is really a concept album, but I had an idea when I went into this project that I really wanted to sort of make a tapestry of life. Little vignettes along the way that tell a story about certain things that happen in the progression of life and how that can relate to the listener, and how everyone can sort of find a way to walk through this life on this album, find a way to relate to the characters in the stories. And that’s what good art does I think, in all sorts of ways. It allows you to superimpose yourself.”
Tim’s new 16-song album features a host of top songwriters, including Tom Douglas, Lori McKenna, Shane McAnally, Marcus Hummon, Luke Laird, Ross Copperman, Laura Veltz and more.
Here On Earth Track List & Songwriters
1. “L.A.” | Carlton Anderson, Shane Minor, Phil O’Donnell
2. ”Chevy Spaceship” | Jonny Price
3. “Here On Earth” | Jessie Joe Dillon, Chase McGill, Jon Nite
4. “Damn Sure Do” | Tony Lane, James T. Slater
5. “Hallelujahville” | Tom Douglas, Blake Griffith, Brett Taylor
6. “Good Taste In Women” | Jaren Johnston, Bryan Simpson, Nathan Spicer
7. “Hard To Stay Mad At” | Luke Laird, Shane McAnally, Lori McKenna
8. “Sheryl Crow” | Wendell Mobley, Neil Thrasher, Laura Veltz
9. “Not From California” | Levi Hummon, Marcus Hummon, Matt McVaney, Brad Warren, Brett Warren
10. “Hold You Tonight” | Ross Copperman, Jon Nite
11. “7500 OBO” | Matt McGinn, Jennifer Schott, Nathan Spicer
12. “If I Was A Cowboy” | Zack Dyer, Lonnie Lee Fowler, Dave Turnbill
13. “I Called Mama” | Marv Green, Lance Miller, Jimmy Yeary
14. “Gravy” | Andy Albert, Tom Douglas, Allen Shamblin
15. “War Of Art” | Lance Miller, Jeremy Spillman, Brad Warren, Brett Warren
16. “Doggone” | Claire Douglas, Tom Douglas, Jaren Johnston, Aimee Mayo
On Sept. 8, Sara Evans will release her new memoir, Born to Fly, which takes its name from her 2000 studio album—and No. 1 single—of the same name. Drawing on stories from her own life, the upcoming book finds Sara sharing “wisdom on topics ranging from motherhood and marriage to finding your purpose.”
“I am so excited to release my memoir this year,” says Sara. “With 2020 being the 20th anniversary of my Born to Fly album release, which was such a pivotal project for me and my career on so many levels, this book really brings everything full circle. I am so proud of how it all came together and can’t wait to share it with everyone.”
To celebrate the book’s release, Sara will be taking part in a virtual book tour that kicks off on Sept. 2. During each virtual visit, Sara will discuss the memoir with a local host and take questions from fans. The first 100 fans to purchase the book at the bookstore events will receive a signed book from Sara.
In May, Sara released her new album, Copy That. The 13-song collection features Sara covering country and pop songs that have inspired her career, including “If I Can’t Have You,” “Come on Eileen,” “My Sharona,” “Crazy Love” and more. The new album also features two collaborations: “Whenever I Call You Friend” featuring Little Big Town’s Phillip Sweet and “I’m So Lonesome I Could Cry” featuring Old Crow Medicine Show.
Chris Young will headline a virtual concert during the Great Futures Gala on Oct. 2 to benefit the Boys & Girls Clubs of Middle Tennessee.
The annual Great Futures Gala, which will be virtual this year, benefits youth-development programs for the more than 4,700 kids served annually at 11 Boys & Girls Clubs across Middle Tennessee. In addition to Chris’ concert, the Gala will include a live and silent auction, as well as appearances from celebrity guests.
Tickets and sponsorship opportunities are available now. Virtual attendees will receive a unique link to access the exclusive program, along with special gifts. All proceeds from the event will go directly to the more than 4,700 Club members who count on their Clubs for tutoring, healthy food and life mentorship.
Luke Combs teased a new wife-inspired song, “Forever After All,” via social media.
Luke shared a snipped of the new song’s lyrics and the accompanying audio: “They say nothin’ lasts forever / But they ain’t seen us together / Or the way the moonlight dances in your eyes / And I know they’ll be that moment / The Good Lord calls one of us home and / One won’t have the other by their side / But heaven knows that that won’t last too long / Maybe some thing last forever after all.”
After dating for four years, Luke and Nicole Hocking got married on Aug. 1 in Florida. Nicole was the muse for Luke’s No. 1 single “Beautiful Crazy,” as well as “Better Together.”
The new song may be included on Luke’s upcoming deluxe album, What You See Ain’t Always What You Get, which drops on Oct. 23. The new album will feature all 18 songs from Luke’s 2019 sophomore album, What You See Is What You Get, as well as five brand-new tracks.
Nashville’s Country Music Hall of Fame & Museum will host an online fundraiser via YouTube at 8 p.m. CT on Oct. 28 that features a who’s who of country stars.
Big Night (At the Museum) will pair country music stars with historic instruments for a one-of-a-kind night of music. Artists taking part include Alison Brown, Kane Brown, Carlene Carter, Rodney Crowell, Emmylou Harris, Miranda Lambert, Ashley McBryde, Reba McEntire, Tim McGraw, Keb Mo, Ricky Skaggs, Marty Stuart and The War and Treaty. The event will be hosted by Marty Stuart, with audio supervision by Dave Cobb.
During the free concert, viewers will be encouraged to donate to the museum through YouTube Giving. More artists will be announced in the coming weeks.
The CMHOF will reopen to the public on Sept. 10. The Hall of Fame has been closed since March 13 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Reba McEntire relaunched her 1991 concert special, Reba in Concert, via YouTube on Aug. 28.
Filmed in 1990 at the Frank Erwin Center in Austin, Texas, the special features Reba performing “Fancy,” “You Lie,” “Whoever’s In New England” and more. The special, which was originally released on VHS in August 1991, was dedicated to seven of Reba‘s band members, along with her tour manager, who were tragically killed in a plane crash near San Diego in March 1991.
“This show is very special to me because it features my friends that we lost in a plane crash 29 years ago,” says Reba. “Their love for music and incredible talents deserve to be seen again, and I’m so glad that we’re getting the chance to stream this concert for the first time ever. I can’t wait to watch it and I hope they will feel all the love we still have for them.”
Last month, Reba relaunched her 1994 Reba Live concert special via YouTube.
Watch Reba in Concert below.
Track List
Love Will Find It’s Way To You
Can’t Even Get The Blues
Somebody Should Leave
One Promise Too Late
Let The Music Lift You Up
Whoever’s In New England
Medley: How Blue, Today All Over Again, You’re The First Time I’ve Thought About Leaving, New Fool At An Old Game, I Know How He Feels, What Am I Gonna Do About You?
KNOXVILLE, TN – NOVEMBER 02, 2019 – Linebacker Daniel Bituli #35 of the Tennessee Volunteers during the game between the UAB Blazers and the Tennessee Volunteers at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, TN. Photo By Caleb Jones/Tennessee Athletics
Here’s an August 31st update on transactions in the NFL involving University of Tennessee players in moves announced by the National Football League.
You’ll also find below the list of players that were at UT at one time before transferring and finishing their careers elsewhere as well as players that have local ties to the Knoxville area that did not attend the University of Tennessee.
Look for constant updates here on my blog “Vince’s View.” Bookmark my blog page and check back often.
Recent Roster Moves 8/25 – Bengals signed DT Reginald “Kahlil” McKenzie
8/25 – Rams signed LB Daniel Bituli
8/27 – 49ers waived DE Jonathan Kongbo
8/28 – 49ers placed Kongbo on the Reserve/Injured List
The Bengals claiming McKenzie as a DT is interesting. He played his entire career on Rocky Top at DT. He was drafted by the Chiefs as an offensive guard. He was a reserve OG for both the Chiefs and the Seahawks. The Rams signed Bituli a little later than most undrafted free agents. Then he was waived earlier this fall camp. Now he’s back to try to stick with the Rams, at least in a practice squad role. The groin injury is unfortunate for Kongbo, who after a one-year stint in the CFL with Winnipeg, finally got his shot in the NFL Kongbo cleared waivers with an injury designation, so he reverted to the 49ers’ reserve/injured list. He will be on the reserve list for the entire season unless both sides reach an injury settlement for them to part ways.
Notes and Numbers On UT Players
*31 U. of Tennessee players on expanded active NFL rosters
*3 other players are inactive on Reserve Lists
*New Orleans has most current UT players with 4
*DL is the largest position represented with 7
*19 of the 32 teams have a UT player on active rosters
*Philadelphia is the only team in the NFC East with any active VFLs
*There are 6 players that were once at U. of Tennessee but then transferred (see full list below)
*There are 6 players that didn’t attend UT, but have Knoxville/East TN ties (see full list below)
*7 Vols are projected as starters right now, excluding special teams
*Rookies: 4 VFLs, 2 one-time Vols and 3 Knoxville area non-UT players on current rosters
*7 players went to high school in Knoxville area (B. Colquitt, L. Smith, H. Smith, R. Cobb, T. Higgins, N. Cottrell, N. Gilliam)
Tennessee Volunteers On NFL Rosters as of 8/31/20 (31) x = Rookie
AFC East (4) TE – Jason Croom (80) Buffalo Bills – 5th team TE
FB/TE – Jakob Johnson (47) New England Patriots – 5th team TE
WR – Josh Malone (83) New York Jets – 2nd team WR
DE – Kyle Phillips (98) New York Jets – 2nd team DE
NONE – Miami Dolphins
AFC North (5)
LS – Morgan Cox (46) Baltimore Ravens – Starting LS
S – Nigel Warrior (39) Baltimore Ravens – 5th team SS-x
DT – Reginald “Kahlil” McKenzie (69) Cincinnati Bengals – 3rd team NT
NT – Dan McCullers (93) Pittsburgh Steelers – 2nd team NT
DB – Cameron Sutton (20) Pittsburgh Steelers – 2nd team NB
NONE – Cleveland Browns
AFC South (2)
OG – Zach Fulton (73) Houston Texans – Starting RG
QB – Joshua Dobbs (11) Jacksonville Jaguars – 3rd team QB
NONE – Indianapolis Colts
NONE – Tennessee Titans
AFC West (3)
ILB – Alexander Johnson (45) Denver Broncos – Starting ILB
DE – Kendal Vickers (78) Las Vegas Raiders – 3rd team DT
TE – Jason Witten (82) Las Vegas Raiders – Starting TE
NONE – Kansas City Chiefs
NONE – Los Angeles Chargers
NFC East (2)
DE – Derek Barnett (96) Philadelphia Eagles – Starting DE
DT – Malik Jackson (97) Philadelphia Eagles – 2nd Team DT
NONE – Dallas Cowboys
NONE – New York Giants
NONE – Washington Redskins
NFC North (5)
QB – Tyler Bray (9) Chicago Bears – 3rd Team QB
WR/KR – Cordarrelle Patterson (84) Chicago Bears – Starting WR & KR
CB – Justin Coleman (27) Detroit Lions – Starting NB
OLB – Jalen Reeves-Maybin (44) Detroit Lions – 2nd Team OLB
P – Britton Colquitt (2) Minnesota Vikings – Starting P
NONE – Green Bay Packers
NFC South (5)
TE – Luke Stocker (88) Atlanta Falcons – 3rd team TE
RB – Alvin Kamara (41) New Orleans Saints – Starting RB
DT – Shy Tuttle (99) New Orleans Saints – 3rd team NT
WR – Marquez Callaway (12) New Orleans Saints – 6th team WR-x
TE – Ethan Wolf (86) New Orleans Saints – 5th team TE
NONE – Carolina Panthers
NONE – Tampa Bay Buccaneers
NFC West (5)
RB – John Kelly (42) Los Angeles Rams – 4th team RB
LB – Daniel Bituli (49) Los Angeles Rams – 5th team ILB
CB – Emmanuel Moseley (41) San Francisco 49ers – 3rd team CB
WR – Jauan Jennings (81) San Francisco 49ers – 6th team WR-x
DE/OLB – Darrell Taylor (58) Seattle Seahawks – 3rd team Leo DE/OLB-x
NONE – Arizona Cardinals
Inactives (3)
OT – Ja’Wuan James (70) Denver Broncos (Opted Out for 2020 season)
P – Michael Palardy (5) Carolina Panthers (Reserve Non-Football Injury List/out for the season/torn ACL)
DE – Jonathan Kongbo (61) San Francisco 49ers (Reserve/Injured List for entire season)
UT Players In The NFL By Position (31)
QB – 2
RB – 2
WR – 4
TE – 4
FB – 1
OL – 1
DL – 7
LB – 4
DB – 4
P – 1
PK – 0
LS – 1
Free Agents To Watch from University of Tennessee
S – Micah Abernathy
S – Eric Berry
P – Dustin Colquitt
P – Trevor Daniel
P – Matt Darr
TE – Alex Ellis
DB – Rashaan Gaulden
LB – Colton Jumper
LB – LaTroy Lewis
OL – James Stone
DL – Jordan Williams
TE – Dominick Wood-Anderson
One-Time Vols That Transferred To Other Schools On NFL Rosters (6) x = Rookie
TE – Eli Wolf (87) Baltimore Ravens (U. of Tennessee/Georgia) -x – 4th team TE
TE – Lee Smith (85) Buffalo Bills (Powell HS/U. of Tennessee/Marshall) – 3rd team TE
TE – Daniel Helm (–) Kansas City Chiefs (U. of Tennessee/Duke) – 5th team TE
P – Tommy Townsend (5) Kansas City Chiefs (U. of Tennessee/Florida) – x – 2nd team P
QB – Nathan Peterman (3) Las Vegas Raiders (U. of Tennessee/Pitt) – 3rd team QB
WR – Preston Williams (18) Miami Dolphins (U. of Tennessee/Colorado St) – 2nd team WR
Inactives (1)
WR – Jalen Hurd (14) San Francisco 49ers (U. of Tennessee/Baylor) – Reserve/Injured/out for season/torn ACL)
Knoxville Area Players That Didn’t Play At UT on NFL Rosters (6) x = Rookie
WR – Tee Higgins (85) Cincinnati Bengals (Oak Ridge HS/Clemson) – x – Starting WR
P – Chris Jones (6) Dallas Cowboys (Carson-Newman) – Starting P
WR – Randall Cobb (18) Houston Texans (Alcoa HS/Kentucky) – Starting Slot WR
RB – Nathan Cottrell (31) Jacksonville Jaguars (West HS/Georgia Tech) – x – 4th team RB
OL – Nate Gilliam (63) Los Angeles Chargers (Farragut HS/Wake Forest) – x – 3rd team RG
S – Harrison Smith (22) Minnesota Vikings (Catholic HS/Notre Dame) – Starting SS
KNOXVILLE, TN – AUGUST 26, 2020 – Wide receiver Jalin Hyatt #11 of the Tennessee Volunteers during 2020 Fall Camp practice on Haslam Field in Knoxville, TN. Photo By Caleb Jones/Tennessee Athletics
Let’s review what we learned from week two of Tennessee football fall practice in my blog, “Vince’s View.”
-Positive COVID-19 tests pause practice
Friday’s practice was canceled because of “a few more” positive tests within the football program per Jeremy Pruitt. Everyone was retested and, to be safe, Pruitt decided to pause practice until they get test results back and they feel right about resuming practice. The number of positives were not given. Pruitt said they have plenty of time to get in their 18 remaining practices with just under a month to go before the season opener.
-Team organized march Saturday
The UT football team had practice shifted, so the team could participate in the peaceful march promoting racial equality on UT’s campus
We must work even harder to create a campus where everyone matters and belongs. Volunteers step forward in leadership and service. Let’s step forward and show the world what kindness, equity, and inclusion for all people can look like. #VolIsAVerbpic.twitter.com/GkyN0z5ZMU
-Vols complete 7th fall practice Saturday
UT was back on the practice field Saturday. This was a great sign considering everyone was retested for COVID-19. There were no photos or videos of this practice made available to the media. The Vols are now more than a quarter through preparations for the 2020 season that begins September 26 with UT at South Carolina.
-Pads are popping
Tennessee began full padded practices in Week 2 with practice #5. UT has completed three of those so far.
-Matthew Butler’s leadership
The players have talked about the watch-dog roles they have to have to make sure everyone’s making the right decisions. The senior DE Butler mentioned how they stay on guys to do all the standard social distancing and safety things. He even mentioned not just wearing masks, but staying on guys to cover their nose and mouth with the masks. I thought that was an impressive and encouraging bit of attention to detail. Seems basic, but how many people do you see doing the chin-only mask nonsense? Not good enough, especially for what’s at stake for them. Player leadership this season is paramount.
-Harrison Bailey draws compliments from Pruitt
The true freshman 5-star QB “really kinda shined” in one period of the 6th practice according to Pruitt. That’s an encouraging compliment, especially considering he missed the first week of practices.
-Jarrett Guarantano’s camp
He’s had “six really good days (practices)” according to the head coach. Pruitt has consistently stood by the much-criticized senior starting QB while still wanting more out of him. Guarantano has added about 15 lbs of muscle and is up to 230 lbs, per the roster.
-Trevon Flowers shifts safety positions
The junior moves from free safety to Nigel Warrior’s spot the last few seasons, strong safety. Flowers needs to stay healthy and be more consistent. SS is his more natural position and it keeps sophomore Jaylen McCollough at free safety where he started in the latter part of last season.
-Depth in the secondary
DC Derrick Ansley said there are a lot of options in the secondary. He mentioned redshirt senior CB Kenneth George Jr. and sophomore CB Warren Burrell as guys that are having good camps among the backups fighting for bigger roles. He said true freshman talent Key Lawrence was a young guy making a push for playing time. He feels the secondary needs to be the strength of the defense.
-DL coach Jimmy Brumbaugh impacting coaches and players
Ansley called new assistant coach Jimmy Brumbaugh the best D-line coach in the country. DE Matthew Butler said Brumbaugh “meticulous about the details” of the game. Butler knew how good he was when after about two days, Brumbaugh showed the players a breakdown of last year’s Georgia game with some things they overlooked that could have changed the game and the outcome. He was impressed and has remained so.
-Cade Mays fitting in nicely
It’s no surprise that Cade Mays has made an impression with Jim Chaney, Jeremy Pruitt and teammates. Chaney coached him at Georgia and knows how good he can be, Mays from Georgia wasn’t a finished product. He’s a first-round draft talent, but his play can be even better with a talented group around him. Yo, NCAA…about that appeal from UT.
-Freshman OL Javontez Spraggins packs a punch
In a few drills I’ve seen of the true freshman offensive lineman from East St. Louis, Illinois, Spraggins was physical and punched with authority like coaches want. Most guys, especially newcomers, have a tendency to go through the motions of the drill. You hear “violent hands” on the practice field all the time from coaches. Spraggins, in a small sample size, has done that. Spraggins was the biggest weight loser on the team per the updated football roster, as I outlined in my roster by the numbers analysis blog. He lost 37 pounds, going from 352 to 315. He’s not likely to be pressed into action, but he seems to be off to a good start. Look for number 76 in practice videos at 991TheSportsAnimal.com.
-Tight Ends competitive and “special”
Sr. WR Josh Palmer was very complimentary of the tight end room saying they were “special.” Jim Chaney seemed pleased with the group that does include starter Austin Pope, who has returned from back surgery. Don’t get it mixed, even if some progress with Jacob Warren, Princeton Fant and others has been made, this is an unproven group that’s a question mark on this team.
-WR Deangelo Gibbs opts not to play in 2020
Jeremy Pruitt announced that the redshirt Jr. Gibbs has decided not to play this season to focus on his academics. There was no mention of COVID-19 in Gibbs’ decision. He sat about last season after transferring from Georgia. This drops UT to just 10 scholarship wide receivers. 5 of them are true freshmen. See below.
-All freshmen wide receivers will be needed to play
Jeremy Pruitt said they will need all freshmen wide receivers to play this year. The five are…Jalin Hyatt, Malachi Wideman, Jimmy Calloway, Dee Beckwith and Jimmy Holiday. Now, that can include special teams, not necessarily meaningful snaps right away at wide receiver right away. A few will get to that level. The question is, who will get to that meaningful snap level quickly? I think Hyatt will be one. We have 17 practices to figure out the others.
BIRMINGHAM, Alabama (August 28, 2020) – The Southeastern Conference has announced a number of game operations guidelines for its 14 member schools, following up on its initial medical protocols and fan guidelines announced earlier this month, as the Conference continues to monitor developments around the COVID-19 virus.
“The health of those around SEC athletics events remains in focus and, following advice of the SEC’s Return to Activity and Medical Guidance Task Force, we continue to develop policies intended to provide a healthy return to competition,” said SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey. “Some of these are difficult decisions but are a reality of our circumstances, and we will continue to develop and refine policies as we monitor issues related to COVID-19.”
ESSENTIAL ON-FIELD PERSONNEL
Essential personnel shall be the only individuals who have game day access to field and sideline, to include student-athletes, coaches and support personnel, game officials, medical personnel, limited institutional personnel, law enforcement, a limited number of photographers and contracted radio/TV personnel, and other limited personnel essential to the execution of the game.
All individuals with access to the team bench area must participate in the SEC COVID-19 testing protocol.
TICKETING
In football, where stadium capacities are reduced if fan attendance is permitted, the host institution shall provide the visiting institution a minimum of 500 tickets located in the lower level of the stadium. The visiting institution may be provided more or less than these 500 tickets upon mutual agreement of both institutions.
ON-FIELD PERFORMANCES
Bands will be restricted from performing on the field before games and at halftime. The policy will be revised during the year based on developments around COVID-19.
Where stadium capacities are reduced if fan attendance is permitted, visiting team bands and spirit squads shall be prohibited from attending games at SEC stadiums; SEC institutions shall have the discretion on whether their band and/or spirit squad attends a conference (SEC vs SEC) neutral site game.
On-field performances, presentations and recognitions shall be prohibited including, but not limited to, sponsor and donor recognitions and athletic department student-athlete and team recognitions.
DISINFECTION
Home institutions are required to disinfect home and visiting team spaces prior to each game utilizing approved disinfectants. These spaces shall include the locker rooms, coaches’ rooms, training rooms, sidelines, coaches’ booths and any additional areas provided to either team. The visiting team shall be allowed to further disinfect its spaces utilizing approved disinfectants after receiving approval from the home team’s facility staff on the disinfectants it desires to use. Upon completion of disinfection, the spaces and equipment must be locked down until the teams are granted initial access on Thursday or Friday prior to game day. Once both teams have accessed their spaces, only team staff are allowed inside the spaces and no outside individuals, including television personnel, are allowed access.
MEDIA OPERATIONS
Press box seating capacity shall be no more than 50% of current seating availability in the press box, and all individuals in the press box shall wear a face covering. If required by national, state and/or local guidelines, the press box seating capacity shall be less than 50% of the current seating available in accordance with the national, state and/or local guidelines.
Post-game press conferences will be conducted virtually.
![Luke Combs Teases New Wife-Inspired Song, “Forever After All” [Listen]](https://cdn.socast.io/6616/sites/602/2020/08/31095344/Luke-Combs-CH1.jpg#aqua_resizer_image_not_local)
