Thomas Rhett Releases Inspiring Fan Video for “Be a Light” [Watch]

Thomas Rhett Releases Inspiring Fan Video for “Be a Light” [Watch]

Posted on June 30, 2020

Thomas Rhett released a new fan video for his collaborative single, “Be a Light.” The new clip was created after TR asked members of his fan club, the Home Team, to “share their light with their friends, families, communities, and world.”

Thomas Rhett co-penned the song with Josh Miller, Josh Thompson and Matt Dragstrem. The studio version of the tune, which also features Reba McEntire, Lady A’s Hillary Scott, Chris Tomlin and Keith Urban, is currently No. 11 on Billboard’s Country Airplay chart after 13 weeks. TR and the song’s collaborators have been donating all proceeds from “Be a Light” to the MusiCares COVID-19 Relief Fund, which was created by The Recording Academy to help people in the music industry affected by the coronavirus disease outbreak and subsequent cancellation of music events.

“I wrote ‘Be A Light’ last year as a way to process negativity and sadness I was seeing in the world,” said Thomas Rhett in March. “The voices who join me on this track are some of the brightest lights I know. I hope this song serves as a reminder that we are all in this together.”

Watch TR’s performance of “Be a Light” below.

photo by Tammie Arroyo, AFF-USA.com

Miranda Lambert Notches First Top 5 Hit in Six Years With “Bluebird”

Miranda Lambert Notches First Top 5 Hit in Six Years With “Bluebird”

Posted on June 30, 2020

The most decorated artist in the history of the ACM Awards—Miranda Lambert—scored her first solo Top 5 hit in six years with “Bluebird.”

The tune, which Miranda co-wrote with Luke Dick and Natalie Hemby, is No. 5 on the Billboard Country Airplay chart this week. The last time Miranda had a solo Top 5 hit was with “Automatic,” which reached No. 3 in June 2014. Miranda’s last solo No. 1 hit on the Billboard Country Airplay chart was “Over You” in 2012.

Jason Aldean’s “Drowns the Whiskey,” which featured Miranda, hit the top of the chart in August 2018.

“Bluebird” is featured on Miranda’s seventh studio album, Wildcard.

“This song is special,” says Miranda. “It’s got this hope to it. It’s got a darkness too, though, but it’s also hopeful. Life is going to give you lemons, period. If there wasn’t problems then we wouldn’t appreciate the great days, but going through those things and overcoming problems—whatever they are—makes us strong and appreciate the sun. You know, it’s like ten straight days of rain and then the sun comes out and you’re like, ‘I forgot how much I loved it.’ Since we wrote ‘Bluebird,’ I’ve been seeing bluebirds everywhere. And the bluebirds have been there, but I never saw them like I see them now. It kinda reminds me to open my eyes to what’s around me.”

photo by TCD

Kenny Chesney Scores 31st No. 1 Hit With “Here and Now”

Kenny Chesney Scores 31st No. 1 Hit With “Here and Now”

Posted on June 30, 2020

Kenny Chesney scored his 31st No. 1 single as “Here and Now” ascended to the top of the Billboard Country Airplay chart this week.

Penned by Craig Wiseman, David Garcia and David Lee Murphy at a writing retreat Kenny set up in Malibu, the tune beckons listeners to live in the present with a chorus that proclaims: “You and me, ain’t it good to be alive / Ain’t no better place, ain’t no better time / Than here and now.”

“When we recorded ‘Here And Now,’ it was this awesome rush that captured the peak moments, finding them in your day, creating them and not just waiting around for them to happen,” says Kenny. “It was the perfect song as we were all getting ready for another summer of shows. But now, in some ways, this song is even more in the moment because we all have to remember to find joy.”

Kenny’s 31st No. 1 single on the Billboard Country Airplay chart extends his lead atop the all-time list for most chart-toppers, followed by Tim McGraw (29), Blake Shelton (27), Alan Jackson (26) and George Strait (26).

photo by E.M./AFF-USA.com

MLB.com’s Richard Justice shares 2020 MLB favorites; breaks down Braves and Cubs

MLB.com’s Richard Justice shares 2020 MLB favorites; breaks down Braves and Cubs

Posted on June 29, 2020

Richard Justice, longtime MLB writer (MLB.com) and contributor (MLB Network) joined Heather Harrington and Vince Ferrara on Sports 180 on Monday. Richard discussed the Braves, Cubs and all the favorites to win the World Series in this 60-game 2020 regular season. Listen to that full interview below.

North Port, FL – March 6, 2020 – CoolToday Park: Portrait of Ronald Acuna Jr. (13) of the Atlanta Braves during spring training
(Photo by Scott Clarke / ESPN Images
Garth Brooks’ “Drive-In” Concert Draws More Than 350,000 Fans at Hundreds of Venues

Garth Brooks’ “Drive-In” Concert Draws More Than 350,000 Fans at Hundreds of Venues

Posted on June 29, 2020

Garth Brooks is a seven-time CMA Entertainer of the Year for a very good reason—he loves to entertain.

Garth headlined a unique concert event on June 27 as he performed across hundreds of drive-in theaters. The concert was created exclusively for this event, making it the largest one-night show to play at outdoor theaters across the United States and Canada.

Garth’s pre-recorded concert drew more than 350,000 fans.

“Watching people all night from coast to coast, in Canada and here in the U.S., laughing, dancing and singing, made me smile,” said Garth. “It reminded me how much I miss the crazy, happy and unpredictable life we lead as entertainers. For one night, things seemed . . . right.”

photo by Curtis Hilbun, AFF-USA.com

Lauren Alaina, Brantley Gilbert, Trace Adkins & More to Perform as Part of “A Capitol Fourth” on PBS

Lauren Alaina, Brantley Gilbert, Trace Adkins & More to Perform as Part of “A Capitol Fourth” on PBS

Posted on June 29, 2020

Trace Adkins, Brantley Gilbert, Lauren Alaina and more will celebrate Independence Day by performing during the PBS television special, A Capitol Fourth.

Hosted by John Stamos and Vanessa Williams, the 40th annual broadcast of A Capitol Fourth will feature pre-taped performances without a live audience due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The concert is usually held on the West Lawn of the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C.

Additional performers include Patti LaBelle, John Fogerty, Renée Fleming, The Temptations, Andy Grammer, Yolanda Adams, Brian Stokes Mitchell, Kelli O’Hara, Chrissy Metz, Mandy Gonzalez and members of the National Symphony Orchestra under the direction of top pops conductor Jack Everly.

The 90-minute show will also pay tribute to first responders and essential workers on the front lines of the coronavirus crisis, Black heroes past and present and Wounded Warriors. The fireworks display over our nation’s iconic skyline in D.C. will be covered live during the broadcast.

A Capitol Fourth will air on PBS on July 4 at 8 p.m. ET, as well as stream on Facebook, YouTube and pbs.org.

photos: Lauren Alaina & Trace Adkins by TCD; Brantley Gilbert by Curtis Hilbun, AFF-USA.com

Watch Blake Shelton and Gwen Stefani Perform “Nobody But You” in New Concert Video

Watch Blake Shelton and Gwen Stefani Perform “Nobody But You” in New Concert Video

Posted on June 29, 2020

Blake Shelton and Gwen Stefani are getting a lot of video mileage out of their No. 1 hit, “Nobody But You.”

There was a lyric video, official video, behind-the-scenes video, acoustic video, vertical video, and now . . . live video, which you can watch below.

Penned by Ross Copperman, Shane McAnally, Josh Osborne and Tommy Lee James, “Nobody But You” is featured on Blake’s recent album, Fully Loaded: God’s Country. The tune spent two weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard Country Airplay chart in April/May 2020. The single is Blake’s 27th No. 1 hit on the country chart, while Gwen notched her first No. 1 on the country chart after more than 25 years as a star—both as a solo artist and fronting No Doubt—on the pop charts.

“I’m honored to know that this song is as important to fans as it is to Gwen and me,” said Blake. “It’s so wild to me every single time one of my songs goes to number one, and I know how special it is to hold that spot for more than one week when there are other incredible and important songs on the chart. I’d like to again thank Shane McAnally, Ross Copperman, Josh Osborne and Tommy Lee James for writing this song and Gwen for helping me make it come to life.”

Watch Blake and Gwen’s new live video from when people used to go to concerts.

photo by LuMarPhoto/AFF-USA.com
Dan + Shay Scrap 2020 Arena Tour With Plans to Reschedule in 2021

Dan + Shay Scrap 2020 Arena Tour With Plans to Reschedule in 2021

Posted on June 29, 2020

Dan Smyers of Dan + Shay announced via Twitter on June 25 that they are scrapping their 2020 Arena Tour with plans to reschedule it in 2021.

“We have been holding on to the hope that something might shift, something might change, that we might actually be able to make these shows happen,” said Dan, in part, in the video. “But unfortunately, as of now, it doesn’t look like it’s going to be possible out of the respect and safety of our fans, our band, our crew and everyone involved. So, what we’ve decided to do is move the entire tour from 2020 to 2021.”

Dan + Shay kicked off their 2020 Arena Tour with back-to-back shows in Nashville on March 6 and 7, followed by a stop in Columbus, Ohio, on March 8. On March 12, however, the duo was forced to cancel their remaining dates in March and April due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, with plans to resume on July 30 through October 31.

Dan reassured fans that they would announce new 2021 dates as soon as they had them locked down. Furthermore, he let fans know they would be able to request a refund within 30 days of the announcement of new dates if they are unable to attend the rescheduled show.

photo by Tammie Arroyo, AFF-USA.com

Watch Kane Brown’s Performance of “Worldwide Beautiful” at the Ryman for Virtual BET Awards

Watch Kane Brown’s Performance of “Worldwide Beautiful” at the Ryman for Virtual BET Awards

Posted on June 29, 2020

Kane Brown performed his new song, “Worldwide Beautiful,” at Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium during the virtual BET Awards on June 28. Kane became the first Black male solo country artist to perform on the BET Awards, which were created in 2001.

Proceeds from Kane’s new song benefit the Boys and Girls Club of America to advocate for justice and equality for America’s youth.

Kane beckons listeners to open their eyes and hearts as he croons the chorus: “You’re missing every color / If you’re only seeing black and white / Tell me how you’re gonna change your mind if your heart’s unmovable / We ain’t that different from each other / From one to another, I look around / And see worldwide beautiful.”

Watch Kane’s performance below, which also features Jonathan McReynolds performing “People” from the Ryman.

photo by Tammie Arroyo, AFF-USA.com

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