Gwen Stefani is returning as a coach on Season 19 of The Voice.
Gwen will join boyfriend Blake Shelton—who has served as a coach on every season—Kelly Clarkson and John Legend in the red chairs when the show returns this fall.
Alan Jackson treated more than 12,000 fans to his catalog of hits during two drive-in-style shows in Alabama over the weekend.
The first show took place on June 12 in Cullman, Ala., on the open-field site of the Rock the South festival. More than 2,000 cars and trucks filled York Farm for the show.
The second show took place on June 13 in Fairhope, Ala., on the grounds of the Oak Hollow Farm. More than 2,300 automobiles lined up on the 300-acre site.
“We’re just glad to get out of the house and have a good time with y’all,” said Alan from the stage.
The unique shows—with an estimated attendance of more than 12,000 people—featured Alan performing in front of a live audience, while receiving state and local government approvals, as well as a commitment to current health guidelines. Vehicles were parked several feet apart and patrons were asked to stay with their cars, enjoying the concerts from the hood, roof or tailgate. A portion of all proceeds from each Small Town Drive-In concert will go toward food relief efforts in the respective regions.
The NBA recently established a G League elite team to keep high-level prospects from bypassing college to play professionally in Europe or Australia.
That means paying high school grads over $400,000 a year to play about a 10-game schedule against some regular G League teams and working on one’s skills.
Three high school talents have taken their talents to the G League elite team.
How is that league going to effect college basketball?
“I don’t know yet,’’ said Tennessee men’s basketball coach Rick Barnes in a recent interview on SportsTalk, WNML Radio.
“We’ve seen over the last couple of years a number of players have chosen not to come to college and play over in Europe and it hasn’t affected college basketball.’’
To Barnes’ point, it’s hard to name the few that have followed that path.
Barnes said he didn’t think Duke star Zion Williamson missing about two-thirds of last season due to injury impacted the college game.
“Will there be some kids that opt to go that way (G League)?’’ Barnes said. “Possibly. I’d say yes. What percentage, I don’t know.’’
Barnes said he understands the NBA’s point of view.
“What the NBA is saying is, `If a guy doesn’t want to go to college, why should he have to go to China or Europe when we have a developmental league here?’’’ Barnes said
Barnes said the NBA needs to be “real clear on exactly how many guys (they’ll take), who they’re going to encourage to do this.
“Do I think it’s going to have a major impact (on college basketball)?’’ Barnes said. “I don’t. I think college basketball will be fine regardless.
“I think most young men today are willing to wait nine months (before playing in the pros).’’
Certainly, that has been the case at Kentucky and Duke and at a few other schools that have had one-and-done players.
One concern from the college ranks is if you have a player signed, you’re not thrilled if the G League swoops in and takes that prospect. That happened to UCLA a few months ago.
Another concern is how these mostly 18-year-olds will respond playing in the G League against pros, some of whom have a significant age, skill and physical advantage.
“A young guy could come out of high school and think it’s going to be pretty easy,’’ Barnes said, “and get demoralized if he’s playing against guys who want the same thing he wants, and then he doesn’t get to play as much as he thought.
“Whereas, if goes to college and he’s the player he thinks he is, he’ll get to play and still develop.’’
Fresh off of the released of his No. 1 country album, Life on the Flip Side, Jimmy Buffett will make his Grand Ole Opry debut on June 27. Jimmy will perform alongside Opry member Brad Paisley, as well as instrument virtuoso Mac McAnally, who is a longtime member of Jimmy’s backing band, The Coral Reef Band.
The June 27th performance will mark the Opry’s 4,930th consecutive Saturday night broadcast.
The one-hour show will air live on 650 AM WSM and Circle Television, as well as stream live on Circle’s Facebook and YouTube.
The Grand Ole Opry has aired without an audience present since March 19 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. However, a number of stars have helped keep the Opry’s Saturday night shows rolling along, including Kelsea Ballerini, Garth Brooks, Luke Combs, Vince Gill, Dustin Lynch, Craig Morgan, Brad Paisley, Blake Shelton, Ricky Skaggs, Keith Urban, Trisha Yearwood and more.
The Opry has aired every Saturday for more than 90 years.
Jon Pardi released a new video for his current single, “Ain’t Always the Cowboy.” Penned by Brandon Kinney and Josh Thompson, “Ain’t Always the Cowboy” is featured on Jon’s 2019 album, Heartache Medication.
Directed by Carlos Ruiz, the video highlights the California native’s love of the scenic beauty of the West, as well as the cowboy—actually, cowgirl—way. The new video features a barrel racing cowgirl, who, as Jon sings, is “Searchin’ for somethin’ / Leavin’ love in the dust of a midnight Chevrolet / It ain’t always the cowboy that rides away.”
“I feel like the topic of the song hasn’t been written about in this way, and I love songs that approach things differently and offer fresh perspectives,” said Jon.
Technically, Good Morning America host Robin Roberts shared the new song via Facebook. After Garth appeared on Good Morning America last week, he sent the song to Robin on Sunday with the option for her to “decide what you want to do with it.”
Of course, Robin shared the song with the world via her social channels on June 15.
“Me and Robin go way, way back,” says Garth. “She always asks about the music. Somebody’s got to hear it first, so I just asked her, ‘Would you like to be the first one to hear the new thing?’ And she was kinda caught off-guard. So, I sent it to her Sunday . . . all day Sunday, all day Monday she was texting back and forth with me . . . and I guess today she decided she was gonna share it with the world. It was totally up to her.”
Carrie Underwood and husband Mike Fisher have been opening up about their faith, love, family, marriage, friendship and more in a new four-part digital short film, Mike and Carrie: God & Country.
Episode 1 of the four-part weekly series was released on May 27 via iamsecond.com, a nonprofit that features athletes and entertainers “who have found hope through a relationship with Jesus.” Episode 2 followed on June 3, while Episode 3 aired on June 10.
“We wanted to do this to share some of our personal journey in hopes that viewers will be inspired by it, and maybe even take one more step in pursuing a relationship with God,” said Carrie.
Carrie, 37, and Mike, 39, will celebrate their 10th wedding anniversary on July 10, 2020. They have two sons, Isaiah, 5, and Jacob, 1. In 2018, Mike retired from the NHL after 18 years, including eight for the Nashville Predators. Carrie, of course, is a seven-time Grammy winner who has become one of country music’s biggest stars since winning American Idol in 2005.
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – Tennessee head football coach Jeremy Pruitt announced Monday that A.J. Artis has been named director of football sports performance. Artis, who has played a valuable role in the strength and conditioning development of the Volunteers since 2018, replaces Craig Fitzgerald, who accepted a similar position with the New York Giants earlier this spring.
“A.J. understands the standard we expect in this role and will continue to push our strength and conditioning efforts to the forefront of college football,” Pruitt said. “Since he first joined our staff in 2018, he has helped instill physical and mental toughness in our program through his contagious energy, hard work and innovation. Our players have tremendous respect for him, and I have no doubt they will continue to develop under his mentorship.”
“I would like thank Coach Pruitt and Coach Fulmer for the opportunity to lead a great group of young men,” Artis said. “I will give my all to our student-athletes and the Tennessee football program. I am excited for this opportunity and look forward to helping Vol football continue its resurgence.”
Artis’ staff includes assistant football sports performance directors Mike Farrell, Byron Jerideau and Shaq Wilson, all of whom enter their third season with the program. Artis joined Pruitt’s staff in January 2018 and served alongside Fitzgerald as the Vols became one of the fittest teams in the country.
Prior to his arrival in Knoxville, Artis spent two seasons at Duke working as assistant director of strength and conditioning. He joined the Blue Devils in the summer of 2016 and primarily trained the football and field hockey programs. He also helped direct high-performance efforts with several other varsity sports. The Duke field hockey squad he trained in 2016 was ranked in the top five for the entire season and advanced to the NCAA Championships.
Artis collaborated with head football sports performance coach Noel Durfey during the 2016 and 2017 seasons. The 2017 Blue Devils won the Quick Lane Bowl led by future NFL first round draft choice Daniel Jones, who Artis worked with.
Artis’ time at Duke was preceded by stints at Appalachian State and Campbell. As a graduate assistant at Appalachian State, he worked with the Mountaineers football program, which recorded its first-ever bowl win during his tenure. Appalachian State, in just its second season in the Football Bowl Subdivision, beat Ohio in the 2015 Crampton Bowl. Artis also oversaw the strength and conditioning efforts of the Mountaineers’ field hockey and golf programs.
At Campbell, he logged valuable experience with football, baseball, men’s and women’s basketball, soccer, softball, track & field and wrestling.
Artis was a three-year football letterman at Campbell from 2012-14, playing wide receiver as an underclassmen before transitioning to tight end his last two seasons. He was a three-time academic honor roll member and graduated with a degree in exercise science in 2015. He later earned a master’s degree in exercise science from Appalachian State in 2017.
A native of Eden, North Carolina, Artis is married to the former D Janelle Brown of Edmond, Oklahoma.
PERSONAL INFORMATION
Born: August 14, 1993 Hometown: Eden, North Carolina Education: Bachelor’s in exercise science (Campbell, 2015); Master’s in exercise science (Appalachian State, 2017) Playing Experience: Campbell, WR/TE (2011-14) Wife: Janelle
COACHING HISTORY
2014-15: Campbell, Strength and Conditioning Intern
2015-16: Appalachian State, Strength and Conditioning Graduate Assistant
2016-18: Duke, Assistant Director of Strength and Conditioning
2018-20: Tennessee, Assistant Director of Football Sports Performance
2020-present: Tennessee, Director of Football Sports Performance
Nashville’s 2020 CMA Fest (June 4–7) may have been cancelled because of the COVID-19 pandemic, but the Country Music Association is planning to keep fans entertained with two nights of country music this summer.
Jimmie Allen and Lindsay Ell will host CMA Summer Stay-Cay on July 1 at 5 p.m. CT. The live-stream event will air via CMA’s YouTube and Facebook. The show will feature unique performances, Q&As, games and more. The lineup will be announced soon.
Luke Bryan will host CMA Best of Fest on July 13 at 7 p.m. CT on ABC. The three-hour concert event will feature more than 25 performances from past CMA Fests, as well as a performance by Luke and Darius Rucker. Artists appearing in the TV special include Trace Adkins, Lauren Alaina, Jason Aldean, Kelsea Ballerini, Dierks Bentley, Garth Brooks, Brooks & Dunn, Brothers Osborne, Kane Brown, Luke Bryan, Kenny Chesney, Eric Church, Luke Combs, Billy Ray Cyrus, Dan + Shay, Lzzy Hale, Sam Hunt, Joan Jett, Lady A, Miranda Lambert, Lil Nas X, Little Big Town, Tim McGraw, Maren Morris, Brad Paisley, Rascal Flatts, Thomas Rhett, Darius Rucker, Blake Shelton, Carrie Underwood, Keith Urban, Dwight Yoakam and Zac Brown Band.
Carly Pearce and Lee Brice reached the top of both the Mediabase chart and Billboard Country Airplay chart with their duet, “I Hope You’re Happy Now.”
Penned by Carly, Luke Combs, Jonathan Singleton and Randy Montana, “I Hope You’re Happy Now” is featured on Carly’s self-titled sophomore album, which was released in February.
“I Hope You’re Happy Now” is Carly’s second No. 1 single, while Lee notches his seventh No. 1 single.
“Life is crazy and takes you places you never thought, making the most beautify moments,” says Carly. “Thank you, Lee, for lending your incredible voice to this song. What started as my apology to someone from my past made me realize we all fall short sometimes. I’m so very grateful for life’s lessons and celebrating this number one. Country radio and all of you who embraced this song . . . thank you!”
“I am still so humbled that Carly asked me to be a part of her story with this perfect country duet . . . being on top of the charts again with the perfect partner means the world to me,” says Lee.
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