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07/16/2010
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Nashville, TN– Country music icon Hank Williams Jr. announces the continuation of The Rowdy Friends Tour with a variety of special guests to join him on stage including Jamey Johnson, Eric Church, Colt Ford, Gretchen Wilson, Lee Brice, Josh Thompson, Sunny Sweeney and The Grascals. The shows will start in Evansville, Indiana, on September 17th, and will conclude in Raleigh, North Carolina, on October 23rd. Sept 17 – Evansville, IN – Roberts Stadium – w/ Eric Church, and Sunny Sweeney Sept 18 – Roanoke, VA – Roanoke Civic Center – w/ Eric Church and Sunny Sweeney Sept 24 – New Orleans, LA – New Orleans Arena – w/ Eric Church, Gretchen Wilson, and Lee Brice Sept 25 – Macon, GA – Macon Coliseum – w/ Gretchen Wilson and Lee Brice Oct 1 – Birmingham, AL – BJCC Arena – w/ Jamey Johnson, Colt Ford, Josh Thompson, and The Grascals Oct 2 – Little Rock, AR – Verizon Wireless Arena – w/ Jamey Johnson, Colt Ford, Josh Thompson and The Grascals Oct 8 – Columbus, OH – Schottenstein Center – w/ Jamey Johnson, Colt Ford, Josh Thompson, and The Grascals Oct 9 – Fairfax, VA – Patriot Center – w/ Jamey Johnson, Colt Ford, and Josh Thompson Oct 15 – Southaven, MS – DeSoto Civic Center – w/ Jamey Johnson, Colt Ford, Josh Thompson, and The Grascals Oct 16 – Jackson, MS – Mississippi Coliseum – w/ Jamey Johnson, Colt Ford, Josh Thompson, and The Grascals Oct 22 – Reading, PA – Sovereign Center – w/ Jamey Johnson, Colt Ford, and Josh Thompson Oct 23 – Raleigh, NC – R.B.C. Center – w/ Jamey Johnson, Colt Ford, and Josh Thompson Tickets for the shows announced will go on sale throughout July and August, check local venue box office locations as well as TicketMaster.com and TicketMaster locations. The Rowdy Friends Tour 2010 is co-produced by Red Mountain Entertainment and Blue Deuce Entertainment. About Hank Williams Jr. With more than 70 albums to his credit, Williams has a fascinating career to reflect upon for a legend still in his prime. His discography chronicles a bold profile of growth from adored offspring of a legendary father, to titan of the modern country rock movement in his own right. For two decades, America has come to its collective feet each fall Monday night when this larger than life superman of a musician looks into the camera and unleashes the national anthem for viewers of Monday Night Football - ‘Are you ready for some football?' Those simple words have won Williams an entirely new generation of fans and given him the distinction of being the first country performer to ever win an Emmy. Williams has also been named Entertainer of the Year five-times, but most recently was the recipient of the 2009 Academy of Country Music “Pioneer Award”. |
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07/13/2010
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(Los Angeles, CA) – Popular Christian recording artist Natalie Grant is focused on starting a love revolution. Natalie recently visited the brand new Sirius XM Radio studio in downtown Nashville for the last leg of her radio promotion tour that included stops in Los Angeles, Las Vegas, Sacramento and Riverside, among others. Natalie spoke with SIRIUS XM radio host Doug Hannah about her heart and the vision behind her new album, Love Revolution, which hits stores nationwide on August 24, 2010 through Curb Records.
Natalie also performed an acoustic set, backed by award-winning producer/husband Bernie Herms on keys, Trevor Morgan on guitar and Tiffany Thurston on background vocals. The set included new songs from Love Revolution, including the singles “Greatness of Our God” and “Human,” as well as some of her popular hits like “I Will Not Be Moved.”
It’s all part of Natalie’s LOVE REVOLUTION TAKEOVER at “The Message” on Sirius XM Radio, which will be broadcast in August 2010.
Over the past four years, Grant has gained prominence as a major contemporary Christian singer and songwriter, breaking out in a powerful way with her signature song, “Held.” She was awarded the Gospel Music Association’s Female Vocalist of the Year in 2006, 2007, 2008 and 2009. Since 2001, she has released four albums entitled, “Stronger” (2001), “Deeper” (2003), “Awaken” (2005) and “Relentless” (2008).
After finishing the “Make it Matter Tour” with Chris Sligh and Meredith Andrews, Natalie most recently completed a 30 date tour with Jeremy Camp and just wrapped the initial leg of the nationwide "LOVE REVOLUTION" tour with Britt Nicole & Phil Stacey.
For more information about Natalie Grant, visit her official website at http://www.nataliegrant.com. |
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07/08/2010
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Curb recording artist Lee Brice has scored his first ever Top 10 single with “Love Like Crazy,” the title track to his just released debut CD.
While the recording artist is no stranger to hit songs from a songwriter’s perspective (he penned Garth Brooks’ “More Than a Memory,” a song that actually entered the charts at #1, as well as Tim McGraw’s hit “Still”), Brice says it’s an entirely different feeling when you hit that section of the charts as a recording artist. “When this song hit Top 20, I remember thinking, it just can't get any better than this,” Brice said. “But it did. To have a song break through the Top 10 is just an incredible feeling. I hope I get to experience what a Top 5 feels like!"
While Brice may be a newcomer to the Top 10, he is certainly no stranger to the thousands of fans who have seen his live performances. A self-described road dog, Brice has spent most of the past three years on the road, performing in everything from the smallest club to larger arenas, all the while developing a strong and passionate following. “I’ve always loved the live aspect of what I do for a living,” Brice said. “It gives you the most immediate satisfaction, not to mention pure adrenalin rush. Watching this song climb the charts is sort of like that rush I feel when I perform it live. It’s that gratification that someone out there is digging what I do, and it just doesn’t get better than that.”
For more information on Brice and upcoming tour dates, please visit leebrice.com. Lee Brice grew up in a family that performed and listened to gospel music. Then he discovered rock — Aerosmith, Tom Petty and Edwin McCain — and country — Garth Brooks, Alabama, the Oak Ridge Boys and Hank Williams Jr. Brice says doesn’t compare himself to these artists but he does have one thing in common with them — “They all make music that you can believe in.” From the opening lines of the first track on his debut album, “Love Like Crazy,” you get a picture of who Brice is, where he’s from and the things that made him the man and artist he is today: “I grew up on the edge of a cornfield at the end of a long dirt road Carolina plow-boy ain’t had a free summer since I was 10 years old mama made us pick our own switches so we could feel the sting of doin’ wrong that set me straight on the road I’m still on.” “A lot of this record is a little snapshot of who I am,” said Brice in a phone interview from Las Vegas where he was later to perform a private show. “That (song) word for word was true for me. We wrote that song for that purpose.” He co-wrote it with Kyle Jacobs and Shaun Shankel. Brice grew up on gospel, as sung by his mother and her side of the family. He built his own music on the rock of the church, learned piano at 7 and guitar at 10 — inspired by seeing Garth Brooks perform. By the time he entered high school, he was winning talent contests performing original songs. Music wrestled with his other love — football. Brice entered Clemson University to play football but in the first game of his senior year he suffered an injury that required surgery and a new career direction. He decided to give Nashville a visit on spring break and the rest, as they say, is his-story. By then, he said, football was starting to feel less like a love and more like a job. “Now music is my job and still my love.” Brice wrote 10 of the 12 tracks on his debut album released last month, but not the first single currently rising in the charts — “Love Like Crazy.” “Beautiful Every Time,” co-written with Rob Hatch and Lance Miller, is based on the sentiments of a “redneck” friend who attended a wedding on the beach. “We told his story,” Brice said, noting the song talks about other simple things that whether it’s the first time you see them or a lifetime of seeing them, they are always beautiful. “These Last Few Days” is one of the 30-year-old and single Brice’s favorite tracks on the album. “It’s a very intimate song about that feeling you get in those first few days of being in love,” Brice said. “When it goes away, you wish you could get back to that.” A Tennessee senator inspired the song “Falling Apart Together.” The two were talking when the senator shared a story about an older couple he was talking to. When asked how they were doing, they hooked arms and said, “We’re falling apart together.” Brice saw a hook there, and was reminded of his friends back home in Sumter, S.C., and around the country who were living hard times now and how we’re all falling apart together. “Sumter County Friday Nights” and “Carolina Boys” are songs about what Friday nights were like where he grew up and playing clubs around Myrtle Beach. Brice also co-wrote Garth Brooks’ comeback song, “More Than a Memory” and Tim McGraw’s current single, “Still.” McGraw recorded it “exactly like the demo,” said Brice. One of his songs is also slated for Kenny Chesney’s upcoming album. Down the road, Brice said he would love to make a gospel album. “I wanna make a cool concept album, a piano and guitar driven record.” Setting his sights on a career in country music was a natural, Brice said. “I’m just a country boy at heart and growing up on a farm I’ve worked hard all my life.” But, he admits, some of that rock, blues and gospel influence does pop in a lot of his songs. |
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06/28/2010
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Nashville, TN – June 24, 2010 – Can it get any bigger for country music legend Larry Gatlin? Last week, he stepped in as guest host for Imus in the Morning, he continues to make weekly guest appearances on the Fox Business Network’s Americas’s Nightly Scoreboard, he recently went head-to-head with Bill O’Reilly on America’s #1 cable news show, The O’Reilly Factor, and now, the GRAMMY Award winning musician has wrangled his very own weekly column FoxNews.com’s FOX FORUM.
“It was either Plato, Socrates or Johnny Cash who said ‘take me not to those who write your laws, for they will lie… take me to those who write you songs, for they will not.’ There will be songwriters who will have a different song than I do, but it will be written from an honest place, and not to help perpetuate rule #1… to get reelected!” says an ecstatic Gatlin. “I will write from my heart and my mind and my experience. I will not write to try to make you my new best friend or to win a popularity contest. Agree or not, but at least, take an honest look… and … listen.”
Once a week, Gatlin will post his own opinion-editorial and give his ‘two cents’ on current worldly happenings. Readers can also expect to see Gatlin incorporate his musicianship into each post, as he will include original politically themed musical video content in each op-ed. |
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06/18/2010
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06/18/2010
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06/15/2010
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Thousands of fans were in for a treat as Jo Dee Messina took the stage at the CMA Music Fest Riverstages on Sunday. Fans got to sing along to this red-headed powerhouse and catch some of her new songs from the latest album "Unmistakable". Jo Dee shot that famous grin to the audience and asked "How many have my new album?, Well I went out and bought about a 1000 copies just for you!" and the next thing you know copies were being distributed to the fans as they came through the picture aisle. After her set she shot out that famous laugh and said "Now how many have my new album" and the crowd when wild. Jo Dee kicks off her summer tour next week to promote the new album. Check out her tour dates at Curb.com! |
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06/11/2010
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NASHVILLE - High-voltage superstar performances are a hallmark of "CMA Music Festival: Country's Night to Rock" so it makes sense that one of the most electrifying entertainers in the format, Tim McGraw, would be tapped to host when the special airs Wednesday, Sept. 1 (8:00-11:00 PM/ET) on the ABC Television Network.
"The summer's hottest concert special, just got hotter with the addition of Tim McGraw as host," said Steve Moore, Chairman of the CMA Board of Directors. "He is a dynamic performer with an undeniable chemistry and relationship with the fans."
Filming Thursday through Sunday, June 10-13, during the annual CMA Music Festival, the special features today's most exciting Country Music stars during a four-day party and music celebration in Nashville.
Some of the artists already announced to appear at LP Field during CMA Music Festival include Trace Adkins, Jason Aldean, Billy Currington, Alan Jackson, Kid Rock, Lady Antebellum, Miranda Lambert, Martina McBride, Reba McEntire, Tim McGraw, Brad Paisley, Kellie Pickler, Rascal Flatts, Darius Rucker, Blake Shelton, Keith Urban, Carrie Underwood, Zac Brown Band, and more.
Taylor Swift will host a free 13-hour fan meet and greet event during the Festival at the Bridgestone Arena, which includes a short acoustic performance.
This will be McGraw's first appearance at the event since 2001, when he was a surprise guest during Kenny Chesney's performance as part of the Nightly Concerts at LP Field and the event was still known as Fan Fair. His last announced appearance was in 2000, the last year Fan Fair was held at the Nashville Fairgrounds. He has participated in the event eight times since his Fan Fair debut in 1993. McGraw has won 11 CMA Awards, including Entertainer of the Year in 2001; Male Vocalist in 1999 and 2000; Album of the Year in 1998 (A Place in the Sun) and 1999 (Everywhere); and Musical Event of the Year in 2007 on "Find Out Who Your Friends Are" with Tracy Lawrence and Chesney.
"We are thrilled to welcome Tim back to CMA Music Festival in 2010 and in his role as host of the biggest concert event of the summer," said Moore.
The annual event is unlike any other: four days, 30 hours of autograph signings, 100 hours of live music, hundreds of artists and celebrities, and a party list of thousands of avid, singing and dancing-till-dawn fans. This is the sixth time ABC will broadcast this special - which invites the whole country to America's biggest Country Music bash.
Originally started as Fan Fair® in 1972, the legendary event has featured performances by every major star in the format. What started with 5,000 fans has grown to a daily attendance of more than 56,000 representing every state and more than two dozen foreign countries.
The primetime television special, "CMA Music Festival: Country's Night to Rock," debuted in 2004 as a two-hour special highlighting the Festival and Music City. In 2005, the special moved to the ABC Television Network.
In 2009, the special expanded to three hours boosting ABC ahead of CBS, NBC and FOX with the network's second biggest audience during the summer season. With 7.4 million viewers and a 4.7/8 overall rating, it outperformed its broadcast rivals in total viewers topping CBS by 6 percent, NBC by 32 percent and FOX by 85 percent.
The special had a 43 percent increase in viewers compared to 2008, generating the biggest audience in four years and tallied its highest Adult 18-49 rating (2.0/6) in three years. The special ranked No. 12 for the week among total viewers and No. 11 for the week for Adults 18-49.
"CMA Music Festival: Country's Night to Rock" is executive-produced by Robert Deaton and directed by Gary Halvorson. The 2010 CMA Music Festival is organized and produced by the Country Music Association. "CMA Music Festival: Country's Night to Rock" will be shot in high definition and broadcast in 720 Progressive (720P), ABC's selected HDTV format, with 5.1 channel surround sound. |
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06/10/2010
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TITLE TRACK SINGLE ALREADY A TOP 15 HIT Lee Brice’s debut CD, Love Like Crazy, is available in stores and on-line now. The title track single already a Top 15 and climbing hit on the music charts, anticipation is high for this first effort from the artist. Besides the single, the Curb CD also features Top 30 hits “She Ain’t Right” and “Happy Endings.” “To witness first hand radio's anticipation for this album has been a thrill for me,” said Mike Rogers, National Director of Promotion, Curb Records. “Lee delivers the body of work they've been rooting for and can play for a long time!” For Brice, the CD has been a long time coming. “I’ve been working on this project for two years and I’m really proud of it,” Brice said. "We’ve been playing these songs on the road and I’m excited that we can finally deliver the final product to our fans. “I feel like I’ve accomplished my goal, and that was to create an album of songs that reflect who I am as a person,” he said. “I grew up in a small town in South Carolina, when hanging out at the Dairy Queen on a Friday night was the big deal. That’s the type of stuff that influences me as a songwriter, and I think spending so much time writing these past several years has paid off.” No doubt about that. Brice wrote all but three of the songs on this 13 –song collection. In fact, well before releasing this solid effort, Brice had already made himself a name as a writer, co-writing “More Than A Memory,” the Garth Brooks smash that became the first song in Billboard Hot Country Singles chart history to debut at #1. Brice will spend release week doing what he enjoys most—performing for a live audience. Dates and venues are as follows: 10-Jun-10 Lee Brice Blind Horse Greenville SC 12-Jun-10 Lee Brice Cowboys Atlanta Kennesaw GA 19-Jun-10 Lee Brice John Brown Park Osawatomie KS 22-Jun-10 Lee Brice South Point Casino Las Vegas NV 24-Jun-10 Lee Brice Powerhouse Pub Folsom CA 25-Jun-10 Lee Brice Dopplegangers Carson City NV 26-Jun-10 Lee Brice The Ranch San Miguel CA 27-Jun-10 Lee Brice The Brandin Iron San Bernardino CA 03-Jul-10 Lee Brice Steel Mill Bar & Grill Martins Ferry OH 04-Jul-10 Lee Brice Baker Park Fredrick MD 29-Jul-10 Lee Brice Boots N Buckles Saloon Lakeland FL 06-Aug-10 Lee Brice Bucklin Homecoming Bucklin MO 07-Aug-10 Lee Brice Johnsonville Brat Days Sheboygan WI 14-Aug-10 Lee Brice Fuddfest Country Music Festival Gleason WI 20-Aug-10 Lee Brice The Longbranch Saloon Raleigh NC 20-Aug-10 Lee Brice The Longbranch Saloon Raleigh NC 21-Aug-10 Lee Brice The Music Farm Charleston SC 22-Aug-10 Lee Brice The Boathouse Waterway Bar & Grill Myrtle Beach SC 19-Sep-10 Lee Brice St. Joseph Country Fairgrounds South Bend IN 17-Oct-10 Lee Brice Henderson Pavillion Henderson NV For more details on upcoming concerts, and additional information on the artist, please visit leebrice.com. |
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06/10/2010
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Wynonna and Naomi Announce 18-City Final Reunion Tour Nashville, TN – (June 10, 2010) Country Music’s legendary duo, The Judds, delivered a riveting performance for over 10,000 fans in downtown Nashville as they launched this year’s 2010 CMA Music Festival. Wynonna and Naomi Judd helped kick off what USA Today calls “the crown jewel of Country Music festivals,” setting the stage for their highly anticipated final tour, The Judds: The Last Encore. It has been over 10 years since their 2000 “Power To Change” tour, and this final reunion promises to be nothing short of spectacular. In typical fan-friendly Judd fashion, Wynonna and Naomi recently invited dedicated “Judd Heads” and country music fans across the country to name their upcoming tour in The Judds “Name That Tour” contest. The response was overwhelming. Thousands of fans jumped at the opportunity to solidify their place in Judds HERstory and ultimately Jacqualine Budgell from Murfreesboro, TN was chosen as the lucky winner. According to Naomi, The Last Encore tour is an opportunity to celebrate the relationship with their fans one last time. “There is nothing like music and laughter to connect people,” she says. “How I’ve missed that encounter with the very ones who’ve allowed us that awesome privilege! I’m counting the days till I can be back on my bus, visiting their towns.” In addition to their enduring 26-year relationship with the fans, Wynonna shares her sentiment on reuniting with her mother, Naomi, again. “This tour gives me a chance to enjoy where Mom and I are in our relationship. I look forward to celebrating our personal and professional journey...together.” And, for the fans who have followed their journey together through the years, this final curtain call will be yet another reason to celebrate. The tour will kick off on November 26, the day after Thanksgiving, in Green Bay, Wisconsin and will continue on to their home state of Kentucky with a play in Louisville alongside dates in Salt Lake City, UT, Los Angeles, CA and Las Vegas, NV. The Judds will close their final tour with a full circle moment in Phoenix, AZ where their 2000 “Power To Change” tour began. The Judds: The Last Encore tour will feature new Judds and Wynonna music from the upcoming album while also shining a bright light on all of the fan’s Judds and Wynonna favorites. And for the first time ever, they will also celebrate the holiday season during their final tour by weaving several classic Christmas songs in their immensely diverse set list. The Judds agent, Greg Oswald, of William Morris Endeavor Entertainment shares “The Judds have been a major force on the arena level now for three consecutive decades. The response from buyers when we made The Last Encore show available was overwhelming. So many offers and not enough time to do them all!” And, it wasn’t just concert promoters who jumped at the chance to offer an up close and personal evening with The Judds. The Judds’ friends at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital also wanted to share in the excitement by partnering with the darlings of Country Music. For more than two decades, the country music industry has generously supported the organization through fundraising and personal relationships. St. Jude is the only pediatric cancer research center where families never pay for treatment not covered by insurance, so no child is ever denied treatment because of their family’s inability to pay. The ongoing relationship between St. Jude and The Judds prompted the girls to include and honor the work of St. Jude on their final tour. The Judds: The Last Encore Tour will visit the following cities: 11/26 – Green Bay WI – Resch Center 11/27 – Mt. Pleasant, MI – Soaring Eagle Casino 11/28 – Moline, IL – i wireless Center 11/30 – Prior Lake, MN – Mystic Lake Casino 12/2 – Columbus, OH – Value City Arena – Schottenstein Center 12/3 – Louisville, KY – KFC Yum! Center 12/4 – St. Charles, MO – Family Arena 12/5 – Council Bluffs, IA – Mid-America Center 12/7 – Colorado Springs, CO – World Arena 12/8 – Broomfield, CO – 1STBank Center 12/9 – Salt Lake City, UT – EnergySolutions Arena 12/11 – Oakland, CA – Oracle Arena 12/12 – Sacramento, CA – Arco Arena 12/15 – Los Angeles, CA – Nokia Theatre L.A. Live 12/16 – Santa Ynez, CA – Chumash Casino 12/17 – Rancho Mirage, CA – Agua Caliente Casino 12/18 – Las Vegas, NV – Mandalay Bay Events Center/Arena 12/19 – Phoenix, AZ – US Airways Center
About The Judds Kentucky natives, The Judds, are one of the most successful country music duos of all time – amassing fourteen number-one hits and over 60 industry awards including multiple CMA, ACM and GRAMMY awards. After launching their career with RCA Records in 1984, The Judds sold 20 million albums in just 6 short years. By 1989, The Judds were one of the top-grossing and most popular touring acts in America. But at the height of their career, Naomi Judd announced she would have to retire from the music business due to health complications. To say goodbye to their fans, they launched the 116-city Judds Farewell Tour selling more concert tickets than anyone that year with the exception of The Grateful Dead and The Rolling Stones. Nearly ten years after her health turned around, the pair reunited on Dec. 31, 1999 for a New Year’s gala performance, and a reunion tour in 2000. They came together again at last year’s 2009 CMA Music Festival and captivated the massive audience with their homespun, acoustic harmonies that felt as revelatory as they did when they first shot onto the country music scene 26 years ago. Encouraged by that performance and driven by the fans, the duo decided to tour one last time for 2010’s The Judds: The Last Encore. |
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06/03/2010
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LeAnn to perform “Swingin’” live for the first time on the CMT Awards on June 9; single to impact country radio on June 14
GRAMMY® Award-winning singer reinterprets classic country songs by men on her new album Lady and Gentlemen out in the fall
Nashville, TN (June 2, 2010) – GRAMMY® Award-winning singer LeAnn Rimes is “Swingin’” to the music with her new single from her forthcoming album Lady and Gentlemen due out this fall on Curb Records.
LeAnn will debut the song live for the first time in what promises to be a show-stopping performance at the CMT Awards on Wednesday, June 9 (8pm ET/PT). The new single, originally released by John Anderson in 1983, impacts country radio on June 14 and fans can get an early listen to “Swingin’” at LeAnnRimesWorld.com.
“When I was a young child, I could be dead asleep in the back of my mom and dad’s car and if ‘Swingin’ would come on the radio, I would wake right up,” says LeAnn. “It has forever been one of my favorite songs!”
On her new album, Lady and Gentleman, the multi-platinum artist reinterprets classic country songs by such country greats as Waylon Jennings, George Jones, Kris Kristofferson and Vince Gill. Singing them from a woman’s perspective, each song on the album has been rearranged and reinterpreted by LeAnn, with the album Executive Produced by LeAnn Rimes, Darrell Brown (Keith Urban, Rascall Flatts) and 20 time Grammy Award-winner Vince Gill.
“This album was born out of the memories of when I first fell in love with country music and in reflecting back, I realized that almost all of my favorite country songs from back then were sung by men. I am honored to take a step back in time and sing these songs from a woman’s perspective and hopefully help reintroduce them to a new audience.”
To celebrate the launch of the single, LeAnn Rimes will take over CMT.com for the month of June with the launch of their new cross-platform digital franchise entitled “POSTED.” The new digital program will provide music fans with a singular destination to find social media updates, videos, news and photos of their favorite artists.
LeAnn Rimes has sold more than 37 million albums, won two Grammy® Awards, three Academy of Country Music Awards and 12 Billboard Music Awards. Rimes is the youngest recipient of a Grammy® Award, and was also the first country recording artist to win in the “Best New Artist” category. Rimes has placed 42 singles on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart, 13 of which are top-10 hits, and has scored numerous hit singles in her career, including “Can’t Fight the Moonlight” which went #1 in 11 countries, and “How Do I Live,” which is the second longest charting song ever on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. |
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06/03/2010
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All CD sales support Wounded Warrior Project
LEBANON, Tenn. (June 3, 2010) Cracker Barrel Old Country Store and Wynonna Judd are pleased to celebrate the #7 debut of the exclusive CD Love Heals on the Billboard Magazine Top Country Albums chart. This CD is the latest release in Cracker Barrel’s exclusive music program.
The twelve-song CD, now available exclusively at Cracker Barrel Old Country Store® and online at crackerbarrel.com, features a collection of Wynonna’s top singles and three other tracks that had not been available for sale until now. One of the new tracks, Let Your Light Shine, is a song that Wynonna and her teenaged daughter sang every day before school, and it speaks to the importance of being true to oneself.
A portion of the proceeds from the sale of each CD is being donated to Wounded Warrior Project, an organization that assists wounded service men and women and their families.
“I’m honored to be part of this Cracker Barrel project that supports the service men and women who have given so much so that Americans can have the lives that we do,” said Wynonna.
“Our congratulations and thanks to Wynonna on the success of this project,” said Peter Keiser, Cracker Barrel's Vice President of Marketing. “Wynonna’s commitment to our service men and women is as clear as her talent, and Cracker Barrel is pleased that this CD, Love Heals, has done so well in its very first week. This strong performance is yet another example of Cracker Barrel’s growing role as a non-traditional music retailer,” he added, “and Cracker Barrel is glad to continue its multi-year support of Wounded Warrior Project.”
“Wounded Warrior Project is deeply grateful to Wynonna and Cracker Barrel for their ongoing support,” said Steve Nardizzi, Executive Director of Wounded Warrior Project. “The funds raised through this partnership will support our injured warriors who have given so much for our country and help us ensure this generation of veterans is the most successful and well-adjusted in our nation’s history.”
About Cracker Barrel
Cracker Barrel Old Country Store provides a friendly home-away-from-home in its old country stores and restaurants. Guests are cared for like family while relaxing and enjoying real home-style food and shopping that’s surprisingly unique, genuinely fun and reminiscent of America’s country heritage…all at a fair price. The restaurant serves up delicious, home-style country food such as meatloaf and homemade chicken n’ dumplins as well as its signature biscuits using an old family recipe. The authentic old country retail store is fun to shop and offers unique gifts and self-indulgences.
Cracker Barrel Old Country Store, Inc. (Nasdaq: CBRL) was established in 1969 in Lebanon, Tenn. and operates 594 company-owned locations in 41 states. Every Cracker Barrel unit is open seven days a week with hours Sunday through Thursday, 6 a.m. – 10 p.m., and Friday and Saturday, 6 a.m. - 11 p.m. For more information, visit crackerbarrel.com.
About Wounded Warrior Project
The mission of the Wounded Warrior Project is to honor and empower wounded warriors. Its purpose is to raise awareness and to enlist the public’s aid for the needs of severely injured service members, to help severely injured men and women aid and assist each other, and to provide unique, direct programs and services to meet their needs. WWP is a national, nonpartisan organization headquartered in Jacksonville, FL. To get involved and learn more, visit www.woundedwarriorproject.org
About Wynonna Judd
5-time GRAMMY Award winning artist, Wynonna Judd first gained fame as part of one of the most successful musical duos of all time, The Judds. On top of that amazing feat, she also holds multiple gold, platinum and multi-platinum certifications from the RIAA in excess of 30 million units sold for albums released throughout her illustrious 25-year career. In addition to her countless musical achievements, Wynonna became a New York Times best-selling author in 2005 with the release of her long-awaited autobiography, Coming Home to Myself, released in conjunction with her live CD and DVD: Her Story: Scenes from a Lifetime.
Wynonna recently announced she plans to reunite with her mother, Naomi, for a final Judds tour in 2010. She is also presently touring in support of her critically acclaimed seventh solo studio album, Sing: Chapter 1, an eclectic assortment of standards paying homage to all the different genres and songs that have formed the soundtrack to her life.
To learn more, visit www.wynonna.com
NEW WYNONNA MUSIC AND RETAIL COLLECTION ARRIVES AT CRACKER BARREL OLD COUNTRY STORE® Purchase of any Cracker Barrel Wynonna product provides donation to Wounded Warrior Project LEBANON, TENN (May 24, 2010) – As the nation appreciates American service men and women this Memorial Day weekend, Cracker Barrel Old Country Store is honored to have five-time GRAMMY® Award winner Wynonna Judd share in its efforts to support Wounded Warrior Project. Wynonna’s new CD and exclusive line of retail products have arrived at Cracker Barrel, and a portion of the proceeds from the sale of each item will be donated to Wounded Warrior Project. Additionally, from now until May 31st, Cracker Barrel will double the portion of proceeds donation for every Wynonna and Wounded Warrior Project retail item sold, including the CD. “For several years, Cracker Barrel has supported Wounded Warrior Project and the organization’s efforts to honor and empower injured service men and women who have returned to the United States,” said Peter Keiser, Vice President of Marketing at Cracker Barrel. “Given Wynonna’s long history of philanthropy, we were confident that she would share our commitment to support wounded warriors who are making the transition back to civilian life.” On sale now at all Cracker Barrel locations, Wynonna’s new Love Heals CD features a collection of her top singles and three other tracks that had not been available for sale until now. One of the new tracks, Let Your Light Shine, is a song that Wynonna and her young daughter would sing every day before school, and it speaks to the importance of being true to oneself. “Let Your Light Shine is a real affirmation song for men and women,” said Wynonna, a multi-platinum Curb Records recording artist and best-selling author. “So much of what we see in the world is not very life-giving. This is a very life-giving song. The message is be who you were meant to be.” In addition to the Love Heals CD, Cracker Barrel has introduced a collection of retail products inspired by Wynonna’s creativity and spirit. Wynonna helped design the products that she believes will help women who balance the responsibilities of family, career and their own personal enrichment. The Wynonna retail products include shirts, mugs, writing journals, wallets and other accessories. Cracker Barrel is also proud to feature a new collection of Wounded Warrior Project retail products including hats, bandanas, t-shirts and mugs. Similar to the Wynonna line of products, Cracker Barrel will donate a portion of the proceeds from the sale of any of these items to Wounded Warrior Project. In fact, from now until May 31st, Cracker Barrel will double the portion of proceeds donation for every Wynonna and Wounded Warrior Project retail item sold, including the CD. “Wounded Warrior Project is deeply grateful to Wynonna and Cracker Barrel for their ongoing support,” said Steve Nardizzi, Executive Director of Wounded Warrior Project. “The funds raised through this partnership will support our injured warriors who have given so much for our country and help us ensure this generation of veterans is the most successful and well-adjusted in our nation’s history.” About Cracker Barrel Cracker Barrel Old Country Store provides a friendly home-away-from-home in its old country stores and restaurants. Guests are cared for like family while relaxing and enjoying real home-style food and shopping that’s surprisingly unique, genuinely fun and reminiscent of America’s country heritage…all at a fair price. The restaurant serves up delicious, home-style country food such as meatloaf and homemade chicken n’ dumplins as well as its signature biscuits using an old family recipe. The authentic old country retail store is fun to shop and offers unique gifts and self-indulgences. Cracker Barrel Old Country Store, Inc. (Nasdaq: CBRL) was established in 1969 in Lebanon, Tenn. and operates 594 company-owned locations in 41 states. Every Cracker Barrel unit is open seven days a week with hours Sunday through Thursday, 6 a.m. – 10 p.m., and Friday and Saturday, 6 a.m. - 11 p.m. For more information, visit crackerbarrel.com. About Wounded Warrior Project The mission of the Wounded Warrior Project is to honor and empower wounded warriors. Its purpose is to raise awareness and to enlist the public’s aid for the needs of severely injured service members, to help severely injured men and women aid and assist each other, and to provide unique, direct programs and services to meet their needs. WWP is a national, nonpartisan organization headquartered in Jacksonville, FL. To get involved and learn more, visit www.woundedwarriorproject.org About Wynonna Judd 5-time GRAMMY Award winning artist, Wynonna Judd first gained fame as part of one of the most successful musical duos of all time, The Judds. On top of that amazing feat, she also holds multiple gold, platinum and multi-platinum certifications from the RIAA in excess of 30 million units sold for albums released throughout her illustrious 25-year career. In addition to her countless musical achievements, Wynonna became a New York Times best-selling author in 2005 with the release of her long-awaited autobiography, Coming Home to Myself, released in conjunction with her live CD and DVD: Her Story: Scenes from a Lifetime. Wynonna recently announced she plans to reunite with her mother, Naomi, for a final Judds tour in 2010. She is also presently touring in support of her critically acclaimed seventh solo studio album, Sing: Chapter 1, an eclectic assortment of standards paying homage to all the different genres and songs that have formed the soundtrack to her life. IT'S NO JOKE! WYNONNA WORKS IN A TIRE SHOP…ALL FOR CBS’S HIT SHOW "I GET THAT A LOT," AIRING AS A ONE-HOUR SPECIAL ON WEDNESDAY, MAY 19, Featured Celebrities Include Wayne Brady, Tim Gunn, Nick Jonas, Jay Mohr, Martha Stewart and Wynonna I GET THAT A LOT, featuring popular stars pulling pranks on everyday people, returns with a new one-hour special, to be broadcast Wednesday, May 19 (8:00–9:00 PM, ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network. I GET THAT A LOT features celebrities tricking everyday citizens in a case of supposed "mistaken identity." Working ordinary jobs, these celebrities confuse customers who can't decide if it's the actual celebrity or an astonishing look-alike. As these celebrity jesters continue to deny their true identities, various reactions from their customers solicit exasperated and hilarious responses. Celebrity participants include Wayne Brady ("Let's Make a Deal") working behind the front desk at a nice hotel, style icon Tim Gunn behind the counter at a fast food joint, The Jonas Brothers' Nick Jonas working at a girls' clothing shop, country superstar Wynonna Judd selling tires, Jay Mohr ("Gary Unmarried") as a coffee house barista and Martha Stewart as a craft store employee. The first installment of I GET THAT A LOT debuted on April 1, 2009 and won its time slot (8:00 – 9:00 PM, ET/PT) in households (6.3/10), viewers (10.35m), adults 25-54 (4.2/11), adults 18-49 (3.4/10) and adults 18-34 (2.3/08). The last edition of I GET THAT A LOT, which aired Jan. 6 this year, won its time period in households (5.2/08), viewers (8.50m), adults 25-54 (3.4/09), adults 18-49 (2.9/08) and adults 18-34 (2.3/07). I GET THAT A LOT is produced by LMNO Entertainment. Eric Schotz is the executive producer. Ed Horwitz and Peter Cohen are co-executive producers. WYNONNA JUDD ADDS PERSONAL TOUCH TO NEW PRODUCT LINE AT CRACKER BARREL OLD COUNTRY STORE® Lifestyle products include shirts, writing journals, cosmetic bag and wallets LEBANON, TENN (May 10, 2010) - Multi-platinum Curb Records recording artist and best-selling author Wynonna Judd has found a new home for her creative talents: Cracker Barrel Old Country Store®. A special collection of retail products, personally selected by Wynonna, will be available at all Cracker Barrel locations starting May 24th. The products reflect the savvy and successful lifestyle of a woman who is recognized as one of country music’s most accomplished artists. “I think that Cracker Barrel represents everything that the Judds stood for: family, food and fellowship. I love the rocking chairs and I feel really good when I go to Cracker Barrel,” said Wynonna. “When we talked about a Wynonna collection of retail products for Cracker Barrel, I wanted items that women would see as useful in their everyday lives. All of our selections are high-quality, too. It’s like my mother said, ‘do it right, or don’t do it at all’.” Wynonna’s partnership with Cracker Barrel started as a discussion about an exclusive CD of her music, and the conversation quickly grew to include a collection of retail products that mirrors her personal tastes. Wynonna believes the products will be well-received by women who balance the responsibilities of family, careers and their own personal enrichment. The Wynonna collection of retail items includes: Shirts: a knit shirt with subtle sparkles and a jersey knit shirt with rhinestones Mugs: a wonderful gift for Wynonna fans - perfect for coffee and conversations with friends Journals/Notepads: beautiful keepsakes to capture heartfelt moments and quick thoughts Clutch Wallets: a sleek and convenient option for carrying your essentials Cosmetic Bag: a stylish and sturdy case for your make-up needs Sunglasses: classic frames with rhinestone studs and lenses that offer 100% UV protection “For years, Wynonna has shared her creativity and style through her songs and performances,” said Terry Maxwell, Senior Vice President of Retail at Cracker Barrel. “With this collection of retail products, Cracker Barrel has become a new stage for Wynonna’s incredible talents. We believe these items will resonate well with our guests who identify with Wynonna’s experiences as a mother and daughter.” The arrival of Wynonna retail products coincides with the May 24th release of the Love Heals CD, an exclusive recording for Cracker Barrel which features many of Wynonna’s number one hits along with three tracks not previously offered for sale. Both Cracker Barrel and Wynonna are honored that the CD and other Wynonna retail products will support American service men and women who have been severely wounded in battle. Cracker Barrel will donate a portion of proceeds from the sale of Wynonna-related products to Wounded Warrior Project, a nonprofit organization that provides assistance to wounded service men and women. Wynonna fans can now pre-order the Love Heals CD through the Cracker Barrel website (crackerbarrel.com). They can also register to win A Weekend with Wynonna in Music City Sweepstakes. The grand prize package includes a trip to Nashville to meet Wynonna and see her perform at the Grand Ole Opry®. The lucky winner will also visit many of Nashville’s top attractions. Pre-order and contest information can be found on the Cracker Barrel website (crackerbarrel.com). About Cracker Barrel Cracker Barrel Old Country Store provides a friendly home-away-from-home in its old country stores and restaurants. Guests are cared for like family while relaxing and enjoying real home-style food and shopping that’s surprisingly unique, genuinely fun and reminiscent of America’s country heritage…all at a fair price. The restaurant serves up delicious, home-style country food such as meatloaf and homemade chicken n’ dumplins as well as its signature biscuits using an old family recipe. The authentic old country retail store is fun to shop and offers unique gifts and self-indulgences. Cracker Barrel Old Country Store, Inc. (Nasdaq: CBRL) was established in 1969 in Lebanon, Tenn. and operates 594 company-owned locations in 41 states. Every Cracker Barrel unit is open seven days a week with hours Sunday through Thursday, 6 a.m. – 10 p.m., and Friday and Saturday, 6 a.m. - 11 p.m. For more information, visit crackerbarrel.com. About Wounded Warrior Project The mission of the Wounded Warrior Project is to honor and empower wounded warriors. Its purpose is to raise awareness and to enlist the public’s aid for the needs of severely injured service members, to help severely injured men and women aid and assist each other, and to provide unique, direct programs and services to meet their needs. WWP is a national, nonpartisan organization headquartered in Jacksonville, FL. To get involved and learn more, visit www.woundedwarriorproject.org About Wynonna Judd 5-time GRAMMY Award winning artist, Wynonna Judd first gained fame as part of one of the most successful musical duos of all time, The Judds. On top of that amazing feat, she also holds multiple gold, platinum and multi-platinum certifications from the RIAA in excess of 30 million units sold for albums released throughout her illustrious 25-year career. In addition to her countless musical achievements, Wynonna became a New York Times best-selling author in 2005 with the release of her long-awaited autobiography, Coming Home to Myself, released in conjunction with her live CD and DVD: Her Story: Scenes from a Lifetime. Wynonna recently announced she plans to reunite with her mother, Naomi, for a final Judds tour in 2010. She is also presently touring in support of her critically acclaimed seventh solo studio album, Sing: Chapter 1, an eclectic assortment of standards paying homage to all the different genres and songs that have formed the soundtrack to her life. To learn more, visit www.wynonna.com |
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05/27/2010
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MINNEAPOLIS — Country music star and songwriting sensation Lee Brice will release his debut album, “Love Like Crazy,” June 8. When Brice performed a free concert at the inaugural National Guard FLW College Fishing Championship in April, the title song from the album was already climbing the country singles chart. (Check out a video interview with Lee Brice from the College Fishing National Championship.) Brice spent the winter putting the finishing touches on his first full-length album and opening for country music superstar Clay Walker. Brice’s recent hit single “Love Like Crazy,” from his debut, is far from his first brush with the country music charts. His first Top 30 hit came in 2007 with “She Ain’t Right” and was followed by the hit singles “Happy Endings” and “Upper Middle Class White Trash.” Considered one of the most promising new voices in country, Brice is also proving himself as one of Nashville’s top songwriters. He has penned cuts for greats such as Tim McGraw, Jason Aldean, Blake Shelton and Adam Gregory. Most impressively, Brice wrote “More Than a Memory,” which debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard chart, for the musical icon he considers his first major musical influence: Garth Brooks. Brice stars in a music video for “Love Like Crazy,” the first single from his debut, which can be seen on FLWOutdoors.com among many other media outlets. Those interested may pre-order the album “Love Like Crazy” via iTunes ahead of the in-store release date of June 8. |
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05/24/2010
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TO RELEASE NEW COUNTRY ALBUM ‘REBEL WITHIN’ MAY 25 CANADIAN TOUR TO FOLLOW NEW MUSIC TO BE HEARD ON HBO’S ‘TRUE BLOOD’ All you have to do is take one glance at a few of the song titles on REBEL WITHIN--“Getting’ Drunk And Fallin’ Down,” “Rebel Within,” “Tore Up And Loud” and “Drinkin’ Over Mama”--and you have a good idea who wrote them: HANK WILLIAMS III. The new songs, and others like them, are from his upcoming album REBEL WITHIN, which hits stores May 25 (Sidewalk Records). Music from the new album will be heard on the June 13 episode of HBO’s hit series “True Blood.” Nashville native Hank Williams III has built his musical brand around hard-hitting songs, an ornery Hellbilly attitude and a do-it-yourself ethos, as he wrote 10 of the album’s 11 original tracks, did the vocals, played drums and the acoustic rhythm guitar parts. And he recorded and produced the album at his home studio. “I don’t like being told what to do, and I don’t need to be told what my record should sound like,” says Hank. “I got that covered.” A progenitor of the Hellbilly movement, Hank III has released six albums since his 1999 debut, including 2008’s country/rock/metal Damn Right, Rebel Proud (of which Randy Lewis of the Los Angeles Times said, “…he careens from the stone country remorse of ‘I Wish I Knew’ to the psychobilly ode to the truck driving man of ‘H8 Line to the 10-minute, three-movement nose-thumbing epic “P.F.F.” offered in tribute to G.G. Allin”) and 2009’s punk/metal-infused Assjack. His refusal to confine himself to one musical genre is evident in his live performances, where he often does three-hour shows: he starts off with a country set, followed by a louder hillbilly set, which culminates with a set with his band Assjack. “I give everybody some of what they came for,” says Hank. “You can’t say I don’t work hard and give all I got.” The 12-city Crazed Canada Tour launches Friday, June 4 at The Opera House in Toronto, ON and continues through the end of the month. This event will be “an evening with”--no opener, just pure Hellbilly rage all night. The venture will take III's tour bus out to the West Coast for a Saturday, June 19th engagement in Vancouver, BC. Date: City: Venue: Fri 6/4 Toronto, ONT Opera House Sat 6/5 Montreal, QUE Le National Mon 6/7 Quebec City, QUE Le Cercle Tue 6/8 Ottawa, ONT Babylon Wed 6/9 London, ONT Music Hall Fri 6/11 Thunder Bay, ONT the office/Crocks Sat 6/12 Winnipeg, MAN Pyramid Mon 6/14 Regina, SAS Distrikt Tue 6/15 Calgary, ALB Republik Wed 6/16 Edmonton, ALB Starlite Thu 6/17 Kamloops, BC Blue Grotto Sat 6/19 Vancouver, BC tba |
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05/13/2010
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03/01/2010
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02/23/2010
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MIKESCHAIR Also Recognized At SESAC Awards What a year for MIKESCHAIR! Their self-titled debut project, which released just last summer from Curb Records has not only delivered some major radio hits but now it's delivered award nominations. MIKESCHAIR has been nominated an astounding four times by the voting members of the Gospel Music Assocation for the upcoming 41st Annual GMA Dove Awards. Recognized for the top honor of Song of the Year with "Let The Waters Rise," the song is also acknowledged in the Pop/Contemporary Recorded Song of the Year category. The band's first hit single, "Can't Take Away," is nominated for Rock/Contemporary Recorded Song of the Year, while the album is up for Pop/Contemporary Album of the Year. The 41st Annual GMA Dove Awards will be held Wednesday, April 21st, 2010 at Nashville's legendary Grand Ole Opry House, and will be televised nationwide on gmc (www.gmclife.com) Sunday, April 25th. Since their self-titled project released on July 14th, MIKESCHAIR - Mike Grayson, Sam Tinnesz, Jesse Hale, Jon Haire - are so honored to be recognized by their peers and the industry as a whole. Bassist Jon Haire explains, "“Being the one guy in MIKESCHAIR that has grown up in Nashville, the Doves have always been an exciting time of year for me to watch my parent’s friends and musical influences receive recognition for their achievements. I am just blown away that I too now have an opportunity to experience such a wonderful thing. God has once again connected a dream of mine to a calling of His, and for that reason alone I am honored and humbled.” "Dove Nominations are something we definitely didn't expect at all," lead vocalist Mike Grayson adds. "We already feel so blessed just to be nominated!" "God has been really doing some incredible things this year in our lives and in our ministry," Sam Tinnesz, lead guitarist shares. "He has protected us in some of the most dangerous moments and also really encouraged us by opening doors that we could never open by ourselves. Being nominated for a Dove is truly an honor." The music of MIKESCHAIR was also recently recognized by the performing rights organization SESAC. Held at the the famed Loveless Cafe and Barn in Nashville earlier this month, both songs "Can't Take Away" and "Let The Waters Rise" were acknowledged at SESAC's Christian Awards, which honors songwriters and the hit songs that topped Billboard's Christian charts in 2009. A photo from the awards presentation is below. MIKESCHAIR is a band well-known for infectious songs that inspire action to change the world through love. The group, also known for their humanitarian efforts, specifically with mikestable, visited Peru this past December with Tampa's JOY-FM in support of Buckner International's "Shoes for Orphaned Souls" program (www.buckner.org), where thousands of shoes were donated to orphaned children of Peru, South America. Partnering with organizations and utilizing mikestable at many of their shows, it is the band's hope for people to be aware of what's going on in the world in terms of need, to give them empowerment, while also give options. Audiences are welcomed to visit mikestable, which is dedicated to offering information for various causes such as Food for the Hungry, IJM, Love 146 and much more. MIKESCHAIR is currently touring on WINTERBLAST 2010 with Building 429, Britt Nicole and Chris And Conrad. The band will join the last leg of Winter Jam 2010 starting in mid-March where they will hit such markets as Little Rock, AR, Shreveport, LA, and Grand Rapids, MI. Visit www.MIKESCHAIR.com for the most updated tour schedule, especially for more concert dates being added for the spring and summer. MIKESCHAIR is managed by Creative Trust, Inc., and booked by Jeff Roberts & Associates, both located in the Nashville, TN area. www.MIKESCHAIR.com |
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02/12/2010
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Rodney Atkins charted his first country single in 1997 after being signed to Curb Records. The song, 'In a Heartbreat,' reached No. 74. Six years -- and several heartbeats -- later, Rodney cracked the country Top 40 with 'Sing Along.' The Tennessee native eventually landed his first Top 5 hit in 2004 with 'Honesty (Write Me a List'). Rodney went through hell in 2006, which ended up being a good trip. 'If You're Going Through Hell' was named the No. 1 country song on Billboard's year-end chart in 2006, and 'Watching You' topped that same year-end chart in 2007. Like all artists, the first song of yours that you hear on the radio seems like a ticket to ride. Rodney tells The Boot where he was when he heard his first record on the radio. "I was driving down the road in my truck in 2003. It was the single 'Sing Along' from the 'Honesty' album. I had to pull over. I was by myself, and I wanted to call my wife in the middle of the song, but then I would've had to turn it down. So I waited until the song was over. I remember thinking it was cool because they played Alan Jackson before they played my song and then George Strait was after me. I was in the middle of those two legends. It was overwhelming!" By Pat Gallagher The Boot The Oil Palace Presents Rodney Atkins Rodney Atkins grew up in hills of East Tennessee surrounded by gospel music and front porch picking. On Feb. 12 at the Oil Palace in Tyler, Atkins will be in the Rose Capital performing from his platinum-selling album, "If You're Going Through Hell" as well as new material from the much-anticipated new album, "It's America." Atkins may be a platinum-selling artist, but his success hasn't changed his love of creating real, genuine country music. "I've always been drawn to country music," Atkins said. "I love the stuff that keeps your toes tapping along, like "If You're Going Through Hell," you just want to sing along with it." It's important to him that his music is real, he said, and much of it talks about the simple things in life. "I think I'm just a regular guy, and I try to do the best I can," he said. "I love songs about friends and family. I think that's what life revolves around. Those are the things that are always on my radar and what I'm thinking about constantly." Life for Atkins may not seem ordinary to us, but offstage, he's a husband and a dad with a 7-year-old son, Elijah, and two teenage stepdaughters who like to call him "Big R." "I am so blessed with my family and my wife," he said. "She keeps it all together with the kids in school and lessons and here and there, playing sports. And then with a husband on the road working, she somehow manages to keep us balanced." Country music has allowed dreams to come true for both Atkins and his family - Atkins started out working at a warehouse driving a forklift and delivering office furniture. "We absolutely had nothing, nothing at all, and then you realize what you actually do have is a great thing, and that's always been the foundation for us," he said. And that foundation is important when he's on the road. "You miss your kids like crazy," he said. "Now days we've got iChat and we can look at each other, but it's nothing like them actually being there. They'd actually love to be on the road with me." But the challenge of missing family also brings the rewards of seeing how his music affects to lives of his listeners. "When folks come up to you and tell you how their songs have touched your lives, it's a rewarding feeling," he said. "When a father and son come up and they say "Watching You" is our song, and every single Joe comes up and says, "Going Through Hell" helped get them through one of the toughest times in their lives, as well as people dealing with illness, health issues, soldiers - that's rewarding." And that is what makes his shows so much fun - everyone can relate. "Everyone sings along, you can pump your fist - it's a celebration of being alive," Atkins said. "It isn't just a guy standing there singing - that's not what we do. Everybody comes to party and have a good time! So come out, forget your worries and bring your friends." Ticket prices for the show are Floor Reserve $45, GA Risers $35. Contact the Oil Palace Box Office for additional information 903-566-2121.
By MAEGAN MCGOWEN |
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01/19/2010
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11/05/2009
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09/16/2009
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08/28/2009
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05/29/2009
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03/19/2009
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HANK WILLIAMS, JR. to be joined by various artists including JAMEY JOHNSON, ERIC CHURCH, GRETCHEN WILSON, LEE BRICE, COLT FORD, JOSH THOMPSON, SUNNY SWEENEY and THE GRASCALS 
FOXNEWS.COM RECRUITS LARRY GATLIN AS WEEKLY CONTRIBUTOR 
CRACKER BARREL AND WYNONNA JUDD CELEBRATE #7 DEBUT ON BILLBOARD TOP COUNTRY ALBUMS CHART WITH “LOVE HEALS” 
