Rascal Flatts announces new “The American Band Tour,” launching this summer
As one of the hottest touring acts in any genre, country music supergroup Rascal Flatts – which includes Picher-bred guitarist Joe Don Rooney – announced today they will launch a new tour beginning this summer, Farmers Insurance presents “The American Band Tour.” The tour will feature an all-band set-up with Little Big Town, Eli Young Band and Edens Edge opening. The shows will begin in Hartford, Conn., on June 15 at the Comcast Theatre.
Unfortunately, no Oklahoma tour dates have been announced at this time.
“We are always looking for new ways to re-energize our live shows,” says Jay DeMarcus of Rascal Flatts in the tour announcement. “We thought bringing out these bands, whom are among some of our favorite vocal groups, would make a great night of entertainment!”
Show reviewers across the nation have long expressed the band’s flare for delivering a high-energy, thrilling fan experience in concert. The Buffalo News wrote, “This band is incredibly tight and capable of conjuring up grandiose, emotion-filled moments.” “Long considered one of the top touring acts in country music, Rascal Flatts proved the reputation was rightly deserved,” said the Leader-Post. CMT.com wrote the band “delivered an electric show full of special effects, big hits and a renewed sense of purpose…it’s a testament to their talent that the band can keep the momentum going.”
Rascal Flatts will wrap their current tour “Thaw Out Tour” on Feb. 18, and their highly-anticipated eighth studio album, “Changed,” is due out on April 3 on Big Machine Records. They debuted their last project, “Nothing Like This,” at No. 1 on the country album sales chart and became one of only four country acts to debut six consecutive studio albums at No. 1.
Since their musical debut in 2000, the band has sold more than 21 million albums and 25 million digital downloads and delivered 13 No. 1 singles to the top of the charts. They were the most played country group at radio in 2011 as well as the most awarded country group of the past decade with more than 40 trophies from the American Country Awards, Academy of Country Music Awards, American Music Awards, Country Music Association Awards, People’s Choice Awards and more. For additional information on Rascal Flatts go to www.rascalflatts.com .
Critically acclaimed platinum-selling group Little Big Town first entered the music scene more than 14 years ago with hits such as “Boondocks,” “Bring It On Home,” and “Good As Gone.” Their fourth studio album and chart-topping release on Capitol Records Nashville, “The Reason Why,” received rave critical acclaim and produced Grammy-nominated single “Little White Church,” which has sold more than 1 million digital downloads to date. Collectively, the group has earned eight ACM nominations, nine CMA Awards nominations and four Grammy nominations. In early 2011 Little Big Town created an online video series called “Scattered, Smothered & Covered” where they tackle the challenge to make any song country. Presently their videos have had more than 2 million views. A new album is slated for release in 2012.
Eli Young Band’s “Crazy Girl,” has been certified platinum with sales of more than 1.4 million downloads and was named Billboard’s No. 1 Country Song of The Year. The Texas country band has three ACM nominations and have recently performed on “The Late Show With David Letterman,” “The Tonight Show With Jay Leno” and the American Country Awards. The video for “Crazy Girl” has tracked more than 8.8 million views on YouTube alone. The band’s latest album, “Life at Best,” made its debut at No. 3 on the Billboard Top Country Albums Chart and No. 6 on the Billboard 200. It came in at No. 1 on the iTunes Country Albums Chart and No. 2 on the iTunes All Genre Chart just behind Jay Z/Kanye West and Adele. The band has earned praise in The New York Times, People, Associated Press, American Songwriter, The New Yorker, USA Today, New York Post, Billboard and Country Weekly. The band has opened for the likes of Alan Jackson, Dierks Bentley, Gary Allan, Jason Aldean and Dave Matthews Band and sells out venues as a headliner from California to Rhode Island.
Profiled as one of Billboard’s 2011 “Artists to Watch,” Edens Edge is comprised of Hannah Blaylock (lead vocalist), Dean Berner (harmony vocals, guitar, dobro) and Cherrill Green (harmony vocals, mandolin, banjo and guitar). The trio possesses a unique musical blend deeply rooted in country music, acoustic instrumentation and pure vocal harmonies. Hailing from Arkansas, they signed to Big Machine Records in 2010. In 2011, Edens Edge released their Top 20 debut single, “Amen,” and were the featured opening act on mega-tours with Brad Paisley, Reba and Lady Antebellum. They are currently in the studio finishing up their debut album, set for release in 2012.
See the list of Rascal Flatts’ “The American Band Tour” dates after the break.
Lionel Richie’s country-crossover album “Tuskegee,” featuring Blake Shelton and Rascal Flatts, out March 27
Music icon Lionel Richie will release “Tuskegee,” a collection of 13 of his international hits recorded with some of the biggest names in country music, on March 27 on Mercury Nashville.
His duet partners on Tuskegee include Tishomingo resident Blake Shelton, trio Rascal Flatts (which includes Picher-bred guitarist Joe Don Rooney), Sugarland’s Jennifer Nettles, Jason Aldean, Tim McGraw, Darius Rucker, Kenny Chesney, Billy Currington and Little Big Town.
On this worldwide, multi-genre album, Richie also is joined by the likes of such superstars as Shania Twain, Kenny Rogers, Willie Nelson and Jimmy Buffett.
In addition, the Academy of Country Music and dick clark productions will tape an all-star concert special, “ACM Presents: Lionel Richie and Friends In Concert,” at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on April 2 (the day after the ACM Awards). The show will air at a later date on the CBS Television Network. Some of his greatest hits will be performed by Jason Aldean, The Band Perry, Kenny Chesney, Lady Antebellum, Martina McBride, Rascal Flatts, Kenny Rogers and many more.
“Tuskegee” is an exciting new chapter in a career that has seen album sales of more than 100 million, 22 Top 10s, five Grammys, an Academy Award for best original song, a Golden Globe, and a host of other awards.
“Tuskegee” is also a musical homecoming that feels like a heartwarming reunion with a beloved friend. He proves that you can go home again as he returns to his Southern roots to pay tribute to his hometown of Tuskegee, Ala., where he was indelibly shaped as a man and a musician. He was exposed to country, gospel, R&B and classical music while growing up, and it was in Tuskegee where he helped form the Commodores and wrote his first hits, including “Sail On” and “Easy.”
“Tuskegee is where it all began, the place where I felt that everything was available and possible,” he says in the album release announcement. “It’s where I learned about life and love and the power of music, and the place I built a musical foundation that knows no genres or boundaries.
“Doing this album was coming back to the beginning, back to basics, back to home,” he adds. “The part of it I love the most is that the journey has been one of discovering myself. By the time I got back to Nashville, I clearly knew that the roots of my songwriting, my storytelling, were from the South.”
It’s also been a process of rediscovering the hits that have served as the soundtrack of the lives of generations around the world.
“Every Lionel Richie song that I can think of I had a personal experience with – high school homecomings, proms, you name it,” says Gary LeVox of Rascal Flatts, who duets on “Dancing On the Ceiling,” in the announcement. “Lionel was always playing in my house. His music always said what we felt and couldn’t express.”
Says Darius Rucker, who joins Richie on “Stuck On You,” “I wanted to work with Lionel because he is one of my idols. Lionel’s more a part of my DNA really than an idol. It was an absolute honor to work with him.”
Adds Jason Aldean, who selected “Say You, Say Me,” “I’ve always been a huge fan. He is probably one of the best singer-songwriters of this generation.”
Once again, Richie is following his songs as they take him back to country, where they have been welcomed for more than two decades. Conway Twitty recorded “Three Times a Lady,” Kenny Rogers famously sang “Lady,” and Alabama recorded “Deep River Woman.” Artists such as Tim McGraw, Darius Rucker and Rascal Flatts perform his songs in their shows. He has performed on the Country Music Association Awards three times, and his 2011 performance receive two standing ovations and was recognized as the highlight of the evening.
“When I did the CMAs and the room was singing along with me, it was really more like a family reunion than it was a concert or show,” he says. “It was just great validation to know that the music was accepted like it was.”
These innovative musical interpretations have given new meaning to his songs while serving as a powerful reminder of the timelessness of his impressive body of work. He asked the other singers to select the songs and ignore his original version and instead perform the song as if it were their own.
“I wanted it the way they would do it in their show, which means I captured their essence. You make the song a Willie Nelson song. You make the song a Rascal Flatts song,” he says.
“It’s special to the point where it sounds new again, so I’m excited just as the writer, as the original parent of this child. I’m excited to see another generation embrace the music.”
Richie says recording Tuskegee was perhaps the most fun he’s ever had in the studio. “’Tuskegee’ is going to be one of the most special albums I’ve ever done in my life. This is something that’s going to be so special forever because it’s a moment in time when these artists all got together and celebrated some music,” he says. “What started out as a collaboration of a group of very talented, very successful artists ended up growing into brand new, very good friends.”
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Blake Shelton, Miranda Lambert, Carrie Underwood, Toby Keith and more earn ACM Award nominations
Blake Shelton and Miranda Lambert (AP file)
From Friday’s The Oklahoman.
Oklahomans nominated in every major ACM Awards category
Blake Shelton, Miranda Lambert, Toby Keith, Carrie Underwood, Vince Gill, Thompson Square and Rascal Flatts will represent the Sooner State when the 47th Annual Academy of Country Music Awards are handed out April 1 in Las Vegas.
At least one Oklahoma star is nominated in every major category of this year’s Academy of Country Music Awards.
Blake Shelton, Miranda Lambert, Toby Keith, Carrie Underwood, Vince Gill, Thompson Square and Rascal Flatts will represent the Sooner State when the 47th annual ACM Awards are handed out April 1 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. For the second straight year, Oklahoma natives Shelton and Reba McEntire will co-host the show, which will air live on CBS.
Shelton, who lives in Tishomingo, is among the nominees for the top prize, entertainer of the year, along with Jason Aldean, Brad Paisley, Taylor Swift and Kenny Chesney, who earned a leading nine nominations. For the fifth year, the entertainer award will be fan-voted, with balloting beginning March 19 at Ö www.VoteACM.com.
“The support I have felt this week is overwhelming,” Shelton said in a statement. “Thank you everyone for this honor.”
The Ada native will contend for male vocalist of the year, too.
Miranda Lambert, Shelton’s wife and fellow Tishomingo denizen, will compete for the female vocalist title, while her “Four the Record” is nominated for album of the year, an award she has won twice previously. with her 2007 release “Crazy Ex-Girlfriend” and her 2009 effort “Revolution.”
Carrie Underwood (AP file)
Checotah native Carrie Underwood also will vie for the female vocalist honor, while she and Paisley share a vocal event of their year nomination for their chart-topping duet “Remind Me.”
Norman resident Toby Keith’s “Red Solo Cup” is more than just a cup, it’s a two-time nominee. The rowdy party anthem is up for single record of the year, earning Keith a double nomination as the song’s artist and producer. The star-studded viral video, which has notched more than 10 million YouTube views, got a video of the year nod.
Vince Gill, who hails from Oklahoma City, is a double nominee in the song of the year race as the artist and co-writer of “Threaten Me with Heaven,” the first single from his 2011 album “Guitar Slinger.” Gill wrote the poignant ballad with his wife Amy Grant, Dillon O’Brian and the late Will Owsley.
Vince Gill (AP file)
Trio Rascal Flatts, which includes Picher-bred guitarist Joe Don Rooney, is nominated for vocal group of the year.
Thompson Square, which includes Miami, OK, native Keifer Thompson and his wife Shawna, earned a nomination in the vocal duo category.
In addition, Thompson Square is among the eight semi-finalists for new artist of the year. Fan voting continues through 11 a.m. Monday to narrow the newcomer race to three finalists. Balloting to pick the new artist winner will resume March 19 at Ö www.VoteACM.com.
Among the industry awards, three Oklahoma music locales are nominated: WinStar World Casino in Thackerville for casino of the year; the Wormy Dog Saloon in Oklahoma City for nightclub of the year; and the BOK Center in Tulsa for venue of the year. Plus, Toby Keith’s I Love This Bar & Grill in Minneapolis, Minn., is nominated in the nightclub category.
Also, Cash and Carey (Natalie Cash and Jim Carey) of KWEN-FM in Tulsa are nominated for on-air radio personality of the year in the medium market category.
The academy announced the nominees Tuesday morning in its first-ever digital press conference, with singer Lionel Richie, actress Beth Behrs, TV personality Nancy O’Dell and TV journalist Michael Ausiello presenting the nominations via YouTube videos that were posted on the ACM’s Twitter and Facebook pages.
To see the full list of nominees, click here.
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2012 ACM Awards nominations: At least one Oklahoman is nominated in every major category
Blake Shelton
At least one Oklahoman is competing in every major category of the upcoming ACM Awards.
The Academy of Country Music announced the nominees for its 47th annual ACM Awards this morning in a digital press conference via Twitter and Facebook. Among the nominees with Oklahoma ties are Blake Shelton, Miranda Lambert, Toby Keith, Carrie Underwood, Thompson Square, Vince Gill and Rascal Flatts.
Shelton and Reba will co-host the ACM Awards as they are broadcast live from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on April 1 on CBS.
Among the industry awards, three Oklahoma places to see a show are nominated: WinStar World Casino in Thackerville for casino of the year; the Wormy Dog Saloon in Oklahoma City for nightclub of the year; and the BOK Center in Tulsa for venue of the year.
Also, Cash and Carey (Natalie Cash and Jim Carey) of KWEN-FM in Tulsa are nominated for on-air radio personality of the year in the medium market category.
Here are the nominees in the major categories, with the Oklahomans marked with an *. Look for the musician, technical, radio and other industry award nominations after the break.
Entertainer of the Year
Jason Aldean
Kenny Chesney
Brad Paisley
* Blake Shelton
Taylor Swift
Miranda Lambert
Female Vocalist of the Year
Sara Evans
* Miranda Lambert
Martina McBride
Taylor Swift
* Carrie Underwood
Male Vocalist of the Year
Jason Aldean
Kenny Chesney
Brad Paisley
* Blake Shelton
Chris Young
Thompson Square
Vocal Duo of the Year
Love and Theft
Montgomery Gentry
Steel Magnolia
Sugarland
* Thompson Square
Vocal Group of the Year
The Band Perry
Eli Young Band
Lady Antebellum
* Rascal Flatts
Zac Brown Band
Album of the year (Award to Artist(s)/Producer(s)/Record Company)
Chief – Eric Church (EMI-Nashville)
Produced by: Arturo Buenahora, Jr., Jay Joyce
* Four The Record – Miranda Lambert (RCA)
Produced by: Chuck Ainlay, Frank Liddell, Glenn Worf
Hemingway’s Whiskey – Kenny Chesney (BNA)
Produced by: Buddy Cannon, Kenny Chesney
My Kinda Party – Jason Aldean (Broken Bow Records)
Produced by: Michael Knox
Own The Night – Lady Antebellum (Capitol Records Nashville)
Produced by: Lady Antebellum, Paul Worley
Toby Keith
Single Record of the Year (Award to Artist(s)/Producer(s)/Record Company)
Crazy Girl – Eli Young Band (Republic Nashville)
Produced by: Mike Wrucke
Don’t You Wanna Stay – Jason Aldean With Kelly Clarkson (Broken Bow Records)
Produced by: Michael Knox
* Red Solo Cup – Toby Keith (Show Dog-Universal Music)
Produced by: Toby Keith
Tomorrow – Chris Young (RCA)
Produced by: James Stroud
You And Tequila – Kenny Chesney Featuring Grace Potter (BNA)
Produced by: Buddy Cannon, Kenny Chesney
Song of the Year (Award to Composer(s)/Publisher(s)/Artist(s))
Crazy Girl – Eli Young Band
Composers: Lee Brice, Liz Rose
Publishers: Cake Taker Music (BMI), Mike Curb Music (BMI), Sony/ATV Tree Publishing (BMI), Sweet Hysteria Music (BMI)
Home – Dierks Bentley
Composers: Brett Beavers, Dierks Bentley, Dan Wilson
Publishers: Big White Tracks (ASCAP), Chestnut Barn Music (BMI), Chrysalis Music/BMG Rights (ASCAP), Chrysalis One Songs (BMI)
Just A Kiss – Lady Antebellum
Composers: Dallas Davidson, Dave Haywood, Charles Kelley, Hillary Scott
Publishers: Dwhaywood Music (BMI), EMI Blackwood Music, Inc. (BMI), EMI Foray Music (SESAC), Hillary Dawn Songs (SESAC), Radiobulletspublishing (BMI), String Stretcher Music (BMI) Warner-Tamberlane Publishing Corp. (BMI)
* Threaten Me With Heaven – Vince Gill
Composers: Amy Grant, Vince Gill, Dillon O’Brian, Will Owsley
Publishers: Grant Girls Music (ASCAP), Vinny Mae Music (BMI), Willie-O Music (ASCAP)
You And Tequila – Kenny Chesney Featuring Grace Potter
Composers: Matraca Berg, Deana Carter
Publishers: Deanaling Music (ASCAP), Hannaberg Music (BMI), Songs of Universal Inc., (BMI), WB Music Corp. (ASCAP)
Video of the Year (Award to Producer(s)/Director(s)/Artist(s)) *(Off Camera Award)
Homeboy – Eric Church
Producer: Brandon Arolfo
Director: Peter Zavadil
Just A Kiss – Lady Antebellum
Producer: Don Lepore
Director: Shawn Silva
Mean – Taylor Swift
Producer: Oualid Mouaness
Director: Declan Whitebloom
* Red Solo Cup – Toby Keith
Producer: Mark Kalbfeld
Director: Michael Salomon
Tattoos On This Town – Jason Aldean
Producer: John Burke
Director: Wes Edwards
Carrie Underwood and Brad Paisley (AP file)
Vocal Event of the Year (Award to Artist(s)/Producer(s)/Record Company) *(Off Camera Award)
Country Boy – Aaron Lewis Featuring George Jones & Charlie Daniels (R&J Records)
Produced by: Aaron Lewis, James Stroud
Don’t You Wanna Stay – Jason Aldean With Kelly Clarkson (Broken Bow Records)
Produced by: Michael Knox
Old Alabama – Brad Paisley Featuring Alabama (Arista Nashville)
Produced by: Frank Rogers
* Remind Me – Brad Paisley Duet With Carrie Underwood (Arista Nashville)
Produced by: Frank Rogers
You And Tequila – Kenny Chesney Featuring Grace Potter (BNA)
Produced by: Buddy Cannon, Kenny Chesney (more…)
Rascal Flatts’ Jay DeMarcus and wife Allison expecting 2nd child
In this Nov. 8, 2011 file photo, Jay DeMarcus, from the band Rascal Flatts, and his wife Allison arrive at the 59th Annual BMI Country Awards in Nashville. DeMarcus and his wife Allison are expecting their second child. Rascal Flatts is currently on tour and recently announced the release of its next album, “Changed,” on April 3. (AP Photo)
Rascal Flatts bassist and vocalist Jay DeMarcus and his wife Allison, a former Miss Tennessee and a current CMT personality, are anticipating the birth of their second child this summer. The baby will become a younger brother or sister to their daughter Madeline Leigh, born December 17, 2010.
“This was definitely a huge surprise, but we’re so thankful and excited that Maddie is going to have a brother or sister,” Jay said in today’s announcement. “We’re really gonna have our hands full!”
“Jay and I are thrilled about completing our family. Madeline is going to love having a sibling and we are bracing ourselves for the many sleepless nights ahead,” added Allison.
Jay and Allison were married May 15, 2004 in Nashville, Tenn.
Jay DeMarcus’ Rascal Flatts bandmates are Picher-bred guitarist Joe Don Rooney and lead singer Gary LeVox.
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Rascal Flatts to receive Artist Humanitarian Award at Country Radio Seminar
Superstar trio Rascal Flatts has been named the recipient of the CRS 2012 Artist Humanitarian Award, to be presented at Country Radio Seminar on Wednesday, Feb. 22.
The multi-platinum selling trio of lead singer Gary LeVox, bassist Jay DeMarcus and Picher-bred guitarist Joe Don Rooney are receiving the honor based on their charitable contributions and humanitarian endeavors throughout the band’s career.
In 2010, the group donated $3 million to the Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt’s Pediatric Surgery Center. The Flatts currently serve as celebrity spokesmen for the national suicide prevention organization, The Jason Foundation, and have been members of the American Red Cross Celebrity Cabinet for the past seven years.
“The board is very pleased to honor Rascal Flatts with the CRS Artist Humanitarian Award. They join a long, distinguished list of celebrities who have received this prestigious award since it was instated in 1990.” said CRS Executive Director Bill Mayne in an announcement at RascalFlatts.com.
Past recipients include Toby Keith, Brooks & Dunn, Reba McEntire, Vince Gill and Garth Brooks, who all have Oklahoma ties, along with Tim McGraw and Faith Hill, Trace Adkins, Randy Owen, Brad Paisley and Charlie Daniels, according to CMT.
Rascal Flatts will receive the CRS 2012 Artist Humanitarian Award at 10:30 a.m. Feb. 22 in the Nashville Convention Center immediately following the seminar’s keynote address. CRS 2012 will be Feb. 22-24 in downtown Nashville, Tenn.
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Rascal Flatts to release new album “Changed” on April 3
Happy birthday to me. Country music superstar group Rascal Flatts, which includes Picher-bred guitarist Joe Don Rooney, announced today that they will release “Changed,” their anticipated seventh studio album, on April 3, which happens to be my birthday.
Award-winning musician Dann Huff co-produced the new project with Flatts, according to today’s announcement.
“Changed” is poised to follow the success of the trio’s first Big Machine Records album release, “Nothing Like This,” which debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard Country albums sales chart, making the Flatts one of only four country acts to debut six consecutive studio albums at No. 1.
“Nothing Like This” went on to become a platinum-selling album, featuring two No. 1 hits including the certified-platinum single “I Won’t Let Go” and the gold-certified “Easy,” a duet with pop sensation Natasha Bedingfield. Only three other country acts have matched the band’s streak of million-selling albums, reports the Associated Press.
While the trio recorded “Nothing Like This” in sunny California, they stayed closer to home and Nashville when recording “Changed.” They recorded it in bassist Jay DeMarcus’ home studio
“We actually cut the whole thing at Jay’s house, in Jay’s studio,” singer Gary LeVox told the AP. “We mixed it up and did something a little different.”
“Banjo,” the countrified first single from “Changed,” has been released to radio. (Listen to it below.)
“It’s really exciting some of the songs we’ve got set to go,” LeVox told the AP. “It’s probably the most really good, up-tempo stuff that maybe we’ve ever had pitched to us. And we wrote some really good stuff. … I think it’s musically at even another level.”
Since their musical debut in 2000, the band has sold more than 21 million albums, 25 million digital downloads and delivered 13 No. 1 singles to the top of the charts.
Rascal Flatts is the most awarded country group of the past decade, earning 40-plus trophies from the American Country Awards, Academy of Country Music Awards, American Music Awards, Country Music Association Awards, People’s Choice Awards and more. As one of the hottest-selling acts on tour in any genre, they’ve sold more than 6 million concert tickets, and counting. Currently, the band is performing across the country on their “Thaw Out Tour,” which earned a slot on CMT’s “Top Tours of 2012.” For more information, go to www.rascalflatts.com.
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Rascal Flatts, Brad Paisley, Lady Antebellum and more added to 2012 CMA Music Festival
Rascal Flatts performs at the 2010 CMA Music Festival. (AP file)
Rascal Flatts (which includes Picher-bred guitarist Joe Don Rooney), Luke Bryan, Eric Church, Faith Hill, reigning CMA Vocal Group of the Year Lady Antebellum, Brad Paisley, Rascal Flatts, and Zac Brown Band have joined the performance lineup for the Nightly Concerts at LP Field during 2012 CMA Music Festival. The event that USA Today calls “the crown jewel of country music festivals” will once again take over downtown Nashville for four days this summer, June 7-10.
2011 Country Music Association Award winners Jason Aldean, The Band Perry, and five-time CMA Award winner and Checotah native Carrie Underwood were previously announced as performing at the festival, which has grown since starting in 1972 as Fan Fair to become Nashville’s signature music event. Additional artists will be announced in the coming weeks.
Rascal Flatts has won seven CMA Awards, including Vocal Group of the Year (2003-2008) and the Horizon Award (2002). Their current album is the Platinum-certified Nothing Like This, which debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard Top Country Albums chart and features the Platinum-certified digital single “I Won’t Let Go” and the Gold-certified single “Easy.” Rascal Flatts, who is only one of four acts to have six consecutive albums debut at No. 1 on the Billboard Top Country Albums chart in the last decade, will release a new album later this spring.
Bryan was nominated for CMA New Artist of the Year in 2010 and 2011. His most recent album is the Gold-certified tailgates & tanlines, which debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard Top Country Albums chart and No. 2 on the Billboard Top 200 chart, and features the Platinum-certified digital single “Country Girl (Shake It for Me)” and the Gold-certified digital single “I Don’t Want This Night to End.”
Church, who will make his debut performance on the Nightly Concerts at LP Field this year, was nominated for CMA New Artist of the Year in 2011. His most recent album is the Gold-certified Chief, which debuted at No. 1 on both the Billboard Top 200 and Billboard Country Albums charts, and features the Gold-certified digital single “Homeboy.”
Hill returns to CMA Music Festival for the first time since 2008. She debuted her long-awaited new single “Come Home” on “The 45th Annual CMA Awards” in November. She is a three-time CMA Award winner, including Female Vocalist (2000), Vocal Event (1997 for “It’s Your Love” with husband Tim McGraw), and Music Video of the Year (1998 for “This Kiss”). Her seventh new studio recording is set for an early 2012 release.
Lady Antebellum has won seven CMA Awards, including Vocal Group (2009-2011), Single (2009 for “I Run to You” and 2010 for “Need You Now,” which also earned them an additional Award for producing), and New Artist of the Year (2008). Their current album is the Platinum-certified Own the Night, which debuted at No. 1 on both the Billboard Top 200 and Billboard Country Albums charts.
Paisley has won 14 CMA Awards, including Entertainer (2010), Male Vocalist (2007-2009), Album (2006 for Time Well Wasted), Horizon (2000), Musical Event (2004 for “Whiskey Lullaby” with Alison Krauss, 2006 for “When I Get Where I’m Going” with Dolly Parton, and 2009 for “Start a Band” with Keith Urban), and Vocal Event of the Year (2001 for “Too Country” with Bill Anderson, George Jones, and Buck Owens). He has also co-hosted the CMA Awards with Underwood for the last four years (2008-2011). His current album is This is Country Music, which debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard Top Country Albums chart and No. 2 on the Billboard Top 200 chart, and contains the Platinum-certified digital single “Remind Me” (his duet with Underwood).
Zac Brown Band has won one CMA Award in 2010 for New Artist of the Year. Their current album is the Platinum-certified You Get What You Give, which debuted at No. 1 on both the Billboard Top 200 and Billboard Country Albums charts, and features the Platinum-certified digital single “Colder Weather.”
Fans can purchase their tickets through Ticketmaster at Ticketmaster.com. Ticket prices are based on the level of seating at LP Field for the Nightly Concerts, and range from $115 to $325 plus handling fees. A limited number of four-day parking passes for LP Field are also available, ranging from $32 to $124 plus handling fees, depending on the size of vehicle.
Ticket and parking prices are subject to change without notice. All sales are final and non-refundable. Four-day ticket package categories correspond to a different level of seating at LP Field. Children 3 years and younger are admitted FREE. For information on ADA seating, please call 1-800-CMA-FEST.
Fans can stay in the loop by visiting CMAfest.com, the official website of CMA Music Festival, where they can sign up for the CMA Exclusive e-news, follow the CMA Facebook and Twitter feeds for more insider info, play games, and of course see the entire lineup of Country Music’s biggest stars as they are announced for the event.
CMA Music Festival celebrates the unique relationship between country music artists and their fans in the heart of Music City USA. The artists participate for free, and on their behalf, CMA has donated half the net proceeds of the Festival to support music education through the Keep the Music Playing program.
To date, more than $4.7 million has been donated to purchase musical instruments and supplies, providing thousands students in Metro Nashville Public Schools with the resources and opportunities they could not have afforded on their own, and giving many of them a strong reason to remain in school. The total also includes an annual endowment gift for the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum’s Words & Music program, which assists language arts and music teachers with classroom instruction in the basics of songwriting. CMA will announce their donation from the 2011 CMA Music Festival in early 2012.
Featuring concerts, autograph signings, family activities, and more, CMA Music Festival is a massive celebration of country music. In 2011, the event drew a record-setting 65,000 fans from all 50 states and 26 nations and, for the second consecutive year, sold out in advance each night at LP Field for the star-packed nightly concerts. According to the Nashville Convention and Visitors Bureau, direct visitor spending generated by the Festival totaled more than $30 million. CMA Music Festival is a four-time winner of the International Entertainment Buyers Association’s LIVE! Award for Festival of the Year (2004, 2006, 2008, 2010).
The CMA Music Festival will once again be filmed for a national television special to air on the ABC Television Network. This is the ninth consecutive year that the event has been filmed for a network television special, a feat no other music festival has achieved. CBS aired the first CMA Music Festival special in 2004, with ABC airing it from 2005 onward through 2021.
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Tim Tebow calls Rascal Flatts his favorite entertainer
Tim Tebow (AP file)
Rascal Flatts (AP file)
In a Q&A with the NY Post, Denver Broncos quarterback Tim Tebow says his favorite entertainer is country band Rascal Flatts, which includes Picher-bred guitarist Joe Don Rooney.
Tebow, who has become the most compelling story of the NFL season, identified “Braveheart” as his favorite movie, Will Smith and Jennifer Aniston as his favorite actor and actress and his parents as his biggest childhood influence.
Tebow and the Broncos will play the Buffalo Bills at noon Saturday. The game will air on CBS (KWTV-9 in Oklahoma City).
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Video: Rascal Flatts’ “Easy” certified gold
Rascal Flatts’ top 10 hit “Easy” has been certified gold for selling 500,000 digital downloads, reports CMT.com.
The trio, which includes Picher-bred guitarist Joe Don Rooney of Picher, teamed with British pop star Natasha Bedingfield to record the heartbroken ballad. It was written by Bray native Katrina Elam and Mike Mobley.
“Easy” is the third single from Rascal Flatts’ platinum-selling 2010 album “Nothing Like This.”
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