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.
-BAM
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…)
Video: Toby Keith’s “Red Solo Cup” still partying hard, passes 10 million YouTube views
The uproarious music video for Oklahoma country music superstar Toby Keith’s infectious party anthem “Red Solo Cup” has passed 10 million YouTube views between the original unedited video (which has received 9.7 million looks) and the holiday version (more than 765,000).
The second single from the Norman resident’s 2011 album “Clancy’s Tavern” also continues to climb the Billboard country songs chart, ascending to No. 12 in just 14 weeks. “Red Solo Cup” also is powering sales of “Clancy’s Tavern,” which is currently at No. 2 after its No. 1 country debut 12 weeks ago.
More reasons to toast “Red Solo Cup”:
- Fastest selling single of Keith’s huge career.
- Certified gold and platinum this week.
- No. 1 on the digital genre chart 9 of last 11 weeks.
- Jumped No. 42 to No. 18 on Sirius XM’s “Hits 1″ Pop station.
- No. 1 most-played on jukeboxes for the past month.
“Fox All Access” recently noted that the song has made the Red Solo Cup “today’s newest celebrity … and it’s all [because of] Toby Keith.”
Anecdotally, reports are coming in of empty shelves at retailers as consumers “prepare to party” by picking up the celebrated red cups and bypassing still plentiful blue and yellow versions.
-BAM
Blake Shelton, Toby Keith to perform tonight on televised New Year’s Eve specials
Blake Shelton
Oklahoma country music fans should tune in and set their DVRs tonight as two of the state’s brightest stars perform on nationally televised New Year’s Eve specials:
Tishomingo resident Blake Shelton will ring in 2012 performing on “NBC’s New Year’s Eve with Carson Daly,” airing at 9 p.m. Oklahoma time on the network home of the hit reality show “The Voice, which stars Shelton as a celebrity coach and Daly as its host.
Along with Shelton and Daly, the special will feature fellow “The Voice” celebrity coach Cee Lo Green, rapper Drake, British pop star Jessie J, hip-hop band The Roots and legendary crooner Tony Bennett.
Toby Keith
Norman resident Toby Keith will toast the arrival of 2012 with his “Red Solo Cup” on the “American Country New Year’s Eve Live,” airing at 10 p.m. Central time Saturday on Fox.
Tulsa comedian Rodney Carrington, who just played his annual post-Christmas stint at Shawnee’s FireLake Grand Casino, will host the holiday special with Rick Harrison and Austin “Chumlee” Russell of the reality TV series “Pawn Stars.”
Country stars Joe Nichols, Rodney Atkins, Lauren Alaina and Eli Young Band also are set to musically ring in the New Year on the show, while comic Howie Mandel will make an appearance to share his New Year’s resolution and offer a sneak peak of his upcoming “Mobbed” series of specials.
-BAM
Toby Keith to perform Saturday on Fox’s New Year’s Eve special
Toby Keith (AP file)
From Friday’s Weekend Look section of The Oklahoman.
Toby Keith to perform on Fox’s New Year’s Eve special
The Oklahoma country music star is coming off a red-letter year highlighted by the viral success of his raucous party anthem “Red Solo Cup.”
Toby Keith will toast the arrival of 2012 with his “Red Solo Cup” as part of a nationally televised year-end bash.
The Oklahoma country music star will perform his popular party hit on the “American Country New Year’s Eve Live,” airing at 10 p.m. Central time Saturday on Fox.
Rodney Carrington
Tulsa comedian Rodney Carrington, who just played his annual post-Christmas stint at Shawnee’s FireLake Grand Casino, will host the holiday special with Rick Harrison and Austin “Chumlee” Russell of the reality TV series “Pawn Stars.”
Country stars Joe Nichols, Rodney Atkins, Lauren Alaina and Eli Young Band also are set to musically ring in the New Year on the show, while comic Howie Mandel will make an appearance to share his New Year’s resolution and offer a sneak peak of his upcoming “Mobbed” series of specials.
For most of 2011, Keith experienced his usual excellent year: He was the highest-ranking country artist on Forbes’ roster of the World’s 25 Highest-Paid Musicians, his U.S. and European tours were blockbusters, and his annual album release, “Clancy’s Tavern,” debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard country album chart. The album’s first single, the flag-waving anthem “Made in America,” became one of the fastest-rising songs of his career as it bulleted to the top of the charts.
Overseas, the Norman resident embarked on his ninth United Service Organization Tour, and on the home front, he raised more than $650,000 for his Toby Keith Foundation at his eighth annual charity golf tournament and auction. Earlier this month, the Oklahoma City Urban Renewal Authority approved the foundation’s plans to build the $8.5 million OK Kids Korral at NE 8 and Laird, where it will provide lodging for families with children undergoing cancer treatment at nearby facilities such as The Children’s Hospital at OU Medical Center.
The Clinton native opened several more of his I Love This Bar & Grill establishments, including new locations in Denver, Boston and Cincinnati, and successfully launched his own premium spirit brand, Toby Keith’s Wild Shot Mezcal.
But Keith’s fans will probably best remember 2011 as the year he toasted a familiar plastic beverage receptacle. Two months ago, he released online the music video for his raucous party anthem “Red Solo Cup,” and suddenly, Keith’s year became even more red-letter as the uproarious mini-movie went viral in a big way. Since its October release, the unedited version of the video has earned more than 7.7 million YouTube hits, and its popularity prompted Keith and his team to make it a single.
The top-15 hit has been covered on the cult favorite TV show “Glee” and spawned a holiday variation on the video, plus Keith performed it earlier this month on Fox’s American Country Awards after receiving the artist of the decade title as the country star with the most airplay over the past 10 years.
Keith has jokingly deemed “Red Solo Cup” “the most profound, intelligent thing I’ve ever done.”
“There’s nothing else out there like it, and it’s just one of those crazy things that happens sometimes in music,” Keith told The Oklahoman in a fall phone interview. “It’s just one of the craziest things we’ve ever done. And I’m having so much fun with it.”
-BAM
Toby Keith celebrates big 2011
Toby Keith will ring in 2012 by performing his smash party anthem “Red Solo Cup” Saturday during the “American Country New Year’s Eve Live,” airing at 10 p.m. on Fox.
The Oklahoma-bred singer, songwriter and entertainer was named Artist of the Decade at this month’s American Country Awards on Fox, capping a big 2011 for the superstar.
Based on monitored radio airplay, the ACA honor recognized the Norman resident for having the most over-the-air performances of any artist over the last 10 years. An analysis by performance rights organization BMI shows that, as an artist, Keith earned more than 50 million performances between 2000 and 2010. Because he is the principal creative force behind his music, his numbers as a writer are close behind at 49 million spins. Based on a three-minute per-song average, according to a news release, that means Toby Keith music was heard on the radio throughout the decade for a grand total of 285 years. Add in Keith’s airplay from the ’90s, and that figure is even more impressive.
Other 2011 milestones for Toby Keith include:
* “Clancy’s Tavern” debuted at No. 1 amid critical acclaim. The album was recently named to Amazon’s 10 Best Country Albums of 2011 list.
* Rocketed to No. 1 with the first single from “Clancy’s Tavern,” “Made In America,” one of the fastest-rising songs of his career.
* Created a viral sensation with the video for “Red Solo Cup,” originally an album track from “Clancy’s Tavern.” The video, which has amassed more than 7 million views, quickly had radio stations pulling and playing the audio. Download sales rapidly roared past the 600,000 mark, making it one of iTunes top downloads for a month running. The song is currently top 20 and climbing on the airplay charts just a few weeks after officially being named a single.
* Closed his 2010 “American Ride Tour,” presented by Ford F-Series, after playing to more than 1 million fans. Opened his standing-room-only “Locked & Loaded Tour,” also presented by Ford F-Series, to packed houses. Toured Europe for three weeks and continues his U.S. tour in 2012.
* Staged his ninth United Service Organization tour and was privileged to be in the company of thousands of servicemen and women as the mission to bring Osama Bid Laden to justice was completed. All in, Keith has performed for 177,000 military personnel during his USO tours.
* Organized his eight annual Toby Keith & Friends Golf Classic, bringing in more than $650,000 for the Toby Keith Foundation. Earlier this month, the Oklahoma City Urban Renewal Authority approved the foundation’s plans to build the $8.5 million OK Kids Korral at NE 8 and Laird, where it will provide lodging for families with children undergoing cancer treatment at nearby facilities such as The Children’s Hospital at OU Medical Center.
* Opened several more of his I Love This Bar & Grill establishments including new locations in Denver, Boston and Cincinnati. Huffington Post called it one of the “best celebrity-owned restaurants.”
* Was again named the highest-paid country musician by Forbes.
* Launched his own beverage brand, Toby Keith’s Wild Shot Mezcal. The spirit played a huge role in growing the market for mezcal and became the No. 1 premium mezcal in the nation.
-BAM
Rodney Carrington to host, Toby Keith to perform on Fox’s “American Country New Year’s Eve Live”
Rodney Carrington
Toby Keith
Multi-talented Tulsa comedian and actor Rodney Carrington will stay up late to host the biggest celebration of the year and ring in 2012 on “American Country New Year’s Eve Live,” airing at 10 p.m. Oklahoma time on Fox.
Carrington, and co-hosts Rick Harrison and Austin “Chumlee” Russell of the reality TV show “Pawn Stars,” will help count down to 2012 during the year-end party featuring some of country’s biggest and brightest musical stars.
Oklahoma country music star Toby Keith will perform his raucous party anthem and latest top-15 single “Red Solo Cup” during the show.
Joe Nichols, Lauren Alaina and Rodney Atkins will rock the Las Vegas strip on the show. The year-end festivities also will feature a performance by Eli Young Band. Howie Mandel will make a special appearance to share his New Year’s resolution and offer a sneak peak of his upcoming “Mobbed” series of specials, airing Jan. 4, Jan. 11, Feb. 1 and Feb. 8 on Fox.
Carrington is a comedian, actor, singer and writer who has recorded eight comedy albums that have sold more than three million copies. His album “Morning Wood” has been certified gold and his “Greatest Hits” recently was certified platinum. Carrington starred for two seasons on his own TV sitcom “Rodney,” and co-wrote and co-starred with Keith in the feature film “Beer for My Horses.”
According to Pollstar, Carrington was one of the Top Five highest-grossing touring comedians in the past five years, and he consistently has been in the top 10 over the past 10 years. He regularly performs to sold-out crowds across the U.S. and Canada. On Monday and Tuesday, he planned his annual post-Christmas stint at Shawnee’s FireLake Grand Casino.
Harrison, who is currently starring on “Pawn Stars,” is the owner-operator of Las Vegas’ World Famous Gold & Silver Pawn Shop, a family business. Trained in the pawn business from the age of 13, Harrison was born a hustler. He dropped out of high school to sell fake handbags, and later, with enough money to partner with his father, he opened the Gold & Silver, where his son also works. Harrison is the author of “License to Pawn: Deals, Steals, and My Life at the Gold & Silver.”
Russell stars on “Pawn Stars,” working at the World Famous Gold & Silver Pawn Shop for the Harrison family. Having been around the shop since he was a kid, Chumlee’s heart of gold makes him a pro at customer service, and he always wants to give his patrons the best deal.
-BAM
13 Days of Oklahoma Music: Toby Keith toasts “Red Solo Cup”
The 13 Days of Oklahoma Music continue here at BAM’s Blog, as we look back on the musical milestones state artists experienced in the past year as 2011 draws to a close.
Oklahoma music megastar Toby Keith was having his usual excellent year: He was the highest ranking country artist on Forbes’ list of of the World’s 25 Highest-Paid Musicians, his U.S. and European tours were blockbusters, and his annual album release, “Clancy’s Tavern,” debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard country album chart, with the first single, “Made in America,” topping the trade publication’s country songs list.
Then, Keith released online a music video for the party anthem “Red Solo Cup.” Suddenly, the Norman resident’s year became even more red-letter as the uproarious mini-movie went viral in a big way. Since its October release, the unedited version of the video has earned nearly 7 million YouTube hits. The song has been covered on the cult hit TV show “Glee” and spawned a holiday variation on the video.
Earlier this week, the holiday rendition and the edited version of the video ranked No. 1 and 2 on CMT.com’s top video list, and the fast-rising single ranked No. 17 on Billboard’s country song chart.
During our fall chat, Keith jokingly called “Red Solo Cup” “the most profound, intelligent thing I’ve ever done.”
The catchy ditty was written by Brett and Brad Warren and Brett and Jim Beavers, and Keith said it wasn’t pitched to him to record but just sent to him as an MP3.
“It was ‘listen to what I heard last night,’ one of them deals. I played it, I laughed out loud, and my first comment was, ‘That is the dumbest thing I’ve ever heard in my life. That is stupid; somebody wrote a song about red plastic cups,’” Keith said.
“And next morning, I wake up from just hearing it and I’m going, ‘Holy cow, I know that song inside and out. I cannot get it out of my head,’” he added. “It just gets stuck in your head like an infection.”
The unedited version of the video features cameos from late-night TV host Craig Ferguson, comics Carrot Top and Jeff Dunham, rockers Sammy Hagar and Ted Nugent, basketball legend Larry Bird and fellow country singers Joe Nichols and Eric Church:
- BAM
Video: Holiday version of Toby Keith’s “Red Solo Cup”
Oklahoma country music star Toby Keith has released a holiday version of his hit party anthem “Red Solo Cup” featuring a snowboarding, imbibing Santa and an inebriated puppy in a festive hat.
Even without the Christmasy edit, the Norman resident’s ode to the famous beverage receptacle has garnered more than 6 million views.
“Red Solo Cup” sold nearly 100,000 copies last week, a 90 percent increase for the song, which abides in the overall top 10 on iTunes. Fast approaching the 500,000-downloads mark, the tune is also powering gains for Keith’s latest album. “Clancy’s Tavern” saw a 49 percent increase last week, rising again to one of the top country albums.
At radio, “Red Solo Cup” is one of the most added country songs and has already reached the Top 20 just a few weeks after its official release.
Meanwhile, retailers may be seeing a run on the red Solo cup, as one visitor to Wal-Mart found at a display full of blue and yellow Solo cups. A sign tacked to the shelf read, “Thanks to Toby Keith, we are out of red Solo cups.”
To read what Keith told me about the song in our recent interview, click here.
-BAM
Blake Shelton, Toby Keith among headliners for Wisconsin’s Country Thunder 2012
Blake Shelton (AP file)
Toby Keith (AP file)
When Country Thunder rolls around next July 19-22 in Wisconsin, it will mark the 20th anniversary of the well-known camping, music and entertainment festival, with headliners Big & Rich, Jason Aldean and Oklahoma superstars Blake Shelton and Toby Keith.
Headlining Thursday night, July 19, will be multiplatinum duo Big & Rich, whose raucous-raising performance will help kick off the four-day festival extravaganza. Comprised of Big Kenny Alphin and “The Celebrity Apprentice” winner John Rich, the duo has garnered multiple Grammy, Academy of Country Music, Country Music Association and CMT Music Award nominations. Their hits include their infectious smash-hit singles, “Fake ID” and “Save a Horse (Ride a Cowboy)” as well as “Comin’ to Your City,” “8th of November” and “Lost in this Moment.” Joining Big & Rich on Thursday, will be hot new All In/Elektra Nashville/ New Revolution country act, The Farm, whose debut single “Home Sweet Home” is currently building at radio.
Georgia native Jason Aldean will headline Friday night, July 20, with Steve Holy and Wade Bowen in the opening slots. Aldean recently earned two CMA Awards, six American Country Awards and three nominations for the upcoming Grammys, and was chosen as a CMT Artists of the Year honoree for the second consecutive year. Also joining Friday’s line-up will be Aldean’s tourmate Luke Bryan, who has scored numerous hits including “All My Friends Say,” “Country Man,” “Do I,” and the chart-topping singles “Rain is a Good Thing,” and “Someone Else Calling You Baby.”
Tishomingo resident Blake Shelton, reigning CMA Male Vocalist of the Year for the second consecutive year, will perform at the festival in Wisconsin on Saturday, July 21. The Ada native continues to be the “most versatile of contemporary country singers” (according to The New York Times”) and recently received Grammy nominations for Best Country Solo Performance for “Honey Bee,” and Best Country Album for “Red River Blue.” The album’s latest single, “God Gave Me You,” which earned songwriter Dave Barnes a Grammy nomination for Best Country Song, is a three-week No. 1 and Shelton’s fastest-rising single to date. “Honey Bee” is his first-ever digital platinum single and holds the record for the fastest-selling digital platinum single for a male country solo artist. The single held the No. 1 spot on the Billboard Country chart for four weeks in a row with more than 40 million in audience. No country artist has held this record in almost six years.
For the final day of the event, Norman resident Toby Keith will take over the stage, making sure the 20th annual Wisconsin Country Thunder Festival is a party until the very end. From his first single and No. 1 smash “Should’ve Been A Cowboy” to his latest album and Billboard Top Country Album chart-topper “Clancy’s Tavern,” the Clinton native has been one of the most consistent self-directed hit makers of his era. He’s now in his 18th consecutive year having notched a No. 1 single every year since his first release.Keith ‘s new single, “Red Solo Cup,” has become the most remarkable and commercially successful new country single in recent memory, with a viral video earning millions of views online, and the song becoming one of the most downloaded country songs.
Joining Keith in the lineup for Sunday, July 22 will be returning Country Thunder favorite Neal McCoy, Atlantic Nashville newcomer Hunter Hayes, and Brantley Gilbert, who has recently earned his first No. 1 song in the country with the aptly titled single “Country Must Be Country Wide.”
Taking place July 19-22, country fans from across the nation will travel to Twin Lakes, Wisc., for four full days of nonstop entertainment. Until Jan. 1, fans can pay only $99 for a four-day pass granting access to the entire weekend of music and entertainment. For the total festival experience, a campsite may be purchased, with prices beginning as low as $100 for the entire weekend. Country Thunder offers five different camping options, from the primitive general campgrounds to the Big Rig campsites, which come with amenities including hook-ups for water and electricity.
For more information, go to www.countrythunder.com.
-BAM
