Country Music

Reigning ACM and CMA “Vocal Duo of the Year” Thompson Square will debut its new single, “Everything I Shouldn’t Be Thinking About,” on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno on Tuesday, May 21st. The up-tempo and light-heartedly clever song – which The New York Times describes as a “hint of domestic naughtiness” – was co-written [...]

Darius Rucker – True Believers Track Listing: 1. True Believers | 2. Miss You | 3. Wagon Wheel | 4. Love Without You | 5. Radio | 6. Lost In You | 7. I Will Love You Still | 8. Take Me Home | 9. Shine | 10. Heartbreak Road | 11. Leavin’ The Light [...]

It Takes a Community Foundation (ITAC), the charitable 501(c)(3) organization started by multi-Platinum recording artist Aaron Lewis and his wife Vanessa, along with first-time partner KIX 100.9 Pioneer Valley’s Country, will host the third annual Aaron Lewis & Friends benefit concert on Friday, June 14, 2013, starting at 7:30 pm at The Mass Mutual Center, [...]

Some six years and counting after their spectacular debut on the bluegrass scene, with a couple of handfuls of IBMA awards garnered along the way, Jamie Dailey and Darrin Vincent continue to avoid the trap of sputtering out after using up their best material on the first couple of albums. The primary reason is, although they are adept at writing...

Jana Kramer photo by Bryan Allen, courtesy of Warner Bros. Nashville. Jana Kramer has released her new single, “I Hope It Rains,” to country radio. She recently filmed the video outside of Nashville with plans for it to be released next month. The single can be found on her self-titled debut album. A busy summer is in the works for Jana. She’s currently on tour with Darius Rucker through June before joining Blake Shelton’s Ten Times Crazier Tour this July, including stops in Chicago, New York’s Jones Beach and Nashville. Jana released her self-titled debut album in 2012, drawing critical praise. She was named ACM’s 2013 New Female Vocalist of the Year and was the most played debut artist at country radio in 2012. She has sold more than 1.3 million tracks from her debut project. ShareThis

This year's nominees include Buddy Cannon, Dan Huff [...]

Photo courtesy of Essential Broadcast Media, taken by Art Streiber. George Strait is the first music artist in history, in any genre, to record 60 No. 1 songs. His latest single, “Give It All We Got Tonight” topped the Mediabase country chart this week. It is the lead single from his new album, Love Is Everything, released May 14. Read our review of George Strait’s Love Is Everything album >> “I didn’t realize we were making history,” George said. “I just hoped we were putting out music that my fans would enjoy. As always, I’m thankful to the fans and country radio for their support on all 60 of these number one songs as well as my entire career. They are the ones who made this happen.”  Country stars and fans alike joined the ‘Sixty For Sixty’ movement at sixtyforsixty.com to help accomplish the historic milestone of giving George his 60th No. 1 single, while he was 60 years old. It came down to the last minute as George turned 61 on Saturday, May 18. “I may be 61,” George said, “but I don’t feel a day over 60.” “The amount of support shown by fans, industry and especially country radio to give George his 60th No. 1 single is the ultimate testament in a format that has been defined by his music,” Royce Risser, SVP Promotion for Universal Music Group Nashville, said. “No one is more deserving of this accomplishment than George Strait, the undeniable King of Country Music. Happy Birthday George!” George kicked off the first leg of his final tour, The Cowboy Rides Away Tour, earlier this year with only a June 1 date at San Antonio’s Alamodome remaining. Dates for the second and final leg of his tour, taking place in 2014, will be announced later this year. ShareThis

Kenny Chesney photo courtesy of Sony Music Nashville. Kenny Chesney is featured in the current issue of Entertainment Weekly. He went three rounds with the magazine, discussing everything from discipline and focus and playing poker with Willie Nelson to the impact the family of Lynette Rice, a Sandy Hook victim, had on him. Read our review of Kenny Chesney’s Life On A Rock >> “The fact they literally wrote ‘No Shoes, No Shirt, No Problems’ in black sharpie on her casket,” Kenny said. “You never know whose life you’re touching with music. You get so caught up in recording…you’re always onto something else, right? You forget songs matter and they live with people. They are a real close part of their lives.” During the interview, which took place at Pirate’s Cove Beach Café overlooking the Pacific Ocean, Kenny avoided the fried calamari but helped himself to the raw seafood platter the restaurant sent to his table. While Kenny didn’t know the interviewer, he felt comfortable. GAC is the official media sponsor of Kenny’s No Shoes Nation Tour. Check out photos, videos and more from the tour in our No Shoes Nation Tour section! “It was one of those interviews that felt more like talking with a stranger you’d sit down next to at a bar on a slow afternoon,” he said. “Nowhere to go, nowhere to be and a whole lot of life to philosophize about… Only this stranger knows a whole lot about me and what I do!” In addition to the four page spread, Kenny also has a second cover picture, taken on the beach along the Pacific. He wrapped the EW interview by dismissing the idea of ever slowing down. “I haven’t thought about it,” he said. “It’s hard to say, because I think once you got a song in your heart, you’re gonna find a way to get it out. I love what I do too much.” ShareThis var shared_object = SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title:'Kenny Chesney Featured in Entertainment Weekly Spread', url:'http://blog.gactv.com/blog/2013/05/21/kenny-chesney-featured-in-entertainment-weekly-spread/' }); shared_object.attachButton(document.getElementById("ck_sharethis_42020")); shared_object.attachChicklet("email", document.getElementById("ck_email_42020")); shared_object.attachChicklet("facebook", document.getElementById("ck_facebook_42020")); shared_object.attachChicklet("twitter", document.getElementById("ck_twitter_42020"));

Hunter Hayes’ (Encore), the forthcoming deluxe version of his acclaimed debut album, is available for pre-order now. In addition to the original music, (Encore) features eight new tracks, including duets with Jason Mraz and Pistol Annie’s Ashley Monroe. Fans can pre-order the album on iTunes and receive three exclusive videos here, or choose from three [...]

Drew has been with ASCAP since 2009 as Vice President of Membership – Pop/Rock, where she is [...]