NashvilleGab - Country music news and Nashville celebrity gossip

Alan Jackson, Easton Corbin, and Gloriana celebrate 4th of July early with military and families at Fort Sill, OK (press release)

Country superstar Alan Jackson will kick off the Fourth of July celebration early for members of the military and their families at Fort Sill, Oklahoma in the nation’s heartland this weekend. On Saturday evening June 30, Jackson will perform at the Polo Field on the base and the show is open to the public. Special guests joining Jackson for the event are Easton Corbin and Gloriana.

Fort Sill is a storied Army facility founded more than 140 years ago on the plains of Oklahoma; it was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1960 and is home to Army artillery and officer training programs.

Jackson’s ongoing 2012 tour also includes shows this week at Red Rocks Amphitheater near Denver (Thursday) and a Lubbock, TX show at the United Spirit Arena (Friday).

Jackson’s acclaimed new album, Thirty Miles West, was released early this month – it debuted at #1 on Billboard’s country sales chart (and at #2 on the overall Top 200 Album chart). The album – which features the hit “So You Don’t Have to Love Me Anymore” and “Dixie Highway,” a duet with Zac Brown – has remained in the Top 3 on the country chart since its release. 

Kenny Chesney's 'Welcome To The Fishbowl' Debuts #1 On Billboard Country Album Chart & #2 On The Billboard 200 (press release)

Photo via KennyChesney.com

Kenny Chesney's 'Welcome To The Fishbowl' album debuts today at #1 on Billboard's Top Country Albums Chart with more than 193,000 albums sold, according to Nielsen SoundScan. This is his 11th consecutive album to debut at #1. 'Fishbowl' debuts at #2 on the all-genre Billboard 200 Chart.

First-week sales of 'Fishbowl' eclipse the first-week sales of his last three album releases, including the platinum-selling, critically acclaimed 'Hemingway's Whiskey,' which produced four #1 singles and a Top 5 song. "This dramatic increase in sales is a real testament to the strength of his new music, as well as the continued momentum of his career at every level," said Gary Overton, Sony Music Nashville Chairman & CEO.

'Welcom to the Fishbowl' has already yielded the Top 10 hit "Feel Like A Rock Star" with 'Brothers of the Sun' Tour partner Tim McGraw, and his current single, "Come Over," is one of the fastest rising singles in Chesney's career. Album release week activities included a free, 75-minute concert directed for a live stream by Academy Award-winning director Jonathan Demme as part of the American Express "Unstaged" series, as well as performances on Late Night With Jimmy Fallon and The Today Show Summer Concert Series. Chesney wrapped the week with stadium shows in Nashville and Charlotte.

Chesney is currently on the cover of Men's Health Magazine and People Country, with recent features in USA Today, People Magazine, Entertainment Weekly, TV Guide and much more. He can be seen on ESPN's latest "This is SportsCenter" commercial (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j84pqBlTC9I&feature=youtu.be), where Chesney tries to ignore ESPN anchor Steve Levy's zealous attempt to join him at the popular table in the ESPN cafeteria. He'll also take part in NBC's Macy's 4th of July Fireworks Spectacular which airs Wednesday, July 4 from 9-10 pm ET.

Rascal Flatts celebrates Changed Tour opening weekend with 45,000 fans (press release)

With over six million career concert tickets sold as one of the hottest touring acts in music today, Rascal Flatts launched their new tour this past weekend with two sold-out concerts. The Farmers Insurance Presents "Changed Tour" kicked off in Hartford, Conn. and Boston, Mass. with 45,000 fans attending. The current nearly 40-city tour features a new production stage and an all-band set up with Little Big Town, Eli Young Band and Edens Edge opening.

"We have the best fans in the world and they made this a really special first weekend for us," said Gary LeVox, lead singer for Rascal Flatts. "We wanted to create something unique for them with the all-band set up and we loved having our friends in Little Big Town, Eli Young and Edens Edge on stage with us to perform a number together."

Darius Rucker announces Darius and Friends concert and golf tournament info (press release)

Third Annual "Darius and Friends" concert and golf tournament has been announced for Monday, June 4, and Darius Rucker is pleased to announce friends Rodney Atkins, Clint Black, Sunny Sweeney, Chuck Wicks and special surprise guests will join him at the concert event benefiting St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. The Wildhorse Saloon in downtown Nashville is once again hosting the evening with doors opening at 6:00 pm and the concert beginning at 7:30 pm.

"We've had so much fun the last two years with friends jamming on stage for a great cause," says Rucker. "I'm excited to continue that tradition with this year's event."

Rucker is currently in the studio with producer Frank Rogers working on his follow-up to his 2010 release Charleston, SC 1966 and his now-platinum debut, Learn To Live (2008).

Event posters and t-shirts will be available on-site with all sales, along with all ticket sales from the night, going directly to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital to support their continued success and mission to find cures and save children struggling against deadly diseases. A limited number of tickets remain and may be purchased at the Wildhorse Saloon (615.902.8200) and on www.ticketmaster.com.

For additional information, please visit www.dariusrucker.com.

Dolly Parton's Coat of Many Colors heads to The Library of Congress (press release)

Last night I was all set to write about Dolly's song Coat of Many Colors being added to The Library of Congress, but I procrastinated and look what happened -- someone wrote a nice little press release about it and saved me the trouble of writing it for myself. 

Love when that happens.  Now here's the press release.....

Dolly Parton’s self-penned song “Coat of Many Colors” added to The Library of Congress National Recording Registry. Each year the Library of Congress selects 25 recordings that are “historically”, “culturally”, or “aesthetically significant” and are at least 10 years old to be added to the National Recording Registry, with selections that are being added to the registry now bringing the total number of recordings to 350.

 

Tim McGraw finds a new musical home....signs with Big Machine Records (press release)

Photo Credit: Danny Clinch

Big Machine Records announced today the signing of Country music superstar Tim McGraw to a worldwide recording deal. The powerhouse label and McGraw will release new music, which will be distributed globally by Universal Music Group. With over 40 million albums sold and 32 No. one singles over the course of his remarkable career to date, this new era of McGraw's career will be driven by a dream team of the most successful and dynamic thinkers in the music industry.

“Many people know that I came to Nashville 23 years ago on a Greyhound bus with nothing but a guitar,” said McGraw. “And 23 years to the day, on May 9, I went back to the bus station and officially signed this deal. It was a significant way for me to mark this new beginning. Scott Borchetta has developed a powerhouse at Big Machine, and I’m happy to be a part of what he has built and to call Big Machine Records my new label home. Excited doesn’t even begin to describe how I’m feeling about working on a new album for this next chapter in my career. Here’s to the next 20 years!”

Nashvillians take note -- Ronnie Dunn's giving you a free concert tonight

Nothing better than a free concert.  From a press release I just got. 

Ronnie Dunn will be doing a FREE show at The Stage on Broadway in downtown Nashville TONIGHT, May 16 at 9:00 PM.

The performance is in celebration of the release of the RONNIE DUNN: SPECIAL EDITION album available exclusively at Cracker Barrel Old Country Store locations on May 21. The performance will be recorded for a radio special to be aired on Sirius XM radio.

Let the cowboys (and cowgirls) rock!!

The Stage

412 Broadway

Nashville, TN 37203

9:00 PM Ronnie Dunn

Edens Edge release track listing for upcoming album (press release)

Big Machine Records’ rising stars, Edens Edge, have revealed the official tracklist for their self-titled, debut album. The project will be released on June 12, showcasing their rootsy signature style, which is evident on the sassy new single, “Too Good To Be True,” and their Top 20 debut single, “Amen.”

Award-winning producers Mark Bright and Dann Huff each worked on individual tracks with the Arkansas-bred trio, who penned half of the songs. The album displays Edens Edge’s unique musical blend that is deeply rooted in Country music, acoustic instrumentation and pure vocal harmonies.

TRACKLIST:

1. Amen (Skip Black, Hannah Blaylock, Catt Gravitt, Gerald O'Brien)
2. Swingin’ Door (Terry Clayton, Brett James, Ashley Monroe)
3. Skinny Dippin’ (Dean Berner, Laura Veltz, Vince Melamed)
4. Too Good To Be True (Gordie Sampson, Hillary Lindsey, Troy Verges)
5. Last Supper (Hannah Blaylock, Catt Gravitt, Danny Myrick)
6. Feels So Real (Angelo, Hillary Lindsey, Tia Sillers)
7. Who Am I Drinking Tonight (Hannah Blaylock, Laura Veltz)
8. Liar (Andy Stochansky, Laura Veltz)
9. Cherry Pie (Dean Berner, Vince Melamed, Laura Veltz)
10. Christ Alone (Steve Smith)

This summer, Edens Edge has been selected for an opening slot on Rascal Flatts “CHANGED TOUR.” They will share another national platform with their labelmates called Outnumber Hunger, which helps to secure meals for the 1 in 6 Americans struggling. The partnership between Big Machine Label Group, General Mills and Feeding America engages consumers across the country while encouraging local outreach. Previously, they were profiled as one of Billboard’s “Artists to Watch,” were chosen as a CMT LISTEN UP! Artist and joined three major Country tours – Reba, Lady Antebellum & Brad Paisley.

Carrie Underwood to release video for Good Girl March 12

Carrie Underwood has plotted a course for the debut of her new Good Girl video and will be releasing it to the masses on Monday, March 12, during Entertainment Tonight.  The director of the video is the same gal who directed Cowboy Casanova so expect something fun and sexy.

From the press release: 

Carrie Underwood’s hot new co-penned single “Good Girl” will debut its video with an exclusive broadcast and online World Premiere on Monday, March 12 on Entertainment Tonight, with an extended ET Online posting following the program, and on VEVO, including a 24-hour exclusive on VEVO.com and VEVO mobile apps. Both Entertainment Tonight and VEVO will begin promoting the video with never before seen behind the scenes footage starting this Friday, March 9.

On Tuesday, March 13, Carrie’s “Good Girl” video will be available for purchase on iTunes. Then on Wednesday, March 14 the video will be released to all digital and broadcast partners.

The video was filmed in Los Angeles by director Theresa Wingert.

Additional great news continues as the “Good Girl” single sales double in just under two weeks reaching 227,000 units and remaining at #1 for the second consecutive week on the Billboard Digital Country Songs Chart according the Nielsen SoundScan. The song, co-written by Underwood, is resonating high with fans and critics alike, receiving an A- rating in Entertainment Weekly this week.

“Good Girl” is the lead single from Carrie’s forthcoming new album, Blown Away, due in stores on May 1.

Update: You can now watch Carrie's new video for Good Girl here.

Randy Houser's new baby confirmed (press release)

Courtesy of RandyHouser.com

No baby name yet, but we finally got confirmation that Randy Houser and his wife Jessa Lee welcomed a new baby boy into their family today.  

From the press release:

Country star Randy Houser and wife, Jessa Lee Houser beamed with pride this morning as they welcomed their first child, a baby boy, into the world. Weighing in at 6 lbs., 11 oz. and a whopping 19 inches long, the little one will have big ‘boots’ to fill following in the shadow of his talented CMA/ACM nominated “Boots On,” and “Anything Goes,” hit-making father, but to Houser and Yantz, he is the greatest gift they could ever receive. The happy couple married in a private ceremony in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic last year.

To top off a year of positive life-changing milestones, Houser is newly signed with Stoney Creek Records and will release a brand-new single to radio in May, off of his highly-anticipated third album which will hit stores later this year. Houser recently announced several new tour dates for this summer, so to find out if he'll be coming to a city near you, visit www.RandyHouser.com.  

Fans can also stay updated on Randy Houser’s latest career happenings by following him on Twitter @RandyHouser or Facebook, www.Facebook.com/RandyHouser.