Premiered Digitally by Taste of Country and This Weekend on Heartland TV

Country music singer/songwriter Cherish Lee honors her father, Urban Cowboy singer and ACM winner, Johnny Lee, with the release of her latest music video for “Father’s Daughter.” The video features the close relationship Cherish and Johnny share, with clips of the two singing in front of crowds together and their special moments backstage. Cherish’s emotion proves just how proud she is to be Johnny’s daughter. The sentimental song lays out Johnny’s life from early childhood to hitting the road as a musician and highlights the significant impact he has had on Cherish. The video was premiered digitally by Taste of Country and will debut on Heartland TV this Saturday, June 18 at 6 pm ET with an encore on Father’s Day morning at 8 am ET.

Listen/stream/buy HERE.

To view Cherish Lee’s premiere with Taste of Country, visit HERE.

“Cherish called me one day and started asking a bunch of questions,” shares Johnny Lee. ”I didn’t know what she was doing until she played the song. It means a lot, especially coming from my daughter. I love you Cherish.“

“My dad means so much to me,” shares Cherish Lee. “To the world, he is Johnny Lee, but to me- he’s dad. My Papa Bear! He has made a tremendous mark in the entertainment and country music world. But he has made an even bigger imprint on me. This song was my way of honoring him, his life, with the language we speak together…..music. I love you, Papa Bear. Happy Father’s Day!”

Johnny Lee, known for his dynamic stage presence and No. 1 smash crossover hit “Lookin’ for Love,” recently released his highly anticipated new album, Everything’s Gonna’ Be Alright by BFD/Audium Nashville distributed exclusively through Orchard. Everything’s Gonna’ Be Alright consists of fourteen songs, some written or co-written by Johnny, that he has saved throughout the years for the perfect album that truly reflects his life. Each of the fourteen tracks showcases a different side of Lee, allowing his listeners to experience a journey that draws on his past, but more importantly highlights the future. Everything’s Gonna’ Be Alright premiered on Taste of Country and is available on all streaming platforms at orcd.co/JohnnyLeeEverythingsGonnaBeAlright

On the heels of the announcement of her label debut, I’ll Tell You What’s Gonna Happen, arriving July 8 via Show Dog Nashville in partnership with Thirty Tigers, singer/songwriter Kimberly Kelly debuts the music video for album track “Summers Like That” exclusively, today on CMT. Watch HERE. Fans can also catch Kelly every Tuesday in June for her residency at Nashville’s legendary venue, The Basement. Performances begin at 7 pm on June 21 and 28. For more information visit, thebasementnashville.com.

Directed by Tyler Barksdale, the video brings the nostalgic song to life…capturing what young love looks like. “Tyler did an amazing job using subtle imagery that mirrors the song’s lyrics and the story in addition to what the actors are doing,” Kelly shared exclusively with CMT. “The carnival scene wasn’t planned either— it just happened to be set up nearby the weekend we shot. The carnival alone added a whole other level of charm to the story and song.”

“Summers Like That,” which left Billboard praising Kelly’s “warm, lifting voice,” was written by Karyn Rochelle and Bobby Tomberlin and produced by Brett Tyler. The song not only name checks a number of classic 90s country hits but is also sonically, reminiscent of some of Kelly’s biggest influences, artist like Trisha Yearwood, Pam Tillis, Brooks & Dunn and Deana Carter. Listen to “Summers Like That” HERE.

A native of Lorena, Texas, Kelly spent years in both the Texas and Nashville music scenes earning an education in experiences that have made her both fearless in her approach to creating and unafraid to defy convention when it comes to industry expectations. Those years of hard work, all while also earning a Master’s degree and working fulltime, culminated last summer in a long-awaited record deal with Show Dog Nashville. Now she is set to make her label debut. Pre-order or pre-save I’ll Tell You What’s Gonna Happen HERE.

The album is already earning kudos including praise from legendary singer/songwriter and fellow Texan, Radney Foster, who shared, “If you like your Country music with fiddles and steel guitars, melodies that soar and a singer who unapologetically sings with a twang, you will love Kimberly Kelly. She’s a great songwriter and her timeless voice delivers power and emotion on this fun but often poignant collection. Don’t try to drive while you’re listening to ‘Person That You Marry.’ Don’t ask me how I know.”

Off stage Kelly possess an inviting warmth mixed with sly self-deprecation, a winsome combo only earned with some life experience, self-awareness and nothing to prove on stage just the goods to stop a listener in their tracks. “This is not my first rodeo,” Kelly says of her label debut. “I worked really hard in Texas before I came to Nashville. I wrote songs, put out records, did a radio tour, and played every weekend while going to school and working full-time.”

The album’s title, I’ll Tell You What’s Gonna Happen, is a clever nod to her friend and fellow Texas musician, the late Country Music Hall of Famer, Billy Joe Shaver. The abbreviated quote comes from the better-than-fiction-true story of Shaver forcing his way into a Waylon Jennings recording session after the star tried to renege on recording some of his songs. Brushing off a $100 bill to go away, Shaver said to Jennings, “I’ll tell you what’s gonna happen. You’re gonna either listen to these songs or I’m gonna whip your ass.” Waylon agreed to listen to one. The rest is history in the form of Jennings’ 1973 Honky Tonk Heroes album, on which every song but one was written by Shaver.

“I landed on this album title on a dare,” Kelly says. “I was like, ‘Sure. What do I care?’ I did the Texas music scene, I’ve done time in Nashville, and I thought my time had passed when I got offered my record deal. My husband could keep writing songs and I’d just be a speech therapist. So I made this album like it’s the last one I’ll ever get to make and the title is my mantra so to speak. I love good songs, and I let the best ones win whether I wrote them or not. It’s a compilation I’m proud of, and I’m thrilled for people to hear them!”

Dolly Parton is donating $1 million to pediatric infectious disease research at Vanderbilt University Medical Center (VUMC), another transformative gift aimed to help in the fight against serious infectious diseases such as coronavirus that have worldwide ramifications.

Ongoing research in the Division of Pediatric Infectious Diseases includes understanding how viruses and bacteria cause disease, understanding and preventing resistance to antibiotics, preventing and treating infections, diagnosing and treating infections in children with cancer and research to define the impact of childhood infections throughout the world.

“I love all children. No child should ever have to suffer, and I’m willing to do my part to try and keep as many of them as I can as healthy and safe as possible,” Parton said.

A legendary country music singer-songwriter, Parton made a previous $1 million gift to VUMC in April 2020 in honor of her longtime friend, Naji Abumrad, MD, professor of Surgery, to increase scientific knowledge and advance the battle against COVID-19 by supporting research teams working urgently to perfect treatments and cures.

VUMC’s researchers have tested an array of already existing drugs in urgent clinical trials aimed at reducing life-threatening symptoms associated with COVID-19 and focused on entirely new therapies that could effectively treat and prevent the infection.

“We are deeply honored by Dolly’s contribution to our research mission,” said Mark Denison, MD, professor of Pediatrics and director of the Division of Pediatric Infectious Diseases. “For over 40 years our division has been a national and international leader in studies for the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of life-threatening infections, and this gift will accelerate our work and support new ideas.”

Among Parton’s other gifts to VUMC was a transformational contribution to the Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt Pediatric Cancer Program in honor of Abumrad and her niece, Hannah Dennison, who was successfully treated for leukemia as a child at Children’s Hospital.

“Dolly’s previous support to infectious disease research, and also our pediatric cancer program, has already saved countless lives,” said Jeff Balser, MD, PhD, President and CEO of VUMC and Dean of the Vanderbilt University School of Medicine. “This new gift will bolster our defenses against future threats to the safety of this region and society as a whole. It speaks volumes about her passion for people, and we couldn’t be more thankful.”

Grammy winner Carrie Underwood celebrated the release of her highly anticipated brand-new album “Denim & Rhinestones” with a launch week packed full of activities!

“Extra’s” Alecia Davis spoke with Carrie, who told her all about it and life on tour.

Discussing the event, Carrie shared, “CMA music fest week, everybody is in town just having a great time. Just wanted to create this immersive place where people could come be a part of ‘Denim & Rhinestones.’ There is a lot of that going on. We have different photo ops… various outfits I have worn… We’re giving out drinks. Just come by The Bell Tower here in downtown Nashville.”

As for choosing “Denim & Rhinestones” for her album title, Underwood explained, “When we wrote the song, I was like, ‘We can do a lot with this… Immediately you get some picture in your head when you hear denim and rhinestones… We bring the bling, all the denim, all the fringe… We are in a great time of fashion where there is no short supply of denim and rhinestones.”

For the interview, Carrie wore denim shorts and rhinestone boots, showing off her toned legs, which have gained tons of attention! She commented, “The boots… they are very heavy. I feel like they help with the leg workout for the day, like I have ankle weights on.”

Of her look, Carrie said, “I love it. I love the girly dressing… Onstage, there is like a toughness I kind of want to have… I just want to sing and not worry about what I am wearing. What’s better than a pair of cutoff denim shorts?”

Underwood will be heading out on tour soon. When she’s on the road, Carrie shared, “It’s easier to maintain a routine when I am on tour. I don’t have a house to clean, I don’t kids to cook for because there is catering and room service… I don’t eat that. You will never see me in catering or ordering room service. I go to the grocery store. I have my own food… Having those things on hand and taking care of myself.”

She added, “I usually work out longer when I am on the road just because I have more time.”

That includes working out with her husband Mike Fischer! She dished, “We work out in the same space quite a bit. We have definitely done partner workouts. He does his thing, I do my thing and try to stay out of each other’s way… I think I impress him on working out.”

The couple have two boys, who have traveled with them as well! She said, “This tour, I think for the most part they will be home. The last tour we set up a playroom in the venues… My last tour, my youngest son was 3 months old when we went on the road.”

How does she do it all? She answered, “A lot of juggling.”

Back to music, her first single on the album is called “Ghost Story.” Explaining the meaning of the song, she said, “I loved the feel of it… I did love saying I’m the one that got away but in a different kind of way, in a haunting kind of way.”

When Alecia commented, “We all secretly wonder if we are somebody’s ghost story,” Carrie responded, “I think to some extent, I know we all have one in some way… It has to be unfortunate if you at one point you dated someone who has a career like this now.”

While Carrie has a clothing line and books, could her own talk show be in the works? She answered, “I don’t think so. I am not a good talker… I’m a quiet person. I am okay with silence, so I would probably be a terrible talk show host.”

Carrie stressed the importance of staying focused on what is right in front of her, saying, “Releasing this album and going out on tour, and we will see what opportunities arise.”

“Denim & Rhinestones” drops June 10.

Courtesy of ExtraTV.com