ASHLEY COOKE ENLISTS JIMMIE ALLEN FOR POWERFUL SINGLE “GOOD GOODBYE,” AVAILABLE EVERYWHERE
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Rising Country newcomer Ashley Cooke teams up with multi-platinum ACM ‘New Male Artist of the Year’ award-winner Jimmie Allen for an all-new duet of “Good Goodbye” feat. Jimmie Allen,
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Pop/Rock Singer-Songwriter Ben Rector to Headline Free Concert to Kick Off World Cup Qualifier Match on Sept. 5
Country Artist Lindsay Ell to Open Show at Nissan Stadium
Nashville-based pop/rock singer-songwriter Ben Rector will headline a free concert outside Nissan Stadium to kick off the Sept. 5 World Cup Qualifying match as Nashville hosts USA-Canada, the Nashville Convention & Visitors Corp announced today. Country artist Lindsay Ell will open the show at 4:15 p.m., and Rector will take the stage at 5:15 p.m. prior to the 7 p.m. match. #WorldCup #Nash2026
This will be U.S. Soccer’s first home match of the 2022 FIFA World Cup Qualifying campaign and serves as a preview with Nashville in contention to serve as a host city for the 2026 World Cup. The U.S. team has had some recent significant wins, beating rival Mexico on Aug. 1 in the Gold Cup, after defeating them June 6 in the Concacaf National League final, resulting in two trophies for the U.S. Men’s National Team.
The concert is free and open to the public, including those without game tickets. Game tickets are on sale. Nashville country trio Runaway June will perform the national anthem. Both Rector and Ell are based in Nashville. Ell, who is Canadian, represented Nashville Soccer Club as part of the league’s 25th Season Celebration and helped them unveil their MLS away jersey, called the Nashville Vibe. More details at visitmusiccity.com/worldcupqualifier.
“We see this as a dress rehearsal to World Cup 2026, and having live music is essential to showing FIFA how we stand out from other destinations,” said Butch Spyridon, president and CEO, Nashville Convention & Visitors Corp. “With Nashville’s deep base of talent, we thought it would be fitting and fun to add a native Canadian with our Nashville headliner to add to the spirit of the game.”
The concert will take place on the South Plaza between Gates 8 and 9 at Nissan Stadium. Gates will open at 3 p.m. alongside U.S. Soccer’s official FanHQ event, a pregame fan activation created to extend the fan experience beyond the 90 minutes on the pitch. The event will include music, games, food and more.
“Hosting a World Cup Qualifier is more than just a match; it’s an event,” U.S. Soccer Chief Communications Officer Neil Buethe said. “We are thrilled to be offering fans a memorable experience beyond the field and to be showcasing the best a market can offer. What better way to do that in Music City than a free concert to build energy toward the game?”
With winning at home vital to any team’s chances of qualifying for the World Cup, venue selection is a critical component. U.S. Soccer recognizes Music City’s growing soccer culture and outstanding facilities as key factors in the selection. Nashville was named Best Sports City in 2019 by Sports Business Journal.
Currently home to Nashville SC, the city has developed a rich history of supporting the U.S. Men’s National Soccer Team and drawing impressive crowds. The USA began its march to the 2017 Concacaf Gold Cup title by playing to a 1-1 draw with Panama in front of 47,622 fans – then a record attendance mark for soccer in the state of Tennessee.
A year later, more than 40,000 fans witnessed a U.S. 1-0 shutout victory against regional rivals Mexico. Most recently, the U.S. team overcame Jamaica 3-1 in the semifinal of the 2019 Concacaf Gold Cup. Overall, the USA has amassed a 4-2-1 record in Nashville.
World Cup Qualifying
The match against Canada is part of the ‘triple date’ to open World Cup Qualifying during which the U.S. will play three matches in seven days. The campaign kicks off with the USMNT traveling to face El Salvador on Sept. 2 at the 53,000 seat Estadio Cuscatlán in San Salvador. Three days after the Canada game, the USMNT takes on Honduras in San Pedro Sula. Under the new qualifying format, a total of eight teams – increased from six in previous cycles – will compete in the Final Round, with the top three teams advancing to Qatar ’22. The fourth-place team will participate in an Intercontinental playoff for the last spot. The 10 matches in the Final Round had typically been played during the course of 18 months. Due to schedule changes related to the global pandemic and the new format, each team will play 14 matches in a seven-month period. ussoccer.com
Ben Rector
You love Ben Rector’s music… you just might not have realized it yet. Called “exactly what the world needs” by The Collegian and praised for a sound that “perfectly encapsulates all the warm feelings” by People magazine, this songwriting polymath has flown a hair’s breadth under the mainstream radar for over a decade. In that time he has amassed over a billion streams across all platforms; played live on a number of national television shows, including Jimmy Kimmel, Conan, The Today Show, and more; had his music featured in over 100 TV shows, ads, and films including Pretty Little Liars and Castle (his single “Brand New” is one of the most licensed songs for television and film in the last five years); hit the number one spot on Billboard’s U.S. Folk chart and the number nine spot on their top 200; mentored stars of tomorrow on ABC hit show American Idol; sold out three consecutive nights at the legendary Ryman Auditorium, as well as countless other theaters and arenas around the country; and that’s just the start – not bad for an artist that’s chosen to remain largely independent. There’s an understated magnetism to Rector and his “meticulously crafted, shamelessly romantic folky pop” (Chicago Tribune). He’s Nashville’s worst-kept, best-kept secret, and if you’ve never heard his name before, now you’ll never forget it. benrectormusic.com
Lindsay Ell
Lindsay Ell’s newest album heart theory was produced by the legendary Dann Huff, and its storytelling highlights Ell’s growth since her debut album on Stoney Creek Records, The Project, which debuted at No. 1 on the Country Album Sales Chart and was named Billboard’s “Best Country Album of 2017.” That album spawned her first Top 20 hit in the United States, as well as her first No.1 on the Canadian Country radio charts – making her the first female artist to top that chart in 10 years. Most recently, she scored her first No. 1 with “What Happens in a Small Town,” her duet with Brantley Gilbert – another milestone moment making her the first Canadian artist to hit No. 1 in the U.S. since Emerson Drive’s “Moments” in 2007, and the first Canadian woman to reach the top of the charts since Terri Clark with “I Just Wanna Be Mad” in 2003. Over the past three years, Ell has shared the stage with some of the biggest acts in the world touring with Keith Urban, Brad Paisley, and Sugarland. She has made multiple appearances on the CMA Awards stage, including playing with Carrie Underwood and performing with distinguished country group, Little Big Town, alongside other powerhouse female artists in one the biggest moments of the 2019 CMA Awards where she was also nominated for Musical Event of the Year. Ell’s nominations do not stop there, she is a 2-time 2020 ACM nominee for New Female Artist of the Year and Music Event of the Year. lindsayell.com
LUKE BRYAN: MY DIRT ROAD DIARY OFFICIAL TRAILER NOW AVAILABLE
All episodes of the five-part original docuseries on the life and career of five-time Entertainer of the Year Luke Bryan premieres today on IMDb TV, Amazon’s premium free streaming service. Luke Bryan: My Dirt Road Diary shares the ups, downs, triumphs, and tragedies along the road to unprecedented success with original home videos, interviews, and incredibly personal footage, allowing viewers a personal look into the life of the country music superstar. Watch the trailer HERE.
Luke Bryan: My Dirt Road Diary features a new song Luke co-wrote with Luke Laird and Josh Osborne in honor of his late brother Chris. “Songs You Never Heard” is an ode to his brother who was always Luke’s biggest supporter of chasing his musical dreams. Chris was someone who shared his love of country music, going to concerts and listening to Clint Black, George Strait, Keith Whitley, and more, and who would no doubt be by Luke’s side to this day. But Chris never got to hear any of Luke’s own hit songs. “Songs You Never Heard” is available digitally HERE.
Luke Bryan: My Dirt Road Diary is executive produced by Luke Bryan, Kerri Edwards, and Ryan Schmidt, in association with Endeavor Content and Peanut Mountain Productions. Michael Monaco of FlyHi Films also serves as an executive producer and directs.
About Luke Bryan
Since his debut, Luke Bryan has garnered 26 #1 hits and has more RIAA certified digital singles than any other country artist with 68.5 million, has 15.6 billion streams worldwide, and has sold nearly 13 million albums. His headline concert tours have played sold-out shows for 12 million fans inclusive of 36 stadium concerts, Farm Tours, Spring Break shows, and seven sold-out ‘Crash My Playa’ destination concert events. Luke has won over 50 major music awards including five wins as Entertainer of the Year. His third and most recent Entertainer win was awarded by the Academy of Country Music this April, and he also holds two Entertainer honors by the Country Music Association. Additional awards include six recognitions as a CMT Artist of the Year, NSAI Artist/Songwriter of the Year, the first-ever recipient of the ACM Album of the Decade Award for Crash My Party, seven CMT Music Awards, five Billboard Music Awards, and four American Music Awards – as well as being named Billboard’s Top Country Artist of the 2010s, the ‘Most Heard Artist of the Decade’ by Country Aircheck, and the ‘Artist Humanitarian Recipient’ by the Country Radio Broadcasters this February. This spring he released a deluxe version of his #1 debuting BORN HERE LIVE HERE DIE HERE (Deluxe Edition). The album’s title track inspired the name for his current tour, “Proud To Be Right Here Tour” with shows scheduled through the fall. Luke is set to return as a celebrity judge for a fifth season, alongside Katy Perry and Lionel Richie, on ABC’s American Idol in 2022.
COLE SWINDELL CELEBRATES A 2ND WEEK AT NO. 1 WITH HIS 10TH CAREER CHART-TOPPER “SINGLE SATURDAY NIGHT”
Swindell To Perform “Single Saturday Night” on CMA Summer Jam
Airing Sept. 2 on ABC
GRAMMY-nominated multi-Platinum rising superstar Cole Swindell is celebrating again today with a 2nd week in the No. 1 spot at the top of the Billboard country singles chart with his 10th career No. 1 single “Single Saturday Night.” “Single Saturday Night” was written by Ashley Gorley, Michael Hardy and Mark Holman and produced by Michael Carter.The Georgia native’s 2-week No. 1 single has been streamed globally over 180 million times and adds to his over 4 BILLION global career streams. Swindell was also recognized last week for having reached over 15 million in total US track equivalents.
Swindell was in downtown Nashville’s Ascend Amphitheater earlier this week to perform the two-week No. 1 “Single Saturday Night” with his friend and superstar Luke Bryan as part of the Country Music Association’s three-hour artist-curated primetime television special that will air Thursday, Sept. 2 on ABC (8:00-11:00 PM/ET). He joins more than 20 of the biggest stars in country music including Bryan, Jimmie Allen, Gabby Barrett, Dierks Bentley, Brothers Osborne, Luke Combs, Florida Georgia Line, Mickey Guyton, Miranda Lambert, Carly Pearce, Blake Shelton, Gwen Stefani, Thomas Rhett, Carrie Underwood,
Click HERE for “Single Saturday Night.”
Swindell is on the road headlining his own shows in California and Nevada this week. Swindell will hit the road with Thomas Rhett’s Center Point Road Tour which kicks off August 20 in Bangor, ME.
For more information and tour dates, please visit www.coleswindell.com and follow @coleswindell on Twitter, @coleswindell on Instagram and on Facebook.
CHRIS YOUNG ANNOUNCES 2021 HEADLINE TOUR
“Famous Friends Tour 2021” includes 13 arena and amphitheater dates October through December
Mitchell Tenpenny joins tour as direct support along with special guest Callista Clark
Multi-Platinum entertainer Chris Young is excited to return to the road with his headlining “Famous Friends Tour 2021,” playing 13 arena and amphitheater dates October through December. Kicking off October 21 at Little Rock, Arkansas’s First Security Amphitheater, he’ll be joined by special guest Mitchell Tenpenny as direct support along with Callista Clark. Tickets are on-sale beginning Friday, August 6 at chrisyoungcountry.com and all shows will comply with local COVID-19 guidelines.
“Everybody’s been asking me when’s the tour announce – well now you have your answer and I couldn’t be more excited about it,” laughs Chris. “I’m pumped to be able to share some of this new music on tour!”
With nearly five billion career streams in addition to his twelve No. 1 singles, Chris is also getting ready to release his highly anticipated 8th studio album – Famous Friends – this Friday, August 6. Led by the multi-week chart-topping title track with Kane Brown, the 14-song project features several more of Chris’s famous friends, including collaborations with Lauren Alaina and Mitchell Tenpenny, plus background vocals from Sarah Buxton and Hillary Lindsey. Pre-add/pre-save Chris Young’s upcoming Famous Friends album at https://CY.lnk.to/
ABOUT CHRIS YOUNG:
Multi-platinum RCA Records Nashville entertainer Chris Young has accumulated an impressive list of accomplishments, including membership in the iconic Grand Ole Opry, more than 4 Billion on-demand streams, 13 Million singles sold, 12 career No. 1 singles, 21 R.I.A.A. Gold/
Named “one of his era’s finest traditionalists” by the Associated Press, Chris is an international ambassador for country music, performing to capacity crowds around the world. With a hit-packed set that highlights his twelve chart-toppers — including back-to-back No. 1s “Losing Sleep,” “Sober Saturday Night,” “Think Of You,” and “I’m Comin’ Over” — the Grammy and ACM nominated vocalist’s 2019 headlining tour played to over 400,000 fans in 3 countries.
Chris’s chart-topping single, “Famous Friends” with Kane Brown, will lead his 8th studio album, Famous Friends, due August 6, following back-to-back No. 1 Billboard Top Country Albums Losing Sleep and I’m Comin’ Over.
For more information and to purchase tickets to the “Famous Friends Tour 2021,” visit chrisyoungcountry.com and join @ChrisYoungMusic and his more than 5.9 Million fans on TikTok, Instagram, Facebook and Twitter.
ABOUT MITCHELL TENPENNY:
Since the release of his debut single, “Drunk Me,” Riser House/Columbia Nashville artist Mitchell Tenpenny has set new standards for breakout success in country music. The 2X Platinum-certified, No. 1 hit that has amassed over 500 million on-demand streams was taken from his introductory 2018 album, Telling All My Secrets, and earned him the best first week showing for any major label country debut LP. Since that time, the “winning” singer (the New York Times) was nominated for New Male Artist of the Year at the ACM Awards and Breakthrough Video (“Drunk Me”) at the CMT Music Awards and saw his “Alcohol You Later” and “Anything She Says” singles certified gold.
Mitchell is set to release a new EP later this summer. Among the tracks to be included on the project is “Truth About You” a song he co-wrote and recently previewed on TikTok. After 2.5 million views in the first 3 days, fans encouraged him to release the song digitally.
Mitchell10penny.com | Facebook
ABOUT CALLISTA CLARK:
Every song has a story and at just 17 years old Callista Clark has a lot to say. Like so many talented singer/songwriters that paved the way before her, the young songstress wields her creative gifts as both a defense and an instrument of peace as she puts her heart on display with her debut collection Real To Me, out now via Big Machine Records. Blending her love for authentic, timeless classics with the sounds of her Georgia roots, Clark “arrives with confidence and verve” (Billboard) on her debut collection. Gearing up for the release, she collaborated with many of Country music’s leading songwriters including Jonathan Singleton, Laura Veltz, Nicolle Galyon, and Emily Shackleton, among others. The proof that Clark can hold her own among Nashville’s most prominent is evident as she was recently named the next iHeartCountry On The Verge Artist and her debut single, “It’s ‘Cause I Am” continues to climb as Country radio’s most successful new artist debut of 2021. Clark performed “It’s ‘Cause I Am” for the first time on national television during a Live with Kelly & Ryan appearance earlier this year. Her inspiring videos with which Scooter Braun (SB Projects) and Scott Borchetta (Big Machine Label Group) took notice, have amassed over 130 million views across all socials + YouTube. Follow along with Callista’s journey on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok
BLACKBIRD PRESENTS AND SIGHT UNSEEN PICTURES PARTNER ON “WILLIE NELSON AND FAMILY”
The Definitive Docuseries on the Extraordinary Life & Career of the Iconic Willie Nelson
Award-Winning Filmmakers Thom Zimny and Oren Moverman to Direct Multi-Part Docuseries,
Willie Nelson Providing Exclusive Participation and Access to His Archives
Blackbird Presents and Sight Unseen are thrilled to announce production is well underway on “Willie Nelson and Family,” the definitive docuseries on the extraordinary life and career of the iconic Willie Nelson. Emmy Award® & Grammy Award®-winning filmmaker Thom Zimny and Academy Award®-nominated & Emmy Award®-winning filmmaker Oren Moverman are co-directors of this multi-part docuseries. Willie and his family and friends are providing exclusive participation and access to his archives. Filming is underway in the deep-rooted Nelson locales of Austin, Maui, Nashville, Los Angeles and New York.
The project was developed by longtime Nelson manager Mark Rothbaum and Blackbird Presents Founder & Chief Creative Officer Keith Wortman, whom have collaborated on several award-winning film, television and music projects. They identified the celebrated directors of Zimny and Moverman as uniquely suited to direct the series, along with Moverman’s award-winning production company with Julia Lebedev and Eddie Vaisman, Sight Unseen, as a producing and financing partner. Executive Producers are Keith Wortman, Mark Rothbaum, Annie Nelson, Julia Lebedev, Eddie Vaisman and Leonid Lebedev.
“Telling Willie’s story has been a lifelong dream of ours, and we feel privileged to realize this dream with Thom, Oren and Sight Unseen,” said Rothbaum and Wortman.
“Words like ‘honored,’ ‘excited’ and ‘humbled’ don’t come close to describing the way we feel about being entrusted with telling Willie’s story. And what a story it is! We are celebrating the music, the career, the long road, the family, friends and history. But, more than anything, we are piecing together a narrative – one never before seen in its entirety – about an extraordinary man with a unique ability to bring people together; folks of all races, orientations, genders, political ideologies and musical leanings. These days, we sure could use the healing powers of Willie Nelson,” said Zimny and Moverman.
At 88 years old, Willie is as vibrant, active and dynamic as ever. In the last year alone, he has led major online concert fundraisers for Farm Aid and the Austin Community Foundation. He was the voice of 13 major sports leagues as part of the Ad Council’s national ad campaign on vaccination awareness. He released a No. 1 album of new recordings, That’s Life, where he paid homage to his favorite Frank Sinatra songs, released his latest book Willie Nelson’s Letters to America and performed and was celebrated in a once-in-a- lifetime music special Willie Nelson: American Outlaw on A&E. He is one of the musicians leading the charge to safely get back “on the road again” with the announcement of his full calendar of concert and festival dates in 2021.
About Willie Nelson
With a seven-decade career, Willie Nelson has earned every conceivable award as a musician and amassed reputable credentials as an author, actor and activist. He continues to thrive as a relevant and progressive musical and cultural force. In recent years, he has delivered more than a dozen new albums, released a Top 10 New York Times’ bestsellers book, again headlined Farm Aid, an event he co-founded in 1985, been honored by the Library of Congress with their Gershwin Prize for Popular Song, received his 5th degree black belt in Gong Kwon Yu Sul, headlined the annual Luck Reunion food and music festival during SXSW, launched his cannabis companies Willie’s Reserve and Willie’s Remedy, and graced the covers of Rolling Stone and AARP The Magazine. In July 2020, Willie released his album First Rose of Spring – an atmospheric soulful showcase of beautifully-written songs and poignant performances. September 2020 brought a memoir with his sister and pianist Bobbie Nelson titled, Me and Sister Bobbie: True Tales of The Family Band. For 2021, he released a new studio album in February —That’s Life, Willie’s second album of standards and classics made famous by Frank Sinatra (his first, 2018’s My Way, earned Willie the Grammy for Best Traditional Pop Solo Album). The two legends were friends, musical colleagues and mutual admirers of each other’s work. In June 2021, a collection of his thoughts on America, family, faith and music hit shelves as a new book titled Willie Nelson’s Letters to America. These creative endeavors as well as new songs and performances that add to his classic catalog, find Willie Nelson rolling at an artistic peak, writing and singing and playing with the seasoned wit and wisdom that comes from the road.
About Blackbird Presents
Blackbird Presents is an award-winning creator and producer of premium music-driven content via a range of strategies including all-star concert events, tours, festivals, broadcast specials and films. Its projects feature the biggest music stars in the world (including Dolly Parton, Bruce Springsteen, Keith Richards, George Strait, Steven Tyler, Willie Nelson, Chris Stapleton, Dave Matthews, Jimmy Buffett, The Roots, Carlos Santana, Peter Gabriel, Miranda Lambert, Kenny Chesney, Eric Church, Brandi Carlile, Lionel Richie, Reba McEntire, John Mayer, Kacey Musgraves, Darius Rucker, Jack Johnson, Robert Plant, The Avett Brothers, Sheryl Crow, Juanes, Van Morrison, Sturgill Simpson, Lady A, Little Big Town, Ringo Starr, Idina Menzel, Becky G, Nathaniel Rateliff, and many others), produced for a portfolio of studio and network partners including CBS, Viacom, A&E, AMC, CMT, Live Nation, AEG, Nederlander, Facebook, PBS and more. Recent music, film and television projects include Willie: Life & Songs Of An American Outlaw, Biography: Kenny Rogers, Imagine: John Lennon 75th Birthday Concert, Peace Through Music: A Global Event For Social Justice, Sing Me Back Home: The Music of Merle Haggard, The Life & Songs of Kris Kristofferson, Outlaw: Celebrating The Music of Waylon Jennings, I’ll Take You There: Celebrating 75 Years of Mavis Staples, The Life and Songs of Emmylou Harris, The Musical Mojo of Dr. John: Celebrating Mac and His Music, and All My Friends: Celebrating The Songs and Voice of Gregg Allman, which earned a GRAMMY® Award nomination for Gregg Allman and Taj Mahal’s awe-inspiring performance of Statesboro Blues.
Blackbird Presents is also the creator and producer of The Outlaw Music Festival Tour, in partnership with Willie Nelson; The American Roots Music & Arts Festival, in partnership with Eric Church; and The Last Waltz 40 Tour in partnership with Robbie Robertson.
JOHN AND ROBIN BERRY FAITH, FAMILY & FRIENDS
CONVERSATION WITH PLATINUM COUNTRY ARTIST AND SONGWRITER, NEAL MCCOY
Grammy-winning artist, John Berry and his wife Robin have worked together most of his music career, and now are embarking on a new journey and project they have creating together, a podcast series called Faith, Family & Friends. The twice monthly subscription based podcast is an interview series where John and Robin provide a warm atmosphere of conversation in their ‘sitting around the kitchen table’ approach to talking with their guests. The conversation with Platinum Country artist and songwriter, Neal McCoy, is available now to subscribers of the Faith, Family & Friends podcast at www.johnberry.com.
Listeners will be captivated and feel as if they are in the room with them. Each episode features a high-profile guest, including celebrities, sports stars, Hall of Fame members, best-selling authors, and entertainers, who share personal stories about how their faith, family and friends have impacted their lives and careers.
“My friendship with John and Robin goes way back to the 90s when we were both getting played a lot on the radio, which led us to doing shows together,” shared Neal McCoy. “Always admired John and Robin’s relationship with each other and their faith. My wife Melinda and I have our 41st Anniversary coming up, and we always know that as long as we keep our faith also, nothing can stand in our way.”
“Neal McCoy and I have been friends for a long time. Having him as a guest on Faith, Family & Friends was icing on the cake,” expressed John Berry. “Neal has a special place in all our hearts as a person as well as entertainer.”
Past conversations include the very last interview with the late Charlie Daniels, Richey Furay, Billy Dean, Jimmy and Nina Fortune, Darryl Worley, Randy and Darla Hartley, Bill Cody, Duane and Norah Lee Allen, T. Graham and Sheila Brown, Chris Hillman, Vince and Barbara Dooley, Marty Raybon, Scott Hamilton, Kim Campbell, Megan Alexander.
Throughout John’s long and successful career, Robin has been right beside him, working behind the scenes as a background singer and as part of the JB team. While they have enjoyed an amazing life together, they have also faced difficult challenges, both in his career and his health. With God’s faithfulness being the constant in their lives, they have grown in their relationship with Christ, giving their marriage a firm foundation. Faith, Family & Friends is the perfect outlet, not only for John and Robin to share their life, but for their guests to speak freely about the three most important things in life; faith, family & friends.
Stay current with John Berry on social media platforms Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Music is available for streaming on Spotify, Apple Music and YouTube Music. Download on Amazon Music and iTunes. Watch video content on YouTube.
About Neal McCoy:
Neal McCoy has released fifteen studio albums. In 1993, Neal McCoy broke through with the back-to-back number 1 singles No Doubt About It and Wink from his platinum-certified album No Doubt About It. His commercial success continued into the late 1990s with two more platinum albums and a gold album, as well as six more Top Ten hits. A seventh Top Ten hit, Billy’s Got His Beer Goggles On, came in 2005 from his self-released That’s Life.
A new studio album, XII, arrived in 2012 Co Produced by Blake Shelton & Miranda Lambert. In 2013 he released Pride: A Tribute to Charley Pride, Neal’s longtime friend and mentor. 2015 brought the Big Band Standards CD You Don’t Know Me. 2017 brought Neal McCoy’s Favorite Hit’s. 10 hits with 2 new songs.
Neal has been on 17 USO Tours around the world and continues to say it’s one of the achievements he’s most proud of. He is also the recipient of multiple Humanitarian awards from The Academy of Country Music, The Country Radio Broadcasters and The Masonic Grand Lodge. In 2016 Neal has again made a move to continue his patriotic values by reciting the Pledge of Allegiance “Live” on his Facebook page every morning. He’s reached millions of viewers all over the country and around the world. Currently he is closing in on 2000 days in a row and going strong. Neal still maintains a very busy touring schedule all through the year. Make sure to catch a show when he’s near because as Neal says “No two shows are the same!”
Neal also supports his own charity organization: East Texas Angel Network which is committed to the enhancement of the lives of children of East Texas who are living with terminal or life-threatening diseases. He hosts a yearly golf tournament, auction/dinner & concert over two days in the Fall.
The foundation has been going strong since 1995 and to date has raised over 9 million dollars for approximately 500 hundred East Texas families.
www.nealmccoy.com
About John and Robin Berry:
Although John Berry is a household name, his wife, Robin, has been a partner with him on the road, behind the scenes and on stage with him since 1991. They first met while Robin was attending college at the University of Georgia. Shortly after their marriage in 1988, John was asked to perform a Christmas service at the church that Robin grew up at, Green Acres Baptist. Realizing the congregation would love for her to sing with him, it was then he realized that she had a sweet voice and the ability to harmonize. She also had incredible ideas about putting the show together, and he especially enjoyed her being on stage with him. The couple has raised three successful children, Sean, TaylorMarie and Caelan, who are all married and leading meaningful lives. They recently became grandparents with their first granddaughter and are enjoying this season of their lives. Grammy award-winning country star, John Berry took advantage of being off the road in 2020. Highlights include partnering with Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt his weekly series, “Songs and Stories For Kids,” which charted multiple times on the Pollstar Live Stream Chart. He released a new video and re-recorded a new single for “The Graduation Song,” started his new podcast, Faith Family & Friends and is ending the year with his 24th annual Songs and Stories with John Berry Christmas Tour. 2019 celebrated the 28th anniversary since signing his first record deal in 1992. In 2019, Berry was diagnosed with throat cancer, requiring 35 treatments combined of radiation and chemotherapy. Berry has placed 20 singles on the country hit parade charts, six of which went Top 5 as well as a No. 1 on the Billboard and Radio & Records country charts. He has earned numerous Gold and Platinum records. “Your Love Amazes Me,” “What’s In It For Me” and “You And Only You” thrust him to stardom in 1994. “Standing On The Edge Of Goodbye,” “I Think About It All The Time,” and “If I Had Any Pride Left At All” were all major hits the following year. “Your Love Amazes Me” earned Berry a 1995 GRAMMY nomination. In 1996, he scored a GRAMMY win for his participation in Amazing Grace: A Country Salute to Gospel Vol. 1.
MICHAEL RAY REFLECTS ON HIGHER EDUCATION WITH BRAND NEW EP
New Track “Just The Way I Am” Out Now
Warner Music Nashville signed Michael Ray in early 2014 after hearing about the kid from Florida booking his own shows (200+ a year), packing them out and doing so with original material playing on country radio without a major promo team fueling its momentum. Long a student of country music, now having essentially earned his doctorate, Ray shares what he has learned those many years on the road on his first new project since 2019’s Amos. Higher Education EP is due August 27. Pre-order / pre-save the album HERE.“I’ll never forget that time in my life when I was fresh out of high school, working a trade I expected to do all my life — splicing cable — and Amos, my grandfather, recognized how much I loved writing and singing Country music,” says the Eustis, Florida native. “He said, ‘you can either look back and say ‘Damn, I wish I would have,’ or ‘Damn, I’m glad I did,’ and the latter is a whole lot easier to live with.’ With that, my band and I made the move to Music City. The next five years I leaned on the insanely talented writers, musicians and touring artists I knew, and the five+ after that I have leaned on this town. I am proud to know them the way I do, to have learned from them, and for them to know me.
“Higher Education is about going through life and the hard knocks that make you who you are … coming out of it stronger, having let it change you without hardening you. This album reminds me that even though we all go through hard times, we grow and we’re better for it.”
The final advance ahead of Higher Education’s release is the Michael Hardy, Ben West, Josh Miller-written “Just The Way I Am” (listen HERE and watch the music video HERE).
Might slow it on down
And wave at a passerby
Hug your neck say “I love ya”
‘Stead of sayin’ goodbye
And
I might cuss a little more
Then I probably should
I’m a poor man’s Hemingway
Back in the woods
Higher Education also features current single “Whiskey And Rain,” praised by Rolling Stone for “embracing a natural throwback country sound (listen HERE). “Whiskey And Rain” is Top 25-and-climbing at country radio as it tops 40 million on-demand streams.
1. Whiskey And Rain (Josh Thompson, Jesse Frasure)
2. Just The Way I Am (Michael Hardy, Ben West, Josh Miller)
3. Holy Water (Ashley Gorley, Hunter Phelps, Ben Johnson, Michael Hardy)
4. Picture (Michael Ray, David Garcia, Michael Hardy)
5. Higher Education feat. Kid Rock, Lee Brice, Billy Gibbons and Tim Montana (Tim Montana, Derek George, Jeremy Bussey, Monty Criswell, Frank Rogers)
6. Live Without You (Michael Hardy, Jessi Alexander, Corey Crowder)
7. Didn’t Know I Was Country (Michael Ray, Taylor Phillips, Ashley Gorley)
Earlier this summer Ray previewed the new project with perhaps his most personal song to date, “Picture” (listen HERE) Ray co-wrote the day of his Uncle Terry’s memorial following his untimely passing. American Songwriter applauds it “captures both the existential crisis and the understanding to celebrate life that often comes during the grieving process,” while MusicRow boasts, “Because one day all you will have is the memory and a photo. A lovely sentiment, a pretty melody and a sincere performance. What’s not to love?”
Catch Ray on the road with his Just The Way I Am 2021 Tour as it continues tomorrow night in Gillette, Wyo. and wraps in the fall at the Tortuga Music Festival in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. Tickets are available at MichaelRayMusic.com.
TIMMY BROWN RELEASES ACOUSTIC VERSION OF 2016 DEBUT SINGLE “LIL’ BIT”
Timmy Brown does it again with an acoustic spin on his 2016 debut single “Lil Bit.” After a successful debut full-length album release earlier this year, Timmy is not slowing down and is still bringing new music to his strong fanbase. Listen to the song here!
This acoustic version slows down the originally upbeat song and gives it a more sentimental tone. With this new spin on his original, Timmy Brown proves that he still has more to offer with every release. The clever lyrics put a modern twist on a traditional country song. Timmy seems grateful for the small things in life and this acoustic version is the perfect sound for a slow summer night.
“I thought it would be fun to bring back my first ever released song ‘Lil’ Bit’ as an acoustic version, after releasing my first full-length album Good Life. It’s always been one of my favorites and most requested original songs at my shows. It was great revisiting the song in the studio after working hard on my sound over the last couple of years!” says Timmy.
The reviews came in strong for the rising singer/songwriter’s album Good Life. Renowned music critic Robert K. Oermann says “I think he has the goods.” American Songwriter said the album “paints a truly authentic portrait of an emerging artist.”
About Timmy Brown
Timmy Brown is a singer, songwriter, and recording artist from Norton, Massachusetts and is best known for his dedication to creating expressive and energized country music. Brown’s debut EP Leave This Town was released in April of 2016 and on April 18th of that year Timmy’s first single, titled “Lil Bit,” was released on iTunes where it reached the Top 100 charts in a matter of twenty-four hours. In the fall of 2017, Brown auditioned for Season One of the “American Idol” reboot on ABC and finished in the top sixty contestants. His infectious energy, talent, and enthusiasm have made him a local favorite throughout the New England area. In 2019, Brown was voted New England Country Music’s Local Male Artist of the Year for the fourth year in a row. Timmy Brown has opened for a number of popular artists including Dustin Lynch, Kane Brown, LANCO, and Lindsey Ell. Brown’s latest album Good Life, produced by Josh Gleave, released in 2021 with a track-list of ten first-class, brand new songs. Track four from the album, “Play It By Beer”, will appear as the album’s single and accompanied by a new music video that will be released later this month. Also appearing on Good Life is “If You Were Here” dedicated to Brown’s beloved grandmother, who pushed Brown to pursue his dream of a music career. Brown’s dedication and love of music is evident when he is performing on stage. It is his devotion to the country genre and his natural ability to draw in and connect with his audience that has earned Brown such a loyal fan base.
FRONT AND CENTER – ACCLAIMED CONCERT SERIES RETURNS TO PUBLIC TELEVISION FOR 10TH SEASON
Hosted by Analog at Hutton Hotel in Nashville:
Lady A, Old Dominion, John Hiatt, Jerry Douglas, Tommy Emmanuel, Brantley Gilbert, Dustin Lynch, Maddie & Tae
Glen Cambell Live From the Troubadour Plus New Age Act Sangeeta Kaur
Premieres Nationwide Beginning August 1, 2021
(Check Local Listings)
Lady A
Glen Campbell
For the last decade, public television’s critically acclaimed live music series “Front And Center” has showcased an eclectic variety of musicians, from industry veterans to emerging artists, in an intimate setting that uniquely connects an artist to their fans. Artists play their defining hits and introduce new work in a dynamic hour of music and banter about life on the road, songwriting influences and the hard work and heartbreak that come before the sold-out shows and crowded award shelves. Season 10 premieres nationwide beginning August 1 on public television stations (check local listings) with eight concerts that span genres from Rock to Country to Blues to New Age.
In a slight departure from the series’ usual format, Season 10 launches with an archival concert by the late Glen Campbell, recorded in August 2008 at the Troubadour in West Hollywood. Campbell returned to the iconic club, treating the audience to a mix of Campbell standards like “By the Time I Get to Phoenix,” “Wichita Lineman,” “Galveston” and “Rhinestone Cowboy” along with instant-classic covers of hits by U2, Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, The Velvet Underground, The Replacements, Green Day, Foo Fighters, John Lennon and Yoko Ono and Scottish band Travis. It was a night of music that explored the commonalities of genres, country-tinged arrangements and how good live music feels. This PBS “Front And Center” special demonstrates why Campbell was a beloved American voice – and still inspires viewers with its exuberant performances. Watching the last live, full-concert performance that Campbell recorded, now four years since he passed in 2017, fans are reminded of the rare talent for exceptional guitar playing, phrasing and vocals this legend brought to whatever song he interpreted. The show is also available as a full-length album on Surfdog Records/Big Machine Records.
Following Campbell, new, exclusive performances this season include several of Nashville’s biggest stars performing from Analog at Hutton Hotel, with episodes filmed both pre-pandemic and under COVID safety protocols: Grand Ole Opry member Dustin Lynch; Country Music Association Triple Play Award winner Brantley Gilbert; ACM and CMA reigning Vocal Group of the Year Old Dominion; five-time GRAMMY® Award winners Lady A; CMA Award-winning Country duo Maddie & Tae; and nine-time GRAMMY nominee John Hiatt with Jerry Douglas and special guest Tommy Emmanuel. Rounding out season 10 is New Age vocalist Sangeeta Kaur in a performance from Los Angeles.
Platinum-selling Country artist Dustin Lynch’s February 2020 concert is a celebration of the release of his acclaimed album Tullahoma one month prior. Lynch’s heavily autobiographical set list includes the title track inspired by his childhood hometown 75 miles from his current Nashville stardom, his multi-week No. 1 smash “Small Town Boy” and 2012 breakout debut “Cowboys and Angels,” about his grandparents’ 65-year love story which he plays in this concert as an acoustic solo. Fixing his jacket so his mom “doesn’t get mad,” Lynch energizes the crowd in person and at home, a pre-COVID recorded reminder of how exciting packed live music performances were and will be again.
Southern Rocker Brantley Gilbert brings his band along for a stripped-down set of his No. 1 hits that lyrically span both the party and the pew. The very personal set list includes hits inspired by his courtship with his wife (“You Don’t Know Her Like I Do,” “If You Want a Bad Boy”), his nine years of sobriety (“Bottoms Up”) and more. Gilbert also invites his co-writers for three of his number one hits – Brian Davis (“One Hell of an Amen”), Mike Dekle (“Country Must Be Country Wide” and “One Hell of an Amen”), Justin Weaver and Brett James (both on “Bottoms Up”) – on stage to perform with him and chat about the songwriting process, how performance can change a song, why everyone in music dresses in all black and Gilbert’s history of stage acrobatics.
Country-pop five-piece band Old Dominion gets warmed up for their first headlining tour in a performance recorded on the 5th anniversary of their first album. Between songs in a set that includes their biggest hits – “Never Be Sorry,” “One Man Band,” “Make it Sweet” and more – as well as a first-time-in-concert cover of Bill Withers’ “Lean on Me,” front man Matthew Ramsey shares stories of a lyrical mishap that brought them closer to their fans in Chicago, a soundcheck that resulted in a last minute addition to their album Meat and Candy and more.
Lady A joins the season as one of the 21st century’s premier vocal groups with the highest certified song by a Country group (the 9x Platinum “Need You Now”). The multi-GRAMMY winning trio of Hillary Scott, Charles Kelley and Dave Haywood, who recently earned their 11th career No.1 with “Champagne Night,” perform fan-favorite songs both old and new from their decade of award-winning hits.
Maddie & Tae, longtime friends and music collaborators who first broke out in 2013 with their brilliant counter to “Bro-Country” – “Girl in A Country Song” – and are now the first and only Country twosome with multiple No. 1s, showcase their tight harmonies in a concert that includes that first Platinum-selling smash plus their Double Platinum-certified hit “Die from a Broken Heart” as well as their latest, “Woman You Got.”
John Hiatt with Jerry Douglas and special guest Tommy Emmanuel bring their distinctive musicianship to their performance of songs from Hiatt and Douglas’ 2021 release Leftover Feelings with universal themes – family, loss, tough redemption and long-term love. Douglas’ innovative work on the Dobro, paired with Certified Guitar Player Emmanuel’s fingerstyle technique along with Nashville Songwriter’s Hall of Famer Hiatt’s storytelling make for a one-night-only experience.
While traveling the world as an operatic vocalist, Sangeeta Kaur was introduced to the power of spiritual mantra as well as the discipline of yogic practices that have influenced her musical expression. Her performance for “Front And Center” showcases her innovation and creativity, merging classical and contemporary music approaches for a performance enhanced by gorgeous visuals, graphics and costuming. Recorded in Los Angeles, the concert features a guest appearance by Jon Anderson of YES on the world premiere of his song “Sun and Rain” as well as world-class ukulele player Jake Shimabukuro and world class backing musicians who have worked with Wings, Jimmy Buffett and more icons of the industry. The set includes Sangeeta’s original composition “In All of Time” and a stunning rendition of “Les Feuilles Mortes” set in a virtual magical forest.
“Front And Center” is a production of Front and Center, LLC and is distributed nationally by American Public Television. Episodes will also be available to watch on the “Front And Center” YouTube page. For more information and to watch prior seasons featuring artists including Santana, Jack Johnson, Shawn Mendes, Sheryl Crow, Seal, Hozier, Miranda Lambert and more, visit frontandcenter.com. Follow “Front And Center” on social media on Facebook at FrontAndCenterTV, on Twitter @frontandcenter and on Instagram @frontandcenterTV.
“Front And Center” Season 10
August 1 – Glen Campbell
August 8 – Dustin Lynch
August 15 – Brantley Gilbert
August 22 – Old Dominion
August 29 – Lady A
September 5 – Maddie & Tae
September 12 – John Hiatt with Jerry Douglas and special guest Tommy Emmanuel
September 19 – Sangeeta Kaur with special guests Jon Anderson and Jake Shimabukuro
About American Public Television
American Public Television (APT) is the leading syndicator of high-quality, top-rated programming to the nation’s public television stations. Founded in 1961, APT distributes 250 new program titles per year and more than one-third of the top 100 highest-rated public television titles in the U.S. APT’s diverse catalog includes prominent documentaries, performance, dramas, how-to programs, classic movies, children’s series and news and current affairs programs. “Doc Martin,” “Midsomer Murders,” “America’s Test Kitchen From Cook’s Illustrated,” “AfroPoP,” “Rick Steves’ Europe,” “Pacific Heartbeat,” “Christopher Kimball’s Milk Street Television,” “Legacy List with Matt Paxton,” “Lidia’s Kitchen,” “Kevin Belton’s New Orleans Kitchen,” “Simply Ming,” “The Best of the Joy of Painting” with Bob Ross, “Live From the Artists Den,” James Patterson’s “Kid Stew” and “NHK Newsline” are a sampling of APT’s programs, considered some of the most popular on public television. APT also licenses programs internationally through its APT Worldwide service and distributes Create®TV — featuring the best of public television’s lifestyle programming — and WORLD™, public television’s premier news, science and documentary channel. To find out more about APT’s programs and services, visit APTonline.org.
About Analog at Hutton Hotel
Analog at Hutton Hotel is an intimate music venue showcasing the industry’s most inspired musicians that gives you an up close and personal experience in a comfortable living-room style setting. It immerses audiences in Nashville’s unrivaled live music scene, where storytelling is prized above all else. Located just steps from the famed Music Row, Analog was designed to provide some of the best venue acoustics in all of Nashville while providing an intimate, interactive and engaging experience for audiences and talent. From the artists; to the design of the lounge seating; to the advanced, innovative technology; to the mixologist providing crafted cocktails — the artistic spirit inspires a unique experience nightly.