GEORGE STRAIT RAISES RECORD-SETTING $2.4M FOR VETERANS WITH 12TH ANNUAL VAQUEROS DEL MAR BENEFIT CONCERT & GOLF TOURNAMENT

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George Strait’s 12th annual Vaqueros del Mar golf tournament and benefit concert, hosted at Tapatio Springs Hill Country Resort together with longtime friend and Texas businessman Tom Cusick, raised a record-setting $2.4 million for the Feherty’s Troops First Foundation, bringing the all-time total to over $17 million.

“After George and I acquired Tapatio, we had our Grand Re-Opening on 11-11-11, which was Veterans Day,” notes Cusick. “We decided holding an event for our military heroes was perfect and then we met David Feherty with Troops First, and the rest is history. I believe we both would agree that this has been one of the most fulfilling experiences we have been involved in, and have grown so close to so many that have sacrificed for our country and all of us!”

In keeping with annual tradition, the event featured a golf tournament as well as a benefit concert, with performances by Strait along with Asleep at the Wheel, William Beckman, Wade Bowen, Dean Dillon, Keith Gattis, Randy Houser, Jamey Johnson and Randy Rogers.

The funds raised directly benefit wounded military service men and women. Learn more about the cause at www.troopsfirstfoundation.org.

MULTI-GRAMMY® NOMINATED SINGER-SONGWRITER JAMIE O’NEAL’S “CHRISTMAS” VIDEO DEBUTS ON CMT MUSIC DEC. 9

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Multi-GRAMMY® nominated singer-songwriter Jamie O’Neal’s “Christmas” video debuts on CMT Music, CMT’s 24/7 music video channel, tomorrow, Dec. 9 at approximately 6:12 a.m. ET with additional airings to follow throughout this holiday season.

“Christmas” served as the album opener for Spirit & Joy, O’Neal’s first holiday album, released on Oct. 21 from JOG Inc. and BFD/AUDIUM Nashville. Like the holidays, the making of Spirit & Joy was truly a family affair, and the “Christmas” video, directed by John Lee, features several of O’Neal’s family members.

O’Neal produced Spirit & Joy with her husband Rodney Good, a platinum-certified recording engineer (Waylon Jennings, Dolly Parton), who joined her for their first-ever duet with “Please Come Home for Christmas.” Forbes exclusively premiered the video for “Please Come Home for Christmas” and praised O’Neal’s “enviable range and heartfelt vocals.”

Spirit & Joy also features a collaboration with O’Neal’s father Jimmy Murphy, sister Melissa Murphy and daughter Aliyah Good on “Do You Hear What I Hear?” Taste of Country exclusively premiered the first listen to the “timely” classic, noting “the album is more than just another holiday collection,” while Wide Open Country selected O’Neal’s duet with fellow ACM Award winner Collin Raye on “Silver Bells” as one of 2022’s “Most Festive Christmas Songs by Country Acts.”

The 10-track collection celebrates the cheerful nature of the season, while honoring the sentimental side of the holidays. “For every lighthearted song about love and togetherness that fills the album, there is one track that hangs on loss and pain. ‘You Were Christmas to Me’ was written with the artist’s lost loved ones in mind,” wrote American Songwriter. With cuts from Reba McEntire, Martina McBride and Idina Menzel, O’Neal co-wrote two more light-hearted originals, “Christmas You,” and “Gulf of Mexico.”

O’Neal’s latest album, Sometimes, celebrated the 20th anniversary of her debut album, Shiver. The critically-acclaimed project proved that O’Neal “hasn’t lost an iota of her powerhouse vocal talent (Rolling Stone Country).” Featuring collaborations with John Paul White, Lauren Alaina, Martina McBride, Sara Evans and O’Neal’s daughter Aliyah Good, Sometimes received additional praise from People, Forbes, Parade, American Songwriter, The Boot, Wide Open Country, MusicRow and many more.

IT’S THE MOST WONDERFUL TIME OF THE YEAR!

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Country Music’s most magical night of the year is TONIGHT. “CMA Country Christmas” rings in the holiday season annually with a night full of festive classics and one-of-a-kind musical performances. The event is filmed in Nashville, Tennessee and airs each holiday season on ABC Television Network. Now in its 13th year, the 2022 Christmas special will be hosted by Carly Pearce, with performances by Steven Curtis Chapman, Dan + Shay, Scotty McCreery, Maren Morris, Old Dominion, Molly Tuttle, and The War And Treaty.

A NASHVILLE COUNTRY CHRISTMAS STARRING GRAMMY AWARD-WINNER TANYA TUCKER, ANA ORTIZ AND ACADEMY AWARD-WINNER KEITH CARRADINE

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Premieres Monday, December 12th at 8PM ET/PT on Paramount Network with simulcast on CMT
 Additional encore presentation on Sunday, December 25 at 11AM ET/PT on CMT

Watch the trailer here.

  • Premiere Date: December 12, 2022 at 8PM ET/PT on Paramount Network. The film will have an additional encore presentation on Sunday, 12/25 at 11AM ET/PT on CMT.
  • Synopsis: Overwhelmed by her high-powered agent, a bombastic Hollywood director, and a totally tricked-out, off-base holiday spectacular, a country music superstar bolts from her outrageous lifestyle, seeking a haven at her grandma’s Tennessee farm. Rather than refuge, she finds romance when she reconnects with her handsome ex, a return to her musical roots, and an unexpected family when she discovers three clever kids who’ve outsmarted the foster care system are living at the family homestead at Christmas.
  • Cast: Tanya Tucker, Keith Carradine, Ana Ortiz, Olivia Sanabia
  • Production Companies: MTV Entertainment Studios, Principle Productions, Off Camera Entertainment, Synthetic Cinema International
  • For MTV Entertainment Studios: Trevor Rose, Leslie Fram, Amal Baggar, Andrew Lutin and  Donny Hugo Herran will serve as executive producers.
  • Producers: Andrew Gernhard, Dustin Rikert
  • Executive Producers: Stephanie Slack, Margret Huddleston, Kristofer McNeeley, Ali Spuck and Tanya Tucker
  • Director: Ashley Williams
  • Writers: Casie Tabanou & Ali Spuck
  • Quote: “It’s amazing that after 50 years in this business, I get to see my dreams become reality! And being part of A Nashville Country Christmas is definitely one of them. I’ve always wanted to do more acting, and it was a gift from the good Lord when this role came along. I can’t wait for everyone to enjoy the movie this season,” says Tanya Tucker.

HINDSIGHT RECORDS RELEASES A REIMAGINED VERSION OF SHIRLEY JONES: A TOUCH OF CHRISTMAS

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Hindsight Records have released a reimagined version of the 2009 holiday album, Shirley Jones: A Touch of Christmas, a collection of twelve holiday and Christmas songs guaranteed to make every listener sing along while reliving their favorite memories of the holiday season. The project comprises ten classic tunes and two originals “The Christmas Song” written by Mel Torme and Robert Wells and “A Touch of Christmas” penned by Les Brown, Jr., Carol Raczka and Pat L. Patterson. Produced by Les Brown, Jr. for Rayburt Productions and Executive Producers Howard B. Wolf and Pat Lynn-Patterson, the new release is part of The Hindsight Reimagined Series of timeless recordings tastefully enhanced for today’s listeners. Stream and download Shirley Jones: A Touch of Christmas on Spotify, Amazon Music, YouTube Music, Apple Music, Pandora and your favorite digital music platforms ShirleyJones.lnk.to/TouchOfChristmas.

“This music always whisks me back to my teens and my first days in the church choral room where I was discovering both God and the voice gift He gave me,” shared Shirley Jones.

Shirley Jones: A Touch of Christmas – Track List

  1. It’s The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year
  2. Silent Night, Holy Night
  3. Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!
  4. Have Yourself A Very Merry Christmas
  5. Silver Bells
  6. Baby It’s Cold Outside
  7. Oh Holy Night
  8. The Christmas Song
  9. Edelweiss
  10. Winter Wonderland
  11. A Touch of Christmas
  12. White Christmas

Shirley Jones: A Touch of Christmas was recorded and mixed at “The Mansion,” in Branson, Missouri and engineered by Danny Stone and Ron Treat with re-mixing completed by Les Brown Jr., Danny Stone and Ron Treat. Mastering was done by Jon Raney for Raney Studio, Arkansas. Studio musicians on the project included John Raczka  (Piano and Keyboards), Steve Charlson (Bass), John Kizilarmut (Drums) Pete Generous (Percussion), Doyle Miller, Daryll Ecsedy, John Trimble, Jerry Kistler and Michael Schwartz (Trumpets), Carl Hose, Tom Rastorfer and Charles Rastorfer(Trombones), Archie Wheeler, Mike Carroll, Randy Hamm, Brent Vaughan and Dave Napier (Saxophones), Nancy Dygert (Harp),  Carol L. Harrison, Tina Sibley and Al,eksis Zarins (Violins), Kirsten Weiss and Amy Muchnick (Viola), Barbara Gasaway (Cello), Jana Evans, Marcia Phillips, Kristen Jewell Cartwright, Lloyd Holt, Tom Wolff and Tom Cartwright (Background Vocals), Jana Evans (Vocal Arrangements) and Doug Haverty Art Direction & Package Design for Art & Soul Design.

NEWLY MARRIED SINGER-SONGWRITER AND VOICE CONTESTANT JAY ALLEN RELEASES LATEST SINGLE

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Newly married Nashville singer-songwriter and Voice contestant Jay Allen is giving his fans a wedding gift. His new single, “No Present Like the Time,” will be released Friday, Dec. 2 via global marketing and distribution giant ONErpm.

“I wrote ‘No Present Like the Time’ with (friend and frequent collaborator) Nate Kenyon and Micah Wilshire right before I went on The Voice,” Allen explains, after an intense grieving period over losing his mother. “It was 2019, she was my world, and only 54 when Alzheimer’s devastated our family,” he adds. “What I experienced during those years was a sort of sadness and doubt that almost broke my spirit, but what I gained was an invaluable lesson—time is precious.”

Take a picture, take a chance
Chase a dream, chase a girl
Say a prayer, take a trip
Don’t hold your breath, hold your kids
Before they’re too big

For those who may need the reminder, Allen offers this final piece of advice: “If I could go back, I would answer every phone call, say ‘I love you’ every day, take a lot more pictures and just spend time with her.” Pausing, he adds, “I know my mother wouldn’t want me to live with regrets, so instead I believe she gave me this song to remind me how to live.”

“We are thrilled to have a talent like Jay Allen on our roster,” says ONErpm Nashville office Managing Director Tim Wipperman. “This is such a personal song to Jay, but one we feel will resonate with his fans and an even wider, untapped audience.”

Allen had been scheduled to marry fiancée and fellow country artist Kylie Morgan on Oct. 11, but Hurricane Ian had other plans. The couple, along with some of their musician friends, performed a benefit concert in Ft. Myers to help their wedding venue and others in the area rebuild. The two were finally married on Oct. 1.

Allen also recently performed on actress (and wife of country musician Brad Paisley) Kimberly Williams-Paisley’s fifth annual ALZ Dance Party benefit, which raised more than half a million dollars for the fight to end Alzheimer’s disease.

JAIMEE HARRIS’S NEW SINGLE “LOVE IS GONNA COME AGAIN” IS A DIRECT AND THOUGHTFUL MESSAGE TO THE HEARTBROKEN AND GRIEVING

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When all seems lost, sometimes, even a tiny bit of encouragement can help right the ship—or at least start the process. That’s exactly why songwriter Jaimee Harris sat down to write what would become her new single, “Love Is Gonna Come Again.” “Even before the COVID-19 pandemic, my local music community and family experienced a tremendous amount of loss beginning in 2016,” remembers Harris. “I wanted so badly to encourage the grieving friends around me, particularly those who had lost their partners.” The song, originally started in 2017, was completed a few years later with Harris’s friend and frequent collaborator, Graham Weber. “He helped me by asking questions about what I’d want someone to say to me,” Harris says. “I realized what I’d want is for someone to acknowledge my pain, tell me it’s okay to not have a deadline on grief, and they’d hold onto that hope I couldn’t grab a hold of quite yet.”

Premiered earlier this week by The Boot, the tune is a beautiful lullaby for lost love; warm and heartening, direct and thoughtful. “I know it hurts like hell right now, and only you know how. No one can tell you when, but love is gonna come again,” sings Harris, surrounded by angelic harmonies and purposefully arranged instrumentation. The song’s accompanying music video follows the same pattern of letting the song take center stage. Created by the Austin-based brother-sister team, Lenz Twinz, the “Love Is Gonna Come Again” video features handwritten lyrics projected on a TV set. “Sloane and Felix [Lenz Twinz] came up with the idea to have Felix wear the TV as a head,” says Harris. “It reminds me of when I’m depressed and it seems all I can do is zone out in front of the TV. There’s a strange comfort in it.”

Fans can watch the video now right here, check out the video for the previously-released single “Missing Someone” here, and pre-order or pre-save Harris’s upcoming LP Boomerang Town ahead of its February 17th release via Thirty Tigers at this link. A list of Harris’s upcoming 2023 tour dates can be found below or at jaimeeharris.com/tour.

COUNTRY ARTIST COLTON JAMES RELEASES MUSIC VIDEO FOR SINGLE “I MISS AMERICA”

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Country singer and songwriter Colton James has released his music video for his single “I Miss America.” The video represents the heart of America and the things that comprise it: veterans, family values, and hard work. Watch the heartfelt, patriotic video HERE.
Produced by Colton and Jimmy Nichols, written by Colton and Rick Dawson, and mixed by Steve Marcantonio, “I Miss America” recalls simpler times gathering around Grandma’s table for Sunday lunch with friends and family and working sunup to sundown.
Colton speaks on the release of the music video, saying, “We had a lot of fun shooting the video and made some new friends along the way. We hope that it brings people together in our country and puts a smile on their faces to be proud Americans. We hope they realize our best days are ahead, and together, we can get through anything as one nation.”
Rick Dawson, the owner of 2022 Kentucky Derby-winning thoroughbred Rich Strike, commented on the writing process of “I Miss America,” saying, “Colton and I gathered at my table and wrote the song in a couple of hours. However, Colton and I were not alone, as there were others in spirit pushing our pens for us.”
On January 20, 2023, Colton plans to release his debut EP, America,  which will include “I Miss America” and other nationalist anthems that speak for the love of his country and those who have fought for it.
Colton also has plenty of upcoming projects in the works, including a show combining fishing, music, and food from across the globe titled Reel Water Cowboy. It will also have an accompanying radio show. Along with this, he is working to bring the Land 4 Heroes Lodge, a 15,000-square-foot building that will aid and help veterans while giving them a resting place to break bread and visit with others.
Colton James’ country roots run deep and were developed at a young age. What started as a truck ride to the fishing hole became a lifestyle. In the front seat of his father’s truck, Colton was introduced to legends like George Jones, Keith Whitley, George Strait, and Merle Haggard. He discovered his love for music through both of his grandmothers, who played piano and organ, and his singing abilities came from his mother.
His music showcases his down-to-earth mentality, country roots, and passion for country music and America. Colton has opened for established artists like Carrie Underwood, Florida Georgia Line, Toby Keith, John Pardi, and Jason Aldean in his career. His influences include the great country artists from the 90s who inspire his storytelling skills that listeners can appreciate in his music.
Colton expresses why he loves making music, saying, “I do it for the love of my family, for the love of my friends, for the love of my country, but mostly for the love of God. Without God, I wouldn’t be here.“

MIRANDA LAMBERT EXTENDS VELVET RODEO HEADLINING LAS VEGAS RESIDENCY

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 Last night, while performing her headlining residency at Zappos Theater at Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino, Miranda Lambert announced that her critically acclaimed “Miranda Lambert: Velvet Rodeo The Las Vegas Residency” has been extended through the end of 2023 due to remarkable fan demand. The 16 new shows will take place in July, November and December 2023.

Designed exclusively for Zappos Theater and promoted by Live Nation and Caesars Entertainment, “Miranda Lambert: Velvet Rodeo The Las Vegas Residency” gives fans an up close and personal opportunity to experience live performances of Lambert’s numerous chart-topping songs and beloved album cuts.

With 11 shows already complete, the residency has earned rave reviews from fans and critics alike, with POLLSTAR noting, “the songwriter/performer set the stage for a 22-song whirlwind through a career that was staunchly country, yet boldly musical and strong female positive.” “Miranda Lambert’s Las Vegas is a playground of pyro… But Lambert’s ‘Velvet Rodeo’ go-round is also blanketed in crisp musicianship,” added the Las Vegas Review-Journal, while People declared, “Lambert shined vocally as she seamlessly traversed her deep catalog” and Billboard opined, “Lambert deftly bounced between albums with almost all represented, showcasing her signature velvety vocal grit.”

Tickets for the new shows go on sale to the public Friday, Dec. 9 at 10 a.m. PT. Fan club members will have access to a presale starting Monday, Dec. 5 at 10 a.m. PT.

Citi is the official card of “Miranda Lambert: Velvet Rodeo The Las Vegas Residency” at Zappos Theater at Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino. Citi cardmembers will have access to presale tickets beginning Monday, Dec. 5 at 12 p.m. PT until Thursday, Dec. 8 at 10 p.m. PT through the Citi Entertainment program. For complete presale details, visit www.citientertainment.com. Caesars Rewards members, Caesars Entertainment’s loyalty program members and Live Nation and Ticketmaster customers will have access to a presale beginning Wednesday, Dec. 7 at 10 a.m. PT until Thursday, Dec. 8 at 10 p.m. PT.

About Miranda Lambert
Palomino, the eighth solo album from Vanner Records/RCA Nashville superstar Miranda Lambert, arrived in April as the largest female Country album debut of 2022. Already named among the best albums of the year by TIME, Rolling Stone, Billboard, Stereogum and more, it marks the latest installment in a storied career that has spanned seven previous No. 1 solo albums, 10 No. 1 hit radio singles, more than 70 prestigious awards and countless sales certifications, earning the reigning ACM Entertainer of the Year praise from NPR as “the most riveting country star of her generation.”

Now headlining her Velvet Rodeo Las Vegas residency at Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino’s Zappos Theater, the top streaming female Country artist of 2022 was also named to the 2022 TIME100 list honoring the world’s most influential people, with Pitchfork declaring that she “manages the hat-trick of both timelessness and timely activism.” Whether challenging conventional gender notions in her recent Top 10 hit “If I Was A Cowboy” or using her voice to write and record the inclusive “Y’All Means All” anthem for the latest season of Netflix’s “Queer Eye,” the Texas native continues to expand the tent of the Country genre via her music, including current single “Strange.”