Artist Updates: Kenny Chesney, Country Jam Festival, John Rich, Larry Gatlin And The Gatlin Brothers

Kenny Chesney Mines Precious Catalog RIAA Metal

Kenny Chesney had four albums in his catalog recently certified for some heavy metal with Gold and Platinum certifications. 2014’s The Big Revival and 2013’s Life on a Rock were certified Gold, while 2008’s Lucky Old Sun and 2012’s Welcome to the Fishbowl received Platinum RIAA certifications. The Big Revival contained four consecutive No. 1’s including “American Kids,” “Wild Child” with Grace Potter, “Til It’s Gone” and the three-week chart-topper “Save It for a Rainy Day.”

“I may make my albums ‘in a moment’,” Chesney said, “but I try to create music that’s timeless – or beyond time. To me, the best records get deeper the more you listen to them… and I work very hard at writing and finding songs that feel good in the now, but stay with you for the long run.”

Country Jam 2017 Adds to Lineup

Gretchen Wilson, Parmalee, Smithfield, Cody Johnson, Sammy Arriaga, Sasha McVeigh and Devon Worley Band have been added to the lineup for the 26th Annual Country Jam festival at Jam Ranch outside Grand Junction, Colorado, on June 15-18.  They join the previously-announced lineup which also includes Chris Young, Old Dominion, Frankie Ballard, Kane Brown and Sammy Kershaw as well as headliners Kenny Chesney, Jason Aldean, Thomas Rhett and co-headliners Justin Moore and Randy Houser. 

John Rich Opens Vegas Redneck Riviera

Gretchen Wilson and John Rich Photo by Denise Truscello, GETTY images

John Rich‘s new Redneck Riviera bar at the Grand Bazaar Shops in Las Vegas had its Grand Opening last Thursday (Feb. 16) that included a ribbon-cutting, celebrity red carpet, food from the adjacent Wahlburgers, and live country music. Hundreds of VIP locals and media members attended the event including Dave Ramsey, Deana Carter, Gretchen Wilson, Marie Osmond, The Bachelor‘s Christopher Soules, and many more.

Denise Truscello, GETTY images

Gatlin Brothers To Salute Kenny Rogers At Texas Medal Of The Arts Awards

Larry Gatlin & the Gatlin Brothers will salute fellow Texan/music legend Kenny Rogers at the 2017 Texas Medal of Arts Awards on Feb. 22 at the Texas Performing Arts Center in Austin. The Gatlin Brothers and vocalist Vikki Carr will perform Rogers’ classic hit “Islands In the Stream” before presenting him with the Lifetime Achievement Award at the event. The Texas Medal of Arts Awards has presented 99 medals to 105 Texas legends and luminaries who have achieved greatness through their talents, as well as those whose generosity has helped opened doors to artistic opportunities for Texans of all ages.

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Lorie Hollabaugh

Hollabaugh, a staff writer at MusicRow magazine, has over 20 years of music business experience and has written for publications including American Profile, CMA Close Up, Nashville Arts And Entertainment, The Boot and Country Weekly. She has a Broadcast Journalism and Speech Communication degree from Texas Christian University, (go Horned Frogs), and welcomes your feedback or story ideas at lhollabaugh@musicrow.com.

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