Keith Urban Honors Vanderbilt Medical Staff With Free Show At Stardust Drive-In Movie Theater

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Pictured: Keith Urban performs at Stardust Drive-In Movie Theater on May 14. Photo: PFA Media

Keith Urban played a private concert for medical front-line workers Thursday night (May 14) at Stardust Drive-In Movie Theater, located nearly 40 miles outside of Nashville in Watertown, Tennessee.

The show lasted more than an hour, as Urban performed exclusively for more than 200 doctors, nurses, emergency medical technicians and staff from Vanderbilt Health (part of Vanderbilt University Medical Center), which has more than 140 locations throughout middle Tennessee and other states. The socially-distanced crowd included nearly 125 vehicles.

“To all of you guys here tonight, for everything that you’ve done, and continue to do, to all of your families, we say thank you – this concert is for all of you,” Urban said as he took to the stage.
“I did this to say thanks to the healthcare workers who are putting their lives on the line for us every day,” said Urban. “And performing in this environment, with everyone in their cars at a safe distance from one another, seems like an amazing opportunity for everybody to just let go and have fun….and I’m a musician, I HAVE TO PLAY!”

 

Pictured: Cars line up in preparation for Keith Urban’s private concert on May 14. Photo: PFA Media

Pictured: Keith Urban performs at Stardust Drive-In Theater on May 14. Photo: PFA Media

Pictured: Keith Urban performs at Stardust Drive-In Theater on May 14. Photo: PFA Media

Weekly Radio Report (5/15/20)

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Click here or above to access MusicRow’s weekly CountryBreakout Radio Report.

Maren Morris Postpones RSVP The Tour To 2021

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Maren Morris. Photo: Harper Smith

Maren Morris is the latest artist to postpone a major tour in the past several weeks. The star’s RSVP The Tour has been delayed until 2021, in light of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The tour will now launch April 30, 2021 in Alpharetta, Georgia and will run through Sept. 6, 2021 in Morrison, Colorado. The tour was previously scheduled to launch June 5 in Boston.

“In tears writing this but given these unprecedented circumstances I’ve decided to postpone RSVP The Tour to 2021,” Morris said in a note to fans on social media on Thursday (May 14). “Thankfully, all rescheduled dates will be in the same venues, so your tickets will be valid at the door. If you would like a refund, the ticketing company will send details via email to all buyers.

“These months have been a rolling wave of uncertainty, hope and reality. Let’s do this at the right time when we can all be together again. Safe, connected and awake to that fact that live music, as a fan or as the one on stage, is even more precious now. Thank you for understanding. Love you, – M.”

Morris shared the new tour dates for 2021 below:

Hannah Mulholland Exits Runaway June

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Pictured: Hannah Mulholland, Naomi Cooke, Jennifer Wayne

Hannah Mulholland has announced her departure from the trio Runaway June.

Mulholland, alongside Naomi Cooke and Jennifer Wayne, formed Runaway June in 2015 and signed with BBR Music Group’s Wheelhouse Records. The group released the debut project Blue Roses last year and celebrated a hit single with “Buy My Own Drinks.” With that hit, they became the first all-female trio in more than 16 years to earn a Top 5 hit at country radio.

The trio spent much of 2019 on the road opening for Carrie Underwood’s Cry Pretty Tour 360 and in February, were part of CRS’ New Faces of Country Music class of 2020.

Mulholland announced the departure on the trio’s social media accounts, saying:

“It’s with great respect and love that I must announce my departure from Runaway June. We have spent 5 years chasing dreams, climbing mountains, conquering things we never imagined possible, and having lots of fun along the way. I am so thankful for the opportunities I have had, and all of the amazing people I have met along the way. Our great team, supportive label, amazing fans, and all of our champions at country radio…You guys have changed my life forever. I’ve dreamt these dreams since I was 5 years old, and I feel so fortunate to have gotten these chances and been a part of this incredible journey. I wish everyone continued success and happiness. I hope you will continue to follow my creative endeavors and share in what the future has to hold. It is bittersweet, but I am excited to continue to evolve and grow, while keeping these memories near and dear to my heart. Thank you. Love you all. – Hannah”

Kenny Chesney Postpones 2020 Chillaxification Tour

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Kenny Chesney

Kenny Chesney, who recently earned his ninth chart-topping album debut on the Billboard Top 200 chart with his latest album Here and Now (tying Garth Brooks’ record in the process), has postponed his entire 2020 Chillaxification Tour until next year, due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

In March, Chesney postponed 11 of the tour’s concert dates, including the tour’s kickoff date which had been originally slated for April 18 in Arlington, Texas. New dates have not yet been rescheduled.
Florida Georgia Line, Old Dominion and Michael Franti & Spearhead were announced as support for the tour. Original tickets are valid for a rescheduled date.

Chesney posted the following note to fans on Twitter:

Elle King To Play Jack Daniel’s Friday Night Livestream Benefit

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Elle King is headlining Jack Daniel’s weekly Friday night livestream this Friday (May 15) targeted at raising money for musicians who are in need during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Airing live on Elle King’s Facebook and Instagram page at 7 p.m. ET, the livestream will feature “Ex’s & Oh’s,” “Told You I Was Mean,” and “Good to Be a Man,” among other hits. Fans will be able to donate throughout the livestream through a Facebook link to Sweet Relief’s COVID-19 fund, which provides financial assistance to all types of musicians and music industry workers including immediate assistance with medical expenses, lodging, clothing, food and other vital living expenses to those impacted due to sickness or loss of work.

Kesha, Ashley McBryde, Chase Rice, Kip Moore, and Rotimi have also participated in the Jack Daniel’s livestreams from home and have helped raise thousands of dollars for Sweet Relief to date. Additional artists will continue to perform every Friday night live on their social channels to connect with fans through the power of music and help raise money for Sweet Relief.

DISClaimer Single Reviews: Mo Pitney, Jordan Davis, Eric Paslay, Corey Crowder, Chrissy Metz, And More

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Mo Pitney

It sounds to me like Music Row has springtime on its mind.

Jordan Davis, Eric Paslay and Sam Hunt (with Breland) have sunny sounds. The songwriting community is also on hand with fresh, breezy audio — check out the offerings by Corey Crowder and Nicolle Galyon.

Crowder, Galyon, Chrissy Metz, Breland and Chevel Shepherd are all making their DisClaimer debuts today. The guy who tops ’em all and gets the DisCovery Award is Jesse Keith Whitley.

In a highly competitive contest, I’m going with Mo Pitney for the Disc of the Day prize. His single drops tomorrow.

JESSE KEITH WHITLEY/Try To Change My Ways
Writers: Kirk Roth/Robert Kemp; Producer: none listed; Publisher: none listed; JKW
– Jesse snarls like a country outlaw in this defiant anthem. The well-produced track mixes fierce electric guitars with rippling banjo notes, stirring up a hot, frothy cauldron of sound. He gives a shout-out to his late, legendary dad in the lyric. Mom Lorrie Morgan should be proud.

ERIC PASLAY/Heartbeat Higher
Writers: Eric Paslay/Zach Crowell/Sarah Buxton; Producer: Paslay/F. Reid Shippen; Publisher: none listed; EMI
– Driving and propulsive, yet unmistakably romantic, this has the lush melodic qualities I have always liked in this artist’s work. Hushed verses burst into open throated, rocking choruses about “taking my heartbeat higher” and trying to “turn this sunset kiss into a midnight choir.” That’s co-writer Sarah Buxton providing harmony vocals and step-out vocal lines.

CHRISSY METZ/Talking To God
Writers: Connie Harrington/Jake Mitchell/Nicolette Hayford/Ashley McBryde; Producer: none listed; Publisher: Warner-Tamerlane/Goes Something Like This/One Tooth Productions/Super Los Publishing/Make It Matter/Smackworks/I love Rha, no performance right listed; EMI
– The This Is Us TV star has found an outstanding Nashville song for her debut country single. Her vocal is kinda compressed, but she still conveys conversational intimacy as well as a certain soaring sincerity. It’s one cool lyric. Give it a listen.

JORDAN DAVIS/Almost Maybes
Writers: Jordan Davis/Jesse Frasure/Hillary Lindsey; Producer: Paul DiGiovanni; Publisher: ole Red Cape/Jordan Davis/Anthem Entertainment/Songs of Roc Nation/Telemitry Rhythm House/Warner-Tamerlane/BIRB/BMG Gold, ASCAP/BMI; MCA Nashville
– Barroom bopping, with a loosey-goosey rhythm track and a lackadaisical vocal delivery that are highly engaging. It has a relaxed, congenial vibe that sounds perfect for summertime Happy Hours.

CHEVEL SHEPHERD/Everybody’s Got A Story
Writers: Kacey Musgraves/Shane McAnally/Brandy Clark; Producer: none listed; Publisher: none listed; CS
– All of the ingredients are here. The song is superb. The rolling, country-rock production is ear candy. Her voice is pristine perfection. But like many teenagers, she seems to have no idea how to get inside a lyric. She won on The Voice in 2018, and that’s what she sounds like, a voice. The lyric is so excellent, but she might as well be singing foreign-language words, and that’s what makes this so frustrating sounding.

RITA WILSON/Where’s My Country Song?
Writers: Rita Wilson/Lee DeWyze; Producers: Rita Wilson/Mikal Blue; Publisher: none listed; Sing it Loud/The Orchard
– A hard-working, tough-life gal listens to the radio, but doesn’t hear her experience reflected in any of the lyrics she hears. Instead of male fantasy, she’d like to hear her blue-collar reality. This well-known actor shows real talent as a songwriter, and her lilting, folkie soprano is lovely.

COREY CROWDER/My Poor Mama
Writers: Corey Crowder/Jaren Johnston/James McNair/Jordan Schmidt; Producer: Corey Crowder; Publisher: none listed; Round Here
– This successful Music Row songwriter (FGL, Lady A, Jake Owen, etc.) and producer (Chris Young, LOCASH, RaeLynn, etc.) steps behind the mic for a delightfully loping, rocking ode to a mom who bailed him out and saved his butt more than once. Charming.

BRELAND & SAM HUNT/My Truck
Writers: Daniel Breland/Troy Taylor/Kalvin Austin/Devon Barton/Edrick Miles/Tatiana Zeigler/Sam Hunt; Producer: Kal V and Troy Taylor; Publisher: Daniel Breland/NoQuincydence/Kalvin Austin/Devon Barton/Emilesmusic/Songs of Universal/Tatiana Zeigler/Sam Hunt/Universal, BMI/ASCAP; Bad Realm/Atlantic
– Of all the hip-hop/country fusion records, this one stands out for sheer goofy smiles. Breland’s vocal actually sounds just as “country” as Hunt’s does (okay, except for the falsetto bits). Like “Old Town Road,” it is mindlessly repetitive (it took seven writers to come up with this?), but that’s part of its appeal I guess. Sam Hunt has always had rap tendencies, anyhow.

NICOLLE GALYON/All The Things
Writers: Nicolle Galyon/Lori McKenna; Producer: none listed; Publisher: none listed; Songs & Daughters
– This award-winning hit songwriter (“Tequila,” “Automatic,” etc.) has always possessed a winning vocal presence. This lightly wafting tune showcases her sweet soprano beautifully. Sunny, lovey-dovey and super positive, but never cloying. A treat.

MO PITNEY/Mattress on the Floor
Writers: Matt Alderman/Billy Montana/Randy Montana; Producer: Jim Moose Brown; Publisher: none listed; Curb
– Sultry and sensuous. Pitney continues to be an outstanding vocal communicator on this slow-burning ballad about sharing love and poverty. A track to get lost in.

Tim McGraw, Faith Hill, Kenny Chesney To Lead CMT Virtual Benefit Concert To Aid Front-Line Workers

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CMT has teamed with Feed The Front Line to present a virtual benefit concert, “Feed The Front Line LIVE, Presented By CMT,” to help raise support and awareness of Feed The Front Line’s mission to offer free meals to frontline COVID-19 employees, essential workers and others in need, all while supporting local restaurants.

Tim McGraw, Faith Hill, Kenny Chesney, Brad Paisley, Sheryl Crow, Billy Ray Cyrus, Kelsea Ballerini and more are signed on for the day-long livestreaming event, which will air on Wednesday, May 20 via CMT’s Facebook and YouTube channels, with three “mealtime” streams airing at 10 a.m. ET, 2 p.m. ET, and 8 p.m. ET.

“Feed the Front Line is grateful to partner with CMT and country music’s biggest stars in our mission to support restaurants and feed frontline workers and other people most in need during the COVID-19 crisis,” said Maggie McGraw, Vice President of Feed the Front Line’s Nashville chapter and daughter of Tim McGraw. “We hope viewers that are able to make a donation will consider doing so to help us bring more food to more people across the country.”

“Feed The Front Line LIVE, Presented By CMT” will feature special at-home performances from the following (in alphabetical order): Avril Lavigne, Billy Ray Cyrus, Blanco Brown, Brad Paisley, Brett Young, Caitlyn Smith, Carly Pearce, Cassadee Pope, Caylee Hammack, Charlie Worsham, Chase Rice, Dustin Lynch, Faith Hill, Grace Potter, Hailey Whitters, Jimmie Allen, Jon Pardi, Jordan Davis, Kelsea Ballerini, Kenny Chesney, Kip Moore, Kylie Morgan, Lori McKenna, Rita Wilson, Russell Dickerson, Sam Williams, Scotty McCreery, Sheryl Crow, Tenille Townes, Tim McGraw, Tucker Beathard and more.

The event will also include surprise virtual appearances, as well as stories from frontline workers and restaurant owners who have been aided by Feed The Front Line donations. The livestream event’s viewers will be able to make donations directly to Feed The Front Line by visiting ftfl.org/give.

Feed The Front Line was founded in March 2020 and purchases meals from struggling restaurants to help keep them in business and then donating those meals for free to frontline workers and others affected by COVID-19. The organization has raised more than $750,000 and delivered 50,000 meals to frontline workers.

Full “Feed The Front Line LIVE” Line-Up:
· Adam Melchor
· Avril Lavigne
· Billy Ray Cyrus
· Blanco Brown
· Brad Paisley
· Brett Young
· Caitlyn Smith
· Carly Pearce
· Cassadee Pope
· Caylee Hammack
· Charlie Worsham
· Chase Rice
· Dustin Lynch
· Faith Hill
· Grace Potter
· Hailey Whitters
· Jimmie Allen
· Jon Pardi
· Jordan Davis
· Kelsea Ballerini
· Kenny Chesney
· Kip Moore
· Kylie Morgan
· Lori McKenna
· Matt Quinn
· Peyton Manning (cameo)
· Rita Wilson
· Russell Dickerson
· Ryan Tannehill (cameo)
· Sam Williams
· Scotty McCreery
· Sheryl Crow
· Shy Carter
· Sloan Woolly
· Solomon Thomas (cameo)
· The Warren Brothers & Lance Miller
· Tenille Townes
· Tim McGraw
· Tucker Beathard

Opry’s Salute The Troops Memorial Day Special To Honor Military, COVID-19 Frontline Workers

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The Grand Ole Opry’s upcoming Salute The Troops Memorial Day Weekend Special will honor U.S. Military members and essential workers on the Frontline of the COVID-19 Battle when it airs May 23 at 7 p.m. CT.

Among the artists set to perform on the special show are Craig Morgan, Steven Curtis Chapman, and Kellie Pickler. The show will be broadcast live on Circle and Gray TV stations, DISH Studio Channel 102, Sling TV and other affiliates in addition to a companion live stream on Circle All Access Facebook and YouTube channels. The livestream will be in partnership with Verizon’s Pay It Forward Live initiative.

“The days preceding Memorial Day have for years brought with them our annual ‘Salute The Troops’ show and unforgettable moments as we honor and say thank you to those who serve our country,” said Dan Rogers, Opry vice president and executive producer. “It’s more important than ever in 2020 that through words and songs we connect fans across the country to recognize the sacrifices of members of the U.S. Military. Additionally, this year’s show will offer the opportunity for fans tuned in around the world to honor the troops of essential workers on the frontline of the battles that’ve changed our world this year, the war on COVID-19.”

Those tuning into the livestream on the Circle All Access YouTube and Facebook channels next week can watch a special Memorial Day Weekend episode of Circle Sessions with Craig Morgan at 6:30 p.m. CT immediately prior to the Opry. Morgan, an Opry member, TV host and Army veteran pays tribute to his past and his future on his new album, God, Family, Country, due out May 22 on Broken Bow Records. After the Opry livestream, a special edition of Circle Sessions: At Home with various stars will premiere.

George Strait Reschedules Minneapolis, Notre Dame Stadium Shows

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George Strait has postponed two upcoming shows to prioritize fans’ safety during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

“Strait to South Bend” at Notre Dame Stadium, which was initially set to take place on Saturday, Aug. 15, will be moved to Saturday, Aug. 7, 2021 with special guests Chris Stapleton and Brothers Osborne.

And Strait’s U.S. Bank Stadium show in Minneapolis, originally scheduled for Saturday, Aug. 22, will now take place on Saturday, July 31, 2021 featuring special guests Chris Stapleton and Little Big Town.

Fans are asked to hold on to existing tickets, which will be honored for the new dates. Those unable to attend the rescheduled shows are eligible for a refund at the original point of purchase within the next 30 days.

Since his record-breaking Cowboy Rides Away Tour in 2014, Strait has performed limited engagements, including three sold-out shows at the top of this year, first with “Visit Wichita Presents Strait to Oz” at INTRUST Bank Arena, then back-to-back nights of “Strait to the Heartland” at Kansas City’s Sprint Center.