Sam Hunt Joins 2016 Carnival LIVE Lineup

Sam Hunt will perform two shows as part of the 2016 Carnival LIVE lineup. He will appear on stage while the ships Carnival Fantasy and Carnival Splendor are docked in Cozumel on Oct. 19 and Oct. 20, respectively. Comedians Jim Gaffigan and Chris Tucker are also confirmed for Carnival LIVE performances. Tickets range from $30 to $75 for general admission. VIP tickets are available for $100 to $250 and offer seating in the first five rows, a photo opportunity with the artist and a commemorative concert pass.

 

Kristian Bush Releases “Say Yes to the Dress” Theme

Kristian Bush has written, recorded, and released the song “Forever Now (Say Yes),” which is the new theme for TLC’s hit series, Say Yes to the Dress. Coming up later in the season, Bush will make a cameo appearance to help his guitar tech’s fiancée, classic country girl Evyn, find the perfect dress. Bush’s first trip to Kleinfeld Bridal (where the show is set) and an inside look at the magic of wedding dress shopping inspired him to write the song. Bush is currently working on his first album for BBR Music Group’s Wheelhouse Records.

 

Kellie Pickler Will Be Inducted Into North Carolina Music Hall of Fame

Kellie Pickler will be among the 2016 inductees into the North Carolina Music Hall of Fame. The induction ceremony will take place on Oct. 20 in Kannapolis. Pickler is from Albemarle. Other inductees include rock band The Avett Brothers, beach music pioneers Band of Oz, late funk guitarist Chuck Brown, old-time string band Rhiannon Giddens & The Carolina Chocolate Drops, late jazz musician Percy Heath, folk musician and storyteller David Holt, and The Temptations’ Ron Tyson.

 

Dan + Shay Confirmed For Good Morning America

Dan + Shay will perform “From The Ground Up,” on March 18 on ABC’s Good Morning America. Written by Chris DeStefano and the duo’s Dan Smyers and Shay Mooney, the romantic new single is the first song to be released off their forthcoming album due out later this year via Warner Bros. Records/Warner Music Nashville. The release comes as a follow up to their No. 1 hit, “Nothin’ Like You,” which was honored with a nomination for favorite country song from the Radio Disney Music Awards.

The American Country Countdown Awards will return on May 1, airing on FOX at 7 p.m. ET.

FOX, Cumulus Media, and dick clark productions have re-teamed to bring the three-hour live awards show to fans. During the previous American Country Countdown Awards show, Jason Aldean was named Artist of the Year, while Luke Bryan took home Male Vocalist of the Year, and Miranda Lambert took home Female Artist of the Year.

American Country Countdown with Kix Brooks celebrates its 43rd year as America’s longest-running country music countdown show on radio. Since launching in 1973, the radio show now airs on more than 280 radio stations in 155 markets.

This year’s host, performers, and location will be announced in the coming weeks.

Nashville-based Gibson Brands has had its credit downgraded by Moody’s, lowering the brand’s corporate family rating (CFR) to Caa1 from B3, due to poor sales of its 2015 guitar models, high leverage, risk associated with the consumer electronics business, and high turnover among senior financial management. The downgrade also reflects the risk that the company may not be able to meet near-term financial commitments, according to Moody’s.

“The downgrade reflects the weak performance and the resulting very high leverage and also the additional financial obligations Gibson incurred from its agreement with a consumer electronics supplier to settle overdue payables and the stress it puts on company’s liquidity profile,” said Kevin Cassidy, Senior Credit Officer at Moody’s Investors Service.

Henry Juszkiewicz, Chairman/CEO Gibson Brands, released the following statement:

The company has posted quarterly results for our quarter ending December 2015 that were materially better than they were for the prior year. While we experienced a soft reception to our 2015 products, we have since introduced our improved 2016 product line that is performing extremely well both in sales to retailers and sell through to consumers globally. We feel we are on an upward trend, poised for an excellent year and are confident of the future.

We also recently brought on board an outstanding new CFO after our former CFO left to start a new business. We feel the addition of a world-class CFO who has a global background with several major companies has significantly improved our capabilities in this area.

We tripled the size of our business one year ago and have been integrating a substantial new business. It is not unusual to have some speed bumps in the integration process of a major new global entity. We believe we are progressing well and are very excited about this coming year.

As part of our continued commitment to Nashville and American manufacturing, we continue to hire people and expand. We also hope to start manufacturing consumer audio products in our Nashville manufacturing campus within the year.

According to Moody’s, Gibson Brands needs to generate cash flow to address its $36 million financial obligations to a consumer electronics supplier by December 2016, as well as its subsequent $62 million obligation by December 2017. Over the longer term, an upgrade could be considered if Gibson improves and sustains its operating performance.

Gibson Brands Inc. designs, manufactures, markets, and globally distributes premium musical instruments, consumer and professional audio and video products, information products, and related accessories. The company’s product offerings are marketed under a portfolio of brands including Gibson, Philips, Epiphone, Kramer, Baldwin, Onkyo, KRK, and Stanton.

The Ryman Auditorium has announced upcoming concert dates from Lucinda Williams, Cyndi Lauper, Harry Connick, Jr., Brian Regan, and Silversun Pickups.

 

Harry Connick, Jr. will perform on Sunday, June 12 and Monday, June 13. Both shows will begin at 7:30 p.m. Tickets go on sale Friday, March 11, at 10 a.m. Ticket prices range from $45 to $105, plus fees. For more, visit ryman.com.

To date, Connick has released 30 albums, won three Grammy Awards and two Emmy Awards, and garnered sales of over 28 million album. His newest release, That Would Be Me, features all new songs.

 

Cyndi Lauper will perform Monday, May 9, beginning at 7:30 p.m. Tickets go on sale Friday, March 11 at 10 a.m. Lauper will release her first country album, Detour, on May 5 via Rhino Records. Tickets range from $45 to $75. For more, visit ryman.com.

 

Brian Regan will perform Saturday, Sept. 10 beginning at 7 p.m. Tickets go on sale Friday, March 11 at 10 a.m. Tickets are available for $47.50 and $52.50. For more information, visit ryman.com.

On September 26, Regan made history with the live Comedy Central broadcast of Brian Regan: Live from Radio City Music Hall, the first-ever live broadcast of a stand-up special in Comedy Central’s history. The special was critically-acclaimed with Vanity Fair calling Regan, “The funniest stand-up alive.” That performance is now available on CD, DVD or as an audio or video download.

 

Silversun Pickups and Foals (with special guests Joywave) will bring their music to the Ryman Auditorium on Wednesday, May 18. Tickets go on sale Friday, March 11 at 10 a.m. Tickets are available for $35, plus applicable service charges. For more information, visit ryman.com.

 

Lucinda Williams will perform at the Ryman Auditorium on Sunday, May 8, at 7:30 p.m. Tickets go on sale Friday, March 11 at noon. Tickets are available for $24.50, $34.50, and $49.50, plus applicable service charges. For more visit ryman.com.

Williams’ latest album, The Ghosts of Highway 20, is a 14-song collection that includes “Dust,” a song built around a poem written by her late father, poet Miller Williams.

“I know people throw the word around a lot, but this is one of the most organic things I’ve ever worked on,” says Greg Leisz, who co-produced and played guitar on the album. “There aren’t any overdubs, there’s no sweetening, it was the musicians getting into a headspace and bringing the songs to life. We were ecstatic to see how the whole thing came together, how [Lucinda] reacted to seeing the process unfold. It was a one-of-a-kind experience.”