Love And Theft has tapped the newly-formed Thirty Tigers promo team to work current single “Whiskey On My Breath.” With an impact date of May 18, the title track to the duo’s third album is already gaining traction at SiriusXM The Highway.

Stephen Barker-Liles and Eric Gunderson have had previous hits “Angel Eyes” and “Runaway.”

Previously signed to Sony Music Nashville, Love And Theft is releasing new album Whiskey On My Breath, via their own label, Hate And Purchase Music.

Additionally, the duo will host the 2015 JDRF Golf Classic at the Governor’s Club in Brentwood, Tenn. on Monday, May 18. Longtime supporters of the tournament, Love And Theft have recruited fellow musicians to join them, including Craig Campbell, Bucky Covington, Eric Paslay, and Will Hoge.

Love And Theft are Vector Management artists.

What better way to announce a CMA Music Fest stage lineup than with a music-filled party in Nashville?

BMI and the CMA announced this year’s BMI Tailgate Party lineup with a performance-packed celebration at BMI Nashville’s lobby yesterday (April 29). Two artists who will perform on the upcoming stage, Will Hoge and female duo Muddy Magnolias, were on hand to give attendees an early look at what to expect during CMA Music Festival, which takes place June 11-14.

Also slated for the BMI Tailgate Party stage are Rhett Akins, Sammy Arriaga, Bri Bagwell, Tucker Beathard, Hannah Blaylock, Danielle Bradbery, Kane Brown, DJ DU, Josh Dorr, Haley Georgia, Chris Lane, Sonia Leigh, Maren Morris, Mitch Rossell, Caitlyn Smith, Sundy Best, Emi Sunshine, Mitchell Tenpenny, and Charlie Worsham.

Kallie North and Jessy Wilson of Muddy Magnolias held everyone’s attention during the reveal celebration with their high-energy set, confident vocals and, at-times Tina Turner-esque stage moves. The duo gave one of their earliest performances, as a then-unsigned act, at last year’s CMA Music Festival. Since then, they have joined forces with John Grady-led I.R.S. Records and are working on their debut project with Butch Walker.

Hoge held court with a more earthy, but equally enticing set that included cuts from his 10th studio album, Small Town Dreams. The heart-tugging “They Don’t Make ‘Em Like That Anymore” was particularly crowd-pleasing. He welcomed Muddy Magnolias back to the stage to offer backing vocals on “Even If It Breaks Your Heart,” the 2012 hit co-written by Hoge and Eric Paslay, which was recorded by Eli Young Band.

Hoge is ready to pour the lessons he’s learned from his years of performing into a top-notch BMI Tailgate Party show. “Over two years of doing these country fairs and festivals, I tried to really cater to make everything as traditionally country as I can,” recalled Hoge. “That continued to flop, so the more that we got more into the middle of what I do, which is some country, some pop and some rock, all those different things, the better the crowds reacted. For me, it will be a mix of all the sounds I grew up listening to as a native Nashvillian—rock, soul, gospel, country and everything else. We’ll throw it all out there and see what happens.”

“Our music is fusion,” Wilson said of Muddy Magnolias’ brand of tunes. “We came here to be country music songwriters, but when we started writing together and became a duo, all of our influences came into play. We’ll keep it high-energy and rockin’.”

The BMI Tailgate Party takes place nightly on the LP Field south lawn from 4 p.m. – 7:45 p.m. CT, just prior to the Nightly Concerts at LP Field.

Tyler Farr is in the middle of a jam-packed release week celebrating his new album, Suffer In Peace. The Missouri native performed an intimate concert for CMT’s Listen Up and visited NBC’s Today, where hosts surprised him with a plaque to commemorate the RIAA Gold certification of the album’s lead single “A Guy Walks Into A Bar.” Farr also performed the hit song live in the studio and chatted with hosts—did you know he’s an opera singer? (see video below).

He topped off street day (April 28) with a special album release concert for fans at New York City’s Irving Plaza.

Farr travelled to Detroit and Chicago for more appearances and will finish the week in Austin, Texas, on Saturday, May 2 at the iHeartRadio Country Festival.

For his second album for Columbia Nashville, Farr re-teamed with producers Jim Catino and Julian King who helmed his 2013 debut hit Redneck Crazy. Among the highlights on Suffer In Peace is a duet with Farr’s friend, Jason Aldean.

Krystal Keith, Husband Expecting First Child

Krystal Keith and her husband Andrew Sandubrae are expecting their first child in October. The couple were married October 2010.

Keith is signed to Show Dog Nashville, and released her debut album, Whiskey & Lace, last year. She the daughter of country singer-songwriter Toby Keith.

 

Little Big Town Helps Raise $2 Million For Hunger Awareness

Fresh off their recent ACM win for Vocal Group of the Year, Little Big Town helped raise awareness, and $2 million in funds, to fight against hunger. The quartet performed as part of Food Bank For New York City’s 13th Annual Can Do Awards Dinner, presented by Bank of America at Cipriani Wall Street.

LBT’s Kimberly Schlapman also served as a presenter during the evening. Other attendees during the event included Jon Bon Jovi, Michael J. Fox, Rachel Ray, Paul Sorvino, Lauren Bush Lauren, Gail Simmons, Lisa Ramos, Rene Lopez, and more.

Sunny Sweeney Attends The White House Correspondents’ Association Dinner

Sunny Sweeney was recently invited by The Washington Post to perform at their private event for Wounded Warriors’ caregivers and to attend The White House Correspondents’ Association Dinner as a guest of The Washington Times. She performed three songs, including her recent single, “Bad Girl Phase,” and her current ballad “My Bed.”

She also met with Wounded Warriors’ caregivers and veterans to thank them for their support. The Times teamed with the Freedom Alliance, the Elizabeth Dole Foundation, Mission BBQ, and The Washington Redskins Salute program for the private event for veterans.

Vince Gill, Little Big Town, Nashville actor and singer/songwriter Charles Esten, recent chart-topper Aaron Watson, American Idol finalist Lauren Alaina, singer/songwriter/guitarist Lindsay Ell, Love and Theft, and Chuck Wicks are among those who will be suiting up this year for the 25th Annual City of Hope Celebrity Softball Game.

The fan favorite event will take place June 13 beginning at 9 a.m. at First Tennessee Park in Nashville. The full line-up of artists joining the Grand Ole Opry and iHeartRadio teams will be revealed in coming weeks.

City of Hope is an independent biomedical research institution and comprehensive cancer center. Support from the Nashville community and its country music artists directly benefit City of Hope’s mission to find cures for cancer, diabetes and other life-threatening diseases.

Tickets are available through Ticketmaster.