Garth Brooks returns to Nissan Stadium on Friday, April 15, 2022. Photo: MusicRow
Garth Brooks returned to Nashville this weekend after his original July 31 stop at Nissan Stadium was postponed due to bad weather and then later, cancelled due to the rise of Covid-19 cases at that time.
His return to Nashville included two shows, packing the stadium each night, on Friday (4/15) and Saturday (4/16) with the Friday night show only being announced three weeks ago.
On Friday night, Brooks was quick to confess he was taking this show “off the rails” with an unplanned and unscripted show. And in a way that only Brooks can do, he was able to immediately connect with fans on a one-on-one and personal level despite performing a stadium show.
Early into Friday’s performance, Brooks talked directly to people in the audience who were holding up signs and messages for the iconic singer. He added, “This is like request night. I like this!”
In March 2019, he launched The Stadium Tour, which has consistently broken stadium attendance records. Brooks confessed that the night was about being grateful and shared that the 2-night visit to Music City was bringing a record 71,000 fans together that weekend.
Garth Brooks returns to Nissan Stadium on Friday, April 15, 2022. Photo: MusicRow
“We’re going to treat this less like a concert and more like a party,” proclaimed Brooks and the fans were there for it.
Among his many hits played during his two-hour set, he performed many fan-favorites including Nitty Gritty Dirt Band’s “Fishin’ in the Dark,” Bob Dylan’s “Make You Feel My Love,” “If Tomorrow Never Comes,” “The Thunder Rolls,” “Rodeo,” “The River,” and many others.
An emotionally charged Brooks professed, “This will be a night I never forget,” before performing his Billy Joel penned tune, “Shameless.” The thunderous ovation led him to praise the Friday night crowd by instructing them to tell anyone they knew that was coming to the next day’s show, “They better pack their fucking lunch if they’re going to beat this crowd here!”
That fueled the exuberant fans to an even higher escalation confirming Brooks wasn’t lying.
Garth Brooks returns to Nissan Stadium on Friday, April 15, 2022. Photo: MusicRow
Earlier this month, Brooks announced he will open a new entertainment concept and bar in Nashville at 411 Broadway and will take over a 3-story, 40,000+ square foot property that he purchased in December of last year. He gave a subtle nod to that announcement on Friday by introducing his 1990 hit, “Friends in Low Places,” saying, “Let’s see if we can play a song that may be the name of a bar.”
He played his proclaimed favorite song “The Dance,” written by Tony Arata, which is from his self-titled debut album, before offering an acoustic encore with just him and a guitar. During the encore, he sought out fans holding signs asking him to play particular songs and spoke directly to them before performing it.
He then made reference to a very young kid holding up a sign that read, “Shallow.”
After singing the first verse of the song, originally performed by Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper from the movie A Star Is Born, the full band returned to the stage, and so did his wife and country music artist Trisha Yearwood to join him on the duet. The enthusiastic crowd convinced her to stay for another song and she did, with a flawless performance of “Walkaway Joe.”
Brooks is the first and only artist in history to receive nine Diamond Awards for the now nine Diamond-certified albums at over 10 million album sales each. And this night was evidence of why he remains the No. 1 selling solo artist in U.S. history, certified by the RIAA with over 157 million album sales.
For the last song of the evening, the country superstar performed “Standing Outside The Fire,” which perhaps embodies the inspiration we all needed to hear that night after having come through the storms of a pandemic… life is not tried, it is merely survived, if you’re standing outside the fire.
Garth Brooks returns to Nissan Stadium on Friday, April 15, 2022. Photo: MusicRow
The following evening, Brooks created an Opry celebration to open his Saturday (4/16) Nissan Stadium show.
Opry members Lauren Alaina, Larry Gatlin, Jeannie Seely, Trisha Yearwood, Chris Young, and special guest Chase Rice all performed, and WSM Radio personality Bill Cody served as announcer.
Young opened the show with his hit “Gettin’ You Home” before stepping into a host role and welcoming Rice to the stage for two songs. Yearwood performed her smash debut single “She’s in Love with The Boy” and was joined by Alaina, who she officially inducted into the Opry in February.
Young and Brooks collaborated on Brooks’ smash “Papa Loved Mama” before everyone including, Gatlin and Seely, gathered on stage to sing the Opry anthem “Will The Circle Be Unbroken.”
As the performers took the stage at Nissan Stadium, the Grand Ole Opry simultaneously took place at the Opry House and was heard around the world on WSM Radio and online with performances by Opry members John Conlee, Carrie Underwood, Sam Williams, and more.
Chuck Wicks Feels The Love On New Project ‘Started In A Bar’
/by Lydia FarthingChuck Wicks. Photo: John Shearer
Chuck Wicks has delivered his newest project Started in a Bar, a 5-song EP of love songs released through Verge Records.
Four of the five songs on Started in a Bar, which was produced by 20-year Nashville veteran Jimmy Ritchey, were either written or co-written by Wicks and essentially serve as love letters to his wife Kasi.
“This EP speaks to the songwriter side of me and the type of songs I love to write—story songs; real songs; songs that make you think,” Wicks says. “Every single word [of Started in a Bar] is from my life,” he adds. “I’ll never forget when Kasi walked into the same bar as me on a Sunday afternoon in downtown Nashville. We immediately found ourselves in conversation, and the rest was history.”
From paying homage to young love and idyllic hometowns in the south on “Small Towns Do,” to promising his wife to love her like they do in old country songs in “Solid Gold,” Wicks rounds out the EP with a duet featuring rising country superstar Jimmie Allen on the bittersweet classic “On and On,” written by singer-songwriter Stephen Bishop for his 1976 debut album, Careless.
Wicks, whose debut single “Stealing Cinderella” earned him 2007’s highest chart debut for a new country artist, has since found success in numerous segments of the entertainment industry, including as a songwriter, radio show host, and television personality, including a guest appearance on Nashville and as a celebrity contestant on Dancing with the Stars.
Solid Gold (Chuck Wicks)
Small Towns Do (Chuck Wicks)
Started in a Bar (Chuck Wicks)
Old With You (Chuck Wicks)
On and On (Stephen Bishop)
Eric Church Reclaims Top Spot On The MusicRow Top Songwriter Chart
/by Lydia FarthingEric Church. Photo: Joe Pugliese
Eric Church moves into the top spot on the MusicRow Top Songwriter Chart with his current single “Heart On Fire,” of which he is the sole writer.
Because he is the only writer on “Heart On Fire,” all of the points earned from the song’s airplay, digital download track sales, and streams go entirely to Church on the Songwriter Chart.
Shane McAnally falls to No. 2 on the MusicRow Top Songwriter Chart. He has five charting songs, including Old Dominion’s “No Hard Feelings,” Kenny Chesney’s “Everyone She Knows,” Walker Hayes’ “AA,” Sam Hunt’s “23,” and Carly Pearce & Ashley McBryde’s “Never Wanted To Be That Girl.”
Ashley Gorley (No. 3), Ben Johnson (No. 4) and Michael Hardy (No. 5) round out the top five this week.
The weekly MusicRow Top Songwriter Chart uses algorithms based upon song activity according to airplay, digital download track sales and streams. This unique and exclusive addition to the MusicRow portfolio is the only songwriter chart of its kind.
Click here to view the full MusicRow Top Songwriter Chart.
Dierks Bentley Earns 21st Chart-Topper
/by Lydia FarthingMulti-Platinum singer-songwriter Dierks Bentley has notched his 21st career No. 1 as “Beers On Me,” featuring Breland and Hardy, hits the top of the Mediabase/Country Aircheck Singles chart and Billboard‘s Country Airplay chart.
“From start to finish this song was a true collaboration, and to do it with Breland and Hardy really means a lot,” Bentley shares. “They both bring something that’s so needed in country music right now and can’t thank the fans and country radio enough for embracing this one. I’m lucky to have gotten a chance to work with these two and it’s cool to be able to celebrate Breland’s first number one song–as an artist and songwriter-with him.”
The single hit the peak of the MusicRow CountryBreakout Radio Chart earlier this year on Feb. 11.
Bentley will launch his 31-city “Beers On Me Tour” with special guests Ashley McBryde and Travis Denning on June 3 in Wilmington, North Carolina. Additionally, his “Seven Peaks Music Festival” will once again return this Labor Day Weekend (Sept. 2-4) in San Luis Valley in Villa Grove, Colorado. Passes go on sale to the general public this Friday (April 22) at 12 p.m. CT.
Red Street Records Announces New Hires, Promotion
/by Lorie HollabaughPictured (L-R): Taylor Day, Madison Policastri, Kevin Rooney
Red Street Records has promoted several staffers and added some members to its team.
Taylor Day has been elevated to Jr. Director Streaming, Marketing & Production. A Belmont University graduate, she joined the label in 2019.
“Taylor has been an integral part of our team since the day she started,” notes Jay DeMarcus, CEO of Red Street Records. “She continues to impress with her work ethic, and drive. It’s an honor to watch her continue to grow, and I can’t wait to see what the future holds for her.”
Additionally, Madison Policastri has been added as Manager of Publishing and Promotion Administration for Red Street Country. She launched her career at Demolition Music Publishing as an Administrative Coordinator before joining Red Street Records in February to handle catalog management, session booking, and song plugging, while also coordinating radio chart data, travel, and production for radio shows.
Kevin Rooney will step into the role of Director of A&R at Red Street Christian. He has been a writer with Red Street Records for two years and now moves into the Director of A&R role at Red Street Christian with an array of production, programming, and engineering credits to his name including Iveth Luna, Jason Crabb, Rascal Flatts, Crowder, Passion, Zach Williams, Avalon, Russell Dickerson and more.
Created by DeMarcus and Co-Owner/Chairman Dan Crockett, Red Street Records formed in 2018 with a focus on Christian music. Earlier this year, Red Street launched a country division with flagship artist singer-songwriter Ryan Griffin. Griffin’s new single, “Salt, Lime & Tequila” soared to No. 1 on Sirius XM The Highway’s Hot 30 Countdown, was one of the most added songs at country radio, and has tallied nearly 14 million global streams.
Weekly Register: Cole Swindell’s ‘Stereotype’ Makes Top 10 Country Debut
/by Lydia FarthingCole Swindell makes big waves this week with the release of his fourth studio album Stereotype. The Warner Music Nashville release sees the multi-Platinum entertainer debuting at No. 6 on the top country albums chart and No. 48 overall with 16K in total consumption (5.3K album only/12 million streams), according to Luminate data.
Swindell also jumps into the top five country streaming songs with “Never Say Never,” his fiery duet featuring Lainey Wilson, gaining 5.8 million streams. At the No. 5 spot this week, the single has racked up 70 million streams since its November release.
Elsewhere on the top country streaming songs chart, Morgan Wallen takes the No. 1 spot with “Wasted On You” adding 6.3 million streams. Walker Hayes‘ “AA” follows close behind in second, earning 6.2 million streams, while Cody Johnson‘s “Til You Can’t” rises up to No. 3 with 6.2 million streams. Luke Combs fills the fourth spot as “Doin’ This” adds 6 million streams this week.
On the albums front, Wallen also taps the top spot as Dangerous: The Double Album continues its reign at No. 1. The record-setting project adds 47K in total consumption (1.4K album only/57 million song streams). Combs claims No. 2 with What You See Is What You Get earning 18K in total consumption, as well as No. 4 with This One’s For You gaining 17K. Taylor Swift takes the third position as Red (Taylor’s Version) adds 17K in total consumption. Chris Stapleton rounds out the top five with Starting Over gaining 16K.
Larry Fleet Plots ‘One For The Road Tour’ For Fall
/by Lorie HollabaughLarry Fleet. Photo: Matt Paskert
Larry Fleet is set to launch his first-ever headline run with his “One For The Road Tour” on Sept. 15. He hits the road this fall with a rotation of country newcomers opening, including Nate Smith, Tyler Booth, and Megan Moroney on select dates.
Presented by Black Buffalo, the “One For The Road Tour” will visit 18 cities nationwide, with stops at New York City’s Gramercy Theatre, Chicago’s Joe’s on Weed, and a hometown show for Fleet at Chattanooga’s The Signal. Tickets for the dates go on sale beginning April 22.
“It’s been amazing playing sold-out arenas every night, and to be able to announce my own headlining tour while doing it is a blessing,” Fleet says. “I’m fired up to get on the road this fall to travel across the country doing what I love, and I hope everyone makes it out to join in on the party. Thankful for Nate, Tyler, and Megan for lending their talents on the tour and adding to the shows.”
Garth Takes Show ‘Off The Rails’ At Nissan Stadium
/by Sherod RobertsonGarth Brooks returns to Nissan Stadium on Friday, April 15, 2022. Photo: MusicRow
Garth Brooks returned to Nashville this weekend after his original July 31 stop at Nissan Stadium was postponed due to bad weather and then later, cancelled due to the rise of Covid-19 cases at that time.
His return to Nashville included two shows, packing the stadium each night, on Friday (4/15) and Saturday (4/16) with the Friday night show only being announced three weeks ago.
On Friday night, Brooks was quick to confess he was taking this show “off the rails” with an unplanned and unscripted show. And in a way that only Brooks can do, he was able to immediately connect with fans on a one-on-one and personal level despite performing a stadium show.
Early into Friday’s performance, Brooks talked directly to people in the audience who were holding up signs and messages for the iconic singer. He added, “This is like request night. I like this!”
In March 2019, he launched The Stadium Tour, which has consistently broken stadium attendance records. Brooks confessed that the night was about being grateful and shared that the 2-night visit to Music City was bringing a record 71,000 fans together that weekend.
Garth Brooks returns to Nissan Stadium on Friday, April 15, 2022. Photo: MusicRow
“We’re going to treat this less like a concert and more like a party,” proclaimed Brooks and the fans were there for it.
Among his many hits played during his two-hour set, he performed many fan-favorites including Nitty Gritty Dirt Band’s “Fishin’ in the Dark,” Bob Dylan’s “Make You Feel My Love,” “If Tomorrow Never Comes,” “The Thunder Rolls,” “Rodeo,” “The River,” and many others.
An emotionally charged Brooks professed, “This will be a night I never forget,” before performing his Billy Joel penned tune, “Shameless.” The thunderous ovation led him to praise the Friday night crowd by instructing them to tell anyone they knew that was coming to the next day’s show, “They better pack their fucking lunch if they’re going to beat this crowd here!”
That fueled the exuberant fans to an even higher escalation confirming Brooks wasn’t lying.
Garth Brooks returns to Nissan Stadium on Friday, April 15, 2022. Photo: MusicRow
Earlier this month, Brooks announced he will open a new entertainment concept and bar in Nashville at 411 Broadway and will take over a 3-story, 40,000+ square foot property that he purchased in December of last year. He gave a subtle nod to that announcement on Friday by introducing his 1990 hit, “Friends in Low Places,” saying, “Let’s see if we can play a song that may be the name of a bar.”
He played his proclaimed favorite song “The Dance,” written by Tony Arata, which is from his self-titled debut album, before offering an acoustic encore with just him and a guitar. During the encore, he sought out fans holding signs asking him to play particular songs and spoke directly to them before performing it.
He then made reference to a very young kid holding up a sign that read, “Shallow.”
After singing the first verse of the song, originally performed by Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper from the movie A Star Is Born, the full band returned to the stage, and so did his wife and country music artist Trisha Yearwood to join him on the duet. The enthusiastic crowd convinced her to stay for another song and she did, with a flawless performance of “Walkaway Joe.”
Brooks is the first and only artist in history to receive nine Diamond Awards for the now nine Diamond-certified albums at over 10 million album sales each. And this night was evidence of why he remains the No. 1 selling solo artist in U.S. history, certified by the RIAA with over 157 million album sales.
For the last song of the evening, the country superstar performed “Standing Outside The Fire,” which perhaps embodies the inspiration we all needed to hear that night after having come through the storms of a pandemic… life is not tried, it is merely survived, if you’re standing outside the fire.
Garth Brooks returns to Nissan Stadium on Friday, April 15, 2022. Photo: MusicRow
The following evening, Brooks created an Opry celebration to open his Saturday (4/16) Nissan Stadium show.
Opry members Lauren Alaina, Larry Gatlin, Jeannie Seely, Trisha Yearwood, Chris Young, and special guest Chase Rice all performed, and WSM Radio personality Bill Cody served as announcer.
Young opened the show with his hit “Gettin’ You Home” before stepping into a host role and welcoming Rice to the stage for two songs. Yearwood performed her smash debut single “She’s in Love with The Boy” and was joined by Alaina, who she officially inducted into the Opry in February.
Young and Brooks collaborated on Brooks’ smash “Papa Loved Mama” before everyone including, Gatlin and Seely, gathered on stage to sing the Opry anthem “Will The Circle Be Unbroken.”
As the performers took the stage at Nissan Stadium, the Grand Ole Opry simultaneously took place at the Opry House and was heard around the world on WSM Radio and online with performances by Opry members John Conlee, Carrie Underwood, Sam Williams, and more.
Carly Pearce Gives Back To Kentucky Communities Through Music Has Value Fund
/by Lorie HollabaughPictured (L-R): Kristen Rencher (Director of Business Development, Strategic Initiatives, and Student Programs), Carly Pearce, David Graham (Kentucky Music Educators Association President), Scott Borchetta (Big Machine Label Group Chairman and CEO). Photo: Alexa Campbell
Carly Pearce found a way to give back to her home state through her recent one-night-only concert event, “Inside 29: Written In Stone Live From Music City,” held at Marathon Music Works in Nashville on April 6.
The special show was filmed for release later in the year, but local fans experienced the taping first-hand and enjoyed the songs of love, loss and truth Pearce lived through on her acclaimed album, 29: Written In Stone.
Pearce made a special donation through the Music Has Value Fund to the Kentucky Music Educators Association in partnership with National Association for Music Education. The devastation from recent tornadoes across the area hit home for the Taylor Mill native, and specifically, for the family of her bass player Phil Noel in Mayfield.
“I am grateful to have had the support of my strong Kentucky lineage and embrace from true lovers of Country music so it’s an honor to help give back to the community that raised me. This donation from the Music Has Value Fund is a way to uplift some other dreamers in the face of chaos,” Pearce shares. “I wrote this album out of survival, and it ended up being the most beautiful season of my life. My hope is that we all find healing in our heartaches.”
“Carly Pearce, thank you for being the voice for those who suffered losses during tornadoes in Kentucky,” says NAfME Southern Division President Sonja Z.M. Williams. “Thank you for giving back to the community that helped shape you at a young age. We applaud you and the Music Has Value Fund for choosing to support underserved schools. Those students need to have every opportunity to make music, aspire to make music, and access and appreciate music without any obstacles. I know the members of the Kentucky Music Educators Association, led by David Graham, are ecstatic to be on the receiving end of this initiative. We look forward to hearing how the funding positively impacts the schools!”
“The Music Has Value Fund is happy to assist the Kentucky Music Educators Association in supporting music programs in Mayfield. Rebuilding the schools will take time. Our hope is that music programs will be in place and ready when the schools are ready. Our thoughts and prayers continue for the families and all music educators affected by Kentucky tornadoes,” adds Big Machine Label Group EVP Creative Sandi Spika Borchetta.
Darius Rucker Announces Summer Tour With Ryan Hurd, Tenille Townes, More As Special Guests
/by Lorie HollabaughDarius Rucker. Photo: Keith Griner
Darius Rucker has announced a run of 14 dates across the U.S. and Canada this summer from July through September.
He’ll bring along a bevy of rising Nashville stars on the shows, including Tyler Booth, Daves Highway, Larry Fleet, Caylee Hammack, Ryan Hurd, Jameson Rodgers, Elvie Shane and Tenille Townes.
Rucker make three Nashville appearances this summer, with his “Darius And Friends” benefit at the Ryman on June 6, a CMA Fest appearance on June 9, and a Bridgestone Arena show as part of the “Brooks & Dunn Reboot Tour” on June 18.
Tickets to most newly-announced dates go on sale to the public beginning April 22 at 10 a.m. local time via DariusRucker.com.
Darius Rucker Tour Dates:
June 6 – Nashville, Tenn. | Ryman Auditorium (Darius and Friends)
June 9 – Nashville, Tenn. | Nissan Stadium (CMA Fest)
June 18 – Nashville, Tenn. | Bridgestone Arena (Brooks & Dunn Reboot Tour 2022)
June 23 – Cleveland, Ohio | Jacobs Pavilion at Nautica (with Tyler Booth)*
June 24 – Huber Heights, Ohio | Rose Music Center at The Heights (with Tyler Booth)*
June 25 – Interlochen, Mich. | Interlochen Center for the Arts (with Tyler Booth)
June 29 – Anchorage, Alaska | Backyard Country BBQ
July 8 – Cavendish, P.E.I. | Cavendish Beach Music Festival
July 15 – Memphis, Tenn. | venue TBA#
July 16 – Rogers, Ark. | Walmart AMP (with Ryan Hurd & Elvie Shane)*
July 21 – Paso Robles, Calif. | California Mid-State Fair (with Lindsay Ell)
July 22 – Phoenix, Ariz. | Arizona Federal Theatre (with Caylee Hammack)*
July 28 – Bend, Ore. | Hayden Homes Amphitheater (with Tenille Townes & Caylee Hammack)*
July 30 – Cowichan, B.C. | Sunset Music Festival
July 31 – Merritt, B.C. | Rockin’ River Music Festival
August 25 – Tryon, N.C. | Night in the Country Carolinas
August 26 – Wilmington, N.C. | Live Oak Bank Pavilion (with Larry Fleet & Tyler Booth)*
August 27 – Doswell, Va. | Meadow Event Park (with Larry Fleet & Tyler Booth)*
September 2 – Bridgeport, Conn. | Hartford HealthCare Amphitheater (with Jameson Rodgers & Elvie Shane)*
September 3 – Bethel, N.Y. | Bethel Woods Center for the Arts (with Jameson Rodgers & Elvie Shane)*
September 4 – Gilford, N.H. | Bank of New Hampshire Pavilion (with Jameson Rodgers & Elvie Shane)*
September 9 – Tulsa, Okla. | Paradise Cove at River Spirit Casino Resort (with Tyler Booth)^
September 10 – Camdenton, Mo. | Lake Ozarks Amphitheater (with Tyler Booth)^
*On sale April 22
^On sale May 6
#On sale information TBA
Trace Adkins Celebrates 3x Platinum Status At Sold Out Ryman Show
/by Lydia FarthingTrace Adkins. Photo: Emma Delevante
Multi-Platinum entertainer Trace Adkins brought his “The Way I Wanna Go Tour” to Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium on Friday, April 8 to a sold-out crowd.
The show, which marked Adkins first Ryman visit since 2012, was full of heartfelt emotion, baritone vocals and the playful spirit which has attributed to so much of his success. Throughout the night, Adkins was surprised when Terri Clark interrupted the show to share the news that his monster 2005 hit, “Honky Tonk Badonkadonk,” has officially been certified triple-Platinum by the RIAA.
Pictured (L-R): Cameo Carlson, Mtheory; Trace Adkins; Mickey Jack Cones, Verge Records; Terri Clark. Photo: Catherine Powell
“Performing at the Ryman is always a highlight, but a sold-out crowd made it even more special,” explains Adkins. “Then, my good friend, Terri Clark, walked on stage and caught me totally off guard. Hell, I didn’t know what she was up to! Am I supposed to be singing a song with her? Is she going to slap me? Surprising me with news of the certification on the Ryman stage was a moment I will cherish.”
To celebrate the momentous honor, Adkins has released a special EP, Honky Tonk Badonkadonk: The Remixes, which reimagines the anthem in five new ways–from “Country Club” to “‘70s Groove” and more.
Live streamed via Mandolin, the show also served as the kickoff to a new leg of “The Way I Wanna Go Tour,” which now continues through October. The Grammy-nominated vocalist will make his way across the US, Canada and Mexico, as he continues to follow up his acclaimed 25th anniversary album, The Way I Wanna Go. For a full list of upcoming dates, click here.