Dierks Bentley, Miranda Lambert, and Keith Urban perform Friday (Feb. 22) in Nashville. Photo: Dierks Bentley/Instagram
Dierks Bentley packed out Bridgestone Arena in Nashville on a dreary, rainy Friday night (Feb. 22) and reminded everyone why we all love Dierks Bentley. The sold out show was full of surprise guests, full-circle moments and authenticity.
Bentley opened the show with his latest hit, “Burning Man,” while a large LED screen displayed atmospheric videos of the desert. It was clear from the start that visuals play a big part in The Burning Man Tour.
The light rigs then lowered and Bentley’s band broke out the fiddle and the banjo for the bluegrass-flavored title track to his 2010 album Up On the Ridge.
Just when the crowd thought from the mountainous imagery that Bentley was going into another song from his latest project, The Mountain, he threw his arm up as a huge wave took over the screen and looked as if it would crash onto the stage.
“Y’all look like you’re going to the beach!” he said as he went into “Somewhere on a Beach.”
Dierks Bentley at Bridgestone Arena. Photo: Zach Belcher
When Bentley sang “Woman, Amen,” black and white images of Maren Morris, Kacey Musgraves, Brandi Carlile, Miranda Lambert, Reba McEntire, Emmylou Harris, Dolly Parton and Loretta Lynn appeared on the screen.
Bentley then brought his stellar opener, Tenille Townes, back out to sing Elle King’s part of “Different for Girls.”
“I think things are finally starting to look up for us to hear more females on the radio,” he said. “It is different for girls, but it shouldn’t be.”
Townes was not the only guest Bentley invited out to sing with him. Fans roared when Keith Urban wandered out to shred on guitar and harmonize as Bentley sang “The Mountain.” He compared Music Row to a mountain. A photo of him, Urban and Kenny Chesney displayed on the screen as he talked about the climb to success as an artist.
Bentley then showed a photo of Urban winning the CMA Entertainer of the Year award back in November and Urban shook his head as Bentley said that he had reached the top of the mountain.
The crowd roared even louder when Miranda Lambert made her way to the stage to harmonize with the guys on some Hank and Merle.
Lambert and Urban found their sweet spot, harmonizing seamlessly on “Blue Kentucky Girl” as Bentley sat down on the stage in front of them and enjoyed their stellar harmonies with the rest of us, raising his solo cup in the air.
Before they left, Lambert thrilled the audience with a “Cowboy Take Me Away” cover.
Later, Bentley’s daughter Evelyn Bentley made an appearance to sing Brandi Carlile’s part on their collaboration from The Mountain, “Travelin’ Light.” It seems as if having a country star father has rubbed off, as she held her own for the Grammy-winning Carlile’s part; and she did it all while flossing. Bentley shook his head.
“Quit flossing and go to bed!” he said as she made her way backstage.
At one point, Bentley ‘came a little closer’ to the fans at the back of the arena to sing on a smaller stage. It was clear that Bentley wanted to be close to his fans, as he shook and slapped everyone’s hands on his way to and from the small stage. He even invited a lucky fan to shot-gun a beer with him during the party anthem “Am I the Only One.”
“It’s been a lot of years,” he said with his hand on his heart. “We’ve made a lot of fans. Thank you for holding onto us.” Bentley went into “I Hold On” reaching out to his fans and the sky when the song mentioned his father and God.
The sentiment of the night at the “largest honky tonk on lower broadway” wasn’t lost on Bentley. He was grateful, present, intentional and entertaining, leaving some wondering when he will top that mountain and be recognized as an entertainer of the year. Odds are, after Friday night, the crowd already has.
Jon Pardi got the crowd warmed up for Bentley with a plethora of hits from his Platinum California Sunrise.
Kicking the night off with his 2014 “What I Can’t Put Down” and then not wasting any time, Pardi went into his most recent MusicRow No. 1, “Night Shift.”
“We’re gonna be working that night shift tonight!” he said.
The crowd roared as the fiddle whined for the smart, “She Ain’t In It.”
“Shout out to all my hard-working men and women out there enjoying their time off in music city tonight,” he said as the audience raised their drinks and fists in the air for “Paycheck.”
Pardi also promised a new record would come out this year, and teased two tunes from the upcoming project, one called “Heartache Medication” and the other with the lyric it isn’t always the cowboy that rides away.
Audience members swayed and square danced when Pardi went into “Head Over Boots” and sang the words loudly when he performed “Heartache on the Dance Floor.”
“I know y’all got some dirt on your boots!” Pardi yelled as he closed his set with “Dirt on My Boots.”
Tenille Townes was visibly honored to open up the night at the Nashville arena. The folk-rock goddess, draped in burnt orange, performed her debut “Where You Are” and “Somebody’s Daughter,” as well as U2’s “I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For.”
“I consider it a great honor to open up this night of music for you,” Townes said. “I’m not going to forget this night, Nashville. I’ll hold it close.”
Hot Country Knights. Photo: Zach Belcher
The Hot Country Knights got everything started with their covers of 90s classics like Travis Tritt’s “T-R-O-U-B-L-E.”
A cousin of one of the band members made an appearance to cover Rhett Akin’s “That Ain’t My Truck.” Coincidentally, his voice was uncannily similar to Akin’s son Thomas Rhett. The opening band also had a Dierks Bentley sound-alike, but there’s no way he could have pulled Bentley’s style off.
The Knights also invited Sawyer Brown’s Mark Miller out to sing “Some Girls Do.”
Friday night was a night of great music, real fan connection and a lot of fun. Dierks Bentley’s Burning Man Tour is one not to forget.
Todd Milsap, Son Of Ronnie Milsap, Dies
/by Jessica NicholsonJoyce Milsap, Ronnie Milsap, and Todd Milsap. Photo: Ronnie Milsap
Todd Milsap, son of country entertainer Ronnie Milsap, has died. He passed Saturday (Feb. 23) on his houseboat at Four Corners Marina in Antioch, Tennessee. Todd Milsap was 49. According to Metro Nashville PD, the death appears to be medically related.
No funeral arrangements have been released at this time. Todd Milsap is the son of Ronnie and Joyce Milsap.
“Our son Todd was a force of joy, life, creativity and giving from the moment he was born,” says the six-time Grammy winner Ronnie Milsap. “He made such a mark on our world in his years on this planet, everyone who met him was richer for it. It is too soon to even understand this loss, and I hope it’s something no one else has to bare. Please keep his three children, their mothers and Joyce and I in your prayers at such a fragile time.”
A gathering of friends and family was held on Tuesday (Feb. 26) at Woodlawn-Roesch-Patton Funeral Home. A celebration of life was held at Woodlawn’s Dignity Hall on Wednesday (Feb. 27).
Dierks Bentley Climbs The Mountain To Bridgestone Arena
/by LB CantrellDierks Bentley, Miranda Lambert, and Keith Urban perform Friday (Feb. 22) in Nashville. Photo: Dierks Bentley/Instagram
Dierks Bentley packed out Bridgestone Arena in Nashville on a dreary, rainy Friday night (Feb. 22) and reminded everyone why we all love Dierks Bentley. The sold out show was full of surprise guests, full-circle moments and authenticity.
Bentley opened the show with his latest hit, “Burning Man,” while a large LED screen displayed atmospheric videos of the desert. It was clear from the start that visuals play a big part in The Burning Man Tour.
The light rigs then lowered and Bentley’s band broke out the fiddle and the banjo for the bluegrass-flavored title track to his 2010 album Up On the Ridge.
Just when the crowd thought from the mountainous imagery that Bentley was going into another song from his latest project, The Mountain, he threw his arm up as a huge wave took over the screen and looked as if it would crash onto the stage.
“Y’all look like you’re going to the beach!” he said as he went into “Somewhere on a Beach.”
Dierks Bentley at Bridgestone Arena. Photo: Zach Belcher
When Bentley sang “Woman, Amen,” black and white images of Maren Morris, Kacey Musgraves, Brandi Carlile, Miranda Lambert, Reba McEntire, Emmylou Harris, Dolly Parton and Loretta Lynn appeared on the screen.
Bentley then brought his stellar opener, Tenille Townes, back out to sing Elle King’s part of “Different for Girls.”
“I think things are finally starting to look up for us to hear more females on the radio,” he said. “It is different for girls, but it shouldn’t be.”
Townes was not the only guest Bentley invited out to sing with him. Fans roared when Keith Urban wandered out to shred on guitar and harmonize as Bentley sang “The Mountain.” He compared Music Row to a mountain. A photo of him, Urban and Kenny Chesney displayed on the screen as he talked about the climb to success as an artist.
Bentley then showed a photo of Urban winning the CMA Entertainer of the Year award back in November and Urban shook his head as Bentley said that he had reached the top of the mountain.
The crowd roared even louder when Miranda Lambert made her way to the stage to harmonize with the guys on some Hank and Merle.
Lambert and Urban found their sweet spot, harmonizing seamlessly on “Blue Kentucky Girl” as Bentley sat down on the stage in front of them and enjoyed their stellar harmonies with the rest of us, raising his solo cup in the air.
Before they left, Lambert thrilled the audience with a “Cowboy Take Me Away” cover.
Later, Bentley’s daughter Evelyn Bentley made an appearance to sing Brandi Carlile’s part on their collaboration from The Mountain, “Travelin’ Light.” It seems as if having a country star father has rubbed off, as she held her own for the Grammy-winning Carlile’s part; and she did it all while flossing. Bentley shook his head.
“Quit flossing and go to bed!” he said as she made her way backstage.
At one point, Bentley ‘came a little closer’ to the fans at the back of the arena to sing on a smaller stage. It was clear that Bentley wanted to be close to his fans, as he shook and slapped everyone’s hands on his way to and from the small stage. He even invited a lucky fan to shot-gun a beer with him during the party anthem “Am I the Only One.”
“It’s been a lot of years,” he said with his hand on his heart. “We’ve made a lot of fans. Thank you for holding onto us.” Bentley went into “I Hold On” reaching out to his fans and the sky when the song mentioned his father and God.
The sentiment of the night at the “largest honky tonk on lower broadway” wasn’t lost on Bentley. He was grateful, present, intentional and entertaining, leaving some wondering when he will top that mountain and be recognized as an entertainer of the year. Odds are, after Friday night, the crowd already has.
Jon Pardi got the crowd warmed up for Bentley with a plethora of hits from his Platinum California Sunrise.
Kicking the night off with his 2014 “What I Can’t Put Down” and then not wasting any time, Pardi went into his most recent MusicRow No. 1, “Night Shift.”
“We’re gonna be working that night shift tonight!” he said.
The crowd roared as the fiddle whined for the smart, “She Ain’t In It.”
“Shout out to all my hard-working men and women out there enjoying their time off in music city tonight,” he said as the audience raised their drinks and fists in the air for “Paycheck.”
Pardi also promised a new record would come out this year, and teased two tunes from the upcoming project, one called “Heartache Medication” and the other with the lyric it isn’t always the cowboy that rides away.
Audience members swayed and square danced when Pardi went into “Head Over Boots” and sang the words loudly when he performed “Heartache on the Dance Floor.”
“I know y’all got some dirt on your boots!” Pardi yelled as he closed his set with “Dirt on My Boots.”
Tenille Townes was visibly honored to open up the night at the Nashville arena. The folk-rock goddess, draped in burnt orange, performed her debut “Where You Are” and “Somebody’s Daughter,” as well as U2’s “I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For.”
“I consider it a great honor to open up this night of music for you,” Townes said. “I’m not going to forget this night, Nashville. I’ll hold it close.”
Hot Country Knights. Photo: Zach Belcher
The Hot Country Knights got everything started with their covers of 90s classics like Travis Tritt’s “T-R-O-U-B-L-E.”
A cousin of one of the band members made an appearance to cover Rhett Akin’s “That Ain’t My Truck.” Coincidentally, his voice was uncannily similar to Akin’s son Thomas Rhett. The opening band also had a Dierks Bentley sound-alike, but there’s no way he could have pulled Bentley’s style off.
The Knights also invited Sawyer Brown’s Mark Miller out to sing “Some Girls Do.”
Friday night was a night of great music, real fan connection and a lot of fun. Dierks Bentley’s Burning Man Tour is one not to forget.
NSAI Reveals Winners Of The 19th Annual Song Contest
/by LB CantrellPictured (L-R): Jacob Noe, Michael Roth
NSAI, along with presenting partners CMT and C.F. Martin & Co., is proud to announce Jacob Noe as the Grand Prize Song+Lyric winner of NSAI’s annual Song Contest with his entry “Weight of Words” (co-written with Canaan Stanley), and Michael Roth as the Lyric Only Winner with his entry “The Price Of A Song.”
With the addition of presenting partner C.F. Martin & Co. this year, the Grand Prize winning package was bigger than ever and included $5,000 cash, a one-year single-song contract with ole, mentoring sessions with legendary hit songwriter Craig Wiseman and musician, writer, performer and Martin ambassador Hunter Hayes, and a Martin guitar. Additional prizes included a round-trip flight to Nashville, TN, tickets to the 2019 CMT Music Awards, a mentoring session with a CMT executive, a performance slot during the 2019 Tin Pan South Songwriters Festival and more. The total prize package was valued at over $15,000. All eight runner-up entrants in the Song+Lyric category also each were awarded their very own Martin Dreadnought Junior acoustic electric guitar, as well as an industry meeting and a year membership to NSAI.
Roth, the winner of the Lyric-Only category won a prize package that included a mentoring session with hit songwriter Lori McKenna, a Martin guitar, industry access, a round-trip flight to Nashville, TN, a pass to the annual Music Biz conference and more.
Beating out nearly 2,600 entries, each placing song advanced through several levels of judging with the final judging event taking place on February 5, 2019, where the Grand Prize-winning song was determined by a panel of elite judges.
Pictured (L-R): Chris Martin, Craig Thatcher, NSAI’s Bart Herbison and Lindsay Gum, John Ozier, Jordan Walker, and Brett James
Judges included Chris Martin (Chairman & CEO, C.F. Martin & Co.), Craig Thatcher (Recording artist and International Clinician/Ambassador for C.F. Martin & Co.), Brett James (Grammy-Winning Songwriter/Producer), Jordan Walker (Manager, Music & Talent, CMT) and John Ozier (Vice President, Creative, ole). For the final judging, each song was played and received a score of 1-10 from each panelist. The song with the highest score in total was declared the winner.
Steven Curtis Chapman Announces Bluegrass Album, ‘Deeper Roots: Where The Bluegrass Grows’
/by LB CantrellSteven Curtis Chapman is honoring his rural Kentucky heritage as he announces Deeper Roots: Where The Bluegrass Grows available on all music platforms March 22. Today, Chapman released a bluegrass version of “Dive” featuring recent Bluegrass Hall of Fame and Country Music Hall of Fame inductee, Ricky Skaggs, as the lead single.
Deeper Roots serves as the sequel to Chapman’s 2013 No. 1 Bluegrass Album Deep Roots, which was exclusively released with Cracker Barrel. Along with Skaggs, Chapman was also joined by Gary LeVox of Rascal Flatts for a collaboration on “‘Til The Blue.”
Deeper Roots was produced by Chapman and Brent Milligan, engineered by Milligan and Brent King, mixed by Milligan, King and Sean Moffitt and mastered by Brad Blackwood at Euphonic Masters. The 13-track collection features a mixture of familiar hymns like “Life Is Like A Mountain Railroad” and “I’ll Fly Away,” fan-favorite hits including “Cinderella” and brand-new songs such as “Where The Bluegrass Grows” and “‘Til The Blue.”
Deeper Roots: Where The Bluegrass Grows Track Listing:
1. “Where the Bluegrass Grows”
2. “Dive” featuring Ricky Skaggs
3. “‘Til The Blue” featuring Gary LeVox
4. “Cinderella”
5. “Victory in Jesus” featuring Herb Chapman Sr. and Herb Chapman Jr.
6. “Great is Thy Faithfulness” featuring Herb Chapman Sr. and Herb Chapman Jr.
7. “My Redeemer is Faithful and True”
8. “How Great Thou Art” featuring Jillian Edwards Chapman
9. “Life is Like a Mountain Railroad” featuring Herb Chapman Sr. and Herb Chapman Jr.
10. “I’ll Fly Away”
11. “Without Him” featuring Herb Chapman Sr. and Herb Chapman Jr.
12. “Be Still and Know” featuring Caleb Chapman
13. “I’d Rather Have Jesus” featuring Herb Chapman Sr.
Warner Music Nashville Celebrates Dan + Shay Grammy Win And ACM Nominations
/by LB CantrellDan + Shay pictured with Warner Music Nashville and Sandbox Entertainment
Warner Music Nashville’s Dan + Shay raised glasses with their label family yesterday (Feb. 21) to celebrate their first-ever Grammy award win. The timing was fitting as they also received six ACM Awards nominations this week and tied as the most-nominated artist overall, with Dan Smyers earning an additional four nominations for his work as a songwriter and producer.
Chairman & CEO, John Esposito surprised the duo with a 2x Platinum plaque for “Tequila” and a Platinum plaque for “Speechless.” “Speechless” spent four weeks atop the country radio charts and has sold over 1.7 million track equivalents, including more than 230 million streams. The romantic tune follows the Grammy-winning smash “Tequila,” which has accumulated over 550 million streams internationally.
With the two chart-topping hits, Dan + Shay boast two of the five most-streamed country songs of 2018, and are the only duo ever to hold the top two spots on Billboard’s Hot Country Songs chart simultaneously for eight consecutive weeks.
CCM News: Michael W. Smith, Ryan Stevenson, Integrity Music
/by Sarah SkatesMichael W. Smith Releases Live Album
Michael W. Smith
When Michael W. Smith hosted a gathering of 14,000 people at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville last August, the energy of the event was captured on AWAKEN: The Surrounded Experience, out now via Rocketown Records and The Fuel Music. The album features Smith along with special guest CeCe Winans.
On April 30, Smith will return to Bridgestone Arena to be honored by his peers during the “35 Years of Friends: Celebrating The Music of Michael W. Smith” event. The all-star line-up includes performances by Amy Grant, Brian Littrell (Backstreet Boys), CeCe Winans, The Gatlin Brothers, Jars of Clay, Jason Crabb, Jim Brickman, Lee Greenwood, MercyMe, Natalie Grant, Newsboys, The Oak Ridge Boys, Randy Travis, Rascal Flatts, Ricky Skaggs, Russ Taff, Sandi Patty, Vince Gill, Wynonna and more.
Ryan Stevenson Celebrates No. 1
Gotee Records and First Company Management recently celebrated Ryan Stevenson‘s No. 1 song “No Matter What.” The single topped Billboard’s Christian AC Indicator chart for three consecutive weeks. The song was written by Stevenson, producer Bryan Fowler and Jonathan Smith. It is also the title track to Stevenson’s 2018 album.
This is his third consecutive Top 5 Billboard Christian Airplay and Christian AC radio single in the last three years.
Integrity Music Signs William McDowell
Integrity Music has signed worship leader, pastor, author and recording artist William McDowell and will release his upcoming live album.
McDowell, who serves as pastor of Orlando, Florida’s Deeper Fellowship Church, previously released five critically-acclaimed albums which earned Dove and Stellar Awards, and a Grammy nomination.
Florida Georgia Line’s ‘Can’t Say I Ain’t Country’ Debuts At No. 1
/by Sarah SkatesFGL visits “The Ellen DeGeneres Show” in Los Angeles. Photo by Michael Rozman/Warner Bros.
Florida Georgia Line’s fourth studio album Can’t Say I Ain’t Country (BMLG Records) debuted at No. 1 on Billboard’s Top Country Albums chart, with consumption of 300,000 album equivalents.
To promote their latest album, Tyler Hubbard and Brian Kelley went on a week-long, coast-to-coast jaunt, appearing on both daytime and late-night television. The duo stopped by The Ellen DeGeneres Show Thursday (Feb. 21) to perform their single “Talk You Out of It,” and then chatted with host DeGeneres –who later surprised Hubbard and his wife Hayley with the gender reveal of their second child due in August. (See video below).
Heading into the 54th Academy of Country Music Awards on April 7, FGL is nominated for Duo of the Year, Single of the Year, Song of the Year, and Music Event of the Year—all for their 4-times Platinum, “Meant to Be” collaboration with Bebe Rexha.
FGL’s upcoming tour features Dan + Shay and Morgan Wallen, plus special guests HARDY and Canaan Smith on select stops.
Reba Promotes New Music in NYC
/by LB CantrellReba On CBS This Morning. Photo: Michelle Crowe
This week Reba McEntire gave live audiences in New York City more details about her forthcoming album Stronger Than The Truth, out April 5 on Big Machine Records. Today McEntire released another song, “No U In Oklahoma,” which she co-wrote with Ronnie Dunn and Donna McSpadden.
Reba’s appearances in New York City began on CBS This Morning as she spoke with co-hosts Gayle King and Norah O’Donnell about returning to host the ACM Awards for her sixteenth time and announced the nominees. She then chatted with host Kevan Kenney for a BUILD Series before wrapping the night at The Late Show With Stephen Colbert. She also joined host Andy Cohen and actor Morris Chestnut on Watch What Happens LIVE.
Reba on The Late Show With Stephen Colbert. Photo Credit: Scott Kowalchky
Stronger Than The Truth is available for pre-order here.
Jimmie Allen And Abby Anderson Release Cover Of Lady Gaga And Bradley Cooper Duet, “Shallow”
/by LB CantrellAbby Anderson and Jimmie Allen. Photo: Austin Peckham
Rising country stars Jimmie Allen and Abby Anderson have come together to release their own cover of the duet, “Shallow.” The Grammy and Golden Globe-winning song performed by Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper in the film A Star is Born is nominated for Best Original Song at the 91st Academy Awards ceremony, airing Sunday, February 24.
“A Star is Born was one of my favorites from last year, and the performance of this song in the film really moved me as an artist,” said Allen. “I had chills! Getting to cover ‘Shallow’ with my good friend Abby was such a cool experience. She’s an incredible vocalist, and I’m excited for fans to hear our take on the song.”
“I think I speak for everyone when I say that I bawled like a baby during A Star Is Born. The song ‘Shallow’ immediately stood out to me,” said Anderson. “When Jimmie called and asked if I would sing on this song with him, I was honored. I mean I’m no Lady Gaga, but working on this with Jimmie, who pours his whole heart into a song vocally, was an absolute joy.”
The newly nominated ACM Best New Male Artist of the year Allen is currently supporting Kane Brown on his Live Forever Tour and will also be hitting the road this summer as support on Chris Young’s Raised on Country Tour and Rascal Flatts’ Summer Playlist Tour.
As announced earlier this week, Anderson is set to open for Rob Thomas as direct support on Thomas’s Chip Tooth Smile Tour. The 44-date tour kicks off in Red Bank, NJ on May 28 and runs through August 4 with stops in New York, Los Angeles, and Nashville.
Both Allen and Anderson were part of MusicRow‘s Next Big Thing Class of 2019.
Christine Pantoya Joins Ryman Hospitality Properties, Inc. Board of Directors
/by LB CantrellRyman Hospitality Properties, Inc. announced that Christine Pantoya has been elected to its Board of Directors effective as of today (Feb. 22). Pantoya fills a newly-created vacancy on the Board.
“Chris brings extensive digital media and entertainment industry expertise to our company, having most recently served for several years as SVP & Head of Mobile & Direct-to-Consumer for the National Basketball Association, and I am very excited to have her perspective on our Board, especially as we continue to execute our Company’s strategic growth initiatives,” said Colin V. Reed, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Ryman Hospitality Properties.
Pantoya joins the current Ryman Hospitality Properties Board of Directors, which is comprised of:
Michael J. Bender, President and CEO, Eye-Mart Express, Inc.
Rachna Bhasin, Founder/CEO, EQ Partners
Alvin Bowles, Head of Global Publisher Sales and Operations, Facebook, Inc.
Ellen R. Levine, Editorial Consultant, Hearst Magazines
Fazal Merchant, Chief Operating Officer and Chief Financial Officer, Tanium
Patrick Q. Moore, EVP, Strategy & Business Development, Carter’s Inc.
Robert S. Prather Jr., President and CEO, Heartland Media, LLC
Colin V. Reed, Chairman and CEO, Ryman Hospitality Properties
Michael I. Roth, Chairman and CEO, The Interpublic Group of Companies, Inc.
Pantoya currently serves as an advisor to Stay Tuned Digital, an early stage startup media company. She served as SVP & Head of Mobile & Direct-to-Consumer for the National Basketball Association from January 2015 to October 2018. Other stops include: Verizon Communications, Cox Communications, Enhanced Wireless, Clearwire and Sprint Nextel.