Kelsea Ballerini is kicking off 2018 with the just-announced Unapologetically Tour, which will launch Feb. 8 in Birmingham, Alabama. Ballerini will be joined by Walker Hayes on the dates, which will wrap April 27 at the annual Stagecoach Festival in Indio, CA (on-sale now).

“Great things happen when music surrounds you, I really believe that,” shared Ballerini. “One of the coolest things to me about headlining is being able to create a world for your fans to step into. I can’t wait for you to join me on this new journey with my good friend Walker and begin chapter two together!”

Bailey Bryan joins the lineup for one-night-only for the Nashville show at Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium on Valentine’s Day. Tickets for the new tour go on sale this Friday, Nov. 3. Special VIP Experiences will be available at each show from CID Entertainment, including a meet & greet with Ballerini, collectible merchandise, an invitation to the ‘Unapologetically’ pre-show experience and early venue entry. VIP packages will be available for purchase beginning Tuesday, October 31.

 

 

On Saturday night (Oct. 28) the Tennessee Department of Tourist Development teamed up Ballerini for a one-of-a-kind album celebration in her hometown of Knoxville. Fans from 28 states came together to celebrate the release of Ballerini’s upcoming sophomore album, Unapologetically, due out Nov. 3. The special concert experience was part of the Tennessee Department of Tourist Development’s Snapchat Concert Series and their ongoing ‘The Soundtrack of America. Made in Tennessee.” brand campaign.

The event took place at Ballerini’s alma mater, Central High School, the same place where she performed an original song for the first time as a student. Tickets to the album celebration show were offered free through Tennessee Tourism’s Snapchat and sold out in one minute. Following her set, Ballerini returned to the stage with the school’s principal and made a surprise donation of $20,000 to Central High School. The principal then surprised her with the school’s highest honor, the Bobcat Award. She ended the evening with a fitting performance of “High School.”

Prior to the show, Ballerini received a one-of-a-kind “platinum record” from the Tennessee Department of Tourist Development to commemorate this special celebration show. She also participated in a meet-and-greet with lucky winners and gave them a sneak preview of her new album.

Starstruck Entertainment has added Anthony Manker as Manager of Music Assets. Manker will work with Starstruck artists Maggie Rose, John King, Emily Ann Roberts, Chris Jobe, Caroline Kole, Post Monroe, and Stealing Oceans as well as the other artists, writers and producers managed by Starstruck.

Starstruck COO Cliff Williamson commented, “Because today’s digital media requires a steady stream of fresh content – photos, videos and music, Anthony’s background in licensing and administration makes him the ideal person to manage these assets for Starstruck artists as we explore all marketing opportunities.”

From Adams, Tennessee, Manker worked as Licensing Manager under John Barker at ClearBox Rights upon graduating from Belmont University in 2015. Prior to graduating, Manker worked in royalty administration at Sony/ATV and in general licensing at SESAC. While a student, Manker was a member of the 2014 Pipeline Project at Belmont University where research he conducted with classmates Alex Marsh and Devin Dawson was cited by the U.S. Copyright Office in its February 2015 report Copyright and the Music Marketplace.

Founded in 1988, Starstruck Entertainment develops, manages, promotes and markets entertainers, songwriters, and producers. Starstruck clients include Kelly Clarkson and Blake Shelton.

Manker can be reached at anthonym@starstruck.net

SESAC will honor Kenny Rogers with the SESAC Legacy Award at its Nashville Music Awards on Sunday, Nov. 5, 2017 at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum. The SESAC Legacy Award recognizes Rogers’ contributions to the creative arts.

Additionally, Kenny Rogers and Dolly Parton were recently presented with a digital gold plaque from Sony Music Nashville for “Islands In The Stream” surpassing 500,000 digital units sold. The song has sold over 3 million physical copies and continues to be a fan favorite in the new modern download era.

Rogers and Parton performed the classic duet during Rogers’ All In For the Gambler show at Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena on Oct. 25. Parton also performed her signature song “I Will Always Love You” during the event.

River House Artists/Columbia Nashville’s Luke Combs will make his headlining debut at the Ryman Auditorium with two nights on Feb. 2-3, 2018, as part of his Don’t Tempt Me With A Good Time Tour. Ashley McBryde will join him for both shows.

Tickets will be available in pre-sale to Combs’ Bootleggers fan club starting Tuesday, Oct. 31 and on-sale on Nov. 4.

“When It Rains It Pours” marks the second multi-week No. 1 hit from Combs’ debut album This One’s For You. The album has garnered more than 371 million streams to date and generated Combs’ Platinum-certified multi-week No. 1 hit single “Hurricane.”

Music icon and Country Music Hall of Famer Randy Travis has signed with Zach Farnum‘s entertainment firm, 117 Publicity. With multiple high-profile projects on the horizon, including an autobiography and a full-length documentary, the 117 team will represent Travis exclusively throughout the media landscape.

With lifetime sales in excess of 25 million, Travis’ honors extend to seven Grammy Awards, 10 Academy of Country Music statuettes, 10 American Music Awards, two People’s Choice awards, seven Music City News awards, eight Dove Awards from the Gospel Music Association and five Country Music Association honors.

“Randy Travis is easily one of the most accomplished and renowned superstars in the history of the music industry,” said Zach Farnum, President & CEO of 117 Entertainment Group. “He is an influencer of nearly every artist that has come onto the country scene since he first topped the chart in the mid ‘80s, pivoted an entire movement for the genre and has garnered innumerable major awards and iconic hits. We are thrilled to work with him, celebrate his monumental success and build on future opportunities,” said

Since his near fatal stroke in 2013, with the help of his wife Mary and rigorous physical therapy, Travis continues to make improvements in his speaking, walking, and yes, singing.

117 Entertainment Group specializes in management and publicity and marketing campaigns for musicians, events and brands representing the likes of Jerry Lee Lewis, Chuck Negron, Lee Roy Parnell, Bobby Bare, Logan Mize, Lewis Brice, Paul Bogart and Scooter Brown Band, just to name a few.