Dolly Parton at the Ryman, July 31, 2015. Photo: Stacie Huckeba
They call her a living legend for a reason.
At a pair of weekend concerts at Ryman Auditorium, Dolly Parton enthralled sold-out crowds with her incomparable personality and showmanship. She didn’t need to fly over the stage, set off pyro, create magic effects or explode confetti. All she needed were her extraordinary songs, her enduringly expressive voice and her magnetic rapport with audiences.
Billed as “Pure and Simple,” her shows featured just three sidemen and minimal stage décor. On Saturday night, she drew a thunderous standing ovation as she came on stage singing a snippet of “Light of a Clear Blue Morning.” “I know these seats are hard, and your butts are gonna get tired,” she told the crowd. “But I’m gonna help you forget that.” And for nearly two hours, she did just that.
“I love coming to the Ryman Auditorium. On Jan. 4, 1969, I became a member of the Grand Ole Opry on this stage.” She told us that the show was a benefit for the Opry Trust Fund (Friday’s was for the W.O. Smith Community Music School).
“Usually, I save all my money for myself,” she quipped. “You would not believe how much it costs to look this cheap!”
Dolly Parton at the Ryman, July 31, 2015. Photo: Stacie Huckeba
She was garbed in a glittering, fringed dress that hugged her famous figure and shimmered in silver and pastel hues. Addressing her over-the-top looks, she delivered “Backwoods Barbie.”
Parton put the crowd in an upbeat mood with “Why’d You Come In Here Lookin’ Like That” and “Jolene.” Then she took attendees on a journey to her Appalachian roots via “Precious Memories,” “My Tennessee Mountain Home,” “Coat of Many Colors” (which drew a long ovation), “Smoky Mountain Memories,” “Applejack,” “The Seeker,” “The Grass Is Blue,” “Blue Smoke,” the humorous “PMS Blues” and “Do I Ever Cross Your Mind.”
She linked the songs with charming patter, asking for “Amen” responses when her lyrics’ emotions struck a chord. Along the way, she played guitar, banjo, dulcimer, autoharp, piano, pan flute, harmonica and tenor guitar.
This part of the concert concluded with the haunting, ancient modal tones of “Little Sparrow,” which was performed mainly a cappella and resulted in a standing ovation.
Parton strapped on an electric guitar and employed a drum machine to jolt the energy level with a mash-up of “Baby I’m Burning” with Alicia Keys’ “Girl On Fire.” She romped through “Two Doors Down” and got a roar of acclamation with “Here You Come Again.” “Islands in the Stream” led into a rousing, fist-thrusting audience sing-along on “9 to 5.”
“Thank you for allowing my little-girl dreams to come true,” she said. “You have no idea what an emotional feeling that is – to hear you sing my songs to me.”
She poured passion into the fervent finale, “I Will Always Love You.” As the dazzled crowd spilled out of the Ryman onto the streets, Hunter Kelly asked, “Did you feel blessed?” Well, we were in a building built as a gospel tabernacle and, yes, spending an evening with that greatest of stars was a little like rejoicing in church.
Dolly Parton at the Ryman, July 31, 2015. Photo: Stacie Huckeba
Reba and Narvel Separate After 26 Years of Marriage
/by Eric T. ParkerNarvel Blackstock and Reba McEntire. Photo: Facebook.
In a joint statement, Narvel Blackstock and Reba McEntire have announced that they have been separated for the past few months, after 26 years of marriage.
“Despite this being the end of their marriage, they continue to support each other,” the statement reads. “They have worked together for 35 years and will continue to do so.” Together they own Starstruck Management, which oversees the careers of McEntire, Kelly Clarkson, Blake Shelton and more.
They have asked that their privacy be respected during this time.
McEntire and Blackstock they have one child, race car driver Shelby Blackstock. Narvel has three children from a previous marriage. McEntire was also previously wed, divorced the late steer wrestler Charlie Battles in 1987 after 11 years of marriage.
The separated couple recently sold their Beverly Hills home spread.
Shania Proves She’s Still The One, A Decade Later
/by Eric T. ParkerShania Twain.
The iconic Shania Twain visited Nashville on Friday, July 31 on her Rock This Country Tour, which not only lives up to its name but supersedes that superstar reputation she left behind in 2004.
Re-emerging in Las Vegas in 2012, the Canadian megastar had been hard at work for a full-scale residency at Caesars Palace. Sin City’s 21st century entertainment production clearly rubbed off on her, because an impressive firework, flame and fashion menagerie more than rocked Bridgestone Arena.
The audience stood for nearly the whole set, welcoming the now-platinum blonde who could practically crowd-surf on the thunderous applause when she took the stage.
She is a time capsule, preserved for over a decade. The hits are still as potent–reminiscent of a time when women were on the top of the charts. The lyrics were lying dormant from years past, sounding much better on the arena PA systems than the 90s boom boxes many fans listened to while reading liner notes. Of the titles were “Whose Bed Have Your Boots Been Under,” “I’m Gonna Gettcha Good!” “Come On Over,” “No One Needs To Know,” “Still The One,” “That Don’t Impress Me Much,” and “(If You’re Not in it For Love) I’m Outta Here!”
Surprisingly, other than opener Gavin DeGraw who joined Twain for “Party For Two,” there were no guest appearances. Perhaps most disappointing was Bryan White’s absences from the 1998 single, “From This Moment.” Kacey Musgraves and Miranda Lambert were however pictured supporting their Canadian idol at the Nashville outing in the party backstage.
Miranda Lambert joins Shania Twain at the backstage party for the Canadian superstar’s Nashville tour stop. Photo: Shania Twain.
The seven person multi-talented band juggled instruments throughout the night, at one point featuring a triple fiddle solo. And of course saving the best for last, the encore was the essential “Man! I Feel Like A Woman.”
Twain did it right. Listen up, if you’re a superstar artist from the 90s, this is what your millennials and Generation Y concertgoers want. Production value and entertainment that throws hit songs into the stratosphere.
Although the outing is named for a single recorded almost two decades ago, the tour is proving demand for Twain is strong. She however is calling the shots, limited by her now second, self-imposed state of retirement.
If you’ve missed her shows so far, she’ll play nearly non-stop through the U.S. and Canada before this farewell tour wraps in October.
Shania Twain mounted a custom saddle during the outing, made by Lisa and Loren of Skyhorse Saddles. The saddle features 1,500 silver studs, 200 silver stars and Twain’s initials outlined in silver studs on the tapadero stirrups. Loren Skyhorse’s iconic silver braiding bands the saddle. Concert photo: Miranda Lambert.
Dustin Lynch To Embark On First Solo Tour
/by Eric T. ParkerBroken Bow Records’ Dustin Lynch has announced the first round of dates for his first headlining outing, billed as the Hell Of A Night Tour. The nationwide event will kick off this fall to 35+ cities, including major stops in New York City, Boston, Houston and New Orleans (full dates below).
Opening act Chris Lane of Big Loud Records will join.
“Touring with Luke Bryan and Keith Urban, I’ve learned from the best and now to headline my first tour is a dream come true,” shares Lynch. “The first night can’t get here fast enough and I’m excited for fans to see what we have in store!”
VIP experiences (powered by CID Entertainment) are available now for $99, featuring one ticket, access to an exclusive pre-show two-song acoustic performance, meet & greet and photo opportunity with Lynch, limited edition tour poster, and more. Tickets for select dates will go on sale to the public on Friday, August 7 starting at 10:00 a.m. local time at DustinLynchMusic.com.
Lynch is currently on the road with Luke Bryan’s 2015 Kick The Dust Up Tour.
First Leg Announcements for the Hell Of A Night Tour
2015
11/14 – Richmond, VA – The National Theater
11/15 – Norfolk, VA – Norva Theatre
11/19 – Kansas City, MO – Arvest Bank Theatre at The Midland
11/20 – Denver, CO – Fillmore Auditorium
11/22 – Boise, ID – Knitting Factory
11/27 – Indianapolis, IN – Egyptian Room at Old National Centre
11/28 – Memphis, TN – New Daisy Theatre+
12/3 – Lake Buena Vista, FL – House of Blues+
12/6 – Greensboro, NC – Cone Denim Entertainment Center+
12/10 – Wallingford, CT – The Dome at Oakdale Theatre
12/11 – Huntington, NY – The Paramount+
12/12 – New York, NY – Irving Plaza
12/13 – Clifton Park, NY – Upstate Concert Hall
12/18 – Grand Rapids, MI – The Intersection
2016
2/4 – New Orleans, LA – House of Blues+
2/5 – Houston, TX – House of Blues+
2/11 – Boston, MA – House of Blues
2/13 – Silver Spring, MD – The Fillmore
2/20 – Cincinnati, OH – Bogart’s+
+Denotes tickets on sale August 7
Thomas Rhett To Unravel ‘Tangled Up’ Album In September
/by Troy_Stephenson“I didn’t grow up listening to just one style of music,” says Rhett. “So, I don’t know how to write just one style of music. Whether these songs have more of a pop influence or more of a hip-hop influence or a completely country influence, they all — in some crazy way — cohesively sound like a me song.”
The 13-track album is filled with party anthems, dance tunes, drinking songs, love ballads and everything in between, all tied together by a dynamic singer who’s unafraid to blur the lines between genres. The record was written across the country before and after shows, while Thomas Rhett’s body was still flushed with adrenaline. “At our shows, there aren’t any rules,” Thomas Rhett continues. “There’s no such thing as standing still and just singing a song. I love jumping into the crowd. I love to dance. The whole show is very uptempo, high energy, and completely unpredictable.”
The album’s debut single “Crash And Burn” is currently at No. 2 on the MusicRow CountryBreakout Chart.
TANGLED UP TRACK LIST:
1. “Anthem” (Nicolle Galyon, Shane McAnally, Jimmy Robbins)
2. “Crash And Burn” (Jesse Frasure, Chris Stapleton)
3. “South Side” (Thomas Rhett, Jesse Frasure, Chris Stapleton)
4. “Die A Happy Man” (Thomas Rhett, Sean Douglas, Joe Spargur)
5. “Vacation” (Written by Thomas Rhett, Thomas Allen, Harold Brown, Morris
Dickerson, Sean Douglas, Gerry Goldstein, Leroy Jordan, Charles Miller, Lee Osker, Andreas
Schuller, Howard Scott, Joe Spargur, Ricky Reed, John Ryan)
6. “Like It’s the Last Time” (Thomas Rhett, Rhett Akins, Ben Hayslip)
7. “T-Shirt” (Ashley Gorley, Luke Laird, Shane McAnally)
8. “Single Girl” (Thomas Rhett, Rhett Akins, Ross Copperman, Ben Hayslip)
9. “The Day You Stop Looking Back” (Jaren Johnston, Luke Laird)
10. “Tangled Up” (Chris DeStefano, Adam Hoffman, Matt Lipkins, Josh Osborne, Scott Schwartz)
11. “Playing With Fire” feat. Jordin Sparks* (Thomas Rhett, Rhett Akins, Ashley Gorley)
12. “I Feel Good” feat. Lunch Money Lewis** (Thomas Rhett, Sean Douglas, Teddy Geiger,
Jacob Hindlin, Gamal Lewis, Charlie Puth, Joe Spargur)
13. “Learned it From the Radio”* (Nicolle Galyon, Ashley Gorley, Jimmy Robbins)
Produced by Dann Huff and Jesse Frasure
*Produced by Chris DeStefano
**Produced by Joe London
CMA Songwriters Series Visits Joe’s Bar in Chicago
/by Lorie HollabaughThe Windy City got a touch of Music City magic last week when the CMA Songwriters Series brought top country tunesmiths to Joe’s Bar in Chicago Thursday night (7/30). Songwriters Jim Collins, Ryan Hurd, Brett James, and Lee Thomas Miller took the stage for the special songwriters round to share the stories behind their hits with the packed house. The show is part of the eleventh season of CMA’s Songwriters Series, which kicked off in January at the Sundance Film Festival.
Pictured: (L-R) Jim Collins, Brett James, Lee Thomas Miller, and Ryan Hurd swap stories and songs during the CMA Songwriters Series at Joe’s Bar in Chicago
Jim Collins (l) and Brett James perform during the CMA Songwriters Series at Joe’s Bar
Photo Credit: Justin Harris / CMA
Ryan Hurd shares some tunes during the CMA Songwriters Series at Joe’s Bar in Chicago
Photo Credit: Justin Harris / CMA
Brett James at the CMA Songwriters Series at Joe’s Bar
Photo Credit: Justin Harris / CMA
Lee Thomas Miller performs during the CMA Songwriters Series at Joe’s Bar in Chicago
Photo Credit: Justin Harris / CMA
Mark Your Calendar – August 2015
/by Eric T. ParkerAugust 7
Luke Bryan/Kill The Lights/Capitol Nashville
Michael Ray/Michael Ray/Atlantic Records-Warner Music Nashville
Lindi Ortega/Faded Gloryville/Last Gang Records-The Grand Tour
August 14
Emily West/All For You/Sony Legacy
Rod Picott/Fortune/Welding Records
August 21
Kip Moore/Wild Ones/MCA Nashville
Buzz Cason/Record Machine/Plowboy Records
Sibling Rivalry/First Light
August 28
Maddie & Tae/Start Here/Dot
George Strait/The Cowboy Rides Away: Live From AT&T Stadium [DVD]/Eagle Rock Entertainment
Various/Mud Digger 6/Average Joes Entertainment
August 3
Blake Shelton/Gonna/Warner Bros.
Kacey Musgraves/Dime Store Cowgirl/Mercury Nashville
Waterloo Revival/Bad For You/Big Machine
Bucky Covington/I Feel Ya’/Barefootin’ Inc
Adam Searan/Last/Demolition Music
August 10
Don Henley/That Old Flame/I.R.S. Nashville
Brooke Hogan/Girlfriend/Mollydog Entertainment
Jessica Marie/It’s All About You/Jessica Marie Music
Ricky Gunn/Livin’ Like Me/New Canvas Entertainment
The Stickers/Countrified/Wodarek Music LLC
James Robert Webb/Makin’ Love Tonight/Bison Creek Records
August 17
Tyler Farr/Better In Boots/Columbia Nashville
Canaan Smith/Hole In A Bottle/Mercury Nashville
Mitchell Tenpenny/Love & Rock N’ Roll/Creation Lab Records
Emma Lane/Little Bit Of Everything/SMG Nashville
August 4
CMA Music Festival: Country’s Night To Rock on ABC-TV at 8 p.m. ET
August 11-12
BMI’s Sync THIS! [invitation-only]
August 12
46th annual Dove Awards nominations press conference
August 16
Teen Choice Awards 2015 on Fox
August 17
29th annual Music Row Ladies Golf Tournament at Old Natchez Country Club in Franklin
August 20
CMA Awards second ballot closes 6:00 p.m. CT
Artist Action: Scotty McCreery, Kenny Chesney, Brett Eldredge, Steven Tyler, Meghan Linsey
/by Lorie HollabaughMcCreery Gets Gold During Fox Concert
Scotty McCreery debuted his new single “Southern Belle” (Sean McConnell/Jason Saenz) on FOX & Friends’ All-American Summer Concert Series last Friday (July 31). During his appearance on the show, FOX & Friends hosts Steve Doocy, Elisabeth Hasselbeck, and Brian Kilmeade presented McCreery with an RIAA-certified Gold single plaque representing more than half a million sales and streams of his recent “Feelin’ It.” This is McCreery’s fourth RIAA-certified single, having already earned three Platinum certifications for “I Love You This Big,” “The Trouble with Girls,” and “See You Tonight.”
Scotty McCreery received a Gold Record for his single “Feelin’ It” after his “FOX & Friends” All-American Summer Concert Series performance on July 31. Pictured (L-R): FOX & Friends hosts Brian Kilmeade and Elisabeth Hasselbeck, McCreery, and FOX & Friends‘ Steve Doocy. Photo: Scott Stem
Chesney Breaks Pink Floyd Record at Arrowhead
Kenny Chesney‘s August 1 show at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City marks a new record for the stadium’s attendance: 57,368. Pink Floyd previously held the record for a 1994 show with 56,134. The show marked Chesney’s fourth headlining stand at Arrowhead. He attended a football practice with the KC Chiefs on Friday before the big show. “I had no idea about the number when we took the stage,” Chesney marveled when he was told. “Pink Floyd are rock icons. Every kid’s high school experience…I never ever would’ve thought something like that could happen. We’ve been coming to Kansas City for years, and they’ve always been really loud audiences. But when we hit the stage, it felt like all those years, all those shows were added up into one – and that was what we were being hit with.”
Kenny Chesney with guitarist Clayton Mitchell on August 1 at Arrowhead Stadium. Photo: Jill Trunnell
(L-R): CMT Sr. VP of Music Strategy Leslie Fram; Wayne Flatt (husband of Sarah Trahern); CMA CEO Sarah Trahern; Sony Music Nashville A&R VP Jim Catino; Morris Higham Management’s Dale Morris; Sony Music Nashville EVP & COO Ken Robold; Galante Entertainment Organization President (and former Sony Music Nashville Chairman & CEO) Joe Galante; Chesney; Sony Music Nashville Chairman & CEO Randy Goodman; Morris Higham Management’s Buffy Cooper; Sony Music Nashville EVP, Promotion & Artist Development Steve Hodges and A&R Director Taylor Lindsey. Photo: Jill Trunnell
Eldredge To Help Crown Miss America
Brett Eldredge
Brett Eldredge has been tapped as the first of seven judges for the live broadcast of the 95th anniversary of the 2016 Miss America Competition. Miss America returns to Atlantic City’s Boardwalk Hall on September 13 (9:00 – 11:00p.m. ET) on ABC. Fifty-two women, representing their home states and territories, will compete to bring home the crown and scholarship. “I get to judge Miss America. Are you kidding me?!” said Eldredge. “Talk about a dream come true! I can’t wait to be a part of this.”
Steven Tyler
Tyler Headlines Bristol Speedway Show in August
Steven Tyler headlining the pre-race concert for the IRWIN Tools Night Race at Tennessee’s Bristol Motor Speedway on August 22. with Nashville-based band Loving Mary will also perform. A limited number of Steven Tyler SuperPacks are available including pre-race SuperPass (track walk, plus on-track access to the concert and Sprint Cup driver introductions), a Cold Pit Pass (for pre-race access to the Garage area), and select Steven Tyler merchandise. Visit BristolTix.com for all the ticketing options.
Meghan Linsey’s “Believer” Released
Meghan Linsey, runner-up of NBC’s The Voice and half of ex-country duo Steel Magnolia, teamed up with Popmatters.com to unveil her new pop/soul EP Believer in its entirety before the EP was released last Friday (July 31) via digital retailers. The EP was recorded in Nashville and produced by Tyler Cain.
Dolly Dazzles At Ryman Homecoming
/by Robert K OermannDolly Parton at the Ryman, July 31, 2015. Photo: Stacie Huckeba
They call her a living legend for a reason.
At a pair of weekend concerts at Ryman Auditorium, Dolly Parton enthralled sold-out crowds with her incomparable personality and showmanship. She didn’t need to fly over the stage, set off pyro, create magic effects or explode confetti. All she needed were her extraordinary songs, her enduringly expressive voice and her magnetic rapport with audiences.
Billed as “Pure and Simple,” her shows featured just three sidemen and minimal stage décor. On Saturday night, she drew a thunderous standing ovation as she came on stage singing a snippet of “Light of a Clear Blue Morning.” “I know these seats are hard, and your butts are gonna get tired,” she told the crowd. “But I’m gonna help you forget that.” And for nearly two hours, she did just that.
“I love coming to the Ryman Auditorium. On Jan. 4, 1969, I became a member of the Grand Ole Opry on this stage.” She told us that the show was a benefit for the Opry Trust Fund (Friday’s was for the W.O. Smith Community Music School).
“Usually, I save all my money for myself,” she quipped. “You would not believe how much it costs to look this cheap!”
Dolly Parton at the Ryman, July 31, 2015. Photo: Stacie Huckeba
She was garbed in a glittering, fringed dress that hugged her famous figure and shimmered in silver and pastel hues. Addressing her over-the-top looks, she delivered “Backwoods Barbie.”
Parton put the crowd in an upbeat mood with “Why’d You Come In Here Lookin’ Like That” and “Jolene.” Then she took attendees on a journey to her Appalachian roots via “Precious Memories,” “My Tennessee Mountain Home,” “Coat of Many Colors” (which drew a long ovation), “Smoky Mountain Memories,” “Applejack,” “The Seeker,” “The Grass Is Blue,” “Blue Smoke,” the humorous “PMS Blues” and “Do I Ever Cross Your Mind.”
She linked the songs with charming patter, asking for “Amen” responses when her lyrics’ emotions struck a chord. Along the way, she played guitar, banjo, dulcimer, autoharp, piano, pan flute, harmonica and tenor guitar.
This part of the concert concluded with the haunting, ancient modal tones of “Little Sparrow,” which was performed mainly a cappella and resulted in a standing ovation.
Parton strapped on an electric guitar and employed a drum machine to jolt the energy level with a mash-up of “Baby I’m Burning” with Alicia Keys’ “Girl On Fire.” She romped through “Two Doors Down” and got a roar of acclamation with “Here You Come Again.” “Islands in the Stream” led into a rousing, fist-thrusting audience sing-along on “9 to 5.”
“Thank you for allowing my little-girl dreams to come true,” she said. “You have no idea what an emotional feeling that is – to hear you sing my songs to me.”
She poured passion into the fervent finale, “I Will Always Love You.” As the dazzled crowd spilled out of the Ryman onto the streets, Hunter Kelly asked, “Did you feel blessed?” Well, we were in a building built as a gospel tabernacle and, yes, spending an evening with that greatest of stars was a little like rejoicing in church.
Dolly Parton at the Ryman, July 31, 2015. Photo: Stacie Huckeba
Artist Visit: MusicRow Gets “Countrified” With Leslie Cours Mather
/by Troy_Stephenson(L-R): MusicRow’s Kelsey Grady, Troy Stephenson, Sarah Skates, Cours Mather, MusicRow’s Sherod Robertson, Eric Parker
Leslie Cours Mather visited MusicRow recently to perform songs for the staff including her debut single “Countrified.” The song’s theme comes from a combination of her mom growing up on a Wisconsin Dairy farm, her dad being from Texas, and Mather living in Los Angeles with her husband and three children.
During the visit, she also performed “Just Let Me Think Of You” and the next single “Hell Hath No Fury,” which is available on Play MPE.
Mather makes the commute from Los Angeles to Nashville quite frequently as she is preparing for an upcoming album. She made her debut at CMA Fest this year performing on the Chevy Roadhouse stage.
She recently completed a radio tour in support of her new single and was also a part of the 2015 Special Olympics World Games in Los Angeles last month.
Leslie Cours Mather performs for MusicRow
Kip Moore To Headline ‘Wild Ones’ Tour
/by Troy_Stephenson“My favorite part of this crazy life we have is playing live,” said Moore. “We’ve been playing so many of these new songs in the live show because we road-tested them night after night before recording what became the final album. They were a huge part in helping me formulate what Wild Ones became…we are a tribe. I’m excited to get back out there and headline and put a show together that is all about them.”
Moore will perform songs from his upcoming album, Wild Ones, including his recent MusicRow No. 1, “I’m To Blame.” Special guest, Michael Ray, will be the opening act for each date. Ray’s debut single “Kiss You In The Morning” was No. 1 on the MusicRow CountryBreakout chart on July 16. Chris Cavanaugh, Joey Hyde and DeeJay Silver to join the tour on select dates.
Wild Ones Tour Dates:
10/8 Bethlehem, PA*
10/9 Pittsburgh, PA*
10/16 London, ON*
10/17 Toronto, ON*
10/22 Chicago, IL**
10/23 Chicago, IL**
10/30 Boston, MA**
10/31 Baltimore, MD**
11/5 Knoxville, TN***
11/7 Cleveland, OH***
11/13 Orlando, FL***
11/14 Ft Myers, FL***
11/19 Nacogdoches, TX*
11/27 N Myrtle Beach, SC*
11/28 Charlotte, NC*
12/3 New York, NY*
12/4 Sayreville, NJ*
12/5 Richmond, VA*
*With Chris Cavanaugh
**With Joey Hyde
***With DeeJay Silver