Thomas Rhett will release his new album, Tangled Up, on Sept. 25 through The Valory Music Co. It will feature songs that were influenced by Rhett’s childhood love of country, Pop, Rap, R&B, Rock, and Oldies.
“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
Magic Mustang Signs Vicky McGehee
/by Troy_StephensonTop Row (L-R): BBR’s Colton McGee and Jon Loba; Magic Mustang’s Juli Newton-Griffith; Almon & McPike’s Orville Almon. Bottom (L-R): BBR’s Benny Brown; Vicky McGehee
BBR Music Group announced today (August 4) the signing of songwriter Vicky McGehee to its Magic Mustang Music publishing roster, administered by Warner/Chappell.
McGehee was named MusicRow’s Breakthrough Songwriter of the Year in 2006 and BMI’s Songwriter of the Year in 2007.
She co-wrote the Grammy award winning song “Like We Never Loved At All” (Faith Hill feat. Tim McGraw) and also penned Jason Aldean’s “Hicktown,” “Johnny Cash,” and her first No. 1 song “Why.” McGehee scored No. 1 hits with “How Country Feels” (Randy Houser) and “God Love Her” (Toby Keith). She co-wrote Craig Campbell’s current single “Tomorrow Tonight” and “Holy Water” for Big & Rich, in addition to 14 songs on Gretchen Wilson’s first three albums.
McGehee has earned eleven Top 50 Played Songs of the Year awards from BMI and received eight BMI Millionaire Awards. Over the course of her career, McGehee has earned several CMA, ACM and CMT Award nominations.
“Vicky is an amazing talent,” says Juli Newton-Griffith, VP of Publishing for Magic Mustang Music. “She is truly one of a kind and I am so happy to have her join our family! Feel like she has been a part all along!”
“I’ve been blessed in my career to have worked and written with some of the most amazing people in the music business,” shares McGehee. “I have been blessed again by signing with a company that is not only leading the industry but one I truly consider family. Thank you Benny Brown, Juli Griffith, Jon Loba, Paul Brown, Colton McGee. Let’s do this!”
She joins a publishing roster including Jason Aldean, Kurt Allison, Steve Bogard, Westin Davis, Brooke Eden, Lindsay Ell, David Fanning, Rob Hatch, Tully Kennedy, Justin Lantz, Dave Pittenger, Thompson Square, Justin Wilson, Craig Campbell and Jason Vanover.
Luke Bryan Celebrates 13th No. 1, Preps Second Single For Album Launch
/by Eric T. ParkerHis single “Kick The Dust Up,” hits the top of the Media Base, Billboard, and MusicRow charts this week to become the 13th and fastest rising single of Bryan’s career after only 10 weeks climbing on MusicRow. The debut single is from Bryan’s forthcoming fifth studio album Kill The Lights, due in stores on Friday, August 7 and available for pre-order now.
Bryan will debut his second single on release day, titled “Strip It Down,” while in New York City promoting the album.
His previous full-length effort, Crash My Party, is closing in on total sales of nearly 2.5 million after debuting in 2013 with nearly 530,000 units (forty-two percent digital) in the first week, at the pinnacle of the Nielsen Soundscan Top 200. That release marked the biggest sales debut for a Country male artist since 2004, putting Bryan and Taylor Swift the only two country artists to sell more than a half-million copies of an album in a single week since 2008.
After playing three sold-out shows this last weekend, Bryan will offer numerous media appearances in The Big Apple in addition to debuting “Strip It Down” on Good Morning America’s 2015 Summer Concert Series on Friday, August 7.
Beginning the day prior, Thursday, August 6, Bryan will be the subject of an iHeartRadio Album Release Party broadcast to country stations and video streamed online at 8:00 p.m. local times.
Citi will additionally present an exclusive concert on Friday, August 7, streamed live from Irving Plaza.
On Monday, August 10, Bryan will perform his next single on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon.
King Jewelers Offers Exclusive Nashville-Inspired Watch
/by Troy_StephensonThe special watch collection will be numbered (1-10), feature additional engravings on the sapphire crystal case back and will include a special edition watch box.
Inspired by the self-tuning Gibson SG Standard, the watch features four key design features and reinvents them on the dial of the timepiece. A steel and titanium 46mm diameter case houses a black galvanic dial encircled by six grooves symbolizing the strings of the Gibson SG Standard and displays the Gibson logo and iconic emblem at 12 o’clock.
“We’re both honored and excited to work with two incredible brands like Gibson and Raymond Weil,” says David King, President of King Jewelers in Green Hills, “The ability to conceptualize an exclusive and unique edition of watches just for this market speaks volumes to the allure of Nashville. We’re thankful to live in the heart of the music industry and to have the Gibson brand as an iconic staple to this amazing city.”
Washington’s Watershed Packs Star Power into Three Days
/by Lorie HollabaughThe fourth annual Watershed Festival at George, Washington’s Gorge Amphitheater was held this past weekend (July 31-August 2).
The Live Nation event offered a sold-out crowd of 25,000 fans performances by Florida Georgia Line and Thomas Rhett on Friday. Saturday was Carrie Underwood and Easton Corbin before Sunday’s closer, Dierks Bentley, who returned to Watershed after three years.
“I feel like year four was the best yet, but we still have work to do,” said Brian O’ Connell, Live Nation President of Country Touring.”The ‘Shedder’ experience will only continue to improve year after year. I can’t thank the artists and the ‘Shedders’ enough for supporting my crazy dream.”
Florida Georgia Line at Watershed 2015
Carrie Underwood atWatershed 2015
Dierks Bentley at Watershed 2015
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