Nashville Love

Four-time GRAMMY-nominated artist and GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS® record-holder, Hunter Hayes, released his new album Storyline to much critical acclaim, debuting at No. 1 on Billboard’s Country Albums Chart and No. 1 on Soundscan’s Overall Digital Album Chart with nearly 70,000 albums sold in the first week. The Associated Press exclaimed that “Hayes impresses on his second album,” while Rolling Stone, People Magazine and The Los Angeles Times all awarded the album 3 stars, also getting an ‘A rating’ from Country Weekly. Newsday noted “At a time when so many similar-sounding bros are dominating country radio, Hunter Hayes stands out… [with] emotional, inspirational anthems and tender love songs delivered in a sweeter, higher register that makes all his songs sound distinctive. The best new artist Grammy nominee seems poised to make it pay off. Hayes takes Storyline to a new plateau.”

Last week, Hunter also impressively broke the GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS® record for “Most Concerts Played in Multiple Cities in 24 hours” teaming up with ConAgra Foods for the 24 Hour Road Race To End Child Hunger. The historic event, which was recently featured on Nightline, began in Times Square at Good Morning America and culminated with Hunter receiving the official plaque at Philadelphia’s Trocadero upon completing 10 shows in 10 cities in 24 hours. The previous record was held by the Flaming Lips with only 8 shows. Throughout the Hunter Hayes 24-Hour Road Race to End Child Hunger, fans across the country entered more than 42,000 codes in the two day period. As a result, the ConAgra Foods’ Child Hunger Ends Here program will donate 42,000 meals to Feeding America, the leading domestic hunger-relief organization.

Hunter will wrap his “We’re Not Invisible Tour,” presented in part by ConAgra Foods’ Child Hunger Ends Here program, at the end of this month. Dates listed below.

“We’re Not Invisible Tour” Dates

May 29 Augusta, GA James Brown Arena

May 30 Pensacola, FL Pensacola Bay Center

May 31 Estero, FL Germain Arena

Hunter Hayes, is a multi-talented performer, musician, producer, and writer. His critically acclaimed Atlantic Records self-titled album garnered three consecutive No. 1 singles, selling over eight million singles to date while the album itself has been certified platinum by the R.I.A.A. The highly anticipated follow-up, Storyline, was released May 6 via Atlantic Records and features his current Top 20 single “Invisible.” His most recent Grammy nomination for Best Country Solo Performance for his No. 1 single “I Want Crazy” marks his fourth Grammy nomination off his debut release.

Hunter is currently featured as one of Forbes Magazine’s “30 Under 30″ and has played over 500 dates since 2011. The Louisiana native has headlined sold out venues across the US and Canada and recently wrapped the sold out CMT on Tour: Hunter Hayes’ Let’s Be Crazy tour this past fall. For more information, visit www.hunterhayes.com, on Facebook at www.facebook.com/hunterhayes and follow Hunter on Twitter http://twitter.com/hunterhayes.

Hunter Hayes teamed up with ConAgra Foods to end child hunger and celebrate the release of his brand-new album Storyline this week by breaking the Guinness World Records® record for Most Concerts Played in multiple cities in 24 hours.

The “24 Hour Road Race to End Child Hunger” kicked off Friday, May 9 on Good Morning America in Times Square and hit Boston; Worcester, Mass.; Providence, R.I.; New London, Conn.; New Haven, Conn.; Stamford, Conn.; South Orange, N.J.; Asbury Park, N.J. and culminated in Philadelphia.

The multi-talented entertainer played 10 shows in 10 cities in 24 hours, breaking the Flaming Lips’ world record of eight shows in 24 hours.

Support acts that helped keep the momentum going included breakout country duo Dan + Shay, critically-acclaimed newcomer Charlie Worsham, up-and-coming country band The Railers, and singer/songwriters Dean Alexander and Matt Sucich, with the official music playlist powered by “The Country Club with Dee Jay Silver.”

Hunter Hayes will headline the ACM Week Kick Off Party with 95.5 The Bull on Thursday, April 3rd at Las Vegas’ The LINQ. The party will also feature performances by David Nail, Cole Swindell and Sasha McVeigh.

The event, which is free and open to the public, precedes the 2nd Annual ACM Party for a Cause Festival, headlined by Rascal Flatts and Keith Urban on Friday, April 4 and Saturday, April 5 at The LINQ.

Both events are part of The Week Vegas Goes Country in honor of the 49th Academy of Country Music Awards, which airs on Sunday, April 6 at 8 p.m. live ET on CBS.

For more information, visit www.acmcountry.com.

Jason Aldean, Luke Bryan, Florida Georgia Line, Hunter Hayes and Tim McGraw will be featured this year during the CMT special, CMT Artists of the Year. The televised event will air live for the first time on Tuesday, Dec. 3rd at 8 p.m. ET.

Past artists named as CMT Artists of the Year include Aldean, Bryan, Kenny Chesney, Eric Church, Toby Keith, Lady Antebellum, Miranda Lambert, Brad Paisley, Taylor Swift, Carrie Underwood and Zac Brown Band.

Hunter and Jason Mraz joined forces with seven of the top YouTube artists to share their version of "Everybody's Got Somebody But Me" as well as participate in this one-take mash-up video that debuted yesterday on YouTube. The project was produced by YouTube star Kurt Schneider and also features two new bands - Echosmith and Brandyn Burnette. Watch the mash-up video HERE!

Hunter Hayes' new CD, [Encore], is available beginning today (June 18). An update of the self-titled debut, the album includes seven re-recorded and new tracks featuring current single "I Want Crazy," "Everybody's Got Somebody But Me" with Jason Mraz and a duet with I Want Crazy Tour opener Ashley Monroe called "What You Gonna Do."

The CD is available from iTunes or his online store.

Hunter will celebrate the release of the CD with a live performance from 6 p.m. - 10 p.m. EDT June 18 at Webster Hall in New York City. Ashley Monroe and Striking Matches will also perform. The concert will be streamed live at www.mtv.com. Hunter will also appear on The Voice June 18, performing "I Want Crazy" with finalist Danielle Bradbery. The show starts at 9 p.m. EDT. Hunter will also appear on the Today show's summer concert series June 21st. The show begins at 7 a.m. EDT.

CMT on Tour: Hunter Hayes Let's Be Crazy Tour Dates

October 10

Knoxville, TN

Knoxville Civic Auditorium

October 11

Savannah, GA

Johnny Mercer Theatre

October 17

Atlanta, GA

Fox Theatre

October 18-19

Nashville, TN

Ryman Auditorium

October 24

Muncie, IN

Emens Auditorium at Ball State University

October 25

Chicago, IL

Rosemont Theatre

October 26

Louisville, KY

The Louisville Palace Theater

November 1

Birmingham, AL

BJCC Concert Hall

November 2

Greensboro, NC

War Memorial Auditorium

November 8

Evansville, IN

The Aiken Theatre at The Centre

November 9

Cleveland, OH

State Theatre at Playhouse Square

November 10

Detroit, MI

Fox Theatre

November 14

St. Louis, MO

Fox Theatre

November 15

Sioux City, IA

Orpheum Theatre

November 16

Omaha, NE

Orpheum Theater

November 20

Lafayette, LA

Heymann Performing Arts Center

November 22

Dallas, TX

Verizon Theatre at Grand Prairie

November 23

Tulsa, OK

Brady Theater

December 4-5

Minneapolis, MN

Orpheum Theatre

December 6-7

Kansas City, MO

The Midland by AMC

Get your tickets for CMT on Tour: Hunter Hayes Let's Be Crazy Tour now! The next round of tickets go on sale this Friday, June 21 so don't miss your chance to catch Hunter on the road. For more information and to order tickets, click here.

Goat vocals have become increasingly popular since Broken Goat appeared in Taylor Swift's "I Knew You Were A Goat When You Walked In" video. In the tradition of pranking your tour opener on their final night, Carrie Underwood recently got Hunter Hayes' goat in Alberta, Canada, by making one appear during his performance of "Light Me Up." Click HERE to watch. Carrie later tweeted, "Tee hee! Thanks @HunterHayes for being on the road with us! You will be missed!"

On Saturday, June 1, CMA and Grammy award winners Little Big Town and CMA award winner and Grammy nominee Hunter Hayes will headline the star-studded Blue Ridge Music Festival at Salem Stadium in Salem, Va. Charles Esten, Deacon Claybourne on ABC’s hit show “Nashville,” Gloriana, Colt Ford, Greg Bates, Will Hoge and Virginia’s own legendary party band, The Skip Castro Band, round out the lineup of this day-long event.

Tickets are currently on sale at the Salem Civic Center box office, all Ticketmaster locations and charge by phone at 1-800-745-3000. General admission field tickets and reserved stadium seats are $35.00 plus additional fees. There will also be a very limited number of VIP tickets available for $99.50 plus additional fees that will include:

•Preferred reserved seating or general admission tickets

•Preferred parking

•VIP express entry

•Exclusive invitation to festival after-party

•Private bathrooms

•Private cash bar (beer & wine only)

•Complimentary boxed lunch

•Commemorative Blue Ridge Music Festival poster

“We are very pleased to be partnering with Mike Smardak and the fine people at Outback Concerts on this event and hope to make the Blue Ridge Music Festival an annual event in Salem Stadium,” says Carey Harveycutter, Salem’s Director of Civic Facilities.

“We’re excited for this event,” states Mike Smardak, President of Outback Concerts.

Salem has played host to a number of major stars for stadium shows in the past decade. In 2005, Salem Memorial Ballpark welcomed Bob Dylan and Willie Nelson to the stage, in 2006, Dierks Bentley and Miranda Lambert headlined the festival and in 2011, the Zac Brown Band performed at Salem Stadium.

Photo credit:  Warner Music Nashville

Tune in tonight to catch Hunter Hayes on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno at 11:35 PM ET/PT.

Hunter will also appear on Access Hollywood Live tomorrow, 2/8.  Check local listings for times. 

Watch Hunter discuss his "Best New Artist" nomination on the Pepsi "Best New Artist" exclusive video series below.

Townsquare Media Group and Chet-5 Festivals are pleased to announce the inaugural Taste of Country Music Festival featuring Lady Antebellum, Willie Nelson & Family, Trace Adkins, Billy Currington, Hunter Hayes, Montgomery Gentry, Joe Nichols, Gloriana, Justin Moore, Dustin Lynch, Blackberry Smoke and more June 13-15, 2013 at Hunter Mountain Resort in the scenic Catskills Mountains. The 3-day music festival was announced earlier today at a press conference held at Hunter Mountain Resort. Ticket packages begin at just $120 and afford fans three days of live music from today’s hottest acts in country music in a picturesque locale less than two hours from New York City. Early Bird Discounted Tickets will be available for purchase beginning Friday, February 1 at 10 a.m. EST on www.tasteofcountryfestival.com. VIP ticket options, mountainside camping, resort accommodations and more are available online.

"TasteofCountry.com and our partners at Chet-5 Festivals are delighted to bring the Northeast's first large-scale multi-day country music festival to Hunter Mountain," shared Dhruv Prasad, Executive Vice President, Live Events of Townsquare Media Group, the owner of TasteofCountry.com. "We are focused on the audience experience - delivering our folks the artists and music they love in a beautiful setting that delivers world-class resort and camping accommodations, outdoor recreation and top-notch food and beverage service."

"We are very excited about our new partnership with the Townsquare Media Group," said Gary Chetkof, founder of the Mountain Jam Music Festival. "Combining our experience producing the Mountain Jam Music Festival along with Townsquare Media Group’s assets makes for a powerful partnership that will produce a world-class country music event for many years to come."

The Taste of Country Music Festival will be held the weekend following the ninth annual Mountain Jam Music Festival that is scheduled for June 6-9, 2013. Mountain Jam is one of the top music festivals in the country and will feature Phil Lesh & Friends, Widespread Panic, Gov’t Mule, Primus, Dispatch, The Avett Brothers and more. Additional information can be found on www.MountainJam.com.

More information can be found online by visiting www.tasteofcountryfestival.com, www.facebook.com/tasteofcountryfestival or by following @TOCFestival on Twitter.