Nashville Love

Photo:  ABCNews.com

In case you missed it, Luke Bryan performed yesterday on Good Morning America's Summer Concert Series in Central Park to over 5000 fans.  You can watch the performace here and also see the interview.

 

Photo Credit:  Kim Jordan

Set your DVR's!  Luke Bryan will take over the "Big Apple" tomorrow morning! The superstar is heading to New York (Aug. 8), where he’ll perform on ‘Good Morning America’ and will also tape a scene for ABC’s ‘Nashville.’

Bryan will appear on the early morning show as part of their summer concert series. He’ll be performing in the heart of the city’s Central Park, playing several songs.  At the end of his ‘GMA’ performance, the singer will be taping for ‘Nashville,’ joined by Connie Britton and Amy Robach. The special appearance by one of our favorite Georgia boys will air on Oct. 1.

This weekend Bryan takes his party to Gillette Stadium on Sunday (Aug. 10). This is only the second of four stadium shows that he will be playing this summer. For a full list of his tour dates, visit his official website.

Luke Bryan has confirmed eight cities for his sixth annual Farm tour launching Oct. 1 in Knoxville, Tennessee.  The concerts will take place in smaller markets during a brief hiatus from his My Kind of Night tour that continues through Oct. 25 at the Hollywood Bowl.  Bryan established the Farm tour to support the Luke Bryan Farm Tour Scholarship, an initiative that grants college scholarships to students from a farming family within the communities visited by the tour. In 2013, Bryan broke the previous year's record by performing for a total of more than 115,000 fans during eight concerts.

The Georgia native's Farm tour will include three concerts in his home state. Here's a list of tour dates:

Oct. 1: Knoxville, Tennessee (Maple Lane Farms)

Oct. 2: Auburn, Alabama (Ingram Farms)

Oct. 3: Tallahassee, Florida (Cross Creek Place)

Oct. 4: Gainesville, Florida (Whitehurst Cattle Farm)

Oct. 8: Statesboro, Georgia (Perry Field)

Oct. 9: Athens, Georgia (Meldon Farm)

Oct. 10: Columbia, South Carolina (Culler Farms)

Oct. 11: Macon, Georgia (Midway at Central City Park)

TIckets are already on sale for many of the dates.    

Luke Bryan has released the video for "She Get Me High" from his ep 'Spring Break 6...Like We Ain't Ever'.  Watch the video below and who knows, maybe you're in it!  There's a lot of crowd shots from PCB in it!  Filmed during one of his annual spring break concerts in Panama City Beach, Florida, the video intertwines plenty of beach partying and footage of Bryan in the studio.

 

Photo:  The Tennessean

Legendary musician Charlie Daniels hosted a special free concert in a packed Allen Arena on the Lipscomb University campus Tuesday night, March 25 as part of the Copperweld Charlie Daniels’ Scholarship for Heroes event.

Performances by the Charlie Daniels Band along with Clint Black, Kellie Pickler, The Grascals, the U.S. Navy Band Sea Chanters and the American Hitmen were part of the program to celebrate military veterans and raise funds and bring greater awareness of the national Veterans Yellow Ribbon education program and to raise awareness of and funds for veterans scholarships at Lipscomb University. Members of the military and their families were guests of the events corporate sponsors. Proceeds from the event benefitted Lipscomb University’s Charlie Daniels Scholarship for Heroes Fund.

To the delight of attendees, two additional artists made appearances. Lee Greenwood took the stage early in the evening with a performance of his anthem-hit, “God Bless the USA.” Reeling from the all-star performances, the crowd erupted as ACM “Entertainer of the Year” Luke Bryan took the stage.

"The sacrifices these veterans and their families have made help keep our country free," stated Bryan. "We should take care of them in whatever ways that we can, and that includes a good college education."

The event, sponsored by Copperweld, Humana, Grand Avenue, Twice Daily, Clear Channel, Shofner Vision Center, Lipscomb, Glover Group Entertainment, and produced by David Corlew & Associates was streamed live worldwide by Blue Scout Media and will also be broadcast to all US military bases in coming weeks by the Pentagon Channel and Armed Forces TV. To view the show or for further information, please visit:stagehop.com.

“This show just gets bigger every year as the Nashville community continues to show how much they love and support our military,” beamed Daniels.

Daniels launched the event in March 2010. Each year, up to ten veteran students receive the Charlie Daniels Scholarship for Heroes, which benefits veterans who do not qualify for Lipscomb’s Yellow Ribbon Enhancement Program that offers eligible Post-9/11 GI Bill veterans and their family members an undergraduate degree tuition-free or a graduate degree either tuition-free or at a greatly reduced tuition rate.

“It’s an honor to be part of something special like the Charlie Daniels’ Scholarship for Heroes event,” Clint Black stated. “As if it weren’t enough that Charlie Daniels asked me to sing—our troops occupy a very special place in our history. We have to do our utmost to make sure the part we play in their history is worthy of their sacrifice and commitment. This event is playing a fantastic role, making higher education a reality for returning veterans. I’m thrilled to be a part of this special evening.”

Some of country music’s biggest names helped Daniels raise awareness through this event. Clint Black, has had 22 No.1 singles on the Billboard country charts. Black River Entertainment artist and “Dancing with the Stars” champion Kellie Pickler released her fourth album,'The Woman I Am', last year. Grammy-nominated group, The Grascals, have become one of the most acclaimed bands on today’s bluegrass scene for their innovative mingling of bluegrass and country music. The Navy Band Sea Chanters is the United States Navy’s official chorus. The American Hitmen, Marines and brothers Dan and Tim Cord, formed in the midst of battle in Fallujah, Iraq, and have recently been featured on “America’s Got Talent.” Today, the band also includes former Marine Dan Jarmon, bass guitar, and drummer Phil Snyder.

ACM Awards Show co-host and reigning Entertainer of the Year Luke Bryan will release his next Spring Break themed digital EP on Tuesday, March 11, 2014, SPRING BREAK 6…LIKE WE AIN’T EVER. The album contains six original songs, all co-written by Luke.

“The songs for this project came together so fast,” said Bryan. “These special EP’s all began as a way to get new music out to the fans between studio projects. I feel like year after year we get a little bit better at writing for this. I think with these new songs I would be proud to put them on any album we release.”

Luke will once again play two free concerts at Spinnaker’s Beach Club in Panama City, Florida on March 11 and 12 for the sixth consecutive year. Last year’s shows saw a 2-day crowd total of 120,000 fans.

Luke’s previous five Spring Break releases have sold over 750k copies. Last year’s album debuted at #1 on the Billboard Country sales chart and earning him his first #1 album on Billboard’s Top 200 chart, selling 149,515 units its first week.

For more, visit www.lukebryan.com

Photo: Academy of Country Music

Nominations for the 49th Annual Academy of Country Music Awards were announced on Wednesday, Jan. 29, with Tim McGraw and Miranda Lambert leading with seven nods each.

Close behind is Keith Urban, who nabbed six nominations, as well as Lee Brice, Kacey Musgraves, Blake Shelton and Taylor Swift , with six apiece.

In the coveted Entertainer of the Year category, Lambert, Shelton and Swift will face Luke Bryan and George Strait.

Bryan, who is the reigning ACM Awards Entertainer of the Year, will join Shelton as cohost of this year's ACM Awards when they air live from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on Sunday, April 6 on CBS.

Fans will help select the winner of both the Academy’s most prestigious honor, Entertainer of the Year, and the New Artist of the Year Presented By Kohl’s.

Produced for television by dick clark productions and will be broadcast LIVE from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on Sunday, April 6, 2014 at 8:00 PM live ET on the CBS Television Network.

Here is the complete list of nominees:

Entertainer of the Year

Luke Bryan

Miranda Lambert

Blake Shelton

George Strait

Taylor Swift

Male Vocalist of the Year

Jason Aldean

Lee Brice

Luke Bryan

Blake Shelton

Keith Urban

Female Vocalist of the Year

Sheryl Crow

Miranda Lambert

Kacey Musgraves

Taylor Swift

Carrie Underwood

Vocal Duo of the Year

Big & Rich

Dan + Shay

Florida Georgia Line

Love and Theft

Thompson Square

Vocal Group of the Year

Eli Young Band

Lady Antebellum

Little Big Town

The Band Perry

Zac Brown Band

Album of the Year

Based On a True Story - Blake Shelton

Crash My Party - Luke Bryan

Here's To The Good Times - Florida Georgia Line

Same Trailer Different Park - Kacey Musgraves

Two Lanes of Freedom - Tim McGraw

Single Record of the Year

"Cruise" - Florida Georgia Line

"Highway Don't Care" - Tim McGraw Featuring Taylor Swift & Keith Urban

"I Drive Your Truck" - Lee Brice

"Mama's Broken Heart" - Miranda Lambert

"Wagon Wheel" - Darius Rucker Featuring Lady Antebellum

Song of the Year

"Every Storm (Runs Out Of Rain)" - Gary Allan

"I Drive Your Truck" - Lee Brice

"Mama's Broken Heart" - Miranda Lambert

"Mine Would Be You" - Blake Shelton

"Wagon Wheel" - Darius Rucker Featuring Lady Antebellum

Video of the Year

"Better Dig Two" - The Band Perry

"Blowin' Smoke" - Kacey Musgraves

"Highway Don't Care" - Tim McGraw Featuring Taylor Swift & Keith Urban

"I Drive Your Truck" - Lee Brice

"Mama's Broken Heart" - Miranda Lambert

"Two Black Cadillacs" - Carrie Underwood

Vocal Event of the Year

"Boys 'Round Here" - Blake Shelton Featuring Pistol Annies & Friends

"Cruise (Remix)" - Florida Georgia Line Featuring Nelly

"Highway Don't Care" - Tim McGraw Featuring Taylor Swift & Keith Urban

"Wagon Wheel" - Darius Rucker Featuring Lady Antebellum

"We Were Us" - Keith Urban and Miranda Lambert

OFF CAMERA AWARDS - The following off-camera awards will be presented during the 8th Annual ACM Honors event on Tuesday, September 9, 2014 in Nashville.

Songwriter of the Year 

Rhett Akins

Rodney Clawson

Ashley Gorley

Luke Laird

Shane McAnally

Studio Recording Awards:

 (FORMERLY KNOWN AS MUSICIAN/BANDLEADER/INSTRUMENTALIST (MBI) AWARDS)

Bass Player of the Year

Mike Brignardello

Kevin “Swine” Grantt

Mark Hill

Michael Rhodes

Glenn Worf

Drummer of the Year

Chad Cromwell

Fred Eltringham

Shannon Forrest

Greg Morrow

Lonnie Wilson

Guitar Player of the Year

Jeff King

Troy Lancaster

Brent Mason

Rob McNelley

Jerry McPherson

Piano/Keyboards Player of the Year

Tony Harrell

John Jarvis

Charlie Judge

Tim Lauer

Gordon Mote

Specialty Instrument(s) Player of the Year

Glen Duncan

Larry Franklin

Jim Hoke

Danny Rader

Bryan Sutton

Steel Guitar Player of the Year

Dan Dugmore

Paul Franklin

Steve Hinson

Russ Pahl

Scotty Sanders

Audio Engineer of the Year

Derek Bason

Ben Fowler

Mills Logan

Steve Marcantonio

Justin Niebank

Producer of the Year

Mark Bright

Dann Huff

Michael Knox

Frank Liddell

Paul Worley

Kevin Winter/Getty Images

Last night’s sold-out Luke Bryan concert at the Rupp Arena in Lexington, KY was postponed due to a stage collapse that occured after his show this past Thursday.  According to news site nbc4i.com, officers were dispatched to Columbus, Ohio’s Schottenstein Center at about 12:04 a.m. Friday on a report of a stage collapse. The Ohio State University Police Division reported that four stagehands received minor injuries. Kyle Davis, 47, of Columbus; Leonard Devrijer, 49, of Columbus; Andrew Gammon, 26, of Nashville; and Steven Meyers, 41, of Bremen were transported to an area hospital where they were treated and released.  A preliminary investigation suggests that a forklift may have struck the back side of the stage, causing that portion of it to collapse. The accident is still under investigation at this time.

Photos: OSUPD

Friday’s show was slated to be the second date on Bryan’s 2014 That’s My Kind of Night Tour, which kicked off Thursday night in Columbus, OH. The tour, which also features Lee Brice and Cole Swindell, stops in Knoxville, TN tonight.

A statement posted on Bryan’s website Friday, reads:  "Tonight’s Luke Bryan concert in Lexington, Kentucky will be rescheduled for Friday, February 21 due to damage sustained to a piece of the stage during production load out after last night’s show in Columbus, Ohio. The damage occurred after the show had ended and no fans were in the building. The tour’s team will make the necessary repairs to the production elements so the tour may continue." Previously purchased tickets for Lexington, Kentucky will be honored for the reschedule date on Friday, February 21st .

Luke called into a Lexington radio station -- the Officer Don & DeAnn show -- to talk about the accident and the postponed concert.  Listen below.

Luke Bryan‘s 2014 touring schedule just got even bigger as Luke announced stadium dates in Chicago, Pittsburgh, and Philadelphia.

On June 21st, Bryan will play Heinz Field in Pittsburgh with special guest Dierks Bentley. On Aug. 15th, Bryan will take the stage in Philadelphia with Cole Swindell and Lee Brice, as well as a not yet  determined surprise artist. He will also perform on Aug. 31st at Chicago’s Soldier Field with Bentley, Swindell and Brice.

“Cole is a dear friend of mine who sold T-shirts for me for three years and he always had artist aspirations. We’re so excited to have Cole out,” Bryan said. “Lee Brice is somebody that I respect and an incredible vocalist.”

The big announcement was made this morning during a press conference at Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena.

The upcoming leg of Bryan’s That’s My Kind of Night 2014 Tour will also feature two-night performances in several cities, including Washington, D.C.; Raleigh, N.C; St. Louis, Cleveland, Cincinnati and Atlanta.

Luke's 2014 touring season will end with a concert at Los Angeles’ Hollywood Bowl. “It will be an amazing place to end the tour,” Bryan said. “It will be fun to be out in Los Angeles.”

For more information on concert dates, visit www.lukebryan.com and www.livenation.com.

The long-rumored iHeartRadio Country Festival has been set for March 29 in Austin, TX and  will feature performers including Luke Bryan, Jason Aldean, Florida Georgia Line, Eric Church, Lady Antebellum, Hunter Hayes, Carrie Underwood, Jake Owen and Dan + Shay. Premiere's Bobby Bones will host at the city's Frank Erwin Center. A six-week promotion beginning Monday (1/13) will give thousands of Clear Channel Country and iHeartRadio listeners the opportunity to win a trip to the event, which will air live on Clear Channel Country stations and iHeartRadio.com. Sponsors include Jim Beam, NBC and State Farm. Tickets go on sale Jan. 18; more info here.

"The response to our country performers at the last three iHeartRadio Music Festivals was so incredible we decided to create an entire show just for them,” says Clear Channel Entertainment Enterprises President John Sykes. “It will be a country fan's dream and a testament to the power of country music and recognition of the stature of these artists."

"Country music is experiencing an unprecedented explosion of popularity with music fans across America, and there's no better way to celebrate that than by building on the incredible success of our annual two-day iHeartRadio Music Festival and creating the biggest dedicated multiplatform event ever featuring the biggest stars in Country music," says CC National Programming Platforms President Tom Poleman. "The core of our business is the bond our local stations have with our listeners and an important part of that is to give them extraordinary events no one else can provide. With the largest reach of any country music radio group, we’re thrilled to add this once-in-a-lifetime 'all things country’ mega festival to iHeartRadio’s exceptional lineup of can’t-miss events