Carrie Underwood To Head Across The Pond For The Cry Pretty UK Tour

Multi-platinum superstar and seven-time GRAMMY® Award winner Carrie Underwood has announced a major UK arena tour for Summer 2019, The Cry Pretty Tour UK. Underwood made the announcement in a personal video to her fans:

She will be joined on the UK tour by special guests, The Shires, the UK’s best-selling country act of all time.

Underwood has made numerous visits to the UK over the course of her career. She helped establish UK and Ireland’s Country To Country Festival, the biggest celebration of country music outside North America, with headline performances during its first year in 2013, and again during its fourth year in 2016, which included a sold-out show at London’s O2 Arena.  Underwood’s first UK concert performance included a sold-out night at London’s prestigious Royal Albert Hall in 2012.

Tickets for the UK shows will go on sale Thursday, March 7 via www.gigsandtours.com and www.ticketmaster.co.uk.  As she has done for her North American shows, Underwood has arranged for a donation from each ticket sold for The Cry Pretty Tour UK to be contributed to Danita’s Children, which provides a safe haven for abandoned and vulnerable children in Haiti, while encouraging families to stay together through their education and malnutrition programs.

The Cry Pretty Tour UK
Friday, June 28 / Birmingham, England – Birmingham Resorts World Arena
Sunday, June 30 / Cardiff, Wales – Cardiff Motorpoint Arena
Tuesday, July 2 / Glasgow, Scotland – The SSE Hydro
Wednesday, July 3 / Manchester, England – Manchester Arena
Thursday, July 4 / London, England – Wembley The SSE Arena

Thomas Rhett Makes Huge Impact At Country Radio With New Single “Look What God Gave Her”

Fresh off introducing his “buoyant” (Rolling Stone) new single, Multi-PLATINUM selling performer Thomas Rhett continues to thrill fans and rack up accolades. The in-demand entertainer earned the highest chart debut of his career with “Look What God Gave Her,” as Country radio’s most-added song this week, debuting at No. 20 on Billboard’s Country Airplay and No. 29 on the Country Aircheck Mediabase chart after its release Friday. 

Additionally, Thomas Rhett also dropped “Don’t Threaten Me With A Good Time” (feat. Little Big Town) immediately following his performance on Saturday Night Live, which was layered with “soul” and a “funkier edge” (Billboard). Fans can get both tracks now when they pre-order his hotly-anticipated upcoming fourth studio album CENTER POINT ROAD ahead of its May 31 release on The Valory Music Co. 

Making his ‘SNL’ debut as the first Country artist of the show’s current season, Thomas Rhett delivered the television world-premiere of “Look What God Gave Her,” once again showcasing his “commanding stage presence” (Rolling Stone) and earning his reputation as “a man with no boundaries” (Billboard). The 12X chart-topper later launched into the ‘80’s inspired blast of feel-good fire, “Don’t Threaten Me With A Good Time,” featuring longtime friends Little Big Town. Enlisting a horn section and powerhouse back-up vocalists, Thomas Rhett “kicked his onstage party up a notch” (Billboard).

Watch the current ACM Awards Male Artist of the Year nominee’s double dose of performances on Saturday Night Live  here and here.

Country Music Association Reveals Star-Studded Lineup For 2019 CMA Fest

The Country Music Association has revealed the initial artist lineup for this year’s CMA Fest, which features hundreds of Country Music artists performing on multiple stages throughout downtown Nashville Thursday through Sunday, June 6-9. CMA Fest is a one-of-a-kind festival with artists donating their time to perform so a portion of ticket proceeds can directly benefit high-quality music programs across the country through the CMA Foundation. A limited number of four-day passes for the nightly performances at Nissan Stadium are still available at CMAfest.com or through the CMA Box Office at 1-800-CMA-FEST.

The initial lineup announcement was made moments ago exclusively via the Official CMA Fest App as the CMA Foundation celebrates Music In Our Schools Month. For more than 30 years, March has been officially designated by the National Association for Music Education (NAfME) for observance of Music In Our Schools Month, the time of year when music education becomes the focus of schools across the nation. 

This month, the CMA Foundation will participate in multiple events in support of music education, including a panel during SXSW EDU to discuss the importance of music in a child’s life, the first-ever Music Teacher Hill Day in West Virginia with Americana artist Christian Lopez, a meeting with the Cohort in New Orleans to help increase arts education for all students, and a school visit in Louisville with K. Michelle Lewis, winner of the Give a Note Music Education Innovator Award for Project Based Learning through Music, which includes advocating for others and addressing social issues through student led music projects. In addition, this year’s 30 recipients of Music Teachers of Excellence, the CMA Foundation’s program aimed at celebrating, honoring and investing in quality teaching, will be announced in the coming week. 

Named the “gold standard” and topping Billboard’s list of the 10 Best Country Music Festivals, CMA Fest is the longest-running Country Music festival in the world, with last year’s event drawing capacity crowds and the largest engagement by Country Music fans in the event’s history, with visitors from all 50 states, Puerto Rico and 36 international countries flocking to downtown Nashville.

Taking the nightly Nissan Stadium stage this year are Country Music superstars Kelsea Ballerini, Dierks Bentley, Brothers Osborne, Kane Brown, Luke Bryan, Luke Combs, Dan + Shay, Florida Georgia Line, Miranda Lambert, Little Big Town, Tim McGraw, Maren Morris, Old Dominion, Pistol Annies, Rascal Flatts, Thomas Rhett, Carrie Underwood and Keith Urban.

The Chevy Riverfront Stage returns once again with a fantastic lineup that will keep crowds rocking from 10:00 AM-5:15 PM each day including performances by A Thousand Horses, Lauren Alaina, Jimmie Allen, Danielle Bradbery, Lee Brice, Easton Corbin, Jordan Davis, Devin Dawson, Jessie James Decker, Gavin DeGraw, Russell Dickerson, Eli Young Band, Lindsay Ell, Tyler Farr, Gone West, Riley Green, Hunter Hayes, Walker Hayes, High Valley, Home Free, Ryan Hurd, LOCASH, Maddie & Tae, Ashley McBryde, Scotty McCreery, Eric Paslay, Carly Pearce, Cassadee Pope, RaeLynn, Mason Ramsey, Michael Ray, Tyler Rich, Runaway June, Dylan Scott, Granger Smith, Mitchell Tenpenny, Morgan Wallen and Aaron Watson. 

Returning for a third year, the Budweiser Forever Country Stage will take place from 11:00 AM-4:45 PM daily. Featuring some of the biggest names in Country Music from recent decades, this year’s lineup includes Keith Anderson, Deana Carter, John Carter Cash, Joe Diffie, George Ducas, Charles Esten, Andy Griggs, Halfway to Hazard, Ty Herndon, Honky Tonkin’ with Tracy Lawrence, Little Texas, Lonestar, The Marshall Tucker Band, Kendell Marvel, Neal McCoy, Montgomery Gentry, Lorrie Morgan, The Nelsons, Jerrod Niemann, Jamie O’Neal, The Road Hammers, Ray Scott, Shenandoah, Sister Hazel, Ricky Skaggs, Kiefer Sutherland, Thompson Square, Uncle Kracker, Mark Wills, Rita Wilson and Darryl Worley. 

Outdoor daytime stages including Chevy Riverfront and Budweiser Forever Country are free and open to the public. All artist lineups are subject to change.

Additional stage lineups, Xfinity Fan Fair X activities, and more will be announced in the coming weeks. Don’t miss a beat by staying connected with CMA on CMAfest.com, the Official CMA Fest App, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and sign up for CMA Country Connection emails to receive the latest news as soon as it’s announced.

Eli Young Band To Release Greatest Hits Album

MULTI-PLATINUM hitmakers Eli Young Band celebrate their loyal fanbase and ever-growing legacy with the release of THIS IS ELI YOUNG BAND (GREATEST HITS) via The Valory Music Co. on March 29. Connecting directly with their supportive following, EYB made time to announce the new tunes and preorder details via Facebook Live while in New York City for a tour stop honoring their home state of Texas.

“This is the first time you’ve ever been able to get some of that older music, new music, and the hits all in one place,” shared EYB’s Mike Eli during the Facebook Live.

The talented four-piece formed at the University of North Texas nearly two decades ago and have since topped the charts with their award-winning smashes. Experience some of their most impressive live shows and musical moments here.

Highlighted on the forthcoming album, EYB’s successful trajectory features #1s – PLATINUM “Drunk Last Night,” 2X PLATINUM “Even If It Breaks Your Heart,” and 3X PLATINUM “Crazy Girl” – plus a never-before-heard acoustic recording of the latter. The 14-track compilation also includes new songs “Where Were You” and their current Top 20-and-climbing single, penned by Ross Copperman, Ashley Gorley, and Shane McAnally, under producer Dann Huff. The adjoining music video for “Love Ain’t” follows the emotional journey of military veteran and quadruple amputee Taylor Morris recovering with the support of his wife Danielle by his side.

THIS IS ELI YOUNG BAND (GREATEST HITS) Track Listing:
1. “LOVE AIN’T” (Ross Copperman, Ashley Gorley, Shane McAnally)
2. “EVEN IF IT BREAKS YOUR HEART” (Will Hoge, Eric Paslay)
3. “DRUNK LAST NIGHT” (Laura Veltz, Josh Osborne)
4. “CRAZY GIRL” (Lee Brice, Liz Rose)
5. “ALWAYS THE LOVE SONGS” (David Lee Murphy, George Ducas)
6. “DUST” (Jon Jones, James Young, Kyle Jacobs, Josh Osborne)
7. “SALTWATER GOSPEL” (Ross Copperman, Nicolle Galyon, Ashley Gorley)
8. “GUINEVERE” (Mike Eli, James Young, Scooter Carusoe)
9. “SKIN & BONES” (Mike Eli, Phil Barton, Lori McKenna)
10. “WHEN IT RAINS” (Eli Young Band)
11. “SMALL TOWN KID” (Mike Eli, Chris Thompson)
12. “HIGHWAYS AND BROKEN HEARTS” (Mike Eli, Chris Thompson)
13. “WHERE WERE YOU” (Luke Dick, Matt Jenkins, Josh Osborne)
14. “CRAZY GIRL (ACOUSTIC)” (Lee Brice, Liz Rose)

Chris Janson Shares “Good Vibes” In New Music Video

Platinum-selling multi-instrumentalist and singer/songwriter Chris Janson has revealed the music video for “Good Vibes,” which is the highly-anticipated lead single from his forthcoming album on Warner Bros. / Warner Music Nashville. The video premiered today via Billboard.com, with a broadcast premiere on CMT. This marks Chris’ first music video release since the 2019 ACM Video Of The Year nominated “Drunk Girl.” Watch the official “Good Vibes” music video HERE.

Janson tells Billboard, “I’m extraordinarily happy that we picked this for the first single because it sort of set the tone for the rest of the album, which is very positive and uplifting. I was very adamant about the video including random acts of kindness, random acts of happiness, random acts of smiling and just doing things that make people happy, which is what ‘Good Vibes’ is all about.” Read the full story, which appeared this morning on Billboard.com, HERE.

“Good Vibes” has just surpassed 1.2 million total streams and is one of the most added singles at country radio this week with 49 first week adds. Janson continues to sell out shows on his headlining “Waitin’ on 5 Tour.” He also recently announced that he will serve as direct support for Chris Young’s “Raised on Country Tour 2019,” with tickets already on sale. To find out when he is coming to your area, visit: chrisjanson.com/tour.