Jake Owen Releases Short Film Music Video for Latest Single “I Was Jack (You Were Diane)

Last week in the CMA Theater at the Country Music Hall of Fame, Jake Owen and Big Loud Records invited fans and the music industry to be part of the premiere of Owen’s music video for the fastest rising single of his career, “I Was Jack (You Were Diane).” The video is actually a short film, directed by Justin Clough of Taillight and starring actors MacKenzie Porter (Netflix Travelers) and Jake Etheridge (CMT’s Nashville).

“I don’t think I’ve ever been more excited about a music video,” says Owen. “I’ve never had anyone send me a 14-page treatment before, but this isn’t your typical country music video. I think it could be considered a short film. I really appreciate the attention to detail and hard work that everyone put into making it. I’m anxious to hear what people think.”

Owen reflects, “I’m so thankful to have a career in this business. I’m excited about everything in my life right now. I sense that people are pulling for me and that’s very humbling. It makes me want to work that much harder, not just for me, but for everyone who has been so supportive of me all these years. We’re in this together.”

The event was hosted by Lon Helton and included a Q&A with Owen, the director and the actors. The evening also included a performance of his hit single, “I Was Jack (You Were Diane),” plus a few new tunes, “Made for You,” “Down to the Honkytonk,” and because the event took place in the Country Music Hall of Fame, Jake felt moved to play one of his favorite country songs by Hank Williams, Jr., “Blues Man.”

Owen will be hitting the road in May on his 2018 “Life’s Whatcha Make It Tour” with special guest Chris Janson and rising star Jordan Davis. The majority of shows will take place at baseball stadiums across the country. Check it out HERE. Details on the Jake Owen VIP package can be found HERE.

Drew Baldridge Releases New Single “Gentle Man” From Forthcoming Sophomore Album

Country fans have come to know and love Drew Baldridge for his upbeat, dance-worthy, and “functry” tunes, but the rising country star has now shared a softer side to his music with the release of his latest single, “Gentle Man.”  The new song, co-penned by Baldridge, Chris Yarber and Robert Arthur, is the second release from his forthcoming sophomore album due out later in the year.  Fans can listen HERE. 

The groovy ballad, complete with polished lyrics, (then it’s soft, slow/ nice and easy does it/ when it comes to lovin’/ you need to understand that these hands might be calloused just a little/ but they can hold you gentle/ baby you/ make me a gentle man,) is a love song, but its inspiration surprisingly came from the country newcomer’s role models.  

Baldridge explains, “I was raised to always take care of the people around you and to always help someone in need.  All of my life I have seen great examples of love and kindness, and it has made me want to be a better man; a gentle man. My role models were not only the inspiration for this song, but also an inspiration for the man I am today.”

The Patoka, Illinois native traveled back to his hometown to create a docu-video asking his family role models the question, what is a gentle man? The response turned out to be a touching and heartfelt video revealing respect and love as the two top qualities found in a gentle man.  The personal video, viewed exclusively on Sounds Like Nashville, exposes a very raw Baldridge as he interviews his mom, dad, big brother, uncle, and grandpa. 

Baldridge recently checked off one of his dream-gigs as he performed on the main stage for country music’s most popular festival—Country Thunder.  He’ll head north next week with upcoming performances held in Medford, MA, New York, NY, Philadelphia, PA,  Freehold, NJ and more.  For up-to-date touring information, visit www.DrewBaldridgeMusic.com. 

Sugarland Releases New Single “Babe” Featuring Taylor Swift

Superstar Country duo SUGARLAND releases new single “Babe,” featuring Taylor Swift. The new song is available everywhere for sale and streaming, while Country radio stations have already began spinning what is undoubtedly one of the biggest vocal events of the year.

Swift penned “Babe” with Train frontman Pat Monahan, and last fall she offered the track to Sugarland for the GRAMMY®-winning pair’s forthcoming album BIGGER, out June 8 on Big Machine Records and Universal Music Group Nashville.

“We’ve never put someone else’s song on a Sugarland record, but we were immediately interested in ‘Babe’ the first time we heard it!” said Jennifer Nettles. “This one really felt like it belonged so we saved it for the final afternoon of our recording session; a special time for us.” 

“Our last hours in the studio have always been good luck,” continued Kristian Bush. “‘All I Want To Do’ was from a final session, so was ‘Stuck Like Glue.’ The biggest compliment was when she heard our take on the track and emailed us to say she wanted to be a part of it!” 

“This collaboration is the perfect combination of mutual admiration for each other and mutual admiration for great songs. As artists, we really see the world through a similar lens,” added Nettles.

“Babe” follows previously released tracks “Still The Same” and “Bigger,” which are included on Sugarland’s first project together in nearly six years. The 11-song set is now available for pre-order with new tracks delivered in the weeks leading up to the full release.

Sugarland will appear on ABC’s Jimmy Kimmel Live! May 2.

After delighting audiences in the U.K. with their new material and earning standing ovations during their performances at the C2C: Country to Country festival in March, Sugarland’s STILL THE SAME 2018 TOUR will kick off May 25 across 48 cities in the U.S. and Canada. For tour dates, visit https://sugarlandmusic.com/. 

Trent Harmon Releases “You Got ‘Em All” Music Video and Album Pre-Order

In anticipation of its release on May 18, Trent Harmon’s debut album YOU GOT ‘EM ALL (Big Machine Records) is now available for pre-order everywhere digitally. Get it here.

Spending the last two years exploring his songwriting acumen, Trent co-wrote eight of the 11 offerings, including the hit title track. YOU GOT ‘EM ALL was recorded in Nashville alongside producers Jimmy Robbins and Scott Borchetta.

TRACK LIST
1. “You Got ‘Em All” | Trent Harmon, Justin Ebach, Jordan Minton
2. “There’s a Girl” | Trent Harmon, Jimmy Robbins, Laura Veltz
3. “Hold On”| Jim Beavers, Chris Stapleton
4. “Her”| Trent Harmon, Jimmy Robbins, Laura Veltz
5. “First Five Minutes” | Trent Harmon, Paul DiGiovanni, Adam Hambrick
6. “Money’s On You” | Trent Harmon, Justin Ebach, Josh Thompson
7. “’Cause I Do” |Trent Harmon, Josh Kerr, Nick Wayne
8. “On Paper” | Trent Harmon, Jimmy Robbins, Laura Veltz
9. “My Somebody” | Trent Harmon, Jimmy Robbins, Laura Veltz 
10. “Falling (Remix)”| Dallas Davidson, Brett James, Keith Urban
11. “Chandelier” | Sia Furler, Jesse Shatkin

The new music video for the title track lead single debuted on Vevo + syndicators. Directed by James King and filmed in Nashville, the story features Trent and an ex-love as she leaves the relationship to pursue her dreams of becoming a professional ballet dancer. The concept was inspired by Trent’s real-life circumstance, reflecting on the desire to support his partner while also feeling helpless in the situation. 

“I wrote this song in under an hour with Justin (Ebach) and Jordan (Minton),” expressed Trent. “My girlfriend just told me over the phone that she was moving to Thailand with two days notice to fulfill her dream of teaching overseas. I was so happy for her but at the same time was so heartbroken that she was literally going to be across the world from me for an indefinite amount of time.”

While the couple is physically apart, they each find solace in supporting each other’s journey. The reigning American Idol champ will share music from his first full-length release on his headline dates throughout the summer in addition to select shows on tour with Country superstars Rascal Flatts. He will also perform during CMA Fest in Nashville in June. For more information, visit TrentHarmon.com.

Kenny Chesney Rocked Over 55K Fans on Opening Night of Trip Around The Sun Tour

Eight songs into Kenny Chesney’s no-holds-barred set at Tampa’s Raymond James Stadium, the East Tennessee songwriter/superstar finally paused for a moment, ran his hands down the legs of his jeans and told the at-capacity crowd, “I got asked every day, ‘Why Tampa?’ All you gotta’ do is listen to this…” When the shrieking subsided, he then said he was going to play a new song about turning negative energy into positive energy, and launched into “Get Along,” his first single for Blue Chair/Warner Bros. Nashville.

“All I want any time I get on a stage is to turn peoples’ bad days into something great,” says the man The Los Angeles Times deemed “The People’s Superstar,” “and take their great days and make them everything you could ever want. That’s what music does: change the moment, and that’s a big part of why I do what I do.”

For 127 minutes in Tampa, that’s just what Chesney did. With a lean show, twenty-five songs and an audience that started lining up before daybreak, the 8-time Entertainer of the Year embraced new songs (“All The Pretty Girls,” “Get Along”), old favorites (“Don’t Happen Twice,” “How Forever Feels”), mid-career classics (“Young,” “I Go Back,” “Anything But Mine”) and solo acoustics (“You & Tequila,” “Old Blue Chair”) for a show defined by ebullience, electric guitars and Chesney’s irrepressible energy.
 
Reaching for “Everything’s Gonna Be Alright,” his duet with David Lee Murphy, Chesney mined pictures from his Love For Love City rescue relief efforts to give people a sense of the devastation and work that’s gone into restoring the US/BVI’s Hurricane Irma relief efforts. Beyond the leveled buildings, island natives and school children, the montage focused on some of the over 1,000 animals rescued.

“Music is medicine, and it’s energy, and it’s fuel,” says the man who will play 19 stadiums this summer. “To me, when music is really firing, it can help you do impossible things, lift you out of unthinkable problems and give you a reason to keep going.”
 
Using “When The Sun Goes Down” as a way to introduce his band, Chesney lingered on the empty keyboard rig, then explained to the crowd that his musical director Wyatt Beard was in the hospital here having emergency surgery two days prior. Taking the collective energy, he asked the fans “on the count of three” to yell, “We love you, Wyatt!”

Like much of the night, the response was deafening. Beaming, the man who ran from side to side, slid down the strut, brought a special needs child onstage to rock and worked up a full body sweat from the minute the second song came to play. There was no question about his – or the band’s – intention, and the audience gave even better than they got.

“When people come together in the name of music, then let go,” Chesney marvels, “there’s no feeling like it. Listening to the fans sing ‘American Kids’ and ‘Setting the World On Fire’ was a total rush. It’s not the only reason I do this, but it’s a good one.”   

Kenny Chesney’s 2018 Trip Around the Sun Tour Presented by Blue Chair Bay Rum
Saturday, April 28, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Miller Park
Saturday, May 5, Minneapolis, Minnesota, U.S. Bank Stadium
Thursday, May 10, Virginia Beach, Virginia, Farm Bureau Live at Virginia Beach
Friday, May 11, Charlotte, North Carolina, PNC Music Pavilion
Saturday, May 12, Raleigh, North Carolina, Coastal Credit Union Music Park at Walnut Creek
Wednesday, May 16, Del Valle, Texas, Austin360 Amphitheater
Thursday, May 17, The Woodlands, Texas, Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion
Saturday, May 19, Arlington, Texas, AT&T Stadium
Thursday, May 24, West Palm Beach, Florida, Coral Sky Amphitheatre
Saturday, May 26, Atlanta, Georgia, Mercedes-Benz Stadium
Thursday, May 31, Noblesville, Indiana, The Ruoff Home Mortgage Music Center
Saturday, June 2, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Heinz Field
Wednesday, June 6, Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio, Blossom Music Center
Thursday, June 7, Syracuse, New York, Lakeview Amphitheater
Saturday, June 9, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Lincoln Financial Field
Friday, June 15, Bristow, Virginia, Jiffy Lube Live
Saturday, June 16, Columbus, Ohio, MAPFRE Stadium
Wednesday, June 20, Mountain View, California, Shoreline Amphitheatre
Thursday, June 21, Chula Vista, California, Mattress Firm Amphitheatre
Saturday, June 23, Phoenix, Arizona, Chase Field
Thursday, June 28, West Valley City, Utah, USANA Amphitheatre
Saturday, June 30, Denver, Colorado, Sports Authority Field at Mile High
Tuesday, July 3, Stateline, Nevada, Harveys Lake Tahoe Casino
Thursday, July 5, Nampa, Idaho, Ford Idaho Center
Saturday, July 7, Seattle, Washington, CenturyLink Field
Thursday, July 12, Rogers, Arkansas, Walmart Arkansas Music Pavilion
Saturday, July 14, Kansas City, Missouri, Arrowhead Stadium
Thursday, July 19, Southaven, Mississippi, BankPlus Amphitheater
Saturday, July 21, St. Louis, Missouri, Busch Stadium
Thursday, July 26, Cincinnati, Ohio, Riverbend Music Center
Saturday, July 28, Chicago, Illinois, Soldier Field
Thursday, August 2, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, Molson Canadian Amphitheatre
Saturday, August 4, Detroit, Michigan, Ford Field
Saturday, August 11, Nashville, Tennessee, Nissan Stadium
Thursday, August 16, Bangor, Maine, Darling’s Waterfront Pavilion
Saturday, August 18, East Rutherford, New Jersey, MetLife Stadium
Wednesday, August 22, Columbia, Maryland, Merriweather Post Pavilion
Friday, August 24, Foxborough, Massachusetts, Gillette Stadium
Saturday, August 25, Foxborough, Massachusetts, Gillette, Stadium