CMR Exclusive: Sandra Lynn Shares Details About New Music and More

Artist on the Rise Sandra Lynn chatted with us while in Nashville for Country Radio Seminar 2018 earlier last month. Sandra shared details about her newest single, “Somebody Kissed Me In A Bar,” as well as details about her latest EP FIGHT which is available now.

FIGHT is a fantastic collection of music that is inclusive of four songs produced by Grammy award-winning producer/engineer, Ben Fowler. See what Sandra Lynn shared with us about her latest music, and much more. Watch out interview below, or click here. 

Grab Sandra Lynn’s new EP FIGHT, featuring her latest single “Somebody Kissed Me In A Bar” on iTunes here.

Luke Bryan Gears Up for His Role As An American Idol Judge with Multiple TV Appearances

Four-time Entertainer of the Year, current 2018 ACM Entertainer of the Year nominee and American Idol judge Luke Bryan is preparing for the show’s March 11 premiere on ABC with several television appearances. On Tuesday, March 6 Luke will visit Good Morning America, Live! with Kelly & Ryan and Late Night with Seth Meyers, where he is also slated to perform. Additionally, Luke will make an appearance on The View on March 8.

Luke’s What Makes You Country album debuted #1 on both the Billboard Top 200 and Top Country Albums charts last December. On Friday, March 9 the album will be available for the first time on vinyl. The 16-track double vinyl will also feature an exclusive bonus song for fans, “I Can’t Even,” written by Michael Carter, Jon Nite and Jimmy Robbins. Get the album HERE.

Luke kicked off his “What Makes You Country Tour” in February and this month he will head to Australia to perform his first-ever shows down under. His touring year will conclude this fall after headlining concerts across North America including some of the biggest and best sports stadiums in Toronto, New York City, Cincinnati, Tampa, Pittsburgh, Boston, Minneapolis, Los Angeles (the first country concert to ever be held in Dodgers Stadium), Denver, St. Louis, Chicago, Vancouver and wrapping the tour in Detroit at Ford Field on October 26.

Reba McEntire Returns To Host 53rd Annual ACM Awards + Award Nominations Revealed

The Academy of Country Music announced the host and nominations for the 53RD ACADEMY OF COUNTRY MUSIC AWARDS™, Country Music’s Party of the Year®, honoring country music’s superstars and hottest emerging talent. Multimedia superstar and sixteen-time ACM Award® winner Reba McEntire will return to host LIVE from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on Sunday, April 15, 2018 at 8:00 PM ET/PT on the CBS Television Network. This year’s show will mark Reba’s fifteenth time hosting the ceremony, last appearing in 2012 with Blake Shelton.

In addition to surprising audiences with the news that she will return to host, Reba appeared live yesterday (3/1) on “CBS This Morning” to announce this year’s ACM Award nominees for Entertainer of the Year, Male Vocalist of the Year, Female Vocalist of the Year, Vocal Duo of the Year, and Vocal Group of the Year, as well as nominees for Song of the Year on Facebook LIVE. “Entertainment Tonight” host Nancy O’Dell announced additional nominees on ETonline.com.

The following is the full list of final nominees. The Academy of Country Music’s professional membership selects the nominees and winners of the Academy of Country Music Awards.

ENTERTAINER OF THE YEAR
Jason Aldean
Garth Brooks
Luke Bryan
Chris Stapleton
Keith Urban

FEMALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR
Kelsea Ballerini
Miranda Lambert
Reba McEntire
Maren Morris
Carrie Underwood

MALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR
Jason Aldean
Thomas Rhett
Chris Stapleton
Keith Urban
Chris Young

VOCAL DUO OF THE YEAR
Brothers Osborne
Dan + Shay
Florida Georgia Line
LOCASH
Tim McGraw & Faith Hill

VOCAL GROUP OF THE YEAR
Lady Antebellum
LANCO
Little Big Town
Midland
Old Dominion

NEW FEMALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR
 Lauren Alaina
Danielle Bradbery
Carly Pearce
Raelynn

NEW MALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR
 Kane Brown
Luke Combs
Devin Dawson
Russell Dickerson
Brett Young

NEW VOCAL DUO OR GROUP OF THE YEAR
 High Valley
LANCO
LOCASH
Midland
Runaway June

ALBUM OF THE YEAR
The Breaker – Little Big Town
Producer: Jay Joyce
Record Label: Capitol Records Nashville

California Sunrise – Jon Pardi
Producers: Bart Butler, Jon Pardi
Record Label: Capitol Records Nashville

From A Room: Volume 1 – Chris Stapleton
Producers: Dave Cobb, Chris Stapleton
Record Label: Mercury Records

Happy Endings – Old Dominion
Producer: Shane McAnally
Record Label: RCA

Life Changes – Thomas Rhett
Producers: Julian Bunetta, Jesse Frasure, Dann Huff, Joe London, Thomas Rhett
Record Label: The Valory Music Co.

SINGLE RECORD OF THE YEAR
Better Man – Little Big Town
Producer: Jay Joyce
Record Label: Capitol Records Nashville

Body Like A Back Road – Sam Hunt
Producer: Zach Crowell
Record Label: MCA Nashville

Broken Halos – Chris Stapleton
Producers: Dave Cobb, Chris Stapleton
Record Label: Mercury Records

Drinkin’ Problem – Midland
Producers: Dann Huff, Shane McAnally, Josh Osborne
Record Label: Big Machine Records

I’ll Name The Dogs – Blake Shelton
Producer: Scott Hendricks
Record Label: Warner Bros.

SONG OF THE YEAR
Body Like a Back Road – Sam Hunt
Songwriters: Zach Crowell, Sam Hunt, Shane McAnally, Josh Osborne
Publishers: Anderson Fork In The Road Music (ASCAP), Atlas Music Publishing, Highly Combustible Music (ASCAP), I Love Pizza Music (ASCAP), Kobalt Music Group Ltd. (GMR), Kobalt Songs Music Publishing (ASCAP), Sam Hunt Publishing (ASCAP), Smack Hits (GMR), Smack Songs LLC (ASCAP), Smackville Music (ASCAP), Songs of Southside Independent Music Publishing (ASCAP), Universal Music Corp. (ASCAP), Who Wants To Buy My Publishing (ASCAP)

Female – Keith Urban
Songwriters: Ross Copperman, Nicolle Galyon and Shane McAnally
Publishers: A Girl Named Charlie (BMI), EMI Blackwood Music Inc. (BMI), Plain Jane Songs (BMI), Rezolant Music (BMI), Smack Hits (GMR), Smack Songs LLC (GMR), Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp. (BMI)

Tin Man – Miranda Lambert
Songwriters: Jack Ingram, Miranda Lambert Jon Randall
Publishers:Beat Up Ford Publishing (BMI), BMG Platinum Songs (BMI), Lonesome Vinyl Music (BMI), Pink Dog Publishing (BMI), Sony/ATV Tree Publishing (BMI), SWMBMGBMI (BMI)

Whiskey And You – Chris Stapleton
Songwriters: Lee Thomas Miller, Chris Stapleton
Publishers: New Sea Gayle Music (ASCAP), Spirit of Nashville One (BMI), Spirit Two Nashville (ASCAP), Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp. (BMI), WM Music Corp. (ASCAP)

VIDEO OF THE YEAR
Black – Dierks Bentley
Director: Wes Edwards
Producer: Max A. Butler

It Ain’t My Fault – Brothers Osborne
Director: Wes Edwards, Ryan Silver
Producer: Tiffany Davies

Legends – Kelsea Ballerini
Director: Jeff Venable
Producer: Ben Skipworth

Marry Me – Thomas Rhett
Director: TK McKamy
Producer: Dan Atchison

We Should Be Friends – Miranda Lambert
Director: Trey Fanjoy
Producer: April Dace

VOCAL EVENT OF THE YEAR
Craving You – Thomas Rhett Featuring Maren Morris
Producers: Julian Bunetta, Dann Huff, Joe London, Thomas Rhett
Record Label: The Valory Music Co.

Dear Hate – Maren Morris featuring Vince Gill
Producers: Brad Hill, Maren Morris
Record Label: Columbia Nashville

Funny (How Time Slips Away) – Glen Campbell And Willie Nelson
Producer: Carl Jackson
Record Label: Universal Music Enterprises

The Fighter – Keith Urban featuring Carrie Underwood
Producers: Busbee, Keith Urban
Record Label: Capitol Nashville

What Ifs – Kane Brown Featuring Lauren Alaina
Producer: Dann Huff
Record Label: RCA Nashville

Jake Owen Releases Brand New Single “I Was Jack (You Were Diane)” on Big Loud Records

Jake Owen, multi-Number One artist and ACM Award winner, is unveiling his unforgettable new single, “I Was Jack (You Were Diane),” which reunites Owen with producer Joey Moi and marks his first release for Big Loud Records.
 
“It’s been revitalizing. Making music with Joey is all about recording songs that reflect who I am,” Jake says of his creative rebirth. “I’ve seen the negative side of life and the positive side – and I really like the positive side. I want my songs to put a smile on your face.”
 
With “I Was Jack (You Were Diane),” Jake evokes the most golden of memories: a warm-weather romance set to one of rock & roll’s essential songs, John Mellencamp’s “Jack & Diane.” Based around the 1982 hit’s iconic melody, Jake both pays homage to and boldly reinvents the classic-rock staple.
 
“I never release a song without the intention of stepping up to the plate and knocking it out of the park,” says Owen. “When I first heard ‘I Was Jack (You Were Diane),’ I thought, ‘How can I do this and re-create what is already a classic song?’ But the more I listened to it, the more I saw my own life growing up. The original ‘Jack & Diane’ was about ‘two American kids growing up in the heartland’ and that image is exactly what so many country songs are based on. Plus, the most important thing to me and my team is that we sent the song to Mellencamp and he digs the track. Getting his stamp of approval sealed the deal for me that this song should be our debut single.”
 
Along with “I Was Jack (You Were Diane),” Jake has recorded a breezy tune entitled “Something to Ride To” that is also being released to all digital music partners today. LISTEN HERE.
 
In addition, Owen just announced 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. Tickets will go on sale starting Friday, March 2nd at 10:00 a.m. local time.

Florida Georgia Line Team Up with NFL’s Tennessee Titans To Unveil New Uniforms During FREE Street Party Concert in Nashville

MULTI-PLATINUM superstar duo FLORIDA GEORGIA LINE are set to unleash their biggest hits on downtown Nashville April 4, headlining a massive street party and concert to help the NFL’s Tennessee Titans reveal their brand new 2018-2019 uniforms. Watch here.

Launching a new look that coincides with their 20th season as Titans, the FREE show kicks off at 7 p.m. (CT) at Music City’s neon-lined crossroads of Broadway and 1st Avenue, just blocks away from the duo’s three-story entertainment destination FGL HOUSE.

Tens of thousands of fans will score the first look at their favorite Titans players in the new uniforms before FGL takes the stage. Tyler Hubbard and Brian Kelley told The Tennessean they won’t be holding anything back from their electrifying live-show experience.

“We’re bringing all the bells and whistles,” Hubbard said.

“We were like, ‘If we’re going to play Nashville, we need to do it right. Let’s rock this thing,’” Kelley said, adding they also planned to bring their pyrotechnics. “We’re just jacked. Nashville is a bull’s-eye for everyone to come to right now. Anytime we can represent the city and the Titans, we’re stepping our game up. We’re just thankful.”

Following a year which saw FGL rise to the level of stadium-packing crossover icons with THE SMOOTH STADIUM TOUR 2017 (with Nelly, Backstreet Boys and more supporting guests), and continue their streak of chart success with their 13th #1 single, “God, Your Mama, And Me” (ft. Backstreet Boys), the pair have already doubled down on their reputation as genre-defying hitmakers to start 2018.

Bebe Rexha’s easy-riding hit “Meant to Be” (ft. Florida Georgia Line) continues to dominate with 13 weeks at #1 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart, which is comprised of airplay, sales and streaming data. Rexha, Hubbard, Josh Miller, and David Garcia co-penned the PLATINUM-certified track, which is still rising through the coveted Top 10 of the all-genre Billboard Hot 100 chart.

FGL is currently in the studio working on their upcoming follow-up to 2016’s PLATINUM-certified DIG YOUR ROOTS album (BMLG Records) while details of a new headlining tour are coming soon.

For more information about Florida Georgia Line, please visit floridageorgialine.com and reach out on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.