Full Schedule of Events Announced for ACM Party for a Cause

The Academy of Country Music® announced the full schedule of events and performances for the 6th Annual ACM Party for a Cause® set to take place at select venues across the Las Vegas Strip on April 12-15, 2018. More than 40 of country music’s most celebrated artists as well as emerging talents have been revealed today as performers, including headlining artists Kelsea Ballerini, Lee Brice, Chris Lane, Kip Moore, Old Dominion, Jon Pardi, Thomas Rhett, and Chase Rice.

Portions of all event proceeds will benefit ACM Lifting Lives®, the philanthropic arm of the Academy of Country Music, which works to lift lives through the power of music.

This year’s ACM Party for a Cause will consist of fan events leading up to and immediately following the 53rd Academy of Country Music Awards™, Country Music’s Party of the Year®, which will broadcast LIVE from MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on Sunday, April 15, 2018 at 8:00 PM ET/delayed PT on the CBS Television Network.

The full schedule of events is listed below. For additional details and ongoing updates including ticket sale information and the most updated lineup of country superstars set to perform at each event, please check back often at www.PartyForaCause.com.

6TH ANNUAL ACM PARTY FOR A CAUSE SCHEDULE OF EVENTS:

THURSDAY, APRIL 12, 2018
6:00 PM               95.5 The Bull’s 10th Annual All-Star Guitar Pull
Location: The Pearl, Palms Resort
Performers: Kelsea Ballerini, Kane Brown, Luke Combs, Russell Dickerson, Chris Lane, Midland, Justin Moore, and Tyler Rich

10:00 PM             ACM After Party for a Cause: Stoney’s Rockin’ Country
Location: Stoney’s Rockin’ Country
Performer: Russell Dickerson

FRIDAY, APRIL 13, 2018
11:00 AM            ACM Party for a Cause: Tailgate Party
Location: Stoney’s Rockin’ Country
Performers: Kip Moore and Aaron Watson with Cale Dodds, Stephanie Quayle, Smithfield, Alex Williams, and more

6:00 PM               ACM Party for a Cause with Old Dominion
Location: Sandbar Pool at Red Rock Casino Resort
Performers: Old Dominion with Michael Ray

7:00 PM               ACM Stories, Songs & Stars: A Songwriter’s Event Benefitting ACM Lifting Lives
Location: The Joint, Hard Rock Hotel & Casino
Performers: Lee Brice, Ashley Gorley, Shane McAnally, Lori McKenna, Thomas Rhett, and more

7:00 PM               WME’s Bash at The Beach
Location: Mandalay Bay Beach, Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino
Performers: To Be Announced

10:00 PM             ACM After Party for a Cause: Stoney’s Rockin’ Country
Location: Stoney’s Rockin’ Country
Performer: Montgomery Gentry

10:00 PM             ACM After Party for a Cause: Nashville Unplugged
Location: Rhythm & Riffs Lounge, Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino
Performers: To Be Announced

SATURDAY, APRIL 14, 2018
8:30 AM               ACM Workout for a Cause: Erin Oprea Unleashed Tour
Location: Stoney’s Rockin’ Country
Talent: Celebrity Trainer, Erin Oprea, and special guests to be announced

10:00 AM            ACM Lifting Lives Topgolf Tee-Off Hosted by Charles Kelley & Darius Rucker
Location: Topgolf, MGM Grand Hotel & Casino
Performers: Chris Lane, Tegan Marie, and more

11:00 AM            ACM Party for a Cause: Tailgate Party
Location: Stoney’s Rockin’ Country
Performers: Jon Pardi with Jimmie Allen, Walker Hayes, High Valley, Lucas Hoge, Tony Jackson, Austin Jenckes, Brandon Ray, Jake Rose, Tenille Townes, and more

12:00 PM             ACM Pool Party for a Cause
Location: Flamingo GO Pool, Flamingo Las Vegas
Performers: Chase Rice and more

7:00 PM               WME’s Bash at the Beach
Location: Mandalay Bay Beach, Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino
Performers: To Be Announced

10:00 PM             ACM After Party for a Cause: Nashville Unplugged
Location: Rhythm & Riffs Lounge, Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino
Performers: To Be Announced

10:00 PM             ACM After Party for a Cause: Stoney’s Rockin’ Country
Location: Stoney’s Rockin’ Country
Performers: Craig Wayne Boyd, Josh Gracin, The Swon Brothers

SUNDAY, APRIL 15, 2018
8:00 PM               ACM Awards Official After Party
Location: The Joint, Hard Rock Hotel & Casino
Performers: Lee Brice, High Valley, Home Free, Tracy Lawrence, Jerrod Niemann, Cassadee Pope, and more

Cracker Barrel Opens Its Newest Location

Cracker Barrel Old Country Store® has opened its newest location, and its second in the Pacific Northwest. Serving as its 650th store, the newly opened restaurant/shop is located in Beaverton, OR. Featuring its home-style southern menu and unique gift store, Cracker Barrel offers a special experience to each of its guests upon every visit.

On Friday, February 23, a special ribbon cutting ceremony took place. The Town of Beaverton welcomes the new store to the city as it is creating 220 jobs, as well as a fantastic dining and shopping opportunity for folks to enjoy. “Cracker Barrel received an incredibly warm welcome when opening our first West Coast store in Tualatin last spring, and we’re very excited to open our second area location in Beaverton on Feb. 26, 2018,” said General Manager Thomas Bogert. “We look forward to bringing our mission of Pleasing People to life in the community.”

The Beaverton Cracker Barrel Old Country Store will be open Sunday through Thursday, 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. PST, and Friday and Saturday, 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. PST. Stay up to date with this specific location at facebook.com/crackerbarrel.beaverton, and be sure to visit a Cracker Barrel Old Country Store at a location near you.

Cole Swindell To Release Lead Single “Break Up In The End” from Third Studio Album

After an impressive career resume of a record-breaking seven No. 1 singles as a solo artist, five PLATINUM singles and almost 1 Billion on-demand streams, Platinum-selling and 10-time No. 1 hit rising superstar Cole Swindell will release his 9th career single single “Break Up In The End” to radio on Monday, February 26. Available everywhere on Friday, February 23, “Break Up In The End,” written by Jon Nite, Chase McGill and Jessie Jo Dillon, is the debut single from his upcoming third Warner Bros. Records album.

“Knowing that everyone is about to hear this song is something I have been waiting on since the day I first heard it,” said Cole Swindell. “I am honored that my songwriting friends trust me with such an amazing message. I’m excited and confident in the strength of ‘Break Up In The End’ and it being the first song from my upcoming third album. This is the perfect set up of what’s to come.”

“Break Up In The End,” his 9th career single, follows on the heels of an impressive career resume including a record-breaking seven No. 1 singles as a solo artist, 10 No. 1 singles as a songwriter, five Platinum singles, one Platinum album, one Gold album, almost 1 billion on demand streams, four consecutive sold-out Down Home Tours and numerous songwriting awards including NSAI Songwriter/Artist of the Year (2016) and two back-to-back CMA Triple Play Awards to name a few.

The Georgia native launched his first career headlining Reason To Drink Tour last weekend with sold-out shows. He continues this weekend with shows in Brookings, SD, Madison, WI and Columbia, MO. Joining Swindell on his Reason To Drink Tour are two of country music’s biggest rising stars Chris Janson and Lauren Alaina.

Cole Swindell’s Reason To Drink Tour
February 22 Brookings, SD Swiftel Center
February 23 Madison, WI The Coliseum at Alliant Energy Center
February 24 Columbia, MO Mizzou Arena
March 2 Hershey, PA Giant Center
March 3 Kingston, RI Ryan Center
March 8 Asheville, NC U.S. Cellular Center Asheville
March 9 Fayetteville, NC Crown Coliseum
March 10 Columbia, SC Colonial Life Arena
March 15 Saginaw, MI Dow Event Center
March 16 Kalamazoo, MI Wings Event Center
March 17 Bloomington, IL Grossinger Motors Arena
March 22 Huntington, WV The Big Sandy Superstore Arena
March 23 Roanoke, VA Berglund Center
March 24 Corbin, KY The Corbin Arena
April 6 Temecula, CA The Summit at Pechango Casino
April 7 Los Angeles, CA Greek Theater
^with special guests Chris Janson and Lauren Alaina

Kelsea Ballerini Tops the Country Charts with “Legends” + Announces Follow-Up Single

Black River Entertainment’s KELSEA BALLERINI continues to write her own story with her record-breaking #1 “Legends” atop both Country Aircheck and the Billboard Country Airplay charts this week.

The Country superstar has now notched the most #1s for a female artist since debuting on the Billboard Country Airplay chart in 2015, with the lead single off her critically acclaimed sophomore album UNAPOLOGETICALLY. Penned by Ballerini alongside Hillary Lindsey and Forest Glen Whitehead, the cinematic adjoining music video has captivated more than 12.3 million viewers to date.

Her breakout #1 “Love Me Like You Mean It” from her GOLD-certified debut album THE FIRST TIME, marked the first time a solo female topped the chart in nearly three years since Carrie Underwood’s “Blown Away” (2012). She also became the first solo female artist in nine years to hit #1 with her debut Country single and one of only 11 women to have ever reached that feat with a debut.

Ballerini also remains the first female artist in the genre, including female duos and groups, to achieve #1 with her first three consecutive singles – PLATINUM-certified “Love Me Like You Mean It,” “Dibs,” “Peter Pan” – from a debut album.

As teased during her landmark headlining debut at the historic Ryman Auditorium on Valentine’s Day last week, Ballerini’s cheeky ode to a modern-day romance, “I Hate Love Songs,” is her next single shipping to Country radio. Ballerini co-wrote the ballad alongside wordsmiths Shane McAnally and Trevor Rosen.

“I will never forget introducing ‘I Hate Love Songs’ at the Grand Ole Opry before my record was even out, and just the overwhelming feeling of magic. I’d never experienced anything like that before with a song,” Ballerini recalls. “It’s sweet and sassy and I hope you love it as much as I do.”

Black River’s SVP of Radio Promotion Mike Wilson adds, “We are very excited about Kelsea’s new single ‘I Hate Love Songs.’ The reaction at her shows has been tremendous and as we’ve been playing it for radio, the response has been very positive! We can’t wait to hear it on Country radio!”

Bringing her chronological sonic diary to life, 14 cities on THE UNAPOLOGETICALLY TOUR are sold out with limited tickets remaining in Santa Barbara, CA (4/25). Ballerini is also set for a batch of international dates including C2C: Country to Country 2018 in London, United Kingdom (3/9) and Dublin, Ireland (3/11); CMC Rocks in Ipswich, Australia (3/17 and 3/18); plus a continuation of THE UNAPOLOGETICALLY TOUR with a sold-out show at Metro Theatre in Sydney, Australia (3/20).

For more information on KELSEA BALLERINI and VIP Experiences for THE UNAPOLOGETICALLY TOUR, visit KelseaBallerini.com and reach out to her on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Fans can also follow along the tour with #KB2TOUR.

Brett Young’s Newest Single “Mercy” Makes Big Impact at Country Radio

MULTI-PLATINUM selling entertainer Brett Young’s newest single “Mercy” is the No. 1 most-added at Country radio this week, making it his best first day showing to date. “A favorite among his dedicated fan base…” (The Tennessean), the vulnerable track captured attention as soon as his self-titled GOLD album dropped last year.

“’Mercy’ is the new single because of the amazing fan response” Young said. “It’s the feeling you get when someone breaks your heart but won’t let you move on. ‘Mercy’ is a plea to rip the band aid off and many people can relate to that.”

“Mercy” follows three consecutive No. 1 hits from Young’s debut self-titled album. His lead single, PLATINUM-certified “Sleep Without You,” climbed to the top of the charts and was quickly followed by his smash hit “In Case You Didn’t Know,” which landed amongst the New York Times 54 Best Songs of 2017, touted as “one of this year’s most impressive pop songs.” Young’s most recent single, “Like I Loved You,” soared to the top of the charts, holding the No. 1 spot for three weeks.

Last week, Young saw record-breaking attendance as he performed at the Dixie National Rodeo in Jackson, MS. He then returned to his Alma Mater, University of Mississippi, for the baseball team’s opening weekend. A former pitcher for the Rebels, Young spent time with the team and threw out the first pitch to kick off the season. He also drew packed crowds as he performed back-to-back sold-out shows in Oxford.