Kelsea Ballerini To Feature Entire Sophomore Album On Her Unapologetically Tour

Using pure intuition and heart, while following a bold beat that is all her own, Black River Entertainment’s KELSEA BALLERINI is beginning her next chapter on opening night of THE UNAPOLOGETICALLY TOUR next Thursday (2/8) at the Alabama Theatre in Birmingham, AL.

Taking her critically acclaimed sophomore album UNAPOLOGETICALLY to the next level, Ballerini will deliver her intimate sonic diary of loss, life, and love, onstage each night from start to finish, just as the thematic 12-track collection was personally handcrafted. From being buried in an all-consuming heartbreak from the depths of “six feet down” in “Graveyard,” to learning to thrive and embrace the uncertain “In Between,” and ultimately not only discovering herself but true love in the “tragic and epic and so amazing” journey of “Legends,” the chronological tale of Ballerini’s whirlwind world will be personified live in three high-caliber parts while incorporating a visually-immersive experience for fans.

“I’ve never performed an entire album during a show before, but it was the only way to truly open my heart to loss, life, and love,” admits Ballerini. “This new album and tour is every little piece of me, unapologetically, and I am so ready to embrace all the messy and beautiful, plus relive the hits with you.”

Echoing the overwhelming demand surrounding her first sold-out headlining tour, THE FIRST TIME TOUR (2016), THE UNAPOLOGETICALLY TOUR – as spotted on Rolling Stone Country’s “30 Most Anticipated Albums and Tours” – has already sold out almost all stops including Birmingham, AL; Chattanooga, TN; Augusta, GA; Des Moines, IA; New York, NY; Sayreville, NJ; Richmond, VA; Portland, OR; Spokane, WA; and Seattle, WA – with limited tickets remaining in Clearwater, FL (2/16); Columbus, OH (2/22); Milwaukee, WI (2/23); and Santa Barbara, CA (4/25). Supported by special guest and breakout artist Walker Hayes during the run, Ballerini’s one-night-only Valentine’s Day appearance at Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium has also reached capacity and adds rising star Bailey Bryan to the lineup.

As her Top 5-and-rising lead single “Legends” continues to charge charts, Ballerini has shared her summer-fall venture as part of KEITH URBAN’s GRAFFITI U WORLD TOUR kicking off June 15 at Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre in St. Louis, MO, through November 3 at American Airlines Center in Dallas, TX. Recently offering fans a taste of what’s to come during a surprise pop-up show at Nashville’s club Exit/In on January 17, Urban and Ballerini jumped genre lines with a cover of CAMILA CABELLO’s sultry single “Never Be the Same” (CAMILA), to which the pop star hailed on Twitter: “OH MY GOD!!!! @KeithUrban AND @KelseaBallerini THIS. IS. MAGICAL. #NeverBeTheSame.”

For more information on KELSEA BALLERINI’s VIP Experiences for THE UNAPOLOGETICALLY TOUR, plus additional details on KEITH URBAN’s GRAFFITI U WORLD TOUR, visit KelseaBallerini.com and reach out to her on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Fans can also follow along THE UNAPOLOGETICALLY TOUR with #KB2TOUR.

Announced dates, cities, and venues of THE UNAPOLOGETICALLY TOUR to date:
2/8 – Birmingham, AL – Alabama Theatre+
2/9 – Chattanooga, TN – Tivoli Theatre+
2/10 – Augusta, GA – William G. Bell Auditorium+
2/14 – Nashville, TN – Ryman Auditorium++
2/16 – Clearwater, FL – Ruth Eckerd Hall+
2/22 – Columbus, OH – Express Live!+
2/23 – Milwaukee, WI – Riverside Theater+
2/24 – Des Moines, IA – Hoyt Sherman Place+
4/5 – New York, NY – PlayStation Theater+
4/6 – Sayreville, NJ – Starland Ballroom+
4/7 – Richmond, VA – The National+
4/19 – Portland, OR – Crystal Ballroom+
4/20 – Spokane, WA – Knitting Factory+
4/21 – Seattle, WA – Showbox SoDo+
4/25 – Santa Barbara, CA – Arlington Theatre+
4/27 – Indio, CA – Stagecoach Festival
+ Special guest Walker Hayes
++ Special guests Walker Hayes and Bailey Bryan

Lady Antebellum’s Hillary Scott Welcomes Twin Girls

Congratulations go out to Lady Antebellum’s Hillary Scott and her husband Chris, as the couple welcomed twin girls on Monday, January 29th. The baby girls join big sister Eisele (4).

“Our family is thankful and proud to announce the arrival of our precious baby girls. They were born in the early hours of January 29th, 2018 and we can’t wait to share more about them in the days to come” Hillary shared on social media.“Thank you to everyone who prayed and prayed for these little ladies, and thank you Lord for healthy babies,”

While don’t know the names of the twins just yet, Hillary did include a picture with her post two baby hats, one with the initial “A” and the other with the initial “B.”

Congratulations go out to the Scott Family.

Jason Aldean Announces Release of Forthcoming 8th Studio Album, Rearview Town

On the heels of announcing his massive High Noon Neon Tour, two-time and reigning ACM Entertainer Of The Year Jason Aldean now reveals he’s also readying new music. REARVIEW TOWN, his eighth studio album, will be out on April 13 and fans are getting a first-listen of new music  with the release of its lead single “You Make It Easy”.

Aldean’s raw vocal fronts the tender, blues-lined track that is now available at Country Radio, with all digital partners and the full album can be pre-ordered by visiting here. Next week, Aldean will head to the East Coast to debut “You Make It Easy” live on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon on Monday (1/29 at 10:35P CT on NBC) and TODAY on Tuesday (1/30 at 8:00A on NBC). 

“Growing up in Macon, Georgia, I had a chance to learn about so many different styles of music,” Aldean explains. “Looking back on first playing in bands as a teenager, I was just soaking everything up. A lot of that comes out on this record…where I’ve been, and who I am now.”

The new single finds Aldean heading for the well-worn sounds of hometown heroes Otis Redding and the Allman Brothers Band, kicking off REARVIEW TOWN‘s fiercely confident set that catapults between traditional country grooves, stadium-sized rock riffs and rap-style boom-thwacks, certain to add fire to a career that’s already witnessed 19 chart-topping hits. To listen to “You Make It Easy,” click here.

Reba McEntire Named First Music Superstar to Play KFC’s “The Colonel”

Kentucky Fried Chicken announced that it has selected the first ever globally-known music superstar to play the role of Colonel Harland Sanders. Beginning January 28, ads featuring multiple Grammy-Award winning entertainer Reba McEntire will air on television and computer screens nationwide to promote KFC’s new Smoky Mountain BBQ fried chicken.

“With Reba’s southern roots and entrepreneurial spirit, she truly embodies the values of the Colonel and the crowd-pleasing flavor of our Smoky Mountain BBQ,” said Andrea Zahumensky, CMO, KFC U.S. “The pairing of a universally loved music legend like Reba with a universally appealing flavor like Smoky Mountain BBQ makes what I like to call ‘Smoky Mountain Magic.’”

An iconic performer through and through, McEntire is the first female celebrity to play the role in KFC’s rotating Colonel advertising campaign. The multi-faceted “Queen of Country” is a lover of fried chicken and has plenty of Southern charm, making her the perfect fit to promote Smoky Mountain BBQ and KFC’s authentic southern-inspired flavors.

“I grew up with Kentucky Fried Chicken. It’s part of my story, and I’m so excited to now be part of theirs,” said McEntire. “I’ve held a lot of roles in my life – sort of like the Colonel himself – but this is certainly the most unique one yet.”

KFC’s Smoky Mountain BBQ fried chicken blends barbeque recipes from Memphis and the Carolinas, creating a BBQ flavor that everyone can agree on. It launches in participating U.S. restaurants on January 29.

As KFC’s third southern-inspired flavor, Smoky Mountain BBQ joins spicy and smoky Nashville Hot Fried Chicken, and sweet and tangy Georgia Gold honey mustard BBQ in KFC’s Taste of the South menu line up.

For more information, please click here.

UP TV Launches New Docuseries Featuring Craig Morgan and Family

UP TV, the entertainment destination that celebrates families and the relationships that define them, will premiere a new docuseries – Morgan Family Strong – centered around country singer Craig Morgan and his family. Craig is an Army veteran, family man, country music star and member of the Grand Ole Opry whose 25 Billboard hits include the radio chart-topper “That’s What I Love About Sunday.” 

The series will follow Craig and his close-knit family (wife Karen, daughter Alexandra, and sons Kyle and Wyatt) at home and on tour as they come together around the heartbreak of losing their son and brother, Jerry, in a tragic accident, by launching the family’s passion project – Morgan Farms. Morgan Family Strong will premiere Thursday, March 1 at 9:30 pm ET.

“Craig and his family are so genuine, real and authentic that we immediately fell in love with them and knew that their story was a perfect fit for UP and our viewers,” said Timothy Kuryak, svp unscripted development and production, UP. “They are such a fun and loving family, yet in the face of a terrible tragedy, they have turned to one another and grown stronger.”

This season on Morgan Family Strong, viewers will see the Morgans juggling life at home and on the road including opening a family store – The Gallery at Morgan Farms – and Craig writing new songs for an upcoming album. The family will also explore the Alaskan wilderness on vacation, take the stage at the Grand Ole Opry and celebrate birthdays and other milestones along the way. 

Morgan Family Strong is produced for UP by Nashville-based Heart Bridge Media. Executive Producers are Heart Bridge Media’s Sean Overbeeke, Matt Case and Nate Griffin.