Jillian Jacqueline Releases New Single “Bleachers”

Razor-sharp rising star and Big Loud Records artist Jillian Jacqueline has released the song and video for her defiant new track, “Bleachers,” a confident declaration which puts her unflinching Country creativity on blast.

Co-written by Jacqueline with Tofer Brown and Trent Dabbs, the song is now available across all digital platforms and highlights this emerging artist’s fully developed sense of self. Upbeat and carefree, “Bleachers” is a loud-and-proud anthem filled with marching beats and pep rally chants that celebrates individuality and staying true to who you are.

“I wanted to write something that felt like an anthem, a lighthearted ode to embracing individuality without sounding preachy,” Jacqueline explains. “When I wrote it, I felt like using the dynamics of high school as a way to describe life shows how the ideas and beliefs we sometimes learn young get carried into adulthood and can prevent us from embracing the contrasts that actually make the world so uniquely beautiful. It’s the most fun to sing onstage.”

Now live on Vevo, Jacqueline’s “Bleachers” video is a day in the life adventure full of retro swagger, inviting viewers to tag along for recording sessions, photo shoots, scooter rides, and even a shopping trip as the talented singer-songwriter grows her collection of vintage threads.

Proving herself as a creative force to be reckoned with, Jacqueline has already turned heads with the vibey videos for her first two Big Loud Records tracks, “Reasons” and “Hate Me.”

With over a striking 12.3 million streams and 1.4 million monthly listeners to her name, “Reasons” has already rocketed into Spotify’s Viral 50 USA list while racking up nearly 5 million streams on this streaming platform alone. Positioned on several prominent playlists including Spotify’s New Music Friday, the song is also currently featured on SiriusXM’s “On The Horizon” program.

Named early on as one of Rolling Stone’s “10 New Country Artists You Need To Know,” Jacqueline was selected for CMT’s coveted Next Women of Country list, as well as the network’s tastemaking “17 for 2017” rundown of new artists to watch this year.

Through the month of July, Jacqueline will be opening shows for boundary-pushing icon Dwight Yoakam, after wrapping a run with Billy Currington. She will continue to introduce herself as a Country artist who’s different from the rest, prepping for the release of her first project produced by Tofer Brown.

For more about Jillian Jacqueline, visit jillianjacqueline.com.

Sam Hunt Shines Bright Earning RIAA Double and Triple Platinum Certifications

In what is easily the biggest country song of 2017, Sam Hunt’s “Body Like A Back Road” released to country radio Feb. 1 and raced to the top of the charts in only twelve weeks. The three-week No. 1 still remains in the Top 5 titles for country radio airplay and is currently climbing pop radio’s Top 15.

“Body Like A Back Road” is also on a 20-week streak at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart, the longest command for a song by a solo male ever on the nearly 59-year-old chart. Sales and streams of this song juggernaut quickly surpassed the Gold and Platinum sales standards and “Body Like A Back Road” is now RIAA-certified Double Platinum in record time for the Georgia native.

“I can’t say that I expected for it to do as well as it has done,” Hunt says of his chart topping song.  “It’s not that polarizing of a song, so fortunately I think it’s palatable to a lot of tastes and people have enjoyed it, hopefully.” In fact, the singer/songwriter is relieved that the track has been so widely embraced. 

“Your second record is always the thing that everybody’s saying, ‘Well, let’s see if he can do it again’ or whatever. They call it the ‘Sophomore Slump,’ I think.” Laughing, Hunt continues to share, “I’m just so glad that this song has reacted right off the bat and I don’t feel like I’m behind the eight ball.”

Written by Hunt, Zach Crowell, Shane McAnally and Josh Osborne, “Body Like A Back Road” is the No. 1 most-downloaded country song of 2017 so far and is the No. 3 most-downloaded song across all genres year-to-date. The “playfully flirty love song” (Billboard) is the fastest country song in history to reach 100M total streams (10 weeks) and with over 212M total streams is the Top Streaming Country Song of 2017.

Additionally, Hunt’s monumental 2014 debut album, Montevallo, is now RIAA–certified Triple Platinum. Montevallo topped the Billboard Country Albums Chart in its first week and remains the best-selling debut album for a country artist since 2011. The album landed on multiple “Best of” lists including the Associated Press, Billboard, Country Weekly, Los Angeles Times, NPR, Rolling Stone, SPIN Magazine, Village Voice and The Washington Post. It also produced a record-breaking four No. 1 singles and five Platinum and Multi-Platinum-selling hits including “Leave the Night On,” “House Party,” “Take Your Time,” “Break Up In A Small Town” and “Make You Miss Me.”

This summer, fans can find Hunt selling out venues across the country on his 15 In A 30 Tour with special guests Maren Morris, Chris Janson and Ryan Follese. Upcoming dates include St. Louis, Chicago and Cincinnati.

For information on Sam Hunt, “Body Like A Back Road,” the 15 In A 30 Tour and more, visit www.SamHunt.com.

Brad Paisley To Debut Netflix Comedy Special August 15

Brad Paisley announced via his socials, that his Netflix one-hour comedy special, Brad Paisley’s Comedy Rodeo, will debut on August 15. The hilarious show includes special guests and fellow comedians Nate Bargatze, John Heffron, Jon Reep, Sarah Tiana and Mike E. Winfield.

Actor David Hasselhoff and multi-talented Reba McEntire make special appearances. The show was filmed earlier this year when Paisley hosted two comedy shows at Zanies Comedy Club in Nashville as part of the Wild West Comedy Festival.

Jacob Davis Makes Opry Debut + Releases “What I Wanna Be” Music Video

Black River Entertainment’s Jacob Davis achieved a career dream Friday night as he made his debut on the most revered stage in country music, The Grand Ole Opry.

With a live show that has led Country Living to dub him “a bona fide star,” and Taste of Country raving “a showman, appropriate for someone raised where the Louisiana Hayride broadcasts still echo,” Davis stood confidently in “the circle” surrounded by friends and family who made the drive up from his hometown of Shreveport for this once-in-a-lifetime music moment performing “What I Wanna Be,” a song he wrote with Forest Glen Whitehead and Adam Hambrick that Whitehead produced (Kelsea Ballerini), as well as “James Brown,” lending to the “funk and soul” monikers that permeate his songs (Taste of Country).

“This floor is literally cracking underneath my feet, and you have no clue how incredible this feels,” he said standing in the Opry circle in his weathered Tony Llama boots. Stumbling over words from anticipation of that first note, the Shreveport-native introduced the audience to “What I Wanna Be” simply saying, “I think… this is what a guy oughta say to a girl…”

Written with Scott Stepakoff and Jason Gantt, Davis had some surprise accompaniment join him for his second song, “James Brown.” “I was raised on 90’s country, and a little soul, a little funk, just a great mixed bag of music… I figured Elvis brought a little funk when he played here, so…,” and with that he brought out two horn players to accompany him.

“What I Wanna Be” is the first taste of what’s to come from Jacob Davis’ full-length album on Black River Entertainment, and the Louisiana-native recently returned to the Bayou state to film its music video. Directed by Josh Kranich, the backdrop for the performance driven music video is set in popular New Orleans’ live music venue Bamboula’s. With CMT’s “Summer of Music” underway and Jacob Davis as one of their 17 in 2017, he joined Cody Alan to talk about family, songwriting and life on the road. Check out the video for “What I Wanna Be” HERE.

Joe Nichols Set To Release New Album NEVER GETS OLD July 28

Multi-platinum selling BBR Music Group/ Red Bow Records artist Joe Nichols further cements his staying power with new album NEVER GETS OLD available July 28. The album pre-order launches today, 6/23. Pre-order HERE.

Written by Steve Moakler and Connie Harrington, the lead single and title track “Never Gets Old” offers a sweet, nostalgic melody delivered by Nichols’ traditional baritone. The title track impacts Country radio on July 17. LISTEN HERE.

Drawing from Country tradition in its truest form, the album reflects a timeless sound and features songwriter heavyweights Chris Stapleton, Zach Crowell, and Shane Minor. Standout tracks include the soaring tribute to the human experience of “We All Carry Something” to the traditional steel-laden sing along “I’d Sing About You” while “Diamonds Make Babies” adds a dose of light-hearted mischief.

Fans of Nichols’ live show will recognize his interpretation of Sir Mix-A-Lot’s “Baby Got Back,” featuring comedian Darren Knight. Nichols has been performing this classic-twist due to popular demand, but this is its first time on a recorded project.

This summer, Nichols brings the nationwide NEVER GETS OLD Tour to festivals and legendary clubs such as Cotton Eyed Joe in Knoxville, Tenn. (Aug. 5) and Billy Bob’s Texas in Fort Worth, Texas (Aug. 26). For a full list of upcoming tour dates, visit joenichols.com/events.

JOE NICHOLS TOUR DATES:
6/23 – Oshkosh, WI – Country USA
6/24 – Jeffersonville, IN – Jeffersonville Riverstage*
6/30 – Fort Bliss, TX – Let Freedom Sing at Freedom Crossing at Fort Bliss*
7/15 – Cripple Creek, CO – Cripple Creek Street Festival *
7/21 – Baton Rouge, LA – Texas Club*
7/22 – Cabool, MO – 11th Annual Big Country 99’s Boot, Scoot, BANG!*
7/28 – Guthrie Center, IA – Guthrie’s River Ruckus
7/29 – Wayne, NE – Wayne County Fair*
8/3 – Little Valley, NY – Cattaraugus County Fairgrounds*
8/4 – Hamilton, OH – Big Buls Roadhouse*
8/5 – Knoxville, TN – Cotton Eyed Joe*
8/12 – Little Current, ON, Canada– Manitoulin Country Fest*
8/19 – Calgary, AB, Canada – Country Thunder Calgary
8/26 – Fort Worth, TX – Billy Bob’s Texas*
9/9 – Pomona, CA – Los Angeles County Fairgrounds
9/14 – Columbus, OH – The Bluestone*
9/16 – Dubuque, IA – Diamond Jo Casino’s Mississippi Moon Bar*
10/1 – Atlantic City, NJ – Garden State Country Music & Food Truck Festival at Bader Field
11/18 – Harrington, DE – Harrington Casino Exhibit Hall*
* Denotes headlining date