CMA Announces Newest Members of the Country Music Hall of Fame

The Country Music Association announced today that Charlie Daniels, Fred Foster, and Randy Travis will become the newest members of the revered Country Music Hall of Fame in 2016.

Daniels will be inducted in the “Veterans Era Artist” category, while Travis will be inducted in the “Modern Era Artist” category. Foster will be inducted in the “Non-Performer” category, which is awarded every third year in a rotation with the “Recording and/or Touring Musician Active Prior to 1980” and “Songwriter” categories. Daniels, Foster, and Travis will increase membership in the coveted Country Music Hall of Fame from 127 to 130 members. It is the first time that all of the inductees hail from the same state (North Carolina) since 1985.

“Each year, the announcement of the new Country Music Hall of Fame inductees is always a cause for celebration,” said Sarah Trahern, CMA Chief Executive Officer. “This year’s class features three individuals who are revered for their respect of Country Music’s deep traditions, but are equally regarded for forging their own unique paths, taking the industry in new directions, and growing the fan base.”

“I have harbored many lofty ambitions, but I was almost afraid to dream that I would ever be inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame, what a surprise, what a blessing. Thank you God,” said Daniels.

“The halls of fame are built for, and by, those that make a difference in their chosen career,” said Travis. “I chose a career that I loved – and, it made a difference in me! My greatest joy was sharing my song and my God-given talent with family, friends, fans, and the industry. Thank you for giving me the chance, for believing in me along the way, and for allowing me to ‘hang my hat’ alongside some of my greatest heroes. I am honored to join those before me, and humbled to go ahead of those that will follow into Country Music’s Hall of Fame: no greater award could I ask to receive. God bless CMA and God bless our country’s music—Forever and Ever, Amen!”

“Being involved in Country Music is like being part of an extended family,” said Foster. “We all share common goals and we do our best to honor the heritage and tradition of the music. Having been able to make a living doing what I love for 58 years has truly been a blessing. Without the support of so many talented singers, songwriters, musicians and engineers, this award would never have been possible. I share this honor with all of them. Thank you CMA; this will go to the top of my most cherished memories.”

Formal induction ceremonies for Daniels, Foster, and Travis will take place at the Country Music Hall of Fame® and Museum in the CMA Theater later this year. Since 2007, the Museum’s Medallion Ceremony, an annual reunion of the Hall of Fame membership, has served as the official rite of induction for new members.

CMA created the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1961 to recognize noteworthy individuals for their outstanding contributions to the format with Country Music’s highest honor.

“I marvel at the contributions of these three pathfinders who make up the class of 2016 Country Music Hall of Fame inductees,” said Kyle Young, CEO of the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum. “Fred Foster, Charlie Daniels, and Randy Travis came along in different eras and specialized in different things, but they each arrived with inventive, highly individualistic creative approaches. They ran against the grain of history, and in so doing they created their own indelible, historical marks.”

Hosted for the second year by Hall of Fame member Brenda Lee, the announcement was made today in the Rotunda of the Country Music Hall of Fame in Nashville and could be seen via live stream on CMAworld.com with the archived footage being available through the end of the month.

Randy Houser’s New Single “Song Number 7” Arrives At Country Radio

Still fresh from landing his fourth No. 1 with “We Went” and releasing his new album, Fired Up, Randy Houser shows no signs of slowing down as his new single, “Song Number 7,” arrives at country radio. The catchy earworm is the second most-added song at country radio with 60 first week reporters, marking Houser’s highest first week add total to date.

Fans and critics have also latched on to the new single, with the New York Times noting that “Song Number 7” is “likely to be one of the best country songs of this year” and Taste of Country calling it “the finest single representative of [Houser’s] Fired Up album. It’s a big country power ballad that leans progressive, but stops short of crossing a bridge that leaves traditional country behind. Above all else, ‘Song Number 7’ is a vocal showcase.”

Written by Justin Wilson, Ben Hayslip and Chris Janson, “Song Number 7” is rooted in “a familiar country conceit: music about the power of music” (New York Times), which Houser has also nodded to in his own writing such as the deep cut “Power Of A Song” from his previous record, How Country Feels.

Houser is currently performing select headlining dates and will join Dierks Bentley for the 2016 Somewhere On A Beach Tour starting in May.

For more information and the latest updates, visit RandyHouser.com or follow on Twitter @RandyHouser and Facebook.com/RandyHouser.

Keith Urban Releases New Single “Wasted Time”

Keith Urban’s eighth studio album Ripcord, due out on May 6th, has already produced two No. 1 hits, “John Cougar, John Deere, John 3:16” and his 20th No. 1 song, “Break On Me.”  Today brings the release of Ripcord’s third single “Wasted Time,” which will also be followed by the song’s network television debut, a performance on FOX’s American Idol on Thursday (March 31st) (8:00-10:00pm ET live/PT tape-delayed).

“Wasted Time” was co-written by Greg Wells, J. Hart and Keith and was co-produced by Urban and the Grammy Award winning Producer of the Year Greg Wells (Adele, Katy Perry, Pharrell Williams, etc.).

“I worked with a lot of new people on Ripcord, and Greg (Wells) was one I’d wanted to work with for a long time,” said Keith.  “He’d been writing a lot with J (James) and so the three of us spent a couple days at Greg’s studio to jam and see if we clicked.  Greg had this cool chord progression and I grabbed my guitar and started singing a melody.”

“J suggested the title, and before we knew it, we were talking about growing up and all the things you do, no matter where you are in the world, and the song just took off from there.”

Ripcord is set for release on Friday, May 6th  It coincides with the June 2nd launch of the four-time Grammy Award winner’s ripCORD WORLD TOUR 2016 with Brett Eldredge and special guest Maren Morris.

For more Keith Urban news and information go to www.keithurban.net.

Dierks Bentley Reveals Details for New Album BLACK

Multi-PLATINUM selling singer/songwriter Dierks Bentley has never had to follow trends; he challenges them and creates his own. On the heels of a career album earning critical acclaim, commercial success and an armful of Grammy, CMA and ACM nominations, Bentley continues one of the most interesting journeys in country music with the newest mile-marker, his eighth studio album BLACK (Capitol Records Nashville) set for release on May 27. It will be available for digital pre-order this Friday (4/01).

BLACK is personal – after all, it’s named after his wife Cassidy’s maiden name, but it’s really a record about the human heart — not any particular human. It explores breakups, hookups, mess-ups and everything in between, shining a light on the things that happen after the sun goes down.

“It’s a relationship album that covers the ups and downs of the journey and ends with some self-realization and evolvement,” shared Bentley. “The song ‘Black’ helps set all of that in motion at the top of the album by guiding you into the darkness and the shadows of the night. The same guy who sings ‘Somewhere On A Beach’ winds up growing and having enough perspective to sing something introspective like ‘Different for Girls.’ By the last song, he’s taking a look back on love and life.”

Produced by Ross Copperman and executive producer Arturo Buenahora Jr., the slow-smoked grit of Bentley’s voice keeps the album rooted in country music, while it also appeals to audiences far beyond the boundaries with fresh sonic textures that flourish on the edge of arena rock.

BLACK also makes room for more than a few female firebrands, as Bentley shares the microphone with vocalists Maren Morris, Elle King, Natalie Hemby, Hillary Lindsey and Jessi Alexander. Never before has a Bentley album contained so much input from the opposite sex.

“Having a female perspective on this record really made the album more than just music,” added Bentley. “It makes it a conversation between a guy and a girl. Sometimes it’s harmonious and sometimes it’s two people clashing, but it’s always there.”

BLACK TRACK LIST:
1. Black
2. Pick Up
3. I’ll Be The Moon (feat. Maren Morris)
4. What The Hell Did I Say
5. Somewhere On A Beach
6. Freedom
7. Why Do I Feel
8. Roses And A Time Machine
9. All The Way to Me
10. Different for Girls (feat. Elle King)
11. Mardi Gras (feat. Trombone Shorty)
12. Light It Up
13. Can’t Be Replaced

For more information on new music, upcoming appearances and tour dates, visit www.dierks.com.

Kiefer Sutherland Releases “Not Enough Whiskey” Music Video

Kiefer Sutherland opens his songwriting notebook and premieres the pedal-steeled, country/Americana-tinged “Not Enough Whiskey” video on  Rolling Stone Country. “Not Enough Whiskey,” available April 1 on iTunes, is the debut track from Sutherland’s upcoming Down In A Hole album set for release this summer. Sutherland will also appear during the 51st Academy of Country Music Awards™ Sunday, April 3 at 8/7c on CBS.

Sutherland, who self-penned or co-wrote every track on the upcoming 11-track album Down In A Hole, including “Not Enough Whiskey,” embarks on a nationwide 32-date tour April 14. See tour dates here.

“This record is the closest thing I’ve ever had to a journal or diary. All of these songs are pulled from my own personal experiences. There is something very satisfying about being able to look back on my own life, good times and bad, and express those sentiments in music. As much as I have enjoyed the writing and recording process, I am experiencing great joy now being able to play these songs to a live audience, which was something I hadn’t counted on,” Sutherland said of the 11-track album. A track listing and release date will be announced soon.

Sutherland, known for his starring role on the Fox series “24,” also starred in movies like ‘Stand By Me’, ‘The Lost Boys’, ‘Young Guns’, Flatliners’, ‘A Few Good Men’, ‘A Time to Kill’, ‘Dark City’, ‘Melancholia’ and most recently, a western called ‘Forsaken’ and the upcoming ABC series “Designated Survivor.”

Keep up with Sutherland on the road by visiting kiefersutherlandmusic.com or connect with Sutherland by following him on Twitter and Facebook .