Kenny Chesney Adds 2nd Gillette Stadium Date To His Chillaxification Tour

Before the tickets have officially gone on-sale, response to the Gillette Stadium finale of Kenny Chesney’s 2020 Chillaxification Tour was so strong, they’ve already decided to add a second show on Saturday, August 29. The place where No Shoes Nation was named, the greater Boston/New England area remains a passion-point for the songwriter/superstar from East Tennessee.

“It’s amazing to me how much the people there and where I’m from have in common,” Chesney says of the unlikely bond. “Passionate people who care about each other, who work hard, play hard and see music as something that brings them together. I am always amazed at the way these final tour days in Boston hit us so strong and so hard. Rather than waiting, based on the calls, texts and tweets, we figured we should just go ahead and get this second show on sale, too.”

The Wall Street Journal has called Chesney “The New England Patriots’ Other Star” and Variety has deemed the 8-time Entertainer of the Year “Country music’s only true long-term stadium act.” Given his history in Foxboro, that’s not just media hyperbole.

“This is so much bigger than all of us,” Chesney told the record-setting crowd at the final show of his 2018 Trip Around the Sun Tour. “It’s like destiny.”

With 21 stadium dates – and more to be announced, the only country artist on Billboard’s Top 10 Touring Acts of the Last 25 Years is already feeling the heat. Taking this year’s Songs for the Saints Tour to markets normally passed over by the major tours, he’s ready to get back on the biggest stages and stadium-size his brand of feel-good music.

American Express® Card Members can purchase tickets before the general public. AmEx sales begin at 10 a.m. local time tomorrow, October 1. Tickets go on sale to the general public at 10 a.m. local time on Friday, October 4.

Blue Chair Bay Rum returns as the presenting tour sponsor, with Chesney’s award-winning line of rum offering activations throughout the summer.

Kenny Chesney’s Chillaxification 2020 Tour
with Florida Georgia Line, Old Dominion and Michael Franti & Spearhead
April 18                  AT&T Stadium                                       Arlington, Texas
April 25                  Miller Park                                              Milwaukee, Wis.
May 2                     U.S. Bank Stadium                                  Minneapolis, Minn.                
May 9                     Raymond James Stadium                        Tampa, Fla.
May 16                    Mercedes-Benz Stadium                         Atlanta, Ga.
May 22                   Minute Maid Park                                   Houston, Texas
May 23                   The Alamodome                                      San Antonio, Texas
May 30                   Heinz Field                                              Pittsburgh, Pa.
June 6                     Lincoln Financial Field                           Philadelphia, Pa.
June 13                   Busch Stadium                                        St. Louis, Mo.
June 20                   Ohio Stadium                                          Columbus, Ohio
June 27                   Nissan Stadium                                       Nashville, Tenn.
July 11                    Arrowhead Stadium                                Kansas City, Mo.
July 18                    CenturyLink Field                                   Seattle, Wash.
July 25                    Soldier Field                                            Chicago, Ill.
August 1                 SoFi Stadium                                           Los Angeles, Calif.
August 8                 Empower Field at Mile High                  Denver, Colo.
August 15               Ford Field                                                Detroit, Mich.
August 22               MetLife Stadium                                     East Rutherford, NJ
August 28               Gillette Stadium                                      Foxborough, Mass.
August 29               Gillette Stadium                                      Foxborough, Mass.
…and more dates to be announced.      

A&E Network To Highlight Garth Brooks With 2-Part Documentary

A&E Network’s genre-defining, Emmy Award-winning ‘Biography’ franchise will premiere the two-part definitive documentary highlighting the prolific career of Garth Brooks, the best-selling solo artist of all time. “Garth Brooks: The Road I’m On” will premiere over two consecutive nights  Monday, December 2 and Tuesday, December 3 at 9PM ET/PT on A&E.

The documentary offers an intimate look into Brooks’ life as a musician, father, and man as well as the moments that have defined his decade-spanning career and seminal hit songs.

Garth announced the premiere dates, and unveiled a very special trailer, during his weekly Facebook live series “Inside Studio G: A Monday Night Conversation.” 

“Garth Brooks: The Road I’m On” chronicles Garth’s life and career from his early days playing gigs at college bars in Oklahoma and his first unsuccessful trip to Nashville to his record-breaking world tours and balancing family life with global fame. The special highlights the deeply personal journey and profound legacy of a genre-defining musical figure for the first time.

In addition to exclusive interviews with Garth telling his life story for the first time, the documentary features never-before-seen interviews with Trisha Yearwood, Keith Urban, George Strait, James Taylor, friend and original bandmate Ty England, songwriter Tony Arata as well as many others from Brooks’ personal and musical family. The documentary will also showcase unprecedented access to the six-time CMA Entertainer of the Year’s current record-setting stadium tour and delve into the stories behind his seven RIAA Diamond Award-winning albums.

This extensive documentary event will anchor the network event, “Garth Week,” a celebration of the artist including extensive on-air and branded digital content with Garth, themed short form to roll-out on all platforms, a special airing of Garth’s Yankee Stadium concert premiering on November 26 at 9PM ET/PTand more. 

“Garth Brooks: The Road I’m On” is produced by Endeavor Content’s Non-Scripted Division and Film 45 for A&E Network. The documentary is executive produced by Michael Antinoro, Matthew Goldberg and Will Staeger, with Al Syzmanski directing and Missy Walker serving as producer. Executive producers for A&E Network are Elaine Frontain Bryant and Brad Abramson. 

CMT To Honor Ashley McBryde with “Breakout Artist of the Year” Award at the 2019 CMT Artists of the Year Event

CMT has announced that Ashley McBryde will receive the “Breakout Artist of the Year”award and will perform live at this year’s “CMT Artists of the Year” event. This marks the third time in event history this honor will be bestowed with the GRAMMY-nominated McBryde joining the ranks of previous honorees Chris Stapleton (2015) and Kelsea Ballerini (2016).

The 10th annual “Artists of the Year” celebration will air LIVE from Nashville’s Schermerhorn Symphony Center on Wednesday, October 16 at 8pm ET/PT on CMT.

“I’m so excited to share the same stage as this fantastic group of artists and am honored to be there to celebrate alongside them!” shared McBryde.

This year’s 90-minute live music event marks a significant milestone for the franchise as it celebrates its decade-long anniversary. From once-in-a-lifetime performances to unexpected tributes and unforgettable toasts, the biggest stars in entertainment today will gather for the annual special to celebrate the five artists that have earned the right to be called “CMT Artists of the Year”: Carrie Underwood, Dan + Shay, Kane Brown, Luke Combs and Thomas Rhett; country music icon Reba McEntire will receive the prestigious “Artist of a Lifetime” award. Additional performers, presenters, and special guests to be announced.

For updates, go to CMTAOTY.CMT.com, follow @CMT on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube and use #CMTAOTY to join the conversation.

Reba McEntire To Be Honored With “Artist of a Lifetime” Award at CMT Artists of the Year Event

CMT has announced that country music icon Reba McEntire will be honored with the “Artist of a Lifetime” award presented by Ram Trucks at this year’s “CMT Artists of the Year” event. The 10th annual celebration will air LIVE from Nashville’s Schermerhorn Symphony Center on Wednesday, October 16 at 8pm ET/PT.

Reba will join the illustrious ranks alongside previous “Lifetime” recipients, including  Loretta Lynn (2018), Shania Twain (2016), Kenny Rogers (2015), and Merle Haggard (2014).

“I have loved entertaining people since I was a little girl and after being in the music business more than 40 years, I’m still having so much fun! For CMT to recognize me as the ‘Artist of A Lifetime’ is pretty special,” shared Reba.

This year marks a significant milestone for the “CMT Artists of the Year” special as it celebrates the decade-long anniversary of the live music franchise. The highly anticipated 90-minute event will pay tribute to the five “Artists of the Year” who collectively ruled the last 12 months in country music. This year’s honorees include Carrie Underwood, Dan + Shay, Kane Brown, Luke Combs and Thomas Rhett, and will feature surprise musical pairings and guests.

High Valley Showcases Their Bluegrass Roots with New Version of “Single Man”

As children growing up in remote, rural Canada, the brothers of High Valley (Brad and Curtis Rempel) had three records in their collection: Buck Owens, the Everly Brothers and Ricky Skaggs. As rising country stars in Music City, they can now claim the latter as executive producer on the brand new bluegrass version of their song “Single Man” (listen HERE).

The duo, whose country blend has consistently nodded to their bluegrass roots, pulled together some of the format’s most prominent musicians on the new release. Their band on the track includes Blake Shelton’s fiddle player Jenee Fleenor, who is currently being honored as first-ever female CMA Awards Musician of the Year nominee. Watch the premiere of their in-studio video on The Bluegrass Situation HERE.

“We grew up surrounded by bluegrass music,” Brad told The Bluegrass Situation. “Ricky Skaggs was our hero thanks to a few records our parents introduced to us. When our town finally got a radio station, I spent a few years as a DJ hosting a bluegrass hour. Recently, Curtis and I called up a few of our friends and some of Nashville’s finest bluegrass pickers to turn them loose and let them show off! Recording this bluegrass version of ‘Single Man’ was easily the most natural moment we’ve ever had in the studio. When it came time to work on the mix and make sure everything was produced properly, it was so great to have Ricky Skaggs offer his help as the executive producer on this track. Talk about a full circle moment!”

Added Skaggs: “My friends High Valley have just had a big country hit on the song ‘Single Man,’ but just to show you how versatile these guys are, they have just released a Bluegrass version. It’s amazing, [and] I think they’ll have a huge hit in the Bluegrass charts too!”

High Valley will continue to tour through the end of the year as they work on new music.