Kelsea Ballerini Officially Inducted As Member of the Grand Ole Opry

Kelsea Ballerini was inducted as the newest and youngest current member of the Grand Ole Opry last night by Carrie Underwood, an Opry member since 2008.

Surprising the sold-out Opry House crowd after Ballerini had performed a three-song set, Underwood took the stage and said to Ballerini, “You have accomplished so much in your career, and you will undoubtedly accomplish infinite amounts more in your life. Awards, number ones, sales … this is better than all of that. This is the heart and soul of country music.”

Presenting Ballerini with her Opry member award, Underwood cheered, “I am honored to introduce and induct the newest member of the Grand Ole Opry, Kelsea Ballerini.”

After recounting her first visit to the Opry as a fan, her 2015 Opry debut, and subsequent Opry appearances, Ballerini held her award close and said, “Grand Ole Opry, thanks for seeing something in me and for believing that I’ll always love you like I do because I do, and I will.”

Photo courtesy Grand Ole Opry LLC. Chris Hollo, photographer

Ballerini and Underwood then teamed up for a duet on 20-year Opry member Trisha Yearwood’s 1992 hit “Walkaway Joe.”

Earlier in the night, CMA and ACM Entertainer of the Year Keith Urban, an Opry member since 2012, also made a surprise appearance to deliver congratulations to Ballerini and to perform his hit “Blue Isn’t Your Color.” Later in the show, Country Music Hall of Famer and 1991 Opry inductee Vince Gill surprised the audience yet again by joining in with his friends the Del McCoury Band during the group’s portion of the show.

Opry group Little Big Town surprised Ballerini last month with an invitation to join the Opry family during an on-stage collaboration on the award-winning song “Girl Crush.”

“We are incredibly pleased to welcome Kelsea Ballerini into the Opry family,” said Opry General Manager Sally Williams. “As evidenced by the enthusiasm of the Opry members here tonight and the fans in the crowd, Kelsea and her music are much loved. She and her fellow members who made tonight so special show that the future of both country music and the Opry are in good hands.”

Tucker Beathard Releases “Better Than Me” To Country Radio

Singer/songwriter Tucker Beathard’s driving new single “Better Than Me” (Warner Music Nashville) is going to country radio. Since its release as the first song taken from the second installment of his debut double album, critics have been quick to applaud the single co-written by Beathard with Dan Isbell and Jonathan Singleton. Additionally, Beathard produced and played both lead guitar and drums on the “anthemic single” (Rolling Stone). 

The first country artist to release a debut double album, Tucker Beathard’s first installment, NOBODY’S EVERYTHING, was immediately praised for the “gritty” nature of the album, and Beathard’s “fresher, rawer sound” (Music Row).

Beathard just announced that he has signed a major recording deal with Warner Music Nashville. Beathard inked the contract following the independent release of NOBODY’S EVERYTHING and the second chapter will be released this year on Warner Music Nashville.

For more information, visit tuckerbeathardmusic.com or follow him on Instagram: @tuckerbeathard, Twitter: @TuckerBeathard and Facebook: facebook.com/tuckerbeathardmusic.

Brooks & Dunn Return To No.1 With REBOOT Collaboration Album

The best-selling duo of all time, Brooks & Dunn, debuts at No. One this week on Billboard’s Top Country Albums chart with their collaboration project REBOOT. Proving “the timing couldn’t be better to celebrate the influence of Ronnie Dunn and Kix Brooks” (Music Row), the impressive feat marks the first time the duo has topped the album charts since 2009 while simultaneously earning the duo their 10th Billboard 200 Top 10 album, the most of any country duo or group in the chart’s history.

The 12-track collection produced by Dann Huff “revisits some of the duo’s most iconic songs with the genre’s hottest young talents” (PEOPLE) including Kane Brown, Thomas Rhett, Brett Young, LANCO, Ashley McBryde, Brothers Osborne, Luke Combs, Midland, Cody Johnson, Jon Pardi, Tyler Booth and Kacey Musgraves.

“We always said that after all the crazy highs we’ve had along this journey, that the most important thing to us was that the music that held up over time,” said Ronnie Dunn. “To have a No. One record with these songs we love is wild and we’re so happy to have worked on this project with so many current talents. It is a testament to the power of collaboration.”

“These songs are so important to us, and we’re so thankful that they have had this chance to have new life breathed into them,” added Kix Brooks. “We had so much fun in the studio with everyone, it’s been a really special project for us.”

To mark the release, the next inductees into the Country Music Hall of Fame, Brooks & Dunn, took an “electrifying performance (Billboard) of “Boot Scootin’ Boogie” with Midland to The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, watch HERE and a “thrilling take” (Rolling Stone) of “Brand New Man” with Luke Combs to Academy of Country Music Awards, watch HERE.

Aaron Watson Launches The Red Bandana Tour In Support Of New Album Release

“Fiercely independent” Aaron Watson reveals the first dates of The Red Bandana Tour with thirteen shows spanning coast to coast on its initial summer swing.  As announced exclusively via Rolling Stone Country, the tour kicks off on June 28 in Watson’s hometown of Abilene, TX on the heels of his highly anticipated Red Bandana album release on June 21. All tour dates just released are on-sale now, with more to be announced in the coming weeks.   Tickets are available at www.aaronwatson.com/tour.

Watson’s “arena-ready country” live show is full of “modern-throwback aesthetic” and “supercharged Texas swing” says the Houston Press as his  headlining tour continues to pack rooms coast to coast with sellout shows already logged in Boise, Pittsburgh, Austin and a dozen other markets in the first part of 2019. To celebrate the launch, Watson released video content for the new song, “Trying Like The Devil,” just released as an instant grat track when you pre-order his upcoming album. The video clip, along with The Red Bandana Tour details, can now be seen at Rolling Stone Country.
 
“I am so excited to announce the new tour this summer with the release of my new album Red Bandana,” says Watson.  “Of course, kicking it off in my hometown of Abilene means the world to me.  Touring is what we do, it’s how we built the business and met so many amazing fans over the years.  I can assure everyone that we plan on coming to your market over the course of this record with a brand-new stage and production as well as set list.  We’ll be playing the old favorites and a lot of new songs from Red Bandana.”

Aaron Watson’s The Red Bandana Tour
6/28 – Taylor County Expo Center – Abilene, TX
6/29 – White Oak Music Hall (Outdoors) – Houston, TX
7/6 – Big Lake Festival – Big Lake, TX
7/11 – Hodag Country Festival – Rhinelander, WI
7/12 – Riverfront Live – Cincinnati, OH
7/13 – Jam In The Valley – Varysburg, NY
7/18 – Adams County Fair – Hastings, NE
7/19 – Lazy Gators – Lake Of The Ozarks, MO
7/26 – A Night In The Country – Yerington, NV
8/10 – Ford Park Arena – Beaumont, TX
8/15 – Power & Lights District – Kansas City, MO
8/23 – Colorado State Fair – Pueblo, CO
9/5 – Washington State Fair – Puyallup, WA

CMA Fest Reveals Lineup For Firestone Country Roads Stage

Back for a third straight year, CMA Fest has revealed the lineup for the popular nightly concerts at the Firestone Country Roads Stage at Ascend Amphitheater Thursday, June 6 through Saturday, June 8, with performances starting at 6:30 PM/CT each evening.

Tickets are required for entry, with three-day reserved tickets selling for $66, single-day reserved for $25 each night and single-day lawn selling for $10 per night, plus taxes and fees. Fan presale begins Wednesday, April 17 at 10:00 AM/CT and closes Thursday, April 18 at 5:00 PM/CT, with public on-sale opening Friday, April 19 at 10:00 AM/CT. Tickets can be purchased at CMAfest.com or Ticketmaster.com.   

Firestone Country Roads Stage at Ascend Amphitheater Presented by BBR Music Group kicks off the festivities Thursday night. Headliner Chase Rice will be joined by Jimmie Allen, Blanco Brown, Adam Craig, Lindsay Ell, Tyler Farr, King Calaway, LOCASH and Runaway June.

Brett Young will headline Firestone Country Roads Stage at Ascend Amphitheater on Friday night. Joining Young will be Bailey Bryan, Jordan Davis, Adam Hambrick, Caylee Hammack, Jillian Jacqueline and Mitchell Tenpenny.

Closing out Saturday night, fans will enjoy Firestone Country Roads Stage at Ascend Amphitheater Presented by Warner Music Nashville. Hunter Hayes and Cody Johnson will co-headline the evening, joined by Ingrid Andress, Tucker Beathard and Ashley McBryde.

“We are excited for the Ascend Amphitheater performances to return for a third straight year with a stellar lineup and are thrilled to offer an additional nightly concert series to festival goers as well as our local Nashville fanbase during CMA Fest,” said Damon Whiteside, CMA Chief Marketing Officer. “With a portion of ticket proceeds benefiting high-quality music education initiatives across the U.S. through the CMA Foundation, the loyal fans that attend the Firestone Country Roads Stage at Ascend Amphitheater are helping to support this mission.”

As part of its partnership with CMA Fest, Firestone will create unique experiences for festival attendees through both its interactive space at Xfinity Fan Fair X inside Music City Center and the popular nightly concerts on the Firestone Country Roads Stage at Ascend Amphitheater. As a fan favorite for the past two years, each nightly show will feature an exciting list of Country Music stars from some of the industry’s leading labels and management partners, including Broken Bow, Red Light Management and Warner Music Nashville. Full details on activities and activations will be announced at a later date.

“As a time-tested American brand built on durability and dependability, Firestone fits perfectly as the Official Tire of Country Music,” said Amber Holm, Vice President, Consumer and Customer Engagement, Bridgestone Americas. “Like those who drive on Firestone tires, Country Music’s inspiring artists and passionate fans understand what it means to work hard. We’re excited to give them a chance to play hard, too, by partnering with CMA Fest to offer nightly shows right here in our hometown of Nashville on the Firestone Country Roads Stage at Ascend Amphitheater.”

Outdoor daytime stages including the Budweiser Forever Country Stage, Chevy Riverfront Stage and others to be announced soon are free and open to the public. Additional stage lineups, Xfinity Fan Fair X activities and more will be announced in the coming weeks. All artist lineups are subject to change.

Don’t miss a beat by staying connected with CMA on CMAfest.com, the Official CMA Fest App, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and sign up for CMA Country Connection emails to receive the latest news as soon as it’s announced.

CMA and Nashville-based Futureshirts have just released even more new merchandise items online at shop.cmafest.com. Recently released CMA Fest essentials include sunglasses, plastic water bottle, sunscreen and more! Order by Tuesday, May 28 to receive in time for the festival. Fans will also be able to purchase official merchandise at several locations across the festival footprint in June.