Nashville News: Thursday, 8/27
Willie Nelson and Merle Haggard are teaming up for the Django and Jimmie tour this October and November.
They'll hit cities including Roanoke, Virginia; Milwaukee; and Fort Worth, Texas. The tour kicks off on October
15th in South Carolina.
Willie and Merle released Django and Jimmie -- their sixth album of duets -- this summer.
Just three weeks after leaving UMG Nashville, Jennifer Nettles has found a new record label home.
The singer has signed with Big Machine Label Group, home of artists like Tim McGraw, the Band Perry,Taylor Swift
and Florida Georgia Line. Sugarland is still part of the UMG family.
There’s also been no word as to which of the Big Machine labels Jennifer will be a part of, or when fans can expect
her next studio album.
Recently, she has stayed busy acting. Earlier this year she made her Broadway debut as Roxie Hart inChicago.
She’s also set to star as Dolly Parton’s mother in amovie based on the legend’s childhood. Dolly Parton’s Coat of
Many Colors willair on NBC this December.
Nashville News: Wednesday, 8/26
Cole Swindell is bringing back his Down Home tour for the second year. He'll get things started in New York City
on November 11th with singer songwriter Adam Sanders as his special guest.
In addition, he'll release the Down Home Sessions EP this fall, which will showcase five new songs.
Carrie Underwood revealed the cover of her new album, Storyteller.
The record is her first studio album in three years. She says, “I’ve been listening to some of these songs for
two years, and to still be excited about them is great, but then it’s like, ‘Oh my gosh, is everybody else going to like it?’
I’m more nervous now that I’ve taken time.”
Carrie dropped "Smoke Break," the first single from the album, last week.
Storyteller is set to be released on October 23rd.
Nashville News: Tuesday, 8/25
Toby Keith is among the stars helping to usher in the new Late Show With Stephen Colbert. He'll perform on
the show September 10th.
Toby and Stephen have a long standing relationship. Toby appeared on the final Colbert Report show. Stephen inducted him into
Songwriter's Hall of Fame in June.
The Late Show With Stephen Colbert premieres on September 8th.
The Judds are reuniting for a nine-show residency in Las Vegas this fall.
The Judds: Girls Night Outwill run at the Venetian between October 7th and October 24th.
Wynonna says, "When this opportunity was presented to me, I looked at it as an incredible chance to
celebrate my mom. I have a new album coming out soon and this is the perfect way to honor the roots that
gave me the wings to fly."
Shania Twain is extending herRock This Country Tour and hopes to return to Vegas for another extended residency.
She says, “It’s going so well that I’ve decided I’d like to extend it. I’m not ready to stop. We’re already talking
about going to Europe."
Her plans also include finishing a new album, completing her tour obligations in North America and going to
Asia and Australia. Then, she says, "The ideal scenario is to come back to Las Vegas. I’d like to return and do
another couple of years in a residency."
Shania wrapped her stay at Caesars in December.
Nashville News: Monday, 8/24
Frankie Ballard scores his third number-one on the Mediabase chart this week with “Young and Crazy.”
It’s the third number-one from his current album, Sunshine and Whiskey, following “Helluva Life” and the
hit title track.
You're not likely to hear Sam Hunt sing songs objectifying women. He tells Billboard, “Respect for women
was a very important part of my upbringing.”
He's also used his former girlfriend as a sounding board. “I spent a lot of time talking to her about the songs
and asking, ‘What do you think about this?’ Her perspective was a powerful part of me being able to connect
with a female audience, not just a male audience.”
Sam is on the cover of Billboard's Music's Men of Style issue.
Kelsea Ballerini’s career just keeps getting better and brighter with the Gold certification of her debut breakout
single “Love Me Like You Mean It,” which exceeded 500,000 sales and streams.
“Love Me Like You Mean It” has brought Kelsea many of her firsts. Beyond being her first certified single, it
also was the 21-year-old’s first No. 1 hit, marking the first female to have her debut single reach the top spot
on the BillboardCountry Airplay Chart since Carrie Underwood‘s “Jesus Take the Wheel” in 2006.