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Josh Turner Announces The ‘Long Black Train 20th Anniversary Tour’

Posted on by Bob Ballard

Josh Turner is celebrating the 20th anniversary of his iconic album and song “Long Black Train” by going on tour! The tour is named after the anniversary of his 2003 debut album.

The singer is also releasing a special edition vinyl of “Long Black Train” May 19th. “I wrote this song during my senior year at Belmont University, and I remember thinking to myself, no one is going to want to hear this old-timey gospel song. Thankfully, God placed a few folks in my life that thought differently and here we are celebrating the 20th Anniversary of ‘Long Black Train,” Turner reminisced.

The “Long Black Train 20th Anniversary Tour” starts on March 4 in Dothan, Alabama and will stop in several cities around the US through September. The tour will end September 23rd in Columbus, MN, for a total of 25 different venues! Additional dates are expected to be announced.

Check out the first tour dates below, and the full list here!

  • 3/4 – Dothan, AL – The Plant
  • 3/6 – Plant City, FL – Florida Strawberry Festival 2023
  • 3/24 – Tuscon, AZ – Rialto Theatre
  • 3/25 – Wickenburg, AZ – Party in the Desert
  • 4/13 – Lancaster, PA – American Music Theatre
  • 4/14 – Jim Thorpe, PA – Penn’s Peak
  • 5/5 – Hot Springs, AR – Oaklawn Racing Casino
  • 6/3 – Pender, NE – Cattlemen’s Ball of Nebraska
  • 6/9 – Nelsonville, OH – Black Diamond Music & Arts Festival
  • 6/10 – Renfro Valley, KY – Renfro Valley Entertainment Center

Source: Country Now

This day in Country Music History

Posted on by Bob Ballard
  • Today in 1963, Patsy Cline recorded in a studio for the last time, cutting “He Called Me Baby.” Her last song in the studio was “I’ll Sail My Ship Alone.”
  • Today in 1994, at the American Music Awards, Alan Jackson won two awards including Favorite Country Single for “Chattahoochee,” Whitney Houston won two for “I Will Always Love You,” and Garth Brooks, Reba McEntire, Alabama, and John Michael Montgomery also won awards.
  • Today in 1995, “The Woman In Me” by Shania Twain, was released.
  • Today in 2004, “Remember When” by Alan Jackson hit the number one spot on the Billboard.
  • Today in 2005, At the Krewe of Orpheus Mardi Gras parade in New Orleans, Toby Keith was the celebrity monarch, Sawyer Brown was the grand marshal, and Josh Gracin also appeared.
  • Today in 2008, the video for Tim McGraw’s song “Suspicious” debuted on CMT.
  • Today in 2009, at a concert in Kentucky, Toby Keith waded into the audience to confront a concertgoer who threw a beer at the stage.
  • Today in 2000, CMT released Taylor Swift’s video, “White Horse.”
  • Today in 2010, Carrie Underwood sang the national anthem at the Super Bowl, with Heidi Newfield, Kenny Chesney, Jimmy Buffett, and Joe Don Rooney in the crowd. The Saints beat the Colts 31-17.
  • Today in 2015, Luke Bryan spent the first of two weeks at #1 on the Billboard country singles chart with “I See You.”
  • Today in 2015, Garth Brooks was joined by Pittsburgh Steelers Ben Roethlisberger and Brett Keisel as he conducts a Teamates For Kids football camp.
  • Today in 2015, the Louvin Brothers were honored with a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award along with George Harrison, Flaco Jimenez and The Bee Gees at the Wilshire Ebell Theatre in Los Angeles. Trustees Awards are given to producer Richard Perry and “Here You Come Again” songwriters Barry Mann and Cynthia Weil.
  • Today in 2017, Kane Brown scored a gold single from the RIAA for “Heaven” and a platinum nod for “Used To Love You Sober.” The same day, Tyler Farr’s single, “Whiskey In My Water” also went platinum.

Dierks Bentley Teams With Ashley McBryde For ‘Cowboy Boots’

Posted on by Bob Ballard

Dierks Bentley and Ashley McBryde have released a new duet, “Cowboy Boots.” The song is a “traditional country anthem” that celebrates cowboy boots as more than just shoes. Dierks says he chose Ashley as his duet partner because she has “one of the best voices in Country music”.

”I wanted someone that I could authentically sing this song with, and I didn’t have to look any further than stage left. She’s the real deal,” Bentley says of McBryde.

The duo shared a live performance video of the song filmed in Nashville. The song will be included in Dierks’ upcoming 10th studio album, “Gravel & Gold”, which is due out soon on February 24th. The album will celebrate Dierks’ diverse musical history, from bluegrass to modern country, and his 20-year career.

Source: Country Now

This day in Country Music History

Posted on by Bob Ballard
  • Today in 1963, Lester Flatt & Earl Scruggs made their first on-screen appearance on the CBS sitcom “The Beverly Hillbillies,” in order to sing their new song, “Pearl Pearl Pearl.” They had already been performing the theme song.
  • Today in 1971, the song “Joshua” got Dolly Parton her first #1 single.
  • Today in 1976, Ronnie Milsap joined the Grand Ole Opry.
  • Today in 1980, George Jones recorded “He Stopped Loving Her Today.” He made a bet with his producer that it wouldn’t go to #1 on the charts.
  • Today in 1989, Patty Loveless married producer Emory Gordy in a quiet ceremony.
  • Today in 2001, Diamond Rio’s album “One More Day” was released.
  • Today in 2011, at the Super Bowl, Keith Urban performed “Who Wouldn’t Wanna Be Me,” as the Packers beat the Steelers 31-25.
  • Today in 2012, Eric Church’s song, “Springsteen,” was released.
  • Today in 2014, an episode of CMT Crossroads featuring Dierks Bentley and OneRepublic was shot. Songs included “Counting Stars,” “Up On The Ridge,” “I Hold On,” and “Pride (In The Name Of Love.)”
  • Today in 2016, just days after canceling all his February shows, Merle Haggard played a concert in Las Vegas, struggling through six songs before giving the stage to Toby Keith. The last performance of Haggard’s life included “Ramblin’ Fever” and “Sing Me Back Home.”

Chris Stapleton Extends All-American Road Show Into 2023

Posted on by Bob Ballard

Chris Stapleton’s “All-American Road Show” has been extended, and brand new shows have now been announced for 2023! He has announced a bunch of new dates for the tour with special guests including Charley Crockett, Marcus King, and The War and Treaty.

The tour officially begins on April 26th in El Paso, Texas, hitting twenty different venues before ending August 25th at the Ameris Bank Amphitheatre in Alpharetta Georgia.

Tickets for the new shows will be on sale on February 10th and fan club members will have early access starting February 7th. Check out the first few dates below and click here for the complete schedule.

  • April 26: El Paso, TX — UTEP Don Haskins Center
  • April 27: Albuquerque, NM — Isleta Amphitheater
  • June 1: Moline, IL — Vibrant Arena at The MARK
  • June 2: Grand Rapids, MI — Van Andel Arena
  • June 8: Syracuse, NY — St. Joseph’s Health Amphitheater at Lakeview
  • June 9: Mansfield, MA — Xfinity Center
  • June 15: Spokane, WA — Spokane Arena
  • June 16: Bend, OR — Hayden Homes Amphitheater

Source: Country Now

This day in Country Music History

Posted on by Bob Ballard
  • Today in 1958, Johnny Cash hit the top of the charts with “Ballad of a Teenage Queen.”
  • Today in 1959, Buddy Holly, The Big Bopper, and Ritchie Valens all died in a plane crash near Clear Lake, Iowa.
  • Today in 1978, Waylon Jennings and Willie Nelson’s album “Waylon and Willie” was certified gold.
  • Today in 1993, George Strait’s “Pure Country” soundtrack was double-platinum.
  • Today in 1996, “(If You’re Not In It For Love) I’m Outta Here!” by Shania Twain hit the top of the charts.
  • Today in 2006, the Tommy Lee Jones movie, “The Three Burials of Melquiades Estrada,” opened, featuring Dwight Yoakam and Levon Helm, with music by Merle Haggard, Augie Meyers, Freddy Fender, Hank Williams Jr., Flaco Jimenez and Roger Miller.
  • Today in 2009, “Don’t Think I Don’t Think About It” by Darius Rucker became a gold single.
  • Today in 2014, “This is How We Roll” by Florida Georgia Line, and featuring Luke Bryan, was released.
  • Today in 2015, Brantley Gilbert’s single, “More Than Miles,” was certified gold.
  • Today in 2016, Randy Travis joins several other mourners to sing “Amazing Grace” at a funeral in Bullard, Texas, for businessman Pierre de Wet. The service also featured a performance by Randy Owen.
  • Today in 2017, Lee Brice picked up a double-platinum single from the RIAA for “I Don’t Dance.”
  • Today in 2017, Reba McEntire’s two-disc gospel album, “Sing It Now: Songs Of Faith & Hope,” was released.
  • Today in 2019, Tim McGraw performed during the Super Bowl pre-game show on CBS-TV, with Kane Brown joining him off-camera for “I Like It, I Love It.” Gladys Knight sang the national anthem at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, where the New England Patriots down the Los Angeles Rams, 13-3.
  • Today in 2021, Kix Brooks and John Oates are announced as board members for the inaugural Music City Grand Prix, an IndyCar race slated for August.
  • Today in 2021, J. Osborne of the Brothers Osborne revealed he is gay in “Time” magazine. He is the first male country artist to come out while on the roster at a major label.

MEET THE H & S FEED & COUNTRY STORE PET OF THE WEEK: “WAYLON”

Posted on by Bob Ballard

This week’s H & S Feed & Country Store Pet of the Week is “Waylon”, a 2 year old Bergamasco mix. Waylon’s a medium sized dog with a great personality who loves to play, and gets along well with other dogs and even cats. Waylon would love to meet his next best friend!

If you’d like to set up an appointment to meet Waylon or any of the pets at Stephen Memorial Animal Shelter, visit https://www.stephenmemorial.org/ and fill out an adoption application.

Check out our visit about Waylon with Shanna from Stephen Memorial Animal Shelter here:

Zach Bryan Apologizes To Fans For Album Delay

Posted on by Bob Ballard

Zach Bryan announced to his fans yesterday that his next album, which was set to release in February, won’t be happening as planned. He didn’t give a specific reason, but said he’s going to let his “life play out”.

The album would have been his second major-label studio album, set to be titled “Writers and Fighters”. Bryan released his “Summertime Blues” EP in July and then a live album “All My Homies Hate Ticketmaster” on Christmas Day in 2022 in the meantime.

Despite the delay in releasing new music, fans were understanding and one even said “I’d rather you deliver a product you feel secure in than sticking to a deadline and having regret”.

Source: Taste Of Country

This day in Country Music History

Posted on by Bob Ballard
  • Today in 1974, Dolly Parton’s “Jolene” went to #1 on the Billboard country chart.
  • Today in 1981, George Strait records his first hit, “Unwound,” at Music City Music Hall in Nashville.
  • Today in 1985, Charlie Daniels hosted Volunteer Jam XI at Nashville’s Municipal Auditorium, joined by Kris Kristofferson, Tom Wopat, Little Richard, Nicolette Larson, Alabama, Ted Nugent, Bill Medley, Lacy J. Dalton, Gail Davies, Eddy Raven, Emmylou Harris and Amy Grant, among others.
  • Today in 1993, Willie Nelson and the IRS settled their long-standing tax feud. The U.S. government kept $3.6-million in assets it had already seized, and Willie had to pay $5.4-million of the $13.1 million balance.
  • Today in 1996, Shania Twain hit #1 with “(If You’re Not In It For Love) I’m Outta Here.”
  • Today in 1996, the mayor of Tampa, Florida proclaimed that it was “Henry Paul Day,” in honor of BlackHawk’s lead singer, Henry Paul. Mayor Dick A. Greco said Paul should be honored for “lifelong achievements in one of our nation’s classic treasures: country music.”
  • Today in 2003, Keith Urban announced that a throat ailment affecting his vocal chords would force the cancellation of his professional obligations for 6 weeks.
  • Today in 2008, Brad Paisley’s “Letter To Me” occupied the #1 position on the Billboard country chart, where it remained the rest of the month.
  • Today in 2010, Tim McGraw and Gwyneth Paltrow shot concert footage for the movie “Country Strong” at Municipal Auditorium in Nashville. The Lost Trailers performed for extras during the day.
  • Today in 2013, it was the eve of the Super Bowl, and Rascal Flatts team up with Journey for a live installment of “CMT Crossroads” from the Sugar Mill in New Orleans. The hour included “Life Is A Highway,” “Fast Cars And Freedom” and “Don’t Stop Believin’.”
  • Today in 2015, Jennifer Nettles took over the role of Roxie Hart in the Broadway production of “Chicago” at the Ambassador Theatre in New York.
  • Today in 2015, Cam’s debut single, “My Mistake,” hit the airwaves.
  • Today in 2016, Merle Haggard attempted to go back to work 11 weeks after contracting double pneumonia. He shows up at the venue in Riverside, California, but is unable to perform and cancelled his six remaining February concerts. He ultimately passed away in April of that same year.
  • Today in 2017, Maren Morris launched her first headlining tour at the Bowery Ballroom in New York.
  • Today in 2018, Eddie Montgomery made his solo debut on the Grand Ole Opry, five months after the death of his longtime Montgomery Gentry singing partner Troy Gentry.
  • Today in 2018, Luke Combs performed “Hurricane” and “When It Rains It Pours” as he headlines Nashville’s historic Ryman Auditorium for the first time.
  • Today in 2019, Cody Johnson’s “Ain’t Nothin’ To It” debuted at #1 on the Billboard country albums chart.
  • Today in 2020, Billy Ray Cyrus made a cameo as “Old Town Road” was featured in a Doritos ad making its TV debut during the FOX telecast of the Super Bowl. Lil Nas X has a dance-off in the clip with actor Sam Elliot.
  • Today in 2021, Dolly Parton revealed on NBC’s “Today” that she twice turned down Donald Trump’s offer to present her the Presidential Medal of Freedom–her husband was sick the first year, and she declined to travel during the pandemic the second year.
  • Today in 2021, the infamous video of Morgan Wallen using a racial slur outside of his Nashville home surfaced on TMZ. Over the next 24 hours, the country music business delivered various forms of punishment – essentially imploding his career. Among other things, he was suspended from his record label and his music was dropped from several major radio networks. He largely kept quiet – outside of the initial apology – until the following July. That’s when he publicly spoke of his comments on “GMA” and apologized again. Wallen’s songs returned to country radio in August 2021 with the release of his single “Sand in My Boots.”

CMA Touring Awards Highlights

Posted on by Bob Ballard

The Country Music Association held their annual tour-centric celebration in Nashville after two years of pandemic-induced shutdowns. The CEO of CMA, Sarah Trahern, welcomed members of the industry, who she said were among the hardest hit during the pandemic, but still showed resilience and passion for the power of music.

The host for the evening was Keith Urban and the main awards went to touring organizations of Kenny Chesney, Luke Combs, and Dierks Bentley. Chris Kappy, who has guided Luke Combs throughout his career, was named manager of the year, and members of Combs’ touring crew were recognized with awards as well.

Winners from Chesney’s camp included John Stalder, David Farmer, Jill Trunnell, and Robert Scovill. And to cap it all off, Essential Broadcast Media’s Ebie McFarland was named publicist of the year!

One more thing! Check out all the winners below:

  • Business manager of the year: Stephanie Mundy-Self – Farris, Self & Moore, LLC
  • Publicist of the year: Ebie McFarland (Essential Broadcast Media)
  • Manager of the year: Chris Kappy (Make Wake Artists)
  • Venue of the year: Ryman Auditorium
  • Touring musician of the year: Dan Hochhalter (Dierks Bentley)
  • Tour videographer/photographer: Jill Trunnell (Kenny Chesney)
  • Tour video director of the year: Tyler Hutcheson (Luke Combs)
  • Lighting director of the year: Chris Reade (Dierks Bentley)
  • Production manager of the year: Jerry Slone (Luke Combs)
  • Tour manager of the year: David Farmer (Kenny Chesney)
  • Talent agent of the year: Austin Neal (The Neal Agency)
  • Coach/truck driver of the year: John Stalder (Kenny Chesney)
  • FOH (front of house engineer of the year: Robert Scovill (Kenny Chesney)
  • Monitor engineer of the year: Michael Zuehsow (Luke Combs)
  • Talent buyer/promoter of the year: Brian O’Connell (Live Nation Nashville)

Source: Billboard

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