Nashville News: Thursday, 9/24
Lady Antebellum's Hillary Scott has started a scholarship fund at her alma mater,
Middle Tennessee State University. The money will go to women studying for careers in
the music business.
Lady A's manager Daniel Miller says, “Whether it be a songwriter, a producer, an engineer, whatever…hopefully this will allow several young women the opportunity to achieve their dreams indefinitely."
The group just wrapped the Wheels Up tour and will take a hiatus to write songs and spend time
with their families.
Blake Shelton opened up about his divorce from Miranda Lambert in a recent interview.
He says the divorce was quick because that's the way it's done in Oklahoma.
He and Miranda were glad it happened fast so they could beat the rumor mill.
Nashville News: Wednesday, 9/23
George Strait will release a new album, Cold Beer Conversation, on Friday. He'll also be the first country
artist to play the new Las Vegas Arena on April 22nd and 23rd. He'll also headline there on September 9th
and 10th of next year. Kacey Musgraves will open the Vegas dates.
You won’t be seeing Scotty McCreery on Dancing With the Stars any time soon. He has turned down multiple
offers to be on the hit ABC show.
Scotty said, “Dancing With the Stars has called me a couple of times, and I’ve just respectfully declined.
Nobody wants to see that on their TV. It’s just one of those things.”
He adds that he is sticking to what he knows- college, touring and recording.
Nashville News: Tuesday, 9/22
Eric Church's Inside the Outsider exhibit at the Country Music Hall of Fame is now open.
Among the artifacts in the display is Taylor Swift's first gold record. Taylor took Eric's spot opening
forRascal Flatts when he was booted off the tour for playing too long, and at the time, he told Taylor
that she owed him her first gold record. She made good on the promise. The framed record with the inscription,
"Eric, Thanks for playing too long on the Flatts tour. I SINCERELY appreciate it. Hahaha. Love you! Taylor."
Brett Eldredge's Illinois album enters the Billboard country album chart at number-one.
Brett says, “I started thinking about this album the day my first album came out, more than two years ago.
I couldn’t be happier with that album and it started it all for me, but I wantedIllinoisto be more. It’s a more
adventurous, better version of me and I loved the whole process of making the album."
Brett just wrapped his opening slot for Darius Rucker's Southern Style tour. The Suits and Boots tour -- his co-headlining trek withThomas Rhett -- begins in November.
Nashville News: Monday, 9/21
Chris Janson scores his first number-one on the Mediabase chart this week with “Buy Me a Boat.” It’s the title track from his debut album,
which is due out October 30th.
Chris also co-wrote Tim McGraw’s “Truck Yeah” and Justin Moore’s "Off the Beaten Path."
He posted his gratitude on Facebook saying, “Thank you Jesus, [my wife] Kelly Lynn Janson,everyone
in Country Radio, fans, friends and my whole team for making this dream a reality. For everyone who
has believed in me from the beginning -- I'm thankful for my first #1 song ever. Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! God Bless you all who helped
make this happen."
Lauren Alaina’s career had to take a pit stop recently due to vocal surgery. Now, she’s back and better than
ever with a new self-titled EP, which drops Oct. 2.
Lauren says, “It’s not really like my first record at all. Everything’s different. I have a new voice, too. It’s a brand
new me! I can sing a lot higher and a lot stronger.”
The EP will feature five songs, each co-written by Lauren. The collection consists of just a portion of the new tunes from Lauren, the rest of which
will be unveiled on her sophomore full-length record, due out next year.