Carrie Underwood and Ludacris recently reunited on 5/4 at Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena to celebrate the double-platinum certification of their hit collaboration, “The Champion.”
Written by Underwood with Brett James, Chris DeStefano and Christopher Bridges (aka Ludacris), with production by Jim Jonsin, the track was initially used to open NBC’s Super Bowl LII and was used in the network’s coverage of the 2018 Olympic Winter Games.
“The Champion” hit #1 in 10 countries, including the U.S., and was followed up with a Jimmy Lynch-directed video that featured historic moments and footage highlighting professional athletes and everyday champions.
The news arrived on the heels of Underwood’s new year-round SiriusXM channel, Carrie’s Country, which kicks off in June. The eight-time Grammy winner will also relaunch her hit Reflection: The Las Vegas Residency at Resorts World Las Vegas in June. Meanwhile, Ludacris is currently on tour with Janet Jackson.
Seen hoping we don't get our hands on this photo are (l-r) Underwood and Ludacris.
Sony Music Publishing Nashville and Relative Music Group have jointly inked Cam Montgomery to a global publishing deal.
Having penned songs for the likes of Kane Brown, 24kGoldn, Winona Oak, Nelly, Walker Hayes, Kira Kosarin, Justin Moore and more, some of Montgomery’s recent cuts include Morgan Wallen’s “I Wrote The Book” as well as HARDY’s “.30-06.”
“We are already rocking with Cam and can't wait to hear the next song. His integrity and skill set enables him to cross genres with a consistent emotional thread and he’s a great human,” said Relative Music Group Founder, Dennis Matkosky.
“I’m very lucky to be a part of a team that wants to help foster my growth as a writer/producer in both Los Angeles and Nashville,” added Montgomery.
“I am so honored to be able to sign a producer/writer as talented as Cam,” shared RMG Partner HARDY.
Seen just before celebrating with a glass of hot-sauce-flavored bubbly are (l-r) back row—SMP Nashville CEO Rusty Gaston, RMG Creative Director Caroline Bouldin; front row—Dennis Matkosky, HARDY, Montgomery and RMG Partner Jesse Matkosky.
(Photo credit: Lily Nelson)
During his time at Stagecoach, which included a highly lauded performance (his 100th show, as it happens), Warner Records breakout Warren Zeiders was surprised with a platinum plaque for his single "Ride the Lightning." He was also surprised when the plaque melted in the 107-degree heat. Seen thinking there's nothing more purely country than air conditioning are (l-r) Warner's Sam Riddle and Rick Gershon, tour manager Jared Platt, CAA's Jeff Krones, Goldenvoice's Stacy Vee, Zeiders, AEG's Rich Schaefer, underscore works' Jamie Ernst, Charly Salvatore and Jordin Wentworth and Warner's Will Morrow.
Photo Credit:Austin Screws
Columbia Nashville artist Tenille Townes took her talents to RIAA headquarters this week, where she performed both her gold-certified single “Somebody's Daughter" and new music from her forthcoming album, Train Track Worktapes (RCA/Columbia Nashville).
The Canadian singer-songwriter is currently on the road as part of the SIDE A + B TOUR, which continues Friday (4/28) at The Monument in Winchester, Virginia. Find more details here.
Pictured in the photo just having trashed our latest email are (l-r) RIAA Chairman/CEO Mitch Glazier, Shopkeeper Management's Crystal Dishmon, Tenille, Sony Music Entertainment SVP Public Policy/Government Affairs Lisette Morton and RIAA COO Michele Ballantyne.
PENCIL and CAA presented its 19th annual Little Night of Music at the Grand Ole Opry House in Nashville on Wednesday (4/26). More than 400 people attended the soirée, while CAA clients, Kristin Chenoweth and Adia Victoria, performed to an audience of business, civic and community leaders. The event raised more than $365k for PENCIL, a local nonprofit linking community resources to Nashville Public Schools.
Over the past 18 years, Little Night of Music has raised more than $2.4m for PENCIL and the business engagement that supports Metro Nashville Public School students. Past headliners have included Alabama, Lady A, Faith Hill, Drew Holcomb, Tim McGraw, Kip Moore, Darius Rucker, Little Big Town and Keith Urban. Seen in the photo relieved they haven't had to pencil us in for anything are (l-r) Micone Entertainment founder Ed Micone, Chenoweth and Steve Levine (CAA).
The 58th Academy of Country Music Awards will feature performances by Kane Brown, Luke Combs, Miranda Lambert, Dolly Parton, Morgan Wallen, The War And Treaty and others on 5/11 at the Ford Center at The Star in Frisco, Texas.
Cody Johnson, Jo Dee Messina, Ashley McBryde, Jelly Roll, Cole Swindell, Keith Urban, Lainey Wilson and Bailey Zimmerman are also booked for the show that will air live on Prime Video.
Parton will close out the show with the world premiere of the lead single from her forthcoming rock album. Gabby Barrett and BRELAND will introduce Zimmerman as the next Breakthrough Artist from Amazon Music.
Parton and Garth Brooks are the hosts of the show that can also be viewed on the Amazon Music channel on Twitch.
Capitol Nashville’s Luke Bryan is gearing up to headline his 14th Farm Tour.
Taking place in September during a break from Bryan’s Country on Tour, which launches 6/15, the Farm Tour—sponsored by Bayer, Farmland, Fendt and Citi—will make stops across fields of local farms from 9/14-23.
The five-time Entertainer of the Year kicked off the Farm Tour back in 2009 and has since granted 78 college scholarships to students from farming families to their local college or university near the tour stops.
“One of the reasons we created these Farm Tour shows - to bring the big-city tour to the people,” said Bryan. “These nights are one-of-a-kind and we really enjoy getting to know the farmers and their families, love the whole atmosphere of playing on these incredible farms and watching entire communities come together and get excited about these shows.”
While openers have yet to be announced, tickets for the Luke Bryan Farm Tour go on sale at 10am local time on 5/4 here, with presale available on 5/1 here.
Country star Miranda Lambert is bringing the heat to fans’ kitchens with her first-ever cookbook, Y'all Eat Yet?: Welcome to the Pretty B*tchin' Kitchen.
Co-written by HITS’ Holly Gleason, the book—which features 50 recipes inspired by the important women in Lambert’s life including mother Bev and grandmother Wanda—hit shelves on 4/25, topping Amazon’s celebrity cookbooks chart and reaching #2 on its overall bestsellers list.
Lambert credited Gleason for "making sense of my stories and my redneck way of telling them" during a stop at Late Night With Seth Meyers. The singer-songwriter has also appeared on CBS This Morning and Kelly + Mark and is slated to visit the sets of Watch What Happens Live With Andy Cohen on 5/1 and Who’s Talking to Chris Wallace? on 5/5.
“I was blessed to be raised by two generations of hell-raising, hardworking women who knew how to make people feel good," said Lambert, who began work on the project in 2020. "This is a look into our lives and the food we’ve made along the way."
Lambert will sign copies of Ya’ll Eat Yet? at The Grove in L.A. on Friday, 4/28. Fans can order it here.
In related news, toast is supposed to be burned, right?
