Darius Rucker, along with songwriters Derek George and Scooter Caruso, celebrate number one hit at ASCAP Nashville.
Read the full storyDarius Rucker Celebrates 9th Number One Hit ‘For the First Time’
Category: Entertainment
Music Spotlight: Emily Hackett
The songs on Emily Hackett’s EP, By the Sun, bring a fresh new vibe to the traditional county music story-telling and provide an enjoyable experience for all music lovers.
Read the full storyGosnell: The Movie You’ve Got to See This Weekend
by CHQ Staff As our friend Fr. Frank Pavone of Priests for Life so succinctly pointed out back in 2013 while Dr. Kermit Gosnell was on trial for murder and other offenses and Fox aired a special on his abortion clinic, “The more people who watch this, the more the true face of abortion is exposed, and the stronger our case when the secular media cover these topics.” The horrors of Dr. Kermit Gosnell’s abortion clinic and the practices that led to his indictment and trial for murder have long been covered up by the establishment media, making using the alternative media to bypass their attempts at censorship necessary. The movie Gosnell: The Trial of America’s Biggest Serial Killer is the ultimate means of bypassing establishment media censorship. Not only is it a riveting trial drama, but it exposes the dark truth about the abortion industry, its evil and the amorality of its advocates. Watch the preview: For those unacquainted with Gosnell’s story, as NewMax’s Michael Clark summarized it, “For well over four decades, the Philadelphia-based Dr. Kermit Gosnell (a chilling and bemused Earl Billings) provided abortion services to mostly low-income and minority women, all the while being the…
Read the full storyFLOP: ‘First Man’ Movie Fails To Top Box Office Amid Flag Controversy
by Nick Givas Damien Chazelle’s “First Man” failed to secure the top spot at the box office this weekend and came in third behind Marvel’s “Venom” and Bradley Cooper’s “A Star Is Born.” The film received backlash and criticism, for failing to include a scene of Neil Armstrong planting the American flag on the surface of the moon. Astronaut Buzz Aldrin, played by ‘House Of Cards’ actor Corey Stoll, appeared to voice his displeasure with the film’s omission back in September, when he posted a photo of he and Armstrong plating the flag on Twitter. #proudtobeanAmerican #freedom #honor #onenation #Apollo11 #July1969 #roadtoApollo50 pic.twitter.com/gApIwLzaJw — Dr. Buzz Aldrin (@TheRealBuzz) September 3, 2018 Ryan Gosling, who plays Armstrong and hails from Canada, defended leaving out the flag scene and took a different view of America’s moon landing. “I think this was widely regarded in the end as a human achievement [and] that’s how we chose to view it,” he told reporters at the Venice film festival. “I also think Neil was extremely humble, as were many of these astronauts, and time and time again he deferred the focus from himself to the 400,000 people who made the mission possible.” ‘First Man’ failed to recoup even half of…
Read the full storyPresident Trump Signs the Music Modernization Act into Law
Surrounded by musicians from nearly every genre, President Trump signed into law the Music Modernization Act – a measure that will overhaul how music is licensed and songwriters are compensated in the United States. As previously reported by The Tennessee Star, the bill, sponsored by retiring Utah Sentor Orrin Hatch, was designed to update the outdated copyright laws governing songwriting to reflect the realities of the 21st century. Kid Rock, Mercy Me, the Beach Boys, Sam Moore, Craig Morgan and John Rich – along with music industry bigwigs such as Neil Portnow and the infamous Busbee were among those joining the president at the White House. The president explained: The Music Modernization Act closes loopholes in our digital royalty laws to ensure that songwriters, artists, producers, and providers receive fair payment for the licensing of music. I’ve been reading about this for many years. [I] never thought I’d be involved in it, but I got involved in it. They were treated very unfairly. They’re not going to be treated unfairly anymore. Streaming has made music more accessible than ever, yet our laws have not kept up with the pace of technology. As such, artists of all varieties and all career…
Read the full story‘Gosnell’ Movie Producers Never Trusted Pro-Lifers, but ‘Brutal’ Murder Evidence Changed That
by Grace Carr Film producers of “Gosnell,” a movie detailing the crimes of abortion doctor Kermit Gosnell, never trusted pro-lifers until they pulled together “brutal” murder evidence for the movie that changed their perspectives on abortion. “I never trusted or liked pro-life activists,” film producer Ann McElhinney told Lifesite. “I thought the shocking images they showed were manipulative. I was sure they had been photoshopped,” McElhinney said, recounting how she’d thought prior to producing, “Gosnell: The Trial of America’s Biggest Serial Killer.” “The universities of the world are teeming with young people just like that young person I once was,” McElhinney continued. “This story was not orchestrated by the pro-life movement. This was a trial: a murder trial.” The film tells the story of abortion doctor Kermit Gosnell, who was sentenced to life in prison after authorities discovered he’d been killing live babies after birth. Gosnell aborted babies after the legal limit of 24 weeks gestation in what became known as the “House of Horrors.” He was also responsible for the death of 41-year-old Karnamaya Mongar who died of a drug overdose during her abortion. Gosnell operated the Women’s Medical Society in West Philadelphia starting in 1979, but wasn’t investigated until February 2010 when the FBI and the…
Read the full storyThe Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Announces Nominees for 2019 Induction
Fans can cast their vote for inductees at Rockhall.com/vote or in person at the museum in Cleveland, Ohio.
Read the full storyPower, People and Things in ‘Westworld’
by Micah Watson, PhD Since I was a child I’ve always loved a good story. I believed that stories helped us to ennoble ourselves, to fix what was broken in us, and to help us become the people we dreamed of being.” So begins Anthony Hopkin’s character, Robert Ford, in his speech marking the finale of the first season of HBO’s mind-bending, techno-philosophical series “Westworld.” Ford is the brilliant co-creator of Westworld, a theme park set several decades in the future in which wealthy customers can live out their fantasies, whatever they may be, with no apparent cost or consequence. The genius of Ford’s creation is not the theme park itself, though the sets and landscapes perfectly capture the nostalgic details of the vintage 1880s-era Western. What really sets Westworld apart is the “hosts” that populate the park, robots who inhabit various roles and inspire plots and who are entirely indistinguishable from the all-too-human guests who pay upwards of $40,000 a day to interact with them. And the guests do interact as they please, some choosing heroic and noble roles to play and others indulging in baser appetites by killing, raping and abusing the non-human hosts who were created…
Read the full storyMusic Spotlight: Runaway June
Runaway June’s stunning, effortless harmonies, contemporary lyrics, and traditional sound, they will remind you of why you loved country music.
Read the full storyLynnMarie Receives Induction into the Polka Hall of Fame
Five-time Grammy nominee and Nashville Recording Artist LynnMarie receives induction into the Polka Hall of Fame.
Read the full storyNashville Symphony’s Family Series Kicks Off on September 29 with “Pirates! The Quest for Blackbeard’s Treasure”
Revamped series offers interactive pre-concert activities, plus support for people on the autism spectrum and individuals with sensory sensitivities.
Read the full storyMiranda Lambert Is Artist-in-Residence at the Country Music Hall of Fame
Miranda Lambert becomes the 15th ever Artist-Residence at the Country Music Hall of Fame as she performs at the Country Music Association theater in Nashville.
Read the full storyToby Keith to Receive Nashville Symphony’s 2018 Harmony Award
Toby Keith joins a long list of famed performers as receives Nashville Symphony’s 2018 Harmony Award.
Read the full storyBlake Shelton’s Ole’ Red Coming to Gatlinburg
Blake Shelton tours Ole Red Gatlinburg on Tues, September 18, 2018.
Read the full story‘Game of Thrones’ Takes Top Prize at Surprising Emmys
HBO’s record-breaking fantasy epic “Game of Thrones” stormed back onto the Emmys stage on Monday, winning the coveted best drama series prize on a night full of surprises, including an on-air marriage proposal that stunned the audience. The other big story of the Hollywood gala, television’s answer to the Oscars, was the huge success of “The Marvelous Mrs Maisel,” Amazon’s story of a 1950s housewife-turned-stand up comic, which took home eight Emmys overall, including the best comedy award. “The Handmaid’s Tale” — last year’s best drama and an early favorite for more hardware in 2018— went home empty-handed from the star-studded event at the Microsoft Theater, after winning three minor awards handed out a week ago. The ceremony hosted by “Saturday Night Live” regulars Colin Jost and Michael Che took on a decidedly political hue at the start, with a barrage of edgy jokes on hot-button issues from diversity in Hollywood to #MeToo and Donald Trump. The gala also saw several sentimental favorites take home their first Emmys. Matthew Rhys won for best drama actor for spy thriller “The Americans,” Claire Foy was named best drama actress for her portrayal of Queen Elizabeth II in “The Crown” and Henry Winkler…
Read the full storyLuke Bryan Hosting a Free Concert in Nashville September 10th
In honor of the grand opening of his bar/restaurant, ‘Luke’s 32 Bridge Food and Drink’, Luke Bryan will host a celebration concert on Monday, September 10th on Broadway in Nashville.
Read the full storyCommentary: The Music Modernization Act and Why it Matters
The Music Modernization Act must be passed in order for songwriters to be compensated fairly.
Read the full storyFlorida Georgia Line Tapped to Headline World’s Biggest USO Tour
Six-time CMA Awards Vocal Duo of the Year nominees Florida Georgia Line breaks new ground as headliners during the world’s biggest USO tour on September 12 at The Anthem in Washington, D.C.
Read the full storyFour New Inductees Added Into Music City Walk of Fame
Four more stars were awarded on Nashville’s Music City Walk of Fame. Brenda Lee, Jeannie Seely, Ray Stevens and Ben Folds received the 81st, 82nd, 83rd and 84th stars on the Walk of Fame. Inductees are recognized for their significant contributions to preserving the musical heritage of Nashville and for contributing to the world through song or other industry collaboration.
Read the full storyMichael W. Smith, TBN to Host Free Concert At Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena, Aug 30th
TBN announced it will partner with three-time Grammy Award-winning recording artist Michael W. Smith to present a free concert and worship event at Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena on Thursday, August 30th at 7 p.m. “Surrounded: A Night to Pray, Worship and Be Awakened” is free to the public and will begin with a time of prayer for the city of Nashville, surrounding communities, and the nation, led by area pastors. Following a time of prayer, Smith and his band will lead a Worship service from the floor of the Bridgestone Arena – surrounded by those that attend. It is Smith’s hope that this event crosses all denominational, ethnic, racial and generational lines for a real night of unity in middle Tennessee. “The growth and energy happening in our city is not just material, but profoundly spiritual,” said Smith. “It’s time for a night of prayer and worship for Middle Tennessee. My hope is that individuals, families and even whole congregations will attend ‘Surrounded’ for a night we’ll never forget.” The event will be taped, with plans from TBN to air “Surrounded” as a network special later in the fall. Watch the video: All seating will be general admission; doors open at 6…
Read the full storyGrammy Winner Chris Tomlin Releases Advance Music Today Ahead of New Album
Grammy winner and world-renowned worship leader Chris Tomlin surprised fans with the release of early music today: the launch of a new radio single and EP, Nobody Loves Me Like You. USA Today reported Friday the previously unannounced four-song digital-only EP is part of a bigger release plan as Chris’ highly anticipated full studio album set for October 26, Holy Roar, and the companion book Holy Roar: 7 Words That Will Change the Way You Worship available October 23. “I am so energized by this new music, I couldn’t wait to share a few songs ahead of the Holy Roar album,” Tomlin said in a statement. “Holy Roar is the freedom, the experience, the wonder of worship. It is seeing the church come together, hands lifted to God, pouring out our praise with an eternal song in our hearts. It’s every voice together, changing the way we worship.” The Nobody Loves Me Like You EP includes four songs from the soon-to-be-released Holy Roar album and is available now at all digital retailers here. The official radio impact date for “Nobody Loves Me Like You” single is September 14. HOLY ROAR includes tracks produced by Ed Cash and Bryan Fowler and…
Read the full storyMusic Spotlight: Adam Doleac
NASHVILLE, Tennessee – -When I heard Whiskey’s Fine, on Sirius XM the Highway, I always stopped talking and turned it up. There was something about the lyrics to this bluesy, country song that got me. It was that good. Several months later at an event I attended during CMAFest, Sirius’s Storme Warren said to me out of the blue, you need to interview Adam Doleac. Since I loved his song, I decided to pursue it. The thing I like most about interviewing up and coming artists is hearing their “where I came from” stories. And Adam Doleac’s is definitely different than anyone else’s. Adam Doleac grew up in Hattiesburg, Mississippi where is he was strong, athletic boy. By high school, he was really into basketball and golf and was even offered a golf scholarship from Delta State University his Junior year. But in his Senior year, friends stated they needed one more player for their high school baseball team. Having not played since Little League, he went to the batting cages and played in a game that night. By the end of his senior year, he was offered a baseball scholarship from Southern Mississippi University where the hometown boy led the…
Read the full story‘Queen of Soul’ Aretha Franklin Dies
Aretha Franklin, the American singer known to millions of fans around the world as the “Queen of Soul,” has died at the age of 76. Franklin passed away Thursday in her hometown of Detroit, where she had been under hospice care after a long battle with cancer. Born March 25, 1942, in Memphis, Tennessee, Franklin was raised in Detroit, where her father, C.L. Franklin, was a popular preacher. Her talent was recognized at a young age as she played piano and sang hymns at his church services. Franklin moved into pop and jazz music at age 18 on the Columbia Records label. But her real breakthrough came in 1967 on Atlantic Records, which allowed her to sing with her natural gospel intensity for the first time. She rocketed to national fame that year with a series of hit singles, including “Chain of Fools,” “A Natural Woman,” and her most famous song, “Respect,” her first No. 1 hit on the Billboard Hot 100. The song was written by singer-songwriter Otis Redding, who died the year it was released in 1967. But Franklin transformed the song into an anthem for blacks and women by rewriting some of the lyrics and adding lines…
Read the full storyKenny Chesney Comes Home to Nashville and Shatters Nissan Stadium’s Attendance Record.
Kenny Chesney came into Nashville’s Nissan Stadium with two No. 1s in the space of three weeks – sharing David Lee Murphy’s “Everything’s Gonna Be Alright,” then hitting the top of the Country Singles chart for two weeks with his own “Get Along” – and the No. 1 selling debut Songs for the Saints. Anticipation was such that the Tennessee State Highway Commission opened the currently closed for repaving and repair traffic loop for the I-40/24 and I-40/65 splits to ease the burden of traffic for country music lovers attending Nashville’s Trip Around the Sun Tour stop. It was a smart move. Not only did the only country artist on Pollstar’s Top 10 Tours at Mid-Year deliver two high energy hours that included “American Kids,” “Noise,” “Young,” “No Shoes, No Shirt, No Problems” and “Get Along” – he broke One Direction’s 2014 record of 54,249 with 55,182 fans in the home of the Tennessee Titans. “There’s a special energy that happens when you’re home,” Chesney said of the show. “This one’s for the people who know you, your team, where these songs come from. When they sing the chorus of ‘American Kids,’ you can feel they know that song in…
Read the full storyPokémon World Championships Coming to Nashville
Later this month people from around the world will converge in Nashville for the 2018 Pokémon World Championships at the Music City Center. Pokémon is a video game, card game, or other inventory of toys featuring certain Japanese cartoon characters. More than 5,000 Pokémon players, supporters, and fans are expected to attend, according to a press release from the Pokémon Company International. To sweeten the pot, the event will have more than $500,000 in scholarship money and prizes up for grabs. Also up for grabs is the title of Pokémon World Champion. People from more than 35 countries are expected to attend, the press release went on to say. No one from Pokémon Company International returned a request for comment Friday. “Alongside intense head-to-head battles, the family-friendly event set in a festival-like atmosphere will feature colorful Pokémon cosplay, a thrilling Pokkén Tournament DX competition, costumed characters, non-competitive play, and energetic Opening and Closing ceremonies,” the press released stated. For a taste of what you can expect at the event, check out the recap video of the 2017 Pokémon World Championship. According to Nintendo.com, “Pokémon are creatures of all shapes and sizes who live in the wild or alongside humans. For the most…
Read the full storyStaten Island Artist Available to Bring ‘Huuuge’ Muscular President Trump Yard Art to Tennessee If Hired
A Staten Island artist is making national headlines for his “huuuge” commissioned work honoring a muscular President Donald Trump. Scott Lobaido installed a 20-foot tall installation in a client’s yard showing a beefy, muscular bust of Trump atop a red-white-and-blue “2020” that lights up at night, ABC 7 NY reported. The president, as envisioned by Lobaido, has “huuuge” arms like a bodybuilder and wears a T-shirt proclaiming “POTUS 45” and is surrounded by American flags. The client installed security cameras around his house to protect the work. “I’m an artist … and this is my work,” Lobaido told ABC 7 NY. A previous pro-Trump creation of his was burned by a vandal or vandals. It was a 12-foot-high “T” with a flag motif. The new client will have his neighbors’ help in protecting the installation. The Harris Avenue home in Staten Island is a pro-Trump enclave of the bright blue New York City. ABC 7 NY interviewed some of the client’s neighbors who voiced their support for the artwork. One said the installation should be even larger. You can see the ABC 7 NY report here: Lobaido’s website describes himself as a patriotic artist. “Throughout my 50 years, people have…
Read the full storyGrand Ole Opry and Luke Combs Make Songwriters’ Dreams Come True
Multi-platinum singer/songwriter Luke Combs teamed with the Grand Ole Opry to create a rare & matchless moment on the Opry stage last night. Combs, who debuted on the Opry stage in 2016, chose to honor the collaborating songwriters from his Platinum-selling debut album This One’s For You and deluxe album This One’s For You Too to step into the circle and perform with him – turning the legendary stage into an unrivaled songwriting round reminiscent of where it all began for these songwriting friends. Several of the writers — Wyatt B. Durrette, Rob Synder, and Channing Wilson—appeared on the Opry for the first time with Combs, while Randy Montana, Jonathan Singleton, and Rob Williford were welcomed back to the stage to perform with Combs on hits they’d co-written. “We all grew up listening to and loving the Opry,” said Luke. “When I called each writer and told them what was going to happen, it was what the Opry was all about. We have always been the underdogs, and tonight the Opry fans, the diehard fans of country music, got to see a show that you couldn’t see anywhere else in the world. To see my buddies sing their songs has made tonight one of…
Read the full storyDavid Lee Murphy and Kenny Chesney Celebrate Hit Song, ‘Everything’s Gonna Be Alright’
When CMT’s Katie Cook talked of friendship, dreams and hard work, the entire third floor of ACME Feed & Seed burst into cheers. As waiters passed trays of hot chicken’n’waffles and fried green tomatoes, David Lee Murphy and Kenny Chesney were being feted for the feel-good summer anthem “Everything’s Gonna Be Alright,” written by Murphy, Chris Stevens and Jimmy Yeary. “First, I wanna thank Chris and Jimmy. We knew the day we wrote it, this was a hit even if nobody played it,” said Murphy, the man known for “Party Crowd” and “Dust on the Bottle,” to several hundred in attendance. He continued, singling out Reviver Records’ tenacity. “They were tough as can be, and we had a long haul. They’ve worked really hard on this record. We knew it was going to be a fight, but every regional got in there and gave it their all. We said you can run, but you can’t outrun us.” Later Chesney beamed as he took the mic. “This all started three, four years ago, because David Lee would send me all these songs–demos that sounded like records–and he was singing so great. I remember thinking, ‘I’d love to hear that on the…
Read the full storyIconic Entertainer Jerry Lee Lewis to Rock Nashville’s Schermerhorn Symphony Center on December 10
Rock ‘n’ roll’s original wild-man and country music stylist, Jerry Lee Lewis, will return to Nashville for the first time since 2014 at Schermerhorn Symphony Center on December 10th. Tickets are available for presale here and will go on sale to the general public on August 10 at 10 a.m. “We are honored that Jerry Lee Lewis has chosen the Schermerhorn for his triumphant return to Music City,” said Alan D. Valentine, Symphony president & CEO. “His appearance promises to be one of the highlights of our entire season lineup, and we are thrilled to add ‘The Killer’ — one of the true legends of American music — to the long list of musical icons who have graced our stage.” Few artists in music history can boast a résumé as impressive as that of “The Killer,” now in his seventh decade of an unrivaled career that includes numerous Grammy® Awards, induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame’s inaugural class, the Recording Academy’s Lifetime Achievement Award, and an unparalleled impact on countless rock and country artists who have followed in his footsteps. About Jerry Lee Lewis Jerry Lee Lewis is one of the all-time best singer-songwriters, musicians, and pianists.…
Read the full story‘It All Begins With A Song: The Story of the Nashville Songwriter’ Awarded Three Silver Lions at Cannes Lions International Festival
It All Begins With A Song: The Story of the Nashville Songwriter, a new documentary that takes an in-depth look at Nashville’s songwriting community, was awarded three Silver Lions at the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity recently. “This documentary portrays the strength of Nashville’s creative community and of its music brand,” said Ronnie Smith, Head of Corporate Bank, Regions Bank, and chairman of the NCVC board of directors. “No other city could capture its brand in a documentary of this caliber. It is a unique marketing tool that will prove to be effective, cost-efficient and global in its reach. It certainly goes outside the norm to market a city with a documentary, and this recognition is validation of that effort.” The documentary film was created by the Nashville Convention & Visitors Corp as a marketing tool. It was produced by the NCVC, along with John Godsey and VML, a global marketing agency. It was directed by Chusy Jardine of Plan A Films and is being shopped worldwide to major buyers. The Cannes Lions are the most established and coveted awards for the creative and marketing communications industry, and the Festival of Creativity is held in the same southern French…
Read the full storyOhio State’s Meyer Put on Leave, Inquiry Opened
Urban Meyer’s job appears to be in jeopardy. Ohio State placed Meyer, one of the most successful coaches in college football history, on paid administrative leave Wednesday while it investigates claims that his wife knew about allegations of domestic violence against an assistant coach years before the staff member was fired last week. Courtney Smith, the ex-wife of fired Buckeyes assistant Zach Smith, gave an interview to Stadium and provided text messages to former ESPN reporter Brett McMurphy between her and Shelley Meyer in 2015 about Zach Smith’s behavior. Courtney Smith also provided threatening texts she said came from her ex-husband, and text messages between her and other wives of Buckeyes assistant coaches, discussing Zach Smith. “Shelley said she was going to have to tell Urban,” Courtney Smith told Stadium. “I said: ‘That’s fine, you should tell Urban.’” Zach Smith, who has never been convicted of any crimes, was fired last week after an Ohio court granted a domestic violence protective order to Courtney Smith. A message left by the AP for Zach Smith’s attorney, Brad Koffel, requesting comment was not immediately returned. Ohio State Title IX Meyer is heading into his seventh season at Ohio State, where he is…
Read the full storyKenny Chesney Charts 30th No. 1 Hit as He Releases ‘Songs for the Saints’
The recent hurricane in the Virgin Islands inspired Kenny Chesney’s newly released “Song for the Saints” record. His 30th #1 hit, “Get Along” encapsulates so much of what “Songs for the Saints” is all about.
Read the full storyWhiskey Myers Finds Musical Home on the Range With Kevin Costner Series, “Yellowstone”
Whiskey Myers has tapped an enthusiastic audience on the Kevin Costner Paramount Network drama “Yellowstone.” With an on-camera appearance and three songs featured on the hit series so far, Whiskey Myers’ music is reaching a new, fervent audience that has propelled three of the band’s albums to the Top 10 of the iTunes Country Album Chart. Mud topped the chart while Firewater followed at No. 2 and Early Morning Shakes reached No. 9. All three albums peaked in the Top 50 All-Genre with over 250,000 sales. “Getting asked to be on ‘Yellowstone’ was a cool opportunity and we are very honored to be a part of it since we are all big fans of Kevin (Costner) and Taylor (Sheridan),” said lead vocalist and guitarist Cody Cannon. “It’s really awesome to see people reacting to our music, taking a two-year-old album to the No. 1 spot on iTunes and five of our songs to the Top 200, with “Stone” even hitting the Top 10 for Country Songs. We are very thankful that people are digging it.” “I’m very humbled by how positive the reaction has been with all the fan interaction digging the music,” added guitarist John Jeffers. “We knew that you just have to hang in there and put out…
Read the full storyMusic Spotlight: Kalie Shorr
When I first heard Kalie Shorr, it was on Sirius XM’s The Highway in 2016. Fight Like a Girl was a gutsy song by a cute girl who was trying to navigate the murky waters of country music in Nashville. But when I sat down to speak to her, as is so often the case, I found out there was so much more to Kalie Shorr, a lot more. Kalie Shorr literally wrote her first song when she was just seven years old. By thirteen, she was highly influenced by pop, rock and country and begin posting cover songs on the popular app, YouTube. Since Kalie lived in Maine at the time, it was the only way she could get her music out there. “I always wanted to be in Nashville and it gave me an opportunity to reach Nashville without actually being there.” She received validation from viewers that this was something she should be doing. The door opened in 2010 when Kalie was 16. Blogger Perez Hilton, noticed her on YouTube. He paid for her first official recordings and her initial trip to Nashville. “[Perez Hilton] introduced me to a lot of people that I needed to know and…
Read the full storyTickets for Multiple Nashville Symphony Concerts Go on Sale Friday, July 20
Single tickets for the Nashville Symphony’s 2018/19 season — including 100+ classical, pops, jazz and family concerts, as well as a host of special events — will go on sale to the public at 10 a.m. on Friday, July 20. Featuring four classic works by one of America’s greatest composers, the Bernstein Centennial Opening Night will kick off the season on September 8, 2018. A special, multimedia presentation of Carmina Burana in collaboration with Nashville Ballet and British filmmaker Duncan Copp will close the season on May 31-June 3, 2019. In between, the Symphony’s concert calendar features diverse programming across a variety of genres, all in the intimate setting and superior acoustics of one of the world’s finest concert halls, Schermerhorn Symphony Center. Highlights of the 2018/19 concert schedule include: · Symphony Under the Stars at Ascend Amphitheater (Sept. 9, 2018) · Ax Plays Brahms (Sept. 13-15, 2018) · Kristin Chenoweth with the Nashville Symphony (Sept. 27-29, 2018) · Beethoven’s Violin Concerto featuring James Ehnes (Oct. 4-7, 2018) · Jon Batiste: Solo (Oct. 19, 2018) · Russian Masters, featuring Mussorgsky, Tchaikovsky & more (Nov. 2-3, 2018) · The Mavericks with the Nashville Symphony (Nov. 8-10, 2018) · The…
Read the full storyEric Church to Release New Album on October 5th
Eric Church speaks to the Church Choir directly via video address to announce his new album, Desperate Man, is set for an October 5 release.
Read the full storyLuke Bryan to Open Entertainment Hot Spot in the Heart of Nashville
Luke’s 32 Bridge Food + Drink will feature Nashville’s only the six-floor entertainment hot-spot with a multi-level rooftop bar and sushi menu.
Read the full storyThe Mind Behind the Muppets Showcased in Traveling Exhibit
For decades, the Muppets, created by Jim Henson, have captured the imagination of children and adults worldwide. A traveling exhibit, “The Jim Henson Exhibition: Imagination Unlimited,” is now at the Skirball Cultural Center in Los Angeles. It features some of the most beloved Muppets and shows what happens behind the scenes for characters such as Kermit the Frog, Miss Piggy and The Count from Sesame Street to come to life. “If you learn from Sesame Street, he (The Count) teaches you how to count. There’s Cookie Monster, he does the ABCs every episode,” said 9-year-old Elli Fire, who worked on a hands-on display that shows how a puppet character is created. “We’re excited for people to understand that he was a very multifaceted artist, a very adventurous, creative mind,” said Jim Henson’s eldest daughter, Lisa, who is the president and chief executive officer of The Jim Henson Company, which is also based in Los Angeles. Family business Lisa Henson described what it was like to be in the Henson family, which included five siblings. “As family members, we were always quite included in the productions. He [Jim Henson] was encouraging us to be with him on set all the time,” she…
Read the full storyDean Cain: People Didn’t Want Us To Release Abortion Film About ‘Most Prolific Serial Killer’ In US History
by Grace Carr Actor and reserve police officer Dean Cain sat down with “Fox & Friends” Friday to talk about his new film, “Gosnell: America’s Biggest Serial Killer,” which reveals the horrors that occurred at the hands of America’s most infamous abortion doctor, Kermit Gosnell. “It’s the story of Kermit Gosnell,” Cain said. “Some people call him the most prolific serial killer in the history of the United States … And it was horrible because he was inducing labor and babies were born alive and he was — they were snipping with surgical scissors.” He explained that he and the producers made the film a few years before 2018, but had trouble getting it out because no one wanted to distribute subject matter that was so graphic and terrible. The film is set to hit theaters on Oct. 12. “People didn’t want to talk about it — people haven’t wanted to let us release this film,” Cain said. “Why is it important for this film to be released in your mind?” co-host Ainsley Earhardt asked Cain, to which he responded the “story is so horrendous and so bad” that people should be aware. Most people aren’t aware of Gosnell’s…
Read the full storyJosh Gracin Heads Overseas to Entertain United States Military in Kuwait
Number one hit singer-songwriter and former Marine Josh Gracin heads overseas to entertain United States Military in Kuwait.
Read the full storyIncredibles 2: Making Superheroes Great Again
by Jordan J. Ballor I saw Incredibles 2 over the Father’s Day weekend, and just like its predecessor, there’s a lot to ponder beneath the surface of this animated film. In the real world we’ve had to wait 14 years, but the sequel picks up basically where the original left off. As the Rev. Jerry Zandstra wrote of the original, “litigiousness and mediocrity are some of the biggest obstacles in our culture. The propensity to settle every dispute by legal action undermines values, such as trust and forgiveness, that are essential to the maintenance of genuine community. Fear of rewarding or achieving excellence discourages human persons from fulfilling God-given potential.” In the sequel, superheroes are still illegal, for reasons of both litigiousness and social anxiety over “supers,” that is, those who have super abilities. Incredibles 2 has a lot to do with the virtues of a system that allows individuals to find out what they can do well and how those abilities can serve others for their good. In this, it is true to the stewardship mandate at the heart of all superhero tales: with great power comes great responsibility. Or as Jesus puts it, to those whom much is given, much is expected. But the issues…
Read the full storySteve Gill Remembers John Ward, the ‘Voice of the Vols’
In the final segment of Friday’s Gill Report, broadcast live on WETR 92.3 FM in Knoxville, Steve Gill reflected on the life and times of legendary Vols sports broadcaster, John Ward. Ward passed away this week at age 88 after a lengthy illness. The segment opened up with a 1995 recording of Ward calling a classic moment in Vols football history: a first-down, first play touchdown by then-quarterback Peyton Manning and his wide receiver, Joey Kent. “What did he do?” Ward said in his trademark galloping cadence – the live Vols fans roaring in the background – “All he did was score!” “The Voice of the Vols has passed,” Steve Gill said, “But his legacy lives on as long as someone shouts ‘BOTTOM’ whenever a Tennessee basketball player scores a basket; or ‘Give him six!’ when they cross the checkerboard; or ‘It’s football time in Tennessee!’ when those crisp, Fall Saturdays begin.” He continued: You know, when I was a kid – eighth or ninth grade – we lived in Colonial Heights Virginia, near Richmond, and late at night I could tune in and just barely catch the Vol basketball games. I would have to actually turn the dial sightly…
Read the full storyIs Your Representative Playing In The Congressional Baseball Game?
by Evie Fordham Sixty members of Congress will take the field for the Congressional Baseball Game for Charity on Thursday night in Washington, D.C. Click here to find the complete roster. Twenty-four Democrats and 36 Republicans will face each other at Nationals Park. Notable politicians playing include Republicans Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky, Rep. Mia Love of Utah and, of course, Rep. Steve Scalise of Louisiana. Scalise was shot when a gunman opened fire at a Republican congressional baseball practice in 2017. Five people were wounded, and Scalise was hospitalized for months, undergoing multiple surgeries after being shot in the hip. He will be the starting second baseman for a team hoping to earn victory over the Democrats, who beat the Republicans 11-2 in 2017. The game is available to watch on Facebook Live; the first pitch is set for 7:05 p.m. Eastern time. The congressional baseball game offers Republicans and Democrats a chance to cross party lines for a good cause. The event will support charities like The Washington Literacy Center, The Boys and Girls Clubs of Greater Washington and the Washington Nationals Dream Foundation. – – – Evie Fordham is a reporter at Daily Caller News Foundation. Follow Evie on Twitter @eviefordham. …
Read the full storyMusic Spotlight: Steve Moakler
Steve Moakler releases fifth studio album, ‘Born Ready’ on June 15th.
Read the full storyNashville Symphony Performs Under the Stars at Three Concerts at Ascend Amphitheater This June
Pink Floyd tribute, Disney in Concert and The Who’s ‘Tommy’ with Roger Daltrey highlight orchestra’s third year at its summer home.
Read the full storyChris Young and CMA Foundation Honor Tennessee 2018 Music Teachers of Excellence
Country Music Star, Chris Young, honors local Rutherford County Teacher, Brenda Gregory, and other Teachers of Excellence.
Read the full storyLynryd Skynyrd Announces Remaining 2018 Tour Dates for Farewell Tour
Lynyrd Skynyrd will play Bridgestone Arena on their ‘Last of the Street Survivors Farewell Tour’ on October 26. Presale tickets can be purchased on June 12th.
Read the full storyGrand Ole Opry Honors Military Families at Special Tuesday Night Opry
Several country artists took time to perform, meet and greet honored military families, active duty military and veterans at the Grand Ole Opry on Tuesday, May 22.
Read the full storyJason Crabb Inducted into Kentucky Music Hall of Fame
Jason Crabb, Grammy winner and 21-time GMA Dove Award-winning artist, was inducted into the Kentucky Music Hall of Fame on May 11, 2018, during an induction ceremony in Mount Vernon, Kentucky.
Read the full story8th Annual ‘Music City Gives Back’ Free Concert at Ascend Park June 4th
Hear Big and Rich, Rodney Atkins, Ashley McBride, Travis Denning and Drew Baldridge in a free concert at Ascend Park to mark the opening of the CMAFest on June 4th in an All-Star Concert benefitting W.O. Smith Music School.
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