Birthdays
Tuesday (5/6): Jimmie Dale Gilmore.
Wednesday (5/7): Joanna Smith. On TV
Tuesday (5/6): Blake Shelton, The Voice (NBC).
Wednesday (5/7): Ray LaMontagne, The Ellen DeGeneres Show (syndicated); Keith Urban, American Idol (FOX).
Thursday (5/8): Keith Urban, American Idol (FOX). This Week's Album Releases
 Hunter Hayes Storyline: Hayes co-wrote all 14 songs, and Eric Paslay shares writing credit on the title track. Hayes also plays multiple instruments on every track, including electric and acoustic guitars, resonator guitar, B3 organ, bouzouki, Wurlitzer, synthesizer, percussion, piano, mandolin, mandocello, ukelele and accordion.
Leah Turner Leah Turner EP: Five tracks include her first single "Take The Keys," a song Turner says is about letting a man take charge; "Bless My Heart," which she calls a snarky take on the old southern phrase; and her anthem to cheaters, "Here's My Finger." Upcoming Album Releases
May 13 Rascal Flatts Rewind
May 13 Dolly Parton Blue Smoke
May 13 Radney Foster Everything I Should Have Said
May 19 Brantley Gilbert Just As I Am
May 19 Zac Brown Band The Grohl Sessions Vol. 1
May 27 Jamie O'Neal Eternal | 
The long-awaited Zac Brown Band EP with former Nirvana drummer and Foo Fighters front man Dave Grohl as producer – otherwise known as The Grohl Sessions Vol. 1 – hits stores May 19. And for ZBB fans hungry for behind-the-scenes content, the band will make a deluxe CD/DVD package available at Walmart, Best Buy and 
Memorial Day is cookouts and family for most folks, but Brantley Gilbert will be honoring the holiday's true spirit ... after a long ride, anyway. Brantley is partnering with Harley-Davidson and Folds Of Honor for a motorcycle ride beginning May 21 in Athens, GA and closing May 26 – Memorial Day – with a ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia. He'll mix in stops at the Coca-Cola 600 in Charlotte and jet to the Indianapolis 500 along the way. A bus accompanying him will be wrapped with graphics featuring names fans submitted of those who gave their lives in military service. Gilbert's new album Just As I Am is out May 19. More 
Miranda Lambert leads in nominations for the 2014 CMT Music Awards with six. She's up for Video and Female Video for "Automatic," Video and Collaborative Video for "We Were Us" with Keith Urban, and Video and Collaborative Video as part of Pistol Annies in Blake Shelton's "Boys 'Round Here." Florida Georgia Line and Luke Bryan each have five nods, and Urban and Taylor Swift have four each. Fan voting has begun and continues through June 1 
Scotty McCreery and a group of friends were robbed at gunpoint by three men while at an apartment in Raleigh early Monday (5/5). "It was definitely a very scary night," says McCreery. "Luckily my friends and I are safe ... I will share more when the time is right, but as of now we do not want to do or say anything that could hinder the investigation. Thanks to everyone for the prayers and support. A huge thank you to the Raleigh PD for their quick response and hard work in solving this case." Wallets, cell phones and electronics are said to have been taken in the incident. The apartment was being rented by one of McCreery's friends. Local TV coverage .jpg)
Dierks Bentley has created the "Rise Up Line Up" program offering ticket holders for his Riser Tour the chance to earn points toward upgraded seats. "When I was in my 20s, I could only afford a lawn ticket to the big shows because I had to save my money for beer once I got in the gate," Bentley says. "This is a cool way to give the fans an opportunity to get up closer to the stage and maybe even get them involved in the show." The tour opens May 9 in Charlotte. More 
The Eli Young Band are one of three artists who will headline a nationwide tour as part of Jägermeister's Ultimate Summer Of Music, along with Fall Out Boy and Paul Oakenfold. "We've always prided ourselves on working with some of the most well-respected acts in the industry but we have yet to bring three top acts from three different genres together," says Jägermeister Dir./Music Marketing Cliff Rigano. "Each of these artists consistently deliver legendary, high-energy shows that we know our diverse consumer set will love." EYB's first date is June 7 at Coyote Joe's in Charlotte. See the full list of dates 
Well wishes to Will Hoge, who is fighting pneumonia and had to cancel his Saturday show at Austin's Lone Star Jam (5/3). No other dates have been cancelled at this time.
