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April 29, 2014

» Eric Goes Head Hunting:

Let it be known far and wide: never get in between a country artist and his fans. More than 900 ticket purchases for Eric Church's Sept. 16 show at the Target Center in Minneapolis believed to have been made by scalpers have been cancelled, and were put on sale again Friday (4/25). "A lot of acts just want to sell as many tickets as they can and they don't care who they sell them to," says Church. "I want my fans to be the ones who buy tickets to my shows, and I want scalpers to back off. I can't stop ticket scalpers completely, but I can definitely make it harder for them." More here. Church's The Outsiders World Tour kicks off in Bossier City, LA Sept. 11.

» Zac And Forth: Zac Brown Band have added Chicago's Wrigley Field to their stops on the Great American Road Trip tour, which kicks off May 24 in Lincoln, NE. They've already sold out two nights at Boston's Fenway Park. They'll hit Wrigley Sep. 13. See the full list of tour dates here.

» Watch Ya Doin':

Tudor Watch USA has signed on as the official timekeeper for Hunter Hayes' attempt to break the Guinness World Record for "most concerts played in multiple cities in 24 hours." The company will provide Hayes with an exclusive logo-engraved watch for him to wear during the "Hunter Hayes 24-Hour Road Race To End Child Hunger." The 10-show campaign begins May 9 with an appearance on ABC-TV's Good Morning America in New York. Supporting acts for the 10 shows include Dan + Shay, Charlie Worsham, The Railers, Dean Alexander and Matt Sucich. More here. ConAgra Foods' Child Hunger Ends Here program is among the race's sponsors. The watch will later be auctioned to raise money for Feeding America.

» Hunger Gains: Toby Keith, Reba, Vince Gill, Martina McBride, Chris Young, The Band Perry, Thomas Rhett, Danielle Bradbery, Cassadee Pope, The Cadillac Three and Lauren Jenkins are featured on "Give 'Em Hope," a song supporting Outnumber Hunger. The song is available on iTunes here, and 48% of the purchase price is being donated by Big Machine Label Group to benefit local food banks across the country. Listen here.

» Black & White & Web All Over:

Wind, technical difficulties give Stagecoach a "slow start," but "some of the best weather and even better musical performances" make for a strong finish. –Inland Valley Daily Bulletin
Stagecoach performances by Lee Brice, Danielle Bradbery, Florida Georgia Line and Luke Bryan reviewed. –Inland Valley Daily Bulletin
Darius Rucker's " reincarnation as a country star is an inspired one." –Orlando Sentinel

Hit List

The Toby Keith Foundation's 11th Annual Toby Keith & Friends Golf Classic will be May 16-17 in Norman, OK, followed by the 3rd Annual OK Kids Corral Championship pro golf tournament June 16-21. The events benefit OK Kids Corral, a cost-free home for children battling cancer and their families. More here.
Jo Dee Messina will perform the National Anthem at the 140th Kentucky Derby May 3 at Churchill Downs in Louisville. The appearance will air live at 5pm ET as part of NBC-TV's coverage of the event. Messina recently released Me, her fifth full-length album. More here.
The George Jones Scholarship Fund at Middle Tennessee State University has raised more than $171,000. The fund was established by Jones' family and revealed at the unveiling of a monument in his honor late last year. "George received help from people as he strove to have a country music career, so I am thrilled that we will be able to help young people in the name of George Jones," says wife Nancy. "I know he would have loved this." Donations can be made here.

Birthdays

Tuesday (4/29): James Bonamy.

Wednesday (4/30): Willie Nelson, Carolyn Dawn Johnson.

Thursday (5/1): Tim McGraw.

On TV

Tuesday (4/29): Blake Shelton, The Voice (NBC).

Wednesday (4/30): Florida Georgia Line, The View (ABC); Keith Urban, Live With Kelly & Michael (syndicated); Keith Urban, American Idol (FOX).

This Week's Album Releases

James House Broken Glass Twisted Steel: Inspired by the recent resurrection of his mid-'90s single "This Is Me Missing You" in the UK, the album includes his versions of popular songs he wrote, including "Broken Wing," "I Ain't That Lonely Yet" and "In A Week Or Two," as well as eight new songs.

Upcoming Album Releases

May 6 Hunter Hayes Storyline

May 6 Leah Turner Leah Turner EP

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 27 Jamie O'Neal Eternal

» Dance Made In Heaven: Jake Owen gives fans Seth and Sierra an "OMG moment" last week (4/24) at his Bowling Green, KY show by calling them onstage to practice their first dance to "Heaven," the song that was playing when they got engaged.