 Hit List -
Brad Paisley and Florida Georgia Line will headline the third annual Blue Ridge Music Festival May 30-31, 2015 in Salem, VA. Get tickets and more info here. -
Kix Brooks and GAC host Suzanne Alexander will be celebrity bartenders at the Tin Roof 2 in Franklin, TN Sept. 30 from 6-8pm to raise money for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital . Alexander has also been running half-marathon races for St. Jude in different cities leading up to the Nov. 2 NYC Marathon. Donate via her Facebook page here . -
Garth Brooks has broken his 1997 personal record – 56,243 – for tickets sold in Florida. Brooks' 2014 dates at the Jacksonville Veterans Memorial Arena – Oct. 10, 12, 16-18 – have already surpassed that number and are still selling. Get yours here. Birthdays Tuesday (9/23): Don Herron (BR549), Julio Iglesias, the late Ray Charles. Thursday (9/25): Greg Bates, Joe Sun, the late Royce Kendall. On TV Wednesday (9/24): Kenny Chesney, Today (NBC) and The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon (NBC); Sam Hunt, Late Night With Seth Myers (NBC). This Week's Album Releases Sept. 23 Kenny Chesney The Big Revival Chesney took 2014 off the road to concentrate on making this album. He produced it with longtime collaborator Buddy Cannon and it includes the first single "American Kids." Lee Ann Womack The Way I'm Livin' Womack went old school in the studio for this record. Many of her vocals were recorded live on the floor with the band. Of note: the first single and title cut was written by Adam Wright of The Wrights. Big & Rich Gravity As they celebrate their 10th anniversary as a duo, Big Kenny and John Rich release their fifth studio album. It features the first single "Look At You" and "Lovin' Lately" with special guest Tim McGraw. Upcoming Album Releases Sept. 30 Lady Antebellum 747 Blake Shelton Bringing Back The Sunshine Marty Stuart Saturday Night & Sunday Morning Ricky Skaggs and Sharon White Hearts Like Ours
Oct. 7 Jason Aldean Old Boots, New Dirt Old Dominion Self-Titled Various Artists The Best Of Me Soundtrack Oct. 14 Florida Georgia Line Anything Goes The Swon Brothers Self-Titled
Oct. 21 Little Big Town Pain Killer | 
When Tim McGraw recorded his new album, Sundown Heaven Town , not only was he involved in the production of the music (co-producing with Byron Gallimore), he made sure no detail was overlooked, right down to the album cover. He wants fans to know how much thought he put into the design. Tim worked with visual design artist/director Nick Egan to come up with the final look. Egan has designed covers for artists including Bob Dylan and Duran Duran. 
For Jerrod Niemann 's upcoming Oct. 12 wedding to fiancée Morgan Petek , the couple have requested no gifts. Instead, they encourage friends and fans to donate to their non-profit Free The Music USA , which gives used instruments to children in need. "Philanthropy has been a cornerstone of our relationship since the beginning," they told People magazine. "In the past, we have been blessed to team up with our friends at ACM Lifting Lives, Rising Star Outreach, PS22 Chorus, Refugee and Immigrant Students Empowered and Songs for Sound to enrich the lives of young people. We can't think of a better way to honor our upcoming nuptials than to combine the two things that we love the most: music and helping others." Watch their "Wedding Wish" video and make a donation 
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Taylor Swift held a surprise listening party for her new album 1989 last weekend at her Los Angeles home for a lucky group of fans. Word of the secret session leaked when some of the guests started tweeting photos – like this one from Lonna Moshier . "Coolest thing that's ever happened to me...& I've won a car on The Price Is Right ," she said. .jpg)
Faith Hill and Tim McGraw will receive the Nashville Symphony 's annual Harmony Award , given to artists who represent the harmonious spirit of the Nashville music community. They'll receive the award and perform at the Dec. 13 .jpg)
The Grand Ole Opry will celebrate its 89 
