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| This is an industry-only version of an email that Country stations in dozens of top markets deliver
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| July 1, 2014
» Zac's Funky Boston Dixieland:  Opening for the Zac Brown Band's back-to-back sold-out shows at Boston's Fenway Park Friday and Saturday (6/27-28) was ... the Zac Brown Band! Neat trick, huh? "Both shows were amazing," our insider says. The Doobie Brothers made an appearance Friday, joining ZBB for "Black Water." A helicopter was employed to film parts of Saturday's performance for NBC. "Zac sang 'America The Beautiful' as 36,000 people waved to the helicopter high above Fenway while singing in unison. Chilling moment!"
Set lists varied by night, but aside from the hits they're known for, ZBB also played Dropkick Murphys' "I'm Shipping Up To Boston," Pink Floyd's "Comfortably Numb," Jimmy Buffet's "Volcano," Aerosmith's "Sweet Emotion," Led Zeppelin's "Kashmir" and Metallica's "Enter Sandman." "Zac told the crowd he’d been here with his dad for a ball game when he was 12 and never dreamed he’d be playing two sold-out shows," our observer says, also noting that the band played almost three hours each night with a 15-minute intermission in the middle. |
» Mötley New:  The names Rascal Flatts, Justin Moore, Eli Young Band and LeAnn Rimes aren't generally heard in the same sentence as Mötley Crüe, but that's about to change. Crüe tunes covered by those country artists and others including Florida Georgia Line ("If I Die Tomorrow"), Big & Rich ("SOS"), Brantley Gilbert ("Girls Girls Girls"), Gretchen Wilson ("Wild Side") and Darius Rucker ("Time For Change") will make up just part of the forthcoming album Nashville Outlaws: A Country Tribute To Mötley Crüe. The project is set for release Aug. 19 and features 15 of the band's biggest hits.
The first single is Justin's Moore's cover of "Home Sweet Home," which was released to Country radio and iTunes today (7/1). The accompanying video (watch here) features Moore performing with the band, while a behind-the-scenes feature includes interviews with Moore, MC's Vince Neil and director Shane Drake (watch here). The band's Nikki Sixx, Tommy Lee and Mick Mars even take the stage at some of Nashville's famous Broadway clubs. Check out the album's track listing and get your copy here. |
» When The Spirit Moves:  Though fans went without a touring Kenny Chesney this year, they won't go without new music. The crooner's 15th studio album The Big Revival hits retailers Sept. 23. "The whole point of taking the time to get to a really creative place was to have the room to look at not what we'd done, but where we wanted to go," he says. "After all this time, if I can't push myself and give the fans something that inspires them, that gets them pumped up, there's no reason to just make a record to make a record." Contributions by Grace Potter, and Alison Krauss and Dan Tyminksi are examples of Chesney's desire to deliver something extra. "There's so much more to country than trucks, creek beds and cut-offs," he says. "That stuff is fun, but when you look at how people really dig in and work, the things they face every day, you wanna remind 'em how hardcore they really are, show 'em that and also show 'em that you know there's more to 'em than people might think." The debut single "American Kids" is at radio now. |
» Making A List:  Taylor Swift has made Forbes' annual Celebrity 100 list of the world's most powerful famous people at No. 18. Other country artists to make the grade include Toby Keith (51) and Kenny Chesney (71). Beyoncé Knowles was No. 1. Full rankings here. |
» Black & White & Web All Over: -
 Luke Bryan's "incredibly animated set" left no doubt he is the "biggest star in country." –Milwaukee Journal Sentinel - Zac Brown Band at Fenway were "epic." –Boston Herald
- Tim McGraw's concert is a "reminder that he's famous for more than his muscles." –St. Louis Post-Dispatch
- Rascal Flatts "continues to perform like underdogs looking for a break." –Regina Leader-Post
- Carrie Underwood gives a young fan the "best moment of his life so far." –WEAU-TV
- Florida Georgia Line "hit the stage with energy and left the crowd in a sea of screams and cheers." –Eau Claire Leader-Telegram
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Hit List -
.jpg) Kristian Bush has added rock singer-songwriter and guitarist Michelle Malone to select summer tour dates. More here. - With the launch of his redesigned website, JT Hodges is offering fans the chance to win a Gibson Les Paul guitar and a personal online guitar lesson. Check it out and register to win here.
- Josh Thompson will perform in the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum's Hot Nights at the Hall fundraising concert series July 10. Tickets are free for members and $20 for non-members. More here.
Birthdays
Tuesday (7/1): The late Keith Whitley.
Thursday (7/3): Sarah Buxton, Aaron Tippin, Trent Tomlinson. On TV
Tuesday (7/1): Little Big Town performs "Day Drinking," Today (NBC).
Wednesday (7/2): Big Smo (A&E).
Friday (7/4): Sara Evans, A Capitol Fourth (PBS). This Week's Album Releases
 Colt Ford Thanks For Listening: Ford says his fifth studio album represents the things close to his heart: America, country music, hard work, celebrating life with family and friends and having a good time doing it. Keith Urban, Jerrod Niemann, Randy Houser, Justin Moore, Chase Rice, Lee Brice and Duck Dynasty's Willie Robertson are among collaborators. Upcoming Album Releases
Jul. 15 Cowboy Jack Clement For Once And For All
Jul. 22 Sammy Kershaw Do You Know Me? A Tribute To George Jones
Aug. 19 Nashville Outlaws: A Tribute To Mötley Crüe
Chase Rice Ignite The Night
Aug. 26 Brad Paisley Moonshine In The Trunk
Sep. 2 Terri Clark Some Songs
Sep. 9 Lee Brice I Don't Dance
Dustin Lynch Where It's At |
 » Here You Come Again: It's probably not a pairing a you'd expect, but Dolly Parton was joined onstage twice this weekend by former Bon Jovi guitar man Richie Sambora, first in London Friday (6/27) and again Sunday (6/29) in Glastonbury. They performed Bon Jovi's "Lay Your Hands On Me." Watch here. |
 » Challenging Times: Craig Campbell presents the T.J. Martell Foundation with a $17,759 check, the result of the 2nd Annual Craig Campbell Cornhole Challenge held during CMA Music Festival in Nashville. Pictured (l-r) are TJM's Tinti Moffat, Campbell, his label's Liz Cost and TJM's Melissa Goodwin. |
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