DARIUS RUCKER’S TRUE BELIEVERS IN STORES TODAY

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – (Tuesday, May 21, 2013) – True Believers, the third country album from Platinum-selling Capitol Nashville recording artist Darius Rucker, arrives in-stores today. The album features Platinum-certified single “Wagon Wheel,” which hit No. 1 on the Billboard Country Singles Chart this week.

“I am so excited that today is finally here and I can share True Believers with my fans,” said Rucker. “Having ‘Wagon Wheel’ reach No.1 this same week is amazing to me. I’m very proud of this album, and hope everyone enjoys it as much as I do.”

Rucker will perform tomorrow night (May 22) on ABC’s “Jimmy Kimmel Live.” Due to extended news coverage on the tragic aftermath of yesterday's tornado in Oklahoma and last weekend's tornadoes that ripped through the Midwest, his live appearance on ABC's "Good Morning America," previously announced for this morning, was taped and will be rescheduled to air at a later date.

"My thoughts and prayers are with the families whose lives were devastated by these tornadoes," said Rucker. "I encourage my fans to help by donating to the American Red Cross." Donations can be made by visiting redcross.org, dialing 1-800-REDCROSS or texting REDCROSS to 90999 to make a $10 donation.

TRAVIS TRITT TO SING ANTHEM AT NCAA CHAMPIONSHIP

Multi-platinum country performer Travis Tritt will sing the National Anthem prior to the NCAA men's basketball National Championship game April 8 in Atlanta. The high profile appearance is a milestone for Tritt, a native Georgian who has performed at some of athletics' biggest moments.

Completing the sports equivalent of Hollywood's EGOT, Tritt's April performance adds to a resumé that includes two Super Bowl performances, a World Series game, the 1996 Atlanta Olympics, the opening of Atlanta's Georgia Dome and the final Braves game at Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium. May 3 he'll play the Barnstable Brown Gala at the Kentucky Derby, his 15th consecutive appearance at the benefit for diabetes research.

In addition to a full performance slate, Travis is readying a re-release of his 10th studio album The Storm featuring several new tracks. Among them is a duet with his 15-year-old daughter Tyler Reese on the Patty Smyth-Don Henley song "Sometimes Love Just Ain't Enough." A single and video will be released soon.

JACK GREENE
January 7, 1930 - March 14, 2013

Jack Greene, a longtime Grand Ole Opry star who earned fame with the hit "There Goes My Everything," has died in Nashville at 83. The song showed off his deep voice, made him a star and earned him the single of the year and male vocalist of the year awards from the Country Music Association in 1967.

Grand Ole Opry spokeswoman Jessie Schmidt said Friday that Greene died in his sleep Thursday night (3/14/2013) at home from complications of Alzheimer's disease.

His other hits, mostly in the late 1960s, included "All the Time," ''Are My Treasure," ''Until My Dreams Come True," ''What Locks the Door" and "Statue of a Fool." He was nominated for a Grammy award three straight years.

In the late 1960s and early 1970s, Greene recorded duet hits with Jeannie Seely including, "Wish I Didn't Have to Miss You."

He was a native of Maryville, TN, where he started in radio at WGAP. He was a singer-guitarist who played bass and drums in various groups, then got his break when Country Music Hall of Famer Ernest Tubb hired him to be drummer for his band, the Texas Troubadours, in the early 1960s.

Jack Greene's memorial will be held at the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville, TN at 11 AM on March 27th. It will be a celebration of his life and accomplishments and is said to be open to the public.


(Courtesy Schmidt PR and Ernest Tubb Record Shop)

Country Thunder Releases Last of 4-Day Passes — No Single-Day Passes Will be Sold

Very Limited Reserved Standing and Parking Upgrades Available


Country Thunder, to be held July 18-21 in Twin Lakes, Wis., is releasing the remaining 1,000 4-day passes. These passes are available for $120 and are guaranteed to sell out quickly. There will be no single-day passes sold. Once these passes are gone, the festival will be completely sold out. And don’t forget, in order to enter the campgrounds a 4-day admission wristband is required. If you want the premium Country Thunder experience, a very limited number of Front Porch packages are being released for $300 *to be purchased along with 4-day passes not in substitution. Standing room only, no chairs allowed. Tickets will need to be redeemed at RSVD Gate (not main gate). The Front Porch package includes (1) RSVD Parking Pass and (2) RSVD Standing Room Passes. If looking on the online map – Front Porch Area is to the left of Section A if facing the main stage. With Reserved Standing and Parking, Country Thunder patrons will be able to bypass the lines and have direct access to parking and the festival bowl.

Keith Urban, Brad Paisley, Dierks Bentley, Little Big Town, Jake Owen and more will all be hitting the Country Thunder stage. And if that’s not enough, Country Thunder offers a wide array of lifestyle activities including Electric Thunder, featuring DJs nightly, The Bluegrass Tent, The Great American Country Thunder Stage, food vendors, shopping, thrill rides and much more.

All up-to-date information on Country Thunder can be found at http://www.countrythunder.com or call the offices at (866) 802-6418. Please click "read more" for full line-up.

John Corbett, Leaving Nothin’ Behind is produced by Jon Randall Stewart and Gary Paczosa and is available at iTunes on January 29th.
The album arrives at retail on February 5th and a 2013 "Leaving Nothin' Behind Tour" kicks off February 24.

No one has to tell John Corbett that Hollywood stars moonlighting as musicians don’t always get taken seriously. He’s already faced crowds full of skeptics wearing expectant looks that silently challenge, “All right, actor boy, show us what you’ve got.”

But Corbett’s never had a problem doing just that, onstage with his band or on radio airwaves. His self-titled debut album, released in 2006, climbed to No. 42 on Billboard’s Country Albums chart, surprising even the guy who rose to fame as Cicely, Alaska’s resident radio deejay on the “Northern Exposure” TV series (and made women swoon in “Sex and the City” and “My Big Fat Greek Wedding”).

With his new album, Leaving Nothin’ Behind, on his own Funbone Records label, Corbett confirms what fans of John Corbett quickly recognized: He was never just moonlighting in the first place. Growing up in the shadow of Wheeling, W.Va.’s famed Capitol Music Hall, just a few miles from where Brad Paisley was raised, music was always Corbett’s first love. He’s been playing since he can remember.

“I never for a second dreamed that I could make a living making music, except probably when I was a freshman in high school and would daydream about what it would be like to be in Kiss or Styx or something,” he admits, laughing. “But I always had a guitar with me.”

His mom bought him his first one when he was 7 or 8—right about when she ignited his enduring passion for Elvis. He’s such a huge fan, he owns the king’s birth record—handwritten by the doctor who delivered him in Tupelo, Miss. Corbett also swears allegiance to the Rolling Stones, Tom Petty and Aerosmith, plus Garth Brooks (a fellow Kiss fan), Glen Campbell, Waylon Jennings and Buck Owens (who gave Corbett the last guitar the Bakersfield legend ever bestowed, two weeks before he died).

But it’s Corbett’s passion for another talent—Dallas-born musician, songwriter and producer Jon Randall Stewart—that drives Leaving Nothin’ Behind. The longtime Guy Clark collaborator wrote or co-wrote seven of the album’s 10 songs, and co-produced with Gary Paczosa. He also contributes guitars and harmonies, alongside talents including his fellow singer/songwriter wife, Jessi Alexander; John Cowan, Brian Sutton, Dan Dugmore, Michael Rhodes, Steve Gorman, Audley Freed and other respected Nashville names.

For more album info and a list of Corbett's tour dates announced so far, please click "read more."

Oaks prove strength once again, call to serenade President George H.W. Bush while he recovers


"Words cannot properly express how much The Oaks' special performance meant to the President and the Bush family. This friendship goes back many years, and what happened yesterday gave the President a real shot in the arm as he, thankfully, continues to improve. The Bushes continue to feel so blessed to have so many friends like The Oaks, and wish to thank one and all for their prayers and good wishes." – Office of George H. W. Bush

“Yesterday morning, The Oak Ridge Boys received the daily report from former President Bush's staff. The report of his health was that he was improving each day. Then, we received another message, Barbara Bush requested that we call the President and sing to him! All of the Oak Ridge Boys are on vacation, but we all headed to our office upon hearing of this request. We called the President and sang for him. He asked to hear 'Elvira', so we sang that for him, and then we sang one verse of 'Amazing Grace.'” – Duane Allen, The Oak Ridge Boys

"Brenda and I consider former President George H.W. Bush, Barbara and their entire family some of our most treasured friends. My partners and I were so honored to help lift spirits by singing yesterday over the phone to him and his family. We wish him speedy recovery." - William Lee Golden, The Oak Ridge Boys

“A flurry of emails flew around yesterday regarding [his] health and well-being. I thought I had seen them ALL when Duane Allen called with the word that former President Bush would love to hear a few songs from The Oak Ridge Boys, and his family all agreed that this just may lift his spirits as he has been hospitalized for over a month. The main request came from Barbara Bush so Duane was calling around in hopes that everyone was in town during this off time. Well, he found us all and within about 45 minutes we had converged at our office and were calling. We asked what song he would like to hear and he said ELVIRA so we blasted some oom pop a mau mau’s in the direction of Houston, Texas.

After we finished we asked if he could hear us and he answered: “Oh quite clearly.” His typical humor brought laughter all around. We than sang some Amazing Grace for him, after which Barbara Bush came on the phone and thanked us. She said, “As usual the hospital room was filled with family and right now they were ALL loving The Oak Ridge Boys.

After hanging up Duane Allen said... “You know I am always proud to be an Oak Ridge Boy but at a time like this... in a MOMENT like this... I am REALLY proud of us. We just did a good thing.”

We all smiled and went back home. We had just sung a few songs for OUR PRESIDENT. We have been doing so since 1982. Get well soon, sir. We love you. AMERICA loves you. The WORLD LOVES YOU!” – Joe Bonsall, The Oak Ridge Boys

Award-winning music legend Kenny Rogers will celebrate the 31st Anniversary of his Christmas & Hits Tour in 2012 with a festive show featuring live performances of holiday classics - plus some of his biggest hits. The one-of-a-kind vocalist and entertainer will perform at venues across America, joined again by special guest Billy Dean. The tour begins on November 23rd in Catoosa, Oklahoma and "wraps" December 23rd in Westbury, New York.

Rogers is known for creating an inviting atmosphere with his Christmas & Hits Tour, which consistently receives rave reviews and has become a holiday tradition in its own right since its start 31 years ago. The “Christmas” portion of this year’s inviting set will include heartfelt performances of traditional and original songs such as “White Christmas,” “Silent Night,” “Joy To The World,” and “Mary, Did You Know.” Local choirs and children will have an opportunity to showcase their talents, having once again been chosen to perform with Rogers in each city of the tour. Rogers will sing many of his timeless classics in the “Hits” segment of the show, including “Lady,” “The Gambler,” “Islands In The Stream,” “Daytime Friends,” “Lucille,” “Ruby, Don’t Take Your Love To Town,” “She Believes In Me,” “Coward Of The County,” “Through The Years,” and several more.

Rogers’ recently released his first autobiography, titled "Luck Or Something Like It" - and it immediately became a New York Times best seller. In addition, Gaither Music Group has recently released two albums by Rogers in time for the holidays: "Amazing Grace" and "Christmas Live!".

Rogers’ performances on his 2012 World Tour have generated rave reviews, including his hit-packed sets to overflowing crowds at the Bonnaroo Arts and Music Festival, Stagecoach, and CMA Music Festival, as well a successful sweep through New Zealand, Australia, and Asia. Named the 2012 Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum Artist-in-Residence, Rogers is currently working on a new album for Warner Bros. Records, which is due out in 2013.

Please click "read more" for dates on the "Christmas and Hits" tour.

Genre-busting first-quarter 2013 release features guest appearances from Warren Haynes and Jypsi

Owens’ 18 tracks from the Hee Haw era and Rich’s only solo album were never released until now. Street date is January 23.

BIG & RICH LATEST ALBUM HILLBILLY JEDI IN STORES TOMORROW, SEPTMBER 18

After a four year wait, the multi-platinum hit duo Big & Rich are set to release their latest studio album, Hillbilly Jedi, tomorrow, September 18 on Warner Bros. Records. The much anticipated new album includes their latest top 15 hit, “That’s Why I Pray”; the fastest-rising song of their career. The album also features two songs co-written with Jon Bon Jovi and Richie Sambora. Big & Rich will be on FOX & Friends tomorrow and Piers Morgan Tonight and The Tonight Show with Jay Leno on Wednesday, September 19 and CMT Insider this weekend. They will perform their touching smash hit, “That’s Why I Pray” exclusively on The Tonight Show.
Big & Rich Hillbilly Jedi track listing:
1. Born Again
2. Cowboyz
3. That's Why I Pray
4. Lay It All On Me
5. Last Words
6. Rock The Boat
7. Can't Be Satisfied
8. Get Your Game On
9. Cuz I Play Guitar
10. Cheat On You
11. Never Far Away
12. Hillbilly Jedi Medley

For more information on Big & Rich:
Website – www.BigandRich.com
Facebook – www.facebook.com/BigandRich
Twitter - @BigandRich, @JohnRich, @BigKennytv