Eli Young Band is heading to Vegas for the ACM Awards on Sunday with three nominations under their belt. They’re up for Vocal Group of the Year, as well as Single Record and Song of the Year for their hit “Crazy Girl.” Even though they’re well-represented on the nominee list, they still have trouble believing they belong.
“I think we still definitely feel like outsiders a bit too when we’re there,” Chris Thompson said. “I mean, you’re sitting next to the top country music performers and entertainers and we’re still always kind of in awe and looking around saying ‘look who’s over there and look who we’re sitting next to.’”
Besides enjoying the ACMs, they’re also looking forward to hitting up a few casinos while in town. “You know, roulette and blackjack, you’ll find us spread out around the casino but I think we’ve been pretty smart in the past about when we are there,” Mike Eli said. “When one of us wins, we’ve been pretty good at walking away.” Continue Reading
The Today Show is going country next week while co-host Kathie Lee Gifford is on vacation. Josh Turner will again join Hoda Kotb as co-host during the fourth hour of Today on March 19. ”I’m looking forward to co-hosting again with my beautiful Egyptian goddess!” Josh said. “It’s always a blast for me.”
The pair will talk about Josh’s new single, “Time Is Love,” as well as touring, his family, and songwriting. Josh’s new video for “Time Is Love” will debut on March 19 as well at 10/9 AM CT and airing throughout the day.
Josh isn’t Hoda’s only country co-host for the week though. Lee Brice will take over co-hosting duties from Josh on March 20. Hoda selected Lee’s hit “Love Like Crazy” for her iHoda Playlist in April of 2011 and nearly a year later, Hoda extended an invitation to Lee to join her on set.
“I’m really excited to co-host with Hoda,” Lee said. “I love that she loves country music and shares it with the world on her ‘iHoda Playlist.’ Buckle up Hoda, we’re gonna have some fun!”
Lee Brice is set to release his new album 'Hard 2 Love' on April 24th. Photo courtesy Curb Records.
Lee Brice will release his long-awaited second Curb Records album, Hard 2 Love, on April 24th. The project will feature his current single, “A Woman Like You,” which has cracked the Top 10 and sold more than 450,000 digital downloads already. The single is on track to reach Gold status.
Hard 2 Love is the follow up to Lee’s critically-acclaimed debut album Love Like Crazy which spawned “Love Like Crazy,” Billboard’s Most Played Country Song of 2010. Lee repeated the feat as a songwriter when his song “Crazy Girl,” recorded by Eli Young Band,” was named 2011’s most played song. He’s also penned hits for Garth Brooks, Kenny Chesney, Jason Aldean and Tim McGraw. Continue Reading
Being the spouse of a musician comes with sacrifices, including being apart on days like Valentine’s Day. Luckily, the guys of Eli Young Band have some pretty understanding wives. James Young is the most recent band member to get married, tying the knot of February 4 — and Chris Thompson has only been married for about six months, but he has an idea why their marriages work.
“We married women who have been around us for quite a while and who really understand what we do and everything was really nothing new to them when they said yes,” Chris said. Bandmate Mike Eli, who has been married more than a year, agrees. “They have to be extremely understanding ladies to be able to be with us in the first place with as much as we travel and as much as they have to put up with,” he said.
A key to making all of their marriages work is to communicate. While that means a lot of long distance phone calls from the road, it also means breaking the news that the band will be gone on holidays.
Rascal Flatts photo courtesy of Big Machine Records.
Rascal Flatts will launch a brand new tour this summer and they’re taking several fellow country bands out on the road with them. The American Band Tour will feature Little Big Town, Eli Young Band andEdens Edgeas special guests. The new tour will kick off June 15 in Hartford, Connecticut.
“We are always looking for new ways to re-energize our live shows,” Jay DeMarcus said. “We thought bringing out these bands, whom are among some of our favorite vocal groups, would make a great night of entertainment!” Continue Reading
Tim McGraw's 2012 CD, Emotional Traffic. Photo courtesy of Webster & Associates.
Tim McGraw’sEmotional Traffic album debuted at No. 1 this week on the Billboard Country Chart. This mark’s Tim’s 13th career No. 1 debut. His first new music since 2009’s Southern Voice, Tim is thrilled with how his fans have reacted.
“The most beautiful thing about this No. 1 debut, over the others, is that it was driven by the fans and their eagerness to finally have this music in their hands,” Tim said. “The fans don’t care about the business side of things. They just want the artists they follow to keep putting out great songs, and I think we have delivered some of the best songs of my career on Emotional Traffic.
Tim will join good friend Kenny Chesney this summer on their co-headlining Brothers of the Sun stadium tour. They will kick off the tour on June 2 in Tampa and will stop at the nation’s biggest stadiums through August. With new music in the hands of his fans, Tim is looking forward to getting back on the road. “The reaction to the album makes me even more excited to get back on the road this summer on the ‘Brothers of the Sun’ tour,” he said. Continue Reading
Dierks Bentley's 2012 CD, Home. Photo courtesy of The Green Room PR.
Dierks Bentleywill continue his Country & Cold Cans Tour this spring with stops in 20 cities across the country. Eli Young Bandand a combination of Will Hoge and The Cadillac Black will join him as special guests. The tour kicks off in Los Angeles on April 13. Tickets for the date go on sale February 10 with more tour and on sale dates to be announced soon.
“Country & Cold Cans was such a great tour last fall,” Dierks said. “It’s just way too much fun to stop and we knew we had to continue it into the spring and make another run across the U.S. when we get home from Canada and Australia. We’re even going to Alaska, giving new meaning to COLD cans.”
Dierks has nothing but good things to say about his opening acts and plans on catching their shows while out on the road. “I’m excited that EYB is coming out with us again, great dudes and they put on a killer show,” he said. “I’m also a big fan of both The Cadillac Black and Will Hoge, so I’m looking forward to watching their sets every night.” Continue Reading
Eli Young Band is slowly revealing their 2012 plans. They’ll hit the road with Dierks Bentley on the 2012 leg of his Country & Cold Cans Tour which kicks off in Los Angeles on April 13 and also head Down Under with one of country’s super couples. “Some of them we can’t announce,” said Mike Eli, “but we get to go to Australia in March with Tim McGraw and Faith Hill which is absolutely incredible.”
They will also launch their own headlining tour, the Keep On Dreamin’ Tour, which will run throughout the year in between dates with other headliners. The rest of their touring plans are top secret. “There are two other big tours that we’re waiting on them to announce so that we can talk about it,” Mike said. “Those are happening in the summer and late spring.”
The band could also be on the bill for a major tour this fall, but they’re still waiting for confirmation. They are thrilled to see so many dates filling their calendar this year. “This is the first year where we can look at our calendar and it’s pretty much set, which is a really nice feeling,” Jon Jones said. “It’s not like we know we’re going to be busy through the end of February and then hope we can pick up some shows.” Continue Reading
As the ACM Nominations came in yesterday, the honored stars were quick to respond. Kenny Chesney leads the way with nine total nods, including Entertainer of the Year, Male Vocalist of the Year, and Album of the Year. Kenny received the news just as he learned his Brothers of the Sun Tour with Tim McGraw has already sold over half a million tickets.
“It’s an honor to receive so much love from the Academy of Country Music after all they’ve done to support my music over the years,” Kenny said. “I can’t wait to get back on the road with my good friend Tim and throw one big spring break party all summer long.”
Blake Shelton is nominated for Entertainer of the Year and Male Vocalist of the Year. He learned of his ACM nominations a week after losing his father, Dick Shelton. “The support I have felt this week is overwhelming,” Blake said. “Thank you everyone for this honor.”
Jason Aldeantook to video to thank his fans for all of their support after learning he’s nominated for six ACMs, including Entertainer of the Year, Male Vocalist of the Year, and Album of the Year.
Reigning ACM Top New Solo Vocalist Eric Church is nominated for Video of the Year for “Homeboy” and his latest album, Chief, is up for Album of the Year. He sees the Album of the Year nod as an especially high honor.
“I’ve never minced words about the fact that my passion is making great records for the sake of the music,” he said. “The fact that the ACMs have nominated us for the album category is quite the honor and frankly the one I revere the most. “Homeboy,” both musically and visually, is a song that tells a compelling story. I have a very special place in my heart for the video, and I’m very grateful that it is getting recognized. It’s been one hell of a year!”
Chris Youngwoke up on a tour bus en route to his next show on Miranda Lambert’s On Fire Tour to learn he’s nominated for both Single Record of the Year for his No. 1 hit “Tomorrow” and Male Vocalist Of The Year. He also recorded a video message to share his excitement with his fans.
Randy Owen and John Rich. Photo courtesy of St. Jude.
Randy Owenpresented John Rich with the first-ever Randy Owen Angels Among Us Award during the annual songwriter’s dinner at the Country Cares for St. Jude Kids seminar over the weekend. The award recognizes a member of the country music industry who has demonstrated commitment and dedication to kids battling cancer and other deadly diseases at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. Last year, John won NBC’s Celebrity Apprentice, where he competed on behalf of St. Jude and raised more an $1.4 million for the organization.
“St. Jude holds a very special place in my heart,” John said. “It’s like no other place and I’m just so honored to help raise awareness for this organization and to receive the first-ever Angels Among Us Award from Randy.”
“This past year John really embodied what Country Cares for St. Jude Kids is all about,” Randy said. “It’s really unbelievable to look back over the past 23 years and see what the country music industry has helped us accomplish for St. Jude. This award is a way for us to say thank you to select members of the industry for their continued commitment and support.”
Randy organized Country Cares for St. Jude Kids in 1989 when he appealed to fellow country music artists, radio stations, and country fans to help support St. Jude’s mission. Since it began, Country Cares has raised more than $400 million for St. Jude. Continue Reading
