Jan
11
Brantley Gilbert photo courtesy of The Valory Music Co.
Brantley Gilbert describes his brand of country music as New Southern Rock, but his influences are wide and varied. As he enjoys success of his own, he finds it a little mind boggling that he gets to spend time with some of the artists he’s looked up to for years. “I love nineties country,” he said. “I met John Michael Montgomery a while back and I’ve always been a huge fan of his. I’m actually getting to write with Rhett Akins now and it’s an awesome feeling. It’s kinda surreal.”
Watch Brantley Gilbert’s “You Don’t Know Her Like I Do” video! >>
It’s not just specific artists who serve as influences, but music in general inspires Brantley. “A lot of people ask me who my influences are and I really can’t put my finger on one,” he said. “Everything I’ve ever listened to, I think there’s something in there, at least one aspect of that piece of work and that piece of art that you could take away that motivates or drives you.” Continue Reading
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Sep
23
Reba McEntire photo courtesy of Valory Music Co. Taylor Swift photo courtesy of Big Machine Records.
Artists, music industry elite and country music fans turned out for the Academy of Country Music’s 5th Annual ACM Honors, an evening dedicated to recognizing special honorees and off-camera category winners from the 46th Annual Academy of Country Music Awards on September 19. Hosted by Joe Nichols, the event was held at the historic Ryman Auditorium which was awarded with the ACM for Venue of the Year.
The evening was a mix of live music, historical video retrospectives and current video tributes and interviews. Garth Brooks, the late Hank Cochran, John Dorris, Larry Gatlin & the Gatlin Brothers, Tom T. Hall, Reba, Taylor Swift and the film Country Strong were the Special Award recipients of the night. The winners of the Musician, Bandleader, Instrumentalist (MBI) categories and Industry Awards were also honored.
Several performances honored artists during the event. Rodney Atkins and Jerrod Niemann honored Garth by each performing a song of his each. Brett Eldredge performed his current single “It Ain’t Gotta Be Love” which is featured in Country Strong while The Isaacs honored Larry Gatlin & The Gatlin Brothers with a medley of their hits. Dean Dillon, Jamey Johnson and Joe Nichols paid tribute to Hank Cochran while Montgomery Gentry and The Whites honored John Dorris. Buddy Miller and Lee Ann Womack honored Tom T. Hall. Randy Houser, Thompson Square, Jack Ingram and Larry Gatlin & the Gatlin Brothers, with Romain Virgo, also performed.
Presenters included Ronnie Dunn, Ralph Emery, John Michael Montgomery, The Oak Ridge Boys and the Academy’s Bob Romeo. Robin Meade presented Industry awards while Laura Bell Bundy handed out MBI awards. Continue Reading
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Sep
15
The Oak Ridge Boys Photo Credit: Jarrett Gaza
The Oak Ridge Boys, Brett Eldredge and Robin Meade have been added to the lineup for the 5th Annual ACM Honors. Joe Nichols is set to host the event and will also perform. ACM Honors is an evening dedicated to recognizing special honorees and off-camera winners from the 46th Annual Academy of Country Music Awards. This year’s event will be held at the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville on September 19.
Artists previously announced include Ronnie Dunn, Rodney Atkins, Randy Houser, Jack Ingram, Jamey Johnson, Montgomery Gentry, Jerrod Niemann, Thompson Square, Lee Ann Womack, Dean Dillon, Larry Gatlin & The Gatlin Brothers, The Isaacs, The Whites, Laura Bell Bundy, Ralph Emery, John Michael Montgomery and songwriter/producer Buddy Cannon. Continue Reading
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Sep
9
Ronnie Dunn photo courtesy of Sony Music Nashville.
Ronnie Dunn, Rodney Atkins, Randy Houser, Jack Ingram, Jamey Johnson, Montgomery Gentry, Jerrod Niemann, Thompson Square and Lee Ann Womack are among the artists who have been added to the 5th Annual ACM Honors lineup. Joe Nichols is set to host the event and will also perform. Other artists scheduled to perform include Dean Dillon, Larry Gatlin & The Gatlin Brothers, The Isaacs, and The Whites.
ACM Honors is an evening dedicated to recognizing special honorees and off-camera winners from the 46th Annual Academy of Country Music Awards. This year’s event will be held at the Ryman Auditorum in Nashville on September 19. Laura Bell Bundy, Ralph Emery, John Michael Montgomery and Buddy Cannon are also scheduled to appear. Tickets are still available at Ticketmaster.com and are $37 each. Continue Reading
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Aug
19
GAC asked you, the fans, to help us pick the Top 50 Videos of the ’90s and all this week host Neal McCoy counted them down! Here’s the final list — we hope each song title brings back lots of good memories! See the re-air times for the series HERE. Check out the list below and leave us a comment to tell us about your favorite video from the ’90s.
GAC’s Top 50 Videos of the ’90s: Continue Reading
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Aug
10
(l-r): Keith Anderson, JT Hodges, Neal McCoy.
GAC went to the experts – you, the viewers – to help us compile the Top 20 Tailgating Songs and the Top 50 videos of the 90s. Your votes have been counted and the results will be revealed beginning this weekend in two GAC specials, Top 20 Tailgating Songs premiering August 13 at 9/8 CT, and Top 50 Videos of the ’90s premiering on August 15 at 8/7 CT.
“GAC viewers always respond enthusiastically when we invite them to pick their favorite programming, and ‘Top 20 Tailgating Songs’ and ‘Top 50 Videos of the ‘90’s’ puts the fans in the driver’s seat for 7 prime time hours!” said Suzanne Gordon, VP of Programming for GAC. “From a great party mix to some of the best videos you haven’t seen in a while, these fan-voted specials prove that country music is the perfect soundtrack for the end of summer!” Continue Reading
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May
26
Country songs are often a mirror to the world, a reflection of the times. As a tribute to the men and women who have served our country, we’ve put together a list of some of our favorite songs and videos that honor our troops – heartfelt compositions that look at war through the eyes of the men and women who fight, as well as the families who are left behind to pray that their loved ones return home safely. If you don’t see your favorite on our list, leave us a comment below and let us know!
We at GAC extend our sincerest thanks and appreciation to all soldiers and their families!
“‘Til the Last Shot’s Fired” – Trace Adkins
This heartfelt song is about the life of soldiers through various wars, starting with America’s Civil War and continuing through our current conflicts in the Middle East. Trace Adkins conveys the soldiers’ fervent wish that their job would at some point be eliminated for good. Trace delivers as only Trace can.
“American Soldier” – Toby Keith
This song depicts the everyday life of a soldier, from not being able to call in sick to working through the holidays while standing up for liberty. Toby never fails to bring the soldiers to their feet when he performs this one on his many USO tours.
The title of this song refers to the flight on which a soldier killed in war comes home. Radney wrote the song with Darden Smith, then asked Darius Rucker to sing on it with him. The song was inspired by a series of Angel Flights that brought home a group of men known as the Red River Four. Proceeds from sales of the song benefit the groups who help families in crisis. Continue Reading
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Mar
30
Harley Allen photo courtesy of MySpace.com/harleyallenmusic.
GAC extends condolences to the loved ones of singer/songwriter Harley Allen, who died today after fighting lung cancer. Harley came from a musical family; his father was bluegrass artist Red Allen. Harley was an artist on Mercury Records in 1996 and his album Another River contained the song “Between The Devil And Me,” which Alan Jackson recorded a year later.
Harley’s body of work will be enjoyed for years to come. The list of country hits penned by him is long, but includes:
Blake Shelton’s “The Baby”
Alan Jackson’s “Everything I Love” and “The Angels Cried” Continue Reading
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Dec
29
Luke Bryan photo courtesy of Capitol Nashville.
A new year is around the corner, and so are new administrations in many of the nation’s states. Not to mention a few new folks occupying seats in Congress.
That means parties, and that also means an opportunity for country stars to show off their wares. Jo Dee Messina, Luke Bryan, John Michael Montgomery and LeAnn Rimes have all been enlisted to help usher the politicians into their new positions in four different locales.
Here’s what’s on tap in 2011’s inaugural month:
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Dec
25
Gwyneth Paltrow & Tim McGraw from the upcoming movie, Country Strong, in theaters January 7, 2011. Photo by Scott Garfield, courtesy of Sony Pictures USA & Monarch Publicity.
From Crazy Heart to Country Strong, Hollywood and Nashville were tightly linked in 2010.
Tim McGraw, Julianne Hough, Trace Adkins and Carrie Underwood all went in front of the cameras. And artists as diverse as Ryan Bingham, Billy Currington, Taylor Swift and Kenny Chesney got their music on the big screen in one way or another.
Country’s role in a large number of movies ranks No. 7 in GAC’s countdown of the dozen top stories of 2010.
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