Keith Urban photo courtesy of Capitol Nashville.

Keith Urban is ready to sing again. He will make his first performance since undergoing successful throat surgery tomorrow, February 3, on the Grand Ole Opry at the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville. Not only is it a special night for Keith, it is also the final performance on the current Ryman stage before it undergoes renovations.

“I’m really looking forward to being back onstage, and more specifically on the Opry stage,” Keith said. “When I was told earlier this week that the Ryman was going to start renovations on the stage after our show I thought, ‘You know, when we say we’re really gonna tear it up tonight, maybe they’re worried I mean it literally?”

Later this month, Keith will head to Sydney for a week of filming the Australian version of The Voice. Keith will travel back and forth to Australia over the next few months to film for the show, while keeping a busy schedule in the United States that includes another show on the Opry and his annual All For The Hall benefit concert.

“It’ll be a blast spending a little time in Australia working on The Voice, getting the opportunity to try and help some killer raw talent blossom,” Keith said. “And I have a feeling that being immersed in that new kind of ‘everything is possible’ energy, will have a real inspiring and liberating effect on creating new music for my new album!” Continue Reading

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Photo courtesy of the Country Music Hall of Fame & Museum.

When the Encyclopedia of Country Music was first published in 1998, it became an instant reference and definitive source on country music. Now, the second edition of the book has been released by Oxford University Press and the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum. The new edition, compiled by museum staff, features new entries on artists who have profoundly influenced country music in recent years, including Kenny Chesney, Dixie Chicks, Miranda Lambert, Brad Paisley, Rascal Flatts, Blake Shelton, Taylor Swift, Carrie Underwood, Keith Urban and more.

More new entries in the book focus on the most important studio musicians, songwriters and music executives in the last decade. It also explores the latest and most critical industry trends, such as the digital revolution, the shifting politics of country music, and the impact of American Idol. The importance of Nashville to country music and even the stage costumes worn by country stars are also featured in the new edition.

“I’ve loved country music all my life, and it still amazes me how much more I can learn about it,” Reba McEntire said. “The Encyclopedia of Country Music will be a reference book for the next generation of country music lovers to learn about the folks I was blessed enough to get to know and work with. I will enjoy reading it and getting reacquainted with our history.” Continue Reading

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Keith Urban photo courtesy of Capitol Nashville.

Relativity Music Group will release the Act of Valor soundtrack on February 21, featuring original songs written and inspired by the Navy SEAL action-thriller. It will include “For You,” a song written by Keith Urban that is featured in the film’s end credits, as well as music from Lady Antebellum, Sugarland, Trace Adkins, Wynonna Judd, Montgomery Gentry, and more. In theaters February 24, Act of Valor stars a group of active-duty Navy Seals along with actors Roselyn Sanchez, Alex Veadov, Jason Cottle and Nestor Serrano.

Produced and directed by Mike “Mouse” McCoy and Scott Waugh and written by Kurt Johnstad, Act of Valor takes audiences into the secretive world of the most elite, highly-trained force in the modern world as the rescue of a kidnapped CIA operative leads to the discovery of a deadly terrorist plot against the U.S. Inspired by true events, the film combines combat sequences, battlefield technology and heart-pounding emotion.

The track listing for the soundtrack includes Keith’s “For You,” “Guide You Home” (Sugarland), “I Was Here” (Lady Antebellum), “If the Sun Comes Up” (Trace Adkins), “Two Soldiers Coming Home” (Lori McKenna), “The Best I Can” (Jake Owen), “What It Takes”(Montgomery Gentry), “The Best of Me” (Josh Kelley), “Where We Left Off” (Hunter Hayes) and “Whatever Brings You Back” (Wynonna Judd). Continue Reading

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MusicRow.com reports the Ryman Auditorium will be replacing its stage for the first time since 1951. Plans for the new stage include an 18-inch section cut from the existing stage running across the front to honor the historical significance of past performances, similar to the famous circle of the same Ryman stage wood that resides center-stage at the Grand Ole Opry House.

Around-the-clock security will be present as the current stage is dismantled and the oak planks are moved to an off-site location. An announcement on future plans for the historic planks will be made at a later date.

The last performance on the current stage will take place on Friday, Feb. 3 when the Grand Ole Opry closes its annual winter run at the Ryman. That night, Keith Urban will perform for the first time since his vocal surgery.

The project will close the stage for two weeks beginning Saturday, Feb. 4, but self-guided daytime tours will remain open throughout the project at a $10.00 special rate.

The Band Perry will be the first public performance exhibiting the new stage for their sold-out headlining Ryman debut on Feb. 20.

“To play the Ryman is to step into country music’s rich history and we are honored to perform there,” said The Band Perry. “Now, as the venue makes plans for its future, we promise to inaugurate the new stage with all the respect and reverence it deserves.”

The current oak plank stage will be replaced with Continue Reading

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Keith Urban photo courtesy of Capitol Nashville.

Keith Urban celebrated “Long Hot Summer,” his 13 No. 1 single, with a summer-themed party in Nashville on Wednesday. Attendees were asked to wear their best summer clothes and were treated to a special performance by Keith and his co-writer on the song, Richard Marx. Keith also invited two YouTube fans, Patrick Woolam and Leslie Strong, after he saw their performances of “Long Hot Summer” on YouTube.

“I started playing guitar when I was about 14 years old,” Leslie said. “Music is everything for me – my release, my comfort, my communication. The thing I like the most about Keith is, of course, his guitar playing. I’ve never heard anyone else in country music that plays the way he does.”

“I’ve been a musician for fourteen years and Keith has been a huge influence of mine, not only as a guitarist but as a vocalist,” Patrick said. “I have followed the videos on KeithUrban.net for quite a while and you can see through many of those videos what a genuinely great guy he is. He truly loves and cares about his fans.”

See the No. 1 party performance!

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Keith Urban photo courtesy of Capitol Nashville.

Keith Urban’s latest video, “You Gonna Fly,” is for the fans. Directed by Brad Belanger, the video highlights memorable moments from Keith’s Get Closer World Tour, including shots from his live stage show and backstage moments like Keith zipping around the arena on a scooter and hanging out in his tour bus.

“We had cameras rolling every night on tour, which is a great way for us to capture all of those unpredictable things that seem to happen at our shows,” Keith said. “In a way, the video is also a huge thank you to everyone that came out and made it so insanely fun night after night.”

Watch the video!

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Exile photo courtesy of Morris Public Relations.

After generating excitement surrounding their remake of “Kiss You All Over” with Trace Adkins, Exile is set to release their first new studio album in 15 years. People Get Ready, a five track EP, will hit stores January 31.

People Get Ready features four new songs written by the band and an a cappella version of “People Get Ready,” written by Curtis Mayfield. The EP will be released on Exile’s own Big Horse Records label and distributed in partnership with GMV Nashville. Fans will be able to download the new EP at most digital outlets.

Exile has also been added to the lineup for Keith Urban’s All For The Hall benefit concert on April 10 at Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena. Exile was joined by Trace not only for the remake of “Kiss You All Over” but also for a performance in Las Vegas. You can see their performance on Hit Exchange right here on GAC. Check Air Times >> Continue Reading

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Keith Urban photo courtesy of Capitol Nashville.

Keith Urban’s third annual All for the Hall benefit concert has been rescheduled for April 10 after having to be postponed while Keith underwent and recovered from successful vocal cord surgery. The concert, which benefits the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum’s All for the Hall fund, will feature performances by Keith, Vince Gill, Alabama, Alison Krauss & Union Station, The Band Perry, Blue Sky Riders, Diamond Rio, Exile, Lady Antebellum, Little Big Town, The Oak Ridge Boys,  Pistol Annies, Rascal Flatts and Thompson Square.

“My goal for the concert, is really the same as the halls,” Keith said. “To help country fans connect the dots – to find out where their music came from, how its evolved and is still evolving and to hear the artists that have influenced their favorite artists. Country music is like a big beautiful strange family tree and nowhere is that more honored than at the Country Music Hall Of Fame and Museum.”

“The first two We’re All for the Hall concerts have been landmarks for this institution,” said Museum Director Kyle Young.  “They have been the most successful fundraisers in the museum’s history, together raising roughly $1 million.  And they have not only set a new standard for fundraising and event coordination, but also brought together an entire community and helped us to see what can be done by individuals when there is a collective passion for a cause. Continue Reading

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Keith Urban photo courtesy of Capitol Nashville.

Keith Urban will return to the stage for the first time since undergoing successful vocal cord surgery late last year with a performance on the Grand Ole Opry February 3. Keith’s performance will take place as the Opry wraps its winter run at the historic Ryman Auditorium. The Opry returns to the Grand Ole Opry House the next day.

Other artists scheduled to appear on the Opry with Keith are Charley Pride and the Oak Ridge Boys, with more artists to be added. Keith is also scheduled to perform on the Opry on March 9 at the Opry House. Vince Gill, Emmylou Harris, Del McCoury, Craig Morgan, Ricky Skaggs, Josh Turner and more will appear on the Opry stage in coming weeks. Continue Reading

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LOS ANGELES, CA - JANUARY 11: Singer Faith Hill performs onstage at the 2012 People's Choice Awards at Nokia Theatre L.A. Live on January 11, 2012 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images)

One of the highlights of last night’s People’s Choice Awards was Faith Hill’s performance of her new single, “Come Home,” which she debuted at the CMA Awards last November. Wearing a high-waisted red pants suit and surrounded by floating doors and windows, Faith performed the power ballad with emotion and mouthed a ‘thank you’ to her fans when she was done.

See more photos of the stars at the People’s Choice Awards here >>

Taylor Swift‘s fans spoke loud and clear at the PCAs when they named her their Favorite Country Artist. Blake Shelton, Lady Antebellum, Keith Urban, and Rascal Flatts were also nominated in the Favorite Country Artist category. Taylor wasn’t on hand to accept her award, but she thanked fans before the show for their support.

“Thanks for wishing me luck at the People’s Choice Awards tonight! I’m not there, but I’ll be watching on tv from Nashville!” she wrote on Twitter.

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