Lady Antebellum photo courtesy of The Greenroom PR.

Lady Antebellum has released “Dancin’ Away With My Heart” as the third single from their GRAMMY-nominated Own The Night album. The trio co-wrote the nostalgic track with Josh Kear, with whom they also co-wrote their smash hit “Need You Now.”

“This song is definitely about looking back on a really special night that you shared with someone, but I also think there’s a timelessness about it,” Hillary Scott said. “No matter how long it’s been or what the other person is doing now, you will always imagine them to be ’18 and beautiful and dancin’ away with my heart’… that mental picture never changes because that night was magical. I love how romantic that is!”

5 Things You Don’t Know About Lady A >> Continue Reading

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Lady Antebellum‘s Hillary Scott and songwriter Anthony Smith were the top winners at last night’s SESAC Awards in Nashville, held at The Pinnacle at Symphony Place. The Tennessean reports the royalties-collecting organization SESAC gave Hillary its songwriter of the year award for the third time in the last four years.

Hillary won the award for co-writing three Lady A hits: “Just a Kiss,” “Need You Now” and “Our Kind of Love.” But according to her friend and mentor (and co-producer of Lady A’s first album) Victoria Shaw, Hillary’s award for writing “A Little Bit Stronger,” recorded by Sara Evans, most likely held a special place in her heart.

“That song was her,” Victoria told the paper. “That wasn’t the boys (Lady A’s Charles Kelley and Dave Haywood) and her. Not that she doesn’t adore that,” she said. “But this really let her be her own entity.

“That separation and that recognition is probably one of her most proud moments. I know how proud I am when someone else records one of my songs. They’re not doing it to be nice. They’re not doing it as a favor. They’re doing it because they think that’s going to help their career. And when it does, it’s the ultimate compliment to the songwriter.”

SESAC awarded Anthony Smith with its Song of the Year trophy. Anthony won for the song he co-wrote with Chris Young, “Tomorrow.” Chris even surprised Anthony by Continue Reading

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Lady Antebellum's 2011 CD, Own The Night. Photo courtesy of The Greenroom PR.

In the roughly year-and-a-half since Lady Antebellum released their breakout album Need You Now, the young Nashville trio has quickly turned into one of the most recognizable and promising acts in any genre. Need You Now, with worldwide sales in excess of five million copies and five Grammy awards to its credit, introduced fans to the group’s dynamic harmonies and powerful delivery. Now, on their third album, Own The Night, Lady A shows their continued growth with a set of 12 songs wrapped in emotion and displaying a vibrant presence.

Working again with Producer Paul Worley, Own The Night focuses much of its attention on individual moments in time. “Dancin’ Away With My Heart,” with wistful open chords and a dreamy guitar melody, captures the interaction between older versions of two young first loves. I brush the curls back so I can see your eyes, Charles Kelley sings with a comfortable familiarity before Hillary Scott adds, And the way you move me was like you’re reading my mind. On the ballad “As You Turn Away,” Hillary takes the lead to explore the exact moment a heart breaks at the end of a relationship. Over deep, dramatic piano tones and stirring strings, Hillary sings with touching sadness through the bridge, One step my heart is breaking, one more my hands are shaking/ The door is closing and I just can’t change it. Charles adds backing harmonies in a poignant display of what makes Lady A so special. Continue Reading

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Lady Antebellum photo by David Johnson, courtesy of The Greenroom PR.

Lady Antebellum recently visited our studio and talked about their new song, “Just A Kiss,” the first single from their upcoming album, Own The Night, out September 13. It’s quite a different message from one of their previous hits, “Need You Now,” with the lyrics “It’s a quarter after one, I’m a little drunk and I need you now.”

“We’re redeeming ourselves,” jokes Lady A’s Hillary Scott. Watch this clip to see Lady A and GAC’s Suzanne Alexander discussing honesty in songwriting, curfews — and incorrect lyrics (courtesy of Suzanne)! And don’t forget to catch them on this week’s Top 20 Country Countdown, airing Friday, June 24 at 8/7 c!

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Lady Antebellum photo by David Johnson, courtesy of The Greenroom PR.

Lady Antebellum can add another accolade for their hit song “Need You Now.” The track has become the No. 1 downloaded country song of all time this week, passing Taylor Swift’s “Love Story.” The track, which spent multiple weeks at No. 1 on both the country and pop charts, won GRAMMY Awards for “Song of the Year,” “Record of the Year” and “Country Song of the Year,” the CMA Award for Single of the Year and the 2010 ACM’s Single Record of the Year and Song of the Year awards.

After winning Album of the Year for Need You Now and their second straight Vocal Group of the Year award at last Sunday’s ACM Awards, Lady Antebellum flew to Australia to join Keith Urban on his Get Closer World Tour, which kicks off Friday in Adelaide.

GAC caught up with Lady A both on the ACM’s Red Carpet and backstage after their big wins. Check out their interviews HERE!

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LAS VEGAS, NV - APRIL 3: Singer Taylor Swift arrives at the 46th Academy of Country Music Awards held at the MGM Grand Garden Arena at the MGM Grand Hotel & Casino, April 3, 2011 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Gregg DeGuire/PictureGroup); LAS VEGAS, NV - APRIL 3: Recording artist Miranda Lambert arrives at the 46th Academy of Country Music Awards held at the MGM Grand Garden Arena at the MGM Grand Hotel & Casino, April 3, 2011 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Frank Micelotta/PictureGroup).

Story by Vernell Hackett
Taylor Swift’s new single, “Mean,” is a swipe at all her naysayers and critics. But tonight at the 46^th Annual Academy of Country Music Awards, there were only good vibes as she took home the fan-voted trophy for Entertainer of the Year.

“This is the first time I’ve ever won this and I’m losing my mind,” Taylor said. “The fact it is from the fans makes it even more special. You are best thing that has ever happened to me, ever. Thank you so much.”

Before presenting the Entertainer of the Year award to Taylor, American Idol host Ryan Seacrest told the audience, “Everyone is saying this has been a great night for country music, but I disagree. I think it has been a great night for American music.” 

Later in the press room, Taylor said winning the night’s top award has such special meaning for her because all her heroes have also won it. “So many of them have taken me under their wing,” said Taylor, “like Brad Paisley, Kenny Chesney, Keith Urban, George Strait … and then you look back to people like Shania Twain and Garth Brooks, who are two people I’m in awe of and are people I think of when I think of ‘entertainer.’ To know that I’m mentioned in the same breath with them is mind boggling.”

Actors Reese Witherspoon and Rob Pattinson were recently in Tennessee shooting their new movie Water for Elephants, and since Reese is a Nashville native, she was a perfect choice for presenter. The two presented Miranda Lambert with the Top Female Vocalist award – but not before Twilight star Pattinson admitted what he liked best about Tennessee – “the moonshine.”

Hearing her name called, Miranda graciously exclaimed, “I don’t know why I’m up here. I’m so blessed and so humble, and I thank God for giving me the blessing of living my dream. I love country music and I thank my fans.”

Miranda was the top winner of the night, taking home four awards: Top Female Vocalist; Single and Video of the Year; and she shared Song of the Year honors with writers Tom Douglas and Allen Shamblin.

Later backstage, Miranda admitted, “I’m still excited from last year. I just expected to come here and chill and be happy to be here, because last year was such a great year. I feel so humble. I can’t express how blessed I feel.”

Miranda’s brother, Luke, was her date for the evening because “my fiancé was obviously busy,” she added. Continue Reading

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Lady Antebellum poses in the press room with the award for Best Country Album for 'Need You Now' at the 53rd Annual GRAMMY Awards at the Staples Center, February 13, 2011 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kristian Dowling/PictureGroup)

– Written by Shannon Heim

Country’s own Lady Antebellum was the big winner at the 53rd Annual GRAMMY® Awards in Los Angeles Sunday night, taking home the trophy in five of the six categories in which they were nominated. The group’s crossover hit “Need You Now” won Song and Record of the Year as well as best Country Album, Best Country Song and Best Country Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals. Lady A members Dave Hayward, Charles Kelley and Hillary Scott were clearly stunned by the Recording Academy’s accolades. “We just cried our eyes out backstage and I can’t believe we’re up here once again,” Charles said while accepting for Record of the Year.

During their performance, the group slowed down a shortened version of “Need You Now” and sung bits of “American Honey,” and the classic “If You Don’t Know Me By Now,” a nod to Teddy Pendergrass, who died last year.

Lady Antebellum was the only country nominee in the Album of the Year category, which ultimately went to Arcade Fire’s The Suburbs.

The group’s dominance marked the second straight year a country crossover act was the night’s top story. Continue Reading

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Lady Antebellum photo by David Johnson, courtesy of The Greenroom PR.

While Lady Antebellum will be watching Super Bowl XLV from Nashville, two of their songs will be a part of the biggest Sunday night in football. Crowd favorite “Stars Tonight” will be featured pre-game, while their smash hit “Need You Now” will appear in the wildly popular Fox TV show Glee following the big game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and Green Bay Packers. Continue Reading

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Sugarland photo by Jennifer Tzar, courtesy of UMG Nashville.

Marco Club Connection, a Nashville-based country music dance venue marketing company, has released its seventh annual Top Ten list of the year’s most requested country dance club songs — Sugarland tops the list with the sticks-in-your-head tune, ”Stuck Like Glue.”

Each year in December, Club Connection surveys a panel of more than 240 club owners, DJs and dance instructors from across the country to compile its Top Ten rankings.

“As country music continues to incorporate more and more of a pop element, the dance clubs can be a very important tool in breaking an artist,” says Club Connection Venue Marketing Specialist Bobbe Morhiser. “Look no further than Laura Bell Bundy for proof of that. ‘Giddy On Up’ was huge in the dance clubs, and for a brand new artist to place in Club Connection’s top five at the end of the year is very impressive.”

The results of the 2010 Top Ten Country Dance Club Hits are: Continue Reading

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Lady Antebellum photo courtesy of Capitol Nashville.

When Lady Antebellum wrote “Need You Now” in 2009, the band had no idea that the song was going to vault them into the same pop world inhabited by the other lady — Lady Gaga — in 2010.

In fact, a lot of songwriters in Nashville thought “Need You Now” was a bold song — it was built around a drunken booty call, and since country radio stations are very attuned to offering family-friendly material, many Music Row writers were a bit shocked when the song caught on. And it caught on very quickly. Not only was it a multi-week No. 1 single at the end of ‘09, it also got picked up by pop stations who played it frequently throughout 2010, aiding a jump for the oddly-named trio into music’s big leagues.

Lady Antebellum’s ascent ranks at No. 4 as GAC counts down the dozen biggest stories of country music from 2010.

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