Chris Young’s fans obviously love his sexier songs, like his first #1 hit “Gettin’ You Home” and his current hit “I Can Take It from There.”

“It’s that sexy vibe song. I gotta do one of those like every five or six singles,” Chris tells ABC News Radio. “I just love that. I love being able to have that in the show, and it works really well.”

Chris’s concert crowds took to “I Can Take It from There” even before it became a single, and the song has kept sales of his latest album, Neon, moving along nicely.

Says Chris, “Looking like we might even get a gold record out of this album, so it feels real good right now. Everything feels great.”

Chris plays his next concert this Thursday in Portland, ME.

Copyright 2013 ABC News Radio

 

Join fans of 99 KZ Country on Facebook:  http://www.facebook.com/99KZCountry

 

 

 

 

Jason Aldean dreamed of going to see a Georgia Bulldogs football game at the University of Georgia’s Sanford Stadium as a kid, but his family didn’t have the money for tickets. He finally got to a game when he was about 20 years old, but on Saturday night, Jason surpassed any of his wildest childhood dreams when he actually played a concert on that football field in Athens, GA.

More than 60,000 fans packed the stands as Jason headlined a concert bill featuring fellow Georgia native and Bulldogs fan Luke Bryan, Jake Owen and Thomas Rhett. Jason also welcomed Ludacris onstage during his set to perform their remix of “Dirt Road Anthem,” and Luke and Jason delivered a rowdy version of their #1 hit “The Only Way I Know.” In addition to his huge arsenal of hits, including “Big Green Tractor” and “My Kinda Party,” Jason also employed multiple, moving LED screens and massive amounts of pyrotechnics to deliver a visually stunning show.

The show was captured by HD cameras and a camera man in a helicopter flying over the venue, so there is a good chance fans will get to see that concert footage released in some form in the coming months. Before the concert, Jason had a film crew following his every move, from the time he first saw the massive stage setup at the stadium, to his surprise visit to hang with some fans tailgating before the show.

During an interview just outside the stadium, Jason said, “This place for anybody from this state and a fan of this team, that is like a church over there. I mean, that is sacred ground, and the fact that we can walk in there and our stage is set up in the endzone. I’m sitting there thinking to myself, like, when did this happen? Like, when did it get to this point?”

Jason had plenty of family from Georgia in the crowd too. He says, “I have people I didn’t even know I was related to that apparently I am. They’re here.”

Sharing this concert with his pal Luke Bryan was very sweet for Jason, especially since they both won big at the ACM Awards recently. Luke opened for Jason up until last year, and Jason is in awe of how hot his friend’s career has become lately.

“He’s on fire right now,” Jason says of Luke. “Everywhere you turn you see teeth. I mean, it’s crazy.”

Jason adds, “You know, he’s got one of the hottest tours out there right now.  So, I’m a little jealous of him, but I’m happy for him too.”

Before the show, Luke was too nervous to even go in and look at the stage setup in the stadium. He finally got over his fears and turned in a set featuring “Drunk on You,” “Country Girl (Shake It for Me),” “Country Man” and the new single, “Crash My Party.”

As for Jason, he has two more stadium shows coming up, including Boston’s Fenway Park on July 12 and 13 and Chicago’s Wrigley Field on July 20.

Copyright 2013 ABC News Radio

 

Join fans of 99 KZ Country on Facebook:  http://www.facebook.com/99KZCountry

 

 

 

Brantley Gilbert has signed on to perform at the Harley-Davidson 110th Anniversary Celebration coming up Labor Day weekend in Milwaukee.  His show will be part of a three-day festival taking place August 29 through September 1, and more acts will be added to the bill soon.

For tickets, fans can go to H-D.com/110tickets.

Copyright 2013 ABC News Radio

 

Join fans of 99 KZ Country on Facebook:  http://www.facebook.com/99KZCountry

 

 

 

Kenny Rogers will be formally inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in a ceremony later this year, and he plans to have all four of his sons to that event.  Kenny and his wife Wanda have eight-year-old twin boys, and he grew emotional at a press conference in Nashville Wednesday thinking about having them with him for that big night.

Kenny says, “I’m glad it happened in my lifetime, so I could share it with my boys.  Because I think it’s an important thing for them to know that I worked hard.”

Kenny’s two older sons were actually shocked to find out about his Country Music Hall of Fame induction.  They thought their dad had been inducted about 20 years ago.

“I didn’t have the heart to tell ’em ’cause they were very impressed with me,” Kenny explains with a laugh.  “Now, maybe they can truly be impressed.”

Each inductee into the Country Music Hall of Fame is honored at the annual Medallion Ceremony, and artists of the inductee’s choosing perform songs from that inductee’s catalog.  So, who is on Kenny’s wish list for that slot?  None other than his “Islands in the Stream” duet partner, Dolly Parton.

He says, “In my heart, if I had my way, I’d ask Dolly.  I think she would do it.  But I don’t know, the days are still uncertain.  But you know, I love her, and she knows.  And she loves me.  I think if she can, she would do it.”

Copyright 2013 ABC News Radio

 

Join fans of 99 KZ Country on Facebook:  http://www.facebook.com/99KZCountry

 

 

 

The Band Perry‘s sophomore album, Pioneer, bows at #1 on Billboard‘s Country Albums chart and #1 on the overall Billboard 200 albums chart.  Featuring the #1 hit, “Better Dig Two,” and the new single, “DONE.,” Pioneer sold 129,000 copies in its first week according to Nielsen Soundscan.  The big sales numbers are due in part to The Band Perry’s performance of “DONE.” Sunday night on the ACM Awards.

Of note, Pioneer, is the first Band Perry album to hit #1 on the Country Albums chart.  Their first, self-titled album, has sold 1.5 million copies.

Copyright 2013 ABC News Radio

 

Join fans of 99 KZ Country on Facebook:  http://www.facebook.com/99KZCountry

 

 

 

Miranda Lambert says moments like Sunday’s ACM Awards make all the struggles of a celebrity marriage worthwhile.  Miranda shared Song of the Year honors with husband Blake Shelton, for co-writing her hit “Over You.” She also went on to win Single and Female Vocalist honors at the show her husband co-hosted.

“You know it’s not easy all the time being on opposite sides of the country and, you know, traveling and all that,” she shares. “But when you get to celebrate moments like this together and when you go through the hard stuff together, those are the moments that actually count. All the rest is fluff.”

As for her long-term marriage philosophy, Miranda has adopted an attitude she learned from her parents.

“Like I always say my mom said to my dad, ‘Divorce is not an option,’ she says.  “We really love each other and have a real marriage outside of all of this.”

Miranda even predicts her marriage to Blake will outlast their country careers.

“When this is all said and done we will be drinking a beer together on a front porch somewhere, reminiscing about the good old days, and that’s what I’m happy about.”

Copyright 2013 ABC News Radio

 

Join fans of 99 KZ Country on Facebook:  http://www.facebook.com/99KZCountry

 

 

 

Of all the songs on Brad Paisley’s new CD Wheelhouse, none is generating as much buzz as his duet with LL Cool J on “Accidental Racist.” In the song, the two each give their perspective on race relations, 150 years after the Civil War.

Much like in the song, Brad started thinking about the issue after he wore an Alabama t-shirt with a Confederate flag in the design into Starbucks. He was surprised to find out it offended the African-American barista.

“I’m the guy that kind of walks in sort of blindly wearing something that I never imagined was offensive,” he tells ABC News Radio.

Thinking about what happened, Brad came up with the idea to explore it in song. LL Cool J seemed like the perfect person to offer the alternate take on the issue.

“LL is one of the classiest people I’ve ever known, and when I wanted to have this discussion because I don’t know the answers to this…Having that conversation and asking that person, ‘How does this make you feel?’ and that’s what I got to do with him, when he was writing his verse.”

Brad recalls a very honest moment, when it came time for LL to write how cowboy hats and rebel flags make him feel.

“LL thought about it and he said, ‘You know, I think you wish I wasn’t here when I see that,’ and it’s like, ‘Well say that then, let’s hear it. Let’s hear what that’s like.’”

While Brad is quick to admit he doesn’t have the answers to the questions the song raises, he believes simply asking the question is the first step.

“I don’t know what the answer is,” he says, “but I know that asking the question of ‘How do we show our Southern pride and what do we do and how do we be sensitive?’ is the first step toward us all taking a big deep breath and going, ‘Alright let’s respect each other and figure this out.’” 

Copyright 2013 ABC News Radio

 

Join fans of 99 KZ Country on Facebook:  http://www.facebook.com/99KZCountry

 

 

 

How do you make a Scotty McCreery peanut butter and jelly sandwich?  Apparently, it involves an entire box of cereal. The American Idol winner gives a lesson on how to craft the perfect PB & J as part of a new campaign from DoSomething.org.

“There’s only one way to make a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. Peanut butter, your jam, and– don’t be shy,” he cautions. “Then your cereal.”

Scotty dumps the whole box of cereal on his plate, before finishing the sandwich and shoving it in his mouth. “Anybody got a napkin?” he mumbles, with his mouth full.

The comical clip is part of the “Peanut Butter and Jam Slam” to encourage people to donate peanut butter and jelly to their local food pantries to fight hunger.

Copyright 2013 ABC News Radio

 

Join fans of 99 KZ Country on Facebook:  http://www.facebook.com/99KZCountry

 

 

 

Tim McGraw held court at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas Monday night, introducing a sold-out crowd to the country sounds they’ll hear on the road this summer. The concert will air as the ACM Presents: Tim McGraw’s Superstar Summer Night next month on CBS, and the show features a performance of Tim’s latest single “Highway Don’t Care,” featuring Keith Urban and Taylor Swift.

Keith Urban, Dierks Bentley, JaCancelson Aldean and this year’s ACM Entertainer of the Year, Luke Bryan,joined Tim and rock legend John Fogerty onstage for the finale performance of “Born on the Bayou.”

The show kicked off with pop star Pitbull singing his hit “Feel This Moment” with Christina Aguilera, Blake Shelton‘s pal from The Voice, appearing virtually on the screen. Pitbull also performed with Tim on the country hit, “Felt Good on My Lips.” Tim later teamed up with Ne Yo for a performance of “She Is,” their collaboration from Ne Yo’s recent album, R.E.D.

Lady Antebellum previewed the song “Goodbye Town” from their new album, Golden, landing in stores May 7. The Band Perry reworked their ACM Awards performance of “DONE.” for the upcoming broadcast, and Tim delivered a rousing version of “Mexicoma” from his latest album, Two Lanes of Freedom.

Tim’s new tour mate, Brantley Gilbert,performed his #1 country hit “Country Must Be Country Wide,” and Tim’s wife Faith Hill performed her 1994 cover of the Janis Joplin hit “Piece of My Heart.” Florida Georgia Line, Jason Aldean and Dierks Bentley also took solo turns on the show.

Tim McGraw’s Superstar Summer Night airs May 19 on CBS.

Copyright 2013 ABC News Radio

 

Join fans of 99 KZ Country on Facebook:  http://www.facebook.com/99KZCountry

 

 

 

     NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) – Kenny Rogers, Bobby Bare and Jack Clement are the newest members of the Country Music Hall of Fame.
 
     The trio of new inductees attended a news conference Wednesday at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum in Nashville.
 
     Each has had a significant impact on music.
 
     Rogers was both a pop crossover and a pop culture sensation in the 1970s and ’80s with songs like “The Gambler” and the Lionel Richie-produced “Lady.”
 
     “Cowboy” Jack Clement, a colorful artist and producer, played a crucial role in the history of music, working as a producer and engineer at Sun Records before moving to Nashville.
 
     And Bare charted his own path, emulating the free-thinking outlaw movement and veering from country to pop and rock.

 

Join fans of 99 KZ Country on Facebook:  http://www.facebook.com/99KZCountry