Charles Esten, who plays Deacon on the hit TV show Nashville, recently performed at the Grand Ole Opy. Check out the Opry’s video of him performing “Hillbilly Billy” on the legendary stage!
Sep 222014
Sep 222014
Sara Evans
Sara Evans has a new single out called “Put My Heart Down.” Check out the lyric video for the song!
Sep 212014
Kenny Chesney
Kenny Chesney’s The Big Revival hits stores this Tuesday, September 23, and he’s going to be all over TV this week to promote it! Starting with “The Today Show” on Tuesday, Chesney will also perform on “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon” (9/24), “The Ellen DeGeneres Show” (9/26), “CONAN” (9/29) and “The Talk” (10/2), as well as sit for interviews with both “Entertainment Tonight” and “Access Hollywood” live from Rockefeller Center (9/23).
“Normally I don’t get geared up for this much television,” Chesney says. “But this record makes me wanna get out and talk about it. Starting with ‘American Kids,’ all of the songs on here say so much about how the people who see their lives in my music commit to their lives – it’s a lot like showing their home videos on network TV! I’m gonna be sick of talking about me, but not this record; The Big Revival is a whole other kinda record for me.”
“Maybe the artists people are listening to, or the cars they’re driving have changed,” Chesney explains. “But I promise you the little things that make your life what it is, they haven’t. Somewhere some girl has a boyfriend the Dad doesn’t like… and the boys are making out in church parking lots, then saying they got further than they did. But they’re also making life rich where they are… finding joy and having the time of their life without worrying about keeping up with the Kardashians!”
“When I went in to make this record, that’s what I wanted: songs that captured the real of life in the flyover, that talked about the passion people live with and the fun they make, how hard they work and the way they set themselves free right where they are. So taking the music straight into their living rooms seems like taking it to the source.”
Sep 212014
Lady Antebellum
Lady Antebellum talks about their song “Long Stretch of Love” off their new album 747!
Sep 212014
Q. Your new album “Tonight, I’m Unchained” was released a few weeks ago. How has Country Radio reacted to it?
A. Country Music has changed a lot over the last few years. Unfortunately, a lot of artists stray from what makes country music so beautiful, the truth. My album is 100% who I am as a person and I think that is pretty clear to listeners. I think that is why they’re responding so positively.
Q. Speaking of radio, where were you when you first heard yourself on the radio, and what was your reaction?
A. I was with my mom in my kitchen and the radio was on… We could hear my voice for about a second and then there was a lot of screaming. There is no feeling on the planet that can compare to hearing yourself on the radio, it’s amazing!
Q. Hearing yourself on the radio must be pretty exciting, but what has been the biggest “Wow” moment of your career?
A. The biggest wow moment of my career (outside of making this album) was being on Entertainment Tonight. I don’t know how anyone gets used to being fussed over like that, but it was an incredible, life changing experience.
Q. What is the #1 item on your Bucket List?
A. My bucket list is full of ridiculously dangerous activities, but at the very top, you’ll find “make a difference” in bold letters. There are so many talented people out there, but I truly respect the artists who use their success in a positive way. If your name carries any weight, you should use it to change the world. That’s my goal.
Q. What is something you are very passionate about outside of music?
A. I am very passionate about helping those who cannot help themselves. I know that sounds cliché but it’s true. Whether it’s defenseless animals, children in need, single parents, victims of abuse in any form, I just can’t stand by and do nothing about it. It’s our job as human beings to help one another. Some people have a harder time with that than others but as long as we’re all working together to make the world a better place, we’re accomplishing what we were put on the earth to do.
Q. If you weren’t in the music business, what would you be doing for a living?
A. If I wasn’t in the music business, I would be useless. All I think about, day and night is music. I am very passionate about so many things, but I wouldn’t be able to focus on anything long enough. Music is the biggest part of my soul. I can’t imagine life without it.
Q. If you could only listen to one album for the rest of your life, what would it be?
A. This is literally the most difficult question to answer… If I had ONE album to listen to for the rest of my life, I would explode. There are probably 10 albums I could limit it to, but I can’t choose just one!
Q. If you could do a duet with any single artist, who would it be?
A. If I could do a duet with any single artist, it would have to be Warren Haynes. I have a duet list in my head and he’s way at the top!
Q. What are your thoughts on the state of today’s Country Music?
A. There are so many talented country artists out there that blow me away, but unfortunately, this “Bro-Country” phase has completely taken over Country Radio. The best country artists are playing in Nashville constantly, but you never hear them on the radio. It’s sad that the “formula” is beating the talent. Hopefully artists like Sturgill Simpson, Kacey Musgraves and The Zac Brown Band can triumph in the long run. THAT is real country music.
Q. What advice can you give to aspiring artists?
The only advice I can give an aspiring artist is DO NOT HAVE A PLAN B! If music is all you can think about and you can’t breathe without it, then you need to focus all of your energy on that. I’m not saying you shouldn’t keep a 2nd job (we’re musicians after all), but I am saying the second you have a plan B, your plan A goes out the window.