• The Band Perry Is Working with 'Little Red Wagon' Writer Audra Mae for Follow-Up to 'Pioneer'

    The Band Perry recently opened up about their new album, the follow-up to 2013's "Pioneer." The siblings are bringing in up-and-coming songwriter Audra Mae to help out on the record. Mae is known for writing Miranda Lambert's tune "Little Red Wagon." She also collaborated with The Forest Rangers a few times for FX's "Sons of Anarchy" in addition to her solo material.According to Taste of Country, Kimberly Perry called into iHeartRadio's Electric Barnyard with Broadway show to talk about the progress."[It's] goin' great, you know," she said. "We're slowly but surely recording band here in the Band Perry. I'd say we have about half of it done. It'll definitely — you guys will have new music certainly in the first half of 2015."The trio is especially excited to co-write tunes with Mae."We have interesting things happening and, you know, the co-writes are one thing that we're really excited about as well," Kimberly added. "A new girl that's been here in Nashville writing, her name is Audra Mae, she's a very spirited young lady. So we've just made a lot of new writing friendships and can't wait for you guys to hear it."
  • Blake Shelton, Carrie Underwood and Miranda Lambert to Headline Big Barrel Country Music Festival [FULL LINEUP]

    The good people at Red Frog Events, who put on the Firefly Festival every year, are getting a little country in 2015. The company announced the Big Barrel Country Music Festival today, Dec. 18, which will be held at Firefly's site, Dover International Speedway in Delaware. Blake Shelton, Carrie Underwood and Miranda Lambert will headline the event scheduled for June 26 to 28 — the weekend after Firefly. Tickets go on sale today, "Billboard" notes.For a three-day pass ($99), concert-goers will be able to see a mix of popular country artists and acts on the fringes of the genre, like Lynyrd Skynyrd, Sturgill Simpson and Hurray for the Riff Raff. Legends like Loretta Lynn and Merle Haggard will also perform.Additional acts include:Jake Owen, Chris Young, Gary Allen, Eric Paslay, Jon Pardi, Dan + Shay, Cassadee Pope, Charlie Worsham, Jana Kramer, The Oak Ridge Boys, Joel Crouse, Chris Stapleton, The Del McCoury Band, Shakey Graves, Billy Joe Shaver, Nikki Lane, Jackie Lee, Logan Mize, Wade Bowen, Kaitlin Rose, Steven Lee Olsen, The Felice Brothers, The Stray Birds, Sam Lewis and The Deslondes.
  • Little Big Town Add March Dates to 'Pain Killer' Tour [FULL SCHEDULE]

    Though country group Little Big Town finished their Pain Killer Tour last week on Dec. 13, they have already announced a new string of dates for March 2015. The next leg of the tour will kick off March 5 in Savannah, Georgia, and finish up March 28 in Enid, Oklahoma, making stops in Alabama, Tennessee, Indiana, Kentucky, Iowa and Missouri in between. Singer-songwriter Chris Stapleton will be the tour's opening act.You can check out all of Little Big Town's upcoming tour dates here:03/05: Savannah, GA @ Johnny Mercer Theatre 03/06: Birmingham, AL @ BJCC Concert Hall 03/08: Chattanooga, TN @ Memorial Auditorium 03/12: Evansville, IN @ Old National Events Plaza 03/13: Louisville, KY @ Palace Theatre 03/14: Muncie, IN @ Emens Auditorium 03/19: Davenport, IA @ Adler Theatre 03/20: St. Louis, MO @ Fabulous Fox Theatre 03/27: Sioux City, IA @ Orpheum Theatre 03/28: Enid, OK @ Enid Event Center
  • Luke Bryan Misses 'CMT Artists of the Year' Ceremony After Family Death, Lady Antebellum Pays Tribute with 'Drink a Beer' [WATCH]

    Luke Bryan suffered a tough loss last week after his brother-in-law passed away at the age of 46. Ben Lee Cheshire was married to Bryan's cousin Kelly, who died in 2007. The country community gathered Tuesday night (Dec. 2) for the CMT Artists of the Year ceremony to honor this year's biggest stars, but Bryan was home in Georgia with his family. Honorees Jason Aldean and Keith Urban mentioned Bryan throughout the ceremony, and Lady Antebellum played a touching tribute for the grieving superstar with his hit "Drink a Beer."
  • GRAMMYs 2015 Nominations: Sam Smith, Taylor Swift, Pharrell Williams Among Early Nominees

    The biggest night in music is just around the corner, even if it's hard to believe that yet another year has passed. Today (Dec. 5), the nominations for the 57th Annual GRAMMY Awards are being rolled out via Twitter and various television appearances. Early on, predicted favorites lead the nominations with Sam Smith, Iggy Azalea, Sia, Taylor Swift and Pharrell Williams all racking up multiple nods.
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