Kelsea Ballerini and Maren Morris are writing songs together after years apart — and it’s giving major girl power energy. Continue reading…
Country Music News – Taste of Country
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The Boot – Country Music News, Music Videos and Songs
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The Boot – Country Music News, Music Videos and Songs
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The Boot – Country Music News, Music Videos and Songs
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The Boot – Country Music News, Music Videos and Songs
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The Boot – Country Music News, Music Videos and Songs
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The Boot – Country Music News, Music Videos and Songs
In 1989, a young Tim McGraw made a decision that would change his life forever. With a “repertoire of about 50 songs,” the Louisiana native dropped out of college, liquidated his assets, and bought a one-way bus ticket to Nashville.
Now a bona fide superstar with 47 chart-topping singles to his name, McGraw recently looked back on that life-altering choice — and his mom’s surprisingly supportive reaction.
At the time, McGraw had been taking pre-law courses while playing local shows around his college town.
“I started playing for tips at a local restaurant and then I put a band together. And then there was less and less of going to class and more and more going out and playing music at night until it became unsustainable on the class level,” he explained in an interview with NPR.
At this time, he took a leap of faith.
“I sold everything I had. I sold my car. I sold my shotguns. Everything that I had, I sold. And I was going to buy a bus ticket to Nashville and have enough money to be in a hotel for a couple weeks if I needed to,” he recalled.
With his mind made up and his heart set on Nashville, McGraw faced the hardest part: breaking the news to his mom.
“I had to call my mom and let her know that I was dropping out of school, which scared me to death, because I knew she didn’t graduate high school because of me. She didn’t get the opportunities in life that she wanted because of me, because I was born and she had that responsibility and she was in an abusive relationship, probably because she thought she needed help and needed the support. So for all of these reasons, she wanted me to succeed and I wanted to succeed for her,” he said.
He was “scared to death” to make the call, but his mom’s response took him by surprise.
“And when I finally got the nerve to do that, I called her and said, ‘Mom, I’m just letting you know that I’m dropping out of college and I’m moving to Nashville to play music.’ And there was silence on the line. And of course, I expected, ‘Hell, no, you’re not!’ but what I got back from my mom was, ‘Well, I’m surprised you haven’t done that already.’ And she said, ‘You need to go do it, otherwise you’ll always wonder if you could have made it.’”
We all know now that Tim McGraw ultimately made the right decision.
He got on that bus and never looked back, arriving in Nashville on May 9, 1989, the very same day his musical hero, Keith Whitley, tragically died of acute alcohol poisoning.
The post Tim McGraw Reflects on the Leap of Faith That Launched His Career: ‘I Sold Everything I Had’ appeared first on Country Now.
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Zac Brown is betting big on his band’s future. The Zac Brown Band frontman recently opened up about the group’s recently announced residency at the Sphere in Las Vegas, and while it’s set to be a career milestone, he also revealed it’s turning out to be a serious financial risk.
The six-show run is set to kick off on December 5, the same day the band’s new album Love & Fear is scheduled to drop. Zac Brown Band will serve as the second country act ever to perform at the one-of-a-kind venue, following Kenny Chesney’s residency earlier this year.
Though Brown didn’t reveal the exact cost of putting on a show inside the high-tech venue, which is known for its 360-degree immersive experience, he made it clear it hasn’t been easy on his bank account.
“Just going into debt to make it happen,” Brown told Us Weekly.
The Risk Is Worth The Reward
Still, despite the financial challenge, Brown believes that taking this risk will be worth it in the end. He hopes that this experience will be a defining moment in the Zac Brown Band’s live legacy.
“Whatever adversity, I’m like, ‘Okay, bring it,’” the singer stated. “There’s lots of forces that are always trying to distract you from what you’re doing, and you just got to keep plowing, keep going.”
He continued, “It’s a big moment in time and it’s like, for us, I want to be among the names of the Grateful Dead and the Rolling Stones and the bands that take that lifelong career impact fan journey to be able to do that. This is our statement to try to step into that.”
What Fans Can Expect
With their first Sphere show still a few months out, Zac Brown Band is using every moment between now and December 5 to craft the most unforgettable concert experience possible.
Brown explained to Us Weekly that both the upcoming Love & Fear album and the immersive live show will take fans on a powerful emotional journey. He hoped that every person in the audience will “feel this sense of awe” when they make their way inside the Sphere.
“I hope they feel wonder,” he continued. “Unpredictability is something we use in our live shows a lot. I love pulling out covers that no one would ever expect us to play, that’s super fun. This is the same thing visually, sonically — everything we’re doing.”
Finalizing The Show
So far, all the audio for the show has been completed, and now they are working to finish assembling the video components, which is arguably one of the most important aspects of this unique concert setting.
The Sphere boasts the world’s highest resolution LED display that surrounds the audience from all sides to create a fully immersive visual experience. It’s also equipped with Sphere Immersive Sound, the most advanced concert-grade audio system in the world that’s designed to deliver a clear and precise sound to every seat in the house.
Once opening night approaches, the band will be ready to give the fans an inside look into Brown’s real-life stories and experiences through their music and visual aspects. From heartbreak and hardship to growth and redemption, the show is expected to showcase Zac Brown’s ongoing journey, not just as an artist, but as a human.
“I’m finishing the story,” Brown explained. “I’m telling a lot of personal things about my life that I’ve never shared before. Everything that’s hard that we go through as human beings always ends up making us better in some way.”
Newly Added Dates
Following the December 5 show, Zac Brown Band will continue to take the stage on December 6, 12 and 13. Plus, they recently announced the addition of two new dates on January 9 and 10, making for six concerts in total.
The set list is set to include select songs from the band’s seventh full-length studio album alongside their classic, beloved hits. The latest song to be shared from the upcoming project is “Let It Run (feat. Snoop Dogg),” which follows the album’s lead single, “I Ain’t Worried About It.”
Throughout the collection, fans will hear themes of healing, raw emotion and real-life experiences told through 13 tracks, including features special guests Snoop Dogg, Dolly Parton, and Marcus King.
Tickets to Love & Fear are available now at ZacBrownBand.com. Travel VIP packages, which include a concert ticket and two-night stay at The Venetian Resort Las Vegas, the resort connected to Sphere, are also available for purchase.
The post Zac Brown Admits He’s ‘Going Into Debt’ To Bring Epic Sphere Residency To Life appeared first on Country Now.
Country Now
In the wake of devastating floods across Texas Hill Country, George Strait rallied fans and fellow artists for a night of music, generosity, and healing that raised over $6.25 million (and counting) for those in need.
Held at Estancia at Thunder Valley on Sunday, July 27 and presented by Strait and his longtime Vaqueros del Mar partner Tom Cusick, the sold-out benefit concert welcomed 1,200 guests to Estancia at Thunder Valley in Boerne, Texas.
The evening kicked off with a set from the Texas Jamm Band, featuring members of Strait’s Ace in the Hole Band, followed by performances from Kyle Park, William Beckmann, Hudson Westbrook, and Ray Benson. Strait and Cusick then took the stage to welcome attendees followed by a prayer and remarks from Pastor Max Lucado.
“I have a bookmark that a friend gave me that’s embroidered,” Pastor Lucado shared. “On one side, it’s nothing but irregular threads. Different lengths, different colors, a lot of knots. But if you flip it over, the message embroidered says ‘God is love.’ Facing a tragedy is learning to face it from the right side. One side is irregular – it’s just knots, it doesn’t make sense. And during a time of tragedy, it’s essential that we do our very best, as difficult as it may be, to see everything from God’s perspective.”
Texas Governor Greg Abbott also addressed the crowd, praising the tireless work of first responders and encouraging continued support for recovery efforts.
“There’s a saying that we’ve all repeated many times: pray as though everything is going to be taken care of by God, but act as though everything is up to you,” Governor Abbott remarked. “While we have prayed endlessly, I want you to know that we have acted endlessly also. Texas first responders have rescued or evacuated more than 1,000 people. Lives were saved because of those first responders. Give it up for our fearless first responders.”
Raised More Funds With A Live Auction
A live auction was also held before the night’s headlining performances from Wade Bowen, Randy Houser, Dean Dillon, Riley Green, and Jamey Johnson. This portion of the night helped raise even more funds benefitting the victims of the Hill Country flood.
Strait treated those in attendance to a full set of fan favorites and surprise collaborations. He opened with “The Weight of the Badge” and was joined by Garth Brooks for a rousing performance of “The Fireman” in honor of first responders. Jamey Johnson also joined Strait for “Give It Away,” while longtime collaborator Dean Dillon and Strait’s son Bubba took the stage for “Here For A Good Time.” The country icon closed things out with his poignant ballad, “The Cowboy Rides Away.”
George Strait’s Setlist:
“The Weight of the Badge”
“The Fireman” with Garth Brooks
“All My Exes”
“Give It Away” with Jamey Johnson
“I Remember You”
“The Book”
“Here For A Good Time” with Dean Dillon and Bubba Strait
“Waymore’s Blues”
“The Chair”
“Goin’ Goin’ Gone”
“Codigo”
“Amarillo by Morning”
“Troubadour”
“Take Me Back To Tulsa”
“Milk Cow Blues”
“The Cowboy Rides Away”
Where To Donate
The intimate evening not only paid tribute to the region’s resilient spirit but also offered critical aid to families hit hardest by the floods. Proceeds from the event benefit the Vaqueros del Mar Texas Flood Relief Fund, a 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to distributing direct aid to affected families and ongoing recovery efforts.
Additional contributions can be made at: https://donate.stripe.com/3cI14maf08Pf0vc7AV5Vu00.
The post George Strait Raises Over $6.25 Million for Texas Flood Relief at ‘Strait To The Heart’ Benefit appeared first on Country Now.
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