THE COUNTRY MUSIC HALL OF FAME® AND MUSEUM TO OPEN LATEST INSTALLMENT OF ITS EXHIBITION AMERICAN CURRENTS: STATE OF THE MUSIC
The annual exhibit opens Wednesday, March 8, and will highlight significant developments in country music over the past year.
The Country Music Hall of Fame® and Museum will offer perspective on country music’s latest chapter with the opening of American Currents: State of the Music on Wednesday, March 8. The exhibit runs until February 2024.
Presented annually, American Currents takes a broad view of the genre over the past year to explore musical developments, artist achievements and notable events, as determined by the museum’s curators and editorial staff.
“Each year through the American Currents exhibit, the museum documents and reports on the music and events that helped shape the previous year, examining a wide scope of contributions,” said Kyle Young, chief executive officer of the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum. “Last year, we witnessed innovative collaborations, varied musical perspectives and well-deserved honors for emerging artists and established luminaries. American Currents allows us to highlight these moments and artists, sharing their significance in country music history.”
Featured in American Currents is a selection of artists, musicians, songwriters and institutions that figured prominently in country music in 2022. This year’s exhibition will include Luke Combs, Charley Crockett, Sierra Ferrell, Rhiannon Giddens, Ashley Gorley, HARDY, Cody Johnson, Wynonna Judd, Miranda Lambert, Ashley McBryde, Parker McCollum, Scotty McCreery, Reba McEntire, Amanda Shires, Billy Strings, Sunny Sweeney, Molly Tuttle, Shania Twain, Morgan Wallen and Lainey Wilson.
A section of the exhibit titled “Unbroken Circle” will highlight the musical connections of artists and organizations, including those who have influenced them or share musical perspectives. Featured pairings include the Black Opry and the Black Country Music Association, Jordan Davis and Bob McDill, Miko Marks and Loretta Lynn and Morgan Wade and Elvis Presley.
American Currents also includes a video compilation of important country music moments from 2022. In addition, the exhibit recaps the year’s chart-topping country albums, singles and highest-grossing tours as reported by Billboard and Pollstar.
For more information about American Currents: State of the Music, visit https://www.countrymusichalloffame.org/calendar/american-currents-state-of-the-music
BEST-SELLING DUO BROOKS & DUNN EXTEND REBOOT ARENA TOUR INTO 2023 WITH SEVENTEEN NEW SHOWS
Today, the best-selling duo of all time, Brooks & Dunn, announce their 2023 return to arenas with REBOOT 2023 TOUR. Seventeen new cities will now experience their show featuring multiple timeless hits. Kicking off in Kansas City, MO, on May 4th, the Live Nation-produced nationwide tour will see the duo on the road with opener Scotty McCreery.
“Last year, you all reminded us just how much fun it is to walk out on that stage and share the night with ya! We love what we do, but we’re just surfing your wave …can’t wait!!” said Kix Brooks.
“The Brooks and Dunn posse rides again,” said Ronnie Dunn. “More excited to hit the big stage as we ever have been! Unbelievable band of friends.…annnnnd YOU! Together, let’s rock the house!!”
“Having been a huge fan of their music all my life, going out on the road with Kix and Ronnie is a dream come true for me,” said McCreery. “I can’t wait for this tour to begin!”
Tickets go on sale Friday, January 27 at 10am local time at brooks-dunn.com and livenation.com. Fans can also purchase VIP Packages, which may include premium tickets, invitation to the Neon Lounge, exclusive poster signed by Kix and Ronnie, VIP merchandise gift & more. For more information, visit vipnation.com.
REBOOT 2023 TOUR Official Dates:
Thu May 04 – Kansas City, MO – T- Mobile Center
Fri May 05 – Oklahoma City, OK – Paycom Center
Sat May 06 – Ft. Worth, TX – Dickies Arena
Thu May 11 – Lexington, KY – Rupp Arena
Fri May 12 – Pittsburgh, PA – PPG Paints Arena
Sat May 13 – Buffalo, NY – KeyBank Center
Thu May 18 – Birmingham, AL – Legacy Arena at The BJCC
Fri May 19 – Biloxi, MS – Mississippi Coast Coliseum
Sat May 20 – Little Rock, AR – Simmons Bank Arena
Thu Jun 01 – Omaha, NE – CHI Health Center
Fri Jun 02 – Sioux Falls, SD – Denny Sanford PREMIER Center
Sat Jun 03 – St. Paul, MN – Xcel Energy Center
Thu Jun 08 – Duluth, GA – Gas South Arena+
Sat Jun 10 – Orlando, FL – Amway Center
Thu June 15 - Mt. Pleasant, MI - Soaring Eagle Casino & Resort*
Fri Jun 16 – Columbus, OH – Nationwide Arena
Sat Jun 17 – Greensboro, NC – Greensboro Coliseum
*Not a Live Nation Date
+On Sale Friday, February 3
SCOTTY MCCREERY JANUARY FAN OF THE MONTH
Congratulations to the Scotty McCreery Fan of the Month for January 2023, Michaela C! Learn more about Michaela below!
Where are you from?: Ottawa, IL
How many years have you been a fan?: Since I first saw his audition for American Idol
How many years have you been a fan club member? 3 Years
What is your favorite Scotty song? All of them but if I have to choose just one it would be 5 More Minutes
What is your favorite Scotty album? Seasons Change
How many times have you seen Scotty live? What was your first show? What was your favorite show? 11 my favorite was when I got to meet him!
What’s one thing that sets you apart from other Scotty fans? I was 8 years old when I first saw him on American Idol. All of my siblings asked for a car for their sixteenth birthday and I asked for ticket to taste of Joilet to see Scotty.
“Damn Strait" Wins the 2022 Country Now Award for Favorite Sentimental Song
Congratulations Scotty for winning the 2022 Country Now Award for Favorite Sentimental Song.
ALABAMA Awarded Pandora Billionaire Plaque, Presented by Scotty McCreery
Scotty McCreery Presents Randy Owen and Teddy Gentry with Plaque Commemorating Two Billion Streams on the Streaming Service
Iconic country rock group ALABAMA was surprised with a major honor last weekend. On Friday, December 9 at the Berglund Center Coliseum in Roanoke, VA, ALABAMA founding members Randy Owen and Teddy Gentry were interrupted mid-show by opening act Scotty McCreery who presented them with the Pandora Billionaire plaque. The honor commemorates over two billion ALABAMA streams on the streaming service.
"The Pandora plaque was a nice surprise," says Gentry. "We thought a million plays was a very big deal but two billion plays of our songs puts it over the top. We appreciate Pandora and thanks for the award.""We are so thankful to our fans and listeners for playing our music for over 50 years," adds Owen. "Two billion is a big number. That means they like our music and want to hear it again and again. Thank you Pandora for the award."
McCreery, a previous recipient of the Pandora Billionaire plaque, was thrilled to make the presentation. “I’ve been a fan of ALABAMA all my life," he explains. "It was an honor to open for them in Roanoke and then present the Pandora Billionaire plaque to Randy and Teddy later that night. It doesn’t get better than ALABAMA.”
The music of ALABAMA will now be played on Pandora's Country Billionaires station.
About ALABAMA
Over 50 years ago, Jeff Cook, Teddy Gentry and Randy Owen left the cotton farms of Fort Payne, Alabama to spend the summer playing music in a Myrtle Beach, South Carolina bar called The Bowery. It took them six long years of tip jars and word-of-mouth to earn the major label deal they'd been dreaming of. Then, seemingly no time at all to change the face of country music. ALABAMA, country music’s first band, was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2005. The group is known for hit songs including “Mountain Music,” “Roll On,” “Dixieland Delight” and “If You're Gonna Play In Texas (You Gotta Have A Fiddle In The Band).” From humble beginnings picking cotton in the fields to international stars, ALABAMA went on to sell 80 million albums and charted 43 No.1 hits, becoming the most successful band in the history of country music. In November 2022, ALABAMA co-founder Jeff Cook passed following a lengthy battle with Parkinson’s disease. With his prior encouragement and wishes, ALABAMA continues touring on a limited basis, keeping the iconic music they created alive for the current and future generation of fans.
For more information on ALABAMA, visit thealabamaband.com.
Scotty McCreery Caps Off a Banner Year with His New Baby Boy: 'Instant, Unconditional Love'
Courtesy Sarah Michaud / People.com
With the year winding down, Scotty McCreery is reflecting on the many blessings of the past 12 months — and looking forward to what's to come in 2023.
After finding out he'd be a father, the country star and wife Gabi made their happy news public in June, a week after their fourth wedding anniversary. July brought word that his single "Damn Strait" had hit No. 1, marking McCreery's fifth chart-topper of his career. At the Country Cares seminar in early October, St. Jude presented him with the Randy Owen Angels Among Us Award for his commitment to the work of the children's cancer hospital, followed just over two weeks later by the birth of son Merrick Avery — whom the couple call by his middle name — on Oct. 24.
November saw the release of the deluxe edition of McCreery's latest album, Same Truck, which features six new songs, including "It Matters to Her." This month, the singer performed on CMA Country Christmas, now streaming on Hulu and Disney+, and serves as executive producer on Five More Minutes: Moments Like These, premiering Saturday at 10 p.m. on Hallmark Movies & Mysteries. And earlier this week, McCreery announced his upcoming tour kicking off in January, with tickets on sale this Friday.